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Like Fracker, Like Son

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Some of you may have noticed that the debate over high-volume horizontal fracking gets a bit shill—I mean shrill—sometimes.

For example, I wrote a few blog posts (here, here and here), and one story for the print edition of Artvoice that talked a bit about Dennis Holbrook of Norse Energy. These stories provoked a number of “anonymous” responses. One commentator calling himself DontLetFactsStopYou seemed particularly touchy. Here are some samples of his work:

DontLetFactsStopYou

Buck, clearly you skipped economics 101 or you are misleading people on purpose.  A stock option merely allows Mr. Holbrook to purchase 1,000,000 shares at 2.92 NOK, and the stock is currently trading at 2.58 NOK… so if he executed that option today he would LOSE or owe the company 34,000 NOK.  So you’re right that is a lot of Norwegian Krone to lose… I’m failing to see your point of this article, those options (like the 20.10 one) may never be worth anything.

Perhaps if you did your job and actually researched Norse instead of spewing your clear political bias, you would know that Norse has been in severe financial distress and forced to lay off over 50 high paying jobs, most of which were employed here in Buffalo as a result of anti-everything types like you. 

You as a member of the media owe the public a duty of care when publishing, go back to school so someone teaches you what it means to do your homework.

Chip Northrup has been so discredited already many times over that I’m surprised he even crawled out from whatever hole he was hiding under to comment.  Do us all a favor Chip, and go back please.

Here’s another:

DontLetFactsStopYou

Investigation?

Buck points out that Mr. Holbrook has stock options which are worthless and would lose him money, and has a quote which could easily have been a lecture at a public relations 101 class.. Be nice to the media, support your point with facts, don’t get irritated and frustrated in the face of ignorance, having support from independent institutions looks better… where is the smoking gun Buck thinks he has? It’s really laughable.

And more:

DontLetFactsStopYou

Wow, Buck what happened to showing the whole video (your demand wasn’t it)?  You cut the entire portion where this kid was ranting and raving like a lunatic and had to be asked multiple times to restrain himself?  Do you have even a shred of ethics?  Does your editor?

Show the whole video where he was screaming into the microphone, rudely shouting over anyone attempting to comment from the panel who dared to interrupt his speech… He was then asked repeatedly to actually ask a question, then once he again started speaking over everyone during the answer and after 5 minutes of this where the panel, who everyone was there to ask “questions” to, weren’t even able to speak, he was asked to take a seat so others could ask questions which everyone applauded… a far cry from an infringement on any civil rights (MLK Jr. would be rolling in his grave if he knew how people like you would abuse this claim)

I am impressed with your underhanded tactics and video editing, having someone rant and rave and rudely make false accusations and then start filming the reaction when people get fed up with his antics… it is a great way to paint a false picture with your crew as the victim and further your agenda even if it is unethical.

Your biggest supporter here James “Chip” Northrup has already been discredited many times as a complete fraud and fabricator.  Keep up the good work attempting to misinform people, maybe Buffalo and SNY and WNY can suffer for another 50 years with people like you around spreading misinformation.

By the way, what do you use to heat your home during the winter?

Since I don’t have much respect for people who are afraid to stand by their own words, I thought I’d lighten the mood a bit by posting a comment on my own story. Sure enough, DontLetFactsStopYou had a comment on my comment. Observe:

Buck Quigley

Dear BringBackTrueJournalism and DontLetFactsStopYou,

I beg your pardon. Have we met? Your names aren’t ringing any bells.

Thanks for reading.

DontLetFactsStopYou

Thank you Buck for making BringBackTrueJournalism’s point… once again you focus on the “who” instead of the “what”. Likely so you could attempt personal attacks rather than address substance… again.

Your ignorance and arogance in an area you are so deficient and so clearly under-qualified to comment on is nauseating, which is illustrated by how you somehow think this quote you have means anything or is in any way a smoking gun… it’s just laughable how little you understand about this industry, although it doesn’t stop you (nor do the clearly contrary facts).

The Buffalo News reporter clearly noticed the lack of factual and scientific support your side had in the article on this event. You and your crew are high on disrespectful antics, but light on scientific factual support. Time to do your homework, Buck.

So I did a little homework as the commenter suggested, and I learned some interesting stuff.

I learned that DontLetFactsStopYou has h0lby5@gmail for an email address. (Click on the images for a larger view)

A google search of h0lby5 reveals the person who posted from that address owned a BMW for his first car, and wore out the wheels driving from Buffalo to Albany and back.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He likes the Buffalo Bills.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And drinking beer in Ellicottville.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After connecting a few more dots, it became clear the true identity of DontLetFactsStopYou is Ryan Holbrook, corporate counsel at Norse Energy Corp USA. He is the son of Dennis Holbrook, executive vice president of regulatory and public relations for Norse Energy USA.

I called Norse Energy on Monday morning (8/6) and asked to speak with Ryan. The receptionist said sure, and asked who was calling.

“Buck Quigley,” I said. After a lengthy pause she came back on to tell me that as fate would have it, he was on a conference call. I left him a voicemail, asking him to give me a call back.

I called back again that afternoon, but Ryan had left for the day.

I called again on Wednesday and left a message with the receptionist and on Ryan’s voicemail.

I called again today and was told that the person I would be speaking to would be Dennis Holbrook, but that he was on another line. I said “fine” and that I would hold. After several minutes, the receptionist came back on to say that Dennis would be on his phone call for some time. I told her to leave them both the message that a number of anonymous postings on the Artvoice website could be traced to Ryan’s email address, that I was preparing to write about that, and I wondered if either of them would like to comment on the situation. I left my number again, and she said she would give them the message.

That must be one long phone call Dennis is on, because it’s been hours and he still hasn’t called me back.

Now maybe there’s an explanation for all this. Maybe Ryan’s phone was stolen, and his email address appropriated by some anarchist hacker who just happened to feel like defending Dennis Holbrook and the motives of the natural gas industry. Or, maybe someone else wrote the comments while borrowing Ryan’s phone and email address. But it might also be true that a corporation council for Norse Energy—who also happens to be the son of the  executive vice president of regulatory and public relations for Norse Energy—might not have wanted his identity attached to his words.

Too bad.

I say it’s important for readers to consider the source when they’re trying to become educated on an issue. The source of comments from DontLetFactsStop you appears to be a local lawyer with a substantial interest in promoting fracking in New York State. Norse Energy, the gas drillers who employ both Dennis and Ryan Holbrook, are depending on it. Dennis owns 218,387 shares in the company.

As DontLetFactsStopYou pointed out in one of his comments: “Norse has been in severe financial distress and forced to lay off over 50 high paying jobs.” Evidently, the Holbrooks’ jobs were not among those.


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