Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 1 of 14

My Account My Dashboard New Post Edit Post Blog Info Search WordPress.com Blogs Search

Because we all have shared interests in pressing issues…

z Home
z SE Video
z About
z Contact SharedEmergency

Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship

2009 September 6
tags: American Issues, Censorship, Communication, Constitutional Rights, Education, Exchanging Ideas, Free Speech, Freedom of Speech,
Government, Ideas, Media, Obama Administration, Public Issues, The Little Guy
by Mitch Chester

In law school they teach you to appreciate issues on all levels, from different viewpoints. It is not an
easy process, and the road to truly understanding problems and attacking them is a complicated
mixture of taking in various opinions and facts and developing one’s own individual and unique
understanding. The road to learning is arduous and sometimes overwhelmingly difficult, but it feeds
the brain with the knowledge which is so desperately sought by the human animal in its quest to
make the right choices.

One cannot learn without exposure to other viewpoints. True, I may not like what you have to say,
but I need to be open enough to listen to your messages, so I can learn from it and decide what to
believe. If our minds are not exposed to life’s different voices, we will not lead full lives, and we
will stagnate or recede.

Appreciating the value of learning is not something we are born with. It needs to be taught and appreciated. That’s one justification for going to
school. From pre-K to the end of schooling, our teachers convey the message that we must seek understanding of all aspects of our world. Yet,
for many, the message gets lost, and the need to learn, to really understand things, is too often considered non-essential. That’s part of the
reason our nation is in an intellectual and functional period of decline.

So when the President of the United States wants to stress, by direct communication with students, the value of getting as much out of school
as possible, he should be allowed to do so. School boards should be willing to embrace his message, for his is an intelligent and relevant plea,
and it has been their mantra as well.

Sadly, however, some school districts, teachers and parents are planning to block the President’s remarks on education when aired on
September 8.

It is nothing less than betrayal for teachers and educators to block the President from stressing the need for the very same educational
message to which they have committed their professional lives. To silence a Presidential plea to students to get the most out of their
educational process is to contradict and defeat the the urgency of teaching. It provides, at the least, lesson in incivility.

Forcing those who may not be able to see the message when outside the classroom to diversions in the form of free speech blackouts, is, plainly
stated, morally and intellectually dishonest. Message suppression in any form rarely works to achieve good, and often produces backlash.
We witnessed that from Iran in June of this year.

By permitting censorship of Mr. Obama’s message, the hand of ignorance will grip the very same institutions that are supposed to teach and
form young minds. Allowing embargoes of Presidential remarks on education will teach that censorship of constructive discussion of public
issues is justified. It will set unhealthy examples for students to follow in the future. Blocking out the President’s right to encourage and inspire
students will help usher in a new age of intolerance.

Critics have decried that White House plans a message of socialism, without any articulate reasons to back up such an assertion. A
message about staying in school and getting the most out of it is as patriotic as apple pie and Old Glory. It is not a Democratic message,
nor is it a Republican message. It certainly is not a socialist message. It is an American message.

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 2 of 14

Who better than the President of the United States to directly talk to the youth of our troubled times, directly, about the need for a good quality
education and to get as much of it as possible. The goal is to reduce the dropout rate and encourage students to work hard, not to change the
American form of government.

If Mr. McCain won in November and tried to give such a speech, there would be no protests. But because Mr. Obama is trying the tackle the
very same issues we elected him to solve, and considering such a mission engenders passionate responses from all quarters, the White House is
criticized and censored on what should not be a controversial subject. Critics have a right to express themselves. Those criticized should be
afforded that right as well.

We should not allow a modern form of book burning. Cutting off the President’s message is media burning.

President George H.W. Bush addressed school children directly when he was in office. His 1991 message was to labor hard and reject drugs.
Ronald Regan talked to students about the evil of taxes in 1988. Those messages got out. Parents that cared talked to their kids about the
messages, and teachers were able to dialogue with their students about those messages. Why not allow for further discourse in the aftermath of
this President’s speech to students?

It is refreshing, that after 18 years, a President wants to talk about education to those who are being educated. Whatever he says, it can be
discussed and students can decide for themselves what the words mean. Just like the nonsense threat of “death panels” deciding your
health care, we don’t need truth panels deciding that good-intentioned messages about education should not be conveyed from the
White House because (and let’s admit it) of base political agendas.

Blocking Mr. Obama is nothing but approval of pure censorship. That’s one of the worse lessons society can teach. We are not in Iran,
Venezuela, Cuba or North Korea, and we should not follow their examples.

Those who seek to close the ears of others would be the first to decry such treatment if it were to be turned upon them. If today’s lesson
is censorship, tomorrow’s lesson may be much worse, and cripple true educated understanding for a generation or more. Under such
circumstances, a future America will not be able to dissect issues from different dimensions, and we will have the kind of nation that knows no
wrong, because such wrongs might not be identified in the first place.

Update 9.8.09. The President’s speech was delivered to schools across the nation today. It inspired students and teachers alike.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

z Flu TV…Instant (and Free) Customized Video Channels For N1H1 Schools
z Financial Literacy and Economic Security
z Texas pastor accuses school district of ‘duplicity’ over Obama’s broa…
z where do you stand?

Edit This

from → Censorship, Communication, Communications, Education, Enlightenment, Exchanging Ideas, Free Speech, Freedom of Speech,
Intelligence, Issues, Media, Obama Administration, Public Issues, Teaching, The Little Guy

3 Responses leave one →

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 3 of 14

1.
2009 September 6
larsenrogers permalink

Great post. Thank you for a well thought out and sobering view.

Reply

edit

2.
2009 September 8
Jim Martin permalink

I have not listened or read Obama’s message to our children, but unless it is a blatant political message I see nothing wrong in letting it
go out to our schools. Let’s face it the message of staying in school and bettering yourself needs to be heard by the minority audience as
they are the ones dropping out at a higher rate. Seeing the message from a bi-racial President may have more resonance then the message
from yet another white male.

The problem is that since at least the Clinton Administration each President has politicized the office more and more and both the right
and left characterize each other with name calling as opposed to a true exchange of ideas. This means even what appears to be a straight
forward good thing is attacked.

Of course I’m more of a Libertarian and find that Ron Paul is one of the few voices that I consistently agree with and believe in. I no
longer believe our politicians see themselves as servants of the people, 95% of them believe themselves to be our rulers. The entire
Bush/Clinton/Bush/Obama regime has been nothing more then the selling of America to corporate interest and corporations are soulless
entities.

Way off track here, but I agree with the spirit of your post and wished our government really wanted a free exchange of ideas.

Reply

edit

3.
2009 September 8
Jim Martin permalink

So now I went and read his speech and it was a solid one for kids in school. If my kids were still of school age I would have just echoed
the President’s sentiments when they came home that evening. The only thing I could see anyone complaining about is the names he
choose to highlight were all more “ethnic” names instead of traditional anglo-saxon names and maybe adding a Mary Smith to the bunch
he would have sounded more inclusive. Of course no matter how many names he choose someone could complain. Good speech and no
reason for any side to complain.

Reply

edit

Leave a Reply

Logged in as Mitch Chester. Logout »

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 4 of 14

Comment:

Note: You can use basic XHTML in your comments. Your email address will never be published.

Subscribe to this comment feed via RSS

You are the author of this post.

Submit Comment

z Shared Emergency Radio

Listen to Shared
Emergency

z Recent Posts
{ Changing the Discourse in Washington-“Questions to the President”
{ Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship
{ Emicus.com…Community Powered Emergency Information
{ Maldives Steps Up Fight To Delay Climate Change Effects
{ GM: A Reassuring Charge Of Confidence
{ Jovian Warning II
{ Micro Crowdsourcing
{ America’s Broadcast Compass
{ Four Strategies the New GM Can Embrace To Succeed
{ Rising Sea Levels…The Saltwater Solution
{ Generalities and Detail…Views of Fragile and Divided Earth
{ Connection: Threats of Military Conflict and Evolution of the Internet
{ Social Networking and Recovery From the Great Hurricane of 2009
{ June 13, 2009: Another Journalistic Shift (Again) From Iran
{ Preserving and Cherishing the “Pale Blue Dot.”
z SharedEmergency on Twitter
{ The Joe Wilson affair points out the need for "President's Questions." http://www.SharedEmergency.wordpress.com 2 days ago
{ Learning from "You LIe." See "Changing the Discourse in Washington-Questions to the President."
http://www.SharedEmergency.wordpress.com. 5 days ago
{ On Obama's education speech..."Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship." http://www.SharedEmergency.wordpress.com
1 week ago
{ Listen to New Website Offers Community Powered Eme... on Shared Emergency anytime on BlogTalkRadio.
http://tobtr.com/s/676195 #BlogTalkRadio 2 weeks ago
{ Come listen to New Website Offers Community Powered Emergency In... on Shared Emergency on air now!
http://tobtr.com/s/676195 #BlogTalkRadio 2 weeks ago
z Archived Articles from SE
Select Month

z Blogroll
{ FinancialLiteracy.us
{ Law Office of Mitchell A. Chester, P.A.
{ PositiveEconomicNews.com
{ SharedEmergency.com

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 5 of 14

z Tags
Affordable Housing Agriculture AIG Architecture Automakers Bailout Climate Change Communication Constitutional Rights Credit Detroit Disaster
Recovery Economic Recovery Economy Education Energy Financial Literacy Global Warming Google Government Health Housing

Policy Human Body Hurricanes Journalism Justice Media Medicine Nanotechnology NASA Newspapers Obama Administration Physics Public Issues
Questions Social Media Space Stimulus Package Technology TED The Little Guy Volunteerism War Weather Workforce Housing
z Category Cloud

Affordable Housing Bailout Blogs Communication Communications Disaster

Recovery Economic Recovery Economy Education Energy Enlightenment Fincancial
Literacy Global Warming/Climate Change Google Health Hurricanes Internet Issues Journalism
Media NASA and Space Policy Obama Administration Physics Social Media Teaching
Technology TED The Little Guy Weather Workforce Housing
z Recent Comments
{ Ellis on Changing the Discourse in Washington-“Questions to the President”
{ Bob on Changing the Discourse in Washington-“Questions to the President”
{ Jim Martin on Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship
{ Jim Martin on Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship
{ larsenrogers on Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship
z Search
type and press enter

z Politico Politics Feed

{ Beck vs. Limbaugh 09/17/2009
If Glenn Beck is the man of the moment, where does that leave Rush Limbaugh?
Michael Calderone
{ Obama, thesis fuel Va. gov. debate 09/17/2009
President Barack Obama loomed large Thursday in the Virginia gubernatorial debate.
Andy Barr
{ What does U.S. get for missile move? 09/17/2009
Some members of Obama's own party ask: what is the U.S. getting in return for changing it?
Ben Smith
{ Boehner works to keep up with base 09/17/2009
He's trying to harness the anger of GOP base without allowing his conference to veer too far to the right.
Glenn Thrush
{ About-face on anti-missile defense 09/17/2009
Obama says the U.S. is shelving Bush-era plans.
Jen DiMascio
{ Michelle Obama turns to health care 09/17/2009
Pushing for health care reform didn't turn out so well for the last first lady in a Democratic White House.
Nia-Malika Henderson
{ Democrats join GOP czar wars 09/17/2009
Glenn Beck and the GOP pick up reinforcements.
Manu Raju
{ Mass. mulls over Sen. Dukakis 09/17/2009
Former Dem presidential nominee Michael Dukakis has emerged as a top contender Kennedy's seat.
Michael Falcone
{ Obama continues health care hard sell 09/17/2009

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 6 of 14

He focuses on young people who got him elected but have yet to rally around the health care debate.
Carol E. Lee
{ Bush vets: Who is Matt Latimer? 09/17/2009
Top officials from George W. Bush's W.H. are left with questions about latest unflattering insider account.
Andy Barr
{ The race from race: Dems rebut Carter 09/16/2009
He is 84 and three decades removed from the W.H., but he still has the power to make Democrats run.
Alex Isenstadt
{ Breaking down the Baucus bill 09/17/2009
He sets stage for a titanic struggle in his own party.
Carrie Budoff Brown,Patrick O'Connor
z ScienceDaily Newsfeed
{ Scientists Complete First Geological Global Map Of Jupiter's Satellite Ganymede 09/18/2009
Scientists have assembled the first global geological map of Jupiter's moon Ganymede -- the solar system's largest moon -- and in
doing so have gathered new evidence into the formation of the large, icy satellite.
{ African Origin Of Anthropoid Primates Called Into Question With New Fossil Discovery 09/18/2009
Well-preserved craniodental fossil remains from two primate species have been discovered during excavations at an Algerian site.
They reveal that the small primate Algeripithecus, which is 50 million years old and until now was considered as the most ancient
African anthropoid, in fact belonged to another group, that of the crown strepsirhines.
{ Zinc Deficiences A Global Concern 09/18/2009
Other vitamins and nutrients may get more headlines, but experts say as many as two billion people around the world have diets
deficient in zinc -- and studies are raising concerns about the health implications this holds for infectious disease, immune
function, DNA damage and cancer. One new study has found DNA damage in humans caused by only minor zinc def […]
{ Space-related Radiation Research Could Help Reduce Fractures In Cancer Survivors 09/18/2009
A research project looking for ways to reduce bone loss in astronauts may yield methods of improving the bone health of cancer
patients undergoing radiation treatment. The scientists are seeking to understand radiation-induced bone loss and to determine
which treatments can be used to reduce that loss and lower the risk of fractures. The results could be ben […]
{ New Insights Into Cardiac Aging 09/18/2009
Researchers have found that the conserved protein d4eBP modulates cardiac aging in Drosophila (fruit flies). The team also found
that d4eBP, which binds to the protein dEif4e, protects heart function against aging.
{ Set World Standards For Electronics Recycling, Reuse To Curb E-waste Exports To Developing Countries, Experts Urge
09/18/2009
Processes and policies governing the reuse and recycling of electronic products need to be standardized worldwide to stem and
reverse the growing problem of illegal and harmful e-waste processing practices in developing countries, according to experts
behind the world's first international e-waste academy.
{ Web-based Screening And Intervention May Reduce Drinking In University Students 09/18/2009
Web-based screening and personalized interventions for alcohol use may reduce drinking in undergraduate students, according to a
new report.
{ Swift Makes Best-ever Ultraviolet Portrait Of Andromeda Galaxy 09/18/2009
In a break from its usual task of searching for distant cosmic explosions, NASA's Swift satellite has acquired the highest-resolution
view of a neighboring spiral galaxy ever attained in the ultraviolet. The galaxy, known as M31 in the constellation Andromeda, is
the largest and closest spiral galaxy to our own.
{ During CPR, More Chest Compressions Mean More Saved Lives 09/18/2009
The chance that a person in cardiac arrest will survive increases when rescuers doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) spend
more time giving chest compressions, according to a multi-center study.
{ Laser Processes Promise Better Artificial Joints, Arterial Stents 09/18/2009
Researchers are developing technologies that use lasers to create arterial stents and longer-lasting medical implants that could be
manufactured 10 times faster and also less expensively than is now possible.
{ Cases Of Liver Cancer Reduced In Younger Population Vaccinated For Hepatitis B 09/18/2009
A 20-year follow-up study revealed a dramatic drop in liver cancer cases among 6- to 19-year-olds who were vaccinated for the
hepatitis B virus at birth, according to a new study.
{ Chloride Found At Levels That Can Harm Aquatic Life In Urban Streams Of Northern US 09/18/2009
Levels of chloride, a component of salt, are elevated in many urban streams and groundwater across the northern United States,
according to a new government study. Chloride levels above the recommended federal criteria set to protect aquatic life were
found in more than 40 percent of urban streams tested. The study was released today by the US Geological Sur […]
z Alert Net NGO and Humanitarian News Alerts
{ Massachusetts House approves bill on Kennedy seat 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters * House approves bill for interim senator, Senate to vote * Basketball tycoon Pagliuca enters race for Senate seat
(Adds bill to go to Senate Friday; quote in paragraph 9) By Kevin McNicholas ...
{ Indonesia cannot relax militant fight: Australia PM 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters CANBERRA, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The shooting of Indonesia's most wanted militant was a step forward in the fight
against regional extremism, Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said on Friday, while ...
{ EU worries US Senate dragging its feet on climate 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters * Delay "not a realistic political position," envoy says * Senators seeks to build on measure passed in June * U.S.
EPA set to take some climate actions WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters ...

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 7 of 14

{ FEATURE-Sovereignty, oil hunt complicate Arctic research 09/17/2009

Source: Reuters * Arctic sovereignty complicates research * Oil industry exploration cuts ships available * Expedition science
chief helps design new vessel By Jeffrey Jones ABOARD THE PROFESSOR KHROMOV, Sept ...
{ FACTBOX-Race creeps into U.S. healthcare debate 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters Sept 17 (Reuters) - A flap over whether racial antagonism toward U.S. President Barack Obama is spurring
opposition to his healthcare reform bid has added an unpredictable element to the debate over ...
{ Karzai says vote was fair, Italian troops hit 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters * Karzai says poll was "true and fair" * Suicide attack kills 16, including 6 Italian soldiers * Taliban claim
responsibility for attack (Adds Berlusconi on troop numbers, withdrawal ...
{ Toyota plans marketing blitz to reverse U.S. slide 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters * Toyota to spend $1 bln in marketing in fourth quarter * Toyota plans one or two more Prius models * Toyota
dealers to get higher profit margins (Adds company comment, details, background) By ...
{ Rich countries to share some swine flu vaccine 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters (Updates throughout with quotes, details) WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Nine rich countries agreed to share
extra swine flu vaccine with less-developed countries on Thursday, just as companies ...
{ EU to push rich at G20 for urgent climate money 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters * EU leaders to press for urgent climate finance at G20 * Summit highlights need for 5-7 bln euros/yr in 2010-
2012 (Adds detail on carbon tariffs) By Darren Ennis and Pete Harrison BRUSSELS ...
{ Obama, Baucus push U.S. healthcare reform 09/17/2009
Source: Reuters (For more coverage of U.S. healthcare reform [nN20512341]) * Obama tells rally: "This is the hard part." *
Baucus launches sales job on healthcare bill * Democrats criticize, ...
z Technology Review
{ Advanced Solar Panels Coming to Market 09/17/2009
Nanosolar's new factory could help lower the price of solar power, if the market cooperates.
{ NASA Road-Tests New Moon Rover 09/17/2009
Engineers put the electric rover through its paces in the Arizona desert.
{ Advertisement: 09/17/2009
{ Blog - How Quantum Probability Theory Could Explain Human Logical Fallacies 09/17/2009
A quantum model of reasoning beats its classical counterpart in explaining why humans make errors in judging probabilities.
{ Blog - Gist Is Now Available to All 09/17/2009
{ Video - NASA Road-Tests New Moon Rover 09/17/2009
A NASA-led team of researchers called the Desert Research and Technology Studies (D-RATS) field test their new lunar rover
and human-exploration robotic systems in Black Point Lava Flow, AZ.
{ Color-Blind Monkeys Get Full Color Vision 09/16/2009
Gene therapy can transform the visual system, even in adults.
{ The New Faces of Android 09/16/2009
Several new devices will test the appeal of Google's mobile platform.
{ Can You Trust Crowd Wisdom? 09/16/2009
Researchers say online recommendation systems can be distorted by a minority of users.
{ Blog - Cosmic Cold Spot Just a Trick of the Light 09/16/2009
The famous cold spot in the cosmic microwave background is an artifact of the statistical methods used to find it, according to a
new analysis.
z NPR Business News
{ Tariff On Tires Ignites Debate On Prices, Jobs 09/17/2009
When the Obama administration slapped tariffs on Chinese-made tires, the move was cheered by organized labor. But analysts say
the action is not likely to save many jobs. And it may cost consumers more to replace their tires.
{ Economic Woes Force Arts Groups To Scale Back 09/17/2009
The beginning of fall usually marks an exciting time for art lovers, as organizations announce their new seasons of music, dance
and theater. But this year, many of those patrons have canceled their subscriptions — forcing arts organizations to trim their
offerings.
{ Economists Debate 'Public Option' On Health Care 09/17/2009
The idea of creating a government-run health care plan to compete with regular insurance companies has received mixed grades
among economists. The debate is over whether the plan would eliminate waste in the system as advertised.
{ Madoff's Long Island Beach House Sold 09/17/2009
Days after the U.S. Marshals Service put the seized property on the market, an unknown buyer paid more than $8.75 million,
according to a spokeswoman for the broker the Corcoran Group.
{ Panel Begins Inquiry Into Financial Meltdown 09/17/2009
The chairman of a new congressionally appointed panel has promised a no-holds barred investigation into last year's devastating
economic collapse. The inquiry will look into whether any of the nation's biggest financial firms and the regulators in charge of
monitoring them were guilty of criminal misconduct.
{ Feeling Richer? Americans' Net Worth Grows 09/17/2009
American households saw their wealth increase this spring for the first time in nearly two years as the waning recession breathed
new life into stock portfolios and home values. The Federal Reserve says household net worth grew by $2 trillion to $53.1 trillion
in the April-to-June quarter.
{ Unemployment Claims Continue Downward Trend 09/17/2009

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 8 of 14

The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits fell last week to the lowest level since early July, evidence
that job cuts are slowing. Initial claims for unemployment insurance dropped to a seasonally adjusted 545,000, the third decline in
the past four weeks.
{ Housing Starts Highest In Nine Months 09/17/2009
Housing construction rose 1.5 percent last month to the highest level since November as a big surge in apartment building offset a
decline in single-family activity. The annual rate of 598,000 units was slightly lower than the 600,000-unit pace economists had
forecast.
{ Credit Card Charge-Offs Increased In August 09/17/2009
A day after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke declared the recession "very likely over," there are signs that consumers are
still feeling the pressure. Credit card charge-offs — the amount judged by banks to be uncollectable — went up in August.
{ How Credit Card Rule Changes Affect Consumers 09/17/2009
Renee Montagne talks with Cardweb.com founder Robert McKinley about changes in credit card regulations and the consumer
experience in the past year.
z NPR Technology
{ 'Eyetooth' Helps Restore Woman's Sight 09/17/2009
By putting a lens in a portion of a blind woman's tooth — then placing the tooth in her eye — a Florida eye surgeon has given a
60-year-old patient with a scarred cornea a new chance to see.
{ Who Should Control The Virtual Library? 09/15/2009
Google stands to be the single repository for millions of the world's books. Advocates applaud the organization and the access a
digital library can afford. But critics worry about monopoly and profit motives, and what it means for readers' privacy.
{ Sen. Harkin Leaves Mixed Message On Cellphone Safety 09/15/2009
A Senate subcommittee searches for answers on radiation risks from cellphone.
{ News In Technology Examined 09/14/2009
The NFL is playing some blacked-out games on its Web site, and there is controversy over Kurt Cobain's Guitar Hero avatar
singing some very un-Nirvana songs. Omar Gallaga, technology culture reporter for the Austin American-Statesman, offers his
insight.
{ Fantasy Football: Increasingly A Woman's Game, Too 09/14/2009
Some industry estimates say more than 20 million people play the online game — and a small, but increasing group of them are
women. One group says they may use different techniques to make picks, but they play just as hard as men.
{ Post Your 140 Characters Of Fame! 09/12/2009
Welcome to the party! As Scott Simon approaches his millionth Twitter follower, we're celebrating by inviting all of you to enter
our 140 Characters Of Fame feature.
{ Social Media's Growing Influence 09/12/2009
Host Scott Simon has nearly 1 million followers on Twitter. He speaks to media and technology expert Clay Shirky about the uses
and implications of social media in politics, in which government collaborates with citizens to solve local problems.
{ Health Care, As Seen Through Twitter 09/11/2009
There is a Twitter contest to come up with three-word health care reform policy statements. The prize is $100 to each of the five
best entries. Some people with strong opinions about the subject submit their own.
{ Are Post-Sept. 11 Airport Screens Just 'Security Theater'? 09/11/2009
While the technology to screen passengers has become more advanced and the check-in lines a little shorter, the question of
whether flying is terrorism-proof remains. Some critics claim much security screening is needless.
{ Students Get In Shape And Get Credit For Wii Class 09/10/2009
Students at the University of Houston can earn credit for playing Wii Fit for 20 to 30 minutes twice a week. Charles Layne,
chairman of the Department of Health and Human Performance, says he sees the class as a gateway to other physical activity for
students who might not otherwise engage in traditional sports.
z Scientific American
{ Solar System Dwarf Planet "Haumea" Has a Mystery Spot 09/16/2009
Haumea, the mini planet whose detection set off an international and as yet unresolved war of words in 2005 between the two
teams claiming its discovery, is back on the astronomy scene with more intrigue. [More]
{ Loci Color: Gene Therapy Cures Color-Blindness in Adult Monkeys 09/16/2009
Two naturally color-blind squirrel monkeys, Dalton and Sam, can now see their food--and the world--in full color, after a decade
of study by a husband and wife research team who treated them with gene therapy . [More]
{ Drilling Project Pulls Up Evidence for Early Oxygen in the Oceans 09/15/2009
{ iSniff: Pocket-Size Pollution Sensors Promise Big Improvement in Monitoring Personal Environment 09/15/2009
Once large enough to be mistaken for terrorist bombs, portable air pollution monitors are now being shrunk into smaller and
smaller wearable devices that can be easily dispatched for environmental detective work: Is black carbon soot emitted by school
buses contributing not just to warming global temperatures , but raising childhood asthma rates, too? The […]
{ Open-Access Flu Research Web Site Is Relaunched Amid Controversy 09/14/2009
A database designed to help researchers worldwide develop vaccines for avian and seasonal influenza viruses, not to mention the
prolific H1N1 "swine flu," is now at the center of an ugly rift between its co-creators. Both the Global Initiative on Sharing Avian
Influenza Data (GISAID) Foundation that initiated the effort and the Swiss Institute o […]
{ Navy Green: Military Investigates Biofuels to Power Its Ships and Planes 09/14/2009
Ships powered by algae and planes flying on weeds : that's part of the future the U.S. Navy hopes to bring to fruition. This week,
the seagoing branch of the military purchased 40,000 gallons of jet fuel derived from camelina--a weedy relative of canola--and
20,055 gallons of algae-derived diesellike fuel for ships. [More]

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 9 of 14

{ Electron Bolts: Even Deeply Bound Electrons Can Escape Molecules via Quantum Tunneling 09/12/2009
In quantum mechanics particles can escape from their confines, even if a barrier stands in their way, via a process known as
tunneling. Tunneling is no mere quantum curiosity--tunneling electrons, for instance, are harnessed by scanning tunneling
microscopes to observe on the smallest scales . Those probes can image a surface at the atomic level by detectin […]
{ NO Good: Nitric Oxide May Be Key to Overcoming Antibiotic Resistance 09/11/2009
Researchers may be a touch closer to eliminating antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus ) and anthrax, thanks to a troublesome air pollutant --nitric oxide (NO). [More]
{ Hispanics Face Higher Cancer Risk from Breathing Household Chemicals 09/11/2009
Elena Rios still remembers going into the bathroom as a child and smelling a pungent odor from the big, round air freshener
hanging on the back of the toilet. [More]
{ Earlier Model of Human Brain's Energy Usage Underestimated Its Efficiency 09/10/2009
The human brain is an incredible energy drain. Taking up only about 2 percent of the body's mass, the organ uses more than a fifth
of bodily energy . Ever more accurate calculations of its energy budget at the level of the neuron (nerve cell) are important to
researchers ranging from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) analysts to evolutionary […]
z Guardian Unlimited with link to PDF newspaper option
{ Obama scraps plans for missile defence shield 09/17/2009
Ewen MacAskill, Ian Traynor
{ Man faces second execution attempt 09/17/2009
Chris McGreal
{ Iraqi man shot after throwing slipper at US troops 09/17/2009
Martin Chulov
{ Obama's policy is naive, says Israel's former UN ambassador 09/17/2009
Jonathan Freedland
{ Politics of hair 09/17/2009
Hannah Pool
{ Mennonite father dies in Bolivia after being hung for nine hours 09/17/2009
Array
{ Leonard Bernstein and me 09/17/2009
Array
{ Why I threw the shoe 09/17/2009
Array
{ Smokers are now New York's most discriminated minority 09/17/2009
Alexander Chancellor
{ Natural selection 09/17/2009
Array
z Foreign Affairs
{ What to Read on Syrian Politics 09/15/2009
{ Lebanon’s Shadow Government 09/10/2009
{ The World Next Week Podcast: September 11, 2009 09/10/2009
September 10, 2009 Foreign Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose and CFR.org Editor Robert McMahon preview major world
events in the week ahead. In this week's podcast: allegations of election fraud plague Afghanistan; the U.S. Congress gets to work
after its summer recess; and the United States m […]
{ Hamas and Its Discontents 09/09/2009
{ Party Time in Tokyo 09/07/2009
{ The Fed's Political Problem 09/02/2009
{ What I Believe 09/01/2009
{ International Relations in the Post Cold War Era: Professor Colette Mazzucelli 09/01/2009
September 1, 2009 Y45.1000.001 International Relations in the Post Cold War Era Professor Colette Mazzucelli New York
University Course Objectives Syllabus_Mazzucelli_IRPostColdWar.pdf
{ Comparative Politics: Professor Colette Mazzucelli 09/01/2009
September 1, 2009 PSC02 (2) - Comparative Politics Professor Colette Mazzucelli Hofstra University Course Description
Syllabus_Mazzucelli_ComPol.pdf
{ Colette Mazzucelli 08/31/2009
z VuVox & Time Pictures of the Week
{ Pictures of the Week 09/17/2009
z

VodPodPod

15 views

Weekend Project:
Blubberbot 17 Sep 09

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 10 of 14

1040
453 views
views

Best Tennis Shot

Roger
Ever? Federer's 14 Sep 09
Between the Legs 14 Sep 09

2141
views

Between Two
Ferns with Zach 08 Sep 09

2575
views

The Onion Does

Facebook & 01 Sep 09

see all 672 videos >

I collect with vodpod
z

z Categories
{ Affordable Housing
{ Africa
{ Agriculture
{ AIG
{ Airline Safety
{ Architecture
{ Astronomy
{ Automakers
{ Aviation
{ Bailout
{ Biodiversity
{ Blogs
{ Body
{ Brain
{ Carl Sagan
{ Censorship
{ Climate Change
{ CNBC
{ CNN
{ Communication
{ Communications
{ Congress
{ Constitution
{ Cosmos
{ Courts
{ Credit
{ Crowdsourcing
{ Detroit
{ Disaster Recovery
{ Economic Development
{ Economic Recovery
{ Economy
{ Education
{ Energy
{ Enlightenment
{ Exchanging Ideas
{ FAA
{ Fincancial Literacy
{ Foreclosures
{ Free Speech
{ Freedom of Speech
{ General Motors
{ Geoengineering
{ Global Warming
{ Global Warming/Climate Change
{ Google
{ H1N1 Virus
{ Health

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 11 of 14

{ Health Care
{ Housing Policy
{ Human Body
{ Hurricanes
{ Intelligence
{ Internet
{ Iran
{ Issues
{ Journalism
{ Justice
{ Language
{ Media
{ Medicine
{ Mexico
{ Nanomedicine
{ Nanoscience
{ Nanotechnology
{ NASA
{ NASA and Space Policy
{ New Age
{ Newspapers
{ Numbers
{ Obama Administration
{ Physics
{ Politics
{ Population Growth
{ Public Issues
{ Questions
{ Quotes
{ Rising Sea Levels
{ Seawater
{ Social Media
{ Stock Market
{ Swine Flu
{ Teaching
{ Technology
{ TED
{ The Little Guy
{ The New Consumer
{ The Presidency
{ Transportation Safety
{ Uncategorized
{ Wall Street
{ Walter Cronkite
{ War
{ Weather
{ Workforce Housing
z Categories
{ Affordable Housing
{ Africa
{ Agriculture
{ AIG
{ Airline Safety
{ Architecture
{ Astronomy
{ Automakers
{ Aviation
{ Bailout
{ Biodiversity
{ Blogs
{ Body
{ Brain
{ Carl Sagan
{ Censorship
{ Climate Change
{ CNBC
{ CNN

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 12 of 14

{ Communication
{ Communications
{ Congress
{ Constitution
{ Cosmos
{ Courts
{ Credit
{ Crowdsourcing
{ Detroit
{ Disaster Recovery
{ Economic Development
{ Economic Recovery
{ Economy
{ Education
{ Energy
{ Enlightenment
{ Exchanging Ideas
{ FAA
{ Fincancial Literacy
{ Foreclosures
{ Free Speech
{ Freedom of Speech
{ General Motors
{ Geoengineering
{ Global Warming
{ Global Warming/Climate Change
{ Google
{ H1N1 Virus
{ Health
{ Health Care
{ Housing Policy
{ Human Body
{ Hurricanes
{ Intelligence
{ Internet
{ Iran
{ Issues
{ Journalism
{ Justice
{ Language
{ Media
{ Medicine
{ Mexico
{ Nanomedicine
{ Nanoscience
{ Nanotechnology
{ NASA
{ NASA and Space Policy
{ New Age
{ Newspapers
{ Numbers
{ Obama Administration
{ Physics
{ Politics
{ Population Growth
{ Public Issues
{ Questions
{ Quotes
{ Rising Sea Levels
{ Seawater
{ Social Media
{ Stock Market
{ Swine Flu
{ Teaching
{ Technology
{ TED
{ The Little Guy
{ The New Consumer

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 13 of 14

{ The Presidency
{ Transportation Safety
{ Uncategorized
{ Wall Street
{ Walter Cronkite
{ War
{ Weather
{ Workforce Housing
z

September 2009
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
« Aug
z Meta
{ Site Admin
{ Log out
{ Entries RSS
{ Comments RSS
{ WordPress.com
z

September 2009
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30
« Aug
z NetworkedBlogs

NetworkedBlogs
Blog:
SharedEmergency.wordpress.com
Topics:
News, Analysis, Issues

Follow my blog

z blogs-collection.com
Blogs Directory
z About the Editor

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009
Today’s Lesson: Truth Panels and Censorship « Page 14 of 14

SharedEmergency is here for a number of reasons. First, the traditional media is failing the American public, and many stories and issues
are ignored. Next, I discuss ideas and issues by also advancing potential solutions, so I am not just identifying a topic, but trying to
constructively add to the voice of those seeking resolution of the problem. Third, I have ideas and like to write and broadcast in the "new
media." Lastly, but most importantly, this blog is devoted to my son and his children, who I hope will inherit a better world.

z Meta
{ Site Admin
{ Log out
{ Entries RSS
{ Comments RSS
{ WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

Theme: Vigilance by Jestro

http://sharedemergency.wordpress.com/2009/09/06/todays-lesson-truth-panels-and-censors... 9/17/2009