Author: Deborah Mole

The October 15, 2012 Informania radio show included an interview with Steve Johnson, Director of the Seawolves Debate Program about watching the presidential debates critically.

He recommended the following tips to enhance your ability to think critically during the debates:

Write down the questions ask and listen for answers.  This will help you see if the candidates actually answer the questions.

Listen to the debates instead of watching them.  This way the words candidates are saying will have a greater impact than the presentation of them.

Check facts following the debates.  A good site to check is factcheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Songs played during this edition of Informania include:  Information, by Dredg;  Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off by Rosemary Clooney, and We Can Work it Out, by the Beatles.

Library Science Professor Trina Carter has organized displays and activities to engage students in learning about the censorship of books and music.  This week on Informania, Deb the Librarian talked with Trina about censorship, and the importance of celebrating Banned Books Week.

Banned Books Week celebrates the freedom to have access to and read books that everyone may not approve of.  Learn more about Banned Books Week from the American Libraries Association: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek

Listen to Bill Moyers talk about Banned Books Week:                         http://vimeo.com/49944167

Songs played during this show were all challenged by a at some point in history.  Songs titles and artists include:  Brown Eyed Girl, by Van Morrison, Rocky Mountain High, by John Denver, The Pill by Loretta Lynn.