Chewing the Facts is a round up of recent news for Moxy readers to chew on and chat about at their after-work cocktails or during mid-day coffee breaks. Published  twice a month, this brain candy is meant to create an open conversation about the things happening in our world today. 

* * *

Should the Times be a Truth Vigilante?

When New York Times‘ Public Editor Arthur Brisbane posted an article asking readers if The Times should be a truth vigilante readers responded with a resounding “yes,” even blaming the media giant for the poor state of the world today.

Brisbane, who likely meant more to ask how readers preferred the paper communicate when a statement made by a public official might be interpretation rather than fact, was likely taken aback by the response. Yet as one commentator on Brisbane’s follow up piece wrote:

The “difficult” part should be deciding exactly *how* to correct the lies. You are asking *whether* you should be doing this. That’s why you’re getting this reaction.
Put another way, even if all your readers misunderstood your initial question, why does that matter at all? Isn’t the real point here that the readers of the NYT have, en masse, corroborated your (however unintentional) implicit suggestion that the newsroom regularly reprints the lies of politicians while making no effort to correct them?
Read the full article at The New York Times.

The Dumbest Third-Grade Assignment Ever?

In Gwinnett County a third-grade math teacher + math word problems about slavery = a lot of trouble. The Atlanta-area elementary school asked students  arithmetic problems that included questions like: “Each tree had 56 oranges. If eight slaves pick them equally, then how much would each slave pick?” And: “If Frederick got two beatings per day, how many beatings did he get in one week?”

Administrators claim the questions were an attempt to simultaneously incorporate both math and social studies—another question referenced Susan B. Anthony—but were quick to agree the questions were poorly written. Read the full article at Salon. 

Election Law Experts Say James O’Keefe Allies Could Face Charges Over Voter Fraud Stunt

James O’Keefe, who gained national attention for his release of video recordings of workers at ACORN offices in 2009, reportedly attempted to prove voter fraud during the primaries is possible by organizing a group who attempted to use the names of the recently deceased to obtain voter ballots.

The attempts were allegedly an effort to prove the need for voter ID laws that, according to TPM, voting rights experts say unfairly impact minority voters. O’Keefe and his associates procured the ballots but did not attempt to vote. Experts also say that doesn’t matter—the law bans not just the casting of but also the procurement of ballots under a false name. Read the full article on TPM.

Scientists Grow Sperm in Laboratory Dish

In a recent breakthrough that could potentially help infertile men have biological children, researchers in Germany and Israel have successfully grown mouse sperm from a few cells in a laboratory dish.

The next step is to do the same for human sperm. Male infertility has become an increasing problem over the last 50 years, matched by a decrease in the male sperm count. Yet for various reasons the issue is less well known—and less well funded—that treatment for female infertility. Still, this is a huge breakthrough. Read the full article at The Telegraph. 

How Would SOPA Affect You?

From the protests in the capital to the boycotts of GoDaddy services, in protest of the company’s support for the bill, chances are you’ve heard mention of SOPA. Originally introduced into the House by Tex. Rep. Lamar Smith in October, the Stop Online Piracy Act has been the center of much controversy.

Supporters say the bill will help stop rogue websites from infringing on US Copyrights; protesters claim it will lead to innocent sites being shut down in governmental efforts to control the internet. CNET set out to answer some of the most common questions in the most objective piece I’ve read on the subject yet. Read the full article on CNET.