Read Some Banned Books

The American Library Association is observing its annual Banned Books Week, calling attention to the endless attempts to censor everything from 1984 (a bit ironic, no?) to Captain Underpants. Also, a good list of banned books is available from Google.

Thanks to Katherine Mangu-Ward at Reason for the links.

Open the Government

Paul McMasters, a columnist for the Gannett News Service (which owns the Louisville Courier-Journal, among many other newspapers), has a great piece out today on the dangers to democracy when government secrecy is on the rise. And when information isn't withheld, the facts are often distorted or ignored by members of Congress when they debate important issues, according to a new research study.

Open the Government's Secrecy Report Card 2006 has just been released, documenting the unprecedented rise in government attempts to make unclassified information off-limits to the public. Check out Open the Government's website, and their great animated video, "Are We Safer in the Dark?"