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The Internet.

While the internet serves as a valuable source of news about the terrible attacks and the on-going aftermath, and serves as a wonderful medium for people all over the planet to express their shock, sorrow, condolences, and anger over these events -- and their love for the idea that is America -- we also discover that it is the biggest, fastest source of unfounded gossip and rumors. Many of these were, I'm sure, well intended, but they really bogged things down.

There must have been more than 100,000 emails from folks misquoting Nostradamus -- most even quoted him as writing a quatrain in 1654 allegedly about this week's events. Unfortunately for those who sent these messages, Nostradamus died in 1566, about 90 years before this erroneous quatrain was allegedly written!

Then there was the article by the Canadian news commentator that, while very patriotic towards America, was full of factual errors. Among them a claim that not one nation repaid its debt to America, whereas many did pay; that America always aids other nations when natural disaster strike, but no one ever aids America. The fact is that a number of nations have provided medical, search and rescue and other assistance to America during its natural disasters. And, in what must be the most difficult and trying tragedy in American history, all of Europe, North and South America, Asia and many countries in the Middle and Near East are all offering America their prayers and assistance in a number of ways -- from giving blood and money donations, to offering and providing medical , rescue and military assistance, to assisting our FBI, Intelligence and Military communities in seeking out and punishing the cowards who committed these atrocities.

And there were many more messages containing unfounded and non-factual information about this week's events which spread faster than a computer virus. We're not blaming anyone, after all even the news media had trouble keeping the facts straight, but most were quick to acknowledge an error as soon as they discovered it. What we are saying is this: Please don't believe and don't forward what you received without verifying it.

Our days are sad enough, there is no need to take advantage of people's feelings and emotions by forwarding wrong information. We would hate to inadvertently run something on these events that was false, yet caused a reaction in one part of our nation or another, or in another nation, for that matter. While we can, and do, appreciate everyone's deep emotions and concerns about this terrible, terrible tragedy, we hope each and every one of you will use your heads before passing on an unfounded (and, sometimes, malicious) piece of information. Like all of you, we love this country and are very much caught up in all of these unexpected, sad events. And we love you, too, or I wouldn't even be running this message. Shame on those people, who start hoax emails and who start fake Internet donation pages only to add money to their own Swiss bank account (yes, this is happening!). Please, feel with your heart and your emotions, but think with your head.

-G. V. Palileo

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