1. A method of automatically verifying temporal characteristics of electronic: documents with a computing system comprising: a. identifying at least a first event having first content embodied in a first electronic document with the computing system; wherein said first electronic document is associated with a first source; b. analyzing said first electronic document with the computing system to identify first temporal components; wherein said first temporal components relate to a state of said first event; c. calculating a temporal value for said first electronic document with the computing system, which temporal value relates to an absolute time characteristic of said event; d. automatically verifying said temporal value of said first electronic document with the computing system by querying sources separate from said first source.