Saddam's Execution Has Extreme Significance

(WARNING! This post contains images and links that may be offensive to some readers; discretion is advised.)

A video phone captured yesterday's execution of Saddam Hussein. It is very graphic, showing the whole execution, from the moment the executioner wrapped the noose around Mr. Hussein's neck to the moments afterward, as his lifeless body dangled from the the rope.


I linked to this video for one reason only - not to sensationalize, create controversy or offend the senses - but to highlight the historical and political significance of the video. To this end, I feel it is necessary to show the clip I am discussing, as both the video's content and delivery method are relevant to the point I am trying to make.

Not only does the clip document the fall of one of the world's worst dictators by his own people; it doubly shows how technology, despite political tensions and war, has given power to individuals to tell stories from their perspective - whenever and however they deem fit.

It is important to note that I am not certain as to the affiliation of the person who captured the video and aired it online, nor is this AS IMPORTANT as the fact the viral distribution is creating a new method of documenting history.

This clip, whatever motives or political affiliations the person who took it has, are insignificant when compared to the impact this shift in media power is having on individual freedom and expression.

Years from now, this video may be viewed for the political and historical significance it captured - the rise of citizen empowerment.

San Jose ,SJSU ,Soapbox Prophet ,Tech ,blog ,Saddam Hussein,,Web 2.0,,Andrew Venegas,
,execution,citizen journalism

Well, that about sums it up...

Let no one ever say he didn't say it like he saw it. Go Steve.
[The following is a repost from Steve Sloan on his website, SJSU Tech on a mission, on 11.29.2006]

Editorial: The evil of opacity

What we would like to do, may not be what we can do (and maybe that is okay)
That is just a fact of life. We learn as kids, "if wishes were horses then beggars would ride." Sometimes it is easy to just keep our wants and needs to ourselves. But, when it comes to what we want and need as a university, I think openness is better than being closed. I think we need to be more open about what we need, we should put it out there, rather than use the lack of resources as an excuse.

There is also the matter of allocation of the resources we do have. If folks are engaged in the thought process I think they are more likely to help us. I think we need to openly talk about where we see our school going and our vision of the future. I think we need to be free to do this as individuals as well as an institution. I think we need to have open conversations in a way that engages our colleagues, our partners and also our customers, the students. I believe our customers deserve more respect. I think our other customers, the public, deserves to engaged, after all, they pay our salaries. They are taxed to pay our salaries.

SJSU is a public state funded university. I see it as being paradoxical that we public servants are performing our public services spending the taxpayers hard earned money and yet we see it as the right thing to do to be opaque. New media is all about transparency and conversation. But, from what I see, that seems counter to a university culture of closed doors, politics, secrecy and overall opacity.

To me that opacity is not right, it is evil, and maybe that is why I seem to be so good at getting in trouble when I state my opinion. I may be wrong often and readily admit when I am wrong. There are worse things than being wrong. I think if you are open about your intentions and you are wrong and someone points that out you have an opportunity to change for the better. But, I think if you exist in a world of shadows and you are wrong that is worse; because then your mistakes remain hidden they never have an opportunity to be amended. I would rather risk being openly wrong than have to be secretly right knowing my ideas will never see the light of the day.

I love my school and I think we should express our ideas and opinions, consider those of others and speak out about our feelings and embrace the collective intelligence of all those great folks who care about us enough to engage in a conversation constructively. That is why I love blogging and all the other forms of new media. It is based on the Internet and the two basic concepts of the Internet: the Internet routes around obstacles and enables communication to all nodes from all nodes. How does the Internet do this? It does that because on the Internet all nodes are equal. On the Internet all nodes are free to communicate.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet ,Tech ,JMC163,blog ,journalism , SJSU Tech on a Mission,Steve Sloan

Viacom Seeks Deal with YouTube

ArsTechnica released an article today saying that much of the content that was recently taken down from YouTube because of copyright infringement of Viacom, has been reposted.


Apparently, Viacom is possibly seeking some sort of revenue sharing venture with YouTube.

Viacom told multiple media outlets yesterday in a statement that it was interested in finding a workable business model for making clips available on the Internet, so one can only assume that some sort of revenue-sharing deal is in the works like those that YouTube signed with several music labels. Last week's takedown notices may have represented legitimate concern about giving away too much content at once, or they might have been a bargaining device designed to show YouTube exactly how upset its users would be if all Comedy Central content was pulled.

I personally think that it was a bargaining device as well. Anyone with two brain$ at Viacom knows the value of the buzz that is generated about The Daily Show and Colbert Report online.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet ,Tech , Colbert Report , Daily Show , You Tube , Viacom ,Tech ,

Bono TED video released

This year's TED conference had a myriad of speakers, all of whom have changed the world in one way or another. Bono is no different, having helped start the ONE campaign globally. Check out his video here; you won't be disappointed.


I really can't say enough about this campaign. I am personally a part of it, and highly recommend you look into it more closely yourself.

If you want to help with the ONE campaign yourself (even if you don't have money or much time to give), you can always vote for politicians with poverty high on their political agendas. Elections are on November 7th.



Also, share your link-love with ONE... a lot of famous bloggers have done it, and it creates a web of interconnectivity that gets things done. If you're reading this, you are probably an influencer - YOU'VE GOT A VOICE.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet ,Tech , Africa, TED,Bono, ONE,

The Nightly News with Jon Stewart?

Here's a great article from ArsTechnica. Apparently, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart DOES have the same meat as the nightly news.

The researchers looked at coverage of the 2004 Democratic and Republican national conventions and the first presidential debate of the fall campaign, all of which were covered by the mainstream broadcast news outlets and The Daily Show. Individual broadcasts of the nightly news and corresponding episodes of The Daily Show were analyzed by the researchers, who found that the "average amounts of video and audio substance in the broadcast network news stories" were no different from The Daily Show. Perhaps more telling, The Daily Show delivered longer stories on the topic.

I don't know if I should laugh or cry... probably both if you ask Jon Stewart.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet ,Tech , Jon Stewart, Daily Show,Ars Technica, news,

This Is a First for Me...

As a habit, I normally never watch FOX News (high blood pressure leads to a host of diseases), but the interview this morning with William Jefferson Clinton highlights to me how we the media shade history. Well worth the watch.



Video - (Windows Media Player)
Video - (Quicktime)

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU, Soapbox Prophet , Clinton , Fox News , media , politics