The Chamber Video---and what it means for us

This morning it has been announced that the person who filmed the execution of Saddam Hussain has been arrested. Yes---he is one wanted man. (Click on the post for the full story in USA Today.) Thousands of folks, including the Evansville Observer would have wanted to talk to him too. You might wonder why.

Here are the facts of the case. Country devastated by war. Simple Iraqi with cell phone. Takes video. Publishes video worldwide in minutes.

What could be the problem?

Every nation, city and municipality in the world--and yes school boards too--- has been telling their citizens how difficult it is to record public meetings and make the audio and video available for all so that democracy can flourish. In one moment, just a simple dude with a cell phone has embarassed----well----everyone including the Observer....and even ...just maybe....it should have made some locals blush.

Lots of public relations firms could have handled the public relations release of information world wide for several million dollars----cash no checks please. Just for a moment----- think how all this makes them feel. Yes. Public Relations folks have feelings too. Let's get sensitive here. O.K.

And think also of the cities and nations around the world that have such difficulty communicating with their citizens because to do so is so expensive and.....well...there are just these budget limitations. And then this Iraqi guy just goes and----- in one bold stroke....well....

As one anonymous source has told the Evansville Observer, " We cannot let this happen again."

So....I am standing by....hoping I can get a call through to the jail where this guy is sitting.....and hoping that he might share some of his moxie with me.....and our community. So that someday we TOO can have such supurb audio and video release of public meetings.....chamber meetings so to speak.

Stay tuned. You can set up the RSS feed to be instantly updated on any new posting from the Evansville Observer. Or any new posting from the "Tales from Normal." Remember that in the land of "Normal" and in the death chambers of Iraqi you can instantly be informed---it is just in the rest of the world that there is this big time delay.

The Observer is on the job.