tech news 3/14: ‘free shaquanda cotton’ edition
thanks to everyone who has commented and posted on their blogs about this disturbing story regarding a wrongfully imprisoned 14-year old girl in texas. don’t forget to contact the governor and tavis smiley and tom joyner!
i missed last week regarding the tech news, so i hope you enjoy this edition.
buzzing across the news wire are reports that viacom giant is suing youtube for 1 billion dollars for copyright infringement of its mtv and comedy central videos. all-in-all, it amounts to about 160,000 videos. viacom attests that google-owned youtube did not satisfy their needs in negotiations. viacom also has allies in time warner, inc. and universal studios (big surprise: rolling eyes) in terms of how they view youtube. 
while i am by no means a lawyer, the main issue seems to be that viacom is upset that they were not able to get a hand in the giant pie of profit from users viewing their content. while youtube never actually sold the videos or pro-actively prevented the uploads, they did profit from the ad space sold on those pages. i think that viacom has a very slim case and will probably hinge their arguments on the ‘hard-work and sweat of those that make the show’. right. like i believe that. do you know any actors, musicians, or comedians that are actually given the rights to their content once they agree to distribute through viacom? yeah, that’s what i thought.
slashdot reported that dell has finally opened up a consumer survey regarding the overwhelming demand for linux to be distributed with
their computers. linux is an operating system, like windows and os x (for mac, often called ‘tiger’). it has been around for quite sometime and is very popular for technically-savvy users, especially database administrators. recently, there has been a big push for linux to become more user-friendly. versions like ubuntu and kubuntu (the screenshot to the right) have stepped up to the plate and are being reviewed across the tech-no-sphere as we speak.
why is this important? linux is free! free means that it can be opened up to all demographics without sacrificing experience. linux is also lightweight. this means that a user does not need the newest and most expensive computer to use it. all in all, this closes the digital divide. black people, especially ybp’s, need to know about linux and start churning the brain cells to make this a viable solution for our disparate, technology-challenged communities.
continuing on the ‘linux theme’, an editor over at hardocp tested linux for 30 days. it is a great read if you’re interested in trying it out. i’m still finishing the last pieces of the article, but what caught my eye the most was the ease of installing applications. simply check a box! in one sitting, he was able to install a dvd ripper, mp3 editor and player, bittorrent client, software to help connect his ipod, and video game emulator! be sure to also check out the beginner’s guide to running linux over at lifehacker.
Big ups! 
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As a 22 year old recent college graduate, I so badly needed to read this! 
Comment by Paula Mooney on 14 March 2007:
Yes, thank you for alerting us to the plight of Shaquanda Cotton as outlined in the Chicago Tribune story in the first place.
We will continue to pursue this injustice until Shaquanda Cotton is released…
Comment by AB on 14 March 2007:
Good post…Been wondering about Linux for awhile…
Comment by L on 15 March 2007:
As a resident of Paris, TX, I have never seen any inequality in this wonderful small town. Howard Witt gathered wrong information. There are plenty of white residents in our prisons..not just blacks. This is not to be a racial issue. You might want to read theparisnews.com and see for yourself.
Comment by Kimberly Michelle on 15 March 2007:
It’s understandable that you have loyalty to your hometown, but you are missing the point. She’s 14, she had no priors, and she’s in prison for shoving. Period. Race doesn’t even come into play until you read how the same judge let a white girl off with probation for a much more violent crime. The fact that whites are also in prison is irrelevant. I’m sure they deserve to be there. But Shaquanda Cotton does not.
Comment by Martin Lindsey on 15 March 2007:
Must be one of those weeks. Here’s what I read in the local paper first thing this morning. The link is from the Opelika-Auburn News. Beauregard is a small town here in Lee County, AL just outside Opelika. As it turns out the big after-school fight at their high school the other day was motivated by racial graffiti in the school building.
http://www.oanow.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=OAN/MGArticle/OAN_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173350221274&path=%21news
You may have to cut and paste it into your browser depending on how it shows up in the comments.
Pingback by YBP Guide — weekly roundup: 3/17 on 17 March 2007:
[...] tech news 3/14: ‘free shaquanda cotton’ edition [...]
Comment by Ms Johnson on 22 March 2007:
You know, this is rediculous. I didnt know that racism was still an issue like this. I think the judge who sentenced her needs to be FIRED!!!!Put his 14 year old in there for SHOVING!!!! This is not only ludicrous but very heart breaking….Please free this child and let her have the life that a normal 14 year old should have…..I will keep her and her family in my prayers….
Comment by another face on 22 March 2007:
For the resident of Paris, TX the point is a child is in jail for for 7 years for SHOVING! That doesn’t sound strange to you? Not even a little bit? Texas should be EMARRASSED by their actions! FREE THAT BABY!
Comment by A.J. McGowen on 22 March 2007:
Sad So Sad
This judge need to be imprisoned so he can get a taste of the good life. He KNOW he was very wrong and he will be punished. Check under the white hoods. I bet he is a member or has strong ties to them.
Comment by Clark on 23 March 2007:
Now that the devil meant this for evil watch God make this for Good. I believe this story and the whole situation down there with the fouled up justice system, the whole unbalance scales of justice and hatred will get its ugly face displayed to this nation and the world. God never did like ugliness. A child shoving an adult gets a prison sentence…? That’s hatred. Even for the adult to handle the matter in this fashion (court) means that person is not cut out for the job and should not be working with youth. Where is the forward thinking people….! This is clearly an abuse of power.. Enough, I will forward to article to my friends at Justice.
Comment by Bran on 23 March 2007:
I Listened to the radio this morning and couldn’t belive what I was hearing I thought it was some type of joke of some sort. I honestly think that the price that this young girl has to pay for pushing someone is too much and it is odvious that this is a racial incident. And the justice system is to blame from the aparent facts you have carcation people getting away with murder with parol and to have to be under someone else until 21 is rediculous.
Comment by Rev. Jerome Smith on 23 March 2007:
That,s really sad that they would justify doing something like that to a young black woman like, while letting their people go with a pat on the back. But my God tells me that the gates of hell shall not prevail and no weapon formed against miss cotton shall prosper,in the name of Jesus. If you will only believe God still answers Prayers !
Comment by Rev. Jerome Smith on 23 March 2007:
The Gates of Hell, shall not prevail in the name of Jesus. Just hold on help is on the way, cause God still answers Prayers !
Comment by Rhonda on 25 March 2007:
I could not believe what I was reading. No matter how far we have come with the rasism issues we still have these backwards people that are so iggornant but yet hold a position as a judge. Now with that said. I think the iggnornat Judge needs to be fired and then sentenced to 14 years in prison for his stupidy. Sounds crazy huh , well just as crazy as giving anyone prison time for SHOVING ! I am a multi cutural person ( I guess most would call me a white woman ) But what the heck is white , I’m not white , I have many different bloods that run thru my veins, and believe it or not Mr Judge you do as well. This just goes to show our USA has not came as far as we are all made to believe . We have these older so called whites that are still rasist and then they raise their chidren to be the same way. God help the children of these stupid people. There is not one difference in one color person as any other. We all have a brain that works in the same order. God did not make anyone person different then the next. God did not say he wanted one color person to be over another color. This is all the work of the devil, and in the end God will be the one that will get praise out of this. Evil never preveils. I am an American Citizen and I will do all in my power to help this child in need and anyone eles that is in need no matter what the color of their skin is. I’m deeply sorry this child has to go through this pain because of an ignorant adult that is abusing his postion in the Goverment . The man needs to be fired! Plus where is the woman that she shoved , why did she allow this to happen to this child , she is the adult here and needed to act as one and relize kids are not perfect , she also should be held accountable for what has happend to this child and the school she was attending as well , every adult that was involved in this case against this child should be held accountable for this abuse to the child . How can they sleep at night knowing they have put away a 14 yr old child for SHOVING ! unreal I just can’ t believe it ! I don’t care what color the child is , This is child abuse plain and simple ! FREE Shaquanda!
Comment by Renee on 25 March 2007:
Can you beleave that we live in a world that will send a young adult into a system that is so messed up that they can not control the people that run it.Please let us not look at it as a Race Issue, let us see it as it is. Our court systems are so messed up to allow something like this to happen in the frist place, send a young adult to the juniniel system for pushing, Question? Should she have pushed the teacher No!,Should we as adults act as a teenager as she was doing, No! Come on people we need to take back our kids and make them the people we need for them to be. Now this young adult has got to go through all of the things she has got to go through because we have all failed her. Not only in the town she is from or the school she went to but the country UNITED STATES Of Amercia has failed her, So if we are going to call this something let us call it as it is, it is not a BLACK or WHITE issue, it is WHITE, BLACK,BROWN,YELLOW , all that live in this Country we call the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Let me tell you something about my self I am what people wont to call a” WHITE WOMAN”,but what I am is a PARENT and I have a son in the PRISON SYSTEM, and let me tell you it dont matter what color you are,if they have it in for you in there, all you can do is PRAY and fight for them out here.And hope they know when to stand up and when to know to back away for there good. My heart and soul goes out to this girl and her Family, and hopefully someone will be able to do something for her and her family. And hopefully she understands her wrong in this matter,,,,, Lets this YOUNG ADULT go home to her family and her LIFE,,,, Renee, FORT WORTH,TEXAS
Comment by Tyrone on 26 March 2007:
I am a amercian Service member . fighting for the freedom of this country. This has to be the worse thing in years , But lets look at GOD move Bless you my Lil sister and never give up we are fighting this war in Iraq just for YOU. I Love You. May God Blessing always SSG.KING US ARMY Germany.
Pingback by YBP Guide — shaquanda cotton case at forefront of texas juvenile investigations on 27 March 2007:
[...] overwhelming support for shaquanda cotton in the last few weeks has been overwhelming. in fact, the story has triggered massive articles in [...]
Comment by MM on 29 March 2007:
SHOVING = PRISON. You have got to be kidding me. It doesn’t take a genius to realize what is going on in Paris, TX. The judge should be the one in trial/prison for misuse of his power. I can’t help but feel great saddness for Shaquanda Cotton who was convicted for NOTHING. Blackness shouldn’t be a crime!
Comment by Stephanie M. on 29 March 2007:
This is obserd. This is just a wake up call to all,that everything is not okay.. This beautiful child, should be at home with her parents. Texas cares more about the name of state and statue than peoples lives. The state just lets things like this continue to happen. Because they are just as much to blame. The legislative branch knows od this. It’s time people to come together, as a nation as the powerful african americans we are and help this young lady, and others like her. I am praying for this young lady and hope we can get it resolved
Comment by geraldine henry-smith on 29 March 2007:
This is a terrible in just that has happen to this child. To think in this day and age. (Oh God help us) I pray for her and her family. that she will be freed very soon. I pray that what the devil meant for evil, the Lord will make out for her good!!!
Comment by David Akers on 30 March 2007:
This is as sickening as what the government did to those victims of Katrina.Are they going to wait for her to become thirty andthen say I’m sorry. Was Kanye right when he said George W. doesn’t care about blacks? Where is the outrage, the Federal Gov. the NAACP, I don’t hear Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton railing about this. They waited 60 years to recognize the Tuskeegee Airmen. And a little girl is in prison for shoving ? We must do something. Now or Never.
Pingback by African American ~ Black ~ Opinion Blog » Black Bloggers and the “Free Shaquanda Cotton!” movement on 30 March 2007:
[...] shown by great black bloggers.Skeptical Brotha, Prometheus 6, Marc Lamont Hill, Black Informant, YBP, Dallas South Blog, Francis Holland Professor Kim, blacksmythe Mirror on America (and so many [...]
Pingback by African American Political Pundit»Blog Archive » Black Bloggers and the “Free Shaquanda Cotton!” movement on 30 March 2007:
[...] shown by great black bloggers.Skeptical Brotha, Prometheus 6, Marc Lamont Hill, Black Informant, YBP, Dallas South Blog, Francis Holland Professor Kim, blacksmythe Mirror on America (and so many [...]
Comment by Fredric on 30 March 2007:
She will be set free. Link here.
Pingback by YBP Guide — power to the people on 1 April 2007:
[...] what triggered it all. paris, texas. in plain view tech news 3/14: ‘free shaquanda cotton’ edition [...]
Comment by anthony grazionale on 10 April 2007:
i dont have a email but i read the article on paris,texas, and i think its B.S. that a young girl got locked up for pushing somebody. so when the officer of the law cames and puts his hands on me for no reason i can have a case and have that person arrested. that probably would never happen look what happen in the past is in the past. their are blacks and whites are dating, having babies, and even being married to one another. there is just so much hate going on because of it, god said love thy neighbor not hate. sooner or later people there will be nohting but mix people around and there will not be a single race pure. i think we need to live life and stop the racism because god is not about racism. we are not promise to tomorrow so live and love life. Peace Love and Happiness.
Comment by michael Roc on 9 April 2008:
what the hell is wrong in texas…It’s bad enough Bush is from there and the death penalty is killin off plenty of brotha’s , yet now a little 14 yr. old girl is in PRISON !!!!!! PRISON!!!! for shoving ??? our counntry is made up and founded by rascist ass bigots , who unfortunately, happen to be the govermental judge, they are not GOD. I hope and pray someone locks this old ass need to be retired ass callin himself a judge up!!! What year are we in? it’s a shame some of these politicians and judges are not locked up for every little thing they have done…oh let’s see fondles a little boy ? sex with a secratary, lying to the people in their community? they are more interested in putting a little girl in prison, hell they should put bush in there for killing over 7,000 people.
I guess that’s to much to ask of them…. I am ashamed to call myself an american , due to the bullshit like this that rocks the people in the community..
Okay uncle sam , bush, texas politicians let’s get one thing straight, pushing and shoving is wrong , but locking a child up in prison is grotesque , shameful , and outright BULLSHIT. if it would be one of my children that there wouldn’t be just a march or protest !!! It’s you uncle sam, goverment leaders, bush who are the real crooks and criminals!!! The arsonists, the pedophiles,the cheats,the scams!! You ought to not be able to sleep at night. You mister judge ought to be locked up and put away for life you rascist bigot, God will be your judge one day and when he passes judgment on youuuuu, boy be prepared. YOUR THE REAL CRIMINAL HERE. What an injustice again in our fake country of democracy. Who the hell was her counsel… Barney fife? Let me guess a state public defender.. Whoever it was better go back to law school, you let a 14 yr. old go to PRISON for shoving.!? M. ROC From WI.