Oprah Winfrey one of the media icons who took her popular talkshow to dizzy heights of success in last more than 20 years has decided to end her show in 2011 and move on to create her own television channel. She has grown along with the medium in past two decades and her decision should not come as a surprise as she is not dumping the television media which made her a household name. She will be back in a big way with many more interesting shows on her OWN (Oprah Winfrey Channel) channel.

Oprah Winfrey show is a long standing show and it would be difficult to point at one reason for its immense success. If one has to pick up one reason for its popularity then it is definitely Oprah herself. Her candid style of conversation with her celebrity and non celebrity guest, the issues she addresses and all laced with wit and emotions has touched a chord among Americans and people all over the globe. She has made glass ceiling non-existent for here is a black woman who has made to the top and is aiming higher.

Critics have much to say about her shows but in today’s media TRP is the last word. Oprah, all the best and you know why audiences love you!

Via Guardian

Obama’s refusal to give an interview to Fox news has foxed the channel completely. Fox News has publicly declared that it’s a war between Obama administration and the channel since it takes Republican stand on all the matters. The daggers are all out in open.

White House is adamant too since Fox News acts a propaganda tool of the Republicans and it feels channel need not be taken seriously. But non-partisan media can never ideally exist. All media toe some political line or the other. Fox News wears its loyalty on its sleeves and this move by White House and Obama will only give more publicity to the channel. Unfortunately that’s what the channel and Republicans seek – more publicity and more viewer ships.

It is a crucial time for America and Obama administration. The times are really bad – there is hot debate about health reforms, there seems to be no end in sight for the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, recession is weakening the economy and Obama himself has courted controversy over his Nobel Peace Prize. Most of his election promises remain unfulfilled too. It is definitely not going to help by antagonizing a section of media which already has trained guns on him.

Via Guardian

Renowned director Roman Polanski’s sudden arrest in Switzerland for alleged rape of minor way back in 1977 has evoked varied reaction all over the world, with majority condemning the arrest. But the reaction in America has been sharply polarized. Hollywood has openly rallied behind one of the greatest living directors while a section of media columnists and feminists have severely condemned the Hollywood’s support for the tainted director.

Roman Polanski’s arrest has put every fan of the great director in dilemma. It is a rude shock to many that director of great sensitive films like The Pianist, Chinatown and Rosemary’s Baby had committed such a brutal act of rape on a minor girl. But it should not be ignored that Roman Polanski had not only confessed to the crime but also had settled the matter out of court with the victim. The victim too wants the case to be withdrawn immediately. It is sad that instead of decent burial (keeping in mind the stature of the director and his immense contribution to the art of cinema) the whole thing is being raked up again. Media will definitely try to gain mileage from the whole controversy.

Every artist, every human being has a dark side and unfortunately Roman Polanski’s dark history has come back to haunt him after more than 30 years.

Via Guardian

Lance Corporal Joshua Bernard was a 21 year old Marine who succumbed to injuries in Afghanistan recently. Julie Jacobson of Associated Press had captured a picture of Bernard as he lay in the mud after an ambush. The picture was published recently on front pages and it has sparked a debate in America. It is intriguing that instead of war which is killing young innocent soldiers and civilians, the pictures of war are becoming controversial.

The picture really hits home reality of war which is being fought far elsewhere but is killing young American soldiers. Maybe government is worried about the impact of such pictures on the American people. As it is after the end of Bush era not everyone is supportive about this never ending war on foreign shores. Democrats have already warned President Barack Obama against sending more troops to Afghanistan.

Yes, the debate is legitimate about using picture of dying young soldier on front page but the primary duty of war photojournalists is to bring home the grim truth about war through images. Hope reality hits really hard this time and debate shifts to war itself and finally this war comes to an end before many more young lives are lost.

Via Guardian

The battle and battle ground has finally shifted officially but the war seems to be far from over. As American troops began withdrawing from cities of Iraq one cannot stop wondering whether this is indeed the beginning of the end of a war that America had declared against terrorism.

The end however is nowhere in sight as more troops are heading to Afghanistan and Pakistan is still a thriving ground of terrorism. The network of Taleban and Al Qaeda has spread across globe and they are suspected to be helping rebels in Somalia and other far flung countries. Each nation has become vulnerable to terrorists attacks.

As Iraqi government celebrated the withdrawal of troops there was an explosion in their own backyard. The future of Iraq is still uncertain. The Middle East is in deeper turmoil after Gaza attack and protests on the streets of Iran. The world is still polarized on religious grounds.

Religious fundamentalism has had a sort of resurgence ever since America declared a War on Terror. Osama Bin Laden is still at large; terrorists are united and still thriving – this war has resulted only in civilian casualties and destruction. Will peace ever get a chance in this polarized world?

The reality show “Britain’s Got Talent” has given birth to yet another celebrity – Susan Boyle. But the fairy tale story of this ordinary woman from Scotland has already seen an ugly twist when she failed to win the talent show despite her meteoritic rise and overnight fame. Her performance was a hit on YouTube and world over. She had whole of America backing her. But it was British viewers who finally didn’t send her enough votes and showed her the door.

The exit of Susan Boyle from the show is not an exit at all. In fact just after losing in the final, Susan Boyle suffered from ‘emotional exhaustion’ and had to be admitted to a London Clinic. The paparazzi are now following her every move and every emotion. This is a new beginning for celebrity Susan Boyle who is expected to sing in front of US President Barack Obama too.

Susan Boyle has many fans and her song was downloaded some 200 million times. But there were hate sites too. She was disliked for the same reason she was adored by people – her ordinariness. Of course that’s the celebrity package these days- bouquets and brickbats! Publicity is inclusive of negative publicity. It remains to be seen whether she will be a celebrity or a punching bag. Hope Susan Boyle understands the rules of the game and doesn’t end up in Clinics often for treatment.

Via Boston Herald

Stevie Wonder will be honoured with the Gershwin Prize by the White House for his lifetime contribution to music. The once child-prodigy and multi Grammy winner will receive the award from US President Barack Obama. He is the second winner of the award, the first being Paul Simon in 2007.

Stevie Wonder had officially endorsed Obama during his campaign period. His famous track Sealed, Delivered I’m Your’s was the theme song of the campaign. He had also performed during President’s Inaugural ceremony at White House. Wonder again performed at the Library of Congress on this Monday.

Stevie Wonder came into music world when he was signed by Motown records at the age of 11. The gifted child prodigy who was blind since birth has come a very long way indeed. He is an all rounder composer, song writer and performer who can also play piano, keyboard, drums, harmonica and range of other instruments.

Stevie Wonder was also first African American to have won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” in 1984. Steve Wonder is truly inspirational.

Via BBC

At noon of the 20th of January, 2009, Barack Obama became the 44^th president of one of the most powerful countries of the world, even before he was sworn in. Though not a bead of sweat could be seen trickling down from his forehead, Obama did hesitate from either nervousness or perhaps sheer excitement as he reproduced the words of the oath recited by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

President Obama cleared all doubts many people had over the past year about whether he would swear with his hand upon a Bible or Koran by being sworn in with the same Bible used by President Lincoln in 1861. His speech which lasted nearly 18 minutes was rife with hints of how he intended to clear any messes created by his predecessor and also messages directed to people the world over. Obama seemed to whisper, during every pause, that he was not to be messed with, that he could charm with a smile as well as kill with a look. The ceremony which took place at the US Capitol building was attended by nearly a million spectators. Wife Michelle Obama could not have looked happier though her mossy outfit on this special day must not be discussed, with all sympathy to the new president.

Interestingly though, the invocation prior to the oath taking of equality-personified Obama was done by Pastor Rick Warren whose extremely radical views on homosexuality has won him much hatred.

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Via: GMANews

Terror and war against terror have become dominating headlines of our life in modern world. Without our consent and knowledge we have stepped into a culture of violence, terror and fear. Radical Islamists/Islamic terrorists are the prominent face of the terrorism that is spreading around the globe like some wild fire. But there are many shadows lurking behind this face.

Definitely they are out to settle scores with Western world and all allies of western world and with all other nations where they feel their faith and community has suffered injustice over centuries. But then what do they achieve by all this? They are earning more hatred for their community and creating millions of reasons for more wars and assaults.

We live in a world riddled with some very old historic unresolved crisis; be it Kashmir or Palestine issue or the Afghanistan and Iraq war or continuing conflicts in small countries in Africa. Lack of political will, tug of war for hegemony and control over region or resources, immense development and growth of big and developing nations against back drop of abject poverty of section of population has lead to this present state of the world. We need to evolve towards a more egalitarian and humane world. Politics of hatred will lead to much bigger disaster or maybe another world war.

Only last month world has seen America putting behind racism and electing Barrack Obama as their future leader. This fight of black Americans against slavery for equal rights was fought for decades. May be there was hatred and massacre at the root of it. But this fight was won only through civil liberty and human rights movements, by creating awareness through proper education. Hope world chooses the path that leads to solutions, knowledge and tolerance instead of the one that leads to more problems, death of imagination and darkness.

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Via Guardian