American News Network and Coverage

What subject constitutes as hot news (relevant) and what does not, lies in the eyes of the viewer. Therefore the networks and media should try-not to disregard any important happenings in its coverage. However as there is limited amount of time and space for coverage, some topics make it and most don't.

With the world in turmoil, as it is now, war, plague, homicide, genocide, bombings, serial killers, pedophiles and some other topics are mostly covered on the air and print media. Carver believes in "there's no news like bad news" - Tomorrow Never Dies. In the latest scenario we have the networks poring over JonBenét Patricia Ramsey, 6 year old, - John Mark Karr case.

Briefly, the six year old, JonBenét was murdered - apparently by the suspect Karr. With the involvment of the death of a child this case is being followed rigorously. Some of the facts of the case are, JonBenét is an American - Karr is an American too. So the regard for an American life, especially of a child, is always high in America ofcourse, hence the coverage is justified.

Last year around the same time a teen Natalee Holloway, 18 years of age, yes that nice, cute girl went missing in Aruba. Her probable death has been attributed to three individuals (non-Americans) (Joran van der Sloot(17), the brothers Deepak Kalpoe (21) and Satish Kalpoe (18)) who might have sexually assaulted her and then ensuingly killed her. Now all the networks had PRIME TIME coverage over the issue; and for 6 odd months straight there was minimum amount of coverage of other happenings. To set things straight, there are reports that Natalee was all drunk on the night of her disappearnace, had performed some explicit acts in the bar where she met these three boys, and apparently was in consent (inebriated) for these boys to drive her back to the hotel after 'some-fun'. What happened rest is yet-to-be-determined. So one thing we can conclude is that (based on the facts reported), that in her drunken state - she might have had an orgy and things slid out of place - leading to her death. Now Natalee is an American.

Around March this year (2006), an incident involving the US Marines serving in Iraq came out. The actual incident happened last Novemeber (2005). There are many such incidents which have occurred but rarely come out - and which are ALWAYS swept under the carpet or ABSOLUTELY denied. But this one came out, unfortunately if I may add! A PFC Steven D. Green (21 years old, we know his age) and his comrades, serving at a check-post in the war-torn (or should I say war-induced & war-infuriated by American INVASION) country, noticed a nice and sweet Iraqi girl/woman from Mahmoudiya, pass by their posts.

Aside: We do not know her full name, we are STILL (STILL) yet to know her age, apparently her age as determined by FBI - I thought FBI worked inside the country not in Iraq! - is 25, while her neighbors claim it as 14 years old.

JonBenét Patricia Ramsey, six years old.
Mahmoudiya-girl, fourteen years old OR twenty five years old - YET TO BE DETERMINED(with all the modern technology in hand)
Natelee Holloway, eighteen years old.

Now what ensued was that one fine day these marines camouflaged themselves as Iraqis and stormed this girl's house and RAPED her and MUTILATED her body and also of her younger sisters (total killed - probably 5 or 6) and other family members and BURNT a part of her body and threw blankets over her. Ofcourse all this is allegation - and the marines are INNOCENT till proven guilty. Amazingly this story has been covered the least in American network. Oh did I forget to mention the nationalities, Mahmoudiya and others killed are Iraqis, the accused is American.

Now with these three cases and their coverage can we conclude anything at all about the American News Network and Coverage and can we go on one step ahead and conclude about the mindsets of Americans? Well I leave the conclusions to you, but let me write further.

Even before John Karr has been proven guilty, though he might have admitted to killing JonBenét - and his statments are supposedly contradictory to the evidence, he is being potrayed as the killer, by the media. Every news network in the country regarded the three individuals, in the Natelee Holloway case as killers even before the Natelee's body was found (it has still not found!) and Steven D. Green is a suspect of misdoing - he has been discharged from the US ARMY based on the reason that he had 'personality - disorder'.

Now what should I conclude? What should you conclude?

Few things stand out, if the victim is American then, the coverage tends to be rigorous and meticulous. If the victim is American then it is highly possible that the media will pass a judgement before the court of law has even reviewed the case. If the victim is NOT-American then, sorry my friend - better luck next time. Read this link,

THERE IS AN ABSOLUTE DISREGARD FOR THE LIFE OF A NON-AMERICAN.

Is this what American News Network all about? Has the US Army grown so callous that in order to save their reputation they have silently dismissed the soldier and his comrades? Has the American Media been warned by the Government/Administration, to not to cover this incident?

I always grew up in India, watching movies and channels and sitcoms of US and dreamt, truely there is a incipient sense of democracy and fariness and respect in every American individual. Alas as I see it today, it is but a dream.

However we should appreciate that in this great land, there were a few soldiers who came up boldly and reported the incident, but the Generals covered up the rape! In that way American is democratic but the governace is anything but! Another thing I like about is America is that I am allowed to write freely - or wait is the NSA/FBI/Home-Sec/CIA knocking on my door!

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave. (I have begun to have some doubts about the choice of the words)

Steven D Green might have enjoyed Mahmoudiya-girl for more time than the combined amount of time that all networks have aired this issue.

Can India really prevent terror?

We have such an eclectic crowd in our country. How can we ever identify the bad element from the good.

For example, on a day when Pakistan and India clash - in a cricket match that is, if one were to pass through some inner roads 'gallies' of Shivajinagar in Bangalore, you will here loud cheers when an Indian wicket falls or if there is a maximum (6 runs) from the Pakistan team! Most of these people, I should say as misled individuals, claim allegiance to Pakistan. This is one but small instance where our people, eating in our land, and seeking all amnesties from the State of India, still choose to support a Nation on the other side; a pure choice by faith. It is important to remember these are only a FEW inviduals.

Another instance would be the hoisting of the Pakistan flag in the Idgah Maidan in Hubli. This is true folks, it has happened several times! Yet there is no leader from our brother-hood community who has come out in the open to condemn these anti-Indian elements.

Now with the talk of blanket-security in Delhi and Bangalore who is going to be ultimately protected? Even the least bit of logic applied will let us know that Devegowda will get Z+ security plus scheme, so will his son - the Chief Minister. All the other ministers in the cabinet will get Z- security, then the other MLC's and MLA's will get Z security schedules. Now with all the police personal protecting our beloved-elected representatives who is going to protect the common man.

Mr Common Man (aka character of R.K.Laxman) - I am sorry to say, you are on your own. Let us see how long does (s)he survive.

Interesting term

There is an interesting article today about 'Islamic Fascism'. Why is the president, out the blue, using this term. Yes folks, it is election time! Looks like the president is trying to woo his fundamentally strong base of right-wing evangelicals, as they are deserting his vote base!

Here is the link.

Read it if you find time.

Hypocrisy Defined

Have you people noticed, that google does not search 'Orkut' for references! Talk about closed minded approach! These guys talk about the closed approach of Microsoft.
Google says IE should allow it users to specify which default search engine they would like to use. Google's all funded FireFox browser, does not provide the option to include live.com or msn.com as the default search engine. Talk about hypocrisy - learn it from google :).

Bungling at Wipro

Recently I received an email which contained the resignation of an employee from Wipro Technologies. I have posted that in the Wipro forums in Orkut. I understand the feelings of this guy through his heartfelt letter. It is true that as the organization grows things grow unwieldy. But I guess in Wipro it has gone beyond. The HR's are there to beat around the bush, when it comes to justify your meagre salary. They are hardly in touch with the how teams are working and how a manager is interacting with the sub-ordinates. I am pretty sure Wipro is going down. Hopefully some HR is member of the community and seriously looks into the discrepancies. But folks dont be surprised if those managers get a promotion. :). Yes that is how the CORPORATE works. Punish the innocent and promote the guilty is the norm else they will loose face in front of everyone. I am sure Infosys is no less. Move onto greener pastures if you can.

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Hi,

Every one will have certain goals and objectives to achieve in
their life and I'm no exception. To pursue those goals I've decided
to quit Wipro and continue the journey with another company and
today is my last working day in Wipro. I would like to thank one
and all for the co-operation though I must say my experience here
is terrible mainly because of few persons and the working culture.

I've joined Wipro thinking of a good career ahead and was shocked
to see the unprofessional working environment here. I've never come
across such a working environment so far. The work place always
used to remind the fish market because of termites like Raghupathy
Rajeshwar Nuka, K.T.R.B Sarma and few others who liberally shout at
every person, uses filthy language, crack adult jokes at the work
place, openly flirts and what not they can even go to the extent of
threatening people by saying they can throw them out of the company
as if Wipro is their own company and can make the place a hell. And
there are some people like Raj Komaravally, Hari Kumar C.K. who can
give the statements like "I believe only in my managers and I don't
need to meet any one below the level" and "management always
supports managers". They can go the extent of giving generic
statements like "in Wipro politics are more important than projects
and Wipro works like this" and if you want to continue, you have to
mould yourself and become dirty and unprofessional like us. It was
very unfortunate that I've come across this kind of unprofessional
persons here in these 8 months. The icing on the cake is Anu
Pentareddywho does not even know how to behave with the resources,
and never receptive and listens to the concerns of the resources
and she is the resource manager for the horizontal and all she can
do is to threaten the resources. And the worst part is nothing will
happen and change even if you raise your concern in the so called
ombudsprocess. Kudos Wipro, no one can find such a pathetic working
environment like yours anywhere in the IT industry.


Anyways all said and done, people like me may not fit into this
kind of working environment and my sincere suggestion to the HR is
please conduct trainings in behavioral management for all the
managers and to most of the persons with red and green tags. In my
sojourn here I'm fortunate enough to work with Srikanth Natarajan,
Shyam Challapalli, Rakesh Kotla and few of my development team who
all are very supportive.


Thanks!
Ram

-- Wont post his full name, he resigned recently

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Luck Couldn't Be Better

The Political Timing on the disruption of the plot to terrorize the flight to US couldn't have come at the right time for Bush and Blair. One of the things to ponder at this very moment is, Bush had hit the rock bottom in ratings. Bush has mismanaged the whole country for nearly 6 years. In 90 days we have the Congressional Election. Republicans are taking a beating. And then this amazing find. The administration quickly pounced upon the opportunity and yesterday Tony Snow, the press secretary, said that Democrats are going to loose if they try to critize Bush's policy. Now they knew about this imminent bust of the terrorist plot. They took advantage. It is unfortunate again that the public is going to be misled and yet again elect the Republicans who know nothing but bungling everything.

With My Wife's Permission

Just to let you know, I am ....