Saathee Charlotte December 2022

Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent America and the Indian Subcontinent

The year is about to end and that means holiday happenings. Find Christmas and related events beginning on page 18.

Read about “How Airshed Management Could Tackle India’s Air Pollution Crisis “in the article beginning on page 22.

“Ending Amazon Deforestation, Four Essential Reads About the Future of the World’s Largest Rainforest” story is on page 36.

Read the essay about celebrating our siblings starting on page 42.

“How Banks and Private Equity Cash in When Patients Can’t Pay Their Medical Bills.” The informative piece is on page 52.

Make holiday treats with Parle G. recipe on page 66.

Looking for a nanny, a job, or a new business? Check our classifieds seciton on page 92.

Thank you for continuing to read Saathee and please share it with family and friends. Drop us a line with any comments or suggestions. We welcome conversations.

Subscribe to Saathee magazine at saathee.com/subscription.

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Cover: Victoria Memorial, Kolkata

The Victoria Memorial is a large marble building in Central Kolkata, built between 1906 and 1921. It is dedicated to the memory of Queen Victoria, Empress of India from 1876 to 1901. The largest monument to a monarch anywhere in the world, it stands in 64 acres of gardens and is now a museum under the control of India's Ministry of Culture.

Photo: Adobe Stock

“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”

December 2022 Issue # 295 - Saathee.comEditor

Samir Shukla (Samir@Saathee.com)

Publisher & Advertising

Divakar Shukla

704-527-7570 or rakavid@aol.com

Digital Media & Marketing

Jennifer W. Allen

Ad Design / Layout

DSJ Graphics & Manimaran

Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Taige Shukla, Violet Wei, Preethi Sriram, Shyama Parui, Raajeev Aggerwhil, Mo Vidwans, & Jalendu Vaidya.

Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising tool for businesses.

- F OUNDED 1998 -

Saathee Magazine

P.O. Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220 704.527.7570 Fax: 704.527.7590

Saathee@saathee.com

Saathee (USPS 021-116) (ISSN: 1543-8147) is published monthly by: Shukla Entertainment Inc. 612 Heather Ln., Charlotte, NC 28209 Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Saathee, P.O. Box 11468, Charlotte, NC 28220-1468

Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily of the publisher or editor. Please contact us prior to submitting articles or photographs. Saathee is published monthly. Deadlines for advertisement, submissions and events information is 15th of the month.

For a free Saathee subscription, visit saathee.com/subscription All content © 2022 Shukla Entertainment, Inc

"The chief function of the body is to carry the brain around."

- Thomas A. Edison

The Editor’s Desk . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 14

Upcoming Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18

Immigration Matters . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 22

Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . .pg. 26

Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28

Raajeev’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 32

Amazon Deforestation . . . . . . . . . .pg. 36

India’s Air Pollution . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 38

Namaskar Y’all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 42

My Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46

Spot the Differences . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50

Medical Bills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 52

Personal Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 54

News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 58

Recipe: Treats with Parle G . . . . . .pg. 66

Quiz Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 84

Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . . .pg. 86

Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 90

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 92

Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 96

Some Elbow Room, Please

During an early November trip to the Florida Keys, while wading in knee-deep blue water, I gazed at the schools of tiny fish hovering around my legs, quickly swimming away at the slightest movement I made. In the distance I spotted a floppy pelican dive into the water and emerge with a mouth full of fish and salty water. I thought of the billions and billions, maybe trillions, of creatures lurking in the seas and bodies of waters around the globe.

Of course, I’m only talking about those visible to our eyes, forget about the microscopic life forms. It is an unfathomable number.

I waded a little further down the beach toward a clutter of black mangroves and another school of fish swam around my ankles and dispersed like shooting stars when I took a step forward.

The sun warmed my skin and the palm trees swayed in the sweet ocean breeze while I tried to wrap may brain around the potential numbers of swimming and crawling life forms in the water, just within my line of sight. So many creatures, so many life forms. Such a fragile ecosystem.

A speeding boat disturbed the water and left a wake of waves that dissipated into ripples as they approached me. The fish are used to it.

A few days later, after returning to a much cooler Charlotte, I turned the radio dial to the local NPR station and heard that the United Nations had announced the imminent arrival of the eighth billion human to our little blue globe.

The Editor’s Desk by Samir Shukla

Editor’s

Upcoming Events

Mint Fashion Day Celebration: Charlotte, NC (December 10, 2022)

Join for the opening celebration of Fashion Reimagined: Themes & Variations: 1760-NOW that celebrates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Mint’s fashion collection by the Mint Museum Auxiliary. There will be panel discussions and will feature those who conceived, developed, and created the exhibit Fashion Reimagined. Nigerian American filmmaker and artist Walé Oyéjidé presents the NC premiere of his documentary After Migration: Calabria while discussing his methods of using fashion design as a subversive tool to dismantle cultural bias. His designs have appeared in motion pictures like Black Panther. The event takes place at Mint Museum Uptown Charlotte from 10am – 6pm. Admission is free. For more info, visit Mintmuseum.org.

CCA Christmas Celebration:

Matthews, NC (December 17, 2022)

Carolinas Christmas Assembly presents its annual Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 17, 2022, from 6 – 8:30pm at Butler High School Auditorium, 1810 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd., Matthews, NC. There will be free entry as well as an Indian dinner served after the program. RSVP is required: ccaeventrsvp@gmail.com.

Tosco Music Holiday Party:

Charlotte, NC (December 19, 2022) Come celebrate the season with an evening of music. Tosco Music Parties feature an eclectic mix of more than a dozen performers and plenty of audience singalongs. Enjoy your favorite holiday classics and traditional Christmas carols delivered in a variety of musical genres. The show is at Knight Theater, Charlotte, NC and begins at 7:30pm. Tickets range from $18-$52. Visit Toscomusic.org for more details.

Christmas Town USA: McAdenville, NC (December 1 - 26, 2022)

McAdenville is known as Christmas Town USA and has been lighting up the entire town for Christmas for decades. Walk or drive through the downtown area to view the frosty majesty of the winter landscape. Colorful lights will shine from 5:30 - 10:00 pm each night. There will be Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 1, 2022 at 5:30pm at Dynamo 31, 102 Main St. The countdown is always exciting before a child “flips the switch” and turns on the light display. An evening in Christmas Town U.S.A. is like a magical trip back in time. Details at, Townofmcadenville.org.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical: Charlotte, NC (Through December 22, 2022)

The Herdmans are back for the holiday favorite “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: The Musical.” This hilarious and heartfelt musical comedy, adapted from Barbara Robinson’s classic story, will have your family laughing and crying while celebrating the holidays. The show is performed by Children’s Theatre of Charlotte located at ImaginOn, 3000 E. 7th St., Charlotte, NC. For more details call 704-973-2800 or visit Ctcharlotte.org.

Christmas at the Library: Charlotte, NC (Through December 23, 2022)

The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte presents the annual Christmas at the Library celebration. Activities include Live Nativity, petting zoo, horse-drawn carriage rides, story time, Christmas dinner, carolers and more. In addition to the Christmas-only activities, the Billy Graham Library’s ongoing attractions are available for extended hours during Christmas. It takes place through December 23, 2022. Christmas activities begin at 5 p.m. The library opens at 9:30 a.m. Both admission and parking are free, but reservations are required. Visit Billygrahamlibrary.org for more details.

WRAL First Night

Raleigh 2023 (December 31, 2022)

Happy New Year. Bring in the New Year with the family friendly activities of First Night Raleigh beginning in the afternoon of December 31, 2022, in Downtown Raleigh. There will be food, vendors, music, performers, kids’ activities, and more. Details at Firstnightraleigh.com. Check Saathee.com under the events tab to see other New Year eve celebrations that we will post online as we get the information.

Upcoming Events

Science Fiction/Science Future: Charlotte, NC (Through January 1, 2023)

four-mile course, with displays and lights synchronized to Christmas-themed music. The show is open rain or shine and features synchronized lights to music. Also enjoy the festive Christmas village. Speedway Christmas is closed on Christmas Eve. Activities take place from 6 – 10pm. For more information visit, Charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Blowing Rock WinterFest: (January 26 – 29, 2023)

How do science fiction concepts become reality? Teleportation, holograms, invisibility and mind control were once only possible in fictionalized settings, but when you step into Science Fiction Science Future you’ll experience them in the real world. This visually compelling exhibition, with hands-on and full-body interactive activities, invites all to examine our past while making predictions about the future. It is currently taking place at Discovery Place Science, 301 North Tryon St., Charlotte, NC. For more details call 704-372-6261 or visit Science.discoveryplace.org.

Carowinds Winterfest: Fort Mill, SC (Through January 1, 2023)

The annual Blowing Rock WinterFest takes place from January 26-29, 2023 in Boone, NC. The fest features silent auction and raffle, arts and crafts, holiday themed activities, cork and canvas, concerts and performers, a polar bear plunge in Chetola Lake, ice-carvings, chili cook-off, wine tastings, auctions, and more. The fest is also a fundraiser for various charitable causes. Travel & Leisure magazine named Blowing Rock “one of America’s Prettiest Winter Towns.” For more details, visit Blowingrockwinterfest.com.

Dog Days

of Winter: Charlotte, NC (February 11, 2023)

Savor the season with festive ambiance and fun holiday activities including a holiday light displays replete with millions of shimmering lights, ice skating, family activities, live entertainment, holidayinspired comfort food and beverages, and select attractions. Play holiday-themed games and catch the season’s festive live entertainment, including crooning carolers. After an evening of fun, get caught up in the merry procession of the WinterFest Wonderland Parade, a nightly Christmas parade with decorated floats, festive music, and performers. For more info, visit Carowinds.com.

Speedway Christmas: Charlotte, NC (Through January 8, 2023)

Speedway Christmas presented by Atrium Health features four million LED Christmas lights strewn across a

Celebrate winter with your four-legged friends on February 11, 2023 with a variety of activities ranging from a 5K trail race, adoption events, ice rink access, dog yoga, doggy vendors and more. It will take place at the Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy, Charlotte, NC. For more details, call 704-391-3900 or visit Center.whitewater.org.

Visit Saathee.com/Events for the latest events and family friendly happenings around our region.

Will the Midterms Impact US Immigration Policy?

Immigration Matters

by Rishi P. Oza

With the completion of the US midterm elections in November, observers are rightfully wondering what impact the new era of divided government will have on the direction of US immigration policy. A cynic would likely say that a Republican-controlled House of Representatives and a Democratic-Senate, along with a Democratic President, is a recipe for no action whatsoever and sadly, such an outcome is not outside of the realm of possibility, particularly given how thorny an issue immigration has proven to be over the past two decades. However, divided government and an eye on the 2024 presidential election may give each party just enough incentive to make even incremental changes to current immigration law.

Republican policy under former-President Donald Trump veered to an enforcement-heavy and reduction-based approach to overall numbers of immigrants entering the United States. Trump’s insistence on “building the wall” and willingness to issue executive decision significantly reduced the number of new immigrants arriving to the nation’s shores. When paired with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, these decisions have clearly impacted the US economy, as the US birthrate is currently in decline, which places the nation on dangerous pathway of contraction if it is unable to replenish its currently aging population.

According to the Center for Immigration Studies, a nonprofit that openly supports a low-immigration approach to public policy, “[t]he average age of newly arrived legal and illegal immigrants was 31 years in 2019, compared to 26 years in 2000.” While this may represent an undesirable trend upwards, the fact remains that a 31-year-old immigrant has an average of seven more years of potential fruitful impact upon the US economy, culture and fabric compared to the average American, who is 38.1 years old.

What does this all mean for US policy with Republicans commanding the House and at least 48 seats in the Senate (as

Immigration Matters continued on page 74

ANISH SHAH

Licensed in NC & SC

I AM IN NEED OF NEW LISTINGS!

If you are thinking of selling, please contact me!

New Listing - Easthampton

3 Bedrooms, 2 1/2 Baths, 1,700 sq. ft. Stunning Home in Easthampton. Beautiful and Large cul-de-sac lot with a fenced in yard. 2 Car SideLoad Garage. Big Great Room with Gas logs Fireplace. Nice breakfast area with lots of windows and over looking the backyard. Master Bedroom with sitting area. Master bath with Double vanities. Large walk-in closet. Spacious secondary bedrooms. NEW Paint, NEW Carpet, NEW Landscaping. Very peaceful and private setting. NO HOA. Inviting Front Porch. Per the previous seller: Roof (2011) and HVAC (2016)

Lot – Longbrooke

Here is your amazing opportunity to become a part of the one-of-a-kind gated Longbrooke community! This premiere address offers elegance, privacy and low SC taxes. Longbrooke features custom Old World style estates, rolling topography, the soft lighting of gas lantern lining each street and a fountain garden which serves as a serene focal point for the wooded neighborhood home. Bring your builder and build the home of your dreams here!! $124,000

Stillwater

New Listing - Providence Springs

4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 Baths, 3,600 Sq. Ft. Amazing and well maintained Full Brick home in sought after Providence Springs. Completely Remodeled kitchen with SS appliances and solid countertops. Gleaming Hardwoods that were recently refinished. Large Master suite with sitting area and Custom Closet. Master bath with spacious shower, double vanity and a garden tub. Relaxing Sunroom. Oversized secondary bedrooms with a lot of closet space. Staircase with wood treads and wrought iron spindles. Gorgeous Stone and pavers covered patio with a Fireplace. Fenced-in Backyard.

This is a custom designed & built Mediterranean estate home! Perfect for entertaining inside or out. Tons of natural sunlight, mature landscaping, ceiling details, heavy moldings, imported tile, marble, stone & metal accents, upgrades, large 1.66 Acre lot, privacy indoors & out, attention to detail throughout. Bring your most discerning clients to see this gem in prestigious Piper Glen Estates.

Colony Crossing

Perfect for an Investor or a first time home buyer. Amazing 3 story Townhouse in Ballantyne Area. Great location and Schools. 2 Bedrooms with an office, 2 Full and 2 Half Baths with an oversized 1 car garage. Over 1,800 sq. ft. Beautiful open floor plan with a large Deck. Nice Kitchen. Spacious Master Bedroom. Extra large second bedroom. Office with french doors. Many upgrades. This one is a Must see! $309,900

Beautiful, completely renovated 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths Condo in Southpark. Over 1,200 sq. ft. Perfect for a first time buyer or an Investor. Amazing Location. New paint, New Flooring, New appliances, New light fixtures and many more upgrades. Lots of storage and ample parking. Please call for details.

Piper Glen - Basement Home

Upcoming Movie Releases

December 2

An Action Hero (Director: Anirudh Iyer)

Cast: Ayushmann Khurrana and Jaideep Ahlawat

Violent Night (Director: Tommy Wirkola)

Cast: David Harbour, John Leguizamo, and Beverly D’Angelo

Women Talking (Director: Sarah Polley) Cast: Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Ben Whishaw, and Frances McDormand

Pippa (Director: Raja Krishna Menon) Cast: Ishaan Khatter and Mrunal Thakur

Spoiler Alert (Director: Michael Warchus)

Cast: Jim Parsons, Ben Aldridge, and Sally Field

HIT: The Second Case (Director: Sailesh Kolanu) Cast: Adivi Sesh, Meenakshi Chaudhary, and Komalee Prasad

Marlowe (Director: Neil Jordan)

Cast: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Colm Meaney, and Jessica Lange

Sir / Vaathi (Director: Venky Atluri)

Cast: Dhanush, Samyuktha Menon, and Samuthirakani

December 9

Matilda: The Musical (Streaming) (Director: Matthew Warchus)

Cast: Alisha Weir, Stephen Graham, and Emma Thompson

The Whale (Director: Darren Aronofsky)

Cast: Brenden Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton

Salaam Venky (Director: Revanthi) Cast: Kajol and Vishal Jethwa

Panchathantram (Director: Harsha Pulipaka) Cast: Brahmanandam, Swathi Reddy, Uttej, and Aadarsh Balakrishna

Empire of Light (Director: Sam Mendes) Cast: Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Toby Jones, and Colin FirthAnthony Hopkins

December 16

No Means No (Director: Vikash Verma) Cast: Dhruv Verma, Gulshan Grover, Deepraj Rana, Anna Guzik, and Natalia Bak

Avatar: The Way of Water (Director: James Cameron) Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Giovanni Ribisi, and Kate Winslet

December 21-25

Cirkus (Director: Rohit Shetty) Cast: Ranveer Singh, Pooja Hegde, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Varun Sharma

I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Director: Kasi Lemmons) Cast: Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, and Clarke Peters

Ganapath (Director: Vikas Bahi) Cast: Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon, and Amitabh Bachchan

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (Director: Joel Crawford) Cast: Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek

18 Pages (Director: Palnati Surya Pratap) Cast: Nikhil Siddhartha and Anupama Parameswaran

Saathee.com/Movies has the latest info on where the movies are showing or streaming. All dates subject to change.

F i l m C l i p s

80s and 90s Superstars in New Film

Randeep Hooda Stars in CAT

Randeep Hooda returns on Netflix, starring in CAT – a tale of brotherhood and espionage. CAT is directed by showrunner Balwinder Singh Janjua and co-directed by Rupinder Chahal and Anutej Singh. The crime thriller is set against the backdrop of the Punjab hinterlands, where the protagonist becomes embroiled in a drug trafficking conspiracy between gang lords, cops, and political powers. The series begins streaming on December 9, 2022.

A Man Called Otto

Superstars Sunny Deol, Jackie Shroff, Sanjay Dutt have signed on for their next project along with another veteran Mithun Chakraborty. The stars are known for their quintessential commercial Bollywood films and have many hits among them. The quartet released a look for the film recently on social media. The untitled action film will be directed by Vivek Chauhan. This is the first time all four actors will work together in a film. Release date is yet to be announced.

Vadh

Veteran actors Sanjay Mishra and Neena Gupta are slated to lead the cast in the upcoming thriller drama titled Vadh. The film is written and directed by Rajeev Barnwal and Jaspal Singh Sandhu. Vadh will hit theater screens beginning on December 9, 2022.

Babylon

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, Babylon traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood. The cast includes Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Olivia Wilde, Tobey Maguire, and Jean Smart. The film, directed by Damien Chazelle, opens on December 23, 2022.

A grumpy widower whose only joy comes from criticizing and judging his exasperated neighbors meets his match when a lively young family moves in next door, leading to an unexpected friendship that will turn his world upside-down. Tom Hanks plays the protagonist and is supported by Kailey Hyman and Rachel Keller. Marc Forster directed the film opening on January 13, 2023.

Plane

A pilot finds himself caught in a war zone after he’s forced to land his commercial aircraft during a terrible storm. Action star Gerard Butler leads the cast that also includes Mike Colter. The fast-paced thriller is directed by Jean-François Richet and is set to release on January 27, 2023.

Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani

Filmmaker Karan Johar returns as a director with Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani. The film stars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt in the lead roles in this romantic drama. Both were previously seen in Zoya Akhtar’s Gully Boy. The film also will feature veterans Dharmendra, Jaya Bachchan and Shabana Azmi in prominent roles. Johar took to

Where’s the Beef?

Aggerwhil

I recently had to turn down an audition for McDonald’s because I was supposed to eat a hamburger in the commercial. I am a Hindu, and I don’t even eat meat. I thought, “What if I just eat tofu that looks like beef or a Beyond Meat burger? How would they know? But then I realized that this is America. And you can’t have deceptive advertising here!

My agent said, “They pay really well.” I said, “I am sorry. My morals can’t be bought.” He said, “If you book it, it’s going to be a lot of money.” That put me in a dilemma. I have been a vegetarian all my life. I am also a bania. My father was a Hindu, and my mom was Jain. The reason for my vegetarian regimen is not because of religious or ethical reasons, I was just raised that way.

My dislike of meat started with aesthetics. A crushed broccoli on the road is less disgusting than a dead racoon on the highway. Growing up in Old Delhi, I would pass the butcher shops near Jama Masjid where you could see the meat processing out in the public, with fluids dripping and flies hovering around the meat. There was nothing hidden. Over a period of time, that dislike became a repulsion, eventually bordering on phobia.

I remember in seventh grade I used to go to a friend’s house in my neighborhood whose family ate meat regularly. I always avoided eating dinner at their house. However, on his birthday or at a party, I had no choice. Even their malai kofta’s resembled meat balls! I would eat them after checking

several times to ensure that there was no meat. Once when I had gone to his house, he was playing with some malleable mass of gooey “stuff.” I asked him what he was doing. He said, “I am mixing spices in the meat.” Sensing my discomfort, he started teasing me and asked if I want to help him. When I made a disgusted face and backed away from him, he started bringing the mass closer to me. He played the game for several minutes while I kept escaping from him, running all over his house. Eventually, he told me he was playing with flour dough. I felt so stupid, but I wondered why would a 7th grader would be playing with such a large mass of dough – it wasn’t play-doh.

The bania in me refused to believe that a 7th grade kid could be so reckless that he would waste so much wheat flour. Even if they were not going to throw it away, it would still be unhygienic after his dirty hands had played with it.

Even after coming to the US, I did not feel the need to start eating meat. In the 80’s and 90’s while I was a student at Berkeley and later while living in the San Francisco Bay Area, there was no dearth of vegetarian food. Most restaurants in California had vegetarian options. I quickly learned that McDonalds and possibly Burger King used beef seasoning in their French fries. I found out that most Mexican restaurants used lard in their beans and chicken broth in their rice. Also, most Thai restaurants used fish sauces in their Tom Kah Gai soup or their red tofu curries. I was sure I had eaten all these meat products but that was accidental.

When I had visited Mazatlan in Mexico with my cousin in the mid 80’s, I would not eat at a Mexican restaurant because of the fear of lard in their beans. My cousin who

Raajeev

Raajeev’s Corner by Raajeev

Ending Amazon Deforestation

Ending Amazon Deforestation

By Jennifer Weeks

Brazil’s president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, was greeted with applause and cheers when he addressed the U.N. climate conference in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Nov. 16, 2022. As he had in his campaign, Lula pledged to stop rampant deforestation in the Amazon, which his predecessor, Jair Bolsanaro, had encouraged.

Forests play a critical role in slowing climate change by taking up carbon dioxide, and the Amazon rainforest absorbs one-fourth of the CO2 absorbed by all the land on Earth. These articles from The Conversation’s archive examine stresses on the Amazon and the Indigenous groups who live there.

1. Massive losses

The Amazon rainforest is vast, covering some 2.3 million square miles (6 million square kilometers). It extends over eight countries, with about 60 percent of it in Brazil. And the destruction occurring there is also enormous.

From 2010 to 2019, the Amazon lost 24,000 square miles (62,000 square kilometers) of forest – the equivalent of about 10.3 million U.S. football fields. Much of this land was turned into cattle ranches, farms and palm oil plantations.

“There are a number of reasons why this deforestation matters – financial, environmental and social,” wrote Washington University in St. Louis data scientist Liberty

Vittert, explaining why she and other judges chose Amazon deforestation as the Royal Statistical Society’s International Statistic of the Decade.

Forest clearance in the region threatens people, wild species and freshwater supplies along with the climate. “The farmers, commercial interest groups and others looking for cheap land all have a clear vested interest in deforestation going ahead, but any possible short-term gain is clearly outweighed by long-term loss,” Vittert concluded.

Scientists estimate that 17 percent-20 percent of the Amazon has been destroyed over the past 50 years. Some researchers believe that at 20 percent-25 percent deforestation, the forest’s wet, tropical climate could begin to dry out in a phenomenon known as ‘dieback.’

2. Legalizing land grabs

Much of the Amazon has been under state control for decades. In the 1970s, Brazil’s military government started encouraging farmers and miners to move into the region to spur economic development, while also setting some zones aside for conservation. More recently, however, Brazil’s government has made it easier for wealthy interests to seize large swaths of land – including in conservation areas and Indigenous territories.

Reviewing national laws and land holdings, University of Florida geographers Gabriel Cardoso Carrero, Cynthia S.

How Airshed Management Could Tackle India’s Air Pollution Crisis

By Deepa Padmanaban

In 2019, air pollution in India caused the premature deaths of more than a million people. That same year, the government established the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Three years later, the NCAP is widely described as ineffective, and India continues to rank among the top five most polluted countries in the world. Now, scientists are looking to a different approach to tackling the country’s toxic air, one based on the recognition that pollution transcends national and state borders.

The NCAP was formulated to tackle air pollution in cities, specifically to reduce particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution by 20 percent-30 percent from 2017 levels by 2024. But the nature of air pollution means there are limitations to a policy that focuses on urban areas.

Why is PM2.5 so harmful?

PM2.5 refers to tiny inhalable particles – particulate matter – with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres.

These particles are a mixture of solid and aerosol chemicals, mostly produced by burning fuels such as petrol, diesel, oil or wood.

PM2.5 pollutants are much smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Because these particles are so small, they can penetrate the lungs deeply, causing harm to people’s health

“Air pollution is not restricted to geopolitical boundaries,” points out SN Tripathi, professor of civil engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur and a member of the NCAP steering committee. South Asia’s geography and weather patterns mean that pollutants can travel long distances: a 2020 study of 22 regions showed that 46 percent of air pollution (adjusted for population distribution) originates from another Indian state.

“Because of the transboundary dispersion of air pollution, smaller towns that don’t have as many polluting industries experience high levels of pollution that come from larger cities,” says Kalyani Tembhe, programme officer at the Centre for Science and Environment, a think-tank in New Delhi.

“Air pollution depends on meteorology, topography and land-use patterns,” Tripathi agrees.

Because of this, Indian states are looking at new ways to tackle the crisis, with many planning to adopt airshed management. The World Bank defines an airshed as a common geographic area where pollutants

get trapped, creating similar air quality for everyone. “We can reorganise… natural processes that govern the air, and identify airsheds,” Tripathi says.

The concept is demonstrated by a 2019 study that found approximately half of the population-weighted PM2.5 in Delhi comes from outside the territory, of which 50 percent is from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. In Punjab, about 60 percent of PM2.5 does not originate within the state, with about half coming from outside India and half from other Indian states. In Uttar Pradesh, only half of PM2.5 originates within the state.

Sagnik Dey, a professor at the Centre for Atmospheric Sciences at IIT Delhi, has identified the major regional airsheds that impact India, based on satellite data for PM2.5.

“The whole idea is that, within an airshed, the overall patterns of air quality from season to season are similar over the long term. There are nine to 11 airsheds in India. Some, like the Indo-Gangetic Plain airshed, within which lie two or more regional airsheds, are gigantic,” he says. The Indo-Gangetic Plain covers the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Bihar and West Bengal, and extends to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

How would airshed management work in India?

The idea of airsheds is not new. The Canadian province of British Columbia and California in the US have both used an airshed approach to tackle air pollution. The Air Quality Act of 1967 divided California into 35 districts with similar geographic, topographic and meteorological conditions, where pollution is regulated by the California Air Resources Board. By 2019, this approach had achieved a 98 percent reduction in emissions from “heavy-duty engines” compared with 2010 levels.

In South Asia, the areas with critically high PM2.5 concentrations that would benefit from an airshed approach include the western and central Indo-Gangetic Plain; the Brahmaputra basin (India and Bangladesh);

India Air Pollution

Celebrating Our Siblings

Namaskar, Y’all by Shyama Parui

I approached Diwali with mixed feelings this year. The belief that we need to illuminate the darkness with light was intact but the grief that followed the loss of my sister was overwhelming. Bhai dooj enraged me in a way that even I struggled to comprehend. My naïve heart wondered if things would be different if we had celebrated both “bhai and behen dooj” (a brother and sister celebration). Would my prayers have granted my sister a long or at least a longer, healthier, and happier life?

As I mourned my beloved eldest sister, Bodo-di (big sister) as we affectionately called her, it gave me a chance to introspect on our sibling relationships in general. Regardless of birth order, siblings play a special role in our upbringing. Our brother may have been the first person we had a fist fight with, and our little sister was perhaps the first person we negotiated with. Nature documentaries often capture images of animal cubs sparring in the wild as the nonchalant mother continues to gather food. More than likely, “Mom knows best” and

allows them to continue as the playful wrestling is teaching them skills needed for survival. The same principle applies to humans.

Every family is unique in the way sibling dynamics shape its members. For example, in my early childhood, Bodo-di was usually second in command, and became an excellent role model who showed us how to be organized and in charge. Her compassion, generosity and selfless caring for others were evident even when she was ill and spoke with great effort. It’s hard to quantify how much I have learned from her, but every bit is priceless. An ugly realization of life not being fair also dawned on me, that even the kindest people are vanquished by cancer, dubbed as the “Emperor of Maladies” but a tyrant in my eyes. The day after I had heard the news, I continued going about my day to mellow my emotions, but the hours filled me with a void. Mourning away from one’s relatives was much harder than I thought. Being absent from the rituals bereavement and missing the chance to share stories with my nephews about their mother was heartbreaking.

For my parents, their siblings were also their closest friends. Coming from large families, they often cared for the younger brothers and sisters who evolved into playmates, study partners and when the time was right, their proteges.

continued

Namaskar

Happy Holidays

Find the True Spirit

My Voice by Preethi Sriram

The holiday season is here, and it is almost time for a New Year, so now feels the perfect time to reflect on the different holidays through the year. One of my favorite “traditional” holidays has been Halloween. I think the aspect that I have always liked about the holiday is that one can be something wildly different from oneself. It is very creative and does not even need to be complicated. A cone hat and a broom transform the wearer to a witch that can fly around for candy. A colorful wig now transforms the individual to a clown. A stethoscope from a play kit, and one is magically a nurse, the heroine Florence Nightingale. Black lines under the eyes could transform one to a football player.

Dance, costume, and makeup can transform the mundane into a grand show. The possibilities are endless. Orange pumpkins light up with eerie smiles, cackly recorded laughs, light shows of ghosts flying around a house abound the neighborhood. Something about the anticipation of a crisp autumn night, seeing all sorts of characters and spirts, souls and ghouls on the street sparks the imagination.

And who can forget the candy! That will last at least until the winter.

Another holiday that I have always felt a pull towards, even if I have not been personally brought up in it, is Dia de Los Muertos, a Mexican holiday. While I have not specifically celebrated Dia de Los Muertos, I have also enjoyed the concept of it, and learning about it as it seems to be celebrated close to the Halloween season. In general, I have always enjoyed the concept of celebrating our ancestors and have as a child always felt some sort of connection to Shiva. I think this is because Shiva never seemed scared but welcomed all sorts of spirits. Shiva is “a natural” and helps us to understand the cycle of life and is known for having a presence in cemeteries and helping in transcendence, and thus maybe I have also appreciated Dia de Los Muertos and having the ancestors around us and feeling they are close to us, be it through what they have left for us, beautiful architecture, sculptures, poetry, music, and dance.

From fall to winter, another holiday I have always enjoyed is Christmas. Growing up in the north, Christmas has always evoked for me sledding down snowy hills and playing in the snow.

Of course, time off from school always gave something to look forward to which almost every kid can appreciate. Christmas also is the holiday for giving to those who are

Spot the Differences

See if you can spot the 15 differences between the original photo below and modified one under it. Answers are on page 88.

How Banks and Private Equity Cash in When Patients Can’t Pay Their Medical Bills How Banks and Private Equity Cash in When Patients Can’t Pay Their Medical Bills

By Noam N. Levey and Aneri Pattani

Patients at North Carolina-based Atrium Health get what looks like an enticing pitch when they go to the nonprofit hospital system’s website: a payment plan from lender AccessOne. The plans offer “easy ways to make monthly payments” on medical bills, the website says. You don’t need good credit to get a loan. Everyone is approved. Nothing is reported to credit agencies.

In Minnesota, Allina Health encourages its patients to sign up for an account with MedCredit Financial Services to “consolidate your health expenses.” In Southern California, Chino Valley Medical Center, part of the Prime Healthcare chain, touts “promotional financing options with the CareCredit credit card to help you get the care you need, when you need it.”

As Americans are overwhelmed with medical bills, patient financing is now a multibillion-dollar business, with private equity and big banks lined up to cash in when patients and their families can’t pay for care. By one estimate from research firm IBISWorld, profit margins top 29% in the patient financing industry, seven times what is considered a solid hospital margin.

Hospitals and other providers, which historically put their patients in interest-free payment plans, have welcomed the financing, signing contracts with lenders and enrolling patients in financing plans with rosy promises about convenient bills and easy payments.

For patients, the payment plans often mean something more ominous: yet more debt.

Millions of people are paying interest on these plans, on top of what they owe for medical care, an investigation by KHN and NPR shows. Even with lower rates than a traditional credit card, the interest can add hundreds, even thousands of dollars to medical bills and ratchet up financial strains when patients are most vulnerable.

Robin Milcowitz, a Florida woman who found herself enrolled in an AccessOne loan at a Tampa hospital in 2018 after having a hysterectomy for ovarian cancer, said she was appalled by the financing arrangements.

“Hospitals have found yet another way to monetize our illnesses and our need for medical help,” said Milcowitz, a graphic designer. She was charged 11.5% interest — almost three times what she paid for a separate bank loan. “It’s immoral,” she said.

Let Us Pause

Before It’s Too Late and Give Our Tax Preparation a Boost

Personal Finances

by Mo Vidwans

I know nobody likes to even think about it, but it will do you a whole lot of good if you just pause now for a moment or two and think about your taxes for 2022 because the time will arrive soon to file them. The reason for reviewing them now is very simple. Once the year is over there is really very little (except maybe IRA payments) you can do to improve your tax situation for 2022. There is a lot you can do for 2023 but that is a subject for another time.

Tax planning is an equally important part of your tax filing activity and the more attention you can give it, throughout the year, the better off you will be. Right now, we still have a month to do something about it; so, let us hunker down and take full advantage of the time we have left.

I am going to devote this column to individual taxes only because it affects all of us, but there is also much to discuss about small businesses.

Rules have changed quite a bit for 2022; the previous two years were treated differently because of Covid and employment/economy issues and most of those special concessions have evaporated now. There is no Stimulus check any longer, the deductibility of donation of $600 per married couple, even if you didn’t itemize, has disappeared and the child tax credits have gone down considerably. They have gone back to what they always were.

One quick decision that everyone must make is if they should be claiming itemized deduction or take standard deduction. Because of the new law passed in 2017 (TCJA), the standard deduction has gone up considerably for both single and married families and hence the number of taxpayers who can claim itemized deduction has gone down, which was the intent of the law. However, if you have considerable mortgage interest payments or donations or medical expenses beyond the 7.5 percent of your AGI, you still have a good chance to exceed their limit. By managing the last and first month’s mortgage payment of the year, by deciding when to pay your property taxes, by judiciously deciding which year you wish to take the donations, you can cross the limit one year and go for itemized deduction and take standard deduction the next.

The 2022 dependent care credit for working families is smaller than 2021. That is simply because last year’s covidrelief enhancements have expired. For 2022, the maximum credit is $1,050 for one child and $2,100 for two or more

children needing care; this is down from 2021 credit of $4,000 and $8,000 respectively. Also, the income phaseouts for credit eligibility decreased to pre-2021 levels. The expenses are for the care of children under 13 and qualifying relatives and must be incurred so that you can work or look for a job and you must report the provider’s tax ID number on form 2441.

For those who can and do take RMD, considering a Qualified Charitable Donation (QCD) is a good solution to reducing taxes. It is taken out directly from your gross income and hence reduces the taxable income and taxes due. This works out well for those who are not able to itemize but still wished to donate.

If you plan to or already have donated a car to charity this year, then IRS Publication 4303 explains the tax rules on vehicle donations. I am sure you have noticed that the rules for car donations have tightened considerably. The donor’s charitable deduction generally can’t exceed the proceeds the charity gets from selling the auto. Donor’s may use a fair market value in only four situations described in Pub. 4303. It explains when form 8283 must be filed (for donated cars with a value of $500 or more) and when an appraisal is needed (for charitable write-offs over $5,000).

Summer is a prime time for natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, widespread flooding, and wildfires. Even though at this moment we are below average for such events the season is not over for North Carolina until the end of November. But it helps to know the tax laws and IRS can help if your home, business or belongings suffer damage from a federally declared disaster this year. As a rule, you can deduct losses to the extent you are not reimbursed by the insurance. More information is available. IRS also gives disaster victims more time to file returns and pay taxes.

One area I wanted to specifically highlight is when you have accounts and/or property in a foreign country. The IRS and the Justice Dept. are on the prowl for undisclosed foreign accounts. You probably may not have noticed but there are three questions at the bottom of schedule B which you are supposed to answer honestly and truthfully and if there is more work to be done or more forms to be filled then do that accordingly (generally, a FBAR form FinCEN Form 114). I will urge you to declare all the information they are asking. Currently there are penalties only if such information is not disclosed; omitting an account from a filed FBAR leads to a willfulness penalty. Also, there is a certain procedure to be followed when funds, after selling your property in India (or any other country), are transferred to US; basically, it impacts your 1040 and all that information is to be shown on 1040 for that year. Rest assured that you do not pay income tax twice; you pay taxes just in one country of your choice.

Mo Vidwans is an independent, board certified financial planner. For details visit, VidwansFinancial.com, call 984-888-0355 or write to: mpvidwans@yahoo.com

Miss India NC 2022

The Diwali crowd shopped bargains, grabbed food, and settled down on the grass to soak up the autumnal sun and the non-stop entertainment unfolding on stage. As group after group of community children and youth made their way to the stage to claim their spot under the sun in their colorful costumes. Their groovy dance moves betrayed not a trace of the hours of practice that had gone into perfecting them. Meanwhile, at the exhibition booth, a picture account of the fascinating story of 75 years of Indian Independence shared space with the displays of how Diwali is celebrated in different parts of India and the world.

Amrita Tenneti won the Miss India NC 2022 pageant held in September 2022 in Morrisville NC. She is currently a full-time Data Analytics/ Insights intern with FX at Walt Disney, and a graduate student at UNC Charlotte pursuing Data Science and Business Analytics. “I am a strong advocate for women empowerment, and believe that pageants encourage girls to feel confident, beautiful, and strong, inside and out. I not only believe that women can shine in all that they do, but I also know that they are capable of pursuing all their dreams and feeling confident. While enrolling for the Miss India NC pageant I took on the challenge of being my own personal pageant coach, choreographing my own talent, doing my own hair and makeup, and picking out my own outfits. I hope to inspire young girls and women to not be afraid of the stigma associated with their goals such as pursuing a career in beauty and STEM - believe in yourself and you truly can achieve anything,” Tenneti said. She will compete in Miss India USA in a few months representing NC. The NC pageant is presented by Spark Entertainment.

Hum Sub Cary Diwali 2022

by John Tal and ABFotos

Deepotsav – A New Chapter Unfolds had many firsts to its credit. The ever-popular celebrity dance segment was an extended version with the mayors and town officials of Apex and Morrisville shaking a leg with their counterparts from Cary. The picture of the “golden boots” of the Apex mayor, dancing his heart out, is an image that will live long in the Hum Sub archives! What a treat it was to see spirited seniors from the community perform on stage to a peppy yesteryear Bollywood number.

It’s just past 11am on a Saturday, October 8, 2022, and the grounds of the Koka Booth Amphitheater are already filling up with enthusiastic crowds to attend the Triangle’s premier Indian community event, Hum Sub Diwali! By the time the programs wind up with a spectacular fireworks display, a good eight hours later, a whopping 15,000 people attended in total.

With the organizational commitment to lay a strong foundation for youth in community service, Deepotsav 2022 saw Youth Ambassadors engage actively with other youth volunteers to keep the packed program on track. From shouts of “orange on top”, to ensure the Indian tricolor was placed the correct way on the mini flag poles for the crowds to wave, to “Disco divas” or “Bhangra boys”, to shepherd the performing groups to the holding area near the stage, they worked in sync with the Hum Sub board all the way. The high-octane performance of the university groups just set the right tone in the evening. Shivangi Bhayana and Sandeep Batraa regaled audiences with their charismatic stage presence and energetic singing of old and new Bollywood numbers. Many in the audience could be seen dancing to their favorite songs. The evening ended in a breathtaking fireworks display.

Talk of Deepotsav 2022 would be incomplete without mention of the Hum Sub Youth Achievement Award, which attracted a record 56 applications and gave all an opportunity to celebrate the many astonishing achievements of the youth.

Photo courtesy of Spark Entertainment

Photos

World Population Hits Eight Billion

Amid falling growth rates, global population projected to peak around 10.4 billion in the 2080s

The global population reached eight billion in mid-November 2022, and India is projected to surpass China as the world’s most populous country in 2023, according to World Population Prospects 2022, released recently by the United Nations on World Population Day.

“This year’s World Population Day falls during a milestone year, when we anticipate the birth of the Earth’s eight billionth inhabitant. This is an occasion to celebrate our diversity, recognize our common humanity, and marvel at advancements in health that have extended lifespans and dramatically reduced maternal and child mortality rates,” said UN Secretary-General António Guterres. “At the same time, it is a reminder of our shared responsibility to care for our planet and a moment to reflect on where we still fall short of our commitments to one another,” he added.

The global population is growing at its slowest rate since 1950, having fallen under 1 per cent in 2020. The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the world’s population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030 and 9.7 billion in 2050.

World Population Prospects 2022 also states that fertility has fallen markedly in recent decades for many countries. Today, two-thirds of the global population lives in a country or area where lifetime fertility is below 2.1 births per woman, roughly the level required for zero growth in the long run for a population with low mortality. The populations of 61 countries or areas are projected to decrease by 1 per cent or more between 2022 and 2050, owing to sustained low levels of fertility and, in some cases, elevated rates of emigration.

More than half of the projected increase in the global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in eight countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and the United Republic of Tanzania. Countries of sub-Saharan Africa are expected to contribute more than half of the increase anticipated through 2050.

The share of global population at ages 65 and above is projected to rise from 10 percent in 2022 to 16 percent in 2050. At that point, it is expected that the number of persons aged 65 years or over worldwide will be more than twice the number of children under age 5 and about the same as the number under age 12.

Tallest Temple in North America Opens in Cary, NC

A new 87-foot tower at the Sri Venkateswara Temple in Cary was inaugurated in the presence of hundreds of devotees by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper in October.

The completion of the tower, named “Tower of Unity and Prosperity” comes 13 years after the temple construction started in 2009, and is now the tallest of its kind in North America.

“What a wonderful day this is, especially in times of trouble… walking into this temple with reverence and leaving your worries on the outside for just a while… That’s something we all need to do, but then we can always leave the temple with even more determination than ever to address those worries, and to make sure we’re doing something about it,” Cooper said addressing the crowd.

Approval for the tower was granted in 2019, and construction began in April 2020, “right at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic,” Lakshminarayanan Srinivasan, general secretary of the temple’s board of trustees, told the Raleigh News & Observer.

According to Srinivasan, the “donate a brick” program, which invited Indian Americans from across the country to donate whatever they could to help see through the tower’s completion, saw around $2.5 million come in from more than 5,000 donors.

The temple is modeled after the famous Sri Venkateswara Temple in Tirupati. Fourteen artisans were brought in from India to hand-carve the temple’s decorative Hindu idols out of cement.

For more details, visit Svtemplenc.org.

Yudh Abhyas 2022 INDO - US Joint Training Exercises

The 18th edition of Indo - US joint training exercise “YUDH ABHYAS 22” was conducted in the Indian state of Uttarakhand in November. Exercise Yudh Abhyas is conducted annually between India and USA with the aim of exchanging best practices, Tactics, Techniques and Procedures between the Armies of the two nations. The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA) in October 2021.

US Army soldiers of 2nd Brigade of the 11th Airborne Division and Indian Army soldiers from the ASSAM

Regiment participated in the exercise. The training schedule focused on employment of an integrated battle group under Chapter VII of the UN Mandate. The schedule included all operations related to peace keeping and peace enforcement. The joint exercise also focused on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. Troops from both nations practiced the launching of swift and coordinated relief efforts in the wake of any natural calamity.

The scope of the Field Training Exercise included validation of integrated battle groups, force multipliers, establishment and functioning of surveillance grids, validation of operational logistics, mountain warfare skills, casualty evacuation and combat medical aid in adverse terrain and climatic conditions. The exercise involved exchanges and practices on a wide spectrum of combat skills including combat engineering, employment of UAS/Counter UAS techniques and information operations

Modi Meets Biden on the Sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Bali

exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year. We look forward to seeing you in Visakhapatnam!” he added.

The GHS 2023 by AAPI is being organized in collaboration with Andhra Medical College Alumni Association, Andhra Medical College, Indian Medical Association, AP, Association of Telugu Medical Graduates in the USA and Rangaraya Medical College Alumni Association and the Government of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

While elaborating on the themes and areas that are going to be covered during the Summit, Dr. V. Ranga, Chair of AAPI BOT, says, “The GHS 2023 will focus on Mental Health and Physician Burnout, Rural Health Initiatives, Infant and Maternal Health issues as well as Medical Jeopardy, Research Poster presentations by medical students.”

On November 15, 2022, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President of USA, Joseph R. Biden on the margins of G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Bali. They reviewed the continuing deepening of the India - US strategic partnership including cooperation in future oriented sectors like critical and emerging technologies, advanced computing, artificial intelligence, etc. They expressed satisfaction about the close cooperation between India and US in new groupings such as the Quad, I2U2, etc.

The two leaders discussed topical global and regional developments. PM Modi thanked President Biden for his constant support for strengthening the India-US partnership. He expressed confidence that both countries would continue to maintain close coordination during India’s G-20 Presidency.

AAPI’s 16th Annual Global Healthcare Summit 2023

“The registration for AAPI’s 16th annual Global Healthcare Summit 2023 at the at the prestigious Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach, Andhra Pradesh, India from January 6th to 8th, 2023 is filling up fast,” Dr. Ravi Kolli, President of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) announced recently. “Physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally will meet and participate in the scholarly

Dr. Prasad Chalasani, Chair of AAPI GHS-USA says, “With hundreds of physicians from the United States, the Summit is expected to be attended by nearly 400 delegates from around the world. AAPI Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) will have many new initiatives and also will be carrying the torch of ongoing projects undertaken by AAPI’s past leaders.”

In addition to offering over 10 hours of cutting-edge CMEs to the physicians, the event will have product theaters/promotional opportunities, plenary sessions, multisegment CEOs Forum, women’s leadership forum. The convention will be addressed by senior world leaders, including celebrities from the entertainment world, said Dr. Sudhakar Jonnalagadda, Chief Advisor of the GHS 2023.

Healthcare in India is one of the largest sectors, in terms of revenue and employment. India is making significant improvements in its healthcare infrastructure and is building modern medical facilities throughout India. Indian doctors have made tremendous progress in the 21st century and India is now being touted as a medical tourism hub. With hundreds of physicians joining from the United States, the summit is expected to be attended by three hundred delegates from around the world. AAPI Global Healthcare Summit (GHS) will have many new initiatives and will be carrying the torch of ongoing projects.

AAPI represents the interests of the over 120,000 physicians of Indian origin. It is the largest ethnic organization of physicians. AAPI’s annual Convention has provided a venue for medical education programs and symposia with world renowned physicians on the cutting edge of medicine.

For more details, Aapiusa.org or Summit.aapiusa.org.

by Taige Shukla

Instagram: @whatsthe_chai

Holiday Treats with Parle G

Hello Saathee family. It’s that time of year again, meaning calories don’t really count right…because you don’t want to miss out on these bite-sized Holiday treats, inspired by a household favorite. Parle-G cookies are a go-to chai time snack and one of the oldest brands in India, first established in 1929. Parle-G first began marketing the popular shortbread cookies we’ve grown to love today, as an “Indian alternative to British-branded biscuits” when India gained independence in 1947! It’s popularity only continues to grow around the world, and I have a feeling my grandpa (Dada) may be responsible for most of North Carolina’s Parle-G cookie consumption. While I typically prepare my go-to Holiday Truffles with Oreo cookies, this time around I decided to sub in Parle-G, and I must say they did not disappoint! So simple to prepare yet always a huge hit with friends and family. I also thought to add the cookies into mini cheesecakes! I already had the ingredients on hand and Parle-G was the perfect substitute for Graham crackers when making the crust. I also subbed in Greek Yogurt (or full fat dahi) in place of sour cream and the result was delicious! Both bite-sized treats are the perfect dessert for upcoming Holiday festivities. Hope your Holiday season is merry and full of yummy calories!!

Ingredients Directions

Parle G Truffles

4- 1.99oz packs of Parle G Biscuits (About 40)

8oz Cream Cheese

2- 3 cups melted chocolate

Optional: Tsp sugar

Parle G Mini Cheesecakes

1 cup of Parle G Crumbs (About 15 cookies)

8oz cream cheese

½ cup Greek yogurt (or full fat dahi)

1 egg

1 egg white

2 ½ tbsp butter, softened

¼ cup sugar

Splash of vanilla

For Truffles:

Servings: 20 Truffles + 12 Mini Cheesecakes Prep Time: 10 min Cooking Time: 30 minutes

Start by placing the Parle-G cookies into a food processor and pulse until you have fine crumbs. Add to a bowl with softened cream cheese, and using your hands, mix the cream cheese and crumbs until well combined. Scoop out about 1 tbsp portions of the mixture and roll into small balls. Place on wax paper lined cookie tray and place in the freezer for about 20 mins. Now, melt your chocolate and remove the cookie balls from the freezer. Chef’s Choice: I use Vanilla Candiquick or almond bark in place of chocolate, I find it easier to work with. However, any baking chocolate/chocolate chips will work fine as well. Dip each ball into the melted chocolate and top with whatever Holiday flare you’d like, I went with sprinkles this time around. Hint: make sure you add the toppings before the chocolate completely hardens. Allow the chocolate to set for about 20 mins at room temperature. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

For Mini Cheesecakes:

Start by placing the Parle-G cookies into a food processor and pulse until you have fine crumbs. Add in softened butter and pulse again until well combined. Evenly divide the cookie mixture into a lined mini cupcake pan, about 1 tbsp per liner. Press the mixture down to flatten and form a thin crust along the bottom. Bake at 325°F for about 8 mins.

In the meantime, prep the filling. Add cream cheese to a bowl and using an electric mixer, beat until softened. Add in yogurt and sugar and continue to beat until smooth. Finally add in the egg + egg white and vanilla, beat until well combined. The mixture should be nice and smooth.

Once the Parle G cookie crusts have baked and cooled, fill the remainder of each cupcake liner with the cheesecake filling. Bake at 325°F for about 20 mins or until the cheesecake begins to appear golden around the edges. Once the mini cheesecakes cool at room temperature, chill for another 2 hours in the fridge before serving. Top with pieces of Parle- G, fruit, or even a caramel drizzle. Store leftovers in fridge.

Tiruppavada Seva for Lord Venkateshwara

Sunday, Jan 1, 2023 (Noon - 1pm)

This service consists of cooking a large quantity of rice as pulihora and offering it to the Lord. The cooked rice is heaped up in mukha mantapam to take definite customary primidal trapezoid shape and the delicacies are then deposited there with coconuts, flowers, sandal paste, kumkum, deepam and is offered to the Lord with appropriate mantras.

Minimum Suggested donation for this seva $21 (This includes the archana). Annapurna Cafeteria is open from 12 Noon to 7pm

Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah | Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet | Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih ||

Hindu Center Celebrating Vaikunta Eka Dasi

Monday, January 2, 2023 (Temple will open in the morning at 6 am)

Morning start 6 am: Suprabatham, Nitya Puja 7 am: Vaikunta Dwara Aradhana Followed by opening of Vaikunta Dwara Evening 7 pm: Vishnu Sahastranama Parayanam, 8:15 pm Sayanotsavam and Lalli songs to Lord.

For more details on Lord Venkateshwara Anniversary or Vaikuntha Ekadasi talk to Hindu Center Priests: 704-535-3440

Lakshmikanth Bhattar: 980-254-1022; Balaji Bhattar: 704-906-2109 Vijay Raghava Bhattar: 803-470-8377; Kaushik Srinivasa: 980-263-1238 Badri Naryan: 704-998-1861

Simmons and Robert T. Walker found that Brazil’s National Congress was expanding the legal size of private holdings in the Amazon even before Bolsonaro was elected in 2019.

In southern Amazonas state, Amazonia’s most active deforestation frontier, rates of deforestation started to rise in 2012 because of loosened regulatory oversight. The number and size of clearings that the researchers identified using satellite data increased after Bolsonaro took office.

“Because of policy interventions and the greening of agricultural supply chains, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell after 2005, reaching a low point in 2012, when it began trending up again because of weakening environmental governance and reduced surveillance,” they observed. “In our view, the global community can help by insisting that supply chains for Amazonian beef and soybean products originate on lands deforested long ago and whose legality is long-standing.”

The Amazon overall is still a net absorber of carbon dioxide, but a recent study found that deforestation was turning parts of the Brazilian Amazon into net carbon sources.

3. Indigenous resistance

Road building in the Amazon, which increased dramatically during Bolsonaro’s tenure, brings development and related threats like wildfires into wild areas. University of Richmond geographer David Salisbury also saw it as an existential threat to Indigenous communities.

Indigenous residents of the Brazilian-Peruvian borderlands where Salisbury worked “understand that the loggers and their tractors and chainsaws are the sharp point of a road allowing coca growers, land traffickers and others access to traditional Indigenous territories and resources,” Salisbury reported.

“They also realize that their Indigenous communities may be all that stands in defense of the forest and stops invaders and road builders.”

Several Indigenous women won office as federal deputies in Brazil’s recent elections, and Lula has pledged to protect Indigenous people’s rights. Salisbury saw it as crucial to ensure that Indigenous defenders of the Amazon receive “the support and educational opportunities needed to be safe, prosperous and empowered to protect their rainforest home.”

4. Five global deforestation drivers: Beef, soy, palm oil, wood – and crime

A small handful of highly lucrative commodities are the main causes of deforestation in the Amazon and other tropical regions around the world. In Brazil, much of the land is cleared for raising beef cattle or cultivating soy. In Indonesia and Malaysia, palm oil production is spurring large-scale rainforest destruction. Wood production, for pulp and paper products as well as fuel, is also a major driver in Asia and Africa.

A bearded man at a lectern in front of a sign reading ‘Global Climate Action.’

“Making the supply chains for these four commodities more sustainable is an important strategy for reducing deforestation,” wrote Texas State University geographer Jennifer Devine. But Devine also found a fifth factor interwoven with these four industries: organized crime.

“Large, lucrative industries offer opportunities to move and launder money; as a result, in many parts of the world, deforestation is driven by the drug trade,” she reported. In the Amazon, for example, drug traffickers are illegally logging forests and hiding cocaine in timber shipments to Europe.

“Promoting sustainable production and consumption are critical to halting deforestation worldwide. But in my view, national and industry leaders also have to root organized crime and illicit markets out of these commodity chains,” Devine concluded.

Article courtesy of The Conversation. Editor’s note: This story is a roundup of articles from The Conversation’s archive. theconversation.com

Immigration Matters

of this writing, the GA Senate race is headed for a December runoff)? After what is widely considered a shocking lack of support for Republican candidates, the GOP may want to show voters that they can be shown to move the country forward with actual policy achievements, instead of returning to the grievance politics of Trump. As inflation continues to impact every corner of the US economy, moving the needle on immigration policy could usher in much needed labor for the hospitality, manufacturing and restaurant sectors of the economy, all of which are suffering under an extraordinarily limited pool of available workers.

Even with rumblings of a recession being unnecessarily trumpeted in national media, the fact remains near 3.5 percent, almost in line with historical lows over the last 25 years. The bottom line – the US has far fewer workers than it needs and both parties are cognizant of the problem.

The question remains whether both parties are willing to be partners in a solution. Republican demands for additional border funding are not unwarranted. President Biden’s border policy has been an objective disaster for two years and federal enforcement can only be described as lax. Democrats should acknowledge the current lack of border policy is not only a political albatross, but also a genuine enforcement problem; they will need to be serious about proposing tangible solutions on how to deal with the current migrant crisis.

In that same vein, the current Republican tunnelvisioned approach to only looking at immigration policy through the lens of “securing the border”’ is a cynical way of avoiding the tougher question on what to do with the 1520 million individuals currently in the United States without status. Bringing these individuals out of the margins into society would be a huge boost to the nation’s economy, as it would provide many able-bodied workers with the ability to access lawful employment, instead of relying on the current underground economy of cash-based employment.

All of this is to say that the nation requires a serious approach to federal immigration policy. Again, while a cynic will dismiss the likelihood of such an occurrence as a pipedream, the first two years of the Biden presidency did reap modest bipartisan deals on infrastructure investment and handgun reforms, which in today’s environment that rewards political bomb throwers, is no small feat. True immigration reform will require some heavy lifting and horse trading from both parties, but the midterms showed that the US populace is hungry for actual progress on solving the nation’s problems and not rewarding those that want to relitigate past disagreements.

One can only hope that this newest influx of members of Congress, as well as Congressional leaders, are more interested in actual problem solving compared to retweets and Facebook likes. That may be too much of an optimistic belief but hope certainly beats cynicism.

Rishi P.

Oza

is Partner at Brown Immigration Law, a firm that focuses solely on immigration law; he practices in Durham. roza@rbrownllc.com.

My Voice continued from page 46

needy and opening doors and hearts to those who may need it most. Sometimes, the best gift to get is the gift given to others. It is a holiday that teaches the joys of giving. This also feels a time to reflect on some other “traditional” holidays. Deepavali or Diwali is a holiday that has always been special, with the thrill of being able to play with fire sparklers. Cary Diwali is something that I have attended and enjoy watching the performances of songs, dances, skits put on, as well as also performing in certain dances myself for Diwali.

I remember one year, it was a cold night, and they were playing music for everyone to come and dance on the stage. Obviously, I had to celebrate that night as if I would celebrate no other festival.

A big celebration that always stands out is Navratri, or the nine nights. This is the celebration for the Goddess. Different parts of India celebrate Navratri in unique ways. In the region that my family comes from, it is celebrated through having a “Golu” where different figurines are showcased, and guests can come enjoy this magnificent display. The display has themes related to the stories of the puranas of Shakthi Devi and the various forms of Shakthi. The display can have other themes as well of figures from the Mahabharata or Ramayana.

As I have had friends from Gujarat, Garba and Raas has been integral to the celebration of Navratri. In Garba, people dance around a circle with the idol of a Goddess in the center. People follow certain dance steps. While I proclaim no expertise in the dance itself, one step can be moving forward with two claps to the front and then one to the back.

This is done to music that can be live or recorded. Raas also uses sticks for dancing. People can dance with the sticks and tap the sticks together as they move down the line. “Tap both sticks to the Right/Tap Both Sticks to the Left/Strike the sticks of the partner in front you/and then tap both sticks to the front. Continue.”

There are more complicated variations that can be utilized, but this is something of a rhythmic pattern that is both soothing and energizing. While some may learn through physics classes that time is relative, the immersion into the celebration of Navaratri through Garba/Raas is another way to learn this. In the blink of the eye, or the clap of the hands, or in the tap of the sticks, the night comes to an end. Where did time go?

It seemed to dance with us around Shakthi Ma, but then danced away too. We must leave now- Time to go home and rest and recover. But tomorrow is another night- Eight more to go!

So, a thought for the holiday season and many more holidays to come: When one is enjoying the holiday, there is no separation of “my holiday” or “your holiday” but “our holiday” to learn, incorporate and be knowledgeable and joyous in the festivities. This is the true spirit of the holidays.

Preethi Sriram is a classical dance enthusiast and lifelong learner of dance.

Contact: SriramPreethi@hotail.com

MedCredit’s loans to Allina patients come with 8% interest. Patients enrolled in a CareCredit card from Synchrony, the nation’s leading medical lender, face a nearly 27% interest rate if they fail to pay off their loan during a zero-interest promotional period. The high rate hits about 1 in 5 borrowers, according to the company.

For many patients, financing arrangements can be confusing, resulting in missed payments or higher interest rates than they anticipated. The loans can also deepen inequalities. Lower-income patients without the means to make large monthly payments can face higher interest rates, while wealthier patients able to shoulder bigger monthly bills can secure lower rates.

More fundamentally, pushing people into loans that threaten their financial health runs against medical providers’ first obligation to not harm their patients, said patient advocate Mark Rukavina, program director at the nonprofit Community Catalyst.

“We’re dealing with sick people, scared people, vulnerable people,” Rukavina said. “Dangling a financial services product in front of them when they’re concerned about their care doesn’t seem appropriate.”

Debt Upon Debt

Nationwide, about 50 million people — or 1 in 5 adults — are on a financing plan to pay off a medical or dental bill, according to a KFF poll conducted for this project. About a quarter of those borrowers are paying interest, the poll found.

Increasingly, those interest payments are going to financing companies that promise hospitals they will collect more of their medical bills in exchange for a cut.

Hospital officials defend these arrangements, citing the need to offset the cost of offering financing options to patients. Alan Wolf, a spokesperson for the University of North Carolina’s hospital system, said that the system, which reported $5.8 billion in patient revenue last year, had a “responsibility to remain financially stable to assure we can provide care to all regardless of ability to pay.” UNC Health, as it is known, has contracted since 2019 with AccessOne, a private equity-backed company that finances loans for scores of hospital systems across the country.

This partnership has had a substantial impact on patient debt, according to a KHN analysis of billing and contracting records obtained through public records requests.

UNC Health, which as a public university system touts its commitment “to serve the people of North Carolina,” had long offered payment plans without interest. And when AccessOne took over the loans in September 2019, most patients were in no-interest plans.

That has steadily shifted as new patients enrolled in one of AccessOne’s plans, several of which have variable interest rates that now charge 13%.

In February 2020, records show, just 9% of UNC patients in an AccessOne plan were in a loan with the highest interest rate. Two years later, 46% were in such a plan. Overall, at any given time more than 100,000 UNC Health patients finance through AccessOne.

The interest can pile on debt. Someone with a $7,000 hospital bill, for example, who enrolls in a five-year financing plan at 13% interest will pay at least $2,500 more to settle that debt.

Rukavina, the patient advocate, said adding this burden on patients makes little sense when medical debt is already creating so much hardship. “It may seem like a short-term solution, but it leads to longer-term problems,” he said. Health care debt has forced millions of Americans to cut back on food, give up their homes, and make other sacrifices, KHN found.

UNC Health disavowed responsibility for the additional debt, saying patients signed up for the higher-interest loans. “Any payment plans above zero-interest terms/conditions in place with AccessOne are in place at the request of the patient,” Wolf said in an email. UNC Health would only provide answers to written questions.

UNC Health’s patients aren’t the only ones getting routed into financing plans that require substantial interest payments.

At Atrium Health, a nonprofit system with roots as Charlotte’s public hospital that reported more than $7.5 billion in revenues last year, as many as half of patients enrolled in an AccessOne loan were in one of the company’s highest-interest plans, according to 2021 billing records analyzed by KHN.

At AU Health, Georgia’s main public university hospital system, billing records obtained by KHN show that twothirds of patients on an AccessOne plan were paying the highest interest rate as of January.

‘Empathetic Patient Financing’

AccessOne chief executive Mark Spinner, who in an interview called his firm a “compassionate, empathetic patient financing company,” said the range of interest rates gives patients and medical systems valuable options. “By offering AccessOne, you’re creating a much safer, more mission-aligned way for consumers to pay and help them stay out of medical debt,” he said. “It’s an alternative to lawsuits, legal action, and things like that.”

AccessOne, which doesn’t buy patient debt from hospitals, doesn’t run credit checks on patients to qualify them for loans. Nor will the company report patients who default to credit bureaus. The company also frequently markets the availability of zero-interest loans.

Some patients do qualify for no-interest plans, particularly if they have very low incomes. But the loans aren’t always as generous as company and hospital officials say.

AccessOne borrowers who miss payments can have their accounts returned to the hospital, which can sue them, report them to credit bureaus, or subject them to other collection actions. UNC Health refers unpaid bills to the state revenue department, which can garnish patients’ tax refunds. Atrium’s collections policy allows the hospital system to sue patients.

Because AccessOne borrowers can get low interest rates by making larger monthly payments, this financing system can also deepen inequalities. Someone who can pay $292 a

Medical Bills

month on a $7,000 hospital bill, for example, could qualify for a two-year, interest-free plan. But a patient who can pay only $159 a month would have to take a five-year plan with 13% interest, according to AccessOne.

“I see wealthier families benefiting,” said one former AccessOne employee, who asked not to be identified because she still works in the financing industry. “Lowerincome families that have hardship are likely to end up with a higher overall balance due to the interest.”

Andy Talford, who oversees patient financial services at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, said the hospital contracted with AccessOne to make it easier for patients to manage their medical bills.

“Someone out there is helping them keep track of it,” he said.

But patients can get tripped up by the complexities of managing these plans, consumer advocates say. That’s what happened to Milcowi graphic designer in Florida.

Milcowitz, 51, had set up a nointerest payment plan with Moffitt pay off $3,000 she owed for her hysterectomy in 2017. When the medical center switched her account to AccessOne, however, she began receiving late notices, even as she kept making payments.

Only later did she figure out that AccessOne had set up two accounts, one for the cancer surgery and another for medical appointments. Her payments had been applied only to the surgery account, leaving the other past-due. She then got hit with higher interest rates. “It’s crazy,” she said.

Growing Business Opportunities

While financing plans may mean more headaches and more debt for patients, they’re proving profitable for lenders.

That’s drawn the interest of private equity firms, which have bought several patient financing companies in recent years. Since 2017, AccessOne’s majority owner has been private equity investor Frontier Capital.

Synchrony, which historically marketed its CareCredit cards in patient waiting rooms, is now also inking deals with medical systems to enroll patients in loans when they go online to pay bills.

“They’re like pilot fish eating off the back of the shark,” said Jonathan Bush, a founder of Athenahealth, a health technology company that has developed electronic medical records and billing systems.

As patient bills skyrocket, hospitals face mounting pressure to collect more, which can make financing arrangements seem appealing, industry experts say. But as health systems go into business with lenders, many are

reluctant to share details. Only a handful of hospitals contacted by KHN agreed to be interviewed about their contracts and what they mean for patients.

Several public systems, including Atrium and UNC Health, disclosed information only after KHN submitted public records requests. Even then, the two systems redacted key details, including how much they pay AccessOne.

AU Health, which did not redact its contract, pays AccessOne a 6% “servicing fee” on each patient loan the company administers. But like Atrium and UNC Health, AU Health refused to provide any on-the-record interviews.

Other hospital systems were even less transparent. Mercyhealth, a nonprofit with hospitals and clinics in Illinois and Wisconsin that routes its patients to CareCredit, would not discuss its lending practices. “We do not have anyone available for this,” spokesperson Therese Michels said. Allina Health and Prime Healthcare also wouldn’t talk about their patient financing deals.

Bush said there’s a reason so few hospitals want to discuss their financing deals: They’re embarrassed. “It’s like they quietly write someone’s name on a piece of paper and slide it across the table,” he said. “They don’t want to be a part of it because they have in their institutional memory that they are supposed to look after patients’ best interests.”

Some Hospitals Choose Another Path

Not all hospitals expose their patients to extra costs to finance medical bills.

Lake Region Healthcare, a small nonprofit with hospitals and clinics in rural Minnesota that contracts with Missouri-based Commerce Bank, charges no interest or fees on payment plans. That’s a decision that spokesperson Katie Johnson said was made “for the benefit of our patients.”

Even some AccessOne clients such as the University of Kansas Health System shield patients from interest. But as providers look to boost their bottom lines, it’s unclear how long these protections will last. Colette Lasack, who oversees financing for the Kansas system, noted: “There’s a cost associated with that.”

Meanwhile, large national lenders such as Discover Financial Services are looking at the patient financing business.

“I’ve had to become more of a health care marketer,” said Matt Lattman, vice president for personal loans at Discover, which is pitching the loans to people with unexpected medical bills. “In a world where many people are ill prepared to cover their health care costs, the personal loan can provide an opportunity.”

Article courtesy of Kaiser Health News Visit Khn.org

Raajeev

social media recently and announced that the film will release on April 28, 2023. In a special note on Instagram, he wrote, “After 7 years, it’s time for me to return to my first home - the cinemas. I had the absolute honour of working with not one, but many illustrious actors on the set of my film. The familial nostalgic feeling of an ensemble cast, creating music that captivates the hearts and a story that runs deep to the roots of our family traditions. It’s that time again -to huddle with your family and friends, buy the popcorn and witness just sheer love & entertainment unfold on the big screen.”

Akshay Kumar to Play Late Mining Engineer Sardar Jaswant Singh

Akshay Kumar, who has brought many stories of reallife legend to the big screen, will now portray the role of mining engineer Sardar Jaswant Singh Gill in the untitled biopic. The biopic will bring to screen the story behind India’s biggest rescue mission led by Sardar Jaswant Singh Gill, who saved 65 miners in a coal mining accident in 1989. Kumar’s previous biopics include Mission Mangal, Kesari, Padman, and Prithviraj. The release date has yet to be announced.

Life of Pi to Open on Broadway

from

spoke perfect Spanish asked the owner, “¿Tiene Manteca de cardo? Does it have lard?” He said, “No, Senor.” I didn’t believe him because he answered with a bit of hesitation. I requested my cousin to ask again. “¿Usas Manteca de cardo en tus trijoles? Do you use lard in your beans?” He said, “No.” I asked my cousin to translate again, “So this burrito is vegetarian?” He said, “Si Senor!” with a smile. Then he took me inside the kitchen and showed me a large pile of corn oil containers. I was convinced. Later I told my cousin the reason for my skepticism. In the US, they cannot give a false answer for fear of getting sued. Besides a personal preference, people could have strong religious reasons or be allergic to certain foods. In Mexico, I wasn’t sure. It could be, “Chalta hai. Or Jugaad. Anything goes or Makeshift solution,” mindset like in India with little accountability.

About ten years ago, I read the importance of Omega 3 and how 60 percent of our brain is made up of Omega 3. I explored using flaxseed oil to supplement my diet. Later, through my research I found out that the suggested DHA and EPA content have to be over 1,600 mg per day. There was no way I could get that from flaxseed oil. So reluctantly, I started taking high quality Norwegian fish oil from Nordic Naturals that met this threshold in one dose. However, when I would go to Thai restaurants, I would still insist on withholding fish sauce from the soups and curries. My children would tease me and say it’s not logical. I would smile and answer, “Neither is life.”

A few years later I had seen first-hand the benefits of fish oil. When my father was 92, he had a minor stroke. Because of that and lack of physical activity, his cognitive skills rapidly declined. I encouraged the helpers to mix some fish oil in honey and give it to him. My uncle who lived in India and who would visit my father regularly remarked how my father’s verbal skills and understanding had dramatically improved. He said he could carry out an almost natural conversation with him.

All these incidents flashed through my mind while I was talking to my agent. He pushed again, saying, “Think about it before you turn down so much money.” I started evaluating my relationship with meat since childhood. Ingesting fish oil is one thing but eating beef, that too voluntarily and for profit, was a different matter. I was curious so I asked, “How much?” He said, “If it goes national and you count the residuals, it should be at least $50, 000.”

Lolita Chakrabarti’s stage adaptation of Yann Martel’s novel will open on Broadway in March 2023. Life of Pi is directed by Max Webster, with music by Andrew T Mackay. “It has been such a privilege to adapt Yann Martel’s modern classic Life of Pi for the stage. It was daunting, creatively, exciting, and always collaborative. To be able to tell this story the way I imagined it, to create the world using my references and viewpoint has been an extraordinary gift. And to see it resonate with young and old audience members alike has been humbling,” said playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, “It is a beautiful, visceral, magical show, a story of survival which all of us can fundamentally relate to after the effects of the pandemic. I am beyond thrilled that we will bring this play to Broadway.” Life of Pi is currently playing at Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End.

My bania instincts kicked in quickly. I said, “Sure. I’ll eat it! It is an American cow anyway.” My son always says, “They are treated like crap anyway. Watch the Discovery channel or check out PBS and you’ll see.” My agent was confused. He asked, “You wouldn’t eat a cow from India?” I told him I would never eat an Indian cow because we believe in reincarnation. They might be my ancestors. Now he was really intrigued. He asked, “How about if they paid 20 times the amount I said, “Sure. I’ll eat that. Every ancestor has its price.” I heard him laughing on the phone. I confessed, “Yes, my morals can be bought!”

Raajeev Aggerwhil

is a Los Angeles-based comedian. Follow him on Instagram @raajeevcomedy. Find him on YouTube.

India Air Pollution

middle India (east Gujarat/west Maharashtra and Odisha/Chhattisgarh); the northern and central subcontinent (Pakistani and Indian Punjab and part of Afghanistan); and the southern subcontinent (south Pakistan and west Afghanistan).

PM2.5 concentrations in villages and small towns in the Indo-Gangetic Plain are often higher than the nearest city, indicating that air-quality management cannot be restricted to cities. “These towns don’t have any control over the pollution in their jurisdiction. That is why we need an airshed approach as air-quality management. We need a policy to ensure that cities take responsibility,” Tembhe says.

“The idea is that all cities that lie within an airshed need to coordinate with each other for an effective solution,” Dey adds. “For example, 80 percent of the airsheds of Lucknow and Kanpur [in Uttar Pradesh] overlap. Similarly, Dhanbad [in Jharkhand] and Asansol [in West Bengal] have a very big overlap in their airshed. So they will benefit by sharing their resources and data.”

Now, the World Bank is giving technical and advisory support to the process of developing the country’s first large Airshed Action Plan for the Indo-Gangetic Plain, across seven union territories and states. The Indo-Gangetic Plain is one of the most polluted areas in the country, contributing to 46 percent of premature deaths.

“The World Bank is supporting a team of Indian experts who have applied several internationally adopted models, including GAINS in Europe, North America and China,” says Karin Shepardson, lead environmental specialist at the World Bank. “Now we are helping Indian partners to tailor it to local conditions in the states in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, particularly the development of air action plans in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar using an airshed management approach.”

GAINS stands for Greenhouse gas and Air pollution Interactions and Synergies and refers to a model used to assess strategies that combat air pollution and climate change at the same time.

How the technical model is ultimately translated into airsheds for management purposes is something the government has to decide, says Shepardson. The government is yet to define airsheds for India; the process is still being deliberated.

Uttar Pradesh takes first step on airshed management

However, some states feel urgent action is required before then. Uttar Pradesh is the first to adopt an airshed action plan. Speaking at the India Clean Air Summit in Bangalore in August, Ashish Tiwari, the secretary of the Department of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Uttar Pradesh, announced that, with the World Bank’s help, the state has identified clean cooking as the most costeffective intervention, based on the GAINS model. The state plans to distribute 100,000 free stoves and electric tandoors to restaurants and eateries.

“Introduction of clean fuel will definitely have a huge impact,” Tembhe says, but she adds a word of caution. “While it’s a good solution, it’s not a permanent solution,” as sources of pollution need to be identified at the airshed level.

“It makes more sense to develop an airshed management plan for the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain region, as pollutants don’t stop at state lines,” says Alan Lloyd, a senior research fellow at the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin. He recommends the formation of an air resources board for the Indo-Gangetic Plain, similar to the one in California, that combines richer and lower-income areas within the same geographic area.

“However, the perfect should not get in the way of the good. It is critical to get good data to put into the model. So, if Uttar Pradesh is ahead in data collection, then a lot can be learned while the other states acquire more and better data,” he adds.

“In a big airshed like the Indo-Gangetic Plain, we need to understand the emission load of each state, so they can coordinate among each other in terms of governance and infrastructure to ensure that these major polluting sources can be reduced,” explains Prathima Singh, an air-pollution scientist at the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP), a think-tank in Bangalore.

A 2019 study found that secondary PM2.5 (which is formed though the interaction of particles that were emitted directly) is the major source of pollution in most of the IndoGangetic Plain states, followed by domestic cooking. In Delhi, 20 percent of PM2.5 comes from mobile sources, such as cars, buses, aeroplanes and construction equipment.

There are also seasonal variations, Singh adds. In winter, stubble burning affects the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain. In summer, dust pollution from the alluvial soil in the river belt is a big contributor to air pollution.

A snapshot taken by a NASA satellite in November 2017 of the smog created by stubble burning showed that both India and Pakistan were affected equally. The smog caused a health emergency, with schools, industries and airports shutting down in both countries.

Airshed management needs international cooperation

Despite a number of efforts to revive the Malé Declaration, an agreement to address transboundary pollution signed by Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka as far back as 1998, “as far as I know, nothing has come of it”, Tembhe says.

This demonstrates why “international cooperation is important in the Indo-Gangetic Plain”, Tripathi says. “Punjab, especially Amritsar and Jalandhar, are heavily influenced by pollution coming from Pakistan. A large part of the pollution from the Indo-Gangetic Plain goes to Bangladesh and, at certain times of the year, pollution comes from Bangladesh to West Bengal and Jharkhand.”

Ultimately, for airshed management in India to work, enforcement has to be taken seriously. This was a key element of its success in California, says Lloyd. “Previous plans in India failed because of a lack of serious enforcement. Fines must be commensurate with the violation, and public health must be addressed asap.”

Article courtesy of thethirdpole.net

Deepa Padmanaban is a freelance journalist based in Bangalore. She writes about science, the environment, wildlife and health. She is on Twitter @deepa_padma

Quiz Corner

Word World

By Kirit Shukla

Who wants to be a Scholar?!

Answer the ones you know and research the rest. There is only one correct answer!

1. Arrange these highest worldwide ski resorts from most to least in height. (a) Loveland, USA (b) SaaS Fee, Switzerland (c) La Parva, Chile (d) Gulmarg, India

2. The best film of 66th Filmfare Awards 2021 is (a) Sir(b) Thappad (c) Malang(d) Angrezi Medium

3. Which letter does not appear on the periodic table? (a) Q(b) Y (c) Z(d) J

4. The word “Carrion” means (a) Decaying flesh(b) To carry on (c) Fine pastry(d) A wild animal

E R5. How far is the Neptune from the Sun? (Avg.) (a) 3.5 billion km (b) 4.0 billion km (c) 4.5 billion km (d) 5.0 billion km

6. Which are "like fractions"? (a) 2/3 and 1/3(b) 1/100 and 9/4 (c) 1/2 and 3/4(d) 2/5 and 5/2

7. Rum is a 100 percent sugar cane product. What is the sugar content of rum?

(a) 100%(b) 66% (c) 33% (d) 0%

8. NBA 2022 champs. (a) Warriors(b) Celtics (c) Heat(d) Hornets

9. The first compass was invented between the 2nd Century B.C. and 1st Century A.D. in (a) Rome (b) Russia (c) China(d) Egypt

10. The national flower of India is (a )Jasmine(b) Plumeria (Champa) (c) Tube Rose(d) Lotus

Answers are on bottom left. No Peeking.

Scholar: All correct; 1st Class: 9 Correct; 2nd Class: 8 Correct; 3rd Class: 7 Correct; Need to improve: 6 or less

Key Word Search

Fill in blanks of these clues, then take the first letter of each word and unscramble them to find this month’s Key Word.

India’s basic unit of currency. ___ This magazine. ___ United States of ___ . Muslim Religion. ___ The Queen city of NC. ___ The most ancient language of India. ___ ___ Potter.

The first name of Mahatma Gandhi. ___ Stannous. ___

Answers on page 88

PUZZLES AND JOKES

By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase

Clues Across: 1. Classical dance of Andhra Pradesh, India. 9. District Attorney. (*) 11. To take in eagerly or greedily. 12. Omegas of Charleston Community Uplift Project. (*) 14. Less common spelling of through. 15. The year following the current year. 17. Feels ill. 19. Good Night. (*) 20. Palestine Liberation Organization.(*) 21. Not attentive to what being said. 23. “ __ Teferra”- an Ethiopian feminist activist. 25. ___ Restaurant. Service offered for seated diners. 27. A young woman. 28. Automated Teller Machine. (*) 29. Windows Image Acquisition. (*) 30. Pitched in the first octave above the treble staff; high. 31. A round flat leavened bread baked in a tandoor. 32. Global Positioning System. (*) 34. India Standard Time. (*) 36. Antilock Braking System. (*) 37. A Hamitic people of the French territory of the Afars. 38. A lead actress in the Malayalam television industry. 40. Forms by means of instruction. 43. An ardent follower of a religion. 45. Stamped Self-Addressed Envelope (*) 46. An aggregate fruit consisting of drupes or achenes. 47. Price. (*)

Clues Down:

1. A collection of articles usually for personal use. 2. Not capable of being lived in. 3. The day before the day celebrating the birth of Christ. 4. Pulled. 5. Illinois. (*) 6. A fenced enclosure for animals. 7. Two roughly parallel ranges of chalk hills in southeast England. 8. Intensely cold. 9. People who believe the world is ruled by good and evil. 10. Garments of cloth, usually fastened in the back and worn across the front to protect other clothing.

13. Inflammation of the brain parenchyma. (Medical term.)

16. For Example. (*)

18. Precipitation in the form of small white ice crystals.

21. Any body posture utilized in yogic exercise.

22. Small shoots or branches usually without their leaves. 24. Equatorial Launch Australia. (*)

26. Website that used to facilitate free distribution of digital music.

33. Signaling Access Routers. (*) (Sprint). 35. To operate an electroshock stun gun against a subject.

37. International Air Transport Association. (*)

39. A word used to express negation, denial, or refusal. 41. And So On (*) (Computer) 42. A brief sleep, often during the day. 43. The first tone of the major scale in solfège. (Music) 44. Electrical Engineering. (*)

(solution on page 88)

Hee Hee

Jokes & Riddles From Around The World

Wife: “Why was that police officer at the door?”

Husband: “Oh he was asking if our dogs are chasing the neighbors on bikes.”

Wife: “What? That’s ridiculous!”

Husband: “I know! Our dogs don’t even own bikes.” *****

Booddhoo: “Is it true that light travels faster than sound?”

Scientist: “Yes. That’s why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.” *****

Booddhoo: “I lost my job at the bank on the very first day!”

Mafatlal: “How did you manage that?”

Booddhoo: “A customer asked me to check his balance, so I pushed him over.”

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

Subject: Andhra Pradesh, India

AP AMARAVATI ANANTPUR ASHOKA BALAJI BEE CANAL CEMENT DIAMOND EUCALYPTUS GHAT GODAVARI GOLCONDA

GUNTUR HYDERABAD KRISHNA KURNOOL LAKE MAHAMAYA MICA PUPPETRY ROSEWOOD SUGAR TEAK TEL

The unused 13 letters spell: The subject of this puzzle. (answer on page 88)

Math Magic

Fill in the empty squares to get = the final given answers. Use any number from 2 to 9 only once: Note: Follow the order of operation per basic math rule: ×,÷, +,The multiplication or division is done before addition and subtraction. (solution on page 88)

EZ-BZ

TEST YOUR IQ

The common letters are “DEC” - Fill in the blanks)

1. The act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid. DEC _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. A roof, or terrace for sunning. _ _ _ DEC _ 3. To make a final choice or judgment about. DEC _ _ _ 4. The techniques/procedures of espionage. _ _ _ DEC _ _ _ _ 5. To undergo decomposition. DEC _ _ 6. Surgical removal of part of the eye’s iris. _ _ _ DEC _ _ _ _ 7. To give a false impression. DEC _ _ _ _ 8. A city & municipality in central Albania. _ _ _ _ _ DEC 9. A stage setting; scenery. DEC _ _ 10. A unit of length equal to ¹/₁₀ meter. DEC _ _ _ _ _ _ 11. A landing deck for helicopters on ships. _ _ _ _ DEC 12. Twelfth month of the Gregorian calendar. DEC _ _ _ _ _ 13. An NSAID, a COX-2 inhibitor given orally especially to treat osteoarthritis & rheumatoid arthritis. _ _ _ DEC _ _ _ _ 14. Glass bottle used for serving wine. DEC _ _ _ _ _ 15. An American toasted coconut chocolate maker in Madagascar. From beans to bars. _ _ DEC _ _ _ _ _ 16. Free from immodesty or obscenity. DEC _ _ _ 17. A relative of Esther who gave advice on saving the Jews from the destruction planned by Haman. _ _ _ DEC _ _ 18. A plane polygon of 10 angles and 10 sides. DEC _ _ _ _ 19. A degree of loudness. DEC _ _ _ _ 20. An explicit, formal announcement, either oral or written. DEC_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21. A dead person. DEC _ _ _ _ _ 22. An old French silver coin equal to ¹/₄ ecu. _ _ _DEC _ (Puzzle solutions are on page 88. NO peeking!)

Saathee Puzzle Master Kirit Shukla kiritsshukla@gmail.com

December 2022

Dec. 1 - World AIDS Day

Dec. 3 - Mokshadā Ekadashi

Dec. 3 - Gita Jayanti

Dec. 7 - Dattatray Jayanti

Dec. 7 - Shukla Purnima (Full Moon)

Dec. 7 - Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Dec. 8 - Bodhi Day

Dec. 19 - Saphala Ekadashi

Dec. 19 - Hanukkah Begins

Dec. 21 - Winter Solstice / Yule

Dec. 22 - Darsh Amas (No Moon)

Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve

Dec. 25 - Christmas Day

Dec. 26 - Hanukkah Ends

Dec. 26 - Kwanzaa Begins

Dec. 31 - New Year’s Eve

Aries

(March 21 – April 20)

Money will flow in your accounts this month but won’t stay very long. You may also spend on social and religious events. This is a good time to invest in real estate, or you could focus on learning finance or insurance. An unexpected dispute with your partner is also possible due to a misunderstanding. An old health problem may return to bother you. Don’t plan any long-distance journey this month.

Taurus

(April 21 – May 20)

This will be a very busy and successful month and an aggressive attitude to make quick decisions may help. Luck should favor you except in health and partner relations. This is a positive time for students and the younger generation. Be very careful when driving to avoid potential accidents. If dealing with legal issues, delay any decisions.

Gemini

(May 21 – June 20)

After a slow start, things could turn positive after the first week of the month. Cordial relations with your partner should help you feel more relaxed. Your workplace performance will be excellent and rewarding. This is also a good time to develop or buy real estate. A lack of confidence may constantly bother you. Avoid any long-distance journey. The month will end with good news from a distant place.

Cancer

(June 21 – July 22)

If you can control your temperament this month, you should enjoy good luck and success as your income increases. You may even be involved in new activities with returns greater than anticipated. You should feel very spiritual this month. A great life changing opportunity could come your way, so be sure to accept it. You will be able to defeat your enemies. Be prepared to experience a busy life during the next few months.

Leo

(July 23 – August 22)

Unexpected financial gain through speculation or social relations should delight you this month. You could end up making spontaneous decisions at work, but don’t compromise with your morals. Enjoy family support resulting in increased savings. Avoid any major investments and plan a longdistance journey instead. Your friends could lead you towards wrongdoing, so stay away from them.

Virgo

(August 23 – September 21)

Relax and focus on leisure this month but avoid parties and public gatherings. Your partner will prove to be good encouragement for you. Great family support and a slow rise in savings will also help you feel comfortable. Avoid travel as it could end in disaster. Destiny may force you to act irresponsibly, but you will be excused for it. Any aggressive actions at your workplace may hurt your reputation.

Libra

(September 22 – October 20)

Love and happiness will be all around you. Enjoy full confidence as you work on your dream project. Focus on your talents to enjoy success. Life should remain quite smooth, though a family dispute could be there. Just ignore it. Traveling may prove troublesome but rewarding. You may end up paying for your partner’s mistake. Check your diet to avoid any minor health ailments.

Scorpio

(October 21 – November 20)

To enjoy true success and a happy life with your partner, be sure to make bold but calculated decisions this month. Your schedule will be very busy with income on rise. Don’t hesitate to spend on luxury items as well as share your wealth with others. You may also experience supremacy over your competitors, so take every possible opportunity to exploit it. Get enough rest and keep an eye on your health.

Sagittarius

(November 21 – December 21)

Prepare for a hectic schedule this month, which should gain you a small rise in income. You may waste energy in a dispute with your partner. Try to slow down and focus on work, but don’t overdo it with too many projects. Remember to curb your expenses and avoid any major investments. Try to relax as it will indirectly bring success and financial gains in the long run. Focus on building relations.

Capricorn

(December 22 – January 21)

This period should move quickly for you. Making progress on a hobby should bring good returns. A recommendation from your superior may help in gaining income. However, unexpected expenses and losses may wash away most of it. You could also face health problems during second half of the month. Focus on business-related travel to achieve the best results.

Aquarius

(January 22 – February 18)

Work on a family project as a team and enjoy great returns to boost your overall relations. Your income will be on the rise along with social status. This is a good time to take risks with a new venture, though avoid the stock market during the middle of the month. Also avoid travel and simply spend time with friends. Try to keep away from parties and focus on work. Enjoy good health.

Pisces

(February 19 – March 20)

This is a very positive time for a long-distance journey which should be enjoyable as well as earn you some extra money. Enjoy a higher status in the society by arranging social or religious gatherings. Don’t expect much from your partner this month. You should receive new opportunities as well. Your confidence will be on par and help in coping with a very busy schedule. It is also time to come forward and help those in need. Jalendu Vaidya

CLASSIFIEDS

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

Threading and Microblading Business for Sale. In business 12+ years. Extensive client list & online presence. Ideal location in Huntersville/Concord area. Current owner will train for microblading process (if needed). Call Todd 704-497-2975 for details.

C-Stores for Sale: Shelby, NC $839,000 + Inv. Annual $1,860,000, Fuel Gals 480,000; Pinetops, NC $239,000 + Inv., Inside Sales $540,000, Fuel Gals 60k; Please Contact: County South: 704-440-4433 or Countysouth.biz.

Motel for Lease Greensboro, NC. 20-rooms w/large manager's residence. Great business! Walmart /restaurants 1 mile away. Please call H.D. 5-9pm, M-F at 336-471-3777. C-Store/Gas Station for Lease in neighborhood area of Gastonia, NC. Call 980-250-4995 for details.

Motel for Sale: 15-units in eastern NC. Fully renovated and perfect for owner/operator. Serious inquiries only. Call 757-576-3822.

Men & Boys Formal Clothing Business for sale in Sumter, SC. Great location & established clients. Owner looking to retire. Contact 803-468-2200.

Motel for Sale in Rocky Mount, NC. 62rooms. Asking $3.2 million. Financing possible. Contact 443-538-3997 or aeirockymountnc@gmail.com.

Gas Station for Sale w/ property. Asking $425k. Inside $45k, outside 30k gals per month. Income from lottery & gaming machines. On HW 29 in Danville , VA. Call 434-228-3025.

30-Rooms Motel For sale, good location NC right off I-77. Very Well maintained. Will sell if good offer. Call 336-244-4199.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Looking for Nanny for 5-month-old 3 days a week, Monday to Wednesday from 9am to 5pm. Please call: 646-249-1419.

Gas Station / C-store Help Needed at stores near Huntersville & Northlake areas. Must speak English. Family friendly oriented people. Pay $15/hr and up. Call 704-402-4661.

Manager / Front Desk needed for Franchise Hotel in Rock Hill, SC. Accommodations Provided. Call 803-517-4662

Couple Needed for Indian Grocery Store in Morrisville, NC. Fluent English required. Accommodations available. Contact 919-518-4456.

Front Desk & Housekeeping / Laundry help needed for Franchise Hotel in Concord. Legal status required. Accommodations provided. Call Rick 704-772-5554.

Help Wanted: Retail Sales Associate needed for Clothing Store in Columbia, SC. Part-time or full-time. Must speak fluent English and have work permit. Call Neil at 706-877-0315 or send resume to aplushatsnmore@gmail.com

Help Wanted: Accounting Assistant with prior accounting experience. Hotel company needs General Manager with franchise experience. Plus Front Desk & Housekeeping positions available for immediate hire. Call 704-649-6833 or email abcone@abcinns.com.

Cashier Wanted for Convenience Store near Kannapolis, NC. Very attractive salary! Accommodations provided. Text or Call 704-701-9482.

Live in Nanny needed for baby in Lexington, SC. Long term position. Will provide accommodations and attractive pay. For further details, please call Hemant at 551-580-0433.

Convenience Store Help Wanted at VGO Store in Camden, SC. Accommodations provided close to store. Call Ron at 415-728-6595.

Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk / Manager, Night Auditor & Housekeeper (Single/Couple) for franchise hotels in Charlotte / Gastonia / High Point, NC & Columbia, SC. Accommodations provided. Call 704460-0379 between 6-9pm.

Looking for Couple to manage 27-room independent hotel in Richmond, VA. Includes Front Desk & Housekeeping. Must be legal & speak fluent English. Accommodations provided. Call 804-517-7484.

Senior Care Helper needed in Fort Mill, SC area to help take care of mother, help with vegetarian meals (light cooking), transfer to and from wheelchair, etc. Live-in or 7am to 7pm, if able to drive. Please call 803-431-3966.

Looking for Someone to work at 36room Atrium Inn Motel in High Point, NC. Good ratings. Accommodations provided. Contact Jay at 336-558-3844.

Looking for Energetic employees (Full-time/Part-time, single or couple) for Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Concord Pkwy, Concord, NC. Some English required. Call Ajay Patel 704-661-4708.

Seeking part-time Holiday Help for Men’s Clothing Store in Raleigh, NC. Flexible hours. Please call or text 919-520-2715.

Help Needed at Perfume Stores in Charlotte & Pineville, NC. For details, please call Veer Singh at 415-265-8686.

Gas Station / C-Store Help needed in Greensboro, NC & surrounding areas. Multiple positions available from cashiers to managers. Must have prior experience & speak English. Great pay! Call 336-509-4054.

Beauty Parlour Help Wanted in Cary, NC. Esthetician, Cosmetologist or Threader. Choose: salary or hourly plus tips commission. Call 919-649-1228.

Looking for Energetic employees (Full-time/Part-time, single or couple) for Tropical Smoothie Cafe on West Catawba Ave in Cornelius, NC. Some English required. Call Ajay Patel 704661-4708.

Housekeeping Couple needed for Hotel in Raleigh, NC. Accommodations provided. Call Mishal at 301-526-6532.

Looking for live-out Nanny to take care of 12 month-old & help with basic housework in Concord, NC. Text/call 804-501-9629.

Convenience Store Help Wanted in Charlotte, NC. Experience required in lottery. Good salary with incentives. Please text 704-904-5613.

Night Auditor / Housekeeping Help Needed for independent motel in Asheville, NC. Great pay! Accommodations provided. Walking distance to grocery store/shopping area. Call 828-713-2294.

Gas station/C-store Help Needed in Chapel Hill, NC. Must speak English. Single or couple. Call 919-260-2177.

Immediate opening for experienced live-in Manager for 50-room independent motel in Charlotte. Attractive salary plus bonus and complimentary two-bedroom apartment. Please send resume to dpmonick@yahoo.com or call 704-906-9170

Looking for Nanny to start immediately in Indian Land (South Charlotte area). Live-in or live out. 9am-5pm. Call 717319-7184.

Household Help Needed in Ballantyne (South Charlotte) area. Cooking for 4 people (no kids), laundry, organizing, cleaning kitchen, etc. No bathroom cleaning, needed. 3-4 hours per day, 2-3 days a week, flexible schedule. Call or text 704-577-6873.

Gas Station in Rock Hill, SC seeking help. Single or couple. Good pay, depending on experience. No accommodations. Call 803-659-3330.

Front Desk Manager Wanted for franchise hotel in Columbia, SC. Accommodations provided. Fluent English required. Text / Call 704-701-9975.

Senior Accountant & Administrative Assistant needed for a reputed Tax & Accounting Firm located off I-85 & N. Druid Hills Road (Atlanta, GA). Must have 3+ years’ experience, plus experience in Quickbooks & Microsoft Excel/Word. Must be legal to work in the US. Excellent Pay/Benefits. Please email resume to atltax@aol.com.

Help Wanted for Franchise hotel in Raleigh area. Front Desk/Manager (fluent English required) (Afternoon/Evening), Shuttle Driver and Laundry/Housekeeper. Excellent opportunity for Couple / Family. Legal status. Driver’s license required for Driver. Experience preferred. Offering good pay! Accommodations provided. Call 919-720-0991.

Manager Wanted (single or couple) for well-maintained 30-room Motel in Dobson, NC. Good communications skills & fluent English preferred. Accommodations provided. Call 336244-4199.

Couple needed to work at Gas Station located in Scottsburg, VA (5 miles south of Boston, VA). Good salary. Call 434-579-7386.

Saathee Classified ads: Sell your business, or property. Find the perfect job, hire the perfect employee. Get great adversting results with Saathee Magazine, weekly email newsletter and Saathee.com. for details call Divakar Shukla at 704.5277570 or email saathee@saathee.com.

Hindu Kayastha family seeks groom for 50 y/o daughter. 5'4", slim, fair, US citizen, B.S. in Pharmacy & Chiropracting, working as Pharmacy Technician. Contact: simis51@yahoo.com or 704-433-4750.

Looking for suitable match for well accomplished 40 year-old, Gujarati man. 5'8'', (Divorced, no kids) U.S Citizen in North Carolina. Contact shanti00021@gmail.com or 704-349-2902.

55 year-old Gentleman, 5’7”, businessman in Raleigh looking for a likeminded woman who is vegetarian & spiritual in NC or surrounding areas. US Citizen from very affluent & well-accomplished family. Please call or text 919-520-2715.

Hindu Punjabi family seeks match for very pretty 31 year-old girl. 5'4", slim and fair, US citizen, medical services coordinator in FL. Prefer suitors from the southeast. Contact: rishtaho@gmail.com or 689-209-5729.

Seeking established US citizen, welleducated & handsome man for companionship with mid-40-year-old woman. Divorcee (Child in college), 5'3", well established US citizen in Charlotte area. Refer SS & email: reply4mu@yahoo.com.

PROPERTY FOR SALE / RENT

Mount Soma Cottage for Sale next to Sri Somesvara Temple in Clyde, NC (near Asheville). Stapatyaved. 6 rooms, 3 baths, & parking. Call 443-614-4644 or Email maura.shea@yahoo.com.

Gujarati Jyotishi offerings in North Carolina: Horoscope matching & reading, Master in Vastushastra, Color therapy, Numerical future (Annkda shastra), Satyanarayan Katha, Chandipath, Nagbali, Pitrudosh. 100% result oriented. Please call Mrugesh Parekh 828-514-9482.

Weekly Home Food Supply. Idly chutney, veg/non-veg curries, all types of vada mixed rice, etc. call 910- 894-3861.

Gujarati Priest in NC & SC for Ganesh, Randal, Laxmi, Sharda Pujan, Satyanarayan Katha, Wedding, Vastu, Baby Shower, Hawan, Grah Shanti. Kishor Trivedi: 336774-0597 Cell: 336-486-7925 E-Mail: kishor7@juno.com.

Pretty Face Beauty Parlor in South Charlotte/Ballantyne area. For your Threading & Waxing needs. Please call 704-726-8928 to schedule an appointment.

Saree Draping: specializing in draping sarees, dupattas and jewelry for Weddings, Engagements, Baby showers, Birthdays, etc. Contact Rital Patel: info@bridaldraping.com or www.bridaldraping.com.

Safa, Pagh, and Turban Tying Service for weddings, baraats, parties, photoshoots, other events. Centered in North Carolina & able to travel wherever your event is located. Contact us for bookings! Carolina Turban Crew: 919-752-7309 or Carolinaturbans@gmail.com.

Priest Available for Shree Satya narayan katha, Shanti hawan, Vastu shanty, Weddings, Baby shower, Bhumi pujan, Mata ki chowki pujan, Funeral, all types of karmakand. Please call Viral Bhatt 704-438-6334.

Travel Passion: International & Domestic Air tickets. We process India Visa, OCI, Indian Passport Renewal, Hotel bookings & Tour packages. Call 509-550-9076 or 509-550-9034 Email: travelpassion24@gmail.com

Gujarati Priest: Devendra Dave Independent priest. Ganesh, Randal, Navratri, Diwali's Laxmi & Sharda Pujas, Satyanarayan Katha, Weddings, Vastu, Baby Shower, Funeral Seva. Call Daveji 704-780-3563. God Blessings to All.

Pari Beauty in Matthews: Threading, Waxing, Facials, Massage for newborn and mom & other services. 32 years of experience. Special Deals & Great Service. Call: 704-846-7912. email: gescpl@gmail.com.

Live Dhol, Tabla, & Music Services for all types of events including Weddings, Concerts, Birthday Parties, Graduation Parties, or any other Festivities. Serving the Carolinas since 2006. Open to travel. Contact Jeetu Singh at 919-752-7309 or email dholi.jeetu@gmail.com.

Installation for CCTV surveillance, networking products, and WiFi solutions in North and South Carolina. Contact Jasmin Patel at 630-998-6627.

Traditionally, children higher in the birth order are not only teachers to the little ones but the responsibilities assigned to them often builds multiple skills that serves them well in their careers. One cannot expect all brothers to have a relationship like Ram and Lakshman.

Even the goddesses Lakshmi and Saraswati are depicted in ancient tales as sisters harboring rivalry and having frequent arguments. Joint families around the world must find a way to navigate through sibling issues during adulthood as serious conflicts can escalate ultimately, leading to estrangement.

In the United States where joint families are not common, it has been found that only about half the population contacts their siblings at least once a month. With the rest, the strength of the attachment seems to go downhill as people grow up.

However, it is noteworthy that “the number of Americans who are completely estranged from a sibling is relatively small—less than five percent, according to Karl Pillemer at Cornell University” (psychologytoday.com). Cutting off ties with your brothers or sisters could be a consequence of bullying, abuse or simply due to losing common interests and eventually drifting apart for good. Like all relationships, the output will be in proportion to the effort put in. This is where family and/or religious traditions can help.

Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays bring families together and carving out time or specific activities for siblings to share can make it memorable. Raksha Bandhan and Bhai Dooj with its time-tested rituals present brothers and sisters an opportunity to refresh the commitment they have toward one another every year. Although, I don’t think that these two festivals should be limited to the bandhan (bond) between opposite sex siblings. Sisters are known to protect each other, and brothers care for the wellbeing of their brothers, too. Expecting family vacations or celebrations to resolve tensions is being foolhardy. In my mind, rituals are catalysts that strengthen family ties when true love exists.

In the absence of genuine affection, those actions are meaningless.

Healthy relationships among siblings take on greater importance when they are running a family business or making decisions about their parents or property. Traditionally, outside help is seen as unwelcome but there is value in inviting moderators or family therapists to steer the members toward resolution of the most critical issues.

Despite our tendency to hate the things our siblings do, there is greater benefit to loving one another, especially if you prefer profits over losses. So, it may be worthwhile to increase your investment in that timeless bond.

Whether you are an only child or you have grown up with siblings, l hope that the holidays bring you much joy and happy moments with your loved ones.

Shyama

Parui

is a long time North Carolina resident and an ardent writer. You can reach her at: shyamashree_parui@hotmail.com

Editor’s Desk

It was hailed as the Day of eight billion. Of course, no one knows when that specific child was born exactly, but it was a reasonable calculation using available data and current birth rate trends. It is highly likely that child was born in India.

The Earth’s human population hit eight billion in midNovember 2022. It’s a staggering number that is expected to hit nine billion in about 17 years, give or take. This is within lifetimes of most people reading this. Think about that. Another billion humans will fill this planet before a child born today becomes a legal adult.

So many humans among so many other creatures, many shrinking in numbers while our numbers grow. There is a direct cause and effect.

The scientific consensus is that the human population will peak around 10.7 billion sometime toward the end of this century before it flatlines. Who knows? That is if we don’t wreck our own homes and ecosystems and make large parts of the planet uninhabitable.

Humans are filling in every nook and cranny and uninhabited as well as inhospitable places around the world. Stepping on each other’s toes in massively crowded cities. Living in trees, underground, in tin cans under water, and in tin cans in space.

There are now legitimate plans underway to build underwater cities. We are not too far off from creating habitats in space and the moon, and inevitably, Mars. Exo planets beware.

We are a restless species, always on the move, seeking familial and personal advantages in our movements around our cities, states, regions, the planet. Ever since our ancestors decided to start walking out of Africa, for food, for safety, or possibly, just to see what is out there, constant movement is in our genes.

We are also a cunningly adaptive species, seeking more elbow room while continuing to increase our numbers, subjugating this planet further for our wants and needs.

Mother Nature will on occasion throw us warning shots - massive storms, droughts, floods, pandemics. “Hey, you are not the only species on this planet,” she forewarns. More is on the way. Behave.

We sometimes learn from such motherly advice, make plans and policies for the next storm or pandemic, but as danger and crisis recede, we soon forget.

Here I am on one evening, walking around a crowded room thinking of the curious fish I encountered a couple weeks earlier, swimming in close-knit schools for safety and to help evade predators.

In the meantime, in this crowded event venue, filled with clusters of chatting, laughing, socializing humans, I’m seeking a corner, an empty spot, a break in the crowd, for just a bit more elbow room.

Samir Shukla

Editor of Saathee Magazine

Contact: Samir@Saathee.com

Twitter: @ShuklaWrites

Newsletter: ShuklaWrites.Substack.com

Advertisers

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