Saathee Charlotte December 2023 by Shukla Entertainment

Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent

Saathee.com

December 2023

IN THIS ISSUE Holidays and Diabetes: pg 28 Year End Financial Planning: pg 52 Spot the Differences: pg 56 Recipe: Masala Shakshuka: pg 74

Hello We are thankful to you for being an avid Saathee reader. We ask that you share Saathee with friends and family. We would be happy to add anyone in the Carolinas to the Saathee subscription base at no charge, simply visit saathee.com/subscription. Enjoy the December 2023 issue and the last month of the year. Wishing you and your family the best during the holidays. Stay warm and positive. Looking to catch a movie during the holidays? Check our Upcoming Movie Releases on page 34. In our instant information social media world, learn how to detect “Fake Videos” in the article on page 30. Can the medical establishment keep up with our aging population? Read the story “Who Will Care for Older Adults?” on page 42. We bring a diﬀerent recipe in Saathee every month. Check out the delicious “Masala Shakshuka” recipe on page 74. Looking for a life partner, a job, or a new business? Check our classifieds section beginning on page 108. Don’t forget to visit website, Saathee.com for the latest in movies, events, classifieds and more. We welcome conversations. Connect with us via email: saathee@saathee.com.

“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”

December 2023 Issue # 307 - Saathee.com Editor Samir Shukla (Samir@Saathee.com)

Publisher & Advertising Divakar Shukla 704-527-7570 or saatheemag@hotmail.com

Digital Media & Marketing Jennifer W. Allen

“I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” - Thomas Jefferson

Ad Design / Layout DSJ Graphics & Manimaran

Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Raajeev Aggerwhil, Preethi Sriram, Shikha Singh Teju Lakkundi, Mo Vidwans, Violet Wei, Rishi P Oza, Rupa Pereira, Ketu Desai, and 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.

- FOUNDED 1998 -

Saathee Magazine

Cover: Dal Lake, Kashmir

P.O. Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220 The Dal Lake is located in Srinagar, Kashmir. Dal Lake with its “floating gardens” and boats is a well-known tourist attraction, as are the nearby Shalimar and Nishat gardens. Srinagar is located on the banks of the Jhelum River at an elevation of 5,200 feet. Photo: Adobe Stock

704.527.7570 Fax: 704.527.7590

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Saathee (USPS 021-116) (ISSN: 1543-8147) is published monthly by:

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Saathee is published monthly. Deadlines for advertisement, submissions and events information is 15th of the month.

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Saathee, P.O. Box 11468, Charlotte, NC 28220-1468 Saathee.com

December 2023

In This Issue

Page 18 Holidays Events

Page 42 Caring for Older Adults

Page 36 Film Clips: Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif Star in Merry Christmas

Page 74 Recipe: Masala Shakshuka

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

Immigration Matters . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50

Road to 2024 USA Elections . . . . . .pg. 88

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

Financially Speaking . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 52

Test Your India Knowledge . . . . . .pg. 90

Diabetes and Holidays . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28

Spot the Differences . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 56

Quiz Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 100

Fake Videos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 30

Nasa Measuring Methane . . . . . . .pg. 58

Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . .pg. 102

Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . .pg. 34

Test Your India Knowledge . . . . . .pg. 60

Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . .pg. 104

Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 36

Personal Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 62

Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 104

Adult Dance Student . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 40

News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 64

AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 106

Caring for Older Adults . . . . . . . . .pg. 42

Recipe: Masala Shakshuka . . . . . . .pg. 74

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 108

Raajeev’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 44

College Admissions Insider . . . . . .pg. 80

Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 112

Eye on the Markets . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46

Spot the Differences Bonus . . . . . .pg. 82

Saathee.com

December 2023

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December Dialogs— The Editor’s Desk by Samir Shukla

Pop Goes Politics Elections were held nationally on November 7, 2023. The turnout in most parts of the country was sparse on this off-year election, as is the case on such years. Citizens participating via voting is essential for any country that holds fair elections. Candidates and political parties work hard to get their supporters to get out and vote. It’s an uphill battle. Let’s face it, most people want to participate and vote in every election but lead busy lives and things happen and voting lands way down their do lists. This is especially true for off-year elections where the interest and the ballots are sparse, making voter participation almost pathetic. Here is a simple idea for more participation and turnout while increasing efficiency and saving states money while conducting elections. Why not have all the elections in the country tagged to the presidential and Congressional election cycles? This means holding elections only in even numbered years. No election held during odd numbered years, other than if a special election is needed due to the death or resignation of an office holder in that state. Forget about off year elections. They have a very low turnout and just create extra costs for the state to run those elections. Charlotte is a good example. The largest city in North Carolina holds its mayoral and municipal elections in off years, like in November 2023, and every two years, so the next one will be in 2025. It will be another off-year election. If these are instead aligned with congressional and presidential elections, the participation by voters would be much higher. Moving on, the fight for the Republican presidential nomination churns. The next GOP debate is scheduled on December 6, 2023. There will be fewer candidates, probably four, at this debate and the scrapping will likely get nastier. There may be one more debate, if the Republican National Committee deems it important, but this debate will be crucial for one of the candidates to further elbow their way closer to Trump so they can take him on a stronger foundation when the primaries and caucuses begin in January. Time is tight. Nothing is written in stone, though. Trump is acting like he has the nomination in the bag, but the process will tell the final tale. Saathee.com

Shock Numbness, Profanely Dull One of the dispiriting aspects of the world we live in is that we are increasingly becoming numb to being shocked. War, violence, misinformation. Lots of really bad things. This is largely because of the bombardment of information we endure daily. It’s like getting punched on an arm repeatedly until the arm becomes numb to the punches. Sitting here, on a porch attached to an old farmhouse, on this mellow November evening, I’m thinking of something profanely dull that is the gateway drug that contributes to this increasing numbness to being shocked. We cross paths with it daily, something that is part of our everyday language and is so pervasive. I’m talking about profanities. The current palate of overused English curse words is beginning to annoy me more than their original intent to shock or disgust. Take the F bomb for instance. It’s dropped so often now in films, music, TV shows, books, casual conversations, traﬃc jams, personal clumsiness, that it sounds, well, more dumb than oﬀensive. We have become numb to the word. It has lost any sense of evoking anger or disgust. Our languages and communications have degraded to a sophomoric level in many scenarios, and overuse of profanities just adds to the blah blah of it all. Social media is the added fuel to this fire of dumbness and numbness. Editor’s Desk continued on page 86 14

December 2023

Upcoming Events ChristmasVille Rock Hill (Through December 3, 2023) Once again, Old Town Rock Hill, SC comes alive as a charming, picturesque holiday village and outdoor art festival. The annual ChristmasVille will take through December 3, 2023. This festival has over 70 events including horse drawn carriage rides, historic tours, strolling Dickens carolers, art, theater, dance, music, a gingerbread house contest, multiple Santa activities, and an ice-skating rink. Details: Christmasvillerockhill.com.

Christmas Town USA: McAdenville, NC (December 1 - 26, 2023) 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. Green, red and white lights will shine from 5:30 – 10:00 pm each night. There will be Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 1, 2023 and Yule Log Parade on Thursday, December 14, 2023. An evening in Christmas Town U.S.A. is like a magical trip back in time. Details are at Townofmcadenville.org.

The Journey to Joy and Inner Harmony: Chapel Hill, NC (December 3, 2023) The Heartfulness Institute, the local chapter of the American Telugu Association (ATA), and the Triangle Area Telugu Association (TATA) present an evening of culture, meditation and a book launch on Sunday, December 3, 2023 from 46:30pm at the UNC FedEx Global Education Center’s Nelson Mandela Auditorium in Chapel Hill, NC. The keynote speaker is Joshua Pollock, director of Heartfulness@work and a Heartfulness trainer. The topic will be “The Journey to Joy and Inner Harmony.” Following the talk and meditation session there will be the release of the newly-published book, Spiritual Anatomy: Meditation, Chakras, and the Journey to the Center by Kamlesh D. Patel, Global Guide of Heartfulness. Registration is free but required. Register at Eventbrite.com, search for the event title.

Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular: Charlotte, NC (December 7 - 30, 2023)

Christmas at the Library: Charlotte, NC (December 1 - 23, 2023) The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte presents the annual Christmas at the Library celebration from December 1 to 23, 2023. Activities include Live Nativity, petting zoo, horse-drawn carriage rides, story time, Christmas dinner, carolers and more. In addition to Christmas-only activities, the Library’s ongoing attractions are available for extended hours during the season. The library opens at 9:30 am with Christmas activities running from 5-9pm, Monday -Thursday and 5-10pm, Friday & Saturday. Both admission and parking are free, but reservations are required at Billygrahamlibrary.org. Saathee.com

Spirits will be bright when the 2nd Annual Holiday Walk-Thru Experience arrives in Ballantyne from December 7 - 30, 2023. Bring friends and family and immerse yourself in the wonder of the season with over a million Christmas lights along a half-mile walking trail, located in Ballantyne’s backyard. See light displays, dozens of oversized snow globes, larger than life holiday scenes, the alpine avalanche snow tube slide, magical interactive wand elements, hundreds of decorated trees, and a Christmas Village complete with boutiques, shops, and rotating food trucks. Info: Ncholidaylights.com.

Christmas Pageant & Program: Apex, NC (December 9, 2023) The International Community Church presents a Christmas Pageant and Program on Saturday, December 9, 2023 beginning at 4pm. The story of God’s love at Christmas enacted by children. ICC is located at 1402 E. Williams St., Apex, NC. For more details, call 919-233-2900 or visit Iccchurch.org.

December 2023

Upcoming Events Journeys of Christmas: Charlotte, NC (December 10, 2023)

Celebrate Christmas at Calvary Church with a Christmas concert and an international reception. It will take place on Sunday, December 10, 2023 with concert at 6pm and dessert reception at 7:30pm. The event is free and RSVP at CalvaryChurch.com/reception. Also attend the Candlelight Christmas Eve on Sunday, December 24, 2023 at 9:45am, 4pm and 6pm. Calvary Church is located at 5801 Pineville-Matthews Church Rd., Charlotte, NC. For more details visit CalvaryChurch.com/Christmas.

CCA Christmas Celebration: Matthews, NC (December 16, 2023) Carolinas Christian Assembly presents its annual Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 6–8:30pm at the Butler High School Auditorium in Matthews, NC. There will be free entry as well as an Indian dinner served after the program. RSVP is recommended by email at ccaeventrsvp@gmail.com.

Tosco Music Holiday Party: Charlotte, NC (December 18, 2023) 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 will be on Monday, December 18, 2023 starting at 7:30pm at the Knight Theater in Charlotte, NC. Details: Toscomusic.org.

Desi Rewind 2023 DJ Night: Charlotte, NC (December 22, 2023)

beverage that will chase away the chill, and explore The Garden Store for unique gifts. Your winter wonderland adventure awaits at the Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden through December 23, 2023. Info: Dsbg.org.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – The Musical: Charlotte, NC (Through December 30, 2023) 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. Performed by the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte through December 20, 2023. Info: Bestchristmaspageantevermusical.com.

Polar Express Train Ride: Bryson City, NC (Through December 31, 2023)

The Desi Xtasy presents a night of Desi music and dancing on Friday, December 22, 2023 at the El Centenario Night Club. Get ready to groove to the beats of your favorite Bollywood and Tollywood tracks courtesy of DJ Phani Vad. Come celebrate Desi culture and create memories together. Reconnect with your roots The train departs the Bryson City depot for a and have a blast with friends. More info and tickets journey through the quiet wilderness for a visit at the North Pole. Families enjoy warm cocoa and a available at Eventbrite.com/e/desi-rewind-2023-dj-night. treat while listening to music from the motion picture soundtrack, as well as hearing and Holidays at the Garden: Belmont, NC reading along with the magical story. Santa will (Through December 23, 2023) Prepare to be mesmerized by the twinkle of a thousand lights, the board The Polar Express and give each child a shimmer of dancing fountains, and the festive holiday spirit that special gift. Sing Christmas carols on the return blankets every corner. Enjoy an outdoor fire, where the joy of making trip. Rides run through December 31, 2023 with s’mores becomes a timeless tradition for all. Indulge your taste buds various ticket packages available. Details: with delectable delights from various food trucks, savor a warm Greatsmokies.com/polar-express. Saathee.com

December 2023

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December 2023

Upcoming Events First Night Raleigh: (December 31, 2023)

Speedway Christmas: Charlotte, NC (Through January 7, 2024)

The annual New Year’s Eve festivities begin with the early afternoon City Plaza outdoor musical performances and the Children’s Celebration at 2pm. Performances and activities will continue throughout the evening across multiple indoor venues throughout Downtown Raleigh. The night is capped oﬀ with music on the outdoor Main Stage, the famous Raleigh Acorn Drop, and spectacular fireworks show. Get all the details at: Firstnightraleigh.com.

The 14th season of the Southeast’s largest drive-through holiday light show, Speedway Christmas features more than five million lights on a four-mile course that includes the legendary oval, pit row and infield road. The show is open 610 pm rain or shine through January 7, 2024 and features synchronized lightsto-music on 101.3 FM plus drive-in movies on the gigantic Speedway TV every Thursday through Sunday night except for Christmas Eve. Info: Charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Light the Knights Festival: Charlotte, NC (Through January 1, 2024) The 4th Annual Light the Knights Festival runs through January 1, 2024 at Truist Field in Charlotte. Enjoy ice skating, snow tubing, shopping, holiday treats, thousands of lights, décor, and more. It’s everything you need for a fun-filled family day out. Tickets and more information available now at Milb.com/charlotteknights/ballpark/Christmas.

NC Chinese Lantern Festival: Cary, NC (Through January 14, 2024) Cary’s Koka Booth Amphitheatre will once again welcome the NC Chinese Lantern Festival when it returns this winter and runs through January 14, 2024. Chinese artisans will craft more than 40 all new displays, each one comprised of hundreds of parts, and thousands of LED lights. These larger-than-life lanterns will captivate visitors at every turn with amazing craftmanship and artistic beauty. Cultural arts performances will take place each night on the main stage. Details: Boothamphitheatre.com/events.

Carowinds Winterfest: Fort Mill, SC (Through January 1, 2024) 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, lots of live entertainment, holiday inspired comfort food and beverages, and select attractions. Play holiday-themed games and catch the season’s festive live entertainment, including crooning carolers. Also, WinterFest Wonderland Parade, a nightly Christmas parade with decorated floats, festive music, and performers. Details at Carowinds.com.

Greenville News Run Downtown 5K (January 20, 2024) The 45th annual Greenville News Run Downtown 5K will be conducted on Saturday, January 20, 2024 and is one of the oldest, largest and most-popular 5K runs in the state. The run/walk is presented by The Greenville News. Info: Runsignup.com/race/sc/greenville/rundowntown.

Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes: Charlotte, NC (Through January 2, 2024)

South Asian Bridal Expo: Raleigh, NC (January 21, 2024)

With key artifacts, interactive installations, infographics, and lifesize statues of your favorite Super Heroes, this exhibition illuminates all aspects of Marvel’s eight-decade history: from the iconic characters to the creators who’ve told the stories, from the original comic books to the big-screen blockbusters. The event is at the Charlotte Discovery Place through January 2, 2024. Tickets and other into can be found at Superhero-exhibition.com. Saathee.com

Uthsaav presents the 2024 South Asian Bridal Expo on Saturday, January 21, 2024 from 12 noon to 5pm at the Marriott Crabtree Valley Hotel in Raleigh, NC. As a one stop shop for your wedding, the event will feature vendors, a fashion show, and raﬄe prizes. Free registration available at uthsaav.com/expo2024bridegroom-registration. 22

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December 2023

Upcoming Events Blowing Rock WinterFest: Boone, NC (January 25 - 28, 2024)

Carolina wines of all styles and tastes. Bottles will be available for purchase. Everyone gets a free souvenir tasting glass. Enjoy food, chocolates, cheeses and sweets. Also enjoy a strool through the Candy Bar and boutiques. Info: Wineandchocolatefestivals.com/events/greensboro-nc.

The annual Blowing Rock WinterFest will take place between January 25 & 28, 2024 in Boone, NC. The fest features arts & crafts, holiday themed activities, cork and canvas, concerts and performers, a polar bear plunge in Chetola Lake, ice-carvings, chili cook-oﬀ, wine tastings, silent auction and raﬄe. The fest is also a fundraiser for various local charitable causes. Travel & Leisure magazine named Blowing Rock “one of America’s Prettiest Winter Towns.” Get details at Blowingrockwinterfest.com.

Aag Ki Raat: Columbia, SC (January 27, 2024)

Aag Ki Raat is a premier Bollywood-fusion dance competition hosted by the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. AKR aims to celebrate South Asian dance and culture by attracting teams from all over the country in the spirit of competition. All of the eﬀorts made by AKR are in pursuit of helping our local charity, the Carolina Survivor Clinic. AKR will be held on January 27, 2024 at the Koger Center for the Arts. For more details, write to uscakr@gmail.com or visit the AKR page on Facebook or InstaGram.

Wine & Chocolate Festival: Greensboro, NC (January 27, 2024) Wineries and wine enthusiasts from across the region will gather on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex’s Event Wing A for an unlimited sampling of dozens of North

Read More - Watch More - Find More on Saathee.com

Watch the Video Here: Shakti live at Tiny Desk on NPR

Go to Our Film Guide Here: Streaming and theatrical releases are listed and updated regularly.

Editor’s Desk: Read the essay “Naan on Aisle Nine” here.

Go to our Recipes Page Here: Lots of delicious recipes found in Saathee are gathered here.

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December 2023

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December 2023

Navigating the Holidays with Diabetes

by Teju Lakkundi While you navigated the ladoo and mithais at joyous Diwali parties, the festivities are not over yet. If you have diabetes, remember you can manage your condition and still enjoy your favorite Christmas cakes and traditional festive foods. Remember – Festivals such as Diwali and Christmas are celebrated once a year - it’s okay to enjoy your festive favorites and balance it out the rest of the week. Weight: During the holidays, the focus should be on maintaining your current weight rather than stressing about losing weight. Balancing festive foods with smaller portions is key. Your brain signals satisfaction after a few bites, so there’s no need to consume an entire slice of fruit cake or multiple gulab jamuns! All carbohydrate foods can raise your blood sugar levels. Carbohydrate foods can be sweet and/or savory. Sweet Carbs: There is no lack of sweets and desserts amid festivities. These foods will raise your blood sugar – so it’s important to limit portions of these foods. Remember – sugar-free desserts may be lower in carbohydrates, but they are not carbohydrate free. This is because they may contain other carbohydrate foods such as milk, flour, and dried fruit. Substitute non-nutritive sweeteners instead of sugar for making your traditional sweets when possible. Healthier options for desserts are dark chocolate covered fruit like strawberries or sweets

Diabetes and Holidays continued on page 98

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December 2023

Fake Videos Most people are not that good at detecting fake videos − two misinformation experts explain why and how you can develop the power to resist these deceptions nothing to do with the events they claim to represent. The clip of the boy is from Syria in 2016; the one of the woman is from Mexico in 2018.

By Sam Wineburg and Michael Caulfield Someone tracking the conflict raging in the Middle East could have seen the following two videos on social media. The first shows a little boy hovering over his father’s dead body, whimpering in Arabic, “Don’t leave me.” The second purports to show a pregnant woman with her stomach slashed open and claims to document the testimony of a paramedic who handled victims’ bodies after Hamas’ attack in Israel on October 7, 2023. Even though these videos come from diﬀerent sides of the Israel-Hamas war, what they share far exceeds what separates them. Because both videos, though real, have

Cheap but effective fakes Recent headlines warn of sophisticated, AI-driven deepfakes. But it is low-tech cheap fakes like these that fuel the latest round of disinformation. Cheap fakes are the Swiss army knife in the propagandist’s tool belt. Changing a date, altering a location, or even repurposing a clip from a video game and passing it off as battlefield combat require little know-how yet effectively sow confusion. The Israel-Hamas war has unleashed a flood of fake videos on social media. Fake Videos continued on page 110

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December 2023

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December 2023

Upcoming Movie Releases December 8______________________________

December 15_____________________________ Wonka (Director: Paul King) Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Olivia Colman, and Hugh Grant Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget (Director: Sam Fell) Cast: Thandiwe Newton, Zachary Levi, and Miranda Richardson The Zone of Interest (Director: Jonathan Glazer) Cast: Christian Friedel and Sandra Hüller The Family Plan (Director: Jonathan Glazer) Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, and Ciarán Hinds

Operation Valentine (Director: Shakti Pratab Singh Hada) Cast: Varun Tej and Manushi Chhillar

Finestkind (Director: Brian Helgeland) Cast: Ben Foster, Toby Wallace, Jenna Ortega, and Tommy Lee Jones

Joram (Director: Devashish Makhija) Cast: Manoj Bajpayee, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Smita Tambe

December 20 - 22___________________________

Poor Things (Director: Yorgos Lanthimos) Cast: Emma Stone, Mark Ruﬀalo, Ramy Youssef, and Willem Dafoe

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (Director: James Wan) Cast: Jason Momoa, Patrick Wilson, and Nicole Kidman

Extra-Ordinary Man (Director: Vakkantham Vamsi) Cast: Nithiin, Sreeleela, Rao Ramesh, and Brahmaj Hi Nanna (Director: Shouryuv) Cast: Nani, Mrunal Thakur, and Shruti Haasan

American Fiction (Director: Cord Jeﬀerson) Cast: Jeﬀrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Leslie Uggams Dunki (Director: Rajkumar Hirani) Cast: Shah Rukh Khan & Taapsee Pannu The Iron Claw (Director: Sean Dunkin) Cast: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, and Maura Tierney Migration (Director: Benjamin Renner) Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Awkwafina, and Danny DeVito Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefire (Director: Prashanth Neel) Cast: Prabhas, Shruthi Haasan, and Jagapathi Babu

The Archies (Director: Zoya Akhtar) Cast: Mihir Ahuja, Suhana Khan, and Yuvraj Menda

Rebel Moon (Director: Zack Snyder) Cast: Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, and Anthony Hopkins

The Cello (Director: Darren Lynn Bousman) Cast: Jeremy Irons, Samer Ismail, and Muhannad Al Hamdi

December 25_______________________________

The Oath (Director: Darin Scott) Cast: Billy Zane and Darin Scott

The Color Purple (Director: Blitz Bazawule) Cast: Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, and Louis Gossett, Jr

Origin (Director: Ava DuVernay) Cast: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Jon Bernthal, and Nick Oﬀerman

Ferrari (Director: Michael Mann) Cast: Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and Patrick Dempsey

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

December 2023

p s m i l C l F i Joram

Joram tells the tale of a father who is on the run with his little baby girl to escape the ghosts of his past and the forces that want him dead. Manoj Bajpayee, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, and Smita Tambe star in and the film is directed by Devashish Makhija. Look for the film in cinemas beginning December 8, 2023.

Salaar

A gang leader tries to keep a promise made to his dying friend and takes on the other criminal gangs. Prashanth Neel directs Prabhas, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shruthi Haasan, and Jagapathi Babu in this crime drama that is slated for release on December 22, 2023.

The Family Plan

Mark Wahlberg portrays a former top assassin living incognito as a suburban dad and must take his unsuspecting family on the run when his past catches up to him. Jonathan Glazer directs The Family Plan, which co-stars Michelle Monaghan and Ciarán Hinds. The film hits the screens beginning on December 15, 2023.

Merry Christmas

On Christmas Eve, an uneventful day turns the world of two people upside down. Vijay Sethupathi and Katrina Kaif star as the protagonists. The film, directed by Sriram Raghavan, releases on January 12, 2024.

ahi

Mr. and Mrs. M Migration

Ek Ruka Hua Faisla Remake

A family of ducks try to convince their overprotective father to go on the vacation of a lifetime in this animated feature directed by Benjamin Renner. Kumail Nanjiani, Awkwafina, and Danny DeVito lend their voices in the movie that begins its run in theaters on December 22, 2023.

The classic legal drama Ek Ruka Hua Faisla, originally released in 1986, will be remade and will be directed by Dr. Darshan Ashwin Trivedi. The cast of the new film includes Atul Kulkarni, Suvinder Vikki, Dibyendu Bhattacharya, Vineet Kumar, and Tannishtha Chatterjee. Release date is unknown.

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Ponderings on the Divine Feminine and Masculine

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by Preethi Sriram What is the divine feminine and masculine? Within Indian traditions of Sanatana Dharma, or what is commonly known as Hinduism, some may look to philosophies to say that the masculine energy is the ultimate form of the universe, while there are philosophies that note that the Devi is the underlying cause to all of creation. While there is a “Father” figure represented in the divine, the “Mother” figure also is prominent and diverse. This concept is pervasive within the Indian arts. In Bharatanatyam dance and other classical dance forms, there is the “Bhumi Namaskar” or a prayer to Mother Earth. This prayer is conducted to ask forgiveness for stomping on her. This is a remembrance of the Earth that challenges us and to be consciously aware of our place and how we impact our surroundings. In Kuchupudi Dance, prior to the start of the dance drama, a prayer in honor to the Goddess is performed called “Amba Paraku Devi Paraku.” This is an invocation to the Goddess to bestow her blessings. The concepts of the Bhumi Namaskar and beseeching forgiveness can be applied as well in one’s daily life when determining how to make a positive impact on the Earth and all its various beings. Adult Dance Student continued on page 92 Saathee.com

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Who Will Care for Older Adults? We We Have Have Plenty Plenty of of Know-How Know-How but but Too Too Few Few Specialists Specialists

By Judith Graham, KFF Health News Thirty-five years ago, Jerry Gurwitz was among the first physicians in the United States to be credentialed as a geriatrician — a doctor who specializes in the care of older adults. “I understood the demographic imperative and the issues facing older patients,” Gurwitz, 67 and chief of geriatric medicine at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, told me. “I felt this field presented tremendous opportunities.” But today, Gurwitz fears geriatric medicine is on the decline. Despite the surging older population, there are fewer geriatricians now (just over 7,400) than in 2000 (10,270), he noted in a recent piece in JAMA. (In those two decades, the population 65 and older expanded by more than 60%.) Research suggests each geriatrician should care for no more than 700 patients; the current ratio of providers to older patients is 1 to 10,000. What’s more, medical schools aren’t required to teach students about geriatrics, and fewer than half mandate any geriatrics-specific skills training or clinical experience. And the pipeline of doctors who complete a one-year fellowship required for specialization in geriatrics is narrow. Of 411 geriatric fellowship positions available in 2022-23, 30% went unfilled. The implications are stark: Geriatricians will be unable to meet soaring demand for their services as the aged U.S. population swells for decades to come. There are just too few of them. “Sadly, our health system and its workforce are wholly unprepared to deal with an imminent surge of multimorbidity, functional impairment, dementia and frailty,” Gurwitz warned in his JAMA piece. This is far from a new concern. Fifteen years ago, a report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine concluded: “Unless action is taken immediately, the health care workforce will lack the capacity (in both size and ability) to meet the needs of older patients in the future.” According to the American Geriatrics Society, 30,000 geriatricians will be needed by 2030 to care for frail, medically complex seniors. Elder Care continued on page 72

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December 2023

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December 2023

Jai Ho Ho Ho! Raajeev’s Corner by Raajeev Aggerwhil We kicked oﬀ the holiday season with Diwali. In a couple of weeks, there will be Thanksgiving and then Christmas. This Diwali, after our mandatory, “Om Jai Jagadeesh Hare Arti,” I took the time to explain to my kids that on Diwali we celebrate victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. In other words, “Victory of Democrats over Republicans,” my son remarked. We laughed and then we all chimed in with more. Victory of organic over junk food. Meditation over Prozac. Humor over anger. I told them that on this auspicious day, we worship Goddess Lakshmi. That’s why we leave diyas (oil lamps) outside so the Goddess Lakshmi will bless us with wealth and prosperity. I told them that I used to leave a credit card machine at the door so the Goddess could bless us by swiping her credit card, but times have changed. Now, on a placard next to the diyas, I write out my Venmo address! I remember many years ago at a party, I asked an Indian American teenager why Indians celebrate Diwali? He said that on this day, Lakshmi died fighting the British. This kid was mixing up his history and religion! I didn’t make a big deal of it because he was only half Indian. Growing up in India, we would play “teen patti,” a gambling card game popular throughout South Asia. My uncle had a double standard. He would play the game and then say, “Beta, jua khelna buri baat hai. Son, Gambling is a bad thing.” The only problem was that he would repeat his mantra only when he was losing! After Diwali, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Since we are vegetarians, we generally serve Indian vegetables, curries, pasta, and potatoes. Sometimes we splurge with Tofurkey, turkey made from tofu. That is still better than the invitation we got from a colleague, “Thanksgiving Dinner with Turkey.” Like us, they only served vegetarian food but to look like a traditional Thanksgiving, the host had a few live turkeys walk around the house. Some sat right at the table. They were so happy because they knew Thanksgiving usually ends up badly for them. Being at the gracious host’s house was like getting a pardon from the president. I have always been fascinated by the criterion is used to select a turkey for the Presidential pardon on Thanksgiving. All the turkeys would be raising their hands, well wings, “Please Mr. President, pick me. I can help you solve the Southern Border Immigration problem. In previous years during President George W. Bush’s term in oﬃce, presidential pardons were given to turkeys who whispered Raajeev continued on page 96 Saathee.com

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As rates were moving lower, it was profitable for investors to invest in companies that were levered and by Ketu Desai benefited from cheap debt. Cheap financing allowed companies to grow and helped drive multiples higher. Now September 1981 is the month when rates peaked on the that rates are higher, we are moving from a debt/cheap 10-year treasury notes at 15.84 percent. For the next more financing cycle to an income cycle. In other words, than 40 years rates steadily declined to near zero. This bull investments should focus on companies that have earnings market in rates brought a bull market in many asset classes power, not ones that are growing because of and reliant on that benefit from cheap financing including real estate, cheap financing. Earnings for the S&P appear to have private equity, and venture capital. We are in a new regime bottomed out and are now on the way up. For the third for investors. The mistake that will be quarter, 78 percent of companies are made in this cycle will be to beating by an average of 7.5 percent. overestimate monetary policy and The 2024 earnings growth is More importantly, 2024 earnings underestimate fiscal. growth is expected to come in at 12 expected to come in at The bond market is now working percent, led by communication 12 percent on its third consecutive down year. services, technology, and healthcare – The 10YR has had a cumulative three of the largest sector weightings in the S&P. We have decline of 26 percent. Longer-duration bonds as measured seen beats and strong guidance by some of the most by TLT have been cut in half. Despite multiple wars, important companies including, JP Morgan, UnitedHealth, geopolitical risk, and significant economic uncertainty, Netflix, 3M, Verizon, GE, RTX, Coca-Cola, Hilton, Merck, bonds have failed to protect portfolios. The Fed looks to Meta, ServiceNow, Honeywell, Amazon, Chipotle, AbbVie, have finally gotten its message across that rates will be Intel, and McDonald’s. higher for longer. The yield curve is just about un-inverted, Income versus debt is also important for the economy. going from over 100 bps inverted during the summer to just While the fiscal situation remains challenging, large about flat. This is a reflection that the market is finally corporates and the consumer remain in good shape. The pricing at higher rates for longer. While the Fed is close to consumer is approximately 70 percent of the US economy. finishing raising rates, the long end will remain anchored The household balance sheet remains strong. Net worth is higher by the economy, higher steady state inflation, and the fiscal situation. Eye on Markets continued on page 98 Saathee.com

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Closing Out the Year It’s Time to Plan Financially Speaking by Rupa Pereira

Income Expenses Taxes

Education Health

Retirement

The holiday season is marked with a festive atmosphere, travel plans, shopping lists and sales to lure you to the nearest retailer, if you’re not already scouring online deals. It’s also a great time to look back on the year that has been. A lot of life happens in a year, and families need to assess their financial health relative to their goals. It presents an opportunity to capitalize on year-end financial opportunities, such as maximizing retirement contributions, taking advantage of tax benefits, or making charitable donations for tax deductions. Here’s a checklist that could help with putting financial matters in perspective. Income and Expenses: Reviewing income, expenses, savings, investments, and debts helps in understanding where money was allocated and if it aligned with financial goals. Track and categorize all income and expenses for the year. Financial tools such as YNAB, Mint, Empower and Monarch are a few of the popular ones. Identify areas where expenses can be reduced or optimized - Did you have unplanned expenses or a new recurring subscription? Account for those in the upcoming budget for the new year, so it doesn’t catch you oﬀ-guard again. Tax preparation It’s a great time to gather necessary documents and make strategic moves before the tax deadline. Your withholdings on your paycheck will be worth revising if you’ve had a change in family status or family size. Those with small businesses or sole proprietors, consider making the last estimated tax payment to avoid being hit with a penalty. Retirement Plan - Employer and Individual: If you have an employer retirement plan at work, be sure to review how much money you contributed to the plan this year. If you have a 401(k), you may be able to put $22,500 before any company match or $30,000 if you are 50 or older. Make sure you are maxing out your 401(k) if you are financially able to do so. Looking ahead to next year review your investment portfolio, and decide if it’s sensible to utilize your Traditional or Roth 401(k) option (if available) Financially Speaking continued on page 86

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Spot the Differences See if you can spot the 15 diﬀerences between the original photo below and modified photo on the right.

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Check out the Holidays Bonus Spot the Differences on page 82 Answers are on page 104.

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December 2023

NASA Mission Excels at Spotting Greenhouse Gas Emission Sources By knowing where Methane emissions are coming from, producers have an opportunity to address them

Since launching 16 months ago, the EMIT imaging spectrometer aboard the International Space Station has shown the ability to detect more than just surface minerals. More than a year after first detecting methane plumes from its perch aboard the International Space Station, data from NASA’s EMIT instrument is now being used to identify point-source emissions of greenhouse gases with a proficiency that has surprised even its designers. Short for Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation, EMIT was launched in July 2022 to map 10 key minerals on the surface of the world’s arid regions. Those mineralrelated observations, which are already available to researchers and the public, will help improve understanding of how dust that gets lofted into the atmosphere aﬀects climate. Detecting methane was not part of EMIT’s primary mission, but the instrument’s designers did expect the imaging spectrometer to have the capability. Now, with more than 750 emissions sources identified since August 2022 – some small, others in remote locations, and others persistent in time – the instrument has more than delivered in that regard, according to a new study published in Science Advances. “We were a little cautious at first about what we could do with the instrument,” said Andrew Thorpe, a research technologist on the EMIT science team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California and the paper’s lead author. “It has exceeded our expectations.” NASA continued on page 96

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So why doesn’t market timing work? For one thing you must be right going in and coming out. There are just so many variables, so many moving parts, that there is absolutely no way we can comprehend, digest and act on them correctly all the time. In some cases, this must be done almost instantly. The academic literature is overwhelming on this and in fact quite emphatic about not doing it. And it is quite likely that the more we trade on urges the more mistakes we are likely to make. Here is a good example of what I am talking about. If I had $1,000 invested in S&P 500 index in 1970, it would be worth $138,908 almost 50 years later in 2019. But if I had to succumb to trading and I was not in the market for the 15 Personal Finances best days over that period, I would only have $52,246. The difference between the two numbers is stark, much more by Mo Vidwans than 50 percent loss. Nobody really knows which days are going to be the best or worst, and it behooves us to stay in the market over the ups and downs. Don’t let this roller coaster affect you much, keep your eyes on the goal. There was once a craze called Day Trading. I’m sure This high uncertainty of our actions and its results was some people are still doing this. These traders were just the reason why Bogle first proposed the index Fund. The buying and selling hundreds of shares daily, sometimes multiple times, and expecting to make some profit. Making profit got a bit easier for these people when the trading commissions dropped to practically zero. I still have a big question in mind, though, whether this was just an emotional high or were they really making any profit. The real question we need to discuss here is if there is any value in frequent trading. Everyone has his/her own experiences and stories to tell but most of the Gurus in the business will suggest otherwise. You may have heard of Jack Bogle or may have read about him. He died in 2019 at a ripe age of 89 but he is most known for two things. He invented Index Funds, and he founded the famed investment firm Vanguard in 1975. He has written many books, of course, but that is not as important as his life-long teaching as to how one should invest and save money while doing so. That was the concept behind creating Index Funds. One of the things Bogle used to say is “don’t just do something, stand there”. This may sound crazy and in fact just the opposite of what our forefathers would say which would be “don’t just stand there, do something”. It sounds silly hearing such a c o n t r a r i a n So why doesn’t statement from a person like Bogle market timing work? but what he meant was, and I’m paraphrasing, once you have a plan, don’t deviate from it. And he was talking about your investment plans. His evidence is overwhelming that active stock picking is not a thinking behind the Index Fund was just that. He was very successful endeavor and it is extraordinarily difficult convinced that his line of thinking was pertinent for longto start with. S&P publishes an annual report called SPIVA term investing. Of course, at the time, the rest of the industry report which tracks active managers and has been doing it was dead against it (we will talk about this a bit later). for over 25 years. Most active managers do not outperform One thing we know for sure is that in almost every case, their bogeys or goals; in fact, over a 10-year period 90 no matter how hard we try, market timing does not work or percent of them will be underperforming. dare I say will not work. The only place I have seen it work So, the obvious question is why doesn’t it work? Why is when, like in the movie Back to the Future, where knowing the scores of upcoming championship games, and using that information, one can make tons of money. Personal Finances continued on page 92

- Investing -

The Importance of Curbing Urges to Trade Frequently

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News Notes India Textile Trade Fair Atlanta

The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry has organized the India Textile Trade Fair in Atlanta from December 14 – 16, 2023. The trade event will feature more than 100 suppliers from Gujarat, India exhibiting furniture, fixtures, and equipment products for hotels and businesses. The expo will take place at Gas South Convention Center, 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Duluth, GA. For details, visit Sgcci.in or Gassouthdistrict.com/events/detail/ifde.

Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 The Jaipur Literature Festival 2024 will be held between February 1 – 5, 2024, with its characteristic substance and scale, bringing together writers, readers, , influencers, and thinkers. During the past 16 years the festival has become a global literary phenomenon, having hosted nearly 2000 speakers and welcoming over a million book lovers from across India and the globe. Every year, the festival brings together a diverse mix of the world’s greatest writers, thinkers, humanitarians, politicians, business leaders, sports people and entertainers on one stage to champion the freedom to express and engage in thoughtful debate and dialogue. Past speakers have ranged from Nobel Laureates J.M. Coetzee, Orhan Pamuk and Muhammad Yunus, Man Booker Prize winners Ben Okri, Margaret Atwood and Paul Beatty, Sahitya Akademi winners Girish Karnad, Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, M.T. Vasudevan Nair as well as the late Mahasweta Devi and U.R. Ananthamurthy along with literary superstars including Amish Tripathi, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Vikram Seth. The annual festival goes beyond literature and has also hosted Amartya Sen, Amitabh Bachchan, the late A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Oprah Winfrey, Stephen Fry, Thomas Piketty and former president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. International editions of JLF now travel to the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the Maldives and now Spain. The festival is filed with speakers, insightful sessions, readings, music, and book signings and the simultaneously held Jaipur BookMark and Jaipur Music Stage. For more details, visit Jaipurliteraturefestival.org. Saathee.com

U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Announces Slate of Investments in India The U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) announced its full slate of investments in October 2023. The India-specific investments are listed below. Bolstering clean energy manufacturing and diversifying critical supply chains in India: A $425 million loan to TP Solar Limited will finance the construction and operation of a greenfield 4 gigawatt (GW) solar cell and 4 GW solar module manufacturing facility in India. This investment will support India’s programs to increase renewable energy generation while advancing the global energy transition to diversify supply away from PRC dominance. Advancing clean energy in India: A $35 million equity investment in SAEL Industries Ltd. will finance the expansion of solar and waste-to-energy power generation and operations, diversifying India’s energy portfolio. Increasing access to financing for tech startups in India: A $15 million equity investment in Ankur Capital Fund III will provide capital to support innovative, early-stage tech companies in India. Increasing global access to aﬀordable healthcare: A $50 million loan to GeneSys Biologics Private Ltd. will help expand its insulin manufacturing facilities in India, which is expected to provide greater availability and aﬀordability of critical diabetes treatments worldwide. Improving food security in India: A $33 million loan to Leap India Food & Logistics will help build grain silos that will modernize food storage in India and improve local food security. Bolstering climate finance in India: A $10 million loan to Clime Finance Private Limited will December 2023

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support on-lending to MSMEs engaged in climate adaptation and mitigation activities in India. Expanding financial inclusion in rural India: A $12 million loan to Pahal Financial Services Private Ltd. will support the expansion of the company’s microfinance portfolio, targeting rural and semi-urban women in India. Increasing aﬀordable housing in India: An up to $20 million loan to Ummeed Housing Finance Private Limited will expand available home financing to low- and middleincome communities, helping meet the growing demand for aﬀordable housing and homeownership among women in India. Aiding the transition to EVs in India: A $10 million loan to Upgrid Electrilease Private Limited (BatterySmart), a company that manages a battery swapping network for twowheelers and three-wheeled electric rickshaws, will support the transition to electric vehicles in India. Expanding India’s recycling capacity: An up to $30 million loan for Dalmia Polypro Industries Private Ltd. will support the construction of a new post-consumer recycling facility, expanding India’s capacity to reduce plastic waste. Promoting innovative food security solutions in India: An $8.9 million loan to Science for Society Techno Services Private Ltd. will enable the expansion of clean energy, farm-gate food processing, and reduce food waste and carbon emissions while increasing income for rural women.

Defense Secretary Austin, Secretary of State Blinken, Defense Minsiter Singh, and Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Marks ‘Transformative’ Ties with India at Talks in New Delhi Austin III lauded the strong partnership between the U.S. and India following his talks today with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi. The two leaders met amid what Austin described as a “transformative period in U.S.-India relations” as the two countries expand their defense industrial cooperation and enhance interoperability between their militaries. Following the daylong discussions, which also included Saathee.com

Defense Secretary Austin, Secretary of State Blinken, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi

meetings alongside Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Austin announced further steps the two countries will be taking to deepen ties. Those steps include a new agreement to move forward with the co-production of armored infantry vehicles, building upon progress highlighted this summer when the two countries announced they would partner in producing jet engines. The two countries also discussed steps to strengthen supply chain security and integrate the distribution of goods from U.S. and Indian firms, Austin said following the talks which took place on November 10, 2023. “From working together in space, to harnessing cutting edge innovation, the U.S. and Indian cooperation is stronger than ever,” he said. “This is my third visit to India as secretary of defense, and every time we’ve taken new steps to advance our defense partnership with India.” At the core of that progress, is both countries’ commitment to innovation and enhancing interoperability. Over the summer, the U.S. and India released their road map for expanding their defense industrial cooperation and enhancing interoperability through the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem, or INDUSX. The road map identified key areas for cooperation between the countries’ defense industrial sectors, including cooperation on technology related to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, undersea domain awareness, air combat and support, munitions systems and mobility. Earlier, ahead of Austin’s visit, officials from the U.S. Defense Department and Indian Defense Ministry met in New Delhi to participate in the first investor strategy session under the INDUS-X strategic platform. As part of the session, Defense Innovation Unit Director Douglas A. Beck and Vivek Virmani, chief operating officer for the Indian Defense Ministry’s Innovation for Defense Excellence, or iDEX, joined investors for discussions on harnessing private capital to propel defense innovation. December 2023

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DIU and iDEX also launched the INDIS-X Gurukul Education Series, which will include monthly events where government oﬃcials and private sector leaders meet with start-ups from both countries to discuss business and technology development, regulations and investor pitches. The event builds upon recent collaboration between the two innovation groups on joint challenges that enable startups from both countries to develop technological solutions for shared defense challenges. The challenges culminate in financial awards and potential procurement opportunities for the most promising technology. Austin also noted steps between the two countries to increase interoperability between the U.S. and India’s militaries. He said the U.S. is standing up new liaison positions at key commands to streamline communication. He also noted the two countries have participated in increasingly complex combined exercises that promote the sharing of best practices and strengthen the readiness of both forces to meet a variety of challenges. “It’s no secret that we all face a challenging global security environment. That’s more reason why the progress in our partnership with India is so important, and why the United States is committed to making it even stronger,” Austin said. “That’s what today’s meeting was all about and I’m confident that we’re going to have many more important conversations ahead with our Indian partners.”

Two curtain raiser events are being planned at New Delhi and Mumbai. In addition, various seminars and events will be organized to showcase Gujarat’s distinctive accomplishments, strengths across sectors, and its preparedness to lead the visions of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat @ 2047. Various themes of the seminars are Food security, Advanced Technology, Startups & Innovation, Health Care and Life Science, Sustainability to name a few. The agenda of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 will be carrying forward the national priorities and themes of G20 and I2U2, spreading its reach and vibrancy at state, national and international level. The Vibrant Gujarat Global Trade Show 2024, to be held on January 9, 2024, will showcase ‘TECHADE and Disruptive Technologies’ with a focus on Champion Services Sector including Digital India initiatives, India Stack, Emerging technologies (Industry 4.0, Smart manufacturing, AI/ML to name a few), Smart Infrastructure / Smart Cities, Consumer technology as well as application of technology in various service sectors such as financial services, healthcare, education, environment, tourism & hospitality. For more information, visit VibrantGujarat.com.

Vibrant Gujarat 2024

DHS to Supplement H-2B Cap with Nearly 65,000 Additional Visas for FY 2024 Increase Will Help Address the Need for Seasonal Workers and Reduce Irregular Migration

Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, conceptualized in 2003 under the leadership of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India (he was then the Chief Minister of Gujarat), has today evolved as one of the most reputed global forums for business networking, knowledge sharing and strategic partnerships for inclusive growth and sustainable development. This “Tenth Edition” of Vibrant Gujarat will celebrate “20 Years of Vibrant Gujarat as the Summit of Success”. It will take place from January 10 - 12, 2024 in Amdavad, Gujarat. As a precursor to the Summit, a program is being planned in Amdavad to celebrate 20 years of Vibrant Gujarat as the Summit of Success. The program will showcase the evolution of Gujarat from the inception in 2003 as an event to attract investments in the state to working towards a global leadership in 2024. Saathee.com

In November, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), in consultation with the Department of Labor (DOL), announced that it expects to make an additional 64,716 H2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas available for Fiscal Year (FY) 2024, on top of the congressionally mandated 66,000 H-2B visas that are available each fiscal year. American businesses in industries such as hospitality and tourism, landscaping, seafood processing, and more turn to seasonal or other temporary workers in the H-2B program to help them meet demand from consumers. The supplemental visa allocation will help address the need for seasonal or other temporary workers in areas where too few U.S. workers are available.

December 2023

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By announcing plans to make these supplemental visas available at the outset of FY 2024, the Departments will ensure U.S. businesses with workforce needs are able to plan ahead and find the seasonal and other temporary workers they need. At the same time, DHS and DOL have put in place protections for U.S. and foreign workers alike, including by ensuring that employers first seek out and recruit American workers for the jobs to be filled, as the visa program requires, and that foreign workers hired are not exploited by unscrupulous employers. The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be of a temporary nature, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal need, or intermittent need. Employers seeking H-2B workers must take a series of steps to test the U.S. labor market. They must obtain certification from DOL that there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to perform the temporary work for which they seek a prospective foreign worker, and that employing H-2B workers will not adversely aﬀect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. The maximum period of stay in H-2B classification is three years. A person who has held H-2B nonimmigrant status for a total of three years must depart and remain outside of the United States for an uninterrupted period of three months before seeking readmission as an H-2B nonimmigrant.

Epsilon Advanced Materials (EAM) Announces Investment of $650M Manufacturing Facility in North Carolina

Gov. Cooper said NC welcomes EAM and the development of its new 1.5 million-square-foot facility, which is expected to create approximately 500 new jobs for the Greater Wilmington area. “North Carolina continues to lead the way in the transition to a clean energy economy by attracting good-paying jobs from great companies like Epsilon that make our state stronger and healthier,” said Governor Cooper. “Having an environmentally friendly world-class facility in North Carolina resolves supply chain concerns that the automotive industry has experienced in recent years,” said EAM CEO Sunit Kapur. “We are proud that with our tech capability to manufacture both natural and synthetic graphite, we will be able to provide graphite anodes to the growing EV battery industry faster, more reliably, and at a competitive cost without import challenges.” The company plans to break ground in 2024 and begin manufacturing in 2026, reaching full capacity by 2031. When operational, the facility will utilize green technologies to produce high-capacity anode materials for EV batteries. Establishing a manufacturing plant in Brunswick County, North Carolina, oﬀers strategic advantages, such as proximity to the Wilmington port, automotive suppliers, Southeastern vehicle manufacturing facilities and the local community college. The location also streamlines logistics, reduces costs and provides access to the growing electric vehicle market. When fully operational, the EAM facility will produce 50,000 tons per annum (TPA) of graphite anode. Epsilon Advanced Materials produces high-caliber, innovative, and environmentally conscious lithium-ion battery (LiB) materials. The company was founded in 2018 and is headquartered in Mumbai. Find more details about the company at Epsilonam.com.

Epsilon Advanced Materials (EAM), India’s leading battery materials company, announced, alongside N.C. Governor Roy Cooper at Brunswick County Community College, plans to build a $650 million graphite anode manufacturing facility in North Carolina. The facility is the first and largest Indian investment in the U.S. electric vehicle (EV) battery industry. This announcement, made in late October, follows EAMs investment of $1.1 billion to establish a 100,000 MT anode battery materials manufacturing facility in Bellary, Karnataka, India. “We’re proud to have North Carolina at the focal point of our U.S. manufacturing strategy. With its favorable geographical location, business supportive policies and availability of a skilled talent pool, we are confident that the investment in the state is a major step towards creating sustainable energy transportation alternatives,” said EAM Managing Director Vikram Handa.

The DC South Asian Arts Council is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities to South Asian artists to showcase talent via films, dance, books and art. The organization presents the DC South Asian Film Festival on December 1 – 3, 2023 (In Person) and December 4 – 10, 2023 (Virtual). Enjoy an amazing week of presentations, screenings, and classes from experts and renowned artists across the diaspora with a platform for South Asian independent filmmakers. There will be screenings of 60 films from eight countries, featuring 12 Languages along with 16 premieres and 11 documentaries. It takes place at AMC Montgomery Mall, 16 7101 Democracy Blvd Bethesda, MD, American University School of Communication, McKinley Building, 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC, and Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh St Bethesda, MD. For more details, visit Dcsaaci.org/dcsaﬀ-2023.

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safeguarding brain health (mentation), carefully managing medications, preserving or advancing mobility, and attending to what matters most to older adults. More than 3,400 hospitals, nursing homes, and urgent care clinics are There’s no possibility this goal will be met. What’s hobbled progress? Gurwitz and fellow physicians part of the age-friendly health system movement. cite a few factors: low Medicare reimbursement for services, low earnings compared with other medical specialties, a Geriatrics-focused surgery standards. In July 2019, the lack of prestige, and the belief that older patients are American College of Surgeons created a program with 32 standards designed to improve the care of older adults. unappealing, too difficult, or not worth the effort. “There’s still tremendous ageism in the health care Hobbled by the covid-19 pandemic, it got a slow start, and system and society,” said geriatrician Gregg Warshaw, a only five hospitals have received accreditation. But as many professor at the University of North Carolina School of as 20 are expected to apply next year, said Thomas Robinson, co-chair of the American Geriatrics Society’s Medicine. Geriatrics for Specialists Initiative. But this negative perspective isn’t the full story. In some respects, geriatrics has been Geriatric emergency departments. The remarkably successful in disseminating bright lights, noise, and harried principles and practices meant to atmosphere in hospital emergency improve the care of older adults. rooms can disorient older adults. “What we’re really trying to do Geriatric emergency departments is broaden the tent and train a address this with staffers trained in health care workforce where caring for seniors and a calmer everybody has some degree of environment. More than 400 geriatrics expertise,” said Michael geriatric emergency departments Harper, board chair of the have received accreditation from the American Geriatrics Society and a American College of Emergency professor of medicine at the Physicians. University of California-San Francisco. New dementia care models. This Among the principles geriatricians summer, the Centers for Medicare & have championed: Older adults’ priorities Medicaid Services announced plans to test a new should guide plans for their care. Doctors should consider how treatments will affect seniors’ functioning and model of care for people with dementia. It builds on programs developed over the past several decades by independence. Regardless of age, frailty affects how older patients geriatricians at UCLA, Indiana University, Johns Hopkins respond to illness and therapies. Interdisciplinary teams are University, and UCSF. best at meeting older adults’ often complex medical, social, A new frontier is artificial intelligence, with geriatricians and emotional needs. being consulted by entrepreneurs and engineers developing Medications need to be reevaluated regularly, and dea range of products to help older adults live independently prescribing is often warranted. Getting up and around after at home. “For me, that is a great opportunity,” said Lisa illness is important to preserve mobility. Nonmedical Walke, chief of geriatric medicine at Penn Medicine, interventions such as paid help in the home or training for family caregivers are often as important as, or more affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. The bottom line: After decades of geriatrics-focused important than, medical interventions. A holistic understanding of older adults’ physical and social research and innovation, “we now have a very good idea of what works to improve care for older adults,” said Harper, circumstances is essential. of the American Geriatrics Society. The challenge is to build The list of innovations geriatricians have spearheaded is on that and invest significant resources in expanding programs’ reach. long. A few notable examples: Given so many competing priorities in medical education and practice, there’s no guarantee this will Hospital-at-home. Seniors often suffer setbacks during happen. hospital stays as they remain in bed, lose sleep, and eat But it’s where geriatrics and the rest of the health care poorly. Under this model, older adults with acute but nonlife-threatening illnesses get care at home, managed closely system need to go. by nurses and doctors. At the end of August, 296 hospitals and 125 health systems — a fraction of the total — in 37 states were authorized to offer hospital-at-home programs.

Elder Care

continued from page 42

Age-friendly health systems. Focus on four key priorities (known as the “4Ms”) is key to this wide-ranging eﬀort:

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Article courtesy of Kaiser Heath News. Find more at Kffhealthnews.org.

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Saathee RECIPES

by Shikha Singh Instagram: @spicymillennial

Masala Shakshuka

Happy Holidays Saathee Family! Indulge in a festive twist to your Christmas morning with our Masala Shakshuka recipe. This easy-to-make dish combines the rich flavors of traditional shakshuka with a burst of aromatic Indian spices. Picture perfectly poached eggs nestled in a vibrant, spiced tomato and bell pepper masala, creating a delightful harmony of flavors. Ideal for a cozy breakfast gathering with family and friends, it's a festive and flavorful start to your post-Christmas celebrations.

Ingredients 1/2 white onion finely chopped 1 green pepper finely chopped 1 cup tomatoes finely chopped 1 cup strained tomatoes 4 garlic cloves minced 1 tbsp olive oil 1/4 tsp madras curry powder 1/4 tsp cumin powder 1/4 tsp red chili powder 2 green chilies finely chopped 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (optional) 3 eggs black pepper (optional) 1 tsp salt 1/4 cup light coconut milk (optional) Saathee.com

Servings: About 3-4

Directions

Prep Time: 15 minutes Cook Time: 15-20 minutes

Step One: Heat oil in a pan and sauté onions and garlic until the onions are translucent. Step Two: Add curry powder, cumin powder, red chili powder, green chilis, and green pepper and cook for another 5 mins on low heat. Step Three: Toss in the chopped tomatoes and strained tomatoes and salt. If adding coconut milk, add that as well. Mix well. Step Four: Crack the eggs onto the pan directly, giving a little space between each and cover. Simmer for 3-10 mins (depending on how well cooked you want your eggs) Step Five: Turn off the stove and top it off with black pepper and cilantro. Best paired with bread that has been toasted with butter!

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Upcoming Hindu Center Events & Activities: Balaji Anniversary: December 2nd, Saturday Gita Jayanti: December 17th, Sunday Vaikuntha Ekadasi: December 22nd, Friday New Year’s Day - Tiruppavda Seva: January 1st, Monday Lohri: January 13th, Saturday Pongal / Bhogi Pallu: January 13th, Saturday Makar Sankranti: January 14th, Sunday Republic Day: January 28th, Sunday Vasant Panchami: February 14th, Wednesday Maha-Shivratri: March 8th, Friday Holika Dahan: March 24th, Sunday Dhuleti Color Playing: March 31st, Sunday

HINDU CENTER OF CHARLOTTE

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OF CHARLOTTE Lord Venkateshwara Anniversary Saturday, Dec 2nd, 2023 8 am with Suprabhatam

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Gita Jayanti

Sunday, Dec 17, 2023 (10 am to 12:30 pm)

Hindu Center Celebrating Vaikunta Eka Dasi Friday, December 22, 2023 (Temple will open in the morning at 6 am)

Morning start 6 :30 am: Suprabatham, Nitya Puja 7:30 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

HINDU CENTER

Tiruppavada Seva for Lord Venkateshwara Monday, Jan 1, 2024 (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 ||

Lohri

Jan 13, 2024 Puja: (Saturday, 7 pm)

Pongal / Bhogi Pallu:

Jan 13, 2024 (Sat., begins at 5 pm) Abhishek/ Pooja with Bhajan/Shlokas. Followed by Kari/Bhogi Pallu & Mahaprasad Kari / Bhogi Pallu: Parents / Grandparents will Bless & Shower their kids with fruits, candies, coins, cranberries etc., supplied by Hindu Center. Please bring kids and don't miss this unique event. Dress up in Indian tradition outfits if possible.

OF CHARLOTTE Makar Sankranti Kite flying: Jan 14, 2024 (Sunday, Noon to 5 pm) Weather permitting, Nirav Pandya 570-205-2636 or HC 704-535-3440

January 28, 2024 Sunday at Noon Vihar Hall Nirav Pandya 570-205-2636, Anju Jain 704-620-4503, Anitha Gowtam 704-206-9348 or Hemant Amin 704-258-3588

MAHA-SHIVRATRI March 8, 2024 (Friday)

Lord Shiva Abhishekham all day

Maha Shivaratri will be celebrated by performing Pooja all night long including Rudhrabhishekham. Evening Puja Abhishek, Bhajans, Aarti and Prasad

The Role of Letters of Recommendation in College Admissions College Admissions Insider by Violet Wei

When To Ask At Moon Prep, we encourage our students to connect with their teachers at the end of their junior year to ask if they will write you a letter. This way, it gives them time to write a thoughtful letter detailing your accomplishments and good qualities. Some schools limit the number of letters a teacher can write, so ask early so you aren’t disappointed later.

Early Action and Early Decision deadlines are right around the corner. As students gather all their application material, including personal statements, supplemental essays, transcripts, standardized test scores, and letters of recommendation, they might wonder how everything gets evaluated. After all, it is easy to compare SAT scores or GPAs, but how do admission oﬃcers review more subjective aspects of the college application, like letters of recommendation? Many selective colleges will require students to submit between one to three letters of recommendation. Who these letters are from can vary, but schools typically want one from your counselor and two teachers. Depending on the school, you can submit letters from people outside your school, like research mentors, managers at jobs, coaches, etc. As you create your college list, see what each school requires. These letters of recommendation are submitted to the colleges when the student is applying. Just like with everything else you submit to colleges; it is important to be strategic about who you are asking for letters of recommendation and how many you are sending.

Is Sending More Letters of Recommendation Better? Some schools will let you send upwards of five letters of recommendation, but sending the maximum allowed is always better. Think about who you are asking, your relationship with them, and what unique aspects they can add to your recommendations.

Whom To Ask Typically, we recommend students ask two teachers from their junior year with whom they formed a good relationship. Junior year teachers will know you best and have seen you tackle higher-level material. It might also be a good idea to ask a teacher related to the major/career path you want to pursue in college. For outside letters of recommendation, some students think asking an influential person from a university will help them get into that school. However, if they don’t know you well, the letter will not improve your candidacy and could, in fact, hurt you. It’s better to have recommendations from people who know you well and can speak deeply about your accomplishments.

Submitting letters of recommendation from someone who knows you well can give a college an outsider’s perspective and holistic view of your overall personality and goals and hopefully increase your chances of getting accepted to your dream school.

Saathee.com

How Do Colleges Consider Letters of Recommendation? The purpose of the letters is to see if a student is portraying themselves authentically through their essays, activities, and even an interview. Harvard Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid William Fitzsimmons said, “Recommendations can help us to see well beyond test scores and grades and other credentials and can illuminate...intellectual curiosity, creativity, and love of learning.”

Violet Wei is a College Counselor and Outreach Coordinator. Website: MoonPrep.com Contact: Violet@moonprep.com.

December 2023

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December 2023

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Spot the Differences -

See if you can spot the 15 diﬀerences between the original photo below and modified photo on the right. Solution on page 110 (Also See the full page Spot the Diﬀerences on page 56)

Saathee.com

December 2023

F-1 visas are not employment authorized and cannot accept employment. The only exception to this broad rule is F-1 visa holders that have been granted Optional Practical Training (“OPT”), which is a work period that is specifically authorized for new graduates. OPT can be granted for a total of 12-months, with an additional 17-month extension available to individuals graduating in the “STEM “fields (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Individuals on OPT also typically transitions into the H1B category and are typically eligible for the CAP-gap extension, which permits individuals with valid OPT on the day their H-1B applications are filed with an automatic extension of their OPT through the time when their H-1B is adjudicated. Dependents are provided F-2 visas and are not employment eligible.

Immigration

continued from page 50

L-1 Intra-company Transferee The L-1 is a visa granted to an individual that has worked overseas for a branch, subsidiary, aﬃliate, parent etc. of the petitioning organization for at least 1 of the last 3 years preceding the filing of the L-1 application with USCIS. For Canadian applicants, L-1 visas (as well as most other visas) can be sought directly at the port of entry or through Pre-flight Inspection at the departing airport prior to leaving Canada for the United States. L-1 visas can be obtained for individuals in two categories: L-1A – Executive or Manager (status available for a total of 7 years), and L-1B – Specialized Knowledge Worker (5 years). The L-1 also provides recipients with a natural transition into permanent residency status, as it allows for dual-intent (i.e. intention to both remain permanently in the United E-1 Treaty Trader / E-2 Treaty Trader The E-1 is a treaty-based visa, meaning that the United States to intention to return to an applicant’s home country). Dependents are provided L-2 visas and are employment States must have a previously approved treaty with the country from which the foreign national applicant hails. eligible incident to status. The E-1 requires that a company evidence that the majority of its foreign trade is conducted with the treaty country and O-1 Individual of Extraordinary Ability The O-1 classification applies to individuals who are that the applicant is entering the United States to help considered to have extraordinary abilities in the sciences, further this trade. The terms “trade” is seen as expansive and is permitted arts, education, business, or athletics, which has been demonstrated by sustained national or international to include physical goods, as well as services and intellectual acclaim. O-1 are temporary visas that are usually marked property exchanges. The E-1 is a valuable alternative when by a limited time period (i.e. schedule), but can be obtained all H-1B numbers have been exhausted and an immediate classification is needed for an applicant. Dependents are in successive intervals of two years. “Extraordinary ability” is typically associated with a provided E-1 (dependent) visas and are employment level of expertise indicating that the person is one of the eligible incident to status. The E-2 is a treaty-based investor visa, which requires an small percentage who have risen to the very top of the field of endeavor. O-1 filings are often document heavy and may applicant to have invested a substantial amount into a viable require an advisory opinion from a labor organization US enterprise that het foreign national is coming to the indicating that an American worker is not being displaced. United States to manage and direct. Similar to the E-1, the Dependents are provided O-3 visas but are not eligible for E-2 can only be obtained from specific countries and is not available to all nationals. employment authorization. E-2 filings require that the applicant be able to substantiate the source of the investment and that the TN – Treaty NAFTA The TN visa is designated for only Canadian and investment will not be marginal, meaning that it will only Mexican citizens that are entering the United States to fulfill be enough to support the foreign national and will not result specific occupational positions. USCIS has issued a list of in a marked impact upon the surrounding economy. specific job positions in certain fields that are considered TN Dependents are provided E-2 (dependent) visas and are eligible, which includes engineering, management employment eligible incident to status. Both E-1 and E-2 visas can also be obtained for consulting and the sciences. employees holding either an All TN applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to be subordinate considered qualified for the visa; no experience executive/supervisory role or nonsupervisory essential equivalencies are acceptable. TNs can be obtained directly employees. These subordinate level employees must establish the at the port of entry or through Pre-flight Inspection at the departing airport prior to leaving Canada/Mexico for the typical requirements for either the E-1 or E-2, as well as United States and are available for a period of 3 years. detailed evidence as to their executive or essential roles Dependents are provided TD visas and are not employment within the company. eligible. F-1 Student and Optional Practical Training The F-1 classification is provided to individuals that are full-time students in US academic institutions. F-1 visa holders must maintain full course load, which typically requires at least 12 credit hours. Saathee.com

Rishi P Oza is Partner at Brown Immigration Law, a firm that focuses solely on immigration law; he practices in Durham. roza@rbrownllc.com 84

December 2023

In summary, Reflect on the progress made toward financial goals set at the beginning of the year. Assessing progress against the set goals allows for adjustments to align with changing priorities or life circumstances. Celebrate achievements with family and loved ones and learn from any setbacks. You’ve made it this far!

Financially Speaking

continued from page 52

Be mindful that for 2024, the 401(k)/Roth and 403(b) contribution limit increased to $23,000. Catch-up contributions will remain at $7,500, so those 50 and over can put away up to $30,500. Be sure to make the required tweaks within your plan to ensure you are making the maximum contribution next year. Funding Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) - both Traditional and ROTH - can be done till April of the following year so you still have time for those. The limit for 2023 is $6500 with a catchup of $1000 for those 50 and over. The limit for 2024 is $7000 with the same catchup of $1000 for those 50 and over. Do you have old retirement accounts still held at a previous employer? If appropriate, now may be a great time to get them consolidated to an IRA to keep your assets organized.

Rupa Pereira is the owner and lead financial advisor at FWJ Planning, an investment advisory and planning firm registered in NC. As an enrolled agent, she’s also authorized by IRS to represent her clients on tax-matters. Contact: info@fwjplanning.com.

Editor’s Desk

continued from page 14

Estate Planning: Did a family member who was a beneficiary on your account pass this year? Did you want to change beneficiaries because your family dynamics have changed? Be sure to reach out to your financial professional to update them on your situation. You may also want to reach out to your estate planning attorney to review and update your planning/documents such as a will, Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy, and other estate planning documents.

An example. We recently finished streaming the series, The Bear. It’s an intriguing and very human show about a restaurant and its workers, where the characters are full of anxieties, foibles, and disjointedness that most people go through in their own lives. You feel for the characters, identify with some of them, love some, hate others. That’s what a well-written and developed show, or film or book should do. It’s a well-constructed show. Here’s my annoyance. The non-stop F bombs dropped every other sentence began to annoy me to no end after a while. You know, I get it. They are a diverse group of humans tossed together like a salad, and they are angry, a lot. But I don’t need to be pummeled by words that no longer offer any offensiveness or anger. It’s no longer shocking or offensive, it’s worse. It’s boring. Incessant profane discourse adds to our shock numbness. Makes us sound dumber. I say, for the love of language, we need to come up with new profanities. Something fresh, something more offensive, as some of our traditional shockers have become so overused that they have lost any level of their intended intention, offensiveness. Explore the possibilities of language, of words, and come up with some stinging new words to showcase anger. And only use them rarely. Look, if one of my dearly departed grandmothers ever dropped the F bomb, of course they never cursed, but let’s say if, then I would know they were angry, really angry at that moment. They would be making a succinct, albeit profane, point. Everyone would go, whoa, granny is mad. That is the point of such words. They have power. We will aways have words or phrases considered profane, offensive. In the interest of keeping language and communications interesting, let’s expand our literary world and come up with new nasty words. Why the hell not, hmmm?

Education Planning: Evaluate progress on education savings goals for children. Update 529 plans and other education savings accounts. You can fund up to $17,000 per child in 2023 without aﬀecting your overall gift-tax exclusion limit. Year-end Investment Moves: Two important investment moves to consider are your overall portfolio allocation and rebalancing. In terms of your asset allocation, review your investment mix of stocks, bonds, alternative investments, and cash to determine if it still makes sense for your objectives and time horizon. Health and Wellness: Assess health insurance coverage and make any necessary changes. Schedule necessary health check-ups and screenings, especially if you’ve exceeded your deductible and your insurance coverage resets at the beginning of the year. Review health-related expenses and plan for any upcoming medical needs. Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) accounts are use-it-or-lose-it. If you’ve contributed all year but have yet to get reimbursed for qualifying expenses, now’s the time to do so. Charitable Giving: Assess charitable contributions made during the year and if you’re feeling philanthropic, now’s a good time to open your wallets and be generous. Consider making year-end charitable donations for tax purposes especially if you’re planning to itemize your deductions vs. taking the standard deductions. Ensure proper documentation for tax-deductible donations as cash contributions over $250 need to be substantiated with receipts. Saathee.com

Samir Shukla is the Editor of Saathee Magazine Contact: Samir@Saathee.com Twitter: @ShuklaWrites Newsletter: ShuklaWrites.Substack.com 86

December 2023

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December 2023

The R ad t

2024 Electi ns

Your Guide to Election News and Upcoming Dates

North Carolina Candidate Filing for 2024 Elections Begins December 4, 2023 Voters across North Carolina will soon learn the candidates who will vie for their votes in 2024. Candidate filing for most contests in the 2024 elections begins at noon on Monday, December 4, 2023, and ends at noon on Friday, December 15, 2023. Depending on the office sought, candidates will file their Notice of Candidacy and pay their filing fees either at their county board of elections office or with the State Board of Elections at the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. “Choosing to run for an elected office is a major decision,” said Karen Brinson Bell, State Board executive director. “We are preparing for a smooth and customerfriendly process for all candidates, and we are committed to providing an efficient and safe environment for everyone.” The 2024 primary election in North Carolina is March 5, 2024. For Candidates: Before filing, candidates should review the Filing for Candidacy page at NCSBE.gov for information such as candidacy requirements, filing fees and more. Candidates may also review “A Candidate’s Guide to the 2024 Statewide Primary and General Election,” a PDF available on the website. Important Note: Before filing with the State Board of Elections, candidates must get Section 9 of the Notice of Candidacy form (“County board of elections certification”) completed and signed by the chair or director of their county board of elections. For information on filing fees, see Filing Fees. Fees must be paid by cashier check, campaign check, personal check, or money order. Cash and credit cards are not accepted. Once filed, the deadline to withdraw a notice of candidacy is December 12, 2023. Candidates for N.C. House, N.C. Senate, and local offices file with their respective county board of elections. Prospective candidates for these offices who have Saathee.com

questions about the process should contact their county board of elections. Prospective candidates for oﬃces that file with the State Board of Elections who have questions about the process should email the State Board of Elections at elections.sboe@ncsbe.gov or 919-814-0700.

Upcoming Dates: Fourth Republican Presidential Debate: December 6, 2023 Presidential Primary Election Dates 2024: January 15, 2024: Iowa Republican caucuses February 3, 2024: South Carolina Democratic presidential primary February 6, 2024: Nevada Democratic presidential primary February 13, 2024: New Hampshire Republican presidential primary February 24, 2024: South Carolina Republican presidential primary March 5, 2024: Super Tuesday (includes NC, TN, VA) May 21, 2024: Georgia presidential primary

State Election Boards Websites: North Carolina: Ncsbe.gov South Carolina: Scvotes.gov Georgia: Sos.ga.gov/state-election-board Virginia: Elections.virginia.gov 88

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December 2023

where the line notes “pittanukku iNAIyAga narttanam ADiduvAL.” (She will dance as an equal to Lord Shiva). A well-known dance of Lord Shiva is known as Ananda Thandava. In the song Natanam Adinar by Gopaalkrishna Bhaaratiyaar, the lyrics note that Shiva danced in Chidambaram as promised to the great sages in Kailasa. In one of the stories, Lord Shiva is disguised as a mendicant amongst a group of rishis in a forest. These sages believed they could control the Gods with their magic and mantras. Upon seeing the disguised Shiva’s beauty, the women became enchanted, and the sages filled with jealousy were enraged, and invoked snakes. Lord Shiva thus took the snakes and beautified himself around his body. Then the sages invoked a tiger; Lord Shiva wears the tiger on his waist. Finally, the sages invoke an asura or demon, who symbolizes arrogance and ego- Lo and Behold! Lord Shiva dances upon this arrogance. Goddess Uma then performs the Lasya to balance the anger from Shiva. In another form of the Goddess Parvathi as Kali, she dances in her fearful form, and thus Shiva must balance her energy. While the Ananda Thandava is probably the most well-known, there are also 7 sub types of other thandava dances, one of them the Uma Thandava, depicting the love between Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma and expressed in Shringara Rasa. In some philosophies, it is believed Lord Brahma came from Vishnu’s Navel. In Devi Bhagavatham, it is believed that the entire creation is through the energies of Devi. But who is the ultimate winner? If it is noted that Goddess Parvathi is Lord Shiva’s equal, how can it be reconciled from the Urdhva Tandava when Goddess Parvathi and Lord Shiva are competing to see who is the better dancer, and she humbly declines to raise her leg in the pose due to modesty? Did Mother lose that game? If she could dance just like Lord Shiva, why did she have to become so humble? Is that antifeminist? I believe Mother teaches so many nuanced lessons. From my interpretation, Mother demonstrates a lesson to everyone that can be applied in one’s daily life. For instance, maybe we can let someone else “win” the competition if it goes against our personal beliefs. Maybe winning at any cost is not actually winning, and sometimes, walking away from the competition is a personal win. Strength can not only be demonstrated by competing, but also knowing when not to compete. This is not something that is “black” and “white” in its analysis, or of “right” or “wrong” or “win” or “lose”, but a deeper analysis for how to approach various situations. Maybe the divinities are teaching us various lessons as they dance, and how we interpret the message is up to us and our individual and unique paths as free thinkers.

Personal Finances

continued from page 62

can’t anyone or most of us get these predictions right? There are many reasons but two stand out in the minds of many people who are experts in that business. First, we are predicting the future, and any predictions are always riddled with biases, guesses and misinformation, miscalculations. These biases infect peoples’ opinions and make it diﬃcult to get accurate forecasts. Second, we will never have complete information because things happen that are beyond our control and unpredictable (current geo-political situation including atmospheric calamities come to mind) and they influence and aﬀect our predictions and hence outcome and actions. We are always looking for someone behind the curtain who knew everything about the future but there is no such person anywhere. Have you heard this old expression: “when the going gets rough, the tough start selling.” The stock market will always go up and down, but it will always catch up and continue to advance; it is a matter of time. It is always better to ignore the short term and keep our eye on the distant horizon. The selection and judicious picking of the industries to invest in should be done with this idea in mind. There is no guarantee that even then we would succeed but we most certainly increase our chances many folds. Investments with a very distant horizon work the best because they absorb all the small and big pitfalls on the way. But picking the right vehicles to invest in is still a skill that needs to be learned and honed over time.

Mo Vidwans is an independent, board certified financial planner. For details visit, VidwansFinancial.com, call 734-476-0579 or write to: mvfinancial@yahoo.com

Adult Dance Student

continued from page 40

Going from the invocation, the beat is another concept that intertwines the masculine and feminine energies. When looking at keeping count of beats, the concept of “Thala” is utilized. Upon further examination of at the word, “Tha” is said to come from the word “Thandava” or the dance from Shiva, while “La” comes the feminine dancing of Parvathi known as “Lasya.” Bringing the hands together and separating them thus creates the essential elements for keeping beat. The symbolism of the Thala of the masculine and feminine energies can be seen in the visual representations of Ardhanarishwara where Shiva and Parvathi are merged as the halves of each other. From the beat or Thala, one can move look at the dance form itself. Within the Natya Shastra, Shiva teaches Thandava to Saint Thandu. Thandava can be described as a masculine form of dance with plenty of jumps and crisp movements. The Thandava is made up of 108 Karanas, 32 Angahras and Rechakas. While some may like to think of Lord Shiva as the ultimate dancer, or the Nataraja, Goddess Parvathi in her various manifestations is the equal to Lord Shiva and this is beautifully expressed in the Tamil Song Chinnanjiru Pen Pole, Saathee.com

This series of articles is about the journey and unique insights of an adult dance student learning classical Indian dance and the experiences and perspective of taking classical Indian dance as both an American and an Indian.

Preethi Sriram is a classical dance enthusiast and lifelong learner of dance. Contact: SriramPreethi@hotmail.com

December 2023

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NASA

continued from page 44

continued from page 58

By knowing where methane emissions are coming from, operators of landfills, agriculture sites, oil and gas facilities, and other methane producers have an opportunity to address them. Tracking human-caused emissions of methane is key to limiting climate change because it oﬀers a comparatively low-cost, rapid approach to reducing greenhouse gases. Methane lingers in the atmosphere for about a decade, but during this span, it’s up to 80 times more powerful at trapping heat than carbon dioxide, which remains for centuries.

to the president, “Mr. President, I know where the weapons of mass destruction are!” Or in more recent years, “Mr. President, I can gather my friends and help out with the insurrection.” Living in Los Angeles, we were very much aware of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA Union strikes for higher wages and issues with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). I wonder if turkeys should form a union and negotiate a deal for mass pardon over Thanksgiving. They may volunteer to cook and clean in the negotiations as well as developing alternate recipes such as Tofurkey Tikka Masala. Christmas is a whole diﬀerent story in our Hindu household. We would still set up a Christmas tree, assembling it out of the box and leave Christmas presents under it for the kids. As a Bania, I always believed that the best Christmas gifts are an exchange of cash. You are not stuck with unwanted gifts and don’t have to waste time with returns. Despite our attempts, it is hard to ignite the spirit of Christmas in our home, the way we have it for Diwali. I have been to New Delhi many times over Diwali and Christmas. The festivities for Christmas around town are much more subdued compared to Diwali. It seemed like the only people who celebrate Christmas are 5-star hotels and their patrons. The masses are not too much into it. Although, once we were visiting my wife’s cousin in Ludhiana and he told me that he went to the local church with some friends. They were singing “Halleluiah” in Punjabi! We missed attending that mass but found some a couple of “Punjabi Halleluiahs” on YouTube. He also mentioned Ludhiana has the highest concentration of Mercedes cars among all Indian cities and the local Mercedes dealership does brisk business during the holiday season. During the holidays break, I have found the best deals available are on Christmas Eve or Christmas day. That is equivalent to using the coupon code, “Not Christian.” The only fellow passengers on the plane are Hindus, Muslims, and Jews, united with a common theme of saving money. The flights on Christmas day are mostly empty. I thought to make up for the loss, the airlines could come up with creative ways to make more money during the holiday season. One of the co-pilots could come out dressed like Santa. The kids could get their picture taken sitting on Santa’s lap for $5. Whatever our motivation is around the holidays, whether it is to invite the the Goddess of Wealth to our household, remind our kids about the victory of good over evil, gather with family and friends over an elaborate Thanksgiving dinner (with or without turkey), simply exchange gifts with them over Christmas, or look for bargains on airfare, one thing is for sure. We all welcome the pause the holidays give us from our busy routines to rejuvenate ourselves for the new year. Happy Holidays!

Surprising Results EMIT has proven eﬀective at spotting emission sources both big (tens of thousands of pounds of methane per hour) and surprisingly small (down to the hundreds of pounds of methane per hour). This is important because it permits identification of a greater number of “super-emitters” – sources that produce disproportionate shares of total emissions. The new study documents how EMIT, based on its first 30 days of greenhouse gas detection, can observe 60% to 85% of the methane plumes typically seen in airborne campaigns. From several thousand feet above the ground, methanedetecting instruments on aircraft are more sensitive, but to warrant sending a plane, researchers need prior indication that they’ll detect methane. Many areas are not examined because they are considered too remote, too risky, or too costly. Additionally, the campaigns that do occur cover relatively limited areas for short periods. On the other hand, from about 250 miles (400 kilometers) altitude on the space station, EMIT collects data over a large swath of the planet – specifically the arid regions that fall between 51.6 degrees north and south latitude. The imaging spectrometer captures 50-mile-by-50-mile (80-kilometer-by80-kilometer) images of the surface – researchers call them “scenes” – including many regions that have been beyond the reach of airborne instruments.

Scene-by-Scene Detections To support source identification, the EMIT science team creates maps of methane plumes and releases them on a website, with underlying data available at the joint NASAUnited States Geological Survey Land Processes Distributed Active Archive Center (LP DAAC). The mission’s data is available for use by the public, scientists, and organizations. Since EMIT began collecting observations in August 2022, it has documented over 50,000 scenes. The instrument spotted a cluster of emissions sources in a rarely studied region of southern Uzbekistan on Sept. 1, 2022, detecting 12 methane plumes totaling about 49,734 pounds (22,559 kilograms) per hour. In addition, the instrument has spotted plumes far smaller than expected. Captured in a remote corner of southeastern Libya on Sept. 3, 2022, one of the smallest sources so far was emitting 979 pounds (444 kilograms) per Raajeev Aggerwhil hour, based on estimates of local wind speed. is a Los Angeles-based comedian. Follow him on Instagram @raajeevcomedy To learn more about the mission, visit: To see his videos on YouTube, search for his name. Earth.jpl.nasa.gov/emit. Saathee.com

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December 2023

Diabetes and Holidays

continued from page 28

made from nuts and sweetened using dates or raisins. Another option is dried mango dipped in dark chocolate and rolled in chopped pistachios. Savory Carbs: Our food is incomplete without salty namkeen items on the festive platter – from samosas to savory puﬀ pastries, chivda, mathri and fried besan items – all of these can raise your blood sugar. Excessive consumption of deep-fried foods can also cause inflammation in the body. Try baking or air-frying some items to reduce the caloric intake and carbohydrates. Beverages: Alcoholic cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages such as regular soda, fruit punch, juices as well as cocktails can cause big spikes in blood sugar levels. Plain water will not raise your blood sugar and it is your best bet – but if you crave flavor, add a few lemon drops, mint leaves or 2oz of fruit juice to your water. This will add color and flavor to your water. During these cooler months, sipping warm tea (herbal, green, mint, etc.) will also help. You may also opt for non-caloric beverages such as flavored carbonated water. If you choose to drink alcohol, drink responsibly - the recommendation is one drink for women and two drinks for men – per sitting. A drink is 12 oz of beer, 5 oz of wine or 1.5 oz of spirits. Medications: Medications will work when you take them! Remember to take your medications as prescribed and on time. Use an alarm on your phone if needed. Store your medications per the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure they are not expired. If you’re travelling by air, remember to carry your doctor’s prescription along with your medications. Don’t forget alcohol swabs, syringes, or pen needles for injectable medications. Check your blood sugar: Carry your glucometer with you everywhere you go. Checking your blood sugar will help you to better understand how your body is navigating the foods you are eating. It is important to check your blood sugar to avoid low blood sugar - especially for those who use insulin. Make sure you have extra glucose strips and always carry extra supplies. Remain Active: This is the golden rule – no matter what festive treat foods you enjoy, staying active afterward will help lower blood sugar levels. Take a walk, help with cleaning up, play outdoors with the children or grandchildren – all of these will help prevent your blood sugar from spiking too high. Catered Parties: These parties are usually catered by restaurants or caterers, and you are limited by the choices oﬀered at these parties. Lean towards any salad or cut up vegetables first. Make mindful choices by choosing kebabs, cooked channa/daal style dishes with either rice or naan. If the dessert served is one of your favorites, skip the rice and naan. This will help to balance blood sugar. Limit foods such as creamy curries, deep fried pakoras, samosas and sugary desserts. Potluck Parties: These are the best kind. You can take a dish that you feel comfortable eating and share and pass along. Here are some guilt free ideas – masala tofu appetizer, hummus and carrot sticks, minestrone soup, bean and vegetable salad, chicken kebabs, vegetable chicken chili, Saathee.com

quinoa paneer pulao with vegetables and yogurt raita, sugar-free strawberry cheesecake, or a fruit salad for dessert. All in all, remember to enjoy yourself and leave your stresses behind. Don’t deprive yourself or feel guilty for enjoying your favorite foods. It’s the holidays after all; enjoy good food, spend time with your loved ones, enjoy the crisp cool air, relax, and rejuvenate yourself. Let relationships be the centerpiece of the holidays.

Teju Lakkundi is a registered dietitian nutritionist, licensed dietitian nutritionist and a certified diabetes care and education specialist. She is based in Cary, NC. Contact: 919-228-9749 or email nutriforu@gmail.com Website: nutriforu.com

Eye on Markets

continued from page 46

at the highest level ever, growing 37 percent since 2019. There is more than $4 trillion in household cash on the balance sheet. There is more than $1 trillion in excess savings. Household debt to GDP is the lowest since data going back to at least 2005. Similarly, household debt service to disposable income remains at historically low levels. Only 11 percent of outstanding household debt carries variable interest rates. Unemployment remains low and wages continue to grow. As far as the market goes, it is easy to be negative. Much of that negativity is priced into the average stock. The Russell 2000 has been flat since August 2018, while earnings have grown 32 percent. The S&P 500 is down 10 percent over the past two years and at a level first reached 30 months ago, with U.S. GDP now 18 percent larger than it was then and annualized earnings 10 percent higher. Earnings have bottomed out and are expected to grow next year. The economy remains in good shape with GDP up 4.9 percent in the third quarter. Inflation is moderating. PMIs looked to have bottomed out and are likely to move up. The volatility in yields is likely to come down. The buyback window is now open and will continue into December. Positioning and sentiment remain poor. By certain measures, positioning among hedge funds is the lowest it’s been since 2019. We are entering a seasonally bullish time. There is approximately $5 trillion in money market assets that will eventually look for a new long-term home. The Fed is close to done with raising rates, while fiscal spending will continue putting a floor on nominal growth. Nominal growth drives earnings. Public markets oﬀer some of the best companies with the best balance sheets in the world to capitalize. In the coming months the market will focus on the Fed, geopolitics, the latest from Washington, economic data, and earnings. Read Eye on Markets every month online at Saathee.com

Ketu Desai is the principal of i-squared Wealth Management Inc. (www.isquaredwealth.com), an investment management firm based in New Jersey. ketu@isquaredwealth.com December 2023

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Quiz Corner

Who wants to be a Scholar?! Answer the ones you know and research the rest. There is only one correct answer! 1. Arrange these Texas cities from South to North. (a) Dallas (b) San Antionio (c) Houston (d) Austin 2. The Best Actress of the 66th Filmfare Awards? (a) Taapsee Pannu b) Deepika Padukone (c) Vidya Balan (d) Kangana Ranaut

Word World By Kirit Shukla

M C

A S

3. The most spoken language in Texas is: (a) German (b) Spanish (c) English (d) Norwegian 4. ‘LX’ does NOT stand for (a) Luxury Class (c) Lynx

(b) Linux (d) Lighting

5. How many feet in one mile? (a) 2413 (c) 2488

(b) 5280 (d) 8251

6. One mile is equal to __ kilometers. (a) 1.61 (b) 0.64 (c) 1.88 (d) 1.73

Make words using 4 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. Plural words are not allowed. Use all letters for the subject word (underlined in solutions below)

7. The United States’ current Vice President: (a) Kamala Harris (b) Hillary Clinton (c) Mike Pence (d) Al Gore

8+ words = Excellent; 6 to 7 words = Good; 5 or less = keep looking. Some words we found are in solutions below.

Brain-Train

10. The state flower of Texas: (a) Wood Violet (c) Tube Rose

Here is a fun quiz. See if you can solve it. No peeking! Match the number in column 1 with letter in column 2 ...State

Coastal Towns...

Answers are on bottom left. No Peeking. Scholar: All correct; 1st Class: 8 Correct; 2nd Class: 7 Correct; 3rd Class: 6 Correct; Need to improve: 5 or less

A. Chile B. Colombia C. Uruguay D. Suriname E. Venezuela F. Ecuador G. Paraguay H. Brazil I. Peru J. Argentina

1. Buenos Aires 2. Santiago 3. Quito 4. Lima 5. Bogotá 6. Asunción 7. Montevideo 8. Caracas 9. Brasília 10. Paramaribo

(b) Carnation (d) Bluebonnet

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.

Our solar system’s star. _____ Grand Canyon state. _______

Brain Train: 1-J, 2-A, 3-F, 4-I, 5-B, 6-G, 7-C, 8-E, 9-H, 10-D

An _______ a day helps keeps the doctor away. Scholar: 1. b, c, d, a 6.a 7.a 8.a

Day and _____. Eight, Nine, ____.

9.a

10.d 2.a

3.c

4.c

5.b

Word World (Solution) CHRIST, MAST, SHIRT, SMART, MART, STAR, TARS, SCRAM, TRAM, CHRISTMAS Saathee.com

Answers on page 104 100

December 2023

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PUZZLES AND JOKES By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase

Clues Across: 1. Berry plant hung for the holidays, associated with kissing. 9. South Carolina. (*) 11. Good health: used as a toast. 12. A curved structure, as of masonry, that supports the weight of material over an open space, as in a doorway. 14. Deep fried wheat breads of India, puﬀs out in hot oil. 15. Arousing no interest or curiosity; uncheerful. 16. Afro-Asiatic language spoken in central Ethiopia. 17. A huge sea wave caused by earthquake under an ocean. 19. A high, rocky hill. 21. Dry and barren; lifeless. 22. Blood Pressure. (*) 24. Recover; get back to. 26. To or toward as the goal or object. 27. Oriental Astronomical Association. (*) 29. Several temporary suspensions of electric power. 31. In Germany or Austria, an expressway. 33. United States of America. (*) 35. A building where films, plays or operas are presented. 36. An extinct, shaggy, long-horned wild ox. 37. “ __ Mater”, the school or college that one attended. 38. Mistake; something incorrectly done. 40. Private Network Interconnect. (*) 41. Intellectual Property. (*) 43. To remove a projecting pin. 45. “___ corpuscle,” a nerve ending, sensitive to touch. 46. American Stock Exchange. (*). Saathee.com

Clues Down: 2. Image displayed on a computer screen for function. 3. To hit or destroy with a bullet or an arrow etc. 4. Intense fear. 5. Wreath of flowers worn around the neck (as in Hawaii.) 6. At first; formerly. (Archaic) 7. Tropical Storm. (*) 8. Profit. 9. Fraud; to cheat as in a confidence game. 10. Jesus ____. 13. To utter aloud the words of written or printed matter. 14. A submarine. (Slang) 15. The oval, spiny, edible fruit of an East Indian tree. 18. The magazine you are currently reading. 20. To procure again. 23. “ ___ Surf School” located in Cabarete on Encuentro Beach, Dominican Republic in the Caribbean. 25. Annual leguminous plant, grown in India for forage. 26. Makes certain; gives confidence to. 28. Presenting an action or event being incomplete. 30. The fourth largest satellite of Jupiter. 32. Online Access Manager. (*) 34. To the same amount or degree; equally. 36. A vase used to hold the ashes of a cremated body. 39. To go rapidly by feet; move swiftly. 40. Parcel Post. (*) 42. The sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. (π) 44. General Electric. (*) (solution on page 104)

Hee Hee

Jokes & Riddles From Around The World

It was Christmas Eve and the warden was in a happy mood. He asked the prisoner, “What are you charged with?” Prisoner: “Doing my Christmas shopping too early.” “That's no crime,” said the warden. “Just how early were you shopping?” Prisoner: “Before the store opened.” Sergeant: “Soldier, go stand at the end of the line.” The soldier went to the end of the line but then returned to the Sergeant. Sergeant: “Why didn’t you follow my orders?” Soldier: “I tried, Sir, but someone was already standing there.” Student: “Guru, when a research team says ‘Developed after years of intensive research,’ what does that mean?” Guru: “It was discovered by accident.” What’s the difference between a Reindeer and a Knight? One slays a dragon, the other drags a sleigh.

102

December 2023

WordFind

Math Magic Fill in the empty squares to get = the final given answers. Use any number from 1 to 9 (except 7) 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 104)

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

EZ-BZ

Subject: Bhagawad Gita ARJUNA

TEST YOUR IQ The common letters are “CY” - Fill in the blanks)

MAHABHARATA

CHARIOTS

MAYA

DIALOGUE

PANDAVAS

DUTIES

REMEDY

GITA

SANJAYA

GOD

SANSKRIT

HOLY

SELFRESTRAIN

KALIYUGA

SOUL

KARMA

SUPREME

KAURAVAS

WAR

KNOWLEDGE

WORSHIP

KRISHNA

YOGA

KURUKSHETRA

The unused 6 letters spell (Sanskrit word) meaning ”Devotion.” (answer on page 104)

1. The barrel of a pump. CY _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. A paddle driven, two wheeler bike. _ _ CY _ _ _ 3. A written contract of insurance. _ _ _ _ CY 4. A radical, RCO, derived from an organic acid. _ CY _ 5. An egg before maturation. (Embryology). _ _ CY _ _ 6. A tropical tree resembling thick-stemmed palm with crowns of leathery fernlike leaves. CY _ _ _ 7. Precision; exactness. _ _ _ _ _ _ CY 8. To enclose in a capsule or sac. _ _ CY _ _ 9. Catholic Youth Organization. (*) CY _ 10. Whimsical imagination; illusion. _ _ _ CY 11. A long cutting tool with a long curved blade. _ CY _ _ _ 12. An empty space. _ _ _ _ _ CY 13. A greenish blue color. CY _ _ 14. A drug store. _ _ _ _ _ _ CY 15. A disposition to forgive, pity or be kind. _ _ _ CY 16. A cup-shaped part as in some flowers. _ CY _ _ _ _ 17. The money in circulation of a country. _ _ _ _ _ _ CY 18. A circular, brass plate used as a percussion. CY _ _ _ _ 19. Proper behavior, modesty, courtesy etc. _ _ _ _ _ CY 20. Succulent; full of liquid part of fruits. _ _ _ CY 21. Tornado or hurricane. CY _ _ _ _ _ 22. Take Care of Yourself. (*) _ CY 23. For general circulation. _ _ CY _ _ _ _ _ _ 24. Having a delicate open pattern. _ _ CY 25. Symbol zero. (British spelling) CY _ _ _ _

(Puzzle solutions are on page 104. NO peeking!) Saathee Puzzle Master

Kirit Shukla kiritsshukla@gmail.com Saathee.com

103

December 2023

Festivals & Holidays - Puzzle Solutions Spot the Diﬀerences Solutions from page 56/57

DECEMBER 2023 Dec. 1 - World AIDS Day

1. Added an airplane.

Dec. 5 - World Soil Day

2. Removed one scooter.

Dec. 6 - St. Nicholas Day

3. Changed the color of the bus.

Dec. 7 - Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

4. Removed the clock on the tower.

Dec. 8 - Bodhi Day

5. Removed a window n the building.

Dec. 8 - Hanukkah Begins

6. Placed a bird in the tree.

Dec. 8 - Uttapana Ekadashi

7. Added a dog on the sidewalk.

Dec. 12 - Darsh Amas (No Moon)

8. Removed streetlights.

Dec. 15 - Hanukkah Ends

9. Added a person standing.

Dec. 21 - Yule / Winter Solstice

10. Added a flying bird.

Dec. 22 - Gita Jayanti / Moksha Ekadashi

11. One part of handrails removed.

Dec. 22 - Asarah B'Tevet

12. Removed poster.

Dec. 23 - Festivus

13. Part of building removed.

Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve

14. Road divider removed.

Dec. 25 - Christmas Day

15. Car removed.

Dec. 26 - Guru Purnima (Full Moon) Dec. 26 - Sri Dattatreya Jayanti Dec. 26 - Kwanzaa Begins Dec. 27 - Sabarimala Mandala Puja Dec. 31 - New Year's Eve (2023 Ends)

Puzzle Solutions from page 102-103

Key Word Search Answers from page 100 Sun Arizona Apple Night Ten Key Word of the Month: SANTA

Math Magic from page 103

Saathee.com

104

December 2023

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105

December 2023

Astroscope

DECEMBER 2023

Aries (March 21 – April 20)

Libra (September 22 – October 20)

Now is when plans regarding property investments will materialize. You should be successful due to your attention to detail. Friends and family will offer whatever assistance you need. Opponents dare not face you. Avoid getting involved in a love affair. Students should see unexpectedly positive results. Try to control what you say due to egoistical thoughts. Unforeseen expenses are also possible this month.

This is a very positive time for a long-distance journey. You may enjoy work-related travel as well as earn 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. Political support and family background may offer some social leverage. Your conﬁdence will be on par and help in tackling a busy schedule. Spend some money and enjoy life.

Taurus (April 21 – May 20)

Scorpio (October 21 – November 20)

After a positive start, you will experience a minor setback this month. This could cause you to lose conﬁdence and make bad decisions, so try to maintain an easy temperament and stay focused on work. This is a good time to invest in real estate. A strong para-psychic experience may bring a drastic change to your friend circle and relations with associates.

If you can control your expenses, you should experience good luck and success this month. Income should be on the rise, though you may need to work extended hours to accomplish this. You could feel much more spiritual this month. A great life changing opportunity may possibly come your way, so be sure to accept it. You should be able to defeat your enemies. Work as a team with your friends. Be careful while driving.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Sagittarius (November 21 – December 21)

Try to be practical this month. Even though your income could rise, unexpected health problems or disputes with your partner could occur. Speculation can be beneﬁcial for you. Others will appreciate your written work, and you may even develop an interest in philosophy or metaphysics. Businessrelated travel may not bring good results. Remain careful while driving.

Work on a long-term family project sincerely and enjoy great rewards. A very happy family life is clearly indicated. Your income and status will both rise. This is also a good time for taking risks and possibly start a new venture. Try to stay away from distractions and focus on your work. Avoid the stock market during the middle of the month. Also avoid travel and instead spend time with friends. Enjoy good health.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

Capricorn (December 22 – January 21)

Be watchful of your thoughts this month. It is better to concentrate on family and enjoying your social life. A longterm career related decision might occur this month. If working, chances for a promotion are there. In either case, there should be a rise in income. This is also a good time for students. Be aware of surreptitious enemies as they could ruin your plans and take away happiness. Try to be more analytical and avoid taking risks.

You will experience a very hectic schedule this month, and in return you will receive just enough to survive. You may waste energy on useless pursuits or take on too many projects. Try to slow down and remain focused on work. Remember to control expenses and avoid any major investments. If you stick to your morals, you shouldn’t have any problems at all. You may also enjoy spiritual power this month.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Aquarius (January 22 – February 18)

This is going to be a very active this month. It will lead you to success. Destiny should favour you in almost all ﬁelds of life. Enjoy time with your friends, particularly the young and energetic. However, you should drive carefully during ﬁrst week of the month. A misunderstanding with loved ones may cause serious problems in your social life. Unexpected rise in income and social status is also possible this month. It is time to spend money and party.

This will be a very busy yet successful month for you. Luck may favor you in almost all ﬁelds of life except health and your relationship with your partner. Time is very positive for students and young generation. You should be very careful in driving to avoid any accident during ﬁrst week of the month. Misunderstanding with your partner may cause serious problems in your relationship. Unexpected rise in income will delight you.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Virgo (August 23 – September 21)

A very important move could be delayed. You will lose very important opportunity as a huge mistake could place you in hot water. Financial loss is unavoidable, however, if you protect your morals and avoid risk, your regular income should remain undisturbed. A sense of insecurity will prevail, and you may seek some kind of spiritual help to overcome it.

To enjoy success and a happy romantic life, be sure to listen to your partner this month. Your schedule may be very busy, and income will rise as a result. Don’t forget to share wealth with others. You could also enjoy an advantage amongst your peers, so try to take every possible opportunity to exploit it. Also don’t hesitate to spend on luxury items. However, don’t forget to take some rest and keep an eye on your health. Saathee.com

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Seeking Gujarati speaking Babysitter Place Mall. Full-time or part-time for 3 month-old in Indian Trail/ available. Hourly pay plus tips. Waxhaw, NC area. Live-in or Live-out. Call Hashim 202-213-5227. Monday-Thursday, 8am-5pm & Caregiver Wanted to assist elderly Friday, 8am-1pm. Also some cooking if parents. Located in Pawleys Island, SC Front Desk Clerk Wanted at franchise near the Myrtle Beach area. Please time permits. Contact 860-416-5462. hotel in Fort Mill, SC (near Carowinds). Gas Station / C-store Help Needed at contact slallahome@gmail.com. Must have legal status, fluent English, stores near Huntersville & Northlake Looking for GMs to operate franchise and basic computer skills. Email areas. Must speak English. Family friendly motels in Richburg, SC. Legal status & bwhospitality78@gmail.com. fluent English required. oriented people. Call 704-402-4661. Liquor Store Help Needed in Fort Accommodations provided. Call 864Manager Couple Needed for franchise Mill/Indian Land, SC. Full or Part-time. hotel in Fort Mill, SC. Hotel experience, 694-6299 and leave message. Legal status required. 9am-7pm shift basic computer skills and legal status a For Immediate Hire: Accounting (Mon-Sat). Good pay! Call or Text 732must. Accommodations provided. manager (must have experience). Hotel 666-3490 or email p2ws@outlook.com. GMs - Wyndham, Choice, and Hilton Email bwhospitality78@gmail.com. Sales & Marketing person wanted Job Opportunities in Dallas and brands (must have experience). Front with college degree in related field for Tampa for Goldsmiths and Diamond Desk (multiple locations). Pay rates manufacturing company. Must be fluent Repair Specialists at Malani Jewelers. higher than the competition. Contact in communication , familiar with MS office Please call 404-298-7811 or email 704-649-6833 or abcone@abcinns.com & computers, possess great personality & Front Desk Manager Wanted for be able to work in team environment. info@malanijewelers.com for details. 3 full-time Positions Available at Gas franchise hotel in Columbia, SC. Willing to sponsor if candidate is suitable Station in Charlotte, NC. Good pay Accommodations provided. Fluent to requirements. Contact Raj 336-558English required. Text / call 704-701-9975. 3410 or rajm@amerifabintl.com. rate. Call 704-299-8535. Saathee.com

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Seeking professional Christian groom for 27 year-old girl. Malayalee Syro-Malabar Catholic, 5.2" tall, slim & beautiful. Electrical Engineer with Masters in Renewable Energy and Power Systems. Born and raised in South Africa, working for UK MNC based in Johannesburg. She will be visiting Charlotte in January. Can relocate after marriage. Contact jpxavier@yahoo.com

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 or 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.

Looking for Bride for Los Angeles based, India born intellectual, human rights activist, vegetarian, YouTuber, and writer. Secular so religion is not an issue. Leg a little weak due auto accident. Prefer a slim, fair lady around 60. No fun being alone! Contact jimmyahmed44@gmail.com. US born physician seeks bride. 39 years-old, 5'6", Sikh (clean shaven). Never married, from a well-educated and settled family. Contact 410-6520286 or gbmatt135@yahoo.com. Looking for a life partner? Saathee can help you reach hundreds of potential matches. Cost is only $15 per month. Which includes matrimonial classified in Saathee Magazine print edition and on Saathee.com. Get great advertising results. For details, call 704-527-7570 or email saathee@saathee.com.

Affordable Wedding Photography: 20 years of experience in Indian wedding photography. Specializing in film & digital photos. Engagement, Wedding, and Receptions. Contact Vivek at 347321-4746 or email: vivekweddingmemories@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. Tabla Lessons for all age groups. In person or online from professional tabla player, Ryan Shah. Call 803-348-7294. Neeta's Beauty Parlor: Open 7 days a week. Full service. Located near the Hindu Center of Charlotte. Call 704968-0270 for an appointment.

Financial Planner: Generate taxadvantaged cash flow with downside protection. Protect your assets with estate planning and insurance. Call Vijay Machiraju at 984-664-1864 for a free 1-hour discussion. Priest: Ganesh, Shiv, Lakshmi, Randal, Paduka Pujans; Wedding, Baby shower, Housewarming, Satyanaryan Katha, Mundan & Yagnopavit; Navchandi, Tarpan, Garud Puran, Havans, etc. Online puja also available. Call Rajendra Bhatt 732-841-7832. Pari Beauty in Matthews: Threading, Waxing, Facials, Massage for newborn & mom & other services. 33 years of experience. Special Deals & Great Service. email: gescpl@gmail.com or call: 704-846-7912. Gujarati Priest in NC & SC for Ganesh, Randal, Laxmi, Sharda Pujan, Satyanarayan Katha, Wedding, Vastu, Baby Shower, Hawan, Grah Shanti. Kishor Trivedi: 336-774-0597 Cell: 336486-7925 E-Mail: kishor7@juno.com.

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E-NEWSLETTER Reach thousands of registered readers. Plus ask about Saathee’s

Social Media Campaign! December 2023

Fake Videos

continued from page 30

The good news is that you can avoid being taken in by these ruses – not by examining the evidence closely, which is liable to mislead you, but by waiting until trusted sources verify what you’re looking at. This is often hard to do, however. Most people are ill-equipped to detect this kind of trickery. Research that we review in our new book, Verified: How to Think Straight, Get Duped Less, and Make Better Decisions about What to Believe Online, shows that almost everyone falls for it. In the largest survey of its kind, 3,446 high school students evaluated a video on social media that purported to show election fraud in the 2016 Democratic primary. Students could view the whole video, part of it, or leave the footage to search the internet for information about it. Typing a few keywords into their browsers would have led students to articles from Snopes and the BBC debunking the video. Only three students – less than one-tenth of 1 percent – located the true source of the video, which had, in fact, been shot in Russia.

Patience is a powerful tool Social media reports of “late-breaking news” are not likely to be reporting at all, but they are often pushed by rage merchants wrapping an interpretation around a YouTube video accompanied by lightning bolt emojis and strings of exclamation points. Reliable reporters need time to establish what happened. Rage merchants don’t. The con artist and the propagandist feed on impatience. Your greatest information literacy superpower is learning to wait. If there are legs to the video, rest assured you’re not the only one viewing it. There are many people, some of whom have mastered advanced techniques of video analysis, who are likely already analyzing it and trying to get to the bottom of it. You won’t have to wait long to learn what they’ve found.

Article courtesy of theconversation.com Sam Wineburg is Professor of Education and (by courtesy) History, Stanford University Michael Caulfield is Research Scientist, Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington

Your lying eyes Why were students so consistently duped? The problem we’ve found is that many people, young and old alike, think they can look at something online and tell what it is. You don’t realize how easily your eyes can be deceived – especially by footage that triggers your emotions. When an incendiary video dodges your prefrontal cortex and lands in your solar plexus, the first impulse is to share your outrage with others. What’s a better course of action? You might assume that it is to ask whether the clip is true or false. But a diﬀerent question – rather, a set of related questions – is a better starting place.

Spot the Differences Holiday Bonus Solution from page 82

• Do you really know what you’re looking at? • Can you really tell whether the footage is from atrocities committed by Russian forces in the Donbas just because the headline blares it and you’re sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause?

• Is the person who posted the footage an established reporter, someone who risks their status and prestige if it turns out to be fake, or some random person?

• Is there a link to a longer video – the shorter the clip, the more you should be wary – or does it claim to speak for itself, even though the headline and caption leave little room for how to connect the dots? These questions require no advanced knowledge of video forensics. They require you only to be honest with yourself. Your inability to answer these questions should be enough to make you realize that, no, you don’t really know what you’re looking at.

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1. Removed woman’s hand 2. Changed some colors 3. Removed hanging necklaces 4. Removed carved boxes on table 5. Removed newspaper on left side 6. Added a squirrel on steps 7. Added a lizard on the table leg 8. Added a sticker on the metal pole 9. Added a watch 10. Changed necklace color 11. Removed box on color powder 12. Removed wood 13 Added pooja lamp 14. Added Buddha statue 15. Removed the cloth December 2023

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Advertisers Index for Charlotte, South Carolina & Atlanta Region Aag Ki Raat......................................................97 AmeriFab International .....................................37 Anand, Versha (Real Estate) ...............................87 Bala Sure (Broker / Realtor, NC & SC)................33 BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Charlotte) 16-17 Bashyam Global LLP - Immigration Law Group114 Bhindi Jewelers .................................................2 Biden for President..............................................3 Blooming Buds ...............................................113 Blooming Smiles Pediatric Dentistry...................75 Blumenthal Performing Arts (Events)....................6 Bombay Grille (Charlotte)..................................89 Brijal Shah (Keller Williams - Real Estate) ...........69 British International School of Charlotte ..............9 Brown Immigration Law (Rishi Oza, Partner)......91 Calvary Church ................................................10 Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center.......................67 Carolina Holiday Light Spectacular .....................7 Carolina Law Group .........................................32 Carolina Medical Partners..................................81 Carolinas Christian Assembly .............................21 Carolinas Pediatrics (Uma Periyanayagam, MD, FAAP)75 CaroMont Medical Group (Bankim Patel MD) ....69 Charlotte Chess Center ......................................11 Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat .......................60 Chess Klub (Klub Ventures) ................................59 Chiro-Carolina .............................................87 Classifieds..............................................108 & 109 Color Master Collision Center.............................65 Concha, David (Immigration Attorney) ...............97 Concord Children's Clinic .................................73 Copper Restaurant (Charlotte) ...........................27 County South Realty & Business Brokers............111 Countywide Commercial (Pavement Solutions) ....45 Desai & Mehta CPAs PLLC ...............................39 DJ Lalit (Lalit Hemnani) ...................................53 Dosa n' More (Fort Mill, SC)..............................63 Eesha Realty, LLC........................................ 54-55 Elite Motors .....................................................25 Fairview Home Mortgage ................................105 Four Points by Sheraton (Myrtle Beach) ..............48 Ganamrutha Academy (School of Music).............97 Geological Resources, Inc. ..................................53 Global Mall / Legacy Jewels .............................115 H2 Laser & Skin................................................71 Harish Bhasin (Independent Insurance Agent) ......69 Health Markets (Medicare, Health, Life, Supplemental)101

Hindu Center of Charlotte (Events)............... 76-79 Hitch Hiker's Guide to College............................75 Hitesh Rathod (Real Estate) ...............................67 HX Imports (Smoke Shops, C-Store, Vape Shops)...4 IndusTreks .......................................................43 Insurance - Tushar Barot, Supreme Insurance Serv..105 Insurance Shopping (Sonal Patel - Independent Agent)39 International Community Church .......................93 JVC Realty (Balaji Tatineni Realtor / Broker) .......31 Kaur, Karamjit (New York Life Insurance)...........85 KB Zaveree (Atlanta) .........................................19 Khanna & Sons Jewelers.....................................13 Lead Designs LLC.............................................37 Maadhurya Photography ...................................51 Maharani Indian Cuisine (Charlotte)...................61 Malak Jewelers ..................................................35 Malani Jewelers ...............................................116 Malaya Kitchen.................................................65 Mathur, Gitanjali (Allen Tate Realtors)................23 Maxim Tours .....................................................37 Meenakshi Creations LLC ..................................33 Saathee.com

Meghana (The Vedic Power Astrologer)..............107 Mehta & McConnell, PLLC (Injury Lawyers).......38 Mint MedSpa & Laser Studio..............................81 Neeta's Beauty Parlor ........................................73 North American Bancard ..................................15 NSD Tax & Accounting Services ..........................51 One 2 Entertainment .........................................41 Osian Softcon ...................................................45 Patel & Samatova, Law ......................................41 Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices) ............................113 Patel, Tony (Real Estate).....................................61 Pathak, Atul (Real Estate) ..................................47 Persis Indian Grill (Fort Mill, SC).......................63 Pramukh Mandapam.........................................47 Queen City Smiles (Dr. Kanupriya Tewari) ...........73 Queens University - Dan Buettner Event 2.27.24 ..49 Ram Mortgage & Realty (Mayank Patel) .............41 Ryan Shah (Tabla Lessons)..................................23 Saathee.com......................................................99 Saffron Restaurant and Catering.........................21 Shah & Associates, CPA, PLLC ...........................49 Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC...............................111 Shah, Anish (Real Estate) ............................. 94-95 Sheraton Chapel Hill (ATMA Hotel Group).........29 Shukla, Kirit (Music Lession & Band)..................49 Sona Realty (Venkat Suryadevara).......................26 SP Orthodontics (Matthews) ..............................71 Technone LLC (Securtiy Systems)........................53 The Blue Taj......................................................27 Travel Passion ...................................................49 Union Family Eye Associates (Dr. Keshav Bhat) ....67 Uniworld Travel.................................................51 Uthsaav (Wedding Planners) ................................5 VAS Realty LLC (Ashwani Dalal)............. 39 & 113 Vema Mortgage LLC (Chirag Rachhadia) ... 23 & 65 Vimal Realty (Vimal Patel - Realtor) ..................83 VP Insurance Consultant....................................45 Worldwide Travels............................................105

Index for Raleigh (Triangle), Greensboro (Triad) & Virginia Allstate (Krish Parlikad)....................................31 AmeriFab International .....................................37 Apna Bazar (Morrisville)....................................60 Aura Skin & Laser (Dipan Patel).........................17 Bashyam Global LLP - Immigration Law Group114 Bharath Bazar and Café (Cary) ...........................32 Bhat & Associates (General Dentistry)..................11 Bhindi Jewelers .................................................2 Biden for President..............................................3 Blooming Buds ...............................................113 Bombay Central (Grocery & Take Out Food)........16 Brown Immigration Law (Rishi Oza, Partner)......91 Cary Internal Medicine & Diabetes Center, PA......73 Cary Medical Clinic ...........................................61 Chandni's Beauty Salon .....................................75 Charlotte Chess Center ......................................85 Club-Z! (In-Home Tutoring) ...............................83 Corner Stone Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine .....65 County South Realty & Business Brokers............111 Crescent Dental (Dr. Kavita Ghai).......................75 Darji, Iyer, Joshi & Patel (Accounting &Tax Services).63 Desai & Mehta CPA's, LLC.................................39 DJ Lalit (Lalit Hemnani) ...................................53 Eesha Realty, LLC........................................ 54-55 Elite Motors .....................................................25 Fairview Home Mortgage ................................105 Four Points by Sheraton (Myrtle Beach) ..............48 Ganamrutha Academy (School of Music).............97 Geological Resources, Inc. ..................................53 Global Mall / Legacy Jewels .............................115 Grand India Mart (Groceries).............................26 112

Harish Bhasin - Insurance...................................81 Health Markets (Medicare, Health, Life, Supplemental)101 Hitch Hiker's Guide to College............................73 Honest Indian Vegetarian Restaurant...................21 HX Imports (Smoke Shops, C-Store, Vape Shops)...4 Inchin's Bamboo Garden ....................................65 IndusTreks .......................................................43 Insurance - Tushar Barot, Supreme Insurance Serv. .105 Insurance Shopping (Sonal Patel - Independent Agent).39 International Community Church .......................10 KB Zaveree (Atlanta) .........................................19 KDP CPA.........................................................17 Khanna & Sons Jewelers.....................................13 Lead Designs LLC.............................................37 Liberty Real Estate & Mortgage (Sunny Sebastian)67 Maadhurya Photography ...................................51 Malak Jewelers ..................................................35 Malani Jewelers ...............................................116 Marriott Raleigh Crabtree Valley ..........................6 Maxim Tours .....................................................37 Meghana (The Vedic Power Astrologer)..............107 Mehta & McConnell, PLLC (Injury Lawyers).......38 NC Dermatology Associates................................87 North American Bancard ..................................15 NSD Tax & Accounting Services ..........................51 Nunna Realty (Shiva Nunna)..............................23 Oh' Calcutta (Restaurant Winston Salem) ..............9 One 2 Entertainment .........................................41 Osian Softcon ...................................................45 PandyaNad Indian Restaurant (Raleigh) ...............7 Patel & Samatova, Law ......................................41 Patel Brothers (Cary).........................................93 Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices) ............................113 Pathak, Atul (Real Estate) ..................................47 Pramukh Mandapam.........................................47 PreJuve Medspa & Wellness (Neelu Agarwal MD)..61 Prism Lending (Madan Khatri) ..........................59 Queens University - Dan Buettner Event 2.27.24 ..49 Rajeev Devgon, CPA .........................................33 Ram Mortgage & Realty (Mayank Patel) .............41 RB Realty Group (Ravi Bheemarao)....................77 Real Triangle Properties (Joe Mathews)................79 Rupa's Spa & Threading .....................................31 Saathee.com......................................................99 Sapna Hemnani (Real Estate)..............................89 Satyam Primary Care (Amit Sharma, MD) ..........79 Shah & Associates, CPA, PLLC ...........................49 Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC...............................111 Shah, Anish (Real Estate) ............................. 94-95 Shamim Beauty .................................................23 Sheraton Chapel Hill (ATMA Hotel Group).........29 Shukla, Kirit (Music Lession & Band)..................49 Singh, Manny (Real Estate) ................................27 Sizzlin Stirfry Asian Bistro (Raleigh) .....................7 Smile Forever Family Dentistry (Dr. Narender Dudee) .63 Sona Realty (Venkat Suryadevara).......................71 Spectrum Family Medicine (Sujatha Sajeevan, MD)..33 Spices Hut ........................................................71 Stylish Me.........................................................11 Taaza Fresh Indian Bistro...................................59 Technone LLC (Securtiy Systems)........................53 The Montessori School of Raleigh ......................89 Travel Passion ...................................................49 Tutoring (Nirmala Koripella - A+ Tutoring) ........76 Uniworld Travel.................................................51 Uthsaav (Wedding Planners) ................................5 VAS Realty LLC (Ashwani Dalal)............. 39 & 113 Vema Mortgage LLC (Vipul Hapani).......... 33 & 73 Vimal Realty (Vimal Patel - Realtor) ..................69 VP Insurance Consultant....................................45 Wake Spine & Pain ............................................27 West Cary Medicine (Dr. Kareem M.D.) ...............59 Worldwide Travels............................................105 December 2023

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