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Vol. 28 No. 48 Friday, November 27, 2015 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: voiceasia@aol.com
Hollande and Obama vow unity against IS, appeal to Russia Iraq.
by Jerome Cartillier with Eric Randolph in Paris
At a joint press conference, Obama pledged America’s full solidarity in the wake of the November 13 carnage, switching into Hollande’s language to tell him, “We are all French.”
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ASHINGTON, AFP | 11/24/2015 - France and the United States pledged Tuesday to step up the fight against the Islamic State group, urging Russia to throw its weight behind global efforts to resolve the four-year Syrian conflict.
Washington and Paris have both stepped up their fight against IS in Syria, with France launching its first strikes from the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean and the US calling for more international cooperation against the jihadists.
President Francois Hollande met his US counterpart Barack Obama at the White House as Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane dealt a severe blow to efforts to coordinate the fight against IS. Speaking 11 days after jihadists killed 130 people in the French capital, Hollande urged an “implacable” joint response to crush the group in Syria and
US President Barack Obama (R) and his French counterpart Francois Hollande hold a press conference at the White House in Washington, DC on November 24, 2015 (AFP Photo/Nicholas Kamm)
While announcing no specific new action, Hollande said he and Obama agreed to “scale up our strikes both in Syria and in Iraq to broaden our scope to strengthen our intelligence sharing regarding the targets.”
Both leaders said they would boost support for forces battling IS on the ground -- while continuing to rule out any ground campaign. “France will not intervene militarily on the ground,” Hollande said. Illustrating the leaders’ message on tighter cooperation, France said its warplanes had hit an IS command center near its key western Iraqi stronghold of Mosul, in a strike led with the US Air Force. - Influence on Assad -The talks in Washington came as Turkey’s downing of a Russian warplane at the Syrian border threatened to dramatically fan tensions in the volatile region. Continued on page 10
Diwali Celebrated with fun and festivity at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Stafford,TX
The elaborate Annakut arrangement with numerous varieties of food items prepared and offered by devotees at the BAPS temple in Stafford, Texas. Hundreds of devotees attended the Diwali and celebrations at the temple. Read complete report on Page 8.
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by Becky Little hen the Mayflower pilgrims and the Wampanoag sat down for the first Thanksgiving in 1621, it wasn’t actually that big of a deal. Likely, it was just a routine English harvest celebration. More significant— and less remembered—was the peace treaty that the parities established seven months earlier, which lasted for 50 years.
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FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
A Few Things You (Probably) Don’t Know About Thanksgiving The pilgrims stole from graves, the Wampanoag were devastated by disease, and the peace between them was political.
“There’s in fact very little historical record of the first Thanksgiving, which is why Thanksgiving wasn’t really celebrated as a holiday until the 19th century,â€? says Charles C. Mann, author of 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus. “To historians, it seems kind of funny that the celebration ‌ now seems more important than the treaty itself.â€? President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday during the Civil War, and the feast has since become an American tradition. Yet the story of the Wampanoag and the pilgrims who first broke bread is not commonly known. (Learn about National Geographic Channel’s new drama about their story.) 1. It wasn’t actually a “Thanksgiving.â€? In 1841, Boston publisher Alexander Young printed a book containing a letter by pilgrim Edward Winslow, which described the feast: “[O]ur harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a more special manner rejoice together ‌ [There were] many of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King Massasoit,
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An engraving depicts the Mayflower pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620. In reality, the pilgrims never wrote of any such rock. The first written mention of Plymouth Rock was in 1835. KEAN COLLECTION, GETTY IMAGES with some ninety men, whom for three days we entertained and feasted.� Among 17th-century pilgrims, a “Thanksgiving� was actually a period of prayerful fasting, and Winslow did not use the word anywhere in his letter. But when Young published the letter, he called it the “first Thanksgiving� in a footnote, and the name stuck. (Read what the Wampanoag and pilgrims ate at their feast.) 2. A year before the first Thanksgiving, the pilgrims raided Native American
3. The pilgrims could only settle at Plymouth because thousands of Native Americans, including many Wampanoag, had been killed by disease.
saries, the Narragansett.�
If the pilgrims had arrived in Cape Cod three years earlier, they might not have found those abandoned graves and storehouses ‌ in fact, they might not have had space to land.
Ann McMullen, curator at the National Museum of the American Indian, says that the Wampanoag weren’t necessarily looking to make alliances against the Narragansett; but “because the Wampanoag were in a slightly weakened position,� they realized that an alliance with the pilgrims “could fortify their strength.�
Europeans who sailed to New England in the early to mid-1610s found flourishing communities along the coast, and little room for themselves
The Europeans were valuable trading partners for the Wampanoag and other Native Americans in the area because they traded steel knives
to settle. But by 1620, when the Mayflower arrived, the area looked abandoned.
and axes for beaver pelts— something that, in the beaverrich New England area, the Wampanoag considered essentially worthless.
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graves. When the pilgrims arrived in Cape Cod, they were incredibly unprepared. “They were under the persistent belief that because New England is south of the Netherlands and southern England, it would therefore be warmer,� says Mann. “Then they showed up six weeks before winter with practically no food.� In a desperate state, the pilgrims robbed corn from Native Americans graves and storehouses soon after they arrived; but because of their overall lack of preparation, half of them still died within their first year. To learn how to farm sustainably, they eventually required help from Tisquantum, an English-speaking Native American who had been staying with the Wampanoag.
“A couple of years before, there’d been an epidemic that wiped out most of the coastal population of New England, and Plymouth was on top of a village that had been deserted by disease,� says Mann. “The pilgrims didn’t know it, but they were moving into a cemetery,� he adds. 4. The peace that led to the first Thanksgiving was driven by trade and tribal rivalries. Before the Wampanoag suffered losses from disease, they had driven Europeans like John Smith away. “Now,� says Mann, “the Wampanoag [were] much weaker because of the disease, and they’re much weaker than their hated adver-
“It’s a little like somebody comes to your door, and says I’ll give you gold if you give me a rock,� Mann says. “The Wampanoag thought: if we tie ourselves to these guys, everybody else will be hesitant to attack us, because they could drive away these people who are willing to pay gold for rocks.� Saints & Strangers, from National Geographic and Sony Pictures, airs Sunday and Monday November 22 and 23 at 9 p.m. ET on the National Geographic Channel. Source: National Geographic, Published, November 21, 2015
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JVB Preksha Meditation Center Udupi Puttige Matha Opens welcomes its new BoDs and EC A New Temple “Sri Krishna
Vrundavana” In Sugar Land
Elevation of the new temple.
H
Samani Parimal Pragyaji & Samani Maryada Pragyaji with Board Members & New Executive Committee. by Seema Jain
“Strong faith towards honesty and it’s practice, where it not only benefits one’s soul, but also creates a healthy society.” Acharya Shri Mahashramanji.
J
VB Preksha Meditation Center honored its outgoing Executive Committee and welcomed the new President Seema Jain and the Executive Committee on Sunday, Nov.15th under the auspicious presence and guidance of Samani Parimal Pragyaji & Samani Maryada Pragyaji (Disciples of Acharya Shri Mahashraman). JVB Chairman Shri Swatantra Jain, Board of Directors Shri Alok Jain, Shri Jugal Malani, Shri Raman Patel, outgoing and incoming Committee members and devoted JVB patrons were in attendance to grace the occasion. Following Samani Parimal Pragya Ji’s Sunday pravachan on “Ego”, as a part of a series describing and characterizing 18 sins and their impact on our daily lives, it was time to recognize and appreciate JVB’s outgoing Executive Committee (EC). EC members are volunteers who dedicated their time, talent and services over the past 2 years to ensure that JVB Preksha Meditation Center continues to serve the Houston community through a variety of its program offerings from Gyanshala for children, spiritual discourses, Yoga and Meditation for the adults to an i-Choose program for the young professionals. Addressing the attendees Alok Jain explained the three things that make JVB unique from all the other faith based Indian Organizations in Houston: 1) JVB ‘s Vision, 2) Presence of Revered Samanijis and 3) JVB’s approach. He said: “Our Vision is Comprehend the Soul & Transform yourself. SamaniJis help us in un-
derstanding its meaning and how we can incorporate it in our daily lives, through impactful, and yet to easy to understand discourses, Preksha Meditation Workshops, and Camps. What better inspiration and motivation can there be, than to see SamaniJis live their personal lives by the very principles they teach? Lastly, as a small organization our approach is to treat all the members as a part of a family where they are encouraged to stay involved in helping the organization even after their term as an officer of the organization comes to an end”. The Chairman and members of the Board honored key members of the outgoing EC by reminding the attendees about their special contributions and presenting them with a Plaque, honoring their contributions. The Chairman also honored Mr. Sampat Rampuria, in absentia, for his dedicated services to the organization as a member of the Board of Directors and welcomed Mr. Pramod Bengani as a new member of the Board, replacing Mr. Rampuria. The Board offered special thanks to Mr. Nikhil Jain, outgoing President, for his notable contributions, his leadership, and passion for Excellence. In offering her blessings to the new
Executive Committee, Samani Parimal Pragya ji took a few moments to recollect the significant contributions made by each member of the Board, JVB’s past presidents, outgoing President Nikhil Jain, the new Board member Pramod Bengani, and then asked the new president Seema Jain to announce the new members of the Executive Committee. In her speech, Seema acknowledged the dedicated and passionate approach of the outgoing president and vowed to carry the lagacy forward with her new Mantra of “ Sab ka Saath,Center ka Vikas.” She announced the names and welcomed the new Executive Committee for year 2015-2016. The new members of the committee took the oath and the ceremony ended with the Mangal Path (prayer for peace) by Samanijis. JVB Preksha Meditation Center envisions a blissful and peaceful society through Preksha Meditation, Yoga and Education of Non-violence. It conducts weekly Mediation, Yoga and Swadhyay sessions and runs special events and programs like iChoose & Meditation Camps. Its open to all and every session or event is free of charge to its attendees. For more information please visit www.jvbhouston.org
culture in this part of the world.
The permanent location of the temple is on a sprawling 2.4 acres land. The temple will be situated in the large building of about 9000 square feet that already exists at the facility. The temple will include among other things, a puja hall, and a multi-purpose community hall with occupancy of about 450 people.
• To those seeking enlightenment and inner meaning of life the Vrundavana will provide the opportunities to learn from our scriptures.
The presiding deity in the Vrundavana will be Udipi Sri Krishna. In line with Hari sarvottamatva - Vayu, the Vrundavana will also worship Mukhyapraana, a deity in the form of Sri Hanuman. Many of the devotees of Sri Raghavendra swami will be delighted to know that the “mruthika brindavana” will be worshiped at the temple. Daily puja will be offered to the above deities in the udipi sampradaya with recital of Veda mantras followed by annadhana. The head priest at Vrindavana will be Raghurama Bhatt
Krishna Vrundavana will start in its new location on Monday, November 23, 2015 with a grand ceremony of “Praveshotsava”. The planned pujas for that day are:
Vrundavana will benefit numerous communities, and their future generations by spreading the message of Lord Sri Krishna and strengthening the customs and traditions of our great
• To the younger generations it will provide an opportunity to experience our rich cultural, traditional and religious roots. • To the devotees of Sri Raghavendra swami, this will be the only temple in about a 1500 miles radius, where they can have the darshan of His Vrundavana, and worship Him.
Those who live far and away, and seeking to perform rituals and sevas, the Vrundavana offers services of its learned priests who have undergone formal training in Udipi.
4:30 AM to 6:30 AM – Vaastu puja, Dhaathri Havana, Utthaana Dwadashi puja 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM – Ksheeraabdhi, Tulasi Kalyana, Cradle Puja, Tulasi Puja, Tulasi Sankeerthana, Aashirvachana. The Temple management, on behalf of Sri Sri Suguneendra Theertha Swamiji extends the invitation for everyone to attend the “Praveshotsavam” and on a regular basis.
Journey to Bethlehem SUGAR LAND—(November 15, 2015) — Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital would like to cordially invite the Fort Bend and surrounding communities to join us as we usher in the Christmas Advent Season. Through a series of worship events, we will tell the story of the coming of the Christ child. Please join us on the following days for scripture readings, music and devotional thoughts from hospital staff, physicians and members of the community. •
Monday, December 7 - “The Gift of Preparation and Anticipation” (Coming of John the Baptist)
•
Tuesday, December 8 - “The Gift of Fulfillment” (Mary’s Story)
•
Wednesday, December 9 - “The Gift of Obedience” (Joseph’s Challenge)
•
Thursday, December 10 - “The Gift of the Savior’s Birth” (The Birth in Bethlehem)
•
Friday, December 11 - “The Greatest Gift of All” (The Arrival of God’s Son and the Excitement of the Magi)
All productions will be held from noon – 12:40 p.m. in the Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital Sweetwater Pavilion Chapel. For more information about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Journey to Bethlehem, please contact the Spiritual Care Department at 281.274.7164. For more information about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital, please visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland.
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ouston devotees will be blessed with another temple in Sugar Land. The new temple “Sri Krishna Vrundavana” will be located at 10223A, Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77498. Sri Sri Suguneendra Theertha Swamiji of Udupi Sri Puthige Matha will establish the Shri Krishna Vrundavana on November 23, 2015, and the temple will be affiliated with the Udupi Sri Puthige Matha.
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Student loan not “discharged” in bankruptcy Q. I owe a lot of money and can’t seem to ever catch-up with my payments. I am constantly harassed by debt collectors. I have been told that even if I file bankruptcy, I will still owe my student loans. Is this true? They are one of my largest debts. A. As you seem to know, when you file bankruptcy, most of your debts are “discharged.” This means that you no longer have any obligation to pay, and all collection efforts must stop. Not all debts, however, are discharged. Student loans are discharged only if paying them would be an “undue hardship” on the debtor. In most cases, it is very difficult to get a student loan discharged in bankruptcy. I suggest you speak with a consumer bankruptcy attorney to see whether bankruptcy would be a good option for you. Q. I am buying a house from an individual. My promissory note specifically says I can make the mortgage payments in the form or cash, money order or personal check. The seller now says he is afraid of my check bouncing and will accept only cash. I have been paying cash and he often refuses to give me a receipt. If I pay with a personal check he sends it back and is charging me late charges when in fact I was on time What can I do with a seller that will only take cash? A. Based on what you say, my opinion is the seller must accept your personal check. The terms of your agreement are spelled out in the promissory note. Neither party has the right to change a term without the consent of the other. The seller may not change the method of payment simply because he is afraid a check may bounce. I suggest you ask the seller where he has the authority in the note to demand cash. If he cannot point you to a clause allowing this, tell him you expect him to accept your personal check as agreed. I would also demand the return of any late payments based on a timely payment by a check. Q. I was married three years ago. I just learned that at the time of our wedding my husband’s divorce was not final. The divorce did not become final until several months after our wedding. Am I married? A. Based on what you say, you are now married, but you were not married the day of your wedding. A person can have only one spouse, and the person you married already had a spouse. Once the divorce became final, however, he had the legal right to marry—and did. As soon as he was divorced you had a common law marriage. The act of agreeing to be married, living together as married and holding yourselves out as married was sufficient to establish a common law marriage. Q. I was not married at the time my son was born and I am not listed on his birth certificate. I have since married his mother. Can we get a birth certificate to show I am the father? A. If you are the parent of a child and not named on the child’s birth certificate you can change the birth certificate to include your name. There is a form used to change the birth certificate. The form can be processed with both parents providing notarized signatures or one notarized parent signature and a court order stating that the parent being added to the birth certificate is the child’s parent. For a copy of the form go to, www.dshs.state.tx.us/vs/reqproc/amendparentage.shtm Q. I was told that you have a free consumer newsletter. Do you? How do I subscribe? A. You are absolutely correct; I do publish a free consumer newsletter. The Consumer News Alert is distributed by email three times a week. It contains shopping and financing advice, product recalls, information about the law and a daily “Consumer Tip.” There also is an update section just for lawyers. The News Alert is distributed free of charge. To subscribe, simply go to my website listed below.
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Q: My uncle who is a foreign national was detained by the immigration authorities at the airport because they said his tourist visa was tampered with. He cannot speak English and told the authorities in his native language that he was very afraid to return home to his country and wanted to claim for asylum. Please can you explain the process involved? Will they send him back to his country or can he now stay here in the United States? A: Noncitizens who are denied entry upon arrival at the airport or those who are apprehended at the border are normally removed from the United States under what is known as expedited removal. Expedited removal is removal from the United States being given a hearing before an immigration judge. If your uncle has expressed fear of persecution or torture if he returned to his home country then he will be detained and given a credible fear interview before an asylum officer. The credible fear interview will normally take place several weeks after the individual has been detained by ICE (immigration and Customs Enforcement). If your uncle cannot speak English, an interpreter will be provided to translate for him. If is very important that your uncle is well prepared for the credible fear interview. He must give detailed, truthful and consistent testimony about his claim of persecution and or torture and appear credible. The interview will be about his personal and background information, why he is fearful about returning home to his home country and why he feels he will be persecuted or tortured if he returned home. He will be asked if he has ever been harmed or threatened due to his race, religion,
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT ARRIVING ALIEN DETENTION AND CREDIBLE FEAR INTERVIEW nationality, political opinion or because he belongs to a particular social group. The laws on asylum are very specific in that he must demonstrate credible fear of persecution based on one or more of these categories – race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in social group. If his fear of returning home has nothing to do with fearing persecution because of his race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, then most likely he will not be found to have credible fear for asylum. Lastly, he must also be prepared to answer questions about matters that would bar him from benefitting from the asylum laws of our country such as if he has himself persecuted others or committed serious crimes. If the asylum officer finds that your uncle has demonstrated credible fear that he would be persecuted on account of his race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a social group if returned to his home country, then your uncle will be permitted to apply for asylum. He can apply for asylum and given a full evidentiary hearing while being detained at the detention facility or he may request that ICE parole or release him (without bond) from detention and to transfer his immigration case to be heard by the Immigration Judge at the Immigration Court downtown (non-detained docket). If he is paroled and released from detention, he can proceed to apply for work authorization as part of his asylum application, obtain a Social Security Card and also apply for a Driver License. If his asylum application is granted, he will have asylee status. After one year of being granted asylum in the United States, he can apply for permanent residence. On the other hand, if the asylum officer does not find cred-
ible fear, your uncle may request a review of the finding in a hearing by the Immigration Judge. If the Immigration Judge agrees with the findings of the asylum officer, your uncle will be returned to ICE custody and removed back to his home country. As such, it is advisable for your uncle to contact an attorney to help him prepare for the credible fear interview. Because he does not speak English, he will most likely have to also hire a translator to assist with the translation. If he has family members here in the United States, they can help him contact an attorney for assistance. The attorney may also be able to assist him in the review hearing before the Immigration Judge if there is a negative credible fear finding by the asylum officer. Disclaimer: Any advice provided in this article is general in nature and not intended to constitute legal advice for any specific case. Please consult with an immigration lawyer about the specific circumstances of your case. Bio: Sharlene Sharmila Richards is a licensed Immigration Lawyer practicing in Houston, Texas. She is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2000 and is a member of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and a member of the US Supreme Court. If you require immigration advice or assistance, you may contact her at telephone number 713-623-8088 or by email at srichardslaw@aol.com to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.
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VOICE OF ASIA 5
COMMUNITY
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Houston moves to build better futures at AFK Walk-Run Houston long-term commitments to innovative programs that improve the quality of life, from early childhood education to green space preservation.
by Farah Lalani
H
OUSTON - Nearly 5,000 Houstonians moved to invest in long-term solutions to improve the quality of life for communities worldwide at the annual Aga Khan Foundation Walk | Run - Houston at the Sam Houston Park. The event is an initiative of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) to raise awareness and funds for programs that work with communities around the world to build better futures.
The Houston Walk attracted a range of participants eager to help communities in some of the poorest areas of Africa and Asia to improve their quality of life. In addition to distinguished guests Neil Bush, Chairman of the Points of Light Foundation and Dr. William Flores, President of University of Houston-Downtown, other key supporters included Mike Parsons, National Account Executive for The Coca-Cola Company; Sujiro Seam, Consul General of France; Sharron Melton, news personality; Aleem Walji, Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Foundation USA; along with many other civic, academic and corporate leaders.
This year’s Houston Walk raised $1.92 million, reflecting the enthusiastic outpouring of support from participants and sponsors across the metro area, including national sponsors, The CocaCola Company and Pioneer Finance. 100 percent of net proceeds from the event go directly to projects supported by the Aga Khan Foundation. At the opening ceremony of the Houston AKF Walk, keynote speaker Neil Bush, Chairman of Points of Light, said “There is darkness across the globe and the Aga Khan Foundation and foundations alike bring light. They bring love, they bring hope, they bring the vital resources…not just the financial resources, which are so generous and plenty, but they call all of us to serve. My Father President George Herbert Walker Bush said that any successful life must include service to others.” Service and contributions make a tremendous impact in creating locally driven opportunities for girls in Afghanistan to attend school, farmers in Mali to feed their families, and mothers in India to lead healthy lives, to name a few. These are the cornerstones of a thriving community.
Run and Walk events for Aga Khan Foundation have taken place in 11 major U.S. cities this year. Since 1995, the Foundation’s activities including the annual Walk and Golf events have attracted nearly a half million participants and raised $75 million for poverty alleviation projects supported by the Foundation. Opening ceremony: Houston AKF Walk, keynote speaker Neil Bush, Chairman of Points of Light seen cutting the ribbon at the start of the Walk.
Cricket stars Shane Warne, Sachin Tendulkar lead cast of legends for game two in Houston On November 11, 2015, Houston’s Minute Maid Park saw a host of all-time legends of the 1990s and 2000s, from Warne and Tendulkar to Ricky Ponting, Brian Lara, Kumar Sangakkara and Jacques Kallis slog it out at the home of Major League Baseball side the Houston Astros.
“When you think of the causes of conflict, of terrorism, of war – there is intolerance…there is lack of education….there is suffering, there is hunger,” said Dr. William Flores, President of University of HoustonDowntown, as he explained the importance of balancing intolerance with understanding, lack of education and the hunger with food. “And that’s what the Aga Khan Foundation does – it brings water, food, education, schools – the work that it does is part of that balance.” With 200 projects in 30 countries, Aga Khan Foundation cultivates deep partnerships with local businesses, nonprofits, governments and community leaders to harness the best from people of all walks of life. Working with its partners, the Foundation makes
Visit www.akfusa.org for more information.
Shane Warne’s Warriors beat Sachin Tendulkar’s Blasters by 57 runs in the second match of the Cricket All-Stars tour in the United States.
Houston cricket enthusiasts cheering for SACHIN!
Sachin’s blasters faced a monumental task in reply and weren’t helped by the dismissal of Virender Sehwag for 16, by fellow Indian Ajit Agarkar.
COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 6
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
HCC’s VIP Global Luncheon highlights international partnerships
H
OUSTON - November 18, 2015 - At the second annual VIP Global Luncheon, HCC hosted representatives from Houston area consulates, elected officials and leadership from area colleges as they shared information about how HCC is serving Texas and beyond. Hosted by the HCC Diversity and Inclusion Council and the Office of International Student Services & Study Abroad, the program featured Dr. Cesar Maldonado and Dr. Noel Bezette-Flores, co-chair of Houston’s Citizenship Month. Insights into all that is being done to promote diversity and inclusion were shared from both HCC and the Mayor’s office. Rahman Moton President, Myanmar American Chamber of Commerce in his press re-
HCC officials and VIP invitees at the VIP Global Luncheon: Not in order: Neeta Sane (HCC Trustee), Dr. Parvin Bagherpour, HCC Associate Vice Chancellor, Rahman Moton (President) Myanmar American Chamber of Commerce, Koshy Thomas and Moani Thomas, publishers, Voice of Asia and other guests.
HCC officials and VIP invitees at the event. Seen in pic are Neeta Sane , Dr. Parvin , Rahman Moton, Richard A. Huebne, HMSDC and others.
lease to Voice of Asia said that he told HCC officials that he will try to bring as many Myan-
mar students to HCC college from the community locally and internationally.
ALL ARE INVITED
size ad for Voice of Asia Houston? 10.75" W x 10.25"H
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COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 7
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Mahakumbhabhishekam Celebrations begin at Sri Meenkashi Temple with Ganapathy Homam
Lord Ganesha with Mooshika. Photo by Dr P. Vaduganathan.
by Dr. P. Vaduganathan
P
EARLAND - A beautiful crisp and bright sunny day marked the beginning of the Mahakumbhabhishekam of the Main Temple (MTK 2015) of Sri Meenakshi Temple on Sunday, November 22nd, 2015. Sri. Thanga Bhattar , is the first official priest of
HFD Offers Safety Tips for Turkey Fryers The Houston Fire Department wants everyone to have a safe and Happy Thanksgiving. HFD recommends the following safety tips if you will be frying a turkey. Turkey Fryer Safety Tips: • Turkey fryers are extremely dangerous • Always use turkey fryers outdoors away from anything that can burn • Never use them on wooden decks or in garages • Never leave the fryer unattended or let children or pets near the fryer • The oil will remain dangerously hot hours after use • Never overfill a fryer and make sure the turkey is completely thawed • Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish the fire You Will Need: In addition to a completely thawed turkey, you’ll need a 40 or 60 quart pot with basket or turkey frying hardware, plus a propane gas tank and burner, a candy/ deep fry thermometer, a meat thermometer and lots of oil. Use oils that have a high smoke point, such as corn, peanut or canola oils. As far as the turkey itself goes, smaller birds work better for frying. Try not to go over 15 lbs. Before You Fry- Please read and follow all manufacturers instructions. These tips will help to prevent oil overflow: Before beginning, (and before you even season or marinate your turkey) determine the amount of oil you’ll need by placing the turkey in the basket (or on the hanger, depending on the type of fryer you are using) and putting it in the pot. Add water until it reaches about two inches above the turkey. Remove the turkey and note the water level by using a ruler to measure the distance from the top of the pot to the surface of the water. Remove the water and thoroughly dry the pot. Now add enough oil to equal what the water level was without the turkey in the pot.
the temple and he presided over the First MahaKumbhabhishekam of the Main temple in 1982. It was fortunate he was present now to preside over the opening day Ganapathy Homam. Our eminent priests did a wonderful job with Homam and Abhishekam. The newly made Teak wood doors with 12 Shodasa Ganesha made me-
The executives and the priests getting anugnai inside the Main temple. Photo by Dr P. Vaduganathan.
ticulously in the panels of the door in Karaikudi, India and were brought from India. Our priests ceremoniously opened the doors for the dharshan of Prasanna Ganapthy. The priests went in a procession to the main temple to get anugnai from Sri Meenakshi, Sundareswara and Venkateswara. There are homams and poojas every day morning
and evening and the Yagasala Pooja will commence on Thursday evening.
cultural program by Kumari Kruthi Bhatt at 2-4 pm on Sunday.
There will be a Classical music concert by prominent Classical musician and play back singer Srimathy S. Mahathi at 6.30 pm on this Friday followed by dinner and a dazzling Fire works. We have dance drama by local dance schools during 4-6 pm on Saturday and a special
MTS invites all of you to come early and get blessed on the Mahakumbhabhishekam on Sunday, November 29th, 2015. MTS invites every one to come early to the hospitality tent to get Kumbhakonam coffee and the MTK T shirts
between 8 am and 9 am. Devotees should not miss the “Curtain raiser” with a group music recital, Village folk dance and recital of stuti and the Mahakumbhabhishekam at 10 am. After alaya pravesam, abhishekam we have Thirukalyanam for Meenakshi Sundareswara and Padmavathy Srinivasa and Rathothsavam followed by special lunch.
COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 8
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Diwali Celebrated with fun and festivity at Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Stafford,TX
S
TAFFORD, TX - Fireworks lit the skies over the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford on November 14, 2015. It was a beautiful Saturday evening with the youth of BAPS performing a cultural Diwali program called “Sambhavami Yuge Yuge…” This program emphasized the ever presence of Bhagwan’s avatar from the time of Bhagwan Ram to Bhagwan Swaminarayan through educational dramas, entertaining dances and inspirational videos. The five days of Diwali are filled with optimism and enthusiasm as volunteers and devotees work side by side to build the annakut and prepare for Diwali events at each Mandir. Over the past week, visitors felt as if they had been transformed back to India with colorful lights, sparkling divas, and decorative rangolis. Pragnesh Prajapati of Sugarland said, “We have been planning for over 6 months and it’s been great to see devotees of all ages come together to help out for the festivities.” During this time of togetherness, reflection, and introspection, devotees at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Stafford organized various events to share in ancient traditions with the local community.
On November 12, the Hindu New Year was celebrated at the Mandir with a grand maha arti at 7:30 am followed by a stunning offering of over 1000 vegetarian delicacies, the annakut. Devanshi Patel describes the annakut as, “It’s a grand first offering and your best recipes are put together to serve Bhagwan, and it’s amazing how everyone prepares the meals by getting up early to have their best dish ready on time.” Diwali serves as a time to gather with friends and family to welcome the New Year and celebrate the year past. Celebrating Diwali with great enthusiasm and excitement inspires every generation of Indians to honor their deeply rooted Hindu heritage. Hina Prajapati said “ I have been in the states for only a few years and Diwali at the Mandir transforms me back to India and this is such a great way to keep our traditions.“ The Mandir and the festivities are inspired by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS. Throughout the week devotees welcomed guests to the Mandir with well wishes for the New Year. Swamis will continue to visit with community members to offer their prayers for peace and prosperity among fami-
Fireworks was one of the highlights of the Diwali celebrations at the BAPS Temple in Stafford, Texas. lies. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir will continue the Diwali celebrations for their
youngsters on November 21st. The Kid’s Diwali Celebration will be fun and educational. Children will learn the history and origin of this festival, play
Diwali celebrations at BAPS Dallas Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Dallas, TX organized various events to share in ancient traditions with the local community. Across North America, thousands of volunteers begin preparations months in advance of the festivities - from decoration design and creation to food preparation for the annakut (offering of vegetarian dishes to Bhagwan). Celebrating Diwali with great enthusiasm and excitement inspires every generation of Indians to honor their
Devotees participate in the aarti during the Diwali celebrations.
D
ALLAS, TX - November 14, 2015 - Diwali serves as a time
to gather with friends and family to welcome the New Year and celebrate the year past.
During this time of togetherness, reflection, and introspection, devotees at the BAPS
variety of exciting games, and will be given an assortment of gifts and goodies. This year His Holiness Pra-
deeply rooted Hindu heritage.
The five days of Diwali are filled with optimism and enthusiasm as volunteers and devotees work side by side, looking past their differences, to build the annakut and prepare for Diwali events at each mandir. Inspired by His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS, devotees welcome guests to the mandir with well wishes for the New Year. Swamis visit with community members to offer their prayers for peace and prosperity among families. This year, BAPS Mandirs across
mukh Swami Maharaj celebrated Diwali and Annakut in Sarangpur, Gujarat, India. He blessed the devotees on the New Year day.
North America marked the auspicious festival of Diwali with fireworks and cultural exhibitions so visitors would find their experiences both entertaining and educational. “Diwali is my favorite festival because of the excitement that fills the air when the festival nears. But having recently migrated to the US, I did not know what to expect.” said Chintan Vyas, “After coming to the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Dallas, TX, I felt like I was in India. I experienced Indian culture while getting a taste of fine Indian cuisine. I truly felt at home.”
VOICE OF ASIA 9
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
WORLD/US
VOICE OF ASIA 10
Bollywood star’s ‘intolerance’ claim sparks India backlash
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His comments attracted a major backlash on social media in the Hindu-majority country, and a withering attack by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). “Don’t forget, India made you a star,” said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain at a press conference. Hussain told reporters it was “not all right to malign our Incredible India”, a reference to the campaign slogan used to promote the country of 1.2 billion to tourists. Khan, one of India’s highestpaid actors, featured in a television commercial as part of that campaign. The row was trending top on Indian Twitter on Tuesday under the hashtag #aamirkhan, but users were divided over the actor’s comments. “You publicly spoke your mind and that is courage,” said one, while another accused him of mounting a “publicity stunt” or a “malicious campaign”. Television footage on Tuesday showed dozens of activists burning posters featuring Khan in several cities across India, while police protection at his Mumbai home was reportedly upgraded.
Hollande and Obama .......
ASHINGTON: Indian-American politician Swati Dandekar has been nominated as Executive Director to Asian Development Bank with ambassadorial rank by US President Barack Obama.
The most serious incident involving Russian forces since they entered the conflict in support of President Bashar Al-Assad -- the downing drew a furious response from President Vladimir Putin who accused NATO-member Turkey of “a stab in the back.”
The first-ever Indian-American to be elected to Iowa House of Representatives in 2003, Dandekar, 64, would replace Robert M Orr, who has held the position since 2010.
Aamir Khan, who like many Bollywood stars is Muslim, said Monday that a sense of “insecurity” and “fear” was gripping India and revealed that his wife had even questioned whether the couple should leave the country. “As an individual, as a citizen, certainly I have also been alarmed, I can’t deny it, by a number of incidents,” he said at an awards ceremony in New Delhi.
Swati Dandekar named as Asian Development Bank director
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EW DELHI, India |- A top Bollywood actor who starred in a television campaign to promote India has complained of “rising intolerance” in his homeland, sparking a storm of criticism including from the ruling Hindu nationalist party.
Aamir Khan and wife Kiran Rao. Photo credit: Reuters The 50-year-old actor was the latest in a series of highprofile figures from the art world to raise concerns about religious and cultural intolerance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was elected last year. Fellow Bollywood star Shahrukh Khan referred recently to “extreme intolerance in India”
after the lynching of a Muslim man in October over rumours he had eaten beef. Earlier this month nearly 200 figures including author Salman Rushdie signed an open letter urging British Prime Minister David Cameron to raise “the rising climate of fear” in India with Modi during his London visit.
One killed as hostage standoff ends in French town
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ILLE, FRANCE | French police killed one man after his heavily armed group took the family of a bank manager hostage in a northern town on Tuesday, officials said, adding that there was no terrorist link. A group of heavily armed men wielding Kalashnikovs tried to seize the manager of a local bank branch in Roubaix to make him open the safe, local prosecutor Frederic Fevre said. When police arrived, the manager escaped and the assailants instead holed up in his house in an upmarket neighbourhood of the town, taking his wife, their daughter and their 11-month-old baby hostage. One of the suspects opened fire at police with a Kalashnik-
ov, prompting security forces to return fire, Fevre said. After two hours, a specialist police unit launched an assault on the house, freeing the captives, killing one of the suspects and arresting a second in the back garden, Fevre said. Other members of the group got away, Fevre said, adding the precise number who had fled was unknown. “It was a criminal operation” and not associated with terrorism, Fevre told reporters. The incident came as France remained on a high state of alert following its worst militant attacks. Roubaix lies about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from the Belgian capital of Brussels, which is on an unprecedented security lockdown.
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Continued from page 1
Obama and Hollande joined UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon in warning against any escalation.
Dandekar was the first Indianborn American citizen to win a state legislature seat in the United States.
“Hopefully, this is a moment in which all parties can step back and make a determination as to how their interests are best served,” Obama said.
Obama announced his intent to nominate Dandekar to this top US position in Asian Development Bank (ADB) along with other key administration appointments and nominations.
The US military has backed up Turkey’s claim that Turkish pilots warned the Russian jet 10 times -- but failed to get a response -- before shooting it down.
“I am confident that these experienced and hardworking individuals will help us tackle the important challenges facing America, and I am grateful for their service. I look forward to working with them,” Obama said. A member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 2003 to 2009, Dandekar was also member of the Iowa Senate from 2009 to 2011. Thereafter, she served on the Iowa Utilities Board from 2011 to 2013. From 2000 to 2003, she was a member of the Vision Iowa Board of Directors. Dandekar, who with her husband Arvind migrated to the US in 1973, also served on the LinnMar Community School District Board of Education from 1996 to 2002 and was a member of the Iowa Association of School Boards from 2000 to 2002. She received a Bachelor of Science from Nagpur University and a Post-Graduate Diploma from Bombay University. Dandekar ran for the US House of Representatives from Iowa’s first Congressional District, but lost in the primaries.
Obama said NATO ally Turkey had a right to defend its airspace -- but also appealed to Russia to engage at the side of the 65 countries battling IS in Syria. “Given Russia’s military capabilities and the influence they have on the Assad regime, them cooperating would be enormously helpful in bringing about resolution of the civil war in Syria,” Obama said. “If and when they do, it will make it easier for us to go after ISIL.” - Shuttle diplomacy -Both Hollande and Obama reiterated their determination to see Assad step down in order to give Syria a chance for peace, with Hollande saying “it should be as soon as possible.” “He has been the problem -he cannot be the solution,” Hollande said. Hollande was in Washington as part of a frantic week of shuttle diplomacy as he tries to rally global support for increased strikes against IS, which claimed the Paris attacks. Acting on a French resolution, the UN Security Council
last week authorized “all necessary measures” to fight IS. The French leader will hold talks in Paris with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday and with Putin in Moscow on Thursday, before dining with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the French capital on Sunday. But the delicate diplomacy around the conflict was thrown brutally off course by the fighter jet downing, as Putin warned of “serious consequences for Russian-Turkish relations.” - Manhunt -The US government has issued a worldwide travel alert warning American citizens of “increased terrorist threats” in the wake of Islamist attacks in Paris, Mali, Turkey and elsewhere. Police in France said they were analyzing what is thought to be a suicide belt similar to those used in the Paris attacks, found without its detonator in a dustbin outside the capital. Telephone data placed key suspect Salah Abdeslam in the area the night of the attacks. Across the border in Belgium, Brussels entered a fourth day of lockdown over fears of an “imminent” terror strike as the manhunt continued for the Belgian-born Abdeslam. A fourth person was charged in Belgium Tuesday in connection with the bloodshed in Paris. Two -- Mohammed Amri, 27, and Hamza Attou, 20 -- were previously charged on suspicion of helping Abdeslam escape to Brussels, while a third unnamed person faces charges of aiding him. In France, the man who lent his apartment to the suspected attack ringleader was also charged with terror offences. Since the attacks, French police have searched more than 1,200 premises, arresting 165 people and seizing 230 weapons -- including what the interior minister called “weapons of war.”
ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com
Vol. 28 No. 48
Lifestyle VOICE OF ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 11
Section 2
Email: voiceasia@aol.com
Why diets don’t work: healthy foods vary by individual
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The dangers of social isolation have long been known but its effects on the body have not been well understood, the researchers said in the work published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences/ PNAS.
For instance, one woman in the study repeatedly experienced a spike in blood sugar after eating tomatoes, which would generally be considered a low-fat, nutritious food. The findings are based a study of 800 people in Israel, and are published in the journal Cell Press.
They also provided stool samples so that their gut microbiome could be analyzed, and kept a careful log of everything they consumed. None of the participants had diabetes, but some were obese and had a condition known as pre-diabetes. Researchers were stunned to see the difference in people’s metabolic responses to the exact same foods. For instance, some people’s blood sugar rose higher after eating sushi than it did after eating ice cream. And for one middle-aged woman, the act of eating tomatoes -- which she thought were part of a healthy diet -- actually caused her blood sugar to rise significantly. “There are profound differences between individuals -- in some cases, individuals have opposite responses to one another -- and this is really a big hole in the literature,” said Segal. - What we eat -High blood
Health risk of loneliness has physiological basis: study
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IAMI - A healthy food for one person may lead another to gain weight, according to a study out Thursday that suggests a one-size-fits-all approach to dieting is fundamentally wrong.
Participants wore blood sugar monitors that took measurements every five minutes for an entire week.
Tel: 713-774-5140
ASHINGTON, | AFP | Loneliness can increase the risk of premature death by 14 percent in older adults, according to a study published Monday that posits a physiological basis for the phenomenon.
by Kerry SHERIDAN
“The first very big surprise and striking finding that we had was the very vast variability we saw in people’s response to identical meals,” said researcher Eran Segal of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel.
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
One woman repeatedly experienced blood-sugar spikes after eating tomatoes -- normally considered a good food choice -- in a new study that suggests what’s healthy for some may be less so for others, researchers said November 19, 2015 (AFP Photo/Natalia Kolesnikova) sugar is dangerous because it can lead to diabetes, obesity, heart problems and other complications, including eye, kidney and nerve disease. Many diets aim to keep blood sugar low by incorporating fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates like brown rice and whole grains, while avoiding refined sugars and goods made with white flour. But those recommendations don’t work for everyone, and often, overweight people are blamed for eating too much or not sticking to a healthy lifestyle. Co-author Eran Elinav said the study “really enlightened us on how inaccurate we all were about one of the most basic concepts of our existence, which is what we eat and how we integrate nutrition into our daily life.” Instead of urging people to eat low-fat diets, a more personalized approach -- one that puts an individual at the center of the plan, rather than the diet -- could be useful to help people control high blood sugar and improve their health, he said. The researchers also used their findings to forge an algorithm that could predict how
different people would react to certain foods, based on a host of personal characteristics and their gut microbes. Segal said he and colleagues are now working on a system that could bring better nutritional analysis to the individual consumer. The process would involve mailing stool samples for analysis of the bacteria in the digestive system, because researchers found that specific microbes correlated with blood sugar levels after eating. - Community of microbes -The microbiome is the community of trillions of bacteria living inside the human body, wielding a powerful but poorly understood effect on human health. Last month, a group of 48 scientists from 50 US institutions called for more ambitious research into these tiny microorganisms, as part of a 10-year effort known as the Unified Microbiome Initiative Consortium that would uncover the role of individual microbes -which include fungi, bacteria, viruses, algae and more -- and how they communicate with each other, their hosts, and their environment. According to Minisha Sood,
director of inpatient diabetes at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, the Israeli study “highlights the importance of individualized nutrition -- dietary advice should vary from person to person and should be tailored to meet the needs of a given individual based on their reactions to different foods. “What remains to be deciphered is exactly how to tailor personalized nutrition therapy,” added Sood, who was not involved in the study. “Should it be based, at least in part, on an individual’s microbiome or gut flora?” Rebecca Blake, senior director of Clinical Nutrition at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, said the role of the gut microflora contributing to obesity and metabolism “is certainly an evolving discipline within the field of nutrition science.” “However, we need to consider whether this is the chicken or the egg -- does our diet affect our gut microbiota and our obesity, or is the microbiota somehow causal when it comes to weight status?” added Blake, who not involved in the study either. “We still need a lot more research to figure out the nature of these connections.”
Led by University of Chicago psychologist John Cacioppo, the research team had previously identified a link between solitude and both a heightened expression of genes involved in inflammation and a diminution in the activity of other genes that play a role in the body’s antiviral responses. The result is a weakened immune systems that makes a person who lives alone more vulnerable to illness. In their latest research, the researchers looked at leukocytes, white blood cells that the immune system uses to protect against bacteria and viruses. They found the same shift in genetic expression in the white blood cells of people who lived alone and in social isolation. They also found that loneliness predicted the gene behavior a year or more in advance -- and conversely that gene expression predicted loneliness measured a year or more later. “Leukocyte gene expression and loneliness appear to
The “remote lounge” as it is called, was approved by the Los Angeles Airport Commission and marks the first such space in a United States airport. Similar areas already exist however in London, Amsterdam, Istanbul, Dubai, Paris, Moscow, Munich, Frankfurt, Geneva, Madrid and Zurich, according to a project proposal.
Los Angeles International Airport
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os Angeles International Airport officials have approved opening a special terminal for the rich and famous to wait for their flights far from the paparazzi and riffraff.
The lounge, which was given the green light on Thursday, eclipses even the business class and first class areas available at major airports.
“I am very excited about this service for celebrity and VIP guests at LAX,” said Deborah Flint, executive director of Los Angeles World Airports. “We are very focused on
“These results were specific to loneliness and could not be explained by depression, stress or social support,” they said. The investigators then studied rhesus macaques, a highly social primate, and found a similar cellular process linked to their social experience. “Lonely-like” monkeys had increased gene expression involved in inflammation and less gene expression in antiviral defenses. They were also found to have higher levels of noreprinephrine, a “fight-or-flight” neurotransmitter that stimulates the production of immature monocytes, a white blood cell with high inflammation/low antiviral defense gene expression. “Both lonely humans and ‘lonely like’ monkeys showed higher levels of monocytes in their blood,” the researchers said. Other studies showed that the increased production of immature monocytes was amplifying the high inflammation/low antiviral effect in the pool of white blood cells. “The ‘danger signals’ activated in the brain by loneliness ultimately affect the production of white blood cells,” they said. “The resulting shift in monocyte output may both propagate loneliness and contribute to its associated health risks.”
There’s no such thing as ‘one-size-fits-all’ diet plan ONDON, Nov. 23, 2015 - A new study has revealed that a healthy food for one person may lead to weight gain in another, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all approach to dieting is fundamentally wrong. For instance, one woman in the study repeatedly experienced a spike in blood sugar
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Rich, famous to get special terminal at LA airport making LAX a world-class airport and offering a wide variety of amenities,” Flint said in an e-mail to AFP.
have a reciprocal relationship, suggesting that each can help propagate the other over time,” the researchers said.
Both US authorities and the Transportation Security Administration support the idea, the proposal said. The terminal will be constructed in a hangar already in need of renovation, and requires an investment of some $3 million (2.8 million euros) by security firm Gavin de Becker, which will manage the project. Celebrities, business executives and other well-heeled individuals can expect to pay $1,500 to $1,800 to access the space, according to US media.
after eating tomatoes, which would generally be considered a low-fat, nutritious food. The findings are based a study of 800 people in Israel, the Independent reported. Lead authors Eran Segal and Eran Elinav of the Weizmann Institute of Science found that different individuals showed vastly different responses to the same food, even though their own responses remained the same day to day. “There are profound differences between individuals - in some cases, individuals have opposite responses to one another,” Segal explained. The researchers said the findings show that tailoring meal plans to individuals’ biology may be the future of dieting and the study yielded many surprises for individuals. Elinav added that the work really enlightened on how inaccurate people were about one of the most basic concepts of our existence, which is how they eat and how they integrate nutrition into their daily lives. The study appears in the journal Cell Press.
LEISURE
VOICE OF ASIA 12
Mountains may depart, says Tibetan filmmaker
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Looking for a job? Online is where it’s at
by Benjamin HAAS
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EIJING, China | AFP | Snow-capped mountains, endless grasslands, smiling monks: Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden’s latest vision of his homeland, shot in stark black and white, relegates these to the background. Stereotypes of the Himalayan region are deeply ingrained in China, whose six million Tibetans -- less than half of one percent of the total population -- are often presented to the Han majority as exotic and rugged features of the wild west, framed more as a tourist attraction than people. But Tseden’s films, featuring allTibetan casts and almost entirely in Tibetan, mostly deal with the collision between modern life and traditional culture, and its impact on the individual. “Some people think Tibetans are very mysterious and mystical, that they live in the sky, but through my works I want to show Tibetans are ordinary people and change some people’s thinking,” Tseden told AFP. It is a daunting task, with Tseden fighting against a narrative often reinforced by China’s vast state media and propaganda machine as it seeks to promote “ethnic unity” and snuff out any sign of what Beijing sees as separatism. His latest work “Tharlo” opens with the title character, a shepherd, reciting from memory “To Serve the People” in Mandarin Chinese, a passage from revolutionary leader Mao Zedong’s Little Red Book, and hoping he will live up to its Communist ideals. It follows him as he travels from the pastures to the city to get a photo for his government identity card. Tharlo finds his austere existence called into question after meeting a hairdresser who promises she will run away with him, if only they had the money from selling Tharlo’s flock -not all of which he owns. “He is confused about his own identity, he’s not really sure about it, so he needs to go looking,” Tseden said. “In Tibetan areas, this kind of case is still very common.” The character’s dilemma reflects Tseden’s personal transformation as a son of nomads who now shows films at international festivals. A soft-spoken
A Pew Research Center report found 79 percent of people seeking employment used online resources in their most recent job search and 34 percent said the Internet was the most important tool available to them (AFP Photo/Justin Sullivan)
Tibetan filmmaker Pema Tseden man who rarely shows emotion, he is clearly uncomfortable in the spotlight himself. “Tharlo” cost little more than $300,000 and took only two months to film and edit. But it is currently facing off against works by titans Jia Zhangke and Hou Hsiao-hsien -- who won the best director award at Cannes this year -- at the world’s premiere festival of Chinese cinema, Taiwan’s Golden Horse. It is among the five nominees in both the best feature and best director categories, with the winners to be announced on Saturday (Nov 21). The monochrome footage mutes the towering mountains that are the centrepiece of many films about Tibet, and highlights the contrasts of China’s efforts to modernise underdeveloped areas. One exterior shot of Tharlo’s mud brick home shows towering pylons standing alongside, while the hovel itself lacks electricity. A review on the website of trade publication Screen International said it was “a beautifully judged picture from a director to note”. - Minority report Born in 1969 in a Tibetan area of Qinghai province, Tseden said he knows many Tibetans like Tharlo, who may not be able to read a single Chinese character but have memorised propaganda that was forced on everyone of a certain age in China.
Even so he grew up loving the slapstick comedy of Charlie Chaplin. After graduating from university he spent a year as a government official before going back to school, first studying translation and then cinema at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy. His 2005 movie “The Silent Holy Stones” was the first full-length film to be shot entirely in Tibetan. As a whole, the Chinese film industry is booming, with ticket sales for domestically made films raking in 16.2 billion yuan ($2.5 billion)last year, up 27 percent, according to the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television, which regulates the media and censors its output. But despite international acclaim, minority films have a precarious future in China, not least because of a dearth of cinemas in Tibetan regions, with most films watched on pirated DVDs. “Compared to mainstream Chineselanguage films and commercial movies, the space for development for ethnic minority films is small,” Tseden said. “It’s hard for a film that’s made on the fringe to integrate into the wider market... and one reason is censorship.” Authorities have stopped some of his scripts being filmed, although Tseden said he now understands the system better and “Usually there won’t be a big problem”.
WASHINGTON - For Americans looking for a job, the Internet is an important, and often an essential resource. A Pew Research Center report released Thursday found 54 percent of US adults have gone online to look for job information and 45 percent have applied for a job online. Among job hunters, the Internet is serving a critical role: 79 percent of people seeking employment used online resources in their most recent job search and 34 percent said the Internet was the most important tool available to them, Pew found. But the study also found a significant minority whose lack of online skills is a handicap for a job search.
“And in many cases, individuals who might benefit the most from being able to perform these behaviors effectively -- such as those with relatively low levels of educational attainment or those who are currently not employed for pay -- are the ones who find them most daunting.” For the more digitally savvy, the smartphone is an important tool in seeking employment. The survey found 28 percent of adults -- and more than half of 18- to 29-year-olds -- have used a smartphone in one way or another as part of a job search. “Smartphone job seekers” use their mobile devices for background research or on-the-go interactions with potential employers.
Seventeen percent indicated that it would not be easy for them to create a professional resume if they needed to do so and 21 percent said they might not be able to highlight their employment skills using a personal website or social media profile.
And 14 percent of adults (50 percent of the “smartphone job seekers”) have used their handset to fill out an employment application, according to Pew.
One in 10 adults surveyed said they might have difficulties finding available jobs online, filling out job applications or using email to follow up on an application.
Social media sites are also becoming important job-seeking tools, according to the survey -- 35 percent of social media users have used these networks to look for or research jobs and 21 percent have applied for a job they first found out about through social media.
“Online proficiency has become more and more important to finding work in today’s job market, but some aspects of the digital job search are a substantial challenge for many Americans,” said Pew researcher Aaron Smith.
The researchers surveyed 2,001 Americans ages 18 and older between June 10 and July 12 on mobile and fixed telephones. The margin of error for the full sample was estimated at 2.5 percentage points
Indian-American’s short film in Oscar race Screenings for the film will be held in Los Angeles, London, New York and San Francisco in December. “Sanjay’s Super Team”, inspired by Patel’s own childhood when he felt conflicted by the modern world and Hindu traditions of his fam-
ily, follows the daydream of a young Indian boy, bored with his father’s religious meditation who imagines Hindu gods as superheroes. “Bear Story”, “Carface”, “If I Was God...”, “Love in the
time of March Madness”, “My Home”, “An Object at Rest”, “Prologue”, “We Can’t Live Without Cosmos”, and “World of Tomorrow” are the other nine shortlisted titles. The 88th Academy Awards will take place on February 28 next year.
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Pixar artist Sanjay’ Patel’s short film
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OS ANGELES - Indian-American Pixar artist and director Sanjay Patel’s animated short film “Sanjay’s Super Team” has been shortlisted amongst 10 animated short films to advance
in the voting process for the upcoming 88th Academy Awards. As many as 60 films had originally qualified in the category before the list was narrowed down to 10. Short films
and feature animation branch members will now select five nominees for the final shortlist, read a statement on the website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
U.S. issues worldwide travel alert, warns of ‘increased terrorist threats’
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ASHINGTON - Nov. 23, 2015 - The U.S. State Department has issued a worldwide travel alert, warning American citizens of “possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats,” and urging “particular caution” during the holiday season.
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It added: “These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics, using conventional and non-conventional weapons and targeting both official and private interests. … Exercise particular caution during the holiday season and at holiday festivals or events.” The travel alert expires on February 24.
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The alert, which is in addition to the Worldwide Caution, comes just over a week after attacks in Paris left 130 people dead and hundreds more wounded. “The State Department alerts U.S. citizens to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats,” the alert said. “Current information suggests that ISIL (aka Da’esh), al-Qa’ida, Boko Haram, and other terrorist groups continue to plan terrorist attacks in multiple regions.”
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VOICE OF ASIA 13
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Halloween Pumpkins : Medicinal properties and uses - Part II
Prof.Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, Rice University, Houston,TX by Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, Use those guts The guts are the stringy pieces that surround the seeds of your pumpkin, and they can be one of the most difficult parts to use. I suggest using these icky
innards to make some pumpkin stock. Pumpkin stock is perfect for adding flavor to soups or casseroles, and you can freeze any extra for later use.
avoiding the eye area. Relax for up to 20 minutes and allow all that pumpkin goodness to seep into your skin. Bonus: it smells yummy, too!
Get pumpkin pretty Pumpkins are rich in zinc and vitamins A, C and E, which makes pumpkin purée healthy for your body if you eat it and healthy to apply to the skin. That’s why one of the prettiest uses for the pumpkin is for a face mask. Start with about five teaspoons of pumpkin purée, add three teaspoons of brown sugar - which will naturally exfoliate your skin - and a tiny splash of milk. Mix it all together, and apply to your face in circular motions,
Create a classic pumpkin seed dish Roasted pumpkin seeds are a tasty fall favorite, and there are plenty of ways to use them this November. After you’ve separated the seeds from the guts and rinsed them thoroughly, place them in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet. Stir them around to coat them with oil. From here, you can go almost anywhere with your pumpkin seeds. Add a little salt for classic roasted pumpkin seeds, or add some brown sugar and
cinnamon for a sweeter treat. Roasted pumpkin seeds also make a tasty and crunchy outer layer for your candied apples, and they go great in brownies and other baked goods. But if Halloween has left you with a sugar crash, your roasted pumpkin seeds will make delicious garnishes for salads, too. Feed the wildlife Depending on where you live, a pumpkin you’d otherwise throw away could be a tasty snack for a furry or feathery neighbor. Old jack-o-lanterns are perfect food for deer, and any pumpkin seeds you don’t want to toast up for yourself will make a yummy treat for birds.
Mix up a pumpkin cocktail Thanks to the ever-widening selection of flavored vodkas on the market, you can make a tasty cocktail out of almost anything - even your Halloween pumpkin. For a tasty cocktail, fill a shaker with ice, and add a tablespoon of pumpkin purée and two ounces of the flavored vodka of your choice. We suggest vanilla, cinnamon or ginger. Add a splash of lime juice and a tiny squeeze of honey. Shake and strain into a glass over fresh ice. While you enjoy your grownup dessert drink, you can use some of that pumpkin purée in a tasty milkshake for the kids.
Have pumpkin butter with breakfast Fruit butters are delectable additions to a fall breakfast, and pumpkin butter is one of the easiest to make. Simply place two cups of your pumpkin purée into a saucepan with a cup of brown sugar and a cup of water or apple cider. From there you can add whatever spices you choose. We suggest familiar pumpkin pie spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger, along with a pinch of salt. Stir all the ingredients together, and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, and allow the mixture to simmer for about 25 minutes. Once your pumpkin butter has cooled, store it in a glass jar in the refrigerator, and use it for breakfast on toast or biscuits. It makes a great topping for pancakes and oatmeal, too.
Clothes smarter than you are: welcome to the future by Sebastian Smith
IO DE JANEIRO, Brazil Wish there was a gadget able to transform your boring office uniform into a party outfit, or even a device that guides you straight to new friends?
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Then call Marcelo Coelho. A researcher with Fluid Interfaces at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab, Coelho works at the cutting edge of wearable devices that may be smarter than the person wearing them. One of the most promising areas is clothing that integrates computers and can practically think for itself. “You can program your shirt for it to change color, or move to a different pattern,” he said. “Maybe you’re at work today and want your shirt one way, but you’ll be at a party tonight and want it different.” Another creation is a dress with a hemline that rises and falls -- or another dress, decorated with gently opening and closing flowers. Coelho, 35, was speaking at MIT’s 2015 EmTech conference Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, where for two days leaders in emerging technology give glimpses of the future. The message is that science fiction-
like developments are rapidly under way in areas as diverse as drones and medicine.
robots, but don’t need robots,” Tibbits said by video link. “We eventually propose that the materials could assemble themselves from scratch.”
But for Coelho, originally from Brazil, the joy is bringing the mysteries of the lab to everyday situations.
If that doesn’t sound creepy enough, consider what Coelho says is the nextnext frontier: not wearable technology, but chips and WiFi devices brought right into the human body.
Building on that office-to-party scenario, Coelho unveiled a device that would help you find the people you might want to talk to, flirt with or avoid.
“Technology will slowly migrate into the skin and then behind the skin, becoming indistinguishable from the person,” he told AFP. “I’m working on some stuff in that area that I can’t talk much about.”
Shaped like a normal watch, the tiny computer is programmed with personal data -- your Facebook information or something more customized -- then communicates with other devices in the room. “You go to the event and it can match your wrist band to someone else’s,” he explained. “If you have nothing in common with a stranger at the event, a red light will go on and if you do, a green light will go on.” “You may wonder where all this craziness is going,” he said with a wry smile. - Robots are the past -The answer to that, says another MIT scientist, Skylar Tibbits, is self-assembly. No, not self-assembly as in struggling with instructions and wrenches over a bed you just bought in a box. Tibbits means self-assembly as in the
Brazilian researcher Marcelo Coelho speaks during his presentation at “EmTech Brasil” in Rio de Janerio, on November 18, 2015 thing -- the bed, or whatever it may be -- assembling itself. This is the idea of 4D printing, Tibbits’ specialty. If 3D printers can produce threedimensional objects at the touch of a button, 4D means they then go on to transform or organize themselves in useful ways. Unlike robots these materials are not computerized and do not need power like electricity. They react to ordinary
forces like pressure or heat or water and change, but are engineered by the scientists so that they change shape in a pre-determined way. For example, a wet shoe or tire can be made to grow better grip, reverting to normal when dry. Tibbits’ SelfAssembly Lab at MIT, is exploring whether the technology can later be applied to much bigger objects, even in construction. “They are materials that behave like
And with every revolution come new risks of the technology falling into the wrong hands -- criminals or repressive governments, for example. “With any technology, it could become something completely dystopian -- or amazing and empowering,” he said. Referring to the Manhattan Project scientists who invented the nuclear weapons used by the United States against Japan in 1945, Coelho warned that scientists at the frontier of change need deep consciences. “It took the smartest people in the world to create a machine that could wipe out the planet.”
VOICE OF ASIA 14
Section 2
Young Life
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FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
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US Muslim teen accused of clock bomb seeks $15 million
Young Carnatic Vocal Talent Enthralls Houston
Ahmed Mohamed (R), a 14-year-old high school student who was arrested after he brought a homemade clock to his Irving, Texas high school to show his teachers and was later accused of having a “hoax bomb”, speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, October 20, 2015. (JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Houston Youth Music Association presented the concert on November 15th, 2015 in Houston.
Chicago, United States | AFP | Monday 11/23/2015 - 22:09 GMT | 405 words The Muslim teenager arrested when a teacher mistook his homemade clock for a bomb threatened to sue his school and the town of Irving, Texas for $15 million, his lawyer said Monday. Ahmed Mohamed, 14, became an overnight sensation in September after his sister tweeted a photo of the aspiring inventor standing in handcuffs while wearing a t-shirt with the US space agency NASA’s logo. President Barack Obama joined a surge of public support by congratulating the teen on his skills and inviting him to bring the clock to the White House in what was seen as a pointed rebuke to school and police officials amid accusations of Islamophobia. Invitations poured in from Facebook, Google, the United Nations and Mohamed later tweeted photos of visits to
Mecca, New York, Sudan and Qatar. But his lawyer insists there was a dark side to his fame, which caused “severe psychological trauma,” according to a letter notifying the city and school district of his demands. The son of Sudanese immigrants who lived in a Dallas suburb, the young robotics fan brought in a homemade clock to impress a new teacher at MacArthur High School. Instead, Mohamed was accused of trying to scare people with a hoax bomb and escorted from the school in handcuffs. His lawyers insist that the school, police force and city officials violated Mohamed’s rights by wrongfully accusing and detaining him and then decided to “trash” him when the media got wind of the story. “Ahmed clearly was singled out because of his race, national origin and religion,” attorney Kelly Hollingsworth wrote.
The letter noted that Irving Mayor Beth Van Duyne called the clock a “hoax bomb” during an appearance on the Glenn Beck television show and nodded as Beck and his other guest called the story “an influence operation” in furtherance of a coming “civilization jihad.” “Not only was this dangerous ‘baiting’ that destroyed any chance the Mohamed family ever had of being truly safe and secure in the United States, but it was also defamatory,” his lawyers wrote. The family received threatening emails and left their home after their address was publicized. They eventually moved to Qatar after Mohamed was offered a generous scholarship. His attorneys are seeking $5 million in damages from the school district and $10 million from the city of Irving and said they will file a civil suit if they do not receive a reply within 60 days.
by Dr. Lakshmi Srivaths
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he warm and sunny morning of November 15th, 2015 in Houston, Texas, was further brightened by the lively Carnatic vocal concert by the young vidwan Sri Rithvik Raja and accompanying artists Sri Sri H.N. Bhaskar on the violin, Sri Vijay Ganesh on the mridangam and Sri Anirudh Athreya on the kanjira. The concert was presented by the Houston Youth Music Association (HYMA) at the divine venue of Sri Guruvayurappan temple. The concert began after a brief introduction by Mr. Srini, a member of HYMA. The opening Nattakurinji varnam set the brisk pace of the concert. This was followed by the pious rendition of Shree ragam kruthi wherein Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar offers his humble pranams to Goddess Varalakshmi. The next Kannada kruthi in Varali set to Kanda chapu by Sri Purandaradasa, was rendered adeptly with indepth bhavas interwoven with intense and intricate swara patterns, as the audience was given a walk-through on the ways to witness Vaikuntam on this earth. The listeners’ mood
was then transformed by the brisk and bright Arabi kruthi “Saalakallalaadu” by Saint Thyagaraja. As the Gowlai kruthi “Saranaagathamendru Nambi Vandhaen” started to flow filling the audience with musical delight, one started to wonder if the next piece, in the sequential order would be in raga Nattai, completing the 5 ragas in the popular panchartna krithis! This speculation was fittingly fulfilled by the artists, as the ragamalika alapana in the ensuing RTP started with Nattai, followed by the other 4 pancharatna kriti ragas, culminating in the beautifully composed and rendered pallavi in Nattakurinji. The RTP concluded with the splendid string of kalpana swaras in the same ragas, wherein the expert violinist Sri H.N. Bhaskar and the energetic vocalist Sri Rithvik Raja complemented each other with interesting and emotive exchange of swaras. The thani that followed, by the mridangam vidwan Sri Vijay Ganesh and Kanjira artist Sri Anirudh Athreya was an eloquent conversation spoken by the artists’ nimble fingers. The concluding pieces “Aliveni Endu” in Kuranji and Sapasya in Jonpuri were rendered mel-
lifluously, leaving the audience yearning for more! The concert concluded with the kind words of blessings from Houston’s senior music aficionado Sundari mami and artists’ felicitation by the guide of HYMA and Houston’s beloved Guru Vidushi Smt. RajaRajeshwary Bhat. Imbibing the nuances and the singing style of his Guru and leading Carnatic vocal Vidwan Sri T.M. Krishna, the young and accomplished artist certainly exhibited the potential of becoming a great musician himself. As he strives in this blissful musical path, may Lord Guruvayurappan shower his blessings on the young vidwan to soon reign in the world of Carnatic music as a “Raja”, true to his name!
Read this and more Community stories on www. voiceofasiaonline. com
Avance -NFLA GOLF Tournament RAISED $80,00+ for their early start Education Program
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vance HOUSTON,s Board Secretary and Golf Tournament Chair help raise $80,000 during Avance-NFLA Golf Tournament where more than 10 NFL players played with the golfers at Wild Cat Golf Course on November 2,2015.
This was Avance’s 2nd Golf Tournament Fundraiser. Indian Community supported Avance’s Education program. Avance also got support from IACF in the past years. Surender Talwar and his friend Pradeep A. Gokhale are ready for prime time when it comes to golf. Both community leaders helped raise more than $80,000. Dr. Vanitha Pothuri also donated towards this educational cause. Pradeep Gokhle and his team of golfers including Ashok Rao placed 2nd competing against former National Football League players and Surender officially scored a hole in one on his first outing using a very unorthodox method. Surender Avance Board
Pradeep Gokhale with NFL coach
Surender Talwar, Chair of the Golf Tournament Fundraiser ready to drop golf balls from helicopter
Secretary and Event Chair flew in a helicopter to do the “ball drop”. Players purchase golf balls with an assigned number. The balls are then dropped from a helicopter and the ball that falls closest to the hole wins a prize. At the ball drop, Surender landed the winner a very rare hole
in one. For his effort he won a portable golf practice net. Surender states, “It was my first time golfing and what a miracle to land a hole in one. I will consider taking golf lessons and hopefully they will let me use a helicopter.“ Avance works with parents
and their children and instills the value of parent engagement and a pre-school education to ensure student success in school. According to Surender, “I have met Avance families and see how their dreams to see their children succeed are realized through Avance. “
Charlie Davis, Sherman Smith, Ed Biles, Allen Angel, Jonathan Stupar, and Willie Tullis.
VOICE OF ASIA 15
Section 2
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Bollywood Masala
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
Ranbir Kapoor willing to do Pakistani films
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Don’t return awards, address issues: Kareena
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AHORE - Bollywood star Ranbir Kapoor would like to work in a Pakistani movie, given it is a “quality” project with a great story. Ranbir and Deepika Padukone interacted with the Pakistani media via a video conference arranged here on Friday as a part of the promotional drive for their film “Tamasha” that hits both Indian and Pakistani theatres on November 27. The 33-year-old “Barfi!” star said he was open to the idea of working in a Pakistani film. “I can look at a quality project with a great story.” “My family has always worked for the welfare of cinema. It is true that the Indian film industry is bigger compared to Pakistan s industry. The promotion and well-being of film culture in the region is the responsibility of local artists,” he said during the video chat There has been a speculation in the Pakistani entertainment industry about a possible appearance by the duo at their film’s Karachi premiere.
Ranbir Kapoor The young star noted that his family elders have in the past paid numerous visits to Pakistan for both professional and personal reasons. “Even I want to visit. There are so many cities and locations that I have to see,” Ranbir said. He added there was no competition between Pakistan and India films and both should work for the promotion of film culture in the region. The actor hopes “Tamasha” would turn the tide as it is does not have a cliched story and music.
“The audience will not forget the film’s music for years to come.” Ranbir said he would love to see Pakistani audiences turn up in large numbers for his film and make it a big success. Deepika, 29, said the Imtiaz Ali-directed movie is a family film with a very interesting story that has something for all sections of the society. The actress said it is a film, which has a strong portrayal of a woman, who never compromises on truth and added she was keen to see how women like the film, especially her role.
Kareena Kapoor Khan said: “Returning an award would not solve any problem. We should learn to address the issue (of intolerance) rather than getting it upon ourselves. It is not a personal issue, it is the issue of entire nation.”
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AIPUR, Nov 20 (PTI) Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor Khan has disapproved of the trend of writers and filmmakers returning their awards to protest “growing intolerance in the country” and advised them to instead address the issues bothering them.
Shilpa Shetty’s ‘The Great Indian Diet’ book to show healthy weight loss
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hilpa Shetty is excited about launching her book “The Great Indian Diet” in the presence of megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan among others.
The “Bajrangi Bhaijaan” star said she was inspired by the firm stand taken by youths on issues facing the country. “I haven’t returned any awards. But whatever is going on (in the country), the retaliation of youths (over different issues) that is what really inspired me,” the 35-year-old said when asked to comment on filmmakers returning awards to protest “rising intolerance” under the present Government. Kareena was in Raipur to take part in a series of programmes based on children organised by Unicef, School Education and Women and Child Development Departments of Chhattisgarh Government. The popular star is Unicef India’s “celebrity advocate” for education.
Actress-entrepreneur Shilpa Shetty is excited about launching her book “The Great Indian Diet” in the presence of megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Anil Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan among others. The actress says it will guide people on healthy weight loss. “I feel grateful that I have a great panel of celebs who are willing to come it’s very sweet of them,” Shilpa told IANS. “The Great Indian Diet” is co-authored by Luke Coutinho. With her offering, Shilpa hopes to shine the spotlight on several taboos associated with Indian food.
“Returning an award would not solve any problem. We should learn to address the issue (of intolerance) rather than getting it upon ourselves. It is not a personal issue, it is the issue of entire nation,” she said in a press meet today.
She appreciated the efforts of Unicef and State Government to promote education among children, especially those residing in the remote areas of Chhattisgarh. Earlier, addressing a programme held to mark the culmination of Child Right Convention Week, Kareena stressed on improving the standard of education and simultaneously increasing enrolment of stu-
Shilpa Shetty at the launch of her book
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dents in schools. “Though enrolment of students in schools has increased significantly, quality education is still an issue of concern. Ensuring quality education to every child is one of the major challenges before us.” Quality education and advanced learning techniques in a school can collectively ensure progress of a child to attain a better future, she added. Kareena also advocated for facilities like separate toilets for girls in schools, availability of clean drinking water for students and improving access to schools. On the occasion, Chief Minister Raman Singh launched a mobile mobile-cum web-based application `CG Edutrack’ jointly developed by Unicef and School Education Department. The application will help in monitoring the presence of teachers and students in Government-run schools.
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VOICE OF ASIA 16
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
HEALTHY LIVING VOICE OF ASIA
Section 2
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The Next Cancer Research Frontier Texas Oncology is a leader in community-based oncology research. We offer patients access to an extensive network of clinical trials, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Participation in any trial is completely voluntary, and patients may opt out at any point. Terri Pustilnik, , MD Gynecologic oncologist by Terri Pustilnik, M.D.
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ew discoveries from research impact our world every day. Just look around your desk or home. How many cell phones do you have that weigh a few pounds and require an antenna? When was the last time you watched a movie on your Betamax player? Those have been made obsolete because of research-driven technological advancements. Preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer is no different. Doctors and scientists are constantly developing new hope for patients through more effective drugs with fewer side effects, innovations in radiation technology, new surgical techniques, and other less invasive treatment options. Behind each breakthrough is a lengthy process involving years of painstaking research. For every success, there are multiple setbacks. An integral part of this process is clinical trials to test new therapies and technologies or new ways to make existing treatments better. Patients who participate in these trials gain access to potentially lifesaving treatments long before they are widely available, while paving the way for others to benefit from new treatment discoveries. In the past, clinical trials were almost exclusively the province of large academic medical centers. Accessing a trial required patients to uproot their lives, sometimes leave their support networks and relocate, often for months at a time. Thankfully, that is no longer the case. As cancer care has evolved from a ‘hospitals only’ experience to community-based and mostly outpatient treatment, so too has the opportunity to participate in clinical trials.
Bringing clinical trials and research studies to patients where they live has many benefits. Studies show patients who travel shorter distances to receive treatment are more likely to complete a treatment regimen. Taking away the stress, disruption, and costs of travel make it easier for those who participate in clinical trials and their loved ones to play an active role in their healthcare. Research also benefits fu-
ture patients. Every treatment modality we currently use has gone through a similar process, made possible by yesterday’s trials and research. It is exciting to think that work being done today can positively impact generations to come. Cancer doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone in any city, or any small Texas town, and not just those living near a big, academic hospital. Through US Oncology Research programs and affiliations with National Cancer Institute-funded studies, Texas Oncology physicians and patients have played a role in more than 50 FDA-approved cancer-fighting drugs, nearly one-third of all cancer therapies approved by the FDA to date, with more on the horizon. Hundreds of patients participate in hundreds of trials across Texas
each year. As physicians, we are honored to play a part in continuing to improve cancer care for our patients today as well as the patients of tomorrow. Making clinical trials available across our practice is another key component of our commitment to delivering comprehensive, high quality cancer treatment to the communities we serve. It gives our patients the best weapons to fight their cancer: leading-edge therapies, familiar surroundings, and with vital support networks nearby. To learn more, visit www.TexasOncology.com/Clinical-Trials. Dr. Terri Pustilnik is a gynecologic oncologist with Texas Oncology’s Deke Slaton Cancer Center in Webster, Houston Memorial City, Houston Medical Center, and Sugar Land locations.
Free Weight Management Seminar at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital UGAR LAND - December brings fun holiday parties, sweet cookie exchanges and family gatherings with an abundance of delicious food—and excessive calories. It’s no wonder weight loss tops the list of New Year’s resolutions.
S
But only a few weeks after resolving to lose weight, it’s easy to find yourself back in front of the TV, chips in hand while ignoring the dusty exercise bike in the corner. One survey found that 35 percent of people who make resolutions break them by January 31, and according to the National Weight Control Registry, only 20 percent of dieters succeed at long-term weight loss. But don’t despair; mimicking the habits of the 20 percent could move you into that exclusive group. Here are some tips on how to be successful in your weight loss journey. KEEP IT POSITIVE Think about the healthy behaviors you intend to create, not the bad ones you wish to break. Take a simple activ-
ity you already do daily, and create a new healthy habit to accompany it. For example, you might try stretching immediately after waking up or eating a handful of baby carrots after taking your daily multivitamin. SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS Put your plan and your reasons for losing weight in writing. Create modest, short- term goals, such as skipping fast food one day a week or taking one flight of stairs at work. Prepare for success by stocking the kitchen with healthy, easy-to-prepare foods. Keep apples and nuts at hand to ward off snack attacks, and repackage food into single servings to avoid overeating. Allow for an occasional treat, preferably planned, served in a single portion on a plate and savored one leisurely bite at a time. EXAMINE WHAT WORKS The National Weight Control Registry is a database of more than 10,000 adults who have lost at least 30 pounds and maintained the loss for at least one year. Participants
keep food diaries, stick to their diet even on weekends and get back on track quickly when their weight edges up. Other winning habits include exercising an average of one hour daily, eating breakfast every day, weighing yourself once a week and watching less than 10 hours of TV each week. The average American watches 28 hours a week, which contributes to a sedentary lifestyle and potential weight gain. Learn more at houstonmethodist.org/weight-management, or visit our Facebook page at fb.com/methodistsugarland for the latest news, events and information. FREE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SEMINAR A slimmer you is in sight. Join us on Tuesday, January 19 to learn about comprehensive weight loss programs, including Step LITETM, medical weight management and bariatric surgery, and also enjoy a healthy cooking demonstration. The seminar begins at 6 p.m. in Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital’s Conference Center. Registration is required. Call 281.274.7500, or register online at houstonmethodist.org/events to reserve a seat.
Tel: 713-774-5140
Guide For Medicare Application for those turning 65 soon If you are within three months of age 65 or older and not ready to start your monthly cash benefits yet, you can use our online retirement application to sign up just for Medicare and apply for your retirement or spouses benefits later. Before you decide, you need to be sure that you understand how waiting until later will affect: Your Health Insurance Coverage Medicare is our country’s health insurance program for people age 65 or older. The program helps with the cost of health care, but it does not cover all medical expenses or the cost of most long-term care. • Hospital insurance (Part A) helps pay for inpatient care in a hospital or skilled nursing facility (following a hospital stay), some home health care and hospice care. Medical insurance (Part B) helps pay for doctors’ services and many other medical services and supplies that are not covered by hospital insurance. Should I Sign Up For Medical Insurance (Part B)? When you sign up for Medicare, you will be asked if you want to enroll in Medical Insurance (Part B). If you do not choose to enroll in Medicare Part B and then decide to do so later, your coverage may be delayed and you may have to pay a higher monthly premium unless you qualify for a “Special Enrollment Period.” Special Enrollment Period (SEP) If you are age 65 or older and your medical insurance coverage is under a group health plan based on your, or your spouse’s,current employment, you may not need to apply for Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (Part B) at age 65. You may qualify for a “Special Enrollment Period” (SEP) that will let you sign up for Part B during: • Any month you remain covered under the group health plan and your, or your spouse’s, employment continues; or • The 8-month period that begins with the month after your group health plan coverage or the employment
Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com it is based on ends, whichever comes first. If you want to know more about enrollment periods for Part B, please read the information about general and special enrollment periods in our “Medicare” booklet. Medicare enrollment using online application It’s convenient, quick and easy. There’s no need to drive to a local Social Security office or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative. Use our online application to sign up for Medicare. It takes less than 10 minutes. In most cases, once your application is submitted electronically, you’re done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if we need more information. Otherwise you’ll receive your Medicare card in the mail. Medicare is managed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Social Security works with CMS by enrolling people in Medicare. If don’t already have an account, you can create one online. Go to Sign In or Create an Account. Once you are logged in to your account, select the “Replacement Documents” tab. Then select “Mail my replacement Medicare Card.” Your Medicare card will arrive in the mail in about 30 days at the address on file with Social Security. If you can’t or prefer not to use the online service: Call 1-800-772-1213
Major US doctors group urges ban on drug ads Miami, United States | AFP | Tuesday 11/17/2015 - 20:59 GMT | 284 words Members of a major US medical association called Tuesday for a ban on advertising prescription drugs to consumers, saying the practice helps drive up prices and harms patient health.
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Chair-elect Patrice Harris. About $4.5 billion is spent promoting prescription drugs in the United States annually, and many health experts say soaring drug costs are making some treatments for cancer, hepatitis C and other illnesses out of reach for some of the nation’s most vulnerable people. Advertising dollars spent by drug makers have increased by 30 percent in the last two years, according to recently published market research. The practice is increasing demand for expensive treatments, even when there are cheaper alternatives available, the AMA said. “Direct-to-consumer advertising also inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs,
even when these drugs may not be appropriate,” Harris added. Only the United States and New Zealand allow direct-toconsumer advertising of prescription drugs. In other nations, it is already banned. “In a worst-case scenario, patients forego necessary treatments when drugs are too expensive,” said Harris. The AMA said it will also “encourage actions by federal regulators to limit anticompetitive behavior by pharmaceutical companies.” Prices of generic and brandname prescription drugs have been climbing in the past several years, and rose 4.7 percent in 2015, according to the Altarum Institute Center for Sustainable Health Spending.
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Big Data tells shoppers what’s hot for holidays
W
ASHINGTON - Is the Apple Watch a hot item for the holidays? What are the most popular Lego and Barbie toys? IBM has put its Watson supercomputer to the task of using Big Data to help shoppers on the hunt for trendy seasonal gifts. The US computing giant has launched a “Watson Trend” smartphone app that “distills the sentiment of tens of millions of online conversations by scouring 10,000 sources across social media sites, blogs, forums, comments, ratings and reviews.” This aims to give shoppers a real-time ranking of hot prod-
ucts. “You can browse top overall trends or view the top trends within each category to know the latest and get a sense of zeitgeist, a snapshot of this day in history,” IBM said on its website for Watson Trend. “Watson interprets data daily and can tell you what real people are saying about it in real time. Watson reports on the pure numbers, not its opinion.” IBM said it is “harnessing the collective knowledge of billions of people on the planet to help shoppers easily make more informed decisions.” The new app launched last week is the latest iteration for
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Watson, which gained fame in 2011 for defeating human opponents on the “Jeopardy” quiz show and is being used in health care, cooking and investment applications, among others.
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New York 5 ways to manage proplaunches erty taxes for seniors app to fight terror
filing for the Elderly Homestead Exemption, seniors should protest the value of their home and get the value reduced as much as possible. Once they file for the Over 65 Exemption on school taxes, the assessed value of the home usually cannot be increased unless improvements to the property are made.
N
For the holiday season, IBM predicts that consumers will turn to their mobile devices more than their desktop to seek out the best buys.
ew Yorkers can now warn authorities of suspect activities with a tap, thanks to a smartphone phone app to fight terror unveiled Monday on the eve of the US Thanksgiving holiday.
Some of the hot items trending Monday included the Apple Watch, Samsung TVs, Sennheiser headphones and the new “Call of Duty” video game.
With “See Something, Send Something,” people in New York state can quickly send information, be it a short text or photograph, to the New York State Intelligence Center.
Mary Belan Doggett
“Star Wars” Legos topped the toy category and Nike running shoes led the health segment.
Once the app launches on their phones, users must enter their name and phone number and can then send the information right away.
Property values continue climbing across Texas. Seniors need to take advantage of every possible way to minimize taxes on their home. Five things they should do:
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by Mary Belan Doggett
1. Every homeowner 65 or older should claim the Elderly Homestead Exemption. This knocks off $10,000 from the appraised value of the home for school taxes. This is in addition to the $25,000 homestead exemption (as of the Nov. 3 election) available to all Texas homeowners. Local taxing entities such as counties and cities may be able to offer additional $3,000 exemptions.
“Please send a note with as much detail as possible,” it asks for users sending messages. Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced that the Metropolitan Transit Authority was hiring 46 police officers to boost the counterterrorism capacity of public transportation, including at the Grand Central and Penn rail stations.
2. Explore various ways to pay property taxes. For those who can’t afford a lump sum, one-time payment, state law allows seniors to pay in four quarterly, equal installments without penalties or interest. In some counties, the bill may also be split into two parts, with half due Nov. 30 and the remaining half due June 30, without penalties or interest.
“These new efforts are essential pieces in our fight against terrorism,” Cuomo said in a statement. “We have stepped up our preparedness in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, and we continue to remain vigilant against those who seek to spread fear and violence,” he added, referring to the November 13 assault on the French capital.
3.
Before turning 65 and
4. Seniors might also want to consider a tax deferral when they turn 65. In other words, stop paying property taxes by applying to the local appraisal district for a deferral. If granted, a deferral means the homeowner who lives in the home is not required to pay any property taxes on it. But be aware: A deferral means taxes still accrue even though you don’t have to pay them. The unpaid bill is also assessed 8 percent annual interest. When you die or no longer live in the home, your surviving spouse or heir may be responsible for back penalties or interest if the taxes remain unpaid 181 days after the deferral expires. The exception is that if the surviving spouse is 55 or older, they can keep the deferral in place. 5. Those who inherit property should not put off paying any property taxes due. If the appraisal district discovers that the 65+ exemption remains in place the year after the property changes hands (and the new owner isn’t eligible), they will supplement the tax roll with the difference in taxes, and may assess back penalties and interest, if not paid quickly. Mary Belan Doggett is VP and division general counsel for Propel Financial Services.
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HOROSCOPE
VOICE OF ASIA 18
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Your Horoscope for the Week of November 27, 2015 READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE
by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950
ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM
Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct
Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April Need to do more planning in order to attain your goals. Many new aspects of your life will shine brightly if you do. Take more time to imagine all that can be. Your intuition can successfully lead you to improve areas of your life that are really lacking. Spending may go on the rise but for ‘basic necessities’ and possibly some ‘sport injury repairs’ on some of you, especially IF you ‘play outside sports’. Fun gatherings, long talk but ‘heated tempers’ may take up some.
Your strong emotional feelings and you may have you second guessing everything. You need to dig deep and be honest about how you feel. Try your best to keep pace with everyone else. You may need to rejuvenate your present physical state. Get yourself on a regime to keep fit. A ‘rift’ may unfold with you ‘smack in the middle’. Don’t try to appease everyone; back the person who is right but do it low profile. Upgrade domestic life, making others happy and getting everyone ‘on the same page’ is likely to be your chief aim!
Scorpio (N,Y) 23 Oct to 21 Nov
Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Need to find a better way to pursue your current goals. Strong emotional ties may be threatened if you continue on your current path. Your schedule is full, but you need to find time to please your loved ones. They will appreciate your sentiment much more than you think. A very uncomfortable week is sadly, likely for many and staring out with a spike in some level of ‘personal stress’ most likely, when issues seem to almost ‘fix on their own’.
Trying not to get lost in your own world; allow other to enjoy your interests. Creative conversations will lead to a better understanding of yourself. Communicate! If you express your viewpoint, you’ll continue bringing others together. Your positive energy will enable you to reach higher. Your stars show you may have to be one of those ‘Jack of all trades’ this week fixing, solving and serving in a wide range of capacities, especially for youth and elders...........
Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec
Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Sensitivity to another’s dilemma which will help you to win them over. You cannot please everyone, but you can be very flexible to other’s needs. You need to push your ideas harder. Don’t allow others to flounder and waste your time. Get yourself equipped for any future possibilities. Pitfalls, personal upset and a variety of ‘complaints and different challenging family dynamics exchanges’ appear very likely throughout the entire week , peppered here and there, mostly, but that one appears to be either you or another ‘jumping to a conclusion’ of some kind.
This being a good time for a little rest and relaxation, time to re-charge your batteries. Keep your commitments to an absolute minimum. Others may try to reveal themselves in mysterious ways. You know very well who you are dealing with and will be able to intrigue them. SEVERAL pit falls wait for the Archer this week starting right out with when you are prone to excess, over spending and having issues with ‘clashes over/with other members’.
Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan
Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Your well thought out ideas which can help deal with a sad situation. Your touch will be noticed. Expect much honest appreciation for who you are. Your leadership skills will be required to organize others. Feel free to express your ideas to back them up. Be yourself in all you do. This may be one of those week where all you want to do REALLY, is just SURVIVE the damn thing!
Fine tuning and some last minute touches may push you to resist change. Take a deep breath and look at the problem from a different angle. You’ll find yourself involved in interesting topics of conversation. This will allow you to ponder new ways to flow. Try to keep your options open. This is flat out NOT a good week for you, especially the evening of the weekend. You may get some cooperation from family members but that’s about it.
Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb
Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Recognizing a change in your positive flow will affect other’s attitude. Some mysteries may be solved if you continue to follow up on your hunches. You will hear some good news that makes you feel more empowered. Friends, neighbors and family will help celebrate your new venture. A vehicle expense or short range trip expense is highly likely and the big message later that day is ‘don’t push your luck’ press and issue or get too aggressive or speak about issues ‘too far in the future’.
Your research opportunities which will open a new perspective. Your interpretation of events should give you some answers. Your sensitive mood will brighten when you realize how much happiness you can spin. Your strength of character will overcome your fears. Ideal conditions to be ‘heard and understood’ could be undermined by unintentional actions, so be tolerant and forgiving and hold a ‘re do’ or give them a second chance. You may be indispensable to elders or parents due to Long talks.
Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March
Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September Special people in your life whom will show you their gratitude. Take them up on their offers. Push through the hype and find your perfect fit. Your professional expertise will be recognized where it really counts. Envision your life and continue to immerse yourself in your career. This is a week of poor cooperation and many needs/requests ‘on your back’. IF you direct, request and address the smallest issues/needs first and then keep ‘moving on to the next’.
QR
Need to give yourself a little more personal freedom. Change the atmosphere by putting a positive spin on everything you do. Your physical and mental health may need to find new outlets. Break away from seriousness and allow your sense of humor to take over. A challenging week is likely from the jump with only showing a modicum of cooperation likely from members. Several errands, possibly a local ‘dash out’, may be the cause of some cost/expense or hassle.
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Houston Community College North Forest Campus Project NOTICE TO PROPOSERS: Request for sub-contractor proposals for Northeast College – North Forest Campus Project “Durotech, Inc., as Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for Houston Community College System, will receive proposals from subcontractors and vendor trades for the Northeast College – North Forest Campus Project, based on documents issued by PGAL Architects. A Non-Mandatory Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 2.00 P.M., local time at the HCC Northeast North Forest Voc-Tech Campus, 6010 Little York Rd., Houston, TX 77016. Proposals and qualification statements will be received by Durotech,Inc., until 2:00 P.M. local time on Wednesday, December 09, 2015, in the presence of the Owner and Architect at the offices of Durotech,Inc. at 11931 Wickchester Lane, #205, Houston, TX 77043-4501. Proposals may be emailed to bids@durotechgc.com or faxed to 281-496-5637. Prevailing wage rates in conformance with Texas law will be paid on this project. All proposals shall remain valid for sixty (60) days. Durotech, Inc. is committed to meeting the SBE goals set for this project and encourages all SBE firms to submit a proposal for this project. Drawings and Specifications will be available for review at the offices of Durotech, Inc., and at the plan rooms of AGC, Dodge Data & Analytics, Virtual Builders Exchange, Brazos Valley Contractors Association, Construction Data and CMD Group. Contact Sidhesh Kakodkar (sidheshk@durotechgc.com) or Alan Montgomery (alanm@ durotechgc.com) at 281-558-6892 for information on this project. The Owner, Architect/Engineer and Construction Manager reserve the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive any informalities and irregularities in the proposal process, and to make the awards in the best interest of HCC. By submitting a proposal, each proposer agrees to waive any claim it has or may have against the Owner, the Architect/Engineer, Construction Manager and their respective employees arising out of or in connection with the administration, evaluation, or recommendation of any proposal; waiver of any requirements under the Proposal Documents, or the Contract Documents; acceptance or rejection of any proposals; and award of a Contract.”
Know Your Words Here’s your chance to be a Vocabulary Sleuth!
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Befog- To confuse. Befriend- To be a friend to, especially when in need. Begrudge- To envy one of the possession of. Belate- To delay past the proper hour. Belay- To make fast, as a rope, by winding round a cleat. Free community events on: www.voiceofasiaonline.com Calendar! Got a favorite word? Let us know! Email us: ads@voiceofasiagroup.com
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Amazing facts ow ou from all over the WORLD! now!
• Your fingernails grow faster in cold weather. • Four out of five people over the age of 100 are women. • Moles can dig more than 300 feet in a single night. • The Ribbon Worm will eat itself if it can’t find food. • Baby rabbits are called… kittens.
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READ DAILY! 15 - 30 minutes of reading daily helps your brain focus better. Grab a novel! A Community message from Voice of Asia Group
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Houston Community College Notice of Procurement Opportunities Project No. IFB 16-05 Reroofing at HCC’s Administration Building, 3100 Main A pre-bid meeting for IFB 16-05 will be held at HCCS Administration Building, 3100 Main, Houston, Texas 77002, on Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. (local time). Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs.edu/district/ departments/procurement. Sealed bids will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, December 15, 2015.
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
Houston Community College Notice of Procurement Opportunities Project No. IFB 16-04 Reroofing at HCC’s Katy Campus A pre-bid meeting for IFB 16-04 will be held at HCCS Katy Campus, 1550 Foxlake Drive, Houston, Texas 77084, on Thursday, December 3, 2015, at 2:00 p.m. (local time). Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs.edu/district/ departments/procurement. Sealed bids will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, December 15, 2015.
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Houston Community College Request for Proposals (RFP)
Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs.edu/district/ departments/procurement. RFP 16-12 Bridgepoint Series 1 Milling Machine – HCC Stafford Campus. RFP 16-13 Grinder, Drill Presses and Horizontal Band Saw HCC Stafford Campus. RFP 16-14 HAAS CNC Lathes, Mills and Simulators – HCC Stafford Campus. Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Tuesday, December 8, 2015.
Houston Community College Request for Proposals (RFP) Pest Management Services Project No. 16-09 Documents can be obtained at: www.hccs. edu/district/departments/procurement. Sealed proposals will be received in Procurement Operations (3100 Main Street, Room No. 11A06, Houston, Texas 77002) until 2:00PM (local time) on Wednesday, December 16, 2015. Read Voice of Asia for Community News
VOICE OF ASIA 20
FRIDAY, November 27, 2015
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