Voice of Asia Feb 28 2014 by VoiceOf Asia

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FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Are You Self Employed or Employer Under Obama Care? Read.... Read on Page 18 Or Call 713-771-2900.

Vol. 27 No. 9 Friday, February 28, 2014 Published Weekly from Houston 713-774-5140 24 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Indian-American ﬁrm to pay $15 million to resolve fraud claims

EW YORK (PTI) - A diagnostic ﬁrm founded by an Indian-American physician, will pay over $15 million to the federal government to resolve allegations that it falsely billed for health tests that were never performed. Diagnostic Imaging Group (DIG) has agreed to pay 13.65 million dollars to the government and an additional 1.85 million dollars to New York and New Jersey to resolve the allegations. The allegations were raised in three lawsuits brought by private individuals in 2009 and 2010 in federal courts under the whistleblower provisions of

Guru Puja Divas celebrated by Sant Nirankari Mission followers in Houston ipate in various community services. The Guru Puja Diwas celebration started with community service at Houston Food Bank during the afternoon of February 22nd, 2014. Almost 35 saints offered their services in Houston Food Bank which helps homeless and poor people in the community. These community services make differences in our lives by developing compassion and understanding for the needy.

the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens with knowledge of fraud to bring civil actions on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The three whistleblowers would receive a total of about 2.77 million dollars under the settlement. The claims settled by the agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. DIG was founded in 1985 by Mumbai-native Leena Doshi, who came to the US in 1973 and studied radiology Continuied on Page9

Ashirwad’s 3rd Vedic Fair on March 1, 2014

HH Baba Hardev Singhji Maharaj

Saints including children continued this celebration on February 23, 2014 at the usual Sunday congregation. On this day saints actively participated in divine services with full enthusiasm and danced together to vent their joy and celebrate the occasion. An impressive Sewadal rally was held after that. Saints went for the “Sewadal Prayer” and prayed, “Bless me Lord, that I may walk my days, tranquil in the shadow of your guidance’.

ith the blessings of His Holiness, the Houston Texas family of saints celebrated Guru Pooja Diwas on February 23, 2014 at India House observing the 60th birthday celebration of His Holiness Baba Hardev Singhji Maharaj. This holy day is celebrated at all the branches of Sant Nirankari Mission worldwide. Missionaries mark this day as a day of service and devotees partic-

This wing of our Mission teaches the importance of discipline in our lives. A documentary of celebrations at many world centers, and live telecast from Delhi was shown in this congregation. The message of His Holiness was, “Treat everyone with love, even those who are rude to you; Not because they are not nice but because you are nice.” People from other organizations witnessed the occasion and paid salute to the Master. Rev Raj Bhala, the local in charge of Sant Nirankari Mission, thanked everyone for their efforts and conveyed the message of oneness. On this beautiful day, our sincere wish and prayer is that all of us really put our effort into experiencing this joy of sewa (selﬂess service). Let’s wear the costume of humility so that we can receive the love and cooperation of others.

Ayushi Sapru with her Last year’s presentation “Shivratri in Kashmir” in India Exhibit Presentation Competition.

he 3rd Ashirwad’s Vedic Fair 2014, A Par-Excellence affair for all, will happen on coming Saturday Mar. 1st, 2014 from 3:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Cinco Ranch High

School, 23440 Cinco Ranch Blvd Katy TX 77494. Vedic Fair 3 is a complete family entertainer. Continuied on Page 3

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OP-ED/OPINIONS/COMMENTARY

VOICE OF ASIA 2

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All rights reserved. No material herein or portions thereof may be published without the consent of the publisher. Voice of Asia assumes no liability resulting from action taken based on the information included herein. Published weekly by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713-7745143. Email for editorial submissions: voiceasia@aol.com; Email for advertising inquiries and submissions: advertisingvoa@aol.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Cesarean birth of Telangana State

ast month, I was in Hyderabad when the Telangana bill was being hotly debated in the Andhra Pradesh State Assembly and voted overwhelmingly against the Center’s proposal to bifurcate the State. The Center ignored State’s recommendation and went ahead with passing the Bill in the Delhi Parliament in a manner shameful to any functioning democracy. TV cameras in the Parliament were deliberately switched off and the whole bill comprising of thousands of pages was bulldozed through the Parliament in just under 2 minutes, amidst chaos, without a full debate on such an important issue. It was a painful Cesarean birth for the newest 29th State of India called “Telangana”. 60-70% of the people in the State did not want bi-furcation of Andhra Pradesh. Even the SriKrishna Commission appointed by the Centre did not recommend bifurcation of the State. The Commission in fact, de-debunked the perception that Telangana was underdeveloped. Telengana State was formed for political reasons, not economic. If it were economic, a special economic package for Telengana would have obviated the need for bi-furcation of Andhra Pradesh. Telengana offers 17 parliamentary seats and all political parties want those seats to form a Government in the next Parliament. Andhra Pradesh has fallen victim to these political games and consequently, Seemanadhra people who have sold their lands and migrated to

Hyderabad some sixty years ago, are afraid of the true intentions of the TRS party which demanded creation of the Telanagana State. However unjustified they might be, they are fearful that some day their loyalties may be questioned and asked to go back from where they came from. People are afraid of being labeled as domiciled settlers in what they once considered their own home State. The TRS party has a lot of work to do to allay these fears. George Bernard Shaw once said that England and America are separated by the same language. Telangana and Seemandhra are the latest examples in that context. Sadly enough, the so called intellectuals and academia of Andhra Pradesh, all stayed away from participating in Telangana’s political discourse fearing repercussions. They became silent spectators to the nasty games played by the politicians. Along with economic prosperity come political aspirations for self-rule. Unless a national policy is adopted in the Parliament that defines clearly the basis for formation of future states in India, demand for creation of new states like Vidarbha and Gurkhaland are bound to grow. You cannot create new States purely based on electoral calculus of political parties of the day which will add unnecessary financial and administrative burdens to the Indian Government. With best regards, Krishna Vavilala*

by Peter Weber he political press gets a lot of well-deserved ribbing for its premature horse-race handicapping of far-off presidential elections. But let’s face it: Politicians are willing, even eager, participants in the game. How else to explain Bobby Jindal’s (R-La.) pointed criticism of President Obama, on camera, on the White House grounds, after a National Governors Association meeting with Obama that, by all accounts, had been polite and relatively apolitical. Stepping to the microphone, Jindal — vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association — said Obama “seems to be waving the white flag of surrender” by focusing on raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, adding for good measure the sound-bitey line: “The Obama economy is now the minimum wage economy.” As Zeke J. Miller at TIME points out, that partisan sniping at the president “in the shadow of the West Wing” is “in defiance of established bipartisan protocol.” Indeed, Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy (D) stepped up to the microphone right away to call Jindal on his lack of decorum and “insane” statements. Jindal’s “break from protocol,” Miller adds helpfully, “is a signal to the GOP base that Jindal, a 2016 hopeful, is willing to take a forceful stand against the president.” And why not? Jindal’s second term as governor ends at the beginning of 2016, and term limits are preventing him from going for three. In fact, the governor isn’t even being particularly coy about 2016. Instead of issuing the standard denial about presidential ambitions and insistence that he’s just focused doing his job for his constituents, Jindal told reporters, “My honest answer is I don’t know what I’m going to be doing in 2016.” This isn’t the first time Jindal has been sized up as presidential material. In 2009, the Indian-American former Rhodes Scholar who’d been governor just a year was handed the plum assignment of giving the official response to Obama’s first State of the

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Why Bobby Jindal zinged Obama in the president’s front yard The Republican clearly has his eyes on 2016. And his “Kenneth the Page” national debut and sinking popularity in Louisiana aren’t insurmountable obstacles.

Meet yet another White House hopeful.

(AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Meet yet another White House hopeful. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Union address. It didn’t go well, cementing Jindal not as a rising GOP star but a doppelgänger of Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock: The Kenneth comparison isn’t a deal-breaker, but Jindal also has to contend with dour poll numbers at home. A new survey by Democratic pollster PPP recorded Jindal’s approval number at 35 percent; even Jindal’s internal polls show his approval at only 50 percent. More worrisome for Jindal, in the few 2016 presidential polls that include him, he tops out at 5 percent; his RealClearPolitics average is 3.7 percent, putting him in last place. Again, at this early stage, anything is possible in 2016. Few people had Barack Obama at the top of their most-likely-to-succeed lists two and a half years from the 2008 election. If Jindal wants to grab the attention of the primary-voting Republican base, attacking Obama right outside his house is an obvious way to go about it. And it’s hard to ﬁgure out what else Jindal’s performance means other than a strong signal that he’s in for 2016. If you’re sick of hearing

about potential 2016 frontrunners, though, Obama probably has you beat. With almost three years left in his term, it’s probably pretty annoying that so much energy is spent trying to read tea leaves about who the next man (or woman) will be. He good-naturedly chided the

governors, telling them at the meeting that he “enjoyed watching some of you with your eyes on higher ofﬁce size up the drapes, and each other.” If Obama can enjoy it, great. He’d better at least get used to it. Source: THE WEEK

Voice of Asia (USPS 010-215) (ISSN#10705058) is published every Friday (for a subscription rate of $30 per year) by Free Press LLC, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074. Tel: 713-774-5140. Fax: 713774-5143. Periodical postage paid at Houston, Texas. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Voice of Asia, 8303 SW Freeway, Suite # 325, Houston, TX 77074 It is the policy of Voice of Asia to publish letters to the editor which evidence a variety of viewpoints. The opinions expressed in any particular letter to the editor are not necessarily those of the management. Voice of Asia welcomes letters in reply to issues raised in letters to editor. In as much letters to the editor are not articles written or researched by members of Voice of Asia, it is not the policy of the Voice of Asia to perform any investigation or conﬁrmation of any facts or allegations contained in letters to the editor. Moreover, Voice of Asia reserves the right to edit letters to the editor as necessary to correct errors of fact, punctuation, spelling and to comply with space constraints. - The Publisher

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VOICE OF ASIA 3

C OMMUNITY VOICE OF ASIA

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Second Front Page

Friday, February 28, 2014

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Ashirwad’s 3rd Vedic Fair on March 1, 2014

VSGH to host interfaith dialog to celebrate Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday afternoon, from 3:30 till 5:30 at the VSGH Center (see ad). This year we have invited representatives of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism.

The speakers include Senior Minister Ken Richter of the First Congregational Church of Houston who believes in progressive thinking and that the future of Christianity revolves around offering an open, nonjudgmental spiritual resource which empowers people to make choices which beneﬁt not only themselves, but the community as a whole.

by Sanchali Basu

Arjun - The Chosen, Last year’s stupendous play directed by Geetha Ravula Continued from Page 1 At the entrance of Vedic Fair 3 a diorama of Mahadev Shiva’s abode Kailash (Kool Kailash in Katy) along with 16 ft Manasa Sarovar (Divine Lake) will be built by our extremely talented IACHF architects. Water from Manasa Sarovar will be on display. You can perform pooja in Kailash. Take pictures for fond memories with Mighty Mahadev & Beautiful Parvati. Authentic Pictures of 18 shak-

thi peetas taken by a young devotee Vamshitha Kundoor who visited them all will be on display along with her in person sharing her journeys. Young teens will guide you through a powerful presentation on how to visit Kailash. After crossing Kailash, you will enter 50+ India Exhibit Presentation Competition area to experience, various presentations on India, taste Cooking Competiton {Sathvik} & see Gorgeous Gollu display

by Nappinai. Also you can attend “How 2 Workshops” consisting of Yoga, Meditation by Shriram Sarvotham, Rangoli by Sangita Bhutada, Sanskrit by Chandra Raghu & Hema Chandru, Indian Classical Dance by Indrani Parthasarathy, Saree Styles by Praveena Kadakia, Dandiya by Nisha Mirani, Ayurveda by Ushadevi Pillai, Indian Wedding by Ashirwad A Blessing, Dhothi by Ravi Sethuraman & Homeopathy by Anusha Thiagarajan. After exiting the

Tel: 713-774-5140

ne of the goals of VSGH (Vedanta Society of Greater Houston) is to spread the idea of harmony of religions based on Sri Ramakrishna’s experience that all religions lead to the realization of the same Reality known by different names in different religions. The Society honors and reveres the founders of all world religions and thus while we celebrate Sri Ramakrishna’s birthday this year with a special worship in the morning, of March 9, we will also be holding an Interfaith Dialog in the

The second invited speaker Elliot Gershenson, is the president and CEO of the Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston, which brings people of diverse faith traditions together for dialogue, collaboration and service, as a demonstration of their shared beliefs. They work with Meals on Wheels for Greater Houston, Refugee Services in conjunction with the U.S. State Department, Ofﬁce of Disaster Preparedness and Response, and provide a safe harbor for Houstonians through its many interfaith programs and dialog

auditorium you will cross over into Vedic Bazaar to satisfy your taste buds by enjoying delicious North India, South India & Sathvik dishes. Also you get to shop for jewelry, dresses, toys, books, CDs, Orange your hands with henna tattoos, color yourself in face painting & twist a balloon for

your kid. After completing your shopping in Vedic Bazaar get back into the auditorium to enjoy the Talent Showcase segment, which includes “Vedic Walk” a color treat of Shiva Puran icons by Ashirwad Students & I am Shiva – The Mahadev, prime time 2 hour play directed by Ashirwad’s

efforts.

Venerable Pho Nguyen, the third invited speaker is from The Universal Door Meditation Center, which believes that once the root of suffering is realized, one automatically ﬁnds complete happiness and peace according to the teaching of the historical Buddha. The way to end suffering is to know that suffering comes from within. This inner exploration is without conﬂict or contradiction with any other practice or tradition, and this way is called a universal door and hence the name of their practice center. Swami Harinamananda, Resident Minister of the Vedanta Monastery, San Diego, CA will be the featured speaker to represent Hinduism. He conducts a study circle which explores many basic ideas of Vedanta in a deeper way, through selected readings and discussion. Being a young dynamic Swami of the Ramakrishna order, evenings of spiritual exploration, discussions, music, and/or multimedia presentations are emphasized at his center along with Yoga. chief teacher Geetha Ravula. All in all 3rd Vedic Fair management is assuring a joyful evening. For updates Like facebook.com/VedicFair or visit facebook event Vedic Fair 2014. H-Town DO NOT miss Vedic Fair 3, be there early and we know you will stay till the end.

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COMMUNITY/LEGAL

VOICE OF ASIA 4

YOUR IMMIGRATION LAWYER

The People’s Lawyer

Answers to your Immigration Questions by Sharlene Sharmila Richards, Immigration Lawyer: email at srichardslaw@aol.com

www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center

Landlord may require a guarantor Q. My son is 19 years old and has a full-time job. He negotiated a lease with an apartment complex and they are requiring that I sign as a guarantor. Am I required to sign? Can they refuse to rent to him if I don’t sign? A. I cannot tell from your question if your son had completed negotiations and signed a lease, or if he was still negotiating. As you will see, this matters. Basically, any landlord has the right to establish the financial guidelines for tenants. Even though your son is no longer a minor and has a job, the landlord may require a co-signer or guarantor if he believes that your son may not be able to fulfill his obligation to pay rent. If he was told at the time he negotiated the lease that he would need a guarantor, that has become a term of their agreement and if you do not sign they do not have to rent him the apartment. On the other hand, if your son had finished negotiating and signed a lease with the landlord without a guarantor, the landlord cannot come back and unilaterally change the terms to require your signature. Q. I signed a remodeling contract for $875 and paid in full. After the work was completed, the seller said he made a mistake and it should have cost $975. I do not think I should have to pay the additional $100. What is the law? A. The law regarding a mistake can be very complicated. In my opinion, however, in this case the seller should stand by his initial agreement. I am sure that if you told him you made a mistake and meant to pay $100 less, he would not just give you back the money. Generally, the law does not care if only one person to a bargain made a mistake. The agreement stands. The only time that a “unilateral” mistake (a mistake by one side) usually matters is when the other party knew about the mistake or tried to take advantage of the other person. For example, if he just added wrong and you knew at the time you signed the agreement that the total was $100 too low, you would owe the additional money. If at the time you signed the agreement, however, you believed that $875 was a fair price and that was how much you wanted to pay, my opinion is that you should not have to bear the risk that the seller made a mistake. Q. Can my wages be garnished for child support imposed by another state? A. I am often asked the question, and the simple answer is yes. Although as a general rule wages may not be garnished in Texas, there is an exception for child support. This includes child support obligations from another state. Most states have agreements with Texas making it very easy to enforce an out-of-state support order.

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT AH-1B VISA (cont...)

Sharlene Sharmila Richards

Q: Our company wishes to petition for several H-1B workers for the 2015 Fiscal Year. When is the earliest we can ﬁle those petitions? A: The earliest a new H-1B petition can be ﬁled for the 2015 Fiscal Year is April 1st, 2014.

Q: We need to file several H-1B petitions for the 2015 Fiscal Year. When do we start the paperwork? A: Unless those H-1B petitions are cap exempt, for H-1B cap cases, since there are only 65,000 visas (and an additional 20,000 visas for advance degree holders from US institutions), and it is predicted that the visas will be exhausted within the first few days of the filing period which begins on April 1st, 2014, it is advisable that you begin working with your attorney as soon as possible. This is because the H-1B petition includes submitting all the necessary paperwork relating to the employee’s qualifications and experience. If a foreign degree is presented or if you intend to use work experience in lieu of a degree or in situations where there is a combination of education and work experience, then a credential evaluation must first be obtained and submitted in the petition. In addition to that, the petition requires the submission of a document known as the LCA (Labor Condition Application) which is certified by the Department of Labor. Also do not forget that most attorneys handling H-1B petitions become extremely busy during this period because they have numerous H-1B petitions to handle. As such, please contact your immigration attorney as soon as possible to ensure that your H-1B petitions are prepared and filed in a timely manner. Q: What are cap exempt H-1B petitions? A: There are some employers whose petitions are not subject to the cap and these include institutions of higher education, non-profit research organizations and government research organizations. These organizations can file their H-1B petitions at any time and enjoy lower filing costs because they are exempt from the 65,000 visa cap. In addition to that, the petitions for the following types of employees or beneficiaries are also cap exempt: those petitions to extend H-1B status, change of H-1B employment terms or those involving change of employers as well as those who are already on H-1B but wish to take up a concurrent H-1B position with another employer. Lastly, the cap exemption also applies to employees who are currently outside the US after having held H-1B status during the past six years, have not exhausted the entire six years and have not spent a full year outside the US. 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. 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 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. Also you can visit www. houstonimmigrationattorney.com

Q. We own two homes. Our vacation home is paid off. My husband has a $15,000 loan that he has not paid. Can we be forced to sell our second home to pay off the loan? Can I just give the home to my adult child? A. As you may know, your homestead (the house where you live) is protected from your creditors and cannot be taken even if you were sued. A vacation home, on the other hand, is not protected. If you were sued and lost, the creditor could force the sale of the property to pay the judgment. Giving the property away to protect it from creditors generally is not a good idea. This type of a transfer would be considered a “fraudulent transfer” under Texas law. This means the creditor could void the transfer between you and your child. My advice is to contact the creditor and try to work out a payment plan.

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COMMUNITY

VOICE OF ASIA 5

DAVSS children raise $12036 for Jeevan Prabhat Readathon

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kick offâ&#x20AC;? campaign, a promising start for FBISD Trustee candidate Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala

DAVSS children who participated in the Readathon seen with teachers and members of ASGH.

by Roma S. Nayyar his year, the DAVSS children raised $12036, including matching funds from their patrons Ashutosh Garg, Ankur Sanghi, Sanjay Sood and Sushma Mahajan. Top fundraisers were Roma Nayyar, Shivam Nayyar and Anusha Sood, raising a total of $4120 between them. DAVSS Star Readers were Mahi Tomar, Vipashchit Nanda and Siddhant Arora reading over 31000+ pages between them. In all, 17 of the participants raised more than $100 each during the Readathon. The Readathon kicks off on 14th of November (Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day and Chacha Nehruâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s birthday), and runs through Martin Luther King Day each year. It has achieved such success because of the tireless dedication and commitment of Smt. Bharati Patil, Smt. Kiran Ahuja and Smt. Preeti Rana Tomar, with unstinting support of Arya Samaj of Greater Houston, (ASGH) stalwarts Dev Mahajan ji and Shekhar Agrawal ji. In December 2004, a terrible tsunami ravaged the east coast of India affecting not only the land and coastline but also de-

stroying the lives of children who were left orphaned and families left sundered. Many were left without homes, and without family, and there was massive destruction and sorrow. Soon afterwards, various organizations started working towards rehabilitating these lives, a process that required time as well as funds. In 2005 ASGH started the Jeevan Prabhat Readathon to help raise funds for many of the children orphaned by the tsunami. All funds raised in the Readathon go towards beneďŹ ting Jeevan Prabhat Pondicherry, the orphanage that ASGH helped to establish. The Readathon is unique to itself, and ever since its inception, it has been a way of not only uniting the children of Jeevan Prabhat and Arya Samaj but also uniting the members of the Arya Samaj Greater Houston community. The entire community comes together to give the kids at Jeevan Prabhat a better, brighter future. By doing this, they strive to make the world a nobler place, following one of the core principles of Swami Dayanand, the founder of Arya Samaj, â&#x20AC;&#x153;to make the whole world nobleâ&#x20AC;?.

During the Readathon, children read books and collect pledges from family and friends. The Readathon has been met with outstanding support from everyone at Arya Samaj, and each year, becomes bigger and better. The bar is raised every year with more kids participating, more books being read, and more money being raised. Jeevan Prabhat Pondicherry is a state of the art institution, and the children residing there are provided with the best education, food, and clothing possible. It is a nongovernment institution, run and managed by volunteers, and in large part funded by support from ASGH including funds raised during the Readathon. It has been a phenomenal success story, with some of the children there now preparing to go to college to pursue their individual careers and dreams. Recently, a new pen pal program was started by some of the students in AYM, the Arya Youth Mandal (a branch of D.A.V. Sanskriti School) a Sunday school program at Arya Samaj. The ďŹ rst letters have been sent, and replies are being eagerly awaited.

L-R: Jeff Wiley, President Fort Bend Economic Development Council, Ken Mathew Stafford city council member, Mayor City of Missouri City Allen Owen and Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala. By Manu Shah

UGAR LAND: The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kick offâ&#x20AC;? campaign for Fort Bend ISD Trustee candidate Dr. Ramesh Cherivirala, held on February 12th got off on a solid start at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce with strong endorsements from Mayor of Missouri city Allen Owen and Constable Precinct 4 Trever Nehls. Elected ofďŹ cials, State Rep. Rick Miller, Council members Harish Jajoo, Ken Mathew and Floyd Emery along with several prominent members of the Indo-American community were present to show their support. City and school elections normally do not mix but schools and school systems strongly affect what happens in our city and that is why Mayor Owens strongly endorsed Dr. Ramesh for the school district. According to Mayor Owens, Dr. Ramesh and he â&#x20AC;&#x153;shared the same beliefs regarding educationâ&#x20AC;?. Not all kids go to college and it was vital that high school children be taught vocational education that would give them a skill and help

them procure a job after leaving school. He believed that Dr. Ramesh would work to offer school kids â&#x20AC;&#x153;all kinds of opportunitiesâ&#x20AC;?. Mayor Owens also urged the gathering to encourage friends and neighbors to vote on May 10th for sometimes â&#x20AC;&#x153;even those who put up signs in their yard donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go and vote.â&#x20AC;? Constable Nehls next took the podium to give a brief introduction about Dr. Cherivirala. Having known Ramesh for almost a decade, he claimed that it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;a distinct pleasure working with him.â&#x20AC;? He lauded Cheriviralaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extensive involvement with the community for the past 18 years by serving in several leadership positions and totally concurred with his belief that â&#x20AC;&#x153;successful children began with parents.â&#x20AC;? An active and prominent Indo American, Dr. Cherivirala credits his success to his education which is why he is passionate about the cause of education. In his address, Dr. Cherivirala stressed on three issues that if elected, would take priority - a supportive and

competitive academic environment and the safety of children, teachers and the staff in the school districts. Tax payers want their tax dollars spent wisely and Dr.Cherivirala does come with the best ďŹ nancial credentials possible. As partner in New York Life, Sugarland, (a Fortune 100 Company) he has been living and breathing money management successfully for the last 11 years! Dr. Cherivirala concluded his address by thanking the gathering for their support and welcomed any suggestions and concerns. Closing remarks were made by former Fort Bend Board of Trustee Sonal Bhuchar. She recalled seeing Dr. Cherivirala â&#x20AC;&#x153;drag boxes of booksâ&#x20AC;? for school children and believed that he possessed not only the â&#x20AC;&#x153;intellectual horsepower to oversee the spending of half a billion dollars for the future education of 70,000 children and 73 campuses but also the passion and commitment towards education and children.â&#x20AC;? In her closing statement, she urged the gathering to support a man who will make not just a 100% commitment but a 200% one!

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IACAN Raises Cancer Awareness Through Its Educational Seminar

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

ASIE Memebers Congratulate City of Houston Councilman and Professional Engineer Steve Costello for the prestigious “Engineer of the Year” Award

(L to R): Treasurer Raj Basavaraju, Board Member Mahendra Korivi, Board Member Sai Gowthami, Chiaman of Board of Advisors Dinesh Shah, Vice president Showri Nandagiri, 2014 Engineer of the Year – Steve Costello, Member Srikanth Punukula, ASIE President Sekhar Ambadapudi, and Board Member and 2014 Young Engineer of Year awardee Naresh Kolli.

L-R: Dr. V. K. Dorai, Snehal Desai,MD Sunil Patel MD. Shalin Shah MD , Dr.Alejandro Chaoul, Dr. Beverly Gor, Kanchan Kabad, Gayathri Kongovi and Sarvesh Bhavaraju by Gayathri Kongovi

he Indian American Cancer Network (IACAN) opened its 2014 series of outreach educational seminars on cancer with a thought provoking topic- “ The Rising Tide of Cancer Among Asian Indians.” It was held at the India House on Sunday, February 16, 2014 from 3PM-5PM. The distinguished panel of speakers included Beverly Gor, EdD, Instructor, Center for Health Equity and Evaluation Research, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Sunil Patel M.D., Medical Oncologist, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Katy, TX, Alejandro Chaoul, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Director of Education, Integrative Medicine Program, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. To an audience of about 80 people, the panel of experts gave an overview of the increasing trend of cancer among Indian Americans, preventive steps through early screening, lifestyle changes and integrating practices like yoga and meditation. As the first speaker of the seminar, Dr. Gor highlighted the fact that the Indian American community represents the second largest Asian group in the Houston Metropolitan area and continues to grow. Yet there is very little information about their health needs. The anecdotal evidence from the community indicates that cancer and other chronic diseases are increasing in this population. The ongoing South Asian Health Needs Assessment (SAHNA) survey conducted by IACAN in collaboration with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is important because it will help identify the cancer needs of the Asian Indian community in the Houston/ Galveston area. With the results of the survey, programs can be developed to address their needs. The second speaker, Dr. Patel gave a medical perspective of cancer and cancer prevention. He defined cancer as a group of more than 100 diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. Up to two-thirds of cancer deaths are thought to be preventable. Cancer is something that develops many years after exposure. The decisions that we make now can affect our future health. Also, the habits that our children form today will affect the future of their health. His advice was: avoid tobacco and second hand smoke, eat healthy, incorporate more fruits and vegetables in your diet. Exercise, maintain a healthy weight, protect from the sun, limit or avoid alcohol consumption. Dr. Patel stressed on the importance of early screening tests to detect the cancer at an early stage. Early diagnosis has better prognosis and higher cure rate. Dr. Chaoul, the third speaker described how our mind could heal the body. Life stress can cause DNA damage and accelerated telomere shortening. A variety of mind-body practices like Yoga, Meditation and Tibetan Sound Meditation, have been designed to enhance the mind’s capacity to affect bodily function and symptoms. The scientific study is going on and the results are promising in reducing the risk for cancer and cancer survivorship. Shalin Shah, M.D., a board

member of IACAN moderated the seminar and the Q & A session. In order to fund its programs IACAN will be hosting a Gala “ Celebrating Life” on April 19th 2014 at Houston Marriott Westchase located at 2900 Briarpark, Houston, TX. 77042. For

additional details contact IACAN. The Indian American cancer Network (IA CAN) is a cancer resource network that educates and supports the Indian American community. . For more information visit www.iacannetwork.org or call 713-370-3489.

HOUSTON - During National Engineers Week Celebration, the Houston Chapter selected the Councilman of City of Houston and a Professional Engineer Steve Costello for the award. With forty plus years of experience as civil engineer, expert in the ﬁeld of drainage has earned him honors as 2014 Engineer of the Year (EOY). Since 1991, he is the Principal of Costello Inc. an engineering and surveying ﬁrm. Members of American Society of Indian Engineers (ASIE) attended the

event on February 21 at Bayou City Event Center and Congratulated Steve Costello. This prestigious award was started since 1951. Steve Costello is the 64th awardee. His integrity and professional ethics exeplify all the qualities that have made him a resepcetd engineer by presenting an EOY award. “To my knowledge, I am the only practicing civil engineer who has served on city council”, said Costello, “The only other engineer I know of was a full-time councilman.”

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VOICE OF ASIA 7

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

10 Indian-Americans in race Indian-Americans save most for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college education for 2014 elections in US

ASHINGTON (PTI): Even as the 2014 general elections in the US are still more than eight months away, as many as 10 Indian-Americans have already announced their decision to enter the race for elected public ofďŹ ces, including the House of Representatives. Ami Bera, the only IndianAmerican Congressman and the third ever, is seeking re-election from the 7th Congressional District of California. Another Indian-American Kamala Harris too announced her decision to seek re-election for Attorney General of California. Republican Neel Kashkari has entered the fray for the top post of Governor of California. If elected, he would be the third ever Indian-American Governor after Bobby Jindal of Lousiana and Nikki Haley of South Carolina. However, all eyes are expected to be on the 17th Congressional District of California from where Ro Khanna, the former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce in the Obama Administration, has thrown up a

serious challenge to his own party colleague Mike Honda. Khanna has not only raised a record amount of fund, but has also taken services of the victory team of the Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reelection campaign. The 17th Congressional District has gained added attraction as another Indian-American Vanila Mathur Singh, an associate professor at Stanford Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s School of Medicine, has entered the fray from the Republican Party. While Singh has little chance of winning the seat, this would be for the ďŹ rst time that two Indian-Americans are contesting against each other from one Congressional seat. Upendra Chivukula, the ďŹ rst Indian-American lawmaker in the New Jersey State Assembly, this month announced his intention to try his luck for US House of Representatives from 12th Congressional District of New Jersey, which is being vacated by his own party colleague Rush Holt. Chivukula would have to win the Democratic primary this summer to bag the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ticket for November elections. He had lost

the 2012 House elections from a different seat. Never Give says the Iraq war veteran Manan Trivedi, who has announced to contest for the third consecutive House of Representatives election from sixth Congressional District of Pennsylvania. Top Republican leader Paul Ryan, who was the vice presidential candidate in the 2012 elections, is receiving a serious challenge from Indian-American Amerdeep Kaleka, from the ďŹ rst Congressional district of Wisconsin. Kaleka is son of the president of Sikh Temple of Wisconsin Satwant Kaleka, who was shot dead by a white supremacist in a Gurdwara shootout in 2012. Swati Dandekar, the ďŹ rst Indian-American to be elected to Iowa House of Representatives in 2002, is seeking to enter the House of Representatives from the ďŹ rst Congressional District of Iowa. She has received quite a support from Indian Americans. Indian-American Manju Goel is seeking election on a Republican ticket from eighth Congressional district of Illinois.

NRI arrested for raping Delhi girl

he Gurgaon Police has arrested a UK-based NRI man for allegedly raping a woman in Gurgaon on Saturday night. The 24-yearold victim, a resident of Laxmi Nagar area, knew the accused, who worked as a manager in an MNC. According to the police, accused Sauhar Singh took the woman to Gurgaon for shopping. Later in the evening, the two went to meet a friend of Sauharâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at his ďŹ&#x201A;at. The two men then served drinks laced with sedatives to the victim. Once she was unconscious, Sauhar raped her, said Ashok Kumar, Station House OfďŹ cer, Sushant Lok police station.

After committing the crime, the accused left the girl near Sikandarpur Metro station in the wee hours of Sunday morning.

Sauharâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s friend also raped her,â&#x20AC;? Kumar said, adding that the hunt is on to nab accused Sauhar and his friend.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the victim was unconscious at the time of the crime, it is not conďŹ rmed whether

The victim lodged a complaint at Sushant Lok police station on Sunday morning.

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This heavy emphasis on higher education, however, leads to times when Indian Americans prioritise saving for their children over saving for themselves, according to the third biennial 2013 State of the American Family Study. The study from Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company (MassMutual),offering a broad snapshot of Americansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ďŹ nancial viewsindicated that IndianAmericans are savers. One third of them indicating that they have six months or more of their monthly living expenses set aside as savings. The top two ďŹ nancial priorities of Indian-American for their savings are for their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college education and keeping the family ďŹ nancially shielded.

As a result, one quarter of Indian-Americans struggle between saving to pay for their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s college education and saving for their own retirement, the study notes.

and investments.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being an Asian Indian myself, I know and understand the importance that the community places on putting family ďŹ rst,â&#x20AC;? said Nimesh Trivedi, director of multicultural market support, US Insurance Group at MassMutual.

Despite such solid ďŹ nancial planning, only about a third are satisďŹ ed with their current ďŹ nancial situation and one third are worried about being able to meet their long-term ďŹ nancial goal.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;With the current cost of a college education, it can be challenging for parents to provide for several childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education and still be left with a surplus for their own future.â&#x20AC;? Indian Americansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; savings rate is not coincidental; as a group they are hands-on, when it comes to their ďŹ nances. An overwhelming 70 percent of Indian-American respondents want to be actively involved in all decisions regarding their ďŹ nances, while just over half indicated that they tend to do their own research and make their own decisions about insurance

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VOICE OF ASIA 8

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

BASGH Celebrated the International Mother Language Day

Second segment was group songs by senior talents. In the third segment the Houston Durgabari Society also participated and sang songs.

Vibrant dance performances were the highlight of the event

etc. Smita, Purnata, Puspita, Sedra, Tithi, Maisha, Polin, Arita, Anonnya, Prova, Priyonti, Rishan, Rameen, Nubaid, Tinni and Sameen were participated in this segment. The second segment was group songs by senior talents. They performed a series of patriotic songs likes ‘Rakto shimul topto polash’ etc. In this group Banani, Jolly, Babli, Munni, Mina, Bithi, Sudipa, Rupa, Dolon, Hafiz, Mukul, Sheebly were participated. The third sessions was group dances by Smita, Sedra, Tithi, Maisha, Purnaota, Anonnya, Puspita, Polin, Tinni, Prova, Priyonti, Zaria which were choreographed by Madhumita. These were wonderful performances; audience enjoyed and loved these dances. The next segment was solo patriotic songs which were sung by Rupa Ghosh, Madhumita Barua, Amir Khoshru, Raj, Purnata, Puspita etc. and recitation by Hafiz, Monju, Arun Shaheen etc. A group of singers from Houston Durgabari Society also participated in this program. The program ended with a short tragedy drama which was adapted from the story ‘Ekushey February’ written by the famous writer and filmmaker Zahir Raihan. The excellent acting with appropriate background audio-visual effects was really a wonderful experience. Banani, Jolly, Molly, Dolon, Mukul, Pavel, Sheebly, Sohel, Arifin, Monju were participated in this drama. Hafiz was in narration, Rupa and Reaz were in music, Touhid, Tutul, and Mahbub were in stage management, Manna was in stage decoration, Dr. Rob was in photography and video, Moazzem was in Tabla. A mixed audience of around 400 people from different communities attended the event throughout the day. Audience thoroughly enjoyed the day visiting different stalls, testing delicious foods like snacks, lunch and with mesmerizing music in the morning. Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed Pavel, on behalf of the Board of Directors, thanks all volunteers, sponsors, vendors, artists, and well-wishers for successful 2014 International Mother Language Day event.

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angladesh American Society of Greater Houston (BASGH) celebrated the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at Maharaja Banquet Hall, Houston, Texas. In the morning, people from different communities solemnly joined the “Provat Ferry” (Mourning Procession) with wreaths and flowers, wearing black badges and flags and singing ‘Amar bhaiyer roktey rangano ekushey february’ to pay homage to the language movement martyrs. The Bengali nation remembers the supreme sacrifices of the valiant sons of the soil who fought for establishing rights of the mother tongue in 1952. Ekushey February, formally known as ‘Shaheed Dibash’ or ‘Martyrs Day’ has come to be observed as International Mother Language Day since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism after a proclamation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s general conference in November 1999. Every year, the expatriate Bangladeshi communities across the globe celebrate the day with much enthusiasm and fervor. BASGH have chalked out vibrant cultural programs (dance, drama, music etc.), youth programs, poetry sessions and photo exhibition to tribute our valiant sons who laid down their lives and made supreme sacrifices to establish our mother language ‘Bangla’. This event was unequivocally reflected the diversity and cultural richness of Houston, as well as the USA. The cultural program began with rendition of the national anthem of Bangladesh and USA. President of BASGH, Mr. Imtiaz Ahmed Pavel delivered his welcome speech at the beginning and inaugurated the program. Kids aged between 6 to 12 with colorful attire were all gathered by the side of the stage in a disciplined manner, presented a wonderful program with different spirited patriotic songs like ‘Eki oporup rupey maa tomay herinu polli jononi’

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VOICE OF ASIA 10

Indian American’s project on breast cancer secures 1st place at SEFH

OUSTON - Sachindra Sanamvenkata is a sophomore at DeBakey High School for Health Professions. Born in New Zealand to parents of Indian origin, he is a US resident and local Houstonian. He has had a strong goal since childhood to become an Oncologist and a cancer researcher. Sachindra ﬁnds cancer as one of the few diseases that have ravaged society for centuries. As a testament to his dedication, on February 22, 2014, his science fair project on breast cancer placed 1st place in Biochemistry/Microbiology at the Science and Engineering Fair of Houston (SEFH). He also won the Grand Award at SEFH. This qualiﬁed him for the prestigious Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Los Angeles, California on May 11-16. Participating at ISEF allows him to meet and greet with some of the world’s greatest thinkers. ISEF will place him and his project against some of the brightest, young minds on earth. However, he sees it as an opportunity to interact with likeminded peers, and he hopes to learn more about different advances in science and engineering while he is there. He envisions of one day

US ‘not targeting’ India, says FDA chief WASHINGTON, February 21, 2014 (AFP) - US regulators are not targeting India, despite a series of import restrictions on drugs from the major US trading partner, the head of the US Food and Drug Administration said Friday. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg briefed reporters after her first official trip to India, where she met with government and industry leaders earlier this month. India is the second largest US supplier of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, and its big pharma companies Ranbaxy and Wockhardt have faced a series of US import restrictions over safety concerns. “We are not targeting Indian countries. We are undertaking our required regulatory activities,” Hamburg said. “When products are sold in the United States for use by American citizens, then those products have to meet our standards.” While in New Delhi, Hamburg and the Indian health ministry signed their first statement of intent to cooperate in the field of medical products. Hamburg described as “encouraging” her conversations with high level representatives during her eight-day trip to India, the United States’ third largest trading partner. The FDA has 12 staff members in India, and plans to expand to 19, she added, describing the nation as “particularly important” to US food and drug trade. “The fact that we have increased our presence in India is true but it reflects that fact that India is a very significant and growing player in the US marketplace with respect to both pharmaceutical products and food.” At the start of Hamburg’s visit, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said India’s lower cost medicines should not be viewed as “cheap and spurious.” India’s generics industry is a major supplier of lifesaving drugs to the United States and over 200 other nations, many of them lower-income countries. In January, the FDA suspended imports from a fourth manufacturing plant for one of India’s biggest drugmakers, Ranbaxy, over violations from expected “good manufacturing practice.” Earlier Friday, the US regulator issued its first ever ban on tobacco products on four varieties of hand-rolled cigarettes called bidis by an Indian company headquartered in Illinois, Jash International. The United States last year also raised concern about high rates of contaminants, including salmonella, in Indian spices.

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Jolie meets Syria refugee children on visit to Lebanon

UN refugee agency envoy Angelina Jolie met orphaned Syrian refugee children in Lebanon.

Sachindra Sanamvenkata at the SEFH

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EIRUT (AFP) Hollywood star and UN refugee agency envoy Angelina Jolie met orphaned Syrian refugee children in Lebanon and called for an end to the war across the border, the UNHCR said Monday Syria s nearly three-year war reportedly killed more than 140,00 Syrians and forced millions to ﬂee, most of them to neighbouring countries like Lebanon. Jolie said meeting with orphaned Syrian children in the eastern Bekaa Valley was a "heart-rending experience" and thanked Lebanon for assisting Syrian refugees, the UN High

Commissioner for Refugees said in statement. "They have lost their families and their childhood has been hijacked by war. They are so young, yet they are bearing the burdens of their reality as if they are adults," it quoted Jolie as saying. Lebanon hosts nearly one million Syrians, most of them women and children. Jolie also welcomed a UN Security Council aid resolution adopted on Saturday as "a long overdue step in the right direction for the hundreds of thousands of innocent Syrian men, women and children trapped in hard to reach areas across Syria."

She voiced hope that the resolution would be "the start of a new phase in ending the conﬂict." The UNHCR goodwill ambassador also urged the international community to provide funds to help Lebanon cope with the refugee crisis which has exacerbated its own limited resources. "The generosity and solidarity shown by Lebanon and Lebanese to its neighbour serves as an example to the world for which we should all be grateful. We all need to help them bear this burden", said Jolie. This was Jolie s third visit to Lebanon on behalf of UNHCR.

VOICE OF ASIA 11

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

VOICE OF ASIA 12

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

LIFESTYLE

VOICE OF ASIA 13

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Vol. 27

No. 9 Friday, February 28, 2014

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

Billionaire boom for Asia in 2013 Singapore, Dhaka are best Asia experienced a billionaire boom last year, with more than 200 people from the continent seeing their net worth pass into 10 figures, a Chinese publisher said on Tuesday.

and worst Asian cities

EIJING: Asia experienced a billionaire boom last year, with more than 200 people from the continent seeing their net worth pass into 10 figures, a Chinese publisher said on Tuesday. A total of 824 Asians were included among the 1,867 people named as dollar billionaires on the Hurun Report’s global rich list. That was an increase of 216 on the previous year, accounting for just over half the overall rise of 414. Among individual countries, the United States led with 481 billionaires, the most in the world, followed by China’s 358, it added. At the top of the table, US technology giant Microsoft’s co-founder Bill Gates overtook Mexican telecom tycoon Carlos Slim as the world’s richest person, the luxury magazine publisher said. “The US economic recovery and an IT boom have driven the world’s billionaires to record levels,” Hurun Report chairman Rupert Hoogewerf said in a statement accompanying the survey. The richest person in mainland China -- property magnate Wang Jianlin -- shot up to 26th spot on the global list with his net worth doubling over the past year to US$25 billion. He ranked 72nd last year, according to the report. Hoogewerf told reporters that 90 Chinese billionaires held “senior political advisory positions”, including 31 delegates to the National People’s Congress, China’s rubberstamp parliament, and three representatives to the last Communist Party Congress. “I think it’s a co-option...

At No 25 in Mercer’s Worldwide Quality of Living Survey, Singapore is the top Asian city to live in. (Photo credit Reuters). File photo of a gold coloured Ferrari 458 Italia parked on a street in Shanghai, China. (AFP/Peter Parks) it’s part of the whole package of being successful,” he said. “They would like access to the political elite, plus the political elite wants to hear their opinions, because they are big taxpayers and they are big employers.” But inclusion on a Hurun rich list can be a mixed blessing for wealthy Chinese, intensifying public and government scrutiny of them and their companies. Some have subsequently been investigated or imprisoned, among them Huang Guangyu, who was proclaimed China’s highest net worth individual three times, most recently in 2008. Huang was jailed for 14 years in 2010 for illegal business operations, insider trading and corporate bribery. Businessmen “don’t really want to be on the list”, Hoogewerf admitted, but said they were becoming more willing to talk about their wealth as they expand their activities overseas. The world’s dollar bil-

ASIANET

lionaires had a total wealth of US$6.9 trillion, more than Japan’s entire GDP, the report said.

List 2014, with assets of US$64 billion and US$62 billion respectively, it showed.

Gates replaced Slim, chairman of mobile phone carrier America Movil, as the globe’s wealthiest individual with his net worth rising 26 percent to $68 billion as of January 17, it said.

Slim and his family took fourth spot, after their wealth fell nine percent year-on-year to US$60 billion due to currency and share price movements, the report said.

US investment guru Warren Buffett and Amancio Ortega, founder of Spanish textile giant Inditex, which owns global fashion brand Zara, ranked second and third on the Hurun Global Rich

Slim remained the world’s richest person with assets of US$73 billion on the 2013 ranking by US-based Forbes magazine, followed by Gates on US$67 billion. It listed a total of 1,342 billionaires.

Worldwide, Vienna, Zu-

Glass fans were advised it is proper to follow the same rules set down for smartphone use in businesses.

It was the final suggestion in a recommended code of conduct posted online for software developers and others taking part in an

The California-based Internet titan appeared intent on avoiding the kinds of caustic run-ins that have seen some Glass wearers tossed from eateries, pubs or other establishments due to concerns over camera ca-

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The city offering the worst quality of life was Baghdad followed by Bangui in the Central African Republic and the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince. Singapore and Dhaka were ranked in 25th and 208th positions respectively with Baghdad in 223rd position. Political

instability,

crime and pollution levels were among the factors taken into account by Mercer which carries out research into 460 cities worldwide for its Worldwide Quality of Living Survey. Many of the cities are ranked jointly. “In an increasingly globalised economy, cities beyond the traditional business and financial centres are improving quality of life in order to attract foreign firms,” said Emmanuel Rivere of Mercer France.

Don’t be “creepy or rude (aka, a “Glasshole”),” Google said in a guide posted online for Explorer program members.

oogle on Tuesday gave early adopters of its Internetconnected eyewear a bit of advice: don’t be “Glassholes.”

Explorer program providing early access to Google Glass.

rich and Auckland were named as the best places to live, followed by Munich and Vancouver. Paris was ranked 27th.

pabilities built into devices.

“Respect others and if they have questions about Glass don’t get snappy.”

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Japan took all the other spots in the Asian top five, with Tokyo in second place followed by Kobe, Yokohama and Osaka, according to the annual ranking by the Mercer consulting group.

Google asks Internet eyewear fans not to be “Glassholes”

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ARIS - Singapore on Wednesday topped an international survey of the best cities in Asia for expatriates while the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka was named the worst.

Google suggest Glass wearers be polite and offer demonstrations to possibly win over the wary.

“If you’re asked to turn your phone off, turn Glass off as well,” Google said. “Breaking the rules or being rude will not get businesses excited about Glass

Google glasses and will ruin it for other Explorers.” - Don’t ‘Glass-out’ In the wake of one early adopter claiming Glass gave him headaches, Google told users not to “Glass-out” by starring into the inset prism screen for long periods at a time. Glass was designed to

deliver helpful bursts of information conveniently to let wearers get back to doing things in the real world, according to the technology firm. “If you find yourself staring off into the prism for long periods of time you’re probably looking pretty weird to the people around you,” Google said.

VOICE OF ASIA 14

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

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VOICE OF ASIA 15

Friday, February 28, 2014 by Dawn Dugan, (Salary.com contributing writer).

Young Life Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

8 College Degrees with the Worst Return on Investment

ollege: Is it Worth It? What’s more expensive than going to college? Until recently, the answer was easy: not going to college. Numerous studies over the years have shown that individuals with college degrees significantly out-earn those with high school degrees by $1 million or more over the course of a lifetime.

These Careers Might Make You Happy, But Fail the Tuition ROI Test

Methodology To calculate ROI for a specific degree, we first determined the overall cost of the degree. We allowed the degree holder four years to graduate. Using data from a recent College Board study, we assigned a figure of $37,343 as an average cost of a four-year public liberal arts degree, and a figure of $121,930 for degrees earned at four-year private colleges. The total cost included tuition, room and board, and books, and did not factor in scholarships or grants. We then determined the median cash compensation over the course of 30 years of typical jobs requiring that degree using Salary.com data. We used current Salary.com figures, but added 4.3% per year to account for inflation and cost of living increases. To determine ROI, we subtracted the cost of the degree from the gains over 30 years, then divided that figure by cost. 8. Sociology People who enter the field of sociology generally are interested in helping their fellow man. Unfortunately, that kind of benevolence doesn’t usually translate to wealth. Here are three jobs commonly held by sociology majors (click on job title and/or salary for more info): SOCIAL WORKER Median Salary: $47,121 30-Year Earnings: $2,779,195 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 73% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 21% CORRECTIONS OFFICER Median Salary: $39,630 30-Year Earnings: $2,337,376 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 61% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 18% CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY COUNSELOR Median Salary: $47,210 30-Year Earnings: $2,784,444 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 73% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 21% 7. Fine Arts Artists are respected, revered and celebrated. The trick is achieving that status while they’re still alive. After all, the term “starving artist” didn’t come from nowhere. Here are three jobs commonly held by workers with a fine arts degree: MUSEUM RESEARCH WORKER Median Salary: $48,401 30-Year Earnings: $2,854,689 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 75% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 22% GRAPHIC DESIGNER Median Salary: $47,753 30-Year Earnings: $2,816,470 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 74% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 22% PAINTER/ILLUSTRATOR Median Salary: $37,819 30-Year Earnings: $2,230,563 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 58% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 17% 6. Education Ah teaching. One of the noblest professions. And while it stands to reason we’d pay great sums to the chosen few who shape the minds of future generations, it doesn’t quite work out that way. Here are three commonly held jobs in education:

When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal. DAYCARE CENTER TEACHER Median Salary: $27,910 30-Year Earnings: $1,646,131 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 43% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 13% ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary: $52,241 30-Year Earnings: $3,081,172 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24% HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER Median Salary: $54,473 30-Year Earnings: $3,212,815 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 85% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 25% 5. Religious Studies/Theology Talk about finding your calling. While devoting your life to the church and dedicating your life to the service of others is laudable, it’s not going to leave you with a lot of profit after you earn your degree. Here are three commonly held jobs theological jobs: RELIGIOUS EDUCATOR Median Salary: $47,957 30-Year Earnings: $2,828,502 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 75% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 22% CHAPLAIN -- HEALTHCARE Median Salary: $51,127 30-Year Earnings: $3,015,174 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 80% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24% ASSOCIATE PASTOR Median Salary: $61,811 30-Year Earnings: $3,645,610 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 96% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 29% 4. Hospitality/Tourism You’re the wizard behind the curtain. The one who’s working like a dog to make it all happen while everyone else is enjoying the fruits of your labor. Unfortunately, there isn’t always a lot of financial benefit after earning your degree. Here are three commonly held hospitality jobs: MEETING/EVENT PLANNER Median Salary: $55,476 30-Year Earnings: $3,271,972 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 87%

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Tel: 713-774-5140 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 26% HOTEL RESIDENT MANAGER Median Salary: $65,076 30-Year Earnings: $3,838,180 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 102% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 30%

CATERING MANAGER Median Salary: $42,533 30-Year Earnings: $2,508,595 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 66% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 20%

But as the cost of education increases faster than inflation and the economy remains relatively weak, people are beginning to question how they spend their education dollars. As student loans hit the $1 trillion mark and more and more graduates are faced with years of paying staggering monthly payments, many are starting to ask themselves, “Is it worth it?” While there’s no doubt that a college degree increases earning power and broadens opportunities, today’s high cost of education means it makes sense to more carefully consider which degree you earn. When it comes to return on investment (ROI), not all degrees are considered equal. This article exposes eight college degrees with poor ROI.

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

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3. Nutrition It’s hard work making sure everyone else eats right, preparing nutritious meals and/or checking to make sure the nation’s food supply is up to snuff. But all that hard work and education necessary to land this job might not turn a huge profit. DIETICIAN Median Salary: $53,679 30-Year Earnings: $3,165,985 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 84% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 25% FOOD SERVICES MANAGER Median Salary: $56,711 30-Year Earnings: $3,344,813 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 89% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 27% FOOD SCIENTIST Median Salary: $64,019 30-Year Earnings: $3,775,838 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 100% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 30% 2. Psychology We’re starting to notice an unfortunate trend regarding doing work for others with minimal pay. Maybe you can get inside the head of someone influential and find out why workers in this field don’t get paid more for these jobs: HUMAN SERVICES WORKER Median Salary: $22,738 30-Year Earnings: $1,341,086 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 35% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 10% CAREER COUNSELOR - HIGHER EDUCATION Median Salary: $43,384 30-Year Earnings: $2,558,787 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 68% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 20% BEREAVEMENT COORDINATOR Median Salary: $52,200 30-Year Earnings: $3,078,754 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 81% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24% 1. Communications You’d think the ink-stained newsrooms and TV studios are full of wealthy and famous journalists. Not quite. Although these skills require lots of education and training, they buried the lead regarding the lack of payoff. Check these communications jobs out: COPYWRITER Median Salary: $52,549 30-Year Earnings: $3,099,338 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 82% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 24% NEWS REPORTER Median Salary: $37,393 30-Year Earnings: $2,205,438 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 58% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 17% MARKETING COORDINATOR Median Salary: $50,455 30-Year Earnings: $2,975,834 ROI of Degree Earner Attending Public College: 79% ROI of Degree Earner Attending Private College: 23% Be Prepared We know money isn’t everything. A lot of people do these jobs and have great and fulfilling careers. But as the cost of education increases, it’s important to know if you’ll get your money’s worth and see a postive ROI. Good luck. Courtesy: Salary.com

BOLLYWOOD MASALA

VOICE OF ASIA 16

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Highway: Celebrating bondage over bonds of marriage

Tel: 713-774-5140

Abhishek gifts SRK a cycle, SRK gifts Abhi12.5 crore bike by Daliya Ghose

hahrukh Khan’s return gesture to Abhishek is as big as his superstar tag. Recently, Abhishek gifted King Khan a bicycle and Shahrukh gifted Jr. Bachchan a swanky bike worth Rs 12.5 crore as a return gesture. The bike was parked outside Abhishek’s Juhu bungalow and the actor is delighted to receive the gift from Shahrukh. Recently, Shahrukh also gifted his wife Gauri Khan an expensive Mercedes on Valentine’s Day. In the past, Shah-

rukh and Abhishek’s relationship was not so pleasant. Their relationship turned sour when Shahrukh dropped Ash from ‘Chalte Chalte’ and following which Ash-Abhi did not invite Shahrukh and Gauri to their wedding in 2007. A friend of Shah Rukh told Mirror, “Shah Rukh is in a very happy place these days. After the success of Chennai Express, he hasn’t stopped smiling. His on-going film too is making brisk progress.” Shahrukh, Ash and Abhi patched up at Karan Johar’s

birthday party few years back and now they are all great pals. They dropped in at each other’s place very often and party together. Abhishek and Shahrukh shared screen space in ‘Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna’ and now again they teamed up for comedy drama `Happy New Year` directed by Farah Khan and produced by Gauri Khan under the banner of Red Chillies Entertainment. The film stars Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Abhishek Bachchan and Boman Irani in the lead role.

IFFI organising body official Vishnu Wagh sacked Alia Bhatt in a still from Highway

“

In bondage, she found freedom.” That’s the tagline in the trailer for the Hindi movie Highway, and it makes you wonder if the film will be appalling or merely clueless. It’s neither, although it has tone trouble as it searches for a genre to contain a story with built-in believability problems. The “she” who finds freedom is Veera (Alia Bhatt), a rich urbanite whose wedding preparations we see in the first, claustrophobic scenes. “Let’s run away,” she tells her strait-laced fiance. He’s willing to go for a drive but warns of the dangers of leaving the city. And lo and behold, the minute she steps out of his fancy car at a gas station in Nowheresville, bandits nab her. The director, Imtiaz Ali (Rockstar), doesn’t soft-pedal the violence of Veera’s kidnapping or the rough treatment she receives at her abductors’ hands. She’s gagged and bound and slapped and tossed in the back of an old truck. One of the kidnappers gropes her.

tow remains. The fact of the abduction means that a creepiness hovers over the romance, which has other obstacles to overcome, most important the class difference. If the road seems romantic to Veera (“I don’t want to get to where we’re going”), it’s only a dead end to Mahabir, a poor man on the run.

fares less well, though he has the movie’s best scene:

The cinematographer Anil Mehta’s lovely, unfussy images ground the film and show us a good bit of India. (It was shot in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir.) Ali’s story, though, wanders too long and too far, sometimes coming off like a forced mash-up of It Happened One Night and Patty Hearst. No wonder the film can’t sustain a tone, wavering between realism and Bollywood hokum.

“I’ll never have this,” he says, and you know he’s right. It’s as if he were tossing cold water onto the movie’s moony fantasizing. Freedom, he reminds us, isn’t always an option.

Bhatt has an openness and emotional transparency that help make her character something more than a screenwriter’s bad idea, even if you never quite believe that she’s attracted to Mahabir. Hooda

In the mountains, Mahabir and Veera find a little cabin, which Veera proceeds to spiff up. Mahabir peers through the door but can’t go in. He turns his back, crying. He tries to enter again. Soon, he’s sobbing. The picture of domestic bliss is too much for him.

BJP legislator Vishnu Wagh, the vice chairman of ESG - a state government run body was today replaced with former party legislator Damodar Naik. The notification comes two months after ESG successfully hosted IFFI 2013, a ten-day long event of the international films. Wagh was heading various

by Vinod Talreja

orn on February 25, 1981, Shahid Kapoor is one of the most handsome actors in B-town today. He was born to actor Pankaj Kapur and actor/classical dancer Neelima Azeem. Shahid started his career by featuring in music videos and

The sudden removal came a day after Wagh publicly rebelled against Manohar Parrikar-led government, opposing its policy on medium of instruction (MoI) in elementary education. Wagh had joined a group which heralded protests against the government on MoI policy,

The BJP legislator had challenged the party yesterday to take action against him and expel him. Goa Congress unit president John Fernandes had recently said at a press conference that Wagh was being considered as a candidate for the Lok Sabha polls from North Goa seat. Wagh had rubbished the rumours stating that he is still a BJP MLA. When contacted, Wagh was not available for comment. Courtesy: PTI

advertisements, and made his Bollywood debut with Ishq Vishk and won a Filmfare Award for Best Male Debut for his performance. He followed it with films like Fida and Shikhar, and had his first major commercial success with Sooraj Barjatya’s Vivah. He earned nominations for the Filmfare Best Actor Award for his performances in super hit films like Jab We Met and Kaminey. He followed this initial success with roles in a series of commercially unsuccessful films before starring in the semi-hit R…Rajkumar. Kapoor identifies himself as a vegetarian. While filming Fida, he began dating Kareena Kapoor. Their relationship lasted for four years after which they parted ways during the filming of Jab We Met. Post their break up, Sasha has decided to keep his personal life away from media attention. He has maintained that he has since been single. Despite this, he has been linked to tennis sensation Sania Mirza and heroines like Vidya Balan, Priyanka Chopra, Nargis Fakhri and Sonakshi Sinha more recently. The Kapoor lad has just returned from Srinagar after completing his Haider schedule and is currently in Goa celebrating his special day with close

The naturalism and violence (and threat of rape) in these scenes make them an uncomfortable prelude to what comes next: a love story. Suddenly, Veera is not afraid. “Maybe I’ve lost my mind,” she says, and maybe she has. She begins to fall for the brooding, monosyllabic Mahabir (Randeep Hooda), one of her kidnappers. At this point, Highway morphs, sort of, into a lighter, slightly more comic film, a road movie with plentiful scenery, some dancing and some yuks. But a dark under-

Gourmet India

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor friends. We ask our in house expert and astro numerologist Bhavikk Sangghvi to predict what the future holds for Shahid Kapoor on the eve of his 33rd birthday. Bhavikk says, “Shahid is highly creative but hence also very moody. He can be soft spoken and family loving, but at the same time very temperamental and aggressive.

He will acquire what he wants from life no matter what and will get it on his terms. Even money would keep flowing in and he shall have no major monetary problems as such ever in life. He should learn to keep his secrets of life to himself as he easily gets targeted by negative forces around him which may hamper his progress personally as well as professionally.”

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The Goa government in a notification today cancelled the appointment of Wagh as the vice chairman of ESG and also chairman of Kala Academy another state run cultural body.

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Shahid Kapoor turns 33

Bhatt convincingly shows us the fear in Veera’s eyes and her hopelessness. She escapes briefly, running herself ragged on a salt flat under a star-speckled sky. “Where am I?” croons the singer on the soundtrack.

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VOICE OF ASIA 17

ENTERTAINMENT

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

6th Annual Houston Public Hugh Jackman goes desi, Library Reel Teen Film Festival wears turban Submissions Being Accepted by Sonal Gera

he Houston Public Library is accepting film submissions for its 6th Annual Reel Teen Film Festival. The Festival will take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2014. The Reel Teen Film Festival encourages teens in understanding the art of cinema and to foster creativity. The Festival is open to teens in grades 6-12 and the deadline for submission is March 31, 2014. Teens will be allowed, for the first time, to submit their film production as YouTube video. An application must be filled out and sent in with the submission. All videos must adhere to the Festival guidelines. All submissions are free and open to the public. Prizes will also be awarded at the Reel Teen Film Festival in May 2014. For entry applications and more details visit www.houstonlibrary.org/reelteen-film-festival or email any questions or comments to: hpl. reelteenfest@houstontx.gov. GUIDELINES Open to teens in grades 6-12 Content must be suitable for viewing by all ages The films must be the participant’s own work All submitted films must be no older than January 1, 2013 FORMAT DVD or YouTube Video Entries can be mailed to: CENTRAL LIBRARY Attn: Reel Teen Film Festival, 4th floor, Teen Room 500 McKinney St. Houston, TX 77002 LENGTH OF FILM* Feature/Narrative, Animation and Documentaries: minimum of 2 minutes, maximum of 5 minutes Movie Trailers and Book Trailers: 2 minutes or less Music Videos and Broadcasts: 1 - 2 minutes PSA/Commercials: 30 seconds or 60 seconds HPL Summer Reading Promotion: 30 seconds or 60 seconds * Films that exceed the required time limit will not be accepted; this includes credits. *Each filmmaker may submit no more than two films. The films cannot be in the same category.

Disney launches cloud film service for mobile devices NEW YORK - The Walt Disney Co. announced Tuesday the launch of a service allowing users of iPads and iPhones to access hundreds of movies via the Internet cloud. “Disney Movies Anywhere” is being offering as an app for Apple devices which “enables consumers to discover, purchase, manage, and watch movies from Disney, Pixar, and Marvel at home and on the go.” “Disney Movies Anywhere offers an exceptional consumer experience built around some of the most beloved and popular entertainment brands in the world,” said Alan Bergman, president of Walt Disney Studios. “This unique technology underscores Disney’s commitment to meeting our consumers where they are with the content they want, and we’re thrilled to debut with iTunes, the number one digital media retailer in the world.” Users will be able to link their iTunes account to Disney Movies Anywhere to create a “digital movie locker” of streaming films stored in the cloud. It will also be offered for desktop and laptop computers. Consumers who have purchased Disney films released since 2008 will be able to use the codes on those titles to watch on their tablets, phones or computers, the company said in a statement. The system is built upon Disney’s proprietary digital rights locker, KeyChest.

*Please turn in copies, not the original work. NOTE: All films must be the teen’s original work. Groups may participate. All submitted films must be no older than January 1, 2013. Films may be on any topic. All films will be previewed for content. Teens whose projects are selected for screening will be contacted before the Festival. PRIZES WILL BE AWARDED FOR: • Best Feature • Best Documentary • Best Animation • Best Commercial/PSA (includes movie and book trailers) • Best Music Video • Best Broadcast • People’s Choice • HPL Summer Reading Promotion About the Houston Public Library The Houston Public Library (HPL) operates 35 neighborhood libraries, three HPL Express Libraries, a Central Library, the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, The African American Library at the

Gregory School, and the Parent Resource Library, located in the Children’s Museum of Houston. Serving more than 4 million customers per year, HPL is committed to excellent customer service and equitable access to information and programs by providing library customers with free use of a diverse collection of printed materials, and electronic resources, Internet, laptop and computer use, and a variety of database and reference resources with live assistance online 24/7. For further information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313.

EW DELHI - Last week, thunder from down under Hugh Jackman swapped his shiny Wolverine claws for something blue and made in India.

Hugh, who made a cameo appearance on British TV series The Kumars at No 42, posted a picture of himself on Instagram wearing a blue turban. He captioned it, “A little taste of the cameo I did w/ my mate @TVSanjeev tonight at 10pm on SKY on #Kumars!” If you think his blue turban brings to mind the one favoured by Dr Manmohan Singh, you’re not the only one. Pop star Alisha Chinai tweeted: Hughwinder Jackman Singh............... Changa

Actor Hugh Jackman lagda .......... Cool Headgear.” As the brand ambassador of Indian mobile phone manufacturer Micromax, Hugh al-

ready has a desi connect. The turban will probably go some way in winning him more fans in the sub-continent.

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ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com

HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH

VOICE OF ASIA 18

Friday, February 28, 2014

Acetaminophen use in pregnancy linked to risk of ADHD WASHINGTON, February 24, 2014 (AFP) - Acetaminophen, a common pain reliever considered safe for pregnant women, has been linked for the first time to an increased risk of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder in children, said a study Monday. More studies are needed to confirm the findings, but experts said the research points to a new potential cause for the worldwide rise in cases of ADHD, a neurobehavioral condition which has no known cause and affects as many as five percent of US children. Women who took acetaminophen, also known as paracetamol, while pregnant had a 37 percent higher risk of having a child who would be later given a hospital diagnosis of hyperkinetic disorder, a particularly severe form of ADHD, said the study in February 24 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics. Compared to women who did not take acetaminophen while pregnant, women who did also had a 29 percent higher chance of having children who were later prescribed medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and a 13 percent higher chance of exhibiting ADHD-like behaviors by age seven. Previous research has suggested that acetaminophen can interfere with normal hormone function and may affect the developing fetal brain. The painkiller has also been linked to a slightly increased risk in boys of cryptorchidism, a condition in which the testicles do not descend. The latest research was based on survey data on more than 64,000 Danish women from 1996 to 2002. More than half said they took acetaminophen at least once during pregnancy. Outside experts cautioned that the observational findings do not prove that taking Tylenol-like pain relievers causes ADHD, only that a preliminary link between the two has appeared and would need to be confirmed by further research. “Findings from this study should be interpreted cautiously and should not change practice,” said an accompanying editorial in JAMA Pediatrics by Miriam Cooper and colleagues at the Cardiff University School of Medicine. “However, they underline the importance of not taking a drug’s safety during pregnancy for granted.” The reasons the women took the painkillers could have also had a confounding effect on the outcome, they added. The study was led by Zeyan Liew, of the University of California, Los Angeles, and was co-authored by Jorn Olsen of the University of Aarhus in Denmark.

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

‘Avatar doctor’ is coming, physician-author says by Rob Lever

ASHINGTON, February 19, 2014 (AFP) - It’s just in fiction for now, but the “avatar doctor,” a virtual physician which consults and diagnoses through a smartphone app, is coming, says the author of a new medical thriller. Robin Cook, a physician and best-selling author known for his books “Coma” and “Outbreak,” says his new novel, “Cell,” foretells a future where a good deal of medicine can come through an app which can draw from huge medical databases. “Just about every book I have written has come to pass,” Cook told a symposium Wednesday at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington as part of his book launch. “There are already 50,000 medical apps. If you put them together you can have an avatar doctor. And it’s going to be pretty darn good.” Cook, who has training in surgery and ophthalmology, said the virtual doctor can be superior in many ways to real-life

medical practitioners by being able to sift through billions of studies and records to make a diagnosis and offer a solution. “It’s going to be updated on a daily basis,” he said. “We’re going to have something that can solve the biggest problems in American health care -- and health care in the world.” Cook said that by using an avatar doctor such as the “iDoc” described in his new book, which launched February 4, patients will be able to have more access to care and have more control over their treatment. “It’s going to democratize medicine,” he said. “We have been held hostage by the stakeholders -- the physicians, big pharma, device makers and medical labs. This is going to free us from that.” Cook said the use of a doctor app -- which can connect to heart monitors, blood analyses and other data -- has the potential to reduce unneeded hospital visits or specialist consultations by determining which symptoms suggest real problems and which don’t.

Dr. Kesavan Shan

he “typical” Indian diet is believed to be a major cause for the increased incidence of heart disease among Indians. In contrast, the Mediterranean diet cuts the risk of heart attack and stroke by up to 30 percent and is recommended by the American Heart Association. Therefore, eating an “Indo-Mediterranean” diet —by introducing beneficial parts of the Mediterranean

diet to the Indian diet—will likely help lower the risk of heart attack and stroke in Indians. Several key “heart protective” foods from the Mediterranean diet can be easily incorporated into the usual Indian diet, making it much more “heart healthy”. These include: • OLIVE OIL –rich in heart-healthy, mono-unsaturated fats, make olive oil your primary “fat” for cooking. Whenever possible, use olive oil in place of coconut oil, which is extremely high in saturated fats and increases bad cholesterol in the blood. •

NUTS – particularly

The latest guidelines from the US Preventive Services Task Force update the 2003 edition by adding Vitamin E to betacarotene, a supplement that was already known to be ineffective at preventing the two most fatal diseases in America.

The findings are based on a systematic review of scientific studies which found that Vitamin E does not help -- and that beta-carotene supplements could actually do more harm than good. “Beta-carotene can be harmful because it increases the risk of lung cancer in people who are already at increased risk for the disease,” said Task Force co-chair Michael LeFevre. With regard to other multivitamins, including single or paired supplements, there

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“If you think you are having a heart attack, your avatar doctor will look at your EKG, it will know your breathing rate,” he said. “It might tell you to go back to sleep.” An app can also reduce the use of ineffective medicines by analyzing genetics and the likely response to various drugs. “Some people feel you would lose the human touch and that people are not going to accept this. I disagree,” he said. “Access and availability are going to trump the human touch.” A medical app with continuous monitoring can also be more effective in helping people quit addictions and predicting problems such as heart attacks, he argued. As for the plot of “Cell,” which revolves around an app which runs amok under the control of an evil insurance company, Cook said that was a way to create suspense and make the story more entertaining. “Personally, I think this will be a big benefit to mankind,” he said of the prospect of virtual doctors. “But there will be bumps in the road.”

walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts, which are high in “good” polyunsaturated fats. • LEGUMES— lentils, beans and peas are a great vegetarian source of protein and fiber. • FRESH VEGETABLES—two or more servings per day is recommended. • FISH—especially the oily ones, such as salmon or tuna, which are rich in omega-2 fats. Dr. Kesavan Shan is a cardiologist with Methodist Diagnostic Cardiology of Houston. Call to schedule an appointment at 281-2750331.

Vitamin E, beta-carotene no help for heart disease, cancer WASHINGTON, February 24, 2014 (AFP) - In yet another blow to the $28 billion vitamin industry, a US task force on Monday urged against taking Vitamin E and beta-carotene to ward off heart disease or cancer.

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FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

was not enough evidence to say whether they help or harm one’s chances of getting heart disease or cancer, the task force said. Despite numerous warnings about the unproven effects of

Before you start evaluating your new options for health coverage, you need understand whether you are in fact considered self-employed under Obamacare. The law says you are self-employed if you are an independent contractor or a sole proprietor without employees. (If you hire other independent contractors to do some work for you, you probably still qualify as self-employed.) Self-employed people can use the new health care marketplace to purchase individual health insurance plans. If you have employees – usually, workers whose income you report on a W-2 at the end of the year -- you’re considered an employer. In that case, you can learn about purchasing health insurance for yourself and your employees through the SHOP Marketplace. If you aren’t sure whether the people who work for you are independent contractors or employees, read “Independent Contractor (Self-Employed) or Employee?” on the IRS website. What Obamacare Means for SelfEmployed People in Texas Here are six things self-employed people should know about the Obamacare health insurance reforms: 1. You must have health insurance, unless you are legally exempt. You are required by law to sign up for a health insurance plan by March 31, 2014. If you don’t, you may have to pay a tax penalty. There are limited exceptions to this rule. 2. You can’t be denied coverage or charged more because of pre-existing health conditions. If you’ve been turned down or priced out in the past, you should have new options for coverage under Obamacare. 3. If you don’t like your current plan, you can shop for new coverage atHealthCare.gov, the health insurance marketplace for Texas. All plans offered by the marketplace offer a package of essential beneﬁts, including hospitalization, prescription drug coverage, preventative care, and more. 4. If you do like your current plan, you may or may not get to keep it. Health insurance providers have canceled many existing insurance plans that don’t meet Obamacare’s require-

ments. People with individual coverage -- for example, self-employed people who buy their own insurance -- have been disproportionately likely to lose their current plans. If this has happened to you, what’s next is not entirely clear. You may have to go to your state’s exchange to buy a new plan -- or you may get to temporarily keep your old plan because of a ﬁx proposed by President Obama. Get in touch with your current insurer to see whether keeping your existing plan may be an option. (Update: On December 19, 2013, the Obama administration announced that people whose insurance plans were canceled qualify for a hardship exemption from the law, for the year 2014 only. That means if your plan was canceled and you decide to go without insurance in 2014, you won’t have to pay a tax penalty in 2015. As an alternative, you are now allowed to purchase a minimal “catastrophic” insurance plan, if you prefer.) 5. You may qualify for cost-saving subsidies to lower your monthly premiums and/or reduce your outof-pocket costs for health care. To qualify for subsidies in 2014, you need to make less than about $46,000 per year as a single person. To learn more about cost saving options, see below. 6. If you do qualify for subsidies, and your self-employment income ﬂuctuates, your taxes could get more complicated. See just below for a discussion of this issue. For more information on SHOP contact:

vitamins, consumers continue to believe in them, with about half of US adults saying they take at least one dietary supplement and one-third reporting they take a multivitamin regularly. The task force’s recommendations apply to healthy adults who have no special medical concerns. Some populations, however, are urged to take certain vitamins. Pregnant women are advised to take prenatal vitamins with folic acid according to their doctors’ advice, and seniors at risk of falling are urged to take vitamin D for bone health. Instead of taking supplements, the task force urged most people to simply eat a

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healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy and seafood. “Cardiovascular disease and cancer have a significant health impact in America, and we all want to find ways to prevent these diseases,” said Task Force chair Virginia Moyer. “However, we found that there is not enough evidence to determine whether taking single or paired nutrients or a multivitamin helps to prevent cardiovascular disease or cancer.” The task force is an independent panel of medical experts from across the United States. Its recommendation statement was published in the February 24 edition of the Annals of Internal Medicine.

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TECH & SCIENCE

VOICE OF ASIA 19

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Smart toothbrush gives you a mouthful online WhatsApp founders formation on social networks or directly with your dentist. “Today we can see the smartphone’s potential to change people’s habits,” Cohen-Dumani told AFP.

swap struggle for billionaire status - Profile

“It is really that trend towards the ‘quantified self’”, the desire to record everything, to follow your sports activities, the calories you consume or what you spend, thanks to new technologies. The world’s largest mobile fair is a showcase for that trend, with smartphone markers unveiling an array of smart watches and bracelets that can count your steps or track your heart rate, and even wifi-connected scales to keep an eye on your weight. Smart toothbrush gives you a mouthful online

ARCELONA, (AFP) - The world’s first smart toothbrush was unveiled Monday, allowing you to improve your dental hygiene while sharing the results online with your dentist or to impress your friends. Dental cleaning sessions last two minutes, divided into four 30-second segments, one for each corner of your mouth. Shown off on the opening day of the four-day World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain, the brush is connected by Bluetooth wireless technology to your smartphone, and thus to the network. “It is a world first,” said Michael Cohen-Dumani, head of Procter & Gamble’s Oral-B brand, which plans to sell the product in Europe, the United States and Asia from June. Sold for 219 euros ($300), the brush relays your toothbrushing activity to an application on the smartphone, recording whether you respect the two-minute rule and whether you brush hard, but not too hard. If the results are satisfactory, a message appears on

your smartphone: “Congratulations: your teeth are shin-

ing.” It also lets you share the in-

Larger objects, too, are getting hooked up to the network, from cars and fridges to a shop dressing room that lets you ask for new sizes and colours to try on without leaving the cabin.

Facebook throws in towel on email

AN FRANCISCO, (AFP) - Facebook, after unsuccessfully trying to get its users on its own email system, has thrown in the towel. The social networking giant told AFP by email that it was giving up on email “because most people haven’t been using their Facebook email address, and we can focus on improving our mobile messaging experience for everyone.” The company launched its email service in 2010, and in 2012 prompted an outcry by changing the default address for messages to users’ Facebook addresses. The project was seen as an attempt to be a “Gmail Killer,” by getting members of the biggest social network to switch email accounts, but Facebook now admits it did not work. “We’re notifying people who

Facebook, after unsuccessfully trying to get its users on its own email system, has thrown in the towel. -- FILE PHOTO: AFP use their @facebook.com email that the feature is changing,” the company spokesman said. “When someone sends you an email to your @facebook. com address, it will no longer go to your Messages on Facebook. Instead, the email will be forwarded to the primary email address on your account. (People have the option to turn forwarding off.)”

Join TiE-Houston*

as we sponsor LEMONADE DAY, a fun, free experiential learning program that teaches youth how to start, own and operate their own business - a lemonade stand!

I’m interested! What do I do ??? Nominate a youth between the ages of 7 - 17 to participate (email admin@houston.tie.org by March 8th)

Attend a 2 hour workshop on March 15th, 2014 at the Testmasters ofﬁces at 13100 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land, Texas 77478 between 3:30pm-5:30pm. Parents of younger children are encouraged to attend. Plan to participate! Youth will run their Lemonade Stands on

May 4th, 2014

Come hear the Founder of Lemonade Day Speak! “Building a National Social Entrepreneurship Franchise” March 25th, 2014 @ Maggiano’s Post Oak, 6pm-8:30pm Register at: houston.tie.org TiE-Houston is proud to present one of its very own Charter Members, Michael Holthouse, who will give an inspiring talk which will touch topics around managing business growth, nationwide expansion, social entrepreneurship, and the rewards of giving back. Please contact Sehar Javed at admin@houston.tie.org for more information.

SAN FRANCISCO, (AFP) Jan Koum, an immigrant from Ukraine, was so poor as a teenager that he used saved his old Soviet notebooks for school and queued with his mom for food stamps. Brian Acton lost a small fortune in the dot-com bust and was rejected for jobs at Twitter and Facebook.

Facebook this week bought WhatsApp in a stock-and-cash deal worth up to $19 billion and gave Koum a seat on the social network’s board of directors.

Want your kids to learn about Entrepreneurship?

* TiE-Houston, part a global nonproﬁt organization for entrepreneurs, will be providing mentors, a workshop and help for youth interested in participating.

by Glenn CHAPMAN

Now, the friends behind the hot mobile messaging startup WhatsApp are the newest tech industry billionaires.

The news comes just days after Facebook announced a huge deal worth up to $19 billion in cash and stock for mobile messaging service WhatsApp. The deal bolsters the world’s biggest social network -- which has more than 1.2 billion members -- with the 450-millionstrong WhatsApp, which will be operated independently with its own board.

Teen Tech Week At The Houston Public Library March 9 - 15, 2014

For more information about Lemonade Day visit: www.lemonadeday.org

WhatsApp founders swap struggle for billionaire status

DIY: Design, Invent and Learn to make more at HPL

ant to survive a Zombie apocalypse, alien invasion or maybe just getting lost in the woods? Teens can take the DIY or Die! Challenge and learn to make survival gear with household items. They can build a compass and a radio, learn how to code, and more during Teen Tech Week, March 9-15, 2014 at the Houston Public Library! Teens will find workshop challenges that are mind-bending, circuit-bending, and lots of fun. These workshops are free and open to the public. For more details visit www. houstonlibrary.org or call 832-393-1313. Scheduled Workshops: Saturday, March 1, 2014 | 2:30 PM Central Library | 500 McKinney St., 77002, 832393-1313 Stranded on a deserted island? Learn how to repurpose, literally, the shirt off your back with Houston Makerspace. Tuesday, March 4, 2014 | 3:30 PM Carnegie Neighborhood Library and Literacy Center | 1050 Quitman, 77009, 832393-1720 Afterschool Zone Presents: POW! In this “What if there’s a Power Outage?!” Workshop, learn how to use renewable energy using LEGO Education kits. Tuesday, March 11, 2014 | 4:30 PM Collier Regional Library | 6200 Pinemont, 77092, 832393-1740 Afterschool Zone Presents: Build a radio from everyday items with TX/RX Labs! Wednesday, March 12, 2014 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Koum signed the Facebook takeover contract at the unused building where he and his mother once queued for food stamps in the Silicon Valley city of Mountain View, where WhatsApp is located, according to Forbes Magazine. Koum, who turns 38 on Sunday, has described growing up as a rebellious Jewish child near Kiev and having little when he immigrated to California at with his mother the age of 16 just after the Soviet Union’s breakup. His father did not make it to the United States, where the family sought to escape antiSemitism and oppressive tactics of secret police. - Soviet childhood “Jan’s childhood made him appreciate communication that was not bugged or taped,” Sequoia Capital partner Jim Goetz said in an online post. “When he arrived in the US as a 16-year-old immigrant living on food stamps, he had the extra incentive of wanting to stay in touch with his family in Russia and the Ukraine.” Koum’s mother brought with her a cache of pens and Sovietissued notebooks to save money on school supplies, according to Forbes magazine. A self-described troublemaker at school, Koum had a job sweeping the floors in a grocery store. After his mother was diagnosed with cancer, they got by on disability payments, Forbes reported. Koum learned computer networking from manuals bought from, and eventually returned to, a used book store, according to the account. He enrolled in a state university in Silicon Valley and was working on the side with a computer security firm when he met Acton while on assignment at Yahoo in 1997. Acton was employee number 44 at the Sunnyvale, Californiabased Internet firm and shared a “no-nonsense” attitude with Koum. Within a year, Koum was working as an engineer at Yahoo and the pair were on their way to being close friends. Koum eventually chose Ya-

Collier Regional Library | 6200 Pinemont, 77092, 832393-1740 Afterschool Zone Presents: BYOW! That’s right… Build Your Own Website. Learn how to create a site using basic HTML; it could be a life-changing skill. Saturday, March 15, 2014 | 2:30 PM Central Library | 500 McKinney St., 77002, 832-

hoo over college. When Koum’s mother died of cancer in 2000, his mentor Acton stepped in with support. Acton, meanwhile, reportedly lost millions investing during the famous dot-com boom that ended with an infamous dot-com bust. Acton and Koum left Yahoo in 2007 and took a year off, exploring South America and playing the sport of Ultimate Frisbee, according to Forbes. They both applied for jobs at Facebook after coming home. Both were rejected. In a Twitter post from 2009, Acton said that an effort to win a job at one-tomany messaging service Twitter was rebuffed. Koum was living off dwindling savings when the iPhone and Apple’s online App Store prompted a certainty that an exciting new frontier was opening. He tapped into the local Russian immigrant community to pursue his idea of a smartphone messaging service synched to people’s contact lists. Koum enlisted Acton, who was jobless and devoting energy to a less promising startup. Koum and Acton in 2009 founded WhatsApp, which took its name from a play on the phrase “What’s Up?” - No Ads They devoted themselves to a credo of “No Ads. No Games. No Gimmicks.” A note stating just that and signed by Acton remains taped to Koum’s desk, according to venture capital firm Sequoia, which invested in the startup early. The “contrarian approach” of gathering no information about users for targeting ads was shaped by Koum’s aversion to tactics of secret police in communist countries, Goetz said in an online note. The formula led to stunning growth to more than 450 million users, with 50 billion messages handled daily The founders jokingly described themselves at the website as “two guys who spent a combined 20 years doing geeky stuff at Yahoo!” Koum describes himself in his Twitter account profile with a Kanye West quote, “We on a galaxy the haters cannot visit.” Koum has nearly 12,000 followers at Twitter but follows only “Jesus Christ, Silicon Valley,” an account devoted to Internet industry humor. In a conference call discussing the acquisition, Facebook chief and founder Mark Zuckerberg described Koum as being a “valuable thought partner” for several years. WhatsApp is a platform for sending images, video, audio, or text messages for free over the Internet using data connections of smartphones.

393-1313 No need to worry if you find yourself out in the wilderness without any sense of direction or a GPS! Learn basic navigation skills in this TX/RX Labs’ compassbuild workshop. For further information, visit the Houston Public Library at www.houstonlibrary.org or call 832-3931313.

VOICE OF ASIA 20

BUSINESS

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Section 2

Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com

Tel: 713-774-5140

IACCGH and GOPIO Host Taste of Heaven Opens in Sugar Land Free Tax Seminar With Experts Local Entrepreneurs Open Texas’ Third French Fry Heaven

Panelists, seminar moderator, volunteers and executives of hosting organizations.

UGAR LAND, TX – Once a simple side-dish, French fries are now center stage of local residents’ meals with the opening of a new fries-only shop in Sugar Land. French Fry Heaven, the only franchise in the gourmet fry category, has opened its newest location in the food court of First Colony Mall, located at 16535 Southwest Freeway, with a grand opening on Saturday, February 20, 2014. Entrepreneurs, Dr. Nikesh and Paresh Jasani are helping give gourmet fries the credit they deserve by opening their very own French Fry Heaven in the First Colony Mall. The new shop features gourmet French fries in 50 different flavors and making a splash on the Sugar Land-area food scene. French Fry Heaven Sugar Land will be giving away coupons to all those who visit during the week of the opening, while supplies last.

A section of the audience at the tax seminar held in Houston. Photo credit: Bijay Dixit

OUSTON – Despite their hectic schedule and time constrains, six leading CPAs from Houston: Mike Jain, Kershaw Khumbatta, Atul Kothari, Mahesh Desai, Swapan Dhairyawan and Imtiaz Munshi were in attendance serving on a panel for a free tax seminar held on Saturday, February 22 at India House. This timely and informative seminar was organized jointly by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, (IACCGH) and Global Organization of People of India Origin, (GOPIO) to help provide up-to-date information and guidelines on tax filling for 2014. These annual tax seminars have proven to be extremely successful each

year and this year also the event was packed to capacity with over 170 attendees. Prominent CPA Ajit Thakur served as the moderator for the panel of experts. Earlier, Jagdip Ahluwalia, IACCGH Executive Director and Surender Trehan from GOPIO welcomed the participants. Swapan Dhairyawan, the Program Chair presented the need for such seminars for the community that brings benefits of high powered and reputable CPAs with their long standing and resourceful experience. A wide range of presentations included: ‘Changes to 2013 Tax Laws. Individual

and Business,’ by Kershaw Khumbatta, ‘FBAR and declaration of foreign assets,’ by Mahesh Desai, ‘Changes for 2014 Individual taxes,’ by Mike Jain, ‘Overseas Voluntary Disclosure Program and Foreign Accounts Tax Compliance Act,’ by Swapan Dhairyawan, ‘Obamacare,’ by Imtiaz Munshi, and ‘Individual Tax planning techniques,’ by Atul Kothari. All speakers gave a great insight on their topics and provided valuable practical tips to handling taxes. The Q & A session moderated by Ajit Thakur followed the seminar. The program ended with Vote of Thanks by Jagdip Ahluwalia and presenting of plaques to the panelists.

Born and raised in the Houston area, Dr. Nikesh is a practicing oncologist in the Houston area. Paresh has owned his own manufacturing business for the past 25 years. Upon seeing French Fry Heaven in the news, Dr. Nikesh and Paresh fell in the love with the concept of gourmet fries, which is healthier than most. Dr. Nikesh and Paresh plan to open five more shops in Houston-area malls over the next few years. “While our first priority is serving local residents and foodies with the best French fries on Earth, as small business owners, we’re also looking forward to becoming a community partner,” Dr. Nikesh said. “French Fry Heaven places a huge emphasis on charitable giving and community involvement, and we plan

A section of the newly opened French Fry Heaven store. to do the same by partnering with other local businesses, organizations and groups.” French Fry Heaven was created by Scott Nelowet, a former university academic leader and president of multiple colleges, who was inspired by the popularity of French fry stands on the streets of Europe. Seeing immense opportunity in the United States, Nelowet put Baked Tater Angel Fries a spin on the idea by creating a variety of French on the inside, and sweet fry toppings, proprietary potato fries, or “Saints.” cooking methods, infused The fries come topped sea salts and 50+ toppings with a choice of 50-plus that would soon have taste flavors from salty to sweet to satisfy all types buds watering. of taste buds. Customers At the base of French can choose from the most Fry Heaven’s menu are popular menu item – BelBelgian style fries, or gian style fries topped “Angels” that are crunchy with Garlic Parmesan with on the outside and fluffy Black Truffle salt, or opt for

something sweet such as the Festival, which dresses up sweet potato fries with delicious toppings that make the snack taste just like a funnel cake. All the fries are cooked hot and fresh and served in a cone, traditional to how fries are served in Europe. The fries are made with zero transfat and cooked in gluten-free oil making them less greasy than typical French fries without sacrificing taste. The menu is 98 percent vegetarian and contains the only commercially available gluten-free sweet potato fries in the world. “Nobody does fries like French Fry Heaven,” Paresh added. “The expansive menu has something for everyone no matter what your taste buds are craving.” For more information on French Fry Heaven, visit www.FrenchFryHeaven.com. or call (855) 841-6379.

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FEATURE

VOICE OF ASIA 21

How Candy Crush, Angry Birds get your money

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

Your Horoscope (For week beginning Friday, February 28, 2014)

Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950

As per Indian Vedic Astrology the Moon sign is considered, in which every Rashi has control over certain letters, which are initials of your name. Whereas in Western system of Sun Sign, all the people born in one month belong to the same sign. For example, every year approximately around 21 of March to 20th April, the Sun is moving in the Aries Constellation. So all the people born in that month belong to the Sign of Aries. If you were born in between those two dates then you are a Aries born.

Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April The bright expectations that may turn out not to be enough true information. Like Always, relatively small matter that you would normally pass off as “things happen”. But this one will send you to the edge. One cause may be a recent, rather impractical move on the part of your mate or partner. Though you may be tempted to pick up the phone and tell them off, you are likely to be far too busy to start World War III. Save your venting for a quieter time, when you could let the state of your checkbook tell the story.

Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May Apple and others should introduce a child mode that lets parents block unauthorized activities. by David WILLIAMS

hey are free to download, fun to play, and fiendishly addictive: mobile games like Candy Crush Saga, Angry Birds and Clash of Clans want to get you hooked, then get your money. Whether you are paying to obtain extra lives, buy ‘gems’ to use as a virtual currency, or just to carry on playing without delay, the “freemium” games boom is a money-spinner for the most successful developers. In-app purchases helped to drive up spending on mobile games by more than 60 percent to $16.5 billion (12 billion euros) in 2013, according to research house IHS. “What we have done is bring the thought processes and skills of selling and marketing more clearly into the game,” said Nicholas Lovell, author of The Curve, a book about making money in a world of free digital content. In any given month, only about one in 20 players of a given “freemium” game makes an in-app purchase, Lovell said, meaning the most devoted end up paying the most, while others enjoy it for free. “If you are heavily invested in a game world and you are putting your emotions and your friendships in that game world then the psychology can become a lot more powerful,” he said ahead of the February 24-27 World Mobile Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Once a player has downloaded a free game, the holy grail of designers is to keep him or her playing, hopefully with various 10-20 minute bouts in a day and a longer session or

two in the evening.

play games.

The most committed players are the most likely to spend, said Lovell, who is also the founder of Gamesbrief, a blog that advises games developers on business strategy.

“There is a certain amount of that addictive gambling type psychology about it but for the most part people just want to play the game. They like it,” Blau said.

For example, a player may pay to avoid waiting 24 hours before advancing to a key goal.

“There is nothing tricky about it. The thing is that you want to play the game.”

Then there is the chance to avoid “the grind”. A player might need 10,000 gold coins to obtain a crucial object, requiring the completion of 1,000 quests, each of which earns 10 coins. Within a “freemium” mobile game, you can spend weeks to complete the “grind” of 1,000 quests or just pay some money to avoid the task altogether. “That devalues it in some people’s eyes. It is not evil. It is bloody annoying if you are the kind of person who thinks like that,” Lovell said. - ‘Atmosphere of fear’ The industry expert welcomed new principles released by Britain’s Office of Fair Trading to ensure parents authorise children’s in-app purchases and to prevent unfair and aggressive sales techniques to which minors may be susceptible. Apple and others should introduce a child mode that lets parents block unauthorised activities on their smartphones and tablets, he said. Nevertheless, Lovell believed variable pricing would become a model for all digital content, not just games. Brian Blau, analyst at technology research house Gartner Inc., said consumers were making in-app purchases simply because they wanted to

For a minority, however, the video gaming world can become addictive. Video games use “operant conditioning” to reward players for certain behaviours, said Emil Hodzic, a psychologist who runs a clinic treating video game addiction in Sydney. “For example, you get a reward every time you hit your enemy with a sword,” he said. “But as time goes on, those rewards get stretched further and further apart. The person ends up spending more time for less reward. In the meantime, it builds up higher levels of anticipation.” Hodzic, whose clients are mostly aged 14-21, said children enjoy the reward of such video games but can struggle to self-regulate and risk getting into difficulty if their parents are not aware. Some games, though only a minority, instil an “atmosphere of fear”, he said, almost bombarding players with messages that, for example, offer “special rates” to get 10,000 gems to upgrade and protect a newly constructed castle. Parents need to ensure their children keep their feet in the real world, Hodzic said. “In terms of things to look out for, you want to be sure that their face-to-face world is not shrinking as their online world is increasing.”

Law Ofﬁce of Uma Mantravadi & Rizwan Shah Presenting

Immigration Seminar (FREE) 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM Saturday, March 1, 2014

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS PROTECT YOUR IMMIGRATION STATUS • If Immigration or Police comes over to your work place or home... • If you are arrested you should know... • If you are accused of crime... • Find out if you qualify for H-1B visa Some people who are not citizens of the United States have been detained or arrested by the U.S Government. Learn how to protect yourself if this happens to you.

ATTEND THE FREE SEMINAR and LEARN MORE! Saturday, March 1, 2014 from 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM SALATEEN RECEPTION HALL • 281-372-6335 622 FM 1959, Houston, TX 77034 (Light refereshments and snacks will be served). The Law Office of Uma Mantravadi is an internationally recognized law firm representing both individuals and businesses in U.S Immigration Laws, Family Law and Business Related matters. We are committed to providing the highest quality of legal services with a personal touch. Our entire staff is dedicated to providing clients with unparalleled client service. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FREE SEMINAR CONTACT: Law Office of Uma Mantravadi Uma Mantravadi / Rizwan Shah 6200 Savoy Dr, Ste: 414, Clear Lake Office: Houston, TX 77036 622 FM 1959, Houston, TX 77034 Ph: 713-787-5297 Ph: 281-827-3836 (Uma) uma@mantralaw.com 832-929-7463 (Rizwan) www.mantralaw.com

Your insights are almost ‘scary’ this week, when they are powerful and when they are ‘useful’ and could save time, money and a lot of ‘grief/work’ for yourself and/or others. The strategic alliance with someone who may ﬁgure big in your future success. It may be a new romantic relationship, or perhaps it is business progress that is at issue. Whatever your situation, put some feeling into the encounter to show that this is not just another meeting. Be sure to follow up, whether the issue is personal or professional. You’ll be glad you did.

Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June An opportunity may be ‘handed’ to you but possibly some kind of failure to ‘act on it’ right away, could cause a small setback. A big project at work could keep you working after hours and your mate may not be too pleased at a break in the normal schedule. Perhaps they may not be as adaptable as you are. Smooth things out, try not to talk about money concerns, if possible. Better days are ahead. You are sharp as a tack, but try not to be too sharp. Watch what you say to co-workers, because you may offend someone.

Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July Changes may be afoot on the home scene. Do your best to stay on an even course, plan to spend some time unwinding. In this situation, the best way to nurture yourself is to nurture others. You will be able to speak tenderly. Sharp words should not be exchanged. Someone, possibly an older relative, could express discontent with how they perceive you are handling your affairs, it’s not polite, but you may be inclined to say, “It’s none of your business”.

Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Your positive energy will help you to meet tight deadlines. Make the atmosphere more pleasant for entertaining family and friends. You could experience a special emotional fulfillment from cooperation on the job. Your optimism is justified as some projects involving property bring great financial success. Be sure you don’t put a rotten apple in the barrel, however, just because you don’t know your own power. Screen other investors carefully and put a high value on your own abilities.

Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September You’ll be surprised at how much you can accomplish once you get started. It’s not easy to put anything over on you, but someone may try to do just that. It may come in the form of a secret about someone close to you. You could be a little bit gullible now, don’t necessarily believe what you hear. After all, who knows them better than you do? You may decide to have less to do with the person who tried put something over on you. You’ll be able to grin and bear it, whatever it turns out to be. At times, you may feel like it’s all work and no rewards.

Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct Need to value the instinctive powers that you possess. Sharing your enlightenment with younger people will help you to progress. Lead yourself by your extreme sensitivity to whatever environment you ﬁnd yourself in. As you pick up the vibes, be sure to separate what’s real from what is simply your imagination. What is deﬁnitely true, is that your mate is eager to see you and should be in an excellent frame of mind. Give him or her your best, too. Don’t harp on small things. Isn’t it great to feel totally at ease?

Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov Use the time to refresh and rejuvenate your positive energy. You will be able to get success by magnetism of your personality. Alone it could be a force to be reckoned with, however you’ll be sharp in the job arena. A long hoped for raise could come through, or at least an acknowledgement by a boss or other higher-up that you are worth more. You are also in a mood to improvise. Your spur-of-the-moment creations really ﬁll the bill. You’ll feel like celebrating. Open your wallet and treat yourself to something sumptuous.

Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec Experience the fact all roads you take this week will lead you to a sort of spiritual awakening. It will be clear to you, however, that the usefulness or viability of what you give up, has gone. You’ll be in the mood for romance, with someone new, someone old, or with that very special person who is always there for you. No tears or regrets, just be glad that whatever it was is now over. Because you are in overdrive, an emotional explosion could be a decisive and constructive action on a long-term work project that you are now determined to bring to a head and complete.

Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan You will realize that you are very important to others plans. Whether you are preparing fine dining or simple comfort food, your past experience give you that little edge on your competition. Feel confident about your public or professional image. Though your ambition may be keen, others could be in the same frame of mind as you. If an obvious power play on someone’s part disturbs you, act as if it has nothing to do with you. It doesn’t, really. The problem is that you may have seen it coming, and now that it has come to a head, you find yourself annoyed.

Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb Good communications will continue to lead you in the discussions. You will be getting geared up to plunge into a new project. You could quickly get all the background information you need. If it isn’t work that occupies you, it may be a hunt for bargains in the house and property market. You may have a dream place in mind, but you are not going to ﬁnd it without putting in some long hours of research. You may be a bit anxious about the thought of a big move, remembering past experiences.

Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March All eyes will be on your recent accomplishments. Take advantage of this opportunity to blow your own horn a little. You are full of ideas, not to mention vim and vigor. You may surprise everyone by becoming a bit of a chatterbox. Try to conﬁne what you say to the work at hand. Not everyone has to know your personal business. You may be called on to supervise some people. If you are not used to being the boss, you could learn much through this experience. One cardinal rule is not to expect of anyone else what you would not expect of yourself. It is a point in your favor if you don’t exaggerate your accomplishments. You tend to get ahead by taking on more responsibility.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

VOICE OF ASIA 22

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

RELIGIOUS INSTITUTES & ORGANIZATIONS OF HOUSTON - call Voice of Asia 713-774-5140 Ashirwad - A Blessing Temple Prog: Vedic Fair on Sat. Mar. 1, 2014. See ad on Pg 9 Regular prog :Sloka Classes for kids and teens. Location: Katy, Hwy 249 & Sugar Land. Contact: 281.995.0930/ 281.808.2159

Sri Meenakshi Temple Prog: March 14th, Friday: Karadian Nombu / Bagavathi Seva March 31, Monday: Ugadhi. Location: 17130 McLean Road Pearland, TX 77584 Contact: (281) 489-0358 Web: www.meenakshi.org

Hare Krishna Dham (ISKCON) Prog: Gaura Purnima & Holi Celebrations on Sunday, March 16th.Everyday, 7 Aratis and bhoga offerings daily. Sunday Festival: 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Location: 1320 West 34th St, Houston, TX 77018. Contact:281-433-1635/E-mail harekrishnadham@gmail.com Website: www.iskconhouston. org

Arsha Vidya Bharati Prog.:Sanskrit classes and special worship sessions for all ages Location: 2918 Renoir, Sugar Land, TX 77479 Contact: 281-606-5607 or AVB.Houston@gmail.com Web: https://sites.google.com/ site/avbtexas/classes

Arsha Vidya Satsanga

Prog: Website: www.avshouston.org Contact: 713-412-2923 / Email: ArshaVidyaHou@gmail.com

Chinmaya Mission Prog: Location:10353 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX77498. Phone: 832.541.0059. Website:www.chinmayahouston.org.

Contact : Work: 281-875-3400 | Cell: 713-874-4363 Zafarullah_Hanjra@hotmail. com www.Alislam.org

Dr. Ambedkar International Mission Inc. U.S.A Prog: Location: India House 8888 West Bellfort Avenue Houston, Texas 77031

Sri Saumyakasi Sivalaya

Vedanta Society of Greater Houston

Temple Hrs: 9 am to noon and 5 to 9 pm.;Sri Astalaksmi puja: 7 pm. Sri Laksmi Archana will be performed on request all day. Location:same as Chinmaya Mission. Website: www.saumyakasi.org;

Prog: Vedanta teachings Sundays at 10:30 AM Location: at 14809 Lindita Dr. Houston, TX -77083. Website: www.vedantahouston. org.

Hindu Temple of The Woodlands Location: 7601 S. Forest Gate Drive at Woodlands Parkway, Spring, TX 77382. Contact: info@woodlandshindutemple.org, 832-585-0001 Website: www. woodlandshindutemple.org.

VPSS Houston

ISSO Prog: Darshan daily from 7.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.; Aarti daily from 7.45 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Location: 10080 Synott Road, Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281-530-2565 Web:

Shri Satyanarayan Sai Puja Darshan

Location VPSS Vallabh Hall, 11715 Belfort Village Dr. Houston 77031. Contact:713-530-2900 Website:www.vpsshaveli.org

Prog: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:p.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Every Thursday Abhishek Location: 16338 Kensington Dr, Ste 110, Sugar Land 77479. Phone: 713-933-8821 / 9359.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Baitus Samee Mosque

Gurdwara Sahib of SW Houston

Prog: Friday Prayer - 1:30 PM Children’s Classes | Interfaith meeting | Location: 1333 Spears Rd, Houston, TX 77067 Imam - Mohammed Zafarullah

Prog: Sundays Dewan 10:00 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Langar Location:14811 Lindita Drive, Houston, TX 77083 Phone: 281-498-5200 Website: www.gurdwaraswh. com

Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple Prog: Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Stotra Parayanam: daily 6.30 p.m. Location:10098 Synott Road. Sugar Land, TX 77478 Phone: 281- 498-2344 Website: www.ashtalakshmi. org

Hindu Worship Society Prog: Open all days except Thursdays (by appt). Regular Puja and Prasad. Sunday Service 11:30 AM to 1:30 Location: 2223 Wirtcrest Lane Houston TX 77055.

Barsana Dham Houston Chapter Prog: Satsang every Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Location: India House, 8888 West Belfort 77031 Phone: (713) 855-9818 for details Website: www.jkphouston.org Weekly Radio Program-1460 AM Saturdays 10-11 a.m.

Global Organization for Divinity Prog: Mahamantra chanting: Weekends: 8 to 11 AM & 4 to 7 PM, Weekdays: 7 to 8 AM & 6 to 7 PM. Every Saturday morning: Children’s heritage classes and Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Location: 3642 Bailey Ave, Manvel TX 77578 Contact: 281-402-6585, houston.god@godivinity.org Website: www.godivinity.org

Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Prog: Every Friday Satsangh

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from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. Bhajans and Devi Puja, Discourses. Location: 12530 Ann Louise Road, Houston, 77086. Phone: Contact Vishnu at (832) 309- 7181.

JVB Preksha Meditation Center Prog: Location: 14102 Schiller Road, Houston TX 77082 Phone: 281.596.9642 Website: www.jvbhouston.org

Patanjali Yogpeeth Center Prog: Free Yoga Classes every Sat/Sun from 8 am to 9:30 am Location: Arya Samaj @Schiller Road. Contact: 281-579-9433. Websites: www.pyptusa.org

Jain Center of Houston Location: 3905 Arc St. Houston, TX 77063 Contact: 281-606-JAIN; Email: ecjsh@jain-houston.org Website:www.jain-houston.org

Durga Bari Society Prog: Sandhya Arati at 6:30 p.m.; Sunday: 9:00 a.m.- 7:00 p.m. Location: 13944 Schiller Road. Contact: 281-597-8100 Website:www.houstondurgabari.org

Gayatri Pariwar of Houston Prog: Sundays Satsang, BalSanskar Shala, from 11am to 1pm. Location: 5645 Hillcroft, Suite # 307, Houston, TX 77036. Website: http://www.gayatripariwarhouston.org/ “

Sri Guruvayurappan Temple Prog: Bhajans: Sat.7:00 -8:00 p.m.; Sundays 9:00 a.m.-1:00 a.m.Location: 1620 Ormandy Street, Houston, TX 77035 Contact: 713-729-8994

Govindaji Gaudiya Math Prog: Satsang every Sunday evening from 5 - 7 p.m. Vedic heritage classes for kids 5-14. Location: 16628 Kieth Harrow blvd. Houston, TX 77084 Contact: 281-499-3347/281491-4114.

Sathya Sai Baba Centers Prog: Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at two locations Contact: (North) 832-418-3842 or (South) 281-788-4786. Website:www.saicenterofhouston.org

Telugu Christian Fellowship Prog; Every third Saturday 6:30 PM. Worship is in English Location: The Triumph Church, 10555 West Airport Boulevard, Stafford, TX 77477. Contact:713-301-6444 Website:

Brahma Kumaris Meditation Center Prog: Daily classes in Raja Yoga Meditation To register call or email. Contact:832-379-8888/ Email: houston@bktexas.com Website: bktexas.com

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CLASSIFIEDS

VOICE OF ASIA 23

FRIDAY, February 28, 2014

BRIDEGROOM WANTED

Read Voice of Asia for Community News

Marthomite Parents (Middle Class) seeks alliance for their Daughter 25 / 175, fair, slim, born and brought up in Kerala. Doctor of Pharmacy, Internship. From parents of well educated and employed boy.

Email: sabukphilip62@hotmail.com 91-944-731-4038

HINDI PRARTHANA

Do you need PRAYER? Do you need a MIRACLE in your life? Can we pray for the CHILDLESS couple?

Reliable Caretaker Needed

Seeking Christian Bridegroom

A family needs a reliable Caretaker full time to take care of home, cook meals - breakfast, lunch and dinner, do some light house work, weekdays and weekends. Timings are: 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM daily, ﬂexible some evenings. Must be able to cook South and North Indian dishes. Please have a few references. Long term employment preferred. To apply, email: koshyvoa@aol.com E-mail Subject: Caretaker Position

Young and beautiful, she is 28 years, Nursing professional, height 5’ 5”, Bachelors in Nursing, employed in Qatar, currently pursuing higher studies in Msc Nursing. Looking for an Optimistic, God fearing and family oriented, well settled person here in the U.S. Minimum qualiﬁcation should be a Bachelor’s degree and prefer those from a traditional Christian family (Orthodox / Jacobite) Send bio and photo to:

priyan448@gmail.com or Call: 281-925-8879

ACCOUNTING COORDINATOR KTRK-TV, an ABC owned station, has an immediate opening for an Accounting Coordinator. Position is responsible for all aspects of the accounts payable process; for billing and follow up in accounts receivable and supporting the station’s business office. Individual will also be expected to assist with monthly accounting closes, including journal entries and general ledger analysis. The qualified applicant should be a well-rounded, team player. Applicant should possess very good financial systems skills. Experience with Excel, SAP and Wide Orbit is desired. An Accounting Degree or comparable experience is preferred. This is an excellent opportunity to join a first-class organization. Candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file. Please Reference Job ID: 165870BR on all materials submitted. No phone calls please. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.

Multi Media Journalist KTRK-TV, Houston’s #1 station and ABC/Disney owned station located in Houston, TX, is seeking a talented Multi Media Journalist with a passion for news. Do you like to do-it-all when it comes to great story telling for TV? Do you enjoy being behind the camera and in front of it too? We’re looking for a hard-working team player who is able to shoot, edit and report stories and live breaking news for broadcast, web and mobile platforms. The ideal candidate must be proﬁcient in working alone or with a crew and meeting multiple deadlines for a high energy newsroom. This is an excellent opportunity to join a great station and enjoy life in an affordable world class city. All interested applicants must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume ﬁle, cover letter and list of references. Interested applicants should also send email (or tape samples of your news related work to: Human Resources, KTRK-TV, 3310 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005. Please Reference Job ID: 167267BR on all materials submitted. No phone calls please, and no third parties. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D.

SALES TRAFFIC COORDINATOR - TEMPORARY KTRK-TV, an ABC owned television station, has an immediate opening for a Temporary Sales Traffic Coordinator in the Traffic Department. The ideal candidate will be detail oriented and a good communicator and strong team player with television station experience and a strong working knowledge of all traffic functions. Primary responsibilities include log preparation, commercial copy, program and break timing, maintaining commercial inventory, and order entry. The individual must have an excellent work record, possess good arithmetic skills, have the ability to handle high volumes of detailed input and computer work particularly Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint, with accuracy. Prior experience with Wide Orbit traffic system a plus. Candidates must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file. Please Reference Job ID: 167317BR No phone calls please. Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/V/D. The value of money is taught early! Earn Smart! Spend Wisely! A community message from Voice of Asia Group

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FRIDAY, February 28, 2014