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Vol. 27 No. 36 Friday, September 5, 2014 • Published Weekly from Houston • 713-774-5140 20 Pages ( 2 sections) 50 cents E-mail: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
IACCGH Distinguished Lecture Series with Secretary of State Nandita Berry
Hindu leader convicted on fraud and obstruction charges in US
Sentencing of Annamalai Annamalai, also known as Commander Selvam or Swamiji Sri Selvam Siddhar, is now scheduled on November 13. “This defendant traded on his perceived religious authority and spiritual powers to cheat the faithful who believed in him,” said US Attorney Sally Quillian Yates. “The jury saw through his deception, and he is being held accountable for his fraud,” he said. “Annamalai Annamalai clearly took advantage of his religious standing in the community as well as the individuals who respected and revered him,” stated Veronica F Hyman- Pillot, Special Agent in Charge, IRS-Criminal Investigation. “He used deceit and fraud, to circumvent the bankruptcy courts and to collect money for his own personal benefit,” the IRS official said. According to US Attorney, the indictment and other information presented in court, Annamalai, 49, generated income through the Hindu Temple of Georgia by charging fees to his followers in exchange for providing spiritual or related services. In a typical transaction, a follower
REACTION: In a statement by Vijay Pallod, PR Coordinator, Hindus of Greater Houston the following was expressed: ouston Hindus are pleased that Anamalai Anamalai, also known as Swami Selvam, who posed as a Hindu leader, has been convicted of 32 felony counts. Selvam also falsely advertised his “services” to Hindus who were suffering from health, financial, and/or family problems, taking their credit card information by phone and then charging them more than he had agreed and falsely documenting his “services” to credit card issuers when charges were disputed. Hindus of Greater Houston has played a part in educating potential victims about Selvam and helping some of his victims even as Hindus elsewhere the US remained indifferent. -Vijay Pallod Houston
Annamalai caused the followers’ credit card numbers to be charged on multiple occasions, in excess of the agreed amount and without authorisation. If the followers disputed the charges with their respective credit card companies, Annamalai submitted false documentation to the credit card companies in support of the unauthorized charges, which formed the basis for his conviction on bank fraud charges, the chargesheet alleged. The income generated by the temple through these credit card charges was used to fund the lifestyle of Annamalai and his family, who owned or controlled numerous homes and real properties, luxury vehicles, and bank accounts in India. Annamalai was convicted of willfully filing a false tax return for the 2007 year, for failing to disclose his financial interest in foreign bank accounts held in India.
Shell’s VP Fred Whipple seen presenting Ms. Berry with a plaque as IACCGH President Sanjay Ramabhadran looks on.
He was convicted of bankruptcy fraud offenses in connection with the temple’s petition for bankruptcy protection in August 2009. He was also convicted on three counts of obstruction and false statements in connection with the grand jury probe and the bankruptcy proceeding. (Courtesy: PTI)
he Indo American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston (IACCGH) facilitated a private meeting with the area heads of Chambers of Commerce, economic development agencies and organizations like ALF (American Leadership Forum) TiE and India House on 28th August at the Hess Club.
by Manu Shah
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The represented organizations had the opportunity to meet with Texas Secretary of State, Ms. Berry in an intimate setting and present an “elevator pitch” about their organization. Chambers present also included the Asian Chamber, British American Business Council, the East End Chamber, the Columbian Chamber and the Fort Bend Chamber. Since one of Ms. Berry’s responsibilities as
Secretary of State is to accelerate the economic engine of Texas, both sides appreciated the meeting. IACCGH President, Sanjay Ramabhadran welcomed the gathering and emphasized that the organizations in the room must continue to share our “best practices” and help each other continue to serve the community. Continued on Page 4
Sugar Land Mayor Pro Tem Harish Jajoo Elected as President of TML Region 14
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UGAR LAND - Sugar Land Mayor Pro Tem and City Council Member Harish Jajoo has been elected president of Texas Municipal League (TML) Region 14 for the incoming term, which includes cities and municipalities in 17 county region all the way from Houston county to Matagorda county including cities of Houston, Galveston and Sugar Land. As regional director of TML’s Region 14, the largest region in Texas, Jajoo will promote interest in municipal government on a regional level, facilitate the exchange of information among cities in the region, and assist the TML Board of Directors in formulating policy that represents the diverse interests of the state.
TML was formed in 1913 and now serves the needs and advocates the interests of more than 1,110 cities and towns comprising the membership. More than 18,000 mayors, councilmembers, city managers, city attorneys and city department heads are members of the League. The TML has 16 regions. “I am excited and honored to be elected to this key role within the Texas Municipal League and will focus my energy and attention on the range of needs and future direction for the Houston, Galveston and San Jacinto area region (Region 14),” said Jajoo, who also represents Sugar Land on Transportation Policy Council (TPC) on the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC).
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The Transportation Policy Council (TPC) provides policy guidance and overall coordination of the transportation planning activities within the region. Jajoo was elected to office in 2011, and currently serves as mayor pro-tem. He is vice-president of the Sugar Land Development Corporation and member of Economic Development Committee as well as on Council Task Force on Land Use. He is a member of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land and supports many charitable organization. He is a registered professional engineer in the state of Texas and certified flood plain manager. He and his wife, Shashi have two grown children, and have lived in Harish Jajoo Sugar Land since 1985.
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ASHINGTON: A Hindu leader, who headed the now defunct Hindu Temple of Georgia, has been convicted on 34 felony counts following two weeks of jury trial in the US.
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OP-ED/COMMENTARY/ANALYSIS
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Stop Dithering, Confront ISIS
FTER more than three years, almost 200,000 dead in Syria, the near collapse of Iraq, and the rise of the world’s most sinister terrorist army — the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, which has conquered vast swaths of both countries — President Obama’s admission this week that “we don’t have a strategy yet� to deal with this threat is startling. It is also dangerous.
John McCain and Lindsey Graham: Confront ISIS Now
The president clearly wants to move deliberately and consult with allies and Congress as he considers what to do about ISIS. No one disputes that goal. But the threat ISIS poses only grows over time. It cannot be contained. It must be confronted. This requires a comprehensive strategy, presidential leadership and a far greater sense of urgency. If Mr. Obama changes course and adopts a strategic approach to defeat ISIS, he deserves support.
VoiceofAsiaOnline.com Online Editor:
by John Mccain And Lindsey Graham (Aug. 29, 2014, The New York Times)
A
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Shobana Muratee
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Such a strategy would require our commander in chief to explain to war-weary Americans why we cannot ignore this threat. ISIS is now one of the largest, richest terrorist organizations in history. It occupies a growing safe haven the size of Indiana spanning two countries in the heart of the Middle East, and its ranks are ďŹ lled with thousands of radicals holding Western passports, including some Americans. They require nothing more than a plane ticket to travel to United States cities.
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
This is why the secretary of homeland security has called Syria “a matter of homeland security.� His warnings about ISIS have been echoed by the attorney general, the director of national intelligence and, now, the secretary of defense. Americans need to know that ISIS is not just a problem for Iraq and Syria. It is a threat to the United States. Doing too little to combat ISIS has been a problem. Doing less is certainly not the answer now.
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 conďŹ rmation 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. Although paid advertisements may appear in Voice of Asia Group Publications in print, online, or in other electronic formats, the Voice of Asia Group does not endorse the advertised product, service, or company, nor any of the claims made by the advertisement.
It is a truism to say there is no military solution to ISIS. Any strategy must, of course, be comprehensive. It must squeeze ISIS’ ďŹ nances. It requires an inclusive government in Baghdad that shares power and wealth with Iraqi Sunnis, rather than
- The Publisher
Credit: Anthony Russo (The New York Times) pushing them toward ISIS. It requires an end to the conict in Syria, and a political transition there, because the regime of President Bashar al-Assad will never be a reliable partner against ISIS; in fact, it has abetted the rise of ISIS, just as it facilitated the terrorism of ISIS’ predecessor, Al Qaeda in Iraq. A strategy to counter ISIS also requires a regional approach to mobilize America’s partners in a coordinated, multilateral effort. But ultimately, ISIS is a military force, and it must be confronted militarily. Mr. Obama has begun to take military actions against ISIS in Iraq, but they have been tactical and reactive half-measures. Continuing to confront ISIS in Iraq, but not in Syria, would be ďŹ ghting with one hand tied behind our back. We need a military plan to defeat ISIS, wherever it is. Such a plan would seek to strengthen partners who are already resisting ISIS: the Kurdish pesh merga, Sunni tribes, moderate forces in Syria, and effective units of Iraq’s security forces. Our partners are the boots on the ground, and the United States should provide them directly with arms, intelligence and other military assistance. This does not, however, mean supporting Iranian military forces, whose presence only exacerbates sec-
tarian tensions that empower ISIS. We should embed additional United States special forces and advisers with our partners on the ground — not to engage in combat, but to help our partners ďŹ ght ISIS and direct airstrikes against it. Regional allies should play a key role in this effort. No one is advocating unilateral invasion, occupation or nation-building. This should be more like Afghanistan in 2001, where limited numbers of advisers helped local forces, with airstrikes and military aid, to rout an extremist army. Still, we must face facts: A comprehensive strategy to defeat ISIS would require more troops, assets, resources and time. Such an undertaking should involve Congress. We have consistently advocated revising the Authorization for Use of Military Force that has provided congressional backing for counterterrorism operations since September 2001. Now could be the right time to update this authorization in light of evolving terrorist threats like ISIS. If Mr. Obama provides a coherent strategy and determined leadership, he could win Congress’s support. Whether or not Mr. Obama listens to us, he should listen to leaders with a record of success in combating groups like ISIS,
especially John R. Allen, Ryan C. Crocker, Jack Keane and David H. Petraeus, among others. He should consult with military and diplomatic experts like these, just as President George W. Bush did when rethinking the war in Iraq. One of the hardest things a president must do is change, and history’s judgment is often kind to those who summon the courage to do so. Jimmy Carter changed his policy on the Soviet Union after it invaded Afghanistan. Bill Clinton changed his policy in the Balkans and stopped ethnic cleansing. And George W. Bush changed course in Iraq and saved America from defeat. ISIS presents Mr. Obama with a similar challenge, and it has already forced him to begin changing course, albeit grudgingly. He should accept the necessity of further change and adopt a strategy to defeat this threat. If he does, he deserves bipartisan support. If he does not, ISIS will continue to grow into an even graver danger to our allies and to us. OP-ED contributors to The New York Times John McCain, Republican of Arizona, and Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, are United States senators.
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Aga Khan Foundation Successfully Inaugurated an Emissary Awards Campaign
H
OUSTON – To kick off this year’s Partnership Walk season, the Aga Khan Foundation’s (AKF) Houston team announced the 2014 AKF Emissaries at an intimate VIP reception held at the Asia Society Texas Center.
him how to fish,” he said as he commended Aga Khan Foundation’s focus in creating sustainable long-term solutions that address the underlying causes of global poverty. Along with Dr. Flores’ keynote address, attendees were enlightened by a video presentation, Stories from the Field, and cultural dance performances. As the Foundation works closely with communities around the world, culture preservation is an important part of its innovative development projects.
AKF Emissary Awards Campaign initiated this year as part of a Partnership Walk event to further involve Houston’s locals to be a part of a global solution. The selected AKF Emissaries are campaigning for the Partnership Walk’s mission to end global poverty through innovative programs that create hope and opportunity for disadvantaged communities in the developing world. Eight nominated AKF Emissaries who accepted to run a campaign between August 28 to November 7, are Katya Glockner Dow, Dr. Monira Hamid– Kundi, Misti Pace-Krahl, Teresa Cox Reading, Rick Pal, Dr. Huma Nawab Haider, Dr. Noreen Khan-Mayberry and Dr. Lily Zhang. The spirited emissaries are running their individual campaigns, in their own creative ways, to raise awareness and funds for the annual Partnership Walk. 100% of the funds raised go directly to poverty alleviation projects supported by the Aga Khan Foundation and not a cent is spent on administration. As an official event for Houston’s Citizenship Month, this year’s Partnership Walk will be held on November 15 at the Sam Houston Park. Houston Mayor Annisse Parker serves as the Honorary Chair for the Walk.
Eloquently emceed by Cynthia Cisneros of ABC 13, reception guests included Chief John Dyess from Sheriff’s office, Frances Castaneda-Dyess, president of the Houston East End Chamber, Sam Merchant from Congressman Al Green’s office, Cheryl Thompson from
Aga Khan Foundation Directors and supporters. “The walk celebrates the concept of citizenship, which isn’t just the right to vote – but citizenship in a broader concept – the idea of giving back,” said Dr. William Flores, president of University of Houston Downtown, who is chairing the walk’s Honorary Host Committee this year. “To be a citizen goes beyond where you are born – it has to do with what you give to make this world a better place.” Dr. Flores went on to explain that to address the issue of poverty, you have to adress the underlying causes. “And that is through education and by equipping people with the resources to sustain their communities – the idea is not to give a man a fish, but to teach
Citizenship Month Houston, Aftab Ghesani, president of the Aga Khan Council for Southwestern United States, Robert T. Sakowitz, Ellen Goldberg, former president of Sister Cities of Houston, Farah Ahmed, Lynne Aronoff of Consular Ladies Club of Houston, Rita Lucido, Reyne Hirsch, Marie Goradia, Drs. Shel & Ayeez Lalji, Lisa Pounds, Nicole Longnecker, Rebecca Lowe, Amy Buck and many others. Aga Khan Foundation Southwest region is being lead by Dr. Suleman Lalani and Asif Pirmohammed and the outreach and emissary team is lead by Munira Panjwani, Munir Ibrahim, Tabitha Smith and Sneha Merchant. About PartnershipsInAction PartnershipsInAction is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. and its network of volunteers across the U.S. to raise awareness and funds for innovative programs that create hope and opportunity for disadvantaged communities in the developing world. Since the first Partnership Walk in Los Angeles in 1995, PartnershipsInAction has expanded into a variety of nationwide activities that reach tens of thousands each year, including the signature Partnership Walk and Partnership Golf events. PartnershipsInAction events inspire and inform Americans about the power of global partnerships – partnerships that transcend borders, class lines, and religious, gender and age differences. For more information about the Partnership Walk or AKF, visit partnershipsinaction.org or akdn.org/akf.
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IACCGH Distinguished Lecture Series ...
The People’s Lawyer
According to her, this can happen only in Texas and because of people like Dr. Suresh and Renu Khator, Koshy Thomas, Attorney George Willy, Nat Krishnamurthy as well as the Chamber which “played a vital part in getting to know people and helped inculcate the skills and confidence to go out and look for opportunities.”
www.peopleslawyer.net Richard M. Alderman Interim Dean of the Law Center
Texas has spousal maintenance Q. My husband and I are currently separated. He says that if it leads to divorce Texas has no alimony so he won’t have to pay anything to me. I’ve read something about Texas having spousal support. What is it and would I qualify? We have lived together since 2001 and have been married for the last 11years.
Nandita Berry , Secy. of State, delivering her lecture at the IACCGH event. Photo by Bijay Dixit, Unique Images Stodio. Continued from Page 1
A. You are correct; in Texas a court can order “spousal maintenance” as part of a divorce. A court can order spousal maintenance if the spouse seeking support will not have sufficient assets at the time of the divorce to provide for basic needs and one of the following circumstances exists:
He also commended Ms. Berry on being the first Asian to be appointed to this post and believed that “it is a matter of great pride for the Indo American community.”
• one spouse is convicted of committing family violence against the other spouse or the other spouse’s child during the last two years of the marriage or while the divorce was pending,
In her address, Ms. Berry was astounded by the “growth, diversity and inclusiveness of the Chamber.” Commending Executive Director, Jagdip Ahluwalia for being the “force in ensuring that members have the weight” in the Chamber, she also recognized the efforts of the Chamber’s leadership for their vision and efforts despite their busy schedules. Dr. Khator
• the spouse seeking support is unable to earn enough income to provide for basic needs because of a physical or mental disability, • the spouses were married for ten years or longer, and the spouse seeking support is unable to earn enough income to provide for basic needs, or • the spouse seeking support has custody of a child of the marriage who requires special care and supervision because of a mental or physical disability, preventing the custodial spouse from earning enough income for basic needs. It is important to note that under the law, spousal maintenance is not favored. Except where there is a conviction of family violence, the court will start by assuming that an order for spousal maintenance is not appropriate. To overcome the assumption, the spouse seeking support must convince the court that she or he has made an effort to earn income or to develop skills to provide for basic needs during the separation and divorce proceedings. A monthly support payment cannot be more than $5,000 or 20% of the paying spouse’s average gross monthly income, whichever is less. The court considers many factors to determine how much support to award, and generally support may last for between five to ten years.
After the private meeting, Ms. Berry delivered the Distinguished Lecture organized by IACCGH and sponsored by Shell. Welcoming the packed gathering of about 150 members and guests, President Sanjay Ramabhadran remarked that there is a whopping $6 billion trade existing between the US and India. What’s more, it’s “not a one way street” as India is also investing heavily in the US. Stressing the fact that the organization helped businesses connect from a one man operation to global corporations like Shell, he remarked that IACCGH had on several occasions been proud to say –“mis-
Describing Texas “as the Number 1 state for business,” she stated that Texas has created 37% of the jobs in the country and led the country in trade for the last 12 years in a row. It is the top technology exporting state and leads the way in startup businesses with about 80,000 new businesses formed since the beginning of the year. According to Ms. Berry, our economy is helped by the nopersonal-tax structure in Texas, “smart and effective” regulations, a skilled workforce and the strong infrastructure. In response to a question about the difference between her and the rest of the gathering, she credited her success to hard work and the ability “to take risks as it brings out the best in you.” Sponsor of the Distinguished Lecture Series, Shell’s VP Fred Whipple expressed that he was
I suggest you speak with a local family law attorney to discuss your specific situation and how to best protect yourself in the event of a divorce. Q. We moved into an apartment in July 2014 and now need to move because the trains make so much noise during the night that I can’t sleep. It is affecting my ability to function clearly during the day. Our lease states that we cannot move out unless we pay the entire lease term, which ends August 31, 2015. Although we were aware there were railroad track a couple blocks away, we did not realize the trains pass by constantly throughout the day and night and make so much noise especially when they blow their horn. We understand there are some costs to pay in breaking a lease before it expires, but does Texas law state that we must pay the entire lease period as stated in our lease agreement? A. As far as the law is concerned, if you break your lease you owe for the remainder of the term, unless the apartment is leased to someone else. Under the law, the landlord has a duty to “mitigate” his damages and rent to another tenant if one is available. As you seem to understand, you probably have no legal basis to terminate your lease early. You knew about the trains. In my opinion, the only legal justification you may have is if you could show the landlord knew how disruptive the trains were and didn’t disclose it to get you to sign the lease. My suggestion is to speak with the landlord and work out an agreement to mutually terminate the lease early. Perhaps you can agree to pay one or two month’s rent as a penalty. Because the rental market is pretty strong right now, the landlord may see this as a very fair and possibly profitable arrangement. Be sure to get any agreement that you are mutually terminating the lease in writing.
L-R: Sanjay Ramabhadran , Renu Khator, UH President, Nandita Berry and Jagdip Ahluwalia, IACCGH Executive Director. Photo by Bijay Dixit, Unique Images Stodio. was also present and according to Ms. Berry was a Chancellor who “over delivered on her promises” and made UH a Tier 1 university.
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Dr. Khator also saluted Ms. Berry and described her as a “phenomenal inspiration.” She expressed her pride at the “800 students in petroleum engineering who graduated with 2 jobs in hand from UH” but found it unacceptable that many students quit halfway. This prompted her to motivate students to sign a “Contract UH in 4” where they pledged to graduate in four years.
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In an eagerly awaited address, Ms. Berry remarked that despite the fact that her name was not Jones, Smith or Austin but Nandita Venkateshwaran Berry, she had the honor of using the same office and sitting at the same desk as did the father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin.
proud to work with the Chamber and appreciated Ms. Berry’s speech “from the heart” and her distinguished law career. In a lighter vein, he suggested that she may want to consider a talk show next. IACCGH encourages the community to buy their tickets before they are sold out for their 15th Annual Gala on September 27th at 6:00pm at the Hilton Americas. Senator John Cornyn is the keynote speaker. Tickets and sponsorship information is available at www. iaccgh.com or by contacting info@iaccgh.com
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Introducing the Secretary of State to the gathering, Joya Shukla stated that she was “in awe of those who came from another country and achieved so much.” She also described Nandita Berry as a role model for women in the society.
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Giving thanks to Lord Ganesha
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Pleasure of Gardening Luncheon for IACAN Survivors
Devotees celebrate Ganesh Chaturti in Pearland
Devotees taking turns to immerse their Ganesha idols in the water.
Ms. Deana Krause, (far rt) an expert on rose gardening, seen explaining to one of the guests.
by Radha Dixit
M
embers of the Indian American Cancer Network Board hosted a cancer survivors luncheon on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, August 30, 2014 entitled the Pleasure of Gardening. In keeping with one of the goals of IACAN to host a survivor activity every other month the IACAN Board decided to host a wonderful experience of gardening to rejuvenate the minds of local survivors.
Priest performing the puja to Lord Ganesha during Ganesh Chathurthi
T
hanksgiving starts very early in the year for the Indian community here in the United States, as early as August sometimes; and the focus is giving thanks to the gods, starting with Lord Ganesha followed by Navarathri, Deepavali through to Sankaranthi. Meenakshi Temple celebrated on August 29, 2014 Ganesh Chathurthi when Lord Ganesha was born. Traditionally the celebration is on the fourteenth (14th ) day after the new moon (during August-September). Lord Ganesha is celebrated with great devotion for the blessings He unconditionally bestows us. Such unconditional love for us that the Lord gives warrants a reciprocal love and a joy that manifests itself as a celebration in praise of Him. This two day celebration began around 6 pm on Friday, the 29th of August starting with a Homam, a Vedic fire ritual that invokes the Lord which purifies and energizes the water in the pots (Kalasa puja). Devotees with origins from the various states of India participated in the Homam. Devotees came in continuously bringing offerings of ghee and fragrances (Homa dravyas) and decorative ornaments (Aabharanam) and flowers (Pushpams) and silk cloth (Vastrams) by which to decorate their God and also fruits (Phalam) and other sweets and savories (Prasadam) for Him. The faith that He will accept all this thanks and joyously give back in plenty is the driving force behind all these celebrations. This year’s celebration of Ganesh Chathurthi took on a more splendorous look as it was the first time after the Ganesh Sanctum was renovated and a beautiful, all-granite mantap
was built for the Lord Ganesha. By 8 pm more than 400 devotees had gathered there for the Homam, followed by sacred bathing of Lord Ganesha with sanctified water (Abishekam). The Lord was decorated with silk and ornaments and flowers (Alankaram) and was taken on a procession (Utsavam) in his vehicle (Mooshika vahana). Lord Ganesha was brought back into the sanctum and to finally have a look at Him (Darshan) while the priests (Sri Manicka Bhattar and Sri Kalyana Sundara Bhattar) offered lamps to highlight His beauty (Deepa Aradhanai or Aarthi). After the Puja, the congregation enjoyed the wonderful prasadams, especially the modakams for Ganesha; a sumptuous good meal prepared by the Food coordinator Jeyam Thiagarajan and the temple staff. Thanks are also to Meena Dorairajan who had prepared Plenty of Food. The celebrations on Saturday began around 8.30 am with 108 Kalasas, pots filled with water and sanctified by chanting and fire rituals. Devotees carried these pots of water which were used to bathe Him and decorate Him. This time He was taken on a procession in the silver chariot (Ratham), after which a Maha aarthi was performed and prasadams distributed. After lunch, around 3.30 pm the Visarjan Puja began. This Puja, performed by Sri Pavankumar Sribhashyam included sankalpam, Ganapathi Puja & punyavachanam, Ganapathi Avahanam, puspha puja, pathra puja, ashtothra puja and story recitation followed by aarthi, mantrapuspham and Theertham. All of the devotees went in a procession to the temple pond and immersed their clay Ganesha, one at a time. Temple provided light dinner from the cafeteria kitchen after the visarjan. The RAC committee, the Temple Priests and staff
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and the event organizers Tupil Narasiman, Dr. T.A. Dorairajan, Padma Golla and Murali Ravoori need to be applauded for all the arrangements. The Ganesh Chaturthi celebration was a highly satisfying experience for one and all. (Authors: Tupil Narasiman & Padma Golla, Photos: Bhargavi Golla and Srinivasan Akunuri)
President of IACAN, Kanchan Kabad hosted the event at the IACAN office located on 6200 Savoy and gave a brief introduction about IACAN and how it is a cancer resource network to help the community by spreading awareness about cancer. The cancer survivor’s group is very close to Kanchan’s heart and she was proud to say that IACAN has hosted cooking demonstrations, look good feel good sessions where survivors learned techniques on makeup and physical care, and hosted social parties for Valentine’s Day, Christmas and Diwali all in hopes to continue the networking between survivors in an attempt to foster a “buddy system” for those who are about to start their cancer journey with others who have lived through it for years. IACAN’s mission to help survivors feel comfortable in getting to know each other, share feelings, and
help in emotional development through a difficult time was quite apparent through the topic that was chosen for the afternoon’s presentation. Ms. Deana Krause, an expert on rose gardening from the Houston Rose Society gave a delightful presentation guiding the audience through a rose gardening session. She was introduced by IACAN Board member Kumari Susarla as a Master Consulting Rosarian, of the Houston Rose Society, and a of the Texas Rose Rustlers. A beautiful slide presentation on different kinds of roses was shown and how to care for them was discussed in detail. Ms. Krause’s personal collection of roses in her own garden was a treat for all as the questions started to roll in one after the other. The audience couldn’t stop asking questions once they realized that they had a real expert with them who had over 35 years of experience working with roses and who has even been honored by having a rose hybridized and named after her, the rose Deana! Ms. Krause’s love for roses was clearly obvious as she brought out her unique selection of roses for display and surprised the audience with a green rose that many had never seen before! She had also prepared individual cuttings for each survivor and
presented the IACAN Board with a beautiful book about the care of roses. Ms. Krause was extremely happy following the presentation stating that she felt very welcome, enjoyed the extremely responsive audience and loved answering the many questions about rose gardening. She enthusiastically invited all the survivors for a day out to her garden where she takes care of over 400 different roses! The cancer survivors group definitely enjoyed the afternoon seeing the wide smiles on all the faces as they took home their cuttings and roses to begin their own personal gardening experience! Upcoming events for IACAN include a free educational outreach event on September 7 at VPSS Vallabh Hall entitled Endometrial and Ovarian Cancer: Signs, Symptoms, Treatment, and Risk Assessment, and the IACAN mammogram screening at the VPSS Health Fair on October 11.IACAN is also working on nutrition and spirituality projects and will be introducing free yoga classes for survivors at a Sugarland location beginning September 4. To find out more about IACAN activities or simply to volunteer with survivor projects please contact 713-370-3489 or visit www.iacannetwork.org
COMMUNITY
VOICE OF ASIA 6
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Celebrating Krishna Janm at Radha Madhav Dham, Austin rated swing where Ladoo Gopal was so adoringly seated. This was followed by a beautiful cultural performance starting with the Janm scene where Baby Krishna is delighting the hearts of Maiya Yashoda and Nandbaba. Candies and toys were hurled from the stage onto the delighted audience, as the Janm leela of Lord Krishna culiminated, followed immediately by a sequence of devotional dances bringing to life the love of Yashoda Maiya, the teasings of the gopis to naughty Lala, and showcasing the pastimes of Krishna such as the Govardhan and Kaaliya Daman leelas, by a group of youth from Nrutyashakti Dance School of Dallas.
The flower decorated swing for Ladoo Gopal On the eigth day of Krishna Paksh in the month of Bhadrapad (August-September) as dark clouds enveloped the sky, the stillness in the air conveyed that something very spectacular was about to happen. At midnight, while everyone was fast asleep, Lord Krishna chose to descend in a prison house, making his own arrangements for a seemingly fortuitous escape with his father Vasudev to Nandbaba’s home in Gokul. Unlike all previous Avatars of Lord Vishnu, Lord Krishna’s descension is perhaps the most intriguing
affair of all, and maybe that is why it is celebrated with so much joy and devotional exuberance. In Austin, Radha Madhav Dham bustled with joyous activities and the temple grounds echoed with the sounds of melodious chants, as over 3,000 people came to celebrate the festival of Krishna Janmashtami. People, poured into the temple premises, with little babies and young children dressed up
The program concluded with a leela enactment performed by Radha Madhav Dham devotees showing the heart-warming friendship between Krishna and his childhood friend Sudama and sharing the importance of loving God selflessly. Teaching us the lesson that God’s causeless Grace showers only on those devotees who wish to simply love him, selflessly, desiring nothing in return but his love.
A young girl dressed as Krishna celebrating Janmashtami.
Children line up for the custom contest in Krishna and Radha costumes, in great excitement to participate in the Janmashtmi program and rejoice in Krishna’s birthday celebrations.
Devotees dressed as Sri Krishna and his devoted friend Sudama.
After partaking the Mahaprasad, people rushed to the temple hall to join the session of beautiful kirtans and listen to Sushree Gopeshwari Devi who gave an enthralling discourse, revealing how Lord Krishna during his pastimes in Vrindavan, subsided his almightiness and succumbed to the power of unconditional love of the Gopis and Gwalbals of Braj.
Outdoors, children and parents listened to stories about baby Krishna, and later, over 90 kids, standing in a long line with their parents, made their way boldly onto the stage to show off their costumes and take part in the contest for best-dressed Krishna. It was a wonderful sight to see so
many beautifully dressed Baby Krishna’s and Radha’s. It filled everyone’s hearts with joy and got the crowd into the festive mood of Janmashtmi. The highlight of the occasion for many was darshan and abhishek of baby Krishna and a chance to push the flower deco-
After the cultural program, a traditional prasad of makhan mishri and panjeeri was handed out. Devotees then streamed towards the food court outside where delicacies like dosa, bhel puri, samosa, chai and mango lassi were being served. Inside, chanting continued until midnight. The prayer hall reverberated with dhol and chants of ‘Jai Kanhaiyya lal ki’ until its midnight climax, celebrating the auspicious arrival of Baby Krishna. The devotionally charged celebrations of Krishna Janmashtami at Radha Madhav Dham is an experience not to be missed. Check out the videos and photos of the event at www.radhamadhavdham.org or on the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/RadhaMadhavDham.
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DIASPORA
VOICE OF ASIA 7
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
City Lights Kicks Off Upcoming US Postal Department 7th Indian Film Festival in March issuing stamp in honor
of Padma Vibhushan, Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao
by Sanchali Basu
S
utapa Ghosh, founder cum director of IFFH had a brilliant idea of doing something different this year. Not in keeping with the tradition of holding the annual Indian film festival around this time of the year in Houston, it was decided to move it to March next year to make it coincide with the annual award season in India. But not to disappoint her flock of loving movie goers, she arranged for a one-night opener with cocktails, music and the screening of the movie, “City Lights” at the Studio Movie Grille in the City Center the evening of August 27. With rain in the forecast, the cocktail reception was moved to the Straits restaurant, and the evening just kicked off in the right mood with hors d’ouevres, drinks and music. The eclec-
Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao
Left to Right, Consul General P. Harish, Director Hansal Mehta and Festival Director Sutapa Ghosh.
A
kkineni Foundation of America (AFA) is proud to announce that United Stated Postal Service (USPS) has confirmed to issue a postal stamp in honor of the Legend Veteran actor Padma Vibhushan, Natasamrat, Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao very soon. “It is a long journey - submitting needed documents and literature from time to time and explaining Dr. Akkineni’s salient features but all that hard work paid off – it is the first time in the history of the USA that an Indian movie actor getting this kind of rare honor of commemorative postal stamp release. We sincerely thank USPS for consenting our request to issue this postal stamp in honor of Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao”, Dr.Prasad Thotakura, AFA President said. We will host Dr. ANR’s Postal Stamp release special ceremony in Dallas, Texas on September 20th , 2014 on Dr. ANR’s Birthday. More information to follow.
L-R: Director Hansal Mehta, Festival Director, Sutapa Ghosh, IFFH Board Member, Ellen Goldberg, Mohammed Iqbal Khan, Sutapa Ghosh, Amey Prakash, Consul General P. Harish, Mrs. Nandita Harish, Sneha Merchant, Parul Fernandes, Atul Badwal, Jose Grinan. tic gathering of more than 200 people ranged from the Indian consul general, Harish P, to the movie director Hansal Mehta. So much was the enthusiasm that 25 extra chairs had to be added in the front to accommodate some of the 31 people on the waiting list and the rest were requested to come back in March. City Lights, based on Sean Ellis’ acclaimed Metro Manila, was the featured movie. The thought provoking, heartwrenching movie told the story of a poor Rajasthani villager Deepak Singh, who had to move to the big city Mumbai to make ends meet. Unable to keep up with the money lenders demands and after being forced to shut down his little fabric store, he decides to move with his wife and little daughter to Mumbai, to live the dream life. Harsh realities and painful tragedies start striking from the minute they land in the city (paved with gold?) The journey with this family was a huge eye-opener for the audience and everyone remained at the edge of their seat until the last minute to find out if they would
be able to survive. Performances by Rajkumar Rao (Deepak) and Patralekha were brilliant. In a question and answer session that followed, director Mehta thanked the actors and the producer Mahesh Bhatt for making the movie possible. In response to the query about the choice of the depressing nature of the movie, he answered that it gave him satisfaction. After receiving rave reviews from critics and succeeding at the box office in India, he is encouraged to make more movies of the same genre and producer Mahesh Bhatt is willing to produce them. Consul General P Harish thanked the board of IFFH for putting together these remarkable film festivals. Sam Merchant from senator Al Green’s office presented the director with a proclamation recognizing his contribution to Indian cinema. Kudos to the IFFH board for coming through time and time again with screenings of such exceptionally good Indian movies and allowing the Houston Indian diaspora to be a part
NRI landlord needn’t prove ownership to evict tenant, says SC NEW DELHI: Non-resident Indians cannot be asked to prove ownership of their property to get their tenants evicted, the Supreme Court has said while overruling a high court order. “If ordinarily a landlord cannot be asked to prove his title before getting his tenant evicted on any one of the grounds stipulated for such eviction, we see no reason why he should be asked to do so only because he happens to be a non-resident Indian (NRI),” a Supreme Court bench said. The court was ruling on a case from Punjab where an NRI returned and wanted to vacate a shop he had rented out as he wanted to start a business. The tenant contested the NRI’s title to the shops and won a case in the lower court, and a high court bench subsequently upheld the ruling of the rent controller. On Tuesday the top court ruled in the NRI’s favour. “Section 13-B is a beneficial provision intended to provide a speedy remedy to NRIs who return to their native places and need property let out by them for their own requirement or the requirement
of those who are living with and economically dependent upon them. Their position cannot, therefore, be worse off than what it would have been if they were not NRIs,” it said. Justices TS Thakur and C Nagappan said the law entitles an NRI who returns to India to demand eviction of any residential or non-residential building let out by him, if it is required for his use or his dependant. However, the right to seek the tenant’s eviction is available only after five years from the date of such NRI becoming owner of any building. This is also subject to the condition that any such right shall be available to an NRI owner of the premises only once during his life time. “The courts below fell in manifest error in holding that the appellant-landlord was obliged to prove his title to the property, no matter the tenant clearly admits existence of relationship of landlord and tenant between him and the appellant (NRI). We have no hesitation in reversing the view taken by the courts below and in decreeing the eviction petition,” the bench said in its order.
of it. This just whetted our appetite for more and better movies to be screened at the Seventh Annual IFFH to be held in March. Readers stay tuned for upcoming announcements at www.iffhinc.org.
To add another feather to their cap, IFFH has been invited by IFFI (International Festival of India) to be held in Goa in November to be present at press conferences and the Film Bazaar.
AFA is also planning to release this same stamp in India at the first “International Akki-
neni Awards Ceremony” in the midst of ANR family members hosted by AFA to be held on December 17th , 2014 at ANR College, Gudivada, Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh. We have formed Akkineni Foundation of America (AFA) with the following objectives 1. To carry forward the principles and ideology of Dr. Akkineni Nageswara Rao like hard work, discipline, self-confidence, vision, philanthropy and community service. 2. To institute awards on his name and honor people from different walks of life who strive for better society. 3. To conduct events that will carry forward his ideology in the areas of education, health care, selfless community service for a better society and passing the cultural values to the next generation. AFA is served by Dr. Prasad Thotakura, President; Ravi Kondabolu, Vice-president; Sarada Akunuri, Secretary, Dr. C. R. Rao, Treasurer; Board of Directors: Dr. Srinivasa Reddy Alla, Murali Vennam, Bakthavatsalu Dhama, Chalapati Rao Kondrakunta and Rao Kalvala.
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SOUTH ASIA
VOICE OF ASIA 8
Pakistan opposition groups resume talks to end crisis by Gohar ABBAS
I
SLAMABAD, September 3, 2014 (AFP) - Pakistani opposition groups on Wednesday resumed talks with the government in a bid to end the political crisis rocking the country, but a stalemate over demands for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s resignation dragged on. The fresh talks came after days of clashes between police and club-wielding anti-government protesters left three dead and hundreds injured, raising fears of an intervention by the powerful military that has ruled Pakistan for more than half its history. Government negotiators met briefly with members of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) party of cricketing legend Imran Khan -- who has been leading the protests along with populist cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri -- but they left without addressing the media. Separate negotiations be-
tween Qadri and a cross-party team of opposition lawmakers were ongoing late Wednesday. Both Khan and Qadri claim that the 2013 general election which swept Sharif to power was heavily rigged. Thousands of their followers have set up camp in Islamabad’s sensitive “Red Zone” government district since August 15. But their calls to overthrow the government have failed to galvanise mass support in the country of 180 million. Addressing supporters at a rally on Wednesday night as the talks got under way, Khan said he had no intention of calling the protests off any time soon, comparing them to Test cricket as opposed to the sport’s shorter Twenty20 form. “It’s not a T20 match -- it’s going to be a long match,” he said. Qadri, meanwhile, told his supporters to leave the area in front of parliament where
protesters have been camped out for two weeks -- leaving it strewn with rubbish and human waste -- and to occupy the roads instead. “We won’t leave the place till we change the system,” Qadri said. - ‘Middle way’ sought Some of the pressure on Sharif eased Tuesday after opposition parties in parliament backed him to continue, and after a senior PTI member said Khan had acted on the army’s direction, damaging the movement’s credibility. Parliament called a second emergency session on Wednesday, with senior PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi saying the party was willing to resume talks with the government in the presence of a cross-party team. “We are ready to negotiate, ready to solve the matter, ready to break the silence. Imran Khan hasn’t done all this for himself or Tehreek-e-Insaaf, he
Bangladesh bans English titles for local movies
has done it for the better future of Pakistan,” Qureshi said. Khan’s party wants Sharif to step down for at least 30 days so that an impartial probe can be conducted into last year’s election. Both local and foreign observers rated the vote as relatively fair and credible. A source close to the talks told AFP: “All other matters have been resolved but the main issue is still on table, which is Nawaz Sharif’s resignation. “We are trying to sort out a middle way out of it,” he added. The military has issued a series of public advisories to the government in recent days on how the crisis should be tackled, leading to criticism that it is interfering. Analysts and government figures have said the army may be using the crisis to its advantage to try to assert its dominance over the Sharif government.
Narendra Modi’s Ends Japan tour. In Kyoto, a pact was signed under which Modi’s Lok
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Sabha constituency Varanasi would be developed on the pattern of Kyoto ‘smart city’ with the help of Japan.
(File photo: Gallo Images)
A
uthorities in Bangladesh have banned local filmmakers from giving their movies English titles after a spate of recent Bangla blockbusters with titles such as “Honeymoon” and “I Don’t Care”. Mushfiqur Rahman Gulzar, general secretary of the Bangladesh Film Directors’ Association, said the government had instructed the industry to ensure that all future homegrown releases have Bangla names. “Immediately after we received the information ministry order, we duly informed all the directors that they could not use English titles. We’ve also pasted the order in our notice board,” he told AFP Wednesday. Gulzar said that up to 90 percent of the new movies which are registered with his association each month have English names,
calling the phenomenon an “epidemic”. “A new myth has been created that films with English titles do good business here,” he added. The four biggest Bangla box office hits released during the recent Eid al-Fitr holiday period had English names -- “The Hero-The Superstar”, “Honeymoon”, “Welcome 2” and “I Don’t Care”. Local film critic Awlad Hossain said directors prefer to give their movies English titles “just to create some buzz”. “They think it’ll add extra value to the film and draw teenagers to the cinemas,” he said. An information ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed instructions had been handed down to the directors’ association. “The aim is to uphold our local culture,” he told AFP
Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj upon his arrival at AFS Palam in New Delhi on Wednesday after his Japan tour. (PTI Photo)
N
EW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned home on Wednesday after concluding his successful visit to Japan, which promised to give USD 35 billion to India over the next five years for developmental projects, as the two sides agreed to enhance their strategic cooperation to a new level.
He arrived here on Wednesday afternoon after five-day trip during which he visited Kyoto, besides Tokyo where he held talks with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe and met other leaders. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj received him at the airport here. The two countries signed five pacts covering defence exchanges, cooperation in clean energy, roads and highways, healthcare and women while vowing to take their relationship to newer level. Japan also lifted ban on six Indian entities including Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) which had been imposed in the aftermath of 1998 nuclear tests. During the visit, his first bilateral outside the subcontinent since becoming Prime Minister in May, Modi invited Japanese investments while hard-selling India as a conducive destination for business particularly for the manufacturing sector. He told the Japanese businessmen that India was awaiting the investments
with a ‘red carpet’ and not ‘red tape’ as rules and procedures have been eased by his government. Winding up his official programme yesterday, Modi had expressed gratitude to Japan for reposing “trust” in India and demonstrating its friendship with a quip “yeh fevicol se be zyada mazboot jod hai (this bond is stronger than that of fevicol)”. “This visit has been very successful,” he had said at the Indian community reception hosted in his honour here earlier. “There has been talk about billions and millions. But there has never been talk of trillions,” he said, referring to 3.5 trillion Yen (USD 35 billion or 2,10,000 crore) promised by Japan to India through public and private funding over the five years for various works, including building of smart cities and cleanup of the Ganga river. During the talks between Modi and Abe, the two sides agreed to enhance their defence and strategic cooperation to a new level and also decided to speed up negotiations on civil nuclear deal that could not be concluded now. Striking good personal chemistry, the two leaders had “very fruitful” exchanges. Abe also went out of his way to receive Modi in Kyoto when he went there on August 30 in the first leg of his
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COUNTY NEWS
VOICE OF ASIA 9
GGLEA is Now Accepting Police Cadet Applications Academy Training The 21-week Basic Peace Officer Certification program covers training in areas deemed credible and necessary to develop excellent results such as criminal law, arrest procedures, community relations and physical training. As a cadet trainee you will also receive extensive training in defensive tactics, firearms, driving, physical fitness, first aid, criminal inves-
tigations and crime scene procedures.
disturbances, building searches shoot/don’t shoot situations.
Near the completion of the Basic Peace Officer Course, the cadets will be able to demonstrate their proficiency with application of Law, decision making and problem solving by participating in reality based training scenarios. These scenarios test the individuals ability to handle situations ranging from traffic stops, domestic
Contact us for more information. Physical Address:1521 Eugene Heimann Circle Richmond, TX 77469 Mailing Address:1410 Williams Way Boulevard Richmond, TX 77469 Telephone: 281-341-4780 or 281-238-1583, Fax: 281-3414789.E-mail: ggacademy@ fortbendcountytx.gov
Basic Peace Officer Certification
T
he Gus George Law Enforcement Academy, (GGLEA) is licensed as a Police Academy by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE). The GGLEA prepares cadets to begin a career in Law Enforcement by teaching the TCOLE Basic Peace Officer Certification (BPOC) Course. Cadets receive 780 hours of instruction over a 20-week period. Upon successful completion of training Cadets are eligible to take the TCOLE Peace Officer Licensing Exam. The next Basic Peace Officer Course is scheduled for February 2, 2015 and graduation will be held June 25, 2015. Classes are scheduled from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with a few nighttime training classes. GGLEA will be accepting applications September 2, 2014 through December 19, 2014. Step 1: MEET MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS (must be met before taking the Nelson-Denny test) - U.S. Citizen - High School graduate or, - GED with 12 hours of college credits or, 24 months active duty military service with an Honorable Discharge Be at least 21 years of age by the time of TCOLE exam Have NEVER been nor cur-
rently on court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above the grade of a Class B misdemeanor Not currently under indictment for any criminal offense Have NEVER been convicted of an offense above a Class B misdemeanor or convicted of a Class B misdemeanor within the last 10 years Have NEVER been convicted of any Family Violence Offense Not prohibited by state or federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition Have NEVER been discharged from the military service under less than honorable conditions Possess a valid Texas Driver’s License May not have used marihuana, or any of its synthetic forms, within the past year. May not have used any of the following specific illegal drugs or substances within the past two (2) years unless taken with a prescription and/ or administered by a licensed physician:
following specific illegal drugs or substances within the past five (5) years unless taken with a prescription and/ or administered by a licensed physician: Any hallucinogens PCP Acid/ LSD Step 2: SCHEDULE NELSON DENNY TEST Contact GGLEA at 281-3414780 or 281-238-1583 to schedule the test Upon passing the Nelson Denny test with a minimum score of 80, you will be required to run 1.5 miles and your time must be 15 min. 20 sec. or less Step 3: COMPLETE APPLICATION Provide required documents Fingerprint cards L-2 Declaration of Medical Condition and Medical Screening Form (South Texas Medical Clinic)
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Applicants will be chosen on a first come, first served basis, once they have completed the above requirements.
Mathew Knowles reunites with former professor to do meet and greet at HCC
HOUSTON [September 3, 2014] - Mathew Knowles, former student of current HCC professor Dr. Aubrey Tucker, will speak on his extensive experience in the music industry at HCC’s Spring Branch campus. The music executive, record producer and businessman is the former manager of Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, better known as Destiny’s Child. Mathew is excited to be speaking with HCC’s Music Business and Commercial Music students and staff. Mathew, who is also a professor at Texas Southern University, will be doing a brief Q&A with students and staff looking for insight into the music industry. The Music Business Program at Houston Community College prepares students for careers in the music industry and lifelong musical occupations in their communities or around the world. Students learn to be music businessmen and women, arrangers, songwriters, composers, producers and performers. In addition to music business and traditional academic music studies these programs offer expanded and interdisciplinary training, with a greater emphasis on computer based music technologies, business practices, and popular music and jazz performance. Mathew Knowles will give insight into the music industry and preview his one-day music business boot camp to be held on September 13. To learn more about the boot camp click here. When:Thursday, September 4, 2014, 12:00 - 1:30 pm Light refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. Where:HCC Spring Branch Performing Arts Center Theater II, 1010 W Sam Houston Parkway, Houston, TX 77043
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. Announces Headquarters Expansion in Sugar Land
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ugar Land, TX, September 3, 2014 ¬– The City of Sugar Land and the Sugar Land Development Corporation recently approved an agreement to support expansion plans by Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) that will potentially bring more than $30 million in investments, retain 235 jobs and add 530 new jobs during a 10 year period. Given the foreseeable growth in laser components in the markets AOI serves, the company plans to expand its headquarters and build new research and development and manufacturing facilities, totaling approximately 111,600 square feet. The new facilities will be located adjacent to AOI’s existing building in the Sugar Land Business Park. Construction is expected to be completed late 2015. The company decided to expand its facilities in Sugar Land after evaluating options overseas. “We have experienced significant growth in the markets we serve and are excited to expand our facilities and production capacity in Sugar Land,” said Dr. Thompson Lin, AOI founder and chief executive officer. Due to the significant capital investment and job creation, a multi-faceted incentive package was created by the City’s Office of Economic Development and approved by both City Council and the Sugar Land Development Corporation to secure the retention and expansion of AOI’s office and manufacturing presence in Sugar Land. “Having begun at the Uni-
versity of Houston by developing lasers for military and space applications, AOI’s continued success and its position as a global industry leader is a prime example of the positive local economic impact that can result when a community provides access to higher education and encourages a strong entrepreneurial spirit,” said Mayor James Thompson. “We could not be prouder that AOI has chosen to expand its corporate headquarters in Sugar Land, and we look forward to seeing the company’s continued growth and success in the future.” About Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI) is a leading provider of fiber-optic access network products for the cable broadband, internet data center, and fiber-to-the home markets and has grown significantly over the past year, achieving 70 percent revenue growth in the first six-months of 2014. AOI’s products are the building blocks for broadband fiber access networks around the world, where they are used in the CATV broadband, internet datacenter, and fiber-to-thehome markets. AOI supplies optical networking lasers, components and equipment to tier-1 customers in all three of these markets. In addition to its corporate headquarters, wafer fab and advanced engineering and production facilities in Sugar Land, TX, AOI has engineering and manufacturing facilities in Taipei, Taiwan and Ningbo, China. For additional information, visit www.ao-inc.com.
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VOICE OF ASIA 10
WORLD/US/ASIA
ISIS trying to expand its influence in Pakistan, distributes pamphlets
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SLAMABAD: The dreaded Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is trying to expand its influence in Pakistan, with pamphlets being distributed in Peshawar and border provinces of Afghanistan, seeking support for jihad. A booklet titled ‘Fatah’ (victory) in Pashto and Dari languages was distributed in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, as well as in Afghan refugee camps on the outskirts of the city, the Express Tribune reported. The logo of the pamphlet has the Kalma, the historical stamp of Prophet Muhammad and a Kalashnikov assault rifle. Some copies were also mysteriously sent to Afghan journalists working in Peshawar, the paper said. On the last page of the pamphlet, the editor’s name appears to be fake and where the document has been published cannot be ascertained, it said.
The leader of the Islamic State IS jihadist group Abu Bakr alBaghdadi aka CaliphIbrahim. Photo AFP Since long, Afghan militant groups, including Haqqani Network and Hizb-e-Islami, have been publishing similar pamphlets, magazines and propaganda literature in Peshawar black markets. Formerly known as the ISIS, the group introduced itself as Daulat-e-Islamia (Islamic State) in the pamphlet and made an appeal to the local population for supporting its jihad (struggle) for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate.
A number of hardline groups operating in border areas have already announced support for the outfit. Among them, Abdul Rahim Muslim Dost and Maulvi Abdul Qahar, stalwarts of Saudi Arabia-backed Salafi Taliban groups operating in Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan, have extended support to the self-styled caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Besides distribution of its literature and pamphlets, some of
the ISIS supporters have also made wall chalking, asking locals to join and support the group. Some cars and vehicles also have ISIS stickers pasted on them. Recently, established Ahrarul Islam, a faction of the Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan, is already working on the lines of ISIS. Similar is the status of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, also known as Hizb-e-Islami Turkistan. Ahrarul Islam doesn’t believe in boundaries between Islamic countries, therefore, it is working for the establishment of a network throughout South and Central Asian regions. The group doesn’t recognize al-Baghdadi as the caliph, but considers Afghan Taliban chief Mullah Omar as ‘commander’. ISIS or IS is an al-Qaida splinter group and it has seized hundreds of square miles in Iraq and Syria. Al-Qaida has distanced itself from the group, chiding it for its lack of teamwork in its aggressive, brutal expansion.
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Two Indian-origin women named to advisory council of UN campaign on girls
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EW YORK: Two Indian-origin women are among 12 people named to an advisory council of the United Nations Foundation’s campaign that focuses on young American girls and raises awareness about issues facing adolescent girls. Akila Somasegar and Anjula Acharia-Bath are among the 12 people on the advisory council of the UN Foundation’s Girl Up campaign selected from diverse backgrounds and who are focussed on supporting girls around the world. Somasegar is the Director of Revenue at Seattle-based startup Buuteeq that is focused on delivering digital marketing systems for hotels. Born and brought up in India, Somasegar is also a philanthropist focused on supporting a number of charitable groups targeting kids and women’s education and empowerment. Acharia-Bath is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and Angel adviser/investor.
Biden vows retribution against ISIS: ‘We India, Australia to sign nuclear deal as Abbott visits will follow them to the Gates of Hell!’ Appearing in Maine, the Vice President says if the vicious jihadists ‘think the American people will be intimidated, they don’t know us very well’
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taking out a hard line against the vicious jihadist group ISIS, Vice President Biden vowed Wednesday that the U.S. “will follow them to the Gates of Hell!” Appearing in Maine, Biden could not contain his disgust a day after ISIS released a video boasting of the beheading of a second American journalist, Steven Sotloff. The Vice President spoke bluntly as he promised retribution. “If they think the American people will be intimidated, they don’t know us very well,” Biden said.
“When people harm Americans, we don’t reteat, we don’t forget. We take care of those who are grieving. And when that is finished, they should know: We will follow them to the Gates of Hell, until they are brought to justice, because Hell is where they will reside!” Biden said, practically shouting. “Hell is where they will reside!” he added for emphasis. Biden spoke during a visit to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter of New Hampshire, and several Maine Democrats. His forceful remarks con-
trasted with the more restrained comments of President Obama, who vowed at a news conference earlier Wednesday in Estonia that the U.S. would not forget the “terrible crime against these two fine young men.” “We will not be intimidated. Their horrific acts only unite us as a country and stiffen our resolve to take the fight against these terrorists,” Obama said. “And those who make the mistake of harming Americans will learn that we will not forget, and that our reach is long and that justice will be served.”
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UMBAI, September 4, 2014 (AFP) - Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrived in India on Thursday to sign a long-awaited deal to sell uranium to his energy-starved hosts and strengthen ties.
India and Australia kick-started negotiations on uranium sales in 2012 after Canberra lifted a long-standing ban on exporting the valuable ore to Delhi to meet its ambitious nuclear energy programme.
Abbott is expected to meet new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior ministers during a two-day visit also aimed at boosting trade.
Australia, the world’s thirdlargest producer of uranium, had previously ruled out selling the metal because nuclear-armed India has not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
“We expect significant outcomes from the visit to further enhance our partnership,” said Sanjay Bhattacharya, Indian foreign ministry joint secretary, on the eve of Abbott’s arrival.
Trade Minister Andrew Robb, who is travelling with Abbott, said Canberra is now happy with India’s precautions to ensure Australian uranium exports would be used only for peaceful purposes.
“For us, Australia is a major supplier of resources, particularly energy necessary for our development needs.”
“We have satisfied ourselves that the steps (for appropriate safeguards) are in place,” Robb said this week.
In 2007 she co-founded media company Desi Hits!, which helped introduce artists like like Lady Gaga and Britney Spears to emerging global markets like India. The council would help guide the campaign, focusing its efforts on helping Girl Up meet its fundraising and advocacy goals, advising on the campaign’s strategy and raising awareness among new audiences about issues facing adolescent girls, the campaign said in a statement. Girl Up director Melissa Hillebrenner said through the council, the members would help guide the campaign’s strategy and lead efforts on helping Girl Up meet its fundraising and advocacy goals, advising on the campaign’s strategy and raising awareness among new audiences about issues facing adolescent girls, the campaign said in a statement. Girl Up director Melissa Hillebrenner said through the council, the members would help guide the campaign’s strategy and lead efforts to mobilize people in their networks. “They are integral to Girl Up and contribute directly to the campaign’s success,” Hillebrenner said. The other members of the council include best selling author and leadership consultant John Gerzema, journalist, documentary film producer and literacy advocate Lilia Luciano, philanthropist and former attorney Linda Gersh, entrepreneur Molly Rudberg and Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Nickelodeon Networks Rhonda Medina. The Girl Up is campaign of the UN Foundation and gives teenaged American girls the opportunity to channel their energy to raise awareness and funds funds for UN programmes that help some of the world’s hardest-to-reach adolescent girls.
VOICE OF ASIA 11
LIFESTYLE
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
ONLINE .COM voiceofasiaonline.com
Vol. 27 No. 36 Friday, September 5, 2014 Section 2 Page 11 by Felicia SONMEZ
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UANGZHOU, (AFP) Free-wheeling and business-oriented, the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou is a long way from Beijing physically, culturally and linguistically -- and hackles have been raised by reports Communist authorities are demanding local television drop Cantonese in favour of Mandarin.
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com Tel: 713-774-5140
Speaking in tongues: China divided over the common language
“Its primary aim, then as now, has been to attempt to unify the country’s language, but it has an underlying secondary agenda, which is the domination of the south -- Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hokkien, etc. -- by the north, Mandarin,” he said.
The ruling Communist Party has long viewed it as a means of weakening regional loyalties and forging a sense of common identity, particularly in far-flung areas such as Xinjiang and Tibet which see fits of resistance to Beijing’s rule.
“It’s the same in China as it is in other parts of the world: Quebec, Belgium, Ireland. Language matters.” Cantonese had been “tremendously weakened” in Guangdong since the People’s Republic was established in 1949, he added. “If it weren’t for Hong Kong, Cantonese would soon cease to exist as a significant linguistic force.”
But according to a ministry of education statement last year, 30 percent of Chinese -- 400 million people -still cannot speak Mandarin. Cantonese is the first language of roughly half the population of Guangzhou, China’s third-largest city and the provincial capital of Guangdong -- where for many elderly residents, it is their only tongue.
In mainland China the two languages generally use the same characters for the same words, so that they are mutually intelligible in written form -- but incomprehensible when spoken.
- ‘I don’t understand a word’ As China’s richest province, Guangdong draws migrants from all over the country, and some of them would back the television switch. A pedestrian walks past the headquarters of Guangdong TV in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on August 11, 2014 (AFP Photo/Johannes Eisele) in Cantonese but the kids will respond in Mandarin. “Very, very few little kids these
days speak Cantonese. How are old people going to communicate with their grandchildren if they don’t use Cantonese?” she added.
Four years ago a similar proposal by Guangzhou TV sparked fury and hundreds of protesters defied the authorities to take to the streets, with similar
Zhang Yiyi, 72, a professor of French from Nanjing, three provinces away in eastern China, has lived in Guangzhou since 1988.
Cantonese has a greater range of tones than Mandarin, as well as a choppier sound to an untutored Western ear.
“Speaking Cantonese is a Guangdong custom; it’s a tradition that we need to support.”
But Cantonese activist and editor Lao Zhenyu said the language was “rich in sounds, and sonorous”.
- ‘Linguistic force’ Cantonese is spoken by more than 60 million people in China, according to the state-run China Daily -- on a par with Italian in terms of native speaker numbers.
“Relative to Mandarin, the history of Cantonese is more profound, it has nearly 1,000 years of history, and Mandarin only has around 100. When we read ancient poems in Cantonese, we find they still rhyme. Cantonese has a more abundant vocabulary than Mandarin, and its expression is more vivid.”
But some in Guangzhou worry that as young people and their parents focus on Mandarin for academic and career reasons, Cantonese may fall by the wayside.
Now, though, it was becoming “increasingly marginalised”, he said. Pedestrians walk past the headquarters of Guangdong TV in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on August 11, 2014 (AFP Photo/Johannes Eisele)
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A 58-year-old woman surnamed Yang from Shandong province in the northeast, said: “I don’t understand a word of Cantonese. It’s very annoying! Everyone can understand Mandarin, it’s widespread.”
“I speak Mandarin; I’m a professor,” he said. “Kindergarten, primary school, middle school, high school, college: the language of education is Mandarin. Cantonese is a regional language.”
“I oppose them changing it all to Mandarin,” said Huang Yankun, a 17-year-old student, walking past the television station’s headquarters. “It’s wrong for them to try to restrict the language in this way.
“A lot of kids, they speak only Mandarin at school,” said Huang Xiaoyu, a 28-year-old media worker. “And at home, their mum will speak to them
A spokesperson for Guangdong TV said they were unaware of any coming change. But Victor Mair, professor of Chinese language and literature at the University of Pennsylvania, said national authorities had been promoting Putonghua for around 100 years.
Throughout China, Mandarin -known as Putonghua, the “common language”, with its roots in Beijing’s northern dialect -- is the medium of government, education and national official media.
Nonetheless reports in neighbouring Hong Kong said the province’s official broadcaster Guangdong TV was planning to quietly switch most of its programming from Cantonese to Mandarin on September 1.
demonstrations in Hong Kong, which also speaks Cantonese. The plan was dropped.
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“Cantonese is not just a language, but for native speakers it is part of our identity.”
LEISURE
VOICE OF ASIA 12
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Robin Hood monkey showers The Mayapuris and The Jungle Indian town with cash Book team featured on Rice radio
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HIMLA, September 2, 2014 (AFP) - A monkey sparked a dash for cash in a northern Indian town when he showered banknotes from a rooftop, witnesses told AFP on Tuesday.
Passersby in the hill town of Shimla spotted the monkey with a bundle of notes on Sunday after it broke into a construction site in search of food. Finding nothing to munch on, it stole 10,000 rupees ($165) that a contractor had planned to pay his labourers, according to the Amar Ujala newspaper. “I was returning from the nearby temple when I suddenly saw some people looking up at currency notes flying. I noticed a monkey was dropping them from a tree,” resident Ashok Kumar told AFP. “I also joined the crowd and picked up two notes of 100 rupees ($1.65) each.” Workers at the construction site tried in vain to catch the thieving primate,
who playfully tossed down money from a rooftop before continuing the handouts from a tree, with an eager crowd gathering to catch the cash for nearly an hour. Shimla, capital of the mountainous state of Himachal Pradesh, has a ballooning monkey population and wildlife officials say the animals often harass residents and tourists. Monkeys are revered in Hindu-majority India -- but the animals can be a menace, trashing gardens, offices and residences and even attacking people for food.
The Indian government has hired 40 “monkey men” tasked with mimicking the screeches and hoots of aggressive monkeys in a bid to keep the animals at bay. This is not the first time a monkey has played Robin Hood in Shimla. In February, a monkey stole a bag of cash and showered it over a crowded street in the town, to the delight of passersby.
Indian expats, celebrate Diwali at home: Fly UAE to India for Dh149 Air Arabia offers promo fares days after Emirates, flyDubai, and Etihad announced special fares It’s back-to-discounts time for UAE residents. Just a few days after Dubai’s Emirates and flyDubai, and Abu Dhabi’s Etihad announced special fares for those planning to travel now, Sharjah’s budget carrier Air Arabia joins the discounted airfare bandwagon with offers to India. The Sharjah-based carrier is offering tickets priced Dh149 to Mumbai and Dh249 for flights to Delhi. These are one-way, all-inclusive prices that the airline is offering for flights departing from Sharjah. It is a limited period offer, Air Arabia notes, and the number of seats available at this promo fare are also limited, it advises. Those interested in cashing in on the offer need to book by Wednesday, September 3, 2014, and the travel period is until October 31 of this year. Leading airlines in the country have slashed ticket prices to attract customers as most expat families have returned to the UAE after the summer holidays. As back-to-school season kicks in, with a lot less people travelling out of the UAE, even the country’s full-fledged airlines are offering special fares to customers to takeSA advantage of their deals to fly out. Dubai’s Emirates is offering a 15 per cent savings in Business Class and 20 per cent in Economy Class fares to select destinations worldwide. Interested customers need to book by September 11 for outbound travel between September 10 and November 30, 2014. Economy class fares within the Middle East start at Dh895; to Asia & Pacific at Dh1,385; to Europe at Dh1,535; to Africa at Dh1,745 and to North and South America at Dh4,385. Until yesterday, Etihad Airways was also offering special
5
DAILY
servings of vegetables and fruits help keep your body’s immune system in balance and at peak performance. It’s like putting the best fuel in your body to help it perform at its peak!
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deals on its return fares in economy and business class from UAE to various destinations. The last day to book the tickets was the end of last month but there are still deals that can be availed of. For example, you can fly to Manila for Dh1,985 in its economy class. The sale is valid until September 15, 2014. There are other destinations as well to choose from.
R
iveting experience of “The Jungle Book” was transformed from on-stage dynamism to on-air gusto at Rice radio’s Navrang show on August 2nd. Rice radio presents a vibrant and eclectic South Asian music, culture and art rendezvous on Saturday mornings 10am to noon via ktru.org and 90.1 FM HD2.
The young artists’ connected immediately to the amiable and light-hearted host Varsha Vakil and conversed candidly about their role in the play “The Jungle Book”. Nishant Kelkar (Mowgli), Alani Forouzan (Wolf), Avi Vir (Monkey), Medhavi Patwardhan (Village Woman), Avilash Bhongir (Monkey) and Maitri Misra’s (Wolf) spontaneous interaction intrigued listeners to learn more about their charismatic personality as well as their fascinating perception regarding theatre. The twinkle in their eyes was intuited by all ktru listeners. Nishant’s overview of the scary Tabaqui - the Jackal played by Jeff Dorman was unanimously acknowledged by all the young artists’. On an earlier Navrang show, artists’ Jeff Dorman and Alex Osburn (Akela – the father wolf) had offered a lively narrative regarding their career, role and their interaction with the children in the play.
The Mayapuris Visvambhar and Krishna Kishore on Rice radio.
On August 23rd KTRU embarked on a Kirtan expedition staged by the reputed “The Mayapuris”. The gracious Mayapuris presented a mesmerizing glimpse to this sophisticated form of enlightenment which can be achieved with the simplest practice of chanting. Conversation with The Mayapuris initiated with reference to their album “Mridanga” and a track related to Sri Radha. A prior live performance accompanied with an impressive narration by the lead singer Visvambhar (Vish) had lured the host Varsha Vakil to their singing style. To Varsha’s delight “The Mayapuris” presented a radio version of Sri Radha for listeners
The Jungle Book artists’ with KTRU’s Varsha Vakil to experience, enjoy and immerse in a trance with the magical, rhythmic mridanga beat. The bansuri (Indian flute)
recital was presented by the humble Krishna Kishore (Kish) ensuing a divine setting through the air waves.
Young Life
VOICE OF ASIA 13
Friday, September 5, 2014
Section 2
Page 13
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
Tel: 713-774-5140
Delay morning school start Are you carrying ‘this’ emotional baggage? for teens: pediatricians
Precious Perez listens during a class on United States history at a high school in Chelsea, Massachusetts January 24, 2014. Photo - Reuters Middle and high schools should delay their start times to at least 8:30 a.m. to benefit the health and welfare of students, according to a new policy statement from a large organization of U.S. pediatricians. Instead of having teens be in school by 7:30 or 8:00, delaying the start time has been found in past research to improve their quality of life through physical and mental health, safety and better academic performance, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says in its journal Pediatrics. “We want to engage in at least starting a discussion in the community,” Dr. Judith Owens told Reuters Health. “Hopefully as a result of that the importance of sleep health as a priority will become more prominent.” Owens, a sleep medicine specialist at Children’s National Health System in Washington, D.C., led the AAP’s Adolescent Sleep Working Group, Council on School Health and Committee on Adolescence in writing the new policy. “I think that we definitely acknowledge that changing school start times is a challenge for many communities and that there are political, logistical and financial considerations associated with that, but at the end of the day this is something that communities can do to have a significant and definite impact of the health of their population,” Owens said. In an additional article published alongside the new policy statement, Owens and her coauthors write that poor sleep has been linked to increased risks of depression, anxiety, obesity and motor vehicle accidents. “We’ve been steadily accumulating the evidence to demonstrate that chronic sleep loss has very significant health safety and performance outcomes,” Owens said. Teenagers also experience a
biological shift in sleep patterns after puberty that makes it difficult to get to sleep before 11 p.m., Owens said. Their sleep needs of 8 to 9 hours don’t change, however. In addition to the health benefits, the pediatricians write that delaying school start times have been tied to better graduation and attendance rates, fewer children reporting sleepiness during class and better test scores. When asked if pushing back the time school starts will just keep teens and adolescents up later, Owens said research hasn’t shown that to be true. In fact, one school that delayed it start time saw its students get an additional 50 minutes of sleep, because the students began going to bed even earlier. “More is better, but even that modest amount of a shift can have very, very positive effects,” she said. In addition to encouraging later start times, the AAP’s statement recommends pediatricians educate adolescents and their parents about proper sleep needs. Also, it says, school nurses and doctors should be educated about the sleep needs of students and the AAP and other organizations should develop educational tools about sleep needs. The statement says schools should take travel time into account when adjusting their start times. “We hope one of the outcomes of this policy statement is that it gets communities and school districts considering this,” Owens said of the time change. The suggestion to push back the start time of school is good but sleep behavior also has to improve among students, said Dr. Umakanth Khatwa. “It will definitely help them to get more sleep but if they continue without improving
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their sleep hygiene maybe we would soon be talking about 10 o’clock,” said Khatwa, director of Sleep Laboratories at the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Boston Children’s Hospital. He said there is also a lot of responsibility to be put on pediatricians and school nurses to educated students and parents about sleep health. Unfortunately many doctors and nurses don’t receive education in that subject, he added. When school starts before 8:30 a.m., Khatwa said, parents and students should take into account how much time they need in the morning to get ready and get to school and then count back eight to nine hours to find a suitable bedtime. “I think the most important advice I’d give to parents is keep the wakeup time consistent on weekends,” he said. “If the adolescents wake up on noon on weekend there is no way they’re going to fall asleep again at 10 or 11 at night.” Courtesy:Reuters
There is more to life than just carrying the emotional baggage. by Shaznin Pathak Have you seen it? How does it look? Red, black, green. Of course, we all have it, may be the face is different but we all carry it with us. We have stored it in the remotest corner of our brain or somewhere deep in our hearts. I call it our emotional baggage! Even the most flawless upbringing has its share of emotional baggage! I realised that when I met a friend after ages. She had a perfect upbringing — a stay at home mom, a loving father, siblings who would do anything for each other. This perfection had somewhere spilled in her adulthood. The conflicts which she had never witnessed or had seen. She has far too high expectations of all the relationships she made in her life; there is no space of disagreements or conflicts. And she carries the “baggage” all the time with her.
Every day we come across an enormous ocean of sad, depressed and unfriendly faces either wizened in the crowded streets, sitting in public places, our workplace or may be in our neighbourhood. It haunts a lot of people and the shadows of the past follow people in their dreams or even all day long. There are few who live in constant refutation, they decide to spend their life totally detached with the real world. Whereas, you will find some people who will constantly find blame in others, everyone is wrong except themselves. I have come across a lot of people who are always searching for something in their life. They say, there is something missing in life, but they can’t identify what it is? I have known few, who have not been able to carry the weight of the emotional baggage and have succumbed to it. They feel, their existence has no meaning at all and they find no reason at all to fight. To
them the fight is over, if there was one in the first place. And I have also come across people who go through life like a jetsam. It’s like they let the current of life take them wherever, it does not really matter to them. Is it that the world we are living or existing so cruel? What causes this emotional suffering I wonder? The list is long, childhood trauma, betrayals, lost hopes, poverty, broken hearts, dreams and relationships, health, financial problems and it can just go on and on. Who is to be blamed? The fast paced society, the material quest, toys, gadgets, the advanced technology, relationships which are getting brittle day by day, deteriorating family ties and the expectations which we have from self. “Time is the best healer” but it works only if you take those little steps towards the healing process. Is everything lost? Not yet. Try and understand the inner voice, your needs.
VOICE OF ASIA 14
BOLLYWOOD MASALA
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
Section 2
Page 14
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Mallika Sherawat discussBollywood Shake Presents “Bollywood Extravaganza 2014” es women’s rights at United Nations Conference featuring the Mrs. Bollywood Pageant & Mr. Bollywood contest
H
ouston get ready for this one-of-a-kind event the “Bollywood Extravaganza 2014” scheduled to be held on Saturday, Sep. 6th at 8 PM at the Hilton Americas in downtown Houston. This event will be an exciting mix of live music, dancing, fashion, the first ever Mrs. Bollywood Houston pageant or the fun Mr. Bollywood contest! The beautiful and exquisite venue, Hilton Americas, is the perfect location for this spectacular event with its elegance, grandeur & exquisiteness. Yes, it is a beauty pageant, but not just another beauty pageant. It is a pageant of, for and by our very own South Asian community organized by Bollywood Shake Founder and CEO, Ruchika Dias and her team specially to give married women a platform to showcase their talent, personality & intellect. Ms. Dias has an MS in Computer Engineering and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, but is pursuing her dream of spreading Bollywood culture in mainstream USA. So what exactly will the evening offer? The highlight of the evening is the Mrs. Bollywood Pageant. The contestants are all very beautiful, talented and confident ladies who how women can still pursue their interests after marriage and make it beautiful. A group of very talented men are also going to compete for the title of first-ever Mr. Bollywood Houston. This will be a fun and entertaining contest where the contestants will impress the judges and audience with their talent & personality!
Mallika Sherawat
U
nited Nations, Aug 29: Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat highlighted the sufferings of women in India at the 65th United Nations DPI/NGO Conference, saying strong implementation of laws is required and men should be part of the solution to end discrimination against women.
Raveena Tandon An esteemed panel of judges includes prominent personalities from the Houston community. Bollywood super star Ms. Raveena Tandon will be the The main judge and chief guest. Talented Ms. Tandon has starred in a number of successful Bollywood movies including Patthar Ke Phool, Dilwale, Mohra, Khiladiyon Ka Khiladi, Andaz Apna Apna, Aks and Daman. A truly multifaceted personality representing exactly what our judges will be looking for in our “Mrs. Bollywood Houston” and a role model for all women.
The evening will also feature a LIVE musical performance from Mauli Dave, a local Houstonian who was a finalist of the Indian reality show SaReGaMa. Other highlights include spectacular dance performances by the Bollywood Shake troupe. The show is guaranteed to get you to give you pure entertainment complete with a dance, music and fashion show! Log on to Sulekha.com or BollywoodPageant.com for tickets. Come dressed in your best Bollywood attire.
Actor Charan Raj carries pistol inside temple
Actor Charan Raj
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YDERABAD: Actor Charan Raj today entered the famous Lord Varasiddi Vinayaka Swamy Devasthanam (temple) at Kanipakkam in Andhra Pradesh’s Chittoor district carrying a pistol, police said. The actor, who was on ‘Sri Ganesha deeksha’, later admitted of carrying the weapon by mistake and also apologized over the incident. According to Kanipakkam SHO Murali, the actor entered
the temple through a separate entrance gate meant for VIP’s carrying the pistol without his knowledge. The actor offered ‘darshan’ and it was only after some local Telugu TV news channels showed the actor carrying a pistol inside the temple, he realised his mistake, the police officer said. During enquiry, the actor voluntarily admitted of carrying the weapon. He requested the police that he has to go to
Chennai due to some medical emergency, he said. “In view of his request, we asked him to appear before the police next week. Once he appears, we will ask him further and take appropriate action based on it. It is a licensed weapon and he has given us photocopies of the documents of the weapon,” the SHO told PTI. It was only later that the actor was informed by someone that local channels are showing footage of him carrying pistol. Raj, who has worked in several Telugu, Tamil, Kannadaand Malayalam films, later told reporters that he carried thepistol inside the temple unknowingly. “I drove from Chennai to Kanipakkam this morning and reached the temple at 6.30 am. I went inside the temple in a hurry without removing the gun pouch. It was only after coming out of the temple, I realised that I had carried the pistol. I did it without knowing,” the actor said.
“Every minute we do nothing, there is a woman suffering abuse in India. They do not have the luxury of time,” Sherawat said here at a roundtable discussion on ‘Fighting Inequalities ? Economic, Social, Political and Environmental’
during the ongoing 65th UN DPI/NGO Conference. The 39-year-old actress cited estimates by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) that said a woman is raped somewhere in India every 20 minutes and that India has a very high incidence of child brides. She said “caste system, male-dominated patriarchal society and the insensitivity of the judicial system” contribute to a woman’s plight in India and strong laws are required to deal with atrocities against women.? “Strong implementation of the legal framework, having
a strong judicial system that deals with issues sensitive to women” is the need of the hour, she added. She said for India to realise its full potential, the women of the country have to be empowered and crucial problems of rape and child marriage have to be urgently addressed. “India cannot realise its full potential if women do not rise along. Men have to part of the solution. We cannot leave men behind. Both men and women are in this together… This creates true empowerment when everyone gets an equal chance,” she said.
‘Mary Kom’ declares taxfree in Maharashtra
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he Priyanka Chopra starrer biopic ‘Mary Kom’ which is set to release on 5th September has received a big boost ahead of its release. The film has been declared tax-free in Maharashtra by the state government. The film is based on the life and career of Mary Kom, an Olympic medal winner and five time amateur world champion boxer. The film has been co-produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Viacom18 Motion Pictures and directed by Omung Kumar. The news has naturally brought happiness to the people involved with the film. Priyanka Chopra who is playing the titular role said upon receiving the news, “It is wonderful news. We have a compelling story to tell of a strong, determined woman who has done the nation proud. It is our tribute to all the unsung sports people who give so much to see the Indian flag flying high. If this can act as a catalyst of hope for them, then its something we can all be proud of.” The actor had earlier said, “For me work is worship, I don’t compare it with money. I do lot of hard work (for my films). If I get money, great, otherwise I will do a film like this only (free).” Ajit Andhare, COO, Viacom18 Motion Pictures said, “We are grateful to Revenue
Priyanka Chopra plays Mary Kom in the biopic Mary Kom. Minister Balasaheb Thorat and government of Maharashtra for lending their support to the film. This exemption right from
release day will allow large segments of society to experience the spirit of magnificent Mary.”
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HEALTHY LIVING HEALTH
VOICE OF ASIA 15
Friday, September 5, 2014
Section 2
Page 15
Email: editor@voiceofasiaonline.com
Double mastectomy ‘doesn’t boost cancer survival rates’
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ashington (AFP) - Women fighting cancer in one breast don’t benefit from having both breasts removed, according to new research out Tuesday, that found long-term survival was equivalent after targeted surgery plus radiation. Hollywood star Angelina Jolie famously announced last year she had a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of one day developing breast cancer, because she has a genetic mutation that substantially increases breast cancer risk. And a growing number of women have begun choosing the most radical surgical option -- the double mastectomy, to remove all breast tissue -after a diagnosis, even when cancerous tissue was found only in one breast. But the researchers aimed to determine whether evidence showed double mastectomies led to longer lives for this category of breast cancer patients. It was the first study to directly compare survival rates between the three main surgical interventions used in breast cancer: a single or a double mastectomy, or a lumpectomy to removing only the cancerous tissue, followed by radiation therapy. The study found that in 2011, just over 12 percent of patients diagnosed with a breast tumor opted for a double mastectomy, compared to just two percent in 1998. However, “we can now say that the average breast cancer patient who has bilateral mastectomy will have no bet-
A growing number of women are choosing to have a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer (AFP Photo/Joel Saget) ter survival than the average patient who has lumpectomy plus radiation,” said lead author Stanford medical professor Allison Kurian. Of the nearly 190,000 study subjects diagnosed between 1998 and 2011, 55 percent had a lumpectomy followed by radiation therapy, 38.8 percent had a single mastectomy, and 6.2 percent had a double mastectomy. Women of color or minorities, and those of more impoverished backgrounds, were more likely to have undergone a single mastectomy than other groups. In contrast, women who had both breasts removed were
more likely to be middle class or wealthy, white, under the age of 50, or some combination. The long-term survival rate for women who underwent lumpectomies with radiation was not statistically different from women who underwent double mastectomies, Kurian and co-author Scarlett Gomez found.
ficulty traveling to follow-up appointments for treatment, including for radiation. Jolie carries a mutation in the BRCA1 gene that increases the risk of breast cancer by 85 percent. After a double mastectomy, that risk falls to just five percent.
The long-term survival rate after single mastectomies was slightly lower, however the authors said it was unclear whether that could be attributed to differences in socioeconomic status.
The authors of this week’s study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, emphasized that their findings do not mean women with the BRCA1 mutation or another in the BRCA2 gene, or with a strong family history of breast cancer, should not have a double mastectomy.
They noted these women may have had other health problems and had more dif-
In those cases, the precautionary surgery may an effective choice, they said.
India asks Pepsi to cut down sugar in sodas tes levels. The soft drinks giant has been replacing some of the sugar in its fizzy drinks with stevia, a natural sweetener which is widely used in Europe and parts of Asia. But it has not been able to do so in India because the substance has not been approved for consumption. The soft drinks giant, which markets 7Up, Mirinda and Mountain Dew as well as Pepsi in India, plans to more than double its production capacity in the country by 2020 along with its bottling partners.
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ndia has asked US soft drinks giant PepsiCo to reduce the sugar content of its sodas as the country battles growing levels of obesity and diabetes. PepsiCo chairman Indra Nooyi met food processing industry minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal during a visit to India on Tuesday to discuss
its plans for healthier options and investing in India. “PepsiCo has been requested to further bring down the sugar content of soft drinks so that the health aspects of such products are duly taken care of,” the ministry said in a statement after the meeting.
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
PepsiCo was not immediately available for comment when contacted by AFP on Wednesday. Undernutrition remains rampant in India. But soft drinks and fast food consumption has increased among the middle classes as incomes have risen, leading to a rise in obesity and diabe-
Nooyi has said PepsiCo, the world’s second-largest beverage firm, aims to double its investment in Asia’s third-largest economy. Last year, she announced the company would invest $5.5 billion in India by 2020. India’s consumption of soft drinks remains low relative to its Asian neighbours, making the market particularly attractive. Pepsi entered the country as it opened to foreign companies over two decades ago. It currently has 38 bottling plants and three food plants in India.
Tel: 713-774-5140
Learn About Social Security Benefits History Q1: When did Social Security start? A: The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time, lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly benefits started in January 1940. Q2: What is the origin of the term “Social Security?” A: The term was first used in the U.S. by Abraham Epstein in connection with his group, the American Association for Social Security. Originally, the Social Security Act of 1935 was named the Economic Security Act, but this title was changed during Congressional consideration of the bill. (The full story has been recounted by Professor Edwin Witte who was present at the event.) Q3: When did Medicare start? A: Medicare was passed into law on July 30, 1965 but beneficiaries were first able to sign-up for the program on July 1, 1966. Q4: Is it true that Social Security was originally just a retirement program? A: Yes. Under the 1935 law, what we now think of as Social Security only paid retirement benefits to the primary worker. A 1939 change in the law added survivors benefits and benefits for the retiree’s spouse and children. In 1956 disability benefits were added. Keep in mind, however, that the Social Security Act itself was much broader than just the program which today we commonly describe as “Social Security.” The original 1935 law contained the first national unemployment compensation program, aid to the states for various health and welfare programs, and the Aid to Dependent Children program. (Full text of the 1935 law.) Q5: Is it true that members of Congress do not have to pay into Social Security? A: No, it is not true. All members of Congress, the President and Vice President, Federal judges, and most political appointees, were covered under the Social Security program starting in January 1984. They pay into the system just like everyone else. Thus all members of Congress, no matter how long they have been in office, have been paying into the Social Security system since January 1984. (Prior to this time, most Federal government workers and officials were participants in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) which came into being in 1920--15 years before the Social Security system was formed. For this reason, historically, Federal employees were not participants in the Social Security system.) Employees of the three branches of the federal government, were also covered starting in January 1984, under the 1983 law--but with some special transition rules. 1) Executive and judicial branch employees hired before January 1, 1984 were given a one-time irrevocable choice of whether to switch to Social Security or stay under the old CSRS. (Rehired
Sudhir Mathuria Contact: Sudhir Mathuria Licensed Professional Health Life 360 6650 Southwest Freeway Houston TX 77074 713-771-2900 www.MyMedicarePlanning.com employees--other than rehired annuitants--are treated like new employees if their breakin-service was more than a year.) 2) Employees of the legislative branch who were not participating in the CSRS system were mandatorily covered, regardless of when their service began. Those who were in the CSRS system were given the same one-time choice as employees in the executive and judicial branches. 3) All federal employees hired on or after January 1, 1984 are mandatorily covered under Social Security--the CSRS system is not an option for them. So there are still some Federal employees, those first hired prior to January 1984, who are not participants in the Social Security system. All other Federal government employees participate in Social Security like everyone else. This change was part of the 1983 Amendments to Social Security. You can find a summary of the 1983 amendments elsewhere on this site. Q6: Is it true that the age of 65 was chosen as the retirement age for Social Security because the Germans used 65 in their system, and the Germans used age 65 because their Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, was 65 at the time they developed their system? A: No, it is not true. Generally, age 65 was chosen to conform to contemporary practice during the 1930s. Q7: Is it true that life expectancy was less than 65 back in 1935, so the Social Security program was designed in such a way that people would not live long enough to collect benefits? A: Not really. Life expectancy at birth was less than 65, but this is a misleading measure. A more appropriate measure is life expectancy after attainment of adulthood, which shows that most Americans could expect to live to age 65 once they survived childhood. (See more detailed explanation.) Q8: When did COLAs (costof-living allowances) start? A: COLAs were first paid in 1975 as a result of a 1972 law. Prior to this, benefits were increased irregularly by special acts of Congress. ……(To Be Continued) Contact Sudhir Mathuria for your Health and Wealth Planning at 713-771-2900.
VOICE OF ASIA 16
HEALTH, SC & TECH
Baylor Professor’s New Research Geared to Keep Women from Fleeing IT Profession
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ACO, Texas (August 13, 2014) – For years, employers and experts have been trying to reverse the exodus of women from information technology positions. They’re failing. Studies show that women are significantly underrepresented in the IT field, and the number of women who’ve graduated with degrees in computer and information science have plummeted from 37 percent in 1985 to 18 percent in 2011. The failure to “stop the bleeding” stems, in part, from the industry’s reliance on an oft-cited, outdated and under-studied research model, said Cindy Riemenschneider, Ph.D., professor of information systems and associate dean for research and faculty development in Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business. “We have to look deeper into the areas that really need to be addressed,” Riemenschneider said, explaining that employers and experts have been focusing on the wrong challenges facing women in the IT profession. For example, there have been numerous studies and efforts focused on work-family conflict and organizational structures. But a new study shows that those areas are less significant than challenges found in occupational culture and informal interoffice social networks (think: men’s office softball teams and informal lunches where men discuss sports). These areas emerged as more integral in a recent study by Riemenschneider and colleague Deborah Armstrong, Ph.D., associate professor in Florida State University’s entrepreneurship, strategy and information systems department. They started with a 12-yearold model developed by researcher Manju Ahuja, which, they contend, included popular assumptions that had not been thoroughly tested. Riemenschneider and Armstrong tested those findings by surveying IT professionals from a Fortune 500 company over a period of
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Celebrity hack puts focus on Internet ‘cloud’ by Rob Lever
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Photo Courtesy of Baylor Photography three years. Using the results of their research, they were able to build upon Ahuja’s model and propose a new model they hope will “re-energize the dialogue regarding creating a more diversified IT work environment,” according to the study. Some areas where improvement can be made, include: Mentoring – Riemenschneider said women who advance within a company often find few female mentors. She suggested allowing women to utilize peer networking and mentoring via professional organizations. “The further women move up, the fewer female mentors they have,” Riemenschneider said. “Women might be mentored by a male, and the lens he looks through might not be the same one she looks through.” Social interaction – Riemenschneider said co-ed sports teams and offering employees time off to pursue common interests, such as philanthropic service, can bring both men and women together and build team cohesion. Career-stage awareness – Understanding the needs of employees at various career stages and life stages (e.g., elder care) is integral, Riemenschneider said. “Employers need to be proactive to help employees at whatever stage, to keep them within the company, so they can move
up the corporate ladder,” she said. “They need to recognize that employees need different opportunities for different stages of their careers.” The study, “The Barriers Facing Women in the Information Technology Profession: An Exploratory Investigation of Ahuja’s Model,” won the Magid Igbaria Outstanding Conference Paper of the Year Award at the 2014 ACM SIGMIS Computers and People Research Conference. ABOUT BAYLOR Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Confer-
ASHINGTON, September 2, 2014 (AFP) - If actress Jennifer Lawrence and model Kate Upton knew little about the Internet “cloud,” they would not be alone, but the recent theft of their intimate photos has served as a wake-up call. Hackers have boasted of stealing nude pictures of dozens of celebrities -- including singer Avril Lavigne, actress Hayden Panettiere and United States soccer star Hope Solo. And, while some of the pictures appear to have been faked, several A-listers denounced an invasion of their privacy after pictures popped up on anonymous online bulletin boards. - What is the Internet cloud? The cloud refers to storage of data on large-scale shared servers rather than on users’ own home hardware. It allows people to access their documents and pictures remotely on multiple devices such as PCs, smartphones and tablets from anywhere with an Internet connection. Hackers appeared to access photos stored in Apple’s service called iCloud, which backs up photos and other documents from iPhones. As a result, the private pictures of the female celebrities became public and spread across social media, starting with the image-sharing service 4chan. Apple, in its first public statement on the incident, said celebrity accounts were compromised in a “targeted attack” to gain passwords, but maintained that it found no breach of the iCloud or other Apple systems. - What is in the cloud? People can choose to back up pictures, videos and other files in the cloud. In some cases smartphones and other devices will do this by default -- a fact not all users are aware of. “Many iPhone owners are possibly oblivious to the fact that every time they take a photo, it is invisibly and silently uploaded to iCloud in the background,” says computer security consultant
Jennifer Lawrence attends the UK Premiere of ‘The Hunger Games: Catching Fire’ at Odeon Leicester Square on November 11, 2013 in London, England. (Getty Images) Graham Cluley in a blog post. The private pictures of Lawrence, Upton and others appeared to have been stored in these cloud servers, even if they were deleted from the phones or other devices used to take the pictures. - Is the cloud secure? Major services like Apple’s iCloud and Google Drive use encryption to secure data. But Rob VandenBrink at the SANS Internet Storm Center said a flaw in Apple’s “Find My iPhone” app lacked protection against “brute force attacks” from hackers. “And of course once an account password is successfully guessed, all iCloud data for that account is available to the attackers,” VandenBrink said in a blog post. “So no rocket science, no uber hacking skills. Just one exposed attack surface, basic coding skills and some persistence.” - Are passwords involved? Because many people use easy-to-guess passwords like “123456” and reuse them across multiple services, hackers often can gain access with little difficulty. Rik Ferguson at the security firm Trend Micro said attackers could have used the “I forgot my password” link for Apple accounts.
“The peril in this for celebrities is that much of their personal information is already online and a security question such as ‘Name of my first pet’ may be a lot less secret for a celebrity that it is for you and I,” Ferguson says. A better system is to activate two-factor authentication, which sends an additional code to a predetermined email or phone. - Are there other vulnerabilities? An old technique used by hackers known as “phishing” can get a user to hand over a password voluntarily. This often begins with an email which says an account has been compromised and requests that the user log in via a link. Symantec security response manager Satnam Narang said his firm has been warning about fake emails or SMS messages claiming to come from Apple technical support. The comedian Sarah Silverman tweeted recently: “I got a text from apple privacy security saying my iTunes id has been compromised -- HOW DO I KNOW THEYRE NOT THE SCAM? Help!” Narang said these kinds of hacks are likely to continue because many people fall for the scams.
VOICE OF ASIA 17
BUSINESS
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
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Friday, September 5, 2014
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Santhigram Wellness Kerala Ayurveda opens its Texas Location at Hillcroft Shopping Plaza, in Houston
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and many other privileges including a major discount for any type of treatments. All the VIPs who were present on the occasion extended their felicitation and assured their wholehearted support for the Santhigram venture. A vote of thanks was given by the Center Director Mr. Nandakumar whose efforts were appreciated by one and all for opening the Ayurveda Wellness Center in a very convenient and visible location.
OUSTON - Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Company of US, proudly celebrated the Grand Opening of its Texas location at 5901 Hillcroft Ave. on August 30, 2014. A state-of- the-art facility in the center of Hillcroft Shopping Plaza was formally inaugurated by Mr. Ken Mathew, Councilman, City of Stafford in a grand ceremony. Also present on the occasion were: Dr. Gopinathan Nair, Santhigram Founder & CEO, Mr. Koshy Thomas, CEO, Voice of Asia Group, Mr. G.K. Pillai, community leader and former FOKANA President, Mr. Thomas Varkey President Malayalee Association of Greater Houston, many other community leaders and a strong gathering of wellness enthusiasts. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ken Mathew appreciated the efforts of Santhigram Group in spreading the goodness of Kerala specific Ayurveda Therapies in the US, particularly for
The Wellness Center celebrated its grand opening with an open house for two days, offering free Ayurveda consultations by Dr. Lakshmi Maliakkal and also by offering Santhigram Club Memberships. Many people have taken the membership during the event.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic opens at Hillcroft Shopping Plaza. Ken Mathew, Councilman, City of Stafford inaugurating the facility on Aug. 30, 2014. Dr. Gopinathan Nair, President & CEO Santhigram Kerala Ayurvedic Co. is seen on the left side. establishing a beautiful Center in one of the best locations in Houston. Dr. Gopinathan Nair, CEO of the company welcomed the guest and introduced the Ayurveda Consultant of the Center, Dr. Lakshmi Maliakkal, a BAMS doctor from one of the best institutions in Kerala, India (Vaidyaratnam) with many years of experience in treating chronic ailments and also a certified Holistic Practitioner in US. During the occasion Dr. Nair also announced a Club Memberhip Program for Santhigram with which a person can become a club member just for an annual fee of $150 which will entail a number of privileges like Free Consultation, unlimited therapies during the year for just $65/hour
Santhigram Kerala Ayurveda Wellness Centers provide genuine Ayurvedic & Panchakarma therapies for total body rejuvenation, detoxification and for alleviation of many chronic conditions. Panchakarma therapies have preventative health benefits in otherwise healthy subjects. It helps to reduce stress, enhance skin luster, correct metabolism, improve immunity, remove hormonal imbalance, overall it recharges the body and mind. The Santhigram wellness Centers are staffed by trained professionals who offer Ayurvedic consultation, Panchakarma therapies, and recommendations on Diet and Herbal remedies. Ayurveda and Yoga are time tested ancient systems of medicine that help to maintain healthy body and mind. Santhigram Wellness Centers offer therapies to alleviate several chronic conditions, ward off the middle age syndrome and stimulate unlimited curative powers of body and mind. Customized Pancha-
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HOROSCOPE
VOICE OF ASIA 18
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
Your Horoscope for the Week of September 5, 2014 by Hardik Vyas, Astrologer Cell : 832-298-9950
READ YOUR COMPLETE HOROSCOPE ONLINE WWW.VOICEOFASIAONLINE.COM
Libra (R,T) 23 Sept to 22 Oct
Aries (A,L,E) 21 March to 20 April You feel strength from personal and professional relationships. You may need to reevaluate your priorities. Take some time out to do things with children. You may just find they really need more than you imagined. Try not to lose your patience, support will work better than criticism. Utilize your energy to organize, re-build & prepare for changes. Your personal magnetism will give you an edge. Be careful not to mislead others, be honest with your intentions.
Your universal appeal & your ability to make everyone in your presence, feel right at home. Use your creative talents to make changes in your domestic life. If you want to make long term plans, make sure you share them with those who will be affected. They’ll appreciate your consideration. Ask direct questions if you have any doubts. Give yourself some room to breathe. Don’t commit to too many new projects. Time limits will deter you from success.
Taurus (B,V,U) 21 April to 20 May
Scorpio (N,Y)23 Oct to 21 Nov
Develop the sense of timing & luck. Communications & understanding will increase greatly. Plan outings with family or friends with fun filled conversation. Competition could help your team, especially if you approach it in a positive manner. The goal is not to beat the other person, but only to motivate one another. Utilize your ability to analyze data & you’ll be able to meet important deadlines.
New doors of opportunity. Your charisma is strong and your personal magnetism is evident. People will vie for your time & attention. You may be invited to travel for business, pleasure. Long distance communication will bring you closer to your goals. You could use an objective opinion to see the situation more clearly. Ask your partner or a friend for their input. Relationships are the main event. Avoid difficulties, by being more open and honest.
Sagittarius (BH,F,DH,TH) 22 Nov to 21 Dec
Gemini (K,CHH,GH) 21 May to 20 June Interesting change of plans. Unfinished business may distract your focus. Someone can appear reasonable and attractive one minute, then just the opposite a moment later. For the short run, though, enjoy playing with the different people, feelings and situations that are likely to arrive in your life now. You may receive invitations to social events. Take the time to express your views publicly & your plans will become crystal clear.
Don’t be afraid to take the steps necessary to feel happier with your life. An act of kindness or gesture of caring can melt the resistance and get you what you want. Unpredictable events may disrupt your progress greatly. Make plans, follow through & put your power behind your presence. Be careful not to burn yourself out. When dealing with peers, be yourself & you’ll draw energy from deep inside. Follow your basic instincts & you’ll do very well.
Capricorn (KH,J) 22 Dec to 20 Jan
Cancer (D,H) 21 June to 22 July The struggle of busy family & social commitments. An intense conversation could be important to you. Reevaluate your past, try to bring out your best qualities, set aside your insecurities. You may need to test your talent of diplomacy & tact, while balancing your emotions. Try not to hurt feelings but you cannot please everybody. You can get others to do things for you if you use your charm.
Some responsibilities and professional matters that may make you wonder whether you really want to continue on your current path. The information that you’ve been seeking for weeks may come to you now, but it still might not be entirely clear to you. Pay careful attention in conversations where facts are handled carelessly. The clues lie between the words. Use your intuition to determine the truth. A person in authority may ask you an incriminating question.
Aquarius (G,S,SH) 21 Jan to 19 Feb
Leo (M) 23 July to 22 August Domestic changes that will improve your outlook. A careless remark could get you into trouble with a colleague, watch what you say. What you consider meaningless information can be very important to someone else. Compassionate friends could help you overcome your feeling of isolation. Positive emotions will promote healing, understanding. Your knowledge & good sense will help more than you expect. When you do something for yourself your energy flows more freely.
Getting back on track and meeting your commitments. A mature friend will be able to help you. Thanks to a frank conversation, you get clearer about your responsibilities to the team. Your sense of self-esteem will rise as you realize just how talented you are. It’s not flash, however, that gets you where you want to go now. It’s solid, reliable work that earns respect, and possibly money.
Pisces (D,CH,Z) 20 Feb to 20 March
Virgo (P) 23 August to 22 September More communication & your ability to express your creative ideas. Whatever your religious beliefs are, you will feel a spiritually awakened, this week. You know it is impossible to accomplish anything, if you try to do it alone. Bring your leadership qualities to the surface & help organize your mutual efforts. Your ability to communicate effectively will help you implement new ideas, procedures. Pay close attention to detail & don’t put serious issues on the back-burner. Objectivity is needed for you to make the best decision.
QR
You are ready, smile and openness to everyone may escape you now. Try to reduce your social & professional obligations. Get as much work done, alone, as you can. This is not a permanent hermit condition, just a little time of needed time off, time away from other human beings. You can love people, but you don’t need to be with them, all of the time. You could reveal a secret, or someone else could spill the beans about you. In either case, discretion would be a wise course to take.
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VOICE OF ASIA 19
CLASSIFIEDS
FRIDAY, September 5, 2014
HINDI PRARTHANA
99 Ranch Market Houston Store Hiring Event
Date: Mon 9/15 & Tue 9/16
Do you need PRAYER? Do you need a MIRACLE in your life? Can we pray for the CHILDLESS couple?
Contact Us 832-773-4457 today!
Time: 10 AM-2 PM Location:
1005 Blalock Rd. Houston, TX 77055
Please visit our store during the event time to apply in person. Broadcast Systems Specialist KTRK-TV ABC13 located in Houston, TX is seeking an experienced Broadcast Systems Specialist. This is a great opportunity for someone with advanced knowledge of broadcast routers, intercoms, two way radios, cameras, and broadcast remotes. Broadcast transmitter experience helpful. Working knowledge of computerized television broadcast equipment and systems including, but not limited to, master control automation, graphics systems, newsroom automation systems, and Non-Linear Editing Systems. The ideal candidate will have experience providing technical support in a broadcast environment and requires someone with a proven track record managing projects. We are looking for someone that is motivated to excel and possess strong interpersonal skills. Candidates must be willing to work a schedule that will include nights, overnights and weekends throughout the year. To be considered for this position you must apply on-line at www.disneycareers.com by uploading a resume file and cover letter. Job Req. # 209758BR No phone calls please. Equal Opportunity Employer – Female/ Minority/ Veteran/ Disability. No Telephone Calls.
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Sister Tina
• Ask and you shall receive • Seek and you shall find • Advice on business • Marriage • Love • Divine Healer Are you suffering? Do you have bad luck? Do you have sorrow, sickness and pain? This religious Holy woman healer, God’s messenger, can help to heal you and remove all your problems. Do yourself a favor and call Sister Tina. She can also tell you who your enemies are.
Call for Appointment: 832-875-5918 Forest Foods Company seeks Sales Representative to develop specialty agricultural food from Asia. Determine quality and quantity for customers preferences to meet USDA approval. Min. 2 yrs. in import of food products. To apply, please mail resume to Forest Foods Company 6020 Jessamine Street, Suite 202, Houston, TX 77081. Refer to job code FFRep.
HINDU TEMPLE/MANDIR FOR SALE OR LEASE A well settled Hindu Temple/Mandir currently in full operation is for sale in Houston ( Baytown), Texas. The temple is located 20 minutes from the Houston Hobby Airport and Clearlake, 35 minute to the Hillcroft Indian area, and 25 minute drive to downtown Houston. The temple is located on 5 acres unrestricted land with $11,000 sq temple place, paved parking for over a 100 cars. The adjacent 5 acres with a 5 bedroom home is presently used as priest quarters is also for sale. The temple has the biggest Shivalinga in the U.S, Vishnu/Balaji, Kal Bhairave, Ganesh Ji, 6’ Durga Ma, Lord Shanidev, Lord Gurudev, nandhi Ji, and it also has many panchaloka murthis-vigrahas such as Lord Muruga with Valli, Dhevanai, Ramseetha Lakshman Pariwar, Panchamukh Hamunan Ji, Sathyamarayana, Prapiyankara Soolini Ma, etc. Serious Inquiries only. Owner financing available For more details contact the temple at 281-424-5218, Temple chief priest- 408-829-7780 Radha Krishna Mandir 7600 Bayway Drive Baytown, TX, 77520 www.texaskrishnamandir.org avtemple@aol.com
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