Austin South Asian. February. 2022

Monthly Community Paper | www.austinsouthasian.com | 512-828-6709 | Vol. 15 No. 02

COVID-19 Case Numbers Peak, Central Texas Health Leaders Eye New Variant Overseas

Fighting The Flu: 3 Tips To Protect Your Health When most people hear about vaccines these days, the first thing that comes to mind is COVID-19.

By Grace Reader Jan 25 /AUSTIN (KXAN) — Central Texas may have finally hit its fourth peak in COVID-19 case numbers, but local health leaders already have their eyes on an omicron offshoot that has been spreading in the UK and Denmark called BA.2.

According to Dr. Desmar Walkes, the Austin-Travis County health authority, that variation has more than 80 mutations and has similar characteristics to omicron when it comes to transmissibility and seriousness. The CDC classifies BA lineages as a variant of concern, alongside omicron. (Continued On Page 16)

However, vaccines also help prevent other serious (Continued On Page 23)

Tech To The Rescue......02 Eat More Tart Cherries..03 The Lowdown..............04 New Parent Needs........04 Reduce Your Mortgage.05 Valentine’s Day.............06 Outdoor Winter Gear.....07 Fight Stress During.......08

How To Improve Your Financial Health

5 Easy Ways To Enhance Digestive Health (Family Features) As your social schedule picks up steam and you attend more social gatherings and celebrations, you may find yourself with an unexpected issue: di-

inside

February 2022

gestive troubles. Problems like this can have a negative impact on your overall wellness, so it’s important to make healthy digestion a priority. (Continued On Page 17)

Your financial health is just as important as your physical and mental health. Money affects almost every aspect of your life and can be the determining factor in many of your day-to-day decisions. Being financially healthy isn’t just about how much money you have in the bank. It also encompasses your financial capability and how you feel about money or how money makes you feel.

Start by doing a self-check to determine your financial health.

Look at where your accounts currently stand, including the statuses and balances. The balances in your accounts can be used to calculate your net worth, which is a numerical indicator of your overall financial health from an accounting standpoint.(Continued on Page 06)

March 2022 Health Special

512-828-6709 Ways To Support Troop.09 Personal Defense Tips..10 DIY Valentine’s Day......10 Scholars Program.........11 Benefits Of Using Pen...12 Racism’s Impacts..........13 New Tech.....................13 Venture Capitalist M.R. Rangaswami................14 Indie Meme.................15 Modi Tops List..............16 Kids Corner....18,19,22,23 Structure Of Omicron...20 Tools And Strategies.....21 2022 Resolutions Faded21 NASA Offers.................23 Make A Difference........23 IPL 2022 Ends..............24 Eternalhealth Raises.....25 Entertainment.........26,27

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Tech To The Rescue: Options To Save Consumers Time

And of course, there are plenty of things that most people would rather be doing with that time.

“Retailers and businesses need to more broadly ensure that they’re providing an adequate experience for all customers,” says Jennifer

ter experiences for their customers: • Turn consumers’ irritable hold times into helpful conversations

According to a new survey conducted by Clickatell, a mobile communications and chat commerce company, all of those 13 hours are hours people would rather be spending with family (36%), relaxing (58%) or even doing chores (46%).

Incorporate a payment link in chat apps, such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger to enable customers to pay for a purchase where they are already spending their time.

For example, Clickatell’s new Chat 2 Pay solution allows businesses to send consumers a chat message containing a web link that easily takes them through the checkout process.

The same survey also revealed that waiting on hold isn’t just annoying for consumers, it can have a negative effect on brands too.

Of those surveyed, 31% said even spending 5-9 minutes on hold can lead to negative feelings toward a brand, and 23% said they are completely likely to give up on a purchase or brand if they fail to meet them on their preferred communication channel.

already communicated with a business via chat apps in the past and 71% use chat apps at least daily.

They don’t have to disclose credit card details over the phone or use a point-of-sale device.

Shambroom, chief marketing officer at Clickatell.

According to Clickatell experts, here are some of the strategies that companies can adopt to create bet-

with an end-to-end chat solution that enables live agents to communicate with customers over popular chat apps.

• Fifty percent of millennials have

• Respond to customers 24/7 with chat communication in a contact center that uses a combination of both AI and human respondents.

• Use ongoing and cumulative data resources to understand how and when customers prefer to be com-

municated with, via email, SMS, phone, etc.

• Employ marketing strategies that provide customers with personalized product recommendations that fit their wants and needs.

This will require analyzing customers’ behaviors and promoting products based on assumptions and their past purchase histories.

To learn more about the solutions businesses are using to provide better customer service, visit clickatell.com.

“Customers don’t want to spend their time on hold – they want to spend it enjoying their personal time with their families.

Thanks to new tech solutions, businesses have the ability to deliver that for customers, while simultaneously helping build brand loyalty in the process. It’s a win-win for all,” says Shambroom. (StatePoint)

More Rebates, More Savings » Find instant savings on energy efficient products at local stores » Enjoy rebates averaging $1,950 plus 0% financing on home energy upgrades » Get up to $110 in smart thermostat rebates and incentives » Enjoy an $800 rebate on eligible heat pump water heaters » See if you qualify for free home energy improvements » Monitor your energy usage and get savings tips at coautilities.com

More tips at austinenergy.com/go/tips

Customer Driven.

Community Focused.

©2022 Austin Energy

Despite increased digital options, the typical consumer still spends 13 hours on hold each year!

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5 Reasons To Eat More Tart Cherries If you want to add superfoods to your diet in the new year, Montmorency tart cherries may be perfect for you.

Recipe courtesy of the Cherry Industry Administrative Board Yield: 12 bites

Montmorency is the variety of tart cherries grown in America, primarily on small family farms. Compared to sweet cherries that are typically eaten fresh during the summer season, tart cherries are available yearround as dried, frozen, canned, juice and juice concentrate.

6 1/2 1/2 3/4 1 1

Decades of scientific research has shown Montmorency tart cherries are deserving of their superfood reputation. Here are five reasons to enjoy them more often: * Sleep: Tart cherries are one of the few food sources of melatonin and have been the focus of multiple sleep studies. * Exercise recovery: Tart cherry juice has become a popular exercise recovery drink for athletes.

medjool dates, pitted cup dried tart cherries cup finely shredded coconut flakes cup unsalted cashews teaspoon almond extract pinch fine sea salt

In food processor, process dates until broken into pea-sized bits. Add dried tart cherries, coconut flakes, cashews, almond extract and sea salt; process until combined. Form into 12 balls and chill 2 hours.

Tart Cherry Overnight Oats Recipe courtesy of the Cherry Industry Administrative Board Servings: 2 1 cup dried tart cherries, plus additional for topping (optional) 1 cup old-fashioned oats 1 cup almond milk 1/2 cup slivered almonds, plus additional for topping (optional) 2 tablespoons tart cherry concentrate 2 tablespoons

* Arthritis and gout: Studies have explored the impact of Montmorency tart cherry juice consumption on gout attacks and arthritis symptoms. * Heart health: Montmorency tart cherry research has examined blood pressure and blood lipids. * Versatility: Although they remain perfect for pie, tart cherries can easily transition from sweet to savory, adding complex flavors to oatmeal, smoothies, salads, granola bars, trail mix and grain bowls.

chia seeds 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon honey, for topping (optional)

Look for dried U.S.-grown tart cherries at the store and online for enjoyment at the start of your day and at night in recipes like Tart Cherry Overnight Oats and Tart Cherry Bedtime Bites.

A Dark, Colorful Clue The deep red color is your clue to the science-based benefits of Montmorency tart cherries. The vibrant hue is due to the concentration of anthocyanins, a type of polyphenol in the flavonoids family that has been widely studied. (Family Features) (Source: Cherry Industry Administrative Board)

Find more recipes and scientific research at ChooseCherries.com.

Tart Cherry Bedtime Bites

NOW HIRING!

Austin South Asian | February 2022

In large jar or container, mix cherries, oats, milk, almonds, cherry concentrate, chia seeds and cinnamon. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Spoon into bowls and enjoy cold or warmed up. Drizzle with honey or sprinkle with extra dried tart cherries and almonds, if desired.

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

The Lowdown On Today’s Most Beneficial Skin Care Ingredients

Have you ever been overwhelmed by the range of skin care products available today or read a word you didn’t understand on the side of packaging?

• It stimulates ceramide, pro-filaggrin and lipid synthesis to strengthen the skin barrier and boost moisture retention.

• Its sebostatic and anti-microbial activity helps to tighten pores, and balance oil production and imperfections.

• Antioxidant and enzymatic regulation helps defend against free-radical damage, revitalize and re-energize skin.

Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 and one of the more common ingredients in skin care today, may be one of those unfamiliar words you’ve had questions about.

“If you’re confused about niacinamide, it’s not your fault,” says dermatologist, Dr. Michelle Henry. “Often brands will choose one of the many versatile benefits of niacinamide to focus on when marketing a particular product, and this can create confusion. However, it can target many skin concerns.”

To help you incorporate it into your routine wisely and better achieve your skin care goals, Dr. Henry is offering the lowdown on its properties and benefits: What Does Niacinamide Do? Niacinamide is a versatile ingredient with versatile effects on skin. Here are a few of its key benefits:

Reaping the Benefits • It’s an anti-inflammatory, working to neutralize skin surface redness and discoloration.

• A treatment for dark spots and hyperpigmentation, it evens skin tone, improves clarity and brightness and radiance.

So how can you best reap the benefit of niacinamide?

“Because niacinamide works to smooth skin, the combination of retinol and niacinamide is a perfect pairing,” Dr. Henry explains.

Retinol, a top dermatologist-recommended ingredient, is used to fight wrinkles and to

even skin texture. However it can have drying effects on some skin types.

To hydrate skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, Dr. Henry recommends a nighttime routine that includes a combination of retinol and niacinamide.

With a 12% complex of soothing ingredients, L`Oreal Paris Revitalift Pressed Night Cream with Retinol and Niacinamide helps balance the potential drying effect of retinol, leaving skin feeling deeply moisturized and softer.

And its unique “fresh pressed” packaging makes it easy to get the exact dose of cream you need, cleanly. Just be sure to follow up with a broad spectrum SPF in the morning to protect skin.

While the labels on skin care products can be daunting, having a basic understanding of which ingredients work best in conjunction with one another to sooth, hydrate and smooth skin, can help you formulate a routine that leaves your complexion balanced and healthy. (StatePoint)

What Every New Parent Needs To Know About RSV While COVID-19 and influenza continue to make headlines, another contagious respiratory virus has been spreading at an alarming rate, one which can be severe and even lifethreatening to infants and toddlers.

Albert Rizzo, M.D., chief medical officer for the Lung Association.

Recognizing RSV

Indeed, respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is so common that nearly 100% of children have been infected with the virus by age two.

It’s also the leading cause of hospitalizations in all infants. While most people, including infants, develop only mild symptoms, for some, it can progress to severe complications.

Despite these facts, many parents have never heard of RSV. This is why the American Lung Association with support from Sanofi Pasteur, is working to educate expectant mothers, parents and caregivers about RSV’s symptoms, when to contact a healthcare provider, and the steps they can take to protect themselves and their children.

“Typically, peak season for RSV infection in the United States is fall through spring, however, a rise in cases in the summer of 2021 prompted a health advisory from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With people taking fewer precautions as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, RSV is spreading at an unusually high rate,” says

• Infants with severe RSV will have short, shallow, rapid breathing. This can be identified by a “caving-in” of the chest between and under the ribs (chest wall retractions), a “spreading-out” of the nostrils with every breath (nasal flaring), and abnormally fast breathing.

In addition, the mouth, lips and fingernails may turn bluish due to lack of oxygen.

Here are the symptoms of RSV, as well as how to recognize signs that may indicate a worsening illness: • Mild cold-like symptoms, including congestion, runny nose, fever, cough and sore throat.

• Very young infants may be irritable, fatigued and have breathing difficulties.

• A barking or wheezing cough can be one of the first signs of a more serious illness.

When to call the doctor: Parents should call their pediatrician if their child has a poor appetite or decreased activity level, cold-like symptoms that become severe, a shallow cough that continues day and night, or their child is experiencing any new, worrisome symptoms. They should seek emergency care if their child is having trouble breathing.

Preventing Infection RSV is spread through close contact with someone who’s infected via coughing and sneezing, or from touching objects such as toys or doorknobs that have the virus on

them.

“Those in contact with an infant or young child, especially if they were born prematurely, are very young, have chronic lung or heart disease, a weakened immune system, or have neuromuscular disorders, should take extra care to keep them healthy by washing hands, covering coughs or sneezes and avoiding them when sick, if at all possible,” Dr. Rizzo adds.

There’s no vaccine yet to prevent RSV, but scientists are working hard to develop one.

However, everyone can help stop its spread in the following ways: • Avoiding close contact with infected people.

• Avoiding sharing cups, bottles or toys that may be contaminated with the virus.

• Washing hands with soap and water after coming into contact with an infected person.

More information about RSV is available at Lung.org/RSV. For parents of little ones, being aware of RSV is critical during its peak season and beyond. (StatePoint)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Is It Too Late To Reduce Your Mortgage Payment By Refinancing?

Experts say that with mortgage rates beginning to rise, refinancing your home now might be your last best chance to lower your monthly mortgage payment, as rates remain near all-time lows.

Mac is offering answers to commonly asked questions about the refinancing process:

Those who refinanced early in 2021 have already reaped the benefits. Borrowers who refinanced their 30-year fixed rate mortgage into another 30-year fixed rate mortgage during the first half of 2021 saved over $2,800 in mortgage payments on principal and interest annually, according to a recent Freddie Mac research report.

But mortgage rates are rising. Indeed, in October 2021, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, which is the most common type of mortgage, rose to its highest point since April, surpassing 3.0%. Freddie Mac forecasts that mortgage rates will continue to rise, averaging 3.5% for the 30-year fixed in 2022. That’s up from an average of 3.0% in 2021.

• What does refinancing mean? When you refinance your mortgage, you’re applying for a new mortgage to replace your current one, which will result in a new rate, term and monthly payment. The most common type of refinance is a no cash-out refinance, in which you’re refinancing the remaining balance on your mortgage.

So is it time to refinance your home loan? To help you make an informed decision, Freddie

• When should I consider refinancing? Generally speaking, refinances make the most fi-

nancial sense when average interest rates are at least half a percentage point lower than the interest rate on your current mortgage.

Another reason to consider refinancing is if your financial situation has improved, allowing you to secure a loan with a shorter term and own your home sooner. Finally, if you currently have an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) and it’s adjusting upward, you may wish to convert to a fixed-rate mortgage that provides you with the security of consistent payments.

• Who should handle my refinance? You don’t have to use your current lender to refinance your loan. In fact, it’s in your best interest to shop around and compare multiple lenders’ loan estimates in search of the best terms and cost. It may take more time, but even a difference as small as one-quarter of a percentage point can save you thousands of dollars over the life of your home loan.

The good news? Rates are often negotiable.

In other words, you can ask lenders to match the rate quoted by another lender.

• Is refinancing free? Although refinancing your mortgage could save you money both in the long- and short-term, it isn’t free. For the most part, refinancing costs are similar to what you paid when you purchased your home, including a loan origination fee.

There are required services involved, such as appraisals, and state and local fees that can vary significantly based on where you live. The average cost to refinance is almost $5,000, so you should carefully consider how long you plan to stay in your home to ensure the savings to outweigh the costs.

There may be no time like the present to lock in the lowest possible rate and receive the highest monthly savings. To get a sense of what refinancing could save you, access Freddie Mac’s refinance calculator, along with additional homebuying and refinancing resources, at myhome.freddiemac.com.

As with any big financial endeavor, you’ll want to do your homework, look carefully at your short- and long-term goals, and work closely with your lender to do a cost-benefit analysis. (StatePoint)

Know Your Options If Your Home Loan Payment Suspension Is Ending Is the COVID-19-related payment suspension (also known as a forbearance) on your home loan ending? Ready to resume making mortgage payments? Understanding your options and being proactive can help ensure a smooth process, say experts. “Loan servicers are currently reaching out to customers through emails, letters and calls to help them with exiting forbearance. Responding to this outreach promptly is crucial,” says Rulon Washington of Wells Fargo, who’s worked with nonprofits throughout the pandemic to educate homeowners on what they’ll need to do as their forbearance plans come to an end.

Below, Washington answers common questions homeowners have when exiting their forbearance: Can I move missed payments to the end of the loan term? In most cases, if you were current on your mortgage or home equity payments when the suspension started and are ready to resume your regular monthly payments, you may be able to move missed payments to the end of the existing loan term. This additional balance won’t accrue interest and will be due when the loan is paid in full, refinanced, or when the home is sold.

What other options are available? You may have the option to pay off missed payments in full or follow a repayment plan, which di-

vides what’s due into manageable amounts, and adds it to the regular monthly payment.

What if I need help with a lower monthly

payment? If you need a reduced payment, you may qualify for a loan modification.

Wells Fargo and several investors provide streamlined, no-document modification review processes in many cases.

What if I can’t afford reduced payments and need to sell? Your loan servicer can work with you as you attempt to sell your home, and in many cases, enable you to take advantage of the strong increases in U.S. home prices.

Who controls how my loan is handled? Many loans are insured, guaranteed or owned by third-party “investors” who set the rules for

how loans are managed. Investors include government-sponsored enterprises, like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, government agencies, such as FHA, VA or USDA, banks and private companies. While many investors offer similar programs to help homeowners coming to the end of a payment suspension, exact programs may vary.

Will my home be foreclosed if I stay in forbearance or can’t resume payments? Servicers will not move to foreclosure or eviction on anyone who remains in an active, approved payment suspension plan.

In the case of Wells Fargo-owned loans, all foreclosure-related activity and evictions have stopped on occupied properties through the end of 2021, except in very specific cases. For loans Wells Fargo services for other investors, we follow the investor’s requirements for customers as they exit payment suspensions. “We’ll make every effort to reach out to customers to discuss deferral of missed payments, modifications and other available programs before advancing or initiating foreclosure,” says Washington. What if I’m exiting a COVID-related forbearance but have been impacted by a natural disas-

ter? Contact your loan servicer for options during this difficult time.

Other Resources No-cost housing counseling agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development can help assess your situation, navigate available programs and even work with your servicer on your behalf. To find an approved agency, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-569-4287 or visit www.hud.gov/counseling.

Additionally, states, U.S. territories and Native American tribes are being granted federal funds designated for helping qualified homeowners address payments missed during a suspension and with payments going forward. Check with the appropriate housing finance agencies or contact a housing counseling agency for information about when these funds may be available and to determine if you might qualify for assistance.

Finally, Wells Fargo mortgage and home equity customers can find additional information at wellsfargo.com/repaymentdetails or can call 800-219-9739 to speak to someone who can help review their circumstances. “If your payment suspension is ending, help is available. Be sure to contact your mortgage servicer for next steps,” says Washington.

(StatePoint)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is no longer just for the happy couples. Whether you’re married, dating or content being single, there are ways for everyone to celebrate love of all kinds, including romance in 2022, regardless of relationship status.

1. Custom Cards. SmashUps from American Greetings can help prioritize love and romance any day of the year. There are SmashUps specifically for Valentine’s Day, with romantic messages from celebrities like Michael Bolton and Smokey Robinson.

However, these ecards aren’t just for couples on Valentine’s Day.

How To Improve Your Financial Health (Continued From Page 01)Also consider your feelings and relationship with money, including the emotions you experience when someone brings up topics involving money. Then determine if you are a saver or spender.Understanding how you feel about your finances and why you have these feelings can help you improve your overall financial health along with these tips from the financial experts at kinly, a financial services company helping Black America build generational wealth.

Set Financial Goals To improve your financial health, start by setting short-term, mid-term and long-term financial S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time bound) goals. S.M.A.R.T. goal setting can help you be more specific, provide a way to measure your progress, allow you to create a plan to make things more achievable, ensure your goals are in line with other objectives and provide deadlines, so your financial goals don’t get lost in the shuffle of dayto-day life.

Create a Money Plan A money plan is a guide that details how you want to use your income monthly. This plan should consider the money you want to save and the money you want to spend. As you add your list of expenses, use this opportunity to review where your money is going and if your spending is in line with the financial goals you’ve set. This is also an opportunity to look for ways to reduce or eliminate spending so your money can be used for things that are important to you, like saving for a down payment on a car or home, or purchasing an item from your wish list.

Expand Your Financial Knowledge Explore ways to become more comfortable with money and take control of your financial future. Your relationship with money and how you feel about it make up your money story.

Money stories involve emotions, beliefs and experiences with money from childhood to adulthood. Start by spending 10-20 minutes each day exploring topics around money or personal finances to help build your knowledge base. You can do this by listening to podcasts, reading books, browsing reputable personal finance websites or exploring financial education resources provided by your financial institution.

If you need a more personalized approach to developing a better relationship with your finances, explore working with a financial coach. Your financial coach can work with you on a range of fundamental money management skills. For example, a financial coach can help you overcome financial anxiety or come up with a debt repayment strategy. The coach can help guide, teach, empower and challenge you to grow into a savvy money user. When determining your financial health, remember personal finance is personal. The financial decisions you make today impact your overall financial health. Determine what financial success looks like for you and incorporate mindfulness, resources and other financially beneficial strategies to help improve your relationship with your finances. Find additional advice and resources to help you manage your money at bekinly.com.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images Source: kinly (Family Features)

occasions.

There are plenty of options for love and friendship, like hilarious videos of talking dogs, cats and koalas.

The customizable ecards let you send personalized messages to your boo, your bestie and your brother for a variety of holidays and

2. FaceTime. Couples who are separated by distance might have to settle for a candlelit FaceTime instead of the in-person dinner they had in mind. Luckily, romance in 2022 means technology can keep us connected, even when we’re apart.

If you’re celebrating from a distance this Valentine’s Day, consider shipping gifts to your significant other or gal pals and opening them together while you’re on a video call, or make the same recipe and eat it together on FaceTime.

3. Swipe Left. Many modern-day love stories start with a simple swipe to the left on a dating app. If you’re hoping to meet new people but aren’t sure where to begin, consider having some fun with online dating apps like Bumble, Hinge and Tinder.

They’re not just for those looking for love. Many have friendship features, like Bumble BFF, which works the same way,

but connects you with others looking for friendships too.

This can be particularly useful for those who are moving to new cities, seeking roommates, or looking to network with others who are around the same age or share similar interests.

4. Did Someone Say Galentine’s Day? Originally created by fictional character Leslie Knope in the television series “Parks and Recreation,” Galentine’s Day is all about female friendships and the laughter, joy and support they bring to our lives.

Galentine’s Day can be spent as simply or elaborately as you please. Some gals might get together to exchange gifts of candles and fuzzy socks for the occasion, while others might have a glass of wine and gossip over a charcuterie board.

For some, the holiday may just be a reason to call your friends and check in on them. Single or taken, Galentine’s Day is a reminder to glorify your girl gang.

5. Self-Care. Being alone on Valentine’s Day can feel a little lonely, but the day doesn’t have to be painful. If you’re spending it on your own, plan a day at the spa, take a group workout class or cook yourself your favorite meal. Self-care is the perfect way to honor the strong and independent person you are.

Romance in 2022 can be dinners for two with flowers and chocolate, but it can also be celebrating the mystery and magic of an ordinary day with a custom ecard, dinner with gal pals, or spending time doing things you enjoy on our own. (StatePoint)

SCRIBBLINGS BY ARUN

NORMAL LIVING BEINGS

whom nobody bother or care.

Good some live for others, who are remembered for ever.

Living beings drink and eat, respirate and perspirate, Urinate, defecate and procreate, thus live and die.

Something out of nothing, no human beings can create.

So normal beings can not be equated with Divine.

But living here is not free, all must work and earn to live.

Most earn their livings, ignoble live in else’s earnings.

Everything from this planet, must merge again in it.

On death life in hell or heaven, still as puzzle remain.

Selfish live for themselves,

(arunsunderraj@gmail.com)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Great Outdoor Winter Gear To Keep You On The Move “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”

So wrote trail enthusiast, Alfred Wainwright in his walking guidebook of chilly, wet Northern England,

even on an incline, these boots have been rigorously tested to meet the slip-resistant standards of Toronto’s KITE Research Institute’s WinterLab, earning them the prestigious Snowflake Rating.

Truer words have never been spoken of cold-weather adventures.

Your gear needs to not only keep you warm, safe and dry, but also provide traction for uneven surfaces, especially in the snow.

With 200 grams of insulation, three layers of heat-trapping mate-

overheat, your toes will also stay toasty, dry and comfortable, wherever your adventures take you.

These boots are also crafted with the environment in mind, using recycled materials and environmentally preferred leathers. To learn more, visit keenfootwear.com.

Enter The Fuego, made by Cotopaxi, a lightweight, versatile jacket featuring a water-resistant, down insulation layer.

Its streamlined fit, built-in scuba hood and elastic binding throughout further seals out the cold, and its assortment of stash pockets offer space for all your essentials.

Here is a selection of the best outdoor winter gear that does just that:

Alpine Ambidexterity

Warm Footwear

Keep your hands and fingers nimble and dexterous even in frigid outdoor temperatures with the right

With the agility of light hiking boots and the cozy feel of a puffy coat, Keen footwear’s Revel IV Polar Boots for men and women are all about warmth and traction without the bulk.

Featuring KEEN.POLAR TRACTION technology to dig into frigid terrain and help you maintain exceptional grip on snow and ice,

when temperatures plummet doesn’t need to be unwieldy or limit your range of motion in your upper body.

rials underfoot, and a waterproof, breathable membrane to keep out water without making your feet

Lightweight Outerwear Outerwear that keeps you warm

pair of gloves.

Offering extreme warmth, Mountain Made’s Waterproof Winter Gloves for men and women feature a tightening strap and cuff pull for a great fit, along with a top hand zipper pocket that can be used to store a hand warmer.

Good grip in the palms and fingers, along with a rubber piece on the pointer figure that can be used to squeegee glasses or snow goggles, means you can take your pair out on all kinds of outdoor adventures.

With the right clothing and gear, you will have the warmth and agility to truly revel in the outdoors, all winter long. (StatePoint)

To Advertise In ASA Call 512-828-6709

8

Austin South Asian | February 2022

Fight Stress During Uncertain Times By Volunteering In Your Community

New research suggests that Americans are volunteering to give back to their communities and fight stress during uncertain times.

teer opportunities large and small, KEEN is enabling everyone to search for local or national volunteer opportunities via KEEN

among tens of thousands of volunteering opportunities each day with nonprofit organizations, schools and other local agencies.

A recent KEEN/Harris Poll Survey found that a majority of Americans see the direct benefits of volunteering, with 86% feeling helping others reduces stress.

needs.

“A great many volunteer positions don’t require any particular skills, just heart,” says Erik Burbank, vice president, The KEEN Effect, the team that leads the brand’s social and environmental justice efforts.

It’s no surprise then that 59% of respondents say they plan to volunteer in the next two months.

“Volunteering can be as simple as picking up plastic at the beach or as involved as restoring a wetland. Every action makes a difference.”

But if you’re among the 47% of those who say they struggle to find volunteer opportunities near them, there’s good news.

A new partnership between footwear brand KEEN and Points of Light, a nonprofit that mobilizes people to take action that changes the world, is connecting individuals with local opportunities to make an impact in their neighborhoods and communities.

Corps’ Volunteer Finder tool at keencorpsvolunteer.com.

To provide easier access to volun-

The tool can help you search

Now tapping into Points of Light’s massive database, you’ll be sure to find a volunteer opportunity that aligns with your passions and

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

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Interested volunteers may want to consider taking their efforts a step further by joining The KEEN Corps, the brand’s loyalty program and platform for helping others, which rewards participants for doing good deeds.

Since its U.S. launch in September 2021, KEEN Corps has grown to

over 18,000 members and counting. As of November 2021, over 10,000 volunteer hours have been logged by Corps members.

Through the program, the more you volunteer, donate and shop, the more lives you affect, and the more points you earn.

Plus, KEEN Corps volunteers receive limited edition gear, member pricing, and special access to all things KEEN. To learn more or to become a member, visit keenfootwear.com/ keen-corps.

“Our recent data confirms that many of us are exhausted and looking for ways to relieve stress and feel in control in these unpredictable times,” says Burbank.

“Volunteering in our communities has the dual benefit of giving back and leaving us feeling more fulfilled, empowered and happy.”

(StatePoint)

Welcome

THE CITY OF AUSTIN SPEAKS YOUR LANGUAGE! Free language assistance is available to help you access City of Austin services at public libraries, community centers, utility offices, and more!

To learn more, scan the QR code or visit www.austintexas.gov/ispeak

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Easy Ways To Support The Troops How do you thank someone who’s willing to risk their life for yours?

When it comes to military service members and their families, advocates say there are many avenues for tangibly showing your support. Check out these easy ideas from the USO.

• Give back: Use the USO Wishbook, an alternative giving catalog that offers military supporters a way to send a heartfelt symbolic gift to a loved one while directly benefitting troops and their families.

Visit usowishbook.uso.org to learn how your symbolic gifts can help bring comfort to troops and their families.

• Spread the word: Social media platforms and word-of-mouth are integral to the success of nonprofits, and the USO is no different.

Giving them a shoutout, sharing their content or even starting a fundraiser for the USO via Facebook, helps spread the word about the organization’s mission and encourages others to support the cause.

Visit uso.org/stories to read more about what the USO is doing to keep troops connected to family, home and country this holiday season.

You can also find the USO on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. • Play: Are you a gamer? Through streams and other fundraising events, the USO’s Gaming program has helped keep service members connected to family and friends.

You can raise money for the USO via the Operation Play it Forward campaign on Tiltify. And join the USO Discord at discord.gg/TheUSO. • Ride: Whenever you use the ride share app Lyft, you can opt in for their Round Up & Donate program.

This setting automatically rounds your payment up to the nearest dollar, and the difference is donated to the nonprofit of your choice.

Consider selecting the USO to automatically support the organization as you get around town.

• Connect: Boost the morale of military members and make them smile through Campaign to Connect, which makes it easy to send messages of thanks to service members. Kind words can go a long way.

• Shop: Online shopping? You can give back every time you shop on Amazon by shopping via AmazonSmile.

Visit smile.amazon.com, login, select the USO as your charity, and 0.5% of your eligible purchases will be donated to the organization.

To learn more about other ways you can help deliver care, comfort and connection to troops, visit uso.org/holidays and uso.org/donate.

While giving thanks is always appreciated, there are also many tangible ways you can help make a difference in the lives of service members. (StatePoint)

10

Austin South Asian | February 2022

Personal Defense Tips For At-Home And On-The-Go If you’re concerned about the nationwide spike in crime, you’re not alone.

According to a June 2021 SafeWise survey, 41 and 42% of U.S. adults are concerned about property crime and violent crime, up 31 and 24% respectively from the previous year.

fense devices to use in various situations: • Spray or gel? While most people are familiar with traditional pepper

ear-to-ear pattern, pepper gel deploys 20% farther, providing protection at a greater distance.

Another big advantage of pepper

“Being prepared means understanding the personal defense devices available and knowing how to use them safely,” says David Nance, founder of SABRE Personal Safety Academy and CEO of SABRE, the number one personal safety brand of consumers and law enforcement worldwide.

To help you develop a safety plan and live confidently, SABRE is offering important insights into common crimes today, as well as recommendations for personal de-

sprays, they may not understand the benefits of pepper gel or even be aware of this option. As effective as traditional pepper spray when sprayed across the eyes in an

gel is it only affects those it comes in direct contact with, making it safer for users and those they’re with, indoors and outside.

According to an independent University of Utah study, variability rates in the concentration of active ingredients in pepper sprays have a 30% failure rate. Tested in its in-house laboratory, SABRE guarantees its maximum strength formulation in every gel canister, including its Crossfire Pepper Gel with Belt Clip, which can be deployed at any angle, even upside down, making it more effective against moving threats.

• When parking. According to the FBI, more homicides happen in parking garages than at bars, motels, gas stations or in the woods combined. Be extra vigilant in garages. Keep keys handy for quick access to your car and carry additional protection. For example, SABRE Pepper Gel with Finger Grip and Key Ring attaches to keychains and provides 25 bursts of maximum strength protection at

3 Ways To DIY Your Valentine’s Day As the third most expensive holiday on the calendar, according to Wallet Hub, Valentine’s Day expenses can quickly add up.

With a little planning however, you can design a memorable, do-it-

here to help with budget-friendly Valentine’s date essentials to gush over!

Devoted Decorations Adding just a few small romantic

the sides using these crafting instructions from Dollar General: dollargeneral.com/inspiration. Create mood lighting by turning off all main sources of light and spreading tea light candles throughout the space instead. Dress up the rest of the house with red, pink or white banners on the walls and mantle, or with homemade crafts such as a Puzzle Piece Frame or cards.

Be Meals

yourself date that truly shows that special someone how much you care, while saving time and money in the process.

The experts at Dollar General are

details around the house can create an intimate ambiance. Place flowers on the dinner table and light candles for a fresh aroma. Give the candles a festive touch by adding burlap and heart pendants around

Mine

Next, plan a romantic dinner and sweet treats to follow. Homemade food can mean more than ordering an expensive meal at a restaurant or takeout, especially when the meal is delicious, nutritious and doesn’t break the bank.

Consider using Dollar General’s

“Better For You” recipes, such as the Pecan-Crusted Salmon, Steak & Veggie Kabobs, or Slow Cooker Pork Chops to serve a tasty meal that is also affordable. Finish the feast on a sweet note with a dessert that can be shared between a couple or a group of loved ones, such as Valentine’s Day Truffles.

Gush Over Gifts Smaller, affordable self-care gifts are a great way to make loved ones feel loved appreciated without going over your budget. Consider a new razor or cologne, or create a gift basket full of candy, beauty products, a gift card and candles.

Additional gift options can range from a lovable stuffed animal or candy they can munch on.

Regardless on how the love-filled holiday is spent, consider visiting the DG Tips & Hacks page at dollargeneral.com to find more helpful DIY projects, recipes and more.

From the decorations to dessert, you can show your love and appreciation on Valentine’s Day by creating an unforgettable, affordable date at home. (StatePoint)

12-foot range, helping put distance between you and would-be attackers.

• In the car. In 2020, Chicago carjackings were up 134%, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau report. This trend continued in 2021, with the Windy City seeing a 44% increase, Washington, D.C. a 45% increase and New York an 81% increase. Multi-use tools can make road trips and commutes safer. For example, SABRE’s Safe Escape 3-In-1 Pepper Gel with Seat Belt Cutter and Window Breaker helps aid in escape of a vehicle after an accident. For protection, it’s designed to prevent accidental deployment, yet allows the user to immediately deploy in high stress situations.

• Outdoors. Eighty-four percent of women surveyed by “Runners World” have been harassed or attacked on a run. Everyone deserves to feel safe while exercising outdoors. Consider adding the SABRE Runner Pepper Gel with Adjustable Hand Strap to your running gear. It provides immediate access to protection and reduces wind blowback, making it safer for outdoor use. A UV marking dye helps authorities identify the aggressor, so you can focus on getting to safety. Bonus: It’s reflective, increasing your visibility to drivers at night.

• At home. Equip your home to be a safe haven with pepper gel. Because it doesn’t atomize like traditional pepper sprays, pepper gel is less likely to foul indoor air. Be sure to store it in an accessible location out of children’s reach.

When it comes to safety, knowledge is key. Consider enrolling in a self-defense or martial arts course.

You can also visit www.sabrered. com for educational materials and demonstration videos, and to learn more about the Civilian Safety Awareness Program and the SABRE College Safety Program. You never know when you may find yourself in a threatening situation.

A personal safety plan can provide everyday peace of mind, and help put distance between you and a threat when it counts. (StatePoint)

11

Austin South Asian | February 2022

Do You Live In One Of America’s Clumsiest Cities?

Clumsiness is a trait many can relate to. Unfortunately, even the slightest misstep can be disastrous for your phone, whether it’s cracking your screen or destroying delicate components in water.

The Clumsiest Cities in America Index, a new report from tech care company Asurion, reveals that coast-to-coast, people have spilled energy drinks on their phones, dropped devices in toilets or cracked their screens on the sidewalk. The company and its subsidiary, tech repair retailer uBreakiFix

by Asurion, dove into customer data and localized other statistics to take a closer look at cities where trips and slips happen most.

“Look, accidents happen, even to the most cautious phone owners,” says Dave Barbuto, CEO of uBreakiFix by Asurion. “There’s no reason to be embarrassed by how, or how frequently, you’ve broken your phone.”

Not only do the new findings show you’re not alone in clumsiness, they provide hints about what could be making you more accident-prone with your tech:

Measuring Clumsy To identify clumsiness, Asurion crunched a year’s worth of data, turning first to metropolitan areas ranked highest for per-capita Asurion protection plan phone break-

in additional data surrounding the frequency of online searches for phrases like “I think I sprained my ankle” or “how do I get water out of my phone.”

crunchers that a city known for its tech innovation is the very best when it comes to calculated footsteps and handling phones with care.

A Closer Look

So why are some cities more prone to break tech? Here are Asurion’s top theories: • Weather: Water and electronics just don’t mix, which is probably why cities with more than 100 days of rain annually, like Raleigh, New Orleans and Grand Rapids make the top 10. Unless your tech has an itty-bitty umbrella, stash it until the sun comes out.

• Perspiration: The top 10 clumsiest cities are about 10% more hot and humid than the average city in the study. Could slippery hands mean shattered devices?

age claims and phone repairs at its network of stores. They then identified the frontlines of misfortune and clumsiness, ranking cities with the most personal injury lawyers and orthopedic surgeons per-capita. Keeping in mind that some prefer to suffer in silence, they mixed

Over half of the Clumsiest Cities are located in southern states, with New Orleans topping the list. On the flip side, San Francisco is home to some of the most “graceful” residents in America.

It came as no surprise to the data

• Football Revelry: It’s all fun and games until someone’s screen is smashed. And speaking of smashed, over half of the top 10 clumsiest cities are home to Southeastern Conference football teams and their legendary tailgating, 40% are traditional spring break cities, and some 60% have legalized mar-

ijuana to some extent.

When Accidents Happen Regardless of your city’s ranking, having a protection plan makes it easy to file a claim. With Asurion protection plans through one of the leading wireless carriers, you can easily file a claim to receive options like same-day device replacement or cracked screen repair delivered to your door, or visit a local uBreakiFix by Asurion store for on-site cracked screen repair.

For those without a protection plan uBreakiFix by Asurion stores also offer same-day repair in select locations and free device diagnostics for all tech issues, including water damage. In select locations, you can even book a professional repair technician to meet you at home or any convenient location, with most repairs completed in as little as two hours. For more information, visit uBreakiFix.com.

While accidents happen often and easily, the good news is that device repairs are easy, convenient and make your tech as good as new.

(StatePoint)

Applications Now Open For ACC’s All-Inclusive Career Scholars Program New report shows high schoolers who don’t think family can afford college significantly less likely to attend High School students who don’t think they can afford higher education are 20 percent less likely to enroll than their peers, according to a new study published by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

Austin Community College District (ACC) wants to close the gaps.

The college is expanding its Career Scholars program in 2022 to all high school seniors in the service area.

Applications open TODAY, January 15, for the all-inclusive schol-

arship program.

Career Scholars offers two tracks: one for new high school graduates and another for adult learners.

All scholars can take advantage of the many perks of the program.

Career Scholars aims to make college free as it covers the cost of tuition and fees at ACC — up to $5,000 over three years –– without the need of additional financial aid first.

The program also provides free academic and career support such as free tutoring, advising, internship and , apprenticeship opportunities, resume guidance, and job search support.

Since its launch as a pilot program in 2019, Career Scholars has shown phenomenal success. Highlights include: Surpassing Enrollment Goals: Currently, more than 540 students are participating in the program.

Surpassing Persistence Rate Goals: 93 percent of adult Career Scholars stay on track and enroll in courses semester-to-semester and year-toyear.

Closing Equity Gaps: 53 percent of Career Scholars are Hispanic.

Improving Completion Rates: More than 30 scholars in the inaugural program have already graduated or transferred to a four-year institution.

Expanding Business/Industry Partnerships: Seven businesses have already joined the program and provide Career Scholars with paid experiential learning opportunities such as internships and apprenticeships.

Interviews with Career Scholar students and ACC staff are available today! To schedule an interview, please contact Sydney.Pruitt@austincc.edu.

For more information, visit austincc.edu/careerscholars.

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

12

Austin South Asian | February 2022

How To Tap Into The Benefits Of Using Pen And Paper

February is International Correspondence Writing Month (InCoWriMo) -- a challenge to handwrite a piece of correspondence each day of the month -- meaning there’s no better time to tap into the power of the handwritten word.

only during International Correspondence Writing Month, but all year long.”

“With our many digital forms of communication, we have gained immediacy but lost intimacy,” says Ariann Langsam, vice president of marketing for Pilot Pen, whose background is in biology and neuroscience. “But handwriting is scientifically proven to solidify both cognitive connections needed for learning and comprehension, as well as emotional connections between individuals. We can make a powerful impact on the lives of others by connecting through the written word, and there are neurological and social benefits that keep writing by hand relevant not

It’s Good for the Soul In an era when digital devices and social media seem t o dominate h o w w e connect with loved ones, t h e art of letter writi n g h a s b e come rare.

But sitting down to write correspondence by hand can be a much more personal way to connect than modern modes of communication.

A recent study conducted by Pilot Corporation of America reinforced the emotional social benefits that come from putting pen to paper. A remarkable nine out of 10 respondents perceived cards with handwritten messages as more thoughtful and heartfelt than cards with printed messages.

Even more respondents (92%) shared that they have saved handwritten cards or letters from a loved one as a cherished keepsake.

When asked what emotions they felt when receiving a handwritten card, respondents reported they felt “appreciated,” “touched,” “cared for,” and “recognized”. We could all use a bit more of these feelings.

This month, consider taking a few

Tips To Navigate The Post-Holiday Shopping Season While the trees and lights have come down, holiday-related shopping is not over yet. From returning unwanted items to redeeming gift cards, this time of year can feel just as busy for shoppers as the weeks leading up to Christmas.

According to retail professionals, being prepared can help you avoid headaches.

“This period has always marked the biggest time of year for returns, even pre-pandemic,” says Brian Field, senior director, Global Retail Consulting Practice, Sensormatic Solutions, the leading global retail solutions portfolio of Johnson Controls. “However, with COVID concerns closing some fitting rooms, and more consumers doing their shopping online or using options like BOPIS -- buy online and pick up in-store -- you likely have more reasons than ever to hit up the stores and swap out unwanted items.”

Field notes that if you’re planning on making any returns, whether it’s shoes that don’t fit or beauty products you simply don’t want, you may face hurdles during the process. Returning items costs retail-

ers time and money and involves supply chain, labor, transportation and warehousing costs. Due to a holiday hangover uptick in returns, you can expect to face some back-

shipping fees. If it’s a brand you shop with regularly, joining their membership program could save you big on money and convenience in the long-term.

consumers gravitate toward gift cards not only due to their convenience, but also as a result of the continued supply chain shortage,” says Peter McCall, senior manager, Retail Consulting and Advanced Analytics, Sensormatic Solutions.

“With gift-givers seeking and not finding products on store shelves, many recipients unwrapped gift cards this year.”

As such, McCall notes that gift card holders can expect busy stores with other shoppers seeking the same hot-ticket items that were out of stock during the holidays.

For more post-holiday shopping insights, visit sensormatic.com.

up and delays. If you’re making your returns in-store, consider doing so early in the day or on weekdays if possible, to avoid crowds.

In general, e-commerce returns have surged since the start of the pandemic, making now a potentially good time to reevaluate how you shop online. Keep an eye out for retailers that offer perks like a tiered return policies for loyal members, such as waiving return

As you’re redeeming your holiday season gift cards, know that many others are doing the same. A Sensormatic Solutions global consumer survey found that 39% of consumers were shopping for gift cards this holiday season.

“Gift cards have been a key holiday season trend for years, as it’s a quick and easy way to get your holiday shopping done successfully. However now we’re seeing

However you go about your postholiday shopping, one thing is certain, U.S. retail is on an upswing.

For the six-week holiday period from Black Friday through the end of the calendar year, total retail shopper visits were up 18.9% compared to the same period in 2020, demonstrating that amid the global impacts of Omicron, physical stores are resilient and still play a vital role in commerce. (StatePoint)

minutes to send a handwritten note to a loved one or friend.

It’s Good for the Brain The benefits of handwriting are firmly grounded in principles of learning and memory. For children, learning to handwrite letters plays a role in fostering the transition to literacy. Mounting evidence suggests that handwriting practice, particularly in preschool and early elementary school, may provide children an advantage in learning this vital skill.

Writing by hand serves students well beyond those early years. Researchers at Princeton and UCLA discovered that college students who took handwritten notes outperformed students who typed their notes. The study authors believe this is because typing notes lends itself to taking down information word-by-word. Taking notes by hand, however, required students to think more deeply about the lecture content and be judicious in what they wrote down. You may no longer be in school yourself, however you still likely need to record information. Whether it’s instructions from your boss, recommendations from your doctor, or thoughts before book club, consider jotting things down by hand to help you better synthesize information.

Make it Count To impress your pen pals during the month of correspondence and make your InCoWriMo challenge a success, you’ll need to gather some supplies: stationery, envelopes, stamps and a trusty pen. To take on a month-long writing challenge, Pilot suggests the G2, America’s number one selling, longest-lasting gel ink pen. You’ll be able to glide well beyond 28 days of penning handwritten letters, taking notes, tackling to-do lists and anything else that comes across your desk.

For tools and inspiration, visit PowerToThePen.com. From the classroom to correspondence and beyond, rediscover the art of handwriting and make a bigger impact by putting down the digital device and picking up a pen. (StatePoint)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Americans’ Recognition Of Racism’s Impacts Is Fading In the summer of 2020 when calls for racial justice and the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 were on full display, some speculated that the country seemed to be at a turning point for acknowledging how much racism affects people’s health and economic well-being.

However, a new national survey from the non-profit RAND Corporation reveals that despite the public outcry and mounting evidence that racism and the pandemic are contributing to disparities between people of color and White people, the public’s recognition of racial inequities and the impacts of systemic racism is fading. Indeed, in July 2020, 61.1% of respondents agreed that people of color face more of the health impact of COVID-19 than White people, and 57.5% agreed that they face more of the financial impact. More than a year later, these numbers have dropped to 52.7% and 50.3%, re-

spectively.

The data suggest that there has not been a seismic shift or enduring change in perception.

temic racism, and equity,” Anita Chandra, vice president and senior policy researcher at RAND Corporation, said. “We found that views around race and racism appear to

As legislators around the country convene to tackle the pandemic and build their priorities for 2022, researchers say these findings must be top of mind as they work to make change. The good news is that of the same people surveyed about their views on race and health, most see the pandemic as a moment for positive change. Changes people hope to see include: • improving access to health care (25.3%), • prioritizing science in policy decisions (11.7%), • protecting our freedom (11.1%), and • increasing flexibility in how we all work (10.9%), among others.

“We conducted this survey because we wanted to see whether living through a once-in-a-century global pandemic would spur a shift in deep-seated perspectives and attitudes around health, sys-

be extremely entrenched. Moving forward, policies and actions that seek to address these issues must factor in where the public is and what needs to happen for these sentiments to evolve.”

And legislators can often look in their own backyards for inspiration. There is so much work being done at the community level to undo the impacts of racism and rebuild a more equitable society that are worth recognizing and

challenges for that extra push. For a limited time, these watches are free at T-Mobile with 24 months of bill credits when you add a qualify-

that can monitor everything from doorbells to lightbulbs to household appliances.

Now, smart home devices are

tems, so you can do tasks such as control your home’s thermostat or preheat your oven from the tap of an app or wall-mounted system.

learning from. For example, over the past few years, more than 200 cities, counties, and leaders declared racism a public health crisis.

Researchers say that this is an important step that can lead to efforts for real, lasting change centered on equity. We are already seeing this play out in some settings, from statehouses to city halls, where health equity is driving policy decisions.

To read more about “COVID-19 and the Experiences of Populations at Greater Risk” survey findings, visit rwjf.org/covidsurvey. To read more about communities working to center equity to improve the health of everyone, visit rwjf.org/ prize. With more than two-thirds of respondents believing the pandemic presents a moment for positive change, researchers say that while there’s work to be done, there are also reasons to be hopeful. (StatePoint)

New Tech For A Great 2022

If you’re thinking about hitting the reboot button and giving your tech a refresh, here are a few tech gadgets and developments to look forward to this year, all of which can help you organize your life and better stick to your goals.

• Wearables to keep you on track: The popularity of wearable devices like smartwatches has increased dramatically, with sales forecasted to reach more than one billion worldwide this year, according to Statista. Now, there’s a smartwatch fit for every member of your family.

For example, T-Mobile’s SyncUP KIDS Watch keeps kids and their parents connected, featuring talk and text with approved contacts, real-time location tracking and virtual boundary alerts. For adults looking to stay connected and crush their fitness goals, the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 Series delivers a seamless call-text-notification connection no matter where you are, as well as fitness and health functions like auto workout tracking, advanced run coaching, body composition analysis and group

ing watch line to your current rate plan.

• Smart systems for your home: Statista estimates nearly 37% of homes own a smart home device

taking it to the next level with centralized smart home systems.

Samsung’s SmartHub system is compatible with more than 5,000 products, including household appliances and home security sys-

• New, more affordable 5G smartphones: More smartphones are debuting using the 5G network, including the Samsung A13 5G – the brand’s most affordable 5G smart-

phone. Priced at $249.99, it sports an edge-to-edge 6.5-inch HD+ LCD display, a triple rear camera and 5MG front camera, and is packed with a 5,000 mAh battery with 15W fast charging capabilities.

• Ditch the Wi-Fi for a 5G wireless plan upgrade: Wi-Fi has historically given us the speed and capacity we need to stay connected on the go, but today, super-fast 5G networks are enabling us to forget WiFi. Now, you can use the secure, high-speed hotspot capability of your 5G phone to keep all devices and others connected. 5G is giving us on-the-go speeds that are just as fast, or faster, than Wi-Fi. T-Mobile offers wireless plans like Magenta MAX that is specially designed for all that 5G phones can do, including unlimited smartphone data and one of the most generous hotspot plans in the industry, with 40GB per month of high-speed mobile hotspot data included.

These are just a few tech upgrades to take advantage of to get the tech refresh you deserve right now.

(StatePoint)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Indian American Venture Capitalist M.R. Rangaswami Named ‘Investment Ambassador’ For Tamil Nadu State has made giant strides in attracting global investment recently, thanks to IAS officer T. Muruganandam, who was till recently industries secretary and now promoted to the key position as the state’s finance secretary, noted the release, adding that Muruganandam’s pragmatic and inclusive leadership is being recognized

by Chief Minister Stalin.

Indian American venture capitalist M.R. Rangaswami has been appointed Tamil Nadu’s ‘Investment Ambassador’ Nov. 26.

The San Francisco, Californiabased entrepreneur’s appointment

by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister

M.K. Stalin was praised by Indian American leaders, said a press release from Global Eye News Services, as another trailblazing initiative by the chief minister.

MEATF Emeritus Chairman Kishor Mehta said that Tamil Nadu

Rangaswami is not only an entrepreneur, investor, corporate eco-strategy expert, community builder and philanthropist, but also founder of Indiaspora, a nonprofit who mission is to unite the Indian diaspora and to transform their success into meaningful impact in India and on the global stage.

By sharing insights, hosting events and connecting people, Indiaspora unites the professionally, geographically and religiously diverse Indian American community toward collective action, the release said.

Dr. VGP, an Indian American community leader and president of the World Federation of Tamil Youth, USA in Chicago, congratulated CM Stalin on the appointment and

tor, Jan. 11 announced it has been named a winner at the 2022 BIG Innovation Awards, presented by the Business Intelligence Group, according to a Business Wire report.

Headquartered in New York, Scienapatic was founded by Indian American Pankaj Kulshreshtha, who also serves at the CEO.

MUMBAI – Bollywood actress and former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen is elated on being conferred the International Association of

Scienaptic’s platform was designed to address outdated methods of credit decisioning that have failed millions of borrowers, noted the report. ered credit decisioning disrup-

In today’s dynamic environment,

“Our mission is to enhance lives and fulfill dreams by bringing more people into a world where credit systems work,” said Pankaj Jain, president of Scienaptic.

“Financial institutions of all sizes use Scienaptic’s AI to make instant, better and more personalized credit decisions, resulting in improved financial wellbeing for their customers and members.” (Courtesy: IndiiaWest.com)

ment, “I am overwhelmed with all the love and appreciation being showered on ‘Aarya 2’.

The entire team has worked strenuously to put together a work of art that would be loved by everyone.”

“It’s euphoric to win the International Association of Working Women Award for an outstanding performance by a female actor in a television series. I would like to thank the organizers of the DC South Asian Film Festival for bestowing this honor on me and the entire team. This is surreal!” the statement further said.

lenders need better ways to assess risk, and Scienaptic’s AI-powered credit decisioning platform offers a compelling solution, it added. With the platform’s next-generation AI, financial institutions can increase credit availability and make better, stronger credit decisions for both borrowers and members.

Scienaptic empowers lenders to continuously improve the quality of their underwriting decisions, enabling them to say “yes” more often, and much faster.

Neil Khot, national chairman of the Indian American Business Coalition, based in Washington, D.C., congratulated Rangasawami, saying that he is excellent and apt choice who can make things happen. (Courtesy: IndiaWest.com)

Sushmita Sen Wins International Association Of Working Women Award For ‘Aarya 2’

Scienaptic AI, Founded by Indian American Pankaj Kulshreshtha, Wins 2022 BIG Innovation Award Scienaptic AI, a leading AI-pow-

said Tamil Nadu will soon become India’s number one industralized state under Rangaswami’s captaincy, it said.

Working Women Award for an outstanding performance by a female actor in a TV series for her show ‘Aarya 2’.

The award was presented by the DC South Asian Film Festival, which is currently underway virtually starting from Jan. 16 to Jan. 30.

The actress credits the team of ‘Aarya’ for working tirelessly for the show that is now gaining global recognition. Sharing her excitement, the actress said in a state-

Talking about DCSAFF, the film fest which started in 2012 featuring Shyam Benegal’s classic film ‘Mammo’ as the opening title, is currently in its 10th edition and will feature films from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Canada, and the U.S. and many regional languages.

The 2022 edition of the film fest opened with a book discussion with writer, director, and actor Ananth Mahadevan about his new book ‘Once Upon A Prime Time’ and the Nepali feature film ‘Mahanagar/One Night in Kathmandu’, directed by Mohan Rai. Filmmaker Vishal Chaliha’s Assamese film ‘Sijou’ will be the closing film of DCSAFF 2022 on Jan. 30. (Courtesy: IndiiaWest.com)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

BANGLA SURF GIRLS Presented By INDIE MEME

By Alka Bhanot

​An immersive documentary that takes us into the heart of Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh, where a group of young girls is participating in an unlikely social experiment - a co-ed surfing club - Bangla Surf Girls isn’t to be missed! ​ Lovingly shot by debut director Elizabeth D. Costa, the film is a moving, often joyous testament to the transformative power of community support

Documentary - Bengali w/ English subtitles TEXAS PREMIER FEB 18-20, 2022 Shobe, Aisha and Suma turn to the waves as often as they can, finding confidence, companionship, and esteem in their growing skills - even as they face familial disapproval for their athletic pursuits.

Bangla Surf Girls is their story, wherein they are poised to make history as some of Bangladesh’s first women surfers.

However, when changes inside and outside the club threaten to derail their journey - from the prospect of underage marriage to taking on more work to support their families- the girls must consider how to take hold of their future.

- and the influence of friends and mentors in carrying one another through unstable times.

GET AN ANNUAL INDIE MEME MEMBERSHIP ($35) & WATCH THE FILM FREE (along with many others through the year) OR Buy a non-member ticket for $10.

MORE DETAILS - https://www. indiememe.org/bangla-surf-girls The team behind the film Elizabeth D. Costa is a refreshing new talent from Bangladesh whose skills in documenting intimate images are evident in her first feature documentary, BANGLA SURF GIRLS. The film premiered at HOT DOCS and has gone on to garner acclaim

at dozens of world festivals, including ‘Best Film’ & ‘Best Director’ at Vancouver Asian Film Festival, ‘Fearless Filmmaker’ & ‘Best Documentary’ at Coronado Island Festival, and ‘Best Documentary Feature’ at Bushwick Film Festival.

For over 20 years, Lalita Krishna has been producing and directing documentaries that have screened on all major networks in Canada and at film festivals around the world.

She was recently awarded the prestigious ‘Don Haig Award’ by HOT DOCS, presented annually to an outstanding independent Canadian producer.

Indie Meme is a registered 501(c) (3) bringing you the Best of South Asian Cinema in Texas and producing the south Asians film festival imff@Austin

Announcing Early Badge Sales IMFF2022@Austin

By Alka Bhanot Started in 2016, IMFF@austin is Indie Meme’s signature event. The

Cinema enthusiasts come to watch the carefully curated programming to experience slices of life from countries like India, Nepal,

The Indie Meme Community is the driving force behind the festival that encouraged the IMFF team to keep the festival alive through the pandemic!

The Meme-ers are always ready to engage with artful & ambitious independent films from South Asia - asking sharp questions at filmmaker Q&As, volunteering at inperson screenings, bringing friends into the loop, sharing samosas at parties and mixers, and making our mission of supporting independent South Asian artists possible!

We’ve gathered in-person and online over the years and are grateful to our audiences for following us in both worlds.

7th Annual South Asian Film Festival innAustin is scheduled over 2 weekends April 14-17, 2022 & April 22-24, 2022.

Awarded the “Best International Passport -2016” by The Austin Chronicle, the Indie Meme Film Festival continues to grow as the ‘go to’ destination for unique, powerful stories from South Asia.

Pakistan,Srilanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iran & more and to mingle with the filmmakers in attendance & be a part of the Indie Meme community.

IMFF aims to entertain and engage the community by showcasing different perspectives and provide a platform for post screening audience & filmmaker discussions.

From going virtual within a month of the scheduled in-person festival (canceled last minute) in 2020, to moving to an exciting new interactive customized platform and virtual festival experience in 2021; IMFF has actually managed to thrive under the hardest of circumstances.

We even moved a 4 day festival to a

2 weekend festival! And now bring to you a HYBRID IMFF2022@ Austin!!

This year, the festival will once again be buzzing with film premiers, red carpet events, filmmakers in person, member mixers, audience discussions, networking events and parties - all over the first in person weekend April 14-17. ​ And extending our reach beyond Texas we will welcome our virtual audience across the country April 22-24 and meet online to enjoy films, discussions and Q&As ​ Indie Meme has been screening new age cinema with unique and

fresh themes, bringing to light remarkable issues. Indie Meme events have over the years gained quite the reputation for the audience interaction and participation from various local non profits. ​ Since its inception, IMFF@Austin has been funded in part by a grant from the City of Austin. This year Indie Meme is supported by an ARP Grant.

IMFF is so proud to add to the diverse cultural landscape of Austin!

Join us for another exciting film festival & get your badges today before they sell out :-) More info: indiememe.org

CHILDREN ARTICLES

Children Email Us Your Articles To See It In Print info@austinsouthasian.com

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Modi Tops List Of Popular World Leaders

By PAYAL MEHTA NEW DELHI (ANI) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi has topped the global rating amongst world leaders with an approval rating of 71 per cent. On the list of the 13 world leaders, US president Joe Biden is ranked at number six with a 43 per cent rating.

Biden is followed by Canadian President Justin Trudeau also at 43 per cent and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison at 41 per cent.

Morning Consult Political Intelligence is currently tracking the approval ratings of government leaders and country trajectories in

Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

“The latest approval ratings are based on data collected from Jan. 13-19, 2022. Approval ratings are based on a seven-day moving average of adult residents in each country, with sample sizes varying by country,” Morning Consult said.

In May 2020, the same website gave the highest rating to Prime Minister Modi with approval of 84 per cent. In May 2021, it dipped to 63 per cent. (Courtesy: IndiaWest. com)

After Telangana, Maharashtra State Minister Invites Elon Musk To Set Up Manufacturing Plant For Tesla NEW DELHI – Maharashtra Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil Jan. 16 offered Tesla CEO Elon Musk to set up manufacturing in the state for electric cars.

This comes after Telangana Industry and Commerce Minister K.T. Rama Rao invited Musk to set up shop in his state.

serve to be in every corner of the world!”

In response to Musk, Rama Rao said Telangana is a champion in sustainability initiatives and his government would be happy to

“Our state is a champion in sustainability initiatives and a top notch business destination in India,” he added.

with import duties, it would become unaffordable in the Indian market with an expected price tag of around Rs 60 lakh.

Tesla wants to begin selling imported cars in India this year, but

Currently, India levies 100 per cent tax on imported cars priced more than $40,000 (Rs 30 lakh) inclusive of insurance and shipping expenses, and cars less than $40,000 are subject to 60 per cent import tax.

In his tweet to Musk, Patil said: “Maharashtra is one of the most progressive states in India. We will provide you all the necessary help from Maharashtra for you to get established in India.

Meanwhile, Rao was praised by the Twitterati for his reply to Musk by eminent personalities including actors, journalists and industry leaders. They also supported the idea of EV in India.

“We invite you to establish your manufacturing plant in Maharashtra.”

“Love this car so much Elon Musk. Feels like hope is around the corner,” wrote actor Genelia Deshmukh.

On Jan. 13, Musk had said that the EV maker is facing a “lot of challenges” for its car launch in India.

“Still working through a lot of challenges with the government,” Musk tweeted.

Musk was replying to a Twitter user, who asked: “Yo @elonmusk any further update as to when Tesla’s will launch in India?

They’re pretty awesome and de-

partner with Tesla in working through the challenges.

taxes in the country are among the highest in the world.

“Hey Elon, I am the Industry and Commerce Minister of Telangana state in India. Will be happy to partner Tesla in working through the challenges to set shop in India/ Telangana,” he said in a tweet.

With a $39,990 global price tag, Tesla Model 3 may remain as an affordable model in the U.S. but

“Elon Musk, Come to Hyderabad - India! It will be epic to have you.

The Government here in Telangana is terrific too,” tweeted actor Vijay Devarakonda. (Courtesy: IndiaWest.com)

To Advertise In ASA Call 512-828-6709

COVID-19 Case Numbers Peak, Central Texas Health Leaders Eye New Variant Overseas (Continued From Page 01) Walkes said there’s no evidence that the new variant is in our community yet, but said it’s a reason to keep pushing for vaccines and continuing to use best practices like hand washing, masking and social distancing.

It comes as case numbers from the omicron variant in Central Texas have finally appeared to hit their ceiling. Projections from the University of Texas COVID-19 modeling consortium show case numbers declining as rapidly as they shot up. That’s consistent with what other areas that were hit early by the virus saw.

“South Africa saw a rapid increase in cases with a rapid decline as well, and we’re seeing that,” Walkes said. “The important thing for us to remember is that we’ve been in this spot before where we’ve been on the decline and anticipating a quiet hiatus afterwards. What has happened when we start seeing these declines is that people start to relax their mitigations efforts.”

Note: While APH says there appears to be a dip in the number of cases there is still a backlog of cases that APH says will show up on its dashboard. Walkes estimated there are 45,000 cases that are still pending entry.

Health leaders say while we have large portion of the population still unvaccinated, new variants are something our community needs to consider before relaxing mitigation efforts. Of the eligible population in Travis County, 71% are fully vaccinated. That does no include children under the age of five that are not eligible.

“We have the risk, and run the risk of being in a situation where we are faced with hospital capacity challenges and economic challenges,” Walkes said. “It’s really important for us to continue to get our community vaccinated and to continue mitigation efforts.” Courtesy: KXAN

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

5 Easy Ways To Enhance Digestive Health (Continued From Page 01) According to Ayurveda, the ancient Indian science of how to live long and be healthy, the health of the digestive system is the core of optimum health. Ayurvedic medicine asserts the digestive system is based on the strength and balance of its Agni (fire), which enables the body to absorb, digest and assimilate food. The teachings suggest an imbalanced Agni creates undigested residues, which form toxins that create imbalances and can lead to disease. Some of the dietary guidelines for healthy digestion and strong Agni include: * Allowing 4-6 hours between meals * Avoiding eating between meals * Avoiding foods with cold, wet and heavy qualities * Drinking ginger tea or hot water to stimulate the Agni * Starting a meal with pungent (hot), sour and salty flavors * Consuming a small amount of bitter taste before a meal to in-

crease the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach

Take steps to protect and nurture your digestive health with these tips: Add Fiber to Your Diet Plant-based foods that are high in fiber fill you up faster, so you’re less likely to overeat, and they also help with digestive regularity. Increase your intake of highfiber foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds.

Take a gradual approach to avoid upsetting your digestive tract and

bump up your water intake as you go since fiber will absorb it and decrease the likelihood you experience gas or cramping.

Stay Hydrated Keeping your body well hydrated is like making sure your car’s engine is well lubricated. It keeps all your moving parts in sync and operating for top performance. Some fluids can also help with detoxification, which can be especially

beneficial when your social calendar is full and your opportunities to overindulge are greater. An option like Buddha Teas’ Detox Dharma contains detoxifying herbs that stimulate your digestive system.

Strengthening and soothing herbs are also incorporated into this balanced formula resulting in an effective yet gentle detox tea. For another solution, Turmeric Ginger Tea contains enough black pepper to make curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) bio-available in hot water, helping build healthy Agni.

Eat Slower In today’s busy world, it’s easy to scarf down a meal in record time.

However, slowing down gives your body more time to process food.

You’ll give your brain more time to communicate with your stomach and be more aware of when you’ve satisfied your hunger.

Start Exercising If you need one more reason to get moving, your digestive health

could be it. Regular physical activity promotes better digestion.

However, if you jump into a workout too quickly after eating, you could actually do the opposite. Eat light before exercising then have a protein-rich balanced meal for recovery afterward.

Manage Stress Too much stress can manifest multiple physical problems, including interrupting your digestion.

Try mindful meditation or another method of relaxing and relieving stress. Getting plenty of rest can also help keep stress in check. If you’re looking for a good night of sleep, consider Buddha Teas’ CBD Sleepy Buddha Blend. Herbs for calming and relieving stress are paired with organic, water-soluble, THC-free CBD to leave you feeling restored and rejuvenated.

Find more solutions for enhancing your digestive health at buddhateas.com.

Source: Buddha Teas Photos courtesy of Getty Images

Maju Varghese Quits As White House Military Office Head NEW YORK, NY (IANS) - Indian American Maju Varghese is leaving his position as the director of the White House Military Office, according to a media report. “Right now, it’s best for me and my family that I kind of just try to strike a little bit more of a balance,” CNN quoted Varghese explaining his decision to leave the White House.

“One thing I learned during two tours here is it’s a demanding place to work and it’s because the work is really important, and we throw all of ourselves into this,” he said of leaving after a grueling year.

At the White House, his role included working with the military to ensure medical support, emergency medical services and presidential transportation, communications and organizing official ceremonies and functions.

“These are complex movements, helicopters and planes and ground

transportation and communications and supporting large events and global travel in and of itself is hard,” Varghese told CNN. “Now you throw Covid in, you’ve got

to think about all that comes with health and safety.”

He worked closely with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy when he was the chief operating officer of Biden’s election campaign, and later at the White House to ensure everyone’s health during the pandemic.

M u r t h y told CNN: “The way he would run meetings and to both chart out a path forward,

reassure people, his calmness in the face of serious adversity and uncertainty -- those are invaluable qualities that he brought to the operation.”

He was also the executive director of Biden’s and Vice President Kamala Harris’s inauguration and swearing-in ceremonies and the festivities around it.

He had also worked for former President Barack Obama as a special assistant to the president and the deputy director of advance organising his travel in the US and abroad.

Varghese’s parents immigrated from Thiruvalla, Kerala, to the US, where he was born. He is a lawyer by training. CNN said that he did not reveal future plans. (Courtesy: IndiaWest.com)

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Kids Corner

Vasundhara Varadarajan

Abhiveer Annoji

Varsha S.L

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Tshechu

Tshechu are annual religious Bhutanese festivals held in each district or dzongkhag of Bhutan on the tenth day of a month of the lunar Tibetan calendar.

and other saints. Typically, monks perform unmasked in certain group dances, including the Black Hat dance, while laymen perform masked, in largely different plays.

ments, in between the plays.

Most tshechus also feature the unfurling of a thongdrel - a large appliqué thangka typically depict-

The month depends on the place.

Tshechus are religious festivals of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Tshechus are large social gatherings, which perform the function of social bonding among people of remote and spread-out villages.

Large markets also congregate at the fair locations, leading to brisk commerce.

The Thimphu tshechu and the Paro tshechu are among the biggest of the tshechus in terms of participation and audience. They are related to traditions in other branches of Himalayan Buddhism, many of which have been banned in Tibet.

The focal point of the tshechus are Cham dances. These costumed, masked dances typically are moral vignettes, or based on incidents from the life of the 9th century Nyingma teacher Padmasambhava

availability of masked dancers, registered dancers are subject to fine if they refuse to perform during festivals

Padmasambhava, the great scholar, visited Tibet and Bhutan in the 8th century and 9th century. He used to convert opponents of Buddhism by performing rites, reciting mantras and finally performing a dance of subjugation to conquer local spirits and gods.

He visited Bhutan to aid the dying king Sindhu Raja. Padmasambhava performed a series of such dances in the Bumthang Valley to restore the health of the king. The grateful king helped spread Buddhism in Bhutan.

The monks are generally very precise in their movement, while some roles played by laymen involve considerable athleticism (such as the leaping dog shown below, who repeats this move over and over again). Groups of women perform songs, with limited dance move-

ing a seated Padmasambhava surrounded by holy beings, the mere viewing of which is said to cleanse the viewer of sin. The thongdrel is raised before dawn and rolled down by morning.

screamed the third. Keep reading how did Birbal gives a sweet reply.

Birbal gives a sweet reply

Emperor was amazed. He was waiting for Birbal’s reply.

Because tshechus depend on the

Padmasambhava organized the first tshechu in Bumthang, where the eight manifestations of Padmasambhava were presented through eight forms of dances. These became the Cham dances depicting the glory of Padmasambhava.

The dance schedule for each day of the four-day festival is set out and generally consists of the following

Akbar And Birbal Stories

BIRBAL GIVES A SWEET REPLY

“Yes, said Birbal. “Sweets, kisses and lots of hugs, because the only one who would dare to pull his Majesty’s mustache,would be his cute grandson.”

One day Emperor Akbar was in a very funny mood and thought of putting his courtiers to test. He came to his court and startled his courtiers with a strange question.

“If somebody pulled my mustache what sort of punishment should be given to him?” he asked. For a minute everyone was dumb-folded. They started discussing among themselves and came up with their answers.

“He should be flogged!” shouted one courtier.

“He should be hanged!” shouted another.

“He

should

be

beheaded!”

Birbal. The courtiers smiled at each other as if they knew what’s going to happen.

Akbar kept listening to everybody’s reply but was not satisfied.

“And what about you, Birbal?” asked the emperor. “What do you think would be the right punishment if somebody pulled my mustache?”

Birbal started laughing to which

“He should be given sweets, kisses and lots of hugs,” said Birbal.

“Sweets, kisses and hugs ?” gasped the other couriers.” Has Birbal gone mad, what is he saying, muttered one.

They knew know the emperor would be angry and will punish

Emperor was pleased with Birbal’s reply and smiled. So pleased was the emperor with the answer that he pulled off his ring and gave it to Birbal as a reward. Then he said, “Yes, that’s my grandson who played this prank on me while I was seeping.

I woke up with the intention to punish this culprit, but seeing him sitting on chest and playing with my mustache made me smile and I hugged and kissed him.” Once again Birbal was successful in winning Akbar’s heart.

dances.

On the first day, the performances cover: Dance of the Four Stags (Sha Tsam); Dance of the Three kinds of Ging (Pelage Gingsum); Dance of the Heroes (Pacham), Dance of the Stags and Hounds (Shawo Shachi) and Dance with Guitar (Dranyeo Cham) On the second day the dances performed are: The Black Hat Dance (Shana), Dance of the 21 black hats with drums (Sha nga ngacham), Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies (Pholeg Moleg), Dance of the Drums from Dramitse (Dramitse Ngacham), Dance of the Noblemen and the Ladies (Pholeg Moleg) and Dance of the Stag and Hounds (Shawa Shachi) On the third day, the dances performed are: Dance of the Lords of the Cremation Grounds (Durdag), Dance of the Terrifying Deities (Tungam) and Dance of the Rakshas and the Judgement of the Dead (Ragsha Mangcham) On the last day of the festival, the dances performed cover: Dance of Tamzhing Monastery in Jakar, Dance of the Lords of the Cremation grounds (the same dance as day 3), Dance of the Ging and Tsoling (Ging Dang Tsoling) and Dance of the Eight Manifestations of Padmasambhava (Guru Tshen Gye).

The last day of the four-day festival also marks the unfurling of the Thongdrel, a very large scroll painting or thangka, which is unfurled with intense religious fervour, early in the morning.

This painting measuring 30 metres (98 ft)×45 metres (148 ft) has the images of Padmasambhava at the centre flanked by his two consorts and also his eight incarnations.

Devotees who gather to witness this occasion offer obeisance in front of the Thongdrel seeking blessings. Folk dances are performed on the occasion. Before sunrise, the painting is rolled up and kept in the Dzong before it is displayed again one year later.

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Austin South Asian | February 2021

Indian Canadian Creates 1st Molecular Structure Of Omicron Protein

TORONTO (IANS) - An Indian Canadian researcher at University of British Columbia (UBC) has created the world’s first molecular-level structural analysis of the Omicron variant spike protein.

Published in the Science journal, the analysis which is done at near atomic resolution using cryo-electron microscopy, reveals how the heavily mutated Omicron variant attaches to and infects human cells.

“Understanding the molecular structure of the viral spike protein is important as it will allow us to

develop more effective treatments against Omicron and related vari-

ants in the future,” said the study’s lead author Dr Sriram Subramaniam, a professor at UBC’s department of biochemistry and molecular biology.

“By analysing the mechanisms by which the virus infects human cells, we can develop better treatments that disrupt that process and neutralise the virus,” Subramaniam added.

The spike protein, which is located on the outside of a coronavirus, enables SARSCoV-2 to enter

human cells.

The Omicron variant has an unprecedented 36 mutations on its spike protein -- three to five times more than previous variants.

The structural analysis revealed that several mutations create new salt bridges and hydrogen bonds between the spike protein and the human cell receptor known as ACE2.

The new bonds appear to increase binding affinity - how strongly the virus attaches to human cells.

“The findings show that Omicron has greater binding affinity than the original virus, with levels more comparable to what we see with the Delta variant,” said Subramaniam.

“It is remarkable that the Omicron variant evolved to retain its ability to bind with human cells despite such extensive mutations.”

The Omicron spike protein exhib-

its increased antibody evasion.

In contrast to previous variants, Omicron showed measurable evasion from all six monoclonal antibodies tested, with complete escape from five.

The variant also displayed increased evasion of antibodies collected from vaccinated individuals and unvaccinated Covid-19 patients.

“Notably, Omicron was less evasive of the immunity created by vaccines, compared to immunity from natural infection in unvaccinated patients. This suggests that vaccination remains our best defence,” Subramaniam informed.

(Courtesy: https://www.indiawest. com/)

8 Ways To Inspire Children To Read (Family Features) Reading is a foundation for learning, yet a vast gap exists in access to books for low-income neighborhoods.

According to the Handbook of Literacy Research, in low-income neighborhoods, the ratio of books per child is just one age-appropriate book for every 300 children.

Without books in the home, children lack the opportunity to practice reading skills and are exposed to fewer opportunities to build their vocabularies.

While these limitations can hinder personal performance, multiple studies correlate low literacy rates with social concerns like elevated drop-out rates, reliance on welfare programs and criminal activity.

Literacy is a cause that affects the community as a whole. Learn how you can champion literacy in your community with these tips: Give Books to Children The joy of receiving and opening a gift is exciting in its own right, but a book is a gift that keeps giving. You can make a book gift extra special by choosing a topic or theme that has special meaning, such as a place you’d like to visit

together or a beloved character you enjoy incorporating into your make-believe playtime with the child. As a bonus, if it’s age appropriate, read the book together for the first time so it always carries a special memory.

Visit the Library Libraries can be awe-inspiring places for kids. The wall-to-wall books represent thousands of possibilities. With so many options to choose from, you can introduce children to the delight of discovering different genres, enchanting topics and favorite authors who keep you coming back for more.

When children have their own library cards, they can practice the grown-up process of checking out and caring for books. What’s more, honoring due dates helps teach responsibility. Marking that date on the calendar is a fun way to build anticipation toward the next visit.

Support Organizations That Promote Literacy Conducting your business with companies that share your commitment to literacy is a way to inspire reading on a larger scale. One example is The UPS Store, which

created the Toys for Tots Literacy Program in partnership with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to provide disadvantaged children with direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and communicate effectively. You can donate at participating locations or contribute online.

Create Reading-Inspired Traditions Children thrive on routines and rituals, and incorporating books into special moments can be an especially effective way to establish positive connections with books and the joy of reading. At home, traditions might be as simple as bedtime stories or reading parties where the whole family dons pajamas early and gathers in a room to read together, whether quietly or out loud. You can also tie reading traditions to special celebrations, like reading a favorite story together before heading to bed on the eve of a birthday or holiday.

Participate in Events Supporting Literacy Show your support by attending and participating in events that showcase the importance of read-

ing. Examples might include book fairs and fundraisers for literacy programs in your community. You can also look into programs offered through your local library and community center.

If you find a shortage of events in your area, consider creating one of your own, such as visiting a local senior living center and reading to residents or hosting a book swap or book club with your friends and neighbors.

Encourage Kids to Get Hands-On Reading a book is one way to demonstrate literacy, but kids can also develop a love for reading and put their comprehension skills into practice by adapting their favorite stories for playtime. That might mean acting out a different ending for a favorite story or drawing a picture from a scene they remember best. You can also promote literacy by encouraging kids to write songs or their own short stories, which they can illustrate for a finished book to share with others.

Start a Neighborhood Library Recognizing not all kids have access to books at home, you can help promote an interest in reading

by creating a mini library within your neighborhood. Create a small structure that will protect books from the elements and spread the word that the contents are free for the taking. Encourage users to return books when they’re done so another child can enjoy them and invite neighbors to donate their gently used books to help fill your library.

Model Good Reading Habits for Kids Children learn from the examples set by trusted grown-ups. Sharing your love of reading with a child demonstrates you value learning and education.

You can encourage children to mimic your interest in reading by sharing stories about the books you enjoyed most when you were their age and choosing to spend quiet time reading together in place of screen time.

For more tips and information on how you can support literacy, visit theupsstore.com/literacy.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images Source: The UPS Store

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Tools And Strategies To Help Your Student Learn From Anywhere With school districts in flux as the pandemic continues to evolve, students, parents and teachers have had to roll with the punches in order to adapt.

Here are three ways to ensure your student thrives during this unusual school year.

will need to build on their future success.

To keep older students engaged, check out TEDEd, which offers thought-provoking content on a

sources: Be sure your student has the proper tools needed to grasp the material in their most challenging classes, whether or not their teacher is in the room with them.

For higher level math and science

This all-in-one, web-based mathematics creation and discovery resource is geared for K-12 and beyond and is an engaging tool for all students, including those learning remotely, those being homeschooled, or those who may need a little extra practice outside the classroom.

1. Supplement coursework: It has always been important to supplement classroom learning at home, and that’s particularly true right now.

With large percentages of teachers out sick, and schools having to combine classes in order to keep students supervised, classroom learning has suffered.

Digital resources however, such as Scholastic Learning at Home, offer activities, book clubs, homework help and more to help ensure younger students don’t miss out on the fundamental literacy skills they

ages a new natural display feature, which allows for fractions, roots and other functions to appear on the screen as they are written in the textbook. This makes for a seamless learning experience. Students can also turn to online resources, such as ClassPad.net.

range of topics, as well as resources for parents and teachers.

2. Provide top-tier educational re-

classes, that means having a userfriendly graphing calculator that brings the subject to life. For example, Casio’s fx-9750GIII lever-

Offering innovative features like unlimited customizable workspaces and the ability to create authentic mathematical text and easily adjust geometric objects, measurements and angles, ClassPad.net is free to all students and teachers.

3. Go the extra mile: Some school

districts are choosing to cancel extracurricular activities that involve high-risk activities such as band, choir and certain team sports. From soccer drills to scales, you can encourage your child to continue to excel in these activities.

Help them set up a space where they can effectively practice their skills at home, in the backyard or in a local park. When these programs return, your student won’t miss a beat.

Even if your child is not enrolled in a team sport, try to fill in gaps for missed P.E. classes by encouraging regular physical activity.

During a school year unlike any other, smart strategies and educational tools can help students meet the challenges associated with missed activities, disrupted lesson plans and other setbacks associated with the ongoing pandemic. \ (StatePoint)

Have Your 2022 Resolutions Faded? 5 Tools To Jumpstart Them If it’s time to jumpstart the resolutions you made at the beginning of the year, consider these five tools to make them more attainable:

journey, Casiotone keyboards feature tools that can keep you motivated to continue expanding your knowledge.

1. Mix it up. Finding it hard to consume the daily recommended servings of fruits and vegetables?

You’re not alone. Only one in 10 Americans do, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

3. Walk it off. Stay in shape using

ing steps the moment you start to walk.

This data can help motivate you to increase your daily step count and meet the recommended 10,000

A high-quality blender can make getting your fill of these fundamental food groups easy and delicious.

For example, the Ninja, one of the more notoriously powerful machines on the market, allows you to whip up smoothies and juices using whole fruits and vegetables to ensure you extract the most nutritional benefit from each of your ingredients.

2. Touch and go. Learning to play music is easy and fun when you opt for an instrument designed to help you master skills, fast. Offering touch responsive keys that light up as well as a compatible app that can assist you in your learning

wearable tech that will encourage you to keep setting bigger and bolder goals.

The G-Shock, a smartwatch with a step tracker, uses a three-axis acceleration sensor that begins count-

steps per day.

With some models offering heart rate monitoring and training analysis, you’ll soon be well on your way to keeping your promise to make the most of your resolutions.

4. Sleep tight. If getting more sleep was on your 2022 to-do list but you’re finding it difficult to actually put this goal into action, use an app such as Sleep Cycle to improve your nocturnal habits. Its sound library will ease you into sleep.

With a reliable printing calculator, you can print out and attach financial planning documents to show the progress of your savings and keep an organized log of monthly income and expenses.

It also tracks you over night and presents a deep-dive analysis into the quality of your shut-eye, along with guidance for changing your routine where needed.

For this purpose, consider the HR170RC from Casio, a mini desktop printing calculator with a big easyto-read display, two-color printing and the ability to check and correct up to 150 steps.

5. Rainy-day prep. Make this the year you finally create a budget that allows you to save for the future.

Creating new habits is never easy.

To help you stick the landing on all your goals, turn to tools that are designed to help. (StatePoint)

We Welcome Articles From Readers And The Community.

Info@Austinsouth asian.Com

22

Austin South Asian | February 2022 THEME: SUPER BOWL ACROSS 1. Shout from a ship?

5. Shout from the bleachers 8. ____ and don’ts 11. Infamous Henry’s number 12. One with COVID, e.g.

13. Fighter jet button 15. Resting stops 16. Not guilty, e.g.

17. One of Singapore’s official languages 18. *Home of last year’s Super Bowl winners 20. Armor chest plate 21. *Given name of 2011 Super Bowl MVP 22. African grazer 23. Greek woodland deities 26. Ramones’ hit “I Wanna Be ____” 30. Big fuss 31. Like certain Chili Peppers (2 words) 34. Cattle call goal 35. Scatterbrained 37. Bonehead 38. In a different direction 39. Jeté in ballet 40. More so than eggy 42. Conducted 43. Christmas firewood (2 words) 45. Annotator and commentator 47. Soda-pop container 48. Unpleasant and offensive 50. SWAT attack, e.g.

52. *Super Bowl I and II winning coach 55. Pertaining to a pope 56. Cain’s unfortunate brother 57. Gives a hand 59. Anoint 60. Bébé’s mother 61. Season to be jolly 62. *Most Super Bowl wins by one team 63. Snoop 64. Carhop’s load

DOWN 1. *Roman number of this year’s Super Bowl 2. “___ Misbehavin’” 3. Santa Maria’s traveling partner 4. Despair in the face of obstacles 5. “The Hobbit” hobbit 6. “Caribbean Queen” singer 7. Colloquial approval 8. Cold cuts counter 9. South American tubers 10. Pig’s digs 12. Not dense 13. Make corrections 14. *Florida team with no Super Bowl appearances 19. Return punch 22. Come and ____ it 23. Lamentably 24. Bye, to Edith Piaf 25. Bottom line 26. *2022 Super Bowl stadium 27. Upholstery choice 28. *Archie to Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli 29. Exploits 32. *Super Bowl Halftime show Snoops’s “last name” 33. Hardly a beauty 36. *Like some teams 38. Oenophile’s concern 40. Many, many moons 41. Empower 44. Big Dipper’s visible shape 46. Oppressive ruler 48. On the wagon 49. Nail salon board 50. Feminine of raja 51. Mt. Everest to Earth 52. Aladdin’s light 53. Christian of fashion 54. Result of a brainstorm 55. Rudolf Nureyev’s step 58. Stallone’s nickname

Sudoku

Please email your sudoku answers to info@austinsouthasian.com.

Name and photo of the inviduvidual with first correct answer will be published in March 2022 issue.

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Fighting The Flu: 3 Tips To Protect Your Health (Continued From Page 01) illnesses like the flu, especially for those at higher risk. According to the American Heart Association, people with underlying risk factors like heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes are at high risk of serious flu complications.

During the 2018-19 flu season, more than 93% of adults hospitalized for the flu reported at least one underlying medical condition that placed them at high-risk for complications, based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even so, a survey on behalf of the American Heart Association found 3 in 5 U.S. adults may delay or skip the flu shot this year, despite warnings from health experts the influenza season could be severe after a mild 2020-21 flu season.

“Unfortunately, the flu is back,” said Donald Lloyd-Jones, M.D., Sc.M., FAHA, volunteer president of the American Heart Association.

“We’re seeing cases in communities across the country.

If you’ve delayed your flu shot, it’s not too late to get one for the current flu season, which usually lasts until late spring. Getting it as soon

as possible offers the most protection for you and your loved ones.”

Knowledge Gap

A lack of information may contribute to decisions to skip or delay the flu shot. The survey identified a significant knowledge gap, with an overwhelming majority (94%) of adults in the United States incorrectly answering at least one of eight questions about the shot.

Younger generations were less informed than their older counterparts, but across all age groups, more than half of U.S. adults answered at least two questions in-

correctly. Despite the knowledge gap, some common misconceptions may be fading. Among all respondents, 73% know you can’t get the flu from the flu shot and 88% know you can get a COVID-19 vaccine and the flu shot at the same time.

Health

Flu and H e a r t

There is a strong correlation between the flu and cardiovascular diseases like heart disease and stroke. Among adults hospitalized with flu during recent flu seasons, heart disease was one of the most common chronic conditions. According to the CDC, about half of adults hospitalized with flu have heart disease.

In addition, research published in “The New England Journal of

Medicine” showed those who are not vaccinated against the flu are six times more likely to have a heart attack within a week of infection.

Preventing the Flu Take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones from the flu this season with these tips from the American Heart Association: * Get your flu shot. Most experts recommend getting your shot early in the season, but it’s not too late to benefit from the protection. The flu shot is available to anyone at least 6 months old. While getting the shot isn’t a guarantee you won’t get the flu, it reduces the chances of contracting a severe case. * Wash germs away. Washing

hands frequently and thoroughly helps reduce the spread of germs, including those that cause viruses like the flu. Also make a point to avoid touching your face, since your nose and mouth are natural entry points for germs. * Seek medical attention. If you get sick, seeing a doctor can bring relief and help shorten your illness.

If the flu is detected early enough, you may be able to take an oral antiviral treatment that reduces the length and severity of your symptoms.Learn more about protecting your heart health and preventing the flu at heart.org/flu.

Photos courtesy of Getty Images Source: American Heart Association (Family Features)

Make A Difference – Try What Works For You

By Vidya Kumar All these years I used to have resolutions like get up early in the morning, exercise and learn a hobby.

The first few days I would stick to the resolution and then somehow it

January 2022 Sudoku Answer Mr. Yudhveer Bagga

would fall off as the days progress.

This year along with my resolution I also decided on the time when I shall be following my resolution.

Then instead of setting the alarm once as a daily alarm I made it a point to set the alarm every night for the following day to get up early.

I am truly impressed that the method works for me. Maybe, in the night when I set the alarm I mentally prepare to get up?

I have no clue, but I can get up when the alarm rings without procrastinating or snoozing the button.

So, once I am up then naturally, I follow the routine and thus far I have been able to stick to my resolutions!! I am glad that such a small change has so much impact on our attitude.

It is as “Winston Churchill once famously observed that Americans will always do the right thing, only after they have tried everything else.”

Similarly, we need to keep trying and make small changes until we get it right rather than giving it up.

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

IPL 2022 To Kick-Off End Of March NEW DELHI (IANS) - The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 will start in the last week of March and will run till the end of May, with efforts being made to host the cashrich league in India, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on Jan.22.

unturned in ensuring that the IPL stays in India,” he said.

As per sources, the board is contemplating starting the league from Mar. 27, almost a week ahead of the planned start of the tournament.

It has been learnt that the early start is mainly to reduce the number of day games in the league, which has been expanded to 10 teams with the number of matches increased from 60 to 74.

Shah also said, “A majority of the team owners expressed their wish that the tournament is held in India.

The BCCI was always keen on staging the 2022 edition that will see two new teams -- Ahmedabad and Lucknow -- in India. I can tell you that we will leave no stone

“The BCCI has not compromised on the health and safety of its

stakeholders in the past and will concurrently work on Plan B since the Covid-19 situation with new variants remains fluid,” he added.

T h e B C C I secretary issued the statement after a virtual meeting with the owners of the IPL. The meeting was attended by all owners, including the Ambanis, N Srinivasan, Shah Rukh Khan, Pre-

ity Zinta, Parth Jindal among others, besides the promoters of the two new teams - Ahmedabad and Lucknow.

During the meeting, the BCCI told the franchise owners that it wants to hold the tournament in Maharashtra.

The meeting also considered the options of UAE and South Africa as venues. UAE was eventually rejected because dew will be a major factor in April and May in the desert kingdom and the results of the matches are largely influenced by the toss with teams batting first having a major disadvantage.

Most owners seem to have preferred Mumbai but some BCCI members were in favor of moving the tournament to South Africa.

Eventually, the Greater Mumbai option with four grounds (including Pune) was zeroed in, with the main advantage being the fact that

it would not require air travel.

Along with the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai also has two other grounds that have hosted international matches: the Brabourne Stadium and the DY Patil Stadium.

There is also the Mumbai Cricket Association-run ground in BandraKurla Complex as well as a stadium in Pune, which has also organized the IPL matches in the past.

It was also pointed out that there are sufficient hotels to accommodate the IPL bandwagon.

However, the final decision will be made on Feb. 20 based on the Covid-19 situation in Maharashtra, the BCCI told the owners.

Meanwhile, Jay Shah also confirmed that the mega IPL auction will be held on Feb. 12 and 13 but stopped short of declaring that the venue will be Bangalore. (Courtesy: https://www.indiawest.com/)

India Will Become One Of Top 3 Economies In World: RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani NEW DELHI – Reliance Industries Ltd. Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani has predicted that India will become one of the top three economies in the world and Reliance will become one of the strongest and most reputed Indian multinational companies in the world.

India’s growth,” Ambani said.

“This is the only way for today’s and tomorrow’s leaders to earn the right to call themselves the true inheritors of the legacy of Dhirubhai

the common philosophy of ‘WE CARE’ that guides and inspires Reliance,” Ambani said on the second imperative.

“This common purpose creates a

Ambani added that Covid has taught some important lessons.

“The first lesson is health first.

Covid has made all of us more health conscious and fitness conscious.

Health is true wealth.

Speaking at a Reliance Family Day event, Ambani shared imperatives or must-dos that all at Reliance must embrace and make it a way of life.

“We must never become complacent of what we have achieved in the past. Companies that become laid-back because of their previous achievements become footnotes in a history book.”

“I would like the story of Reliance to be told in that book which has no final chapter and one which is continually updated with records of bolder initiatives and more glittering successes and where successive generations create even greater societal value and contribute to

longing and their feeling of pride in working for one of the world’s great companies,” he added.

Ambani,” he added.

“We must continuously revisit, iterate, re-iterate and communicate

shared identity for every old and new member of Reliance Family.

It strengthens their sense of be-

“We have now begun to realize it more acutely than ever before,” he added.

The second lesson is safety first, he said.

“The pandemic has taught us that the safety of each and every one is inseparably linked to safety of all.

In other words, no one is fully safe in this world unless all of us are fully vaccinated with vaccines that work,” Ambani said.

The third lesson, Ambani said, is family first. “At Reliance, our families are the greatest sources of our strength for each and every one of us.” “During the pandemic, work from home has enabled all of us to spend more quality time with our children, spouse and parents.

“In future, technology will offer even more exciting ways of Hybrid and Virtual Work,” Ambani said.

“Which means, we can work more efficiently and also devote more time to our families and friends.

We can also invest greater amounts of time for cultivating our interests and for enjoying intimacy with nature.

This will provide us an opportunity to create an even better work-life balance by focusing on things that matter the most,” he added. (Courtesy: https://www.indiawest.com/)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

Cloth Masks Are Useless

NEW DELHI (IANS) - Prominent public health officials in the US have increasingly highlighted the limitations of cloth face masks, pushing for more effective respirator masks such as N95s as the Omicron variant is rapidly spreading across the country, a shift in messaging from earlier in the pandemic.

All this song and dance of wearing cloth masks with some presumption that you’re being protected from ambient virus is completely and positively 100 per cent counter to how masks and respirators work”

Officials encouraged the use of cloth masks in the spring of 2020 as a desperate measure to slow the spread of Covid-19 after previously recommending against masks and continued to boost them in the months after.

Now, though, more experts are saying that the masks are not helpful.

Evidence of the N95’s superiority to the cloth mask has been well-documented.

In 2015, for example, before the onset of the pandemic, scientists from Australia, Vietnam, and China concluded that healthcare workers “should not use cloth masks as protection against respiratory infection.

“Cloth and surgical masks do absolutely nothing for protection from ambient virus,” said Chad Roy to the Washington Examiner, a microbiologist at Tulane University School of Medicine, referring to the virus spreading through the air.

Cloth masks resulted in significantly higher rates of infection than medical masks, and also performed worse than the control arm”.

“The use of an N95 does give you some protection in a bidirectional manner, meaning that if you’re using an N95 without a oneway valve for exhalation... you’re protected from not only ambient aerosol of a particular size, as well as exhalation if you are ill, so it does double duty in that regard,” Roy said.

The Biden administration announced this week that it would prioritize distributing 400 million free high-quality respirators to be made available through local pharmacies and community health centers.

The millions of N95s would come out of the 750 million masks currently stored in the Strategic National Stockpile. (Courtesy: https://www.indiawest.com/)

Indian American-Founded Eternalhealth Raises $10 Million Series A Funding BOSTON, Mass.—eternalHealth, the first new health plan to be approved in Massachusetts since 2013, announced Jan. 11 that it has raised another $10 million in Series A funding.

believes in the mission of eternalHealth, founded by Indian American entrepreneur Pooja Ika, the first woman to launch a new Medicare Advantage Health Plan in the United States.

together.

This additional financing follows an initial $10 million in Seed and Pre-Series A invest-

“Around two decades ago, I decided I wanted to disrupt the healthcare industry by col-

Ika said the Series A funding, which includes seed investors and additional successful technology and healthcare entrepreneurs, will be used to support the day-to-day operations, and help attract and retain membership, while most of the capital will be used as risk-based capital to support the company’s membership growth, noted the release.

I believe in Pooja’s mission and with the help of her team, she has been able to accomplish so much in one year.”

Typically, the launch of a new health plan takes two to three years and costs tens of millions of dollars, said Ika. “At eternalHealth, we accomplished this historic goal within a year. The initial seed round helped us build a technology-powered infrastructure, optimize our operations, and hire a skilled team of 20 professionals,” she added.

ment by successful healthcare and tech entrepreneurs last summer, according to a press release.

John Sculley, former Apple CEO, who was involved in the Series A funding round,

laborating with entrepreneurs who believed in their mission,” said Sculley, former Apple CEO and an investor and shareholder in eternalHealth, “I truly believe we have a healthcare Moonshot with eternalHealth and I am excited to see how we can better the space

“Now, that we are operationally sound, we are actively trying to grow and increase our membership base.

The goal has always been to build a sustainable business model, that is committed to doing things the right way.”

Headquartered in Boston, eternalHealth

provides high-quality care with low out-ofpocket costs to the residents of Massachusetts, while prioritizing preventive care and transparency, said the release.

Founded, owned, and built by women, eternalHealth is a Medicare Advantage health plan that offers HMO and PPO products.

(Courtesy: https://www.indiawest.com/)

For Ad Call 512-828-6709

Austin South Asian Invites Contributions From Readers And Community

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Austin South Asian | February 2022

‘Jai Bhim’, ‘Marakkar’ Make It To Oscars ‘Submission List’ LOS ANGELES (IANS) - Two Indian films, the controversial Tamil film ‘Jai Bhim’ starring Suriya and Lijomol Jose and Priyadarshan’s Malayalam period drama ‘Marakkar:

Studios), ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (Sony Pictures) and ‘West Side Story’ (20th Century Studios).

Some of the international features from the Oscar shortlist are also eligible for best picture, in addition to the best international feature category, such as Japan’s muchawarded ‘Drive My Car’, Italy’s ‘The Hand of God’, Iran’s ‘A Hero’ and Norway’s ‘The Worst Person in the World’.

Arabikadalinte Simham’ (Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea), with Mohanlal playing the titular character - are on the list of 276 movies eligible for this year’s Academy Awards.

The voting for the Oscar nominations is set to begin on Jan. 27 and will continue until Feb. 1. The announcement limits the eligibility year to 10 months. Last year, the Academy had extended it until Feb.28, 2021, because of the pandemic.

All of the presumed Oscar contenders, reports ‘Variety’, are on the list. These include ‘Being the Ricardos’ (Amazon Studios), ‘Belfast’ (Focus Features), ‘CODA’ (Apple Original Films), ‘Dune’

(Warner Bros), ‘Encanto’ (Walt Disney Pictures), ‘House of Gucci’ (MGM/United Artists), ‘The

Power of the Dog’ (Netflix), ‘A Quiet Place Part II’ (Paramount Pictures), ‘Spencer’ (Neon/Topic

nity, is based on a true incident in 1993, involving a case fought by former Madras High Court Justice K. Chandru, when he was an advocate. Behind him in this legal battle was Sengeni’s wife, Rajakannu.

The only other film to make the cut from South Asia is Bhutan’s ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom’, a 2019 film directed by Pawo Choyning Dorji. It had its world premiere at the BFI London Film Festival.

Directed by Priyadarshan, ‘Marakkar’ is one of the most expensive films in the history of Malayalam cinema. It narrates the epic tale of Kunjali Marakkar IV, a Malabar sea lord and his epic battles against the Portuguese.

The film was selected as the Bhutanese entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 93rd Academy Awards, but later disqualified.

It was resubmitted as Bhutan’s entry for the 2022 Oscars and was shortlisted for the awards.

The movie had won three National Awards - Best Feature Film, Best Special Effects and Best Costume Design. ‘Jai Bhim’, which raised the hackles of the PMK, the political party in Tamil Nadu that represents mainly the Vanniyar commu-

Nominations for the 94th Academy Awards, will be announced on Feb. 8. The ceremony is scheduled to be held on Mar. 27, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. (Courtesy: https://www.indiawest.com/)

Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi Announce Their New Project ‘Selfiee’ MUMBAI – Get ready to witness Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi in one frame together.

gram and shared a photo of him taking his and Emraan’s selfie on a road trip.

They will be seen sharing screen space in a new film titled ‘Selfiee’.

Akshay can be seen sporting a metallic jacket in gold, imparting a funky look.

On Jan. 11, Akshay took to Insta-

On the other hand, Emraan can be seen wearing a plain blue T-shirt.

Sharing this picture, Akshay wrote, “Found myself the perfect #Selfiee partner! Hey @karanjohar, have we slayed this selfie game or what? @emraanhashmi”

Emraan, too, shared the same image and captioned it as, “Joining the Selfiee club with Akshay Kumar.” ’Selfiee’ is the Hindi remake of the Malayalam film ‘Driving License’, which stars Prithviraj and Suraj Venjaramoodu in the lead roles.

Now, Akshay and Emraan will reprise their roles for the remake.

Producer Karan Johar unveiled a teaser video, in

which Akshay and Emraan can be seen dancing with each other.

Filmmaker Raj Mehta has come on board to helm the project, which will hit the cinemas this year.

It is produced by Late Aruna Bhatia, Hiroo Yash Johar, Supriya Menon, Karan Johar, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Apoorva Mehta and Listin Stephen.

The shooting is slated to begin soon. (Courtesy: https://www.indiawest.com/)

To Advertise In ASA 512-828-6709

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On Army Day, Vivek Oberoi Shares Teaser Of Upcoming Short Film ‘Verses Of War’

MUMBAI – On the occasion of Army Day, Bollywood actor Vivek Anand Oberoi paid tribute to the soldiers who dedicated their lives to the nation. Sharing a teaser from his upcoming short film ‘Verses of

War’ on his social media handle, he said: “A poetic tribute to the Indian Army on the Indian Army Day. Presenting the teaser of ‘Verses of War’. Releasing this Republic Day exclusively on #FilmsByFnPmedia #indianarmyday #indianarmy #jaihind.”

character of a Pakistani army officer, will be seen together in a film after 15 years. The short film, which is being released on the FNP Media YouTube channel, is directed by Prasad Kadam.

Talking about the film, Oberoi said ‘Verses of War’ “salutes those brave and selfless soldiers who keep us safe.”

Austin South Asian | February 2022

Salman Khan, Pragya Jaiswal To Feature In Guru Randhawa, Iulia Vantur’s Music Video ‘Main Chala’ MUMBAI – Bollywood superstar

hawa is all praise for singer Iulia Vantur.

He says: “ I ’ m very excited that I could share this song with Iulia Vantur, who is not just a wonderful artiste but also a warm person.

Her tone is very distinct and takes the song to the next level.

Salman Khan and south actress Pragya Jaiswal are going to feature in the love track ‘Main Chala’ sung

by Guru Randhawa and Iulia Vantur.

The track has turned out to be beautiful and I’m confident people will love it.”

Starring Salman Khan and Pragya Jaiswal, the love song has been directed by Shabina Khan. It has been composed and penned by Shabbir Ahmed.

Adds Iulia Vantur about her experience of working with Guru Randhawa: “Main chala’ is a very soulful song, written with a lot of love.

We’ve put our hearts in it and I hope it will touch people’s souls.

I’m grateful for it, I’m grateful to Guru for believing in it, for making this song special, in his voice.

He is an amazing artist, I appreciate him very much as a singer and as a person as well. I believe love will be welcomed in everyone’s hearts with ‘Main Chala’.”

Produced by Salman Khan and Bhushan Kumar, the song will be released on T-Series’ YouTube channel on Jan. 22.

(Courtesy: https://www.indiawest. com/)

To Advertise: 512-828-6709 Sunny Leone: I Take Great Pride In My Songs Becoming Raging Hits

Oberoi, who plays an Indian soldier, and Rohit Roy, essaying the

MUMBAI – Indian actress Sunny Leone, who had incredible dance number hits with tracks like ‘Auntiyaan Dance Karengi’, ‘Machli’ and ‘Panghat, for which she reunited with Baby Doll singer Kanika Kapoor, is in a happy space.

The actress maintains that all the songs pushed her to do her best as all of them were very different from each other.

Elated with the love pouring her way, she says, “I see myself as an entertainer and I take great pride in my songs becoming raging hits.

People have been loving the number. It’s so overwhelming that my

He added: “We should never forget the countless heroes who have sacrificed their lives for one breath of our peace.” (Courtesy: https:// www.indiawest.com/)

hard work has paid off.”

Considered among the industry’s

It is going to be a treat for music lovers and Salman fans. Guru Rand-

most effortless dancers, Leone says she remembers training for most part of November to make sure

each of these numbers have a different vibe to them.

She adds, “Sometimes there is a tendency to replicate steps but each of these songs were designed so differently.

It meant working on a different track every few days but I con-

sciously wanted each of these to stand out. I am so happy with the response.”

Ask her if there’s a favorite and she signs off with a smile, “Why pick when you can groove to all?”

(Courtesy: https://www.indiawest. com/)

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Austin South Asian | February 2022