Saathee Charlotte July 2020

Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent

Saathee.com

IN THIS ISSUE

Recycling the Carolinas, Do’s and Dont’s: pg 22 Recipe for Pav Bhaji: pg 46 Indian Americans and Racial Injustice: pg 66 Summer Festivals & Holidays: pg 88

July 2020

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July 2020

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July 2020

In This Issue

Page 64 Recycling the Carolinas: Doing it properly, avoid the dont’s.

Page 72 Views of Racial Inequality and Privilege in Indian American Community

Page 28 Abhishek Bachchan’s Breathe: Into Page 34 Increase your India the Shadows Streams in July. See Film Clips. Knowledge: Western Ghats

Content

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

Raajeev’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 42

Recycling the Carolinas . . . . . . . . .pg. 22

Namaskar Y’all . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 48

Community Events . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 18

Upcoming Movie Releases . . . . . . .pg. 26

Recipe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 46 Subcontinental Divide . . . . . . . . . .pg. 50

Film Clips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 28

Thinking About Thinking . . . . . . .pg. 54

Increase India Knowledge . . . . . . .pg. 34

Personal Finances . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 60

Spot the Differences . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 30

Dances of India . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 38

Nutrition for Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 40 Saathee.com

Immigration Matters . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 58 Buy Right . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 62

News Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 64 8

My Voice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 66

Youth Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 84

Pop’s Puzzles and Jokes . . . . . . . . .pg. 86

Festivals and Holidays . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

Puzzle Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 88

AstroScope . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 90

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 92

Index of Advertisers . . . . . . . . . . . .pg. 96

July 2020

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Hello Readers!

At last the warm winds of summer have arrived.

It seems some semblance of normalcy is returning, albeit the virus still stalking us. It’s not going away anytime soon. The challenge of the time is to deal with it in a manner to contain the spread while we rebuild the economy. While we wait for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, the proverbial vaccine, there are also effective treatments in the works.

Let’s hope our scientific and medical establishments can find ways to contain this most unwanted of guests. In the meantime, we continue our work to inform and connect the community.

Happy July!

Comments and Suggestions always welcome.

“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”

july 2020 Issue # 266 - Saathee.com Editor Samir Shukla (Samir@Saathee.com)

Publisher & Advertising Divakar Shukla

“I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free.”

- Rosa Parks

(rakavid@aol.com)

Ad Design / Layout Nathan C. Andrews

Digital Media & Marketing Jennifer W. Allen & Dhruv Pathak

Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Amit rupani, Taige Shukla Parul Kharod, Maegha lanka, rishi P. oza raajeev Aggerwhil, Dr. Maha Gingrich, Mo vidwans, Balaji Prasad, Molly Black, Shyama Parui, Ahsen Jillani and Jalendu vaidya.

Mission: Our goal is to be a valuable source of information for the South Asian community and to be a vital advertising tool for businesses.

- FoUNDED 1998 -

Saathee Magazine

P.o. Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220

Cover: Stone Pillars, Chitradurga

Chitradurga Fort was built between the 10th and 18th centuries by the kings of various dynasties during that period in the state of Karnataka.

Photo: Pixabay

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

Shukla Entertainment Inc. 655 Pressley rd., Ste G, Charlotte, NC 28217 Periodicals postage paid at Charlotte, NC and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to

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

12

704.527.7570 fax: 704.527.7590

Saathee@saathee.com Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and advertisers and not necessarily of the publisher or editor.

Please contact us prior to submitting articles or photographs.

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

For a free Saathee subscription, visit saathee.com/subscription

All content © 2020 Shukla Entertainment, Inc

July 2020

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Something someone did stupidly 10, 20, 30 years ago is the totality of that person’s reputation? Their heads have to roll even if they apologize? You can’t undo the past; you can barter the present and set foundations for the future.

Look into the mirror all ye purists. Have you not had impure thoughts? There is nothing you have done, even in jest that you feel a bit embarrassed about? of course you have.

Now, don’t go out and cancel yourselves.

Erased Is the Cancel Culture Coming for You?

Road Rage 2020: Volume 10

Navigating the Madness of American Politics

By Samir Shukla

Why worry about a wily virus or economic downturns? Your co-workers, social media trolls or that kid from third grade you laughed at, even someone you consider a friend, may be coming after your reputation. out of the need for racial justice, sexual and gender equality, diversity expansion and other long-needed niceties, the knives are now being sharpened for even the most mundane of grievances, where purity tests seem ready for every word you utter, every mannerism you display, every bad joke you crack, every drunken silly thing you did in college.

These purity tests are effectively doing reputational destruction instead of moving society forward. There is no such thing as perfectly pure anything. Unfortunately, we will likely never completely get rid of sexism, racism, and many other isms, we can only work to minimize them. out of the honorable need for justice, the cancer culture, oops, sorry, I meant cancel culture, is getting a little, shall we say, out of hand. The floodgates of correctness are fully open and I fear we won’t be able to control them.

A New York Times opinion section editor was fired because he dared to publish an unpopular view from a politician and this happened not from outside pressure, but due to a revolt inside the world’s most famous newspaper. Streaming service HBo Max deciding to delay showing Gone with the Wind because of its, um, sensitive subject matter. Forget that the film has been shown umpteen times already on TV, and never mind it takes place before, during and after the Civil War and the subject matter is completely in context for those times. There are numerous other examples. Editors and journalists, CEos and high school principals, celebrities, and, fill in the blank, are being purged for the slightest scary opinion or perceived microaggression.

I understand the need to remove Confederate statues and memorials still hanging around. Brands are changing names (Aunt Jemima), country bands are changing names (Lady Antebellum). Hell, NASCAR has now banned Confederate flags. All are part of a greater worthy effort of reconciliation.

This digging for righteousness, though, can overreach and start scraping for wet pebbles on the bottom of a grievance well that has already been cancelled dry. It is happening.

Uncomfortable conversations, dissenting opinions, and yes, bad jokes, are part of democracy. It’s called free speech, not squeaky clean speech. Someone’s writing, utterances or behavior shows who they are, and one can become informed about them. That’s a healthy thing for an open society.

There are varying levels of punishment for criminals. You don’t lock up a first-time shoplifter for 10 years. Even criminals get a second chance, opportunities for rehabilitation and return to society. The same should be availed for those that offend correctness. Yes, there are also varying levels of offense when it comes to MeToo movement. Forget careers, lives are destroyed over pinprick objections and microaggressions.

Saathee.com

14

Charlotte Dumped The two-year betrothal is over. President Trump is taking the ball, the net, the whole darn game, and the crowds from Charlotte and will now head to Jacksonville, Florida. After a boxing match with NC Governor Roy Cooper, Trump and the Republican National Committee chose Jacksonville as the lastminute substitute city for the Republican National Convention.

Charlotte was chosen as the city for RNC 2020 couple of years back. Now the gears have shifted. Trump wanted a guarantee for a full-on convention with thousands of attendees while Cooper insisted that the status of the virus would dictate attendee levels in August. Neither Cooper nor Trump would budge so the Republicans will hold their convention in two cities. It’s risky for RNC, not to mention there are contracts that are being broken. Legal battles are sure to follow.

All the preparation done for the convention in Charlotte is now fizzling. Charlotte will retain minimal business, basically one day where some of the delegates will meet, and then the party will move south to Jacksonville, which will host all the speeches, rallies, related events and President Trump’s acceptance speech.

The RNC is planning a full-fledged convention while the Democratic National Committee is trying to figure out what their convention will look like in Milwaukee. It will likely be mostly virtual, but how they conduct this and create excitement remains to be seen. So, it goes. The weirdest election season rolls on and will end with an unknowable thud in November.

Just the Facts, folks A lot of misinformation and disinformation is already flying around, and will only get worse as TV ads crank up as we head into November. Hear something spurious? Something stupid?

Something clearly meant to evoke an emotional response but sounds false? Check the reliable fact-checking sites below, which keep tabs on the truthfulness of these commercials as well as other claims made by politicians.

Fact check sites: FactCheck.org Snopes.com www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker

Road Rage 2020 is a series of essays covering the election that I will write through November 2020. To read earlier volumes, visit saathee.com/samir.

The Editor’s Desk Samir Shukla Editor of Saathee magazine contact - Samir@Saathee.com follow me on Twitter: @ShuklaWrites Newsletter: ShuklaWrites.Substack.com

July 2020

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July 2020

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July 2020

Community Events Saathee Readers

Please double check below events for postponements or cancellations before planning to attend.

Here we are listing the upcoming events as announced. Everyone is social distancing, but it may help to see what is coming up ahead to regain some sense of normalcy.

OM Squad Summer Camp: Morrisville, nC (july 6 -Aug 7, 2020)

The Hindu Society of North Carolina will be hosting oM Squad summer camp sessions for children aged 5-12 years. Each 5 days session will be held between July 6-10, 2020, July 20-24, 2020, and August 3-7, 2020 between 8:30am and 5pm each day. During the camp, children will learn Arts/Crafts, Yoga, Dance, Music, and more. Breakfast, lunch and snacks will also be served each day. Fees (per session): First Child $250 (HSNC member) / $300 (Non-member); each additional Child – $200 (member) / $250 (non-member), registering for the same camp session. More info: Hsnconline.org/hsnc-summer-camp.

Wright Kite Festival: Kill Devil Hills, nC (july 11-12, 2020)

Take flight where flight first began with Kitty Hawk Kites and the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills, NC between July 11 & 12, 2020 from 10am to 4pm.

Enjoy a walk on the hallowed grounds where Wilbur and orville took their historic first flight in 1903, then come join in for some fun flight of your own. Large 30 – 100 foot kites will be flying high on display. Come fly kites of your own, take stunt and power kite flying lessons, and bring the kiddos on over to the kite making station. Admission to the park is $10 for ages 16+, but participation in the kite festival is free. To learn more, Kittyhawk.com/event/wright-kite-festival.

The Big Crafty Art Show: Asheville, nC (july 12, 2020)

The Big Crafty returns to Asheville for a day of handto-heart art & craft on Sunday July 12, 2020 from 126pm at Pack Square Park. Join in for a trip through the creative landscape, with 150 creative ventures and total art stars, craft-infused good times, hugs and high fives.

The Big Crafty highlights the work of carefully-selected artists, makers and craft innovators who embody the heart and the dynamism of the independent creative community. Learn more at Thebigcrafty.com.

Saathee.com

18

Hindu Center Anniversary Celebration: Charlotte, nC (August 1, 2020) (Cancelled)

The Hindu Center of Charlotte presents its 38th anniversary celebration on Saturday, August 1, 2020 beginning with a general body meeting. The celebration will then an Anand bazaar, cultural program, mela with music & dance, health fair, and foods from all over India. Also on hand will be vendors offering various arts and crafts for purchase. There is no admission charge and all are welcome to attend. For more details, call 704-535-3440 or 704-2583588, or visit Hcclt.org.

Queen City Summer Festival: Charlotte, nC (August 1, 2020)

The 2020 will feature over 50 vendors with the latest products, brands, giveaways and more. There will be food, kid activities, various contests & races, bake sale, and more. Go-Karts, mini golf, bumper boats, laser tag, arcade games, and more create plenty of fun for the kids!

The event will take place on Saturday, August 1, 2020 from 12pm to 6pm at Funtasticks Charlotte, 10400 Cadillac Street in Pineville, NC. To learn more and to grab tickets, visit Eventbrite.com and search for the event.

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July 2020

Community Events OBx Watermelon Festival: nags Head, nC (August 6, 2020)

Celebrate summer with Kitty Hawk Kites and Food Lion by supporting the outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition at the 14th Annual oBX Watermelon Festival on Thursday, August 6 from 10am – 4pm at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing in Nags Head, NC. Enjoy games, food, arts and crafts activities, watermelon fun and more. The oBX Watermelon Festival is a fundraiser benefiting The outer Banks Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Coalition. Enjoy this timeless summer tradition and help keep oBX bicyclists and pedestrians safe! The Festival is free for guests to attend; however, the purchase of tickets is required to play and eat. Compete in classic competitions like seed spitting and watermelon eating. See more information at Kittyhawk.com/event/outer-banks-watermelon-festival.

Classic Summer Art & Craft Festival: Myrtle Beach, SC (August 7-9, 2020)

new World Festival of the Arts: Manteo, nC (August 12-13, 2020)

The 38th Annual Craftsmen’s Classics Summer Art & Craft Festival features original designs and work from hundreds of talented artists and craftspeople from across America. See the creative process in action as many exhibitors demonstrate throughout the weekend. The Festival will be held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center from August 7-9, 2020. Admission is $8 for adults and $1 for Kids aged 6-12. Discounts are available for groups of 15 or more.

Parking will be $5. See more info at Craftshow.com.

This is an annual juried outdoor festival featuring fine arts and crafts. Hosted by Dare County Arts Council and the Town of Manteo, the Festival provides local and regional artists an opportunity to display and sell their creative work. The Festival has been a Manteo tradition for decades, providing awareness of current trends in the visual arts. This year, world-class artists will travel to the waterfront between August 12-13, 2020, with art from exhibitors including watercolors, drawings, photography, jewelry, sculpture, and pottery. Details: Darearts.org/newworldfestivalofthearts.

Vintage Market Days of Asheville Metro: Fletcher, nC (August 7-9, 2020)

Vintage Market Days is an upscale vintage-inspired indoor/outdoor market featuring original art, antiques, clothing, jewelry, handmade treasures, home décor, outdoor furnishings, food, and seasonal plantings. The event is a unique opportunity for vendors to display their talents and passions in creative venues. The event will be held at the WNC AG Center in Fletcher, NC from August 7-9, 2020. Tickets and other information are available at Vintagemarketdays.com.

Greer Family Fest: (August 14-15, 2020)

Charlotte Water Lantern Festival: (August 8, 2020)

With a rich history of providing family fun for all ages, the annual Pelham Medical Center Greer Family Fest promises to be better than ever for its 36th anniversary. This year’s event will feature the best of the old and add exciting new activities with the goal of being the Upstate’s favorite family festival. This two-day event between August 14 & 15, 2020 at Greer City Park and will feature live music on the main stage, KidsZone, restaurant row, & over 150 vendors. Admission is free. Learn more at Greerchamber.com/greer-family-fest.

The Charlotte Water Lantern Festival will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2020 starting at 5:30pm at Symphony Park at South Park on 4400 Sharon Road in Charlotte. The Festival is filled with fun, happiness, hope, and great memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime. This is a family friendly event brings friends, families, neighbors, and lots of people that you haven’t met together to create a peaceful, memorable experience. Tickets and info can be found at Ticket.ticketspice.com/charlotte.

The Aarohan School of Music presents its annual recital “Dastoor: A melodious flow of Indian Heritage” on Saturday, August 15, 2020 beginning at 4pm at the Sandra Levine Theatre, Queens University, 1900 Selwyn Ave. in Charlotte, NC. All proceeds will be donated to CRY America.

Tickets range from $25 - $100.

Gracing the occasion will be vocalist Padmashree Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty. For more details call 704-701-6235 or write to: Aarohan.music@gmail.com.

Aarohan Dastoor Recital: Charlotte, nC (August 15, 2020)

Saathee.com

20

July 2020

The importance of education today is undeniable.

Are you prepared for what it costs?

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July 2020

Recycling the

Carolinas

By Molly Black

Recycling is touted as one of the most accessible ways an individual can live an environmentally friendly lifestyle. This everyday practice seems fairly straightforward: paper, plastics, glass, into the bin and out onto the curb, away they go, your civic duty complete. But what happens to your recyclables when they are whisked away?

Recycling in the United States is first and foremost a business. Prior to 2018 the U.S. outsourced the majority of its recycling, particularly plastics, overseas to Asia. This large-scale outsourcing led to the decline of the domestic recycling industry. In 2018 the announcement of China’s refusal to accept any more plastic waste from the U.S. shook the framework of waste management in the States. The reality of the recycling industry in the U.S. is that companies are continuing to produce new plastics and packaging materials at increasing rates yet relying upon the broken recycling network to get plastics back.

The lack of an effective industry means that even though an item can be recycled doesn’t mean it will be. The dependence on foreign markets has become abundantly clear with the U.S. Saathee.com

still scrambling to find solutions at home today with many recycling programs ending around the country and local governments sending recycling to the landfill or the furnace.

The goal for the recycling industry going forward is to create a “circular economy” wherein: society needs plastic, but people must begin recycling at much higher rates, and re-use products again and again both at home and through industrial recycling.

The hope with this model is to significantly cut down on the onslaught of new plastics being created every year. The issue continued on page 56

Going Green Molly Black is a reference librarian based out of Charlotte, NC. Contact her at: mpblack96@gmail.com

22

July 2020

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July 2020

ANIS H S H A H www.RealtorAnish.com

Broker

Licensed in NC & SC

I AM IN NEED OF NEW LISTINGS! If you are thinking of selling, please contact me!

New Listing - The Chimneys of Marvin

Breathtaking home perfectly situated on a spacious CUL-DESAC lot with 3-car garage and welcoming rocking chair front porch. Stunning interior with open floorplan filled with light and beautiful design touches. Gleaming hardwood floors throughout the main level. Amazing 2-story Great Room filled with large windows, beautiful built-ins, gas fireplace and heavy moulding.

Overlooking the Great Room is a dream Kitchen featuring granite countertops, large island, tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, gas cooktop, pantry, and Breakfast area. Office/Study with french doors, formal Dining with Butler's pantry and main level Guest Bedroom with full Bath. Upstairs features the luxurious Master Suite with trey ceiling, his/her closets, and an inviting Bath with soaking tub, shower and dual vanities. Additional Bedrooms all enjoy Ensuite Baths. The private Backyard is perfect for entertaining. Enjoy all the wonderful amenities The Chimneys of Marvin has to offer!! $539,000

New Price! - Ladera

Better Than New! Exquisite custom home in Gated community on one of the best Flat Lots. This home offers quality living at its best!

Tons of upgrades and fine details throughout.

Open main level plan with hardwoods all the way through.

Amazing gourmet Kitchen and Breakfast area leads into a spacious 2 Story Great Room, which opens to a large Screened Porch. The main level features a well-appointed Master Suite and a Guest Bedroom with Ensuite Bath. It also offers a beautiful Study, convenient drop-zone cubby area, spacious Laundry, gorgeous moldings and accents. The second floor includes bedrooms 3, 4 and 5, with 2 baths and a huge open loft/bonus area. Simply beautiful! $799,900

SOLD

New Listing - Brandon Oaks

Perfect home in beautiful Brandon Oaks. Immaculately maintained. Open floorplan with tons of natural light and gleaming hardwood floors. New paint throughout. New Subway tile Backsplash. Newly finished Deck. Beautiful custom Kitchen with gas range/oven opens to Family Room. Sunroom with vaulted ceilings. Master Bedroom with inviting Ensuite Bath and walk-in closet. Spacious Bonus Room. Large backyard. Amazing neighborhood with playground, recreational areas and walking trails. This one is a must-see! $309,900

New Listing - Ballantyne Country Club

Beautiful Hard Coat Stucco and Stone Home with stunning Golf Course views of the 15th Fairway. Almost 7,200 sqft of luxury living. Completely updated!! Gourmet Kitchen with Viking and Bosch appliances including two Dishwashers and a Pot Filler, Large Island, Double Oven with Warming Drawer and Custom Cabinetry. Gleaming American Cherry 5’’ Hardwood and Travertine Flooring! Double Iron Front Door! Master Bedroom w Sitting Area and pristine Golf Course views. Luxuriate in Master Bath that features heated floors and Steamed Shower. 3 Fireplaces, Home Office, Gym, Home Theater, Desk Area off of the Kitchen, two Laundry Rooms, Play Room, Bonus Room, Pool Table Room, Cards/Game Room, Screened-In Porch. Amazing Walk-out Basement with High Ceilings just perfect for family gatherings and entertaining. Heated Salt Water Pool with the Beach Entry. 6-Person Hot Tub. Fenced Yard. Expansive Built-ins, Lots of Storage. Shows pride of ownership throughout! This home is truly a pleasure to see! $1,399,000

SOLDAY!

IN

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New Listing - Kimbrell Crossing

SOLD

Graceful 5 bedroom / 4 bath home with cascading double stairs to welcome you in.

Features a Library, Dining Room, gourmet Kitchen with Morning Room, Great Room and main level Bedroom and ensuite Bath. A luxurious Master Suite, Bonus Room and Secondary Bedrooms complete the 2nd level.

www.RealtorAnish.com I hope you are well and safe! I am here to help and navigate you through these difficult and challenging times with any of your real estate needs. Please call anytime to discuss your situation. We will get through this together! anks for 20 years of business.

Serving the Carolinas’ Real Estate needs since 2000

New Listing - BASEMENT HOME - Glen Laurel Amazing 4 Bedroom cul-de-sac home in Indian Land. Beautiful landscaping, spacious interior and well appointed. Gourmet kitchen, gorgeous new hardwood floors throughout main level and Lhuge PRICE L U F unfinished basement with tons of potential. Only five minutes from Ballantyne. Fantastic opportunity

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Upcoming Movie Releases Tenet (Director: Christopher Nolan) Cast: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Himesh Patel, and Dimple Kapadia

July 10 The Old Guard (Streaming) (Director: Gina PrinceBythewood) Cast: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, and Chiwetel Ejiofor

August 7

Unhinged (Director: Derrick Borte) Cast: Russell Crowe, Jimmi Simpson, and Gabriel Bateman

Greyhound (Streaming) (Director: Aaron Schneider) Cast: Tom Hanks, Stephen Graham, Rob Morgan, and Elisabeth Shue

July 24

The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run (Director: Tim Hill) Cast: Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, Snoop Dogg, and Keanu Reeves

August 14

Mulan (Director: Niki Caro) Cast: Liu Yifei, Donnie Yen, Jason Scott Lee, Rosalind Chao, Arka Das, and Jet Li

Bhuj: The Pride of India (Director: Abhishek Dudhaiya) Cast: Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Sharad Kelkar, Sonakshi Sinha, and Nora Fatehi

Radioactive (Streaming) (Director: Marjane Satrapi) Cast: Rosamund Pike, Sam Riley, and Simon Russell Beale

Bill & Ted Face The Music (Director: Dean Parisot) Cast: Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, and William Sadler

Attack (Director: Lakshya Raj Anand) Cast: John Abraham, Jacqueline Fernandez, and Rakul Preet Singh

July 31 Summerland (Director: Jessica Swale) Cast: Gemma Arterton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Tom Courtenay

Shakuntala Devi: Human Computer (Streaming) (Director: Anu Menon) Cast: Vidya Balan, Jisshu Sengupta, Sanya Malhotra, and Amit Sadh Saathee.com

The Personal History of David CopperďŹ eld (Director: Armando Iannucci) Cast: Dev Patel, Aneurin Barnard, Hugh Laurie, and Tilda Swinton

26

Sound of Metal (Director: Darius Marder) Cast: Riz Ahmed, olivia Cooke, and Mathieu Amalric

July 2020

Film Clips Abhishek Bachchan’s Breathe: Into the Shadows

Amazon original Series Breathe: Into the Shadows will begin streaming on July 10, 2020. The psychological crime thriller sees Bollywood superstar Abhishek Bachchan make his digital debut, alongside the return of acclaimed actor Amit Sadh in his award-winning role as senior inspector Kabir Sawant. This original Series also features one of South India’s leading actors, Nithya Menen, who makes her digital debut. Sayami Kher also joins the cast in a prominent role.

French Biryani

Director Pannaga Bharana’s French Biryani is an upcoming Kannada film that will premiere on streaming media beginning in July.

Starring Danish Sait as an auto driver from Shivajinagar and Sal Yusuf as a French expatriate, the director said on social media, “If only they knew, what life would add to their menu! French Biryani will be served hot on July 24.” The film also stars Pitobash and is produced by Puneeth Rajkumar.

Shamshera

Greyhound

Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2

Director Anees Bazmee brings the haunting comedy back as the sequel to the original movie Bhul Bhulaiyya to the theaters later this year. The film stars Tabu, Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani.

Bhuj: The Pride of India

Bhuj: The Pride of India is a story about 300 Guajarati women who helped the Indian Air Force during Bangladesh and Pakistan War. The patriotic adventure drama stars Ajay Devgn, Sanjay Dutt, Sharad Kelkar, Sonakshi Sinha, and Parineeti Chopra. The film, directed by Abhishek Dudhaiya, is slated to open on August 14, 2020 in conjunction with India’s Independence Day.

AR Rahman Will Be Co-Producer and Composer of Nawazuddin Siddiqui Film

Early in World War II, an inexperienced U.S. Navy captain must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by the deadly Nazi U-boat wolfpacks. Aaron Schneider directs the cast of Greyhound, including Tom Hanks (portraying Commander Ernest Krause), Elisabeth Shue, and Stephen Graham, of this historical drama that begins streaming on July 10, 2020 on Apple TV+.

Saathee.com

Set in the 1800s pre-Independence India, the film Shamshera is an Indian adaptation of Howard Pyle’s “Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.” The movie stars Ranbir Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Vaani Kapoor, Ronit Roy, Aahana Kumra, and Tridha Choudhury.

The adventure film is directed by Karan Malhotra and is slated for release later this year.

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Music maestro and Academy Award winner AR Rahman has turned co-producer and composer of Nawazuddin Siddiqui’s USIndia-Bangladesh film No Land’s Man. “Time always gives birth to new worlds, new ideals,” AR Rahman told Variety. “The newborn world has new challenges and new stories to tell. This is one such story.” No Land’s Man revolves around a tragic, strange, and at times humorous story of a South Asian man whose journey takes a complex turn when he meets an Australian girl in the States.

July 2020

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ramana.sunkam@ramrealtync.com July 2020

Spot the Differences See if you can spot the 15 dierences between the original photo on top and modiďŹ ed one on bottom.

Answers are on pg 88.

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July 2020

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Western Ghats The Western Ghats, also known as Sahyadri (Benevolent Mountains), cover an area of 54,000 sq. miles running parallel to India’s western coast.

The mountain range starts near the Songadh, Gujarat and runs about 990 miles through the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu ending at Marunthuvazh Malai, at Swamithope, near the southern tip of India.

A total of thirty-nine areas in the Western Ghats, including national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests, were designated as world heritage sites in 2012.

The hill station (resort) of Mahabaleshwar is one of the highest elevations in the northern half, rising to 4,700 feet. The chain attains greater heights in the south, including Nilgiri Hills, Anaimalai, Palni, and Cardamom hills.

The Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall, and several major rivers—most notably the Krishna (Kistna) and the two holy rivers, the Godavari and the Kaveri (Cauvery)— have their headwaters there.

According to UNESCo, the Western Ghats are older than the Himalayas. They influence Indian monsoon weather patterns by intercepting the rain-laden monsoon winds that sweep in from the south-west during late summer.

The area is one of the world’s ten “hottest biodiversity hotspots” and has over 7,402 species of flowering plants, 1,814 species of non-flowering plants, 139 mammal species, 508 bird species, 179 amphibian species, 6,000 insects species and 290 freshwater fish species; it is likely that many undiscovered species live in the Western Ghats. About 325 globally threatened species occur in the Western Ghats.

Herds of Asian elephants roam the thick forests of the range’s southern half. The lion-tailed macaque, one of the world’s rarest primates, lives in the treetops in Kerala.

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July 2020

Bharatha natyam A Comprehensive View

By Dr. Maha Gingrich

nine emotions and so on. I wrote dedicated articles on these subjects.

Bharatha Natyam, when presented in its purity, is one of the most subtle, sophisticated, and graceful dance forms in the world. This South Indian dance style is immensely popular in India and in many parts of the world including USA. I am so impressed with my students who have been attending all online classes and continuing their learning through online resources in spite of CoVID pandemic. Many parents want their children to learn this dance form either to fulfill their own childhood dreams or because they hope their children will learn about the epics and the rich Indian culture through dance. I thought if I write about this dance form, I can also share it with my students who can read this article and learn the history of this amazing dance form.

Temples: Great temple builders, the Cholas, who ruled India between the 9th and 13th centuries, left a wealth of material on dance carved as inscriptions and sculpture on temples. Dance poses abound in the grand temples like the Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjavur, the cluster of temples at Kanchipuram and Kumbhakonam, Meenakshi temple at Madurai are some of the examples. The grand master of all temple architectures for this dance style is my favorite Nataraja temple at Chidambaram, in Tamil Nadu. All 108 dance Karanas or poses are engraved in the temple’s grand entrance doors. These carvings have been preserving the history of dances for ages.

Source: Let us start with the source of this name. The word “Bharatha” is believed to be composed of the first syllable of its three main elements: BHA for Bhava - meaning mood/expressions RA for Raga - meaning melody/tune/song THA for Thala - meaning rhythmic timing/beat NATYAM - meaning the combination of both dancing and acting.

Guru Shishya Parampara: Even in the age of technology, a complicated dance form like this cannot be learned without the careful guidance of a guru. In spite of challenges facing all gurus during the pandemic, the interaction between guru and student is essential. All established dancers themselves will say continued on page 94

Dances of India

It is also known that Sage Bharatha has written the great book Natya Sastra, describing all aspects of dance. This book includes the basic techniques called Adavus; position of the feet and body; single and double hand gestures called Asamyuktha and Samyuktha hasthas; Shiro Bhedas-or head movements; Drishti Bhedas or eye movements; Bhru Bhedas or eyebow movements; Griva Bhedas or neck movements; Nava rasaa or Saathee.com

Dr. Maha Gingrich for questions or comments contact via e-mail at: Gingrichmaha@gmail.com

38

July 2020

Food Systems and

the Pandemic

By Parul Kharod

Food Safety The safety of food has been at the forefront on people’s minds. Can coronavirus be spread by food? Can cooking kill coronavirus? Can I catch coronavirus from eating out? How risky is it to go to the grocery store? There are several You Tube videos and WhatsApp messages being shared on the right way to wash produce.

According to the Center for Disease Control, currently there is no evidence to support transmission of CoVID-19 associated with food. In general, because of poor survivability of these coronaviruses on surfaces, there is likely very low risk of spread from food products or packaging. Always wash all produce in running water. Before preparing or eating food, it is important to always wash your hands with soap and water

The pandemic has affected each and every aspect of our lives. Each person has been impacted in their work and home life. What is common for us all is how the pandemic has universally affected what, where, and how we eat.

Food Supply As soon as the pandemic hit, the first noticeable change was empty grocery shelves. It felt like we were getting ready for a hurricane. This global crisis has been a revelation in how we function as a society. From the manufacturers to the retailers, from truck drivers to grocery store workers, the impact of the virus has affected various segments of the food supply chain and changed our daily grocery shopping routines. With social distancing and stay at home orders, people have shifted to online shopping and delivery, placing unprecedented demands on grocery stores.

Food Service CoVID-19 has had a major impact on the food service industry. Food markets and restaurants across the world have closed and millions of workers are out of a job. The restaurant industry, similar to the grocery chains, has had to adapt to the new normal by offering safe no-contact takeout and curb side pick-up services.

Saathee.com

continued on page 82

Nutrition for Life Parul Kharod, MS, RD, LDN is a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist and works as a Clinical Dietitian with outpatient Nutrition Services at WakeMed Hospital in Cary and raleigh.

She can be reached at parulkharod@gmail.com.

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July 2020

Luxuriously Frugal

My uncle is a model of frugality. For Halloween he just gives out sugar packets

By Raajeev Aggerwhil

I had written before about instilling the Bania community values of frugality into my children. When I was living in Boston a few years ago, my oldest son, a teenager at the time refused to use a coupon for a bus that would have allowed him to get a one-way ticket from Boston to New York for $1. He said he didn’t want to feel so cheap! That incident got me worried and I realized that I had to do something about it.

I grew up in a frugal environment because of necessity. I remember when I would ask my mom for money because I needed to get a suit to attend a wedding, she would say, “it will shrink.” It took me a while to realize that she meant I would outgrow them. As a younger son, I was destined to wear the hand-me-downs of my older brother. The alternative was to get clothes from the flea market which was basically someone else’s hand-me-downs. It wasn’t that bad because generally we only had to attend one wedding every two years. In retrospect, if I had newer, fancier suits, I may have been tempted to join my friends on their wedding crashing expeditions. That would have brought a great deal of embarrassment to my parents within the community. Far worse than showing up in a second hand suit!

I have tried to inculcate some values of frugality in my life with some modifications. I feel that even the Almighty supported me in many ways. After my first son was born, He made sure I got two more of the same sex. With His plan the younger two children were destined to wear hand-me-downs saving our family a lot of money in the long run!

I consider myself luxuriously frugal. When I travel, I like to stay at fancy hotels such as a Hilton or Sheraton but I like to pay Motel 6 prices. However, even if am not able to get an amazing deal in a busy season, I do not get disappointed. I examine my room with a child-like curiosity and fascination. I examine my bed, look under the clean white sheets and bring in a feeling of gratitude that there are no bed bugs. I examine the thermostat to make sure it works and feel grateful that I Saathee.com

don’t have to sleep in my ski jacket underneath a pile of blankets. In the bathroom, when the shower works with hot water, I am grateful again that I don’t have to rely on buckets the way we did back home in India. My motto is that if you expect and are prepared for the worst and you get something mediocre it is like getting the best. You save so much energy from not complaining and are always in a good mood.

My uncle is a model of frugality for me. For Halloween he doesn’t give out candies. He just gives out sugar packets.

Inspired by him, I don’t buy Halloween costumes. I just put on a name tag that reads: Appu from Quick-E-Mart. For my kids, I buy matching red T-shirts on sale and they are Target employees. The following year I switch them to blue – now they are Best Buy employees. Sometimes when one of the kids would complain that they wanted a real fancy costume, I would wrap my wife’s sari around them, color their hair with red curry powder, put a dot on their forehead and they would be Elton John. For the other two, I would just give them white sheets and ask them to wrap it around themselves to be Mother Teresa, Casper or Gandhi.

I have encouraged my children to compare their lives in the West with that in India, even in seemingly innocuous things.

When we visited London, we saw so much graffiti while traveling on the train to suburbs. When we traveled through continued on page 80

Raajeev’s Corner Equally offensive to all

Raajeev Aggerwhil lA-based comedian raajeev Aggerwhil has starred in Nickelodeon’s Tv show 100 Things to Do Before High School and also acted in the film based on the television series. follow him on Instagram and Twitter @raajeevcomedy 42

July 2020

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Saathee

Pav Bhaji

Ingredients Vegetables: 1 ½ cup potatoes (peeled and cubed) ½ cup cauliflower (florets) ½ cup carrots (chopped) ½ cup peas (can be frozen) ¾ cup water 2 ½ cups tomato (diced) 1 cup red onion (finely chopped, reserve ¼ cup for garnish) ½ cup green bell pepper (finely chopped) 1 cup water 2 tbs cilantro (finely chopped) Spices / Other: 1 ½ tbsp pav bhaji masala 1 tbsp garlic (minced) ½ tsp cumin seeds Chili Powder (to taste) Salt (to taste) lemon Juice (to taste) 8 pieces pav (slider or burger buns)

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RECIPES

Summer is in full swing and I know several of us are already enjoying backyard cookouts and picnics, while remaining socially distant of course. So, for those of us who do not like to show up empty handed, this month’s recipe is the perfect comfort food to bring to any gathering. Pav Bhaji (“pav” meaning bread and “bhaji” being the vegetable curry) is a fast food dish that originated in Maharashtra, India and is now a popular street food found in many parts of the country. Although pav bhaji is typically considered a snack, it can also be enjoyed as a full meal, so don’t hesitate to make it as an entrée. Not only is the dish fairly simple to make, it’s also enjoyed by the pickiest of eaters. My favorite part about the dish is how easy the recipe is to adjust based on your guests’ preferences; you can add, subtract, or even swap out veggies (just be sure to modify the measurements) and you can control the level of spice.

This recipe was actually inspired by a picnic my family had just a few weeks ago. So thank you Kaki for making some delicious pav bhaji and thank you Amma for providing the recipe! Let’s get started!

Directions 1

2

3 4

5

Serves 3-4 people Total Time: 50 mins

Start by adding the chopped potato, cauliflower florets, peas, and carrots to a pressure cooker with ¾ cup of water and a dash of salt. I used an Instant Pot and manually set the time to seven mins, this is about three whistles on a stove top pressure cooker. If you don’t own a pressure cooker, boil the veggies until softened and drain the water. once cooked, mash the veggies until smooth in consistency.

Set aside.

Now add 1 tbsp of butter and cumin seeds to a pan on medium-high heat. once sizzling, add in the garlic and after 1-2 mins mix in ¾ cup onions and salt. When onions begin to brown, add in the bell peppers, and cook until softened. Finally, stir in the tomatoes, while sautéing I began to lightly mash the mixture to create a paste-like consistency. once the water has evaporated, stir in the pav bhaji masala and red chili powder (adjust to desired spice level). Add in the mashed veggies from earlier and about one cup of water and stir until combined.

For this next step feel free to adjust the amount of butter used. Start with 1 tbsp of butter in the bhaji (veggie curry), cover pan until butter is melted, and then stir until combined. I repeated this step two more times (three tbsp butter total), adjust according to how buttery you would like the gravy. Turn off heat and add in cilantro. Set aside.

Finally, prepare the pav (bread) by spreading butter on both sides of each bun and toasting on a pan until golden brown. Garnish the bhaji with cilantro and the remaining ¼ of finely chopped red onions. Now you are ready to serve!

Side note: You can find pre-made pav bhaji masala at your local Indian grocer. or if you have the following ingredients you can dry roast them and blend them into a powder; 4 tbsp coriander seeds, 2 tbsp cumin seeds, 1 tbsp fennel seeds, 1 black cardamom, 1 cinnamon stick, 8 cloves, 2 bay leaves, 2 tsp peppercorn, 2 tbsp red chili powder (adjust to desired spice), and 2 tsp dry mango powder.

46

July 2020

Race Relations: It is Time to

Shed Apathy

By Shyama Parui

We grieve, we hurt, and then we forget. Mistakes are repeated and the cycle continues. How is that acceptable? Why is complacence or indifference even an option?

When I first moved to the United States, I was pleasantly surprised by many things and one of them was the politeness of police officers. Last year, officer Sheldon was shot in Mooresville during a routine license check and the outpouring of respect shown by the entire town was touching and exemplifies the extent to which the police are held in high esteem. And rightly so. Just as most individuals are peaceful, law abiding citizens, most police officers are kind and sincere followers of their duty. In the two instances when my home’s security alarm went off accidentally, police cars arrived promptly even before I could cancel the alert. Watching me gulp in embarrassment, they spoke to me respectfully and their demeanor was professional. My interactions with them have been nothing but positive.

Yet, at times I worry that my absent mindedness might land me in trouble. What if I forget to carry my driver’s license or I am overdue for my car registration? Will that mistake cost me my life? I beg my husband to avoid running in the dark - not only because of reckless drivers but also because he may be misconstrued as someone “running away” or as “suspicious”.

Cases like the elderly Indian man who was injured due to the excessive use of force by police are rare and yet, it brought a wave of fear along with sadness in the Indian community.

If someone like me can be afraid, the trepidation faced by the African-American community must be far greater than I can fathom. The tainted history of the United States bears witness Saathee.com

to racial injustices for centuries. With every step forward in the right direction, incidents like the tragic killing of George Floyd take us ten steps backward. Perhaps, we were not progressing at all; we simply lacked the prudence to admit failure. News of rising turmoil since May has eroded my optimism and positivity has abandoned us all. With emotions simmering inside, I longed scream out an expletive in anger, eloquence be damned!

Grappling with my own reactions as a human, parent, member of a minority group, and as a responsible citizen, I slowly shifted my attention to actions that were within my control. Just because our present is a disappointment, our future should not be in peril.

A turning point in the life of a young lad named Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, occurred in 1893, when he was thrown out of the first- class compartment of a train in South Africa even though he had a valid ticket. His only fault was his skin color. That moment sowed the seeds of activism in the mind of the person who would eventually be known as Mahatma continued on page 74

Namaskar, Y’all Reflections and a few confessions as an Indian American in the Carolinas

Shyama Parui Shyama is a long time North Carolina resident and an ardent writer. You can reach her at: shyamashree_parui@hotmail.com

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July 2020

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July 2020

How to Live with

“Experts”

We free-float through the dark matter of constant misinformation and blundering

By Ahsen Jillani

one of the consequences of the lockdown was that my brain imploded. I sought out people I hadn’t thought about in two decades just to argue. Ultimately, the family, the friends, the grocer, the butcher, and the candlestick maker all wanted to kill me. only, they couldn’t get to me because we are all wearing masks even in the shower now, in case this devil of a germ flies out of the showerhead and grabs us by the throat. offering my amateur opinion is not new to me. I have been known to show expertise in everything from construction of suspension bridges to bread baking. Where I got frustrated and ultimately lost in this jumbled jungle of flip-flops is due to a complete lack of science and organization in a world where we all want answers and comfort. Neither came; or are forthcoming, it seems. The NY Times recently reported that one of the casualties of the virus was the peer reviewed medical journal. There are so many retractions flying around in the rush for a cure, that you pretty much start a countdown in your head on when the newest “cure” touted in a study is going to be discredited.

Everyone from journalists to doctors to pig farmers let loose on me with sarcastic barbs about my “expertise.” As days passed, my hair fell off, and my beard grew, and I was getting increasingly hostile about the so-called experts. Starting with the daily comedy briefing encouraging bleach cocktails and malaria drugs, to the top experts in world, who seem to have Saathee.com

50

no clue if this was a virus or a hippopotamus, we are a long ways now from “this is a hoax” to “wash hands, don’t touch your face.” As I write this, the “experts” have the usual conflicting opinions: WHo—no mask needed unless you are nursing a patient. CDC: Wear masks, but okay to have giant rallies, and go to the mall—and forget the hand washing; we did.

Meanwhile, we are walking around with bandanas and old cut-up t-shirts around our faces, not remembering the newest oldest medical opinions: none of this will help because the virus will pass right through the recycled underwear duct-taped to your face. These things, while we free-float through the dark matter of constant misinformation and blundering, is now simply a sign of our compliance level with our community continued on page 74

Subcontinental Divide Ahsen Jillani a former editor and publisher, is originally from Islamabad, Pakistan, and now lives in Mint Hill.

He owns Must Media, a Pr company focusing on both political and corporate clients.

July 2020

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53

July 2020

The Dawn of a

“Memeocracy”

By Balaji Prasad

“The true identity theft is not financial.

It’s not in cyberspace. It’s spiritual. It’s been taken.” ~Stephen Covey

A thing is the thing it seems to be, right? Not quite, if we dive a bit deeper into the matter.

When we zoom in, we see many things that couldn’t be seen when we were looking at the thing in a broader manner. “oh!

That changes things,” we say to ourselves, as we change our verdict from “guilty” to “innocent”. This is all well and good if we’re operating just from the safety of our armchairs in our gated ivory towers. “It’s not as if I’m a juror,” we rationalize, quite glibly, as we begin a shift in our position. Yes, “begin”, because a shift in stance is never easy. This is because during the process of taking a certain position, we may have begun to think along certain lines that have crystallized – perhaps even set in concrete. These “residual ideas” will likely continue to exist even as our position begins its reluctant move from point A, where we were anchored passionately, toward point B. Such residual ideas can act as a severe drag on the forward thrust exerted by the new information that came to light.

Things can be much more troublesome, though. Maybe we didn’t keep our position private. Maybe we shared it with a few people. or even shared it with a large number of people, or in a very strong, emotionally charged way. The loss of face involved now becomes an additional issue. We cannot back out of this thing we have gotten ourselves into, in a dignified manner. So we may look for ways to back out without appearing to be backing out.

The point is that not only is a thing not just the thing it appears to be, but it may be difficult to go toward what the thing might actually be, even when reality pushes back hard against how we happened to see the thing at first.

It gets even worse …

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The birth of a new “thing” Richard Dawkins coined the word “meme” in 1976, fashioned after “gene”, with the intention to characterize how ideas mutate and evolve. As with many other things, a thing stops being just the thing that it was, and becomes something quite different from what a creator may have intended; and so it has been with “meme”, which Dawkins considered as having been “hijacked” by the Internet culture.

Regardless of the roots of the word, it is now firmly entrenched in our social media lexicon. It sits side by side as an equal citizen with real things like apples and cars and factories.

Is a meme a “thing”? If it has impact on the way we speak, behave and do things, then we would have to grudgingly acknowledge its status as a first-class “thing”.

It is difficult to understate the impact of so many memes that have permeated the Internet over the last decade or so. A meme comes from outside me, as does a storm. And, just as with a storm, as merely a little dot on a “pale blue dot”, I have no control over its trajectory and impact. Sometimes it comes and razes what used to exist to the ground, and sometimes, it slithers in and out, as a fad does. If you’re not just a little dot in the landscape, you may have more impact on a meme. If you’re a Hollywood celebrity or an NFL player, for example, you have a better shot at originating or accelerating a meme. And the continued on page 94

Thinking About Thinking Balaji Prasad is an IIT/IIM graduate, a published author, SAT/ACT online and in-person Coach, and K-12 Math Tutor at NewCranium. balaji.prasad@newcranium.com

54

July 2020

Recycling

continued from page 22

remains that recycling is expensive. Recycled plastics cost three times that of virgin or brand-new plastics. This is one of the greatest barriers to creating an effective recycling industry in the United States. Without the incentive of profit and recycling left to individual states and municipalities there just aren’t enough resources to handle the tsunami of new plastics being produced and consumed in the U.S. every year.

What can you do?

With the state of recycling throughout the United States in shambles it can feel overwhelming to know how to help, leaving many consumers wondering if it is even worth the effort if the majority of recyclables end up in landfills. The short answer is yes! There is much consumers can do to increase recycled materials and improve the recycling industry as a whole. one of the greatest barriers to recycling is a lack of consumer understanding of proper practices. Wherever you may live within the U.S. the following tips could help get more items recycled properly.

1. Wash out your recyclables Recycling contamination is one of the most prevalent issues in recycling. Nearly 60 percent of recyclables being sent to the landfills are due to consumers not properly rinsing and cleaning out products. If there is food residue remaining on recyclable products, they will be thrown out, so remember to wash out your containers thoroughly before putting them in the bin.

to follow, it can also be misleading, such as with plastic containers which often hold fruit and berries. This is a type 1 plastic but due to the nature of the product they are susceptible to high levels of food contamination and hold a different melting point to other type 1 plastics. These are not recyclable.

It is important to remember that not every plastic product is recyclable so checking local guidance on recycling is essential.

Website links are provided at the end of this article for more detailed information on recycling in the Carolinas.

4. Buy recycled products In order to drive the recycling industry, we as consumers must actively seek out items made out of recycled materials.

Buying recycled products really matters, creating demand and revenue for the recycling industry will only lead to more items getting recycled. Being a conscious consumer and buying recycled materials will bring us closer to the goal of a circular economy.

The Carolinas Here in the Carolinas the problems within the recycling industry are just as prevalent. With the shift to domestic handling of recycling many major companies had to change their recycling models. Customers across the Carolinas would have seen the price for recycling services rise over the 2019-2020 year and the frequency of curbside pickup drop off.

In both North Carolina and South Carolina most waste and recycling programs are run by local governments such as towns, cities, counties, and authorities. In order to learn about recycling programs and guidance in your area you will need to find local government resources. If you are looking to learn more about recycling best practice, please visit the links provided below.

2. Don’t use plastic bags North Carolina: When collecting recyclable at home do not put them into a kitchen trash bag or the bags you get from the grocery store. P2pays.org/localgov/ncwaste.html These items are not recyclable and will most likely result in Charlotte-Mecklenburg: your recycling automatically being sent to the landfill. Consider • Mecknc.gov/LUESA/SolidWaste/Disposalasking for paper bags when grocery shopping, these can be Recycling/Pages/what-can-and-cannot-be-recycled.aspx used to collect recyclables and be recycled themselves.

Raleigh-Durham: • Wakegov.com/recycling/Pages/default.aspx 3. Know what you can and cannot recycle • Durhamnc.gov/866/Recycling-Guidelines Knowing what can and cannot be recycled is one of the most Greensboro: complicated aspects of recycling. This differs per city and • Guilfordcountync.gov/our-county/planningregion depending on what local body manages recycling waste development/environmental-services/householdin your area. While this is true there is a general rule of thumb recycling to follow.

South Carolina: Beware of pizza boxes, while these are made of cardboard they are often rejected due to having residual food that remains Scdhec.gov/environment/recycling-waste-reduction/wherein the box. Including these in your recycling could result in an recycle-locally entire load of recycling being rejected due to contamination.

Greenville: other products to consider are ones with multiple recyclable • Scdhec.gov/environment/recycling-wastematerials such as a peanut container. These have a cardboard reduction/where-recycle-locally/greenville-countyside, steel bottom, and plastic top. Machines at recycling plants recycling-locations are not able to process these, so consumers must separate each Spartanburg: part of the container in order for the item to be recycled.

• Scdhec.gov/environment/recycling-wasteImportant to understanding what is recyclable is to read the reduction/where-recycle-locally/spartanburg-countylabels on your household items. Items marked with the triangle recycling-locations arrow recycling label are technically recyclable items. The Columbia: numbers on the container represent the type of plastic the item • Scdhec.gov/environment/recycling-wasteis made out of. The most common plastics accepted by nearly reduction/where-recycle-locally/richland-countyall recycling plants are types 1, 2, and 3. While this is a guideline recycling-locations Saathee.com

56

July 2020

Why

GEORGE FLOYD Matters

By Rishi P. Oza

community in just a few decades of migration has been truly extraordinary. However, the death of George Floyd requires us all to recognize that the time has come to foster larger scale change across all of America and not only within our own communities.

Immigration has always held the promise and aspirations of those coming to our shores and that they may help to soften some of the pain that has been of America’s historical making.

Unfortunately, the legacy of slavery continues to be a reckoning with which America has struggled to move past and the South Asian community has too often failed to acknowledge that the struggles of Black America were sometimes reflected, to a lesser degree, to India’s colonial past.

The Indian struggle to expel the British resulted in the untold deaths of millions over decades, simply for the fundamental right to be human. This historical back story provides the South Asian community with a basis for

The South Asian community has had its share of challenges integrating into the fabric of America. Waves of Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Nepalese and others have come to the United States seeking a better education for their children, religious freedom, greater employment possibilities and the other advantages the United States has to offer. The country’s immigration system, which is often discussed in this column, has helped to bring millions of individuals to America’s shores, including my own family – my parents immigrated in the late 1960s/early 1970s and as a result, my family’s second generation includes seven children and the third generation includes eleven more. In short, immigration matters and at a very personal level, has been the basis of both my personal life and professional career.

The needless death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers set off nationwide protests decrying the ongoing scourge of racism, particularly against the African American community in the United States. This tragedy and the full-throated repudiation of brutal policing beg the question – what does this have to do with immigration? By and large, the South Asian community has been a powerhouse of economic prosperity but has languished on the sidelines as a political force.

Pockets of activism have been largely diluted by an all-tooften laissez faire mentality that tends to avoid forcefully advocating for larger change. By no means is this a criticism – quite the contrary, the leaps in success by the South Asian Saathee.com

continued on page 94

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

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July 2020

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July 2020

the child’s parents’ marginal income tax rate. The 2017 (TCJA) law changed that to tax Kiddie income at the Trust income tax rates. This had resulted in higher taxes for children with higher income. Now it is reverted back to what it was and the children are given the option of using either of the laws for the years 2018/2019.

Understanding the new SECURE Law

By Mo Vidwans

We can always leave it to Congress to come up with innovative (or should I say strange) names for the new laws that it passes. The SECURE law was passed in December 2019 and we are using it already to pay taxes and other things. SECURE stands for Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement. This is part of the 2019 omnibus Spending Bill.

Name is not as important as the content in the law and there is plenty in the new law that we all should be aware of primarily because it is already affecting us now and will do so even more later on. So let’s get into it. The SECURE act makes the most dramatic changes to the retirement account laws, such as IRAs or 401Ks, and became effective the first of this year.

There are two distinct parts to this law: Part I is during the account owner’s life time and Part II is after account owner’s death

Part II The SECURE act makes drastic changes to the rules for the beneficiaries of the retirement plans. The rules before and after are quite technical and some understanding is necessary.

The most affected area has been the “designated beneficiaries” rule when children or grandchildren are the designated beneficiaries. Before, the beneficiary had the choice of taking the distribution as inherited IRA with required minimum distribution based on his or her age - known as stretched IRA because the benefit of that IRA can be stretched over the estimated life span of the beneficiary. However this is no longer the case.

The SECURE act totally overhauls the rules for the new owners of such inherited IRAs. Effective January 1, 2020, there are no RMDs allowed for inherited IRAs and inherited qualified plans. Instead such inherited plans must be 100 percent distributed within 10 years of the new owner taking charge of the inherited account (there are exceptions if the owner is a minor, disabled or chronically ill). It is critical to understand this change because it will affect our strategy as to how we wish to pass on our unexhausted retirement accounts and how the recipients plan to use the money. No RMDs allowed, as mentioned above, means that the inheritor of the account cannot stretch the account over his/her lifetime but must exhaust the account in 10 years or less. If the account is sizeable then it is a tall order and they could be paying much extra taxes. So are there any immediate solutions?

Converting to RoTH is always a good consideration.

Granted the owner has to pay all the taxes now but it certainly takes away the burden from the inheritor’s shoulders of cashing every thing within 10 years. Well, they still have to cash out but there are no tax implications for them.

Blending spousal and children’s inheritance which would allow the IRA to be split between the spouse and the children first and then children will inherit the spousal IRA later thus stretching out the 10 year limit.

We have mentioned and discussed the charitable contributions via the QCD route where the end result is that the funds go to charity rather than to the family. Thus this approach may be beneficial to just some owners but not all.

Part I Implications of the act during the account owner’s lifetime: RMDs now begin at age 72 and not at 70.5 but the owners may still make Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) as they can now at age 70.5. There used to be penalty if the money is withdrawn from the IRA for childbirth and adoption purposes but no more; you can withdraw up to $5,000 penalty-free but still have to pay taxes. This seems to be available per child basis and not only for one-time use.

The age limit to contribute to a Traditional IRA is removed now. In the past those who keep working past their age of 70.5 could not contribute to their own IRA; now they can. Employer retirement plans have more flexible annuity rules which will allow greater flexibility for ownership of annuities in such plans. These new waters need to be treaded carefully; as having annuity in a 401K must be considered with some caution and much planning.

Small businesses are given tax credits to incentivize employer retirement plans; this is a good move. Small businesses have difficulty creating such plans to be competitive and to attract talent. Long-term part-time employees now get greater access to 401K like plans.

There are some good changes to 529 plans. Apprenticeship is added as qualified expense in the list of qualified education and that includes fees, books, supplies, required equipment so long as the program is registered with and certified by the Dept. of labor. This change is retroactive to 2019. Even more, student loans are also added as qualified education expenses for 529 plans so monies from 529 plans can be used to pay the principal and/or interest of a qualified education loan to a maximum lifetime limit of $10,000. If interest of a student loan is paid this way then that interest cannot be claimed as deduction in your taxes (above the line deduction on 1040).

Kiddie-tax rules are reverted back to what it was prior to December 2017 changes in the tax laws (TCJA). Prior to 2017 changes, any income subject to the Kiddie-tax was taxable at Saathee.com

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Is Gold a Better Investment Than Equities?

By Amit Rupani

moves changed drastically as time progressed.

During the last 90 year period, S&P500 provided return of about 8.5 percent (~6% capital gain and ~2.5% dividend yield), whereas, gold provided return of about 4.93 percent during the same time. It may seem like a small difference of just 3.6 percent, but the power of compounding can do wonders with just few percentage point difference over a very long period of time. An initial investment of $10,000 in both S&P500 and Gold on January 1, 1930 would have generated today a final value of about $15,441,036 and $760,275 respectively. Now that’s a big difference of little less than $15 million dollars!

Equity markets are nothing but a function of country’s nominal GDP. Equities more or less align themselves with GDP growth rate over a long period of time. As the nation prospers by producing more goods and generating more and better services than last year, so does the equities market by generating huge wealth for its investors by moving in line with the GDP. US’s nominal GDP was about $105 billion in early 1930 which has grown to $21.43 trillion in 2019. This gives us a growth rate of about 6.09 percent. This growth rate in nominal GDP matches with capital return generated by S&P500 per above table, which is close to 6 percent. Just goes on to show how efficient the markets are over a long period of time. But markets can be as much inefficient in short-term.

Indians love their golden jewelry. According to a study conducted by World Gold Council, it was found that Indian households have accumulated up to 25,000 tons of gold, thereby retaining the tag of the world’s largest holders of the metal.

Estimates of gold with temples in the country could be 3,0004000 tonnes. For centuries, gold has been regarded as having a negative correlation with equities and a positive correlation with inflation. In other words, gold is a safe-haven investment during times of economic recession and a worthwhile store of value during expansionary periods.

Given the run-up in Gold prices that we have seen since 2000, it has been assumed by many small retail investors that gold prices can only go higher with time. That may not be a rational assumption. We can look back in history and compare how Gold has done compared to equities as an asset class.

continued on page 80

Buy Right, Sit Tight Rational side of the investing pendulum

Amit Rupani, CFA I was able to pull-up historical prices of both S&P500 and Gold for last 90 years. Inadvertently, both were trading around same price range of around $20 in beginning of 1930 when the global great depression was picking up momentum. But their Saathee.com

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News Notes Gujarat’s Gir Lion Population Grows

The program is a part of the City’s open for Business Initiative and will distribute grants of either $10,000 or $25,000, depending on number of employees.

For full details and application, visit Fftc.org/CLTcitygrant.

AAHOA Convention & Trade Show to take Place Virtually

AAHoA, the nation’s largest hotel owners association, announced that its 2020 Convention & Trade Show will not proceed in person due to new health and safety guidelines for combatting CoVID-19 issued by the Florida Department of Health (DoH). The state DoH now recommends limiting recreational gatherings to fewer than fifty people.

The AAHoA Convention & Trade Show is one of the largest gatherings of hotel owners, The number of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region in hospitality industry leaders, and vendors in the country. Parts Gujarat, India has increased by 29 percent to 674, the Gujarat of the convention will move to a virtual space as the association Forest Department reports. will present keynotes and panels. Details at AAHoA.com.

The Gujarat Forest Department conducts lion counts every five years and carried out a “population estimation exercise” on the nights of June 5 and 6, 2020 during a full moon.

During the May 2015 lion census, there were 523 Asiatic Tasveer Grant for South Asian Filmmakers in the U.S. lions in Gir, an increase of 27 percent from 2010.

Tasveer, which organizes the Tasveer South Asian Film The “Poonam Avlokan (full-moon night estimation Festival (TSAFF), is currently accepting submissions from South exercise)” showed that the lions’ population had reached 674, Asian filmmakers in the US to make their scripts come to life. a 28.87 per cent increase, the official release said. It was the Submissions are accepted now through July 31, 2020 and the highest growth rate recorded so far, it added. grantee will be announced at the Tasveer Arts Festival in The population of 674 comprised 161 males, 260 females, october 2020, which is the new iteration of the festival this year.

116 sub-adult lions and 137 cubs, it said.

“Tasveer was founded to combine a passion for social justice The exercise also revealed that the area inhabited by lions and awareness, with powerful, inclusive has increased by 36 percent from 22,000 sq km in 2015 to 30,000 storytelling by and about South sq km in 2020.

Asians,” said Rita Meher, The exercise was carried out using “Direct Beat Executive Director of Tasveer.

Verification,” also known as the block count method, and “With this new fund, we can make involved 1,400 personnel, it further said. this possible all around.”

Gir National Park, located in southwest part of Gujarat, is In its inaugural year, the Tasveer the last abode of Asiatic lions surviving in the wild.

Film Fund (TFF) will award one grant of $5,000 to a South Asian filmmaker residing in the U.S. to Local Grants for Charlotte Businesses Announced make a short film. Filmmakers should Through the small business recovery program, the submit scripts between five to 20 pages in Foundation for the Carolinas will distribute $30 million in length and incorporate a social justice issue or theme.

Scripts can be submitted through FilmFreeway federal CARES Act funding to small businesses headquartered (filmfreeway.com/TasveerFilmFund) and the submission within the city limits of Charlotte via its grants program.

The grants program was created through federal funds and deadline is July 31, 2020. The final grantee will be announced provided to the City of Charlotte through the CARES Act, during Tasveer Arts Festival in october 2020, and must which Congress passed in March 2020. Grant awards will be complete their film in time for a premiere at the festival in made in the weeks of July 6, 2020 and August 3, 2020. fall 2021. For more details, visit Tasveer.org.

Applications are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, French, Nepali and Vietnamese. Awards will be grants, not loans. There Responding to the 2020 Census will be no repayment requirement. Businesses selected to receive a grant will be issued a Form 1099-MISC by the City and The 2020 Census is happening now. You can complete your should consult their accountant or other tax advisor to questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail. The Census Bureau began mailing paper questionnaires in mid-April to determine whether the grant is taxable.

With the goal to get money in the hands of struggling homes that had not yet responded. If you have not already businesses as quickly and equitably as possible, applications responded, complete and mail back your form. And if you will be randomly selected each day for review – rather than on prefer, you still have the option of responding online. Visit www.my2020census.gov to begin. a first-come, first-served basis.

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A Statement on Views of Racial Inequality and Privilege in the Indian American Community DISCLAIMER: These are observations about the Indian Asian community based my own personal experience. I have made some generalizations, and my intention is not to offend anyone with this post, but rather to encourage self-reflection.

institutionalized oppression and marginalization. Acts such as redlining, disenfranchisement, segregation, and discrimination in the housing and job market. I could go on and on.

It is not enough to just condemn police brutality. We must hold each other accountable when we say and do things that unknowingly (or god forbid knowingly) promote anti-Black ideologies. As much as we would like to believe otherwise, it’s all connected.

For example, the perception that Black males are more prone to commit violence is connected to the practice of racial profiling and the historical acceptance of police brutality against Black and brown bodies, as well as the negligent consequences that officers face as a result. What we’re seeing on the news is not new - it’s just being captured on video more often than before.

I have the privilege of not being afraid of the police when I get pulled over. My Black brothers and sisters do not have this privilege. Whether you realize it or not, we as a non-Black PoC (People of Color) community have a privilege that Black people in this country do not have. And that means that if we aren’t speaking out, then we are complicit in that privilege rather than

By Maegha Lanka

Dear Indian American Community,

I’m writing this message because I have been following along with the discourse that has occurred in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests, particularly the words of the Black community from friends, activists, and peers at my college. one of the most important things is for us to do in order to be an ally to the Black community is to have conversations among our own family and friends’ circles and challenge the problematic statements that we hear. I want to challenge you all to reflect upon the thoughts and sentiments that echo throughout our community about the Black community. As a whole, the Indian community often lets negative, harmful stereotypes of the Black community directly affect our perception of the very real human beings that belong to this community.

I will not go into detail, but I have heard such ignorant sentiments echoed throughout friends and family circles ever since grade school and all throughout college. And whenever a tragic racist incident happens such as the murder of George Floyd, our community is often not the first to come together and speak up.

It is time we put an end to this silence. To be silent is to be complicit in the systemic oppression of black people in America. It places the blame on the Black community for the disadvantages they face due to hundreds of years of Saathee.com

continued on page 82

My Voice Maegha Lanka Graduated from Duke University last year with a degree in Environmental Science; she is passionate about various social causes including the environment, animal rights, and helping to create a more inclusive society.

Contact: maegha.lanka29@gmail.com.

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Upcoming Hindu Center Events & Activities: Temple Open for Worship Daily Hindu Center’s 38th Anniversary: CANCELLED Rudra Homam: July 20, Monday Krishna Janmastami: August 12, Wednesday Independence Day: August 15, Saturday Balaji’s Brahmotatsava: August 14 - 16, Friday-Sunday Mahavir Das Lakshan Parv: August 23 - September 5, Sunday-Satuday Ganesh Chaturthi Celebrations: August 22 - August 27, Saturday-Thursday Ganesh Sthapna: Aug 22 (Saturday) and Ganesh Visarjan: August 27 (Thursday)

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OF CHARLOTTE Hindola Manorath Celebration begins 07/6/2020 to 08/5/2020

The festival finds its origin in the streets of vrindavan over 5000 years ago where the Gopis rocked Krishna on a decorated swing.

Ever since, to experience the divine joy of rocking Krishna in a small swing, the hindola festival became the focus of devotion.

Hindola originates from the Pushti Marg vaishnav sect.

In Pushtimarg, Hindola is made of wood, gold, silver.

They are decorated with flowers, fruits, dry fruits, vegetables, pavitra garlands, rakhis, glass, jari, pearls etc.

Hindola remains one of the most auspicious festivals for Pushti Marg vaishnavs and Swaminarayan Bhagwan and lord Krishna as well.

Each day of the month of Shraavan, the Hindola is decorated in different material (mirrors, flowers, colors, etc.)

Sponsors for Hindola Manorath please contact the office at 704-535-3440.

Independence Day Celebration!!

Saturday, August 15 Noon for 15 Minutes

Flag Hoisting & National Anthem limited in person, watch on Facebook Live

Krishna Janmashtami Mahotsav Aug 12th (Wed)

7 pm to Midnight at Temple Limited in person, watch on Facebook Live

Ganesh Festival: August 22 - August 27, 2020 at Temple and Vihar Hall

Sthapana: Satuday, Aug 22nd at 4 pm Aarti at 7 pm on Aug 22 to Aug 25 Visargan: Thurs, Aug 27 Puja starts at 5 pm

HINDU CENTER Rudra Homam @Hindu Center on Monday, July 20

Dear Devotees Om Namaha Shivay Corona virus Covid-19 is affecting lot of people in World and we have lost some too. In March, we started chanting the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra and Narashima Swamy and Dhanvantri Bhagavan (health of God) everyday 9:30am – 10:00am. We are going to complete Chanting mantra July 20th by Rudra Homam with blessing from All Hindu Center Priest. On Amavasya which falls on Monday July 20th (Somvathi Amavasya) is very auspicious for the whole community. You can watch this puja live on Hindu Center face book page.

If you would like to sponsor this event please contact our office 704-535-3440

Rudra Havan 3pm to 6pm Rudra Abishekam 6.30pm to 8pm followed by Aarthi.

For Sponsorship you can call a Priest: Lakshmikanth Bhattar 980-254-1022 • Ashokbhai Trivedi 980-263-8075 • Balaji Bhattar 704-906-2109 Nayneshbhai Pathak 980-729-1123 • VijayaRaghavan Ji 803-470-8377 • Badrinath Ji 704-998-1861 • Srinivas Koushik 704-572-0061

New Vedanta Bhavan

Donate generously and etch your name forever by opting with one of the options by sponsoring: Brick for $1001, Marble plaque 5x7" for $5001. or Marble plaque 8x10 " for $10001. (brick can have only two names and plaque can have multiple names and/or larger message) Contribution can be paid with check or credit card.

Login and donate today by going to

hcclt.org or

mail the check to Hindu Center 7400 City View Drive, Charlotte NC 28212

OF CHARLOTTE Hindu Center invites Sri Lakshmi Venkateswara Brahmotsavam: Aug 14-16, 2020 Streaming LIVE Online • For Details contact Temple Priests at 704-535-3440

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Namaskar

continued from page 48

Gandhi. our efforts may be miniscule compared to Gandhiji’s, but we can draw inspiration from his wise quote, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

I urge each and every person to examine their own actions and take steps to end racism. I am sharing goals that I have made a commitment to follow.

1. As a mother I plan to facilitate family discussions about racism and race relations. our goal is to talk openly, share views, model tolerance and invite different opinions. I have always encouraged my children to express their opinions and substantiate their statements. Similarly, we encourage a healthy amount of skepticism when needed. The National Museum of African American History and Culture has created a valuable portal called, “Talking About Race” (nmaahc.si.edu/) with numerous resources. one evening at the dinner table we discussed the concept of implicit bias after watching a video from the site on the same topic. These biases are the result of associations we make over time and unbeknownst to us, are buried in the subconscious. It is important to recognize is that we start our observations early in life and direct and indirect messages lay the foundation as we mold our own feelings and attitudes towards “other” groups.

2. Since a lot of indirect messages come from books and entertainment media, I am making a more concerted effort in selecting books and shows that cast people of color as protagonists rather than as goofy sidekicks. My aim is to avoid material that uses negative stereotypes and it is critical that we instill in our own children a sense of individuality that rejects being typecasts. I am Bengali, Indian, American, “brown” but I am so much more than these adjectives. An automatic assumption of my capabilities or preferences based on limited information is useless, not to mention unfair.

3. I also plan to use my friend’s advice and contact the Chief of Police of our town so that I can ask and understand what my community is doing to prevent racial bias in law enforcement. As residents we can all learn more about the local police department’s community programs and participate.

4. one of the easiest ways of preserving democracy is exercising our vote, expressing views and expectations with elected officials, even if they do not seem to be listening. If we have worked to obtain naturalized citizenship, we must shoulder our responsibilities too.

Skepticism is not a valid excuse.

5. And in a capitalistic economy, money talks. How about supporting organizations and businesses that fuel growth, education, equal opportunities and directly or indirectly allow low income groups to improve their socio- economic status.

When protesters in the US are finally heard and understood, streets and businesses return to their bustling life, and patients around the globe recover from CoVID-19, my sincere hope is that our hearts heal too. The malaise of inequality and injustice needs to be eradicated. Let us seize this opportunity to reconstruct a society that is capable of compassion, empathy, and reform our country so that atrocities of racial discrimination are a thing of the past.

Saathee.com

Subcontinental

continued from page 50

responsibilities. The opinions continue to be split pretty much along political party lines, with state after state feeling the pressure to go to the next phase so we can all experience the joy of shopping for junk at Wal-Mart and Target like a big happy hyper-consumer society again.

But let’s ignore the facts—because we don’t have any—and start with the red ribbon for expertise; our friends in the news media. While the planet is sitting in homes glued to their televisions, the ratings are high, but ad revenue is probably dismal, because how do you approach advertisers now? As I went through the 80s as an editor debating media ethics with colleagues and professors, I was already gun shy about how the media report the news. In the old days, there was also this thing, the paper newspaper, and there were limitations to what the editor could pick for publication. This issue of playing god, what news lives what news dies, was already disturbing. But then came the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who specialized in quantum physics, and by osmosis became an expert after reporting on the rogue elements in the quantum world.

Today, there are more fellow journalists opining about the virus, the economy, the government, then there are legitimate experts on a panel. In the end, you scratch your head and think, “Gee, I learned nothing from four fools who are being paid to be analysts.” Journalism today consists of heavy sensationalist agendas that have been fine tuned to push your psychological buttons to keep you from switching channels. The louder, the better. Several talk show hosts confessed during the recent riots that showing burning buildings were higher priorities for them then millions of Americans marching peacefully—peace is not news. That is “Truth” now; and it may never have been truth because of editorial bias, but it is definitely worse today.

But getting back to expertise in general, the 20th century was a great time for “expertise” as the licensed professions asserted themselves and, through lots of propaganda and political maneuvering, got to a point where they demanded and commanded a newly found respect. In 1850 or even 1900 for some professions, most lawyers, doctors, accountants, architects still operated on an apprenticeship principle. You were lucky to be selected by a working doctor to learn the ropes and gain from his experience. But as World Wars came, the scientific method got fine tuned, some miracle cures came on board, medicine gained the type of power to actually imprison people who dare encroach on their domain. other professions followed suit tightening regulations and ensuring their survival by making their expertise licensed and indisputable. But medicine remains crucial because it’s life and death. And for months, we have been looking to experts to provide us with evidence-based science that may save us— which is not coming. Last week, the pandemic was guaranteed to have a second wave. This week, maybe not. The pandemic may not even exist if testing stops and the media are distracted by the next shiny object. Many states are trying that approach by simply firing their data gathering people, and stopping testing and refusing to report on certain high risk areas like nursing homes. They can make the virus disappear by simply making the numbers disappear.

Me, I’m just online reading a variety of items, and trying to form an opinion. Seems my internet browser credentials are currently about as reliable as the top medical experts in the world. Just don’t arrest me for medical advice, by sending half the cops in masks and the other not—because they are listening to the “Experts.” Facts will be so refreshing just about now.

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July 2020

Community Organizations usefulness. He once stated about gold, “It doesn’t do anything but sit there and look at you.”

For centuries, gold has been regarded as having a negative correlation with equities and a positive correlation with inflation. In other words, gold is a safe-haven investment during times of economic recession and a worthwhile store of value during expansionary periods. But it is not an investment asset class that one can count on to generate a lot of wealth over a long period of time.

As a disclosure, I personally have zero investments in gold and will most likely never invest in gold as an asset class.

Happy Investing!

Hello Readers

our Community organizations section guides you through all the organizations in the Carolinas. Nonprofits, social organizations, religious organizations, meditation groups, cricket associations, and many others are listed here and updated regularly. This month, you can find our Community organizations section on line at Saathee.com/community.asp. The section will be back here on these pages in the next issue.

Raajeev Corner

continued from page 42

Contact: Saathee@saathee.com

Buy Right

continued from page 62

“In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.” – Benjamin Graham

Below table gives you a high level view of how U.S. has progressed and prospered over last 90 years:

If the current trend continues, the population of the United States will rise to about 438 million in 2050 from current levels of 328 million. As this happens, people will be consuming more and needing more services than today. This almost guarantees that the US GDP will be much higher (although growing at a slower pace) in 2050 from today’s level. And in turn it guarantees that S&P500 should also be at much higher level from current levels in 2050. Will it be a smooth ride? No, for sure. There will be lots of bumps on the way. There will be new winners and losers of the changing economy like new Apples and new Amazons of the world. But collectively S&P500 as a basket should match the growth of GDP in the long run.

If you have 10 ounces of gold in the locker today and open it in 2050, it would still be 10 ounces in weight. It would not have grown at all in size. But S&P500 would grow in line with the GDP and would have generated a lot of dividends on its way to 2050. Warren Buffett has been very vocal about his disdain for gold as an investment. He sees little to no value in it. What Buffett refers to as a lack of value results from a lack of Saathee.com

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India, we hardly saw any graffiti, even though our minds got saturated with the abundance of advertisements on walls, lamp posts and vehicles. I pointed out that those advertisements were like graffiti with a purpose– they were there to make money.

They argued that in the West, graffiti is a form of expression. I said, “yes, when it is done right.” The graffiti I saw seemed like cryptic messages of gang members which I could not even read and didn’t benefit its creator and served no value to the general public. I’m sure it didn’t make any money for anyone.

I give examples to my kids of my upbringing in India – being in a frugal environment and developing the instinct of survival in adverse conditions. My hope is that those stories will inspire them but it doesn’t always work. I told my kids that in India, some of the families even resorted to eating rotis, salt and water during the Covid-19 crisis. They asked if those families were doing intermittent fasting. I would tell them stories of my uncle who used to study under a lamp in old Delhi and later went on to get a Ph.D. from Stanford. They would ask, “Why he couldn’t study during the day?”

The biggest role model for me is Mahatma Gandhi. He is the most famous Bania that India has produced. once Gandhi received a letter from a critic that had several pages of criticism peppered with swear words in it. He smiled and threw the letter away. However, before throwing away the letter, he saved the metal paperclip. He knew the Bania principle: Take anything that comes to you for free, even if it’s a swear word.

Earlier this year my youngest son, Neil, wanted to visit a friend in the Bay Area. He grew up hearing stories about his eldest brother not following the Bania way. on his own he researched the best deals and was able to get a round trip ticket from Los Angeles to San Francisco for $10. That made me proud. It also gave me a sense of satisfaction that when he grows up, he will be able to enjoy the luxuries of life I have come to enjoy … frugally! Neil showed me that there was still a glimmer of hope and despite the constant uphill battle of raising children in a prosperous country, I could instill some basic tenets of frugality and other Bania traditions into their psyche. I just have to keep repeating my message a few hundred times like a mantra. It may be a tedious task but it is comforting to know that my legacy as a Bania will be upheld in the next generation and I won’t have to waste money on a special trip to India to take a bath in the Ganges to absolve my sins!

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July 2020

Nutrition

continued from page 40

for 20 seconds for general food safety. For more information about food safety, food storage guides, and other materials, go to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website: Eatright.org/coronavirus.

Food Security The World Economic Forum has been studying how CoVID-19 has impacted the world by worsening the global hunger crisis. With lockdowns and trade restrictions, there are food shortages. With the job losses, the poor and unemployed families are running out of money to buy food. Moreover with closing of schools, millions of children are being deprived of the meals they get through school lunch and mid-day meal programs.

The virus has also severely disrupted the global trade in food with restrictions on exports. Many borders have been closed, freight lines have been unable to move food, leaving stocks rotting in storage and pushing up prices of staple grains and worsening food waste.

My Voice

continued from page 66

using it for good. We must stand up for their rights and their humanity, but that only starts with each one of us acknowledging and challenging our own implicit racial biases first. other communities of color, including ours, would not have the opportunities that we do today in this country without reaping the benefits of the continuous struggles of the Black community throughout history, including the victories of the Civil Rights Movement.

We should view an assault on the Black community as an assault on all communities of color; their history directly affects ours.

I implore you to talk with friends and family at dinner parties. Talk with your kids. Talk with your cultural associations and charity organizations.

Don’t just watch the news and say “oh it’s so sad that this happened.” Have critical conversations about the systems in place that allow this type of violence and racial targeting to occur.

Ask yourself how many of your children have Black friends.

And how many of you would be comfortable if your son or daughter was in a relationship with a Black person as opposed to a White person? If the answer is not many, then ask yourself why that is. Ask yourself not if, but how and why the media disproportionately reports crime stories involving a Black suspect or perpetrator.

Ask yourself why Black people are given harsher sentences for the same crime that other races commit, particularly when compared to White people. Do not let our support for the Black Lives Matter movement be a one-time conversation and then fade out. Hold each other accountable. Seek out resources so that we can educate ourselves, learn, and grow together.

I hope you take the time to reflect on my words. I am not perfect, but I vow to do my best not to stay silent when I know of issues that demand our attention and of conversations that so clearly need to be engaged in among one another. Black lives do matter, and it’s time we start acting like it.

Food Sustainability It is important to remember that the spread of the coronavirus started with the live animal market. In Wuhan, China, the meat sold from a bat or a snake at a food market was the trigger for this global pandemic.

Live animal and bird markets are a breeding ground for organisms that may not cause disease in animal hosts but can be deadly to humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people can be spread from animals, and 3 out of every 4 new or emerging infectious diseases in people come from animals.” Meat processing workers around the world have been among the hardest hit by Covid-19. Multiple outbreaks among meat and poultry processing facility workers have occurred in the United States as well.

It is important to start thinking about what we eat and Views are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of Saathee where it comes from. All major world health organizations magazine. have called attention to the way animals are factory farmed and have urged to reduce consumption of meat.

People moving to a more plant-based diet with less meat and with more plants will reduce not only risks of lifethreatening diseases, but also the environmental impact of the food system.

Neeta’s Beauty Parlor

The CoVID-19 pandemic has shown us the weak points in our food systems but has also offered an opportunity for us to really think about our food practices and eating habits. We have to rethink our agricultural practices, including those that rely on raising tens of millions of animals in close quarters. We also need to take climate action to prevent the next pandemic.

Preventing deforestation, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing air pollution, and preventing loss of biodiversity are extremely crucial for environmental sustainability and the balance of ecosystems.

It behooves us to pay attention and make conscious decisions to ensure a safer and healthier future for us and the next generations.

To understand the importance of our choices, be sure to read this blog: Globalwildlife.org/blog/dear-humankind.

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July 2020

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July 2020

Who wants to be a Scholar?!

Answer the ones you know and research to answer the rest.

There is only one correct answer!

1. Arrange these lakes of South Carolina starting from East to West. (a) Wateree (b) Moultrie (c) Keowee (d) Greenwood

Word World

I

2. The music of 2008 Hindi movie 1920 was by (a) raju rao (b) Salim-Suleman (c) Adnan Sami (d) All of them

By Kirit Shukla

N

U

R

P

M

3. India’s Island Neighbor in the South (a) Nepal (b) Sri lanka (c) Bangladesh (d) Bhutan 4. This US president was born on July 4, (a) John Adams (b) George Walker Bush (c) Gerald ford (d) Calvin Coolidge

A

5. A region at the galaxy center producing an extremely large amount of radiation is called (a) Quasar (b) Black Hole (c) Quantum (d) Invisible Energy 6. 20 is 7 less in number. What is the number? (a) 13 (b) -13 (c) 27 (d) -27 7. The oldest religion in the world is. (a) Buddhism (b) Christianity (c) Islam (d) Hinduism

Make words using 4 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. letters cannot be used more than once per word.

Use all letters for the subject word (underlined in solutions below)

8. World Series 2018 champions? (a) red Sox (b) White Sox (c) Dodgers (d) Knights

9+ words = Excellent; 6 to 8 words = Good; 5 or less = keep looking.

Words we found are in solutions below.

9. The birthstone, if you are USA born in July is (a) Pearl (b) ruby (c) Peridot (d) Diamond

Brain-Train

10. Canada became a country on July 1, in the year (a) 1841 (b) 1864 (c) 1867 (d) 1885

Here is a simple quiz. See if you can solve it. No peeking!

Match the number in column 1 with letter in column 2 World’s Active Volcanoes

1. Galeras 2. Kelud 3. Cotopaxi 4. Ulawun 5. Kilauea 6. Mayon 7. Popocatepetl 8. Vesuvius 9. Fuji 10. Barron

Answers are below. No Peeking.

Scholar: All correct; 1st Class: 9 Correct; 2nd Class: 8 Correct; 3rd Class: 7 Correct; Need to improve: 6 or less

Name of Country

A. Mexico B. Philippines C. Japan D. Indonesia E. Columbia F. Ecuador G. Italy H. Papua New Guinea I. India J. Hawaii

Dadaji’s moral stories for kids THE WISE OLD GOOSE

A flock of geese had built their nest on a branch of a large tree. An old goose named Hans lived with them. over time, a creeping vine appeared from the ground and grew to entwine itself around the tree. Hans said to the young geese, “If you let it grow, it will harm us.” Young geese ignored Hans’ advice and allowed the vine to grow. one day, when all the geese were out, a hunter climbed up the tree with the help of the vine and laid snares for the birds.

The birds returned and were caught in the snares. The geese then cried for help. Hans said, “You did not heed my warnings.” The birds replied, “How do we save ourselves?”

Hans said, “There is only one way. Act dead. The hunter will throw you all onto the ground and then you can fly away.” Next morning the hunter came and saw the geese lying in snare as if they were dead. He tossed each onto the ground. The geese flew away.

Moral: Elders can offer sage advice. Don’t ignore them.

Scholar 1.b, a, d, c 2.d 3.b 4.d 5.a 6.c 7.d 8.a 9.b 10.c Brain Train: 1-E, 2-D, 3-F, 4-H, 5-J, 6-B, 7-A, 8-G, 9-C, 10-I Word World (Solution): AMIR, ARUM, INARM, MAIR, MINAR, MURA, NAIRA, PANIR, PRAM, PRAN, PRAU, PRIM, PRIN, PURI, PURIM, PURNIMA, RAMI, RAMP, RIMU, RUMINA, RUMP, UNARM, UNRIP

Saathee.com

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July 2020

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By Kirit Shukla

PUZZLES AND JOKES

Clues Down: 1. Hawaii. (*) 2. Fine volcanic dust.

3. The Indian recipe of yogurt having chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, bundi, spices etc. topped with cumin dressing.

4. Freedom.

5. In a short time.

6. A platform or dock.

7. Arkansas. (*) 8. Anything that surrounds or encircles.

9. A fermented drink made from malt, hops and yeast.

10. Please reply. (Used for a response of an invitation). (*) 13. Men’s or women’s trousers for informal wear.

15. A bird’s home.

17. City in India where the Taj Mahal is situated.

19. A normal mode of vibration of an oscillating system.

21. A fence bounding a racetrack.

23. A person who makes or repairs a girthed usually padded and leather-covered seat for the rider of a horse.

26. A passage (as in a store or warehouse) for inside traffic.

28. Emitting a smoke or vapor.

30. A small ethnic group, aka ‘Afakani’, of SE Nigeria.

32. “ __, RE, GA, MA…” diatonic notes in Indian music.

35. New England Nursing Informatics Consortium. (*) 37. Greaser 38. First-past-the-post. (*) (Voting) 40. Space Division Multiple Access. (*) 43. The capital of Morobe Province and the second largest city in Papua New Guinea.

47. oklahoma. (*).

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase Clues Across:

1. Carolina Power & Light Co. nuclear power plant.

6. ocean. (Hindi word) 11. Isaiah. (*) (Bible) 12. The external openings of the nose.

14. Lord Krishna’s swing. (Hindi).

16. A revolution, as of the crankshaft of an engine.

18. A person who has attained between 13 to 19 years of age.

20. Grip.

22. Covers the walls with plaster or thin boards.

24. Royal Academy. (*) 25. A tall SW Asian tree; it’s wood is used for shipbuilding.

27. A toothed wheel or disk in the machine.

29. Help.

31. A solitary, homestead grey clothed sprite with red cap, to protect the homes & farms. (Norway Myth.)

33. Delaware. (*) 34. Makes a loan.

36. A positively charged electrode in electroplating.

39. Touches to become aware of.

41. A white emulsion secreted by the cow’s mammae.

42. Had in mind as a project or purpose.

44. Reminiscing about the good ole days .

45. The Uto-Aztecan languages spoken by the Native Americans in Southern California.

46. Up-to-date.

48. A person who makes the serenity.

Saathee.com

(Puzzle solutions are on page 88. NO peeking!)

Hee Hee

Jokes From Around The World

Judge : “You ran a red light and this policeman caught you.

Are you a teacher?”

Teacher: “Yes sir. In fact, I was his teacher at school.”

Judge: “Then grab a pen and paper, stand in the corner and write down 100 times, ‘I was wrong to run the red light and won’t do it again.’ That is your punishment.” ********* Husband: “I’m bored staying home because of the pandemic. I want to go out and enjoy.”

Wife: “Don’t worry. I plan to do the same and I’ll tell my mother to go out with you, since you can’t be alone!”

Husband: “I’m not that bored.” ********* Mafatlal: “Did you complete the 2020 Census online yet?

It’s required by law and costs nothing.”

Booddhoo: “I will. I’m just worried we’ll need to redo it next year due to how many people have died, are born or have left the country due to Coronavirus!”

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July 2020

WordFind

Math Magic

Use these numbers only once: (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9) in empty squares, to get = the final given answers.

Note: Follow the order of operation per basic math rule: ×,÷, +, The multiplication or division is done before addition and subtraction. (solution on page 88)

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

(Subject: “Covid-19”) AMErICA CDC CHAllENGE CHINA CoNfUSIoN CoroNAvIrUS CroWD DISTANCE DoT fDA GHoSTToWN GovErNMENT HoSPITAl

ITAlY oUTBrEAK NoW PANDEMIC PrAY PUBlIC QUArANTINE rISK SHUTDoWNS SToCKMArKET SUlKY WASHHANDS WIDE

All the letters are used.

EZ-BZ

TEST YoUR IQ The common letters are “UC” - Fill in the blanks)

1. The scoop of an excavating machine. _ UC _ _ _ 2. Algonquian-speaking North American Indian. _ _ _ _ UC 3. University of Central Arkansas. (*) UC _ 4. A city in Moravia, east of the Czech Republic. _ _ _ _ _ UC 5. To supply supporting evidence or testimony. _ _ UC _ 6. A fine plaster used in decoration. _ _ UC _ _ 7. A city in Lorraine region of NE France.

UC _ _ _ _ _ 8. Kidnap. _ _ _ UC _ 9. More than enough. _ UC _ 10. An internet search engine that emphasizes protecting searchers' privacy on web. _ UC _ _ UC _ _ _ 11. Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act. (*) UC _ _ _ 12. A member of SE Indo-Iranian people. _ _ _ UC _ _ 13. An Indian people of southeastern U.S. _ UC _ _ 14. The venomous bushmaster snake. _ _ _ UCUC _ 15. United Champions of Norah. (*) (gaming guild). UC _ _ 16. A wheeled vehicle for moving heavy articles. _ _ UC _ 17. Expressed juice as of a fruit for medicinal use. _ UC _ _ _ 18. Held firmly by or as if by adhesion. _ _ UC _ 19. The dried leaves of plants used as a diuretic. _ UC _ _ 20. A city in and part of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, in the province of Alberta, Canada. _ _ _ UC 21. The natural noise of a partridge in the night. _ UC _ 22. A town in East Sussex in SE England.

UC _ _ _ _ _ _ 23. A perennial plant, the roots used in medicine. _ UC _ _ 24. An arrogant dignitary. (Slang) _ UC _ _ _ UC _ 25. Fortune _ UC _ (Puzzle solutions are on page 88. NO peeking!)

Kirit Shukla

kiritsshukla@hotmail.com Saathee.com

87

July 2020

Festivals & Holidays July 2020

Spot the Differences Solutions from page 30

Jul. 1 - Independence Day (Canada) Jul. 1 - Dev Shayani Ekadashi Jul. 3 - Jaya Parvati Vrat Begins Jul. 4 - Independence Day (US) Jul. 4 - Asalha Puj Jul. 5 - Guru Purnima (Full Moon) Jul. 8 - Jaya Parvati Vrat ends Jul. 15 - Income Tax Day Jul. 16 - Kāmikā Ekadashi Jul. 20 - Darsh / Shravan Amas (No Moon) Jul. 23 - Haritākā Teej Jul. 25 - Kalki Jayanti Jul. 27 - Tulsidas Jayanti Jul. 30 - Putradā Ekadashi / Tisha B’Av Jul. 31 - Bakri Eid / Eid Al-Ādhā

1. logo removed from bag

8. Color Changed 9. Propane Tank added 10. Color Changed 11. Wood removed 12. food removed from table 13. Words removed from box 14. Glasses added 15. Brick Joint removed

2. Hole removed from bread 3. food added above ketchup bottle 4. logo removed from tank 5. Bottle added 6. Tattoo removed 7. Apple added

August 2020 Aug. 1 - Lughnasadh Aug. 2 - Friendship Day Aug. 3 - Raksha Bandhan / Nariyal Poonam (Full Moon) Aug. 8 - Rishi / Nag Panchami Aug. 9 - Rāndhan Chhath Aug. 11 - Shitalā Saptami Aug. 12 - Janmashtami / Krishna’s Birthday Aug. 14 - Independence Day (Pakistan) Aug. 15 - Independence Day (India) Aug. 15 - Aja Ekadashi Aug. 15 - Paryushana Parvarambha Aug. 18 - Darsh / Pithori Amas (No Moon) Aug. 20 - Muharram (Islamic New Year Hijri 1442 begins) Aug. 21 - Haritālikā Trij Aug. 21 - Senior Citizens Day Aug. 22 - Ganesh Chaturthi / Vināyaka Chaturthī Aug. 22 - Samvatsari Parva Aug. 23 - Samā / Rishi Panchami Aug. 26 - Women’s Equality Day

9

15

13

5

4 1 8

14

11

6

2

7

3

10

12

CORRECTION: In the May issue, in the puzzle on page 86, a black block was misplaced making it difficult to solve the puzzle. The solution on page 88 was correct. We apologize for the mistake.

Puzzle Solutions from page 86-87

Math Magic from page 87

Saathee.com

88

July 2020

Astroscope July 2020

Aries (March 21 – April 19) Even though there will be problems at work and changes in responsibility, you should be able to maintain a steady income.

If involved in a relationship, your luck will surprisingly favor you. It’s also a good time to participate in social and cultural activities in order to develop more contacts. A very happy family life is clearly indicated. Avoid listening to advice from your friends or associates. Enjoy an amusement park or a picnic to get out of the house.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20) After some minor losses in the beginning, you will enjoy a sudden rise in income during the middle of the month. Act rationally, and success will delight you. You may be offered a promotion during the second week of the month, but an unexpected family problem may spoil this achievement. Avoid disputes with your mother-in-law or sister-in-law. Enjoy good health this month.

Gemini (May 21 – june 20) After a bad start, things will improve unexpectedly during the last week of the month. Be extremely careful about making comments in public. financially you will enjoy good luck. relations with your partner may start taking a turn this month.

A sense of relief will give you peace of mind in the latter part of the month. It is advisable to wait before making any major decisions. Try to avoid speculation.

Cancer (june 21 – july 22) Even with disputes with your partner and family, you will enjoy good results in financial field. Money will come to you from more than one direction. Don’t wait till end of month to make important decisions. Clever planning by your partner will delight you. Avoid family issues for now and focus on your career and income. A great idea may also appear in your mind, so be sure to start implementing it. follow your instincts and enjoy success.

Leo (july 23 – August 22) After a very lucky start, your situation will deteriorate during second half of the month. An egotistical comment could cost you a great deal. It is advisable to comply with your partner.

Unexpected family problems will also strike. Don’t jump to any conclusions or any take action upon them. Better times are on the way, so just relax and wait. A major health problem may also bother you this month.

Libra (September 23 – October 22) relax and enjoy the life. You may neglect morality and traditions as well. The last week of the month will bring extra income for you, but you may see a setback in field of education. Just ignore it and focus on enjoying the materialistic world. You may suffer due to a false allegation at your place of work. Be watchful. You may also lose financial support from your partner. Your kids may prove to be a great help, instead.

Scorpio (October 23 – november 21) You should experience the power of artistic expression and interpretation this month. Taking a journey with friends or siblings will bring happiness for you. You will achieve a commendable status and enjoy respect in society. You may develop enmity with someone of a different gender. Avoid getting involved in any partnership deal. Don’t take risks in business, and you may also experience bad luck on the money market.

Sagittarius (november 22 – December 21) You may experience a lack of confidence, which in turn may create some problems for you. Try to stay poised and be flexible. Bypass any temptation of delinquency by avoiding haphazard or aggressive choices. Instead, go on a trip with friends. running into an old friend/love is also quite possible. Try to curb expenses on luxury items. Don’t get involved in minor disputes with your family.

Capricorn (December 22 – january 19) Steady progress is clearly indicated this month, just remember to act cautiously. Don’t make any long term commitments. Work as a team during this month. You should go on a journey related to your career as it may prove fruitful. However, it is not a good time for religious or social ceremonies. Try to be stricter and continue working hard.

Aquarius (january 20 – February 18) After a positive start, things will spiral out of your control. A sudden change may put you in a tight situation. Try to spend some money on fixing and decorating your home. Try to avoid conflict. However, it is a good time to make new friends or start a new relationship.

A family problem could cause you to spend a substantial amount of money. Avoid stress at all times, if at all possible.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20) You are entering into a period of confusion and self-distraction.

You may have to slog, as your work burden can be too much to handle. Keep on working hard and stay quiet for now. You may feel that change is a good thing, but this is nothing more than an illusion right now. Your family will help you in adverse situations.

Don’t accumulate any debt during the last week of the month.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22) An unexpected rise in income will delight you. While this will cover your expenses for a while, they will grow again by the last week. Enjoy speculation during the middle of the month.

You may feel relaxed during the middle of the month. However, any health-related problems may take serious turn, so don’t ignore them. You may get good news regarding your child.

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Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk, Laundry & Maintenance for franchise motel in Raleigh, NC. Fluent English required. Restaurant Help wanted: Single or Experience preferred. Couples welcome. Couple to manage Subway in Kinston, NC. Legal status, fluent English & computer Call 252-366-9415 and leave message. skills required. Call 252-521-5656.

Front Desk/Night Auditor Needed for Red Roof Inn at Columbia, SC Airport. Looking for Part-Time Nanny (hours Experience a must. Accommodations negotiable) to start immediately in Raleigh, NC (near NC State). Position provided. Call 803-743-3999. becomes Full-Time August 15th Gas Station/C-Store Cashier help (Monday-Friday 7:30am-4:30pm). Live-in wanted in Rock Hill, SC. Shift hours 2-10 option available. Must have your own pm (no stocking or cleaning). Great pay transportation. Call Bela 252-955-3365 or and friendly atmosphere. Please call 704- Monica 252-955-6294.

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Accommodations provided. Call for WOW Brows Threading and Beauty is hiring in the Triad area. opportunities more details 336-244-4199. for facial threading, brow tinting, Immediate opening for experienced waxing, facials, & lash extensions. live-in Manager for 50-room Experience preferred but willing to train. independent motel in Charlotte. High commissions oR wage + tips! Pay Attractive salary plus bonus and commensurate with skill. Send text to complimentary 2 bedroom apartment. 248-721-3255 or email Please call 704-906-9170 or send resume to info@wowbrows.me hoteljob214@yahoo.com.

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July 2020

Hotel Housekeeping Needed for Hotel in Cleveland / Akron, oH. $4 per room. Accommodations provided.

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Motel Help Needed: Front Desk & GMs for franchise motels in South Carolina.

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Experienced Manager and Housekeeping (single or couple) needed for franchise motels in North & South Carolina.

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Gas Station/C-store Help Wanted in North Carolina 30 mins from Greensboro. Legal status required. Must speak English and have basic computer skills. Experience preferred. Please call 336-509-4054.

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July 2020

Dances of India

Immigration

continued from page 38

continued from page 58

understanding, however imperfectly, the African American struggle in the United States.

The grand American experiment has often been imperfect, a realization that requires a sober acknowledgement of our nation’s past; the United States has a sordid history of racial injustice and violence, which will not be mended easily, but certainly isn’t improved through violence by the state upon its citizenry or vice versa. Can we understand the Black Experience in its totality? of course not, but as a community built on being an “other” in a land of diversity provides us with a collective sympathy, humanity and understanding that may help to foster positive change.

By no means is the intention of this column to assert that the South Asian community or that immigration more generally can fix centuries of problems dating back to America’s founding or that we have all of the answers. However, hope mixed with action does hold the unique ability to achieve outcomes that may have otherwise be unattainable. The South Asian community has the brainpower, resources and historical experience to be a cog in the wheels of justice for all of America’s children, regardless of color, religion, social class or creed. What is left to muster is simply the will to get out of our own homes and communities and get to work.

it starts with the great Gurus being treasure troves of knowledge. They had the heritage of a practical methodology and wisdom. They had the ability to be intuitive in their teachings. They were deeply connected with the inner beings of their disciples. They taught more than dancing. They helped us to recognize our inner and outer selves. They taught their students as much by what they said as by what they did not say. They allowed us to nurture and develop our own epistemologies. It is this harmonious blend of relationship between guru and the disciple that renders the transcendent experience in dancing.

Major styles within Bharatha Natyam: Due to the historic time periods and its backgrounds, many major styles were developed within this dance form. Some of them are: Melattur Style- This style is based on expressive acting and spontaneous movements.

Pandanallur Style - This style stresses on deep sitting positions and quite difficult to perform.

Vazhuvoor Style – This style the movements flow smoothly with rare leaps.

Kalakshetra Style - This style has hints of Devadasi style and is the most popular of all styles.

Thinking

Margam: A general format was established using a sequence of progressively hard dances to complete an Arangetram or Ranga Pravesham, or as we call it here a “Dance Graduation”.

This repertoire starts with Kauthvam or Alarippu and continues with Jathiswaram, Shabdam, Padam, Keerthanam, Varnam and ends with Thillana.

continued from page 54

likes of me will just have to helplessly accept the existence of one more “thing” in my life.

But some of us little dots in the universe play a role in what is an emerging “memeocracy”: we become part of the distribution channel for the meme, giving it sustenance over time.

One too many me’s in meme It would seem fair to observe that many people like to have a sense of identity. “This is me!” he exclaims, as he shows off his tattoo, or the particular brand of fine wine or other intoxicating substance he consumes. It is not that these things always have significantly more utilitarian or aesthetic value; of course, the more you pay, the more the maker has the margin needed to use better material and such. But that’s not the primary driver for buying these things. It’s the “me” factor that drives many of these acquisitions.

If you can wear a Gucci bag, you can wear words too. Who would not like to be known as a kind-hearted person? Who would not like to be thought of as very intelligent? Memes play right into this desire to be seen as this or that by other people.

At its most basic level, a meme is just a word, a term that has found admiration (or hatred) in a broader population’s eyes.

But it is much more than that. In an irony of language, the word accidentally says more than it was designed to convey: “meme” has two me’s in it. Two for the price of one! We can profess our allegiance to some meme, and wear it proudly, never mind that it may hurt us and everyone else in the process. That only comes later. And when it does, it won’t be just a double “me”; it will be a double whammy that causes us not only to waste our time living in illusions, but also to get hurt by the damage it brings to our world and us.

Shun memes, I say. Be you. If you really must do an identity thing, do something a little less harmless, such as a tattoo!

Saathee.com

Music: The harmonious blend of Karnatak vocal music (south Indian music style) and Bharatha Natyam has occurred as early as 1572 AD. Instruments such as flute, violin, Mridangam (south Indian Drum), Ghatam (clay pot) etc. are used as accompaniments.

Costumes: Many styles of dance costumes are being introduced through times, such as Padam style or Sari style; pant styles with 2 or three fans; round fans; V-shape fans; side fans etc. The beauty of the costumes is the fan that emphasizes the main aspect of this dance form “squatting”.

Exponents: There are so many exponents of this dance form, I am afraid I will not have space to mention them all. However, if you are doing a research paper for your high school project or a thesis, you must include these renowned dancers. Balasaraswati, Rukmini Devi, Kalanidhi Narayanan, Ram Gopal, Pillai family, Kamala Lakshman, Vyjayathimala, Padma Subrahmanyam, Dhananjayan, C.V. Chandrasekhar and many more. These gurus have propagated this dance form to thousands of disciples across the world.

94

I hope this comprehensive view of Bharatha Natyam dance style will help you cherish, appreciate and treasure this three thousand year old tradition. Many years of practice, grace, speed, versatility and complete mastery of the art are necessary to do full justice to a dance form such as this.

July 2020

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July 2020

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July 2020

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RE/MAX EXECUTIVE 2901 Coltsgate Road, Charlotte, NC 28211

FOR SALE $899,900 1248 Audubon Drive Gastonia, NC 28054 Listing ID 3574313

Designed for Multi-Generational Living!

• Outstanding Executive Home w/ Extraordinary Features on Beautifully Landscaped Property .90 Acre.

• Built For Entertaining. The House flows Beautifully. Main Level features Dining room, Kitchen, Breakfast room, laundry/Sitting room, 2 Story family room, Morning room, living room, & office Plus A Magnificent Guest Suite.

• Lower Level Features A Huge Playroom, Second full Kitchen, Media room w/ All Equipment, Another large room W/Ping Pong Table & Plenty of room for Exercise Equipment, Plus Another full Bedroom & Bath • Upper Level Features Master Suite That's over 1,000 Sq. ft. featuring A Dual fireplace To The Sitting room Complete W/Beverage Center. The Master Bath features A Custom Shower, Jacuzzi Tub & Walk In Closets. The Upper level Has 3 More large Bedrooms.

• Pull Into 3 Car Garage & Step Into The 3 Level Elevator • Two Story Entry Hall With Custom Marquetry Medallion.

• Magnificent Chandeliers lower for Cleaning With Just A Turn of A Key. • Heavy Crown Molding, Custom Cabinets & Lots Of Storage Throughout Entire House