Saathee Charlotte October 2023

Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent

Saathee.com

October 2023 October 2023

IN THIS ISSUE

Ahhhrtificial Indigestion: pg 14

Diabetes Among Desis: pg 28

Interview - Abby V: pg 40

Recipe: Masala Puffs: pg 74

Hello Readers!

Read about how prevalent Diabetes is among Desis and what you can do about it in our article on page 28.

Read the interview with Indian Canadian pop star Abby V, who is slated to perform at Hum Sub Diwali in Cary, on page 40.

Primary care physicians' numbers are shrinking and reaching a tipping point. Read the eye-opening article on page 42.

Should a high school kid submit a personal essay even if the college doesn't require it when applying? Find out on page 50.

Have a kid in high school approaching his college days? find out about funding options for college in the article beginning on page 52.

Find the recipe for “Masala Puffs” on page 74.

Looking for a life partner, a job, or a new business? Check our classifieds section beginng on page 108.

Don’t forget to visit website, Saathee.com for the latest in movies, events, classifieds and more.

We welcome conversations.

Connect with us via email: saathee@saathee.com.

Subscribe to Saathee magazine at saathee.com/subscription.

“Bridging America and the Indian Subcontinent.”

October 2023 Issue # 305

- Saathee.com -

Editor Samir Shukla

(Samir@Saathee.com)

Publisher & Advertising

Divakar Shukla

704-527-7570 or rakavid@aol.com

Digital Media & Marketing

Jennifer W. Allen

Ad Design / Layout

DSJ Graphics & Manimaran

Contributors for this issue: Kirit Shukla, Raajeev Aggerwhil, Teju Lakkundi, Violet Wei, Shikha Singh Rupa Pereira, Mo Vidwans, Ketu Desai, 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.

Cover: Elephants at watering hole, Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan elephant is native to the island nation of Sri Lanka and is one of three recognised subspecies of the Asian elephant. A 2019 census count showed there are currently nearly 8000 elephants remaining in Sri Lanka

- F OUNDED 1998Saathee Magazine

P.O. Box 11468 Charlotte, NC 28220

704.527.7570

Fax: 704.527.7590

Saathee@saathee.com

Saathee

(USPS 021-116) (ISSN: 1543-8147) is published monthly by: Shukla Entertainment Inc.

612 Heather Ln., Charlotte, NC 28209

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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Saathee, P.O. Box 11468, Charlotte, NC 28220-1468

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 © 2023 Shukla Entertainment, Inc

Photo: Adobe Stock

“Even if you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

In This Issue

Page 18 Fall Events

Page 40 An Interview with Indian Canadian Pop Star Abby V

Page 36 Film Clips: Tiger Shroff stars in Ganapath, opening in October

Content

Page 74 Recipe: Masala Puffs

Ahhhrtificial Indigestion Ahhhrtificial Indigestion

Editor’s Desk by Samir Shukla

I’m sitting at my computer. Working. It’s midday, a lovely September afternoon, and the warm sunlight is streaming through the window. Wait a minute. What’s that, um, aroma? It is rather offending. Ok, who did that? Hold on. I’m the only one in the room, and it wasn’t me. Wait, I was just trying to explore the new AI functionality in the design software I’m using. No, it couldn’t be. Artificial Intelligence is already aping us, now it has already acquired the ability to clear a room via what is typically a very human intestinal function?

I thought becoming human-like would take decades for AI. We are the top predators, the wily planet conquerors and have been at it for a while. We cannot be duplicated or subjugated that quickly. The code to power AI is written by humans, after all, so it is logical that someday it will begin to acquire our humanness among its abilities. I’ve been thinking AI will eventually acquire our foibles, anxieties, sneakiness, and myriad other things that make us human, but it will take decades more. Maybe I am wrong.

A bright future is imagined via the inescapable advent of AI that is now working to infect all manners of our lives. There is good news in this. Convenience will increase. Productivity will increase. Efficiency will increase. Then there is the other end of the seesaw, and so will dissonance, disinformation, misinformation, and fakeness. This new human mini-me is intriguing and very young. Wait till it hits its teenage years.

The blissfully sunny world we are imagining, made more convenient by new technologies is, of course, upon us. Along with the ease of finding information, the fake speech, fake videos, fake images, maybe even fake aromas, all will rapidly rise. Efforts at manipulation of peoples by politicians, rogue elements, corporations, are the inevitable possibilities of these new tools.

Editor’s Desk continued on page 92

The

Upcoming Events

Rachna Bodas Vocal Concert: Charlotte, NC (October 7, 2023)

Raas Garba Ramzat: Florence, SC (October 1, 2023)

Enjoy a night of raas and garba with popular singer Santivani Trivedi on Sunday, October 1, 2023, beginning at 6pm at Florence Center, Florence SC. For details, call 732-589-6310.

TAGCA Health Fair: Huntersville, NC (October 7, 2023)

The Telugu Association of Greater Charlotte Area presents a Health Fair on Saturday, October 7, 2023 at Shree Sai Gurudev Datta Mandir, 10435 Kerns Rd., Huntersville, NC from 10am – 2pm. Free consultations with several specialist doctors onsite. Dental consultations. No insurance needed. Appointments required. For more details call 704-806-4131 and to sign up for appointment, visit Tagca.org/healthfair.

Veena Concert: Charlotte, NC (October 7, 2023)

Concert featuring vocalist, Rachna Bodas (disciple of Kashinath Bodas and Veena Sahasrabuddhe) plus a showing of the documentary, “Remembering Veena Sahasrabuddhe” at Tate Recital Hall, CPCC Campus, 1206 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte. Bodas will be accompanied by Suresh Ramaswamy on tabla and Shreyas Ravi on the Harmonium. Tickets are $25. Find all the details at: ipaac.org/RachnaBodas.htm

Rosewood Art & Music Festival: Columbia, SC (October 7, 2023)

The Rosewood Art & Music Festival is a nonprofit, one-day, free admittance, outdoor festival where thousands of visitors descend into the Rosewood Neighborhood to enjoy multiple stages of live entertainment, visual arts, poets, music, and more to celebrate southern arts and culture. The event will take place on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 11am to 6pm in Columbia, SC. Details: Rosewoodfestival.com.

Duck Jazz Festival: (October 7 - 8, 2023)

The Classical Music Association of Charlotte presents a Veena Concert by Ramana Balachandran on Saturday, October 7, 2023 beginning 4pm at Hindu Center, Gandhi Bhavan. Accompanied by Patri Satiskumar on Mridangam and Sowmiya Narayanan on Ghatam. Details, call 704-339-4126 or 704-8405949. Also, visit Onlinecmac.org.

Enjoy free live music from a variety of jazz performers starting Saturday evening, and throughout the day on Sunday at this festival. Extend your Outer Banks stay to enjoy jazz-themed events and more taking place throughout Duck, NC. Attendees are welcome to bring chairs, food, coolers, blankets, and pets. No beach umbrellas or tents are permitted at the event. Food and drinks will be available to purchase from various town eateries. The Duck Jazz Festival will be held rain or shine between October 7 & 8, 2023. For more details, visit Townofduck.com.

Georgia State Fair:

Atlanta, GA (Through October 8, 2023)

Visit the annual Georgia State Fair running now through October 8, 2023. Enjoy attractions, shows, rides, live music, vendors and of course lots of Fair food. There will also be lots of activities for children, including kiddie rides and a petting zoo. This familyfriendly fair takes place at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. For details visit, Georgiastatefair.com.

Upcoming Events

Chinmaya Mission RDU Lecture

Series:

Cary, NC (October 9 - 13, 2023)

CMRDU presents inspiring and uplifting talks by renowned Swami Ishwarananda of Chinmaya Mission, Los Angeles. This lecture series includes topics such as listening without mental chatter, taking a holiday from caution, avoiding fear, Balancing: holding on and letting go and purposeful parenting. The lectures will take place from October 9 – 13, 2023, 7pm8:30pm daily. Free lectures. Venue: Orange Juice for Soul, 930 Reedy Creek Rd, Cary, NC. CMRDU provides the wisdom of Vedanta and the practical means for spiritual growth and happiness, enabling them to become positive contributors to society. For more details, visit Chinmaya-rdu.org.

South Carolina State Fair: Columbia, SC (October 11 - 22, 2023)

Every year, people of all ages descend upon Columbia to attend the South Carolina State Fair. The wide variety of exhibits, thrilling rides, and unique food – such as chocolate-covered bacon, doughnut burgers, and even fried coke –draws visitors from near and far. This year the fair will run between October 11 & 22, 2023 at the Fairgrounds on Rosewood Drive in Columbia, SC. Details: Scstatefair.org.

North Carolina State Fair: Raleigh, NC (October 12 - 22, 2023)

The North Carolina State Fair is the largest annual event in the state and the largest 10-day agriculture event in the nation, annually drawing one million visitors. The fair is all about seeking out and showcasing the finest of N.C. Whether that be in a horse show, livestock show, culinary, handicraft or art competition, N.C. is proud of the talented people. The Fair returns to the fairgrounds in Raleigh, NC from October 12-22, 2023. Details: Ncstatefair.org.

Simply SPB: Mooresville, NC (October 13, 2023)

Experience a Tamil / Telugu concert with SP Charan and band as they pay tribute to SPB. The performance will take place on Friday, October 13, 2023, at Mooresville Performing Arts Center, 161 S Magnolia St., Mooresville, NC. For more details, call 409-273-1708 or 704-705-0036.

Fall for Greenville: (October 13 - 15, 2023)

Discover a world of tempting tastes, sights and sounds, as mouthwatering aromas carry you along Greenville’s Main Street. With over 40 restaurants featuring over 200 menu items and free entertainment on seven stages, Greenville, SC invites you to enjoy this popular outdoor festival. It will be held between October 13 & 15, 2023, indulge in a weekend full of flavor. Admission is free. Details: Fallforgreenville.net.

RTP Bathukamma & Dussehra: Cary, NC (October 13 – 21, 2023)

Triangle Telangana Association presents annual Bathukamma & Dussehra celebrations on October 13, 2023 (Engili Puvvu Bathukamma), October 18, 2023 (Chinna Bathukamma), October 21, 2023 (Saddula Bathukamma). For more information, visit Triangletelangana.org.

Apex Oktoberfest (October 14, 2023)

The Apex Oktoberfest will take place on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the Apex Town Hall Campus. The family fun event will include food trucks, beer garden, kids’ zone, music, vendors and more. Bring the entire family and enjoy the cool weather and good times. Find all the details at, Apexlegionpost124.org/Oktoberfest.

Upcoming Events

Hum Sub Diwali: Cary, NC (October 14, 2023)

Charlotte Gurdwara Sahib Anniversary: Charlotte, NC (October 27 - 29, 2023)

Hub Sub and the Town of Cary present this year’s Diwali with the theme “Shagun: An auspicious start” at Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary, NC. Immerse in a daylong festival that will transport you to the Indian Subcontinent with entertainment from local schools, shopping and food. Catch a live concert in the evening with Abby V and Band. Admission is free, gates open at 10am. It all takes place on Saturday, October 14, 2023. For more details, visit Humsub.org.

Dandiya Beats: Charlotte, NC (October 20-21, 2023)

Hindu Center of Charlotte presents garba and raas nights featuring Nikki and Rakesh Raj at Park Expo, 800 Briar Creek Rd., Charlotte, NC, beginning at 9:30pm both nights. For more details, call 704-488-8145.

Diwali Fest HSENC: Greenville, NC (October 21, 2023)

The Diwali Fest by HSENC will take place on Saturday October 21, 2023 from 11am – 3pm at W.H. Robinson Elementary School, Greenville, NC. The event will celebrate DiwaliThe Festival of Lights featuring cultural and heritage showcase of music, dance and other performances. For more details, write to: cultural.hsenc@gmail.com or call 252-413-8181.

Chanakya Youth Festival: Morrisville, NC (October 22, 2023)

HSNC and the American Association of Bihar & Jharkhand presents a celebration of young talent and intellect at this festival. There will be debate and essay competitions for several age levels. Fee is $5 per child per contest. It will take place on Sunday, October 22, 2023 from 1 – 3pm at HSNC, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. For more details, visit Aabaj.org.

The Charlotte Gurdwara Sahib is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a Gurmat Sangeet Samagam for three days on October 27 – 29, 2023. The renowned Ragi Jatha of Bhai Sarabjit Singh Ji Durg Wale along with his old companion Bhai Jasbir Singh Ji will be performing Keertan and Katha Sewa. Bhai Sahib Ji is not only one of the most accomplished Ragi with a melodious voice but a renowned Sikh scholar as well. The Gurdwara is located at 5715 University City Blvd., Charlotte, NC. For more details, call 704-509-2828 or visit Gurdwarasahibcharlotte.org.

Global Mela: Atlanta, GA (October 28 – 29, 2023)

The annual Global Mela will take place Sat – Sun, October 28 – 29, 2023, 11:30 am – 7pm both days at Global Mall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross, GA. There will be lots of food, clothing, jewelry, dances, performances, a DJ, raffles, kids’ activities and more. Entry and parking are free. For more details, call 770-416-1111 or visit Amsglobalmall.com.

Atif Aslam in concert: Atlanta, GA (October 29, 2023)

Popular songwriter, composer, film and pop singer Atif Aslam is performing live with his band on Sunday, October 29, 2023, beginning at 8pm at Gas South Arena, Duluth, GA. He is one of the most streamed international artists. For more details, visit Ticketmaster.com

Nicole Cottone, FNP

Colleen Hibbert, PNP Debra Clark, PNP

Upcoming Events

Sharad Punam Fusion Garba: Morrisville, NC (November 3, 2023)

Carolina Renaissance Festival: Huntersville, NC (Through November 19, 2023)

Triangle Gujarati Association NC presents a night of fusion garba on Friday, November 3, 2023 beginning at 8pm. DJ Benni will spin the music for this event and food will be available for purchase. The event takes place at HSNC, 309 Aviation Pkwy, Morrisville, NC. For more details, call 919353-0550 or visit Nctga.org.

History comes alive with non-stop, day long entertainment, arts and crafts, games and rides, jousting knights on horseback, and feasting. The Renaissance Festival is a 16th century European-style art, food and entertainment festival combining outdoor theater, crafts, circus entertainment, and marketplace. Each weekend from September 30 to November 19, 2023 has a theme including a Kids weekend, Halloween, & Pirate Christmas. Find all the info at, Carolina.renfestinfo.com.

Watch the Video Here: Will India’s Foreign Policy Decisions be a Test for Their Superpower Ambition?

Personal Finances: Taxes don’t have to be filed till next April, but get these tax items done before this year is over.

Go

Used Car Dealership (Buy, Sell or Trade)

Repair Shop (ASE and Toyota certified)

We do all types of work on foreign and domestic cars

Full Service Body Shop (Customization for all cars)

Full Detail Service (with window tinting)

● My insurance insists their body shop is better, am I obligated to use their recommended shop? NC law allows you to use any shop you prefer.

● How many estimates do I need to get insurance coverage? One, from the body shop you prefer.

We will not charge you over what

Diabetes Among Desis

Diabetes Among Desis

It’s not just about avoiding sweets or rice –there’s more to diabetes nutrition management.

by Teju Lakkundi

Almost everyone I have met knows someone with diabetes. I have yet to meet someone who knows nobody with diabetes – such is the epidemic of diabetes.

In 2021, 1 in 11 adults in South and Southeast Asia (90 million people) had diabetes (according to the Diabetes Atlas). This number is expected to rise to 113 million by 2030 and 151 million by 2045. In 2021, 747,000 deaths have been attributed to diabetes. People with diabetes are the tip of the iceberg. Most undiagnosed people have prediabetes.

Most diabetes cases involve adults with Type 2 diabetes – this is a chronic condition – meaning it is lifelong. Type 2 diabetes is a progressive conditionwhich means if you do not make lifestyle changes and control your blood sugars, it will progress, become worse over time, and possibly increase risk for other complications.

Diabetes is a condition of high blood sugars. Understand this – blood travels throughout the body. If you have high concentrations of sugar in the blood – this excess sugar travels through the blood to all your internal organs – including the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes. High blood sugar concentrations increase in your blood vessels – this causes plaque which causes corrosion. This can result in complications such as

Diabetes continued on page 98

For the World is Hungry, and So Seeks to Quell Its Starvation with Rage

For the World is Hungry, and So Seeks to Quell Its Starvation with Rage

Mirror, Mirror by Jennifer Allen

“In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule.” ~ Friedrich

Nietz

sche

Ever since I can remember, I’ve been told I often exhibit ‘too much’ of something…

“You talk too much.”

“You weigh too much.”

“You watch/play/read too much [insert intellectual property here].”

It amazes me to this day that I never resorted to any sort of substance abuse in order to cope.

Within a span of 18 months, I would lose my mother to cancer and my father would remarry. In the process of this new person entering our household, ‘too much’ would eventually evolve into ‘not enough.’

“Your grades aren’t high enough.”

“You aren’t pretty enough to do that.”

“You don’t go to church enough.”

Sound familiar to anyone?

Still, as such contradictory comments were thrust at my psyche over and over again, my teens became a phase to which I tried to remain fabulously chill. After a year of psychological therapy (a ‘requirement’ from my new stepmother), I buried a lot of my anxiety and somehow managed to create this illusionary mask that was somewhere between Spock and Kirk; a functioning version of myself seemingly unfazed by everything except when I had no other alternative.

It was a charade put into place solely for my survival in an unsatisfying situation. As such, I learned to become what is known as a ‘social chameleon.’ While observing others in social situations, I would mold my responses in such a way to blend and please everyone involved. For a time it was to be quite an amusing challenge; like playing chess except with body gestures, tone of voice, and choice of vocabulary.

After a while, however, such a lifestyle would become exceedingly exhausting. When I eventually came across another who exhibited a similar technique, I saw myself through their lens. I was spending so much time contorting myself into something more palatable for the masses that so very few had come to know the ‘real me.’ Honestly, I don’t know how some people (politicians, for

Upcoming Movie Releases

October 6_______________________________

Foe (Director: Garth Davis)

Cast: Paul Mescal, Saoirse Ronan, and Aaron Pierre

October 13_____________________________

Ordinary Angels (Director: Jon Gunn)

Cast: Hillary Swank and Amy Acker

Guthlee Ladoo (Director: Israt R Khan)

Cast: Sanjay Mishra, Heet Sharma, and Subrat Dutta

October 20______________________________

Ganapath – Part 1 (Director: Vikas Bahl)

Mission Raniganj: The Great Bharat Rescue (Director: Tinu Suresh Desai)

Cast: Akshay Kumar and Parineeti Chopra

Reptile (Director: Grant Singer)

Cast: Benicio del Toro, Justin Timberlake, and Alicia Silverstone

Thank You for Coming (Director: Karan Boolani)

Cast: Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, and Saloni Daini

Pet Semetary: Bloodlines (Director: Lindsey Anderson Beer)

Cast: Jackson White, Henry Thomas, David Duchovny, and Pam Grier

Dono (Director: Avnish S Barjatya)

Cast: Rajveer Deol, Paloma Dhillon, and Rohan Khurana

She Came to Me (Director: Rebecca Miller)

Cast: Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway, and Marisa Tomei

The Marsh King’s Daughter (Director: Neil Burger)

Cast: Daisy Ridley, Ben Mendelsohn, and Gil Birmingham

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Director: William Friedkin)

Cast: Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Clarke, Jake Lacy, and Lance Reddick

Yaatris (Director: Harish Vyas)

Cast: Raghubir Yadav, Seema Pahwa, and Anuraag Malhan

The Exorcist: Believer (Director: David Gordon Green)

Cast: Leslie Odom Jr, Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, and Ellen Burstyn

Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Tiger Shroff, and Kriti Sanon

Bhagavanth Kesari

(Director: Anil Ravipudi)

Cast: Nandamuri Balakrishna, Kajal

Aggarwal, and Sree Leela

Killers of the Flower Moon (Director: Martin Scorsese)

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Brendan Fraser

Tejas (Director: Sarvesh Mewara)

Cast: Kangana Ranaut and Anshul Chauhan

Tiger Nageswara Rao (Director: Vamsee)

Cast: Ravi Teja and Anupam Kher

Nyad (Directors: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi & Jimmy Chin)

Cast: Annette Bening, Rhys Ifans, and Jodie Foster

Yaariyan 2 (Directors: Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru)

Cast: Divya Khosla Kumar, Priya Prakash Varrier, and Warina Hussain

12th Fall (Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra)

Cast: Vikrant Massey, Sanjay Bishnoi, and Harish Khanna

October 27_______________________________

Pain Hustlers (Director: David Yates)

Cast: Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, and Andy Garcia

Priscilla (Director: Sofia Coppola)

Cast: Cailee Spaeny, Jacob Elordi, and Dagmara

Domińczyk

Fingernails (Director: Christos Nikou)

Cast: Jessie Buckley, Riz Ahmed, and Luke Wilson

The Holdovers (Director: Alexander Payne)

Cast: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, and Carrie Preston

Saathee.com/movies has the latest info on where the movies are showing or streaming. All dates subject to change.

Yaatris

The Sharmas from Banaras are your next door, dysfunctional middle-class family who take on a journey of a lifetime as they navigate love, laughter and life lessons in a heartwarming tale of togetherness. Raghubir Yadav, Seema Pahwa, Anuraag Malhan, Jamie Lever, and Chahatt Khanna form the cast of the film directed by Harish Vyas. It opens on October 6, 2023.

Ganapath – Part 1

In a dystopian future, Ganapath, a relentless and skilled vigilante, embarks on a mission to dismantle a powerful criminal empire that has gripped the city in fear, and becomes a symbol of hope for the oppressed. Vikas Bahl directs Amitabh Bachchan, Tiger Shroff, Kriti Sanon, and Elli AvrRam in this thriller that hits the cinema on October 20, 2023.

Bhagavanth Kesari

Nelakonda Bhagavanth

Kesari is adamant about getting even with a powerful businessman who cost him money. He is prepared to square off against the formidable foe and resolve their issues amicably. Anil Ravipudi directs Nandamuri Balakrishna, Kajal Aggarwal, and Sree Leela in the movie that opens on October 20, 2023.

Thank You for Coming

When five best friends assemble at a family gathering, they must navigate the hilarious and heartwarming consequences of their lie, discovering the true depth of their friendship and love. Karan Boolani directs the cast that includes Bhumi Pednekar, Shehnaaz Gill, Dolly Singh, Kusha Kapila, Shibani Bedi, and Karan Kundrra. Look for the film on October 6, 2023.

Tiger Nageswara Rao

The movie tells the tale of a legendary real-life robber called Tiger Nageswara Rao in the 1970s, who was noted for his ingenious ways of evading the police and prison. Director Vamsee guides the cast including Ravi Teja, John Abraham and Anupam Kher. The movie open on October 20, 2023.

Yaariyan 2

The film follows the journeys of three cousins as they navigate their lives, dreams and self-discovery in Mumbai. It explores friendship, love and the power of human relations. The film is directed by Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru. Featuring Divya Khosla Kumar, Pearl V Puri, Meezaan Jafri, and Yash Dasgupta. It opens on October 20, 2023.

Laapataa Ladies

Directed by Kiran Rao, Laapataa Ladies will feature a quirky narrative and stars Nitanshi Goel, Pratibha Ranta, Sparsh Shrivastava, Chhaya Kadam, and Ravi Kishan in lead roles. The film has already made its premiere at Toronto International Film Festival and is set to release on January 5, 2024

Welcome To the Jungle

The third installment of Welcome, titled Welcome To The Jungle, boasts a cast of legends including Sanjay Dutt, Suniel Shetty, Raveena Tandon, Johnny Lever, Paresh Rawal, Lara Dutta, Rajpal Yadav, Arshad Warsi, Jacqueline Fernandez, Shreyas Talpade, Tusshar Kapoor, and Disha Patani. Musical sensations Daler Mehndi and Mika Singh also join the cast. Welcome To the Jungle will be directed by Ahmed Khan and release on December 20, 2024.

Abby V & Band Set to Rock Hum Sub Diwali

Interview:

Divakar: For those that maybe learning about you for the first time, can you describe your music?

Abby V: I grew up in Toronto listening to pop music, World music, R&B, Indian Classical, Folk… I learned Western Classical music as a child then both forms of Indian Classical music - Carnatic and Hindustani. I trained intently in all three and then incorporated that in different styles of music including pop and Bollywood. In my live performances, I do fusion of all of them to celebrate all types of music.

by Divakar Shukla

Canadian pop star Abby V will be performing in Cary, NC as part of the Hum Sub Diwali on October 14, 2023.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Abby V (Abhishek Venkat) and here is an excerpt from that interview (edited for clarity). The full interview can be heard at Saathee.com/Divakar.

Abby has extensive training in Indian and Western classical music and is a master of fusion of classical music with pop, and R & B. He sings in English, Hindi, Tamil, and other Indian Languages. He is an award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, composer and has performed and collaborate with artists all over the world. His love of ragas was featured in his 2020 video “73 Ragas with Abby V”. It went viral and has garnered nearly a million views and counting on YouTube.

D: Lots of your videos and performances on social media are solos or duets, but in concert you have a band.

A: Yea, I always perform with my band. In US, I have my US / Canada based band that plays with me. They are phenomenal artists and performing with a band means more liveliness and interaction and nothing is really planned as opposed to performing with a track. I also see what the audience is vibing with and do more of those numbers.

D: Let’s talk a little bit about your background, your first album was First of All in 2019. I like the name; it indicates that there are lots more to come.

A: Yeah, you nailed it! That album had a few different types of music from Indian Classical to Hip Hop in different languages.

D: Speaking of different languages, are you planning an all-English album geared at the non-Indian community?

A: As of now, nothing in the works. But some of my biggest influences are people like Usher, Justin Timberlake, Bobby Brown lots of other R&B artists.

Abby V continued on page 70

Photos by: Swapna Korde-Phatak

Primary

Care Physicians

Primary Care Physicians

By Elisabeth Rosenthal

Their Shrinking Numbers are Reaching a Tipping Point

Their Shrinking Numbers are Reaching a Tipping Point

I’ve been receiving an escalating stream of panicked emails from people telling me their longtime physician was retiring, was no longer taking their insurance, or had gone concierge and would no longer see them unless they ponied up a hefty annual fee. They have said they couldn’t find another primary care doctor who could take them on or who offered a new-patient appointment sooner than months away.

Their individual stories reflect a larger reality: American physicians have been abandoning traditional primary care practice — internal and family medicine — in large numbers. Those who remain are working fewer hours. And fewer medical students are choosing a field that once attracted some of the best and brightest because of its diagnostic challenges and the emotional gratification of deep relationships with patients.

The percentage of U.S. doctors in adult primary care has been declining for years and is now about 25 percent — a tipping point beyond which many Americans won’t be able to find a family doctor at all.

Already, more than 100 million Americans don’t have usual access to primary care, a number that has nearly doubled since 2014. One reason our coronavirus vaccination rates were low compared with those in countries such as China, France, and Japan could be because so many of us no longer regularly see a familiar doctor we trust.

Another telling statistic: In 1980, 62 percent of doctor’s visits for adults 65 and older were for primary care and 38% were for specialists, according to Michael L. Barnett, a health systems researcher and primary care doctor in the Harvard Medical School system. By 2013, that ratio had exactly flipped and has likely “only gotten worse,” he said, noting sadly: “We have a specialty-driven system. Primary care is seen as a thankless, undesirable backwater.” That’s “tragic,” in his words — studies show that a strong foundation of primary care yields better health outcomes overall, greater equity in health care access, and lower per capita health costs.

One explanation for the disappearing primary care doctor is financial. The payment structure in the U.S. health system has long rewarded surgeries and procedures while shortchanging the diagnostic, prescriptive, and preventive work that is the province of primary care. Furthermore, the traditionally independent doctors in this field have little power to negotiate sustainable payments with the mammoth insurers in the U.S. market.

Faced with this situation, many independent primary care doctors have sold their practices to health systems or commercial management chains (some private equity-owned) so that, today, threequarters of doctors are now employees of those outfits.

One of them was Bob Morrow, who practiced for decades in the Bronx. For a typical visit, he was most recently paid about $80 if the patient had Medicare, with its fixed-fee schedule. Commercial insurers paid less. He just wasn’t making enough to pay the bills, which included salaries of three employees, including a nurse practitioner. “I tried not to pay too much attention to money for four or five years — to keep my eye on my patients and not the bottom line,” he said by phone from his former office, as workers carted away old charts for shredding.

He finally gave up and sold his practice last year to a company that took over scheduling, billing, and negotiations with insurers. It agreed to pay him a salary and to provide support staff as well as supplies and equipment.

The outcome: Calls to his office were routed to a call center overseas, and patients with questions or complaining of symptoms were often directed to a nearby urgent care center owned by the company — which is typically more expensive than an office visit. His office staff was replaced by a skeleton crew that didn’t include a nurse or skilled worker to take blood pressure or handle requests for prescription refills. He was booked with patients every eight to 10 minutes.

He discovered that the company was calling some patients and recommending expensive tests — such as vascular studies or an abdominal ultrasound — that he did not believe they needed.

He retired in January. “I couldn’t stand it,” he said. “It wasn’t how I was taught to practice.”

Of course, not every practice sale ends with such unhappy results, and some work out well.

But the dispirited feeling that drives doctors away from primary care has to do with far more than money. It’s a lack of respect for nonspecialists. It’s the rising pressure to see and bill more patients: Employed doctors often coordinate the care of as many as 2,000 people, many of whom have multiple problems.

Primary Care Physicians continued on page 92

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From Museums to Colonialism: Reflecting on a London Getaway

Raajeev’s Corner

by Raajeev Aggerwhil

Last month, I helped my youngest son plan his oneweek London adventure. It brought back memories of our family trip a few years ago, which was a blast. We stayed at a fancy 4-star hotel in central London, and the best part wasn’t the spacious rooms, but the sign at the door that said £450 (or $520). We scored it for a mere $120! Bargains like that should come with confetti cannons.

Our anniversary is on the day after Christmas. It has turned out to be a blessing because we would always get discount prices for our anniversary gifts. In the UK, they call it Boxing Day, the equivalent of Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving in the US). It was kind of flattering to have our anniversary named as Boxing Day. It perfectly captures the spirit of our anniversary - good deals and the occasional wrestling match for the last discounted toaster.

During our stay in London, we walked an average of seven miles a day. We would marvel at the fact that there were far fewer overweight people in London. Even if the weather was gloomy and cold, people would just walk everywhere. The energy was also reminiscent of New York city, but with more tea. When we arrived there, we looked up for things to do.

Westminster Abby was one of the highly recommended sites. However, the tickets to Westminster Abby were a whopping $100 for a family of five. However, if you attended the Sunday mass, it was free. So, we saved a bunch of money by switching to Christianity for a day!

We visited two highly recommended museum by Trip Advisor: The British Museum and The Victoria and Albert Museum. I think they are the best museums in all of Europe. You know why? Because they’re free! They have a rich collection of exhibits from all over the world. Most of the exhibits in other sections said, “Donated by Col. Smith.” “Donated by Jones family.” In the South Asian section, they

Raajeev continued on page 96

Eye on the Markets

by Ketu Desai

Few Vs. Many

The most recent phase was driven by AI

There was an important shift in market narrative this month. We shifted from an expectation of recession and disinflation to the economy regaining its footing with a higher steady state level of inflation. The Atlanta Fed GDPNow shows a whopping 5.6 percent growth rate for the third quarter. 10-year break-evens (a proxy for average expected inflation) now have steadily climbed since July. The yield on the 10-year and the 10-year TIPS hit the highest level in more than 10-years.

Rising energy prices, new union contracts, infrastructure spending, the government deficit, and significant government debt issuance are some of the factors driving yields and inflation expectations upwards. Union contracts are illustrative of the bigger picture of an economy transitioning power from the few to the many.

We have seen strikes or workers threaten industry action from the pilot associations at major airlines, the Teamsters Union at UPS, Workers United at Starbucks, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, both writers and actors strike, and the UAW at major automakers.

We are seeing the lowest income households with the highest wage growth. Growth in unemployment payments is growing fastest at the high-end and slowest at the lowend. Similarly, the highest savings growth is at the low-end. Longer-term, AI will help accelerate this transition as knowledge work faces disruption. The bottom-line for the economy is that with the many experiencing wage growth with low debt levels and high savings combined with nearly $2 trillion in infrastructure spending coming, the economy remains well supported and we are in a higher for longer regime.

The market rally so far this year has been led by a few large cap technology companies. The rally for large cap tech this year has come in three phases. The first phase was driven by positioning.

The second was a flight to balance sheet safety driven by the regional banking crisis. The most recent phase was driven by AI.

I suspect in the fourth quarter we will see a FOMO rally in large cap tech. The rally in large cap tech has led to a historic more than 10 percent gap between the equalweighted S&P versus the market-cap weighted S&P. While positioning is very high, their weighting in the S&P is reaching the peak level, and valuation is high, it remains unlikely that there is a broad reallocation out of large cap tech. There is a large cap tech put due to their balance sheets and upside from AI.

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Should I Submit My Personal Statement Even If the School Doesn’t Require it?

College Admissions Insider

by Violet Wei

Even if the school doesn’t require a personal statement, you can often still submit it. The only time you should not send in the essay is if the school specifically states that they do not want you to submit it. Submitting the essay when they asked you not to shows that you cannot follow directions.

However, if it says that the essay is optional, it is almost always a good idea to send it in. If the school is choosing between two students with similar qualifications, they might choose the one who wrote the essay because they know more about that student. It also shows more initiative on your part. If it is well-written, this demonstrates your attractive qualities, and adds something new to your application, sending in an optional essay is almost always a good idea.

If the school doesn’t require essays and doesn’t want you to send in anything, there are other ways you can stand out. Here are some things you can do to showcase your personality, accomplishments, and skills:

Have solid letters of recommendation. A lukewarm letter of recommendation can be detrimental to the success of your application. If the school does let you send in recommendation letters, make sure they come from people who know you well and can speak to your accomplishments. Without a common app essay, it can be hard for you to talk in detail about your extracurricular activities or leadership positions, so the person who writes your letter can do so for you.

Submit a resume. We always recommend that our students submit resumes along with their applications. The common app only lets you speak for 150 characters about your extracurricular activities, so it can be difficult to stuff all the pertinent in that small space. You can showcase your skills, talents, hobbies, and extracurriculars by including a resume. Make sure to quantify as much as possible and add details to ensure your accomplishments are apparent to the reader.

Submit any supplemental information. Some schools will let you send in a portfolio or examples of your high school work. If that is the case, make sure to add that to your application.

Applying to schools with optional or no essays might seem easier, but that means it is more likely for your application to get lost among the student’s grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. Try to find ways for your application to stand out so the admissions officers are more likely to accept you!

Violet Wei is a College Counselor and Outreach Coordinator. Website: MoonPrep.com Contact: Violet@moonprep.com.

Funding Options for College

Funding Options for College

Financially Speaking

by Rupa Pereira

Fall season paints a picturesque scene of multi-color foliage with leaves strewn around like confetti and nature gracing us with cooler temperatures.

It can also be a harrowing time for parents and collegebound juniors/seniors as they scramble with their college applications, final SAT/ACT scores a while they await with bated breath on that number that a FAFSA lists as the annual cost of attending the college of their choice. And this number is unique for each family!

This might be the parent’s second major investment after their home. Through the college journey, parents dream of their children discovering their passions, gaining tools to navigate life’s challenges and ultimately finding happiness and success in the paths they choose to pursue. However, parents often experience profound anxiety when grappling with the daunting costs associated with financing their children’s college education.

Not surprisingly, their household net-worth plays a big role in arriving at the financial aid for their child’s respective college. The overall cost of college can either break the bank or put the household at risk of high indebtedness without prior planning.

Let’s look at the annual costs of college in 2023 depending on the type of college and program:

Every family’s contribution towards their child’s education varies based on family income/assets and their chosen college’s cost of attendance. This is most effectively derived through the annual FAFSA (Free Application for

Financially Speaking continued on page 86

—G20 Summit India—

Modi and Biden at G20

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Joe Biden in New Delhi during the G20 Summit in New Delhi on September 8, 2023. Biden visited India for the first time in his capacity as President.

Modi conveyed his appreciation for President Biden’s vision and commitment to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which is based on shared democratic values, strategic convergences and strong people-to-people ties.

The two leaders commended the progress in implementing the futuristic and wide-ranging outcomes of Prime Minister’s historic State visit to the U.S. in June 2023, including under the India-U.S. Initiative for Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).

The leaders welcomed the sustained momentum in bilateral cooperation, including in the areas of defense, trade, investment, education, health, research, innovation, culture, and people-to-people ties.

Biden congratulated Modi and the people of India on Chandrayaan-3’s historic landing near the lunar south pole and highlighted deepening cooperation between the two countries in Space.

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of regional and global issues. They agreed that India- US partnership was beneficial not only for the people of the two countries but also for global good.

Leaders of G20 Nations Pay Homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat

India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, along with the leaders of G20 member nations, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at the iconic Rajghat on September 10, 2023. Modi underlined that Gandhi’s timeless ideals guide the collective vision for a harmonious, inclusive and prosperous global future. Modi posted on X:

“At the iconic Rajghat, the G20 family paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi – the beacon of peace, service, compassion and non-violence. As diverse nations converge, Gandhi Ji’s timeless ideals guide our collective vision for a harmonious, inclusive and prosperous global future.”

Spot the Differences

See if you can spot the 15 differences between the original photo and modified photo on the right.

Answers are on page 104.

Healthy Soil

Healthy Soil

By Yuen Yoong Leong

The soil beneath our feet is a living entity. It is home to many microbes on Earth responsible for crucial processes such as decomposition and supporting plant health.

Organic compounds in the soil, such as humus – made from decomposed plant and animal matter – play a crucial role in maintaining soil’s structure, by acting as a bonding agent between soil particles. Similar to the walls of a building, healthy soil acts as a structure that allows water to flow, prevents erosion and provides habitats for organisms.

Healthy soil also helps people get safe and nutritious food, and is especially important for people including farmers and indigenous communities in developing nations.

Yet, more than a third of the soil worldwide is now degraded, or facing issues such as hardening, erosion, nutrient degradation and increased salinity.

Degraded soil can result in lower crop yields and poorer food quality. It also reduces water supply and increases drought risks. It may also increase the risks for floods, as the soil loses its ability to hold and filter water.

This article will share major factors behind soil degradation, and why we need governments worldwide to do more to take better care of our soil.

Soil destroyers

The global agriculture industry’s excessive use of fertilizer seriously damages the microbiological ecosystem in soil. This in turn makes the industry more dependent on expensive fertilizer and pesticides.

It can help grow more food and cut emissions – but government inaction means too much soil is being degraded

Nasa Tech Lets Scientists See Snow-Water Through the Trees

NASA scientists are testing a technology that could more accurately measure water stored in snow as seen from a satellite in orbit.

Melting snow provides much of the water that the western United States depend on for agriculture and power. But warming winters due to climate change led to decreased seasonal snowpacks high up in the Rockies and Sierra Nevada mountains. That in turn affects the volume of water that travels downriver to irrigate crops and turn hydroelectric turbines.

“If you take out the seasonal snowpack, you can essentially forget about all the agricultural products that we grow in California, which feed a large portion of this country,” said Batuhan Osmanoglu, a research physical scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Osmanoglu is the principal investigator on the Snow Water Equivalent Synthetic Aperture Radar and Radiometer, or SWESARR, instrument, built to track the amount of water in those seasonal snowpacks from above.

Originally funded by Goddard’s Internal Research and Development, or IRAD program, his team flew their instrument on a Twin Otter aircraft in 2020 and earlier this year while colleagues measured the snowpack on the ground.

They plan to fly over the same areas when the snowpack reaches its lowest levels in October. “We saw the maximum signal from the snow,” Osmanoglu said. “Now we are interested in the minimum. Observing both conditions will allow us to improve our algorithms.”

Measuring the terrain when there is little to no snow on the ground will help further refine their ability to measure the water in snow.

Figuring out how much water is contained in a given volume of snow isn’t straightforward, Osmanoglu said, as snow can vary in density from mostly air to mostly water.

“If you have snow in your backyard, and you take a cup and fill it up with snow, is the cup full or half-full when it’s melted?” Osmanoglu said. The melt test works well enough after one backyard snowfall where the snow’s density is uniform.

But over an entire mountain range for a full winter, density varies a great deal. To make those measurements, scientists need a different method and a higher vantage point.

The SWESARR instrument combines two techniques to offer improved sensitivity over earlier technology: SWESARR bounces its own radar pulses off the ground, measuring their return signal, as well as capturing naturally occurring microwave signals emitted from the snow.

Snow absorbs some of SWESARR’s radar signals. Scientists measure how much of the signal returns versus how much is absorbed by the snow to calculate the amount of water it contains.

Snow is cold, but still warm enough to emit microwaves that a radiometer can detect. Scientists measure the “brightness temperature” of energy emitted by the snow and compare it with that from snowless ground to calculate the water in the snowpack.

With the combination of the two measuring techniques, “You basically get a bigger range of snow water equivalent values that you can measure,” Osmanoglusaid . “And also, there is the benefit of these measurements confirming each other using two different physics.”

Both technologies have tradeoffs. Radiometers have been used for this kind of analysis for a long time and are good at measuring shallow to medium snow depths, while radar provides higher resolution and can penetrate deeper into the snowpack. But radiometers can struggle when the mountainous terrain is also heavily forested. “It’s difficult to say what part of the signal is actually coming from the snow versus which part is coming from the vegetation, because that also emits signals,” Osmanoglu said.

Radar is a little better at discerning smaller features like trees, but the measurements are not perfect. The radar wavelengths are about the length of evergreen branches, which means the signals bounce off instead of penetrating through trees to the ground where the snow is.

To address those challenges, Osmanoglu’s team combines four computer models to generate simulated landscapes of forests and snow and show what SWESARR would see in those environments. Using the simulation, he hopes to improve methods for detecting snow through small gaps in forest canopies before conducting further test flights.

“We have the trees, we have the snow, and we have the simulators, so we can actually see what type of signals we should be getting,” Osmanoglu said. “You’re trying to see, what is the canopy opening? Can we make a snow observation under the canopy?”

The SWESARR instrument is in good shape and has performed well on its aircraft flights. Improving the measurement algorithms is the next step, Osmanoglu said, toward the eventual dream of putting something like SWESARR on a satellite – a vantage point from which it could estimate the amount of water in snowpacks across the globe.

Young Families Should Not Ignore this Planning

Personal Finances

by Mo Vidwans

Estate planning aspect always raises much discussion, starting with “What exactly do I need to do at this stage in my life.” Or some variation of that thought. Most of these questions pop in the head mostly because people really have not thought much about it. They have not thought about what will happen to their estate at the end of their life or even worse, what will happen if the demise happens suddenly with nobody else knowing what to do since there were no instructions given or available and no discussions had happened amongst affected adults.

The most common practice in Asian countries was, as far as I can tell, to distribute all the property while the senior person or couple is alive and then expect that the next generation will take care of them for the remaining years of their life. It is probably worthwhile asking the question: will it work today, even in Asia? I will leave the answer to you.

My article a few months ago about “Creating the end-oflife estate planning” generated much interest from younger families as to what should be done by them, if anything. The simplest answer is much can be done and that they need to follow the same thinking and ideas as expressed in that article but that by itself will not be enough for them. What do I mean by that? For younger families, the burden is not only to take care of a young partner who has a much longer life to deal with but there are much younger children involved who must be taken care of, financially for sure, amongst many other issues like their own proper development to adulthood.

Just imagine a young family, parents in their mid-thirties or early forties and their children ranging from single digit age to teens and one parent has a sad demise. Usually it is a sudden illness, car accident or an unexpected calamity. When this is mentioned to them the first reaction is usually that “it will not happen to us.” Not sure what makes them to think that way but that is the way the mindset usually is, such as bad things only happen to others.

So. what needs to be done?

I will talk more about financial aspect of the question and stay away from the emotional toll that all such sudden bad events take, though that is also an important consideration. If both parents are working, then at least half the income is still there but the expenses keep piling up. Life takes an abrupt turn while the other partner is required to step in to carry full load for quite a while. It helps if outside help is available from relatives and friends.

So let me go into some solid steps that need to be taken

now by young families so that this sudden burden can be eased and stresses are assuaged.

1. Both partners together must have enough term life insurance to support the family and the young ones to get them to go on their own (generally through college). I would suggest not less than $1M per person. Assuming good health, the premium is not more than $35-40 per month/per person. Do not bank on the insurance from the place where you work since additional insurance there is expensive and then it disappears when you change jobs.

2. A trustee must be in place to take care of many financial and other aspects of a sudden demise in the family. This person can be anyone, friend or a relative, whom you implicitly trust. It is a good idea to have more than one name ready, available, and mentioned in the Will since “trustees” have a right to refuse to take on the responsibility for whatever reasons they may have.

3. A guardian for the children is a must and chosen carefully. For the same reason mentioned above, you should have more than just one person available. It is best if this person/family has the same philosophy as yours to raise children and carry on with the family affairs. For this reason alone, amongst others, there is a strong need to discuss all these detailed matters with the future guardians so that nothing is left to chances.

4. A Will package in place to support all the abovementioned issues and more. This is a package of four documents, Will is one of them, and I suggest strongly that everyone should have this ready and available all the time. If anything, this is probably the most ignored item, but it happens to be the most important. Almost 50 percent of the US population does not have a Will. That is sad. It is an important and critical document and really does not cost much money.

5. Both partners/parents must be completely conversant and aware of their own financial situation. This will allow them to not only to carry on in the absence of one partner, but it will take each partner out of a total blank slate situation where the partner has absolutely no idea what is going on to make any hard decisions.

6. While the children are young, these documents and ideas (like the guardians) should be revisited every few years. Circumstances change, our ideas change, we move to

News Notes

AAHOA Members Raise Nearly $100,000 at NC Region Charity Golf Tournament

AAHOA (Asian American Hotel Owners Association) hosted the North Carolina Region Charity Golf Tournament on August 26-27, 2023, at the Rocky River Golf Club in Concord, NC. The event marked the third charity golf tournament of the summer and saw a notable turnout of 125 players, many of whom are active AAHOA Members and industry leaders.

Against the backdrop of a challenging course, participants enjoyed a full day of golf and raised nearly $100,000 for the following charities: Hindu Center, Jamie Kimble Foundation, USO of North Carolina, The Sandbox, Isabell Santos Foundation, India Association, Samaritans Feet, Second Harvest Food Bank, Businesses Ending Slavery and Trafficking, Foundation for Girls, BAPS Charities, Ella Ford Foundation, Autism Strong, No One Left Alone, and It’s 4 The Kids.

Several elected officials from North Carolina attended the event: City of Concord Councilmember Terry Crawford, NC Representative Dan Bishop, District 8, NC Representative Jason Saine, District 97, NC Representative Kevin Crutchfield, District 83, Senator Thom Tillis, and South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman, District 5.

AAHOA’s NC Regional Director Pinkesh Patel, local Ambassadors, along with Jay Trini Patel, Vinay Patel, and Vimal Hardev paved the way for an impactful event.

Some comments about the event:

“What an incredible weekend with #TeamAAHOA! 125 players showed up and showed out at the North Carolina Region Charity Golf Tournament,” AAHOA Chairman Bharat Patel shared.

“My first-ever visit to the North Carolina charity golf tournament left me in awe. From past regional directors to the AAHOA Past Chairman, and now the current North Carolina Regional Director, Pinkesh Patel, along with his team of ambassadors and local community leaders, they put on a great tournament,” Mid South Regional Director Harikrishna (HK) Patel shared on Facebook.

“Had an amazing time in Charlotte, NC, at the annual AAHOA Charity Golf Tournament. I enjoyed playing golf and networking outdoors with AAHOA Members, elected officials, and hoteliers,” Director at Large Eastern Division Pinal Patel shared on Facebook.

2023 Cricket World Cup

The 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be hosted by India from October 5 – November 19, 2023. Ten teams will participate in the 13th edition of the World Cup, which takes place every four years and is in format of One Day International (ODI) cricket tournament contested by men’s national teams and organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). England is the 2019 defending champions. It will be the first men’s Cricket World Cup to be hosted solely by India, who with other countries on the Indian subcontinent had co-hosted the event in 1987, 1996, and 2011.

The participating teams are India, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Netherlands.

The final is scheduled to be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Amdavad on November 19, 2023. Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai and Eden Gardens, Kolkata will host the two semifinals. Details: Cricketworldcup.com.

Indo US Bridging RARE Summit 2023

In the 40 years since the Orphan Drug Act was legislated in the USA, there is a growing understanding of the importance of rare diseases that affect over 30 million Americans. While the situation in Europe is similar, no such awareness exists in many parts of the world such as India which is home to over 1.4 billion people. It is time to change that, for the people in India, and the 8 billion people across the world.

The Bridging RARE Summit 2023 brings together key leaders representing all stakeholders of rare diseases from across the world with a specific focus on the US, and the Indian subcontinent.

It is slated to take place from October 29 – 30, 2023 at George Mason University, Arlington, VA. Find more details at: Summit.indousrare.org.

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BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham NJ Dedication Ceremony

INAS 312 is one of two Indian Navy squadrons operating the P-8I Poseidon.

“This is a great opportunity to strengthen our partnership with India and improve our ability to work together to protect the maritime commons,” said Lt. Ryan Speir, VP-26’s detachment officer in charge. “The P-8A is a highly capable aircraft which plays a vital role in ASW operations, and this professional exchange will ensure that we are able to effectively use this asset in a combined environment.”

The two squadrons participated in flying and nonflying activities, which included discussions on operational planning, maintenance training and logistical support. VP-26 and INAS 312 also coordinated flying events with Indian Navy surface ships.

The BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham will be dedicated in Robbinsville, NJ on Sunday, October 8, 2023, from 4:45pm – 8pm. The temple is spread over 185 acres and was built by over 12,000 volunteers. The temple is carved from 1.9 million cubic feet of stone and was inspired by HH Pramukh Swami Maharaj and will be inaugurated by HH Mahant Swami Maharaj. The temple opens to everyone beginning October 18, 2023, and onwards. The event will be streamed live at usa.akshardham.org. More information is also available at the website.

VP-26 Concludes Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Training with India

The exchange is the latest in a series of interactions between the U.S. and Indian navies, reflecting their shared commitment to building interoperability and collaborating in support of maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region.

The P-8A is a long-range, multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft that is capable of conducting ASW, antisurface warfare, search and rescue, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The P-8I, the Indian variant of the P-8A, is equipped with additional sensors and weapons that are tailored to the Indian Navy’s requirements.

The VP-26 “Tridents” are based in Jacksonville, Florida, and are currently forward deployed to Misawa Air Base, Japan. The squadron conducts maritime patrol and reconnaissance as part of a rotational deployment to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forwarddeployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Ragas Live Festival

Sailors assigned to the “Tridents” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 and members of the Indian Navy Air Squadron (INAS) 312 “Albatross” pose for a photo upon the arrival of a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon aircraft at Rajali, India, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo)

The “Tridents” of Patrol Squadron (VP) 26 completed a week-long combined anti-submarine warfare (ASW) subject matter expert exchange with the “Albatross” of Indian Naval Air Squadron (INAS) 312 at India Naval Air Station Rajali, Tamil Nadu India, Aug. 28, 2023.

The subject matter expert exchange focused on improving interoperability between the two navies’ maritime patrol and reconnaissance forces. It included training on ASW and information sharing on specific maritime-challenges in the Indian Ocean. One VP 26 P-8A Poseidon aircraft and one INAS 312 P-8I Poseidon aircraft participated in the exchange.

Ragas Live Festival, New York City’s most ambitious music drop, will return for its 12th year as a 24-hour live event at Brooklyn’s Pioneer Works and online. Ragas Live Festival, taking place from October 14 – 15, 2023, will present 24 continuous hours of transcendent, spiritual music at the Pioneer Works main stage, and in livestream.

There will be 18 performances including masters of the raga tradition such as Ramakrishnan Murthy and The Akkarai Sisters alongside legendary figures in ambient music, minimalism and new music including Vicky Chow, David Cossin & Mark Stewart of the Bang on a Can AllStars, and Mind Maintenance from the influential duo of Joshua Abrahms and Chad Taylor. Terry Riley has given his blessing to composer Amir ElSaffar to create and premiere a new work inspired by Terry Riley’s seminal work In C. The new composition, In E half-flat will be

the finale of the 24 hours of music and will be performed by an ensemble of 12 musicians steeped in the microtonal Maqam tradition of North Africa and the Middle East.

North Carolina Music Hall of Fame 2023 Inductees

Re

flecting ragas influence on jazz, Celebrating John McLaughlin & Mahavishnu will feature Premik Russell Tubbs on woodwinds, an original member of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Breaking ground within the tradition will be a jugalbandi, or duet, of Kunal Gunjal & Suhail Yusuf Khan Kunal on santoor and sarangi, two traditional classical raga instruments that have never been performed together in the United States. To sarangi maestro Suahail Yusuf Khan’s knowledge, the last time these instruments performed together was in India featuring his legendary grandfather Ustad Sabri Khan.

Info: Pioneerworks.org/programs/ragas-live-festival-2023.

Swachh Sagar Surkashit Sagar (Clean Ocean Safe Ocean)

The North Carolina Music Hall of Fame will induct six inductees that will comprise the 2023 class scheduled to be enshrined during the annual induction ceremony in October. The 2023 inductees are: Scotty McCreery, Loudon Wainwright III, Bill Curtis, the Fetchin Bones, Betty Davis, and George Beverly Shea.

The induction ceremony honoring the 2023 class will take place on Thursday, October 19, 2023, at the Mooresville Performing Arts Center in Mooresville, NC.

The ceremony is open to the public and will include appearances by inductees and live performances by Scotty McCreery, Loudon Wainwright III, and Fetchin Bones as well as others.

The NC Music Hall of Fame’s mission is to recognize, promote, and commemorate the musical heritage of the State of North Carolina. The museum is located at 600 Dale Earnhardt Blvd. in Kannapolis, NC. The museum adjoins the Curb Music & Motorsports Museum. Exhibits showcasing memorabilia from the 2023 inductees will be on display at the museum this October. Admission to the museum and new inductee exhibition is free; donations are accepted.

Learn more about the ceremony and the museum at: NorthCarolinaMusicHallOfFame.org.

NASA Announces Summer 2023

Hott

est on Record

India’s The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) conducted mega citizen-led beach clean-up drives at 79 locations in 8 coastal states and 4 UTs of the country on September 16, 2023 that continued next day to mark International Coastal Clean-up Day.

The event was aimed to encourage citizens to clean up the coastal line and create awareness about preserving and protecting the oceans and waterways. It witnessed mass participation from government institutions, NGOs, students and youth, local dwellers, and the public.

Over five thousand volunteers helped clean about 18 tons of waste. At 12 select locations, Fisherfolk Awareness Programs to educate coastal communities about the services of the MoES were organized along with the beach clean-up drive.

“Our oceans are vital to our survival, for regulating the climate and weather, which impact livelihood and economy, are home to valuable resources, and nurture a large share of biodiversity of this planet. The International Coastal Cleanup Day serves as a reminder for all of us to keep our coasts clean and our oceans safe”, said Dr M Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES.

The International Coastal Clean-up Day is observed annually worldwide on the third Saturday of September every year.

This map depicts global temperature anomalies for meteorological summer in 2023 (June, July, and August). It shows how much warmer or cooler different regions of Earth were compared to the baseline average from 1951 to 1980.

Credits: NASA Earth Observatory/Lauren Dauphin

Summer of 2023 was Earth’s hottest since global records began in 1880, according to scientists at NASA’s Goddard Institute of Space Studies (GISS) in New York.

The months of June, July, and August combined were 0.41 degrees Fahrenheit (0.23 degrees Celsius) warmer than any other summer in NASA’s record, and 2.1 degrees F (1.2

News Notes continued on page 70

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Abby V continued from page 40

D: I really enjoy your Ted Talks about ragas.

A: Thanks, the concept of ragas is scales and different notes and the combination of those and what they emote. I did the 73 Ragas video to show that ragas are Indian Classical music and not just for old people. You can take a western pop song and notate into sargam and you can match it with a raga in Indian classical music. You can take a song and say this sorta sounds like this raga. That’s what I do with my music and live shows. Kinda combine the different types of music. It’s amazing how the different worlds come together.

D: It's been well documented that your dad and mom helped you and influenced you with their love of Indian Classical music. Now that you are in the forefront of this “fusion” movement, how do you think you can help perpetuate this cycle in the next generation?

A: I think it’s a very important question. We as artists have to take on that responsibility. I think making it relatable and palatable. I took a bunch of classes and did drills over and over and it gets tedious and boring. Once you get passed that, you begin to relate on a different level. I incorporate the tools of social media and make my music as accessible, relatable and approachable as possible. That’s a responsibility I take very seriously to pass this wonderful art form to the younger generation.

D: What do you think your parents imagined for your future and how do you think they reconcile that with what you are actually doing in the entertainment industry?

A: It’s interesting that you asked that. My family always thought I would be in the performing arts but they encouraged me to get an education, to have something to fall back on. And I did that, I got a degree in management and I think that now helps in my career.

D: You are in Mumbai as we conduct this interview. How much traveling do you do?

A: I spent 6 months in US / Canada and the rest in India or on tour. I did 40 shows in US last year. I have an album coming out soon. Should be ready by October or November of this year. You may hear some of the new music at Hum Sub Diwali.

D: Looking forward to seeing you on Oct 14th, in Cary for Hum Sub Diwali.

A: Thank you Mr. Divakar. I am really excited about the show. As we celebrate Diwali, my band and I will be performing all different types of music from South Asia, not just Bollywood but Hindi, Telegu, Malayalam… Including classical and even a wedding medley as the theme this year is Shagun for Hum Sub Diwali. Also a very special feature in this show that has not happened too often, my dad will perform (a few numbers) with me.

Canadian pop star Abby V will be performing in Cary, NC at the Koka Booth Amphitheater as part of the Hum Sub Diwali on October 14, 2023. This year’s theme is Shagun (An Auspicious Start). Gates open at 10 am for this free event that will feature dance performances, food, shopping and more. The evening primetime entertainment begins at 6:30pm with opening act Shradha Ganesh followed by Abby V and Band. More details at humsub.org.

Divakar Shukla

is the publisher of Saathee. Contact: Saathee@saathee.com

C) warmer than the average summer between 1951 and 1980. August alone was 2.2 F (1.2 C) warmer than the average. June through August is considered meteorological summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

This new record comes as exceptional heat swept across much of the world, exacerbating deadly wildfires in Canada and Hawaii, and searing heat waves in South America, Japan, Europe, and the U.S.

“Summer 2023’s record-setting temperatures aren’t just a set of numbers – they result in dire real-world consequences. From sweltering temperatures in Arizona and across the country, to wildfires across Canada, and extreme flooding in Europe and Asia, extreme weather is threatening lives and livelihoods around the world,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The impacts of climate change are a threat to our planet and future generations, threats that NASA and the Biden-Harris Administration are tackling head on.”

NASA assembles its temperature record, known as GISTEMP, from surface air temperature data acquired by tens of thousands of meteorological stations, as well as sea surface temperature data from ship- and buoy-based instruments. This raw data is analyzed using methods that account for the varied spacing of temperature stations around the globe and for urban heating effects that could skew the calculations.

The analysis calculates temperature anomalies rather than absolute temperature. A temperature anomaly shows how far the temperature has departed from the 1951 to 1980 base average.

“Exceptionally high sea surface temperatures, fueled in part by the return of El Niño, were largely responsible for the summer’s record warmth,” said Josh Willis, climate scientist and oceanographer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon characterized by warmer than normal sea surface temperatures (and higher sea levels) in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

The record-setting summer of 2023 continues a long-term trend of warming. Scientific observations and analyses made over decades by NASA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and other international institutions have shown this warming has been driven primarily by human-caused greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, natural El Niño events in the Pacific pump extra warmth into the global atmosphere and often correlate with the warmest years on record.

Willis and other scientists expect to see the biggest impacts of El Niño in February, March, and April 2024. El Niño is associated with the weakening of easterly trade winds and the movement of warm water from the western Pacific toward the western coast of the Americas. The phenomenon can have widespread effects, often bringing cooler, wetter conditions to the U.S. Southwest and drought to countries in the western Pacifica.

For additional figures and maps related to this announcement, visit: https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14407

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Masala Puffs

Saathee RECIPES

Hello again Saathee readers! I'm back with another favorite recipe of mine, the Masala Puffs. For those familiar with the comforting allure of Indian 'patties', Masala Puffs will be a revelation. Easy to prepare yet boasting an intricate flavor profile, the puffs marry the earthy sweetness of sweet potatoes with the creamy richness of coconut. Infused with an aromatic blend of traditional Indian spices, each bite is a harmonious dance of familiar warmth and exotic allure. I'd recommend making the filling ahead of time and storing it in an air tight container. I also personally love the serving these with 'Kasundi' sauce. If you aren't familiar with it, I'd urge you to check it out. It is this amazing Bengali spicy mustard sauce which I was introduced to a few years back and I keep finding excuses to use it in my meals. Whether it's the festival of light or the gratitude-filled gatherings of the harvest season, these puffs stand ready to add a touch of magic to your table.

Ingredients Directions

2 sheets of puff pastry

1 red potato boiled and peeled

1 sweet potato boiled and peeled

1 medium white onion chopped finely

2 tbsp olive oil

3 tbsp minced ginger

1 1/2 tsp salt

8 garlic cloves crushed

1 tbsp madras curry powder

1 tbsp garam masala

3 green chilis finely chopped

1/2 light coconut milk

1 tsp turmeric

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 eggs

Servings: About 18

Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 30 minutes

Step One: Mash both potatoes in a bowl and set aside.

Step Two: Heat oil in a pan and add onions. Cook until translucent.

Step Three: Add garlic, ginger, curry powder, garam masala, turmeric, salt and green chilis.

Step Four: Mix in the potatoes and coconut milk. Cook for 5-10 mins. Top the mixture with cilantro and allow it to cool in the fridge.

Step Five: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut each puff pastry into 9 squares.

Step Six: Put egg wash on the edges, place about 1.5 tbsp of the masala mixture and fold each square to make a triangle.

Step Seven: Using a fork, press on the edges, brush the egg wash on each triangle and bake for 16-18 minutes. Serve with a spicy mustard sauce, mint chutney, or your favorite condiment.

Work Completed: Grading, Parking Lot , foundation, stone work inside and outside.

Work Continues: Main Shikhar and electrical.

2023 MEMBERSHIP DRIVE

Upcoming Hindu Center Events & Activities:

Navratri –Sthapana: Garba - October 15th, Sunday thru October 23rd, Monday; (Kids’ Garba: Nov 5th)

Garba in Temple and at Park Expo on October 20th, Friday & October 21st, Saturday

Durga Ashtami Havan: October 22nd, Sunday

Navratri Visarjan: October 23rd, Monday

Vijaya Dashmi: October 24th, Tuesday

Sharad Purnima: October 28th, Saturday (Garba in Vihar Hall)

Karva Chauth: October 31st, Tuesday

Kids’ Garba: November 5th, Sunday

Dhan Teras: November 10th, Friday

Kali Chaudas: November 11th, Saturday

Diwali / Mahavir Nirvana Day: November 12th, Sunday

Annakut/Govardhan Pooja/New Year: November 13th, Monday

Diwali Cultural Show: November 18th, Saturday

Tulsi Vivah: November 24th, Friday

Karthik Poornima Deepotsavam: November 28th, Tuesday

F C HARLOTTE

New Vedanta Bhavan

Support

Hindu Center Expansion

Leave a Lasting Memory on HC Wall.

Sponsor Plates for $1001, $5,001, $10,001, $25,001 or more

Hindu Center celebrating Karva Chouth

Venue: Vihar Hall

Date: October 31st, 2023 (Tuesday)

First Batch 4pm to 5pm

Second Batch 5pm to 6pm at Vihar Hall.

Please bring your Puja thalis.

Kokilaji: 704-264-7280

Veenaji: 704-745-8415

Hindu Center of Charlotte Presents

9:30 pm to 1:30 am

Tickets & Info: Hemant Amin: 704-258-3588, Rajni Patel: 704-488-8145 or Nirav Pandya: 570-205-2639

Members: $10 at gate only. Membership is $101/year (Seniors - $31) for Calendar Year 2023

Non-members: 18 yrs & above: $20 / person in advance & $30 at gate. Student with ID & Seniors $10 at gate only. Parking: $10, charged by Bojangles (carpooling is encouraged)

O F C HARLOTTE

Oct

41st Anniversary Navratri Celebrations – 2023

Navratri: Oct 15th to Oct. 23rd in Temple; (Oct 20th & Oct 21st Park Expo)

Dashera: Oct 24th Lord Sri Ram Abhisekham 6:30 pm, Ravan Dahan 7:30 pm

Sharad Purnima: Oct 28th (Vihar Hall)

Children’s Garba: Nov 5th (Vihar Hall)

Lord

Navratri Sponsorships:

Mukhya Yajman (3): Navratri – 9 Days - $1501, Daily Yajman $251

Asthami & Navchandi Havan: Mukhya Yajman $1001 (1 couple), Yajman $101 / couple (11 couples only)

Daily Aarti Sponsors at the Temple $101, Prasad Sponsors $101

Dashera: Lord Sri Ram AbhiseKham $31, Lord Sri Ram Archna $11

Venue: Park Expo – Freedom Hall, 800 Briar Creek Rd (Next to Bojangles Arena)

Park Expo on Independence Entrance:

Members: $10 at gate only. Membership is $101/year (Seniors - $31) for Calendar Year 2023

Non-members 18 yrs & above: $20/person in advance & $30 at gate. Student with ID & Seniors $10 at gate only.

Parking: $10, charged by Bojangles (carpooling is encouraged)

Non-Food stalls: $301 per day / $501 per weekend (2 days), $151 Children's Garba, $101 Sharad Purnima

Donate Food for Booth: Deepak Desai 704-201-5672, Surendra Patel 704-564-9436 Jatin Patel 678-602-0935

Decorations: Rashmika Patel – 980-322-3505, Prerna Amin – 704-258-1696, Ameeta Patel 203-434-4004

Advertising / Marketing / Banners / Sponsors: Vijay Patel – 704-277-2468, Rajni Patel – 704-488-8145, Bharat Patel – 704-459-1954 Nirav Pandya 570-205-2636

Fundraising: Ravi Patel, Ball Gupta, Hemant Amin, Rajni Patel, Bharat Patel, Jatin Patel, Vivek Vemunoori

Religious, Decoration, Aarti, Prasad, & Garba at HC: Deepak Jadeja -704-819-9814 Bharti Patel – 704-678-9991, Dinesh Shah, Bharat Patel – 704-549-1954, Hemant Amin – 704- 258- 3588, Mahesh Patel, Surendra Patel – 704-564-9436, Pravin Shah – 704-307-8336 and Loku Hemnani

Dashera: Jagdish Patel, Hemant Amin, Mittal Patel and Harshal Jambusaria

Sound: Subodh Patel, Nayan Patel

Vendors: Reena Roy, Nirav Pandya, Ameeta Patel

Advertising banners outside temple: $251 for all 15 days – Park Expo included $501 For all other info call Temple – 704-535-3440

41st Anniversary

only Celebration – Note: NO FIREWORKS ALLOWED. STRICTLY ENFORCED BY POLICE. Hemant Amin, Jagdish Patel, Mittal Patel & Harshal Jambusaria

• Volunteer for Traffic control – Nirav Pandya – 570.205.2636

• Sounds and Lights – Subodh Patel 980.365.1550

• For more information or to participate in the Puja – Call Temple 704.535.3440 or HC Contacts: Ameeta Patel 203.434.4004, Reena Roy: 704-607-8413;

O F C HARLOTTE

Diwali Cultural Program & Mela 2023

You are cordially invited!

November 18th, Sat. (11 am -7 pm) at Vihar Hall

Admission: Free

Clothing, Jewelry, Crafts

Community Entertainment

Food Stalls

Vendor Booths

CONTACTS: Cultural Show : Anitha Gowtam 704-206-9348, Sarika Milhoutra 201-696-1877, Riya Annesha 980-349-9476, Amulya Deepak 704-589-4033 or hc_cultural@yahoo.com

Sponsorships: Anju Jain 704-620-4503, Nirav Pandya 570-205-2636, Nikita Mittal 732-586-6075 or email: hc_cultural@yahoo.com

HC Contacts – Reena Roy: 704-607-8412 or reena.roy@hcclt.org, Hemant Amin 704-258-3588 or Ameeta Patel 203-434-4004

Hindu Center & VSHC Celebrating Tulsi Vivah

THE WEDDING CEREMONY OF LORD VISHNU (KRISHNA)

WEDS TULSI on Friday, Nov 24th (6 pm to 8 pm) at HC Vihar Hall

Varghodo with live band and bhangra for lord Krishna from Vivek Hall: 5:30 pm

Vivah Khel, lagna geet, garba and dance for tulsimataji at Vihar Hall: 6 to 6:30 pm

Mosalu, wedding ceremony, Varmala and Kanyadan and Vidai: 6:30 pm to 8 pm

aarti followed by mahaprasad: 8:15pm

This is a very auspicious opportunity to be a witness of glorious wedding. For more information and donation for any event or sponsorship call: Bhartiben Patel 704-678-9991 or Ashokbhai Trivedi 980-263-8075.

SPONSORS MUKHYA YAJMAN UP TO 4 $1001, MAHA PRASAD YAJMAN $251, YAJMAN $101

Modern ways of growing crops such as corns and potatoes often prioritize maximizing high yields by using more nitrogen fertilizer than necessary. This releases nitrous oxide – a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere.

In addition, aggressive soil cultivation practices – such as deep plowing with heavy machinery – have risen significantly over recent decades. These practices crush organic matter hidden within soil clumps, resulting in serious loss of biodiversity.

Human activities are putting too much stress on soil resources, and we are reaching a point where the soil can no longer sustain us. This not only endangering biodiversity but also disrupting food supplies, potentially pushing millions into poverty.

The global significance of healthy soil

A 2020 study by the International Union for Conservation of Nature found that healthy soils and landscapes can enhance crops’ ability to withstand the detrimental effects of climate change, such as drought or flood. Improving our understanding of soil can also advance economic and climate goals.

The IUCN report found that increasing soil organic carbon by 0.4 percent annually in the first 30-40cm of soil may increase global production of major food crops, such as corn, rice and wheat, in some cases between 20-40 percent per year.

Boosting soil organic carbon in the world’s agricultural land by that much could increase carbon capture by croplands and grasslands by approximately one gigaton per year over the next 30 years. That would be equivalent to capturing 10 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions from human activity in 2017.

However, enhancing soil fertility is not as simple as pouring fertilizer out of a bag. Governments need to work together at the global, regional, and national levels to collectively improve soil health.

Better policies to soil museums: how governments can help

There are many existing soil initiatives around the world that governments can learn from.

First, governments need to create policies that encourage farmers or land managers to implement environmentally friendly practices.

One example is the “carbon farming” policy implemented by the European Union, which provides financial incentives to farmers or land managers who adopt eco-friendly practices. These practices include diversifying crops, planting leguminous plants, such as peanuts or lentils, and practicing agroforestry (integrating trees and shrubs with crops or livestock).

These actions help to increase carbon sequestration in soils and support a healthy ecosystem with beneficial organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes.

Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Thailand have led globally in reducing chemical fertilizer subsidies. To improve soil fertility and biodiversity, governments need to

direct subsidies towards a biological solution that involves using bio-fertilizers and science-based composting.

Second, governments can participate in global initiatives aimed at improving soil quality.

International organizations, such as the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, bring together experts, governments, the private sector and environmental organizations to emphasize critical environmental issues, including the significance of soil health.

The upcoming UN SDG Summit and UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) later in the year present opportunities for governments to recognize the feasibility and economic viability of large-scale soil ecosystem restoration.

Third, educating the general public about soil science is also essential.

For instance, soil museums – located in various regions around the world – serve as an effective means of educating people about different types of soil, how they are formed, their uses and threats, as well as ways to protect it.

Nurturing the symbiotic relationship between human and life in soil requires a mindset change. Doing so will improve citizens’ understanding and respect for the nutrient recycling mechanisms that nature itself has developed and relies on.

Article courtesy of The Conversation (theconversation.com)

Yuen Yoong Leong is Director of Sustainability Studies, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN); Professor, Sunway University

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Rental - Waterside at Catawba

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Rental - Hallstead in Concord

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Rental - Piper Glen

Amazing, Executive, Private, Culdesac home in Sought after Piper Glen. Over an Acre lot with Water view. Open floor plan with lots of natural light. Two story foyer and great room, gourmet European style Kitchen with commercial grade appliances. Study/Library. Stately Primary bedroom and bathroom. Spacious secondary bedrooms. Large walk-in closets throughout. Basement is made for entertaining with a bar, wine cellar, and exercise room. 2nd Living quarters with separate entrance. Beautiful outdoor spaces including an in-ground pool, outdoor kitchen, covered patios, balconies, etc. Five car Garage. Extensive landscaping. Totally private oasis. Superb location: Walk to Trader's Joe, Four mile creek, Starbucks, etc. This one is a must see. $9,995/month

Rental - Hallstead

This rental includes the very popular Robie floorplan, which features an open design with guest Bedroom on the main level. Beautiful wood floors. Gorgeous kitchen with walk-in pantry, large island, SS appliances, granite counters & tiled backsplash. The Master Bedroom has spacious walk-in closets. Lots of storage options. Lovely backyard and attached 2-car garage. Great community with neighborhood playground. All appliances included! Be the first to call this home. $2,195/month

Robbins Park - Lake Norman

4 bedrooms, 3 1/2 Baths, 3,600 Sq. Ft. Amazing and well maintained Full Brick home in sought after Providence Springs. Completely Remodeled kitchen with SS appliances and solid countertops. Gleaming Hardwoods that were recently refinished. Large Master suite with sitting area and Custom Closet. Master bath with spacious shower, double vanity and a garden tub. Relaxing Sunroom. Oversized secondary bedrooms with a lot of closet space. Staircase with wood treads and wrought iron spindles. Gorgeous Stone and pavers covered patio with a Fireplace. Fenced-in Backyard.

Financially Speaking continued from page 52

Federal Student Aid) Application. This year, the FAFSA is undergoing significant changes and will only be available in Dec as opposed to Oct 1st.

The FAFSA is completed for each year of enrollment at the child’s college, so income/asset planning can go a long way in making the Family’s Contribution more manageable. The EFC is rebranded as Student Aid Index (SAI) and what’s left after Family’s contribution towards the Cost of Attendance is classified as Financial Aid. This is disbursed out in way of loans, work-study programs if eligible or scholarships if eligible.

The various sources of funding available to students:

•UTMA, UGMA accounts – These are custodial accounts, funded by parents and owned by children once they’re of age and can be applied towards college expenses.

•529 Plans – College Savings accounts, administered by the state and offer tax-free distribution towards qualified college expenses.

•529 opened by other family members listing your child as a beneficiary.

•Cash Value Life Insurance

•US Savings Bonds – mainly Series EE/Series I Bonds where interest earned is tax-exempt if paid towards college expenses.

•Leveraging Real Estate Equity through a Home Equity Line of Credit

•Penalty free distributions from Traditional or ROTH IRA or Retirement accounts (401K)

Other ways to reduce cost of college:

1.Community College – A 2 year’s Associates degree offers transferable credits towards an eligible in-state college thereby reducing cost of attendance overall.

2.Currently only 40 percent of the students graduate in four years. Graduating on-time avoids an additional year of tuition and overall cost of attendance.

3.Avoiding switching majors between the years. Often, scholarships/grants are contingent on course and college selection and switching majors/colleges can increase overall cost of attendance for future years.

While parents look for ways to fund their child’s college dreams, they also need to keep an eye on their own retirement needs for the following reasons:

•Grants – State, School, Local municipalities, Special Interest Groups. Grants are typically need based and are based on the child’s Student Aid Index.

•Scholarships – Offered by college or an Employer or a caused-based organization. They typically reward academic achievement or sporting/extra-curricular abilities.

•Loans - Students and parents are eligible to borrow via Federal Loans. Students have access to subsidized (where interest accrued through school is paid by Dept of Ed) and unsubsidized loans (where the accrued interest is added to final loan balance post-graduation). Parents are also eligible to apply for PLUS (Parent Loans for Undergraduate Students) through the Federal Direct Loans program towards financing their child’s college. The Federal Loans are capped and carry a fixed interest rate and don’t involve underwriting, thus making it more accessible for students to finance their undergraduate degree when they may not be gainfully employed. In addition, parents can also borrow from private institutions such as So-Fi.

•Work-Study – whereby students have access to campus related work-opportunities to offset tuition costs while in school.

Grants and Scholarships don’t have to be repaid, but loans do. This is an important distinction.

Other Financial options available to Families:

•Savings Accounts or CDs

1.Financial Security: Retirement years can span decades and relies primarily on retirement savings, Social Security, and possibly pensions. Without adequate retirement savings, one risks experiencing financial hardship and a reduced standard of living, potentially becoming a burden to your children.

2.Time Horizon: Retirement savings benefit significantly from compounding interest. Delaying retirement savings can result in the need to save much larger sums later, which may be financially unfeasible.

3.Healthcare Costs: Aging causes healthcare expenses to become a significant portion of one’s retirement budget. Having ample retirement savings can help cover these costs without straining finances.

Parents, while it’s natural parental instincts to want to support your child’s education, we’ve seen above they have many options at their disposal. In contrast, there are limited sources of income for your retirement beyond what you save, making it a more critical financial priority. In short, balancing your child’s college aspirations without straining your own retirement needs is not just a seasonal task, but an on-going open family conversation.

Rupa Pereira is the owner and lead financial advisor at FWJ Planning, an investment advisory and planning firm registered in NC. As an enrolled agent, she’s also authorized by IRS to represent her clients on tax-matters. Contact: info@fwjplanning.com.

Dr. Henry E. Rice

Dr. Ferzaan A. Ali

The R ad t 2024 Electi ns

How did the US presidential campaign get to be so long?

By Rachel Paine Caufield

Four hundred and forty-four days prior to the 2024 presidential election, millions of Americans tuned into the first Republican primary debate. If this seems like a long time to contemplate the candidates, it is.

By comparison, Canadian election campaigns average just 50 days. In France, candidates have just two weeks to campaign, while Japanese law restricts campaigns to a meager 12 days.

Those countries all give more power than the United States does to the legislative branch, which might explain the limited attention to the selection of the chief executive. But Mexico – which, like the US, has a presidential system – only allows 90 days for its presidential campaigns, with a 60-day “pre-season,” the equivalent of the US nomination campaign.

So, by all accounts, the United States has exceptionally long elections – and they just keep getting longer. As a political scientist living in Iowa, I’m acutely aware of how long the modern American presidential campaign has become.

It wasn’t always this way. The seemingly interminable presidential campaign is a modern phenomenon. It originated out of widespread frustration with the control that national parties used to wield over the selection of candidates. But changes to election procedures, along with media coverage that started to depict the election as a horse race, have also contributed to the trend.

Wresting power from party elites

For most of American history, party elites determined who would be best suited to compete in the general election. It was a process that took little time and required virtually no public campaigning by candidates.

But beginning in the early 20th century, populists and progressives fought for greater public control over the selection of their party’s candidates. They introduced the

Expires: 10.31.23

Road to 2024 continued from page 88

modern presidential primary and advocated for a more inclusive selection process of convention delegates. As candidates sought support from a wider range of people, they began to employ modern campaign tactics, like advertising.

Nonetheless, becoming the nominee didn’t require a protracted campaign.

Consider 1952, when Dwight Eisenhower publicly announced that he was a Republican just 10 months before the general election and indicated that he was willing to run for president. Even then, he remained overseas as NATO commander until June, when he resigned to campaign full time.

On the Democratic side, despite encouragement from President Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson repeatedly rejected efforts to draft him for the nomination, until his welcoming address at the national convention in July 1952 – just a few months before the general election. His speech excited the delegates so much that they put his name in the running, and he became the nominee.

And in 1960, even though John F. Kennedy appeared on the ballot in only 10 of the party’s 16 state primaries, he was still able to use his win in heavily Protestant West Virginia to convince party leaders that he could attract support, despite his Catholicism.

A shift to primaries

The contentious 1968 Democratic convention in Chicago, however, led to a series of reforms.

That convention had pitted young anti-war activists supporting Eugene McCarthy against older establishment supporters of Vice President Hubert Humphrey. Thousands of protesters rioted in the streets as Humphrey was nominated. It revealed deep divisions within the party, with many members convinced that party elites had operated against their wishes.

The resulting changes to the nomination process –dubbed the McGovern-Fraser reforms – were explicitly designed to allow rank-and-file party voters to participate in the nomination of a presidential candidate.

States increasingly shifted to public primaries rather than party caucuses. In a party caucus system – like that used in Iowa – voters meet at a designated time and place to discuss candidates and issues in person. By design, a caucus tends to attract activists deeply engaged in party politics.

Primaries, on the other hand, are conducted by the state government and require only that a voter show up for a few moments to cast their ballot.

As political scientist Elaine Kamarck has noted, in 1968, only 15 states held primaries; by 1980, 37 states held primaries. For the 2024 election, only Iowa, Nevada, Idaho, North Dakota, Utah and Hawaii have confirmed that they’ll hold caucuses; the remaining U.S. states and territories will likely hold primaries.

The growing number of primaries meant that candidates were encouraged to use any tool at their disposal to reach as many voters as possible. Candidates became more entrepreneurial, name recognition and media attention became more important, and campaigns became more media savvy – and expensive.

This shift marked the beginning of what political scientists call the “candidate-centered campaign.”

The early bird gets the worm

In 1974, as he concluded his term as Governor of Georgia, just 2 percent of voters recognized the name of Democrat Jimmy Carter. He had virtually no money.

But Carter theorized that he could build momentum by proving himself in states that held early primaries and caucuses. So, on December 12, 1974 – 691 days before the general election – Carter announced his presidential campaign. Over the course of 1975, he spent much of his time in Iowa, talking to voters and building a campaign operation in the state.

By October 1975, The New York Times was heralding Carter’s popularity in Iowa, pointing to his folksy style, agricultural roots and political prowess. Carter came in second in that caucus – “uncommitted” won – but he yielded more votes than any other named candidate. Carter’s campaign was widely accepted as the runaway victor, boosting his prominence, name recognition and fundraising.

Carter would go on to win the nomination and the election.

His successful campaign became the stuff of political legend. Generations of political candidates and organizers have since adopted the early start, hoping that a better-thanexpected showing in Iowa or New Hampshire will similarly propel them to the White House.

Other states crave the spotlight

As candidates tried to repeat Carter’s success, other states tried to steal some of Iowa’s political prominence by pushing their contests earlier and earlier in the nomination process, a trend called “frontloading.”

In 1976, when Carter ran, just 10 percent of national convention delegates were selected by March 2. By 2008, 70 percent of delegates were selected by March 2.

When state primaries and caucuses were spread out in the calendar, candidates could compete in one state, then move their campaign operation to the next state, raise some money and spend time getting to know the activists, issues and voters before the next primary or caucus. A frontloaded system, in contrast, requires candidates to run a campaign in dozens of states at the same time.

To be competitive in so many states at the same time, campaigns rely on extensive paid and earned media exposure and a robust campaign staff, all of which require substantial name recognition and campaign cash before the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.

The parties exacerbated these trends in 2016 and 2020, using the number of donors and public polls to determine who is eligible for early debates.

For example, to earn a place on the stage of the first Republican debate in August 2023, candidates had to accumulate at least 40,000 donors and at least 1 percent support in three national polls.

So that’s how the U.S. got to where it is today.

A century ago, Warren Harding announced his successful candidacy 321 days before the 1920 election.

In the 2020 race, Democratic Congressman John Delaney announced his White House bid a record 1,194 days before election.

Article courtesy of theconversation.com

Rachel Paine Caufield is Professor of Political Science, Drake University.

Personal

Finances

continued from page 62

another place and many other things can happen which will prompt to revisit the documents and make sure that we still have our latest wishes expressed in there.

7. Recognize that life is fickle, fragile, and tends to be fastidious.

Mo Vidwans

is an independent, board certified financial planner. For details visit, VidwansFinancial.com, call 734-476-0579 or write to: mvfinancial@yahoo.com

Primary Care Physicians

continued from page 42

And it’s the lack of assistance. Profitable centers such as orthopedic and gastroenterology clinics usually have a phalanx of support staff. Primary care clinics run close to the bone.

“You are squeezed from all sides,” said Barnett

Many ventures are rushing in to fill the primary care gap. There had been hope that nurse practitioners and physician assistants might help fill some holes, but data shows that they, too, increasingly favor specialty practice. Meanwhile, urgent care clinics are popping up like mushrooms. So are primary care chains such as One Medical, now owned by Amazon. Dollar General, Walmart, Target, CVS Health, and Walgreens have opened “retail clinics” in their stores.

Rapid-fire visits with a rotating cast of doctors, nurses, or physician assistants might be fine for a sprained ankle or strep throat. But they will not replace a physician who tells you to get preventive tests and keeps tabs on your blood pressure and cholesterol — the doctor who knows your health history and has the time to figure out whether the pain in your shoulder is from your basketball game, an aneurysm, or a clogged artery in your heart.

Some relatively simple solutions are available, if we care enough about supporting this foundational part of a good medical system. Hospitals and commercial groups could invest some of the money they earn by replacing hips and knees to support primary care staffing; giving these doctors more face time with their patients would be good for their customers’ health and loyalty if not (always) the bottom line.

Reimbursement for primary care visits could be increased to reflect their value — perhaps by enacting a national primary care fee schedule, so these doctors won’t have to butt heads with insurers. And policymakers could consider forgiving the medical school debt of doctors who choose primary care as a profession.

They deserve support that allows them to do what they were trained to do: diagnosing, treating, and getting to know their patients.

The United States already ranks last among wealthy countries in certain health outcomes. The average life span in America is decreasing, even as it increases in many other countries. If we fail to address the primary care shortage, our country’s health will be even worse for it.

Article courtesy of KFF Health News (Kffhealthnews.org)

Editor’s Desk continued from page 14

This aroma I’m fanning away on this lovely afternoon may not be artificial but smells pungent and pretty darn real. A new world is rising, generated by code, driven by its ability to evolve and further create its own code. These new times are going to require relearning and realigning ourselves with other peoples and the human communities, lest we get duped at every turn by all things artificial. We must evolve with the rapidly nonhuman technological world that is incoming.

There is a need to slow down, think this out, write new laws and procedures, and dare I say, regulations, for these shiny new times. This new phase of our daily lives, which will exist in liquid, solid, and, particularly, gaseous states, all at once, is going to challenge us faster than we can adapt. That is a quandary, a fear that I fear.

By its intended nature, and its moniker - “artificial” - AI will inject much uneasiness in our lives. It’s one of the reasons that writers and actors are striking right now, so that in the future their likenesses or writings will not be faked or used without their permissions.

Here are the alarm bells of this hour. Wherever we land while sailing the cosmos on the spacecraft known as AI, that potential shiny future will be preceded by a dark reckoning, a battle of realigning human intelligence and connections while adjusting to the rapidity of changes.

Any technological advancement creates dissonance and unhinges the status quo. AI is vastly different. It is not a calculator replacing the old Slide Rule. Radio didn’t kill newspapers. TV didn’t kill radio and the Internet didn’t kill TV, but most technological advancements are slow on the intake and don’t necessarily make existing ones obsolete in the blink of an eye. But there are massive unknowns afoot with AI, something even its current creators don’t fully understand.

I have written for years that we are creating a new world that will require fewer humans to help run that world. This means there simply won’t be enough equitable jobs for all who want one, at least not well-paying and satisfying jobs that give a sense of integrity and achievement. There will be lots and lots of part time jobs, side hustles, menial labor jobs while the dirty and drudgery jobs - construction, meat processing plants, farms, cleaners, roads builders – seem to have fewer and fewer takers. AI will replace many workers.

The AI spaceship has left the spaceport and is coming at us at previously unimagined speeds. I’m beginning to spend more time sniffing around to find the artificialness, the nonhuman in my encounters.

Next time there is some room-clearing aroma floating around, maybe it wasn’t one of the humans gathered there. Maybe it was that sneaky AI software on your phone or computer.

Artificial Intelligence or Artificial Indigestion? Indeed.

Samir

Shukla

is the Editor of Saathee Magazine

Contact: Samir@Saathee.com

Twitter: @ShuklaWrites

Newsletter: ShuklaWrites.Substack.com

J. Matthew Whitehead, Atty I Nihar M. Patel, Atty I Hugh McAngus, Atty I Monty D. Desai, Atty I Mitchell K. Byrd, Jr. Atty

Raajeev continued from page 44

didn’t have the donors’ names. Then I realized there were no donors for them. It would be awkward to say, “Stolen by Col. Smith,” “Robbed by Mr. Johnson,” and “Looted by East India Company.”

We were lucky to get a guided tour at the Victoria and Albert Museum. While the older British lady was giving the tour of the museum, I pointed to the exquisite white nephrite Jade wine cup of Shah Jahan and the colorful 650year-old Jain paintings and asked, “How did the museum get hold of these items?”

She hesitated and said that they were “acquired” during the colonial times. “Now they are here for the whole world to enjoy!”

“What a benevolent and royal gesture!” I thought. Then I realized that there might be some truth in that comment and recalled of the inability of the Indian government to convince the British Government return the 105-karat Kohinoor diamond now displayed at the Tower of London.

If the British did return Kohinoor or any of the other precious artifacts, I am sure some corrupt politicians would steal them to add to their private collection. I think the undertone of her statement was that it may be better for India that the loot from the British Raj be proudly displayed in London for the whole world to enjoy! I, of course, disagreed with it but didn’t see the point of arguing with her.

Thanks to Trip Advisor, these museums were at par with the Louvre in Paris. In some aspect, they were even better. The Louvre costs about $25 while both these museums were free. Also, the British stole, pardon me, borrowed bigger and better things than the French.

They had a better appreciation of the art, so the quality and quantity of their loot from around the world was far superior to the French or any other country. Implicitly, even Trip Advisor readers agree with it.

I remember the first time I visited London over 25 years ago, I had mixed feelings. Watching the magnificence of Big Ben, the British Parliament, London Bridge, and the marvelous architecture of the buildings in person was a unique experience. Then I found myself getting angry. My mind was filled with this overwhelming thought: “This used to be ours. It was taken away from us forcefully.”

My father, who had lived in the US in the 60’s and 70’s, used to point out the double-sidedness of the American media. He would point out that if the queen of England or any important member of the royal family even sneezes, it would make headlines. In contrast, India would not be viewed as favorably in American media. I had seen this with major publications in the San Francisco Bay Area, as they would consistently ignore the achievements of India, but would highlight the failures. For example, in the 1980’s, when India launched a satellite, it was not mentioned but the following day when they found out that it was malfunctioning, it was highlighted in the front sections of the international news.

I proudly watched India’s recent achievement of landing an unmanned vehicle on the moon, only the fourth country in the world, after the US, the Soviet Union, and China to

do that, and the first country in the world to land on the South side of the moon. It was a matter of pride for all of India and the Indian diaspora around the world. It was disappointing that some of the major news channels did not even mention in their nightly broadcast. Maybe this was their own childish way of dealing with jealousy – ignore the achievement of a “3rd world country.”

Although, most of my stand-up comedy is selfdeprecating where the target or “the butt of joke” is me or my family members, I am beginning to make jokes about colonialism. Some of them go like this: In 1920, the British Empire covered 1/4th of the total land area of the earth, ruling so many countries. They realized that they were not good at governing other countries, let alone their own country. So, they outsourced the job to an Indian guy. Rishi Sunak.

Another joke, which I am beginning to perform goes like this: In Los Angeles, people are into Intermittent Fasting. Growing up in India, we had Intermittent Fasting. It was called Starvation. British introduced it to us. They had a great sales pitch. “You’re going to love it, mate. You lose weight. We gain pounds.” The British called it Fair Trade. We call it famine.

I get a mixed reaction when I perform these jokes – I am not sure if they are too dark, or they are not relevant to the American audience. Anyway, like most jokes, they need continuous refinement.

I am looking forward to trying it in front of an all-Indian crowd or a mixed crowd with some Indian audience members. It may even be fun trying at some comedy clubs in London. I can try jokes about our Desi Prime Minister there, India’s glorious landing of Chandrayaan-3, or all the stolen, priceless artifacts still in possession by the British. I am looking forward to doing that, after I get an amazing deal with Priceline!

Raajeev Aggerwhil

is a Los Angeles-based comedian. Follow him on Instagram @raajeevcomedy

To see his videos on YouTube, search for his name.

heart attack, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease, and circulation problems, among others.

What happens if you are diagnosed with diabetes? Your doctor may recommend you get a glucometer and start checking your blood sugar. Your doctor will recommend you watch your diet and be more active, possibly lose 10-20 lbs. of your body weight and return in 3 or 6 months. Now how does one do that? At this time, you will want to find a registered dietitian or a certified diabetes care and education specialist.

At the time of diagnosis, a patient with diabetes is assumed to have lost more than 50 percent of their insulin function. Engaging in small amounts of activity can help improve your insulin response. Making changes to your diet can reduce the rise of blood sugar in your body.

A patient with diabetes is assumed to have two times higher risk of heart disease. They usually have high blood pressure and struggle with cholesterol management. Once diagnosed, and to protect your heart, your doctor may have mentioned the need to start medication for cholesterol and blood pressure. But for diabetes – lifestyle management is the first line of treatment.

Diabetes can compromise immune systems - During the COVID-19 pandemic, people who had diabetes and then turned COVID positive had greater rates of death than people without diabetes.

So why is diabetes so rampant? Apparently, there are more than 42 known triggers that elevate blood sugar levels. These include, but are not limited to food, beverages, activity (or lack of), medications, sleep, stress (physical, emotional), genetic factors and many more.

In addition, living in an obesogenic environment, with temptation filled, processed, fast-food choices at every turn, high sugary, high fat food choices do not help much either.

All is not lost – diabetes is rough, but you are a tough cookie (no pun intended!). Let’s explore the first line of treatment – lifestyle modification. This does not mean you have to give up all your favorite foods or run a 5K. Diabetes is manageable – if you understand how diabetes affects your blood sugar – you can be in control. It’s not just about avoiding sweets or rice – there’s more to diabetes nutrition management.

If you or someone you deeply care about has diabetes, encourage them to work with a qualified healthcare professional who specializes in Asian (desi) style meal planning.

Our food preparation methods and eating styles are different. Moreover, the diversity in food, religion, customs from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari vary as much as the subcontinent itself.

When you work with a knowledgeable dietitian from our subcontinent, you save yourself the trouble of explaining what Idli is, along with Khaman, Achaar or Sandesh! S/he will complete a thorough assessment of your usual diet, your activity regime, your stress factors, your work-life balance, your medications, other medical complications and come up with a customized plan for you. This takes patience, needs consistency and persistence. Allow yourself

six months to a year to make changes – and see your numbers improve. If you can bring your blood sugar to prediabetes level and keep it in control without any medication for three months or more, then you have succeeded in pushing back diabetes (diabetes remission) and its complications by years!

Teju Lakkundi

is a registered dietitian nutritionist, licensed dietitian nutritionist and a certified diabetes care and education specialist. She is based in Cary NC.

Contact: 919-228-9749 or email nutriforu@gmail.com

Website: NutriForU.com

Eye

on Markets

continued from page 46

The change in narrative has been in secondary and tertiary tech names. We have seen many of these names down double digits with certain names down more than 20 percent over the last month. T

he negative earnings reaction to names such as Fortinet, Marvell, AMD, Qualcomm, Datadog, Palantir, PagerDuty, Snowflake, Ambarella, Box, HP, and The Trade Desk has been telling.

These types of moves suggest that a lot of good news might already be priced in technology and that it might make sense to be more selective.

The current pricing in markets is for structurally higher rates. The environment since 2010 can broadly be characterized as low inflation, low rates, and low growth, which makes companies with high growth worth a premium, thus driving valuation for tech. Tech was in a rising tide lifts all boats environment. As the environment changes to higher for longer, tech investing will require more selectivity.

Tech moves from a beta sector to an alpha sector. Valuation becomes more critical when rates are higher. The dominant theme in technology is AI, which appears to be the next major super cycle in investing. However, unlike previous super cycles, the capital expense and the necessary data and cloud infrastructure will mean a narrow number of winners within technology.

From a portfolio perspective, a barbell of the narrow potential tech AI winners with cyclicals provides protection against many scenarios.

The AI winners provide you a winner across nearly all economic scenarios, while the cyclicals provide significant upside, cheap valuation, and are a hedge to technology. As rates continue to stay high, we will have fewer winners in technology and many winners in the rest of the market.

Looking forward the market will focus on the economic data, the Fed meeting, and conference season.

Read Eye on Markets every month online at Saathee.com

Ketu Desai

is the principal of i-squared Wealth Management Inc. (www.isquaredwealth.com), an investment management firm based in New Jersey. ketu@isquaredwealth.com

Quiz Corner

Word World By Kirit Shukla

C E T E O

LT N

Make words using 5 or more letters. The central letter must be used in each word. Plural words are not allowed. Use all letters for the subject word (underlined in solutions below)

10+ words = Excellent; 6 to 9 words = Good; 5 or less = keep looking. Words we found are in solutions below.

Brain-Train

Here is a fun quiz. See if you can solve it. No peeking! Match the number in column 1 with letter in column 2

State Tree

1. Longleaf Pine

Who wants to be a Scholar?!

Answer the ones you know and research the rest. There is only one correct answer!

1. Arrange these cities in Oklahoma from South to North.

(a) Tulsa (b) Lawton

(c) Enid (d) Oklahoma City

2. The 52nd Academy Award for best film in 1980 was

(a) All that Jazz(b) Kramer Vs. Kramer

(c) Norma Rae(d) Breaking Away

3. This has Green caution flag on the ground:

(a) Electric cable(b) Phone line

(c) Water (d) Underground drainage

4. ‘CT’ does NOT stand for (a) Central Time (b) Cent

(c) Connecticut (d) Current Transformer

R5. How far is the Star Vega from our Sun? (Avg.)

(a) 1.26 light years (b) 3.26 light years

(c) 2.26 light years (d) 4.26 light years

6. One US Gallon is equal to @ ___ Liters (L)

(a) 2.79 L (b) 3.59 L

(c) 3.79 L (d) 3.89 L

7. What is Oklahoma’s nickname?

(a) Green State (b) Corn State

(c) Gun State (d) Sooner State

8. The winner of Women’s 2023 US Open.

(a) Coco Gauff(b) Venus Williams

(c) Naomi Osaka(d) Aryna Sabalenka

9. King Ashoka was born in India in the year

(a) 304 BC (b) 232 BC

(c) 102 BC (d) 308 BC

10. The state flower of Oklahoma is

(a) Violet(b) Carnation

(c) Dogwood(d) Rose

State

A. Delaware

B. Indiana

C. Maryland

D. Virginia

E. North Carolina

F. Florida

G. Louisiana

H. Rhode Island

I. Georgia

Answers are on bottom left. No Peeking. Scholar: All correct; 1st Class: 9 Correct; 2nd Class: 8 Correct; 3rd Class: 7 Correct; Need to improve: 6 or less

Key Word Search

10. Flowering Dogwood

J. Alabama

Brain Train:

TENOR, TONER, ENTER, TRONE, NOTER, ELECTRON

Word World (Solution) :ELECTOR, ELECTRO, LECTERN, CENTER, RECENT, LECTOR, CENOTE, RELENT, TERCEL,

Fill in blanks of these clues, then take the first letter of each word and unscramble them to find this month’s Key Word.

Opposite of yes ___

Bharat, also known as ___ Eight, nine, ___ iPhone maker ___

Las ___

Milk ___ cookies (snack)

Opposite of wrong ___

United States of ___ ___ eye movement (R.E.M)

Answers on page 104

2. American Holly

3. Sabal Palm

4. Southern Live Oak

5. Tulip Tree

6. Bald Cypress

7. White Oak 8. Pine 9. Red Maple

PUZZLES AND JOKES

By Kirit Shukla

Note: * denotes abbreviation of the word or phrase

Clues Across:

1. The Sooner State.

8. Donkey.

10. Large tropical West African tree with strong streaky insect-resistant wood often used as a teak substitute.

11. The ninth-largest city in 1 Across.

13. To illuminate a darkened area.

14. Peace. (Sanskrit)

16. Do, __, Mi, Fa… (Diatonic music scale).

17. Very large.

19. A period during which a person is on a specific duty.

21. Left Side. (*)

22. ___phone, a very old record label.

23. Present given to someone for an occasion.

25. 1 Across. (*)

27. To the same degree or amount.

28. Mountains in SE of 1 Across.

32. Advertisement (*).

35. Token of Appreciation (*).

36. The sound a pig makes.

38. A period of dust storms.

41. Objective case of ‘he’.

43. Opposite of off

44. Musical instruments of the violin family.

46. A city and county seat of Craig County in 1 Across.

49. Capital of France.

51. To become weary.

52. A city in and county seat of Canadian County in 1 Across.

Clues Down:

1. Location of petroleum workers.

3. The full record of a flight by an aircraft.

5. Inn.

6. Black plateau, a geological wonder of 1 Across.

8. A town on the Italian Riviera.

9. Nixon’s Vice President, first name.

12. International Air Transport Association. (*)

15. The second-most populous city in 1 Across.

18. Good Sense of Humor (*).

24. Intelligent Output. (*)

29. Taxi. (in US)

31. Article word often used before an initial vowel sound.

33. A barrier confining a body of water.

34. A Day of Vindication (*).

37. A salty Indian snack or village in Nepal.

39. A single thing or person.

40. Female reproductive cells.

42. International Securities Identification Number (*).

45. A spirit associated with the Penates as a guardian of the household by the ancient Romans.

47. Sa, Re, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, —… (Diatonic music scale).

48. Total Eclipse (*).

50. In the way or manner indicated, described, or implied.

(solution on page 104)

Hee Hee

Jokes & Riddles From Around The World

Mini: “ I am not going to school anymore.”

Dad: “Why?”

Mini: “The teacher doesn’t know anything. He keeps asking me questions!”

Riddle: I am an odd number. Take away a letter and I become even. What number am I?

Answer: Seven.

Riddle: It’s the only place in the world where today comes before yesterday. Where is it?

Answer: The dictionary.

Riddle: I can fill a room, but I take up no space. What am I?

Answer: Light.

Riddle: If an electric train is traveling south, which way is the smoke going?

Answer: There’s no smoke as it’s an electric train.

Math Magic

Fill in the empty squares to get = the final given answers. Use any number from 1 to 9, except 8, only once: Note: Follow the order of operation per basic math rule: ×,÷, +,The multiplication or division is done before addition and subtraction. (solution on page 104)

Find & circle the words in the puzzle.

Subject: Islam

HAKIM

HARAM

HIJAB

ISLAM

JAHANNAM

JANNAH JIHAD

KABBA

KHUDAHAFIZ

EZ-BZ

MADRASAH

MASJID

MAULVI

MEDINA

MUHAMMAD

MUHARRUM

NABI

NASIHA

PROPHET

RAHMAN

RAMADAN

RUBB

RUH

SATAN

SHAHID

SUFI

The unused 5 letters spell ”The religious book of Islam.” (answer on page 104)

TEST YOUR IQ

The common letters are “PY” - Fill in the blanks)

1. A person who mimics others. _ _ PY _ _ _

2. A constellation between Puppis & Antlia. PY _ _ _

3. A place where a ships are built & repaired. _ _ _ PY _ _ _

4. A Government employee hired to watch secretly. _ PY

5. Tailless, web-footed, world’s largest rodent. _ _ PY _ _ _ _

6. An excessive fear of fire. PY _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

7. To hold possession of by tenure to dwell in. _ _ _ _ PY

8. Trailing shrubby evergreen plant. PY _ _ _

9. Gloomy; dispirited. _ _ PY

10. A solid figure with outer triangular faces merging into a vortex at the top: The great ___ of Egypt. PY _ _ _ _ _

11. Foolish talk; nonsense. (Informal) _ _ PY _ _ _ _

12. Extremely high fever. (Med.) _ _ _ _ _ PY _ _ _ _ _

13. A monetary unit of Myanmar = 1/100 of kyat. PY _

14. A tall water plant of the sedge family, abundantly in the Nile region used as an ornament. _ _ PY _ _ _

15. An old, ramshackle automobile. (Slang) _ _ _ _ PY

16. A small telescope. _ PY _ _ _ _ _

17. A person whose behavior or dress imply a rejection of conservative values. _ _ _ PY

18. A large snake that squeezes its prey to death. PY _ _ _ _

19. To catch sight of something obscure. _ _ PY

20. Drowsy; dull. _ _ _ _ PY

21. Heavenly; sublime. _ _ PY _ _ _ _

22. A pile of woods on which a corpse is burned. PY _ _

23. Of the monovalent group atoms (C3 H7). _ _ _ PY _

24. The accumulative of pus in the plural cavity. _ _ PY _ _ _

25. A young dog. _ _ _ PY

(Puzzle solutions are on page 104. NO peeking!)

Saathee Puzzle Master Kirit Shukla kiritsshukla@gmail.com

Festivals & Holidays

October 2023

Oct. 1 - World Vegetarian Day

Oct. 2 - Gandhi Jayanti

Oct. 9 - Indira Ekadashi

Oct. 9 - Columbus Day / Indigenous People's Day

Oct. 9 - Thanksgiving Day (Canada)

Oct. 10 - World Mental Health Day

Oct. 14 - Shraddha Paksha Ends

Oct. 14 - Darsh Amas (No Moon)

Oct. 15 - Navaratri Begins

Oct. 16 - Boss’ Day

Oct. 21 - Sweetest Day

Oct. 22 - Durga Ashtami

Oct. 23 - Navaratri Ends

Oct. 24 - Dussehra

Oct. 28 - Sharad Purnima (Full Moon)

Oct. 28 - Meerabai Jaynti

Oct. 31 - Halloween / Samhain

Key Word Search Answers from page 100

Spot the

Solutions from page 56

1. Removed a boat

2. Removed person in boat

3. Added an airplane

4. Added cloud

5. Made the tower white

6. Removed another boat

7. Changed color of boat

8. Changed color of shirt

9. Removed words from orange boat

10. Added bird

11. Added cow

12. Removed tower

13. Inserted duck

14. Added Tire

15. Bag removed

Puzzle Solutions from page 102-103

Key Word of the Month: NAVARATRI

Math Magic from page 103

Astroscope

Aries (March 21 – April 20)

Control your aggression and avoid greediness as either could lead to major problems. If you can do that, you will gain a promotion and increase in status; otherwise, you will lose the opportunity. This is a positive time to enter a new partnership deal but be prepared to work hard. You may spend most of the time on business-related travel. The last week of the month could be very decisive for you.

Taurus

(April 21 – May 20)

If you don’t compromise your ideologies, you will lose something very important. Your relationship with your family and elders may deteriorate. Take care of your health during the last week of the month. This is not a good time to start a new venture. You could also receive some bad news from afar. If involved in a legal issue, it may end with a judgement in your favor.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

An opportunity to get a higher status is possible as well as a marked increase in income during the last week of the month. You will feel more courageous, though try to avoid being aggressive. Any journeys undertaken shall be fruitful. Relations with clients, associates and other concerned people will improve as the period rolls on. An urge to spend on luxury items will also be there.

Cancer

(June 21 – July 22)

It is time to slow down and evaluate your mode of action as caution is the key word for this month. Destiny may prove stronger than you originally believed. Old health issues could resurface. Expenses may go out of control, so be sure to not make abrupt decisions. Your child could become a helping hand. Spend more time with family and solve any lingering issues to enjoy an easy life. Meditation may also be helpful.

Leo

(July 23 – August 22)

An unexpectedly heavy workload during the first half of the month could create disappointment. Try to remain patient and focus on any potential health issues instead. You may lose an especially important opportunity during the last week. You could damage your eyesight due to too many hours in front of the computer. Sincerity may gain you some appreciation during the middle of the month. Avoid any egoistical comments.

Virgo

(August 23 – September 21)

This month will be mixed, and time should move at an average speed. Uncertainty at the workplace may affect your confidence. Keep working hard to achieve desired results. Do not rush for success. Unexpected financial returns are possible during the last week, but you still may need some additional support. A significant improvement in health could help you feel better.

Libra (September 22 – October 20)

An additional source of income will bring good results as money should appear from more than one direction. Don’t wait until the end of month to make any move, but also don’t rush in just for quick gains. Intelligent planning by your partner will delight you. Avoid family issues for now and focus on your career. A great idea may also click in your mind, so be brave and start implementing it. Follow your instincts to enjoy success.

Scorpio (October 21 – November 20)

After a negative start, things should improve during the second half of the month. Any egoistical comments could cost you. It is advisable to follow your partner and not come up to any conclusion on your own. Better times are on the way, just relax and wait. Unexpected family problems will also affect your state of mind. A major health problem may also bother you. Avoid driving, if possible.

Sagittarius (November 21 – December 21)

You are entering into a period of confusion and self-distraction. You may have to slog, as the work burden will be too much. Keep on working hard, don’t think or speak too much. You will feel that the change is good, but it could be nothing more than an illusion. Avoid any major changes. Your family will help you in adverse situations. Don’t take any debt in the last week of the month.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 21)

A lack of confidence could create some problems. Try to develop self-confidence and be flexible. Do not indulge in any immoral deeds such as under-the-table dealings. Instead, it is better to go on a trip with friends. A chance meeting with an old friend/love is quite possible. Try to curb expenses on luxury items. Don’t get involved in minor disputes with family.

Aquarius (January 22 – February 18)

A very hectic month is shaping up for you. You may get stuck between a busy schedule and enjoying time with family. Added responsibilities and an overly aggressive schedule may cause you to make mistakes. Any tendencies toward aggressive action must be curbed this month. Listen to your partner before making any commitment. You may not enjoy good health; so be sure to slow down and control your anger.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Major changes are on the way for you. You may change your ideology and adopt a new path; listen to your inner voice and act on it immediately. Be very careful making comments in public. Financially you will enjoy good luck. Your relationship with your partner may take a turn this month. A sense of relief will give you peace of mind during the latter part of the month. Be sure to make quick positive decisions as well to achieve desired results.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

C-Stores for Sale: Forest City, NC $179,000 + Inv, Annual $641,906, no gas; Jonesville, NC $850,000, Leased, Reduced!; Winston Salem, NC $229,000 + Inv, Annual $1,500,000 Fuel Gals 374k; Contact: County South: 704-4404433 or Countysouth.biz.

Saathee Classified ads: Sell your business, or property. Find the perfect job, hire the perfect employee. Get great advertising results with Saathee Magazine, weekly email newsletter and Saathee.com. Call 704-527-7570 or email saathee@saathee.com.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Experienced Sales Associate needed at Perfume Store in Columbia, SC. Fluent English is a must. For details, please call Aatish Patel at 704-589-5304.

Gas Station in Rock Hill, SC seeking help. Single or couple. Good pay! No accommodations. Call 803-659-3330.

Experienced Threading Practitioners or Licensed Estheticians Needed in Charlotte & Raleigh. Full or part-time. Great pay & flexibility. $250 signing bonus and/or referral bonus. Call 980-2254575 or email mariag@idolizespa.com.

Front Desk Help & Housekeeping / Laundry needed for Franchise Hotel in Concord, NC. Accommodations provided. Call Rick 704-772-5554.

Front Desk Manager Wanted for franchise hotel in Columbia, SC. Accommodations provided. Fluent English required. Text / call 704-701-9975.

Gas Station / C-Store Help needed in Greensboro, NC & surrounding areas. Multiple positions available from cashiers to managers. Must have prior experience & speak English. Great pay! Call 336-509-4054.

Hotel Help Needed in Charlotte, NC. Housekeeping Couple ($6 per room), Front Desk Clerk ($14/hour for live-out & $11-$12/hour for livein). Extra bonus incentives for Great Hotel Reviews (will explain). Accommodations available. Contact Umang at 980-348-2798 or daysinncltairport23.com.

Help Needed for Front Desk & Laundry at Economy Franchise Hotel in NC. Accommodations provided. Contact 704-465-8129.

Gas Station / C-store Help Needed at stores near Huntersville & Northlake areas. Must speak English. Family friendly oriented people. Call 704-402-4661.

Seeking Live-In Single/Couple with good communication skills to manage 64-room branded hotel near Florence, SC. Prior hotel experience preferred. Competitive pay and 3BD/2BR apartment provided. Call 419-902-9515

Cashier Wanted for Convenience Store near Kannapolis, NC. Very attractive salary! Accommodations provided. Text or Call 704-701-9482.

Job Opportunities in Dallas and Tampa for Goldsmiths and Diamond Repair Specialists at Malani Jewelers. Please call 404-298-7811 or email info@malanijewelers.com for details. Manager / Front Desk needed for Franchise Hotel in Rock Hill, SC. Accommodations Provided. Call 803-517-4662.

Gas Station/Liquor Store Help Needed 30 minutes from Columbia, SC. Full-time or Part-time. Experience and legal status required. Good pay! Call 843-473-5476 or email bottle29078@gmail.com.

Looking for Part-Time or Live-In Gujarati-speaking Caretaker in Spring Lake, NC for 65 year-old female with memory issues. Female preferred. Must be trustworthy. Please call or text Samir Patel at 919-659-8897.

Live-in House Helper needed in Greenville, SC for daily cooking and light housework. Lady preferred. Please call 318-562-0664.

Sales & Marketing person wanted with college degree in related field for manufacturing company. Must be fluent in communication and familiar with MS office & computers. Should possess great personality & be able to work in team environment. Willing to sponsor if candidate is suitable to company requirements. Contact Raj 336-558-3410 or rajm@amerifabintl.com.

Hiring Threading Specialists at Jill's iBrow Threading Salon Fayetteville, NC. Call 336-686-7007.

Hotel Help Wanted in Greensboro, NC. Front desk and laundry positions open (single or couple). Accommodations available. Fluent English and legal status required. Contact JR at 336-558-8195.

Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk / Manager, Night Auditor & Housekeeper (Single/Couple) for franchise hotels in Charlotte (Airport Area) & Winston-Salem (Near Hanes Mall). Accommodations provided. Call 704-626-4849 between 4-8pm.

Need Nanny for 1 year old in Apex, NC. Cooking also required. Will provide pay, food and lodging. Call 347-583-0550.

Help Needed at Perfume Stores in Charlotte & Pineville. For details, please call Veer Singh at 415-265-8686.

Cashier Wanted for Convenience Store in Belmont, NC. Fluent English required. Family friendly establishment. Text / call 980-225-3341 or 704-807-6519 between 7am & 9pm.

For Immediate Hire: Accounting manager (must have experience). Hotel GMs - Wyndham, Choice, and Hilton brands (must have experience). Front Desk (multiple locations). Pay rates higher than the competition. Contact 704-649-6833 or abcone@abcinns.com.

Hotel Help Wanted: Front Desk / Manager, Night Auditor & Housekeeper (Single / Couple) for franchise hotels in Charlotte, Gastonia, High Point, NC & Columbia, SC. Accommodations provided. Call 704460-0379 between 6-9pm.

Looking for Bride for Los Angeles based, India born intellectual, human rights activist, vegetarian, YouTuber, and writer. Secular so religion is not an issue. Leg a little weak due auto accident. Prefer a slim, fair lady around 60. No fun being alone! Contact jimmyahmed44@gmail.com.

Looking for well educated, familyoriented 61-68 year-old man for Indian born US citizen, divorced, 63 year-old beautiful lady in Bay Area, California. Contact rajju2p@gmail.com

Looking for open minded lady who enjoys traveling. 60 year-old US citizen born in India, non-vegetarian in Charlotte. Passionate about Argentine Tango. Let us talk if the thought of traveling to places like Guatemala is exciting. Email: trendbasic@outlook.com

Hindu Punjabi Khatri parents seek a match for daughter. 31 year-old, 5ft 4in. Fair, slim, and very pretty. Medical office administrator in Central Florida. Prefer suitors from the southeast. Please respond with full details to nudaak@gmail.com.

US citizen, Hindu, business graduate, 33 currently working in Raleigh, NC looking for educated bride. Contact 336-683-7631 or cstore1947@yahoo.com.

US born physician seeks bride. 39 years-old, 5'6", Sikh (clean shaven). Never married, from a well-educated and settled family. Contact 410-6520286 or gbmatt135@yahoo.com.

Looking for a life partner? Saathee can help you reach hundreds of potential matches. Cost is only $15 per month. Includes matrimonial classified in Saathee Magazine print edition and on Saathee.com. For details, email saathee@saathee.com or call 704-527-7570.

SERVICES

Priest Available for Shree Satya narayan katha, Shanti hawan, Vastu shanty, Weddings, Baby shower, Bhumi pujan, Mata ki chowki pujan, Funeral, all types of karmakand. Please call Viral Bhatt 704-438-6334.

Neeta's Beauty Parlor: Open 7 days a week. Full service. Located near the Hindu Center of Charlotte. Call 704968-0270 for an appointment.

Pari Beauty in Matthews: Threading, Waxing, Facials, Massage for newborn and mom & other services. 33 years of experience. Special Deals & Great Service. email: gescpl@gmail.com or call: 704-846-7912.

Saree Draping: specializing in draping sarees, dupattas and jewelry for Weddings, Engagements, Baby showers, Birthdays, etc. Contact Rital Patel: info@bridaldraping.com or www.bridaldraping.com.

PBDB LLC General Photography: Weddings, events, family and more! Travel photographer with affordable rates. In business 5 plus years. Fast turnaround. Contact today to book! 919421-1712 or pbdbllc.com.

Catering for All Occasions: Whether it's an intimate gathering, a lavish wedding, a corporate event, or a festive celebration, we curate menus and services that cater to your specific needs. Call 908-249-2739.

Priest: Ganesh, Shiv, Lakshmi, Randal, Paduka Pujans; Wedding, Baby shower, Housewarming, Satyanaryan Katha, Mundan & Yagnopavit; Navchandi, Tarpan, Garud Puran, Havans, etc. Online puja also available. Call Rajendra Bhatt 732-841-7832.

Indian Astrologer and Spiritual Healer in Glen Allen, VA. We do horoscopes, birth charts, negative energy removal, black magic removal, etc. Contact 804-738-0034 or astroprataprajusa@gmail.com.

Affordable Wedding Photography: 20 years of experience in Indian wedding photography. Specializing in film & digital photos. Engagement, Wedding, and Receptions. Contact Vivek at 347321-4746 or email: vivekweddingmemories@gmail.com

Gujarati Priest in NC & SC for Ganesh, Randal, Laxmi, Sharda Pujan, Satyanarayan Katha, Wedding, Vastu, Baby Shower, Hawan, Grah Shanti. Kishor Trivedi: 336-774-0597 Cell: 336486-7925 E-Mail: kishor7@juno.com.

Travel Passion: International & Domestic Air tickets. We process India Visa, OCI, Indian Passport Renewal, Hotel bookings & Tour packages. Call 509-550-9076 or 509-550-9034 or Email: travelpassion24@gmail.com

Gujarati Priest: Devendra Dave Independent priest. Ganesh, Randal, Navratri, Diwali's Laxmi & Sharda Pujas, Satyanarayan Katha, Weddings, Vastu, Baby Shower, Funeral Seva. Call Daveji 704-780-3563. God Blessings to All.

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Saathee Classified ads: Get great advertising results with Saathee Magazine, weekly email newsletter and Saathee.com. Call 704-527-7570 or email saathee@saathee.com.

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example) can sustain such an illusion with so many people they come in contact with.

A recent film entitled Sorry to Bother You tackles this very premise as Cassius “Cash” Green (Lakeith Stanfield), a black man, lands job at a telemarketing firm. He soon discovers that the only way to move up in the company is to use a literal “white voice,” which grows more and more natural as the grueling days go by (akin to a ventriloquist). Once Cash gets promoted to a “powercaller”, he begins to notice some darker elements beneath the cracks of the company he works for. With encouragement from his girlfriend and coworkers, he sets off on an absolutely bizarre mission to expose his employers’ true schemes.

For me, it wasn’t until I hit my 20’s and attended a college 400 miles away from home that I eventually came to understand is that wanting to consider my own needs and expectations was not all that bad. In a world where culture often dictates even now that women shouldn’t take the reins of their identity but also openly engage the full range of their emotions, we are often cited as either ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’ for acting in such a manner.

Truthfully this imperative to remain invisible, quiet, and fabulously chill is a mandate that cannot be sustained for long. We as human beings are so deliciously complex and messy that remaining caged in such a fashion is perhaps the greatest sin ever.

And so, it seems that others in 2023 have taken on the same mindset. Last month I spoke about Hollywood writers and actors going on strike. As of this writing, performance capture & voice actors have joined in the fight. Airline assistants, California hotel workers, and now Detroit auto workers have also put their feet down on bad conditions and pay. Thousands of UPS workers also nearly went on strike as well this summer but managed to work out a deal with management.

Yet why is this suddenly so prevalent for so many people at once? Most cite that conditions have worsened over the past three years, since the Covid pandemic first began. With rising costs of living, paychecks have not been keeping up for many in the workforce.

The fear of technology consuming some of these jobs has always been an underlying factor. Artificial Intelligence may still be in its infancy, but there is always a danger of what it could potentially turn into.

In much simpler terms, ‘not enough’ has become the mantra to counteract those who have ‘too much’ and I believe it’s time for all of these complex and messy people to have the same opportunities to enjoy life without the need to hide their true desires.

The mob has spoken… and it can no longer be ignored. Embrace the insanity so that we may reach a much more sustainable world.

Jennifer Allen works at Saathee and is also a Podcaster, Blogger, Photographer, Graphic Artist, Gamer, Martial Arts Practitioner, and an all around Pop Culture Geek. You can reach her at Saathee@Saathee.com

Serving Buyers and Sellers Since 1989

CONVENIENCE STORES:

Granite Falls, NC $250,000 Currently Closed

Denver, NC $199,999, Annual Sales $2,000,000, Fuel Gallons 280,979

Gastonia, NC $45,000, Annual Sales $500,000, NO GAS

Charlotte, NC $1,000,000, Annual Sales $7,000,000

Rocky Mount, NC $59,000, Annual Sales Call for Details, Fuel Gallons 327,300

Berkeley County, SC $99,000, Annual Sales $600,000, Fuel Gallons Call for Details

C- Store Distributor: Charlotte, NC $59,900, Annual Sales $813,000

OTHER LISTINGS:

Livestock and Pet Supply Store: NC $499,000, Annual Sales $2,000,000+

Rental Property: Columbia, SC $799,000-2.4 Acres-12 Units

Tire Shop: Monroe, NC $545,000, Annual Sales $872,122

Burger

Advertisers

Index for Charlotte, South Carolina and Atlanta Region

AmeriFab International.....................................37

Anand, Versha (Real Estate) ...............................71

Area 51 Fireworks...............................................6

Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group (Bob Ziker)...........53

Bala Sure (Broker / Realtor, NC & SC)................63

BAPS NJ Akshardham.........................................3

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (Charlotte)16-17

Bashyam Global LLP - Immigration Law Group114

Bhindi Jewelers .................................................2

Blooming Buds.................................................53

Blooming Smiles Pediatric Dentistry...................65

Blumenthal Performing Arts (Events)..................32

Bombay Grille (Charlotte)..................................72

Brijal Shah (Keller Williams - Real Estate)...........73

British International School of Charlotte..............9

Brown Immigration Law (Rishi Oza, Partner)......99

Carolina Asthma & Allergy Center.......................83

Carolina Law Group .........................................94

Carolina Medical Partners..................................67

Carolina Softech..............................................107

Carolinas Pediatrics (Uma Periyanayagam, MD, FAAP)65

CaroMont Medical Group (Bankim Patel MD)....75

Charlotte Chess Center ......................................15

Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat .......................61

Charlotte Meck Library Foundation, Verse & Vino..26

Chess Klub (Klub Ventures)..................................4

Chiro-Carolina .............................................87

Classifieds.......................................................108

CMAC - Events..................................................82

Color Master Collision Center.............................27

Concha, David (Immigration Attorney)...............71

Concord Children's Clinic .................................23

Copper Restaurant (Charlotte)...........................31

County South Realty & Business Brokers............111

Countywide Commercial (Pavement Solutions)....97

Desai & Desai LLP (CPA & Financial Services).....93

Desai, Rajarshi (CPA, PLLC).............................43

DJ Lalit (Lalit Hemnani)...................................45

Dosa n' More (Fort Mill, SC)..............................59

Eesha Realty, LLC........................................48-49

Elite Motors .....................................................25

Fairview Home Mortgage................................107

Four Points by Sheraton (Myrtle Beach)..............55

Geological Resources, Inc...................................95

Global Mall / Legacy Jewels .............................115

H2 Laser & Skin................................................87

Harish Bhasin (Independent Insurance Agent)......29

Health Markets (Medicare, Health, Life, Supplemental)39

Hindu Center of Charlotte (Events)................76-81

Hitch Hiker's Guide to College............................15

Hitesh Rathod (Real Estate)...............................15

Home Decorators Of America (Atlanta)...............38

House Of Fireworks..........................................21

Idolize Brows & Beauty ...................................105

Indian Astrologer (Pandit Pratap Raj)...............101

Indian Fusion Grill and Bar (Indian Land, SC)....89

IndusTreks .......................................................41

Insurance - Tushar Barot, Supreme Insurance Serv...107

Insurance Shopping (Sonal Patel - Independent Agent)93

JVC Realty (Balaji Tatineni Realtor / Broker).......69

Kaur, Karamjit (New York Life Insurance)...........10

KB Zaveree (Atlanta).........................................19

Khanna & Sons Jewelers.....................................13

Lead Designs LLC.............................................37

Maadhurya Photography.................................101

Maharani Indian Cuisine (Charlotte)...................83

Malak Jewelers..................................................35

Malani Jewelers...............................................116

Malaya Kitchen.................................................23

Mathur, Gitanjali (Allen Tate Realtors)................27

Maxim Tours.....................................................37

Meenakshi Creations LLC....................................7

Mehta & McConnell, PLLC (Injury Lawyers).....113

Mint MedSpa & Laser Studio..............................67

Neeta's Beauty Parlor........................................71

North American Bancard ..................................11

NSD Tax & Accounting Services..........................47

One 2 Entertainment........................................105

Patel & Samatova, Law......................................45

Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices)..............................97

Patel, Tony (Real Estate).....................................75

Pathak, Atul (Real Estate)..................................47

Persis Indian Grill (Fort Mill, SC).......................59

Pramukh Mandapam.........................................95

Publix (Diwali)...................................................5

Queen City Smiles (Dr. Kanupriya Tewari)...........23

Ram Mortgage & Realty (Mayank Patel).............45

Saffron Restaurant and Catering.........................63

Shah & Associates, CPA, PLLC...........................53

Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC...............................101

Shah, Anish (Real Estate)..............................84-85

Sheraton Chapel Hill (ATMA Hotel Group).........51

Shukla, Kirit (Music Lession & Band)..................71

Sona Realty (Venkat Suryadevara).......................91

SP Orthodontics (Matthews)..............................73

Technone LLC (Securtiy Systems)........................41

The Blue Taj......................................................31

Travel Passion...................................................43

Union Family Eye Associates (Dr. Keshav Bhat)....75

Uniworld Travel.................................................47

USPS.............................................................110

VAS Realty LLC (Ashwani Dalal).................43/105

Vasthra Vedika Boutique....................................29

Vema Mortgage LLC (Chirag Rachhadia).......29/65

Vimal Realty (Vimal Patel - Realtor)..................33

VP Insurance Consultant....................................41

Worldwide Travels..............................................93

Index for Raleigh (Triangle), Greensboro (Triad) & Virginia

AABAJ (Assoc Bihar & Jharkhand).....................21

Allstate (Krish Parlikad)....................................31

AmeriFab International.....................................37

Apna Bazar (Morrisville)....................................32

Area 51 Fireworks.............................................84

Atlantic Bay......................................................53

Aura Skin & Laser (Dipan Patel).........................27

BAPS NJ Akshardham.........................................3

Bashyam Global LLP - Immigration Law Group114

Bharath Bazar and Café (Cary)...........................65

Bhindi Jewelers .................................................2

Blooming Buds.................................................53

Bombay Central (Grocery & Take Out Food)........75

Brown Immigration Law (Rishi Oza, Partner)......99

CareNow Pediatrics (Dr. Shilpa Dave).................77

Carolina Softech..............................................107

Cary Internal Medicine & Diabetes Center, PA......67

Cary Medical Clinic...........................................73

Chandni's Beauty Salon .....................................79

Club-Z! (In-Home Tutoring)...............................87

Concha Law......................................................89

Corner Stone Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine.....79

County South Realty & Business Brokers............111

Crescent Dental (Dr. Kavita Ghai).......................89

Darbar - Mughal Influence on Kathan Performance..6

Darji, Iyer, Joshi & Patel (Accounting &Tax Services)..73

Desai & Desai LLP (CPA & Financial Services).....93

DJ Lalit (Lalit Hemnani)...................................45

Eesha Realty, LLC........................................48-49

Elite Motors .....................................................25

Fairview Home Mortgage................................107

Four Points by Sheraton (Myrtle Beach)..............55

Ganamrutha Academy (School of Music).............29

GCAP (Grand Navratri Mahotsav - Greensboro)..15

Geological Resources, Inc...................................95

Global Mall / Legacy Jewels .............................115

Grand India Mart (Groceries).............................76

Health Markets (Medicare, Health, Life, Supplemental)39

Home Decorators Of America (Atlanta)...............38

Hum Sub Diwali 2023 (Oct 14, Cary, NC).............9

Idolize Brows & Beauty ...................................105

Inchin's Bamboo Garden....................................23

Indian Astrologer (Pandit Pratap Raj)...............101

IndusTreks .......................................................41

Insurance: Tushar Barot, Supreme Insurance Serv.107

Insurance Shopping (Sonal Patel - IndependentAgent).93

International Community Church.......................63

KB Zaveree (Atlanta).........................................19

KDP CPA.........................................................81

Khanna & Sons Jewelers.....................................13

Krishnadham VYO (Shreenathji Haveli).................4

Lead Designs LLC.............................................37

Liberty Real Estate & Mortgage (Sunny Sebastian)71

Maadhurya Photography.................................101

Malak Jewelers..................................................35

Malani Jewelers...............................................116

Marriott Raleigh Crabtree Valley........................85

Maxim Tours.....................................................37

Mehta & McConnell, PLLC (Injury Lawyers).....113

NC Dermatology Associates................................80

NC Dussehra Festival.........................................16

North American Bancard ..................................11

NSD Tax & Accounting Services..........................47

Nunna Realty (Shiva Nunna)..............................33

One 2 Entertainment........................................105

PandyaNad Indian Restaurant (Raleigh).............59

Patel & Samatova, Law......................................45

Patel Brothers (Cary).........................................78

Patel, Mrugesh (Law Offices)..............................97

Pathak, Atul (Real Estate)..................................47

Pramukh Mandapam.........................................95

PreJuve Medspa & Wellness (Neelu Agarwal MD)..83

Prism Lending (Madan Khatri)..........................31

Proficient Accounting & Tax Services, Inc. ...........27

Publix (Diwali)...................................................5

Rajeev Devgon, CPA .........................................33

Ram Mortgage & Realty (Mayank Patel).............45

RB Realty Group (Ravi Bheemarao)....................61

Real Triangle Properties (Joe Mathews)................77

Rupa's Spa & Threading.....................................29

Sapna Hemnani (Real Estate)..............................15

Satyam Primary Care (Amit Sharma, MD)..........21

Shah & Associates, CPA, PLLC...........................53

Shah & Trivedi CPA, PLLC...............................101

Sheraton Chapel Hill (ATMA Hotel Group).........51

Singh, Manny (Real Estate)................................63

Sizzlin Stirfry Asian Bistro (Raleigh)...................59

Sona Realty.......................................................91

Spectrum Family Medicine (Sujatha Sajeevan, MD)29

Spice Bazaar (Durham)......................................17

Spices Hut ........................................................72

Stylish Me.........................................................10

Taaza Fresh Indian Bistro...................................67

Technone LLC (Securtiy Systems)........................41

The Montessori School of Raleigh......................23

Travel Passion...................................................43

Triangle Telangana Associations (Events)...............7

Tutoring (Nirmala Koripella - A+ Tutoring)........26

Uniworld Travel.................................................47

USPS.............................................................110

VAS Realty LLC (Ashwani Dalal).................43/105

Vema Mortgage LLC (Vipul Hapani).............81/89

Vimal Realty (Vimal Patel - Realtor)..................69

VP Insurance Consultant....................................41

Wake Spine & Pain............................................83

West Cary Medicine (Dr. Kareem M.D.)...............31

Worldwide Travels..............................................93