Tribe Desi, Vol. 234: Divorces, tattoos and caffeine

vol 234| April 14, 2011| Pure.Spicy.Unfiltered masala chai Signup | View in a Browser | | Reflections Baisakhi deeyan Vadayean and Shubh Nobo Borsho! Yes, yes, I know...its been a while...and a lot has happened in the last few weeks, ranging from Arab revolutions to tsunamis and nuclear samurais to World Cup to a pregnant Tina Fey to Anna Hazare...and your favorite newsletter was a-missing...sorry about that...I was on a (first time) trip to South-Central India, and then on another quest...but more on that later...thank you to all of you who missed this humble epistle... For those in the know, you can still get the steaming hot chai...oops, news, on our blog and tweetfeed...as they hit the net...and if you know of any pertinent news, feel free to email, facebook or tweet the link... So this newsletter is dedicated to the unsung heros of modern times...the so-called Nuclear Samurai! You may have heard of the radiation leakage from the damaged Fukushima plant - but have you heard of the courageous men trying to contain the radiation against long odds? "The thinning ranks of men struggling to tame Japan's nuclear emergency are invoking the spirit of the samurai as they ignore personal radiation limits in their battle to avert disaster. Some are so determined to push on with a task they see as vital to saving Japan they are leaving their dosimetres at home so bosses do not know the true level of their exposure to radiation at the crippled plant..." What can you say in the face of such courage? Over in India, after the success of the Jan Lokpal Bill to fight corruption, Anna Hazare is catching some flak from some of his supporters regarding his praise of the Gujarat government, which is mired in scandals... Finally, an amzing article on Daniel Kish, who has been sightless for the last 43 years, but has still adapted to his surroundings..."Daniel Kish has been sightless since he was a year old. Yet he can mountain bike. And navigate the wilderness alone. And recognize a building as far away as 1,000 feet. How? The same way bats can see in the dark..." "Bats, of course, use echolocation. Beluga whales too. Dolphins. And Daniel Kish. He is so accomplished at echolocation that he’s able to pedal his mountain bike through streets heavy with traffic and on precipitous dirt trails. He climbs trees. He camps out, by himself, deep in the wilderness. He’s lived for weeks at a time in a tiny cabin a two-mile hike from the nearest road. He travels around the globe. He’s a skilled cook, an avid swimmer, a fluid dance partner. Essentially, though in a way that is unfamiliar to nearly any other human being, Kish can see..." The amazement never ends... Till next time! The DFW Desi Don't miss the new Silk Threads Tunics... Culture Like Coffee or Chai? There is a gene for that...  I need my cuppa joe or chai...how many times have you heard or said that when hanging out with South Asians? And now, you can't blame Starbucks solely for giving you the habit - part of it is your genes! "More than 90 percent of U.S. adults consume caffeine, and the findings provide insight into what influences this habit, which can be good or bad. In moderation, caffeine might counter cognitive decline, but too much can impair cognition, cut into sleep and even cause hallucinations.."  "The researchers identified two genes, CYP1A2 and AHR, that are associated with caffeine intake. Everybody has these genes, but some people have variations that are more active than others. People with the most active versions of these genes drank about 40 milligrams more of caffeine than did people with the least active version.." Read the full story society Divorces rise as taboo falls in urban India  With 8-9% GDP growth, and fast urbanization and westernization, would this be far behind? According to the article, the number of divorce courts in Delhi has gone up from 2 to 16 in the last two decades... "Hindus, who form nearly 80 percent of the country's population, can seek divorce for adultery, insanity, abuse, impotence, desertion or the uniquely Indian grounds that their spouse is a leper or "renounced the world" to enter a religious order. A divorce by mutual consent requires a cooling-off period of six months..." ...and on another note, Elizabeth Hurley claims she is "coping well" with her divorce from Arun Nayer... read on... society Divine Tattoos in India? "Reality television shows like "LA Ink" -- about tattoo artists and their clients in Los Angeles -- have helped changed the modern mindset towards tattoos in India, he said. "About five years back people didn't want to go for tattoos. They used think it was only for junkies. People are more open-minded now. It's now being seen in a very good light." That change has also influenced designs, with previously popular Western and Japanese art making way for styles reflecting India's rich and varied artistic, religious and cultural heritage and as a form of identity and self-expression..." read on... featured nonprofit India Education Fund of The Dallas Foundation       2nd Annual Helping Hands Ladies Group Music Party & Fundraiser Saturday, May 7, 2011  8:00 p.m. Enjoy an evening of fun, food, and music while helping The Ladies raise much-needed funds for their Technology Resources Program that includes development of a comprehensive multimedia room and library to serve the 300+ students at Royal Academy-Panchgani. ...with a scintillating Fashion Show by Silk Threads! 18,000+ active members. To advertise here, please email desi@TribeDesi.com