The Indian Panorama

Tag: Facebook

  • FACEBOOK TO ACQUIRE VIRTUAL REALITY FIRM OCULUS FOR $2B

    FACEBOOK TO ACQUIRE VIRTUAL REALITY FIRM OCULUS FOR $2B

    LAS VEGAS (TIP): Nearly a month after announcing $19 billion acquisition of instant messaging firm WhatsApp, Facebook said it had reached a definitive agreement to acquire virtual reality technology company Oculus VR, Inc., for about $2 billion in a cash and stock deal. The California headquatered Oculus’ flagship product — Oculus Rift — is a goggle like ‘virtual reality headset’ for video gaming.

    Cash and stock offer
    Commenting on the acquisition, Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said, “Mobile is the platform of today, and now we’re also getting ready for the platforms of tomorrow. “Oculus has the chance to create the most social platform ever, and change the way we work, play and communicate.” The offer includes $400 million in cash and 23.1 million shares of Facebook common stock (valued at about $.6 billion).

    Besides, the agreement provides for an additional $300 million earn-out in cash and stock based on the achievement of certain milestones. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014. While the applications for virtual reality technology beyond gaming are in their nascent stages, several industries are already experimenting with the technology, and Facebook plans to extend Oculus’ existing advantage in gaming to new verticals, including communications, media and entertainment, education and other areas, the social networking giant in a statement said.

    “Given these broad potential applications, virtual reality technology is a strong candidate to emerge as the next social and communications platform,” it added. According to Facebook, Oculus has received more than 75,000 orders for development kits for the Oculus Rift.

    “We are excited to work with Mark and the Facebook team to deliver the very best virtual reality platform in the world,” said Brendan Iribe, cofounder and CEO of Oculus VR. “We believe virtual reality will be heavily defined by social experiences that connect people in magical, new ways. It is a transformative and disruptive technology, that enables the world to experience the impossible, and it’s only just the beginning.”

  • DISD chief’s reforms are not enough, says Mayor Rawlings

    DISD chief’s reforms are not enough, says Mayor Rawlings

    DALLAS (TIP): For the first time, members of the public are getting to listen to presentations and ask questions about the DISD Home Rule initiative March 20 night. The face of the Home Rule initiative is a non-profit group called Support Our Public Schools (SOPS).

    SOPS is pushing the overhaul of governance at DISD, which must first be supported by roughly 25,000 petition signatures. Once that happens, the board of trustees would appoint a committee to craft recommendations on exactly how DISD should be locally run. The founders of the movement are a handful of Dallas residents whose faces most won’t recognize, but they have the support of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, who said he wants change at DISD and wants it now.

    “I think what I’m trying to say is we’ve got such a serious situation that we are going to have to do something disruptive,” Rawlings said. “Incremental steps are not going to help a fourth grader in his or her next eight years.” But six months ago, Rawlings was the chief defender of DISD Superintendent Mike Miles and his reform initiative Destination 20-20. Today, Rawlings said Miles initiatives are not enough.

    “These things have got to change faster, better, and with a greater sense of urgency,” Rawlings said. “So let’s not change anything Miles is doing, let’s take the handcuffs off on something’s that he articulated that would be great for him to do.” What could be a problem for Rawlings is that Miles is not supporting the Home Rule concept. He’s not opposing it either, but told the Dallas Morning News Editorial Board Wednesday, “I didn’t initiate this and I didn’t say we should have this. You asked me whether there was a wish list of things we could have.

    I’m not the one pushing for a change.” News 8 asked the Mayor if not getting the superintendent’s endorsement could hurt the Home Rule campaign. “If you look at his quotes, I applaud them — that’s the sort of superintendent I want,” Rawlings said. “It’s not his job to whine that he doesn’t have enough resources, his job is to get the job done.” The question is, will the mayor need Mike Miles support to sell the Home Rule initiative? Maybe not. A check of the “Support Our Public Schools” Facebook page reveals an impressive list of luminaries who are supporting it. But even more important are the voters and what they are saying about it, and Thursday night, there is sure to be a segment of those who believe the governance of DISD is just fine.

  • Devyani – a Kabuki, a Tragic Trilogy or a Bilateral Selfinflicted Wound?

    Devyani – a Kabuki, a Tragic Trilogy or a Bilateral Selfinflicted Wound?

    Alightning fast re-indictment on March 14th, within 2 days of a judge’s dismissal, speaks to the Prosecutor’s rebuke of those who misunderstand law and chose to personalize their disrespect, while continuing to seek to hold a person liable for her alleged criminal wrongs.

    Any and all attacks on the prosecution were wrong in-fact and counterproductive at best, and all those who wish to engage in that mind-numbing sport ought to cease and desist. The legal process deserves respect, especially given the adversarial system of justice – anything less misdirects logic and proportionality, the hallmark of justice, when forced to function in a river of insults.

    I am disturbed by what I have seen occur from December 12th to March 12th, when Judge Scheindlin issued her surprising and unexpected technical-dismissal of the January 9th Indictment. There has been much noise from all quarters since December 12th, who sought to vilify the United States and our abovepolitics United States Attorney Preet Bharara. Some, perhaps, to derail the bilateral relationship.

    Others, perhaps, questioning how could a friendly nation treat another so. Yet others, were playing for personal advantage – much as an undertaker does upon every death. But the most painful cut, made repeatedly, was the legally false or factually false-laced comment coming from a source whose job was to defend Devyani, within the bounds of law. While lawyers, like doctors, can misdiagnose, they ought not misrepresent facts. Certainly, to do both, and repeatedly, when you have over 1 billion good and decent people worried about national respect and national honor is beyond comprehension as it is a core wrong.

    This misdiagnosis and mis-statements caused legal and factual false predicates to give birth to false public expectations in India and false governmental bureaucratic judgment. I know, as I took unexpected heat for properly diagnosing that Devyani lacked diplomatic immunity while holding an A-visa – even as I admitted that the arrest-off-the-street was excessive and ought not have been done. It even gave false birth to genuine public anger against the United States and US Attorney Bharara. The height of which were folks marching in India against President Obama and the American Flag. There were even unseemly and false stories about US Attorney Bharara’s political ambitions.

    This was, and is, wrong. Preet Bharara has earned his spot in the pantheon of legendary Southern District prosecutors like my mentor, the great Bob Morgenthau. Perhaps, the greatest wrong are the birth defects of the Devyani case, which in retrospect, I’m sure no one in the State Department knowing what they now know, would have ever asked the Justice Department to prosecute Devyani. Just look at who is involved, and not merely what is alleged to have occurred. Sangeeta Richard, who twice went to the United States Embassy in Delhi to lie about her contract of employment and scam herself a visa-approval; Philip Richard, who after getting to the United States, wants a divorce because Sangeeta, he says, can’t be trusted and lies; Wayne May and his wife, who while posted in India were anti-India and anti-Indian – worthy of a “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” episode.

    Such a posting between friendly nations is diplomatic malpractice at best. Can you imagine our State Department posting an anti-Semite to Israel, and who, along with his wife while there, enjoy mocking the receiving nation and its citizens on Facebook? The second greatest wrong is the pre-birth twin facts of prior legal proceedings in India against Sangeeta Richard, and the shocking evacuation of Philip Richard and family, well timed to occur prior to Devyani’s December 12th arrest. The law would have been better enhanced, while being mutually respectful, if India’s prior case and America’s subsequent case, each against their respective defendant(s), took its turns and twists to find justice.

    The evacuation stands as a core wrong, with lingering need for redress. After the successful negotiations between our Secretary of State John Kerry, and India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, Devyani was legally allowed to go home due to the State Department’s grant of a G-visa to replace her Avisa. The A-visa did not immunize her from being charged or arrested for what she was, and now again, is. That the A-visa was replaced by G-visa, proved the vitality, portance and warmth both nations place upon the bilateral relationship – from President Obama to the everyday hardworking American citizen. But, then, Devyani made her most critical error: instead of resolving the criminal charges, with the best possible resolution, including, a non-jail sentence along with an additional civil resolution, she sought an outright dismissal of the criminal charges based upon a mere 1-day full immunity consequence of a G-Visa, which had no retroactive effect of cloaking her.

    This was nothing short Caesarian hubris, overlaid on legal misdiagnosis and misrepresentation of facts. A trilogy of tragic proportions. Now, what must be avoided at all costs is an unearned chill between friends – India and United States, and Indians and Americans. From the presence of Indian tea at the Boston Tea Party to the innocent blood shed upon Lord Cornwallis’ cold command when stepping foot in India after losing “the Colonies” to General George Washington, these two nations have a joint destiny. Indeed, even Christopher Columbus only found the New World because of India.

    History will not kindly look upon additional colossal errors, nor will destiny willingly permit same. Devyani was, and ought to remain, a mere hiccup in the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st Century. On this Ides of March, as I remember Julius Caesar who ruled the world and brought us the Pax Romana, it is good to embrace humility, as it helps minimize errors of judgment in any capital of a sovereign nation, and the need to separate from folks, whose misjudgments and misrepresentations. Let only those who know the actual law and honor the real facts have the right to make binding judgments to keep the public peace, enhance the public good, and seek to form a more perfect world.”

  • Election commission ‘likes’ Facebook to attract voters

    Election commission ‘likes’ Facebook to attract voters

    BHUBANESWAR (TIP): If you thought only candidates are logging on to various social networking sites, hold on. The election commission has logged on to social networking site Facebook to appeal to voters to cast their franchise in large numbers.

    The social network campaign is part of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), for which the Election Commission of India sanctioned nearly Rs 70 lakh to Odisha, official sources said. “Know your right to vote” – the message is loud and clear on the newly created Facebook account of the chief electoral officer (CEO), Odisha. “Since Facebook is a widely circulated and vibrant medium, the forum will help us sensitize people about their voting rights.

    We have opened an account ‘Sveep Odisha’ on Facebook to spread awareness about the voting rights,” Odisha’s chief electoral officer Mona Sharma said. “The main purpose of the campaign is to inform, motivate and request every eligible voter to cast vote,” Sharma said. “Sveep Odisha” features the highlights of voter awareness drives initiated by the district administrations across the state. “We have uploaded a short video clipping, where an Odia actor appeals people to exercise their voting rights.We are planning to upload some new features on the Facebook account to attract voters,” Sharma said.

    The CEO’s office said it would install hoardings and paste posters in Odia, Hindi and English languages, requesting people to participate in the voting process. Posters would also be stuck at public places like bus stands and railway stations in the state. The election commission has asked the culture department to engage folk and traditional artists to spread awareness about voting right in rural areas. Recently, the election commission launched aggressive campaign on “voting rights” with the help of noted sand sculptor Sudarsan Pattnaik, actors Archita and Buddhaditya Mohanty and social activist Sruti Mohapatra.

    For the first time, National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers would be mobilized outside polling stations to guide voters to their booths. Besides, the NSS volunteers would spread awareness on campuses of different colleges. In December last year, Odisha Election Watch (OEW), the state chapter of National Election Watch, launched a voters’ awareness initiative ahead of the forthcoming general elections. Audio and videos by some film stars, featured in the “My country my vote; My vote not for sale” campaign.

  • Soldiers killed in Egypt shootout

    Soldiers killed in Egypt shootout

    CAIRO (TIP): A raid by Egyptian police, military and special forces on a suspected bomb factory outside of Cairo turned into an hourslong gun battle with insurgents who detonated car bombs, fighting that killed two military officers and five militants, the Interior Ministry said on March 19.

    The ministry, which is in charge of police, said an investigation showed that the al-Qaida-inspired militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, or Champions of Jerusalem, used the timber workshop in Arab Sharkas village in Qalioubiya province to build and store bombs. During the raid on March 19 morning, militants opened fire on security forces and set off the car bombs, sparking a gun battle that lasted several hours, the ministry said.

    The fighting killed a brigadier general and a colonel, both explosive experts, military spokesman Col Ahmed Mohammed Ali said in a post on his Facebook page. Authorities arrested four suspected militants, the ministry said. In the eight months since the military removed Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, violence targeting police officers and soldiers has increased, moving from the restive northern Sinai Peninsula closer to the capital. Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, based in Sinai, has claimed responsibility for most of the major attacks in and near Cairo. The most recent attack came Saturday when gunmen stormed a military police checkpoint, killing six soldiers, in an area not far from the workshop raided on March 19.

  • Death of L’Wren Scott, Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, is ruled a suicide

    Death of L’Wren Scott, Mick Jagger’s girlfriend, is ruled a suicide

    NEW YORK (TIP): The death of fashion designer L’Wren Scott, the longtime girlfriend of Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, was suicide, the New York City medical examiner’s office said on Wednesday. An autopsy completed on the body of 49-year-old Scott found that she died of hanging, according to Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the city medical examiner.

    Scott was found dead in her Manhattan apartment on Monday morning. Police said her assistant found her kneeling with a scarf wrapped around her neck that had been tied to the handle of a French door. There was no note. The Stones canceled their seven-date tour of Australia and New Zealand in the wake of Scott’s death. Jagger called Scott his “lover and best friend” in a Facebook tribute and said he was struggling to come to grips with her death.

    Jagger’s bandmates voiced their support for him amid a trying time. Keith Richards said in a statement on Wednesday that “no one saw this coming” and that Jagger has “always been my soul brother and we love him.” “We’re thick as thieves and we’re all feeling for the man,” he added. Charlie Watts said the band’s priority is the 70-year-old Jagger. “Needless to say we are all completely shocked but our first thought is to support Mick at this awful time,” he said.

    “We intend to come back to Australia and New Zealand as soon as it proves possible.” Ronnie Wood echoed Watts’ statement. “This is such terrible news and right now the important thing is that we are all pulling together to offer Mick our support and help him through this sad time,” Wood said. “Without a doubt we intend to be back out on that stage as soon as we can.” Scott had been Jagger’s companion since 2001.

    The Rolling Stones frontman paid tribute to his girlfriend Tuesday on his Facebook page writing, “I will never forget her.” “I am still struggling to understand how my lover and best friend could end her life in this tragic way. We spent many wonderful years together and had made a great life for ourselves. She had great presence and her talent was much admired, not least by me.” The fashion label founded by Scott had been heavily in debt and was reportedly about to fold. Former New York Times fashion writer Cathy Horyn said in an essay on the paper’s website that Scott had been planning to announce that she was closing her business. Scott canceled her London Fashion Week show last month, citing production delays.

    Scott launched her high-end fashion label in 2006. First lady Michelle Obama, Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz were among the big names to wear her designs. Accounts filed by Scott’s LS Fashion Ltd. in London show the company had liabilities that exceeded assets by 4.24 million euros ($5.9 million) as of Dec. 31, 2012. The company’s long- and short-term debts totaled 6.75 million euros against assets, capital and reserves of 2.51 million euros, according to the accounts, which were filed in October. Scott was adopted by a Mormon couple and grew up in small-town Utah. She made her way to Paris after high school where, aided by her 6-foot-3 height (some say 6-foot-4) and striking looks, she found work as a model for some prominent photographers.

  • Devyani – a Kabuki, a Tragic Trilogy or a Bilateral Self inflicted Wound?

    Devyani – a Kabuki, a Tragic Trilogy or a Bilateral Self inflicted Wound?

    Alightning fast re-indictment on March 14th, within 2 days of a judge’s dismissal, speaks to the Prosecutor’s rebuke of those who misunderstand law and chose to personalize their disrespect, while continuing to seek to hold a person liable for her alleged criminal wrongs.

    Any and all attacks on the prosecution were wrong in-fact and counterproductive at best, and all those who wish to engage in that mind-numbing sport ought to cease and desist. The legal process deserves respect, especially given the adversarial system of justice – anything less misdirects logic and proportionality, the hallmark of justice, when forced to function in a river of insults.

    I am disturbed by what I have seen occur from December 12th to March 12th, when Judge Scheindlin issued her surprising and unexpected technical-dismissal of the January 9th Indictment. There has been much noise from all quarters since December 12th, who sought to vilify the United States and our abovepolitics United States Attorney Preet Bharara. Some, perhaps, to derail the bilateral relationship.

    Others, perhaps, questioning how could a friendly nation treat another so. Yet others, were playing for personal advantage – much as an undertaker does upon every death. But the most painful cut, made repeatedly, was the legally false or factually false-laced comment coming from a source whose job was to defend Devyani, within the bounds of law. While lawyers, like doctors, can misdiagnose, they ought not misrepresent facts. Certainly, to do both, and repeatedly, when you have over 1 billion good and decent people worried about national respect and national honor is beyond comprehension as it is a core wrong.

    This misdiagnosis and mis-statements caused legal and factual false predicates to give birth to false public expectations in India and false governmental bureaucratic judgment. I know, as I took unexpected heat for properly diagnosing that Devyani lacked diplomatic immunity while holding an A-visa – even as I admitted that the arrest-off-the-street was excessive and ought not have been done. It even gave false birth to genuine public anger against the United States and US Attorney Bharara. The height of which were folks marching in India against President Obama and the American Flag.

    There were even unseemly and false stories about US Attorney Bharara’s political ambitions. This was, and is, wrong. Preet Bharara has earned his spot in the pantheon of legendary Southern District prosecutors like my mentor, the great Bob Morgenthau. Perhaps, the greatest wrong are the birth defects of the Devyani case, which in retrospect, I’m sure no one in the State Department knowing what they now know, would have ever asked the Justice Department to prosecute Devyani. Just look at who is involved, and not merely what is alleged to have occurred.

    Sangeeta Richard, who twice went to the United States Embassy in Delhi to lie about her contract of employment and scam herself a visa-approval; Philip Richard, who after getting to the United States, wants a divorce because Sangeeta, he says, can’t be trusted and lies; Wayne May and his wife, who while posted in India were anti-India and anti-Indian – worthy of a “Ripley’s Believe it or Not” episode. Such a posting between friendly nations is diplomatic malpractice at best. Can you imagine our State Department posting an anti-Semite to Israel, and who, along with his wife while there, enjoy mocking the receiving nation and its citizens on Facebook? The second greatest wrong is the pre-birth twin facts of prior legal proceedings in India against Sangeeta Richard, and the shocking evacuation of Philip Richard and family, well timed to occur prior to Devyani’s December 12th arrest.

    The law would have been better enhanced, while being mutually respectful, if India’s prior case and America’s subsequent case, each against their respective defendant(s), took its turns and twists to find justice. The evacuation stands as a core wrong, with lingering need for redress. After the successful negotiations between our Secretary of State John Kerry, and India’s Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid, Devyani was legally allowed to go home due to the State Department’s grant of a G-visa to replace her Avisa. The A-visa did not immunize her from being charged or arrested for what she was, and now again, is. That the A-visa was replaced by G-visa, proved the vitality, portance and warmth both nations place upon the bilateral relationship – from President Obama to the everyday hardworking American citizen.

    But, then, Devyani made her most critical error: instead of resolving the criminal charges, with the best possible resolution, including, a non-jail sentence along with an additional civil resolution, she sought an outright dismissal of the criminal charges based upon a mere 1-day full immunity consequence of a G-Visa, which had no retroactive effect of cloaking her. This was nothing short Caesarian hubris, overlaid on legal misdiagnosis and misrepresentation of facts. A trilogy of tragic proportions. Now, what must be avoided at all costs is an unearned chill between friends – India and United States, and Indians and Americans.

    From the presence of Indian tea at the Boston Tea Party to the innocent blood shed upon Lord Cornwallis’ cold command when stepping foot in India after losing “the Colonies” to General George Washington, these two nations have a joint destiny. Indeed, even Christopher Columbus only found the New World because of India. History will not kindly look upon additional colossal errors, nor will destiny willingly permit same.

    Devyani was, and ought to remain, a mere hiccup in the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st Century. On this Ides of March, as I remember Julius Caesar who ruled the world and brought us the Pax Romana, it is good to embrace humility, as it helps minimize errors of judgment in any capital of a sovereign nation, and the need to separate from folks, whose misjudgments and misrepresentations. Let only those who know the actual law and honor the real facts have the right to make binding judgments to keep the public peace, enhance the public good, and seek to form a more perfect world.”

  • Facebook announces steps to stop illegal gun sales

    Facebook announces steps to stop illegal gun sales

    SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Facebook is taking aim at people who are using the social network or Instagram photo-sharing platform to sell guns. Under pressure from gun safety advocates, the social network will block members under 18 years of age from viewing pages or timeline posts reported to involve private sales of firearms and will set up online “checkpoints” warning people that such deals may be illegal.

    And people offering guns for sale on Facebook will not be allowed to indicate that background checks are not required or that sales will be done across state lines without involving licensed firearms dealers, it said. “We will not permit people to post offers to sell regulated items that indicate a willingness to evade or help others evade the law,” Facebook head of global policy management Monika Bickert said in a blog post.

    The California-based company said that it worked with New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman and advocacy groups to modify policies to fight illegal gun sales. “Responsible social media sites know that it is in no one’s interest for their sites to become a 21st century black market in dangerous and illegal goods that place our families and communities at risk,” Schneiderman said in a statement praising Facebook’s move.

    Facebook and Instagram will remove content that represents a “direct, credible risk” to users and notify police when appropriate, according to Bickert. Facebook’s new rules also require people using social network pages to sell guns or other regulated items to display messages instructing buyers to obey applicable laws.

    “By taking these unprecedented educational and enforcement steps, we’ve been able to strike an important balance in helping people express themselves, while promoting a safe and responsible community,” she added. The leading social network’s hardened policy will also apply to its smartphone photo sharing service Instagram, where gun sellers had taken to showing pictures of wares tagged with terms such as #gunsforsale.

  • Two Indian-American students go missing

    Two Indian-American students go missing

    NEW YORK (TIP): Even as search continues for an Indian-American nursing student who went missing in New York 10 days ago another India native has mysteriously vanished on a spring break trip to Florida.

    Reny Jose, who arrived in Panama City Beach, Florida Saturday, March 1, disappeared Monday evening, the Houston Chronicle reported citing Florida’s Bay County Sheriff’s Office. A police spokesperson said Jose’s clothing were found in a garbage can behind the house.

    Rice University informed students of Jose’s disappearance Tuesday, said Rice spokesman B.J. Almond. Almond said the 21-year-old senior is a native of Latham, a suburb of Albany, New York. According to Jose’s Facebook page, he graduated from Latham’s Shaker High School before enrolling at Rice to study mechanical engineering.

    Jose’s sister, Reashma Jose, has created a Facebook page to help find her brother. Meanwhile, the Nassau county police department’s missing persons squad is seeking the public’s help in locating Jasmine V. Jospeh, a 22-year-old female college student from Syosset, according to Newsday.

    Her parents said Saturday that they had paid for their daughter to enrol at New York Institute of Technology for the fall 2013 semester. But university officials said Jasmine Joseph, who would have been a junior, hadn’t been a student at school in Old Westbury since last May. The parents don’t know for sure whether she had been attending class, and they haven’t seen any of her grades, Newsday said.

    They never, however, suspected anything suspicious about their daughter’s behavior. The family has set up a Facebook page and put up fliers in the neighborhood with the hopes of gaining any clues into their daughter’s disappearance. Last month, yet another Indian-origin student Pravin Varughese, who had gone missing in Illinois, was found dead in a wooded area in Carbondale. The Southern Illinois University student from Morton Grove had disappeared after getting into a dispute with an acquaintance who was giving him a ride.

  • Myanmar security forces arrest key protest leader

    Myanmar security forces arrest key protest leader

    Yangon (TIP): Myanmar security forces arrested on Thursday one of the main leaders of the campaign against military rule after ramming him with a car as he led a motorbike protest rally, friends and colleagues said. Opponents of a February 1 coup that ousted an elected government led by Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi have kept up their campaign against the military this traditional New Year week with marches and various other displays of resistance. “Our brother Wai Moe Naing was arrested. His motorbike was hit by an unmarked police car,” Win Zaw Khiang, a member of a protest organising group, said on social media. Wai Moe Naing, a 25-year-old Muslim, has emerged as one of the most high-profile leaders of opposition to the coup. Earlier, Reuters spoke to Wai Moe Naing by telephone as he was setting off to lead the rally in the central town of Monywa, about 700 km (435 miles) north of the main city of Yangon. — Reuters

  • Prophet Muhammad’s Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera – Poetry Session in Richardson on Friday, February 21, 2014

    Prophet Muhammad’s Intrafaith-Interfaith Naatia Mushaera – Poetry Session in Richardson on Friday, February 21, 2014

    DALLAS, TX (TIP): The World Muslim Congress, a think tank of Muslims in Dallas has announced a poetry session known as Naatia Mushaera to honor Prophet Muhammad. “This is a purposeful event with three clear goals; to share Prophet’s work with fellow Americans, to focus on how Muslims can adopt his teachings to benefit the society at large, and to bring Muslims of different denominations together for the common purposecelebrate Prophet Muhammad’s birthday”- said Mike Ghouse, president of the organization.

    The program is set to start at 8:00 PM and end at midnight on Friday, February 21, 2014 at Richardson Civic Center in Richardson, Texas. (Link). The evening is divided into two sessions. The first segment will highlight the Intrafaith and interfaith aspects of the program. Muslims of different denominations including Ahmadiyya, Bohra, Ismaili, Shia, Sunni, WD Muhammad others will share a Naat (poetry singing) each from their community. Then friends from other faiths will also share their Poetry about the Prophet. Women and Men will be reciting the Naats together for the first time.

    The second segment after the tea break is assigned to poets who will recite the purposeful poetry to reflect on Prophet’s work and how we can make that meaningful in our day to day life. “Throughout the program, we will be highlighting the inclusive teachings of the Prophet’s wisdom. The values embedded in the Madinah constitution will be shared, where the prophet signed a declaration with Jews, Christians, Pagans and others. Each member of community was guaranteed the freedom to practice his or her faith freely. Furthermore, in his last sermon, the Prophet declared that all men are created equal, and respecting each human is the right thing to do.

    Like the people of all faiths, Muslims need to go back to the inclusive values taught by the prophet.” added Mike Ghouse. Refreshments, tea, and snacks will be served in addition to the special treat – the king of desserts, Laddu. Shazia Khan will be the master of the ceremonies, and the event will be chaired by a mystery guest of honor, and special guest OS Modgil with host Mike Ghouse. You are invited to, the event which is free but an RSVP is required at the facebook events “Naatia Mushaera” on February 21, 2014 or email to: rsvpforsure@gmail.com .

  • Strong Indian American challenge in US Congressional election in Silicon Valley

    Strong Indian American challenge in US Congressional election in Silicon Valley

    SAN JOSE (TIP): US Congressional election in Silicon Valley this year was being seen as a two-person race between incumbent Congressman Mike Honda (Democrat) and his main challenger Rohit “Ro” Khanna (Democrat) until recently. It all changed when Dr. Vanilla Mathur Singh (Republican), a member of Hindu American Foundation (HAF), entered the race in December 2013.

    The HAF first made headlines in 2005 with its failed attempt in California state to “improve 6th grade textbooks so that these books actually reflect their (Hindu) beliefs and their religious practices.” Media reports indicate that Singh was recruited to run by Shalabh “Shalli” Kumar, a Chicagobased Indian-American businessman and Republican fundraiser. Kumar is the founder of a super PAC, Indian Americans for Freedom, with close ties to Hindu Nationalists. He has been lobbying members of US Congress to help rehabilitate his “idol” Narendra Modi of India’s Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

    Modi has been denied US visa multiple times by the State Department because of his widely suspected role in the killing of thousands of Muslims in 2002 Gujarat riots. Singh said that she raised $100,000 in the five days after declaring her candidacy, including $25,000 of her own money. The rest, she said, came from about “20 family and friends.” Kumar’s super PAC could change the dynamics of the South Bay race if he chooses to back Singh financially. In 2002, his super PAC spent $500,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., including producing an ad set to Middle Eastern music that showed the double amputee Iraq war veteran wearing a headscarf during a visit to a local Muslim community center.

    Ro Khanna, a Silicon Valley patent attorney of Indian origin, is backed by many of Silicon Valley’s top VCs and executives at Google, Facebook, Yahoo and other tech companies. Other Notables include Marc Andreessen, the Netscape cofounder; John Doerr, the venture capitalist; and Randi Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Zuckerberg Media and the sister of Mark Zuckerberg and Sean Parker, former President pf Facebook. Four months before the primary, Khanna has $1,975,000 in cash on hand, or more than triple the incumbent’s $623,000, according to campaign finance records filed last Friday as reported by the New York Times.

    Khanna supporters expect him to win to push legislation in Congress to liberalize US visas for foreign workers needed to fill Silicon Valley tech jobs. He supports raising the number of H1-B visas, keeping a lid on capital gains taxes and cracking down on patent trolls while charting a progressive agenda on most social issues. Faced with the surprise new challenge from the Hindu Right, Ro Khanna has refused to denounce Narendra Modi for fear of alienating a significant chunk of the substantial pro-BJP Indian- American voters in Silicon Valley. Mike Honda, the incumbent congressman from 17th district, is a Japanese-American who was put by the United States in an internment camp as a child during World War II.

    He has been a featured speaker at many Muslim- American events where he has spoken out for American Muslims’ civil rights since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. During a 2009 keynote speech at Human Development Foundation fund-raiser that I attended, Congressman Honda said the US foreign policy should have the same goals that the HDF has in Pakistan. Drawing from his experience as a US peace corps volunteer to support education and infrastructure development in Central America in the 1960s, he proposed a similar effort in restoring US credibility in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Honda praised the US emphasis on economic aid and said he supports the 80/20 rule that General Petraeus had outlined, with 80% emphasis on the political/economic effort backed by 20% military component to fight the Taliban insurgency.

    Honda says he has been a strong advocate for the tech industry in Congress. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he helped get millions of dollars in funding for BART extension to San Jose, a top priority for Valley leaders, as well as federal investment in nanotechnology research. His strong backing from organized labor and veteran Democrats reflects the decades he’s spent in public service. Honda also supports an increase in H1-B visas, although he’s also expressed concerns about its potential harm to the local labor pool.

    A number of polls in 17th district so far show that Honda enjoys a healthy lead over his challenger Khanna. Honda’s lead could increase if Singh takes a significant chunk of Indian-American votes away from Khanna. In spite of a powerful tech industry funded challenge by Ro Khanna, Honda remains a favorite to win. Honda also enjoys the strong endorsement of President Obama and Democratic Party’s establishment. Singh’s entry in the race could further help Honda extend his lead and keep his seat in Congress. I intend to vote for Mike Honda based on the Congressman’s strong record of service to Silicon Valley and his unambiguous procivil rights stance

  • Facebook to buy WhatsApp

    Facebook to buy WhatsApp

    NEW YORK (TIP): Facebook is buying mobile messaging service WhatsApp for up to $19 billion in cash and stock, by far the company’s largest acquisition. The world’s biggest social networking company said on Wednesday that it is paying $12 billion in Facebook stock and $4 billion in cash for WhatsApp.

    In addition, the app’s founders and employees will be granted $3 billion in restricted stock that will vest over four years after the deal closes. Facebook says it is keeping WhatsApp as a separate service, just as it did with Instagram, which it bought for about $715.3 million.

    WhatsApp has more than 450 million monthly active users. In comparison, Twitter had 241 million users at the end of 2014. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg says WhatsApp is on path to reach a billion users.

  • Submissions are open for the 2014 Long Beach International Film Festival

    Submissions are open for the 2014 Long Beach International Film Festival

    MINEOLA, NY (TIP): Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano announced February 18, that the Long Beach International Film Festival (LBIFF) will begin on July 31st 2014, and will extend into a four day long festival. The LBIFF is currently accepting online submissions in all categories for the “Shorts on the Beach” series, as well as features, live action, animation, drama, comedy, thriller, horror, sports, and documentaries.

    Sponsored in part by the City of Long Beach and Nassau County, “Shorts on the Beach” film series is a free screening of short films on the beach and under the stars. Blankets and chairs are welcome. County Executive Mangano stated, “Nassau County has quickly become the Hollywood East of the film industry and supports independent and studio films. It is our pleasure to bring entertainment and cultural opportunities to residents and this film festival will truly be a celebration of film in the City by the Sea.”

    Last year’s International Film Festival had a great outpouring of support from Joan Jett, Dee Snieder, Burt Young and UFC Champion Chris Weidman. As the LBIFF approaches their 3rd year, it will feature a drive in movie at Nickerson Beach. They will also be screening feature films at the Madison Theatre at Molloy College. This is a wonderful addition to the festival, and especially exciting due to the fact the Long Beach Theatre is still closed due to hurricane Sandy.

    County Executive Mangano has long been focused on bolstering the television and motion picture industry in Nassau County. The former United States Navy-Grumman Corporation property in Bethpage is now home to successful production studios that encompass three buildings and nine sound stages. Movies and television shows are now being filmed in Nassau County on a regular basis, resulting in $144 million in economic benefit to the local economy.

    To stay on this path and aid in our economic recovery, the Nassau County Film Commission hosted a Film Friendly Nassau County Location and Studio Tour for the past three years. This business-friendly model encourages the industry to work in the region and create jobs in Nassau County.

    “The Long Beach International Film Festival continues to provide an opportunity for filmmakers to come and see the types of filming locations Nassau County has to offer whether it be our beaches, mansions, suburban areas and, of course, Gold Coast Studios and Grumman Studios, which are all New York State-approved movie studios which qualify for the much sought after 30% tax credit,” said County Executive Mangano. The deadline for submissions is June 1st 2014. Films can be submitted online atwww.longbeachfilm.com. For additional information, please visit www.longbeachfilm.com or www.facebook.com/longbeachinternationa lfilmfestival.

  • Strong Indian American challenge in US Congressional election in Silicon Valley

    Strong Indian American challenge in US Congressional election in Silicon Valley

    SAN JOSE (TIP): US Congressional election in Silicon Valley this year was being seen as a two-person race between incumbent Congressman Mike Honda (Democrat) and his main challenger Rohit “Ro” Khanna (Democrat) until recently. It all changed when Dr. Vanilla Mathur Singh (Republican), a member of Hindu American Foundation (HAF), entered the race in December 2013.

    The HAF first made headlines in 2005 with its failed attempt in California state to “improve 6th grade textbooks so that these books actually reflect their (Hindu) beliefs and their religious practices.” Media reports indicate that Singh was recruited to run by Shalabh “Shalli” Kumar, a Chicago-based Indian-American businessman and Republican fundraiser.

    Kumar is the founder of a super PAC, Indian Americans for Freedom, with close ties to Hindu Nationalists. He has been lobbying members of US Congress to help rehabilitate his “idol” Narendra Modi of India’s Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Modi has been denied US visa multiple times by the State Department because of his widely suspected role in the killing of thousands of Muslims in 2002 Gujarat riots.

    Singh said that she raised $100,000 in the five days after declaring her candidacy, including $25,000 of her own money. The rest, she said, came from about “20 family and friends.” Kumar’s super PAC could change the dynamics of the South Bay race if he chooses to back Singh financially. In 2002, his super PAC spent $500,000 in an unsuccessful attempt to defeat Rep. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., including producing an ad set to Middle Eastern music that showed the double amputee Iraq war veteran wearing a headscarf during a visit to a local Muslim community center.

    Ro Khanna, a Silicon Valley patent attorney of Indian origin, is backed by many of Silicon Valley’s top VCs and executives at Google, Facebook, Yahoo and other tech companies. Other Notables include Marc Andreessen, the Netscape co-founder; John Doerr, the venture capitalist; and Randi Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Zuckerberg Media and the sister of Mark Zuckerberg and Sean Parker, former President pf Facebook.

    Four months before the primary, Khanna has $1,975,000 in cash on hand, or more than triple the incumbent’s $623,000, according to campaign finance records filed last Friday as reported by the New York Times. Khanna supporters expect him to win to push legislation in Congress to liberalize US visas for foreign workers needed to fill Silicon Valley tech jobs. He supports raising the number of H1-B visas, keeping a lid on capital gains taxes and cracking down on patent trolls while charting a progressive agenda on most social issues.

    Faced with the surprise new challenge from the Hindu Right, Ro Khanna has refused to denounce Narendra Modi for fear of alienating a significant chunk of the substantial pro-BJP Indian-American voters in Silicon Valley. Mike Honda, the incumbent congressman from 17th district, is a Japanese-American who was put by the United States in an internment camp as a child during World War II. He has been a featured speaker at many Muslim- American events where he has spoken out for American Muslims’ civil rights since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

    During a 2009 keynote speech at Human Development Foundation fund-raiser that I attended, Congressman Honda said the US foreign policy should have the same goals that the HDF has in Pakistan. Drawing from his experience as a US peace corps volunteer to support education and infrastructure development in Central America in the 1960s, he proposed a similar effort in restoring US credibility in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Honda praised the US emphasis on economic aid and said he supports the 80/20 rule that General Petraeus had outlined, with 80% emphasis on the political/economic effort backed by 20% military component to fight the Taliban insurgency. Honda says he has been a strong advocate for the tech industry in Congress.

    As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, he helped get millions of dollars in funding for BART extension to San Jose, a top priority for Valley leaders, as well as federal investment in nanotechnology research. His strong backing from organized labor and veteran Democrats reflects the decades he’s spent in public service. Honda also supports an increase in H1-B visas, although he’s also expressed concerns about its potential harm to the local labor pool.

    A number of polls in 17th district so far show that Honda enjoys a healthy lead over his challenger Khanna. Honda’s lead could increase if Singh takes a significant chunk of Indian- American votes away from Khanna. In spite of a powerful tech industry funded challenge by Ro Khanna, Honda remains a favorite to win. Honda also enjoys the strong endorsement of President Obama and Democratic Party’s establishment. Singh’s entry in the race could further help Honda extend his lead and keep his seat in Congress. I intend to vote for Mike Honda based on the Congressman’s strong record of service to Silicon Valley and his unambiguous pro-civil rights stance.

  • Texas Gay Marriage Ban Challenged In Court

    Texas Gay Marriage Ban Challenged In Court

    SAN ANTONIO, TX (TIP): Two same-sex couples, including one from Plano, asked a federal judge Wednesday, February 12 to stay Texas’ constitutional ban on gay marriage so one can wed and the other can have their outof- state marriage recognized. U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia didn’t immediately rule on plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction.

    The case is one of three to challenge the Texas ban – and the furthest along. Nationally, similar battles are underway in federal courts in 23 states. Garcia, an appointee of former President Bill Clinton, acknowledged that his ruling will be far from the final say on the matter. “Any one of those cases,” he said, ticking off lawsuits in Oklahoma, Utah, Ohio and Virginia, “or a combination thereof will make its way to the Supreme Court,” he said.

    In June, the justices ruled, 5-4, that married same-sex couples are entitled to federal benefits. Quoting U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks of Austin, Garcia said: “Ultimately, a group of five people will decide this case, and I’m not one of those five.” Lawyer Mark Phariss and physician’s assistant Victor Holmes of Plano, who’ve been domestic partners for more than 16 years, brought the suit, along with Austin residents Cleopatra De Leon and Nicole Dimetman. De Leon and Dimetman got married in Massachusetts in 2009. They have a young son.

    Their lawyers, Barry Chasnoff and Neel Lane, argued it’s only a matter of time before the Supreme Court strikes down gaymarriage bans in Texas and 32 other states. Chasnoff said the states have violated the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution by denying a privilege – the ability to marry – for reasons mostly of hostility or “animus” toward gay men and lesbians. Pointing to his wife of 43 years in the audience, Chasnoff said marriage confers many financial and emotional blessings.

    “What we want is for Vic and Mark, Nicole and Cleo to have the same opportunity in their life that I’ve been fortunate to have,” he said. “It should not be denied in law because of sexual orientation.” Assistant Texas Solicitor General Mike Murphy said that concern for children, and a belief they’re best brought up by a heterosexual couple, underlie the Texas constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Calling the ballot measure an act of prejudice or ill will against gays and lesbians is “an unsupported claim,” he said.

    “The purpose of Texas marriage law is not to discriminate against same-sex couples but to promote responsible procreation,” Murphy said. Plaintiffs’ lawyers Chasnoff and Lane, though, were quick to point out that infertile and elderly heterosexuals marry all the time, with no interest in having children. Also, the two lawyers noted, many same-sex couples bring up youngsters, through adoption and assisted reproduction. “If marriage is good for children, then it’s irrational to prohibit same-sex couples who could have children from being married,” Lane said.

    The U.S. Constitution requires states to give “full faith and credit” to other states’ laws and judicial edicts. Murphy, who works for Attorney General Greg Abbott, the leading Republican candidate for governor, said the Texas ban doesn’t trample on other states’ decisions. “An out-of-state marriage is not terminated when they move to Texas,” he said of gay and lesbian couples. “It’s simply not recognized.” Federal courts haven’t enshrined same-sex marriage as a fundamental right of U.S. citizens, Murphy said. Massachusetts was the first state to legalize same-sex marriage, in 2004, he noted.

    “It is a more recent innovation than Facebook,” he said. Murphy said the plaintiffs want to yank the hot-button social issue from the Legislature and voters and hand it to federal judges. “This court should not do that,” he said. The argument irritated Phariss, the plaintiff who’s also a lawyer. He told reporters after the hearing that U.S. voters ratified the 14th Amendment, which provides for states to give equal protection of the laws to all citizens, in 1868.

    “The U.S. Constitution trumps anything that Texas does,” he said. “What stings is that they use a local action here to try to suggest that that would somehow or another trump our constitutional rights.” U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia is expected to decide whether to temporarily block the law, approved by voters in 2005, until a trial can be held in the couples’ case. Similar lawsuits have been filed in 22 other states, but the Texas lawsuit is the first of its kind in the region covered by the southern and deeply conservative 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where the case will likely end up.

  • Body of missing world traveler Leanne Bearden found in Texas

    Body of missing world traveler Leanne Bearden found in Texas

    HOUSTON (TIP): After spending nearly two years criss-crossing the world, Leanne Hecht Bearden’s adventures — and life — ended abruptly in woods near a home in central Texas.

    Authorities announced Thursday, February 13 that a body believed to be the 33-year-old woman had been found in Garden Ridge, the same city where she was last seen January 17 heading out from her in-laws’ house for what was supposed to be a one-hour walk. Her family later confirmed her death, saying on a Facebook page dedicated to finding her that they were “understandably devastated.” “Leanne was a lovely and remarkable young woman,” the family said, “and we will all miss her greatly.”

    Just a few hours earlier Thursday, a post on the same page echoed the optimism and energy that had marked the family’s efforts to find Bearden. “DON’T LET UP!” they urged all those who had joined them in looking for Bearden. “We are still hopeful.” That hope was dashed after a phone call from a man to police around 12:15 p.m. (1:15 p.m. ET) saying there was a body “in a wooded area near his home in Garden Ridge,” city police Chief Donna O’Conner said. O’Conner said responding officers “located what we believe to be the body of Leanne Bearden.” “We will reserve any information regarding the cause of death until an autopsy has been performed,” the chief said.

    “Our thoughts are with the Bearden and Hecht families and (we) ask that you respect them in their time of grief.” Bearden and her husband, Josh Bearden, had climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, gone swimming in the Dead Sea and attended an Indian wedding, among many, many adventures. Leanne Bearden documented their epic 22-month trek in a blog. Then, in December, the couple returned to the United States, spending a short time in Georgia before heading to visit Josh’s family in Garden Ridge, just northeast of San Antonio, according to her brother Michael Hecht.

    Coming back to her native country wasn’t necessarily easy, her family suggested. “The pressure of transitioning from her two-year trip back into what we consider ‘normal’ life seems to have left her very anxious and stressed,” they said. After she went missing, relatives and friends worked intently to spread the word as the search for her — on the ground and from the air, using helicopters — expanded. One such search, on one day in January, covered 23 acres. Garden Ridge police noted their serious concern about Bearden that month, while adding “there is no indication at this time that (her disappearance) is criminal in nature.”

    Her family, meanwhile, acknowledged on Facebook that “there is evidence that Leanne may have voluntarily left the area.” Whether or not that was true, the family pleaded for the public’s help finding her given that — for all her travels — Bearden “is extremely vulnerable,” “is small in stature” and “her mental and physical status is uncertain.” “We fear for her greatly,” her family said.

  • Indian students in US launch website on Lok Sabha elections

    Indian students in US launch website on Lok Sabha elections

    NEW YORK: A group of Indian students at Columbia University here has launched a website focused exclusively on India’s upcoming general elections, promising to provide a comprehensive and “no high-brow and jargon-led” reportage of the event. The ‘FiveFortyFive.com’ is a “singlesubject website” focusing on the Indian general elections founded by six Columbia journalism school students. It is being described as a platform for a “variety of voices” including students, academics, professionals, bureaucrats, journalists and even the “discerning politician” talking about what the “election means to them” since elections are “not just about political leaders and political parties.”

    The students behind the day-old website – Devjyot Ghoshal, Anand Katakam, Iva Dixit, Indrani Basu, Rishi Iyengar and Aparna Alluri – chose the number 545 because that is the number of seats in the India’s Lok Sabha. The site hit 500 likes on Facebook in just about 36 hours and has over 400 followers on the microblogging site Twitter. The website will offer election trivia and news without any “high-brow, jargon-led, politically-driven journalism” and “will break through the clutter, delivering pieces that’ll interest even the most non-political of readers.” It will make use of charts, graphics and visuals to “tell interesting stories” tailored for online consumption. “This, after all, is the world’s biggest exercise in democracy.

    TheFiveFortyFive. com will try and reinvent how it’s reported, online,” the description of the website said. The website already has posts about India’s first experiment with democracy, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s recent first ever interview to a TV news channel as well as about the dressing styles of some of India’s most popular political leaders like BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

    A post titled ‘The Rahul Gandhi Interview In Numbers’ breaks down the number of times the Congress scion mentioned words like ‘system’, ‘economy’ and ‘riots’ in his interview to the TV channel. Another post “Dressing for Democracy” talks about India’s “most dapper politicians” “Be it bandhgala, handloom saree or Modi Kurta, dressing for politics doesn’t come easy,” it said.

  • East Dallas young professionals groups give back, invest in community

    East Dallas young professionals groups give back, invest in community

    For some young professionals in East Dallas, networking is not just about the people they can meet, it’s about the people they help. Over the past couple of years, the area has seen several new groups formed that are geared toward young professionals. While some, such as the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center’s Alliance group or Vogel Alcove’s Flight, are under the umbrellas of local nonprofits, others, such as East Dallas Young Professionals, which is affiliated with the Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce, are business-oriented. All have a component of service.

    “This young professionals group is going to play a key role,” said Greg Brinkley, 36, director of corporate relations with Vogel Alcove. “If you can imagine, as we start building this membership out and all the connections these people have … this group can really affect what our mission is and our future as an organization.” On Jan. 20, a group of 40 volunteers worked to beautify the playground at Vogel Alcove’s new location at old City Park Elementary.

    In two-and-a-half hours, the group covered the space in tons of mulch. “They’re very much go-getters,” said Sammy Gonzalez, 33, director of marketing for Vogel Alcove. Flight, which is open to young professionals of all ages, is still spreading its wings it held its first event in November but discussions for a group go back at least a year, when a couple of people reached out to Karen Hughes, Vogel Alcove’s president and CEO. “When I reached out to Karen, it was to get something that actually had my heart and not just my wallet,” said Chrystal Morgan, who is co-president of Flight with Mary Lyons.

    “Something that I was completely interested in being a part of.” Lyons, 32, said the group’s focus on helping kids was a draw for her, too. “I’ve lived in Dallas for seven years, and I’ve been looking for something to get really involved with,” Lyons said. The group includes members from diverse backgrounds, all united around helping the children that Vogel Alcove serves. “We’re bonding over doing something that’s good for the community,” Lyons said. “What this group really seems to attract, to me, are people that have very, very good hearts and they all care about someone other than themselves we all have that commonality of being altruistic.” So far, they have a governing board of 23 people, and a membership list of about 30 more.

    “I am so excited and I’m so fortunate to be associated with this group of people,” Morgan, 28, said. While Flight members have gotten their hands dirty helping Vogel Alcove prepare its new home, the Alliance group has worked in other ways to serve the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center. “We have several members who do ongoing volunteering at the center and we’re trying to build up the program to have more volunteer projects,” said Mallory Bassham, 27, a development associate with DCAC who helps oversee Alliance.

    “Every event we’ve held, we’ve done a call to action.” The group, which is also for professionals of all ages, held a toy drive for the center as part of its holiday party, helps with fundraising events and, like Flight, seeks to raise awareness about the center’s mission to help abused children in Dallas County. “[I] felt that it was a good cause,” said Lauren Soulis, 30, who has been involved with Alliance from its beginning. “I’m involved because I genuinely care.”

    Alliance was started in the fall of 2012, and has grown to about 100 members from the initial group of about 40, Bassham said. “The response has been really positive, and we’re excited about the number of people who’ve gotten involved,” Soulis said. While East Dallas Young Professionals isn’t a tied to a specific nonprofit, serving the community is a goal for it, too, said Ross Williams, its president.

    “One of our commitments is community service we did three service days in our first year,” he said. “One of the things we’re going to do on a yearly basis is the National Day of Service.” The East Dallas group, like Alliance, is a little over a year old. It was started as a way to give East Dallas businessmen and women under 40 a way to connect with the community and one another. Williams, 31, said they try to hold two happy hour events and a luncheon each quarter to bring people together. “One of the things that is important for us is to create future leaders,” said Karla Lott, 33, who serves as the group’s treasurer.

    “We are the future of East Dallas and we want to get people involved and let them know.” Williams said people moving into Dallas and North Texas for the opportunities it offers, along with a push from chambers and other professional development organizations, are two of the reasons more groups are popping up for young business people. He said it’s also a way for people to become part of where they live. “People want to be involved in the community,” he said. White Rock/East Dallas editor Ananda Boardman can be reached at 214-977-8503.

    AREA GROUPS

    This is a partial list of groups in the area that offer something for young professionals, and the organizations with which they are affiliated. Alliance, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center Alliance is a group for those who wish to be young advocates for the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center and its work helping abused children in Dallas County. Dues: $125/year single; $225/year couple Online: dcac.org/Get_Involved/ join_a_group/alliance.aspx or facebook.com/DCACAlliance Contact: Mallory Bassham, alliance@dcac.org. East Dallas Young Professionals, Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce This group offers young East Dallas professionals a chance to network and get involved in the community. Members participate in the National Day of Service. Dues: $5/event; $75/year.

    Yearly membership includes a listing in the chamber directory, and participation in all 12 events. Chamber membership not a requirement to join the group.

  • AFTER FACEBOOK, GOOGLE BUYS STARTUP WITH INDIAN LINK

    AFTER FACEBOOK, GOOGLE BUYS STARTUP WITH INDIAN LINK

    BENGALURU (TIP): After Facebook’s acquisition of Bangalore-based Little Eye Labs earlier this month, it’s Google that has now bought a three-year-old startup that had two Indians — Vish Ramarao and Naveen Jamal — as co-founders and offices in Bangalore and California.

    The startup, Impermium, had a third co-founder Mark Risher. Jamal was based in Bangalore and looked after the office here, while Ramarao and Risher were based in California. All three had previously worked together in Yahoo and came out of it in 2010 to found Impermium. The startup focused on building security products for websites. Impermium’s website now has just a note from Risher, who was the CEO, with the headline ‘Impermium is joining Google’.

    It goes on to say: “By joining Google, our team will merge with some of the best abuse fighters in the world. With our combined talents we’ll be able to further our mission and help make the internet a safer place. We’re excited about the possibilities.” Impermium had received $9 million in funding from a host of venture firms including Accel Partners, AOL Ventures, Charles River Ventures and Highland Capital Partners. Google has not disclosed the terms of its deal with Impermium. Acquisitions of India-based startups by the likes of Google and Facebook are expected to provide a big boost to the startup ecosystem. Not too many Indiabased startups have had great exits yet, but the latest instances look to be changing that trend.

    Software product startup associations like iSpirt are actively engaged in trying to marry Indian startups with global ones. Jamal is originally from Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, went to the US to study, worked as a software engineer in a small US company and then joined Yahoo in 1998. He moved to Bangalore around the time Impermium was being founded and established the office here. Ramarao is from Bangalore, went to the US for higher studies, and has since been there. Prior to Impermium, all three cofounders were in Yahoo Mail, where they dealt with problems of spam, web security and fraudulent account creation. In an interview to TOI early last year, Risher said they realized that the problems they dealt with weren’t an issue with just Yahoo’s services but rather a problem with every website on the internet, and that encouraged them to found Impermium.

    Risher said the company had built a number of services that worked as a riskdetermination system, which could help identify when an account had been compromised. The system calculates the risk from parameters like where you accessed the account from, the device software and historical usage pattern of the links you’re posting. And Risher then had this to say about his new employer: “Security is always a balance between convenience and safety. And a complete overhaul (of the password system) becomes difficult. Google talked about an RFID ring that you would wear and which would transfer a secure certificate. Yes it would work but it would be a hassle and everybody would have to buy a reader. It’s not going to happen overnight.” Impermium has said it has 300,000 clients, including Tumblr, Pinterest, CNN, ESPN, Typepad and Washington Post.

  • Pope Francis says the Internet is a ‘gift from God’

    Pope Francis says the Internet is a ‘gift from God’

    VATICAN (TIP): It may sometimes be a breeding ground for pornographers, bullies and hateful extremists, but the Internet received an official blessing Thursday, January 23 from Pope Francis, who called it a “gift from God.”

    “The digital world can be an environment rich in humanity, a network not of wires but of people,” said Francis, adding: “The Internet, in particular, offers immense possibilities for encounter and solidarity. This is something truly good, a gift from God.”

    However, in a speech marking the Roman Catholic Church’s World Communications Day, the pope warned the Internet also had the power to “isolate” people from their neighbors. The Vatican has entered the world of social media with gusto, launching a Facebook page and an online news portal that can be downloaded as an app.

    The papal Twitter account, begun by Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, now boasts more than 3.5 million followers. Last year, the Vatican even offered indulgences — which cut time from the period Catholics believe they will spend in purgatory after they have confessed and been absolved of their sins — to those who followed the Catholic World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro via Twitter. But on Thursday, January 23, Francis warned the Internet was also fraught with dangers.

    “The speed with which information is communicated exceeds our capacity for reflection and judgment, and this does not make for more balanced and proper forms of self-expression,” he said. Too much time spent surfing the web, he added, “can help us either to expand our knowledge or to lose our bearings.” The desire to be online, he said, “can have the effect of isolating us from our neighbors, from those closest to us.” The solution is to slow down.

    “We need, for example, to recover a certain sense of deliberateness and calm,” Francis said. “This calls for time and the ability to be silent and to listen.” Draining some of the venom and hostility that can be found on the web would also help bring about real understanding of the world, he said. “If we are genuinely attentive in listening to others, we will learn to look at the world with different eyes and come to appreciate the richness of human experience as manifested in different cultures and traditions.”

    He also called the Internet a good place to talk about God. “As I have frequently observed, if a choice has to be made between a bruised church which goes out to the streets and a church suffering from self-absorption, I certainly prefer the first,” he said. The “digital highway” is just another “street teeming with people who are often hurting, men and women looking for salvation or hope.”

  • Facebook sued over alleged private message ‘scanning’

    Facebook sued over alleged private message ‘scanning’

    MENLO PARK, CA (TIP): Facebook is facing a class action lawsuit over allegations that it monitors users’ private messages. The lawsuit claims that when users share a link to another website via a private message, Facebook scans it to profile the sender’s web activity. It alleges that Facebook systematically intercepts messages to mine user data and profits by sharing it with data aggregators, advertisers and marketers. Facebook said the allegations were “without merit”. “We will defend ourselves vigorously,” the world’s biggest social networking site added.

    The lawsuit is claiming the greater of either $100 (£61) a day for each day of alleged violations or $10,000, for each user. “Start Quote The lawsuit, filed earlier this week, cites independent research that, it claims, found Facebook reviews the contents of its users’ private messages “for purposes unrelated to the facilitation of message transmission”. “Representing to users that the content of Facebook messages is “private” creates an especially profitable opportunity for Facebook,” it says. It says this is “because users who believe they are communicating on a service free from surveillance are likely to reveal facts about themselves that they would not reveal had they known the content was being monitored.

    “Thus, Facebook has positioned itself to acquire pieces of the users’ profiles that are likely unavailable to other data aggregators.” However, others have come forward to defend Facebook. Writing on his blog, security expert Graham Cluley said that if the site was not examining links shared privately, Facebook would be failing a “duty of care” to its users. “If you didn’t properly scan and check links there’s a very real risk that spam, scams, phishing attacks, and malicious URLs designed to infect recipients’ computers with malware could run rife,” he argued.

    Criticism
    Facebook has come under attack over its privacy policies in the past. In September last year, it faced criticism over a proposed change to its privacy policy which would have allowed ads to be created using the names and profile pictures of Facebook users. The firm had claimed that its proposal merely clarified the language of its privacy policy, rather than making any material changes to it. Facebook undertook to change the wording in the wake of a legal action launched in 2011 which saw it pay $20m to compensate users who claimed it had used their data without explicit permission.

  • Need strong ties with US to fight terror: Shinde

    Need strong ties with US to fight terror: Shinde

    NEW DELHI (TIP): Conceding that both India and the US were leading targets of transnational terror groups, Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Wednesday sought enhanced cooperation between the two countries to “secure our cities and our people”. Addressing the India-US police chiefs’ conference — the first ever mega-city policing cooperation between the Americans and another country — Shinde said most attacks in India were launched from across the border, an indirect reference to Pakistan, and intended to cause greatest disruption of peace.

    Recalling the 9/11 attacks in New York as well as the 26/11 Mumbai strikes, the minister underlined how terrorists would typically target large and densely populated urban areas to inflict maximum damage. “An effective megacity policing system must serve as an effective deterrent against terrorists and their masters, who launch targeted attacks on the nerve centres of a country… our objective must be to make our cities safe, and therefore our countries, safe by reducing our vulnerability to such challenges,” he told the gathering of police chiefs from various key cities in the US and from across India.

    The two-day police chiefs’ conference is being organized by the Union home ministry as part of the India-US Homeland Security Dialogue, an outcome of US President Barack Obama’s discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during the former’s visit here in November, 2010. The dialogue has seen four ministeriallevel meetings and more than a 100 bilateral engagements covering training, briefings, exchanges and visits. While Shinde and home secretary Anil Goswami are leading the Indian side, assistant secretary for policy, US department of homeland security, David Heyman, heads the US delegation of police chiefs.

    Also present at the inaugural session on Tuesday was US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, who described the Indo-US homeland security dialogue as one of the most robust pillars of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. The visiting side comprises representatives of leading American companies offering technological solutions for policing in the US, who will explore business opportunities in India. Heyman said that while the US was working to facilitate and expedite sharing of log details by prominent American internet giants like Google, Facebook and Twitter to aid investigations here, it expected reciprocity in terms of India offering opportunities for the US companies to succeed here.

    Shinde, in his inaugural address on Tuesday, exhorted the two sides to share the unique and innovative solutions that police forces of either side have developed while dealing with mega-city policing challenges. “There is…a need for better integration of security inputs and information that different law enforcement agencies generate, as well as mechanisms by which regional and federal agencies work with each other,” he told the police chiefs. The home minister also raised the issue of application of enhanced technological solutions in policing.

    “Increasingly, sophisticated technologies are being adapted…to assist police forces in early detection of crimes, identification of perpetrators, improved coordination among agencies and expedited response time… there is much we can do together as partners to enhance the use of appropriate technology for our police forces,” he said.

  • 2 million Google, Facebook, Twitter passwords stolen

    2 million Google, Facebook, Twitter passwords stolen

    BOSTON (TIP): Security experts have uncovered a trove of some 2 million stolen passwords to websites including Facebook, Google, Twitter and Yahoo from internet users across the globe. Researchers with Trustwave’s SpiderLabs said they discovered the credentials while investigating a server in the Netherlands that cybercriminals use to control a massive network of compromised computers known as the “Pony botnet.”

    The company said that it has reported its findings to the largest of more than 90,000 websites and internet service providers whose customers’ credentials it had found on the server. The data includes more than 3,26,000 Facebook accounts, some 60,000 Google accounts, more than 59,000 Yahoo accounts and nearly 22,000 Twitter accounts, according to SpiderLabs. Victims’ were from the United States, Germany, Singapore and Thailand, among other countries. Representatives for Facebook and Twitter said the companies have reset the passwords of affected users. A Google spokeswoman declined comment.

    Yahoo representatives could not be reached. SpiderLabs said it has contacted authorities in the Netherlands and asked them to take down the Pony botnet server. An analysis posted on the SpiderLabs blog showed that the most-common password in the set was “123456,” which was used in nearly 16,000 accounts.

    Other commonly used credentials included “password,” “admin,” “123” and “1.” Graham Cluley, an independent security expert, said it is extremely common for people to use such simple passwords and also re-use them on multiple accounts, even though they are extremely easy to crack. “People are using very dumb passwords. They are totally useless,” he said.

  • Pak man arrested for sharing blasphemous content on Facebook

    Pak man arrested for sharing blasphemous content on Facebook

    LAHORE (TIP): A young man in Pakistan’s Punjab Province has been arrested for sharing blasphemous content on Facebook, as the government launched a crackdown on the spread of such content on social media. Authorities arrested Raza Kharal in Toba Tek Singh district of Pakistan’s Punjab province, about 200 kilometres from here, for sharing blasphemous content on Facebook. A blasphemy case was registered against Kharal for sharing material containing objectionable language on his Facebook wall, a police official said. He said the police had taken action on the complaint of local cleric Maulana Salim.

    Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah has said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has been requested to remove all objectionable and blasphemous material from the Facebook and other social media. “We have also requested the Federal Investigation Agency to take action against those spreading hate material through social media,” Sanuallah said. This comes after Pakistan government ordered strict action against anyone propagating religious sectarianism through social media or mobile phones in the wake of a series of recent sectarian clashes in the country.

    The army was called in to take control of Rawalpindi city and curfew was imposed on Friday after ten people were killed and 44 others injured in clashes that started when a Shia procession was passing through Raja Bazar. The Shias were observing Ashura, which commemorates the death of Prophet Mohammed’s grandson. Following the incident, sectarian clashes have spread in other districts too and tension still prevails in districts like Multan, Bahwalpur, Hangu and Kohat.

    Punjab chief minister Shahbaz Sharif has appealed to the people not to believe on rumours as there has been not veracity in them. Some people also shared unverified video on Facebook claiming that three youngsters were found slaughtered at a worship place. “Such material and videos are triggering sectarian violence in the county which can not be tolerated. We will not allow the misuse of the social media,” the law minister warned.