Coincidence Or Karma?
http://www.siliconvalleyguru.com/guruhub/mod_channel/C_Search_Art_Det.a sp?fm=ent&Channel_Id=NEWS&Art_Id=2002 $49.5 Million Lotto Winner is also Lotto ticket seller PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR 3 ARTICLES
Milpitas, CA: Till Friday, October 24, the Badwals were happy that their San Jose 7-11 store had sold one of the winning ticket for the California $99 million jackpot. This entitled the Badwal’s to receive a bonus of $247,500. The beaming, 49.5 year old Narinder and his wife Lilla Badwals’s smile got just a little wider on Friday afternoon, when they learnt that they had also won $49.5 million - as a half share of the lotto jackpot. The other winner was revealed to be an aspiring actress in Southern California.
After being alerted by Narinder’s brother to check his own ticket on Friday afternoon, on learning that there was still one unclaimed ticket; Narinder, who was busy at work at his 7-11 store, asked his brother to check his ticket numbers - the same numbers he had played for past four months. “I jumped when my brother rang me and said that I was the winner” said Narinder, at a press conference at Swagat restaurant in Milpitas on Monday.
Re-checking his number, he called his wife to share the good news, who was stunned. Lilla Badwal said “the good news has still not sunk in completely” at the press conference. Electing to take delayed payments of 26 installments, the Badwals - who are married for 25 years- are entitled to about $1.4 million per year - which increases as the years progress to the 26th year final payoff, according to Lotto official Rob Morgan.
On being asked by a Caucasian reporter if they felt they had used up all their Karma, the Badwal’s, who showed extreme poise and genuineness at the Q&A press conference, answered, “Probably it’s our previous life’s Karma (rewarding us)”. The Badwals who came across as a centered and deserving couple, had Charitable giving, family and friends, in mind to share their windfall. “We will donate to Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) - which helps with Eye surgeries for poor people, because everyone needs vision,” adding that they believed in the cause, as their good friend and advisor Jayaram Komati of Swagat restaurant had personally taken up the cause.
Divyogi Patel, a board member of SEF, who attended the press conference, was very pleased with the turn of events, saying “With such blessings and karma, we will complete the Eye hospital project in Andhra Pradesh by January 2004 and get started in Gujarat and Karnataka next. We have already received lots of support for our ‘$1000 from 1000 families Each’ campaign.”
The Badwals, who had a traditional and arranged marriage 25 years ago, have three children-two girls, one a recent college graduate and a boy. They added that they still believe in traditional marriage and no dowry; and their main wish is to a make sure their children turn out good, and all live a healthy and contented life. Narinder has decided to continue running his 16 year old store, and for the time being Lilla will go back to her job as a Security Supervisor at Kaiser Hospital. Narinder also revealed that he had already bought $5 worth of lotto tickets for the next drawing.
As many of his close friends celebrated at Swagat restaurant in Milpitas - one of Badwals’ favorite hang outs; as a bonus the Badwals treated all lunchtime visitors to a free meal.
For more information on Sankara Eye Foundation: www.sefusa.org.
Sam Rao
October 10 celebrates Humanity across continents http://www.siliconvalleyguru.com/guruhub/mod_channel/C_Search_Art_Det.asp?fm=ent&Channel_Id=NEWS&Art_Id=2006 Daniel Pearl Day PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR 3 ARTICLES
Award winning journalist and, Daniel Pearl would have been 40 years old on Oct 10. He was murdered in Karachi by Islamic terrorists from Pakistan. Mr. Pearl lived in Mumbai for some time as the South Asia Bureau chief of Wall Street Journal (Mumbai) and was "totally at home and loved India".
Terrorists whose leader Ahmed Shaikh is now in custody of Pakistan Army/Govt killed him. Several reports have indicated that Pearl was close to digging up the connection between the Pakistani intelligence service ISI and AL Qaeda. Several reports have indicated that this terrorist leader Ahmed Omar Shaikh had actually "surrendered" to Ejaz Shah, a former top ISI official, who is now home secretary of Punjab province- one week before- his handing over to the Pakistan Army/Govt. Interestingly, the Pakistani courts had tried and convicted Ahmed Shaikh and sentenced him to death. In a surprising twist, recent media reports, based on sustained interrogations of another Al Qaeda bigwig in US hands, Khaled Mohammed Shaikh-also a Pakistani national- has been accused of actually killing Daniel Pearl. While this story is yet to be played out, credible sources indicate that Khaled Mohammed- also known as “the brains behind 9/11 terrorist incident”, may also be the kingpin of Daniel Pearl’s murder.
Mariane Pearl - wife of Daniel Pearl - is continuing the message and life of Daniel Pearl by being on the speaking circuit. Also, to promote cross-cultural understanding through journalism and music, the Daniel Pearl Foundations was established. The 2nd annual Daniel Pearl Music day was recently celebrated on October 10 across all continents, to resist hatred and celebrate common humanity. Also the 1st Daniel Pearl Fellowship to bring a journalist from Pakistan to the US has been awarded to Fasih Ahmed of Pakistan.
For more information about Daniel Pearl Foundation, log onto www.danielpearl.org
US State department on Terror log onto www.state.gov/s/ct/rls/pgtrpt/2000/2432.htm.
Sam Rao Historic California Elections
http://www.siliconvalleyguru.com/guruhub/mod_channel/C_Search_Art_Det.asp?fm=ent&Channel_Id=NEWS&Art_Id=2007
A climactic end to a circus-like campaign
San Jose, CA: The circus - like atmosphere of the historic recall elections was helped by high profile candidate and eventual winner Arnold Schwarzenegger announcing his candidacy, on national TV (Jay Leno show), with several of his key aides surprised by the announcement. Add to it a bevy of over 135 certified candidates, each putting in $3,500 required for filing papers!
The people showed their frustration with current state of affairs and demonstrated the “throw the incumbents out” attitude. Even registered Democrats and Women - who were supposedly safe vote banks for Gov. Grey Davis and the Democratic party - crossed lines to vote for moderate Republican (pro choice, moderate) candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger 3,847,468 (48.7%); while the nearest candidate Cruz M. Bustamante (D) got 2,499,124 (31.7%). The overall “Yes to recall” garnered 4,531,880 votes (55.4%), while “No to Recall” drew 3,660,568 (44.6%).
The colorful candidates include Pornography publisher Larry Flynt (15,860 votes), porn-movie star Mary Cook (10,301 votes), Ex-Child actor Gary Coleman (12,988 votes) and a bevy of other not so-serious candidates! South Asian candidates in the fray received a paltry number of votes with Pakistani - American Mohammed Arif (I) getting 1,636 votes while Vik Bajwa (D) 1,094 and Vip Bhola (R) 573 votes.
“This seems like a good business,” said a local resident - referring to the fact that not - so credible candidates like Vik Bajwa - who never ran for any elected office - got his name splashed all over Indian - American media, and raised about $40,000 - although he got only 1,093 votes.
In terms of cost to the state, estimates are over $60 Million just to conduct the elections- at a time when the state is facing ballooning deficits. Many analysts predict a short honeymoon for Gov. Arnold. Although with a fresh start and acknowledged inexperience, the transition team appointed by Gov Arnold has already shown a broad spectrum of potential troubleshooters.
The 68-people transition team named by Gov. elect Arnold on Oct 10,2003, include experienced people from diverse backgrounds like Republican Bill Simon, SF Mayor Willie Brown, a Democrat and ex speaker of California assembly, Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, Gerry Parsky, President Bush's top California adviser and Susan Estrich, who ran Democrat Michael Dukakis' 1988 presidential campaign etc.
Who knows? As they say- the Way California goes, soon so does the rest of the country. This historic recall elections and message must have surely resounded in the hallways of the National Democratic party and the GOP- all gearing up for the Presidential elections in 2004.
For more information log onto http://www.ss.ca.gov/elections/elections.htm.