

Exactly 4 years ago, a Delhiite by the name of Adi Arya entered my life.
I was knocking down doors for Xfinity killing it in the Manassas- Ashburn Virginia market winning all kinds of promotions and commission checks before COVID hit. Then I just moved down South and hit pay dirt knocking down doors for AT&T and that’s what led to Hood is Good Cigars. Every door you knock has a story to sell if you can just make it past the entryway and into the kitchen where all important decisions are made and where all opened or unopened bills are kept in full public view! Sorry I digress.
My first insurance agent in America 35 years ago was a guy named Vivek Kundra. In those days the only thing that worked was a solid land line, an ever reliable fax machine and the pigeon-holed Word of Mouth – and of course face-to-face networking 7 nights a week. That’s how I built PartyDigest. The foundation was strong. No MLM required!
Well, Vivek Kundra was a mystery. He seldom courted his clients leave alone send an annual Christmas card or anything. That’s because he had cornered the “Indian Immigrant” or “Desi” market relying on every new Indian arriving in the US reaching out to another Indian through the temple or grocery store or college campus to get car insurance. Vivek Kundra was an enigma. But I’m sure he sat back and counted his checks everyday. Nobody I know seems to know where that chap is today. Retired on an island somewhere reading this even as we speak…
Back to Adi. After a few back and forth messages in March of 2020, Adi (being the consummate Indian businessman – every Indian is by the way!) that he is, he finally bought from me – a package for Xfinity internet etc which he kept renewing for years after I left and kept “liking” my posts on Facebook. Light touch.
I forgot about Adi. Like a true door knocker who goes from one door to another and moves on if there is nobody home or no sale, But as I found Adi’s approach to business was and is different.
We caught up on Vaisakhi (Sikh New Year) this past week and he credited his late Father who he said “essentially engraved my DNA” and that “I’m a guy that builds relationships”. His Dad was a Contractor and Suppler of Indian Defense Air Force, Armed Forces, UN Peace keeping forces and more.. that’s how he went to the prestigious Air Force School in Delhi that a few of my family members (even me briefly) attended. My other cousin Robin Wohra was a legend there. He used to paint and the notice board would carry his miniature paintings (#VohraVeterans).
Adi is a relative newcomer to the US – you could say he bridges the generation between me and my son who turns 22 next week – but like me he too is a first generation Indian. He’s been here 20 years. I’ve been here 33 plus years. Like he said, both of us have literally spent more time in America than India at this point. Truly Desi vantage point. He speaks fluent English and Punjabi and his mind runs like a cool Racehorse named Cool Cucumber. I’m the Toofan Mail. He has a very solid FinTech background and his entrepreneur zeal knows no bound. He worked in corporate America for many years with FannieMae and started a few companies.
Today, Adi is the Number 1 “Farmers Insurance” Agent for the DC Metropolitan area 3 years in a row. Won all the Presidents Club regalia there is to win. But he’s not content with just those laurels. He also runs Venus Business Consulting Setvices, a boutique IT staffing company with a partner and he is also an Angel Investor who specializes in Pre-IPO investments as “play money” and is a mentor to other insurance agents.
He is happily married to a JATNI (watch out #BollywoodCigar JATNI) a gorgeous lady by the name of Vandana Grewal and they have a 9 year old son (so far) so if Musk is listening….
Sometime back Adi got introduced to a company called POWUR through his BNI networking. The Black gentleman who was doing it as a side gig just mentioned it and when Adi puts his mind to something, sparks fly. He launched this third company, Sulis Homes (Sulis stands for friends of God of Sun) and basically took over the San Diego company’s franchise opportunity (akin to Farmers) and went to market and captured it.
What does POWUR do? In a nutshell, the San Diego-based company provides home energy solutions focused on solar power and battery storage. The company connects homeowners and businesses with solar installation providers, offering customized quotes and information to help customers transition to clean energy and reduce their carbon footprint. They are like the UBER for solar roof and battery back up storage for homes and businesses.
“Utilities are going up every year due to ever reliance on the grid” he said to me in a business meeting through Fireflies. “Reduce your dependency on the grid” was his message to all homeowners in America.
Adi likes to focus on home based content creators, and home based entrepreneurial types that run businesses from their home, as a key to the market expansion for POWUR. The company makes it very easy to onboard and run your own business as an independent operator. Adi helps you guide you through your first few deals so you can run a lean and mean machine and sign up others. There are no upfront costs to join under him as an agent (he has a reseller license) or to qualify for a solar roof as long as you qualify. He can sell and onboard agents in 26 states. The solar market he feels is still largely untapped as less than 20 million homes currently have solar roof panels which is only 5% of the market so the potential is huge. His message to everyone reading this is that get in now. There are 30% Federal Tax Credits and some state governments still offer rebates for a solar roof. His company does all the work. Fight the HOA, the County, everything. You only end up reducing your monthly utility bill. This is also a great opportunity for those seeking a “full-time seasoned income” and a great gig for Professionals such as Realtors, Insurance Agents, Roofing Contractors, Landscaping companies. Hey, even that gardening lady that stood by and sells you spring flowers! Anybody in the D2C – direct to consumer market. Sign up with Adi!
The commissions obviously are very lucrative. Thats why when I reconnected with an old customer like Adi I too decided to be a part of this venture as an independent contractor a glorified door knocker with an intent to be an owner of a franchise like Adi.
I joined because of 3 reasons:
I liked his story. I liked that he is a #DelhiBoy and because #DelhiBoysRule.
I also liked the fact that he placed a very large order of HamptonsCigars.co that he paid OTS! (On the spot). He knows to make money you gotta spend money. Now I think his wife will own the #JATNI BollywoodCigar. She doesn’t smoke. But all my cigar clients are hot beautiful women – that don’t smoke! Go figure!
Contact Adi at +1 (202) 378-4311 or email him at solar@homesulis.com.
Ps: one last thing, the man keeps receipts. Adi showed me all the receipts of the sales I’ve made to him over the years or renewals (for which so did not get paid BTW from Xfinity) so go #CALLADI today! 202 378 4311
What a #shitshow but a cool concept marketing wise.
Was unable to get the beer (long story see below will have a recording released later) or to interview or take pics (another long story) but I can predict that this beer will tank because the Chicago-based Marketing team which lacks “midwestern values” has completely disrespected their customer base in Florida and the local media-friendly personalities by rebuffing, annoying, staring, giving hand and mouth signals to each other to keep them away from the Man behind the product – HULK.
This dude JAMES MASELLO deserves to be fired EOB today.
He knows what he did.
And the other venue owners and and out of town RUDE posse just running around looking busy are going to bring Hulk down with them. Careful who you associate with. You can’t win customers with HATE. Would be interesting to see if any of the beer is actually sold!!!!!!!
And it’s sad that @taponwheels isn’t even open for business for taking calls, texts or emails.
What a compete #SS.
They claimed Netflix was making a documentary on him hence their busy doing nothing attitude, but no cameras followed the old man as he sluggishly got out of his car and didn’t even wanna greet his crowds and just the hell inside!
To be continued….
See the long journey our cigars make from the time they are shipped to the time they supposed to arrive. We prefer DHL despite delays that one can never predict.
Tracking Code: 9 9 2 8 9 2 3 2 8 19928923281
Processed at ATLANTA – USA, Tracking Code: 9 9 2 8 9 2 3 2 8 1
Origin Service Area : SANTIAGO – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Destination Service Area : JACKSONVILLE – Florida – USA
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2025 starts strong in Bordeaux, promising a vibrant mix of events and emotions. With Easter holidays and sunny days ahead, it’s the perfect time to (re)discover our inspiring city! This year’s must-see experiences include an encounter with the pharaohs, a wide range of tours and excursions, and exciting new alternative and foodie hotspots waiting to be explored. |
Uncover Bordeaux’s brand-new hotels |
The latest hotels to open demonstrate their creativity with audacious designs and hybrid concepts. Here is a selection of the new hotels that we recommend for your next trip to Bordeaux. |
5 Bordeaux restaurants among France’s top 100 |
In the latest edition of the Top 100 best restaurants in France by The Fork, Bordeaux proudly stands out with five remarkable establishments, confirming its status as a must-visit culinary destination. Here’s a glimpse at these symbols of bold and creative cuisine. |
Bordeaux vineyards beyond Saint-Émilion and Médoc |
From biodynamic vineyards in Blaye to luxurious Sauternes estates, Bordeaux has plenty of gems waiting to be discovered! Here’s how to explore the hidden wine country. |
Guided tours, excursions and activities |
Food tour in the historical centre of Bordeaux |
Enjoy an exclusive culinary experience focused on local producers and discover the historical centre of Bordeaux through its gastronomy and wines. |
🕗Duration: 3 hours 🏷️Price: €115 |
Wine, cheese & charcuterie tour at Château Desmirail |
Immerse yourself in the Château Desmirail experience: a cellar tour, a taste of its Grand Cru Classé wines, and a gourmet pairing of cheese and charcuterie. |
🕗Duration: 1,5 hours 🏷️Price: €25 |
Châteaux & Terroirs, half-day tour in the Bordeaux’s vineyard |
Explore the diversity of Bordeaux vineyards from East to West, from North to South with this half-day tour and enjoy an afternoon with Bordeaux winemakers. |
🕗Duration: 5 hours 🏷️Price: €55 |
This spring’s highlights |
This spring, culture enthusiasts can explore the updated Via Sensoria exhibition at the Cité du Vin and the brand-new scenography at the National Customs Museum. More into music? Philippe Katerine and Lenny Kravitz will be lighting up the stage. And for sports fans, don’t miss the electric atmosphere of an UBB match during the Top 14 championship! |
Brewing tea removes lead from water
Good news for tea lovers: That daily brew might be purifying the water, too.
In a new study, Northwestern University researchers demonstrated that brewing tea naturally adsorbs heavy metals like lead and cadmium, effectively filtering dangerous contaminants out of drinks. Heavy metal ions stick to, or adsorb to, the surface of the tea leaves, where they stay trapped.
“We’re not suggesting that everyone starts using tea leaves as a water filter,” said Northwestern’s Vinayak P. Dravid, the study’s senior author. “In fact, we often utilize model experiments and tweak diverse parameters to probe and understand the scientific principles and phenomena involved in capture/release cycles of contaminants. For this study, our goal was to measure tea’s ability to adsorb heavy metals. By quantifying this effect, our work highlights the unrecognized potential for tea consumption to passively contribute to reduced heavy metal exposure in populations worldwide.”
“I’m not sure that there’s anything uniquely remarkable about tea leaves as a material,” said Benjamin Shindel, the study’s first author. “They have a high active surface area, which is a useful property for an adsorbent material and what makes tea leaves good at releasing flavor chemicals rapidly into your water. But what is special is that tea happens to be the most consumed beverage in the world. You could crush up all kinds of materials to get a similar metal-remediating effect, but that wouldn’t necessarily be practical. With tea, people don’t need to do anything extra. Just put the leaves in your water and steep them, and they naturally remove metals.”
An expert on sorbent materials and sponge entrepreneur, Dravid is Abraham Harris Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering. At the time of the research, Shindel was a Ph.D. student in Dravid’s laboratory; now he works as a contractor with the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory.
Exploring different variables
To conduct the study, the Northwestern team explored how different types of tea, tea bags and brewing methods affect heavy metal adsorption. The various varieties tested included “true” teas such as black, green, oolong and white, as well as chamomile and rooibos teas. They also examined the differences between loose-leaf and commercially bagged tea.
The researchers created water solutions with known amounts of lead and other metals (chromium, copper, zinc and cadmium), and then heated the solutions to just below boiling temperature. Next, they added the tea leaves, which steeped for various time intervals — from mere seconds to 24 hours.
After steeping, the team measured how much of the metal content remained in the water. By comparing metal levels before and after adding the tea leaves, they were able to calculate how much was effectively removed.
Cellulose bags work best — and they don’t release microplastics
After multiple experiments, Dravid, Shindel and their team identified several trends. Perhaps somewhat unsurprising: The bag matters. After testing different types of bags without tea inside, the researchers found cotton and nylon bags only absorbed trivial amounts of the contaminants. The cellulose bags, however, worked incredibly well.
The key to a successful sorbent material is high surface area. Similar to how a magnet attaches to a refrigerator door, metal ions cling to the surface of a material. So, the more area for the particles to stick to, the better. Shindel posits that cellulose, which is a biodegradable natural material made from wood pulp, has higher surface area — and therefore more binding sites — than sleeker synthetic materials.
“The cotton and nylon bags remove practically no heavy metals from water,” Shindel said. “Nylon tea bags are already problematic because they release microplastics, but the majority of tea bags used today are made from natural materials, such as cellulose. These may release micro-particles of cellulose, but that’s just fiber which our body can handle.”
The longer the steep, the more metal absorbed
When comparing different varieties of tea, the researchers discovered tea type and grind played minor roles in adsorbing contaminants. Finely ground tea leaves, particularly black tea leaves, absorbed slightly more metal ions than whole leaves. Again, the researchers attributed this to surface area.
“When tea leaves are processed into black tea, they wrinkle and their pores open,” Shindel explained. “Those wrinkles and pores add more surface area. Grinding up the leaves also increases surface area, providing even more capacity for binding.”
Out of all the experiments, one factor stood out most. Steeping time played the most significant role in tea leaves’ ability to adsorb metal ions. The longer the steeping time, the more contaminants were adsorbed.
“Any tea that steeps for longer or has higher surface area will effectively remediate more heavy metals,” Shindel said. “Some people brew their tea for a matter of seconds, and they are not going to get a lot of remediation. But brewing tea for longer periods or even overnight –- like iced tea –- will recover most of the metal or maybe even close to all of the metal in the water.”
Future opportunities
Although results depend on several factors — steeping time and water-to-tea ratio, for example — tea preparation removes an amount of lead from water that should be significant from a public health perspective.
From their experiments, the researchers estimate that tea preparation can remediate about 15% of lead from drinking water, even up to lead concentrations as high as 10 parts per million. That estimate applies only to a “typical” cup of tea, which includes one mug of water and one bag of tea, brewed for three to five minutes. Changing the parameters remediates different levels of lead. Steeping for longer than five minutes, for example, adsorbs more lead compared to the average steeping time.
“Ten parts lead per million is obviously incredibly toxic,” Shindel said. “But with lower concentrations of lead, tea leaves should remove a similar fraction of the metal content in the water. The primary limiting factor is how long you brew your tea for.”
In high-resource areas of the world, it’s unlikely that concentrations will reach such high levels. And if there is a water crisis, brewing tea will not solve the problem. But Shindel said the study’s results provide useful new information that could be applied to public health research.
“Across a population, if people drink an extra cup of tea per day, maybe over time we’d see declines in illnesses that are closely correlated with exposure to heavy metals,” he said. “Or it could help explain why populations that drink more tea may have lower incidence rates of heart disease and stroke than populations that have lower tea consumption.”
The study was partially supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy. Dravid is the director of global initiatives at the International Institute for Nanotechnology, founding director of the Northwestern University Atomic and Nanoscale Characterization Experimental (NUANCE) Center, founding director of the Soft and Hybrid Nanotechnology Experimental (SHyNE) Resource, member of the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute and faculty affiliate of the Trienens Institute.

Knix, the intimates and apparel brand that redefined comfort with its game-changing wireless bras, is turning its innovation to underwire bras. Introducing the FreeFlex™ Demi Bra, Knix’s first-ever wired bra—designed to reinvent everything you thought you knew about the underwire.
The FreeFlex™ Demi Bra marks a new era of underwire that moves with you, combining cutting-edge engineering with thoughtful design to deliver unparalleled flexibility, lift, and support—without the discomfort. Underwire bras have long been synonymous with rigid, restrictive discomfort—wires that dig, pinch, and poke. But not anymore.
A First-of-Its-Kind Innovation in Underwire
Unlike traditional wired bras, the FreeFlex™ Demi Bra features a fluid, adaptive underwire made of flexible carbonized wire (not metal!) that flexes and moves with your body, offering all the lift, separation and support you want—without the stiffness you don’t. Designed with lightly molded demi cups, providing great shape that looks amazing under lower necklines and t-shirts.
“After years of innovating wireless bras we knew that when we made an underwire bra we would have to raise the bar – and with the FreeFlex™ we have,” says Joanna Griffiths, President and Founder of Knix. “We honed in on the number one pain point – the wire itself – and meticulously perfected the fit for all available sizes. FreeFlex™ provides the lift, shape and support of an underwire with the comfort of a wireless. It’s a bra dream come true.”
Support You Can Feel—Not See
The FreeFlex™ Demi Bra delivers everything you want in an underwire bra, without the discomfort of traditional wired designs. Whether you’re moving, bending, stretching, or just living, this is an underwire, reimagined for real life.
Available in 42 inclusive sizes (28–40 A-E, 42 A-D) and a selection of classic and limited-edition colourways, the FreeFlex™ Demi Bra is setting a new standard in underwire comfort and flexibility.
The FreeFlex™ Demi Bra launches February 27, 2025, exclusively at retail locations across Canada, as well as online at Knix.ca, and retails for $78 CAD.
About Knix
Founded by Joanna Griffiths in 2013, Knix is an industry leader in redefining intimates through innovation, inclusivity, and a commitment to breaking boundaries. From pioneering Leakproof underwear to revolutionizing wireless and underwire support, Knix challenges convention with thoughtfully engineered designs that blend function, comfort, and style. With a product range spanning bras, period-proof activewear, customizable shapewear, and everyday essentials available in an extensive size range, Knix continues to set new standards for how intimates should look, feel, and perform. For more information, visit knix.com or follow @knix and @ktbyknix on social media.
In response to the alarming rise in global antisemitism and the urgent need to foster meaningful connections and understanding of the Jewish experience, Michael Rapaport, Elizabeth Pipko, Michael Sinensky, Teddy Raskin, and Moshe Levi are launching Chabad Friends—a new mission under 501(c)(3) Worldwide Friends Foundation—dedicated to creating meaningful entry points for Jewish engagement through unique experiences. Through immersive kosher dining experiences, accessible Torah learning, and dynamic community-building initiatives, Chabad Friends aims to strengthen Jewish identity and pride in increasingly trying times.
The launch will be celebrated with a Purim Farbrengen on Thursday, March 13th at the Chabad Chelsea Shul in NYC. The evening, hosted by the Chabad Friends Co-Founders along with reigning Miss Israel Noa Cochva, will feature a Megillah reading, and performances by Zusha, the Hasidic folk rock duo and DJ Levyticus.
“In a time when connection to our faith is more important than ever, Chabad Friends will stand as the bridge for anyone, regardless of level of observance, to find their way closer to their Jewish identity. Solidarity through Torah is the only way forward in the face of the challenges that Jews worldwide are now up against,” said co-founder Elizabeth Pipko
Chabad Friends will launch with three core initiatives:
- Fins & Scales – A kosher omakase experience (from the world-class culinary team behind Sushi by Bou) to be located inside Chabad Houses. The first Fins & Scales, offering a communal setting for guests to connect while indulging in exquisite, top-tier cuisine, will launch at Chabad Loft in NYC this March. Offerings will include a seasonal selection of the finest quality fish, presented as 13 elegant courses including Blue Fin Toro, Japanese Hamachi with Chive, Salmon with Yuzu Pepper, and Kinmadai with lightly Charred Skin and Pickled Wasabi
Fins & Scales will operate on a ‘give what you can’ charitable model with a suggested donation of $150/person. Proceeds will be used to operate and expand Chabad Friends programming. Openings in Miami, Chicago. Los Angeles and Washington, DC will soon follow.
- Torah Time – A virtual Torah study platform, honoring the Bibas family (Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir of blessed memory), connecting Jews around the globe for what is hoped will be the biggest weekly Torah study sessions in the world.
- Keep It Kosher – Chabad Kitchen Grants – This initiative will fund kitchen upgrades where needed to help Chabad Houses remain vibrant community hubs for Shabbat dinners, challah bakes, and more – making it easier for anyone to start participating in the mitzvah of kosher cooking.
“Chabad Friends is fighting hate with pride and faith—bringing people together through food, tradition, and the unshakable strength of our community,” said Co- Founder Michael Rapaport. “We’re breaking down barriers and fostering connection—one class, one meal, and one mitzvah at a time.”
For more information and Purim launch party tickets: ChabadFriends.org
