High Zone

Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera - Swades | Translation in Description

2010-09-11T09:08:00.000-07:00

Teri Deewani.. (High Resolution)

2010-09-11T09:07:00.000-07:00

6 Best Foods for Healthy Skin

2010-08-18T03:34:00.001-07:00

Sandra Bullock, Rihanna, and Lindsay Lohan: What do these women have in common? They've all been embroiled in tabloid-worthy scandals. But what else? They all look good, even when the press isn't. That's because they have what so many of us strive for: Perfect skin.

So, what's the secret? How do some of us achieve the golden hue of Halle Berry while the rest of us get stuck with a scaly patchwork of blotches, pimples, and dry spots? Some of it's genetic, sure, but that's not the whole story. If you listen to the conventional wisdom coming from the pharmaceutical companies, you might think the problem is that you just haven't discovered the right cream, ointment, or alcohol-soaked cleansing pad to clear up your face. But those are solutions of last resort. What you need is a preventive strategy, one that involves nurturing the complex balance of nutrients that feed your skin and nurture your inner glow. In other words, if you want the kind of skin that looks good even through a Hollywood scandal, you've got to eat right. Here are six foods that will have you looking your best.

And don't forget to follow me on Twitter for more quick-hit health tips that draw on everything I've learned in more than a decade as editor for Men's Health andWomen's Health.

1. SALMON
Salmon is an ideal food for many reasons, but as far as your skin's concerned, there's only one that matters: It's among the world's greatest sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Those are the essential fats that, along with bolstering the cognitive powers of your brain, concentrate in the walls of your epidermal cells to help lock in moisture. Plus, in one study, researchers supplemented two groups of mice with either omega-3 or omega-6 fats. After two weeks, the skin of the omega-3-fed group exhibited a 20 percent faster recovery rate from exposure to ultraviolet light. That gives salmon two crucial skin boons: keeping your skin from looking dry and helping it battle the dangers of excessive sunlight.

Other omega-3 foods: sardines, walnuts, flaxseed

Bonus Tip: Sushi is one of my favorite ways to eat salmon. Use our Ultimate Sushi Selector to make sure your sushi roll doesn't turn into a belly roll.

2. CARROTS
Carrots are teeming with tiny orange pigments called beta-carotene, and when you ingest those pigments, you're inviting them to nestle into your skin, fill in blotches, and give you a healthy glow. And what's more, research shows that this can actually help prevent premature aging from sun damage. But is the accumulation of orange in your skin going to make you look like an extra from Jersey Shore? Well, hopefully not. But eating excessive loads of carotene-rich foods can lead to a condition called carotenosis, wherein your skin stops looking healthy and starts looking, well, orange. But the conditions is rare, so unless you notice yourself turning into a prison jumpsuit, feel free to chow down.

Other beta-carotene foods: sweet potatoes, red bell peppers, red grapefruit

3. AVOCADO
One study published by The Journal of the American College ofNutrition found that people with higher intakes of olive oil had fewer wrinkles than people with higher intakes of butter. The reason: Butter is loaded with saturated fat, while olive oil is rich in monounsaturates, the same essential fats that make up more than 50% of the calories in an avocado. So why eat avocado over olive oil? Both are good, but avocados have the added bonus of B vitamins, which also help to keep your skin looking vibrant and smooth.

Other monounsaturated-fat foods: olive oil, almonds, peanut butter

Bonus Tip: These foods are only the tip of the super-food iceberg. Click here for 15 more Foods that Cure.

4. BEANS
Legumes, to be more precise. This is the class of plants that includes black beans, chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, and peanuts. And how do these puny pods protect your face? By smoothing out wrinkles. Australian researchers analyzed the diets of more than 400 elderly men and women and found that high intakes of legumes—alongside vegetables and healthy fats—resulted in 20% fewer wrinkles over time. The effect is likely a result of isoflavones—potent antioxidants—concentrated in the beans.

Other isoflavone-rich foods: alfalfa, tempeh, tofu

5. GRAPES
Besides providing protection from heart attack and stroke, antioxidants called polyphenols found in grapes can also help keep middle-aged skin from sagging. That's because polyphenols improve skin's elasticity by strengthening collagen, the primary protein in skin's innermost layer.

Other polyphenol-rich foods: grape juice, blueberries

Bonus Tip: Here's another easy way to tighten your skin and improve your looks: Lose 5 pounds. Start here: 10 simple weight-loss strategies that work.

6. WATER
Okay, it's not as fun to drink as wine, but water is the strongest weapon you have against lifeless skin. That's why they call it "moisturizing"—because you're trying to lock moisture, aka water, into your skin. To put it broadly, all the body's processes rely on hydration, so if you're not sipping throughout the day, you're likely to have a slower metabolism, groggier head, and, yes, drier skin. One study suggested that it takes a mere half-liter of water to create a measurable increase in the capillary blood flow to your body's outer layer. That's just over 16 ounces. Try doing that a few times a day and you'll have a face like a baby's bottom in no time.

4 Yoga moves for a slimmer middle

2010-08-06T06:06:00.001-07:00

4 Yoga moves for a slimmer middle

Belly fat gets a bad rap, but there are all sorts of problem spots that can take up residence on your torso. From bra bulge to just-above-your-bikini-line pooch and everything in between, these 4 poses target your tummy while firming up your chest, shoulder and back muscles, too. And with no equipment required, they're easy enough to do at home—or, hey, even at the beach or by the pool!

Get a metabolism that soars

Rocking Boat

This exercise starts with a yoga move called the Boat Pose. To get into it,
start by sitting with knees bent and feet flat on floor. Then, lean back slightly while holding under thighs, grabbing just above back of knees. Raise feet off floor and press them together; lift feet until shins are parallel to floor. Extend arms to shoulder height straight in front of you with palms down. This is Boat Pose. Turn it into the Rocking Boat by tipping knees from one side to the other, trying to keep the motion steady. Repeat right to left 10 times.

Bent-Leg Boat Raise and Lower

Start in Boat Pose, as described in Rocking Boat. Lower torso and legs toward floor, without touching, so body forms a wider V. Return to the start position. Repeat 10 times.
Yoga moves that rev your energy

1-Minute Plank Pose

Plank is just like push-up position: Hands are shoulder-width apart, feet are hip-width apart, and heels, ankles, butt, spine, shoulders, neck, and head should be in one long line. Try holding the position for 1 minute. This is a full-body toner; help your body stay in one strong line by drawing your abs in and up.

Get your free download: Best yoga poses for walkers

Upward Dog Stretch

Start this move by lying facedown with tops of feet on mat. Bend elbows and place palms on floor beside lower ribs. Push up, straightening arms without locking elbows, and lift upper legs and torso into air. Arch chest upward, lifting sternum, and keep elbows in, close to sides. This pose opens your chest and gives your abs a nice stretch, so breathe deep and enjoy your hard work.

Tum Chaiin Ho (Unplugged) - Sonu Nigam, Alka Yagnik & Suzanne D'Mello - ...

2010-06-24T15:10:00.000-07:00

Couple happily oblige Bajrang Dal, get married on V-Day

2009-02-14T07:09:00.001-08:00

HYDERABAD: You could call it a masterstroke by two lovebirds here. Well aware of the threat by Hindu rightwing groups to marry off couples found

celebrating Valentine's Day, they did exactly that -- and to their delight were pronounced man and wife Saturday!

Vijay Anand and Kriti of Koti area were among two couples who were married off by Bajrang Dal activists in Andhra Pradesh. And given the opposition to their union by their families, they were more than happy to oblige.

Police arrested 20 activists of the Bajrang Dal when they were trying to forcibly marry a couple at Gandipet, a picnic spot on the outskirts of Hyderabad. Hindu rightwing activists say Valentine's Day is against Indian culture.

But at least in the case of Vijay and Kriti, the Bajrang Dal activists could scarcely have imagined that they were doing the couple a favour. The two were found together in Koti area and brought to the group's office and their marriage was performed by a Hindu priest in the presence of Bajrang Dal leaders.

The couple said they had been in love for three years but their parents were opposed to the alliance. They had read in the newspapers about the threat by Hindu activists that they would marry off couples seen together on Valentine's Day and deliberately came out in public so they would be noticed.

Police said they would take action only if the couple or their relatives lodged a complaint that they were forcibly married.

In Nizamabad town, Bajrang Dal activists married off a couple found displaying their love in a park.

It was by and large a subdued Valentine's Day across the state as the threat of rightwing Hindu groups to marry off lovers seen together kept young couples away from celebrations in public.

Police arrested 200 activists of the Bajrang Dal and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in Hyderabad and other parts of the state for staging protests and threatening couples.

There were hardly any lovers in parks, pubs, restaurants and public places in Hyderabad.

Bajrang Dal and ABVP activists tried to take out rallies and burnt greeting cards at various places. Holding saffron flags and raising slogans of 'Valentine go back', the activists, including girls, in an open-top jeep and two-wheelers took out a protest march in Chaitanyapuri.

Police beefed up security near parks, shopping malls, cinema theatres, pubs and other public places and warned that action would be taken against those threatening couples.

There were no buyers of the heart-shaped balloons though vendors selling them were seen standing near NTR Garden on the banks of picturesque Hussain Sagar lake and some other parks in the city.

H-1B Visas: 'Buy American' Comes to TARP

2009-02-14T07:07:00.001-08:00

Posted by: Dan Beucke on February 06

By Moira Herbst

It's another attempt at requiring companies to "Buy American" – but in this case, not American iron or steel, but American workers.

The U.S. Senate voted on Feb. 6 to put stricter limits on banks and other recipients of taxpayer money through the Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP, that want to hire high-skilled workers from overseas under the H-1B visa program. The Senate approved the measure – introduced by Senators Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Bernie Sanders (Independent-Vermont) – by voice vote as an amendment the economic stimulus package President Barack Obama is urging the Senate to pass.

The vote came the same day that the government announced that that 598,000 U.S. jobs were lost in January, the biggest one-month drop in 34 years. The unemployment rate reached a 16-year high of 7.6%.

The amendment that passed isn't as tough as the one Grassley proposed on Feb. 5, which would have prohibited firms from hiring H-1Bs altogether. The modified amendment instead makes TARP recipients jump through extra hoops before they can hire those foreign workers. Specifically, it subjects recipients of TARP funds to the same rules so-called H-1B dependent employers must follow. (An H-1B dependent employer is one whose workers brought in with that visa comprise 15% or more of the employer's total workforce.) These rules include:

1. The employer can't displace any similarly employed U.S. worker with an H-1B hire within 90 days before or after applying for H-1B status or an extension of status.

2. The employer can't place any H-1B worker at the worksite of another employer – meaning it can't outsource a worker for a client – unless that employer first makes a "bona fide" inquiry as to whether the other employer has displaced or will displace a U.S. worker within 90 days before or after the placement of the H-1B worker.

3. The employer has to take good-faith steps to recruit U.S. workers for the job opening, at wages at least equal to those offered to the H-1B worker. The employer must offer the job to any U.S. worker who applies and is equally or better qualified than the H-1B worker.

"These are hardly onerous expectations," notes Ron Hira, professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology and an expert on H-1B visas. Hira says the provision would affect about 1,000 jobs.

The amendment falls short of preventing large banks from using H-1Bs brought into the U.S. by outsourcing firms like India-based Infosys (INFY), Wipro (WIT), and Tata, which are among the top recipients of petitions for the H-1B visa program. "Most of the H-1B use, and abuse, happens through relationships banks have with outsourcing firms," says Hira. "I don't think [the amendment] restricts them from working w those firms." In other words, a bank could still legally force a laid-off American employee to train a replacement worker who is on an H-1B visa.

A related provision was passed in the U.S. House on Jan. 21 as an amendment to a bill that passed to reform TARP.

That measure, introduced by U.S. Representative Sue Myrick (R-N. Carolina), prohibits TARP recipients from outsourcing call-center work to foreign companies. The bill has not yet been taken up by the Senate.

Rising unemployment is leading to more scrutiny of the H-1B visa program and its effects. On Feb. 1 an Associated Press story said that the dozen banks now receiving the biggest TARP rescue packages, totaling more than $150 billion, requested visas for more than 21,800 foreign workers over the past six years for positions such as senior vice presidents, corporate lawyers, junior investment analysts and human resources specialists. And in my story earlier this week, I wrote about the controversy surrounding Microsoft's efforts to lift caps on the number of H-1B worker visas while it eliminates 5,000 jobs.

Job loss: India's young seek out psychiatrists

2009-02-01T06:59:00.001-08:00

Bangalore: Laid off after eight years as a successful IT professional, Rajiv Chander Das is undergoing counselling at a psychiatric clinic. Experts say Das is one of scores of youths who are battling depression in the wake of the global financial crisis.

Across India's major cities, once successful professionals are seeking medical help after either losing jobs or fearing possible job losses.

No one seems to know precisely how many in India have received their pink slips, but the numbers are estimated to be in thousands.

"These people are under significant stress. If laid off or while facing the threat of getting fired, these individuals often end up battling depression and are often anxious wrecks," Sameer Malhotra, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist at the Fortis Hospital in New Delhi, told IANS.

Malhotra said that the number suffering from stress-related problems had shot up since recession destroyed the financial surety of people employed in a variety of industries including IT.

"Now we see 20 to 40 people each day. The number of patients in their mid-20s has gone up. These are mostly people faced with job uncertainties or a career crisis," Malhotra explained.

Bangalore-based software engineer Rajiv Chander Das, who lost his job two months ago, said that being without work was a shock.

"I was employed with a top IT company till two months back. Today I am jobless. It was a rude shock. I am worried that if I don't get a job soon, I will face severe financial crisis as my bank balance is fast waning," Das said.

"I am trying my best to get re-employed but the chances seem bleak. Moreover, it is hard to switch over to a new career after being a software professional for almost a decade."

Das is, however, lucky. He enjoys his family's support. "They are helping me mentally and monetarily," said Das, without naming his last company.

Like Das, IT professional Minati Bhatt too lost her job four months ago. She is undergoing counselling at a psychiatric clinic in Bangalore.

"I am uncertain about my future. Initially, I used to have panic attacks. Now that I am undergoing counselling, I am much better. Help is also at hand from family members," said Minati.

In Bangalore, the hospitals are yet to calculate the number of such patients. But sources in different institutions say there is a clear rise.

"In the past six months the number of professionals from IT and allied services seeking psychiatric assistance in our hospital has gone up manifold. Many also come for medical help and counselling, fearing they will lose their jobs. A few with acute depression have already lost their jobs," B.N. Gangadhar, a professor of psychiatry at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bangalore, told IANS.

"After counselling and medical aid, many have improved. But some are too shocked to even believe that they don't have a job. Youngsters should know that losing a job is not the end of life," said M. Srihari, a psychiatrist with the Bangalore Medical College.

The global meltdown has hit Indian industry hard, including sectors such as manufacturing, cement and steel. According to one official estimate of November 2008, about 50,000 jobs were scrapped during August-October.

Leading IT and BPO companies say they have their own set of counsellors to help employees deal with stress and anxiety.

Psychiatrist Malhotra said he often comes across corporate professionals in their mid-20s on the verge of being fired.

"I can't tell names... but one man's situation was critical. He had suicidal tendencies. He was always restless, suffered anxious fits and kept comparing himself with friends who were doing better," he said.

Malhotra said such patients needed support from friends and family -- and a positive outlook to tide over hard times. Medicines, he said, were not enough.

"We counsel them that they should study further or opt for a change in career and focus on their area of interest, but more importantly diversify their financial assets to feel economically secure," Malhotra said.

Compared to the rest of their country, Mumbai appears to have taken the crisis stoically, a leading psychiatrist in the city said.

"I talked to a hardware engineer who now services home computers and laptops using his expertise. He earns less than half his previous pay, but he is mentally stable and occupied," Harish Shetty said.

There are more such cases. A 27-year-old married woman call centre employee now teaches English. An employee of a former realty firm operates from home -- as a real estate consultant. A sacked 4-star-hotel assistant chef vends masala dosa in a suburb, said Shetty.

Shetty added that retrenched employees were not the only ones seeking help. "Even guilt-ridden management personnel, recruiters and people from accounts and other key departments come to us."

(Shweta Srinivasan can be contacted at shweta.s@ians.in, Maitreyee Boruah can be contacted at m.boruah@ians.in and Quaid Najmi can be contacted at q.najmi@ians.in

Gradual layoff for foreigners in Malaysia

2009-01-23T06:59:00.001-08:00

Friday January 23, 2009

PUTRAJAYA: The retrenchment of foreign workers will be done gradually so as not to affect any sector of the economy, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

However, the Deputy Prime Minister said that the Government still wanted to see a significant reduction in the employment of foreigners and opportunities given to locals instead.

He said the Government observed that employers preferred to hire foreigners because it was easy to do so.

"While we intend to reduce the number of foreign workers, it will have to be done in stages because we do not want sectors, including manufacturing as well as shop and restaurant owners, to be affected.

"But we also want to see employers giving the jobs to locals. We will get the relevant ministries to take the necessary action to meet this aim," he told reporters after chairing a Drug Prevention Council meeting yesterday.

Asked on reported plans by a multinational company to lay off some 1,000 workers in Penang, Najib said the Government had not been given a confirmed figure and was monitoring the case closely.

"The Government is looking at what it can do to prevent a major reduction in employment," he added,

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister,

reiterated that the Government would decide on the right time to launch the second economic stimulus package although there were calls to hasten it to give the economy a further boost.

"At this stage, our aim is to ensure the RM7bil in the first package be spent quickly. We have already transferred RM5bil to the operating ministries and agencies.

"Another RM2bil is expected to go out by next week. So, the entire amount will be in the hands of those concerned and they have to take immediate action to spend the money," he said.

Hormone drives sexy women to infidelity, says study

2009-01-17T11:12:00.001-08:00

PARIS (AFP) - - Women with high levels of a key sex hormone are judged more attractive by themselves and others, and may be more inclined to cheat on their partners, according to a study published Wednesday.

University of Texas psychologists Kristina Durante and Norman Li found that women with high concentrations of the hormone oestradiol were likelier to flirt, kiss and have a serious affair outside an established relationship.

In a study published in the British journal Biology Letters, the duo described the behaviour as "opportunistic serial monogamy" and not related to one-night stands.

Instead, they suggested, such women were more probably being prompted to trade up in their relationships -- to find a better partner.

Other studies of oestradiol have shown that higher levels of the hormone are closely linked to enhanced fertility among women.

As a result, say some researchers, men have an evolved response that prompts them to pick up on telltale signs of the hormone's presence.

High concentrations of oestradiol are associated with big breasts, facial attractiveness and low waist-to-hip ratio, with the result that men solicit such women.

Durante and Li measured hormone levels at two different stages of the menstrual cycle among 52 women aged 17 to 30 who were not taking the pill.

The women were asked to rate their own attractiveness and sexiness "compared to other women," their satisfaction with current partners, their willingness to engage in uncommitted sex and about their past relationships.

Separately, a panel of men and women unaware of the experiments evaluated photos of the women, rating them for attractiveness.

The women with the highest levels of oestradiol scored the highest across the board, and reported a greater likelihood of having a serious affair.

They also reported a greater number of long-term relationships in the past.

The study says that oestradiol-related attractiveness provides opportunities in the sexual hunting ground.

Men are keen to find a sexier woman and women want to find a partner who is a better provider and looker.

"Women have to trade off between having a long-term mate who provides continual material resources, and more physically attractive, short-term sexual partners with good genetic resources," write Durante and Li.

Women with higher oestradiol levels "may have fewer reasons to be committed to any particular partner if higher quality potential mates are available," they concluded.

Uncover Sexy Abs Without Crunches!

2009-01-13T00:18:00.000-08:00

Bathing suit season is a bit far off, which means it's the perfect time to start developing the flat, sexy tummy you swear you'll work on every year. Even if you loathe crunches, you'll love the following easy, no-equipment moves. Work a few of these moves into your exercise routine three times a week (easing them in minimizes soreness), and then after two weeks, do them all together in one session. Then don't be surprised if you find yourself surfing the web for bikinis, preparing to reveal your sleek new abs surfside.

Plank pose
Balance on toes and forearms (or palms) for up to a minute, pulling belly button to spine and keeping back straight.

Standing bicycle
Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands clasped behind head and elbows pointed out to sides. Straighten left leg as you lift right leg, knee bent, thigh parallel to floor. Keeping knee lifted and steady, twist torso toward right. Return to start. Repeat on other side for one rep. Do 10 reps.

Side winder
Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands clasped behind head and elbows pointed out to sides. Lift right leg to side, knee bent, thigh parallel to floor. Keeping knee lifted, bend torso to right side, bringing elbow and knee toward each other. Do 10 reps; switch sides; repeat.

Seesaw
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, hands on hips. Lift right leg, knee bent, thigh parallel to floor with foot flexed. Straighten right leg, pressing heel toward floor, as you lean torso backward. Return to knee lift position and repeat five times. Switch sides and repeat.

Forward bend
Stand with feet hip-width apart, knees slightly bent, arms overhead with palms facing in. Lift right leg, knee bent, thigh parallel to floor. Keeping knee lifted and arms raised, bring torso and knee toward each other as close as you can. Return to start; switch sides and repeat for one rep. Do 10 reps.

See a video of these moves in action, then sign up to make over your abs in one month with our Flat Abs Fast plan.

For men only: Lure of the older woman

2009-01-08T06:21:00.001-08:00

For the average red blooded human male, mating season extends across 365 days a year. At the heights of passion, conventional norms for the perfect spouse tend to be disregarded. As more and more Indians follow their minds and neglect the age factor in love, Element-X takes a look at what we like to call 'the Lure of the older woman'.

Every man likes to see himself as a charmingly headstrong, straightforward individual who takes life as it comes and lets the world worry about the consequences of his actions. Of course, this ideal persona is more often than not left high and dry in the theory stage and very rarely blessed with reality. But when struck by love, even the alpha male could find it hard to keep the guard up.

The male obsession with the older female begins much before the poor boy is actually old enough to realize what is going on. That very first teacher who captured your heart may have meant to show little more than sweet affection for her student, but the poor boy is already smitten and in mush much too deep to listen to better sense. The 'teacher's pet' tag takes on a whole new dimension in his little mind. Possessiveness and envy rush in when she behaves the same way to any other boy - perhaps a dry run to what comes later on in life. In college it may be that fascinating senior everyone has a crush on, or that rookie lecturer – 'cougars' in new age lingo - who is the object of desire for the 'cub'. But the difference at this age is that love may actually be returned and may blossom!

Avinash*, software engineer in a Hyderabad firm met his soul mate in college. He goes all mushy as he recalls his first day in college, "It was love at first sight. But I knew a 2nd year girl wouldn't admit easily that she had a thing for a junior". But then he goes on, "Once things were sorted out, her being older than me was the last of our worries". The pair is now married, and as the cliché goes, "hope to live happily ever after".

According to psychotherapist Tina B. Tessina, "The reasons why some men date older women are as varied as the women themselves. These women, because of their experience, often have more wisdom and self-assurance than younger women - perhaps they may also possess more self-reliance and tolerance". Writing on a popular personals website, she also goes on to suggest that such women may be more sought after in the 'dating arena' as well.

While this may be true, the fact remains that in a largely traditional society as in India, the trend is always frowned upon, at least by Generation W, to use a hazy dub. Says Manjula, mother-in-law to a woman five years older than her son, "I don't understand how women go after these young kids. Maybe it is the competition between the so called Generation X, modern society women". But there are others who are more forthcoming. Veena*, an IT professional in her 30s candidly admits, "Spending a romantic time with an untrained young man is my ultimate fantasy. It gives me a high to know I am the more experienced one, so I can take him under my wing and guide him". She struggles to stifle a naughty chuckle before declaring, "Come one, I know every woman shares this fantasy with me. They are just too scared to admit it".

Hollywood has always had its share of cougar-cub couples - Cameron Diaz, Halle Berry and of course, Demi Moore for starters. The desi scene isn't far behind, with Abhi-Ash leading the pack. But does that really provide inspiration to the youngsters of today? The response is a strict NO. "Age is hardly a factor for us", insists Avinash, "we didn't discuss that matter at all".

Yet, a quick scan of a few personals websites reveals an interesting trend. A large number of youngsters looking for dates seem to be open to older women also. For instance, men in the 20-25 range are looking for women upto 30 years of age. A casual follow up reveals that many of them are first timers on the scene. It seems not just employers, but also the romantic youth are interested only in experienced hands!

More sex in 2009, predict visionaries!

2009-01-08T04:49:00.001-08:00

If last year was not so 'rocking' for you, then stand by for some good news – there's going to be a lot of bedroom action in 2009!

Yes, you heard it right, people are in for a lot of sex in the New Year – and the reason is, women's growing economic power.

The power around the world will give them more choices, and one of those choices, apparently, will be to have more sex, reports the Courier Mail.

The prediction is contained in The Futurist magazine which every year compiles the forecasts and predictions of assorted visionaries.

It is now out with its Outlook for 2009 and Beyond.

Perhaps that has some bearing on another forecast: "Americans may turn away from antidepressants."

According to the anthropologist who made this prediction, the 100-million antidepressant prescriptions Americans take "kill the sex drive" but many may quit taking them, one surmises, so they can participate in the general randiness of women having more economic power.

There's a cautionary forecast, though: "Saving snakes may save ourselves."

The venom of snakes may have undiscovered medicinal properties but many species are endangered.

Also, included in the prediction list is: "Flying cars may be on the way at last."

The Futurist cites an entrepreneur working on designs for a Skycar that fits in a suburban garage, takes off and lands like a helicopter and flies at 610 km/h.

Last but not the least: the Amazon rain forest would become a desert, the glaciers would disappear and, "conflict over scarce resources would most likely cause human civilisation to collapse".

Science proves true love really does exist

2009-01-08T04:39:00.001-08:00

If you thought true love was something just restricted to movies and soaps, then here's a piece of information: brain scans have revealed that couples can respond with as much passion after 20 years as most people exhibit only in the first flush of love.

Shakespeare once said that "love is an ever-fixed mark / That looks on tempests and is never shaken". Now, it seems, he was telling the truth, at least that's what researchers at Stony Brook University in New York think.

Scanning the brains of people who have been together for 20 years, the scientists found that about one in 10 couples still display elements of "limerence", the psychologists' term for the obsessive behaviour of new lovers.

They enjoy "intensive companionship and sexual liveliness" but without the anxieties and tensions of early love. They are generous, calm and deeply attached.

The scientists call them swans (swans mate for life).

The reactions of the swans to pictures of their beloved were identified on MRI brain scans as a burst of pleasure-producing dopamine more commonly seen in couples who are gripped in the first flush of lust, reports Times Online.

"The findings go against the traditional view of romance – that it drops off sharply in the first decade – but we are sure it's real," said Arthur Aron, a psychologist at Stony Brook.

Aron said when he first interviewed people claiming they were still in love after an average of 21 years he thought they were fooling themselves: "But this is what the brain scans tell us and people can't fake that

For men only: Top 10 pick-up lines for the season

2009-01-08T04:34:00.001-08:00

The story line is overtly simple. Guy sees gal. Gal knows guy wants her. She waits for him to come up to her so she can play hard to get, or at least enjoy shooting him down. Meanwhile guy chickens out, not finding enough guts to tell the girl what she wants to hear. They split, each with only his/her own half of the tale!

If the above script(or one half of it) does sound like your life history, we've got 10 of the best pick up lines for you to try out on your dream gal.

Number 10
Is your last name Gillette, cause you're the best a man can get

Risk factor: High. Few girls actually remember that 'the best a man can get' is the Gillette slogan. Also, not a likely surname in a desi environment.

Number 9
I would get you drunk and take advantage of you, but I know that's wrong. So why don't you buy me a drink, get me drunk, take me home and take advantage of me instead?

Risk factor: The line is a little too long, and a nervous wannabe Romeo could easily mess it up. Also, if you can actually hold a girl's attention for that long, you won't need corny pickup lines.

Number 8
Pardon me miss, I seem to have lost my phone number, could I borrow yours?

Risk factor: If not delivered properly, naive ladies may think you need to borrow their phone. That in itself is a fair opening and an ice-breaker, but needs some planning.

Number 7
Can I have your picture so I can show Santa what I want for Christmas?

Risk factor: Medium. It's a cliché, so women may tend to take you to be less perilous than the rest, considering you are relying on something so tried and tested.

Number 6
I think I can die happy now, cause I've just seen a piece of heaven.

Risk factor: Again, banking on the cliché. Hence a fair trial.

Number 5
There is something wrong with my cell phone. It doesn't have your number in it.

Risk factor: Not too different from number 8, but leaves less room for misinterpretation. Delivered with eye contact, it can be a clincher.

Number 4
My friend wants to know if you think I'm cute.

Risk factor: High. Few women would think twice before telling you they think your friend is cuter than you, if only to spite you. Recovering from that can be tough.

Number 3
You're so beautiful you make me wish I was straight.

Risk factor: High. The shock value may have farther reaching consequences than you may think.

Number 2
Excuse me, are you accepting applications for your fan club?

Risk factor: Low. If it hits the spot, she'll at least give you a smile and her attention. Worst case, she'll at least enjoy the flattery and remember you next time the two of you run into each other.

Number 1
You're so beautiful…I've forgotten my pickup line.

Risk factor: Properly done, this is almost a no-risk maneuver, but it requires a fair bit of acting skills and a gift for self- deprecating humour. Start off very confident, then pause a while midway, stifling a laugh as you deliver the second half. Break eye contact immediately after the pause. It helps! The best part about this one is, if you see she is not interested, you can always wave it off and walk away, smiling. For you've already projected yourself as the most innocent person in the room that night!

Keep in mind, the New Year bashes are just around the corner…keep that charm well polished, and you may actually end up starting the new year on a romantic note. But remember the golden rule: Chances are high that the girl you aim at may well have read this piece too

Malaysian police arrest 26 at New Year 'sex party'

2009-01-02T23:21:00.001-08:00

Malaysian police arrest 26 at New Year 'sex party'

Fri Jan 2, 12:06 am ET

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Malaysian police arrested a female newsreader, an actress and 24 other revellers at a New Year's Eve "sex and drugs" party at a Kuala Lumpur hotel, reports said Friday.

The two high-profile women and seven others tested positive for drugs, police said, according to The New Straits Times, which reported that condoms, beer cans and half-eaten pizza were found strewn around the hotel room.

"When police arrived, many of the party goers were already high on drugs," The Star newspaper quoted an unnamed source as saying, adding that various illegal substances, including cocaine, ketamine and amphetamines were seized.

It said that the party was organised through the social networking website Friendster.

Police acting on a tip-off raided the gathering at a downtown Kuala Lumpur hotel in the early hours of New Year's Day.

The raid came after rumours that a New Year's Eve sex party was being planned on a remote beach in southern Malaysia.

Tourism Minister Azalina Othman condemned the beach party as "against our culture and religion" and potentially damaging to the reputation of majority-Muslim Malaysia.

Police warned that the "no-underwear" event for the under-40s, advertised through a website that asked for 250 ringgit (72 dollars) as an entrance fee, could be a money-making scam.

Party organisers had reportedly said that male guests were banned from wearing briefs to the event, while women were permitted to wear only G-string underwear which had to be removed after midnight.

It's raining men's lingerie

2009-01-02T17:12:00.001-08:00

It's raining men's lingerie

Meenakshi Shankar

Ok, the subject of men's underwear is not really that interesting! The visual that meets our eye is that of a plain white cotton brief – but then, you really cannot blame them! The trendsetters back then stuck to the plain and simple statements. But a quick peek into the latest Calvin Klein showcase proved otherwise. Strutted along the complete man – someone who loved the play of colors in his underpants…who was comfortable wearing Mickey Mouse and fire trucks! Skimpier the better was the mantra! If the women are spending big bucks on Victoria Secret and La Senza – the thongs and the feathers, then the men are co-coordinating their Armani's with Calvin Klein's and Punto – bikini's and boxer briefs.

Men's fashion underwear is getting 'hotter' by the day. Whether it is thongs, g-strings, briefs, mesh underwear or even men's bikinis, every designer is branching into the innerwear section.

In all their goofy glory, briefs in bright colors, zany prints, new materials and daring cuts are undermining the classic white brief's long-held status as king of the hill. It is hard to believe, so eyebrow-raisingly offbeat, and atypically masculine, are many of the selections. And the men are grabbing them by the dozen even before it stays a life on the shelf.
A man is more loyal to his brand of underwear than to any other article of clothing. But now connoisseurship trumps loyalty. It's a package deal…all the way through!

But is it all the big play of 'getting in touch with the feminine side?' a la Beckham donning Posh's brief or is it something more than that?

My guess is it's a potpourri, but what holds true is the fact that the boys are getting out of the old pasty colors and reaching out to fun stuff! And age holds no bar when it comes to selection a pair of briefs. Andrew Christian, Diesel, Calvin Klein, BOSS Hugo Boss, DIM, Punto, Blanco, Jockey – well known brand names who are pushing the envelope when it comes to making a style statement in the men's innerwear.

Picture a man wearing a pair of hot pink briefs trimmed with a dash of white satin, unshaven and caught on the lens oozing sex appeal and it's an instant hit – with both the sexes! Your woman would reach out for the first pair or probably pick up a dozen even before it has hit the rack and the boys – well, they are just having plain simple fun!

And if you think that women don't care what you care, well, you got that equation skewed up. Because they care! A CK ad or a Jockey model would have the same effect on them as a Victoria Secret model would have on you!

A quick lowdown on your underwear

Briefs
You wore them when you were 10. Now, it's high time you bid adieu to them! They may be up there on the comfort scale, but ask a woman and she would probably say, "Tad bit boring for my taste."

Boxer brief
A hot favorite when it comes to the athletic types of guys or guys who are bored with the regular briefs. Borders the conservative, but also holds a promise. Men swear by these pair as they hold the promise of oozing sex appeal and yet, ranking up there on the comfort level. The buck finally stops at comfort! It's always a wonder they never think on the same lines when we don our thongs!

Bikini
Tiny bikini underwear is hitting the charts simply because it's sexy! And if you have sexy abs, then flaunt it with a pair of bikini briefs. Your innerwear couldn't get sexier! Modern clothing styles are tighter, and some men want to keep their underwear lines hidden, just like women and their thongs. These men don't want to leave anything to the imagination, and want their women to know exactly what's lurking under there.

Edible Underwear
Well, if women can reach out to sweeten your tooth, so can you! So say bye-bye to inhibitions and open up to sweeten your lady's tooth!

Go commando
Now, that is the final cork on the lid – the underwear-less man! Cocky, carefree, rebellious – he is comfortable in his skin and is so at ease. A word of caution though – comfort et al, be careful when zipping up after a trip to the men's room

Size 14 women 'happiest with life and looks'

2009-01-02T17:01:00.001-08:00

Size 14 women 'happiest with life and looks'

Happiness, it seems, comes with curves, for a new poll has found that size 14 women are the happiest with their life and looks.

According to the study, girls who wear the dress size rated their general happiness higher than any other with a quarter saying they were extremely happy.

More than 43 per cent of size 14 women also said they were as happy as they could be with their career, while almost a third say they couldn't be more content with their love life.

Second happiest were size 12s, followed by sizes 8, 16 and 10, reports the Sun.

A spokesman for Special K, which polled 3,000 women, said: "It's great to discover that being a size zero wouldn't necessarily bring you happiness.

"Size 14 woman are much more comfortable with their shape and have a happier outlook."

The poll found that women size 24 or above were most miserable, with nearly one in five "extremely unhappy" with life.

Less than four per cent were happy with their career, and one in ten were extremely unhappy with their lovelife, the study also found.

Size 20 women were second in the list of unhappiest clothes sizes followed by those who wear a size 22.

But researchers discovered that it's not just plus-size women who are unhappy, as tiny size six girls came fourth, with size 18 women at number five.

Top 10 New Year resolutions for the sexy on-the-move gal

2009-01-01T17:11:00.001-08:00

Top 10 New Year resolutions for the sexy on-the-move gal

With the New Year's just around the corner, resolutions are galore. From the done to death 'will go the gym' to 'will do a good deed a day', resolutions are somehow made, to be broken probably a week into the New Year. So we decided to get whip cracking on a naughty and sexy list of New Year resolutions that we promise would last till the New Year comes its fag end.

1. Thou shall have some self-respect: So you are stuck in a relationship, which sucks big time. Have the courage to hold out for the right relationship. If you're being given the run-around, then move on. You deserve better. And if you were eyeing that hunk who walks in the hot pants in your gym, then hit on woman! It's the New Years…who knows he just might have made a resolution to dump his girl and is looking for a shoulder to cry on!

2. Thou shall try out a new hairstyle: Who says that you are too old to try out something funky? It's all about the right attitude, baby. So if you have got it, flaunt it. A word of advice, check with your hairdresser.

3. Thou shall plan some time with the girls: If you're single, arrange a night to explore all the new sexy merchandise on sale. And if you are nursing a recent break up, have a freedom party, girl! Don't go the Bridget Jones way…live your life on your terms. And, by the end of the night you'll love your single status.

4. Thou shall travel more: And by this, we don't mean to your local beach. You have a weekend to get away. So you can't do it every weekend. Make it a point to head off to a new destination and get into the discovery mode. And if heading out alone does not strike a right cord with you, then go online and the options are galore. You could team up with various avid travelers and hit the road.

5. Thou shall donate time to charity - And I don't mean your best friend named Charity; donate time to an actual cause. It's important to do something meaningful. All of us have the intention, but somehow manage to lose the focus when it comes to choosing between heading off to a nail spa and a charity function. But in the long run, donating time always brings in a feel good factor.

6. Thou shall get sexy, naughty and kinky: If you've never tried blindfolding then give your senses a treat this year. It's very easy for sex to fall to the bottom of your priority list, but make this New Year a kinky year! So, be different…it's a New Year. Who said resolutions have to be boring…

7. Thou shall lose the pounds: Clichéd, but a must if you are eyeing that bikini which is a must have in your wardrobe. And you wouldn't want to be caught dressed in one looking like a pillow dressed for a Halloween party. You don't have to go size zero, but get the curves and get fit! The bikini season is just around the corner.

8. Thou shall learn to dance: Envied Shakira and Beyonce and have always wanted to dance like them. Then this New Year, pull out you're dancing shoes and groove to the beats of salsa and hip-hop. Belly dancing and pole dance is the in thing…and if you want to get a high on creativity, learn to lap dance your way through.

9. Thou shall get into gadgets! Well, I don't mean the latest mobile phone or the sleek laptop! Get into sex toys…remember Samantha from Sex and the City! If she is your love guru, then get on her path this year. There are so many exciting and stimulating toys on the market, introduce a few into your love-making.

10. Thou shall indulge in fantasies: Who says you can't live your fantasies…and if you run out of ideas, there's always help around the corner. Log on to the Internet and lo behold, it's a treasure trove of fantasies!

Unleash your inner sex goddess

2009-01-01T17:07:00.001-08:00

Unleash your inner sex goddess

Being a sex goddess is hard work…and not only is it constant work, it takes time, it takes planning and determination. When's the last time you took the time to unleash the sex goddess trapped in you. Took a sensuous shower, pampered yourself with barely there lingerie, and seduced a man with every trick in the book…so much so that you just about had him worshipping the very ground that you glided on!

Take charge….Show off your body – show off how sexual you are! Unleash the sex goddess in you. Instead of him being the master player, take over the baton and show him how to orchestra every move…isn't that what Kamasutra is all about?

1. You Play Games

Who says games are for children? Well, they aren't. Sex is supposed to be a whole lot of fun. The more you are in a mood to play, the higher you'll be rated. Role playing, fantasies, blindfolding, bondage…from drab to going kinky, then you can be assured, you are one girl that's on your partner's mind all the while.

2. You Make the First Move as Often as Possible

A guy's constant woe…"She never takes the initiative! So give your partner a zing by taking the initiative. Get bold and naughty, sexy and subtle in the same breath and your partner will be begging for more! And the woman on top – the power position always does the trick. Ask a man on the power play and he gives his thumbs up to the woman on top!

3. Your Foreplay Lasts Twice as Long as Intercourse

It's not only women who enjoy the foreplay, but men too get off on foreplay. The little feathery kisses and touches, a nail trailing down their wrist, a nibble on their pulse…is enough to drive him out of his sense. Play it cool and play it to the hilt. I say, hold the reins and play him till he worships you as his own goddess.

4. No hands massage

Use your body…to drive him crazy. Work your magic on him without using your hands. For him to worship you, make the first move. Teach him what a true massage is – with the tip of your tongue to the gentle swell of your hip! It's all about knowing your sexual appeal!

5. Read my lips

According to Oriental erotic texts, a woman's upper lip is directly connected to her clitoris. During self-pleasure, or while receiving oral from your lover, bite your upper lip (or run your fingernails over it) to increase sensation and make your orgasm more powerful.

6. You'll try everything once

If you haven't experimented with pervy or kinky stuff, yet are game for it, then you get our thumbs up on this one. You should try everything (within reason) once. He wants you to dress like Fearless Nadia and talk dirty, then go ahead. You just may enjoy the power play role.

7. You own a vibrator

Men actually feel threatened by women who use sex toys. but the truth is, women who own one have higher libidos and generally want more sex. As a saying goes, "A clever girl won't demote her toys to the back of a drawer when her lover is around, but rather she'll put on a performance for him - and even use them on him."

8. You've said No to your bed

You've abandoned your bed and gone wild in the beach, in the car, on the balcony when the neighbors are out (or in)...We know for a fact that semipublic sex is up there in the top five fantasies for men, the top 10 for women.

9. Please yourself

Just because your lover is around that does not mean that you let him do all the work. Pleasuring yourself in front of a lover makes you feel hot and leaves him in a state of near frenzy. And if you're embarrassed, put on a blindfold. It's kinky and almost private and just up's your sex goddess quotient. Ask a man and he would put that in his top 5 sexual fantasies.

10. Go wild and wanton with your clothes

Slipping into a flannel nightgown does not really up the sex quotient. Of course, you could look sexy in a potato sack, but if you have the clothes to match your mood, you have hit on a jackpot. Fishnet stockings, corset in satin and peek a boo lingerie with a sexy spray on your pulse points would just about have your man on his feet begging for more.

Jumpstart Your Love Life

2009-01-01T06:08:00.001-08:00

Jumpstart Your Love Life

Make 2009 your most romantic year yet! Here, nine practical tips from dating experts that will help you feel lucky in love…

Ready to take control of your love future? We polled a bunch of dating experts and asked each for his or her number-one way to get your dating life in high gear this year. Here's what they had to say—and be warned: Try these tips and, by Valentine's Day, you may be fighting off prospective suitors!

1. Dare to have spares
"Dating is a numbers game, so skip the old 'a nice person only dates one at a time' rule. The more you date, the better the odds of finding someone wonderful worth weeding out from the pack. Plus, a full social calendar and lack of instant availability brings out the hard-to-get reaction in the opposite sex without actually having to play a game!"
– Dennie Hughes, author of Dateworthy

2. Roll up the rugs
"Throw a 'widening your net of possibilities' party. Love matches often come from your network of friends, colleagues and family. Invite everyone you know and ask them to bring at least one single person, or even a couple. The love of your life — or at least his or her cousin — just might walk through your door."
– Diana Kirschner, Ph.D., author of Opening Love's Door

3. Be captivated
"I often tell my patients (not to mention family and friends) that finding and sustaining love is like acquiring a piece of art. We should wait to be struck and captivated. But all too often we walk around with our pre-crafted 'frame' — or idea of whom we belong with — desperately trying to fit someone into it.

"So in 2009, throw away your mental checklist of what you're looking for and keep a truly open mind—you might be surprised at who truly clicks with you."
– Ian Kerner, Ph.D., author of DSI: Date Scene Investigation

4. Get a planner
"Set dating goals. Writing things down helps you to achieve your goals. Think short- and long-term. Maybe it's one date a week or meeting three new people a month. Either way, write it down and make it happen."
– Lissa Coffey, author of What's Your Dosha, Baby?

5. Risk embarrassment
"Don't be afraid of going out on a limb. You don't want to appear desperate, but at some point one of you has to give up waiting three days to call the other person back and pretending you're too aloof to fall in love. Why not you? A corny gesture — writing a note telling how happy you are when you see him or cooking a meal — can make him think it's time to take things beyond the stage of dates you aren't sure are actually dates."
– Gregory Gilderman, author of She's the One: The Surprising Truth of What Makes a Woman a Keeper

6. Play the odds
"The quickest way to meet prospective dates is to hang out in places where the odds are in your favor. For women, that means sports bars or the driving range. For guys, try DSW (or any other gigantic shoe warehouse). These places are crawling with women, especially on early Friday evenings and Saturdays. Just ask the nearest unattached female to help you pick out a new pair of shoes. See where it goes from there.

"Also consider book clubs: Women love to read, and there are usually very few men in attendance. It's a great pick if you're interested in dating someone brainy."
– Lisa Daily, author of Stop Getting Dumped!

7. Listen up
"One of the most engaging ways to get people to feel close to you is by being a good listener. Why do you think people love to go to their hairdresser? Good listening requires paying close attention, asking for details, and then echoing back the important points of the conversation. If you take the time to listen to someone, he or she will feel like you really care. Also, it gives you the chance to see what kind of person he or she is without having to worry about what to say back!"
– Scott Haltzman, M.D., author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men

8. Get some class
"Sign up for one thing you're interested in that involves a group meeting on a regular basis. I recommend gatherings that focus on your own interests: Yoga, cooking or kayaking class, a gardening group, a political campaign, or a co-ed sports league or team. In no time, you'll have a wider circle of friends, and when you meet a prospect, you'll already have some idea of that person's character and personality. This will prevent you from wasting a lot of time on a loser."
– Tina B. Tessina, Ph.D., psychotherapist and author of The Unofficial Guide to Dating Again

9. Give good sense
"Have a romance with life! Tap into your senses, and you'll come alive with positive energy. Really taste your food and savor your wine; enjoy your music and the sounds of nature; feel the sun or the breeze on your skin and smell the aromas around you. When you get in the habit of living life like this, others are drawn to your passion and enthusiasm."
– Debbie Mandel, Author of Turn On Your Inner Light: Fitness for Body, Mind and Soul

Lisa Lombardi is a writer and editor in New York who has written for Maxim, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan and other magazines.

What every woman wants is love

2008-12-24T17:00:00.001-08:00

A simple recipe to win a woman's heart is to give her loads of love. A recent survey revealed that 77 percent of women believe that their perfect man needs to be romantic and not rich.

"The Indian woman is honest and forthright with her feelings. While the survey reinforces the fact that she still believes in one true love, it also emphasises that she knows her mind, what she wants and knows how to get it," said ad man Piyush Pandey.

The survey, carried out by cosmetics brand Ponds, also revealed that 56 percent of women believe their true love would be the one who would get along well with her family and just 15 percent of women rate physique as an important quality in their man.

"A woman is expected to blend with her in-laws' family and she does it efficiently. At the same time she also expects her would-be husband to share great bond with her parents and siblings," Lakme's model Vipasha Aggarwal said.

Still, the most important ingredient of a successful relationship is love and women look for a combination of intelligence, humour, understanding, caring and romance in a man.

According to model-turned-actress Dipannita Sharma, her man should be a diehard romantic, with a good sense of humour and should understand her well and accept her the way she is.

For model Amanpreet Wahi love was the last thing in her mind till it actually happened and now she believes that it was a gift from God.

"It has been five years since I met my man - Raghav Narula. That time love was not my priority, but it just happened and today I feel that he fell in my lap from nowhere and filled my life with happiness," Wahi told IANS.

"He is a simple man, yet he is special because he knows how to respect a woman and this is his best quality. Apart from this he is fun loving, honest, polite and of course good-looking," she added.

She fondly remembers the day when Raghav proposed to her on the phone and rates that day as the most romantic day of her life.

Ponds brand ambassador Priyanka Chopra believes that true love will come calling; it is just a matter of time and so one has to be patient.

"I have always believed that true love will find you and so will the right man. Make sure that you do not close your mind to possibilities and do not work on the 'he-must-be-like-this' list," Chopra said.

Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bansali's "Hum Dil de Chuke Sanam" had girls swooning over the quiet brooding character played by actor Ajay Devgan - a man who loved his wife to the extent that he willingly took her back to reunite with her first love.

Though it may sound crazy, Rupa Sehgal has a similar tale to share. "At the time of my marriage I felt dead inside, unable to feel anything for the man whom I was marrying. But in the years that followed I saw my hubby loving me selflessly. From him I learnt that true love never asks for sacrifices, it gives," Sehgal explained.

Not many women believe in the power of money when it comes to love.

"A rich man may have money to shower his woman with expensive gifts, but if he isn't sensitive enough to know how to woo the lady, his expensive gifts aren't worth anything," said Suchita Verma.

Top 5 lesbian lust list

2008-12-24T16:58:00.001-08:00

London: Maria Sharapova has been named as the player most lusted after by British lesbians.

The 21-year-old tennis player defeated Russia's Anna Kournikova to grab the top spot in the poll.

The poll was conducted for gay dating site 'PARSHIP.co.uk'.

US star Serena Williams nabbed the third position in the list of 'Top 5 Girl Tennis Pin-Ups', reports Daily Star.

The list was rounded up by Martina Hingis and Ana Ivanovic.

Top 5 Girl Tennis Pin-Ups are:

1 Maria Sharapova (Russia) 33 percent

2 Anna Kournikova (Russia) 28 percent

3 Serena Williams (US) 14 percent

4 Martina Hingis (Switzerland) 11 percent

5 Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) 8 percent

The strangest places amorous couples have sex

2008-12-24T16:56:00.001-08:00

When overwhelmed with desire, British couples don't care about the place they end up romping in.

A new study has revealed the weirdest of places where lovers have been caught getting frisky, which include canal path, police station and even a church, reports The Sun.

Here are some of the very unlikely places that couples have been spotted making it out—

Canal Path— Scots Gareth Black and Clair Muir were caught sharing a moment of passion in broad daylight by policeman on the bank of Falkirk''s Union Canal. It was the locals who called the police after spotting them from their windows.

Church— When Italian cops were called at a church in the northern city of Cesena, they didn't know what kind of worshipping they'll encounter— a 31-year-old labourer - and his 32-year-old female teacher partner were having oral sex inside for an hour.

On CCTV— A worker at Newcastle''s Rural Payments Agency was fired after a CCTV camera caught him having sex with a colleague in the office toilets and running around their desks naked.

War Memorial— A French couple received a four-month suspended jail term after getting caught making a porno at a World War I memorial.

Police Station— Cops found a tipsy American couple— Dennis Cullen and a lady friend—making love in a vehicle in the car park of a police station.

Tram Stop—When a British couple was getting bored waiting for their tram, they got a rather raunchy idea—the 29-year-old woman and her 17-year-old toyboy got naked and started having sex in the street. Cops came after a CCTV camera in Croydon, South London alerted them about the cheeky happenings.

Crane—Construction worker Justin Dunn was accused of having "sexual relations" in a crane by cops who were called to the scene. However, when the 23-year-old came down with his 35-year-old partner, they denied of doing anything naughty in the air

Top ten places to have sex

2008-12-24T16:55:00.001-08:00

ten places to have sex

If you belong to that school of thought, then this one's for you, my dearies! Because a romp in the hay in the bedroom is passé. Everyone does it…so what's hot about it. What we are talking about is adding that extra zing to your sex life. Spicing it up is what you need! And what's in vogue is opening the doors and adding spice to your sex life.

Be naughty is our year-end say to you. And of course, after reading this, you can always drop a thank you note to us.

In the Car
The bigger the vehicle the more scope there is for sexual adventure, but if you don't drive a Bentley have no fear. You'd be surprised at how well you can get down in the most cramped spaces. Set the satellite navigation for the local lovers lane or secluded parking lot and start steaming up those windows.

Why wait until you get home? Slip the cabbie a crisp note and tell him to take the scenic route as you make full use of the spacious back seat. So long as you can handle the cabbie getting his kicks as you get yours, it's fun for all!

The Parking lot: A high school fantasy, but an all time favorite with us. Do not even think about it in broad daylight but maybe after a party; behind your car! Keep it quiet!

The Cinema
There's just something about the dark, which lures you to play some naughty games. And, if you are those kinds who enjoy your Bollywood dose, then go for an art flick. Make it a point to go in really late and choose a secluded spot. Knowing that no one can see you back there invites naughtiness.

Mile High
So Daniel Craig was caught with his pants around his knees doing it with a sexy airhostess! And our Bond man sure defied every law known, to get in an airline lavatory truly marks you out as a sexual pro. Virgin Atlantic has the most spacious toilets and even used to offer a bed for transatlantic sky-high action, but other airlines are not so sympathetic to passion. Make sure to give that proud smile as you walk back to your seat.

Haystack: If you are a Bollywood or the wild Wild West fan and have always fantasized going the cowboy way, then the haystack is the place for you.

Changing room: In a mood for a quick, then the changing room is the place for you. There is a high when it comes to snogging in the changing room, when you know that there are so many people around…the thrill of a quickie is what kicks in, in a changing room.

Desert: Fantasized about sheikhs and his harem…and always wished you could play eht role, the Arabian way can definitely be your way too; the night's are always young! And it's high on our romatic meter!

Terrace: If no one's around, you get the sky, the view plus the benefit of screaming your lungs out! Aaah…the bliss of looking up to the stars and having your big O, would be worth the risk of peeping Toms.

In the woods: There's nothing more sexy than being surrounded by tall trees and probably a scampering fox or two and having a quickie! The woods are a hot favorite. Just keep a watch out for nature conservationists or stinging bees…both are instant passion killers.

Source: Meenakshi Shankar/India Syndicate

Women feel sexiest at 34

2008-12-24T16:52:00.001-08:00

The average age at which women feel the sexiest is 34, says a new UK survey.

The poll, which was commissioned by moisturiser brand Astral, also found that middle-aged women have half as much sex as they did when they were younger.

However, 56 per cent of the 1,031 quizzed said that they enjoyed sex now more than they did when they were younger.

The study, which asked ladies about their sex lives, discovered that on average women aged 45 to 60 have sex 4.5 times a month, compared to 10.4 times a month in their 20s and 30s.

When asked at what age they had felt most sexy, the average was 34.

"Many of us make the assumption that older people have less sex than the young, and this research appears to confirm this. However, it does show that women are still enjoying great sex lives as they get older," the Telegraph quoted sex and relationship advisor Dr Catherine Hood, as saying.

"Women's sexual needs, libido and lifestyle change over time, but there is absolutely no reason why older women can't enjoy an extremely fulfilling sex life in their middle age and well into their senior years.
"The fact that over half of those quizzed said they had better sex now than in their 20s and 30s suggests that these women are more confident and self-assured than they were in their younger days and aren't afraid of getting what they want," she added.

5 rules for a threesome

2008-12-24T16:18:00.001-08:00

Talk of threesome and all the men around you go crazy with fantasy. It's the highest order in the fantasy list of every hot-blooded male. And, there's information readily available on how to organize for threesome and what follows into a ménage a trio is the art of handling a delectable, and potentially sticky, sexual situation. So we bring you the top 5 rules of the game.

Rule No 1. Establish the rules

You're going to have sex with two women and all three of you have your own rules and limits, so understanding and respecting one another's comfort levels should be a top priority when you're establishing your threesome rules.

Rule No 2. Lead the way

A threesome can have awkward moments if you're confident and don't stay in control. As well, some guys are a little apprehensive about taking control, so it's up to the fairer sex to lead the way.

Rule No 3. Give equal attention

While it's okay to spend a few minutes enjoying without having to perform on the other man in the room, you do need to keep in mind that leaving someone out for an extended period of time is bad threesome etiquette.

Rule No 4. Be safe

It's very easy to go into the throes of pleasure and forget all about safe sex. But safe sex is an absolute must have. Keep condoms lying around at arm's reach, so that you really don't have to stretch that extra mile.

Rule No 5. Enjoy every moment of it

Oh yes…we would put this in the numero uno rule! A ménage a trios is every man's fantasy and it's very easy to climax with all that action happening. We say, dude, take it nice and slow. Learn to pace yourself. And don't get so excited that you lose track of the your partners: All three of you should be sexually satisfied and, even if you achieve climax first, you must do everything you can to bring your two partners to orgasm.

A word of advice: A threesome isn't a relationship. This means that the third person shouldn't sleep over. It may look appealing, just in case, you may want a repeat performance, but prolonging a threesome is a recipe for total disaster. You've had fun, but it's only pleasure and experimentation.

How to make her fall in love with you

2008-10-20T18:37:00.001-07:00

How to make her fall in love with you

You have the swankiest car, but no one special to take out on a long drive. You are the most good looking bloke in your neighbourhood, but no one to appreciate it. You have been to the best restaurants in town, but no one to share the table with. You get the premiere tickets to all the latest flicks, but no one to take for a movie date. In short, you have everything going for you, except the one who makes your heart do a somersault everytime you see her! Chill! Its all about polishing your techniques and you will have her in your arms and that is a promise!

Stop pursuing her: Do your friends actually have to fold your tongue back into your mouth every time she passes by? Sheesh! How do you ever expect her to pay you any attention!? Buddy the trick is to act all cool and aloof in her presence and you will have her hovering around you. Pay too much attention and the chase gets tougher with her running even faster. Act like you don't care whether she is coming or going. Turn a blind eye even when she's looking her hottest best, difficult but stick to this. You will soon see the results. But hey, don't give in too soon, make her earn your attention.

Get groomed: This one isn't about visiting the salon every 15 days. Its about dressing right, having a regular shower, wearing a deodorant at all times and not wearing the same tee Monday to Sunday! For more tips on grooming go to

Get that look: Women quiver in the knees when a man looks deep down into her eyes. Take it from me, I speak on behalf of all my sisters out there, who are collectively disgusted about guys who think their body starts neck down! A woman loves it if a guy pays attention to her face, passes an unusual comment about the mole above her lips or the twinkle in her eyes or the angelic curve of her bow shaped lips…got the idea?

Mark your focus: When you are talking to her, let the whole world be damned! There are innumerable scenes in movies, when the world around freezes or goes into slo-mo mode when the hero locks eyes with his gal. You have to do exactly that, make her blush with your gaze and perfect this art. You have do it everytime you see her, chances are by the fifth round you will be doing that in her dreams!

Be a good listener: When she talks, listen. Ask encouraging questions. Pass flattering remarks. Act like your life depends on her story. Respond with feelings. And when you are talking to her, ask for her opinion, and show that you value them. After this her phone bills will rise…you will be on her speed dial!

Be Mr Popular: Try and be a ray of sunshine in your circle of friends. Women love men who are fun to be with and who can make others laugh. Be the life of parties.

Learn to play the guitar: Enrol in a guitar class. A cute guy walking around with a guitar is romantic balm for many girls. And if you are good enough to play the guitar at parties, you will have a lot of hearts waiting to ensnare you! Believe me you, A guitar is one of the best babe magnets around! Singing comes a close second. Singing soulful numbers, provided you have the voice for it, melts the toughest female heart.

Tips For Success

2008-10-19T07:56:00.001-07:00

Is Money Controlling You?

Do you control money or does money control you?

10 Signs Money Is Controlling You
You constantly worry about having enough money
You often wish you could buy more things
Your only goal in life is to get rich, but you have no realistic plan
You spend money to feel better
You blame others for your financial problems (government, boss, spouse)
You judge people based on the amount of money they have
You lie, cheat or steal to get money; even a little lying or cheating shows money is controlling you
You take unnecessary financial risks
You use credit to buy things that decrease in value, such as expensive cars or expensive clothing
Money controls your mood-you feel good or bad based on your finances

10 Signs You Are Controlling Money
You decide to buy something, save the money, and get what you want
You buy things that increase in value
You invest in yourself, such as more education or personal improvement
You donate to causes you believe in, even if just small amounts
You keep your financial agreements
You have good credit
You pay your taxes
Cheating you out of your money is very difficult
Each year, your earning power improves and financial worth increases
You use money as a tool to follow your dreams and reach your goals

Five Ways to Control Money

1. Spend your money according to a plan.

"THE LESS AMOUNT OF INCOME AN ORGANIZATION OR AN INDIVIDUAL HAS, THE MORE CAREFULLY AND WISELY FINANCIAL PLANNING MUST BE DONE." -- L. Ron Hubbard

If you spend money as you get it, or to pay off squeaky wheels, you have no plan. You spend a few bucks here and a few bucks there until your money is gone. Instead, take control and write a financial spending plan. Decide in advance how you will spend your money.

When you plan your spending, you make better decisions. Examples: "If I buy these extra classes, I'll get a raise." "I want a new car and will set aside $60 per week until I have the full amount." "If I pay off this credit card with the minimum payments, it'll take me 23 YEARS to pay it off! I'd better pay $100 extra each month and cut the stupid thing in half!"

2. Never spend more than you make.

"Make all the money you can. Spend less than that. That's the simple ABC of financial control." -- L. Ron Hubbard

When planning your spending, ensure you follow the above rule. For example, "Each week I will set aside $______ for the house, 10% to education, 5% to savings, pay current bills and buy food. Anything left can be spent on fun things like movies and vacations."

3. Stop wasting your time trying to get money without earning it.

"One has to produce something to exchange for money." "One exchanges something valuable for something valuable." -- L. Ron Hubbard

Do not gamble, play the lottery or try to cheat others. Do not wait for your fortune to arrive or expect someone to hand you money. Count only on yourself.

Get rich the old reliable way. Create something valuable and exchange it for the money you want. You deserve it, because you earn it.

4. Increase your productivity and improve the quality of your work.

"Produce in abundance and try to give better-than-expected quality." -- L. Ron Hubbard

For example, if you give haircuts for a living, find ways to make your customers' hair look more beautiful. If you fix furnaces and usually fix two per day, figure out how to fix three furnaces per day . . . and then train and manage other furnace-repair people.

5. Make constant, steady progress.

Tarot Power

2008-10-18T16:25:00.001-07:00

TAROT POWER SPIRITUAL MESSAGE: The world is not the problem; the problem is your unawareness. Renounce your unawareness; don't be bothered with renouncing the world. What can the world do to you? The basic thing is your meditativeness, your awareness, says Osho the Zen master The Tarot is an ancient meditative discipline by which one can gain access to higher levels of consciousness.

The mystique of Tarot cards combines astrology, numerology, symbology and the occult to gain insights into the past, present and future. Tarot cards can be used for divination, therapy, mirroring and counselling. A series of images represent, in pictorial form, a summary of all knowledge, ancient energies, teachings and the wisdom of sages. Usually, there are 78 cards in the Tarot pack, which is divided into two, major and minor arcana. The major arcana cards symbolise the elements, planets and zodiac signs. Then there are the royalty cards — Knight, Queen, Prince and Princess — that symbolise people, characteristics and qualities. The minor arcana are presented in four suits from one to 10 and they are Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.

—Ma Prem Ritambhara is a well-known Tarot consultant who has been reading the cards for over 10 years.

Her e-mail address: prem.usha@vsnl.com Aries March 21 - April 20 Your energy seems exhausted as you faced blocks, rules, regulations and legalities at work and at home. It's best to go around and above these blocks to achieve your goals rather than en counter them directly. You may feel oppressed by traditions and traditional people in the family if you allow them to interfere in your life. You need to find a healing outlet for your tension, anger and frustration.

Don't sweep problems and issues under the proverbial carpet but look at them and face them with courage.

Meditation brings light into darkness and a positive influence in your life after a period of tension and difficulty. You learn from mistakes and grow as an individual. Be light, playful and in touch with your sense of humor.

Lucky number is 10. Good colour is burnt orange.

Taurus April 21 - May 21 Unexpected happenings and unpredictable events are on the cards this week! Visitors and communications from overseas surprise you. A professional project is completed and new op portunities open fresh horizons for expansion. You are able to unlock doors that were closed to you so far and reach inaccessible places and personalities.

This is a good time to take a gamble or a quantum leap into unknown territory or explore a new work situation. A strange personal encounter can throw you off balance till you understand the importance and nature of the connection. You may take a brief spontaneous trip with a loved one to relax and get away from it all. Beware of taking medicines or drugs without checking them with your physician.

Lucky number is 9. Good colour is wine red.

Gemini May 22 - June 21 You make breakthroughs in relationships and professional situations but need to consider what you give up in the process. It's best to be realistic about goals and targets when going through inner transformation and making changes outside. Positive attitudes in personal relationships bring healing and love. Rescheduling plans and routines may be for the better. Beware of ego conflicts.

You celebrate an event in an unusual way! You go to emotional heights and depths in relationships, difficult and easy situations in business, and negative and positive reactions from people, which give you a new perspective of life and the world. You allow all of life's colours to penetrate you, to become enriched and more integrated.

Lucky number is 12. Good colour is sea green.

Cancer June 22 - July 22 You resolve business and professional matters effortlessly with your old mastery and expertise this week. You are quick to respond to external influences and can be easily attracted and enthusiastic. However, these are not enduring and are without depth. This week starts on a slow and gentle note and builds up momentum steadily. A shopping spree can set your budget aflutter. Avoid serious and heavy attitudes as they only get you stuck and blocked. Parents and older relatives may need and demand attention. Artistic and creative pastimes are elevating. Health and finances need watching. Its time to breakthrough restrictions, addictions and emotional patterns as you are ripe and ready for major professional and personal changes.

Lucky number is 4. Good colour is sea blue.

Leo July 23 - August 23 Warm friendships and pleasurable moments make this a wonderful time for you. Important professional and business meetings go smoothly. Be aware of dissipation and waste, as you tend to go over the top when sharing hospitality. You are particularly happy while meeting up with old friends and family. You are supportive in a family crisis and people tend to lean heavily on you. A brief vacation or sojourn with a loved one comes as a happy surprise. Children demand quality time and bring great joy. The Arts and the finer points of life are engaging. You can be pedantic about details at the expense of larger issues.

Mood swings and sensitive moments need to be watched with awareness. Tune in to your inner bliss.

Lucky number is 2. Good colours are rose pinks.

Virgo August 24 - September 23 You handle difficult and sensitive situations with prudence and care as they could easily go out of hand. You tend to be a perfectionist and don't enjoy others interfering with your systems or area of activity. You function best as an individual learning through experience and playing the role of consultant and advisor to others at work and at home. You protect yourself emotionally and prefer to be in a meaningful relationship or rather be alone. You learn to distinguish between aloneness and loneliness. Without a significant other in your life you can either be lonely or enjoy the freedom that solitude brings. Spending time in natural surroundings away from it all proves to be therapeutic. You are true to yourself in professional and personal matters. You can be creative with your hands.

Lucky number is 9. Good colour is wine red.

Libra September 24 - October 23 Inception of new business projects or professional ventures is on the cards this week! You are likely to meet a wonderful person who fascinates you and draws you closer. You are able to kick old habits like smoking and drinking and adopt a healthier lifestyle with more time for meditating and relaxing. Redecorating office space, spring cleaning and moving things around changes ambiance and energy! A need for change in routines and schedules leads you to reassess situations, targets and responsibilities. You also look at dark corners and cobwebs within the mind to uproot old ideas and judgments that are obsolete. Priorities need to be kept in mind as you meet new people, make fresh business connections and liaison with important people.

Lucky number is 6. Good colours are rainbow pastels.

Scorpio October 24 - November 22 The body, mind and spirit are in harmony and you experience a feeling of contentment this week. Power and wealth is yours after a period of labor and strife. Creative and professional plans are set to actualize in one year and it is best to work towards them persistently. Success in business and love in personal relationships transforms your life and attitudes in the coming year. You achieve the rewards of your hard work as you have already established a foundation for success and material gain with which come appreciation and exposure. This is a time of inner maturity and spiritual growth as you realize your truths and accept yourself as you are.

There is a protective light around you as you move through a variety of experiences.

Lucky number is 1. Good colour is emerald green.

Sagittarius November 21 - December 23 You are likely to fall in love with a new person or idea this week. Things happen swiftly and you need to be ready with quick decisions or else, opportunities pass you by. Energy is of high velocity and you can actively pursue and achieve your goals, which are closer than you think.

Important visitors, messages and communications from overseas can be expected. You are bold and forthright in voicing your opinions and can get into much trouble because of it. You tend to apply too much force suddenly, which is a flash in the pan, its better to take one steady step at a time to climb the ladder of success. A trip is on the cards! You are finally able to look at and accept a different environment, culture, new friends and attitudes to enrich your own experience.

Lucky number is 8. Good colours are rainbow pastels.

Capricorn December 21 - January 20 Mental conflicts are finally resolved this week as you make a compromise and opt for peace at work and harmony at home. Intellectual differences should be treated lightly and discussed rationally or arguments and quarrels can ensue endlessly. A balanced perspective and positive attitude leads to closer family relationships and supportive business partnerships. Yin (receptive) and Yang (dynamic) energies are fine-tuned and balanced, manifesting equilibrium and ease in personal and professional affairs. A Libra person does a lot to gain your favour and have you on his side. You receive a lot of love and compassion from family and friends when you need it. Health problems can be resolved quickly and surgery may be the right answer to a particular problem.

Lucky number is 2. Good colours are pinks.

Aquarius January 21 - February 19 'The Wheel of Fortune' spins in some good fortune and happiness in your life this week! Exciting business and professional opportunities come from nowhere and prove to be lucrative.

Travel and change of climate at the end of the week are rejuvenating. Being the centre of the great 'wheel of energy' you can swing it in any direction you want. It's best to take advantage of this lucky period, to make important changes or new beginnings in any area of life. Awareness and alacrity are needed to move towards positive relationships and progressive opportunities as things happen quickly. Love, romance, party fun, celebration and family reunions can keep you happy and busy. Beware of emotional over reactions and over indulgence in food or drink.

Lucky number is 10. Good colour is royal blue.

Pisces February 20 - March 20 You may feel defeated by certain situations at work or at home as you are unable to accept them or change them.

Rather than getting frustrated and pushing situations and people towards change, allow space and time to trans form them. It's best to ignore gossip or slander and avoid getting involved in a controversy. A busybody could separate you from a friend or create a misunderstanding, be aware. An Aquarius person close to you could be over sensitive and feel hurt without good reason. This is not a good time to take chances or indulge in speculation. Health and finances must be watched. Meditation, yoga and spiritual aspects are healing and elevating. You spend a happy and relaxing time in natural surroundings with family and friends that rejuvenates you.

Lucky number is 5. Good colour is soft pink.

Hired, fired, and hired again Jet Airways India

2008-10-16T15:52:00.001-07:00

First Published: 01:15 IST(17/10/2008)

Last Updated: 01:16 IST(17/10/2008)

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"I am so happy. I still can't believe it has happened. My entire family is dancing and celebrating right now," said 20-year-old Shruti Bhardwaj.

She was reacting to a late-night press conference in Mumbai where Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal announced the reinstatment of all 1,900 sacked employees.

Earlier in the day, 40-odd sacked employees protested at the domestic terminal for close to five hours. With the management refusing to meet them, they headed to the Chief Minister's House for help.

"We are getting all our news from the media. The management does not even feel that it is important to talk to us or explain. Those sacked in Mumbai have Raj Thackeray's support. Unfortunately no politician in Delhi has taken up our cause," said Rupanjal Bangia, who was - and now is again - a flight attendant with the company.

Gaurav Dutta, a flight attendant with Jet Airways, was expecting his confirmation letter by the end of this month. But the company handed him his termination letter instead. Of course now he can breathe easy but the situation was tense till late night.

Dutta was not the only one who felt duped. On Thursday morning, several protesting employees rubbished the company's claim that it had sacked only employees on probation.

Jet Airways, they said, had cheated many people by laying off employees who had cleared their mandatory "check flights" (tests taken to qualify for confirmation) and were going to be confirmed pretty soon.

"We all are made to sign a letter after clearing our check flights. This letter is kept with the air base manager," said Dutta. "None of us have that letter to prove that we were confirmed and so the company dismissed us along with the other employees on probation. Getting a confirmation letter is just a formality."

The cabin crew felt that sacking employees was not the only way of cutting costs. "Why doesn't the company think of cutting costs in other areas? The authorities could save a lot on money if they kept a check on the huge wastage of food on flights. They don't have to make the cabin crew stay in five star hotels during the layover flights. But instead they chose the easy way out," said an employee, who refused to be identified.

It's not just cabin crew who were pink slipped. Several ground staff employees were also sacked

Air India may lay-off of 15,000 staff for up to five years

2008-10-16T14:22:00.001-07:00

Air India may lay-off of 15,000 staff for up to five years

Thu, Oct 16 05:35 PM

Hyderabad, Oct 16 (ANI): Air India on Thursday said that it is considering a plan to give about 15,000 of its staff a three-five years leave without pay.

Air India CMD Raghu Menon said, "We are planning to offer leave without pay for three to five years. We can consider it for about 15,000 employees."

However, he said, those who take up the offer to go on leave would be taken back if they desire so at the same seniority and last drawn pay.

Menon's statement comes at a time when the country's leading private carrier Jet Airways has laid off 1,100 jobs as the financial crisis in the aviation sector worsens.

On Wednesday, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, however, ruled out any job cuts in Air India, assuring employees that there were no plans to prune staff strength immediately.

Patel said, "No. Air India is not going to have any job cuts. Certainly it (the aviation crisis) will affect the growth plans, it will affect the future employment opportunities which would have come the way of Air India in case the aviation industry was in a much better financial health."

He further said, "But as of now I do not have the luxury to say beyond the fact that those who are working for Air India shall continue to do so and we shall not have any issue of people being laid off."

The country's 77-year-old carrier, facing financial crunch, has proposed infusion of Rs 1,000-1,500 crore of equity capital. It is also looking at soft loans of Rs 1,000 crore from the Government that can be repaid over a period of time. (ANI)

Torn Apart

2008-10-14T20:23:00.001-07:00

Torn apart

All of us have seen them, perhaps some of us unwittingly even belong to the same category — couples who no longer care for each other.

Alternatively, some remain couples only because of the institution of marriage. Their relationship is no longer bound by commitment, caring and mutual respect.

Yet once, when they were newly married, surely they too were brimming with youthful dreams — of happiness together, a full family life, a vital connection with each other, and the desire that somehow their shared life must be better than those of their parents, neighbours and relatives; that they were special.

Sense of hopelessness

But down the years, this somehow did not carry through. Or, did they let their dreams just die? Is the inexorable progress of life to be held responsible for this state of affairs?

The reasons are always numerous and varied. The 'why' cannot be nailed down to a specific period in their lives, or a trait in the other that they found unsupportable. We're always left with approximations, large uncertainties, and areas of doubt when judging others.

The couple become the people they are now gradually, and incurably; they drifted apart like old continents go adrift, slowly torn apart by fissures that spewed the secret venom of old customs and habit, estranged by the same tired arguments and possibly, by a creeping sense of hopelessness.

Drifting apart

They drift alone and wearily through the routine high and low tide that washes over their lives. But often, neither the man nor the woman remembers, nor indeed wishes to recall, what caused them to drift apart, in waters that get shallower and sand encrusted as the days speed by.

Perhaps they settle for, or substitute this lack in their relationship with other things — focus on their children, duty towards each other and their work.

And, over the years, these substitutes become the only link through which the couple communicate to each other.

Malaysian state`s award to Shah Rukh stirs controversy

2008-10-13T08:35:00.001-07:00

Malaysian state`s award to Shah Rukh stirs controversy

Kuala Lumpur, Oct 12: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been conferred with a traditional title equivalent to that of a knighthood by a Malaysian state for promoting it through his films, a move denounced by opposition lawmakers and public who said the priority should be given to local artists.

42-year-old Khan was given the Governor's award which carries the title 'Datuk' - equivalent to British knighthood - for promoting the southern Malacca state through his movies.

The actor was among several others who to get the award on the occasion of 70th birth anniversary of Malacca's head of state Mohd Khalil Yaakob.

However, both opposition politicians and commoners strongly objected to the state government's decision and raised questions over Khan's assistance to promoting Malacca, 'The Star' daily reported today.

According to the newspaper, opposition leader and DAP party advisor Lim Kit Siang said he was not against deserving people being awarded the 'Datukship' but priority should be given to local artists.

"If Shahrukh Khan deserved the award, then so should Hollywood stars Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones who shot a movie against the backdrop of the Twin Towers in 1999," Siang said.

A businesswoman Fatimah Tahir was quoted as saying "I thought the award is given to those who have contributed towards Malacca's development. I wonder whether Shahrukh Khan even knows where Malacca is

10 (More) Reasons You're Not Rich

2008-10-12T12:21:00.001-07:00

10 (More) Reasons You're Not Rich

Many people assume they aren't rich because they don't earn enough money. If I only earned a little more, I could save and invest better, they say.

The problem with that theory is they were probably making exactly the same argument before their last several raises. Becoming a millionaire has less to do with how much you make, it's how you treat money in your daily life.

The list of reasons you may not be rich doesn't end at 10. Caring what your neighbors think, not being patient, having bad habits, not having goals, not being prepared, trying to make a quick buck, relying on others to handle your money, investing in things you don't understand, being financially afraid and ignoring your finances.

Here are 10 more possible reasons you aren't rich:

You care what your car looks like: A car is a means of transportation to get from one place to another, but many people don't view it that way. Instead, they consider it a reflection of themselves and spend money every two years or so to impress others instead of driving the car for its entire useful life and investing the money saved.

You feel entitlement: If you believe you deserve to live a certain lifestyle, have certain things and spend a certain amount before you have earned to live that way, you will have to borrow money. That large chunk of debt will keep you from building wealth.

You lack diversification: There is a reason one of the oldest pieces of financial advice is to not keep all your eggs in a single basket. Having a diversified investment portfolio makes it much less likely that wealth will suddenly disappear.

You started too late: The magic of compound interest works best over long periods of time. If you find you're always saying there will be time to save and invest in a couple more years, you'll wake up one day to find retirement is just around the corner and there is still nothing in your retirement account.

You don't do what you enjoy: While your job doesn't necessarily need to be your dream job, you need to enjoy it. If you choose a job you don't like just for the money, you'll likely spend all that extra cash trying to relieve the stress of doing work you hate.

You don't like to learn: You may have assumed that once you graduated from college, there was no need to study or learn. That attitude might be enough to get you your first job or keep you employed, but it will never make you rich. A willingness to learn to improve your career and finances are essential if you want to eventually become wealthy.

You buy things you don't use: Take a look around your house, in the closets, basement, attic and garage and see if there are a lot of things you haven't used in the past year. If there are, chances are that all those things you purchased were wasted money that could have been used to increase your net worth.

You don't understand value: You buy things for any number of reasons besides the value that the purchase brings to you. This is not limited to those who feel the need to buy the most expensive items, but can also apply to those who always purchase the cheapest goods. Rarely are either the best value, and it's only when you learn to purchase good value that you have money left over to invest for your future.

Your house is too big: When you buy a house that is bigger than you can afford or need, you end up spending extra money on longer debt payments, increased taxes, higher upkeep and more things to fill it. Some people will try to argue that the increased value of the house makes it a good investment, but the truth is that unless you are willing to downgrade your living standards, which most people are not, it will never be a liquid asset or money that you can ever use and enjoy.

You fail to take advantage of opportunities: There has probably been more than one occasion where you heard about someone who has made it big and thought to yourself, "I could have thought of that." There are plenty of opportunities if you have the will and determination to keep your eyes open.

Taurus Power

2008-10-02T19:17:00.001-07:00

http://www.astrology-online.com/taurus.htm

The Bull
April 21 to May 21

Traditional
Taurus Traits

Patient and reliable
Warmhearted and loving
Persistent and determined
Placid and security loving

On the dark side....

Jealous and possessive
Resentful and inflexible
Self-indulgent and greedy

Taurus About Your Sign...

The Taurean's characteristics are solidity, practicality, extreme determination and strength of will - no one will ever drive them, but they will willingly and loyally follow a leader they trust. They are stable, balanced, conservative good, law-abiding citizens and lovers of peace, possessing all the best qualities of the bourgeoisie. As they have a sense of material values and physical possessions, respect for property and a horror of falling into debt, they will do everything in their power to maintain the security of the status quo and be somewhat hostile to change.

Mentally, they are keen-witted and practical more often than intellectual, but apt to become fixed in their opinions through their preference for following accepted and reliable patterns of experience. Their character is generally dependable, steadfast, prudent, just, firm and unshaken in the face of difficulties. Their vices arise from their virtues, going to extremes on occasion,such as sometimes being too slavish to the conventions they admire.

On rare occasions a Taurean may be obstinately and exasperatingly self-righteous, unoriginal, rigid, ultraconservative, argumentative, querulous bores, stuck in a self-centered rut. They may develop a brooding resentment through nursing a series of injuries received and, whether their characters are positive or negative, they need someone to stroke their egos with a frequent, "Well Done!" Most Taureans are not this extreme though.

They are faithful and generous friends with a great capacity for affection, but rarely make friends with anyone outside their social rank, to which they are ordinarily excessively faithful. In the main, they are gentle, even tempered, good natured, modest and slow to anger, disliking quarreling and avoiding ill-feeling. If they are provoked, however, they can explode into violent outbursts of ferocious anger in which they seem to lose all self-control. Equally unexpected are their occasional sallies into humor and exhibitions of fun.

Although their physical appearance may belie it, they have a strong aesthetic taste, enjoying art, for which they may have a talent, beauty (recoiling from anything sordid or ugly) and music. They may have a strong, sometimes unconventional, religious faith. Allied to their taste for all things beautiful is a love for the good things of life pleasure, comfort, luxury and good food and wine and they may have to resist the temptation to over indulgence, leading to drunkenness, gross sensuality, and covetousness.

In their work, Taureans are industrious and good craftspeople, and are not afraid of getting their hands dirty. They are reliable, practical, methodical and ambitious, within a framework of obedience to superiors. They are at their best in routine positions of trust and responsibility, where there is little need of urgency and even less risk of change, and a pension at the end. Yet they are creative and good founders of enterprises where the rewards of their productiveness come from their own work and not that of others.

They can flourish in many different trades and professions: banking, architecture, building, almost any form of bureaucracy, auctioneering, farming, medicine, chemistry, industry Taureans make good managers and foremen surveying, insurance, education and, perhaps surprisingly, music and sculpture. They make an ideal trustee or guardian, and can attain eminence as a chef. Some Taureans are gifted enough in singing to become opera stars or to excel in more popular types of music.

They are more than averagely amorous and sensually self-conscious, but sexually straightforward and not given to experiment. They make constant, faithful, home loving spouses and thoughtful, kindly parents, demanding too much of neither their spouses nor children. They can be over possessive and may sometimes play the game of engineering family roles for the pleasure of making up the quarrel. If anyone offends their amour proper they can be a determined enemy, though magnanimous in forgiveness if their opponent makes an effort to meet them halfway.

No other sign in the zodiac is closer to earth then Taurus. The main objective in leading a Taurean life is primarily (though not entirely) to maintain stability and physical concerns. Your inner spiritual sense longs for earthly harmony and wholesomeness. When you fully understand this, and work toward this end, you will no longer need to blindly reassure yourself with external possessions and comforts. A realization that finding this inner peace will cause all of the above mentioned positive things will overtake you and your life will be very full.

Ultimately the Taurean needs to discover their truest, deepest and highest values. When they know what is truly valuable, they are no longer chained to people and to things that have to do with lesser values. The greatest indication of value to a Taurean is beauty, which cannot be owned, only appreciated.

Possible Health Concerns...

Taurus governs the throat and neck and its subjects need to beware throat infections, goiter and respiratory ailments such as asthma. They are said to be at risk of diseases of the genitals, womb, liver and kidneys, and of abscesses and rheumatism. Because their body type has an inclination to physical laziness, Taureans can be overweight.

LIKES

Stability
Being Attracted
Things Natural
Time to Ponder
Comfort and Pleasure

DISLIKES

Disruption
Being pushed too hard
Synthetic or "man made" things
Being rushed
Being indoors

PROBLEMS THAT MAY ARISE FOR YOU, AND THEIR SOLUTIONS

As with all sun signs, we all have unique traits to our personalities. When these traits are suppressed, or unrealized, problems will arise. However, with astrology we can examine the problem and assess the proper solution based on the sun sign characteristics. As a Taurean you may see things below that really strike home. Try the solution, you most likely will be amazed at the results. If you find yourself on the receiving end of the negatives below, it is because you are failing to express the positive.

PROBLEM: Having feelings of being used and manipulated, led down the garden path and made a sucker of.
SOLUTION: Realize that your magnetism attracts negative as well as positive influences. You need to choose your friends, not let them choose you.

PROBLEM: Physical things start loosing their appeal, and you feel more and more out of touch with the world around you. You stop caring so much about how much money you have among other physical concerns.
SOLUTION: You are starting to discover an inner harmony that is trying to replace the physical with spiritual. You must let this grow without killing the part of you that provides sustenance for your family.

PROBLEM: Unexplained fear of loss, jealousy and a paranoia that others are out to get you.
SOLUTION: You have within you the ability to not only attract faithfulness, but also the intellect to see what is truly going on around you. You are loosing faith in both of these personal traits. Rebuild that faith.

PROBLEM: Feeling depressed with life. Disgusted and dissatisfied. People around you are little comfort. You feel that life lacks meaning. Easily addicted to physical pleasures.
SOLUTION: Revisit and realize the value of spiritual things in life. Take control of your life by realizing it is not the things in life that are important, but the spirit behind it all.

Your ruling planet is VENUS
.

Mean distance from the Sun (AU) 0.723
Sidereal period of orbit (years) 0.62
Equatorial radius (km) 6052
Polar radius (km) same
Body rotation period (hours) 58.32
Tilt of equator to orbit (degrees) 177.3
Number of observed satellites 0

Some more interesting facts about your sign:

The animal associated with you sign is this tough looking bull. The Egyptian Hourus was the bull of heaven, and a white bull was sacrificed in Babylonia at the New Year to placate Ramman, the god of thunder and lightning.

The color of choice for Taurus is PINK

Your Starstone is the EMERALD

Emeralds from Egypt are known to date from about 330 B.C., and indirect evidence suggests that Egyptians were mining emerald as early as 1300 B.C. The name emerald comes from the greek smaragdos meaning "green stone" and probably referred, in fact,not just to emeralds but to all or many green gems. Emerald boasts a great deal of folklore. It was used as a burnt offering, a symbol of St. John, and supposedly was a poison antidote, a cure for fevers and epilepsy, eye relief (due to the exceptional color), a cure for dysentery and leprosy, a cure for ophthalmia and bleeding, a cure for stomach problems (when laid on the stomach), and a good laxative.

Winter attracts: Study

2008-09-30T17:47:00.001-07:00

A new study has revealed that men get more attracted to a women's body especially in winter. Researchers from the Wroclaw University in Poland, who conducted the study, are still not clear as to why men find women more attractive in winter.

Winters are attractive

114 men who were selected for the study were shown photographs of women taken thought the year. They were then asked to rate the photos. For over 5 seasons the participants were shown snaps showing faces of women, exposed breasts, women in back swimsuits every 3 months.

The data collected when analyzed showed that men rated women more attractive in winter and autumn while they were least interested in summer.

Researchers found that there was no change in the ratings for photographs showing faces of women, as the photos received the same rating throughout the year.

Men of all ages seemed to show the same seasonal attractiveness and the same was found true when the men were asked to rate their own partners. This clearly showed that a woman attracts men more in winter and autumn than in summer.

The researchers believe that in winter the female bodies are covered and less visible hence the higher ratings where as the women's face received the same rating as it was visible throughout the year.

More details of the study can be found in the journal Perception.

What are the foods you should avoid

2008-09-12T18:58:00.001-07:00

IBS: What are the foods you should avoid

Sat, Sep 13 03:04 AM

As RxPress pointed out last week, there has been a significant rise in the number of people suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). While it requires a gastroenterologist to rule out any pathology, diet plays a crucial role in treating the symptoms. Some foods act as triggers for the symptoms - recurrent abdominal pain, gas, distention of stomach, frequent diarrhoea or constipation - others have a calming effect. Mostly, an individual diet plan for every patient may work best.

What are the foods that aggravate the symptoms of IBS? The good news is that the list of offending foods is not exhaustive. Anything high in fat, caffeine, carbonated beverages, alcohol and insoluble fiber can mean trouble. These categories of foods act either as irritants or as stimulants for the gastrointestinal tract, which is why they could induce a spasm in the tract. It is not necessary to go for a fat-free diet. It would be enough to avoid high fat dairy products -- cream, cheese and butter.

Fried foods and chocolates are best had in limited amounts. If you crave the taste of chocolates it is acceptable to use cocoa powder but the solid chocolates are best avoided. The red meats should be avoided but while meat is acceptable. Seafood is also on the list of acceptable foods.

Tea, coffee, sodas and alcohol should be taken in very moderate amounts. If you must have a cup, make sure that you do not do so on an empty stomach. Insoluble fiber is the category of fiber that spells trouble for the IBS afflicted. There tends to be a great deal of confusion regarding the two kinds of fiber available from foods.

Insoluble fiber is the one available from bran and raw foods and veggies (there are some exceptions). What could be more confusing is the fact that most insoluble fiber foods are actually healthy foods and ought to be included in the diet.

The way around it would be to peel, core, chop, and cook or puree such foods. Nuts and seeds could be made into a paste and added to breads or cereals. Such modifications would mollify the effect of the insoluble fiber. In effect, this means one would get to eat less of raw veggies and fruits. Also, one must make sure not to consume these at the beginning of a meal but towards the end.

Of course, it must not be construed that these foods will cause IBS to anyone who consumes them. Rather, those who suffer from IBS tend to have it due to their consumption of some of these foods.

Next week: Foods that can help alleviate IBS symptoms

Women who binge drink indulge more in unsafe sexual practices

2008-09-12T07:52:00.001-07:00

Women who binge drink indulge more in unsafe sexual practices

Women, who binge drink are more likely to indulge in unsafe sexual practices, and so are at an increased risk of having sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), according to a new study.

The researchers found that women, who drink more than five alcoholic beverages at one time, are likely to unsafe sexual practices – such as multiple partners and anal sex.

"Binge drinking results in a decreased ability to make clear decisions and can enable individuals to engage in behaviours that they would not if sober," said Geetanjali Chander, assistant professor of medicine in the division of general internal medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

"Initially, some individuals may drink with the expectation of decreasing inhibitions, or some may drink because they are anxious, or depressed, and they expect alcohol to alleviate their symptoms."

"Regardless of why they choose to drink, many people do not perceive the potential risk or harm that may result from binge drinking," she added.

During the study, between July 2000 and August 2001, researchers approached 795 STD-clinic patients being evaluated or treated for STDs.

Of those approached, 671, 322 males, 349 females agreed to answer questions about their recent alcohol/drug use and risky sexual behaviours using audio computer-assisted-self interview technology.

"We found that binge drinking among women STD-clinic patients is associated with certain risky sexual behaviours," said Heidi E. Hutton, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine as well as corresponding author for the study.

"Across gender, women binge drinkers are more likely to have anal sex than men binge drinkers. Within gender, women binge drinkers are three times as likely to have anal sex, and twice as likely to have multiple sex partners compared to women who do not drink alcohol.

"Compared to non-drinking women, women binge drinkers are also five times as likely to have gonorrhea," she added.

Hutton said that both binge drinking and risky sexual behaviours are more hazardous to women than men.

"Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease which reflects unsafe sexual practices," Chander said.

"This association between binge drinking and high-risk sexual behaviours is especially important as risky behaviours are associated with HIV acquisition and transmission," she added.

The study is published in the November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.

Source: ANI

Key to successful flirting

2008-09-12T07:50:00.001-07:00

Key to successful flirting

You may have tried several ways of flirting. But, if a new study is to be believed, the secret to a successful fling is simple — if you fancy someone, just tell that person.

Previous studies emphasised the importance of natural beauty and physical features, including facial symmetry and voice pitch. Now, a team at Aberdeen University has revealed that the science of attraction lies in 'social cues'.

According to researchers, if one expresses one's feelings to someone through eye contact, smiling or simply by telling, "I really like you", then that person is more likely to return the sentiment.

"Our latest research highlights how social cues, which signal the extent to which others are attracted to you, also play a crucial role in attraction," lead researcher Ben Jones was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as saying.

In fact, in their study, the researchers came to the conclusion after carrying out an experiment on a group of 230 men and women — all the subjects were shown four flash cards, each depicting a face with a different expression.

These included a person making eye contact and not smiling, someone not making eye contact but smiling, not making eye contact and not smiling, and making eye contact and also smiling.

"What we found was that the preference for the attractive face was much stronger when people were judging those faces that were looking at them and smiling," Jones explained.

The study, published in the latest edition of the Psychological Science journal, concluded that attractiveness was actually how someone in the group combined natural beauty and the 'social cues'.

Men and women’s brains are wired differently

2008-09-12T07:49:00.001-07:00

Men and women's brains are wired differently

They say men are from Mars and women from Venus. Now, a group of researchers has backed this adage by providing scientific proof that the brains of the two sexes are distinct.

According to the research team, the variations in the density of the synapses that connect neurons may help to explain differences in how men and women think.

Even though the intelligence levels are equal, women and men excel at different cognitive tasks.

But although brain size and neuron density differ between the sexes, these don''t seem to correlate with cognitive differences. Therefore, Javier DeFelipe at Complutense University in Madrid, Spain, and colleagues counted the number of synapses instead, reports New Scientist.

The brain tissue they analysed came from the left temporal cortex, a region of the brain involved in emotional and social processing, of four women and four men with epilepsy. The tissue itself was healthy, having been removed to allow doctors to access underlying damaged areas.

The men had up to 52 percent more synapses per brain "layer" in this region than the women.

While the effect of high synaptic density in the region is unknown, the team suspects that there may be other regions where women out-synapse men.

In any case, says DeFelipe, although different synaptic densities indicates different circuitry between men and women, men shouldn't get too cocky: the density of synapses in mice is greater than in humans.

The study has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Source: ANI

Older women rock!

2008-09-12T07:48:00.003-07:00

Older women rock!

What is so common between Parmeet Sethi and Sachin Tendulkar? First they are both celebrities and second the fact that they married a woman much older to them.

But jokes apart, men's infatuation with older woman starts as soon as they know what women are all about.

Changing trends:

Dr Deepak Raheja, director of the Hope Foundation states, "Women are experienced and know how to handle a man's ego, which is the thing which makes them fragile. In short, they know the recipe of love.

"Another important quality which women have is that they understand the pros and cons of a relationship. An older woman thinks wisely and understands that compromises and understanding is the key to a healthy relationship."

Dr Vikram Sharma, Senior Consultant neurologist, Geetanjali Hospital, Delhi corroborates, "The issue is more prevalant now as there is a tremendous change in the lifestyle.

"Older woman now have changed and want to let their hair down to have fun. They are ready to experiment with new things."

He further states that it's common for younger men, who have had a relationship with a woman of the same age in the past, to be with an older woman as they find them to be more experienced.

Security comes first:

Then obviously the second most important thing that men look out for in a relationship is security. Adds Dr Vikram, "While dating a younger woman, a man always has the fear that the girl might develop feelings for another guy. But so is not the case with an older woman as the man knows that he will not be ditched for someone else."

24-year-old Tarun, who has been seeing a 29-year-old woman for the last one year, says, "men are initially drawn to older woman for their own selfish reasons. She is independent, has a good career, intellectual and very attractive and she's the best one could ever have."

Passion Plays:

Older woman bring in a refreshing change in a relationship because they know what they want. Younger women on the other hand don't know the tricks that help in igniting a man's passion.

Saurav, an engineer by profession, asserts, "Can anyone ever even think for a moment that a 27-year-old man makes a play for a 42-year-old woman.

"Older woman are likely to bring with them a wealth of experience, and tricks between the sheets that a young woman can only dream to aspire."

38-year-old Smita agrees with him. She says, "Older women give the impression that they're better in bed because they are more comfortable with themselves.

"All those hang-ups about having a slight tummy or stretch marks tend to become less important with age."

So guys, an age gap in a romantic relationship doesn't really harm.

Sex is surprisingly not the top priority for men!

2008-09-12T07:48:00.001-07:00

Sex is surprisingly not the top priority for men!

Men want good health, harmony and a bit of social respect rather than sex, according to a new survey.

It is widely believed that a satisfying sexual life is what men always want.

However, the stereotype is contradicted by a new research that gathered responses from almost 28,000 randomly selected men, aged 20 to 75, from the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Mexico and Brazil about their attitudes to life and sex.

The survey showed that men overwhelmingly rated attributes such as being seen as a man of honour and having the respect of your friends ahead of having success with women when assessing masculinity.

When it came to quality of life, one-third of respondents said being in good health was the most important factor, followed by a harmonious family life and being in a good relationship with their partner or wife.

During the study, just two per cent said that a satisfying sex life was their top priority.

"Taken together, this body of research underscores the centrality to men of nonsexual aspects of the male identity (and) emphasises the importance of the couple relationship,'' the Sun quoted German researcher Michael Sand, as saying.

The study is published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Source: ANI

10 things you should never buy used

2008-08-26T23:53:00.001-07:00

10 things you should never buy used

Sometimes the financial or safety risk outweighs the savings. Do you really want to sleep on someone else's mattress -- or take a chance with your child

By Liz Pulliam Weston

Saving money by surfing the Internet for bargains is delightful, but you can take it too far.

In my companion piece, "10 things you shouldn't buy new," I listed lingerie as one of the items for which you'd best pay retail. There are plenty of other examples where the cost savings don't justify the risks of buying used:

Laptops. You're taking a chance when you buy any used computer, but the math really doesn't work when you're talking about a unit that's as prone to abuse and problems as a laptop. They're more likely to be dropped, banged around and spilled on, simply because they're out in the world while a desktop computer sits (mostly) safe at home.

That's why laptops are one of the few products where springing for an extended warranty with free tech support makes sense, in addition to the standard warranty that typically comes when you buy new. Buy used, and you'll have neither option -- along with no idea what maltreatment your laptop has suffered or when the hard drive, optical drive or other important parts will die on you.

Exception: You're buying a refurbished unit that comes with a warranty. Mobile technology consultant Catherine Roseberry, who writes a column for About.com, said she's purchased two laptops from companies that refurbished leased corporate computers, and had no problems with either. Both came with 90-day warranties. If you want even more security, buy a laptop that's been refurbished and certified by the manufacturer.

Car seats. A car seat that's been in one accident may not protect your child in another. And damaged car seats aren't uncommon; a survey commissioned by Sainsbury's Bank in England discovered one in 10 car seats currently in use in that country had been involved in an accident. (The bank is calling for a ban on the sale of secondhand seats.)

Brand-new car seats can often be purchased for as little as $50, and safety technology tends to improve with each year, said Denise and Alan Fields, parents and authors of "Baby Bargains." That makes getting a new one pretty much a no-brainer.

Exception: You're getting the car seat from a friend or relative whom you'd trust with your child's life, because that's what you're doing. Still, check with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make sure the model you're getting hasn't been recalled.

Regardless of whether you buy new or used, have an expert check your work to make sure the seat is installed correctly. The NHTSA has a list of free inspection sites at its Web site.

Plasma TVs. Here's another of those rare cases where you want not only the warranty that comes with the television, but an extended warranty. You'll want the coverage because if your screen dies, it can cost thousands to fix or replace -- sometimes almost as much as it would cost to buy a new TV.

While defect rates have declined from 7% in plasma TV's early years to about 1% with some of the better models, problems with this technology are still common enough -- and repairs expensive enough -- that an extended warranty makes sense, said Phil Connor of PlasmaTVBuyingGuide.com.

Exception: If you're getting such a screaming deal that you don't really care if the TV blinks out shortly after you get it home.

DVD players. In the previous article, I recommended buying used DVDs, since their quality tends to remain high (unless they have scratches, which are usually pretty easy to spot).

The same is not true of DVD players, however. These have lasers that will eventually wear out and cost more to replace than the unit is worth.

Whenever repairs cost that much, buying new is often advisable. Add to that the fact that prices are constantly dropping while the technology is constantly improving, and buying new becomes a slam dunk.

Vacuum cleaners. Here's another item that's particularly prone to abuse and that may cost you more to fix than if you'd simply bought new. Consumer Reports says a good, basic upright can be purchased new for less than $100, and that the fancy features that push prices higher often aren't worth the extra cost. Just make sure to buy one that you're comfortable pushing and that has a decent filtration system to prevent dust from kicking back out into the air.

Exception: You're handy and don't mind teaching yourself vacuum repair.

Camcorders. Someday they'll build a camcorder out of rubber, so that it'll bounce when you drop it, which is almost inevitable. The damage from a fall may not be obvious when you buy used, but it may soon require a costly repair. Camcorder motors can also wear out and may cost you a couple hundred dollars to replace.

If you want to save money on a camcorder, consider buying last year's model.

Exception: You're buying a refurbished model that comes with a warranty. RefurbDepot.com, for example, posts many models that still carry a factory warranty.

Shoes. Poor-fitting shoes can cause everything from bunions to back problems, so don't buy footwear that's already been molded by someone else's tootsies. This is particularly important for kids whose feet are still growing. Shop sales, buy last year's models, but don't give in to the temptation to save a buck now that's going to cost you more in pain and hassles later.

Exception: You're buying old cowboy boots to turn into lamps.

More from MSN Money

Mattresses. Think of all the stuff you do on your mattress. Now think of sleeping in someone else's stuff. Ewwwww.

Unfortunately, you may already be spending the night with other people's mold, mites, bacteria and bodily fluids. Dishonest retailers sometimes ignore federal requirements that used mattresses be labeled as such, often covering a secondhand cot with new ticking to disguise it. If you want an all-new mattress, the Federal Trade Commission recommends looking for a tag that promises "all-new materials" and requiring that the retailer write the word "new" on the receipt. (That can make it easier to prove your case should you find you've been sold a used mattress on the sly.)

There's also the fact that mattresses aren't meant to last forever. Even the good ones typically have a life span of just eight to 10 years, and it's hard to know for sure how old a used mattress may already be.

Exception: When "used" is really almost "unused," such as a mattress from someone's rarely visited guest room. Still, you'd really have to trust the buyer to know, and disclose, everything that's happened on that bed, which is why you're still probably better off buying new. You shouldn't ever pay the list price, because haggling is expected. Consumer Reports suggests you need to spend about $800 to get a good-quality queen-size mattress and box spring set. That works out to about 25 cents a night -- a small price to pay for cleanliness and comfort.

Wet suits. These spongy coverings tend to lose their ability to keep you warm over time. If you're a scuba diver, the constant change in water pressure will eventually take its toll.

"As a suit is used, the neoprene compresses and become thinner, losing its thermal properties and buoyancy," said master dive instructor Gerrard Dennis of Simply Scuba, an online scuba store based in the United Kingdom, where the need for warmth is crucial. "Also, ozone attacks neoprene suits so they become less stretchy and more likely to tear with age."

If diving, snorkeling or other water sports are your passion, a good wet suit will set you back $100 to $400.

Exception: You're surfing, rather than diving, exclusively in warm waters. If you're trying to outfit a growing child and don't want to pop for a new suit, consider renting from a reputable shop that sanitizes the suits between uses.

Helmets. Like a car seat, a helmet is meant to protect against one accident and no more. A crash typically crushes the foam inside the helmet casing, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, so the damage may not be visible.

Since you usually can't tell if a helmet's ticket has already been punched, you're smarter to buy new. Kid's sports and bike helmets retail for about $20; you'll pay $30 to $40 for the adult size. Motorcycle helmets usually start around $100 and climb steeply from there; you can contain the cost by resisting the fancy paint jobs.

Exception: None. Helmets aren't that expensive compared to a funeral or a lifetime as a quadriplegic. Spend the money.

The 86 Rules of Boozing

2008-08-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

1. If you owe someone money, always pay them back in a bar. Preferably during happy hour.

2. Always toast before doing a shot.

3. Whoever buys the shot gets the first chance to offer a toast.

4. Change your toast at least once a month.

5. Buying someone a drink is five times better than a handshake.

6. Buying a strange woman a drink is still cool. Buying all her drinks is dumb.

7. Never borrow more than one cigarette from the same person in one night.

8. When the bartender is slammed, resist the powerful urge to order a slightly-dirty, very-dry, in-and-out, super-chilled half-and-half martini with a lemon twist. Limit orders to beer, straight shots and two-part cocktails.

9. Get the bartender's attention with eye contact and a smile.

10. Do not make eye contact with the bartender if you do not want a drink.

11. Unacceptable things to say after doing a shot: Great, now I'm going to get drunk. I hate shots. It's coming back up.

12. Never, ever tell a bartender he made your drink too strong.

13. If he makes it too weak, order a double next time. He'll get the message.

14. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.

15. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you.

16. If she buys you a drink, she likes you.

17. If someone offers to buy you a drink, do not upgrade your liquor preference.

18. Always have a corkscrew in your house.

19. If you don't have a corkscrew, push the cork down into the bottle with a pen.

20. Drink one girly drink in public and you will forever be known as the guy who drinks girly drinks.

21. Our parents were better drinkers than we are.

22. Never talk to someone in the restroom unless you're doing the same thing—urinating, waiting in line or washing your hands.

23. Girls hang out, apply make-up, and have long talks in the bathroom. Men do not.

24. After your sixth drink, do not look at yourself in the mirror. It will shake your confidence.

25. It is only permissible to shout 'woo-hoo!' if you are doing a shot with four or more people.

26. If there is a d.j., you can request a song only once per night. If he doesn't play it within half an hour, do not approach him again. If he does play it, do not approach him again.

27. Learn how to make a rose out of a bar napkin. You'll be surprised how well it works.

28. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to drink in a bar. Go to the liquor store.

29. If you owe someone twenty dollars or less, you may pay them back in beer.

30. Never complain about the quality or brand of a free drink.

31. If you have been roommates with someone more than six months, you may drink all their beer, even if it's hidden, as long as you leave them one.

32. You can have a shot of their hard liquor only if the cap has been cracked and the bottle goes for less than $25.

33. The only thing that tastes better than free liquor is stolen liquor.

34. If you bring Old Milwaukee to a party, you must drink at least two cans before you start drinking the imported beer in the fridge.

35. Learn to appreciate hangovers. If it was all good times every jackass would be doing it.

36. If you ever feel depressed, get out a bartender's guide and browse through all the drinks you've never tried.

37. Try one new drink each week.

38. If you are the bar's sole customer, you are obliged to make small talk with the bartender until he stops acknowledging you. Then you're off the hook. The same goes for him.

39. Never tip with coins that have touched you. If your change is $1.50, you can tell the barmaid to keep the change, but once she has handed it to you, you cannot give it back. To a bartender or cocktail waitress, small change has no value.

40. If you have ever told a bartender, "Hey, it all spends the same," then you are a cheap ass.

41. Anyone on stage or behind a bar is fifty percent better looking.

42. You can tell how hard a drinker someone is by how close they keep their drink to their mouth.

43. A bar is a college, not a nursery. If you spill a beer, clean it up. If you break a glass, wait for a staff member to clean it up, then blame it on someone else.

44. Being drunk is feeling sophisticated without being able to say it.

45. It's okay to drink alone.

46. After three drinks, you will forget a woman's name two seconds after she tells you. The rest of the night you will call her "baby" or "darling".

47. Nothing screams 'nancy boy' louder than swirling an oversized brandy snifter.

48. Men don't drink from straws. Unless you're doing a Mind or Face Eraser.

49. If you do a shot, finish it. If you don't plan to finish it, don't accept it.

50. Never brood in a dance bar. Never dance in a dive bar.

51. Never play more than three songs by the same artist in a row.

52. Your songs will come on as you're leaving the bar.

53. Never yell out jukebox selections to someone you don't know.

54. Never lie in a bar. You may, however, grossly exaggerate and lean.

55. If you think you might be slurring a little, then you are slurring a lot. If you think you are slurring a lot, then you are not speaking English.

56. Screaming, "Someone buy me a drink!" has never worked.

57. For every drink, there is a five percent better chance you will get in a fight. There is also a three percent better chance you will lose the fight.

58. Fighting an extremely drunk person when you are sober is hilarious.

59. If you are broke and a friend is "sporting you", you must laugh at all his jokes and play wingman when he makes his move.

60. If you are broke and a friend is "making sport of you", you may steal any drink he leaves unattended.

61. Never rest your head on a table or bar top. It is the equivalent of voluntarily putting your head on a chopping block.

62. If you are trading rounds with a friend and he asks if you're ready for another, always say yes. Once you fall out of sync you will end up buying more drinks than him.

63. If you're going to hit on a member of the bar staff, make sure you tip well before and after, regardless of her response.

64. The people with the most money are rarely the best tippers.

65. Before you die, single-handedly make one decent martini.

66. Asking a bartender what beers are on tap when the handles are right in front of you is the equivalent of saying, "I'm an idiot."

67. Never ask a bartender "what's good tonight?" They do not fly in the scotch fresh from the coast every morning.

68. If there is a line for drinks, get your goddamn drink and step the hell away from the bar.

69. If there is ever any confusion, the fuller beer is yours.

70. The patrons at your local bar are your extended family, your fathers and mothers, your brothers and sisters. Except you get to sleep with these sisters. And if you're really drunk, the mothers.

71. It's acceptable, traditional in fact, to disappear during a night of hard drinking. You will appear mysterious and your friends will understand. If they even notice.

72. Never argue your tab at the end of the night. Remember, you're hammered and they're sober. It's akin to a precocious five-year-old arguing the super-string theory with a physicist. 99.9% of the time you're wrong and either way you're going to come off as a jackass.

73. If you bring booze to a party, you must drink it or leave it.

74. If you hesitate more than three seconds after the bartender looks at you, you do not deserve a drink.

75. Beer makes you mellow, champagne makes you silly, wine makes you dramatic, tequila makes you felonious.

76. The greatest thing a drunkard can do is buy a round of drinks for a packed bar.

77. Never preface a conversation with a bartender with "I know this is going to be a hassle, but . . ."

78. When you're in a bar and drunk, your boss is just another guy begging for a fat lip. Unless he's buying.

79. If you are 86'd, do not return for at least three months. To come back sooner makes it appear no other bar wants you.

80. Anyone with three or more drinks in his hands has the right of way.

81. If you're going to drink on the job, drink vodka. It's the no-tell liquor.

82. There's nothing wrong with drinking before noon. Especially if you're supposed to be at work.

83. The bar clock moves twice as fast from midnight to last call.

84. A flask engraved with a personal message is one of the best gifts you can ever give. And make sure there's something in it.

85. On the intimacy scale, sharing a quiet drink is between a handshake and a kiss.

86. You will forget every one of these rules by your fifth drink

--

Mike Ditka - "If God had wanted man to play soccer, he wouldn't have given us arms."

BAR Signs

2008-08-22T14:55:00.000-07:00



Let us drink off the same tab like brothers. Because I think I can drink more than you.	Insert a drink here. And I'll stop staring at you.


Shut your lip and order us a nip. You're much prettier when I have a drink in my hand.	I'm going to scam drinks like a bandito. Tab? I don't need no stinkin' tab.


Step up to bat. It's your round.	I'm marking your round score. You're getting shut out, tightwad.


Too much talk, not enough drinking. Dude, you're bringing down the whole party.	One on the cuff, old chum? Just one. Promise.


I'm nursing a hangover. If you talk too loud it will bite me.	Take the shot, champ! Order me one too.


I think you owe me a drink. You remember, couple weeks ago when you were blacked out.	Let's get this guy to buy us a drink. Do you remember his name?


Thanks for buying me a drink. I will now retract my claws of death.	I've been waiting for a drink so long I'm growing a beard. I will use it to strangle the bartender.


You call the shot. I will follow you to tequila hell, my captain.	Let's do a round. What name is your tab under?


You will look more attractive if you buy us shots. It's like instant plastic surgery.	I will buy the next round. After you buy this one. Beer Scouts' honor.


We've got a wide open drink tab. So long as you agree to sleep with the barmaid.	Let us spring up out of our sober shells. We will soar like drunken eagles.


I'm putting on the beer goggles and going in. For God's sake, stop me.	I need some personal space. You stay here, I'm going to a different bar.


Alcohol has twisted my tongue. Nothing I say is true. But I really like you.	I may get arrested tonight. Would you like to be an accomplice or a victim?


No drinkie for you. Your fun meter has run out.	I would like to take that last shot out of my stomach. And I might.


If I do one more shot I will vomit. So make it a good one.	I'm going to make room for another round. Bring me a bucket.


I have erased my brain. I am no longer responsible. For anything.	If I walk now, I'll fall down. So I'm going to sit here and drink.


I intend to get four sheets to the wind. And I need your help.	I am four sheets to the wind. I will now sail away to Blackout Island.


The USS Drunkard is sinking and I'm going down with the ship. Please don't step on me.	I need parental guidance. Will you be my mommie?


I'm collecting for the tab. Never mind how much, just give me your wallet.	Time to make like Bugs Bunny. Let's go bar hopping.

The 86 Rules of Boozing

2008-08-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

1. If you owe someone money, always pay them back in a bar. Preferably during happy hour.

2. Always toast before doing a shot.

3. Whoever buys the shot gets the first chance to offer a toast.

4. Change your toast at least once a month.

5. Buying someone a drink is five times better than a handshake.

6. Buying a strange woman a drink is still cool. Buying all her drinks is dumb.

7. Never borrow more than one cigarette from the same person in one night.

8. When the bartender is slammed, resist the powerful urge to order a slightly-dirty, very-dry, in-and-out, super-chilled half-and-half martini with a lemon twist. Limit orders to beer, straight shots and two-part cocktails.

9. Get the bartender's attention with eye contact and a smile.

10. Do not make eye contact with the bartender if you do not want a drink.

11. Unacceptable things to say after doing a shot: Great, now I'm going to get drunk. I hate shots. It's coming back up.

12. Never, ever tell a bartender he made your drink too strong.

13. If he makes it too weak, order a double next time. He'll get the message.

14. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she refuses, she does not like you.

15. If you offer to buy a woman a drink and she accepts, she still might not like you.

16. If she buys you a drink, she likes you.

17. If someone offers to buy you a drink, do not upgrade your liquor preference.

18. Always have a corkscrew in your house.

19. If you don't have a corkscrew, push the cork down into the bottle with a pen.

20. Drink one girly drink in public and you will forever be known as the guy who drinks girly drinks.

21. Our parents were better drinkers than we are.

22. Never talk to someone in the restroom unless you're doing the same thing—urinating, waiting in line or washing your hands.

23. Girls hang out, apply make-up, and have long talks in the bathroom. Men do not.

24. After your sixth drink, do not look at yourself in the mirror. It will shake your confidence.

25. It is only permissible to shout 'woo-hoo!' if you are doing a shot with four or more people.

26. If there is a d.j., you can request a song only once per night. If he doesn't play it within half an hour, do not approach him again. If he does play it, do not approach him again.

27. Learn how to make a rose out of a bar napkin. You'll be surprised how well it works.

28. If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to drink in a bar. Go to the liquor store.

29. If you owe someone twenty dollars or less, you may pay them back in beer.

30. Never complain about the quality or brand of a free drink.

31. If you have been roommates with someone more than six months, you may drink all their beer, even if it's hidden, as long as you leave them one.

32. You can have a shot of their hard liquor only if the cap has been cracked and the bottle goes for less than $25.

33. The only thing that tastes better than free liquor is stolen liquor.

34. If you bring Old Milwaukee to a party, you must drink at least two cans before you start drinking the imported beer in the fridge.

35. Learn to appreciate hangovers. If it was all good times every jackass would be doing it.

36. If you ever feel depressed, get out a bartender's guide and browse through all the drinks you've never tried.

37. Try one new drink each week.

38. If you are the bar's sole customer, you are obliged to make small talk with the bartender until he stops acknowledging you. Then you're off the hook. The same goes for him.

39. Never tip with coins that have touched you. If your change is $1.50, you can tell the barmaid to keep the change, but once she has handed it to you, you cannot give it back. To a bartender or cocktail waitress, small change has no value.

40. If you have ever told a bartender, "Hey, it all spends the same," then you are a cheap ass.

41. Anyone on stage or behind a bar is fifty percent better looking.

42. You can tell how hard a drinker someone is by how close they keep their drink to their mouth.

43. A bar is a college, not a nursery. If you spill a beer, clean it up. If you break a glass, wait for a staff member to clean it up, then blame it on someone else.

44. Being drunk is feeling sophisticated without being able to say it.

45. It's okay to drink alone.

46. After three drinks, you will forget a woman's name two seconds after she tells you. The rest of the night you will call her "baby" or "darling".

47. Nothing screams 'nancy boy' louder than swirling an oversized brandy snifter.

48. Men don't drink from straws. Unless you're doing a Mind or Face Eraser.

49. If you do a shot, finish it. If you don't plan to finish it, don't accept it.

50. Never brood in a dance bar. Never dance in a dive bar.

51. Never play more than three songs by the same artist in a row.

52. Your songs will come on as you're leaving the bar.

53. Never yell out jukebox selections to someone you don't know.

54. Never lie in a bar. You may, however, grossly exaggerate and lean.

55. If you think you might be slurring a little, then you are slurring a lot. If you think you are slurring a lot, then you are not speaking English.

56. Screaming, "Someone buy me a drink!" has never worked.

57. For every drink, there is a five percent better chance you will get in a fight. There is also a three percent better chance you will lose the fight.

58. Fighting an extremely drunk person when you are sober is hilarious.

59. If you are broke and a friend is "sporting you", you must laugh at all his jokes and play wingman when he makes his move.

60. If you are broke and a friend is "making sport of you", you may steal any drink he leaves unattended.

61. Never rest your head on a table or bar top. It is the equivalent of voluntarily putting your head on a chopping block.

62. If you are trading rounds with a friend and he asks if you're ready for another, always say yes. Once you fall out of sync you will end up buying more drinks than him.

63. If you're going to hit on a member of the bar staff, make sure you tip well before and after, regardless of her response.

64. The people with the most money are rarely the best tippers.

65. Before you die, single-handedly make one decent martini.

66. Asking a bartender what beers are on tap when the handles are right in front of you is the equivalent of saying, "I'm an idiot."

67. Never ask a bartender "what's good tonight?" They do not fly in the scotch fresh from the coast every morning.

68. If there is a line for drinks, get your goddamn drink and step the hell away from the bar.

69. If there is ever any confusion, the fuller beer is yours.

70. The patrons at your local bar are your extended family, your fathers and mothers, your brothers and sisters. Except you get to sleep with these sisters. And if you're really drunk, the mothers.

71. It's acceptable, traditional in fact, to disappear during a night of hard drinking. You will appear mysterious and your friends will understand. If they even notice.

72. Never argue your tab at the end of the night. Remember, you're hammered and they're sober. It's akin to a precocious five-year-old arguing the super-string theory with a physicist. 99.9% of the time you're wrong and either way you're going to come off as a jackass.

73. If you bring booze to a party, you must drink it or leave it.

74. If you hesitate more than three seconds after the bartender looks at you, you do not deserve a drink.

75. Beer makes you mellow, champagne makes you silly, wine makes you dramatic, tequila makes you felonious.

76. The greatest thing a drunkard can do is buy a round of drinks for a packed bar.

77. Never preface a conversation with a bartender with "I know this is going to be a hassle, but . . ."

78. When you're in a bar and drunk, your boss is just another guy begging for a fat lip. Unless he's buying.

79. If you are 86'd, do not return for at least three months. To come back sooner makes it appear no other bar wants you.

80. Anyone with three or more drinks in his hands has the right of way.

81. If you're going to drink on the job, drink vodka. It's the no-tell liquor.

82. There's nothing wrong with drinking before noon. Especially if you're supposed to be at work.

83. The bar clock moves twice as fast from midnight to last call.

84. A flask engraved with a personal message is one of the best gifts you can ever give. And make sure there's something in it.

85. On the intimacy scale, sharing a quiet drink is between a handshake and a kiss.

86. You will forget every one of these rules by your fifth drink

Food for fuel: Olympian Phelps' unusual diet

2008-08-15T19:50:00.001-07:00

Food for fuel: Olympian Phelps' unusual diet

Conversion process: A huge calorie intake provides Phelps with crucial energy

As US swimming sensation Michael Phelps sets his sights on more gold medal wins at the Beijing Olympics this weekend, the BBC's Michael Hirst examines the part an extraordinary diet has played in the sportsman's remarkable success.

If it is true that you are what you eat, then here is the suggested intake if you want to become history's most successful Olympian:

For breakfast: three fried egg sandwiches, with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, fried onions and mayonnaise, followed by three chocolate-chip pancakes; a five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast and a bowl of grits (a maize-based porridge), washed down with two cups of coffee.

MICHAEL PHELPS' DIET

Breakfast: Three fried egg sandwiches; cheese; tomatoes; lettuce; fried onions; mayonnaise; three chocolate-chip pancakes; five-egg omelette; three sugar-coated slices of French toast; bowl of grits; two cups of coffee

Lunch: Half-kilogramme (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise on white bread; energy drinks

Dinner: Half-kilogramme of pasta, with carbonara sauce; large pizza; energy drinks

For lunch: half a kilogramme (one pound) of enriched pasta; two large ham and cheese sandwiches on white bread smothered with mayonnaise, washed down by energy drinks.

For dinner: Another half-kilogramme of pasta, perhaps with a carbonara sauce, followed by a large pizza and more energy drinks.

That combination may not sound very healthy, and at a staggering 10,000 calories, would feed five average men for a day.

But the menu is reportedly all in a training day's eating for champion swimmer Michael Phelps, who won six gold medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics and is aiming for eight this time round.

"Eat, sleep and swim, that's all I can do," said the US swimmer, after winning his 11th Olympic gold.

Judging by the amount he eats and swims, that is not altogether surprising.

Fruit and veg

Even though the 23-year-old spends a solid five hours of each day burning off those calories, the diet still seems excessive. Is he following some sort of dietician guru's programme?

Barbara Lewin, a nutritionist who has advised international athletes on their dietary health for almost two decades, thinks not.

A light snack for a record-breaking Olympian swimmer?

"Health-wise, if he were eating like this long-term, he'd probably be having to see a cardiologist regularly," Mrs Lewin told the BBC.

She recommended cutting out the egg yolks, replacing the white bread with whole-wheat, throwing some fruit and vegetables into the mix, and spreading the food out over the day with regular snacking.

But while the quality of the calories consumed by the six-foot four-inch (1.93m) swimmer may not seem healthy, Ms Lewin suggested there are good reasons behind Mr Phelps' diet.

"I've worked with more than 1,000 endurance athletes - swimmers and runners - and one of the most common problems they have is glycogen depletion - the result of not getting enough carbohydrates," she said.

"Nine out of 10 times the reason an athlete doesn't reach their personal best is because they're not getting enough carbohydrates and that's what your muscles need for food."

Carb counting

Phelps won his sixth gold medal in Beijing in the 200m medley on Friday, and will be aiming to equal fellow American Mark Spitz's record of winning seven gold medals in a single Olympic games when he takes to the pool for Saturday's 100m fly.

He burns more calories sitting at a desk than a lot of people burn walking

Jeff Kotterman
Director of the US National Association of Sports Nutrition

He will break Spitz's 36-year record if his team qualify, and go on to win, Sunday's 4x100m relay.

The very process of challenging that record entails a hectic schedule of heats, semi-finals and finals.

Between winning his 10th gold medal in the 200m butterfly - which made him history's most successful Olympian - and his 11th in the men's 4x200m relay, Phelps had just an hour between races.

With that kind of turn-around, topping up his carbohydrate count is key, Ms Lewin suggested. The copious amount of refined carbohydrates consumed in the bread and pasta he eats will digest quickly and give the swimmer instant energy.

Phelps, who weighs around 85kg (187lbs), understands this. Asked what was needed to continue his gold-medal winning streak, he said simply: "Get some calories into my system and try to recover the best I can."

Keeping his carbohydrates topped up between races, said Ms Lewin, is important for avoiding what athletes call "hitting the wall" - that stage in an endurance competition when the body has used up all its carbohydrate fuel (sometimes known as muscle glycogen) and instead starts the much less efficient process of burning fat for energy.

Fat pile-on

The Phelps diet is not recommended for everyone. Due to his muscle-intensive physique, the swimmer's metabolism - the process of converting food into energy - far exceeds that of a more average man, said Jeff Kotterman, director of the US National Association of Sports Nutrition.

"It's a combination of peak performance coupled with the fact that he has an enormous metabolism - he burns more calories sitting at a desk than a lot of people burn walking," Mr Kotterman told the BBC.

He suggested Phelps, with an estimated 8% body fat, probably burns 1,000 calories per hour during his swimming training, compared to the equivalent exercise for an average person - vigorous walking - that would burn between 170 and 240 calories.

Consequently, trying to emulate the Phelps diet by consuming up to 12,000 calories a day in order to attain his physique would more than likely come to a wobbly end.

One pound of fat has roughly 3,500 calories, so an ordinary man could put on almost three pounds of fat a day.

But then again, Michael Phelps - who has now won the 400m medley, 200m freestyle, 200m butterfly, 4x100m free relay, 4x200m free relay and the 200m medley in world record times - is clearly no ordinary man.

11 Tips to Preventing Petty Arguments

2008-08-10T19:13:00.001-07:00

11 Tips to Preventing Petty Arguments

Save the fighting for the big stuff

As a celebrity divorce attorney and author, I know all couples argue, which can be a healthy component in any relationship. But when disagreements become knock-down drag-outs, or are petty and constant, they will begin to cut down on the lifespan of a relationship.

Many disagreements are petty, and though some may signal a larger problem (e.g. fighting over what time dinner is served -- which at a deeper level, may mean a couple is mired deep in major control issues), there are those disagreements that can be prevented altogether or "sidestepped."

I offer these tips that could help you stave off friction that you and your mate could do without:

1. Don't taunt your mate.

Avoid the temptation to do or say those things that you know irritate your mate.

Avoid the temptation to do or say those things that you know irritate your mate. This includes constant teasing, ridicule, and gestures that send your mate into a tizzy or rage. Also, avoid the body-language "comments" ranging from rolling your eyes to smirking sarcastically.

2. Change the subject. If it appears you're going down that familiar trail of bickering, ambush the conversation by jumping in with a comment on a more pleasant topic.

3. Keep to your agreements. If you say you will be on time or pick up your dirty socks, then do it. Flaking on a small agreement can escalate into something bigger. Making agreements and not keeping them -- minor or major -- can set the stage for constant arguing, and no couple needs that.

4. Hold your tongue. Though you may want to blurt out a criticism or a snide remark, restrain yourself. When you decide to keep some remarks to yourself, you may avoid petty arguments altogether. Remember that old adage: "If you can't say anything nice..."

5. Don't engage. Another famous saying: "It takes two to tango." If you refuse to play the bickering game when your mate starts in, he/she will have to look elsewhere to direct his/her jabs.

6. Forget about being right. It is oh-so tempting to want to climb all over your mate when he/she does not live up to his/her minor promises (like not getting your car washed yesterday when he/she promised). Yes, you're right: He/she is wrong, but is it worth getting into a huff about? Granted, it's irritating to count on someone for something and not have them come through, but save the "I'm right and you're wrong" for the big stuff, like when your mate says he/she will make a commitment to stop swearing in front of your parents and continues to do so.

7. Forget the "tit for tat." It's a natural response to want to get even with those who hurt your feelings or make you mad, but what does that do for your relationship? When the sun sets, wouldn't you rather snuggle up and watch it together than sulk in different rooms? There is never any point in leveling the playing field.

8. If it's not a deal-breaker, let it go. Sometimes all of us get mired in the petty things, when it is far better to roll with them. As you begin to partake in a petty argument, ask yourself whether what you're fighting over is something that could cause the demise of your relationship. If the answer is "no," then go with the flow.

9. Find another outlet for venting. Many petty arguments are a result of one person unloading on another because he/she has had a bad day. Take up boxing, swing that racket extra hard on the tennis court, get on the treadmill, run like Forrest Gump, but do not take out your bad day on your mate by picking a fight over nothing. Direct your frustration elsewhere.

10. Be prepared. If your mate gets lost every time he/she gets behind the wheel, find your destination in Yahoo! Local ahead of time. When your mate starts to complain that he/she cannot find the way, don't nag. Slide the directions over to your mate or read them off nicely.

11. Ply your sense of humor.

Nothing diffuses a petty argument faster than humor.

Nothing diffuses a petty argument faster than humor. Make light of the pettiness; you will find the absurdity of what you're fighting over amusing. Humor is essential in any relationship. But, don't use humor -- or what you perceive as humorous -- to de-value what your mate is feeling.

Arguing over petty matters can set the stage for chronic fighting, which is exhausting. That is not to suggest that you should roll over and go with the flow all of the time. Should you give up your "self" in the process of trying to appease your mate, you can easily create even greater damage to the relationship because resentments build up over time. If the petty arguments are chronic, talk them through, or get help from a professional who can help the two of you negotiate your differences. Too much arguing or too much resentment can lead to a breakup because most people will not stay in a relationship where there is constant discord. It is best to learn to delineate the trivial differences from the big ones so that you do not set the stage for letting your differences -- large or small -- split you apart

What's Behind the Trend of Women Dating Younger Men?

2008-08-10T19:10:00.001-07:00

There appears to be a trend of older women dating younger men, notably illustrated by celebrity couples including Demi Moore and Aston Kutcher, Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry, and the most recent fling between 48-year-old Linda Hogan and 19-year-old Charlie Hill. According to a study of 50,000 women daters over 30, conducted by an online dating site in 2007, more than one-third of the subjects showed interest in men at least 5 years younger. And in 2003, an AARP survey revealed 34 percent of 3,500 women (between ages 40 and 69) dated men who are 10 or more years younger than themselves. This trend appears to be shocking to some people, but I don't find it so unusual.

Socially, there's a role reversal of sorts going on, women are more powerful now than ever before and may want men who are younger, and perhaps, more flexible; men who can handle it if the woman's career and lifestyle takes priority over their own. Media portrayals in "Sex and the City" (like movie characters Smith Jerrod and Samantha Jones) and "Desperate Housewives" are also showing women that dates don't have to be older. Women who have high-powered careers -- or a well-developed self-image -- are exercising more choice. Women who have been divorced and are established single moms may enjoy having a playmate, someone to have fun with; who doesn't try to control her.

Can these older woman/younger man relationships last?

In my counseling office, I have seen many relationships succeed with this kind of older woman/younger man scenario.

The media focuses on the age difference, but what really makes or breaks the relationship is how well the couple can form a partnership that works

The media focuses on the age difference, but what really makes or breaks the relationship is how well the couple can form a partnership that works.

Age difference is an adolescent worry: When you're a teenager, an age difference of even two or three years makes a vast difference in your experience and your outlook on life. Such a difference can interfere with communication, life goals, outlook, and relationship experience. In addition, for the young, the social reaction to such a relationship is often negative. If one partner is underage, a sexual relationship is even against the law.

But, as you get older, life experience and emotional growth help to equalize your relationship skills and resources. A 10-year or more difference in your ages makes little difference in how well you can conduct your relationship.

Don't focus on an arbitrary numbers difference in your ages. If you are getting along, you have good communication and problem solving, and you love each other, that's a precious thing, and far more important than any age difference could be. If other people have a problem with it, let it be their problem.

Whether or not a relationship is healthy is not determined by age differences, but by the interaction between the partners. A 10-year difference is not too difficult to bridge, but a 20-year differences or more in age can lead to some difficulties as the partners get older. For example, the younger partner may mature and reconsider his or her choices, or an older partner may confront aging problems much sooner. But, as long as both parties are adult, and the couple has talked about their age difference and the future possibilities, I don't make judgments about their respective ages.

Dealing with the generation gap

There are healthy and unhealthy reasons to date someone of a different generation.

One inappropriate motivation for dating a younger person is fear of aging on the older person's part.

One inappropriate motivation for dating a younger person is fear of aging on the older person's part. A younger partner isn't going to reverse the aging process or protect you from old age. Obviously, a man or woman who dates someone as young as his or her children is going to run into some social opposition, but the differences that can cause the biggest problems within the couple's relationship are differing maturity levels.

As more and more women choose younger partners for relationships, the question arises: Are women in their late 30s and early 40s likely to be successful with partners who are 10 to 15 years younger than themselves?

Success in these relationships depends on what the motivations of both people are. Some older people feel younger at heart than their contemporaries and like to date people who are as active as they are. Chronological age doesn't always reflect either physical capability or emotional maturity. Sometimes an age difference creates a mentoring relationship the older person advises the younger one on life or career. This can backfire if and when the younger person decides he or she has learned enough, and wants to move on.

If you're asking: "Is it OK for me to have a partner who is much older or younger than I am?" You'll do better off if you forget about your ages and concentrate on whether the relationship works for both of you, or not. What really makes a romantic relationship succeed is the emotional connection.

Pune software engineer commits suicide

2008-08-08T17:29:00.001-07:00

Pune software engineer commits suicide

In an SMS sent to his brother half an hour before committing suicide, Sandeep had said he was resorting to the desperate act as he was unable to cope with the severe work pressure

Pune: Expressing profound grief over the suicide of software engineer Sandeep Shelke employed with them and extolling his excellent track record, IT company Persistent Systems management today clarified that the young professional never complained about work pressure, the reason he gave for taking the extreme step.

"Sandeep never mentioned work pressure; the option of transfer to some other project, available to all executives in the company, was open to him," Persistent senior vice president (HR) Kishor Bhalerao told IANS about the software engineer who ended his life Wednesday by jumping from the company building's seventh floor.

In an SMS sent to his brother half an hour before committing suicide, Sandeep had said he was resorting to the desperate act as he was unable to cope with the severe work pressure. In a hand written suicide note he had in his pocket, the 26-year-old software engineer had given the same reason for his suicide.

"Our work culture, which revolves around a good 'work life balance,' is our USP," Bhalerao said. He added that as employees' health, both physical and mental, were crucial, they ran regular yoga classes for them.

The company also has a full time physician-counselor who visits all departments of the organisation.

Bhalerao also talked about the company's skip-level meeting system where an employee can discuss his situation with higher ups without the immediate boss knowing about it. "This helps the organisation to know about the negative aspects of its working apart from sorting out the aggrieved employee's problem," he said.

Pointing out that the matter was sub-judice, Bhalerao said everyone handled stress differently.

Employed with Persistent Systems since 2003, Shelke was sponsored by the company for a master's course at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, and sent to the US for a project from where he returned six months back.

The news of the suicide came as a big surprise to the organization too especially as Wednesday, the day of the incident, the employees celebrated 'tradition day' to mark which, all employees, including Shelke, came dressed in traditional attire – the Kurta Pajama.

"He seemed very normal, displaying no sign of disturbance," Bhalerao recalled.

Even god cannot save this country: SC

2008-08-08T17:27:00.001-07:00

Even god cannot save this country: SC

You complain about judicial activism when you are in power. When you are not in power you come to us for remedy, the bench remarked.

New Delhi: "Even god will not be able to save this country," a fuming Supreme Court on Tuesday said while slamming the government for its refusal to amend the law for launching criminal prosecution against those who illegally occupy official houses.

"We are fed up with this government," the apex court said. "They don't have the guts to differ with the opinion of the clerks. Even god will not be able to save this country. In India even if god comes down he cannot change our country. Our country's character has gone. We are helpless," a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi observed.

The apex court said PILs are being filed before it by people who are vexed with the approach of the government on various issues.

"You complain about judicial activism when you are in power. When you are not in power you come to us for remedy," the bench remarked.

The bench gave vent to its anger as the Additional Solicitor General Amarender Saran bluntly told the court that the Union Government has decided not to amend Section 441 IPC (criminal trespass) for prosecuting squatters of Government accommodation in the country.

The government took the stance that the existing provisions provided under the Public Premises Act was sufficient to evict those unauthorisedly occupying government accommodation.

Moreover, it claimed that out of 99,100 government houses only 300-odd dwellings were under unauthorised occupation for which had been made to evict them.

But this did not satisfy the apex court which said the government does not have the guts to take on the offenders.

HIV testing: India ranked best, Russia worst

2008-08-07T17:46:00.001-07:00

HIV testing: India ranked best, Russia worst

The Lancet study compared data from several clinics in each country to calculate the cost-effectiveness and quality of services provided

New Delhi: India topped the list of five mid-income countries that provide free HIV testing and counselling to people, reported the scientific journal 'The Lancet'. The unexpected pat on the back came after a comparison of testing and counselling facilities in India, Russia, Mexico, Uganda and South Africa that showed India's was not only the cheapest but also the most cost-effective. Russia did the worst.

The Lancet study compared data from several clinics in each country to calculate the cost-effectiveness and quality of services provided. "India and Russia represent the two extremes in terms of implementation performance, with the quality of services being similar in almost all centers surveyed in India. The difference between quality in different clinics was the highest in Russia," said lead author Dr. Stefano M. Bertozzi from the National Institute of Public Health, presenting the data at the XVII International AIDS Conference on Tuesday.

India's programme, run by the National AIDS Control Organisation, is also the most cost effective, costing the government US$ 3 (Rs 120) per person. The cost was as high as US$ 1,000 in some centres in Russia.

One reason for cost being down in India was the number of people counselled and tested, with a study showing that doubling the numbers reduced the average cost by 50 per cent in India, "We may have the volumes, but that too is because people have increased awareness about the disease and more and more are coming forward to get tested. You must remember that the testing is purely voluntary and people can refuse if they so wish," says Suresh Mohammed, national programme officer, National AIDS Control Organisation.

There are 2.47 million people living with HIV in India, with almost 1.6 lakh getting free treatment under the government programme. The cost to government is Rs 550 per patient per year.

Dolling up sex education

Former US policewoman Marcia Morgan uses a unique sex education tool that crosses all language barriers: dolls with sexual body parts. "Anatomical dolls help children de-personalise and share their own perceptions about sexual behaviours, including abuse," says Morgan, tUS-based consultant in criminal justice and social issues.

Morgan developed the dolls 30 years ago to help sexually abused children describe what happened to them. These dolls are currently used for sex education not just in the US but also in Mozambique, where role-playing helps children with no education learn about sexual body parts, pregnancy prevention, preventing sexually-transmitted diseases and how to wear a condom.

"Apart from genetalia, these dolls have mouths and tongues and come with clothes and underclothes. They come in shades of white, light brown and dark brown and can be dressed in clothes appropriate to the area where there are being used," says Morgan. Given the opposition to sex education in India, these dolls are not likely to be seen in a sari or kurta soon.

Global railway firms bid for upgrading Delhi station

2008-08-07T17:45:00.001-07:00

Global railway firms bid for upgrading Delhi station

The railway companies on the eligible list include Russian Railways, Deutsche Bahn AG, a subsidiary of the German National Railways, China Railways 18 Bureau Group, and government-controlled Grandi Stazioni SPA, which runs 13 major railway stations in Italy

New Delhi: Global railway companies have emerged the top contenders on technical parameters for the country's first railway station modernisation and operation project in New Delhi, the first of private-public partnership (PPP) schemes.

The railway companies on the eligible list include state-owned Russian Railways, which operates 85,000 km of railways in that country, the ¤25-billion Deutsche Bahn AG, a subsidiary of the German National Railways, state-owned China Railways 18 Bureau Group, and government-controlled Grandi Stazioni SPA, which runs 13 major railway stations in Italy.

All these international companies have tied up with local partners to bid for the Rs 6,000-crore New Delhi railway station modernisation project. The successful bidder will modernise infrastructure at the passenger terminal, which handles 0.3 to 0.35 million passengers a day.

Traffic is expected to grow 4 per cent annually. The plan also includes real estate development on about 86 hectares of land comprising the railway station, offices, parking, public spaces and commercial blocks.

The company will also operate the station for a stipulated time period that will be fixed during the financial bidding.

The railways will select six companies on the basis of their scores (based on a complex formula that includes years of experience, net worth and turnover among other criteria) in the technical bid, after which they will be called for a financial bid.

Cheating Brit spouses spend hefty sum on illicit affairs

2008-08-07T04:47:00.001-07:00

Cheating Brit spouses spend hefty sum on illicit affairs

Cheating husbands and wives in Britain are spending a whooping 650million pounds a year on their illicit relationships.

Men and women involved in extra marital affairs are spending on an average 5,140 pounds a year on their affair, four times higher than their household expenses.

Most of the cash is dished out on hotels, transport, kinky undies, dinners, booze, membership fees to websites that pair up love cheats, and flowers.

The average amount spent on each illicit affair has risen to 296 pounds from 247 pounds in 2007.

The cost is more than eight times as much as the 35 pounds spent by faithful partners on a date.

"The drive to have sex is one of the most primal urges we have. If it can override your concerns about being unfaithful to your partner, of course it can override your concerns about money," News of the World quoted relationship expert Dr. Pam Spurr as saying.

"Plus, people have more sex during times of national stress because it''s a great source of pleasure and a stress reliever," she added.

According to IllicitEncounters.com, 220,000 people have already signed up with 35 per cent of spouses between 20 and 60, and 200 new people join every day.

Why you should marry before 40

2008-08-07T04:45:00.001-07:00

Why you should marry before 40

Here's another reason why you should get married before 40: being single by the time you hit middle age can increase your risk of dementia, says a new research.

Swedish research, presented at a US conference, found that marriage or having a partner halved the risk of developing dementia.

Scientists believe social interaction between couples may ward off illness.

The Alzheimer''s Research Trust said the results were worrying, given the high divorce rates in the UK.

These findings are particularly worrying for the UK - a society with a high divorce rate, marriage at an all-time low, and ageing population

The study by the Karolinska Institute suggested that the problem might be even greater for some people.

Divorcees who remained single, they noticed, had a trebled risk of dementia, while those widowed at a young age who stayed single faced a six times greater chance.

The research looked at 1,449 people from a Finnish database, who were asked about their relationship status in mid-life, then revisited 21 years later to see if they had developed dementia.

In total, 139 of them had some sort of cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer''s had been diagnosed in 48 of these.

Even after other factors which might have an impact on dementia were adjusted for, the study consistently showed people with partners as less prone to the illness.

"Living in a couple relationship is normally one of the most intense forms of social and intellectual stimulation. If social and cognitive challenges can protect against dementia, so should living as a couple," BBC quoted Dr Krister Hakansson, the study's lead researcher, as saying.

Guard your wife in Italy

2008-08-07T04:31:00.001-07:00

Guard your wife in Italy

Think twice before you accept a dinner invitation from a loving Italian couple when holidaying in Italy, for along with dinner you might be served an offer to swap your partners.

From what is being reported by La Stampa newspaper in Italy, a quarter of all Italian couples regularly take part in wife swapping.

According to their article titled, 'The Lunch Time Swingers', almost 500,000 Italian couples are officially swapping partners at private sex clubs, and thousands more doing it in a more ad-hoc fashion in car parks, specially designated beaches or even cemeteries.

The report said that wife swapping had increased at a dizzying rate everywhere, and a major reason behind this predilection can be attributed to the internet which has apparently stripped away the taboos.

The article based its finding on the figures given by The International Federation for the Protection of Rights and Freedoms, or Federsex, in Rome, which said that wife swapping organizations have 500,000 members that meet in 200 private clubs across Italy and swap partners.

But this was just the tip of the iceberg; as the Federsex experts said that there exist closer to two million, or a quarter of the eight million sexually active couples across the country.

The average age of male participants is 43, while the swapped women tend to be younger at 35, and it is no longer a furtive after-dark activity but one that can "even take place during one's lunch hour."

"We see all sorts of people ... the thing that links them is that they have no money worries – accountants, doctors, even footballers and politicians," The Independent quoted an employee of the Club Malizia in Milan, as confirming.

Top 10 monuments of India

2008-08-06T21:35:00.001-07:00

Top 10 monuments of India

If ticket sales are anything to go by, the luminous 17th century Taj Mahal in Agra is the most popular monument in India, attracting over 2.5 million visitors a year.

The marble monument to love built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan that is listed among the seven wonders of the world was visited by an estimated 2,048,120 domestic and 491,351 foreign tourists in 2006.

These findings were put out by the ministry of tourism's annual publication, "India Tourism Statistics", based on figures collected from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

ASI, which is responsible for protection of cultural heritage in India, keeps records of the number of tickets sold to both Indian and foreign nationals at monuments.

"Among all the monuments, Taj Mahal was the most visited monument in 2006 for domestic as well as foreign tourists," the report said.

The monument in recent days has seen attempts by Shiv Sena activists to hold Hindu religious rituals there, as they argue it was built on the ruins of a Shiva temple.

The 17th century Red Fort was the second most visited monument in the country as far as domestic tourists (1.9 million) were concerned, while for foreigners, the second most exciting place to visit was Agra Fort (259,427 visitors) whose construction was completed in the 16th century.

The Qutub Minar, known as the tallest brick minaret in the world built here in the 14th century, is the third most preferred monument among foreign and domestic tourists. An estimated 1.9 million domestic tourists and 249,040 foreign tourists visited it in 2006.

It is easy to understand why the Taj Mahal, which last year found pride of place in a new list of seven wonders polled by people around the globe, continues to be the most popular monument.

It has been the most visited monument since 2004 - for domestic as well as foreign tourists.

Among the 10 other most famous monuments popular with domestic tourists are Charminar (Andhra Pradesh), Purana Quila (Delhi), Golconda Fort (Andhra Pradesh), Bibi-Ka-Maqbara (Maharashtra) and Mamallapuram (Tamil Nadu).

With the foreigners, it's Humayun's Tomb (Delhi), Fatehpuri Sikri (Uttar Pradesh), Red Fort (Delhi), Sarnath Excavated Site (Uttar Pradesh), Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh), Mamallapuram (Tamil Nadu) and Jantar Mantar (Delhi) that are most popular.

The study said while the number of domestic visitors to centrally protected monuments increased by 13.2 percent in 2006 over 2005, for foreigners the figure grew by only six percent, and the overall growth was 12.6 percent

In 2006, about 4.44 million tourists visited India, and in 2007 the figure went up to five million. There were 461 million domestic tourists in 2006 as compared to 391 million in 2005.

How to impress her parents

2008-08-06T21:33:00.001-07:00

How to impress her parents

She's wanted you to meet her parents for a long time. You've been avoiding it for a long time too! Worry not! It's not so bad. Here are some tips that will help you tide over the day and win them!

By Arya Rai

Dress code: Sure you love your tattered denims and faded checked shirt, and your gal doesn't mind it either…but hey it's the parents you are meeting. Make sure you wear a fresh shirt and a washed pair of denims or trousers. Clean shoes, trimmed and shampooed hair, cut nails…in short the perfectly groomed look is a must. But don't go overboard, no need to wear a suit or your best shirt and go reeking of perfume. It might give you a dandy's or worse still a frivolous tag!

Body language: Be confident, you might have a million butterflies somersaulting in your stomach, don't let it show! Be cool. Hold your head high. Don't be nervous about looking them in the eye when they speak to you. Don't mumble and fumble when they ask you questions, answer in a calm and collected manner. Make sure your voice doesn't falter or doesn't end up as a squeak either. When you shake hands too, make sure your grip is firm and manly. You could ease a bit when you are shaking hands with her mom, we don't want her screaming in pain, do we?

Conversation matters: You must prepare for this before hand. There will surely be moments when no one has anything to say, you have to keep topics ready in your head and break the ice each time the atmosphere cools off. If both her parents are working make sure you know enough about their line of work to engage them in an impressive conversation. If you get this bit right, you would have won half the battle as parents generally like to talk about their work and how things were, when they started working, to youngsters. My boyfriend tried this ploy and I ended up as the loser as they had a 3 hour conversation and I ceased to exist for all three!

Keep girlfriend at arm's length: You two could be madly in love with each other and probable can't keep your hands off each other. This is strictly prohibited in her parents' presence. No holding hands under the table either. Remember they are watching your every move. They will be put off. Make sure you sit away from your girl. Don't go off to her room once the meeting with the parents is done, wait till they tell you.

Be yourself: Don't try and be what you aren't. You will be seen through. Be honest, don't fib about your achievements and your background, you will be caught in no time. Don't try to flatter them. Parents have seen more of life than you and they can instantly spot a false note!

Bangkok on a budget

2008-08-06T21:32:00.001-07:00

Bangkok on a budget

Enjoying Bangkok with great roadside meals and bargain-basement!

From 15-cent train rides to excellent, one-dollar meals, Thailand's tropical capital is teeming with budget options for the penny-pinching traveler. Where else in the world can you get a free vasectomy?

It's easy to spend hundreds of dollars a day in Bangkok, home to some of the most luxurious hotels in the world. But following some guidelines, you can enjoy the city at a fraction of the price.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Most budget tourists head straight for Khao San Road, a lively, colorful area where you can pay as little as 150 baht (US$4.50) a night for a bed in a dorm room. Despite the low price, the accommodations are perfectly decent. It's heaven for backpackers, but more recently is attracting more upmarket tourists as well.

In Bangkok's prime residential area of Sukhumvit Road, one budget option is Suk 11, a quirky guesthouse legendary among backpackers, where the halls have been remade with creaking wooden planks and hanging lanterns to look like old Bangkok alleyways. A bed in a clean, air-conditioned dorm room starts at 250 baht (US$7.50).

GETTING AROUND: Buses in Bangkok charge only 5 baht (US15 cents) for non-air-conditioned service, and up to 17 baht (US 50 cents) for AC vehicles.

Traveling in Bangkok during rush hour is an exercise in Zen patience, so tourists in a hurry would do best to use the excellent BTS Skytrain and underground Metro, with trips starting at 15 baht(US45 cents).

Trains in Bangkok are cheap. A third-class trip from some suburban areas to the heart of town cost as little as 5 baht (US15 cents). Or hop aboard one of the public ferries along the Chao Phraya River for some spectacular views from the water for 9 baht (US27 cents).

FOOD: You can pay as little as a dollar per meal at a neighborhood street stand. Follow the crowds. Any place packed with customers is bound to offer tasty, fresh fare.

Try the stalls at the Banana Family Park, near the Ari Road Skytrain stop, for tasty vegetarian options. Two meatless dishes cost 25 baht (US 75 cents).

MASSAGE: For a cheap and novel Thai massage, head to the Skills Development Center for the Blind, where sightless trainees charge just 100 baht (US$3) per hour. The center is located just north of the city in Pak Kret.
Madame Joe's, staffed by graduates of the famous Wat Po Massage School, offers affordable massage in the Khao San area, at 180 baht (US 5.37) for one hour.

BARS: Cheap Charlie's, a ramshackle but atmospheric outdoor bar in the Sukhumvit area, has been popular with frugal ex-pats for years. Just 60 baht (US$1.80) for small bottle of local brew.

Some bars have ladies night specials. Try Coyote on Convent Road where waiters will keep your margarita glass overflowing for free 6-8 p.m. on Wednesdays. The trendy Q Bar, in Sukhumvit, allows women to forgo the 500 baht (US$15) cover on Wednesday nights.

ATTRACTIONS AND EVENTS: Museums and the more notable Buddhist temples in Bangkok are cheap, generally charging a dollar or two for entry, while parks, art galleries, less famous temples and outdoor shrines are free.

In the wee hours of the morning, the centrally located Lumpini Park fills up with fitness buffs. Look out for groups practicing yoga or tai chi. Instruction is in Thai, but most classes will allow you to join in for free. The fun ends at 8 a.m. when the National Anthem is played, but crowds return at sundown for more exercise, including aerobics classes.

The Lingam Shrine, filled with phallic symbols, is a must-see among Bangkok's free oddities. Traditional dances are performed without charge at the Erawan Shrine, near the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel.

At Siam Square, a popular hangout for the younger crowd, free break dancing competitions and concerts take place in the shadows of chichi malls and high-end apartment complexes.

Check out BK Magazine http://www.bkmagazine.com/ or the ''Real Time'' section of Friday's Bangkok Post for up-to-date schedules of free performances and other events in the city.

INSIDE INFO: Just saying ''hello'' (''sawadee kha'' if you are a woman; ''sawadee krap'' if you are a man) and ''thank you'' (''khopkhun kha/krap'') may well get you a lower price, especially when bargaining in markets.

Never throw the grown-up version of temper tantrums. Thais abhor them -- and may add on some baht to your bill in revenge.

As for those free vasectomies? The Population and Community Development Association offers them to any man, any nationality, who has fathered two children already. How's that for a good deal?

Yoga away your thunder thighs and bulky legs

2008-08-06T21:31:00.001-07:00

Yoga away your thunder thighs and bulky legs

Here is our yoga expert Juhi Garg, who will address all your queries about yoga and also write on yogic exercises.

One tough area to shed and tone I have discovered after the troublesome tummy portion is the thighs and legs. I hope you all agree with me. So this column is for all those numerous requests and emails which wanted to know how yoga can find a remedy to their bulky legs and thunder thighs. Dedicate 2-3 minutes to each asana with equal stress on both sides/legs/thighs and practice this entire course daily.

Chair pose: The picture says enough. Stand straight and get your hands raised over your body. Now bending your knees get your upper body to tilt at an angle of 45 degrees forward. Keep your back straight.

Warrior pose: Stand with your feet wide apart. Now get your hands stretched out parallel to the ground by the side of the body. Bend your right knee so as to get your right thigh at a ninety degree angle to the ground. Turn your head also to the right. Same for the left side.

Double leg raise: Just as the picture depicts, lie on your back with the hands flat on the ground by your sides, maybe even facing down to support your legs. Now get the legs to rise at a ninety degree angle to the wall behind you, keeping the knees straight. Your support is your hands and palms, and the hips. Don't exert here.

Diamond pose: This is the famous vajra asana which can be done anytime of the day. Very helpful in digestion, so after a meal also trying sitting in this pose. Or better still, dump the couch and catch your favourite TV show sitting like this. Get down on your knees and sit on your heels with the legs, feet and knees together. Sit for as long as comfortable.

About the author: Juhi Garg is a yoga and naturopath buff since the age of eight. She believes that yoga is the best way of life and wishes to promote it thus, especially amongst the younger generation. Mail your queries to her at… juhi2_17@hotmail.com

10 Tips for Dating a Single Mom

2008-08-04T22:28:00.001-07:00

10 Tips for Dating a Single Mom

by Chrissie | in

Single parent dating

There is nothing that makes a group of men, or any individual man, cringe faster than the notion of dating a single mom. A consensus for today's single man is that single mom = baggage, and most men will shy away from it. On the other hand, for this reason, many men also view the single mom as a great opportunity for a fling. Today's family has changed. It is 2008 and the United States Census indicates that America is home to over 11 million single parents. The chances that you as a single man will find yourself dating one then, are pretty good. This is the age of the blended family, and for every family, that carries a different meaning.

If you find that you are interested in, attracted to, or seriously wanting to build a relationship with a single mom, there are some things you should know. You can't play the game the way you normally do. Dating a single mom doesn't have to be like walking on eggshells, but in some cases, dating a single mom just isn't the same thing as dating a single girl with no responsibilities. The good news? Dating a single mom offers a wide range of benefits. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of dating a single mom, or even to simply encourage you to give it a shot.

1. You can't be a player anymore.

This step is more for your protection than anything else. You certainly can be a player if that is all you are looking for, but unless you know for sure that the single mom you are wooing wants the same thing, this could seriously backfire on you. There are single moms out there actively seeking a ring on their finger, and if you play games with the wrong one, you will find yourself in a mess that you'd rather not be in.

2. Don't be fake

Don't pretend to like her or pretend you are interested, just so that you can have a fling. You never know, her game plan may be just the same as yours, even if that fling is all you are looking for. Be genuine and sincere, hint, be yourself, and she will welcome the opportunity to spend some time with you. A man who is sincere and shows genuine interest with no ulterior motive is any girls' dreams whether she is a single mom or not.

3. Don't be fake, part two

You can't just be genuine with her, you have to be genuine with her children. If it does get to the point where you meet the kids, be yourself once again. Kids are almost smarter than single parents and will know when someone is being fake with them. Be nice to them, and show genuine interest in them. It won't be long before they start reciprocating.

4. Romance Her!

You don't need to be a single mom to appreciate a little bit of romance, but the single mom will definitely appreciate the romantic attention you provide. Use your imagination here and be creative. Romance works best when it is unexpected and not obvious. That doesn't mean some flowers won't go a long way. But send her a sweet text or an email to let her know you are thinking of her, or even just check in to see how the little one's doctor appointment went. Small attention to details will sweep her off her feet more than grandiose gestures will.

5. Be Flexible

Flexibility is key when dating a single mom because she is always juggling a lot at once and has noone to share her responsibilities with. She may be sure one day that she can make plans with you, but have to cancel at the last minute if a doctor's appointment comes up, visitation with dad changes at the last minute, or any number of factors that could cancel a date in a heartbeat. She may not be able to plan too much ahead of time either. Or maybe she can and maybe that's easiest for her. Every situation with every single mom is different, but being flexible will make both of your lives a little easier. You may find you have to meet midweek for lunch instead of Saturday night for dinner, or head to a matinee on the weekend instead of an evening show. Her priorities may be a little bit different, but that doesn't mean she's not looking to go out and have fun. Just be willing to be flexible.

6. Understand her Priorities

In a single mom's life, she has a lot of priorities. She may not even be sure which ones are at the top all of the time because they all seem mission critical to her. That doesn't mean that you aren't a priority, but her priorities may shift on different days just depending on how the day goes. Some days you may find yourself wondering where you fall in her priority list, and this is where flexibility and communication come in. If she is including you in her life, then she wants you in her life. Be flexible and communicate often, and she will find a way to show you just how big a priority you are to her.

7. Be Considerate of Her Time

The single mom is generally torn between her kids, her social life, and a million other responsibilities that she has no one to share with. Given this, it's a good idea to be a little considerate of the time in which she has to do all of those things. If you call her up on a Saturday afternoon for a date that night, it is very likely she will turn you down. This will be no reflection on you, but more likely a matter of her simply having something else to do, such as a doctor's appointment for Johnny. Find out about the custody arrangement of her kids and you'll know when she's free unless of course she's out with the girls! It shouldn't be that hard to get her to pick you over them. Also find out about when her kids' have vacations and you can be a step ahead planning anything with her.

8. Expect to Have "The Talk" Early

Many men balk at The Talk in any relationship, even if they want the relationship to have some longevity. That's simply because men and women are wired differently. However The Talk doesn't necessarily mean that she wants to get hitched right off the bat either. In fact, The Talk is a great way for the both of you to discover what page you are both on. Who wants to waste time if the person you are with isn't going in the same direction as you are? It's okay if you both want different things, and it's okay if you both want something casual. By taking care of this conversation early in the relationship, you will both save yourselves a lot of potential heartache, and time.

9. Expect to Be Involved with Her Children

Wow, have you made it this far? You must be really into this woman. Most single moms or single dads are hesitant to take this step until she is pretty sure you are both on the same path. Treat this occasion delicately, and treat it with the respect and appreciation it deserves. Be honored that she is including you in the most important part of her life. The first-time WILL be nerve-wracking for you, and it will be for her as well, but she would not have you there if she didn't want you there. She will take the steps necessary to make it easier for you.

10. When the Kids Don't Like You

Oh well, you just knew there was a wrench somewhere. Take heart in the knowledge that this is not only possible, but likely. It's a normal rite of passage for kids of single parents, they feel obligated to have some apprehension at first. Knowing that, don't take it personally. Talks will resume between mom and the kids as time goes on, but this is an issue with the kids, not with you. You are a threat to their mom's time, you are a threat to their relationship with their dad, or you are just simply a threat that they don't welcome. Let Mom handle this one. If this relationship has longevity, she will work on them. Keep being genuine, but most of all, have patience. With time, those kids will learn exactly why mom is so crazy about you. Hey, you got this far, didn't you? Don't back out now.

If you are considering a relationship with a single mom, it may seem at first like you are taking on the entire luggage claim from the latest Delta Flight. It doesn't have to be like that, and don't go in thinking that. Single mothers are among the most mature, responsible, and loving people on the planet. They are always juggling something, but always looking for some love and friendship and healthy adult relationships as well. Go in open-minded, patient, understanding, and most importantly, sincere. If this relationship is meant to be, the rest will fall into place.

Single moms and dating: What do men think?

2008-08-04T22:27:00.001-07:00

Single moms and dating: What do men think?

Yahoo! Personals polled single men among our Real People, asking why single moms make great dates, better potential mates, and are super sexy!

Raymond, 44, Louisville, Ky.	David, 29, Hampton, Va.	Morgan, 54, Louisville, Ky.
Deshae, 28, West Covina, Calif.	Will, 58, Glendale, Calif.	Ed, 40, Yarmouth, Iowa

Here's what Raymond, David, Morgan, Deshae, Will and Ed gave as their top reasons to date a single mom.

1. You already know they're strong because they have to handle the responsibilities of single parenthood.

2. There is nothing like a mother. She is a woman that is responsible and focused on life. She knows what she wants out of life and will not sacrifice the happiness of her child for just any man. So, if she decides to date you, feel lucky.

3. Single moms know what they are looking for and are independent. Any man or woman can appreciate dating someone who has confidence in themselves. Face it, great moms are sexy!

4. A single mom isn't just filling time dating - she's had to make a choice to do something for herself while fulfilling the full-time responsibility of being a mom. For a man seeking a real and lasting relationship, this is ideal.

5. They appreciate quality not quantity of time. It isn't always an option to see someone everyday, so making sure the time together is of value is important.

6. Single moms are more open to long-term relationships. For single dads that are also looking for a romantic relationship, it is ideal to date someone with the same end goals.

7. They're done being a "party girl" and tend to be more selective and thoughtful in their approach to dating. With single moms, we know our romantic relationship is valued and not just part of a series of meaningless dates or something that stems from the fear of being alone.

8. You get to see how they relate to their children and how they relate to people they love. And for single dads looking for their own "play date," this also provides insight on how she might interact with our kids and her attitude about important life issues.

9. Single moms enjoy their time out more and can appreciate a simpler evening of just spending time together. People with a fun, positive attitude and outlook are always more fun to date.

10. They realize what it costs to raise a family - and don't require flashy dates. They are impressed more by substance than a big price tag both in dating and in life.

Dating Myth or Truth? Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater

2008-07-28T08:32:00.001-07:00

Dating Myth or Truth? Once a Cheater, Always a Cheater

Expert advice on surviving the aftermath of an affair

So you've been cheated on. It's devastating -- like being kicked in the gut and thrown into the gutter. You can't eat or function at work. Or maybe you're up all night watching old movies, bawling, and eating pints of Ben and Jerry's. Discovering your partner's affair gives you such heartache and pain that you doubt you'll ever recover.

But when the cheater tries hard to win you back, some questions loom large: Should you forgive him/her? Is this cheater going to cheat again? You may feel torn; perhaps wanting to take your remorseful partner back, but you feel like it's a point of pride not to. You may want to drop the cheater altogether, dive into an online personals pool, and start looking for a more loyal significant other.

No doubt about it, it's difficult to deal with a cheater, and you're not alone. Research shows that even among married couples, cheating is relatively common: about 22% of men and 13% of women cheat. According to recent studies, even spouses who describe themselves as "happy" with their marriage have affairs.

But the good news is this:

Some couples who share strong chemistry can actually work through the crisis of an affair.

Some couples who share strong chemistry can actually work through the crisis of an affair. Not only that, they can become closer and put an end to cheating once and for all. In some cases, couples can learn and grow from the painful emotional hurricane, otherwise known as the aftermath of an affair.

Of course, there are promiscuous players who will cheat and cheat and cheat again. These are the ones you truly have to stay away from. How do you tell if you're dealing with a chronic cheater?

Here are five signs that may indicate a former cheater is not a chronic case and that the relationship still has hope:

1. Your partner is truly remorseful and regrets having cheated. Look for heartfelt apologies that ring true when you hear them. He/she accepts total blame for his/her betrayal.

2. Your partner cuts off all contact with the relationship perpetrator.

3. He/she shows a renewed appreciation and devotion towards you.

4. You wind up having deep, open, and honest conversations with each other about your relationship, including what was missing in it and how you'd like it to progress.

5. Your partner wants psychotherapy or counseling either individually or with you to understand his/her own dynamics and to improve your relationship.

If the former cheater shows these signs and you can forgive him/her, consider taking your partner back. Yet, be aware that taking your partner back carries one caveat: There's a possibility your partner will slip back into infidelity.

And just how do you know if the cheating has resurfaced?

Here are some common signs that may indicate secret betrayal:

He/she works late a lot.
He/she suddenly takes trips you aren't invited to go on.
He/she spends too much time with hobbies that don't include you.
You get mysterious phone calls with hang-ups.
You find bills for unexplained hotel stays or gift-type items.
Intimacy in your relationship dramatically decreases.
He/she grows more distant or agitated than usual.

Prepare yourself emotionally for the chance that you may become a victim of an affair again, but don't expect it. You've chosen to forgive your partner, so let bygones be bygones. But if you uncover another affair, it's time to protect yourself from any further heartbreak by breaking up with this hurtful person immediately. Move on and don't let this unfaithful person ruin your future relationships. Leave your anger and sorrow behind; it's not only fair to your next partner, but beneficial to your psychological well-being and your potential to bond with a better partner. Keep your spirits high, because there are wonderful new matches waiting out there -- and right there on your computer screen!

In sum, if your partner strays, it doesn't absolutely mean he/she will do it again. "Once a cheater, always a cheater" isn't necessarily true. Forgiving and reuniting is an option. If you've been betrayed but want to see if it can work, go ahead and work on it. Just keep in mind that you've decided to take a risk, and don't let paranoia get the best of you. But at the same time, pay attention to your partner's behavior so you can spot which way the train is heading!

Bruce Lee’s Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape

2008-07-25T18:43:00.001-07:00

Bruce Lee's Top 7 Fundamentals for Getting Your Life in Shape

If you haven't been living under a rock for the last 30 years I'm pretty sure you know who Bruce Lee was.

If you have, then you may be interested to know that Lee was a very famous martial artist and actor who sparked the first big interest of Chinese martial arts in the West in the 60's and 70's.

But besides being an awesome fighter and iconic figure Lee also had some very useful things to say about life.

Here are 7 of my favourite fundamentals from Bruce Lee.

1. What are you really thinking about today?

"As you think, so shall you become."

Perhaps the most basic statement of how we work. Think about what you are thinking today. What do those thoughts say about you? About your life? And how well do they really match your plans for your life and your image of yourself?

It's easy to forget about this simple statement in everyday life. It's easy to be quite incongruent with what you think on an ordinary day compared to how you view yourself and your goals. A simple external reminder such as a post-it with this quote can be helpful to keep you and your thoughts on the right track. An brilliant and beautiful expansion on this thought can be found in James Allen's As a man thinketh (that can be downloaded for free here).

2. Simplify.

"It's not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential."

"If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done."

If you want to improve your life then it's tempting to want to add more. One problem with this may be that you don't really have the time or energy to do more though. And so your efforts to improve become short-lived.

Adding more and more just creates more stress and anxiety. Removing clutter and activities, tasks and thoughts that are not so important frees up time and energy for you to do more of what you really want to do. And as the clutter in your outer world decreases the clutter in your inner world also has a tendency to decrease. This has the added benefit of making it easier to actually enjoy whatever you are doing even more while you are doing it.

Adding more thoughts and thinking things over for the 111:th time may create a sense of security. It's also a good way to procrastinate and to avoid taking that leap you know you should take. And the more you think, the harder it gets to act. Perhaps because you want to keep that comforting sense of security and avoid the risk of wrecking that feeling.

Thinking has its place. It can help you plan a somewhat realistic route to your goal and help you avoid future pitfalls. Overthinking is however just a habit that will help you waste a lot of time. It's more useful to replace that habit with the habit of just doing it.

3. Learn about yourself in interactions.

"To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person."

The one person that is the hardest to get to really know may be yourself. Studying yourself while you are alone may result in some insights. But it's also likely to produce a lot of made up thought loops and doubts in your mind. A good way to really learn more about yourself is study yourself in interactions with other people. How people react and act in these interaction can over time teach you a lot. And what you think and how you react can perhaps teach you even more.

What you see, feel and hear in other people may be a reflection of you. The things you learn by thinking this way may not always be pleasant, but they can be enlightening. They help you to see yourself and also how you may be fooling yourself. And these powerful insights can be very valuable for your personal growth. So, in interactions with others, try asking yourself: what is reflected?

4. Do not divide.

"Take no thought of who is right or wrong or who is better than. Be not for or against."

This is a very useful and powerful thought. It is also one that obviously is hard to live by. Why? I believe it's because the ego loves to divide and find ways to "add more" to itself. It want's to feel better than someone else. Or more clever. Or prettier. Or cooler. Or wiser.

How can you overcome this way of thinking and feeling?

To me it seems to boil down to not identifying so much with your thoughts or feelings. That doesn't mean that you stop thinking or feeling. It just means that you realize – and remember in your everyday life – that the thoughts and emotions are just things flowing through you.

You are not them though.

You are the consciousness observing them.

When you realize and remember this it enables you to control the thoughts and feelings instead of the other way around. It also enables you to not take your thoughts too seriously and actually laugh at them or ignore them when you feel that your ego is acting out. When you are not being so identified these things you become more inclined to include things, thoughts and people instead of excluding them. This creates a lot of inner and outer freedom and stillness. Instead of fear, a need to divide your world and a search for conflicts.

To learn more about this I would recommend Eckhart Tolle's books and signing up for the 10 free and excellent webcasts - available both in video and audio form – that he's doing with Oprah right now.

5. Avoid a dependency on validation from others.

"I'm not in this world to live up to your expectations and you're not in this world to live up to mine."

"Showing off is the fool's idea of glory."

The ego wants to add because it thinks it's not enough. One way of doing that is by craving validation from others. We want to feel smart, pretty, successful and so on. And the validation makes you feel good for a while. But soon you need a new fix.

And the problem with being dependent on validation from other people is that you let other people control how you feel. This creates a rollercoaster of emotion in your life.

To find more emotional stability and to take control of how you feel you need to get your validation from to a more consistent source. Yourself. You can replace the expectations and validation of others by setting your own expectations and by validating yourself.

And so you validate yourself by thinking about how awesome you are. You don't sell yourself short. You appreciate how far you have come and the positive things you have done. You appreciate your own value in the world. You set goals and you achieve those goals. This builds confidence in yourself and in your abilities. These things will help you to build a habit of inner validation.

Now, showing off. Why do we do that? To get validation from others. However, this need for validation often shines through and that is why a thing like bragging seldom works. Instead of seeing the cool and successful person you are trying to project people just see the insecure and needy person looking for validation. And your bragging falls flat.

6. Be proactive.

"To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities."

It's easy to get locked into a reactive mindset. You just follow along with whatever is happening. You do what the people around you do. You react to whatever is going on.

And so you get lost in your circumstances. This way of thinking doesn't feel too good. You tend to feel powerless and like you are just drifting along.

A more useful and pleasurable way of living is to be proactive. As Bruce says: to create opportunities despite the circumstances around you. This feels better and provides better results. But on the other hand it's also more difficult. It's easier to just drift along in the reactive stream of life. And if you want to be proactive then you may have to take the lead quite often. And that can be scary.

Still, living proactively is so much more rewarding and exciting.

7. Be you.

"Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it."

Just being yourself is a hard thing to do. You may do it sometimes. And other times you may forget or fall back into old thought patterns. Or you may imitate someone else.

And that comes through too. And it may work.

But I believe that being the real you will work better. Because there the genuine you is shining through. Without incongruency, mixed messages or perhaps a sort of phoniness. It's you to 100%. It's you with not only your words but you with your voice tonality and body language – which some say is over 90% of communication - on the same wavelength as your words. It's you coming through on all channels of communication.

So I'm not saying: "yeah man, you should just be yourself because it's the right thing to do etc." I'm saying that I think being your authentic self – the one where you do little dividing, the one that needs little validation from others, the one where your ego is not running the show and trying to get something from someone – will give you better results and more satisfaction in your day to day life because you are in alignment with yourself. And because people really like genuine and people really like authenticity.

Malaysian Food in Delhi

2008-07-25T12:58:00.001-07:00

High Zone

Yeh Jo Des Hai Tera - Swades | Translation in Description

Teri Deewani.. (High Resolution)

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Friday January 23, 2009

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Malaysian police arrest 26 at New Year 'sex party'

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Top 10 New Year resolutions for the sexy on-the-move gal

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Unleash your inner sex goddess

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Jumpstart Your Love Life

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What every woman wants is love

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Malaysian state`s award to Shah Rukh stirs controversy

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Taurus Power

The BullApril 21 to May 21 TraditionalTaurus Traits Patient and reliableWarmhearted and lovingPersistent and determinedPlacid and security loving On the dark side....Jealous and possessiveResentful and inflexibleSelf-indulgent and greedy

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Traditional
Taurus Traits

Patient and reliable
Warmhearted and loving
Persistent and determined
Placid and security loving

On the dark side....

Jealous and possessive
Resentful and inflexible
Self-indulgent and greedy

The Bull
April 21 to May 21