Everybody fights over nobody's bill

New Delhi, Dec. 28: Rumour has it that leader of the Lok Sabha, Pranab Mukherjee, read out the "sense of the House" wrong in end-August. Rumour has it the sense of the House was never to install a "strong and effective" Lokpal, the sense of the House was always to postpone the prospect, as it has been for more than 40 years.

"And rightly, wouldn't you think?" wondered one of the scribes of the bill, assured that there were no flies on the wall as he spoke, the door was shut and a sting-cam had not invaded his space.

"Nehru didn't do it, Indiraji did not, Vajpayee did not and they must have had good reason. And we have now convinced ourselves we have greater wisdom than all of them put together? What travesty!"

It's a rumour that the noveau advocates of Lokpal, this side and that of the Parliament floor, actually endorse the idea; they've been hectored into it.

But that cannot be told as truth because truth, last heard, was still hostage to the dictatorship of political correctness. It has deemed all the institutions of democracy incapable of fighting off corruption and it has decreed that all must agree. It is no rumour that the political class submitted to that decree, against its own will and wisdom.

"The terrible problem is," one member of Parliament said, again strictly off the record, "we are having to applaud the birth of a demon in our midst, we are having to celebrate a damned charter of no-confidence in ourselves."

What makes rumour of patent truth is that nobody ' or very few ' will put their names to the sentiment. Between private conviction and public posturing, between the Central Hall of Parliament and the floor of the House, lies a chasm so deep it balks the collective sense of nearly 900 elected members of the Indian republic.

What is it that has driven them to speak, act, vote against their own sense and creed? A mob moment? A scary siege? An inflamed street? Lack of will ' and spine ' to meet any of that squarely? "Frankly, I can tell you none of the better-known democracies have anything like the Lokpal we have constructed," confessed a junior minister. "But somehow we have got pushed into it. Why only us, even the Opposition, frankly, is in terror of what we might end up enacting, but we have become competitive crowd-pleasers, there will be wages to pay, if not today, tomorrow."

This was a baby nobody seemed to want, but now that it has been forced into fullness, nobody wants to be seen forsaking it. They are competing to wish upon it greater health and vigour, but secretly they are all wishing it dead without, of course, having to take the blame for it; best if it can be blamed on the other.

Witness that no side in Parliament has rushed to embrace the Lokpal; they've all only been interested in inoculating it with correctives of their choosing. This is a flawed baby. Nobody's stepping up to say this is a baby they did not wish in the first place.

Bar a few exceptions like Lalu Prasad, who is himself so politically anaemic he has ceased to effect anything but the odd round of laughter. But give it to Lalu. He stood and said for the record what the rest of Parliament is only able to express in anonymous whispers: "This is a dangerous move, you are signing the death warrant of elected democracy, history will not forgive you for this."

A stealthy masquerade has unfolded behind the clamorous adoption of the Lokpal bill in the Lok Sabha, a deception play that has distorted both reality and perception.

Well-timed walkouts brokered in the backrooms, mock battles devised by rival political managers, amendments inserted last-hour, deals struck between allies and adversaries alike, a whole choreography of pretexts and subtexts aimed at securing one common end: turn the death of the Lokpal into a bewildering whodunit. Kill it, let no one take the blame.

The Lokpal is, of course, not dead, it has just been born, but let that not take away from the elaborate effort.

Conventional wisdom is that the defeat of the constitutional amendment last night is a huge embarrassment to the Congress, especially to its prince charming, Rahul Gandhi, who floated the idea to begin with. But there may be more convention, less wisdom in reaching that conclusion.

Consider this: close to 10 members of Rahul's own band were not present to vote the amendment. Many of them may have been attending the wedding of the granddaughter of Dinsha Patel, a Congress MP, in Gujarat. How did that come to be? There was a whip in place. Are we to believe they defied it? Defied Rahul's own diktat? If they did, they deserve not show-causes and admonishment but bravery awards at the Republic Day parade.

But no, comes the explanation from Congress managers, their absence did not matter because even if they had been there, we did not have the numbers to push the constitutional amendment through.

Cat stepping out of bag and mewing aloud: the Congress always knew Rahul's effort was headed for defeat, the idea to bring it was merely to put the blame on the BJP and secure scoring points. Banish the thought that Rahul or the Congress were embarrassed ' even devastated, as some are suggesting ' by that defeat. Don't be taken by the long faces, the outrage at the BJP's betrayal. They all knew what was coming, the BJP included.

Does it say something that the petulant midwives of the Lokpal inexplicably suspended the chaotic delivery rituals today, leaving the emaciated entity huffed out of the Lok Sabha on the gurney, waiting to be patted to life by the Upper House?

They were meant to attend to it first thing upon recovering from last night's exertions this morning. Then word came it had been parcelled off to Hyderabad for presidential approval. Procedures, the due process. Then the afternoon was set as witching hour.

But that too came to pass with an unstated putting off. It's now meant to happen on the morrow but should you take the midwives aside and ask, you're likely to get a sense they are keener on a burial than on birth.

Each amendment, they'd tell you, is aimed at making that baby stronger, better, but each has a likeness to the bayonet ' send that thing to hell with good intentions!
The BJP has planned a slew in the Rajya Sabha to add to the catalogue of correctives they moved last night in the Lok Sabha. They have now been joined by the Trinamul Congress, rockjawed on securing guarantees for states to fashion Lokayuktas after their own will.

Nobody will say they really do not want a watchdog institution scanning them ' that would mean defying correctness ' but each is trying to divine a way to delay and defer. Just what happened to reservation for women in legislatures ' everybody swears by the idea, nobody will commit to it. That commitment is as well-crafted a rumour as the sense of the House Pranab Mukherjee read out at the end of August.

How to Handle Annoying Colleagues

No matter how much you try to restrain yourself, try to keep your calm like a monk,

at some point, an annoying colleague who makes your skin crawl and makes you grind your teeth in utter disgust is likely to break your threshold of patience. You might reason that after a certain point, such an outburst is justified but at workplaces, such things can prove damaging for your professional life. Here, are a few tips to handle irritating office colleagues in a manner that puts you at ease and neutralizes chances of your emotional eruptions:

She’s a Blink & Miss Type: Don’t Take It, Instead Server It To Her

Her ability to complete work within deadlines despite being perpetually absent from her desk would even embarrass Houdini. It is not magic really but women are expert at manipulating folks around them and getting their work done, using the stolen time
for chatting on the phone or just idling away with a cup of coffee. Don’t accept her callousness. Next time, there is a team meeting, ensure that you bring up the topic of individual breaks being recorded/managed in some way. Clearly state that you have seen some folks take undue advantage of the management’s liberties. Even if your boss is a habitual break-seeker, he cannot refuse a matter that involves actual, employee work time being wasted.

Yes, He Procrastinates—So, You Get Nagging

On some people, talking about deadlines is just wasted. They couldn’t care less about the world around them, including their office colleagues, which includes You. Here, you have to be a bit proactive. Take the initiative in setting-up reminders across all forms of supplies available to you. This can include paste-it desk slips, SMS, reminder calls, reminder emails and using any other form of office communication. Nag him to the extent that not doing your work feels like being constipated for days—if he won’t get “it” done, doing anything else would be uneasy.

She’s Too Polite But Doesn’t Work—Be Even More Courteous & Make Her Work

Some people have mastered the art of seeming so polite; it seems as if saying ‘No’ to them or not abiding by their opinions is equal to saying ‘No’ to World Peace! Women tend to do this a lot, smiling and cajoling you into unwanted situations, leaving
you biting your nails later when you realize how misguiding her smile was. Use her weapon, against her. Be overtly gracious to her, even when arguing your point. Put-on that plastic smile that Miss World contestants do so impeccably, even when you vehemently dump her perspective in front of everybody. Keep reminding her of the things she hasn’t done without a hint of anger. Feeling that her own wonder drug is being used on her is sure to make her suffer.

He Interrupts You, Using Tit-for-Tat As A Tool

Folks who have an obsession towards interrupting others can be found in nearly every workplace. Yes, such irksome habits can make you literally feel like banging his head against the wall—don’t do it, instead play his game, against him. For a week or two, ensure that you don’t leave any opportunity of interrupting your perennial intruder. Do this with the kind of regularity that would even put him to shame. If he dares to question your behavior, you have won the moment—just tell him that this is exactly how he irritates you and everybody else.

Top 10 Foods to try before 2012

There are two types of men in this world. One that eat to live and the other that only live so that they can eat.
Apart from your regular paranthas, idlis or burgers there are some killer food items across the globe that you most probably have only heard of but never tried. Now that you have read our reasons on why this world will end in 2012, you should be pretty sure that its not too long before you die.
However, dying without giving a try to some of the world's most revered foods doesn't seem like a good way to go. These are the top 10 foods you should try before you die i.e. 2012.

10. Lamb Kebabs, Afghanistan

Though Afghanistan isn't one place you'd like to spend your last days at, the tender grilled meat is something you'd keep with you long after leaving the Afghan nation (alive of course). The slightly charred garlicky lamb is found in most streetside eateries in Afghanistan where you might even find some casual gun-trotters for company.

9. Steak Tartare, Spain

Originally a French cuisine, the steak tartare is primarily minced raw beef mixed with capers, mustard, pepper, topped with a raw egg most of the times. The velvety texture and luxurious taste scores above the normal steak any given day. Don't worry about the health concerns surrounding raw meat since you're gonna die anyway.

8. Pastrami Sandwich, NYC

One reason why you have to have it was because Meg Ryan had it. It was this legendary sandwich that Meg Ryan was having in the fake orgasm scene in 'When Harry Met Sally' at Katz's Delicatessen. Hopefully you can have the same experience she had while gorging on it.

7. Pho, Vietnam

This is perhaps the simplest food in the entire list. Pho is a local Vietnamese dish and is a noodle soup combined with slices of meat. The broth is incredibly tasty while the meat is lauded for its great quality. The highlight of the dish is that it is fragrant, balanced and very tasty.

6. Escargot, Paris

You just have to try some snails before you you die because just sitting there wondering how others eat it is plain boring. While people all around the globe eat snails, it is the French that revel in these tasty molluscs. They are basically served as appetisers and cooked with garlic and parsley butter.

5. Oysters, Ireland

Oysters are said to be excellent sources of vitamins and minerals so you have some consolation here. Oysters are especially celebrated in Ireland and Irish oysters are particularly defined by its meat content which is considerably more than those around the world. There's even something called an Oyster festival in Ireland where all kind of oyster-centric activities, including tasting, take place.

4. Cheese Fondue, Switzerland

This is a communal delicacy of the Swiss. Basically, it is melted cheese kept in a liquid state by placing it over a burner. It is usually stored in an earthenware pot and other ingredients like wine, and cherry brandy are also added to it. The liquid food is said to be so delicious that it not only travels to you stomach but also deep down your heart.

3. Peking Duck, Beijing

Beijing's imperial food finds honourable mention in most people's food bucket list. The whole duck is served to you in a platter if you order for it. While the skin is sweet, golden and crispy, the meat is unbelievably succulent. For a change, stop bickering about China and its government and let this Chinese delicacy take you to a different world.

2. White Truffles, Italy

We simply cannot leave Italy out of the list because it is the country that gave us pizza and pasta apart from many other delicious foods. White truffles (basically mushrooms) are hugely expensive and cost almost a good $15,000/kg which is something that makes it even more appealing. The complex but delicate taste makes it a prized ingredient in dishes and chefs are very careful about their handling of it.

1. Fugu, Japan

This Japanese gourmet food can be fatal, if not prepared by the right hands. The putterfish (Fugu in Japanese) reportedly kills about 300 people in Japan each year because of the toxins present in it. However, the taste of the fish, as swore by food lovers around the world, is to die for which explains its strong presence in the list.

Indians prefer cash over gifts: Survey

51% Indians feel that gifting cash also helps manage festival-related expenses including the unforeseen costs associated with physical purchases
When it comes to festival gifting, Indians don't practice what they preach. According to an independent global gifting survey conducted by Wakefield Research and commissioned by Western Union, India is the most fiscally responsible country surveyed with 72 % spending more than they had budgeted. Survey found that people are more alike than different when it comes to festival shopping, saving money, and wanting to please their loved ones.
Indians are resilient, even though they haven't adhered to budgets in the last festival season, 87 % still plan to make a budget for future festival gifting. The pressure to find the perfect gift for loved ones gets to Indians and their budgeting, as it does for people from Brazil, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, UAE, UK and US.
Indians don't gift in the same spirit as they prefer. More than half of Indians (51%) would rather receive a cash gift of Rs1000 over a physical gift of the same value. However, when Indians eventually gift to family and loved ones, a majority (65%) opt for a physical gift at the risk of overspending.
Indians most like to make the lives of their children (36%), mum (26%) and dad (13%) better, over spoiling their significant other (4%). This in in contrast to all the other countries surveyed which gave greater priority to making their significant others' lives better (13-31%).
"Indians may not have to empty their pockets to find the perfect gift after all," said Kiran Shetty, regional Vice President, Western Union India.
"Giving cash is an easy way for gift givers to make their loved one's day better allowing them to purchase what they really want and need. Gifting cash also helps better manage festival-related expenses including the unforeseen costs associated with physical purchases — gift choice, transportation, wrapping and overall time constraints," he said.
According to the survey, only 28% spent exactly or less than what they had budgeted, and 72% exceeded their budget. Here are the highlights of the survey.
Budget Blueprint: More Indians are planning ahead when it comes to their future festival spending; 87% plan on making a budget.
Busted Budgets: Indians may have good intentions, but many don't think they'll necessarily stick to a budget this year; 68% said they will spend more money than they have budgeted to find the perfect gift.
Festivals dilemmas: Finding the perfect gift (21%) was the number one worry among Indians. Overspending (18%) is also high on the list, tied for second with seeing family (18%). Other top concerns include eating too much or being unhealthy (13%), and work commitments (12%).
Cash anytime: Over half of Indians (51%) would rather have Rs 1000 in cash than a gift worth Rs 1000. Despite this, more than two-thirds (65%) are — mistakenly — not likely to be gifting cash to those on their gift lists.
Thrifty Thinking: Festival expenses add up quickly, and 88% of Indians are cutting back on luxuries to meet them. In particular, many will avoid spending on clothing (45%), eating at restaurants (38%), and spending on entertainment (37%).
Responsible receivers: Those that get what they wish for — cold hard cash — would most likely spend it wisely. Saving or investing it (31%) is the top way Indians would spend their festival cash. This is followed by using it for festival-related spending other than gifts (24%), using it to buy a gift for someone else (17%), and donating it to charity (12%).
Community giving: Despite the financial stress the festival season can sometimes bring, 65% are planning on donating to a charity. Most Indians prefer to donate clothing (34%), cash (32%), food (23%) and time (9%).
The survey, commissioned by Western Union and conducted by Wakefield Research polled nationally representative adults aged 18 years and older between September 21 and October 21, 2011 in the following countries: 1,000 respondents in the U.S., 500 respondents in Mexico, 500 respondents in Germany, 500 respondents in India, 500 respondents in Brazil, 500 respondents in the UAE, 500 respondents in S. Africa, and 500 respondents in the U.K.

10 unusual New Year’s resolutions

Learn a decent party trick

You know that party trick you’ve got, the one that always comes out after a couple of drinks? Think about it; is it really so impressive in the cold light of day? If the answer is no, it’s about time you learned a new trick; one that will really impress. Mastering a new skill – no matter how pointless – can increase your self-esteem, as well as earning you some serious social kudos next time you reveal it in public. For a physical challenge, why not work on your flexibility for a spot of contortion, or give yourself a mental challenge and learn how to recite the alphabet backwards in less than 10 seconds.

Get your photo taken in five interesting places

If you’ve got the travel bug and want to see a bit more of the world, why not make it a New Year’s resolution to visit five interesting places you’ve always wanted to see? Even better, make a visual record of the year by making sure you get a photo of yourself taken in each place. Good photo opportunities include inside an igloo in Lapland, on the Great Wall of China, inside a volcanic crater or floating in the Dead Sea, but use your imagination to think of your own – the world’s your oyster after all.

Break a record

Want to give your confidence a boost and work towards a new challenge? Then make this the year that you break a record! You could aim at breaking a personal fitness record or, if you want to aim a little higher, set your sights on a world one. With lots of diverse (and bizarre) records there for the taking, this may not be as difficult as you think. Perhaps you could burn off some calories with the world’s longest kiss, the longest time spent bouncing on a bouncy castle or the fastest one mile run completed wearing swim fins... Yes, these are all real world record titles if you fancy your chances!

Make a new friend a month

Fact: friends are great for your health, and the more you have of them the better. So, why not make it a New Year’s resolution to start collecting them? To expand your social circle, try to make one new friend a month by making a conscious effort to attend more social events, chat to strangers and get introductions to friends of friends. Making friends with people with different personalities and interests from you can be particularly beneficial in helping you to broaden your horizons, explore different sides of your personality and find new ways to get the most out of life.

Develop a good relationship with your body

Many traditional New Year’s resolutions centre around improving our bodies in some way, whether by taking up a diet or joining a gym. Next year, make it your resolution to start to love the body you’ve got instead. While this doesn’t mean you can’t make changes to your diet and fitness regime if your health requires it, it does mean starting to love who you are in the process. Work on improving your body confidence by focusing on the things you do like rather than those you don’t, and learn to dress according to your body shape, showing off your favourite features.

Learn something you never learned as a child

You may run your own company, pay your own bills and parallel-park like a pro, but do you know how to do a handstand or ride a bike? For this New Year’s resolution it’s time to nurture your inner child and learn that thing that you never learned to do. Whether it’s the number of days in each month, how to spell ‘necessary’ correctly, how to ride a bike or swim, we all have something we never learned as a child that everyone else seems to know. Set this to rights and have some fun at the same time by redressing this gap in your knowledge. Your younger self would be proud!

Try a new food each week

Rather than cutting out foods from your diet as with so many New Year’s resolutions, opt to add more foods in to your diet next year instead (bonus points if they’re green!). Many of us don’t eat a varied enough diet, so ensure you are getting all the nutrients your body needs – as well as enhancing your enjoyment of food – by making a resolution to try a new food each week. Try hitting the fruit and veg aisle first to sample some exotic fruit and vegetables you may have yet to try, such as dragon fruit, lychees, romanescu and plantain.

Make the usual unusual

It’s easy to get into a rut where we do the same things day in, day out, with our days passing us by as a routine-filled blur. Next year, spice up your routine by vowing to do one small thing differently each day or week. Wear something you wouldn’t normally wear, run a different route, or order a different coffee perhaps. Also, don’t fall into the trap of postponing your happiness by saving everything special “for best”. Instead, brighten up a routine day every so often by donning your diamond earrings, swapping faded comfy knickers for your favourite silk underwear, or eating those fancy chocolates washed down with a glass of champagne!

Sort out a financial worry

To help get your year off to a good start, try getting your finances in order by making a resolution to sort out one area of financial worry. Perhaps you spend a fortune on petrol or maybe it is your food bills that are blowing your budget? Try to think of some alternatives to the main causes of financial stress, such as cycling to work instead of driving, growing your own vegetables or making your own beauty products. Not only will coming up with alternative solutions help you save some money, you may find that you enjoy them and that they boost your health too.

Do something nice for others every day

Many of our resolutions (these included) are inwardly focused, concentrating on ways to become thinner, healthier, wealthier people. However, while there is nothing wrong with improving yourself, it’s worth remembering there’s a whole world out there too. Next year, why not make a resolution to focus outwards instead and help make the world a better place. Plan to do one nice thing a day for someone else; whether it’s something small like giving a compliment, or something potentially life-saving like donating blood or sponsoring a child in need. By knowing you are making a difference, you will also indirectly boost your own happiness and sense of achievement.

Indian auto majors look for acquisitions in Europe

Already several Indian automobile companies have fledged their wings abroad and now it has been reported in The Financial Express that the slowdown in Europe may give another chance to Indian automobile firms to hunt for cheaper acquisitions or joint ventures for better technologies and market expansions.The report quoted Vikas Sehgal, global head of automotive and MD, Rothschild, a global financial M&A advisory as saying “We expect more mergers and acquisitions in two-wheelers and trucks than in cars in the Indian automotive industry in the coming decade. One would not be surprised if TVS Motor Company, Bajaj Auto or Hero MotoCorp go out to buy a global two-wheeler maker. We cannot say now if it’s American, Korean, Japanese or Chinese, but the segment will see some big ticket buyouts by Indian makers.’’
It was reported that the signs are already visible. India’s largest two-wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp, which broke its venture with Japanese Honda Motor in December 2010, has begun investing in new technologies and R&D to sell bikes in the overseas market. The Munjals-owned firm needs to speed up as it can sell products with Honda technology only until June 2014. Some of the global targets for Indian two-wheeler players include Ducati and Harley-Davidson, Sehgal added, since these are niche players in the sports and touring bike categories, respectively.
The report mentioned that weakening economy and falling asset prices attract Indian buyers. The report quoted Kumar Kandaswami, a senior director at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India, as saying “Asset prices have seen a fall in Europe in the auto parts segment, too, as demand from major markets remain muted and capacities lie under-utilised. There are many small and medium auto component makers in Europe which are private equity-owned and they may look at exiting. Technology and customer base of these companies would be attractive for Indian firms.”
It was mentioned in the report that Indian companies have spent less on purchases. Companies spent $352.38 million for M&As between calendar January and now, one fourth of 2010. Smaller truck and bus makers such as Iveco and Paccar, compared to giants Volvo, Scania and Daimler, would be open for tie ups or buyouts in India, Seghal said. “Indian and Chinese players will consolidate and define the automotive industry worldwide,” Sehgal said. Rothschild estimates that by 2030, India will be the second largest automotive market in the world by sales, overtaking the US. India will add over 20 percent of the global capacity in the next 10 years. Indian domestic automakers sold 11.3 million units between April and November 2011, data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers’ report released on December 8 showed, it was reported.

i1 Supercar Series set to unveil drivers and car at Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi

The much awaited i1 Supercar Series has confirmed that it will host its first ever pre-season test on December 20th at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. This test at the famed F1 venue will also see the unveiling of the drivers, both international and local, who will participate in the first season of the motorsport league. As a prelude to the racing league, set to take center stage with its first race in January 2012, the drivers will get a chance to test the Radical SR3, the single make car being used for the series. The curiosity around who would be the drivers for the series would finally be quelled with Darshan M, CEO, i1 Supercar Series announcing the impressive driver line-up on Monday, 19th December.
Being held at the popular Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, the pre-season test would be the first time the drivers would get their hands on the powerful Radical SR3 car, noted for its speed and safety features. Darshan M, CEO, Machdar Motorsports said, “We are delighted to finally get down to business and let all the action do the talking. We will unveil all the drivers at Abu Dhabi and would like to confirm that we have some great names associated with the series. This is the first time that the drivers get their hands on the Radical SR3 so we are hoping they share the same enthusiasm as we do.”
The series, which is committed to developing motorsport in the country, is keen to give the youngsters a chance to shine on an international platform. The young Indian drivers confirmed for the test include Aditya Patel, Vishnu Prasad, Amrittajit Ghosh, Parth Ghorpade and Chirag Malhotra amongst others would be given a chance to prove themselves in the series. This will be the only time the drivers would get an opportunity to drive the Radical SR3 before the series takes off in January. Darshan added, “We have always believed in promoting Indian driving talent and this series will give them international exposure. The pre-season test would give an opportunity for the young Indian talent to gain a lot of experience from some of the world’s finest drivers. We are very excited about the new series and are confident this series would be a huge success with both Indian and International audiences. ”

Good News on Emu Slaughtering Houses

I recently had discussion with few industry veterans about the upcoming emu slaughtering units in and around Tamil Nadu and AP. They were very positive and confident about the slaughtering business, and I noticed that they are bit worried too, for not going to get enough stocks for the Slaughtering house. This will initiate a supply/demand gap, possibly in the coming year 2011/2012.

The Good News is that, Vileena Emu (AP) will be starting their Slaughtering House in July, same goes for Jeevan Emu Farm, Dindigul (TN). In addition to these two, I understand that another few units are coming up, and I am getting more details about them. Soon, I will bring those information here.

The price offered are Rs.250/Kg live bird weight at the Slaughter House Gate. This seems to be pretty standard rate. I believe this rate will go up once the Emu Meat Market demand is picking up.

The Bright lights are started showing up in Emu Farming Industry in India. It's a good news, indeed.

Sex and Sun Signs

Sex is really important to keep your relationship sailing smooth forever. It is not just about physical pleasure but by giving in, you are expressing 'trust' that you have in your mate. It reflects affection, care, love and a feeling that you are wanted. If your sex life has gone for a toss, you have to work on it before your relationship is hit hard. In fact, sex has the power to put an end to conflicts in your relationship. So, discover your partners' passion points through their sun sign and keep the magic in your relationship alive.

Aries:
When your lover is Aries, sex is best if it's spontaneous and unrestricted. Their heads are erogenous zones-they love it when you mess up their hair and grab their face when they are making love. They are especially aroused by their partner's sexual organs.

Taurus:
When your lover is Taurus, the sexual nature involves all of the senses. Touch and smell are supremely important to these lovers. These lovers don't have a reputation for spontaneity or variety, but they are good at what they do nonetheless.

Gemini:
When your lover is Gemini, use words in bed with them. Talk turns them on, and they love to kiss! Oral pleasures are extra special for these lovers. They love role-playing, as long as it is varied.

Cancer:
When your lover is Cancer, you'll get one of the most sensitive and sweet lovers. They are turned on by slave scenarios, and they may like it when you're a little mean and aggressive in bed, as long as they know you love them.

Leo:
When your lover is Leo, the fantasies often revolve around devotion and attention. These people are most turned on when their partner thinks they are gods or goddesses. They can sometimes come on too strong, and get impatient when their needs are not met soon enough.

Virgo:
When your lover is Virgo, there is generally a healthy attitude towards sex. Simple and sweet is the way they like their bed partners. They can be a little insecure about their own bodies, and they make up for it by paying close attention to their methods of turning you on.

Libra:
When your lover is Libra, extra care is taken to please the partner. They love working on getting things right, and are especially turned on by role-playing sex games. They are givers in bed, but they fully expect you to give equally in return.

Scorpio:
When your lover is Scorpio, the sexual nature can be quite complex. These lovers are willing to do almost anything, and they enjoy full-body pleasures. The most passionate of all signs, Scorpios are known to have sex always on their mind.

Sagittarius:
When your lover is Sagittarius, sex is treated rather like a sport. Laughing and rough-housing are huge turn-ons. The best way to approach sex with these people is to just do it.

Capricorn:
When your lover is Capricorn, sex that is straightforward and simple is generally best. They can be quite happy with consistency, as variety is less important to them than is security in sexual expression. Do not expect any creative or zany positions, but expect it to be good.

Aquarius:
When your lover is Aquarius, there is a 'take it or leave it' style that can be sexy or maddening, depending on the audience. Sex from a distance, like cyber or phone sex, or affairs that don't break up marriages, can be especially attractive to these folks.

Pisces:
When your lover is Pisces, a subtle approach to flirting and sex is taken on. In general, they prefer non-verbal expressions of love and are attracted to imbalance. Self-sacrifice, compassion, and even religion can be mixed into their sexual expression.

10 Most Corrupt Indian Politicians

While everyone has been animatedly supporting Anna Hazare's fight against corruption, people seem to have forgotten who the people are who actually led to this situation.
The peak of irony was when Anna was, allegedly, lodged in the same jail that housed the people who were responsible for two of the biggest scams in the country ever. How must the authorities have felt when they saw Raja and Kalmadi fill their plates while Anna was on a fast because of their misdeeds?
Corruption has become an unavoidable part of politics and every now and then, one or the other politician re-affirms this fact.
Here is our pick of the 10 most corrupt politicians of India.

Suresh Kalmadi

Suresh Kalmadi, almost single handedly caused a loss of hundreds of crores of rupees to the country. The Commonwealth Games, organized by Kalmadi was no less than a loot with numerous reports of the magnum opus event being soaked in corruption making headlines way before the Games had even started. Apparently, out of Rs. 70000 crores spent on the Games, only half of the amount was actually spent. Owing to his involvement in the scam, Kalmadi was charged with corruption and sent to Tihar jail.

A. Raja

A scam worth Rs. 176,000 crore had former Union Cabinet Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Andimuthu Raja at the centre. A. Raja as he is generally called, was the prime accused in the 2G spectrum scam, which was the largest that the country had seen in a long time. Following the shocking exposure, Raja was indicted and forced to resign. Presently, he is too has been lodged at the Tihar jail and is awaiting his trial.

Mayawati

Mayawati has always been criticized for ostentatious display of power in her state. She has allegedly used her status as chief minister to amass large amounts of personal wealth. She was charged with corruption when the Taj Heritage Corridor Case was uncovered. Mayawati's birthdays have always been media events, where she usually appears decked in diamond jewellery and also accepts public donations for which, she often comes under fire. Her assets are worth millions of dollars and in the year 2007-08, she had paid an income tax of Rs. 26 crores, which placed her amongst the top 20 taxpayers of the year.

Lalu Prasad Yadav

The fact that Lalu Prasad Yadav has been an accused in 63-odd cases serves for the fact that Lalu stands as one of the strongest competitor in the list. The biggest scam that rocked Lalu's political career was the fodder scam which involved the embezzlement of Rs. 950 crore approximately. The accusation of nepotism against him has come up time and again but hardly any action has been taken against him owing to his 'connections' in the government.

Madhu Koda

Former Jharkand Chief Minister, and only the third independent legislator to assume the office of chief minister in India, Madhu Koda was responsible for a scam worth over Rs. 4000 crore. The man exploited the state's natural resources by licensing illegal mining leases and stashing away the wealth amassed during the undertaking. Furthermore, the Maoists received a 30% share of the booty. Koda was arrested on charges of money laundering and is still in prison following the rejection of numerous bail applications.

Mulayam Singh Yadav

Mulayam Singh Yadav is also known as one of the most corrupt ministers in the country despite not being directly involved in any major scams. Apart from his name being involved in appointments of tainted officers and mishandling of his power as chief minister, Mulayam Singh had one major allegation levelled against him– accumulation of disproportionate assets. The case drew limelight on his sons and daughter-in-law as they too were holders of the assests that amounted to crores of rupees.

Karunanidhi

The corruptions charges against M. Karunanidhi are so many that he is often referred to as the king or emperor of corruption. He was accused of lending support to the LTTE and was indicted for abetting the LTTE in the interim report which oversaw the investigation into Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.
Karunanidhi reportedly institutionalized corruption in the South. He was a leading player in the cash for votes scams that are common in the southern region, as well as notorious foe extreme nepotism shown under his rule. Not so surprising, is the fact that the main accused in the 2G scam, A, Raja, considers him to be his mentor.

Sharad Pawar

Very few people can miss the cosy relationship that Sharad Pawar shares with power and money.Every now and then, Pawar draws flak for alleged investments made by him and his family in various illegal projects. He was named by Abdul Karim Telgi, during a narcoanalysis test, stating that it was Pawar's brainchild to print fake stamp papers across the country and mint money. He was also accused in a multi-crore scam involving wheat imports and institutions headed by him and his close associates were served notices by the Bombay High Court for showing favoritism to his family.

Jayalalithaa

The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has a staggering 46 corruption cases against her. Amongst the various scams were the Rs. 70 million coal import scam, Tansi land deal case, case of disproportionate assets and colour TV case, amongst many others. A raid in her residence and business establishments led to the seizure of some 28 kg of jewellery (worth Rs 51 crore), 91 wrist-watches, 41 air-conditioners, 10,500 sarees, 750 pairs of footwears, etc. She along with her former cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats who worked with her are still facing investigation with regard to corruption.

BS Yeddyurappa

The most recent politician http://www.mensxp.com/special-features/top-10/5458-meet-the-top-10-young-politicians-of-india.html to be caught in the web of corruption is former Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yeddyurappa. While he has a number of corruption lying against him, the one that toppled his career was his alleged involvement in the illegal iron ore export scam in districts of Karnataka. A lot of blame game followed and ended up with Yeddyurappa losing his ministerial post last month. Despite his denial, his image as one of the most corrupt politicians of the country will not fade anytime soon. (MensXP.com)

Inspirational quote of the day:

 Take chances, make mistakes. That's how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave – Mary Tyler Moore

Google Transit Maps Bus Routes for Chennai and Hyderabad

Google has attacked the supremely uncool task of referring to a bus timetable.

Just like the company did for Mumbai and Delhi, Google has added commuting in Hyderabad and Chennai to it's Google Maps' Transit feature. The feature, which provides detailed local bus transit services free of cost to users gives you access to bus routes online via Google Maps.



access the bus route information, enter your starting location, where you want to go, date, time of travel (normal Google Maps procedure), and Google will rustle up the usual schematics. But there'll be two options - one for private vehicles and one for public transport such as local rail and bus.
Click on the public transport, and you get precise details on bus routes, bus stops, bus numbers, their timings and a pretty good estimate on the time you'll need to get there.

There's even advice on where buses start, and, answering the one question every seasoned bus commuter innately knows, frequency of services.
"The addition of local bus services in Hyderabad to Google India Transit will help millions of commuters and visitors in the city to explore public transportation options as they search for directions or locations, and encourage alternatives to driving," Kapil Goswami from Google India's business development said in a blogpost.
For this, Google mapped 446 APSRTC bus routes in Hyderabad.
"The entire data on Hyderabad's bus services, which are run by APSRTC, was collected and as we go along, we will keep adding various modes of transport like we did in Mumbai and Delhi where transit services of local trains and metro rail are also mapped along with bus services," the spokesperson explained.
While the service can't account for real time travel and rush hour, the service does let you access a too to indicate a change in landmarks.
Google began Transit information on Google maps for India mid-2010. Currently, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai and Ahmedabad have their public transport on it mapped on it. (MensXP.com)

Debt issuers brace for impact from U.S. downgrade

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A downgrade of United States' top-tier credit rating has Wall Street scrambling to figure out the knock-on effects for the financial system, from mortgages to banks to markets that rely on U.S. Treasuries for collateral.

The immediate effects of the Standard & Poor's downgrade of the country's AAA credit rating late on Friday are likely to be modest, largely because it was expected and already at least partly discounted, experts said.

Many downplayed the likelihood of the sort of financial contagion experienced when Lehman Brothers went under in September 2008. Few had expected it to have to file for bankruptcy, and few were prepared for the fallout. Money market funds froze, some major commercial banks collapsed, and many major dealers and finance houses teetered on the edge of failure.

But even if that type of scenario is unlikely this time, bankers, lawyers and investors wonder if there could be longer-term consequences of S&P's downgrade, given that U.S. sovereign credit is bedrock to the world financial system.
The analysis is complicated because so many of the potential stress points for the financial system are relatively opaque areas like over-the-counter derivatives markets.
Adding to the difficulties is the concern that the downgrade is only one of the many issues roiling global markets. The European debt crisis is spreading, with Italy and Spain coming under the gun after Greece, and data in recent weeks point to a weaker U.S. economy than many investors had thought and have led to fears of another recession.
"I actually think it is going to end up having more of an impact than some of the news stories are suggesting," said Thomas Stoddard, a senior managing director at Blackstone Group who focuses on financial services investment banking.
"Not having the U.S. as triple-A is just going to pop up in more places and have more frictional costs than people might suspect," Stoddard added.

A number of entities that are key players in the U.S. financial system -- including mortgage finance companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and securities clearinghouses like the Options Clearing Corp Depository Trust Co -- are likely to be downgraded by Standard & Poor's on Monday.

For Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, losing their triple-A rating could lift borrowing costs, potentially making mortgages more expensive for consumers and adding to stress in the already unstable U.S. housing market.

Last month, S&P said it may also cut ratings for companies like the Depository Trust Co, which facilitates payment transfers among major banks, and several Federal Home Loan Banks and Farm Credit System Banks.

On Friday evening, when S&P cut the United States' sovereign rating by one notch to "AA-plus," it said it would offer more detail about the ratings for these companies on Monday.
DERIVATIVES MARKETS
Another source of potential stress is derivatives markets, where investors and banks often collateralize their positions using U.S. Treasuries.
If banks start demanding more Treasuries to collateralize the same exposure, investors could be forced to sell assets to come up with extra collateral, causing broader market declines. As long as Treasury yields are at all time lows, that risk seems relatively low, said a hedge fund trader who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Some derivatives transactions may have ratings triggers built into them that unwind the deals if the U.S. is downgraded, the trader said, but he said it is difficult to know how many such transactions are out there.
OCC, the world's largest equity derivatives clearing organization, said on Sunday it has no current plans to adjust its current valuations or haircuts on Treasuries used as collateral.
There are some factors working in markets' favor, analysts noted.
For one thing, major U.S. banks are better capitalized as credit losses have slowed. The U.S. banking system had $1.51 trillion of equity capital at the end of the first quarter, compared with $1.29 trillion in the fourth quarter of 2008. That roughly 17 percent of extra capital is supporting about 3 percent fewer assets than it used to.
If stresses become strong in areas like the repo market, a massive market that banks use to fund securities short-term, dealers are fairly sure the Federal Reserve can jump in to offer support, as it did during the credit crunch, the trader said.
Any impact in the derivatives market will be less than what the pessimists fear, said Michael Holland, founder of asset manager Holland & Co. "I don't expect major disruptions in markets just from the downgrade."
BORROWING COSTS
Borrowing costs for companies with top ratings like Microsoft Corp and Exxon Mobil Corp could drop, because triple-A rated debt may be even more attractive to some investors now, analysts said. Some companies have at times had more available cash on their balance sheets than the U.S. government in recent weeks.
In general, corporate borrowing costs may not rise following the U.S. downgrade. Last week, when many in the market were expecting the U.S. to be downgraded, six U.S. companies issued 30-year bonds, which is unusually long-dated for the corporate market.
Even highly-rated corporate bonds have seen their risk premiums rise in recent sessions, signaling that portfolio managers are still concerned about credit risk. As turmoil in Europe ratchets higher, those risk premiums may rise more. But investors' willingness to buy long-term corporate debt signals some confidence in the sector.
"To a certain extent, corporate debt may look even more attractive, especially cash-rich balance sheet companies with lots of liquidity," said Chip MacDonald, a financial services partner at law firm Jones Day.
STATE FINANCES
States that rely heavily on federal government spending -- such as Virginia and Maryland, which are home to many federal employees and defense contractors -- could suffer if Congress and President Barack Obama slice the federal budget more deeply.
A downgrade of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would affect billions of dollars of debt issued by public housing authorities secured by federally guaranteed mortgages.
Hospital credits could be weakened if the federal government slashes programs such as Medicaid -- the health plan for the elderly, poor and disabled that accounts for as much as 30 percent of state spending. Stocks in the health care sector sold off last week, amid fears of declining government support for spending in the sector.
"The degree of dependence on the federal government now becomes a state credit issue," said Philip Fischer a managing principal at eBooleant Consulting, in a recent report.
S&P is also expected to immediately downgrade pre-refunded bonds. When municipal bonds are refunded, investors are typically repaid from Treasuries held in escrow.
Debt issued by AAA-rated universities and colleges with global reputations might rise in price, said Evan Rourke, a portfolio manager, with Eaton Vance, citing Harvard and Princeton as examples.
Indeed, the immediate impact of the downgrade might be muted by the tax-free market's traditional strengths.

"I don't see a tremendous flight out of municipals. You might see credit spreads widening for lower-rated issues but we also think a lot will hold their ratings," Rourke said.

NASA finds evidence of flowing water on Mars

NASA found evidence that briny water flows on Mars, raising chances that life could exist on the Red Planet.

BBC journalist narrates his encounter with UFO in England

August 04 (ANI): A BBC journalist has claimed that he has seen a UFO when he was just outside the Hertfordshire village of Cottered, England.

Sports reporter Mike Sewell told how he "totally freaked out" the moment he saw the disc-shaped craft zoom in front of his car as he drove across the countryside in darkness at 4.15am.

Sewell, who lives in the Midlands, was driving to Stansted Airport to catch a flight to Sweden for Champions League qualifying game between Malmo and Glasgow Rangers, when he saw a UFO with flashing lights in the road.

Sewell told how he had been driving behind a VW van when he saw the craft in the sky.

Speaking on Radio Five Live to millions of listeners, he revealed how he was left "gobsmacked" as the UFO then hovered above a field a few hundred yards from the road.

"I was driving east across country about 15 to 20 miles from Stansted Airport at 4.15 in the morning and I saw this big bright light in the sky descending towards the road and as it got closer it banked to the left," the Sun quoted him as saying.

"As it banked to the left it went cross-country, I could see underneath and it wasn't an aeroplane and it wasn't a helicopter.

"I dread saying this, disc-shaped. It had several lights flashing all around it and underneath there were at least two large panel lights, soft white lights underneath. And then it just sat or circled a certain area above a field."

"I was so gobsmacked. I was trying to keep on the road and eventually lost sight of it after two or three minutes but what I saw was not an normal aircraft. It was weird. I was totally freaked out," he added. (ANI)

China rescues 89 trafficked children, arrests 369

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese authorities have rescued 89 trafficked minors as young as 10 days and the oldest 4 years and arrested 369 suspects after uncovering two child trafficking gangs, authorities said Wednesday.

The busts highlighted China's thriving black market in children — mostly involving buyers who want more children or those who want them as slave labor — that endures despite harsh penalties for traffickers, including death.

It was not clear from the reports posted Wednesday on the Ministry of Public Security website if sex abuse also might have been a motive. Calls to the ministry went unanswered.

One case stretched across 14 provinces in China and the other involved a trafficking ring that mainly sold children in Vietnam through neighboring Guangxi province.

A report by the People's Daily, posted on the ministry's website, said raids were carried out on July 20 in 14 provinces in the south, east and north of the country.

The operation involved 2,600 officers and the People's Daily said the youngest child was 10 days old and the oldest 4 years.

A separate People's Daily report that wasn't published on the ministry's website said the Vietnam operation on July 15 resulted in the rescue of eight infants aged 10 days to 7 months. Thirty-nine people, of which at least four were Vietnamese, were detained.

A total of 89 minors were rescued and 369 suspects arrested in both operations, the reports said.

Police sent the rescued children to orphanages as their parents had not been found.

It is often difficult to trace the parents of trafficked children and the law has not clearly defined the circumstances in which a buyer of a child should be punished. While many babies are stolen, some are sold by their parents.
Liu Ancheng, deputy director of the Ministry of Public Security Criminal Investigation Bureau, was quoted in the People's Daily report as saying that if the buyers have not abused the children, they cannot be held criminally responsible.
Liu said the "dreadful practice of buying and selling children" is a result of ignorance of the law in rural areas as well as traditional Chinese social norms that call for people "to have both sons and daughters" and children who will look after a parent in old age.

China's traditional preference for male heirs means some families sell their female babies in order to try for a boy, since the country's one-child policy limits most urban couples to one child and rural families to two.

South African man wakes after 21 hours in morgue fridge

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African man awoke to find himself in a morgue fridge — nearly a day after his family thought he had died, a health official said Monday.

Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the man awoke Sunday afternoon, 21 hours after his family called in an undertaker who sent him to the morgue after an asthma attack.

Morgue owner Ayanda Maqolo said he sent his driver to collect the body shortly after the family reported the death. Maqolo said he thought the man was around 80 years old.

"When he got there, the driver examined the body, checked his pulse, looked for a heartbeat, but there was nothing," Maqolo told the Associated Press.

But a day after staff put the body into a locked refrigerated compartment, morgue workers heard someone shouting for help. They thought it was a ghost, the morgue owner said.

"I couldn't believe it!" Maqolo said. "I was also scared. But they are my employees and I had to show them I wasn't scared, so I called the police."

After police arrived, the group entered the morgue together.

"I was glad they had their firearms, in case something wanted to fight with us," Maqolo said.

He said the man was pale when they pulled him out.

"He asked, 'How did I get here?'" Maqolo said.

The health department said the man was then taken to a nearby hospital for observation and later discharged by doctors who deemed him stable.

Kupelo, the health department spokesman, urged South Africans to call on health officials to confirm that their relatives are really dead.

The man's family was informed that he was alive during a family meeting convened to make funeral arrangements. They're very happy to have him home, Maqolo said.

But Maqolo said he is still trying to recover from the traumatic experience."I couldn't sleep last night, I had nightmares," he said. "But today I'm much better."

BJP says Yeddyurappa must resign

10: 58 am: Yeddyurappa holds emergency meetingEven as the BJP high command has come to a decision, Yeddyurappa himself is huddled in a meeting with some close aides at his residence. Yesterday, Yeddyurappa had said there was no question of him resigning.

10: 42 am: BJP cracks the whip on YeddyurappaRavishankar Prasad said BJP parliamentary committee met since 9:30 am and came to a unanimous decision that there has to be a change in leadership in Karnataka and asked the chief minister to tender in his resignation.

10: 36 am: Yeddyurappa must go: Ravishankar PrasadThe BJP parliamentary board has taken a decision on the Karnataka political crisis. Addressing the media outside party president Nitin Gadkari's residence, spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad said Yeddyurappa must step down as the CM. Senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Rajnath Singh will head to Bangalore to select a new leader.

10: 15 am: Reddy brothers to address media later todayReddy brothers, accused of running a parallel government in Bellary district, will address the media this afternoon, Kannada channels report.

9: 50 am: Karnataka BJP split on YeddyurappaThe BJP in Karnataka seems to have split vertically. Most ministers may give the meeting Yeddyurappa has called at 10.30 am a miss. (He is also talking of a 3.30 pm meeting). MLA CT Ravi is reportedly telling his party colleagues not to attend any meeting called by Yeddyurappa. The legislator told TV9 that reporters should not dig into a party's internal affairs.

9: 30 am: Yeddyurappa certain to go
Yeddyurappa is certain to go, and the BJP is only struggling to zero in on a successor, reports ET. Front runners, Jagdish Shettar, KS Eshwarappa and Ananth Kumar, are engaged in marshalling support for their respective bids, according to the business paper. More on Economic Times

9: 00 am: BJP likely to decide Yeddyurappa's fate today

On Wednesday, Karnataka Lokayukta submitted its report on illegal mining in the state and indicted Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. The BJP parliamentary committee will meet today to take a decision on his continuation as the CM.

Yeddyurappa, who reached New Delhi Wednesday evening went to the residence of party president Nitin Gadkari to attend the meeting, convened in the wake of report by Karnataka Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde which levelled charges against him.

The meeting, which lasted over three hours, was attended by senior BJP leaders Arun Jaitley, who is BJP party in-charge of Karnataka and former president Rajnath Singh.

Diet Soda Dangers

Before you grab your next soda think about what you are really putting into your body.



You are hot and thirsty. Before you grab your next soda think about what you are really putting into your body. Many women are not aware of the many health risks that they are taking by simply having a diet soda. They think they are making a smart choice in choosing a diet soda over a regular soda. There are many diet soda dangers to your health.
Diet Soda Weight Gain
To be honest most women start drinking diet soda because they are worried about gaining weight. They switch from drinking regular soda to drinking diet soda. Women usually feel like they are making a smart switch. Unfortunately, this may not indeed be the case. The truth is many women actually gain weight from switching to diet soda from regular soda. They think they are cutting calories by drinking diet soda so they indulge in higher calorie food when having meals.
Artificial Sweeteners
Many diet sodas have artificial sweeteners in them. This could be a health risk. The sweet tasting artificial sweeteners can actually lead you to crave sweeter things. This might make you indulge on things that are not healthy for your body. For example, it might make you want to eat candy. This adds credit to the gaining weight theory because after drinking a diet soda you may then want sweeter things to ingest causing you to eat more calories than you should have in your daily diet. Plus, some artificial sweeteners are not good for your health in general.
Caffeine
Many diet sodas have caffeine in them. Although some people love caffeine because it helps give them energy for their day, caffeine may not be healthy for you. Even though caffeine may give you a quick burst of energy it could also lead you to feel very fatigued throughout the rest of your day. You may also feel jumpy and feel anxious. Plus, caffeine helps to dehydrate you because caffeine helps to flush out your body fluids. Many women find that drinking diet soda with caffeine in it causes them to experience headaches. If you experience negative health issues, then you may want to cut out caffeine in your diet.
Metabolic Syndrome
Drinking diet soda may lead you to getting metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is when you have a bunch of risk factors for things like high cholesterol, insulin resistance, obesity, and high blood pressure. Drinking even just one soda a day can put you at higher health risk for getting metabolic syndrome. Having metabolic syndrome increases your chances of having heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Having metabolic syndrome is a health issue that you really want to avoid at all costs. So make sure if you drink diet soda on a regular basis that you take all your health issues into consideration first before continuing to indulge in it. Is really worth it to drink diet soda if your health could suffer because of it?
Heart Smart
A big thing in the news lately is how some diet sodas may not be good for your heart. If you are trying to be heart smart healthy then put down your diet soda right now. Diet soda might raise your blood pressure. It could lead to you having heart disease and strokes. Drinking any soft drinks could be a risk factor to your heart health. So, if you are concerned about your heart health then you may consider cutting out not only diet soda, but any type of soda all together. Be careful what you decide to drink because there are many diet soda dangers to your health.

Your Health - Insanely Slim: Diet Pill Ingredients Can Cause Mood Swings

Take a pill, lose some weight and your mind in the process. Diet pills contain ingredients to boost mood and dieters have no idea.


About 30 minutes after taking an "all-natural" green tea diet pill, the anger started. The slightest noise sent me into a rage and I snapped at every question anyone dared ask my way. It took five hours for the effects of that "all-natural" diet pill to wear off. At the time, I did not link the diet pill to the mood swings, but after a few days of taking those little green pills, I realized these were no normal bouts of anger.
5HTP may cause an unsafe rise in serotonin levels. If you are currently taking medications for depression or anxiety, 5HTP is not a safe diet pill ingredient. 5HTP is proven to boost serotonin levels, which is the same effect anti-depressant medications have on the brain. Boosting serotonin too high can cause serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome presents with a variety of symptoms, including difficulty concentrating, hallucinations and rapid heart rate. Patients with bipolar disorder should not take 5HTP.
SAM-e may cause hypomania in bipolar patients.SAM-e is all natural and safe, because it naturally occurs in all things living, according to the SAM-e website. Despite being all-natural, SAM-e is proven to cause hypomania and mania in patients with bipolar disorder. Depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder are symptoms of bipolar disorder. Patients taking medications for any mood related diagnosis should avoid SAM-e.
Kava kava may relax you, but at what cost. Kava kava is a natural treatment for insomnia and anxiety. It tranquilizes the body without interfering with brain function or clarity of thoughts. Unfortunately, the supplement may cause liver damage. Prescription medications for depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder are metabolized by the liver, in some cases. Taking kava kava with prescription medications in these categories is like pounding the liver with a one-two punch. Kava kava, working in conjunction with an anti-anxiety medication may take mood down too far, causing depression or inability to stay awake.
Phenylethylamine may boost mood, but it also boosts mood swings. Who would have ever thought chocolate could negatively affect mood? Phenylethylamine is common found in chocolate. This chemical is the reason chocolate works as an aphrodisiac. Diet pill companies often include concentrated forms of phenylethylamine in diet pill formulas. Some diet pills will list warnings in the fine print on the official supplement website stating the potential negative side effects of phenylethylamine in patients with mood disorders. These warnings are not printed on most product labels.
What ingredients affected my mood? The diet pill I chose seemed safe, according to the label. The ingredients included acai fruit, Hoodia Gordonii extract, yerba mate leaf, guarana seed extract, uva ursi extract, capsicum fruit, polygonum cuspidatum, green coffee bean extract, fucoxanthin wakame seaweed. None of these ingredients is known to cause mood swings or anger, but the effect I felt stopped after I stopped taking the supplement. It just goes to show that even a seemingly harmless diet pill can cause negative mental side effects.

Your Style - How to Purchase a Custom Pair of Jeans

Are you tired of jeans that fit in the waist, but are too big for the hips? What about petite pants that are still too long? If only you could have your jeans custom made.

Are you tired of jeans that fit in the waist, but are too big for the hips? What about petite pants that are still too long? If only you could have your jeans custom made. Guess what. You can have jeans custom made. If you're willing to pay more for your jeans, you can customize everything from measurements to design. While several companies offer this service, this article will focus on the company MakeYourOwnJeans.com, which has been featured in Woman's World magazine and even The Wall Street Journal.
Take Your Measurements
The first step to ordering a pair of custom jeans is to take measurements. The exact measurements you take will depend on the pair of jeans you order. Most styles though require the measurements from your waist, thigh and inseam. To make this process easy, and to ensure correct measurements are taken, use a fabric measuring tape that is flexible and will mold to your body. The website gives the exact details of how to take measurements for each style of jeans available.
Choose a Pocket Style
These jeans are truly customizable and allow you to have one of a kind jeans. This means you can choose everything, including pocket styles for the front and back of your jeans. Whether you want buttoned pockets, zippers or even just a regular pocket, the choice is yours. This is certainly a great way to add embellishment to your pants, but be careful of bulky pockets. A bulky pocket can add unnecessary padding to a curvy tush.
Embellish Your Jeans with Embroidery, Rivets and Thread
If you're tired of boring jeans, making a custom pair of jeans is certainly worth the money. It doesn't matter if you want your name embroidered across the seat of your pants or a medieval design, there are patterns to suit almost any taste, which means you can have a one of a kind pair of jeans. If embroidery isn't enough for you, you can also choose the color of thread your jeans are sewn together with. If you want to match the thread to the jeans or even want bright green thread, it isn't a problem. Want more options? Then why not choose antique copper stud rivets or steel dragon buttons? If these aren't enough options, you can also customize your zippers, add rips or even tummy control. Think of all the greatest features you've ever seen on jeans and the ability to add them to one pair of jeans. That's what a customized pair of jeans will allow you to do. You can even choose the wash color.
Be Prepared for Sticker Shock
It's important to note that you will pay a pretty penny custom jeans. Custom jeans start at $49 per pair, which is right on target with the price of jeans in a clothing store, but the more embellishments you add, the more you'll pay. Different rivets and buttons add $2, embroidery can add another $10, different colored thread will add enough $2 and different pocket styles can add up to another $7. As you can see, a pair of custom jeans come with a custom price. But, if you're just looking for a basic pair of jeans that fit better, you simply cannot beat custom jeans. These jeans are made to fit your body and that's not something you're going to find in your local clothing store.

The Top Mobile Gadgets of 2011 So Far

The evolution of mobile devices has accelerated out of the gate in 2011. From 3D displays to dual-core powerhouses, we're carrying some serious technology in our pockets. What devices are driving the trends of our mobile future in 2011?

Here are five of the most significant mobile products of the year to date.

1. HTC Evo 3D

The arrival of the HTC Evo 3D was a surprise to the mobile market, a step forward in technology that few anticipated. Like the Nintendo 3DS, the HTC Evo 3D features a 3D display that shows real 3D visuals without the use of special glasses. Not only does the Evo 3D display three-dimensional images, it captures 3D images and video with the attached dual-lens camera. Who knew 3D technology would fit in your pocket so quickly.

2. Apple iPad 2

The second iteration of the iPad remains the king of the tablet world, despite new competition from a range of products. The Apple iPad 2 added a second processor, a front-facing camera, a slimmer design and a smart cover to an already amazing offering. Oh, and much like the latest iPhone offering, the iPad 2 is available in sleek, pearly white.

3. Motorola Atrix 4G

According to Motorola, the new Motorola Atrix 4G is the world's most powerful smartphone. They didn't skimp on the specs, as this Android device is as advanced as you can get in a handset. It features a dual-core processor, up to 48GB of storage, a qHD display, fingerprint recognition security and a front-facing camera for video calling. The dual core processor is the Atrix 4G's greatest strength as it is one of the first mobile devices to offer such a processing punch.

4. Blackberry Playbook

In 2011, there have been a whole lot of tablets released not named "iPad". The Blackberry Playbook is the king of that pack, outselling even the new Motorola Xoom with 250,000 units sold in its first month. The Playbook features a 1GHz dual-core processor, a 7-inch display capable of 1080p HD playback and a pair of cameras on the front and back. Upon its reveal, the Playbook was the most powerful tablet available, and its custom Blackberry OS offered a new feel to the tablet experience and a genuine competitor to keep Apple in check.

5. iPhone 4

And then there was good old faithful. The iPhone 4, like its prior iterations, is one of the top-selling handsets of all time. Little has changed about the iPhone 4 in 2011, save for the white option released earlier this year. 2011 is likely to see one or two updates to the iPhone, the rumored iPhone 4S or even the edge-to-edge screen of the iPhone 5. The 4s model is rumored to ship with a dual-core A5 chipset and boosted specs across the board, plus availability on T-Mobile and Sprint networks. These fingers are tightly cross'd on that one!

Even with five months left in the year, it's hard to argue that this list will change much come December. Which of these magnificent mobile devices will you be adding to your stable in 2011? Share yours in the comments!