Eve-teased? Don't be a victim

Image courtesy: ©2009 Jupiterimages

"The truth will set you free. But first, it will piss you off" opined the famous feminist Gloria Steinem. And I cannot agree more.

It's the same old story every single day. The Home Ministry's National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in 2007 showed that every two hours a woman is raped, every hour one woman is molested, every half an hour someone is sexually harassed in India.

If you been living here long enough, you'd also know that eve teasing is something that a woman has to contend with every freaking minute!

You step on the street and there he is; the roadside romeo droning the latest Bollywood number and checking you out while buying a matchbox at the nearby paan shop. You obviously look into the opposite direction for a rickshaw acting like you didn’t hear him or pretending that you don't understand his blasphemous aati-kya-khandala-type comments. As you bend down a little to get inside the rickshaw you are almost certain that the driver is trying to sneak a peek you know what!

Once you get down at station you invariably get nudged or groped even if its 7 o'clock in the morning. And DON'T even get me started on the horrors of travelling during the peak hour. You're butt-pinched, elbow-nudged, shoulder-brushed… and all you can do is utter an icy 'a**hole' under your breath because you're thinking WHAT'S THE POINT?

The point is, this is the story of every girl and every woman living in an urban city. The point is if you don't stand up, the groping, the whistling, and the sleazy comments will NEVER stop. The point is with each passing day there will be more perpetrators and hence, more victims like you and me. The point is eve-teasing is not a victimless crime. It has resulted in suicides!

Here's how you can create a revolution and stop playing victim.

1. Shout!
Not like Sunny Deol in a court room drama! (Although you secretly imagine the perpetrator grilled in the same manner). Raise your voice sternly and loud enough to be heard by a few people around you. The creep will lose his face and you will gain your grace!

2. Be alert
Okay, I get it that you love your iPod and talking over the phone but don't be so engrossed that you're totally oblivious to your surroundings.

3. Face the stalker head on
Now feel free to shout like Sunny Deol. That creep definitely has some audacity and if you don't make a noise his impudence will only increase. Making a scene might not be your thing, but you'll be surprised at how the crowd will voluntarily stand up for you.

4. Two's a company...
...and three is definitely not a crowd when it comes to travelling. See if you can find a friend or a colleague who stays in the same area to travel with you. So what if you have to wait a few extra minutes here and there, it's better to be safe than sorry.

5. Weapon of defense
If you always come late from work, if you stay in a secluded area or if you're going to an unfamiliar place, carry pepper spray, chilly powder or a laser / pen knife for your safety. And most importantly a PHONE. Don't forget help is always a phone call away.

No matter how much it's written about, how much NGOs rally, how much the activists speak…unless YOU stand up, they will continue to be half-hearted martyrs to a DEAD cause. So remember girls, when men ERR, go GRR! 

source:idiva

Funky foreplay for a spunky sex life!

Sex may end between the sheets, but that's certainly not where it begins. Experts tell you what to do for a spunkier sex life...
Scented candles? Check. Kamasutra series? Check. Flavoured condoms? Double check! The paraphernalia is in place, and boy, you were never more ready. It begins with foreplay, slips into intercourse, and before you know bam it’s over — as physical as it could get and as unfulfilling as you would dread. Setting up the supplies is only the icing. What’s needed primarily is that passion for each other, which sadly isn’t enough. Here’s what you can do to increase the satisfaction quotient of your next encounter.

Do the karaoke
Sing to your partner. It might be embarrassing to some, way too mushy for others, and old-fashioned for most, but sorry dude, it works. So head to the nearest Karaoke night, and let your hearts out with romantic duets. You needn’t do a Kishore Kumar or Asha Bhonsle, but the warm numbers will re-ignite the passion which is often muddled in everyday madness.

Head to the kitchen
Don the chef’s hat and help her cook. Lick the chilli sauce off each other’s fingers and show off some whipping (whipping cream, that is) skills. Don’t be surprised if you skip desserts and head straight to bed.

Click it right
Revisit those cherished moments by going through family albums and videos. That special date (when you first kissed), that evening by the seaside (when he finally proposed), your engagement ceremony (when your friends couldn’t stop dancing) will remind you how special your partner is. This feeling of togetherness and emotional intimacy will ultimately manifests in physical attraction.

Travel time
It’s time to put those leaves to good use. Check out travel brochures, browse the net and plan your next holiday. And lack of funds should not be an excuse. The good old Ganpatiphule can work as good as a Paris or a Barcelona. The shared experience will only bring you closer. By this you will realise that you still dig each other’s company and enjoy it the most.

Comic quotient
Humour is good for health and those light-hearted moments drain out stress, if any — just the right mood to switch in to some fun.

Catch a stand-up comic show or order that rib-tickling DVD to watch after dinner. If not that, get a book and read out those ridiculous jokes to each other.

What can be sexier than showing off those muscles as you work up a good sweat? Go for a jog, swim or cycle. The workout will help release endorphins; the feel-good hormones that will gear you up for a longer lasting session. And of course, a toned body means your partner will only be more than happy to help you show more of it.

Dance baby dance
You don’t need to be a perfect dancer or even know various dance forms for this. Just hold your partner and slow dance to your favourite song. The lyrics will play cupid as the bodies rub against each other, the fragrance of her hair will work as the most potent aphrodisiac you ever knew of.

Play with each other
Play cards or challenge each other for a board game. The rules remain the same, barring one small anomaly — the winner’s wish is the loser’s command. The adrenaline levels will soar as the game approaches its nail-biting finish. But the real fun will only be after the game is over.

Do ‘nothing’ together
Cuddle on a comfortable sofa with an endless supply of starters and chilled drinks. The endless chats about anything and everything will help you appreciate each other’s company. When both partners feel valued and loved, the connect goes deeper, and more meaningful. It is only out of such pleasant moments that true physical intimacy develops.

source;TOI

Why can't we buy condoms?

Image for representative purposes only. Image courtesy: ©2009 Jupiterimages

Why can't we buy condoms? I never thought I'd be asking this question. But I have been compelled to after a particularly appalling incident and several more narrated by my gal pals.
So here's what happened:

I walked myself to the "most popular" chemist in my area to buy a pack of condoms! And yes it was the first time I had ventured to do the same… Considerate that I am, I thought I'd let my partner off the hook and take responsibility this time around.

Considered one of the most advanced and biggest medical shops in the area, I was hoping to flit in and flit out in a breeze. Boy, was I wrong!

Condom please!

After I managed to catch the attention of a female shop assistant and asked her for my partner's choice of brand [I was getting the male condom!], the fiasco began.

Apparently flabbergasted by what I wanted to buy, she asked me to repeat my request. I nonchalantly did the same - only to be told to wait. She scurried off to a corner and whispered something in the ear of a fellow shop assistant and both the girls giggled and glared at me!

Pretending to be busy, the twosome then sent another assistant to ask me what I wanted. This one deserved the Oscar for playing the "I'm-hard-of-hearing-nitwit-shop-assistant" and asked me to repeat my request for the third time.

Enraged by the petty arrogance of these excuses-for-chemists, I repeated loudly the brand for the last and final time (or so I thought!). All the shop assistants - and there were around 7 of them - froze. I was "exhibit A" and all eyes were on me, including those of the other patrons. The young boy who had come for cough medicine blushed, the aunty cursed me under her breath and an uncouth looking man gave me a dirty smile.

The news that I was there for the "rubber" spread like wild fire!

I was finally handed very reluctantly the pack by the male shop assistant who was waiting for an explanation or an excuse. They weren't going to get any.

The fact that I was getting it for my husband was none of their business. And this very regressive attitude is what has stopped many others like me from doing the right thing - protecting ourselves.

Pharmacy: Humiliation hot-spot

In a recent survey, one out of 10 men said they have had unprotected sex because they were too embarrassed to buy condoms from a pharmacy. What's more, the results confirmed that the high street pharmacy was a 'humiliation hot-spot' for people.

So if the men were toe-curlingly embarrassed by the same, women obviously couldn't be left behind! What's worse was that almost 50 per cent of the population had suffered a health problem like thrush in silence rather than facing the embarrassment of seeking medical attention according to the online pharmacy mastersdirect.com.

Most simply walked out of a pharmacies because they were too embarrassed to ask for a particular health product, revealed the survey.

"The men will get it"

Most women depend on their male partners and trust them blindly to protect them against any sexually transmitted disease. A friend of mine got her partner to get a year's supply of condoms just so that he doesn't make excuses and she is not forced to go to a chemist.

While there are a handful few who do take the initiative like 30-year-old Priyasha Seth who always carries a pack and makes a point to buy it herself, even she has had to contend with embarrassing situations at the chemist.

It's all in the mind!

Most male friends of mine don't have any qualms walking up to a chemist and picking a condom. In fact, one of them "feels proud doing it, and especially likes discussing the different flavours, sizes, types at the chemist.... it freaks the shop assistants out completely".

29 year old Ad executive says, "All you need to do is head to a supermarket and dunk a pack or two with your groceries. Who's to know?!"

Make condoms accessible

Sociologist Nandini Sardesai says, "NGOs and the government have done enough. It's the attitude of the people that needs to change."

"There is a need to introduce new and novel ways of making condoms more accessible. For eg: Thailand's 'Condom King', Mechai Viravaidya - so-called due to his extensive work promoting accessible contraceptives - introduced the concept of giving condoms out instead of candy when you pay your bills."

All said and done, wouldn't you rather be safe than sorry? So, don't let chemists make you regret doing the right thing.

Have you been through embarrassing situations at the chemist? Leave us a comment and let us know.

source:idiva

The Art of Happiness – Amazing Facts

Scientists are beginning to identify the roots of positive emotion. You will be surprised – and encouraged – by the findings of recent research as outlined below.

1. Although genes and upbringing influence about 50% of the variation in our personal happiness, our circumstances (income and environment) affect only about 10 percent. The remaining 40% is accounted for by our outlook and activities, including our relationships, friendships and jobs, our engagement in the community and our involvement in sports and hobbies.
2. A good mood has a distinct smell. Scientists have found that people can judge whether someone is in a positive mood from their body odour alone. In one experiment men and women were shown scary films while their armpit odour was collected on gauze pads. A week later researchers asked strangers to decide which pads came from people in a good mood and which came from frightened people. They were able to do this with surprising accuracy.
3. Older people are more satisfied with there live than younger people: a recent survey by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention found that people aged 20-24 are sad for an average of 3.4 days per month as opposed to just 2.3 days for people aged 65-74
4. If you do 20 minutes of exercise, three days per week for six months, your general feeling of happiness will improve by 10-20%.
5. People who rate in the upper reaches of happiness on psychological tests develop about 50% more antibodies than average in response to flu vaccines.
6. According to researchers at The World Database of Happiness at Erasmus University in Holland, Denmark is officially the happiest nation in the world, followed closely by Malta, Switzerland, Iceland, Ireland and Canada.
7. In the USA clinical depression is 3-10 times more common today than two generations ago.
8. Immigrants tend to acquire the happiness characteristics of the nation to which they move, not the nation from which they were born.
9. Richer workers tend to be happier than poorer colleagues, but research suggests that happy people tend to have greater potential to become rich, so it’s a chicken or egg scenario
10. People who suffer strokes or other debilitating diseases suffer tremendously in the short term but after a while their happiness is only slightly below the average of the population.
11. When people get married their happiness peaks, but after a while their happiness returns to the level it was before they got married.
12. Women tend to experience their all-time lowest life satisfaction at age 37, whereas men typically experience this at 42
13. Having 100-200 belly laughs a day is the equivalent of a high impact workout, burning off up to 500 calories.
14. Gold doesn’t guarantee happiness. Studies of Olympic athletes found that bronze medal winners are happier than silver medal winners and sometimes happier than gold medallists. According to the Australian teams psychologist , Graham Winters, it feels better to come third when you are not expecting it than to be pipped for first.
15. The late pioneering social psychologist Professor Michael Argyle, who conducted many happiness studies, showed that among the things that made people happy are sport, music and - most of all – dancing. Encouraging sports facilities everywhere would greatly increase a nations happiness. Group dancing which, which combines, exercise, music, community, touch and rules, also drastically increases happiness.
16. Several studies have shown that a pet can reduce blood pressure
and stress, promoting health and happiness.
17. After basic needs are met, extra material wealth has little or no effect on life satisfaction or happiness (broadly speaking you would need to receive a windfall of more than £1 million to transform you from an unhappy person to a happy person – and even then the effect is often temporary).
18. People in steady relationships are generally happier than singles.
19. In nations with high levels of income equality, such as the Scandinavian countries, happiness tends to be higher than in nations with unequal wealth distribution, such as the USA. People tend to prefer more local autonomy and more direct democracy to increased income.
20. According to a new look at a 40 year old study on child rearing practices conducted at Harvard University, those children who were hugged and cuddled more grew up to be the happiest.


http://www.familyhealthguide.co.uk

Making the call

Picture used for prepresentitive purposes only. Image courtesy: ©2009 Jupiterimages

I often travel by train and can't escape these hilariously-weird ads plastered all over the compartment walls. I keep wondering if anyone in their right mind would ever call them up.
But then again, if no one did, 90 per cent of the real estate in the compartment wouldn't be plastered with ads promising part-time jobs, friendship and even a resolution to every human problem, would they?

Being curious, I decided to find out! I made up a fictitious social, demographic and psychographic profile and actually made those phony calls (only for you divas!).

Work from home, earn Rs15-20,000 a month

These ads, probably written by God himself, promise a decent salary, a choice of workplace and flexible working hours minus the qualifications! Too good to be true, right? I called three such places, which some very interesting promises, to find out more.

So it goes like this. You don't need any qualifications or skill sets. You could be anybody or somebody; you just need to be Internet-savvy. You need to fill a registration form, which costs Rs30- 50, after which you have to undergo training for a few hours, at a designated time and place.

I discovered: The people that advertise are sectional trusts like the Maharashtriya Yadav Trust or the Bunts Centre or consultancies tied to American companies. The work is purely online and can be done from wherever you are.

The verdict: The job is somewhere in between phony and genuine.

Earn Rs5 lakh a month/ Rs1 lakh a day

So this guy, who can barely talk English, tells me that I can earn as much as a Rs1 lakh a day. I log on to his website and find details of an ISO 9001: 2008 Chennai-based company that's into multi-level marketing. Certificates of the company being an associate member of FICCI and the Mumbai World Trade Centre are flagged upfront.

Next, I log in as a distributor and check the payments and transactions. I am shocked to see a credit of Rs1,30,000 every week. There is also a list of achievers, details of the targets achieved, customer-care numbers and other details.

I discovered: Hmmm, though these details can be manipulated, it does seem transparent and genuine. However the monies, based on one's network and selling prowess is more a marketing gimmick than a promise of a better future.

The verdict: Genuine

'Koi bhi kaam, 10 ghante mein tamaam'

Wow! Now, that's a tough thing to promise, even if one were God. But the phony baba in Santacruz promises that Rs250 is all he needs to solve all your problems within 10 hours. How he does this? He gives you an amulet/talisman which will alter your life and your destiny.

I discovered: Extremely dangerous and scary!

The verdict: Phony, very phony!

Study, earn, settle in the UK

These are agents who earn their bread and butter through consultancy fees. They do an initial check on your credentials - age, qualifications, salary and bank balance after which, if you qualify they help you migrate, study or get a work visa respectively.

I discovered: It's hilarious - If I'm over 28, I can't settle in UK! (Is 28 the milestone age when you turn from an asset to a liability?)

Verdict: Genuine

For 'frandship', call **********

Despite repeated attempts, this number was not reachable. Anyways, friendship can't be bought by calling a number or sold over the phone, can it?

I discovered: We don't really need to tell you where this could lead.

Verdict: Phony, very phony!

http://www.idiva.com

How to endure a sex marathon

Not very often does one get the opportunity to spend extended lovemaking time with their lover, but when such rare occasion does arise one should make it a point to keep it enjoyable as well as enduring.

Enduring a sex marathon can take a few hours or longer if the situation demands it, and many times it could go all night.

Thus, to keep oneself in good form, even the most virile and energetic must rest and rejuvenate, reports Fox News.

Before embarking on your sex marathon, it is better to be well-fed (but not too well) with food that releases energy slowly (such as grains and low GI carbohydrates) and be well hydrated.

And here are some tips on enduring a sex marathon:

Don''t orgasm

You can do this by choosing positions that provide less stimulation - because everyone is different, only you will know what these are for you. Change positions if you feel like you''re losing the power of your drive and erection or getting too close to orgasm. Bear in mind that having an orgasm isn''t the end of the session and you can take a rest before you continue. This is a good time to experiment with positions that you may not have tried with your partner.

Pleasure her to keep the focus off of you

If you do happen to need a rest while enduring a sex marathon or you do orgasm, you can easily shift the focus off of you and onto her. This can include cuddling, fondling, massage, general touching, and kissing. A rest does not have to be totally sexual in nature, and it is just as nice to make love for hours as it is to just touch each other in nice ways - or invent new ways of loving.

Don''t drink too much

Alcohol is known to be a relaxant and can be a wonderful addition to the time you share with your lover. In saying that, after two or more drinks, alcohol lowers a man''s ability to achieve and maintain erections, and can trigger an inability to orgasm for a long time. Alcohol also has sedative effects - it could cause you to fall asleep easily. Drinking can also encourage unsafe behaviour. Drinking too much alcohol will not help enduring a sex marathon.

Get creative

While enduring a sex marathon, you can introduce sex toys like vibrators, beads or sex paraphernalia such as whips, ropes and blindfolds. Food is also a great diversion and pleasure- ice cream, chocolate sauce or whipped cream are great. Get creative - you can draw out the process for quite some time with some very lusty teasing using these objects.

Keep lube handy

One of the main problems of sex play for hours could be dryness, so keep some good quality lubricant handy, one that tastes nice and is non-greasy. A glass of water nearby is also going to be useful, not only to rehydrate but to moisten your mouth.



http://www.hotklix.com

Ragging a personality problem: K.C. Reddy

Ragging is a cultural shock for many of the rural students as majority of the victims are from socially and economically backward areas, observed Andhra Pradesh State Council for Higher Education Chairman K.C. Reddy.

Majority of the acts of ragging are resorted to by students from second and third year of a professional college, while those in the final year usually do not take to such practices as they do not find time, he said while addressing a large gathering of students from Acharya Nagarjuna University Campus College on Thursday.

Asking police officials and district administration to help university authorities by forming anti-ragging squads, he promised to extend all support to the administrators from Government and university authorities. He advised the university officials to take care of the ragging menace in other affiliated colleges by sending squads to conduct surprise checks. Suggesting creation of mobile checking squads, he told the students to not to resort to crime as it was a crime and those supported it by silently watching it were also liable for prosecution.

Popular comedian Dharmavarapu Subhrahmanyam asked students to overcome the weak moment when they resort to ragging. Ragging was like romancing, but when it goes to extreme levels it turns into ragging, he observed. There was difference between laughing for humour and teasing and ragging was also an extreme case of getting to know a new student in a harsh way. Agreeing that scenes in the cinema had impact on the students, he wanted the Censor Board to be more stringent and edit out such scene, that have an impact on young minds. "You may see some scenes in the movies, but must differentiate between reality and reel life," he added.
Poster released

District Collector B. Ramanjaneyulu and Vice-Chancellor Y. Haragopal Reddy released a poster on ragging. The Collector termed it as a psychelogical problem among some senior students.

The Superintendent of Police Shankha Brata Bagchi said that the punishment ranged from 1 year jail to 10 years and Rs.50,000 as penalty depending on the degree of offence. "A small mistake could spoil your entire career and life. You might lose a chance to get jobs in Government sector," he told students.

Men's biggest bedroom fears

It’s commonly believed that men are more sexually active as compared to their female partner. But very often, they too encounter several fears Men's bedroom fears related to their bedroom romp, which can in turn cause doldrums in their sexual relationship.

Fears related to their sexual performance, sex position, ejaculation period, a satisfying orgasm and wild acts in bed often end up killing their passion. With these fears running through their mind, men not only fail to satisfy their female partner, but are unable to enjoy the act themselves.

Chandigarh-based sexologist Dr. Deepak Arora explains, “Men always relate sex and sexuality with their egos and they never want to fail there. This is the biggest fear in them which converts to performance anxiety. This anxiety leads to a man failing to perform well in bed and if their female partner does not have the patience to bear with them, relationship goes for a toss easily.”

Relationship counsellor Dr. Gitanjali Sharma adds, “Men need to understand that when it comes to sexual performance, they can’t outperform themselves. The urge for performing better each time has to come from within by raising your consciousness to higher levels. And when self satisfaction comes, there is no question of under performing. You have sex for enjoyment and not to perform, under perform or out perform. It's a joy, sheer joy, so shed all your inhibitions and concentrate on the act.”

As most male fears revolve around satisfying the female partner, Gitanjali suggests, “Till the time your women is emotionally satisfied, you can easily satisfy her sexual needs. The more emotionally connected you are, the more enjoyable physical intimacy will be. Try and indulge in physical intimacy only when your woman is ready, as it helps creating a comfort zone where she will participate equally. And while having sex, stay calm, relaxed, indulge in foreplay and nothing will stop you from performing the desired way.”

Here are some common fears that make men nervous every time they gear up for a steamy romp...

Fear fright # 1: Leaving her unsatisfied
The foremost fear of leaving the female partner unsatisfied has a direct correlation with a male’s organ size. While a woman thinks bigger the better, the man keeps worrying about what if he’s unable to give the desired pleasure. This fear of not giving their best somewhere triggers a feeling of being an imperfect sex partner, which may even hit a man’s ego directly.

Get Over It : Dr. Gitanjali Sharma explains, “The fear of not satisfying a women leads to many questions in a man’s mind. He starts thinking that will she look for that sexual satisfaction elsewhere and that thought of her being with someone else (because of his under performance) will make him more complex. This is like a vicious cycle, as the more he thinks on this subject, he gets driven by performance anxiety, thus leaving her unsatisfied most of the times. Performance in bed mainly depends on a woman's state of mind at that time. You need to be comfortable with your woman's body to feel a strong connection. Go slow and steady and understand your woman by awakening her sensitive parts rather than worrying about your size.”

Fear fright # 2: Premature ejaculation
A gratifying sex quickie is all about giving and receiving pleasure. While men make every efforts to please their female partners, they would, most of the times, remain anxious about their own climax and this fear is driven by the ejaculation period. It’s a very common apprehension that men come across where they suffer premature ejaculation due to which they end up spoiling sex.

Get Over It : Dr. Arora elucidates, “Medically, if a man is able to hold his ejaculation for at least one minute, he is not a patient of premature ejaculation. But unfortunately very few people know this fact and they are being misguided with fake ads and while watching porn movies, which makes them think that they are unable to have sex for a longer period. This creates a feeling of insecurity about their female partner and the sexual stress mounts, which gets converted into performance anxiety. In most of the cases, the problem practically doesn’t exist, but the fear is creating it.”

Fear fright # 3: Not getting her pregnant
Though it’s not necessary that every sex session should be aimed at getting the woman pregnant, but still men do carry impotency fears in their minds. The continuous worry of not getting a woman pregnant puts men in a serious stigma, which adversely affects their sexual performance.

Get Over It : Dr. Arora says, “Having a child is related with both male and female health and destiny too. There are numerous cases where medically everything is normal, but the female is unable to conceive. You should try to have a healthy life style, a proper diet and a positive attitude about yourself. If there is any problem with your semen, it can be treated, so no point worrying about it. The first need is a good sex life, not having a child.”

Fear fright # 4: Lacking porn value
It’s a normal practice that men watch porn to learn certain sexual acts and then repeat them with their partner. In an attempt to try something new and opt for wild acts, men repeatedly indulge in bringing out the porn elements in their sex life. And many a times, if the female partner is not responding positively, men start feeling that they are lacking somewhere.

Get Over It : Dr. Gitanjali says, “Men often compare their sexual performance with porn scenes or with that of their female partner and the fear that they might be less experienced makes them panic. Men should understand that performing in bed has nothing to do with any experience. It’s the mental connection with the female partner which can exist even without taking any inspiration from the porn acts.”

Fear fright # 5: Masturbation done in the past
Several studies have claimed that masturbation done during one's childhood or adolescent years doesn’t impact a person’s sex life in his later years. Yet there exists numerous fears attached to the same. Men often blame their masturbation habits for their weak bedroom performance and with this illogical apprehension; they fail to focus on their present sexual acts.

Get Over It : Dr. Arora advices, “Masturbation doesn’t harm much, but the guilt of masturbating is more harmful, and this is just due to lack of sex education. Every healthy male masturbates many times in his life in various stages of age, there is nothing to worry about.”

Beware:ATMs prey to power cuts

As if ATMs did not offer enough troubles, unprecedented power cuts only make matters worse for customers. Jeevan Krishna, an employee with Pegasus, a pharmaceutical company, was right in the midst of a transaction when a power cut played spoilsport. The result — he was stuck without a card for nearly three months.

“I’d tried using my Canara Bank card at an Andhra Bank ATM, but due to the power cut, my card got stuck,” Jeevan says. He adds that although the power was restored in 15 minutes, what ensued was an endless struggle to retrieve his card. What made matters worse was the fact that it was an inter-bank transaction, and Jeevan was made to shuttle between the two banks before finally being issued a new card three months later.

Many customers admit that getting back one’s card from within the machine is a cumbersome process. S. Sairam, an employee of Wipro, faced a similar situation when he tried using his SBI card at an HDFC ATM. “When I tried contacting the HDFC officials, I was told that my card had been destroyed since it belonged to another bank,” he says. Sairam then had to apply for a new card with the bank, which he received after three months. “Till I got my new card, I had to pay frequent visits to the bank for cash withdrawals, which was a big hassle,” Sairam adds.

Customers complain that the least bank officials could do is to ensure uninterrupted power supply to their offsite ATMs as well, and spare their customers of the unwanted hassle. “What if my card gets stuck again?” asks Sairam. “It is too much of a trouble to repeatedly run from pillar to post for what is rightfully mine.”

Neeraj Jha, public relations officer, HDFC Bank downplays the matter by saying, “It must have been one of those isolated incidents where the card was stuck when there was a power failure. But our ATMs have an almost fool-proof power supply system in place.”

But some bank officials claim that there is nothing they can do about power cuts. They do have a procedure in place if an account holder’s card is stuck in a machine. “In cases of technical snags like a link or power failure, the card is retained by the machine,” says Shameen, operations manager of Axis Bank. “If the card belongs to our bank, the person can collect it by furnishing their ID the next day.”

While this may hold true for same bank transactions, in cases of inter-bank transactions, it is a different story altogether. “Only if the card is hot listed (blocked), is it destroyed. However, if the card has not been hot listed by the original bank it is returned to the account holder when he furnishes the appropriate identification proof,” she says.

Free crime alert service

After successfully launching the SMS (9010100100) service, the city police on Monday launched free crime alert service for the convenience of people. The service was launched with the help of a media company. The alerts will cover the modus operandi pertaining to attention diversion cases at banks, burglaries, robberies, snatchings, pseudo policemen, cell phone and e-mail abuse, counterfeit currency, chit fund frauds and property purchase frauds.

“It’s a free service. Depending on the situation, the crime alerts will be released to more than 20 lakh mobile users in twin cities,” police officials said. If anyone wants to receive these alerts, they can type CA and send SMS to 9010100100.

Do You Drink Too Much?

Go on, have another. You’ll be hailing the cab anyway as you’re a bit over the limit now. As for tomorrow, you survived work with a hangover last Tuesday, didn’t you? Besides, it’s your boss offering the next round! Make it a pint. Oh, and mental note: don’t forget to pick up some beer tomorrow for Sunday’s game.

Whether it’s a workplace social at the pub, a crate of beer for the game, or a night of drinking your buddies under the table, alcohol has a prominent position in the culture of the young working man. In fact, it seems to be as much a part of socializing as body language.

But is there a point when “frequently drunk” becomes “infrequently sober?” Are you really sure that your drinking poses no threat to your social, work or physical health? Considering that an estimated 12 to 14 million Americans (about 1 in 12 adults) have a drinking problem, but only eight million of these are alcoholics, you may not be pouring whisky on your cornflakes just yet, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn't ask yourself if you drink too much.

At What Level?

Experts split drinking habits into four groups, relating the risk they pose to psychological and physical health. These are social, heavy, problematic, and dependent. So at what level are you drinking?

Social Drinking

Social, or “moderate,” drinking in the United States would be defined as no more than two drinks a day. So if you’re gulping down a couple of pints a day from Monday to Friday with work colleagues, having a couple of glasses of red at a dinner party on Saturday and taking two cold ones from the fridge for Sunday’s game, you’re pushing the boundaries, but wouldn’t be rushed for a stomach pumping session any time soon. This is where you want to be as the guy climbing the career ladder or mixing with friends; you’re sociable, can enjoy a drink but know when to stop.

Heavy Drinking

A heavy drinker is someone who regularly drinks above the safe limits defined in “social drinking.” Consuming 21 or more units a week (one unit being about half a pint of beer), or more than four units in one session is potentially harmful to health and, if done regularly, can lead to serious problems. Cirrhosis of the liver, damaged pancreas, sexual or heart problems are all linked to heavy alcohol consumption. But don’t just consider physical signs. When you find yourself deserted by your colleagues — again — as you dance the cha-cha-cha on the pool table, things may have reached a new level. If relationships, work productivity or home life show some signs of suffering due to drinking habits, you should cut down your consumption.

Problem Drinking

A “problem” drinker will be clunking a six-pack onto the counter on a daily basis — despite alcohol-related health, work or social problems. While not being dependent on alcohol so as to experience withdrawal symptoms, the drinking is a social and daily habit. Do you feel guilty about drinking? Do you often skip work after a night out? These are more subtle signs than cirrhosis of the liver (which is likely to be evident at this point), but are all signs that you drink too much.

Alcohol Dependence

This is the muddy puddle at the bottom of the slippery slope. Where you were once the life and soul of the party, the young talent with an eye on the company director’s chair and the example of work/life balance, you now find yourself giving up on social and occupational commitments, drinking more to achieve any effect and experiencing withdrawal symptoms should you find yourself too broke to buy the booze. Despite alcohol being the origin of your current problems, it is the solution to your woes, the solace you seek and the craving that gnaws at your better judgment. Alcoholics will often deny excessive drinking, so counting up your weekly unit intake may not be the best way to become self-aware. But have you experienced some of the above life changes?

Look at Your Drinking in Perspective

It’s true that work relationships often benefit from a pint after office hours. Unfortunately, though, there are many stories of the young professional who became the guy running topless over the taxi, who became the all-too-often empty chair at work, who eventually became the guy telling a bottle all about the great job he once had before the days when he had to munch on eight pills to treat his liver.

The important factor to keep in mind if you're worried that you drink too much is that there are always resources to help you manage your consumption, whatever your drinking level. If you feel you have a problem, you do. Your doctor will be able to direct you to local resources and support and will offer counsel as you cut down your consumption.


http://www.foxnews.com

Is your man addicted to porn?

Simran has an unusual problem with her boyfriend. He loves watching porn. "The problem is that it is affecting our sex life. His expectations of me in bed have skyrocketed. Doesn't he realise that porn videos are fake and an exaggerated affair," she asks.

There's no explaining the way a man's mind works, Simran. Porn is something that can be enjoyed by both of you. But if you want to get him into bed with you instead of spending more time with the TV, here's what you could do:

1. Re-enact

Why not pick his favourite porn film and enact it for him? Not every situation in porn films can be performed in real life (making out on the photocopier, really!), but you can come close.

The good part about acting out a porn movie is that there isn't too much of a storyline. It's all about sex really. "I did it as a birthday gift for my boyfriend and it worked wonders," says Kirti Das, a 25-year-old accountant.

2. Do the striptease for him

Guys tell us this is one of the sexiest things women can do for them. Wear a sexy outfit and stand between him and his new found love, the television. Play some music and start the act. Tease him as you strip layer by layer right in front of him. Get him involved and let the party begin.

3. Get another guy home

If all your guy does all day is watch porn, you have plenty of time to get yourself decked up and into a singles bar. Hook up with someone hot enough to make your boyfriend mad with jealousy and take him home for drinks.

"I took this extreme step and made sure my boyfriend got to know about it. We had a huge fight but he got the point," says Ami Chacko, a 26-year-old assistant director. The beauty of it is that if he breaks up with you, you have the next hottie lined up!

4. Damage the DVD player

This should stop the addiction temporarily. In the meantime, get your act together and show him what he's been missing out on.

"I got parental control activated on my internet connection to get my guy off porn," says 24-year-old Natasha Singh, a scriptwriter. Natasha treated her boyfriend to a weekend holiday for some good make up sex.

On the other hand, there is one advantage to having a boyfriend who's addicted to porn. You will never have to think too hard about what to give him for his birthday!



http://www.idiva.com

Bookmark these websites

Click. That's all it takes to rent a DVD or a novel or order in some food or even book yourself and your dog on a much-needed vacation.

In fact, the World Wide Web is chock full of sites just waiting to be explored. And the best part is, they're making life that much easier. After all, (almost) everything's delivered to your doorstep!

We crawled through the Internet to find some of the most fascinating websites for you!

Book it

Rent a book on Librarywala.com. It's simple enough to use. Subscribe - it costs about Rs499+ deposit for a basic plan - and then order a minimum of 3 books to a maximum of 12 (depending on your plan), as and when you want.

The benefits: They deliver at your doorstep and pick the books up the day after you put in a pickup request!

Service area: Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore

Rent-a-DVD

Women will love the 'Something for the girls' collection on Bigflix.com, their boyfriends/husbands, the superhero collection. Then there are films for the environmentally conscious (check the Green movies listing on Seventymm.com), the Monsoon specials and movies Daddy's little girls will love to share with Pa. Renting movies online is so convenient because not only are there over 20,000 flick to choose from, the options seem limitless.

Both Seventymm and Bigflix deliver to homes in all major metros and some smaller cities.

Hungry kya?

Ordering out doesn't have to involve a) a search for misplaced menus, b) being placed on hold, or c) talking to a harassed restaurant employee who may not have taken down your order correctly. There are a number of Indian websites that allow the hungry/lazy cooks to log on and order food or even book a table after reading user reviews, of course.

Tuck into the yummy stuff @ Hungry Bangalore; Book my Khana - for people in the greater Delhi area or Mealtree in Mumbai/Pune.

Oh, and absolute foodies should check the Purple Foodie for finger lickin' recipes and more.

Travel

Everyone at some point will have planned a vacation or booked a ticket via MakeMyTrip or Yatra. But there are hundreds of websites that cater to travellers' special needs.

Pet-lovers, who suffer separation anxiety when leaving their pooches, cats, birds, whatever, at home can now travel with them. Petvacations.in, which opened its digital doors last year, helps travellers book pet-friendly vacations. It helps with locating pet-friendly hotels, taxi services, locating vets in the area and even helps arranging for your pet's favourite food.

Students too, can book pocket-friendly holidays through STAtravel. Travel India and the world with special student discounts on air fare and holiday packages.

Fashion/gossip fix

Just like a morning caffeine dose, a girl needs her daily fashion/gossip/bitching session fix - like Kareena Kapoor dumps Cavalli and Neha Dupia messes up the salwar kameez, while Lady GaGa bares all (and by all, we mean ALL).

The websites that have it all (besides us) are High Heel Confidential, Perezhilton.comand Go fug yourself.

Tech talk

Who said technology is a boy's domain. There are several browsable tech websites that can tell a girl all she needs to know about the gizmos she needs. TechTree.com's got fabulous reader reviews on gadgets and downloads, but we love Lifehacker's handy tips on upgrading from economy class, and how to schedule loo breaks while watching a movie.

But the blog that really dishes it up, girlie style is Savvy Chick, a funky guide to sexy gadgets. Be warned, it's an American website. But it doesn't hurt to look.


http://www.idiva.com

Money Makeover: 5 Sites for Your Finances

Getting a handle on the household finances will be a defining theme for many consumers in 2009. But with a litany of different accounts -- credit-card accounts, savings and checking accounts, not to mention IRAs, 401(k)s and money markets -- to complicate our financial lives, that goal may be difficult to attain without a little help.

Fortunately, getting your financial house in order for the new year is just a mouse click away. A slew of new web sites allow users to organize and track various accounts from one location. These sites make it easier for users to figure out how much money they have and where it's going -- an important first step in getting one's finances under control, says Belinda Fuchs, a wealth coach, CPA and president of OwnYourMoney.com a financial coaching and education company. The sites also warn subscribers when they're painfully close to overdrawing an account or missing a bill payment, saving them plenty of money in overdraft fees and other charges.

Here are five free sites that Fuchs recommends to whip your fiscal life into shape.
Mint

This award-winning web site (it has won multiple Webby and PC World awards, and was named Best New Financial Service at the American Business Awards) allows you to sync and track all of your financial accounts, create budgets, and sign up for alerts that warn you if you’ve gotten charged a bank fee or exceeded your monthly budget. As an added bonus: The site analyzes your accounts and recommends better available interest rates for checking and savings accounts, and credit cards to help you save more money.
Rudder

Launched in 2008, this money-management site provides budget planning and email reminders when bills are coming due. It also calculates what you’ll have left after all the bills are paid. Like Mint.com, the site is secured by Verisign (VRSN: 18.05, -0.46, -2.48%), TRUSTe and McAfee (MFE: 41.00, -0.71, -1.70%), and doesn’t store any user names or passwords related to your financial accounts.
Thrive

Use this site to help you organize your debt and develop a plan to get out from under it. The site offers a quantified "financial health" score, which measures things like your debt-to-income ratio, your spending rate, and the terms of your various accounts. It also provides personalized advice on spending and helps you create plans to save for anything from graduate school to a new iPod.
SmartyPig

Want to take the family on vacation to the Bahamas or start a college fund for your eldest child? This site helps you save for specific goals by suggesting a monthly deposit amount and providing other tips. It also includes social networking applications that allow you to invite others to contribute to your account. And, when you’re ready to spend what you’ve saved, the site provides a financial incentive of up to 6% to buy gift cards from certain retailers through the site.
BillShrink

If your credit-card issuer is charging you sky-high rates, then this site may be able to find you a better deal. BillShrink monitors millions of credit-card rate combinations, and matches them against individual consumers' usage patterns. Just upload your credit-card bill and the site will do the rest for you. Bonus: They also offer the same service for cellphone plans.


http://www.smartmoney.com

5 Ways to Cut Drug Costs

The cost to fill prescriptions can quickly turn into a financial burden, especially when budgets are tight.

Some pinched patients are even going so far as ditching the drug component of their doctors' orders just to save some cash. An October survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit health policy group, found that 27% of people decided not to fill a prescription in order to save money, up from 23% six months earlier. About 22% reported cutting pills or skipping doses, up from 19%.

These are indeed ominous signs as the economy continues to spiral down. But as with mortgage payments and credit-card debt, there are things consumers can do to save on drugs while maintaining their health.

Here are five strategies to help you cut back on your drug costs.
Take advantage of store promotions

Since 2006, retailer Meijer has offered commonly-prescribed generic antibiotics at no charge. Now several other large supermarket chains are following suit with their own antibiotic giveaways. Last week, Wegmans announced that between now and the end of March it would give a 14-day supply of any of nine generic antibiotics for free to customers with a Shoppers Club card. Giant Food and Stop & Shop are also offering up to a two week supply of free common generic antibiotics between now and March 21.

CVS (CVS: 31.07, -0.68, -2.14%) is offering another way to save. A couple of months ago, it launched the Health Savings Pass Program, which aims to help uninsured and underinsured consumers manage health-care costs. Customers pay an annual $10 enrollment fee and can buy a 90-day supply of more than 400 generic prescriptions for $10. They also get a 10% discount on services and screenings at the retailer’s in-store MinuteClinic.
Go for generics

Ask your doctor if there’s a generic equivalent for your prescription, says Carolyn McClanahan, a former practicing physician and founder of Life Planning Partners, a financial planning firm in Jacksonville, Fla. In most cases, the active ingredients in brand-name and generic drugs are the same; it's the inactive ingredients that sometimes differ, says McClanahan.

Bear in mind that not all medications have a generic equivalent. If that's the case, ask your doctor if there’s a generic available for a comparable drug, says Albert Wertheimer, professor of pharmacy administration at Temple University. Say you’re prescribed the cholesterol-lowering drug Lipitor. It has no generic version, but competing drug Zocor does. “In almost no cases do you do any harm by switching to the first cousin of a medication,” says Wertheimer.
Buy in bulk

If you’re on medication for a chronic condition, ask for a 90-day supply rather than a traditional monthly refill. “It’s a better deal,” says McClanahan. Just make sure your insurance plan covers prescriptions for that length of time.

Pharmacy programs at major retailers and supermarkets, including Wal-Mart (WMT: 47.79, -0.58, -1.19%), Target (TGT: 37.45, -1.24, -3.20%) and Stop & Shop, offer hundreds of generic prescriptions at a significant discount, especially when you order a longer-term supply. A 30-day supply typically will cost around $4 while a 90-day supply will cost just $10. Also look into mail-order pharmacies. Many insurers offer lower rates on prescriptions if you order several months' supply through the mail. You can often get a three-month supply by mail for what you'd pay for a two-month supply at the drugstore.
Shop around

Compare drug prices at various pharmacies to see which one sells your prescriptions at the best price. Also, don’t be shy about asking for a price match at the pharmacy counter. Many pharmacies will match others’ prices, but they won’t advertise that to customers, says Ted Epperly, a family physician in Boise, Idaho, and president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

One word of caution: If you get different prescriptions filled at different pharmacies, make sure to tell the pharmacist about all of your medications so they can identify any possible adverse reactions.
Split pills

Pill splitting is another strategy that can help patients save without sacrificing drug effectiveness or safety. Some pills are available at twice the dose and at the same price as lower doses. Check the drug maker’s web site to find out the various strengths your medication comes in, says Wertheimer. If you need 10 mg a day, ask your doctor to prescribe 20 mg then split the pill in half. Note that some drugs should not be split, including time-release pills and capsules. Consult your doctor to find out if pill-splitting is possible with your particular medication.

Another option: Ask your doctor if you can take your medicine every other day instead of everyday or once a day instead of three times a day, says Epperly. “There are times when that’s pharmacologically OK, especially if patients are trying to stretch their budget,” he says.


http://www.smartmoney.com

The condom guide

You want the unadulterated joy of steamy sex. Nice thought, but it isn't safe. Condoms are the only kind of contraception that protect you from both pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

While you and your partner think you have been doing everything right so far, you may be making mistakes you are not aware of. Here's what you should know:

Don't use two

According to Dr Hitesh Merchant, a sexologist, wearing two condoms increases the chances of them tearing. "This can happen because of friction. You may not even know until it's too late," he explains.

When to use

A condom shouldn't be put on before you start anything. "When the penis increases in size with an erection, the condom can tear. The right way is to put it on after he gets an erection," says Dr Merchant.

Expiry date

Latex condoms melt easily. Carrying them in your pocket or your wallet will expose them to body heat. In addition to this, Dr Kishan Gulati, a sexologist, recommends using fresh condoms. "If you have to store them, keep them in a cool, dry place such as the refrigerator. However, this can dry them, so don't store them for over three days," he explains.

Oil or water?

Most condoms are already lubricated. Extra lubrication can interfere with the latex and weaken it further. "An oil-based lubricant will make it slip. Water-based lubricants are a better idea," says Dr Gulati.

Opening option

You do not want to tear the condom accidentally, so don't use your teeth or a pair of scissors to open the packet. If you can't do it, ask your partner to help you.

These are the things you need to keep in mind before sex. There are precautions you can take afterwards as well. When your partner is pulling out of you, hold the opening of the condom to prevent it from slipping. You don't want anything to spill out.


http://www.idiva.com

How to Make a Father's Day Gift in Your Classroom

Father's Day is June 21, which means there's still enough time for children to make their dads a gift! Most classrooms celebrate Mother's Day, but let's be sure not to forget Dad! Here is a really cute Father's Day gift to make for the dads in your class.

Cut the top of the construction paper (any color) into an "M" shape.


Fold the M-shaped area over, then have a student draw a line down the center of the paper (pencil first) and draw or glue on three paper circles or use real buttons.




Make a tie from construction paper or you can certainly use the bottom part of an old tie. (Most men probably have a tie that they know they can do without, or you can just get some scrap fabric and use that.)


Fasten the tie to the top of the card using glue or a stapler. Do not fasten the bottom of the tie, as you may have the student write under it.

Step 5

Fold the collar flaps down, then draw a button on each collar flap or glue on an actual small-sized button.

Step 6

Have the kids write something to their fathers.



http://www.ehow.com