JihadNet

This Dolphin Has Human Arms

2010-10-14T20:19:00.000-07:00

Fisherman who were carrying out their annual dolphin hunt captured a dolphin that had human arms!

Fishermen at the Japanese town made famous by the controversial Oscar-winning documentary “The Cove” shrugged off protests by animal rights activists on Tuesday to carry out their annual dolphin hunt.

They were shocked with one of the first dolphin’s that they captured — it had human arms!!

Japanese broadcaster TBS said the first hunt of the season in the town of Taiji took place on Tuesday, without mentioning how many dolphins were involved.

They said 14 dolphins were killed, while another six — mothers and calves — were spared, at least temporarily. There was no news as to whether the dolphin with human arms (nicknamed Luka) was killed.

Western activists were chanting, “Mama dolphin, baby dolphin. No!” at the time Luka was discovered. Actually, the activists were the first to notice because Luka started clapping along to the chant – using his human hands.

“It was incredible. The Japanese fishermen pulled Luka into the boat and he punched a few of them with his human fist,” said Rainbow Williams, an activist from San Francisco. “Luka has a strong punch and I think he knocked out two or three fisherman with his punches.”

It became something of a brawl between the quick-jabbing dolphin and the Japanese fishermen. But they eventually threw a net over Luka’s head and subdued him with a tranquilizing dart.

Activists tried to get involved in the fray but the Japanese fishermen held them off with gunshots over their heads.

What will the Japanese fisherman do with Luka?

“We will be bringing Luka to a marine biology research center in Osaka. We will keep him safe and study him there.”

“Bullshit!! They are going to kill him,” said Williams. “We need to free Luka. Free Luka! Free Luka!” There are hundreds of protesters outside the research facility waiting for the Japanese to release Luka – but it doesn’t seem like it will be happening anytime soon.

Japan has long maintained that killing dolphins is not banned under any international treaty and that the animals are not endangered, adding that dolphins need to be culled to protect fishing grounds.

Free Luka!!!

Mother of Parliament

2010-09-23T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's probably one of the few occasions when sleeping on the job would be positively encouraged. Afterall, if Licia Ronzulli's baby did wake up, she would prove something of a distraction to other members of the European Parliament.

Mrs Ronzulli, an MEP from Italy, took her tiny daughter Victoria to a vote at Strasbourg. She kept her baby carefully cradled against her in a sling and occasionally leant to kiss her on the forehead.

The 35-year-old was taking advantage of relatively relaxed rules that allow women to take their baby to work with them. However, the trend seems unlikely to catch on at Westminster.

Mrs Ronzulli won her seat in last year's elections and is a member of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party. Victoria was born on August 10.

Her father is also a member of People of Freedom and he is called Renato Cerioli. Mrs Ronzulli is from the Lombardy region of northern Italy and won her seat with 40,000 votes.

She and her husband are close friends of Berlusconi - in fact he was a witness at the couple's wedding. She is a member of the environment, health and food safety commission in Strasbourg and has also worked as a nurse in Milan and Bangladesh before become a hospital director and then turning to politics.

Swiss cabinet has female majority for first time

Women now control a majority of the seats in Switzerland's executive branch, less than four decades after the country became one of Europe's last to grant women the right to vote in national elections. Social Democract lawmaker Simonetta Sommaruga was elected to the Cabinet in a fourth round of parliament voting Wednesday.

A battle over a second vacant seat was scheduled for later Wednesday, but Sommaruga's win gives women four of the seven posts in Switzerland's unique ruling Cabinet.

Swiss women have participated in national votes since 1971, after Swiss men granted women full suffrage in a nationwide referendum. One Swiss canton, Appenzell Inner-Rhodes, blocked women from local elections until 1990.kmps

Food is Not Allowed for Your Baby

2010-06-27T19:24:00.000-07:00

New parents are often confused when introducing the first foods for your baby under the age of 12 months. In principle, said Babycenter site, all food must be allowed on the child, provided that portion is not excessive. However, they advised not to give a few. Anything?
Here it is:
* Do not give honey is too thick concentration. if they want to introduce, such as the type of honey Khasmir, should be diluted first.
* Do not give peanut butter. In addition to sticky and hard to swallow, in some babies are also at risk of allergies.
* Fresh cow's milk or full cream. Instead, the only one that provided the milk for your baby is breast milk. But when forced to, infant formula specially designed for babies do not why. Why? Your baby can not digest the protein in cow's milk for the first year, in fact, many sources state pure cow's milk contains large quantities of minerals that can damage the kidneys.
Avoid giving food in large pieces. This is to avoid the food ingested and trapped in your child's throat. Vegetables like carrots, celery, and green beans should be diced, before cooking. Cut fruits like grapes, cherry tomatoes, melon balls and a four before serving. Cut meats and cheese into pieces that are very small before disuapkan in children.
* Do not give hard foods like nuts, popcorn, hard candies, raisins and other dried fruit. Although small, but potentially create a child to choke. and small seedlings potential choking hazard.
* Be careful giving soft foods like marshmallows and jelly candies. Potential lodged in your child's throat.
* Avoid letting your child eat in the car. It's too difficult to monitor while driving.

Afghan Warrior Leader Ready to Send Troops to Gaza

2010-06-08T15:56:00.000-07:00

KABUL-MI: Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, one fighter group leader of Afghanistan, Wednesday (7 / 1) offer assistance to the Palestinians that Israel is now under attack. Fugitive of the United States government is ready to send his subordinates to assist the Palestinian people against Israel that calls the Gaza Strip.
According to his spokesman, Haroon Zarghon, Hekmatyar who led the group Hezb-i-Islami also urged Muslims worldwide to unite and 'fight' the American who helped Israel in terms of economic and weapons.
"Hezb-i-Islami not only condemned the Israeli invasion and barbaric acts against Palestinians. If circumstances allow, we will send mujahidin to help Hamas against Israel. We have thousands of volunteers who are ready to Gaza to fight against Israel. They are ready and we're looking for a way to send them, "said Haroon.
Hekmatyar was one of the fighters in Afghanistan. He leads the group to fight against NATO troops in Afghanistan with the Taliban-led separately.
Hakmatyar is one of America's most wanted fugitives who offer money to anyone who could catch him alive or dead. People from the people of Afghanistan as leader of the struggle against the Soviet invasion in the 1980s, previously also never send troops to Iraq to help Saddam Hussein in the Gulf War.

Meet The Tiger Dog

2010-06-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

If this strange creature growled at you, you wouldn't know whether to run from his sharp claws or pat him on the head and give him a biscuit.

From a distance, its striped orange and black coat makes it look like a particularly odd tiger.

But it's actually a retriever, the victim of the latest craze among some dog owners in China to dye their pets to look like other animals.

The Chinese are always quick to embrace bizarre trends, and it is not unusual for owners to take their dogs to grooming parlours where they are not only given a shampoo and trim, but a multi-coloured dye job as well.

Today the retriever was joined by three furry friends whose dye jobs were much more convincing.

The tiny, fluffy dogs were the spitting image of baby giant pandas thanks to their makeovers.

The animals were pictured after being transferred to Zhenghou from Southwest China's Sichuan province at the weekend.

Recent figures show money spent on pets across the nation has seen nearly a 500 per cent increase between 1999 and 2008 - but, arguably, at the cost of their pets' dignity.

Quite what the animals might think about it is another matter.

Stephen Hawking to Leave Britain over Government Cuts in Science

2010-03-02T23:47:00.000-08:00

Professor Stephen Hawking is planning to abandon Cambridge University after nearly 50 years and move to Canada in protest at Government cuts. The world's most famous physicist has become frustrated with falling university budgets, which he believes are scuppering scientific discoveries.

The departure of Professor Hawking, who began work in Cambridge in 1962, would be a massive blow to the university and to British scholarship. The 68-year-old - who has made key advances in theoretical physics while almost completely paralysed by motor neurone disease - said restrictions in grants mean scientific research in Britain is increasingly focused on its industrial application rather than the pursuit of knowledge and discovery.

The best-selling author of A Brief History Of Time is to spend two months at the Perimeter Institute, in Ontario, this summer and, if all goes to plan, hopes to make the move permanent. Yesterday his spokesman said Professor Hawking 'remained heavily critical of the Government's policy on science funding', saying it risked ending Britain's history of world-class thinkers.

In an attempt to reduce the Government's deficit, cuts to higher education amounting to roughly £1billion over three years have been announced. His graduate assistant Sam Blackburn said: 'Professor Hawking is considering a move but it would depend on whether his trip to the institute is successful.'

However, a move abroad would present Professor Hawking with difficulties as his disability means he requires an entourage including carers and a graduate assistant to operate his voice synthesiser.

And he would leave behind his adapted home and members of his family from his first marriage to Jane Hawking, with whom he was reconciled in 2007 after a divorce from second wife Elaine Mason. Professor Hawking would follow his former colleague Neil Turok, an authority on mathematical physics, who left for the institute in 2008.

Professor Turok has said the 'door is open' for Professor Hawking to join him permanently and has stated that the physicist's summer visit 'is the first of many'.

In contrast to Cambridge, the Perimeter Institute - set up seven years ago by Mike Lazaridis, the creator of the BlackBerry handheld device - has raised substantial funding from private donations.

It is ironic that Professor Hawking would leave Cambridge, which has arguably done more to advance the understanding of science than any university in the world. It is where Charles Darwin formulated the theory of evolution and Francis Crick and James Watson identified the structure of DNA.

Professor Hawking's distant predecessor as its Lucasian Professor of Mathematics, Sir Isaac Newton, founded modern science with his laws of motion and gravity.

A spokesman for Cambridge University, said: 'Professor Hawking has no plans to leave Cambridge at present. However, he will be a regular visitor to the Perimeter Institute for research purposes.'

This 'Rubber Man' Tries to Set The Guinness Book of World Records

2010-03-01T03:05:00.000-08:00

Vijay Sharma can wrap his legs over his head, wriggle through a tennis racket and wind his arms around his back. His flexibility has earned him the title of 'Rubber Man' in the Limca book of Records, India's version of the Guinness book of World Records, and he hopes to one-day achieve global fame.

'It was when I was training for martial arts I realised my body was so bendable I might be capable of setting a world record in flexibility,' the 27-year-old said. The shop assistant Vijay claims his bendy obsession stems from watching Jackie Chan movies when he was a youngster.

The village boy from Rajashtan's Jhunjhunu district started taking martial arts lessons in 1999 in a bid to learn Chan's acrobatic fighting style. It was during these lessons he discovered the extent of his flexibility and started experimenting.

He squeezed into tiny spaces, curled his body into boxes and attempted to drink from bottles held between his toes. After seeing the tennis racket stunt in Guinness book of world records, he became curious and bought a tennis racket the next day. He quickly removed the strings and tried to pass through the nine-and-a-half-inch surface.

'I tried to get through it, but got stuck for the entire night,' he said. 'I had to shut myself in my room and sleep with it. I got up at 3 o clock and tried to get out of it.

'I began to bleed but that didn't stop me.' Vijay, who practices up to four hours a day to improve his elasticity, has performed on TV Shows and various tournaments at national level. But he believes, he has performed the toughest stunt on a Zee TV show.

'I added a kick to my stunt, that is I pulled my leg up all the way so it was perpendicular to the floor and pushed my torso along with my leg out of the racket,' he explained.

'It was such a stunt that I couldn't breathe for a moment while doing it.' He has won a silver medal in body flexibility at a country level tournament, held at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh in 2001. He also claims to have broken the world record for wrist-egg-crushing - which involves pushing your hand backwards to lie flat against the arm - set by a Lissa Patterson (CORR) in 2005.

'I made the claim and even got some documents from Guinness Book of World Records to complete, but I couldn't get back because of constraints of time and money,' he said.

Least interested in his father's clothes shop business, Vijay wants to achieve fame by working on martial arts and body flexibility. 'Anything for fame,' he said.

Not Happy with Your Name?

2010-02-26T18:26:00.000-08:00

Next time you introduce yourself or sign your name, spare a thought for Barb Dwyer and Paige Turner. They are among those honoured with having the most bizarre and embarrassing names in Britain, according to a survey.Researchers spent a month scouring the UK's online phone records to find those for whom meeting new people or showing their credit card in a shop is likely to be an ordeal. Other top silly names included Hazel Nutt, Lee King, Terry Bull and Mary Christmas, according to the Babywebsite.com, which conducted the study.
They also looked through phone records in the U.S., uncovering the unfortunate Anna Prentice, Carrie Oakey and Bill Board. The website warned parents to be on their guard against names that could attract ridicule.
A spokesman said: 'There must be tremendous embarrassment every time they have to introduce themselves to anyone, especially to a crowd.
'Even their teachers must have had to hold back their smiles sometimes. Parents really do need to think carefully when choosing names for their children.'
The unfortunate bearers of these names confirmed it was no laughing matter. Retired airman Stan Still, of Cirencester, Gloucestershire, told the BBC: 'My name has been a blooming millstone around my neck my entire life.
'When I was in the RAF my commanding officer used to shout "Stan Still, get a move on!" and roll about laughing. It got hugely boring after a while.'

Others whose names did not make the top 20 left comments on the BBC website. A Susan Mee from Doncaster wrote: 'My name was Susan Frame. I am a lawyer. I met and married Robert, who is a banker. Now we are Sue Mee, a lawyer, and Rob Mee, a banker.'

Beware of Make-up Bacteria Risk

2010-02-24T18:32:00.000-08:00

The average British woman's make-up bag is out of date by four years, new research has revealed. Eyeshadow, blusher and lipstick were found to be months - or even years - past their use by dates, after a study showed that make-up users were unaware that their products could be a magnet for germs.

The survey, which was carried out by Debenhams, revealed that most women did not know that all cosmetics are required to carry a symbol that indicates how long they can be safely kept. Eighty-nine per cent of the 1,000 women polled were unaware that such information exists, did not understand what the symbol means or were unable to read the tiny writing.

The consequence is a heightened risk of irritation and infection from make-up, perfume and skincare products used after the expiry date. While make-up products do contain ingredients that protect against infection, they lose effectiveness over time. Combined with frequent exposure to air creates an ideal breeding ground for bacteria.

Multi-use products, that can be used in several different ways, carry an even higher risk as they can spread germs from eyes to skin to lips. Sixty per cent of women also admitted to sharing make-up with friends and family, multiplying the chances of infection.

Sara Stern, Director of Cosmetics at Debenhams, said: 'British women are famously loyal to make up brands and products, however, their reluctance to throw away old products is a risky business.

'We wouldn't hesitate to chuck out mouldy or bacteria-ridden food and the same standards should apply to the lotions and potions that we put on our skin. Beauty is timeless but unfortunately, products are not.'

The study found that 68 per cent of women only replace make-up and skincare when they run out, however long that might take. Seventy-two per cent of those surveyed never wash their make up sponges or brushes, even though they should do at least once a week.

And 81 per cent go to sleep without removing their make up at least once a week. Bevis Man of the British Skin Foundation said: 'It's not always obvious when make-up has passed its prime, so it may not occur to people to replace their products.

'It is best to err on the side of caution and if a product looks or smells strange, it is worth throwing it away.

'Cost is probably a major factor in why people do not replace out-of-date cosmetics.

'However, products can dry out and become less effective as they age.

'Your eyes are one area of your face you need to be particularly careful with, as eye infections can be painful and long-lasting.

'Make-up sponges are a particular haven for bacteria, especially if they are kept for a long period of time and are not washed.

'Again, it is best to keep them clean and replace them after a few months' use.'

As a result of its research, Debenhams is now exploring ways in which cosmetic use-by dates can be better communicated to customers. A nationwide 'make-up amnesty' is in the pipeline, and the retailer has also written to the Secretary of State for Health, Andy Burnham, to push for further legislation to cover the safety of consumers.

'Hopefully this call to action will encourage women to have a ruthless spring clean of their cosmetics collections,' added Ms Stern.KMPS

How Safe is Cleanser for Ms. V?

2010-02-22T22:20:00.000-08:00

Cleaning the vagina with antiseptic is becoming a common practice among women. Their reasons vary, perhaps for health, but also for cosmetic reasons, to make sure that Ms. V is fragrant and comfortably dry.

Actually the vagina has its own cleaning mechanism which used a normal bacteria colony to keep the microorganism balance within and around the vital organ. But the balance could be disrupted by external efforts, for example: wearing tight pants that disturb the humidity of the vagina and encourages the growth of bad bacteria.

According to Dr. Hendro Sudarpo SpOG, maternity and obstetrics expert from Siloam Lippo Kawaraci Hospital, vagina cleansers are fine for daily usage, however, he discourages using antiseptic. "Using antiseptic can kill the narutal flora on the vagina and disrupt the pH level, causing it to be alkali. This could kill useful bacteria."

He also mentioned that the normal pH level of the vagina is 3.5 to 4.5. If the pH is unbalanced then other germs, fungi, and bacteria will have a chance to proliferate, and this in turn might cause infections. Disinfectant can be used only if there is indication of fluor albus (abnormal vaginal secretion), and even so must be with a doctor's advice.

Not all women can use vagina cleansers though. Some women are alergic to certain chemicals. A regular vagina cleanser might damange the inner parts of the vagina, and this would instead cause an infection instead of cleaning.

Another safe way to clean the vagina in a daily basis is to wash it with warm water and low soda soap, and take care to clean only the outside of the opening. (AN/C17-09)

Girl Locked in Bathroom for Two Months

2010-02-11T02:05:00.000-08:00

A malnourished Arizona girl was locked in a bathroom without running water for two months, beaten with metal rods, and forced to exercise until exhaustion because her father said she had stolen food and cheated on a home-school test, US police said.

Scott and Andrea Bass, the 14-year-old girl's father and stepmother, were arrested on February 4 for investigation of child abuse, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.

Andrea Bass, 31, was released from custody on Tuesday after posting a $US36,000 ($41,000) bond. Scott Bass, 33, remained jailed on $US45,000 bond.

The girl escaped from the bathroom through the attic on February 4 and contacted police. A medical evaluation showed the girl was in the 25th percentile for weight and the 50th percentile for height among girls her age.

The girl said her father forced her to exercise until she was exhausted and beat her with belts and metal rods or pulled her up by her hair if she stopped the exercises.

The girl, who was evaluated and released from a hospital, was in the custody of Child Protective Services along with four other children living in the home, who police said showed no signs of abuse.

Police Officer Luis Samudio said the girl and her 12-year-old brother were from Scott Bass's previous marriage, and that three girls, aged 3, 4 and 11, were Scott and Andrea Bass's children.

Palin's Ex Levi Loses The Levis to be Nude Coverboy

2010-02-09T17:55:00.001-08:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The 19-year-old former fiance of Sarah Palin's daughter Bristol is to pose nude for the cover of Playgirl. Levi Johnston - a former cairbou hunter who has also featured in an advert for nuts - fathered a son with Bristol, 19, but the couple broke up in December after baby Tripp was born.

The relationship between him and the Palins since then has often been strained, mostly over visitation issues. His choice of new career is likely to further embarrass Ms Palin, who says she hasn't ruled out running for office again.

Last October. Johnston's lawyer said his client was getting prepared for the close-up by training three hours a day, six nights a week at an Anchorage gym with a local body builder.

Naked pictures of him have appeared on Playgirl's website but now he has been picked to be the coverboy for the February 22 issue under the headline "Levi Johnston Goes Rogue".

In the article, accompanied by a photo spread in which Johnston has a strategically placed hand, he discusses his turbulent relationship with the Palins. Just after Senator John McCain chose Palin as his running mate in August 2008, Johnston was thrust into the national spotlight when Palin abruptly announced her unwed daughter was pregnant and the couple would marry. kmps

2010-02-08T00:33:00.000-08:00

One of my male friends is looking to move home, out of the city centre and into the suburbs. I asked where he fancied - north, south, east or west. He shrugged. 'I have no say in it,' he said. 'It's not my decision.'

I pointed out that choosing where to live is one of the biggest decisions we make. Plus, he'd be paying for at least half of it. Surely he had some say? He shook his head. 'The wife decides.'

This same friend last year kowtowed to his then girlfriend's desire for a massive wedding with more than 200 guests and costing more than £20,000, even though he admitted that his preference would have been for a much smaller and more intimate affair. I like this friend dearly, but I find myself losing some of the respect I used to have for him. I want to shout: 'Where's your spine, you emasculated fool?'

Perhaps my frustration is related to my own mixed feelings about the complicated business of decision-making in relationships. Last summer, quite early on in our relationship, my partner asked me what colour of shirt and tie he should wear to a wedding. I gave him a look intended to convey: 'I'm your partner, not your mother.'

Needless to say, he wasn't able to mindread or to pick up on my twisted facial expressions and he asked again. By way of reply, I said:

'What colour of dress should I wear? And what colour of nail varnish? And should I wear my hair up or down?' (I know, it's an example of appallingly passiveaggressive and indirect communication.)

He frowned as if he couldn't quite understand the questions. 'Wear what you like,' he said.

'Exactly,' I said. 'And it's the same for you.' He gave me that 'women, I'll never understand them' look - and he later told me that his previous girlfriend often told him what to wear, especially on a night out involving her friends.

I'm sure you're probably thinking: the poor confused guy. But why should women bear the burden of decision-making in a relationship?

Why is there an expectation that the woman will make the majority of the choices - from the minor and flippant, such as what to wear, to the more major, such as where to live?

It is as if, on top of everything else, she has to become the chief decision-maker, the 'decider.'
Studies appear to confirm that women are increasingly the dominant decision-making force in relationships.

A recent report found that by 2020 women will be driving the world economy and will have the final say in the majority of financial decisions in Britain's homes. Another study found that women make 80 per cent of all purchasing decisions, and 94 per cent of home furnishing purchases.

The study also found that in nearly half of all relationships men have no share in decision-making in the following four areas: household finances, big home purchases, the location of their homes, shared weekend activities and television viewing.

Some have hailed these figures as cause for celebration - women have the power. Personally, I think they're cause for concern. If we're really striving for equality, then surely that should reach out into all aspects of life. But most women I know don't feel like this.

One of my friends, a stay-at-home mother to two young children, says she is absolutely 'the decider' in her marriage.

'My husband earns the money and I decide how we spend it,' she says. 'I feed and dress us all. I decide where and when we go on holiday. I choose everything for the house and have just decided to get an extension.

'I even buy my own birthday present from my husband and our children. Actually, I quite often feel as if I have three children, not two. But that's the way it is.'

She went on: 'If I had to consult and strive for equality in every decision, we'd never get anything done. It sounds very old-fashioned, but basically my husband is the provider - in financial terms - and I am in charge of running the show.

'Some people would no doubt say my husband's "under the thumb" or that I "wear the trousers". Although I hate the thought, it's probably true.'

Jenny, a consultant urologist, sees things from a different perspective. 'I work in a very male-oriented environment. I watch men strut about the hospital. At work, they hold all the power. Some of them clearly revel in it - they actually get off on bossing junior people, often women, about.

'But when I see them with their wives, they are completely different people. They are like little boys. They do as they're told. They ask permission to have a drink. It's as if, for a lot of them, their wives are more like their mothers than their equals.

'I am exactly the same person whether I'm at work or at home. I regard my husband as my absolute equal and I treat him as my absolute equal. But my male colleagues aren't like that.

'They're like two completely different people - at home I get the impression they don't have much power.

'The wife has it all. At work, they seem to overcompensate for that and strut about like little masters of the universe.' Some experts believe that a lot of men like to have a 'wife-led' relationship, saying it makes them feel relatively 'safe and mothered'.

And there are plenty of celebrity couples who appear to enjoy this kind of partnership.

Last year, at a post-Oscar party Calista Flockhart was heard telling her partner Harrison Ford to go easy on the champagne, prompting celebrity watchers to suggest the actor was well and truly under the thumb.

David Beckham, Brad Pitt and Gavin Henson have also been dubbed at various times 'hen-pecked'.

But the very idea of being in a relationship in which another person makes decisions on your behalf terrifies others.

One male friend said it was watching his friends change from free- spirited, independent individuals to emasculated husbands that put him off marriage. 'I would say the vast majority of my male friends are subservient to their wives.

'They'd never admit this, of course. But it's blindingly obvious. They remind me of that cartoon in which a woman is grinning manically and gripping on to her husband, saying: "Our marriage has been so successful because we are open to each other's points of view, and we always think for ourselves - isn't that right, dear?"

'The husband is nodding frantically. It's an exaggeration, obviously, but it's not too far from what I see. I am afraid of ending up like that. Which is why I've decided to give marriage a body-swerve.'

I understand his fears. I come from a family of strong, dominant women. I'm not sure I want the role. But at the same time I'm not sure I want the other extreme. I cherish my autonomy too much. Someone making all the decisions on my behalf is as unappealing as being in charge of everything.

This may all sound terribly petty and insignificant. But it is often a crucial factor in the health and survival of a relationship.

Most of us tell ourselves that, if we are part of a couple, we make decisions together and treat each other as equals with no power relations. This fits with the image of a modern relationship as one of balance, trust and equality.

But this is rarely the case in real life. I remember a famous psychologist saying that, though we all like to think otherwise, competitiveness and potential hostility pervade all human relationships.

As a result, making decisions as part of a couple - whether about handling money, housework, social life or children - is often fraught at some level (usually an unconscious one), with struggles for power and superiority.

As one therapist explained: 'One of the fundamental conflicts of human nature is the conflict between being an individual with your own sense of self, identity, autonomy and independence, and falling in love with someone, which involves giving up some of your identity, autonomy and independence.

'In an ideal world we would all get the balance right. There would be no dominant partner, no "decider". But in real life there is often a stronger, more dominant partner - and it is very often the woman - and a more submissive, or "laid-back" partner.

'If it works for both, fine. But problems arise when one begins to resent the role they are playing.'

I am convinced that the friend I mentioned - the one who's practically surrendered himself to his wife - is going to wake up one morning, perhaps in five years, perhaps in a decade, and think: 'How did this happen?'

And because human beings are generally bad at communicating their fears and resentments, I'm convinced his reaction will be to rebel, and in all likelihood, stray.

There is no doubt that in life it's often easier to have someone else make the decisions for us, no matter how big or small they are. But deep down, human beings like to believe - in fact, they need to believe - they have some control over their own lives.

Which is why striving for balance and equality in a relationship, though it takes real effort, is the best recipe for success in the end.

So if I were my friend's wife I would resist the urge to make all the big decisions on his behalf. Women shouldn't mother their partners. They're men. Not babies. And if a man wants to be mothered?

If he wants you to make all the decisions on his behalf? It's a red flag. Run a mile.

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2010-02-08T00:12:00.000-08:00

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St Trinian's Star Reveals Lingerie in Sexy Photo-Shoot

2010-02-03T04:47:00.000-08:00

She shot to fame as a sexy school girl in the St Trinian's movies but actress Talulah Riley has ditched the revealing school uniform for barely-there lingerie in a sultry magazine shoot. The 24-year-old shows off her slender frame as she poses seductively on a chaise-longue and is seen holding a cigarette while standing by a staircase in the provocative pictures.

In another shot Riley, who plays Head Girl Annabelle Fritton in the St Trinian's movies, looks coyly at the camera with her hand placed beside her mouth. The sexy photos, which will appear in the March issue of Esquire magazine, mark a busy year for the blonde who will also appear alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Caine in the upcoming movie Inception.

The actress, who was born in Hertfordshire, has moved to Los Angeles in a bid to further her movie career but recently admitted that she is home sick.

‘I live here [LA] now and I'm bereft of all English people,’ she told The Mirror.

‘I miss Cheddar cheese so much - it's plastic and rubbish out here.’

Riley is currently engaged to 38-year-old PayPal millionaire Elon Musk, the couple called off their wedding last year due to their busy schedules, but are said to be planning to marry this summer.

Sunbathing 'Boosts Men's Sex Drives'

2010-02-01T14:01:00.000-08:00

A spot of sunbathing boosts men's sex drive, reveals a new study. Testosterone levels in men's blood rise accordingly with doses of vitamin D.

The vital nutrient is produced in the body after exposure to sunlight and can also be obtained from eating oily fish and meat. Researchers at the Medical University of Graz in Austria found men with at least 30 nanograms of vitamin D per millilitre of blood had much more of the main male sexual hormone circulating than those with less.

And the average amount of testosterone over the course of the year was subject to the same fluctuations as the vitamin D level. Both decrease from October - at the beginning of the winter months - and reach their lowest level in March because of the weaker solar radiation during this period.

Ad Brand, spokesman of the Sunlight Research Forum in Veldhoven in the Netherlands, said: 'Men who ensure their body is at least sufficiently supplied with vitamin D are doing good for their testosterone levels and their libido among other things.'

The new findings back up previous research that found an hour of sunshine can boost a man's testosterone by 69 per cent.Testosterone is the most important male sexual hormone. In males it is mainly responsible for the development of the sex organs, the formation and maintenance of the typical male sexual characteristics, sperm production and the controlling of male desire.

Stimulated by UV radiation, 90 per cent of vitamin D in the body is produced by the skin.An average vitamin D level of 30 nanograms per millilitre of blood (30 ng/ml) represents the scientific value from which vitamin D has a sufficiently positive effect. Optimal values are between 40 and 60 ng/ml.(kmps)

Fro-Yo Business, Such a Sweet Profit

2010-01-28T03:22:00.000-08:00

Frozen yoghurt is an urban trend in Jakarta nowadays. Almost all shopping centres have cafes or take-away booths selling frozen yoghurt, plus some ice cream mix and various delicious toppings. The dairy product is believed to have the property of rejuvenation and clearing one's skin.

Within the last two years, at least 75 brands of frozen yoghurt, or fro-yo, have been circulating in Indonesia. Not all have survived, some rise only to fall into obscurity. But some, are budding and expanding.

One of the fro-yo pioneers in Indonesia is PT Berjaya Sally Ceria (PT BSC), owner of the Sour Sally brand. Though only 1.5 year old, Sour Sally, that serves the premium segmentation, has expanded to 36 outlets. These outlets are spread over several major cities in Indonesia, such as Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya, and Denpasar.

Considering the enthusiastic response from people, PT BSC is weighing the option of offering a franchise called Yogu Buzz. "We're deliberately creating a second brand before offering the franchise so that the market segment would spread better," said Sagita Kwee, Brand Marketing Manager for Sour Sally, who is also in charge of the Yogu Buzz franchise.

The plan is to give Yogu Buzz a lighter pricing compared to Sour Sally; around Rp. 14,500 per cup. As a comparison, a cup of Sour Sally yoghurt costs around Rp. 17,500 to Rp. 64,000.

Yogu Buzz's outlets won't be like Sour Sally's boutique cafe concept. They will only be take-away booths. And also, Yogu Buzz only sells personal size fro-yo, or single scoops. "Yogu Buzz's slogan is 'Fro-Yo for Everyone'," Sagita said.

Though a second brand, Sagita ensures that PT BSC, as the master franchiser of Yogu Buzz will supply import quality materials.

The interest for this franchise is tremendous. It was only released last November 2009, but so far there have been 300 people interested in it. But as the starting stage, PT BSC has only chosen 5 to 10 franchisee around Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi. "We don't want to be too aggressive."

If you're interested, no need to worry. You can still join. The next selection process for the Yogu Buzz franchise is next April.

Yogu Buzz has set licensing fees around Rp. 350 million to Rp. 450 million. In return, the franchisee gains licensing rights, free material supplies for a month, production machines, all the professional tools, display booth, and an estimate of the yearly tenant fee. "The rest we would detail during a meeting with the potential franchisee," said marcus Kandou, Marketing Communications and PR Director for Sour Sally.

Sagita estimates that if one Yogu Buzz booth could earn Rp. 3 million per day, then the franchisee's capital would break-even in a year.

According to Bambang N. Rachmadi, franchise observer and also lecturer at the University of Indonesia, the business prospect for frozen yoghurt in Indonesia is still prime. His reason, "The Indonesian people's market potential is very big and the consumers' per capita income is estimated to rise."

Bambang is also very supportive of local franchises such as Yogu Buzz, and advises that "It's better for Yogu Buzz to develop its own simple business format." He also hopes that the new franchise would offer franchise prices that aren't too high. "So it can reach all levels of the people."

Stripping to Bikinis for Controversial Student Newspaper

2010-01-27T20:57:00.000-08:00

They go together hand in hand - students and pubs. But Cambridge dons will be having a blue fit after this undergraduate draped herself across a bar in a revealing bikini for a controversial student newspaper.

The girl, who goes under the name Brittany and is studying social and political sciences at Homerton College, is the latest to pose for online students' magazine The Tab.

Previous models have been pictured in a punt and wearing boxing gloves, provoking criticism that the photographs demean women.

But Britanny, who had her photoshoot done at The Maypole, a popular student haunt, defended her decision, saying it showed beauty and brains could be found in the same package.

'Cambridge used to have this preconception that you can't be both smart and beautiful but the Tab's kind of smashing that,' she said.

'It's not like I'm naked, it's just a bit of fun. I was worried that I'd be really nervous but it was actually really casual. No pressure.'

In an interview that was filmed and posted online, Brittany reveals she had briefly considered her father's reaction - but this hadn't dampened her enthusiasm.

She says she chose a pub because she wanted to appear in a traditional English setting and used a hot chocolate instead of alcohol to build up some Dutch

courage.

'I considered beer but I thought at 11 in the morning I would probably barf,' she added.

Readers have posted appreciative comments, with one who identifies himself as Will saying: 'Shotgun a bar stool at the Maypole. Glad the Tab has kept its

sense of humour.'

Another fan, called James, wrote: 'The Maypole barman never looked so good.'

The Tab was launched in May last year to 'shake up' traditional student journalism at the university in the year it celebrated its 800th anniversary.

Its so-called Tab Totty has included a blonde student, Becky Adams, standing in a punt wearing a pink bikini and high heels, a brunette English graduate from Downing College called Heidi dressed in a kickboxer outfit, and 'size 12 stunner' Emmalina Thompsell, from Gonville and Caius, who was pictured in a bikini on her college lawn.

Courting controversy has helped it pass the one million online hits mark, compared to a print run of 20,000 for each edition of traditional student newspapers Varsity and The Cambridge Student.

Cambridge Student Union women's officer Natalie Szarek has called for the editorial team to remove the photos, saying: 'Tab Totty plays into the idea of women as sexual objects.'

But co-founder George Marangos-Gilks, 22, a third-year politics student from Downing College, said yesterday:

'The purpose of The Tab was to get away from the patronising and dull style of other student papers. We want to give students what they want. The university declined to comment.

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"Split the Sack"

2010-01-26T04:51:00.000-08:00

By Jalaluddin Rumi

Why does the soul not fly

when it hears the call?

Why does the fish, gasping on land,

but near the water,

not move back into the sea?

What keeps us from joining the dance

the dust particles do?

Look at their subtle motions

in sunlight.

We are out of our cages

with our wings spread,

yet we do not lift off.

We keep collecting rocks and broken bits

of pottery like children

pretending they are merchants.

We should split the sack

Of this culture

And stick our heads out.

Look around.

Leave your childhood.

Reach your right hand up

and take this book from the air.

You do know right from left, don’t you?

A voice speaks to your clarity.

Move into the moment of your death.

Consider what you truly want.

Now call out commands yourself.

You are the king. Phrase your question,

and expect the grace of an answer.

Superman Saves Girl from Bar Date-Rape

2010-01-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

DATE-rape drug victim Elizabeth Caulwell was rescued - by a real-life Superman. The mum of one collapsed in a bar when her drink was spiked with a substance, thought to be Rohypnol.

But she was carried safely to an ambulance by the mystery hero who then vanished - leaving her wrapped in his red cape, the only clue to his identity. After recovering from partial paralysis in hospital, Elizabeth, 26, made an appeal to track down her Superman using the local paper in her hometown of Wigan, Lancs.

Modest hero Paul Longmire came forward. He had been out with pals in the costume borrowed from a friend. The marketing executive, 23, said: "We saw Elizabeth stumble and go down face first. I tried supporting her but her legs kept giving way so I just picked her up and carried her outside before the ambulance came.

"She was shivering so I wrapped my cape around her then left. It wasn't heroic. I just helped someone."

Married Elizabeth, who had been out with pals and her sister, said: "I'd drunk three drinks when I collapsed. I woke hours later in hospital.

"Doctors were certain I'd been spiked, probably with Rohypnol or maybe GHB.

"I was determined to find who Superman was to say thanks and return his cape.

"Now we're pals on Facebook. I dread to think what could have happened without him."

This Mother Helped Her Daughter Die after 17 Years of Suffering

2010-01-25T20:02:00.000-08:00

A mother cleared of attempting to murder her incurably ill daughter says that watching her die felt like 'having her heart ripped out'. Former nurse Kay Gilderdale, 55, wept after a jury found her not guilty - to cheers and applause from friends and relatives in the public gallery.

The trial judge questioned whether the week-long hearing should have been held at all since Mrs Gilderdale had already admitted assisting in her daughter Lynn's suicide. The case was in stark contrast to that of Frances Inglis, the mother given nine years last week for injecting her brain-damaged son with a lethal dose of heroin, because Lynn had said she wanted to die.

Lynn, 31, who suffered from the chronic fatigue disease ME for 17 years, begged her mother 'to end her pain' after taking an insufficient morphine overdose and she answered the plea by giving her additional drugs. The charge was attempted murder because it could not be certain whether the drugs administered by Lynn or her mother were what killed her.

Mrs Gilderdale, from Wadhurst, East Sussex, did not give evidence during the trial at Lewes Crown Court, UK. But describing her terrible dilemma in an interview, she said: 'You are torn apart. You have one part of you wanting to respect your daughter's wishes and understanding everything they have been through.

'You have got your heart being ripped out at the same time because all you want to do is to get them better and keep them alive.'

Following the not guilty verdict, Mr Justice Bean gave Mrs Gilderdale a conditional discharge for assisting the suicide, to which she pleaded guilty last July.

He said: 'I do not normally comment on the verdicts of juries but in this case their decision shows that common sense, decency and humanity which makes jury trials so important in a case of this kind.'

In tense courtroom scenes, he was told by the Crown Prosecution Service barrister that the decision to prosecute had been taken at the 'highest level'.

This is believed to be a clear reference to Keir Starmer, the Director of Public Prosecutions, who has been at the forefront of the 'right to die' debate since drawing up guidelines for prosecutors on assisted suicide last year.

Lynn Gilderdale had been in pain for 17 years, had previously attempted suicide and placed a Do Not Resuscitate note on her medical records.

The judge said Lynn had made a 'fully informed decision that she wished to die'. He added that her mother had acted 'selflessly and with exemplary devotion for 17 years'.

In an interview with the BBC's Panorama programme, to be shown next Monday, Mrs Gilderdale said helping end her daughter's life was the hardest thing she had ever done.

'There will be nothing that compares to that pain and heartbreak of watching my beautiful daughter leave this world.'

Her only other child, Stephen, 35, hugged his mother on the courtroom steps.

Standing alongside his father Richard, 56, who divorced his wife in 2002 but still took an active role in caring for their daughter, he said: 'These actions exhibited the same qualities of dedication, love and care that mum unwaveringly demonstrated during the 17 years of Lynn's severe illness.

'I am very proud of her and I hope she will now be afforded the peace to rebuild her life and finally grieve the death of her daughter.'

Esther Rantzen, whose daughter Emily suffered from ME for 14 years but has recovered, said she supported the verdict 'with all my heart'.

She told ITV News: 'The jury has shown yet again that ordinary people can empathise with this sort of tragic case, understand its uniqueness and realise it serves no purpose to put away a devoted mother into prison.'

Lynn was a musical and sporty teenager until she contracted ME as a teenager. In the final years of her life she developed a fear of hospitals after a botched operation left her with a punctured lung which filled up with blood.

She also told her father and mother in her final year that she had been sexually abused by a doctor at a London hospital when undergoing treatment at the age of 14.

The court heard that Lynn had previously carried out a failed suicide attempt in 2007 and had also been in touch with Dignitas, the Swiss assisted-suicide clinic.

At 1.45am on December 3, 2008, she attempted a morphine overdose - injecting herself with 210mg at the bungalow she shared with her mother.

After trying for an hour to talk her daughter out of it, Mrs Gilderdale gave her two further ampoules of the drug, which her daughter injected into a Hickman line - a tube connected to directly to her veins.

Her mother also gave her some powdered sleeping tablets through a tube in her nose. She later told her family's GP she had also injected her daughter with syringes of air in the hope of sending a fatal air bubble into her heart.

At a pre-trial hearing, Judge Richard Brown invited prosecution lawyers to drop the attempted murder charge in the light of Mrs Gilderdale's guilty plea to assisting suicide, adding that he felt a trial would 'not be in the public interest'.

He said: 'Wouldn't it be better to accept it now rather than let this defendant get tangled up in a messy trial for the sake of some legal mumbo-jumbo?'

But the CPS insisted in proceeding with the charge.

At the trial, Mr Justice Bean asked Sally Howes, QC: 'Why was it in the public interest to proceed with attempted murder rather than accepting the plea of assisted suicide?'

Miss Howes said: 'It was thought at the highest level this should be a case that should be canvassed before a jury.'

Last night a CPS spokesman said: 'There is no doubt that Mrs Gilderdale was a devoted mother who cared for her daughter up to the end of her life and we accept the jury's decision in this case.

'However the law does not allow someone to take the life of another, regardless of how compassionately they do it.'

I Didn't Mean to Park There

2010-01-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

This is the moment a pensioner tried to reverse out of her garage but drove forward by mistake - and smashed through a wall before landing in a river.

Pat Dancer, who is in her 70s, was trying to reverse her blue Vauxhall out of her garage when she clipped the side wall. But she then hit the accelerator and shot forward - smashing through the rear garage wall and plummeting into a stream behind her home.

The car landed on its front bumper with the back in the air and Ms Dancer was trapped inside at the scene in Chillaton near Lifton, Devon.

Police were called by a neighbour and she was cahttp://stat.k.kidsklik.com/data/photo/2010/01/22/1043225p.jpgrried from the car and taken to hospital with leg injuries and mild hypothermia. A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall police said: 'The woman had been trying to reverse the car out of the garage when she struck the side wall.

'She panicked and floored the accelerator which shot the car forward at speed and straight through the back wall. The wall was destroyed.

'Her car was found in the river with the front wheels under water but luckily she was largely unhurt.'

Ms Dancer is now in a stable condition and being treated for minor injuries at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

New App Translates Baby's Cries

2010-01-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Next time your baby cries, you might want to hold the little one up to your iPhone. A new app could translate those yells into adult-speak, telling you whether it's a cry for food or perhaps a nap.

After 10 seconds of crying, the Cry Translator (patented by Biloop Technologic, S.L.) will light up one of five icons to indicate, the company claims, whether your baby is hungry, tired, bored, sleepy, stressed, or in some kind of discomfort.

While you might think the cry decoder is as valid as having a conversation with your dog or cat, some research suggests there is meaning behind those wails.

For instance, scientists have found the pitch and frequency of a baby's cries can indicate health problems and even the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), according to research published in 2005 in the journal Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities.

Other more recent research has shown the cries of newborns already bear the mark of the language their parents speak. For instance, one study showed French newborns cry with rising melody patterns, slowly increasing in pitch from the beginning to the end, while German newborns have falling melody patterns, both of which are consistent with their prospective languages. That suggests infants are already picking up bits of language in the womb.

And while newborns may not have language for some time, pediatricians have known they cry to communicate.

"Babies do cry; it's their main form of communication," said pediatrician Jamie A. Freishtat, adding that over time parents tend to figure out what certain cries mean. "I know that anecdotally a lot of parents, after time, say, 'Ah she must be wet,' by a certain cry. I think pain [is something] parents tend to pick up on."

That "I'm in pain" cry could be higher pitched or more shrill, said Freishtat, who is also a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

Even so, all babies sound different, just like adults. "I'm not sure if you had ten babies and they were all hungry if you would get the same cry from each baby," Freishtat told LiveScience.

The Web site set up for the new baby-cry app acknowledges the variability of cries, explaining that rather than tone or pitch, the technology relies on some kind of pattern in the cries.

The company cautions, however, that the technology is meant to help parents and caregivers understand what their infant is trying to communicate and is not a stand-in for a medical doctor.

Freishtat echoed this caution: "Regardless of how a parent is trying to interpret his or her baby's cry, if a baby is ever crying inconsolably (won't stop regardless of interventions, such as offering a feed, changing a diaper, holding the baby, etc.) then it is very important to contact or go to the doctor immediately because that can mean there is something more serious going on."

David Beckham squeezed penis

2010-01-22T01:09:00.000-08:00

What woman does not fascinated by AC Milan midfielder, David Beckham? body physically handsome and sexy, making many women admire, even obsessed. A United States television journalist, Elena In Cioccio, no exception. He even looked exasperated and intrigued by Beckham. So "gemasnya", genitals squeezed Cioccio Beckham.

The incident happened when Beckham came out of the restaurant to the car. The journalist was immediately scrambled. Beckham even welcoming the reporters questions. When the conversation was warm, suddenly came over and squeezed Cioccio Beckham pubic.

Suddenly Beckham surprised. He slowly backed away, then some of his bodyguards swiftly straight forward and pulled the journalist.

It turned out pretty journalist action is not without reason. He was curious about the pubic Beckham. Curiosity was born because Beckham becomes an Armani underwear ad and has been a while starring in the ad. However, Beckham has now shifted Cristiano Ronaldo.

In an underwear ad, Beckham once wore tight pants and "stuff" very prominent so beautiful. In fact, his wife, Victoria Beckham, admitted the beauty of "somebody" Beckham's. He called it "Golden Ball".

Cioccio more curious and want to prove myself. In addition, the results of these actions will also be displayed in the program that he brought, namely Le Lene. Therefore, he has prepared yellow gloves to support its action. These sensations will increase the ratings show.

"His image may have shifted slightly because, for an Armani ad, he was replaced by a younger star, Cristiano Ronaldo. However, we want to know what was there in the pictures is true. It can be proved by touch," beber In Cioccio.

Without a sense of shy, outspoken in expressing Cioccio knickers Beckham. "I touched it, it was small. Beckham, you've lied to us all. What do you use the (ad) that? Yarn wool? It's all just a trick," Cioccio attack.

Strangely, La Lene aired on Italian television station, Uno, owned by AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi.

A source at AC Milan says, "Beckham a little angry because of the action. He did not know at all and luckily bodyguards acted quickly and prevented her to do the next touch."

Meanwhile, sources in La Lene says, "It's just a joke and we hope that Beckham react as a joke, too."

Ah, so if you found out deh "golden balls" Beckham was small.

Green Canyon

2010-01-17T01:14:00.000-08:00

Green Canyon, or often called by locals Cukang Taneuh (land bridge), located in the Village Kertayasa, District Cijulang, Ciamis, West Java. The distance is about 31 kilometers from Pangandaran, or about 393 kilometers from Jakarta. Near the tourist attraction there are also tourist attractions as well as the Airport Batukaras Nusawiru.

Green Canyon is a combination of rivers, green valleys, forests, various kinds of stalactite-stalakmit, bathing pool (supposedly trusted anyone who bathe in it will be forever young, smooth soul mate and rejekiny, wkwkwk: D), the "Eternal Rain" ( because walalupun drought, water coming out of the cliff wall was never subsided) and waterfall, one of them tejun Palatar water.

Here, tourists can perform a variety of activities, such as: swimming, diving, rock climbing, boating while fishing, and for those who like to challenge adrenaline, can jump from a large stone with a height of 5m to the bottom