A tale of tall love!

                                                 (Image courtesy: The Sun)      

22-year-old Francinaldo da Silva Carvalho may have trouble kissing his girlfriend, but no doubt, his love is way taller than any others. Her lady love, 17-year-old Elisany da Cruz Silva is 6ft 8in, a lofty distinction indeed!

According to The Sun, though Elisany towers over her 5ft 4in boyfriend as they take a romantic beach stroll, she is happy that Francinaldo loves her a lot and respects her.

The Sun quoted the construction worker as saying: “My friends say things like, ‘How do you hug her?’. I say, ‘There’s a way of doing everything’.”

Elisany started to grow unusually tall when she was affected by a form of gigantism due to a tumour on her pituitary gland. She grew faster than her seven siblings from the age of 11 and hit 6ft 9in when she was 14. But her sudden growth caused pain in her limbs and joints.

According to the report, surgeons removed the gland two years ago and she shrank by an inch — but she could still not fit on the school bus. Interestingly, Elisany of Salinopolis, Brazil who quit school due to teasing aspires to be a model.

The Sun says she’s happy now with Francinaldo. She was quoted as saying: “What really attracted me was his personality, the way he acts with people and the way he acts with me. The only thing that really affects us is when we hang out holding hands — it seems like he is my little brother or son.”

Kinky sex, the in thing on campuses

Bondage, Domination, and Sadism and Masochism (BDSM) seems to be in thing on campuses! Blame it on E L James, varsity youngsters are getting hooked to kinky sex.

Early December, the authorities at Harvard University found that a ­student-run BDSM group is very active on its campus and officially recognized the group. It means freshmen at this Ivy League university can sign up for kinky sex along with about 400 other student groups.

Those who know say that Harvard is not at all the first university to approve such a group. Way back in 1992, Columbia University became the first to have this honor by recognizing Conversio Virium (Latin for “exchange of forces”). Later in 2003, the Iowa State University student body founded Cuffs, a college student group that teaches about bondage and other sexual fetishes, while Vassar College has the Sex Avengers, which holds an annual “Masturbate-a-thon.”

Though it was limited earlier, now after Fifty Shades of Gray is out and sold like hot cakes, mainstreaming of the BDSM subculture has already been accelerated and is spreading fast to more elite institutions of higher learning. According to New York Observer, Columbia has a BDSM group. So do Tufts, MIT, Yale and the University of Chicago. Brown, UPenn and Cornell have hosted BDSM educators for on-campus seminars entitled “The Freedom of Kink” and “Kink for All.” It looks like conservatives who have long viewed the Ivy League a bastion of depravity may have a point after all.

New York Observer says that while the scene’s mantra—“safe, sane and consensual”—is heard so often it might as well be translated into needlepoint, violations of these maxims are common. It is reported that hundreds of students, mostly women, have come forward to describe the abuse they’ve suffered within the scene.

Experts say that BDSM clubs are a good thing as long as this means providing safe spaces for students to explore alternative sexuality, but clear rules on what “consent” means need to be in place.

Cheated by wife, man lives on tree

It is a heartrending story of a loving husband who was cheated by his young wife. Unlike usual cheating stories, this one did not end in divorce or violence, but it had a most unlikely and unusual turn.

The betrayed man, 25-year-old Sanjay of Varanasi, asked for apology from his infidel wife, but the adamant wife, Tara, wouldn’t budge. Ever since, the dejected husband has been living in a tree for the last nine months, refusing to come down until his wife apologises for cheating on him.

But the apology never came and, nine months later, Sanjay, 25, is still there, wondering if wife Tara will ever take him back.

According to the Mail Online, Sanjay married Tara last year in Baragaon, Varanasi, before moving to Mumbai.

But in March he returned home from work a little early, only to find his new bride in a compromising position with their next-door neighbour.

Hurt and humiliated, he demanded an apology for the infidelity but she refused so he took her back to their village in a bid to resolve their differences.

But she remained defiant, saying she wanted to return to Mumbai before leaving for her parent’s house.

So in a last ditch effort to win her back, Sanjay shimmied up a guava tree on the outskirts of the village and has remained there ever since.

He says he will climb down only when his wife apologises for her misdeeds and returns to him.

Initially he refused food, surviving only on the guava fruit picked from the branches of the tree. But when none were left, he was forced to swallow his pride and relied on his mother, who faithfully brought him snacks from home.

'He climbed on to this tree on March 9 and has remained there ever since. Whenever we try to bring him down, he threatens to commit suicide,' Sanjay’s mother Kushma Dev told The Asian Age, according to the report.

'He eats and sleeps on the tree and even relieves himself from there. We keep going to him and asking him if he needs anything.'

Some villagers, however, claim to have spotted Sanjay climb down from the tree and go for a stroll when he thinks nobody is watching.

But they say he quickly scurries back up to his branch if he thinks somebody is nearby.

His sister Nisha told the paper they have not called police, adding: 'We apprehend that he may harm himself if we seek outside help. As long as he is safe there, we are happy for him.'

Afghan torture victim all smiles

“What happened, it's part of me, part of my life and it's all the time in my mind and with me.  But I have to live, and I have to love,” said Aesha Mohammadzai, the young woman who was brutally assaulted in Afghanistan by her husband after she tried to escape from him. She is on the road to recovery as doctors continue to rebuild her face.

Aesha, who believes she is 21 or 22, moved to the U.S. two years ago after fleeing the war-torn country and is now six months into her surgery at a hospital in Bethesda, Maryland.

According to Daily Mail, as part of the life-changing treatment, her forehead has ballooned and dark, drooping flesh now covers where her nose once was - before her husband sliced it off.

“I don't care,” Daily Mail quoted her as told to CNN. “Everybody has some kind of problem. At the beginning, I was very scared. I was scared to look at my face in the mirror. I was scared to think what will happen in the future to me. But now I'm not scared anymore. Now I know the meaning of life, how to live. There, I couldn't understand how to live.'

The report said that doctors placed an inflatable silicone shell under the skin of her forehead and gradually filled it with fluid in order to expand her skin and provide them with extra tissue for her new nose.

Aesha’s story was first told in August 2010 by Time magazine, who published a harrowing cover photo of her - horrifying people around the world and symbolising the oppression of Afghan women.

When she was 12, her father promised her in marriage to a Taliban fighter to pay a debt. She was handed over to his family who abused her and forced her to sleep in the stable with the animals.

But when Aesha attempted to flee, she was caught and her nose and ears were hacked off by her husband as punishment. Left for dead in the mountains, she crawled to her grandfather's house.

She managed to get to a U.S. medical facility and then was taken to a secret shelter in Kabul before she was flown to the U.S. by a charity to stay with a family.

Aesha is now optimistic and cheerful. She prefers watching Bollywood films rather than American TV. Aesha is being treated at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre in Bethesda.

All in all, a reason to feel happy that she is recovering and hopeful. 

Hotel Transylvania – review

Went to celebrate the 118^th birthday of little Mavis, things were more messed up than spooky or funny and hey man, this guy is a sidesplitting monster with strong feeling for her daughter! Bram Stalker’s guy was a blood-sucking vampire whereas Frankenstein is an over protective father.   

To be honest, if you can transform once again into the small kid that you were once upon a time, Hotel Transylvania offers some rollicking time as the lavish five-stake resort is full of all the world’s funny monsters and their families who arrive to celebrate Mavis’ birthday with not humans to bother them.

Everything was fine for Dracula, but his world could come crashing down when one ordinary guy stumbles on the hotel and takes a shine to Mavis.

Not a great work, but it’s ok, be a kid and laugh it off! 

Stop searching for ‘perfect woman’!

Have you been searching for that ‘perfect’ woman to be your soul mate for long? If your answer is yes, our humble, well-intended advice is; please stop doing it, for there exists none! Don’t get offended, this is not our finding.

According to a recent survey conducted by Remington, a hair care and grooming expert, "perfect female does not exist", says a report in Daily Express.

A total of 2,000 men were approached for the survey, but interestingly not even one said their partner was 100 percent flawless.

The report asserts that modern guys may talk about their "ideal woman" but, in reality, she may not be what he truly wants. As for British men, they rated their partners at just 67 percent perfect, with flaws including watching too many soaps, getting grumpy easily and being obsessed with cleanliness.

The survey says eight in 10 men were convinced the ideal female was not out there. Only a fifth said they would actually want their partners to be perfect while half felt their current partner was "the one" for them.

Haven’t you had ya crap-uccino yet?

Have you heard of any of your friends praising generously the black ivory coffee for its unmatchable taste? Or did you stand wondering how could a cup of black ivory coffee could be so tasty? Then listen, here is the secret: black ivory coffee comes out of an elephant’s rear end, believe it or not.

The new brew of coffee fast gaining popularity and is one of the most expensive in the world at £30 a cup, as every bean used to make it has to be plucked out of a pile of elephant dung, according to Metro News UK.

The report quoted producers in Thailand as saying that feeding the ingredients to their herd of 20 elephants improved the flavour, as the animals’ stomach acid made them less bitter.

And ha, the coffee is rightly named as crap-uccino, that has already become the butt of jokes.

But it seems Canadian Blake Dinkin, who has spent £300,000 developing the idea, may have the last laugh. The first 70kg batch of coffee he produced in northern Thailand has sold out.

‘There’s definitely something wild about it that I can’t put a name on,’ Metro quoted US tourist Ryan Nelson, 31, who tried it at a hotel near the elephants’ home.

'Take our organs, save our husbands'

It’s the agonising story of six women who are left with no option but sell their organs to get the release of their husbands, poor migrant labourers who languish in a Dubai jail, after implicated in a murder case. Law of our land does not allow them to sell their kidneys and they are knocking at the doors of corridors of power to get permission to sell their vital organs.

This is not a scene scripted for a Bollywood potboiler, but a true story that shook the civil society earlier this month. It was seven years ago, six migrant labourers from Karimnagar district were implicated in a Nepali guard’s murder case in Dubai and were put behind the bars.

The six hapless labourers - Shivarathri Mallesh, Shivarathri Ravi, Nampelli Venkati, Dandugula Laxman, Shivarathri Hanumanthu and Syed Kareem (all from Karimnagar district) — went to Dubai with a dream to make some money and look after their families. The days were good when they started their stint in UAE as construction workers, but what fate had in store for them was disastrous.

On a fateful day, a Nepali guard was murdered, and the police, having no clues left, accused the six workers along with four other migrant workers from Pakistan of committing the ghastly crime. Not much probe was done, and all of them were convicted by a local court.

Some of them were sentenced to 24 years of imprisonment while some were given 10 years in jail. Unfortunately, no Telugu speaking advocate was provided by the Indian embassy to defend them in the court of law and they miserably failed in explaining their version, thus leading to their imprisonment.

Back home in Karimnagar district, their wives were a shattered lot. With no land, no money and no one left to support them, they have been wailing in anguish all these years. Several memorandums and representations were made to the authorities, political leaders and human rights organisations, but they all fell in deaf ears.

It has been a tale of utter misery and agony. Though it was not a big deal for the government to intervene and get justice to these suffering families, nothing was done. The family members and the convicts have been undergoing all sorts of pain and mental torture due to poverty and separation.

According to Shariat law, convicts can be released from prison, if the victim’s widow pardons them. Since no help was visible from any side, the women, with the help of some philanthropic organisations, managed to convince the victim’s widow after a prolonged effort, and she has finally agreed to pardon, provided an amount of Rs 15 lac was paid as compensation.

The women approached all and sundry to gather the amount that is very very huge for them, but in vain. All pleas and requests were gone with the wind.

Finally, they came to know that they could get the money by selling their organs, the six women - S Rajavva, S Rena, N Ellavva, S Padma, D Padma and Reshma - approached the AP State Human Rights Commission (APSHRC) with a request to allow them to sell their kidneys to get their jailed husbands’ release from Dubai.

HRC member K Peda Peri Reddy directed Protector of Emigrants and NRI wing of the General Administration Department of the state government to submit a detailed report on the issue by January 17, 2013.

The hapless women said in their petition that their husbands went to Dubai in search of work eight years ago. However, all of them were arrested in connection with a murder case and sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 10 to 24 years.

The petitioners also said that they have made repeated requests to Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Indian Embassy in Dubai to save their husbands and send them back but to no avail. Finally, the murder victim’s family accepted to pardon them on payment of a compensation of Rs 15 lac.

“We had appealed to the Central Government to get our husbands released by paying the compensation since we are poor. However, there has been no response. We are now left with no other option but to sell our organs and pay the proceeds for the release of our husbands,” the women said.

The petitioners urged the HRC to see that they were given permission to sell their kidneys. Peda Peri Reddy sought a report from the Protector of Emigrants and NRI wing of the General Administration Department of the state government to submit a detailed report on the issues by January 17, 2013.

“As family members of migrant labour, we would like to appeal, pray and demand to know if the migrant workers are not protected with Right to Equality, Right to Freedom and Right against Exploitation. And in case of extreme necessity in difficult circumstances, if no help is forthcoming, we have only our bodies to sell and pay the penalty to get our family members back,” said the women.

“Help us or allow us to sell our organs and get our men back home in Karimnagar, so that we can live together even in poverty and share our poverty within the family,” they pleaded.

The Dirty Picture

Let’s admit it. If we can procure a driving license without taking the pain of going to the transport authority office, collecting the form, filling it up, writing a written test and then finally a driving test, we don’t mind (nay, we are more than willing!) paying a small amount of money to the ‘agent’ who gets the things done.

The corruption has spread its tentacles everywhere, right from a common man’s mind to the mightiest office in the country.  Some of these sleaze stories are embarrassing, some annoying, some sickening and yet some unbelievable.

While millions of poor people in Jammu and Kashmir shiver in chilling cold inside their roofless shelters, tons and tons of timber lies undistributed in government depots across the State. Thousands of villagers who lost their habitation due to the thriving coal industry in Jharkhand are deprived of electricity and are living in eternal darkness. (The ‘Coal Capital’ of India, Jharkhand, is one of the highest producers of coal in the country).  People are fighting ‘puppet’ panchayats in rural Chhattisgarh while VIP convicts are ‘enjoying’ their lives behind the huge walls of Chanchalguda prison in Hyderabad.

There is corruption everywhere, every office, every department, every scheme, every district, every state and every government. And the worst still, it seems there is corruption in every man’s mind! In such a scenario how can somebody spearhead any fiery movement against corruption in such a vast democracy like India? 

Anna Hazare tried it. Kejriwals, Bhushans, Bedis and even Baba Ramdev joined the bandwagon. Millions of people across the country came out in the open supporting India Against Corruption (IAC).  But where are they standing now? “This is not the way corruption should be fought. See, Arvind Kejriwal vows to fight corruption and threatens to expose all those who earned huge wealth through illegal means.  At the same time, he accepts huge corporate funding for his political activities. Tomorrow if any of these corporates involve in corruption, how can he expose them with whose money he runs the party?” asks Dosapati Ramu, a young social activist and state general secretary of the youth wing of Lok Satta, a political outfit that is basically formed to fight the malady.

The moral of the story is, fighting corruption in the government may create a buzz and some headlines but, will finally fizzle out with no takers. That explains things. Corruption is not a huge demon that hides in the government. It is omnipresent.  If you try to find it and then blow the whistle, the result may be even fatal.  Remember the story of social activist Niyamat Ansari who was brutally killed for exposing huge financial disorder in the NREGA scheme in Jharkhand? The civil society was shocked to hear the story of how Ansari was picked up from his house by a contractor’s henchman and beaten to death last year. And the government agencies and the police did nothing to get the dead man justice.  This is not a singular incident. 

A 38-year-old businesswoman Shehla Masood was shot dead in Bhopal for using Right to Information Act (RIA) to expose local corruption after she kept losing on government contracts. The murder, till today, is unsolved. She was one among at least 12 whistleblowers killed in India since January 2010, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The report also says at least 40 people were assaulted after seeking information under the law. RTI Act enacted by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh six years ago has 529,000 requests filed this year up to March, according to a report.

Yes, RTI is most power rule to fight corruption today in India, but it is dangerous.  Then what is the option? If one has to understand the root cause of corruption, one has to sit and introspect. It is a circle, a vicious one for that matter, that starts from a common individual and ends in himself.  

He pays bribe to an agent for getting his passport, who, in turn, pays bribe to an official in regional passport office, who had to grease the palm of politicians for getting the job, and the politician pays bribe to the common man for getting him elected, whoa!

“People should treat corrupt leaders and officials like untouchables. The crooks should realize that they are regarded worse than septic tanks.  We should also educate youngsters to find out the source of money their parents bring home. If they ever bring any ill-gotten money, family members should treat them with contempt,” Ramu says adding that the entire wealth of a corrupt official should be seized by the authorities making him feel that not even his relatives or children will get any share even if he be convicted for graft.

According to Wikipedia, corruption in India is a major issue and it adversely affects economy. It quotes a 2005 study conducted by Transparency International in India that found more than 62% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes or influence peddling to get jobs done in public offices successfully. In its 2008 study, Transparency International reports about 40% of Indians had first-hand experience of paying bribes or using a contact to get a job done in public office.

It may be remembered that In 2011 India was ranked 95th out of 178 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index. Criminalisation of politics and the nexus among criminals, politicians and bureaucrats in India make things worse. These unholy alliances breed a lot of corruption. Awarding of contracts, tendering processes, setting up of industrial units and such activities make corruption more prevalent in the country.  And the government, which is supposed to root out this evil, is formed by a major chunk of corrupt politicians!

According to official statistics, as of December 2008 alone, 120 out of India's 523 Parliament members were facing criminal charges. The recent scandals that rocked the country involve lakhs of crores of money! Take the biggest of the recent scams be it the 2G spectrum scam, the 2010 Commonwealth Games scam, the Adarsh Housing Society scam, Coal Mining Scam, mining scandal in Karnataka and cash for vote scam, one gets the shock of one’s life to see that those who involved in these skullduggery are high-profile politicians, including Central and state ministers and even chief ministers!

Come elections and all leaders are on ground zero toiling to get votes. They use their ill-gotten wealth to bribe the common men and then get back to power again! And they again form the government and then amass huge wealth in the dark world of corruption. Seeing this and being encouraged by political leaders, the bureaucracy too is lured by the dirty demon called corruption and the morbid saga continues.

www.ipaidabribe.com a website run by Janaagraha Centre for Democracy and Citizenship, an NGO based in Bangalore gets thousands of posts from individuals who are made to give or accept bribe.  More than 20,000 people from 489 cities across the country have already shared their ‘bribing experience’ on the site.

There is only one remedy. Every citizen should first be free of corrupt practices and intentions. Then should take the decision never to give or take bribe and treat those who involve in sleazy practices should get no social dignity. Any politicians with shady background should never be voted into power. When the government is too full of sincere and honest leaders whose only agenda is upholding the principles of the country ensuring a better society, no corrupt practice will prevail any segment. And of course, if the dirty demon raises his ugly head, then it will be battered into pulp, for sure!  

Email glitch scuttles sex party hopes

It was an email glitch that played spoilsport for a sex party organizer who catered to an upmarket clientele in East London. Though the mail was supposed to be confidential and meant to be circulated among ‘closely guarded’ members, a computer virus sent the mail across hundreds of others, leaving the organizer red-faced.

According to a report appeared in the Daily Mail last week, the Killing Kittens parties - run by Emma Sayle, a friend of the Duchess of Cambridge - are known for their discreet nature as well as their exclusivity.

The invitation, addressed to The Sexual Elite, advised clients to book places for the Killing Kittens Christmas party early to avoid disappointment. It also asked them to wear festive underwear or "anything kinky", according to the report.

Sayle sent the mail but realized that she goofed up it entirely when had to answer questions from subscribers about why their email inboxes had started filling up with RSVPs from other named users.

She reportedly admitted that her BlackBerry had been going mad with emails and she had her computer guys working around the clock to try to fix the problem.

Miss Sayle has described herself as "one of the world's leading sextrepreneurs". Her Killing Kittens brand also sells sexual aids and has organized “kidnap role play experiences” for £3,500. 

Chia seeds, the latest superfood!

And if you were wondering what superfood could make you live longer and healthier, here comes the good news!  Chia seeds are fast making comeback as the latest superfood, according to a recent report appeared in New York Times. Chia seeds were a staple of the pre-Columbian Mayan and Aztec diets.

Chia seeds are loaded with omega-3′s, antioxidants, fiber, calcium, protein and a number of other vitamins and minerals. This nutrient-dense food are said to be able to aid with weight loss, control blood sugar and reduce the risk of heart disease, though none of these claims have been backed up by scientific evidence.

According to Christopher McDougall, the author of “Born to Run,” the seeds’ ability to boost stamina and energy is high, Ancient Aztecs chomped on the seeds as they made their conquests and the Tarahumara Indians today use the seeds to fuel long-distance runs barefoot.

Bloomberg Businessweek says that among Wall Street’s trading desks and bullpens, chia seeds are becoming the stimulant of choice — healthier than coffee, cheaper (and obviously more legal) than cocaine, and less juvenile than a 5-hour energy drink.

Experts say that since the trend has set in, the craze will ensue. “Fellow blogger Jan Cho says, “Whole and ground chia seeds are being added to smoothies, puddings, soups, cereals and a variety of baked goods. It was only a matter of time before they were co-opted by the food industry.”

The seeds have entered the broader market and can now be found in many mainstream grocery stores. Demand for chia products has grown fivefold this past year, says a trader.

Cho writes: In short, “superfoods” are a marketing conceit. Choosing what to eat for health entails simply choosing food that’s real and whole. In fact, I can’t think of any real food that couldn’t also be or hasn’t already been touted as a superfood — whether it’s broccoli or apples or salmon or spinach or walnuts or beans or tofu. Today it just happens to be chia seeds. They’re new, they’re exotic, they have a good back story and they’re extremely versatile. They’re a marketer’s dream.”

Watching porn a 'worldwide phenomenon'!

So, it is official now. Everyone wants to watch porn stuff, come what may.  According to a report that appeared in Daily Mail, no matter how much risk it may involve, a lot of people watch pornography in offices. The report quotes a German expert who has claimed millions of people are surreptitiously viewing porn at the workplace.

The German sex therapist Christoph Ahlers was quoted as saying that around 60 million people log on to the world's largest free porn website everyday – and two-thirds of those are doing so from their desks.

Berlin-based Ahlers made the claim at a conference in Salzburg, Austria, on medicine and therapies for the treatment of sexual

behavioural issues.

"Modern viewing of porn is no longer something in which strange individuals are engaged in quiet rooms in video booths," he was quoted as saying. And porn watchers, nothing to be shy about watching it, for Ahlers says watching porn is now a "worldwide phenomenon".

Teens are always on Facebook!

In a startling revelation, a recent survey shows that Indian teens spend 86 per cent of their time daily on Facebook followed by 54 per cent on Twitter!

If you thought you were the only the parent who racks your brain over how to get your a teenage boy or girl out of Facebook addiction, you are wrong! You are one among millions of such parents across India. According to a latest survey, Indian teens spend 86 per cent of their time daily on Facebook followed by 54 per cent on Twitter!

It is found that around 45% of the teens surveyed use smart phones to access the Internet and on average open an account on Facebook by age 13, according to a survey conducted by McAfee last week.

McAfee's 'Secret Lives of Teens' survey says 97 per cent of teens have access to social network, while there is a growing digital divide between teens and their parents. "This divide is attributed to the fact that Indian teens are growing up as digital natives, with increasingly active online lives but lack  of parental assistance," the survey said.

The survey was carried out in seven cities -- Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Chennai. A sample size of 757 teenagers and 750 parents were included in the survey.

The report says that close to half of surveyed teens (45 per cent) are now using their smart phones for internet access. It says there is an evident discrepancy between parental perception and actual reality regarding the online activities of the teenagers.

While parental concerns prevail, teens do end up sharing more dangerous information online, contrary to their parents’ belief, the survey said and added that 89 per cent of teens believe social network is safe whereas parents are less believing at 71 per cent.

The survey said 38 per cent teens have witnessed cruel behavior online, whereas only 16 per cent parents are aware of this. 87 per cent of this behaviour has been noticed on Facebook, 31 per cent on
Twitter and 23 per cent on email by teens. 

War on Men

Yes, men have done enough. I agree with Suzanne Venker. In his opinion piece for Fox News, "The War on Men," Venkar made it plain. Men are in big trouble. The world has changed. Modern society does not have space for men, it’s women everywhere.

Hey fellow men, we should have been alerted when Christina Hoff Sommers wrote The War Against Boys way back in 2000 that we were going to be end up soup. But we didn’t. And then Hanna Rosin said the same in her The End of Man. And now comes Venker’s outbursts.

The irony is despite the efforts of three generations of feminists, men still earn more than women. Yet he has been hurt, badly hurt. According to Pew Research Center, the share of women aging from eighteen to thirty-four that say having a successful marriage is one of the most important things in their lives rose nine percentage points since 1997 – from 28 percent to 37 percent. For men, the opposite occurred. The share voicing this opinion dropped, from 35 percent to 29 percent.

The fact of the matter is modern women want to get married whereas men don’t. Yes, it’s obvious that some women have serious trouble finding a man that they want to marry. But Venker says that it’s women who are to be blamed. Women aren’t women anymore.

According to a fellow blogger, women are no longer women, but she-demons, who come from the great land across the sea. They do not love, but rather devour their mates, bones and all. Who could love such a creature?

He says that contrary to what feminists like Hanna Rosin, author of The End of Men, say, the so-called rise of women has not threatened men. It has pissed them off. It has also undermined their ability to become self-sufficient in the hopes of someday supporting a family. Men want to love women, not compete with them. They want to provide for and protect their families – it’s in their DNA. But modern women won’t let them.

Save the wetlands of Bengal!

The magnificent flora and fauna that once were abundant in the wetland of India are fast diminishing. Several wildlife species are endangered, they are on the verge of extinct.

There was a time when leopards, tigers, elephants, river terrapins and many more used to flourish on the wetlands of Bengal, but unfortunately due to the heavy influx of migrants and infrastructure in the name of development has spelled doom.   

The wetlands have been rapidly disappearing for years. All in the name of people and development- it is high time to tell the state government to protect the wetlands.

Wetlands are crucial for wildlife, but they do so much more to help people too. They lessen the destructive power of floods, absorb carbon emissions and filter pollutants out of the water. Laws exist to protect wetlands, but they're rarely enforced. If we don't act now, scientists think they'll be gone by 2030.

If you want to tell the state government to protect the remaining wetlands for wildlife and humans to prevent ecological disaster, join Care2’s petition site.

Below goes the petition to Ms Mamta Banarjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, sponsored by Judith B, being signed now:

“Bengal is a region of productive agricultural land and rich biodiversity, with its wildlife including fishing cats, leopards, tigers, the river terrapin, the Himalayan salamander, elephants and hundreds of different birds. The survival of its wildlife and ecosystems, and in turn agriculture, depends on its natural wetlands. These wetlands, however, have been disappearing rapidly.

During the 1970s and 80s, a huge number of natural wetlands were filled in for development as people migrated from the newly independent Bangladesh. They still are disappearing and scientists predict that they will all be gone by 2030 unless action is taken.

The wetlands not only support an abundance of wild animals and plants, with the possibility for developing ecotourism, they also provide vital ecosystem services, including flood mitigation, carbon absorption and the filtering of pollutants. Letting the last ones go would be an ecological disaster.

Although laws exist to preserve wetland habitats, they are rarely enforced.

Tell the state government to take action immediately on this increasingly urgent issue.

Below goes the link for you to sign.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/727/269/524/save-the-wetlands-of-north-bengal/?z00m=20451625

Artistes arrested for ‘gay’ Jesus play in Greece

In the first place, I don’t know why someone wants to portray Jesus as gay. That is not my concern. But why the Church makes a hue and cry when such a thing happens is of course something that I would like to think about.

Nikos Kazantzakis was in the dock for his controversial novel ‘The Last Temptation of Jesus Christ’ and so was Salman Rushdie for his ‘Satanic Verses’. World-renowned Indian artist M F Hussein was often targeted by right-wing Hindus for his portrayal of Hindu goddesses in nude.

A director, actors and a producer who staged an American play depicting Jesus and his disciples as gay were arrested in Greece. Charges of blasphemy have been filed against them. Athens had imposed a ban on the controversial play “Corpus Christi” after weeks of daily protests by priests from Greece’s Orthodox Church, members of the far-right party, the Golden Dawn, and other right-wing protesters earlier this month. My fellow blogger Kristina Chew says that these demonstrations and the blasphemy charges, filed by Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus, are all more signs of a rise in right-wing sentiment in Greece, also evidenced in reports of violent attacks on immigrants and the government’s implementation of its “Xenios Zeus” policy, a crackdown on illegal immigrants.

Albanian-born Laertis Vasiliou, who directed the play was reported to have expressed disbelief that authorities have made such a huge issue about the play. It may be remembered that Greece is struggling hard to tide over the economic crisis that prevails in the country, unemployment and other issues.

Though no specific date for a trial for the director Vasiliou and the others has yet been set, if convicted, they could face sentences of several months.

According to Reuters, the lawsuit against those involved in the “Corpus Christi” production follows the arrest of a 27-year-old man who created a Facebook page that mocked a deceased Orthodox monk. These incidents indicate a right-wing turn in the country, also apparent when Greek state TV censored a kiss between two men while airing a segment of the British period drama “Downton Abbey” in October, reports the agency.

Southern siren crosses 1 million mark on Facebook

Superstar and heart throb of South, Kajal Aggarwal who is known for movies like Singham and the recently released super hit Thupakki, has crossed the one million fans milestone on her official Facebook page, making her the first female lead actor from South India to do so.

What sets Kajal apart is her true endeavor to reach out to her fans extensively through the use of social media platform – Facebook.  Kajal shares images and videos, and also updates her status feed to engage in real-time conversations with her huge fan-base.

Kajal says, “I think Facebook is a great platform to connect with my fans and interact with them. Facebook has just got the world so much closer and conversations flow so easily. Social Media is a very good medium for actors to express their views and share a slice of their life with their fans. While for fans, it is another way of getting a little more up-close and personal with any personality that they admire. Also through my Facebook page I get so many reviews and feedback on my movies, roles, acting and style that it really sometimes makes me aware of my strengths and weaknesses as an actor.  I do personally interact with my fans, as and when time permits I also reply to their comments and post pictures regularly.”

Kajal’s Facebook page has several images and video links and her recent activities include sharing of exclusive images, and status updates on her recent visit to the International Film Festival of India in Goa where she was present for the inauguration of the event.

Kajal’s facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/ImKajalAggarwal.

Stop overfishing, lest they will extinct

Fishing has been on the rise like never before in Indian seas, and it is time to raise our voice. People generally tend to overlook issues like this: but the fact is disturbing. Commercial fish like tuna and halibut are caught, processed and packaged at record speeds by large, factory like ships in Indian waters.

The huge ships arrive from everywhere and catch fish in large numbers, freeze, clean and package at one go! In the process, these ships are wrecking the fauna of the seas. They've severely damaged the ocean's remaining fish populations.

According to experts, overfishing upsets the balance of marine ecosystems to the point of destruction. In an attempt make the best of the occupation, governments offer subsidies and logistic support to these mammoth ships that are innumerable.

Yes, fish population in Indian seas is at the threat of extinction. Fish cannot repopulate quickly. And looking at the speed in which fish have been caught in large numbers, it is apparent that the seas will lose their ecological balance.

It requires time for fish and at least give them ample time to flourish their tribes. If the huge ships are allowed to continue operating in the same fashion, the depleting fish population will completely disappear.

Sharad Pawarjee! Do something to stop overfishing and restore balance to the sea's ecosystem as early as possible…

Malala inspires Pak to start girls’ schools

There is good news from Pakistan, something very rare. If 15-year-old Malala Yousafzai was brutally shot at by Taliban for campaigning for education for girls in the Swat Valley, Taliban’s fortress, it yielded fruits in neighbouring Pakistan. According to a report appeared in Express Tribune last week, Pakistan is mulling to establish “Malala Schools” for poor children in sixteen areas in the country.

Well, that is something Muslim girls in Pakistan can cheer about. Nafisa Shah, chairwoman of the National Commission for Human Development, was quoted as saying that the schools would be located in areas affected by conflict or natural disasters. “The goal is for the schools to provide some education for both girls and boys in areas where such opportunities are severely limited. Each school will have two classrooms with a veranda, a toilet and space to expand its buildings,” she was quoted.

Each school will cost 800,000 Pakistan rupees (about $8,336). The Pakistani government has identified where the schools will be located and has started the process of locating funds.

That means Taliban’s idea of shooting teenage education campaigner to scare girls away from going to school proved the other way round. People from across the globe are inspired by the brave girl.

Meanwhile, good news for Malala who survived the shooting and now recovering in a UK hospital! According to Guardian, Canada’s four largest political parties and people around the globe are also calling for Malala to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. If she, by any chance gets it, she would be the youngest one to receive the world’s most prestigious award.

Chaos at Charminar (photos)

                                                   Friday riot at the historical Charminar...  

Generous God, aged mother and loving me!

That is called vagaries of God. I have been getting this strong urge to give up my most notorious habit, my longtime companion, the balm of my hurt mind, great nature’s main course for me– booze! But then, the second thought about it shudders me the most.

It was a couple of years ago, my mother in her mid-seventies, came to visit the city.  Like any other devout Hindu of her age, she too is passionate about visiting shrines.

As part of her temple itinerary, I took her to a famous temple on the outskirts of  the city, fondly called the abode of ‘VISA God’, for his generosity in grating the wishes of US aspirants in the State. I cautioned my mother not to make any wishes as the God here is so peculiar in nature that He wants the beneficiaries to come back and make 108 rounds around the temple once the wish is granted.

We had a tough time having the darshan of Lord among thousands of others and managed to come out. Everything was fine until my mother declared that she too made a wish. Oh Lord, pardon her she did not know what she did! And out of curiosity I asked her what was her wish. To my utter relief, she said he asked the God to make me stop boozing!

I said ok, you would never need to take 108 rounds of the temple. And over the past two years her arthritis worsened and was hospitalized twice and is advised to take bed rest most of the time. I am sure if she knows that I am quitting the habit, she would sure insist to come here and do that perilous task of taking rounds of the temple.

It will sure make her more ill and God may do a miracle, but I am not sure.

I love my mother very much. So guys, I am not quitting my habit of drinking, I am gonna keep my companion closer to my heart. I am gonna resume my longtime chore as usual. Wish me all the bests!

General’s mistress or Petraeus’ lover?

It is General David Petraeus’ resignation as head of the CIA is trading now. Media is all abuzz and busy putting all the blame on Paula Broadwell and casting aspersions on Petraeus’ ‘mistress’. It is sad that media houses are busy debating marital infidelity in a language that upholds sexist roles.

General Petraeus’ story could have been a simple enough news item. That he made a mistake and now repents. He loved Broadwell and betrayed his wife and his colleagues. But he regrets and is calling it quits. He never blamed anyone, but he took it himself.

Media is assassinating Broadwell’s character. Publications and broadcasting units are questioning her motives of work. “This framing is sometimes so subtle and feels so normal that we don’t even see it, yet it affects not only how we see Petraeus and Broadwell but also how we see all men and women involved in the institution of marriage,” says Kimberly Dark, a popular American performing artiste and writer, in an article published in Ms Magazine.

Dark says that at first glance, Petraeus and Broadwell seem to have a lot in common, though their stories will unfold very differently as a result of their sexual relationship. “Both are West Point graduates with a penchant for high-level athletic pursuits, a history of military service and a laudable record of accomplishments. His are well known, and though she is a generation behind him in age, she is a Harvard Research Fellow, will soon receive a Ph.D. and has researched and written a book about Petraeus–an accomplishment that should remain undimmed by her romantic relationship with him. But he is being portrayed as the fallen giant and she as the selfish slayer of his career, as well as a potential Mata Hari-like character,” he says.

Unfortunately, no report seems concerned about what will happen to her career as a result of his choice to disclose their relationship. It is unfortunate that nobody portrays them as lovers but terms Broadwell as Petraeus’ mistress.  Why everyone wants to distort facts while everyone knows that we are speaking about two consenting adults who chose to have sex.

Dark says: “Couples are entitled to make their own personal arrangements regarding fidelity and relationships with friends and family. Sex outside of marriage is nothing new and need not always represent a marital tragedy. To assume that it does, and that one man’s wife became another man’s mistress, as the public language of this story often states, reifies women’s position as property. Scott Broadwell becomes a cuckold–a man from whom something has been taken by another man. There is no potential that the Broadwells are working out the terms of their relationship as they see fit, as adults and equals would do.”

Love is love, whether the lovers are married to others or unmarried.

Of marriages and mating strategies

Now after silently watching all the big, fat weddings, both Indian and international, certain thoughts are creeping into my mind. How long do most of these marriages last?
If you stop to crosscheck, the answer will be disappointing. Most of the much-hyped marriages turned out to last only for a brief period.
It is in this context, fellow blogger Samantha’s question looks like appropriate. “Does the entire wedding industry these days seem like one big racket to you?”
Yes, Samantha, it does for me. Millions of dollars have been spent. A lot of oohs and ahs are being made over the gemstones and jewelries. Think of the amount you spent on the occasion of a big, fat wedding where you were one of the important invitees.
According to experts, just in the US, only 40 percent of marriages last. In India, it is believed that people in general are monogamous. Yes, socially, but not of course sexually. Samantha in her post mentioned about anthropologist Ulrich H Reichard’s book, Monogamy: Mating Strategies and Partnerships in Birds, Humans and Other Mammals. Ulrich defines social monogamy as “a male and female’s social living arrangement (e.g., shared use of a territory, behaviour indicative of a social pair, and/or proximity between a male and female) without inferring any sexual interactions or reproductive patterns,” and further establishes that for humans specifically, “social monogamy equals monogamous marriage.” He characterizes sexual monogamy as “an exclusive sexual relationship between a female and a male based on observations of sexual interactions.”
So, monogamy is only in principle. A majority of married men are unfaithful to their spouses. And if you thought all women are so loyal, you are wrong. A good number of women are adulterous too.
Samantha says that statistically, men are more likely to be unfaithful to their spouses than women are, though married women’s track record is far from squeaky-clean overall.

Oscar Meets Filmfare

Pegasystems, one of the leading software solutions provider companies in India celebrated completion of five glorious years in India with an enthralling ‘Oscar Meets Filmfare’ theme night at N-Convention Center on Friday, 9^th November 2012.

Pega’s 5^th Annual Day was celebrated amidst lot of fun and fervor and was attended by associates and their families from both Hyderabad and Bangalore centers. The night marked Pega’s five splendid years in India and Pega’s recent expansion to Bangalore. This year, a unique theme; ‘Oscar meets Filmfare’, was chosen to commemorate the 5th year completion and the milestones achieved by Pegasystems in India. The celebrations also included welcoming of associates from the recently launched Bangalore facility along with their families and the occasions marked their integration into the Pega India family.

The theme ‘Oscar meets Filmfare’ induced elements of Hollywood and Bollywood style in all aspects such as costumes, the dances etc. The theme also signified fusion of cultures and traditions both in the film industry as well as in the corporate environment.

The celebrations began with a grand musical entry of Mr. Suman Reddy Vice President and Managing Director, Pegasystems, on James Bond theme followed by his impactful performance on a hit number from the Bollywood blockbuster ‘Dabangg’. He then addressed the audiences and depicted Pega India’s Journey through a mesmerizing laser presentation, which was the highlight of the evening. Other senior managers of Pega also came on stage and represented Pega Values through their performances on various Bollywood and Hollywood numbers.

Mr. Suman Reddy, Vice President and Managing Director, Pegasystems India extended a word of gratitude to all the associates and their families and said “This year is special as we complete 5 years of growth and success in India and is the perfect occasion to celebrate our achievements with our extended family and warmly welcome our new associates who have joined us in Bangalore. The theme for the celebration – Oscar meets filmfare not only attributes to the grand celebration but is also a symbol of creativity, innovation and thinking out of the box culture that is imbibed at Pegasystems. We shall continue to look forward to enhancing growth and success in future”.

The event then progressed towards a mix of entertainment acts performed by Pega associates. The night witnessed some scintillating song and dance performances on fusion music titled as ‘Retro to Metro’ and famous numbers from Hollywood and Bollywood such as Britney Spears’ ‘One more Time’, Michael Jackson’s ‘dangerous’ to songs like ‘Tumhi ho Bandhu’ from Cocktail and ‘Pani Da’ from Vicky Donor. This star studded night concluded over an elaborate delectable dinner. This year’s annual day festivities saw participation from close to 1400 people including Pega Hyderabad and Bangalore associates and their families, who took part in all the activities with great enthusiasm.

The event not only strengthened the bond between the Pega India family by giving a platform to celebrate the success of the organization but also encouraged them to put up great performances.