Are you a 'safe' sexual partner?

Gone are the times when monogamy was the cherished norm, now with booty buddies and instant gratification, at least a safe sexual partner who is not ‘carrier’ is what everyone should be looking for.

People are sexual beings and sex represents a motivational factor in our lives. Going beyond the short term satisfaction sex brings, there is the much more important aspiration for a deep relationship.

Ideally physical attraction should be the sole sufficient condition to copulate without restraints. But in the current scenario one also have to think about the consequences: the risk of a pregnancy and of contacting a STD. "He/she does not seem like the type who might come up with unpleasant surprises" is an apology and not a valid justification.

Situations that could have people diving into bed without really thinking could vary – from one-night-stands that hold the supremacy regarding sexual spontaneity and energy; a weekend getaway is exactly what some lovers maybe thrilled with or even a few extra drinks; a much too longer period of abstinence or the need to start a new relationship.

Two partners who have not known each other for a long time are very drawn to each other and want to have sex. The problem concerning "with/without a condom" should not be brought into discussion; the arguments against using protection are very weak.

They cannot give their partner the maximum of trust based on "she/he has beautiful eyes", "she/he does not seem the kind of person who carries diseases", if the partner has a similar background, shares the same circle of friends, or seems intelligent. These are not relative. Important is the fact that the person in your sack can bring about "unimaginable unhappiness" to carry you through hospitals for a long time. From this point of view we consider the perspective of using a condom to be more lightening.

On the subconscious level, our reactions are further influenced: desire - smelling a nice perfume; repulsion - towards a pair of fake breasts and lip implants looking like bee stings; excitation - a distant memory of a first love stirred up by the nape of a person sitting in your front; lack of interest - a curious invisibility that excludes those who do not match your criteria regarding a sexual reaction.

Some of these influences are instinctive, genetic or even irrational (a pair of naughty breasts almost instantly cheers up men, while athletic, beautiful men make women's hearts pump real fast).

Therefore, take out time before the actual intercourse to talk and set up your boundaries, consider the whole sphere of physical and emotional consequences that result from a sexual relationship and put the conversation in those contexts. Consider that STDs are outcomes hard to discuss and resolve – do not base your discussion on the fact that you will be able to observe a sign of disease because most of them have no visible symptoms.

An open talk regarding this issue is a proof of cautiousness, sensitivity and respect for oneself and your partner. It is much easier than it sounds. Plus, you will be more relaxed after all risks are being set aside. It’s your body and your life, after all, you cannot throw it all away for only a few moments

I have my fingers crossed: Miss India Earth

The Miss India Earth 2009 pageant is a blink away and Miss India Earth, Shriya Kishore, is excitedly waiting for D-day.

After giving her best shot in pre-pageant activities i.e. the national costume, swimsuit and evening gown rounds, Shriya is looking forward to the grand event.

The perfect Philippines
The pageant has been extremely thrilling and hectic so far. Everything here is so well organized and our every need is being taken care of so well. Philippines is such a beautiful place and is definitely worth visiting. I think it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for all the 90 delegates from all over the world. I am representing an entire nation and that's a huge responsibility. I hope I don't disappoint anyone.

What’s on her mind...
The punchline of the pageant ‘Beauties for a cause’ makes it clear that this competition is not merely about looks.

As the grand night approaches, giving my best shot is the only thing I can think of now. I hope things fall in place on the scheduled day. I have no place for nervousness in my mind. I don’t want to think about things that are out my control. At international pageants, you never know what exactly the judges are looking for. I think the luck factor does work in such a situation. So, let’s see what happens. I just have my fingers crossed.

Shriya’s score card
I am quite happy with my performance at the pageant so far. All the contestants have been divided into three groups. During the evening gown competition, the best five girls were chosen from each group. And I am really proud that I made it to the top 15. It's truly a huge thing.

Friends and enemies...
There is a lot of bonding happening between all the girls and I am also good friends with contestants from England, Canada, New Zealand, Nepal and several others. We all come from different countries, different backgrounds, yet we have a lot in common. Everybody misses home, their loved ones, and are here to give their hundred percent and take the crown home. It’s really difficult to predict the strong contenders for the crown. Everyone here is so focussed and have their own strengths.

Living the moment...
On her highest point during the pageant so far, this is what she had to say.... “Each day, every moment that I have spent in Philippines is worth cherishing. I have had such an amazing time here that I can’t really pick one or two. Every day here is better and more exciting than the previous one. Be it good or sad, I have everything imprinted in my memory,” says Shriya.

No time to think or breathe...
Shriya reveals, “International pageants require you to be a part of a lot of events. Right from the press events to meeting with sponsors or being a part of environmental programmes, it is definitely not an easy task. There have been days when I woke up at 5 am and went to bed at 3 am.”

What makes Shriya a strong contender...
I think it’s our culture and traditions that give us an edge over the others. I am deeply rooted in Indian culture and it has helped me in becoming an educated, intellectual, independent and aware individual. I am proud of my individuality and consider it my strength.

‘Ekta deserved to win Miss Universe’
Miss India Universe Ekta Chaudhary couldn’t being the crown home, has this increased the pressure on Shriya? She explains, “Ekta is a very dear friend of mine and is extremely talented. As a friend, as an Indian, I think she definitely deserved to win. I would have loved it if she had won the title. However, I am not letting this affect me, or I won’t be able to concentrate. This is my pageant and I want to give it my best shot without anything affecting me.”

It's comforting with family support
Shriya’s parents have already reached Philippines. Though they are staying in a different hotel and Shriya hardly gets time to interact with them, the fact that they are around is calming for Shriya.

“It's good to have your well-wishers around as it definitely cheers you up in tough time. I am sure I will not fall short of good luck. I come from a country that has one of the largest population in the world. I am sure their wishes will help me in my journey to the crown,” Shriya concludes.

Funky foreplay for a spunky sex life!

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Sex may end between the sheets, but that's certainly not where it begins. Experts tell you what to do for a spunkier sex life...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Australia win One-day series in India

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India's gamble to bat first on a tricky wicket backfired heavily as they suffered a six-wicket defeat against Australia in the sixth One-dayer to allow the visitors to clinch the seven-match series by taking an unasailable 4-2 lead on Sunday.

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and surprisingly chose to bat first in heavy weather conditions and the side never really recovered from the early jolts to virtually serve the game on a platter to the worlds champions.

It was a thoroughly professional display by the world champions, who first shot out India for 170 in 48 overs with their second-string attack and then chased down the target in 41.5 overs -- losing just four wickets -- to complete a facile win.

On a track where ball turned sharply, Australia rode on Shane Watson's run-a-ball 49 and cameos from Ricky Ponting (25) and Cameron White (25) to inch closer to the target.

Michael Hussey (35 not out) and Adam Voges (23 not out) then guided them home with 8.1 overs to spare.

Earlier, a horror story unfolded after Dhoni's gamble to bat first on a wicket that offered generous movements boomeranged.

India slumped to 27 for five in nine overs and a three digit total looked like a distant possibility at that point.

Fortunately for them, Ravindra Jadeja (57) and Praveen Kumar (54 not out), who slammed his maiden ODI half-century, did not throw in the towel and pushed the score to 170 in 48 overs before the hosts folded.

Doug Bollinger (5/35) and Mitchell Johnson (3/39) shared eight wickets between them to knock the wind out of India's sail in the crucial match.

Both the teams now move to Mumbai for the seventh and last ODI on Wednesday.

Earlier, Doug Bollinger (5/35) and Mitchell Johnson (3/39) wreaked havoc with the ball to leave India in tatters before defiant half-centuries from Ravindra Jadeja (57 off 103 balls) and Praveen Kumar (54 not out off 51 balls) lent some semblance of respectability to the score.

His team in dire straits, Jadeja first added 48 runs with skipper Dhoni (24) and starred in a vital 74-run stand for the eighth wicket with Praveen to save India the blushes.

Dhoni's decision to bat first backfired soon with Johnson extracting significant swing and picking up dangermen Virender Sehwag (6) and Gautam Gambhir (0) in the opening over of the innings.

Sehwag, who had dispatched Johnson for a six over the point region of the second ball of the match, lost his stumps to the pacer two balls later.

New man in Gambhir lasted just two balls, the second being a Johnson inswinger that sent the left-hander's off-stump cartwheeling.

Tendulkar (10) looked like carrying the golden touch of his previous match but his stay was cut short when Bollinger took a good reflex catch off his own bowling.

Yuvraj Singh (6) too departed soon in an unusual manner when a Bollinger delivery hit him on the pad and looped over his shoulder with the batsman, trying to drag his bat in, inadvertently hitting the ball, helping it knock off the bail.

With Suresh Raina too returning soon, Jadeja showed the sense of responsibility that was missing among his illustrious teammates.

The youngster joined hands with Dhoni, trying to put the house in order but their association was nipped just when it had started blooming.

Bollinger trapped Dhoni with a delivery that apparently was missing the off-stump but umpire Shavir Tarapore felt otherwise.

Jadeja finally found an able partner in Praveen, who smashed seven fours and a six in his entertaining knock to give the Indian bowlers something to bowl at.

After Jadeja's dismissal, caught by White of Bollinger, Praveen ran out of partners with two overs to spare.

Chasing the target, Australian batsmen found it difficult to cope with the prodigious turn but the meagreness of the victory target made their job easy.

Dollar losing its luster but still reigns globally

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Until a few years ago, most Brazilians able to hoard cash would rush to buy US dollars to prevent runaway inflation or another economic meltdown from wiping out their hard-earned savings. These days, with the greenback getting trounced around the globe and the Brazilian real soaring, the once almighty dollar is losing its luster in Latin America's largest country.

Instead of stashing dollars under their mattresses, many Brazilians now set aside money to buy euros or invest their savings locally, a sign of the country's newfound confidence in its economic future.

"People here just don't view the dollar as the safe haven it once was," said Joao Medeiros, a partner at Pioneer Corretora in Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest currency brokerage. While the dollar still reigns supreme in global commerce, its precipitous decline is tarnishing its allure as an investment or as a safety net among the burgeoning moneyed classes in emerging economies like Brazil and Russia. But in many places, especially those where black markets in currencies are an integral part of the economy, the greenback is still king.

The dollar has dropped about 16 per cent against a basket of currencies since early March, dragged down by worries about the ballooning US deficit. The recovering world economy has also helped push the dollar lower by rekindling appetite for riskier investments such as stocks and corporate bonds.

The greenback's slide is causing headaches for policymakers around the globe, particularly in countries with floating exchange rates, and may be discussed at this weekend's Group of 20 meeting of finance officials in Scotland. Brazil, which last month began taxing foreign capital inflows in a bid to halt the real's surge, wants the G20 to take action to staunch the flow of money into emerging markets as yield-hungry investors shed dollar assets.

Professional investors aren't the only ones dumping the dollar. In Russia, where the dollar was the benchmark after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, residents are increasingly turning to the euro. "I need euros because this is the currency with which I travel to Europe," said Taissia, a 57-year-old architect in Moscow who declined to give her surname.

"I never go to America on holiday, but I still have dollars to balance my savings." Polls show that the euro has overtaken the dollar as the preferred foreign currency for savings in Russia, though most residents now prefer to keep roubles or invest in real estate. "People can't get an adequate rate of returns by investing in dollars. So that's why they tend to leave more of their money in their home countries," said Edmund Phelps, a Nobel Prize winning economist from Columbia University in New York.

In many places around the world, however, the dollar retains its status. On the streets of Hanoi, Vietnamese looking to save for the future invariably swap dong for dollars or gold, the world's two most traditional safe havens. In China, where the government manages the exchange rate, the yuan is the only currency most people come across. But when the Chinese do seek out a foreign currency, they go after the dollar, betting that Washington's superpower status will guarantee the greenback's long-term strength. "I can live with the dollar at these levels," said Xu Jingchang, a businessman in the southern export hub of Guangzhou.

"The dollar might very well go up in the future, so I'll just wait and see. The economy will recover in the United States sooner or later." In some Latin American countries, the dollar remains an insurance policy of sorts against inflation or a possible devaluation of the local currency -- two perennial threats that have dogged the region for decades. Battered by successive economic crises, Ecuador scrapped the sucre in 2000 and adopted the dollar as its official currency, a move that left-wing President Rafael Correa recently said would be too painful to undo.

In Venezuela, residents and companies alike flock to money changers to stock up on dollars to seek protection against rising prices and a devaluation of the bolivar, which is trading on the black market at more than twice the official exchange rate of 2.15 to the greenback. Argentines, stung by the traumatic collapse of their economy in 2002, distrust the peso and often change their savings into dollars and stash them offshore or in dollar-denominated bank accounts locally. "I'm saving to buy an apartment because here prices are set in dollars and it's going to be like that for a long time," said Soledad Orozco, a 35-year-old telecommunications manager in Buenos Aires who holds her savings in greenbacks.

In Mexico, on the United States' doorstep, the thirst for dollars is even more pronounced. After all, the two countries' economies are so intertwined that the dollar is widely accepted as a parallel currency to the Mexican peso. "If a foreigner wants to pay in dollars, we benefit," said Rene Juarez, a 25-year-old vendor whose family runs a garment shop in Mexico City's famed marketplace, the Ciudadela.

"Some we use to cover expenses. But the rest we save in a mattress to take out whenever there is trouble."

Sachin misses milestone as Kangaroos claw back in Mohali

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Nathan Hauritz gave a major breakthrough to the Australian team after he caught star Indian opener Sachin Tendulkar plumb in front of the wickets, to dismiss him for 40 runs.

The decision may put serious credibility of on Umpire Amiesh Saheba’s judgment as it seemed like the ball would have comfortably missed the 5th stump.

India’s 251-run chase received yet another major jolt after Virat Kohli too departed cheaply, leaving India’s score at 78/2.

Bollinger collected his second wicket of the match as he got Kohli caught by Graham Manou, thus dismissing him for mere 10 runs.

A spectacular innings by Virender Sehwag came to an end after Doug Bollinger got him caught by Shane Watson in the mid-off for 30 runs.

Collecting his maiden wicket of the series, Bollinger pitched the ball up outside off, as Sehwag went under it too much to lofts it high enough for Watson to get a well-calculated catch at the mid-off.

Sehwag played a scintillating innings as he scored 30 runs from mere 19 balls, that also included 4 boundaries.

Run-outs cast a shadow over Australia’s batting campaign as the visitors posted a score of 250 all out against India in the fourth ODI of the 7-match Hero Honda Cup here on Monday.

Aussies lost four of its wickets through run-outs in their innings, courtesy spectacular fielding by and the presence of mind by the Indian players. Ashish Nehra could easily be declared the star in the first innings as claimed three crucial wickets.

Earlier, after winning the toss, skipper MS Dhoni opted to field first, a decision that was contrary to what most had thought, given the fact that the condition of the pitch was more batting friendly.

Nonetheless, opponent skipper Ricky Ponting considered himself to be very lucky to have been given the opportunity to bat first.

However, his celebration did not last long as Nehra gave an early breakthrough to India as he caught Shaun Marsh (5) plumb into front of the wickets leaving the Australian scoreaboard reading 24/1.

Later, Shane Watson and Ponting took control of the regime. After building a partnership of 64 runs, Harbhajan Singh played the spoilsport for the guests as he dismissed Watson for 49 runs, depriving the Aussie of what could have been his 10th ODI half-century.

Ponting then took the onus on his shoulders has took his team’s score above the 100 run mark, thus, also claiming his 72nd ODI fifty in the process. But his celebrations were again cut-short after he had to face an absolutely opposite fate when a splendid bull-eye hit by Ravindra Jadeja from deep mid wicket departed him for 52 runs.

The Australian captain attempted to take a quick single of a Harbhajan Singh delivery. However, he fell short of time as Jadeja swiftly picked the ball from Deep mid-wicket to cleanly hit the mid-stumps; here came the first run out for Australia.

Amazed by the skill and accuracy, Ponting stood for a moment on the field, trying to absorb the shock, but later shyly walked out of the field leaving the Australian scorecard at 123/3.

Ponting’s dismissal left Michael Hussey to further take care of the team’s total. However, after a well made 40 runs, he was caught by Ishant Sharma at the deep mid-wicket off a Yuvraj Singh delivery, thus leaving the Aussie scorecard reading 196/4.

Moments later, Bhajji struck again to bowl out Moises Henriques for mere 6 runs.

Wickets started coming in plenty after that as Nehra struck thrice in quick succession to take two important wickets, Cameron White (62) and Mitchell Johnson (8).

White’s dismissal became the second run-out dismissal for Australia. Nehra bowled tight line on the stumps, while Johnson hoped to defend it. White, however, did not pay much attention and took off to grab a quick single. Nehra then showed immense presence of mind and fielded the ball quickly to knock back middle stump with a fierce direct hit.

Later, Johnson fell prey to Nehra’s bowling attack as the pacer knocked off the middle stump to send the birthday boy back to pavilion. Johnson’s dismissal was soon followed by Peter Siddle’s farewell as he was caught by Jadeja caught a simple catch to send him back packing for mere 1 run.

Then came Australia’s third run-out wicket! Graham Manou (7) met a fate similar to White, and was run out by Praveen Kumar.

In the end, Yuvraj Singh, after missing Nathan Hauritz’s a simple catch of Praveen Kumar’s delivery, made sure to a sharp throw to finally dismiss Australia’s last wicket.

Australia, thus, posted a total of 250 to India.

Squads:

Australia: Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting(c), Cameron White, Mike Hussey, Moises Henriques, Graham Manou(w), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Doug Bollinger

India: Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni(w/c), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma

Jaipur IOC depot fire rages on; 13 killed, 150 injured

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The death toll in Indian Oil Corporation depot fire disaster in Jaipur has risen to 13 with over 150 injured, reports claimed early Friday. This is one of the worst fire related incident in IOC’s history.

The official death toll still stands at five. Meanwhile, senior state and police officials are saying that another 5-6 people are still trapped inside. Teams from the Army and Bombay High are trying to control the fire in the oil depot located in Sitapura Industrial Area on the highway near the airport 20 kms from the pink city.

Even as relief and rescue operations continue, one more explosion was heard.

Elaborating more on the rescue operation, Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who has arrived in Jaipur, said, “Experts have been called in to help in accessing and minimising the damages done to the IOC establishment”.

"We will have to let all the fuel burn. Only then will experts be able to go anywhere near the site," Deora told reporters here after a visit to the site with senior officials of the state-run company. "We expect the fuel to burn out by evening."

Deora also announced compensation of Rs 5 to 10 lakhs to the victims and their families.

It is believed that fire broke out –due to leakage - when petrol was being transferred from the fuel depot to a pipeline at around 7.30 pm yesterday.

Huge flames shot into the air amid billowing smoke as hundreds of people in the villages in and around the depot panicked and fled from their homes. The fire also spread to some industrial units in a radius of three km destroying them.

IOC Chairman Sarthak Behuria told a news agency that the fire broke out at a petrol storage tank and quickly spread to other tanks. Police said several explosions were heard.

The IOC tank farm had 8 to 10 storage containers that stored petrol, diesel kerosene for supply in Jaipur and adjoining areas.

Officials said steps were being taken to ensure that the fire did not spread far through the pipeline.

Electricity in the area has been cut off as a precautionary measure.

Dr Ashok Pangudia, Medical Superintendent at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital, confirmed that twelve persons have so far died in the incident, while one person was reported to have died in a private hospital. Some of the injured had splinter injuries, he said.

The injured were also rushed to Mahatma Gandhi and SMS hospitals. Some of them had serious burn injuries.