Buggology

Expressing love in this manner

Expressing love in this manner......chk it out!!

Saying 'I Love You'..............in your own special way.

A guy, of Delhi University, Khalsa College student, wanted to express his unfathomable love to his sweetheart. So, what did he do........?

He gave chocolates to all the girls living in the University student apartments and asked them to turn their lights on or off at 8pm that night.

See the pic for the rest.............Truly Breathtaking! You don't need to guess his sweetheart's reaction.

Hundreds of students came over later to witness this great piece of Art driven by the Greatest Emotion known to Man - 'Love'.

Figs are extremely nutritious

This sweet-tasting fruit is very nutritious and has many health benefits

Though figs are seasonal fruits, they are available throughout the year in the dried form. They taste more yummy in its dried form and are very nutritious as they contain vitamins A, B, and minerals like phosphorus, calcium, iron and manganese. Here are some benefits of figs bet you didn't know about:

·         Pectin, a soluble fibre found in figs is beneficial for the digestive system. This soluble fibre helps in clearing out the accumulating cholesterol in the body.

·         Hypertension may arise when there's more intake if sodium and low potassium levels in the body. Figs however, are low in sodium and high in potassium and hence, helps in prevention of hypertension.

·         Dried figs are said to contain omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids along with phenol. These are useful in preventing coronary heart diseases.

·         Figs are also a source of calcium, which is good for strengthening of the bones.

·         Because figs are rich in potassium, it helps in regulating blood sugar. This is beneficial for people who are diabetics. Also, people whose diet is sodium may suffer form urinary calcium loss. The high potassium content in figs, helps in prevention of this.

·         Eating figs are said to be an effective cure for treating sore throat because of their high mucilage content.

·         Traditionally, figs have also been used for treating sexual weakness. The remedy requires one to soak about two to three figs in milk overnight and eat the same next morning.

·         Because figs contain iron, they are useful in treating anaemia.

·         Mash about fresh figs and them on your face and leave for 10 to 15 minutes. This is useful for treating acne and pimples.

·         It is said that eating figs can relieve fatigue and boost brain power too.

·         As one grows older, one tends to suffer from macular degeneration i.e. weakness of the vision. Eating figs can help prevent this.

Source: Figs are extremely nutritious

8 Sneaky Signs Your Child's Being Bullied

By Woman's Day | Team Mom

Your child would tell you if he's being bullied, right? Maybe not. "It's painful to say, 'I'm being targeted,'" says Cynthia Lowen, producer and writer of the documentary film, Bully, and co-author of the forthcoming book The Essential Guide to Bullying. While there's more bullying awareness than ever (who hasn't heard about the bullied bus matron?), children still fear their parents' response to the harassment can make the situation worse, says Lowen. Another reason kids may keep this info to themselves: "They may worry that admitting they're victims will disappoint their parents," says Jerry Weichman, PhD, a licensed psychologist specializing in teens and tweens at California's Hoag Neurosciences Institute in Newport Beach, CA, and author of How to Deal. That's why it's important to know how to spot the signs of bullying, which aren't as obvious as you'd think. Here are some surprising red flags to look for.

1. Sharing bullying euphemisms

When you ask your child about his day, and he says there's "drama" at school or kids were "messing around," it could be code for "I'm being bullied," explains Cindy Miller, a New Jersey-based licensed school social worker, psychotherapist and Lowen's co-author on The Essential Guide to Bullying. If you hear that language often, ask for specifics, she suggests. For instance: "When you say 'messing around,' did anyone get physical with you? Did someone spread a rumor about you or call you a name? How did you feel when the 'drama' occurred?"

If your child still doesn't open up, tell him the difference between reporting and tattling. "Reporting is stating that someone's hurting you and you're trying to get help. Tattling is trying to get someone in trouble," says Miller. This way, he knows there's nothing wrong about giving facts.

2. Coming home hungry

Before you assume your little luncher is simply sick of PB&J, consider what else might be going on in the cafeteria. Perhaps another student is taking his food. Or maybe your child is giving away items voluntarily to become better-liked-or avoiding eating because he fears being ridiculed about his weight or what he's eating, says Miller. Again, asking direct questions in a non-threatening way here is key, says Lowen. Try: "Who did you sit with at lunch today? Did you like your food? What did you and your friends talk about?"

3. Coming home from school late

You may think he's hanging out with friends, but he may be taking a longer route home or skipping the bus to avoid bullies, says Miller. A change in after-school routine is how Tara Kennedy Kline of Shoemakersville, PA, realized something wasn't right. "He started calling me from the bus and asking me if his older buddies could come to our house after school," she says. Normally, her son was only allowed to have friends over after homework was done, and not at all if his parents weren't home. "Blatantly disregarding our rule was a red flag for us," she says. Soon after, she learned about a bullying incident that happened on the bus. So trust your instincts and dig deeper if your child does something out of character.

4. Frequently losing or damaging his things

Sure, kids can be careless and clumsy, but missing or torn/broken belongings can be signs of bullying. "Bookbags getting ripped. Someone takes something. Shoes thrown out of the window of the bus. These are all things bullied kids have told me happened to them," says Lowen. What's worse is that children are afraid to tell their parents about things like broken glasses in tough economic times, she says. Lowen also points out that some children give possessions away to win favor with the popular kids. "Parents should keep an account of what's missing and follow up on their child's excuse with other parents, teachers or school administrators," suggests Dr. Weichman. If there's a discrepancy between your child's excuse and the explanation an adult gives, your child may be covering for someone's bad behavior.

5. Becoming upset after getting a text or going online

In the age of cyber-bullying, the end of a school day doesn't always offer taunted kids a reprieve. "If a parent suspects that cyber-bullying may be going on, she should first confront her child with her concerns, but also verify with monitoring software," advises Dr. Weichman. Beyond using parental spyware, it's important to keep computers in common areas at home, such as in the kitchen or family room, says Lowen. "If your child is in his bedroom for two hours and a situation is getting larger than life, he can feel like the entire world is turning on him," she warns. And it's hard to prevent your child from responding negatively if you can't see the situation unfolding.

6. Wearing long sleeves all the time or covering up when it doesn't seem warranted

Don't shrug off your child's desire to keep covered as shyness or a fashion statement. There might be visible signs of physical bullying he's trying to conceal. And here's why: "One reaction that parents often have is, 'you have to stand up for yourself' or 'hit him back,'" says Lowen. But a child may not be capable of or willing to follow that advice, so he hides bruises and cuts rather than face his parents' judgment. If you suspect your child is hiding injuries, don't react in a shocked or confrontational manner. Phrases such as "Tell me who did this to you right now!" should be avoided, says Dr. Weichman. Instead, put on your poker face and ask what's going on that might have contributed to the injuries.

7. Disappearing friends

Most parents know who their children pal around with: who calls every night, who they join forces with for school projects, who's sleeping over. If the usual suspects are MIA, it might be more than the clique simply growing apart. "If your child's circle suddenly isn't around, ask, 'Where are your friends? What are they doing?'" suggests Lowen. When the Mishra family moved back to their old neighborhood in North Carolina, their teen daughter was excited to reconnect with her grammar-school friends. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way. "One former friend decided she didn't like my daughter anymore and told the host of an upcoming party that my
 child shouldn't be invited," says Mishra. "That was when I realized that this was not harmless 
jealousy but outright bullying." Mishra's daughter is now considering moving in with 
her grandparents in Michigan for her senior year.

8. Claiming that after-school activities were cancelled or practice ended early

Cancellations happen, but if they're happening a lot, your child may be hiding that he's dropped out of an activity because of bullying. Changes in routine and a loss of interest in favorite hobbies are usually good indicators that something's amiss. "Kids send out distress signals when they're in trouble," says Miller. It's up to you to stay attuned, and get your child to open up. And when he clues you in, keep two things in mind. "You have to believe him, and it's probably worse than he's letting on," says Lowen.

Whether or not you spot these signs in your child, start an open dialogue about bullying so he knows you can be counted on, says Dr. Weichman. "Kids need to be reassured that sharing what's going on with their parents is both safe and non-judgmental."

Original article appeared on WomansDay.com.

Source: 8 Sneaky Signs Your Child's Being Bullied

Preparing online (and offline) for that special break

By MSN Travel

One of the wonderful things about travel is experiencing things that are new, different, and even unexpected. But, what about those surprises that aren’t so pleasant?

Expecting the unexpected on holiday involves more than brainstorming wet-weather sightseeing options and packing for temperature swings. It's also smart to consider which travel essentials you simply cannot live without. Could you replace your contact lenses at short notice? What happens to all the music you bought if your music player plops into the swimming pool?

Opera Software, makers of the Opera mobile web browsers, has some handy tips to keep your vacation smooth sailing.

"Some basic back-up measures will save you a great deal of hassle in case of travel trouble - and online services can help you out, too," says Jan Standal, Vice President of Products at Opera Software. "Making a Plan B for your holiday will help you avoid losing your sanity, even if you lose your suitcase or spending money."

Up in the cloud

Everybody does a final check for passports and tickets before jetting off, but what about all your other documents -- and what should you do in case of loss or theft? Follow tradition and leave copies of your itinerary, insurance and important numbers with a family member or close friend, plus pack a spare for yourself. But, to feel extra secure, scan your documents and store them online (that is, the cloud), so you can access them anywhere in the world. Email your documents to yourself and a loved one, or save them on a secure online storage website like Dropbox, Google Drive or another cloud service. It's simple!

Baggage (without the emotion)

Fortunately, losing your luggage is a fairly rare occurrence but, if the worst happens, you'll be glad for a baggage Plan B. Pack a spare outfit in your carry-on bag (yes, even socks and underwear), as well as anything you can't live without, such as medications, prescriptions or a spare pair of glasses. Track any missing luggage easily via Mylostbag.com. Need to buy new clothes in a hurry? Check size-conversion charts online for an instant overview of local clothing and shoe sizes. Not only will new outfits let you breathe a sigh of relief, but they could also double as souvenirs.

Pocket money

Few things will dampen the exuberance of a holiday more than losing your money or credit cards. To prevent loss or theft, divide your cash and credit cards between your hotel room safe (or other hiding spot) and a money belt that fits discreetly under your clothes. Consider also preparing a decoy wallet with some small bills and expired credit cards, to hand over in case of robbery. Remember also to write down the contact details for your credit card companies (and not just on a post-it note in your wallet), so you can call quickly to cancel any lost or stolen cards before they get used.

Get your web surfing in sync

Want to stay connected online this summer? Some web browsers let you synchronize information like your bookmarks and passwords across your computer, phone and tablet. So, even while on the go, your favorite websites or the travel pages you saved on your home computer are backed up on your mobile. This feature is called "Opera Link" in the Opera web browsers. In Opera browsers, you can also add websites to a Speed Dial shortcut screen to keep the content you need at your fingertips, plus save webpages for offline access later. In a bonus for travelers, the mobile browser Opera Mini reduces the amount of data your phone downloads, to surf faster and slash your roaming bill. Download Opera Mini from m.opera.com and Opera for your computer at www.opera.com."

Snap happy

Those bad old days of taking pictures on vacation, and "hoping" the film is okay when you eventually get home, are (thankfully) far behind us. But, whether you take pictures on a high-end camera or just snap away on your phone, it's well worth preserving your images online during or after your trip with free photo storage facilities. Try services like Flickr, PhotoBucket or even albums on your favorite social network. That way, if something happens to your phone or camera, the precious memories you want to share back home are still intact.

Get in tune with music and books

Can't live without your tunes? When it comes to music, your best bet is to back up your library of purchased or previously downloaded tracks to an external hard drive before you leave on your trip. When it comes to e-books, however, you can store your purchased titles in a virtual "library" where you can re-download them if needed. Most stores keep all your purchases on your profile, so even if your device plops into the pool, you still have all of your favorite downloads from Amazon, iTunes and most other app, book and music download stores.

Charge!

Not all countries use the same power outlets. A quick check online will tell you if you need to buy an adapter, and a visit to an electronics store or airport shop should soon set you up. Without an adapter, your mobile phone, camera and laptop will be useless -- and you don't want to waste time tracking down a local cable at your destination when you could be seeing the sights, sampling local cuisine or relaxing on the beach. If you find yourself in a bind, ask your hotel about borrowing an adapter or charger cable or ask whether they have one in their lost-and-found pile. (They usually do!)

Follow these tips to save yourself time, money and stress, as well as ensuring that your well-deserved vacation is as smooth as possible. Being prepared for a holiday is not just about checking the weather and making sure you have the right clothes.

For more tips and tricks for traveling with the Opera browser, visit www.opera.com/travel.

Source: Preparing online (and offline) for that special break

Safety Tips for Women

Young women across India are outraged over the recent molestation of a college-going girl at the hands of a mob of grown men in Guwahati. Here, college student Kavya Bhatt shares her ire and frustration at what happened, and provides safety tips to fellow youngsters.

1.    If you are in a situation that has the potential to be threatening (alone in a dark alley with a group of men in the distance seems like a good example), walk away immediately. Sure, maybe nothing would've happened, but are you willing to take that chance?

2.    If you suspect you might be attacked, give somebody a call and keep talking until you reach a crowded place. You are less likely to be bothered if they know you can call for help right away.

3.    When you know you are going to be out late, take a trusted male friend along. Or better yet, go out in a mixed group. Like it or not, the more men there are around you, the less likely you are to get harassed.

4.    Always carry pepper spray or chilly powder on you when you are out alone. You might feel silly lugging it around, but it'll give you a few extra seconds to run if anything happens.

5.    Take a self-defence class. Most cities have tons of them, and some basic training will give you an edge in a bad situation.

6.    If you haven't had the time to take a self defence class yet, remember what Sandra Bullock touted in Miss Congeniality -- SING, an acronym for solar plexus-instep-nose-groin, apparently the best places to jam that elbow in when you are trying to escape. Poking the attacker in the eyes is also considered effective by many women.

Read complete article at: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/report/the-guwahati-incident-dont-accept-that-women-are-threatened/20120720.htm

How desi forms of tobacco can affect YOUR sex life

Courtesy LoveMatters.info

If you're into paanmasala and gutkha consumption, read this!

Paanmasala and its tobacco form, gutkha, may be toxic to sperm -- in mice at least. So should you think twice next time you open that sachet of paanmasala?

Probably, say scientists at India's National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH). The chewing mixture may harm human sperm too. Mice that munched paanmasala in the lab ended up with shrunken testicles.

Chewing paanmasala over a long period may affect male fertility, say the authors in their paper published in the June issue of the Journal of Toxicology and Industrial Health.

Paanmasala mice

In the study, scientists at NIOH in Ahmedabad divided 26 Swiss Albino mice into seven test groups. They fed six groups of mice with food that contained either paanmasala or gutkha at three different doses to match the different amounts people actually chew. For comparison, they fed the seventh group of mice a standard mousy diet that didn't contain any chewing mixtures.

After six months, the scientists used statistical methods to compare sperm from the paanmasala-munching mice to those who got the standard food.

The researchers found a striking difference: mice that ate food laced with the highest dose of paanmasala produced much lower amounts of sperm. They also had fewer young sperm cells called spermatids.

The mice also had abnormally shaped sperm, which meant they were damaged.

Small testicles

The effects of gutkha were even worse. A high dose diet of the tobacco chewing mixture harmed both the quantity and quality of the mice's sperm.

Both paanmasala and gutkha-fed mice had smaller, damaged testicles. They also produced significantly smaller amounts of a protein which plays an important role in male sexual development.

All in all, with their damaged testes and lower amounts of abnormal sperm, it was harder for the male paanmasala mice to get a female pregnant.

Marketing

Both smokeless tobacco and areca nut, a major ingredient in paanmasala, are cancer-causing in humans, according to the world cancer research organisation IARC. Yet advertisers often market the chewing mixtures as 'safer' than regular cigarettes.

This claim encourages people to opt for chewing rather than smoking and helps boost the massive Indian paanmasala and gutkha market, estimated to be worth thousands of crores of rupees, or hundreds of millions of US dollars.

Source: How desi forms of tobacco can affect YOUR sex life