Recession-hit singles turn to net for love

Lovesick people looking for low-cost ways to find potential partners have turned to the Internet.

According to analysts Mintel, more than 40 percent of singletons have signed up to an online dating agency or are thinking of doing so – hoping they’ll click with that special someone.

They also believe that by 2014 Britons will spend a massive 150million pounds on internet dating services, reports The Daily Express. Senior leisure analyst Matt King said: “Many sites are reporting more users than ever.

“During a recession people spend more time at home rather than spending money going to bars and restaurants – and going online is seen as an effective way to meet new people.” 

King added: “As the recession bites, free internet dating is likely to increase its appeal across the board.” - TOI

Is Your Spouse, Girlfriend Or Boyfriend Cheating On You?

Author: Grant T Dougan

Here's The Easy Way To Catch a Cheater

In over 50% of unions, one person cheats and is unfaithful. No one should be betrayed but regrettably many marriages are lost due to it. If you're curious about how to find out if someone is betraying you, we will give you a simple way to learn if your girlfriend or boyfriend is cheating.

You will only need a few hours at the most. To keep it pain free we will present this tactic in three steps.

Step One:
Here is the hardest part - you must find your spouse's mobile phone for in around 15 minutes without risking them seeing you. Remember that you will want to choose a moment where they will not walk in and find you inspecting their cell phone.

You could wait for them to head out to the store or jump in the shower - just choose a time where you will have the mobile phone alone for a few minutes. The above were only a few ideas to think about..

Part #2:
Once you have their cellphone in your hands, check out the call log list so that you can see all the incoming and outgoing calls that are listed.

When you locate the calls list on their phone, get out a sheet of paper and jot down each number on the phone. This shouldn't require more than 10 minutes even if they have a lot of calls - once you are done set the phone back where you got it from.

Third Step:
It is now time to discover if your mate is cheating..

Now you want to determine exactly who owns each phone number on the list that you made. This lets you know exactly who your significant other has been talking to.

To get information on who owns a phone number, you need to utilize what is referred to as a "reverse telephone number lookup". In this case, this is the most important step for you to catch a cheater.

Just by punching in a number, a reverse phone number lookup will provide you with full details about the owner any phone. You'll discover full information on the person (address, name, etc).

To utilize a reverse cell phone search you will have to shell out a couple of dollars - don't fret though they are very inexpensive. One quick tip, make sure you find a service that charges just a one-time charge which then allows you to run unlimited reverse phone lookups. This gives you a way to learn information on all the phone numbers on your listwithout having to pay for each lookup.

You probably already guessed it - conduct a reverse cell phone search for each number you wrote down and write out the info you find out. After you have run a search for each telephone number, have a look at your results and look for any questionable names or telephone call activity. If anything questionable is occurring, it will stand out.

This trick is the fastest way to find out if your partner is cheating on you. It's a fast and good method to get the information your need.

source

Dating Tips: 5 Signs He is Interested in You

Women hate rejection. Its one thing for a man to be rejected, but let’s face it: for females it’s a much less frequent occurrence, making it all the more horrific when it happens. There are of course non confrontational ways to approach or pick up men, such as going speed dating, or giving online dating a try. Though they offer less pressure, no matter how you play it, there will inevitably be some threat of potential rejection at some point.

Unfortunately, rejection is a part of life.

Fortunately, much of it can be avoided.

If you pay attention to body language and other behaviors, you can begin to develop a sixth sense for picking up any romantic interest directed your way. Learning to read the cues of a person interested in you will lower your rejection rate, and improve your dating stats.

Male or female, singles are most often far too indirect or shy in directing their romantic interest. We often send mixed messages because we have no idea what is going on in our own heads, let alone in someone else’s. What’s needed is a clear set of cues that let you know when a guy is interested.

Signs He Is Interested:

1. He’s everywhere: Have you ever met someone, and all the sudden you are seeing him everywhere? Chances are he liked you. When a guy likes you, he will do everything he can to get you to notice him. Whether it’s stopping by because he was “in the neighborhood” or calling because he forgot some miniscule detail you talked about, a guy who likes you will manage to appear as often as possible in an attempt to gage your opinion of him.
2. He mimics you. Studies show that when you are attracted to someone, you begin to pick up similar habits, mannerisms, and vocabulary. Kind of creepy, kind of cute, remember that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. If you notice him using your catch phrase, giving the same facial gestures, or using your jokes, chances are he’s into you.
3. He shares his personal space. Men are notoriously territorial. Typically, they need at least a shoulder width between them and anyone they interact with. If you notice him letting you get closer than that, by his own choice, it’s a sign that he is interested in letting you get closer to him.
4. He makes eye contact with you. Eye contact is important for gauging honesty and trust in another person. Remember, eyes are the window to the soul, and if he has no problem in meeting and holding your gaze, chances are he’s honestly into you. It’s also a mild challenge, challenging you to try him out both romantically and sexually.
5. He listens. Men generally do not like to discuss the ins and outs of most things if they don’t have to. More direct than women, men use what is called “report” talk versus the “rapport” talk of women. So if you notice he is listening to you (actually listening, and providing poignant feedback) you can bet that he is interested in you. Trust me, a man wouldn’t listen to you go on about the new season’s hottest accessories if he wasn’t.

Source

Meditation helps build stronger brains

A new study has confirmed what many people believed: meditation helps increase

gray matter.

A research team from University of California, Los Angeles scanned the brains of people who meditate and found that certain regions in the brains of long-term meditators were larger than in a similar control group.

Meditators showed significantly larger volumes of the hippocampus and areas within the orbito-frontal cortex, the thalamus and the inferior temporal gyrus - all known for regulating emotions.

"We know that people who consistently meditate have a singular ability to cultivate positive emotions, retain emotional stability and engage in mindful behaviour," said Eileen Luders, lead author and a postdoctoral research fellow at the UCLA Laboratory of Neuro Imaging.

"The observed differences in brain anatomy might give us a clue why meditators have these exceptional abilities," Luders added.

During the study, the research team looked at 44 people. Half were asked to practice various forms of meditation such as Zazen, Samatha and Vipassana and the other half acted as the control group.

More than half of all the meditators said that deep concentration was an essential part of their practice, and most meditated between 10 and 90 minutes every day.

The brains of the meditators showed larger volumes of the right hippocampus and increased gray matter in the right orbito-frontal cortex, the right thalamus and the left inferior temporal lobe. Because these areas of the brain are closely linked to emotion, Luders said, "these might be the neuronal underpinnings that give meditators'''' the outstanding ability to regulate their emotions and allow for well-adjusted responses to whatever life throws their way."
The study is published in the journal NeuroImage.

Why people want to lose weight?

Weight Loss is the most common reason that an individual will start to a diet. Whether it is to become more physically fit, comfortable, more attractive or for health benefits, losing weight is indeed a positive change in many people’s lives. In some instances, losing weight can even save lives. For those who struggle in the battle of weight loss, may even come across many stereotypes or statements that heightens your determination of losing weight.

I have asked many people who are or has been on a diet and the reasons why they choose to lose weight are:
Appearance: Many people have self-esteem issues when it comes to their weight. For some men, their weight problem may not attract a person to him. For some women, it is the same. Women are more conscience of their appearance. They want to be more attractive to the opposite sex. Both sex, may feel that if weight is loss, a new or existing relationship would strengthen.

Break The Stereotype: There are stereotypes that are forced upon people who are overweight. Some people that are overweight, is looked at as if they are unhappy, tired, or lazy. I have heard some state, "I'd hate to be that person." Many reasons why a person chooses to lose weight, is to break this stereotype. An overweight person has the self-esteem to endure the weight loss process. Therefore, losing weight makes the individual feel much better physically and mentally.

Health Reasons: Many people want to lose weight in order to physically feel better. A person may be 5 pounds overweight. Or a person may be 20 pounds overweight. The main goal here, is to shed off that excess weight. There are millions of people in America who are ill. By losing weight, this may deter heart disease, high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, strokes, and diabetes. The chance to diet, eat healthy, and lose weight is a positive option.

Better Employment: It seems as if our appearance, also helps to determine our employment status. People may want to lose weight before that great interview. To look your best at an interview, creates a positive first impression. When you walk in the room for the interview, you are seen to have confidence and a glow about yourself. When interviewed, the employer may judge by looks. The notion of being overweight, may tie into the employee being possibly lazy and a unhappy worker. Therefore, this is another good reason why people want to lose weight.

Clothing: Many people tend to have a closet or closets full of garments. Some may even have clothes which was kept from 10 to 15 years ago. Those clothes may have shown a special quality, feature, or made the person feel good about themselves. So the choice to lose weight, is undoubtedly a decision one makes. They may want to once again, fit into the clothing and feel the youth they had 10 to 20 years ago. We notice this happens around the time of our class reunion.
Another reason to lose weight, may be the savings of buying new clothes. A lot of people may buy a suit or dress that fits very nice. A year later, that same suit or dress may be too small. To buy clothing every year, will add up, which means money is being spent. For this reason, people become very motivated to lose weight.

Save Money on Travel: Nowadays, people who are overweight or so called obese, are punished. On some airlines, a person who is overweight and cannot fit in the planes' single chair, can possibly be charged a double fee. An individual may seem fit to lose weight in order to save him or herself money.

There are many reasons why people want to lose weight. Looking better and feeling good about themselves is terrific. Having a plan and setting a routine is the first big step in losing weight. Yet, there are a lot reasons why people fail the battle of weight loss.

To successfully hit your weight loss goal, I have done an extensive research and discovered to my surprise, the biggest mistakes on why people fail at losing weight. I also have learned that you can possibly learn from other people's mistakes, which will make your fight against obesity much easier.

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Late motherhood good for women

Researchers have found that women who have babies naturally in their 40s or 50s tend to live longer than other women so do their family members as the same genes prolong lifespan and female fertility.

"If women in your family give birth at older ages, you may well have a chance of living longer than you would otherwise. If you have a female relative who had children after age 45, then there may be some genetic benefit in your family that will enhance your longevity," lead author Ken R. Smith of Utah University said.

For descendants of the Utah and Quebec pioneers studied, "you may be able to look at the ages when your female ancestors gave birth -- rather than just their longevity – in estimating how long you may live," said Smith, whose study is published in 'Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences'.

Specifically, the study involved the records of 11,604 Utah men who were born between 1800 and 1869 and who had at least one sister who lived at least to age 50; and the records of 6,206 Quebec men who lived between 1670 and 1750, and had at least one sister who lived to 50 or older.

The study didn't address how much longevity is due to genetics, but Smith says scientists believe genes account for up to 25 per cent of differences in longevity.

Smith says the study focused on the longevity of brothers rather than sisters of late-fertile women because "men's own reproductive history doesn't get in the way of assessing the role of their female relatives' fertility". - HT

How to Fix Common Marriage Problems

Relationships are complicated and of course problems are inevitable in any relationship like marriage. It is so disturbing to know the increasing rate of divorce case and you have to make sure that your marriage will not end in divorce. It is important that you know what to do to fix common marriage problems to avoid divorce. A failed marriage is the most painful thing that could happen to anyone. Here are some tips to save your marriage:

Communicate. Cold war and waiting for your spouse to do the first move or break the ice will not help your marriage. To fix common marriage problems, you both have to express your feelings. Be honest and express how you felt in a respectful manner. Avoid shouting and blaming each other. It is okay to get angry but do not hurt your spouse physically or verbally just to express your anger. As much as possible use the word "I" often than the word "you." For instance you can say, "I am upset to wait and eat alone at night" than saying "You are late again for dinner". There are respectful ways to communicate your feelings of hurt, embarrassment, disappointments without starting a fight. Learn to be more diplomatic and calm.

Apologize. Yes, there is nothing wrong to apologize when you have hurt your spouse. Admitting your mistakes is important if you want to fix common marriage problems. You will get amazed what a simple sorry can do to your marriage. The sincerity that you do not mean to hurt your spouse and that you are sorry for what you did can do wonders in your marriage.

Commit to take action. To fix common marriage problems, you have to walk the talk. Action speaks louder than words. If you both agree on something, you both have to be committed to do your respective parts. It is important that you know how to commit and keep your promises.

Author: Gerry Restrivera

Happy Mother’s Day!

Easy Ways to Lose 8-10 Pounds

There are many reasons why people want to lose weight: to look better, to feel healthier or to gain more confidence. One of the best weight loss goals you can set is to lose eight-ten pounds. This is a very achievable goal for those individuals who set their mind to it. While many individuals want to lose weight quickly, many of the quick fixes available involve rules that are far too strict and people are unable to stick to them for a long time.

Change your habits
Changing your eating habits is one the best ways to lose ten pounds. While the process may take a much longer period of time, the results tend to be more permanent. Closely examining your eating habits will reveal a lot about you.  For example, you may be snacking late at night or snacking while you watch TV instead of eating because you are hungry.

Reduce the quantity of food
Most people just eat too much. This is because the body only recognizes that it is full twenty minutes after the stomach is full. This means that you have to pay more attention to the signals your body sends when you eat.

Chew foods
You can significantly reduce the quantity of food you eat by chewing more. This increases the time you take to eat and gives your body enough time to signal whether you should eat more or stop.  It will also help to reduce the amount of unhealthy food you consume.

Change your routine
A lifestyle change is another way to lose weight. You have to change your daily routine to include more activities and exercise. You can make little changes that will bring about great changes in the end.

The following suggestions may help:  take the stairs instead of the elevator, ride a bike to work instead of driving, or consider walking if you live close to work.  Not only will this help you lose weight but you will also save money on gas. Many individuals have found that diet changes and exercise come with quick weight loss that is both unsustainable and unrealistic. It is for this reason that small changes to diet and lifestyle over time are a much better option for sustainable weight loss.

Get Your Ex Boyfriend Back - Be The Woman He Wants

Author: Melissa Haworth

 

Just broke up with your boyfriend? Are you still in love

with him that you are looking for ways to help you get

back with your ex boyfriend?

 

The desire to get back with an ex boyfriend is normal. It goes to show that you are still madly in love with your ex that you can't imagine a life without him. Break ups are painful. And it's the pain of thinking about the times you've spent together that makes you want them to get back with you. And because of the strong desire to get back with them, you tell yourself that you are ready to do anything to fulfill your desire.

But how do you do it? An ex boyfriend who wouldn't return your calls or messages isn't going to help your relationship progress. You need to think of a way to make them listen to you, or even look at you. I've known some women who have resorted to different ways to get their ex boyfriends back, but what I've noticed is that the methods they used entailed a lot of effort.

Most of the time, these women had to experience some setbacks or wait some time before they achieved their goal. But you don't want to experience setbacks or wait for a long time. You want to get back with your ex now.
Here's where I can help you.

If you want to get back with your ex boyfriend without much hassle, listen up to what I'm about to say and I can guarantee you that you will have your ex boyfriend back in no time.

Here is the secret to getting back with your ex the hassle-free way: get a makeover.
Boys will be boys. They will always be enthralled by a beautiful, sexy, and appealing woman. It doesn't matter if your ex boyfriend has seen you during your best and worst hair day. Now that you've broken up, you can turn the hurt and pain into something positive.

Head to the gym. Lose all the unwanted fat and tone those muscles. Then go to the parlor and get a new haircut, or hair color. It would also help if you can pick up some new tricks up your sleeve like learning a bit of foreign language, new sport, or even cooking. It could be anything as long as it's something you enjoy and lifts your spirits. Enjoying life is the ultimate attraction for your ex boyfriend.

Once you have a more toned and healthier body, a new hair style, and a more confident aura, you're ready to win back your ex boyfriend. Actually, you don't have to do anything else. Leave it all up to your new look.
For sure, other guys will notice the hot, sexy chick. Guys will drool over you; and if other guys get attracted to you, there's no way your ex won't take notice. There are two scenarios here:

1. Your ex boyfriend will realize how beautiful you are and how much of a mistake it is to let you go.
2. Your boyfriend will suddenly become defensive and possessive. He will get jealous of the other guys showering you with attention. He'll feel the need to mark his territory and show all these men that you're his.

You win in each of these situations. Either way, you will get him back.
If you've just had a break up, there's a little more to the process than looking hot, although that helps!
Thankfully there's a very effective solution that will help you raise your attractiveness from 0 - 9 or 10 to your ex!
Let me show you exactly what to say and do to win back your ex girlfriend, boyfriend, wife or husband's attention, mind and heart - even if there's someone else.

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Stop Your Divorce Now - When You're Headed For A Split

If this is your situation, here's what you can do to stop your divorce.
How To Stop Your Divorce
1. Empower your partner:
A marriage that is not on equal footing will eventually fall apart. If any one of the partners has more power, for instance - he/she is the one who always make all the important decisions, is not open to suggestions from the other partner, or their word is law - then such a marriage won't work.
Thus, to keep your marriage strong, you have to make it such that both the partners feel that their opinion matters. I'm not suggesting that you will suddenly begin to see eye to eye on everything, but at least both of you can have your say and then find a solution that is mutually acceptable.
2. Never sleep on a fight: Yes, you've heard that one before. But do you actually follow the advice? No matter how small or silly the argument seems, you should talk and resolve it before going to bed. If left unresolved, even small things can fester and before you know it you start to resent your partner or vice versa. Thus, make sure you sort out any disagreements before they are blown out of proportion.
3. Don't fight dirty: So your partner has really hurt you bad. But that still does not make it ok for you to fight dirty. If you're in a fight, make sure you stick to the topic at hand and don't rake up past issues that have nothing to do with why you're fighting.
Name calling and hitting below the belt are huge no-nos too. Also, you need to be careful what you say in 'jest' also as it could be extremely hurtful to your partner. The way you fight when issues crop up will make the difference between a strong and a weak marriage.
Want a complete proven system to restore your marriage once and for all? You don't have to fork out hundreds or even thousands for marriage counseling.
I want to share with you this effective strategy that will help you win back your husband or wife - even if you're the only one trying!
(source)

What is swine flu and how serious is it?

Fears of a global flu pandemic grew as new suspected cases of a dangerous new strain of swine flu appeared around the world. It has killed up to 81 people in Mexico and spread to the United States and Canada.

You Tube: Symptoms Of Swine Flu

Here are some questions and answers about the outbreak:

How many people have died? how many are infected?
All the fatalities have been in Mexico, where the government is reporting at least 20 and up to 81 deaths from the flu virus. Most of the dead are between 25 and 45 -- the age group past pandemics have tended to strike.
Mexican officials said, however, that most of the 1,300 suspected cases were found not to have swine flu.
In the United States, the flu has infected 20 people in California, Kansas, Texas, New York and Ohio. Canada has confirmed six cases. Possible infections have also been detected in Spain, France and New Zealand.

What kind of flu is it and how is it spreading?
The virus is an influenza A virus, carrying the designation H1N1 and is spreading from person to person. It contains DNA from avian, swine and human viruses, including elements from European and Asian swine viruses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is passed on by sneezing, coughing or when people pick up the virus from their hands. It likely originated in pigs, but the Mexican government and the World Health Organization have ruled out any risk of infection from eating pork.

How serious is it?
The Geneva-based WHO has declared the flu a “public health emergency of international concern.” It poses the biggest risk of a large-scale pandemic since avian flu re-emerged in 2003, killing 257 out of 421 infected in 15 countries.
The Mexican government is stressing that it can be treated and it has one million doses of antiviral drugs.

How is this flu different from ordinary flu?
The swine flu is characterized by common flu symptoms -- sudden fever, muscle aches, sore throat and dry cough -- but may cause more severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Common seasonal flu kills between 250,000 and 500,000 people in an average year, often targeting the elderly. Most people die from pneumonia and flu can kill previously healthy people for reasons no one quite understands. It can also worsen bacterial infections.

New flu strains can spread fast because no one has natural immunity and a vaccine can take months to develop.

This new strain of swine flu is genetically different from the H1N1 virus that the seasonal flu vaccine protects against.

How bad could it get?
A 1968 a “Hong Kong” flu pandemic killed about one million people globally. In a 1918 “Spanish” flu pandemic between 40 million and 100 million people died. However, the WHO says the world is now better prepared to withstand a flu pandemic.

What measures is the mexican government taking?
Mexico has closed all schools in the capital and two central states until May 6 and stopped hundreds of public events in Mexico City, including concerts.

Mexico City has shut 70 percent of its bars and nightclubs, closed churches and cinemas, and the army is handing out surgical face masks on the street.

The government is recommending people avoid crowded places and refrain from greetings like shaking hands, kissing or hugging. People have been told to wash their hands frequently and avoid sharing food or kitchenware.

It has also issued an emergency decree that gives it the power to isolate sick people, enter homes or workplaces and regulate air, sea and land transportation to try to stop further infection.

The government has even extended the deadline on filing tax returns by a month to the end of May.

What is the rest of the world doing to help?
The U.S. government is monitoring developments and the CDC and the WHO are working on a vaccine.

The WHO has activated a command and control center for acute public health events nicknamed the “war room.” It says it is ready to use rapid containment measures if needed, including antivirals.

The WHO has a stockpile of 5 million treatment courses of the antiviral Tamiflu, by Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG and Gilead Sciences Inc, and of Relenza, made by GlaxoSmithKline, which have both proven effective against the virus.

Countries and regions also have antiviral supplies and the United States has released 25 percent of its 50-million course stockpile of the two drugs.

Should tourists with trips planned to mexico be worried?
The CDC and the WHO say there is no need to alter travel plans and Mexico has said it saw no need to close its borders.

- HT

How To...Impress Him On A First Date

By Brian Alexander

Imagine if we could get an easy-to-follow blueprint that covers the big relationship moments we all face, and keeps it simple. Sounds good, huh? Well, if there were such a thing (written by him, for you), that could see you both through those tricky moments that life, and love, throw your way, this is how it would look. Brian Alexander gives us the skinny on how to impress him on a first date...and how most definitely not to.

Speak
Women accuse men of only talking about themselves, but maybe we're just trying to fill the empty conversation space. "I've been out a few times with women who seemed open and friendly until I asked them to dinner," reports Noah. "They sit there and don't say a word. They make me feel like they either don't want to be with me in the first place or they have nothing to say, which is lame."
Be Smart
No doubt some men - maybe many men - are intimidated by smart women. But brains are sexy! (Glasses are too, but maybe that's just me)
Be sexy, but not that sexy
"I thought she'd expect money to change hands by the end of the night," replied Rob when I asked him if a woman had ever dressed up too much for a first date. "I spent the night watching men watch her and worrying I'd wind up in a bar fight defending her honour." Remember this: We are attracted to you or we wouldn't have asked. So we already think you're sexy.
Pay attention
Don't take phone calls! "I've had women sit across the table from me and take three, four, five phone calls or check their BlackBerrys," my friend Abe reports. "They always say, 'Sorry, it's work,' as if that made it ok." Turn your mobile off, look him in the eye and have a conversation. This is called courtesy.
Don't sleep with him on the first date
You are not hearing this from me, got it? Yes, we may try to sleep with you on the first date. But when I'm sitting and thinking about it rationally, coolly, without having had three glasses of wine with a woman wearing a miniskirt and Louboutin heels, I think of my first date with Elizabeth when, after a beach picnic, we made it as far as her bedroom, lips locked, faces flushed, and she broke off the kissing. She smiled at me and said, "I'm not sleeping with you."
"Ever?" I said.
"I didn't say ever."
"Ok," I said, "how about I leave, then knock on your door and we call that our second date?" That didn't work, but I admired her ability to set a boundary and her challenge to me to overcome it. A game? Maybe. But I came back for a real second date, then a third, and she made me glad I played.

21 Secrets You Never Need to Share

1. That you do pelvic-floor exercises to get you through that really dull meeting.

2. You got ever so drunk one night, pulled the horrible, but inexplicably magnetic, barman in your local, and it was HOT.

3. That you once dreamt you snogged your uncle.

4. About the one time you just couldn't wait and peed in the bush outside your house.

5. Every now and then, you have to pluck out an extremely long, blonde facial hair.

6. You've tried desperately not to, but you still fancy one of your boyfriend's friends.

7. You sometimes irrationally fret that ghosts do exist and thus your long-dead grandma can see every little immoral thing you do.

8. Whenever you walk past a building site you pretend to talk on your mobile to avoid the 'Alright, sweetheart?' sleazy chat.

9. You shoplifted a Snickers when you were 12 - and felt a delicious thrill at getting away with it.

10. You talk to your cat in a baby voice.

11. The insane jealousy you feel for your little sister, who looks just like you - only younger. Not fair.

12. That you couldn't find Poland on a map if your life depended on it.

13. You'll never understand why people think sex on the beach is romantic. You want sand there?!

14. You sometimes fantasize that your infuriatingly me-me-me colleague has a horrible accident and loses her voice.

15. That you think your friend's baby looks a bit like Yoda from Star Wars.

16. Your local MP could be called Delilah Stardust for all you know.

17. You've been known to look at Facebook pictures up to, oh, three times a day.

18. You go to art galleries to feel sophisticated, but are actually largely bored.

19. That you once read his text messages and then felt really guilty because there was nothing remotely incriminating.

20. You agree with Sex And The City's Samantha that, "They don't call it a blow job for nothing, honey."

21. That the gorgeous three-course "home-cooked" meal you served his parents wasn't just food, it was M&S food.

- GM

Breaking Up 101: Winning Ways To Leave Your Lover

She squeaks when she blows her nose. He eats like a rabid pig. It's just not working out.

We've all spent some time stuck in a relationship we didn't want to be in because we didn't have the heart (or some other equipment) to end it. Maybe we don't want to hurt someone we've been close to, or worse, maybe it's clear right away we're dealing with a nut and we don't want to be the trigger for an economy-sized bottle of Prozac and a six-week stint at the Bendy Willow Psychiatric Center.

So what do you do when it's completely obvious you're just not meant to be together? You break up. Or, you try to break up, don't quite hit the mark, and end up sucked back into the awful relationship for round two, because you just couldn't make it stick.

Is there a way to make it permanent without causing permanent damage?

The key is to have a plan, a good plan.

Location, Location, Location.

It's really important to pick a good strategic breakup setting. The best places to have "the talk" are both public but fairly private, with a convenient escape route. The best location? Outside, walking at a park. It's crowded enough to ensure you won't have a big scene, but private enough your dumpee won't feel like he or she is naked at a funeral. Other agreeable breakup locales include restaurants (but not a favorite restaurant) or a walk around the block. The worst place to break up? At a party or work. The only thing worse than being dumped is being dumped in front of people you're going to have to see on a regular basis.

Timing Is Everything.

Another key to effective breakups is precise timing. Breaking up at a park gives both your dumpee and you the chance to leave once the deed is done. If you're ending the relationship at a restaurant, do it only after the check has come and you've paid for dinner. (And by the way, if you're about to dump someone, you should DEFINITELY be buying dinner.) There's nothing more horrifying than being dumped and then having to sit around making small talk for another 20 minutes while you're waiting for the check to come. (As in, "Hey Lula, what are you doing now that you don't have plans for tonight? Laundry?")

Happy Freaking Birthday.

Never break up with someone within two weeks of a major holiday or his/her birthday. Make that a month for Valentine's Day and Christmas. There's no faster entry to the Bitch/Bastard Hall of Fame than permanently destroying the holidays for your soon-to-be-ex. It's just not nice, and you don't want that what-goes-around-comes-around thing biting you in the ass when your turn as the dumpee rolls back around.

It's Not You, It's Me.

The first thing to remember is not to drag it out. The longer it takes, the worse it is for everybody involved. Whenever you end the relationship, be sure to make your reasons relevant only to you. Say, "This is not working for me." Stick with your basis and keep repeating yourself over and over if necessary. It's impossible for someone to argue with you about reasons that pertain only to you. If you end up getting sucked into a situation where you have to list grounds for wanting it over, you may find yourself in for an encore. If you say, "we fight too much" or "you don't seem happy" your partner may offer to change, taking all the air out of your break-up and landing you right back in the relationship.

Hire A Hit Man.

Worst-case scenario, you're too much of a weenie to breakup with your girl or guy yourself, you can always resort to the newest companion service to online dating. For a fee, letsbreakup.com will inform your wish-you-were-my-ex of the relationship's demise by phone, email or snail mail. Certainly not the most sensitive approach, but it gets the job done.

by Lisa Daily

Women who suffer from morning sickness are 'more likely to have babies with a high IQ'

Expectant mothers suffering from morning sickness should take heart.

For feeling nauseous in early pregnancy could be a sign that their baby is developing a high IQ, according to a study. Researchers found that women who reported feeling ill in the first few weeks after conceiving went on to have brighter, more vocal children. About four in five expectant mothers experience morning sickness. While the condition is not clearly understood, some scientists believe it is triggered by the flood of hormones released to protect the placenta and foetus.

Past studies have shown that nausea is a sign of a healthy pregnancy and is linked to a lower risk of heart problems in the baby and a lower level of miscarriage. Researchers at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto now believe it could also be linked to the developing baby's brain. They conducted the first study to look at the long-term effects of nausea on the brains of babies and contacted 121 women who called a hotline for newly pregnant mothers between 1998 and 2003.

Thirty of the women had no symptoms of morning sickness, while the rest reported symptoms such as tiredness, vomiting and nausea. The team carried out IQ and behaviour tests on the mothers' children when they were three and seven years old. The children whose mothers suffered from morning sickness were more likely to have high IQ scores than those whose mothers had no symptoms, the researchers report in the Journal of Pediatrics.
They also did better in tests for verbal fluency and simple maths, even when other factors - such as the mother's IQ, smoking and alcohol history and social background - were taken into account.

One flaw in the study was that in many cases the mothers were asked to recall how sick they had been feeling several years previously. It also needs to be repeated in a much larger group of women.

Dr Gideon Koren, who led the study, admitted that the conclusions sounded 'a little bit unusual' but said the hormone swings that led to morning sickness could be a good thing.
'It's the hormones secreted by the placenta that cause you to feel yucky, but on the other hand, they probably confer better conditions for the baby,' he said.

'Women suffer for it, but at least it's for a good cause.' However, the researchers believe it sheds light on one of the least understood parts of pregnancy.

Morning sickness is a misnomer because it can happen at any time of the day. Some women feel ill without prompting - others when they are hungry or after eating.
It is thought to be a reaction to two hormones - thyroxine and human chorionic gonadotropin - which are secreted during pregnancy to ensure a healthy placenta.
According to the Department of Health, around half of all pregnant women experience both nausea and vomiting, and a further 28 per cent will experience nausea without vomiting.

There is some evidence that ginger and acupuncture can ease symptoms.
In 2006, a study found that morning sickness was often triggered by too much alcohol, meat, sugar and oil and might have evolved as a way of preventing expectant mothers eating unhealthy food.

According to one old wives' tale, it is a sign that the baby is a girl - and that it is the body's response to the female sex hormone oestrogen.

Should I Divorce?

Have you ever wondered "Should I stay married or should I divorce"? You are not alone. Troubles in a marriage easily prompt these kind of questions. The article below will help you sort out your feelings.

Reality Check
Before moving on with what you need to know about divorce, the next few paragraphs will ask you to look before you leap if you find yourself wanting out of your marriage. Choosing to divorce might ultimately be your decision, but it should be one made in a state of calm with little doubt and few regrets.

When someone approaches me and says he or she wants a divorce, my first reaction is to say, "Are you sure?" Decisions made in haste can take on lives of their own, and before you know it, there may be no turning back to save your marriage. Deep down we all know when we are at peace with the decisions we've made- big and small. Sometimes we listen to our gut and sometimes we don't.

When we make decisions and take action while our doubt mechanism is in full gear, we know we will eventually pay for it. To avoid this scenario, respect the little voice inside you, if it says "wait." Your gut instinct is asking you to reevaluate the situation before making your decision. Before making this significant change in your life take a good look at yourself and your concept of marriage.

When you're looking at the choice to divorce, forget all about the idea of the romantic fairy tale. It's time to take a good look at marriage and understand what it really takes to make this type of partnership work. Depending on how realistic and honest you are when evaluating your situation, when it comes to a divorce, you may find that the grass may not always be greener on the other side. For a good dose of reality, sit down and write out a pro and con list of staying married vs. the realities of divorce and being single.

Consider the following: children, your career status and ability to make money, finances, life style changes, cost of divorce, being single again and the threat of sexually transmitted diseases once you're back on the dating circuit. (You may be thinking, "I never want to date again, but trust me, you will.)

Consider the following:

1. Have you gone to marriage counseling?
2. Have you and your spouse taken the time to talk and isolate the real problems of the marriage?
3. Do you really listen to each other or just nag, complain and tune out?
4. How well do you compromise and try to find time for enjoying quality time together?
5. How productive or destructive are your methods of fighting?
6. Do you kiss and make up without holding grudges?
7. Are you teammates working toward the same goals?
8. Are you both willing to work on your issues together?

Writing out the answers to these questions will help guide you in making an educated, rational decision. Divorce is difficult, but it might be your best option and worth the temporary discomfort of transitioning into a new life. The process of honest evaluation will help you experience more peace and have fewer doubts regardless of your decision.

(source)