Mass rape has been a component of wars. The question has become is it safer to be a soldier than a woman? Soldiers are armed, but these women are utterly helpless. While raped females come out alive, a part of them has forever died. Rape in war has existed for a long time. The mass rape of German women at the end of World War II saw an estimated 100,000 female victims in Berlin alone, with ages ranging from 10 to 70 years old. However, it is of much recent phenomenon where war commanders use it as a strategy of war.

Mass rape has proven to be a very effective military strategy. Since, firefight is always risky, it has been more convenient to simply terrorize civilians to drive them away. What easier way to instigate mass terror than inflicting mass trauma among the females of the communities. Mass rape also gets less international scrutiny than killings and genocide in wiping out populations because the victims do not speak up. This is the case with mass rapes that have been conducted in Bosnia, Congo, Rwanda, and Darfur.

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Already beleaguered about her ‘presumed’ incapacity as future VP of the world’s biggest economy that might soon be no more because of the economic meltdown and controversial bailout, Palin has now been found guilty of abusing her gubernatorial powers in her native Alaska. The state legislature probe asserts that Palin dismissed a senior state official Mr. Monegan for not firing a state trooper Mike Wooten. This might sound like any ordinary day in the life of Alaska’s governor except that Wooten is the governor’s former brother-in-law who is in a bitter custody battle with the governor’s sister.

If that sounds like a story that is discussed inside one’s kitchen, this development takes the cake: the investigation was a partisan-led inquiry sponsored by supporters of Obama. If personal grudge is behind her abuse of power, the probe’s exorbitant 263-page report is an indication of what being the running mate of Republican standard bearer John McCain has to offer in the dirty world of politics. Surely, the report would have less number of pages if she were just plain governor.
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Are working women more sought after as wives than those prospective full-time homemakers? Well, most men in the Indian metros seem to be in accordance with the former. Primarily because having a wife who works at an office like you do has a series of benefits.

Double income is a huge perk. The increasingly expensive lifestyle in a country like India makes it imperative for both partners to work. In fact, beyond a point it becomes difficult to survive on just one salary. Yep, the wish list is increasing and so should the monthly income too.

The feeling of empathy is on a completely different plane altogether from contributing financially, but again equally important. Working women understand their husbands better and the pressures of his job. Plus, a working wife gets a lot of exposure and meets different people on a regular basis; this increases her info bank and makes her rather more interesting than a wife who stays home 24X7, lacks company lest the saas bahu serials and fails to understand the demanding conditions of a job. C’mon, gone are the days when opinionated women were burnt on stakes. The Indian man prefers a financially independent life partner who has a mind of her own. And if she earns more than hubby dear, the deal couldn’t be better. The complete package is vavavoooom attractive!

Indeed a huge paradigm shift in a country that always looked at women as second class citizens, who were just meant to look after the house and bear children. Not anymore. Hmmm…at this extremely modern argument, can I share my apprehensions? Ok, here I go. Working women are a good, progressive sight and stand for women lib n all. But what about children? With more and more women preferring career over children, will India end up like a second Japan? Serious food for thought.
Via thetimesofindia

Sharon Stone has been the daughter of controversy ever since she crossed or didn’t cross her legs in that notorious movie a couple of decades ago, which we all know. The smoking blonde has always managed to gain publicity whether negative or positive. This time however, she has gained a lot of negative publicity thanks to her bad mothering skills, which apparently are as much in mess as her. Californian officials have criticized and also rejected her request to change her child’s custody arrangements.

They have blamed her for overreacting to her son Roan’s medical issues. The court was especially infuriated with Stone’s suggestion that her son must be treated with botox as his feet were smelly. Now it has also come to notice that Bronstein will have complete custody over the boy and Stone may just have to worry endlessly if he would be taken care of by the jubilant father properly. The crux of the matter is not the custody of the child or Stone concern for her son’s health but the fact that celebrities usually end up over reacting to every tiny incident no matter what.

Probably, the entire attention and media glare showered and sometime forced upon them make them notice even small changes and worry about that endlessly. Probably the celebrities must be left alone and allowed to live a life in privacy. And the ones that like to be in the media glare are best avoided.

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Via: IMDB

Like my many friends, I worry a lot about not having a bulky body and being thin. Most young men and adolescent boys strive to achieve the six-pack abs and bulging biceps and workout hard in gyms and fitness centers. I know people who have consumed so much of protein that their kidneys failed and even had to be hospitalized. What has been touted as a disorder found among only women, eating disorders are increasingly wreaking havoc on men and their physical and mental health.

The pressure to grow bigger and more muscular has made guys consume abnormally large quantities of protein, which causes in renal failure. However, the society still has not recognized this is a problem and has been dismissing it as a fad. In my opinion, media plays a major role in shaping our self-image and how we value our bodies, regardless of our age or gender. Eating disorders are prevalent among men and women of all ages equally. In fact, among men it is far more dangerous as the sufferers do not approach doctors nor do their family members realize it is a psychological disorder, which needs medical attention.

However, anorexia nervosa has fueled enough awareness campaigns and hence families do know if a girl has been starving herself. In a guy’s case, he would eat abnormally large quantities and still remain thin and in a quest to grow bigger, he would fall seriously sick. The media, the society and the peer groups in general have wreaked havoc on susceptible minds.

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Via: GordonMoyes

There has been a lot of discussion about men going bald and losing charm. However, if there is a standing example to the fact that hair really doesn’t matter as long as someone is really capable of attracting attention through other ways, it has to be Fran Healy from the Scottish alternative rock band Travis. The man behind singles like ‘Why does it always rain on me’, ‘Sing’, and many others, has publicly stated that he doesn’t worry about getting old or not looking as great as he used to.

Well, I couldn’t agree more with such great music he and the guys make and also his deep blue eyes. I just wish Travis’ new album ‘Ode to J. Smith’ gets released soon and we can listen to what is being called the greatest alternative rock album to be released in 2008. The album has already received critical acclaim and a favorable critical mood.

For now, I would say baldness or any other matter really doesn’t matter as long as a man remains committed to his true mission and talents, be it music or politics or sports. Showbiz unfortunately has concentrated more upon a celebrity’s looks rather than the talent behind what makes him or her a celebrity.

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Via: GodsInTheTVZine

It’s more than shocking when I read Maati Saari’s merciless psychedelic killing spree that took ten of his classmates’ lives and also his own post the massacre. The most horrible part of the whole scene was when he put them on fir post the massacre. The victims have been left beyond recognition due to the results of the severe burns received by the corpses. What dumbfounded me the most is the bold step that he took by uploading a video on YouTube, which shows him shooting at a range. The question is, why couldn’t the Law react to this illegal video on time? Reports validate that this particular video was posted on Finnish social networking site and with circulation it had reached the YouTube.

It seems to me that the Law is washing its hands off and not taking the charged completely on its own, obviously for political issues. But who will control this killing spree which is reported to occur frequently especially in educational institutes. It’s a tough nut to crack, as nothing seems to be conspicuous. Nobody has the precise clues as to why this heinous crime is committed by the school and college students. What stimulates these youngsters to take themselves into this scandalous crime should be the Law’s concern. This merciless crime should be nipped in the bud not by the Law alone but collectively which involves all the citizens.

Educational institutes are no more safe. Acquiring education has equally become as dangerous as facing a troop of army in the battlefield. Who will save the innocent people now? Whose fault is it that the innocent lives have been taken forcefully. Maati Saari killed his ten classmates but who will control this insane crime? How many more Maati Saari are people going to withstand? Acting upon this serious issue at once will perchance ameliorate the safety of the innocent people. It’s time to wake up and be harsh on the concerned people who are responsible for this kind of an unforgiving crime. One must obliterate this crime forever. Can a one person alone do this? Possibly not, so join your hands together and allow no more such a crime to be registered in the history.

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Via: TimesOnline

Backpackers are the soft targets for the notorious and merciless thieves in Southeast Asian cities especially in Phnom Penh. It surprises me to know that the thieves have obliterated the conventional way of bag snatching and they have adapted the unconventional art of bag snatching, like comfortably knocking off the victims while they are on a motorbike ride. This sends the warning bell to the Backpackers who are already alienated by the locals.

The precautionary measures taken by the Backpackers by carrying their bags in the front and stretching a helping arm around their bags simply do not seem to be of any help when these thieves outsmart them completely. If you thought, you could take care of yourself without facing any problems, you could yet once again be proven wrong for the these thieves are well equipped with weapons which could do you harm any moment.

So, the trick is to be on a high alert and walk in groups in the streets and not alone. It shocks me to learn that the crime rate has risen in Phnom due to the deterioration of its economy. Survival of the fittest has once again come into practice literally. You must be smart enough to brave the animal instincts of those thieves who may hack you off any moment. So, arm yourself with high alerts and a defending weapon perhaps.

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Via: GadLing

The United Nations report that around 70 per cent of married women in India are victims of domestic violence that includes beating and forced sex. Perhaps that is why the ‘Bell Bajao’ campaign will be welcomed with open arms. An effort to protect the rights of a woman, this campaign has gained a lot of attention. Even the name is a strong metaphor that tries to keep a check on the crimes committed against women. It is like a warning bell for all those who take their women for granted and treat them like second class citizens.
And Bollywood is contributing its two cents too. Actor Boman Irani has been roped in as the brand ambassador of the Bell Bajao campaign. Irani feels that his role is significant because the impact is stronger if a man is told of his wrong doings by another man.
An interesting concept, I hope it brrrrrrings a change!
Via ibnlive

I wonder airport security standards could be so high yet immoral that it urged a woman to miss her scheduled flight. The criterion of not allowing change in pockets or jewellery seems to be a passé now and thanks to the revised version that considers women underwire bra on the top of to-be-deeply-scanned object list. The thumb rule is women with underwire bras won’t be allowed to enter the airlines and if you dare to break the rule (even out of ignorance) then possibility is you may have to face the destiny similar to Nancy Kates.
Jet Blue passenger Nancy Kates went through the same pain at the Oakland International Airport whils getting the security check done. The mental detector on duty sensed within minutes the presence of underwire bra alarming TSA agent to do the needful by pulling her out of the queue. Kates was treated no less than a criminal for wearing that particular “Bra” and accused the agent for being too personal as she said: “The woman touched my breast.”

Kates managed to meet the supervisor and reminded him of the fact that Constitution bars perverse searches and that “examining a woman’s brassiere is certainly unreasonable.” The entire incident is so unnerving that I can’t stop imagining the highest standards of security that travelers would be expected to meet (especially women) before flying. And isn’t getting the “reasonable” rejoinder in the form of a pat-down is humiliating?
Via Sfgate