See the basic problem is our country is that everybody is way too busy telling you how to lead your life; ‘”do this”, “don’t do that” and what not! I mean, isn’t that how ‘unnatural sex’ aka bisexuality or homosexuality is deemed illegal. Well, if that wasn’t enough, the Maharashtrian government has come forth to give the typical Indian ‘why should I mind my own business’ attitude to the concept of live-in relationships.
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As if the Thackerays (young and old) weren’t enough with their very own ’special’ ways, that the state cabinet has decided to put chains to those unmarried men and women living together. Apparently, the ministers approved a proposal that said that a woman involved in a live-in for a “reasonable period” should get the status of a wife. Plus the proposal also requested that the definition of the word ‘wife’ under Section 125 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) be changed to ‘a woman, living with man like his wife for a reasonably long period’.

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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

Sometimes, a busy life and an equally attention providing lifestyle can make one seek solace in things that are more mundane and banal. Take the example of Leonardo DiCaprio. He recently admitted that he would like to settle down and take a break from it all. In fact, the guy has been so much under the spotlight that he probably needs to become a hermit. Leo is tired of traveling around the world and living on the movie sets and he feels that he has lost the meaning of life and what it is like to get married, have a family and settle down.

He has been dating the Israeli model Bar Rafaeli on and off and he has many a times spoken against marriages. However, the fact that now he is interested in settling down suggests something else about marriage and the institution of family. It could be a refuge where you take rest and relax, after having loads of fun elsewhere. In fact, it has been proven scientifically that those that have been professionally, sexually and socially active in their younger days look for the quiet and calm a marriage and family provides.

It must have something to do with our evolutionary process. Propagate the genes as much as possible when you are young, and once you get old, you will need to relax and be at home and make way for younger genes.

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Via: IMDB

If you had been wondering from where all the heroin of the world comes, it must not be too difficult to guess. It’s from the most troubled nation on earth, Afghanistan. The country depends literally on the money that comes from the sale of homegrown opium and poppy and also the derivatives like heroin and morphine. These narcotics make way to Western Europe through the neighboring Tajikistan.

Just 13 hours ago, many afghan smugglers were killed in a shootout in Tajikistan when they were caught red handed smuggling heroin into Tajikistan’s borders. These drugs after reaching France, Germany and elsewhere, are sold at exorbitant prices. What I fear is that the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan has actually encouraged the Afghan opium farmers to grow more as lawlessness has increased many folds after the Americans have entered.

Only through proper negotiations with the U.N. and afghan government can the drug route and trade be blocked. I wonder how things will go in the near future. Though listening to the news of the smugglers being shot dead isn’t a very pleasant one, it may just have the right thing to do, for the Tajik forces, whose land is being used as a transit for drug delivery to Europe.

Via: AfghanConflictMonitor

It’s romance time for the Iraqis who are just enjoying themselves out in the open air for once. The power of love has once again strengthened the cupids of Baghdad. It’s indeed an unusual scene in Iraq that couples would be seen having a romantic time in public places. But this time of the season, the Iraqis have broken all the boundaries of constraints. It dumbfounded me completely when I learnt that the Iraqis too are more often than not caught for involving themselves in carnal knowledge in public places. With these scandalizing activities reporting from Baghdad, one may often mistake Baghdad to be New York or London. But the Iraqis have proven themselves that they are no longer behind the rest of the Western World when it comes to romance.

What strikes me even furthermore is that the Iraqis are enjoying this freedom during the holy month of ‘Ramadan.’ This justifies that no lovers can be grounded by anything, be it the insurgencies of Iraq or the conservative society of the Iraqis. It’s more than interesting, and exciting to see that the Iraqi lovers have successfully managed to come out from their dingy and claustrophobic cocoons. It’s absolutely pleasing to see them exercise their personal rights and to assert them authoritatively and in the most fashionable way with full of romance.

Behind the romantic nerves of the Iraqis, there’s still the fear and respect for the elder brothers and fathers in every Iraqi man. They still cannot propose to a woman of their choice fully on their own without the concerns of their elder brothers and fathers and make the latters take the decision. This perturbs me to know that individuality is not encouraged in the Iraqi society. This should be obliterated once and for all, and instead, personal freedom should be nurtured. The Iraqi lovers should be given all the freedom to exercise their personal rights.

via: TimesOnline

Does homosexuality really stand against Indian culture? Studies beg to differ. Apparently, it were the British who imposed a ban on gays (150 years ago) while Hindu, Buddhist and early Muslim cultures were tolerant towards same-sex relationships. � And now the gays in India demand that the British apologise to them. But are the goras really to blame? C’mon haven’t the British become homosexuality friendly? It’s us, the Indians who have chosen to lag behind.
Who can forget the treatment meted out to ‘Fire’, the first film to depict homosexuality in India, 1998? The Shiv Sena stated that they would have been okay if the characters had Muslim names instead of Hindu. Even a sleazy film like ‘Girlfriend’ (it was film made for vouyeristic pleasure, but I am all for the rights of a film to be screened peacefully) was asked to pulled down as it depicted scenes that went against Indian values.
Then again, the moral policing done by the cops has indeed crossed the lines of decency and human rights. Now, you can’t even hold hands without getting a rebuke from the man in khaki. Here we are talking about their attitude towards heterosexuality. Imagine what it must be like to be gay in India. Listen you cops, don’t you have criminals to catch on to? There are far more important issues that need to be addressed by the self-proclaimed preservers of Indian society than pummel homosexuals.
Via nitawriter

Anubumani Ramadoss will surely be the most remembered Health Minister of India. Agreed that he received a lot of flak for his rigorous anti-tobacco campaign and the AIIMS controversy, I bet the gay community of India will always be grateful to the man. Attending the World AIDS meet in Mexico, Ramadoss made a controversial statement when he said, “The fight against AIDS will be significantly advanced when homosexuality is legalized in the country.” Now, this was a complete shocker for the conservative and homophobic Indian community. Currently under section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, men who have sex with men are regarded as criminals as this act is “against the order of nature”.
Well, he makes sense to me. AIDS is a result of multiple partners, among other reasons. So legalising homosexuality will make people more open about their sexual status. Also, dependence on drugs will be reduced. A recent study by United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) finds that a majority of drug addicts in the Indian subcontinent are in fact HIV positive. � The report added that most drug users fell in the age group of 21 to 30 years and that just 20 percent of them used a condom before having sexual intercourse!
� Via newslocale

Speculation has increased on the supposed union of troubled actor Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson but majority still believes it to be another publicity stunt. However, that doubt could not stop Lohan’s creepy dad Michael, who in his own words “has been too much in therapy”, from going to the media about it. Well, he doesn’t approve of his daughter’s move but then shouldn’t he be certain of her intentions before making comments about her life.

Almost two months ago, Michael went on record saying, “My daughter is a big girl, and she can make her own life choices. Then it is between her and God”; when he was asked about the SamRo relationship. Apparently Michael has now decided to be a little less open-minded – though deliberately vague in his comments. Because that’s a better way to get press. Also, there’s just this tone of “wanting her to be happy” and “staying on the right path” and considering how sanctimonious he is, you can’t help but think he’s implying that being in a gay relationship is something other than the right path.
Via showhype

The current Mrs Tom Cruise has had enough of living in a commune. Looks like when Tom Cruise and his current better half Katie Holmes bought a 35 million dollar home in Beverly Hills, Katie insisted that everyone other than Suri and Tom’s two adopted children with Nicole Kidman, Isabella and Connor find another place to live. This new angle in the Cruise household would be the toughest on his mom Mary Lee South and three sisters who have been living with him since 2001 and are practicing Scientologists. But enough has been enough for Katie who is tired of having shadows roaming around the house.
Seriously, I never knew even film stars would find cutting off the umbilical cord so hard. Cruise should’ve had the sense to set up a house with Katie independent of his larger family. The girl needs a place that she can call her own and look after her husband and kids. I just hope the sudden turn in their relationship doesn’t prove to be hazardous to their marriage. Having been surrounded by such a crowd at home for a so long and then suddenly having to stay with just one adult and kids is a change not many can handle well.

Via glosslip

Husbands harassed by their wives under false dowry charges have finally, yelled “charge” as we saw in the recent incident in Bangalore almost a week ago. The banner accompanying them says ‘Save Indian Family Foundation’. For the uninitiated, it is a seven years old organization and has 8000 members.

It has been found that are increasingly being falsely implicated under the Domestic Violence Act, 2005, and anti-dowry law (of 498a). These Acts have been found to be draconian as they are “non-bailable, non-compoundable (complaint that can’t be quashed) and cognizable (arrests without investigation or warrants) on a report from a woman or close relative. In fact, they have been compared to the Prevention of Terrorist Activities Act as it is cognizable. Mind you, POTA was scrapped.
Of course, women groups are refusing to compromise because the crime bureau reports every second Indian woman commits suicide because of dowry demands. However, the time has come when men are not taking things quiet. Why should they when they are being battered by the law without a fault of theirs. A very tricky situation for the law of our country to be in, that too because of those who love to “misuse”.

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