Online Most Reviews: December 2010

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Five styles of flirting identified

Five styles of flirting identified (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

An assistant professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, Jeffrey Hall, has identified five styles of flirting.

Hall, who recently completed study into styles of flirting among dating adults, surveyed more than 5,100 people regarding their methods of communicating romantic interest.

Five styles of flirting identified are: physical, traditional, polite, sincere and playful.

Physical flirting: It involves the expression of sexual interest in a potential partner. People who scored high in this form of flirting often develop relationships quickly, have more sexual chemistry and have a greater emotional connection to their partners.

Traditional flirting : Such flirts think men should make the first move and women should not pursue men. Because they adopt a more passive role in dating, women with this style are likely to report trouble getting men's attention and are less likely to flirt or be flattered by flirting. Traditional men often know a potential partner for a longer time before approaching them. Both genders tend to be introverted and prefer a more intimate dating scene.

Polite flirting : The polite style of flirting focuses on proper manners and nonsexual communication. Although they are less likely to approach a potential partner and do not find flirting flattering, they do tend to have meaningful relationships.

Sincere flirting : It is based on creating emotional connections and communicating sincere interest. Although women tend to score higher in this style, it is advocated by both genders. Relationships involve strong emotional connections and sexual chemistry and are typically meaningful.

Playful flirting : People with playful flirting styles often flirt with little interest in a long-term romance. However, they find flirting fun and enhancing to their self-esteem. They are less likely to have important and meaningful relationships.

Hall said that for the most part, there was little difference between genders within each flirting style.

Why women like to cuddle after sex

Why women like to cuddle after sex (Thinkstock photos/Getty Images)

While it has always been known that women like to cuddle after sex and men would rather have a fag or a drink—scientists have now found the reason behind it.

A new study on the after-sex behaviours has suggested that women were more likely than men to initiate and place greater importance on behaviours linked to intimacy and bonding with both long and short-term partners.

Men were more likely to engage in behaviours that were "extrinsically rewarding" or increased the likelihood of further coital acts.

"The vast majority of the research on the evolutionary psychology of human reproduction focuses on what's before and leading up to sexual intercourse," said Susan Hughes, author of the study.

"But reproductive strategies don't end with intercourse; they may influence specific behaviours directly following sex," she said.

There are a number of elements of reproduction happening after the act itself, she pointed out, including bonding, future relationship intentions (and possible continued sexual activities), sperm retention and competition, mate guarding and the possibility of fertilization.

"We predicted that post-coital considerations are experienced quite differently by men and women due to divergent adaptive reproductive strategies," she said.

The study examined the responses to an online questionnaire given to 170 people.

"Females placed an overall great importance than did males on all five items measured: intimate talking, kissing, cuddling and caressing, professing their love for their partner and talking about the relationship after sex," said Hughes.

"In contrast, men placed more importance on gaining extrinsic rewards after sex (e.g. drinking or smoking, eating, or asking partner for favors). Men also placed more importance on continuing sexual activity than did females," she added.

According to the study, men were more likely to initiate kissing before sex, while women were more likely to initiate kissing after sex.

Additionally, females thought intimate talking and discussing the relationship was more important before sex than after. Men's opinions remained constant for both before and after sex.

One thing both men and women could agree was the importance of saying "I love you" to a long-term partner after sex.

The findings were published in the Journal of Sex Research.

Men's top sex secrets!

10 things you didn't know about men and sex (Getty Images)

If you thought men's sexual response is quite simple and their needs can be met easily, then you certainly need to revise your knowledge of the "birds and bees," for men aren't as simple as they are made out to be.

According to Fox News, here are 10 things that you didn't know about men and sex:

1. Trapped Sperm
Not all sperm go racing for the egg at once. Once sperm has been deposited into the vaginal canal, some of them are temporarily trapped in a semen coagulate or clot. Eventually, they are decoagulated by enzymes, which set them free to swim about a female''s reproductive system. This clotting, according to scientists, is meant to pace the release of sperm into the uterus, increasing the chance that one of these sperms will reach the egg and fertilise it.

2. Oxytocin affects males too
It is believed that oxytocin affects females during sex (and breast-feeding). But this cuddle hormone, released by both sexes during intimacy, is also found to influence males. Research from Switzerland found that oxytocin is associated with increased feelings of trust in males.

3. High testosterone = Less sex
While higher testosterone levels is typically considered a good thing for men when it comes to their sex drive, still researchers continually found that males with higher testosterone levels marry less often, are more abusive in their marriages and divorce more regularly. In fact, married men see more action than single men.

4. Death during sex has a prototype
While examining the incidence of death during sex, a 1975 study discovered a unique pattern in males: the "deceased is usually married; he is not with a spouse and in unfamiliar surroundings," and death usually occurs after "a big meal with alcohol." Another study in 1989 found further evidence supporting the extramarital sex bit. Fourteen of the 20 cases of "la mort d''amour," or coital death, happened during an affair.

Salman guns for Gen next

Tags:Vidhi Kasliwal|Sooraj Barjatya|Sandeepa Dhar|Akshay Oberoi

Salman Khan with Sandeepa Dhar, Akshay Oberoi and Vidhi Kasliwal More Pics

There was nostalgia and kickass energy when Salman Khan joined the debutant team of Rajshri Productions' Isi Life Mein including Akshay Oberoi and Sandeepa Dhar.

Vidhi Kasliwal, niece of Sooraj Barjatya and a promising force in this team, is excited about her directorial debut, which releases tomorrow. But is even more kicked about Salman's cameo in it.

Salman said, "No one has directed me as she did in years... I was reminded of Sooraj. And I really think she is going to be a director to watch out for in the years to come. Mark my words. And please keep me in mind Vidhiji."

Salman encouraged Akshay and Sandeepa wholeheartedly, giving them valuable acting tips. Said Akshay, "I had this image of him as a very real and honest person. And now, having met him, I'm in complete awe!"
Sandeepa couldn't agree more. "Meeting Salman Sir was like a dream come true.

I had planned to say so many things but I went completely blank. I was suddenly transformed into a giggly teenager because you can't stop feeling shy when he talks to you," she said.

When Katrina hit Akshay hard

Tags:Tees Maar Khan|Katrina Kaif|Bollywood|Akshay Kumar

Akshay Kumar More Pics

Many feel Katrina Kaif is a delicate darling, but her " Tees Maar Khan" co-star Akshay Kumar doesn't think so.

"We were shooting for the song 'Bade dilwala' and Katrina got so involved in her dance that she actually hit me hard with her elbow. The impact was such that the shooting had to be stalled for two hours," Akshay told reporters here Wednesday.

The actor revealed this during the promotional tour of "Tees Maar Khan" in the capital. He was here with Katrina and director Farah Khan for the film that releases Friday.

Both the stars were greeted with much fanfare. They put their best foot forwad and wowed fans with an impromptu yet sizzling performance of the hit item number "Shiela ki jawani" from the romantic comedy.

"When we shoot for any song, there are often many cuts but I enjoy performing in front of live audiences because the response makes me feel good," Akshay said after his performance.

These days, Katrina is often heard talking in Hindi and she happily obliged when her fans asked her to do so at the event.

Akshay and Katrina also fulfilled the demand of their younger fans by happily dancing with them to the tune of "Bade dilwala".

Not only that, when Akshay spotted a little girl crying in the crowd as she couldn't reach the stage, he immediately called her and cheered her up by dancing along with her and giving a peck on her cheek.

What made Sara-Ali split?

Sara Khan and Ali Merchant More Pics

In what is a totally quirky twist to the plot, the honeymoon period for Sara Khan and Ali Merchant saw them split after their big show-it-off wedding on national TV.

Though several reasons have been cited as to why the couple, who did not look like they were in love while at Bigg Boss house, might have called it quits, BT has learned that the real reason for their marriage going kaput is apparently because Ali ate up Sara's hard-earned money.

A highly-placed source close to the couple reveals, "Sara was in a state of shock when she got out of Bigg Boss and reached her Lokhandwala home. She slowly started realising that Ali, with whom she had saved jointly, had used up all of the money. Sara right now has no penny left with her and has to start afresh in life and work harder because she also supports her family completely. Sara could not believe that Ali could have done this to her when she was away battling it out with contestants to win Bigg Boss."

The informer adds, "Ali had never mentioned to her about using up their savings. Ali might be a businessman but it looks like all's not going too well for him in his professional space. He was extravagant in his approach to life when Sara was in the reality show. Sara is upset that Ali had also hidden things from her like her grandmother's demise. Sara feels that she has been used by Ali, who was one of the key motivators for her to enter the show. Also, Ali had shown full support for Sara's allegedly staged romance with Ashmit Patel in the house and even the decision to get married on the show was his call because they were being offered a huge sum of money." Sara has thrown Ali out of her Lokhandwala home and her parents are with her in this moment of crisis. Meanwhile, Ali, too, is staying with his parents. It has been reported that Ali will be trying to win back Sara and has cited the reason for their temporary break-up is because Sara's parents did not approve of him and she didn't want to go against her parents wish.

While some insiders feel that Sara might be the first one to move the court for divorce, some maintain that they might end up sorting their differences given how long their relationship has stood the test of time. Ali, too is in no mood for a talaaq. However, most admit that discord between the two crept up before Bigg Boss. On the reality show, she had even torn Ali's picture and said that her relationship with him was over. Watch this space for more developments!

Salman didn’t make me cry: Kat

Tags:Sheila Ki Jawaani|Salman Khan|Katrina Kaif|Bigg Boss

Katrina Kaif More Pics

In town recently to declare the 56th Idea Filmfare awards open, Katrina spoke candidly about her many engagements, movies she enjoyed watching this year and the infamous Bigg Boss episode, where Salman took a jibe at her.

Speculating on the reason she was chosen to announce the awards, the actress took a dig at herself saying, "Maybe when they were looking over the list of actors, they thought, 'Let's invite Katrina, she's never bagged the Filmfare award'."

On being asked asked how Indian cinema has evolved, the 23-year-old actress spoke about the upcoming Rani-Vidya starrer No One Killed Jessica, commenting, "Perhaps making such an offbeat movie would not have even been considered five years ago."

Quizzed about roles she'd like to take on in the future, Katrina revealed that she'd love to be part of a romantic tragedy a la Devdas. Pressed about which actor she'd like to paired opposite in such a movie, the Sheila ki Jawani siren responded, "It'd have to be Aamir Khan."

The questions were only to get more inquisitive, the inevitable one revolving around her recent appearance on the Salman Khan hosted show Bigg Boss. Without batting an eyelid, the actress responded, "Oh, I didn't feel awkward at all. As for the rumours that I cried after Salman 'insulted' me on his show, I can tell you that the last time I cried on any set was during the shooting of Ajab Prem Ki Gazab Kahani. We had shot for 22 hours straight and I was stretched beyond my breaking point."

Asked which numbers she'd like people to dance to this new year given a choice of Malaika Arora Khan's peppy Munni badnaam hui and her own feisty Sheila Ki Jawaani, the actress handled the ultimate googly skillfully saying, "Why not both? They both are great numbers."

Sachin is Sachin, the real Bharat Ratna, says 'mom' Lata Read more: Sachin is Sachin, the real Bharat Ratna, says 'mom' Lata - The Times of India htt

Tags:The World Cup|Sachin Tendulkar|Mahendra Singh Dhoni|Lata Mangeshkar|Bharat Ratna

NEW DELHI: Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar feels blessed to have a 'son' like Sachin Tendulkar and wants the batting sensation to carry on his innings for many more years and win the Bharat Ratna.

Congratulating Sachin on his hitting his 50th Test century, his avid fan says her blessings are always with the 'little master'.

"Sachin treats me like his mother and I always pray for her like a mother. I can never forget the day when he called me 'aai' (mother) for the first time. I had never imagined that. It was pleasant surprise for me and I feel blessed to have a son like him," Lata said.

"Sachin celebrates his birthday on April 24 which is also my father's (Dinanath Mangeshkar) death anniversary. We never get a chance to meet on that day. On one occasion we had met on April 23rd," she says.

She recalls an incident when journalists asked Sachin about his feeling for her to which his reply was "what could one think about his mother".

For the 81-year-old Bharat Ratna winner, Sachin is really an ideal son.

"I always pray for his success and well being. My blessings are always with him."

Lata and Sachin's admiration for each other is not a secret. According to Sachin, Lata songs are a stress buster for him. Lata, on the other hand, always try to catch an innings of Sachin on TV.

Asked if the country's highest civilian honour should be bestowed on the cricketer, she says he definitely deserves the Bharat Ratna.

"For me, he is the real Bharat Ratna for years. Whatever he has done for the country, very few people can do. He deserves this honour. He has made all of us feel proud.

"India has produced many great cricketers but Sachin is Sachin. He is one and only in his generation."

Lata also sees many similarities with Sachin. "He is a perfectionist and very possessive about his work. I am also like that. He is very fond of music and I love cricket. He is a real gentleman and god-fearing person. He never forgets to thank god and his father after any achievement which is simply adorable," she says.

Lata hopes that Sachin will continue to play for many more years and help India win the World Cup next year.

"He is playing exceptionally well and can continue till he wants. I wish that he plays for many more years. India should win the World Cup next year as we have a very good team under Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy."

Urging him to continue, Lata dedicated her song "Akash ke uss paar akash aur bhi hai" to the cricketer saying he should not stop here but try to find new horizons.

Benitez leaves Inter Milan by mutual consent

ROME: European champions Inter Milan sacked coach Rafael Benitez on Thursday just a few days after he guided them to the World Club Cup title and looks set to be replaced by former AC Milan coach Brazilian Leonardo.

The two parties reached a mutual agreement over terminating the Spaniard's contract ending days of speculation about the former Liverpool manager's future after he had used the World Club Cup win to launch a bizarre outburst against the club's board and their lack of support in the transfer market as well as an attack on the players.

Inter, who turned to Benitez when Jose Mourinho left for Real Madrid in the summer, issued a curt statement confirming that the Spaniard's short reign had been brought to a premature and inglorious end after holding talks with his agent.

"Inter Milan and Rafael Benitez can announce that they have reached a mutually satisfactory agreement for the early termination of his contract.

"Inter thank Rafael Benitez for his work in leading his team to success in the Italian Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup."

Benitez, who is spending his now longer than expected Christmas break in Liverpool, bore no rancour in his initial reaction when he spoke to Italian news agency Ansa.

"I would like to thank everybody for the support I received in my spell at Inter," he said.

"I would like to thank both on my own behalf, and on behalf of my coaching staff, the players, the directors and the supporters who always had faith in us.

"The two titles we won (the Italian Super Cup being the other) was as a result of the commitment of all those who stayed at our sides, retaining the fundamental principles of professionalism, education, and respect for the decisions of the club.

"I am sad to leave such a big club and I wish the team all the success in the future.

"Finally I would like to thank wholeheartedly the president Massimo Moratti for having chosen me to be coach of Inter."

Benitez, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, had only been in the post since July after leaving Liverpool by mutual consent and had failed to convince the Inter fans that he could repeat the unique success of predecessor Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho, who never enjoyed close relations with Benitez when they coached Chelsea and Liverpool respectively, had secured the domestic double and the Champions League trophy last season.

Benitez had looked to have ensured he would stay in the post with Saturday's 3-0 World Club Cup final win over Tout Puissant Mazembe in Abu Dhabi - albeit not a title hugely valued - and was warmly embraced by Inter's president Massimo Moratti.

However, the 50-year-old - who made his name coaching Valencia - used the post match press conference to attack the board saying he deserved respect.

This was the same board who had stood by him even after they barely qualified for the second round of the Champions League, finishing second behind Spurs in their group.

In Serie A, Inter are seventh - 13 points adrift of bitter city rivals AC Milan, though, they have two games in hand.

"My relationship with the president is good - but I ask the club for help and respect - they did not come up with the goods after what they told me in the summer about (new) signings and so it's not easy," he said on Saturday.

"There are three possibilities. The first is that they help me and four or five new players come in and make the team even stronger," said Benitez, pointing out that several of his top stars have turned 30.

"The second is to carry on the same as now without a project or planning and get to May (season's end) that way. And the third is to speak with my agent," he said, implying that if the club were dissatisfied with him they should find someone else.

He insisted: "My relationship with the club is good - but I am a professional of 25 years standing in football and I want respect and assistance."

Is Sachin Tendulkar the world's greatest sportsperson of all time? Read more: Is Sachin Tendulkar the world's greatest sportsperson of all time?

Comparisons are odious. But truth be told, there's nothing sports fanatics love more. And so, for all the disclaimers about how it's impossible and unfair to compare greats from different eras, we insist on doing precisely that. One question that's increasingly being asked is whether Sachin Tendulkar is a greater cricketer than Sir Don Bradman.

The answer, at least according to netizens who participated in a recent Sydney Morning Herald poll, is a resounding yes - by a whopping margin of 67% to 33%.

Even as we were digesting this result, along came an interview by Usain Bolt. The world's fastest man admitted to being a huge Sachin fan. He also said that given a chance, he'd like to ask Sachin "how he has managed to work so hard to stay at the top for so long and what advice he'd give other sportsmen".

Clearly then, Sachin is idolized not just by millions of cricket lovers, but also champions of other sports. It's easy to understand why: After all, he has sustained excellence at the highest competitive level for a scarcely believable 21 years, while cheerfully bearing the crushing burden of knowing that a billion hopes rest on his shoulders every time he bats.

Not many sporting legends of any event or era can make such a claim. So, is Sachin not just the greatest cricketer but, in fact, the greatest sportsperson of all time? It's a question that's bound to stir a heated debate. So, we decided to throw it open to our readers as well. We prepared a shortlist of 12 of the greatest sportspersons ever. Sachin, naturally, figures in it. But choosing the other 11 proved immensely challenging.

We decided not to have more than one player from each sport - with the exception of tennis, where we picked one man and one woman. Settling on the greatest player from each sport itself set off passionate arguments.

Did Pele's sublime skills make him a greater footballer than the spellbinding but volatile Maradona? Rocky Marciano is the only heavyweight boxing champ in history to retire undefeated with a proud 49-0 record. But generations of fans believe the only deserving contender for the title of GOAT (Greatest of All Time) is the man who floated like a butterfly but stung like a bee, Muhammad Ali.

Roger Federer may own the record of 16 Grand Slam titles but is he really greater than Rod Laver, who won all four Grand Slam championships in a year not once but twice? For that matter, is he even greater than his fierce rival, Rafael Nadal? Should the amazing versatality of Carl Lewis count for more than the overwhelming dominance of Bubka and Moses?

Now, we invite you, our readers, to join the debate. Log in to www.timesofindia.com, cast your vote. Let us know whom you support, or whose name you would have liked to see on the list. And let a million arguments bloom!

Mail bombs target missions in Rome

ROME: Diplomatic missions in Rome were hit by a coordinated assault of parcel bombs on Thursday , officials and news agencies reported, seriously injuring at least two persons and injecting Europe with a new atmosphere of anxiety about possible terrorist plots ahead of the Christmas holiday . Police were conducting checks at all embassies in the Italian capital.

Meanwhile, Swiss police said a suspect package had been sent to the EU embassy in Berne.

The first attack, in Rome a parcel bomb at the Swiss embassy, exploded at midday. Shortly after, a second parcel bomb exploded at the Chilean embassy, wounding an employee. A suspicious package was reported at the Ukrainian embassy in Rome but the mission later said no dangerous items had been found after an inspection. It was not immediately clear who had sent the packages or why the embassies had been chosen as targets. The Swiss embassy said that no one had claimed responsibility for the bomb there.

The attacks rattled a city already on edge after violent student protests last week and ongoing security alerts across Europe this month. The Swiss embassy said in a statement that a package containing a hidden explosive device detonated around noon when an embassy employee opened it, causing injuries to both of his hands. Those injuries appeared serious, said a spokesman for the Carabinieri, Italy's paramilitary police. The employee, a 53-yearold Swiss national, was taken to a local hospital.

Similarly, a package exploded at the Chilean embassies when an employee opened it injuring an administrative official. An investigation has begun.

Read more: Mail bombs target missions in Rome - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Mail-bombs-target-missions-in-Rome-/articleshow/7154637.cms#ixzz18zzBnHM6

N Korea threatens 'sacred' N-war if attacked by South Read more: N Korea threatens 'sacred' N-war if attacked by South - The Times of India http://ti

POCHEON (South Korea): North and South Korea beat the drums of war on Thursday, with each threatening the other with immediate retaliation if attacked. Seoul has staged days of military drills in a show of force meant to deter North Korea, including live-fire exercises earlier this week on a front-line island shelled by the North last month.

Angered by the exercises, North Korea threatened on Thursday it would launch a "sacred" nuclear war if Seoul hit it and warned that even the smallest intrusion on its territory would bring a devastating response.

The two sides are still technically at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce not a peace treaty, and a US governor who recently made an unofficial diplomatic mission to the North has said the situation on the peninsula is a "tinderbox" and the worst he had ever seen it.

Still, the latest rhetoric seemed likely to be just that, words aimed at stirring pride at home and keeping the rival at bay.
Defence chief Kim Yong Chun said North Korea is "fully prepared to launch a sacred war' ' and would use its nuclear capabilities, calling Monday's drills a "grave military provocation' ' that indicated South Korea is pushing to invade the north.

Kim told a national meeting in Pyongyang that the North's military will deal "more devastating physical blows" to its enemies if they cross into the North's territory even slightly, the official Korean Central News Agency said in a dispatch.

Read more: N Korea threatens 'sacred' N-war if attacked by South - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/N-Korea-threatens-sacred-N-war-if-attacked-by-South/articleshow/7154632.cms#ixzz18zz5AFHB

Indian auto market stepped on the gas in 2010 Read more: Indian auto market stepped on the gas in 2010 - The Times of India http://timesofindia.india

NEW DELHI: A resurgent and confident economy saw Indian car sales beat the developing market tag in 2010 to emerge as the 'market to be in' as sales exploded to record levels, which paled the subdued performance in erstwhile heavyweight markets of the West. The icing on the celebratory cake was that the outlook remained even more bullish.

The festivities, though, were dimmed somewhat as the industry's showcase product, the Tata Nano, failed to have a roaring start, bogged down by repeated incidents of fire that raised questions over the car's safety . Adding further to the unease was the split of Hero Honda, the 26-year-old venture of the Munjals and Japan's Honda, as both partners decided to go separate ambitious ways to end growing differences.

Isolated cases apart, 2010 proved to be a bumper year for the industry as newer models and favourable interest rates gelled well with the economic surge to push numbers to record levels, making India one of the fastest-growing market for cars globally and raising hopes that it may be headed for a boom similar to that witnessed in China, which rode past a struggling US to become the world's biggest car market. Experts suggest that low penetration of cars is a factor that pushed things in India's favour.

Barring the Nano, which failed to deliver despite the exit of Maruti800 from the top metros due to new emission norms, the majority of models did well, leading to neverseen-before waiting lists on many models. The sudden push even took the industry by surprise, something that explains the shortage faced by car and component makers in meeting the huge rush.
And the high action, especially in the heart of the car market, even threatened the dominance of established players like Maruti Suzuki that saw its market share fall below 50% for the first time in its history. Volkswagen, Ford, General Motors, Nissan—all had new models ready for the small car segment, most of which helped them corner crucial market shares.

To the surprise of many, models like Ford Figo, VW Polo , Nissan Micra and GM's Beat enjoyed a good run. The Indian customer, earlier believed to be loyal to established and trusted brands, was not averse to a shift to newer models, provided they appealed to them and came loaded with features. "The Indian customer is getting younger and more aware, and he loves to flaunt," says Neeraj Garg, director at Volkswagen India. "If I am to describe the profile of these customers, they are young entrepreneurs or those who are earning well quite early in life. They are more aware than the earlier buyers and want something beyond an ordinary car that provides them with requisite safety features and is also something that they can flaunt. It's their way of saying that they have arrived in society at a young age," Garg adds.

But the unprecedented boom was a huge surprise since it came just when the Indian economy was coming out of the global economic slump that had dampened sentiments following the collapse of Lehman Brothers in late 2008. "The phenomenal growth was unexpected and a surprise," saysArvind Saxenaof Hyundai India.

Read more: Indian auto market stepped on the gas in 2010 - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Indian-auto-market-stepped-on-the-gas-in-2010/articleshow/7154554.cms#ixzz18zyvCj4y

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