How To Let Your Body Connect To Your Mind

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Mental health problems are similar to other health problems: some can be prevented, others will go away on their own with home treatment, and some need professional attention.

Mental Self-Care

Many mental health problems begin when physical stress (such as an illness or injury) or emotional stress (such as the loss of a loved one) triggers chemical changes in your brain. The goal of treatment for mental health problems—including self-care and professional treatment—is to reduce stress and restore the normal chemical processes in your brain.

Seeking professional help

In general, it is a good idea to seek professional help for a mental health problem when:

• A symptom does not get better on its own.
• A symptom becomes severe or disruptive.
• A symptom becomes a continuous or permanent pattern of behavior and does not respond to self-care.
• Symptoms become numerous, affect all areas of your life, and do not respond to self-care or help from family or friends.
• You are thinking about hurting yourself or someone else.

There is a wide range of professional and community resources to choose from for mental health problems.

Mind-Body Wellness

The mind-body connection

Medical science is making remarkable discoveries about the relationship between your state of mind and your mental and physical health. Researchers have found that one function of the brain is to produce substances that can improve your health. Your brain can create endorphins, which are natural painkillers; gamma globulin for fortifying your immune system; and interferon for combating infections, viruses, and even cancer. Your brain can combine these and other substances into a vast number of tailor-made prescriptions for whatever ails you.

The substances that your brain produces depend in part on your thoughts, feelings, and expectations. If your attitude about an illness (or life in general) is negative and you don't have expectations that your condition will get better, your brain may not produce enough of the substances your body needs to heal. On the other hand, if your attitude and expectations are more positive, your brain is likely to produce sufficient amounts of the substances that will boost your body's healing power.

Your physical health also has an impact on your brain's ability to produce substances that affect your mental well-being. An illness or injury that causes long-term physical stress can lead to chemical imbalances in the brain. These imbalances may lead to depression and other mental health problems.

Positive Thinking

People with positive attitudes generally enjoy life more, but are they any healthier? The answer is often "yes." Optimism is a resource for healing. Optimists are more likely to overcome pain and adversity in their efforts to improve their medical treatment outcomes. For example, optimistic coronary bypass patients generally recover more quickly and have fewer complications after surgery than do patients who are less hopeful.

Your body responds to your thoughts, emotions, and actions. In addition to staying fit, eating right, and managing stress, you can use the following three strategies to help maintain your health:

1. Create positive expectations for health and healing.

Mental and emotional expectations can influence medical outcomes. The effectiveness of any medical treatment depends in part on how useful you expect it to be. The "placebo effect" proves this. A placebo is a drug or treatment that provides no medical benefit except for the patient's belief that it will help. Many patients who receive placebos report satisfactory relief from their medical problem, even though they received no actual medicine.

Changing your expectations from negative to positive may enhance your physical health. Here's how to make the change:

• Stop all negative self-talk. Make positive statements that promote your recovery. Send yourself a steady stream of affirmations. An affirmation is a phrase or sentence that sends strong, positive statements to you about yourself, such as "I am a capable person" or "My joints are strong and flexible."
• Visualize health and healing. Add mental pictures that support your positive affirmations. Don't feel guilty. There is no value in feeling guilty about health problems. While there is a lot you can do to reduce your risk for health problems and improve your chances of recovery, some illnesses may develop and persist no matter what you do. Some things just are. Do the best you can.

2. Open yourself to humor, friendship, and love.

• Positive emotions boost your health. Fortunately, almost anything that makes you feel good about yourself helps you stay healthy.
• Laugh. A little humor makes life richer and healthier. Laughter increases creativity, reduces pain, and speeds healing. Keep an emergency laughter kit that contains funny videotapes, jokes, cartoons, and photographs. Put it with your first-aid supplies and keep it well stocked.
• Seek out friends. Friendships are vital to good health. Close social ties help you recover more quickly from illness and reduce your risk of developing diseases ranging from arthritis to depression.
• Volunteer. People who volunteer live longer and enjoy life more than those who do not volunteer. By helping others, we help ourselves.
• Plant a plant and pet a pet. Plants and pets can be highly therapeutic. When you stroke an animal, your blood pressure goes down and your heart rate slows. Animals and plants help us feel needed.

3. Appeal to a higher power.

• If you believe in a higher power, ask for support in your pursuit of healing and health. Faith, prayer, and spiritual beliefs can play an important role in recovering from an illness. See healing touch and prayer.
• Your sense of spiritual wellness can help you overcome personal trials and things you cannot change. If it suits you, use spiritual images in visualizations, affirmations, and expectations about your health and your life.

Learn How To Spend Money Like A Smart Millionaire

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Saving thousands while still spending.

Millionaires make up just 2 percent of the population. They get a bad rap during recessions for being wasteful with their money and are frequently used as examples of excess. It's the millionaires that you don't see that you can learn from in times like these. I call them the frugal millionaires and interviewed 70 of them to uncover ways we can all be smarter with money.

Nearly 70 percent of the economy is based on consumer spending. To keep the economy going we need to keep spending but not waste money in the process. This is where the frugal millionaires come in. They've been smart with their money all along and haven't lost it all and had to remake it. These are the kind of people you want to learn from when it comes to spending your money.

Spending philosophy.

Frugal millionaires are unique thinkers when it comes to spending money: 1) they can easily delay their need for gratification when purchasing; 2) they are resourceful in getting what they want by carefully timing their consumer purchases; 3) they make living below their means painless; 4) they don't like wasting anything (especially money); 5) their sense of "self-entitlement" is highly minimized: and 6) spending is OK with them...depending on what they are buying (think: appreciating vs. depreciating assets).

Buying tips.

These millionaires keep more money than they spend, that's why they are rich. Their tactics work for them so they'll work even better for you. Key Point: They don't view shopping as a sport. They shop efficiently and spend their time doing more important things with their lives. Here are their tips that will help you save while spending:

Cars: Buy used (or off lease) fuel-efficient cars, often with "certified pre-owned" warranties. This warranty can be better than a new car, plus the initial depreciation hit is avoided. Drive the car for a long time and never lease it.

Eating Out: Bring half of a meal home to eat later (this also saves the waistline). Eat at happy hours. Bring wine from home and skip dessert. Value food quality over expensive ambience.

Eating In: Eat better and less expensively by cooking at home. Make it a friends and family event. Get your kids involved. Bonus: You can have that extra drink without worrying about getting busted for driving under the influence. Also: buy day-old bread at the best bakery in town and freeze it. Eat oatmeal, because it's the most cost-effective breakfast food. Get a supermarket "club card" and buy food on special. Play the game of trying to see how much of a discount can be saved off the total food bill.

Clothes: When you buy something new donate something used to charity. Buy traditional clothes, but wait for the off-season to acquire them. Go for high quality - not high price. Buy vintage clothing and avoid logo clothing and keep people guessing who the designer might be. Hint: There shouldn't be one!

Consumer Electronics: Buy low-end gear that has the basic functionality of the more expensive stuff. Don't be the first to buy new technology. Wait at least one lifecycle so the bugs are worked out. Buy refurbished electronics whenever possible.

Computers: Buy more mainstream computers with proven technology. Select higher capacity hard drives, a decent amount of RAM (the memory that the program runs in) and a cost effective processor. Super fast doesn't always equal super good...unless you are building airplanes or bridges. Laptops are a good compromise between desktops and netbooks. Don't go through the pain of upgrading operating systems on existing computers, it's not time efficient and you will probably go insane trying.

Going green: Being green and frugal go hand-in-hand. Yet frugal millionaires don't readily fall for the trendy green hype machine. They typically buy green if it helps the environment and lowers their costs. They look at the timeframe when a product can pay for itself. They do use compact fluorescent lighting, turn off lights and equipment that isn't being used, monitor AC and heat usage (with programmable thermostats), drive efficiently, live in "right-sized" homes and turn off the water when they aren't brushing their teeth or washing dishes. Because they have trained themselves to not waste money they won't waste anything else either. They get into good habits and keep them going. You can, too.

Nude Painting Of Madonna Is Up For Sale

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A nude painting of Madonna and Guy Ritchie is up for auction - just don't expect either of them to buy it!

The oil on canvas depicts a muscular Madonna reclining on a bed while a leering Ritchie paws her thigh.

She resembles a bodybuilder gone flabby and he looks like a cross between Shrek and Frankenstein.

The striking image, by Glasgow-based artist Peter Howson, is expected to fetch more than £20,000 when it goes up for auction.

It's one of a series of paintings he's done of a nude Madonna in recent years, which have reportedly angered her ex-husband.

The oil painting, which is owned by a private collector, is going under the hammer at McTears auctioneers in Glasgow.

Their quickie divorce last year is expected to put thousands on the sale price.

"There's no doubt that the recent split of Madonna and Guy has generated increased interest in the painting," according to Brian Clements.

"The painting is very impactive and quite subtly portrays the artist's conception of the couple's relationship. Madonna is seen as the strong and dominant figure."

Madonna herself owns several of Howson's paintings.

The painter, who first came to prominence as Britain's official war artist during the Bosnian conflict, counts Mick Jagger and David Bowie among other celebrity customers.

His painting is regarded as among the most powerful, figurative work in the art world of today. It consistently commands an impressive price tag.

In 2004, he sold an oil painting of the former Celtic legend Henrik Larsson for £40,000.

A number of other contemporary artists will feature in the auction. More than 260 paintings are expected to generate up to half a million pounds.

"Art values have held up well in the current economic climate," says Brian Clements. "The top names are still commanding high prices, prompting even more people to look to the sector as a possible investment opportunity."

8 Toxic Personalities That You Should Avoid

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Although we like to think that the people in our lives are well-adjusted, happy, healthy minded individuals, we sometimes realize that it just isn't so. Personally, I've had moments where I'll be skipping through my day, happy as can be, thinking life is grand and BAM, I'll be blindsided by someone who manages to knock the happy wind out of my sails. Sometimes it is easy to write it off and other times, not so much.

Maybe you are a positive person, but when you are around a certain individual, you feel negative. Or, maybe you have an idealistic view of the world and when you are with certain people, you are made to feel silly, unrealistic or delusional. Or, maybe you pride yourself in being completely independent and in control of your life, but when you are around a certain family member, you regress into a state of childhood.

Some of these situations, and yes, these people, can have a tremendously negative impact on our lives. And, although we are all human and have our 'issues,' some 'issues' are quite frankly, toxic. They are toxic to our happiness. They are toxic to our mental outlook. They are toxic to our self-esteem. And they are toxic to our lives. They can suck the life out of us and even shorten our lifespan.

Here are the worst of the toxic personalities out there and how to spot them:

1. Manipulative Mary: These individuals are experts at manipulation tactics. Is a matter of fact, you may not even realize you have been manipulated until it is too late. These individuals figure out what your 'buttons' are, and push them to get what they want.

Why they are toxic: These people have a way of eating away at your belief system and self-esteem. They find ways to make you do things that you don't necessarily want to do and before you know it, you lose your sense of identity, your personal priorities and your ability to see the reality of the situation. The world all of a sudden becomes centered around their needs and their priorities.

2. Narcissistic Nancy: These people have an extreme sense of self-importance and believe that the world revolves around them. They are often not as sly as the Manipulative Marys of the world, but instead, tend to be a bit overt about getting their needs met. You often want to say to them "It isn't always about you."

Why they are toxic: They are solely focused on their needs, leaving your needs in the dust. You are left disappointed and unfulfilled. Further, they zap your energy by getting you to focus so much on them, that you have nothing left for yourself.

3. Debbie Downers: These people can't appreciate the positive in life. If you tell them that it is a beautiful day, they will tell you about the impending dreary forecast. If you tell them you aced a mid-term, they'll tell you about how difficult the final is going to be.

Why they are toxic: They take the joy out of everything. Your rosy outlook on life continues to get squashed with negativity. Before you know it, their negativity consumes you and you start looking at things with gray colored glasses yourself.

4. Judgmental Jims: When you see things as cute and quirky, they see things as strange and unattractive. If you find people's unique perspectives refreshing, they find them 'wrong'. If you like someone's eclectic taste, they find it 'disturbing' or 'bad'.

Why they are toxic: Judgmental people are much like Debbie Downers. In a world where freedom rings, judgment is sooo over. If the world was a homogeneous place, life would be pretty boring. Spending a lot of time with these types can inadvertently convert you into a judgmental person as well.

5. Dream Killing Keiths: Every time you have an idea, these people tell you why you can't do it. As you achieve, they try to pull you down. As you dream, they are the first to tell you it is impossible.

Why they are toxic: These people are stuck in what is instead of what could be. Further, these individuals eat away at your self-esteem and your belief in yourself. Progress and change can only occur from doing new things and innovating, dreaming the impossible and reaching for the stars.

6. Insincere Illissas: You never quite feel that these people are being sincere. You tell a funny story, they give you a polite laugh. You feel depressed and sad and they give you a 'there, there' type response. You tell them you are excited about something and you get a very ho-hum response.

Why they are toxic: People who aren't sincere or genuine build relationships on superficial criteria. This breeds shallow, meaningless relationships. When you are really in need of a friend, they won't be there. When you really need constructive criticism, they would rather tell you that you are great the way you are. When you need support, they would rather see you fail or make a fool of yourself.

7. Disrespectful Dannys: These people will say or do things at the most inappropriate times and in the most inappropriate ways. In essence, they are more subtle, grown up bullies. Maybe this person is a friend who you confided in and uses your secret against you. Maybe it is a family member who puts their busy-body nose into your affairs when it is none of their business. Or maybe, it is a colleague who says demeaning things to you.

Why they are toxic: These people have no sense of boundaries and don't respect your feelings or, for that matter, your privacy. These people will cause you to feel frustrated and disrespected. 8. Never Enough Nellies: You can never give enough to these people to make them happy. They take you for granted and have unrealistic expectations of you. They find ways to continually fault you and never take responsibility for anything themselves.

Why they are toxic: You will spend so much time trying to please them, that you will end up losing yourself in the process. They will require all of your time and energy, leaving you worn out and your own needs sacrificed.

All of these personalities have several things in common.

1) the more these people get away with their behavior, the more they will continue.

2) Unfortunately, most of these people don't see that what they do is wrong and as a result, talking to them about it will fall on deaf ears, leaving you wondering if you are the crazy one.

3) Most of these people get worse with age, making their impact on you stronger with time. Frankly, life is too short to spend your time dealing with toxicity. If you can, avoid spending mucho time with people who are indicative of these behaviors and you'll feel a lot happier. Have you encountered these personalities? What have you done? Any personalities you would add?

Orang Utans Are Starve In Order To Take Food From Visitors

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Indonesian zoos are starving orangutans to encourage them to take food from visitors, according to conservationists.

The non-governmental Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP) said some apes were so distressed they were eating their own vomit.

The organisation's capitivity expert Luki Wardhani said: "The zoo managements have abandoned the principles of animal welfare."

He added: "We documented several stress symptoms and abnormal behaviour.

"They bump their own bodies, vomit and eat it again, urinate and drink their own urine, lick their own nipples and sit without expression."

A COP study of five zoos in Java found many orangutans were deliberately underfed for the benefit of visitors.

COP capitivity programme manager Seto Hari Wibowo said: "Public feeding should be stopped.

"The visitors often feed the orangutans unsuitable food and the zoos fail to monitor this."

The study, which included both public and private zoos, also discovered orangutans kept in cages instead of enclosures.

International conservation group The Nature Conservancy estimates there are around 60,000 orangutans left in the wild, 80% in Indonesia.

Susan Boyle Rock The World Again With Memory

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Teachniques Of Treating Snoring

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What is snoring?

You snore when the flow of air from your mouth or nose to your lungs makes the tissues of your throat vibrate when you sleep. This can make a loud, raspy noise. Loud snoring can make it hard for you and your partner to get a good night’s sleep.

You may not know that you snore. Your bed partner may notice the snoring and that you sleep with your mouth open. If snoring keeps you or your bed partner from getting a good night’s sleep, one or both of you may feel tired during the day.

Snoring may point to other medical problems, such as obstructive sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can be a serious problem, because you stop breathing at times during sleep. So if you snore often, talk to your doctor about it.

Snoring is more common in men than in women.

What causes snoring?

When you sleep, the muscles in the back of the roof of your mouth (soft palate), tongue, and throat relax. If they relax too much, they narrow or block your airway. As you breathe, your soft palate and uvula vibrate and knock against the back of your throat. This causes the sounds you hear during snoring.

The tonsils and adenoids may also vibrate. The narrower the airway is, the more the tissue vibrates, and the louder the snoring is.

How is it treated?

You may be able to treat snoring by making changes in your activities and in the way you sleep:

• Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Quit smoking.
• Sleep on your side and not your back.
• Limit your use of alcohol and medicines such as sedatives before you go to bed.
• If a stuffy nose makes your snoring worse, use nose strips, decongestants, or nasal steroid sprays to help you breathe.
• When you sleep, use a device in your mouth that helps you breathe easier. This device pushes your tongue and jaw forward to improve airflow.

Miss California Carrie Prejean Shock America With Her Saucy Nude Photos

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World Premiere Of T.I. Ft. Justin Timberlake - Dead And Gone MV

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World Most Expensive Sneakers Finally Reveal And It Has Nothing

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Some console fans will spare no expense to show their loyalty to their chosen brand, but we're guessing the $2,500 price tag of these one-of-a-kind Xbox-themed sneakers will make even the most committed Microsoft devotee think twice.

The custom shoes -- which aren't endorsed by Microsoft or Nike -- are handmade by Sole Junkie, a California-based artist who specializes in customized sneakers. And they're not the most expensive ones he's ever made. "I have made shoes with 22k gold and diamonds on them," he told us in an interview. "I look at my creations as functional art...not just ordinary sneakers."

That would be functional in shoe terms, not in a gaming sense. Although you might hope that the $2,500 price tag would buy you cool Xbox interactivity, there's no hidden hard drive or controller functionality. Instead, the Xbox logos light up, courtesy of embedded fiber optics and a hidden switch.

According to Sole Junkie's eBay auction, "These are an exclusive pair...only one of its kind. Patent leather back with embedded fiber optic wiring in the shape of the XBOX logo. Battery placement is in the tongue as well as on and off switch that has 2 settings: Strobe or Constant light functions. Gradient lime swoosh faded to black. The toe is painted in a surreal Tiger Camouflage with accents of lime and bright green. These are a men's size 11."

Will they sell? He seems confident. "I have had offers already. They mention the beauty and artwork in it, not the price tag. Don't know how serious the buyers are so far."

But surprisingly, many Xbox fans aren't overjoyed at his work. "The video game community hates the price and the fact I may have taken a beloved iconic gaming system and butchered it," he told us. "On the other hand, I've had very positive responses from others...more than negative ones."

So, $2,500 shoes that do nothing? We'll pass. But if your collection of gaming memorabilia isn't complete without this unique footwear, don't let us stop you from jumping in.

Oscar Winning Child Actor Lives In Slum Like A Dog

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A child star of the Oscar-winning movie Slumdog Millionaire has had his family home bulldozed by Indian authorities.

Three months ago he was the toast of Tinseltown. Azharrudin Ismail and his fellow child actors were wowing Hollywood and charming the crowds at the Oscars in Los Angeles.

Now, just weeks later, the actor who played Samil is homeless.

The bulldozer arrived at the Garib Nagar slum while Azharrudin was sleeping. He and his family were told to grab what they could and get out.

His mother Samina said the authorities gave no warning.

"They did not inform us. No notice was given to us," she said.

"They suddenly came and ran the bulldozer on our houses and broke everything in the slum area."

In the wake of the worldwide success of Slumdog Millionaire, civic authorities in Mumbai had promised the movie's child stars would be plucked from the slums and given proper new homes, but that promise has gone unfulfilled.

Azharrudin's humble polythene-covered shack was one of several illegally-built huts which were swept away in the latest public demolition drive.

His father, Ismail Shaikh, is in despair.

"It's not about Azhar or me. It's about all the poor people here.

"They made a movie 'Slumdog' and similarly we are living life of a dog here.

"Anybody can come here and run a bulldozer over our houses."

Slumdog Millionare told the story of a young boy who works his way out of the Mumbai slums and on to a national TV gameshow.

The film-makers say they have given substantial assistance to the child actors, including a trust fund to pay for their education and a financial nest-egg when they graduate.

But it seems even trust funds and Hollywood stardom can't stop a bulldozer.

Usain Bolt Want To Be The Super Fast Man In The World

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The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, has exclusively told Sky News he can beat his own world 100m record.

British fans get a chance to see 'the Lightning Bolt' this Sunday when he street races over the unusual distance of 150 metres in the Bupa Great Manchester CityGames.

The 22-year-old Jamaican – who has been recovering after crashing his car - is gearing up to thrill the world just like he did at the Bird's Nest in Beijing last summer when he scored three golds and three world records.

In the 100m, he slowed to an astonishing 9.69 seconds.

"I think I can go 9.50-something. My coach said that in Beijing I probably would have gone 9.54," he told Sky News.

"My coach has never been wrong about a time yet so I think, with me getting back on form, anything is possible."

He added: "I don’t really worry about time. I know the people are coming to see me run. I perform for the people. When you relax and don't worry, you run fast."

The ultimate aim this year is the track and field world championships in Berlin in August, when Bolt may line up against Britain's reformed drug cheat Dwain Chambers.

Chambers has dedicated his season to what he calls "Project Bolt" – with the aim of beating the man who proved untouchable last summer.

"I smiled when I heard he had a project named after me. I think everyone wants to be the best. It's not a problem, doesn't matter who," said Bolt, adamant he has no problem lining up against the controversial Chambers.

"No, for me if you come in and make it to the final it's no problem for me. If you make it to the finals I'm going to be racing you no matter what. Even if I don't want you there, you're there."

Bolt has been training with his footballing heroes at Manchester United as the club prepares for a potentially title-winning Premier League game against Arsenal.

He was hoping to pass on some sprinting tips to the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney and said he may be able to learn something from Sir Alex Ferguson about preparation for big races.

And he hopes to be involved in presenting the Premier League trophy to United, the club he chose to support when striker Ruud van Nistelrooy was playing for them.

On Sunday, Bolt will take on Briton Marlon Devonish on a specially-built tartan track on Manchester's Deansgate.

Though not a distance he normally runs, he has completed a hand-timed trial in 14.9 seconds. Records in the event are a little confusing but the world best is considered to be John Regis' effort of 14.93 seconds.

Fake Maybank Internet Scam

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Please take note. If you receive an email from Maybank, please check the domain name. Should the domain name is other than "maybank2u.com.my", it's a scam. Do not log in your ID or password as it will be stolen.

Note: Forward to as many people as possible to prevent them from cheated.

Doctors Curious On The Mystery Of Twins Village

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Baffled doctors are trying to unravel the mystery of an Indian village boasting more than 220 sets of twins born to just 2,000 families.

Experts who have visited the remote tropical village of Kodinhi, in Kerala, have been left scratching their heads over the phenomenon that has seen almost six times as many twins born than the global average.

In 2008 alone, 15 pairs of twins were born in the village out of 300 healthy deliveries and this year is expected to top that number.

Local doctor and twin enthusiast Dr Krishnan Sribiju has been studying the medical marvel of Kodinhi for the past two years and is fascinated.

"The number of twins per thousand here is around 45 per 1,000 births," he said.

"Indian, and by that I mean Asian, people on the sub-continent have the lowest acknowledged incidences of twinning in the world at around four per 1,000.

"In addition, there is no IVF treatment here because of the prohibitive cost. Global rates of twins being born, especially in the western world, have increased because of artificial insemination.

"Also, twins are born usually to older, more mature women. In Kodinhi that is not the case because marriage happens much younger here at around 18-20 years-old and families begin very soon after.

"Another factor that bucks the trend is that twins occur in women who are generally over 5ft 3in in height. The height of women in Kodinhi is around 5ft on average."

Even though identical twins are considered a fluke, the village has its share of those too.

Debbie Ross, from Tamba, a charity that specialises in twins and multiple births, told Sky News online the unusual births could be due to a number of factors.

"Usually, there's about a one in 65 chance of having non-identical twins, with the chances lessening the older the mother gets," she explained.

In the case of this particular village, Ms Ross suggests there could be a hereditary factor at work.

"It may be that many of the families with twins are related in some way - and there is a hereditary factor to twin births - you're more likely to have twins if there is a previous maternal history of it."

Didier Drogba Swearing On Referee Caught On Camera And Watched By Millions

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Deadly Terrorist, Mas Selamat Finally Arrested In Malaysia

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The alleged leader of an Islamic militant group accused of plotting to crash an airliner in Singapore has been arrested in Malaysia after more than a year on the run, according to the government. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement Mas Selamat bin Kastari had been captured by Malaysian authorities, but gave no other details.

"Mas Selamat has been arrested by the Malaysian Special Branch (MSB) in a joint operation between the MSB and the Internal Security Department," the statement sent to AFP said.

The Straits Times said Kastari was caught on April 1 in the Malaysian state of Johor, which sits just across a causeway from Singapore, and has been held in custody by Malaysian authorities since.

Kastari is said to be the head of the Singapore cell of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an underground group linked to Al-Qaeda and blamed for the 2002 Bali bombing and other bloody attacks in Southeast Asia.

Singapore officials have alleged he was part of a plot to hijack an airliner in Bangkok and crash it into Changi airport -- one of Asia's busiest -- in 2001 following the September 11 attacks in the United States.

Now 48, he escaped from his high-security detention centre in Singapore on February 27 last year after squeezing through a toilet window that had no bars and climbing over a fence.

Kastari's escape triggered a massive manhunt, but a flood of tips from the public, some inspired by a bounty of one million Singapore dollars (647,520 US dollars) put up by two local businessmen, turned out to be false alarms.

He had not been formally charged at the time of his escape, and was being held under the Internal Security Act, which allows for detention without trial.

The Straits Times cited "senior intelligence sources" as saying Kastari was arrested on April 1 in Johor.

It is believed he is being held for interrogation by Malaysian authorities under the country's own internal security law, which also allows for detention without trial.

The newspaper said he was thought to have been in Johor since his escape, and that his re-arrest followed a joint operation by Malaysian and Singaporean security agencies.

"He is an extremely skilled and dangerous terrorist and the fact that he has been recaptured improves the security situation in Singapore and the region," said John Harrison, a security analyst at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

"This is irrespective of what he may or may not have been able to accomplish during his escape," he told AFP.

Harrison, manager of research at NTU's International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said whatever morale boost the JI gained from the escape has now been erased.

"Secondly, what it does show is that there is a tremendous regional cooperation against JI and that as long as that continues the JI will not be able to successfully re-establish itself as the organisation that it once was."

Harrison praised Singapore and Malaysian authorities for their cooperation and said they had kept the news under wraps to get more intelligence away from the media glare.

Sidney Jones, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, applauded the arrest, but said it was not an ending.

"In some ways the bigger danger will still come from the people at large," she told AFP from Jakarta.

"I think we've got a number of little splinters. I don't think this arrest will change their strategies."

She said "the important thing is (to) keep up the pressure from the law enforcement agencies and try to find these other people."

Rohan Gunaratna, a security analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, described Kastari's arrest as a "very significant blow to the JI network because JI is trying to revive."

"Mas Selamat is a key icon of the Jemaah Islamiyah organisation, he is one of the most dangerous terrorists in this region, his arrest is a major setback to the JI organisation," he told broadcaster Channel NewsAsia.

Kastari had fled Singapore in December 2001 following an Internal Security Department operation against Jemaah Islamiyah. He was arrested in Indonesia in 2006 and handed back.

Lin Chi Ling Beat Megan Fox As 2009 Sexist Ladies

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Results of the "2009 Top 100 Sexiest Ladies" poll organized by Taiwan's FHM Magazine were recently unveiled. 34-year-old Taiwanese top model Lin Chi-ling came in top for the third year running. Taiwanese diva Jolin Tsai and Hollywood actress Megan Fox are in second and third place respectively.

The FHM poll, which was held from March 1 to April 20, entered its eighth year. Interestingly, members of Taiwanese girl group S.H.E, Ella and Selina, once made it to the first and second spots, but both dropped out of top 50 after the six weeks battle.

When the poll ended, the top three ladies from last year managed to defend their spots. Lin was crowned champ for the third time with 55,182 votes.

Her manager said on her behalf, "Thank you for your support. I will work harder in my movies and showcase all my sexy apparel selflessly."

The only singer in the top ten, Tsai is recognized as the trendsetter of the female fashion without revealling too much of her body. She expressed her gratitude for the public's votes but hoped that people can also show the same support her music career.

Expert Claim That Nefertiti's Bust Is Fake

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The bust of Queen Nefertiti housed in a Berlin museum and believed to be 3,400 years old in fact is a copy dating from 1912 that was made to test pigments used by the ancient Egyptians, according to Swiss art historian Henri Stierlin. Stierlin, author of a dozen works on Egypt, the Middle East and ancient Islam, says in a just-released book that the bust currently in Berlin's Altes Museum was made at the order of German archaeologist Ludwig Borchardt by an artist named Gerardt Marks.

"It seems increasingly improbable that the bust is an original," Stierlin told AFP.

The historian said the archaeologist had hoped to produce a new portrait of the queen wearing a necklace he knew she had owned, and was also looking to carry out a colour test with ancient pigments found at the digs.

But on December 6, 1912, the copy was admired as an original work by a German prince and the archaeologist "couldn't sum up the courage to ridicule" his guest, Stierlin said.

The historian, who has been working on the subject for 25 years, said he based his findings on several facts. "The bust has no left eye and was never crafted to have one. This is an insult for an ancient Egyptian who believed the statue was the person themself."

He also said the shoulders were cut vertically in the style practised since the 19th century while "Egyptians cut shoulders horizontally" and that the features were accentuated in a manner recalling that of Art Nouveau.

It was impossible to scientifically establish the date of the bust because it was made of stone covered in plaster, he said.

"The pigments, which can be dated, are really ancient," he added.

Stierlin also listed problems he noted during the discovery and shipment to Germany as well as in scientific reports of the time.

French archaeologists present at the site never mentioned the finding and neither did written accounts of the digs. The earliest detailed scientific report appeared in 1923, 11 years after the discovery.

The archaeologist "didn't even bother to supply a description, which is amazing for an exceptional work found intact".

Borchardt "knew it was a fake," Stierlin said. "He left the piece for 10 years in his sponsor's sitting-room. It's as if he'd left Tutankhamen's mask in his own sitting-room."

Egypt has demanded the return of the bust discovered on the banks of the Nile since it went on display in 1923, depicting a stunning woman wearing a unique cone-shaped headdress.

One of Berlin's prime attractions it will move into its own hall at the newly renovated Neues Museum when it reopens to the public in October.

Correct Hand Washing Technique To Prevent Swine Flu

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Porn Star Finally Make It In Big Screen

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Of all the veteran actors with films at the Tribeca Film Festival, the length of Sasha Grey's filmography could rival them all.

Though just 21, Grey has performed in more than 150 pornographic films. But at Tribeca, she stars in Steven Soderbergh's "The Girlfriend Experience" _ which premiered with much anticipation at the festival Tuesday evening.

In it, Grey plays a $2,000-an-hour escort whose Manhattan customers are mostly Wall Street executives stressed by their falling fortunes.

Soderbergh shifts between larger budget films ("Ocean's Eleven," "Erin Brockovich") and inexpensive independent works (his breakthrough "Sex, Lies, and Videotape," "Full Frontal").

"The Girlfriend Experience" is his second film in a six-movie deal with Mark Cuban's cable station HDNet. On May 22, it will be released in limited theaters and air on HDNet.

Like his first such "day-and-date" film, 2005's "Bubble," Soderbergh cast mostly nonprofessional actors in similar situations as their characters in "The Girlfriend Experience." He encouraged improvisation and shot quickly last October.

Soderbergh became interested in Grey after reading about her in Los Angeles Magazine; he says the article showed how different she was from her industry colleagues.

Such a casting decision is automatic publicity for a small film like "The Girlfriend Experience" _ a benefit Soderbergh doesn't dispute.

"I'm counting on it," he says. "This girl has a huge following. Most of whatever discussion that's going on is totally based on her. ... She's kind of a new breed. There hasn't been anyone exactly like her in that business yet. She's not the normal adult film star."

Grey, who grew up in Northern California, became a porn star at 18. She also has modeled for American Apparel clothing and gotten into music, including singing for the reggae musician Lee "Scatch" Perry.

Grey believes part of what sets her apart is her focus and business-minded outlook.

"I came into this industry wanting to get into this industry," says Grey. "I planned it for seven months before I moved to L.A. I knew what I wanted to do."

In her porn films, Grey is known for pushing the boundaries of normal sexual acts. She maintains she's always in control _ a trait Soderbergh believes suits her character in "The Girlfriend Experience." There are no sex scenes in the film, but Soderbergh believes she has an unmistakable ease in sexual situations.

"The movie to me is about control and the ways in which we delude ourselves into thinking that certain things are not important to address," says Soderbergh. "It's about how each of these characters have chosen not to see something about themselves in order to get by."

Grey is far from the first porn star to move into mainstream or indie cinema. Jenna Jameson became somewhat mainstream thanks to a best-selling autobiography and film roles. Traci Lords was a young porn star before forging a full career as a TV and film actress.

Grey says she never planned any such transition, but calls it a "happy accident" and says she "does enjoy exploring myself as an artist." She's now eager to do other films, but also notes she felt "more energy and more vigor" when she returned to pornography.

"Anything's possible when it comes to making a film, whether it be adult or mainstream," says Grey.