Avoid using laptops in beds

Looks like the concept of spending quality time together is slowly fading away among couples, with most preferring to spend more time on their laptops than with each other in the bedrooms.

A study, which was carried out by Ikea on two million Britons, has indicated that couples are spending more time looking at their laptops in the bedroom than they do looking at each other.

It also stated that more and more people are putting their relationships at risk by using laptops in bed.

Christine Northam, a counsellor with Relate, warned the obsession with technology could lead to relationship problems.

"Modern technology provides us with brilliant tools but when its use becomes excessive and clutters the bedroom it can actually get in the way of relationships," the Daily Mail quoted her as saying.

"Technology is a major distraction and can lead others to think you're avoiding them," she added.

Northam said to avoid complication in relationship it is always better to talk with your partner while in bed.

"A quiet chat is a great way of connecting with family and friends," she said.

"We need to make time for talking face to face. When you're in bed it's the perfect time to turn off the tech and tune into your relationship," she added.

How To Have An Orgasm Quickly?

Well most often a quick orgasm is not very desirable. It might leave one or both partners unsatisfied. For a man it can also be taken as an insult. However, it is not like there is no room for you to enjoy lovemaking in a haste. With the increasing work pressure in our lives and the onslaught of one night stands, the concept of those 'five minutes in your lover's arms' will disappear. Soon all we will be having are quickies.

Why Would You Want A Quick Orgasm?

• Sometimes you are making love inappropriate places like the back seat of a car or the back end of a disc and you need to get done with it quickly.
• You could also be making love in an apartment you share with someone who will be home soon.
• Sometimes you get into the groove just before you are going to travel or leave for work and then you need to make it quick.

Lovemaking Positions To Try For A Quick Orgasm:

• Any lovemaking positions that allow maximum penetration will give you better chances of a quick orgasm. For men the missionary position (man on top of woman) gives the maximum pleasure and thus they can come faster this way.

• To make a woman have an orgasm you have to often work harder. Female orgasms are often elusive and difficult to predict. However if the woman sits in an upright position on the man orgasm is faster. The reasons are the same, greater penetration.

• It is always easier to come when you are in a lovemaking position that puts you on top. This is because the rush of blood is downwards. Lying down you are going against gravity so your body will not help you have an orgasm.

• This is the mainly why it is so hard to make a woman have an orgasm. Women often choose a position that involves lying flat on the back and that doesn't give them the instant rush of hormones.

• The more excited you are, the easier it is to have a quick orgasm. If you you hit the bed in a haste and are totally into it then you come automatically. You need not try hard for it.

• If you prolong your foreplay then you will come faster and better. You need not make it a slow game of turning each other on because you are obviously short of time. All you have to do that one thing that you cannot resist and soon you will be buzzing.

• Any lovemaking position that allows free movement is good for coming quickly. If you are in a hurry then don't try a something new where you get stuck up in an awkward position because it is a big turn off.

Use these lovemaking tips to select positions that will yield a quick orgasm; short and sweet is the trend now.

7 Ways To Win Husband's Heart?

To win your husband's heart is the easiest thing on earth because it has always belonged to you; even if it hasn't you can make it now. Always remember, men are easier to please than women but their requirements are different. The trouble starts when we try to evaluate or prioritize their requirements against ours. But when you are out to win back love from your husband then he should be your only priority.

Here are some ways to show love that will win your husband's heart for you.

7 Ways To Win Your Husband's Heart:

1. Show Love & Concern For His Parents: When we say 'show' we don't exactly mean 'fake'. You may not feel genuine love for your parents in law but then they are your responsibility. Just like you do the needful for your parent, do your duties towards your in laws and do it without complaining. That will be enough to win back his love.

2. Cook For Him: It is the oldest trick in the book. Your grandmother must have told you that the way to man's heart is through his stomach. In our busy schedules we find it difficult to cook regularly. But you can take time out to cook him a special meal on weekends. That will make him feel special.

3. Put Out His Clothes For Work: It is only an example of how you can make his life comfortable. Try to bring out his clothes for work when he is in a hurry. Put his dirty clothes in the laundry if he forgets and he will feel like there is a benign motherly presence in his busy life.

4. Wait For Him At Dinner: It is very important to have your meals together. It is best time to bond over food and the gossip for the day. He may say that we should eat when we are hungry but you make the effort when you want to win your husband's heart.

5. Dress Up For Him: A woman should never let herself go. You need to be in shape; hit the gym or do yoga if you have to. You have to maintain yourself for him and believe it or not he will notice. Many believe that men stop noticing their wife after marriage; if its true then force him to notice.

6. Listen More & Speak Less: God has given you 2 ears and 1 mouth. It signifies that you have to talk less and listen more. In this way any anger you may feel against it will not be expressed explicitly and also he will feel that you are interested in what he has to say.

7. Be Intimate: Being intimate in bed is the best way to win back his love. The more you come physically closer, your emotional bond will grow proportionally.

Here are some relationship tips to win your husband's heart.

Mother-baby emotional bonds influence teenage obesity

How a mother handles her toddler emotionally could determine whether the latter would pile on the pounds during adolescence, says a new US study.

The lower the quality of the child`s emotional security and the mother`s sensitivity, the higher the risk that a child would be obese at age 15 years, according to the study.

More than a quarter of toddlers who had the lowest-quality emotional relationships with their mothers were obese as teens. This, compared to 13 percent of adolescents who had closer bonds with their mothers in their younger years.

"Childhood obesity could be influenced by interventions that try to improve the emotional bonds between mothers and children rather than focusing only on children`s food intake and activity," says Sarah Anderson, assistant professor of epidemiology at Ohio State University who led the study.

Researchers analyzed data from 977 participants which included diverse families living in nine U.S. states whose children were born in 1991.

More than half of UK women want a toyboy

More than two thirds of women in Gloucester, the “cougar capital” of Britain, admit being “cougars” - older women who date toyboys.

The survey by social networking site Badoo found that this compares with a national average of 52 percent, though 70 percent admitted they had thought about having a relationship with a man who was their junior.

Almost 12 percent of women say they actively “hunt” out younger men for a fling.

The poll of 2,000 women found Aberdeen and Glasgow had the second and third largest cougar populations, with 62 percent and 61 percent of women saying they had dated younger men.

They were followed by Southampton, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Oxford, Swansea and Leicester.

The toyboy trend has grown in recent years and there have been some notable celebrity examples like Ashton Kutcher-Demi Moore, Jennifer Lopez and Madonna following it.

However, it’s not just the obvious physical side of the relationship that is attractive to older women, said Badoo.

Friendship, fun and the boost to self-confidence in being seen with a younger man were named by women as reasons why it is such an appealing option.

Social networks have also helped this trend, with women feeling more confident to make the first move online.

Ideas For Making Love In Rain!

Rain reflects romance and it is considered as the most romantic weather for couples. Making love in the rain is a dream come true scenario for women! Love in the rain is a fantasy of couples. For men too, during the rainy season, they just want two things; beer and lovemaking... So, if you want to make love in the rain, here are few sensual ideas to spice up romance in the rain.

Kiss in the rain: Take your partner out in the rain and kiss him/her. Nothing is more romantic than a kiss in the wet and chilling weather. Get wet in the rain and make the movies scene become a reality. Wet hair of women is very exciting for men and turns them on easily. Caress her body while kissing her and hug her tight to make her feel warm.

Dance: This is perhaps one of the most romantic ideas to make love in the rain. A sensual dance on the terrace or under the shade is great to increase the intimacy and spice up romance. Making love in the rain is more wild when the couples dance.

Dinner under the shade: A romantic dinner under the terrace shade during the rain is exciting and chilling. Wear a sensual dress to turn him on and get him in the mood for making love in the rain. You can even sit close and feed your partner in a sensual way. Another way can be by keeping the dish between your teeth and make your partner cut his/her share. As the weather is romantic, lovemaking is obvious.

Bath together: Rather than taking a steamy bath under the shower, you can go natural! A sensual bath in the rain can spice up romance any time. You can see the difference while making love in the rain.

Try these sensual ideas to spice up romance in rain and making love.

How to build a good relationship

These fourteen golden rules of communication will help you rediscover that passionate zeal and build a good and strong relationship.

Be honest and sincere

If you want to build a good relationship you should first make a decision to be honest, no matter what. Even when you think that a misunderstanding could be solved by telling a white lie, you shouldn’t do it. White lies grow into big lies and these seriously complicate relationships. Be persistent in speaking the truth and be prepared to accept the consequences. You will discover that people respect your honesty.

Say what’s on your mind

No one can read your thoughts, so when you want something you have to say so clearly and loudly. In order to build a good relationship you should express your feelings, needs and wishes. Of course you first have to figure out what you really want.
Take time to think it over

Think about your partner’s opinions or remarks. They are never insignificant and they always carry a hidden meaning. Don’t be offensive or defensive, be sensible and rational!


Listen to your partner

During a talk don’t take on the role of speaker but also be an active listener. If you want to build a good relationship, listen to your partner and let him/her know you accept and understand their problems, feelings and wishes. Show that you care.

Relationship isn’t a competition

You should remember that talking to your partner isn’t a competition where you have to win. When facing problems, try to reach a compromise and you will both feel like winners. If you want to express your opinion on some matter, give powerful arguments and don’t forget to come up with an acceptable solution to your problems. In this way, you’ll build a good relationship.

Don’t criticize

Each critique should be well thought over and supported by strong arguments. The purpose of a critique isn’t to hurt your partner but to enable him/her to correct mistakes. Before criticizing someone you have to make sure you are not making the same mistakes.

Criticize the act, not the person

You can criticize only what your partner does, but not his/her personality. Deep down, each person is good and bad actions are a result of different reasons and situations. Try to understand your partner and you’ll be able to build a good relationship.

Don’t generalize

During a quarrel try to focus on the problem at hand. Don’t bring up other unresolved issues, which have no direct connection to present situation. By raking up old stories and grudges you will only make your partner’s blood boil and this won’t solve anything.

Express your feelings

Don’t be afraid to express your feelings and emotions. You have to keep in mind that there are no bad or negative feelings, only unpleasant ones. In a good relationship you are allowed to feel every possible emotion, you just have to learn to express it in an acceptable way.

Respect your partner

You partner should be your best friend. Respect him/her even when you disagree or when you don’t understand him/her. People are different, so learn to accept your partner’s opinions and different world views for the sake of a good relationship.
Laugh

Laughter is the best cure for monotony in a relationship and a great way of relieving tension, so make sure that you don’t lose sense of humor.
Be self-critical

Accept responsibility for your actions and statements. Don’t be afraid to confess your own mistakes and always apologize to your partner for any slips you might make.

Think positively

Don’t pay attention to small, insignificant mistakes. Nagging and complaining can kill the love and criticizing can undermine self-confidence. You should rather focus on all good traits that made you fall in love with your partner and keep on building a good relationship.

Don’t be afraid to pay compliments

Another way to build a good relationship is to pay a lot of compliments to your partner, praise him/her and make him/her feel really special. There are never too many I love yous.

How To Know Your Man Loves You?

It is very difficult to read a man's mind. A man can say that he loves you and wants you in his life but how would you be sure about his feelings? Sometimes, it can be tricky to read a man's mind and his real intentions might be hidden under the cloak. To know if a man really loves you, here are tips which can clear the picture! Read on...

Tips to know if a man really loves you:

The way he treats you can clearly express his feelings for you. This is very effective way to know if he really loves you or not. If he treats you equal and shares his problems, good or bad events, ideas and thoughts then he is interested in you. See if he shares with you or keeps things to himself. Even small topics can help determine his interest and liking towards you.

See if he is all ears when you are saying something. Women are talkative and sometimes they talk out of context but it is good to see if he is there to listen to what you have to say.

Check out his possessiveness. If you are special to him, he will make you feel that! Observe his reactions when you roam out with male friends. His negative reaction and complex feelings ensures that your man loves you and doesn't want anyone to even look at you!

Respect is what describes your importance in one's life. If your man is really interested in you, he will respect you, your feelings, your thoughts, etc. In short, he should treat you equal rather than being dominant.

To know if a man is in love or not, you have to see if he adores you or not. He should compliment you when you look good and should tell you when you need to change your look. This shows his interest in you.

If your man is romantic and wants you with him then it is a sign to know that he wants you to be with him every time.

When a man is alone, he needs a support. If your man searches for you and expects you to be on his side then it is a way to know that he really loves you and wants you in his life. He might not express his wish to have a support but it is you who has to understand him.

If your man tries to impress you and keep you happy by giving surprises, he surely loves you and wants you in his life.

These are the simple tips to check if your man is interested in you and wants you or not!

Now, find your soulmate in just 90 days! Really!

A match making company in China has claimed that it can help any single woman find their ‘soulmate’ in just 90 days.

But the services offered by this self-styled life coach, Liang Yali comes for a price.

“We’re not a matchmaking service, we’re pioneers,” said the 41-year-old founder of Yali Marriage Quotient, which is run from an exclusive club in Shanghai’s Pudong New Area.

“We’re more like an educational institute. We offer classes that help women understand themselves better, and build their confidence so they are more outgoing.”

“Good things, including marriage, will happen once they start coming out.”

Yali also said that 60 percent of her students last year have already ‘graduated’ by tying the knot with Mr Right, China Daily reported.

The premium package, which consists of four two-day classes and tailored coaching, costs 11,800 yuan (1,900 dollars).

However, the company also offers other courses that range from two hours to three days, with the cheapest at 4,800 yuan.

“That``s very little to pay to improve your life - to meet your soul mate and start a family,” said Kenneth Davis, 52, the company``s executive director and Liang``s husband.

Dong Ning, who takes care of general inquiries for the company, said that the special love lessons are highly customized.

“First, Liang usually interviews her students, so she can understand what they are like and learn about their previous relationships,” she said.

“Students are told to attend classes at different frequencies, depending on their level. We also track their progress once they have finished the course.”

Liang asserted that the average time for ‘graduation’ is about 90 days, counting from when students start the classes to when they walk down the aisle.

She also offers a 100 percent reimbursement if the clients are unhappy.

Top 10 lies in online dating

Women are most likely to lie about their looks and men about their jobs in online dating sites, a new survey has found. Looks and jobs are among the top 10 details lied about in online dating profiles, the report said. The survey of 1,000 single adults, commissioned by online dating
community BeautifulPeople.com, revealed that women lie about the size of their bust, pretend to work in entertainment and also claim to be friendly with celebrities to make themselves seem more attractive.

Men fare worse than women when it comes to lying – many men lie about their age, height and weight.

More than 40 per cent admit to making out they earn more than they really do to make their jobs sound more interesting – while 33 per cent of women do the same.

Pretending to know celebrities, claiming to work in the film industry and making out they have a PA are also among men’s top ten lies.

“The online dating industry is a minefield of people misrepresenting themselves,” the Telegraph quoted Greg Hodge, managing director of BeautifulPeople.com, a dating community exclusively for good-looking people, as saying.

The findings also say that while people themselves lie on their profiles they are still likely to believe the details others post about themselves. There was also a difference between countries, with over 53 per cent of Americans admitting to lying about their appearance compared to just 44 per cent of Britons.

“American society is more obsessed with appearance and stature than the British so it makes sense that they would embellish the truth,” said Mr Hodge.

Is your partner the cuddling type?

If you think your partner is not the caring type, then he probably must be lacking the ‘cuddle gene’. To determine if your man has the ‘cuddle gene’, just pour out your problems to him – but don’t worry about what advice he gives.

Instead, observe very vigilantly on how he looks when he’s
listening to you.

Researchers have asserted that the men who nod, smile and appear sympathetic when hearing about someone else’s worries are more likely to have the ‘cuddle gene’ that makes them kind and considerate partners, the Daily Mail reported.

hugScientists from the U.S. and Canada recorded 23 volunteers listening as their partner described a moment of suffering.

This video was then shown, without sound, to total strangers for not more than 20 seconds, after which they were asked to rate how kind, caring and trustworthy the listener seemed.

Those men and women who were rated the most warm-hearted by more than 100 people tended to have a gene linked with high levels of oxytocin, the so-called ‘caring hormone’ which is known to be linked with sensitivity and consideration for others.

“Our findings suggest that even slight genetic variation may have tangible impact on people’s behaviour, and that these behavioural differences are quickly noticed by others,” said lead author Aleksandr Kogan, University of Toronto.

Genetic tests of all the couples were taken before recording their videos to verify which type of oxytocin receptor gene they possessed – either the G version which is linked with caring behaviour or the A version which is associated with selfishness and poor social skills. They could also have AG, a combination of the two.

Out of the 10 people rated by strangers as the least caring and trusted, nine had just the A version while out of those who were rated as the most caring– six out of 10 had just the G version.

The link between being rated as caring and having the G version of the gene was most specific in men.

The study has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Home birth’ risky for babies of first-time mums-to-be

Home birth carries a higher risk for the babies of first-time mothers, a new study has found.


According to the study of almost 65,000 births in England, it was found that the chance of harm to the baby is still under 1 percent.

The Birthplace study is the largest carried out into the safety of different maternity settings, comparing births at home, in midwife-led units attached to hospitals, those that are stand-alone and doctor-led hospital units.

All the women who were followed for the study had healthy pregnancies and began labour with no known risk factors.

The study found that, overall, birth is very safe wherever it happens, and that the rates of complications, including stillbirth or other problems affecting the baby, was 5.3 per 1,000 births in hospital compared with 9.3 per 1,000 home births.

Professor Peter Brocklehurst, who led the research, said there were clear differences between women having their first baby and those having subsequent children.

“The risk of an adverse outcome for a baby are higher for a woman planning her first baby at home than in all of the other settings, but there was no difference between the midwife and hospital obstetric units,” the BBC quoted Brocklehurst as saying.

About 45 percent of women planning to have their first baby at home were transferred during labour, although this was mainly because of delays in giving birth and the need for an epidural pain-relief injection, rather than because the baby was in distress.

The transfer itself was not thought to be responsible for the difference because there was no raised risk for women moved from stand-alone midwife units to hospital during labour.

The study has been published in the British Medical Journal.

People living alone more likely to die early

A study claimed that people who live alone under the age 65 could be at a greater risk of dying.

The study, presented at the annual American Heart Association meeting in Orlando, Florida, examined nearly 45,000 patients from 29 countries, and found one out of five whose average age was 67, reported living by themselves.

The study found that at the end of four years, 11.4 percent of those living alone had died, compared to the 9.3 per cent of those living with others.

Cardiologist Dr Jacob Udell of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston said that the data showed those living alone were associated with a 21 per cent greater chance of dying of all causes, as compared to those living with someone.

“Those living alone younger than 65 were at highest risk,” The Daily Mail quoted Dr Udell as saying.
Researchers adjusted key factors like age, gender, employment status, geography, smoking, medications, and diseases like diabetes and heart disease.

They hypothesized that when one lives alone, it’s harder to monitor events, and those who need assistance don’t always get it immediately.

“As age goes up, risk goes down,’ he said.

What should you consider before trying for a baby?

Before you decide to have a child, you should carefully consider a couple of very important issues.

Pregnancies often come about unexpectedly, but all the possibilities and propaganda relating to contraception lead to more and more people deciding to have a child strategically and consciously. In order to make things easier and clearer for you, we have prepared a list about what you should take into consideration before deciding to have a child.

Emotional Environment

Do you feel unwanted, worthless, emotionally drained and depressed but still want a baby because it will fill an empty spot in your life? Filling a void is just not an argument when deciding to have a child. It may be true that a child will love you unconditionally and will depend solely on you, but expecting a baby to fulfill your own emotional needs would be selfish and in the long run unrealistic. Another no-no is deciding to have a child to strengthen your rocky relationship with your partner or fetter him to you on the grounds of having a child together. This ultimately leads to bad marriages and unhappy childhoods.


There’s No Place like Home

Once you decide to have a child and become a family many things change – we’re not talking only about profound emotional changes but also about the inevitable practicalities. For instance, take the time to think about the place your family will call home. Are you still living in a two-room apartment with your parents, and you don’t get along too well? Are you living on campus with a roommate who’s on the verge of a mental breakdown because she’s writing her diploma thesis? Or are you and your partner seriously thinking about renting your own apartment but the chances to do so are slim since you can’t afford the furniture and other necessary equipment? All these things are worth considering thoroughly and carefully. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you can have a baby only if you’re the proud owner of a house (which is a heavy investment in today’s economy), but what it does mean is that you need to consider the possible shortcomings of your present home and think about solutions before you have a baby.

Finances

Before deciding to have a child, you should keep in mind that having a family is expensive. Although babies are small, take up little space and don’t eat that much, all the necessary equipment you’ll need to take proper care of your treasure can be pricy. The monthly expenses increase heavily when having a child; therefore you should really consider your financial options. Can you count on your parents to support you and on the baby’s father if you aren’t living together? And more importantly, are you really aware that you will have to put your child first and that all of your other needs and priorities will take second place? You should only decide to have a child once you’ve considered all the important issues and made sure that you’ll be able to provide for them emotionally and financially. There’s also the option of acquiring child benefits if you’re unable to manage on your own financially. Take your time and get all the necessary information beforehand.

With all this in mind, you should also think about your partner before deciding to have a child. Is he reliable? Can you count on him to help and support you? Does he even want to be a father? Is he prepared and able to provide for your family? If you find that your partner is less than suitable, that still doesn’t mean that he shouldn’t father your child. The society’s fixation on “heterosexual core family values” is not crucial for raising a child appropriately, though having a “mommy and daddy” is usually the best option. What is more important is that your child grows up in a motivating, positive environment with positive, responsible and mature role models, may that be the child’s grandmother, your best friend or any of your siblings. Still, bringing up a child without a father could socially stigmatize you and your child, so be aware of this fact before having your baby.

Ten things women hate about men

Be it a wet towel on the bed or making disparaging comments about your TV habits, your man knows very well how to get on your nerves, isn't it?

But you are not the only one, as there are some standard habits men have that annoy women to the core. Christina Hopkinson, author of the book 'The Pile Of Stuff At The Bottom Of The Stairs', tells you the top ten things that women hate about men, reports the Daily Mail.

Disparaging comments about our TV habits
OK, so nobody ever claimed that the Sky Living channel was great art, but is a televisual diet of America's Next Top Model and repeats of Grey's Anatomy really so much worse than watching endless sports programmes?

Yes, it's true that all reality talent shows are almost identical but it could also be argued that a nil-all result in the Premiership doesn't exactly rival Shakespeare for drama.

Women believe that the size of your TV is in inverse proportion to the size of your brain, while their men seem to think that some other screen-size/body part correlation is going on and so opt for the full-on Odeon surround-sound experience.

The surprisingly wiry 'wireless' home
One mobile phone, one charger--it's all you need. But no, he has wires crawling round the house like vines. Then are the drawers full of old cables that look like nests of vipers. Some of them are for his first Nokia, bought circa 1995.

These phone, camera and computer chargers have joined old keys as things we can no longer throw away for fear that the moment we do so, we'll discover a need to use them.

Selective greenness
We all try to do our bit for the environment, but there seems to be some disagreement about what 'bits' to do. Yes, he's right that cut flowers flown from Kenya are an eco-disgrace--but they are rather lovely.

And yes, clothes can be air-dried, but it's just so much more convenient -- and they feel nicer -- if you use the tumble dryer.

Leaving pans 'to soak'
Washing up means doing everything ”including saucepans. But he always leaves them on the side, or marginally better, he puts some tepid water in them 'to soak', thus divesting him of all responsibility of actually dealing with the burnt-on food that's clinging to them like Araldite.

Culinary grandstanding
Guests coo over his fancy ways with a flavored oil, but the boring rehashing, reheating and pureeing always gets left to me.

Stacks of coins everywhere
There's a stack of money on the chest of drawers and a hillock of tuppenny bits next to the unpaid bills on the sideboard. We know it's because you need to empty your pockets of it since you don't carry a purse, but perhaps it's time to tidy up and get a man-bag.

Saying we've run out of something after it's actually run out
"We're out of cornflakes/sugar/bread" said in an offensively accusatory way, as he empties the last of it onto his plate. Always with the subtitle running below it of: 'Can you go out and buy it, I'm far too busy.' This is closely allied to the habit of putting empty food receptacles back into the cupboard or fridge, especially milk bottles.

Childcare cherry-picking
Doesn't he ever realise that if he stood on the mat after a shower then the bathroom floor wouldn't be permanently pockmarked with puddles?

One of the undoubted advances of the modern world is that fathers are much more hands-on with their children. Sadly, he hasn't realised that looking after children is not just parks, pools and zoos -- it's also wiping, washing and cleaning. You can't just pick off the best stuff, leaving us to do the grunge.

Wet towels
Doesn't he ever realise that if he stood on the mat after a shower then the bathroom floor would not be permanently pockmarked with puddles? But then these provide useful watering holes for the towels to marinate in when he doesn't hang them back on the rail. Actually that's not fair, he doesn't always leave the towels on the floor, sometimes he leaves them on the bed. Or, after swimming, to mould and fester in the plastic bag that he's used to carry his kit in.

The pile of stuff at the bottom of the stairs
Even those who live in flats without stairs seem to have a problem with these piles. Those shoes, books and clothes, those empty wine glasses and old magazines, those toys and towels -- they're not there for decorative reasons. It's like a conveyor belt for possessions, you see, except that like with all his irritating habits, there's always someone else to sort out the pile for him.

The top 10 ways to impress a woman

When attempting to woo a woman, every man must remember that the slightest comment can make a big difference -- it could either flatter her to no ends, or offend her in ways that you didn't think was possible.

Here are the top 10 ways to impress a woman:

1. Look her in the eye: Remember, if she catches you staring at her chest when she's telling you how much her mom means to her, you'll look like a creep.

2. Be well groomed: Women want their men to be well groomed. They want them to look and smell good all the time. That doesn't mean you necessarily have to be clean-shaven, but any facial hair you do have should be well maintained, reports Fox News.

3. Help her with her coat: Women love old-school displays of chivalry. Helping her put on her coat is a great example. It's a kind, courteous act that's not so common anymore. It's also a good way to increase her comfort level with you as it allows you to get close to her without getting too close.

4. Socialize with her friends: Women are attracted to likable, social, charming men, the kind of guys their friends and families will love. So, engage in conversation with her friends even as you're working your magic on her. Impress them and you'll impress her. Just make sure it's clear that she's the one you're interested in.

5. Ignore your phone: Nothing says, "You're not that important.... " like taking a call from someone else or checking a text in the middle of a conversation.

The culture of texting has gotten way out of hand. Too many men think it's perfectly acceptable to take a phone call or fire off an e-mail while you're on a date or in the middle of a conversation.

When you're talking to a woman, let her see you silence your phone or turn it off completely -- show her she has your undivided attention.

6. Ask her questions: Just about every woman likes to talk about herself. It's a subject on which she has a lot of expertise, after all.

Asking her questions about her past and her favorite things will allow her to open up and feel comfortable, while simultaneously showing her that you're interested in more than just her looks.

7. Open doors: Opening the door for a woman is a classic gentlemanly gesture. The otherwise admirable push for gender equality has largely eliminated acts of chivalry like this one.

8. Compliment the way she looks: Give this a shot: Compliment the way she looks in her outfit. Say something like, "You look great in that dress." It's a great way of telling her she looks hot without rerunning the same old compliment and it also communicates that you're attracted to her in a way that, "Cool jacket!" does not.

9. Ask for advice: It shows her that you value other people's opinions -- in particular, her opinion. Be careful not to come off as clueless here, though; you don't want to act like you know nothing.

For example, does she think you should move into a townhouse or a loft? This kind of question allows her to easily express an opinion, and hopefully sparks a more extensive conversation.

10. Compliment her positivity: Telling a woman she gives off a "happy" vibe will make her feel good.

It also allows you to then ask her about the things in her life that make her so happy, which will make her feel even better, positive feelings that she'll ultimately associate with talking to you.

One thing men & women have in common

A new study has confirmed that males and females have at least 1 thing in common – both sexes up-regulate X-chromosome gene expression.

The finding by a group of scientists including UNC biologist Jason Lieb, PhD, supports a longstanding hypothesis that explains how males can survive with only one copy of the X chromosome.

“The issue is important because many diseases are tied to a defect in a regulatory mechanism within the cell,” said Lieb, who is also a member of UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Centre.

Women have two X chromosomes, while men have one X and one Y.

The lack of a ‘back up’ copy of the X chromosome in males contributes to many disorders that have long been observed to occur more often in males, such as hemophilia, Duchene muscular dystrophy, and certain types of colour blindness.

Biologists have been debating how organisms and cells manage the imbalance between X and other chromosomes for years, with the dominant theory being that both sexes up-regulate the expression of X-linked genes, essentially doubling their expression to ‘2X’ in males and ‘4X’ in females.

Then, to correct the imbalance that now appears in females, they then ‘turn off’ one of the hyperactive X chromosomes, resulting in a balanced ‘2X’ expression of those genes across both sexes.

Lieb and his colleagues re-analysed data used in previous analyses, along with new data from humans, mice, roundworms, and fruit flies and found more evidence that the up-regulation hypothesis is correct – but with some interesting twists across species.

In mammals – humans and mice – both males and females up-regulate X-chromosome gene expression and females then equalize expression by turning off the one X chromosome.
The study has been just published in the journal Nature Genetics.

Women naughtier at 70 than 40

Parenting website Netmums and the magazine Saga asked 9,000 women aged 16 to 75 what exactly they look for in a long-term partner, and found that women in their 70s value sexual chemistry in a partner more than women in their 40s.

"The results provide some intriguing insights into real relationships across the generations," the Telegraph quoted Emma Soames, editor at large of Saga Magazine, as saying.

"It's reassuring to see that over 50, the desire for sexual chemistry returns, showing that women still value the thing that brought them together with their partner in the first place," she added.

Across the ages, one in five women questioned said that they were after a man who makes them weak at the knees.

Siobhan Freegard, co-founder of Netmums, suggested that the dip in sexuality could be the result of middle-aged women putting their family first year after year.

"Women could be going through a temporary sexual midlife crisis, as they concentrate on their careers and raising a family," she said.

"Perhaps the two generations should take a leaf out of each others books that today''s younger women should put more emphasis on the traditional and enduring qualities whilst the over 50s could maybe demand more open dialogue with their man," she added.

Some women can't have an orgasm

Dutch researchers have unraveled the secrets behind female orgasms

They discovered that the female orgasm leads to an altered state of consciousness, a finding that could help find a way to a cure for women who cannot climax.

While examining the brain scans of women taken while they orgasmed, lead researcher Janniko Georgiadis at the University of Groningen and his team found that a part of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) actually 'switches off' when a woman climaxed.

Georgiadis said the OFC may be the basis for 'sexual control', and that by 'letting go' women can induce orgasm.

"I don''t think orgasm turns off consciousness but it changes it. When you ask people how they perceive their orgasm, they describe a feeling of a loss of control," the Daily Mail quoted him as telling New Scientist.

"I''m not sure if this altered state is necessary to achieve more pleasure or is just some side effect," he added.

To create the scans, the researchers strapped the women into an MRI scanner and then allowed their partners to pleasure them to orgasm, all the while taking snapshots of their brain activity.

It is hoped that by comparing the brain scans of women having an orgasm with those who cannot, scientists will be able to 'coach' those with anorgasmia into truly ''letting go''.

It is hoped that by allowing women with anorgasmia to watch their brain activity in real time, they to will be able to ''train'' their brain to copy the same activity of women who can experience orgasm.

Stressed women more likely to have baby girls

Women who are stressed while trying for a baby could be more likely to have girls, according to new research.

In the first of its kind, a study found high levels of the stress hormone cortisol were associated with the birth of more girls than boys.

Some 338 British women who were trying to get pregnant recorded how stressed they felt.

Levels of cortisol and the enzyme alpha-amylase – an indicator of adrenalin – were measured for up to six months or until they fell pregnant. Cortisol is linked to long-term stress, while adrenalin is linked to short-term stress.

A team from the Department of Public Health at Oxford University found women with the highest cortisol levels were up to 75 per cent less likely to have a boy. No link was found with alpha-amylase.

The experts say more research is needed to see if the link between stress and sex ratio is genuine.