Meet The Flexisexuals - Girls Who Kiss Girls, But Like Boys

Washington, Feb 24 : It all started when Madonna kissed Britney Spears on stage, followed by Katy Perry who sang a song about a girl she kissed -- and now it seems the 'flexisexuality' trend is fast catching up.

The new word has been coined for the growing number of straight women who flirt with bisexuality. It refers to people who have a sexual preference but refuse to be bound by it.

Pop culture, itself, seems to celebrate that flexibility in songs like Katie Perry's, 'I Kissed a Girl (and I Liked It),' a song that 19-year-old Alisha Garrison said "made girls be more free to do whatever they want," reports ABC News.

Flexisexual is also known as heteroflexible, pansexual or queer, all subtle variations that mean they are not closing any doors.

Other examples from the entertainment industry include Lindsay Lohan who was dating DJ Samantha Ronson, insisting she wasn't a lesbian but bisexual, Drew Barrymore, who said, "Being with a woman is like exploring your own body, but through someone else."

A recent ABC report from San Antonio, Texas, said flexisexuality is also part of the high school culture.

A 2003 study from Northwestern University found that compared with men, women's sexual arousal patterns may be less tightly connected to their sexual orientation and more 'flexible'.

Some like to do it to attract boys' attention and simply like to live up to the manage-a-trois fantasy of the men they seek to please.

And some think it even 'indirectly mocks' the gay community, according to Caleb Fox, a 20-year-old from the University of Texas.

"Straight men really like the idea of two 'hot' girls making out," he said.

"And because I don't think these 'flexisexuals' are really lesbians, it doesn't seem that they're actually seeking a romantic relationship with another woman -- it's more about a show. And from a feminist standpoint it continues the objectification of women."

Lisa Diamond, associate professor of gender studies at University of Utah, has been studying the topic for years, and confirms women are, indeed, more flexible in their sexuality and for a variety of cultural, and perhaps biological, reasons.

"I think there is a growing awareness of the fact that you don't have to be 100 per cent gay to have the capacity to enjoy same-sex contact," said Diamond, who is author of the 2008 book, 'Sexual Fluidity: Understanding Women's Love and Desire.'

"In the old days, any instance of same-sex attraction was automatically put in the category of bisexual or lesbian and now we realise women are more complicated than that," she said.

"There are more examples floating around in popular culture, and the term reflects that."

She added that women's capacity for fluidity has always existed, but only now has society had a cultural understanding after collecting data from around the world.

Men appear to be more 'rigid' in their sexuality but that may be because society is more judgmental, according to Diamond.

"Although we find it titillating when girls kiss girls and see images of same-sex sexuality being marketed to a heterosexual male audience, it's not viewed as threatening and alarming," she said. "We don't see the same cultural permission for men."

Samsung Targets Apple With Ultra-Slim Notebook

Seoul, Feb 24 : South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co Ltd launched an ultra-slim notebook on Thursday, seeking to bolster its presence in the high-end mobile computer segment dominated by Apple Inc.

Samsung, emerging as one of the strongest rivals to challenge Apple in the booming smartphone and tablet computer market, is eyeing the notebook market, in which Apple is seeking to replicate the success of the iPhone and iPad with its MacBook series.

Samsung launched the lightweight 9 Series notebook on Thursday to compete with Apple's ultra-thin MacBook Air, introduced in October. Samsung said the new laptop would cost 2.5 million won ($2,218) in Korea and would launch globally launched from next month in the Americas and Europe.

Apple displaced Hewlett-Packard Co last quarter as the world's top mobile PC maker, propelled by strong sales of its iPad tablet, according to research firm DisplaySearch. It shipped more than 10 million notebook and tablet computers last quarter for a 17 per cent market share, nearly a million more than HP, which had a 15.6 per cent market.

Samsung said on Thursday that it wanted to become the global No. 6 player in the mobile PC market this year from last year's seventh place.

Is Chelsea Clinton's Husband On The Verge Of A Breakdown?

London, Feb 24 : Chelsea Clinton's husband Marc Mezvinsky is on the verge of a breakdown, according to friends.

Since rumours of a split rocked their marriage earlier this month, the couple has made a huge show of togetherness.

But it seems their efforts have been in vain, as friends claim the former investment banker needs mental care.

"There's fear Marc is headed to a mental hospital," the Daily Mail quoted a source as telling the National Enquirer.

"In public, Chelsea is taking Marc everywhere in an effort to show everybody that they're happy together, but behind the scenes he's depressed," the source said.

A rift between the pair's two families appears to be at the heart of the problem.

The magazine reported that the Clintons have been encouraging Mezvinsky to cut ties with his father Ed, a former Iowa Congressman who served time in prison for fraud.

"The things that have happened to Ed since this whole Clinton situation took place are unthinkable," Mezvinsky Jr's half-sister, Margot, told the publication.

"He's been treated in a disgusting way by everybody involved and he's very upset," she said.

A neighbour of the 74-year-old in Wellsville, New York State, said he was 'destroyed' by his son's behaviour.

"He has lost weight and appears dishevelled," they told the magazine.

The reports explain Mezvinsky's unusual behaviour of late.

Eyebrows were raised after he quit his well-paid job at the end of last month to go snowboarding for three months without his wife.

The daughter of the former President Bill Clinton and current Secretary of State, Hillary, had planned to stay in New York while her husband spent three months in Jackson Hole ski resort in Wyoming.

But shortly after details of their temporary separation emerged, Mezvinsky was spotted by his wife's side in New York, her wedding ring clearly on display.

A spokesman for Ms Clinton denied that the couple's marriage was in trouble, and series of public appearances followed, including a gala event at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum last week.

Get Set To Pay More For Train Tickets

Upper class rail tickets, freight to cost more

New Delhi, Feb 24 : Caught between the general price rise in the economy and the deteriorating financial health of railways, Mamata Banerjee may do a tough balancing act in Rail Budget 2011-12 to be announced on February 25.

Government sources told FE that the national transporter would increase passenger fares in the upper class marginally and hike freight rates by up to 8% for a large section of commodities, barring foodgrains and oil that have high potential to fuel inflationary pressures in the economy.

Railways has not increased passenger fares for almost a decade while any hike in freight rates have been avoided in the past four rail budgets.

This has weakened its financial strength to such an extent that in 2010, the railways had to seek dividend waiver for five years. However, finance ministry did not agree to the demand and asked for a hike in passenger fares to fund rail operations.

Railways has also demanded a 260% increase in gross budgetary support to Rs 39,000 crore to tide over the crisis. There has been no addition to railway development fund and capital fund in the last two years.

Indian Railways had a development fund of Rs 432 crore and capital fund of Rs 3,114 crore at the beginning of the financial year. It is expected to withdraw Rs 2,853 crore from the capital fund in 2010-11, reducing the account balance to only Rs 262-crore.

The operating ratio of the entity is close to 100% now. There was a plan in 2009-10 to reduce the ratio, which denotes operational efficiency, from 95.3% then to 92.3% for 2010-11.

"There is no way that the railways could do without changing either passenger or freight rates this year," a senior official in the government said on the condition of anonymity.

However, the politically sensitive passenger segment is likely to be largely untouched in the face of elections in West Bengal, the home state of railway minister Mamata Banerjee. The state is scheduled to go for elections this May.

Sources said that as a solution, the budget could see freight rates being increased in a graded manner for iron ore, steel, coal and cement by up to 8%.

This is expected to have a significant impact on raising resources as these commodities comprise a bulk of items carried on rail.

Following a dynamic pricing policy, railways has already raised freight rates for commodities like iron ore more than twice this year. Some minor changes could be made in the fares of higher passenger classes such as AC two-tier and first class.

"Earlier, airlines had brought their fares very close to railways', taking away a portion of its traffic. There is space to hike ticket prices in higher class now as airlines recently increased fares substantially," another government official privy to the development said.

During April-January 2010-11, railways carried 756 million tonnes (MTs) freight, 63% of which came from coal, iron ore and steel. Foodgrains, fertilisers and oil together formed only 14% of the total tonnage, and are not attractive enough to railways in context of raising rates.

Meanwhile, railways is likely to fail in loading targeted 944 MTs of freight during the entire fiscal. At the current average of 75.6 MTs, it could reach a maximum of 907 MTs, way below the target. Last year, it had reached close to the targeted loading of 890 MTs.

Source: Financial Express

JPC on 2G Spectrum Scam Announced; What Now?

By E Jayakrishnan

Make no mistake, the JPC on the 2G scam will put the political spotlight on the UPA govt and its leader Manmohan Singh

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced the setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Commitee (JPC) on the 2G Spectrum scam in the Lok Sabha.

Consequent to announcement, a motion for setting up the JPC would be formally moved by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal. Once it is carried, the motion will be referred to the Rajya Sabha for its approval.

The parties would now utilise the next two days to work out the modalities. The Congress has to make up its mind on the chairman of the panel, besides finalising the terms of reference.

Both sides are in favour of a broader panel so that more parties can be taken on board. Whatever the size, the Lok Sabha would have double the members drawn from the Rajya Sabha in the panel.

As it is, only seven parties -- Congress, BJP, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP, JD-U and DMK -- are certain to get representation in the committee. Though it is impossible to accommodate all 37 parties which have their representatives in the two Houses, efforts are afoot to get in sizeable groups, particularly the Left Front, which has a combined strength of 24 in the Lok Sabha.

The modalities apart, the formation of the JPC signals an end of one chapter of the ongoing tussle between the UPA government and the Opposition; and the beginning of another.

But what does the setting up of the JPC portend; and what is that the UPA government fears for it to go into denial mode for so long, which virtually aborted the Winter session of Parliament?

The JPC which is composed of members from both the Houses of Parliament - from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in a two-third, one-third ratio - is constitutionally a powerful body.

Its "power" comes from its mandate and freedom to question any agency it deems fit to pursue its probe. And, that power extends to even summoning the 'first among equals", the Prime Minister of India. Other than the courts of law, that is not a power any other executive organ enjoys.

Whatever the Prime Minister and the Congress party may put out, it is primarily this power that can lead to potentially, and politically, embarrassing consequences. It is one thing to find a Union Minister wanting or even be economical with the truth; but quite another if the Prime Minister is caught evading his responsibility.

Simply put, while the investigations by the CBI and other agencies go into criminal culpability of the players, the JPC will take it one step further and go into the political culpability. And, that can extend to the Prime Minister.

To cite just one instance. Arun Shourie, the senior journalist and Rajya Sabha MP, has cited an instance where he met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the corridors of Parliament and put him abreast of the "loot going under the Prime Minister's good name" in the 2G spectrum allocation. He even presented the Prime Minister the list of companies who benefitted from the scam under A Raja, the former Union Telecom Minister.

Shourie requested Singh to allow him to meet the Prinical Secretary to the Prime Minister T K A Nair to apprise him of the wrongdoings, and hand over the evidence. The Prime Minister is known to have told him that he would ensure that Nair called Shourie.

But when no overtures from the Principal Secretary even after a month had elapsed, Shourie got in touch with the then CBI chief to hand over the papers and point them to a former bureaucrat in the Telecom minister during Raja's tenure who was ready to be a whistleblower with evidence against Raja and his associates.

Now, this prime ministerial inaction, even after being told of the wrongdoings of his own ministerial colleague, cannot be construed as a criminal act. But in front of the JPC, it can be construed as an act lacking in political courage - a leader who shut his eyes to illegality in the government he presides, choosing the plea of coalition compulsions over political and personal convictions.

The fact that the JPC's proceedings are 'in camera' - confidential - is not protection enough. For two reasons.

One, the JPC can, if it so decides, empower the Chairman or any other designated member to brief the press, as happened in the case of the JPC into "Irregularities in Securities and Banking Transactions".
Even if the JPC decided to formally keep the proceedings confidential, it is almost certain that the members from either side will launch into selective leaks to the media, almost to the point that we are likely to get an over-by-over account of the what took place, if not a ball-by-ball insight.

The media and the public are scheduled for exciting times ahead and soon.

Source: India Syndicate/ Indian Express

Meghalaya to Construct International Football Stadium

Shillong, Feb 24 : The Meghalaya state government has proposed to construct an international soccer stadium here.

Around 80 acres of land has been identified at Mawdiangdiang, the proposed new satellite township of Shillong and the Union Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region would fund the construction estimated to be Rs 70 crore.

''The land at Mawdiangdiang, which has been identified, was found to be an ideal site for construction of the stadium,'' Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said.

He said that the government also plans to utilise the proposed site for developing of other infrastructure relating to sporting disciplines at a later stage besides utilising the whole plot of land for construction of a sports academy.

He also informed that the state government would soon come out with a Sports policy.

''We would like to bring internationally-acclaimed team to play in the stadium once it's completed,'' Sangma said.

Informing that an amount of Rs 70 crore for construction of the proposed football stadium has been approved by DoNER, Dr Sangma said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the construction of the stadium would be immediately prepared since the location has been identified and selected.

''Once we are ready with the DPR, the government will submit it to the concerned ministry for approval,'' Sangma said.

EVMs Blamed For MNF Loss in 2009 Mizoram Polls

By Rahul Karmakar

Guwahati, Feb 24 : Former Mizoram chief minister Zoramthanga on Tuesday blamed the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) for his party’s defeat in the 2009 assembly polls.

The Lal Thanhawla-led Congress had routed Zoramthanga’s Mizo National Front (MNF) in 2009, winning 32 seats in the 40-member House.

The MNF bagged only three seats after two successive stints in power.

Zoramthanga, a former militant leader, said experts have proved that EVMs were erroneous.

“The government had ordered only two companies – BEL and ECIL – to make the EVMs, and there might have been some trick or a reason behind ordering from these companies,” he said.

The former chief minister said that the newly-formed North East Regional Party Forum would be pressing for a ban on EVMs in the future.

The forum, forged last week, has the Asom Gana Parishad, Nagaland People’s Front and Manipur People’s Party besides MNF as its members

Manipur Teachers on Strike Over Salary Hike Demand

Imphal, Feb 24 : Teachers in Manipur are on strike over a demand for a hike in their salaries.

The teachers who have gathered under the banner of the Federation of College Teachers Associations of Manipur (FECTAM) called for a review of the cabinet decision of November 4, 2010.

FECTAM President L. Randhoni Devi said teachers both experienced and new, were being paid very low salaries.

The teachers have also gathered under the banner of the Council of Teachers' Association and (COTA) suspended classes over a demand for implementation of recommendations made by the Sixth Central Pay Commission.

Agitating teachers in the state have launched a relay hunger strike since January.

School activity and student academics have been adversely affected as a result.