New antidepresseant womens will return no

To all the men (and women) I've ever heard complain about the female libido, it's time to take the batteries out of your high-tech remote-control sex toys.

Flibanserin, a drug originally designed to fight depression, turns out to be an ineffective antidepressant but a highly effective libido booster in women who report low sex drives, according to results pooled from three separate clinical trials. (It's long been thought that antidepressants suppress sex drives, so it makes its own strange sense that a poor antidepressant might not have the same suppressing effect.)

"It's essentially a Viagra-like drug for women in that diminished desire or libido is the most common feminine sexual problem, like erectile dysfunction is in men," reports John Thorp Jr., a principal investigator in the studies and the McAllister distinguished professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

It's not terribly surprising that flibanserin was not originally designed to boost the female libido, since this is a notoriously complicated task compared to the notoriously uncomplicated approach in men of simply regulating blood flow. More surprising is that these are purported to be the first trials ever to test a female libido therapy in the brain; one would think that all the scoffing women do about men thinking with their "other" heads would indicate women's tendency to do that sort of thinking with the head that sits on their shoulders.

Hypoactive sexual desire disorder, a bulky arrangement of syllables that risks causing the very thing it names, affects anywhere from 9 percent to 26 percent of women in the U.S., studies show. But that doesn't mean you should throw away those high-tech sex toys and run to your local pharmacy; flibanserin is still an investigational drug, available only to those women who've agreed to participate in clinical trials.

The trial results were presented by principal investigator Elaine E. Jolly from the University of Ottawa in Canada on Monday at the Congress of the European Society for Sexual Medicine in Lyon, France.

All three trials were funded by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, a manufacturer of flibanserin. That means until further studies are done without BIP funding, these results should be viewed with a level of skepticism; developing the first successful female libido booster could be a way for the company that designed such a poor antidepressant to save face.

That brings me to a final point: since women who do not suffer from hypoactive sexual desire disorder might be just the type to enjoy such things as sex toys and libido boosters recreationally (some women take Viagra for fun), one wonders what effect, if any, flibanserin will have on them.

Women ready for war

A long-preserved male bastion in the Indian armed forces is about to fall. On Friday, the Naval Aviation, 56 years after its inception, will for the first time induct women combatant officers in its aviation cadre.

It was more than just a routine flight this Dornier 228 over the Southern Peninsula and back to the naval base in Kochi. Manning it were two lady officers who will be Indian Navy's first ever women Observers of maritime patrol aircraft.

This means Sub Lieutenant Seema Rani Sharma and Ambica Hooda would plan tactics, execute them, fire weapons and could even be in action in the harms way, which so far only the men have been doing.

"I am ready for this. I am well trained and ready to perform out there," Seema said.

Twenty two-year-old Sub Lieutenant Ambica Hooda's father, a retired Army officer in Haryana, wanted her to join the Army. But on Friday, when she would be inducted as Observer in the aviation cadre in the Navy she says her father would be the proudest man.

"My uncle was in the Navy and he had briefed me about this although, I didn't fully know what I would be doing when I pass out. All I knew was that it would be very thrilling and adventurous," she said.

As part of a pilot project, the Navy will induct Observers in its flying branch every six months after a 27-week-long rigorous training. Apart from Seema and Ambica, two male officers will wear the 'wings of gold'.

"Even if there are administrative difficulties, we will hope to keep this alive. The will is there, open-mindedness is there, so I think the path will follow," said Sridhar Warrior, Chief Instructor, Training.

The women may be raring to go, but a lot needs to change for them even in terms of infrastructure. The design of Indian warships at the moment are not women friendly. In fact even at the training camp, renovation work is still going on to ensure that the ladies have facilities like a separate changing rooms.

Some Asian countries like China may have overtaken India even in women power in its defence but India has finally taken the first step.

meteor shower

When people hear about an impending meteor shower, their first impression may be of a sky filled with shooting stars pouring down like rain.

Such meteor storms have actually occurred with the annual Leonid meteor shower of November, such as in 1833 and 1966, when meteor rates of literally tens of thousands per hour were observed.

In more recent years, most notably 1999, 2001 and 2002, lesser Leonid displays of up to a few thousand meteors per hour thrilled skywatchers. This year will be not set any records, but the Leonids — set to peak early Tuesday morning, Nov. 17 — should offer a better-than-average display.

Tricky forecasting

The Leonid meteors are debris shed into space by Comet Tempel-Tuttle, which swings through the inner solar system at intervals of 33.25 years, looping around the sun then heading back into the outskirts of the solar system. With each visit the comet leaves behind a trail of dust in its wake.

Plenty of the comet's old dusty trails litter the mid-November part of Earth's orbit and the Earth glides through this debris zone every year. But predicting exactly what's out there is tricky.

On special occasions we'll pass directly through an unusually concentrated dust trail, or filament, which can spark a meteor storm resulting in thousands of meteors per hour. That indeed is what transpired in 1999, 2001 and 2002. Since Comet Tempel-Tuttle comet passed near the sun (and in doing so crossed Earth's orbit) in 1998, it was in those years immediately following its passage that the Leonids put on their best show.

But the comet has since receded out to some 1.8 billion miles from the sun, having taken most of those dense filaments of dust with it. That's why this year, during the predawn hours of Nov. 17, when the Leonids traditionally should be at their most numerous, we now expect to see no more than 10 meteors per hour, even with the promise of this year's excellent viewing conditions thanks to a New moon.
Still – for some parts of the world, a far more prolific Leonid show could be in the offing this year. For although Comet Tempel-Tuttle is now far removed from the inner solar system, independent studies by several noted meteor scientists suggest that the Earth will pass through several notable trails of meteor activity in 2009. We'll list these encounters below in chronological order, including the prime regions of visibility.

Nov. 17, early a.m., Europe, western Africa/North America

The first cloud of comet dust was released from the nucleus of Tempel-Tuttle back in the year 1567. North America will be turned toward the constellation Leo when these particles begin pelting the upper layers of our atmosphere, some 80 to 100 miles above us. Earth's encounter with the comet dust is going to be brief – possibly no more than several hours long.

Unfortunately, we won't be going directly through the center of cloud, but rather skim through its outer edge on Nov. 17, chiefly between about 4:30 and 10:30 GMT. As a consequence, the meteor rate is not expected to get much higher than 20 or 30 per hour (on average about one meteor sighting every two or three minutes). Still, this is about two to three times the normal Leonid rate.

At the beginning of this window, it will still be dark across Europe and western Africa with Leo high up in the southeast sky, but within an hour the sky will be brightening as sunrise approaches, soon putting an end to meteor watching.

North Americans – especially those living near and along the Atlantic Seaboard – will be able to watch for Leonids from after 1 a.m. local time right on until the first light of dawn, which comes soon after 5 a.m. local time.

Those in the eastern U.S. and Canada are especially favored because Leo will be high in the southeast sky between 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. EST, just before Earth is expected to exit the meteor cloud. For the West Coast, this translates to 12:30 to 2:30 a.m. PST, when Leo is much lower down in the eastern sky.

From Hawaii, Leo will be coming up above the east-northeast horizon right around the time that Earth is exiting the meteor cloud (12:30 a.m. Hawaii Time). However ... this circumstance could lead to the appearance of a few long-trailed Earth-grazing meteors, due to meteoroids that skim along a path nearly parallel to Earth's surface.

Although the overall meteor numbers are expected to be modest at best, the particles that produce them might be larger than the usual flecks of dust that comprise the Leonid swarm. Recall that this cloud of comet particles was released into space in 1567. When such "comet bits" circle the sun for many hundreds of years, the tinier (dust grain) material tends to be pushed away from the sun and dispersed by the pressure of solar radiation. Conversely, because they are relatively unaffected by radiation pressure and leave the comet nucleus with less velocity than their smaller brethren do, the larger pebble-to-marble sized particles tend to linger for a much longer time.

The result could be meteors that are predominantly bright. Watch for the possibility of catching sight of a fireball or bolide (a meteor that silently explodes like a strobe along its path). About half might leave luminous trains lasting anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Indeed, catching sight of even one such meteor will make the vigil of a cold November night worthwhile!

Nov. 18 early a.m., Asia/India/Indonesia

The "Main Event" in 2009 is expected to take place when the Earth has rotated about 12 to 14 hours after passing through the first round of comet dust from 1567. Astronomers Jeremie Vaubaillon (France), Mikhail Maslov (Russia), David Asher (Ireland), and Bill Cooke and Danielle Moser (NASA's Meteoroid Environment Office/MEO) are all in agreement that material that was ejected from the nucleus of Tempel-Tuttle during the years 1466 and 1533 will likely produce a very strong meteor display over much of Asia, India and Indonesia.

There is a high level of confidence that an outburst of bright meteors will occur. This is based mainly on the fact that last year, Earth encountered material that was shed by the comet in 1466 produced about 100 Leonids per hour. This year, Earth will cross through that same 1466 stream again, but much closer to the center of that particular comet cloud. In addition, at about the same time, the Earth will also be passing through dust ejected by the comet in 1533. The consensus forecast among the astronomers for this year suggests rates of anywhere from 130 to perhaps 300 Leonids per hour, but trying to hash out a specific number when two different streams literally coalesce with each other makes a forecast much more difficult to make; it could even be less or it could be much more.

The Earth is expected to pass through the densest parts of the two dust clouds at around 21:40 GMT on Nov. 17, though heavy meteor activity is possible for about an hour or two on either side of this time.

From much of Asia, India and Indonesia, the corresponding calendar date will be Nov. 18. It will be 12:40 a.m. in Moscow; 3:10 a.m. in Mumbai; 4:40 a.m. in Jakarta and 5:40 a.m. in Beijing, Unfortunately from Tokyo and across Australia, the sun will have already risen, effectively hiding the meteor outburst. Conversely, from Europe it will be after sunset on Tuesday evening, but although it will be nighttime, Leo will have not yet risen above the horizon, so the outburst will not visible.

Nov. 18 predawn hours, Europe/western and central Africa

As a late addition, Jeremie Vaubaillon also suggests that some Leonid activity "might" be generated by a very old trail of comet debris dating back to the year 1102. This material, however, is more than 900 years old and has made no less than 27 revolutions around the sun.

As a result, it could very well be almost completely dispersed and not provide any activity at all.

But at 3:29 GMT on Nov. 18, Earth will pass within 30,000 mi. (48,000 km) of the center of this trail. "The position of this very old trail is highly uncertain," notes Vaubaillon, "but if confirmed it may produce a noticeable activity. As a consequence, any event related to this one is highly valuable." Europeans, as well as western and central Africa are in the best viewing position should there be anything to see.

Preparing for your meteor watch

No two observers prepare for a meteor vigil the same way. It helps to have had a late afternoon nap, a shower, and to wear all fresh clothing.

Be sure to keep this in mind: at this time of year, meteor watching can be a long, cold business. Expect the ambient air temperature to be far below what your local radio or TV weathercaster predicts.

Watching a meteor shower consists of lying back, looking up at the sky ... and waiting.

When you sit quite still, close to the rapidly cooling ground, you can become very chilled. You wait and you wait for meteors to appear. When they don't appear right away, and if you're cold and uncomfortable, you're not going to be looking for meteors for very long! Therefore, make sure you're warm and comfortable. Heavy blankets, sleeping bags, groundcloths, auto cushions, and pillows are essential equipment.

Warm cocoa or coffee can take the edge off the chill, as well as provide a slight stimulus. It's even better if you can observe with friends. That way, you can keep each other awake, as well as cover more sky.

Keep in mind that any local light pollution or obstructions like tall trees or buildings will reduce your making a meteor sighting. Give your eyes time to dark-adapt before starting. Probably the best bet is to rest on a lawn lounge, all the way back, so you can look up and see the whole sky. When you see a streak, mentally run it backwards across the sky. Do the same with the second and third and note where their paths cross. Right there will be the Sickle of Leo, and that's where the Leonid radiant will be. The constellation of Leo does not come fully into view above the east-northeast horizon until after 1 a.m. local time, so that would be the best time to concentrate on looking for Leonids.

Lastly, because the Leonids are moving along in their orbit around the sun in a direction opposite to that of Earth, they slam into our atmosphere nearly head-on, resulting in the fastest meteor velocities possible: 45 miles per second. Such speeds tend to produce meteors with hues of white, blue, aquamarine and even green.

Mr.Obama in search for a worldwide global warming treaty.

SINGAPORE – President Barack Obama and other world leaders agreed Sunday that next month's much-anticipated climate change summit will be merely a way station, not the once hoped-for end point, in the search for a worldwide global warming treaty.

The 192-nation climate conference beginning in three weeks in Copenhagen had originally been intended to produce a new global climate-change treaty. Hopes for that have dimmed lately. But comments by Obama and fellow leaders at a hastily arranged breakfast meeting here on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit served to put the final nail in any remaining expectations for the December summit.

"There was an assessment by the leaders that it is unrealistic to expect a full internationally, legally binding agreement could be negotiated between now and Copenhagen which starts in 22 days," said Michael Froman, Obama's deputy national security adviser for international economic matters.

The prime minister of Denmark, Lars Loekke Rasmussen, the U.N.-sponsored climate conference's chairman, flew overnight to Singapore to present a proposal to the leaders to instead make the Copenhagen goal a matter of crafting a "politically binding" agreement, in hopes of rescuing some future for the struggling process.

A fully binding legal agreement would be left to a second meeting next year in Mexico City, Froman said.

Obama backed the approach, cautioning the group not to let the "perfect be the enemy of the good," Froman said. Addressing the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum later, Obama talked of the need to limit greenhouse-gas emissions "in Copenhagen and beyond."

Froman said the Danish proposal would call for Copenhagen to produce "operational impact," but he did not explain how that would work or to what it would apply.

A major bill dealing with energy and climate in the U.S., a domestic priority of Obama's, is bogged down in the U.S. Senate with scant hope it would be completed by next month, giving the American president little to show in Copenhagen.

It was unclear Sunday whether he would make the trip.

Obama arrived late Saturday night in Singapore for the annual 21-nation APEC summit that had begun without him early that morning. In remarks to the group Sunday, Obama reached out by announcing that he would host the 2011 gathering in his native Hawaii.

But on trade — the subject of most interest to rapidly growing, commerce-happy East and Southeast Asia — Obama had a good-news, bad-news message. He said the U.S. would engage with nations in a Trans Pacific free-trade partnership to shape a new regional agreement, a move seen as crucial to creating a possible Asia-Pacific free trade zone.

But he said the pact must have broad-based membership and "the high standards worthy of a 21st century trade agreement." He also sounded a sterner note, cautioning that Asia's export-led growth must give way to more balanced strategies.

His chief focus, though, was more on side meetings, including one later Sunday with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev where he hoped to nudge forward a major new arms-control pact. The two nations are in talks on a successor to a Cold War-era agreement that expires in December.

Obama and Medvedev agreed in April to reach a new nuclear arms reduction treaty to replace and expand upon the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty before it expires on Dec. 5. Later, in Moscow in July, they agreed further to cut the number of nuclear warheads each nation possesses to between 1,500 and 1,675 within seven years.

U.S. officials say the two nations now have agreed on the broad outlines of a new treaty, which might be signed during Obama's travels to Europe in early December to accept the Nobel Peace Prize.

Obama also was sitting down with Indonesia's Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, president of the world's largest Muslim nation and Obama's home as a boy.

And the president planned another milestone: joining a larger meeting of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations that includes the leader of military-ruled Myanmar, also known as Burma. Obama is sure to face criticism at home, particularly from conservatives, for doing so.

A U.S. president has never met with a leader of the Burmese junta, one of the world's worst human-rights offenders.

In a final communique from that meeting, ASEAN leaders devoted a section to Myanmar. While the document calls for a general election in Myanmar next year to be "conducted in a free, fair, inclusive and transparent manner in order to be credible to the international community," it makes no mention of the release of political prisoners.

Obama, in a broad policy speech in Tokyo on Saturday, made a point of mentioning Aung San Suu Kyi by name and others imprisoned for political reasons.

But the leaders' statement does not make any mention of political prisoners — including Nobel Peace laureate Suu Kyi, who has spent 14 of the last 20 years in detention. The omission is glaring, given the U.S. had insisted on the inclusion of the clause in a previous draft.

Most Famous Touriest Place in India

Capital town of the Kullu District, in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the hill station of Kullu is located along the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley at around 10km northwards of the airport at Bhuntar. Sprawled amid the fascinating Kullu valley, it has the mighty Himalayas for its backdrop. The several temples and the yearly Dussehra festival attract huge number of tourists both in the form of devotees as well as sheer travelers.
Kullu Valley, Kullu Travel Packages, Kullu Visit, Kullu Travel Guide, Kullu Holiday Packages, Kullu Travel Plans, Places to stay in Kullu, Kullu Hotels, Kullu Tours, Kullu Tourism Kullu gives you major options of tourism as there are numerous tourist attractions in Kullu and around the town as well. The scenic beauty of the place will prove to be the main attraction on your tour to Kullu. Set amid the lower base of the Himalayas, this small town offers breathtaking views of valleys like Ani, Manikaran, Korpan, Lug, Banjar, Garsa, several apple orchards, and the imposing Himalayan ranges all of which go on to create a captivating atmosphere for the tourists.
Kullu is well-known for its temples and festivals. The main tourist interest of Kullu is the Raghunath Temple, devoted to Lord Ram, who is one of the important deities of the Hindus in general and the patron deity of the whole Kullu valley. It was built by Raja Jagat Singh, the former ruler of Kullu, in 1660 to amend for his sins. He got an idol of Lord Ram from Ayodhya and established it within the premises of this temple. Jagannathi Devi Temple or the Bekhli temple is at a distance of 3 km from Kullu and is sited in the village of Bekhli. It is a steep 1½ hour ascent to the temple, but it provides a wonderful view of Kullu which is worth the climb.
Among the festivals celebrated widely in Kullu are Malani, Phalguni, Shahri Jatra and Birshu. Kullu Valley, also referred to as the “Valley of Gods”, is renowned for the seven day festival of Dussehra, a festivity of the mythological Lord Rama’s victory over the evil king Ravana.Kullu is also a major hub of Himalayan Adventure Sports activities. Kullu Valley is recognized all over the world for Heliskiing. This sport is generally arranged near Bhrigu peaks in the Hamta pass. Solang Nala is also another convenient venue for the sport. You can enjoy the thrill of river rafting through the rough waters of River Beas.
Other places of tourist interest in the region include Manikaran and Vashisht village near Manali (hot water springs) at 40 km north of Kullu. Malana, Kaish-Dhaar in Lug Valley, Bijli Mahadev, Bhekhli and Bajaura are dotted with the famous temples of the area. Towards the north lies the eminent town of Manali, which leads onto the Lahaul and Spiti Valley through the Rohtang pass.

Kullu, one of the finest destinations for tourists in India, is a wonderful hill station, offering its visitors numerous places of interest like temples, valleys, orchards and abundant scenic beauty.
Location of Kullu:Located in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Kullu, the capital town of the Kullu District is positioned at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level at the confluence of Beas and Sarvari rivers in the Kullu Valley at approximately 10km north of the airport at Bhuntar. It is sited at 240 km north of Shimla.
Fast Facts
Kullu DussehraPopulation 18, 306Languages Hindi, English and HimachaliBest time to visit April-JuneSTD Code 01902

History of Kullu:In the past, the Kullu valley was known as Kulanthapitha, which means the end of the inhabitable world. The first recorded information about this area dates back to 1st century AD, when this region actually began to be resided in. In the medieval period, Kullu and the area around it was governed by several local rulers. The Kullu valley was separated from other corners of the country for ages until it came under British reign.
Best Season, Climate, and Clothing:The climate in Kullu is alpine. Summers (April-June) are gentle and winters are really cold (November-February). It is hit by southwestern monsoon rains in July-September. Kullu is best visited during the summers, between the months of April and June. However, it can also be traveled to in October to enjoy the Dussehra festival.
Tourist Attractions in Kullu:Valleys like Ani, Manikaran, Korpan, Lug, Banjar, Garsa; several apple orchards; the imposing Himalayan ranges; the festivals of Malani, Phalguni, Shahri Jatra and Birshu; Himalayan Adventure Sports activities are among the main tourist interests in Kullu.

Sexiest in World

Becoming a famous Vietnamese singer may now be more about low cut shirts and seductive photo shoots than a voice and the ability to sing.

But it’s not just a Vietnamese phenomenon.

Many prominent social critics have tied the rise of the scantily clad diva to the rise of MTV. Once music fans in the west began associating notes and tunes with images on the screen, the two became inseparable, and listeners, particularly young ones, weren’t satisfied listening to ugly singers. Since then, the competition has become not about voice and talent, but about who can push the sexiness envelope the furthest.

Ultra-sexiness has played a role in the popularity of Madonna, the Spice Girls, the PussyCat Dolls, Britney Spears, Rihanna and Korea’s Lee Hyori, and over the years, the videos and promotional posters for these artists just keep getting sexier.

With expanding Internet access and satellite TV, this competition for ultimate sexiness has hit Vietnam, with most singers choosing to spend far more time on alluring photo shoots and buying revealing clothes than actually singing or recording.

Unfortunately for the puritans, sex sells, at least in the short-term. But the trend didn’t happen overnight. Most of the country’s sensual singers first won respect as non-controversial pop singers before shedding their skin, and their clothes, to become the country’s “sexiest” singers.

‘Sexy is my trade name’

Vietnam’s earliest “Madonna-like” singer was Thu Minh, a trailblazer who’s gone as far as to say “Sexy is my trade name,” shocking traditional parents, community leaders and her fans alike.

Since winning the Television Singing Contest of Ho Chi Minh City Television in 1993, Minh had been a wholesome, family-approved signer of innocent love songs. But five years ago all that changed, and the lonely ballads transformed into sexy dance tunes.

She received a wave of opposition at first, but now she’s one of the country’s hottest singers, and as her concert stills and photos in the media reveal, she flaunts very openly what she says is one of the country’s hottest bodies.

Minh herself is not shaken by bloggers who call her a floozy.

She told Dan Tri (People’s Wisdom) online newspaper that she thought there was nothing wrong with an alluring body and sexy feature accompanying a beautiful voice.

“My huge fan base proves that I’m doing something right,” she said. “I believe in my features, my voice and even my dancing skills.”

NASA moon crash struck lots of water

NASA HAS announced that there is water on the moon. The evidence of this water was discovered after the NASA spacecraft LCROSS (Lunar Crater Observatory and Sensing Satellite) discovered water ice beds at the lunar south pole, when it impacted the moon. Cabeus - the lunar south pole crater was intentionally impacted by LCROSS on Friday, October 9.

The LCROSS spacecraft, which was built at a cost of $79 million, crashed the lunar surface so that scientists could probe the debris for the presence of water. The project scientist Anthony Colaprete, who is also the principal investigator for NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffet Field, said "Indeed yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit, we found a significant amount."


It might be remembered that Chandrayan, the Indian lunar probe had found evidence of water on Moon and shared the findings with NASA almost a month ago. Chandrayan has NASA’s lunar analysing equipment fitted on board.

For long, scientists have suspected that there is water on the surface of moon, particularly at its south pole, which is permanently shadowed by craters. These craters have frozen water since the temperature is cold. NASA has been analysing the debris of the lunar crater by its sensing satellite and is planning to launch a mission to the moon by 2020.