The Short Story

Once upon a time there lived two sisters, Rani Puri and Pani Puri. Rani Puri was non-veg. She ate Pani Puri.

Oral sex is not safe sex

A study indicates that oral sex with one to five partners in a lifetime doubles your risk of throat cancer, and oral sex with six or more partners triples your risk. To get the same risk elevation through vaginal sex, you'd need many more partners. Transmission vehicle: HPV. Other risk factors: infrequent use of condoms, poor dentition, infrequent toothbrushing, and heavy tobacco use. Boys, let's hope the women haven't got wind of this.

The upside of foetal screening

There's been some and more debate on whether parents-to-be should be allowed to screen the foetus for signs of down-syndrome and other life-damaging handicaps. Why shouldn't they be allowed to? Is it wrong for parents to want to do what it takes to lead a simpler life? Isn't this screening somewhat similar to going through a company's prospectus before investing in it? It is. So, is it wrong? I'm not so sure it is.

Considering the highly judgemental world we live in, it might be more, not less, compassionate on our part to screen the to-be-handicapped and save them the trouble of enduring life among a people so driven by the pursuit of nothing less than the perfect - ask the people who've had to suffer discrimination because they were born with, or without, something that's considered valuable, and they'll tell you what they've had to go through. Ask me.

Multiple Personality Ordered

One of my friends was telling me that she thinks she might be suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder. So here's what I advised her: Don't look at it as a disorder, but as a guilty pleasure. We all have multiple personalities. Okay? Maybe. Yes. Good.

Inside stuff

Do you know someone who needs hours alone every day? Who loves quiet conversations about feelings or ideas, and can give a dynamite presentation to a big audience, but seems awkward in groups and maladroit at small talk? Who has to be dragged to parties and then needs the rest of the day to recuperate? Who growls or scowls or grunts or winces when accosted with pleasantries by people who are just trying to be nice? Get to know him or her better.