Safe Sex Ringtone!

A cell phone ring tone that sings ‘Condom, condom!’ has been launched to promote safe sex in India, where condoms carry a strong social stigma even though HIV and AIDS are growing problems, health experts said. The cappella ring tone features a professional singer chanting the word condom more than 50 times, a playful approach that public health activists hope will spark discussion and make condoms more socially acceptable. "We've made a conscious effort to move the concept of the condom away from negative association, like HIV and sex work," said Yvonne MacPherson, country director of BBC World Service Trust India. "Condoms are actually health products and if you have a condom and you use it, you are seen to be smart and responsible." Nearly 2.5 million people in India are infected with HIV and the disease is still largely taboo. The BBC group, which is funded by The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, hopes the condom ring tone can make people in India more comfortable with safe sex issues. More than 270 million people use mobile phones in India and ring tones, especially those featuring hit Bollywood songs, are extremely popular. "A ring tone is a very public thing," she said. "It's a way to show you are a condom user and you don't have any issues with it." The ring tone was launched August 8 and has been downloaded 60,000 times, MacPherson said.

Are you really together?

he media has a tendency to portray extremes — either extremely content couples or miserable and intense ones. But the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. It is impossible for any couple to be unhappy or head-over-heels in love with each other all the time. Every relationship has its ups and downs. However, there are some ways to create a strong bond with your lover. Give your partner space Couples that are in solid relationships are not clingy and give each other enough space. This doesn't mean that they don't do anything together. But they don't feel the need to be stuck together all the time nor do they keep an eye on their partners. Only once you are happy with yourself and don't need constant approval from your partner, can you enjoy the space. Positive support Couples in good relationships give each other emotional support and don't put each other down in front of family or friends. Instead, they discuss their problems in private. If you are upset with your partner and feel a strong need to vent your frustration, take him/her to another room where you can talk in peace, instead of making a scene. Quiet moments Content couples don't feel a constant need to talk to each other. You and your partner can be sitting in the room together and reading. Sometimes the physical presence of the other person is more than enough. Share responsibilities It is important to ensure that both of you share equal responsibilities. Especially when it comes to domestic chores, take turns in doing the laundry or picking up the children from school. It shouldn't be that one person in the relationship handles all the tasks and the other doesn't pitch in.