Lemondrop

Call it a literal battle of the sexes: Researchers just revealed that the male Y chromosome is more evolved than ours.

The discovery -- unearthed by a female MIT researcher -- shows that the Y chromosome has advanced so much over the last 6 million years that there's now a 30 percent difference between the male genetic code and that of chimps, our nearest ancestor. For the rest of the human genetic code, there's only a 2 percent difference.

Naturally, the findings have men cheering and women scoffing in disbelief over the idea that males could possibly be more advanced. But the researchers caution that just because man's genetic code has evolved doesn't mean his behavior has.

Y Marks the Spot

Jennifer Hughes and her MIT colleague outline the new study in the journal Nature. You can read the full scientific jargon of the two-year research project here.

The abridged version: The Y chromosome rocks because it isn't part of a pair like the rest of our 44 chromosomes, meaning that when gene mutations occur, there's no matching chromosome to overshadow them. But it also has to do with female chimps being little hussies when in heat. By mating frequently with many partners, the females force the males to produce the most and best sperm.

Conservative radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, 59, and his gal pal are catching some flack for publicizing the details of his heart trouble in Hawaii last week.

It was his party-planner girlfriend, Kathryn Rogers, 33, who called 911 after Limbaugh called her saying he thought he was having a heart attack. Rogers, who was getting her nails done with her mom when Limbaugh went into distress, told Page2Live:

"Due to Rush's [hearing loss], we don't often speak over the phone, more via email and text ... When I saw that he was calling, I thought that's weird he never calls. I answered with my one free hand."

While docs later said Limbaugh didn't have a heart attack, Rogers said "timing was extremely important ... We believe strongly the quick action on the part of the security team at the hotel and the paramedics resulted in Rush being OK today."

Readers are poking fun at -- and holes in -- the story, which Rogers says she revealed to encourage others in similar situations to get help quickly.

"A 'girlfriend', who gives out such detailed personal information, seems intent on PR campaign for herself," says commenter obie one. "... Rush, you got a potential problem with this chick. Cut and run."

From Showtime's "Californication" to VH1's "Sex Rehab With Dr. Drew," sex addiction is all over the place. Because their drug is a natural, human desire, sex addicts are often portrayed as dapper dudes or luscious ladies living fun, exciting lives.

But there's nothing glamorous about sex addiction, said to affect 22 million Americans. Lemondrop spoke with two sex addicts about their experiences and recovery.

Jennie's Story

Sex addiction is defined as "the behaviour of a person who has an unusually intense sex drive or an obsession with sex." The addict can't stop the behavior despite negative consequences.

But the disease has more to do with intimacy avoidance than horniness -- sex is used as a substitute for real closeness, as "Sex Rehab" cast member Jennie Ketcham, 26, can attest. Also known as former adult film star Penny Flame, Ketcham always struggled with intimacy. She points to several events -- a traumatic childhood, preteen promiscuity, infidelity, a divorce -- as possible causes.

"I don't think there's any particular event," said Ketcham, who also battles alcohol and drug addiction. "I think it was more just circumstances in my life which led me to use [sex] to protect myself from being hurt and from feeling anything, whether it's pain or joy."

A recent writer to an advice column on TODAYShow.com admitted she never loved her husband, purposely broke up his previous relationship and only married him for financial gain.

The woman, who described herself as a "good, moral Christian lady," said her husband recently found out her tricks and now wants to divorce her. Geez, no surprise there.

Obviously, this is an extreme case of dishonest behavior in a partnership. But we spoke with psychologists who say even the faintest of fibs can lead a relationship down a bad path.

Even White Lies Can Be Bad

In movies and media, a woman's lies are often something to laugh about. Who can't think of a wife who hides her shopping sprees or how much she charged on the credit card? A recent Wall Street Journal story revealed one woman who made takeout look like home cooking while still a newlywed and another who hoards the cash her husband gives her for a maid and does the cleaning herself.

But really, even these little, laughable lies can erode the sense of trust and honesty in the relationship over time, says Boston couples psychotherapist Mira Kirshenbaum, author of "Too Good to Leave, Too Bad to Stay."

Getting married can be the best day of your life -- and the most expensive. Unless you're one of the lucky few whose parents have saved up for your big day, you're likely looking at paying for that baby out of your own pocket.

Have no fear -- it is possible to get married without going broke. Krista Scranton, 28, of Houston, Texas, wed on July 7, 2007, in Tampa, Florida, for under $5,000 -- a bargain! A mix of favours from friends, homemade efforts and simply deciding what was important to her and what wasn't (like a DJ) made her affair affordable and memorable.

The Planning: Scranton and her husband were engaged for just six months after being together nearly two years. The bride, who works in client service for a consultant firm, never wanted a lavish wedding.

"I never personally planned on spending a lot of money on my wedding," she said. "There's so many other things you can spend money on."

The first order of business was planning a low-key ceremony and reception. The Scrantons wed in their church at 1 p.m. on a Saturday and started their reception -- which had just 50 guests -- in-between the lunch and dinner hours at a favourite restaurant, which was cheaper than a private hall.

Sara Bostwick had no qualms with vowing to accept her husband for better or worse. Her wedding photos were a different story.

The New York newlywed recently lodged a lawsuit against a photographer whom she claims took revealing pictures of her on her wedding day, then posted them online. Bostwick says she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from the exposure, detected when her husband spotted the shots on the studio Web site two months after their wedding.

The photographer being sued is Carolyn Monastra, who works for Christian Oth Inc., rated one of the top 10 wedding studios in the world by American Photo magazine. (The studio also appeared in the movie "Bride Wars.") Bostwick alleges Monastra took photos of her in her underwear even after she told her to stop.

You could argue that if Bostwick had really wanted Monastra to lower her lens, she would have had her removed from her dressing room. But any bride will tell you that a wedding day is chaotic, and Bostwick was probably distracted. Still, no matter what Bostwick told Monastra, the written documents may matter more in court.

Dennis DiPasquale, a New Jersey wedding photographer, says it's a dicey situation. While he agrees Monastra should have stopped snapping when Bostwick told her to, the use of the photos on the studio Web site present a different problem.

The jig is up. Belle de Jour, the former prostitute behind the popular column "Diary of a London Call Girl" and TV series "Secret Diary of a Call Girl" is really British research scientist Dr. Brooke Magnanti, 34. Dr. Magnanti gave the oldest reason for turning to the oldest profession -- to pay for her PhD.

She came forward now allegedly out of fear that an ex-boyfriend might out her. Not even her literary agent knew who she really was.

"It was time. I've felt so much guardedness and paranoia about remaining anonymous recently," Dr. Magnanti told The Sunday Times. "... I don't want this massive secret over me anymore."

But let's step back a moment -- Dr. Magnanti's story isn't anything we haven't heard before. Melissa Beech (not her real name), a college senior from a swanky suburb outside Philadelphia, has written about how a sugar daddy is paying for her schooling in The Daily Beast. Until last autumn, a student alleging to be a call girl detailed her experiences at the blog Confessions of a College Callgirl. In the summer, a Knoxville, Tennessee, media outlet interviewed a 19-year-old using escorting to pay for massage therapy school. (Stifle that laugh.)

Even though the H1N1 vaccine is widely available, lots of people have held off on getting it, some because they're scared of side effects or getting sick from the vaccine itself. Part of that concern stems from what happened during the 1976 swine flu outbreak. After getting vaccinated, 500 people contracted a rare, paralyzing autoimmune syndrome called Guillain-Barre (say "ghee-YAN bah-RAY") or GBS. Thirty-two people died after getting GBS, compared with only one person who died from the actual swine flu.

I had GBS my senior year of college, therefore I won't be taking any chances.

What is GBS?
GBS can occur after respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infections, vaccines or surgery. There is no known cure. It affects only one in 100,000 people yearly, but its impact is devastating. GBS attacks the nerve endings of the body and can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis and even death.

I developed GBS after a respiratory illness. Within two days, I couldn't walk and was admitted to the hospital ICU for a week, receiving a high-dose of immunoglobulin through an IV to boost my immune system. My case was considered moderately severe; mild cases include trouble with balance and walking, while severe cases can paralyze your respiratory muscles, forcing you to rely on a ventilator for survival.