Salon reports that the rumor buzzing around Oscar parties in Hollywood this weekend was that Hugh Hefner, 80, is planning to marry girlfriend Holly Madison, 27, sometime this year. It would be Hefner's third marriage.

This is the lucky lady:


So, you old geesers reading this, don't sell yourselves short. You could get them youn' ones too. All you need is many millions and a harem of Playboy playmates to pick from.

Peace of cake!

Labels: holly madison, hugh hefner, picture, playboy

Hey, it doesn't hurt to get all the help you can get.

This story shows, with pictures, 13 ways to spice up your sex life. And they're not all just for men either.

Some are pretty obvious, such as getting exercise and using Viagra. But others are not discussed as often: gene therapy, Testosterone Gel, A Nose Spray (no, that's not a mistake... nose spray), Pumps (for you, ladies) and a few more. With each picture there's a comment indicating if the item has been scientifically proved to work or not.

Labels: improve, sex life, spice up your sex life

If you're a busy and rich men looking for a fine looking woman, listen up:

Janis Spindel is a high-end matchmaker for rich, powerful men, and she trolls upscale department stores looking for the women of their dreams. She doesn't run a dating service or engage in any casual pairings. Instead she works on behalf of men who pay massive sums of money — $25,000 to $100,000 per pairing — to find a wife. For each of her clients she conducts interviews, a home visit, a faux date and psychological exams to learn if they're safe, serious and ready for a wife. Then she goes out and shops the world to find the ideal mate.

"Guess what? Hiring a matchmaker is not taking away from falling in love naturally," a very confident Spindel explains. "It's doing the editing and bringing you on a silver platter three wonderful women that you're going to marry one of them."

By her own count, Spindel is responsible for more than 750 marriages and more than a thousand committed relationships. She says anyone who wants to be married, can be. To those who think "all the good ones are taken," she shouts, "wrong!"

Um... if I had that kind of money, this sounds like a good idea. Come on, it is! It beats lurking the Sugardaddies website.

Labels: dating, man, matchmaker, rich, sugardaddy

This article about romantic love is well-worth reading in it's entirety. Here's a summary of some choice quotes:

Dopamine. God's little neurotransmitter. Better known by its street name, romantic love. Also, norepinephrine. Street name, infatuation.

These chemicals are natural stimulants. You fall in love, a growing amount of research shows, and these chemicals and their cousins start pole-dancing around the neurons of your brain...

"Love is a drug," says Helen Fisher, an anthropologist at Rutgers University and author of "Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love." "The ventral tegmental area is a clump of cells that make dopamine, a natural stimulant, and sends it out to many brain regions" when one is in love. "It's the same region affected when you feel the rush of cocaine."...

Passion! Sex! Narcotics!

Why do we suspect this isn't going to end well?

Because these things are hard-wired not to last, all of them. Short shelf lives. The passion you fulfill is the passion you kill. The most wonderful, soaring feeling known to all mankind . . . amounts to no more than a narcotic high, a temporal state of mania.

Oliver Sacks, the famed neurologist and author, once cited the case of a 90-year-old woman who had suddenly become radiant, flirty, even frisky. The diagnosis: a long-delayed onset of neurosyphilis had loosed the reins on her inhibitions. She did not want to be treated.

Damn, maybe there is something to those arranged marriages.

Scientists continue to confirm what we, at many levels, already know, namely that love is a drug, that love sucks, that love blinds us. The thing is, most of us, like the 90-year-old lady in the article, don't want to be treated.

Labels: dopamine, love, romance, romantic love

This is a really good article about online dating and safety. It lists a lot of websites that in one way or another provide services dealing with security:

In the past decade, sites such as Yahoo Personals, Match.com and eHarmony helped make Web-based courtship mainstream for 10 million current daters. But some seasoned veterans say the thrill of using the Internet's power to find soul mates has given way to caution. Singles now draw on a growing arsenal of security and research tools -- from services that verify identity and background to companies that provide temporary phone numbers as a barrier to stalkers. Sites like DontDateHimGirl.com allow scorned lovers to warn others away from their bad dates.

The growth of the dating-security industry is part of the evolution of the Internet, where every powerful tool such as online banking or e-mail comes with a dark side of data theft and spam messages.

Dating site True.com is the only major Web firm that conducts criminal and marital background checks on all of its members -- a practice that keeps 2 percent of applicants from joining because they are convicted felons. Three percent flunk because they are married, the company said.

Labels: background checks, online dating, safety

Regina Lynn wish list for 2007:

You know what I hope? I hope 2007 starts with a bang and gets better from there.
I want to be swept up in a flood of new inventions designed to enhance pleasure, safety and intimacy. Sex-tech engineer Kyle Machulis (NSFW) has been dropping
hints about what he's been building and what he soon plans to do with it in
public. At least two new sex machines (NSFW) will be on display at the Adult Entertainment Expo, along with the usual assortment of gadgets.

I want 2007 to be the year when the populace put its beautifully pedicured foot down and says, "That's it, no more panicked television hosts whipping up furor about What Everyone Else Is Doing (and How Can We Stop Them)?" I'm hoping in 2007, no one will really care What Everyone Else Is Doing as long as it's informed, consensual and they aren't hurting anyone else.

Even if it involves the internet, a cell phone or a manatee costume.

In 2007, I want to see greater compassion for those who hold different viewpoints about sex -- in every direction. Can we build bridges between those who share "San Francisco values," which Violet Blue so elegantly describes in her Open Source Sex column, and those who don't? Between people who think bonk-chica-bow-bow ringtones are hilarious and those who think they're Satan's siren call?

Keep dreaming Regina, keep dreaming. You're one naive woman.

Labels: adult entertainment, gadgets, sex

This sounds like a dumb service, but hey, there's a lot people out there who like this sort of stuff. If you're one of them, knock yourself out.

Submitted by Ilan, 40, from Non US

COMMENT: http://www.girlkeeper.com is a free service that helps you to be organized in love; manage all your relationships and avoid mistakes. Girlkeeper lets you create a profile for each of your girlfriends, reminders, important dates performance in the sack and more. Girlkeeper helps you keep each girl happy by reminding you occasional gestures just to show her you care. You can also share experience with others.

CANBERRA (Reuters) - A 150-year old Australian public library has a new true-romance section after introducing speed-dating nights for lovers of classic texts.

The state library of Victoria in Melbourne introduced dating with a literary twist after the idea was raised at a staff party.

Those who attend must bring a book they either love or loathe as a conversation starter, ensuring there are no uneasy silences during the series of five-minute dates.

"It's speed dating with books. It's designed to bring book lovers together," the library's project manager, Jackie Felstead, told Reuters Wednesday.

The library's first event was quickly sold out with 52 book lovers taking part, and 13 couples linking up for further dates.

That's a pretty nifty idea. With creativity like this the Aussies will soon take over the world.

Labels: australia, library, romance, speed dating

When it comes to romance, guys get a bad rap. The conventional wisdom is that they are an unromantic bunch, who'd rather chug a beer in front of the TV than sip champagne by candlelight. But men can be just as romantic as women, though they often express it in different ways. With the help of Matthew Milner, founder of GuyCritical.com... what makes men swoon.

1. Compliments. The quickest path to a man's heart is through his ego. "The other day, my lady told me she thought I was sexy. That was so cool! I'd never heard that before and it blew me away!" says a schoolteacher from Chicago. A political consultant from Washington, D.C. agrees: "The most romantic thing in the world is for you to be in awe of your man's skills -- whether it's his ability to make people laugh, perform at sports, fix things, or retrieve and display esoteric knowledge. Let him wow you," he says.

2. Dark chocolate. "Milk chocolate is for kids. Dark chocolate is for lovers," says Weinstein, who explains that dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa, which means it has more phenylethylamine, a chemical that mimics the feeling you have when you're in love.

3. Hard-to-find gifts. Is his college sweatshirt so faded you can't decipher the name of his alma mater? Is he mourning the loss of a rare comic book that his mother threw away when he left home? Does he collect antique hood ornaments? Webb says that a gift that requires some effort is sure to be a big hit with your guy. "Men and women tend to express love differently. Women are usually the more nurturing types and tend to think of romance in terms of 'soft touches' while men express love in more practical ways," says Webb.

4. You, in his clothes. "Come to the dinner table wearing nothing but his button-down dress shirt. Now that's romance!" says an artist from Boston.

5. Funny movies. "A lot of people say that shared values or goals are what make a relationship work," says Weinstein. "But to me it's a shared sense of humor. If you like the Marx Brothers and your date doesn't, then it's simply not going to work," he says. "When you can find someone to laugh with, then you know you're really connecting."

6. A great memory. A picture really does paint a thousand words -- especially if it's of the two of you tanned and glowing at a beachside resort. "I went to my girlfriend's office and saw that she had a picture of us on vacation in Cancun," says a Seattle construction worker. "Little things like that just make you feel great."

7. An old-fashioned night on the town. A publisher in New York says that he isn't a huge romantic, but he admits that the rotating dance floor at the Rainbow Room makes him pretty gooey. "You're surrounded by well-dressed couples of all ages who know how to dance. This gives the effect of being in a romantic movie about old New York. Plus, it's a little disorienting with all that spinning around, which puts you in a dreamlike state," he says.

8. Tall buildings. Because in general guys just like big stuff. But also because taking in such a huge view can put life into perspective. "The tremendous view of the city with all its lights is not only awesome in its own right, but accentuates the essential smallness of the individual person," says a Chicago attorney. "Thus humbled, it is most comforting to realize, at that instant, you're not alone in the world."

9. Surprise intimacy. Whether it's an unexpected kiss or an afternoon jaunt to the bedroom, men swoon when women say "Come hither." "We like surprises -- like when you initiate sex at odd times, or rent a room in the middle of the day. We also like beaches, bed-and-breakfasts, and when you squeeze our thigh at a snooty dinner party. Oh, and baths. We like bubble baths," says a writer from New York.

10. P.S. I love you. They may not always admit it, but many men report that they love getting affectionate little notes. "I particularly like finding a note in my suitcase when unpacking on a business trip," says an executive from Dallas. Weinstein agrees. He loves getting a surprise note or email with an affectionate message, and says that a "p.s." increases the charm. "There's something about the p.s. that people respond to. It reminds us of when we were at camp and our mom wrote. P.S. I love you, or the note our high-school sweetheart stuffed into our locker."

Labels: men, romance, romantic

When it comes to romance, guys get a bad rap. The conventional wisdom is that they are an unromantic bunch, who'd rather chug a beer in front of the TV than sip champagne by candlelight. But men can be just as romantic as women, though they often express it in different ways. With the help of Matthew Milner, founder of GuyCritical.com... what makes men swoon.

1. Compliments. The quickest path to a man's heart is through his ego. "The other day, my lady told me she thought I was sexy. That was so cool! I'd never heard that before and it blew me away!" says a schoolteacher from Chicago. A political consultant from Washington, D.C. agrees: "The most romantic thing in the world is for you to be in awe of your man's skills -- whether it's his ability to make people laugh, perform at sports, fix things, or retrieve and display esoteric knowledge. Let him wow you," he says.

2. Dark chocolate. "Milk chocolate is for kids. Dark chocolate is for lovers," says Weinstein, who explains that dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cocoa, which means it has more phenylethylamine, a chemical that mimics the feeling you have when you're in love.

3. Hard-to-find gifts. Is his college sweatshirt so faded you can't decipher the name of his alma mater? Is he mourning the loss of a rare comic book that his mother threw away when he left home? Does he collect antique hood ornaments? Webb says that a gift that requires some effort is sure to be a big hit with your guy. "Men and women tend to express love differently. Women are usually the more nurturing types and tend to think of romance in terms of 'soft touches' while men express love in more practical ways," says Webb.

4. You, in his clothes. "Come to the dinner table wearing nothing but his button-down dress shirt. Now that's romance!" says an artist from Boston.

5. Funny movies. "A lot of people say that shared values or goals are what make a relationship work," says Weinstein. "But to me it's a shared sense of humor. If you like the Marx Brothers and your date doesn't, then it's simply not going to work," he says. "When you can find someone to laugh with, then you know you're really connecting."

6. A great memory. A picture really does paint a thousand words -- especially if it's of the two of you tanned and glowing at a beachside resort. "I went to my girlfriend's office and saw that she had a picture of us on vacation in Cancun," says a Seattle construction worker. "Little things like that just make you feel great."

7. An old-fashioned night on the town. A publisher in New York says that he isn't a huge romantic, but he admits that the rotating dance floor at the Rainbow Room makes him pretty gooey. "You're surrounded by well-dressed couples of all ages who know how to dance. This gives the effect of being in a romantic movie about old New York. Plus, it's a little disorienting with all that spinning around, which puts you in a dreamlike state," he says.

8. Tall buildings. Because in general guys just like big stuff. But also because taking in such a huge view can put life into perspective. "The tremendous view of the city with all its lights is not only awesome in its own right, but accentuates the essential smallness of the individual person," says a Chicago attorney. "Thus humbled, it is most comforting to realize, at that instant, you're not alone in the world."

9. Surprise intimacy. Whether it's an unexpected kiss or an afternoon jaunt to the bedroom, men swoon when women say "Come hither." "We like surprises -- like when you initiate sex at odd times, or rent a room in the middle of the day. We also like beaches, bed-and-breakfasts, and when you squeeze our thigh at a snooty dinner party. Oh, and baths. We like bubble baths," says a writer from New York.

10. P.S. I love you. They may not always admit it, but many men report that they love getting affectionate little notes. "I particularly like finding a note in my suitcase when unpacking on a business trip," says an executive from Dallas. Weinstein agrees. He loves getting a surprise note or email with an affectionate message, and says that a "p.s." increases the charm. "There's something about the p.s. that people respond to. It reminds us of when we were at camp and our mom wrote. P.S. I love you, or the note our high-school sweetheart stuffed into our locker."

Labels: men, romance, romantic

I don't know what kind of scam some people run on match.com, but I got quite a few emails from very attractive women, in their early 30's, from different countries, interested in men from 20 to 80. They have lousy typing skills, and of course, they're all crazy about me. Right.

OK, here's just one recent example, but there are many like this one. I'll just post some of the more "interesting" comments from "her" profile:


31-year-old woman from Ascot, Victoria, Australia seeking men 38-76 in United States

Height: 3'5" (105cms)

About me: i am kind, sencitive, honest and with good sence of humor

for fun: my favourite actor is will smith i relly like watching his movies alot.

my job: Yeah i am graduate just completed just completed nursing school and looking for job, but i wish to find my partner first.

my ethnicity: i am from victoria australia.

my religion: Yeah i am christian lkady and atend church on every sabath.

my education: i just completed with graduate degree in nursing field.

last read: yeah i read about things we should do for love, just about how to treat your partner love him and take care of him. i also read about how to slove problem with your partner if any so the third person wil not hear it.

Anyway, I'm inclined to answer one of these emails just to see where it goes. My guess is somewhere along the line they'll ask for money.

Labels: dating, match.com, profile, scam, singles

When you join an online dating service, having good pictures will be a big plus. Match.com says your odds of getting contacted increase dramatically if you have pictures, and I believe them. I never even bother checking women without pictures.

But my experiences over the last two weeks has caused me to make some observations about pictures:

Studio Pictures: If you’re searching, coming across studio pictures is quite common. I’ve found that studio pictures show the person in a much more favorable way than everyday pictures. When there’s a combination of studio pictures and other photos, I have never found the person to look as good as the studio picture. So, if they only have a studio picture, I get skeptical.

Old pictures: Within my age group, it makes quite a different if a picture was taken in the last year or so versus 10 years ago. The other day I found a picture that was from 12 years ago (I could tell by the date on the picture). Come on! No one looks now like they did 12 years ago. So becareful with people who look much younger than their age.

Far away pictures: many people post lots of pictures but they are all from far away. Um… that raises a red flag to me.

Male cut out from the picture: I see lots of pictures of women where a male was cut out from the picture, but you can still see his hand around her waist or shoulder. Please! Take new pictures. I know that at my age every woman has had relationships, but I don’t want to be so vividly reminded. But there’s two things that really concern me about such pictures: one, if the pictures are recent, that means the woman hasn’t been away from the relationship long enough for me to want to get involved with her; or if the has been divorced for a while, those pictures are too old. Either way I look at it, it’s a bad sign.


Tags: dating, singles

Last night I Stumbled Upon an awesome site for anyone having an iffy first date. Just go to GetMOOH (Get Me Out Of Here) and enter your phone number and the appropriate excuse. What ensues is pure genius. You don't even have to think of what to say, the guy coaches you through your responses. Next thing you know, you're off scot-free, your date none the wiser. Muahahhahah!


Tags: dating, singles

A few days ago I registered with match.com. I’m going to start posting some of my experiences here. Not so much specific personal stuff, and absolutely no names of anyone I may come in contact with (unless I’m confident we’re talking about a scam.) I’m more inclined to comment on the process and on common observations that probably apply to just about all-online dating services, not just match.com.

REGISTRATION

I first filled out a simple survey form asking for basic information (height, body type, religion, politics, education, etc.) and also included a few free-form fields for personal data. Most of the quiz is made up of these free form fields where you talk about yourself and what you expect from anyone you may want to pursue a relationship with.

After I submitted my profile and included pictures -- if you don’t include pictures your odds of getting responses are slim-- I did a search just to see what results I would get. At this point I had no intention of going any further with match.com.

But the following day I got an email from a woman. I could not read the email without subscribing. They offer a 3-day free trial period (you do have to supply a credit card and pick a plan even if you elect to cancel within the 3 days). So I decided to take the plunge and register so I could read the email.

Their My Match page is very simple and well organized. It allows you to add people as favorites and keeps track of who you emailed, who replied, and who's turn it is to write. If you add people to your favorites is then displays other people that match the one you added. You can also remove people from your searches so that they don't keep showing up.

Overall, a very easy process.

In the days ahead I’ll start posting some of the experiences plus anything new that might be of interest to anyone contemplating registering for such a service.


Tags: dating, singles

[S]ome women who use online dating services have faced real danger when their suitor turns out be a sexual predator or rapist. Jeffrey Marsalis, a 33-year-old Philadelphia drifter accused of drugging and sexually assaulting seven women, is currently in jail and faces trial on eight counts of rape and other related charges... five of the alleged victims claimed that they met Marsalis through Match.com... The smooth-talking lothario was a master of guile when it came to luring the women. In e-mails or on the phone, Marsalis claimed he was a CIA agent, a confidential adviser to the president, a doctor or an astronaut-in-training. (He posted pictures of himself wearing medical scrubs, a suit and an astronaut's uniform on his Match.com profile, according to law enforcement sources)... When the women agreed to meet Marsalis in person at a restaurant or bar, he allegedly used the same technique on all of them: After the women left their drinks to go to the restroom, they'd describe later feeling sick and falling in and out of consciousness with vague recollections of being sexually assaulted and waking up in his bed. (Full story here)

The article is about "the perils of online dating". I think it's the perils of dating, period.

The women in this case took the precautions of meeting this guy in a public place, and yet, they were victims. It's very hard to blame them; some guys are just very smooth and if they have bad intentions, it's not easy to detect.

Tags: dating, singles

Tags: dating, singles

My current guy is a big time anime fan. He doesn't even watch regular TV anymore, and rarely goes to the movies. This is all fine with me, he's got his interests, and of course I have mine. I'm more into South Park, Harry Potter, sushi, 80's teen movies, my iPod, traveling, really all kinds of stuff. What initially attracted us was a common interest in music which is still there.

However, he is concerned about our long term potential because I'm not into anime the way he is. I've sat down and watched some shows with him, I even liked one enough to ask for a copy, but I guess I haven't gushed with adoration over his anime collection. He's worried that if we don't share in that interest that we won't be able to go long term. He even pointed out that he's been watching some of my things and tried to get into the things that I'm into. However, I never asked for that.

I'm not looking for a carbon copy of myself, I don't want to date my clone. If we like some of the same things that's great, but there's something to be said for time apart as well as time together. I think most successful couples have some common interests, but they also have a life outside their relationship. He worries that we won't be able to sit down and watch the same thing on TV, and my only concern is that he's unable to compromise.

I don't like feeling like I have to like anime, and that I have to like it in order to keep someone I care about around. I would never expect anyone I date to suddenly be as addicted to South Park and Harry Potter as I am, or to suddenly feign a liking for Bjork when I know they can't take her voice. I don't expect that out of a relationship, but am I deluding myself? How important are common interests to a successful relationship?