Study Finds Cohabiting Couples are Happier Than Married Couples
A new study published in the February issue of the Journal of Marriage and Family found that cohabiting couples are happier than married couples. The research was co-authored by Kelly Musick, associate professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell's College of Human Ecology, and sociologist Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Musick says, "We found that differences between marriage and cohabitation tend to be small and dissipate after a honeymoon period. Also while married couples experienced health gains -- likely linked to the formal benefits of marriage such as shared health care plans -- cohabiting couples experienced greater gains in happiness and self-esteem. For some, cohabitation may come with fewer unwanted obligations than marriage and allow for more flexibility, autonomy and personal growth."
The study followed 2,737 single men and women. 896 of the men and women married or moved in with a partner over the six year study, which focused on key areas of well-being, considering questions on happiness, levels of depression, health and social ties.
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Matchmaker Siggy Flicker Talks About Her New VH1 Show
Matchmaker Siggy Flicker talks about her new VH1 show, Why Am I Still Single?. Siggy says she likes to put people on a test date first to try and figure out what they are doing wrong. Siggy says, "You need somebody who is strong enough and brazen enough to tell you what you are doing wrong, but in a nice way."
Siggy's advice for dates includes suggestions like don't bring up your ex and don't be a Debbie Downer. Take a look:
CupidRadar, a new dating website, using geolocation technologies on smartphones and other mobile devices to connect singles. The service can be used by singles to find other singles who are close by. Singing up is free, but it cost $2 to send an initial message to a member. You can read more of the details in CupidRadar's FAQ. The site has a page about privacy here.
Mehrdad Sarlak, President of CupidRadar.com, says, "I've always been fascinated by the idea that what if unknown to you, your soul mate were nearby right now? And what if you could contact and even meet that person? Well, I came up with CupidRadar to help people do just that! CupidRadar helps you meet face to face faster. That's important because in person, you know within minutes whether there’s a connection. With traditional dating sites, you might spend weeks messaging back and forth only to realize when you finally meet, that it's not a good fit."
PlentyOfFish.com is the most popular UK dating site according to data from ComScore and Experian Hitwise. ComScore ranked Plentyoffish number one among all UK dating sites from January through June 2011, with an average of over 16 million total visits each month. The closest competitor to Plenty of Fish in UK in the online dating category averaged just 4 million total visits per month. Experian Hitwise also ranked PlentyOfFish.com number one among UK dating sites for the first half of 2011. Plentyoffish claims to get 30,000 new singles daily.
Kate Bilenki, Director of Love at Plentyoffish, says, "Plentyoffish.com has been so popular because it is free to use, simple and it works and, with social stigma surrounding online dating virtually gone, most singles are turning to Internet dating services. We are able to offer a highly competitive product at no cost, making Plentyoffish.com the #1 choice."
A website named Soul2Match uses facial analysis to help people find matches. Soul2Match says its tool is "based on comprehensive scientific research in the areas of psychology and biometrics."
Soul2Match also says, "We match around 1,000 key points which covers the complete face. Specifically designed algorithms are used to compute the compatibility and generate the matching rate."
It is an interesting idea, but what does the company have to say about situations where happily married people's facial characteristics do not match up? In its FAQ, Soul2Mate is asked, "I have been happily married for more than twenty years with someone, but according to your website we have a compatibility of only 5%. How is this possible? Is that a bad sign?"
Soul2Mate responded by saying, "There is no good or bad. Love goes in mysterious ways. Based on facial analysis Soul2Match generates an objective compatibility rating. The majority prefers a soul mate relationship and others prefer a type of relationship with less shared values, like an opposite relationship. We are only here to help you distinguish them. Since you have been happily married for more than 20 years in an opposite relationship, indicates that you prefer an opposite relationship. This means the 5% compatibility is an excellent rating for you."
The company recently launched an iPhone app. Take a look:
Woman Unwittingly Becomes Getaway Driver on Facebook Date
The Daily Mailreports that Leah Gibbs, 23, was tricked into being the getaway driver for a crime by a guy she met for a first date through Facebook. The plan for the Facebook date was for Leah and the guy, Adam Minton, 21, to watch a DVD and get to know each other.
When Leah arrived at Minton's house to watch the movie he told her he needed to visit a friend and asked her for a lift. Leah obliged, but on the way to the friend's house Minton said he needed to stop at a store. Leah was shocked when a panicked Minton returned from the store shouting "Go, go, go!'
Leah and Minton were later arrested by police. It turned out that Minton had held up a shop owner with a knife and then used Leah as a getaway driver. Fortunately, Leah was not charged with a crime.
2010 Census data indicates that Manhattan is still the hot spot in the U.S. for singles. The survey found that nationwide 27% of people live alone. In Manhattan the figure is 46.3%, which is a drop from 48% in 2000, but still the highest in the nation. Take a look:
A new website named DuoDater is focused on double dating. Duodater users partner with friends to form Duos and create Duo profiles. Duos get paired with other duos for dates. It is a little more complicated than the solo dating sites, but it might add a layer of security by letting people go an Internet date with a friend.
Users can use Facebook to create profiles or they can create profiles without using Facebook.
A couple was married at the Louisville Walmart. The wedding was held in the Garden Center, the most romantic part of the store. The bride seemed very pleased with the wedding location. Take a look:
Debbie's eHarmony Cat Loving Video Bio is Fake But Hilarious
Debbie's eHarmony Video Bio is a hilarious video purporting to be a true eHarmony video bio. In the video, a woman named Debbie goes on and on about how much she loves cat and she wishes she could hug all the cats. In her video she says, "I just want to hug all of them, but I can't cuz that's crazy. I can't hug every cat. I just want to, I want to, I want to."
The video was reported on many media outlets and was recently songified by Schmoyoho.
It is likely a fake, but most people think it is really funny anyway. Know Your Meme's entry notes that the woman's real name is Cara. Cara recently posted this video where she takes a phone call from Hollywood. She has also pretended to be other people on her YouTube channel. Here is the original bio entry which now has over 14.5 million views. Take a look:
The U.S. Postal Service has released an image of its 2012 Love stamp. The stamp, called Love Ribbons, features a graphic design of pink-tinged, satin ribbons that spell out the word “Love” in a cursive script on a bright red background.
Graphic designer Louise Fili worked with art director Derry Noyes on the 2012 Love stamp.
The U.S. Postal Service issued its first Love stamp in 1973.
Study Finds Men Send Wrong Message With Flashy Sports Cars
An new study has found men who buy a flashy sports car might be more likely to get a date. The study, which appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that women did find men with a flashy car (such as a Porsche) more desirable. However, the flashy car advantage faded when women considered a long-term relationship with the Porsche owner. The researchers say women found the flashy guys more desirable for a date, but the Porsche driver was not preferred as a marriage partner.
The researchers compared the purchase of flashy products, like luxury cars, to peacock feathers.
Jill Sundie, assistant professor of marketing at University of Texas-San Antonio (UTSA) and lead author of the paper said, "This research suggests that conspicuous products, such as Porsches, can serve the same function for some men that large and brilliant feathers serve for peacocks."
Daniel Beal, study co-author and assistant professor of psychology at Rice, said, "When women considered him for a long-term relationship, owning the sports car held no advantage relative to owning an economy car. People may feel that owning flashy things makes them more attractive as a relationship partner, but in truth, many men might be sending women the wrong message."
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A new service named Cheek'd lets you leave a special calling card with someone that can be checked online. It is a way of making contact without having to give out a phone number or email address.
Each member receives a deck of calling cards with a series of witty quips and their own personal code. Members can then slip one of the cards to an alluring stranger encountered in their everyday lives - be it in the market, at a restaurant or on the train during a morning commute. The recipient of the card logs onto the Cheek’d website, enters the code, reviews the card-giver's profile and then can send the card-giver a message for free.
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