Saturday, April 07, 2007

Weather: 44 degrees for 43

Walking Twerpette again, the weather has gotten wet and a tad chillier, which I surmised as 44 degrees, then came in to confirm it is 43 degrees. I can see my breath! Of course library patrons are wearing winter jackets while I'm in shorts, short sleeves, and flipflops.

Weather: 46 degrees for 48

It's nippy out this morning, and windy, so I wavered between pronouncing it 46 or 47 degrees before coming in and announcing to my youngest son that I think it's 46 degrees, then checking online to find it's 48 degrees (but feels like 42 degrees, according to weather.com).

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Email: A man and his typos [MG]

OK, now I just wondered about the differences between a Catholic and a cat-holic... Oh, he'p me, mother o' mercy!

Monday, April 02, 2007

Food: Perky O's

I'm sorry but a new cereal with a name like Perky O's suggests to my mind... Hm never mind, this is a family-oriented weblog, isn't it...?

Email: One year on eharmony [EH]

Please don't make the online dating arena into a rejection derby. It's like interviewing for a job: It's about finding the best match not I-must-win-each-time-or-I'm-toast. This is serious stuff and it does not and should not happen quickly or casually [much less in one year]. By the way, I [used to] get more dates (I am kidding here OK?) by *not* mentioning my hunchback *before* she says "Yes, coffee sounds nice." You have to understand that men think they can have the whole enchilada -- beauty and brains, allure and practicality. It takes them a number of years before they come to grips about reality (if ever). I repeat: You don't want a shallow man in shallow waters. So women in general have to wait until men are ready to start treading water, much less swimming for their lives. (Men thrive at facing challenges, but only in things they are good at, so many shy away from nonbusiness-related social interaction esp. the deeper, bonding stuff that's emotionally and personally authentic.)

Email: Spam is offal [EH]

Like Viagra spam, everyone gets these online dating site offers -- they don't care or know whether you're single, it's called advertising and it's called spam. All they care is whether they "guilt" or "fear" you into giving them your money (first some, then more). Most online dating services are appalling for selling sizzle but lacking meat (not to mention nutrition). They're empty carbs -- a flash in the pan (like margarine that boils away when you melt it in a frying pan -- this is true!). If they can get you to waste time browsing through profiles (which are not well structured or searchable and hence not real profiles, forcing you to waste time wading through them), the more likely you'll acquiesce and surrender your hard-earned cash. Like chiropractors, they would like to sign you up in perpetuity. In my opinion it's reprehensible to take money from people as you claim you're offering something to everyone when you're only offering it to the lowest common denominator (must have pulse, be warm-blooded). If you're registered for a dating site (because you were forced to do so to look at it in the first place), turn off the send-matches option; it's a huge time waster. If you're not associated with the site, use your spam blocker to block mail from their domain. Call spam what it is: offal.

As technology offers us more options than ever before, human beings need to become more seasoned about managing the choices of their time and priorities. Your story about the executive whose match your friend-of-a-friend knew was a serial (and current) liar and cheater should be an object lesson for any woman who is not aware of this now common danger with online dating sites. I repeat: Except for eharmony, I no longer advise women to look to most online dating sites for romance. Better to cultivate your social skills and practice them at face-to-face professional and other networking events where romance and intimacy are not the goal. (Houston has thousands every month.) Making friends is a prerequisite to finding a partner.

Sunday, April 01, 2007

Quotes: "I gave up writing when I was 10. Too dangerous." (Weller)

"I gave up writing when I was 10. Too dangerous." -- Peter Weller, Naked Lunch