I’ve been a Skype user for quite a while now. Though, I’ve never considered it as a medium to meet the man of my dreams just for the reason that I only use it for personal [family & friends] and work reasons.

When I came across this article at the LA Times and read the dating stories that Skype helped bridge, I’m amazed at the possibilities and with such positive results, too!

“Software like Skype is creating a world of online dating that enables relationships between people who live all over the globe, some of whom may never meet in person. By allowing free phone calls between those who share a common language and a high-speed Internet hookup, Skype has spawned love connections between Belgians and Japanese, Germans and Israelis, Americans and Egyptians and even a Guatemalan nail technician and a Canadian member of the Raelians, a group that advocates human cloning.” — LA Times

Another plus about using this alternative is getting to see and talk to the other person even if you’re thousand of miles apart. You’re no longer limited to chatting and emails. Hearing the other person’s voice creates a different feel to the relationship that the two of you are having. Plus you can actually create interesting online dates like what the couple shared in the article, watching a movie together over Skype!

So, if you want to try something new or not go through the typical dating sites, perhaps, this idea may provide you with an opportunity to meet Mr. or Miss Right. Just download the software at Skype.com and set your status to Skype Me or even join the Skype Me forums to let them interested suitors into your life online. Best bit — it’s free.

Post from: Blisstree

Using Skype in Dating Online

Take a look at a little something they’ve got to say about the top city, Denver – Boulder.

Singles Scene: It’s very diverse. You can meet people at a charity, hiking or at bars, like in every city. Everybody is very friendly.

Here’s the rest of the list [just listed the top 10 but the list goes on so check the rest at their site] :

• #2 Boston
• #3 Phoenix
• #4 San Francisco – Oakland
• #5 New York
• #6 Raleigh -Durham
• #7 Seattle
• #8 Austin
• #9 Washington – Baltimore
• #10 Miami

However, if you’re from overseas [and don't mind moving to a different country], and you’re considering settling down in the US, then I reckon this list will be useful for you, too. Hahaha. I wish you much luck on the endeavour!

Post from: Blisstree

Forbes.com’s Best US Cities for Singles

Ever considered moving to better your chances?

Guess what — if you are then I’ve got this bit of info for you. Perhaps it’ll help you decide what country you might consider migrating to. Hehehe.

Top 5 Countries with the highest male and female population: [Ranked, 1 being the highest]
• 1. India
• 2. China
• 3. European Union
• 4. Indonesia
• 5. Pakistan

For ages 15 – 64 years, male and female.

The US is only ranked 7th and my country, Philippines, ranked 13th.

Alright. I may only be half serious in writing this post but at least I can say it’s factual, right?

Source: Male | Female

Post from: Blisstree

Where to look for love

For the young and single seekers, the normal amount you spend on a dinner and drinks or perhaps a movie, is all that it takes. But what if you’re someone who’s been around the block? I mean, you’ve been married for decades and had children and even grandchildren and now divorced or widowed? Will dinner and movie dates be suficient enough?

I reckon it may be difficult to get into the dating scene again. Heck, it’s hard enough for singles to deal with dating, can you imagine how it must feel like for them?

Well, after reading about a widowed grandmother conned into spending $125,000 on a matchmaking scheme, it left me bewildered. I just can’t believe that someone’s willing to spend that much in her search for a mate.

How did it happen? Well, let me share this bit from the article:

Promised the company of affluent, sophisticated men, Ms Majerik signed on. Initially, she paid Ms Hadida $50,000; subsequent payments took that to $125,000.
– Guardian Unlimited Special Reports

Read the rest of the article to learn more on how the scam got discovered and the events that led up to court plus other bits about Orly the Matchmaker. The $2.1 Million award is an unprecedented amount in the history of dating service cases. Other notable cases cited were the ones involving Match.com, Yahoo Personals, and Great Expectations.

This is some crazy dating news. This should teach these companies not to prey on lonely people.

UPDATE: I’ve recently learned that the case was subsequently dismissed. The dismissal documents can be found at www.rankrover.com/orly .

Post from: Blisstree

The Million Dollar Matchmaking Scam

Okay, I’ll try to make one that I can use online and off. And yea, this list is aptly called, Wanted: A Lifetime Partner. Just for kicks, a silly idea came to mind — it’s the manner on how I wanted to write them down and it’s something like this…

Position Applying For : Lifetime Partner [Husband]

Will be reporting directly to : Me [haha!]

Basic Requirements:

Male, 28-35 years old, Christian, Bachelor’s Degree [this means you have to be smart enough to keep up], 5′8″ or taller, Healthy and Athletic, Responsible, Resourceful, Creative and Innovative, Excellent Communication Skills [good listening skills, concise and clear speech], Dry, Witty and Sarcastic Humor is acceptable, Excellent Grooming [looks and smells clean], Works with minimal supervision [translation: not a momma's boy], Decisive [means you can make decisions!], Diligent, Results-oriented, Willing to travel when required, Good Driving and Navigation skills is a plus.

Duties & Responsibilities:

* Effectively deliver and facilitate intelligent conversations in support of dates to ensure superior entertainment; specifically and especially during bad days or PMS periods.

* Provide basic support for emotional, physical, intellectual and financial needs, and adhere to developed life agenda/timelines and content flow.

* Advise on continuation of partner’s eligibility for suitors.

* Monitor the relationship progress for the duration of the engagement then continues on to marriage, providing coaching and developmental feedback.

* Facilitate transition of partner from singleness to married life, ensuring competency levels are sufficient.

* Maintain updated personal and marital course materials and course masters.

* Prepare all delivery support tools used during engagement and married life.

* Understand relationship facilitation, methodology, approaches, and bedroom delivery strategies.

* Maintain product knowledge for each account by taking and making calls and/or sms, attending and making dates, side by side observations, and healthy monitoring of partner’s whereabouts.

* Research information [not alibis] for each accounted incident by attending partner meetings and periodic calibration sessions.

* Support and participate in continuous improvement initiatives, as applicable.

* Participate in special projects or other involvement as required by relationship needs.

Interested and Eligible Suitors are advised to just leave a comment.

Interview invitations and status updates will be posted on the comments section of this entry so please check the blog regularly.

Previous Applicants need not apply.

That was hilarious! I had fun doing that. Teeheehee.

What about you guys? What will your list look like?

Post from: Blisstree

The List

I did mention before that I’m pretty old fashioned when it comes to finding a potential mate, reason being I’m a romantic. I do like chance encounters so whenever I step out of the door, I’d often find myself wondering if I’m going to meet someone that day.

This thought came to mind since I’ll be heading to my home country, Philippines, tomorrow. Well, technically I’m stopping by Singapore first and spend quite a bit of time there before I head to Manila. And from my experience in travelling, I know there are possibilities that you will meet someone new. Dates may come out of some and others just plain “our paths just crossed in time” kind of thing. So, there — this is one of those moments wherein I may just meet someone.

Aside from cafes, restos or bookshops, where you can strike up a conversation with a stranger or vice versa, Airports have been added to my list of places. I guess, it’s a good thing you are able to enumerate them, right? That way, it can be clear to you just what type of people you do get to meet. That is, if they share something similar with you in terms of interests and experiences or you’ve been making mistakes in putting yourself in wrong places or situations that’s why you end up with the wrong kind of guy instead of Mr. Right.

What about you? What places do you reckon you can meet people? I’m really interested to know.

Post from: Blisstree

Where do you meet people?

The poll revealed differences between countries in the way people tried to impress the opposite sex.

Australians and British men frequently admitted drinking too much

About half of German and Italian men said they had lied about their finances.

Spaniards were the most likely to use sex to catch someone’s attention.

Eighty percent of Brazilian and Mexican men said they had lied about their marital or relationship status, as did 70 percent of German women.

When it came to meeting that special someone many singles preferred to rely meeting potential interests through their friends.

The Internet was suprizingly not a popular option for meeting people except in Portugal, where about half of the surveyed men and women chose to find people online.

Spain and France suffered a gender gap.

Thirty percent of Spanish men, but no Spanish women, looked for love online.

In France, 40 percent of men but only 10 percent of women attended parties, bars and clubs to meet someone.

The one thing the surveyed men and women had in common was the fact that both sexes rated looks as more important than their counterparts in other countries.

When it came to that first meeting, a majority of men polled said beauty was more important than brains.

Women put a sense of humor at the top of their list as being the key trait in the first meeting.

Physical attraction was the top priority for men in France, Brazil, Greece, Japan and Britain.

And while 40 percent of Portuguese men rated intelligence over looks in a first encounter, no Australian men did so.

In the United States and Canada, humor was considered the most important trait by both men and women, getting 63 and 73 percent of the vote respectively.

So given the results above, how do you rate them as far as your own sex and country goes?

Post from: Blisstree

And the most important trait in a mate is…