This is a somewhat fresh approach to online dating. A Canadian online dating service called OmniDate has decided to offer its members a unique way to avoid the hassles of unsuccessful dating with singles whose profiles showed all the information to make you feel they are compatible with you, only to turn out to be fake or insincere profiles.

Basically what happens is you (your avatar) meet your date (their avatar) online in a pleasant setting for a cup of virtual coffee. This creates an easy atmosphere for conversation where you get to find out more about the other person from that person (well, virtually). After this, and with a better idea about them, you can choose whether you want to continue your relationship by going on another OmniDate, or meet in real life for a real date. Whatever you choose, communication is done discretely and securely through a convenient messaging system.

OmniDate members have a choice between six male or female avatars, also including an avatar that clearly represents a person of color. Virtual dates include a museum gallery tour, bar or beach, but also lounging while listening to chosen music. Avatars interact in a way that expresses emotion. For example by typing "LOL" you can make your avatar giggle. Other possibilities are blowing kisses, holding hands, yawning and even rolling eyes. This all helps to let the other user know how much you are enjoying, or not enjoying your date with them.

This sounds like a lot of fun. Registration is free, and even though it's still in beta, there are already a few thousand members waiting for you to join them.

[Via: TheStar.com]

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According to a small study done with some 70 college students, breaking up, although surely not a very pleasant experience and period that comes after that, isn't all that hard really. Students were surveyed periodically about the status of their relationships, whether they felt good or bad about it, and were asked to express the level of stress at that point in time. After about six months 26 students reported their relationships ended, and it turned out it took about 10 weeks for them to recover emotionally.

It turns out that not only does life spring back to pre-breakup mode almost twice as fast as people actually expect, but also that the initial split is easier than most people perceive it to be. There are several heartbreak helpers, counter measures if you will, that spring up into action after the break up, that at the time are not something people are aware of. For example, some people unconsciously concentrate on their ex's bad habits or characteristics, which indirectly makes it easier to move on.

So basically, if that time is coming for you, and you decide to end your intimate relationship with the other person, know that it will probably be easier to cope with the break up than it seems. Or so the statistics say…

[Via: MSNBC]

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IntelligentPeople.com is a dating service whose aim is to connect intelligent people from all over the world for socializing and dating. Membership is free, but in order to qualify everyone has to take an intelligence test. The test itself can be accessed through a special test code sent to the candidate by email right after sign-up. The code can only be used once, and you have only two sign-ups to take the test, so I guess that means if you strike out two times, that's it - you're out! They say it's because members are supposed to be from the top 15% of the world population who are highly intelligent people, as opposed to top 2% who are MENSA members.

The service claims the tests are culture and education neutral (as much as they can be), and the visual part is in black and white (to equalize odds for color blind people).

"Intelligent people usually want a partner who is also intelligent. Everyone wants someone they can talk to… At general dating sites, you have to spend time and energy, sorting profiles to find the ones that match that criterion. At IntelligentPeople.com we already made that sorting for you." (Trine Jensen, founder of IntelligentPeople.com)

So, if you feel like taking an intelligence test head on over to IntelligentPeople.com.

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Just like other developed countries, Singapore has a problem to make its citizens mate and multiply. Simply speaking modern young people want to build their carrier first, and think about the family later. However, as we all know, sometimes it's too late, especially for girls.

Hence, Singapore's government is organizing courses to help set off romance among young people:

The course, which is in its second year at two polytechnic institutes, is the latest of many, mostly futile, campaigns by the government to get its citizens to mate and multiply. Its popularity last year has led to talk of expansion through the higher education system.

Can this succeed? It's like government's interfering in people's lives for (arguably) their own goo. Potential benefits government could provide are certainly welcomed for the young people which are at the start of their carriers… Check out the full article on IHT's website.

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Dating DNA, the free online dating service that gives its members a special numerical code called dating DNA upon which members can be matched to others with similar traits, has just introduced the latest in their application portfolio - Dating DNA for iPhone. If you are not familiar with it, we've covered Dating DNA here before.

As expected, the interface looks very nice, on par with the overall stylish presentation approach on the iPhone. The web application allows you to browse users, add them to "favorite" list (the "DNA Strand").

"Not only is it our desire to allow everyone to use their Dating DNA Number all across the Internet's social graph, but we also want to make our services available on a wide array of Internet devices, such as the iPhone…" (Kevin Carmony, CEO for Dating DNA)

If you're an iPhone user, point your Safari towards datingdna.com/iphone and enjoy.

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