It’s a well known phenomenon that during the cold winter months, people tend to have sex more often; just take a look at the number of babies typically born in August, September, and October, and you’ll see how true this is. But what about all of those singles out there who aren’t involved in a relationship? What do they do when a raging snowstorm keeps them inside for days on end?

Turns out, they go online and join online dating sites. From Australia to the United Kingdom to the United States, online dating services report significant surges in website visitors and new members during the winter months. This has been especially true during the winter of 2009/2010 so far because it has been such a tremendously cold and wintry season.

For instance, in the UK there are reports from MySingleFriend.com and Singles365.com that their visitor tallies were up from 27% to as much as 55% during the recent plunge in temperatures and piles of snow. And it’s not just the snowbound in the UK turning to online dating sites, either; in the United States the adultery online website AshleyMadison.com reports it gained as many as 10,000 new members each day during the recent spate of snowstorms and frigid temperatures.

So the next time you’re trapped inside by cold temperatures, snow, ice, or the like, why not take a look at an online dating site? With all of those new members signing up you’re more likely than ever to find someone special online!

News & Views Ashley Madison, Cold, Dating Websites, Winter

When you picture a banker in your mind, what does it look like? I see a person (man or woman) in a conservative suit, with a calm and disciplined demeanor, and a face that cries out “trust me with your money”. Okay, I know, that’s a stereotype, but you have to admit that most people involved in the banking industry tend to be more conservative, disciplined, and structured. And that’s a good thing, really, because after all you wouldn’t want somebody wild and crazy handling your financial stuff, right? (Those kinds of people are on Wall Street in the big financial firms, but that’s a topic for a different blog entry!)

Well, you can throw that stereotype of typical banking types out the window, because one of the leading web sites devoted to helping people arrange to have affairs (IllicitEncounters.com) is reporting a sharp spike in bankers and other financial workers joining the site in search of affairs. Why? The answers might not be all that surprising, when you think about it:

1. To feel as if someone loves them
2. Because their life at home has undergone a great deal of stress
3. To boost their ego
4. To enjoy the thrill of great sex without the burden of a relationship

I’d like to think that these kinds of bawdy bankers have enough smarts to go trolling for encounters at web sites set up just for those seeking affairs and the like, but I suspect that isn’t necessarily the case. There are probably plenty of them who opt for the more mainstream dating sites rather than the affair-specific sites.

So the next time you find yourself connecting with a single whose profession is listed as “banker”, be sure to exercise a bit of extra caution. You don’t want to get caught up in much more than you bargained for!

News & Views Affairs, Banking, Money

Colorful lights. Tinsel and wrapping paper. Endless advertising showing happy couples sharing meaningful moments together. And of course, those sickeningly sweet, sappy, cheerful Christmas songs playing over and over and over again, everywhere you go. Yes, it’s Christmas once again, and for many singles it’s the most lonely time of the year.

If you find yourself feeling sad, lonely, or depressed during this “season of good cheer” the most important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. The picture-perfect holidays featuring close knit families and large circles of vivacious friends are not real, but rather a deliberate creation of those who want to sell you something.

Instead of watching and listening to this kind of stuff over and over, why not take a different approach to this holiday season? You might:

• Spend a day volunteering with Habitat for Humanity
• Turn off the TV and the radio, and spend an evening reading a good book
• Visit your local senior center or a nursing home to play cards, help with bingo, or simply listen to the wonderful stories most older folks love to share
• Choose things to do that you want to do, not what others expect you to do
• Take a walk outside to get some fresh air and get away from the holiday bustle

None of these ideas will get rid of loneliness completely, of course, but they are a great way to re-focus your mind onto activities and pursuits that get you away from the unrealistic expectations of Christmas. You just might find that once you turn your attention elsewhere, you start feeling a whole lot better!

News & Views Christmas, Family, Holidays, Lonely