Singles Scene Newsletter 5-15-01 issue 54 Copyright Single Scene 2001 sing-@primenet.com! In this issue: * Latest singles news briefs * Advice from Aunt Janet -- Assertiveness is key. * Web site of the Week: Search engines for health tips. * Arizona Date Ideas for May 15-31 (For the best tips on getting the most from single life, visit our new web site: www.singlelifecoach.com.) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Singles News Briefs by Janet L. Jacobsen Kissing as a health measure. Kissing the love of your life boosts your immune system, according to the book "Superimmunity," by Dr. Paul Pearsall. And according to the 1991 Kinsey Institute New Report on Sex, passionate kisses burn 6.4 calories per minute. When is a first date not a first date? The first time you meet someone you've connected with through the personals, don't think of it as a date, recommend an article in the Arizona Republic newspaper. Instead, view the get-together (coffee at a public place is good) as an interview - to determine whether there will be a first date. Of course, multiple phone conversations prior to the first meeting are another important part of the get-acquainted process and help you determine whether to have the first face-to-face meeting at all. Forget the steak dinner on a first date. Most vegetarians are age 18 to 34, with women outnumbering men 2 to 1. According to Direct magazine, an estimated 20% of college students are vegetarian. About 25% of Americans consider themselves "part-time" vegetarians. Internet slump changes dot-com social lives. The Wall Street Journal reports that the dot-com era has been hard on the social lives of some Internet industry singles. First they were too busy to date, and now they're jobless and often dateless too. Personal ads are up in California's Bay area, by almost 400% in some publications and online services. "Women complain that dates often turn into weepy psychology sessions with men lamenting that their fortunes have fallen by millions. Or dates become career-counseling sessions that aren't always especially romantic." Meanwhile, according to the article, popular "pick-up" lines in New York include "Where did you get laid-off from?" and ""What kind of job are you looking for?" Single gals up for auction in Alaska every January. Seward, Alaska, each year in January celebrates its Polar Bear Jump-Off, in which hardy and/or foolish souls jump into Resurrection Bay as part of a cancer fund-raiser. The event has grown so much, according to a recent Reader's Digest article, that it now includes ice bowling, a chili feed, a dog weight-pulling contest, and - of special interest to single guys - a bachelorette auction. Seniors on the rise. Today for every 100 men age 65 to 69 there are 143 women, but by age 85 there are 241 women per 100 men. By the year 2010 there are expected to be 40 million Americans age 65 or older, with the figure rising to 70 million by 2030, according to a report in Direct magazine. Too little sleep can make you unhappy, unsuccessful, even fat! Americans get an average of an hour less sleep than they should weeknights, and a half hour less on weekends, according to the National Sleep Foundation, reported in a recent Reader's Digest article. Research suggests that after a healthy diet and regular exercise, getting enough sleep is the third essential component of a healthy life. Eight hours is considered a good night's sleep. Lack of sleep affects the hormones that help regulate how we store fat, and how soon we feel full, and may even increase cancer risk. And being sleep-deprived can give you the reaction time of someone with a blood alcohol level of .08 - legally drunk in some states. One way to tell if you are sleep-deprived: if you can lie down during the day and fall asleep in ten minutes, you are probably short of sleep. Three key elements for a prospective love. A recent article in the Las Vegas Review-Journal offered dating advice that would be helpful to all singles. Talking about dating for Jewish singles, a local rabbi emphasized three elements to look for in a mate: physical attraction, similar life goals, and good character. "The proper way to date is to lead with your head and allow your heart to follow." The terrors of tipping. Who are the best tippers? According to American Demographics magazine, a national survey found that people in metro areas tip better than rural citizens, women tip slightly more than men, and older people tip more than younger people. Flirting doesn't pay as a strategy for the wait-staff. While wealthier and younger folks respond with a better tip to attractive and flirtatious people, more than twice as many women as men are turned of by the waiter flirting: 23% of women (and 10% of men) give a smaller tip to a flirtatious service provider. People who've worked in tipping-related industries tip only slightly more than those who haven't. Quotable. "Work is a slice of your life. It's not the entire pizza." Jacquelyn Mitchard. *********************** Advice from Aunt Janet -- Assertiveness is key. If you feel like people just walk all over you, or if you feel like you have to be real pushy and in-your-face to get people to listen to you, turn your summer reading to books on assertiveness skills. Assertiveness skills involve knowing how to stick up for yourself without having to run over the other person. When you know how to use assertiveness, you turn most of your conversations and situations into wins for ALL the parties involved. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< Web Site of the Week-- Search engines for health tips. Whether you're looking to lose weight, shake that summer cold, or find out how to protect yourself from sun damage, there are web sites to help you. But finding reliable and reputable health sites should also be a concern. Recently Access magazine recommended several search engines that specialize in health issues, including the government's site healthfinder.com. Others are themedengine.com, achoo.com, and webmedlit.com. ----------------------------------------------------- SHARE WITH A FRIEND-- PLEASE FORWARD THIS ISSUE ! ---------------------------------------------- If you haven't already done so, please forward this issue to your single friends and associates. Thanks so much! /\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\ MAY DATE IDEAS!! Tues., May 15: Create your own progressive dinner. Pick a neighborhood with several restaurants you like, or have wanted to try. (A mall foodcourt will work too.) Have the appetizer at one, salad at another, entree at another, dessert at yet another. Narrowing it down to just two or three courses is ok too. Wed., May 16: 7 p.m., every Wednesday night fun skate for adults, El Dorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Rd., Scottsdale. Winds thru city. Free 480-942-4156. Thurs., May 17: Antique Walk, downtown Glendale. 623-435-0556. Fri., May 18: Rodders Fellowship Club classic car "Friday Night Cruise-In", parking lot, ne corner Baseline & Stapley Dr. in Mesa. Begins 6 pm. Sat., May 19: Every Saturday, classic car exhibits 5-9 p.m. around McDonalds at the Scottsdale Pavilions, Pima & Indian Bend Roads in Scottsdale. Sun., May 20: Tempe hosts a free "Sundays at Sunset" concert series at 6:30 pm at the Beach Park, Tempe Town Lake, to June 3. 480-350-5287. Mon., May 21: Have a mini-potluck surprise -- at home or picnic style. Each of you provide a course (or two), but don't let the other know what you're bringing. Tues., May 22: Poetry in the Park, Encanto Park Clubhouse, Phoenix. 7:30-10 p.m. 602-261-8993. Wed., May 23: Every Wed., 7-10 pm, coffee house with performers and a jam session, Encanto Park Clubhouse, Phoenix. 602-261-8993. Thurs., May 24: Every Thurs., Sc. Center for the Arts, Civic Center Mall, is open til 8 p.m. 480-994-ARTS. Fri., May 25: Evening poetry reading, Changing Hands Bookstore, McClintock & Guadalupe (sw corner), Tempe. Sat., May 26: Hogs in Heat, all-you-can-eat barbecue & dance, Rock Springs Cafe, Black Canyon City (exit 242, I-17 n. of Phx.). 4 pm-? 623-374-5794. Sun., May 27: McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park hosts free concerts Sundays 7:30-9 p.m. to July 15. 7301 E. Indian Bend, Scottsdale. 480-312-2312. Mon., May 28: Memorial Day. Attend a parade! Visit the nearest national cemetery; take flowers. Tues., May 29: End of the month and a little low on cash? Good night to hit one of the "dollar" movie theaters. Wed., May 30: It's hot. Go for an ice cream. Get something huge and fattening (banana split maybe?) Cut the calories in half: share! Thurs., May 31: Every Thurs., free night at Phoenix Art Museum (donations appreciated). Til 9 p.m. 1625 N. Central. 602-257-1880. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN ORDEAL TO MEET PEOPLE, if you know the right conversational skills. Improve your MEETING PEOPLE skills with the HOW TO MEET PEOPLE audiocassette by Janet Jacobsen, editor of Single Scene. You'll learn **How to overcome your fears **Three sure-fire meeting methods **Where to find interesting people **Simple, fun techniques to improve your social life NOW. To order HOW TO MEET PEOPLE, send $9.95 (first class postage & handling included) to Interpersonal Enterprises Inc. Box 6243 Dept. E Scottsdale AZ 85261-6243. Satisfaction Guaranteed! ************************** To unsubscribe to this newsletter, send a blank email to singlesphx--@topica.com If a friend would like to subscribe, have them send a blank email to singlesphx-@topica.com