Because its Monday...

Yeah, its Monday. Mondays, by rule, almost always suck. They're slow, they're monotonous, they're filled with tedious tasks like returning all the emails you missed when you dipped out of work two hours early the previous Friday. In essence, nobody likes Mondays, and if you do, please pass the Kool-Aid this way.

Now, in order to combat this "case of the Mondays" of which I am currently suffering, I have decided to pass along a short video clip to brighten your otherwise dreary day. This is a short clip from the 1960s game show "The Newlywed Game." (If any of you ever saw the George Clooney film Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, you've seen this little gem before). It is semi-safe-for-work, as an expletive has been bleeped out, but, depending on the vibe of your workplace, you might want to listen with headphones on.

So, without further ado, the best game show response of all time.

Relationship E-cards

If you haven't yet had the pleasure of spending some time at Some E-cards, you are sorely missing out. It is, perhaps, one of the internet's great time wasters. E-cards are free to send to friends, and all feature odd graphics and remarkably dry humor. I've taken the liberty of selecting a few cards that "fit" in with this blog's focus of dating and relationship. Enjoy!

We're Recovering Nicely

So our office renovation (forced by an act of nature) is under way and we are currently in a temporary office space. Most people would view this as an annoyance, but this place is not your typical cubicle nightmare. This new office space has its own fully functioning espresso machine, a soda gun, and a very fun, funky decor. So, despite all the trauma and headaches, we're growing quite fond of our new digs!

We also wanted to say "thanks" to all of our friends, vendors, and clients who have taken the time to extend their support as we atempted to get our feet back underneath us. We even had numerous offers from people to help move furniture and office supplies. It just goes to show the outstanding caliber of people we've got in our Eight at Eight database. We appreciate all the kind words and help. You guys rock!

Ladies: see how the other half lives...

It came as a surprise to many of us in the office when we purused a few copies of Men's Health magazine. Expecting wall-to-wall workout posters and ads for protein powder (which were indeed there), we found a remakable amount of Cosmo-like content. For instance, there was no shortage of articles about meeting/seeking/dating/bedding members of the opposite sex. How to rev her engine, how to date a co-worker, how to dress for a first-date: they were all there. What's really interesting is just how eerily reversible these male/female roles are.

Both sexes, it would seem, are concerned with their bedroom performance, making the right impression, or what the proper etiquette is when a few dates reveal no real chemistry. Despite all the outward differences, men and women are really all fighting the same battle of juggling family, friends, careers, and love lives. Sure, the dress code and the perception might be a bit different, but, deep down, everyone is looking for the same thing. Companionship, feeling comfortable with someone, avoiding awkwardness--these all seem to be universals in the dating world.

So, for your amusement, we've included a twelve-question quiz from the Men's Health website to demonstrate just how much in common their bathroom reading has with that of women. Guys: take the quiz and see how you do. Women readers should give it a shot as well, just to see what the other side of the dating game looks and feels like. Go ahead, waste a little company time!

The Men's Health "Master the First Date" Quiz

The Virtual Bar

The Wall Street Journal recently published a fascinating online article the succinctly details all of the pitfalls of online dating the we at Eight at Eight have been harping on for years. We've been contending since the word "go" that online dating sounds better than it truly is. Jason Kephart, the article's author, gives us a laundry list of online dating realities that demonstrate the shell game, bait-and-switch of internet matchmaking. One telling quote from one of Kephart's sources: "Online dating sites’ biggest flaw is they don’t offer service of any kind. Rather, most of them function more like a giant virtual bar or nightclub."

Here's a taste of some of the other conclusions from Kephart's research:

• Everyone is lying about something.
• The total number of members on any given online dating site is grossly inflated, as many people, worn out from poor results, are "active" members of the community despite never actually logging on.
• "Getting to know someone" online makes fertile ground for predators. Caveat emptor...
• 10% of community members receive 90% of the correspondence, meaning the vast majority of people are pumping money into a no-service, no-results situation.

Put simply, the best way to meet people is to meet people, test the sparks, and see what happens. Eight at Eight has been doing it this way for over 10 years. Our motto says it all: a better way to meet people. Happy dating!

Can You Make it to Dinner Tonight?

The office spends lots of time making sure that 4 men and 4 women are scheduled to attend each event. That means the 72 hours before events, we reach out to specific members based on their profile if there is an available seat. Check out the good news below.....


Good Morning Elizabeth,

Thank you for thinking of me, but I am going to turn down the offer. I am happily in love with the man I met at my first dinner three months ago! Tell all your clients the good things happen at Zocalo!

-Jenny

Smart People Can't Find Love?

Do intelligent people have a harder time dating than those whose bulbs are a few watts dimmer? Alex Benzer thinks so, citing youthful ambition as one of the early stumbling blocks for the exceptionally bright.

We tend to agree with Benzer, as Eight at Eight sees our fair share of the high-level executives and entrepreneurs who never have time to date. However, we never considered it to be a pattern that extends backward to, well, elementary school. What do you think? Is being smart a detriment to your dating life?