Most people find the idea of a sexy, beautiful women in a relationship with a geeky, physically unimpressive man as kind of strange and unlikely. I think that's why a show like Beauty and the Geek manages to draw so many viewers - they find it kind of weirdly compelling, like a bearded lady in a sideshow!

But the reality is that there are quite a few nerdy, plump and just plain ugly men who consistently manage to attract sexy stunners half their age. And here's an interesting article about how they manage to do it.

It seems that their intelligence, power and confidence are major factors. The women also believe that these men are a safer bet in terms of commitment, since - unlike hunky young guys - they will tend to get less sexual offers from beautiful women. But knowing what men are like regardless of their looks, I think this is probably a false hope.
 
 
Recent research suggests that having kids make you happier with your lot in life - but not if you are an unmarried couple. You have to be married to enjoy this benefit.

This may seem a little surprising, but it does make sense. Married people have made a commitment to each other, and have already surrendered their autonomy. But people who have not married - even if they are in a long term relationship - are still probably thinking of themselves first. Kids are a huge responsibility and very demanding time-wise, so people who are still thinking of their own needs first would resent their presence.
 
 
There are a lot of niche dating sites out there now. And here's a new one that is sure to annoy quite a few people: It restricts it's membership only to beautiful people.

Of course beauty is subjective. So the site has a vetting process in place in which those who have already joined get to decide whether an applicant is attractive enough to be admitted to the site.

You couldn't imagine anything more elitist or shallow! But I'm sure it will be very successful. It's not like those qualities are in short supply.
 
 
Sandra Bullock has a super clean and wholesome public image. That's why the fact that she is now in a custody battle with a porn star called Janine Lindemulder seems kind of strange. You just wouldn't think that the star of Miss Congeniality would go for a guy who would go for a porn star would you!

(You also don't tend to think of porn stars becoming mothers; mothers who would demand to have contact with their children. But that's another matter.)

This just confirms what we all know already: Celebrity is all about image. It's not related to people's real characters, lifestyles and relationships at all.
 
 
Dating site RSVP has been taking advantage of its large membership base to conduct online polls and surveys that might be of interest to media outlets for a while now. Another major Aussie dating site, Red Hot Pie, is well and truly in on the act as well. Their latest survey has been picked up by a publication in the Northern Territory.
 
 
Research by the University of NSW suggest that British backpakers are having a lot of unprotected sex on their travels in Australia, thereby fueling an increase in sexually transmitted diseases.

This is interesting, because the United Kingdom doesn't have a reputation for being the most decadent country. Places like France and Sweden are reputed to be far more sexually liberal.

But then it makes sense in a way: It's as if all the constraints that are in place when the backpackers are at home are shrugged off in a big way when they are on holiday, so they really go overboard.
 
 
Another questionnaire has been answered by members of Australian dating site RSVP. This one was sport related, and it revealed that the women preferred men who played Aussie Rules over those in the NRL. This result was hardly surprising consideraing all the recent scandals involving drunk, violent, and sexually abusive rugby players.
 
 
Online dating fraud was always something to keep an eye out for. But nowadays people should be extra vigilant since scamming people through dating sites seems to be a real growth industry. For example, Queensland company Cupid Media estimates that 20% of new profiles on its dating sites are created by scammers determined to trick other members into sending them money.
 
 
It's interesting that David Letterman's wife Regina Lasko demanded his recent public apology for having sexual affairs with staffers. One would have thought that she would have filed for divorce. His behavior certainly warranted it, and it would have been hugely lucrative for her! I think it's highly likely that she considered it, but decided that if he demonstrated loyalty and obedience - thereby showing respect and giving her some dignity - then she would not end the marriage.

This is a lot like the goings on between randy Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his wife Veronica Lario. Back in 2007, she forced him to make a public apology over his flirting. He did so. More recently, he has demanded that she apologize to him for publicly complaining about his dalliances with young women.

Both these cases reveal that marriages are as much - if not more - about power as they are about love.
 
 
The revelation that David Letterman has been having sex with many of his female staffers reveals the disconnect between the people of America and its so-called opinion makers. There has been much outrage and condemnation in the mainstream media over his conduct. And the National Organization of Women has accused him of creating a "toxic workplace" for women.

But the audience doesn't seem to mind. The show is rating very highly now, which implies that his regular viewers haven't turned off in disgust. And his sponsors certainly aren't deserting him.

In  month or two everything will be back to normal.