Consensual sex in private is considered no one else's business in most Western countries now. That's a good, sensible law, and it holds in most cases.

But occasionally, the definition of "private" is open to dispute. And that can have serious ramifications.

Take the case of a swinger's party held in a hotel bar in the USA. It was infiltrated by undercover cops, and the organizers have been charged because it was legally defined as a public place.

Here's another story in which the gulf between urban and rural lifestyles features heavily:

A former Sydney-sider called David Glasheen, who lives on his own on an idyllic tropical island off the Queensland coast, is advertising for a "Girl Friday" on the popular Aussie dating site RSVP.

Somehow, I don't think he'll have much luck. I think that women, particularly those using the site, are too fond of their urban comforts and social lives to make such a huge change.  

The reality dating show The Farmer wants a Wife has an interesting premise: Get eligible bachelors from the Australian countryside and pair them up with young women from the city.

While it's a neat idea that makes for good television, the relationships that ensue are up against it. The rural life is not something that you could easily take to if you've been brought up in the big smoke, after all. Eventually, something's gotta give.

This appears to have happened to at least one of the couplings that resulted from the show. The woman in question seems to have tired of the country life and headed back to Sydney.

Another pairing seems to be going strong, though. But that seems to be because the man is spending a lot of time in Melbourne with his wife-to-be. Will be interesting to see if this union lasts.

Here's another aspect of the matchmaking industry in which experts can offer their advice for a fee: dating site profile writing.

When business people can find such specific niches within it the industry must be truly vast. 

Dating sites and agencies put a lot of thought into the means by which their members can make contact, get to know each other, and hopefully pair up. That makes sense, since if these techniques prove to be effective and popular revenue goes up considerably.

In pursuing this goal, they'll even enlist the help of specialist academics such as "Dr Love".

Many people using social networking and dating sites are justifiably concerned about people using fake identities on these sites. Some of the major sites have beefed up security considerably as a result, but one called Meezoog seems have taken things a bit further. They have created "Trust Dating", which the writer of this article says "sounds an awful lot like your friends setting you up, with your family getting their two cents in".

It's probably a very thorough and useful application. Somehow I don't think it will take off. I suspect that generally single people would resent having so much involvement from friends and family in their efforts to meet others for romance.

One thing that has always amused me is just how many different kinds of coaches there are now. You can hire a financial coach, a life coach, and now a dating coach.

I would have thought that "be yourself" is the best advice in trying to start up a relationship of any sort. But no, there are lots of tried and true techniques that you can learn. 

It all seems a bit calculating for me. Still, this approach does work, apparently.

Some cops have been stood down after being snapped in compromising positions with erotically dressed young women at an S&M themed Hookers and Deviates Ball in Darwin. 

I really fee sory for these guys. There's a lot of pressure on cops to be friendly and cooperative with the public. On the other hand they have to keep the peace and uphold the law in a dignified way. They're treading a very fine line all the time.

And that's even when they're not in an alcohol fuelled, sexually charged environment. Throw those elements into the mix and apropriate behaviour becomes almost impossible.

Read an interesting article recently about how more and more people who were childhood sweethearts are using the internet to reconnect decades later (only in print, so I can't link to it, unfortunately). The success rate for these relationships is very high, apparently. 

Here's an article from a decade ago which tells much the same story. 

I've always been amazed at the extent to which some people are happy to deceive others and betray their trust. Take the case of Roderick Sangster from Perth, Scotland. He committed forgery and bigamy, emotionally and financially devastating at least two women.

Added to this is the irony that he was a church minister and policeman, both jobs involving the moral instruction of others.