Dressing for Dates

I hadn’t been on a date in so long that every hot bartender with rippling biceps looked like a fine choice to go put on the ol’ moves on. Like the saying goes “Water, water, everywhere yet not a drop to drink.” Do not get to that point! It is embarrassing and sad at the same time. I know, girl friends are not as sassy or energetic as your gay friends. And sometimes girl friends may be obnoxious and whinny but as a straight female, you’vegot to get you some. They are beneficial to assisting you to get asked out on dates. Trust me. Signup for Our Newsletter Get Us in Your Inbox! Online Dating, Sex, and Relationship Advice Tips in Your Inbox… Follow @theurbandater Like this:Like Loading… Share This Article Facebook1Tweet0Pin0 Posted in: For Men, For Women, GLBT, Opinion, Tips & Advice Tagged in: friendship, gay, rock hudson With over 100 issues, ‘Young Love’ was one of the longest running romance comics series.https://topadultreview.com/ashley-madison-review/ Gary Lee Watson Comic Book Collection, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina Libraries, Author provided Last year, comic book enthusiast Gary Watson donated his massive personal collection to the Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections at the University of South Carolina. As the reference and instruction librarian, I’m tasked with getting to know the collection so I can exhibit parts of it and use the materials for teaching. One of the great pleasures of assessing and cataloging Watson’s collection has been learning about how comic books have changed over time.

Sifting through Watson’s vast collection of 140,000-plus comics, I’m able to see the genre’s entire trajectory. Before World War II, superheroes were all the rage. Reflecting anxieties over the Great Depression, the rise of fascism and the march to war, readers yearned for mythical figures who would defend the disenfranchised and uphold liberal democratic ideals. Once the war ended, the content of comic books started to change. Superheroes gradually fell out of fashion and a proliferation of genres emerged. Some, such as Westerns, offered readers a nostalgic fantasy of a pre-industrial America. Others, like true crime and horror, hooked readers with their lurid tales, while science fiction comics appealed to the wonders of technological advancement and trepidation about where it might lead us. But there was also a brief period when the medium was dominated by the romance genre.

Grounded in artistic and narrative realism, romance comics were remarkably different from their superhero and sci-fi peers. Whilst the post-war popularity of romance comics only lasted a few years, these love stories ended up actually having a solid influence on other genres. Romance comics’ origin story Though today they are most famous for creating “Captain America,” the creative duo of Joe Simon and Jack Kirby launched the romance comic book genre in 1947 with the publication of a series called “Young Romance.” Teen comedy series like “Archie” had been around for a few years and occasionally had romantic story lines and subplots. Romance pulps and true confession magazines have been around for decades. But a comic dedicated to telling romantic stories hadn’t been done before. With the phrase “Designed for the More Adult Readers of Comics” printed on the cover, Simon and Kirby signaled a deliberate shift in expectations of what a comic could be. While most scholars have argued that romance comics tend to reinforce conservative values – making marriage the ultimate goal for women and placing family and middle-class stability on a pedestal – the real pleasure of reading these books came from the mildly scandalous behavior of their characters and the untoward plots that the narratives were ostensibly warning against. With titles like “ I Was a Pick-Up!,” “The Farmer’s Wife” and “The Plight of the Suspicious Bridegroom,” “Young Romance” and its sister titles quickly sold out of their original print runs and began outselling other comics genres. Issue #1 of ‘Teen-Age Romances’ (St. John, 1949).Gary Lee Watson Comic Book Collection, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina Libraries, Author provided Other publishers noticed the popularity of the genre and followed suit with their own romance titles, most of which closely followed Simon and Kirby’s style and structure. By 1950, about 1 in 5 of all comic books were romance comics, with almost 150 romance titles being sold by over 20 publishers. The rage for all things romance was so sudden that publishers eager to take advantage of the new market altered titles and even content in order to save on second-class postage permits.

Low on Budget, High on Love? Design a Distinctive Date for Valentine’s Day

Second-class or periodical postage is a reduced rate that publishers can use to save on the cost of mailing to recipients. Rather than apply for new permits every time they tested a new title, comics publishers would simply alter a failing title while retaining the issue numbering in order to keep using the preexisting permit. To comics historians, this is a telltale sign that the industry is undergoing a sudden change. One striking example of this is when comics publisher Fawcett ended its failing superhero comic “Captain Midnight” in 1948 with issue #67 and launched its new title, “Sweethearts,” in issue #68.

In this case, the death of a superhero comic became the birth of a romance comic. Issue #3 of ‘Bride’s Romances’ (Quality Comics, 1953).Gary Lee Watson Comic Book Collection, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina Libraries, Author provided With so many new titles flooding newsstands and department stores, the bubble was bound to burst. In what comic book historian Michelle Nolan has dubbed “the love glut,” 1950 and 1951 witnessed a rapid boom and bust of the romance genre. Many romance titles were canceled by the mid-1950s, even as stalwarts of the genre, such as “Young Romance,” remained in print into the mid-1970s. There was the brief popularity of the sub-genre of gothic romance comics in the 1970s – series with names like “The Sinister House of Secret Love” and “The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love.” But romance comics would never approach their brief, postwar peak. Gothic romances – like this issue of ‘The Dark Mansion of Forbidden Love’ – had a brief run in the 1970s.Gary Lee Watson Comic Book Collection, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina Libraries, Author provided A brief boom, an enduring influence Among collectors, issues of romance comics are less sought after than those of other genres. For this reason, they tend to go under the radar. Romance comics, however, featured work by pioneering artists like Lily Renée and Matt Baker, both of whom worked on first issue of “Teen-Age Romances” in 1949. Baker is the first-known black artist to work in the comic book industry and Renée was one of comics’ first female artists.

Prior to working on “Teen-Age Romances,” they both drew “good girl art” – a set of artistic tropes borrowed from pinups and pulp magazines – for several titles. Their work in both genres exemplifies how earlier pulp magazine themes of desire and seduction could readily be applied to newer genres. ‘But He’s the Boy I Love’ was one of the few romance comic to feature black characters.Gary Lee Watson Comic Book Collection, Irvin Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina Libraries, Author provided After the “love glut,” sub-genre mashups nonetheless emerged. For example, cowboy romances were briefly popular. Later, in response to the civil rights movement, Marvel published the 1970 story “But He’s the Boy I Love,” which was the first story in a romance comic to feature African-American characters since Fawcett’s three-issue run of “Negro Romance” in 1950. Even after romance comics largely fell out of fashion, the genre’s visual tropes and narrative themes became more prevalent during what’s known as the “Silver Age,” a superhero revival that lasted from 1956 to 1970. Titles such as “Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane” often borrowed heavily from romance because of their plots to generate intrigue and tension in the hopes of driving up sales. Issue 89, in which Lois marries Bruce Wayne, is a prime example of such marketing techniques. Issues such as these were often situated as “what if” narratives that offered readers speculative story lines, such as “What if Lois Lane married Bruce Wayne?” Though they’re generally thought of as separate from the superhero canon, these love stories show that comic book writers had internalized the main narrative techniques of romance comics even if the genre itself was in decline. But other comics didn’t merely use romantic themes for the occasional gimmick issue. Instead, they made the love lives of their characters a central plot point and a fundamental aspect of their characters’ identities. Comics such as the “Fantastic Four” and the “X-Men” rely heavily on the heated emotions and jealousies found in group dynamics and love triangles. Take Wolverine. Presumably tough and stoic, he’s so enamored of Jean Grey – and so envious of her love interest, Scott Summers – that you could argue that unrequited love is one of his primary motivations throughout the series. Thanks to romance comics, even stoic superheroes got bitten by the love bug. [You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can get our highlights each weekend.] Michael C. Weisenburg does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

Signup for Our Newsletter Get Us in Your Inbox! Online Dating, Sex, and Relationship Advice Tips in Your Inbox… Follow @theurbandater Like this:Like Loading…

Wrong Person, Right Time

Share This Article Facebook2Tweet0Pin0 Posted in: Online Dating Online dating can be difficult, time-consuming, confusing, and just plain scary.  You never know unless you actually meet the person just what exactly you’re going to get.  Here are a few do’s and don’ts to help navigate the world of online dating: 1.https://topadultreview.com/ Don’t give out your phone number. There are plenty of messenger apps that you exchange messages through and keep your personal data private ( remember to make a new user profile that is not linked to your information.) Or if apps are not your thing get a prepaid phone and give out that number so you can have a phone conversation in advance of meeting the person. 2. Do get a life. People are more attracted to others who have interests and hobbies. 3. Don’t make your hobby Facebook/Instagram/etc. And over post or spend excessive (checking it every hour or spending 1+ hour per day) time on it. This will decrease your chances of having a successful relationship.  Research has shown that Facebook can create jealousy in relationships, which may result in arguments concerning past partners. Also, excessive Facebook users are more likely to connect or reconnect with other Facebook users, including past lovers, which may result in cheating. 4. Do be creative and active with your photos – Great photos are essential to attracting someone.

 Show you’re active and social, but also that you’re unique.  Try to find an interesting setting that shows the hobbies activities you are in. 5. Don’t take excessive selfies.  Society is full of people doing this narcissistic activity.  Instead, do something interesting while making a memory, which you can capture on your phone.  The only people who enjoy looking at your selfie photos are yourself and creepos looking for alone time material. Eew… 6. Do friend request or connect with someone versus just being a lurker. Go ahead and make that connection and send a message to someone you’d like to meet instead of just looking from the outside.  What’s the worst that can happen?  You two don’t talk, and you’re in the same situation currently anyway. 7. Don’t do duck lips in your photos. Period. (Editor’s note: This!!! A thousand times yes!) 8. Do put yourself out there and communicate – share things about yourself such as your passions, hobbies, goals, etc. People are attracted to others who are going somewhere in their lives.

9. Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn, but also don’t hesitate to offset it with admitting your shortcomings as well.  For example, you can say, “I have two college degrees, but please don’t ask me to do any math.  I’m terrible at it and need a calculator to figure out a 10% tip ;)” 10. Do use humor with your interactions. Everyone loves people who can make them laugh. 11. Don’t just take photos of your chest (women) hanging out, then complain that guys are always being perverted. Guys, you have shirts, feel free to wear them from time to time in your photos.  Humility is sexy. This post was submitted anonymously. If you are the author and would like to be credited for this work, please contact us. Signup for Our Newsletter Get Us in Your Inbox! Online Dating, Sex, and Relationship Advice Tips in Your Inbox… Follow @theurbandater Like this:Like Loading… Share This Article Facebook22Tweet0Pin0 Posted in: Online Dating Tagged in: Dating, dating advice, first date, love, relationship advice We all know that dressing to impress is crucial when it comes to dating, and this fun infographic ( designed by Knightsbridge Neckwear) will tell you know about how to rock a bow tie! Signup for Our Newsletter Get Us in Your Inbox! Online Dating, Sex, and Relationship Advice Tips in Your Inbox… Follow @theurbandater Like this:Like Loading…

Share This Article Facebook6Tweet0Pin0 Posted in: Fashion Tagged in: bow ties, datewear, how to dress for a date, how to tie a bow tie, infographic, Knightsbridge Neckwear, men’s fashion In the wake of COVID-19 social distancing and stay-at-home requests, young couples may find themselves spending more time with each other than ever before. In unprecedented times, couples navigate the latest relationship test. ItsDanSheehan/Twitter As a developmental psychologist who conducts research on adolescent and young adult relationships, I’m interested in understanding how young people’s everyday social interactions contribute to their health. Past research shows that people who have higher-quality friendships and romantic relationships during their teens and 20s typically have lower risk for illness and disease during adulthood, whereas individuals with early relationships characterized by conflict or violence experience heightened risk for negative health outcomes. Why might this be the case? Can matters of the heart affect your heart? My colleagues and I wondered whether young people’s everyday, seemingly mundane, interactions with their dating partners might have acute effects on their physiological functioning. These direct connections between social functioning and physiology could accumulate over time in ways that ultimately affect long-term health.

We conducted a study to examine whether young dating couples’ everyday romantic experiences were regarding their physiology. We specifically investigated if couples’ feelings towards one another during the day predicted changes in their heart rate while they slept. We focused on overnight heart rate because other research shows that having chronically elevated heart rate can hamper the essential restorative effects of sleep and increase risk for later cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. To test our question, we used participants from a larger, ongoing study in our lab at the University of Southern California to capture a “day in the life” of young dating couples. The couples, most of whom were in their early 20s and have been dating for 1-2 years, were recruited from the Los Angeles area. Even subtle, day-to-day interactions between couples can leave their mark. The Creative Exchange/Unsplash, CC BY 24 hours together They were asked to choose a day they were planning to spend most of their time together and, on that chosen day, couples came into our lab first thing in the morning. They were equipped with a wireless chest-strap heart monitor and lent a mobile phone that sent surveys every hour until they went to bed. When participants left the lab, they were told to go about their day as they typically would.

Our study focused on 63 heterosexual couples who had valid 24-hour heart rate data (some participants took the monitors off when they slept or reattached them incorrectly after showering). Every hour during the day, participants rated two things: how annoyed and irritated they felt with their dating partner, and how close and connected they felt to their dating partner. Participants also reported on their hourly behaviors to make sure we knew about anything else that could affect their overnight heart rate – like whether they drank alcohol, exercised or took medication. For 24 hours, the heart rate monitor tracked couples’ heartbeats per minute, an indicator of physiological activity. From feelings to physiology Even after taking into account both partners’ daytime heart rate, stress levels, drug or alcohol use and physical activity, we found that men’s overnight heart rate changed depending on how women felt toward their partner throughout the day. When women felt closer and more connected to their partners during the day, men had lower overnight heart rates. When women felt more annoyed and irritated with their partners during the day, men had higher overnight heart rates. On average, men’s overnight heart rates were about 2 to 4 beats per minute slower in couples where women expressed more closeness. On the other hand, men’s heart rates were about 1.5 to 3 beats per minute faster if women expressed greater annoyance.

Interestingly, we found that women’s annoyance did not predict increases in men’s heart rate, if women also felt close to their partners throughout the day. In other words, the side effects of annoyance got diluted if some closeness was also in the mix. There were actually no effects of men’s annoyance or closeness on women’s overnight heart rates – men’s cardiovascular responses were uniquely sensitive to women’s daytime relationship feelings. Other research has found similar gender differences. One possibility is that women are more likely to express their feelings of closeness or annoyance, whereas men may feel less comfortable engaging in such communication. Of course, every relationship has its natural ups and downs, and our study only captures a snapshot of young dating couples’ lives together. However, the findings suggest the way romantic partners feel about one another, even within a single day, can have acute effects on their biological functioning during sleep. These seemingly trivial, everyday experiences could develop over time and help explain why relationships find yourself affecting people’s health – for better or for worse. [ You need to understand the coronavirus pandemic, and we can help. Read The Conversation’s newsletter.] About the Author: Hannah L. Schacter has received funding from the National Science Foundation and the Society for Research on Child Development. Read the original article here — https://theconversation.com/isolating-together-is-challenging-and-relationship-stresses-can-affect-biological-functioning-134218 Signup for Our Newsletter Get Us in Your Inbox!

Online Dating, Sex, and Relationship Advice Tips in Your Inbox… Follow @theurbandater Like this:Like Loading… Share This Article Facebook14Tweet0Pin0 Posted in: Online Dating Ladies, have you ever dated a man that was an absolute catch? You know who I’m talking about—that guy! The guy that has it all—the chiseled face and body, and a dashing personality to match.