What Do You Buy The Man Who Has Everything? A Ballooning Companion!

Rent-A-Friend is like an escort service, except it's platonic and just for hanging out. And weirder.

Rent-A-Friend is like an escort service, except it's platonic and just for hanging out. And weirder.

This week's Modern Love is a story of transition — changes in gender, relationship status, and potentially a woman's sexuality.
On today's Nerve, there's an interesting story - about a couple bonded together by their compulsive lying.
When one Elle writer went in search of an old flame, she fell prey to stalking his wife. And other risks of cyber-surveillance.
Let's call him "the seductive sperm donor," and maybe even declare him our new romantic hero. The subject of two movies and a new novel, this sexy beast of a character is anything but anonymous.
Call it the Patti Stanger effect: "millionaire matchmakers'" biz is booming, even as other, non-ridiculous businesses flail and founder.
When we put out the call for "best pick-up lines," a number featured compliments invoking "the kind of woman people write songs about." Clearly, "muse" is a common fantasy. And, for the subject of this "Modern Love," a reality:
"Users receive calling cards to dole out to alluring strangers they encounter in their everyday lives. Recipients of the cards can use the identification code printed on them to log onto Cheekd.com and send a message to their admirer."
"Modern Love" contains a touching story of a sister who provides her eggs to her brother and his partner, resulting in beautiful twins. But before that, we get the ugly realities of considering beauty.
A lot of essays nowadays leave us thinking, "I really hope this writer's kids never grow up and read this on the Internet. And they will." Yesterday's NY Times "Modern Love" column is no exception... but there's a twist:
"The Cune Imperial Rioja, we couldn't resist. I raised the glass to my nose, which wrinkled in disappointment; aromas were off. Something about the fruit's life had been snuffed." And so the question, is there a greater meaning in wine?
As a follow-up to my first post highlighting the "bad and ugly" anti-feminist responses I received to my Craigslist ad for feminist dating partners, I promised to feature some of the good. So here's one of the first replies received:
Sample entry on Cal State economics professor Kenneth Ng's BigBabyKenny.com: "Naysayers will say it's creepy to be hanging around the Muariti Shrine, hitting on the emotionally vulnerable girls...but I beg to differ." The university says it won't intervene. [LADN]
Need a vacation, gentlemen? This website offers "introductions" to Czech women, proudly describing them as "NON-Feminist, very healthy and interested in the outdoors and most sports." Which reminds me of the time I accidentally hung out with a sex tourist.
Meet Death Bear, the Brooklyn bear who heals broken hearts. Or, at least, takes your mind off the problem.