Valentine's Day is here. Not that it means very much to me, actually itnever has, being mostly single around the day, I've never received flowers orchocolates or greeting cards. (Well, once, but that was a teenage romance, anddoing something on Valentine's Day was practically compulsory.)
In school, yes, I remember, it was a bigger deal. Valentine's Day meant youmight just get a note or a card from a secret admirer. Some schools had 'roseday' where you could buy a red rose for someone you liked. I got a card oncefrom a secret admirer--who didn't stay secret for very long, eighth standardrumour grapevines being quick and effective.
It's always amusing for me though, to see the hullabaloo in the media. I'vebeen bombarded with Valentine's Day advertisements for the past few weeks. 'Giveyour loved one jewels!' Or flowers! 'Or bid on a date with someone hot on MTV!'.Even the news seems to be full of Valentine's day reports as a quick browsethrough news sites reveals. Here are some of the most interesting Valentine'sDay stories I've been able to find.
Firstly, loveis blind, like we always knew. It appears that when you really like someone,you cease to find other people attractive. Which explains a lot, and which alsoexplains why, when your partner is cheating on you, you should break up withthem instantly.
Secondly, this really sweet item about gorillasmating in the wild. The first photographs of gorillas mating face-to-facehave been taken and apparently, our distant cousins have a lot more in commonwith us than we thought.
And, while we're on the subject of wild sex lives, did you know that oystershave a pretty rocking time on the sea bed? It turns out that the males put alot of effort into wooing the females and the females also expend a lot ofenergy into choosing a high quality mate. Also, each egg tries to be slightlydifferent, which stops multiple fertilizations. Wow. And here I thought oysterswere only good for jewellery and eaten cold with a twist of lemon.
In the That's-Really-Obvious Department, it's been discovered recently that good-lookingpeople choose good looking partners. Also, duh, the story says that peoplegenerally have a similar idea about beauty, including things like face symmetryand so on.
And finally, the Singapore government, unlike ours, troubled by their lowbirth rate are encouragingpeople to start dating this Valentine's. In 2006 they launched the onemillion Singapore dollar fund to give to any dating agency that came up with newsocial interaction possibilities. I think it's time to move.
As for me, I bought a silver and turquoise ring the other day to symbolize myengagement with a person that matters and is unlikely to ever dump me--myself.
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