The Romance Channel

  For those of you singles who've ever wondered, "What really are the stats about online dating?" the Online Dating Industry Journal can keep you up to date on the latest in the online dating world. Check it out here

Let's Talk About Sex

Calif. couple calls for orgasm for peace

MARCUS WOHLSEN

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO - Two peace activists have planned a massive anti-war demonstration for the first day of winter.

But they don't want you marching in the streets. They'd much rather you just stay home.

The Global Orgasm for Peace was conceived by Donna Sheehan, 76, and Paul Reffell, 55, whose immodest goal is for everyone in the world to have an orgasm Dec. 22 while focusing on world peace.

"The orgasm gives out an incredible feeling of peace during it and after it," Reffell said Sunday. "Your mind is like a blank. It's like a meditative state. And mass meditations have been shown to make a change."

The couple are no strangers to sex and social activism. Sheehan, no relation to anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan, brought together nearly 50 women in 2002 who stripped naked and spelled out the word "Peace."

The stunt spawned a mini-movement called Baring Witness that led to similar unclothed demonstrations worldwide.

The couple have studied evolutionary psychology and believe that war is mainly an outgrowth of men trying to impress potential mates, a case of "my missile is bigger than your missile," as Reffell put it.

By promoting what they hope to be a synchronized global orgasm, they hope to get people to channel their sexual energy into something more positive.

The couple said interest appears strong, with 26,000 hits a day to their Web site, http://www.globalorgasm.org.

"The dream is to have everyone in the world (take part)," Reffell said. "And if that means laying down your gun for a few minutes, then hey, all the better."

New and Noteworthy

     Welcome to the Romance Channel news section! This part of our website contains news about love, romance, and anything else related therein that we think is worth sharing.

     Our first news item was brought to our attention from a reader in Honolulu, Hawaii. Thank you for sharing JM! If you would like us to share a newsworthy item on the website, be sure and send it to us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4

It's a Love Thing....

     The purest form of love comes from within your own heart. Each of us expresses love differently. Below are some famous quotes about love. Hope you enjoy them. If you have any favorites you would like us to include, please let us know!

Love wins when everything else will fail.
-Fanny Jackson Coppin

Love stretches your heart and makes you big inside.
  -Margaret Walker

Carve your name on hearts, not on marble.
-C.H. Spurgeon

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.                          -Ghandi

There is no remedy to love, but to love more.    
      -Henry David Thoreau

Love and desire are the spirit’s wings to great deeds.                                    -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 

Tis Better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.
                              -Lord Alfred Tennyson

Love cures people, both the ones who give it, and the ones who receive it.                                                                                                                    -Dr. Karl Menninger

Never close your lips to those whom you have opened your heart. Charles Dickens

Please submit your favorite romantic quote to us and we'll post it.

Mission

At Romance Channel^® ("RC"), we are dedicated to being the world's richest and most reliable resource for reclaiming, restoring, and rejoicing in what's right with Romance.

The Romance Channel^® ("RC") advocates all healthy ideas of romance, including love, sensuality, sexuality, and fantasy. Our goal is to reclaim romance in its entirety; restore qualities of love and emotional intimacy, and rejoice in the emotional depths romance brings. Whether brief and intense, and/or enduring and passionate, RC seeks to elucidate romance as wholesome, loving, and multifaceted, throughout all developmental stages of life, love, and relationships. The RC includes all those qualities, people, events, activities, and artistic endeavors that support the idea of true healthy romances. Focused on the components of joy, love, and intimacy, RC shows loving wholesome romantic relationships do exist, wherein people feel happy, loved, and fulfilled, and know that sex is but a part of such relationships, but by no means encapsulate them.

We apologize for the inconvenience. This page is currently under construction. Please check back with us shortly.

        The Romance Channel Staff

Puberty

Brilliant Disguise

    Changes in Girls

    Physical changes in girls typically occur first, and are more easily seen than the physical changes that occur in guys (just the beginning of one of many differences among the sexes). In most girls, puberty starts with breast growth. When your breasts start to develop, you may notice small, tender lumps under one or both nipples that will get bigger over the next few years.

    Soft hair will start to grow in the pubic area (the area between your legs). This hair will eventually become thick and very curly. You may also notice hair under your arms and on your legs. Many women shave or wax this hair. There is no medical reason to shave or wax, it is simply a personal choice. If you decide to shave, be sure to use a lot of soap and water and a clean razor made for women. In terms of your body shape, your hips get wider and your waist will get smaller. Your body will also begin to build up fat in the stomach, buttocks, and legs. This is normal and gives your body the curvier shape of a woman.

    Your menstrual cycle, or "period," begins between 9 and 16 years of age. Typically, it is around the time your mother/older sister had their period, but it does not have to happen that way. Menstruation is a monthly process; The process begins when your ovaries begin to release eggs. To prepare for the release of the egg, a thick layer of tissue and blood cells build up on the lining of your uterus. If the egg does not meet with a sperm, these tissues and cells are not needed by the body. They turn into a blood-like fluid and flow out of the vagina. The bleeding usually lasts 3-7days. This cycle continues every month throughout your life until you reach menopause. Menopause is the time when your body changes hormonally again, and stops menstruating.

Changes in Guys

     With guys, puberty usually begins with a growth spurt between 10 to 16 years of age. You may notice that you grow out of your clothes or shoes much faster than you normally do. Don't worry, just as with girls, your hormones will balance out and your body will catch up. You will also get taller and your shoulders may get broader. You will gain weight. During this time, many boys experience swelling under their nipples. This may cause them to worry that they are growing breasts. If you experience this, don't worry. It is common among boys your age and is a temporary condition. If you are worried about it, talk to your pediatrician. During puberty, your muscles will also get bigger.

The shape of your body isn't the only change that will occur. Your voice will get deeper as well. This may start with your voice cracking. As you continue to grow, the cracking will stop and your voice will stay at a lower range. Just as with girls, hair will appear under your arms, on your legs and face, and above your penis. Chest hair may appear during puberty or years after, although not all men have chest hair. Some men shave the hair on their faces. There is no medical reason to shave, it is simply a personal choice. If you decide to shave, be sure to use shaving cream and a clean razor made for men.  Your penis and testes will  also grow. You may have erections more often due to an increase in sex hormones. Erections occur when the penis gets stiff and hard - sometimes for no reason. This is normal. Even though you may feel embarrassed, try to remember that most people will not even notice your erection unless you draw attention to it. Many boys become concerned about their penis size; a boy may compare his own penis size with that of his friends. It is important to remember that the size of a man's penis has nothing to do with his manliness or sexual functioning. Your body will also begin to produce sperm during puberty. This means that during an erection, you may also experience ejaculation. This occurs when semen (made up of sperm and other fluids) is released through the penis. This could happen while you are sleeping. You might wake up to find your sheets or pajamas are wet. This is called a nocturnal emission or "wet dream." This is normal so don't worry about it.

       

The Romance Channel...

                                         A Whole New World

      It is with great pleasure and much excitement that I welcome you to the first Ask Dr. Amy column.  The column is for you, the readers, to answer questions about love, life, and relationships. Ask me whatever your heart compels. I can’t promise that everything I say you’ll like. I can’t promise that every suggestion I make will work. I can promise that I will do my best to answer your questions in an honest, caring manner. I’m not an expert at anything except imperfection. I am a clinical psychologist and have spent the majority of my career helping people live healthier lives. Most were adults, who experienced both physical and emotional pain. It gives me special pleasure to write a column focused on happiness, joy, and love.

This is a ‘whole new world’ for me, so to speak. After spending years working with people face to face, I relish this opportunity to communicate with all of you. It also gives me a chance to focus on the positive-what’s right about romance and love. And yes, I believe whole heartedly in the mission statement and am going to do my best to ensure its realization. Sharing our thoughts about love, life, and relationships with one another, please give feedback wherever you can. We really want to hear from you! Speaking of happiness, joy, and love, the holidays are just around the corner. Check out our holiday information and be sure to send in your stories of romance so we can share them with others!

Amy B. Trachter, Psy.D.,Ph.D. is the Director of Development and Operations for Romance Channel, a subsidiary of Metroguide.com. She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Florida and New York; her California licensure is pending. She is also an Adjunctive Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Miller School of Medicine University of Miami. She can be reached at amythinker@aol.com.

SEASONS OF LOVE

SEASONS OF LOVE

              Tips for the Holidays

The months of November and December seem to fly with so much to do and so little time. Making holiday party preparations, spending time with family, and getting the kids/family presents can be overwhelming on top of your daily routine. Now is the time of year to make sure you are taking care of yourself—just so that you can get everything else you need accomplished. It’s difficult for romance to flow easy when we are stressed and overwhelmed.

Here are 5 quick tips to getting it done in time for the holidays:

1-Take it a day a time. Don’t think about all 753 things that require completion before December 15; just focus on today, and what must be done today.

2- Make lists of what needs to get done today. Lists help you organize your time and remember “everything”. It is a way not to forget the pickles in the supermarket or the dry cleaning on the way home.

3-Exercise. It won’t help getting your list completed, but it will put you in a better mood. Exercise is good for you, and it will make it easier for you to deal with what comes your way. Daily exercise assists the body in releasing hormones that effect your mood (which is one of the reasons why exercising in the morning is good for you).

4-Delegate responsibility where possible. The more hands you have assisting you with your list the quicker you accomplish your goals.

5-Realize that eventually, it will all get done. Things may not get accomplished exactly as you’d like, or in the time frame you anticipated, but it all gets done.

Again, we invite you to write questions about anything you wish. If you send an email, and wish to remain anonymous, just let us know. We look forward to hearing from you.

                                      With love and romance we wish you

                                          Happy Holidays!

                                                                - The Romance Channel Staff

 

Romance Reading Corner

Feeling Loved

Feeling love

What does it mean?

Going to eat after the night out,

Laughing till it hurts foolishly,

Experiencing joy and bliss in the moment,

Dependability, responsibility, and respect,

Overlooking flaws and excusing error,

Knowing physical presence remains irrelevant,

Asking for and providing the helpful ear,

Speaking the unspoken words you need to hear,

Unconditional acceptance.

To be loved by a friend.

Feeling love

What does it mean?

Exchanging meaningless words,

Genuinely meaningful words,

Getting affection and tenderness,

Touching with passion and adornment,

Boundless caring and trust,

Understanding and empathy for the other,

Sharing intimate secrets and wildest dreams,

Bringing togetherness to its greatest extreme,

Unconditional acceptance.

To be loved by partners.

Feeling love

What does it mean?

To be in the presence of another,

Receiving phone calls,

Paying attention to one’s needs,

To speak and be truly heard,

To demonstrate sensitivity and kindness,

To feel loyalty and attachment,

To be forgiven easily without reproach,

To know limitless freedom of thought, action, and voice,

To those around us not by choice,

Unconditional acceptance.

To be loved by family.

Be it family, partner, or friend,

True feelings of love are without end.

Transported across time and place,

Feeling loved remains in just one space,

Depth of emotion is just the start,

Of true feelings of love within one’s heart.

During times when love lacks and you’re unglued,

Know all the love you need, lies within you.
-Amy from Miami, Florida

The Romance Channel invites you to submit original poetry about love and romance. You submit it, and we'll post it!