What is it like to be single in 2023, I don't know but it seems like a bizarre reality. Even though it's weird out there, people still want to find love. Everyone wants their love butter melted, no matter what the dating landscape is.

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But you cannot achieve something or fix a situation, if you don't know what is broken so I decided to do a bit of research. I wanted to see what some of the biggest pitfalls are with dating in this era. Some of the problems turned out to be as old as time while others were very specific to today. In November of 2022, Huff Post laid out 6 online dating frustrations, here are just a few:

Being "Ghosted"

Many of the people who spoke to Huff Post shared "ghosting" stories. One minute, things are going well and then, poof the person is gone.

Bad Matches

Many online daters have complained about matching with the wrong person either as a result of their own judgement.

Dates Feel Like Interviews

When people did meet-up, they felt like it was cold, almost like they were being interviewed for a job.

Woman rejecting a geek boy in a blind date
AntonioGuillem
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This search led me to another and before I knew it, I was in a rabbit hole of nightmare date stories. Like this one from a 2021 Buzfeed article that read:

We were like 15 minutes into our date when he said (in exactly this order) that he likes to 'eat ----, lick feet, and if this is going to be serious, you really need to lose weight.' I wanted to leave the date as soon as he said that. When he suddenly demanded that I drive him home because he didn't have a car, I told him that my car wouldn't be able to move with two fatties in it, and drove home.

Cheers
(THIS GUY) Mark Stout
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Then, I found reviews and complaints about the dating apps themselves. A 2013 MukRock article laid out multiple examples of FTC complaints launched against the more popular dating apps. Some of the problems were:

  • Romance Scams 
  • Solicitation Issues 
  • Mishandled Renewals and Cancellations
  • User Data/Photos Misuse - People found that their profiles were used to advertise the app on major websites and search engines. - That is cringe-worthy 

Apparently, it is a nightmare out there and no one is safe. So, what to do? I'm not the best option for relationship advice but that has never stopped me before. I think people need to kick it, old-school and get out of the house.

If you go to a dating event or singles mixer, you at least know that those people are a little more serious about finding love. I mean, they took a shower (hopefully), they put on pants and drove their car to a place. All of those actions show some level of commitment, versus swiping left and right from their couch.

If you want to take action and use my 1-step plan, then I've got just the thing for you. Scooter's Bar & Grill in New Milford is hosting a "Lock & Key" Singles Mixer on March 9th from 6-Midnight. According to the Patch, Social Mixers of CT is hosting the affair. They will also have Happy Hour until 7 and a DJ (Flaco). Scooter's is located at 507 Danbury Road.

I looked to see what a "Lock & Key" party is. This is how it's described by Single in the City website:

The Lock and Key Party is an exciting ice-breaker! Men get keys and women get locks; each key fits several locks and each time a lock is opened, both people get tickets to enter into a raffle for prizes. They then get new locks and keys with which to go out and meet more people.  The more you play the more prize tickets you get and the better chance you have at winning a prize.  Of course…the main reason to participate is to mix and mingle.

Back in the day (before my time), they had these things called "key parties." In the 70's, people would go to these functions and everyone threw their keys in a bowl. Then, at the end of the night people would close their eyes, put their hand in the bowl and pick a set of keys out. Whoever the keys belonged to, was the person you were taking home. That is pretty much the creepiest concept I can think. I'm super glad its not really a thing anymore.

Keystone
Keystone
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Forgive me for being a prude but I like to have some say in who I diddle with. With my luck, I'd end up with the town mutant in my home. It would be an absolute goblin with bad breath who doesn't put the hand-towel back on the hook in the bathroom. They'd be rummaging through my personal items saying, "we gonna do this or what?" No thank you, no sir-eee Bob. Not this guy, I ain't going out like that!

DISCLAIMER: Yes, "mutant" and "goblin" are offensive today, if I assign them to an actual person but I didn't. We're talking about a make-believe individual that lives in my mind that I don't want to smooch with. You can't get offended by that.

Check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast on Apple and Spotify.

I am sending our I-95 Morning Show Love Correspondent "Anita Goodickens" to the "Lock & Key" event. She'll be there to gather information and interview people who attend. So, if you're interested, look for the woman in the cape, trying to figure out how to use the audio recorder on her phone. She'd love to talk to you and if you let her interview you, your answers may be shared on the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Morning Show.

DISCLAIMER: YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO TALK TO ANITA GOODICKENS. YOU CAN CHOOSE NOT TO BE RECORDED, MENTIONED, LOOKED AT OR ASKED QUESTIONS. She is just a lady with a phone who is sweet and very approachable. 

I hope someone finds true love that night, a love like no other. I hope you find a love so deep that an aircraft carrier could pass through it. I hope the whole building is puffed up with tension, laughter and juices. Good luck everyone, good luck. I hope your love butter melts all over the floor.

Exclusive Photos, Videos, and Interviews on the Set of New Milford Horror Movie

"Candlewood" is a horror film that just finished filming in New Milford, CT. This is how the filmmakers described the project on their Indiegogo: 
 
"Candlewood is the first movie of three in the psychological/horror feature film franchise. A blended family moves from the city to a small town in Connecticut, where a local urban legend adds chaos and terror to an already fragile family dynamic. The staunch patriarch, who desperately wants his family to not see him as a failure but as the father that did everything, he could to keep his family together through difficult times. Candlewood follows a family leaving New York City for a simpler life in the country town of New Milford, CT. The haunting and mysterious true stories of missing hikers near a popular state park, Lover's Leap, coupled with the town of Jerusalem sitting at the bottom of Candlewood Lake gives credibility to our narrative. We bring to life the struggle of good vs evil and what happens when lifelong, outdated traditions are challenged." 
 
A while back I got in touch with the folks behind the movie, invited them on the I-95 Morning Show with Ethan, Lou and Dave and talked about the film, and shooting in New Milford. We spoke with Director Myke Furhman and Writer/Executive Producer Victoria Flores-Argue. During that discussion, I demanded to be in the movie, telling the duo that I have some experience acting on TV shows that never actually made it onto TV. Against all odds, they did invite me to participate and I visited the set on October 20th to shoot a scene that is important. I was extremely nervous and I had zero idea of what I was in for. Below are some insider moments from my day on-set and from others.  

7 of The Most Dangerous Cities to Be in Connecticut After Dark

What are CT's Most Dangerous Cities? To get there, I went back to see prior lists and then took a look see what published reports had come out already for 2023. The most recent was from a company called House Grail. Like so many companies today, they used third party data to develop reports that we'll all read. The more people that read it, the more look into their business. As a consumer (a set of eyeballs) I think it is one of the most effective and digestible marketing tools. The statistics they shared come from FBI. These are 7 of The Most Dangerous Cities to Be in Connecticut After Dark: 

Want more of whatever this was? If so, check out the Ethan, Lou & Large Dave Podcast. The show is available on Apple and Spotify.

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