As the Internet becomes the outlet for most things social in our lives, people are increasingly looking towards the web to fulfill more lifestyle needs. Social behavior used to possess more physically active connotations, you can now be social, while sitting on your couch. The Internet has made everything from finding friends to joining clubs much easier, and some have even gone so far as to look for their future partner or spouse in the world of online dating.

This is one industry that has grown exponentially in the last several years. It was once considered a last ditch effort and an avenue of the desperate or socially inept, but as social media has consistently gained in popularity and use, other forms of online interaction have become more commonplace. Online dating is no exception. In fact, there have been an increase of niche sites that have cropped up to cater to any and every specific dating requirements, including religion and specific interests. You can go online and find almost any kind of person you can think of.

Initially, dating sites were more generic, and the information placed online was basic information. Now sites for specific religions and its practitioners, race specific dating, goal oriented dating – for example: those specifically looking to get married, and even sexual transmitted disease communities are boasting the opportunity for meeting a potential mate online. Some sites, like eharmony.com, do not cater to the LGTB community, but some of the top dating sites are inclusive to all races, genders, and sexual orientations, as niche sites grow in success and popularity.

According to various dating sites and statistics posted on datingsitesreviews.com, one in five people have used the services of a dating website. The same site also offered the statistic that last year, about 17 percent of all those who were married last year met through various online services. These are impressive figures and have increased rapidly in recent years, and these figures are likely to only increase more as people become comfortable with using online services for many social aspects of their lives.

As we’ve seen in recent years, Hispanic culture is becoming increasingly important nationally. Their cultural roots have made their way into the fabric of the greater American consciousness and have only added to our country’s eclectic background. As the Hispanic population grows and their influence is felt in more varying ways, we continue to see how their presence, politics, values, and culture shape our country.

Late last month MSN reported this growing demographic is foreseen to make big waves in the coming 2012 elections. Their numbers are growing, as is their influence in states that haven’t been traditionally considered Hispanic or Latino battleground states. The 2010 Census reported that the Latino population has almost doubled in several states, and some analysts foresee the increase to continue across the US. These figures are a lesson to the larger public that Hispanic culture isn’t just something that exists in one or two states or in certain areas of the country. Their influence as a part of our country is being felt by the greater whole and is helping shape the future of our nation. With the Republicans and Democrats in hot debate for control over the political landscape, neither party will neglect this key demographic, which will figure into the deciding factors for the outcome of 2012 elections.

Besides politics, Hispanic and Latino culture are the benchmark of many current American communities. Our country has seen an increase in Hispanic entertainers and programming on network television, which brings seemingly two different worlds together. The popularity of novelas and other Spanish-speaking programming has increased in the US, according to an article by Variety. Novelas are television programming depicting various interpretive melodramas where the characters portrayed are usually Spanish-speaking. The series, “Soy Tu Duena”, according to the Neilson ratings, topped the Monday night lineup among the other networks heavy hitters, such as “Two and a Half Men.”

Last year the Senate voted on the Dream Act, but it failed in the final vote with 55-41. This was a bipartisan bill designed to help children of illegal immigrants become citizens through agreeing to go to school or join the military. This act failed, but it will likely see the floor of the House soon.

Hispanic and Latino immigrants are working every day to be a part of our country’s communities and continue to help shape it’s future. It will be interesting to see how these cultures will either clash or meld together in the coming years. With so much at stake and on the cusp of change, we can only wait and see how an ever changing America will continue to evolve with its people.

I grew up in a quiet, middle class neighborhood. We didn’t lock our doors. We borrowed milk and butter from each other. We kids called the grown ups “Mr.” or “Mrs.” but we all felt more like family than many families today. It was (and still is) a great place to live.

And yet. (You knew that was coming, right?) There is always a neighbor – sometimes more than one neighbor – who transforms a wonderful neighborhood into a nightmare. Some neighbors are unpleasant and others are just downright rotten. When you’re dreaming of luxury vacations but would settle for a hospital stay just to get away from an obnoxious neighbor, you know you have a problem!

Now, thanks to the internet, anyone can report rotten neighbors in order to warn others. That means that if you’re thinking of buying a new house, you can check out the neighborhood for any problem people. Pretty cool, huh?

The site is the brainchild of Brant Walker and is owned by @ttenunit.com. They’re not real estate agents or brokers; the site is simply there as a service to those who are considering a move to a new area.

I entered my own zip code and found no reports of bad neighbors so I guess I’m in the clear. (Or my neighbors don’t know about the site yet.) I entered my mom’s zip code and found 4 reports: 2 bad, 2 good. Knowing the area as I do, I admit that I agree with the reports I found.

Whether you’re looking into a new neighborhood or you just want to give your opinion on your own neighbors, this is an excellent resource. Give it a look.

Speaking of cars and things….

I don’t know how I missed it before, but my car insurance company has a website that lets you pay your premiums online. I did that last month and it was really easy.

I pay most of my bills online. Those that don’t have online options get paid through my banks BillPay program. I don’t think I send checks for anything anymore. And I like that.

The best thing about the online payment options is that I have a triple record – the Thank You For Paying page that I copy and paste into a text file, the email that is always sent after payment is made, and the record at the website where I make the payment.

I’m awful with paper records so I embrace the digital receipts. I just have to remember to back up my hard drive so I don’t lose anything.

My mom and I were talking about what kind of child life insurance we should get for Kendyll. We’ve always opted for the two policies for the kids. One is very inexpensive, provides a small amount of coverage and offers the option of converting to an adult policy at very reasonable rates when the kid is 21. The other is a one time payment of $2000 that provides scholarship money for college.

I always get the first policy for my kids and my mom gets the second one. I’m thinking about getting the second one for Kendyll. Anyone know of a better policy for kids?

When I picked up my daughter at school last week, we drove the long way around to get home. I was in one of those reminiscent moods and wanted to look at some of the places we used to go as kids.

I’d forgotten that one of the town’s bowling alleys no longer exists. And the discount furniture store where we got our first living room set is now a convenience store. My, how things change!

My kids, of course, don’t really care about the way things used to be. My daughter enjoyed the extra time we spent together but wanted to do most of the talking, not listen to old mom remembering the way things were. I wonder if Levi would be interested in a ride down memory lane with me.

I have to take Boomer to the doctor this week and I’m kind of dreading it. Why doctors have such awful magazines in their waiting rooms? Is there some doctor rule about that or something?

The last time I saw the doctor, I was stuck reading celebrity news and crafting magazines. The ads for Branson homes for sale were more interesting than the gossip and how-to articles.

I have to remember to pick up a couple computer magazines and maybe Popular Science before Boomer’s appointment. Or I could just sit there and tweet from my cell phone. I’m sure all my twitter friends would love to keep up with the ticking clock as we wait on Boomer’s doctor.

When Maggie, Levi and I went to the mall last weekend, we took our time and looked around at just about every store. We even walked through K mart and looked at everything from fishing gear and exercise equipment to baby cribs and ceiling fans!

Usually we’re in a hurry to get home but since I don’t have to rush home to make supper while Brian is in Hawaii, I can take my time and “window shop” or even just stop and visit when I see someone I know.

I’ve always enjoyed walking through the mall but had grown to hate it because I was always in a rush. It’s really nice to just take as much time as I want, no rush, and enjoy the kids. I think we’ll do this again next week.

Yes, I’ve been out in real life and just realized that I’m feeling a little like I’ve gone cold turkey from blogging. It’s like drug rehabilitation for a blogaholic.

The only thing is, it’s not specifically blogging I miss but the being able to express myself and share ideas here. That’s what I was craving this past week. And seriously, that isn’t so much an addiction as it is a desire to be heard. That’s really just a very human thing.

Some of my friends are busy buying domains. I have a habit of checking on domain names now and then and making lists of those that I really want. Right now, I have a handful of domains that need developed.

I know that there are others who own hundreds of domains; I’m not at that point yet. I like having some of the prime internet real estate but I’m going slow and trying to give it some thought before I buy.