img @ istock

OBC has been saying “You don’t have to promise marriage just to get a date” for years, shouting it from the rooftops, car windows, and public bathroom toilets in Barstow, CA (sidenote: don’t ever go to Barstow, California). And yet, for some reason, everyone construed it as us preaching dirty, offensive filth that would derail humanity and send us into a population-decimating spiral that ends with us being taken over by starfish or something.

Fast-forward to this week, and a University of Iowa professor Anthony Paik is backing us up, saying that people who engage in ‘hookup culture’ are still fully capable of going on to have meaningful, fulfilling relationships… when they’re ready. He analyzed 462 adults’ relationship studies from across the Chicago and discovered that while those who hold off on sex have happy, successful relationships, so do those who “spot each other across the room, become sexually involved and then build a relationship.”

The study seems to infer that it wasn’t the sexual behavior of the participants that dictated their ability to have lasting relationships, but instead their readiness to be in a long-term commitment. Therefore, those who were participating in casual dating, hookups, and booty calls were more likely to be able to gauge whether or not they were ready and willing to commit to one person.

Plus, there was no sign that relationships couldn’t be formed from casual hooking up and dating. It makes sense, because sexual chemistry is much harder to force than personality chemistry. And when it comes to long term relationships, an unsatisfactory sex life is one of the main reasons people stray. So why is it that sexual compatibility is so far down on the bottom of the list, behind political views, favorite color and hobbies? Sure you might like rock climbing together, but if you don’t wanna bone down at the top of the cliff, why even climb it?

That didn’t make any sense. I think it’s quitting time and it’s only 10 am.

It’s Fridayyyyyy (the 13th, by the way, so no walking under ladders and absolutely NO punching mirrors, Dominic Monaghan.) and it’s time to start planning out your weekend. BCU has decided to start Friday blog posts about the three things you should do this weekend, every once in a while peppering in some things you definitely SHOULDN’T do, such as, “DON’T go to Glamour Shots, because they will probably end up looking like these.” (number 5 is totally your future wife, btw). So, without further adieu, BCU’s top 3 things you HAVE TOdo this weekend.

The entire Bengals team. I think. img @ bossip

1) PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL MOTHER F***ER!

FOOT! BALL! FOOT! BALL! SPORTS! MEN! BEER! Okay, I’m tired. But anyway, preseason football is here, and this year people care more than ever. I have learned that if you’re thinking about changing the channel away from ESPN around a guy, you might as well shoot him in the head execution-style, and also, you’ll never receive a more evil, condescending stare as you will if you try and convince a  man that “it’s not even the real season yet” because ALL football is REAL and it MATTERS, OKAY, and SHUT UP. Anyway — get on board, hit your favorite bar, and on Saturday watch the Chargers Vs Bears game, Sunday the Denver Vs. TO and Ochocinco game. Whatever you do, even if you miss the games, find out what happened or else you will have absolutely NOTHING to talk to anyone about for the next six months.

Bad-Assery at its finest. img @ moviearcadia

2) See the Expendables

And don’t you DARE see Eat, Pray, Vomit or whatever it’s called, because you respect yourself too much to subject your eyes and brain and soul to two hours of Julia Roberts being like blah blah blah India blah blah blah divorce blah blah blah not real problems.

basically, look like this, please. img @ smh.com.au

3) Get laid

According to Reuters, men who wear red are more attractive to the opposite sex, so bust out that red cardigan and get to work! Now, personally, I find that most men look terrible in red, so what I mean to say is, shave that awkward ‘stache you’ve been attempting, take a shower, and maybe wear a shirt with buttons? I don’t know, call me crazy, but when you start chatting up that lady at the bar on Saturday when you’re cheering on Philip Rivers (because that’s what gentlemen do), she’s gonna pay attention to whether or not you look like you own soap and/or hangers. Make this weekend count!

This has been the Friday the 13th edition of the Things You Have to Do This Weekend. Annnnnd BREAK.

As we all know, body language is one of the most important weapons men have in their arsenal to know if a woman is flirting with them. Women tend to try and play coy and “hard to get” which usually translates into “acting like a standoffish b****” even when they’re fairly interested.

However, even reading women’s body language can be tough, so the guys over at Asylum got some help breaking the body cues down.

This first pose, according to the expert, shows that she’s laid back and also “aggressively flirting” with you. Her relaxed pose says she’s comfortable with you, which is a nice way of saying she wants you. Now.

Eesh. You are doing something wrong, dude. Her crossed arms, paired with the lean away from you, shows that she’s not pickin’ up what you’re puttin’ out. Luckily, though, her feet are still pointed at you, so you might still have a chance.

This is another pose, that according to the expert, says she’s down to get down. Her half leaning stance says she’d ready to leave the bar with you, if you’d just get the balls and DO IT.

Her arms are back, giving you access to her chest. What do you THINK this means?

Check out more body language codes that either say “Let’s do this” or “Move along, nothing to see here,” at Asylum!

img @ dawngrrl

We all know that women are freaks of nature that no one understands. Books like Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus sold millions of copies because of this phenomenon. Luckily, purveyors of fine rum, Don Q, recently recently decided to try their hand at cracking the mysterious woman code with their new site feature, LadyData. Grabbing info from tons of female insiders, they got the dirt on women’s opinions on everything from music to careers to dancing.

You can filter the results based on age, education level, and tons of other stats, which means you can basically figure out what any female would think about anything!

Some of the results are quite interesting…

• 68% of women say “saying they don’t care about Valentine’s day” is a trap
• 66% of women say the amount of time you can be unemployed depends how hard you’re looking for a job.
• 80% of women say kissing under the misteltoe is still cute

and my favorite,

• 43% of women are okay with you going to a strip club with your buddies, as long as you don’t get a lap dance.

Check out more awesome Lady Data at DonQ.com

img @ediets

Remember when Jeff Foxworthy used to do those “You might be a redneck” jokes? Those weren’t funny.

Although no one on the BCU staff knows “how to make roadkill stew,” we do know the signs that you might be whipped. Here are our top 5 favorites.

1) If she knows all your passwords…

When I was a kid and I first got my own computer, my parents knew all my passwords to make sure I wasn’t getting into any shenanigans online. Then I turned 13, and the word “privacy” entered my vocabulary. That was the last time it was okay for anyone to you know your password. If you let her read your e-mails, you are letting her be your mom. Not okay.

2) If you ask permission to go out with the guys…

If she assumes you’re going boob-hunting every time you and your buddies want to hang out, she’s got some insecurity issues that she needs to work out… alone. She’s your girlfriend, not your warden, and you don’t have to ask permission to leave the house.

3) If you only hang out with her friends…

Remember when you had separate friend groups? You would meet up with her after hanging with your friends? Now all you do is hang out with other couples, sitting at someone’s house drinking wine and watching Couple’s Retreat. You sir, are whipped.

4)If you always worry she’s going to get mad…

You’re at the store, practically drooling over a new LCD big screen. You just got a raise and want to drop the big bucks, but you’re worried that your sleeping dragon of a girlfriend might not approve, so you call to ask. Making decisions on your own is part of being a grown up, so do it! (Plus, if she’s not stoked on a nice new TV, she’s got issues anyway)

5) If she uses sex as a bargaining tool…

90% of the time she wears sweatpants and a grease-stained college t-shirt to bed, and the only time you ever see her look sexy anymore is when she’s asking you to buy her a ridiculously overpriced diamond necklace. Sex is a key part of any relationship, and if the only time you get it is after a business transaction, you need to get out, now.