You wouldn't think that one of the Internet's leading online dating services would be in the business of undermining the institution of marriage, but that's exactly what happened this week.

The dating website Match.com, which has a partnership with Microsoft's MSN Network dating back since the year 2000, published a report by journalist Rory Evans that celebrated the declining interest in couples to marry.

The report was one of the top stories on the MSN network, distributed to millions of Internet users around the globe with declarations such as, "More and more couples are living in sin " delivered in a tone that seemed both jovial and gleeful.

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Titled "Look Who's Happily Unmarried," the argument that rejecting marriage was somehow morally superior was provided largely by Nicky Grist, executive director of the "Alternatives to Marriage Project" – www.unmarried.org.

A dating guide: From 'breeze-by' to blow-off

Any single person who has endured the rigors of dating in the 21st century knows all about its peaks and pitfalls.

Is it ever appropriate to go Dutch when the check arrives? Is an online date somehow less significant than

one that happens organically? And don't even get us started on whether it's OK to break the three-date rule before romping in the hay.

Because the different styles of modern dating mean there are more variables than a math scholar can count, we checked with social mating experts and Bay Area singles to help understand the most common sorts of dating behavior. Can you relate to any of them?

The "Back in

the Saddle" Date

The first encounter that puts you back into the game. Often follows a particularly devastating rejection or the demise of a long relationship.

Online Dating Success Story

With a little prodding, Cheryl Rhudy and Steven Smart plunged into the dating scene by posting profiles on an internet dating service. Steven said, "I thought based on their commercial that I was going to meet somebody quicker than I did."It took some time. But before long, the firefighter from Wisconsin got an e-mail from the website that it had found him a highly compatible match. Steven mentioned, "I opened up her profile and it was somebody from South Dakota and I thought 'I don't know anyone from South Dakota,' maybe it would at least be fun to communicate with em."Cheryl replied, "We had a lot of contact back and forth early on."Then it was time to meet in person. Steven said, "I was already in love with her before I had met her through all of our emails and conversations so it really didn't matter what she looked like but once I met her I was blown away."But there was the distance problem. Steven also said, "It was pretty tough being apart especially as in love as we were to just have the telephone to communicate was tough."But that struggle ended in 2005 when Steven proposed to Cheryl on Valentine's Day and they married seven months later. Cheryl said, "It was amazing, we found somebody to hike up with and they married us on top of Harney Peak and it was incredible."A union that wouldn't have been possible without the world wide web. Cheryl replied, "That's right, there is not a chance that I would have met him and it's a dream relationship."Steven and Cheryl were named South Dakota's success story of the year in 2006 by the online dating service eHarmony.

Celebrating love around the world

During the Valentine-giving season card racks of reds and pinks, hearts and flowers grapple for attention. Flower and candy shop owners prepare for one of their busiest days of the year.Aisles in stores are filled with chocolates, teddy bears, and other love sentiments that are purchased for or by people of all ages. These gifts go to sweethearts, special friends, children, siblings and even pets.Statistics show that the United States dominates the card and chocolate market across the world. The Greeting Card Association estimates 1 billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making it the second most popular holiday to send cards, next to Christmas.

According to DataMonitor.com, Americans are expected to spend $2.7 billion on boxed chocolates in 2007.Valentine's Day is big business in the United States, however that isn't true in all parts of the world.