THE DAGEFORDE FILES | How to spot a loser from miles away

Here's Lorraine Dageforde's tips for success at Internet matchmaking:
SET YOUR STANDARDS
"Before I set standards, I wasted a lot of my time -- maybe as many as 20 dates -- meeting with men I could never develop a relationship with."
And what kind of a man is Dageforde seeking?
Someone who is "romantic, grounded, successful, outgoing adventurer. Travel is a must, as well as companionship and friends. If you love life, have a great attitude, are taking care of your body and your health, we should talk!"
Here are her standards:
UCollege degree.
UEvidence of career success. It doesn't matter what type of success, but few men talk about careers in their profile, she says.
UNo lines about "walks on the beach." That's a ploy to interest women.
UGood command of the language, which includes spelling, grammar, vocabulary and creativity in writing.
UAt least 5 feet 10 inches tall because Dageforde likes to wear high heels, and "I have hair." She says, "If a man is shorter, it never seems to work."
UProfessional appearance. Photo should not be a snapshot.
WRITE A GOOD PROFILE
UBe specific about your interests, and give concrete examples. Not "I like to dance," but, "I cut a mean rug on the swing dance floor every Tuesday night." Give examples.
USay positive, upbeat things about yourself.
UMake sure your picture is attractive. Men scan profiles and stop at the prettiest woman.
UDon't give the appearance that you are sitting at home waiting for someone to rescue you, no matter what your age.
USpend a couple of paragraphs talking about yourself, as in, "In my home you will be welcomed by a provocatively dressed, attractive lady who will provide you with an evening of attention and hospitality. However, it's up to you to provide a first date that will create my desire to invite you to my place."
UUpdate your file daily -- even if you change just a word or two -- so that it doesn't fall to the bottom of the list.
HOW TO SELECT A SITE
UPick a Web site that will send you possible matches every day or at intervals you select. Some will send 10 to 15 matches with photos, plus additional profiles without photos.
USelect a site that is easy to navigate with one or two clicks of a button.
UMake sure you can browse profiles at will, when you put in criteria you are looking for.
UCost should be about $25 a month.
READING BETWEEN THE LINES TO SPOT BAD DATES
Men make mistakes in their profiles that presage date disasters. Lorraine Dageforde calls them "red flags." Among them:
UProfiles that sound like they were copied from a book -- as in "I love long hair and drives on the coast" -- indicate lack of creativity.
UOverly sexy language flags a guy looking for fun rather than a serious relationship.
UVague description of marital status means he's married.
UIf he's too young, he's looking for a mother, money or sex.