ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, February 14, 1997 TAG: 9702140030
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: HAL SHEIKERZ STAFF WRITER
Too late to order flowers?
Are all the restaurants booked up?
She doesn't like chocolate?
Well there still is hope.
Virtual Valentines.
It sounds as if it's from another world and in a way it is. It's over the Internet.
It may not sound romantic or even exciting, but it's possible to give that special someone something before the end of the day.
Several sites on the World Wide Web are dedicated to this day with origins in the Roman Empire, including these three: http://www.ky.net/valentine and http://www.web21.com/services/hot100/ valentine.html and http://web1.zdnet.com/ wsources/content/960209/markbill.html.
These cyber love sites offer hope for the helpless or rather help for the hopeless.
One of the more popular Valentine features on the web is sending out virtual cards. There are endless "on-line card stores," such as the one from the people who know cards the best - Hallmark (http://www. hallmark.com).
Just like the local card shop, you select a card, write a message and then send it by e-mail. Your sweetheart then receives an e-mail message with the web address of where to get the card on the Internet and a password to access the card. A variety of card styles exist. Cartoon characters, teddy bears with hearts and animated ones that show words flying and objects moving.
Blacksburg resident Heather Horne sent out five virtual Valentines. She selected her cards from a greetings site (http://www.inet-images.com/nad/greetings/). It wasn't her first time sending out virtual cards, either. All the Christmas cards she sent were virtual.
"It's faster," Horne said. Virtual cards are also more reliable.
Horne said she can select the cards and send them over e-mail days or even weeks in advance. But she can request that the cards be delivered exactly on Valentine's Day.
If a virtual card isn't enough for your sweetheart, how about a Web-based Valentine's Day card. For $7.95, you can order a personalized web site from http://www.cyspacemalls.com/valentine/vmake.html. Your sweetheart will then receive the Web address of a Valentine's Day site specially created for him or her.
If flowers are more your style, try a virtual bouquet. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes, blooming on the computer screen - some are even animated. And though they may not have any scent, they never die and they don't cost a dime. There even is a site (http://holiday.ritech.com/ valentines.valentines.html) that explains flowers and their meanings (a red rose does mean love and desire).
Maybe you're not good at words and need help writing notes. Let Cyrano (http://www. nando.net/toys/cyrano.html) compose love messages (steamy or poetic) for that special someone. If you need help with some poetic prose, borrow some lines from Shakespeare or e.e. cummings. There are sites with links to poetic expressions and love readings (http://banzai.neosoft. com/citylink/cupid/books.html).
Or, maybe you're having a difficult time saying "see ya" to that not-so-special someone. Cyrano can also help you compose a dump letter.
And if that special someone doesn't speak the same language you do, learn how to say it in their language (http://www.vietnam-asia-entertain.com/ valentine.html). This site has "I love you" translated in Chinese, Yiddish and Turkish.
Maybe you want to find out why you have not been successful in relationships. Analyze your dating partners with an on-line quiz (http://www.cam.org/
jmauld/english/dateanal.htm).
If want to proclaim your love to the world but can't afford a billboard on U.S. 460, try on-line bulletin boards. There are two sites that let you publicly announce who you love: http://www. valentine.com and http://www.cyspacemalls. com/valentine/public.html.
And if there is no one special in your life - but you're looking - there's a site where you can search for that special someone by browsing on-line personal ads or submitting your own. You can even build your own dream celebrity date (http://www.valentine. com). By selecting qualities you want your date to have, such as "is so cool that nothing Bugs him," the computer program at this site will create an image of Bugs Bunny.
There also are two kissing booths on line. The Internet kissing booth (http://banzai.neosoft. com/citylink/cupid/kiss.html) lets you download smooching sounds. The virtual kissing booth (http://www.whitehawk.com/vkb/) lets you view random pictures of kissing booth volunteers.
There are many Valentine options on line and it is specially good for people who've forgotten what day it is. However, it's not recommended for people who have been accused of spending too much time on the Internet or who consider the computer as "their spouse." A virtual Valentine will make matters only worse.
LENGTH: Medium: 92 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: George Willsby CNB