ROVIN’ AND RAVIN’ WITH MIKE

VALENTINE’S DAY ON THE WEB

Copyright © 1999 by Michael Segers, all rights reserved

Yeah, we know about computer nerds (or is it geeks?), squinty-eyed critters more comfortable with machines than with other human beings. If they ever had a romantic thought, they would beat it to death with their slide rules and run it through the paper shredder.

Quick! What are three things wrong with that opening paragraph? First, all generalizations are false (including this one). Second, who uses a slide rule anymore? (Maybe the same folks who use manual typewriters?) And third, the computer has turned out to be a machine with a heart, at least if played by heart (subliminal reminder of a wonderful film). What better time is there to put the romantic possibilities of a computer—or at least, those of us who use one—to the test than on the Feast of St. Valentine. So, let’s see how we can celebrate the virtual feastday of a virtual saint, since poor St. Val was some years ago officially reduced to the status of legend.

Perhaps the most basic way that computers aid in human communication and interaction is that they allow us ways of getting in touch and keeping in touch that would not otherwise be possible. For instance, how do you go about getting in touch with someone you knew years ago, perhaps in school, in the military, perhaps someone who once made a Valentine’s Day so special that it still brings you a smile when you remember how… Oops! I’m getting carried away. By accessing the World Wide Web, you have a variety of ways to search for long lost friends and others. Check these sites:

AT&T Toll-Free Internet Directory: www.tollfree.att.net

Four11: www.four11.com

Military Brats Registry: www.military_brats.com

Planet Alumni: www.planetalumni.com

Switchboard: www.switchboard.com

WhoWhere?: www.whowhere.com

As usual, Peanut.org makes life easier for us who take advantage of its services. From the homepage, click on "News." Then, click on "Phone Directory," to link directly to Lycos (www.lycos.com). Or, click on "WEB Search," to link to AltaVista (www.altavista.com), and then click on "People Finder."

All these services have problems. Just as you have to know how to spell a word to look it up in the dictionary, so you have to know a good bit about the person you are seeking; at least, the more you know, the better your chances are of making a successful match. Make sure that the name is spelled correctly, that the geographical data is correct, even that you are using the current name. There are still problems. I just looked for myself with AltaVista’s "People Finder," and although I turned up nine other folks with the same grand name, I wasn’t there. So, although these search services are not perfect, they can at least get you started on patching up a broken heart.

I used to send so many greeting cards that a friend once asked me how much Hallmark stock I owned. But lately, as prices of cards having been rising faster than cable television rates, I have not been so quick to send the very best. But, once again, our trusty computers can help us out. Several web-sites allow us to send personalized, individually designed cards by e-mail. The way this works is that at the web-site, you design your card, with choice of messages, graphics, backgrounds, sometimes even music, then give the e-mail address of the person whom you wish to greet. The rest is done for you, without even the cost of a stamp (speaking of rising prices…):

Valentine’s cards: www.atlanta.to/kiss.html

Valentine’s cards for kids: www.funorama.com/valentines.html

General themed cards: www.bluemountainarts.com

Peanuts cards: http://umweb1.unitedmedia.com/comics/peanuts

Katharine Hepburn cards: http://members.aol.com/khwebring/index1.htm

Let’s not forget, however, the reason for the season. We commemorate a Christian martyr (of history or of legend), although he gets lost in the lacy hearts and stale chocolates. You can do something for your church by getting in touch with sysop@peanut.org to find out how your church can have its own free presence on the Web. While you are at it, check out the presentations of two churches already represented here—one of which offers a daily devotional.

This is a missed opportunity for this year, but you can plan now for your church to participate in a great local initiative next year with SouperBowl Sunday (www.souperbowl.com). Thousands of local churches collect canned soups and cash donations on SuperBowl Sunday and then take these contributions directly to local food programs of their choice. The last time I checked this site, over two million dollars were reported raised this year.

Finally, since it’s all about love, I want to throw in two sites that I love. One of my favorite but somewhat quirky sites is "Dismuke’s Virtual Talking Machine," http://dismuke.simplenet.com, which is a collection of old recordings, some of which are almost a hundred years old, and some of which still are quite romantic. For a weird combination, match Dismuke’s music with some heart-throbbing images from NASA: www.nasa.gov/gallery/photo/index.html. Just what you need when you can’t go out strolling and looking at the stars.

As you probably know, you can order flowers and candy from various web-sites, but why not send a Valentine to one of the foundations of American life and economy, the small business? Especially if you live in Sylvester, where the parkin’ is easy, then by all means, patronize your local merchants.

But, when all is said, done, and downloaded, the best thing you can do with your computer on Valentine’s Day, is to unplug it, and share the most special gift of all, your time and yourself, with your family, friends, or other special folks on your own world wide web. So, till next time, keep your feet dry, and although your heart is full of Valentine’s Day sentiments, leave some room for some noble thoughts.