Tomorrow’s news

Thursday, January 31, 2008

Classic e-cards provide a way for Web users to make a homemade greeting with a swift click of the mouse. But there’s no need to stop at a simple greeting card when more advanced gift options are popping up across the Net.

Forget to buy flowers for Valentine’s Day? Need a way to show your sweetie that you’re sorry? Web sites such as www.virtualflowers.com and www.virtualflorist.com provide virtual bouquets and arrangements to be sent from one screen to another.

While these digital flowers are free, Facebook is using the virtual gift trend to increase its revenue. Virtual gifts can be purchased on Facebook for one dollar and sent to a friend in the form of a digital icon designed by Susan Kare, designer of the original Macintosh computer icon. The gift then goes on display on the receiver’s profile.

Virtual gifts have received mixed reactions from some receivers. “I think virtual gifts are cute and fun for small occasions and for people you’re kind of friends with that you wouldn’t actually buy a gift for,” says Sam Beasley, Topeka freshman. “I hope it doesn’t stay as a fad. Who wants a virtual stuffed puppy? I think true friends would be able to fork over five bucks to buy me a real stuffed puppy.”

Love is in the Air

The different ways to celebrate Valentine's Day.

/news/2012/jan/31/love-air/

A world of love

/news/2006/feb/08/world_valentine/

Your Valentine’s Day picks for presents

Perfect gifts for every stage in your relationship

/news/2009/feb/12/your_valentines_day_picks_presents/

Bittersweet: Don't let the hype ruin your ...

Whether you're taken ... or single you can avoid the pitfalls of ...

/news/2010/feb/11/bittersweet/

Romance can boom or bust on Valentine’s ...

The holiday is a great opportunity to boost relationships, but also leads ...

/news/2010/feb/12/romance-can-boom-or-bust-valentines-day/

Throughout the ages: the history of Valentine’s ...

Valentine’s Day makes people think of romance, but there’s more history to ...

/news/2012/feb/13/history-valentines/

SPECIAL: Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Valentine's Day is less than a week away, but there's still time ...

/news/2006/feb/08/special_valentines_day_gift_guide/

DIY: Greeting cards

The perfect personalized gesture

/news/2008/feb/21/diy_greeting_cards/

Everyone loves a weekend Valentine’s day

Exhibits, concerts and theater performances among holiday happenings in Lawrence and KC

/news/2009/feb/13/weekend_valentines/

Editor's note: Feb. 11

Associate editor Kelci Shipley's shares her Valentine's Day experiences.

/news/2010/feb/11/editors-note-feb-10/

What do you think?

Students' choices for Valentine's Day gifts

/news/2010/feb/08/what-do-you-think/

Do this: Ceramics

Just do it.

/news/2012/jan/25/do-ceramics/

Date on a dime

Ideas to make your Valentine's special on a tight budget

/news/2006/feb/08/sp_budget/

Smart shopping

Tips on how to save money while surviving seasonal rushes and scams

/news/2007/nov/29/smart_shopping/

V-Day do's and dont's

How to please your honey

/news/2008/feb/07/vday_dos_and_donts/

/weblogs/vfdbgfv/2012/may/11/if-you-are-planning-to-oakley-fuel-cell-cheap/

‘Farmville’ game increases in popularity

More than 63 million monthly users play the online game and it ...

/news/2009/nov/12/farmville/

Businesses strive to make Valentine's Day great

/news/2006/feb/14/valentines_day/

Thornbrugh: How to tell someone you have ...

/news/2008/nov/20/thornbrugh_STDs/

Valentine's Day spending down for students, up ...

Whether it was for a romantic dinner, a bouquet of flowers or ...

/news/2012/feb/14/valentines-day-spending-down-students-rises-nation/

Turkey day review

All you need to know this Thanksgiving

/news/2007/nov/15/turkey_day_review/

Kris Kringle quagmire

The difficulties of giving gifts to the opposite sex and how to ...

/news/2007/nov/29/kris_kringle_quagmire/

Kennedy: Protect your identity while online

If you think your information is safe online, think again.

/news/2012/feb/17/kennedy-protect-your-identity/

Esposito: Gifts pose budget challenges

Shopping strategies can ease the financial stress of holiday giving.

/news/2009/dec/02/esposito-gifts-pose-budget-challenges/

New to You

Freecycle your stuff

/news/2006/sep/07/new_you/

Gwynn: The insincerity of Valentine's Day

What is Valentine's Day really supposed to mean?

/news/2012/feb/13/gwynn-insincerity-valentines-day/

Sexually (inter)Active: Guide to year-round satisfaction

Our panelists discuss how to keep relationships passionate throughout the year.

/news/2010/feb/19/sexually-interactive/

The object of her affection

/news/2006/feb/09/jpvday/

Toys for Tots brings local families holiday ...

The program allows students to give toys to families in need at ...

/news/2011/nov/17/toys-tots-brings-local-families-holiday-joy/

Jayplay Events Calendar

/news/2006/feb/09/jpcalendar/

Essential life skills: Blog your portfolio

In case of emergency, read quickly.

/news/2010/feb/04/essential-life-skills/

/photos/galleries/2012/feb/14/valentines-day-open-house/

Green it!

Digital books

/news/2009/jan/15/green_it/

/videos/2011/feb/14/1817/

bitch & moan

Students sexual questions get answers

/news/2007/mar/01/bitch_moan/

Idea-sharing website Pinterest grows in popularity

Pinterest is the latest in website fads among women younger than 34.

/news/2012/jan/26/site-pinterest/

Tech Review: Facebook's makeover

Don't take Steve Jobs' word for it.

/news/2011/sep/29/tech-review-facebooks-makeover/

Memorial service for journalism lecturer this Monday

Family and university mourn Christine Merrill Bradford who died of an apparent ...

/news/2008/apr/25/update_memorial_service_journalism_lecturer_monday/

New Web site tries to attract college ...

College.com, a Web site that started earlier this month, is trying to ...

/news/2007/sep/17/College/

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