Rebel Valentines Wear Their Hearts on Their Computers

Rebel Valentines Wear Their Hearts on Their Computers

They tell their tales to BigYellow^SM

Jan. 23, 1998

MIDDLETON, Mass. -- Some people have had it up to here with
hearts and flowers.

Maybe they're in love and don't need all the hype that goes with
Valentine's Day. Or maybe they've lost at love and are just plain
depressed. Just how much chocolate, lingerie, teddy bears and
badly-sung ballads can they take?

Many of these people can make Valentine's Day special without candy or
bouquets. They are what the folks at BigYellow, Bell Atlantic's
leading online shopping directory, like to refer to as "rebels," and
they're the kinds of people who are attracted to BigYellow's newest
holiday section.

BigYellow's "Rebel Valentine" www.bigyellow.com/rebel.mat asks these
questions: How have you spent a "rebellious" Valentine's Day? What
creativity did you use to make it great, without romance? Or what did
you end up doing with a loved one that wasn't typically
romantic...like wallpapering a room?

Responses have been intriguing. For example:

"Because it was my fault that we fought, I felt terrible. I suddenly
noticed the keys in the ignition. Not having my license I started the
car and drove it down the street, chasing George...."
On my friend's suggestion we started listening to and calling up
personal ads in the paper. What a hoot. We had a great time listening
to what other people are looking for in a prospective mate..."
"Every channel was sporting mushy love related movies and episodes.
As I channel surfed I came upon the Westminster Dog Kennel show and
thought, how could this remind me of my lost love? I filled the tub
and took a bubble bath while watching the TV from the other room. It
worked..."

The author of the most creative response will receive a year's supply
of cards from American Greetings. Of course, there are those who grin
whenever Feb. 14 rolls around.

That's why BigYellow also provides "Hugs and Kisses," "Cinelove" and
"Plan that Wedding!" at BigYellow's Love-In
www.bigyellow.com/holiday.mat.

"Hugs and Kisses" gives romance a twist, like making hearts from
pretzel dough or making a meal from foods thought to contain qualities
of aphrodisiacs. "Cinelove" recommends romantic films that offer
something more invigorating than typical cinema schmaltz. And "Plan
that Wedding!" gets both grooms and brides involved in preparing for
their big day.

BigYellow Love-In also provides visitors with an easy way to look up
listings for Valentine's Day-related merchants, such as florists,
candy shops, limousine services, restaurants, jewelers, bed &
breakfasts, and much more.

With more advertisers than all other online directories combined, and
more than 2 million visitors each month, BigYellow continues to lead
the online shopping industry in sales and usage. Having developed
electronic directory services for more than a decade, Bell Atlantic
launched its first online directory in 1991 and was first on the Web
with a national directory in October, 1995.

BigYellow has 17 million U.S. business listings, a national directory
of 10 million email addresses, and links to directories in 36 foreign
countries. BigYellow, based in Middleton, Mass., also has strategic
relationships with Infoseek, Inc., Four11, NBC, Netscape
Communications Corp, and CNN Interactive, as well as more than 30
content partners for the most popular topics on its service. Unique in
the industry, BigYellow employs a full-time Customer Services staff
that answers calls during business hours at 1-888-BIGYELLOW.

Bell Atlantic -- formed through the merger of Bell Atlantic and NYNEX
-- is at the forefront of the new communications and information
industry. With 40.5 million telephone access lines and six million
wireless customers worldwide, Bell Atlantic companies are premier
providers of advanced wireline voice and data services, market leaders
in wireless services and the world?s largest publishers of directory
information. Bell Atlantic companies are also among the world's
largest investors in high-growth global communications markets, with
operations and investments in 21 countries.