Watercooler Stories

A LAST E-MAIL TO LOVE ONES PROVIDED

People have been warned to tell loved one how they feel about them because tomorrow is not guaranteed, but a Web site MyLastEmail.com provides a final e-mail from beyond the grave.

Only a few weeks old, Web site founder Karen Peach tells the New York Post it has had "5 million hits since the launch."

A three-year membership costs $9.99 and initially offers members a "portfolio" of five e-mail messages, but each e-mail needs an "identification document," so Peach suggests keeping the number that accesses the final e-mail with a will or in a safety deposit box.

So why not just write a letter and leave it with the will? Peach responds, "Who writes letters anymore?"

COLLEGE GETS SONG ROYALTIES

Every time the Christmas song "I'll Be Home For Christmas" is played the St. Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y., benefits.

The song's lyricist, J. Kimball "Kim" Gannon, graduated from the school in 1924 and through his estate, the university receives royalties from the song.

In fiscal year 2002-2003, the amount totaled over $18,000 or 30 percent of the royalties.

According to the Reader's Digest Merry Christmas Songbook, in 1943 the world was at war, and millions of American men and women were in the service and spending Christmas far from home. The ballad sung by Bing Crosby touched millions.

INTERNET HAS BECOME A HABIT

Research from the Online Publishers Association finds the Internet increasingly is interwoven in American family life, Editor and Publisher reports.

A Web survey conducted by Frank N. Magid for the OPA, of nearly 26,000 users at 41 individual Web sites, finds participants visit these sites not only to find news and information, but also because it's become a routine -- and even for fun and relaxing.

Sixty-eight percent of national news site visitors said they visit frequent them to get national news, 64 percent to get breaking news, 52 percent for international news, and 44 percent because "it's a habit."

Twenty-three percent said they visited frequently "just for fun," 23 percent "just to relax" and 21 percent to follow up on something they read in a newspaper.

HEIRLOOM DELIVERY OFFERED

For those who have everything, but don't know how to deliver it, there's a new way to transport a family heirloom.

An antique grandfather clock, the piano that's been in the family for generations or grandmother's china can be shipped by Nationwide Delivery Systems Inc. under its "Ultimate Gift" program.

Starting at $349, the precious cargo is picked up, expertly blanketed and shrink-wrapped and delivered gift-wrapped with a red bow and gift card attached.

Trained, uniformed specialists utilizing custom-built equipment ship the item carefully and provide those receiving the gift with a two-hour window when it will be delivered.