[1] From: Charles Boewe <cboewe@juno.com> (77)
Subject: Re: 10.0522 holiday book donation?
[2] From: Emily Rose <erose@phoenix.Princeton.EDU> (15)
Subject: Re: A Mitzvah (fwd)
[Editorial note. My digesting software badly scrambled the first message
following, but I have reconstructed it, I think into something very close
to the original. Once more -- "how many times, O Lord?" ... -- I apologise
on behalf of that which cannot speak, and if it could probably would not
be convincing. Is it a possible definition of human being, "an entity
that can apologise for others"? --WM]
--[1]----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Sun, 15 Dec 1996 10:05:47 EST
From: Charles Boewe <cboewe@juno.com>
Subject: Re: 10.0522 holiday book donation?
For what they are worth, I enclose two responses to PamelaCohen's
query.
>Charles Boewe wrote:
>
> Dear Mr. Keyte:
>
> I have turned up your posting about the Houghton-Mifflin offer on more
> than 200 discussion lists, so there is going to be a resounding
>response.
>
> However, there also has been expressed considerable skepticism about
>the offer, some calling it a hoax or an urban myth.
>
> Would you be so kind to tell me your source of the information, so I
can
> pass it on to the Humanities List In which I participate?
>
> Many thanks.
>
> Charles Boewe>
Hi,,Charles
My partner - Georgette - used her web facilities at work to check it out
for me before I posted my message - and she confirmed that it was
genuine.
I have also received other messages from some of my email contacts
confirming it too.
All best wishes
Geoffrey
Date: 96-12-14 23:27:21 EST
_____________________________
Forwarded message:
From: mkreid@PLANET.EON.NET (Mary-Karen Reid)
Reply-to: mkreid@PLANET.EON.NET (Mary-Karen Reid)
To: SOCWORK@UAFSYSB.UARK.EDU (Multiple recipients of list SOCWORK)
More on the books for hospitals message I forwarded earlier - the
following just received.
m-k
>Please disregard the message I distributed yesterday regarding the
>subject line. I've found the Houghton-Miffin share home page at
>http://www.hmco.com/hmco/trade/hmi/polar/ . Apparently, the e-mail I
>received was a bit dated--it originated in Beijing. A thank-you from
>them is none-the-less appropriate though (as well as myself), and I've
>taken the time to share what they've done with you, as well as their
>thanks to you.
>
>From their web site:
>
>Over 2,000 Hospitalized Children Receive Books!
>
>
>
> Thanks to you, the Internet community,
> we have reached our goal of 50,000
> messages and HMI is currently distributing
> 2,000 books to hospitalized children who
> can't be home for the holidays. In
> recognition of the amazing and voluminous
> show of support from people all over the
> world, Houghton Mifflin plans to donate an
> additional 500 books to these children.
>
> During the campaign, we encouraged
> people to share messages of favorite
> holiday thoughts and memories with the
> internet community. Now that we have
> reached our goal, we still welcome you to
> post messages here by clicking the button
> above. However we are no longer
> accepting email messages at
> "share@hmco.com".
>
> Many thanks to all who have participated.
> We appreciate your support.
>
>--distributed yesterday:
>
>
--[2]----------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Fri, 13 Dec 1996 22:14:34 -0500 (EST)
From: Emily Rose <erose@phoenix.Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: A Mitzvah (fwd)
This is the response I received from my brother about the Houghton
Mifflin contribution (which I duly forwarded to him)....
Lessee...I have, as of last count, received 37 copies of that message from
well-meaning friends, relatives and employees. While the spirit behind it
was noble, in practice the people at Hougton Mifflin ought to be taken out
and shot. I sent them a lengthy note berating them for this stupid stunt
last week, after about the 17th copy I received. Meanwhile, don't bother
sending them any mail. Their target was was 50,000 notes (that relate to
their Polar Express web site, not that you would realize that from the
netspam that is circulating) by December 31st, and they have long since
surpassed that number (by starting a chain that will never die, rather like
the send-a-card-to-Craig-Shergold UL). But Happy Holidays anyway. [sigh]
-David [Grinch] Rose
At 01:18 PM 12/13/96 -0500, Emily Rose wrote:
>>>> >>>Houghton Mifflin Publishing Corp. will donate 1 book to a Children's
>>> >>>Hospital for every 25 emails which they receive.