This week I received a chain letter. Not an email, but and actual postal mail letter. I do not know the person who sent it to me, and the phone book turned up no in service phone numbers for any of the people involved. There was a certain degree of WTF combined with a sort of cheesiness that I would like to share before I toss it out. I've tried to copy his formating as much as I could. <editoral comments in brackets>

Dear Friend and Fellow Christian: <I'm sorry, I don't believe we've ever met before>

I come to you in my time of need, to humby request your help. Due to certain circumstances<What circumstances? Just don't feel like working?>, I will be unable to draw an income, and provide for my family for the next 5 to 7 years. <Well gee, at least it's just a temporary thing.>

So I humbly<double the humble, double the fun> ask you, my friends and fellow Christians<Again, do I know you?>, to look into your hearts and find the care and compassion to help my family, and I, <Ok, this guy abuses commas even more than I do! Yeesh.>in this great time of need.

All I am asking for you to do, <More comma abuse>is to help my family by sending $10.00 to me. Tony Schiffman<Aha. Substituting a period for comma. Let's hear it for variety >, and for you to send out 10 copies of this letter to 10 of your fellow Christian friends. <What if all of my friends are Satanists?> If you are unable to help financially, a prayer for comfort and support would be greatly appreciated. If you could send 10 letters to 10 friends that would be wonderful.<I'm sure. So, they don't have to be Christians, now?>

My family and I thank you for you support, and your loving care and your time, but most of all we thank you for your time to pray for us!<And so that I can sit on my ass and "make money from home" as they say.>

GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!

THANK YOU!!

SINCERELY,

Tony Schiffman

Please make your check or

money order to:

Tony Schiffman

112 Vally Drive
Mount Horeb WI, 53572

The letter was sent to me by Kim Skews, also of Mt. Horeb. As I said before, I don't know either of these people, and neither seems to have a working phone number. Thet whole thing pretty much reeks of scam. I advocate *not* sending Mr. Schiffman 10¢, let alone $10. However, feel free to send him..."prayers".

If anyone knows more about this situation, and can shed some light on it for me, I'd welcome your comments.