I have learned a lot about how people lived and the things they did
by "reading over the shoulder" of people exchanging private e-mail
via our list. These tales sometimes have lots to offer. If you don't
like the topic, use "delete." Personally, I started a mail basket
called "Americana" to hold these snippets. Occasionally I have even
found info of personal family use, even tho the people exchanging
e-mail didn't know they were dealing with a name or topic of interest
to me.