You've (always) got mail

There's a website called FutureMe that allows you to write a message, address it to yourself and then specify a date for it to be delivered anywhere from one day to 30 years into the future. When you compose the letter, you have the option of giving FutureMe permission to publish the letter on the site for others to browse. It makes for some interesting reading. Most are letters of encouragement - “You should have achieved X by the time you read this. If not, why not? YOU CAN DO IT! You just need to believe in yourself. You are a TIGER! Master of the Jungle! Grrrrrrr!” - letters to the writer's newly born child - “Hey Kido. You're all grown up now. I hope I haven't screwed you up too much. Can I borrow your flying car?” - or excited birthday wishes to theirself - “Dude, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me from me. I hope your day ROCKS! Have we banged Kelly Kirkpatrick yet?”

The thing that amazes me (other than how much people abuse CAPS lock and exclamation points!!!!!) is that its likely that the majority of these little 'pearls of wisdom' from the past will arrive at their destination. Five years from now, (hell, one year from now) I don't know if I'll live in the same house, hold the same job or answer the same telephone numbers but unless Google falls down, I can't see why I wouldn't be using my Gmail. Seeing as I'll most probably won't change my name, I could easily keep the current email address until I die, Hagrid wipes the InterTubes by mistake or I get too old to care about communicating with other people; whichever one comes first.

We live in a throwaway society where products have a built in obsolescence of about 11 minutes, you can divorce people by txt message (we're all looking at you Ms. Spears) and every other summer blockbuster has a plot based around new and interesting ways that the planet is going to destroy vast tracts of highly populated areas. You can buy disposable cell phones, underwear, petwear, urinals and even camcorders but at least there is now a third certainty to add to death and taxes; your email address. So please think carefully when you choose yours, you don't want to be stuck with kisseyboy88@genericmail.com for the rest of your life.