Many colleges and businesses tend to strip the last name down to 6 characters and add the first and last initial to either the beginning or end to make up an e-mail address. For example, Mary L. Ferguson = mlfergus or fergusml. They are just now beginning to realize the problems that may happen when you have a large and diverse pool of people to choose from. Add to that a large database of company/college acronyms and you have some very funny addresses. Probably not funny to the individual involved, however:

TOP TEN Actual E-mail Addresses:

1. Helen Thomas Eatons (Duke University) - eatonsht @ dku.edu
2. Mary Ellen Dickinson (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) - dickinme @ iup.edu
3. Francis Kevin Kissinger (Las Verdes University) - kissinfk @ lvu.edu
4. Amanda Sue Pickering (Purdue University) - aspicker @ pu.edu
5. Ida Beatrice Ballinger (Ball State University) - ibballin @ bsu.edu
6. Bradley Thomas Kissering (Brady Electrical, Northern Division, Overton Canada) - btkisser @ bendover.com
7. Isabelle Haydon Adcock (Toys "R" Us) - ihadcock @ tru.com
8. Martha Elizibeth Cummins (Fresno University) - cumminme @ fu.edu
9. George David Blowmer (Drop Front Drawers & Cabinets Inc.) - blowmegd @ dropdrawers.com
   ...but at No 1, it had to be...
10. 1. Barbara Joan Beeranger (Myplace Home Decorating) - beeranbj @ myplace.com