Whether it's ballots, beans or Internet traffic, the science of counting tends to follow the same principle: The more folks there are compiling the numbers, the more likely it is that disagreement will arise over whose figures are correct.

As interest in email marketing continues to rise, so do the number of marketers who "get it." Initiate a dialogue with recipients, and they'll be back for more. Spam them and you not only kiss your customers goodbye, you could also help blow it for your brand... and the rest of us.

Almost everybody uses the Net to get information and do research and, of course, to send email. But only 61% use it to shop, and even fewer, 38%, use it to download music. That's according to a survey of Net users out today from Internet provider Prodigy.