I wish folks would check these things out before passing them on.

The snopes site has a page debunks currently circulating hoaxes, including bills to reduce the protected areas of the Amazon rain forest and the women's breast-oggling ones. They also will say if the story's true, as with the one about The Rescuing Hug - a struggling newborn helped by her twin sisters hug.

There's a CIAC page on internet chain letters. (Also information on hoaxes and viruses among other things.) There's information on how to recognise a chain letter. Because some folks won't investigate this because they couldn't possible be among the suckers who fall for these things, (much like myself when I thought the NPR chain letter was for real and sent it on) I've summed up what's there.

Elements of a chain letter:
-A hook. This is something that makes you think the letter is important. Save a life, save the world, make money, etc.
-A threat. This is the negative stimulus. If you don't send the letter on, you're a cold-hearted creep. You or someone else will have bad luck. You'll miss an opportunity. It can also include dangers a chain letter is supposedly warning about - "the virus will eat your hard drive," "congress will pass the bill and the people will get screwed."
-A request. Usually "send this letter to as many people as you can." This sometimes involves sending money to people on a list - the old pyramid scheme. NOTE: IF IT SAYS TO FORWARD THE LETTER TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW, IT'S A CHAIN LETTER! Doesn't matter how good it sounds - it's still a chain letter.

A couple of things to look for are dates - when was the first message sent and when is the thing supposed to end. Chances are, there is no "cut-off" date and the thing will circulate until the end of time. Also, if the letter says when it's completed, someone will forward it to some Important Person or group - who's gonna do that? If there is an address, which letters are going to be completed and sent? The copy you got, or the ten you sent to different people, or the ones they sent to 100 or so different people, or the ones the 100 or so sent to...?

Sorry, this is a sore spot with me, but I hope in the process of ranting, I've managed to provide some information.