If you're like me at all, you probably get a lot of email. And getting a lot of email requires a lot of sorting through the important stuff and getting to the other stuff when you have time. And if your Mom is anything like mine, you might end up getting a lot of forwarded jokes... usually which don't require immediate attention :-)

If you're not using a local mail application like Apple Mail, Mozilla Thunderbird (FREE), or Microsoft Entourage, get one now!

I use Apple Mail, and most email programs have the ability to setup rules and folders for your email. So when those jokes come in, you can have the program automatically file them into an appropriate folder, and they never show up in your inbox. Same with that ebay auction you've had your eye on, or any electronic receipts you might get.

With Apple Mail, the steps to create a rule are simple:

1. First, Click the little + icon at the bottom left hand corner of the window.
2. Give it the name of the person who sends you a lot of jokes
3. Click Mail>Preferencesthen select Rules
4. Click the Add Rule button
5. Name it something like "Forwarded Jokes"
6. Under "If any of the following conditions are met", so long as it says "From: Contains", fill in whoever's email address sends you the most forwarded jokes
7. Under "Perform the following actions", select the mail folder you just created

Now whenever that person sends you an email, the message will move to that folder immediately. If you only want forwarded messages to end up there so that when they do send you a real email, it will go to your inbox, just add another rule where the subject contains "FWD:" or "joke".