#6 from Tom Joyner has amazing effects. I rattled off an email to my college state senators, as well as my home state senators. I didn't expect anything from any of them--the Senate was to vote on something about which I felt very passionately, and I urged them to look at the other side of the issue before making a decision (they are all Republicans and it kinda got me worried). Lo and behold, I got a letter yesterday from one of the Senators! He explained his stance (which was actually identical to mine), the votes he had made on other issues, and things like that. It definitely reminded me that my concerns are being heard--even if it was from an intern.
Since I don't know anything about the Nathaniel Abraham case (and neither does Mr. Munchkin, which is odd if you knew him), I will educate myself now.