Comments on: 10/11/14 – Postal Boredom http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 05:11:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: SrPilha http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556&cpage=1#comment-10171 SrPilha Sun, 12 Oct 2014 11:20:46 +0000 http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556#comment-10171 Not to be too much the rain on the nostalgia-parade here, but come on. While *some* mail delivery may have become slower, it's pretty fair to say that important and urgent information is delivered a whole lot more efficiently today than, say, 15 or 20 years ago. I'm not at all saying I approve of the job cuts in the mail service, especially because the mailperson's role is often a lot more about social contact than "simple" mail delivery. Nor do I think so-called government efficiency is always a good thing. But in very practical terms, I'm not sure more mail gets lost today than 30 year ago, for instance - I'd guess less, actually, especially for long distances. I'm all for reminiscing about how much better the good old days were and how kids these days etc. But within reason. Not to be too much the rain on the nostalgia-parade here, but come on. While *some* mail delivery may have become slower, it’s pretty fair to say that important and urgent information is delivered a whole lot more efficiently today than, say, 15 or 20 years ago.

I’m not at all saying I approve of the job cuts in the mail service, especially because the mailperson’s role is often a lot more about social contact than “simple” mail delivery. Nor do I think so-called government efficiency is always a good thing. But in very practical terms, I’m not sure more mail gets lost today than 30 year ago, for instance – I’d guess less, actually, especially for long distances.

I’m all for reminiscing about how much better the good old days were and how kids these days etc. But within reason.

]]> By: Pete Rogan http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556&cpage=1#comment-10170 Pete Rogan Sun, 12 Oct 2014 04:03:17 +0000 http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556#comment-10170 Soon, all communications, electronic and somatic, will be by private carriers. Who will make sure you never do anything that will threaten the primacy of corporate rule, or interfere with their profits, or try to influence the government and public they've spent SO much money to acquire. No, you're going to sit there and take it, because you have to, because there aren't any choices, because this is the American way, and you'd better get with the program or else. See? Soon, all communications, electronic and somatic, will be by private carriers. Who will make sure you never do anything that will threaten the primacy of corporate rule, or interfere with their profits, or try to influence the government and public they’ve spent SO much money to acquire.

No, you’re going to sit there and take it, because you have to, because there aren’t any choices, because this is the American way, and you’d better get with the program or else. See?

]]> By: Muzhik http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556&cpage=1#comment-10169 Muzhik Sat, 11 Oct 2014 14:07:59 +0000 http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556#comment-10169 About 20 years ago, I had to mail a rent check. I lived in a suburb of a major (for Iowa) metropolitan area, and the rent check had to go to another suburb of that same metro area. The cities were so interconnected you had to be careful to check the signs to be sure which city you were actually in. IOW, I was literally mailing a letter across town. It took 6 days to get to the landlord. Have you ever read "The Postman" by David Brin, or seen the movie with Kevin Costner? The book was one of my favorite for many years; in some ways the movie was better than the book (certainly more focused) and wasn't as successful as it should have been because it was released at the same time as "Titanic". I think if they had withheld release another 3 or 4 months it would have recv'd wider recognition, but theaters just couldn't handle two 2-hour movies showing at the same time. About 20 years ago, I had to mail a rent check. I lived in a suburb of a major (for Iowa) metropolitan area, and the rent check had to go to another suburb of that same metro area. The cities were so interconnected you had to be careful to check the signs to be sure which city you were actually in. IOW, I was literally mailing a letter across town.

It took 6 days to get to the landlord.

Have you ever read “The Postman” by David Brin, or seen the movie with Kevin Costner? The book was one of my favorite for many years; in some ways the movie was better than the book (certainly more focused) and wasn’t as successful as it should have been because it was released at the same time as “Titanic”. I think if they had withheld release another 3 or 4 months it would have recv’d wider recognition, but theaters just couldn’t handle two 2-hour movies showing at the same time.

]]> By: War Pig http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556&cpage=1#comment-10168 War Pig Sat, 11 Oct 2014 08:46:48 +0000 http://www.littledee.net/?p=5556#comment-10168 I am ancient. I not only remember penny post cards, but I also remember twice-per-day mail delivery when you were living in town, even small towns. You got a carrier stopping by in the morning and again in the afternoon, 6 days per week. With many communications going electronic, we are still threatened with losing the current 6 day-per-week, once-per-day delivery by losing Saturday delivery and many smaller towns have lost their post offices altogether. In the supposed name of efficiency, a letter that travels from one town to another town 6 miles away still has to go through the nearest regional office, even if that office is 50 miles or more away. Hence, a letter that is mailed from Bloomingburg, Ohio to Washington Court House, Ohio (6 miles) must go from Bloomingburg to Columbus, Ohio (40 miles away) and then to WCH (47 miles from Columbus). Don't you just LOVE governmental "efficiency"? I am ancient. I not only remember penny post cards, but I also remember twice-per-day mail delivery when you were living in town, even small towns. You got a carrier stopping by in the morning and again in the afternoon, 6 days per week.

With many communications going electronic, we are still threatened with losing the current 6 day-per-week, once-per-day delivery by losing Saturday delivery and many smaller towns have lost their post offices altogether. In the supposed name of efficiency, a letter that travels from one town to another town 6 miles away still has to go through the nearest regional office, even if that office is 50 miles or more away. Hence, a letter that is mailed from Bloomingburg, Ohio to Washington Court House, Ohio (6 miles) must go from Bloomingburg to Columbus, Ohio (40 miles away) and then to WCH (47 miles from Columbus).

Don’t you just LOVE governmental “efficiency”?

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