A Pitch for Smart Postal Stamps

Wired ^ | 19 Dec 2001 | Julia Scheeres

[white trash redneck]

In an effort to eliminate terrorist threats such as anthrax that are delivered by mail, the U.S. Postal Service is considering the implementation of "smart stamps" that would trace mail and identify senders.

Among the suggestions proposed by the Committee on Government Reform, which oversees the USPS, is one that would require postal customers to show identification before buying stamps, making it nearly impossible to send anonymous letters.

[mafree]

Thanks for the bump- Big Brother's gotten bigger since 9/11 eh?

[Rowdee]

..."the U.S. Postal Service is considering the implementation of "smart stamps" that would trace mail and identify senders"....

Of course, only a fedgov agency could come up with us! I can see it now....to mail your utility bill across town will cost $14.95! And even at that the USPO will somehow, someway find a method to screw it up royally, and within 6 months would be needing an additional $2.49!!

LOLOL.....can't you just see the size of the damn stamp the USPO would have to come up with to be 'smart'!!!

[Rowdee]

So what's the big deal about 'tracking'--that, along with these 'intelligent' stamps and the ID process of stamp buyers....it does NOT PREVENT anthrax laced anything from being sent!

It is hoped that 'after who knows how many are dead' they might be able to find out who did it! Big deal....the dead shall rejoice!

[Mercuria]

**BLOODCURDLING SHRIEK ALERT!!!!**

[Rowdee]

..."Those 3 or 4 people died by cross contamination from just 3 letters in the postal system"...

I believe Fox News Network announced this afternoon that its been determined that a couple of the ladies got it because they live upwind or downwind of the postal facilities....they could draw straight lines to these peoples houses!!

If it is spread by the wind....every Senator and Representative should have already bitten the dust--they're virtually all full of wind!

[Rowdee]

Yepper, ain't they great....neither snow, wind, sleet or hail will stop the delivery of our mail.....of course, they don't tell you that the mail may go to the wrong state or wrong part of the country first!

I used to have a escrow account 140 miles from where I live....just like clockwork, you could figure it took them anywhere from 5 to 12 days to get it here.

When they do their really damnest to screw you up, i.e., the 12 day deal....it is actually cheaper to drive the 140 miles and collect the money.

[MissAmericanPie]

Buwahahahahaha

[MissAmericanPie]

Yeah, all this will stop Antrax in the mail, NOT. Anyone getting the feeling that we are about to be digitized in our hand or forehead? Ok, lemme think I had said we would not recognize America in ten years, then I had to revise down to five years, let's make it two years.

[rockfish59]

i've always wondered why a letter to me in wash. state from calif. sometimes takes 7-10 days?
whereas a letter from texas or the midwest usually only takes 3 days?
my belize fiasco turned even worse. i got another envelope for 10 cents. it then cost $1.52 to send!!
so it cost me:

2 34 cent stamps +
new envelope @ 10 cents
new delivery charge $1.52

$2.30 to mail a letter to central america!!!
(i guess i didn't hear about THAT rate hike)

[RightWhale]

Just my opinion, but the USPS seems to have overreacted just a tad. They could have gone a step further and burned all the mail they had in the system at the time.

[LSJohn]

#5 looks to me like a job application disguised as a rant.

[LSJohn]

ROFLMAO

[LSJohn]

Please. I have very sensitive ears.

[Rowdee]

I live in Idaho; escrow in MOntana....the last payment that the USPS was used went to the State of Washington! Maybe they thought it was supposed to visit you first!!

Anyhow, the bustards cut their own throat--I have the payment electronically deposited....screw them and their 34 cents!

And I found our our local grocery has a place to pay your utility bills....so there's some more business they're gonna lose.....I'm starting to think of all sorts of ways to cut them bustards out of my life.

[nunya bidness]

**BLOODCURDLING SHRIEK ALERT!!!!**

I hope you're happy now. The cat is stuck to the ceiling. Again.

As far as the topic goes, I guess I'll just have to use carrier pigeons.

[RaceBannon]

Don't you mean eliminate cash and go to a debit card transaction? OOPS, someone could steal that card, then get thee a chip under the skin!!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the heads up! Jeepers...

[rockfish59]

waxman sends mail via 'nostril power'!!! lol!

[rockfish59]

i hear you!
BUT!!!
they are counting every e mail sent so they can sue bill gates for back postage!! lol!