Monday, June 30, 2008

NEEOISO: USPS Seeks Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Investigators

Solicitation Number: 072368-del-eeo

"...Selected individuals will be home-based independent contractors, located throughout the United States, who will enter into Ordering Agreements with the USPS to provide investigative services in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Agreement. Individual Task Orders assigning the investigation of particular complaints of discrimination may be issued under the Ordering Agreement in a "fee for service" arrangement. There is no guarantee of work or the number of cases assigned. An investigator is paid on a “per case” basis, generally $1100, on successful completion of the case..."    



Source: www.fbo.gov, Solicitation Number: 072368-del-eeo

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Saturday Mail Delivery in Danger?

Live From the ACMA Forum: So Long, Saturday Mail Delivery?

"...The House Appropriations Committee approving an amendment from Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) that would require the USPS to study the cost effectiveness and fuel consumption of a five-day delivery system and consumer demand for Saturday postal mail. Kingston said in a June 26 press release he’s been trying to get the postal service to end Saturday delivery for years. “It’s a perfect example of government waste that is driving up the price at the pump,” he said...."    



Source: multichannelmerchant.com

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Odd Mail Items

Dicey mail

"...a regular-sized dice, with a stamp folded around the edges. It had..."    



Source: Your Postal Blog at yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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Post Office Pushes The Envelope In Pojoaque

No Mail Delivered To Residents

"...Those with a Pojoaque address can pick up mail from a van parked on West Guiterrez Street between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m..."    



Source: www.koat.com

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Justice Dept. to pay scientist $5.8 million in anthrax lawsuit

A former Army scientist who was named as a person of interest in the 2001 anthrax attacks will receive $5.8 million to settle his lawsuit...

"...The former Army scientist who for years was the prime suspect in the deadly 2001 anthrax mailings agreed Friday to take $5.8 million from the Justice Department to settle his claim that the government invaded his privacy and ruined his career...."    


Meta: Steven Hatfill
Source: seattletimes.nwsource.com

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Smartmobbing a rural postal crisis

Ripton, Vermont Post Office

"...Our local post office has suddenly been closed, without much warning, and without explanation. So the residents of this town used email and a blog to coordinate a protest. We blogged an account here, have set up at least one Flickr pool here, and are putting up YouTube videos..."    



Source: www.smartmobs.com

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Friday, June 27, 2008

Colorado Stamp problem?

Exclusive: Wyoming Mountain Depicted On Colorado Stamp?

"...Al DeSarro, with the U.S. Postal Service, said that Engeman's artwork "was not based on any specific picture of a mountain." He said it is supposed to be a generic representation of a mountain -- not a specific mountain in Colorado. The U.S. Postal Service plans to issue a total of 60 flag stamps in alphabetical order -- one for each state, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories as well as the stars and stripes..."    



Source: www.thedenverchannel.com

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Thursday, June 26, 2008

USPS Network Plan and the Impact on the Postal Employee

The following are excerpts from the June 2008 USPS Network Plan relative to employee impact. Again, these are only excerpts, you must read the plan in its entirety to fully understand the excerpts in their proper context. However, it is obvious that the USPS workforce is in for substantial changes:



"...By measuring local mail processing equipment performance against national
benchmarks, Machine Performance Scorecards give local managers a
convenient metric against which to analyze machine and operator performance..."

"...the Postal Service is evaluating the relocation of various mail
processing operations..."

"...assuming the removal of existing
equipment in Bulk Mail Centers, the availability of BMC floorspace for other
operations may affect surrounding Processing & Distribution Centers. If Flats
Sequencing Systems and bundle sortation equipment are deployed to BMCs, the
P&DCs will experience a reduction in flat and bundle processing..."

"...Should the implementation of the Network Plan
make it necessary to apply these processes, all Postal Service career employee
personnel actions will follow a general sequential escalation of impact and will
comply with applicable rules and regulations, including Veterans’ Preference
laws..."

"...d. Voluntary Early Retirement Provisions
Under these provisions, the Postal Service requests authority from the
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer eligible impacted
employees opportunities to apply for voluntary early retirement. It is the
Postal Service’s policy to request such voluntary early retirement authority
from OPM even for impacted employees covered by collective bargaining
agreements that do not contain voluntary early retirement provisions..."

"...Qualified employees who are involuntarily separated due to organizational
changes, and who are not eligible to apply for discontinued service retirement or
optional retirement, receive severance pay..."

"...The Area Mail Processing consolidations and proposed Bulk Mail Center network
reconfiguration will involve numerous site-specific employee impact
determinations which cannot be quantified until the changes proposed for
particular facilities have been identified and thoroughly analyzed. The Postal
Service considers that, for purposes of its Network Plan, it has sufficient flexibility
with which to make the workforce changes that may be necessary. To the extent
that implementation of the plan requires the accomplishment of workforce
reductions more expeditiously than can be achieved through attrition..."

Source: The above information is taken from the USPS POSTAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENHANCEMENT ACT § 302 NETWORK PLAN, June 2008 as found in the public domain on the world wide web from the APWU union website. NOTE: We would like to thank President Burrus of the APWU for his continued informative articles in keeping us all informed of relative postal related issues. Keep up the good work Mr. Burrus. Your union members should be proud to to have elected such a dedicated President. Job well done!

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Verizon To Provide Postal Service Network


"... the Postal Service to meet its critical mission. "Whether employees are processing the mail or picking up the phone, Verizon Business is looking forward to building on that relationship in the decade ahead." The network will see the postal services ..."    



Source: www.comms-express.com

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Postal Committee meeting of Arizona City

Over 150 attend Postal Committee meeting

"... Among the first points of the presentation was a reference to Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, which enumerates the powers of Congress. "Section 8: The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts and provide for the common defense and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;...to establish post offices and post roads...." ..."    



Source: www.zwire.com

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Postal Delivery Two Times A Day?

Twice-A-Day Postal Service

"... restored normal postal service in April 1934. In a statement from Farley that restored postal employees to the duties they performed before March 2, 1934, he said that the reduction in postal services was not necessary, as he had previously thought. Postal revenues had increased from February to March and he said he believed that they would continue to do so. Twice-a-day residential mail delivery was eliminated in the U.S. permanently in April 1950 ..."    



Source: www.courant.com

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Wednesday, June 25, 2008

TSP News

News From the TSP Site

"...Beginning July 1, the TSP will display share prices to four decimal places. This change from two to four decimal places will allow for greater precision in calculating account values and in tracking the TSP funds to the indexes with which they are associated..."    



Source: www.tsp.gov

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Investing From Day One

TSP Investing Article

Read the article on Federal News Radio ->    



Source: www.federalnewsradio.com

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Monday, June 23, 2008

Mail Network Protection Act

Six More U.S. Representatives Co-Sponsor Mail Network Protection Act

"...the U.S. House of Representatives endorsed the measure to help preserve inexpensive, trustworthy mail service for the American public.

The bill would help reduce wasteful, inefficient, and detrimental subcontracting by the U.S. Postal Service..."    



Source: www.apwu.org

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Expedited Legal-Sized Envelopes

Postal Service Launches Expedited Legal-Sized Envelopes

"...Attorneys, financial professionals, real estate agents and other mailers who depend on shipping legal-sized documents for their businesses have new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) overnight and two-day delivery options. USPS has launched new legal-sized Express Mail and Priority Mail envelopes, available to customers free of charge. The new Express Mail envelope allows legal-sized papers to be sent without folding anywhere in the U.S. for the lowest price of any guaranteed overnight service..."    



Source: www.usps.com

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Sunday, June 22, 2008

Price of Gas in China..

   How much does a gallon of gas cost in China?



According to WikiAnswers, a gallon of gas, as reported as of this date, is $1.54 per gallon.    




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zip codes: most expensive

Most Expensive Zip Codes: 11201: Estate of the Day

"...the most expensive zip codes in the United States, up today, 11201. This zip code in Brooklyn, New York has a median price of $2,463,000 with an appreciation rate of 325% since 1990. ..."    



Source: www.luxist.com

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Friday, June 20, 2008

Benjamin Franklin Philately

9 Things You Didn't Know About Benjamin Franklin

"...fractional postage stamps were issued with images of non-presidents, such as Benjamin Franklin and Martha Washington, and the White House. For those not familiar with fractional postage, some types of U.S. mail required a partial cent..."    



Source: www.stampsofdistinction.com

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FERS & CSRS disability retirement

FERS & CSRS disability retirement: The Proper Paradigm

"...When it comes to Federal Disability Retirements, the majority of Federal and Postal workers who comes to me have a pre-formed, generally negative attitude about the chances of getting it. This is because they have heard too many horror stories; or they have had horrendous experiences with OWCP filings, or EEOC complaints..."    



Source: federaldisabilityretirement.wordpress.com

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postal workers' union head sentenced to prison

Former head of San Mateo postal workers' union sentenced to prison

"...used his position as president of the San Mateo unit of the National Association of Letter Carriers to bill a myriad of goods and services for personal use on a union-issued credit card and 10 personal credit cards. Between 2003 and 2006, he used the credit cards for..."    



Source: www.insidebayarea.com

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Thursday, June 19, 2008

Postal Service Helps eBay Shippers Save Money

Shipping Savings, Solutions Ready for ‘eBay Live!

"...All Express Mail and Priority Mail customers can save money simply by going online to purchase postage, including customers using Click-N-Ship at usps.com. Express Mail customers will receive 3 percent off the published retail prices and Priority Mail customers will save an average 3.5 percent.

Other competitive pricing highlights include:

* Retail prices start at $4.80 for a one-pound Priority Mail package.
* Online purchasers save from 1 to 11 percent.
* Flat-Rate boxes have the greatest consumer value, with Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes priced at $9.80.
* Customers who use Click-N-Ship and PC Postage save an average 3.5 percent.

Express Mail and Priority Mail packaging are co-branded with the eBay logo and are Cradle to Cradle Certified for its environmental attributes. Co-branded eBay envelopes, packages and mailing supplies are available on eBay website:http://pages.ebay.com/usps/preparingitems.html...."   


::► Source: www.usps.com

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Failures of Postal Privatization

The exploding package of EU Postal Privatization

"...privatization of post across Europe will produce services that are deeply uneven and unequal. It will produce a grossly unfair two-tiered postal system, with one set of quality services for the large corporations and urban middle class, and another set of poorly provisioned services for rural areas, the urban poor, small businesses and the outermost territories of member states – if they even have access to such services at all. ..."    



Source: apostatewindbag.blogspot.com

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Strikes at Royal Mail

CWU green lights more postal strikes

"...The decision to return to strike action was in response to pension changes, post office closures and job losses at Royal Mail. Last year’s strike action was a major factor in Royal Mail’s failure to meet operational targets...."    



Source: www.precisionmarketing.co.uk

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Postal Reforms

William and Mary School of Business Professor John Strong Named to National Academy of Sciences Study Commission on Postal Reforms

"...Over the last ten years, many countries, mostly in Europe, have begun to reduce the postal monopoly while at the same time ensuring some minimum level of service for each citizen. The Study Commission will analyze the changing postal environment and recommend potential changes to the universal service obligation and postal monopoly in the United States. ..."    



Source: www.foxbusiness.com

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Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Prepare for a Postal Early Retirement

Are you prepared for a Postal Service or Federal early retirement offer?

The first step in preparing for a possible postal buyout is to know Your FERS Retirerment, How To Prepare For It How To Enjoy It. An excellent resource for preparing for your postal retirement is Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Pensions. This book Guides you through the maze of Social Security and Medicare in an easy to understand format. We also recommend The Social Security Answer Book.    



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Retired postal worker writes childrens book

Retired postal worker Mark Shaber has message for children

"...Retired postal worker from Bedford Post Office and summer employee at Spring Mill State Park

Title of latest book: Animals and Stuff ..."    



Source: www.tmnews.com

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South Africa Postal Theft Infuriates Amazon


"...Rampant theft by Post Office workers has infuriated internet retailing giant Amazon so much that it will no longer send goods to South Africa by post..."    



Source: www.thetimes.co.za

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Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Help Please! Offer your suggestion to reduce Postal Service Fuel Costs

Benny the Blogger over at Your Postal Blog, which is one of our favorite and fun blogs, wants your input on how the Postal Service should deal with the rising gas prices. So please support the site by dropping by and take a minute to offer your suggestions on what the USPS should do by emailing here.

The above article is provided by The Postal Newsgroup

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Ebay Live 2008

USPS Postal Service Ebay Shipper Presentations

If you are an Ebay shipper or desire to be an eBillionaire, you will not want to miss Ebay Live 2008. eBay Live! 2008 will be June 19 -21, 2008 in Chicago. The Postal Service will be on hand to inform shippers about their competitive products and pricing. Visit the United States Postal Service at Booth 405 - Solution Center. If you are unable to attend eBay Live! 2008, one Ebayer is offering a US Postal Service Priority Mail Flat Rate Box® full of Ebay Live Chicago 2008 assorted collectibles. It is listed as Item number: 180253534526. This website is not affiliated with the seller and is not responsible for any dealings with the seller or buyer.    



Source: http://postal-newsgroup.blogspot.com/

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Monday, June 16, 2008

buyouts and early retirement deals in other industries

Ford: More Job Cuts Needed

"...In the past three years, Ford has shed about 40,000 of its U.S. and Canadian hourly workers. Earlier this year, Ford offered buyouts and early retirement deals to its remaining hourly work force, but only 4,200 workers left, about half the number Ford hoped would take the offers. It has not been decided if the terms of the upcoming targeted buyouts would match previous offers given to hourly workers, Gattari said...."    



Source: futureoftheunion.com

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Sunday, June 15, 2008

Gas prices affecting the USPS


"...Every time gas prices go up a penny, it costs the U.S. Postal Service an extra $8 million a year. ..."    



Source: news10now.com

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New Stamps Salute State Flags

Ten new postage stamps featuring the U.S. and state flags went on sale Saturday — on the annual observance of Flag Day.

"...stamps salute the U.S. flag and the flags of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut and Delaware. They're being sold in a roll of 50 stamps, with five stamps for each flag. The second set of 10 flags will be issued in September..."    



Source: news.aol.com

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Article on Express Mail Guarantee

USPS Says Guaranteed Overnight Isn't Guaranteed. What?

"... was told the guarantee does not extend to items left in the Express Mail box. It only applies if you bring the item to the counter. If that is the case, why would they even offer Express Mail via their website? When you purchase it online, you do so in an effort to avoid the lines at the post office. Also, nowhere on the website, while purchasing the Express Mail option did it state that items needed to be taken to the window/desk in order for the guarantee to apply. I asked her, "Where on the box does it say that?" She then told me she had handed my form over to her supervisor. I was given my full refund..."    



Source: consumerist.com

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Saturday, June 14, 2008

Free Stamp Collecting Booklet: A Guide to U.S. Design Numbers (USD), 1847- 1947

PSE Unveils "Fresh" Stamp Collecting Format and Offers Free "U.S. Design Numbers" Booklet

"...Entitled, "A Guide to U.S. Design Numbers (USD), 1847- 1947," the new collection-building structure focuses on 435 regular-issue U.S. postage stamps that were issued from 1847 to 1947 and intended for use on letters or parcels. PSE has produced a full-color, 56-page booklet with photos of the stamps and a cross listing of the USD numbers and their corresponding numbers in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. The Scott numbers are used with permission of Scott Publishing Co., a subsidiary of Amos Press, Inc..."    



Source: www.psestamp.com

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Wal-Mart Goes Postal

Wal-Mart adds a new aisle – The Postal Service

"...Customers will easily recognize the presence of the Postal Service at our new Stamps on Consignment location by the exterior and interior signage,” said Customer Relations Coordinator Lori Thomas. “Postal customers..."    



Source: www.kpcnews.com

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Friday, June 13, 2008

Flags of Our Nation Stamps

New Three-Year Multi-Stamp Series Launched

"...The first 10 stamps in the new series will be presented during a first-day-of-issue ceremony on Flag Day at the National Postal Museum in Washington at 10:30 a.m. ET. Anchored by the Stars and Stripes, a perennial stamp favorite, the series salutes the state and territorial flags of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut and Delaware...."    



Source: www.usps.com

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Bonnaroo Post Office

Bonnaroo: Tie-dye, Hacky Sack, Bikinis

"...a new little structure, a round hut made of clay, straw, bamboo and a layer of recycled tires that houses Bonnaroo’s own United States post office, complete with the festival’s own postmark. (It’s popular on the psychedelic-looking 27-cent postcard stamps.)..."    



Source: nytimes.com

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The dam stamps are finally available!

Marvelous engineering

"...The 2008 Express Mail and Priority Mail stamps, featuring the Hoover Dam and Mount Rushmore go on sale today..."    



Source: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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Going Postal - An Offensive Term?

Union Campaign Against Violent Stereotype Greeted with Silence by Postal Management

"...The union has learned that the Postal Service has designated a franchise business called — you guessed it — Goin’ Postal as a partner in the USPS Approved Shipper Program. The national union learned about the partnership from local editors Mike Mazurkiewicz, (Saint Paul’s Postmark) and Cathy Hanson (Minneapolis’ Northern Light), who ventured into a Goin’ Postal outlet in their area. When they identified themselves to a manager as postal workers offended by the company’s name, they were informed that the company plans to open 4,000 stores nationwide..."

Source: www.apwu.org

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Thursday, June 12, 2008

Send Fathers Day Mail to Our Soldiers in Iraq from www.mymars.org

Free Father's Day Messages for Overseas Servicemen

"...Family members can easily send free MARSgrams overseas by entering their message on the web site www.mymars.org. The Army MARS WinLink system automatically relays the Iraq-bound messages to Hammer and his helpers, who produce printouts and envelopes and hand them on to the Military Postal Service for final delivery. A MARSgram travels much faster than ordinary mail and can be delivered wherever American troops serve..."    



Source: www.theleafchronicle.com and www.mymars.org

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A Look Back: Mail Data from 1999 Article

offthemap; Deck the Box - greeting cards - Statistical Data Included - Brief Article

"...If trends hold, Americans will send out more than 4.5 billion stamped cards and letters this holiday season, plus an additional 138 million parcels, comprising 28% of the annual mail volume, according to the U.S. Postal Service..."    



Source: findarticles.com

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Additional Benefits for Civilian Employees in Combat Zones

OPM Reminds Agencies of Additional Benefits for Civilian Employees in Combat Zones

Springer outlined a list of authorities currently available to agencies. These include, but are not limited to:

* The National Defense Authorization Act of 2008 provides for a higher annual maximum limitation on premium pay;
* The Department of State Standardized Regulations (DSSR) provide a number of important compensation entitlements, such as danger pay and hardship differentials;
* OPM regulations give agencies the discretionary authority to provide recruitment, retention, and relocation incentive payments (up to 100 percent of basic pay) to address difficulties in recruiting or retaining employees in combat zones;
* Agencies have the ability to offer time off awards;
* Agencies have the authority under DSSR to provide travel benefits for rest and recuperation equivalent to one trip every six months and after 90 days in the country; and,
* Agencies have the authority to grant administrative leave (excused absence with pay and without charge to leave).

For additional information on these and other authorities, Federal employees should contact their agency human resources office.

Reference: www.opm.gov

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Social Studies Teacher Blogs About Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin’s Post Office

"...have collected stamps off & on since I was in the 4th grade. I collect stamps from all over the world but I mostly enjoy United States stamps. I think the reason I love stamps is because there is history in stamps. Commemorative stamps do just that..."    



Source: history591twenty9.wordpress.com

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Royal Mail workers issue fresh strike threat

Union warns that it will push for industrial action unless Royal Mail gives assurances on the future of the business

"...The postal group halted its final salary pension for all employees in April, and replaced it with one based on career average earnings...."    



Source: timesonline.co.uk

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Wednesday, June 11, 2008

USPS Shipping of Live Animals

Animal cruelty or business as usual?

"...Since 1919, the Postal Service has retained statutes dictating the terms of shipment of live animals, including newborn and adult fowl, lizards, earthworms, snails, leeches, scorpions and even honey bees..."    



Source: www.malibutimes.com

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Stole gasoline from the U.S. Postal Service

Texas pair stole, sold postal gasoline

"...used postal service credit cards to buy gasoline for themselves, plus sell it to people in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. They have paid restitution of more than $47,000..."    



Source: www.chron.com

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Tuesday, June 10, 2008

How to retire in style

Neither rain nor heat nor gloom of night stops folks from living large at the unofficial retirement community of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

"...With an efficiency renting for under $75 in 1964, Nalcrest [Florida] was nirvana for postal retirees. It remains a bargain: A one-bedroom rents for only $305, and dinners at Jay Bee's II, the town's only restaurant, average $6. ..."    



Source: nationalgeographic.com

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Emergency Drill At Main Post Office

Workers Hold Emergency Drill At Main Post Office

"...The drill focused on response to a biohazard danger, including decontamination of volunteers...."    



Source: www.kypost.com

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Digital signage used by USPS to spark interest in kiosks

Digital Signage

"...focused on changing this customer behavior specifically by including a digital screen at the main entrance to each of the test sites. Nicknamed the “Stop and Turn” device, it is a 30-inch screen hung portrait fashion in a custom mount. The content on this screen is all very short (3-5 seconds), bright colors, and designed to catch the eye of customers as they walk into the post office. It’s also very direct in its messages. “Jump the line. Ship packages at the APC...."    



Source: www.selfserviceworld.com

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Favorite Fictional Postal People

Poll results - favorite postal character

"...Who is your favorite fictional postal character?..."    



Source: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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Mail Package Shipping Test:

FedEx, UPS, and the Postal Service - A shipping test

"...We sent three packages via Fed Ex, another 3 through UPS and the last
batch we handed over to the Post Office..."    



Source: www.abcactionnews.com

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