Big Duh

Link to June 30 Eau Claire Leader-Telegram article, "Internet, email cuts [sic] big into post office business".

Excerpt: More people paying bills online and sending e-mails instead of letters has meant a staggering drop in mail going through the U.S. Postal Service, said Pete Nowacki, spokesman for the agency's Northland District, which covers most of Minnesota and the western third of Wisconsin.

"Mail volume is way down," Nowacki said. "Last year it was down 4.5 percent, and this year it will be worse."

Libraries were early adopters in this area. The Middleton Public Library's expenditures for postage dropped from $12,931 in 1996 to $2,428 in 2003 -- although they had increased to $4,482 by 2007. (Last year for which I have a final figure at my quick disposal.)

On the other hand, I still write and (snail)mail a weekly letter to my now 88-year-old, off-the-grid mom.