Can the Post Office Survive the Digital Age?

n an article earlier this year, we asked, “Is email killing the post office?” Well, the post office is not dead yet, but it’s not helping from the looks of it. The U.S. Postal Service doesn’t have the money it needs to pay its bills, and email and the web are clearly major factors.

Can the post office survive the digital age? Tell us what you think.
A report from the New York Times is all but predicting the U.S. Postal Service’s demise. “The agency is so low on cash that it will not be able to make a $5.5 billion payment due this month and may have to shut down entirely this winter unless Congress takes emergency action to stabilize its finances,” the report says.
“If Congress doesn’t act, we will default,” Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe is quoted as saying.
Whew we discussed the subject before, Bloomberg BusinessWeek had put out a lengthy report looking at the decline of the USPS and its contributing factors. While touching on email, it looked more at comparison of USPS performance versus that of FedEx, UPS and DHL, as well as their international counterparts.
Despite talk that social media might one day kill email, email has proven time and time again that it is still a vital part of the Internet. A report from Pew Internet recently found that email (along with search) is the top activity online adults engage in on the web – way more than social media (though that’s growing significantly).
Unfortunately for the USPS, that conversation is irrelevant, because social media and email go hand in hand when it comes to less communication by “snail mail” – a phrase that the post office no doubt despises.
One can only imagine how mobile has contributed to even more communication by web over mail. Now the Internet is in your pocket at all times, not to mention the phone – another classic non-mail form of communication. Last week, Nielsen put out a report finding that 40% of mobile users in the U.S. use smartphones.
Of course email isn’t the only part of the web that is hurting the post office. Online bill pay is a big contributor as well – also now handily available from your pocket.
It’s just easier, cheaper and more efficient to communicate digitally.
Total mail volume decreased by 20% from 2006 to 2010, according to that Bloomberg report. The numbers can only be getting worse for the post office.
There will always be packages, but the digital age certainly continues to leave its mark on those as well. Movies, music and books are all digital now. Earlier this year, Amazon announced that Kindle books were outselling print books. Tablet (namely iPad) sales are on fire. The USPS also has to compete with those other parcel services too.
The Postal Service’s payment is due on September 30. From the sound of it, consumers wouldn’t likely feel the effects so much until early next year. At least the post office should remain open for the holidays.
Is the USPS in serious trouble or is this just a temporary set-back? Let us know what you think in the comments.
About Chris Crum
Chris Crum has been a part of the WebProNews team and the iEntry Network of B2B Publications since 2003. Follow WebProNews on Facebook or Twitter. Twitter: @CCrum237 Google: +Chris Crum
  source: http://www.webpronews.com/post-office-email-web-2011-09

“TSA Rape” Blog Post A Matter of First Amendment Rights?

As the 10th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, many will take the time to not only reflect upon the day itself, but also the decade following the WTC attacks. American life has changed dramatically since that day, but it’s not always easy to cite tangible examples of how it has changed.
But sometimes it is. And the TSA is one entity that has gained quite a bit of attention since then. As airports have continued to implement stronger safety measures over the last decade, many have put the Transportation Security Administration into the crosshairs, railing against random searches and pat-downs – which they say violate some of their basic human rights. One thing on which we can all agree – getting patted down in a airport isn’t a whole lot of fun.
One woman had a particularly nasty experience during a TSA pat-down. According to columnist and blogger Amy Alkon, her experience with a particular TSA agent went way past uncomfortable.
In a blog post, Alkon details a March 31st incident where she accuses TSA agent Thedala Magee of “raping” her with her hand during a public pat-down in Los Angeles.
Alkon writes about her disapproval of the whole procedure, saying that the pat-downs are both a physical violation as well as a constitutional one. One that day, she admits that she decided to make a scene on purpose, to bring attention to what she thinks is an unfair act, “to make it uncomfortable for them to violate us and our rights,” she said. So she began sobbing, loudly. According to Alkon, this was the response from the female TSA agent –

Nearing the end of this violation, I sobbed even louder as the woman, FOUR TIMES, stuck the side of her gloved hand INTO my vagina, through my pants. Between my labia. She really got up there. Four times. Back right and left, and front right and left. In my vagina. Between my labia. I was shocked — utterly unprepared for how she got the side of her hand up there. It was government-sanctioned sexual assault.
Upon leaving, still sobbing, I yelled to the woman, “YOU RAPED ME.” And I took her name to see if I could file sexual assault charges on my return. This woman, and all of those who support this system deserve no less than this sort of unpleasant experience, and from all of us.

Apparently, the lawsuit idea fell through as her lawyer told her she had an unwinnable case.
But now, the TSA agent in question is threatening to sue Alkon for her blog post, claiming defamation. Magee has asked for $500,000 as well as the removal of the blog post.
it doesn’t look like Alkon is going to comply with that request, as she writes today on her blog –

Magee is looking for me to pay her $500K, apologize to her, and take down my blog item about her — because I had the nerve to exercise my First Amendment rights and complain after she jammed her hand sideways into my vagina four times. (Unfortunately for Ms. Magee, I’ve always made a pretty crappy victim.)

She has also gained the services of a First Amendment lawyer named Marc Randazza who is working the case pro bono.
The letter that Magee sent Alkon requesting the monetary damages and the retraction of the “rape” allegations says that the “outbursts in public and writings on the internet” have subjected Magee to “hatred, contempt, and ridicule” and caused her “severe emotional distress, fear, and problems doing her duty.”
Alkon’s lawyer Randazza sent a letter back, saying –

Your client aggressively pushed her fingers into my client’s vulva. I am certain that she did not expect to find a bomb there. She did this to humiliate my client, to punish her for exercising her rights, and to send a message to others who might do the same. It was absolutely a sexual assault, perpetrated in order to exercise power over the victim. We agree with Ms. Alkon’s characterization of this crime as “rape,” and so would any reasonable juror.

He then quotes precedent defending the use of the word “rape” as hyperbolic language. So even if Magee didn’t “rape” Alkon in some meaning of the word, she has the right to characterize it as such.
TSAAlkonThedalaMageeLtr

Response to TSA Agent legal threat

TSA pat-downs have remained a hot button issue for years. Recently, the Texas legislature was forced to pull their “Groping Bill” when the U.S. Attorney for Texas warned that the passing of said bill would most definitely result in flight shutdowns. The “Groping Bill” would have made any TSA pat-down that involved the anus, buttocks or sexual organs a crime.
If everything actually happened as Alkon reports, then you have to agree that this TSA agent’s actions crossed the line – no matter where you stand on the larger issue. Still, some would argue that penalizing the agent for enforcing policies under the instruction of the federal government is the wrong approach. Although it’s highly unlikely that a superior has ever told an agent to go as far as Magee supposedly went.
Should Alkon have the right to make these statements about her experience on her blog? Does a blog post like that fall into the realm of defamation of character? Let us know what you think.

About Josh Wolford
Josh Wolford is a staff writer for WebProNews. He likes beer, Sriracha and Cormac McCarthy. Twitter: @joshgwolf Google: Google+ 

source:http://www.webpronews.com/tsa-rape-blog-post-a-matter-of-first-amendment-rights-2011-09

iPhone 5 Rumor: First Photo From The New Device?

A wild iPhone 5 photo appears! More specifically, a photo supposedly taken from an iPhone 5. If accurate, this would be the first pic ever taken from the upcoming device to make its way to the internet – as well as the most famous uni and salmon sushi pic of all time.
Pocketnow thinks that they’ve stumbled upon the first known photo taken with an iPhone 5, cleverly labeled as “taken with an iPhone 4.” Not so fast, they say -

This (very attractive) photo claims to have been taken by an iPhone 4, but the rest of its EXIF data tells a different story: although the image has been cropped to 2235×2291 (5.12 megapixels), the original picture was a much larger 3264×2448 — or just shy of eight megapixels. What’s more, the lens was recorded as a 4.3mm f/2.4, which is closer to that of a point-and-shoot than the iPhone 4′s actual 3.85mm f/2.8. (Remember that the upcoming HTC Runnymede is said to have an aperture of f/2.2.)

Basically, this photo was taken with a much better camera than exists in any current iPhone model. Once of the earliest and most persistent iPhone 5 rumors has been the addition of an 8 megapixel camera. Here’s the sushi pic in question -

Not only that, but the geotagged location of the photo is 1 Infinite Loop in Cupertino, sticking this plate of sushi smack dab in the middle of Apple’s campus. Perhaps an eager staffer documenting his lunch with a brand new iPhone?
Or a manipulated photo? Of course the EXIF data could have been misrepresented and the geo data could have been faked. But the evidence as is suggests that we might be looking at what photos will look like when taken by the iPhone 5.
And it looks pretty good, am I right?

About Josh Wolford
Josh Wolford is a staff writer for WebProNews. He likes beer, Sriracha and Cormac McCarthy. Twitter: @joshgwolf Google: Google+ 
source:http://www.webpronews.com/iphone-5-rumor-first-photo-from-the-new-device-2011-09

Online Gift Shop: Easy Shopping & Gifting Destination

 While few commemorate specific dates of potent event that took place in the past. Hence these celebrations give us an opportunity to stay close to our family & society culture.

Earlier people used to celebrate festivals & occasions with great zeal. But now one can easily notice decreasing interest of people for such celebrations. Major reasons behind this phenomenon are- split in joint family, study in abroad (brain drainage) and job requirement.

These very factors have widened the split in family. That is why many do not get time to celebrate with their family members. To fill this gap and stay connected to your family & friends, online gift shop has come up with amazing celebration ideas for almost all occasions so that the spirits always remain high. Online gift shop provides you numerous gifts and gifting ideas for celebrating life's most cherished moments.


It is a boon for people who live far away from their families. Numerous people in India have started using it for sending season's greetings to their dear ones. Recent news reveal that many Indians who live in other countries are taking great advantage of this amazing facility online. A number of non-resident Indians have found it useful for conveying their loving thoughts anytime & anywhere in India and around the world online.

Since India is the world's biggest democratic country where people from different faith, religion & ethnic group live together and celebrate several festivals traditionally frequently. It is one of the easiest and most convenient options to shop & send gifts to India. All festivals - Holi, Diwali, Durga Puja, Eid, Guru Nanak Day, Christmas, Raksha Bandhan and more are celebrated every year that remind us of our loved ones. So now one can also send gifts to India whenever he/she want in any occasion or festival time.

Online gift shop offers various categories for  Baby Strollers, Massage chair, Baby pram, Bird cages, Baby cot,  Hutch, Beauty case , gifting by occasion etc to help people get unique ideas to send gifts to India easily & quickly. It is the best way to convey or share your loving thoughts with dear ones whenever you wish. Now you can send gifts to India more easily with free shipping gifts shops to UK & USA and more valuable options hassle free. This smooth option has really made our life easy resolving our query to how send to gifts to India through online gift shop.

About Author

She writes all types of articles well. For unique Fathers Day gifts ideas, click: http://fathersday.indiangiftsportal.com/

For unique gifts ideas, click www.indiangiftsportal.com/

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-dipanegi-22132.html

Let Your Child Ride On Cars & Play With Baby Stella

Child need companion to share the thoughts and to play. Apart from family members, the other thing that has become a part and parcel of a child’s life is a toy. There are numerous kinds of toys available in the market that can be used to brighten up the life of a child.

Toys are considered as a vital part of a child’s life as these items bring happiness to a child’s life and make the kid entertained with variety of colours and designer objects that surround him or her. These are also helpful to gain knowledge and learn how to act according to the functions.

The renowned toy making company, 6V Ride on Cars has the widest range of toys and vehicles that range from sedan to SUVs and even trucks and tractors.

These items come in myriad colours and shapes. Vibrant and exciting colours are mostly used to attract more eyeballs of the kids and thus these toy cars have witnessed an immense increase in sale numbers. However, most of these toys are made for kids who love adventures. Both male and female kids enjoy this game and love to spend maximum time with these and pretend to be grown up men and women.

You can also gift soft toys for your kids that are safe and easy to play. Baby Stella dolls are the perfect choice for those kids who prefer to play and spend their time quietly. These soft dolls come with colourful dresses and other accessories like hair bands, make up kits, hair pins and many more items. You have the options to pick these toys according to age groups and gift them accordingly. Mostly the female kids prefer to play this game. These are safe and are made of fine materials.

There are many other toys available for your kids such as Baby pram, Bird cages, Baby cot s that have also gained popularity among the growing children. You can get all the information about all the above mentioned toys from the internet. You can get these from any good games store. Today, people usually prefer to shop online. This is the easiest mode of shopping today. So, to make the child’s life full of fun and entertainment provide him or her with a quality toy that can not only act as a mere game but also help to learn and innovate new things.

About Author

For more information on Ride on Cars, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the Baby Stella!

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-jessica-thomson-41625.html

Make Your Kid’s Room A Place For Fun & Play With Playroom Furniture

A playroom is often designed to help a kid get a grasp about things around him and also learn new things that will shape his future abilities. Hence it’s important that you have appropriate Playroom Furniture in your house so that your child is comfortable in it and it also creates a warm and cozy ambience.

While toys are also an integral part of the room, you can’t go wrong with them. Simple, educational and constructive toys can do the trick. But when it comes to Playroom Furniture you need to be careful about making the appropriate choice. You don’t have to do up the room in bright colors or cover it in funky wallpaper; a few useful furniture pieces will make all the difference when it comes to this important room in your child’s formative years. Hence it’s important to put sufficient thought into buying the right furniture for it.

Start doing your research about Dolls Houses, Baby Strollers before you go into a store to buy it. In fact you can learn a lot about it through online catalogues and get helpful tips from them. It will also ensure you buy just the right kind of furniture pieces depending on your space constraints and budgets. Going through these catalogues you might also end up getting some ideas that you might have not thought about earlier. Activity tables are a welcome addition to a playroom because they keep kids occupied for long in a constructive way. Children tend to learn a lot from them and it hones their creativity at an early age.

Art easels are also a smart buy as it will help your child’s imagination and he will learn to express it as well. Of course you cannot do without functional items like beds, chairs, writing tables and wardrobes. Buying storage boxes to keep the room orderly is also a good idea. You can buy it all if you plan it well, within your budget without compromising on the quality of the product. Buying Playroom Furniture does not have to be an expensive affair; in fact, it can be a lot of fun for you too

About Author

For more information on Childrens furniture, check out the info available online; these will help you learn to find the Playroom Furniture!

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-jessica-thomson-41625.html

Best Ideas on Birthday Gifts Online

Birthday celebration involving blowing birthday candles, gift giving, music & dance, fun and special treats & confections give you totally a different experience. The day is made special with presents. Since ancient times, Birthday gifts have been given to people celebrating their birth days. It feels very nice to receive presents on birthdays. We especially wait for this day to enjoy our solemn freedom in a special way.

Hence we extremely enjoy celebrating our Birthdays. Today, a new trend is being followed that is of return gifts hence demand for Birthday gifts has incredibly gone high in the global markets as well as online. It is easy to get Birthday gifts from any ordinary gift store outside but several portals over the Internet have become even much convenient option than the former. Past couple of years, it has become the favorite destination for gift sending worldwide. Now people can wish their dear ones on their birthdays sending them birthday gifts even staying far away.

Earlier, people only sent bunches & bouquets on such occasions but with the advancement in technology, we can send even unstorable items like sweets, dolls house & expensive jewelry to dear people online. You have plenty of options for Birthday gifts in various suitable categories and sub categories on the gift store. From time to time, these birthday gifts ideas are replaced with new ones in the market.

Most frequently browsed Birthday gifts ideas online consists of Flowers, Perfumes, Personalized Photo Presents Time Pieces, and Unique Hampers /Combos. Besides, there are options for Leather Articles, Apparel, Feng Shui Specials, Cakes, Chocolates, Sweets and many more on online gift store. Moreover, additional categories of presents for Men (Him), Women (Her), Kids & Babies have made our selection much easier and faster.

Exclusive free shipping gift shop to UK & USA, Special Deal Offers and all collections in Fixtime Delivery, Express Delivery & Midnight Delivery gifts have given immense choice to people to meet their varied gifting requirements of Birthday occasion anytime, anywhere around the world. So use online gift store to convey your loving messages of the day to dear people any place across the globe. You can now celebrate birthday of dear people with revolutionary ideas anytime & any place online. It is the best way to make your life more exciting.

About Author

She writes all kinds of articles well. For unique Fathers Day gifts, click here http://fathersday.indiangiftsportal.com/

For Birthday gifts ideas, browse www.indiangiftsportal.com/india-shopping/occasions/birthday-gifts/
and for other occasions gifts, click here www.indiangiftsportal.com/

Article Source: http://www.1888articles.com/author-dipanegi-22132.html