No Mail on Saturdays?
A 150 year tradition is now scheduled to end. After losing $16 billion in 2012, and as part of a deficit reduction package approved by President Obama, the postmaster general announced that Saturday first class mail service will cease, effective August 1, 2013.
Is this good or bad news for you? I would love to know so please share your thoughts.
According to an October 2011 Quinnipiac poll, 79 percent of Americans endorse the shift. Technically, the Postal Service is not allowed to [reduce] its service unless Congress changes the law… – Nancy Cordes, CBS News
This national change points to a much bigger financial mess between the USPS and congressional oversight, which I encourage everyone to research. I also hope you will read about it and contact your congressional representative to help to stop the bleeding that Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Oklahoma) says is to the tune of 25 million dollars a day. Here is a link to one of many interesting articles. Click on the Washington Post icon.
By eliminating Saturday deliveries, the Postal Service projects an annual savings of $2 billion (although much more is needed). Meanwhile, post offices that are now open on Saturdays will remain open and mail will continue to be delivered to post office boxes. In addition, packages, mail order prescriptions, and priority and express mail will remain on a six day a week delivery schedule. Now what happens if you don’t get your Netflix on Saturday? Not the biggest worry, I know, but people will have to work out a few things with all kinds of companies who will have to make accommodations for this change.
I’m also wondering if post offices will have to staff up on Saturdays if their traffic 
increases. I personally don’t mind not receiving mail on Saturday as long as I can pick it up at the post office. But my post office is less than a mile away – what about rural areas? I also care about the postal service workers who will be affected and whether or not this has a positive or negative impacted on their livelihood. So far, I’ve heard that they are worried about losing their jobs.
The proposal to drop Saturday delivery is not a done deal. “The Postal Service is expecting Congress and the public to respond to this and to engage in a debate,” Ruth Goldway, chair of the PRC, Postal Regulatory Commission said. – Washington Post
Whether it bothers you or not, how it affects others affects everyone.
Here’s a link to find your congressional rep: http://www.house.gov/representatives/find/
My Top 51 Favorite Romantic Movies
Whether you’re spending Valentine’s Day with your honey or rounding up your best pals for a favorite desserts and movie night, these films (from 1958-2011) will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and remember why love is a wonderful thing. Many are classics, some are romantic comedies, musicals, dramas, adventures, and some may not even be classified as a love story, but the director did a good job of turning them into one …and only a few have a sad ending. Since I’m 52, I’ll give you an update next year.
I also noticed that 1998 was a BIG year for romance. Any ideas why? Please share your faves with me too. I love hearing about amazing movies I haven’t seen or need to rent/view again. Also, I put a warning asterisk by the movies I recall having explicit content/language. I’m thinking about my beautiful grand kids checking this list out at some point. Please forgive me if I missed any and I’m sure I probably did.
Happy Valentine’s Day and Enjoy!
GiGi, 1958, Leslie Caron
South Pacific, 1958, Mitzi Gaynor
Sabrina, both the 1954 original with Audrey Hepburn, and the 1995 version with Julia Ormond/Harrison Ford
Breakfast At Tiffanys, 1961, Audrey Hepburn
Grease, 1978, John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John
The Princess Bride, 1987, Cary Elwes Robin Wright
*Dirty Dancing, 1987, Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey
*Coming to America, 1988, Eddie Murphy/Arsenio Hall
When Harry Met Sally, 1989, Billy Crystal/Meg Ryan
Always, 1989, Holly Hunter/Richard Dreyfuss
*The Bodyguard, 1992, Kevin Costner/Whitney Houston
*Honeymoon in Vegas, 1992, Nicolas Cage/Sarah Jessica Parker
Groundhog Day, 1993, Bill Murray/Andie MacDowell
Sleepless in Seattle, 1993, Meg Ryan/Tom Hanks
For Love or Money, 1993, Michael J. Fox/Gabrielle Anwar
Untamed Heart, 1993, Marisa Tomei/Christian Slater
Four Weddings And a Funeral, 1994, Hugh Grant/Andie MacDowell
While You Were Sleeping, 1995, Sandra Bullock/Bill Pullman
Sense and Sensibility, 1995, Emma Thompson/Hugh Grant/Kate Winslet
A Walk in the Clouds, 1995, Keanu Reeves/Aitana Sanchez-Gijon
*Braveheart, 1995, Mel Gibson/Sophie Marceau
*Jerry McGuire, 1996, Tom Cruise/Renee Zellweger
Titanic, 1997, Leonardo DiCaprio/Kate Winslet
My Best Friend’s Wedding, 1997, Julia Roberts/Dermot Mulroney
As Good As It Gets, 1997, Jack Nicholson/Helen Hunt
The Parent Trap, 1998, Dennis Quaid/Natasha Richardson
The Wedding Singer, 1998, Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore
*Meet Joe Black, 1998, Brad Pitt/Anthony Hopkins
Ever After: A Cinderella Story, 1998, Drew Barrymore/Dougray Scott
*Armageddon, 1998, Bruce Willis/Billy Bob Thornton/Liv Tyler
Dance With Me, 1998, Vanessa Williams/Chayanne
Hope Floats, 1998, Sandra Bullock/Harry Connick Jr.
City of Angels, 1998, Nicolas Cage/Meg Ryan
What Dreams May Come, 1998, Robin Williams/Annabella Sciorra
Runaway Bride, 1999, Julia Roberts/Richard Gere
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000, Yun-Fat Chow/ Ziyi Zhang
The Wedding Planner, 2001, Jennifer Lopez/Mattew McConaughey
A Knight’s Tale, 2001, Heath Ledger
Kate & Leopold, 2001, Meg Ryan & Hugh Jackman
My Big Fat Greek Wedding, 2002, Nia Vardalos
A Walk to Remember, 2002, Mandy Moore
50 First Dates, 2004, Adam Sandler/Drew Barrymore
Ella Enchanted, 2004, Anne Hathaway/Cary Elwes
*The Notebook, 2004, Rachel McAdams/Ryan Gosling
Howl’s Moving Castle, 2005 (U.S.), Christian Bale/Emily Mortimer
Phantom of the Opera, 2004, Gerard Butler
Just Like Heaven, 2005, Reese Witherspoon/Mark Ruffalo
17 Again, 2009, Zac Effron
Letters to Juliet, 2010, Amanda Seyfried/Vanessa Redgrave
The Adjustment Bureau, 2011, Matt Damon/Emily Blunt
New Years Eve, 2011 Jessica Biel/Zac Effron
Love the articles! I guess we won’t know how much we’ll miss Saturday mail delivery until we don’t have it any more. And as for your 51 Top Movies… what about Dr. Zvago (I know I misspelled this one!), and what about The Way We Were? My two favorites!
Thank you Alpha Girl! I’m really concerned about the bigger picture and how our government has run this business to the ground. My heart goes out to the employees. I plan to write my congress member and ask them to get on the ball with helping them. Would you like me to share this with Spicy? I would love to if yes : )