Here are some of our favorite brief Web stories from this week.

Some people had common sense.

• A University of Minnesota professor uses superheroes to teach physics. I never understood physics, but maybe I would have if it had been this exciting.
• There were some big changes in women’s health this week. Recommendations for mammograms and pap smears were adjusted and women everywhere were confused. We thought this write-up from NBC’s Dr. Nancy Snyderman did a nice job of putting it all into perspective.
• Over privacy concerns, the Grinches at the USPS called a halt to the “Dear Santa” letter program with the residents of North Pole, Alaska this week. But, according to one of the Alaska Senators on Friday, the USPS has agreed to resume the program. Some new security measures will be put in place, and Santa’s letters will continue to be opened and responded to by the Alaskan volunteers. Childhood everywhere rejoices!

And, some did not.

• A North Carolina dad packed McDonald’s for his eighth-grade daughter’s lunch in a brown paper bag, and she ended up suspended. My dad used to pack me HoHos, Hostess Fruit Pies, or Hostess Cupcakes in my lunch. Would I be kicked out of school now?
• A 19-year old man was arrested in Texas after selling pot door-to-door. (What, is pot Amway, now?) His luck turned south when he knocked on the door of an off-duty policeman. Dude.
• Kate Moss, a well-known waif model, has become the poster girl for other girls who are trying not to eat. Moss recently said, “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.” Girls aspiring to be super (dangerously) thin now use this quote on their own web sites as inspiration not to eat. NOT TO EAT. Someone should slap Moss upside the head with a double Quarter Pounder with Cheese for this comment. (To be fair, the model’s rep says the line was taken out of context. Sure, it was.)

The U.S. Post Office is in trouble. In 2009, the Post Office expects to run a record $7 billion deficit in 2009. Clearly, there needs to be an overhaul of the system. No one expects them to make money, but to be SEVEN BILLION dollars in debt is mind-boggling. And, raising the price of stamps again and again isn’t the answer–especially since they expect to handle 27 billion fewer pieces of mail this year.

One of the suggestions to cut costs is to drop down to a five-day delivery schedule. It is estimated this could save between $2 billion and $3 billion a year. Makes sense to me. Do you really need to get your junk mail, magazines, and bills on Saturday, too? Admit it: How often do you really get snail mail that matters? Twice or three times a week, maybe? Cutting down a delivery day wouldn’t solve the USPS’ problems, but it sure would take a dent out of their operating expenses.

In a move consistent with the bureaucracy that so burdens our country, many members of Congress are not on board with the five-day plan until further study is done. Clearly, the politicians are worried about an uprising from their constituents if there are service changes.

But desperate times call for desperate measures. The Post Office has been removing little-used neighborhood post boxes and is discussing a broad consolidation of mail carriers and branches. They are also under a hiring freeze, and are offering early retirement to many workers.

We just moved to New Jersey, and we were surprised to see our mail carrier drive up in our driveway. He drives all the way up the drive to the side door to deliver the mail. We love it, but how can this possibly be cost efficient? Even if all the mailboxes were just moved to the curb, that would take less time and gas. Or, how about putting mail carriers on bicycles or Vespas?

But, I suspect the way the mail is delivered isn’t the problem. The Post Office has become a balloon of bloated bureaucracy and needs to deflate a bit. Let’s hope they examine their business model and get it back on track. Otherwise, who knows how much a first-class stamp is going to cost you.

Recently, the New York Daily News did a comparison about some of the different services the United States Post Office offers. In each case, they sent a first-class letter, a Priority Mail letter, and an Express letter at the same time to one address. In 8 of 10 tests, the first-class letter and the Priority Mail letter arrived on the same day.

A stamp costs $.42 (for now) and Priority Mail runs around $4.95. Priority Mail means delivery within 2-3 days, which even the Post Office admits is generally how long it takes for first-class mail to arrive. So, if your letter doesn’t need insurance or tracking, save some dough and just slap a first-class stamp on it.

[via PatsPapers.com]