I'm far from the most informed guy on these issues, but I gotta admit I am constistently amazed by how cheap and efficient the US Mail service is. For 44c I can get stuff to any mailbox in the USA--no matter how remote, and cross town stuff works often in 1 day.

The people at the post office COUNTER are a complete disaster, but the system itself is borderline amazing to me.

If you asked me how much *I* would guess it would cost to run a service like that -- complete with daily home pick-up and delivery, I'd have guessed *way way* more.
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The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope. -John Buchan