Steven Levy explains how anthrax-tained postal matter may the be final shove that puts USPS out of business.
Let's try a thought experiment. What comes in the mail that you absolutely, positively can't get electronically? If you're connected to the Internet—and, duh, you wouldn't be reading this if you weren't—probably your e-mail-to-snail-mail ratio overwhelmingly favors the former. What's more, it comes instantly, allows you an infinitely easier means to reply, and can be stored in a fraction of a second, in a place that's much easier to find than in a pile of papers on your desk or entrance table. The bulk of my own workplace mail consists largely of press releases, most of which go straight to the circular file. At every turn I ask PR agencies to send me e-mail—no attachments, please. I get invitations to events in the mail, but many come in e-mail as well, and while I like a nicely printed invite, I can do without. Yes, a lot of e-mail is unwanted spam, but that can be deleted in the blink of an eye, and doesn't have to be physically carted away—or ripped up and shredded, as in the case of credit card offers that identity thieves might use to get plastic in your name.
