Who's Got Mail?

Losing ground and money in a digital world, the post office may cut a deal with FedEx

In the old days, sending a thank-you note to Aunt Edna was as uncomplicated as she probably was. You wrote it, stuck a stamp on the envelope and dropped it into a mailbox. Off it went in a red-white-and-blue truck, and a couple of days later the friendly neighborhood mailman walked it--through rain, heat or gloom of night--right to Auntie's door.

Such quaint simplicity is gone forever. Now you're as likely to send her a fax, an e-mail, an instant message or one of those Internet missives with dancing balloons and digital music. Even if you cling to traditional pen...

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