Tales Of Brave Ulysses

Been meaning to mention this article from the Christian Science Monitor on a trend in creating regional art centers in small towns across the USA. I never would have thought of Paducah, Kentucky as a hip and artsy locale, though I did know that Hot Springs, Arkansas was a popular destination for art tourism.

The Guardian has an excellent interview with one of my favorite authors, Ursula K. Le Guin. Years before Harry Potter, Le Guin was writing stories about a wizard school and a young student with great promise. The Earthsea stories remain one of my favorites, mostly because these children’s fantasies offer uncommon depth and subtlety, richly informed by Jungian thought.

Wednesday a cargo flight for the US Postal Service ran into trouble over the Marshall Islands, spilling hundreds of pounds of mail and packages into the lagoon near Majuro International Airport. Apparently the rear cargo door of the 727 Asia Pacific Airlines fell open shortly after takeoff and spilled mail onto homes, streets and the lagoon.

This doesn’t make me happy at all. The mail was from Guam and Hawaii and only some of the mail was recovered. What happens to all the mail that was lost? I mailed out some bills this week, if they were lost in the lagoon I don’t think I should be held responsible for this mishap. Here’s what the PDN has to say about this in their article:

When First-Class Mail does not arrive, the postal service has no sure way of knowing what may have happened to the item. Only Registered Mail™ and Express Mail® items are accounted for during their entire journey through the mail system. However, customers may file a complaint of non-received mail. If expected mail has not arrived after sufficient time has elapsed (about 14 days from its date of mailing), please fill out PS Form 1510, Mail Loss/Rifling Report. This form is available at your local Post Office.