Ever
since 1969, October 9 has been celebrated around the globe as World
Post Day. Post offices of various countries use the day as an excuse
to share with customers all the services provided by their postal
workers.
Of
course, in 1969 instant messaging through e-mail, texting, Facebook,
and Twitter didn't exist. There were few private companies such as
FedEx providing shipping services for small packages, back then, and
there were few private mail centers. Things have changed a lot since
then, and many people wonder if we really need government-run mail
service anymore. However, I have a feeling that having a low-cost
public option does help to keep prices down for FedEx, UPS, and other
companies.
Did
you know...?
In
many cities and towns in the past, until maybe the early 1960s, mail
was delivered twice a day, morning and afternoon. It was common to
have morning and evening newspapers delivered, too.
In
Victorian-era London, mail was delivered to each house TWELVE TIMES A
DAY! Remember, back then, there was no telephone, let alone texting!
Smaller cities had mail delivered six times a day
So,
basically, using “snail mail” less and less these days is just
part of a larger trend of diminishing use over the decades.
Don't
forget, it's Nautilus Night tonight!
All
hail the shelled cephalopod known as the nautilus! This creature can
withdraw into its shell completely and close the opening, but it is
more commonly seen with its many short tentacles—about 90 of
them!—extended into the sea and its eye peeking out from the
shell.The nautilus's tentacles do not have suckers, but instead have
ridges—and they somehow manage to have such a strong grip that it
is easier to tear a tentacle off the nautilus's body than it is to
break its grip.
The
beautiful nautilus shell has long been popular in collectors'
“Cabinets of Curiosities,” in art pieces, and even in home décor!
The nautilus shell is also popular with mathematicians, since it
forms a logarithmic spiral, a sort of fractal shape made by
connecting points on a series of Golden Rectangles, or by building boxes with the dimensions of the Fibonacci numbers. What the heck
does all that mean? you ask. Check out this video, and then this here
and that other math website to find out!
Also
on this date:
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