Whine - Stamp prices
How much is the stamp today? Right now? This minute? Hurry and answer before it changes.... Actually, as of this writing (August 3, 2009), it's $0.44. At least I think it is....
Have you heard of these "forever stamps"? Generally, you buy them at the going market price, and they can be used in the future no matter what the price of the stamps becomes. So if you buy a forever stamp now for, say $0.45, and the price of a stamp goes up to $1.00, you can still use the forever stamp that was purchased for $0.45. Not a bad idea.
My real whine though is the price of the stamp. It isn't that you can send a one-ounce letter around the world for only $0.44 cents. Clarification, I probably should have said across the country because around the world you need air mail stamps. At least I think you do.
Anyway, have you ever pondered the cost of the stamp? I don't mean "$0.01 goes toward gas, $0.02 goes toward salaries, etc." I am referring to the actual price that is set. I know there are governmental issues behind the setting of the prices, but I am sure there are people that could make adjustments in order to reflect that data needed. Let's start by looking at the somewhat recent historical pricing of the stamp (data compiled from this site).
When the stamp came up for repricing in February, why not just make it $0.30?!!? Because the extra penny "wasn't needed??" Why not collect the extra penny, put it into an account, and then use those fund when they are needed to help defer the date of the rise of the next stamp increase? So it was four years before the next increase, that's not so bad. Let's fast forward a little. Take a look at 1999. Or worse, 2001. Why not go for $0.35?? Invest the difference and defer the date of the next increase. 2006 - same thing (but with $0.40, obviously). And now this year (2009). Can anyone say $0.45?!!?
Why does this matter? From a retail perspective, the speed of the transaction would be faster due to the lack of needing so much change. This would be more relevant when a book was being purchased (nine-even as opposed to having to deal with twenty-cents change). A round number is easier to remember. Though I haven't seen a stamp vending machine in I don't know how long, stamps could be easier sold if there were no pennies (less change) to deal with.
There has been talk about getting rid of the penny. This is clearly one reason why that will NEVER happen.
Why have there been annual increases the last three years? I honestly haven't looked at the underlying numbers to determine this (and I don't have to either). I'm whining about the price of the stamp. Raise it in, say, nickel increments, but raise it less often. I think everyone would be happy. Okay, happy-er.
Mmmm, cheddar. Vermont, Wisconsin, New York. Doesn't matter, they're all good.
Cheddar is a dense, hearty, heavy cheese. Though those of us in the U.S. probably consider it an "American cheese" (of course, not to confuse it with actual "American Cheese") It originated in a village called Cheddar in the southwest county of Somerset (which is in the United Kingdom - yes, that would make it British).
Have you seen the Cheeseheads during a Green Bay Packers football game? That area is known for cheddar.
I believe cheddar is one of the few that can be purchased in different levels of sharpness. Regular, sharp, estra sharp, super-duper sharp, razor sharp, G-sharp (a.k.a. A-flat). I'll figure that out as I write future cheese segments.
There are traditionally yellow cheddar and white (which is really off-white) cheddar (much like American, but that's another cheese for another day). Cheddar is excellent as a snack cheese alone or with crackers, or on omelets and burgers, or in recipes such as in macaroni and cheese, tacos and other Mexican dishes, pizza (IMO, not so much, but I did have cheddar as the cheese on a pizza in Connecticut [or was it Rhode Island] once), Texas fudge and casseroles, and on tuna melts (Swiss can be used for melts too).
You can find more information about cheddar here.