PSA: postage rates

It being a nice afternoon, I wanted to walk a bit at lunchtime, so I went to the nearest post office and bought ten one-cent stamps from a vending machine. (There's not much you can get out of a machine for a dime anymore.) They're nice stamps, with a Tiffany lamp on them.

When my officemate came back from his lunch, I mentioned having bought one-cent stamps. He asked why. I explained that I had some 39-¢ stamps and didn't want to waste them.

It transpired that he didn't know the postage rates had gone up, and in fact had mailed a bank deposit a few days ago with a 39-cent stamp. In case anyone else didn't know and is affected: the one-ounce rate for U.S. mail is now 41 cents. The second-ounce (and thereafter) rate is now 21 cents an ounce. (Yes, that's a reduction: if you have a two-ounce letter, and a 39 and 23 sitting around from the previous rates, you're fine.) There are also some odd new rules about package and envelope size and shape: if it's something other than a standard-shaped letter or card, check at www.usps.gov for details.

Belated correction: The second-ounce rate is actually 17 cents, as I discovered when I asked a postal clerk for 21-cent stamps. I now have ten of the new second-ounce stamps. (Anyone who put 39+23 on a two-ounce letter will have gotten it through okay, and there's something to be said for using up those old 23-cent stamps.)

PSA: postage rates

It being a nice afternoon, I wanted to walk a bit at lunchtime, so I went to the nearest post office and bought ten one-cent stamps from a vending machine. (There's not much you can get out of a machine for a dime anymore.) They're nice stamps, with a Tiffany lamp on them.

When my officemate came back from his lunch, I mentioned having bought one-cent stamps. He asked why. I explained that I had some 39-¢ stamps and didn't want to waste them.

It transpired that he didn't know the postage rates had gone up, and in fact had mailed a bank deposit a few days ago with a 39-cent stamp. In case anyone else didn't know and is affected: the one-ounce rate for U.S. mail is now 41 cents. The second-ounce (and thereafter) rate is now 21 cents an ounce. (Yes, that's a reduction: if you have a two-ounce letter, and a 39 and 23 sitting around from the previous rates, you're fine.) There are also some odd new rules about package and envelope size and shape: if it's something other than a standard-shaped letter or card, check at www.usps.gov for details.

Belated correction: The second-ounce rate is actually 17 cents, as I discovered when I asked a postal clerk for 21-cent stamps. I now have ten of the new second-ounce stamps. (Anyone who put 39+23 on a two-ounce letter will have gotten it through okay, and there's something to be said for using up those old 23-cent stamps.)

Not taking freelance work right now

I got a call early last week, offering me freelance copyediting for journals published by my former employer. I talked to the woman who runs this (they have it all farmed out these days, apparently) and asked her some questions about what the work would involve, what they were offering to pay, and how much time they were looking for, and told her I'd call her back in a few days. I also told her I had a friend who might be interested, and was good, and asked if I should pass her information along. She said yes. Then I talked to cattitude, and sent email to Q and adrian_turtle asking what they thought.

By the weekend, after talking to Cattitude and Q, I'd about decided to offer her a few hours a month, because it would be useful to have the freelance contact, but I hadn't called her back. This morning, I got email from Adrian, asking some sensible questions about how much time and energy I have to spare. That conencted to a conversation on the subway this morning, about having seen only one of the plays that won Tonys this year, for lack of time and energy rather than because we couldn't afford tickets. I checked in with Cattitude, who agreed that what Adrian had said made sense, and then called the woman back.

She thanked me for having a good enough idea of my time and availability to be saying "No, I can't do this now, shall I call you when I do?" rather than taking work and then not getting it done. She also mentioned having talked to my friend, and being glad because zie seems competent and has a bunch of time available. [I think you're reading this; feel free to identify yourself in comments.]

Then I finished my workday, and went and lifted weights. ( gym details )

Not taking freelance work right now

I got a call early last week, offering me freelance copyediting for journals published by my former employer. I talked to the woman who runs this (they have it all farmed out these days, apparently) and asked her some questions about what the work would involve, what they were offering to pay, and how much time they were looking for, and told her I'd call her back in a few days. I also told her I had a friend who might be interested, and was good, and asked if I should pass her information along. She said yes. Then I talked to cattitude, and sent email to Q and adrian_turtle asking what they thought.

By the weekend, after talking to Cattitude and Q, I'd about decided to offer her a few hours a month, because it would be useful to have the freelance contact, but I hadn't called her back. This morning, I got email from Adrian, asking some sensible questions about how much time and energy I have to spare. That conencted to a conversation on the subway this morning, about having seen only one of the plays that won Tonys this year, for lack of time and energy rather than because we couldn't afford tickets. I checked in with Cattitude, who agreed that what Adrian had said made sense, and then called the woman back.

She thanked me for having a good enough idea of my time and availability to be saying "No, I can't do this now, shall I call you when I do?" rather than taking work and then not getting it done. She also mentioned having talked to my friend, and being glad because zie seems competent and has a bunch of time available. [I think you're reading this; feel free to identify yourself in comments.]

Then I finished my workday, and went and lifted weights. ( gym details )