state names

[Jan Boomsliter <boom -at- CADENCE -dot- COM>]

 Ok, I can't stand it anymore.  This is not a matter of opinion.

 Let us, as the sophomores say, define our terms: the zip code set up
 by the postal service is a 7-character code of 2 alpha and 5 numeric
 characters. The alpha characters are mnemonics.

   No, repeat no, abbreviations involved.

 So, boys and girls, the abbreviations of state names are as they
 always were, Mich., Wis., N.Y., Calif., Ore., Ariz. ....

 Therefore, ergo, and to wit, a proper address goes like this:

        Name
        [Number Street; box number; building ... appropriate identifier]
        San Jose, California
        CA 95125

 True, the postal service did not do zip codes to benefit people
 (except indirectly by handling mail faster), nor did they claim so.

 It is also true that after spending our money ballyhooing the system,
 they promptly ignored it and required us to use the full address
 anyway (at least, the snippy postal service around here returns mail
 that does not have the full address.  They do not offer a reason.)
 If they really wanted to be efficient, they would change the order of the
 address to be read from the top down:

        zip code
        number and street, or box number, or ...
        person




 Whew! I feel better.  (This is on both of the lists I subscribe to.)

Thank you for your time.
 jb