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LONG HILL TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- Authorities in New Jersey, where at least five anthrax-laden letters were mailed in 2001, closed another post office after white powder fell from a package containing a threatening letter. An initial test was negative for anthrax, but a secondary test was inconclusive, Postal Service spokesman Tony Esposito said. He said one employee came in contact with the powder but didn't appear to have symptoms. The post office was closed Saturday as a precaution, pending tests by the state health department. The substance was discovered Friday night when a postmark machine stamped a padded envelope...

Voluntary Alternatives to Taxation Stuart K. Hayashi Most Americans believe paying taxes is a patriotic duty. Yet this very nation was founded upon people evading taxes in 1776. When individuals don’t pay taxes, the government goes after them with guns, even though they haven’t used force on anyone else. Thus, taxation is an initiation of physical force against the individual’s right to life, liberty and property. Because taxation is forcible extortion, it violates your right to property. If you don’t pay taxes, you can be jailed, hence depriving you the right to liberty. And if tax “evaders” fight tax...

Write to Santa There are two ways you can send a letter to Santa (either way, Santa will send you a response). Mail your letter to Santa: Santa Claus North Pole HOH OHO Canada or Send Santa an e-mail!

LYON, France (AP) — When about 30 padded letters destined for the United States were stuffed into a mail box at a small post office in southeastern France last week, it raised suspicions. Fearing the envelopes might contain biological agents such as anthrax, police carefully opened them and found pills sometimes taken by athletes who want to bulk up or improve their performance. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Wednesday that Interpol had opened an inquiry into the envelopes. Police did not release the names or locations of those to whom the letters were addressed. The suspiciously large...

Just heard on WABC, New York, anthrax has been discovered in the Post Office which Mrs. Lundgren used. Probably not a new 'attack' but why did it take them so long to find it????

Anthrax: Man Arrested Sky News November 4, 2001 A man has been arrested after FBI agents investigating anthrax attacks searched his apartment. They raided at least two apartments in Trenton, New Jersey. Three of the letters contaminated with the potentially deadly spores were posted from Trenton. Another case The development came as anthrax was discovered at a third US post centre in New Jersey. State officials say one worker is already suspected of suffering from the skin form of the disease. Witnesses said the arrest followed a three-hour search by FBI and immigration agents of an apartment where four "Middle ...

WASHINGTON, June 22 — Scientists have determined that the anthrax powder sent through the mail last fall was fresh, made no more than two years before it was sent, senior government officials said. The new finding has concerned investigators, who say it indicates that whoever sent the anthrax could make more and strike again. Establishing the age of the anthrax that killed five people has strengthened the theory that the person behind the mailings has a direct and current connection to a microbiology laboratory and may have used relatively new equipment. "We're still looking for someone who fits the criteria...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund said Tuesday some of its mail had tested positive for anthrax but stressed the result was not conclusive and further tests were being carried out. In the third announcement in about 12 days of a positive test in Washington for the potentially deadly bacteria, the IMF said the batch of mail first tested negative in an off-site facility. But another test was ordered when the mail arrived at IMF headquarters after the nearby World Bank Monday detected possible anthrax contamination on its mail. That second test yielded a positive result, the IMF said....

First-Class Stamp to Cost 37 Cents By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, Associated Press Writer June 26, 2002, 1:19 PM EDT WASHINGTON -- Mailing a letter will cost 3 cents more starting Sunday. The boost in the first-class rate to 37 cents was approved in February after months of hearings by the independent Postal Rate Commission. A variety of other rates, including post cards, parcel post and priority mail, go up at the same time. Postal Vice President Azeezaly Jaffer said the increases would cost the average person about 45 cents extra a month. Postmaster General John Potter has promised rates won't...

Rape threats to fight junk mail An Oslo man was fined after pleading guilty to threatening to violate a mailman or anyone else delivering unwanted advertising to his mailbox. The court reduced the fine due to extenuating circumstances. The 29-year-old man had tried several conventional methods of halting the daily delivery of ads and junk mail but notices to the mailman and a standard 'no advertising' sticker had no effect. On October 20, 2000 the annoyed recipient escalated tensions by posting an original notice on his mailbox to make his feelings clearer. One side of the message displayed a picture...

CHEMICAL WEAPONS ON THE WEB WHAT GOOD ARE GAS MASKS? ARE WE FOOLISH TO SPELL OUT THE INGREDIENTS OF SARIN? MORE EXPLORE FEATURES Better Killing through Chemistry Buying chemical weapons material through the mail is quick and easy by George Musser I was reading up on nuclear proliferation when our editorial assistant came by my office. "You’ve got a package downstairs," he said. I took the elevator to the lobby of our building, scribbled my signature on the invoice and carried my box upstairs. I then had all the material I needed to make sarin nerve gas. Image: Ryan...

Published SaturdayMay 18, 2002Pentagon to cut back anthrax program   WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon wants to abandon its policy of anthrax vaccinations for all troops and limit shots to those at the highest risk, officials said Friday. A planned announcement of the new policy two weeks ago was delayed because of questions about how much vaccine U.S. civilians might need in case of a bioterrorist attack. In trying to rebuild a program hobbled for two years by a drug shortage, officials are considering such issues as intelligence assessments, dosing requirements and other national- security considerations, said Jim Turner, the...

ST. LOUIS -- The budget deficit is huge. Tax collection has been unexpectedly skimpy. And the treasury is all but tapped out. So the state of Missouri has stopped sending out income tax refunds. And there are no plans to put the checks in the mail any time soon. Here is the balance of the article

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-mailbox-bombs0506may05.story Police Find Another Mail Bomb in Neb. By AMY LORENTZEN Associated Press Writer May 5, 2002, 10:21 PM EDT OMAHA, Neb. -- Another explosive device was found Sunday in a mailbox in Nebraska, police said. Authorities had not determined whether the device was similar to 14 pipe bombs found in three states, including Nebraska, in the past three days. The device did not explode, police said. It was found in a mailbox Sunday evening at a home in Albion. The Nebraska State Patrol was investigating. Six people were injured by explosions in Illinois and Iowa on Friday. Six pipe...

All postal workers are being called in to their stations in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. If people see a mailman still delivering mail they are supposed to tell them to return to their post office. More to follow.

Electronic Commerce Crime Prevention and Protection Act (Introduced in the House) HR 4101 IH 107th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 4101 To amend title 18, United States Code, to require firearms, ammunition, and explosives purchases to be made in person and to require records to be kept of the means by which the purchases are made. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 9, 2002 Mr. CROWLEY (for himself, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mrs. MCCARTHY of New York, Mr. BLAGOJEVICH, Mr. CLAY, and Ms. WOOLSEY) introduced the following...

The once-secret product "Ginger," also known as "IT," has been declared so revolutionary that it would "change the way cities are designed," according to one high-tech luminary, Apple Computer's Steve Jobs. But some cities aren't sure they're ready for this computerized "human transporter," a sort of high-tech scooter that can carry a rider at up to 10 mph -- potentially at odds with pedestrians on busy sidewalks. And its New Hampshire inventor, Dean Kamen, has feared his product might be regulated right out of the reach of consumers. Fear not. The Segway Human Transporter, or HT, has apparently rolled over...