I started to “write out” this blog about a short and simple observation I had……well, we all know how that always turns out for ol’ Zulu Delta! Anyway, I’ll try to keep it quick…….

The United States uses a 5 number Zip Code; yes, not newsworthy. Technically it uses a ZIP+4 (9 numbers), which is even MORE of an accurate location, but if anybody (not a corporate entity) ever mails a letter anymore, we know a 5 digit zip will get your letter to where it needs to go. What I didn’t realize is that the 5 digit zip only went into use in 1963. Yes, 1963 is almost 62 years ago, but I was surprised that in the history of mail, that’s still the modern era. The Pony Express is something we hear about often in “American Mail History,” but it was created in 1860 and only lasted 18 months into 1861. Not very long ago either. Drive through New England and you will often find yourself on “Route One” or some street named Post Road. Well, sometimes we forget, but Route 1 got its number designation because it WAS the Post Road. The Old Boston Post Road went from Boston to Providence, down into Connecticut, and to New York City. I still travel on Post Road and Old Post Roads ALL THE TIME!

Anyway, my original observation was from paying bills online. Have you ever noticed……

When filling in the boxes for Bill Payment or Email sign up, or Star Trek Fan Club sites…..OK, OK, forget that last one, there is one box “they” never seem to trust you with; Your State. Each time I go to fill out this box, it seems that suddenly a “pop up” menu appears with all the States names spelled out in full. It doesn’t offer me the two digit letter to select my name from. I think I notice this all the time, because it seems to me, every “adult” should know their own 2 letter state code. It seems even more simple that I live in Rhode Island, which is RI. The “magic box” story doesn’t end here (mercifully). When I get to the State Box, I never remember being even allowed to begin to type in my state or state abbreviation. I can only click the cursor in the box and a full list of states comes up. What also strikes me as odd is I cannot begin to type the first letter of Rhode Island in the box and have the menu display all the States that start with the letter “R,” which I would then select Rhode Island, especially because it is the only U.S. State that begins with the Letter “R.” NO, NO….I am assaulted (Hahahahahaha) with EVERY STATE in the United States to choose from. “I hear you Zulu….Sometimes having to take 2 Milliseconds to scroll down is excruciating!!!”

I could be offended by these internet companies diminishing my intelligence, but upon thinking about it, I’m sure data history shows that many people really don’t know their State Designation and that Address corrections are far easier and likely to occur from a Nine Digit Zip Code than a 2 letter abbreviation. 02905 will quickly find 02906, but “MI” in Michigan is a lot farther away, and costly to correct than people thinking MI is Mississippi, when it’s actually MS.

Anyway, It still annoys me!