My New Mailbox

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Take a look at the future. The United States Postal Service is helping celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars with these new R2-D2 mailboxes. Don't believe the rumors, and the confirmation by TheForce.net, the preeminent online Star Wars news source? Take a look at the trailer for this fast approaching campaign: http://www.uspsjedimaster.com/teaser/form.html

And if you don't believe that, just go to the US Postal Service's official website and watch Artoo roll around the screen.

R2-D2 is the perfect mascot for the United States Postal Service. He delivered the Death Star plans, against incredible odds, and did so in time to save the Rebellion. No greater courier exists in reality or mythology. It's a perfect partnership, and a way for the struggling USPS to attract some publicity, especially among a younger, cooler and retail-level audience. A good business decision on their part to be sure--and on the part of Star Wars? Well, that's just awesome (and also good publicity, and a way to keep the franchise the public consciousness even after the movies are all done). It's a great partnership, resulting in some awesome mailboxes and maybe some other stuff.

On a completely unrelated note, an African leader is claiming to have a cure for AIDS, which came to him in a dream (via his ancestors of course). Maybe dating Cynara is tempering my constant skepticism, or maybe it's just the scale of the potential rewards, but I'm actually hoping this works. I don't think it's a cure (or for that matter anything at all), but what if it helps combat the virus, even in some small way? I'm hoping there's something here, even though there's virtually no chance this 7-herb/spice concoction will live up to its creator's claims. Still...wouldn't it be great if it does? My main worry, however, is the same as everyone else's: he's giving people false hope. His reluctance to let people examine the concoction is a little troublesome...hopefully the scientific community will rush to debunk the wild claims and determine what--if any--uses this syrupy serum has.