Letter Month midpoint

 In addition to it being Tax Day (don't forget to file your returns!), today is the midpoint of National Letter Writing Month.  I'm glad to report my goal of writing and sending one letter each day to family and friends has so far been uninterrupted.  The commonly given benefits of handwritten letters are that they are a pleasant and personal way to communicate with another individual.  In today's digital age, it is certainly unexpected and hopefully a pleasant surprise to receive such an old fashioned message; an actual, physical object, manually transported by a postal system that remains by far the world's largest.  But being a scientist myself, I must mention that there are actual biological benefits to writing letters.  It's science!  According to one scientific paper:

 Handwriting is a complex neurophysiological process integrating motor, cognitive, and emotional components. Beyond its functional role in communication, it carries cultural and psychological significance. 

 Handwriting develops more areas of the brain than keyboard or texting messages.  It contributes to enhanced memory development and greater engagement with the material.  It's also a classy, joyous, and affirming way to strengthen relationship.  It may take more time and effort, but that also has value in fostering a deliberate and thoughtful moment in what otherwise can be a frantic life. So in the remainder of the month, I will continue to improve my neural pathways, burnish my penmanship, and sustain my friendships.  Write on!

Postcards of the future

 It's generally accepted that the first postcard was sent in Austria in 1869.  And for many decades, postcards were a convenient method of sending short messages, often compared to modern day text messages.  But only 30 years after their origin, postcards were used to predict the future.  A somewhat whimsical, somewhat serious collection of cards issued in France in 1899 sought to predict the state of the world 100 years hence.  This sort of futurism always fascinates me, mostly because we humans are so bad at predicting the future that when we sometimes get it right, it is all the more amazing.  For instance, the collection of French postcards predicted that in the year 2000, people would travel in submarines pulled by whales.  Or that firefighters would battle flames in tall buildings by wearing wings.  Yet some of the cards show future life that is recognizable to us today.  One, called "Correspondence Cinema" depicts electronic long-distance communication via voice and video, familiar to anyone with a smart phone.  "Electric scrubbing" shows the mechanical floor cleaner that mirrors today's Roomba.  So while postcards may not be a completely reliable forecaster of technological advancement, they continue as they always have to provide enjoyable amusement.

Letter Writing Month 2026

 It's April once again, which means Letter Writing Month is here.  As in past years, my goal is to write one letter each day to mail to family and friends.  (Last year's efforts were interrupted by a medical event, which I don't expect to be repeated this year.)  The letters I write during the month may be typewritten or hand written using my small collection of machines and fountain pens.  But all will be sent by USPS mail, while the service still exists.  This is a time of year I always look forward to:  renewing friendships, catching up with those who aren't online, and practicing the nearly-forgotten  communication method that served mankind for centuries.  The paper, ink, and stamps stand ready, so let's go.  Write on!