want him posted

[tonbei]

I have a question about the following sentences from a novel. Sorry for a long quote.


"I'll make the call (* to McLean)' Anne says to him as he leaves. "I'll get it arranged with
McLean and take care of the scan."
It's been a theoretical possibility this day would come, and we are cleared
with the Board of Health, and with Harvard and its affiliate McLean Hospital,
which has four magnets ranging in strength from 1.5 to 9 Tesla. Long ago I made
sure the protocols were in place to do MRls on dead bodies in McLean's neuroimaging
lab, where Anne works as a part-time MRtech for psychiatric research
studies. That's how I got her.
(- omitted - )
"If that's what you want, we can do it right now," Anne is saying to me.
"There shouldn't be a problem, won't be anyone around. We'll just go right up to
the front door(* of McLean) and get him(* the dead body) in and out."
At this hour, psychiatric patients at McLean won't be wandering around the
campus. There's little risk of them happening upon a dead body being carried in
or out of a lab.
(- omitted - )
I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted and safely out of sight before everyone
start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)

Context: They're talking about carrying a dead body to McLean, and doing scan on the body with
the hospital's MRI. There won't be many people around there if they take the body there that hour.

question: about "want him posted"
I couldn't get a certain sense of "posted" here.
I assumed various meanings for it.
1) get the body delivered to the hospital
2) get the body shown/ scanned

What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

[Mark Brader]

...I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted and
safely out of sight before everyone start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)

I'm guessing that "posted" is short for "post-mortemed", meaning
"autopsied". However, (1) I don't know if that makes sense in
connection with their plan of action, and (2) if it is correct
then I'd think that "post" would be used in that sense by the same
character in other books, so you'd be familiar with it.

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Mark Brader

...I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted
and safely out of sight before everyone start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)

I'm guessing that "posted" is short for "post-mortemed", meaning
"autopsied". However, (1) I don't know if that makes sense in
connection with their plan of action, and (2) if it is correct then
I'd think that "post" would be used in that sense by the same
character in other books, so you'd be familiar with it.

Ah, that makes sense. I had a mental image of their shoving the corpse
into a mail box.

[Richard Heathfield]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Mark Brader

...I reply:  "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted
and safely out of sight before everyone start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)

I'm guessing that "posted" is short for "post-mortemed", meaning
"autopsied".  However, (1) I don't know if that makes sense in
connection with their plan of action, and (2) if it is correct then
I'd think that "post" would be used in that sense by the same
character in other books, so you'd be familiar with it.

Ah, that makes sense. I had a mental image of their shoving the corpse
into a mail box.

I think it might be more obvious to those of us who've seen far too many
British whodunnits.

In the absence of a dead body, "posted" can, when used of humans, also
mean "sent". Within the armed forces, the sending of personnel to a new
station is generally referred to as "posting".

[RH Draney]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Mark Brader

...I reply:  "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted
and safely out of sight before everyone start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)

I'm guessing that "posted" is short for "post-mortemed", meaning
"autopsied".  However, (1) I don't know if that makes sense in
connection with their plan of action, and (2) if it is correct then
I'd think that "post" would be used in that sense by the same
character in other books, so you'd be familiar with it.

Ah, that makes sense. I had a mental image of their shoving the corpse
into a mail box.

Or stuck up on a wall with thumbtacks....r

[Peter Moylan]

Post by RH Draney

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Mark Brader

...I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted
and safely out of sight before everyone start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)

I'm guessing that "posted" is short for "post-mortemed", meaning
"autopsied". However, (1) I don't know if that makes sense in
connection with their plan of action, and (2) if it is correct then
I'd think that "post" would be used in that sense by the same
character in other books, so you'd be familiar with it.

Ah, that makes sense. I had a mental image of their shoving the corpse
into a mail box.

Or stuck up on a wall with thumbtacks....r

That's what they did to Bill Posters.

[Tony Cooper]

Post by tonbei
I have a question about the following sentences from a novel. Sorry for a long quote.
"I'll make the call (* to McLean)' Anne says to him as he leaves. "I'll get it arranged with
McLean and take care of the scan."
It's been a theoretical possibility this day would come, and we are cleared
with the Board of Health, and with Harvard and its affiliate McLean Hospital,
which has four magnets ranging in strength from 1.5 to 9 Tesla. Long ago I made
sure the protocols were in place to do MRls on dead bodies in McLean's neuroimaging
lab, where Anne works as a part-time MRtech for psychiatric research
studies. That's how I got her.
(- omitted - )
"If that's what you want, we can do it right now," Anne is saying to me.
"There shouldn't be a problem, won't be anyone around. We'll just go right up to
the front door(* of McLean) and get him(* the dead body) in and out."
At this hour, psychiatric patients at McLean won't be wandering around the
campus. There's little risk of them happening upon a dead body being carried in
or out of a lab.
(- omitted - )
I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted and safely out of sight before everyone
start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)
Context: They're talking about carrying a dead body to McLean, and doing scan on the body with
the hospital's MRI. There won't be many people around there if they take the body there that hour.
question: about "want him posted"
I couldn't get a certain sense of "posted" here.
I assumed various meanings for it.
1) get the body delivered to the hospital
2) get the body shown/ scanned
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

"I" is saying that he/she wants the postmortem done as quickly as
possible and the body out of sight before the other workers come in.

A postmortem is an examination of the body to attempt to determine the
cause of death. It is different from an autopsy in that an autopsy
involves dissection of the body and examination of the internal
organs. A postmortem is a non-invasive examination.

If the postmortem suggests that the death is not from natural causes,
it will be followed by an autopsy.

Post = after Mortem = Death

While it's not part of your question, "I" is having an MRI done on the
body. That is to provide an image of the internal organs. This would
supplement the postmortem which is an external examination.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper
A postmortem is an examination of the body to attempt to determine the
cause of death. It is different from an autopsy in that an autopsy
involves dissection of the body and examination of the internal
organs. A postmortem is a non-invasive examination.

Evidence posted here has indicated that "post-mortem" is BrE for
AmE "autopsy."

Unlike you, I am not an aficionado of British murder television.

[Tony Cooper]

On Sun, 24 Nov 2019 06:47:00 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
A postmortem is an examination of the body to attempt to determine the
cause of death. It is different from an autopsy in that an autopsy
involves dissection of the body and examination of the internal
organs. A postmortem is a non-invasive examination.

Evidence posted here has indicated that "post-mortem" is BrE for
AmE "autopsy."

My response was to explain the meaning of "posted" in a Patricia
Cornwell novel, so the explanation should be about AmE usage. In AmE,
the two words - postmortem and autopsy - have very different meanings.

If you want to comment about one of my posts, do try to make it
on-point and sensible.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 24 Nov 2019 06:47:00 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
A postmortem is an examination of the body to attempt to determine the
cause of death. It is different from an autopsy in that an autopsy
involves dissection of the body and examination of the internal
organs. A postmortem is a non-invasive examination.

Evidence posted here has indicated that "post-mortem" is BrE for
AmE "autopsy."

My response was to explain the meaning of "posted" in a Patricia
Cornwell novel, so the explanation should be about AmE usage. In AmE,
the two words - postmortem and autopsy - have very different meanings.
If you want to comment about one of my posts, do try to make it
on-point and sensible.
--
Tony Cooper - Orlando, Florida

I guess, moron, you didn't bother to look at any of the other responses
-- all from Brits (and a Canuck) identifying the source as "post mortem."

You did, though, provide no evidence for your alleged distinction which
you now claim is a distinction within American English.

[charles]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 24 Nov 2019 06:47:00 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
A postmortem is an examination of the body to attempt to determine the
cause of death. It is different from an autopsy in that an autopsy
involves dissection of the body and examination of the internal
organs. A postmortem is a non-invasive examination.

Evidence posted here has indicated that "post-mortem" is BrE for
AmE "autopsy."

My response was to explain the meaning of "posted" in a Patricia
Cornwell novel, so the explanation should be about AmE usage. In AmE,
the two words - postmortem and autopsy - have very different meanings.

does that mean you could do an autopsy witn the 'victim' still alive?

[Horace LaBadie]

Post by tonbei
I have a question about the following sentences from a novel. Sorry for a long quote.
"I'll make the call (* to McLean)' Anne says to him as he leaves. "I'll get
it arranged with
McLean and take care of the scan."
It's been a theoretical possibility this day would come, and we are cleared
with the Board of Health, and with Harvard and its affiliate McLean Hospital,
which has four magnets ranging in strength from 1.5 to 9 Tesla. Long ago I made
sure the protocols were in place to do MRls on dead bodies in McLean's neuroimaging
lab, where Anne works as a part-time MRtech for psychiatric research
studies. That's how I got her.
(- omitted - )
"If that's what you want, we can do it right now," Anne is saying to me.
"There shouldn't be a problem, won't be anyone around. We'll just go right up to
the front door(* of McLean) and get him(* the dead body) in and out."
At this hour, psychiatric patients at McLean won't be wandering around the
campus. There's little risk of them happening upon a dead body being carried in
or out of a lab.
(- omitted - )
I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted and safely out
of sight before everyone
start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)
Context: They're talking about carrying a dead body to McLean, and doing scan
on the body with
the hospital's MRI. There won't be many people around there if they take the
body there that hour.
question: about "want him posted"
I couldn't get a certain sense of "posted" here.
I assumed various meanings for it.
1) get the body delivered to the hospital
2) get the body shown/ scanned
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

Post from post mortem, which is itself short for post mortem
examination, the autopsy. in this case it appears to be a non-invasive
post mortem exam.

[Ken Blake]

Post by tonbei
I have a question about the following sentences from a novel. Sorry for a long quote.
"I'll make the call (* to McLean)' Anne says to him as he leaves. "I'll get it arranged with
McLean and take care of the scan."
It's been a theoretical possibility this day would come, and we are cleared
with the Board of Health, and with Harvard and its affiliate McLean Hospital,
which has four magnets ranging in strength from 1.5 to 9 Tesla. Long ago I made
sure the protocols were in place to do MRls on dead bodies in McLean's neuroimaging
lab, where Anne works as a part-time MRtech for psychiatric research
studies. That's how I got her.
(- omitted - )
"If that's what you want, we can do it right now," Anne is saying to me.
"There shouldn't be a problem, won't be anyone around. We'll just go right up to
the front door(* of McLean) and get him(* the dead body) in and out."
At this hour, psychiatric patients at McLean won't be wandering around the
campus. There's little risk of them happening upon a dead body being carried in
or out of a lab.
(- omitted - )
I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted and safely out of sight before everyone
start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)
Context: They're talking about carrying a dead body to McLean, and doing scan on the body with
the hospital's MRI. There won't be many people around there if they take the body there that hour.
question: about "want him posted"
I couldn't get a certain sense of "posted" here.
I assumed various meanings for it.
1) get the body delivered to the hospital
2) get the body shown/ scanned
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

It's short for "post-mortemed."

[Janet]

Post by tonbei
I have a question about the following sentences from a novel. Sorry for a long quote.
"I'll make the call (* to McLean)' Anne says to him as he leaves. "I'll get it arranged with
McLean and take care of the scan."
It's been a theoretical possibility this day would come, and we are cleared
with the Board of Health, and with Harvard and its affiliate McLean Hospital,
which has four magnets ranging in strength from 1.5 to 9 Tesla. Long ago I made
sure the protocols were in place to do MRls on dead bodies in McLean's neuroimaging
lab, where Anne works as a part-time MRtech for psychiatric research
studies. That's how I got her.
(- omitted - )
"If that's what you want, we can do it right now," Anne is saying to me.
"There shouldn't be a problem, won't be anyone around. We'll just go right up to
the front door(* of McLean) and get him(* the dead body) in and out."
At this hour, psychiatric patients at McLean won't be wandering around the
campus. There's little risk of them happening upon a dead body being carried in
or out of a lab.
(- omitted - )
I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted and safely out of sight before everyone
start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)
Context: They're talking about carrying a dead body to McLean, and doing scan on the body with
the hospital's MRI. There won't be many people around there if they take the body there that hour.
question: about "want him posted"
I couldn't get a certain sense of "posted" here.
I assumed various meanings for it.
1) get the body delivered to the hospital
2) get the body shown/ scanned
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

The title of the book is Post Mortem. Post Mortem refers to an
autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

"I want him posted before people start arriving" = I want his body
autopsied before people start arriving.

Janet.

[Tony Cooper]

Post by Janet

Post by tonbei
I have a question about the following sentences from a novel. Sorry for a long quote.
"I'll make the call (* to McLean)' Anne says to him as he leaves. "I'll get it arranged with
McLean and take care of the scan."
It's been a theoretical possibility this day would come, and we are cleared
with the Board of Health, and with Harvard and its affiliate McLean Hospital,
which has four magnets ranging in strength from 1.5 to 9 Tesla. Long ago I made
sure the protocols were in place to do MRls on dead bodies in McLean's neuroimaging
lab, where Anne works as a part-time MRtech for psychiatric research
studies. That's how I got her.
(- omitted - )
"If that's what you want, we can do it right now," Anne is saying to me.
"There shouldn't be a problem, won't be anyone around. We'll just go right up to
the front door(* of McLean) and get him(* the dead body) in and out."
At this hour, psychiatric patients at McLean won't be wandering around the
campus. There's little risk of them happening upon a dead body being carried in
or out of a lab.
(- omitted - )
I reply: "Let's get going. I want him(* the dead body) posted and safely out of sight before everyone
start arriving for work.
(Port Mortuary by P.Cornwell)
Context: They're talking about carrying a dead body to McLean, and doing scan on the body with
the hospital's MRI. There won't be many people around there if they take the body there that hour.
question: about "want him posted"
I couldn't get a certain sense of "posted" here.
I assumed various meanings for it.
1) get the body delivered to the hospital
2) get the body shown/ scanned
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

The title of the book is Post Mortem. Post Mortem refers to an
autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.

I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.
When Grandma dies in the hospital, a post mortem may be done to
determine cause of death, but the hospital wouldn't want to tell the
family that an autopsy was done and would not do one without prior
authorization unless the suspected cause of death is foul play.

The family would assume that Grandma was sliced up, and many people
object to having an autopsy done for religious or sensibility reasons.

I've personally observed an autopsy, and I understand the aversion.

Based on the context given - need for it to be done quickly and the
addition of an MRI scan - I feel that the post mortem asked for is the
visual/tactile type. An actual autopsy is not something that can be
rushed, and there would not be a need for an MRI if one was done.

You can find references on the web saying that a post mortem is a form
of autopsy, but most references to the word autopsy describe it as an
examination by dissection.

[Mark Brader]

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

[b***@shaw.ca]

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

Yes. The NHS via Google confirms that in British English, a post-mortem
examination and an autopsy are the same thing. But I'm with you:
in Canadian and U.S. English, the post mortem is an examination
to establish the cause of death, not necessarily involving cutting.
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

bill

[RH Draney]

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

....r

[Richard Heathfield]

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Et viola!

[Peter Young]

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?

A: So that violinists can understand them.

Peter.

[Richard Heathfield]

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

[charles]

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

[Richard Heathfield]

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes and no.

Quoth the Good Doctor: "I see that I have alluded above to his powers
upon the violin. These were very remarkable, but as eccentric as all his
other accomplishments. That he could play pieces, and difficult pieces,
I knew well, because at my request he has played me some of
Mendelssohn's Lieder, and other favourites. When left to himself,
however, he would seldom produce any music or attempt any recognized
air. Leaning back in his arm-chair of an evening, he would close his
eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle which was thrown across his
knee. Sometimes the chords were sonorous and melancholy. Occasionally
they were fantastic and cheerful. Clearly they reflected the thoughts
which possessed him, but whether the music aided those thoughts, or
whether the playing was simply the result of a whim or fancy was more
than I could determine. I might have rebelled against these exasperating
solos had it not been that he usually terminated them by playing in
quick succession a whole series of my favourite airs as a slight
compensation for the trial upon my patience."

[J. J. Lodder]

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too.
(but he had a big one)

Jan

[Richard Heathfield]

Post by J. J. Lodder

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too.
(but he had a big one)

Relatively big, anyway.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by J. J. Lodder

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too.
(but he had a big one)

Relatively big, anyway.

Or as young schoolboys used to say to one another, mine is bigger than
yours. (Some men never grow out of the young-schoolboy stage.)

[Richard Heathfield]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by J. J. Lodder

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too.
(but he had a big one)

Relatively big, anyway.

Or as young schoolboys used to say to one another, mine is bigger than
yours. (Some men never grow out of the young-schoolboy stage.)

Some men never grew into it. I don't recall ever saying or hearing
anything of the kind.

(I'm not claiming a particularly virtuous childhood, you understand -
just a woeful or perhaps blissful ignorance of the universe at large.)

[CDB]

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various
sharp and/or blunt instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but
then I *do* have a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too. (but he had a big one)

Relatively big, anyway.

Or as young schoolboys used to say to one another, mine is bigger
than yours. (Some men never grow out of the young-schoolboy
stage.)

Some men never grew into it. I don't recall ever saying or hearing
anything of the kind.
(I'm not claiming a particularly virtuous childhood, you understand
- just a woeful or perhaps blissful ignorance of the universe at
large.)

Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl) tried for a while to
get some of us to compare our wedding tackle with that of her (much
better endowed) significant other.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by CDB

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but
then I *do* have a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too. (but he had a big one)

Relatively big, anyway.

Or as young schoolboys used to say to one another, mine is bigger than
yours. (Some men never grow out of the young-schoolboy stage.)

Some men never grew into it. I don't recall ever saying or hearing
anything of the kind.
(I'm not claiming a particularly virtuous childhood, you understand
- just a woeful or perhaps blissful ignorance of the universe at large.)

Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

Post by CDB
tried for a while to
get some of us to compare our wedding tackle with that of her (much
better endowed) significant other.

Although I have visited her nudism pages, I don't remember seeing her
significant other's wedding tackle. Mind you, she said that the pages
were tasteful and not pornographic, and as far as I recall that was
true. As a matter of fact I have just made another visit. Those who
don't know how search for things on the web, you can find them here:

http://www.purlgurl.net/~naturally_nude/

For some reason she wasn't keen on President Obama (with a warning that
"These pages are not appropriate for left liberal socialist sissies").

http://www.purlgurl.net/~obamarama/

[CDB]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various
sharp and/or blunt instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but
then I *do* have a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too. (but he had a big one)

Relatively big, anyway.

Or as young schoolboys used to say to one another, mine is
bigger than yours. (Some men never grow out of the
young-schoolboy stage.)

Some men never grew into it. I don't recall ever saying or
hearing anything of the kind.
(I'm not claiming a particularly virtuous childhood, you
understand - just a woeful or perhaps blissful ignorance of the
universe at large.)

Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

I'm sorry to see that. I liked her, although I agree her skill-set
didn't make her prime Aueista material. I don't think she was a troll.

I don't know if there's any need to fear her return. I think she left
because she began to find us boring.

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB
tried for a while to get some of us to compare our wedding tackle
with that of her (much better endowed) significant other.

Although I have visited her nudism pages, I don't remember seeing her
significant other's wedding tackle. Mind you, she said that the
pages were tasteful and not pornographic, and as far as I recall that
was true. As a matter of fact I have just made another visit. Those
who don't know how search for things on the web, you can find them

I was willing to take her word about the SO. I confess I have just
followed your link; I agree that she was tasteful.

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden
http://www.purlgurl.net/~naturally_nude/
For some reason she wasn't keen on President Obama (with a warning
that "These pages are not appropriate for left liberal socialist
sissies").
http://www.purlgurl.net/~obamarama/

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by CDB

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by charles

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various
sharp and/or blunt instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Didn't Sherlock Holmes play one?

Yes, and Albert Einstein too. (but he had a big one)

Relatively big, anyway.

Or as young schoolboys used to say to one another, mine is
bigger than yours. (Some men never grow out of the
young-schoolboy stage.)

Some men never grew into it. I don't recall ever saying or
hearing anything of the kind.
(I'm not claiming a particularly virtuous childhood, you
understand - just a woeful or perhaps blissful ignorance of the
universe at large.)

Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

I'm sorry to see that. I liked her,

Me too, if that wasn't already clear.

Post by CDB
although I agree her skill-set
didn't make her prime Aueista material. I don't think she was a troll.

I agree. Her particular bête noir seems to have been Bob Lieblich, of
all unlikely people.

Post by CDB
I don't know if there's any need to fear her return. I think she left
because she began to find us boring.

Quite likely.

Post by CDB

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB
tried for a while to get some of us to compare our wedding tackle
with that of her (much better endowed) significant other.

Although I have visited her nudism pages, I don't remember seeing her
significant other's wedding tackle. Mind you, she said that the
pages were tasteful and not pornographic, and as far as I recall that
was true. As a matter of fact I have just made another visit. Those
who don't know how search for things on the web, you can find them

I was willing to take her word about the SO. I confess I have just
followed your link; I agree that she was tasteful.

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden
http://www.purlgurl.net/~naturally_nude/
For some reason she wasn't keen on President Obama (with a warning
that "These pages are not appropriate for left liberal socialist
sissies").
http://www.purlgurl.net/~obamarama/

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB
Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

Oh, I don't know. Compared with some of the kooks who have dropped in
here, she was harmless and even at times amusing.

Would anyone want J**n back? Or B** M**?

[Tony Cooper]

On Tue, 26 Nov 2019 14:21:37 +1100, Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB
Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

Oh, I don't know. Compared with some of the kooks who have dropped in
here, she was harmless and even at times amusing.
Would anyone want J**n back? Or B** M**?

If B** M** is who I think it is, I wish she'd come back for a few
posts at least. She was gone by the time I started following the
group (or under my radar if she wasn't). References to her are of the
head-shaking-in-wonder type, but I've never know exactly what type
thing she posted.

Speaking of The Ghosts of AUE Past, in moving I came across my copy of
"The Chandler's Daughter". I'll leave that one hang, but some here
will catch the reference.

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Tue, 26 Nov 2019 14:21:37 +1100, Peter Moylan

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB
Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

Oh, I don't know. Compared with some of the kooks who have dropped
in here, she was harmless and even at times amusing.
Would anyone want J**n back? Or B** M**?

If B** M** is who I think it is, I wish she'd come back for a few
posts at least. She was gone by the time I started following the
group (or under my radar if she wasn't). References to her are of
the head-shaking-in-wonder type, but I've never know exactly what
type thing she posted.

Not so very different from Bozo, except that his/her posts always ended
with "Comments?"

Post by Tony Cooper
Speaking of The Ghosts of AUE Past, in moving I came across my copy
of "The Chandler's Daughter". I'll leave that one hang, but some
here will catch the reference.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by CDB
Women occasionally play that game. Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

Oh, I don't know. Compared with some of the kooks who have dropped in
here, she was harmless and even at times amusing.

Perfectly true, but she was the one who was known as She who must not be named.

Post by Peter Moylan
Would anyone want J**n back? Or B** M**?

[RH Draney]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Women occasionally play that game.  Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

You must have been one of those she called out for lazy tongue....r

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by RH Draney

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Women occasionally play that game.  Kira (Purlgirl)

She who must not be named. People have been killfiled for less than that.

You must have been one of those she called out for lazy tongue....r

Golly. Everyone seems to think I was implying that I was a Purlgirl
hater. I wasn't.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Richard Heathfield

Post by Peter Young

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Q: Why are viola jokes so short?
A: So that violinists can understand them.

I don't quite see the connection with autopsies... but then I *do* have
a violin, so that might explain it.

Look a few lines up, for the setup by bill, the payoff from RHD, and
the substance from PY.

[Quinn C]

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

This Blunt instrument is highly regarded:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Blunt_Stradivarius>

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

[Katy Jennison]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

Roland - he hasn't posted here in years. He's still around in other
parts of the cyberverse.

[Ken Blake]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

It's been many years, but I used to play it a little--not very well.

[Katy Jennison]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

It's been many years, but I used to play it  a little--not very well.

You weren't here when Roland Hutchinson (qv) was, were you? He also
plays the baryton.

[Ken Blake]

Post by Katy Jennison

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

It's been many years, but I used to play it  a little--not very well.

You weren't here when Roland Hutchinson (qv) was, were you? He also
plays the baryton.

No, I wasn't. I don't known the name.

The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized bass
that most people play.

I also built my viol, from a kit.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

It's been many years, but I used to play it  a little--not very well.

You weren't here when Roland Hutchinson (qv) was, were you?  He also
plays the baryton.

No, I wasn't. I don't known the name.
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized bass
that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one

(played by the chap on the left)

[Ken Blake]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

It's been many years, but I used to play it  a little--not very well.

You weren't here when Roland Hutchinson (qv) was, were you?  He also
plays the baryton.

No, I wasn't. I don't known the name.
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized bass
that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one
http://youtu.be/2dxy6fcXXog
(played by the chap on the left)

Yes, much like that (but probably not as good as his).

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

It's been many years, but I used to play it  a little--not very well.

You weren't here when Roland Hutchinson (qv) was, were you?  He also
plays the baryton.

No, I wasn't. I don't known the name.
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized
bass that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one
http://youtu.be/2dxy6fcXXog
(played by the chap on the left)

Yes, much like that (but probably not as good as his).

Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized
bass that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one
http://youtu.be/2dxy6fcXXog
(played by the chap on the left)

Yes, much like that (but probably not as good as his).

Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?

I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized
bass that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one
http://youtu.be/2dxy6fcXXog
(played by the chap on the left)

Yes, much like that (but probably not as good as his).

Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized
bass that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one
http://youtu.be/2dxy6fcXXog
(played by the chap on the left)

Yes, much like that (but probably not as good as his).

Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?

Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor
are they made from a kit.

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized
bass that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one
http://youtu.be/2dxy6fcXXog
(played by the chap on the left)

Yes, much like that (but probably not as good as his).

Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?
Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor
are they made from a kit.

Since home and workshop were contiguous, his output was more "homemade"
than anything appearing on a menu with that label.
Close enough for NGO work.

[Peter Moylan]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

On Wednesday, November 27, 2019 at 4:07:44 PM UTC-5, Sam

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Ken Blake
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the
cello-sized bass that most people play. I also built my
viol, from a kit.

Anything like this one
http://youtu.be/2dxy6fcXXog (played by
the chap on the left)

Yes, much like that (but probably not as good as his).

Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right? I expect he doesn't play a
homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier. Thus his
violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?
Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor are
they made from a kit.

Since home and workshop were contiguous, his output was more
"homemade" than anything appearing on a menu with that label. Close
enough for NGO work.

I agree with Peter in this case. "Professionally made" is commonly held
to be the opposite of "home made".

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet
Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?
Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor
are they made from a kit.

Since home and workshop were contiguous, his output was more "homemade"
than anything appearing on a menu with that label.
Close enough for NGO work.

If they were only contiguous, and not contained, then they weren't
"home" made at all, but "home adjacent" made!

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet
Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?
Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor
are they made from a kit.

Since home and workshop were contiguous, his output was more "homemade"
than anything appearing on a menu with that label.
Close enough for NGO work.

If they were only contiguous, and not contained, then they weren't
"home" made at all, but "home adjacent" made!

I refer the honourable member to my closing remark.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet
Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?
Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor
are they made from a kit.

Since home and workshop were contiguous, his output was more "homemade"
than anything appearing on a menu with that label.
Close enough for NGO work.

If they were only contiguous, and not contained, then they weren't
"home" made at all, but "home adjacent" made!

I refer the honourable member to my closing remark.

Does NGO stand for something different Over There from what it stands
for Over Here?

[Sam Plusnet]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet
Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?
Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor
are they made from a kit.

Since home and workshop were contiguous, his output was more "homemade"
than anything appearing on a menu with that label.
Close enough for NGO work.

If they were only contiguous, and not contained, then they weren't
"home" made at all, but "home adjacent" made!

I refer the honourable member to my closing remark.

Does NGO stand for something different Over There from what it stands
for Over Here?

Well, I know what it stands for in this neck of the pastureland, but as
I don't have first-hand knowledge of your location I cannot answer.

[Tony Cooper]

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Sam Plusnet
Jordi Savall has been practising for quite a long time.

And eventually he'll get it right?
I expect he doesn't play a homemade viol from a kit.

I recall a video which included a visit to his luthier.
Thus his violas are home made, just not in his home.

Fishing for another viola joke?
Even if a luthier's shop is in his home (as perhaps Amati's and
Stradivarius's were), his wares don't count as "homemade," nor
are they made from a kit.

Since home and workshop were contiguous, his output was more "homemade"
than anything appearing on a menu with that label.
Close enough for NGO work.

If they were only contiguous, and not contained, then they weren't
"home" made at all, but "home adjacent" made!

I refer the honourable member to my closing remark.

Does NGO stand for something different Over There from what it stands
for Over Here?

Well, I know what it stands for in this neck of the pastureland, but as
I don't have first-hand knowledge of your location I cannot answer.

It was actually a good twist on the usual "Close enough for government
work". Theoretically, government work must conform to some standard
set by the government. The NGO sets the standard for the NGO, and
that gives them a lot of latitude.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Katy Jennison

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Sam Plusnet

Post by RH Draney

Post by b***@shaw.ca
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Viola joke in three...two...one....

Pulling the leg of a viola da gamba player?

We used to have a viola da gamba player here. Do we still?

It's been many years, but I used to play it  a little--not very well.

You weren't here when Roland Hutchinson (qv) was, were you? He also
plays the baryton.

No, I wasn't. I don't known the name.

I think Roland went silent before you appeared, so unless you spen a
longish time lurking you probably wouldn't know the name.

Post by Ken Blake
The viol I played was a treble--much smaller than the cello-sized bass
that most people play.
I also built my viol, from a kit.

[Janet]

Post by b***@shaw.ca

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

Yes. The NHS via Google confirms that in British English, a post-mortem
in Canadian and U.S. English, the post mortem is an examination
to establish the cause of death, not necessarily involving cutting.
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.
bill

Blame the author, P Cornwell :-)

The title of her book is Post Mortem, and the character it portrays
is Kay Scarpetta, a highly qualified forensic expert who cuts up corpses
for a living.

It's a series, all featuring Scarpetta's brilliant analytical and
detective skills from the mortuary slab. YL has been reading the
repetitive Scarpetta books for a very long time but STILL missed the
title and still hasn't made sense of Cornwall's formulaic themes and
vocabulary.

Janet

[CDB]

Post by Janet

Post by b***@shaw.ca

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

Yes. The NHS via Google confirms that in British English, a post-mortem
in Canadian and U.S. English, the post mortem is an examination
to establish the cause of death, not necessarily involving cutting.
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Blame the author, P Cornwell :-)
The title of her book is Post Mortem, and the character it portrays
is Kay Scarpetta, a highly qualified forensic expert who cuts up corpses
for a living.
It's a series, all featuring Scarpetta's brilliant analytical and
detective skills from the mortuary slab. YL has been reading the
repetitive Scarpetta books for a very long time but STILL missed the
title and still hasn't made sense of Cornwall's formulaic themes and
vocabulary.

The OP in this case is Tonbei. I suppose they are trying to get a feel
for idiomatic AmE, more than to acquire a polished literary style.

I learned something too, about post-mortems, and I wasn't even trying hard.

[Janet]

Post by CDB

Post by Janet

Post by b***@shaw.ca

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

Yes. The NHS via Google confirms that in British English, a post-mortem
in Canadian and U.S. English, the post mortem is an examination
to establish the cause of death, not necessarily involving cutting.
An autopsy looks at the inside, employing various sharp and/or blunt
instruments.

Blame the author, P Cornwell :-)
The title of her book is Post Mortem, and the character it portrays
is Kay Scarpetta, a highly qualified forensic expert who cuts up corpses
for a living.
It's a series, all featuring Scarpetta's brilliant analytical and
detective skills from the mortuary slab. YL has been reading the
repetitive Scarpetta books for a very long time but STILL missed the
title and still hasn't made sense of Cornwall's formulaic themes and
vocabulary.

The OP in this case is Tonbei.

Sorry to both, my mistake

Janet

I suppose they are trying to get a feel

Post by CDB
for idiomatic AmE, more than to acquire a polished literary style.
I learned something too, about post-mortems, and I wasn't even trying hard.

[Tony Cooper]

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

That's because a post mortem of the non-invasive kind is not
interesting enough to describe in a book, television show, or movie.
It's simply a very thorough external examination of the body.

An autopsy (in the invasive sense) is worth a few pages or a scene to
describe. We have to have one person fainting or vomiting, someone
telling the first-timers to put a dab of Vaseline under the nose to
block the smell, the bone saw ripping through the sternum, and a scene
or written description of the pathologist or coroner calmly hacking
through muscle and bone while chatting about today's scores in some
sport or about his golf game.

What they miss, and I have first-hand experience, are the sounds: the
tearing of flesh, the crack of bones, the gurgling, and the wet plops
as body parts and put on the scales. That got me more than the smell.

Those autopsy scenes are common enough in books, television shows, and
movies that the public thinks of them as some horrible desecration of
a loved one. So, we have one term in the US for that and another term
that doesn't convey that image.

[Mark Brader]

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by Mark Brader
Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

That's because a post mortem of the non-invasive kind is not
interesting enough to describe in a book, television show, or movie.

Actually, they happen all the time on "NCIS", and presumably other
shows of that ilk. But what I meant to say was that the *term*
"post mortem" is not used.

[Lewis]

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as

At least on TV the two things are often combined into one scene. First
the body is examined closely (this is when trace evidence will be
collected from the body) and then the ME proceeds immediately to an
autopsy.

AIUI, while that may happen in a morgue, it is unlikely.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper

Post Mortem refers to an autopsy, the medical examination of a corpse.

[Brader's screwing with attributions and names repaired]

Post by Mark Brader

Post by Tony Cooper
Not in US medical usage, and this is about something described by a US
author taking place in the US. The post mortem and the autopsy are
two different things although both are done post mortem. One is
primarily visual, with some tactile examination, and the other
involves dissecting the body and examining the internal organs.
I can't speak for the UK, but the distinction is important in the US.

Interesting. I had not heard of that. Post mortems in the sense you
describe have not figured in crime fiction that I've read/viewed, as
far as I can remember.

As I noted minutes ago, assuming what T*ny C**p*r "knows" is unwise.

Yesterday I asked for evidence of the distinction he tries to draw in
AmE, and none has been forthcoming yet.

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.

I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.

/dps

[Tony Cooper]

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.

Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.

We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

Nor do we have "posties".

Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.
Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.
Nor do we have "posties".
Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

Not the next one! You have "letter carriers" for people who don't do a
lot of letter carrying.

[Tony Cooper]

On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 15:31:27 +0100, Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.
Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.
Nor do we have "posties".
Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

Not the next one! You have "letter carriers" for people who don't do a
lot of letter carrying.

Yes, but you have proved that any assertion made in a post will be
contradicted in the next post.

Now watch...the post following this one will be one that supports my
assertion in this post.

[Richard Heathfield]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 15:31:27 +0100, Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.
Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.
Nor do we have "posties".
Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

Not the next one! You have "letter carriers" for people who don't do a
lot of letter carrying.

Yes, but you have proved that any assertion made in a post will be
contradicted in the next post.
Now watch...the post following this one will be one that supports my
assertion in this post.

Indeed.

[Mack A. Damia]

On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 09:40:51 -0500, Tony Cooper

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 15:31:27 +0100, Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.
Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.
Nor do we have "posties".
Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

Not the next one! You have "letter carriers" for people who don't do a
lot of letter carrying.

Yes, but you have proved that any assertion made in a post will be
contradicted in the next post.
Now watch...the post following this one will be one that supports my
assertion in this post.

No contest.

[Kerr-Mudd,John]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 15:31:27 +0100, Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.
Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.
Nor do we have "posties".
Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

Not the next one! You have "letter carriers" for people who don't do a
lot of letter carrying.

Yes, but you have proved that any assertion made in a post will be
contradicted in the next post.
Now watch...the post following this one will be one that supports my
assertion in this post.

Post Hoc reasoning!

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden
Not the next one! You have "letter carriers" for people who don't do a
lot of letter carrying.

What do you call the things they carry (that aren't flyers or magazines)?
Most of them are advertising and bills, but still they are letters, in
envelopes.

[Snidely]

On Saturday or thereabouts, Athel Cornish-Bowden asked ...

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.
Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.
Nor do we have "posties".
Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

Not the next one! You have "letter carriers" for people who don't do a lot of
letter carrying.

Loosely speaking, yes, but the troops on the street don't consider
their fellow employees who do the counter intelligence to be "letter
carriers". And post offices with multiple employees don't have people
crossing from role to the other all that often. They've been
pigeon-holed.

/dps

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the postmark
to see what day the letter was mailed?

Of course, all too often stamps are not postmarked at all, because it is
all but impossible to remove (for reuse) self-adhesive stamps. The
philatelic magazines sometimes carry reports on various chemicals that
are sold for that purpose, but modern practice is to trim the envelope
paper quite close and hinge the paper backing rather than trying to get
at the stamp itself.

Likewise, mint stamps may be hinged on their backing paper rather than
going to the expense of buying mounts (which protect the original gum),
especially now that they no longer print descriptions on the back of the
backing paper.

[Tony Cooper]

On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the postmark
to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.

Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Also an unreliable indicator because most business mail is not
postmarked. There is just a "bug" on the upper right-hand corner of
the envelope.

[charles]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the
postmark to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped in
the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

That depends. Posted (mailed) in the morning, collected at midday, then
post marked.

Post by Tony Cooper
Also an unreliable indicator because most business mail is not
postmarked. There is just a "bug" on the upper right-hand corner of the
envelope.

But they frequently put a date on the letter

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by charles

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the
postmark to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped in
the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

That depends. Posted (mailed) in the morning, collected at midday, then
post marked.

Post by Tony Cooper
Also an unreliable indicator because most business mail is not
postmarked. There is just a "bug" on the upper right-hand corner of the
envelope.

But they frequently put a date on the letter

Our what-used-to-be-"third-class"-mail gets the very reduced rate because
no representations are made as to how soon it will be delivered, so the
sales pitches aren't likely to have a date on them.

Things like bills now go "presorted first class," which seems to be 50.9c
at the moment (a first-class letter is currently 55c), less than a 10%
discount but for the volume involved, a significant amount of saving.

I don't understand the European & Canadian "dual rate" system that I know
of only because various sets of stamps usually have some of each.

[Tony Cooper]

On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 21:02:20 +0000 (GMT), charles

Post by charles

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the
postmark to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped in
the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

That depends. Posted (mailed) in the morning, collected at midday, then
post marked.

Sorry...I should have specified "in the US".

Post by charles

Post by Tony Cooper
Also an unreliable indicator because most business mail is not
postmarked. There is just a "bug" on the upper right-hand corner of the
envelope.

But they frequently put a date on the letter

That does not tell you the date the letter was mailed. If it's a
check, the date may be several days, or weeks, before it is put in the
mail.

Having owned a business where collecting Accounts Receivable was a
never-ending task, I can tell you that an Accounts Payable clerk can
honestly say "The check has been prepared", but that is not at all the
same as "The check has been mailed".

[Peter Moylan]

Post by charles

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels
You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the
postmark to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed
(dropped in the box) would be at least one day before it was
postmarked.

That depends. Posted (mailed) in the morning, collected at midday,
then post marked.

Our mail system has gone downhill in recent years, but we can still
usually count on a letter being picked up on the same day as we put it
in the box, provided that we put it in the box before 6 pm.

The US postal system, though, is notorious for slow delivery and
understaffing. Back when I lived in Berkeley, California, I used to get
a lot of mail from Australia, and I could deduce its rate of progress
from the postmarks. It got from Newcastle to San Francisco via Sydney
(nearly 8000 miles) in one day, and then from San Francisco to Berkeley
(14 miles) in another seven days.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by charles

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels
You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the
postmark to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed
(dropped in the box) would be at least one day before it was
postmarked.

That depends. Posted (mailed) in the morning, collected at midday,
then post marked.

Our mail system has gone downhill in recent years, but we can still
usually count on a letter being picked up on the same day as we put it
in the box, provided that we put it in the box before 6 pm.
The US postal system, though, is notorious for slow delivery and

??

Post by Peter Moylan
understaffing. Back when I lived in Berkeley, California, I used to get
a lot of mail from Australia, and I could deduce its rate of progress
from the postmarks. It got from Newcastle to San Francisco via Sydney
(nearly 8000 miles) in one day, and then from San Francisco to Berkeley
(14 miles) in another seven days.

Decades ago. Hardly justifying "is."

The real scandal is items sent from the UK to the US. They rarely bear
markings indicated they went through the Royal Mail but rather bear names
in Benelux, Hungary, or Czechia, and typically a book purchased from an
English seller arrives just about a month later. (To be sure, a German
seller did no better.)

[Athel Cornish-Bowden]

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by charles

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels
You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the
postmark to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed
(dropped in the box) would be at least one day before it was
postmarked.

That depends. Posted (mailed) in the morning, collected at midday,
then post marked.

Our mail system has gone downhill in recent years, but we can still
usually count on a letter being picked up on the same day as we put it
in the box, provided that we put it in the box before 6 pm.
The US postal system, though, is notorious for slow delivery and
understaffing. Back when I lived in Berkeley, California, I used to get
a lot of mail from Australia, and I could deduce its rate of progress
from the postmarks. It got from Newcastle to San Francisco via Sydney
(nearly 8000 miles) in one day, and then from San Francisco to Berkeley
(14 miles) in another seven days.

I had that experience too, and not just with the post. Once I had my
camera repaired. It wasn't ready when it should have been, so I
enquired. I learned that it had arrived in San Francisco but wouldn't
be in Berkeley for another week. Several experience like that convinced
me that the myth of America efficiency was just that.

[Mack A. Damia]

On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 17:12:59 +0100, Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Athel Cornish-Bowden

Post by Peter Moylan

Post by charles

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels
You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the
postmark to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed
(dropped in the box) would be at least one day before it was
postmarked.

That depends. Posted (mailed) in the morning, collected at midday,
then post marked.

Our mail system has gone downhill in recent years, but we can still
usually count on a letter being picked up on the same day as we put it
in the box, provided that we put it in the box before 6 pm.
The US postal system, though, is notorious for slow delivery and
understaffing. Back when I lived in Berkeley, California, I used to get
a lot of mail from Australia, and I could deduce its rate of progress
from the postmarks. It got from Newcastle to San Francisco via Sydney
(nearly 8000 miles) in one day, and then from San Francisco to Berkeley
(14 miles) in another seven days.

I had that experience too, and not just with the post. Once I had my
camera repaired. It wasn't ready when it should have been, so I
enquired. I learned that it had arrived in San Francisco but wouldn't
be in Berkeley for another week. Several experience like that convinced
me that the myth of America efficiency was just that.

Not just the post office; inefficiency is everywhere. Check the
Veterans Administration. Follow the money. I know in San Diego they
have spent millions on unnecessary remodeling of facilities.

Post Office: During the Vietnam War, we would write "Free" in the
place of a stamp. I can't remember if my family in Pennsylvania could
do the same in sending mail to me. And I would usually get letters
from them within a week.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the postmark
to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.

It's a poor example that doesn't exemplify what it's meant to.

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Post by Tony Cooper
Also an unreliable indicator because most business mail is not
postmarked. There is just a "bug" on the upper right-hand corner of
the envelope.

That makes no sense: Why would you look for a postmark that doesn't exist?

[Tony Cooper]

On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 10:35:52 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

You wouldn't??? How would you describe the act of looking at the postmark
to see what day the letter was mailed?

"Looking to see what day it was mailed". Not "posted". Mailed.

It's a poor example that doesn't exemplify what it's meant to.

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

Do you just post these idiocies because you have a need to see your
name here? Are you in some contest expecting to win a prize for the
most posts?

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

It's really outstanding how stupid you can be. You typed the absolute
lie "the day it was mailed (dropped in the box) would be at least one
day before it was postmarked."

Mail is collected from the mailbox according to the schedule posted
on the box, brought to the local office, and postmarked.

When did you think mail is postmarked? When it's delivered??

Why, then, would the IRS insist that tax returns (and plenty are still
filed by mail) be _postmarked_ on or before April 15, not _received_
on or before April 15?

Even your outdated understanding of "first day covers" gives the lie
to your statement. They used to be special-postmarked on (and only on)
the day of issue at the place of issue.

Post by Tony Cooper
Do you just post these idiocies because you have a need to see your
name here? Are you in some contest expecting to win a prize for the
most posts?

I post corrections to your most egregious errors because you constantly
give wrong impressions to our mostly OtherPondian readers.

[Tony Cooper]

On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 06:44:44 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

It's really outstanding how stupid you can be. You typed the absolute
lie "the day it was mailed (dropped in the box) would be at least one
day before it was postmarked."
Mail is collected from the mailbox according to the schedule posted
on the box, brought to the local office, and postmarked.

That is not correct. The mail is picked up from the collection boxes
and taken to the local post office. All the mail collected by the box
collection drivers and the route postal workers in the area is then
sent to a "mail processing center"* where it is postmarked. There are
two mail processing centers for my area. One is down near the Orlando
airport and one is in Lake Mary FL (a northern suburb of Orlando).

The recipient of a postmarked letter would not know which collection
box was use.

Our son worked at the mail processing center one Christmas holiday
when he was in college. The USPS hires temporary workers at that
time.

Post by Peter T. Daniels
Why, then, would the IRS insist that tax returns (and plenty are still
filed by mail) be _postmarked_ on or before April 15, not _received_
on or before April 15?

The USPS offers special service on April 15. They have postal workers
available at certain locations until midnight, and postmark all mail
received that day as April 15 even if it doesn't get the envelope to
the mail processing center until after midnight.

My "one day before it was postmarked" comment may or may not be
correct, but is not a lie. Mail dropped in the collection box handy
to me is picked up around 10:00 AM. Any mail dropped in later will be
picked up the next morning. In scheduling pick-ups, some boxes have
to be early in the day.

You need to work on understanding the meaning of words you use. A
"lie" is a deliberate falsification. Something said that is different
from what you think is not a lie. Quite often, as in this case, what
you think is based on some vague impression of what is done, and is
not the way it is actually done.

*see: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_078.htm

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 06:44:44 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

It's really outstanding how stupid you can be. You typed the absolute
lie "the day it was mailed (dropped in the box) would be at least one
day before it was postmarked."
Mail is collected from the mailbox according to the schedule posted
on the box, brought to the local office, and postmarked.

That is not correct. The mail is picked up from the collection boxes
and taken to the local post office. All the mail collected by the box
collection drivers and the route postal workers in the area is then
sent to a "mail processing center"* where it is postmarked. There are
two mail processing centers for my area. One is down near the Orlando
airport and one is in Lake Mary FL (a northern suburb of Orlando).
The recipient of a postmarked letter would not know which collection
box was use.
Our son worked at the mail processing center one Christmas holiday
when he was in college. The USPS hires temporary workers at that
time.

Post by Peter T. Daniels
Why, then, would the IRS insist that tax returns (and plenty are still
filed by mail) be _postmarked_ on or before April 15, not _received_
on or before April 15?

The USPS offers special service on April 15. They have postal workers
available at certain locations until midnight, and postmark all mail
received that day as April 15 even if it doesn't get the envelope to
the mail processing center until after midnight.
My "one day before it was postmarked" comment may or may not be
correct, but is not a lie. Mail dropped in the collection box handy
to me is picked up around 10:00 AM. Any mail dropped in later will be
picked up the next morning. In scheduling pick-ups, some boxes have
to be early in the day.

Then mail your letter before 10 am, moron, if it needs to be postmarked
the same day. Or better, take it to the post office and hand it in at
the counter. Or best, pay for one of the premium services that notes
the exact time of mailing and follows the item until delivery.

Post by Tony Cooper
You need to work on understanding the meaning of words you use. A
"lie" is a deliberate falsification. Something said that is different
from what you think is not a lie. Quite often, as in this case, what
you think is based on some vague impression of what is done, and is
not the way it is actually done.

What you describe suggests something seriously wrong with Orlando-
region mail-handling practices.

Post by Tony Cooper
*see: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_078.htm

Which does not AT ALL say where the postmarking action occurs. That
is NOT a chronological description of the mail's path.

[Tony Cooper]

On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 09:09:00 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 06:44:44 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

It's really outstanding how stupid you can be. You typed the absolute
lie "the day it was mailed (dropped in the box) would be at least one
day before it was postmarked."
Mail is collected from the mailbox according to the schedule posted
on the box, brought to the local office, and postmarked.

That is not correct. The mail is picked up from the collection boxes
and taken to the local post office. All the mail collected by the box
collection drivers and the route postal workers in the area is then
sent to a "mail processing center"* where it is postmarked. There are
two mail processing centers for my area. One is down near the Orlando
airport and one is in Lake Mary FL (a northern suburb of Orlando).
The recipient of a postmarked letter would not know which collection
box was use.
Our son worked at the mail processing center one Christmas holiday
when he was in college. The USPS hires temporary workers at that
time.

Post by Peter T. Daniels
Why, then, would the IRS insist that tax returns (and plenty are still
filed by mail) be _postmarked_ on or before April 15, not _received_
on or before April 15?

The USPS offers special service on April 15. They have postal workers
available at certain locations until midnight, and postmark all mail
received that day as April 15 even if it doesn't get the envelope to
the mail processing center until after midnight.
My "one day before it was postmarked" comment may or may not be
correct, but is not a lie. Mail dropped in the collection box handy
to me is picked up around 10:00 AM. Any mail dropped in later will be
picked up the next morning. In scheduling pick-ups, some boxes have
to be early in the day.

Then mail your letter before 10 am, moron, if it needs to be postmarked
the same day. Or better, take it to the post office and hand it in at
the counter. Or best, pay for one of the premium services that notes
the exact time of mailing and follows the item until delivery.

Post by Tony Cooper
You need to work on understanding the meaning of words you use. A
"lie" is a deliberate falsification. Something said that is different
from what you think is not a lie. Quite often, as in this case, what
you think is based on some vague impression of what is done, and is
not the way it is actually done.

What you describe suggests something seriously wrong with Orlando-
region mail-handling practices.

Not at all. The USPS operates in this area with the same budgetary
restraints the USPS operates under in other areas. There is not
enough budget allocated to allow multiple daily collections of mail in
collection boxes. A collecting route has to start with some box early
in the day. I happened to live near one that is collected early.

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
*see: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_078.htm

Which does not AT ALL say where the postmarking action occurs. That
is NOT a chronological description of the mail's path.

Either you are making a flat-out misstatement or you did not read the
information. It says, at the top of the page:

"Collection

After a customer has deposited a letter destined for a distant address
in a collection box, a postal carrier removes all of the mail from the
box and takes it to the Post Office where he or she works. That letter
and mail collected by other carriers of that Post Office are placed on
a truck and taken to a mail processing plant.

Culling and Postmarking

Postal workers send the letter through a machine that rapidly
separates mail by shape, separating letters from large envelopes and
packages (the culling operation). The machine orients letters so that
all addresses face the same way and are right side up. It then applies
a postmark with the date and place where the letter was sorted and
cancellation lines so the stamp cannot be reused, in order to protect
postal revenue."

It is very clear that the postmarking is done at the mail processing
plant after culling and sorting; procedures that are not done at the
local post office.

[Ken Blake]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 09:09:00 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 06:44:44 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

It's really outstanding how stupid you can be. You typed the absolute
lie "the day it was mailed (dropped in the box) would be at least one
day before it was postmarked."
Mail is collected from the mailbox according to the schedule posted
on the box, brought to the local office, and postmarked.

That is not correct. The mail is picked up from the collection boxes
and taken to the local post office. All the mail collected by the box
collection drivers and the route postal workers in the area is then
sent to a "mail processing center"* where it is postmarked. There are
two mail processing centers for my area. One is down near the Orlando
airport and one is in Lake Mary FL (a northern suburb of Orlando).
The recipient of a postmarked letter would not know which collection
box was use.
Our son worked at the mail processing center one Christmas holiday
when he was in college. The USPS hires temporary workers at that
time.

Post by Peter T. Daniels
Why, then, would the IRS insist that tax returns (and plenty are still
filed by mail) be _postmarked_ on or before April 15, not _received_
on or before April 15?

The USPS offers special service on April 15. They have postal workers
available at certain locations until midnight, and postmark all mail
received that day as April 15 even if it doesn't get the envelope to
the mail processing center until after midnight.
My "one day before it was postmarked" comment may or may not be
correct, but is not a lie. Mail dropped in the collection box handy
to me is picked up around 10:00 AM. Any mail dropped in later will be
picked up the next morning. In scheduling pick-ups, some boxes have
to be early in the day.

Then mail your letter before 10 am, moron, if it needs to be postmarked
the same day. Or better, take it to the post office and hand it in at
the counter. Or best, pay for one of the premium services that notes
the exact time of mailing and follows the item until delivery.

Post by Tony Cooper
You need to work on understanding the meaning of words you use. A
"lie" is a deliberate falsification. Something said that is different
from what you think is not a lie. Quite often, as in this case, what
you think is based on some vague impression of what is done, and is
not the way it is actually done.

What you describe suggests something seriously wrong with Orlando-
region mail-handling practices.

Not at all. The USPS operates in this area with the same budgetary
restraints the USPS operates under in other areas. There is not
enough budget allocated to allow multiple daily collections of mail in
collection boxes. A collecting route has to start with some box early
in the day. I happened to live near one that is collected early.

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
*see: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_078.htm

Which does not AT ALL say where the postmarking action occurs. That
is NOT a chronological description of the mail's path.

Either you are making a flat-out misstatement or you did not read the
"Collection
After a customer has deposited a letter destined for a distant address
in a collection box, a postal carrier removes all of the mail from the
box and takes it to the Post Office where he or she works. That letter
and mail collected by other carriers of that Post Office are placed on
a truck and taken to a mail processing plant.
Culling and Postmarking
Postal workers send the letter through a machine that rapidly
separates mail by shape, separating letters from large envelopes and
packages (the culling operation). The machine orients letters so that
all addresses face the same way and are right side up. It then applies
a postmark with the date and place where the letter was sorted and
cancellation lines so the stamp cannot be reused, in order to protect
postal revenue."
It is very clear that the postmarking is done at the mail processing
plant after culling and sorting; procedures that are not done at the
local post office.

I know very little about this, so I'm not suggesting that anything you
said is wrong. But just a question for you: is it possible that in some
cases the mail processing plant and the local post office are in the
same location?

[Tony Cooper]

Post by Ken Blake

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 09:09:00 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 06:44:44 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

It's really outstanding how stupid you can be. You typed the absolute
lie "the day it was mailed (dropped in the box) would be at least one
day before it was postmarked."
Mail is collected from the mailbox according to the schedule posted
on the box, brought to the local office, and postmarked.

That is not correct. The mail is picked up from the collection boxes
and taken to the local post office. All the mail collected by the box
collection drivers and the route postal workers in the area is then
sent to a "mail processing center"* where it is postmarked. There are
two mail processing centers for my area. One is down near the Orlando
airport and one is in Lake Mary FL (a northern suburb of Orlando).
The recipient of a postmarked letter would not know which collection
box was use.
Our son worked at the mail processing center one Christmas holiday
when he was in college. The USPS hires temporary workers at that
time.

Post by Peter T. Daniels
Why, then, would the IRS insist that tax returns (and plenty are still
filed by mail) be _postmarked_ on or before April 15, not _received_
on or before April 15?

The USPS offers special service on April 15. They have postal workers
available at certain locations until midnight, and postmark all mail
received that day as April 15 even if it doesn't get the envelope to
the mail processing center until after midnight.
My "one day before it was postmarked" comment may or may not be
correct, but is not a lie. Mail dropped in the collection box handy
to me is picked up around 10:00 AM. Any mail dropped in later will be
picked up the next morning. In scheduling pick-ups, some boxes have
to be early in the day.

Then mail your letter before 10 am, moron, if it needs to be postmarked
the same day. Or better, take it to the post office and hand it in at
the counter. Or best, pay for one of the premium services that notes
the exact time of mailing and follows the item until delivery.

Post by Tony Cooper
You need to work on understanding the meaning of words you use. A
"lie" is a deliberate falsification. Something said that is different
from what you think is not a lie. Quite often, as in this case, what
you think is based on some vague impression of what is done, and is
not the way it is actually done.

What you describe suggests something seriously wrong with Orlando-
region mail-handling practices.

Not at all. The USPS operates in this area with the same budgetary
restraints the USPS operates under in other areas. There is not
enough budget allocated to allow multiple daily collections of mail in
collection boxes. A collecting route has to start with some box early
in the day. I happened to live near one that is collected early.

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
*see: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_078.htm

Which does not AT ALL say where the postmarking action occurs. That
is NOT a chronological description of the mail's path.

Either you are making a flat-out misstatement or you did not read the
"Collection
After a customer has deposited a letter destined for a distant address
in a collection box, a postal carrier removes all of the mail from the
box and takes it to the Post Office where he or she works. That letter
and mail collected by other carriers of that Post Office are placed on
a truck and taken to a mail processing plant.
Culling and Postmarking
Postal workers send the letter through a machine that rapidly
separates mail by shape, separating letters from large envelopes and
packages (the culling operation). The machine orients letters so that
all addresses face the same way and are right side up. It then applies
a postmark with the date and place where the letter was sorted and
cancellation lines so the stamp cannot be reused, in order to protect
postal revenue."
It is very clear that the postmarking is done at the mail processing
plant after culling and sorting; procedures that are not done at the
local post office.

I know very little about this, so I'm not suggesting that anything you
said is wrong. But just a question for you: is it possible that in some
cases the mail processing plant and the local post office are in the
same location?

Yes. The Lake Mary facility here is both a post office and a mail
processing plant all in one large building. At the front is the
normal post office arrangement.

PTD is not one to think of practical matters, but the arrangement I
described is very practical. A city may have a large number of post
office substations (but we refer to each as a "post office"), and a
city with surrounding incorporated suburbs may have post office in
each suburb.

It doesn't make practical sense for each one of those locations to
have the culling/sorting/postmarking machinery, and the personnel to
operate that machinery.

It would also require larger, more expensive, buildings for each
location. The building's space is utilized for the sorting for
distribution of the mail received-for-delivery. That mail has to
sorted by the mail carrier's individual routes.


The original Orlando post office is downtown, and now a history
museum. All of the functions were done in that building. These
large, downtown locations are outmoded now. Providing parking for
both employees of the post office and customers of the post office is
expensive since the property values are much higher than in other
areas. The downtown location increases the commute time for the
employees, and adds to the traffic congestion.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by Ken Blake
I know very little about this, so I'm not suggesting that anything you
said is wrong. But just a question for you: is it possible that in some
cases the mail processing plant and the local post office are in the
same location?

Yes. The Lake Mary facility here is both a post office and a mail
processing plant all in one large building. At the front is the
normal post office arrangement.
PTD is not one to think of practical matters, but the arrangement I
described is very practical. A city may have a large number of post
office substations (but we refer to each as a "post office"), and a
city with surrounding incorporated suburbs may have post office in
each suburb.
It doesn't make practical sense for each one of those locations to
have the culling/sorting/postmarking machinery, and the personnel to
operate that machinery.

Do you find it so hard to believe that small post offices might actually
still do those operations manually?

Once again, you are fantasizing that the way it is done in your bloated
"city" is how it's done everywhere.

On Wednesday I'll try to remember to ask the guy at the Five Corners
Station, who is the manager (he is the person, for instance, who orders
commemorative stamps from wherever they come from) and usually the only
person on duty there, whether they postmark letters that pass through
their facility.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by Ken Blake
I know very little about this, so I'm not suggesting that anything you
said is wrong. But just a question for you: is it possible that in some
cases the mail processing plant and the local post office are in the
same location?

Yes. The Lake Mary facility here is both a post office and a mail
processing plant all in one large building. At the front is the
normal post office arrangement.
PTD is not one to think of practical matters, but the arrangement I
described is very practical. A city may have a large number of post
office substations (but we refer to each as a "post office"), and a
city with surrounding incorporated suburbs may have post office in
each suburb.
It doesn't make practical sense for each one of those locations to
have the culling/sorting/postmarking machinery, and the personnel to
operate that machinery.

Do you find it so hard to believe that small post offices might actually
still do those operations manually?
Once again, you are fantasizing that the way it is done in your bloated
"city" is how it's done everywhere.
On Wednesday I'll try to remember to ask the guy at the Five Corners
Station, who is the manager (he is the person, for instance, who orders
commemorative stamps from wherever they come from) and usually the only
person on duty there, whether they postmark letters that pass through
their facility.

I did. Mail collected from the boxes is not taken to the Station (a
subsidiary office of the Postal Service), nor even to the main office
for that ZIP code, but to a processing center.

Most post offices continue not to be in urban areas.

[Rich Ulrich]

Post by Ken Blake
I know very little about this, so I'm not suggesting that anything you
said is wrong. But just a question for you: is it possible that in some
cases the mail processing plant and the local post office are in the
same location?

My local post office building also houses the mail processing
plant for much (or all) of Pittsburgh. Downtown is 5 miles away.

I think my mail often arrives a day quicker than it would if I
lived in a different zone. When NetFlix had sub-stations in many
cities, I saw very quick turnaround on my mailed-in DVS.

[Peter T. Daniels]

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 09:09:00 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sun, 1 Dec 2019 06:44:44 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
On Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:25:38 -0800 (PST), "Peter T. Daniels"

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
Which is inaccurate, of course, because the day it was mailed (dropped
in the box) would be at least one day before it was postmarked.

Only for someone who pays no attention to the mail pickup schedule
posted on the box.

Sometimes your posts are jaw-droppingly idiotic. A postmark is on the
envelope that is received by the addressee. The addressee has no idea
of where the box was that the envelope was deposited in.

It's really outstanding how stupid you can be. You typed the absolute
lie "the day it was mailed (dropped in the box) would be at least one
day before it was postmarked."
Mail is collected from the mailbox according to the schedule posted
on the box, brought to the local office, and postmarked.

That is not correct. The mail is picked up from the collection boxes
and taken to the local post office. All the mail collected by the box
collection drivers and the route postal workers in the area is then
sent to a "mail processing center"* where it is postmarked. There are
two mail processing centers for my area. One is down near the Orlando
airport and one is in Lake Mary FL (a northern suburb of Orlando).
The recipient of a postmarked letter would not know which collection
box was use.
Our son worked at the mail processing center one Christmas holiday
when he was in college. The USPS hires temporary workers at that
time.

Post by Peter T. Daniels
Why, then, would the IRS insist that tax returns (and plenty are still
filed by mail) be _postmarked_ on or before April 15, not _received_
on or before April 15?

The USPS offers special service on April 15. They have postal workers
available at certain locations until midnight, and postmark all mail
received that day as April 15 even if it doesn't get the envelope to
the mail processing center until after midnight.
My "one day before it was postmarked" comment may or may not be
correct, but is not a lie. Mail dropped in the collection box handy
to me is picked up around 10:00 AM. Any mail dropped in later will be
picked up the next morning. In scheduling pick-ups, some boxes have
to be early in the day.

Then mail your letter before 10 am, moron, if it needs to be postmarked
the same day. Or better, take it to the post office and hand it in at
the counter. Or best, pay for one of the premium services that notes
the exact time of mailing and follows the item until delivery.

Post by Tony Cooper
You need to work on understanding the meaning of words you use. A
"lie" is a deliberate falsification. Something said that is different
from what you think is not a lie. Quite often, as in this case, what
you think is based on some vague impression of what is done, and is
not the way it is actually done.

What you describe suggests something seriously wrong with Orlando-
region mail-handling practices.

Not at all. The USPS operates in this area with the same budgetary
restraints the USPS operates under in other areas. There is not
enough budget allocated to allow multiple daily collections of mail in
collection boxes. A collecting route has to start with some box early
in the day. I happened to live near one that is collected early.

Jesus. If you mail your letter before that -- 10 am, you said -- then
it is postmarked the same day. If you mail it after pickup, it is
postmarked the next day.

Every box in Jersey City I have checked says 11 am, which is of course
not physically possible, and there are fewer and fewer mailboxes anyway,
so I don't know when a box is actually serviced, so if I have a letter
to mail, it waits until Monday or Thursday when I have to move the car
for street sweeping (which usually happens at 8:23 am), and I drive the
1.1 miles (so Google Maps) to the post office and put it in the slot.

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by Peter T. Daniels

Post by Tony Cooper
*see: https://about.usps.com/publications/pub100/pub100_078.htm

Which does not AT ALL say where the postmarking action occurs. That
is NOT a chronological description of the mail's path.

Either you are making a flat-out misstatement or you did not read the

At least it's not just what I write that you are unable to understand.

Post by Tony Cooper
"Collection
After a customer has deposited a letter destined for a distant address
in a collection box, a postal carrier removes all of the mail from the
box and takes it to the Post Office where he or she works.

TAKES IT TO THE POST OFFICE.

Post by Tony Cooper
That letter
and mail collected by other carriers of that Post Office are placed on
a truck and taken to a mail processing plant.
Culling and Postmarking
Postal workers send the letter through a machine that rapidly
separates mail by shape, separating letters from large envelopes and
packages (the culling operation). The machine orients letters so that
all addresses face the same way and are right side up. It then applies
a postmark with the date and place where the letter was sorted and
cancellation lines so the stamp cannot be reused, in order to protect
postal revenue."

Nothing suggests that this does not happen at the neighborhood post office
before it goes to the mail processing plant.

Post by Tony Cooper
It is very clear that the postmarking is done at the mail processing
plant after culling and sorting; procedures that are not done at the
local post office.

Except, of course, when they are.

The tiniest village post office postmarks its outgoing mail.

[s***@gmail.com]

Post by Tony Cooper

Post by s***@gmail.com

Post by tonbei
What do you think is meant by "want him posted"?

While the other responses lean on the "postmortem" connection,
and are probably right,
my thought when I first read the post (and recurrently since)
was by analogy with the mailman ...
"posted" as in sent back to the place the body was /supposed/ to be.
Part of not getting caught in the [unauthorized] act.
I don't think I'm wrong, but maybe not as right as others.
/dps

I don't know why you'd even suggest that. It's a book by an American
author who has American characters doing and saying things in
locations in America.
Americans don't use "post" or "posted" in conjunction with mail with
the exception of the name of the organization that handles the mail.

Strong words,pardner. I don't think it's just because I read AUE
that that sense of "post" came to me.
It could be because I read any usenet at all (since around 1987),
but I think I've encountered in the wild here on the Left Coast,
where we certainly claim to be part of America. For the moment.

Post by Tony Cooper
We don't post a letter, check to see if the post has arrived, or say
it came in the post. Our mail is postmarked by the USPS, but we
wouldn't say we looked at the postmark to see what day the letter was
posted.

Sure?

Post by Tony Cooper
Nor do we have "posties".

Only Post Toasties.

Post by Tony Cooper
Naturally, having writ this, the next post here will contain a link of
the use of "post" to mean mail by some American.

[sci.space.* groups have generally been dominated by US and Canadian posters,
and the current group Known Here as TONG is mostly US and Canadian posters,
in contrast AUE.]

In addition, I believe the /other/ use of "post" is well known hereabouts:
the assignment of a member of the military to a station, location, or duty.
More for the dry services than the water striders, I think,
but also by analogy to some corporate assignments.

/dps