I wait today for my Midtown Comics  Order. Midtown is gracious enough to supply the tracking number on their shipment email.  So I check it.

Your item was processed and left our JERSEY CITY, NJ 07097 facility on January 8, 2008. Information, if available, is updated every evening. Please check again later.

So here I sit…on the 12th.  Is it in Germany?  Is it still on a truck in Jersey City?  Where are my comic books?

To be fair–I appreciate the fact that the US Postal Service provides links to track the packages.  And I understand that the APO shipments are a little different.  But in my frustration and disappointment I notice this little icon on the USPS Home page: 

Now, I grew up hearing of the diligence of the US Post Office and that icon struck me as odd.  So–is the Post Office now giving weather reports on whether or not they are going to bring my comic book order?

What happened to the famous inscription

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. (from the General Post Office, New York City, 8th Avenue and 33rd Street)

They need to make a new inscription:

“I’m sorry–it’s raining today.  We are not delivering any boxes of comic books to your address today.”