The Michigan Daily - Monday, May 21, 2001-- 3
Postage rates
Tor packaging
Jy~
By David Bayhik
For the Daily
In what it says is an attempt to sustain a high quality of
service and cover the ever-increasing costs of doing business,
the United States Postal Service has officially announced a
postage rate hike effective July 1.
The price for a letter under one ounce will remain static at
34 cents, while the cost for each additional ounce will rise to
23 cents from the previous 21 cents.
The price of sending a postcard will climb to 21 cents - a
penny more than in 2000.
"We use a minimal number of postcards, so it won't affect
us," said Audrey Ritt, the owner of the Local Mailboxes, Etc.
the Michigan Union..
USPS Chief Financial Officer Richard Strasser said in a Acx ROSENBAo/Daly
statement the postal service faces a revenue loss between $1.6 Changes in postage rates for mail weighing more than one
billion and $2.4 billion this year alone. USPS has already cut ounce means shelling out more change for stamps.
spending and delayed the hiring of new workers for future
Watchers gather in Arb
for Bird-a-thon to raise
money for preservation
By Lindsey Alpert Michael Kielb, found 55.
Daily Staff Reporter "I was in the novice group and we had a
Taking its cue from marathons, phone-a-
thons and the like, the Nichols Arboretum
sponsored its first NeoTropical Bird Migra-
tion Festival and Bird-a-thon yesterday.
Nearly 25 birders abided by the old
adage "the early bird catches the worm,"
showing up bright and early to participate
in the Sunday event. They spent three
hours searching for birds who migrate
from the warm climates of Central and
South America to Canada around this time
of year.
"They (the birds) stop in certain areas
that look beautiful and green," said
Nichols Arboretum Development Officer
Inger Schultz. "The Arb is one of those
green spots that they identify from high up.
They stop and feed a few days and then
leave for Canada."
wonderful time," said Ann Arbor resident
Martha Claus. "We found 30-some birds,
unless you count the M-track bird, the
ambulance bird and the chainsaw bird," she
joked.
Some of the more experienced birders
were able to identify more birds by either
their appearance or their songs.
"You can pick (birding) up really quick-
ly," said Karen Drabenstott, a professor in
the School of Information. "You do it and
listen to tapes, do it and listen to tapes, and
find people who have been birding a long
time. Most of the time it's just being there."
Many of the birders carried binoculars
and books with pictures of birds but found
it difficult because the leaves had already
grown on the trees, blocking many of the
views. "It could have been a better day for
birds,"Kielb said, "but this wasn't bad."
projects, he added.
Last January's rate hike failed to draw enough revenue, and
to implement these new rates the postal board, facing opposi-
tion from the presidentially-nominated members the advisory
Postal Rate Commission, a rare occurrence that hasn't hap-
ned since 1981.
"July's rate hike is simply testing the price elasticity of
postage rates while trying to tackle the deficit," said Washte-
naw County Postmaster Timothy Inman. "I don't think mail
volume will be affected by the price increase, except for bulk
mailing organizations and newspapers that ship out of state:"
inman added that Ann Arbor's economy is strong and will
have no difficulty standing up to such a rate increase.
Students do not seem to show a great deal of emotion or
criticism on the issue.
"No one ever uses the mail anyway," said LSA junior
ush releases e
high electricity
By Elliott Weis.Reld
For the Daily
President Bush released his new
long-term energy plan Thursday, while
many in California faced immediate
energy rate hikes and the possibility of
rolling blackouts again during the sum-
mer months.
In his speech in St. Paul, Minn., Bush
warned, "The future is achievable, if we
make the right choices now. But if we
fail to act, [we] could face a darker
future, a future that is, unfortunately,
being previewed in rising prices at the
* pump and rolling blackouts."
Bush said his plan is an attempt to
reduce American dependence on for-
eign oil by increasing coal-based elec-
tricity production and building more
nuclear power plants.
California is attempting to deregulate
its power industry, a feat Michigan and
other states are also planning to tackle.
This means government restrictions on
te industry will be alleviated, allowing
nore competitors into a region domi-
nated by one or two. Supporters argue
this gives consumers more choices and
makes the market more competitve.
Jin Musial, director of regulatory
compliance for Deti
ed Michigan will b
2001. Price rates fr
be frozen through 2(
He said if Califor
"bad luck" in term
system "might have
for the national. And
another state that dis
To de-monopoliz
foria's 1996 dereg
utilities to sell off
plants to other com
the utilities to reps
the owners of their f
Problems started
when the cost paid
kilowatt-hour jumpe
34 cents, according,
plan did not allow
consumer rates to co
Michigan has u
since it encompass
especially because i
ficult to bring pow
land. Power for th
comes from states sc
Although Michig
possibility of blacks
cy makers have had
ate the power situr
Megan Veresh. "E-mail is much easier and faster." One of the reasons the Arb sponsored The rest of the day went on without a
Several students gave the impression that they believe e- the bird-a-thon was to raise money to help hitch, except for a birder who was knocked
mail is the predominant source of communication and "snail preserve and develop a bird habitat in the down by some unleashed dogs. "We're try-
mail" - mail sent 'ia USPS - is only necessary for pack- Arb, create instructional material about ing to educate people toput their dogs on a
ages. birds and promote awareness about pro- leash. It's the law,"Armstrong said.
With the advent of technology, they said, e-mail attach- tecting bird habitats. The birder who was knocked down, the
ments eliminate the need for sending documents, articles or "This is very special in that there are birders who found the most species, the
any other paper-oriented form of communication. very few birding events" Schultz said. "A youngest birding team and others received
Campus Mail, a free service offered within the University, lot of folks have made pledges about the prizes ranging from artwork to bird books
is also a substantial option for students wishing to keep their number of birds they hope to find" donated by local businesses.
mail within campus boundaries. Birders ended up finding 75 species of "People can still give more donations by
"Cost of mailing will increase, but we can always rely on birds. The winning team found 67 on their sending a check to the Nichols Arboretum
Campus Mail," said LSA juniorAmber Simco. own, and the "Arb Team," consisting of and indicate that it's for the birds," Schultz
USPS officials and the Postal Board of Governors are experienced birders Dea Armstrong and said.
already discussing filings for another rate hike estimated for
next year. COrrOCtiOn S SA M
Research Associate Walter Meixner
was misidentified in a photograph on W A N TED
nergy plan as Page 3 of last week's Daily.
as Maintain a LAN in small
t afe t'U' DAILY NEWS AnnArbor real estate
costs ffectoffice. Proficiency with
cost affct U, DILY ~ws Windows networking
roit Edison, indicat- before beginning deregulation. Musial YOU CAN'T BEAT Us required, knowledge of
egin deregulation in said this allowed the state to, "see where web development appli-
om May 2000 will problems occurred and how hard it is to BUT YOU CAN JOIN cations preferred. Must
005. fix them." He feels the contingency have a good sense of
nia had not suffered plans the state has put in place will pre- US* humor.
is of weather, their vent similar problems.
served as a model Diane Brown, University spokes- Call Gary Lillie
Iit would have been woman for facilities and operations, said CALL 76-DAILY 663-6694
covered the flaws." if a situation similar to the one in Cali-www.garylillie.com
e the industry, Cali- fornia occurs in Michigan, the Universi-
ulation plan forced ty would be in relatively good shape.
their non-nuclear The University participates in a pilot:a
panies. This caused program for deregulation called "Elec-
irchase power from tric Choice." Under the plan, the Univer- Account Executive
ormer power plants. sity switched from Detroit Edison to
in May of last year Engage Energy America just over a year of the Week
by the utilities per ago. Brown estimates the University MEXICAN CAFE
d from 11.5 cents to saves $1 million per year from this .x33 . ,55'
to S. C. Edison. The change. Rising prices have caused theu l
utilities to increase University to double its budget for natu- 53l ,- ANN ARBOR'S FINEST
ver this increase. ral gas from $15 million per year to $30 Good MEXICAN STYLE FOOD!
nique challenges million. In January, when natural gas Jo>
;es two peninsulas, prices soared, the power plant switchedV ; 4I
it is much more dif- some boilers to less expensive fuel oil
ver over water than to save money." MEXICAN RESTAURANT
e Lower Peninsula Electrical problems in Miciigan M ,i Daily d
outh of Michigan. would be unlikely to cause a problem Sonsored WLI
an is not facing the for University power, Brown said since
guts, the state's poli- Engage gets their power from a hub in -A
a chance to evalu- Louisiana, where there are no problems
ation in California forecasted. o ten Suit M sit, Md st.t mo,,- til i m