Humorous video on the topic of postal abbreviations for the U.S. states

Question

Folks who don't like the U.S. postal service's two-letter abbreviations for the U.S. states, or have encountered confusion due to the ambiguity of an abbreviation like "MI" when there are 4 states with names that start with those two letters, are likely to be amused by this comedy routine by Gary Gulman on "How the States got their abbreviations":

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLECCmKnrys

This video has been on TV and there are several versions of it on the Internet, so chances are that many of you have already seen it, but I didn't know about it before today, so I wanted to share.

Comments

What a blast! Never seen it before.

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 Thanks for the morning laugh.

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Totally priceless. Sky comma indeed '  :)  Thanks for this Ellen :)

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Thanks for reminding me of that bit, Wendy. I just listened to this video again.

Answer 1

That.... was..... hilarious! And I still hate those abbreviations. I address envelopes that shut the USPS computers down!!!

On purpose!!!

Answer 2

The two-letter state abbreviations were implemented in 1963 to make room for the roll out of the Zip Code.  Until that time, the Post Office Department (that's right the USPS wasn't established until the big reorganization of 1970) preferred that the state names be written out in full.  It was you people who liked to abbreviate everything, so they did come up with preferred abbreviations if you have to do it.

Sorry, I'm not a comedian, but I am a postal worker.

Comments

Well Lucy, it was "you people" that put an end to the economical practice of mailing children Parcel Post.....

Very Special Deliveries.

LOL

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My daughter and son-in-law are both postal workers, Lucy. 

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That is incredible!!