It has come to my attention that there is a problem with postal delivery of the paper. Subscribers to The Syncopated Times have written to say that their copies of the July 2025 issue had arrived late or had not showed up altogether. In a few instances the one-section, 32-page paper arrived damaged or incomplete. I know these reports are credible because, on the eve of my August issue going to press, my own postal copy of the July issue has still not been delivered.
Dramatic changes have been taking place at the USPS this year as in every other area of our government. While tweaking of some agencies and departments has been justified in the name of reducing “waste, fraud, and abuse,” an efficiently functioning postal service must not be compromised. Periodical mail in particular is essential to the survival of our democracy. That was baked in to our country from its founding.
If these are just growing pains as new paths to efficiency are determined I can live with it, provided it actually comes to pass. It is most regrettable, though. This inconvenience, whether temporary or permanent, affects you. That troubles me. The best I can do is to offer additional months to make up for the papers that don’t make it.
Some readers have suggested I forgo publishing a print edition. That is not going to happen until I’ve tried everything else. When there is no longer any reason for me to edit and painstakingly lay out a publication, I’m done. The thought of feeding the digital memory hole to have my work scraped and warped by AI holds no appeal. I consider it imperative that The Syncopated Times stay in print so that it can serve as an immutable document—typos, factual errors, and all. Now more than ever it is important to keep it going.
To add insult to the injury of lost or damaged papers, postal rates have taken another huge leap on July 13. I’ll happily replace papers reported missing or in bad condition, but it now costs 13 cents more than last month. I won’t raise subscription prices until I absolutely have to, but I count on you to renew when it’s time to do so. Please don’t let it coast.
And never hesitate to complain to the pertinent authorities at every level of government about any lapse in your mail service. You have a right to your mail.
Andy Senior is the Publisher of The Syncopated Times and on occasion he still gets out a Radiola! podcast for our listening pleasure.
