OK, I understand the tiime thing. But what *IS* "land mail? Do they drive it in a truck down to the docks, load it on a ship, cross the ocean and then put it into another truck for regional delivery once it arrives on these shores?

And why do long? Where does it sit for 6 weeks? In the moldy hold of some decrepit shrimp boat, soaking up salt water vapor and fish aromas? Is there even such a thing a a "mail ship?"

And it seems it'd be MUCH more expensive to go through all that. Does anybody EVER ship anything overseas by land mail? Would that be suspicious in and of itself? Biotran mentioned it in his email so perhaps he regularly uses it. A letter to the U.K. from the U.S. airmail costs an 80¢ stamp. How much would a ground mail stamp cost?

What are the customs issues for land mail as opposed to air mail? Why would land mail be scrutinized less?

Somehow the entire concept seems crazy. Any postal workers here who could enlighten us?