I visited the post office today, and heard the following story from the teller:
Yesterday a man approached the teller for a stamp. She noticed a powdery substance leaking from his poorly sealed envelope. He told her that he was just playing a practical joke on his sister, and tipped the letter to show her how the powder came out.
She called authorities, who shut down the whole area. The powder had to be analyzed, and everything cleaned up. Needless to say, the teller was pretty shaken up by the whole thing. Oh, and the guy was arrested, and is being charged with the hoax.
Imagine if he’d already had a stamp? Powder all over the mail, sorting machines, etc. And what about his poor sister?
Idiots abound.