is there a service by which i can send an email to "X" communications service
and for a fee have them print it out and mail it -- at various speeds and fees,
or am i asking too much? -- to a NON-computer user who can't check email?

it would be MUCH more convenient for me to be able to dash off a note
to some from my macintosh, and know that he/she WOULD receive it
on PAPER ... than to actually send letters, mostly personal to non-computer users,
from the road.

hoping for answer soon!

thanks,
mike - of new york, but on the road

Hello mikeginnyc-ga 

Thank-you for your question.

The USPS can provide this service for you via their "NetPost Mailing
Online" service.

"NetPost? Mailing Online is the quick and easy way to prepare your
First-Class MailŪ and Standard Mail letters without leaving your desk!
Create your document on almost any Windows PC or Macintosh, using any
of a variety of word processing or page layout programs, and then send
it electronically, along with your mailing list, to the U.S. Postal
Service via the Internet."
http://hdusps.esecurecare.net/cgi-bin/hdusps.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=4774&p_created=1078421351&p_sid=t8x*iINh&p_lva=6773&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX3Jvd19jbnQ9MSZwX3Byb2RfbHZsMT0xMjQmcF9wcm9kX2x2bDI9JnBfcGFnZT0xJnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9cHJvZ3JhbQ**&p_li=

Further details of the pricing and how it works can be found via the
homepage for this service at:
http://www.usps.com/netpost/reachcustomers.htm

An alternative to the USPS service would be NetGram.  NetGram has been
providing this service to customers since 1995.

"You can send postal letters using your own email program like
Microsoft Outlook, Netscape Messenger, AOL, or HotMail. By using your
email, you gain the advantage of not having to come to the NetGram web
site to send out postal mail. You can do it right from your computer."
http://www.netgram.com/ngproductsservices.asp?show=12

I hope that this answers your query but should you have any further
questions on this subject please do not hesitate to ask for
clarification and I will do my best to respond swiftly.

first, i was surprised =NOT= to get a notifcation from Google.  i've
come to rely not only on excellent answers, but speed.  I've been
busy/pre-occupied so I let it slide for a bit, thinking there was no
answer!

NOW I discover that there was, as I'd hoped, a fast AND clear answer
... totally what i'd hoped for from the researcher, disappointing
though from google. (I check my spam folder often, and successfully
already receive email from google.)

at any rate, to the researcher: thank you.  exactly what i needed, and
prompt fory our part, too.  adding a tip, a sign of appreciation. 
best - mike/nyc

Thank-you for your rating and generous tip.  They are both
appreciated.  I am sorry Google's system did not live up to
expectations this time and I hope this will not put you off using the
system in the future.