Lady Gaga on a postage stamp? Kim Kardashian? SNOOKI?
So we're kind of kidding with those (horrible) suggestions, but it could happen.
The U.S. postal service announced Monday that they're ditching the rule that you must be dead at least five years to appear on a postage stamp. Now living people can be on stamps too, with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe saying "this change will enable us to pay tribute to individuals for their achievements while they are still alive to enjoy the honor."
We assume that means those who died less than five years ago are also eligible. That puts Michael Jackson, Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and others on the list. We'd like a stamp for each of them, please.
And as far as those still living, you'd want it to be someone who's been around long enough to establish a career reputation. Robert Redford makes our cut as far as movie actors. We'd also consider Tom Hanks, Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, maybe Harrison Ford (in Han Solo or Indy garb). And the advent of those self-adhesive stamps should cut down on those "I'd like to lick George Clooney" jokes.
The TV world offers many classic choices. Oprah Winfrey, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett, Betty White just start off the list.
For directors, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg could make it, and maybe James Cameron, too. The USPS could issue a two-pack with Cameron and his ex-wife and fellow Oscar-winning director, Kathryn Bigelow.
In music, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Madonna and Bruce Springsteen could all be considered. Broadway stars would be eligible too — hello, Rita Moreno. Don't forget the world of radio — Howard Stern stamp, anyone? Bob and Ray? We wouldn't mind seeing Click and Clack from Car Talk get one either.
And though their faces are less famous, don't forget authors. Stephen King and Garrison Keillor would be pretty recognizable. Joyce Carol Oates and Joan Didion are also deserving, though perhaps only we English majors would be standing in line for those.
You can send your suggestions to the USPS via regular mail (Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, c/o Stamp Development, Room 3300, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260-3501) Twitter or Facebook. We've seen repeated mentions of a website for submissions but the announcement itself just links to the regular USPS site, which doesn't seem to have an easy way to submit suggestions or a suggestion-specific email address.
And while we have absolutely no power with the post office, we'd like to hear your suggestions, too. Share them with us here or on Facebook.