Happy New Year! Be healthy! :)

Best wishes to everybody! :)

NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE maximum card maxicard maxi card #4. SNOWFLAKE, AZ pictorial postmark

I wish the postal associate were more careful, but I should have been more proactive and provide paper towels between the postcards.

NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE maximum card maxicard maxi card #2. SNOWFLAKE, AZ pictorial postmark

This is a fascinating subject - the architecture of snowflakes.

NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE maximum card maxicard maxi card #10. SNOWFLAKE, AZ pictorial postmark

This set of postcards has some very interesting and meaningful quotes and comments.

NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE maximum card maxicard maxi card #6. SNOWFLAKE, AZ pictorial postmark

Had I known that that post office uses so much ink, I would've send them paper towels between postcards. I did that on some other mailings, to other post offices.

NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE maximum card maxicard maxi card #5. SNOWFLAKE, AZ pictorial postmark

Can you read the text?

NO TWO SNOWFLAKES ARE ALIKE maximum card maxicard maxi card #1. SNOWFLAKE, AZ pictorial postmark

Let it snow...

Merry Christmas! :)

http://www.santas.net/howmerrychristmasissaid.htm

In Romanian it is "Crăciun fericit!", or "Sărbători fericite!" [not "vesele"]

1989: The Romanian Revolution; also instigated, also manipulated, also confiscated

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Romanian_Revolution_1989_Demonstrators.jpg

I was living/surviving in Romania at the time...

Somebody said that "Communism is the longest way to Capitalism".

The Venerable Pope John Paul II (Polish: Jan Paweł II, Latin: Ioannes Paulus PP. II, Italian: Giovanni Paolo II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła said that communism is a tragic utopia.

Political joke ( I might discover one day that some Securitate informant reported me for publicly telling it during those years, and the report was added to my Securitate file):
"What's the difference between Capitalism and Socialism?
Capitalism is based on exploitation of man, by man.
But Socialism....is exactly the opposite!".

Another political joke that I kept telling:
"Capitalism is on the brink of the abyss [of destruction].
As always, Socialism is...one step ahead!".



"The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a week-long series of increasingly violent riots and fighting in late December 1989 that overthrew the Government of Nicolae Ceauşescu. After a trial, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena were executed. Romania was the only Eastern Bloc country to overthrow its government forcefully or to execute its leaders."


"On December 24, Bucharest was a city at war. Tanks, APCs, and trucks continued to go on patrol around the city and to surround trouble spots in order to protect them. At intersections near strategic objectives, roadblocks were built; automatic gunfire continued in and around Piaţa Universităţii, the Gara de Nord (the city's main railroad station), and Piaţa Palatului. Yet amid the chaos, some people were seen to be clutching makeshift Christmas trees. "Terrorist activities" continued until December 27, when they abruptly stopped. Nobody ever found who conducted them, or who ordered their termination."


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_revolution

My native city: Braşov, Romania

"The "Black Church" (Biserica Neagră), which some claim to be the largest Gothic style church in South-Eastern Europe." -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biserica_Neagră

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braşov

The stamp also shows the statue of Johannes Honterus.

"Honter is best known for his geographic and cartographic publishing activity, as well as for implementing the Lutheran reform in Transylvania."

"He returned to Kronstadt in 1533 and became involved in local events. During his stay in the Holy Roman Empire, Honter had encountered Protestant ideas, and he worked hard to introduce Lutheranism to Siebenbuergen. He attempted to achieve this by informing as many persons as possible. As such, he founded the humanist gymnasium local school (functioning to this day as the "Johannes Honterus" School), set up a printing press (1539), printed a large number of books (some of which he himself authored), such as the Reformationsbuechlein, published the Kirchenordnung aller Deutschen in Siebenbuergen and assisted in the introduction of a paper mill. In 1542, in Kronstadt, he printed a new version of his cosmography manual, this time in verse, under the name Rudimenta Cosmographica. He believed that verse would help students remember information contained in the book. Additionally, the book contains 13 maps, engraved by Honter himself. The maps show all known parts of the world. The Rudimenta was so successful that no less than 39 editions of it were printed in Braşov, Zürich, Antwerp, Basel, Rostock, Prague and Cologne. The book was last reprinted in 1602, but sections of it have been included in other books up to 1692. It can be considered the first European-wide manual."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honterus

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Memories, memories...

I could write my own Wikipedia version of this post, but...why re-invent the wheel? Why render useless all the effort that went into the wikipedia.org entry for Braşov, Romania?

My purpose here is to raise the awareness of many people from around the world, hopefully, 

about this.

My focus now is not on the originality of the content, but on the convenience of the reader, 

hyperlinks and all.

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"Braşov (Romanian pronunciation: [braˈʃov]; Medieval Latin: Brassovia or Corona; Hungarian:Brassó; German: Kronstadt; 1950-1960: Oraşul Stalin) is a city in Romania and the capital of Braşov County, with a population of 284,596, according to the 2002 census, is the 8th largest Romanian city. Braşov is located in the central part of the country, about 166 km from Bucharest. It is surrounded by the Southern Carpathians, and is part of the Transylvania region."

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Very few inhabited places on Earth were very isolated throughout history. Most of them went thru much turmoil, interacting peacefully with so many visitors, or violently with so many invaders.

"The oldest traces of human activity and settlements in Braşov date back to the Neolithic age (about 9500 BCE). Archaeologists, working from the last half of the 19th century, discovered continuous traces of human settlements in areas situated in Braşov: Valea Cetăţii, Pietrele lui Solomon, Şprenghi, Tâmpa, Dealul Melcilor, and Noua. The first three locations shows traces of Dacian citadels; Şprenghi Hill housed a Roman-style construction. The last two locations had their names applied to Bronze Age cultures — Schneckenberg and Noua.

German colonists known as the Transylvanian Saxons played a decisive role in Braşov's development. These Germans were invited by King Géza II of Hungary to develop towns, build mines, and cultivate the land of Transylvania at different stages between 1141 and 1162. The settlers came primarily from the Rhineland, Flanders, and the Moselle region, with others from Thuringia, Bavaria, Wallonia, and even France.

In 1211, by order of King Andrew II of Hungary, the Teutonic Knights fortified the Burzenland to defend the border of the Kingdom of Hungary. Although the crusaders were evicted by 1225, the colonists they brought in remained, as did three distinct settlements they founded on the site of Braşov:

• Corona, around the Black Church (Biserica Neagră);
• Martinsberg, west of Cetăţuia Hill;
• Bartholomä, on the eastern side of Sprenghi Hill.

Germans living in Braşov were mainly involved in trade and crafts. The location of the city at the intersection of trade routes linking the Ottoman Empire and Western Europe, together with certain tax exemptions, allowed Saxon merchants to obtain considerable wealth and exert a strong political influence. They contributed a great deal to the architectural flavor of the city. Fortifications around the city were erected and continually expanded, with several towers maintained by different craftsmen's guilds, according to medieval custom. Part of the fortification ensemble was recently restored using UNESCO funds, and other projects are ongoing. At least two entrances to the city, Poarta Ecaterinei (or Ekaterinentor) and Poarta Şchei are still in existence."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

In case you wondered if the Romanians have always endured silently the Communist dictatorship:

"During the communist period, industrial development was vastly accelerated. Under Nicolae Ceauşescu's rule, the city was the site of the 1987 Braşov strike. This was repressed by the authorities and resulted in numerous workers being imprisoned."

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When you visit Romania, you should definitely visit Brasov County - that includes Bran Castle, Poiana Braşov, etc.

"Centrally located Braşov is a good starting point for trips around Romania. The city is situated at fairly equal distances from several tourism destinations in the country: the Black Sea resorts, the monasteries in northern Moldavia, and the well-preserved wooden churches of Maramureş. It is also the largest city in a mountain resorts area. The old city itself is very well preserved, and is best seen by taking the cable-car to the top of Tâmpa Mountain (995 m), a beautiful lookout".
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• Biserica Neagră ("The Black Church"), a celebrated Gothic site - the building dates from 1477, when it replaced an older church (demolished around 1385). Its acquired the name after being blackened by smoke from the 1689 great fire.
• Casa Sfatului ("The mayor's former office building"). The administration for Braşov was here for more than 500 years.
• Biserica Sf. Nicolae (St. Nicholas Church), dating back to the 14th century.
• The First Romanian School, a museum with the first Romanian printing press among many other firsts.
• The Rope Street, the most narrow [I'd say the narrowest :) ] street in Romania.
• Şchei, the historically Bulgarian but then Romanian neighborhood outside of the old walled city.
• The Orthodox church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, built in 1896.
• Muzeul Prima Carte Românească, a museum exhibiting the first book printed in the Romanian language.
• Tâmpa, a small mountain in the middle of the city (900m above sea level), a sightseeing spot near the old city center.
• The "Braşov Citadel Fortress" - Cetăţuia Braşovului
• The nearby Bran Castle, attracting many fans of Dracula, and often (but incorrectly) said to have been the home of Vlad the Impaler.
• Poiana Braşov, mainly a ski resort, but also a sightseeing spot.
• Râşnov Fortress, above the nearby town of Râşnov, is a restored peasant fortress
• Prejmer Fortress, in the nearby town of Prejmer".

------------------------------

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Bra%C5%9Fov

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brasov_Sunset.JPG

----------------------------------------------------
I bet many citizens are not aware if their own city has any "twin" anywhere in the world. Just "wiki" your city.

Twin cities with Braşov, Romania

•  Musashino, Japan
•  Rishon LeZion, Israel
•  Tampere, Finland
•  Győr, Hungary
•  Leeds, United Kingdom
•  Liverpool, United Kingdom
•  Poznań, Poland (since 2003)
•  Cleveland, USA
•  Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braşov

My shovel-ready project

Let it snow? Yeah, but...this is my shovel-ready project. :)

GOLDEN COCKER SPANIEL, DOG, MAXIMUM CARD, MAXICARD, CARTE MAXIMUM Bulgaria

The red/golden cocker spaniel has the worst temperament of all cockers.
I would NOT choose this as my pet.
"A link between coat colour and temperament has been proposed.^[14] This link could be the colour pigment melanin, which is biochemically similar to chemicals that act as transmitters in the brain. A study made by the University of Cambridge involving over 1,000 Cocker Spaniel households throughout Britain concluded that solid colour Cockers were more likely to be aggressive in 12 out of 13 situations. Red/golden Cockers were shown to be the most aggressive of all, in situations involving strangers, family members, while being disciplined, and sometimes for no apparent reason.^[15][16] A study by Spanish researchers at theAutonomous University of Barcelona revealed a similar link between golden Cockers and aggression. Males were also more likely to be aggressive. The study found the English Cocker Spaniel to have the highest level of owner- and stranger- directed aggression compared to other breeds.^[16][17]

[edit]Rage Syndrome

For more details on this topic, see Rage syndrome.

Rage Syndrome is described as when a dog attacks suddenly and savagely, without any warning and during the attack the dog often has a glazed look and appears to be unaware of its surroundings. Studies have found it is more common in solid colored Cockers than in particolors and also more common in darker colored Cockers than lighter coloured Cockers, being most common in solid orange and black colored spaniels. Male orange spaniels are not recommended as a family pet and should never be left alone with children. Rage syndrome is most often associated with the Show Cocker Spaniel breed, although cases have been found in other breeds and cases are relatively rare even within the Cocker Spaniel breed. Rage syndrome cannot be accurately predicted and can only be diagnosed by EEG or genetic testing and these tests are not conclusive. ^[18][19]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Cocker_Spaniel

As former owners of cocker spaniels, why don't you, Oprah Winfrey and Charlize Theron, tell us about your experience?

I know why: coz in your ivory tower you'll never read this post.

Unless an assistant brings it to your attention to comment here.

:)

http://www.zazzle.com/yeah_right_postage-172546722024214047?rf=238693463283865848

DOBERMANN (GREAT DANE?) DOG MAXIMUM CARD MAXICARD CARTE MAXIMUM Bulgaria

Full disclosure: I am not an expert in dog breeds, and  the back of the postcard doesn't mention the dog breed.
I guess the postcard doesn't show a Dobermann Pinscher, as the stamp does, but a Great Dane. What do you think?
Anyway, if you don't care that much about breed and concordance (I would! :) ) and you just like dogs, big dogs, you're welcome to get it.
Think of it as a non-concordant maximum card, or as a Great Dane nice postcard with an inset image of a Dobermann on a stamp, postmarked in Bulgaria 29 years ago.
Or think of it as an EFO = Errors, Freaks and Oddities.

I disagree, but many times the philatelic errors are very well valued: inverted Jenny stamp, etc. They sure are rare items.

Lovely FOX TERRIER DOG MAXIMUM CARD MAXICARD CARTE MAXIMUM Romania

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Foxterrier_als_Familienhund.jpg

This kind of dog could be a very lovely pet. :)

"Fox Terriers are 'jumpy' dogs - they enjoy jumping onto surfaces and into people's arms. They enjoy being hugged and carried, whether this is considered to be healthy for them or not. They can also be quite dozy, possibly due to short-sightedness, as they do not always follow balls well. They are tenacious but generally gentle animals who bark simply for attention. Fox Terriers tend to get along well with other animals, including cats and dogs."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fox_terrier


I didn't create this maximum card, and the back of the postcard doesn't mention the dog breed. I guess the postcard doesn't show a purebred fox terrier. What do you think?

Non-FIP maximum card: Santa Claus

I saw somewhere a T-shirt inscribed: "Hey, Santa! How much for your list of naughty girls?"

Why is Santa saying "Shhh!..."? Or his index is just preaching, away from his lips?

Cate Blanchett has gone postal...philatelic, too! Now she's unavailable [her maxicard, that is] from Australia Post

I am re-posting above images from saphilatelist at stampboards.com.

"This card is not a maximum card but a prepaid postcard. It differs from the maximum card as the 'stamps' are actually images printed as part of the card design. On the maximum cards the 'stamps' are real stamps affixed to the card and postmarked. "

"And here is the address side showing the postage prepaid imprint."

http://www.stamps.com.au/shop/stamps/2009-australian-legends/sku/1595671

I like all these 4 Australian-born(/raised?) actors, and I salute this initiative of Australia Post.
Another very innovative and open-minded post is Austria Post - I'll post soon about their stamp with meteorite particles incorporated, etc. :)

Cate Blanchett is very versatile - an actress with the proven capability of playing pretty much any type of roles. Plus atypical roles.
Also, I saw a glimpse of her deliciously sharp wit when she outwitted Jay Leno (anagram: JAY LENO = LEAN JOY) on his show.
Instead of telling Jay explicitly that he is "crazy" [she was joking in a light-hearted manner], she smiled and told him slowly, in an apparently innocent tone: "Jay, you could see somebody about this..." [for professional help].

Cate, I really appreciate you and your artistic work in movies, theater, etc.
But I guess that many bimbomaniac spectators don't fully notice and comprehend your unique magnitude of artistic personality.

Best wishes to you and yours! :)

Nicole Kidman is not STOCKy [the maxicard about her is out-of-STOCK with Australia Post]

http://www.stamps.com.au/shop/stamps/2009-australian-legends/sku/1595661

However, some copies of her maxicards are available on FeeBay, maybe Delcampe, maybe others.

Nicole Kidman...she played so many memorable roles (because SHE MADE THEM memorable) in a lot of movies.
Once she was off Cruise-control, she chose to adjust, in a Nic of time, the speed of her acting career, making good decisions about good roles, in general.
[That was just a joking reference to Tom Cruise; I appreciate Tom very much. :) ]

Rumor has it that Nicole has "a frozen forehead", thru Botox injections.
Is that true? How the hell should I know? She certainly looks very good, forefront too.
Eventually, she's due to get "A Wrinkle", "In Time". No?
Even if she used Botox, is there anything wrong about that? Joan (Gossip Me A) River[s] swears, I mean swears-by the usefulness of it for herself.

Maybe other blondes have used Clorox ->bleached blonde.
Maybe other Sillywood actors have used Detox (facilities).
Not even Iron Mike [Tyson] proved to be INOX[idable].

Maybe Botox is a reasonable thing in The Year Of The -OX", even if you also do it in any other year, as needed. What do I know? :)

Somebody said that we should see the beauty, beyond the wrinkles.
Others prefer [face] uplifting experiences.

Nicole Kidman has also played roles for which she accepted to be uglified by makeup artists.
Who's afraid of the big, bad Virginia Woolf's nose? Not Nicole.
Joking aside, Virginia Woolf, played by Nicole, is a very tragic figure of the real life, not a Tinseltown concoction.

Nicole, you know you are a superstar on your own, not somebody's trophy wife.
Yes, nobody can build an artistic career without occasional help (maybe even mentoring).
But you are a bright example of how it's possible to advance your career even in the aftermath of divorcing from a superstar.
Other ex-wives would have been content to just pocket the money and retire from any hard work.
What was that movie line? "He is a sugar-daddy, and she is a whore with a wedding ring".
You certainly are not in that category, whatsoever.
True actors work "for the love of the game" - acting, entertaining the masses and the not-so-snotty critics.

Best wishes to you and yours, Nicole!

Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe on stamps, maximum cards, etc. by Australia Post

http://www.stamps.com.au/shop/stamps/2009-australian-legends/sku/15950671

I cannot afford to buy all the maximum cards / maxicards that I'd like, so I missed these.
I don't have them, so I'll just comment on them.
:)

Geoffrey Rush non-FIP maximum card, by Australia Post

Geoffrey Rush, originally uploaded by enokilover.

Two stamps, not one!...."sacrilege against FIP!"...:)

....and the actor is alive!
The USPS wouldn't issue a stamp about a living person. Gotta wait 5 years after death, or 1 year after a US President's death.
But Australia Post, and a few other more open-minded postal administrations, see no problem with that. Just opportunities.

That's how USPS has lost, over time, many millions of dollars in potential revenue: "no living persons featured on [USPS] stamps!".
One of the worst postal/philatelic decisions ever made.

I like Geoffrey -  I think he his a non-flamboyantly clever man, who knows how to be a very convincing actor with as little as eye/gaze/smile play. He doesn't need to gesticulate a lot, to stretch his face, to shout and other idiotic/buffoonish things.
Even if he could perhaps do all of the above, if required by the role, he can surely act in a subtler way.
Hunks and studs are gorgeous and useful, but occasionally you may enjoy watching or interacting with a clever, in a non-annoying way, man.

Best wishes to you and yours, Geoffrey! :)