Baby JESUS, surrounded by MEN IN PINK and others colors, but not BLACK. Not in THIS greeting card. Also, see a YouTube videoclip about how stamps are made (for USPS, at least). I bet that there were many millions of copies printed for that star stamp shown in my non-traditional MAXICARD with [MAGIC?] JESUS and 3 MAGI IN PINK (declination: one MAGUS, two MAGI)

Baby JESUS, surrounded by MEN IN PINK and others colors, but not BLACK. Not in THIS greeting card. Also, see a YouTube videoclip about how stamps are made (for USPS, at least). I bet that there were many millions of copies printed for that star stamp shown in my non-traditional MAXICARD with [MAGIC?] JESUS and 3 MAGI IN PINK (declination: one MAGUS, two MAGI).

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Happy Pink Saturday! (still open on Sunday!)

^{Please visit "Pretty in pink"/ "Show us your pink" [objects, that is :)] meme here:}

^{http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/}

One of my USA MAXICARDS with The RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes). Can the VIXEN in your life do this: "wow wow wow" [I bet she can...], "ululating siren-like shriek", "gekkering" [now that's a ratchet], and "waaaaah"?

One of my USA MAXICARDS with The RED FOX (Vulpes vulpes). Can the VIXEN in your life do/fake this: "wow wow wow" [I bet she can...], "ululating siren-like shriek", "gekkering" [now that's a ratchet], and  "waaaaah"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Co-sfuw-08-022.jpg

"Vocalisations

Red foxes have a wide vocal range, and produce different sounds spanning five octaves, which grade into each other.^[93] Recent analyses identify 12 different sounds produced by adults and 8 by kits.^[92] The majority of sounds can be divided into "contact" and "interaction" calls. The former vary according to the distance between individuals, while the latter vary according to the level of aggression.^[93]

• Contact calls: The most commonly heard contact call is a 3–5 syllable barking "wow wow wow" sound, which is often made by two foxes approaching one another. This call is most frequently heard from December to February (when they can be confused with the territorial calls of tawny owls). The "wow wow wow" call varies according to individual; captive foxes have been recorded to answer pre-recorded calls of their pen-mates, but not those of strangers. Kits begin emitting the "wow wow wow" call at the age of 19 days, when craving attention. When red foxes draw close together, they emit trisyllabic greeting warbles similar to the clucking of chickens. Adults greet their kits with gruff huffing noises.^[93]

• Interaction calls: When greeting one another, red foxes emit high pitched whines, particularly submissive animals. A submissive fox approached by a dominant animal will emit an ululating siren-like shriek. During aggressive encounters with conspecifics, they emit a throaty rattling sound, similar to a ratchet, called "gekkering". Gekkering occurs mostly during the courting season from rival males or vixens rejecting advances.^[93]

Another call which does not fit into the two categories is a long, drawn out, monosyllabic "waaaaah" sound. As it is commonly heard during the breeding season, it thought to be emitted by vixens summoning males. When danger is detected, foxes emit a monosyllabic bark. At close quarters, it is a muffled cough, while at long distances it is sharper. Kits make warbling whimpers when nursing, these calls being especially loud when they are dissatisfied.^[93]"

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_fox}

=======================

Happy PFF (Postcard Friendship Friday)!

Please visit: http://thebestheartsarecrunchy.blogspot.com/ (wait until Beth posts the today's Linky tool for the meme, then make your entry, if you want to join).

Societatea Românã de Maximafilie Dr. Valeriu Neaga. "Les Maximaphiles Français sont à nouveau en deuil. Nous venons d’apprendre avec stupeur et tristesse le décès subit de Jacques THÉNARD, survenu le 14 decembre 2011, dans sa 86e année."

Societatea Românã de Maximafilie Dr. Valeriu Neaga

"

15.12.2011

LES MAXIMAPHILES FRANÇAIS SONT EN DEUIL

Les Maximaphiles Français sont à nouveau en deuil. Nous venons d’apprendre avec stupeur et tristesse le décès subit de Jacques THÉNARD, survenu le 14 decembre 2011, dans sa 86^e année. Nous avons perdu un ami de grande valeur qui assura la présidence des MF avec compétence de1979 à1998.

Administrateur du GAPHIL et de la FFAP où il était très actif, son engagement et son esprit fédéral sont dignes d’éloges. Estimé de tous pour ses grandes qualités, il était titulaire de la Plaquette Biscara (1984), de la Médaille Dole (1986) et du Mérite philatélique (1993).

Son aura avait dépassé nos frontières, président de la Commission FIP de maximaphilie (1988-2000), juré international MX,  il fut un fervent ambassadeur de notre classe et de notre pays dont il parlait avec une profonde conviction.

Il est inhumé au cimetière du Père Lachaise, non loin de la sépulture de Marcel Proust.

La maximaphilie lui doit beaucoup tant au plan national que mondial. Nous avons peine à croire à sa disparition …et sa personnalité restera à jamais gravée dans nos mémoires.

Membrii asociatiei « Les Maximaphiles Français » sunt în doliu. Ei anuntã cu stupoare si tristete decesul subit al lui Jacques THÉNARD survenit la data de 14 decembrie 2011, la vârsta de 86 de ani.

Am pierdut un prieten de mare valoare care a asigurat cu competentã presedintia asociatiei MF în perioada 1979 – 1998. A fost un foarte activ administrator la GAPHIL si FFAP  si angajamentul sãu precum si spiritul sãu federal sunt demne de elogiu. Stimat de cãtre toti colegii pentru marile sale calitãti, a a primit în semn de recunoastere a acestor calitãti : Plaquette Biscara (1984), de la Médaille Dole (1986) et du Mérite philatélique (1993).

Renumele sãu a depãsit frontierele Frantei deoarece,  ca presedinte al Comisiei de maximafilie a FIP (1988-2000) si membru de juriu international pentru maximafilie, a fost un fervent ambasador al clasei de maximafilie si a patriei sale despre care discuta cu un profund respect.

Este înhumat în cimitirul « Père Lachaise », nu departe de mormantul lui Marcel Proust.

Maximafilia îi datorează mult atât la nivel naţional cât şi mondial.

Incã nu putem crede cã a murit... şi personalitatea lui va rãmâne pentru totdeauna întipãritã în amintirile noastre.

Anny Boyard

Présidente des MF"

Why Shouldn't Women Do Startups? | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation

Why Shouldn't Women Do Startups? | Co.Exist: World changing ideas and innovation:

'via Blog this'

In this Winter Holidays postmark, Santa Claus's white beard almost looks like a heart. Ain't that a discombobulating hagiographic connotation?

Are ecclesiastical figures supposed to shape their beards as hearts, for symbolic reasons?

Does that discombobulate you?

DISCOMBOBULATING,  a word apparently very dear to BRAD PITT.  He used it twice, with a somewhat guilty/perverse linguistic pleasure, in a recent Fresh Air radio interview with TERRY GROSS of NPR.

http://www.npr.org/2011/09/22/140629778/brad-pitt-moneyball-life-and-the-stalkerazzi

"Verb

discombobulate (third-person singular simple present discombobulates, present participle discombobulating, simple past and past participle discombobulated)

1. (transitive, humorous) To throw into a state of confusion; to befuddle or perplex." - http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/discombobulate

"Santa Claus, also known as Saint Nicholas, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and simply "Santa", is a figure with legendary, historical and folkloric aspects who, in many western cultures, is said to bring gifts to the homes of the good children during the late evening and overnight hours of Christmas Eve, December 24.^[1] The modern figure was derived from the Dutch figure of Sinterklaas,^[2] which, in turn, may have part of its basis in hagiographical tales concerning the historical figure of gift giver Saint Nicholas. A nearly identical story is attributed by Greek and Byzantine folklore to Basil of Caesarea. Basil's feast day on January 1 is considered the time of exchanging gifts in Greece."

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

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

Brad Pitt
Pitt at the 2008 premiere of Burn After Reading
Born	William Bradley Pitt December 18, 1963 (age 47) Shawnee, Oklahoma, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Missouri
Occupation	Actor, producer
Years active	1987–present
Spouse	Jennifer Aniston (2000–2005; divorced)
Partner	Angelina Jolie (2005–present)
Children	6

"Following his graduation from high school, Pitt enrolled in the University of Missouri in 1982, majoring in journalism, with a focus on advertising.^[8] As a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity,^[5] he acted in several fraternity shows.^[9] As graduation approached, Pitt saw his friends getting jobs but did not feel ready to settle down himself. He loved films—"a portal into different worlds for me"—and, since films were not made in Missouri, he decided he would go to where they were made.^[7]

Two weeks before earning his degree, Pitt left the university and moved to Los Angeles where he took acting lessons and worked odd jobs."

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

Even if his beard, in the above image, is not quite in a heart shape a la Santa Claus, 

don't let that discombobulate you.

BRAD PITT has an impressive track record as a humanitarian with A GREAT HEART.

HEART should show primarily in actions, not in beard shape...:)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2011

Guest Heart Thursday #88

Welcome to Guest Heart Thursday -
A place to share YOUR heart!

Infographic Of The Day: The Blessing And Curse Of Being A Millennial | Co.Design

Infographic Of The Day: The Blessing And Curse Of Being A Millennial | Co.Design:

'via Blog this'

Philatelic Stamps of Maximum Cards - article from 1997. Some things have changed since then. :)

Philatelic Stamps of Maximum Cards:

'via Blog this'

What's so addictive about 'Words with Friends'? - CNN. I like Alec Baldwin. "Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television." - Wikipedia

What's so addictive about 'Words with Friends'? - CNN:

'via Blog this'

I like Alec Baldwin. :)

Alec Baldwin
Baldwin in 2008
Born	Alexander Rae Baldwin III April 3, 1958 (age 53) Long Island, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1980–present
Spouse	Kim Basinger (m. 1993–2002, divorced)
Children	Daughter Ireland (1995)
Website
http://www.alecbaldwin.com/

"Alexander Rae "Alec" Baldwin III (born April 3, 1958) is an American actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television.

Baldwin first gained recognition through television for his work in the soap opera Knots Landing in the role of Joshua Rush. He was a cast member for two seasons (6 and 7) before his character was killed off. The series aired on CBS from 1979 to 1993. He has since played both leading and supporting roles in films such as Beetlejuice (1988), The Hunt for Red October(1990), The Marrying Man (1991), The Shadow (1994), Thomas and the Magic Railroad (2000),Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001), The Aviator (2004) and The Departed (2006). His performance in the 2003 film The Cooler garnered him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Since 2006 he has starred as Jack Donaghy on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock. He has received two Emmy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and six Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work on 30 Rock. He is the oldest of the Baldwin brothers working in Hollywood."

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

See 40 photos of lovely baby animals, smile, say Aww... and brighten your day! :) Also, I show you another MAXICARD with 2 kittens

See 40 photos of lovely baby animals, smile, say Aww... and brighten your day! :)

My MAXICARD:

I show you another MAXICARD with 2 kittens.

V, as in Variety (of baby animal photos, etc....Viva Variety!)

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Please visit and join the ABC Wednesday meme!

http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

How Expectations Can Turn Anything From Worthless To Priceless | Co.Design

How Expectations Can Turn Anything From Worthless To Priceless | Co.Design

A cartload of pussycats, waiting to be pulled. My USA MAXICARD with a stamp from the "Adopt a shelter pet" series

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Please visit and join Ruby Tuesday meme!
http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

Lovely COUGARS / PUMAS / MOUNTAIN LIONS - my USA MAXICARD created in 2006

"The cougar (Puma concolor), also known as puma, mountain lion, mountain cat, catamount or panther, depending on the region, is a mammal of the family Felidae, native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any large wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere,^[3] extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the Western Hemisphere, after the jaguar. Although large, the cougar is most closely related to smaller felines and is closer genetically to the domestic cat than to true lions.

A capable stalk-and-ambush predator, the cougar pursues a wide variety of prey. Primary food sources include ungulates such as deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep, as well as domestic cattle, horses and sheep, particularly in the northern part of its range. It will also hunt species as small as insects and rodents. This cat prefers habitats with dense underbrush and rocky areas for stalking, but it can also live in open areas. The cougar is territorial and persists at low population densities. Individual territory sizes depend on terrain, vegetation, and abundance of prey. While it is a large predator, it is not always the dominant species in its range, as when it competes for prey with other predators such as the jaguar, grey wolf, American Black Bear, and the grizzly bear. It is a reclusive cat and usually avoids people. Attacks on humans remain fairly rare, despite a recent increase in frequency."

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

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Happy Blue Monday! (meme)

Please visit:  http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/