The "no text" version of my "Tai Shan and Mei Xiang" Zazzle stamp

http://www.zazzle.com/giant_panda_bear_mother_and_cub_cute_cool_fun_postage-172011191158394817?rf=238693463283865848

Also, I have shifted the image so the Zoo tree, with its anti-climbing metallic trunk wrap is less visible.

This way, the image looks more wildlife than Zoo life.

Good bye, Tai Shan! The most beloved animal ever at the National Zoo, Washington, D.C. (USA)

http://www.zazzle.com/giant_panda_bear_cute_cub_tai_shan_mei_xiang_zoo_postage-172881826527237754?rf=238693463283865848

Maximum card: gray wolves (USA)

They say Homo...homini...lupus. [No, it's not about gays.]

But wolves were wolves (not werewolves) to wolves?

Or rather wolves are brothers (or enemies) to other wolves, as needed.

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

ALPHA MALE: For now, lay your troubles on my shoulders, brother. Your head, too.

But remember: I am the Alpha Male, until proven otherwise.

BETA MALE: That day will come... Enjoy while you can!

ALPHA MALE: I heard that there is a gorgeous She-Wolf in Italy, called Lupa Capitolina. She adopted two human puppies, Romulus and Remus.

BETA MALE: Well, I heard there's another great one, in the Hollywood Wilderness: Lupa Angelina. She adopted many more humans.

ALPHA MALE: Yeah, she would be a great ALPHA FEMALE in our wolfpack, but I hear that she is involved with a Hill Billy Bob Cat...no, with a Great Dane Cook...no, with an Inverted Jenny (no, that's a rare stamp)...no! With a glorious non-basterd (purebred) American Pitt Bull, a cum laude braduate of The Fight Club Chez Vicks.  Lupa Angelina is "out of our forest". Furrrrr-getaboutit!

Whether a maximum card is FIP-compliant or not, I still call it a Dorincard. This is another one that's NOT.

No,  it's not a striped hippopotamus - just a VERY pregnant tigress (I guess). OCTO-tigress?

An inconvenient truth? Mohan...in-breeding?...incest?

Again, I invite you to tell me WHY this is not FIP-compliant.

In a related story, I could tell you WHY I don't care, in this case.

Should you jump on me for calling this "a maximum card", I could instantly tell you "it's a Dorincard", a term that includes all the FIP-compliant maximum cards, and then some.

:)

BTW, this is just a temporary juxtaposition of those elements; I didn't affix/apply them yet.

Just a demo/comp/project/study/idea.

2010, the Year of the Tiger.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CEOs, ASSes - I could make this into dorincard kit#3.

This is a postcard available commercially, as you can see from the backside.

It's supposed to be a visual metaphor, is it not?

Leaders of all sorts come in all types, colors and values. Some are good, some are bad.

Your preferred negative example of a leader might deserve an AVATAR like an ass (or mule?) from the postcard.

Are those entities in the above image...asses (donkeys)? Mules? Horses? Zebras?

Don't ass-ume that you can horse around, walk on zebras and kick ass - it may be hazardous.

"Mules are generally less tolerant towards dogs than horses are.^{[citation needed]} They are also capable of striking out with any of their hooves in any direction, even sideways if needed.^{[citation needed]}

Mules exhibit a higher cognitive intelligence than their parent species - horses and donkeys. This is believed to be the result of hybrid vigour, similar to how mules acquire greater height and endurance than either parent. ^[8]

Mules are highly intelligent. They tend to be curious by nature. A mule generally will not let the rider put it in harm's way. However, the stereotype of the mule as being stubborn is somewhat unfair and inaccurate."

I hope you know an ass when you see it. I mean a donkey.

But do you know the difference between all of them, especially between a mule and a hinny?

[Can't you go to wikipedia.org by yourself? Why am I doing this?]

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

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

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CEOs, FROGS... DIY do-it-yourself dorincard kit #2. Not yet a maximum card maxicard maxi card.

- Condition: uncirculated DIY do-it-yourself dorincard kit. Not yet a maximum card, maxicard, maxi card.
- Year: stamp from 2008, postmark from 2008 (if you want me to postmark it) or whenever you postmark it (if you want to have it postmarked later).

This dorincard kit is comprised of:
- BOARD MEETING TODAY, Frogs - commercially available postcard.
- BLANK customized postage, mint, valid for postage.

Optionally, I can do the postmarking on a transparent rectangular mailing address label over the postcard.
This way, you have a clear, sharp postmark that is not smeared on the glossy surface of the postcard or the stamp.

- Condition of the stamp: MNH ; large size (more expensive to produce)!  2.5x1.5 inches (63x38 mm)
- Year: 2008
- Catalog value: I ordered only 20 stamps; 3 (at least) I keep, 17 (at most) still available.

Zazzle: customized postage, personalized stamps, personalized stamp, personalised stamps, personalised stamp.

The stamp is valid for postage as such, blank as it is (only one postal use, please).
If you don´t intend to use it as postage, then you can further decorate it any way you want, for your own enjoyment.  Notice the large area, without any border.
You can even write text on it, with fine tip permanent marker.
You can temporarily or permanently attach an image.  Just try not to offend anyone...
Scan several versions of it.  Remember: you cannot and may not use duplicates as valid postage.  Each zazzle stamp has a unique ID code, valid one-time only.

Please visit my delcampe store to see many unusual items!

BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CEOs, PIGS... DIY do-it-yourself dorincard kit #1. Not yet a maximum card maxicard maxi card.

- Condition: uncirculated DIY do-it-yourself dorincard kit. Not yet a maximum card, maxicard, maxi card.
- Year: stamp from 2008, postmark from 2008 (if you want me to postmark it) or whenever you postmark it (if you want to have it postmarked later).

This dorincard kit is comprised of:
- BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Pigs -  commercially available postcard.
- BLANK customized postage, mint, valid for postage.

Optionally, I can do the postmarking on a transparent rectangular mailing address label over the postcard.
This way, you have a clear, sharp postmark that is not smeared on the glossy surface of the postcard or the stamp.

- Condition of the stamp: MNH; large size (more expensive to produce)!  2.5x1.5 inches (63x38 mm)
- Year: 2008
- Catalog value: I ordered only 20 stamps; 3 (at least) I keep, 17 (at most) still available.

Zazzle: customized postage, personalized stamps, personalized stamp, personalised stamps, personalised stamp.

The stamp is valid for postage as such, blank as it is (only one postal use, please).
If you don´t intend to use it as postage, then you can further decorate it any way you want, for your own enjoyment.  Notice the large area, without any border.
You can even write text on it, with fine tip permanent marker.
You can temporarily or permanently attach an image.  Just try not to offend anyone...
Scan several versions of it.  Remember: you cannot and may not use duplicates as valid postage.  Each zazzle stamp has a unique ID code, valid one-time only.

Please visit my delcampe store to see many unusual items!

LOVELY GIANT PANDA CUSTOM MAXIMUM CARD MAXICARD #10 HONG KONG CHINA. BEAUTIFUL FDOI PICTORIAL POSTMARK

LOVELY GIANT PANDA CUSTOM MAXIMUM CARD MAXICARD #9 HONG KONG CHINA. BEAUTIFUL FDOI PICTORIAL POSTMARK

LOVELY GIANT PANDA CUSTOM MAXIMUM CARD MAXICARD #7 HONG KONG CHINA. BEAUTIFUL FDOI PICTORIAL POSTMARK

LOVELY GIANT PANDA CUSTOM MAXIMUM CARD MAXICARD #8 HONG KONG CHINA. BEAUTIFUL FDOI PICTORIAL POSTMARK

I am reproducing here my listing from delcampe.com, because it's instructive about what can you still do, when FIP and everybody else tell you that there's nothing you can do, in the given context.

http://www.delcampe.com/page/item/id,0046447336,language,E.html

" CONDITION: uncirculated, collector-created, dorincard (= custom maximum card / maxicard) created with a cut-out postmarked stamp from a First Day Cover with the series of 4 different stamps featuring  Ying Ying and Le Le giant pandas.

- YEAR: I have obtained the FDOI First Day of Issue PICTORIAL POSTMARK on each (!) of the 4 stamps, from Hong Kong, China, July 1, 2008.
- CATALOG VALUE: Only 4 such SPECIAL FDCs (First Day Covers) were created for me by my friend in Hong Kong. I have already cut 1 FDC to create 4 custom maximum cards (see my other listings). Depending on the popular demand, I may choose to use the remaining 2 FDCs (because I already sold 1 of these 4 FDCs) to create custom maximum cards, with one postmarked stamp (cut-out from 3 FDCs) per postcard.
I prefer to create and collect maximum cards.
I have seen other, official FDCs having cachet, but a NON-PICTORIAL FDOI postmark.

For your information, I am showing images of all 4 stamps, and of other postcards that I could use ON DEMAND, WHILE SUPPLIES LAST, to create a custom maximum card according to your preferences.
Contact me for details.

My friend from Hong Kong told me, if I understood correctly, that when Hong Kong Post  applies a First Day of Issue date or pictorial postmark on a glossy maximum card presented by a collector, the ink WILL SMEAR / SMUDGE. Unless the collector rips with tape the UV protective layer of the glossy postcard.
Also, Hong Kong Post (HKP) usually applies only one (1) pictorial postmark (or a non-pictorial postmark) onto several stamps (a series of 4 here) affixed to an official FDC.
In other words, it´s impossible (again - if I understood correctly) to obtain from HKP a FIP-traditional maximum card, with a CLEAN PICTORIAL POSTMARK on your glossy, untreated  postcard.
That´s why I had to find a solution."

Whether a maximum card is FIP-compliant or not, I still call it a Dorincard. This one is NOT.

I invite you to tell me WHY this is not FIP-compliant.
In a related story, I could tell you WHY I don't care, in this case.
Should you jump on me for calling this "a maximum card", I could instantly tell you "it's a Dorincard", a term that includes all the FIP-compliant maximum cards, and then some.
:)
BTW, this is just a temporary juxtaposition of those elements; I didn't affix/apply them yet.
Just a demo/comp/project/study/idea.
2010, the Year of the Tiger.

December the 1st - National Day of Romania! :)

http://www.zazzle.com/romania_flag_2_customized_romanian_spelling_postage-172533934811247818?rf=238693463283865848




http://www.zazzle.com/romania_flag_1_customized_postage-172464502838062408?rf=238693463283865848



http://www.zazzle.com/romania_flag_2_customized_coat_of_arms_postage-172830508747888699?rf=238693463283865848








http://www.zazzle.com/usa_romania_flag_customized_postage-172307917364418153?rf=238693463283865848





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania
"Romania (pronounced /roʊˈmeɪniə/ ( listen); archaic: Rumania, Roumania; Romanian:România [romɨˈni.a]  ( listen)) is a country located in Southeastern and Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea^[3]. Almost all of the Danube Delta is located within its territory. Romania shares a border with Hungary and Serbia to the west, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the northeast, and Bulgaria to the south.

The territory's recorded history includes periods of rule by Dacians, the Roman Empire, theBulgarian empire, the Kingdom of Hungary, and the Ottoman Empire. As a nation-state, the country was formed by the merging of Moldavia and Wallachia in 1859 and it gained recognition of its independence in 1878. Later, in 1918, they were joined by Transylvania,Bukovina and Bessarabia. At the end of World War II, parts of its territories (roughly the present day Republic of Moldova) were occupied by the USSR and Romania became a member of the Warsaw Pact.

With the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, Romania started a series of political and economic reforms. After a decade of post-revolution economic problems, Romania made economic reforms such as low flat tax rates in 2005 and joined the European Union on January 1, 2007. While Romania's income level remains one of the lowest in the European Union, reforms have increased the growth speed. Romania is now an upper-middle income country economy.

Romania has the 9th largest territory and the 7th largest population (with 21.5 million people)^[4] among the European Union member states. Its capital and largest city isBucharest (Romanian: Bucureşti [bukuˈreʃtʲ]  ( listen)), the 6th largest city in the EU with 1.9 million people. In 2007, Sibiu, a city in Transylvania, was chosen as a European Capital of Culture.^[5] Romania also joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and is also a member of the Latin Union, of the Francophonie, of the OSCE and of the United Nations, as well as an associate member of the CPLP. Romania is a semi-presidential unitary state."

Let's not forget about Moldova :)  
- the Eastern half of Moldova = currently the independent (still Russia-dependent) Republic of Moldova.
http://www.zazzle.com/republic_of_moldova_flag_1_customized_postage-172093497503303300?rf=238693463283865848


Best wishes to all the (rather) good people of the world!
As for those (rather) bad, there are other wishes available!
:)

Pussycats Galore...Ye, men! Maximum card from Yemen

Going somewhere in a handbasket?
:)
Or here to stay?