Happy International Women's Day (IWD)! Ruby Tuesday meme. Maximum cards/ maxicards/ dorincards from USA

Best wishes to all the women in the world! :)

Just like men, they have hormones like testosterone and estrogen, but in very different percentage.

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

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

Besides, there are many notions and people in the middle ground between MALE and FEMALE:

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

Don't focus on "Season's Greetings"; focus on the red roses, for today's occasion, OK? :)

Yes, I used a white mailing label, coz I want the postmark to be visible.

Here, black on black means invisibility, get it? :)

"International Women's Day (IWD), originally called International Working Women’s Day is marked on March 8 every year.^[1] It is a major day of global celebration of women. In different regions the focus of the celebrations ranges from general celebration of respect, appreciation and love towards women to a celebration for women's economic, political and social achievements.

Started as a Socialist political event, the holiday blended in the culture of many countries, primarily Eastern Europe, Russia, and the former Soviet bloc. In many regions, the day lost its political flavour, and became simply an occasion for men to express their love for women in a way somewhat similar to a mixture of Mother's Day and St Valentine's Day. In other regions, however, the original political and human rights theme designated by the United Nations runs strong, and political and social awareness of the struggles of women worldwide are brought out and examined in a hopeful manner."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women's_Day

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Please visit and join Ruby Tuesday meme!

http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/

New: Sunday Stamps meme! Here's a giant panda (personalized) stamp, postmark and postcard = maximum card/ maxicard/ dorincard

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Happy Sunday Stamp!

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

instagr.am is a free app for iPhones- Also an alternative to the tedious scanning of your stamps, postcards, etc. Dorincard (that's me) is using Instagram - a fun & quirky way to share your life with friends through a series of pictures.

instagr.am

dorincard

1 photo · 0 followers

How to create a maximum card in the process of mailing a postcard?

I postmarked this maximum card on 16 Sep 2010, and I mailed it in an envelope.

I postmarked this maximum card on 20 Sep 2010 and I mailed it as a postcard (no envelope):

A 98c stamp is the one with Grand Teton National Park. But I prefer here to use other stamps for the same total of 98 cents, from both sides of the postcard.

See how I created a maximum card in the process of mailing a postcard from USA to Romania?
Well, I used the concordant stamp on the picture side, and I put all the other stamps on the address side.

The picture side was glossy, so I carefully rubbed with hard dishpad, just enough to rough up the surface needed.
I also rubbed a little the glossy zazzle stamp.

The picture postcard is my custom-created postcard, printed by winkflash.com from the photo I uploaded to them.
The postmark is applied with my own MPP canceller (Mailer's Postmark Permit) #67.
The stamp is also my design.
http://www.zazzle.com/leon_iancovici_esq_romania_postage-172868310591662719?rf=238693463283865848
Anybody can do that. Only US residents can get MPP, though.
:)

After I created that design (from the stamp in the maximum card, with "3 philatelists"), new information surfaced about 2 more Gold Medallists at recent FIP Exhibitions, so the current total is 5 maximaphilists.
That will increase, in time, of course.
What will remain forever unchanged is that my friend Leon Iancovici was chronologically the 2nd in the world in this elite group.

Officially, a Zazzle stamp (= personalized stamp = personalised stamp = customized postage = P-stamp) does "not require to be postmarked", because the code is supposed to be decoded by the scanner of the Post.
But my interpretation is that it's still OK to have it postmarked on (nice, polite) demand, should the postal associate cooperate.
[Translation: THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH POSTMARKING/HANDCANCELLING A PERSONALIZED STAMP!!! - USPS should adopt THIS rule! :)]
Sometimes, I get to postmark myself with the USPS canceller, at the post counter, "under the supervision" of a nice, cooperating, open-minded postal associate.
Or, I can postmark it myself - it's easy for me to convince myself to carefully postmark it with my MPP canceller.

Notice that I wrote "ADDITIONAL POSTAGE ->" - never assume that the postal associate will flip the postcard.

Here's another example, where I didn't initially write "ADDITIONAL POSTAGE", and some unflipping postal associate has returned the postcard to me for insufficient postage!!!

It never crossed his/her mind that the missing 41 cents stamp is ALREADY on the postcard, just on the picture side, for philatelic/maximaphilic purposes.

Moreover, I already handcancelled that 41c stamp with the USPS canceller - but the postcard and the stamp were glossy, and the ink was low on the canceller. STAZ-ON would be a superior brand of ink for glossy surfaces.

So the red ink stamp above my panda stamp is barely visible. Which proves again that I could be better off postmarking with my own MPP device. I can pre-ink at will.

I have crossed out the USPS note for insufficient postage, as instructed at the second Post visit, and I resubmitted the postcard with arrows pointing to the other side.

A tiger cub needs the care of a mom that's a tigress, not a..."cougar" - custom maximum card (USA) that I created

I ordered that nice photo print in a postcard size 10x15cm (4x6 "), and I can attach anytime a postcard-backing paper, if I want.

Or, I can re-order it as a postcard, from the print shop.

http://www.winkflash.com

The stamp is my design at Zazzle.

http://www.zazzle.com/siberian_tiger_hug_postage-172968708985811645?rf=238693463283865848

In the enlarged image below, look how thrilled is the tiger cub that his mom plays with him!

"Open up your loving arms!"...:)

The postmark is from my Mailers' Postmark Permit canceller, my own official/legal/valid postmarking device.

http://mppclub.org/

How concordant is the postmark with the stamp and the postcard?

Well, the postcard image shows tigers from the Berlin Zoo (Germany, I suppose, 'cause we have Berlin localities in USA, too).

The stamp image shows tigers from the Buffalo, New York Zoo.

My Sterling, VA postmark is concordant at least on a zoomed-out level (both states of Virginia and New York are in USA).

Do I attempt to focus my MC (maximum card) only on a specific Zoo? On specific tigers?

http://www.zazzle.com/no_no_no_no_baby_postage-172866537361275772?rf=238693463283865848

I just want to focus my MC on the general relationship between a tiger cub and his mother.

http://www.zazzle.com/sheesh_postage-172193995595441185?rf=238693463283865848

A Zazzle custom stamp [= custom(ized) postage, personalized stamp, personalised stamp] has a thin plastic coating, to prevent fraud by laser-printing, and to prevent the obscuring of the IBI (information-based indicia; the black and white little squares) by the ink of the postmark.

How can you get a postmark onto a Zazzle stamp?

A USPS postal associate may, or may not agree to postmark it. Officially, "it doesn't require a postmark".

I interpret that as "it's still OK to postmark it on (nice) demand, for philatelic purposes."

I had to use a trick that George C. and some other maximaphilists around the world have experimented with: harsh dishwashing scrub pad (cut out a thumb-size square), used carefully to dull the glossiness of the postcard.

Any brand name: Scotch Brite, etc. would do.

So I scrubbed just right, with "the Midas touch" ["special touch", though not transforming anything into gold :) ], the matte postcard and the plastic-coated zazzle stamp.

Thus, the postmark ink was absorbed well-enough. 

You can see the postmark, can't you?

My good friend/MACSU colleague/mentor/client George Constantourakis (Canada) knows a trick or two (or 1001) about maximaphily.

After all, he is the current Chairman of the Commission for Maximaphily from FIP (The International Philatelic Federation), for God's sake!!!

:) :) :)

http://www.maximaphily.info

Why a DOG EATS DOG World, and not a DOG LOVES DOG World? Maxicard (USA)

I am showing you that I used a folded postcard, and I don't care if anybody, including FIP Commission for Maximaphily, would say that it is NOT a maximum card.

So what if it's a folded postcard?

I like it, I use it.

As long as it's not meant to be exhibited by their rules, why play by their rules?

Make your own rules, for your private enjoyment.

Do what makes YOU happy.

Now, it can be cut in two, or it can be glued so it becomes "a thicker postcard".

Or it can be enjoyed just the way it is.

And IF I care to pacify the "righteous" crowd of ultra-orthodox, fanatical followers of traditional maximaphily rules (rules inherited pretty much from around 1950), then I COULD say that it's not a traditional FIP maximum card.
Instead, it's a non-traditional maximum card.
Either way, to me it's a DORINCARD [or whatever].
You, too, can name your creations any way you want.
:)

A Finnish reader might tell us the translation of the text from the other postcard, scanned in the same pass.
Or we could each use www.translate.google.com, for an imperfect translation.
:)

Curiousity killed the cat? Not this time. Maxi-card (USA)

I added here the second image, to show you that it's a folded postcard ("greeting card") that I used to create the Curious Cat maximum card. In the same pass, I scanned a foldable postal card with dogs.

Dog literally ON the phone - maximum card (USA)

I added my MPP postmark on the back, too, for clarity.

Non-FIP maximum card/ maxicard/ dorincard: Deer from Shenandoah National Park, VA, USA

I was exasperated by the smudging of the postmark ink on the glossy postcards, so I experimented with the non-FIP solution of using a label. Oh, well, I like it. 

At least I can see the postmark, which ideally should have been from a post office in or near the park.

Anyway, I consider it as a modest salute/tribute/honor to Shenandoah, originating from Sterling, VA, near my home.

That postmark is from my own Mailer's Postmark Permit canceler, which uniquely identifies me as permit holder #67 (I should have had #1, I guess, but my pre-cancel application # to USPS was aggregated with the 66 bulk mailers from that zipcode).

"The most difficult thing of those three mentioned in the title is to create your own pictorial postmark, legal and valid for postage with your Post (USPS in my case - the United States Postal Service)."

Details here: http://dorinco.webs.com/

Fragment from http://www.squidoo.com/dorincard, translated from English into Catalan

One of the best footballers in the world!

"Xavier Hernández i Creus (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈʧabi erˈnandeθ]; born 25 January 1980 inTerrassa, Barcelona, Catalonia), commonly known as Xavi, is a Spanish footballer who currently plays as a central midfielder for Spanish La Liga club Barcelona. Widely considered among the finest play-makers in world football, Xavi was named the official Man of the Match of the 2009 Champions League Final as he helped Barcelona defeat Manchester United to win their thirdChampions League-title. He was named Best Player by UEFA at Euro 2008^[2] and was one of the five finalists for the 2007-08 FIFA World Player of the Year. In all he has been capped 80 times for the Spanish national team and has played for his country in the 2000 Summer Olympics, 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, and the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup."

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

http://www.delcampe.com/page/item/id,0059102839,language,E.html

"Catalonia (Catalan: Catalunya; Spanish: Cataluña; Aranese; Catalonha) is one of the seventeen Autonomous Communities of the Kingdom of Spain. Its capital city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an official population of 7,475,420^[1]. It borders France and Andorra to the north, Aragon to the west, the Valencian Community to the south, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east (580 km coastline). The official languages are Catalan, Spanish and Aranese."

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

I wish I could show you here some maximum cards/maxicards/tarjetas maximas with the beautiful Barcelona, for example, but I just don't have!
Maybe some partners/friends will send me, someday. :)

English to Catalan translation

Fragment de http://www.squidoo.com/dorincard, traduïda de l'anglès al català
maximaphily = recollir la targeta màxim (+ segell postal + mata-segells de correus)Maximaphily
Maximaphily és una branca de la filatèlia o col • leccionisme de segells, que vol recollir les targetes màximes.En general, una targeta de màxima és una targeta postal, amb un segell i un mata-segells a la banda d'imatge. Idealment, tots aquests 3 elements han de ser concordants, però no idèntics.La forma tradicional és complir amb les normes de la FIP (Federació Internacional de Filatèlia).http://www.maximaphily.infoLa forma no tradicional, com en diuen, és seguir les regles de ningú! A menys que vulguis que, per descomptat.Té la paraula DORINCARD qualsevol postal que va ser personalitzat mitjançant l'addició d'un segell i un mata-segells, al costat de foto de la postal. La manera tradicional, o no. :)

Contribute a better translation

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Fragment from http://www.squidoo.com/dorincard, translated from English into Catalan

maximaphily = collecting maximum cards (postcard + stamp + postmark)

Maximaphily

Maximaphily is a branch of philately, or stamp collecting, that means collecting maximum cards.

Generally, a maximum card is a postcard, with a stamp and a postmark on the picture side. Ideally, all these 3 elements should be concordant, but not identical.

The traditional way is to comply with the rules of FIP (International Philatelic Federation).

http://www.maximaphily.info

The non-traditional way, as I call it, is to follow nobody's rules! Unless YOU want it, of course.

I call DORINCARD any postcard that was personalized by adding a stamp and a postmark, on the picture side of the postcard. Traditional way, or not. :)

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Philately (stamp collecting), as a confluence of domains: learning, writing, web design, business administration, etc.
http://dorincard.blogspot.com
http://dorinco.webs.com
http://www.squidoo.com/dorincard
http://www.delcampe.com/stores/dorinco
http://www.zazzle.com/dorinco*/
http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll201/dorincard/

Two tigers in the same postcard

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.

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?

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.

Veterans' Day: thank you to all who ever served in the military!

I started with US Navy because a friend/collector asked me for a maximum card with an American aircraft carrier, for the NATO section of his international philatelic exhibit: Fight Against Terrorism.

Eventually, I have affixed the stamp on the picture side, and I have applied on the glossy frontside my postmark that you can see, much more visible, on the backside.

In time, I will create similar Zazzle stamps with US Army, US Air Force, etc.

They all deserve our sincere Thank you!, and much more than that.

How many of us, civilians, would risk our lives and livelihood to go to war?

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Full disclosure: all the titles of my posts are clickable (hyperlinks).

In general, you will go either to my photobucket album to see more, or to my store(s) - delcampe or zazzle.

In case you are really interested, you can buy what you want. If you only want to look around, you're welcome, as well. :)

Virtual maximum card / carte maximum / maximumkarte : Stripeless, Snow White Tiger

Akbar Kabul, a Snow White tiger at The Mirage, in a time when the Siegfried & Roy show was dwarfing all the other Vegas shows. Beasts, but not of burden.

Not for every spectator/tourist: some were more into watching a Bad, Bad Queen of the Las Vegas...strip (I mean Strip, boulevard) or into biting from the forbidden fruit (apple).

Aye, ho!...aye, ho...not you, Bambi!

Thus, some of those tourists volunteered for their own Cirque de la Nuit.

Les Misérables...or, if you want to excuse somebody's French: Ley Mizerabb!...desperate for a FEMfatal to happen in Vegas, and stay in Vegas. A hard twist on French, as if Brett FaRVe is driving a DISLEXUS...

If not, there's always gambling (gaming is the official term) and boozing. Both around the clock.

Anagram: SLOT MACHINES = CASH LOST IN ME or CASH LOST IN 'EM.

Keyword: Mirage. A Wynn-Win situation. Steve Wynn - his mind has a far better vision than his eyes.

He is probably the greatest collector in the world of all things Dracula, both Stoker's vampire and historical Prince Vlad III Dracula. :)

I am photographed here next to Mr. Teodor' exhibit "Dracula", in 2006.

My friend, Teodor Ghiata-Melnic (84), founding member of the Romanian Philatelists Association, next to his award-winnning exhibit "Dracula". He is probably the greatest collector in the world of all things Dracula, both Stoker's vampire and historical Prince Vlad III Dracula. :)

We have exchanged many cool items, mainly Dracula stamps and maximum cards from me, and WWF and other very nice maximum cards from him.

The Romanian Philatelists Association honored him with this cover, created specially for him and published by Romfilatelia.

He kindly sent me one such cover, addressed to me "with esteem and love".

Thank you very much, Mr.Teodor! Likewise! :)