WWF maximum cards/ maxicards/ dorincards about São Tomé e Príncipe. Not a fish, but they call it Blackfish; a true killer, but not a true whale: The Killer Whale (Orcinus orca). Another species on these MCs: not even a true "killer whale" (not closely related): The False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens)

UL (upper-left) and LL: "The False Killer Whale (Pseudorca crassidens) is a cetacean, and the third largest member of the oceanic dolphin family (Delphinidae). 

It lives in temperate and tropical waters throughout the world. 

As its name implies, the False Killer Whale shares characteristics such as appearance with the more widely known Orca (killer whale). 

Like the orca, the False Killer Whale attacks and kills other cetaceans. 

However, the two dolphin species are not closely related. 

The False Killer Whale is black with a grey throat and neck. 

It has a slender body with an elongated tapered head and 44 teeth. 

The dorsal fin is sickle-shaped and its flippers are narrow, short and pointed. 

It can grow up to 20 feet." 

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

 UR and LR: "The killer whale (Orcinus orca), commonly referred to as the orca, and less commonly as the blackfish, is a toothed whale belonging to the oceanic dolphin family." 

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

"The term whale sometimes refers to all cetaceans, but more often it excludes dolphins and porpoises^[2], which belong to suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales)." 

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

"Killer whales are found in all oceans, from the frigid Arctic and Antarctic regions to tropical seas. 

Killer whales as a species have a diverse diet, although individual populations often specialize in particular types of prey. 

Some feed exclusively on fish, while others hunt marine mammals such as sea lions, seals, walruses and even large whales. 

Killer whales are regarded as apex predators, lacking natural predators and preying even [on] large sharks."

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

Trainer-killing orca Tilikum back in SeaWorld show

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12920267

I think that's a BAD idea, both for the safety of future trainers of Tilikum and others, and for the whole idea of confining big dolphins in small swimming pools.

They deserve large spaces to live properly.

===========

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Location_S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe_AU_Africa.svg

"São Tomé and Príncipe, officially the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, is a Portuguese-speaking island nation in the Gulf of Guinea, off the western equatorial coast of Central Africa. 

It consists of two islands: São Tomé and Príncipe, located about 140 kilometres (87 mi) apart and about 250 and 225 kilometres (155 and 140 mi), respectively, off the northwestern coast of Gabon. 

Both islands are part of an extinct volcanic mountain range. São Tomé, the sizable southern island, is situated just north of the equator. 

It was named in honour of Saint Thomas by Portuguese explorers who happened to arrive at the island on his feast day.

São Tomé and Príncipe is the second-smallest African country in terms of population (the Seychelles being the smallest). 

It is the smallest country in the world that is not a former British overseas territory, a former United States trusteeship, or one of the European microstates. 

It is also the smallest Portuguese-speaking country."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A3o_Tom%C3%A9_and_Pr%C3%ADncipe

===========

Time for a stretch.

Today, let's make a stretch and pretend that we see a heart shape in the UL maximum card, behind the False Killer Whale.

Let's say that we see a heart formed by the water, with a little tsunami overwhelming half of that heart, if you see what I mean.

Metaphorically-speaking, today the heart of Japan is overwhelmed; half by the tsunami, half by the earthquake.

On top of that, radiation is spreading.

They'll have to build a deep-concrete sarcophagus, like in Chernobyl.

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

"Screwed" by the slipping of a screwdriver.

A fatal, supercritical mistake with The Demon Core:

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

Enjoy while you can, whatever you enjoy! Vita brevis...

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

Please visit and join The Guest Heart Thursday meme!

http://clytie-randomhearts.blogspot.com/

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

Orient Express Train: Romanian cover and maximum cards with joint-issue stamps Romania-Austria

Thank you, my dear friend Teodor from Romania!  Multzumesc! :)

Salzburg (Austria) Railway Station

Sinaia (Romania) Railway Station - read the placard on the train car: Venice - Simplon.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orient-express_histoire.png

"The Orient Express was the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run.

The route and rolling stock of the Orient Express changed many times. Several routes in the past concurrently used the Orient Express name, or slight variants thereof. Although the original Orient Express was simply a normal international railway service, the name has become synonymous with intrigue and luxury travel. The two city names most prominently associated with the Orient Express are Paris and Istanbul, the original endpoints of the timetabled service.

In 1977, the Orient Express stopped serving Istanbul. Its immediate successor, a through overnight service from Paris to Vienna, ran for the very last time from Paris on Friday, June 8, 2007. After this, the route, still called the "Orient Express", was shortened to start fromStrasbourg instead,^[1] occasioned by the inauguration of the LGV Est which affords much faster travel times from Paris to Strasbourg. The new curtailed service left Strasbourg at 22.20 daily, shortly after the arrival of a TGV from Paris, and was attached at Karlsruhe to the overnight sleeper service from Amsterdam to Vienna.

On 14 December 2009, the Orient Express ceased to operate and the route disappeared from European railway timetables, reportedly a "victim of high-speed trains and cut-rate airlines".^[2]The Venice-Simplon Orient Express train, a private venture using original carriages from the 1920s and 30s, continues to run from London to Venice and to other destinations in Europe, including the original route from Paris to Istanbul.^[3]"

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

Taking Stock of WikiLeaks | STRATFOR - and a mapcard of USA maximum card/ maxicard

Taking Stock of WikiLeaks | STRATFOR

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

Geopolitical Journey, Part 7: Poland | STRATFOR - and a horse maximum card from Poland

Geopolitical Journey, Part 7: Poland | STRATFOR

I like very much not only WHAT George Friedman has to say, but HOW he says it.
"Le style c'est l'homme".
Meaningful and enjoyable reading! :)

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

This is the only maximum card that I have, so far, from Poland. But there are so many more interesting Polish stamps, postmarks and postcards that could be used to create interesting  maxicards...:)

Is it the same breed of horse on the stamp and on the postcard? I don't know. Do you? Only an expert could say. Anyway, I like it as it is, even if there might be different breeds. What I wouldn't like, though, would be if the breeds are clearly VERY different - then it would look awkward. :)

Great Union Day (Romanian: Ziua Marii Uniri, also called Unification Day) occurring on December 1, is the national holiday of Romania.

"Great Union Day (Romanian: Ziua Marii Uniri, also called Unification Day^[1]) occurring on December 1, is the national holiday of Romania. It commemorates the assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia, which declared the Union of Transylvania with Romania.

This holiday was set after the 1989 Romanian Revolution and it marks the unification of Transylvania, but also of the provinces of Bessarabia and Bukovina with the Romanian Kingdom, in 1918."

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

A previous Unification was accomplished by Michael The Brave, in 1600:

"Michael the Brave (Romanian: Mihai Viteazu(l), Mihai Bravu, 1558 - August 9, 1601) was the Prince of Wallachia (1593–1601), of Transylvania (1599–1600), and of Moldavia (1600), the three Romanian principalities^{note 1} being joined in the form of personal union for a brief time under his rule."

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

Geopolitical Journey, Part 6: Ukraine | STRATFOR

Geopolitical Journey, Part 6: Ukraine | STRATFOR

I will post later some  minimum, not maximum cards from Ukraine, from a partner/friend (he affixed whatever stamps he wanted onto his postcards).

I was told that it's illegal for a postal worker in Ukraine to postmark a stamp on the picture side.

Somehow, I'm not convinced. My investigation is ongoing. :)

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

UPDATE

Geopolitical Journey, Part 5: Turkey | STRATFOR - and a maximum card showing Ottoman Turks

Geopolitical Journey, Part 5: Turkey | STRATFOR

Here's a maximum card from Romania, showing invading Ottoman Turks hard at work during the Dark Ages, having a "democratic debate" with "the infidels".
No, Rodney King, we can't all get along [for too long]. Sooner or later, our interests will clash.
Aygara Damtee Yu.

http://www.zazzle.com/yes_thats_an_euphemism_postage-172784866997600135?rf=238693463283865848

The favor has been returned, on and off, by most European countries. The armies of the Ottoman Empire fought numerous times to conquer Europe.
Immigration is a modern "strategery" for "those folks". Or any other folks, sin embargo - creo que si.

http://www.zazzle.com/make_no_mistake_postage-172367512928151380?rf=238693463283865848

Do not "misunderestimate" them!

Millions of people, many of them innocents, have been killed over time either in the name of the Christian God, or in the name of Allah.
Those two Gods (unless they are one and the same= THE one and only God) may be great, but great is also the number of the killings performed in their name.
So-called fidels (from both religions) slaughtered the so-called "infidels".
What a waste of human life, is it not?
Meanwhile, God (The Supreme Genetic Engineer, in charge of our Universe) may be watching us from a distance (is he distancing himself from us?) and saying:

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

The fresco can still be seen in living colors, after hundreds of years.
"Voroneţ is a monastery in Romania, located in the town of Gura Humorului, Moldavia. It is one of the famous painted monasteries from southern Bukovina, in Suceava County. Between May and September 1488, Stephen III of Moldavia (known as "Stephen the Great") built the Voroneţ Monastery to commemorate the victory at Battle of Vaslui. Often known as the "Sistine Chapel of the East", the frescoes at Voroneţ feature an intense shade of blue known in Romania as "Voroneţ blue". "[T]he exterior walls — including a representation of the Last Judgment on the west wall — were painted in 1547 with a background of vivid cerulean blue. This blue is so vibrant that art historians refer to Voroneţ blue the same way they do Titian red."[1]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorone%C5%A3_Monastery

Geopolitical Journey, Part 4: Moldova | STRATFOR

Please read: Geopolitical Journey, Part 4: Moldova | STRATFOR

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

My opinion is that "MIGHT makes RIGHT", so the Empire called The Soviet Union grabbed and annexed lands and nations as much and as long as it could.

Moldova, as dirt-poor as they say it is, belongs to Romania, for all the historical and cultural reasons. And much more.

Despite all the deportations to Siber-space [Siberia] and the forced Russification, Moldova will remain forever a Romanian land, struggling with its enemies at the crossroads of history.

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

Consider this my e-postcard for today's blogpost: National Library of Moldova, in Chisinau:

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

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

Happy PFF (Postcard Friendship Friday)!

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

Geopolitical Journey, Part 3: Romania | STRATFOR

Geopolitical Journey, Part 3: Romania | STRATFOR

Please read this very interesting series from George Friedman, one of my most favorite political journalists, analysts, and more.

A Romanian military vessel in the Black Sea.

Another one:

Geopolitical Journey, Part 2: Borderlands | STRATFOR

Geopolitical Journey, Part 2: Borderlands | STRATFOR

Please read this very interesting series from George Friedman, one of my most favorite political journalists, analysts, and more.

A Romanian military vessel in the Black Sea.

Geopolitical Journey, Part 1: The Traveler | STRATFOR

Geopolitical Journey, Part 1: The Traveler | STRATFOR

Please read this very interesting series from George Friedman, one of my most favorite political journalists, analysts, and more.

A Romanian military vessel in the Black Sea.

Germany and the Failure of Multiculturalism | STRATFOR; plus postcards from Deutschland

"Reprinting or republication of this report on websites is authorized by prominently displaying the following sentence, including the hyperlink to STRATFOR, at the beginning or end of the report."

"Germany and the Failure of Multiculturalism is republished with permission of STRATFOR."

Read more: Germany and the Failure of Multiculturalism | STRATFOR 



I am posting here excerpts and the link to a very good article by George Friedman, of http://www.stratfor.com.
Only financial reasons prevent me from subscribing - otherwise I would absolutely enjoy reading all their articles (especially those written by George).
Very insightful ideas...
masterful choice of the juiciest, most percutant words...
and a clear, enjoyable style.
Tasty and spicy (though not crazy-spicy) "Food for Thought".
READ, baby! :)
Don't limit your geopolitical horizon only to your 6 o'clock news, or so.
There are more significant things happening in the world (and eventually affecting "U 2") than the garden variety of your TV news, sandwiched between commercials.

"Two things have forced the re-emergence of German national awareness. The first, of course, is the immediate issue — a large and indigestible mass of Turkish and other Muslim workers. The second is the state of the multinational organizations to which Germany tried to confine itself. NATO, a military alliance consisting mainly of countries lacking militaries worth noting, is moribund. The second is the state of the European Union. After the Greek and related economic crises, the certainties about a united Europe have frayed. Germany now sees itself as shaping EU institutions so as not to be forced into being the European Union’s ultimate financial guarantor. And this compels Germany to think about Germany beyond its relations with Europe."


"Merkel’s statement is therefore of enormous importance on two levels. First, she has said aloud what many leaders already know, which is that multiculturalism can become a national catastrophe. Second, in stating this, she sets in motion other processes that could have a profound impact on not only Germany and Europe but also the global balance of power."

Read more: Germany and the Failure of Multiculturalism | STRATFOR 

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

Let's say I want to create a maximum card about Germany [I have none, so far :( ].

FIP Commission for Maximaphily exhibiting rules say that I should NOT use a multiview postcard like this:

What I could do is to find (or create at zazzle) a small stamp with the flag of Germany, for example.

If I could get that stamp postmarked on the picture side, in some corner, it would look very good to me.:)

It would be a dorincard (in this case a non-traditional maximum card), representative of Germany.

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

Another postcard that I received from a German partner/friend is this:

Doesn't that jumping lamb know that its destiny is to be sacrificial?

Or, maybe he knows, and that's exactly why he's jumping, "living his life at its fullest".

Enjoy while you can! (whatever you enjoy)