Drill, Baby Drill...and Mom Drill, too! The Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) - WWF maximum cards / maxicards / dorincards from Cameroon.

"The drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus) is a primate of the Cercopithecidae (Old-world Monkeys) family, closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the mandrill.

The drill is similar in appearance to the Mandrill, but lacks the colorful face. They are semi-terrestrial monkeys, exhibiting extreme sexual dimorphism with males weighing up to 45 kg (100 lbs) - three times the size of females. They are semi-nomadic seasonally and little is known of their behavior or ecology in the wild.

Drills are found only in Cross River State, Nigeria; South Western Cameroon; and on Bioko Island, part of Equatorial Guinea. Their entire world range is less than 40,000 km², smaller than Switzerland.

Drills are among Africa’s most endangered mammals, and are listed by the IUCN as the highest conservation priority of all African primates.^[2] Drill numbers have been declining in all known habitat areas for decades as a result of illegal commercial hunting, habitat destruction, and human development: as few as 3,000 drills may remain in the wild, the highest population estimate is 8,000. Drills have also been declining in zoos internationally."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_(mammal)

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

You will find PINK zones, even on the black-faced Drill...:)

Happy Pink Saturday!

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

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

Libya's Terrorism Option - read from STRATFOR. Also, somebody said that sometimes,"terrorism is the poor man's revenge", just like, sometimes, "rape is the ugly man's revenge". Sure, many exceptions apply. Also, a metaphoric image for a crowd that may resort to a terrifying stampede out of fear and anger. "Prosti, dar multi!" Never MISUNDERESTIMATE [that's a BUSHism] a crowd, which gets dangerous when desperate.

Libya's Terrorism Option

A metaphoric image for a crowd that may resort to a terrifying stampede out of fear and anger. 

"Prosti, dar multi!" 

Involuntary comedy, courtesy of translate.google.com, who believes it should translate the above quote like this:

Italian to English translation

"Prost, create multi!"========In fact, it should translate it from Romanian, into:"Stupid, but many!"That's a literary quote, meaning "yes, they are stupid, but they are many!" :)

Never MISUNDERESTIMATE [that's a BUSHism] a crowd, which gets dangerous when desperate.

What mammal has the most colorful face in the world? The world's largest species of monkey: The Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx). WWF maximum cards / maxicards / dorincards about Equatorial Guinea.

What mammal has the most colorful face in the world? 
Besides some Hollywood "queens", "drag queens" and "whatnot"?
Not a Drill Sergeant.

"The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx) is a primate of the Cercopithecidae (Old-world monkeys) family,[3] closely related to the baboons and even more closely to the Drill.
Both the mandrill and the drill were once classified as baboons in genus Papio, but recent research has determined that they should be separated into their own genus, Mandrillus.[3]
The mandrill is the world's largest species of monkey."

Unlike the humans:
"The mandrill is recognized by its olive-colored fur and the colorful face and rump of males, a coloration that grows stronger with sexual maturity; females have duller colours. 
This coloration becomes more pronounced as the monkey becomes excited and is likely to be an example of sexual selection. 
The coloration on the rump is thought to enhance visibility in the thick vegetation of the rainforest and aids in group movement."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandrill

Seeing is believing.

Image is everything.

What you see is what you get.

Show me the [money?].

Look at the upper right maximum card: notice that the face is NOT the only body part that is brightly colored.

Also, notice the huge canine teeth!

There have been documented cases when a coordinated gang of several muscular males have had enough testosterone-induced courage, aggressivity and stamina to counterattack and kill a powerful leopard!

Eat it, too, while they were at it.

The trick is that they attacked simultaneously, not just one at a time.

"One-at-a-time Attack Rule

Ebert also refers to the One-at-a-time Attack Rule "In any situation where the hero is alone, surrounded by dozens of bad guys, they will always obligingly attack one at a time."^[1] This can traditionally be observed in many martial arts movies. During a typical fight, the hero will engage against one opponent. Upon knocking that man out, another will attack. The surplus enemies will circle the fighting pair striking fearsome poses, indicating willingness to fight at a second's notice, yet be unwilling to help the current aggressor attack the hero. The real world reason for this is that if the hero is simultaneously swarmed on all sides by enemies, it becomes difficult for the film director to frame the fight scene while still having an unobstructed shot of the action."

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

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

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

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).

YOU (yes, YOU, my reader here and now) should have started your personal contingency plan long ago! Anyway, here are some good ideas for you to implement now, before your next emergency strikes. Read:Taming Chaos with a Personal Plan | STRATFOR. Also, I show you a nice Boy Scouts maximum card / maxicard / dorincard from my good friend Terry (USA).

Please read, think about it, and DO something about it.
It may save your life, and the lives of significant others around you, even as far as some "dear, dear friend in Argentina", or something.
[Governor, you know who you are.]

Do you have scouting experience and skills, to survive off-road, in the wilderness, if necessary?
You better learn a thing or two. Or more.

Taming Chaos with a Personal Plan | STRATFOR

Read from rt.com: BREAKING NEWS - Japan on nuclear standby. Also, I show you a postcard with a cute fox kitten from Hokkaido. Did you know that some Zoo animals are very agitated right before an earthquake?

Read from rt.com: http://rt.com/news/japan-nuclear-standby/

My most favorite news source is BBC, but look at the ascent of Russia TV http://rt.com !
Intieresnii...:)

South Korea is helping Japan with almost all its reserve of boric acid.
"Japan’s Defense Ministry decided to use helicopters and fire trucks to spray water and boric acid to prevent further radiation leaks and to cool down the reactors. But the operation had to be aborted due to high radiation levels over the facility.

Japan has requested boric acid from South Korea. Seoul on Wednesday said it would provide 53 tons of the acid, which amounts to almost all the country has, except for a quantity for domestic use."

http://rt.com/news/japan-nuclear-standby/

Speaking about the Chernobyl Disaster, what happened to the wildlife in that area?

"In reality, radioactivity at the level associated with the Chornobyl meltdown does have discernible, negative impacts on plant and animal life [4,5]. However, the benefit of excluding humans from this highly contaminated ecosystem appears to outweigh significantly any negative cost associated  with Chornobyl radiation [8]. Therein lies the often paradoxical relationship between ecological and human health risk considerations. "

"The observation that typical human activity (industrialization, farming, cattle raising, collection of firewood, hunting, etc.) is more devastating to biodiversity and abundance  of  local flora and fauna than is the worst nuclear power plant disaster validates the negative impact the exponential growth of human populations has on wildlife. 

If the world cannot afford to experience more nuclear disasters comparable to Chornobyl, then how much more significant is the implication that the world cannot afford to experience additional human population growth? "

http://web.archive.org/web/20031005140805/http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/chernobyl/wildlifepreserve.htm

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

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!

My entry for today is a little anatomical heart blue shape (kind of...yes, it's a stretch, but hey!) in front of the nose of this lovely Hokkaido (Japan) fox kitten (kitakitsune).

WWF maximum cards/ maxicards/ dorincards from Marshall Islands: 1) the largest land-living arthropod in the world; 2) the largest living bivalve mollusc; 3) the maxima clam; 4) the Triton's trumpet.

DID YOU KNOW that there are 2 kinds of giant clams?

Giant Clams...and Small Giant Clams!

[UL= upper left] "The coconut crab, Birgus latro, is the largest land-living arthropod in the world, and is probably at the upper limit of how big terrestrial animals with exoskeletons can become in today's atmosphere."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_crab

[UR] " The giant clam, Tridacna gigas (known as pā’ua in Cook Islands Māori), is the largest living bivalve mollusc. T. gigas is one of the most endangered clam species. It was mentioned as early as 1825 in scientific reports.
[2] One of a number of large clam species native to the shallow coral reefs of the South Pacific and Indian oceans, they can weigh more than 200 kilograms (441 lb) measure as much as 120 centimeters (47.2 in) across, and have an average lifespan in the wild of 100 years or more.[3]."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giant_clam

[LL] "The maxima clam (Tridacna maxima), also known as the small giant clam, is a species of clam found throughout the Indo-Pacific. They are much sought after in the aquarium trade, as their often striking coloration mimics that of the true giant clam, however the maximas maintain a manageable size, with the shells of large specimen typically not exceeding 20 centimetres (7.9 in) in length."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tridacna_maxima

[LR] "Charonia tritonis, common name Triton's trumpet, is a species of very large sea snail, a marine gastropod mollus[k] in the family Ranellidae, the tritons."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charonia_tritonis

"The words mollusc and mollusk are both derived from the French mollusque, which originated from the Latin molluscus, from mollis, soft.Molluscus was itself an adaptation of Aristotle's τᾲ μαλάκια, "the soft things", which he applied to cuttlefish.^[27] The scientific study of molluscs is known as malacology.^{[28]"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mollusc}

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

Happy Blue Monday! (meme)

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

"Keep monkeying around - I'll snatch your sorry [donkey]!" The largest and the most powerful raptor found in the Americas: The American Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja). WWF Maximum cards/ maxicards/ dorincards about Guyana.

The largest and the most powerful raptor found in the Americas: The American Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja).

Look at the stamp from the maximum card in the lower left - do you see who has been monkeying around?

Actions have consequences. Lack of awareness got punishment. 

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

"What is a bird of prey?

• Bird of prey is a loose term often applied to the eagle, kite, hawk and even sometimes the owl
• Typically have curved beak, curved talons and good eyesight for finding prey
• Raptor is sometimes used specifically to describe birds that seize warm-blooded animals during the day" http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-12634698

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

Please visit and join The World Bird Wednesday meme!

http://worldbirdwednesday.blogspot.com/

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

They say that the gentle lamb sucks milk from two ewes...:)

Here's a second meme.

Please visit and join ABC Wednesday meme!

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

Today,  G is for Guyana. :)

Black Lechwe or Bangweulu Lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) - WWF maximum cards/ maxicards/ dorincards about Zambia

It's challenging to participate in the Pink Saturday meme - you have to come up with something pink.

But you can easily find something blue, to participate in the Happy Blue Monday meme. :)

"Black Lechwe or Bangweulu Lechwe (Kobus leche smithemani) - Bangweulu Swamps. Adult male blackish. Vulnerable.^[6]"

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

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

Happy Blue Monday! (meme)

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

Why would you, or why should you care about personalized stamps/ personalised stamps/ customized postage/ P-stamps, in general, and zazzle stamps, in particular? What's in it for you? To me, the answer is self-evident, self-explanatory, but hey!...here are some ideas for you to think about. Prerequisite: open mind. Got one? :)

I just noticed that Zazzle has quietly removed blank stamp designs, with or without border, from the Public Gallery.  I'll find out why exactly. Hmmm!...

I could write a whole illustrated book about this subject. Someday, maybe I will. :)

Look at the above borderless stamp design: it's based on the initial image of a blank stamp from zazzle.com, from which I have removed the black border, for extra space and designing effects, such as irregular contours.

The point for that is to show you that YOU can further customize a blank design, with or without border, with image(s) and custom text of your choice, pending final approval from Zazzle.

Designing is FREE!!!

Then you can put the approved design in your Private Gallery, or in the Public Gallery (where people can buy it and you receive royalty from Zazzle).

In the above design, besides the mandatory info about zazzle.com, do you see any advertisement?

Say No, "coz it ain't".

It doesn't have to be, if you so choose.

Like this:

I often hear comments like: "I don't like personalized stamps; I prefer the regular stamps!".

Dear Sirs and Madams [although Madam may mean various things]: that is a FALSE DICHOTOMY.

It's not EITHER personalized, OR regular stamps.

They are not mutually exclusive.

Do you see ONLY personalized stamps in my blog, for example?

No.

I like many regular stamps, and I like many personalized ones.

I like them because I like THEM, not automatically because they fall into either one of those two categories.

After a while, I decided to "sign" my stamp designs:

Later on, I decided that since nobody seems to even see my stamp creations, let alone buy, I should advertise my zazzle little shop, by including the info: Design by zazzle.com/dorinco*.

 The asterisc after dorinco is VERY important because Zazzle tracks referrals by that, with a number code in the address.

Like this:

In the above picture, top row, the second tiger from the left is a customized version of somebody else's tiger stamp at Zazzle.

So, I could customize, create and buy THAT, but I could not put THAT new design in MY Public Gallery -  I was not the original author; just a customizer, a subsequent author.

See how I chose to remove the border for that, just for Schitzengiggels?

The above stamp, about euphemism - do I really believe that ANYBODY would like to buy it?

Translation: are you crazy???

:)

That euphemism thingie was just "for entertainment purposes only".

Why did I do it?

I'll answer like Bill Clinton:

The obvious advantage, for me [how come YOU don't see it?] is that personalized stamps can fill a hole, a gap in your stamp collection.

Is there a subject...

 ...that never appeared on ANY stamp, ANYWHERE in the world?

Then YOU do it, for [your] sake!!!

When it comes to buying, there are tips and tricks about not paying full retail.

[A VOICE FROM THE PUBLIC]: Like what? Like what?

[DORIN]: Like creating a design for the Public Gallery, then customizing all your future designs based on that initial design, even if you remove completely its initial image and text, and replace them.

Like using the 10% discount that Zazzle gives you for a future order over $45 or so.

Like various Holidays discounts.

Like $5 off if you post on zazzle's blog a photo of you with a zazzle product that you designed and purchased.

Like special promotions, such as in the past July 2010, when you could have purchased zazzle stamps AT FACE VALUE!!!

Get it? :)

Now I'll do something for which Google, in their wisdom, might penalize me with "artificial demoting in search ranking", coz they'll think I'm spamming you by simply exposing you to stuff that, yes, can be purchased.

As if you are an addict that HAS to buy everything that comes in sight!

:)

Links for more info about this subject:

http://s289.photobucket.com/albums/ll201/dorincard/Stamps/?start=all

http://www.zazzle.com/dorinco*/

More links, to personalized stamps from USA and about 25 more countries:

My friend, Peter C. Elias, has a lot of information and examples of interesting personalized stamps

http://www.freewebs.com/photostamps/

Dentelli Stravaganti [Unusual stamps] - images of personalized stamps from around the world!

http://www.eryx.it/dentelli/personal.htm
http://www.eryx.it/dentelli/personal2.htm
http://www.eryx.it/dentelli/indexeng.htm 

The personalized stamps (from many countries) section of "A World-Wide List of Turtles and Tortoises on Stamps" by Donald N. Riemer

http://www.personal.psu.edu/crr2/turtstmp/current/personal.html

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

I just got off the phone with Zazzle (1-888-8ZAZZLE).

Here's the trick:


[for the record, I leave as "text with strikethrough line" the previous statements, and conflicting statements from Zazzle phone reps]

To design US zazzle stamps, you can do it ONLY thru zazzle.com.

NOT thru any of these sites: http://www.zazzle.com/international.
UPDATE: contrary to what I thought (and to what was confirmed on the phone by zazzle rep), the subsequent email from her shows that YOU CAN DESIGN Zazzle US postage from (at least) the following 4 local sites:

**In the case of orders placed through Zazzle's International web portals, the local tax and customs fees are covered by Zazzle. Separate customs charges will not apply unless the order is shipped outside of the region covered by the portal's distinct agreement with the local customs office. For more information, on what to expect when ordering through one of the Zazzle international portals, please select your local Zazzle site:

• Zazzle.ca (Canada)
• Zazzle.com.au (Australia)
• Zazzle.co.uk (UK)
• Zazzle.co.nz (New Zealand)

To buy zazzle stamps from outside US, you can do it ONLY thru an international zazzle site (local site): http://www.zazzle.com/international.

NOT thru zazzle.com.

To have that postage shipped, your country HAS TO BE on the approved list.

If not, you arrange with somebody from such a country.

OK? :)

That was the info that I got on the phone from a customer service representative.
Then I received this email from her - I still want to verify if these links are compatible, or not, with what she said:
Hello Dorin,

Thanks for contacting the support team at Zazzle.com.

I have inserted a few links below for your review.

International Shipping Destinations
http://zazzle.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/453

Overseas shipping options and rates
http://zazzle.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/149

Zazzle Manufacturing & Turnaround Times
http://zazzle.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/145

Ordering Zazzle Stamps outside of the USA
http://zazzle.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/641


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have any more questions, we're always glad to address your concerns.
For more immediate answers, don't forget to check our help section here:https://www.Zazzle.com/help?CMPN=cs

"Currently we do offer Stamps for sale internationally.

It is important to note the following regarding international orders for Zazzle stamps:

1. International orders for Zazzle Stamps are only available through our international websites (not through www.Zazzle.com). Attempting to ship stamps outside of the U.S. through the www.zazzle.com portal will result in an error during the checkout process. 

2. All Zazzle stamps are sold in US denominations pre-determined by the US Postal Sevice. A full list of those available denominations follow:

* $0.28: postcards
* $0.44: First-class, 1 oz
* $0.64: 1 oz mailings, unusual shapes
* $0.61: 2 oz mailings
* $0.78: 3 oz mailings
* $0.95: 3.5 oz mailings
* $1.39: 4 oz mailings
* $4.90: Priority Mail (up to 16 oz)

3. You can get started with your International Zazzle Stamp order here:

UK: Zazzle.co.uk
Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs
Stamp Design tool: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs
Public Stamp Designs: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/stamps?CMPN=cs

Canada: Zazzle.ca
Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.ca/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs
Stamp Design tool: http://www.zazzle.ca/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs
Public Stamp Designs: http://www.zazzle.ca/stamps?CMPN=cs

Australia: Zazzle.com.au
Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.com.au/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs
Stamp Design tool: http://www.zazzle.com.au/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs 
Public Stamp Designs: http://www.zazzle.com.au/stamps?CMPN=cs

New Zealand: Zazzle.co.nz
Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.co.nz/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs
Stamp Design tool: http://www.zazzle.co.nz/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs 
Public Stamp Designs: http://www.zazzle.co.nz/stamps?CMPN=cs "

http://zazzle.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/641

UPDATE 02 March 2011:

 Because yesterday I had another Zazzle rep tell me on the phone that "you can only design and buy zazzle stamps thru zazzle.com" regardless of where you are in the world, I have emailed Zazzle about all this.

Here's the answer:

"Response Via Email (Hollie)

03/02/2011 11:50 AM

Hello Dorin, Thanks for contacting our support team. Currently we do offer Zazzle Custom Stamps for sale internationally. It is important to note the following regarding international orders for Zazzle Custom Stamps. 1. International orders for Zazzle Custom Stamps are only available through the international Zazzle portals** (not through www.zazzle.com). Attempting to ship stamps outside of the U.S. through the www.zazzle.com portal will result in an error during the checkout process. 2. All Zazzle Custom Stamps are sold in US denominations pre-determined by the US Postal Service. A full list of those available denominations follow: * $0.28: Postcards * $0.44: First-class, 1 oz. * $0.64: 1 oz. mailings, unusual shapes * $0.61: 2 oz. mailings * $0.78: 3 oz. mailings * $0.95: 3.5 oz. mailings * $1.39: 4 oz. mailings * $4.95: Priority Mail (up to 16 oz.) 3. **Stamps are available internationally through the following portals: United Kingdom (www.zazzle.co.uk) Zazzle Custom Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp design tool: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp public designs: http://www.zazzle.co.uk/stamps?CMPN=cs Australia (www.zazzle.com.au) Zazzle Custom Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.com.au/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp design tool: http://www.zazzle.com.au/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp public designs: http://www.zazzle.com.au/stamps?CMPN=cs Canada (www.zazzle.ca) Zazzle Custom Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.ca/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp design tool: http://www.zazzle.ca/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp public designs: http://www.zazzle.ca/stamps?CMPN=cs New Zealand (www.zazzle.co.nz) Zazzle Custom Stamp info page: http://www.zazzle.co.nz/custom/stamps?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp design tool: http://www.zazzle.co.nz/cr/design/pt-stamp?CMPN=cs Zazzle Custom Stamp public designs: http://www.zazzle.co.nz/stamps?CMPN=cs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have any more questions, we're always glad to address your concerns. For more immediate answers, don't forget to check our help section here: https://www.Zazzle.com/help?CMPN=cs Best Regards, Hollie Customer Support Team Zazzle Inc."

UPDATE 16 MARCH 2011

I spoke on the phone 1-888-8ZAZZLE (1-888-892-9953)with Jillina @zazzle, and she checked with her supervisor.

Zazzle stamps can ONLY be shipped to an US address!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The best procedure is this:

1) you can design zazzle personalized stamps by registering at zazzle.com (the main US website of Zazzle), regardless of where in the world you reside.

Put them in the Public Gallery so you can receive royalty payments (thru PayPal or check) from Zazzle, should your products find buyers!

2) you can order zazzle stamps ONLY from zazzle.com (not the regional zazzle portals!), regardless of where in the world is your billing address associated with your credit card.

3) you can ONLY receive those stamps at an address in USA! So you better get a partner/friend in USA! :)

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

Happy Sunday Stamps!

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