Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Sheesh!... Stamps from Zazzle.com

Sheesh!... Stamps from Zazzle.com
What does it mean?

"Etymology

euphemism for Jesus. [MY NOTE: I'd say An euphemism, but how could I know better than wiktionary.org? :) ] 

Interjection

sheesh
  1. (euphemism) An expression of exasperation."

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sheesh
----------------------------
So, it means "I'm exasperated", basically. 
Or, "You exasperate me".
Or "This exasperates me".

Do you think that it's possible to create a maximum card with such a stamp?
Unless you have a postcard showing that word, FIP Commission for Maximaphily would say NO.
"In general, abstract or symbolic subjects do not suit Maximaphily and are excluded from its field."http://maximaphily.info/Articles/What%20is%20MAXIMAPHILY%20_1_.pdf

That rule is most unfortunate and short-sighted, in my opinion.
It mainly serves the small "community" of maximaphily exhibits judges in Philatelic Expositions.
What's a judge to do about figuring out the message and concordance in an abstract, encrypted maximum card? Nah, too complicated and subjective. Too neuron-stretching. It's HARD!
So, they keep it simple: "a postcard with a certain dog breed, a stamp with the same dog breed, and a postmark with the same dog breed, ideally".
That's fine. I create all  the time MCs with this rationale, this line of thinking.

But why shouldn't we create, whenever we feel like, abstract or symbolic MCs?
The rules of Maximaphily should mainly serve the many creators/collectors, not the few judges.
Do what makes YOU happy, not what others try to impose on you.
Sheesh!
:)


Tuesday, August 31, 2010

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.

The stamp is my design at Zazzle.
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.
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?





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



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!!!
:) :) :)



Are you kidding??? stamp from Zazzle.com

Are you kidding??? stamp from Zazzle.com

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Top 30 Stamp Collecting Blogs, by guidetoartschools.com

#2:
"Dorincard: Blogger Dorin C is a stamp and postcard fanatic, and luckily he's more than pleased to write prolifically and charmingly about his obsession. He has a particular bent for stamps with wild mammals on them, but his blog demonstrates an affinity for stamps of all forms and backgrounds, as long as they offer a special narrative that's worth sharing with his readers.


  • Source: http://www.guidetoartschools.com/library/best-stamp-collecting-blogs#ixzz1KirbuA4p
    "

    Some feedback received about me and my blog here

    [DORIN'S NOTE: There are over 100 million websites.]

    From alexa.com traffic rank site

    "There are 1,699,250 sites with a better three-month global Alexa traffic rank than Dorincard.blogspot.com.
    About 43% of visitors to the site come from France, where it has attained a traffic rank of 152,077.
    About 80% of visits to the site consist of only one pageview (i.e., are bounces).
    Dorincard.blogspot.com's visitors view an average of 1.5 unique pages per day.
    Visitors to the site spend roughly two minutes on each pageview and a total of three minutes on the site during each visit."



    inkling (Enthusiast)

    The best use of this site is Other.

    Likes
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    Comments:
    Postcards and stamps, mainly featuring mammals and birds but Dorincard also has other creations
    and interests he likes to share.
    His enthusiasm for Maximum cards (a postcard and a similar themed stamps sent through the
    postal system) shines through.
    He shows how he gets the right card, stamp and postmark together.
    Visiting his site you will also learn things about the natural world told with a dry sense of humour,
    possibly with a play on words, and a unique style of headings.
    Topical and informative both for the enthusiast and casual visitor.
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