Some of my most favorite philatelic links

In the larger sense, you can have some "forum activities" in a networking site, too. And you can network in a forum, as well. Sure, there are differences. :)
In my websites, I have various links to my favorite philatelic and deltiologic websites:


MPPC= Mailer's Postmark Permit Club
http://www.mppclub.org/HowToObtain.htm
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LPCS= Local Post Collectors Society
http://www.localcollectorspost.org/
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Postcard exchange site postcrossing.com. I especially like forum.postcrossing.com
http://www.forum.postcrossing.com/
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Virtual Stamp Club; I especially like the forum (click on the green rectangle Start reading)
http://www.virtualstampclub.com/
http://forums.delphiforums.com/stamps/start
http://www.virtualstampclub.com/hotlink.html
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Philatelic forum USA-centric bidstart.com (again, see the forum; also, many interesting items are available to buy!)
http://www.bidstart.com/
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Philatelic forum Australia-centric stampboards.com. Yet again, see the forum. The most lavishly illustrated forum with images of stamps, mainly hosted at photobucket.com
http://stampboards.com/
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Global philatelic networking site myphilately.com:
http://www.myphilately.com
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While we are at it, please visit my websites/webpages, too.
Philately (stamp collecting) in general, and maximaphily in particular, 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/

Sheesh!... Stamps from Zazzle.com

Sheesh!... Stamps from Zazzle.com

What does it mean?

"Etymology

A 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

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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!

:)

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