Sunday, May 16, 2010

Rocky Mountain Wildlife - Pika


Pika - Ochotona princeps.
Quick and agile, the industrious pika inhabits alpine boulderfields feeding on lush vegetation. A cousin to rabbits and hares, pikas gather vegetation into "haypiles" for consumption during the winter.

1991 Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski
Published by Rocky Mountain Nature Association

from the set:
Rocky Mountain Wildlife
Twelve Postcards

Wendy Shattil and Bob Rozinski have worked as a photographic team since 1981, specializing in wildlife and nature photography. They are international grand prize winners of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competion. Other credits include National Wildlife, Audubon, Outdoor Photographer, Natural History and National Geographic Publications.

unused

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Red Corvette Error Postcard


Daytona Beach
Florida

Photo: Bill Riley

unused, bought in 2010

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When I was in Daytona Beach I bought a red postcard like this (see below) I grabbed another one for one of my daughters and the card behind it was this one! All the rest in the pile where colored. Somehow this card didn't get any red ink!

Friday, May 14, 2010

Spider-Man Ride, Universal Studios


The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man

Put on your 3-D glasses for an eye-popping, first-of-its-kind 3-D thrill ride. Careening through the streets and swinging high above the city, you'll see, hear and actually FEEL the action as this ride drops you (literally) right in the middle of the web-slinger's most amazing adventure ever!

unused, bought in 2010

On a side note: this is my favorite ride of any theme park we've ever been to! This ride alone is worth the price of the admission to the park. (Disney's Epcot is my favorite park overall though)

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Ride:
After donning night vision goggles (3D glasses) the "cub reporters" get in the Scoops and leave the loading docks to a New York back alley where they encounter Spider-Man. He warns that he is in for the most dangerous night of his life and for the guests to be careful. The guests enter a warehouse where the Sinister Syndicate are holding the Statue of Liberty hostage. Once spotted, Electro, Scream, and Doctor Octopus attack and hurl the Scoop into the sewer, where Spider-man is waiting. After he fends off Hydro-Man there, the guests escape narrowly to the river, where Hobgoblin attacks with exploding pumpkins and sends guests into the streets. Doctor Octopus lifts the Scoop using an anti-gravity cannon. (Amazing part of the ride!!) Spider-man attempts to pull it down but is attacked by all the supervillains. Spidey thwarts them, but not before Doctor Octopus disengages the anti-gravity device, sending the Scoop on a 400-foot (120 m) free-fall (you actually feel like your 'car' is dropping straight down!) until it is rescued by Spider-Man's webbing, where it stops over a sewer that says "Not an exit". Then Spider-Man thanks the guests for their help and sends them back to the Daily Bugle, where he has rigged the anti-gravity cannon to lift Jameson to the ceiling in his office.

Ride effects:
There are 13 large screens in the attraction, 12 of which use 3D projection. The process utilizes two projectors that have polarizers to interact with each lens of the 3D glasses. By blocking light from one projector with each lens, the 3D effect is achieved.
The illusion of levitating the ride vehicle is achieved by a choreographed combination of several elements: the on-screen visuals with faux-projected windows to the left and right; a large, collapsible building facade; the vehicle's DOF (Degrees of Freedom) motors moving slowly and without stops; and overhead fans blowing air down onto the vehicle. Afterward, two IMAX screens in the following scene allow for the feeling of being whipped high above the city during the final showdown.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Money - Australia Dollar

Australian Money

This postcard is shaped to the outline of the money you see!

postmarked in 2010 with an Australia stamp

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The Australian dollar (sign: $; code: AUD) is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu. Within Australia it is almost always abbreviated with the dollar sign ($), with A$ or AU$ sometimes used informally to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It is subdivided into 100 cents.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Fado Genre of Music in Portugal


Fado

postmarked in 2010 with a Portugal hummingbird stamp

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Fado is a music genre which can be traced from the 1820s in Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterized by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor.

The music is usually linked to the Portuguese word saudade which means to miss or to long for someone or something.

Portugal stamp 2010
0,80
Ano Internacional Da Biodiversidade
(International Year of Biodiversity)
Mata Atlantica

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Lenox Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts


Hotel Lenox near Copley Square,
Boston, Mass.

A Comfortable, Friendly Place to stay
A Delightful, Satisfying Place to eat
A Distinctive place to entertain

Boylston and Exeter Streets, Boston, Mass

postmarked in 1952 with a 2 cent John Adams stamp

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Today:
This is still the Lenox Hotel and Recently rated #1 on TripAdvisor. It is a perennial AAA Four Diamond property, and a member of Historic Hotels of America.

As much a Boston landmark as Fenway Park or Faneuil Hall, the handsome Italianate structure in Copley Square famously known as the Lenox was built in 1900 in just eight months at a cost of $1.1 million--one of the first hotels constructed in Boston's Back Bay. For years the Lenox sat adjacent to a railroad yard, which made it convenient for wealthy guests like opera star Enrico Caruso to pull their rail cars right up to hotel.

A $20 million renovation that took three years touched upon every one of the 212 guest rooms and suites. Each is now outfitted in a variety of soft color schemes with brass chandeliers, crystal lamps, rich dark wood furniture and marble bathrooms and comes with numerous amenities, including voice mail, hair dryers, bathrobes and umbrellas. Many guest rooms also have working fireplaces.

Rate Range:
Single/Double: $259.00 to $495.00
Specialty/Suites: $495.00 to $695.00

Monday, May 10, 2010

Garfield Park, Indianapolis, Indiana


Beautiful Garfield Park
Indianapolis, Indiana

Thousands of visitors enjoy this 128-acre park with its Sunken Gardens, Fountains, Greenhouses, Playgrounds, Swimming Pool and Outdoor Theater.

postmarked in 1960 with a 3 cent Liberty stamp

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Today:
Garfield Park is a 184-acre site located in the East Garfield Park neighborhood on Chicago's West Side.

It is home to the Garfield Park Conservatory, one of the largest and most impressive conservatories in the United States. Often referred to as "landscape art under glass," the Garfield Park Conservatory occupies approximately 4.5 acres inside and out and contains a number of permanent plant exhibits incorporating specimens from around the world (including some ferns that are over 300 years old). Additionally, thousands of plants are grown there each year for displays in Chicago parks and public spaces.

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If anyone lives near here, I would LOVE a postcard of the conservatory!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day - from China


Happy Mother's Day postcard

postmarked in 2009 with three bird stamps from china

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In China, Mother's Day is becoming more popular, and carnations are a very popular gift and the most sold type of flower. In 1997 it was set as the day to help poor mothers, specially to remind people of the poor mothers on rural areas such as China's west. In the People's Daily, the Communist Party of China's journal, an article explained that "despite originating in the United States, people in China take the holiday with no hesitance because it goes in line with the country's traditional ethics -- respect to the elderly and filial piety to parents."

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If anyone can translate the symbols, or tell me what the tools mean, please send me a message, or leave one here - thank you.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

National Post Card Week - Abraham Lincoln and Barack Obama


NPCW (National Post Card Week)
May 3-9, 2009

Hal N. Ottaway
Art by Rick Geary

back reads:
Plan to meet me at the 32nd International Wichita Postcard Show on October 17-18, 2009. Hope to have our pictures taken in the Paper Moon.

Limited Edition 228 / 500

unused

Friday, May 7, 2010

Matthew McConaughey


Matthew McConaughey, Palmdale 1996
Photograph by Herb Ritts

unused, bought in 2010

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Matthew David McConaughey, (born November 4, 1969) is an American actor. After a series of minor roles in the early 1990s, McConaughey gained notice for his breakout role in Dazed and Confused (1993).

McConaughey is best known for his performances as a leading man in the romantic comedies The Wedding Planner, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Failure to Launch, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Fool's Gold.

Thursday, May 6, 2010

National Postcard Week - 2008 - Chicken Pot Stickers Recipe


Celebrate National Post Card Week
May 4-10, 2008 with

Chicken pot Stickers

one boneless chicken breast
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
one clove garlic
one package egg roll wrappers, cut into fourths
small bowl water
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Mix first three ingredients in a food processor until very fine.  Place one teaspoon of chicken mix on 1/4 wrapper.  wet sides and close to make a triangle.

Place in pot of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes until it looks like cooked pasta.  Drain

Place in frying pan with sesame oil turning when the start to stick.  Add balsamic vinegar to pan, cover cook and additional minute or so
Serve with dipping sauce.

the back reads:

My daughter made up this recipe for a fun dinner kids could help make.

This recipe can be doubled, tripled, quadrupled for a large crowd.  She usually makes it for church gatherings.

Demaris

Limited Edition 139 of 160

To see many more National Postcard Week cards be sure to check out Demaris' website: http://www.NationalPostcardWeek.com

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Lakagigar Volcano Chain, Iceland


Postcard Book
The Earth From the Air
Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Lakagigar Volcano Chain, Iceland

Lakagigar, in southern Iceland, still bears the scars of one of the most violent volcanic eruptions in recorded history. In 1783 two eruptive fissures, a total of 15 miles (25km) long, opened up on both sides of Lake volcano, vomiting 4 cubic miles (15km3) of molten rock that engulfed 225 square miles (580 km2) of land, the largest lava flow in human memory. A cloud of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and ash spread over the entire island and contaminated grazing land and surface waters. Three quarters of the livestock was annihilated, and after a second eruption in 1785, a terrible famine decimated a quarter of the population (more than 10,000 people). The fissures of Lakegigar, crowned by 115 volcanic craters, are today closed up, and the streams of lava are covered by a thick carpet of moss. Iceland has more than 200 active volcanoes and has produced one-third of all discharges of lava occurring around the world in the course of the last 500 years.

unused

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Some Lenticular, or 3-D, Animal Postcards


A shark turning his head to bite you!


A monkey walking, when you tilt the card, he looks right at you


A dog running, looks like a mastiff

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the back of all the cards read:

... die mit den etwas anderen Karten!

(... with a slightly different cards!)

all are unused, bought in Downtown DIsney in 2010, they said they order these types of postcards from Germany