"The Simpsons" 7.5.2009

The Simpsons is an animated sitcom about the antics of a dysfunctional family called the Simpsons (surprise surprise) a very politically incorrect family. Homer works with pride in a nuclear power plant run with more regard for profit than safety He is the oafish unhealthy beer loving father. His wife is Marge, a kind of supermom a hardworking homemaker wife. They have three kids: Bart is the ten year old underachiever (and proud of it), Lisa is the unappreciated eight year old genius, and Maggie is the cute, pacifier loving silent infant.

The Simpsons is the ultimate (if very unorthodox) nuclear family. Homer, the lovable dufus father, stumbles apathetic ally through his family life and work at the local nuclear power plant. Marge, the overbearing but responsible mother, Bart, the 4th grade underachiever and nemesis to Springfield elementary's principal, Lisa, the brainy and responsible 8 year old, and Maggie, the oft-forgotten baby, round out the family. Based on a series of small cartoon sketches from the Tracy Ullman show, the Simpsons enjoy many wacky exploits in their hometown and beyond. Other characters include an incompetent lawyer, the tyrranical nuclear power plant owner, the too-perfect neighbors (the Flanders) of the Simpsons, and the less than perfect "Klown", Krusty. Colorful characters and situations abound.

The set of first day covers themselves show them crowding each other. The fact that there are two different post marks on the same day and from the same city appears strange, but very attractive indeed. Any explanations anyone …… fdcover@gmail.com

(click to enlarge and enjoy)

Bangladesh 15.8.2009 - Mourning Day

The other day I was fortunate to come by this excellent first day cover commemorating Bangladesh’s Mourning Day, that coincides with the day the Father of that young nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated. I still remember that day in 1975, when this shocking incident took place. Not even four years had elapsed since the Liberation of erstwhile East Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh. This event, shocked the conscience of the whole world, and resulted in plunging the new nation into another phase of turmoil.

By Matiur Rahman Chowdhury Dhaka 15-August-2009

Bangladesh observed National Mourning Day on the 34th death anniversary of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman on Saturday 15^th August 2009.
The day was a public holiday. The government chalked out nationwide programs to observe the day at the state level. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, one of the surviving daughters of Bangabandhu, visited her father's grave at Tungipara.
Along with ruling Awami League (AL), different political parties, and student and socio-cultural organizations also planned programs to mourn the killings of the architect of the country's independence and most of his family members, by some army men on this day in 1975.

Games of the XXVI Centennial Olympiad

Some Olympic games collectors would remember that the Centenary of the Modern Olympic Games Movement was celebrated by holding the 26^th Olympiad at Atlanta in the United States. They would also remember that these Games concluded in the month of August of 1996, that is 13 years ago. A few details for the statisticians amongst us are:

Host city Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Motto The Celebration of the Century

Nations participating 197; Athletes participating 10,320
(6,797 men, 3,523 women) Events 271 in 26 sports

Opening ceremony July 19 Closing ceremony August 4

Officially Opened by President Bill Clinton

Athlete's Oath Teresa Edwards

Judge's Oath Hobie Billingsley

Olympic Torch Muhammad Ali

Stadium Centennial Olympic Stadium

The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

Incidents

The Atlanta Olympics were marred by the Centennial Olympic Park bombing on July 27. This bombing killed spectator Alice Hawthorne and wounded 111 others, and caused the death of Melih Uzunyol by heart attack. Eric Robert Rudolph was charged with and confessed to this bombing and several others. He is now in a US Federal prison.

At the closing ceremony, IOC President Juan Antonio Samaranch said in his closing speech, "Well done, Atlanta" and called the Games "most exceptional". This broke precedent for Samaranch, who had traditionally labelled each Games "the best Olympics ever" at each closing ceremony, a practice he resumed at the subsequent Games in Sydney in 2000.

^{Stamps Issued}

^{The first frame shows a sheet of stamps showing the many categories of events at the Games. These were issued se-tennant.}

^{The second frame is particularly interesting as it shows the description of the event portrayed on the stamp on its reverse. This practice is very rarely seen.}
(click to enlarge)

China - 2008 Olympics Sheetlet

This sheetlet may interest collectors of Olympic philatelia.

Bhutan - Paintings in 3D

It is simply amazing the quality of Bhutanese 3D stamps, or for that matter other stamps as well. The viewer will be spell bound by these lovely paintings.

(As usual click to enlarge these masterpieces)

Bhutan - Apollo11 in 3D

I will now revisit Bhutan for some time.

While the rest of the world went GaGa over the US Apollo 11 Mission to the moon, Bhutan a few months later issued 3D stamps to commemorate the manned mission.

The stamps do not give the spectacular effect in 2D as they do when you really behold them. It is a realistic and marvellous sight.

India 15.8.1949 - India Two years old

Independent India was Two years old, and I was eight years old. And, that was 60 glorious years ago.

Flights of Fancy

USSR - Some more Soviet ships and a few yachts

We now see ships dedicated to Science and Oceanography. A ship dedicated to space exploration honouring Yuri Gagarin is also displayed. Amongst Russian Scientists and Oceanographers from the Soviet Academy of Science being honoured through these stamps are Somov, OU Schimdt and SP Korolev.

Amongst the warships are a minehunter, a landing ship tank and the Anti – submarine cruiser the Moskva. The last named was actually the Soviet Union’s first essay in the field of aircraft carrier designing. This ship was a large floating platform for anti-submarine Kamov helicopters. And ofcourse the sleek newly designed gas-turbine powered Kashin Class Destroyer. This ship impressed many navies around the world. The Indian Navy acquired five of them - the Rajput Class.

China - 1st Anniversary of India's First Individual Olympic Gold Medal

It was indeed a Glorious August 11^th 2008 when Abhinav Bindra won for India the first Individual Gold Medal in her Olympic history. This was achieved in Shooting. I was watching it all on TV, and the stunned silence at the end told its own story of how happy we all were. I found a folder of the 2008 Olympic Games and felt it was an appropriate occasion to share it with the sport lovers amongst you.

USSR - Steamships

We start with ships that traversed the Northern ice bound routes and the icebreakers that helped them on their way. Worth mentioning are the heavy-duty breakers ‘Vasily Pronchishev’ and the Mighty ‘Moskva’. I can assure you that the ice that forms in those waters are tough and need some breaking. Even in Vladivostok (edge of Southern Siberia) where I spent a few winters, the ice shelf that formed between the island ‘Ruski Ostrov’ where we stayed, and mainland Vladivostok, was strong enough for Army jeeps and trucks to traverse many times a day bringing victuals, stores and spares. Regular visitors will remember my post regarding the Russian fishing industry and my own little effort on the frozen sea around us in Vladivostok.

We then see the Battle ships Potomkin and Amur of the Early 1900’s. The history of these mighty ships is chronicled in the pages of Russian Naval History.

And finally end the frame with modern passenger liners.

(Click images for an enlarged view)

North Korea or DPRK

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) or more familiarly known as North Korea is normally associated with being belligerent towards the USA on nuclear matters. However, during the last few days DPRK has figured quite prominently in the Indian media for a completely different reason. A North Korean ship was discovered at anchor near Hut Bay an island in the exotic Andaman & Nicobar group of islands. She was then escorted to Port Blair for a tête-à-tête. The Indian authorities not very unreasonably wanted to know the usual what, where, whither and when from the ship’s Captain and crew.

But, our business with North Korea is about its involvement in the philatelic world. In that connection I place before you a few DPRK miniature sheets from my small collection of stamps and other associated stuff from that small but highly important country in world politics. You would observe that most of the stamps are very ‘The Leader’ centric. However, those on other topics are very pretty, especially the ones on Korean Flora and Fauna.

(Click images for an enlarged view)

USSR – Aircraft

From gliders to the heavy duty AN28 and the sleek passenger carrier TU154, and everything in between, during those formative years in the life of Soviet Aviation.

SWINE FLU

(Please Click to Enlarge)

This was published in today's (6th August) Delhi Edition of the Daily Mail. As this issue is far more important than anything concerning Philately, I thought that in public interest I must highlight it on my blog. Any inconvenience caused to the visitors to this blog is deliberate. TAKE CARE.

Indo-Soviet Joint Manned Space Flight

This year, namely 2009 is the 25^th Anniversary of the Indo-Soviet 1^st Space Flight. It was a manned flight and Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma became the first Indian cosmonaut. Born on 13th January 1949 in Patiala, Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma was a test pilot in the IAF. He was selected on 20th September 1982 to become a cosmonaut. In 1984 he became the first citizen of India to go into space when he flew aboard the Russian rocket Soyuz T-11. The take-off from Baikonur in the Soviet Union on April 2, 1984 was a high point in Indo-Soviet relations.

The Soyuz T-11 docked and transferred the three member Soviet-Indian international crew which also included the Ship's Commander Y.V. Malyshev and Flight Engineer G.M. Strekalov (USSR) to the SALYUT-7 Orbital Station. The crew spent seven days aboard the Salyut space station during which they conducted scientific and technical studies, which included 43 experimental sessions. Sharma used Yoga techniques to combat the debilitating effects of weightlessness. His work was mainly in the fields of bio-medicine and remote sensing. The crew held a joint television news conference with officials in Moscow and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. "Saare jahan se achcha", said Sqn Ldr Sharma when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked him how India looked from outer space. That was also a proud moment for millions of Indians who watched India become the 14th nation to send a man to outer space. Sqn Ldr Rakesh Sharma was awarded the Ashoka Chakra, for the successful completion of the Space Mission. As were his Russian companions Malyshev and Strekalov. This is the first and the only time, the Ashoka Chakra was awarded to foreigners.

You will notice that the Russian First Day Cover has the autographs of the three member Soviet-Indian international crew. I am also displaying the Indian FDC commemorating that historic occasion.

You will also notice the Indian design Sun chariot on the 50k Soviet miniature sheet.

Montserrat - The Lush and Green Island

These Ladies and Gentlemen are the latest additions to my miniscule collection of stamps from that beautiful island of Montserrat in the West Indies. This addition is kind courtesy of Mrs. Valerie James. For those not well conversant with Montserrat, a few words about that Island won’t be out of place.

Montserrat (pronounced /ˌmɒntsəˈræt/) is a British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. It measures approximately 16 km (10 miles) long and 11 km (7 miles) wide, giving 40 kilometres (25 mi) of coastline.^[2] Christopher Columbus gave Montserrat its name on his second voyage to the New World in 1493, after its namesake located in Catalonia. Montserrat is often referred to as the Emerald Isle of the Caribbean, due both to its resemblance to coastal Ireland and to the Irish descent of most of its early European settlers.

Its Georgian era capital city of Plymouth was destroyed and two-thirds of the island's population forced to flee abroad by an eruption of the previously dormant Soufriere Hills volcano that began on July 18, 1995.^[3] The eruption continues today on a much reduced scale, the damage being confined to the areas around Plymouth including its docking facilities and the former W.H. Bramble Airport. An exclusion zone extending from the south coast of the island north to parts of the Belham Valley has been closed because of an increase in the size of the existing volcanic dome. This zone includes St. George's Hill which provided visitors with a spectacular view of the volcano and the destruction it has wrought upon the capital. A new airport at Gerald's in the northern part of the island opened in 2005. The village of Brades currently serves as the de facto centre of government. In July 1995, Montserrat's Soufriere Hills volcano, dormant throughout recorded history, rumbled to life and began an eruption which eventually buried the island's capital, Plymouth, in more than 12 metres (39 ft) of mud, destroyed its airport and docking facilities, and rendered the southern half of the island uninhabitable. Following the destruction of Plymouth, more than half of the population left the island due to the economic disruption and lack of housing. After a period of regular eruptive events during the late 1990s including one on June 25, 1997, in which 19 people lost their lives, the volcano's activity in recent years has been confined mostly to infrequent ventings of ash into the uninhabited areas in the south. However, this ash venting does occasionally extend into the populated areas of the northern and western parts of the island. As an example, on May 20, 2006, the lava dome that had been slowly building partially collapsed, resulting in an ashfall of about an 2.5 cm (1 inch) in Old Towne and parts of Olveston. There were no injuries or significant property damage. The southern part of the island is currently off limits to the population because of the volcano, and trespassers caught in the restricted area are subject to fines.^[7]

Long referred to as "The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" for both its Irish heritage and its resemblance to coastal Ireland, most of Montserrat today remains lush and green. A new airport at Geralds in the north (renamed the John A Osborne International Airport in 2008),was opened officially by the Princess Royal Princess Anne in February 2005, received its first commercial flights on July 11, 2005, and docking facilities are in place at Little Bay, where a new capital is being constructed out of reach of any further volcanic activity.

The people of Montserrat were granted full residency rights in the United Kingdom in 1998, and citizenship was granted in 2002.

For the lovers of cricket Lionel Baker made history on his debut for West Indies in an ODI against Pakistan in November 2008, becoming the first player and so far the only player from Montserrat in international cricket. A right-arm fast bowler, Baker represents one of the weaker teams in the region - Montserrat is part of the British Leeward Islands - and had few first-class matches behind him before his first international game. Baker was in the Stanford Superstars squad for the Super Series but didn't play a game, and was also included in West Indies' squad for the tour of New Zealand, starting in December. Until his international selection he had a deal to join Leicestershire in 2009, but it fell through after his West Indies call-up because it meant he couldn't join as a local player using his British passport.

Bangladesh – 1st Issue of Stamps

On the 29^th of July 2009 was the 38^th Anniversary of the First issue of stamps by Bangladesh. I would like to display a First Day Cover commemorating this occasion. The First President and founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is featured on one of the stamps. It will be observed that the date of cancellation is almost six months before the surrender of the Pakistan army to the Indian Armed Forces, which ultimately led to the birth of independent Bangladesh. Interestingly, the cancellation only mentions the Central Post Office Bangladesh, without mentioning the place of cancellation. Obviously, the said Post Office was somewhere underground.

Incidentally, I had the good fortune of landing on Enemy territory, at Cox Bazaar in East Pakistan a day before the surrender on 17^th December 1971. I was serving on INS Brahmaputra as the Signals and Communications Officer. The Indian Fleet had landed me ashore with another fellow officer and some communications Branch sailors to set up a Communications Post for future naval operations if any. My three days stay at Cox Bazaar was incident filled, and would form part of another story, some other day and in some other place.

USSR – Transport – Cars, Trucks and others

In this frame one observes the pictures of two racing cars. This I always felt was strange because I never thought that the ‘System’ encouraged such sports. If these vehicles were manufactured as test beds for some terrestrial high-speed experiments then, that’s understandable. Experts in this field may like to send me their comments. The email remains the same fdcover@gmail.com

There are also three pencil sketches illustrating the history of Public Transport in Moscow. Down below there are two popular sedans the Moskva and the Moskvich, that will bring back nostalgic memories, to visitors to the Fatherland in those days.

USSR – Transport - Cars and Trucks

Cars and Trucks and a World War II jeep the Gaz 67b. The stark difference between Western and Soviet vehicles of the same era are so obvious and apparent, that the ideologies prevalent at that time are so clearly reflected in these vehicles and need no further elaboration.

(Click to enlarge)