I Follow You

I am not on social media, but there are some blogs I read regularly, and some newsletters I suscribe to.

Elan Ullendorff, of Escape the Algorithm*, announced the Escape the Algorithm ᵐⁱᶜʳᵒsupporter Program in February. Contrary to other newsletters, to become a paid subscriber of the newsletter, you can pay money, but also "perform a tiny act of codependence". Suggestions include sending a postcard; although my postcard cannot compete with gifts like a jar of Danish raw honey... I really like the idea of "soften the para part of our parasocial relationship".

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*Escape the Algorithm is a newsletter about taking control of our attention and finding a more human side of the internet.

Sunday Stamps | Kampen

Not Campen, but Kampen lighthouse on the island of Sylt (Germany), for my favourite theme on Sunday Stamps: Lighthouses!

States Project | The Sooner State

I always feel curious about the US states nicknames. I found this explanation about The Sooner State:

In 1889, people poured into central Oklahoma to stake their claims to nearly 2 million acres opened for settlement by the U.S. government. Those who entered the region before the land run’s designated starting time, at noon on April 22, 1889, were dubbed “sooners.”

I like that on the back of this postcard appears Mr ZIP! There is also a postmark indicating it has been missent, but I am not sure about this point. It was postmarked on 10 December, and reached me on 23 January. 

See all the Bryon's States Project postcards.

The Public Must Be Served Well

«"The post-office is a wonderful establishment!" said she.-- "The regularity and despatch of it! If one thinks of all that it has to do, and all that it does so well, it is really astonishing!"

"It is certainly very well regulated."

"So seldom that any negligence or blunder appears! So seldom that a letter, among the thousands that are constantly passing about the kingdom, is even carried wrong--and not one in a million, I suppose, actually lost! And when one considers the variety of hands, and of bad hands too, that are to be deciphered, it increases the wonder."

"The clerks grow expert from habit.--They must begin with some quickness of sight and hand, and exercise improves them. If you want any farther explanation," continued he, smiling, "they are paid for it. That is the key to a great deal of capacity. The public pays and must be served well."»

Jane Austen, Emma, II, 16

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Kirghiz Girl

The Daughter of Soviet Kirghizia, by S. Chuykov. Postcard sent by Eduard (Russia), with a vintage matching stamp.

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
March theme: WOMAN

• Week 1 - Working
• Week 2 - Relaxing
• Week 3 - Reading, Handwork
• Week 4 - Famous Women

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Spring Is Coming

(By train?)

Postcard sent by Yaya-Zhang (China), via Postcrossing.

No Matter of Indiference

«"Letters are no matter of indifference; they are generally a very positive course."

"You are speaking of letters of business; mine are letters of friendship."»

Jane Austen, Emma, II, 16

States Project | The Peace Garden State

Every postcard from Bryon's States Project brings along many data, but also a lot of questions. For instance, according from this one, North Dakota is the Sunflower Capital of the USA. So.. what about Kansas? Was not Kansas supposed to be The Sunflower State?

There are other curious facts. It is nice to know that the world's largest buffalo monument is in North Dakota. But I wonder if there is a real competition about this matter.

Sunday Stamps | Pražský hrad

 

Issued in 2019, this stamp shows Prague Castle, the official residence and workplace of the president of the Czech Republic, built in the 9th century.

I have chosen it for today's theme on Sunday Stamps: Cold Vacation Locations. But, actually, there is another stamp showing the same view in the summer.

Postbox Saturday | New Box

I am so used to mail boxes being removed forever that I was really surprised to see a renovated one! The picture above above was taken last month, in the same spot that the postcard below, from December 2021. 

(Actually, the whole area is being renovated. And the pillar box has a new companion.)

Some of you have already got mail posted in the new one!

States Project | The Tar Heel State

A new installment of Bryon's States Project brought the North Carolina postcard. I had to look up the origin of the nickname, the Tar Heel State.

I wonder if there is a rivalry between the states of North Carolina and Georgia, because of Pepsi/Coke.

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Women Relax

Art photographer Kim Taylor Reece is best known for the Hula Haniko images. This card was sent by Lilli from Hawaii.

Lady Agnew of Lochnaw is an oil on canvas portrait painting of Gertrude Agnew. The painting was commissioned in 1892 and completed the same year by the American portrait artist John Singer Sargent.

Postcard sent by Laura (the UK).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
March theme: WOMAN

• Week 1 - Working
• Week 2 - Relaxing
• Week 3 - Reading, Handwork
• Week 4 - Famous Women

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Sad News From Denmark

PostNord will deliver its final letter at the end of 2025

Mail from Denmark, received in 2013 and 2002, from Heleen and R.

M11

This stamp was issued by Correos on 11 March 2024 to commemorate (?) the 20th anniversary of a terrorist attack in Madrid. As you can read in Correos website:

[...] Twenty years later, it is important to remember and honour the victims, as well as reflect on the legacy of this tragic event. The collective memory of those dark days should serve as a reminder of the fragility of peace and the importance of solidarity and unity in times of crisis, something that should strengthen the social fabric that unites us as a society. [...]

It seems to me, however, an odd and sad issue.

States Project | The Beehive State

There must be a reason why the Utah state bird is the California Gull and not the Utah Gull... But I do not know it. The States Project postcards never cease to surprise me!

Sunday Stamps | Les Rencontres d'Arles

The EUROMED postal theme in 2023 was Mediterranean Festivals. France issued a stamp about the photographie festival Les Rencontres d'Arles.

The stamp is based on a photograph by Alessandro Mosalini. It shows a visitor looking at a photograph by Mitch Epstein, exhibited at the Montmajour Abbey during the summer of 2022.

Today's theme in Sunday Stamps is Warm Vacation Locations. I hope it looks warm enough to you!

Women Belong in All Places

Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.

Card sent by Phillip (the USA), with a quotation by Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was the first Jewish woman and the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court of the USA.

The stamps honouring her were issued on 2nd October, 2023.

I got this postcard on 8 March 2024.

Year of the Snake

Sent by Phillip (the USA). I love the bright accents of these New Year stamps!

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Medieval Hardworking Women

Female labourers bringing in the harvest, from the Luttrell Psalter, 1325-1340.

Herrad of Landsberg and her community, a lithographic facsimile of the Hortus Deliciarum de Herrade Landsperg: Miniatures du XIIe siècle, 1877.

Postcards sent by Laura (UK).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
March theme: WOMAN

• Week 1 - Working
• Week 2 - Relaxing
• Week 3 - Reading, Handwork
• Week 4 - Famous Women

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

My Foot!

Letter sent by Imma (PC).

Completely Unexpected Deliveries

(Updated)

The American Museum in Britain
Claverton Manor, Bath

Just the day before the floods of the end of October, unaware of the danger, I posted six pieces of mail in this mailbox. It seems they did not pick them up, and the following week I saw the mailbox was out of service. So, I assumed the box had been flooded and the letters destroyed.

The pillar box has remained unoperational for not less than three and a half months*. I had already given up hope but it looks like they emptied it in February. From February 13 to March 21, four five all  the letters and postcards reached their recipients in different countries, postmarked on February 12.

Maybe we can still wait for the remaining two one to arrive, right?

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*March 8: It is unoperational again!

States Project | The Lone Star State

One among many other curious thing about this new States Project postcard: Why the Texas states bird is the Northern Mockingbird? (Same as in Arkansas and Florida, by the way).

Oh... And is there a state verb?!?

The flag stamp made me immediately think of the following one, which I love