Taiwan Inaugurates First Female President

Today's featured postcard was a private swap from Taiwan showing the Office of the President, Republic of China in Taipei with a ROCUPEX '13 TAIPEI commemorative postage label from the 2013 National Stamp Exhibition of R.O.C. and International Invitational Stamp Exhibition, and a matching pictorial postmark on August 23, 2013. The Office of the President is the site of the inauguration ceremony this Friday, May 20, 2016 where Tsai Ing-wen took oath of office to become the first female president of Taiwan.

Tsai Ing Wen (R) replaces former President Ma Ying Jeou (L) after a landslide election victory on January 16, 2016. She faces immediate challenges to revitalize the economy, and to balance the demands of the her electorate for greater independence and the pressure of One-Country from China.

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Elephant Rock at Valley of Fire

Outgoing postcard US-3599773 to Hong Kong shows an arch in the shape of an elephant near the east entrance of the Valley of Fire State Park in Overton, Nevada. Parking is prohibited on the main road near the rock, but visitors can park at the east entrance parking lot and take a short 0.2 mile hiking trail to a vantage point. There are chances to see wildlife but watch out for lizards and snakes.

The card was sent on November 28, 2015 and has since expired,

Unrelated, USPS faces a forced postal rate deduction starting today on April 10, 2016. Mailing a 4"x6" postcard domestically will now cost 34¢ instead of 35¢; while an oversize one will incur the 1oz first class letter rate at 47¢ after a 2¢ reduction. The international postcard rate, same as that of a first class international letter up to 1oz, has decreased from USD 1.20 to USD 1.15.

New Moon Stamp by USPS is Out

Postcard UA-1386362 from Ukraine shows a full moon over the horizon. Today, USPS put out the new Moon Global Forever international rate stamp today. It continues to be a round stamp as other Global Forever stamps, featuring a detailed surface photograph of the moon. It sells for USD 1.20, which is good for mailing a 1-ounce letter or postcard to any country where the First-Class Mail International service is available.

Update: As of April 10, 2016, the new Global Forever international rate is decreased to USD 1.15.

A Street Cat in Dallas

Postcard US-2882828 to the Netherlands shows a street cat that I met in Dallas, Texas in 2010. She had just given birth to several kittens and shown up at the balcony of my friend's house where I was staying. Being a street cat, she looked healthy and clean, alert and guarded yet full of energy and curiosity.

The summer 2010 in Dallas was hot and the high temperature in early July was between 90°F or 32°C and 95°F or 35°C. I put out some food and water and a litter box but otherwise kept distance. However, she was friendly and let me to take her picture up close. For the next couple of weeks, we kept each other company and I enjoyed to watch her kitten grow by day. I named her Misty because of her misty eyes. She brought breeze to me in a brutal summer and showed me how to survive on the tough street and yet not to lose hope and trust in people.

When the time came for me to leave town, I wish I could have taken her and her kittens with me. I bought some more can food and asked my friend to keep feeding them. However, my friend reported that they no longer showed up once I left.

I have been wondering how she has been ever since. With her positive impact on me, she can be proud of herself as a street cat. The photo was taken on July 8, 2010.

You can purchase the postcard and personalized postage stamps featuring Misty from Zazzle.

Take Pride in America

Postcard US-2849038 to Texas was a 14-cent postal postcard issued by USPS in 1987. It features a mountain-lake scene with brilliant blues and rich greens at the National Elk Refuge in Jackson, Wyoming. It was part of the "Take Pride in America" national public awareness campaign to encourage people to take pride in the nation's natural and cultural resources.

According to an AP Newsfeatures article in Lawrence Journal World on September 20, 1987, "launched by President Reagan in his 1986 State of the Union message, 'Take Pride in America' has been a major campaign to ensure the wise use and stewardship of our public lands - natural resources that belong to all Americans."

The National Elk Refuge was created in 1912 to protect habitat and provide sanctuary for one of the largest elk herd in the world. The refuge is home to an average of 7,500 elk each winter. and receives nearly one million visits annually.

The domestic postcard rate, according to Akdart.COM, was 14 cents between February 17, 1985 and April 3, 1988. Yet, another stamped postal postcard issued in 1980 also had a 14-cent postage when the domestic postcard rate was 10 cents.

On an unrelated note, USA team was edged out by Belgium 1:2 at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in a Round of 16 match at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil on July 1, 2014, but not without a fight. The USA Team exceeded the expectation as many did not believe it would make into the Round of 16. "Man of the Match" Tim Howard, who set a World Cup record by making 16 saves, said before the match: "we’re proving critics wrong." We are still proud of the United States Men's National Soccer Team, and are optimistic about their future despite of a loss.

#451566972 / gettyimages.com

13th Winter Olympic Games, Lake Placid, NY

Outgoing postcard US-2814046 to the United Kingdom was a 14-cent stamped postal postcard, issued by USPS, for the 13th Winter Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY from February 13 to February 24, 1980. A FDC on sale at SportStamps shows the first-day-of-issue date as January 15, 1980.

According to Wikepedia and Akdart.COM, the domestic postcard rate was 10 cents between May 29, 1978 and March 22, 1981. Therefore, I am curious why the postage on the card was 14 cents rather than 10 cents. Yet, there was indeed a 10-cent stamped postal postcard for the 22nd Summer Olympic Games in Moscow during the same period. If you know the reason, please leave your comments below.

Marque Page Carte Postale

Postcard FR-374233 from France is a bookmark postcard entitled "At the Same Time on Earth ..." It measures 20 cm x 6 cm or 7.87 inch x 2.36 inch and has a stamp with postage for a 20-gram (0.7 oz) letter.

I became curious on how to mail a bookmark postcard from the United States. By the USPS regulations, a postcard needs to be at least 3.5" high x 5" long x 0.007" but no more than 4.25" high x 6" long x 0.016" thick in order to qualify for the first class postcard rate (US$ 0.34 domestic and US$ 1.15 international in 2014). Therefore, because it does not meet the dimensions above, the USPS will consider it a letter and letter-size postage will be charged (US$ 0.49 domestic and US$ 1.15 international) for a mailpiece with a size up to 6.125" x 11.5" x 0.25". In addition, it has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of 3.33, which falls outside the required aspect ratio range for a first class letter (between 1.3 and 2.5). As a result, it will incur a nonmachinable surcharge of US$ 0.21. The total postage required for such a bookmark postcard from the United States will be US$ 0.70 domestic and US$1.36 international.