Mule Deer

Outgoing postcard US-2651000 to Germany shows a Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus), known for its stocky body, sturdy legs, and an antler spreading of up to 1.2 meters or 4 feet. According to the descriptions on the back of the card, its large ears can move independently and almost constantly,  thus account for the common name with those "mule-like" ears. These ears move constantly and independently. Surprisingly, despite their big ears, mule deer are thought to rely primarily on their sense of smell in detecting danger. In addition, their hearing is also extremely acute. As a solitary animal, it seldom forms large herds, but occasionally some of them band together before and after rutting season.

The postcard was purchased at the Mount Charleston Visitor Center along with other wildlife cards featuring Baby Coyote and  Least Chipmunks. Photo by Jim Osterberg.

Mount Charleston Fire

Baby Coyote 

I bought my postcard to Finland, US-2219302, at the Mount Charleston's Visitor Center on April 28, 2013.  The snow capped the mountain, 37.8 miles or 60 kilometers from my home, is a getaway for ski in the winter and for hiking and camping in the spring, summer and fall. It is also a good place to see plants and animals.

However, the mountain has been on fire for the past 10 days since it was started by thunder strikes on July 1, 2010. The fire is not expected to be under control until July 19.

Mount Charleston Fire Map on July 10, 2013

The smoke from the fire can be seen from my home. The wildfire burned down six structures for the first time   Tuesday night on July 9, 2013. People in the nearby communities are already under evacuation order. Hope those wild animals will have good instinct to escape as well.

Smoke from Mount Charleston Fire on July 9, 2013

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights from U.N.

A PostCrosser friend traveled to New York City and tried to send me a postcard from the United Nations stamps and post office. However, when I received the card today, the card was sent through a US post office with a USPS stamp. It turns out that a guided tour ticket for visitors is now required to enter the UN Headquarters Visitor Center where the stamps and post office is located starting June 2013. A ticket costs 16 US Dollars; however the tour tickets are NOT sold on the spot.

Another notice from the United Nations Postal Administration says: "As part of the renovation project for the General Assembly Building at United Nations Headquarters in New York, the UNPA Stamp Shop has been relocated to a temporary Visitor's Centre in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library on the south end of the campus. Due to security limitations, visitors are not allowed into the Centre without prior notice of arrival. To schedule a visit to the UNPA Stamp Shop, please call 212-963-7698 or 1-800-234-8672 for access instructions. The updated UNPA Stamp Shop will reopen to unannounced visitors in the Fall of 2014." Send me an email if you have successfully scheduled a visit without paying the guided tour. I will update the information here.

You can still forward your prepared mails to the United Nations Headquarters to be released in the mail streams there by following the steps mentioned in a previous post.