American Motorcycle

 

U.S. Postal Service have proud to recognize the role of motorcycles in American culture by issuing the four stamps that feature American motorcycle in early August 2006.

Three of the stamps feature digital illustrations of a 1918 Cleveland, 1940 Indian Four and a 1965 Harley-Davidson Electra-Glide that are modeled after motorcycles in existence today. The fourth stamp shows a circa 1970 chopper, a computer generated stamp image created by the stamp artist in consultation with professional chopper builders.

The first of these stamps, along with the actual cycles the stamps are modeled from, kick-started the 66th Anniversary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD, August 7, 2006.

 

Cleveland 1918
The single-cylinder Cleveland motorcycle depicted on this stamp was built by the Cleveland Motorcycle Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, OH. Technical data of this motorcycle featured a 2.5-horsepower, single-cylinder motor, could travel 75 miles on a single gallon of gasoline and reach speeds of up to 35 to 40 mph. Weighing around 150 pounds . The lightweight and affordable reason makes the Cleveland a popular motorcycle of its time. The Cleveland A2 that modeled for the stamp is owned by Penny Nickerson of Long Island, NY.

 

Indian 1940
The motorcycle depicted on this stamp was made by the Indian Motorcycle Company. The 1940 entry in a series of deluxe, four-cylinder motorcycles known as the Four, this streamlined bike featured skirted fenders that partially covered the wheels, a controversial design innovation that soon became an Indian trademark.

The model for the illustration featured on this stamp is a motorcycle owned by Michael and Larry Spielfogel of New York City. It is depicted in the deep red color often associated with Indian motorcycles

 

Harley-Davidson 1965
With features such as whitewall tires, extensive chrome, large fenders, and spacious fiberglass saddlebags, the Harley-Davidson featured on this stamp is considered by many to be one of the company's most iconic motorcycles.  The Harley that posed for the stamp is owned by George Tsunis of Port Jefferson, NY.

The 1965 Harley-Davidson FL Electra-Glide motorcycle was the last Harley fitted with the venerable Panhead engine and the first big Harley with electric start. That combo has made it a highly coveted collectible.The Electra-Glide, with its electric starter, made its debut, but it would be the last year for the famous "Panhead" V-twin that was introduced in 1948.

 

Chopper circa 1970

The Chopper circa 1970 featured on this stamp was invented by the stamp artist in consultation with professional chopper builders. Although lacking various safety features such as mirrors and turn signals that are usually required under current laws, this chopper would have been legal to ride circa 1970.

The name "chopper" derives from the process of removing, or "chopping," unnecessary or unwanted components from a motorcycle. The term often indicates an extensively customized motorcycle with such features as a stretched frame, stepped seat, and raised handlebars. Typically, the frame has been stretched with an extended-length fork leading to the front wheel.

Kapa Haka (Traditional Maori Performing Arts)

 

Kapa Haka is intrinsic to New Zealand’s cultural identity. The meaning of Kapa Haka is  stand in a row  (kapa) and dance (haka). This performing art present the combination of sing, dance, expression and movement. Performed both ceremonially and competitively, the power of Kapa Haka to convey a range of emotions is undeniable.

To commemorate this art, New Zealand Post issued the stamp set that captures the dynamism and strong cultural tradition of Kapa Haka on February 17, 2011. The issue comprised of six postage stamps. All six stamps are displayed together on the miniature sheet and first day cover, forming a complete picture of the six aspects of Kapa Haka.

 

Whakaeke - 60c

Whakaeke is a choreographed entrance onto the performance area, where elements of all discipline are utilized.

 

 

 

 

 

Poi - 60c

Poi is a graceful aspect of the Kapa Haka performance, where the dancer (usually female) swings a raupo ball on the end of flax cord.

 

 

 

 

 

Waiata-a-ringa – $1.20

Waiata-a-ringa are action songs, where the hands, face, eyes and body combine to bring from the words.

 

 

 

 

 

Haka – $1.90

The Haka is the most widely known discipline, made famous worldwide by New Zealand’s sport teams. It’s an aspect of Maori culture embraced by all New Zealanders.

 

 

 

 

 

Whakawatea –$2.40

Whakawatea is a choreographed exit off performance area, where once again elements of discipline are utilized.

 

 

 

 

 

Moteatea – $2.90

The discipline of Moteatea is traditional chant, however contemporary compositions are becoming more common.

Animals of the Viking Age

 

To commemorate the Viking Age,   Faroe Island Post issued the stamp set of fauna which have lived at the time, the Great Auk and Dimun Sheep on February 20, 2012. The stamp was designed by Astrid Andreassen.

The Great Auk is a bird of the genus Alca that lived in the North Atlantic. This bird  could grow up to 70 cm in height. They were flightless birds, with wings that were as small as the South Atlantic penguin. It was fast in the water when hunting fish but very clumsy on land.

The Great Auk  have distinctive appearance are a bright or whitish abdomens and dark-black backs, with a characteristic white spot on each side of the head, between the eyes and eye socket.

The Great Auk lived in large colonies along the coast on both sides of the North Atlantic, so far south that remains of the bird are found in Stone Age and Viking Age kitchen middens.The bird’s fate was sealed because it was easy to hunt and butcher.

The most famous colony was on the Penguin Islands (called Faroe Island today), which lies north east of Newfoundland. The last Great Auks were killed in 1801-1802. the bird is now extinct. The Great Auk is an example of a bird that was hunted to extinction purely because of a lack of knowledge about its population distribution.

 

 

Dímun Sheep  is small and black and look a little like the more primitive feral Soay sheep that live on the island of St Kilda in the Outer Hebrides. They are called the goat-horned sheep, because both sexes have horns, though the ewe’s horns are smaller and more delicate than the ram’s horns.

The three sheep from Stóra Dímun were among the last of the original sheep in the Faroe Islands, and were perhaps brought by the Vikings.The Vikings brought their own sheep to Iceland and Greenland and almost certainly when they came to the Faroe Islands. Around 1600, almost all of the sheep on the Faroe Islands were wiped out by disease. But the small black sheep on Lítlu Dímun managed to survive, although by 1860 they were finally wiped out by hunting. (Resources : News of Faroe Island Post)

“Global Warming is Real”

Since several years ago, all scientist of every countries in the world agreed that the global warming have been occurred and will be continued as far no action to recover it. Many countries have been hold the world conferences to discuss this matter. The warnings and recall issues have been announced.The results are  depend on the people interest  how they will anticipate the global  warming effect.

“ Global warming is real and it’s here. There are no longer excuses for inaction”

Almost of the authorities post issued the commemorative stamp set to recall people how they have to take action to minimize the effect caused by this phenomenon. Tuvalu post issued the stamp set feature the global warming in two presentation , one souvenir sheet and one miniature sheet. The miniature sheet consist of 6 postage stamp that depicted the effects and the prevention acts. The effects shown on stamps are habitat destroyed ( polar bear’s habitat reduced, coral beach’s habitat bleaching) and erratic weather patterns which caused the human life affected, meanwhile the prevention act depicted on stamps are use the renewable energy, recycle of waste material, planting trees. This action will reduce the greenhouse gas effect.

The souvenir sheet which consist only one stamp, depicted the use of renewable green energy, wind energy. As stated by Union of Concerned Scientists, “Using energy more efficiently and moving to renewable energy would significantly reduce the emissions of heat-trapping gases”, we should use green energy in the all of our activities every day.

Architectural Heritage of New Zealand

New Zealand Post issued commemorative stamp set that features Architectural Heritage on April 3, 2002. The issue comprises of 6 postage stamps depicts  the Auckland War Memorial Museum, Stone store at Kerikeri, the Art Centre at Christchurch, Government Building at Wellington, Railway station at Dunedin, and Sky tower at Auckland.

 

The Auckland War Memorial Museum is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. The museum have  collections concentrate on New Zealand history (and especially the history of the Auckland Region), natural history, as well as military history.

The museum is also one of the most iconic Auckland buildings, constructed in the neo-classicist style, and sitting on a grassed plinth (the remains of a dormant volcano) in the Auckland Domain, a large public park close to the Auckland Central Business District.



 

The Stone Store at Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands is New Zealand’s oldest surviving stone building. The Stone Store was erected between 1832 and 1836 by mason William Parrott, carpenter Ben Nesbitt and a team of Māori. Construction was of sandstone from Australia, local volcanic rocks and burnt shell mortar. Iron ties and window bars were forged by James Kemp, (though these unfortunately corroded the sandstone). Initially it had a wooden belfry on one side.

The store was designed by John Hobbs to replace an earlier wooden store house. The Stone Store was intended to be the base of the Church Missionary Society’s trading post, selling produce from the farms at Te Waimate mission to ships, and European goods to Māori.

The Stone Store was purchased from the Kemps by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust in 1975. Conservation work was done in the 1990s. The store, together with the neighboring Mission House now form a small museum.

 

The Christchurch Arts Centre is a hub for arts, crafts and entertainment in Christchurch, New Zealand. It is located in the neo-gothic former University of Canterbury buildings, the majority of which were designed by Benjamin Mountfort.

It is listed as a Category I building (register number 7301) by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.

The Christchurch Arts Centre includes speciality shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, galleries, theatres and cinemas. There is also a weekend market. Many festivals and special events are performed in this place.

The Court Theatre is a professional theatre company. It was founded in 1971 and has been at the Arts Centre since 1976. The Twelve Local Heroes is a series of bronze busts located on Worcester Boulevard outside the Arts Centre to commemorate twelve local Christchurch people who were prominent in their respective fields in the latter part of the 20th century.

 

The Government Buildings Historic Reserve, or more commonly referred to as the Old Government Buildings, is situated on Lambton Quay in Wellington. It was completed in 1876, is the largest wooden building in the Southern Hemisphere, and the second-largest wooden building in the world .

The Old Government Building was an important symbol of nationhood, as it was completed in the same month that provincial government in New Zealand ended and central government 'finally asserted its authority'. It was built to house New Zealand's civil service, and now houses the Victoria University of Wellington's Law School. The building, is classified as a "Category I"  historic place by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust

The public may view the displays on the ground floor and the Cabinet room on the first floor, but the rest of the building is leased to the Victoria University School of Law .

 

Possibly the best-known building in the southern half of New Zealand's South Island, Dunedin Railway Station is a jewel in the country's architectural crown. Designed by George Troup, the station is the fourth building to have served as Dunedin's railway station. It earned its architect the nickname of "Gingerbread George".

Dunedin Railway Station is served by daily sightseeing trains to Middlemarch or Pukerangi via the Taieri Gorge, and to Palmerston. Although lacking any facilities specific to bus travel, the station is Dunedin's terminal for shuttle vans to Dunedin International Airport and for most long-distance bus companies, other than Intercity, which has its own terminal nearby.

The Sky Tower is an observation and telecommunications tower located on the corner of Victoria and Federal Streets in the Auckland CBD, Auckland City, New Zealand. It is 328 metres tall, as measured from ground level to the top of the mast, making it the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere.

Due to its shape and height, especially when compared to the next tallest structures, it has become an iconic structure in Auckland's skyline.The tower is designed to withstand wind in excess of 200 km/h  and resist earthquakes with a 1,000 year return period.

Traditional Dances of Korea Republic

 

On April 10, 2008, Korea Post issued stamp set features the traditional dance on 4 postage stamps as  promotion  stamps to the 24th International Stamp Exhibition – Philakorea 2009. The classic dance depicted are fan dance, solo dance for cleansing, monk’s dance and dance of peace.

Fan dance or Buchaechum is a traditional form of Korean dance, usually performed by groups of female dancers. This dance performs  for celebrations. They use fans painted with pink peony blossoms and display a show of dance.

In the dance being performed, the dancers represent images using the fans e.g. flowers, butterflies and waves. They wear hanbok, the Korean traditional dress in bright colors.

Solo dance for spiritual cleansing or the Salpuri Chum (Salpuri dance) is the most popular and the most often performed traditional dance in Korea .  There are certain characteristics in Salpuri Chum.

First of these is the three basic components of the Salpuri dance movement : the Maenneun-Hyeong (the concentration of tension), the Eoreuneun -Hyeong (controlled relaxation of tension) and finally the Puneun-Hyeong (emission of emotion to completely resolve tension).

Second, Salpuri Chum has elements of Jeong -Jung -Dong which means that there is an element of activity in a general environment of serenity.

The main Chumsawi (dance movement) is founded on the Meomchuneun Sawi (pausing motion) which then leads to Eoreuneun Sawi and Ppurineun Sawi (similar to the motion of splashing water, using the snap of the arm and the hand).

 

Seungmu or Monk's dance is a Korean dance performed by Buddhist monks. It is one of the most famous Korean traditional dances and designated as South Korea's important intangible cultural asset number 27 in 1969. It has been developed into a solo dance by professional dancers nowadays.

The dancer wears a robe (jangsam) with long sleeve called gasa and white hood called (gokkal). The drum or bubgo is the most important part of Seungmu.

The seungmu integrates the eight rhythmic cycles: yeombul, dodeuri, taryeong, jajin taryeong, gutgeori, dwit gutgeori, gujeong nori, and saesanjo. Every now and then, when one rhythm shifts to another, the dancer changes the mood by changing his steps.

 

Taepyeongmu or Dance of Peace is a Korean dance with the function of wishing a great peace for the country. Its exact origin is unknown, but Hahn Seongjun a well known dancer and drummer, rearranged the dance in the early 20th century.  The costumes used by the dancers are similar to the gwanbok  formerly worn by Korea's kings and queens.

Taepyeongmu is designated as one of the Important Intangible Cultural Properties of South Korea.

Technorati Tags: Philatelic exhibitions,costumes,classic dance,Korea Republic