First Day Cover Design - Royal Mail's 'Women of Distinction' & Feminism Logo

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:09:12 +0100

I designed the following FDC and Logo after checking out Royal Mail's stamp issue for the month of October, 2008 - took me 10 seconds to think up the logo;). The highlight of the FDC design is not the design of the cover, which is quite straightforward and simple, but the logo. It comprises the female symbol turned into a 'torch'. I wrote to the Fawcett Society to ask if they would consider this for their logo as they don't seem to currently have one. I also thought that they could endorse this FDC and perhaps launch it to coincide with Royal Mail's issue of the said stamps. The logo could also be turned into a postmark and imprinted on the stamps on the FDC. Anyway, it's just one of my many ideas in many arenas which, I suppose, will not see the light of day (due to various types of discrimination...which is quite interesting from a sociological perspective) - which has led to me producing less ideas these days. Never mind. At least it is done eh.:)

By the way, in case you're wondering, I'm a feminist myself. I'm of what I call, 'The Integrational School', as opposed to (what I term) The Assimilationist or Progressive school - (assimilationist - seeking to be like men, progressive - seeking more rights of self-determination....my 'integrational school' comprises the latter and also calls for men to become more like women as opposed to women seeking to become as fu*ked up as men;) ) I suppose, in that sense, the torch symbol below illustrates my view as traditional femininity as a 'light/beacon for humanity'. This is a movement away from the commonly used fist-in-female symbol which is quite associated with a fight for 'equality' which is a bit off from my 'Integrational' perspective.

Feminist Logo version 1

Feminist Logo version 2

Women-of-Distinction---FDC

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First Day Cover Designs - Royal Mail's 'Classic Carry On & Hammer Films'

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 11:52:28 +0100

updated 12th June 2008

The following is my first attempt at 'first day cover' design. This one coincides with Royal Mail's release of the 'Classic Carry On & Hammer Films' series on the 10th of June, 2008 - depicted as the 'ticket number' on the first design. All my designs are supposed to be printed as envelopes with the released series of stamps affixed on them as illustrated. Did it just for fun. Hope you like it:)

After the following, you can see the designs by the main cover producers in the UK in case you might be interested in acquiring them.

(my art repository - ARTiculate.vox.com)

By ed

Carry-on-design-2

Carry-on-design-1

Carry-on-DRAC-design-1

Carry-on-DRAC-design-2

Carry-on-DRAC-design-3

By Royal Mail Their 'first day covers' are sold out after the 'date of issue'. They however do have other related products that are sold online whilst stocks last. I got almost all the various items for this series. Great customer service.

Royal mail

By Norvic Philatelics

If you're interested in Royal Mail First Day Covers but missed the release date, you can still acquire them from Norvic Philatelics after the date of issue. Norvic has great customer service and you can skype Ian - the bloke running the company - and chat with him about what you need. They accept PayPal, amongst others, and will try to acquire covers for you even if they are out of stock. I would indeed recommend them.

By Buckingham Covers (largest cover producer in the UK) - signed 'Tribute to Christopher Lee' cover. Available on their site. Their designs are a bit dated and lack what I term, metaphorical creativity, but the value of their covers tend to be drawn from the autographs and limitedness - that unfortunately tends to distract one from the art behind the whole thing.

Buckingham

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Blogger arrested in Singapore for supposing otherwise

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:28:24 +0100

For those of you who aren't here simply for an entertaining 'quick-fix', check out that which follows. Quite an interesting series of events that has transpired in the 'modern' state of singapore. Makes us think of things that we might take for granted - such as the value of the freedom of speech for instance (a sub-component of which I term, 'The Freedom to Suppose Otherwise' - a corrolary of a politically non-transparent milieu, amongst others.).

MM: A lie against Govt will be pursued - even in cyberspace

http://www.asiaone.com/Digital/News/S...

ANY lie that questioned the Government's integrity must be fought, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew yesterday. He would pursue even those who perpetrated such lies in cyberspace, if the authorities could pinpoint the culprit.

Singapore Dissident: Lee Kuan Yew: If bloggers who defame me identify themselves, I will sue them!

http://singaporedissident.blogspot.co...

Ladies and Gentlemen,I am Gopalan Nair. Today is May 31, 2008 at 10.40am Singapore time. I am at present in Singapore at Broadway Hotel, Room 708, 195 Serangoon Road, Singapore, 218067. The hotel telephone number is is 62924661. My local SingTel telephone number is 83764236.In my last blog post, I had narrated the shameful spectacle of Lee Kuan Yew and his Prime Minister son abusing the legal system for their political ends through their lawyer Davinder Singh and a compliant judge, both compliant and suppliant to Lee Kuan Yew's demands to abuse the law, Belinda Ang, to punish his political opponents Dr. Chee Soon Juan and Chee Siok Chin.I repeat the threat that Lee Kuan Yew had made on day two of the show trial during the last 3 days in the High Court. When asked by Dr. Chee whether he will sue those who write on the Internet defamations against him, I mean defamations in the Singaporean sense, his definitive unequivocal answer was that he will sue them. There is no doubt in the Singaporean sense, I have defamed him and his Prime Minister son, not only in my last blog post but in almost all my blog posts since my blog's inception in December 2006.My posts have attracted great popular interest throughout Singapore and has been repeatedly and widely re-posted throughout the island in other blogs and political forums. A wide section and spectrum of Singaporeans have read them and interest in them increases daily. And as Lee Kuan Yew has himself said with both bravado and gusto, a lie has to be nailed because otherwise through dissemination people who matter, Singapore citizens, will begin to take it seriously.Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, you have called Dr. Chee a liar, a cheat, a scoundrel, a criminal and various other abusive epithets. Let me tell Mr. Lee Kuan Yew that these words that you have uttered apply to you and your son, not to Dr. Chee Soon Juan.Not only in my mind but in the minds of countless Singaporeans, Lee Kuan Yew and his Prime Minister son are men so weak th...

Gopalan Nair's Statement in Full

http://www.sgforums.com/forums/10/top...

Ladies and Gentlemen,This is Gopalan Nair in Singapore today, May 29, 2008. I have been in Singapore since May 25, 2008, and staying now at Broadway Hotel, Room 708, 195 Serangoon Road, Singapore 218067. I am deliberately stating my identity and my present exact location for a definite purpose. On day 2 of the trial in Singapore, day before yesterday, in the Lee Kuan Yew and son verses Dr. Chee Soon Juan case, Lee senior had said in answer to a question by Dr. Chee, that if he, Lee Kuan Yew, knew the identity of bloggers in cyberspace who defamed him (defamation being used of course in the Singaporean sense), he will sue and bankrupt them. He had earlier sidestepped the question by saying, that he had difficulty suing critics of his in the Internet because their identities were not usually known. When pressed, he categorically and deliberately stated that he will sue if they made known their identities. Well, what you are going to read should be without question defamatory of Mr. Lee and his son, that is in the warped and hare brained Alice in Wonderland meaning of the word "defamation". It will be interesting to see if this Singapore strongman, Lee Kuan Yew and son, who strut around the small island of Singapore bullying everyone who so much as criticized, will sue me now for calling him nothing more than a small time street bully; since now, we have myself Gopalan Nair who has the temerity to identify himself and state his presence with full address in Singapore. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, see here. I am now within the jurisdiction of your courts; I repeat, "the jurisdiction of your courts" because literally they are your courts, willing to commit any crime or injustice you will demand of them. During the last 3 days of the court hearing, up till yesterday, in the High Court, before your stooge of a judge, Belinda Ang in Court 4, you and your Prime Minister son conducted yourselves as expected, no better than cowards hiding behind the coat tails of your equally cowardly...

Epilogue:

The above bloke got arrested yesterday by the police in Singapore.

Gopalan Nair arrested for insulting public servant

http://www.channe...

SINGAPORE: Police have arrested a former Singaporean for the offence of "threatening, abusing or insulting a public servant". In response to media queries, police confirmed that Gopalan Pallichadath Nair, who is now a US citizen, was arrested at Broadway Hotel along Serangoon Road on Saturday. ...

Quite a few singaporean bloggers have ridiculed Gopalan - not surprising in a nation where forwarding alternative views at all levels of society is viewed as 'troublemaking' and people generally occupy themselves with food, football, shopping, keeping up with trends, and complaining about work (just hop on over to the 'singapore' group on vox to see who's talking about this as opposed to other things;) ).

For myself, I think that Gopalan’s behaviour simply serves, not to indicate his 'unsound mind', but the existence of an unsound democracy where to publicly suppose that any politician can mean or intend anything other than what is publicly stated or acted out is viewed as defamation, slander and libel. What is being implied via such a stance is that the government is infallible and that people must take their words as holy writ.

I do agree with Lee that every 'lie' against the government must be fought' - but I beg to to differ on the method used to 'fight' it or the view that it is a 'lie' simply because it can't be proved. Where access to information is not as popularly available as it is to a government, to place the burden of proof on citizens is to accord unfair advantage to the servants of the masters, and render the latter politically impotent.
Secondly, and related to the preceding point, I wouldn't see challenge or opposition as a 'lie', but as a reminder to render transparent that which might be opaque. For it is the absence of transparency that founds the basis for contrariwise suppositions - or 'lies' as some would call it.

Personally, I always thought that governments ought to prove to the people that they(the government) are right, and it is not for their masters(the people) to prove that they(the government) are wrong. If we do not abide by this principle, does that not mean that we have to simply believe whatever is publicly stated by those we employ as public servants? I think the freedom to suppose otherwise is a significant check against the tyrannous influence of the subconscious over the conscious minds of politicians(and just about anyone for that matter), and a check on a non-transparent political milieu. Well, well, I'm sure that there are precious few who appreciate this point in the good ole state of singapore. Quite a hilarious saga isn't it. I can't believe that this can happen in this day and age.

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Conned by Royal Mail? - Your opinion appreciated:)

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:36:04 +0100

I purchased a Miniature Sheet Album from Royal Mail and, whilst expecting it to contain 30 pages, found only 9. (ref. image below).

Miniature-sheet-album

What do you think?

The last line of the encircled paragraphs states, 'The Album holds 30 Miniature(stamp) Sheets'. What would you think if you were in my position. Would you, for instance think that it only came with 10 pages and that you had to purchase an additional 20 pages for it to 'hold 30 Miniature(stamp) Sheets'? Basically, for it to 'hold 30 Miniature Sheets', can it not be assumed that it holds 30 pages to hold the said 30 Miniature Sheets since nothing less than that can hold 30 Miniature Sheets? Not according to Royal Mail.

Upon seeking clarification from Royal Mail, I was told,

“ The Mini sheet album comes with 10 pages so I am arranging for an additonal page to be sent. Sorry your mini sheet album received only had 9 pages.

The Album can hold 30 mini sheets but does not come with this number of
sheets in the album.

Additional pages can be purchased PA699 costing £3.45 for a packet of 10
plus a handling charge of £1.45 to a UK address. ”

So I had to spend another £8.35 to get what I was led to believe I was getting with the initial purchase? Hmmm.
In response, I wrote to Royal Mail and stated that they ought to have stated, 'The album contains 10 pages and holds up to 30 or more stamp sheets upon purchase of additional pages'. All I got was,

“Thank you for taking the time to comment on the website and mini sheet album. We always value customer feedback and this has been noted. ”

Well, I wrote to them and told them that I expected Royal Mail to honour their claim that the Album holds 30 sheets and send me the additional 20 pages as there was no factual basis upon which I might assume that the album did not contain 30 pages, and that i had to fork out more money for it do so.

In response, I got none, except 10 pages in the mail the next day - which brought my total page-count to 19 instead of the expected 30.

To Royal Mail (they have been sent a link to this page) :

As the information supplied on the relevant page was instrumental in instigating my purchase of the said Miniature Sheet Album, I don't believe a compromise is acceptable when misinformation can be argued for more easily than a misunderstanding. It is incumbent upon Royal Mail to ensure that the information at their site is accurate and leaves no room for allegations of misinformation.

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Stamps - Royalmail commemorates first powered flight centenary in the UK

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Fri, 23 May 2008 16:35:14 +0100

“Ready for take-off! Royal Mail has put on a stunning display of new stamps to mark the centenary of the first officially recorded, powered flight in the UK. Available Thursday 17 July 2008..." - royalmail (but you can order them now.)

A beautiful collection indeed. I got them all!(except for the 'mint stamps' which are already included in the presentation pack.) In case you're wondering, yes, they do international deliveries for just over a couple of 'quid'(pounds) - no matter how many stamps you order. More than reasonable don't you think. Feeling that you're getting the short-end of the stick isn't a daily experience here in the UK.

I'm not much of an aviation-freak, but I do like the significance of the event and the 'centenary' milestone - which my return here coincides with - and the designs and colour palette used as it tends to focus one's attention on the event instead of distracting one's attention from it. I also like the way the viewer is brought into the scene in the foreground that sort of locates us amongst them as well - what i would term an 'inclusive design'. Most importantly, the significance of each developmental milestone is focused on 'minimalistically' with the sky as a canvas. Good one! You can view the 'special stamps' page here.

images nicked from RoyalMail...i'm sure they won't mind

Mint stamps

Presentation Pack

First day cover 17th july 2008

Generic sheet

Medal cover

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What do you think is the world's worst idea?

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:12:38 +0100

What do you think is the world's worst idea?

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/threa...

Reality TV and the atom bomb have topped the list of the "world's worst ideas" in a survey to to celebrate Museums and Galleries Month. What are the world's best and worst inventions?Almost a fifth of people asked, including young people aged 16 - 24, named reality TV as the worst invention ever. Capital punishment and plastic bags also made it into the top five clangers. The wheel was chosen as the best innovation and the internet came in at number two. Penicillin and women's rights were also in the top five. Leonardo da Vinci was named as the person in history who was responsible for the best ideas.What do you think are the best and worst inventions? What invention could you not live without? Who has been responsible for the greatest ideas in history?Read the main storyClick here if you have any other story ideas

Brothers in Arms - Dire Straits

Thoughts on TalkWorthy

lyrics

These mist covered mountains
Are a home now for me
But my home is the lowlands
And always will be
Some day you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn
To be brothers in arms

Through these fields of destruction
Baptism of fire
I've whittnessed your suffering
As the battles raged higher
And though they did hurt me so bad
In the fear and alarm
You did not desert me
My brothers in arms

There's so many different worlds
So many different suns
And we have just one world
But we live in different ones

Now the sun's gone to hell
And the moon's riding high
Let me bid you farewell
Every man has to die
But it's written in the starlight
And every line on your palm
We're fools to make war
On our brothers in arms

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Is music the key to academic gains?

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:06:00 +0100

BBC NEWS | Education | Is music the key to academic gains?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/...

Studies have been carried out in this field in Canada, where - in one case - researchers found musically trained children (aged four to six) performed better in memory tests than those who had no instrument lessons over the course of the year-long programme.

There is no doubt that I’ve always been smarter than my peers in singapore from childhood through to the present. I was always the ‘leader’ from elementary school onwards; generated more ideas and solutions in the face of any situation; and spent what might be deemed to be an inordinate amount of time reflecting and considering the novel even as a child – as far as I can remember, from the age of 4 (yes, I can remember some of the events from that age, locations and how I felt about things at that point in time). No, I’m not preoccupied with its self-esteem benefits to myself. Rather, I’ve always been interested to know how this might have occurred so that i might pass on the Method to those around myself in singapore.

Of the various factors that contributed to my intellectual and perspectival development, one of them is musical exposure.

From childhood, my elder brother used to play a whole array of music such as rock&roll, opera, meditation music, classical music, jazz, disco, sentimental, etc. (I was also professionally trained as a soloist(soprano) in the school choir in elementary school). I later picked up the blues harp, violin, didgeridoo and sought exposure to other types of music and culture.(I can also listen to a tune and play it by ear on an instrument) This had almost immediate and observable effect on the way I thought on other seemingly unrelated matters. Once I realised that the principles acquired in one field could be transported to others and enhance one's perspectival vibrancy in them, I began to do this intentionally by seeking out new types of music, food, philosophies, religions, etc, etc, etc. Then i would sit back and do what i usually do and see myself making further inroads that i previously had not - i.e. in cooking, art, writing, philosophy, work, etc, etc. Delicious to be in control of the factors impacting on one's development.

As far as music goes, my exposure to my brother's music, specifically, taught me that there were different ways of appreciating music, and generically, it enhanced my propensity to appreciate reality itself in a multitude of ways, or at least keeping my mind open to the novel instead of discounting it like most singaporeans do (especially the Chinese) at present (I have, however, helped quite a few Chinese, and others, to transcend this perspectival disability by instruction or lessons).

Exposure to various types of music, in part, strengthened what I would call my metaphysical base which has always served to defend my intellectual and aesthetic sense against pressures to conform and be part of a culturally uniform tapestry by any variant of monoculturalism. Thus, overtime, with the growth of monoculturalism(90s onward) in singapore, I became a pariah who was frequently asked by people, 'are you a singaporean?'. I've always taken this as a compliment. But this had untoward consequences on my social life, employment opportunities, etc, etc. But, it doesn't matter. Being true to one's potentials has always been far more important to myself than acceptance by an increasingly faceless mass.

I suppose the role of music, amongst others, is more critical at ages where one would not be able to comprehend philosophical discourse. That is, when one is young. Music, art, exposure to difference – whether it is to muslims wearing their headdress in schools or different types of music, cultures, foods, etc - are some of the simple means by which one might be able to prepare the young mind to be open and capable of thinking out of the box at a later stage as one does not need to be able to understand it to be influenced by its generic qualities. It helps to unstop all of ones’ senses and prepares the mind to look at things from other angles. Thus, when one is exposed to education, problems, etc, one would be well-positioned to appreciate it from other angles, and absorb more of the essence of any subject even though this might not always translate into ‘straight As’. I have tested myself in novel situation and found my solution-generation to be quicker and more multi-dimensional than those whom were more experienced than myself - i.e. identified problems and generated more solutions in significant areas in my 2nd month in the civil service(in the past) than my superiors and those whom were more experienced whom together could not find a solution to; advise friends in their work even though i've never been engaged in their particular professions; produce professional perspectives(in philosophy, photography, art, music, etc,) comparable to the experienced after a month or two exposure. No, no, this is not a boast. That is a waste of time. I've always been interested in the Method and what might have aided a person like myself brought up within disadvantageous circumstances to transcend his lot in life and become atypically singaporean. Basically, i've always said, if i can do it, anyone else can.

As I've always said to my Chinese friends in efforts to aid their advancement in their work, life, etc, ‘A sponge in a puddle absorbs far more in an instant than a boulder in the ocean in a decade.’ To some degree, the experience related above helps in turning the rock into a sponge.

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The Changing Face of British Cons...I mean Coins

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Tue, 20 May 2008 08:57:46 +0100

BBC NEWS | UK | Royal Mint unveils coin designs

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7326491...

When the new coins are introduced this summer it will not be the first time the Britannia has not appeared on the 50p piece. For example the 2006 50p featured a commemorative design to mark the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Cross.

To mark the change in British coins, the Royalmint is releasing a limited edition set of 'Standard', 'Deluxe' and 'Executive' Proof coins. See below -

2008 Deluxe Proof

2008 Executive Proof

The 'Deluxe edition' is 50 quid and is limited to 15,000 pieces worldwide, and the latter 'Executive edition', 80 quid, and limited to 5,000 pieces worldwide.

As far as I've seen, unless I'm missing something, the 30quid difference is in the limited-ness of the BOX. If so, it would be more true to say that it is the box that is limited to 5,000 pieces and not the coin-set. But, of course, such info is hidden behind the phrase, 'limited edition', and not, 'limited BOX' - which would just serve to reveal some of the superficial and asinine vanity that sometimes fuels the collecting market - and support for the monarchy as well. This time, with a royal stamp behind it.

To the RoyalMint, just one more question, are the boxes sold separately?

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Britvic Dancer - nope, rhythm ain't a dancer...

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Mon, 19 May 2008 10:45:52 +0100

This is one of my favourite ads in the UK. Everytime it is aired, whatever I'm in the midst of, I'd stop and watch, with a smile.

Britvic Drench 'Brains'

I've always loved dancing. It is an expression of passion. I'm what you might call a 'freestylist' executing moves according to my mood. I don't follow 'steps' like some automaton. Dancing is an expression of the primitive passion of the God that sits in the inner temple of the soul. A primitive expression that calls on the genetic inheritance of the primitive passion of all of one's ancestors. To anyone who wants to learn to dance, I always say, 'don't learn how to dance, learn how to feel, and you'll know how to dance'. And then, when you dance, you'll be unique as it will be a result of the unique feeling and passionate being that you uniquely are.

Not so in the case of most singaporeans who mechanically execute steps and think it qualifies them as 'dancers'. Pooh, pooh with icing on top. I sometimes see so-called 'breakdancers' in the basement of a particular shopping mall (suntec city's 'citylink') and can't help shaking my head in disgust. You see them executing steps, but there is no passion on their faces or in any movement. That's a far cry from the 80s when we used to 'break' with vigour and passion (doing it in public was prohibited back then...the authorities frown on any impromptu public display/practice/promotion of passion...I think it might be because generic passion can possibly translate into a healthy sense of one's possible identities and which can, in turn, possibly increase one's propensity to exhibit it in other arenas - like politics for instance;) ). And when I see 'dancers' on the telly competing with each other, I shake my head again with disappointment. Why am I disappointed? Because, just as I exude passion – as anyone who knows me would attest to – I feed off it as well. Thus, the singapore of the 90s to the present has done much to compromise the further growth of passion within myself via its culture of tradition, imitation as opposed to invention, uniformity, and intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic conformity. No wonder they are such ho-hum 'expressionists' - be it in dance, art, thought, etc.

It's simple actually. Without Passion in Life, as exhibited, say, in passionate discussions/thoughts/beliefs/etc on potentially incendiary or taboo topics such as politics, sex, social life; imagining out-of-the-box when it comes to what construes a 'better life'; and keeping alive one’s generic curiosity in the face of the novel, one cannot expect to perform significantly in, say, the dance floor, in bed or on the podium. Even food plays a part in bringing out great passion - one of the reasons why I go for spicy Indian food as opposed to other relatively sedate food. Through these different types of passion-inciting activities, one’s generic reservoir of Passion is fed, and serves as ‘viagra’ in opening up the tributaries that consequently release the floodgates that irrigate the fields of expression in other arenas.

You see, Rhythm might enable you to keep in step, but it is Passion that gives it Life.

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Sunday Tune - Silent Circle's 'Touch in the Night'

nobody@vox.com(ed'sperience) — Sun, 18 May 2008 13:43:51 +0100

I finally found one of the tunes I danced to on my prom night in '87 - with my then Malay girlfriend. I didn't stop dancing for about 3 hours as I knew very well that she wouldn't mind dancing with other guys if I wasn't there to dance with her;). Well, it was the first time I ever danced - and I haven't stopped since. Still a danceable tune to me. Those were the times people actually looked at each other and smiled whilst dancing. Nice....and still love the tune. Here are two video-versions of the same song. Joy's 'Touch by Touch' - another tune I danced to on the 'prom night' follows.

Silent Circle - Touch in the Night

Joy - Touch by Touch

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