Stamp Column Archives

The Glassine Surfer Column Archive

This column originally appeared in the American Philatelic Society's monthly magazine, "The American Philatelist." Since then some of the information may be out-of-date depending on how far back you're reading.

January 2001

A Good Five Cent Stamp

The marketer's millennium year of 2000 had too many new stamps whose issuance had to be something other than postage, and though that's behind us now, I've got to ponder what the purpose of pre-printing commemoratives in the 21st century really is, if not to sell them to collectors who will stash them in boxes and albums for the next Millennium.

I know topicalists love all new issues on their subject, and children love large packets filled with big colorful fresh mint issues.  But while postal officials love black ink in the ledgers, most stamp collectors are disenchanted and sickened by the exploitation of the collectibles market.  So, to keep everyone happy I propose the following.

Everyone should go about and collect the stamps they like, for they already are sure that those other stamps aren't worth their mounts, and the post office should continue to supply the kids with stamps on colorful topics, but if the post office is interested in growing the stamp collecting hobby they should denominate these new commemoratives at a nickle. That's right a nice "05."

All kids can count by five's, and for a buck they'd be able to get 20 stamps for their collections.  The old George Burn's quip about what this country needs is a good five cent cigar wasn't a joke, but sound advice.   A good five cent stamp would be a great seller, not only would they sell, but they could become habit forming.  

Heck, while we're at it, why not release a pane of 10 five-centers 12 times a year on the fifth of each month?  Yea, I know it might smack of tongsploitation, but afterward those five-cent kids will graduate to the hard stuff, like Zeppelins, line-engraved issues and Machins, and we'll all be happy.

The USPS heralds their 2001 releases as the start of a new century of stamps, and though I have to admit I like some of their designs, nothing replaces a good postage stamp connected in time to the stories and tapestry of the past.

Imperial China

Tommy Chiu lives in Toronto, Canada, and has always been drawn to collecting varieties and cancellations, especially the Line Engraved Issues of Great Britain, Treaty port cancellations on Hong Kong, and cancels on Koban Issues of Japan.   Now he's turned his attention to the stamps and cancels of the issues of Imperial China and the early Republic of China and opened a Website.

The site is divided into large sections covering areas such as Chinese customs post, the provisional issues of 1897, research and reference to name a few.  Sections are further broken down into specific topics such as Dollarchop cancellations on cover, "T" covers, Emperor Hsuan Rung inauguration covers, etc.

It is a good overview to learn something about the stamps and cancels of Imperial China with Chiu illustrating, narrating and showing the basics to beginners and hoping to promote interest in Imperial China.

Chiu is a life member of The China Stamp Society and The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, as well as a member of The China Philatelic Society of London.

A Guide to the Stamps and Cancellations of Imperial China
http://www.accessv.com/~tgmc/stamp.htm

Block Thy Ports

When your modem connects to your internet service provider, your computer not only receives data from the 'Net but can also send it.   Filling in an online form is the obvious example, using Napster is another, and they are harmless and beneficial usages.  

But what if someone runs a program to scour a portion of the WWW so that they can access a targeted computer and grab files, disable features or erase data?  It can be done.

When you hook on the WWW your computer accesses and is accessed by the 'Net via its ports, and the only way to stop inappropriate access to your computer is to protect it with a firewall.  

Each computer gets an IP number when it logs on so that Websites can send data to the right "address."  Malicious hackers can trace addresses and in effect knock on the door to see if they can get in through a port or two.  Once in the problems they create is dependant on the intent and talent of the hacker.  

Most corporations have firewalls and now many people are setting up their own private firewalls with such programs as Black Ice Defender, ZoneAlarm and Sygate Personal Firewall.

Essentially, these programs monitor the data you send and the data received from the 'Net, block access to ports and only allow user-determined levels of activity to occur over the WWW.