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 Since then some of the information may be out-of-date depending on how far back you're reading.

February 2000

DotNow debuted in Sept. '99.  They have cycling banner ads and software for Windows 95-B and 98 with Linux and Mac in the works.  

DotNow
http://www.dotnow.com/

NetZero came out at the end of '98 and has gotten good grades all around.  They have an ad box that's always open on top on your desktop that you can move it around.

NetZero
http://www.netzero.com/

And AltaVista's service, "Free Access" is at the same old address.

Alta Vista
http://microav.com/

These services are moving fast so the details may change before we go to print.

#
Echelon and Encryption

In 1997 the European Parliament confirmed the existance of a satellite network called Echelon run by the US' National Security Agency.  The report said that Echelon intercepted fax, e-mail and telephone messages in Europe on a "routine and indiscriminate" basis.  The targets were and probably still are messages with drug or terrorism related keywords.

Over here, the Federal Government often weighs in on e-mail encryption.  At one time it demanded the keys to decipher all encoding systems so it could read otherwise hard to crack coded messages, and today it's working to identify individual computers.  Of course, the claim is always that the national security was at stake.

And as always the question is again, "How can we protect our privacy and free speech, against bureaucracy's excesses? I know we've been here before, but we're in new territory.

BBC "Echelon"
http://news1.thls.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/despatches/newsid_40000/40671.stm

Party Line
http://civilliberty.about.com/library/weekly/aa010498.htm

Exposing the Global Surveillance System
http://caq.com/CAQ59GlobalSnoop.html

National Security Agency
http://www.nsa.gov/

The program "Pretty Good Privacy" is a powerful and free e-mail encyption program.  It's arrival on the scene a few years ago, prompted the Federal goverment's concern with data encryption, and it's a very good place to start learning about secrecy, government and encryption.

Pretty Good Privacy
http://web.mit.edu/network/pgp.html

#
"Wooster," please.

Our philatelic Web needs more people like postal history buff Bob Track.  He lives in Worcester, Massachusetts, and is sharing his passion and knowledge of its postal history with everyone on the Web.

His "Worcester Massachusetts Postal History" site shows how one collector's body of work can be turned into an impressive web site that's enjoyable not only to postal history aficinados but to anyone who likes a good story.

Worcester's postal history is divided among 14 pages of detailed content, supplimented by the necessary scans.  Among other topics, it covers fancy cancels and Worcester Wessons, early time and date markings.

Worcester Massachusetts Postal History
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/2088/index.htm

#
Sea Turtles

The "Sea Turtle Postage Stamps Website" shows off a topical collection in a way not possible before the web.  How else could you browse this collection of 700 scans of sea turtle stamps at your leisure?

This site has been "live" since '96 and is the work of Nancy B. Linsley and George H. Balazs.  They list sea turtle stamps and souvenier sheets where the turtle can be see without a magnifying glass and list them by country and by species.

There are also sections on sea turtle phone cards and other related topical collection areas, as well as a section for selected sets and covers and maxi cards.

This is well organized topical site that's a pleasure to browse.  It loads fast and doesn't disappoint.  Sea Turtle Postage is packed with the type of content stamp collectors want in a very easy to use format.

Sea Turtle Postage Stamps Website
http://www.2xtreme.net/nlinsley/

# Stamp collectors collect two things.  We collect the stamps and the stories behind the stamps, and the two have finally come together for me.

Long ago my grandparents used to tell me stories about the 1920's, stories about NY's mayor Jimmy Walker, Al Smith, Gen. Pershing, Valentino, Capone, Lindy, the Babe and Pancho Villa since Grandpa was in the army then.

For the longest time I didn't know why I liked the US' 1922-26 definitive series, but then I remembered the stories.  Does anyone have a Twenties collection?  I should start.

Enjoy the 12th and 22d, and don't forget about Valentine's Day.  You might try sending cards to your beloved once a day for a week, creating your own covers and romantic collectibles in the process.

And on a somber note let's pray for a good forecast from Punxatawney Phil.