BORING POSTCARDS

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Comment by Valentine Mark Herman on May 8, 2020 at 10:08am

Dear Duck Donald, well it's nice to know that you're getting worked up about something. Thanks for the postcards (see another message), and for the NASA Pioneer Plaque:

Now I will probably bore you all with the story of this (cos I included it in one of my books). There were 2 gold anodized  aluminium Plaques placed on board the 1972 Pioneer 10 (to Taurus) and 1973 Pioneer  (to Saturn) spacecrafts. The Plaques show 2 nude figures with several symbols that were designed to provide information about the origin of the spacecraft.

The Plaques were controversial; In his brilliant book 'The Art of Looking Sideways', Alan Fletcher writes:

"The figures were not shown holding hands in case it implies that they represented a single organism. After all, the ancient Greeks, unfamiliar with domesticated horses, had assumed the marauding mounted Scythians were weird beasts and called them Centaurs. Social conventions and physical attributes were also fed into the design.  A raised hand was intended to show greetings, the bent arm to infer flexibility, and opposing thumbs to indicate grasping.  The woman lacks a sex -- (Carl) Sagan (one of the 2 designers of the Plaque) suspected NASA might censor the message at the last minute. Here is mankind trying to communicate with an unknown and probably superior intelligence and some bureaucrat doesn't want them to know that women have vaginas".

Comment by Richard Canard on May 7, 2020 at 6:29pm

07.05.20 Dare Mister Val Mark H. & Ms. Katerina K., ..."You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you."---Warhol ???....but you see, that's been my problem all along it seems. People keep telling me:  "Richard,  you're getting all worked up over nothing!"  SinCelery,  Richard Canard

Comment by Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat) on May 7, 2020 at 8:02am

Comment by Nancy Bell Scott on May 2, 2020 at 1:02pm

Heart-rending, but the "precious moments" phrase in those lyrics really wreck the whole thing, Val.

Comment by jimmyconnors on May 1, 2020 at 7:58pm

I'm amazed.

Comment by jimmyconnors on May 1, 2020 at 6:31pm

"Comment by Valentine Mark Herman on April 18, 2020 at 4:59pm

YET ANOTHER BORING POSTCARD FROM MIKEL, for which Many Thanks yet again

I think it's a German boat, but can't make out the name on the back of it. Any guesses?"

What does it say on the back side? Also, I like the two persons in the foreground, especially the one on the right.

Also, I have to say, all the cards shown here: not at all boring, au contraire. More like exactly the kind of postcards I'm looking for on flea markets.

Comment by Valentine Mark Herman on May 1, 2020 at 5:22pm

Thanks Nancy,

Here's something from the Three Degrees

"When will I see you again?
When will we share precious moments?
Will I have to wait forever?
Will I have to suffer (suffer)
And cry the whole night through?

When will I see you again?
When will our hearts beat together?
Are we in love or just friends?
Is this my beginning or is this the end? (is this the end?)"

Neither, just put a Boring Postcard here to show how you are still part of the Group

PS

How would the Beach Boys manage without a Beach to go to?

Comment by Nancy Bell Scott on May 1, 2020 at 3:52pm

Sorry no picture. At least 1 demerit for me.

Comment by Valentine Mark Herman on April 28, 2020 at 3:31pm

I posted the message below about the 1st International Boring Postcard Day just before we all went into lockdown. Not surprisingly, and perhaps quite obviously, the response from you all was very limited -- in fact although I started two Discussions and asked you to participate, only Katerina has done so to date.

I'm tempted to postpone the event until 2021. To loose a year would not matter much, and we could easily shift The Day to 23 May 2021.

Any thoughts??

****

1ST INTERNATIONAL BORING POSTCARD DAY

The 1^st International Boring Postcard Day will be held on 23 May, 2020. On this day, in 1952, the Founding Father of Boring Postcards, Martin Parr, was born. Martin produced 3 seminal books on Boring Postcards, and was the inspiration behind the establishment of IUOMA's Boring Postcard Group.

The highlight of the 1^st International Boring Postcard Day will be the selection of the Most Boring Postcards of the Year. There are two categories: i) black and white, and ii)colour (with a 'u'!). You can nominate and vote for one Boring Postcard in each category.

To participate in this event, you must be a Member of the Boring Postcards Group. You are invited to put forward one or two of your most Boring Postcards (one black and white, the second coloured), and, if you have not already done so, send it, or them, to Valentine Mark Herman, 1 Rue de la Vieille Fontaine, F-11130 Sigean, France.

The nominated Boring Postcards will be displayed on two Discussion pages that will be setup for the Group -- one Discussion for the black and white postcards, the other for the coloured ones. For each and every Postcard that you put forward, please provide the following information: i) your name; ii) the title of the Postcard, and/or any information relevant to it; iii) why you think that it is Boring.

If you have already sent your Most Boring Postcard(s) to Val, it will have been included in the Group's pages. Please copy it or them and post it on the relevant Discussion page with the required information. If you have not sent it or them to Val, then please post it or them on the Discussions pages.

The deadline for the submission for the Most Boring Postcard of the Year is 16 May, 2020. Only Postcards posted on the Discussion pages will be part of the event. No Postcards, however Boring, will be considered after that date.

How will the winning Boring Postcards be chosen?

Between the 16^th and the 22^nd of May, each member of the Boring Postcards Group will be able to cast 1 vote for the Postcard in each category they find Most Boring, and send their choices to Val.

He will collate the votes, and announce the winners on the 23^rd May. (In the unlikely event of a tie and/or any disputes about the outcomes, final decisions will be taken by two specially appointed Independent Assessors – Mr Boots and Do Ghi [Val's cat and dog])

There are no prizes, except for the honour of being the Winners of the 1^st International Boring Postcard Day for 2020.

Comment by Valentine Mark Herman on April 28, 2020 at 3:09pm

HOLY AND WHOLEY MOLEY BORING POSTCARDS

1. The Natural Bridge of Va

"Height 218 ft. God's greatest miracle in stone"

This Holy Boring Postcard -- another one from Mim -- was issued by The Rotograph Co, NY City, and printed (why, I wonder?) in Germany

I hope you will not think I am being blasphemous, but I am sure that God has made greater miracles than this

2. Point Naturel, Minerve, Hérault, France

This 'natural bridge' is 150 meters long: wow!3. Niaux Cave and panoramic view of rhe Vicdessos Valley, near Tarascon-sur-Ariège, France

Extra marks for identifying the make and year of the station wagon bottom right. (I claim the points for identifying the white Renault 4, bottom left, circa 1965)

5. A 'Pittoresque' section (and whole) of the Route de St Claude at la Faucille near Mijoux, Jura, France

Sent in July 1970 by Madelaine, Louis and Joel to Mme Brions 'with kisses to your papa"

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