From: mpcgram-owner@mail.papermoneyworld.net on behalf of MPCgram [mpcgram@yahoo.com] Sent: Thursday, March 08, 2007 5:12 PM To: mpcgram@papermoneyworld.net Subject: MPCGram 1533 MPC Gram News Letter =========================================== MPC GRAM =========================================== Series 8, no 1533 Thursday, March 8, 2007 MPC Radio!! by Jim Downey         Like Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin, many of the discoveries that researchers make are purely accidental. I had one of those today that I simply have to share with the Gram audience.         I was researching some online collections for information concerning exchange rates between US dollars, MPC and the Vietnamese piastre when I ran across an archive of clips from Armed Forces Radio – Viet Nam (AFVN). In the days before the internet and instant global communications, the Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS) was one of the few links between overseas installations and the US. When I was in Korea in 1995-96, AFKN was the only English language TV broadcast in the Second Infantry Division area.         Among the sound clips available as MP3 files, there were four that I found that would be of interest. They are: 1) one cautioning GIs to limit their spending of piastres; 2) one warning against black market activities; 3) one reminding MPC holders that they could not have more than $1,000.00 in MPC in their possession; and (saving the best for last) 4) the announcement of the conversion from Series 681 to Series 692.             The files can be accessed at the following sites. Since they are MP3 formats, they should play on any computer.   http://www.papermoneyworld.net/grams/1500-1599/GramSoundFiles/               While I am on the subject of the media . . . This Saturday (March 10) at 9pm ET /PT 8pm CT 7pm MT, the Discovery Channel is airing a program called Combat Zone: Triangle of Death. It covers the experiences of Marines in the Sunni Triangle during 2004. One of the dramatizations depicted in the episode is the ambush during which my nephew, Sgt. Ben Edinger, was wounded in October 2004. He died as a result of his wounds in November 2004. My correspondence with him concerning the AAFES Pogs was the subject of an article in Gram 1235. ***************************************************** Championship Question Corner Question 185. Difficuly 1. Who created the first set of Fest notes (that is the notes issued at MPCFest I)? Yesterdays Question 184. Difficuly 1. Who wrote the standard reference book on POW and concentration camp money of the 20th Century? Answers and comments: Robert Drew wrote: The answer to today's question, What is the Standard reference book on POW & Concentration Camp Money of the 20th Century, is Lance Campbell whose 2nd Ed Published in 1993 by BNR Press (in beautiful downtown Port Clinton) was done in both softcover and hardback. As a followup, I believe I heard that the best book that will be published in the 21st Century, on POW money will be by Larry Smulezenski. Lets hope he doesn't get behind, the on time schedule for the next edition of WW11. Speaking of Larry, unless I missed it I have not heard anything lately about the scholarship auction. Are we having one this year?, can we bring stuff for it or does it need to be mailed in early?? G. W. Slade, Jack Hunter, and (surprise, surprise) Bill Myers also submitted correct answers. ========================================== Editorial ========================================== I just had a short conversation with Jim Downey which was a virtual rerun of one that I had with Warner Talso about war bonds. It is one of those little terminology matters about which I seem to get more worked up than others. Of course I argue that the terminology is important for communications and hence for our research. This is a case in point. Warner called to discuss some bonds that he had seen. His descriptoin seemed to be in conflict with what the bond should have been based upon the issue date that he told me. We worked it out, but here is the problem. US war bonds have two dates. The issue date is identified as such on the bond and is the date from which interest is paid. The other date is the date on which the issuer created (issued) that bond. Normally, this date is the month after the issue date although they can be the same. I do not think that there are any siuations where the issue date (from which interest will be paid) is after the other date. The question is, what is the name of the second date?, or at least, what should we call this second date? I have been calling it the agency date, but I am not at all pleased with this name. Of course, I would like to find an official name for it, but fialing that we need to create one. What do you think?========================================= Mail Call (send mail to MPCGram@yahoo.com) =========================================== Dear Editor,  So what's all the BS you put out when you were asking about whether the book should be in color, to wit: It boils down to this, would you rather have a book in black and white at $20-25 or one in color at $45-50?  Are you getting this book produced in color cheap enough for a $35 retail? Dear Joe, Gee, tell us how you really feel! Actually, I expected some comments after the announcement of the final price. After the first decision to publish a book, the two biggest decisions a publisher makes are: How many? and How much? That is how many to produce and how much to charge. Of course these are interrelated issues since the quantity produced greatly impacts the unit price of the books. Then of course the price likely greatly impacts the number sold. This is not to say that the price of a book depends upon manufacturing (printing) costs. Far too many people make this connection. The price of manufacturing is often a relatively small part of the total cost of creating a book. Nonetheless, the cost of manufacturing is important. One reason for this is that it is the largest expense right at the time of publication. Do you remember the long discussion we had about the price that World War II Remembered should sell for? It took place exactly where I am sitting now. It was probably in early 1995. The book was about finished. Of course the most critical step in publishing had been skipped for that book (just as it was for Silent Witnesses). We did not analyze the market and expenses to estimate if we could make money. Instead, since we had made the decision to create the book based on passion, we had to decide what was the right number and hope that that would include some sort of profit or at least pay out of pocket expenses. If you really want to know, one of the keys in the Feller & Feller case is that the enthusiasm of the authors and Gramsters encouraged us (me) to order are more copies than I had initially planned. I then decided to use the low price in the hope that that would increase the likelihood of selling enough to make a profit. It does not have to be that way of course. Of course it will be very interesting to see how this book does. It is a good book and I am sure that it will be popular. Does that mean a profit (gasp), well that remains to be seen. Thanks for the question. Editor Dear Esteamed Editor: Go to Google and type in Mexico stamps dealers perhaps..........I know of one dealer in CA but cannot find the file ...recent office move here for re-organizing my heaps and piles has ruined my efficiency terribly...of course you of all people can understand that... Colin Dear Colin, Excuse me a minute. Did YOU actually type the word effiency? I have SEEN your office. It was my model for a black hole and I sit at the feet of the master. I tried all variations of your suggestion. Forgot to look in my Linn's though (a freebe from the stamp show) and will work on that. Editor =========================================== Calendar =========================================== 2007 CPMX March 8-11. MPCFest: March 23-25 2007 details TBA. 14 and 15 April 2007 The annual "Maastricht" show, officially named "PaperMoney Fair-Maastricht" will take place, with dealer set up on the 13th, at the "Polfermolen" in Valkenburg, Netherlands. For details, view the bourse web site http:// www.papermoney-maastricht.org/  or contact the show organizer, Joe Eijsermans, at apnc.eijsermans@wxs.nl or eijsermans-events@planet.nl. ANA Summer semnar Session I: June 24-29, 2007* Session II: June 30-July 6, 2007 Memphis 6-8 July ANA Convention, Milwaukee. ========================================== for dealer Hot Contact list, ANA MPC museum holdings and other static information please click this link: http://www.papermoneyworld.net/Gramattichments.htm ========================================= POST / BASE EXCHANGE(PX/BX/NEX) Dump your dupes! Your classified advertisement for items for sale, purchase or trade will be run here for free. Send your ads to the gram. This service is for everyone, most humble dealer or most advanced collector. The point is to make the gram more interesting. In all cases confirm your order via email first. WANTED SECTION: Collectors may submit lists of items wanted for their collections for listing here. WANTED - JAPANESE INVASION MONEY (JIM). Collector/researcher of these notes by zone, type, and block letter, or number will buy or trade.  Checklist available, Anythinfg unusual is of particular interest. Mike Payton, 6609 Craig, Merriam, KS. USA 66202, papermoneymike@yahoo.com Dealers and collectors who have these items, are then encouraged to list them for sale in the above section as a reply. Wanted listings will run for a period of 1 month. ======================================= MPCGram Staff: Publisher, editor: Fred Schwan fred@papermoneyworld.net; Subscription Manager:Doug Bell- doug@papermoneyworld.net Tuesday Columnist : JoeBoling- JoeBoling@aol.com Friday Columnist: Warner Talso: wtalso@aol.com Fest Auctioneer: Larry "Ski"Smulczenski - skitex@cox.net, Critic:Harold Kroll - HARBONS@aol.com Scholarship Coordinator: Marcus Turner- marucs@papermoneyworld.net; Webmaster and Technical Advisors:Doug Bell "Wiz" - doug@papermoneyworld.net Russ Walsh -russ.walsh@gte.net Fact Checker: Warner Talso -Calendar Coordinator: John and Nancy Wilson -The Boss: Judy Schwan MPC Gram is published by BNR Press and papermoneyworld.com as a free service to the community of military money collectors. Your suggestions, criticisms, complaints, editorial contributions, letters, and even praise are very welcome. The entire contents including linked illustrations are copyright protected by the publishers. In the case of contributors, the copyright is protected on behalf of the creators. Please send all correspondence regarding the gram to MPCgram@yahoo.com. Thank you very much for your participation. ____________________________________________________________________________________ It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ mpc gram mail list To subscribe to a list, send a mail message to "imailsrv@papermoneyworld.net" at this address with the following in the body of the message: subscribe mpcgram your_full_name To unsubscribe from a list, send a mail message to "imailsrv@papermoneyworld.net" at this address with the following in the body of the message: unsubscribe mpcgram if you have any problems please report then to doug@papermoneyworld.net