Some philatelists are getting their tongs all twisted over the coming James Bond stamps from the the U.K.'s Royal Mail.

But if you're a Bond fan you might want to get involved in the excitement of commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the exciting films by going here and voting for your favorite Bond posters. A stamp-size design of the ten most popular as chosen by the public will be attached to British stamps in a souvenir sheet to be issued this year.

When I voted there were four Sean Connery Bond flicks in the top ten, though number one was Casino Royale with Daniel Craig. Roger Moore had a few scattered in the top choices, but to me he will always be The Saint. Pierce Brosnan was somewhere, but he's Remington Steele, not James Bond. For me there is only one true cinematic Bond and that is Connery. Different strokes for different folks?

As some parents-to-be play classical music near the mother's belly, hoping to create a great composer; or read great literature into the abdominal bulge, as if the belly button is a microphone to send messages to create the next Charles Dickens, perhaps there is a way to influence your coming family member to be a philatelist.

Could a shirt worn by mom-to-be featuring a postmark with the due date do the trick? Or will the child merely grow up to be the soul of punctuality? While you're trying to figure out whether environment or heredity is more important, check out the Due Date Maternity Shirt over at Shannon Carter's Etsy shop.

Shannon doesn't just make expecting postmarks for bellies holding babies, but she's also designed a celebratory sesquicentennial postmark for the town of Jewett, N.Y., a fact that gives her added cred among stamp collectors. Among her arts and crafts experiences is a stint with Martha Stewart as an editor. She says it was with Martha that she picked up valuable tips from pros of the worlds of art, designing, crafts and photography, among others.

Visit Shannon's Etsy shop, Culpepper General -- which is currently hopping due to a recent appearance on Martha's show -- for the maternity shirt and other interesting items. Who knows, maybe someday she'll create a first day of issue onesie. After all, gotta start those stamp collectors early.

(Photo by Molly Peterson is used with the permission of Shannon Carter.)

"He was a stamp collector. Both of us -- philatelists." -- Writer Harlan Ellison on horror writer Robert Bloch, speaking during an appearance at Cinefamily, Jan. 19, 2012.

Film buffs may know Bloch as the writer of the novel Psycho, that became one of Alfred Hitchcock's signature films. Mr. Ellison was convincing the crowd that Bloch was a kind and gentle individual, notwithstanding the gruesome tales of horror he produced.

Stamp image © USPS

Kudos to admin Lloyd de Vries and the folks that help him keep The Virtual Stamp Club on top of the news of the philatelic world: they've got a one stop spot to learn all about the USPS's 2012 stamp program, including those being issued for the new rates coming this month.

And don't miss de Vries' take on the great number of new issues thanks to the change in his CBS radio broadcast Get Out the Hip Waders (The Coming Deluge). If you look at the situation from the point of view of the average American mailer things aren't so bad, with the first class letter rate only going from 44 cents to 45 cents. But as a collector of U.S. stamps you might be taken aback by the number of issues you'll now have to add to your collection. Remember though, as you are adding a quantity of stamps to your collection, that you don't find yourself on the slippery slope from collector to accumulator. Keep it neat!

Stamp image © USPS