Royal Wedding - Prince William and Princess Kate

It happened yesterday! In honor of these regal event, a British Wedding portrait flag was printed.

Basically its the flag of the United Kingdom with a portrait of Prince William and now, Princess Kate.

Willow Grove Park Flag and John Sousa

Willow Grove Park Flag
the conductor is supposed to be Sousa

Willow Grove Park just outside of Philadelphia. Originally it was a classic Victorian Park. Later John Sousa made it his home stage, and favorite gig to play at. John Sousa is the musician responsible for the patriotic core of American Marching Band Music.

John Sousa was originally born in DC, and as a child was witness to the Civil War, no doubt this played a formative role on young "Johnny Patriot" Sousa.

Not only was Sousa a part of the conservative establishment, he also lived the American dream with a career that spanned Circus (before TV & Hollywood). On the other end, Sousa also became chair of the US Marine Corps band.

Today, Willow Grove Park has lost much her Marching Band-Victorian luster. Willow Grove is now an elegant three storied shopping mall. But the legacy of John Philip Sousa lives on.

One last piece of the heyday Victorian musical park atmosphere has been preserved - the Merry Go Round. At the entrance to Willow Grove Park's Carousel Entrance fly three flags - the US Flag, Pennsylvania State Flag, and Willow Grove Park Flag.


Video about Modern Willow Grove Park 2010
wile playing Stars and Stripes Forever

Flag of Pernambuco

The flag of Pernambuco of Brazil is appropriate for today, since its Easter Sunday 2011.

Brazil has 26 states with one capital district. Pernambuco is a Brazilian State below the equator and on the East Coastline that faces Africa, rather than the North Coast that faces the Caribbean.

The flag of Pernambuco is a horizontally divided flag, with the upper half slightly larger. The bottom half is white, centered on it is a simple red cross. The upper half features a dark blue sky with a simple red-yellow-green rainbow. Below the rainbow is a yellow sun and above it is a yellow star.

Famous Jesus Statue in Brazil

Brazil is already famous famous for the largest statue of Jesus, but that is in Rio de Janeiro.

In any case,
Happy Easter

April 21, 2011 reservation

Hamburg & Frankfurt - aka Hamburger vs Hotdogs

Flag of Frankfurt in Germany
Hot Dogs were once called Frankfurters
until German Aggression in the 1900s

Why do we call hamburgers hamburgers? They don't have any ham in them. There is the Cliff Clavin explanation that some German guys from Hamburg killed some animal and rode on top of the meat on horseback, and when they got 'home' they called it hamburger.

Likewise how do you get 'hot dog' out of a oblong bun shaped sandwich that is not made of dog-meat and is full of miscellaneous and left over pork products?

Before the rise of aggressive German Political parties they were originally called Frankfurter's since German-American immigrants added this this to the general picture of official 'American Food.' By the early 1900s, baseball was the American Pastime and frankfurters were the it food at game time - thank you Germany.

But due to the Kaiser and other mean-holes, the Anglo-American Elite decided that we should spite German Pride by changing the name to Hot Dog. They also tried to call Sauerkraut Liberty Cabbage - but it didn't stick.

Fast forward to the 21 century, and American Leaders were motivated to change the name of 'French Fries' to 'Freedom Fries,' since the French Government didn't support the US invasion of Iraq.

Flag of Hamburg
Contrary to its name 'Hamburger' has no Ham

Hamburgers were also given new names after WWI - 'Liberty Steak' and 'Salisbury-Steak.' Perhaps Patriot-Patty or Beef-Burger would have made more sense! You can still see Salisbury Steak on some menus, but the anti-German essence is gone.

To the left is the flag of Hamburg, Germany. It was the original 'White Castle' associated with a special kind of hamburger. Like a Hamburger it has a meaty Christian Cross stuffed between a Star of David bun.

So what can we learn? American Right Wing vibes are able to change the English Language when the nation wants to spite a foreign government. Likewise American Left Wing vibes are able to change the English language to accommodate minorities... aka the 'Yin-Lesser' point of view.

Thus, one way of making American 'go metric' is to either convince the American People that the current 'enemy of mind' is responsible for our unhappy 'political' dilemma and is responsible for the irrational ounces-pounds-tons measuring system. Or that white men invented irrational yards-foot-mile measuring system to keep women and minorities in their place.


Pee Wee Herman in Cheech and Chong's Nice Dreams, 1981
is the Original Hamburger Man

The Flags in Citizen Kane by Orson Wells, 1941

Notice Flags in the Background

Every connoisseur of fine film lists Citizen Kane on the best of the best. The story, the style, and ground breaking techniques put this movie from 1941 in the history books. Upon its first release in the USA this movie didn't do well, but it had a revival in the 1950s. Nowadays, it's considered the proverbial 'Shakespeare' of film. It is film law that all film students shall watch, study, and critique this film.

In the opening sequence a news flash is shown and the flags of several nations are shown. Back then and as it is today, flags convey a serious and professional tone.

Since this movie was made in the black and white era they are difficult to make out. One flag looks the that of Austria? Another flag has saltire, which is basically an X. It looks like the Russian Naval Ensign?

These flags are flashed in the beginning of Citizen Kane






















Here is a statue from "Xanadu" the fictitious private resort of media mogul Mr. Kane.The warrior is holding what looks like is a battle flag with a spear point. The specific design and colours are difficult to make out.

Tax Day 2011 & The IRS Eagle

Treasury and IRS Seals Compared

Since 1955, Federal Income Taxes have been due April 15 - but every once and a while the date shifts. This year it shifted to maximum - April 18, 2011.

The first federal income taxes were initiated during the US Civil War in 1862 on people who made over 800 dollars a year, which excluded most workers.

After the war this temporary measure was abandoned. But by 1913 income taxes for the federal government was made the law of the land, with the sweet sixteenth amendment under president Taft.

The "IRS Eagle"

The seal of the IRS is essentially the seal of the Department of Treasury - the only difference being the inscription upon the internal ring.

By 1998, the IRS had adopted its own logo - the IRS Eagle. On the left hand side is an olive branch with seven leaves. On the right side is the outline in bold strokes of an eagle with its left wing raised in the air and you can not see the right wing. In the middle bottom portion is a balance scale that is reflective of the IRS and Treasury Seals.

In 1998 the IRS was reorganized and the issue of IRS symbols came to the table. Previously the seal of the Treasury and IRS were used inconsistently and with much confusion. Thus there was a need for a distinct IRS Symbol, thus the IRS Eagle was born soon afterwards.

Link to Official IRS Website dealing with the vivid detail of the IRS' Symbols

The First 1040 - from 1913 AD

Construction/Warning Mini Flags: aka Banderitos

Maybe you never noticed, but along side construction sites little mini flags have been adopted by the construction industry to warn workers where buried utilities are.

I was with one of my colleagues, from Guatemala by the name of Jesus. It was with him that we coined the term Baderitos.

Bandera is Spanish for flag. You can also see that Bandera is a Latin root for the term Bandanna or Banner.

Bandertiros are usually held up by aluminum metal wires. They come in various colours, and the there is no standard as to what each colour means. It is essential that these types of flags have words written on them so as to convey important information. Otherwise it could result in massive property damage and or personal injury.

Most vexillologists would consider these mini flags (Banderditos) as "BAD FLAGS" since they have words upon them. Vexillological Orthodoxy prefers that flags use coded symbols and or patterns. But I'm not most vexillologist: in my opinion these are "Excellent" utilitarian and logical flags that have saved time, money, and lives.

Like hidden Easter Eggs
a Rainbow collage of Banderitos (click image for clearer view)

Titanic - 99 years ago today

White Star Line Flag and Logo

The company that owned the RMS Titanic (RMS meaning Royal Mail Ship) was the White Star Line, founded in Liverpool, England in 1869. Its original name as the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company.

The White Star Line joined with the Cunard Line and since 2005 has become a part of Carnival Cruise Lines. The flag of the White Star line, used its namesake on a red fielded guidon with a five pointed white star.

Current Carnival Corporation Logo with Flag

The sinking of the Titanic was epic of the times. The 20th century began, and amazing and marvelous technologies were unleashed upon the public. It seemed science and technology were going to grant mankind a new dominion over the forces of nature. The British Empire was at its apex. Ireland, Africa, India, America, and Asia were ruled as an Empire under King and Corporation. But the trials and horror of WWI were just around the corner.

The next 99 years saw a grand reworking of the social fabric and reality. Faded now are the dreams and hopes of early 20th century, yet we seem to be in the same position 99 years since our folly. What have we learned?

Funkadelic Flag - One Nation Under a Groove

Album Cover of Funkadelic's
One Nation Under a Groove

1978 was a funky time for the United States. Disco was it, hair was fair, and cosmic funky grooves were kicking out of the African American Community.

The band Funkadelic released their album - One Nation Under a Groove. Their cover featured groovy aliens planting a funky R&B African American Flag around the earth and the One Nation Under a Groove Flag in the lower right hand corner. Before Phish and Blue Man Group, Funkadelic was there.


One Nation Under a Groove Flag - 1978

150th Anniversary of the "Offical" Opening of the US Civil War

Flag of the Union at Ft. Sumter & Confederacy
150 years ago today

150 years ago the US Civil War officially started with the shelling of a US Base that was just off the coast of South Carolina.

Shots had already been fired in Charleston Harbor on January 9, 1861. But this occurred before the formation of the Confederacy.

South Carolina fired upon The Star of the West. But this ship did not belong to the US Navy. And on that date, only one state had left the union - South Carolina. Coincidentally Mississippi was on the cusp of leaving the Union. Mississippi was in the Union on the morning of January 9th 1861, but out of the Union by nightfall.

Thus the Alpha & Beta of the Confederacy was South Carolina and Mississippi.

Rising of the Confederate Flag
Ft. Sumter - April 1861

But by April 12, 1861 - seven states formed the Confederacy under provisional president Jefferson Davis. Seven states dissolved their ties to the US Constitution under the 15th president - Buchanan. The rebel governments were essentially dissatisfied with the outcome of the 1860 Presidential Election. Even today, several nations especially in Africa are fighting wars over political elections (Ivory Coast).

Perhaps it would have been more polite to give the new president a 90 day trial run before trying to get your money back...so to speak? Instead, seven states jumped the gun and got out before any official business could take place under the democratically and fairly elected president could take one breath of presidential air.

Thus the first shot of the Confederacy occurred 150 years ago today, along the enchanted and hallowed shores of South Carolina. It started over a small thing, the possession of a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was the straw the broke the camels back, or rather the snowflake that caused an avalanche.


Of course there were other political considerations, which unto this day still remain hotly contested by some...

Bavaira & Saxony - German Flag Symmetry: Part V

The flags of Bavaria and Saxony are another pair. Although the colours differ, green and blue are similar tones. Bavaria also uses another flag with a lonzenge pattern and same light blue colour.

State flag of Saxony

Many elite English and American family lines can claim a link to Saxony - via the ethnic label of WASP. Three states of modern Germany carry the name Saxony - Lower Saxony, Saxony Anhalt, and Saxony. Most importantly the origins of the Protestant Voice fall upon the shoulders of a man born in "Saxony."

However, the German People were destined to be divided at this tragic and yet hopeful crossroads of Christian Faith. The subsequent churches born in the wake of Luther's path can trace their roots to a voice from 'Saxony.' The majority of American Churches owe a grain of gratitude to this man weather they be Quaker, Mormon, Calvinist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Unitarian, Anglican, Revivalist Evangelical and of course - Lutheran.

Half the German family remained loyal to Rome while another half went their own way. In contrast to the Saxon path, Bavaria chose to remain mostly Catholic. Bavaria is matched in faith with most American-Irish, American-Italian, American-Polish and American-Hispanic Communities.

State flag of Bavaria

Geographically, Bavaria and Saxony are landlocked states on the Eastern border next to the Czech Republic. Saxony on the northern and Bavaria on the southern border.

Bavaria and Saxony are centers of testament for World War II. Leaders of the Axis Powers were judged and met their fate at the trials of Nuremberg, Bavaria. While the common folk of Dresden, Saxony were witness to wrath of England and America. During this fury of furies a German-American boy from Indiana - Kurt Vonnegut - was destined to be witness to those dreadful days at Dresden, Saxony. Subsequently Mr. Vonnegut was inspired to write about it in a semi-fictional and therapeutic book - Slaughterhouse IV.

Saxony and Bavaria carry a heavy, nostalgic and romantic feeling. In many ways Bavaria and Saxony are totally distinct from other parts of Germany, yet they are essential ingredients to the German Story.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern & Schleswig-Holstein - Germany Flag Symmetry: Part IV

Flag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

These are the 'coastal provinces' of Germany. Germany only has a north shore, along the North and Baltic Seas. Although this may seem tiny, Germany is lucky to have a coastline at all. They are also international gateways to the North and East.

These flags are strikingly similar. These seemingly chance alignments of flag design seem strange, but this phenomena occurs in all nations to some degree.

The harmonious elements are the red, white, and blue horizontal tri-bars. The only difference being is that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has an added yellow stripe down the center.

Flag of Schleswig-Holstein

These two states link Germany with her northern eastern European partners. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a linking point between the Germany and Denmark, while Scheleswig-Holstein is a linking point between the German and Poland.

The cultural divide between Germany and Denmark is like that of a 'half-sister' thus the relation with Poland would be more like a third cousin, once removed. Germany and Denmark have similar linguistic systems, while the Polish is a Slav Language. Thus it is easier for a German to learn Danish than it would be Polish. Likewise it would be easier for a Polish person to learn Russian than German.

Link to Part V

Rhineland-Palatinate & Saarland - Germany Flag Symmetry Part III

Flag of Rhineland-Palatinate

Both of these flags reuse the colours of the national ensign.

Upon their heraldic shields are matching elements. Both have an English St. Georges Cross look a like. The red cross on a white is a very popular symbol. Officially it represents the Archbishopric of Trier. The crowned Gold Lion on a black background also represent the same herald - the Elector of Palatinate.

Flag of Saarland

Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are in the twilight zone in between France and Germany. Essentially the Rhine River that starts in Switzerland and ends in the Netherlands is somewhat of a natural divide between Germany and France. But the Rhine has a German tilt, likewise Switzerland is more 'German' than French, just as the Dutch are more closely related to the Germans. Germany was called "Deutchland" after all. In Pennsylvania the great misnomer of the Pennsylvania Dutch has confused common folk into thinking that they are Dutch when they are really in fact German.

France hoped to Created a New Nation in the 1950s: Saarland but the Saar people voted to reunite with West-Germany. To the right was the flag of Saarland under French Rule. It could have become the national flag of Saarland if independence were chosen? Perhaps it is in some other 'quantum' reality. If Saarland went it alone, she could've kept company with other in between mini nations like Andorra, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein

After WWII Saarland was plucked away from Germany and ruled by France from 1947 unto 1956. In a way Saarland is the Okinawa of Japan, because the US plucked Okinawa away from Japan and made it US territory. But since Okinawa was mostly Okinawan and the Japanese were being a loyal allies, the US returned it in 1972. Likewise France allowed Saarland to return to Germany a wee bit earlier. Finally just as Saarland is middle point between Germany and France, Okinawa too is a middle point in between China and Japan. But both Saarland and Okinawa have German and Japanese tilts, respectively.

Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are monkey in middle regions between France and Germany sort of like the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Alsace-Lorraine, and Switzerland. However these middle regions have linguistic and cultural tilts towards Germany.

Also instead of beer being their preferred choice of 'fungal dope' the people of Saarland and Rhineland-Palatinate are more like their French-siblings to the West with a fond love growing and dining with fine wine.

Link to Part IV

Thuringia & Hesse: German Flag Symmetry - Part II

Flag of Thuringia
formerly a part of East Germany

Germany has 16 federal subjects and as in previous posts about the sub-federal bodies of Japan and Russia, the flags of Germany also align by coincidental flag aspects. The modern flag of Thuringia and Hesse are what I call "fraternal banners." Thuringia and Hesse feature a horizontally divided red and white background, with red and white striped lion on a shield of arms. Both the shields have golden crowns, but in different positions. The lion of Thuringia is wearing it, while the top of Hesse's shield is decorated with a crown.

Flag of Hesse
formerly a part of West Germany

The coincidence of stars with a red and white striped lion seems to reflect an essence of American Patriotism. Coincidentally during the American Revolution many German Units serving the British Empire came from Hesse. Much, much earlier, Hesse was united with Thuringia but broke away during the War of Thuringian Succession in the mid 1200s. In any case, military units from all over Western Germany assisted Parliament and King during the English American Colonial Rebellion in 1775. The majority came from Hesse, and consequently German soldiers were miscategorized as 'Hessians.'

A Battle Flag of the Hessian Troops

from the American Revolution
(note the similarity to the lions of Hesse and Thuringia)

In the middle ages, Hesse and Thuringia were divided by the Royal Powers. A few hundred years later, Hesse played a critical and well remembered role in the American Revolution - at the Battle of Trenton of 1776. This Patriot Victory restored Congresses' faith in General Washington and rallied the Patriots. A few hundred years later, the Americans were destined to return the favor. By dividing Modern Germany in the wake of WWII. Subsequently, Hesse was fated to be an ally of Western Europe, while Thuringia was chosen to be a servant of Eastern Europe.

Close up of modern shields

In 1936 Hesse and Thuringia were drafted to fight as brothers against the World in 1941. After 1945, the World saw that these German Brothers were impressed to fight against each other, until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

CLICK HERE FOR PART III
CLICK HERE FOR PART I

Baden-Wurttenburg & Saxony Anhalt: German Flag Symmetry - Part I

Flag of Saxony-Anhalt

The sub-national flags of Germany are also subject to the phenomena of flag symmetry. The flags of Germany have an interesting blend of time lines. They have elements from the feudal age, mid 1800s, and post modern age - as Saxony-Anhalt's flag was altered in 1991. The boundaries of Germany were very chaotic during the 1900s, but since the end of the World War II and the reunification of East and West Germany, new flags were adopted for the sub-federal or semi-equivalent "states" that make up the modern nation of Germany. Since the end of USSR the German States have stabilized.

Flag of Baden-Wurttenburg

The flag of Baden-Wurttenburg matches with Saxony-Anhalt. These two German states are united by black and yellow. Their flags are divided horizontally in the middle. Baden-Wurttenburg has black on top and yellow on the bottom, while Saxony-Anhalt is 'counter charged,' so to speak. In the center of both flags are heraldic shields, without supporters. The three bold lions of Baden-Wurttenburg match with the bold bear and eagle of Saxony-Anhalt. There are two official flags for Baden-Wurttenburg, the more prestigious service flag is shown. In the aftermath of WWII these two states were drafted into opposite political camps of the Cold War. Baden-Wurttenburg became a part of West Germany aligned with USA, while Saxony-Anhalt became a part of East Germany aligned with USSR.

November 9, 1989 - 11/09/89
a broken heart was healed today

In 1984 the issue of a United Germany seem like a distant wish, for some distant of generation yet to be conceived. It seemed that our world was to be permanently divided into two political and aggressive polarities. However history is full of dynamic shifts, and the bitter frost between the East and West Germany melted in the Autumn of 1989.

East Germany and West Germany were nations created by hatred and destroyed by Love

This was a fall of walls to remember in the fall of 89'. For a short moment the world fell into love and peace. In the aftermath of this joyful reunion, a flag of the Saxons was reborn in the re-booted and post modern province of Saxony-Anhalt on January 29, 1991. These two Germany States carry different histories and share a special bond. This fateful alignment of flags, is reinforced by their provincial colours, let us hope we never forget their stories.

CLICK HERE FOR PART II

April 5 2011 Reservation

uc

Tangled Flag - Disney's expanded remake of the girl with really long hair - Rapunzel

The hero or anti-hero buying the Rapunzel Flag

In Disney's feature animated movie of 2010, Tangled, a flag plays an important part. When Rapunzel and her consorts enter the castle town, the townsfolk are in the middle of celebrating. They dance and sing around the flags and banners of their lost princess.

Disney's adaptation of Rapunzel retells this childhood classic with an altered and expanded plot, and a healthy dose of classic Disney Charm.

The Castle Town Decorated with Flags and Pennants of the Lost Princess

Here Rapunzel looks at a flag that kinda' looks familiar at the town fair, and again at home. Eventually she is able to connect the dots of her destiny by putting it all together.

I betcha' if she read any of my flag symmetry posts, she'd totally get my flag matrix code!

The Four Tribal Elements: Part II

In a previous post, a new type of flag was displayed to show the 'four elements' of a persons general ethnic identity, using the metaphor of a ship.

Since then, two new flags have been added, the jack and the ensign. The jack is the flag at the front-forward part of the ship. Remember Jack from the Titanic when he was flying with Rose? In ship code they call it the bow.

The flag at the other end, the rear of the ship, is usually called an ensign - sort of like "end-sign." I call this part of the ship the Rudder or Propeller-side. (In making it harder than it needs to be & our secret snob code) Mariners call it the stern.


Anyways at the bow of this ship, in the jack position is the Soviet Jack of 1969 (the Commies had two jack designs, just like the Confederacy). In my flag sail matrix-code the jack represents where the person was born regardless if he or she was a proper citizen of the place. The jack Flag represents the geographical position of the place of birth. This person was born July 4, 1969 in Kazakhstan. The jack is simply the geographical position at birth.

Also, the jack is next to the faith sail of mommy - who was a Catholic. At the other end of the ship is the astrological sign of this person - Cancer. Why an astrological flag? It simply points to the geography of the cosmos at the time of birth. Wouldn't one think the position of ones earth bound coordinates are just as important as the cosmological geography of the heavens at the moment of birth? Besides the jack is next to 'mother' earth while the ensign is next the ones 'heavenly' father.

Let's suppose the back story on this person is - his father was a part of an American Diplomatic mission to the Soviet Union. His mom and dad were stationed at the US Embassy in Moscow, but they were on a guided tour of the Soviet Union when mom gave birth two weeks early, on a train while passing though Kazakhstan. With the blessings of his Lutheran Dad and Catholic Mom, he married a rich Jewish Girl and subsequently converted to the Faith of Abraham - Version 1.0

Link to "The Four Tribal Elements: Part I"

The Mailbox Flag - with a NAVA flare

The mailbox flag is one special vexilloid so common that is often overlooked as being a flag. Most mailboxes have red flags, but there are a few that simply have red 'poles.' The association of a red flag our mailbox is so strong that even electronic mail continues to use virtual flags with email icons.

Mail Box Flag
painted with NAVA Colours

The mailbox to the right has been altered a bit - it has been painted with the NAVA Flag colours! Most mailbox flags are made out of metal, but I have seen a few wooden ones. Sometimes the 'flag' is just a red arm. But if you look around most mailbox flags are red and made out of metal.

April is Aries Month

Arms of Schaffhausen

The shield of arms with the Aries "Ram" on it belongs to the most northern Swiss Canton of Schaffhausen. It features a black ram standing on its back legs with a red tongue sticking out with and excited male gonadal tissue.

Most of the inhabitants speak German, the most spoken tongue of Switzerland.

The Swiss Canton of Scaffhausen famously had a reverse wood cut print made in 1521, by Urs Graf & Hans Holbein.

Note the Virgin Mary in the canton of this Swiss Canton