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Sunday, February 12, 2012

Tolmania Flags from the Great Dictator 1940

Flags of Tolmania

A year before the start of World War II, Charlie Chaplin gave his greatest speech that has echoed though time. The national symbol of Tolmania takes several forms. There are pennants, long banners, and in the four corners of the car we see the traditional rectangular version of the Tolmanian Nation. A parody of the times done to mock Hitler and Nazi Germany. Note this movie was created and released before the attack on Pearl Harbor and invasion of the Soviet Union.




Coincidentally Hitler and Chaplin were born in the same year - 1889. Likewise the swastika like Chaplin's mustache was corrupted by Western history to become a symbol synonymous with evil, at least in the Western Mind. Chaplin also wore a small square under nose mustache long before Adolf. Likewise the swastika has been a symbol of pride and peace for hundreds of years long before its 'Western Corruption' in World War II.



Mel Brooks humor before Mel Brooks cinema. Mr. Brooks would have been 14 or 15 years old when he saw this movie - that's eighth or ninth grade American. It is the famous thinker statue mocking the Nazi Reich arm salute. But notice its the left arm that is saluting the Great Dictator and not the right.






The flag of Tolmania consisted of two white 'Xes' on a field of black, presumably on a red field. Here Tolmanian Vexillums stand in the background. Their is an additional symbol that looks like a torch with two arrows pointing to the left and right.







Harry Potter Flags from the Triwizard Tournement - Drumstrang Institute of Magical Learning


The colours of Bulgarian School of Magic are black and red. Waved in the fourth Harry Potter film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Magic in 2005.
The Bulgarian School of Magic flags first wave at a tournament.





Bulgarian quidditch magician extraodinare - Victor Krum. Here Bulgaria meets Ireland at the international quidditch match. The colours of his school are apprently black and red. Krums talents shine and cause the Potter crew to adore his name and talents.














These are not the official colours of Bulgaria, rather they are the livery of the Drumstang Institute for Magical Learning. But the official colours of real Bulgaria use red and white, with green. But no black.












Harry Potter Flags from the Triwizard Tournement - The Beauxbatons Academy of Magic from France

The French Team is an all girls school

In 2005 the Harry Potter franchise saw the release of the its fourth film Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. In it there is an exchange program between schools for the Triwizard Tournament. Two other schools of magic come to Hogwarts to compete - one from France and the other from Bulgaria. Coincidentally a stylized letter 'B' on a quartered shield of arms are represent the French Academy of Magic.

Dark and light blue colours

Someday J.K. Rowling will release the rights and allow writers, hopefully French to expand and write about the Adventures at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. French Harry Potter heads would probably consume Beauxbaton Adventures like popcorn-crack.



The all girls school of magic from France
with Champions Banner

Beauxbaton allows no boys! It's an all girls school and some women would prefer to learn all about magic without men to influence or distract them from their magical talents.



A small pennant for Allez

Cheers form the French "Allez," which basically means "come on" in English or "ganbate" in Japanese. Five pointed stars are important symbols for Beauxbatons Academy of Magic.

Harry Potter Vexillum - Banners from the Goblet of Fire

Banners and Vexillums

A few Harry Potter Vexillums and banners wave in the Goblet of Fire 2005. In the fourth film Harry is chosen to compete against two other schools of magic in the Triwarzads Tournament. Suffice it to say Harry is mildly successful. On the left and right are banners held up by two poles while the vexillum is held up by a cross pole - to permanently unfurl a flag without the need for wind.



Golden Harry Flag with Gold Stamp

Once Harry opens the Golden Dragons Egg a horrible shriek shouts across the room. In this scene, clear glimpses of Harry's vexillum's are shown. On a background of red, Harry is scrawled in gold in chief above a yellow square like icon.



Close up of Yellow Potter Dragon Vexilloid

Harry gleefully opens his Dragons Prize with a frightful surprise. To the right of the egg is a yellow vexillum to honor and encourage Harry on this quest to outwit the dragon. Behind Harry's head is another banner for Gryffindor.

Harry's name with yellow lightning bolt border

Everyone is excited to see the egg open up! The banners or vexillums made in Harry honor are clearly seen.






We Love Harry Potter

The banner to Harry right has the shield of arms for Gryffindor. It has a white lion rampant on a quartered shield with Gryffindor's livery - yellow and red. To the left of Harry is a vexillum with livery and his first name outlined with a lightening bolt.


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Customers Bank and Bank of America

Bank of America Logo
notice US Flag Motif

Using the US flag as a commercial logo is considered by some and the US Flag Code as inappropriate. However two companies that successfully use the US flag in their logo are Bank of America and Customers Bank. Customers Bank does it in totality while Bank of America uses a stylized version of the US flag.

Bank of America and Customers Bank are two banks from different ends of the spectrum. Bank of America is a Mega-Bank with a global reach and an ocean of power, while Customers Bank is a small Micro-Bank with a small and efficient reach and full of puddle power. At the moment they illustrate the difference between a strong big vs a small quick business. No doubt if Customers Bank grows to 250-500 outlets, will it be taken over or absorbed by a Mega Bank as happened with Commerce Bank with TD Bank. When this happens the Customers Bank icon with go the way of the red, white, and blue Commerce Bank logo.

Customers Bank is headquartered in Pennsylvania and led by Jay Sidhu. The current company logo consists of the US flag on a red disc. It is coincidentally a combination of the Japanese and US national symbols. Bank of America traces its origins to the West Coast in California in 1904 of the efforts of Amadeo Giannini.

Customers Bank Logo
A mix of Japanese and US Symbols

Banks are basically legal loan sharks with open rules. Rules that operate under official law. They are supposed to help others by helping themselves. Banks are like bacteria, most are good, but a few go bad and harm the system. Bad banks only help a few, while good banks help many.

Good Bank dolphin, Bad Bank shark.

Link to Bank of America
https://www.bankofamerica.com/


Link to Customers Bank
http://customersbank.com/

Flagship Paper Products

Flagship Paper Products Logo

The logo of Flagship - W.B. Mason utilizes the US flag and elements of heraldry. The US flag is on the left and right sides of the portrait in the traditionally supporter position.





Link to corporate website
http://www.wbmason.com

Flag of Livingston Island, Antarctica

Flag of Livingston Island
Antarctica

The colours and design are based on the Sami Flag in Scandinavia - red, yellow, green, and blue. White is added for emphasis for snow. The stars represent the most southern constellation - Octans the Star Compass with the Southern Star represented by the green eight pointed star with a white fimbration.

Similar to the Sami Flag yet it has elements of EU flag as well.