Translate

Friday, December 21, 2018

Swastika in the Davinci Code 2006



Swastika's are intense symbols, like Yin and Yang on a global scale.  From the 'East' of the Hindu-Buddehic Path, it is an icon of peace and loving surrender to higher dimension of hope.  But from the 'West' of the Judeo-Christian Path it is as akin to hateful symbol of hopelessness.  The negative attachment to the Swastika was only recently added in the tragic wake of the Western Empires of WWI, due to egocentric leadership of the Western leaders, in their desire for revenge. 

In 2006 Tom Hanks played as Dr. Langdon, Robert, and he can be seen giving a lecture in the film The Divinci Code in front of a Nazi Flag.   Shocking as this may be for some, Dr. Langdon is provoking his audience to see the Swastika from an objective level.  Although it is not explained in the movie, it shows several Buddhist statues with Swastikas.  And if you have ever traveled to India, China, and Japan you would certainly see the adornment of Swastika's all over the temples, which were crated long before the birth of the modern German Nation State.
  
 The Swastika as used by Nazi's was slightly modified as it is seen in temples of the East.  Mr. Hitler rotated the device 45 degrees off its base.  Nonetheless a Swastika at any degree of rotation usually sets off a knee jerk reaction in the Western Mind as a projection of something evil.  Likewise the other religions beyond the Judeo-Christian fold are typically seen as evil manifestations from the Western mind, in private and the mainstream media.  In 2016 the film Silence put a spotlight on the 'evil' religions of the East.
Before WWII (The War of Endless Tears) the Swastika had many positive associations.  On the slide here, at the fictional lecture of our Harvard Professor, Dr. Langdon this divisive symbol in a positive view meant: Good Luck, Light, Love, and Life.  The added pictures help emphasize this with: a horseshoe for luck, two hearts for love, the Earth for life, and sunrise for light.  Oh how so different, most persons of the West currently see this symbol.

From the academic point of view, symbols are icons that must be learned to understand their meaning.  A person (the observer) through cultural learning, builds a base of knowledge that interprets a symbol as good or bad.  Eventually this learned information becomes a projection that gets deeply rooted into one's sub-conscious.  If a strong enough association is built up explicitly and subliminally, a person can not help feel anxious or at ease by a particular symbol or word.   This is why when someone curses at you in a foreign language it does not offend.  At least until the message is translated.



Thursday, December 20, 2018

New Zealand Christmas Flag

New Zealand Christmas flag!  It represent's that magic from a whole new perspective!


Australian Merry Christmas Flag



Christmas in the Summer is thing for the other half of the world.  Instead of making a snowman that make a sandman.  And didja' know that Frosty also has a cousin down under, her name is Sultry the Sandwoman!

"Fair-dink-cum"


Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Monday, December 17, 2018

Merry Christmas Mon!


Christmas in Jamaica, oh what a feeling.



Saturday, December 15, 2018

Joyeux Noël! Merry Christmas from Quebec


Joyeux Noël du Québec!

The Quebec Christmas flag just takes the wrapping of elegant beauty, just like Quebec herself!



Thursday, December 13, 2018

God Jul! - Merry Christmas from Sweden


God jul från Sverige!  

That's Merry Christmas from Sweden.  Here is a holiday flag in honor of St. Lucy's Day.  The Swedish celebrate Christmas like most American's on the 25th of December.  But the festivities star on December 13 on Saint Lucy's Day


Monday, December 10, 2018

Olympic Flags from Family Guy - The Griffin Winter Games


In the 7th episode of the 17th season of The Family Guy of FOX Network several mysterious flags appear during an Olympic competition.  Many of the flags are recognizable to us folks in this universe, but it seems the banners of several nations have crossed the quantum-entanglement matrix of time.  Meaning they have sneaked into our universe in this episode.  It is a known fact, the creator of this television series has quantum magical powers, Seth MacFarland.   MacFarland was scheduled to perish on 9/11/2001 but due to a providential hangover, he missed his flight and stayed with us, as the fates saw this special quasi-humaniod was destined to bring balance to network television. 
 

No doubt it is the Mandela Affect that has allowed a universe of quantum nations from MacFarland's many, many pan-dimensional realities to seep into this episode.  Some of the flags are recognizable as Russia, Belgium, Austria, Spain, and Italy. However, from our quantum reality, there are several unrecognizable nations.



There is a close up of some of the flags, which until til now, were unknown to our version of mankind as we know it.  Thanks to MacFarland, we are now able to acknowledge some of the trans-dimensional nations across the mysterious rift of space, time and reality. Although covered up with dry and raunchy humour, the deep truth to be seen is apparent for all kinds of sentient beings to notice.







Saturday, November 3, 2018

Camp North Star Flag - Meatballs 1979

Meatballs is that old 1980s movie that is really a 1970s movie.  It's a totally groovy pic.  If you saw it as a young kid it was awesome.  But as a teen or young adult, it's fairly silly.  But if you grew up on it, and liked it, and have crossed the 40 yard line—it has ripened for another viewing again.  It has serious adult themes concerning young summer love, mixed in with childish antics, and it is when Mr. Murray was in his prime.


Of vexillological note is the flag for camp North Star.  It is white flag with a four pointed star in the middle.  The hard luck hero of the movie is played by Chris Makepeace as Rudy Gerner.  Rudy is the hard luck case kid who receives his summer camp lesson at the end.

One interesting flag is the pants of the fat boy.  He is caught in the act of being a sneaky 'Overhearing Oliver' at the girls cabin.  Subsequently, he loses his trousers.  And they became the prize of the day. Notice the yellow wiffle ball-like finial.

In the video below, Mill Burray echos the wise words of Socrates about the meaningless vanity of life, as neither the fruit of winning nor losing will rest the soul.  However, learning to fail with grace is one of the hardest, yet most beautiful lessons a soul can learn.

In the end, the drive to play for the sake of play, as with the spirit of a kamikaze warrior, is what motivates our rag-tag team of underdogs to the lodestar of the North.

 

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Flag for Persons with No Official Citizenship





Persons who do not have a citizenship or had their citizenship revoked are permitted to fly this flag.  The blue sections represent that the sky and waters above and below.  Upon the fly side is a reminder that their blood is red like everyone else and finally the yellow sections represents a hope to be treated fairly.

This situation can arise during refugee crisis and when persons are born without the proper documents being processed and information being lost.  Likewise there are many places on the planet where nations do not give citizenship to persons born within their borders automatically.




Monday, September 10, 2018

Marquesas Flags - French Polynesia and the Florida Keys


There are two Marquesas in the world.  Currently one belongs to France as a part of French Polynesia in the South Pacific, while the other belongs to the USA as a part of the Florida Keys.  The flags here are inverts of each other via their red and yellow sections.  The mask of the French Marquesas has a traditional mask of the peoples to settle the South Pacific. 

Likewise the American Marquesas has a traditional mask of the peoples from the North Atlantic to settle this island and make it their own; the masks are of the theater variety of the comedy and tragedy of theater, or rather the joy and sadness of a story.



American Marquesas


French Marquesas



Saturday, August 25, 2018

Chesapeake Bay Flag Association Meeting - Summer 2018


You can see the CBFA flag flying in Washington DC.  It kinda' looks like the flag of Washington DC, but there is difference, mainly the colours and the number of stars.

Dale Grimes presented some WWI badges and medals.  Notice the Yin/Yang symbol used to represent the US forces as united the Grey and Blue from the Civil War Era.  Back in 1910s, there were many survivors from the Civil War Era still witness to the Great War.  Present at the meeting was Peter Ansoff, Chris Bedwell, Daniel Broh-Kahn, Al Cavalari, Dale Grimes, Dick Libby, Jack Lowe, Chris Maddish, Jon Radel and guest Mattia Chasson—a friendly neighborhood local.  Also present from Philly, was a first time visitor to the CBFA—Arthur Etchells. 





One of the most 'peculuiar' flags in Chris Bedwell's collection was the flag for Peculiuar, Missouri.  The flag has the based tribar of Missouri but with a larger white T-bar with the water tower of the town, with some extra flowers on the blue stripe, very peculiar indeed.

Besides flags the party was witness to nesting doves, who were able to overlook all the flag flapping and yapping. 

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Canada-China Flag


The China-Canada was recently used in a video created by Black Pigeon.  It is essentially the China flag with a Canadian Maple left instead the larger big star in the upper hoist corner.  This type of flag is political satire flag, that addresses the issues facing the new Canada under Trudeau.

Canadian Identity used to dominantly tied to British and French heritages, but now the duality of the dominion is embracing the new multicultural Canadian view. Currently about 1 out 5 Canadians were born outside of Canada.

Perhaps in the near future the provincial flags for Ontario and Manitoba will change, since they have an overtly British essence? 



Saturday, August 11, 2018

White Anglo-Saxon Dragon Flag - Atari Style


England is associated with the colours red and white.  Some say it is due to the Houses of Lancaster and York which had a red rose and white rose?  However even before then there was the red dragon of wales and white dragon of England.  Coincidence?  Remember the Original United Kingdom was a union of the Welsh and English.

But then again, England is represented by the St. George who killed the Dragon. So in classical English contradictory numdummery (which is why spelling in English is such cluster-jam---the same thing happened in Japanese written language) the English can be represented by a White Dragon or a Dragon Slayer.

Either you love dragons or you want to kill them, but hey, some people do both.  I suppose it is like the frenemy concept.  All friends can be enemies, and sometimes enemies will be friends.  Ergo, dragons are frenemies?

Here is a fun flag for the English, based upon the Atari Adventure dragons by Warren Robinett.

  Image Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_dragon

Monday, August 6, 2018

The Original Seven Kingdoms Flag of Game of Thrones


There are many kingdoms within the Game of Thrones cable television series on HBO.  But note, the dominant religion is held in the Faith of the Seven.  Seven also refers to the Seven Kingdoms, when Westeros was divided into seven kingdoms and then conquered by House Targaryen by the Sir Aegon Targaryen. 

Here is a flag that represents the Original Seven Kingdoms that became united as one under House Targaryen.

Starting the in the upper left hand corner, which is the canton, we have the seven pointed star that is reflective of the Faith of the Seven.  It is analogous to the cross of England that all Kingdoms heed in some fashion.  But for the Religion of Seven, there are seven models that represent humanity in this universe.  

To the right is a blue region that has a circle, a crescent moon and falcon that represents House Arryn which rules over the Kingdom of the Mountain & Vale.

Next over to the right is the Dire wolf's head on white.  This sigil represents the House of Stark which rules the Kingdom of the North.

Further right is the lion of the house Lannister on a field of red.  The Lannister House rules over The Kingdom of the Rock.

Below the Lion of Lannister is a stag on a field of yellow with a crown around its neck.  This sigil represents the House of Durrandon which eventually mixed and became House Baratheon.  This area is the Kingdom of the Stormlands.

To the left is a chained saltire with four different emblems of the House Hoare, which is a House no more.  The four emblems being a longship, grapes, a pine, and a raven.  The ancient Kingdom was the Isle and the Rivers.  This Kingdom is split.  The Isles are under the House Ironborn while the mainland is under House Tully.  House Ironborn has a yellow squid upon black, while House Tully has a trout leaping in the air coloured red above a river. 

Further left is the sigil of a green hand on white that represents the extinct House of Gardener.  Instead of the 'green thumb' they have a green hand to denote farming expertise.  This is the Kingdom of the Reach which is now split.  House Tyrell occupies part and the other half is directly ruled by the Iron Throne, kinda' like Washington DC being under the seat of the King, oops I meant federal government,
better known as the Iron Throne.

Finally in the lower left corner is the sigil of House Martell which as the Sun pierced by a spear.  This is the Kingdom Dorne, usually referred as a Principality, yet a Kingdom nonetheless. 

This great work of fiction takes a lot of hints from the ancient English history when England was divided into Seven Kingdoms.  You can see the flag below crossed with the Iron Throne Kingdoms of HBO.  Starting from the lower left corner the authentic seven kingdoms were: Mercia (yellow X on blue), Northumbria (yellow and red, vertical stripes), Sussex (the six birds on blue), Kent (white horse on red).  Then on the upper part we have: Essex (3 swords on red), East Anglia (3 crowns on blue), Wessex (the yellow dragon on red).  Finally in the canton is the religious symbol and icon for all original seven Kingdoms that became England (red cross on a white field).


Sunday, August 5, 2018

Atari Wessex Flag - Ode to Warren Robinett & Wessex



Wessex is represented by a yellow dragon on red.  In this case the dragon from Atari's Adventure is recycled for a fun flag from the Golden Age of Video Game Consoles.  If you didn't know Wessex was one of the 'seven kingdoms' of England.  Today in the Game of Thrones cable TV series on HBO, the fictional seven kingdoms of Westeros were inspired by these authentic seven kingdoms of history. 

Adventure 1979 was a seminal groundbreaking video game, considered the grandfather of all adventure oriented games.  The legacy of its heritage includes Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda.  It was made for the Atari 2600.

The programmer was Warren Robinett.  However in 1979 the establishment at Atari would not give credit nor royalties to these pioneering game designers.  Nonetheless Robinett was able to secretly add a hidden level-message so that people would remember his name.   He did this without authorization, in effect sticking it to man.  Consequently Warren Robinet 1951 is the true to life NEO from 1979—twenty years before the Matrix 1999 movie was released.


Image Source from Robinett's Website:
http://www.warrenrobinett.com/



Fun Moscow Adventure Atari Flag


The Fun Moscow Atari Dragon flag is a silly design that Gen-X gamers and video game historians will enjoy.  The regular Moscow flag has St. George on horseback striking a black dragon.  However with this flag, we have a dead 1979 Adventure dragon.

Quite possibly Atari's best game, no doubt it laid the framework for the Zelda games from Nintendo.

Adventure 1979 was created by Warren Robinett who put the first 'Easter Egg' in a video game.  Back then Atari video game designers were not allowed to get credit nor collect any royalties.  They wanted to keep the workers under the corporate thumb as virtual slaves to a system.  However Robinett left an unauthorized bonus screen. In a way Warren was the very first Neo, long before the rise of Matrix 1999 movie.  Thus to honor to his pioneering move to stick it to the system, here is an Atari homage.  But that is not Keanau Reeves, rather it is supposed to be Warren Robinett.


Apple Schmapple: We want a Robinett Movie!
http://www.warrenrobinett.com/

There is a controversy about the sword in Adventure.  Which end is the blade?  Some believe that the arrow point indicates the tip of the blade, the other half thinks arrow point end is the hilt-handle.  The creator, Warren Robinett, said it really dose not matter.  See the video on the previous post at 49:11 to see for yourself. 

Fun Atari Imperial China Flag


The Fun Atari Imperial Dragon flag is based upon a mash up of Atari art and the ancient flag of China.

To the left is the ancient Chinese flag with its azure dragon.






New Bhutan Flag—The Atari Bhutan Flag Fun

In the Far West dragons on flags bring up memories of Medieval Times.  But in the East and Far East, Dragons also  conjure up that ancient era of the sword and arrow.  In fact, there is still one nation on Earth that has preserved the Medieval sigil of the dragon on their national banner for the modern day—Bhutan.

Likewise once you cross the Indus River, the theme of the Dragons become something more of a good thing than a bad thing.  St. George is a popular national Saint, especially in Russia and the UK, and is often depicted killing a dragon.  However, east of the Urals, the dragon is not a spirit  to be conquered.  Rather it is supposed to be honored.

Official Flag of Bhutan
Bhutan is located high within the natural fortress of the Himalayas.  Amazingly, it was neither absorbed into China or India. You can think of Bhutan as the Chinese Nepal (since China and Bhutan have a Buddhist/East Asian phenotype tilt); thus the counter-change axiom would then make Nepal, the Indian Bhutan (sine India and Nepal have a Hindu/South Asian phenotype tilt)—it's a Yin/Yang thing.

So in honor of dragons on flags and to make people in the West notice this little slice of heaven in the East, Bhutan, we have the Atari-Bhutan Dragon flag.  It has a white Atari dragon on the yellow and orange field of Bhutan.

It's unlikely that anyone in Bhutan was able to play Atari's Adventure video game back in 1979.  But just maybe, one of the super rich Bhutanese in 79' was able to get his hands on this classic American video game?  For now, the Adventure-Bhutan fun flag is an educational amusement for the Far West and a few folks in Japan and South Korea.  Perhaps someday in the future when Bhutan gets on the grid and they are able to create their own video games, they'll understand the humour of the Adventure-Bhutan flag.

Oddly video games have unintended consequences, that being of death and rebirth—reincarnation.  In Adventure 1979, you can die and get stuck in video game purgatory.  All you have to do hit the reset switch (reincarnate) and you can come back and your objects will be where you left them.  But any Dragons you have killed, will also reincarnate and continue to block your path. 

Saturday, August 4, 2018

Atari Game of Thrones Dragon Flag Fun




Funny thing is, there are three dragons in the Game of Thrones.  But back in the 1970s the original dragons from Atari were there first.  Coincidentally they even have the same colours of red, yellow, and green.  Is this just a coincidence or should Atari claim some credit for this show?

The red dragon of Atari was Rhindle, which is the Viserion the red dragon in Game of Thrones.  Both red dragons are the most aggressive and fearsome.  The yellow dragon of Atari is Yorgle, who was reborn as Rhaegal, and the green Atari dragon is Grundle, aka Drogon. Coincidence?  Or maybe the creators of Game of Thrones loved the Atari's Adventure?  Who knows?


It all makes sense now, since you basically play as John Snow in the original Atari game.  In 1970s glory the game Adventure could have been called Game of Thrones 1979?  Maybe they'll repackage it?

 


Subsequently the castles all fit into place the White Castle is actually Winterfell.  The Black Castle is the Castle Black—THE WALL.  It all fits into place.  Adventure was indeed, partly, the source material for Game of Thrones.  Those weren't bats!  They were crows!




Game of Thrones Dragons Image Source::  https://www.thinkgeek.com/product/1db3/ 
On Dragon: https://www.romper.com/p/will-drogon-die-on-game-of-thrones-he-was-severely-injured-74955