Prime Meridian Report: Vexillum No.5 - page 7

 

At our vexi-meeting, a report about the Prime Meridian Flag was given, among other interesting and peculiar flags. 

Simpsons Bar Pennants

It all started in the 1990s; adult oriented cartoons became something of a mainstream sitcom.  Both The Simpsons and Family Guy have poked fun at the culture of America.  In a weird way Family Guy is the grandchild of the Tracey Ullman Show, because The Simpsons got their start there.

Several pennants at Moe's Bar can be seen in the background.  There is a green pennant that has "SPRINGFIELD" written in black with "ATOMS" written underneath.  Another blue pennant can be seen on the wall with "SPRINGFIELD" written in black.

Another red pennant can be seen on the wall atom symbol but has "TOPES" written upon it, which is short for isotopes-the name of the professional baseball team in Springfield.

There is also an orange pennant.  The neat thing about this cartoon it was a long time coming.  It also seals the bond with the Trace Ullman show.

The Intelligencer reports about the Prime Meridian Flag by Chris Ullery

Direct Link to Article:
https://www.theintell.com/news/20190117/lansdale-man-designs-flag-for-prime-meridian

 

https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/local/2019/01/17/prime-location/6235741007/

Reporter Chris Ullery
https://muckrack.com/christopher-ullery

С Рождеством - Merry Russian Christmas! From Floridabama with Love

С Рождеством! 

That's Merry Christmas in Russian.  Surely there are a few Russian immigrants in Alabama and Florida who would appreciate the sentiment.  Anyways, not all the Christian world celebrates Christmas on the 25th of December.  Russia celebrates this holiday on January 7th.  So in honor of the other half that celebrates Christmas today, we have the Florida Christmas flag.  Basically the flag of Florida is decked out with the Nativity story of Mary and Joseph, hours before the birth of baby Jesus.  Instead of the Native American woman with flowers, we have the iconic Christmas scene as the mother and father of Christ head towards Bethlehem with a star pointing the way.

Since the fraternal flag twin of Florida is Alabama, the Alabama state flag is North Polarized into a Christmas gift.  A big holiday bow has been added with a Merry Christmas tag. 

It is amazing what a little twist can do to a flag!  Pun intended. Alabama becomes a gift with white wrapping paper with a red bow.

Image Source for Christmas Bow: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/399905641891839295/

Final Night of Lunar Twilight 2019 - 5th Night & Final Night of Lunar Twilight

Lunar Twilight is based upon the fading phases of the Moon past the New Year.  As a reminder the celebration of a New Year is the celebration of a completion of an orbit around the Sun.

Although it is now 2019, the current Moon was created in 2018.  It will not be until January 7th, 2019 that the first, complete, new cycle of the Moon will begin.  As we celebrate the orbit around the Sun, it is proper and fair to acknowledge the Moon.

In a way the first five nights belong to the Moon, since this Moon was created in 2018.  So from a certain point of view, the nights virtually revert back to 2018, until the next new Moon of 2019.  Only after January 7th, 2019 will both the Sun and Moon will be in sync for 2019.

This celebration offers up a more peaceful and graceful transition from Old Year towards the New Year.  Besides making peace and saying goodbye to those that have passed, it is an opportunity to prepare in a positive way for the future.

It is the Moon, our heavenly object that is closest to us, that should say goodbye to the Old Year.

Lunar Twilight's 4th Night of 2019

Making peace with the past for hope into the future is a common end of year ritual.  Emotions do not easily turn off or at the stroke of the hour.  Remedies take time, and some problems have to burn their oil out; it is proper to acknowledge them rather than to ignore them.

One of most efficient remedies is music.  In the soul of America, the wallowing, sweet and somber song of the Country Gentleman can help other make that transition easier.

Our lives are impacted many, it is always good practice to appreciate all the 10,001 good things that have fallen into one's lap.  In any transition it is good to appreciate things small and big, especially small.

As for flag geeks, that is the correct flag in the video below.  Although it is supposed take place in the late 1940s.  In this quantum reality, the US had 50 states in 1947, because in this alternate reality the Panama Canal Zone and and Cuba became US States.  So yes, that is the correct US flag in this video.

Paint Ball Red & Blue Flags from today's Big Bang Theory Show

Capturing the flag is often a vital component in paint ball.  Today on the Big Bang Theory Show a red and blue flag appear as our pals work out their problems and play a game. 

Bernadette can be see getting the blue flag.

 Penny and Leonard are having a little discussion while the red flag is in the background.  Although Leonard has 'captured' the flag Penny shoots him.




Leonard, in blue, shoots his load at Penny, and the red team's flag is in the background.

Lunar Twilight - The Third Night 2018's Echo in 2019

Heartfelt reflection of the passing year is an important aspect for Lunar Twilight.

Reflection on the heart is something that needs to be encouraged.  The hyper stimulation of life can lead to stress and a potentially burst of ugly bottled up emotions.  Relying on sleep alone to decompress, just won't cut it.

Although music can help, allowing one's mind to listen to the heart without judgement and feel its message is the most wholesome remedy.

Lunar Twilight - Second Night Afterglow of 2018

Here is the what a Lunar Twilight Candelmast looks like on the second night.  One candle has disappeared to represent the passing of the second night of Lunar Twilight, under the last Moon created in 2018.  Although officially 2019, at night the last embers of 2018 are slowly dimming down.

Here is another song that captures the mood of Lunar Twilight, by U2. It is time to unplug from the television and computers.  Quiet reflection of the passing year with or without music is a must. 

Lunar Twilight 2018

Although it is 2019, the last Moon of 2018 shines on at night for five nights of 2019.  This gives us five more nights to say goodbye and make peace with 2018.  This year the Lunar Twilight Candelmast has five candles.

Unlike Hannukah and Kwanzaa, all the candles are all lit at the beginning of Lunar Twlight.  Each night a candle burns out completely, which will be the shortest, to represent the passing of a day.  When the shortest candle burns out, the others should be blown out before the dawn of the next day.  Then on the next sunset of the day afterwards the remaining candles are to be lit, whence the next shortest candle burns out in the manner, until none are left.

The celebration of Lunar Twilight is a universal inclusive celebration to mark the passing of time for any person of any heritage, faith, nationality, gender, or path to appreciate our connection to the heavens by ancient traditions and modern science revelations, or a mixture of both.  

It won't be until January 7, 2019 that the first Moon of 2019 will be.  And if you want to get ready for January 2020, there will be 23 extra nights of 2019.  That means, we have to wait until January 25th 2020, for the first cosmic night of 2020, because that is when the first Moon of 2020 arrives. 

Thus the last echo of 2018 burns out at high noon GMT/UTC January 7, 2019.  The curated 2018 Lunar Twilight Goodbye Song that captures the feels of this holiday is an INXS song, Afterglow 2006

Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday Flag

There is a certain hour when today, tomorrow and yesterday happen simultaneously on Earth.  Since there is a stretch of time zones to 27 total hours, this makes it possible for three days to exist all at once on our planet.  Although locally within your time zone it is one day or the other, it is upon the global perspective that all three happen on planet Earth. 

It happens from 10am to 12pm London Time, aka GMT or UTC.  Consequently this flag can be flashed or flown during that window: when today, tomorrow and yesterday exist on our planet.  For the East Coast of the USA, this happens during standard time from 5am to 7am.  But for the West Coast of the US, this happens from 2am to 4am.  While in Japan and Korea this takes place 7pm to 9pm-during standard time. Since it happens simultaneously, it will vary for whichever time zone one lives.

The Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday Flag is a vertical tribar of orange, yellow and purple.  The repeat of the Roman Numeral III indicates this happens for two hours.  And the numeral three represents today, tomorrow, and yesterday.  Also, the yellow bar represents today, the orange represents tomorrow, and the purple represents yesterday.

But for the people of Kiribati it can also be called the hour of today, yesterday, and the day before yesterday.  And those in the last two time zones it can be known as the hour of today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow.

British Chirstmas Flag

Merry Crimbo!

Did you ever notice that the UK flag looks like a present.  All it was missing was a big bow in the middle. Make sure you are good for Father Christmas and your stockings are hanging at the bedpost.

And don't forget to put out minced pie and brandy for Father Christmas.

Turboman is a Hero of the Twin Cities, Minnesota

Turboman is a fictional hero attached to the Twin Cities of Minnesota.  Although the story of which state was the ultimate home of Paul Bunyan is debated, it is a fact that Turboman's home is Minnesota.  Turboman came to life in the movie Jingle All The Way in 1996.  It is a time stamped, pulse beast movie of the 1990s.  You can see phones connected to walls!  And the ubiquitous white phone with that small rubber antenna.  No doubt, The 1990s will get their nostalgia boom in the next three years certainly by 2020.

The Turboman logo is on the drums and uniforms of the official Turboman Marching band.

Apparently Turboman is a part of the Marvel Comics Universe.  You can see Captain America and the X-Men Pillow.

You can see the limited edition Turboman prop being held by our little dreamer.

Stan Lee made one last cameo in the later prere-release in this movie, to support the role of comic heroes.  When Arnold is in the Mall of America and looking for the special ball, he rides an elevator with Mr. Lee.

Wintertainment Flags - Jingle All The Way 1996

Sinbad - Playing the Coolest and Funniest 'Bad Guy' that you can root for!

The most unique flags to appear in Jingle All The Way 1996 were the festival flags that announce the "12th Annual Twin Cities Holiday - Wintertainment Parade."  Jingle All The Way is a fun and campy holiday treat that pokes fun at the holiday nonsense of finding gifts.  It is a children's movie spiked with adult afterbites perfectly aged for the upcoming 90s nostalgia renaissance.

 If you ever wanted to visit the Twin Cities downtown, this movie captures the feels of the city.  Apparently the Twin Cities Holiday Wintertainment Parade started as an event in 1984.  The persons in charge of the festival made effective use of the logo which can be seen on all sorts of balloons, waving felt hands, felt tress and a variety of flags.

A lot of movie prop set schwag was created for this movie.  Here loads of people in Minnesota can be seen with the various items that announce the Wintertainment Parade.

Notice the seal design of the flags that appear in the movie.  The image projected here was reversed since the person holding the flag had held the imprint backwards in the movie.

US Flag in Jingle All the Way 1996

Jingle All The Way 1996 is zany and campy Christmas classic that pokes fun at the Holiday Season with humour for adults as well as children.  The US flag appears several times in this film.  When there are in the diner a small flag can be seen next to the register. 

During the movie the ultimate 1990s comedian, Sinbad, can be seen wearing the US badge flag on his arm.  Sinbad does a great 'Robin Williams' kind of performance in this movie, as he gave the world a stand up comedian performance all during the movie, with his on the mark rants, about Christmas.

 The mailman is also looking for a Turboman for his own son. The US Mail logo is slightly different as it is in real life.  Instead of the standard US Post Office logo we have a hand with a letter, to represent the US mail in this fictional universe.  

Oklahoma & South Dakota Flags Decked out with Christmas!

Deep in the heart of America is Oklahoma and South Dakota.  In this post, they are decked out with the Spirit of Christmas.  With Oklahoma, the heritage totems of the Native and Newcomer are reversed.  Instead of the olive branch to represent the Old World, a stalk of corn represents the New World.  Likewise the shield is totally turned into a decoration from the Old World, the Christmas Wreath.  Instead of seven feathers, there are seven red balls and a Santa Pipe replaces the Native American Peace Pipe.  Finally, six stars are visible in the middle with four points. 

For the North Polarized flag of South Dakota, it is a night's winter scene.   Instead of a man plowing a field with two horses, we see a Santa sleigh with two reindeer.  You can tell it is winter by the leafless trees on both sides of the river.  The moon is showing with stars in the background, and the state motto is replaced with "Merry Christmas to All."  And hanging from the chimney top are super sized icicles. 

Coincidentally both states have a strong beating streak of the Native American spirit, as their lands and traditions are kept alive in both states.  Likewise a large area of tribal lands make up the character of each state.  In a way South Dakota is the Oklahoma of the North.  Or rather, Oklahoma is the South Dakota of the Southern States?  South Dakota indeed has 'South' within its name, now we know why.


For a clear comparison of the state flag to the Holiday versions, take a look below.  Hope y'all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas from England

UK Flag in The Da Vinci Code - 2006

The UK flag appears in Dan Brown's movie adaptation of The Davinci Code in 2006.  When the plane lands at London's Biggin Hill Airport,  the grand Union Jack can be seen in all its glory.

Hyvää Joulua! Merry Christmas from Finland

Hyvää joulua Suomesta!

That's Merry Christmas from Finland.  The Finnish observe Christmas like the west up until the Epiphany. 

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.

New Zealand Christmas Flag

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