Eurorica the Subcontinent - a.k.a. Greenland

Flag of Eurorica
the Subcontinent Greenland

Since Greenland is so large - some geographers believe that it fits the definition of a continent. If not a full member, it qualifies as a subcontinent like India or the Middle East.

The flag of Eurorica takes elements of Scandinavia, America, and Quebec. The cross is of Scandinavian design like Norway, Sweden and Finland. The stars stem from the several American nations that use stars in their flags like the USA, Panama, Cuba and Venezuela.

Blue directly matches in colour with Quebec's Flag. Orange and white was chosen to match the color scheme of the Antarctica Flag designed by Whitney Smith.

The core of this subcontinent is Greenland. Geographically speaking Iceland and many of the 'Canadian North Indies'- Ellesmere Island, Devon Island, and Axel Heiberg Island. Part of Svalbard would be classified purely as a part of Eurorica too - Prins Karls Forland, Nordaustlandet, Kivtoya, and Kong Karls Land. Even a small portion of Russia's Franz Josef Land is a part of the 'Dwarf Continent' of Eurorica - Alexandra Land.


















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Narwal Photo Credit http://animalsspecies.blogspot.com/2011/03/narwhal-whale.html

Flags in a Christmas Story 1983 - it's time for Christmas in June!

Parade Flags - A Christmas Story 1983

Merry Christmas! I know it's June, but since it's the 'Twenty Fifth' of June, a little Christmas Cheer wouldn't hurt anyone?

Christmas in June make more sense since its fairly warm in the Holy Land. FYI Israel is at the same latitude of Louisiana - just about.


Christmas Flag - A Christmas Story 1983

This film is one of those precious timeless gems that was made for little yet had the deepest of impacts.






Getting your tongue stuck to a flag pole
A Christmas Story 1983

Raphie here got his tongue stuck on the flag pole! Hey kids never ever do this!









US Flag in the Clasroom
A Christmas Story 1983

Jeepers would you look at that a chalk board! How quaint.







US flag outside of the class room
notice the neat rows of the 48 starred US flag

Top Gun, Vexilloids & Patches on Leather Jacket of US Naval Aviator Lieut. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell

Back of Maverick's Aviator Jacket
Top Gun 1986

The flags on the large central patch are - the United States, United Nations, Japan, and Taiwan.










Left side of Maverick's Leather Jacket
Top Gun 1986

Here Maverick shakes his hand with Mike "Viper" the teacher. As he does the port side of his leather jacket is visible. Always remember that Portugal is on the left-port side of Europe.








Front side of Jacket
Top Gun 1986

Notice the flag of patch of Texas on his left shoulder. In 1986 the threat of nuclear war palatable in the media. In the US Navy, the top gun vehicle was the F-14 Tomcat, before the age of covert drone planes. In a quantum stretch you can think of a fighter jet as being simply a flying gun. It's a real fancy gun with wings and can do all kinds of tricks.




Right side by Airport
Top Gun 1986

Here Maverick played by Tom Cruise sits on a motorcycle by the military landing strip for fighter jets. The right-starboard side of his jacket is visible. Remember to reach for the star-board stars with your right hand like a right wing patriotic American - otherwise you'll be a left wing cosmonaut.

Flags in Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

United Hospital Flag
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Before Sex in the City, Friends, and Animal House there was Breakfast at Tiffany's. This move was made on the eve the 60s revolution. It featured racy themes, open relationships, and the humorous high life of socialite bohemians.



Flags & NYC Central Park Pennants 1961
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

The early part of the 60s were very much like the stiff 50s. Subsequently pennants of all sorts were popular items. By 1971 pennants became stale items of sale. Maybe someday they will return to their former glory in the 2050s?




Cross Checker Flag Logo
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Love though the ages is still love. Here our male lead Paul the writer is getting out of Checker Flag logo taxi. Checker flags are popular flags in all automotive sports - and as logos for taxis all across America and the World.



Shoplifting at the 5 & 10
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Shoplifting is a serious crime but in the movie the audience finds its self rooting for the dishonest side to win. In the background is a US flag on a bag-lunch box.





Holly in front of Tiffany's by flag of the USA
Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961

Tiffany's Jewlery Co. in NYC no doubt became an American Institution after the making of this movie. Here Holly Golightly is getting home at dawn after a night of the high life with the big wigs of NYC. Note the social norm of 1961 was socially nothing like 1969. But this movie was the start of things to come.





The essence of the movie captured in a song


Hey Gen X - you remember ?

Other flags and Vexilloids in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Decorative pennants in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

US Flag in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

US Flag on Pee-wee's house
Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Tour de France Flags in Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Notice the flag of France along the utility line
Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Flag of Texas in Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

Flag of Texas on a bus
Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985

In Pee-wee's first feature film he heads to Alamo in Texas to find his bicycle as foretold by a fortune teller. Here Pee-wee is hiding behind a bus with the flag of Texas painted on it.

Bicycle Handle Bar Streamers - from Pee-wee's Big Adventure

Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985
notice the simplest of childhood vexilloids the
bicycle handlebar streamers

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure came to life in 1985 and it features many kinds of vexilloids. Of vexillological note are the bicycle streamers of his beloved bicycle. Bicycle handlebar streamers are popular on children's bicycles, usually until the tween age.





Pee-wee's Big Adventure 1985
notice the varied colours of the streamers

This film is essential cult classic for American male tweens in their first year of middle or junior high school. Paul Rubens plays as Pee-wee Herman, a grown up man who refuses to grow up. Pee-wee is something like Spongebob but more zany and without a side kick.




Close up of the bicycle vexilloid -
"handlebar streamers"

Close up of bicycle handle bar streams - usually made of plastic, string, or some kind of strong paper like material. They can vary in shape, number and color. Sometimes they are specific for gender - for instance pink is reserved as a bicycle streamer. Other times they can be patriotic - as is the case with a red, white and blue streamers.

American-Mexican State Heritage Flags

The following flags are American-Mexican State Heritage Flags, created in honor of their Mexican Heritage. The south western states were once a part of Mexico. So these flags can be flown over the part of the state that was once a part Mexico - thus all of California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and most of Texas. But only a small portion of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma were a part of Mexico.


Utah-Mexican American Heritage Flag
The Utaxico Flag

The beehive has been replaced with a prickly pear cactus. And a Mexican Flag has replaced the US flag on the right and the back ground is green. Believe it or not Bringham Young emigrated to Mexico before it became a part of the United States.





Oklahoma-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Oklameximaho Flag

The Oklameximaho Flag is based upon the original state flag of Oklahoma but instead of the number 46 it is written in Spanish - and coincidentally the Mexican-American War started in 1846.







Wyoming-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Wyomexming Flag

The Wyomexming flag has colours fit to the national colours of Mexico. On the smallest south western corner of Wyoming was a part of Mexico.









Kansas-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Kansaxamexis Flag

The sunflower has been replaced with a poinsetta - which originates from Mexico. Merry Christmas, oops! I meant to say... iFeliz Navidad!







Texas-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Mexatexas Flag

The Mexatexas Flag just has a different colour pattern. The colours are similar to pan-African colours on purpose as well - since some of the first illegal immigrants into Texas were African Slaves brought over by the USA. When Mexico invited Americans from the Southwest to colonize way before the Mexican-American War, Mexico told them that they were not supposed to bring their slaves - but many a rich Southerner and few a Northerner did so illegally, in total contempt for Mexican Law.


New Mexico-Mexican Heritage Flag
The New Xameximico Flag

The New Xemeximico Flag just has colours of Mexico with a larger Zia Pueblo cross.









Colorado-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Colomexirado Flag

The Colomexirado flag has colours found on the Mexican Flag.









Arizona-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Arizexica Flag

The colours of the Mexican National flag are imprinted and combined with the design of Arizona's flag.








Nevada-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Nevexada Flag


More Colours of Mexico, coincidentlaly most of the state flags in Mexico have white backgrounds.








California-Mexican Heritage Flag
The Mexilfornia Flag

The changes are: the wings of the Mexican Eagle are combined with the California Bear and the red star has been changed to green. Also the flag is explained in black. The fanciful animal is known as a "Grizzly Beagle."

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photo credits
Wikipedia
Poinsettia Source http://scrapbooking.about.com/od/freepatterns/ig/Winter-Paper-Piecing-Patterns/Poinsettia-Sample.htm

Flag in Indian Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984

Notice Chinese Advertisement Flags
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984

Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Doom 1984 is the second film starring Harrison Ford as a dashing and charming archaeologist - Dr. Jones.

This film centers on Asia, starting in China and ending in India. In the opening action sequence a race occurs though Shanghai.


Banners with Chinese Writing
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom 1984

The first recorded flags made from a fabric originate to China. Flags often have writing and elegant borders. The borders of flags are often zig zaggy or serrated.




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If you can translate Chinese into English, please post it here

US Flag and Banners in Some Kind of Wonderful 1987

Harlequin Play Announcement
Some Kind of Wonderful 1987

Some Kind of Wonderful starred Eric Stoltz as an artistic outsider who learns about love and following his heart. Social status usually becomes an obnoxious factor in high school - and this movie takes on these issues head on.




US Flag arm patch on leather jacket
Some Kind of Wonderful 1987

A US flag can be seen in the background as an arm patch on a leather jacket. Some Kind of Wonderful was directed by John Hughes. All during the 1980s Uncle Hughes provided many outsider high school students a ray of hope, when most kids are caught up in ego-games, bulling, and bullshit status labels.

Reading Rainbow Flags

Black Sand Castle Flags
Reading Rainbow - Original Introduction

Reading Rainbow aired from 1983 unto 2006. Its main message teaches children to love and enjoy reading. It was hosted by the LeVar Burton and was able to inspire children across America to read.

In the original introduction, little flags appear on top of the sandcastle. They are little black triangular flags - also known as pennants.

Red Mast Head Pennants - Reading Rainbow


After reading the book by the river, the boy is able to see an ancient view of history. The young boys imagination lets him see a ship from the past. Along the top of the ships are little red flags or pennants.

Reading really is a kind of magic.

War of 1812 - or rather World War Negative One?

One can argue the American Revolution of 1776 as being a 'Civil War' but the War of 1812 was not. However the War of 1812 can be thought of as a 'pre-world war' or WW -1.

The War of 1812 in a global point of view was simply another theater of the Napoleonic Wars. Like WWI and WWII the United States was 'late' for WW-1, since it started in 1803.

Ireland, Cross of St. Patrick - Scotland, Cross of St. Andrew - England, Cross of St. George

The flag of the United States was 'stripus maximus' with 15 stripes. After this war the US flag would revert to only ever having 13 stripes. The flag of the UK was in its modern form with a new element since the American Revolution. During the American Revolution the UK Union Flag was based on two crosses - St. George and St. Andrew. But during the War of 1812 the Union Jack was composed of a trinity of three crosses. In 1801 the cross of St. Patrick was added which is quartered into four small thin parts around the corners.


The United States was an ally to France. But since 1803 the British and French 'drafted' several other nations. These nations like the United States often switched sides. It can also be painted as another French and Indian War. However most of the Indians were on the side of the UK, and the US was an ally to the French.

The world wide war battles were fought all over the globe in Asia, India, Africa, and North America. Navies also fought in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans, Great Lakes and the Mediterranean Sea.

Nations involved in WW -1 (War of 1812/Napoleonic Wars)

1803-1815

1. Poland (Duchy of Warsaw)
2. Italy (Sicily, Tuscany, Sardinia, Naples)
3. Switzerland
4. Netherlands (Nassau, Holland)
5. Spain (bitterly divided)
6. Denmark
7. Turkey (Ottoman Empire)
8. Sweden
9. Germany (Rhine, Brunswick, Hanover)
10. Prussia (wiped off the map after WWII)
11. Russia
12. Persia
13. Austria
14. Vatican
15. Portugal
16. Montenegro
17. Countless Unrecognized Native American Nations

Death the High Cost of Living - 1993 the flags and vexilloids

Notice Flag of Cameroon on soccer player - minus the yellow star
Death the High Cost of Living - 1993

Death the High Cost of Living was published in April 1993. Written by Neil Gaiman and drawn by Christopher Bachalo and Mark Buckingham. In this 'alternative' comic - Death manifests as a human for one day to experience life.

However the image of a graven skull with scythe is replaced and shattered with a hypnotically cute woman.

This paradigm shift of an attractive Death comes from the belief at the end of life - Death appears as a woman whose rich beauty pulls your soul out of your body.

This enchanting and nice version of Death runs into a high school student on the verge of suicide. She is also nefariously pursued by others who dabble in to magic.

Orange Pennant Steamers in the background
Death - Comic Book by Niel Gaiman

Somehow the universe condenses Death into a real girl who recently lost her entire family due to a psychopath.

This not so comical comic book focused on death had the paradoxical effect of causing readers to embrace life.

It is a rich, original story told by an experienced English Storyteller and drawn with a soulful authenticity by a Canadian Artist - Neil Gaiman and Christopher Bachalo respectively.


US flag waving
Death - the High Cost of Living










Notice Yin Yang symbol on surf board in the corner
Sexton says it all - in an communal public address for
everyone who was positively effected by Gaiman back in 1992-1993



















*blogpost #1001

Flags in Coraline 2009 - Hanging around in Ashland, Oregon

Shakespeare Fesitival
Coraline 2009

Truly moving art with a witty and well acted cast. It sparkles with a harp and smells of toasted talent. It has hidden morals yet sings with eye catching refinement.

This film should have won an academy award.



The story takes place in February
sometime in the 20-ohs/via primitive cell phones

Finally a stop animation film that can be watched every mid-February. The setting could be mid-November as well, but this sign gives away when the story takes place in the most subtle of ways.





Pink Palace with Sign
Notice tiny Russian Imperial Flag

A pink American Gingerbread House - a far cry from the McMansion. Just as every ounce of a gingerbread house is meticulously and lovingly put together - so too was this film. A lot of sweat-ful joy went into this production. It is a first class artisan film. As American Ginger Houses ooze of love so to does this film.

A Masterpiece of Art & Acting, worthy of a Shakespeare Cameo!