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).

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. 

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

New Rhindle-Wales Flag — Atari Style

Did you know that the Rhindle from Atari's 1979 ground breaking video game of Adventure was a distant relative of the Welsh dragon.  So in honor of that heritage we have the Rhindle-Wales Flag.

To the left is the official heraldic flag of Wales with its proper dragon.  Also note that Wales also has a cross flag like England but the cross is yellow and the background is black.

Here is the lost Welsh flag that us based upon a fusion Atari dragon design with a more comprehensive Welsh Dragon. 

Here is the Welsh War ensign that could be flown at football matches or any other sporting event for Welsh Pride!!!

Henry Plinkett Flag Jacket - RedLetterMedia

Henry Plinkett with USA Flag Jacket? - RedLetterMedia

Henry Plinkett is the ultimate anti-hero in the RedLetterMedia universe.  Plinkett is an over the top crotchety, cranky, vulgar, crass miscreant.  Oddly there are many people across America and Canada who exhibit Plinkett-like behavior, yet never make it to the Big nor television screens.

Nonetheless, RedLetterMedia has captured that essence and presented it in a short skit comedy for movie reviews par on a humorous level, unshackled by politically correct standards.

You can see the American flag jacket of the owner of the trashed-trashy home.  The right sleeve is completely red but the left sleeve has stripes.  On the right next the American flag jacket is Mike Stoklasa.  On the left under the crappified window blinds is Jay Bauman.

Flying the American Jacket Flag

Here, they fly the Henry Plinkett flag while Henry is still wearing his jacket over some bridge in "New Jersey."

It's easy to be critic.  But these guys have filled with void with their own unique and comical schtick.  Often sloppy on purpose, the creator is a master of deadpan humour, and they often capture lightening in a bottle, or rather, they captured a bunch of twinkle-bees in beer bottle.

RedLetterMedia has captured the feels of a generation and demographic that is usually overlooked by entertainment executives.  Rather than having a socially justice driven agenda, they have cooked up a show that demonstrates with art and heart—and the random fart; the real, organic flavors of American Pie missing from modern day movies and television.  They are from Wisconsin, after all.
 


(Episode 23—if you want to see the American Jacket Flag 'Fly' : The Devil Inside and Flyin' Ryan)

Kings of London Leo Flag - A London's Pride

 

Lions are important symbols in heraldic circles.  There are many versions, and they represent nations and royal families of the world.  One of the most famous kingdoms represented by a lion is the UK.  A red lion represents Scotland and three golden lions represent England.

Historically several other heraldic lions were associated with the monarch of the UK.  When England's Mary I married King Philip II of Spain, she was able to use the black lion of Flanders on yellow and the yellow lion on black of Brabant.   And for that brief period, Mary I was connected to the purple lion of Spain.

Later in the late 1600s When William III of Orange ruled London, the yellow lion on blue with billets was tied to the UK.   Likewise the white lion on black of Oliver Cromwell was tied to ruler of London for a brief period.  Most recently during the colonial period of the Americas a blue lion on yellow with red hearts came to represent the British Monarch with George I the Elector of Hanover. 

So in honor of the month of Leo and all the Royal Lions that were tied to London at one time or another, the Grand Leo Pride Flag of London has been created.  This flag is a post historical banner, that connects different moments in London's history when this city was in some kind of union on the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Spain.

Out & About Show at Dino's

 

Laverne & Shirley on the 1958 Wisconsin Flag

Laverne and Shirley were two nostalgic characters from the 1970s who starred in a network television show which that took place in the 1950s! It's only fitting that these girls get honored on the Wisconsin flag.  Shirley is on the left as the sailor and Laverne is on the right as the miner.

The shield is modified with Laverne and Shirley items.  In the first quarter is the abc logo, in the second quarter is the fictional Shotz brewery logo, in the third quarter is the iconic glove on beer bottle, and in the fourth quarter is badge of things that belong the Laverne—The Cursive "L". 

Wisconsin Flag - Nostaglia & Middle of America: Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, That 70s Show, and RedLetterMedia

There is something magically nostalgic about Wisconsin...
Maybe there is something strange in the cheese or maybe...it's the beer? 

Wisconsin has featured three hit shows that replayed that feels of a generation earlier.  First, there was Happy Days, which was filmed in front of a live audience, that aired in the 1970s.  The plots focused on everyday life in suburbia.  It was so popular that it had several spin offs.  The most popular being the Laverne and Shirley Show which also took place in the late 1950s-early 1960s.  The lead flag here featured has of the lead characters from Happy Days, the Fonz as the sailor and Ritchie Cunningham as the miner.


The Wisconsin 1958 flag has the two goofballs from The Laverne and Shirley Show—Lenny and Squiggy.  Notice that the coat of arms has been modified.  In the first quarter is the abc logo, in the second quarter is the Shotz brewery. In the third quarter is the signature glove on beer, and in the fourth quarter is the cursive L for Laverne.


Most recently there was That 70s Show which aired in the late 1990s, making That 70s Show in true life That 90s Show, and looking back from 2018 makes That 70s Show perfectly in sync form the 90s to the 20-tweens. (You might have to read that sentence, real slowly for that temporal fact to sink in)

Again, simple life stories where the mainstream plot showcasing what middle of the road American life was like, but a bit more edgy, even by today's hyper-sensitive times.  They even had the Happy Days's Good & Bad Boy duo of the clean cut kid hanging around a bad boy nonconformist.  For Happy Days the clean cut square was Ritchie Cunningham—who was the ginger, sweet, fellow that tried to do the right thing.  His opposite was the bad boy greaser—the Fonz, who told his opponents to "SIT ON IT!"  

Upon the 1978 Wisconsin flag, the sailor is Eric Foreman, the middle of the road kid, with a nuclear family and dad who served in the Korean War.  The square Star Wars Nerd was played by Topher Grace, the clean cut kid.  On the right side with the shades is Steven Hyde—played by Danny Masterson, and Hyde had the extreme issues of a dysfunctional-family.  Steven grew up with a single mom, who abandoned him while he was still in high school.  The one weakness of the show is that it should have started in 1971, instead of 1977.  Ironically Happy Days was created in the 1970s, making it the real, authentic "That 70s Show" or rather That 50's Show.


So what about today in 2018, right now?  Oddly there is no popular nostalgic TV show that is centered on Wisconsin. However, there is an Internet show that is really filmed in Wisconsin and features a fictional retro TV VCR repair shop—Lighting Fast VCR Repair— retro to the 1990s?  The shows are created by RedLetterMedia. 

Nonetheless, the popular Internet shows of RedLetterMedia are independent and epic of the 80s and 90s generations.  Additionally, this is a true blue, born and bread Wisconsin show!  The cast and most of the crew are, indeed, really from Wisconsin.  In a way their production could be titled That Movie Review Show of the 90s & 80s of Happier Days Gone By.

For the 2018 Wisconsin flag the sailor is Mike Stoklasa whose dead pan humor can give Bill Murray a run for his money.  On the right is Rich Evans who is in a similar vein to Dan Aykroyd, that makes Jay Bauman the Egon of the group.

No matter what—WE LOVE YOU WISCONSIN!!

Native American Heritage Flag

You might be thinking this is Confederate flag?  Wrong!  It is a Native American Heritage flag based upon the flag of the Muscogee Republic, which existed long before the birth of Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln.  

The Muscogee Republic was the original Southern Nation that arose on US and Spanish territory in 1799.  Its capital was located at Miccosukee, Florida.  It was mainly composed of Native Americans who elected William August Bowels as their national leader, who was born in Maryland, whence it was still a colony of the UK.  However the Muskogee Republic was fighting against Spain and the United States.

The flag of the Original Southern Rebellion of 1799 had a blue cross, trimmed in white, on a red field with blue canton with a yellow Sun of Splendor.  This rebel flag also represents a forlorn often forgotten chapter in American History.  Eventually the Muscogee peoples would all be moved to Oklahoma by a South Carolina President in the 1830s.  Who knew that South Carolina would later lead another Southern rebellion some 30 years later in 1860?  And it too was defeated by Federals.

But a generation before the War Between the States, The Muscogee Republic was critically damaged when a US Indian Agent, Benjamin Hawkins, captured the Muscogee Commander-in-Chielf Bowels on May 24, 1803.  The Muscogee homelands were originally in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Although this Native American Heritage flag is designed after the flag of the Muscogee Republic, it can be used by Native American Tribe, even those that did not participate in Jackson's Bloody March to Oklahoma of 1830. Likewise those who are charged with never forgetting the injustices of Native American rights are permitted to fly this flag.

Anglo-Danish Unity Flag

London and Copenhagen are cities on islands just off the coast of Europe.  England and Denmark are fraternal flag twins on two levels.  Their royal standards unite lions in similar stances and numbers, likewise their national flags of the cross are similar.  Both are connected to Europe, but just slightly detached.

Funny thing is that English Muffins and Danishes are a favorite breakfast treat in the United States.  Coincidentally the US was initially formed from the English in 1776 and the last part of the Americas to become a part of the USA was from the Danish.  It happened in 1916 when Copenhagen sold the islands to Washington.   

Seven Kingdoms English Heritage Flag

England takes its linguistic and most recent heritage roots to the Seven Kingdoms period.  In honor of that time frame we have the Seven English Kingdom's Flag.  In the canton is the flag of England, the red cross on white.  If you read across then the winged dragon is Wessex, the three crowns belong to East Anglia, the three swords represent Essex.  On the bottom from the left-fly area is the horse of Kent, the birds of Sussex, the bars of Northumbria, and finally the yellow X on blue for Mercia.

The other parts of the UK have a Celtic orientation.  There has been a lot of mixing, but these seven kingdoms have been at the cultural heart of the English, for it was of this tribe of seven whose language would be imparted upon the seven corners of the Earth and Moon.  

Indeed, the seven kingdoms is the basis for the seven kingdoms of HBO's popular Game of Thrones Series.

Auld Alliance Flag, Scotland & France—The Auld Lang Syne Flag

The Auld Alliance was a international political treaty organization set by the former monarchs of Scotland and France.  Neat thing is that both nations used the fluer-di-lis as royal emblems.  For Royal France the lilies are yellow and the centerpiece, while for Scotland the lilies are red and spread around the double frame, tressure.

Primarily this is a post-historical, educational flag that represents the ancient connections that nations can have.  The kingdoms of Scotland and France would team up to keep English ambitions in check.  Additionally persons or companies of a joint Scottish-French are privy to use the flag at their leisure.

But do note, there is no longer a singular Scottish King—not since 1603.  Likewise there is no longer a French Monarch—not since 1870.

In the binary tradition of Scottish tanistry, this flag also represents Auld Lang Syne.  A flag and song not only for Scotland, it is dedicated to France, the West, England, the UK, and the world.  This song is enchanted with nostalgia and the past, that once upon a time souls lived before us, which fought, died, and prayed, and are undeniably interconnected with our lives from Africa, Asia, the Americas, unto Australia, and worlds beyond.  These ancient souls once lived on our humble abode, and at the passing of every Old Year an echo of their lives with this hymn is played, beckoning us to cherish the past...

  

London, Underground Symbol - In David Gray's Babylon

Music is a special kind of communication that can capture feelings beyond the word, with sound alone.  Words are acquired and languages differ.  But every once and a while, a song is released that can transcend languages and international borders.  Previously, the feelings of tension and anxiety has been expertly captured within suspenseful and horror films.  But note, not all emotions have been recorded or scored, which can transcend linguistic barriers. 

In 1998, a most overlooked, somber, yet most powerful feeling was captured in the UK.  The sorrowful feeling of surrender to a higher force with sincere honesty, with an intention for higher hopes—beyond the ego.  It is the reflective feeling that is a recognition of hindsight, tangential to regret, the closing of an unpleasant door, and a change of heart to the peaceful loving center—as performed by David Gray in the song, Babylon 1998.  

Of vexillological importance is the official video that features a shot of the London Underground Train Platform at Paddington Station. Paddigton Station has been hallowed...by fate?  By chance?  Or by Destiny?  No doubt several hearts were broken and remade at this enchanted locale.

Paddington Station Image Source:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/London-Travel-Station-Sign-Paddington-LUP01-A3-A4-POSTER-ART-PRINT-/321705365010

The Big Apple Flag & Zesty Tomato Flag

Once upon a time, someone coined the term The Big Apple.  Well, right next to the Big Apple is New Jersey.  People in NYC often look down at Jersey, making New Jersey the quintessential underdog.  Even though western Connecticut is just like Jersey it does not have the same reputation, being a concrete jungle spiked with pollution and outspoken pushy people.  But it is not always a rivalry.  When New York and New Jersey team up, they are an unstoppable force linking the upscale and downscale, white collar and blue collar, the plain Jane and fancy Nancy.

Likewise New Jersey prides herself on the Jersey Tomato, thus it is fitting that this original fruit from New Jersey totally represents America more authentically than say a large apple.  Reason being, apples are from the Old World, while Tomatoes were cultivated in the New World by "savages"---NOT!! in the Americas.  So you can enjoy All American Apple Pie, from New York or a Zesty Pizza Pie from New Jersey.  Sorry, New York...but it is a fact that New Jersey has better pizza!  As a consolation, people prefer apple juice over tomato juice 10 to 1, but Jersey Pizza Pie is America's Best.  Likewise nothing can beat a home baked New York Apple Pie.

Yeah, New York is famous for its flat pizza, which beats down Illinois's Chicago Pizza by a mile, which is more akin to a Pizza Quiche.  Don't get me wrong, NY flat pizza is delish!  And cah-go' pizza is unique treat everyone should try. But you can't beat out Jersey's fresh tomatoes.

And remember the Statue of Liberty, technically is within New Jersey's borders.

 

New Jersey & New York 

United

Frank Sinatra is from New Jersey & Tony Bennett is from New York

The Boss & The Piano Man

Bruce Springsteen of NJ & Billy Joel of NY

Flags in the Thing 1982

The hero of the story is seen here standing amongst black flags at the Antarctic base.  A threatening environment with a threatening life force, from beyond.  Or maybe an ancient life form?   This movies is a hybrid classic that lightly traces the original seed to The Thing From Another World 1951 and Who Goes There? 1938 novella by Don A. Stuart.

Sci-fi horror from the 1980s by John Carpenter hit a high note in a reconstituted version, made more real and visceral than the lighthearted romp of the, now cheesy by today's standards, 1950's The Thing.  However, both films effectively capture the unknown and paranoia in a bottle, and release it unto the public. Black  flags can be seen next to the US flag in draped-tie mode.  Also visible is an orange pennant upon the tractor.

This movie is a grotesque masterpiece, that does not end like a typical horror movie, with a tiny bit of dread mixed with a drop of hope.  It is a counter note to E.T. which was also released in 1982.  This is one alien that you don't want touching your finger.