Battle Flag of the of the first shot - US Civil War - 150 years later

Fact Panel at the Citadel
Museum Charleston, South Carolina

Many history books declare that the US Civil War started on April 12, 1861. Indeed it was the first clash of Northern and Southern Military Units. However the 'first shot' of the War Between the States, after a US State had removed herself from the Union, took place 150 years ago, today. Mississippi also left the Union on this date.

Current State Flag of Mississippi

Although the Confederacy was still in the works 'a military unit in rebellion' commenced hostile and deadly force against a 'foreign Union Ship' - under president Buchanan.

The cadets at the original citadel in Charleston, South Carolina opened fire upon the Star of the West. South Carolina left the union the previous year on December 20, 1860. From South Carolina's point of view The Star of the West was a foreign ship and trespassed into her waters.

Art work at the new Citadel Academy
illustrating the first shot of the 'Civil War'

During the 'opening shot' of the War Between the States a flag was reported to have been flown - a red palmetto. You can see images of this first of 'Rebel' battle flags at the new Citadel in South Carolina.

Close up of 1st Civil War Battle Flag - Big Red

Visitors are welcome at the Citadel. And if you think you have the inner strength to become a Leader - Click Here (Citadel Website)

Civil War 150 Years Ago Today - part 2

Hudson Bay Company Heritage: Part III

Since the states "south of the border" have honor HBC Flags, it makes sense that the modern Canadian Provinces and Territories should have HBC Flags as well, eh? The Hudson Bay Company is arguably America's oldest company. This corporation was chartered in 1670 and has not looked back since. You can see Part I of this HBC string by clicking "here" to learn more about the HBC - the longest living of corporations.

Even if you eschew the word 'Corporate' certainly the Hudson Bay Company deserves a little bit of respect as the oldest American Corporation - and besides it's Canadian - so you can expect a healthy dose of politeness and friendliness.


North West Territories HBC Flag








Only a small eastern portion of this territory is a part of the Hudson Bay Water shed. This is the part of Canada that is mostly cold. However much of Canada has four distinct seasons!


Alberta HBC Flags








Alberta is often compared to being the Texas of Canada, because it's a 'red province.' However it seems more appropriate to compare Alberta to Louisiana. In fact, the southern portion of Alberta was a part of Louisiana Purchase in 1803! In addition Alberta's proverbial first name is Louisiana. Alberta Province was named after Queen Victoria's daughter - Louise Caroline Alberta. Thus appropriate nick names for Alberta Province include Louisiana Province and even Canadian Carolina Province! I suppose this is partly why this part of Canada is perceived as having a Southern Tilt.

Nunavut HBC Flag








Some of you may not be aware of this youngest of Canadian districts. It came in to being officially on April Fools day 1999, no joke! However although the youngest most of the people living there have been in Canada the longest - the Inuit.

Saskatchewan HBC Flag








Saskatchewan is the Kansas of Canada, or rather Kansas is the Saskatchewan of the United States, eh?

Manitoba and Ontario province are also a part of the Hudson Bay Water Shed but they will be discussed in a later post, since they are fraternal flag twins.

LINK TO FIRST HBC POST I

Hudson Bay Company Heritage in the USA

click map for larger image

Since four US States at one time were a part of the Hudson Bay Company, I have created four flags reflective of this honorable Canadian Heritage. Basically these four states have rivers that flow into the Hudson Bay.

These are post-historical heritage flags for Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana. From 1670 until 1818 parts of these states were 'Canadian' under the compact of the Hudson Bay Company!



North Dakota HBC Flag









South Dakota HBC Flag










Minnesota HBC Flag









Montana HBC Flag









Montana would get a double dose of Canadian Heritage. Because her western portion was a part of Oregon Territory until 1846 - which was a "Bi-National Territory" ruled by the UK and US at the same time. (see my Oregon Territory Flag Post Here)

LINK to 1st HBC Post with funny commercials

LINK to Part III

Hudson Bay Company

Flag of Old Hudson Bay Company

As Old Man Winter settles into the Northern Hemisphere, and we don our furs of natural and synthetic origins. Here is a little bit of interesting Heraldry of one of North America's oldest and richest companies to generate income - the Hudson Bay Company. In the US mind this is simply a foot note in some history exam, but in Canada it is a shopping mall. Yes Virginia the Hudson Bay Company is still selling "furs''... since 1670. On May 2, 2010 the Hudson Bay Company celebrated its 340th year in operation.

US states that were a part of the Hudson Bay Company charter included Minnesota, the Dakotas and Montana.

Original Coat of Arms
The original arms of this oldest of American Companies has the red cross of St. George with a four beavers in each corner. The supporters are two deer. At the Helm is a house of piers hat and in the crest is a red fox facing to the left. The motto in Latin reads Pro Pelle Cutem. In traditional translation this means, "a skin for a skin."

The modern corporate arms kept the basic design but is all black and white. Four horizontal colour bands separated by white stripes make up the background - green, red, yellow, and blue. The motto was also changed into English and French - Since 1670 Depuis.

Modern Corporate Logo

Here are three commercials that reflect the 3 main types of Canadians

Patriotic Angloite Canucks

Wacky and Fun Loving Cnuckers

Artistic and Elegant Qebekerites


Link to Modern Hudson Bay Co.

Click Here for Part II

X-Box Kinect Flag

The Adventures Flag for Kinect

Flags in video games are nothing new, but every once in a while there is great leap in the home entertainment system. With the advent of technology the first marvel of 'nerdoistic ways' was radio. The next step in nerdovlition was the TV in simple black and white. Then came colour TV. At the end of the 20th century came video Image and sound recorders & cable. And in the 21st centuty we have... X-Box Kinect.

Kinect uses the human body as the controller. Eventually all gaming systems will have a full body controller. Gamers will finally be mostly fit, if they have a Kinect. This one step closer to the Star Trek Holli-deck!

Digitized Version of
the Adventures Kinect Flag

The game Kinect Adventures has its own flag. It uses the colours of X-Box "green, yellow, black and white." On a background of camouflage green in light disc fimbrated with olive green and filled with a black disc. Upon the disc is a stylized letter 'A' in a white-green colour.

Learn about Kinect on Wikipedia
Learn about Kinect from X-Box

Kinect Adventures Video

January is the Month of the Cosmic Goat

The two forms of Capricorn
The Amphibious 'Tranfomer'

Capricorn is perhaps the most capricious sign of the Zodiac. It has two forms the goat and the sea-goat. Which one is it? Nobody knows, but I like to think of it as a transformer sign, kinda' like a frog. Capricorn can switch back in forth on land and water, depending on how it feels.

Its sort of like the mermaid from the movie Splash 1984 that starred Tom Hanks and Daryl Hannah. When the mermaid was dry her fish portion would grow legs but when she was hit with sea water she would revert to being a mermaid. Likewise this can happen with Capricorn.

Flag of Balawaristan in Kashmir

In the hotly contested issue of Kashmir there is group of people hoping for the independent nation that Balawaristan. There are several variations of the flag but the most popular seems to the Goat of the Mountain. Since it is the month of the "Mermaid Goat"- Balawaristan is our feature flag.

The flag bears a slightly resembles its semi-parent state - Pakistan. Both Pakistan and Balawaristan have a white vertical stripe on the hoist with a green field to the right. But Balawaristan also has a black vertical stripe and red triangle. In the field are three moutains with a large white goat head.

Part of the Balawari name means 'highlander.' Just like some highlanders in Scotland there are highlanders in Pakistan who want to form their own nation.

Youtube Link to Balaristan Person
SORRY NO ENGLISH but some good flag pics and what seems to be unhappy Balawari men
www.youtube.com/user/BalawaristanFreedom#p/u/0/sU0XzPBs78o

Vexillology Wrap up 2010

New Burma Flag

2010 was a rather active year for vexillology. Two national flags changed - the flag of Malawi and Burma! In the South Pacific the special overseas French Territory of New Caledonia adopted the previously rebel Kanak Flag as being official.

King, North Carolina
Christian Flag Rally 2010

On the flag controversy front - the desecration of the US flag was a non issue. But it may come up again in 2011, with the new Republican Congress? But in North Carolina the flying of Christian Flag at a veterans memorial was perhaps the most controversial vexi-issue. With the 150th of the US Civil war in order, the Confederate flag is poised to be an issue in 2011.

Flag of Chile rev upped the
Chilean Spirit for the Miners

Unfortunately due to national disasters the flags of Chile and Haiti were plastered all over the news media. At least with the trapped Chile miners it was a happy ending, Haiti is still recovering. Which ever nation gets hit with misfortune will at least gets its flag flying all over the news networks. This causes the suffering nation to get a boost of communal flag-salute prayer energy, or something like that.

North Korea was able to gets its flag waved 'In Your Face America' due simmering issues and festering back karma. Thus North Korea won the top prize of 'enemy flag' of the USA in 2010. Maybe next year Iran, Yemen, or Somalia will give the 'pain body' of North Korea a run for money? Try as 'THEY' might American people will not care about Venezeula or whatever Hugo Chaves does with his oil.

The World Cup was held in South Africa and thus the colours of South Africa waved in the limelight in addition to grand winner - i Viva Spain!

Of fanciful flags created this year - South Park flew an anti-New Jersey Flag, Coats of arms were granted to Cable news shows on their own agenda (Glenn Beck University & Steven Colbert University). But on a lighter note the flag of Disney's Tangled flew with some grace and universal humour.

New Malawi Flag

Who knows what 2011 will bring? A prediction - at least one African country will switch up there flags as soon as a new party comes into power. Maybe something exciting will happen in Eastern Europe? One thing for sure Australia and New Zealand will think about changing in the flag and do nothing about it.

Also the last moon of 2010 ends on January 4th 2011. Thus we only get four extra nights of 2010 in 2011.

GOOD BYE TO THESE FLAGS IN 2010
Malawi & Burma (Myanmar)