Tax Day 2011 & The IRS Eagle

Treasury and IRS Seals Compared

Since 1955, Federal Income Taxes have been due April 15 - but every once and a while the date shifts. This year it shifted to maximum - April 18, 2011.

The first federal income taxes were initiated during the US Civil War in 1862 on people who made over 800 dollars a year, which excluded most workers.

After the war this temporary measure was abandoned. But by 1913 income taxes for the federal government was made the law of the land, with the sweet sixteenth amendment under president Taft.

The "IRS Eagle"

The seal of the IRS is essentially the seal of the Department of Treasury - the only difference being the inscription upon the internal ring.

By 1998, the IRS had adopted its own logo - the IRS Eagle. On the left hand side is an olive branch with seven leaves. On the right side is the outline in bold strokes of an eagle with its left wing raised in the air and you can not see the right wing. In the middle bottom portion is a balance scale that is reflective of the IRS and Treasury Seals.

In 1998 the IRS was reorganized and the issue of IRS symbols came to the table. Previously the seal of the Treasury and IRS were used inconsistently and with much confusion. Thus there was a need for a distinct IRS Symbol, thus the IRS Eagle was born soon afterwards.

Link to Official IRS Website dealing with the vivid detail of the IRS' Symbols

The First 1040 - from 1913 AD

Construction/Warning Mini Flags: aka Banderitos

Maybe you never noticed, but along side construction sites little mini flags have been adopted by the construction industry to warn workers where buried utilities are.

I was with one of my colleagues, from Guatemala by the name of Jesus. It was with him that we coined the term Baderitos.

Bandera is Spanish for flag. You can also see that Bandera is a Latin root for the term Bandanna or Banner.

Bandertiros are usually held up by aluminum metal wires. They come in various colours, and the there is no standard as to what each colour means. It is essential that these types of flags have words written on them so as to convey important information. Otherwise it could result in massive property damage and or personal injury.

Most vexillologists would consider these mini flags (Banderditos) as "BAD FLAGS" since they have words upon them. Vexillological Orthodoxy prefers that flags use coded symbols and or patterns. But I'm not most vexillologist: in my opinion these are "Excellent" utilitarian and logical flags that have saved time, money, and lives.

Like hidden Easter Eggs
a Rainbow collage of Banderitos (click image for clearer view)

Titanic - 99 years ago today

White Star Line Flag and Logo

The company that owned the RMS Titanic (RMS meaning Royal Mail Ship) was the White Star Line, founded in Liverpool, England in 1869. Its original name as the Oceanic Steam Navigation Company.

The White Star Line joined with the Cunard Line and since 2005 has become a part of Carnival Cruise Lines. The flag of the White Star line, used its namesake on a red fielded guidon with a five pointed white star.

Current Carnival Corporation Logo with Flag

The sinking of the Titanic was epic of the times. The 20th century began, and amazing and marvelous technologies were unleashed upon the public. It seemed science and technology were going to grant mankind a new dominion over the forces of nature. The British Empire was at its apex. Ireland, Africa, India, America, and Asia were ruled as an Empire under King and Corporation. But the trials and horror of WWI were just around the corner.

The next 99 years saw a grand reworking of the social fabric and reality. Faded now are the dreams and hopes of early 20th century, yet we seem to be in the same position 99 years since our folly. What have we learned?

Funkadelic Flag - One Nation Under a Groove

Album Cover of Funkadelic's
One Nation Under a Groove

1978 was a funky time for the United States. Disco was it, hair was fair, and cosmic funky grooves were kicking out of the African American Community.

The band Funkadelic released their album - One Nation Under a Groove. Their cover featured groovy aliens planting a funky R&B African American Flag around the earth and the One Nation Under a Groove Flag in the lower right hand corner. Before Phish and Blue Man Group, Funkadelic was there.


One Nation Under a Groove Flag - 1978

150th Anniversary of the "Offical" Opening of the US Civil War

Flag of the Union at Ft. Sumter & Confederacy
150 years ago today

150 years ago the US Civil War officially started with the shelling of a US Base that was just off the coast of South Carolina.

Shots had already been fired in Charleston Harbor on January 9, 1861. But this occurred before the formation of the Confederacy.

South Carolina fired upon The Star of the West. But this ship did not belong to the US Navy. And on that date, only one state had left the union - South Carolina. Coincidentally Mississippi was on the cusp of leaving the Union. Mississippi was in the Union on the morning of January 9th 1861, but out of the Union by nightfall.

Thus the Alpha & Beta of the Confederacy was South Carolina and Mississippi.

Rising of the Confederate Flag
Ft. Sumter - April 1861

But by April 12, 1861 - seven states formed the Confederacy under provisional president Jefferson Davis. Seven states dissolved their ties to the US Constitution under the 15th president - Buchanan. The rebel governments were essentially dissatisfied with the outcome of the 1860 Presidential Election. Even today, several nations especially in Africa are fighting wars over political elections (Ivory Coast).

Perhaps it would have been more polite to give the new president a 90 day trial run before trying to get your money back...so to speak? Instead, seven states jumped the gun and got out before any official business could take place under the democratically and fairly elected president could take one breath of presidential air.

Thus the first shot of the Confederacy occurred 150 years ago today, along the enchanted and hallowed shores of South Carolina. It started over a small thing, the possession of a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean.

It was the straw the broke the camels back, or rather the snowflake that caused an avalanche.


Of course there were other political considerations, which unto this day still remain hotly contested by some...

Bavaira & Saxony - German Flag Symmetry: Part V

The flags of Bavaria and Saxony are another pair. Although the colours differ, green and blue are similar tones. Bavaria also uses another flag with a lonzenge pattern and same light blue colour.

State flag of Saxony

Many elite English and American family lines can claim a link to Saxony - via the ethnic label of WASP. Three states of modern Germany carry the name Saxony - Lower Saxony, Saxony Anhalt, and Saxony. Most importantly the origins of the Protestant Voice fall upon the shoulders of a man born in "Saxony."

However, the German People were destined to be divided at this tragic and yet hopeful crossroads of Christian Faith. The subsequent churches born in the wake of Luther's path can trace their roots to a voice from 'Saxony.' The majority of American Churches owe a grain of gratitude to this man weather they be Quaker, Mormon, Calvinist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Jehovah's Witness, Pentecostal, Unitarian, Anglican, Revivalist Evangelical and of course - Lutheran.

Half the German family remained loyal to Rome while another half went their own way. In contrast to the Saxon path, Bavaria chose to remain mostly Catholic. Bavaria is matched in faith with most American-Irish, American-Italian, American-Polish and American-Hispanic Communities.

State flag of Bavaria

Geographically, Bavaria and Saxony are landlocked states on the Eastern border next to the Czech Republic. Saxony on the northern and Bavaria on the southern border.

Bavaria and Saxony are centers of testament for World War II. Leaders of the Axis Powers were judged and met their fate at the trials of Nuremberg, Bavaria. While the common folk of Dresden, Saxony were witness to wrath of England and America. During this fury of furies a German-American boy from Indiana - Kurt Vonnegut - was destined to be witness to those dreadful days at Dresden, Saxony. Subsequently Mr. Vonnegut was inspired to write about it in a semi-fictional and therapeutic book - Slaughterhouse IV.

Saxony and Bavaria carry a heavy, nostalgic and romantic feeling. In many ways Bavaria and Saxony are totally distinct from other parts of Germany, yet they are essential ingredients to the German Story.

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern & Schleswig-Holstein - Germany Flag Symmetry: Part IV

Flag of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

These are the 'coastal provinces' of Germany. Germany only has a north shore, along the North and Baltic Seas. Although this may seem tiny, Germany is lucky to have a coastline at all. They are also international gateways to the North and East.

These flags are strikingly similar. These seemingly chance alignments of flag design seem strange, but this phenomena occurs in all nations to some degree.

The harmonious elements are the red, white, and blue horizontal tri-bars. The only difference being is that Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has an added yellow stripe down the center.

Flag of Schleswig-Holstein

These two states link Germany with her northern eastern European partners. Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is a linking point between the Germany and Denmark, while Scheleswig-Holstein is a linking point between the German and Poland.

The cultural divide between Germany and Denmark is like that of a 'half-sister' thus the relation with Poland would be more like a third cousin, once removed. Germany and Denmark have similar linguistic systems, while the Polish is a Slav Language. Thus it is easier for a German to learn Danish than it would be Polish. Likewise it would be easier for a Polish person to learn Russian than German.

Link to Part V