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Thursday, January 5, 2012

Raiders of the Lost Ark flags - part 2, The Egyptian Kingdom Flag

Egyptian Kingdom Flag
1922-1953

In Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981 Steven Spielberg and George Lucas did their vexillological homework and had the proper Egyptian flag flying in the background. The Green Kingdom Flag of Egypt consisted of a green field with a crescent moon and three five pointed stars in between the horns. Although it may seem like a dominantly Islamic flag - the three stars represented the three major branches of Abraham - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Gun versus Sword, its no match

The flag is barely visible during the famous gunslinger vs swordsman fight. Although it gives the impression that firearms technology was new to the Middle East - they had been using gun powder since the 1400s in concert with Europe.

Best Image of Egyptian Kingdom Flag
Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981


The best image of the Green Egyptian flag takes place after the Indy amazingly captures the Lost Ark and is able to hide it at the town bazaar where he had previously fought the swordsman.



Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Android Logo

Android is a green robot looking device.



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What

This OK to work with

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Raiders of the Lost Ark flags, part 1 - Burning the American Flag

Notice Burning American Flag
behind the Nepalese Thug

Usually, burning the American Flag is an inflammatory action that is offensive to most Americans.

Burning the flag in protest, art, or for the sake of expression is especially controversial. But doing it for profit is highly inappropriate. However in 1981, audiences across America applauded makers of Raiders of the Lost Ark and sent one third of a billion dollars to Hollywood to watch or at least subliminally watch the American Flag burn under the direction of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.


Close up of burning US Flag - Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981
The burning of the American flag happens during the fight scene in Nepal.  A 48 starred US flag burns in Marion's Bar. During the melee the fire gets out of control and consumes the establishment and everything in it - including the American Flag.

Burning the American Flag was only a minor background component for the film. It was certainly not the intention of the directors to prove they could tastefully burn the flag without controversy. Nor was in anyway a part of the plot.  However it was an unsanctioned artful burning of the American Flag, that did not displease audiences or anyone who noticed. Audiences didn't react to negatively since it only appeared for a moment, also within the context of the story it really didn't matter.

US Flag in upper left corner before the fight and fire
Marion is center front


Monday, January 2, 2012

British Indian Ocean Territory Flag and the Mosquito Coast Flag - Fraternal Twins

Flag of British Indian Ocean Territory
also B.I.O.T.


The flag of British Indian Ocean Territory seems to be in a league of its own. This crumb of 'India' is last the remnant of the forlorn British Indian and African Empire. It is a tiny group of Islands located in the virtual middle between Asia, Africa, and Australia.

Its more popular name is Diego Garcia. And it is a strategic post for the US Military with the War on Terror.

The flag is a rare British Ensign design that does not conform to the typical red, blue, or white field. Rather the field consists of wavy stripes - three long blue and three short blue. Bordered by seven white wavy stripes - two long, two short, one long - missing half its bottom, one long that that is 3/4ths complete and finally one short 1/2 that is missing its top. In total there are thirteen blue and white wavy stripes that are reflective of the Indian Ocean. The charge on the field consists of a British Royal Crown and a eight branched palm tree.

Flag of the forlorn Mosquito Coast
1834-1894


Its unique design would indicate it probably wouldn't have a fraternal partner, but alas it does. Its partner is outside of the official 'now' but nonetheless is congruent with the flag of the Mosquito Coast.

The design of the Mosquito Coast has nine stripes - five blue and four white. There is no charge on the field of stripes.

The flag of the no longer existent Mosquito Coast is the fraternal twin to British Indian Ocean Territory. The Mosquito Coast existed partly as constitutional monarchy for 60 years from 1834 unto 1894. It was located on the eastern shore of Nicaragua and a wee bit of Honduras. In a way the Mosquito Coast belongs in the same category of the Confederacy as English Speaking 'American' Nations that are no more. Although not as big as the C.S.A. the Mosquito Coast existed for nearly 12 times longer.

The Mosquito Coast and BIOT semi-nations that have their own 'mexican' or 'mextizo' or 'metis' kind of people. From the Mosquito Coast there is the Miskito Ethnic who are mostly a mix of African and Native American Indian. On the other side of the world from BIOT we have the Chagossians who are a mix of African and India peoples.

Outside of time from the Atlantic to the Pacific
these blue and white stripes merge under a Queen and King














US Military Welcome Video about BIOT or Diego Garcia


Lonely Planet Video about the 'modern' Mosquito Coast

Sunday, January 1, 2012

The last part of the United States to celebrate New Years - Howland and Baker Island

The last part of the United States - and the world for that matter - to celebrate the new year are Howland and Baker Islands. They are 12 hours behind Greenwich Time in London. Amazingly they are also 26 hours behind Tokelau! This means that in Tokelau and Eastern Kirabati when it was January 2, 2012 at 1:11am it was still December 31, 2011 at 11:11pm!

What this means is that America gets last dibs on the new year.

Also the last moon of 2011 will keep shining until January 24, 2012! So that means we have three more virtual weeknights of 2011 - keep it a secret!

Proposed Flags for Howland and Baker Island
the tail time gunners of America and the world
both islands are in the LAST time zone of the earth minus 12 GMT





Vexillological Warp Up 2011

2011 was relatively action packed year of changes. There were two official major vexillological shifts. A national flag change occurred in Africa, as well as the recognition of new nation with new colours. Also one state in the USA under went a way cool retro-maker over.

New Old flag of Libya

Due to the 'Arab Spring' Libya's dramatic change in political leadership saw the ouster of Gadaffi's Green flag and a reversion to old flag of Libya. This subsequently aligned the with the new flag of Malawi.





A new nation - South Sudan

A new nation was welcomed to the global community - South Sudan. It is likely in the future that this nation will change names as it matures.

I gotta' feeling that parts of Nigeria may follow in South Sudan's footsteps within three years. If ya' didn't know, Nigeria has race-tribal and religious-Islamic vs Christian issues and a whole lot of oil.

Reversion to the original design

On March 9, 2011 the flag of Utah was reverted to the original more harmonious design that had a proper placement of dates. The shield was coloured white, the bee hive was reshaped, and the flowers were cut differently.

Aside from that there were no flag controversies in the USA and only a minor outburst of Confederate Flag issues. Although the Civil War was celebrating its 150th - nothing stinky could hit the fan.

It must be the hard economic times. When the economy gets back on its feet, people will have the luxury to enjoy a hearty non economic emotional controversy about flag issues.