Monday, June 4, 2012
2010 the year we make contact - flags and vexilloids
US and California Flag
2010 : the year we make contact - 1984
Two years ago was the time frame for a science fiction film set in the future from 1984 - 2010: The Year We Make Contact. It like many futuristic movies severely overshot the technological and politico situation. The Soviet Union went the way of the dodo and no visits to the moon since the 1970s.
Soviet Mission Patches
2010: the year we make contact - 1984
Although the Soviet Union is nothing but an echo of our world culture, the cosmonaut continues to explore the heavens in harmony with astronauts.
US and Soviet Flags on Computer Displays
2010: the year we make contact - 1984
From the 1950-unto the 1980s the threat of a global nuclear holocaust hung in the balance between the two super powers after WWII. It seemed that this rivalry would last for centuries, but something happened, some thing good. Who is to blame for this goodness and end of Cold War tensions?
One man alone? I think not! I am certain that thousands of women and men help avert this global disaster and received no credit, and if you disagree with that then like Fonzie says - sit on it!
Joint US-Soviet Jupiter Patch
2010: the year we make contact - 1984
The joint Soviet-US Jupiter patch is visible over Roy Schiders left breast. It is an upside down triangle with one half red denoting the Soviet Union and the other half stripped and starred denoting the United States. In the center is the planet Jupiter.
Time Magazine Cover form 2010
A fictional Time Magazine cover in an alternate 2010 dimension? It reflects the worry of the 1980s that the US and USSR were near the edge of war.
2010 : the year we make contact - 1984
Two years ago was the time frame for a science fiction film set in the future from 1984 - 2010: The Year We Make Contact. It like many futuristic movies severely overshot the technological and politico situation. The Soviet Union went the way of the dodo and no visits to the moon since the 1970s.
Soviet Mission Patches
2010: the year we make contact - 1984
Although the Soviet Union is nothing but an echo of our world culture, the cosmonaut continues to explore the heavens in harmony with astronauts.
US and Soviet Flags on Computer Displays
2010: the year we make contact - 1984
From the 1950-unto the 1980s the threat of a global nuclear holocaust hung in the balance between the two super powers after WWII. It seemed that this rivalry would last for centuries, but something happened, some thing good. Who is to blame for this goodness and end of Cold War tensions?
One man alone? I think not! I am certain that thousands of women and men help avert this global disaster and received no credit, and if you disagree with that then like Fonzie says - sit on it!
Joint US-Soviet Jupiter Patch
2010: the year we make contact - 1984
The joint Soviet-US Jupiter patch is visible over Roy Schiders left breast. It is an upside down triangle with one half red denoting the Soviet Union and the other half stripped and starred denoting the United States. In the center is the planet Jupiter.
Time Magazine Cover form 2010
A fictional Time Magazine cover in an alternate 2010 dimension? It reflects the worry of the 1980s that the US and USSR were near the edge of war.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
South Park School Flag with reversed red and white stripes
US flag
in front of South Park Elementary, IM
South Park is a long running Generation X/Counter Culture 'Charlie Brownesque on Roids Rage' satire that focuses on US culture. Considered by some to be harsh and fowl, while others it is hilarious entertainment, and for some a form of religious-political orthodoxy. No subject is taboo - as the show pokes fun at the famous, infamous, and regular folk. The issues of racism, bigotry, politics, and other less than polite dinner conversation are a staple.
The US flag often makes an appearance in the immensely popular adult college oriented animated television show. Upon close inspection of the flag you may notice a small difference. It certainly looks like the US Flag but differs slightly - especially the flag at South Park Elementary, Imagination Land.
US Flag as seen with South Park School
Digitized Version of South Parks US Flag
Note there are still 13 stripes but the colour order is reversed. The official US flag has 7 red and 6 white stripes but the US South Park flag has 6 red and 7 white stripes. Also note there are 5 horizontal even spaced rows of 10 stars. The official star pattern consists of 9 horizontal staggered rows - 5 with six stars and 4 with five stars.
Official US Flag compared to South Park US Flag
in front of South Park Elementary, IM
South Park is a long running Generation X/Counter Culture 'Charlie Brownesque on Roids Rage' satire that focuses on US culture. Considered by some to be harsh and fowl, while others it is hilarious entertainment, and for some a form of religious-political orthodoxy. No subject is taboo - as the show pokes fun at the famous, infamous, and regular folk. The issues of racism, bigotry, politics, and other less than polite dinner conversation are a staple.
The US flag often makes an appearance in the immensely popular adult college oriented animated television show. Upon close inspection of the flag you may notice a small difference. It certainly looks like the US Flag but differs slightly - especially the flag at South Park Elementary, Imagination Land.
US Flag as seen with South Park School
Digitized Version of South Parks US Flag
Note there are still 13 stripes but the colour order is reversed. The official US flag has 7 red and 6 white stripes but the US South Park flag has 6 red and 7 white stripes. Also note there are 5 horizontal even spaced rows of 10 stars. The official star pattern consists of 9 horizontal staggered rows - 5 with six stars and 4 with five stars.
Official US Flag compared to South Park US Flag
Badges and Emblems in Outland 1981
Plant Manager of Io outpost Con-Am 27
Mark Sheppard - Outland 1981
Outland 1981 is a gritty space lawman adventure. Starring Sean Connery as Marshall O'Neal working to keep order on one of the moons of Jupiter - Io. However the plant manager is pushing the workload to the extreme with illegal drugs for higher profit margins. Although technology has advanced - the temptation of drugs, greed, and machismo are still factors in work and play.
Marshall William T. O' Neal
Outland 1981
Notice logo on Marshall O'Neals left arm - three golden keys on green disc with a golden circle.
This movie shrewdly predicts the primary purpose of travel to distant moons in our solar system - capital gain via resource exploitation.
On Io they mine Titanium. Titanium seems to be a primary staple coveted in most sci-fiction movies.
Arm Patch of the Federal Security Agency 27
All security officers wear a hexagonal arm patch on the right shoulder. In a frame along the edges it is written 'FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY' in yellow on red. In the middle is a six pointed sheriff's star and the number of the mining colony - 27.
Outland is the gritty middle less loved sci-fi child in between Alien 1979 and Blade Runner 1982 - that shows advances in human technology do not necessarily mean an advance in human morality-compassion.
Medical Badge of Dr. Lazarus
An even edge hexagonal arm patch is used to represent the medical personnel. It has a red frame and the popular winged serpent staff of healing. Dr. Lazarus here is played by Frances Sternhagen.
Company Logo of Mining Station
Con-Am 27
Company logo for the mining colony consists of rainbow coloured circles, starting from the inside - red, orange, yellow, green, black, blue, violet, purple, black and yellow. Along the center is the name 'Con Am' written in yellow on blue on a superior elongated octagon. Near the lower portion is the mining colony number - 27.
The Grand Daddy of Dead Space Video Games
Mark Sheppard - Outland 1981
Outland 1981 is a gritty space lawman adventure. Starring Sean Connery as Marshall O'Neal working to keep order on one of the moons of Jupiter - Io. However the plant manager is pushing the workload to the extreme with illegal drugs for higher profit margins. Although technology has advanced - the temptation of drugs, greed, and machismo are still factors in work and play.
Marshall William T. O' Neal
Outland 1981
Notice logo on Marshall O'Neals left arm - three golden keys on green disc with a golden circle.
This movie shrewdly predicts the primary purpose of travel to distant moons in our solar system - capital gain via resource exploitation.
On Io they mine Titanium. Titanium seems to be a primary staple coveted in most sci-fiction movies.
Arm Patch of the Federal Security Agency 27
All security officers wear a hexagonal arm patch on the right shoulder. In a frame along the edges it is written 'FEDERAL SECURITY AGENCY' in yellow on red. In the middle is a six pointed sheriff's star and the number of the mining colony - 27.
Outland is the gritty middle less loved sci-fi child in between Alien 1979 and Blade Runner 1982 - that shows advances in human technology do not necessarily mean an advance in human morality-compassion.
Medical Badge of Dr. Lazarus
An even edge hexagonal arm patch is used to represent the medical personnel. It has a red frame and the popular winged serpent staff of healing. Dr. Lazarus here is played by Frances Sternhagen.
Company Logo of Mining Station
Con-Am 27
Company logo for the mining colony consists of rainbow coloured circles, starting from the inside - red, orange, yellow, green, black, blue, violet, purple, black and yellow. Along the center is the name 'Con Am' written in yellow on blue on a superior elongated octagon. Near the lower portion is the mining colony number - 27.
The Grand Daddy of Dead Space Video Games
Friday, June 1, 2012
Adventure 1979 - Atari Video Game Vexilloid
Original Box Cover Art
Adventure 1979
On the original cover art for the classic video game Adventure 1979 for Atari we see a vexilloid like structure. On a pathway in between a maze with a dragon and castle are two men holding staffs of different sizes. Due to their height they are more than simple walking sticks. The staffs carried by the two adventurous men are primitive vexilloids.
Their clothing and hats indicate that they are familiar with alchemy and the magical arts. Thus their staffs will most likely have inscriptions, symbols, or other crystals embedded within them.
Adventure 1979 was the first successful action-adventure video game written for a home entertainment system. It offered challenge, variety and even anxiety.
The game play even holds up in 2012! No music but dragons and surprises will keep your adrenal glands going.
Close up - of Simple Staff Vexilloid
Adventure 1979 for the Original Atari 2600
The game was created by Warren Robinett. But back in the day - 1970s - giving credit to programmers was like way to weird. So he wrote in one of the most famous video game Easter Eggs.
We learn the name of the dragons Yorgle the yellow dragon, Grundle the Green Dragon, and the bad ass Rhindle the Red Dragon. But we never learn about the heroes of the story. I suppose some Adventure fiction is overdue. Or maybe a modern version that uses the cover art?
Adventure was the Grandaddy of Zelda
Adventure 1979
On the original cover art for the classic video game Adventure 1979 for Atari we see a vexilloid like structure. On a pathway in between a maze with a dragon and castle are two men holding staffs of different sizes. Due to their height they are more than simple walking sticks. The staffs carried by the two adventurous men are primitive vexilloids.
Their clothing and hats indicate that they are familiar with alchemy and the magical arts. Thus their staffs will most likely have inscriptions, symbols, or other crystals embedded within them.
Adventure 1979 was the first successful action-adventure video game written for a home entertainment system. It offered challenge, variety and even anxiety.
The game play even holds up in 2012! No music but dragons and surprises will keep your adrenal glands going.
Close up - of Simple Staff Vexilloid
Adventure 1979 for the Original Atari 2600
The game was created by Warren Robinett. But back in the day - 1970s - giving credit to programmers was like way to weird. So he wrote in one of the most famous video game Easter Eggs.
We learn the name of the dragons Yorgle the yellow dragon, Grundle the Green Dragon, and the bad ass Rhindle the Red Dragon. But we never learn about the heroes of the story. I suppose some Adventure fiction is overdue. Or maybe a modern version that uses the cover art?
Adventure was the Grandaddy of Zelda
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