Reading Rainbow Flags

Black Sand Castle Flags
Reading Rainbow - Original Introduction

Reading Rainbow aired from 1983 unto 2006. Its main message teaches children to love and enjoy reading. It was hosted by the LeVar Burton and was able to inspire children across America to read.

In the original introduction, little flags appear on top of the sandcastle. They are little black triangular flags - also known as pennants.

Red Mast Head Pennants - Reading Rainbow


After reading the book by the river, the boy is able to see an ancient view of history. The young boys imagination lets him see a ship from the past. Along the top of the ships are little red flags or pennants.

Reading really is a kind of magic.

War of 1812 - or rather World War Negative One?

One can argue the American Revolution of 1776 as being a 'Civil War' but the War of 1812 was not. However the War of 1812 can be thought of as a 'pre-world war' or WW -1.

The War of 1812 in a global point of view was simply another theater of the Napoleonic Wars. Like WWI and WWII the United States was 'late' for WW-1, since it started in 1803.

Ireland, Cross of St. Patrick - Scotland, Cross of St. Andrew - England, Cross of St. George

The flag of the United States was 'stripus maximus' with 15 stripes. After this war the US flag would revert to only ever having 13 stripes. The flag of the UK was in its modern form with a new element since the American Revolution. During the American Revolution the UK Union Flag was based on two crosses - St. George and St. Andrew. But during the War of 1812 the Union Jack was composed of a trinity of three crosses. In 1801 the cross of St. Patrick was added which is quartered into four small thin parts around the corners.


The United States was an ally to France. But since 1803 the British and French 'drafted' several other nations. These nations like the United States often switched sides. It can also be painted as another French and Indian War. However most of the Indians were on the side of the UK, and the US was an ally to the French.

The world wide war battles were fought all over the globe in Asia, India, Africa, and North America. Navies also fought in the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Oceans, Great Lakes and the Mediterranean Sea.

Nations involved in WW -1 (War of 1812/Napoleonic Wars)

1803-1815

1. Poland (Duchy of Warsaw)
2. Italy (Sicily, Tuscany, Sardinia, Naples)
3. Switzerland
4. Netherlands (Nassau, Holland)
5. Spain (bitterly divided)
6. Denmark
7. Turkey (Ottoman Empire)
8. Sweden
9. Germany (Rhine, Brunswick, Hanover)
10. Prussia (wiped off the map after WWII)
11. Russia
12. Persia
13. Austria
14. Vatican
15. Portugal
16. Montenegro
17. Countless Unrecognized Native American Nations

Death the High Cost of Living - 1993 the flags and vexilloids

Notice Flag of Cameroon on soccer player - minus the yellow star
Death the High Cost of Living - 1993

Death the High Cost of Living was published in April 1993. Written by Neil Gaiman and drawn by Christopher Bachalo and Mark Buckingham. In this 'alternative' comic - Death manifests as a human for one day to experience life.

However the image of a graven skull with scythe is replaced and shattered with a hypnotically cute woman.

This paradigm shift of an attractive Death comes from the belief at the end of life - Death appears as a woman whose rich beauty pulls your soul out of your body.

This enchanting and nice version of Death runs into a high school student on the verge of suicide. She is also nefariously pursued by others who dabble in to magic.

Orange Pennant Steamers in the background
Death - Comic Book by Niel Gaiman

Somehow the universe condenses Death into a real girl who recently lost her entire family due to a psychopath.

This not so comical comic book focused on death had the paradoxical effect of causing readers to embrace life.

It is a rich, original story told by an experienced English Storyteller and drawn with a soulful authenticity by a Canadian Artist - Neil Gaiman and Christopher Bachalo respectively.


US flag waving
Death - the High Cost of Living










Notice Yin Yang symbol on surf board in the corner
Sexton says it all - in an communal public address for
everyone who was positively effected by Gaiman back in 1992-1993



















*blogpost #1001

Flags in Coraline 2009 - Hanging around in Ashland, Oregon

Shakespeare Fesitival
Coraline 2009

Truly moving art with a witty and well acted cast. It sparkles with a harp and smells of toasted talent. It has hidden morals yet sings with eye catching refinement.

This film should have won an academy award.



The story takes place in February
sometime in the 20-ohs/via primitive cell phones

Finally a stop animation film that can be watched every mid-February. The setting could be mid-November as well, but this sign gives away when the story takes place in the most subtle of ways.





Pink Palace with Sign
Notice tiny Russian Imperial Flag

A pink American Gingerbread House - a far cry from the McMansion. Just as every ounce of a gingerbread house is meticulously and lovingly put together - so too was this film. A lot of sweat-ful joy went into this production. It is a first class artisan film. As American Ginger Houses ooze of love so to does this film.

A Masterpiece of Art & Acting, worthy of a Shakespeare Cameo!