The US Flag in The Incredible Shrinking Woman 1981

In 1981 Lily Tomlin, aka Mrs. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus, began her journey into the imaginations of children across America. The Incredible Shrinking Woman 1981 was a comedy-science fiction commentary on modern day consumerism.  However, the political message is packaged softly and with a comedic tone.  The film captured suburban life in the early 1980s, with an artistic twirl that combined all sorts of film types yet and fit perfectly into a spectacular cartoon like sitcom, that felt like a movie.  Unlike many modern movies, as was the case with Downsizing, this movie hits the mark without smacking the audience over the head with political club. Rather this movie allows the viewer "think" as ideas are presented. 

The film was also a portent for Lily Tomlin, because later in her career she would become the bus driver of the animated series The Magic School Bus.  Many times over, her magic school bus would shrink in size; on one class trip it shrank so they could explore the digestive track of one of her students.  

This movie is often overlooked, but it is a masterpiece and a work of art of the 1980s.  However, this movie has a delightful dose of 'That 70s' feels afterglow—a kind of Very Brady touch.  The Special effects do not distract, but add appropriately to the plot, with just the correct amount of ham and spectacle.   Even without the extra effects, the story, filming, and acting carry the show. 

The US flag appears in this movie, incompletely.  During one of breakfast kitchen scenes a boy in green pjs, or kiddie costume has US flag as an arm patch. 

Church Signal Flags from the US Civil War - United Today

The United North & South Church Signal Flag is based upon the two different Church Flags flown by the Southern and Northern Navies during the US Civil War.  The Confederate Navy used a white pennant with a red cross that was upright.  The Northern US Navy also used a white pennant with a blue cross that was horizontal.  In this united version, the upright cross from the Southern Navy is used, however the dominant inner color of the US blue Northern Naval Church flag is apparent, with the red Southern Cross along the outer edges of the cross.

The Church Signal flag for the Confederate Navy was white and red.  Similar to red cross cross, the difference is that the foot of the cross is traditionally longer.

The Church Signal flag of Union forces used blue and white.  The cross was on its side.











Source
http://www.quadibloc.com/other/flaint.htm

Guilded Age US Naval Style SOS Flag

In the early 1900s the US Navy had special SOS flags, intuitively reflective of Morse Code.  Most likely, they were shelved since they all looked a like, unlike the modern ICS Maritime Flags.

Old Morse Code - Error Code Flag

Before WWII the US Navy a special type of Morse Code flags that used the three colours to represent Morse Code.  Red was the DIT, Yellow was the DAH, and blue was the Repeater-Sub that depended on the preceding colour towards the hoist.

Thus using this old US Navy Code a Morse Code Error flag can be represented.  It has eight stripes for the eight DITS of the Error Message.  Since it is only uses DITS red and blue are used. 

The Original US NAVY Morse Code Flags

For a short while the US Navy has a special class of flags dedicated to Morse Code.  Using three colours of red, yellow, or blue; the dits and dahs of Morse Code were distinguished with these flags.

Although they are no longer in use, as the ICS Maritime flags have taken over, they are interesting relics of once official flags.

The dits are represented by the colour red, while dahs are represented by the colour yellow.  Blue is the special colour that can be a dit or a dah.  The rule for blue is that its identity is determined by the preceding colour towards the hoist.  This is on the left in the standard model, but is on the right when looking from the anterior side.

These flags were in limited use during the early 1900s.  Finding one, would be of great value as they are extremely rare.

They are a first of their kind of Tele-morse-graphic flag.  Innately confusing the the eye that is unfamiliar with Morse Code, it was perhaps due to this property, that the ICS flags became the norm for the US NAVY.  Note that ICS flags are often called Morse Code flags, which makes little sense since ICS flags have no direct connection to Morse Code.

These 'Retired US Navy' flags are at their base architecture and design, intimately reflective of Morse Code.  And deserve to be called Morse Code flags more so than ICS flags.

Note that for the letter M the Morse code flag is shifted to horizontal axis.  Obviously this was done to distinguish this flag from the ICS Number 5 flag.  Otherwise, it'd be a confusing situation.  A similar type of confusion still exists with our script between the letters and numbers 1 & l and O and 0.  It is easy to make a mistake as these letters and numbers can be confused.  This is also the case with ICS 5 and K, they are the same pattern and could look the same from a distance, to some extent.

Below is a modern extrapolation of the Old US Naval Code to numbered, Morse Code Pennants.  Although they were never issued in this format, the basic principles of the patter still work.  It was a simple design but since all the flags 'look-a-like' the Morse Code flags were not as effective as the contrasting symbols and colours of ICS standard flags. 

Bald & Bankrupt - May 8th Victory Day in Minsk, Belarus

A unique presentation of flags was filmed by Bald & Bankrupt whist in Minsk, Belarus on May 8th.  May 8th is the Eastern European celebration for the ending of WWII (The Great Patriotic War).  The unique flag display is a dissected Belarusian flag whorl on a pole.  In this display, the tree whorls of the Belarus flag are broken into individual flags.  The top red flag whorl is taken from the main-dominant red field.  The middle green flag whorl is taken from green stripe along the bottom.  Finally the tapestry pattern along the hoist is on the bottom whorl.

If such a dissected patriotic display were to be done with the US flag, there would be two whorls of flags.  The top whole would be a blue field with white stars, and the bottom whole would be a red and white stripes.   Likewise a Canadian dissected flag display would have two whorls.  The bottom whorl would be all red, and the top whorl would be white with a red maple leaf.

Bald and Bankrupt is from the UK and was of the last generation to experience the Cold War.  Like many of that era, the forbidden fruit of Soviet Knowledge has become a curious point of interest.  This type of curiosity is not of the pro-Communist sort, but rather of a deep curiosity and affection for alien cultures and those born on the other side.  This is like the interest in culture and things of the Confederacy in the USA.  There are many people who enjoy learning about the CSA on a cultural level, rather than being a supporter of human oppression.  

Usually former Soviet nations are ignored or portrayed with contempt from the Western Media.  But Bald and Bankrupt has shown the funny and human side of this once vilified segment of the humanity from the West.  Most of his adventures are on the fly.  Not all adventures are all rosy cheeks, and he has run into the stereotype negative Eastern European and tangoed with strict Eastern officials, but more often than not the warmth and natural friendliness of Eastern Europe shines in his vlogs.

A great drinking game is to take a sip each time Bald & Bankrupt says 'Soviet.'  His action Nat-Geo style is true and passionate.

Signal Flags from Andersonville 1996

The flags shown here are from the US Civil War Era.  They are communication Wig-Wag flags that enable one to communicate over long visual distances depending on the way the flags are moved.   This type of coded flag communication was invented by New Yorker, Albert James Myer: born September 20, 1828 - August 24, 1880, and Myer was a US Army Surgeon.

There are two flags visible that are color inverts, the primary flag has red field with a white square and the other flag has a white field with red square.

You can see the aerial telegraphic flag in the distance.  The film is more than just a Civil War film.  It is an exquisite, refined, and mature story based on facts and history.  It is a movie worthy of every American's attention.