Greek Maritime Signal Flags - A Modern Make Over

After the Roman Alphabet, perhaps the next most important international alphabet is the Greek Alphabet.  It is used in science and math: as with pi, theta, sigma, or delta.  Likewise astronomy uses the Greek letters to indicate brightness within a constellation.  The uses in science is nearly countless.  Consequently, this alphabet deserves its own International Maritime Flag set based upon the Greek Alphabet.

There was already an established set that was found in the signal book a Greek admiral, Yakoumakis Tombazis' flagship "Themistikles."  To the bottom-left is the original flag page.  Perhaps there were other flags for the other letters of the Greek Alphabet?

In this modern 2020 version the mono-coloured flags from Themistikles are replaced with lost signal flags that retain some of Tombazis's old colours but with an added pattern. 

 Likewise retired signal flags that were lost across the ages are resurrected from the old international maritime navies that include: Japan, France, England, Germany and no longer used signals flags of the American Navy.  Take note that old flags from Marrayts, Pophams, and Admiral Howe are reconstituted with the Modern Greek Maritime Signal Flags.  Also note that effort was taken to select flags that look a little bit like the Greek letters themselves.

November's checker pattern does not equate to Zeta  to avoid confusion with the letter 'N.'  But another blue and white flag takes Zeta's place.  Just reassigning the International Maritime Flags with Greek designations would be confusing and could easily lead to mistakes.

Most of the letters should be called out as they are, except for Alpha.  Since Alpha already is used in ICS ABCs, Athena is the name of Alpha. Likewise Delta is called Demeter, since Delta too is in ICS ABC International Maritime flags.  Mu and Nu also get different designations, since they sound so much alike.  Mu's name is Metis and Nu's name is Nike.  Finally to bring clarity between Epsilon and Upsilon, Epsilon is Electra.



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Other Vexilloids in The Incredible Shrinking Woman 1981

Unique 1980s tassel balls are on the curtains of Pat Kramer's Kitchen while she is literally on a hand soap box. They are of that early 1980s garish pinky pom pom style, of people on the well to do happy pappy path.  The colour and tone of this movie is like a happy version of Edward Scissor Hands.







 Notice the Burger Power logo; it is attention to detail like this, with extras that make a movie great.  Who knows how many others props and scenes that got lost during the editing process?  Perhaps it was made to cover up another official company that refused free advertising in a movie like M&Ms for 1981's E.T?

A quirky Shrinking Woman logo is created when a news reporter speaks about the strange phenomenon.  It is pink question mark with woman 'bathroom' symbol in white upon it.   As the news does, things are often interpreted through another lens that was not a part of the original story.  The reporter equates the shrinking woman with the shrinking role of motherhood.

A protest banner made from a grocery bad with Pat Kramer's face.  Wow!  The kudos to the props.  They did a great job.  This movie was like an Edward Scissor Hands with a delightfully sparkly tone.

Lily Tomlin with Rainbow Streamer - The Incredible Shrinking Woman 1981

In the movie The Incredible Shrinking Woman 1981, rainbow streamers can be seen along the ceiling corners of the children's bedroom.  In this shot Lily Tomlin, plays as Pat Kramer who is starts to shrink to due a misapplied science.

In 1981 the rainbow did not yet have mainstream recognition as the Gay Pride flag. It would be another 15 years before rainbow was dominantly associated with non-heterosexuality in collective consciousness.  Coincidentally Lily Tomlin is an active member of the rainbow community; she was pioneer ahead of her time, leading the way in that polite and providential manner.

Logos of the Corporate Consumer Overlords - The Incredible Shrinking Woman 1981

In the background the of the corporate cabal office the logos of the most powerful consumer based products can be seen.  In 1981 the public was horridly unaware of the commercial powers that be, but in 1981 a sci-fi dramedy was released on the public The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

In it, our heroine is affected by all the chemical additives that makes her shrink.  Ironically her husband's company is responsible for making many of these man-made chemical agents.

Interesting thing to note is the transgender symbol; it is above the nose of the man on the far left, that is known as Genetic Engineering Applied.  No doubt in the future, science will tame the virus and harness it to modify ones gender, ethnic, height, and aptitude.

That's a Samsung Galaxy!  In 1981!

Do not doubt that in a1000 years, cybernetic humanoids from Earth will unlock and master genetic expression, giving people the ability to shape-shift.  Funny thing is... that 1000 years ago, cultures across the world believed in the shape-shifters as a natural part of the cosmos.  But now, people laugh at those who claim to know or have observed shape-shifting beings.  In a weird way, we are the weird middle civilization who do not believe in shape-shifting.  As one could have imagined flying to the moon in 1701, one can see that science will deliver the shape-shifter to Earth, by at least by the year 7101. The evolution of mankind will continue, and the great rat race of life will push it further.

Coincidentally, one of the corporate spy goons who takes a clandestine picture of Pat Kramer is holding what looks like an I-Phone, in the year 1981!

PAT KRAMER - A Pennant from the Incredible Shrinking Woman 1981

The PAT KRAMER pennant appears twice in the 1981 seminal classic The Incredible Shrinking Woman.  It first appears during a segment when the Incredible Shrinking Woman appears on TV.  After she gets to her seat, the host points out in to the audience that her 'first ever, fan club' is present.  They appear with pompoms and a pennant that has Pat Kramer's name upon it.

The pennant is purplish-pink and Pat Kramer's name is in all capital letters and fills up the pennant.   No doubt this movie is a cult classic, and the high water mark of Lily Tomlin's career.  Tomlin was riding wake upon the hit of 9 to 5 1980, and for a short moment had the heart of America eating out of her palm.  Later, she would shine again behind the mask of Mrs. Frizzle on the Magic School Bus. 

In another scene, when media circus of neighbors and news camps out on her front lawn, the same flag is visible.  In this shot the her first name is clearly visible "PAT."

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