Jarvis, Baker, & Howland Island Flags a Flying

Baker, Jarvis, and Howland Islands have richly colourful flags.  Far off in the South Pacific, these isles are home to no one, currently.  But there were attempts at colonization in the early 1900s, and they were attacked by the Imperial Japanese Navy during WWII.


Unlike the other 50 States of America, Baker and Howland Islands were uninhabited and discovered by Americans.  In the same year the US flag became codified by law into its modern design, 1818, Baker Island was discovered by Captain Elisha Folger from Nantucket.  Note that Folger is the Maiden-Mitochondrial name of Benjamin Franklin.

In 1822 Captain George B. Worth, also from Nantucket, sighted Baker Island, and was smart enough to document the event. Most likely there were other mariners, European and South Pacific Islanders, who sighted and may have even landed on these islands but they never recorded the event, or it was lost in the watery wake of time.

Jarvis Island was not discovered by an American, but rather by the British.  On August 21, 1821 the HMS Eliza Frances sighted the lonely island.  In 1858 Minnesota's temporal twin down under was formally annexed on February 17, 1858.  Remember that Minnesota was made a state on May 11, 1858.  Thus it is fitting that Minnesota does indeed have a slightly older twin of sorts.  Likewise Minnesota has a small slice of her territory above the United 48, in accord Jarvis is a small part of America just below the equator.
 
Jarvis Island is closest to the continent of North America, yet is south of the Equator.  But Howland and Baker Islands are closest to the continent of Australia, yet are north of the Equator.  Consequently Jarvis Island is the part of America Down Under, while Howland and Baker Island are a part of Australia, yet are up and over.


These precious new lands were legally made a part of the USA just before the start of the US Civil War with the 1856 US Guano Act. 

image source: 
http://www.tmealf.com/digital/digital_flying.htm

Star Wars Invisibility Talisman Logo - 1978

During Star Wars Episode 4.5 - The Star Wars Holiday Special 1978, Lumpy watches a secret Rebel Alliance report about the alien talisman that makes people invisible.  The device has basic galactic writing upon it, but a logo can be noticed, that looks like an Omega Symbol.

 Awning for the "DRIXNI" is a vexilloid like object that serves to advertise that it can be purchased at this store.  To the left is a strange alien icon that looks like some kind of company logo, or perhaps bug?

 Several broadsides, posters, can be seen in the back alleys.  The anti-hero Boba Fett can be seen walking by.  There is also come "Alien Graffiti" visible. 

The alien technician with a ridged skull and cat like mouth is wearing an armband that indicates his position in the Rebel Alliance.  In the background we can see Leia, Luke, R2, C-3PO and one of the rebel alliance leaders.

Star Wars Life Day Icon - 1978

Chewy and Lumpy, Celebrating Life Day - Notice Orb with Model Trees of Life

Merry Christmas and Happy Life Day!  Humans became aware of Life Day on November 17, 1978, during a broadcast on CBS, The Star Wars Holiday Special: Episode 4&1/2.  This celebration that can be celebrated by any life form in the cosmos originated with the Wookiee Species on the planet Kashyyyk.  The key icon for Life Day celebrators is a small clear glowing orb.  The outside the orb has jewels and lights, while a small conifer-like tree is in the center.

The heroes of Star Wars interact at the grand tree of life with Chewbacca.  Chewbacca is wearing the traditional garb of the Life Day faithful, a red cloak.  Life Day is not a restrictive holiday, any being is allowed to come so long as they have a Wookiee invite.  Celebratory events include singing and hugging.

Wookies celebrating Life Day gather at the Tree of Life.  It is not revealed, but the Life Day orbs could be magical talismans that open a cosmic worm hole to a nexus point in space, where the Tree of Life subsists on its own.  Another theory is that the orbs act as a virtual reality key that opens a very large virtual chat room were the Life Day faithful gather for peace and love. We may never know, it's a Wookiee Secret!

Logo for UNITE FOR AMERICA

In a last ditch effort to block Donald Trump from the presodency, an organized left wing resistance has arisen, Unite for America. This is no doubt a vain and futile effort, which will only reap more negativity.

Their logo is supposed to be a red shilloute of an eagle, but looks like a crying Pac-Man of sorts or Donald Trump's hair?

Dr. Whitney Smith

Last Month on November 17, 2016 an American legend in the same league of Betsy Ross passed away, Whitney Smith.  Unlike Betsy Ross whose association with the American flag is unresolved, Whitney Smith was an official creator for a national flag in the Americas.  Betsy Ross's claim that she proposed to General Washington that the stars should have five points, rather than eight, is in dispute.  However, it is a fact that Dr. Whitney Smith was a part of the committee that designed the flag for Guyana.  

In further gratitude from Dr. Whitney Smith, we have the word "vexillology."  Smith coined this unique American word from its Latin word for flag, vexillum. Vexillology recently became popularized due to a segment on CBS's The Big Bang Theory Show, currently the highest rated sitcom on broadcast television.  In a recurring segment, one of the quirky characters, the fictional Dr. Sheldon Cooper played by Jim Parsons, produces a video blog-cast on the subject of vexillology with a program called Fun with Flags with Dr. Sheldon Cooper.  Oddly a show within a show, like the theoretical moon of a moon, Fun with Flags is a skit filled with standard jokes and silly flag giggles. 

It was in 2011 that CBS inserted the word vexillology into American pop-culture.  But vexillology is more than just the study of flags.  Vexillology includes a wide range of topics: including heraldry, badges, medals, totem poles, marks of rank, and preliterate staffs of power. Essentially anything that is a representative icon, whether from ancient Egypt to the modern day logo falls under the umbrella of vexillology.  In many ways vexillology is the real life equivalent to the word, symbology; the fictional subject popularized in Dan Brown's grand conspiracy-educational tourist novels.  Without a doubt the most alluring aspects of vexillology are modern flags.  The majority of papers and persons in this field focus on this area. 

Whitney Smith was born February 26, 1940 and died last month November 17, 2016.  Dr. Smith coined a new word and is the founder of a new discipline intently focused on flags and representative icons: vexillology.  His passion for flags allowed him to become an international star.  So much so, that Whitney's insights were recruited for the design of a nation.  He will be sorely missed by the vexillological community.  An ember of his passion for flags is currently being echoed on The Big Bang Theory television show, during the Fun with Flags vexillology segment.  On a more prestigious note, for the hallowed and perpetual hall of history, Whitney Smith was given an opportunity to shape one of the patriotic contours of a nation in the Americas, the flag for Guyana.     

South Carolina Flag - North Polarized

Here the South Carolina flag has been North Polarized with the Spirit of Christmas.  A string of orange lights hugs the trunk while green lights reflect the greenish palm of the canopy.  The winner uses the natural colours, but here are several others.

 Classy plain white, so holiday simplicity.

 Red and green lights for Santa Clause lovers.

 Blue and white for Hanukkah participants.

 Multi-colours for joy of it all.

Marine Life Institute Flag - Finding Dory 2016

Computer generated images are verging on an ability to mimic reality.  In Disney's Finding Dory 2016, the flag of the Marine Life Institute can be seen during a sunset.  It is your standard seal on a blue bed sheet, or SOB flag as professional vexillologists would call it.  In the seal is a kelp bed.

The logo of the Marine Life Institute can be seen in the background on the truck.  Here the Nemo and his dad are frantically looking for Dory.