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Friday, February 12, 2010

Panama & Dominican Repub; foster children of the USA

Flag of Dominican Republic
Nation of the Divided Island East by West with Haiti

Panama and the Dominican Republic have flags of striking similarity. Both of their flags are divided into quadrants. The colours of red, white, and blue catch the eye.

Interestingly you can think of these nations as being 'foster' children for the United States. Puerto Rico & the Philippines were adopted by the US but Panama and the Dominican only made it to 'foster parent' status.

The Dominican Republic actually offered herself up to join the United States, but the US congress rejected this opportunity to get more land! Racial issues of the time may have been a factor. But since then, when every so often business interests are threatened the US military has been deployed to help out and keep things from running a muck or going too lefty schmefty!

The US Government prefers it righty and tighty.

Flag of Panama
Nation that is divided by North & South America

Panama actually had territory that was a part of the USA, the Panama Canal Zone, which gladly gave us John McCain!

Like the Dominican Republic the US Military had a wonderful run of operations in a tropical climate for several decades. Most families that had the lovely Panamanian assignment were very grateful, but most local Panamanians were unfortunately rather resentful of the US presence.

Panama and the Dominican were so close with the United States and almost a part of her. The US government is intimately knowledgeable about these nations and had to fight several forgettable mini-wars within these nations. But the US never had resounding maternal ambition to incorporate these 'foster' nations in the love of American pie, yet her mark on the lands is deep and wide, especially for Panama.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Sweden & Finland

Flag of Sweden

Sweden & Finland are nations of Scandinavia. They are all to familiar with the harsh personalities of winter and both have lands in the Arctic Circle. This gives them a natural advantage in the Winter Olympics.

Although they are neighbors their languages are very distant and can not understand each other.

Flag of Finland

Sweden was pretty neutral during the WWII and as well during the Cold War, but they were already used to the cold anyways.
But long before WWI Sweden was one of the imperial warlords who made the effort to establish colonies in the Americas. They got started in Delaware and New Jersey but the Dutch terminated their efforts, who were then terminated by the British, who was finally terminated from within by the colonists.

The important thing is that when the Swedes were in the Delaware Valley they were also united with Finland. Some people argue that the log cabin really originated in Finland not Sweden, but Sweden gets all the credit.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Old Congo & Old Somalia

Once upon a time when these nations were in harmony their flag used to balance each other. But after the shift of the Cold War these nations shifted their flags.

Old Somalia Flag
Old Congo Flag

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Symmetry of Our Union

The cover pic of my photo is the prototype book cover I made during a work shop in the Writer's Corner USA, in Doylestown PA. It's supposed to give us, the writers, something to shoot for. I recommend it for all aspiring authors. Basically you find an old hard cover book take out the insides, design a cover, and type up a couple of sample chapters and you have your mock book.

The mock book is about the 'symmetry flag' phenomena that I have discovered between the 50 US States. The colours of the book are blue and buff the preferred 'facing' colours of George Washington's troops.

The book is sure to be fun and educational and will certainly tickle the curiosity center of your brain! This is no ordinary flag book!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

South Africa and Vanuatu

Flag of Vanuatu
The patterns and colours are fairly similar. Both of these nations are of the Southern Hemisphere and lush with wild beauty.

Oddly both of these nations have two white Siamese heads who were nominally at war with each other for much of the Imperial Era.

South Africa is divided with British versus the Dutch-Boers while Vanuatu is the perpetual 'Odd Couple' union of the British with the French.

Flag of South Africa
Just as the tribes of the whites are deeply divided by so are tribes the blacks. They are separated by language, traditions, and cultures.

If you thought only the USA had racial-minority religious issues? Think again!Both of these nations had to do some crazy stuff to achieve some kind of harmony. Best of luck to them all.

Coincidentally two flags that came to represent these nations match in design. The UK Union Jack in the central white stripe is the harmonious key.

Flag flown representing Vanuatu
at several sporting events (1963-2004)
Old South African Flag when
segregation-apartheid was the rule

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Bahrain & Qatar: 9 to 5 zigs and zags

Flag of Qatar
Qatar is a peninsula : 9 zigs
coincidentally Qatar is bigger
thus a need for more zigs


Bahrain and Qatar are Arabian nations of the Persian Gulf. Naturally their flag designs have a harmonious balance. People often mistake Qatar's colour for being black, it's actually maroon!

The Persian Gulf retains stunning beauty as do these lands. Friendly to the west and blessed with an abundance of black gold, these humble nations are apart of our lives and in the business limelight.

Flag of Bahrain
Bahrain is an island
5 zags

Barharain is smaller
thus a less need of zags


Interestingly both nations have citizens that are minorities within their own nation! Something like less that 30% of the people living in either nation are actually Baharani or Qatari! See what happens when you get too rich too fast?

Anyways aren't the gnarly zigzags just plain awesome?

It's a rumor that Ziggy's paternal grandfather was Qatari!
Contrary to Bahrain's name, this island paradise gets little rain.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

California Republic Mojo


THE 50 STATES
IN CALI REPUBLIC STYLE



These flags can be flown by California Residents who come from other states.  For example the first flag is for residents of California who were born in Alabama.   Although they may be a California resident, they should always be proud of being born from Alabama.
















The Alabama Red Bellied turtle is the official state reptile.

















The raccoon is an official state symbol of Tennessee. It makes so much sense, since the raccoon skin hat is a symbol of the colonial frontier when Tennessee was the frontier.















The North American porcupine is found all across America, since the word Washington is synonymous with America or rather the United States of America, the forests of Washington are populated by many a porcupine.













If you ever visit the District of Columbia you may notice the varied tame and intelligent squirrels. These little critters are common sight all across America and no member of government can avoid seeing them in their daily lives at DC. Ronald Regan was enchanted by these wily little 'teddy bear' people as has been every president before and after wards.















The Horny Toad, is really a lizard! This critter does not have a tadpole stage like other toads. The colours are taken from the flag of New Mexico state. The official state lizard is the whip tail lizard, but the horny toad lizard is much cooler and exotic.

















The white tailed deer is an official animal of Illinois. Illinois is a big state, it is the biggest Yankee State East of Mississippi even though it's in the mid-west.













The red fox is not an official animal of Virginia, rather the fox hound dog is. California Republic Mojo flags will only have critters that were here before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. But there are two exceptions, you'll just have to read on to see who the two exceptions are.














By golly here is one of those exceptions! Arkansas, the wild boars were introduced by the Spanish as hunting food. The 'razor back' is not an official animal of Arkansas rather it is a mascot of a rather famous Arkansas college football team.














The great river otter is not a symbol of Missouri, but since Missouri is famous for being a river state....ergo the otter.













Interestingly the official mammal of North Carolina is the Grey Squirrel, but it dose not seem to fit right. Rather the bold and wise gray wolf seems more like good fit. North Carolina is big state with powerful people. Like a wild wolf, if you can earn the loyalty of a North Carolinian you'll have a true friend for life.













It's obvious isn't? The smallest state gets with a tiny critter? The Star of David is there in commemoration of the first North American Synagogue built in Rhode Island.















The Pika is something of a cross between a rabbit and groundhog. It's like the famous Japanese PIKACHU that only nerds and people under the age of 30 will understand. If you rub a balloon on Pika fur a lightning bolt will indeed shoot out!












Texas has plenty armadillos, these unique species of animals are only found in the Americas. Likewise Texas has its own unique charm that distinguishes itself from all other states. Also the smaller nine banded armadillo is the state mammal of Texas.













Louisiana sure does have tasty frogs legs, but the Bull Frog is not the state amphibian of this water logged state. Rather American green tree frog is the amphibian of Louisiana. The bullfrog seems more rugged and mo' Southern?














Ohio is so common its uncommonly common. The cotton tail rabbit is common all over America and not a state symbol of Ohio.












Bobcats can be found all over North America. The cross patten of stars is done in honor of Mormon Church, which is a home grown made in the USA Church found all over America just like the Bobcat.













The beaver is on the backside of the Oregon flag, so it only makes sense to have on the Cali-Republic Mojo flag. This constructive critter is a state symbol of Oregon.













Prairie dogs are not dogs, they are more like prairie squirrels, called dryly by the scientist as ground squirrels. The official mammal of Nebraska is the White Tailed Deer as it is in so many other states.













We love NJ! But the funky smell of technology is by product of industrialization. Besides the skunk is a cool animal native to the US. Imagine if we could resolve our conflicts with farts? Although it'd be a smelly place, it'd be funnier, and no one would get hurt.














Alaska is cold and big, thus the polar bear is an appropriate symbol. But the state mammal is a Moose, but that spot was taken by Maine.















The Moose is an official mammal of Maine and makes an appearance on the official state flag.














Florida gators, you can't mess with that. The American Alligator is indeed that state animal of Florida.













The pronghorn sheep looks like something from Africa, nope. It's a native 'American-Antelope' of the USA. This neat looking deer has been barely noticed in American consciousness as an American symbol. No state uses this majestic animal as a symbol, rather the white tailed deer has monopolized this position.


Go to JUNE 22, 2010 post to see Part II
http://zebratigerfish.blogspot.com/2010/06/california-republic-mojo-ii.html

The Not Originally Native California American Pride Flag Video
each animal attempts to capture the spirit of the state