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Monday, September 24, 2012

Messier 87 Galaxy Flag - The Capital Flag our Galactic Super Cluster


The Messier 87 Galaxy Flag uses four colours: red, yellow, black and blue.  Messier 87 is at the heart of the Super Virgo Cluster.  It is one of the most massive galaxies in our neighborhood - the Super Virgo Cluster is visible to the naked eye.

The two main parts of this flag are a square and blue navigator's compass pointing towards the center.  Messier 87 is one of the most massive objects in the heavens.  It has power on levels yet to be charted on a scientific scale.  We are a remote part of this galaxy's neighborhood.  The 'Golden Grain' of Virgo is our proverbial big brother or rather big sister looking out for us. 



Sunday, September 23, 2012

Isle of Man meets Isle of Woman - vexillologically speaking

Isle of Woman Flag

The flag for the Isle of Woman is based upon the Isle of Man.  Rumor has it the Isle of Woman is home to the Muchkin Cat, since the Manx Cat is from the Isle of Man.  Instead of protective armor it has seductive clothing. Note the knees run opposite for the Isle of Woman - counter clockwise. 

 
Isle of Man meets Isle of Woman

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note this is vexi-humor

Lesser Britain and the Isle of Man "Union Flag"

FLAG OF LESSER BRITAIN & THE ISLE OF MAN


Lesser Britain ya' see?  Since much to do'aboot that Great Britain, there must'a beein a need far a flag of wee Lesser Britain.  Indeed, id possibul to combine a flagg for Cymru wit'tha flagg of Kernow an Ellan Vannin.  An win ya' do, here be what you getin!  
The flag of 'Lesser Britain' is composed of three flags: a Welsh Flag - St. David's Cross, a Cornish Flag - St. Piran's Flag and the flag for the Isle of Man - the Triskelion colours.   The yellow cross of St. David is fimbrated with the white cross of St. Piran's Flag.  The field of the Isle of Man's colours appear as a saltire. Also the colours of the triseklion are preserved yellow, white and black.  The spurs of the triseklion are yellow as is the undergarment visible at the back of the knee.  Likewise the armor is white with a black outline. 
 
St. David's Cross - Wales
The nation of  Wales is an essential part of the United Kingdom.  In fact Wales was the original part of the United Kingdom, almost 360 years before Scotland officially united the British Crown.  Historians unto this day always overlook the annexation of Wales as the first step in making the 'Original United Kingdom.'  Arguably the Welsh Kingdom united with England some 400 years before the Scotland was.  Finally, no aspect of any Welsh flag is included in the national Union Flag.  There have been modest attempts, but these feeble creations are laughable and treated with disdain or as a joke. 

Note the 'nation' of Wales has two flags - a heraldic and vexillologically 'good flag.' The heraldic flag has a red dragon on a field of white and green. The other flag is St. David's cross which matches in pattern to the flag of England but has a yellow cross on black.   Famous Welsh include C.S. Lewis, Anthony Hopkins, and Catherine Zeta-Jones

St. Piran's Flag - Cornwall
An even smaller distinct part of the United Kingdom that was incorporated in Great Britain with a less than official function was the 'nation' of Cornwall.   The Cornish have a distinct language and culture of Celtic Origins.  The flag of Cornwall is similar to the lesser flag of Wales - St. David's Cross. Famous Cornish or rather 'Corny' people include the drummer of the rock band Queen, Captain William Bligh of the Bounty, and a discoverer of the planet Neptune - John Adams

Isle of Man's Flag
Finally a word about the Isle of Man.  In this flag it symbolically takes the place of Ireland as it does in the official title of "Great Britain and Northern Ireland." In a way the Isle of Man is the 'Lesser Ireland' so to speak.  Famous Manx people include the Bee Gees and Sarah Holland.

Finally some flag space for Wales, Cornwall and the Isle of Man.  Lesser or Less Britain is the natural counterbalance to the Great Britain.

Why a flag for "Lesser Britain?"   The flag of "Great Britain" only includes symbolism for the English, Scottish, and Irish.  So what about the Welsh, Cornish and Manxish?  Also note that lesser in this manner does not connote a negative meaning.  It's basically a play on 'Great Britain,' lest you never forget there have been many a great non-English, non-Scottish, and non-Irish Brits from Wales, Cornwall and the Isle of Man!

Add caption


 Flag of Less Britain
For the record this flag is only for the smaller nation like regional parts of Britain - a union flag of Wales and Cornwall without the Isle of Man.



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pardon my fake Welsh Accent

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Pinball Bumper Flags from Xanadu 1980



Xanadu 1980 - Gene Kelly with pinball popped with flags
The most unique flags from Xanadu appear during the musical number All Over the World with music by the Electric Light Orchestra.  In a fanciful dance sequence, Gene Kelly shrinks down to the size of a goomba and able to dance on a pinball machine.  When he - Danny McGuire - hits the mushroom bumpers, bunches of flags and sparkle dots spring out.


Gene Kelly looking at the pinball mushroom bumper that sparkles with flags
The first mushroom bumper flags are turquoise-teal and the second group are violet-purple.  The shapes of flags vary from square, rectangle, or guidon with slightly different shades of the associated pop bumper. 

Remember that primitive forms of pinball were played in the 1700s - so chances are George Washington was familiar with the game, likewise pinball was certainly a favorite of the geeky Benjamin Franklin.   No doubt in the 2200s fantastic versions pinball will be played in ways we can't yet imagine.  Would anyone like to play Zero-G pinball?   

Nonetheless electric pinball - which is a very very primitive version of a video game - got its big break in 1933 in California, Los Angeles with a game called Contact.  Coincidentally the film Xanadu takes place in Los Angeles.   Although pinball originates in Europe during the 1600s, electric pinball is an American Invention/Pastime of the 1900s. 


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Friday, September 21, 2012

Wednesday, September 19, 2012


Arrgh, maties here'be a real pirate flag!

An Official Pirate Flag
from the romantic age of pirates