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Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Most Eastern US State Heritage Flags

Right now Maine is the most eastern state in the Union, but this was not always the case.  Five states once the held the title of The Most Eastern State in the Union.  These are heritage geographic flags that remind us who they were.  Since Maine is the reigning Early Bird of the East, there should be nothing written on the flag.  Click here to see it


For 32 years the Early Bird special was dominated by Massachusetts from February 6, 1788 until March 14, 1820.  In 1820 Maine subsequently took over this luck spot.




For almost a month from January 9, 1788 until February 6, 1788 Connecticut was the most easterly state in the union.


For the first official New Year's and Christmas of the American Government under President Elect Washington, New Jersey was the most Eastern State in the Union from December 18, 1787 until January 9, 1788. 




For a quick six days Pennsylvania was the most eastern state from December 12, 1787 until December 18, 1787.  She quickly lost the title to New Jersey.




For five golden days Delaware was the most Eastern State in the Union. 




Monday, December 30, 2013

Heritage Geographic Flags for the once tallest states in the USA


Every 5th grader knows that the tallest point in America is Mt. McKinley in Alaska.  But this was not always the case.  Before the admission of Alaska, California was the tallest with Mt. Whitney.




Likewise before California, Texas was King of the Hill.  But it doesn't stop there. If you trace it backwards unto the Constitutional Era there are several states that missed out their bragging rights as the tallest of the tall. 
In total seven states were once proverbial reining Kings of the Hill, before Alaska.  Before Texas, North Carolina was the King of the Hill for 56 years with Mt. Mitchell from 1789 until 1845.  But that darn upstart Texas knocked North Carolina off the hill with Guadalupe Peak. Before North Carolina, New Hampshire was King of the Hill.


For more than a full official year from June 21, 1788 until November 21, 1789 New Hampshire was by providence the tallest state in the Union with Mt. Washington while a special Mr. Washington was the official first president of the United States.  And just in time for the first 4th of July under president Washington. 




Before New Hampshire, Georgia was King of the Hill with Brasstown Bald from January 2, 1788 until June 21, 1788.





Before Georgia, Pennsylvania was King of the Hill with Mt. Davis from December 12, 1787 until January 2, 1788.  Thus during the first Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Eve, and New Year's Day of the new American Government, Pennsylvania was the tallest state in the union.  Albeit a union of two.




And finally before Pennsylvania was King of the Hill, the first King of the Hill was Delaware at Ebright Azimuth.  From December 7, 1787 until December 12, 1787 for five days Delaware was the tallest state in the "United State of America."



Also note since Alaska is the reigning King of the Hill of the USA, its King of the Hill Flag is to be flown without anything written upon it.  Click here to see the unblemished Reigning King of the Hill Flag.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Other Flags and vexilloid like items from Gremlins - 1984

Christmas lights play a similar role to bunting and flags as a decoration that signals to a community the Spirit of Christmas is welcome to this house.  In Gremlins the Spirit of Christmas shined bright in the imaginations of the world.


Hard to see, is the Irish flag crossed with the American flag on a white license plate on the wall.  The US flag is on the left, the Irish on the right.






Although gremlins may be fictional, mean old grumpy powerful women willing shove others out of their way and stomp on humble clerks, tellers, and receptionists are real.  Here Mrs. Deagle plays the role of one of America's finest and real monsters* to roam the towns big and small of America.  
 
*Also note there are male versions of the monster, and they come in a  variety of colours and ages
 

Arcade Pennants from Gremlins 1984


A relatively short lived kind of vexilloid is in the background that advertises an electronic game cart arcade.  Just as penny arcades had their time in history so did the quarter 25 cent arcades of the 1980s. 





Video game carts appear in the film during the bar scene and after some of the Christmas gifts are opened.  It almost impossible to make out the games in the bar. But the 1980s home version of Donkey Kong can be seen with Stripe playing while his wing men fuzzy buds are hanging on.

After breaking the most deadly rule of feeding the Mogwai after midnight - they turn into unruly intelligent mischievous monsters.  Here they are playing the original Star Wars arcade game.

Bunting on the movies within the movies of Gremlins -1984

 Movies appearing in movies is an old gag, but sometimes it is an effective device helping reveal the story.  In Gremlins it was a key plot device.  Director Joe Dante takes this idea and warms up the audience with It's a Wonderful Life 1946.  By mere coincidence Holiday Season Bunting can be seen hanging from the store walls and windows.  Oddly George Baily, Jimmy Stewart, is counting his blessings and greeting the inanimate objects with a Christmas Cheer, as if they were alive.  Also note that vexilloids are often imbibed with spirit since people revere, worship, and sometimes talk to flags.In another scene Gismo is watching To Please a Lady - 1950.  Again bunting can be seen moving by the breezes in the stadium.  Although not so much a Christmas Classic, it subtly foreshadows an upcoming scene. Becoming a part of Christmas Classic in its own right within this film.


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Sword Arms and Tassels from Gremlins - 1984

 Tassels are often overlooked parts of a flag. Nonetheless they are important secondary aspects of a flag or vexilloid that are often overlooked.  In 1984 in the pioneering work of art was written by, like his name would suggest, Chris Columbus, tassels appear in the film - Gremlins.
The most noticeable tassels appear on the family cross sword of arms.  As in real, working, teaching, and private world, people often give a half-glutious max effort to fix things that constantly break down.  In this movie, one of the swords easily falls down when people walk by.  Rather than permanently fix the falling sword, they simply hang it up until the next unsuspecting heavy walker knocks it down.

In the background is a red and green Christmas tassel-rope.  Billy's mom, Mrs. Peltzer, can be seen standing in front of a Holiday Rope.

Finally, Billy Peltzer with Mr. Wing - the original keeper of Gismo - another Christmas rope-tassel in the archway is visible behind Billy. 


             

US Flag in Gremlins - 1984

 Gremlins is the classic Christmas Spook with a happy ending.  It is an American Fairytale which is almost impossible to classify since it fits into an assortment of genres:  horror, comedy, fable, family, action, sci-fi, and of course Christmas.  In other words Gremlins is an origial Christmas "Hormedy-Famaction" Fairy Tale. 
 The US flag appears frequently in the film.  In one shot the star of the film, Gismo, holds a small table top flag in a patriotic pose.  In another scene the US flag appears behind the town Sheriff Frank, next to string of Christmas Lights.

 As is the standard in public schools a US flag can be seen in the science room underneath Mr. Hanson and a young Pete Fountaine.






When the father attended an inventor's convention the two American Flags can be seen fluttering by on an tricked out big wheel.