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Saturday, November 8, 2014

Batten's Syndrome - Falling under the Jean's Awareness Ribbon


Awareness ribbons are popular vexilloids that carry a message by a colourful and simple means.

 Like flags, depending on the colours used - these ribbons communicate a message.  Perhaps the most successful and renowned ribbon is the pink breast cancer ribbon.  But since there are a limited number of colours, some awareness groups use designs to convey their message.  One particular unique design is the jigsaw autism awareness ribbon that a pieces of the puzzle in red, yellow, and blue.

The purpose of these ribbons is to promote public awareness, inspire hope, muster moral support, and aim for healing.  One particular unique ribbon is the blue jeans ribbon that refers to rare types of genetic syndromes that often cut life short or add a heavy burden to those persons born with rare genetic complications.  The jeans ribbon, is play on the word for genes.  It is a unique ribbon that represents all types of genetic complications united under one ribbon - the jeans ribbon.

Rare Genes Ribbon with a Golden Rivet to 
distinguish it from other blue ribbons
My attention to the genes related "Jean's Ribbon" was sparked by tragic condition of Batten's Disease that has affected one of my family members.  Batten's Syndrome causes persons to loose their eye sight at an early age, then effects the central nervous system.  Eventually their minds regress along with motor coordination leading to a shortened lifespan.


We are at primitive stage of genetic therapy, but with good science and caring hearts a cure is surely within our reach.

For More Information on Batten's Disease please visit this website: www.bdsra.org
More Information about rare genetic diseases:
http://globalgenes.org/rare-diseases-facts-statistics/


Tuesday, November 4, 2014

1950s Refeshments Vexilloid

A vexilloid appears in the most iconic theater refreshment ad during the 1950s.  The leading refreshment dressed in blue, which appears to be a chocolate bar is holding a drum majors mace with golden orb as the finial.  Behind the leader is a bucket of popcorn holding a refreshment standard.  The refreshment standard is a white broadside with a "Refreshments" written in all capital letters in the colour green.  


 Imagine going to the movies in a suit?  That's what some people did in the 1950s.  Here the four snacks are being consumed by the American nuclear family of the 1950s.











It has been said that Frylocks father is the bucket of popcorn and Master Shakes mom is the cup of soda.  Oddly Meatwad's father was a chocolate bar. 

Friday, October 31, 2014

Flags from the Sixth Sense - 1999

In 1999 the best spooky thriller that was ever made came to be under the guidance of M. Knight Shyamalan: The Sixth Sense 1999.  Most horror movies end on a sad, funny, or on a note of horror, but Shyamalan created a paradoxical movie that was sad and uplifting.  It addresses bullying, parenting, love, death, the sprit realm, and justice.  It was worthy of attention back then, and even more so today.


Playing with the viewer's one dimensional perception of a movie, the twist at the end reveals the biased eye of the beholder phenomena, that many souls fall into with a tunneled perception of their surroundings.   The great thing about this movie is a second viewing is completely different from the first. 



Of vexillological consequence are a few flags that appear during a local Philadelphia elementary school's production of Camelot.  Flags pennants can be seen on the tops of the castles, which are so common in fairytale settings. The most unique flag is the frozen blowing in the wind felt red lance pennon.



Sunday, October 19, 2014

The Vexillological Trainline

The Vexillological Trainline is a flag arrangement from national to the ultra-micro political level.  Officially speaking the township/city/borough flag is the lowest political level of the US.  But below the township are several more personal levels: the Quadrant, Blockship, Hutship and Partship.  

Here we have a map of the world with two Vexillological Trainlines showing two "Engine to Caboose" flags from the personal ultra-micro political level up unto the national level.  On the West Coast by Los Angeles is the Vexillological Trainline of a fictional character from the Big Bang Theory Show.  On the East Coast is the Vexillological Trainline of a friendly neighborhood blogger.  

As Pasadena is a part of Los Angeles Metropolitan Area so too is Lansdale a part of the Philadelphia Metropolitan Area.  Likewise the Rose Bowl is renowned in Pasadena, just as the Army vs. Navy Game is best known for being played in Philadelphia; as this was the city where the official US Army and US Navy were created during the 1776 Revolution.  Likewise a good match for Caltech is the University of Pennsylvania.  

To quote Joseph Ridgeway Grundy, "If a man does not have pride in his own hometown, he isn't likely to give a rap* about his own country."


 *sometimes a letter 'C' can be placed in front of the 'R' when appropriate

Link to Grundy Quote:http://www.grundymuseum.org/

Montgomery County Flag of Pennsylvania

The flag for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania consists of a horizontal tri-bar with the county seal in the center stripe, centrally placed.  It is your standard American Heraldic style.  The shield features a train passing a city and an arm holding several bolts of lightning.  On the hoist is a female supporter, while on the fly is a male supporter.  In the crest position is a heraldic headband with a balance held up by a human arm.

Quadrant Flags of Pasadena, California

Nations are ranked as a level 10 geographic division, then states are level 9, then counties are level 8, then townships and incorporated cities and boroughs are a level 8.  So what is below?  A level 7 division parcels the basic unit of a community into quadrants, as is done with galaxies.

An example city, Pasadena, CA, has been here factored into separate quadrants.  Each quadrant gets its own flag based upon the level 8 flag or emblem.  Typically alpha quadrant flags use a red colour, beta quadrant flags use a yellowish colour, gamma quadrant flags use a green colour, while the delta quadrant is typically blue.

 The Pasadena Alpha Quadrant flag has a red field and white rose in the badge area.
 The Pasadena Beta Quadrant has a yellow field with a red rose.  It was here that a matching filed of quantum probabilities showed us the apparent roof of The Big Bang Theory Show.
 The Delta Quadrant Flag of Pasadena has long out stretched arm that reaches towards the mountains.  The filed is indigo and it has a pink rose as its badge.







The Gamma Quadrant flag has a field of green with a yellow rose with a black stem.  It is the smallest quadrant of Pasadena, but it is where the Rose Bowl takes place. 
  

Flag of Pasadena, California

The City of Pasadena became incorporated during the first round of the Grover Cleveland administration in June 1886.  The city seal features a royal crown with a golden key driving through the middle.



http://www.cityofpasadena.net/