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Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Lunar Twilight 2018

Although it is 2019, the last Moon of 2018 shines on at night for five nights of 2019.  This gives us five more nights to say goodbye and make peace with 2018.  This year the Lunar Twilight Candelmast has five candles.

Unlike Hannukah and Kwanzaa, all the candles are all lit at the beginning of Lunar Twlight.  Each night a candle burns out completely, which will be the shortest, to represent the passing of a day.  When the shortest candle burns out, the others should be blown out before the dawn of the next day.  Then on the next sunset of the day afterwards the remaining candles are to be lit, whence the next shortest candle burns out in the manner, until none are left.

The celebration of Lunar Twilight is a universal inclusive celebration to mark the passing of time for any person of any heritage, faith, nationality, gender, or path to appreciate our connection to the heavens by ancient traditions and modern science revelations, or a mixture of both.  

It won't be until January 7, 2019 that the first Moon of 2019 will be.  And if you want to get ready for January 2020, there will be 23 extra nights of 2019.  That means, we have to wait until January 25th 2020, for the first cosmic night of 2020, because that is when the first Moon of 2020 arrives. 

Thus the last echo of 2018 burns out at high noon GMT/UTC January 7, 2019.  The curated 2018 Lunar Twilight Goodbye Song that captures the feels of this holiday is an INXS song, Afterglow 2006

Monday, December 31, 2018

Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday Flag


There is a certain hour when today, tomorrow and yesterday happen simultaneously on Earth.  Since there is a stretch of time zones to 27 total hours, this makes it possible for three days to exist all at once on our planet.  Although locally within your time zone it is one day or the other, it is upon the global perspective that all three happen on planet Earth. 

It happens from 10am to 12pm London Time, aka GMT or UTC.  Consequently this flag can be flashed or flown during that window: when today, tomorrow and yesterday exist on our planet.  For the East Coast of the USA, this happens during standard time from 5am to 7am.  But for the West Coast of the US, this happens from 2am to 4am.  While in Japan and Korea this takes place 7pm to 9pm-during standard time. Since it happens simultaneously, it will vary for whichever time zone one lives.

The Today, Tomorrow, Yesterday Flag is a vertical tribar of orange, yellow and purple.  The repeat of the Roman Numeral III indicates this happens for two hours.  And the numeral three represents today, tomorrow, and yesterday.  Also, the yellow bar represents today, the orange represents tomorrow, and the purple represents yesterday.

But for the people of Kiribati it can also be called the hour of today, yesterday, and the day before yesterday.  And those in the last two time zones it can be known as the hour of today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow.


Wednesday, December 26, 2018

British Chirstmas Flag


Merry Crimbo!

Did you ever notice that the UK flag looks like a present.  All it was missing was a big bow in the middle. Make sure you are good for Father Christmas and your stockings are hanging at the bedpost.

And don't forget to put out minced pie and brandy for Father Christmas.



Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Turboman is a Hero of the Twin Cities, Minnesota



Turboman is a fictional hero attached to the Twin Cities of Minnesota.  Although the story of which state was the ultimate home of Paul Bunyan is debated, it is a fact that Turboman's home is Minnesota.  Turboman came to life in the movie Jingle All The Way in 1996.  It is a time stamped, pulse beast movie of the 1990s.  You can see phones connected to walls!  And the ubiquitous white phone with that small rubber antenna.  No doubt, The 1990s will get their nostalgia boom in the next three years certainly by 2020.

The Turboman logo is on the drums and uniforms of the official Turboman Marching band.


Apparently Turboman is a part of the Marvel Comics Universe.  You can see Captain America and the X-Men Pillow.

You can see the limited edition Turboman prop being held by our little dreamer.

Stan Lee made one last cameo in the later prere-release in this movie, to support the role of comic heroes.  When Arnold is in the Mall of America and looking for the special ball, he rides an elevator with Mr. Lee.






Wintertainment Flags - Jingle All The Way 1996

Sinbad - Playing the Coolest and Funniest 'Bad Guy' that you can root for!

The most unique flags to appear in Jingle All The Way 1996 were the festival flags that announce the "12th Annual Twin Cities Holiday - Wintertainment Parade."  Jingle All The Way is a fun and campy holiday treat that pokes fun at the holiday nonsense of finding gifts.  It is a children's movie spiked with adult afterbites perfectly aged for the upcoming 90s nostalgia renaissance.

 If you ever wanted to visit the Twin Cities downtown, this movie captures the feels of the city.  Apparently the Twin Cities Holiday Wintertainment Parade started as an event in 1984.  The persons in charge of the festival made effective use of the logo which can be seen on all sorts of balloons, waving felt hands, felt tress and a variety of flags.
A lot of movie prop set schwag was created for this movie.  Here loads of people in Minnesota can be seen with the various items that announce the Wintertainment Parade.



Notice the seal design of the flags that appear in the movie.  The image projected here was reversed since the person holding the flag had held the imprint backwards in the movie.



US Flag in Jingle All the Way 1996

Jingle All The Way 1996 is zany and campy Christmas classic that pokes fun at the Holiday Season with humour for adults as well as children.  The US flag appears several times in this film.  When there are in the diner a small flag can be seen next to the register. 

During the movie the ultimate 1990s comedian, Sinbad, can be seen wearing the US badge flag on his arm.  Sinbad does a great 'Robin Williams' kind of performance in this movie, as he gave the world a stand up comedian performance all during the movie, with his on the mark rants, about Christmas.
 The mailman is also looking for a Turboman for his own son. The US Mail logo is slightly different as it is in real life.  Instead of the standard US Post Office logo we have a hand with a letter, to represent the US mail in this fictional universe.  




Monday, December 24, 2018

Oklahoma & South Dakota Flags Decked out with Christmas!

Deep in the heart of America is Oklahoma and South Dakota.  In this post, they are decked out with the Spirit of Christmas.  With Oklahoma, the heritage totems of the Native and Newcomer are reversed.  Instead of the olive branch to represent the Old World, a stalk of corn represents the New World.  Likewise the shield is totally turned into a decoration from the Old World, the Christmas Wreath.  Instead of seven feathers, there are seven red balls and a Santa Pipe replaces the Native American Peace Pipe.  Finally, six stars are visible in the middle with four points. 

For the North Polarized flag of South Dakota, it is a night's winter scene.   Instead of a man plowing a field with two horses, we see a Santa sleigh with two reindeer.  You can tell it is winter by the leafless trees on both sides of the river.  The moon is showing with stars in the background, and the state motto is replaced with "Merry Christmas to All."  And hanging from the chimney top are super sized icicles. 

Coincidentally both states have a strong beating streak of the Native American spirit, as their lands and traditions are kept alive in both states.  Likewise a large area of tribal lands make up the character of each state.  In a way South Dakota is the Oklahoma of the North.  Or rather, Oklahoma is the South Dakota of the Southern States?  South Dakota indeed has 'South' within its name, now we know why.


For a clear comparison of the state flag to the Holiday versions, take a look below.  Hope y'all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holidays!