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Thursday, July 30, 2009

"Star Wars" for Your Mind, Heart and Soul


"QUANTUM SHOT" #581
Link - by A. Abrams and Walyou



The original glamorous large-scale space adventure refuses to die

It's time we wrote about Star Wars Craze again (see our coverage in Part 1 and Part 2).

Many utterly mind-boggling art pieces and original creations saw the light of day since our last round-up, and many devoted fans sent us great pieces of trivia and images that we simply can not ignore. Besides... the fundamental story of Good and Evil, questions of destiny and personal redemption remain strong in this "space opera" franchise, even though they were significantly diluted recently by light-weight and cheesy offerings.

We'll start with the poster that is not that well-known: 1978 Japanese dub version, featuring the Millennium Falcon in all its glory -


(image via)

The proto-dewback rider from 1975 science fiction magazine art by Ron Cobb. This was an inpiration for classic Star Wars lizards -


art by Ron Cobb, 1975, image via

Also don't miss a pile of almost-lost (newly-discovered) original concept art by Ralph McQuarrie! This is for example, an unused promotional T-shirt design and a poster based on original McQuarrie concepts (see some more here)


(images via)

Star Wars Sketchbook is also worth seeking out, as it compiles early (mostly 1977) concepts for spaceships and vehicle designs, made by Joe Johnstone:


(image credit: Joe Johnstone)

Speaking about matte painting and concept art, absolutely gorgeous Star Wars panoramas (by Yanick Dusseault) can be found here... Simply mind-blowing! Click to see an example...

Star Wars superimposed over scenes of Paris (work by Cedric Delsaux) gain something in atmosphere, see for yourself -



On artist site you can see the whole series (click past "next" and "news" and look for "The Dark Lens" option):


(images credit: Cedric Delsaux)

This promotional series for Disney Star Wars Weekends really catches the eye - see more at this page.






(images via)

Gadgets, Goodies and Appliances

This section was compiled thanks to material from a neat little "Gadget News" site - Walyou. Here is what they dug up recently:

"Millennium Falcon" PC case mod (made by Russ Caslis) -


(image credit: mods.xkill)

Darth Vader Toaster - more info - for Imperial morning ritual:


(image credit: Reghardware, right - fragment of work by Waihey)

Star Wars Matryoshka Dolls (made by Matt Brown) - more info:


(image credit: Matt Brown)

Check out Brothers Brick LEGO diorama masterpiece:


(image credit: Brothers Brick)

Boba Fett's armor (full-size!) made out of LEGO:


(images via)

Star Wars + LEGO + chess = irresistible set:


(image credit: Anthony Scanzani)

Sophisticated Star Wars paper craft (with full schematics how to make it out of a sheet of paper) - see more here:


(image via)

Also read on Walyou about Star Wars Tauntaun Sleeping Bag and Darth Vader's gas mask.


(images via)


(image credit: )

According to Newton's Second Law of Motion: Force = Mass x Acceleration. The sign above was made by SoadyPopDesigns, order it here.


(originals unknown)


(image credit: Heave105)


(image via)

Jabba, the Early Years:


nice Photoshop job by Sebastian Niedlich

Star Wars as classic art - more here:



(images via)

Star Wars / Disney mashup, lovingly made by Thumper. Shown here is "Snow White and the Seven Stormtroopers":


(image credit: http://thumper-001.deviantart.com/art/Snow-White-n-7-Stormtroopers-72009594)

George Lucas is stuck in a "writer's block" in carbonite -


(image credit: Bonnie Burton, Starwars.com)

The image above is from Star Wars Celebration Japan (30th anniversary of Star Wars, brought by Lucasfilm to Tokyo). There were other curiosities, for example, the chubby Trooper, and various ridiculously painted Vader helmets (part of the The Vader Project):


(images credit: Bonnie Burton, Starwars.com)

Star Wars Fire Hydrant:


(photo sent in by Alex Dreher, Teneriffe)

Some very Darth Vader-like helmet styles were used during the Iraq War in 2003 by the Fedayeen volunteers (the engraved text reads "Allah, Al Watan, the Ghatadz" - Allah, Country, and Leader)



(image credit: J. Neil)

Demonstrators know how to intimidate police (this photo is from G20 Summit in London, 2009) -


(photo credit: Andy Rain, EPA)


(original unknown)

Two powerful images concerning Darth Vader - the one on the left is called "Dark Leia (Daddy's Little Girl)" and could've happened in some alternative universe. The picture on the right is even more emotionally powerful. It's called "Grief"... clearly showing Anakin's loss, tragically poor choices and ruined life spent in the lust for power.


Left: art by Miravi - Right: art by Joe Corroney and Brian Miller

Some material for this article was collected by Eran Abramson from Walyou, a neat site about various gadgets

ALSO READ PART TWO! ->

DON'T MISS PART ONE! ->

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COMMENTS:

4 Comments:

Blogger R.E. Wolf said...

That Stormtrooper with the toothbrush was done by the amazing Waihey: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8147452@N05/2804357862/

___  
Blogger Uri said...

You missed the lovely Darth Vera, Avi!

http://www.myspace.com/darthvera

___  
Anonymous Mike said...

Some very Darth Vader-like helmet styles were used during the Iraq War in 2003 by the Fedayeen volunteers (the engraved text reads "Allah, Al Watan, the Ghatadz" - Allah, who made the world, be our guide)

This translation is very bad :(
What it says is: "Allah, Al-Watan, Al-Kaed" Which means: God,Country and Leader.

___  
Blogger alvarhillo said...

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Thank you.

___  

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  • there is a certain famous pub near liverpool street in london which i thought ought to go on this list. it has a rather odd name: dirty dick's.

    yes, really.

    http://www.dirtydicks.co.uk/ (don't worry, this really is just the website for the pub)
    Read more

  • What a great article, Simon. I just have to find the one with 'Crap Beer'. You know that will draw in more people than it will repel!
    Oh and Whiskey, as soup of the day. Must be in Scotland!

    ~Nick Burman
    Read more

  • There's a pub in Middlesbrough called the hairy lemon, that's pretty colourful !
    Read more

  • the bear and ragged staff is also the symbol of the entire Dudley lineage, which may be part of it also...
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  • What a great post, I really enjoyed it! :-) Dirty Dick's as Prince Igor mentioned is really quite a lovely pub! My local near work is called The Walrus & Carpenter which I like a lot, and we also have The Hung, Drawn & Quartered nearby - pretty much next to the Tower.
    Read more

  • Other common ones in the UK are The Star, The Green Man and The White Lion.
    I grew up in a small village, with approx 30 houses, one church, and 4 pubs either in the village or nearby. Not a bad average! It is easy to see why the village pub was often the centre of village life - and indeed, most pubs were built in the immediate vicinity of the church. There was The County Members (in the village), The Royal Oak (Newinngreen), The Welcome Stranger (Court-At-Street), and the Shipbuilder's Arms (West Hythe). The latter was named when it was a port, although it is now come 2 miles from the sea. Sadly, a lot of English pubs have been either closed, or taken over by huge 'gastropub' chains, and the names changed from the historical ones to such stupidities as 'The Frog & Nightgown' and 'The Pitcher & Piano'
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  • Good 'un.

    I've been intrigued, if mildly, by this for years. Started when in a novel the detective-hero pontificated on the subject, tracing many to religious themes: e.g. "The Goat and Compasses" did not refer to a sea-faring nanny but to the "God Encompasseth" sermon subject.
    Read more

  • how about the Famous Cock in Islington, London?
    I will take a picture tomorrow, just have to cross the road :)
    Read more

  • The first Golden Fleece picture looks an awful lot like my local, hmmm...
    Read more

  • As the inn sign artist responsible for the Fox & Hounds (on the far left of the 'Sporting' three), its nice to see such interest in an otherwise waning tradition. I hadn't actually seen a photo of it in its place until now, so thanks for that!
    I also have painted a Prince Albert from the same portrait as the one above, but using the whole image. I hand-paint everything and all my signs are unique, but some on this page are stock library images, digitally printed onto vinyl stickers and appearing on different signs for pubs with the same name.
    I wouldn't be so bold as to advertise on this board but if you want to visit my website, Google my name!
    Cheers, Nick Hallard
    Read more

  • Heavy, firm bars with wooden bar stools are not the only thing that defines a pub. But I don't think anywhere else in the world would have pub with such outrageous signs.

    Nicolette
    http://www.furnitureanddesignideas.com/
    Read more

  • The "Crap Beer, Bad Hospitality" etc one is in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltsthire.

    B-o-A also has a good line in pubs with bad canal-related puns as names (may or may not be deliberate):

    The Lock Inn (i.e. after-hours drinking session)
    The Barge Inn (i.e. crash through the doors)

    Bonus pun pub:
    The Dandy Lion (picture of a swaggering lion in a waistcoat, top hat, etc)
    Read more

  • I've been in the bear & rugged staff, it's in Bristol. Fabulous place!
    Read more

  • It's really interesting, especially because I'm visiting England in 1 month.
    Read more

  • "Oh and Whiskey, as soup of the day. Must be in Scotland"

    Whisky is spelt without an 'e' in Scotland.
    Maybe a Scottish theme pub though :-)
    Read more

  • Love your photos of Englands pub signs. Great photography of a very interesting subject. Like the lighting and play on color.
    Read more

  • This post has been removed by the author.
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  • Wow, this is one of the most thorough explanations I've read on the history of the pub sign. Makes me admire even more the craftsmanship that I for one always thought was cool. Wish we had more chances to design and make signs like these..
    Read more

  • Map lovers, visit Fascinating Ancient Maps. You can frame the works, and it would make an amazing an amazing wall decor.

    Nicolette
    http://www.furnitureanddesignideas.com
    Read more

  • The scary thing of sciences with ladders is that I actualy understand parts of what is written
    Read more

  • Forget the RFID wallet, a cigarette case works just as well (unless you're carrying cash) and you can get one for half the price.
    Read more

  • The animated gifs are simply rubbish-- not funny, not clever-- just crude and childish.
    Read more

  • Great pictures! But how could you miss this one -
    http://www.dauntless-soft.com/PRODUCTS/Freebies/NoseArt/santa-plane.jpg
    Read more

  • One of the "Tornado" jets is a MiG-29. Never mind, nice pictures :-)
    Read more

  • Don't forget Shamu...

    http://tinyurl.com/lxr9r5
    Read more

  • Some of the art is wonderful but the advertisements are off putting. Is there any place the won't stick an ad?
    Read more

  • It is BVLGARI not BULGARI
    Read more

  • nevermind, you were right I was wrong. It actually is BULGARI with an U
    Read more

  • Gorgeous stuff! Is that a Mig? I thought it was an F-18? Still pretty.
    Read more

  • Hard to imagine the extra weight this adds to aircraft, not to mention extra drag as opposed to a polished aluminum skin. Extra weight + drag = higher fuel consumption = more $$$.
    Read more

  • That Astraeus plane was indeed painted for Iron Maiden, last year. It was co-piloted by singer Bruce Dickinson, who is a commercial pilot for Astraeus when not with Iron Maiden.
    Read more

  • On the subject of famous people on aircraft it's worth mentioning that the man on the tail of Alaska Airlines' regular planes is William Seward, who as Secretary of State arranged the purchase of Alaska from Russia.
    Read more

  • Tal vez quieras añadir a Bar Rafaeli

    Maybe you want add Bar Rafaeli
    Read more

  • One note on semantics: The paint scheme of any airliner (special or not) is known as "livery" -- more specifically, airlines have "liveries", and gthe airliners are painted in it. What you are showing are "Special" or "Commemorative" liveries.

    Militaries have been doing this sort of thing for decades. The Canadian Forces, for example, have a long history of commemorative paint schemes, including several quite famous schemes for the CF-104 Starfighter (at least half a dozen different tiger-striped ones over the course of two decades, for example) and a quite spectacular blue, white and gold CF-18 scheme celebrating 100 years of flight in Canada.
    Read more

  • that is indeed a Mig-29 Germany acquired two squadrons of them when they reunited.
    Read more

  • Qoute GaryM: Hard to imagine the extra weight this adds to aircraft, not to mention extra drag as opposed to a polished aluminum skin. Extra weight + drag = higher fuel consumption = more $$$.

    Not really, even the aircraft with a "polished aluminium skin" have several coats of paint (albeit clear paint) on them. It protects the metal against the weather and against UV-radiation.

    Aircraft "paint" (it's more a kind of polyurethane coating)is very specialized, it's adapted to the kind of flights the aircraft is going to do. A short-haul aircraft will have a different paint than a long-haul intercontinental jet. Also a lot of airlines have their own mix of paint suited for their operation.

    But in a way you are correct, an unpainted plane would be lighter and therefore cheaper to operate. But the aircraft will unprotected and will have a much, much shorter lifetime. And planes are quite expensive to replace ;)
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  • Very nice pictures!
    Thanks for sharing ;)
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  • This guy catches every rare things come to chitose AP
    http://www.lnet.ne.jp/~aaa/sub186.html
    Read more

  • after testing by german luftwaffe and other nato alliance partners the mig 29 jets were delivered to the polish air force in 2003
    Read more

  • Actually you are incorrect Nils, American Airlines does not use a clear coat paint. The surface is polished aluminum. The planes get polished at the Main Base Visit heavy checks with what looks like a large shoe polisher on the end of a weed eater. It saves an incredible amount of weight and wear is not much of a problem due to the oxidation of the aluminum. As far as drag is concerned, a well done paint job can actually reduce the drag slightly over polished aluminum because rivet heads and seams can get filled smooth (but I re-iterate that it must be a very good paint job). One of the dilemma's AA has is what to do with the composite 787.
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  • Does anyone know if these liveries are painted or are they done in a similar way to vehicle wraps? Since nobody is going to be that close, I can imagine the detail isn't important, but the cost of hand painting an area that large, versus printing on a decal and applying it, would be astronomical.

    ~Nick
    Read more

  • The "Mummy Plane" is Iron Maiden's jet from their "Somewhere Back In Time" Tour.

    Otherwise known as Flight 666 and flown by Bruce Dickenson himself.

    Shame on you! "Mummy Plane"... I mean, REALLY.
    Read more

  • Hello Kitty plane. Inside and out.

    http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1247/1475944817_d200ffcaaa_o.jpg

    http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1247/1475944817_d200ffcaaa_o.jpg

    Some heart plane :
    http://www8.thomascook.info/tck/downloads/willybird_landung_fra_290306_3.jpg

    And one more Mickey Mouse :
    http://www.alaskasworld.com/newsroom/asnews/images/disney_hi.jpg
    Read more

  • Probably the same way the us flag on Saturn V was: a giant sticker - so yeah, probably vinyl and making sure there's no bubbles
    Read more

  • To add to the above, I can't see them hiring a bunch high rated artists to do some photorealistic jobs, so there's your answer.
    Read more

  • Hi everybody, For more details on German Wings Airlines like airlines information, history, destinations, fleets, Thomas Cook Airlines phone numbers, code share agreement and baggage information visit "Altiusdirectoy.com". This URL may be useful.

    http://www.altiusdirectory.com/Travel/german-wings-airlines.php
    Read more

  • There can't be stickers on planes because the speeds are so high. Even normal paint would peel off a plane.

    Does that mean that every one of those people had to be painted on, not decals?
    Read more

  • That weird coin is 1 Lats from Latvia (http://www.bank.lv/eng/main/all/lvnaud/coin/1lats/puce/).

    "An owl fibula is featured in the centre of the coin, with the numeral 1 and the inscription LATS placed on the left and right side of it respectively".
    Read more

  • The Latvian Banks Collector coins are even more strange. Fully valid currency.

    http://www.bank.lv/eng/main/all/lvnaud/jubmon/nmp/

    Another wierd story is about the swedish artist who forged 9 pieces of swedish 10 kr coins and spred them into use. They are made out of 10.7 grams of 18 carat gold.

    http://www.dn.se/ekonomi/vissa-mynt-ar-guld-som-glimmar-1.608380

    (sorry, it's swedish but you could try google translate - http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=sv&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dn.se%2Fekonomi%2Fvissa-mynt-ar-guld-som-glimmar-1.608380&sl=sv&tl=en&history_state0= )
    Read more

  • The camp chimney sweep is my favourite.

    http://www.bank.lv/images/img_lb/naudas/images/lats/1_ls_skurstenslaukis_rev.gif
    Read more

  • Check out Vienna... took down their walls and built a beautiful ring road. Good thinking.
    Read more

  • http://www.desicolours.com/top-view-of-forts-in-maharashtra/17/06/2008
    Read more

  • @anonymous

    a beautiful ring road????

    how strange to call that beautiful
    thank God for living in the Netherlands where we don't do that
    Read more

  • one of the most beautiful walled cities I've ever seen is Aigues-Mortes, partially because it never really outgrew it's walls, so it still has the "in-here vs out-there feeling"

    there are also plenty of post-medieval dutch fortifications, known as the "waterlinie", such as Woerden, which was also a roman and medieval city with castles and all, only 20KM from Utrecht

    and many more forts in that style, such as Bourtange (also one of the most beautiful places I've ever been)
    Read more

  • In Verona, Italy there are three walls, Roman, Middle Ages and Austrian-Hungarian.
    Read more

  • How could you overlook Mont St Michel? It's a walled city, still functional today (though its main business today is tourism, plus some income from the surrounding floodplain pasturage), between Normandy and Brittany. The first fortifications were built by William the Conqueror, and it was added onto bit by bit. It was a penal colony for a while, and a monastery for much longer. Today, it is an actual city -- there are people who live there full-time, though they must feel a bit odd with all the tourists tramping around all the time. Carcasonne is another noteworthy walled city, in the south of France, and people still live in it as well.

    While the ancient fortifications of London are not easily visible (apart from the Tower, and some influence on the way roads sprang up), the fortifications of Paris are easier to find. Some sections of medieval wall still stand, and the major routes into the city proper are in the same positions as the ancient portals -- and indeed, are referred to as "portes" even when the ancient archway is no longer present (though in many cases the arch is still there, along with a good bit of wall).
    Read more

  • Calli Arcade - thank you, good point. We did however write about Mont St.Michel - see this DRB page
    Read more

  • The The Walled City of Lahore reminds me of Labyrinth. Does anyone else see the connection?
    Read more

  • Another German city that still retains a good portion of its fortress wall is Rothenburg on der Tauber, also famous for the legendary Meistertrunk, a flagon of beer that, when drunk in one draught by one of the city fathers, saved the town during the Hundred Years War. The event is portrayed on a clock tower, reenacted every year, and numerous tourist trinkets celebrate it. Oh yeah; the town also hosts the original Kriskindlmarkt, or Christmas store, of Kathe Wolfahrt. The store is open year-round, except on Christmas.

    Talk about a busy town!
    Read more

  • Actually the Maginot Line was 100% successful. The Germans never breached it. Unfortunately it did not extend past the Belgian border. That's not an indictment of fortifications. That's an indictment of stupid politics.
    Read more

  • I can't find the amazing Map of Utrecht from "Toonneel der Steden" on the source site you list.

    Do you have a different source site?

    I'm very interested in maps of that period.
    Read more

  • Also worth mentioning: The old city of Rhodes, see http://www.rhodes.gr/portal_gr/photos/images/air01_hires.jpg
    Read more

  • @Alex: 100% is definitely incorrect, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maginot_Line#German_invasion_in_World_War_II
    Read more

  • Gostei muito,achei fantastico pena que aqui no Brasil não tem arquitetura desse tipo.
    Um Abraço
    Patricio Antonio
    patrcio-a@hotmail.com
    Read more

  • Another walled city is in Kowloon, Hong Kong.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowloon_Walled_City
    Read more

  • Honolulu is older than St Augustine. I suspect a number of US cities have been continually occupied since before Europeans showed up.
    Read more

  • Derry city in Ireland is worth a mention :)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derry
    Read more

  • I'm days late on this, but it's a shame that you didn't mention Nanjing, China. I don't know if this is true but their Ming dynasty city wall claims to be the longest ever built at over 33km. Whether or not that was true, the many hundreds of years of building & strengthening the wall and its implications during the Rape of Nanking make it rather significant. China also continues to spend a lot of money to keep it in good repair
    Read more

  • About the pictures of Naarden and Heusden (with the star fortifications), I'm pretty sure they were designed by Vauban. So if you wanna see more of them, look him up. Vauban and some pictures here
    And to Alex Epstein, Rommel smashed right though the Maginot line, look it up.
    Read more

  • You forgot Québec, Canada

    "Quebec City was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985, and is the only remaining fortified city north of Mexico"

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Quebec_City_Wall.jpg
    Read more

  • Thessaloniki, Greece has some of the best surviving walls dating from Roman to Byzantine Empires.
    Imagine a inverted C shaped wall going from ocean to ocean in Santa Barbara, California. Ringing the city in the mountains, in multiple layers as the city grew. The view from the fortifications down onto the Thermaic Gulf is pretty incredible.
    Read more

  • Pingyao (china) is also worth mentioning. Beautiful city which looks as old as her mighty city walls. Like nobody ever crossed the walls since they were constructed.
    Read more

  • Can you imagine how the builders felt when they got done building the wall and the king said, "Ya' know, I think we should build ANOTHER wall in front of the one you just built, so start that first thing in the morning." ahahhahhhhhaaaa
    Read more

  • What about Jerusalem? At least the Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

    http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/148

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_City_of_Jerusalem
    Read more

  • where is Istanbul?
    Read more

  • should check out Derry, Ireland

    http://www.derryswalls.com/hist-walled-cities.html
    Read more

  • I've never understood stamp collecting. I'll admit some of them are very cool and I'm sure that it isn't easy to make but it just doesn't appeal to me. Different folks, different strokes.
    Read more

  • MOON NINJAS!@@!!!!@!$@!#!
    Read more

  • @Anonymous
    "MOON NINJAS!@@!!!!@!$@!#!"

    that looks more like Mars in the background to me....
    Read more

  • I think we're one of the few countries in the world with such a wide range of accents, especially when relative to our size. We're also one of the few countries in the world that hates those to the north or south of us.
    Read more

  • I feel sorry for those old-time stewardesses. They had to spend their working lives in thick cigarette smoke.
    Read more

  • I certainly can't think of her as my mother... lol
    Read more

  • Those some really awful hats. Really, really hideous.
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  • I miss the old days. I hate the current PC environment-- it's like they give you the privilege of paying for the flight instead of appreciating your business. AND, I hate the PC no-smoking nazis that appear whenever they see something like this-- as if smoking was the worst thing in the today's world.
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  • The number 9 pictures are not stewardesses. There hostesses from expo 67 in montreal.
    The logo gave it away...

    Mike
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  • What about the connection of porn and stewardesses? The "literature" of this subject is really great. Check Flight 69, for example.

    http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=7321905&style=ice
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  • So ... they issued Aeroflot stews with pistols?

    Don't mess with them.
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  • I keep looking past the ladies to the airline seats of old, which seem so more more comfortable than today's!
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  • To the person who called me a Nazi; I am not a member of the Nationalist Socialist Party.
    And I did not comment because of any "PC" tendencies; I spoke up because a friend of mine, a former stewardess, has suffered multiple lung problems and surgeries since her early retirement.
    Cigarette smoke is poison and you cannot change that by telling lies about people's motives.
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  • Sorry, but there has never been a reliable study proving any link between secondhand smoke and health risks.
    I'm not the individual who called the other one a Nazi, but I just thought I'd point that out.
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  • I agree she is unlike any mother I know of. those come hither eyebrows. Meow.
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  • @Tennessee: Show me someone with a smoker's afflictions who's never experienced first- or second-hand smoke, and I'll start to care about the lack of studies proving the harm of second-hand smoke.
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  • Remember... The next time you fly and have to deal with a sour-faced, post-menopausal,hag from hell... These are Them!!!
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  • What a plesant surprise to see an old photo of a Delta stewardess, in Part 4, that I nearly divorced my wife for. Should have....
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  • Ah, yes, the good old days. We should definitely bring that back. Luckily women are never, ever actually consumers of commercial flights! So we don't have to worry about the fact that they might want a flight attendant who would be attractive to them, or even might be uncomfortable that the staff's uniforms would be designed to make the women sex objects. Thumbs up for nostalgia!
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  • I had a wonderful affair with one of the stewardesses in the Delta photo.
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  • Modern Air Transport had once topless stewardesses. I saw a picture in 'Aviation Week and Space Technology'.
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  • must see, i love all 4 parts
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  • Maybe it's a Fordson Snowdevil
    See it in action
    http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=568_1233111054
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  • I think the boat struck the bridge bringing it down. The stern is now low in the water beacause of the weight of the bridge on it.
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  • That ILM short was actually done in 2000.
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  • heres the story with the ship
    http://seawayblog.blogspot.com/2008/03/ship-collapses-bridge.html
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  • The Jupiter animation was not made by Cassini. It was made by Voyager 1. ;)
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  • The second spanish flag, with the oval shape) it's a pre-republican flag. Used until 1931.

    It's followed by the republican tri-color flag and then by the Franco, the dictator, flag, used until 1977 (2 years after his dead).

    Nowadays, it's strange to see republican flags (used in some parades against monarchy or government) with the iconography. Being most in plain tri-color scheme.
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  • I'm a stamp collector,specializing in "Dead Countries".I find the the
    everyday paraphernalia of fallen countries fascinating.
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  • I was so excited to see this article. Being Hawaiian now living in NYC I thought I might see the Hawaiian Royal Flag and Arms. Hawaii was a very short but bright Kingdom and I wish we were still independent. Perhaps next time. Great article!
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  • Great post, as always. Just one thing: of the two flags of Italy, the right one is the royal flag, while the left one is the (current) flag for the navy.
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  • I read the DRB whenever I can, but this article is great, thanks!
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  • Some more flags:

    Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/59/Flaga_Rzeczpospolitej_Obojga_Narodow.svg

    Belarusian People's Republic (1918–1919)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Flag_of_Belarus_1991.svg

    East Germany (1949 – 1990)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/Flag_of_East_Germany.svg

    Third Reich (1933–1945)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Flag_of_Germany_1933.svg

    Bavarian Soviet Republic (April – May 1919)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Socialist_red_flag.svg
    not very sofisticated ;-)

    Republic of Central Lithuania (1920–1922)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Flag_of_Central_Lithuania.svg

    Free, Independent, and Strictly Neutral City of Kraków, called also The Republic of Cracow (1815–1846)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Flag_of_Krakow.svg

    Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic (1918)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/Flag_DKR.svg

    Commune of the Working People of Estonia (1918–1919)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/20/Estonianworkerscommuneflag.gif
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  • In many pictures appears the Catalan flag (four red bars over yellow), which is one of the oldest in Europe (dating back to 1150) and it is still widely use in the territories catalans ruled (includings parts of spain, france, sicily but even athens) until they lost the war against castilians.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senyera

    According to a 14th century legend, the flag dates back from the 9th century, when the four red bars were drawn, as an act of gratitude, on Wilfred I the Hairy's (Count of Barcelona) golden shield by king Charles the Bald's fingers drenched with blood from the Count's war wounds prior to Wilfred's death in 897 during the siege of Barcelona by Lobo ibn Mohammed, the moor governor.

    A slightly modified catalan flag with a star is used nowadays to claim independence for the Catalans.
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  • Great article!!!

    However, the Byzantine flag with the black double-headed bird on a yellow background is related to the Orthodox Church specifically.

    Though they didn't fly flags in the sense that we do today, the banner representing the government in Constantinople was a cross with four betas (pronounced v in Greek), one in each corner.

    The four betas stand for Vasilefs Vasileon, Vasilevon Vasilevonton - Greek for the "King of Kings, Rules the People". It was most likely a reference to Christ, though many contemporary emperors called themselves the king of kings, so we cannot be 100% sure.

    Here is a picture:

    http://www.oramaworld.com/images/flags/4b_300.jpg

    -Alex
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  • Here would be an adition as well, a total different flag for Switzerland, proposed by the French and used in the "Republique Helvetique" for 5yYears, before Switzerland was again Swiss and not French anymore...

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvetic_Republic
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  • For Yugoslavia (formerly Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians), you only showed coat of arms. Actual flag were simply 3 horizontal stripes: blue, white and red.
    And those stripes stayed for the Yugoslavia till the end in '90. with addition of a red star.

    My point is...if this is wrong, and I read something about Italian flag too...what else is wrong?
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  • Fascinating article and pictures. Thanks, enjoyed it immensely.

    Regards,
    Donna
    Children’s Author
    Donna M. McDine’s Website
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  • Thank you all for great additions and info... the Kingdom of Italy flag was fixed, and we are hoping to include the rest of great tips into a next article about flags.
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  • Great article though is a shame the inclusion of that so-called flags from Japan ¿Do this people have always to do everything copying the west? They have obviously a very poor meaning compared to the flags above. Flags must have significance given by history, they must not become a design hobby. I pity them.
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  • Interesting collection. Just thought I'd point out you got the Iranian flag wrong, that is the Imperial standard and not the state flag that was used up to 1979. The state flag was the Lion and Sun which has a much older history than the Pahlavi Imperial standard.
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  • Some more flags of non-existing countries and provintions related to polish history:

    Free City of Gdańsk (under Prussian protection) [1807-1814]
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ed/Gdansk_flag.svg

    Kingdom of Poland (called also Congress Poland, under Russian protection) [1815-1916]
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/48/Flag_of_the_Congress_of_Poland.svg

    Grand Duchy of Posen (under Prussian protection) [1815-1848]
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Flag_of_Wien.svg

    The same flag as above was used by Königreich Galizien und Lodomerien mit dem Großherzogtum Krakau und den Herzogtümern Auschwitz und Zator (under Austrian protection, what a name - typisch österreichisch) [1772-1918]

    Flag used during January Uprising, with symbols of Poland (eagle), Lithuania (racing knight) and Ukraine (archangel Michael)
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f6/Chor%C4%85giew_powsta%C5%84c%C3%B3w_styczniowych.PNG

    And yet another flag of United Kingdom of Poland [1320-1386]
    http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Alex_K_Kingdom_of_Poland-flag.svg
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  • When I was in high school and a rabid fan of the brand-new "Nick Fury, Agent of SHIELD" comic book (which shows you how long ago it was), I drew a pastiche in which Fury exposes a world-domination plot by a cadre of disgruntled descendants of Austro-Hungarians. They dreamed of restoring the True Empire. Wish I'd had your article for reference.

    The interesting thing about flags is that they, like ethnic or territorial claims, are attached to specific dates or events. Like those claims they establish an abstract "year zero" for the flagmaking power. As long as the flagmaker stays in power he gets to wave the real flag on behalf of the true country. Examples: USA; claims by earlier conquerors or the original(?) inhabitants are merely History. Iran: for the late Shah's die-hard gfans his is the real flag, regardless of what came before or after. Similarly the Catalonians can trace their flag to the 12th century, but what was the flag for the 11+ centuries before?

    In the end flags are expressions of the most artificial of human constructs: the country, the nation, the empire, the true faith.
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  • Actually, every town in Japan has its own flag, not just the cities/wards in the Tokyo era.
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  • Good work on the flags, can't wait for part 2!
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  • @Jamie
    Actually, every town in Japan has its own flag, not just the cities/wards in the Tokyo era.

    Actually, many cities around the world have it's flags. I know that every bigger city in Poland has. The same in Germany. And perhaps the same in most of European countries. Some of them contains city coat of arms, some just traditional colors.

    Berlin, Chełm, Wrocław, Warszawa, Kraków, Gdańsk, Wrocław
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  • lots of incorrect historical data...
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  • http://www.dubrovnik-guide.net/pics/thumbs/libertas%20flag.gif

    flag of free state of Dubrovnik, which played important role as one of the biggest mediterian trading harbours in 12th to 18th century, then taken by Napoleon and lost its soverenity.
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  • The double eagle motif was also used in the flag of the Duchy of Grand Fenwick...the fictional country in the novel & film "The Mouse that Roared"
    Johnleemedia
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  • That's pretty cool. I love flags!

    As for the last part showing the Tokyo city flags, they do that in Peru to. They have a flag for every department, province, district and town.
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  • I great source of extinct flags and coats is the Gerle Amorial

    http://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k38944m.image.f1.pagination
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  • Very fascinating article. For the flag of Byzantine Empire, i have to add that part of it was what inspired Albanian National Hero , Scanderbeg to use it as the flag that was raised in 1443.

    Best
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  • Oops, Not to toot my own horn but I built a site for exploring flags and their locations. This post is beautiful, I was thinking of adding some of your finds to my site: http://www.flagthousand.com
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  • Hungary's Coat of arms is still the same, so it's not "forgotten":

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungary
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