|
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Russia is again in the headlines, as it crossed the border into Georgia to help the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, who had been under siege by the Georgian military. The Georgian government simply wanted to restore order in the breakaway provinces that were still officially part of their country. The Russians on the other hand also wanted to protect the citizens of the disputed provinces, as the majority (around 90%) carried Russian passports. In effect they are Russian citizens and as such they must be protected by the Russian military. Besides, during a referendum previously, 92% of the citizens opted to secede from Georgia. In 1992, Ossetia and Abkhazia broke away from Georgia and a ceasefire was agreed to prevent atrocities. Russia claimed that the attack of Georgia to the provinces borders on genocide as over 2,000 civilians died in the assault. Meanwhile on the side of Georgia, the military action was an internal matter and outsiders must not interfere. Thus on August 8, 2008, the Russian military together with tanks and air support rumbled into Georgia, freed the breakaway provinces and destroyed all military installation around the periphery and withdrew. But the withdrawal of the Russian Military was not total, because checkpoints were left at strategic places to discourage retaliation and further buildup of the Georgian Military. The intention of the Russians may just have been to protect the two provinces, because they have not raised the Russian Flag that happens to be customary during conquests. The incursion into Georgia by the Russians is a clear violation, even if it is humanitarian in nature. The rest of the Western Countries condemned the military incursion.
by: The Flagman
The Louisiana State flag has a brown pelican feeding her siblings with her own blood, a symbol that suggests Christian charity. Does the official state flag portend something? Or it is just coincidental that the state happens to be the area mostly devastated by hurricanes, that is why it need the attention of the nation on its plight. The recent past had New Orleans (the most populous city in Louisiana) taking the brunt of hurricane Katrina, and is now just recovering from the effects because the government was ill prepared in its attempt to provide the necessary assistance in the aftermath of the devastation. Many died in the process, thousands were rendered homeless and damage to infrastructures had been estimated in the hundreds of millions. And now, hurricane Gustav is poised to hit Louisiana and the low-lying areas of Southern Texas once again, after it manifested its fury in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti and Cuba with gustiness of around 340 kilometers per hour. Although for the moment, Gustav is shown to have weakened to 200kph and classified as category 3, still it could gather enough strength as it hit Louisiana. Will Gustav be a Katrina? Are we now prepared for the worst? So far, a little less than two million (1.9 million) people have been moved to safer havens. As railway and bus line have been jammed by riding commuters trying to evade hurricane Gustav. The mayor of New Orleans have issued pleas for residents to evacuate with the assurance that their properties will be safe, and likewise ordered that looters will be prosecuted as state troopers and national guards are on the prowl for any eventualities. Our prayer goes to the residents and hopes that Gustav will spare them.
by: The Flagman
Monday, September 29, 2008
The ongoing war in Darfur is classified as ethnic and tribal in origin rather than religious in nature. Because it involves several ethnic groups, non-government institutions around the area placed deaths to have reached 400,000 as of early 2008. It is said that in one such incident alone, militias razed whole villages to the ground, women were raped and others killed by gunfire. Even with atrocities already headlined worldwide and pleas to stop mount, it seems the government in Khartoum has turned a blind eye and is deaf as well. As the death toll continued, the United Nations stepped in aided by countries concerned for the safety of the inhabitants, particularly the refugees that had numbered to over a million. The United Nations invited all warring factions, including the government for a dialogue to thresh out the root of the problem and eke out an agreement to end the hostilities and spare lives. The meeting took a positive stance, with everybody working for the common good, cooperate and work under one country flag the Sudan National Flag. To seal the agreement, the UN sent a 7,000 peacekeeping force to monitor the compliance of the agreement and fulfill its humanitarian aid. Still even with the UN around, atrocities (though fewer now) were again committed in violation of the UN led peace agreement. Some factions were still committing atrocities in the guise of just implementing the peace agreement, while those at the receiving end were seen to have violated the peace accord. The UN is enlarging its forces to 20,000 peacekeepers in the hopes of totally controlling the wave of atrocities in Darfur. The world awaits and prays for its success.
by: The Flagman
It seems that our involvement in Iraq will be the rehashed subject that will dominate the campaign and presidential election in November. There is no doubt that Americans abhor the death of countless American soldiers that were sacrificed to further the democratic ends of the country. But can we really help it, can the next president renege on our duty to the international community? Except that its main industry is oil, do we really know Iraq? The most important symbol of the country is the Iraq flag composed of three horizontal bands red, white and black with the Takbir (God is great) in green Arabic script is at the center of the white band. The design is based upon the Arab Liberation colors and approved by the Council of Representatives as a compromise and temporary replacement for the Ba'athist Saddam-era flag. Iraq was part of the Ottoman Empire, but was occupied by Britain in the course of World War I; in 1920 it was declared member of the League of Nations, a mandate that placed it under direct UK administration. Iraq finally attained independence in 1932, then it became a republic in 1958, but such declaration was a sham because it was a series of strongmen that ruled the country until 2003. The last of such rulers was Saddam Husayn. The history of Iraq is embroiled in hostilities, for eight long years it fought a costly war (1980-88) with Iran because of territorial disputes. Then in 1990 it annexed Kuwait, but was later on repulsed by the US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Then on March 2003, the US-led invasion toppled Saddam Husayn, because of his refusal to allow the UN-led nuclear inspection team.
by: The Flagman
Sunday, September 28, 2008
The coming presidential election is turning out to be really close and heated. Who would have thought that McCain could even the voting preference at 45% (based on recent survey) and the remaining 10% as undecided? During the close of the primary, Obama was leading by 12 percentage points, and now just days before the national party convention, the chances are about even. At the party convention expect each candidate to throw everything in and project an image that will appeal to voters. And a dose of anything patriotic will be the order of the day, from giant American flags, to fan flags, to mini flags at the convention venue and to custom car flags that will adorn each candidate's entourage as they move along roads and highways. Who would be able to satisfy the American psyche will have the advantage - meaning the one that can show his moorings as more American. Or are we faced with the three pronged assault in our internal security, can our candidates handle the delicate situation in Georgia, that is aside from the downslide in the country's economy, unemployment, health care, and the question of immigration among others. As I see it, whoever wins the presidency will have his hands full in order to address the various concerns that affect the whole cross section of society and maintain our stature as the true patron to be relied on by the world community. To be president of the United States of America in this phase of our history will never be easy, because as the world changes, our continued leadership will always be put to the test. This is no job for the fainthearted, not even superman.
by: The Flagman
I always follow world events, particularly news that involves the sending of our troops to hotspots around the globe. Though I've heard a lot about Afghanistan, it never entered my mind to look more deeply into the historical events that define the country. The country is known for its symbol, the Afghanistan flag composed of three vertical bands, black, red and green. A national emblem in white is at the center overlapping the side bands and it features a mosque with pulpit and flags on either side and below is a solar year 1298. Further the emblem is framed by sheaves of wheat, by an inscription (Shahada - the Muslim creed) at the upper center, and the rays of the sun in its lower center. In 1747, through Shah Durrani founded Afghanistan by unifying the Pashtun tribes and it served as buffer between the British and Russian Empires, it declared independence in 1919. A coup in 1973 ended a brief experiment in democracy, then a 1978 communist counter-coup was staged. To support the fragile communist regime at the time, the USSR invaded Afghanistan in 1979. The USSR eventually withdrew in 1989 after a long and disastrous war with the anti-communist mujahedin rebels and it was followed by bloody subsequent civil wars, which was finally won by the Taliban, a hard line Pakistani sponsored movement. Under the Talibans, anarchy followed and no end of oppression is in sight. But through the United Nations political reconstruction was started, a new constitution was put into effect, a president was elected in 2004 and the elections for the National Assembly was made in 2005. But, the Talibans resurfaced continuing the saga of insurgency. And to protect the emerging democracy, soldiers around the world were dispatched to help.
by: The Flagman
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The past Olympic was not just about winning, but more of inspiration. This is best expressed on the performance of Somalia's 200-meter dash runner Samia Yusuf Omar. She finished the race about 7 or 8 seconds after the winner of her heat crossed the finish line, a really poor performance, not one expected from an Olympian. But, this is not the end of it, as she continued to run her heat the crowd of around 45,000 at the Bird's Nest Stadium, stood up, cheered and egged her to finish the race, a kind of warm welcome reserved only for the winners. When interviewed later, she confided that the gesture was uncalled for, but it made her doubly proud to be a Somali and brought tremendous popularity to her home country, particularly in the eyes of the world. Her country maybe poor, and ravaged by the ongoing civil war, but it instilled in her hopes that her country would one day be united again, and peace would reign. Only two athletes was sent by the government to the Olympics, and both lagged behind in their heat because they were ill-prepared with no formal training and the absence of good training facilities. Besides how can one succeed when they still have to scavenge even for their daily subsistence? Standing on the track and seeing the Somalia flag waving side by side with the other flags of the world, gave her the notion that in this part of the world all are equal and no country claims dominion. And her pride being a Somali swelled, even for just a fleeting second, an experience she will cherish the rest of her life.
by: The Flagman
As expected a brilliant display of fireworks precluded the closing ceremony of the 29th Olympiad in Beijing, a tribute to the people who invented gunpowder. Then after the introduction of IOC members and Hu Jintao, the Chinese national flag was hoisted with the singing of the Chinese National Anthem. What followed was cultural presentation staged by Chinese actors, after which athletes entered the stadium. As part of the usual practice, medals were awarded to the last event of the Olympics, the marathon, then speeches followed and ending with Jacques Rogge, the IOC chairman as he closes the spectacular staging of the summer spectacle. Also signifying the continuation of the games in 2012, the England Flag was hoisted with the playing of the National Anthem "God Save the Queen," again announcing to the world that the next Olympic games will be in London. As customary, the Olympic Flag was lowered with the Olympic Anthem played, symbolically handing over the Seoul Olympic Flag by the Mayor of Beijing Guo Jinlong to its counterpart, the mayor of London Boris Johnson. The final presentation was then capped with fireworks that were designed to represent the Olympic rings. Additional display of spectacular fireworks could be seen outside of the Bird's Nest National Stadium as the games went to a close. Well despite the smog that plagued the city of Beijing, the Chinese authorities has seen to it that visitors to the summer spectacle will experience what they came here for. Kudos should be extended to the men and women of China who provided the world the best of the culture, from authentic foods, to ethnic costumes and even the arts. Thank you China.
by: The Flagman
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Throughout the history of the Olympic Game the opening ceremony is crucial, because it portends the extent by which it is presented. The one held weeks ago in Beijing is a spectacular and spellbinding display and took a total of four hours, and at a cost of around 100million dollars to produce. The opening of the Olympics in China was timed to coincide 08,08,08, that is August 8, 2008 and at approximately 8:08pm, the number is associated with prosperity and confidence inherent in the Chinese culture. Then it was followed by various cultural presentations, highlighting among others paper, an invention of the Chinese. Then the parade of nations came in carrying their own country flags, the only difference in that they were not in alphabetical order but based on each country's Chinese character. Thus Guinea entered the stadium after Greece while the Australian flag was at the tail end just ahead of the Zambia flag. As usual, the host country's contingent and colors entered the stadium last. Amidst the speeches of Olympic dignitaries, the Olympic flag was brought in, carried by eight former Chinese athletes and was later turned over to the soldiers of the Liberation Army, hoisted and the Olympic Anthem was sang. Then the Olympic flame that symbolically emanated from Athens entered the stadium as a continuation of the Beijing relay and was finally passed to Li Ning, a former gymnast champion suspended in the air, wired as he lit the Olympic cauldron. Sad to say the opening ceremony was marred by hitches. There was the opening ceremony rehearsal leakage; a girl was caught lip-synching the "Ode to the Motherland;" then the computer-simulated fireworks. Amidst it all the presentation was a huge success.
by: The Flagman
This is the predicament, "to have or not to have" that met us as we came out of the conference room with top executives of our company. We are actually a medium scale company engaged in the business of selling brand new cars and as such we were asked to study the viability of a new outlet. The new showroom was an old warehouse located along the main thoroughfare in Austin. Being on a drab neighborhood, if we open, we are to transform the place into a top of the line car dealership complete with service facilities. Our main worry is not on the renovation of the structure because professionals were hired for the job, but the marketing push necessary to appeal to customers. As the blueprint of the plans were handed to us, it is clear that everything has been thought of, the facade is truly eye catching with gold colored aluminum cladding and generous areas of glass that makes anything inside visible. We only made suggestions on the visual contrasts created by our company name against the imposing backdrop. Our car dealership includes some of the known brands in the industry, Lexus, BMW's, Benzes, Lamborghini's, Lincoln's and so on. We find it hard to accommodate all of these in the facade, so we decided to advertise our products using large twirler flags. We hired the services of NorthStar Flags and Poles to duplicate the logo's of car brands and design the custom twirler flag for us. We placed a series of custom twirler flags 500meters before and after our showroom. I guess our recommendations made an impact because we have stayed afloat even with the high cost of gas.
by: The Flagman
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
August 2008 is a red-letter day in my calendar, not because it's the Olympics, but the College I came from will celebrate the centennial foundation anniversary. This will be a grand celebration as all who had its share in the glorious history of the college will be around to join in the festivities. Some graduates of the college are already part of the mainstream labor force, 4 are company chairmen, maybe a dozen are COO's and CEO's, 2 are two term members of congress, while one holds the distinction of a Senator, and hopefully in the future one intends to join the primary to select a candidate for president. I called the celebration secretariat and offered to provide the necessary banners, for both our company banners that will be hanged interspaced with the customary college flags. I even sent our company personnel to help the celebration committee in the arrangement and decoration of the venue and the placement of the banners as well. When the weeklong celebration began, the majority of the alumnus of the College were present and congratulatory messages were extended to the successful graduates, particularly in the field of business, public service and the academe. The college on their part welcomed all alumni's like their long lost child. For who could deny the fact that when one graduates, it is seldom that one could have the time for a visit. It is only on rare occasions like this centennial foundation celebration that the majority will be around, and the guests becomes a veritable who's who from all sectors of society. What about you? Have you joined any of your alma mater's festivities lately? Be there and be counted, its fun.
by: The Flagman
After eight long years of disappointing losses in international tournaments, the United States Redeem Team has finally captured the Olympic Gold Medal in basketball. But the road to the gold medal has not been easy, because all are members of the elite NBA basketball franchises and to make them jell and work as a team is any coach' nightmare. The preparation actually started some three years ago and each mythical member of the Redeem Team were asked to commit. And every summer or during breaks from the NBA games, basketball training and clinics were injected into the players retinue. Even after three summers and various tune-up games, the team could still not move as one. The true test of the team was the elimination tournament in Las Vegas where the top two finishers will automatically have a seat to the Beijing Olympics. And when finally faced with a two-edged sword, the American Redeem Team made us proud by winning the tournament handily. In the qualifying round, the American Team beat every other team's bracketed with them and in the semi-final round it demolished Australia and the 2004 gold medallist Argentina. Then it had a ride with destiny as it met Spain for the gold. The finals game was a bit lethargic, because they came with a mission and they could not afford any slip-ups. Many came to the game and they wore the American tricolor and waving American miniature Flags. In the end the American as expected came out victorious and is once again the force to reckon with in basketball. We cheered when the American Flag was hoisted as members of the team received the gold medal.
by: The Flagman
Monday, September 22, 2008
As the bus I was riding home took the right turn, I was full of anticipation as the park that I grew up with was just around the bend. You see I've been away for some time, since my work as an accountant kept me saddled at my office in Lower Manhattan, New York City. This will be actually my first trip back home. As the park came into view, disappointment crept in, the place looks just like the way I left it. The park equipment are still few and rusting, although the trees have grown so big that it gave the area enough cover during the dry season. The park benches are practically placed at the areas I can remember most and a few strollers are lazily moving about, and the rest are busy reading their daily paper. Just then, I saw the American Flag waving gaily at the pole, as if in salutation and welcome for my trip home. Then I smiled, what happened to the love of my life? My first girlfriend, we used to frequent the park and made our vows, our dreams and promised just about everything right at the foot of the commercial flagpole. We were a twosome at the time, and everybody thought we were made for each other. But fate intervened, his family moved to Wisconsin and that was the end of it. Although we had a few letters, the distance may have taken its toll because eventually we parted. I moved to New York to study and took my first job seriously. As for my first love, we never saw each other again.
by: The Flagman
I really hated reunions, that's why when my friends from way back called, I dilly-dallied hoping that I be excused from the affair. You see, I came from a poor family and even if I've graduated from college, I still have reservations co-existing with my rich classmates. Besides what have I accomplished so far and look at myself, I've grown a lot and even doubled in weight I will be the butt of jokes during the gathering. But, duty calls, our class president is gunning for a seat in Congress and all of us must be around to be photographed and project an air of unity. Or maybe I sensed that I could be his spokesman, his alter ego especially towards the poor, me being very accommodating and knowledgeable towards this sector of society. When I reached the venue, the place was already teeming with supporters and the decor was really patriotic like a small party convention. I saw my batch mates huddled around the makeshift stage with a large custom political party flag as background. My insecurities began showing-up again, if my friend enters Congress, will I still be remembered as his buddy. As I approached the stage, they were all happy to see me, in fact we hugged as a group just like old times. And just like when we were still in school, we tried to be professional and planned the extent of our friends campaign. For the next three to four days, we stayed close together and decide on the campaign blueprint to take, the posters to print, the finances to tackle and the sorties that we intend to take.
by: The Flagman
Sunday, September 21, 2008
One busy week makes you feel like your life had been sapped out, not enough energy to even unwind at popular watering holes around the vicinity. So, I just stayed flat on my chair while soft oldies could be heard from the radio. Just like that and I felt sleepy already, and I started for my bed ready to call it quits. Then Tom Jones took the air lanes, belting out "The Green, Green, Grass of Home," it hit me, I've been away for so long, a trip back home could be the next best thing. I checked on my schedule, a national holiday is coming up and I could call the office that I'm due for a sick leave. It somehow reinvigorated my senses and I was already busy making reservations for a train trip for the next day and packing up my things. The next morning I woke up early had breakfast and coffee at Starbucks and off to the train station. Here I come, home again after five years. I might have slept on the trip because I can immediately feel that the station now looms ahead. When I exited from the train station, I twirled around looking for a familiar landmark, the large custom State Flag that normally greets visitors as they come out of the station. Finding it already non-existent I was sorely disappointed, and I asked the security officer nearby what happened to it. He could not also give a straight answer for he was also new to the area. Well, what can I expect after five long years, there has got to be some form of development.
by: The Flagman
Who is the greatest? Certainly when being the greatest is mentioned, Muhammad Ali comes to mind. But, is he really the greatest? Some say he is, but this is still debatable because where will you place Joe Louis, the Brown Bomber who stopped every known opposition in his time. Or Rocky Marciano, the Great White Hope, who did the same feat but whose career was cut short by a freak accident. One thing is sure though, Ali is the most colorful fighter in the history of boxing. Why would one be called the greatest? What would make one assume greatness? Would winning eight gold medals in an Olympics make one? Then Michael Phelps would classify as the greatest. What would then become of Marc Spitz who won seven gold medals in the 1972 Munich Olympics, a record he held for 36 long years? Or Carl Lewis, who gave the United States recognition and won six gold medals in track and field? Should Michael Phelps continue on his crusade and win eight or nine more gold medals in the 2012 London Olympics, then his feat would really be hard to duplicate. But for how long will the record stay? He broke Spitz record in 36 years, I'm sure somebody would in the near future. But for now they are the greatest Olympians in their generation. I'm really happy in the thought that Americans are in the forefront of this quest for greatness. And every time they climb the podium, with the custom American Flag hoisted and claim their medals, it makes me prouder to be American. Being great is a title nobody can really claim. You can only be the best today because the future belongs to somebody else.
by: The Flagman
Thursday, September 18, 2008
I was watching an Olympic qualifying bout in boxing and I have to stare at the TV screen more intently because I could not identify the country custom flags of the two protagonists. Not even the name of the country was legible enough for they were so small at the upper left hand corner of the screen. For two rounds the score stood at 6 for the fighter in blue and 0 for red. I'm not very familiar with the scoring system of boxing that's why without a blink I watched every fighters move. Several punches were given by both fighters but still I can't figure out how the judges are able to give a point or two. Midway through the third round, the fighter in red delivered series of combinations that stunned and staggered his opponent, the scoreboard then awarded one point while the referee was giving the mandatory count to the fighter in blue. Then at the start of the final round, crunching head and body shots sent the fighter in blue sprawling to the canvas and miraculously the electronic scoreboard awarded yet another point. Why only a point? It was a flurry of punches that put the other fighter down. But the outcome was beyond question as the referee had stopped the fight. I switched off the TV. Disappointed, really disappointed, I still haven't figured out the scoring system. Next time I will concentrate on archery and trap shooting at least players get their point based on the number of hits. Or maybe swimming and track and field where the first runners or swimmers to cross the finish line are declared the winners.
by: The Flagman
My son is the nerdy type with thick glasses, usually keeps to himself, reads a lot, concentrates on his studies, does not seem to be sporty and always had ways with computers and electronic gadgets. So, if you enter his room, it is jungle in here, with all his things found just about anywhere - the floor, the bed, the closet, some are even stamped on the walls. So, when my son turned ten years old, my wife and I decided to extend his room to provide him with ample space for a work and study area. And to really show my son's personality on the projected room, we asked him to pick the wallpaper, the carpet, and the decor. At the home decor hardware, my son requested for one with small prints of the American Flag and because such wallpaper is non-existent he picked blue. Then, he insisted on a red floor carpet and white coarse paint for his ceiling. I don't know what got into my son's head as these are patriotic colors - maybe influenced by countless 4th of July parade that we attended. We thought that was the end of it, but when the room was finished we sneaked in for a look-see, and what greeted us were freshly attached American Flag, college flags , banners on praise banner poles, life size posters of Britney, Paris, Jordin, Usher and Kobe Bryant. This is our first glimpse into the life, the needs, the inspiration of our aspiring teenage son, we found it weird sometimes but at least we know what direction to take. And to really bridge the generation gap we started to dig his music and made inroads to see the Lakers in action.
by: The Flagman
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Going through design evolution, each distinct civilization gave us unique distinguishing features. Starting with the Egyptians they had their pyramids, their temples with the hypostyle hall and especially the obelisks suggests their contribution to the development of design. However, it was the Greeks that laid the foundation for design sophistication, particularly the design proportion of their Tuscan, Doric and Ionic columns including the bas-relief's on the tympanum all added to the mystic appeal. The Romans meanwhile refined what the Greeks had and spruced up the development of the dome that had been copied from the Etruscans. The Byzantines that came later improved on the dome and transformed it into the bulbous type much preferred by Islamic Architecture. And when the Christians of Europe built their large and lofty churches, they devised the use of flying buttress to counter the lateral forces of the domed structures. Then, when the Renaissance era came they repeated the use of classical design all over. Not until the end of the World Wars that drastic design changes were evident. Owing maybe to the need for large spaces for soldiers returning from the battlefield, designers omitted what is more customary and built massive structures of steel, concrete and glass. Thus the theory "less is more" came into being, making structures practical but devoid of ornaments. It built into the modern consciousness structures that are plain, simple and ugly. Therefore to divert viewer's attention to the building's cubic monstrosity, designers added custom flags, not only country and national flags but flags of all type and design. Thus, today look at all the structures around you and you will find that the majority uses these flags, literally to hide the ugly truth.
by: The Flagman
I was trying to separate what is serviceable from what is not from my office closet when I came across an old article titled, "The Ugly Truth." Even if I've read the article countless of times in the past, still it does gave me some more room to be amused and laugh. What happens when a lawyer failed in his counsel and defense? Then the obvious answer is the defendant is found guilty and lands in jail. Then, what will happen if the doctor fails in his diagnosis? The patient dies and is buried 7 feet under the ground. In the case of the structural engineer, his failure to conduct thorough evaluation and design computation will result in a collapsed structure even when only subjected to slight tremors, the result - death to the building occupants. And when a painter fails in his work, he can always cover it up with a new coat of paint. But, when an Architect fails in his design the effect is different altogether. The result would be an ugly piece of Architecture and to divert attention to the monstrosity of the structure, the Architect can always employ the lavish use of flags and get away with his failure. I am not saying that all buildings and structures that sport flags are ugly and unattractive, but from the looks of it designers of lamentable structures use flags to salvage what is left of their ruined reputation. On the other hand buildings that are Architectural gems often projects a different aura of sophistication when adorned by roof top mounted flagpoles. Flags can complement a structure, but it can never hide the ugly truth.
by: The Flagman
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
I woke up with a terrible headache in fact I staggered and almost did not make it to the bathroom. Something must be wrong with me, is it sleep deprivation or simply fatigue after days for the preparation of our company float for the 4th of July parade. I called in sick and the good doctor came and reined me in with sedatives and a few cold medicines that should keep me still within the next 8hours. But before consciousness left me my thoughts were still on the preparation we made for the parade. We are a small company that sells brewed coffee, much like Starbucks but really smaller in scope. Though we had already expanded to 10 shops, we only cater to areas around downtown Seattle. Even with rain incessantly drenching Seattle, our company managed to meet customer's needs and for the last five years we have stayed afloat. This year we aim to join to the 4th of July parade, hopefully to advertise more clearly that we are here for good. To really make a statement, our design crew devised a giant horizontal coffee canister, and then carved out a flat surface at the top to accommodate the huge coffee mug much like the mug we serve our customer's. Complete with our company name and logo, we used it to sit an actor dressed like Uncle Sam complete with hat. The general backdrop was a large spoon at the back of the mug and carries a billowing American Flag. While hundreds of company pennant streamers adorn the sides of the float. Overall, the effect was fascinating, but I won't be around to enjoy the festivities because I am literally strapped to my bed.
by: The Flagman
I was drinking coffee at my verandah and was pre-occupied with thoughts about the invasion of Iraq, if it was the catalyst that finally pushed oil to over 100dollars a barrel, will our economic situation ever improve, or what will happen to the USA now that Bush' term is finally coming to an end, can I trust Obama over McCain to handle the delicate foreign policy protocol? There are a lot of uncertainties, what ifs, then I stood up to get a glass of water when my eye caught sight of my neighbors American Flag and pole. Then my thought shifted, what if flags were not used, what other forms of patriotic symbols could have evolved. I must be really getting old, imagine subjects like this already bugging me. But on second thoughts, do you know that we are a flag crazy nation? I read from the statistics recently that as much as 75% of Americans wave flags, making us number one around the world. Unbelievable, but that is the truth? In my experience I would say that flags have a special place in my heart, I find it empty if flags and banners are not included in celebrations. Just like the 4th of July we wave flags; when we cheer for our favorite teams we wave flags; when we altered our office interior decor we included the flag; when we go to church the pulpit has it; even when we devised a new landscaping scheme for our garden as always we include lighting for flagpoles and garden flags. We can't seem to live without it (flags), don't you think the statistics is right after all?
by: The Flagman
Monday, September 15, 2008
Recently I attended a debriefing intended for smokers and the presentation was really frightening. In a power point presentation, it shows in lucid details about lung and throat cancers, the stains on the gums and fingers not to mention that it accelerates heart disease, diabetes, miscarriage and birth defects for pregnant women, aging and so on, the list is really long. Maybe, I was horrified by the extent of the damage brought by smoking, so I always remind my friends to look more closely into no smoking custom flags and banners that are posted at strategic places. Since I don't smoke, I can always joke about it that probably irritates my friends. One time I ask a friend why his doctor has not prescribed that he quit smoking. Well, he said that all doctors do, and when indeed I'm required to stop I simply visit another doctor one that can tolerate my smoking. What about magazines that print horrible photos on the effects of smoking, he simply shrugged his shoulders saying that he refused to look at it. Almost all of my friends that are smokers know the perils, but they do not desire to quit simply because of the satisfaction they get, and not even the worst case scenario being projected by medical practitioners could entice them to change. But studies have revealed that second hand smoke also carries the same health risk as primary smokers do, that is why it becomes necessary that smokers must be banned from public places. It (ban) should be required in bars and restaurants, government and private offices, the subway, public parks, to protect citizens and reduce the incidence of smoking related diseases.
by: The Flagman
The NBA game in the USA is broadcast live to different stations around the globe. In China the games are shown to over 300million basketball enthusiasts, making it the most important single TV broadcast. And because it has invaded the Chinese consciousness, NBA basketball superstars are also widely known in this country of over a billion people. In the recent Olympic games, basketball particularly, the Chinese national team met Team USA composed of NBA stars in the opening toss-up. The popularity of the NBA stars provided the excitement and packed the Olympic Stadium to the rafters - all 18,000seats were booked in advance. When players of the contending teams were introduced, Yao Ming of the Chinese quintet and Kobe Bryant of Team USA, received the most cheers of the awesomely partisan crowd. The game then started with the first five of each team on the floor, the crowd responded with almost iconic shouts and cheers for their favorite players. They could not actually decide whom to cheer and be disappointed if a basketball fails the net. The fans looked dazzled whom to side with as they seemed confused - to reserve their cheers to the National Team or with Team USA. The majority of the audience maybe waving the Chinese National Flag, but were also dressed in NBA jerseys. How then can you distinguish the preference of the crowd? In the end, the sellout crowd had no choice but to cheer for both, the distinction have been totally erased and what ensued was just pure fun for a milestone happening within their midst. Team USA had found a second home - a home away from home, China.
by: The Flagman
Sunday, September 14, 2008
In its heyday, smoking has invaded almost all segments of society. For one, men were classified as sissy when they are not seen sporting a cigar or blowing smoke with a cigarette. The air lanes, the TV were likewise bombarded with ad that promotes the vice. Can you remember the Marlboro Man on the boob tube and giant billboards? Or try looking at reruns of old western spaghetti movies, the lead actor almost always smoke. In fact when you enter a sheriffs office it is shrouded in smoke that not even the American Flag is visible. That was the American culture we wanted to be freed of, particularly when scientific evidence points to it as a health hazard. But even with the nagging evidence, not everybody is convinced, many are still into cigarette addiction and tobacco companies are still reaping the profits. Then new legislation were put into effect, like all cigarette packs were labeled as a health risk, higher taxes were levied against it, smoking ads on TV were limited to be aired only after 8pm, yet these seems to be not effective because year after year, the number of young smokers continue to rise. Now comes New York City's smoking prohibition on bars and restaurant's, courtesy of Mayor Bloomberg's desire to make the city smoke free. And for five years, it indeed instituted reforms and the City is responding well as the air is almost environmentally clear. Further, to protect residents from second-hand smoke, a new move is emerging to include homes. That is, leases will not be given to tenants that smoke, or new homes will not be awarded to applicants if they smoke.
by: The Flagman
My job description is that of a sales engineer, but deals primarily with products for the construction industry. To be specific our company offers special additives and by-products for the use of the construction trade. In concrete construction for example, mixing and pouring concrete compound is not as easy as it seems. You have to think of the weather and the temperature, because evaporation and hardening of concrete must strike a balance or the minimum compressive strength of concrete will never be reached. During hot weather, expect massive evaporation so retardants are added to the concrete mix to avoid uneven drying of concrete, which may manifest cracks on the surface. Likewise during cool weather, accelerators are added to speed up the drying process to avoid delay in the construction and meet construction timetable. Steel construction is different altogether, because the main drawback that can reduce its carrying capacity is corrosion. Therefore we have devised special coating solutions that will totally eliminate corrosion problems on steel, particularly the exposed surfaces. As coating solution is applied, custom flag markers are mounted over it as signal for construction crews that the area is ready for the concrete mixture. Then when pouring of concrete is completed, a new flag is mounted to warn crews that the area is off limits as concrete is left to dry. Then as concrete dries a new set of flags is added signifying that it could already be used for traffic. The process may sound cumbersome, but when you are part of the group, the process seems easy to understand and execute. This is my bread and butter, and it pays my bills.
by: The Flagman
Thursday, September 11, 2008
When I enjoyed staying in a place, always expect me to return to reminisce once again the traits that impressed me in the first place. Like when I first visited Koh Phi Phi, Thailand, mostly referred in the fliers as the Temptation Island. Indeed, it was aptly described because you will really savor not just the scenery, the continuous stretch of beaches, the food but also the hospitality the locals extend to tourist. I'm interested in my second visit to the famed island because I want to experience first hand how it coped after a tsunami hit Southeast Asia. From the accounts I've heard and footage I saw on TV, more than a hundred people perished here and totally wiped out the infrastructure of the island. True enough, when I arrived at the island not a single familiar landmark could be seen. Even the large tree that used to mark the junction of the pathways, with shops on both sides was also gone, all reclaimed by the sea. I tried to look for the concrete foundations of the flagpoles that flew hundreds of colorful blank flags that greet tourists alighting from makeshift boats are gone as well. I booked at the functioning resort at the time and the same mode that made the island famous, were also extended to us. The only difference now is reconstruction is evident in the areas fronting the beaches. In fact during the day, when heat is intolerable we tourist's help out and do some volunteer works, to help the island literally rise on its feet. A semblance of what the island used to be is slowly being felt, as capital is pouring in and resorts are springing-up like mushrooms.
by: The Flagman
As far as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a construction engineer. To build buildings, bridges, elevated freeways and huge dams fascinate me and gave me the drive to be one. But, fate may have other plans for me, because I was never good at numbers a requisite for one to be a successful engineer. Out of frustration, the only field open for me was sales/marketing and I took it like a shark in a feeding frenzy. I graduated with honors and proceeded to do post graduate studies. And guess what, I landed with a job at a company offering products for the construction industry. My passion for construction never evaded me, I may not be a construction engineer, but I ended up as a sales engineer, but still an engineer no less. My line of work brings me to various construction sites, construction offices and talk to executives of the trade. One time while traveling on the freeway, I caught site of a large truck with a pair of giant pre-cast concrete girder on board. From the looks of it, the girder has a depth of around 2meters and a span of at least 30meters. This must be for a concrete bridge, so I tailed the truck but kept a good distance because of the red flag markers that juts out a meter from the free end of the girder. I arrived at the construction site, just in time as a girder is hoisted by a giant power crane from the truck to the prepared piers at the side of the river. I noticed that the embankment have been completed, the approach of the bridge have been ready and only the girder is needed to complete the construction.
by: The Flagman
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I'm really blessed for I have a stable job, a very supportive wife, and two healthy kids, baby boys - the apple of my eyes. My wife and I sees to it that both our kids must have the attention, the care, and the things needed to let them grow and develop into God-fearing and law abiding citizens. Since my children were born two years apart, there was really no need for a general adjustment period, particularly in the process of bottle feeding, diaper changes in the wee hours of the morning. When they were four and two years of age, sibling rivalry starts to manifest, especially the younger one that would always find ways to get our attention. When it comes to toys, the younger would always get the best, and in foods he usually gets the lions share. As I'm always at work, I left the work of talking to my elder son to my wife, and I guess she made a nice effort because I saw the relationship of my children turn for the better. Once, we as a family went out to have fun on the 4th of July festivities. Since the 4th of July parade was still due in an hour, we decided to stroll the park and have some refreshments, burgers, spaghetti and cola's. I noticed that my older son seems to have matured a lot, because he is no longer bothered with my younger son's antics. As we moved along the parade route, I brought a pair of mini American flags for both my children, but my younger child grab both. My other son just stared and smiled, and a wink of understanding.
by: The Flagman
On my recent visit to the Middle East, I made a brief stopover at Cairo. Seldom do I have the chance to view more closely the sights in Egypt. On this rare occasion I opted to have an educational tour at the famous El Alamein war museum. I've read of the battle (El Alamein) from history books, particularly between the war exploits of Rommel, the German General and Montgomery, the British counterpart. You see, war correspondents pick this as the greatest tank battle in the history of World War II. The objective of Rommel's Africa Corps was to sweep across the desert up to Egypt and take the Suez Canal. But the Allied Forces under Montgomery took a stand and stopped the invading German Forces right here at El Alamein. It was in November 1943 when the Axis finally capitulated and 250,000 prisoners of war were taken in. I arranged for a trek to El Alamein, 105km west of Alexandria and lies along the coastal highway. I together with a few German and Italian tourists disembarked at the highway and walked all the way to the war museum. It was a considerable distance, and together with the searing heat all made our journey more memorable. We made a sigh of relief when we spotted the entrance gate of the war museum adorned with five imposing blank flags on top of it. Once inside and with a soothing cool temperature we marveled at the room dedicated to major armies that were part of the battle. It displayed among others arrays of uniforms, weapons and ammunition, field maps, flags, equipment and war footage Some tourists meanwhile, ventured outside to visit the cemeteries and render respects to the countless soldiers that died here.
by: The Flagman
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
When I was watching BBC news, I caught site of a familiar name, an American casualty in the ongoing war in Iraq. I called to confirm the sad news and probably to offer condolences to the family, our subdivision neighbor in Los Angeles. True enough the news item was correct, as both his parents - esteemed members of the academe, related to me in detail how their son died while manning a sentry point outside of Baghdad. In fact I was asked to come for the funeral, to show solidarity with our neighborhood, particularly in this time of grief and sorrow not only for family and friends but also the entire county, for having lost a distinguished son. I made reservations, and proceeded immediately to the church where mass and services were held for our fallen hero. I noticed that upon entering our county, both the State Flag and American Flag on government buildings had been flown in half-mast as ordered by the Governor, a tribute to a son who shed his life for the service of his country. I followed the funeral cortege to the internment site. The funeral march was really a show of force, of bereaved people because a thousand mourners in cars joined the procession. Then at the gravesite, the casket draped by an American Flag was finally lowered to the ground amidst the sound of a 21gun salute. Without intending to be, I stared at the military personnel as it folded the American Flag neatly thirteen times and handed it to the widow as memento. Then as we marched back, I thought of how many more fallen heroes would sacrifice their lives to serve the ideals of democracy.
by: The Flagman
I've always been fascinated with children, since they project a sense of honest joy, of pure innocence, latent helplessness, an aura that shows when you are around them. I really have a soft heart when it comes to children, because I feel that being small they must be cared for considering that they still could not communicate. When my girlfriend of four years got pregnant, I immediately proposed and got married because I refuse to envision my child growing alone without a father. To show my commitment to my wife's pregnancy, I would go with her to the OB for pre-natal check-ups As the week of her dday, that is delivery came, I filed a 15day paternity leave so I will be beside my wife. When the day came, I volunteered to be at the labor/delivery room, coaching my wife on how to follow the instructions of the doctor. I guess I felt fine at the start, but when things started to turn messy and blood starts to come out, I turned pale and collapsed. Later, the nursing staff informed me that I had a 7-pound baby boy and that my wife is well and recovering. I could not contain my excitement, I went to the nursery and there I saw my flesh and blood for the first time. To cover up for my debacle at the delivery room, I brought dozens of balloons, clusters of flowers and baby flags to decorate the private room of the hospital. And when my wife was finally wheeled in, she was so elated for the extra effort. The feeling is really different, it's great to be a father.
by: The Flagman
Monday, September 8, 2008
As I was going through my office files, an envelope fell - a decade old letter from a friend and a really close buddy. I was about to open it, when my phone rang. What greeted me from the other end of the line was sad, news that my friend had died from combat duty in Afghanistan. I just stood for a moment, stunned as if cold water has been poured all over me. You see we were actually cousins - his father being my mom's brother and not just buddies. My friend was only 4 months older than I am and we grew up together. We shared everything, from toothpaste to socks, food and toys, we went to school together, we lived on the same dormitory and at one time we shared the same girlfriend - that is we dated identical twins and we had a hard time distinguishing one from the other. And now he is dead, dead from a war he truly believed in. This letter was his last from the post because his succeeding messages were from e-mails (I introduced him to the wonders of Internet) and we do communicate almost weekly particularly when he was stationed in the military base in Germany. So, I flew hastily to the American base where his remains will come in, to see my friend for the last time and comfort his widow and two kids. And when finally his casket came into view, it was carried by six military personnel probably also his war buddies and draped by an imposing American Flag. The sight brought back memories, but I'm comforted by the fact that he died a hero in the service of our country.
by: The Flagman
One time while watching CNN on TV, a special footage came into view. Clearly the film shows a male crewmember of a fishing vessel standing ready on the prow with hands clasping the trigger of the explosive harpoon on board. The ship was actually going after a large Minke Whale and the person with the harpoon was just preparing to shoot, when suddenly two smaller boats with yellow "green peace" letters and sporting a large and yellow custom boat flag crossed the path of the ship. So, naturally with them (small boats) distracting the line of sight of the harpoon, the crewmember could not shoot because he might hit the boats instead. I found this really very dangerous for the crews of the boat, putting their own lives at stake to save the lives of the whales. Eventually, the crewmember with the harpoon tagged the whale on the head and it screamed like a woman in pain. The experience gave a disturbing effect, particularly with the crews of the boat jumping into the back of the dying whale and offering a form of protection that becomes too little and too late. I was misty-eyed looking at the scene and with the cameras focused on the message of the yellow custom flags "save the whales," I pondered for a moment - how could we do such a thing? I opened my laptop and scanned the story about whaling and found out that the Minke Whale I saw slaughtered in the high seas was not part of the endangered species, but by the way we hunt these behemoths they will be extinct in a few decades. Well, I further found out that whale meat is a delicacy in Japan, Norway and the rest hunting the mammal.
by: The Flagman
Sunday, September 7, 2008
With barely a week prior to the opening of the Olympic games, Beijing announced today that thick smog that has shrouded the city for the past several months has finally cleared. Thanks in part to the strong winds that hit the city Monday. Fresh footage from the games venue has indeed shown improved conditions, particularly areas around the Bird's Nest National Stadium. Flags around the stadium are now fully installed hoisted and flying, authorities have completed the erection of custom street pole banners on the main thoroughfare that should greet visitors as they alight from their planes. The city is now teeming with life, with activities already lined once visitor's starts to flood in. But it was not an overnight effort that transformed the city. First it had to shut down the operation of the giant steel mill responsible for the pollution of the city, then vehicles were required to stay put and only make limited runs, while the city government made effort to introduce greeneries - trees, plants, carpet grass on all landscaped areas. The different parks were rehabilitated and new one's were added to revive the once desolate place and make it into a garden metropolis. Well, the efforts have paid so well because carbon dioxide emission had been drastically reduced, vegetation on the parks and playgrounds are now robust and healthy, man made ponds and waterways are now home to aquatic life. In fact the different plants have started to blossom, with flowers expected in time for the games. If conditions at the games venue continue, then expect a successful staging of the summer spectacle. Then what are we waiting for, lets start our trek to the games!
by: The Flagman
The last decade had been tough for the residents of California because of experts warning that the next big earthquake would hit the state. It is projected that the next big one should strike the plains of California at a magnitude of over seven in the Richter's Scale. Translated into devastation that should be unequalled in the history, even if structures had been reinforced and a "New Building Code" had been in effect, still only those constructed from the 90's onwards stands the chance of survival. And since the majority of the structures were constructed before the "New Building Code" took effect, then expect a major catastrophe in our midst. Thus when an earthquake of 5.4 magnitude struck downtown Los Angeles, it revived the fear of residents, although seismologists described it as only moderate. No equipment to date can predict when an earthquake strikes, so residents can never be warned in advance of the impending danger and never given the time to take cover. We can only observe precautions, like what the residents of Los Angeles did. Office workers, factory technicians, students scrambled out of buildings, factories, schools and stayed on the open field but still out of the way of tall single structures - communication towers, electric posts, custom flags and flagpoles, because when the tremor is excessive it could topple these structures. The Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a hasty news conference that California was indeed lucky for now, with no reported major structural damage on structures - buildings, bridges, freeway and elevated thoroughfares. The jolt maybe moderate, but the effect could be felt up to San Diego, to Las Vegas to the east and even up to Tijuana in Mexico.
by: The Flagman
Thursday, September 4, 2008
I'm always looking forward for Friday nights alone in my condo because I like to catch-up on my movies. I purposely brought a 46inch LCD TV and blu-ray DVD simply for the thrill of seeing the most important movies come alive in cool colors and seemingly striking contrasts. Just a few minutes ago, I went into the Blockbuster video shop to look for movies that should accompany me for the weekend. But going into a video store is no joke, because you are privy to thousands of movie titles in its shelves. As I don't like romantic movies, I went straight to hardcore action movies, had a peep on something patriotic, one light comedy and finally cartoons. But as I have said, selecting the type of movie is not as easy as it seems because when I was at the stalls for action, my eye caught on a message flag with the American flag of the "Flags of our Fathers," and ended up getting one. Then as I moved to the corner, the Old Glory with Harrison Ford on the poster of "Air Force One," a reprint no less but I had to take as part of my collection. Then my stomach started grumbling and I have to get a bite, luckily a KFC food chain was just across the street and I took my dinner there. Since I only had two movies in my position so far, I did come back for more. Entering the video store once again, the large poster of "General Patton" with the American flag strikes you, though this has been a movie of the 70's, it generated a lot of attention that its reissues are selling like hotcakes.
by: The Flagman
A State of the Union Address is the president's avenue by which he can defend his actions, gloat about his programs that define the lives of his constituents and mostly propose new laws or amendments to ease further the burden inflicted on the citizenry. In, short this is the president's report card - passed or failed. Normally, we Americans only look at it in somber reflection. We stare at the TV screens blankly where the more visible image is the American flag; listen to the address keenly, not a whimper could be heard, for we reserve a time for protests. Compare this with the state of the nation address (SONA) of the president of the Philippines it is clear that she does not have the support of the people. Her annual SONA was greeted by thousands of protesters from all sectors of society that trooped to the streets, carrying red banners demanding her resignation because of alleged corruption, blotched land reform program, mismanaged economy and unsound economic policies. But what is clear from the TV footage, that the poor folks dominated the crowd, who vent their anger towards high prices of goods and commodities. Recent surveys reveal that the populace had given a negative rating for her performance and her popularity rating had plummeted to an all time low. Isn't it time to reconsider?
by: The Flagman
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
The first time I was in New York City, my mom brought me to Rockefeller Center to view the Christmas tree with its 30,000 lights and also did some shopping. Since it was the season of advent, the trip had a magical meaning for it struck me as the most beautiful place on earth. The experience had a lasting effect for it brought me back as a College student. I selected New York out of the many Universities available then, simply because of the single visit that kept me mesmerized and forever etched in my memory. I used to frequent the Rockefeller Center together with my girlfriend then, particularly during the Christmas Season because it seems to strengthen our relationship and brought us to a new level. In fact when I proposed marriage, I did it down on my knees holding the ring at the center of the ice skating rink. Unmindful of the stares of those around us, but reinforced by the presence of the giant Christmas tree and the various world flags and seasonal flags of the GE Building as backdrop. With the golden statue "Prometheus" by Paul Manship as witness, we sealed our engagement. Then we proceeded to the magnetic outdoor plaza and had cocktails to celebrate the occasion. After a year, we got married and again we had New York City for our honeymoon. We splurge in supreme luxury at the rainbow rooms at the very top looking out over the city. On rare occasions, we still visit the big apple, revive memories and dance the night out at the top of one of the highest skyscraper in the city.
by: The Flagman
The presidential election comes just a little over 100 days and expect heated fireworks from candidates both from the Republicans and Democrats. The popularity of a presidential candidate is not a guarantee, but almost always the debate decides the outcome of the contest. The candidate that can clearly define his stand on issues that affects the majority of Americans, whether it comes as tax incentives, health care, foreign policy, question on immigrants, economic goals, labor relations and the country's security blanket, will certainly get the nod of the voters. This has always been the gist of presidential campaigns, "who clearly wins the debate, gets the presidency." I've read a clipping about the Kennedy - Nixon debate of the 60's was a classic match between antagonists - a David and Goliath tussle. Nixon was heavily favored by the polls to annex the presidency, but that was before the debate. Kennedy thwarted Nixon's advance by the way he expounded on his policies, his programs, his foreign policy platform and together with his boyish charms stole the presidency. This change in fortunes could also be seen in the last Bush - Gore debate. Some analysts were in the opinion that after the debate, Gore's chances just reeled-off and he lost the presidency. Besides, it was a time when terrorism and uncertainty, still fresh from memory that it became apparent that inland security was the primary consideration, and many voters believed that Bush could deliver. The venue for the clash is always adorned with patriotic colors; sometimes United States pennants are placed; and usually a large American flag is use as backdrop, stand as mute witness to the struggle of both candidates to provide the platform that will serve the best interests of Americans.
by: The Flagman
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
One time I came home to a quite house, my 9-year old daughter was nowhere for she always hugged me as I enter the living room. I could not also find my wife, but dinner has been cooked, so the two must be around and busy with something else. I proceeded upstairs and changed to casual clothes after which I entered my daughter's bedroom. My wife was doing work on the computer and my daughter was sprawled on the floor beside a large globe of the world and a book on the flags of the different countries. They were so preoccupied with their work that they failed to notice me entering the room, not until I said something that they finally acknowledged my presence. My daughter asked me to help, on the work at hand and we can only have dinner after we're through with the assignment. I found out later that they were matching country flags and locating the said country on the globe. Why is this so important, I asked my daughter? Well, she said we are going to have an oral examination and my teacher is giving us a corresponding grade for the most country and matching world flag we can identify. Tomorrow is United Nations Day dad, this oral examination is part of the celebration of the special day. It left me wondering if how many countries she could match, considering that as of last count, 189 member countries are already part of the United Nations. The very next day, I came home to see my family relaxed in the dining area, talking and munching something as if in celebration. I passed dad, my daughter beamed, but five other students beat me in the contest.
by: The Flagman
Once my work brought us (family) to Kingston that is in Jamaica. When we arrived it was the season before lent and a lot of activities were now lined up, considering that the Carnival in Jamaica is about to start. I'm just glad that my secretary booked our accommodations in advance otherwise we would be left on the streets because hotel rooms were already taken. We decided to experience the festivities and extended our stay for another week. The most intriguing part of the carnival was the 8-mile walk attended by dancers in a state of almost total undress wriggling to the accompaniment of Jamaican music, particularly the popular reggae. Then not to be outdone are the colorful floats complete with large festival flags and various pennant streamers that continue to be a favorite fare to tourists since it joined the festivities in the 90's. Aside from the colorful display, what caught our attention were the hundreds of food carts that lined the streets. Come to think of it as street foods, but with a difference because these are courtesy of the luxury hotels and food chain serving the tantalizing chicken and pork jerk native only to Jamaica, taken with chilled fruit juice that is in season. We truly enjoyed not just the carnival but also the food, but after 2 weeks on this particular diet, we started to crave for food from home. We roamed around and when I saw an American flag jutting out of the KFC food chain, I know we're home. But, what surprised us are the patrons that eat at the joint, no tourists but all were local inhabitants. I found out from the resident manager that Jamaican's dig KFC even over local delicacies.
by: The Flagman
Monday, September 1, 2008
My work almost always include a two to three weeks visit to our field office in Philadelphia, doing things like an ocular inspection, review sales report, interview new applicants, lecture on new company policies and approve annual budget. But, literally the trip is a junket because work is just slight, accommodations is paid for by the company giving me enough leeway to roam around as a local tourist. On my first trip to the City, I've decided to just walk around jog a little to stretch my legs, the day being a Saturday. Without intending to, I saw a residential flagpole in front of a building. Naturally, I came nearer to investigate and what greeted me was the name Betsy Ross. I was stunned for a moment because my sense of history was misguided, I thought all along that this famous landmark is somewhere else. Then I knew that no visit to historic Philadelphia is complete without a peep inside the home of the famous flagmaker. The location of the Betsy Ross house is at the heart of Philadelphia's historic square mile, at 239 Arch Street, just a few blocks away from the Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. So, I entered paid the 5dollar entrance fee and be engulfed with the feeling of history, essentially since the tour includes audio description of the rooms as we moved along. Then we proceeded to the shady courtyard for drinks and snacks. I'm hooked with Betsy Ross and the American Flag. And every time I'm in the City, it is always a must that I spend some time with Betsy Ross.
by: The Flagman
For the past week my 9-year old daughter has been pestering me with her request for the Japanese National costume. My instant query was - why would you need a Japanese costume? Well, later I knew that the school is engaged in the celebration of the United Nations Day - October 24th. To add spice to the celebration, the school is staging a parade of nations with our children dressed in costumes of different countries, particularly those members of the United Nations. Since my daughter was assigned the country Japan, we brought my daughters costume at a Japanese restaurant. A Japanese friend was working at a restaurant and we requested him to look for a costume that would fit my daughter, since all costumes available are for adults, we have to order custom made. Luckily, my friend's mother was on vacation in the US and she was the one responsible for sewing the costume. After a few days, the dress was ready but we still have to scout for a matching fan and parasol, which was also hard to find considering that it was for a child. But we got it just the same from an antique Japanese store. The last part of the puzzle was a medium sized Japanese flag which was supplied to us by NorthStar Flags and Poles. On the appointed day, my friend's mother accompanied us for she coached my daughter how to act like a Japanese damsel, in fact she did my daughters make-up to make her appear like a true Japanese. At the end of the presentation, my daughter was awarded a special prize - for having worn the most authentic national costume.
by: The Flagman
|
