NorthStar Flags

I must hurry, or I would be late for our trip to San Diego. This weekend my group from the office had decided to skip town and just leisurely float with the crowd.

We hit the first gas station and saw that the price of gas is now 4.30dollars to a gallon. My friends were a bit apprehensive considering that our trip would cover no less than 200miles, including the trip back. What the heck, we planned this trip for some time and no amount of gas price increase could dim our enthusiasm. So, we just had to contribute some more.

The trip was worth it, because on the freeway we already saw a huge welcome street pole banner that seemed to embrace every person who saw it. Accustomed with seeing an ordinary banner where the welcome word is imprinted on a one-colored background, this particular banner we saw was a delight to see.

Traveling on the a freeway is definitely a nice experience these days, it used to be really boring particularly if you are driving alone and only the stretch of lonely highway and endless sights of green to accompany you. Nowadays, with the different banner that dots the freeway – political, social, advertising, awareness and also giant billboards – traveling has evolved as a truly engaging pastime.

Of course, our group had tales to speak of, but not with our driver who missed all the fun with his eyes all focused on the road.

I must hurry, or I would be late for our trip to San Diego. This weekend my group from the office had decided to skip town and just leisurely float with the crowd.

We hit the first gas station and saw that the price of gas is now 4.30dollars to a gallon. My friends were a bit apprehensive considering that our trip would cover no less than 200miles, including the trip back. What the heck, we planned this trip for some time and no amount of gas price increase could dim our enthusiasm. So, we just had to contribute some more.

The trip was worth it, because on the freeway we already saw a huge welcome street pole banner that seemed to embrace every person who saw it. Accustomed with seeing an ordinary banner where the welcome word is imprinted on a one-colored background, this particular banner we saw was a delight to see.

Traveling on the a freeway is definitely a nice experience these days, it used to be really boring particularly if you are driving alone and only the stretch of lonely highway and endless sights of green to accompany you. Nowadays, with the different banner that dots the freeway – political, social, advertising, awareness and also giant billboards – traveling has evolved as a truly engaging pastime.

Of course, our group had tales to speak of, but not with our driver who missed all the fun with his eyes all focused on the road.

I grew up among the poor folks in New York, attended public schools, literally crawled my way to college. That is, I was a recipient of a scholarship but had to do a lot of odd jobs to support myself in the process. But fate really had its way I was able to graduate and landed with a stable job.

Maybe due to my upbringing, I don’t feel comfortable with people around particularly during parties. Even during company gatherings if I can help it would try to shy away, better for me to do overtime than party. Have I become anti-social?

But I enjoy being with the ordinary folks, the underprivileged, the poorest of the poor. One time, while I was stationed in Asia, I asked the local orphanage if I could sponsor a party to the orphaned children in time for my birthday. So instead of a party, I intend to spend the special day together with the orphans.

At the appointed day, I asked the services of the local fast food chain – was it Jollibee together with its mascot. They are to decorate the place, provide food and drinks to the children and a little show.

As I entered the orphanage hall, I was impressed with the preparation decked with decorative banners all over and a large Happy Birthday flag. Obviously seeing my name on the flag already made me really touched and happy, but when the orphans sang the happy birthday medley, I feel a lump in my throat and welts in my eyes.

This was the best Birthday celebration ever, and as memento, the children handed me a large and folded party banner.

I grew up among the poor folks in New York, attended public schools, literally crawled my way to college. That is, I was a recipient of a scholarship but had to do a lot of odd jobs to support myself in the process. But fate really had its way I was able to graduate and landed with a stable job.

Maybe due to my upbringing, I don’t feel comfortable with people around particularly during parties. Even during company gatherings if I can help it would try to shy away, better for me to do overtime than party. Have I become anti-social?

But I enjoy being with the ordinary folks, the underprivileged, the poorest of the poor. One time, while I was stationed in Asia, I asked the local orphanage if I could sponsor a party to the orphaned children in time for my birthday. So instead of a party, I intend to spend the special day together with the orphans.

At the appointed day, I asked the services of the local fast food chain – was it Jollibee together with its mascot. They are to decorate the place, provide food and drinks to the children and a little show.

As I entered the orphanage hall, I was impressed with the preparation decked with decorative banners all over and a large Happy Birthday flag. Obviously seeing my name on the flag already made me really touched and happy, but when the orphans sang the happy birthday medley, I feel a lump in my throat and welts in my eyes.

This was the best Birthday celebration ever, and as memento, the children handed me a large and folded party banner.

By just looking at the street pole banners of the two films about the conquest of Iwo Jima, that is over half a century ago, was the invasion really necessary, and at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides. The depiction in the film just shows the brutality of war at the time, the show of ultimate conquest and victory for the invading American forces and the agony of defeat of the defending Japanese.

The first movie banner “The Flags of our Fathers” offers the perspective of war as viewed from the American side. The first movie was actually a cynical, skeptical, pointed view of arrogance as shown by the conduct of the American forces. It drives at all cost the idea of putting the enemies at bay, and eliciting sustained momentum by raising the American flag at the mount in Iwo Jima.

On the other hand the movie banner of “Letters from Iwo Jima” shows a forlorn image of a defender, actually different from the first but a remarkable achievement in itself. It offers a pure and lucid depiction and almost poetic vision as seen and understood through the eyes and language of the Japanese, a heroic and idealistic interpretation of duty and dying for one’s country.

Comparisons have been made between the two films, but Clint Eastwood who shot the film back-to-back has shown vivid understanding of the poignant themes and images and how he did it is immeasurable, describing him as a machine, of course blessed with a mind and heart.

The film is shot in olive-and-brown color that makes it almost in black and white, but when explosions were shown on screen it created a horrifying contrast of brighter shades of orange and red.

By just looking at the street pole banners of the two films about the conquest of Iwo Jima, that is over half a century ago, was the invasion really necessary, and at the cost of thousands of lives on both sides. The depiction in the film just shows the brutality of war at the time, the show of ultimate conquest and victory for the invading American forces and the agony of defeat of the defending Japanese.

The first movie banner “The Flags of our Fathers” offers the perspective of war as viewed from the American side. The first movie was actually a cynical, skeptical, pointed view of arrogance as shown by the conduct of the American forces. It drives at all cost the idea of putting the enemies at bay, and eliciting sustained momentum by raising the American flag at the mount in Iwo Jima.

On the other hand the movie banner of “Letters from Iwo Jima” shows a forlorn image of a defender, actually different from the first but a remarkable achievement in itself. It offers a pure and lucid depiction and almost poetic vision as seen and understood through the eyes and language of the Japanese, a heroic and idealistic interpretation of duty and dying for one’s country.

Comparisons have been made between the two films, but Clint Eastwood who shot the film back-to-back has shown vivid understanding of the poignant themes and images and how he did it is immeasurable, describing him as a machine, of course blessed with a mind and heart.

The film is shot in olive-and-brown color that makes it almost in black and white, but when explosions were shown on screen it created a horrifying contrast of brighter shades of orange and red.

Oh, my phone is ringing again and its not even 7am, do I need to rise and answer? Heavens no, it must be my friend calling we are to meet at a diner to roam the freeway and enjoy the political banners that are posted on the roadside. I must shower and get my digital camera ready, in case we find something really funny.

At the diner we ordered some bacon and eggs and consumed three cups of black coffee that should awaken our senses after a night of turning around due to bad dreams. I also noticed that our regular breakfast meal has gone a bit up, have they made some errors or they had just upped the cost since the price of gas has also risen. I am still not awake?

Then we are off to a fairly early start. What met us at the freeway was free speech written on the banner for everybody to digest. Our first banner has this “war is over if you want it,” then after a few meters motorists are greeted with “we refuse to fight in a war started by men who refused to fight in a war,” then after a few miles “live free or die” and then “the war is a lie and you know it.” These are all political banners that describe the true sentiment of the citizenry regarding our involvement in the war.

Further on, what gave us a smile was “nobody died when Clinton lied,” a testament to the administration just passed.

The trip was refreshing and our leaders must take the freeway sometimes, to enlighten them of the true pulse of the citizenry.

To give you an idea on the effectiveness of the political flags, consider that ten million Californians saw them.

Oh, my phone is ringing again and its not even 7am, do I need to rise and answer? Heavens no, it must be my friend calling we are to meet at a diner to roam the freeway and enjoy the political banners that are posted on the roadside. I must shower and get my digital camera ready, in case we find something really funny.

At the diner we ordered some bacon and eggs and consumed three cups of black coffee that should awaken our senses after a night of turning around due to bad dreams. I also noticed that our regular breakfast meal has gone a bit up, have they made some errors or they had just upped the cost since the price of gas has also risen. I am still not awake?

Then we are off to a fairly early start. What met us at the freeway was free speech written on the banner for everybody to digest. Our first banner has this “war is over if you want it,” then after a few meters motorists are greeted with “we refuse to fight in a war started by men who refused to fight in a war,” then after a few miles “live free or die” and then “the war is a lie and you know it.” These are all political banners that describe the true sentiment of the citizenry regarding our involvement in the war.

Further on, what gave us a smile was “nobody died when Clinton lied,” a testament to the administration just passed.

The trip was refreshing and our leaders must take the freeway sometimes, to enlighten them of the true pulse of the citizenry.

To give you an idea on the effectiveness of the political flags, consider that ten million Californians saw them.

I used to be a movie addict that is if seeing at least 6 movies during weekends is considered already out of the ordinary. Yes, my favorite pastime has been the movies and I do it during lulls, particularly from my college studies. Out of this passion for movies I have made a few observations on which movies would become a hit, or has a riveting story just by looking more closely on the movie banners displayed around the vicinity.

Although media hype and critic’s acclaim would still be the moviegoer’s yardstick, my own intuition even though how crude and insignificant still wins over by a scale 7 out of the 10. And because I scrutinize every movie banner that I come in contact to, I seem to have developed a sense into what type of movie personality that will best fit the character portrayed on screen.

Take the case of the Conan movie banner now being circulated, just one look at it, although no face is legibly shown would surely be associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger or the governor for that matter. I feel that only he can do justice to the personality, just like what he did to the Terminator series, and to think that this movie is still scheduled for release in 2009 is a question that the creator of the movie version has to deal with and hopefully passionately.

I can feel that I would not be disappointed once casting is made, because from the custom street banners, men behind the movie intends to cast someone with Arnolds caliber, the muscle bound physique, the acting skills and lots of charisma.

I just hope that my gut feeling will not fail this time.

I used to be a movie addict that is if seeing at least 6 movies during weekends is considered already out of the ordinary. Yes, my favorite pastime has been the movies and I do it during lulls, particularly from my college studies. Out of this passion for movies I have made a few observations on which movies would become a hit, or has a riveting story just by looking more closely on the movie banners displayed around the vicinity.

Although media hype and critic’s acclaim would still be the moviegoer’s yardstick, my own intuition even though how crude and insignificant still wins over by a scale 7 out of the 10. And because I scrutinize every movie banner that I come in contact to, I seem to have developed a sense into what type of movie personality that will best fit the character portrayed on screen.

Take the case of the Conan movie banner now being circulated, just one look at it, although no face is legibly shown would surely be associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger or the governor for that matter. I feel that only he can do justice to the personality, just like what he did to the Terminator series, and to think that this movie is still scheduled for release in 2009 is a question that the creator of the movie version has to deal with and hopefully passionately.

I can feel that I would not be disappointed once casting is made, because from the custom street banners, men behind the movie intends to cast someone with Arnolds caliber, the muscle bound physique, the acting skills and lots of charisma.

I just hope that my gut feeling will not fail this time.