It's an exciting week around here- friends are coming in on Thursday and are going with us to watch the fireworks on the banks of the Charles River in Boston. We haven't done that since before Kid Brillig was born, and it's going to be a blast- head in mid-morning, grab a spot, and hang out picnicing, relaxing and socializing until the Pops concert (1812 overture complete with live cannon!) and then the amazing fireworks.
Of course I'm not ready for my friends' arrival- there's still laundry to get out of the guest room, food to buy, and rooms to clean. In addition, I have something more nontraditional to finish before they arrive 5 hours earlier than I expected at lunchtime. As many of you by now know, I actually have two thriving lives: one here in the real world :-), and another in that virtual universe known as Second Life ::obligatory mention of upcoming Netroots Nation in SL::. My SL self is also frantic, preparing for what promises to be a huge fireworks display and party on July 5th at the Statue of Liberty in NYC (home of TC's own cskendrick's WTC Memorial Celestial Requiem). I spent today madly decorating with bunting, more bunting, balloon arches, and yes, flags. Many, many American flags, hung from buildings, flown from flagpoles, and hanging all over the vast expanse of city I call my SL home.
We interrupt this Top Comments for a special Public Service Announcement.
In order to make sure my colleague and I were hanging them properly, I used Teh Google to search for flag displayIn the interest of Public Service, I offer to you some of what I learned:
We did not always have a US Flag Code:
Previous to Flag Day, June 14, 1923 there were no federal or state regulations governing display of the United States Flag. It was on this date that the National Flag Code was adopted by the National Flag Conference which was attended by representatives of the Army and Navy which had evolved their own procedures, and some 66 other national groups. This purpose of providing guidance based on the Army and Navy procedures relating to display and associated questions about the U. S. Flag was adopted by all organizations in attendance.
There is no penalty imposed by the US Flag Code for violations:
This code is the guide for all handling and display of the Stars and Stripes. It does not impose penalties for misuse of the United States Flag. That is left to the states and to the federal government for the District of Columbia. Each state has its own flag law.
The President has the right to alter, modify, repeal or prescribe additional rules regarding the flag. (Great, he can change custom with a proclamation. I wonder if this is where his interpretation of signing statements comes from?)
I'm fairly certain most of us know Flag Basics 101:
- The U.S. flag should be in the center and at the highest point of the group when multiple state/locality flags are displayed together on staffs.
- If flags from multiple nations are displayed together, they should all be the same height.
- The union (the blue and stars) goes at the top of the staff.
- When flown at half-staff, the flag first should be hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position.
- It should not be flown at night unless illuminated, nor in bad weather unless it is an all-weather flag.
Then there was the one I thought I knew, but much to my chagrin did not:
When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be on the top & to the flag's own right; that is, to the observer's left.
I had that one totally backward, which I discovered after I'd hung a dozen flags simply by rotating the flag 90 degrees clockwise as I looked at it. Made sense to me, but that put the stars on the right of the flag as I looked at it. Back I went to change them all.
Then there were the ones that felt right for sharing with you, my Top Comments family:
When the flag is displayed over the middle of the street, it should be suspended vertically with the union to the north in an east and west street or to the east in a north and south street.
I confess here and now to all of you that in the interest of esthetics and because SL is Not Real, our flag banners run zig-zag back and forth across the city streets and not perpendicular. I apologize and ask that if you don't see me around you check whether the SL Flag Police have carted me off to wherever offenders go.
The flag should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle or of a railroad train or a boat. When the flag is displayed on a motorcar, the staff shall be fixed firmly to the chassis or clamped to the right fender.
Does this invalidate the millions of flag decals found on cars right next to the Yellow Ribbon that confers upon the driver of said car an exemption from traffic law?
And my personal favorite, "Use of flag for advertising purposes", the one which is violated daily most often by those who claim they are More Patriotic Than We:
The words "flag, standard, colors, or ensign", as used herein, shall include any flag, standard, colors, ensign, or any picture or representation of either, or of any part or parts of either, made of any substance or represented on any substance, of any size evidently purporting to be either of said flag, standard, colors, or ensign of the United States of America or a picture or a representation of either, upon which shall be shown the colors, the stars and the stripes, in any number of either thereof, or of any part or parts of either, by which the average person seeing the same without deliberation may believe the same to represent the flag, colors, standard, or ensign of the United States of America.
In other words, the T-shirt, sheets, sneakers and diaper bag emblazoned with the Stars and Stripes is a violation. In all fairness, the Code only specifically mentions the District of Columbia. Opinions as to whether all that flagware is permissible everywhere else? To be on the safe side, my SL avatar has taken off her fun, decorative and possibly illegal flag-inspired jeans.
We hope this PSA has been fun and informative, and now return you to your regularly scheduled Top Comments, already in progress.
On to the contents of the Top Comments mailbox! Did you send your favorite comments to us today, so easy to do by simply mailing a link, a reason why, and your username to TopComments at gmail dot com? If you did, you have our eternal gratitude. If not, please do so tomorrow... TC runs best when YOU are involved!
From lineatus:
Grannus explains it clearly.
droogie6655321 started a neat thread
From earicicle:
Several funny threads in GlowNZ's diary Obama Rejects California Gay Marriage Ban. droogie66555321 tees it up for voila to hit out of the park. Later, johnosahon hilariously attaches a dreaded label to Obama's actions.
From Dreaming of Better Days:
A sobering comment from droogie6655321 In response to this crushing diary
From democraticluntz:
In gchaucer2's Troll Fellowship diary, mcfly shows us how trolling's done
From Yours Truly:
While I can't go so far as to agree with IndyScott's choice of babysitter, he lays out a laundry list of why McSame is delusional about the war, in SusanG's McCain: With Today's Knowledge, Still Would Vote for War.
In the Midday open thread, eroded47095 offers a sobering reminder of why military honors do not autoqualify you for the presidency.
Bindle offers a rational example of decision-making in rdosser's Anti-Vaccination Hysteria Causing Outbreaks.
From the same diary is a wonderful series of responses to this anti-vaccination comment. Seems the Amish aren't as behind the times as some who get their medical info from their doctor from Teh Google.
Ready for some Top Mojo? I used the mojo-to-Excel magic devised by cskendrick and tweaked by sardonyx.
Top 30 (plus ties) comments excluding search-identifiable tip jars, first comments, and C&J:
1) This invalidated your entire diary. by CC Lee — 205
2) Thanks for putting this together. by Pegasus — 189
3) The republicans know all they have are these by CalexanderJ — 172
4) Obama's moved to the right post-primary by FishOutofWater — 169
5) Wow. by Lava20 — 157
6) Oh give it a rest, would you. by Pager — 157
7) Too bad we can't get these guys on TV by blueintheface — 144
8) I am so happy that Mr Clark by christine20 — 115
9) You Topia by Ray Radlein — 109
10) very nuanced point by Shhs — 106
11) "Nontroversies" by Slim Chance — 104
12) I'm reccing this by droogie6655321 — 102
13) I agree, Granny..... by Cronesense — 101
14) OMG thanks for your insight by Shhs — 101
15) I'm really put off when I'm told to "get over it" by Samwoman — 100
16) Granny, I am a pragmatist. I would rather by blue jersey mom — 100
17) Thanks! by Brandon Friedman — 91
18) of DC by voila — 84
19) Post this diary every day as by soms — 84
20) I'm with Obama for the environment by FishOutofWater — 79
21) What's especially pathetic... by Buzzer — 75
22) Disagreeing and attacking are not the same thing. by TheFatLadySings — 72
23) Why is it by Maori — 70
24) Hey Kos!! by zeta — 70
25) Can't do it. by droogie6655321 — 70
26) I'll make up for your $2300.00 n/t. by Dartagnan — 68
27) I'm writing this from Bremerhaven by Jerome a Paris — 68
28) He was never under a bus by GN1927 — 68
29) I have something else to call you by Craig Hickman — 67
30) Stand Aside, Amateurs by JG in MD — 65
31) Last night. by Lava20 — 65
32) Jim Webb is right by noweasels — 65
Top 30 comments with no exclusions:
1) Tip jar by Brandon Friedman — 928
2) I will entertain by Granny Doc — 736
3) Tip Jar by PsiFighter37 — 470
4) I am PROUD the be a DFH©! by xxdr zombiexx — 388
5) tips by thereisnospoon — 346
6) Tip Jar by GlowNZ — 272
7) Let's get to work! by VirginiaDem — 245
8) This invalidated your entire diary. by CC Lee — 205
9) I am crying here at the by soms — 202
10) Have you visited MyBarackObama.com yet? by kid oakland — 191
11) Thanks for putting this together. by Pegasus — 189
12) The republicans know all they have are these by CalexanderJ — 172
13) Obama's moved to the right post-primary by FishOutofWater — 169
14) Wow. by Lava20 — 157
15) Oh give it a rest, would you. by Pager — 157
16) Tip Jar - 1 July by Jerome a Paris — 151
17) Too bad we can't get these guys on TV by blueintheface — 144
18) I am so happy that Mr Clark by christine20 — 115
19) You Topia by Ray Radlein — 109
20) very nuanced point by Shhs — 106
21) "Nontroversies" by Slim Chance — 104
22) I'm reccing this by droogie6655321 — 102
23) I agree, Granny..... by Cronesense — 101
24) OMG thanks for your insight by Shhs — 101
25) Granny, I am a pragmatist. I would rather by blue jersey mom — 100
26) I'm really put off when I'm told to "get over it" by Samwoman — 100
27) I won't kiss McCain's ass by chumley — 92
28) Caveat jar by wiscmass — 92
29) Thanks! by Brandon Friedman — 91
30) Post this diary every day as by soms — 84
31) of DC by voila — 84
