LUNA-TICS TEAM ROOM: Year-round "Looney" fun.

[BAZzy]

Good weekend to all Lunatics...bit of rowing, running, kayaking, and cycling this weekend, not sure if I'll be able to get a stout in!

Good luck out there...Cheers, BBB

[brotherjim]

Ron, still praying here for your sister in law and your family.We are all with you in spirit.
Thank you all for prayers for my sis, she went through surgery well, but they want to do major surgery as soon as possible. She runs a homeless shelter along with 2 other jobs and is putting off the surgery as long as she can. Yikes, she is stubborn and muley. Thanks again , let you know later.
jim

[j1415]

Monday will be 3 months with rower.
Crossed half mil mark today.
My target was 2 mil per year, so I'm on track.
Will be out of town for 2 days; will have to make up for it next week!
But winter's coming, so might spend more time at it.
Cheers.

[brotherjim]

Thank you Jim.
My sister is also very stubborn. Her situation is worse because she ignored the symptoms for so long. She also has a very stressful job. My sister is a very strong woman (like yours) and if sheer determination and will power is what it takes she will come through this OK. I hope both our sisters have the best of outcomes.
Ron

Thank you too Ron, praying for good outcomes for both.

On a funnier note ( man, do we ever need it) has anyone else watched the Geico commercial with the 3 guinea pigs in an aquarium? 2 are rowing and the other is saying "Row" through a megaphone. I saw it twice this morning while rowing and it is hilarious. I wish I could get my 3 cats to do something so unique other than lay under the fan as I row and cool off. Or try and sit in my lap while I row.

[Kona2]

Come join us....bwaa aaa aaa ... still time....

A chill wind blew throughout the night and early morning...and we now have SEVENTEEN Luna-Tic Skeleton Crew Challenge finishers! Way to row, everyone!

David A

The Ohio State Flag

Unique among the state flags of the union, the Ohio State Flag was designed by John Eisemann. Described as a pennant (some say it was based upon the pennant used by the Ohio Calvary from 1862 to 1865), the Ohio burgee is properly a swallowtail design. It was adopted in 1902.

The Ohio flag, unique in shape (it's the only US state flag that isn't rectangular) but uncomplicated in design, is filled with symbolism. The union of the flag, a large blue triangle is populated with seventeen white stars. Those that are grouped around the circle represent the thirteen original colonies. The four stars found at the apex of the triangle combine with the stars of the thirteen original colonies to total seventeen. Ohio was the seventeenth state to enter the union.

Three red and two white horizontal stripes and the blue field copy the red, white and blue of the Stars and Stripes. The blue field represents Ohio's hills and valleys. The stripes represent the roads and waterways of the state. Ohio gets its name from the Iroquois Indian word meaning good river.

The white circle with a its red center forms the "O" in Ohio and can also be related to the state's nickname, the "Buckeye State."

And...by the way...the ladybug is the state insect!

Ronnie and Zander


JAMAICAN NATIONAL FLAG

The Jamaica National Flag was first raised on Independence Day, August 6, 1962 after Jamaica gained independence from the Federation of West Indies. Previously, Jamaica had gained independence from Britain and joined the Federation in 1958. It signifies the birth of this young nation. The Flag brings to mind memories of past achievements and gives inspiration towards further success. It is flown on many triumphant occasions, showing the pride that Jamaicans have in their country and in the flag itself.

Design
A bipartisan committee of the Jamaica House of Representatives designed the Jamaican Flag which consists of a diagonal cross with four triangles placed side by side. The diagonal cross is gold; the top and bottom triangles are green; and the hoist and fly (side) triangles are black. All these Pan-African colors that are used in the national flag of Jamaica, pay honor to Jamaica's noteworthy African heritage.

Symbolism
“The sun shineth, the land is green and the people are strong and creative” is the symbolism of the colours of the flag. Black depicts the strength and creativity of the people; Gold, the natural wealth and beauty of sunlight; and green, hope and agricultural resources.

http://www.jis.gov.jm/ is the source - lots of cool facts about the history and culture of Jamaica.

Ross

The North Carolina State Flag

On May 20, 1861, the day that the secession resolution was adopted by the state of North Carolina, an ordinance to adopt a state flag was presented by Colonel John D. Whitford. A committee of seven was formed with Colonel Whitford appointed chairman. The original ordinance stated that "...the flag of this State shall be a blue field with a white V thereon, and a star, encirling which shall be the words, "Sirgit astrum, May 20, 1775."

The design intended by this original description for the flag was never to be. Colonel Whitford and his committee consulted an artist from Raleigh, William Jarl Browne, for advice. Mr. Browne prepared a model for a state flag and submitted it to the committee for approval. The "Browne" flag was not at all like that described in the original proposal but was, nevertheless, approved by the North Carolina Convention on June 22, 1861.

The design provided by William Jarl Browne and adopted by the Convention was described as having a red field with two bars making up the fly; the top one blue and the bottom bar white. Centered on the red field was a white five pointed star. Above the star, in a semi-circular mold, was the date May 20, 1775 representing the much questioned "Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence." Below the star was the date, May 20, 1861 representing the date of North Carolina's secession from the union.

This flag was carried by the North Carolina Regiments, along with the Confederate colors, throughout the Civil War.

After the war, North Carolina, like other secession states, adopted a revised design for their state flag. In March of 1885, a bill introduced by General Johnstone Jones was passed and the design of the North Carolina State Flag changed for the last time.

The flag's field was changed from red to blue. The top bar of the fly was changed from blue to red. The gilt letters "N" and "C" were placed on either side of the white star and gilt scrolls were added above and below the star. The scroll above still displays the date of the "Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence" but the date displayed in black letters on the lower scroll displays April 12, 1776, the date of the "Halifax Resolves" instead of May 20, 1861, the date of secession. The Halifax Resolves was the first official action by a colony calling for independence from Britain.


Kim

Canada, like many other nations, has had several flags during its time as a nation. The Canada Flag is a combination of two red vertical stripes on each side with a red colored maple leaf adorning the central white strip. The current Canadian Flag was adopted officially in the year 1965.

The red and white colors on the Canada flag picture depict the national colors of Canada. The maple leaf at its heart is 11-pointed and represents the national tree of Canada.

The presence of this leaf has also given another name to the Canada National Flag which is the "Maple Leaf".

The design is based on a strong sense of Canadian history. The combination of red, white and red first appeared in the General Service Medal issued by Queen Victoria. Red and white were subsequently proclaimed Canada's national colours by King George V in 1921. Three years earlier, Major General (later the Honourable) Sir Eugene Fiset had recommended that Canada's emblem be the single red maple leaf on a white field - the device worn by all Canadian Olympic athletes since 1904.

The maple leaf has served as a symbol celebrating the nature and environment of what is now Canada since the 18th century. The number of points on the leaf has no significance. The number and arrangement of the points of the maple leaf were chosen after wind tunnel tests showed the current design to be the least blurry of the various designs when tested under high wind conditions. The image of the maple leaf used on the flag was designed by Jacques Saint-Cyr. In 1921, King George V proclaimed the official colours of Canada as red, from Saint George's Cross, and white, from the French royal emblem since King Charles VII.

Resident artist, AJ

Another Californian, AJ, joins the Skeleton Crew finishers!

Barbara aka bg

And the Massachusetts flag flies again as Barbara crosses the Challenge finish line this AM!

Season meters as of 180/365 = 58,283,855 m

Total meters on the day = 286,957 m

Oars in space (participation) = 25 percent

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

3.5 MM Jay
1.35 MM Danno
1.05 MM Roger
500 K Kim
355 K Mario
100 K Bruce T

Million Meter Watch:

Brett with (179,388 m) to go! Might be taking a well deserved break...hope all is well.

Million Meter Watch:

Jim K with (61,702 m) to go!

Bernie with (133,439 m) to go!

Baz with (134,750 m) to go!

Million Meter Watch:

Charles B with (91,340 m) to go!

Chris H with (110,197 m) to go!

Thanks to all who rowed today !

Allie 258 m
Ethan m
Ashlee m
Kaylee m
Tris 1,500 m
Mario Jackson 1,775 m
Marty 5,011 m (only 16,089 m to go to get to the finish line....you can do it !!)
Bobbie 6,000 m
Peter G 6,000 m
Thomas T 6,323 m
AJ 7,020 m
Jeff P 7,025 m
Mitch J 7,563 m
Kim 7,720 m ...way to get that cool half million rowed !
Ross 9,000 m
Zander 9,000 m
Danno 9,018 m
Ronnie 9,600 m
Ken G 10,000 m
Steve J 10,000 m
Tammy 10,500 m
bg 11,466 m
Roger 12,000 m
David A 14,448 m
Minnie 15,680 m
Tom M 17,000 m
Richard T 18,106 m
Jim K 22,900 m
Bruce 24,713 m ...looks like he's been getting some climbing time in !
Jay 25,000 m

[Kona2]

Jim - funnier than funny....there is now a SEQUEL to the rowing guinea pigs. It appears that they have escaped their owner...and there's now an app for helping them get to the beach before their owner recaptures them.
http://blog.geico.com/2011/10/13/guinea ... t-the-app/

[just27]

Jim - funnier than funny....there is now a SEQUEL to the rowing guinea pigs. It appears that they have escaped their owner...and there's now an app for helping them get to the beach before their owner recaptures them.

I'd missed that little gem ... and, "OMG" cute and cuter, there's even an extended version (second one down), if you have a minute-thirty of your life you're willing to squander on rowing rodents:
http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising- ... ico-135409

[Kristine Strasburger]

Symbolism
“The sun shineth, the land is green and the people are strong and creative” is the symbolism of the colours of the flag.

I love that!

[Kona2]

Day 5 or 6 of 7...still time ...

Woohoo! The California Bear Flag flies again ! Congratulations, Bruce T, on completing the Skeleton Crew Challenge ...the 18th Luna-Tic to do so!

Bruce T

And since California's flag history has already been presented, here's a message hoisted up the Luna-Tics' flag pole using international sailing pennants:






http://terrax.org/sailing/pennants/pennants.aspx ... for the codes the pennants represent

Season meters as of 182/365 = 58,542,084 m

Total meters on the day = 258,229 m

Oars in space (participation) = 23 percent

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

3.3 MM Ron
2.4 MM Minnie
600 K Mitch J
550 K Dennis
50 K Ethan !

We've reached the second half of the rowing year! The second half is always a busy time - as Ron notes, the Holiday Challenge is just that...we're all trying to balance family, work, AND exercise time. 26 days until the Holiday Challenge begins....will you earn your pin this year?! And...will you earn your Luna-Tic reindeer?!



Thanks for all who rowed today !

Allie 300 m
Ethan 575 m
Ashlee 805 m
Kaylee 850 m
Tris 1,100 m
Mario 1,996 m
Peter G 4,000 m
Ken G 5,000 m
David A 5,018 m
Marty 5,350 m
AJ 7,407 m
Chuck 7,500 m
Mitch J 7,511 m
Bruce T 9,432 m
Baz 10,000 m
Danno 10,000 m
Zander 11,000 m
bg Barbara 11,277 m
Jim K 11,525 m
Ronnie 12,900 m
Tammy 14,000 m
James G enrage 14,089 m
Minnie 14,365 m
Jodi 14,512 m
Dennis 15,000 m
Roger 15,000 m
Ron 21,097 m ... half moon over Vermont
Jay 26,611 m ... half moon over Arkansas

[just27]

WOIT? Huh. I obviously skipped a few classes during Flag Hoisting 101.

You'd asked whether my preferred flag was the Calif Republic, or the Union Jack ... I vaguely recall that the latter is "officially" the Union Flag, unless it's attached to the front of a ship, then it's the better-known Union Jack. (Too complex, I'll stick with Baloo.)

[Kona2]

The third flag is one that means repeat second flag. I know. Too complex. Baloo....maybe meaning just the bare necessities?

....

Meanwhile, FIVE Luna-Tic rowers have just completed the Skeleton Crew Challenge! Congratulations and a woot to Peter G, Wim, Kevin N, Ken G and Dennis! Will get the flags posted soonest.

[Kona2]

Peter G

The State of New York

The shield depicts a cloudless sky with a rising sun behind three mountains, the highlands of the Hudson River. A three masted, square rigged ship and a Hudson River sloop navigate towards each other on the Hudson River representing inland and foreign commerce. The river is bordered by a grassy shore fringed with shrubs.

Beneath the shield on a white ribbon is the State Motto, "Excelsior (Ever Upward)," signifying a reach for ever higher goals. Above the shield, the crest shows a Bald Eagle, wings spread, perched atop a globe depicting the northern Atlantic Ocean. The eagle faces right, a good omen.

On one side of the shield stands "Justice," her hair decorated with pearls. She is blindfolded and carries a sword in one hand and a scale in the other hand. These symbols represent the impartiality and fairness of justice required to mete out punishment and reward. Justice is clothed in gold with a blue belt edged with red. A loose red robe hangs from her.

Opposite Justice, stands "Liberty," holding a pole topped with the Phrygian cap. These caps were given to Roman slaves when emancipated and adopted by French Revolutionists as symbols of Liberty. A crown is at her left foot, thrown there to symbolize the failed control of the British Monarchy. Liberty is clothed in blue and wearing red sandals. Like Justice, a red robe hangs from her shoulder and her unbound hair is decorated with pearls.

Wim

Iowa didn't have a state flag at the time of statehood (1846). In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson mobilized the National Guard to preserve order along the Mexican border and, if possible, capture Pancho Villa, who had been raiding inside of U.S. territory.

In 1917, the United States was drawn into World War I.

Iowa was never in a hurry to adopt a state flag as Iowans felt, after the Civil war, that the stars and stripes appropriately represented all of the United States. And so it was not until 1921, almost seventy-five years after the admission of Iowa into the Union, that a state flag was finally adopted by the Legislature.

Like many State flags, the Iowa flag began life as a regimental banner for State National Guardsman.

The impetus for adoption of the banner originated with Iowa National Guardsmen stationed along the Mexican border during World War I. The Guardsmen saw that units from other states carried identifying banners and the Iowans felt that they should possess a unique banner of to identify their origins. When Governor William L. Harding was made aware of this, he ordered that a banner be sent immediately to the Guardsmen, but soon found that Iowa did not have a State banner.

The Iowa Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) and its flag committee, headed by Mrs. Lue Prentiss of Knoxville, came to the rescue.

A design contest of sorts was held by the D.A.R. flag committee and in May, 1917 several design proposals, including at least two by members of the D.A.R., were offered to Governor William L. Harding and the State Council on National Defense by Mrs. Dixie Cornell Gebhardt, Organizing Regent of the Mary Marion Chapter D.A.R. in Knoxville, Mrs. Lue Prentiss, and others.

The flag design selected by Governor Harding and the State Council on Defense on May 11, 1917, was a design by Mrs. Gebhardt.

Mrs. Gebhardt wrote that "Iowa's banner should embrace the history of its domain from the time of its occupation by the Indians to discovery by the French and purchase from Napoleon by Jefferson, to its admission into the Union, down to the present time. All this should be represented in a design so simple that school children and adults can recognize its symbolism and know that it meant Iowa." The colors offered other significance as well. White was chosen to symbolize the unwritten page of history at the state's beginning, when the first Native Americans lived on Iowa's prairies and represents purity. Blue represents loyalty, justice, and truth and red stands for courage.

An eagle is displayed on the white center stripe of the flag. The eagle carries in its beak blue streamers with the state motto, "Our liberties we prize, and our rights we will maintain", inscribed on it in white letters. The State name "IOWA" is printed in red letters below the eagle. "Mothers feel that "Iowa" in the color of blood is a symbol of sacrifice our boys may make for us."

After the selection was made, another committee was organized to prepare flags to present to each outgoing regiment of Iowa as well as those already in the field. The D.A.R. provided the funding for eight of these flags. One was sent to the "old Third Iowa, somewhere in France. Seven were presented by Governor Harding to the Iowa Units at Camp Cody."

Early flags were manufactured by Annin and Company of New York City. Ten percent of every sale was donated to the American Red Cross for war relief purposes.

The Iowa Regimental Flag was adopted by the Iowa General Assembly as the State flag on March 29, 1921.

Iowa's Centennial was marked in 1946. On December 28 of that year, a three-cent stamp depicting the Iowa State Flag was issued, along with a first-day commemorative envelope with a picture of Gebhardt holding the original flag. The flag was also incorporated as part of the design for the Iowa State Centennial Seal.

The 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Iowa State flag was celebrated on March 29, 1996. A monument to honor the flag and Dixie Cornell Gebhardt was erected at 217 South Second Street in Knoxville. It was determined by the Iowa Sesquicentennial Commission that the site was the home of Gebhardt when she designed the State flag.

The original flag design, in crayon, is on display in the Marion County courthouse.

The city of Knoxville, County Seat of Marion County, calls itself the “Birthplace of the Iowa Flag.”

Ken G

The Minnesota State Flag

The Minnesota State Flag is a medium blue color with a narrow gold border and a gold fringe. Centered in the medium blue field is a circular emblem with a white background and a yellow border. Within the circular emblem an inner circle surrounds scenes from The Great Seal of the State of Minnesota displayed on a field of medium blue matching that of the general flag. The inner circle is surrounded by 19 five pointed stars representing Minnesota as the 19th state, after the original 13 colonies, to join the union. The stars are arranged in four groups of four stars and one group of three stars at the top of the circle. The top star represents the North Star. The five star groups represent a five pointed star. The word "MINNESOTA" is printed in red letters below the inner circle.

Scenes from the Minnesota State Seal are displayed within the inner circle. Shown is a bare-footed farmer plowing a field. The farmer's axe, gun and powder horn rest on a nearby stump. An Indian rides nearby. The field borders a river with a waterfall. Perhaps you can find this same field near St. Anthony's Falls on the Mississippi River? These scenes are surrounded by intertwined pink and white lady slippers (the state flower) and a red ribbon. Printed in gold letters on the red ribbon are the dates 1819, the year in which Fort Snelling was established, 1893, the year that the flag was officially adopted and "L'ETOILE DU NORD" (Star of the North), the Minnesota State Motto. Over the seal in gold letters is the date 1858; the date that Minnesota was admitted to the union.

Minnesota is not without some flag drama as well, and there have been suggestions for a redesign to feature the North Star. The Minnesota flag has come under increasing criticism both for its poor design and its image in the seal of a farmer with his gun watching a Native American flee the land, which many feel is a depiction of Manifest Destiny and the inevitability of land being procured by white settlers. On several occasions, bills have been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature to establish a legislative task force for studying changes to the flag, and several alternative flag designs, such as the North Star Flag, have been put forth and widely endorsed by state politicians and newspapers.


Kevin N

Arkansas flags are definitely our largest flag contingent among the Skeleton Crew Challenge finishers thus far!

Dennis

[Kona2]

Day 6 or 7 of 7

Woohoo and hooyah ! 25 Luna-Tic Skeleton Crew Challengers thus far....there is still time for you, too !

Sometime between first capture of the numbers and flag roundup, a really good thing happened. Welcome back, Rosi; it's always great to have you as part of the team !

And now, today's flags!


Mitch J

The flag of the state of Arizona consists of 13 rays of red and weld-yellow on the top half, the colors of the flag of Spain, representing the 13 original states. The red and yellow also symbolize Arizona's picturesque sunsets. The colors red and yellow are used because they were the colors of the flag of the Spanish conquistadors led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, who entered Arizona in 1540 (looking for the legendary Seven Cities of Cibola). There is a copper-colored star in the center, representing Arizona's copper-mining industry. The rest of the flag is colored blue, representing liberty. For more on the Seven Cities of Cibola http://science.nationalgeographic.com/s ... of-cibola/

In 1910, Colonel Charles W. Harris, head of the Arizona National Guard, designed a flag for the Arizona Rifle Team when they attended the National Matches at Camp Perry. Arizona had been the only team in past matches to compete without a flag.

The flag was adopted on February 17, 1917, by the third state legislature. It was passed into law without the signature of Governor Thomas Campbell. The governor did not officially state his reasons for taking no action on the bill.

In a 2001 poll conducted by the North American Vexillological Association, the Arizona flag was identified as one of the "10 best flags on the continent," ranking sixth out of 72 North American flags for overall design quality. Apparently vexillology is the scholarly study of flags...who knew?!


Rosi

The flag of Mexico is a vertical tricolor of green, white, and red with the national coat of arms charged in the center of the white stripe. While the meaning of the colors has changed over time, these three colors were adopted by Mexico following independence from Spain during the country's War of Independence, and subsequent First Mexican Empire. The current flag was adopted in 1968, but the overall design has been used since 1821, when the First National Flag was created. The current law of national symbols, Law on the National Arms, Flag, and Anthem, that governs the use of the national flag has been in place since 1984.

Red, white, and green are the colors of the national liberation army in Mexico. The central emblem is the Aztec pictogram for Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City), the center of their empire. It recalls the legend that inspired the Aztecs to settle on what was originally a lake-island. The Mexican Coat of Arms is taken from an Aztec legend which recounts the way in which the Aztecs came to choose the site where they built their capital city of Tenochtitlan . The Aztecs, also known as the Mexica ("meh-shee-ka"), were a nomadic people traveling from the north of the country. Their leader was informed in a dream by the god of war, Huitzilopochtli, that they were to settle in the place where they would find an eagle on a prickly pear cactus holding a serpent. The place where they saw this sight was quite inhospitable - a swampy area in the center of three lakes, but this is where they settled and built the great city of Tenochtitlan. The form of the coat of arms was most recently revised in 1968. A ribbon in the national colors is at the bottom of the coat of arms. Throughout history, the flag has changed four times, as the design of the coat of arms and the length-width ratios of the flag have been modified. However, the coat of arms has had the same features throughout: an eagle, holding a serpent in its talon, is perched on top of a prickly pear cactus; the cactus is situated on a rock that rises above a lake. The coat of arms is derived from an Aztec legend that their gods told them to build a city where they spot an eagle on a nopal eating a serpent, which is now Mexico City. The current national flag, the Fourth National Flag, is also used as the Mexican naval ensign by ships registered in Mexico. Cool legend !

Season meters as of 183/365 = 58,865,585 m

Total meters on the day = 323,501 m

Oars in space (participation) = 23 percent

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

3.55 MM Jay
3.35 MM Ron
1.95 MM Jim K
1.4 MM Zander
500 K Jeff P
50 K Steve J

Thanks to all who rowed today !

Ashlee 750 m
Kaylee 750 m
Mario Jackson 1,560 m
Marty 4,200 m
Ken G 6,000 m
Steve J 6,000 m
Tina 6,000 m
Peter G 7,000 m
Minnie 7,176 m
Mary O 8,065 m
Ronnie 9,800 m
Jeff P 10,000 m
Robert 10,000 m
Mitch J 10,802 m
Bobbie 11,000 m
Zander 11,000 m
Tammy 11,888 m
bg 12,115 m
David T 13,000 m
AJ 13,203 m
Jim K 13,500 m
Wim 16,750 m
Dennis 21,097 m
Jay 22,500 m
Kevin 22,500 m
Roger 25,000 m
Ron 42,195 m ... marathon man...

Have a hooyah, finished that challenge, kind of day !

[bg]

welcome back rosi,,,,and gooooo marty....and thanks for the flags k2.....

[brotherjim]

Welcome back Rosi, nice to have you back.
Congrats to all the Skeleton crew finishers, wow our team has a full boatload.
Go Marty, I know you will make it
Jackson has about 3K to go for his first million meters. Just wondering what the youngest rowers age is to join the MM club.
Kona, I love the flags and info. This is one of the most informative bunny trails you have taken us on.