Wednesday, November 19, 2008

State of Washington and the 42 Star Flag

On November 11, 1889, (right after Montana and shortly before Idaho) Washington proudly became the 42nd state in the Union. For a brief period of seven months and twenty-two days, our nation proudly had forty-two states.

However, because a new flag design does not become official until July 4th, there should not have been a 42 star flag. Since Washington was admitted as the 42nd state on November 11, 1889, the 42 star flag would have become official the following July 4th, but Idaho became the 43rd state on July 3rd, so the new official flag would have had 43 stars.

But do you think something like that could stop 42 from having it's own flag?

Low and behold, the public outcry for the 42 star flag was so great that many manufacturers took it upon themselves to produce, in bulk, the coveted yet unofficial 42 star flag seen below.


Sunday, November 16, 2008

Love: All Heart - 42 cent stamp

On June 10, 2008, in Washington, DC, the Postal Service™ issued a 42–cent, Love: All Heart commemorative stamp.

The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, Maryland. Illustrator Paul Zwolak of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, created the design for the 2008 Love series stamps. Entitled All Heart, the design focuses on a large, bright red heart that is transporting its owner to an unseen beloved who will be gifted with this heart full of love.

Chris Crocker - S - Cincinnati Bengals

Chris Crocker (not to be confused with the crackpot Britney Spears fan of The Soup infamy) signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent on October 30, 2008.

Crocker entered the NFL as the third-round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns in 2003 out of Marshall and played for the Browns through 2005. So given that he has now played for both the Browns and the Bengals, wearing The Number maybe the highlight of his career.

To the right Croker is shown posing for the camera while his teammate breaks up a pass to the Eagles' Kevin Curtis during the Bengals 13-13 tie with the Eagles on November 16, 2008. The tie was the first in the NFL since 2002. (Photo by Ron Cortes)

Crocker did get his head in the game in the fourth quarter, sacking Donovan McNabb. Crocker ended the game with a respectable, Number-inspired four tackles, one sack and one interception.


Photo by Steven M. Falk