The National Flag of the Republic of Cabo Verde has five unequal horizontal bands of blue, white, and red, with a circle of ten yellow five-pointed stars. The topmost blue stripe is half the width of the flag. Each of the three stripes of white and red are one-twelfth of the width, and the bottom blue stripe is one quarter. The circle of stars is centered on the red stripe and positioned three-eighths of the length of the flag from the hoist side.
Rohan was a great kingdom of Men, located in the land once known as Calenardhon, situated in the great vale between the Misty Mountains to the north and the White Mountains to the south. The land of Rohan extended from the fords of the river Isen in the west, up to the shores of the river Anduin in the east. The forest of Fangorn lay within the borders of Rohan, and the Elven city of Lorien lay to the north of the river Limlight.
Gondor was the prominent kingdom of Men in Middle-earth, bordered by Rohan to the north, Harad to the south, the cape of Andrast and the Sea to the west, and Mordor to the east. Its first capital was Osgiliath, moved to Minas Tirith in TA 1640. The city of Minas Tirith remained the capital of Gondor for the rest of the Third Age and into years of the Fourth Age; other major fortresses included Dol Amroth in Belfalas and Osgiliath, which was a city on the Anduin.
According to Minerva McGonagall, all four of the houses have produced exceptional witches and wizards in their time, but due to Helga Hufflepuff’s policy of accepting any student Hufflepuff is often thought to be the house of less talented wizards and witches. However, this is merely a misunderstanding of the Sorting Hat’s poem. The Hufflepuff house has produced a great many of successful and influential members of the wizarding world, such as the renowned Magizoologist Newton Scamander. A great number of exceptionally skilled witches and wizards also have their origins on this house, including noted Arithmancer Bridget Wenlock, and former Minister for Magic Artemisia Lufkin. What makes Hufflepuff differ from the other houses is the fact that it doesn’t tend to boast about these accomplishments; it is not considered to be part of their nature.
Slytherin is one of the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was founded by Salazar Slytherin. Slytherins are known for being cunning and ambitious, although it is also known to have produced many Dark witches and wizards. According to J.K. Rowling, Slytherin roughly corresponds to the element of water.
Ravenclaw House prizes learning, wisdom, wit, and intellect in its members. Thus, many Ravenclaws tend to be academically motivated and talented students. They also pride themselves in being original in their ideas, and methods. It’s not unusual to find Ravenclaw students practising especially different types of magic that other houses might shun. Hermione Granger, an extremely intelligent witch and the top student in her year, was sorted into Gryffindor, though she admitted that the Sorting Hat had seriously considered placing her in Ravenclaw.
Gryffindor values courage, bravery, nerve, and chivalry. Gryffindor’s mascot is the lion, and its colours are scarlet and gold. During the books, the Head of this house is the Transfiguration Professor and Deputy Headmistress, Minerva McGonagall until she becomes headmistress, and the house ghost is Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, more commonly known as Nearly Headless Nick. According to Rowling, Gryffindor corresponds roughly to the element of fire. The founder of the house is Godric Gryffindor.
The Gryffindor common room is in one of the castle’s highest towers, and its entrance is on the seventh floor in the east wing of the castle and is guarded by a painting of The Fat Lady, who is garbed in a pink dress. She permits entry only after being given the correct password.
The Galactic Republic, also commonly known as just The Republic refers to the interplanetary governing body in the Star Wars universe. The Republic was able to sustain itself for over 25,000 years until the ascension of Darth Sidious, posing as a government functionary and Chairman of the Senate. Prior to this coup, and the establishment of the Galactic Empire, ruled by Darth Sidious as the Emperor, the Senate functioned to oversee the Republic as one body in the Legislative Branch of the Republic government. While the Senate was referenced in the original film, Episode IV: A New Hope, viewers are not actually taken inside the Senate until Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Once the Galactic Empire is established, it becomes common to refer to the Galactic Republic as the Old Republic. The destruction of both the Emperor and the second version of the Death Star lead to the downfall of the Galactic Empire and the rebirth of the Republic, although this renaissance will be short lived as remnants of the Galactic Empire will rise to create the equally despotic First Order.
Today our flags continue the journey into the realm of popular culture. The top flag is the flag of the
I don’t necessarily consider myself to be a “Trekkie” but I have watched all of the movies and the broadcast series. I remain most intensely fond of Star Trek: Next Generation and Star Trek: Voyager. I have long enjoyed the way that each episode, adhering to Gene Roddenberry’s original vision, uses the trope of a future civilization to comment on and analyze current social and political issues, often long before they reach the point of common consideration in modern culture. Star Trek has tackled everything from gay rights to racism with many other stops along the way. Sometimes, especially when portraying the first inter-racial kiss on television, the controversial action or dialogue was acceptable because it happened in a future timeline or in another civilization such that it wasn’t considered as radical or threatening as it might otherwise have been.