Hats off! Along the street there comes A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,
A flash of color beneath the sky: Hats off! The flag is passing by." -- Henry Holcomb Bennett
The Rules: For each of the pairs of flags pitted against each other, indicate your favorite. Explication, derision, and/or analysis will not affect the scoring, but is nevertheless encouraged. Each winner will advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
North and West Semifinals Voting Deadline: 9 p.m. PDT, Sunday, March 20.
South and East Semifinals Voting Deadline: 9 p.m. PDT, Saturday, March 19.
North
Wyoming vs. Iowa
 |
| Wyoming |
 |
| Iowa |
Indiana vs. Ohio
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| Indiana |
 |
| Ohio |
West
Alaska vs. Hawaii
 |
| Alaska |
 |
| Hawaii |
Arizona vs. New Mexico
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| Arizona |
 |
| New Mexico |
Make your votes in the comments.
Posts
iowa, ohio, alaska, new mexico
ReplyDeleteWY
ReplyDeleteOH
HI
NM
WY - it would be perfect without the seal
ReplyDeleteOH - What's round on the sides and high in the middle?
AK - a tough call, but I love the simple symbols of the dipper and north star
NM - I love them both, but the simpler design wins
Wyoming
ReplyDeleteIndiana
Alaska
New Mexico
Wyoming, but that stupid seal drives me crazy.
ReplyDeleteIndiana, even though Ohio will probably win this one.
Alaska, being designed by a kid is major points in my book.
New Mexico, just because.
Wyoming...it just looks like a state flag should
ReplyDeleteIndiana...but it's close
Hawaii...i must admit I'm partial to the union jack
Arizona
Wyoming, I suppose.
ReplyDeleteIndiana: Giant sparkler beats 4th of July bunting that shrank in the wash (as someone said earlier).
Alaska & New Mexico: Two of the best all around.
Wyoming, although either one that wins is going to get eliminated in the next round.
ReplyDeleteOhio. I personally don't care for the shape, but Indiana's is so busy!
Alaska. Hawaii's, like Maryland's, is an overrated clashing eyesore.
Arizona. New Mexico is going to win though.
Wyoming
ReplyDeleteOhio. Both have too many stars, but Ohio is more interesting.
Hawaii: A Classic. People seem to love Alaska, but whne its flying it is really hard to see the stars.
Arizona. Similar to Alaska, the sun device needs beefing up.
WY
ReplyDeleteOH - unique shapes FTW!
AK - Hawaii's is nice and all, but it doesn't deserve to go any further. (Maybe it's because I'm one of the few vexillologists it seems who doesn't like the Union Jack that much.)
GAH! - I knew it would have to come down to this! Both those designs are great! Pros: AZ stands out, unique colour (copper), and is vibrant; NM is simple and indicative of the region and history. Cons: the blue looks strange on the bottom of AZ, NM is too simple. I really can't decide! Unless if M5K forbids it, I think I'm going to pass picking, and just be sad at whoever loses. (Since the regional totals don't always add up to the same number I'm sure it's happened before that not everyone picked four choices every time.) Don't make me choose, Mike!
Wyoming vs. Iowa
ReplyDeleteI actually really don't like Wyoming's flag.
Two things about it jar, the strangely-located seal, and the double border. Iowa.
Indiana vs. Ohio
Ohio doesn't have writing (unless you count the subtle 'O'), has a unique shape, and looks great on a flagpole. Ohio.
Alaska vs. Hawaii
I like both these flags, and while I admire Alaska's concept, I find that the Hawaiian flag, with its Union jack in the canton, and the alternating white-red-blue stripes to be more distinctive. Hawaii. Oh, and Branddobbe, I complete disagree with your assessment of my home state's flag. Maybe its a 'clashing eyesore' on your computer monitor, but if you ever see the actual flag flying, you'd realize black, gold, red and white complement each other beautifully.
Arizona vs. New Mexico
It's close, but New Mexico's flag is better. Very distinctive.
Wyoming. I don't think it would be "perfect without the seal", but it would be much improved. Iowa's has way too many letters, a too-baroque scrollwork design and a too-representational eagle.
ReplyDeleteOhio. Very close. Both flags are distinctive and have appeal, but abstraction beats representation, and no-letters beats letters.
Hawaii. Also very close. Alaska's design, while beautiful, suffers from its design elements' being too small relative to the flag.
New Mexico. New Mexico's is distinctive and powerful, and may win the whole thing. Arizona's copper star doesn't have enough contrast with the red and blue and should be outlined in white.