Extra, Extra
Extra, Extra
Extra, Extra
Extra, Extra
Early Addition
After years of waiting for something to happen with Ground Zero development, even the much-awaited installation of Freedom Tower's first steel beams has a problem. Luckily, it's a cosmetic one - although it's also a patriotic issue. It turns out that the flag painted on the first steel beam installed was painted the wrong way. From the AP:
The Port Authority removed the decal on the 31-foot column after media outlets and readers questioned the display of the flag, with the 50 stars on the right side instead of the left.Doh! Coleman says the flag was "inadvertently put in the wrong position," and that a new decal will be placed by tomorrow. It better be - that flag on that beam represents everything about America. And we guess a hologram of a flag that would move to the proper position was too tacky.Federal flag code requires that, whether displayed horizontally or vertically, the blue field displaying 50 stars is always on the left side to the viewer. When construction workers put the decal onto the column as it lay on its side at Ground Zero, the stars were on the left and in the correct spot, said PA spokesman Steve Coleman.
Photographs of the first steel beam being installed at Ground Zero by Kathy Willens/AP
add to digg
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
email this
add to facebook
add to del.icio.us
Why does the Freedom Tower hate America?
Rob, LOL, you beat me to it...
everyone makes mistakes, and tell me would you automatically notice. i doubt it.
First of all, it's only misprinted once the column is stood upright. If they had printed it the other way the flag would have been upside down while the column was on its side and people were signing it.
If you look at the US flag patch on the right shoulder of our troops you will notice the field of stars is on the left, This is because it is supposed to look like the flag being carried into battle.
and here i thought the typeface was the most offensive part of it
it is a basic typographic principle to not print text vertically, and if is neccessary, to turn the text on its side rather than "tower" it. too bad, I guess
it looks like a third grader designed this beam.
The other day I saw our flag in the reflection of a mirror, thus reversing the blue field of stars. I thought nothing of it at the time, but now I'm wondering if I subconsciously hate freedom? I just thought I should report it in case I'm not complying with something.
terrible design. just terrible. #6, Jeff's right. It's basic knowledge that type should never run vertically. Think book spine, it's as simple as that.
Classic suburban wood obelisk street name signposts are designed to be read from top to bottom (like the ceremonial Freedom Tower column). They were typically painted white and placed at intersections, with each of the intersecting street names written on opposing sides of the square post in black block lettering. (Fifty years ago these signs were still the norm at intersections in unincorporated villages of the Town of Hempstead, Long Island.)
I should note that the street name signs on the new MTA bus stops appear to me to be turned on end, and reading such signs makes me want to crook my head as one might in reading the spine of a book standing in a bookcase.
My opinion is that the lettering on the column is done in this way to emphasize the verticality of the tower-to-be.
Vertically, from top to bottom, is how "United States" or "USA" is written on a rocket to be launched into Space.
#8 = Brilliant!
wow, wonder how many thousands changing that little decal or even "designing" and painting the beam cost.
#7 - I whole-heartedly agree with you!
These days... I'm more than ready to defect to Canada.