Laredo, TX

 
gselvester
 
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gselvester
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05 January 2010 09:42
 

http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Laredo_Coat_of_Arms.gif

arrrrgh! Make it stop! Make it stop!

 

Where do we even begin?

 
Patrick Williams
 
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Patrick Williams
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05 January 2010 09:44
 

And here I thought Los Angeles had the worst coat of arms ... just goes to show you that when you think things are bad, there’s always something, somewhere worse.

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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05 January 2010 09:51
 

gselvester;74189 wrote:

Where do we even begin?

 


Evidently not on the other side of the river… something in the water, do you think?

 

Arms of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e7/Escudo_de_nuevo_Laredo_MX.PNG

 
Jay Bohn
 
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Jay Bohn
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05 January 2010 13:32
 

gselvester;74189 wrote:

http://wpcontent.answers.com/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/Laredo_Coat_of_Arms.gif


Truly hideous. An example of trying to cram too much in, as well as a compound coat.

 

The dexter half reminds me of the former Georgia flag which included miniature versions of several other flags. I believe that Laredo claims to have been under seven flags (cool name for an amusement park). Some quick research makes me think the flags displayed are: Spain, France?, Mexico, United States, Republic of the Rio Grande (apparently there is uncertainty whether the lower fly color should be green or black), Texas and the Confederate States.

 
Kathy McClurg
 
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Kathy McClurg
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06 January 2010 06:10
 

Makes you wonder if they are paying some consultant to come up with arms for them, trying to appease many political point of views, or the coffee person in the mayer’s office said one day, "wow, boss, wouldn’t it be just so cool to have a coat of arms?"

Because, well, how could anyone think these look good?

 
James Dempster
 
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James Dempster
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06 January 2010 09:10
 

Whether our Texan members would like to take it up as a project, it must be possible to improve on these. Here are some thoughts

The flags seem most suitable for use as a crest in a form similar to a trophy or panache with the flag of the USA central. If that were done then then the shield could be easily improved whilst keeping the same symbolism.

 

The realistic depictions of the bridge and cathedral could be dealt with by suggesting a reversion to the old bridge which was a box girder construction that could be represented by a fess fretty, the dexter side couped in bend sinister and the sinister side couped in bend. The cathedral could be replaced with the figure of St Augustine holding in one hand a heart and in the other the cathedral.

 

Thus, maybe

 

Or a fess fretty Sable, the dexter side couped in bend sinister and the sinister side couped in bend all surmounted by the figure of St Augustine in episcopal garb holding in his dexter hand a man’s heart and in his sinister hand a representation of St Agustin’s cathedral Proper

 

References to gateways to Mexico and 1772 can be relegated to a motto scroll.

 
kimon
 
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kimon
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06 January 2010 09:47
 

James Dempster;74220 wrote:

...it must be possible to improve on these…

The understatement of the decade

smile

 

My limited experience and knowledge of government makes me think that it will be very difficult to get the city council to change their logo because (a) it was tough enough to get everyone to agree on this thing, they won’t want to go through it again and (b) they’ve already printed letterheads, business cards, made flags, stone carvings, etc. and don’t want to throw those out and spend another large sum of money on this.

 

Unless, of course, Laredo got this logo a while ago (not familiar with the history) and the redesign can be presented as a rebranding campaign to attract tourism/business/etc.

 
Michael F. McCartney
 
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Michael F. McCartney
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08 January 2010 20:39
 

Compared to Laredo, Nuevo Laredo is a paragon of clarity.

 
Dohrman Byers
 
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Dohrman Byers
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09 January 2010 11:17
 

I would not change a thing about the glorious arms of Laredo.

Some such breathtaking compositions should be preserved as object lessons for all would-be designers of government arms.

 

This surely deserves special recognition from our society.

 
Jay Bohn
 
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Jay Bohn
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09 January 2010 14:35
 

Dohrman Byers;74268 wrote:

This surely deserves special recognition from our society.


A heraldic design anti-award?

 
PBlanton
 
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PBlanton
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09 January 2010 16:19
 

Yes, this is definately a candidate for the worst heraldic-style logo award.

Take care,

 
 
Kathy McClurg
 
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Kathy McClurg
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09 January 2010 22:25
 

Jay Bohn;74279 wrote:

A heraldic design anti-award?


better an anti-heraldic design award, or a heraldic anti-desgn award.  It’s barely heraldic and barely designed - it’s kind of a kluge on a shield.

 
Jeff Poole
 
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Jeff Poole
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10 January 2010 04:22
 

Jay Bohn;74279 wrote:

A heraldic design anti-award?

Why not?

We could have a prestigious Heraldic equivalent to the Darwin or the Ignobel awards! :rolleyes:

 

Or could that be seen as encouraging mediocrity? wink

 
Joseph McMillan
 
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Joseph McMillan
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10 January 2010 08:22
 

Step back and reflect, folks.

We discussed this some years ago and decided that giving awards for good heraldry would do a lot more good than excoriating bad heraldry. People tend to get attached to their local symbols, good or bad, and a bunch of self-appointed out-of-town smart alecks making fun of them is not a high probability route to progress.

 
Michael F. McCartney
 
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Michael F. McCartney
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11 January 2010 20:52
 

So we don’t get to play "Carpet-Bag Pursuivant"?  Awww geez…

I would have proposed a very Biblical "Go forth & sin no more" award.

 

But Joe is right…we’d be (or be seen, anyway) as no better than the self-appointed Heraldry Police at yer local Scottish Games.

 
Alexander Liptak
 
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Alexander Liptak
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11 January 2010 22:33
 

Hardly the first coat of arms to make use of flags or town scenes.

Yes, this one offends a bit more because of the sheer number of

things jammed into it, but it is the expected result of generations

of fore bearers just as inept.

Suggestions of improvement would probably be more constructive

than tongue in cheek compliments.  Perhaps a design based on

the city’s flag.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_0Mu2A5G_e-k/SCpWKOtBiHI/AAAAAAAAAE8/aqZTcCw0b1I/s320/RioGrandeFlag.png

 

Laredo was located in the province of Nuevo Santander in

Nueva EspaƱa.  Both the Laredo and Santander names were taken

from towns located in Spain.

 

The arms of Laredo, Spain.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/29/EscudoLaredo.jpg/100px-EscudoLaredo.jpg

 

The arms of Santander, Spain.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/City_of_Santander,_Spain_Coat_of_arms_(Oficial_version).png/150px-City_of_Santander,_Spain_Coat_of_arms_(Oficial_version).png