Saturday, September 29, 2007
Fake McHenry County Seals
Allan Showalter wonders why McHenry County needs a new seal.
He notes on Heck of a Guy blog that the resolution authorizing the development of one says,
There is a McHenry County, North Dakota, but he concludes that the different state names would be hard to mix up.
He wonders if there is seal fraud, but can find none.
“I am chagrined to admit that it never before occurred to me that bogus sealers (local scalawags and rapscallions? the Russian mob? international terrorists?) would use the good name of McHenry County Illinois to rake in the big bucks for which the county seal business is notorious,” Showalter writes.
He’s so worried about the problem that he has devised something of a “line-up” to help people figure out the difference between the real seal and the forgeries.
Showalter compares the seal on the left (you can enlarge the line-up to make it easier for you to comprehend the lesson) with the real one in the middle:
And, “No County Seal has featured a ‘Where’s Waldo’ puzzle.”
Of course, there is more, but one can only take so much humor in one day.
He notes on Heck of a Guy blog that the resolution authorizing the development of one says,
WHEREAS, by copying the Seal of the State of Illinois, McHenry County is using a Seal that is neither unique to McHenry County nor readily identifiable.”“How can a county seal emblazoned with ‘McHenry County Illinois’ be ‘neither unique to McHenry County nor readily identifiable?’” Showalter wonders.
There is a McHenry County, North Dakota, but he concludes that the different state names would be hard to mix up.
He wonders if there is seal fraud, but can find none.
“I am chagrined to admit that it never before occurred to me that bogus sealers (local scalawags and rapscallions? the Russian mob? international terrorists?) would use the good name of McHenry County Illinois to rake in the big bucks for which the county seal business is notorious,” Showalter writes.
He’s so worried about the problem that he has devised something of a “line-up” to help people figure out the difference between the real seal and the forgeries.
Showalter compares the seal on the left (you can enlarge the line-up to make it easier for you to comprehend the lesson) with the real one in the middle:”A simple but helpful rule of thumb holds that few county seals have a single item in their central showcase. The true McHenry County Seal (the middle seal in the graphic), for example, has an eagle as its central image but also includes a federal shield, a banner, and what seal fanciers preferentially refer to as “some other stuff.” The point is that actual county seals usually have more details than is seen in the Vin Diesel seal.”Here’s part of the way one can tell the seal to the right is not real:
“The axiom that is useful in identifying this seal as a fake is the generalization that modern, efficient tools are typically considered inappropriate for county seals. This doesn’t mean counties are wimps about weapons. There are seals aplenty that feature arrows (occasionally with bows), knives, and (especially) swords, but your automatic and easily modified semi-automatic weapons are not often found on seals.”Other axioms are listed, including one that says any seal with my picture on it is probably a fake.
And, “No County Seal has featured a ‘Where’s Waldo’ puzzle.”
Of course, there is more, but one can only take so much humor in one day.
Labels: McHenry County Board, McHenry County Seal
Comments:
<< Home
I got the God and guns part in the seal on the right. But, what is the thing between the bishop and the machine pistol?
Post a Comment
<< Home
