What is the origin of your avatar?

[The Mad Moderate]

We have a "origins of you user name" topic so I thought I would start this one. I chose mine because even us "liberals" in Texas have a don't mess with me attitude

[Teamless]

Mine is a tattoo of our dog that we put down 3 years ago now

[canvasbck]

Because it was a mistake...............hope I get to change it in 2012

[Pug]

In memory of our last rescue---gawd-awful ugly 18 pounds of pugnacious lovin' mutt...
He has since been replaced by a mini-schnauzer rescue.

[terryg]

Marine Corps Rifle Expert Badge.

[jimlongley]

Shark watch, US Navy 1968, me and my Garand, the diver had just come out of the water exclaiming about the size of that shark down there, and I was in the process of switching hands with my cigarette and inserting the CLIP at the same time.

[The Annoyed Man]

It's a picture of me, wearing my (then) newly purchased hat made by Texas Hatters. I found the hat in an antique store in Wimberly, where it had been acquired as part of an estate sale. I overlaid the picture in PhotoShop over a desktop image from my Mac.

[anygunanywhere]

The Jerusalem Cross.

The symbolism of the five crosses has been explained in a variety of ways. Here are a few:

The five crosses represent the five wounds Jesus received on the cross. The large center cross represents the wound in Jesus' side while the four smaller crosses represent the wounds he received in his hands and feet. The large center cross represents Jesus and the four smaller crosses represent the four Gospel writers. The four smaller crosses represent the four corners of the earth to which the gospel is being taken or for which Jesus died. The five crosses represent the five nations active in the Crusades: Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. The five crosses represent the five principalities of the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Cross was employed as an emblem by the Crusaders. Godfrey de Bouillon, who became the first ruler of Jerusalem after it was captured from the Moslems in 1099, wore the Jerusalem Cross as his symbol.

The Jerusalem Cross is the logo for our parish, Shrine of the True Cross in Dickinson. We actually have a piece of the true Cross of Christ. The Jerusalem Cross is on the altar in our chapel where we have perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The altar is from the old church on Hwy 3 in Dickinson, The chapel was dedicated to the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, the global fraternal oganization that now supports the Catholic Church in the Holy Land.

Anygunanywhere

[DONT TREAD ON ME]

I think my avatar is pretty obvious. It is considered one of the first flags if the US. It is also a reminder that we should not allow our elected officials to take away our rights. For more information and its history you can go here.

"I recollected that her eye excelled in brightness, that of any other animal, and that she has no eye-lids—She may therefore be esteemed an emblem of vigilance.—She never begins an attack, nor, when once engaged, ever surrenders: She is therefore an emblem of magnanimity and true courage.—As if anxious to prevent all pretensions of quarreling with her, the weapons with which nature has furnished her, she conceals in the roof of her mouth, so that, to those who are unacquainted with her, she appears to be a most defenseless animal; and even when those weapons are shewn and extended for her defense, they appear weak and contemptible; but their wounds however small, are decisive and fatal:—Conscious of this, she never wounds till she has generously given notice, even to her enemy, and cautioned him against the danger of stepping on her.—Was I wrong, Sir, in thinking this a strong picture of the temper and conduct of America?"

[Kirk]

Texas Free Mason

[Jasonw560]

Just thought mine was funny. Still do.

[USA1]

Mine speaks for itself. I've always been very patriotic....even before 911. I fly the flag at my home. The first word in the name of the business I own is "Freedom". The American flag is also my company logo.

The number 1 after USA means "Put America First".

I'm justa poor ole red blooded American country boy that loves my country and will never take her for granted.

...if that offends anyone, tough.

[A-R]

Mine is a strange amalgamation of TV characters. The cartoon boy is the legendary Eric Cartman from "South Park" and he is outfitted with gun, badge, shades, scowl, and "Strike Team" T-shirt of the legendary Vic Mackey from "The Shield". This was done with some web-based "South Park" create-a-character app, the link to which I've since lost, and some Photoshop work.

Here it is larger:

[sjfcontrol]

Private joke with a member of this board.

But I liked it, so I kept it.

[karl]

The Specialized logo, greatest bicycle company in the world.

http://www.specialized.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;