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Posts Tagged 'DC Comics'
Hi ho, happy readers it's Jonny here!
Who even writes for this blog anymore? Certainly not us! Anyway, I just read a magnificent issue of Swamp Thing from the year 1996!
Clinton was in office and Dole wanted to oust him. Newt Gingrich had signed some weird "Contract with America" and the world of American politics was as nutty as ever. Apparently disgusted with himself, the comics industry, and left-wing socialist nut-jobs Mark Millar enlisted the incredible talents of Curt Swan to create this fascinating bit of satire.
If you're familiar with Alan Moore or Rick Veitch's work on Saga of the Swamp Thing then you know Chester Williams as an eco-friendly former hippie that loves tubers and teams up with the Swamp Thing to battle evil.
But that was before he saw the Contract!
Professor Chester Williams is at his apartment throwing a party with another professor and some of their students. The kids are dancing, drinking, getting high, and engaging in other immoral activities. After a living the hippie dream this party serves as a wake up call to Mr. Williams and he's had enough! Chastising a young lady for strip-dancing at the party Chester proceeds to kill the music and call the cops on his students.
Disgusted with the loose living of these young liberals, Chester decides to join the NYPD and clean up America. After killing a few bank robbers (illegal immigrants no less!), saving a woman from being robbed [Ed. note: a "dyke," who he then kisses so hard she goes straight and marries him], and plenty of good old fashioned liberal bashing, Chester receives word that the Swamp Thing is giving the world's leaders an ultimatum: stop polluting or else! As an old friend of this Elemental, Officer Williams decides to pay a visit to Houma, LA to try and talk some sense into the old Swamp Hippie.
After a stern lesson on economics, the importance of international trade, and a plea for Swamp Thing to "grow up", Chester convinces Swamp Thing that the earth doesn't need a paradise and things are best left as they are. Chester then returns to New York where he defeats incumbent Bill Clinton and becomes President of the United States of America!
Conservative ideals win again!
Happy readings!
– Jonny
[Ed. note: Despite Mark Millar's bizarre introduction to the issue claiming it is the first "clean issue in a sick run of an evil book put together by diseased individuals," editor Stuart Moore later promises it was "an Elseworlds story" and "a bad trip or something." Thank God.]
Crisis On Infinite Treks
Posted August 31, 2011on:
I was catching up on Crisis on Infinite Earths tonight when I noticed this lovely Easter Egg. As a big Trekkie, and a fan of The Wrath of Khan in particular, this panel made me very happy.
It's worth noting that Marv Wolfman actually wrote the Marvel Super Special comic adaptation of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979 and edited the first 20 issues of DC Comics' Star Trek from 1984 to 1985 (and doing sporadic color work thereafter) while George Perez did the covers for the first three issues of the DC Comics run.
Speaking of Wolfman and Perez, don't forget that The New Teen Titans Omnibus Volume 1 is out today! I'm broke, but green with envy over all you who purchase it (insert your own Beast Boy joke here).
Happy readings!
Justice with a Side of Eggs
Posted May 7, 2011on:
Friends, I am amused! I was reading Adventure Comics #463 last night and noticed an Easter Egg in the midst of the JSA story. The adventure is called, "The Night of the Soul Thief". Check it out:
Notice the lady's shirt? "Hi! I'm Phyllis," right there on the chest.
Who's Phyllis? None of the credits help. Maybe somebody's mother or girlfriend? I do love a good mystery. If any readers know about this Easter Egg I'd love to know.
Happy readings!
It's December, and we all know what that means. STUPID OVERPRICED CHRISTMAS COMICS! And with the random holiday specials comes the totally awkward stories where Santa rolls around with your favorite superheroes. They're generally throwaway stories that nobody buys and, well, really hold no bearing on continuity. So what's the point? Well, occasionally, you strike gold. SO MUCH GOLD. Here are my top five Santa Claus comic cameos. And, um, apologies to your childhood.
(5) Bloom County: In 1981, PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization) went on strike demanding better wages and a shorter work week, prompting Ronald Reagan to fire and/or imprison over half of them. Apparently, Santa's elves were inspired. In newspaper comic Bloom County (dated 12/15/81 – 12/24/81), after Santa rejects the demands of PETCO (Professional Elves Toy-Making and Craft Organization) for higher wages, a hot tub in the locker room, and "short broads," the elves go on strike. Once again, Reagan steps in, fires all of Santa's helpers, and replaces them with out-of-work air traffic controllers. Yeah, it's dated political humor, but it's still pretty fucking funny.
(4) The Special Edition Warrior Winter Wonderland Pin-Up Book: After getting fired from the WWF in mid-1996, the Ultimate Warrior didn't have much. How the hell was he supposed to make money as a ranting, painted idiot if he wasn't on TV? Enter his company, Ultimate Creations, and its terrible pseudo-philosophical 4-issue comic series, Warrior, written by the Warrior himself. After it's cancellation, Ultimate Creations decided to release one last book, The Special Edition Warrior Winter Wonderland Pin-Up Book. Good lord, is this thing bizarre. Essentially, it's two pages of Warrior-style rambling ("nobody fucks with a Santa savior") followed by page after page of your least favorite 90's artists drawing the Ultimate Warrior in Santa garb (including a Joe Quesada/Jimmy Palmiotti cover). This book is most infamous for it's final pin-up by Jim Callahan of the Ultimate Warrior putting on Santa's pants while a half-naked Saint Nick lies passed out next to a bottle of whiskey with… Wait. Holy shit, what is that splattered across Santa's chest?
(3) Sandman #7 (er, sort of): To be fair, this story almost never even was. Originally slated to be Sandman #7, the series got cancelled just after the release of #6. Then, this story was supposed to end up as the second half of Kamandi #61, except that series got cancelled after the release of issue #59. Finally, this story was released in 1978's legendary black-and-white photocopied Cancelled Comics Cavalcade #2, a full two years after the last Sandman story was published.
Anyways, yeah. The Silver Age Sandman's best pal, Jed Walker (the Earth-1 counterpart of Kamandi), has been challenged to prove to Titus Gotrox, an old millionaire, that Santa is real. If he succeeds, the man will donate $1,000,000 to charity in Jed's name. With the help of Sandman, Jed is whisked away to the Dream Stream to meet Santa. Unfortunately, the old man's nephew, Rodney, doesn't want to get screwed out of a million busks worth of inheritance and follows. Upon arrival, Sandman discovers that Santa has been kidnapped by the Seal-Men, a race of half-seal/half-human creatures, who are pissed off that Santa gave them gloves for Christmas the previous year, even though their race has flippers. Santa says "sorry" and everything is fixed (that was easy). They get back to Santa's workshop to discover Rodney pointing a gun at Mrs. Claus. Sandman hits him with some sleep dust (that was also easy) and everybody goes home.
(2) Hellblazer #247: I know that John Constantine isn't one to shy away from trying a new drug, but this is just fucking weird. In October 2008's Hellblazer #247, while attempting to prevent a cannibalistic mystic named Mako from obtaining some super-evil artifact called the Hell Mirror, Constantine travels to Bari, Italy, breaks into the Basilica di San Nichola, digs up the skeletal remains of ol' Saint Nick, and has it ground into bone meal. After using the ground up icon in some weird thaumaturgical incantation ritual, he decides to hang onto it for a bit. And when he gets back to his apartment, what does he decide to do with the Santa dust? Same thing you or I would do, obviously. Roll up a Coca-Cola advertisement, snort Saint Nick like cocaine, and make the obligatory "white Christmas" joke! Classy, Andy Diggle. Classy.
(1) The Lobo Paramilitary Christmas Special: As much as I love Keith Giffen, I can't stand the Lobo character. Even so, when I discovered he had a Christmas-themed one-shot in 1991, my morbid curiosity got the better of me and I had to check it out. Good god. Lobo is hired by the Easter Bunny to assassinate Kris "Crusher" Kringle after all of the holiday mascots decide that Christmas is overshadowing their respective holidays. Lobo takes the job and books it to the North Pole, only to be attacked by the elves. After they are all massacred by "The Naughtiest One," he faces Santa (armed with a pair of razor sharp shivs) and his gorilla sidekick, Kong. Lobo ends up decapitating Santa, shooting Rudolph (who is apparently a mutant now), and is about to leave when he discovers Santa's list. The comic then ends with Lobo dropping atomic bombs down the chimneys of everybody labeled "nice."
Normally I wouldn't give a number one spot to something that's just so, well, 90s. But this gets better. In 2002, some guy named Scott Leberecht, a student working on a project for his American Film Institute director's studies program, decided to do a $2,400 live-action adaptation of this comic starring Butterfinger from Hudson Hawk and the guy who voices Shikamaru on Naruto. And, fuck, it is horrible. How horrible you ask?
Much like the old characters from Charlton, Fawcett, Milestone, and MLJ Comics, DC has recently acquired the full rights to the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents team and is folding them into the DCU in their own title. Before I get into a review of T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1, however, I should probably tell you a bit about their extremely convoluted history.
Created by artist Wally Wood, the team originally appeared in November 1965's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 published by Tower Comics. For a while the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. (acronym for The Higher United Nations Defense Enforcement Reserves) Agents consisted of NoMan, Dynamo, Lightning, and Menthor, four heroes who were given powers by an invisibility cloak, a strength-enhancing belt, a speedster suit, and a telepathy helmet respectively. Only problem was that the power-granting items also slowly killed their users. Other heroes came and went (like Sea Devils rip-off sister team, U.N.D.E.R.S.E.A. Agents) before the series ended at issue #20 and Tower Comics folded.
For years, the team remained dormant (aside from a British publisher, L. Miller & Son, Ltd., reprinting the original issues in black and white sometime during the mid-70s) until John Carbonaro bought the rights in 1983 and planned on rebooting the series (with the aid of David Singer) on his own JC Comics. Unfortunately, he and Singer had a serious falling out and Carbonaro only got as far as two issues before JC Comics fell through. That same year, Texas Comics released Justice Machine Annual #1, the only issue they ever produced, which featured a team-up story between the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and their in-house superhero team, the Justice Machine.
In 1984, Singer and Deluxe Comics claimed that the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents were now in public domain (bullshit!) and began releasing a series under the name Wally Wood's T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents with a fantastic line-up of artists including George Pérez, Steve Ditko, Keith Giffen, and Jerry Ordway. Unfortunately for him, Carbonaro still owned the rights and sued the shit out of Singer and Deluxe Comics, ultimately winning the suit and putting them out of business in 1986.
In 1987, Gary Brodsky, son of Marvel legend Sol Brodsky, attempted to release a four-issue black-and-white limited series through his own Solson (Sol's Son, get it?!) Publications. One issue was released before the company went belly-up (probably because most of their books were either right-wing propaganda or anti-feminist screeds). FUN FACT: Following the demise of Solson Publications, Gary decided to make a series of videos teaching guys how to pick up women with titles like "Alpha Up and Rock Her World" and "How to Be a Prick Women Love." Seriously. Look at his fucking website.
Rumor has it that in the 1990's Rob Liefeld claimed the rights to the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents and wanted Dave Cockrum to release a series on Liefeld's Extreme Studios before it fell through. If that's true, it's a bit strange considering that Carbonaro still owned the rights to the superhero team, going so far as releasing a final story in 1995 in Penthouse Comix's (yup, that Penthouse) OMNI Comics #3.
Finally, some time during the early 2000's, Carbonaro and DC Comics struck a deal and a DCU T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents book was in the works. Well, it would have been, except Carbonaro shot down every idea DC presented to him. See, DC really wanted to shake things up for the team while Carbonaro decided that nobody from the original team should die (despite the fact that the whole point of the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents was that their powers would ultimately kill them). Aside from a few DC Archive hardcovers and a couple of statues, nothing really came of it.
On February 25, 2009, John Carbonaro died. July 2009, DC Comics announced at SDCC that they were moving forward with a T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents book. Yesterday, it came out.
So, how is it?
Written by Nick Spencer (Shuddertown, Existence 2.0), T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents #1 tells the story of the United Nations scrambling to replace the recently deceased Lightning and Dynamo following a trap set by S.P.I.D.E.R. (the villains from the original Tower Comics run). Without explaining too much about the original team, it sets up the premise that the original NoMan and the new replacement members must save Raven (another Tower Comics character) from S.P.I.D.E.R. It's surprisingly engaging, considering that the team hasn't had a proper canon story since the 80's outside of Penthouse (man, how I wish I were joking). As odd as it sounds, the book does a good job establishing the team without giving the its members a proper introduction, instead focusing on the staff behind the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents (so, I guess whatever "The Higher United Nations" is). Plus, the art by the single-named duo of CAFU (Vixen: Return of the Lion) and BIT (Batman and the Outsiders) is pretty damned good (if you can overlook the fact that everybody looks like they're wearing crazy amounts of eyeliner).
Here's hoping that where the Red Circle books kind of petered out, the T.H.U.N.D.E.R. Agents can take a seat next to the rest of the DC Comics greats.
Superboy #1: Think Small
Posted November 3, 2010on:
Ever since the Superman panel at SDCC 2010, my interest about Jeff Lemire's Superboy had been piqued. After all, he's proven with Essex County, The Nobody, and Sweet Tooth that he's best writing about what happens in small-town America and, well, it doesn't get more small-town America than Smallville.
Directly following his stint as the headline act of Adventure Comics, Superboy has finally come to terms with the fact that he's a composite of both Superman and Lex Luthor's DNA. For right now, all he wants to do is get back to his roots, figure out what it is that makes Superman great, and support the widow Kent. Unfortunately, where there's a superhero there's bound to be supervillains popping up from time to time. With a little help from the Phantom Stranger (yesss) and Krypto, it's up to Superboy to protect this small town from whatever it is the DCU decides to throw at it.
This is only Jeff Lemire's second foray into the superhero genre (the first being his Atom back-up in Adventure Comics) but, in a familiar setting, it seems to work well for him. His teenagers actually talk like teenagers and, more impressively, his Phantom Stranger speaks just like he did in his 1969 John Broome series. And, as weird as it sounds, his own excitement for this title is at kid-on-Christmas levels (seriously, when Jon and I ran into him on the SDCC floor and asked about it, he immediately turned into the happiest guy in the convention hall).
Pier Gallo's (Batman Confidential, Dark Reign: Hawkeye) art is gorgeous as well. Not only are the characters able to convey emotions well, but his backgrounds are amazing. While reading the story I actually felt like I was back in the Midwest, looking out over miles and miles of lush nothingness. Plus, as with the above panel, he manages to make lots of small actions take place in each panel without making it look ridiculously busy.
This book is definitely worth checking out, if not for the superb art, then for the what-the-hell worthy twist ending. Needless to say, so adding this title to my pull.
If you wanted to get laid in the mid-60s, it was easy. All you needed was a Vespa, a fistful of amphetamines, and a firm grasp on all things British Invasion-y. DC Comics, in their infinite wisdom, decided to cash in on mod culture with Swing With Scooter, a book about Scooter, a Paul McCartney clone, quitting his band and moving to the U.S. to live life as a normal teenager. Plus, the book was written by Jack Miller (creator of Rip Hunter) and drawn by Joe Orlando, one of the greatest artists to ever work on Daredevil! There's no way this could go wrong unless, oh, let's say John Lennon claims the Beatles are "more popular than Jesus" thing and the British Invasion going belly up. So what is DC to do? How about replace Miller and Orlando with Henry Boltinoff and Henry Scarpelli and turn the whole damn thing into another fucking Archie clone? Perfect! Here's November 1968's Swing With Scooter #15 (a triple-feature!).
Well, before we get too far into this, I guess you should know who all Scooter's friends are. Sylvester's the klutz who overeats (Jughead?), Kenny's the player (Reggie?), Penny's the rich brunette who wants to fuck Scooter (Veronica?), Cookie's the not rich girl who wants to fuck Scooter (Betty?), and Malibu's the vampire (um, Morbius?). Yeah, one of these things is not like the others.
Anyways, our first story (titled "Will the REAL Princess Please Step Forward?") starts out poolside at Penny's place. She gets a letter that Koobla Kin, the sultan of oil-rich Salti-Arraba, and his daughter are coming to visit. Everybody is psyched about it (with the exception of Malibu, who's pissed that Salti-Arraba isn't a democratic country) and decides to welcome the sultan by being as culturally insensitive as possible. Donning some Arabian costumes, the gang heads outside in time to greet the sultan, Sherry (his Americanized daughter), and Prince Amid (the overweight douchebag oil tycoon the sultan's forcing Sherry to marry). Let the stereotyped hijinx begin!
Later on, Sherry reveals to Scooter that she doesn't want to marry Amid, instead pining for Nikel Oozee, the guitar player for some garage rock band. Since Scooter has to get involved with everything, he calls up Oozee who immediately writes a song for, runs away with, and marries Sherry (well, that was fucking easy). Of course, the second Sherry's gone, Amid shows up asking for her. Scooter decides to deal with this in the weirdest way possible, dressing up in a harem costume and running around flirting with the prince. Of course, this dumbass plan is ruined when the prince rips off Scooters' pants (hello, international incident).
Koobla Kin captures Scooter and the gang, telling them that he's going to have them tortured and executed. Fortunately for them, Koobla's adviser runs in to tell him that Amid's 17 oil wells all dried up (at once?) and that he's broke. Malibu tells the sultan that Oozee's band just got their sixth gold record (who he didn't mention this sooner, I'll never know) and he's rich as fuck. In celebration, the sultan decides the kids won't get brutally murdered, and runs off to drum for Oozee. A-yup.
Our second story, "Lover, Lover, Run for Cover," is pretty much the same joke over and over again for about six pages (at least it's Joe Orlando's art again). Kenny wants to fuck some new girl in town named Ginger. Not having it, the gang and Ginger decide that he's due for a good old0fashioned cockblocking. They go back to her place where Scooter and Cookie lie in wait, disguised as her parents. They run away, but Ginger wants to look at some house for sale. The real estate agent (Sylvester in disguises) mentions marriage and, once again, they run away. They decide to get a soda and head to a local diner, where the gang's set up a wedding rehearsal. It just so happens, Ginger's pro-wrestler brother, Ferdinand, is there as well. Kenny insults Ferdinand who then jumps on the back of Kenny's Vespa and the story just kinda ends there. Moral of this story: Scooter and his friends are dicks.
Story three! "Sink or Swim!" Scooter and Penny come home from a school and discovers that his Aunt Hatta bought a elephant-shaped vase thing. Because this is an Archie rip-off, it is promptly smashed. They run to the local shop to buy a replacement but, much to their dismay, the shopkeeper says it's "very rare" (despite having a ton under the counter) and wants $80. Since Scooter apparently spent all his rock star money on blow, he's broke. Fortunately, Penny's dad, J.P. Moneybucks (subtle) has a job opening as a lifeguard on his private beach. After flat out refusing, he gives him the job anyways. Problem solved!
Or so you'd think. For no real reason, Sylvester and Malibu decide to get him fired by throwing a fake shark in the water and pretending they need rescuing (how that'd get him fired, I don't know). Before they have the chance, Moneybucks finds the fake shark and confiscates it.
Meanwhile, back on the beach, Penny is putting the moves on Scooter and Cookie is jealous. She decides to get his attention by pulling a Sandlot and pretending to drown. As soon as she gets out in the water, though, a shark fin pops up. For some reason, Scooter assumes it's the fake shark that nobody had yet mentioned to him and he rushes out to "make like Aquaman." He punches the shark in the head and brings Cookie to shore just in time to see Moneybucks walk up with the fake shark. For some reason, Moneybucks just gives him the $80 and fires him. Scooter and Penny go out, buy the vase, and set it back up just in time for Aunt Hatta to talk about how ugly it is and throw it in the trash. Cue this sound clip.
So, yeah, even after the Archie-fication of Swing With Scooter the book lasted until issue #36. And it's not like DC didn't know what they were doing, Scarpelli had all ready been doing some more-cartoonish style work in books like DC's own Stanley and His Monster and Dell's Bewitched and Beverly Hillbillies books. Funny thing is, before Swing With Scooter, he'd only done one Archie story, a one-page in February 1968's Archie's Pals 'N' Gals #44. It wasn't really until around 1987 that he really started working with the Riverdale crowd, including the cover for 1994's bizarre Archie Meets the Punisher crossover (hell yeah, I did my research). Now, if you'll excuse me, I have the sudden urge to listen to The Kinks and read way, way too much Jean-Paul Sartre.
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text:
Micro-credit is a way of
banking which claims to be more effective in the alleviation of poverty
By HUSSEIN HAERI
Jun 26 - Jul 02, 2000
Capital tends to be a relatively scarce factor of production in the
'developing world'. The role played by supranational credit agencies (i.e. the IMF and the
World Bank) is testimony to this predicament, as is the burgeoning debt crisis. Increased
accessibility to credit (albeit conditional to the implementation of 'liberal' economic
policies) does not seem, however, to have had a 'significant' impact on poverty
alleviation. In fact, the poorest billion people on earth earned 2.3% of world income in
1960. Today they earn 1.1%. The World Bank asserts that "sustainable poverty
reduction is the overarching objective....and the benchmark by which our performance as a
development institution will be measured."1
Its success in this capacity has clearly been limited.
Micro-credit is a way of banking which claims to be more effective in
the alleviation of poverty than the loans of supranational credit agencies and
conventional banks. This form of credit can target the self-employed and in cities such as
Dakar and Lagos (where the 'informal sector' accounts for about 50% of employment) it has
tremendous potential as a mechanism for economic development. This paper is not intended
to be an exhaustive study of the particularities of Micro Credit. It is rather an
examination of some of the more interesting dynamics of the Grameen Bank (whose policies
in Bangladesh have arguably become the prototype of Micro Credit.) This paper will examine
the areas in which such banks can function effectively, as well as some of the limitations
of Micro Credit (as depicted by the Grameen Bank)
The proponents of Micro Credit argue that 'conventional' forms of
credit can often have counterproductive consequences in terms of the economic development
of the recipient country. Credit is often gratefully accepted by the governments of
developing countries, in spite of the strain which high interest rates places on their
respective economies. The escalation of the debt crisis is an example of this phenomenon
as well as of the quantitative, rather than qualitative approach, which many institutions
adopt to the issue of credit. In 1981, LDC debt amounted to US$ 739 billion. By 1995, the
accumulated debts of LDC countries had risen to US$ 2 trillion. Ironically "All the
assistance Africa receives from the international aid agencies, the United Nations, and
the big industrial nation governments, some $10 billion a year, just about covers the
payments African countries owe on their foreign debts."2
Increased 'conventional' loans may facilitate, rather than undermine the process of
economic development, but this is often not the case. International aid amounts to $50 -
$55 billion a year but a significant amount of this money supports huge bureaucracies
which become corrupt and inefficient, quickly incurring losses. It is perhaps ironic to
note that "In a world which trumpets the superiority of the market economy and free
enterprise, aid money still goes to expand government spending, often acting against the
interests of the market economy."3
Muhammad Yunus (founder of the Grameen Bank) notes that as long as
collateral is a prerequisite for 'private' loans, the poor will not be deemed
credit-worthy. Nevertheless he argues that loans are viable in the absence of collateral.
Remarkably, his contention has been vindicated by the fact that 98% of Grameen's
'uninsured' loans are paid back. This recovery rate contrasts starkly with the repayment
rate of Bangladesh as a whole (which is between 30 to 40%.) Grameen relies on the
"collateral of peer pressure" for the high recovery rate on its loans. To
qualify for these loans potential borrowers must first form a group of five. Members are
required to undergo a two-week training session before any loans are made. The first loan
will be made to one individual from the group, and other members of the group are not
allowed to borrow money until a regular repayment record has been established. Once this
has been established other members of the group are allowed access to credit. They are
obliged however, to meet once a week with a "bank officer" to make loan payments
and to critique each other's business plans. This is crucial because members will not
obtain approval for repeat loans if one of the borrowers defaults on his debt. This
accountability is one of the fundamental dynamics that underlies Grameen's success in
Bangladesh. Individuals are not just responsible for their own economic welfare, but in
accepting loans from the Grameen Bank, they become at least partially responsible for the
economic welfare of their group members. This is at once the greatest strength and
weakness of the Grameen system of banking. It is effective in communities (such as those
found in rural Bangladesh) where group members are likely to know one another well. This
will facilitate the effectiveness of "peer pressure" as well as augmenting
mutual trust and accountability. However, Micro Credit projects have run into considerable
difficulties in cities such as London and Paris. By Muhammad Yunus's own admission
"The social solidarity was not strong enough to create the effect of peer pressure
and peer support which is the linchpin of Grameen's micro-credit loans."4
Another factor, which has characterized the Grameen system of banking,
is the adoption of incremental, as opposed to lump sum, repayment of loans. Borrowers are
obliged to repay their loans in weekly installments and this may be a contributing factor
to Grameen's high rate of repayment, for two reasons. The first is that borrowers are not
faced with the psychological barrier of having to repay a relatively large sum of money in
'one go' (i.e. the average loan size in 1994 was $140 and this figure is over half the
annual income of many borrowers.) The second advantage is that a system of incremental
repayment is, in itself, a confidence-building measure. An individual who has already
repaid part of his loan may be less likely to forfeit on that loan. Mr. Yunus believes
that this system will "enhance self-discipline among people who have never borrowed
before in their lives, and will give them the confidence that they can manage it."5
One of the most fundamental and contentious aspects of Grameen's system
of banking relates to the fact that 94% of its borrowers are women. This policy of
targeting women as the principal credit beneficiaries can help to facilitate the
alleviation of poverty (i.e. Todaro notes that "the poorest segments of Third World
populations live in households headed by women."6)
Women also tend to have fewer opportunities (i.e. with regard to both education and
employment) than men. According to a survey conducted by Mahmoub Hossain, approximately
half of Grameen's women borrowers said that they were unemployed at the time they became
Grameen members (compared with less than 7% of the men.) Women tend to have higher
repayment rates than men, and are more likely to spend a larger proportion of 'new
earnings' on their children's welfare. Studies have also shown that where women's share of
income within the family is relatively high, there is less discrimination against girls.
This relates to the fact that where women are able to contribute economically to family
income, they are viewed more as an economic asset rather than as a burden. Targeting women
with regard to credit therefore serves a variety of functions, ranging from granting them
financial empowerment to increasing the productivity of home-based production (which
occupies many women in the developing world.) As well as encouraging confidence and
independence in women, access to credit whereby they can obtain gainful employment,
increases the opportunity cost of having 'many' children. As incomes improve and the
incidence of poverty decreases, population growth rates also tend to decrease.
In many contexts, this policy of targeting women for loans challenges
the 'status quo' and precipitates social mobility. Alan Jolis argues that one of the
consequences of the 'financial empowerment' of women is that "suddenly the old
repressive, patriarchal ways become less relevant." 7It
is important to note, however, that sudden challenges to the socio-cultural fabric of a
society can produce 'backlash effects.' For example, Grameen has experienced only limited
'success' in India and Pakistan, despite the fact that both countries share cultural
similarities with Bangladesh. Social and cultural factors often determine the respective
roles that men and women can play in the economies of developing countries (and
elsewhere.) Traditions in Bangladesh, for example, may inhibit a woman's ability to gain
employment outside the home (i.e. the role of 'purdah.') Grameen loans facilitate
self-employment, however, and women may be able to work from home while respecting
traditional conventions. Other traditional conventions may be less easy to reconcile, and
in certain cases it may be deemed inappropriate for women to be earning income at all. As
UNRISD (United Nations Research Institute for Social Development) notes, women's effective
control of the loaned money should be the focus of attention (in evaluating the success of
such a policy) rather than simply analyzing access to that money, given the high rate of
male 'appropriation' of the loans. This is a significant point as this 'appropriation'
characterizes many of the loans made to women in Bangladesh.
Micro-credit's potential as a means of economic development is
especially pertinent in the current global climate of privatization. Governments of
developing countries are often subjected to pressure (from organizations such as the World
Bank and the IMF) to privatize (or at least to 'downsize') public-sector enterprises which
are deemed inefficient. They must therefore significantly decrease the public-sector wage
bill while at the same time trying to control rising unemployment rates (by creating
enough jobs to offset 'burgeoning' labor forces.) The 'informal sector' is one means,
albeit an imperfect one, of accomplishing this. As Karl Maier contends, "the lack of
a secure environment in which to work, crumbling infrastructures and educational
institutions, and the dearth of confidence that investments today will bring rewards
tomorrow have pushed the bulk of Africa's economic activity underground into the so-called
informal sector."8 This phenomenon is not exclusive to Africa, and
characterizes, to a greater or lesser extent, the economies of many developing countries.
Although it may not be registered in the annual calculations of gross national product,
the 'informal sector' is the source of livelihood for many of the poorest people across
much of the developing world. The informal sector tends to be particularly significant in
urban areas and accounts for approximately 30% of employment in Abidjan, 50% in Dakar and
Lagos, and 80% in Accra. It must be noted that there are limitations associated with the
informal sector, namely the inability of governments to tax generated revenue and the
existence of illegal activity such as the 'black market.' Nevertheless, governments of
developing countries often 'tolerate' aspects of the 'informal sector.' Failure to do so
would exacerbate problems of poverty, income inequality, and 'real' unemployment and would
hinder an important source of initiative and enterprise. Micro credit can effectively
target the self-employed and where the 'informal sector' accounts for a significant
proportion of employment, it has tremendous potential as a mechanism for economic
Muhammad Yunus argues that although training and education will
facilitate the use of credit, they are not necessarily prerequisites. He contends that all
human beings have a skill the survival skill. He believes that "the poor are
poor not because they are untrained, or illiterate, they are poor because they cannot
retain the returns of their labor. This reason for this is obvious they have no
control over capital."9 Yunus refutes the contention that credit alone is useless
and that it must be packaged with training, marketing, transportation facilities,
technology and education. Grameen's results in Bangladesh go some way towards vindicating
this belief. Although Grameen does offer some 'support facilities', many borrowers do not
receive technical assistance. Nevertheless, it is estimated that one-third of Grameen's
two million borrowers have crossed the poverty line and that another third are 'close.'
Grameen has not only succeeded in reducing poverty by the headcount measure but it has
also significantly reduced poverty by the income shortfall measure.
The economic multiplier effects of micro lending can potentially be
quite significant. One of the reasons for this is that the 'poor' tend to spend most of
their money in the local economy on basic things such as food, clothing and shelter. Micro
Credit is also a relatively inexpensive means of combating poverty. As Muhammad Yunus
notes, "we have no legal instrument between the lender and the borrower in
Grameen."10 This allows Grameen to 'cut costs' in a way that
'conventional banks' are not able to. In addition, Grameen's annualized interest rate on
loans is 16% and this challenges the 'monopolistic' power that moneylenders (whose
interest rates are often as high as 200%) frequently have in developing countries
(particularly in the Indian subcontinent.) However, Grameen's costs are relatively high by
commercial bank standards. It is estimated that they stand at 26.5% of the value of loans
and advances. This is approximately 10% higher than the nominal interest rate charged.
Approximately 39% of the costs of lending are therefore subsidized. However, it is
important to note that "about half of the excess of costs over interest receipts are
attributable to the expense of opening new branches, which should be treated as a capital
The significance of the Grameen Bank relates to whether or not Micro
Credit can be replicated "an successfully in other parts of the world. It was
estimated in 1998 that a total of 223 Grameen replication programs were being carried out
in 58 different countries and that approximately eight million people are now getting
Micro Credit globally. The success of these projects has varied tremendously and Micro
Credit has, perhaps surprisingly, made relatively little impact in India and Pakistan
(where cultural and traditional practices resist the policy of loans to women.) However,
there are several impediments to Micro credit other then the forces, which stand to lose
from its implementation (i.e. the moneylenders.) For example, Micro Credit faces a
significant obstacle in many 'developed' countries as a consequence of the social welfare
system. Potential borrowers may be reluctant to lose the welfare checks and insurance
coverage, which they otherwise receive, by becoming self-employed. Even if individuals do
accept the 'risk' associated with taking a loan, self-employed people in many developed
countries must file documents, petition bureaucracies and keep books, in order to remain
within the framework of the law. It may be unrealistic to expect individuals, who are
essentially 'provided for', to incur these risks.
The system of "peer pressure collateral' is also less likely to
work in urban settings where borrowers may be less 'accountable' to one another. In
England and France, for example, Micro lending has thus far failed to emerge as a
significant phenomenon. To reiterate Muhammad Yunus's own assessment of the situation
"The social solidarity was not strong enough to create the effect of peer pressure
and peer support which is the linchpin of Micro Credit loans."12
Part of the reason for the tremendous success, which Grameen enjoys in Bangladesh, can be
explained in terms of 'accountability.' Someone who borrows money in London, for example,
may not have the same incentives to repay the loan as someone that lives in a small
village. The villager may be more reluctant to default on the loan as he or she is likely
to encounter, and have to deal with, members of his or her 'borrowing group', perhaps on a
daily basis. It is therefore perhaps surprising to note that Micro Credit has reached
150,000 Americans in inner cities like Chicago and Washington. Borrowers can begin with a
$500 or $1000 loan, which is enough money to purchase gardening or hair styling tools, for
example. Indeed Micro Credit projects are being implemented in countries as diverse as
South Africa and Sweden. The key to the success of Micro Credit lies in its ability to
adapt to local environments, while adhering to the basic Grameen principles. For example,
the governor of the State of Illinois gave a special exemption to welfare recipients who
took out micro-loans, which ensured that they would be covered by welfare in the interim
period, until they could get their personal 'businesses' off the ground.
Since its founding in 1983 as "an innovative lending institution
that makes small, uninsured loans to poor self-employed individuals in Bangladesh"
the Grameen Bank has evolved remarkably. It has diversified in the nature of its loans
(i.e. the inclusion of housing loans) and embarked on several projects in the field of
technology (i.e. the launching of a cellular service in Bangladesh.) Having embarked on
this journey with a capitalization of $30, Muhammad Yunus can now reflect on the fact that
on any working day Grameen collects an average of $1.5 million in weekly installments.
There can be little doubt, given the evidence, that credit is a cost-effective weapon with
which to fight poverty. It can serve, as the case of Bangladesh illustrates, as a catalyst
in the process of economic development. Approximately 1.3 billion people suffer extreme
poverty and this figure is exacerbated by burgeoning population growth in much of the
developing world. It should be noted that Micro Credit is not a panacea for global
poverty. Nevertheless, as the Grameen example illustrates, with commitment and innovation
the core principles of Micro Credit can be used to tackle some of development's most
pressing issues.
1'Faith and Credit: The
World's Bank's Secular Empire. Susan George and Fabrizio Sabelli.
2'Into the house of the
ancestors: Inside the new Africa.' Karl Maier
3'Banker to the poor.' The
autobiography of Muhammad Yunus.
4'Banker to the poor'
Muhammad Yunus
5'Banker to the poor'
Muhammad Yunus
6'Economic Development'
Michael Todaro
8'Into the house of the
ancestors' Karl Maier
9'Banker to the poor'
Muhammad Yunus
10'Banker to the poor'
Muhammad Yunus
11'Case studies in
economic development' Stephen Smith
12'Banker to the poor'
Muhammad Yunus
The author is studying in an honours program in International
Development and Economics at McGill University in Canada. He is currently working on a
paper, which focuses on the barriers to trade which hinder economic development in the
'third world' / LDC's. Please contact email@example.com for further information.

subset: commoncrawl


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Godzilla vs. Austin
Our friends over at the Austin American Statesman have posted a short video titled Godzilla vs. Austin. The short video takes a quirky look at the evolution of Godzilla and how he compares to various landmarks in the Austin area, including the Texas State Capitol and the Frost Bank Tower.
The narrator then poses this question to Austinites: Godzilla destroying I-35 – better or worse than an evening commute on it?
Watch the video below:


text:
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Garman Homes is offering all eligible employees health, dental and term life insurance. The products described on this website are employer-paid benefits, and eligible employees have the opportunity to add eligible dependents, at their cost, to health and dental coverage as a result of a qualifying event.
Please speak to your plan administrator if you have any enrollment questions.


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The lawn buddy is a versatile and convenient way to carry, store, and utilize small home and garden project supplies. The handle folds down for comfortable convenient seat complete with drink holder. Lift the handle up for access to 3 storage compartments and removable tray. Molded clips on the stand conveniently carry long handle tools. Construction: Poly. Fully assembled.
Over all size is 15.5 x 25 x 13.5 inches. All Poly Construction and 7 inch wheels / molded tool clips. Handle folds down for a comfortable seat.
We will process your order the day we receive it.
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text:
Housing Options Support Officer
- Recruiter
- Location
- Bideford, Devon
- Salary
- £16,781 - £20,138 subject to Job Evaluation
- Posted
- 21 Feb 2018
- Closing date
- 15 Mar 2018
- Industry
- Government & politics, Local government, Housing, Advice/benefits, Community, Homelessness, Housing services
- Job function
- Administration
- Job level
- Experienced (non manager)
- Hours
- Full time
- Contract
- Contract
- Listing type
- Job vacancy
The Housing Options team is seeking to employ a Housing Options Support Officer. You will be working as part of a busy team, and will be administering the Council's choice based lettings scheme (Devon Home Choice), and supporting Housing Options Officers to prevent and relieve homelessness, and assisting in managing the Council's temporary accommodation.
This is a frontline, customer facing role, and in addition to undertaking a range of administrative tasks you will be required to give advice and assistance regarding Devon Home Choice. You will also be required to carry out home visits in a range of circumstances and as lone worker.
You will have experience of working within a customer facing role during which support and advice was given. You should enjoy problem solving, be able to motivate and encourage others, have good negotiation and communication skills and be confident about your ability to manage challenging behaviour.
You will be required to travel. A DBS check is required for this post.
For an informal discussion, please contact Helen Page, Housing Options Team Leader on
Ext: 01237 428843.
For an application form and further details please visit our website via the button below.
Please note we will not accept c.v.'s
Closing Date 15th March 2018 at midday Interview Date 4th April 2018
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text:
Our bus arrived in NYC at 8:30am on Saturday. Our first stop was another trip to Shopsin's to see if it could blow me away for a second time. We got there at about 9:10 and it was empty so we walked across the street to use the restroom at McD's and by the time we got back all but one table was full with regular's and we had to wait in line. I didn't mind, luckily our itinerary for the day was pretty loose. Last time we were given a table out in the open dining area, this time we were fortunate enough to be seated in the cozy cubby right by the kitchen.
I'd been studying the menu for weeks, which I just love, and as expected it was different from the one lying on our table. Not drastically different, but different. My wife and I had already agreed on our order, and luckily everything we wanted was still being offered. Initially I really wanted to try the fudge-filled red velvet poppy seed pancakes, but the Mrs. wanted another taste of the Slutty Cakes so we ordered a half order of those and the Mo'Betta for her and the Castles w/Hatch for myself.
I'd been studying the menu for weeks, which I just love, and as expected it was different from the one lying on our table. Not drastically different, but different. My wife and I had already agreed on our order, and luckily everything we wanted was still being offered. Initially I really wanted to try the fudge-filled red velvet poppy seed pancakes, but the Mrs. wanted another taste of the Slutty Cakes so we ordered a half order of those and the Mo'Betta for her and the Castles w/Hatch for myself.
First to arrive was the Mo'Betta which is eggs and maple bacon sandwiched between two mac n cheese pancakes. Yes, you read that right. I'm not repeating myself. Don't believe me? Just look at it:
See, I told you. Immediately after snapping a few pictures I snagged a lone piece of the maple bacon that had fallen outside of the boundaries of the sandwich. Fair game, I say. It was perfectly crunchy and glazed with maple. Oh man, I had to try this thing in all it's glory. She poured her maple syrup over top and then squirted a little pool of hot sauce on the side. I built the perfect bite on my fork, getting a piece of every component, rolled it through the hot sauce and chomped it down.
|Mo'Betta even betta
Yes, I saw the light. It was like breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in one bite. I've been on a salty-sweet kick as of late and this dish made it move. Ya know, *it*. The crunchy bacon contrasts the fluffy pancakes and eggs. The hot sauce and maple syrup dance a wonderful waltz in your mouth. The flavor of each component both jumped out in front and married harmoniously. There was no way my Castles could stand up to this. Next up was the Slutty Cakes which weren't quite as good as last time.
They were just as tender and packed full of flavor, but this time around I felt they were more heavy on the pumpkin and lighter on the peanut butter.
|Slutty innards
You want more details? Check my first review of Shopsin's . While I won't quite label them as the *best* pancakes I've ever had, they are most certainly my favorite, and I don't see them being dethroned from that seat anytime soon.
As soon as he placed the Castles in front of me the smell of eggs and hatch chiles assailed my nostrils. I'd heard nothing but rave reviews about Kenny's sliders so I was very eager to try this breakfasty spin on them.
|Castles w/hatch
|Imagine all those burgers in your stomach right now...
|Deliciousness ain't cheap...
Happily full we left and set out for an hour long subway ride to the Cloisters Museum.
|The Cloisters
|Some guy guarding a door frame
|Terrace garden
|View from terrace
|I like this view better!
The Mrs. expressed interest in checking out the ridiculously huge cookies at Levain Bakery beforehand, and I agreed that it would be nice to nab a cookie and take a stroll through Central Park over to the Met. As we arrived I noticed one of the bakers loading tray after tray of softball sized cookie dough balls into the fridge.
|Edible softballs
|Chocolate chip walnut
After checking in and relaxing for a moment we decided to head out to dinner. Vinegar Hill House had been on my radar for a while, and more recently it was featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate for their Red Wattle Country Chop. We arrived and I immediately loved the place. It was bustling and there it had a great rustic look with an exposed wood-fired oven and a copper-topped bar.
|Bar and open kitchen
The hostess told the couple right in front of us that there was an hour and a half wait and our eyes widened. I expected a wait, but not quite that... No matter, we had nowhere to be and I had my sights set on a big pile of porky goodness. We put our names down and literally at that second a couple walked by leaving two prime bar spots open. We told her we'd dine at the bar and our one and a half hour wait turned into no wait at all.
The bartender came over after a few minutes and I ordered a Dark n Stormy hoping the ginger would help get my stomach back on track and a glass of red for the Mrs. I'd never had a DnS but I was eager to try one as I love ginger, lime, and, of course, rum. He told me that while most places make theirs with a sub-par ginger beer, they made theirs with ginger syrup. I was surprised when he put the drink in front of me served in a tall skinny glass with crushed ice.
|Dark and frou-frou
I felt like I had to tuck my sack back before trying it. It was a tad too sweet for my liking, but other than that I really enjoyed the flavors. I killed it before our food hit the bar and ordered a glass of red to go with my chop. He spouted off the specials and, after finding out they just sold their last Mexican-inspired corn salad, we ordered the pepper-crusted lamb ribs served with a sauce comprised of greek yogurt, red onion, lemon, and parsley. For our mains, I ordered the chop for myself which was now served over jalapeno-cheddar grits, and for the Mrs. the pappardelle with lamb ragu, olives, and ricotta.
|Lamb ribs
The ribs looked great, but they were pretty tough to cut through. After sawing away at them for a few moments I just picked one up and started knawing at it. I could feel people's eyes burning into me, but I didn't care. This is how Mr. Micro gets it done, proper or not. The ribs had a subdued gaminess and a nice peppery bite, but what really blew me away was that sauce.
|Delicious saaaauuuce...
The flavors just jumped off the plate. I'd never tasted a sauce so bold. I tried to get every last drop off the plate with my fork, wishing I had a spoon. Serve that sauce to me in a bowl and charge me what you will I told the guy. Damn. This dish only heightened my anticipation of our entrees. First up was the pappardelle.
I speared a long wide noodle and swirled it around the plate, twisting it onto my fork, being sure to pick up some ricotta and an olive or two, and airplaned it in. Yes. This dish was a perfect example of tasting flavors you are exactly in the mood for right at that very instant. Now, I will say that I very rarely order pasta in a restaurant, simply due to the fact that restaurants in my neck of the woods rarely offer pasta prepared the way I like it (like this), so my experience is fairly limited.
|It's a broad, flat noodle
The olives made the dish a tad salty, but other than that this dish really nailed it. The ricotta was fresh and fluffy, but the star for me was the lamb ragu, offering up the gaminess that I missed in the ribs. The pasta itself was perfectly al dente (made in-house I'm guessing?). VHH was 2/2.
|Pile o' pork
I've never really had pork prepared like this here chop. I reckon it tasted like steak! Big thick slices with a nice tender layer of fat running through each, lending a richness that was only enhanced by the creamy grits. I didn't really get much jalapeno flavor, but with cheddar and pork dry-humping my tastebuds into submission I barely noticed. The red he paired with my chop really evoked the smokiness of the charred meat and cheesy grits. I thoroughly enjoyed washing down every bite with a quaff of wine.
|A little fat with your pork? Yes, please!
I was sad to see it served in a bowl instead of that badass chopping block, but I'm assuming it was due to the inclusion of grits with the dish instead of the... whatever it was served with before. This dish was the second instance where the last bite on the plate was the best. The meat they left on the bone was porky to the nth power. I knawed it all off. All of it:
|I win
It made me quite sad knowing that most diners probably thought it was just bones and missed out on the best meat on the plate. It pays to be educated about these things and a willingness to get a little dirty, even in fine dining, usually pays off. Did we want dessert? We'd gone this far, why the hell not? He handed us the menu, but as soon as my eyes landed on the words 'salted caramel' my mind was made up. My voice memo about about this dessert simply said: (in my slobbering Homer Simpson voice) "Salted caramel custard with pecan shortbread..." (and then in my Kramer voice) "Uh'giddy up!"
|Salted caramel custard
Neither the Mrs. or myself are really crazy about whipped cream, but here it served to balance out both the richness of the custard and the saltiness. The shortbread cookies were just oozing with butter and they literally crumbled apart after biting into them.
|A perfect ending
The progression of flavors in this meal really couldn't have gone much better. Food this good doesn't come cheap though, and to say this meal put a dent in my wallet is a vast understatement.
Even though I'd been up since 3:30am I was determined to see my man Anderson Silva fight in UFC 117 that night. It was about 10:30 when we finished dinner so we headed on over to the Buffalo Wild Wings in Brooklyn. I ordered a tall Magic Hat #9 and watched a few matches, but couldn't quite hold out until the end. At the end of the 3rd round of the title match I couldn't take anymore so we stumbled back to our hotel and passed out. Silva was getting his ass beat when I left, but he ended up pulling off a triangle choke in the 5th round to win it. Awesome.
That's it for Day 1. Stay tuned for Day 2. Thank you, as always, for shopping at your Abingdon Wal-Mart.


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Today over 20% of the World's Muslims live in Africa. Africa, where about 50% of its population are Muslims; most of who are in West Africa - which is one of the earliest places to have received Islam (read this). West Africa has had a long, rich history with Islam and some of its celebrated leaders - present and past, have been Muslim. Wherever you are in Western Africa, you will find a Muslim. And you will find a mosque. Some of the earliest and some of the most intricately built mosques, are in this part of Africa.
+ Islamic Finder
+ Muslim Population
+ Muslim Population
+ Islamic Population
+ Flickr
|Djenne, Mali
One of the oldest mosques in West Africa is the Grand Mosque of Djenne, Mali. It is world famous and is renowned as a work epitomizing earthen Islamic architecture. The mosque is mainly made of earthen bricks and wood. Every spring, the mosque is meticulously re-plastered with mud. During its heydays, D'jenne was not only one of the main commercial centers in Africa, it was also a center for Islamic learning and pilgrimage. Read more of Mali's wonderful Islamic architecture here.
|Burkina Faso, Mosque in Bobo-Dioulasso
Another old mosque in Western Africa, also elaborately built of mud and earthen structures - is found in Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso. The poles sticking out of the walls have both - a structural function and to help climb up the mosque when it's in need of repairs.
|Ghana, Larabanga Mosque - 14th Century
The Larabanga Masjid, is the oldest mosque in Ghana. Note how similar in shape and structure it is to the Bobo-Dioulasso mosque. Read the book: Butabu: Adobe Architecture of West Africa, by James Morris, about these amazing Sudanese architecture. See some of Moriss's superb photos here.
In the remotest of villages, in Western Africa, a mosque can always be found.
|Cape Verde
In Western Africa, Muslims, though few, are in all the islands. In Cape Verde, Muslims are very few, but the number is growing.
|Sao Tome and Principe
In the scenic islands of Sao Tome and Principe, there are even fewer Muslims. I do not know of any mosques on these islands - reportedly, there are none.
|Porto Novo, Benin
Islam is well established in Benin and there are many mosques in the country.
|Cameroon, N'Gaoundere
Muslims make about 25% of Cameroon's population. All across this country, mosques can be found.
|Jami'a Mosque, Libreville, Gabon
In Western Africa, Cameroon has one of the most active Muslim population.
|Jami'a Mosque, N'Djamenna
Chad is predominantly Muslim and mosques can be found in every populated part of the country.
|Gambia, Mosque in Serekunda
Gambia's population is almost wholly Muslim. This small, peaceful country, has many beautiful mosques. And many more are being built.
|Ghana, Jami'a Mosque, Accra
The real number of Muslims in Ghana (45%) is believed to be much more than the official one of 12%. Of the many mosques found - in one of Africa's most democratic countries and in a country where Muslims and people of other religions have harmoniously coexisted with each other for generations, is the Jami'a Masjid in Accra.
|Masjid, Guinea
Guinea, is another very small country in West Africa which is predominantly Muslim. Guinea has many beautiful mosques that can be found in many of the populated parts of the country.
|Masjid, Guinea-Bissau
Another tiny West African country with a majority Muslim population, is Guinea Bissau. It has many mosques, too.
|Jami'a Mosque, Abidjan
In Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire), Muslims make up about half the population. There are many mosques in the country, especially in the North. The Jami'a Masjid in Abidjan, is one of the most grand in the country.
|Masjid, Liberia
Although marginalized for long, particularly in the past - the number of Muslims have steadily continued to grow in Liberia. They now make up about 20% of the population. Many of the mosques that were destroyed during the gruesome civil war are now being repaired; and more are being built.
|Jami'a Mosque, Niamey, Niger
Almost all the people of Niger are Muslims. The country has many mosques, some very old.
|Jami'a Mosque, Abuja
Islam is the largest religion in Nigeria where Islam has a long and rich history. There are many mosques in the country - small and large. Some new, like the one above in the capital city, Abuja.
|Masjid, Kano Old Port
Kano, in the far North of Nigeria, has the second largest population after Lagos. Islam is predominant here and Kano City has many old mosques.
Lagos, the port city in the South, is the most populous city in Nigeria and, of cities, it has the second largest population in Africa - after Cairo. With about half of its population being Muslim, Lagos has many mosques. Most of which are new.
|Jami'a Mosque, Freetown, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone is predominantly Muslim. Above, one of the many mosques in the country, is the Jami'a Masjid in the capital city, Freetown; like the main Kampala mosque in Uganda - it was built by the late Libyan leader: Muammar Gaddafi.
|Masjid, Togo
Of West African countries, figures for the exact numbers of Muslims in Togo - depending on the source of the figures, vary considerably. Muslims in Togo make up any where from 20% to 55% of the population. In most populated areas, can be found mosques.
|Masjid Cheikh Oumar Foutiyou Tall, Dakar
Of African countries, Senegal, is one of the very few that I have the highest regards and liking for. Almost every one in Senegal is a Muslim. Most practice a unique form of Sufism.
|Jami'a Mosque, Oukam, Dakar
Of West African countries, mosques in Senegal are grander and are much cleaner. In this country too, can be found some of the most beautiful mosques in this part of Africa.
|Masjid, Goree Island, Senegal
Mosques, in Senegal are of varying shapes and architecture. This variety is very refreshing. In the center of the country, is the holy city of Mouridism, Touba; next to the grand mosque, below, is where Mouridism's founder: Sheikh Amadou Bamba, is buried.
|Masjid Touba, Senegal
In Western Africa, Islam has a long and rich history. Some of the greatest and most renowned old Islamic centers and mosques are found in this part of Africa. Many of the mosques here, old and new, have some story to tell. And unlike nowhere else in Africa, mosques in Western Africa vary from the very tiny without minarets, to the very large with imposing tiered minarets; from the old mud bricked structures - to the very modern multi-storied, tiled; with some - marbled.
+ Islamic Finder
+ Muslim Population
+ Muslim Population
+ Islamic Population
+ Flickr


text:
Schedule a FREE UNIT INSPECTION now to:
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Regardless of the original equipment's age, model or manufacturer, your local EVAPCO Representative or Mr. GoodTower® Service Center will perform a FREE UNIT INSPECTION to ensure your equipment's optimum performance and trouble-free operation!
Request a FREE UNIT INSPECTION or site visit to answer your technical questions and to provide quotations for: parts, rebuilds, equipment upgrades (platforms, super low sound fans, etc.) and replacement units.See the FIND A REPRESENTATIVE or FIND A MR. GOODTOWER® SERVICE CENTER section of the website for your local contact.


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"An entirely new perspective"
Since UAV's or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles first hit the mainstream production scene a few years ago, storytelling has changed drastically. By utilizing airspace properly we now have nearly infinite different angles to tell a story best way fit . What does this mean for you?
You tell us what you want
We'll tell you how aerials can help
It's true that in such a rapidly evolving industry UAV's are being used for more and more unique tasks. We love hearing about new ideas and concepts people dream up. Even though we specialize in the photography and filmmaking side of the business, please don't hesitate to contact us if you want to use UAV's for something else. If we can't help you, I'd be willing to bet we know someone who can!


text: Both of our girls are netballers so that means two trips to the Mt Wellington Netball Centre every week. The weather is usually horrendous – that's just standard – and netball is only cancelled for electrical storms. I optimistically take the little A6 Moleskine and a pencil just in case my digits aren't frozen enough to sketch with.


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I love you all, and I don't want to annoy you with advertising, but well, I'm gonna advertise. Well, we will call it INFORMING instead of advertising :)
I am participating in a boutique tomorrow, and would love to see some visitors! I will be selling quilts: all of those currently on my etsy site plus 5 more that haven't made it online yet. And a few of my etsy quilts will be on SALE at the show! My friend and I will also be selling these super cute coal sacks, awesome stocking stuffers!
There will be some other awesome and talented vendors with cool stuff too!
Hair bows/flowers
Bow boards(these are sooo cool!)
And more!
For anyone interested, it will be from 8am-2pm tomorrow, Saturday 20, at the S.E. corner of Recker & Guadalupe in Superstition Highlands, Gilbert - follow the signs!
Thanks tons for putting up with all of my, uh, informing, and hope to see you there!


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Attractions in Richmond Hill, GA
USA › Georgia › Richmond Hill › Attractions
Richmond Hill Attractions (15)
Tybee Island Marine Science Center
1509 Strand Ave.
(912) 786-5917
(912) 786-5917
Oatland Island Wildlife Center
A wildlife sanctuary featuring mammals as well as birds of prey, this center offers educational seminar and tours for schoolchildren and visitors.
Ralph Gilbert Mark Civil Rights Museum
Honoring Savannah's father of civil rights, the Ralph Gilbert Mark Civil Rights Museum boasts artifacts and exhibits about African-American history and the Civil Rights movement.
The Mercer Williams House Museum
429 Bull St
(912) 236-6352
(912) 236-6352
SCAD Museum of Art
One of the city's premier museums, the SCAD Museum of Art features contemporary art and exhibitions, from fashion to paintings to sculpture.
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
An example of 19th century French gothic architecture, this restored Catholic church is one of the town's top attractions.
Jepson Center Museum of Art
Featuring three museums in one, this expansive institution focuses on contemporary art, from traveling exhibitions to permanent exhibits and educational programs.
Telfair Academy
Built in 1818. this mansion was once the royal Governor's residence. Guests can tour a collection of American and European paintings and sculpture as well as family furnishings from the 19th century.
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
Once the home of William Scarborough, one of the investors in the S.S. Savannah, this museum features maritime memorabilia, from ship models to relics and artifacts.
Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace
The birthplace of the founder of the Girl Scouts, this Federalist building features furnishings and mementos of Juliette Gordon Low. Operated by the Girl Scouts of America, the museum honors Low's legacy as a pioneer and artist.
American Prohibition Museum
209 E Saint Julian Street
(855) 245-8992
(855) 245-8992
Owens-Thomas House
A National Historic Landmark, this home, built in the early 1800s, is an example of English Regency architecture and boasts pieces from that period, including furniture, textiles and art.
Webb Military Museum
411 E York St
(912) 663-0398
(912) 663-0398
Davenport House Museum
Built in the early 1800s and once the home of local Isaiah Davenport, this museum boasts a collection of Davenport china and decorative arts from the Federalist period. Enjoy high tea in the garden during certain months.
Fort James Jackson
A restored fort from the 19th century that is the oldest brick fort surviving today in Georgia. Guests can enjoy daily canon firings and interactive exhibits.
Richmond Hill Vacation Rentals1 - 6 of 24 rentals
Henry Street Hideaway$64 - $270 per nightSavannah, GA1 Bed 1 Bath Sleeps 2
Savannah Lark$64 - $404 per nightSavannah, GA2 Bed 1.5 Bath Sleeps 5 (4 Adults Max)
Savannah Lez Frederick: Premier$229 - $553 per nightSavannah, GA3 Bed 3.5 Bath Sleeps 6
Savannah Lez Frederick: Gallery$229 - $630 per nightSavannah, GA5 Bed 5 Bath Sleeps 12 (8 Adults Max)
Savannah Town$80 - $336 per nightSavannah, GA3 Bed 2 Bath Sleeps 7
Savannah Chic$85 - $291 per nightSavannah, GA1 Bed 1 Bath Sleeps 3 (2 Adults Max)


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text:
Welcome to Sandhills
Sandhills Canine Training & Behavioural Centre.
We our delighted to Welcome Naomi Sullivan to Sandhills.
Our training methods are force free and reward based. We use positive reinforcement of the behaviour we want.
We do not believe that dogs want to 'dominate us' and that we have to show the dog who is boss in order to train it.
We believe that training needs to incorporate an understanding of canine behaviour, our training is underpinned by scientific knowledge of animal learning theory and in particular how this relates to canines. Please go to the Behavioural and Clinic pages for more information on how we use science to understand how our dogs learn and to develop our training methods.
Our aim is to help owners to enjoy the training process with their dogs from puppy through to adult companion dogs, service or assistance dogs. We help you to understand the needs of your dog, its drives and motivations. Above all, we help you to see how successful training is based on; knowledge, play, understanding, consistent and kind leadership and love. Founder and Director of Sandhills CTC Ltd, Julia Jarrold
Mouse, Weasel & Badger welcome you to Sandhills


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In addition to making hefty profits, Exxon also had a hefty tax bill. Worldwide, the company paid $10.5 billion in income taxes in the second quarter, $9.5 billion in sales taxes, and over $12 billion in what it called "other taxes."Mark Perry points out:
In other words, Exxon Mobil paid $32.361 billion in taxes in the second quarter, which works out to $4,114 in taxes per second. Another way to look at it - Exxon paid almost $3 in taxes ($32.361 billion) for every $1 in profits ($11.68 billion), see chart above.


text:
Quick Links on This Page
Solo 417 Battery Powered Backpack Sprayer
Probably the biggest comment when reading reviews about the Solo 417 battery backpack sprayer is the weight. Because it is a 6.6 gallon tank, it is going to be much heavier than those comparing it to a 4 gallon tank.
Many people have had issues with the battery not holding it's charge, but you must give it 9-10 hours to charge for the first time before using it. Once you have done that, you should be good to go for 5-7 hours of work on a single charge.
Uses: Spraying pesticides, herbicides, and for general spraying. Do not use with bleach, chlorine or any disinfectants. If you need a backpack sprayer for bleach, click here.
When researching the Solo 417, I noticed that most of the negative comments were made in 2011 and 2012. Since then, Solo seems to have resolved the complaints (battery life, leaking, etc) as you will find that the more current customer comments are very positive.
Nozzles: This sprayer comes with three nozzles: a flat spray nozzle, a hollow cone nozzle and a jet stream nozzle. These three nozzles should cover your needs so you do not need to buy other nozzles.
Padded Straps: The sprayer comes with padded, adjustable straps.
PSI: Toggle switch to give you 36 psi or 62 psi provided through a 12 volt battery.
Hose: 5 feet in length.
Solo 417 Battery Operated Backpack Sprayer is available on this page of Amazon
Solo Backpack Sprayer Parts
If you already have a solo backpack sprayer and just need a part – you can find them here.


text:
About Us
High School
Senior Portraits
Our award-winning, professional photographers create a fun and relaxed environment, while working closely with you to capture your true personality in each of your senior pictures.
Cap & Gown, Casual Dress and Drape or Tux
Sittings -
Our nominal sitting fee provides students with more than just a yearbook portrait. You may choose to have your student photographed on an array of backgrounds, with a variety of clothing changes.
– Studio 1 will notify and schedule all seniors by mail of his/her date and time. Multiple days and times are offered for your student's convenience.
In-house studio
Multiple photographer stations
Formal | Cap & Gown | Casual poses – no additional charge
All yearbook portraits retouched
Excellent customer service
for parent questions and orders


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A character points a sword forward, either to challenge an enemy or command an army. Depending on how heavy the weapon is, this might be hard as hell to do in real life for any extended time period.
Similar with Giving Someone the Pointer Finger, only with a weapon. Overlaps with Sean Connery Is About to Shoot You when the character is facing the audience. This can also be used with Rearing Horse for extra Cool points. Compare Stab the Sky and Sword Plant.
open/close all folders
Anime And Manga
- Sunrise's "Brave Perspective" that was made popular by animator Masami Obari featured in most works under the company; commonly known, and approved as the Obari Ittouryu (The Obari Single Sword Style).
- Bleach anime
- In the very first episode, Rukia Kuchiki does this to Ichigo Kurosaki - not as a threat, but as an invitation to impale himself on her zanpakuto and absorb some of her soul reaper power so he can fight the hollow threatening them both.
- Episode 22: When Gin Ichimaru tries to stop Ichigo and friends from entering the Seireitei, Ichigo points his sword at Gin while challenging him. Later on, when Ichigo is about to fight Ganju Shiba he points his zanpakuto at him first.
- Episode 58: Ichigo does it twice to Byakuya during their duel: once while invoking his Bankai, and again just after he achieves Bankai state.
- Episode 118: After unleashing his bankai, Ikkaku Madarame does this to his opponent, the Arrancar Edorad Leones.
- Episode 174: Uryu Ishida points his Seele Schneider energy sword at Espada #8 Szayelaporro Grantz just before using the Quincy Sprenger technique on him.
- Episode 176: Rukia does it to Doko Jinnai, the assassin she's fighting. In the same episode Kuzuryu does it to Uryu Ishida.
- Episode 183: Kira does this to a ninja-like opponent.
- Episode 185: Kira to Makoto Kibune during their duel.
- Episode 186: Ichigo to Kumoi.
- Episode 187: Ichigo to Captain Amagai.
- Episodes 196, 199-202: During their duel Kenpachi Zaraki does it at least four times to the Espada Nnoitra and Nnoitra does it at least once to Kenpachi.
- Episode 220: Captain Komamura does this to his Arrancar opponent Poww while unleashing his bankai.
- Episode 234: Ichigo's hollow form does it to Muramasa while asking him who he is.
- Episode 235: Ichigo's hollow form does it to Muramasa again, and Renji does it to his zanpakuto's spirit form.
- Episode 241: Renji does it to Captain Kuchiki while arresting him.
- Episode 242: Renji does it to Captain Kuchiki again while demanding that he not leave and Ikakku does it to his zanpakuto's spirit before the finale of their battle.
- Episode 244: Captain Kuchiki's zanpakuto's spirit does it to Ichigo.
- Episode 255: During their confrontation Ichigo and Muramasa do this to each other.
- Episode 269: Ulquiorra does it to Ichigo while releasing his sword and changing to Resurrección form.
- Episodes 273-274: During their fight, Captain Hitsugaya does it several times to Harribel.
- Episode 281: Sosuke Aizen does it to the Arrancar Barragan after using his zanpakuto's illusion power on him.
- Episode 298: Ichigo does it to Rangiku Matsumoto, who's playing the character of an evil alien in a film.
- Episode 309: Ichigo points his sword at Aizen just before unleashing his Final Getsuga Tensho at him, and Aizen points his partially dissolved zanpakuto at Kisuke Urahara when they face each other.
- Episode 322: When Rangiku Matsumoto and Reigei!Izuru Kira square off before their battle, they point their swords at each other.
- Episode 324: Before their fight, Reigei!Kenpachi points his sword at the real Kenny. After he stabs Kenny in the chest and apparently defeats him, he points his sword at him again.
- Episode 325: During their fight, Reigei!Hitsugaya points his sword at Byakuya before charging at him and trying to stab him.
- Episode 326: Reigei!Soifon does it to Kenpachi Zaraki with her sword before having her men attack him, Kageroza Inaba does it to Ichigo with his weapon when confronting him, Kenpachi Zaraki does it back to Reigei!Soifon after wiping out her men, and one of the Reigei!Momos does it to the other Momo while they're fighting.
- Episode 327. Captain Komammura does it to Reigei!Soifon during his battle with her.
- Episode 334. Ichigo Kurosaki does it twice to Kageroza Inaba while confronting him. After the second one he fires a Getsuga Tencho at Inaba.
- Episode 338. Captain Hitsugaya does it to Reigei!Hitsugaya and then to all of the reigei just before he and his reigei charge each other at the end of the episode.
- Episode 340. At the end of the episode, after Ichigo gets his spirit energy and sword back he does this to the Big Bad Yushima.
- Episode 341. Ichigo does it three separate times during his fight with Yushima.
- Episode 361. Ichigo does it to Ginjo just before attacking him with Getsuga Tencho.
- Chrona from Soul Eater tended to assume a stance like this (when Ragnorak took the form of a broadsword) with hir sword pointed ahead and off hand arm folded across hir chest.
- Signum of Lyrical Nanoha does this on several occasions, such as to Fate near the start of their battle in Episode 9 of A's.
- Hanaukyō Maid Tai La Verite. Konoe Tsuragi's "sister" does this twice: once to Konoe in Episode 8 while training her in sword play, and once in episode 10 to Yashima Sanae.
- Olivier Mira Armstrong in Fullmetal Alchemist does it numerous times, even to her own subordinate once.
- Hiei of YuYu Hakusho enjoys this trope.
- Bound to happen at least once an episode in Sengoku Basara. Masamune and Yukimura particularly like to employ it.
- Inuyasha does this all the damn time. Because just pointing would be ridiculous.
- Tsubasa -RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE-. Syaoran and his clone point their swords at each other at close range just before getting into a sword fight.
- In the end of the first episode of K, Kuroh does this to Shiro right after saving him from the guys that were trying to set him on fire.
- In Brave10, Saizo strikes this pose often for dramatic effect.
- In JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Polnareff's stand Silver Chariot often does this, given that said sword is a rapier and is thus best used for stabbing.
Fan Works
- In How I Became Yours, Sokka does this during his confrontation with an amnesiac Azula. He and Sho later do this again in their duel.
- Théoden uses this gesture when commanding the Rohirrim to charge during The Two Towers.
- This trailer for 300, done by Leonidas.
- In Spaceballs, Lone Starr and Dark Helmet duel with their lightsaber-like Schwartz sabers. At one point, they circle each other menacingly, sabers pointed at length, so the very tips crackle and spark when they come in contact with each other.
- The Pirates of the Caribbean movies include too many examples to list. Ian McShane, playing Blackbeard in the fourth film, is particularly good at it.
- The Matrix Reloaded. Morpheus does it to the Agent with a samurai sword while fighting him on the top of the truck.
- Archibald Cunningham does this a few times in Rob Roy to toy with his opponent in the final duel. He holds his rapier out in front of Rob's face, and every time Rob swings his heavy claymore around to bat it away, Cunningham just flicks it right back to the same position.
- Serenity. The Operative does this to Captain Mal when he first draws his sword during their fight in Mr. Universe's complex.
- In The Princess Bride, Wesley uses this pose to threaten Prince Humperdink into surrendering, despite the fact that we know he's barely strong enough to stand. "Drop. Your. Sword."
- Seen a lot in Star Wars, but especially notable in Revenge of the Sith where the lightsabers are given points.
- Kill Bill Vol. 2. Just before The Bride has her brief sword fight with Elle Driver, they point their katanas at each other.
- In Black Panther, Killmonger menacingly does this with a broken spear to mark out Nakia and Shuri as his next targets.
- The Wheel of Time actually establishes standard signal for "charge" as "the commander lifts his sword/spear/whatever upwards, then swings it down to point at the enemy".
- From the Blade Of Tyshalle:
Big Bad: ...You've learned a new trick. Come, then: Let us meet as men, standing face-to-face, for the surrender of the sword. I applaud your sense of ceremony: Grant and Lee at Appomattox Courthouse, rather than Brutus at the feet of Ant-Caine: (points Kosall at him) You talk too fucking much. You and me, we both know what's going on here, and it has nothing to do with surrender.
- A Song of Ice and Fire. After the Starks have reason to believe the Lannisters were behind Bran Stark falling from a tower and being crippled for life, Robb Stark greets a visiting Tyrion Lannister with an unsheathed sword across his knees, which he points at the Imp when Tyrion refers to him as 'boy'.
Robb: I am the Lord of Winterfell while my father is away.Tyrion: Then you might want to remember a lord's courtesy.
- The Way of Kings (first book of The Stormlight Archive): Dalinar Kholin does this as a gesture of respect to Bridge Four.
Live Action TV
- Game of Thrones: In "The Ghost of Harrenhal," Ser Loras Tyrell points his sword right in Littlefinger's face and accuses the older man of wanting to sell him and his sister to Stannis Baratheon as hostages.
- Vikings: In "Homeland," Bishop Heahmund points his sword at Ivar the Boneless after killing several Norsemen during the Battle of Yorktown.
Tabletop Games
- The fourth edition essentials knight in Dungeons & Dragons has this as one of his powers to draw an enemy closer to him. It's described as challenging a specific monster and allowing his allies peer pressure to do the rest of the work.
- Space 1889 historically in 1889 most officers had swords as part of their uniform. They mostly used them for pointing while commanding troops, though. In some illustrations and some miniatures you can see precisely that.
- Warhammer 40,000 has plenty of models on all sides who uses swords for this, suiting the blend of sci-fi and fantasy the setting is known for. Especially Space Marines and leaders of the Imperial Guard is fond of this, but even faction with few to no melee units, like the Tau, are prone to this.
Video Games
- Dante, Vergil, and Nero frequently done this in Devil May Cry. Vergil's scene.
- In Mega Man Zero, Harpuia's Desperation Attack involves this, albeit aimed lower at an angle, as he's floating high on the air.
- Bartz does this when confronting his Arch-Enemy Ex-Death during a pre-battle cutscene in Dissidia: Final Fantasy. For the Squee! of the audience, he does this while holding his partners's weapons: the Buster Sword to his back and the Revolver Gunblade pointed at the opponent. In the same game, this is also the Warrior of Light's pre-battle Ass-Kicking Pose.
- In Final Fantasy VIII, this is Seifer's standard combat pose with his Gunblade. Amusingly, it's also Laguna's pose when play-acting as a sword-wielding knight for a movie, setting off theories that Seifer saw this movie and was thus inspired.
- In the Soul Series of video games, in a couple of each of their victory poses, Siegfried and Nightmare point with their BFS.
- In Castlevania: Judgment, one of Death's winposes is pointing his scythe downward at the opponent/camera.
- During the Subspace Emissary; Ike, Marth, and Meta Knight do this at the same time before part 3 of the Battlefield Fortress.
- And before facing off with Galleom.
- From the Kirby games, the aforementioned Meta Knight also does this before the fight with Kirby.
- Mega Man X4: Colonel does this to X.
- Trish does this with her Sparda in one of her hypers in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (see here).
- The Lich King does this often and during the intro to Wrath of the Lich King.
- Caim's Idle Animation in Drakengard is pointing his weapon with one hand. He can do this even with Hymir's Finger, which is otherwise the heaviest weapon in the game.
- Leonhardt does this all the time in cutscenes. His great-grandson Rex does this too in the True End Route with style.
- Riku does this before you fight him in Kingdom Hearts I.
- Sora, Riku, and King Mickey do this with their Keyblades in Kingdom Hearts II upon confronting Xemnas. They soon relax once they start talking to him.
- Link in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword ends up doing this a lot due to the motion controls and most players' habit of pointing the Wiimote directly at the screen.
- Aden does this in the beginning of Rune Factory Tides of Destiny.
- Also the Masked Man does this before the final battle ensues.
- In the cross over game Project X Zone, Sanger, Kaguya, Zero, Yuri, Soma, and Gemini do this in the opening.
- Zacharias Barnham from Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney does this in lieu of the usual (for the Ace Attorney series) Giving Someone the Pointer Finger.
- The Legion Etiquette gesture in Dark Souls III basically consists of this, and is used to salute an enemy. The Abyss Watchers boss actually performs it towards the player in their pre-battle cutscene, as it is a symbol of the Undead Legion the Watchers belong to.
- Generals and captains do this in Rome: Total War when units are ordered around the battlefield. There are also some variations, from a simple point forward with the sword to the commander spinning the sword above his head to the commander's horse (when he's mounted) rearing as the commander sweeps the sword forward in a grand gesture.
- At the end of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Raiden dramatically points the Sword of Plot Advancement at the Final Boss before they fight each other.
Web Comics
- Gunnerkrigg Court: Robot S1 does this, prior to his fight with the Bullbot.
- Errant Story: Sarine does this at the beginning of her Designated Girl Fight (which turns out to be more of a sparring bout) with Sara.
Web Original
- In Dead Fantasy 2, Rinoa does this toward her opponents when she first confronts them.
Real Life
- Pretty much the default for any fencer. The same style (although the shape of the wrist means that the blade is naturally held at 45 degrees to it rather than pointed straight ahead) can be used in knife fighting where it's called the "sabre grip" amoungst other things.
- A practical application exists in foil and sabre fencing, in the technique known as 'point-in-line'. By fully extending the sword arm and pointing the sword's tip directly at the opponent's target areanote , the user establishes attacking priority. If the user successfully lands a hit without breaking the stance and without the two blades making contact, the point is his outright, regardless of whether or not the opponent also landed a hit.
- A two-handed version shows up in European longsword fencing, where it's known as "langenort" or the long point. It's often held such to provoke the enemy or drive them back through superior reach, but it's not relied on as a guard as it can be gotten around with certain techniques. It's usually not a starting position, though.
- The one-handed-plus-buckler version is refered to in Medieval treatises as "the center of swordplay" not because of it being effective as a guard (see above), but because most movements would involve (briefly) adopting this position (so a fencer must knew what to do from and against it).


text:
|Oracle FAQ
|Your Portal to the Oracle Knowledge Grid
Home -> Community -> Mailing Lists -> Oracle-L -> Oracle stripping trailing spaces
Hi List,
I've noticed that when extracting a package-body from one
database and moving it to another with Sql*Plus it seems
that Oracle removes trailing spaces and lines holding only
space-characters, .
Is it possible to avoid this ? as I'm using vss & Sql-Nav and when opening the package in the dest. database Sql-Nav reports differences between the database and vss version.
Mejar Singh
WM-data eSolutions, Denmark Received on Tue Dec 19 2000 - 09:48:17 CST
Original text of this message


text:
your bag
Your bag is empty.
Sorry, this product has sold out!
If you would like ARCHFASHION to try to and find it for you complete the form below.
Long silk gown with beautiful beaded bodice
The great ELISE GOWN from George has sold out. We did have it inIvory / 10, Ivory / 12, Ivory / 14 & Ivory / 6.
Start a "Find It For Me" to notify hundreds of Australian Boutiques that you're looking for it and then be notified if it comes back in stock.


text:
Oil Change With Free Car Wash
Oil Change: $25.99 Regular Oil, $55 Synthetic blend plus tax and recycling fee
Battery 12 Volt
Replacing the 12 Volt battery, $195 includes installation, 1 year warranty
Transmission Replacement
Replacing the transmission requires the whole transaxle to be replaced. We usually are able to find a low millage transaxle. Price : $1895 , depending on parts availabilty, call for updated prices.


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This episode of the Next Lawyer Up podcast features attorney Pete Barry.
Pete is based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota but he has a nationwide consumer law practice, Barry & Helwig, LLC. Pete is a lawyer's lawyer and I mean that literally. He is a much sought after speaker wherever consumer lawyers and people who want to know about consumer law gather. On top of that, he taught consumer law as an adjunct law professor at the William Mitchell College of Law. Finally, he has privately taught over 1000 lawyers (actually way more than that but, as you'll hear, he stopped counting at 1000 so the math is easy!) in all 50 states all facets of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) at his FDCPA Boot Camp.
I have attended his boot camp twice and what I tell anyone who asks me about it is this: Pete's boot camp has been, by far, the single best legal training that I have ever received. I include all other CLE's and law school in that comparison. It is riveting and fascinating and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Even though it is long (and I'm not one who can usually sit in a classroom for a long period of time before fading out!) it covers all the ground a consumer plaintiff's lawyer needs to know in a practical, concise and interesting manner that allows good cases to be brought as soon as you leave the course. Believe me when I say that I have never heard anyone who has attended Pete's boot camp say anything different. Pete is a major figure in the consumer law world in our country and he is one of those guys that people like to be around. I enjoyed spending some time with him and talking about his life.


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it stands for Breaking Bad.
In my opinion, Breaking Bad is hands down the best show ever created. After last night's insane, crazy, amazing episode, I must blog about a Breaking Bad blog. It is one I just found, but I can guarantee I will be spending more time on it than blogs I follow religiously. Breaking Bad is my new religion.
Enter AMC's Breaking Bad blog. Naturally, AMC was the place to look for a Breaking Bad blog since the show airs on this network. AMC does a great job blogging about everything that is going on with Breaking Bad such as Awards won, interviews with the actors in magazines or other news outlets, exclusive Q&As with the actors, behind-the-scenes videos, all information about new episodes of Talking Bad, the live after show to Breaking Bad, and so much more. Goodbye life.
Some of my favorite parts about this blog are the "Inside Breaking Bad" videos. They have the actors talk about the episode that just aired and discuss what they think is going on with their characters. Check out the Inside Breaking Bad: Season 5 Episode 13, "To'hajiilee" below.
This blog has anything and everything a Breaking Bad lover could want. I am so happy to have found this.