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IKA News:
European Kiteboarding Championship - Day 3
After the first two days qualifying races - 10 each in the yellow and blue fleets - the fleets were divided in gold and silver groups for the remaining days of the event before Sunday's medal races.
Cagliari, 19th May, 2016 – On the third day of the event ,the Mistral wind was blowing from early morning. After the skipper's meeting at 11 ameverything was set for the first start of the Gold Fleet at 12 pm.
The mistral wind is usually very gusty with an intensity ranging from 9 to 20 knots, the direction of the wind is usually North West but with big shifts which made for extremely tactical racing. The adopted race tactic will make the difference and the best athletes will have to choose the best moment as well as the best side of the course for their tack or gybe. Today we have probably seen more tacking for shifts than anytime before.
The windward mark is only a few metres from the shoreline which makes it quite spectacular and the water is just so flat that the riders can literally fly at more than 30 knots.
Riccardo Leccese won the first two rounds of the Gold Fleet with a stellar performance and fighting head to head with the Monegasque Maxime Nocher, leaving the chasing group led by Olly Bridge 200m behind.
The Silver Fleet carries the Italian flag with the winners of the first two rounds, Beverino and Chiti, who are beginning to get the right feeling with the high speeds and the technicallity of the race course.
Around noon the wind died and switched to onshore - AP was flying ashore for quite a while before conditions stabilized and racing could commence again.
With even more shifty and gusty conditions, Leccese has some hard crashed pushing him down to 11th place, meanwhile Olly Bridge gets everything perfect from start to finish winning both rounds, pushing him up the leaderboard. Maxime Nocher keeps up with a 2nd and 4th place following a very late start after technical problems with his kite. Riccardo however manages to come back during the last round of today with a 2nd place. The top three are now only very few points away from one another, however with the first discard kicking in on day 4, the leaderboard will be reshuffled.
The Silver Fleet is led by the young Tuscan Giulio Chiti who gets better and better and reaches two 1st places. Excellent performance for Lucas Rey from Cagliari who takes home two 2nd places in the last two rounds of the day.
For the women the Russian Elena Kalinina leads unobstructed in front of the multiple time world champion Steph Bridge, the level is very high for both and neither of them can afford to make mistakes.
Six more races are scheduled for the final series, followed by 4 non-discardable races on Sunday.
Results after 4 Gold Fleet Races:
1. Maxime Nocher (MON, F-One/Taaroa) - 14 pts
2. Oliver Bridge (GBR, Elf/Levitaz) - 15 pts
3. Riccardo Leccese (ITA, Ozone/MikesLab) - 17 pts
4. Florian Trittel (ESP, Elf/KFA) - 39 pts
5. Maks Zakowski (POL, Ozone/Moses) - 41 pts
1. Elena Kalinina (RUS, Elf/Moses) - 6 pts
2. Steph Bridge (GBR, F-One/Levitaz) - 13 pts
3. Gina Hewson (AUS, Ozone/Spotz) - 19.3 pts
4. Jade O'Connor (IRL, Elf/Banga) - 22 pts
5. Emile Mazeikaite (LTU, Flysurfer) - 25 pts
For all results click here:
http://internationalkiteboarding.org/im ... esults.pdf


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In Sunday's episode, "Mockingbird," we find Sansa Stark adjusting to life at the Eyrie with her Aunt Lysa and new uncle, Lord Petyr Baelish aka Littlefinger.
Just as many viewers had suspected all along, Petyr has a thing for Sansa. He is technically still in love with her dead mother Catelyn, but Sansa will do in her absence.
'Game of Thrones' Drops Major Hint About Jon Snow's Parents
When Littlefinger finds Sansa alone outside after a fight with her cousin Robin, he gives in to his desires and kisses her. The only problem is… Aunt Lysa is watching from the window.
Overcome with jealousy, Lysa becomes hysterical and plots to kill Sansa. She lures the young girl to the High Hall of the Eyrie and threatens to toss her through the Moon Door, a hatch used to throw criminals to their deaths.
[Credit: HBO]
Littlefinger comes to Sansa's rescue again, this time talking Lysa down and convincing her to release the Stark girl.
'Game of Thrones' Recap: The Purple Wedding Death Shocker
The master schemer takes this opportunity to tell his new bride the truth, "Oh, my sweet wife. My sweet, silly wife. I have only loved one woman. Only one. My entire life. Your sister."
Then he pushes Lysa through the Moon Door!
Poor Sansa is now trapped at the Eyrie with Petyr and her cousin Robin.
'Game of Thrones' Death Shocker! Key Character Is Shown the (Moon) Door
HBO's "Game of Thrones" has done it again, shocking fans with the death of a key character.

subset: commoncrawl


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Understanding the intangible infrastructure of your business08 March, 2012 | (01 hr)
Sign In to access this Webcast
We are all accustomed to thinking about corporate infrastructure in tangible terms such as buildings and machinery. But the critical infrastructure of business today is mostly intangible, including such varied knowledge resources as business processes, data, human capital, external networks, intellectual property and business models.
This shift is clear in Conference Board research which shows that intangibles investment already exceeds tangible investment inU.S.corporations. This investment is creating a new kind of infrastructure that is moving American business from the industrial to the knowledge economy. Understanding—and managing—this infrastructure is critical to an organization's ability to drive innovation, growth, profits and sustainable shareholder and stakeholder value.
This webcast is for every businessperson who is tired of having conversations that end with the statement, "well, it's intangible." Intangibles are real. They can be measured and they should be managed. Learn to drive the conversation about intangibles using simple tools to measure, manage and monetize this critical infrastructure within your own business.
Mary Adams and Michael Oleksak are the co-authors of Intangible Capital: Putting Knowledge to Work in the 21st Century Organization (www.intangiblecapitalbook.com) and the co-founders of Trek Consulting (www.trekconsulting.com).
Trek's consulting clients are intangible-intensive companies in services, technology, healthcare and construction. The firm's typical client is a private company looking to double in value over the period of a few years, often as preparation for an exit and ownership transition. Engagements leverage the firm's tools for measuring, managing and monetizing intangible capital, the class of knowledge assets that makes up 80% of the value and 100% of the competitive advantage of the typical company today.
Mary is also the founder of the 300+ member community at the IC Knowledge Center (www.ICKnowledgeCenter.com). Prior to co-founding Trek in 1999, Mary worked for 15 years in high-risk finance at Citicorp and Sanwa Business Credit.
Michael is also a co-founder of the Exit Planning Exchange (XPX, www.xpxglobal.com), an organization for advisors to private companies with five chapters in the U.S. Prior to co-founding Trek, Michael worked for over 20 years in finance, marketing, sales and management at Bank of Boston, Thomson Financial and Norkom.
Mary Adams
For nearly 30 years, Mary Adams has helped business leaders conquer challenges such as growth, change, mergers and acquisitions. Along the way, she has lived the shift from the Industrial to the Social Era. This shift is driving a need for basic changes in how we measure, manage and monetize our ...Full Bio
Michael Oleksak
Xiaohui (Janet) Hao, PhD
Janet Hao is a Senior Economist with the economics program of The Conference Board. She specializes in research on innovation, intangible assets and economic growth. In particular, she measures investment in innovations by commercial banks, investment banks, and insurance companies.
She a...Full Bio


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My Grandma and Her Super Skill
This is a story about my grandmother. Well, not exactly a story – more of a fact but it's quite an interesting one.
You see, my grandmother lives with us once in a while. Whenever I'm home, she'll unleash her most favourite skill of all time – NAGGING!
This is not my grandma though.
Anyway, whatever we do at home, she'll nag voice out her opinion (a nicer term) and it continues until we ignore her. Here are some of the situations I've encountered.
When looking into the fridge to find some food.
When eating.
When drinking.
When showering.
When watching the television.
When playing the computer.
She complains that we spend too much time on the computer screen. In my defense, she spends time on the television screen what.
At least my hands and fingers are being exercised.
Next, when reading a book.
When playing my guitar.
She thinks it's noisy.
When still sleeping in the morning.
So yeah, don't you just love my grandma? She's such a skillful nagger adviser (another nicer term).
But honestly, she really likes to voice out her opinion at almost everything we do at home. My parents are also included sometimes.
The thing is, my grandma always say: "I get up the earliest in the morning and everyone still sleeping!". Probably she dislikes those who sleep a lot.
Even our dog is not spared!


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Epstein competes in bunt tournament
MESA, Ariz. -- Nate Halm, a video and advanced scouting staffer who was a late addition to the Cubs bunting tournament because the masseuse withdrew, beat strength coach Tim Buss to advance to the players bracket on Saturday. Theo Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations, did beat general manager Jed Hoyer in the first round, but Epstein then lost to Scott Harris, director of baseball operations, in the second round.
When Harris muffed a bunt against Epstein, the Cubs exec quipped: "Smart kid." And when Harris beat him, Epstein reminded everyone: "I hired him."
Halm beat Harris to advance against Buss. Cubs manager Dale Sveum, who threw to the 16 staff members, organized the bunt tourney last year, which outfielder David DeJesus won. The players and pitchers brackets will begin this week, now that the field of 64 has been completed.
"The most important match of the year was the first one," Epstein said of beating Hoyer. "I've got to get better -- better than Jed, which isn't saying much. I will say, Jed and I have a long history of playing pickup basketball and other sports. That one felt good. Nate, he might get an invite to camp on a Minor League contract -- that was impressive."
Epstein's secretary, Hayley DeWitte, did advance further than her boss.
"Title IX is a good thing," Epstein said.


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World of Warcraft Connected Realms feature coming after patch 5.4
Blizzard has detailed a new World of Warcraft system called Connected Realms, which will allow players in low-population servers to play with each other without migrating from their home territories.
According to a blog post on the subject, Connected Realms will permanently link two or more standard realms.
The linked realms will behave as if they were one server – you'll be able to join the same guilds, use the same Auction House, party up, and run the same raids and dungeons.
"Our goal with Connected Realms is to give players on lower-population realms more opportunities to group up, compete, and connect with other players to take on Azeroth's bigger challenges," Blizzard wrote.
"That sort of interaction is a big part of what makes World of Warcraft fun, and this feature will help us deliver that experience to even more players."
In an accompany FAQ, Blizzard said it hopes the new feature will allow players to participate in group activities without 'negatively impacting players' sense of identity and character', whereas mergers force name changes and confusion, as well as erase history.
Blizzard said it's been evolving the technology used for cross-realm raiding, which is why it's now able to introduce the feature.
Players from Connected Realms won't be marked as foreign in any way, to keep the feeling of one continuous world, except in player chat and similar.
Which realms will be linked has not yet been determined, except that they'll be of the same kind. The feature will be implemented after patch 5.4, which has not been dated.
Thanks, Ausgamers.


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Which statements are true regarding configuring multiple buffer pools in the Database Buffer Cache that is using only the standard block size? (Choose all that apply.)
A. Both the KEEP and RECYCLE pools must be configured.
B. The RECYCLE pool needs to be configured before dropping an object.
C. The DEFAULT pool needs to be removed if multiple buffer pools are being configured.
D. Either the KEEP pool or the RECYCLE pool can be configured along with the DEFAULT pool.
Answer: D


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The Korean ferry Sewol that abruptly capsized and sank last spring sank because of an act of god … that is, the depredations of a scummy Christian cult. A story in the NY Times today summarizes the causes. The company that ran the ferry was a front for a religious cult run by Yoo Byung-eun, called the Evangelical Baptist Church of Korea. He had a whole network of enterprises, all funneling millions of dollars into the pockets of Yoo and his family. One of the ways they profited was by cutting corners on everything, including safety.
Scores of cabins and even an art gallery laden with marble were added to the ferry's upper decks, making the ship top-heavy. So much extra cargo was crammed on board that there was sometimes no space to secure it properly with chains and lashings. And, prosecutors say, the ferry's crucial ballast water, needed to balance all the additional weight, was deliberately drained so that the vessel would not sit too low — a telltale sign to inspectors that the ferry was dangerously overloaded to bring in more money.
"It was a miracle that the ship actually sailed as far as it did; it could have tipped over any time," said Kim Woo-sook, dean of the graduate school at Mokpo National Maritime University. "For them, cargo was cash."
The art gallery was there to feed Yoo's monstrous ego — he fancied himself an artist, and with so much cash flowing through his hands, he spent millions to get his photographs displayed at the Louvre. He claimed to be just about everything.
Mr. Yoo, who in his guise as Ahae cultivated an air of mystery by only allowing himself to be photographed from behind or the side, is described by the website of Ahae Press as a sort of renaissance man: "an inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, environmental activist, martial artist, painter, sculptor, poet, and photographer."
Con artist. Murderer. Ruthless exploiter. Christian. Or at least, someone who saw Christianity as another easy gimmick to prey on the rubes.
But hey, they spent some money on safety.
In one of their more damning findings, prosecutors say that so much money was being siphoned away from the ferry company to Mr. Yoo and his relatives that it was starved of funds and spent just $2 last year on safety training for the Sewol's crew members. The money went to buy a paper copy of a certificate.
There is no justice, though. The elder Yoo's rotting corpse was found in his garden, cause of death unknown. Most of his family (apparently one son is still on the run), who all profited from his schemes, have been arrested so at least there's that.


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Apple's new "spaceship" campus will be entirely closed off to outsiders, so don't count on taking a leisurely stroll through the quad or stopping by a new campus store anytime soon. That's just one of several details that Apple has begun revealing to neighbors as it prepares to build the new campus, which will act primarily as a research facility in Cupertino. (It won't replace the 1 Infinite Loop headquarters—at least not yet.) The company is asking neighbors for feedback on the designs before it finalizes the plans and begins building. Apple doesn't expect to occupy the new campus for another three years.
Apple has begun mailing pamphlets to neighbors of the new campus outlining the company's plans. 9to5Mac obtained one of these brochures and posted several photos—the letter to residents outlines the boundaries of "Apple Campus 2" and explains which changes will be made to the current landscape of the area. The company also highlighted its commitment to the environment and said that the main, ring-shaped 2.8 million square foot building (as well as the surrounding research buildings) will all be LEED certified. "Respect for our neighbors was a priority as we designed Apple Campus 2," wrote Apple.
Although the Campus 2 will have some of the same amenities as the original campus, such as a restaurant and fitness center, the general public won't be able to visit it. This is most likely to keep Apple's R&D work under even tighter wraps than it is at 1 Infinite Loop, which is often sprinkled with visitors and executives from other companies. Apple was also recently approved to build a separate off-campus restaurant in Cupertino for its employees so they can discuss projects freely without worrying about outsiders spying on their discussions.
The Campus 2 plans certainly appear to be moving along, but it's important to note that the city of Cupertino has yet to give its final approval (Apple says that's expected to happen later this year). Apple has been pitching the city on the idea of building a new research facility for at least six years now, but presented its current ring-shaped design to the city council in August of 2011. The company doesn't expect to occupy what many call the "spaceship campus" until 2015. Apple's executives will most likely stay behind at 1 Infinite Loop—at least until Apple turns it into a museum one day.


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Three Brushes I recently used and felt like sharing:
Snowflake (Or dandelion?):
As long as you keep drawing in more or less straight lines, this one will create bundles of fluffy... things behind the cursor.
Autumn Leafs:
Depending on pressure this should makes a pattern like autumn leafs in a storm.
Sinus Follower:
The actual drawing shapes follow the cursor in half circles. Had the idea when visiting the "upcoming features" page.
If you keep the cursor around one point, you can create perfect circles with this one. If you do it better than me in the example picture


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Happy #GivingTuesday!
Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and now we're here, #GivingTuesday, a new holiday focused on giving back.
Mashable got involved in #GivingTuesday because we feel strongly that technology has the ability to solve global challenges and make this world a better place. We saw the potential here for a movement driven by communities on social media and are happy to share that since launch, we've seen that potential realized.
Since launching in September, you, the social media community, have turned #GivingTuesday into a powerful digital movement with over 2,500 partners in 50 states and over 1,000 social media ambassadors who are ready to engage their communities around giving.
Today we're asking you to go out and give back in a way that's meaningful to you and your community. If you haven't figured out how you'd like to give back, we've got a few suggestions here.
Once you've decided what you'll be doing, we're calling on you to share your give with us. Simply take a photo with your give. Write "I'm giving" followed by what you're giving and to whom. Don't forget to include the hashtag #GivingTuesday. We'll be curating some of our favorites throughout the day and sharing them on Mashable.
Happy #GivingTuesday!


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You might call Dawn Jackson Blatner the Mother Confessor of those who stray from a vegetarian diet.
For all who have, on occasion, forsaken the meat-free, dairy-free diet to set their teeth to grinding on a juicy steak or a crunchy coated chicken breast, Blatner is all about banishing guilt and embracing a flexitarian diet.
As a registered dietitian and author of "The Flexitarian Diet: The Mostly Vegetarian Way to Lose Weight, Be Healthier, Prevent Disease and Add Years to Your Life," Blatner knows firsthand the health benefits of a vegetarian diet and the temptations that might make it difficult to follow.
She's introduced a way of blending vegetarianism and occasional meat-eating without feeling that you're "sinning" or letting yourself down. Her flexitarian style of eating also allows for inclusion in a wider circle of social activities.
"In my experience with a vegetarian or vegan diet, I felt there were too many meaningful moments in life that I couldn't participate in -- traveling abroad and sampling local cuisine that contained meat, for instance, and birthdays, holidays, Thanksgiving -- they all centered around food I wasn't supposed to eat. I think of food as nourishment not only for the body, but for the soul as well, so that didn't work for me," she says.
Blatner first heard the word "flexitarian" in 2003. "It's a marriage of two words -- flexible and vegetarian," she says. "I wanted to know more about it and started looking for the book. But, year after year, I was still looking and finally felt that it was my calling to write it myself."
Published in 2009, her book focuses on building a vegetarian lifestyle that allows for the occasional addition of meat, free from soul searching and feelings of failure.
She emphasizes that it's a pro-plant, not anti-meat, approach.
"Before I became a flexitarian, a vegetarian who ate something not vegetarian was considered bad. That rigidity made it hard to gravitate toward eating vegetarian," Blatner explains. "I'd been a vegetarian for many years, but ate meat on rare occasions. Every time I did, I felt like I was being a bad and lazy vegetarian."
Her flexitarian diet is created for people who want the health benefits of a vegetarian diet, but "just don't want to sit in the corner at a barbecue place with an empty bun on their plate," she says.
People choose to become a vegetarian or vegan for a variety of reasons -- ethics, health, religion, economics, Blatner says. "I'm a dietitian, so my reasons naturally revolve around health issues."
She stresses the difference between an omnivore (who eats everything) and a flexitarian, who eats meat not haphazardly, but in a thoughtful way.
She defines a flexitarian as someone who wakes up each morning with every intention of being a vegetarian, but who may encounter a situation that causes him or her to eat meat. "The beauty is that you can have that burger, enjoy it, and then go back to eating veggies and fruit the rest of the week," she says.
The best way to implement a flexitarian diet is to "be awake and aware" of what and how you're eating, Blatner says. "You don't have to stick to any rules all day, every day. It's not a fad diet; it's simply a healthy way of eating. U.S. News and World Report named it one of the most sensible plant-based diets around. You want to eat from a quality, calorie and conscious basis."
There's no right or wrong way or right way, no too fast or too slow way to make the change to the flexitarian diet, she says. "It's best to enjoy the journey -- embrace the spirit of vegetarianism in your own way and have fun doing it."
How the flexitarian diet is good for you:
It customizes your choice and preparation of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in a vegetarian diet, occasionally adding meat without feeling guilty.
Vegetarians tend to eat fewer calories, weigh less and have a lower body mass index than meat-eating peers. A study by The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health concluded that eating a full day of vegetarian meals only once a week can reduce the average intake of saturated fat by up to 15 percent, reducing the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cancer.
Those who adopt a flexitarian diet -- mostly plant-based with small additions of meat now and then -- have been shown to weigh 15 percent less than their more carnivorous counterparts, have a lower rate of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer and live an average of 3.6 years longer.
Dawn Jackson Blatner's easy process to becoming an easy vegetarian:
Continue eating what you normally eat, but reapportion your plate by downsizing the amount of meat and bumping up the veggies and fruit. For instance, instead of 10 ounces of meat, eat 4 ounces.
Try a new vegetarian dish each week and reinvent old favorites by swapping out the meat for beans. One ounce of meat equals 1/4 cup of beans. For instance, swap out some of the meat in beef tacos for beans, eventually going all-bean.
Based on eating 21 meals a week -- breakfast, lunch and dinner each day -- make six of those a vegetarian meal. Next, try to make 9-12 meals each week a vegetarian meal, followed by15 or more vegetarian meals a week.
The 3-4-5 regimen:
Balancing whole grains, protein, produce and healthy fats, keep your daily calories at 1,500.
Make breakfast choices that amount to 300 calories, lunches 400 and dinners 500. Two daily snacks should be 150 calories each. Tweak the plan depending on activity level, gender, height and weight.
About Dawn Jackson Blatner:
Author of "The Flexitarian Diet," Blatner (dawnjacksonblatner.com) a registered dietitian, spokeswoman for the of Nutrition and Dietetics, a health for Lifetime Television's website and contributor to Fitness and Health magazine and a consultant for Diet.com.


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Sibling relationships reflect family dynamics
Most children in the United States grow up with sisters and brothers. Connections that usually last a lifetime, these relationships can be strained at times, especially during childhood. New research concludes that sibling ties are best understood in the context of their families, and that efforts to improve relationships should take into account not just the siblings, but the family as a whole.
This research also found that, overall, sisters feel closer to their siblings than do brothers, and that relationships between sisters and brothers become closer in later adolescence. Further, for all siblings, discord is highest when the first-born child is about age 13 and the second-born is about age 10.
As reported in the November/December 2006 issue of the journal Child Development, researchers at Pennsylvania State University interviewed mothers, fathers, and first- and second-born children in 200 white, working- and middle-class, two-parent families. During the course of the study, first-born children ranged from 10 to 19 years of age, with an average age of 12 at the start of the study and 17 at the end. Second-born children ranged from 7 to 17 years of age during the study, with an average age of 9 at the start and 15 at the end.
Among the study's key findings are:
--Changes in parent-child relationships are associated with changes in sibling relationships. Specifically, changes in mothers' warmth and acceptance of their children from middle childhood through later adolescence are associated with changes in siblings' feelings of closeness and intimacy with one another. When there are increases or decreases in conflict between fathers and their children, the children show similar changes in conflict with their siblings.
--Siblings may turn to one another for support when family circumstances are difficult. When fathers say there is less love in their marriages, their children are closer with their siblings.
"This study showed that sibling relationships change across childhood and adolescence, with many siblings reporting that they have relationships in later adolescence that are more positive and have less conflict," says Ji-Yeon Kim, the study's lead author and research associate at Pennsylvania State University. "Sibling relationships are part of the larger family system of relationships and may both affect and be affected by marital and parent-child relationships."
The article, "Longitudinal Course and Family Correlates of Sibling Relationships from Childhood Through Adolescence," is written by Kim, Susan McHale, D. Wayne Osgood and Anne Crouter, all faculty at Penn State, and publish in Vol 77, Issue 5, of the journal.
Source: Penn State


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Spot the words in a hide and seek game
Click on "Launch Sighties".
Online fun with virtual pencils, paints and stamps
Children can use their fingers on phones and tablets to write letters and words and draw pictures.
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Print out a guide to recommended pencil grip and letter forms
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 Review
Main Rivals
Listed below are some of the rivals of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1.
Canon PowerShot S110
The Canon PowerShot S110 is a new compact camera that offers an extensive list of advanced features - ISO range of 80-12800, RAW support, full manual controls, built-in wi-fi, touchscreen interface and 1080p video - all in a slim and stylish body that you can easily fit in a trouser pocket. Read our in-depth Canon PowerShot S110 review now to find out if this is the best premium compact.
Fujifilm X20
The Fujifilm X20 is a brand new premium compact camera with a large 2/3-type 12 megapixel sensor and a fast 4x optical zoom lens. Boasting impeccable build-quality, intuitive handling and a long-list of photographer-friendly features, is the Fujifilm X20 the ultimate pocket camera for the avid photographer? Read our Fujifilm X20 review, complete with full-size sample JPEG and raw images, videos and more to find out...
Nikon Coolpix P330
The Nikon Coolpix P330 is a new compact camera aimed at prosumers. The Nikon P330 features a 12.2 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, full manual controls, 1080p HD video recording, a 5x wide-angle zoom lens with a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, a high-resolution LCD screen, built-in GPS and 10fps burst shooting. Read our in-depth Nikon Coolpix P330 review to find out if this is the perfect pocket camera for the keen enthusiast ...
Olympus XZ-10
The new Olympus XZ-10 is a serious compact camera designed to fit in your pocket. A 12 megapixel BSI CMOS sensor, fast f/1.8 maximum aperture, high-res 3-inch touch-screen LCD, 1080p movies, RAW format support and a full range of manual shooting modes should be enough to grab your attention. Read our expert Olympus XZ-10 review, complete with full-size JPEG, RAW and movie samples.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7
The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 is the latest premium compact camera hoping to find a place in a professional photographer's pocket. With the fastest lens of any compact to date, the LX7 also offers an improved 10 megapixel sensor, full 1080p HD movies and an even better control system than the previous LX5 model. Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7 review with sample JPEG, RAW and video files now.
Pentax MX-1
The Pentax MX-1 joins the growing list of premium compact cameras aimed at advanced users. Offering a large 1/1.7" 12 megapixel sensor, fast f/1.8 4x zoom lens, tilting 3-inch LCD screen and an appealingly retro design, does the Pentax MX1 offer enough to compete in this increasingly competitive market? Read our detailed Pentax MX-1 review to find out...
Samsung EX2F
The Samsung EX2F is a new pocket camera for serious photographers, sporting a super-bright f/1.4, 3.3x zoom lens, sensible 12 megapixel sensor and a swivelling 3 inch AMOLED screen. 1080p video, RAW shooting, ISO 80-12800, 10fps burst shooting, image stabilisation and full manual controls complete the EX2F's star attractions. Read our Samsung EX2F review to find out if this is the advanced compact camera for you...
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100
The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is an exciting new premium compact camera. A large "1.0-type" 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, 3.6x 28-100mm lens with a fast maximum aperture of F1.8, full 1080p high-definition video with stereo sound, high-resolution 3-inch screen, manual shooting modes, 10fps continuous shooting, ISO range of 100-12800, Raw support and fast auto-focusing are all present and correct. Read our in-depth Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 review to find out if it's the best pocket camera ever...


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Sunday, March 18, 2012
The 100 Best G.I. Joe Figures
Naturally I want to make blog entry number one hundred something special. All though it feels strange to leave out the food part, I have been wanting to make a list of my favorite toys for quite a while. This is the right occasion. Now, I had initially planned on it being the top ten toys I own. But as soon as I started sorting my favorite toys, I realized it would be all Joes anyway. And I would never be satisfied with just ten. Or twenty. Or fifty.
So here's the hundred best figures in the G.I. Joe - A Real American Hero toy line (that I own). Also, this marks not only blog entry one hundred, but also the start of G.I. Joe Month here in Toys and Bacon. I'll make sure to get some food related stuff in as well, but every article for the next month will have a relation to Joes.
Now on to the list...
I have a variety of reasons for picking these figures, but I can assure you the decision was not easy. I had at least 150 figures I wanted to include in the list, so sacrifices had to be made.
I'm referencing a lot to the comics, sometimes to the card art and filecards. If you feel like reading more about these toys, I suggest you use yojoe.com, as it's the most complete database on G.I. Joes.
100 Alley Viper (1989)
It's very orange, but Alley Viper comes with a great sculpt and some cool accessories. I kinda wish he was released in gray colors. One of my favorites as a kid, mostly due to the shield and visor.
99 Red Star (1991)
A really cool sculpt, with a massive amount of awesome accessories. Comes with one of the coolest rifles in the line, a knife, and a hat - which is always amusing.
98 Big Bear (1992)
Another apparently Russian character. I like the natural look of this guy, both his rifle, his backpack, and the outfit that makes him seem ready for a cold winter near the arctic circle. A favorite from my childhood days. Both Red Star and Big Bear are of a very special breed. They are the more realistic looking post-1991 figures, in a pool of neon green space suits and bright yellow weapons.
97 Freefall (1990)
A figure I ignored as a kid, but I really like it today. One of the many paratroopers in the line, a great face sculpt and realistic accessories. Freefall also had amazing card art.
96 Night Viper (1989)
You know it's going to be interesting when Night Viper is at number 96. A favorite among most Joe collectors for his dark, tactical outfit, and the night vision scope. I liked this as a kid, but found his weapon a bit strange.
95 Crimson Guard Immortal (1991)
Another 90s figure, a great remake of the original CG. Is still recognizable as a Crimson Guard, yet updated enough to be an entirely new toy.
94 Law (& Order) (1987)
Except to see almost all of the 1987 Joes in this list, it was by far my favorite series of figures. Law comes with several great accessories, among them a German shepherd named Order. Law's headsculpt has Hasbro designer Kirk Bozigian's likeness.
93 Crankcase (1986)
The G.I.Joe line separated itself greatly from many other lines with its vehicle drivers. With other lines it was not uncommon to see either no drivers, or cheap repaints without accessories piloting the cars and planes. Not only had the vehicle drivers in the G.I.Joe line a unique sculpt and additional accessories, they also had their very own bio and filecard. Many of them appeared regularly in the comics and cartoon. It feels like they gave the vehicle drivers just as much attention as the single carded figures. Crankcase has an amazing sculpt, a unique rifle and has regular appearances in the Joe media.
92 Scarlett (1982)
It's hard to get women's faces right in an action figure. I don't know why, but it must be hard. Most of the women in the G.I. Joe line has rather weird faces. Scarlett could very well be considered a main character, specially in the comics. It's sad that we never got a better toy in this costume. It would have made sense to give her an update in 1985, when Snake Eyes got his second version. Still, I don't really mind 1982 Scarlett. It's certainly better than the the various Princess Leia figures from the first Star Wars toy lines.
91 Grunt (1983)
Grunt is the basic soldier, and in my eyes the epitome of the first years of Joes. He comes with a helmet, backpack and a rifle. His outfit is green, the sculpt is simple, and his face is uncharacteristic. If you compare this toy with the 1991 version of Grunt, it's almost hard to understand how it's the same toy line.
90 Techno Viper (1994)
Techno Viper was a great one, originally released in 1987, this is the repaint from 94. It was featured in the Star Brigade sub series, and came with one of the two Power Fighters. I've written more about the Power Fighters here. This version of Techno Viper is a remarkably shiny repaint of a good sculpt, and very much fitting for Star Brigade.
89 Dice (1991)
One of the two evil ninjas from 91's Ninja Warriors sub line. A great sculpt, and monumental card art. Suffers from having a play feature that was outdated already back in the days of Masters of the Universe.
88 Slice (1991)
Yes, I like Slice that 1% better than Dice. Sleek outfit, sword and dagger, he fitted more with my view of a ninja. Both Slice and Dice had some cool comic appearances.
87 Cobra Commander (1983)
This isn't a particularly interesting action figure on its own right, but it just fits perfectly with the character. The fascist styled suit, face obscured by a shiny face plate, combining the traditional military suit style with high technology helmet and gun. Expect to see a Cobra Commander closely resembling this toy in the upcoming movie, and realize there's a reason us fans are more excited this time around.
86 Interrogator (1991)
A severely underrated figure. One of the best sculpts in the entire line came packed with a functional, hand driven helicopter. Just notice the details, the brass knuckles, the metal bracelets on his arms and feet. The mean looking helmet. Sadly this guy was (to my knowledge) never featured in the media. I had this guy with Sub-Zero's huge machine gun mowing down Joes in the day and torturing suspected Joe spies on the evening.
85 Major Bludd (1983)
An amazing character from the early comics, had far more depth than many of the main villains. A very unique toy too, with the robotic arm. I suspect this is one of the figures you'll never find in any other top lists, but here it is. Trust me, he belongs.
84 Iceberg (1986)
Oh I loved this guy. He was very sparsely equipped, with a single rifle. But on the plus side he had cool card art, a deliciously mint colored vest, and one of the filecards I remember. He didn't like to be warm, he had to be somewhere cold. It didn't hurt that I loved the arctic figures in general.
83 Blizzard (1988)
Another arctic trooper that came with tons of accessories. The exact opposite of Iceberg in that matter. Two guns, skis, spiked shoes, removable helmet, and some kind of weird sled he could ride. Also notice the compass on his left hand and the carbine hook on his waist. That's attention to details! Great card art, but sadly, Blizzard was never given any feature in the comics.
82 Windchill (1989)
This guy is a vehicle driver. You know.. I almost get emotional writing this. It's a completely irrelevant character, and he came packed with a rather cool vehicle. Kids would have bought this even if Windchill was a repaint of Iceberg or something.
But he wasn't. He had an entirely unique sculpt, he came with a pair of skis, and one of the coolest guns in the line. There's a reason G.I. Joe are heads above any other toy line, and the effort Hasbro put into their vehicle drivers is a big part of that greatness.
81 Mutt & Junkyard (1985)
There's a lot of the mid 80s good guys that have failed to make the list. Barbecue, Airtight, Blowtorch, Sci-Fi. It could have been because I mainly prefer the more realistic figures. But that's not really the case, as you'll see further down the line. Like I said earlier, it was hard to cut figures I love, but there was only room for hundred. Mutt is the second dog handler on the list, came with a realistic sculpted Rottweiler, and tons of great accessories. Notice the protection glove he has for training Junkyard. Monumental appearances in the comic, and had vicious card art.
80 Road Pig (1988)
Here are five villains that many would say look silly. It's not that I disagree, but I don't think a silly looking toy is necessarily a bad thing. I'll argue that all these figures were very attractive to 10 year old boys, and I still find them interesting for a number of reasons. Road Pig was a special character in the comics, and I think the toy was a good representation. Cool accessories, imposing on the card art.
79 Tele-Viper (1985)
I saw a list with the 10 worst Joes or something, and Tele Viper was featured, along with several other figures I have included in my list. Tele Viper may not be the most exciting character or toy, but it's very valuable when playing out story lines. I like it, which means it's a good toy. I mean, at this point, who do you trust when it comes to G.I. Joe figures?
78 Serpentor (1986)
Larry Hama made this ridiculous character amazing and non-silly. That's good writing. Seriously, the old comics Marvel published, written by Hama, are amazing all the way through. And even when they introduce Serpentor, it doesn't feel lame. The Serpentor/Battle for Springfield story arch is monumental.
Also, cloth accessories are always fun. I'm a big fan of Serpentor, and I feel he could have been higher on the list. You see, while the sculpt on the armor is great, the face sculpt is absolutely awful.
77 Gnawgahyde (1989)
How cool is this dude?? Extremely thorough sculpt with some great details, like dogtags and leatherstraps on his arm. He came with tons of cool accessories that I have lost over time, that only added to his coolness. Bow - Check. Knife, poacher's rifle, machete, Crocodile Dundee-styled hat - Check, check, check. Wild Boar Pet - Check!
76 Voltar (1988)
He comes with a vulture, and has a costume in candy color! Toys are meant to be fun. Voltar definitely is fun.
75 Charbroil (1988)
The late 80s are often forgotten when there's talk about G.I. Joe - a Real American Hero. That's a bit too bad, because the sculpting got gradually better, and while the figures got increasingly more specialized and crazy - they are all still very relevant to the theme. Charbroil was the second guy with a flamethrower (first was Blowtorch), and had one of the best pieces of card art. Also, hologram sticker on his backpack. Who doesn't love hologram stickers?
74 Spearhead (1988)
I have no relevant reason for including this guy, just the feeling of opening him a summer day. Came with a bobcat named Max as his pet.
73 Lightfoot (1988)
I'm still not sure what this guy does, but I believe it has something to do with explosives. Was one of three 1988 Joes featured in that issue of the comic. You know the one where you follow various soldiers in the Joe training camp. Repeater, Budo and Lightfoot make it out as official new members of the team, only to almost be killed in their first mission. Amazing stuff. Also, hologram sticker!
72 Muskrat (1988)
The surfboard and machete are nice accessories, but the fact is that this guy is just cool looking. One of the best shotguns we ever got, and a relaxed grin on his face. You know this guy likes to drink beer, skim the swamps on his board, and shoot Cobras.
71 Snake Eyes v4 (1991)
This was Snake Eyes' costume from when the comic actually got renamed into "G.I. Joe featuring Snake Eyes". Apart from the obvious orange weapons, it's a great costume. Where v3 was full out ninja, v4 was going back to the "commando" theme. I like that. Obviously, it doesn't hurt that he still came with swords. He's still the second greatest ninja in existence (the greatest is a Fresno kid called Tommy).
70 Admiral Keel-Haul (1985)
Ok, let us head out to the open sea. If you saw my ocean display from the museum, you know I like the ocean theme in G.I. Joe. I have army built both Wet Suit and Eels, for those great underwater battles.
Keel-Haul came with the mighty USS Flagg, which should need no introduction, as it's one of the greatest toys in the world. Keel-Haul features an amazing sculpt and a very delicate paint, all though I will admit I have given him a paint job on his shirt and medals.
69 Decimator (1990)
Another vehicle driver, Decimator came with the imposing Hammerhead. Interestingly enough, we saw two sub-sea wheeled vehicles for Cobra within two years (BUGG in 88, Hammerhead in 90). But I don't feel that's one too many, as they're both ridiculously awesome. Both their drivers are included in this list. Decimator is here because I really like the sculpt. And I find it interesting how much his character changes with his helmet on.
68 Wet Suit (1986)
I've talked about the 1986 Joes before. It's the year many of the 1982-83 specialties got updated. We got a new diver for the Joes in Wet Suit. Torpedo isn't a bad figure, by any means, but Wet Suit has that modern touch with his sculpt. He's also very different from Torpedo in resembling a more casual diver. I like that. Sure, he could have had a harpoon or something, but it doesn't really feel like he needs more accessories.
67 Eels (1985)
These guys just look amazing. I suspect Eels would be placed a lot higher in many peoples' lists, rightfully so. It's an amazing sculpt, the card art is great, and the Eels were featured in many of the most memorable issues of the comic. There's nothing to not love here. It just happens that my favorite Cobra diver is...
66 Hydro Viper (1988)
I failed to include Hydro Viper's coolest accessory in the picture: his manta ray pet. I like the fact that his filecard tells that they are mutated soldiers, enhanced for sub-sea combat. But his face looks very normal under that creepy mask. Hydro Viper is one of the earliest figures I can remember getting, I believe it was my third G.I. Joe figure.
One big negative thing about Hydro Viper is that he's not able to hold all his stuff. He has a dagger and a harpoon, yet only one functioning hand. This is one dude that seriously needs a place to sheath his dagger, or mount his harpoon.
As with all the other divers (Torpedo, Eels, Wet Suit, Undertow), Hydro Viper has an amazing card art. Go to yojoe and check out pictures of carded examples.
65 Lift Ticket (1986)
I've written about this guy before. All though he has a silly smirk on his face, I really like his sculpt, and the color combinations. He also comes with a removable microphone - notoriously easy to lose, but it just wouldn't be the same if it was sculpted on to his helmet.
64 Thunder (1984)
It needs to be said that all these five figures are vehicle drivers, and it just shows, once again, how much attention Hasbro paid to their vehicle drivers. The reason could be that G.I. Joe was early on in the development stage planned to be a vehicle based toy line, sort of like Air-Riders was (uh.. how about less obscure toy references please?). Either way, this is Thunder. He came with the mobile cannon, Slugger, and has a couple of neat accessories in the monocular and a stylish helmet. Thunder is my buddy Dan's favorite figure, and I can see why he thinks so. You can see more of the Slugger here.
63 Heavy Metal (1985)
This guy has one of the best looking sculpts in the line. He came with a really cool gun, and a very easily lost microphone. He also came with the Mauler, a massive tank. Notice the mud on his face.
62 Ace (1983)
Came with the Skystriker. Has a translucent visor. Suffers a bit from a very simple sculpt, but I don't mind. I love this figure. My first Ace came, weirdly enough, with the huge jet Phantom X-19 from 1988.
61 Ghost Rider (1988)
Like I said, when I first got the Phantom X-19, it came with 1983 Ace. This was common in Europe. I never gave it a second thought, because I loved Ace. Today, I find Ghost Rider to be an incredible toy, with great sculpt and a truly awesome accessory in the red scarf. Ghost Rider was featured in my very first Figure Friday article.
60 Zanzibar (1987)
I absolutely love the 1987 series. It has some of the most ridiculous characters when you look at design alone, and these five are easy targets for those that like to mock this toy line. But they just don't get it. Remind them, when ever you see a "Oh, Raptor is just such a lame toy":
NO! It's not lame! It's awesome! It's fun! And more importantly, in the comic, all these were written in such a great way that they all seem plausible.
Seriously, Zanzibar here has that pirate look going on, and it is what it is. I don't mind, it's not like Larry Hama, Hasbro, Marvel or anyone tried to pretend this was actual reality.
G.I. Joe is a mix of everything awesome: Military, sci-fi, arctic battle, desert war, skirmishes at sea, jungle warfare, space combat. There are heroes and villains, ninjas and robots, marines and marauders. Zanzibar is the latter.
Zanzibar came with a hammer and a spear, and has great, no amazing sculpt. Rooted hair? Sure, why not.
59 Raptor (1987)
Raptor may be easy to mock, but the haters fail to forget this was a toy line for kids. And all kids loved this toy. He even came with a bird pet.
58 Croc Master (1987)
One of the best sculpts in the line, this is a toy that one needs to hold to appreciate.
Yes, I'm talking about the crocodile.
Croc Master is cool too. The whip is a really cool accessory. Card art was impressive too.
57 Cobra Commander (1987)
This was my Cobra leader. I was too young to get the first versions (helmet and hood), so the armored was my main villain. Of course, in the comics, Cobra Commander only wore this outfit for a few panels, before getting shot by the inventor and former Crimson Guard, Fred VII. I like this sculpt, and I find my self drawn to the delicious blue color of the suit underneath the armor.
56 Dr. Mindbender (1986)
Mindbender was heavily featured in the comic issues I grew up reading. When re-reading the earlier issues (#1-40), I saw that Dr. Mindbender in fact wasn't the most evil and insane doctor in Cobra's payroll. Sadly, we never got a Dr. Venom action figure. Still, Mindbender is a cool toy, with that cloth cape with the huge Cobra logo. Yes, there are many jokes to be made about his pants, suspenders and bare chest. But kids don't make those connections.
55 Thrasher (1986)
The Dreadnoks are a hit or miss for many Joe fans. I like them for what they meant to me as a kid, but they're not an important part of my current idea of the Joe universe. They are fun, and provide with some much needed entertainment in the comic. Weirdly enough, they are also catalysts for a few major plot twists.
Thrasher came with the Thunder Machine, and has a weapon I can't really identify. Is it a lacrosse stick with a spiked ball wedged in the hole? Either way, objectively speaking he has a impressively detailed sculpt, and is a fun toy.
54 Torch (1985)
Torch is the most anonymous of the Dreadnoks for me. Yet, I like him for a number of reasons. First of all, he's the only fire starter in Cobra, where the G.I. Joe team had two. Well, Cobra also has two, if you count 1991's Incinerator, who lobbed giant fireballs with a catapult.
Torch also has a cool disco-style headband.
53 Monkeywrench (1986)
A late addition to the original three Dreadnoks, for me at least. Where Zandar, Zarana and to a certain extent Zartan could be considered Dreadnoks, I always felt they were on their own missions, they were slightly too smart to be considered part of that gang. Monkeywrench fit right in for me.
Has huge grenades strapped to his bare chest, because why not?
52 Ripper (1985)
This guy is just awesome. He has that weird contraption that I believed to be a jackhammer when I was younger. Of course, that Ripper actually comes with a tool that rips open vehicles makes more sense.
Interesting to notice is that Ripper, along with Buzzer, has the 1984 construction, with swivel joint in the neck instead of ball joint. But they both were released as part of the 1985 series.
51 Buzzer (1985)
My favorite Dreadnok, for obvious reasons. Soft rubber hair, chainsaw, gas can that could be removed from the backpack frame, tattoo. Buzzer is a memorable character. He was also a presence in the comics, getting beat up by Rip Cord, getting threatened by Rip Cord's girlfriend, and in general being a dick on numerous occasions. One of the two figures I have on Norwegian card, which I find extremely cool.
50 Maverick (1987)
If you thought I was controversial with the 1987 villains, this will probably look even more weird to you. But I really meant what I said about the 1987 series. The Battleforce 2000 sub group is constantly mocked by fans. The characters were even ridiculed in the comic, and ultimately killed off. But the experimental nature of their missions, gear and vehicles, the sci-fi element of war just resonated with me.
The colors of their outfits were unique and memorable. If anything, it's the lack of accessories they came with I consider a negative side.
Maverick was the pilot of the group, great sculpt, and it's hard to see, but he has this circuitry going on on the white parts of his costume. Very cool.
49 Blaster (1987)
Originally, the BF2000 were six guys, and as you can see, I only have four. Dodger was the only one to survive in the comics, and Knockdown was the one with the bazooka handgun. If I owned those two, I suspect at least Knockdown would make the list. Probably Dodger too.
Blaster has a lot of the same greatness going on as the rest of the lot. Cool sculpt, specially his face I like. Great colors. A nifty little rocket launcher for his equipment. Memorable, if downright tragic comic appearance.
48 Blocker (1987)
I always loved his camo. I believe a variant of Blocker came with a clear visor for his hat.
47 Avalance (1987)
My favorite of the BF2000, clearly this guy is ready for anything. Laser rifle, weird alien microphone, nunchucks holstered on his thigh, iron boots, a gazillion pouches, and what looks to be a suit made for arctic environments. Not everything about G.I. Joe makes sense. I don't mind.
46 Gears v2 (1994)
This guy sort of fits the quasi futuristic theme of Battle Force 2000.
It's really wrong to call him V2, as the first version of this sculpt was named Barricade. But I never had Barricade, my mistake.
Gears came packed with the Joe version of the Power Walker, and is like Techno Viper v2 a repaint of a previous figure. But what a repaint. It's extremely simple, like many of the 1994 Joes, but it's very effective. Also, his helmet reminds me of banelings from Starcraft 2.
45 Mainframe (1986)
This is where I stop with having themed groups, after around 25-30 figures that were more or less bunched together with similar figures.
Mainframe is a weird figure. The face sculpt make him look very old and tired, yet the card art has him very dynamic and intense. The comic appearance has him as - I'm not joking - a total bad ass. I like Mainframe, he doesn't come with any weapons, but if you read the comic, you know he doesn't really need them to get the job done. I got this toy from my cousin, who was really into computers and video games back in the late 80s. I always felt that this toy fit his character, and this connection, along with Mainframe's appearance in the comics, make this one of my favorite toys. Modestly placed in this list for his face sculpt though, but I feel this makes up for him being at number 45.
44 Doc (1983)
This is in my opinion the best sculpt of the 82-83 Joes. He also came with some really cool accessories, like the helmet with pills strapped on to the sides. The stretcher is a really cool accessory to use in play. I don't know what the third thing is, but I always thought it was a crutch. Yojoe has it listed as a flare gun.
43 Lifeline (1986)
I didn't intend for it to be like this, but it's still a very interesting comparison. Again, the 1986 Joes were replacements for the 1982-83 ones, and this should demonstrate it in a fairly accurate way. Wet Suit replaced Torpedo. Sci-Fi replaced Flash. Mainframe replaced Breaker. Hawk replaced.. well.. Hawk. And Lifeline replaced Doc. A striking design, some cool accessories, a suitcase with medical equipment, a handgun, a radio and oxygen mask that failed to make the picture.
42 Gung-Ho (1987)
Is it controversial to like the 1987 Joes? I feel like it is. I've never heard anyone talk good about Gung-Ho. But what's not to like? It's a marine in parade uniform. He looks awesome. I guess I can understand that kids felt he was a bit boring, and I will admit I remember thinking the same way. Now I love him, and I love the fact that they made a toy like this. What's even more interesting, is that the face sculpt is very similar to his 1983 version. Like, you can actually see it's Gung-Ho.
41 Bullhorn (1990)
Bullhorn's face sculpt remind me a bit of Booth in the TV show Bones. He too is a sniper. Bullhorn came packed with awesome accessories, among them a modular rifle that fit inside his bacpack, and a gas mask. I always preferred this sniper rifle though. Face camo, natural colors. This was a definite favorite back in the day.
40 Shipwreck (1984)
He has that sailor thing going on. Big time. He even came with a parrot. I like the design of his outfit, and the sculpt is decent for being in the 1984 series, except for the face maybe. Has a great tattoo on his right arm.
39 Lady Jaye (1985)
Ideally, Lady Jaye should have been higher up in the list, because I actually love this figure. A major character in the comic. In fact a truly cool character in the comic. The design of the toy isn't bad either. Many complain about the face sculpt, but I like it. I also like how the waist and hands are more delicate than the male characters. She came with rather weird accessories though. A camera and a spear gun. I kinda wished she came with a proper rifle.
38 Footloose (1986)
Another update of the 1982-83 standard infantry Grunt. When I played the jungle war story lines, I always included Footloose, naturally. Often featured in the comics, yet surprisingly anonymous. Well, maybe not that surprising. He was the standard infantry guy after all.
37 Destro (1983)
Destro is slightly taller than all the other G.I. Joe figures. I don't mind the first version of Destro, but he's mostly in my list because of the connections I make to his truly epic comic appearances. Came with a handgun that is kinda cool, and has a really shiny face mask. Other than the wrist rockets and medallion, there's not a lot going on with the sculpt, but that doesn't matter. It's still a good looking and memorable toy.
36 Cobra Trooper (1983)
The cannon fodder of Cobra Commander. What benefits do these guys get for being in Cobra, one has to wonder. I like the simplicity of the design, it feels very natural and realistic, and it makes for great army builders.
35 Roadblock v2 (1986)
I actually prefer his comic appearance, but in toy form the v2 completely crushes the first costume. This is just a gorgeous looking toy with simple and effective colors and a natural sculpt. Roadblock is a monumental character. I cannot wait to see The Rock playing Roadblock.
34 Leatherneck (1986)
The marine replacing 1983's Gung-Ho. I liked the realistic design of Leatherneck, and his cool rifle. I also preferred these guys for their natural army looks when I had my jungle combat story lines. Leatherneck was in those situations of course joined by...
33 Recondo v2 (1988)
This is the only Tiger Force repaint in my list, as it's the only time I prefer the TF variant over the original. I love the gray colors of his vest, and the tiger stripes makes a bit more sense here than with Tripwire or Blizzard. Notice the broken thumb. It's expected, but it's still sad. A favorite toy from my childhood. I can of course just buy a new one, but there's something about not replacing my old toys.
Some of the absolute best issues of the comic featured Recondo. Not necessarily in a leading role, but he always had a notable presence. Like for instance the second issue of Special Missions where he, Clutch, Dial Tone and Roadblock deal with a retired Nazi scientist in the South American jungles.
32 Dial Tone (1986)
The communications in every mission, often featured in the comic. The toy came packed with amazing card art, and the toy itself has an amazing sculpt. Just look at all the gadgets he carries around! I always included Dial Tone in play. Interestingly enough, as this is a replacement for 83's Breaker, as the comm officer, Dial Tone looks suspiciously similar to Breaker from the 2009 movie.
31 Outback (1987)
Came packed with equipment: rifle, backpack, web belt, flash light. Doesn't need any of it to survive, or to be a total bad ass (Translation: I have lost the accessories) . The story line starting with issue #61 of the comic is where we truly start getting to know Outback. What a story line! Outback and his team are sold out on a very covert mission, and he has to leave his friends behind to get back home. It's far too gritty to be something kids should read, which is probably why I loved it back as a kid, and still love it. This is the issue I show people when I try to convince them that the G.I. Joe comic can hold its own next to any other comic.
And what a character Outback is. He survives everything, and suffers adversity even when he returns safely home to the Joe base. Stalker, Quick Kick and Snow Job are eventually rescued by the ninjas, in an issue of epic proportions.
30 Crazy Legs (1987)
Sure, he does have a silly grin on his face, but for some reason, I always liked this figure. Rifle with folding stock was a very neat touch, and you could never have enough paratroopers. Extremely detailed sculpt on Crazy Legs is a big reason he's as high as 30.
29 Sneak Peek (1987)
I always mixed up Sneak Peek and Crazy Legs. They had similar color combinations, and somewhat similar uniforms. Of course, where Crazy Legs was modestly equipped, Sneak Peek came loaded with accessories, including a giant scope and the deliciously fragile microphone.
28 Crimson Guard (1985)
The regal, and kinda fascistic looking uniform, the cool rifle, the role they played in the comics. Crimson guard is an obvious inclusion to a top 100 list, and I wouldn't be surprised if many Joe collectors have this in their top 10.
27 Flint (1985)
Another great, major character from the comics. Flint was the cocky soldier who always had a joke up his sleeve. His filecard tells a slightly different story though. As does the toy sculpt. His face sculpt just doesn't match the vision of the character from the comics, which is why he's at #27, and not in the top 10. It's not a bad face sculpt, he's just not as mean and tough as I picture him. Still, a great toy, cool, realistic design. Came with a shotgun.
26 Quick Kick (1985)
Surprisingly versatile in the media. You would think Quick Kick was a one-trick pony, but he can shoot a gun if he needs to... or infiltrate Cobra Island. I really like the action figure though. The ability to sheathe the sword in the backpack is a big deal, and everything is infinitely cooler with nunchucks.
Similar to Flint, the toy does have a rather childish face sculpt, that does prevent a higher placement in this list.
25 Snow Job (1983)
For a 1983 figure, Snow Job came with an impressive amount of accessories. Extremely susceptible to sun damage, but a truly great toy. The iconic rifle most of the Joes used in the cartoon. Snow Job's rifle. Was present in many issues of the comic, which as you probably realize by now is a big deal to me.
24 Storm Shadow v2 (1988)
I never had the first version of Storm Shadow as a kid. That's a story too long to write here, but I never had any problems with the v2 being my main Storm Shadow. It's a great toy. Came with awesome accessories, among them a claw and what looks to be a compound bow. I also always found myself drawn towards the gray stripes on his costume. I guess it's supposed to be camouflage, all though I'm not sure where he would hide in that outfit. Maybe the snow?
23 Budo (1988)
Yes, both Budo and Storm Shadow came with red swords. But the Samurai scores some points over the ninja for having the means to sheathe all his weapons. He also has one of the best sculpts of the 1988 figures, and a really amazing hat.
The comic appearance I mentioned when I talked about Lightfoot is where we first see Budo. It's issue 82, and I always wondered why they sent Budo out to fight enemies with rifles.
Here's a Figure Friday on Budo.
22 Hit n' Run (1988)
Most will agree that the 1988 series had a fairly high amount of cool figures, but not necessarily 1985-1986 quality. But all those will agree that Hit n' Run is an awesome figure. He is covered in camouflage, and has a short, automatic rifle, along with one of the coolest accessories in the entire line, a bag with grappling hook.
This is play feature without destroying the figure - like the Ninja Commandos. This is a functional accessory without making it gimmicky - like spring loaded missiles. This is Hasbro doing it right.
21 Laser Viper (1989)
I will admit, I prefer the realistic looking military style, like with Hit n' Run. But I'm also a sucker for the sci-fi and space elements of G.I. Joe. But that's not why Laser Viper is so high in my list!
The reason lies in how cool he looks without his helmet! I never used him as a laser trooper, I never even used his accessories. He was driving the speed boat, Piranha, looking awesome.
20 Quarrel (1984)
This is a repaint of 1983 Scarlett for the UK Action Force line. It's (obviously) one of my favorite figures, one that I've almost made it a point of collecting. In addition to it being a female action figure, which I have always liked, there's just something about the colors on this toy that works. Even though the sculpt is extremely simple, there's still enough details to keep me interested, like the various weapons Quarrel has hidden on her costume. That naturally goes for the Scarlett figure as well, but I prefer this toy over the Scarlett toy.
I've written more about Quarrel here.
19 Hawk (1986)
This is Hawk for me, and Hawk is the leader of G.I. Joe. It should come as no surprise that he's in the top 20. If anything, many of you should by now wonder why he's not higher.
In the comics he had blond hair, as did v1 from 1982, but it never bothered me that much. Such details, the stylish leather jacket, the commanding, yet action ready look. Came with a hand gun, all though I'm not sure this is the right one. Helmet, backpack. It's worth checking out his card art, which is very cool.
18 Rip Cord (1984)
Rip Cord is the third paratrooper to make the list, and all though both Freefall and Crazy Legs have a more detailed sculpt, Rip Cord has them beat in so many ways. He comes with almost identical accessories to Freefall, yet he looks so much more realistic. The camo on his suit is deliciously natural.
Of course, Rip Cord is here mainly for one reason alone: His comic appearance in the issues 45-50.
17 Beach Head (1986)
A fan favorite for a number of reasons. I never gave him a second thought in the comic, so he's actually here on the sole reason for being a cool action figure. The details, the ski mask, the backpack that looks like it's filled with useful gadgets. Beach Head is ready for action, and that is why I always included him in play back in the day.
16 Snow Serpent (1985)
The sculpt on this one is marvelous. From the fur on his gloves and collar to the blue straps on his chest. The color scheme of gray, white and blue. As with many 1985 figures, he came packed with plenty accessories, most notably the AK-47 rifle, and grenade launcher. But the snow shoes obviously has to be mentioned.
I believe it's impossible to dislike this toy, and it wouldn't surprise me that this is a consensus top 20 G.I. Joe figure.
15 Destro v2 (1988)
The second version of Destro to make the list. I believe the picture speak for itself, but if I may: what always fascinated me about this one, apart from the obvious, was the complete lack of symmetry. One floppy leg warmer, cape on one side, weird shoulder blades on the other. I love it! The color combination of the Iron Grenadiers are also just delicious. Would you believe this is a vehicle driver? It is. And so is..
14 Secto Viper (1988)
Another striking color combination on a monumental sculpt, and the removable domed helmet is just gravy. Secto Viper came with the already mentioned Cobra BUGG, underwater tank. It will be featured during the G.I.Joe month. Interesting fact: In the comic, the Joes rain down the hurt on the BUGGs. Ghost Rider in the Phantom X-19 has alone something like 4 BUGGs filled with Secto Vipers on his conscience.
13 Tunnel Rat (1987)
Most people into G.I. Joe know that Tunnel Rat essentially is Larry Hama - the writer and creator of G.I. Joe. Tunnel Rat's face sculpt is supposed to have Hama's likeness, and I'm sure he had a saying to what type of character the figure should be too. Because this is one cool character. I'm not entirely sure what he does, but I believe it's jungle sabotage of some sort. He comes with a big rifle and a bag labeled "TNT", so you know he means business. One of my favorite card arts, it shows Tunnel Rat in a meditative moment, contemplating whether to blow up or shoot down his enemies.
12 Astro Viper (1988)
I'm not claiming that this is an official list of G.I. Joe figures. Even though I should easily be able to gather information to compile such a list, I'd much rather write my own. Because no consensus list would ever have Astro Viper at number 12, where he rightfully should be!
Look at that 70s space movie helmet! Look at those metal shins on his legs! I'm a sucker for most things space, specially in this toy line. This is such a fun toy, and I'm not embarrassed to admit it's one of the few Cobra troopers I have army built (meaning I own more than one. Many more).
11 Jinx (1987)
There's something fragile and cute about Jinx, yet dangerous and deadly. Just like it should be. She has painted red nails, and tiny shoes. Yet she carries two swords and a spear. A favorite from my childhood, not just for the dragon emblem highlighting that she has boobs, but because it's a damn good action figure! I like girls, I like ninjas, and I absolutely love to be able to store all the accessories on the figure!
Jinx will be featured in the upcoming movie, and I cannot wait!
Sadly, Hasbro has once again screwed over fans by making a modern Jinx toy a SDCC exclusive - and extremely hard to find. Or, you could turn it around and say they make it a lot more easy for us to not care about the new toys.
10 Fast Draw (1987)
What better way to kick off the top 10 than with a truly weird pick? Well, it's not weird for me. There are strong emotions connected to this toy, it was one of my first Joes, and just looking at it takes me back to the times when I was massively overwhelmed by how awesome these toys were. This one had it all, rotating rockets, tubes, tubes, tubes, removable visor and heavy armor.
9 Chuckles (1987)
What? What was that? Oh just the sound of me writing a top 100 list of G.I. Joe figures the way it was meant to be!!
Seriously, it's not long ago since I saw a "top list of stupid Joes" that featured many of my favorite Joes. It dawned on me that I knew something they didn't. I actually felt superior to other people based on what they knew or didn't know about toys.
First of all, Chuckles was a dominant presence in the comic issues where he was featured. Issue number 60, drawn by Todd McFarlane, where Chuckles and his buddies Falcon, Fast Draw, Law and Falcon end up saving the world, literally. All these characters are in the 1987 series, all obviously featured in this list.
In addition to having an awesome shirt, Chuckles also has my favorite accessory in the line: a working holster.
8 Falcon (1987)
I'm not sure what version to include here. The green one is the original, but the repaint isn't a bad one either. It's from the Sonic Fighters sub line, and came with a blue helicopter thingy that made shooting sounds. I always used the gray one when I played, because I liked the colors. Gray with black accents and green details. I just worked. The original is obviously also a great toy, and came with a cool shotgun, that has become even cooler when it's been painted.
Like I mentioned in the section about Chuckles, Faclon had a brutal entrance into the G.I. Joe team, initially being denied, but ultimately saving the day and a spot on the team. But later, he actually became a high ranking member, and leading the small group that first entered Cobra Island during the Cobra Civil War. This was how Falcon was to me: A high ranking Joe, able to lead teams in combat. A fantastic toy that deserves a special notice. Pay attention the following weeks, and you will see such a notice.
7 Iron Grenadier (1988)
It doesn't get a lot cooler than Iron Grenadier, Destro's personal army. It's the right blend of style and badassery. I've already mentioned the color combinations, as the IG has the same color palette as his boss, Destro. There's also the fact that the Iron Grenadier has one of the coolest guns in the line. No, not the red one, all though that's surprisingly cute. It's the big, black machine gun.
6 Viper (1986)
Replacing Cobra Trooper as Cobra's troopers, the Viper had many needed updates, in everything from uniform and weapons, to colors and sculpted details. Could have benefited from a third accessory, like a knife or a small gun, but the details of the sculpt more than makes up for what Viper lacks in accessories. There's one thing that really impresses me: the fact that the helmet looks to be big enough for an actual head, which is more than you can say about many of the helmets in the line. Not sure what the goggles are for though. All in all, it's a very memorable design, and I know Viper is one of the most popular figures in the line, justifiably so.
5 Payload v2 (1989)
I love me some space dudes, and the original Payload sculpt is in my eyes the best in the line. It has everything I want from a toy. Removable helmet - with clear visor. Backpack with handles. Bright, yet plausible colors. Space themed.
Payload v2 is basically the repaint of the 1987 one, that came packed with the massive Defiant Space Complex. I don't own the Defiant, but I do own the Crusader, which was basically just the space shuttle in the Defiant Complex sold separately. Payload v2 came with the Crusader , and is awesome! An unlikely entry to the top 5, but I'm not sure this will cause an outrage, as Payload is a true, hidden gem among the more likely contenders. Like for instance...
4 Storm Shadow (1984)
Obviously, Storm Shadow is the coolest character in the comics, by far. He's a presence from his first appearance until his last. It's the character that revolutionizes and modernizes the way we view Ninjas. Storm Shadow is also one of the greatest toys ever made. Where most of the 1984 figures were too modestly sculpted, with too few details, this was actually a benefit to Storm Shadow. As a ninja, he didn't need great details. Yet, ironically, he's one of the most detailed figures from 1984. He comes packed with weapons, yet he's traveling light. He has almost no colors, yet the colors he has are extremely effective. His face sculpt shows almost no emotions, yet you know this is a deeply troubled person.
I have several stories to share about Storm Shadow, the character and the action figure, but this is the top 100 list, and I'm saving anecdotes for later.
What may surprise you is that Storm Shadow didn't reach the top 3, let alone secure the top spot.
The fact is that he very well could have. I won't say it's a toss up, and that any of the top five could have made any of the top five spots. But it was extremely hard for me to choose among them.
I could point out that Storm Shadow has my second favorite card art, only beaten by the following figure.
3 Psyche-Out (1987)
I see a trend. The top four figures stand out in a special way. They have all monumental comic appearances, great toy representations, plenty of accessories, great sculpt with many details, and the toy came with fantastic card art. Psyche-Out is probably my favorite if I isolate the card art. He looks vicious.
Yes, you read correct. Psyche-Out has some great comic appearances. Most notably his first appearance, when he fails to realize that the Joes have a space shuttle hidden in the cellar (issue 64), and the fantastic story arch when he, Roadblock and Hawk are disrupting revolutions in Sierra Gordo (issue 69).
All though his filecard is a bit strange, with psychological warfare, it's not really that out there. It's a well known fact that rock music has been used to intimidate enemies, and Psyche-Out apparently takes this a step further. I like the premise, and I love everything about this action figure.
2 Snake Eyes v2 (1985)
There's really no reason for me to justify why Snake Eyes is near the very top of the hundred best G.I. Joe figures. It's a fantastic action figure of a great character. When I asked Larry Hama to draw any character, he drew the silent ninja. Probably out of habit, but just as likely because he's satisfied how Snake Eyes turned out as a character. If there was a main character in the comic, it would be this guy.
Why I prefer this over Storm Shadow... Well, where I like Storm Shadows character better, I think Snake Eyes is a superior toy. The sculpt may seem just as simple, yet it's not. The muscles are more prominent, the details are better. He comes with a more varied range of accessories. I guess they are very similar, so it's down to very tiny details, and my subjective opinion of them. Had it not been for the skin showing, and the red Cobra logo on Storm Shadow, they would have the exact same amount of colors. It's still all very subtle, and both Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow have similar qualities in that understated awesomeness.
This is the best action figure ever made.
It really has it all. Have you paid attention, you'll have notice that I like my Joes to be able to store their accessories. I like when they have a simple, yet recognizable color palette. I like that they have cool card art, and memorable comic appearance. I like toys with details you have to look for, not necessarily details that force themselves on you. I like the sci-fi element of G.I. Joe. I like play features that doesn't compromise the construction of the toy. I like hologram stickers.
B.A.T has all this, and as it's the best toy in my favorite toy line, I guess I can conclude that this is my favorite toy.
18 comments:
- Jon said...
Some statistics:
1982-83: 8+1 (single carded/vehicle drivers)
1984: 3+2
1985: 12+2
1986: 14+4
1987: 18+1
1988: 13+4
1989: 4+2
1990: 2+1
1991: 6
1992-94: 1+2
Total count, 81 single carded, 19 vehicle drivers.
The years with most figures were 85-88, but I expected that.
1984 severely under-represented? Well, I don't have Zartan, Firefly and Spirit - which are three highly regarded figures.
Baroness, Scrap Iron, Cutter and Duke were considered.
- March 20, 2012 at 6:38 AM
Great work on this list, man! I feel the same about a lot of these figures. It's rare that I ever come across someone saying something good about Raptor, so that was very refreshing.
- March 24, 2012 at 8:33 PM
BATS will definitely be in my top ten, as well as the original viper. As with TECHNO viper he should have deserved a higher rank ( Im biased as regards
to the VIPERS hehehehe) too bad Strato VIPER wasn't included
- October 9, 2012 at 12:03 PM
- Jon said...
Believe me, Anon. Strato Viper was considered. Weird helmet and no accessories placed him outside the top 100, but I love his uniform.
Techno Viper.. I couldn't find my original 1987 Techno Viper at the time I made the list. A pity, he would have been higher.
- October 9, 2012 at 12:31 PM
Man! Please, wheres Tomax and Xamot? :)
- December 27, 2012 at 5:51 AM
- Jon said...
Tomax and Xamot.. Interesting concept, good looking figures, fantastic packaging, with the mirror on the sides. Boring comic appearance. Close to non-existent accessories.
I still have my original ones, I remember clearly when I got them, and I played with them a lot. So I guess I could have included them, but I feel the ones that made the list are all better.
Thanks for the input, Anon. There are probably many figures I've forgotten about, that could have made the list. Suggestions?
- December 30, 2012 at 5:37 AM
- Dr Syn said...
Oddly enough the 86 B.A.T was my 1st G.I Joe figure.
So I love your number one choice. Supreme taste.
- January 17, 2013 at 1:17 AM
- email@example.com said...
I'm also a fan of G.I. Joe, but the action figures you have here are so awesome! About Recondo, you'll be able to fix that small problem by adding an improvised thumb. Just simply carve out a thumb from a plastic that has the same color, then use some adhesives to connect it to his hand.
- June 18, 2013 at 6:14 AM
where's the yellow and black alley viper?
- November 6, 2013 at 12:31 PM
- Anibal Jose Angel said...
If I had to have one it would be Falcon. Glad to see one of my favorites from my childhood making the top 10.
- January 25, 2014 at 10:28 AM
- mastershaper said...
I'm sorry but the NIGHT RAVEN PILOT is the best figure!!! And I've broken it!!! Damn!
- February 19, 2014 at 1:17 PM
- Unknown said...
The one thing that made Dial Tone so cool to me was that he looked just like the spy from a 80's movie called Cloak and Dagger. I swear the card background drew similarities to the character in the movie. To me as a kid it was undeniable Jack Flak was Dial Tone. Maybe I was drawing line where there werent any. either way it made Dial Tone my favorite character.
- April 19, 2014 at 1:43 PM
- Unknown said...
Why the heck isn't Sgt Slaughter on this list? Limited edition toy that you had to order by mail. He was an actual person.
- September 13, 2015 at 8:43 AM
- Unknown said...
Why the heck isn't Sgt Slaughter on this list? Limited edition toy that you had to order by mail. He was an actual person.
Or the Fridge for that matter.
- September 13, 2015 at 8:46 AM
Firefly was one of the first Joes I had and is my favourite to this day. He led my elite team of balaclava wearing bad asses on every mission they undertook. Shockwave was the last to make the unit. I think Blowtorch looked great when he was all geared up and 94 Cobra Commander was outstanding. Great blog btw.
- November 7, 2015 at 3:24 PM
- tthomke said...
Hey I need help and I'm hoping you can help. I am looking for the GI Joe action figure from I would guess the early 90's. I believe it was a villain because it looked like a monster. It was green and it had a helmet on with water in the helmet. I can't find it anywhere. Do you have any idea what I'm talking about?
- February 2, 2016 at 3:00 PM
- Jon said...
Not really sure. Look in yojoe.com. Their database is excellent.
- February 2, 2016 at 11:58 PM
no S.A.W viper? that character was a savage in the joe comix.
- November 24, 2019 at 2:30 AM


text:
You would be proud of me. Rather than taking out my frustrations by picking fights on the internets (well, okay, there was a little bitching on twitter, and this blog post last night over at the Wordpress blog) I went out and applied my belligerence to our &^%(*^%*&^% 2/3rds of an acre of lawn. (We have a tiny little 20" push mower. It's a workout.)
End result: lawn mowed, my exercise for the day accomplished, multiple funnel-web spiders discommoded (poor things), and 0 slapfights engaged in. *throws horns*
Yesterday I ran 7.6 miles in 85 minutes, which is an accomplishment. It would have been closer to 82 minutes, but I had to walk up part of a hill. I consumed half a bag of lemon energy chews and a bottle of Sobe in the process, and determined that my cheap-ass water carrier works better than expected. I don't recognize the me that uses such consumer tchotchkes, but a little carbohydrate along the way really did seem to help.
So that was worth 1100 calories.
Best features of the run included a blue heron, a calico kitty, and a metalhead walking along the sidewalk playing air guitar to his headphones. Rock on, metalhead.


text:
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text:
The largest mobile home park in Sarasota County got its day in court Monday. Now, residents of Bay Indies in Venice will await a magistrate's recommendations to see if their 2013 property tax bills go down.
It's a long shot at best.
As it stands, taxes on the park will rise about 18 percent for each of its 1,309 lots.
The increase is certainly out of whack with the bills of most property owners, whose taxes have gone up little if at all.
The discrepancy is because, in large part, the county property appraiser bases the value of commercial mobile home parks on the income that the land generates rather than the value of the individual homes within it.
So while resident-owned mobile home parks are valued for tax purposes in much the same manner as single-family homes, commercial parks are treated as businesses.
The methodology, established in state rule-making, has not generated much controversy in the past. This year, however, the sales of several Sarasota mobile home parks and a perceived spike in demand have triggered higher, often much higher, valuations.
For instance, the owner of Bay Indies, Chicago-based Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc., bought 75 parks across the country in 2011. One of them was Lake Village in Nokomis, for $23.7 million. The transaction made the appraised value for that property shoot up 93 percent.
The corresponding tax increases for Bay Indies and Lake Village are borne not by ELS, the owner, but by the residents, because their rental contracts call for a direct pass-through of taxes.
And to make matters worse, residents of commercial parks cannot appeal the tax valuations because even though they may own the mobile homes in which they live, they do not own the property being taxed.
To its credit, ELS did not simply shrug its shoulders and look away. It requested hearings for Bay Indies and Lake Village.
Magistrate Rick Rape got the assignments. A Tampa area real estate appraiser, Rape has heard appeals in this area since 1991. His caseload averages about a hundred a year.
ELS also hired an attorney, Jeff Mandler of Rennert Vogel Mandler & Rodriguez of Miami, whom Rape described as one of the best in the state for this type of work.
The experience of the magistrate and the petitioner's attorney make these pretty solid test cases for the 60 commercial parks in Sarasota County, whose valuations and future taxes may rest on the outcome.
The Value Adjustment Board, comprising a mix of elected officials such as school board members and county commissioners, makes the final decision, short of a lawsuit. And the board generally follows the recommendations of the magistrate.
The magnitude of the issues attracted Property Appraiser Bill Furst and Venice City Councilman Jim Bennett, both of whom sat in on the hearing.
Jim Ashburn presented the property appraiser's case, and it was clear he had not concocted the valuations out of thin air. He drew on sales prices, lot rents and expected rates of return.
Mandler disputed the validity of the county's comparable sales, noting that one park was bought by its residents and that Lake Village, as part of a package deal, might not represent an arm's-length transaction as required for use as a comparable sale. Mandler offered his own comps, although none were in Sarasota County.
The two sides also disagreed on capitalization rates, the county using a 7 percent rate, the petitioner advocating an industry standard of 9.48 percent, which would lead to a lower valuation.
Magistrate Rape said his recommendation should be ready in a couple of weeks.
"The people at Bay Indies are in a dire predicament," Furst said later. "I'd like to lower their values, but the appraisal was determined by law."
If he's correct, changing the law on commercial park valuations may offer the best remedy for their residents.
Although he insists he will not act "off the cuff," Councilman Bennett, also an attorney, is considering some sort of reform bill request for the legislative delegation.
As he says, "In no other part of the country is a mobile home park treated like a widget factory."
Eric Ernst's column runs Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com or (941) 486-3073.
Bay Indies residents' fingers crossed
The largest mobile home park in Sarasota County got its day in court Monday. Now, residents of Bay Indies in Venice will await a magistrate's recommendations to see if their 2013 property tax bills go down.


text:
June 20, 2013
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Special to the NNPA from The Washington Informer
You need a vacation.
Just a little getaway, that's all. A few days outside, sand and sun, drinks with umbrellas served by someone in a uniform. Luxurious accommodations, rich food – yeah, you could see that kind of life becoming more than just a vacation.
But would you move, permanently? In the new book "Unsinkable" by Nicole Bradshaw, the LaRoche family decided to return to Canada and leave France behind forever. But they would actually leave behind much, much more.
The night started so well, and ended so badly.
Fifteen-year-old Corrine LaRoche snuck out of the house to see her boyfriend, but then she caught him cheating. When she returned home in tears, she found the police in her house – and one of them had his foot on her father's neck.
That kind of harassment didn't happen often, but it happened enough. Corrine's father was a Negro man; her mother was white. Years ago, they'd left Canada to move to Cherbourg, France, hoping to make a good life for their family overseas. Now it was time to go back home.
With plans for his wife to join them later, Corrine's father booked second-class tickets for himself and his daughters on the Titanic.
Though her sister was less than awed, Corrine was amazed by the size of the great ship. She could hardly believe that something so big could float on water. The Titanic was nearly as big as Cherbourg itself! There was music on-deck, tables with umbrellas, and lots and lots of people.
But the one person who caught Corrine's eye was a handsomely-uniformed young white seaman who seemed quite attracted to her. His name was Christopher and his uncle was the captain of the Titanic. So when he invited Corrine to have dinner with him in the first-class dining room, she naturally accepted – although no one else was happy about their budding romance.
Christopher's mother had hoped he would marry a girl from his social class, and not a common Negro girl. Corrine's father distrusted white people, too. But for Corrine and Christopher, nothing would stop their growing love.
Nothing, of course, except an iceberg…
I was so excited about this book. It had such promise: a novel loosely based on a true story of the only black family on the Titanic.
I couldn't wait to read it. Unfortunately, I should've …
When I say that author Nicole Bradshaw "loosely" based "Unsinkable" on truth, I mean very, very loosely. The setting of the book is 100 years old but its language is modern, which ruined the story for me right there. There are some obvious historical details that are wrong here, and we're expected to accept several big stretches of imagination on top of that. Yes, this is fiction, but it could've been much better fiction had it not been modernized, altered, or contrived.
To say that this book was a disappointment to me is an understatement of Titanic proportions and for that, I can't recommend it. Overall, my opinion of "Unsinkable" is that it just tanks.