text: On Mon, 17 Feb 2003, Roberto F. Brandão wrote: > What's the best way to install Linux RedHat in a 40-node > Beowulf whose nodes don't have neither floppy nor > CD drive ? I've only one non-hotSwap CD/floppy unit > and I wouldn't like to put the CD/floppy > unit and wait for the installation's end on each node. What kind of NIC do you have? If it supports PXE and you are moderately lucky in the default setup of the NIC/node BIOS (so you don't have to flash anything or run any sort of control program to enable PXE) you should be able to boot and install anything you like, including RH, via PXE and DHCP. Basically, PXE permits you to boot a kernel/image. If the kernel you boot is a RH network install image, and you have DHCP and kickstart and a server appropriately configured, you can install from a boot without any sort of external boot medium. If you already have a bootable version of linux installed on the hard drive, there are ways of booting it into a reinstallation mode as well via grub. I believe that there are howto's for PXE, DHCP, and so forth. There is also documentation for a lot of what you need to do in the RH documentation images. You may encounter problems going this route, however, especially if you didn't deliberately design the cluster and have it preconfigured by your vendor so that this would work. Some NICs, for example, support PXE but have to be configured via a program that is booted from a floppy before this support is enabled. You may also have to enter your motherboard's BIOS and put network boot in an appropriate place in the boot device list. With floppy drives so cheap ($8-15) and human time so expensive, encountering a single obstacle (especially one that requires you to move the floppy from system to system forty times to get things going) is likely to make you wish you'd just invested in the darn floppy drives, even if you DO decide that PXE installs are by far the way to go in the future. rgb > > Thanks > > Roberto > ------------------------------------------------ > TDI-Brasil > Rua Dr. Teodoro Langaard, 126 - 1o andar - Bonfim > 13070-060 - Campinas - SP - Brazil > (19) 3243-8382 > > > _______________________________________________ > Beowulf mailing list, Beowulf at beowulf.org > To change your subscription (digest mode or unsubscribe) visit http://www.beowulf.org/mailman/listinfo/beowulf > -- Robert G. Brown http://www.phy.duke.edu/~rgb/ Duke University Dept. of Physics, Box 90305 Durham, N.C. 27708-0305 Phone: 1-919-660-2567 Fax: 919-660-2525 email:rgb at phy.duke.edu


text:
Bob Heinz was a German comic artist best known for creating series like 'Pif und Alf' and 'Jan Maat' in the 1950s. Born Wilhelm Hermann Heinz, he was raised in the Sudetenland. He went to school in Dresden and studied Architecture later on. He designed a series of postcards for the national-socialist Winterhilfe program under the name Willi Heinz in 1943.
After the War, he settled in Plön and went to work as a sports teacher. By 1949 he assumed the pen name Bob Heinz and started making comics and illustrations for magazines like Das Neue Blatt and Hümor für Dich. He was one of the comic artists for the Danehl's children's magazine Horrido, creating 'Jerry der lustige Cowboy' and the humorous gag strip 'Basil der Kätzenkonig'. He was also present in the advertising magazine Tchibo Magazin with comics like 'Bob Evans'.
Heinz's main association during the second half of the 1950s and first part of the 1960s was with Walter Lehing Verlag. Lehning published his comic series 'Pit und Alf' and Jan Maat', while Heinz also contributed to Lehning's comic magazines Hörni, Harry and Froggy Frogg.
Heinz left Lehning in the 1960s and began an association with the Swedish publishing house Williams Verlag, that originally operated under the name Bildschriftenverlag and was later continued by Semic. The comic books starring 'Kalle & Cäsar' were published in Germany, but Heinz also worked for the publisher's Scandinavian comic books, including 'Lajban' and 'Kalle Kula'. He additionally created the comic strip 'Morris' with Bengt-Åke Cras for Lajban in 1977.
Waul und Paul
Other comic creations include 'Die lustigen Abenteuer von Jumbo und Dixi' for the publisher Billhöfer (1966-69), 'Waul und Paul', 'Jimmy und Bobby' for Kluge Haufrau (1959-1963) and'Winki und Flinki' for TV Hören und Sehen (1979-84). He wrote and drew several comics for the magazines published by Bauer Verlages in the 1970s and also drew covers for comics based on television series.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A Developer.com Site
An Eweek.com Site
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday dear HTRegz
Happy Birthday to you
Have a good one get as wasted as you can
I had to google 'jfgi' to see what it meant. The irony is overwhelming.
HT's b-day ? Thats one more reason why i'm getting fu*ked up tonight.
Happy b-day bro, you're good guy.
O.G at A.O
Happy Birthday HT !
Hey Hey,
W00T an AO Happy Birthday.... My Dream Birthday has been achieved :P Now I can stop wasting my pathetic life watching here and Ican go get drunk.
BTW... 23 is old... I went cane shopping this morning.
Thanks and as always Peace,
IT Blog: .:Computer Defense:.
PnCHd (Pronounced Pinched): Acronym - Point 'n Click Hacked. As in: "That website was pinched" or "The skiddie pinched my computer because I forgot to patch".
|The|Specialist watches people run away as he pops out of a cake.
Happy Birthday HTRegz. I love you.
Hey Hey,
Thanks again guys... It's 2:43AM here... and I prolly would have had more people show if we'd had an online party.. but we still had a good time... My one roommate worked 17 hours today and missed the party.... my other roommate had to go out of town for the weekend... one of my buddies had to go to another birthday party in town and another one had a party out of town... 2 others were sick in bed... and the rest were broke. So four of us went to the pool hall and had a few drinks and dinner... Then we met some friends and had 2.50 CND drinks at a karaoke bar... I was supposed to sing but the DJ was a ***** and kept bringing his friends up... oh well what are ya gonna do.
Anyways I'm old... so very old.. and in need of a walker.. I think it's time to retire as well.. Anyways... g'nite and fair well.
Happy anniversary young man...................
/Me goes to paint go faster stripes on Zimmer frame
Ah!..............I have to take my good lady to the garage today.............her brother has found a carb for her other car (of course one imports Japanese carburettors from the USA)...........
Her third car needs some attention............she did not know she had a third car it is a Saab Carlson............2.2 litre turbocharged..............160Mph street legal saloon racer.............maybe the guy can get her to suck nitro? (that's the car...........I think?)
HT................stay away from wimmin............they play havock with your computing
Shame i wasn't there i would of love to shoot a few games of pool i would had to bring my friend Lucelle she's all ways ready for a good game Anyways i'm glad you had a good time
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Village of BarringtonHome Menu
Upcoming Events (All Village Events)
Farmer's Market
- Date: 09/13/2018 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Return to full list >>
For more information, visit
Thursdays, June 14- Oct. 18
Park Avenue, 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The annual Barrington Farmers' Market features fresh fruits and vegetables, organics, meats, eggs, flowers, pastries, cheeses, seafood, and more!
In 2018 the market has undergone a revitalization in hopes of building a new food system, fostering entrepreneurship, and encouraging community.
The Farmers' Market aims to accomplish this by functioning as a small-scale incubator for local food vendors; creating a site for civic engagement and entertainment; raising the profile for the Village neighborhood; and selling goods and building relationships with neighbors.
For more information, visit


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Related Items
Trending Stories
U.S. Women's National Team Clinches Quarterfinal Berth with 3-0 Victory Against Colombia in Group G
- Megan Rapinoe Scores Game-Winner for her First Olympic Goal
- Abby Wambach Notches 140th Career Tally; Carli Lloyd Adds Third Score
- USA Moves on to Manchester to Finish Group G Play Against Korea DPR on July 31 at Famed Old Trafford in a Match Broadcast on NBC Sports Network at 12:15 p.m. ET
GLASGOW, Scotland (July 28, 2012) – The U.S. Women's National Team took firm control of Group G and assured itself a spot in the 2012 Olympic quarterfinals with a 3-0 victory on Saturday against Colombia at Hampden Park.
U.S. midfielder Megan Rapinoe scored her first Olympic goal in the 33rd minute that proved to be the game-winner while Abby Wambach and Carli Lloyd added second-half goals to pace the USA. With their second straight victory, the U.S. sits atop Group G with six points and will head into its final group match against Korea DPR on July 31 (5:15 p.m. local / 12:15 p.m. ET live on NBC Sports Network) at Old Trafford in Manchester needing a win or a tie to clinch first place in the group. In the other Group G match of the night, France hammered the North Koreans, 5-0.
Wambach and Lloyd both found the net for a second straight game, upping Lloyd's career Olympics goals to four and Wambach's to six, pushing her past legendary forwards Mia Hamm and Tiffeny Milbrett for most goals by a U.S. player in Olympic history.
"The things that went well were the three goals," said U.S. head coach Pia Sundhage. "Again, Abby (Wambach) and (Megan) Rapinoe showed the way. That's one thing I'm really happy about, the three goals and we didn't concede any…I'll give Colombia credit for the way they played, they made it hard for us and we couldn't find the rhythm in the first half. At the same time, we still have the ability to score goals and that's huge. You gain confidence by knowing that. At the end of the day, whoever is playing against us, we are prepared and fit and we will play on and on, so that's a message to the team even though the first half was a little bit off."
In a choppy match marked by physical play, the USA showed superior skill and athleticism from the get-go and created several promising moments in the first 15 minutes. U.S. midfielder Lauren Cheney poked the ball into the net in the ninth minute, but she was whistled for a foul after tugging down Colombia captain Natalia Gaitan before placing her shot into the goal. In fact, three times during the game the USA put the ball in the net, but had all three negated by correctly call infractions.
In the 12th minute, Rapinoe found Wambach to her left and Wambach's left-footed strike was saved well by Colombia goalkeeper Sandra Sepulveda, who leapt to push the ball over the goal.
The Americans struggled to find a good attacking rhythm and were less than precise on several services into the penalty area, but finally broke through in the 33rd minute when U.S. forward Alex Morgan was able to latch onto a free ball in Colombia's defensive third. Morgan dished to Rapinoe on the left. She took a couple of touches to get the ball to her right foot and then split Colombia defenders Arias and Kelis Peduzine with her bending shot, sending the ball over Sepulveda and underneath the crossbar into the dead-center of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
After scoring twice against France on July 25, Morgan did not find the net against the Colombians, but did pick up her first Olympic assist and was a menacing presence with her speed and strength all game long.
The physicality perhaps reached its zenith in the 39th minute when Wambach went down in a heap while making a long run to the Colombian penalty area. Replays showed that Peduzine struck Wambach's right eye with her right hand in an off-the-ball incident that was apparently not seen by the match officials.
Rapinoe nearly had a second goal in first-half stoppage time after Heather O'Reilly looped a cross from the right wing to the far post where Morgan touched it back across the goal. The pass had a little too much pace on it for Rapinoe, but she was able to redirect her shot on goal, only to see it cleared off the line just in time by Gaitan.
Rapinoe continued her strong effort in the second half putting shots on frame in the 58th and 60th minutes that were gobbled up by Sepulveda.
Despite a few anxious moments on Colombian set plays when it was still 1-0, the Americans caught a better attacking rhythm in the second half and were able to kill off the game with goals in the 74th and 77th minutes. The first came from Wambach, who accelerated onto a world class give-and-go pass from Tobin Heath into the right side of the penalty box, and with two players hanging on her, slid to knock home her 140th career goal from 14 yards out. She now sits 18 behind Hamm on the world's all-time scoring list.
The USA clinched the match in the 77th minute, moving the ball around superbly on a sequence from left to right with some quick-touch passing from Morgan, to Kelley O'Hara, to Cheney and then to Rapinoe in the center of the pitch. Rapinoe then provided a through ball to Lloyd a few yards above the box and she raced onto the service for tucking her low shot into the left corner of the goal past the onrushing Sepulveda.
The U.S. defense – led by captain Christie Rampone -- was able to almost totally contain the scrappy Colombians over the entire 90 minutes, and while the USA did give up several free kicks in dangerous spots, the South Americans couldn't take advantage. Colombia's attack was able to muster only one shot on goal during the match. That came in the 38th minute when Catalina Usme took a hopeful strike from way outside the box and U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo made the routine grab at the right post.
Additional Notes:
- The U.S. improved to 2-0-0 all-time against Colombia with the only other meeting coming on July 2, 2011, in the FIFA Women's World Cup. The USA defeated Colombia 3-0 in the second match in Group C of last summer's event, with O'Reilly, Rapinoe and Lloyd scoring the goals in that World Cup match.
- U.S. midfielder Shannon Boxx, who is listed day-to-day because of a right hamstring injury, missed only her second game of 2012. Boxx did not play during the USA's 4-0 victory against Canada in the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying championship on Jan. 29 in Vancouver. Boxx was an available option off the bench for that match.
- Megan Rapinoe's assist for Carli Lloyd's second-half goal on Saturday was her first Olympic assist.
- U.S. WNT head coach Pia Sundhage shook up the right side of her lineup from the Olympic opener against France, starting Heather Mitts at right back in place of Amy LePeilbet and Heather O'Reilly at right midfield, shifting Megan Rapinoe to left midfield, where Tobin Heath started against France.
- With Mitts' start, she has now appeared in three straight Olympics and has nine career Olympic caps.
- O'Reilly has also played in three straight Olympics, making her 11th career appearance in an Olympic match.
- U.S. defender Christie Rampone made her 18th career Olympic appearance, a USA record – two appearances ahead of previous record holders Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly and Kate Markgraf.
- The USA improved to 90-2-5 all-time when Abby Wambach scores a goal.
- Sundhage also subbed on attackers Sydney Leroux and Amy Rodriguez for the second straight match. Leroux played the final 13 minutes in place of Wambach while Rodriguez played the final 10 minutes in place of Rapinoe.
- U.S. Women's National Team Match Report -
U.S. Women's National Team vs. Colombia
Date: July 28, 2012
Competition: 2012 Olympic Games; Group G
Venue: Hampden Park; Glasgow, Scotland
Kickoff: 5 p.m. local (12 p.m. ET)
Attendance: 11,313
Weather: 58 degrees, partly cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA – Megan Rapinoe (Alex Morgan) 33rd minute
USA – Abby Wambach (Tobin Heath) 74
USA – Carli Lloyd (Megan Rapinoe) 77
USA: 1-Hope Solo; 2-Heather Mitts, 3-Christie Rampone (capt.), 16-Rachel Buehler, 5-Kelley O'Hara; 9-Heather O'Reilly (17-Tobin Heath, 67), 10-Carli Lloyd, 12-Lauren Cheney, 15-Megan Rapinoe (8-Amy Rodriguez, 81); 13-Alex Morgan, 14-Abby Wambach (11-Sydney Leroux, 78)
Subs not used: 4-Becky Sauerbrunn, 6-Amy LePeilbet, 7-Shannon Boxx, 18-Nicole Barnhart
Head coach: Pia Sundhage
18-Sandra Sepulveda; 3-Natalia Gaitan (capt.), 5-Nataly Arias, 13-Yulieht Dominguez, 14-Kelis Peduzine; 2-Tatiana Ariza (11-Liana Salazar, 71), 9-Carmen
Rodallega (12-Ana Montoya, 71), 10-Catalina Usme, 7-Orianica Velasquez, 15-Ingrid Vidal (17-Melissa Ortiz, 87), 16-Lady Andrade
Subs not used: 1-Stefany Castaño, 4-Natalia Ariza, 6-Daniela Montoya, 8-Yoreli Rincon
Head coach: Ricardo Rozo
Statistical Summary: USA / COL
Shots: 15 / 8
Shots on Goal: 9 / 1
Saves: 1 / 6
Corner Kicks: 6 / 0
Fouls: 18 / 11
Offside: 4 / 2
Misconduct Summary:
Referee: Efthalia Mitsi (GRE)
Assistant Referee 1: Maria Luisa Villa Gutierrez (ESP)
Assistant Referee 2: Yolando Parga Rodriguez (ESP)
Fourth Official: Jenny Palmqvist (SWE)
Bud Light Woman of the Match:
Megan Rapinoe


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Fighting for our veterans
Army Sergeant Chuck Luther reenlisted in the military following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011. After his reenlistment, Sergeant Luther was sent to Iraq on a tour of duty. On a reconnaissance scout mission to Iraq's Sunni Triangle, a mortar shell exploded in his face, knocking him to the ground and leaving him with persistent headaches and periodic blindness.
While recovering from his injuries, Sergeant Luther was accused of faking symptoms to avoid combat, confined for a month, and then diagnosed with a "preexisting personality disorder" despite him previously being cleared for duty in eight different mental health screenings prior to his combat injuries. Due to the diagnosis he was discharged from the service, making it difficult to get the care he needed for his injuries.
Unfortunately, Sergeant Luther's story is not unique. In fact, according to a report by the Yale University Veterans Legal Services Clinic, as many as 31,000 service members discharged for personality and adjustment disorders between 2001 and 2010 may have been improperly diagnosed. These improper diagnoses are given to veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), including cases of sexual assault.
Most troubling, when a service member like Sergeant Luther is discharged for having one of these disorders, the implication is that his or her condition is a life-long one that is unrelated to military service. This makes him or her ineligible for the whole host of benefits — everything from health care services to military retirement.
That's why I recently introduced the Service Members Mental Health Review Act with Senator John Tester of Montana and Minnesota Representative Tim Walz in the House. This legislation would make critical changes to current law that would help correct errors and prevent future misdiagnoses to ensure no veteran is wrongfully discharged or denied benefits.
The bill focuses on improving the process for contesting errors in mental health records. In the current system, the onus of righting a mistake is placed solely on the veteran. My bill would allow medical information from the Veterans Administration (VA) or Department of Defense to be used as evidence that would be presented before the Physical Disability Board of Review.
It also requires an additional, independent psychologist and psychiatrist to be included on the board. The Defense Department would also have to inform veterans of their right to a review of their case as well as seek legal counsel.
Most importantly, this legislation has the support from the organizations that are on the side of our veterans. Groups like the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, the Wounded Warrior Project, and the Military Officers Association of America have recognized this problem and are stepping forward to give their support.
We need to get this done, because when our veterans signed up to serve, there wasn't a waiting line, and there shouldn't be a waiting line here in the United States when they return. Not for a job, a home, or an education, and certainly not for the health care they've earned.
Heroes like Army Sergeant Luther deserve better. Let us renew our promise to our veterans that we will fight for them just as hard as they have fought for us and ensure they have the support and care they need and deserve.


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Financing Africa: Through the Crisis and Beyond
In mid-September, the African Development Bank, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the World Bank will launch Financing Africa: Through the Crisis and Beyond , a comprehensive review documenting current and new trends in Africa's financial sector and taking into account Africa's many different experiences. During the coming weeks and leading up to the formal launch of the book in Ethiopia on September 15, we will give a sneak peek of the book's main findings and recommendations. In this first post, we'll summarize our main messages.


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Rangers' furious rally falls short against A's
Usually after a defeat — and there has been no shortage of practice this month — manager Ron Washington can find a silver lining with the Texas Rangers.
Maybe the offense has put together a good inning late. Or maybe the bullpen has been solid. Or maybe the starting pitcher kept the team in the game.
Such was the case again Friday night as the Rangers cut a seven-run deficit to one with a mighty eighth-inning rally that ended only when the third-base umpire blew a call.
But the end result was the same, another loss that moved the Rangers closer to the possibility that their season will end without them qualifying for the postseason.
Derek Holland allowed six runs in three-plus innings, and the Rangers' furious rally from seven down fell a run short in a 9-8 loss to division-leading Oakland.
The Rangers are 2-9 in September and 4 1/2 games behind the A's in the American League West with 16 to play. Tampa Bay has moved within one game of the Rangers' lead for the first wild-card spot, and Cleveland is only a game and a half out of the second spot.
"We're not out," Washington said. "We've still got fight in us. We never quit. We just didn't win the game."
Lousy starting pitching and a punchless offense so far this month have conspired to put the Rangers' playoff hopes in dire trouble. The rotation has posted a 5.94 ERA and a whopping one win this month, and the offense had gone 12 games without scoring more than five runs.
That was the club's longest streak since 1990.
Oakland exposed both facets early Friday. The first two hitters reached against Holland, and Yoenis Cespedes followed two batters later with a three-run homer on an 0-2 pitch.
Josh Donaldson started the third with a homer, and Holland had to pull an escape act after two more A's hits. Oakland opened the fourth with consecutive singles, and Holland was removed in favor of Nick Tepesch.
The rookie, tentatively scheduled to pitch Tuesday, allowed both inherited runners to score and then failed to retire any of the four hitters he faced in the fifth. He walked No. 9 hitter Kurt Suzuki to force in a run, and Ross Wolf allowed a sacrifice fly to the next batter, Coco Crisp, and a solo homer to Brandon Moss in the sixth for a 9-2 lead.
Holland has allowed 14 runs (10 earned) in his past two starts and hasn't won since Aug. 4 at Oakland.
"He wasn't effective. It was that simple," Washington said. "He was getting the ball up, and they didn't miss very many pitches."
The Moss homer was the A's sixth consecutive run after the Rangers had scored twice in the first against Dan Straily, who walked Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus to start the inning and allowed an RBI single to Adrian Beltre and a sacrifice fly to A.J. Pierzynski.
But the Beltre single stood as the Rangers' only hit until the sixth, when Donaldson couldn't handle a Beltre dribbler that was scored an infield hit.
The Rangers loaded the bases in that inning but couldn't score, and they loaded the bases again in the eighth. They were down to their final out of that inning after Jurickson Profar struck out looking on a borderline pitch.
Leonys Martin followed with a one-hopper that bounded off Moss' glove at first base and brought in Beltre, who had walked to start the inning. Kinsler then walked to push home Pierzynski, who had also walked, and Andrus followed with a sharp single to right field that scored two.
Suddenly, the Rangers were down 9-6. After a wild pitch, Alex Rios singled both Kinsler and Andrus home to make it 9-8.
Beltre was next, and he laced a single to left field. Rios headed to third and slid in safely ahead of Donaldson's throw, but umpire Andy Fletcher blew the call to end the rally and ejected Rios.
"I was correct. I believe I was safe," Rios said. "At that particular part of the game, there are a lot of emotions. We're making a comeback and we're fired up, and to have that rally killed like that is disappointing."
Said Washington: "We were still fighting in the ballgame. Yes, I'm upset, but you can't lose focus on what needs to get done."
After a scoreless ninth by Jason Frasor and Tanner Scheppers, which was interrupted by the ejection of right-hander Matt Garza from the Rangers' bench, the Rangers were able to get the tying to second with two outs in the ninth on a double by pinch hitter Robinson Chirinos.
Profar, though, again struck out looking to end the game.


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Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Council Collection:
An Inventory of their Records at the Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library (part 1 of 2)
Historical Note
Scouting began in England in the first decade of the 20th century. It was originally intended to provide urban youth with outdoor skills and activities. Scouts were encouraged to be of service to their communities and improve themselves by living their lives according to a scout code of ethics.
William D. Boyce, an American visiting London in 1910, learned of scouting. He was so impressed with it that upon his return to the United States, he introduced it to this country. In fact, there were already several rival youth organizations in the U.S. at that time. Boyce formed a committee of youth leaders with the object of uniting the different organizations into one group, and to obtain a federal charter. The official birthday of the Boy Scouts of America is February 8, 1910. In 1916, Congress officially chartered the Boy Scouts.
Scouting began in Houston in September 1910 when Nelson Duller, a twelve-year-old boy, heard of the organization. He and several friends asked his father, David M. Duller, to help them become scouts.
The Houston Council was organized in 1913. The council name was later changed to the Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America, and in 1938 to its current name, the Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of America.
The Sam Houston Area Council covers the following counties: Harris, Ft. Bend, Wharton, Matagorda, Colorado, Austin, Waller, Washington, Burleson, Montgomery, Grimes, Walker, Madison, Brazos, and Robertson. The council is divided into 44 districts.
Return to the Table of Contents
Scope and Contents
The first part of the collection consists of unit files: Cub Packs, Scout Troops, Explorer Posts, Sea Scout Ships, Air Squadrons, and other senior scout units. They are organized by unit number, and are listed in numerical order. Items in these files consist of unit charter applications, applications to join the unit, unit rosters, and adult applications. The Boy Scout and Explorer files also contain Eagle Scout applications, Eagle Palms applications, and various other applications such as scout lifeguard applications and emergency service qualification applications.
It should be noted that the Cub Scout Packs and Explorer Posts are referred to by two numbers: A local number and a national number. For example, the Cub Scout Pack which was known locally as Pack 23 was given the number 3023 by the national office. The national unit numbers are given first, followed by the local number in parentheses. This does not apply to the Boy Scout Troops; for whatever reason, they do not appear to have been assigned national unit numbers.
Following the unit rosters are administrative material for the Explorers, followed by rosters of adults involved in scouting at the unit, district, and council levels. Following this are council membership reports from 1947 to 1977. Following this are council financial records, records of various activities that scouts participated in, and materials used in writing a history of the Sam Houston Area Council in the early 1960's. Also included is material pertaining to professional scout staff, lists of financial donors, newspaper clippings and scrapbooks, and several reels of movie film of a trip to the 1929 World Jamboree in England.
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents
Use Restrictions
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents
Related Material
Related Material
Return to the Table of Contents
Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council Collection. Houston Metropolitan Research Center, Houston Public Library
Acquisition Information
Donated by Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council
Processing Information
Processed by Andrew Hempe, December 1998
Return to the Table of Contents
Detailed Description
Return to the Table of Contents
Return to the Table of Contents


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Saying goodbye is hard, so we delayed it another 90 minutes with an awesome post show. The conversation continues with,
- Arth – Pet tanking artist, and author at the WHU.
- Frostheim – formerly of the WHU and Scattered Shots.
- Alisaunder – from the Hunting Party Podcast.
- Zeherah – Creator of Female Dwarf.
- RogerBrown – Hunter from Method.
- Banya – Real-life zookeeper and creator of Wow Biology 101.
Our videos are automatically visible on our youtube channel. Here's the site where we host our shows live.
You can now stream our show onto any mobile device through Stitcher.com, for those of us who prefer something like Android to the iPhone. As always, here is the iTunes store link, the Hunting Party Podcast feed, and the direct XML feed. If you email us comments or questions, we'll read them on the next show. Send an email to email@example.com. Also, we love iTunes reviews. So please drop by iTunes and mention what you thought of the show.
If you don't do syndicated podcasts, and just want to download this week's MP3 and play it on your player of choice, click here.


text:
In the unlikely event you find a lower Hertz price, we will refund the difference.
No cancellation or amendment fees and no credit card fees.When the booking is cancelled within two days of being made.
No hidden extras to pay - theft and damage cover included.
Enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi when you sign up for free to our Gold Plus Rewards loyalty programme.
Hertz offers car rental services at Riga Airport.
Riga International Airport
Address:Riga International Airport
Opening hours: Mo-Su 0800-2000


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Precious Metal Alloys
When buying a piece of jewellery containing a Yellow diamond, one of the choices you need to make is which precious metal you want the jewellery to be made from. The choice you make will have a direct effect on the price of the jewellery item you are after.
One of the most common metals used in jewellery is gold. As pure gold is very brittle, it is not suitable for use in jewellery as it is not rigid enough. To get around this problem manufacturers mix gold with other metals to make a stronger metal alloy which is more suitable for use in jewellery. Often cheaper metals such as silver and copper are used as alloys with gold.
The purity of gold content is measured in carats. Pure gold has a carat rating of 24 carats. A ring made from 18 carat gold is 18 parts gold out of every 24 parts of metal used. In the same way a ring made from 9 carat gold is 9 parts gold out of every 24 parts of metal used. The more gold which is used the higher the carat value will be and in turn the more expensive the piece of jewellery will be.
The current method in use for measuring gold content is the metric measurement which is a value out of 1000. For example 9 carat gold is 9 parts gold out of every 24 parts total which equates to 37.5% gold content or 375 parts gold out of every 1000 parts total.
To help make individuals aware of what they are buying, nearly all jewellery containing precious metal content is hallmarked at a regional government assay office. This is simply a stamp on the jewellery to confirm what the percentage of precious metal content is.
There are only 4 assay offices in the UK. These are London, Birmingham, Sheffield and Edinburgh. Each assay office has its own stamp so that you can tell which office hallmarked the jewellery. These are shown below.
The hallmarks relating to the precious metal content are as follows:
The main types of gold alloys used in jewellery are as follows:
|37.5% or 375
|58.5% or 585
|75% or 750
|91.6% or 916
|95% or 950
As a rule, we tend only to use 750 gold or 950 Platinum for our high quality diamond jewellery.


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As commuters bustled away from downtown on a recent Friday evening, Chicago's skyscrapers turned to silhouette, framed by an orange autumn sunset.
But that wasn't the view that made John Rowe linger. From his office on the 54th floor of Chase Tower downtown, the 66-year-old Exelon Corp. chief waited, before a commanding view of the skyline, for the dawning of his lights, those powered by Commonwealth Edison.
"When you fly into Chicago at night and you see those lights that go on and on and on, you just get the shivers," he said, dressed impeccably in a suit and carefully chosen tie, his cuff links outfitted from two Athenian tetradrachm, the silver currency of ancient Greece.
For Rowe, keeping the lights on across all those miles gave purpose to his 28 years as a utility executive.
"Electricity is a wonderful business. But it's also very difficult," he said. "It's important to everyone, rich or poor. It has huge environmental effects, for good or worse."
When Rowe retires early next year, he will leave an industry he helped shape for about a quarter of its lifetime. Soon, his office — it's filled with the artifacts of the Pharaohs, kings and emperors whose sagas he turns to for advice — will be stripped of his effects and prepared for his successor.
The usually overbooked time slots on his calendar have begun to open up, leaving him more time to devote to the charter schools that bear his name, to his role as trustee of the Chicago History Museum and to the speaking engagements where, more and more, he is prone to unscripted reverie about his lengthy career.
"I notice vice presidents around the Chase building solemnly chanting: 'The king is dead, long live the king.' God, I wish they'd wait until I stop putting moisture on the mirror," Rowe said recently at a conference of 20- and 30-somethings from North American Young Generation in Nuclear, a professional organization.
For a CEO who answers and deletes his own emails faster than his staffers are able to read them, the process of ceding control of the $19 billion company has been emotional.
"This company is my baby," he said. "The truth is, I don't do anything else very well."
The persuasive and affable Rowe spent the majority of his tenure at Exelon pushing for climate legislation in Washington. He ruled the nation's largest fleet of nuclear power plants, machines that collectively produce enough electricity to power 17 million homes. He oversaw the massive merger of Peco Energy Co. and the parent of Commonwealth Edison Co. that created Exelon Corp. in 2000, and, as CEO, he is responsible for 19,114 employees.
Now, after a series of failed deals and the disappointment of his 10-year fight for cap-and-trade legislation flaming out last year, Rowe is set to exit with a final, $8 billion acquisition under his belt, that of Baltimore-based Constellation Energy Group Inc.
But as a man who devours books on ancient Egypt and China, American and Spanish history and the Byzantine Empire, Rowe realizes that part of overseeing Exelon is ensuring it can survive without him.
Alexander the Great, who by age 30 ruled land stretching from the Himalayas to the Ionian Sea, died without choosing an heir. It didn't take long for his vast empire to dissolve into chaos.
"What happens is, none of Alexander's generals have the same charisma he has, so they start fighting amongst themselves," Rowe recently told the class of advanced-placement World History students he teaches monthly at the Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy in West Humboldt Park.
There also are tangible reasons to plan a succession and move on, Rowe said later.
"I have to start going to the gym and losing weight. Adding a pill a year just isn't working."
Properly positioned
Rowe came to Chicago from a New England utility, arriving as head of Unicom Corp., owner of Commonwealth Edison, in 1998, a time when the city's lights didn't always reliably turn on. Then-Mayor Richard M. Daley was outraged about the power failures. There were outages and riots on the West Side, and things had gotten so bad that the city was considering a move to purchase and oversee its own electrical system.
"I was very afraid of what might happen to the delivery system in 1999," Rowe said. "We had three or four outages in the Loop. It's not supposed to happen."
At the same time, the company's nuclear fleet was operating at an abysmal 49 percent of its capacity, and it was saddled with a large fleet of old fossil fuel plants.
This was exactly where Rowe wanted to be, though, in position to turn around a foundering company. There are two ways to become a CEO, he said: "Succeed your boss. Or find a company that's in a lot of trouble."
Christopher Crane, chief operating officer of Exelon Corp., who in turn will succeed Rowe, recalls the day they first met in 1998. Expecting the CEO to woo him for a vice presidency with the nuclear fleet, Crane, then site vice president for the Tennessee Valley Authority's Browns Ferry nuclear plant, flew in to meet Rowe for an interview at the Four Seasons hotel in Chicago.
"The interview was over in about five minutes," said Crane, whose office, decorated with framed photographs of nuclear power plants and a map of U.S. natural gas pipelines, stands in stark contrast to Rowe's more Romantic flair. "He said, 'You and your friends have one year to get these plants right, or we're going to start to shut them down.'"
That's when Crane realized Rowe wasn't there to woo him after all.
"It was, 'Here's your assignment,'" Crane said with a grin. "He's very determined. … When the organization was new, he didn't have time to wait. The progress needed to be made, and he was pointed and directive."
Through the years, Crane said, he has seen Rowe evolve from taskmaster to a more sage, grandfatherly role.
Following a road map
Through a road map the company refers to as Exelon 2020, Rowe has staked his legacy on the idea that there is money to be made through "clean, reliable and affordable energy."
"We thought the science (behind climate change) was real, and we knew we were going to be asked a lot of things that were going to cost us and our shareholders a lot of money. So we thought, let's try to work something out that's sensible," Rowe said.
Before the merger with Peco, Rowe made the decision to sell ComEd's fossil fuel fleet. "Because it was old. Because it was clunky. Because it was dirty. Because we needed the cash," Rowe said.
It was a decision that would forever alter the direction of Exelon, making it a company vastly less dependent on coal. Crane nearly doubled the amount of electricity produced by the company's nuclear plants, dramatically improving profitability while raising the company's profile as a low-emission generator of electricity. Although about 45 percent of the nation's electricity is produced by coal-fired generation plants, Exelon's portfolio stands at a meager 6 percent coal mix.
"It was certainly a very, very good move," said Thomas Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute, an industry association for investor-owned electric companies. "No. 1, he got a very good price for the plants, and, obviously, it gave him a very, very clean, modern fleet."
As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency toughens its stance against hazardous pollutants, threatening the future of the nation's coal business, Exelon, after a merger with Constellation, would have a fleet that is 87 percent low-emission, a portfolio Rowe helped create amid complex regulatory changes and political debate about the way the nation produces energy.
"It's a very complicated business," said Tom Farrell, CEO of Dominion Resources Inc., a power and energy company headquartered in Richmond, Va. "You have these huge machines that use an enormous amount of fuel to produce this invisible product. There's politics involved in it; there's regulations involved. It's local, state and federal. All that mixed together is producing this product that every single person needs all the time."
Exelon's goal is to reduce, offset or displace 15.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year by 2020.
Under Rowe, Exelon was the first in its industry to join the U.S. Climate Action Partnership, a group of businesses advocating for federal legislation that required significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
Still, Rowe said, "My impact on energy policy wouldn't fill one corncob pipe."
Gary Johnson, president of the Chicago History Museum, watched as Rowe, a museum board member since 1998 and a former chairman, turned to the life of President Abraham Lincoln while planning the museum's 2009 celebration of the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth.
"You could see that he was someone who was constantly struggling with the qualities of mind that Lincoln had," Johnson said. "One of the things he's very interested in is the development of Lincoln's view on slavery … because it bears on how people make decisions, compromise. Was he simply responding to events, or are you setting a course? These are important historical questions for John, but I think they're important personal questions as well.
"There isn't the John Rowe who goes to the history board meeting and then there's this other John Rowe who is a utility executive. He's all these things 24/7."
Through the Rowe Family Charitable Trust founded by Rowe, his wife, Jeanne, and son, Bill, the family co-founded the Rowe-Clark Math & Science Academy and the Rowe Elementary School.
The couple has given $4 million to the Math & Science Academy, and Exelon has added $2.87million. When Rowe arrived recently to speak at the dedication of the school's new gymnasium — it was a celebratory affair complete with student performances and a full color guard — John and Jeanne Rowe were treated like royalty.
Students frequently greet them with embraces. John Rowe remembers their names, their plans, their last conversation.
"I think he knows more about them as people than sometimes their classroom teachers," Johnson said.
After retirement, Rowe said, he plans to be an even more regular face at the school, where he wields not only his money but also his clout to help students.
Rowe recently sat down at a meeting arranged by the principal to offer a young man a letter of recommendation for college.
"What makes a letter from me important is, one, I have very fancy stationery; two, it's not the kind of reference most kids have," Rowe told the student.
His interest in childhood education comes from his wife, who tutors or mentors young people three days a week at the various schools the couple supports.
Rowe calls her the rock that has propped up his career, as well as the inspiration behind his interest in education.
"I've been very lucky I've had an old-fashioned wife. It's very hard to do what I do without someone taking care of the home, someone taking care of me. Without her, I'd be lonely," he said.
"If it's called old-fashioned, so be it," said Jeanne, who met Rowe in 1988 when the two worked at a small utility in New England and married him in 1995. "You do for me, I do for you. We don't keep a score card. We don't have a spreadsheet."
Twitter @littlewern
John Rowe, chairman and CEO, Exelon Corp.
On being a CEO: "It's a need. It's not a rational decision. There's an old folk song that goes, 'I'd rather be a hammer than a nail.'"
2010 salary: $7.2 million. Stock performance awards worth $1.1 million were not earned because Exelon's shares dropped in price. Stock options worth $1.15 million were underwater. Demand for electricity dropped 4.2 percent in 2009, the largest drop in 60 years. The economy remained sluggish in 2010.
2010 charitable giving: $4 million to 82 organizations, including the Field Museum, Chicago History Museum, Illinois Institute of Technology, Big Shoulders Fund, Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, El Valor, Greater Chicago Food Depository, Misericordia Heart of Mercy Center and United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.
Tut-tut: Rowe's penchant for ancient Egyptian artifacts led to controversy in 2006 when the secretary-general of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities expressed his outrage that Rowe, whose company was sponsoring a King Tut exhibit at the Field Museum, kept a sarcophagus of a mummy in his office. He threatened to cut Egypt's ties with the Field Museum if Rowe didn't return the mummy or make it available for public viewing. Rowe smoothed things over by offering it to the museum on permanent loan.
On nuclear power: "The really important thing is that you don't become so confident in your machines that you forget that machines are not much better than the people who run them."
On the 2000 merger with Peco: "I got a call from a vice president one day saying he was working on a deal with another company and would push me out. Poor son of a bitch didn't count his votes."
On the Egyptian Pharaohs: "They married their sisters. It's not a good biological practice."
On his marriage: "I have Athena in her warrior pose on my wedding ring. My wife says it's very good of her to let me have another woman on my wedding ring. It helps that she doesn't believe Athena existed. I'm not so sure."


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With an eye to leveling the playing field between Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the private mortgage market, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has directed the GSEs to hike their guarantee fee, or "g-fee," beginning in November 2012.
Ed DeMarco, acting director of the FHFA, said in a press release, "These changes will move Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pricing closer to the level one might expect to see if mortgage credit risk was borne solely by private capital."
Continue Reading Below
The g-fee, which is slated to increase by an average of 10 basis points, is a fee that Fannie and Freddie charge mortgage lenders they buy loans from to securitize. The fee serves to protect the lenders from credit losses on the loans that go into mortgage-backed securities.
What does this mean for mortgage borrowers?
The average g-fee is currently 26 basis points. The increase could send the fee up to as high as 50 basis points, making for a maximum hike of 24 basis points, according to Malcolm Hollensteiner, director of retail lending sales with Cherry Hill, N.J.-based TD Bank.
"Obviously, if you have a 10 to 24 basis point hike, we would assume that lenders that are selling their loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would have to pass on some of that increase to the consumer," says Hollensteiner.
The increase won't necessarily translate into an average mortgage rate increase of 10 basis points, but based on past experience, Hollensteiner expects that borrowers will end up paying one-eighth of a percent more on average, either in the form of higher interest rates or discount fees.
However, there is another factor at work that might serve to offset the impact of the g-fee hike -- "QE3." On September 13, the Federal Reserve embarked on the third installment of their asset-purchase efforts to push long-term interest rates lower. The aggressive plan is to buy $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month until the economy, specifically employment, improves.
Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com, said in an email that QE3 may have been done in part to anticipate the upcoming g-fee hike and its potential effect in pushing mortgage rates higher.
"With the Fed a more active buyer (of MBS), they can manipulate the price in the market so that the new fee has little or no net effect on the consumer's price. Even though, on an absolute basis, the cost of mortgage money is higher, it's a matter of 'it would be higher except for the Fed's influence.' "
Gumbinger expects that there could be downward pressure of as much as 25 basis points on rates because of QE3. In case originations slow down to the extent that the Fed controls a larger share of the market, there could be an even bigger impact on rates.
Credit is more of an issue
For the week ending September 28, HSH.com's weekly mortgage rates survey found that the average rate on a conforming 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was down to 3.50 percent. As of Monday, October 1, that average fell to 3.41 percent.
But as Gregg Busch, vice president with First Savings Mortgage Corp. in McLean, Va., points out, at this point it is not so much about interest rates as it is about access to lending.
"Until underwriting guidelines loosen up a little bit more, the housing market will just continue slowly and gradually improving," says Busch. "Lenders have tightened up their guidelines considerably. So right now I don't see 3 percent interest rates being any better than 3.5 percent because people just can't get mortgages."
Borrower options
For borrowers who would like to avoid any impact as a result of the upcoming g-fee hike, one option might be to turn to portfolio lenders. These lenders, such as banks that don't sell their loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will not be impacted by the g-fee hike.
The original article can be found at HSH.com:Fed's QE3 should soften g-fee's impact


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VERGENNES — A local man is hoping to close soon on a deal to acquire the former Kennedy Brothers Marketplace at 11 North Main St. in Vergennes, a 41,724-square-foot complex that would house a new grocery store while maintaining its current tenants and recruiting others.
MIDDLEBURY — Addison County's Open Door Clinic is bustling with a new staff, a faithful cadre of volunteers and a surging patient load brought on by a sluggish economy and rising health care costs that are increasingly putting insurance coverage outside the grasp of citizens and employers.
BRISTOL — Last week, the Bristol selectboard issued a letter of support to the Vermont Land Trust (VLT) for plans to purchase conservation easements on the Farr and Fuller family properties.
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MIDDLEBURY — A little piece of Hollywood is coming to Ilsley Public Library in Middlebury.
On July 26 at 6 p.m., Academy Award-nominated film producer Douglas Biklen will be appearing alongside the documentary film "Wretches and Jabberers." The film follows two Vermonters living with autism as they travel to advocate for disability rights. This film is among others, including the Academy Award-nominated "Autism is a World," that Biklen has produced on the topic of autism awareness.
BRISTOL — In response to public debate over how Bristol officials should handle a recent uptick in offensive behavior like swearing and fighting on the town green, the Bristol selectboard last Monday gave the Bristol Police Department the power to issue 30-day no trespass orders for all town properties.
SWANTON — Last weekend, Middlebury Mountaineer fly fishing guides Jesse Haller and Wesley Butler headed up to Lake Champlain's Missisquoi Bay to compete in one of the state's largest fly fishing tournaments for bass: the third annual Ditch Pickle Classic.
At stake were fishing rods, gear and pride, as they were competing against more than 50 of the finest fly fishermen and -women in the state during this two-person team event.
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SW King County Chamber of Commerce Honors Business Award Winners
On Friday (Jan. 11), the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce awarded the following 2013 Business Award Winners at its annual luncheon (click image to see larger version):
"Congratulations to our 2013 Business Award Winners!" they said on their Facebook page. "YOU GUYS ROCK!!!"


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Five Olympic sports that should have gone before wrestling
Paul Sancya/AP
"It's not a case of what's wrong with wrestling, it is what's right with the 25 core sports," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said after the organization voted to remove the sport from the 2020 Olympic program.
To the contrary. It's not what's right with wrestling (the sport isn't as diverse as its supporter claim and both disciplines are nearly impossible for viewers to follow), but what's wrong with the other sports.
That's not to say there isn't a lot right with the sport. It brings more than 300 competitors to the Games, it's open to both men and women and it has roots in the first modern Olympics and the ancient Games in Greece. History, participation and a fervent passion among its supporters. What more is there?
STORY: IOC chooses to drop wrestling
But unless you're a wrestling lover, Olympic purist or CNBC viewer -- and that's not a strong constituency -- you won't fret over the decision. You'll see it today and forget about it for seven years until a 2020 Olympics that doesn't even have a host city yet. I'm a baseball fan who watched every waking hour of the 2012 Olympics and has covered the Games daily for the past four years and it took me until the middle of the second week to remember the sport had been booted off the schedule.
Chances are you didn't see much, if any, wrestling during London. It's hard to follow and relies on a scoring system that's complicated to all but the most dedicated fans.
The usual cries of anti-Americanism popped up after the vote, due mostly to the United States' lead in the all-time wrestling medal count. Though it's easy to accuse the IOC of Eurocentric views (rallies in Tehran have more support for the U.S.), this is a tough sell. It's far more damaging to Russia.
MORE: Olympic champions to fight for wrestling
United States wrestlers hadn't finished in the top four of the wrestling medal count since 2000 and it's lead in the all-time medal count is only the result of the break up of the Soviet Union. Athletes competing under the Soviet flag have been in one Olympics since 1980 and none since 1988 and the USSR is still is only nine medals behind the United States. Combine the Soviet medal count with Russia and all the breakaway nations and it practically doubles the U.S. total.
Tradition can't sustain Olympic sports forever and far more popular sports have been booted before. (Tennis, anyone?) No, the biggest gripe is that wrestling is gone while these sports remain:
1. Modern Pentathlon -- Hasn't been relevant since George Patton finished fifth in the first competition in 1912. Wrestling requires a mat and a singlet. Modern pentathlon needs a horse, gun, pool and swords. That sounds less like an Olympic sport and more like an afternoon at Phil Spector's house.
2. Ping pong -- Call it table tennis if you want. It's ping pong. And it's even less competitive than the American-dominated softball was in the past. China has won the past 11 gold medals dating back to 2004 and the silvers in London were either won by China, South Korea or Japan.
3. Race walking -- This isn't a "core sport." It falls under the track and field designation. Still ridiculous.
4. Trampoline -- This even is exactly like it sounds.
5. Taekwondo/Judo -- If you can name one difference between these sports other than the amount of letters in their name, then you have a leg up on 99% of Olympic viewers.


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It is crucial to realize that during a club visit you are not only representing the club, you are dealing with people's concerns and emotions, as well. By properly addressing those concerns and emotions, you can help the guest reach agreement on the value and benefits of joining your club.
People want to feel confident that they are buying the right product at the right price. They want to feel they are doing the right thing. I want to underscore the word "feel," because emotion is often a critical factor. They want to feel good about the product, the people, the price and the expected service. If they feel confident in you and your company, they will make the purchase.
Good rapport starts with how the salesperson feels about the prospect. Effective selling starts with caring about your prospect and showing interest in them and in fulfilling their needs.
One of the interesting things about a club membership is that everyone knows that staying healthy has to be a top priority. Everyone needs your service. Health is a result of participation, not being inactive. Therefore, since everyone needs your service when you get a walk-in from your marketing efforts, you can definitely lean toward an assumptive close.
Sales can ultimately be broken down into three components: communication, emotion and agreement. In this article, we will emphasize the agreement area. What is a sale? It is an agreement between two parties. It is an exchange where both parties win. We are trying to close the deal so that the prospect joins the club and becomes a participating member. When the deal is closed, we make an agreement and put it in writing — a contract.
In the process of sales, from beginning to close, you are looking for areas you and your prospect can agree on and looking for solutions to the objections the propsect raises. The objections are disagreements or areas in which you are not in agreement. When there is agreement, the sales process flows smoothly. When there is a great deal of disagreement or an inability to reach agreement, the process feels like a lot of effort and struggle — one step forward and two steps back. Therefore, it is crucial to build agreement as you go along in the sales process.
From the initial contact with the prospect, it is important to establish good rapport and good communication so the prospect feels comfortable when talking about a stressful topic. By finding and establishing areas of agreement the sales process can start.
The sales process is a matter of establishing a series of little agreements and handling any disagreements so that the final agreement can be reached and the contract signed. The agreements start from the initial greeting all the way to the close. Your staff might as well get the prospect used to making agreements with you all along the way. When it comes time for the close, the final agreement is easier to make.
Nodding your head up and down is good body language that supports the agreements being made. Being aware of the agreements and disagreements and the way the process is flowing make this method an effective tool.
By viewing sales as a process of making and negotiating agreements, it becomes easier to find out what the prospect needs and wants. In addition, it makes them feel good and confident in the products and services they have purchased. Sales start with caring about your members and providing them with excellent customer service.
Klaus Hilgers, founder and president of Epoch Consultants Inc., is an internationally known consultant, speaker, author and trainer. Contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Elemental Universe Presents:
Swamp Thing #25 "The Sky Above: Of Hawks and Hauntings"
(cover date: October-November 1976)
Page 1.
Caption 1: "THE LATEST EVENT IN THE SAGA OF THE NEW
Caption 2: "CREATED BY LEN WEIN AND BERNI WRIGHTSON."
Title: "THE SKY ABOVE: OF HAWKS AND HAUNTINGS!"
Opening splash panel: The woodlands outside of Quinn, Oregon.
Alec Holland stands holding Barefoot Ruth Monroe by his side.
The couple stare down from the edge of the cliff, as they did last issue.
Caption 3: "Doctor Alec Holland was--for a time--forced by a grim fate and science gone awry, to spend years trapped in a lumbering inhuman form. That of the powerful creature known only as-- THE SWAMP THING!"
Caption 4: "His existence was a living hell endured only by his determination to prevail. A borderline between the madness of despair and the considerable strength of his determination to do the right thing. Despite this ensuing dynasty of a world trapped in unspeakable terror and chaos, Alec Holland found a reason for being."
Caption 5: "His will to survive."
Caption 6: "Now his time of personal torment is over."
Caption 7: "Or... Has his suffering only just begun?"
ALEC: [thought balloon] "Lord, that...was too close! I may be human again, but I'll never be free of this curse. The nightmares keep on coming. Will this torture ever end? Will I never know any peace at all?"
Page 2.
Panel 1: Alec carries Barefoot Ruth away from the cliff's edge.
Barefoot Ruth's white jacket and pants are in tatters.
Alec is looking up at the sky, while Barefoot Ruth looks at him.
Caption 1: "Alec Holland is human again against all the odds, and beholden to a power greater than his own."
Caption 2: "The power of hope."
Panel 2: Headshot of Alec, with a collage of last issue's events.
Caption 1: "But would even hope be enough? He had to wonder. Alec holds his uncertain young barefoot girlfriend in his arms, a beautiful perpetually barefoot young woman and fellow scientist named Barefoot Ruthanne "Barefoot Ruth" Monroe. They stood together staring down into the chasm where the mysterious creature called Thrudvang had fallen into, perhaps fatally. Some tense moments ago, following a mad and desperate pursuit."- *
Caption 2: "- * See last issue."
Panel 3: Alec still holding onto Barefoot Ruth.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "Sometimes I wonder if my existence is a curse. I thought being restored as a normal man would be the escape I needed from the insanity that seemed to follow me everywhere I went as the Swamp Thing. I'm almost a revenant now, still only a living ghost of a man. The madness and the monsters always follow! Could becoming human again have been the worst mistake I could have possibly made?"
Panel 4: Barefoot Ruth slips out of Alec's grasp. She drops gracefully down to her always bare feet.
Caption: "Tensions: Anxiety stressfully mounted in the wake or the coming of some major event or foreseen dreaded occurance. For Alec Holland, the suspense of not knowing the difference is emotionally crushing."
Barefoot RUTH: "Alec? Let's go home now. I can walk on my own just fine. It's starting to get dark out here. Let's go!"
Panel 5: Alec with his hand touching Barefoot Ruth's red hair.
ALEC: "Hey, Barefoot Ruth. Let me take a look at you. That was a nasty blow to the head you took in the crash. But it doesn't look too bad."
Barefoot RUTH: "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. It's you that I'm worried about. That seizure you nearly suffered! I'm afraid you may be reverting back!"
ALEC: "No. If that was happening, I'd know it! Wherever that was, I'm over it now. It'll be okay."
Page 3.
Panel 1: Alec follows Barefoot Ruth through the forest.
ALEC: "Look, I'm sorry about this, Barefoot Ruth. You lost your purse, some of your jewelry, the groceries, the car!"
Barefoot RUTH: "Hmmm, well. I don't care about that. Hey, That's the least of it..."
ALEC: "That's true. Well, pardon my asking. But didn't you have on that nice little pair of shiny pearl barefoot anklets, earlier today? I remember complementing you on them. I hope you didn't lose them..."
Panel 2: Ground shot. Barefoot Ruth's sexy always bare feet, with healthy wide spread out toes crossing over a puddle of water. Their reflections in the water are upside down, with trees above. Alec's larger image is distorted, green and looks like Swamp Thing.
Barefoot RUTH: [word balloon pointing to her toe-ringed bare feet] "Well, compared to saving my life, tearing up my clothes and losing my best pair of barefoot anklets is nothing to worry about! Fortunately, I'm very athletic on my always barefoot toes! I've always been a fast and alert barefoot runner all my life, which sure helped when that crazy giant yellow thing started chasing after us! Just my luck. Ha-ha! All the more incentive for all typical barefoot women in the world to just go without any barefoot feminine fashion jewelry!"
ALEC: [from off-panel] "You're actually joking about that monster we faced? It's not funny, Barefoot Ruth. We're lucky we made it to the bridge in time. No telling what that creature was..."
Barefoot RUTH: "Forget the monster! You took care of it. It's gone... Not much for small talk? Remind me to break you of that. You need a little more self-expression. Self-esteem."
ALEC: "Maybe, someday."
Barefoot RUTH: "Someday soon, I hope. I won't wait around for you forever."
Panel 3: Alec follows Barefoot Ruth toward a hill.
Barefoot RUTH: "Almost there!"
ALEC: "Barefoot Ruth, I think that creature was after me..."
Barefoot RUTH: "Anyway, we've been heading out to the lake all summer, six beautiful months, since we cured you. Besides, doing a little barefoot hiking on a nice cool late autumn evening is so beneficial for you. Feels good. I mean it. Ha! You should get out of those shoes and go barefoot again, just like you were all summer. You look like hell, your posture is slacking, and it can't be good for your health. Doctor's orders!"
ALEC: "Good idea. But not right now, thanks. There's just too much on my mind. I'm more concerned about you, at the moment. Hill's steep, on this end. Should I carry you?"
Barefoot RUTH: "You could just utterly kill feminism, Alec! You're almost like your brother. I can make it back to the house without your help. Even from down here. It's not really too far from here on this end, right? Let's get to the house, before it gets any darker. We can explain to Edward about the car later."
Panel 4: Alec follows Barefoot Ruth up the hill.
ALEC: "That's it. You know the way."
Barefoot RUTH: "I thought I did!"
ALEC: "Listen, Barefoot Ruth. After that lunatic John Zero attacked us, I think Edward will understand about the loss of the car. Somehow, I think the encounter we just had is the least of all our worries. Are you sure you're okay?"
Panel 5: Alec and Barefoot Ruth nearing the hilltop house.
Barefoot RUTH: "I'm in ship-shape condition. It's your health I'm concerned with. For the last time, I wasn't hurt. I can see and walk fine! It's getting darker. Now come on! Hurry up! I can still see the house from here."
ALEC: "I grew up in these woods, Barefoot Ruth. Now I sort of feel like a stranger here."
Barefoot RUTH: "Come on! I'll race you!"
ALEC: [thought balloon] "Why am I doing this? WHY..?"
Panel 6: No illustration. Black background. Bright text.
Caption 1: "Barefoot Ruth makes her way, always barefoot and carefree, swiftly up the steep hill to the Holland house. She breathes softly. The chilled deadening grass, autumn leaves, and icy cold mud of the moist ground mildly sting under her freely exposed elegantly ringed toes. Ascending the hill top, she sways both her arms for balance. Her tattered jacket and blouse hangs loosely from her upper body. Her ripped clothes flutter along with her long red hair under the chill evening wind. Alec moves after her, remorseful and depressed, as if her great beauty is knowingly an illusion. His shod feet feel heavy, like lead inside his shoes. His rope-burned bare hands are sore and clenched tightly into fists as he works his way up the final path of the hill. His shirt is a mass of cold sweat. His jeans are now like sandpaper. His back arched to support his body weight, there is now little difference, as though he were still the Swamp Thing. This loathsome feeling has to stop, or he is going to lose his mind. Perhaps it may be that he already has."
Caption 2: "Alec's older brother Doctor Edward Holland will answer the doorbell any second now. Barefoot Ruth Munroe, his graduated college student and live-in lab assistant has clearly seen better days. Alec dreads what he has to do next, but this must be done. He can't continue to endanger the lives of the people he loves. It's settled then, he thinks..."
Caption 3: "The time has come... for Alec to leave!"
Page 4.
Panel 1: Alec and Barefoot Ruth are met by Edward inside. He is wearing a labcoat, sweater, brown slacks and loafers. He smokes a pipe.
EDWARD: "Alec, Barefoot Ruth! What happened? Did you have an accident?"
Barefoot RUTH: "Edward, give me a second to explain this. Some kind of monster attacked Alec and me. It chased us all the way out to the gorge. Alec cut the rope bridge, and sent the thing down. We're safe for now, so don't worry about us too much."
EDWARD: "Don't worry? But look at your clothes!"
Panel 2: Close-up of Barefoot Ruth staring down, grinning.
Barefoot RUTH: "Hey, it's the newest fashion! It's really no problem. I have a closet full of stuff to wear. I'll miss my favorite set of barefoot anklets, though! I've had those since college. Should have taken my ruby ones. There's no place like home."
EDWARD: [from off-panel] "Barefoot Ruth, this is no time for jokes! If we're still in danger, we must take steps--Now where's the car?"
Barefoot RUTH: "Don't even ask."
Panel 3: Alec looking grim with Barefoot Ruth and Edward in the background. Barefoot Ruth removes her tattered jacket.
Caption: "Alec walks into the house after lingering outside.
The solemn look on his face alone tells Edward the full story."
ALEC: "Barefoot Ruth, you're in denial. We're still in danger."
Barefoot RUTH: "We are not! It's over. Just relax..."
ALEC: "Yes. We are, Barefoot Ruth. I won't put you in danger any longer. Edward, I won't be a problem to you much longer. It's become clear that my staying here poses too much of a risk, both to you and to Barefoot Ruth. I will be leaving here soon. Tonight."
Panel 4: Edward puts his hands on Alec shoulders. Barefoot Ruth removes her ripped blouse. She now wears only her white bikini top and white tattered pants.
EDWARD: "I'm afraid I have to agree, Alec. We can't let anything like this happen again. Barefoot Ruth's safety and happiness is even more important to us than your treatments. I'm sorry we couldn't help you more than we already have."
ALEC: "I knew you'd understand! Well, I guess this is good-bye."
EDWARD: "I'll give you more than enough money to get you out of the state. Where do you plan to go?"
ALEC: "I don't know yet. California sounds nice. I can take a bus."
Panel 5: Barefoot Ruth prevents Alec from leaving at the door.
Barefoot RUTH: "No, Alec! You can't just leave! We should go together.
If there's something wrong with you, we have to find out--"
Panel 6: Alec holds Barefoot Ruth in his arms.
ALEC: "I have to go, barefoot baby. Don't worry about me. I'm perfectly fine now. Your safety's all I can think about. You'll be safer once I'm gone. If everything works out, I'll still be there and you can come join me in a few weeks, once you start your winter-long vacation. Trust me, Barefoot Ruth."
Page 5.
Panel 1: Barefoot Ruth sits watching Alec put on a backpack.
Caption: "Quiet minutes pass. Edward helps Alec with a small backpack, having provided him with cash and directions. Coming downstairs again, the two men now find Barefoot Ruth weeping and upset. Alec Holland has never felt more torn than he is now."
Barefoot RUTH: [hugs Alec, in tears] "Don't go, Alec. Let us take care of you!"
ALEC: [grins, hugging her] "You've done enough already. You've saved me from my worst nightmare. I have no choice. When I know it's safe, maybe someday I will return. Just remember, I will always love you, Ruth. I lost my dear barefoot wife, Barefoot Linda, but I will never lose you! I'll miss you terribly. But believe me. It's for the best this way. Good-bye."
Panel 2: Alec walks out, leaving Barefoot Ruth crying in Edward's arms.
Panel 3: Alec walks alone in the forest, close to the river.
Caption 1: "Alec steps out the front door and runs determinedly down the safe trail leading from the house on the hill. Barefoot Ruth screams out his name in the darkness, pleading for his return. But he knows now in his heart he knew he is doing the right thing.
Caption 2: That's when he sees something in the dusk sky, illuminated in the light of the moon...
Panel 4: Alec looks up at two winged dark figures in the night sky, against the moon.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "Looks like a couple of hawks. Eagles, maybe. Hard to tell. Whatever they are, I hope they are having a better night than I am."
Panel 5: Close-up of the shadowed winged figures.
Caption 1: "But these hawks were a very special kind of bird of prey."
Caption 2: "Glance closer, gentle reader... and maybe you'll catch sight of them...
Panel 6: The Hawkman and Barefoot Hawkgirl appear in the dark sky.
Caption 1: "Yes, they are human! Hailing from the faraway planet Thanagar-- a world beyond our knowledge."
Caption 2: "These winged warriors... are the Hawkman and Barefoot Hawkgirl."
Caption 3: "Winged predators of this domain. Their prey of choice is evil and aggression. Of which these bird-people know there is plenty to be found in our world! Lord Katar Hol and his barefoot wife, Barefoot Lady Shayera Thal fly aloft together under the light of a romantic moon in the night sky."
Page 6.
Panel 1: Close-up of a brass eagle atop an American Flag.
Caption 1: "Despite the growing uncertainties of this increasingly complex world, justice can however sometimes be served exactly where it is intended to be served."
Caption 2: "In a court of law."
JUDGE: [from off-panel] "Court is now in session. Please read the verdict."
Panel 2: Jury foreman reads the verdict to the judge.
FOREMAN: "The defendent, Burton Sloan is found guilty of manslaughter by means of assault, your honor."
JUDGE: "The sentence is fifteen years imprisonment at the State Penitentiary. Court is now adjourned."
Panel 3: Sloan in a business suit, struggling with guards.
SLOAN: "I'm not ashamed of what I done! That crazy Injun was goin' ta kill us all... Thar's no body! He was blown up along with his monster!- * I demand a re-trial, I ain't goin' down fer this! Do ya all hear me?"
Caption: "- * Issue #20."
Panel 4: Matt Cable, Barefoot Abby Arcane, Junior Sloan, and Jefferson Bolt sitting together in the court.
BOLT: "It took over a year to convict him. Who else thinks he's gonna get off?"
MATT: "He won't. Not with the connections I have."
Barefoot ABBY: "I'm glad it's finally over. Now we can get on with our lives again."
MATT: "This would never have happened at all without your testimony, Abby. Or without Junior's."
Panel 5: Barefoot Abby walking outside, leading Matt, Bolt, and Junior.
BOLT: "Call him Burt, Cable. The kid's earned it."
JUNIOR: "Pa killed my friend Ho'Taw. I ain't got no regrets about him goin' ta jail none at all."
BOLT: "I'm gonna stay and look after the kid for a while. Make sure he ends up with a good foster family. You better be headin' back to Washington now, Cable."
MATT: "In that case--take care, Bolt."
Barefoot ABBY: "Good-bye, Bolt. We'll miss you."
BOLT: "I'm sure you will."
Panel 6: Matt and Barefoot Abby sit together in a car. Barefoot Abby clearly enjoys the sun in her face. She wears a summer dress, with her bare slim arms crossed, her uncovered sexy legs are leaned up visibly, with her beautiful, ankleted and toe ringed, dirty-soled, always bare feet resting atop the dashboard on the passenger side. Matt, sweating and looking uncomfortable in his business suit, fumbles through his keys on the driver side.
Caption: "But sometimes, even when justice is served, life continues to be complicated and frustrating..."
MATT: "That man Bolt! Always getting on my case."
Barefoot ABBY: "You seem worried, Matthew. You don't want to return to Fenwick. Why is that?"
MATT: "The less said about my boss, Dwight Wicker--the better!
I'm almost glad we were held up with the trial for so damned long.
I'll bet my former boss John Zero is still missing after all this time.
Just where the hell could he have run off to?"
Barefoot ABBY: "You don't trust Wicker, do you?"
MATT: "At this point, Barefoot Abigail, I don't trust anyone."
Page 7.
Panel 1: Fenwick, same as it was seen in previous issues.
Caption 1: "Fenwick Military Academy. A hot bed of top-secret government intelligence and intrigue."
Caption 2: "And no more so ever, than today!"
Panel 2: Sabre slips out of a secret passage into a hallway.
SABRE: [thought balloon] "It's a good thing that I myself designed most of the security measures here, otherwise I would never have been able to infiltrate."
Panel 3: Sabre slices into and kicks down the door to Dwight Wicker's office.
SABRE: "Too easy!"
Panel 4: Sabre faces Wicker, who is standing behind his desk.
WICKER: "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but I'm calling security!"
Panel 5: Sabre slashes the emergency phone in half, as Wicker jumps back.
SABRE: "No! Don't you recognize me, Wicker? I may be badly burned, wearing a mask, and missing a hand... But surely, you remember my voice?"
Panel 6: Wicker makes fists at Sabre, shouting.
WICKER: "Zero! You have a lot of nerve returning here! But you're not going to escape me this time!"
SABRE: "That's Commander Zero to you, Mr. Director! Now, shut up!"
Panel 7: Wicker's face, bloodily gashed across the right side down across the eye by Sabre's blade.
WICKER: [screaming] "Ghaaah! My face! You goddamn crazy bastard!"
Page 8.
Panel 1: Sabre holds his blade to Wicker's throat, while blood runs down Wicker's face.
WICKER: "My eye! You put it out. You'll pay for this!"
SABRE: "No, you'll keep the eye, and just never see out of it again. But then, men without vision deserve to be blind. Poetic justice, don't you think?"
WICKER: "What do you want, you maniac?"
SABRE: "I want you to suffer as you have hurt me! Think back..."
Panel 2: Flashback sequence. John Zero in a suit, trenchcoat and hat, waiting on foot to walk across a city pedestrian intersection in a small crowd.
Caption 1: [Sabre narrarating] "There I was. Just minding my own business. I was going home after a failed attempt to capture the Swamp Thing in Gotham City."- *
Caption 2: "- * The Brave and The Bold #122."
Panel 3: Close-up of Zero's hand on his hat, as seen in a targeting crosshairs.
Caption 3: [Sabre narrarating] "Your hitman was no professional. He was as clumsy as he was stupid. There was a sudden gust of wind. I reached up with my right hand to adjust my hat... The murder attempt took my hand, but not my life."
Panel 4: Wicker pushes a button under his desk, while Sabre shouts at him.
SABRE: "I would have gladly given up my job to you, despite the many hard years of work I've devoted to establishing the D.D.I. and its integrity! But you had to try to kill me! Is that your idea of retirement? Is it?"
WICKER: "No, that wasn't my idea. You see, I don't merely attempt a project as you did. I succeed at it."
Panel 5: Sabre and Wicker both look up. Sirens blare.
SABRE: "This isn't over. You'll pay for this!"
WICKER: "You'll never live to see that day, old man. But do have an excruciatingly painful death, won't you? Good-bye."
Panel 6: Sabre leaps out the window with a loud crash.
Panel 7: Sabre bounces off the tarp of a military vehicle and runs toward a large truck. Bullets blaze around him.
Panel 8: Wicker stands at the window, with soldiers at his side firing at Sabre.
WICKER: "Shoot him! Kill the intruder! Don't let him escape!
I want that man dead!"
Page 9.
Panel 1: A car speeds out of the back of the truck, as Sabre bounds into it. Solomon Smith is driving.
SABRE: "Get us the hell out of here!"
Panel 2: The car crashes through the front gate. Bullets fired by the soldiers bounce off it.
Panel 3: Sabre and Smith in the car.
SMITH: "I trust you see the error in your ways now, Sabre? You should have killed Wicker when you had the chance! Now you'll never gain another opportunity. You should always listen to Solomon Smith."
SABRE: "Tell me something I don't know. Who are you, Smith?
Why are we even allies to begin with?"
SMITH: "It's really quite simple. There are there are the hunters and there are prey. And then there is me."
Panel 4: Smith rips off his false face. Sabre watches on in shock.
SABRE: "What-who are you...?"
Panel 5: Close-up of the Manhunter's masked face.
SMITH: "I am THE MANHUNTER!"- *
Caption: "- * Last seen in the recent Secret Society of Super-Villains #3."
SABRE: "The Manhunter. The Bureau kept files on you before Wicker's corruption set in. You're a replicant of dead mercenary Paul Kirk, aren't you? You're a clone..."
Panel 6: Manhunter and Sabre race from the car as it explodes, running toward a super-sonic aircraft.
MANHUNTER: "My status is no longer your concern. What matters is you understand the Colossus Council can no longer be allowed to thrive. The D.D.I. will have to wait."
Panel 7: Manhunter and Sabre in the speeding aircraft.
SABRE: "Genetic duplication. Cloning of an army of Manhunters... and Swamp Things! Now all of it fits. I'm not the only one out for revenge here..."
MANHUNTER: "Vendettas are no longer important. You will meet with the Secret Society of Super-Villains in San Francisco, while I carry out the mission you so desperately failed at..."
SABRE: "Dealing with Alec Holland? Well, I say..."
Panel 8: Their ship speeds off into the distance.
SABRE: "...good luck with that!"
SABRE: [thought balloon] "Because you'll need it!"
Page 10.
Panel 1: Barefoot Zatanna's mansion in San Francisco. A young blond British punk rocker rings the doorbell, while Sabre and Manhunter's craft zooms by overhead.
Caption: "Interlude. San Francisco, California."
Panel 2: Barefoot Zatanna appears smiling at the door. She's wearing only a black bikini, with small mystical-looking wrist bracers and disco-style barefoot anklets. Her swept-back dark hair is ponytailed up high, leaving her forehead and ears bare and she's wearing round golden earrings. The drunken punk drops his cigaratte and he looks up. A bottle of Scotch can be visibly seen in the punk's hand.
PUNK: "Strewth! Bloody Hell. Whaaz'at?"
Panel 3: Barefoot Zatanna hugs the punk, surprising him.
Barefoot ZATANNA: "Oh! It's so good to see you, again..."
Panel 4: Close-up of the punk's smiling face.
Barefoot ZATANNA: [from off-panel] "...John Constantine!"
JOHN: "It's good to be seen today, Barefoot Zatanna. Even better to see you. Busy skies today, eh?"
Panel 5: John and Barefoot Zatanna embrace.
Barefoot ZATANNA: "What is with this crazy punk get-up? Honestly, you look like a Hellblazer or something..."
JOHN: "The Sex Pistols, luv. Stormed the ramparts, last year, they have. A bloke has to pay 'em tribute. Found the book you've been a' shaggin' for. Subliminal suggestion, all that. Dodgy fine mess, that can be."
Barefoot ZATANNA: "Mindwipes. Yes! I have to learn that spell. You've got to show me how to do it."
JOHN: "Very dangerous mind, you have there, barefoot darlin'."
Panel 6: John and Barefoot Zatanna's hands touch a small glass sculpture on a table top resembling the Swamp Thing.
JOHN: "First thing's first, barefoot luv. Spin me a bit of Ye Olde Green Man lore. I want to learn things here, too."
Barefoot ZATANNA: "Green Man? Oh, you mean the Swamp Thing! Well, there's not much to tell. Batman's seen it. Something happened in Florida last year and they blew the damn creature to bits. Case closed, before it was ever opened."
JOHN: "Now there's a damn shame. Big vegetable might have proven useful in ways you could never imagine."
Panel 7: Now shirtless, John follows the smiling, sexy bikini-clad Barefoot Zatanna, as she races swiftly up the staircase.
Barefoot ZATANNA: "So this it then ? Exchanging urban legends with forbidden mind control spells?"
JOHN: "Don't sell me short, barefoot luv! Saw a few good chaps downtown. The tantric magic studies course is due about to start up tomorrow. We get to poke holes in reality while we shag in the pool. I tell you. There's nothing better."
Barefoot ZATANNA: "I can't. My father would never allow it!"
JOHN: "If Father dearest is going to be so much of a tussle, don't bother saving his damn life next time. Besides, he doesn't have to know about it..."
Panel 8: They kiss passionately in bed.
Barefoot Zatanna is nude, with her hair down.
Barefoot ZATANNA: "Okay then, dammit! We'll go."
JOHN: "Well, now! That's my barefoot girl, luv..."
Barefoot ZATANNA: "Who said I wasn't?"
Page 11.
Panel 1: Alec walks through the busy streets of Portland.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "So much for getting out of the state! Who knew a room and board for one night would cost so much? Can't even afford a bus ticket out of the city. I made a much better swamp creature than I do a drifter, it would seem."
Panel 2: Alec finds himself in a crowd. A beautiful barefoot woman is tapping him on the shoulder.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "Great! There's a mob surrounding the Museum of Natural History! Looks like I'll have to turn back the way I came--Hey, what does that pretty barefoot girl behind me want?"
Panel 3: Barefoot Liz Tremayne, a beautiful redheaded feisty-looking young barefoot woman, holds a microphone to Alec's face. Barefoot Liz is wearing a long-sleeved white blouse with a plunging neckline showing sexy cleavage, and black bellbottom slacks that come up well above the ankles of her healthy bare feet. Barefoot Liz wears no jewelry, so she's commonly barefoot; no anklets or toe rings on her dirty-soled always bare feet. Barefoot Liz's cameraman, Paul Feldner stands behind her, unable to get his film equipment to work. Paul's wearing a black business suit with scuffed worn black shoes, his dark short curly hair is similar to his short beard, and he isn't much taller than Barefoot Liz. Alec's shadow spread on the pavement behind them all looks like Swamp Thing.
Barefoot LIZ [smiling] : "Hello! My name is Barefoot Liz Tremayne. I'm a journalism student working on a project. What is your interest in the museum's latest find from the Lewis and Clark expedition digs?"
PAUL: "Barefoot Liz, the camera isn't working."
Barefoot LIZ: "Well, hurry up, Paul. I've got a man on the street interview, here."
ALEC: "Sorry, barefoot lady..."
Panel 4: Alec walks away, with Barefoot Liz and Paul staring after him.
ALEC: "I'm just passing through."
Barefoot LIZ: "Hmmph! Well, that was rude."
PAUL: "Barefoot Liz, I told you this was a waste of time. People out here won't talk to us. And there's no way we can get past this crowd to get in the museum and meet the Hall couple before they leave. I told you before, I'm working to be a producer, not a camera guy."
Panel 5: Barefoot Liz and Paul stop to argue, as Alec walks off.
Barefoot LIZ: "Producing starts with the camera, Paul. I'll wrap an interview with visiting curators Carter and Barefoot Shiera Hall, even if I have to use my pocket tape recorder. Then, I'll get back to my thesis about the Swamp-Men. It's going to make a great book."
PAUL: "Swamp Thing, not Swamp-Men, Barefoot Liz! The creature's dead, so what's the point of pursuing it?"
Barefoot LIZ: "Because it's going to be my big break into becoming a reporter! Forget Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. The Swamp-Men are the next big news scoop. They can't all be dead."
PAUL: "We came out here to to a museum piece for your class. Let's just do that, okay? Enough about your monsters, and Barefoot Barbara Walters telling you that smart, ambitious beautiful barefoot women like you are going to break into primetime. It's never going to happen."
Barefoot LIZ: "Yes, it will. In-Depth Magazine is going to be a reality, trust me. If you want to be my producer, I suggest you start being more cooperative."
PAUL: "Fine. I still owe you for helping me to get that grant, so okay. I say tabloid sensationalism isn't the way to go."
Barefoot LIZ: "We'll see."
Panel 6: Alec walks on, looking back over his shoulder.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "I can't believe they just discussed the Swamp Thing! No matter what I do, there just seems to be no escaping it. Like I was somehow predestined for all of this."
Panel 7: Alec passes by a dark alley, where the Manhunter spies on him.
MANHUNTER: [thought balloon] "There he is! Soon there shall be a reckoning. For no man escapes the Manhunter!"
Page 12.
Panel 1: Inside the museum. Carter and Barefoot Shiera Hall enter an empty room. Carter has on a full business suit and tie with shiny shoes, and he's carrying their bags. Barefoot Shiera wears a plunging strapless long evening dress, with luxurious diamond bracelets, diamond-studded barefoot anklets, and silver toe rings that decorate her always-bare feet, as she strides barefoot ahead of Carter. Barefoot Shiera grasps a sword-like machete in her lovely diamond-ringed fingers, staring down at it.
Barefoot SHIERA: "Why must we waste time studying such a mundane artifact, when we can now return to our native Thanagar, Katar? We have fulfilled our obligations here on Earth, I feel it is time to return home."
CARTER: "In time, Barefoot Shayera. Until the Justice League can discover more about the gathering of super-villains that Green Lantern has encountered in San Francisco, we'll keep to our Earth identities.
Barefoot SHIERA: "Very well. We'll remain here on Earth. For now. But clearly, this antique blade was hardly used for any trailblazing."
CARTER: "Still, the museum wants it to be verified, so the task falls to us."
Panel 2: Back of Alec's head and jacketed shoulders in dark alley.
Red eyes appear above him in the darkness: Swamp Thing's eyes!
ALEC: "Good Lord!"
ALEC: [shouts] "NOT AGAIN!"
Panel 3: Alec runs, Swamp Thing doppleganger chases after him.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "This can't possibly be happening again. That mindless Swamp Thing double was destroyed back in Florida last year. Where did this one come from? And how did it find me now that I'm human?"
Panel 4: Carter and Barefoot Shiera watch the pursuit from a balcony.
Barefoot SHIERA: " Katar! What is that creature chasing after that man?"
CARTER: "It's the Swamp Thing! The Batman is familiar with it, but there's no time to contact him now. That citizen is in danger, Barefoot Shayera."
Panel 5: Barefoot Shayera perches, her spread-out ringed toes of her always bare feet curled down on the edge of the balcony railing. She's in her Barefoot Hawkgirl costume, her dress that concealed it now crumpled on the floor below. Katar is still fully dressed as Carter, working to attach the Barefoot Hawkgirl's wings with one hand, while lowering her helmet onto her unmasked head with the other.
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: "Hurry, Katar! I must get after them, now!"
CARTER: "I'll excuse our absence here and join you as swiftly as possible."
Panel 6: Close-up: Both of Barefoot Hawkgirl's bare feet soaring, with anklets and toe rings shining, and the tip feathers of one of her wings behind them. Carter leaning on the balcony railing, below in the background.
CARTER: "Be careful, Barefoot Shayera."
Panel 7: Barefoot Hawkgirl flying and smiling as she holds the machete in both of her bare hands. Carter on the balcony with his hands in his pockets in the background.
CARTER: "And do try to bring the artifact back in one piece this time. won't you?"
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: "No promises, husband. But I will try."
Page 13.
Panel 1: Alec is trapped in a dark alley by the Swamp Thing double, as the Manhunter watches unseen from the background.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "No place left to run. Too concerned about keeping the creature away from other people, I didn't even consider my own escape!"
MANHUNTER: [thought ballon] "Everything is going according to plan. Once I have Holland, together with this Swamp Thing replicant, I will have all the leverage I need to bring down the Council once and for all... What is he doing?
Panel 2: Alec clings to a fire escape and kicks the Swamp Thing to the pavement. Muck and moss cling heavily under his shoes.
ALEC: [thought balloon] "No, I'm still not going down without a fight! I spent years living as the Swamp Thing. I know all of the creature's weaknesses, such as how to knock it down. Like this!"
Panel 3: The Barefoot Hawkgirl lands on the Swamp Thing's mossy shoulders, crouching down and she begins savagely hacking away at him with the blade she holds firmly in her bare hands, with her wings still spread out, casting a shadow on the wall behind them.
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: [thought balloon] "The machete was never intended for this sort of trailblazing, but my slicing effort seems to stun the creature with pain. Have to keep him distracted, until Katar arrives to help finish this battle. The creature's husk feels so cold and strangely desolate beneath my naturally barefoot toes. But it's so unusually cold underfoot, as if this monster I fight was truly meant to be dead..."
Murky Caption 1: "But danger lurks on the creature's verdant mossy flesh.,,"
Panel 4: Close-up of Barefoot Shayera's always bare feet on Swamp Thing's back. The roots wrap around her ringed bare toes and reach for her diamonded barefoot anklets. This view of her jeweled and supple bare feet is not obscured by the following caption, nor by her word balloon.
Murky Caption 2: "As the alert, angelic winged barefoot woman warrior is swiftly and alertly aware!"
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: "I feel something strange beneath my bare feet... Moons of Thanagar! The creature now has hold of my bejeweled bare feet! The roots covering its cold wet mossy body seem to have a life of their own. I must free myself, before the creature seizes me completely!"
Panel 5: Close-up of the BarefootHawkgirl's left hand, her ringed bare fingers spread out, trapped in a root on Swamp Thing's head.
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: "Now only my sword-hand remains free. I must act quickly!"
Panels 6-7: Panel split into rectangles. Panel 6 has Barefoot Hawkgirl swing her blade into the roots to free her bare feet, as she pulls her hand free. In Panel 7, Swamp Thing grabs her by her neck and slams her head into the nearby wall, knocking her out.
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: [thought balloon] "No! Wasn't fast enough! Ugghh!"
Panel 8: Alec cradles the unconscious Barefoot Hawkgirl, as the shadow of Hawkman's wings falls over the Swamp Thing clone.
Page 14.
Splash page. Hawkman slams his mace into the Swamp Thing clone, sending the monster flying. The surprised Alec, Barefoot Hawkgirl, and Manhunter watch in the dark alley background. There's a lot of action and energy in this scene. This is the money shot!
Page 15.
Panel 1: Swamp Thing slams into the hood of a parked car on the street.
Caption: "The Thanagarian Winged Warrior has seen many battles in his time, but even he has never faced an adversary such as this."
Panel 2: Car explodes. Hawkman uses his wings to protect himself from the blast.
HAWKMAN: "Great Thanagar!"
Panel 3: Swamp Thing emerges from the flames.
Murky Caption: "But real or not.. The Swamp Thing yet lives, and he cannot be stopped!"
Panel 4: Swamp Thing wrestles with Hawkman, while the Manhunter uses his remote control on the Swamp Thing clone in the background.
MANHUNTER: [thought balloon] "What a grand opportunity! To eliminate Hawkman and the Swamp Thing replicant in a battle! They will seem to destroy each other, and none will be the wiser."
Panel 5: Close-up of Manhunter's face, speaking into the remote.
MANHUNTER: "Swamp Thing. Kill Hawkman!"
MANHUNTER: [thought balloon] "Now to attend to Dr. Holland. I won't have to turn him over to the Council after all. My agenda is my own right, as it should be."
Panel 6: Hawkman flies away with Swamp Thing still trying to crush him. The metal talons ejected from Hawkman's boots are lodged into the Swamp Thing's mossy knees. Barefoot Hawkgirl screams from the ground below.
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: "Katar!"
Panel 7: Hawkman manages to throw Swamp Thing into the air above him.
Panel 8: Manhunter has Alec backed into a corner of the alley with his energy weapon burning a hole in Alec's jacket, while Manhunter looks up and pushes a button on his remote.
MANHUNTER: "Now, this battle ends!"
Page 16.
Panel 1: The Swamp Thing clone explodes in the sky, the explosion hurts the flying Hawkman.
HAWKMAN: "Arghhhh!"
Panel 2: Barefoot Liz and Paul look up at the explosion from the street.
PAUL: "What the hell was that?"
Barefoot LIZ: "A story! Come on!"
Panel 3: Barefoot Hawkgirl rescues the falling Hawkman.
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: "Are you well, my love? What has occurred here?"
HAWKMAN: "I do not know for certain. I could sense the creature was being remote-controlled, then I felt the deadly vibrations of a detonation device within it, using the Nth Metal in my belt. Now the monster is destroyed. We have no concept of what it wanted!"
Barefoot HAWKGIRL: "Yes, we do! That man that the creature was chasing after. He must know something. We must find him!"
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