Rwanda Rises from the Ashes

Despite the carnage and bloodshed during the 1994 Hutu-led genocidal frenzy, Rwanda, is now a peaceful country of 8 million that has made remarkable strides. In doing so, the country has overcome great odds and become a model of good governance, democracy, reconciliation, and hope.

The horrible events, though well-planned, over a long period[1] and waiting to be implemented as state-run radio urged, began on April 6, 1994 when the plane carrying Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu and Burundis President Cyprien Ntaryamira was shot down just outside of Kigali. With all onboard killed, a genocidal fury unwitnessed in human history was unleashed.

The Hutu-controlled army and its affiliate interahamwe militia immediately erected roadblocks and barriers and went on a rampage of death, torture, looting and destruction targeting Tutsis and moderate Hutus with orders They are the enemy. Kill! [2]

Within 36 hours of Habyarimanas death, most of the priority targets: politicians (including the countrys moderate Hutu Prime Minister, Agathe Uwilingiyamana and 10 Belgian peacekeepers protecting him), journalists, and civil-rights activists [3] had been murdered.

The rampage went on for three months while the United Nations and international community did little to stop it as they first ignored the situation, then dithered, delayed, and argued over the appropriate thing to call it and then what the appropriate response should be.[4] During this time the militia carried out their gruesome task with a variety of weapons AK-47 assault rifles, grenades, [machetes and clubs]. The scale and brutality [were] horrifying: rape, torture, mutilation, unspeakably cruel murder; mothers forced to watch their children die before being killed themselves; children forced to kill their families[5] in which neighbor and friend literally turned on neighbor and friend.

I remember looking up and seeing these men with machetes and clubs, bloody machetes and clubs, and knowing that just a few hours before, they had probably killed somebody, probably not far from where I was, recounted Jacqueline Murekatete, a Tutsi survivor who had lost both parents and all six siblings when she was 9.[6]

"I was always hungry and thirsty and survived many narrow escapes. it was hard to make sense of it. I was all alone," added Beatha Uwazaninka, who at 14 had lost her entire family [and] slept in sugar cane fields and homes of people already killed [when not hiding] in sewer drains and... latrines.[7]

We used to go to church with them and they taught us together that committing murder is a sin and God punishes those who kill. We thought that no one would dare come to attack us at the church [in Nyarubuye] because the church is a holy place. [When the killers arrived] our men were ready to fight, even though they didn't have any weapons, so they died standing. You would not think that they were all going to get killed because they were very many My neighbor Gitera [Rwamuhuzi] was there. Imagine someone leaving their home, knowing the possible victim's name and their children's names. They all killed their neighbors' wives and children. All the people they were cutting fell on me because I was near the door. I had too much hair but it all was washed with blood. My body had been drenched in blood and it was getting dry on me so [the] killers thought I was dead. I lay down on one side with only one eye open. I could hear a man come toward me and I guess he saw me breathe. He hit me on my head saying: Isn't this thing still alive? At some point God helped me and made me unconscious because if I wasn't, there is a possibility that I would have committed suicide. Afterwards, when the cold wind blew, I woke up. But I did not realize that there were bodies around me. I did not remember what had happened, stated Flora Mukampore who lost 17 family members and witnessed her neighbor participating in the killing.[8]

Because the RPF [Tutsi-controlled Rwandan Patriotic Front] were blamed for the death of President Habyarimana, we thought if they had managed to kill the head of state, how were ordinary people supposed to survive? On the morning of April 15, 1994 each one of us woke up knowing what to do and where to go because we had made a plan the previous night. In the morning we woke up and started walking towards the church. After selecting the people who could use guns and grenades, they armed them and said we should surround the church. They said one group would go south and another group would go to the north. There were so many of us we were treading on each others' heels. People who had grenades detonated them. The Tutsis started screaming for help.

As they were screaming, those who had guns started to shoot inside. They screamed saying that we are dying, help us, but the soldiers continued shooting. I entered and when I met a man I hit him with a club and he died. You would say why not two, three or four but I couldn't kill two or three because those that entered outnumbered those inside. Some people did not even find someone to kill because there were more killers than victims. When we moved in, it was as if we were competing over the killing. We entered and each one of us began killing their own. I saw people whose hands had been amputated, those with no legs, and others with no heads. I saw everything. Especially seeing people rolling around and screaming in agony, with no arms, no legs. People died in very bad conditions. It was as if we were taken over by Satan We were not ourselves, Flora Mukampores neighbor Gitera described the Nyarubuye church massacre.[9]

By the time the RPF had announced victory on July 18, 1994, bringing an end to the genocide, more than 800,000 people had died (10% of the population, leaving over 100,000 children orphaned), with the exact figure unknown since the only actual body counts were made in Kigali, where aid agencies coordinated the collection and mass burial of 60,000 and in Western Uganda, where the authorities estimated that about 40,000 bodies had floated across Lake Victoria The Tutsi population had been reduced from about 930,000 to no more than 130,000 in the space of 100 days.[10] Even more disturbingly, a 1995 UNICEF survey of Rwandans reported that 99.9% had witnessed violence, 90.9% believed they would die, 87.5% saw dead bodies or body parts, 79.6% experienced a death in the family, 69.5% witnessed killings or injuries (57.7% with a machete), 61.5% were threatened with death, and 31.4% witnessed rape or sexual assault.[11]

Since the end of this nightmare, Rwanda has made significant strides, a story of hope for all of Africa. Out of the blood and ashes of anarchy and ruins (the countrys infrastructure had been left in ruins no water or electricity in the towns, houses everywhere looted, with doors and window frames removed and even light-switches [pried] from the walls[12]), the RPF assisted by the United Nations has transformed the country into a model state.

Judicial entities, including the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha and Gacaca courts (consisting of 19 judges per court and at least 100 witnesses, including victims, who speak for or against suspects) modeled after South Africas Truth and Reconciliation Commission have been established to try the perpetrators of genocide known as genocidaires. While the worst offenders (those who allegedly organized, instigated, led or played a particularly zealous part[13]), are being tried by the ICTR and Rwandas formal judicial system, subject to the death penalty in the latter venue, others suspected of carrying out (or being an accomplice to) killing, serious assault or property crimes during the genocide,[14] the vast majority of the once 115,000+ suspects are subject to lighter sentences, which may include time-served, and community service based on the completeness and truthfulness of their confessions. The Gacaca courts were created to reduce the backlog of suspects, some of whom have currently served a dozen years because of the lack of adequate facilities and trained personnel in the countrys formal judicial system. Had the Gacaca courts not been established, it is estimated that it would take up to 100 years or longer to try every suspect. Yet as these suspects await their day in a Gacaca court, they willingly participate in community activities and show little inclination to escape.

In addition, a new coat of arms, national anthem, and blue, yellow, and green flag (with blue symbolizing peace and tranquility, yellow wealth as Rwanda strives for economic success, and green agriculture, productivity, and prosperity) with a sun in the right-hand corner (representing new hope) were introduced on December 31, 2001, and a new constitution establishing a democratic unified state that enshrined human rights and protections was signed in June 2003. It was followed by transparent, fair and free presidential and parliamentary elections, in which transitional President Paul Kagame won by an overwhelming 95% of the vote, clearly indicative of the healing that had taken place over 9 short years, a remarkable feat considering that a large segment of the population either directly or indirectly perpetrated genocidal acts, thereby complicating initiatives at reconciliation as well as processes for securing justice.[15]

At the same time, most of the refugees who had fled the genocide (about 30% of the countrys population) have since returned. They are slowly being resettled in newly built villages (e.g. much of Parc National de lAlcagera has been converted into housing) while safety and security [have been re-established] in a remarkably short space of time.[16] Even Rwandas soccer team, the Amavubi or wasps qualified for the 2004 African Nations Cup finals before being eliminated by a 2-1 loss to Tunisia, the eventual champion in the Group A qualifying round.

Although a monument, the Gisozi, has been built, consisting of a large, white building surrounded by gardens, perched on a hill overlooking Kigali where some 250,000 victims are buried [with] more expected, a granite wall where their names are engraved and an exhibition of photographs, films, documents and testimonies featur[ing] life before, during and after the genocide [17] to ensure that Rwandans and the world never forget as well as to provide dignity to the victims and a means of therapy, for survivors and their families, the RPF governments intent was not revenge and reprisal. Instead it was healing and reconciliation so that genocide never happens again. As a result, despite the lingering unease of some, Rwanda has become a society with a place for everyone, regardless of tribe. There are no more Tutsis, no more Hutus, only Rwandans.[18]

Finally, even though Rwanda still faces poverty, fiscal problems and security threats from interahamwe hiding in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo with hopes of regaining power, the countrys past 12 years have been amazing based on a huge amount of energy, courage, goodwill, [political integrity epitomized by President Kagames philosophy Good governance practices are not a favor but rather an obligation of leaders][19], and sheer hard work [while] progress has been dramatic. Rwanda today is a vibrant and forward-looking country [that] deserves respect. [And] if Rwanda can emerge from hell and make such progress then there is hope for the 20% of Africas people suffering injury, displacement and impoverishment as a result of bitter history, poor leadership and endless conflict and most importantly real hope that the African continent can achieve a future free of strife and genocidal killing. [20]

____________________________

[1] Rwanda. Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. Bucks, UK. 2004. 17.

[2] Rwanda. Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. Bucks, UK. 2004. 17.

[3] John Reader. Africa: A Biography of the Continent. Vintage Books. (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York: 1998) 677.

[4] Charlayne Hunter-Gault. New News Out of Africa: Uncovering Africas Renaissance. (Oxford University Press. New York: 2006) 117.

[5] John Reader. Africa: A Biography of the Continent. Vintage Books. (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York: 1998) 677.

[6] Remembering The Past. Online NewsHour. PBS. 9 April 2004. 8 July 2006. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/africa/jan-june04/genocide_04-09-04.html

[7] Veronique Mistiaen. Offering dignity to Rwanda genocide victims
Survivor confronts the horror to honor the dead and living. San Francisco Chronicle. 9 April 2004. 8 July 2006. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/09/MNGIP6246T1.DTL

[8] Living among the dead. BBC.com. 2 April 2004. 8 July 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/3582139.stm

[9] Taken over by Satan. BBC.com. 2 April 2004. 8 July 2006. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/panorama/3582011.stm

[10] John Reader. Africa: A Biography of the Continent. Vintage Books. (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York: 1998) 676.

[11] Rwanda. (Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. Bucks, UK. 2004) 18.

[12] John Reader. Africa: A Biography of the Continent. Vintage Books. (Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. New York: 1998) 678.

[13] Rwanda. (Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. Bucks, UK. 2004) 20.

[14] Rwanda. (Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. Bucks, UK. 2004) 20.

[15] Life After Death: Rebuilding Genocide Survivors' Lives: Challenges and Opportunities An International Conference of Survivors, Kigali, Rwanda (November 25-30, 2001). preventgenocideinternational. 8 July 2006. http://www.preventgenocide.org/action/after/rwanbrpr.htm

[16] Facts about Rwanda History. East Africa. (Lonely Planet Publications PTY LTD. UK. 2003) 549.

[17] Veronique Mistiaen. Offering dignity to Rwanda genocide victims
Survivor confronts the horror to honor the dead and living. San Francisco Chronicle. 9 April 2004. 8 July 2006. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/04/09/MNGIP6246T1.DTL

[18] Facts about Rwanda History. East Africa. (Lonely Planet Publications PTY LTD. UK. 2003) 549.

[19] Felly Kimenyi. Rwanda: Good Governance Not a Favour Kagame. allAfrica.com. 5 July 2006. 9 July 2006. http://allafrica.com/stories/200607060200.html

[20] Rwanda. Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. Bucks, UK. 2004. 24.

Author: William Sutherland
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How Did a Squinty Eyed Sailor Like Popeye Stay So Popular For Over 60 Years?

Popeye, what's so special about the sailor? The concept of collecting a specialized item like Popeye was never our intent.We loved searching small antique shops (and large antique malls), to see if something caught our eye or just toreminisce "my dad had tools like this one or my Aunt used salt and pepper shakers like these on her kitchen table." At this time I had been sort of a "Pin Head", one who collects Lapel or Hat pins, for a couple of years and found a handful of older pins from Pep Cereal boxes.These were of cartoon characters like Betty Boop, Mutt and Jeff and of course Popeye.The Popeye ones stirred some old memories of his cartoon series in the 1950's where he would get into all kinds of troubles but when ate his spinach his "muskels" would display a picture of a battleship, it's guns, a tank or an anvil showing the force after spinach, you knew the bad guys had a real lesson coming!

My next step on this road was to decide to find a "couple" of Popeye pieces to display.At first Popeye memorabilia was somewhat hard to find, was way more expensive that we wanted to spend or was in such bad shape it was not interesting, but we were persistent and found some low to medium priced items which just fed the fire. Soon I discovered the Popeye's 50 year anniversary started to cause a higher demand in the character.More and more people were cleaning out old toys and comics to supply this demand in yard sales and consignment stores and it snowballed into what we see today.

A lot of new toys, dolls, reprints of cartoons, new issues of old tin toys and even a set of golf club covers.This new interest spawned specialty shops, we found one at one of the Casinos in Las Vegas that was moving out and had super clearance prices.Needless to say we did a lot less gambling and more outright spending that day. So here we are checking out the shops in the1990's and on a trip to visit our sister and brother-in-law in Southern Illinois, we were talking about our new obsession and they said the guy who started Popeye was born and raised about two hours away in Chester Il., would you like to visit the town while you are here - Of course!What a bonanza!This place does Popeye credit, they have Popeye picnics, displays, a statue and a museum that houses the official Popeye fan club.This visit showed us there was a large fan contingent out there and our interest grew from there.

But why Popeye?It's hard to say.He doesn't fit today's hero qualities, his English is atrocious, but his down to earth qualities"I yam what I yam!" and "Strong to the finish" are appealing to someone who was brought up in the '40's and '50's.His ethics tinged with sarcasm also is appealing.He loves his sweetie Olive Oyl (one of histories great romances) but his ego sometimes makes him let her drift away (she can be fickle you know) but when she is in trouble he's always there for the rescue and the sail off into the sunset, until the next episode... He's not only my hero, but easily every one else who thinks about it. Now we are at over 400 pieces in our collection, who would have thunk it?

Author: Charlie Hopper
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As Time Goes By – The Definition of an Antique

A common question among new collectors or those starting an antique dealer business is why are some old items called antiques while others are just called vintage? Good question. A question that makes me think of vinegar. Huh? There is everyday newly produced vinegar that costs pennies then there is aged vinegar that can cost as much as a bottle of fine aged wine or liquor. The same is also true for stuff. Technically, anything be it a hair pin to a piece of paper is anointed with antique status on its century old birthday, and antiques are so desired because they simply get better with age. It is this aging process that gives an item, be it food or furniture, a quality that cannot be reproduced.

The set standard for antiques in the industry is when an item is 100 years old. Normally antique dealers (the honest ones) stick to this timeline so customers can rely on a consistent standard, but the inexperienced ebayer or unscrupulous seller may list an item that is only 75, 50, even 30 years old as an antique, when it is really vintage. So always ask the seller how old it is. If they claim not to know ask how they determined it was an antique. That is certainly a fair question. As the buyer you must educate yourself on how to spot a fake, or you may end up paying hundreds, maybe thousands of dollars for a reproduction. (Reproductions have been made for centuries, so even the old fakes look authentic!)

Exception to the Rule

Firearms must actually be older than 100 years in order to be an antique. Hold it, dont get locked up. Its not that bad, but guns must have been manufactured before 1898 to be an antique.

Have and Eye for the Old

New collectors tend to overlook the fact that it is not difficult to manufacture an item in the same style as a period piece, and with aging techniques it can be very difficult to spot a fake. So, how can you tell if your antique is hot off the assembly line or the genuine article? The only proven method is to read every resource about the items you wish to buy. Subscribe to specialty magazines, read collecting books, analyze pictures readily available online that are common fakes, and attend auction previews were you can freely examine items. This becomes your education and how you will acquire an eye for what is old. Remember, you can abstain from acquiring antiques at an auction, and simply go to learn. Look over the items. Hold them. Feel the fabrics. Compare old pieces of glass, porcelain and pottery to newer ones. The more you see it, feel it, and study it, the more of an expert you become.

Old Fakes

Unfortunately, people have been making and selling rip-off items for centuries, so age does not always equal authenticity. Older reproductions require more research to identify, so do your homework.

Doh! I Bought a Fake

Breathe. Breathe. Its okay. There is actually an entire market just for reproductions. Some people feel it is a crime against humanity and all that is sacred to spend a lot of money for an item they will only stare at through a glass barricade and never actually use.

For this market segment, reproductions make all the sense in the world. They can be used, abused, but just dont be confused---it is not the real thing. So, if you have a reproduction, dont try to sell it to someone as the real deal. Sell it as a reproductionyoull be surprised how many interested buyers pop up.

Author: Christina Bultinck
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Roughhousing – Two Guns, Six Heads And Three Fouls

There are different schools of thought as to what a boxing match should look like. Some like cerebral chess matches where the combatants use their technical skills to win in the manner of Chris Byrd beating Jameel McCline by a split decision; others prefer a slug fest or even a pier six brawl ala Maddalone-Minto or Katsidis-Earl. Watching Fast Eddie Chambers systematically dismantle an opponent maybe gives you something in the middle. What can be coma-inducing for some may be high drama for others. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Come-from-behind fights like Feliciano-Rodriguez, ebb and flow classics like Corrales-Castillo, and unexpected one-punch knockouts like Gary Stark Jr.-Andres Ledesma, Barkley-Hearns and Tate-Weaver are universally appreciated.

Strategic roughhousing

There is another kind of fight that, for lack of a better name, can be categorized as roughhousing. Mustafa Hamsho was the quintessential roughhouser always seemimg to do some things that made every one of his fights interesting and controversial using his head and elbows in novel ways. Today, Bernard Hopkins does a good job of walking a delicate balance between dirty and not-dirty, and does it strategically as if it were a part of his fight plan. However, if he ever decided to move up in weight and fight Evander Holyfield, it would be like two rams butting heads. Holyfield beat Hasim Rahman in 2002 by head-butting him plain and simple. It caused a welt over the Rocks left eye that was the size of a grapefruit. Far too many others have felt the effects of Evanders third weapon. The earlier version of Ricky Hatton fought on the edge as well, though a bit more recklessly than strategically.

Jack Dempseys overall menacing demeanor and nonstop aggression and propensity for dirty fighting made an unmistakable impression on a young Mike Tyson whose own penchant for excessive violence would play out later against Holyfield, Savarese, Botha, and McBride. Attempted arm breaking took on a new meaning with Iron Mike.

The Foul Pole and crossing the line

Although sometimes ugly, roughhousing maybe be palatable except when it crosses the line to intentional dirty such as when Andrew Golata dismantled Samson Poha, Darnell Nicholson and Riddick Bowe twice. Heck, with Golata, everything goes including bites, holding and hitting, rabbit punching, thumbing to the eye, intentional head butts, elbows and, of course, deliberate low blows. Golata may have studied vintage tapes of Tony Galento, a practioner of the deliberate head-butt, gouge, low-blow, kidney punch and well-placed elbow. With his biting of Poha and deliberate and inexplicable head butt of Darnell Nicholson, the Foul Pole took it to a new level. Tyson later would affirm the use of cannibalistic tactics in the ring.

Boxing is a hurt business, but 99% of the fighters rise above the need for such tacticts, even when they absolutely despise each other like Ali and Frazier or Mayorga-DeLa Hoya. They were above that. As a former boxing writer once told me, most guys, they put an opponent down and their first instinct is go to the neutral corner, but with a few, Im certain the first thing that goes through their mind is hit the poor bastard when he is down.

Teddy Two Gun Reid

Teddy Two Gun Reid, 23-9-2, uses whatever is available to beat his opponent. While Hopkins is strategic; Reid, though known to spit out his mouthpiece on occasion or feigning a low blow to buy time, is more an "anything goes type and you had better be ready for anything if you go up against him. As Joe Tessitore once said, He fouls so much; you'd swear he practices it.

Reid, from Maryland via Jamaica, has been known by aficionados for years. He is both aggressive and merciless, and is a bombs-away slugger who always makes exciting fights and has scored impressive wins. Among his victims have been Germaine Sanders, Joe Hutchinson, Emanuel Augustus, Terrance Cauthen, Eamonn Magee, Juan Carlos Rubio, and Juan LaPorte. The level of his overall opposition has been very high. Ring magazine once ranked him No. 7.

Before being stopped by Kermit Cintron in 2004, he gave the young prospect all that he could handle. He backed up Cintron with hard punches and wobbled him on several occasions. Cintron had 23 prior fights, but number 24 against Reid was his first real test.

In his give-and-take draw with J.C. Candelo in 2006, he was deducted one point each in rounds 7 and 10 for roughhousing. In 2005, he punched Rodney Jones on the break for a point deduction thereby arguably snatching defeat from victory in losing a split decision. Against the aforementioned Cintron, he was penalized twice: once for punching after the bell and then for punching on a break. He was also penalized in his 2006 TKO loss to Verno Phillips in a fight in which he took far too much punishment.

Two Gun had three separate point deductions in a 1998 fight against welterweight Andrew "Six Heads" Lewis for the WBA North America Welterweight Title. After staggering Lewis in the first round, Reid was deducted a point in the seventh, eleventh and twelfth rounds in a display of how to lose a fight without really trying. Here, in one bizzare evening at the Convention Center in Atlantic City, you had two guns, six heads and three fouls.

In 2000, Reid beat tough Emiliano Valdez, 14-3-1, by late TKO. Valdez, 26, was put in a coma from injuries sustained in this savage bout, and passed away on March 20, 2002.This foul-filled fight started with Reid throwing his customary bombs from the get-go. He soon dazed Valdez with a long thunderous right to the head, but was in turn rocked by a low left hook that halted his onslaught. Valdez then went after Reids lean and tall body and began to wear him down. Finally, after a violent ebb and flow battle in which both fighters were penalized for fouls and in which both were in serious trouble on numerous occasions, things turned in Reids favor in the eighth and ended in the tenth when Two Gun hit and froze the rugged Dominican with a malefic left hook. Raising his hands ala Sugar Ray Leonard, he then quickly closed matters with a slashing right cross and a crunching left hook that sent Valdez crashing to the canvas unconscious and then to the hospital. This was not dirty, but it was both brutal and tragic.

Reid has been a great, albeit controversial thrill-provider, but coming off his recent 2007 fight with Richard Gutierrez in which he was brutally stopped, it appears he is at the end of his career and needs to give serious thought to retirement. After being the recipient of several wicked head shots launched by the talented Gutierrez, Reid was decked in the fourth. However, keeping to his creed of using whatever is available to win, he claimed he was fouled on a low blow to the right hip. He grabbed his groin and rolled around the canvas, but referee Ed Claudio was having none of it and counted Two Gun out.

When they tally up the guys who fight under the creed of anything goes, Teddy Reids name will be near the top.

"... Practice makes perfect..You got to practice these things to be perfect at it. It's a fight and everything goes. I look for tough sparring, and it's hard to get it at my weight, so I have to find it 30 to 40 pounds above me. I will foul in sparring. That's what I do. I practice it." Teddy Reid. From Joe Tessitores "Reid's a mean one, a la Grinch, Special to ESPN.com

Author: Theodore Sares
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Antique Collection of Old Guns and Photographies

The dictionary defines the word antiques as a piece of art, or wood art or a decorative object that is made over 10 decades a go. There are people who have this hobby of collecting antiques. Antique collection could prove one of the most expensive hobbies eve, even more that of maintaining exuberant golf courses for gold players.

The antiques are pieces of art from earlier period and are priceless and that's why they at times price more than any one could ever imagine. There could be a wide variety of antique items that could attract the antique collectors. Stamps; furniture; jewelry; cars; paintings; statutes & sculptures the list is endless. Guns and magnificent piece of photography is no different attraction for such antique collectors.

Antique Collection Of Old Guns

The antique gun collection is becoming popular day by day. Gun being the boy toy attract lot of men. Gun is a symbol of pride and power. Especially when it is an antique gun it adds to the status and standard of the antique gun possessor as well. Not only because of the - power, pride and status that these guns brings, the trill associated with them because of them belong to some great legend from the past makes the entire concept even more exciting.

If you practice collecting antique guns or are interested in it, the best source of information about adding more to your collection would be subscribing to the magazines that are available in the market, providing indispensable information about these antique rare pieces. If you are new in the field, to be on the safer side spend more time on researching and collecting information and start with relatively small and less expensive antique guns. The best source for information and purchase of such antiques are the Gun Shows that are organized by big antique gun organizations e.g. NRA.

Antique Collection of Photography

Photographs are no different when it comes to adding to an antique collector's collection. The antique collections of photographs would have pictures from a very old specific era from - representing a country's cultures or history. The collection might include beautiful pieces of photography by some well known photographers like - Strand, Paul; Modotti, Tina; Hine, Lewis; Levitt, Helen and many more the list is endless. Or would have beautiful images captured of a very early period, highlighting the culture and trends of that time.

The black and white photo adds to the beauty of such photographs. Such collectors of photographers usually are interested not only in the antique photographs but also have shown explicit inters t in Vintage Photography; Photography from the Civil War and Old Photographs. There are various websites available from where these antiques photographs could be purchased. Though these photographs are priceless - there usually start from as less as $100 with out any upper limit to its cost.

There are number of photo collections available which provides with a whole collection of the series including the negatives of the photos. The list of collections is endless however some of them are -Coloradoan Collection, Hancock Collection, Historical Collection, Map Collection, Miller Collection, Slide Collection, and Triangle Collection.

Author: Roy J Walker
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Toys – Guns And Not So Roses

Throughout the history of toys there has always been a category of toys that have gotten plenty of heat from parents and educators. Guns. Back in the 60s there were more kinds of guns and gun sets sold as toys than you can possibly imagine. Think we're kidding? Take a look at some of the more popular of these sets that parents have had to contend with over the years.

In the early 60s there was a show by the name of Combat. Vic Morrow was so convincing as Sergeant Saunders that every kid wanted to be him. The toy companies cashed in on this. One of the most popular toy sets of the early 60s was the Combat toy set. It was simple enough. It came with Saunders Thompson Machine Gun, his 45 caliber pistol, a hand grenade and his helmet. Instant Saunders and the kids ate it up while parents cringed.

War wasn't the only theme of gun sets back in the early 60s. There was another show called "The Man From Uncle". This show stared Robert Vaughn and David McCullem as two secret agents. The show was so popular that it too brought about some pretty cool toys. You could get the Man From Uncle gun, security badges and other gadgets that the show made popular. This was another big hit with the kids of the time.

Need a little more fire power? No problem. There was a gun made in Japan during the late 60s that became very popular and was one of the most realistic looking and sounding guns ever made at the time. This was the Heavy Machine Gun. It had a really loud rat-tat-tat sound when you fired it that could scare the heck out of anyone within hearing distance. The ammunition belt rotated around and around to make it look like you were really firing bullets. And to top it off, the barrel lighted up when you fired it. One of the most realistic guns ever made and a kid favorite.

Later on, in the 1970s, another popular gun came out. It was called Friction Sparkling M-16. This was a 21 inch rapid firing machine gun. When you pulled the bolt back and fired, similar to the Combat Thompson, it made a very realistic sound. You could also see a bunch of sparks coming out of the barrel. The gun was rather light weight but it was very realistic looking and another kid favorite.

Of course, with the war in Vietnam, toy makers weren't going to miss cashing in on it. In the 1960s they came out with the Cong Buster Jungle Gun Set. This set came with a 45 caliber squirt gun and a canteen. The gun and canteen were both made of very hard plastic and could withstand just about anything.

These few guns don't even scratch the surface of the number of guns and gun sets that came out in the 60s and 70s. If you'd like to find out more about these vintage guns, don't worry. Another installment in this series is coming.

Author: Michael Russell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Electric Pressure Cooker