Javelin

A javelin is a heavy spear designed primarily to be thrown, historically as a ranged weapon, but today predominantly for sport. The javelin is almost always thrown by hand, unlike the bow and arrow and slingshot, which shoot projectiles from a mechanism. However, hurling devices do exist to assist the javelin thrower in achieving greater distance. The Roman javelin is called a pilla.

The word javelin comes from Middle English and it derives from Old French javelin, a diminutive of javelot, which meant spear. The word javelot probably originated from one of the Celtic languages.

Prehistory

There is archaeological evidence that javelins and throwing sticks were already in use by the last phase of the lower Paleolithic. Seven spear-like objects were found in a coal mine in the city of Schöningen, Germany. Stratigraphic dating indicates that the weapons are about 400,000 years old. The excavated items were made of spruce (Picea) trunk and were between 1.83 and 2.25 metres long. They were manufactured with the maximum thickness and weight situated at the front end of the wooden shaft. The frontal centre of gravity suggests that these pole weapons were used as javelins. A fossilized horse shoulder blade with a projectile wound, dated to 500,000 years ago, was revealed in a gravel quarry in the village of Boxgrove, England. Studies suggested that the wound was probably caused by a javelin.

Javelin (band)

Javelin is a production duo based in Brooklyn, New York City. Cousins George Langford and Tom Van Buskirk started making music together in Providence, RI in 2005, although their earliest tape experiments date back to childhood. Each member is a multi-instrumentalist. George plays the guitar, bass guitar, drums, and mandolin, while Tom plays the cello and piano. Drowned in Sound said the duo is "obsessed with old school hip-hop of an ‘80s vintage". While creating mostly mellow electro-pop/80s-synth style music, the band's music is very eclectic and they have even produced a Country music album.

For years, Javelin used colorfully painted boomboxes on stage to color their sound like a guitar amp. The signal from the show was broadcast via FM transmitter, fostering audience participation (B.Y.O. Boombox) or fueling battery-powered, mobile parties. The band has played over 200 events including Lollapalooza in 2010.

In 2009 Javelin was identified a "Rising" artist by Pitchfork Media, tagged Best New Music Pitchfork's and was given honorable mention for Pitchfork's "Albums of the Year" for their breakout release JAMZ N JEMZ.

List of minor DC Comics characters

Throughout its history, DC Comics has introduced many characters, including numerous minor characters. These characters range from supporting characters, heroes and villains that appear infrequently, to characters that only take part in a single story.

A

Airstryke

Airstryke is a villain in the DC Universe.

Within the context of the stories, William Kavanagh was given the ability to transform into a pterodactyl/man hybrid by a weapons company Meta/Tech and took the name Airstryke. Count Viper took advantage of these new abilities and used Airstryke to distract Hawkman while Viper tried to take command of the Justice League and thus the world. Airstryke and Viper were soon defeated and Airstryke was sent to Belle Reve Prison. He remained here until he was freed by Neron and was given the chance to sell his soul along with numerous other villains. Airstryke chose not to sell his soul and continued his life of crime. Eventually, Airstryke was returned to prison where he became a victim of Joker's Joker gas. Again, he was defeated and returned to prison. This time he was sent to the Slab. During his stay, Brother Blood attempted to break all the villains out of the prison so they could assist him on his mission. Airstryke was the first to question Blood on his plan. Brother Blood then shot and killed Airstryke for his hubris.