The Marvel Comics Summit

Did you know that all of the creative minds behind the Marvel Universe are meeting up this very minute (if you are reading this between 9:00am and 4:00pm EST) to discuss the fate of your favorite comics' characters? Well I didn't until this morning, so I found these updates through out the day very helpful in keeping up. Here's their example of what happens in the Hulk Room:

"What exactly happens at a Creative Summit? Here's the setting: A huge room with tables arranged in a giant square. In the front of the room, a giant chart hangs – broken up by Marvel publishing groups (Marvel Universe Heroes, Ultimate Universe, X-Men and Spider-Man) and then by months (January 2008 – July 2009). Editor-in-Chief, Joe Quesada, and President/Publisher Dan Buckley sit side by side. To their left moving around the circle (ok, square) is Matt Fraction, Ed Brubaker, C.B. Cebulski, Dan Slott, Executive Editor Tom Brevoort, Brian Michael Bendis, a slew of Marvel editors, Greg Pak, more Marvel editorial staff – hello Ralph Macchio – and then Jeph Loeb, Allan Heinberg and more editors and staff than you can shake a Donald Blake walking stick at! So, you can imagine the ideas whirling around the room – and whirl they did…"

Click here for a direct link to the constantly updating page and don't forget to manage your collectibles with iTaggit. Enjoy Marvel fans!

The Dark Knight Trailer And Analysis!

It's here! It's here! The Dark Knight Trailer is here! Ok, it was leaked earlier this week, but that won't stop me from watching it again and again. Click here for a great article outlining the trailer from MTV.com, as well as the trailer itself. They also have the leaked version on several of their other pages for your viewing pleasure. If you are lost, The Dark Knight is the sequel to the smash hit Batman Begins, based off the DC Batman comic books. I've outlined what is known about the movie in my blog The Dark Knight and have included in it some trivia about the filming. Enjoy Batman fans!!! Remember, if you're curious about the value of your collections, Batman or otherwise, add them into our What's My Item Worth collection and we will do our best to estimate it.

The Bag Lady's Collection

They say one person's trash is another's treasure, but check out the level to which this "bag lady" has taken collecting to in THIS VIDEO.

Its going to take me a few times to try to catch all of the things she has compiled in her house. I did not see any memorabilia, antiques, or comics which are usually included in some form or another in an avid collectors keepings, but that's not to say they aren't there. See what all you can spot.

Successful First Year Paves Way for Continued Growth of iTaggit

Austin, TX (PRWEB) December 19, 2007 –- Continuing to lead as an online environment for cataloging, managing and sharing collections of items, iTaggit today announced that its number of users has grown over 200 percent since July 2007. This user growth has led to site traffic more than doubling in the past four months.

The growth in iTaggit members and site traffic can be attributed to strong member word-of-mouth about the site, the creation of a new Facebook application, a partnership with eBay, and improved functionality of iTaggit’s site.

The success of iTaggit can be contributed to the overwhelming need for an easy-to-use service that helps individuals organize and manage their things

"The success of iTaggit can be contributed to the overwhelming need for an easy-to-use service that helps individuals organize and manage their things," said iTaggit CEO David Altounian. "The passion of our members is what keeps iTaggit growing and constantly improving to better meet the needs of our community."

Most recently, the iTaggit Wishlist feature, developed just in time for the holiday season, lets users add, tag and share gift ideas with friends. Additionally, the new iTaggit Facebook application allows users to display up to six collections on their Facebook profile, including the Wishlist. Each time a user adds new items to their collections an update is posted in the Facebook News Feed. For MySpace users, iTaggit introduced a feature that lets them easily add their favorite items on their MySpace page.

Another key enhancement made in 2007 was the eBay listing capability. The eBay function allows users to quickly post items to an existing eBay account or create a new eBay account from within the iTaggit interface. This tool helps users more efficiently organize, document and now sell items online.

Over the course of the last year, the community-based iTaggit has also added tools such as importing, exporting and personal blogging to allow its members to share their collections with the community. These features give members the ability to exchange their collecting experiences and niche-specific advice to help build a community atmosphere. Furthermore, iTaggit has incorporated sleeker design elements and simpler site navigation to create an engaging online environment.

"Over the years, I have tried to keep my collectibles organized and have never been successful," said Jason Wescott, an iTaggit user and avid collector of video games and sports memorabilia. "Not only does iTaggit help me easily manage my things, but I can also share these things with friends who live miles away."

About iTaggit
iTaggit is a web-based item management information system that provides “the place for every thing” by securely storing and organizing information, enabling research, and building communities based on individuals and collections of items. This essential online environment allows our user community to maximize the value and enjoyment of their stuff. iTaggit was founded in 2006 in Austin, Texas. For more information visit www.itaggit.com

Will The Mitchell Report Affect Baseball Card Value?

The Mitchell Report has sparked a lot of controversy and debate among MLB fans, but it remains to be seen how it will affect your ’baseball cards' value. The value of collectibles in the past has reflected controversy surrounding them, and this report brings the steroid controversy into primetime for open public scrutiny. I encourage you, as a collector, to manage a collection on iTaggit for the cards of those implicated to view how the value reacts. If you happen to have some cards of those in the Mitchell Report, let us know by linking to this blog at the bottom and allow us to observe with you.

If you are curious about which players'’ cards you have that might be implicated, here is the list of the accused:

Armando Rios
Marvin Bernard
Barry Bonds
Bobby Estalella
Jason Giambi
Jeremy Giambi
Benito Santiago
Gary Sheffield
Randy Velarde
Lenny Dykstra
David Segui
Larry Bigbie
Brian Roberts
Jack Cust
Tim Laker
Josias Manzanillo
Todd Hundley
Mark Carreon
Hal Morris
Matt Franco
Rondell White
Roger Clemens
Andy Pettitte
Chuck Knobloch
Jason Grimsley
Gregg Zaun
David Justice
F.P. Santangelo
Glenallen Hill
Mo Vaughn
Denny Neagle
Ron Villone
Ryan Franklin
Chris Donnels
Todd Williams
Phil Hiatt
Todd Pratt
Kevin Young
Mike Lansing
Cody McKay
Kent Mercker
Adam Piatt
Miguel Tejada
Jason Christiansen
Mike Stanton
Stephen Randolph
Jerry Hairston Jr.
Paul LoDuca
Adam Riggs
Bart Miadich
Fernando Vina
Kevin Brown
Eric Gagne
Mike Bell
Matt Herges
Gary Bennett Jr.
Jim Parque
Brendan Donnelly
Chad Allen
Jeff Williams
Howie Clark
Exavier "Nook" Logan
Mike Judd
Ricky Stone
Derrick Turnbow
Wally Joyner
Rafael Palmeiro
Paxton Crawford
Ryan Jorgensen
Ricky Bones
Ken Caminiti
Rick Ankiel
David Bell
Paul Byrd
Jose Canseco
Jay Gibbons
Troy Glaus
Jose Guillen
Darren Holmes
Gary Matthews Jr.
John Rocker
Scott Schoenweis
Ismael Valdez
Matt Williams
Steve Woodard
Dan Naulty

Invasion Of The Uglydolls!

Uglydolls were first introduced by independent toy designers David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim in 2002. They are distinguished by a balance of the traditional plush and soft features that normally accompany stuffed dolls and the ugliness that only an owner could love. In 2006, Uglydolls were awarded the Specialty Toy of the Year title by the Toy Industry of America, and have appeared in several television shows and movies. They are primarily sold at independent and specialty toy stores, but have recently become available at Tower Records, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters. iTaggit user Ummjamiesha has organized her collectibles, as well as found the value of her collection of Uglydolls with us. Click on a picture below for more information on that item itself.

Ten Great Books For Men

For all of you avid readers out there, or those looking for a great idea for a present, may I suggest this Top 10 List of Books for Guys I found on MSN. They are supposed to be geared towards men, and I can see why because my father has read and thoroughly enjoyed at least a third of them, but the topics seem interesting for women as well. Let me know your feedback, if you've personally read any of them and what you thought about them. Be sure to organize your collection of books with iTaggit and let us know if you need your collectibles valued.

Spartina by John Casey
This classic novel of a man, a boat, and a storm is ultimately a compelling voyage of self discovery. Dick Pierce, an out-of-luck commercial fisherman, has lost nearly everything except his family. Spartina is the fishing boat he is trying to build in a last-ditch effort to realize his frustrated dreams of independence. As things veer from bad to worse, Dick manages to launch Spartina just before a hurricane hits. While riding out the storm brings Dick new clarity, the real heart of this novel is its timeless story of one man's struggle to find his true place in the world.



The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn
Quite possibly the best book ever written about baseball, The Boys of Summer tells the story of the Brooklyn Dodgers and the community that loved them. Roger Kahn, a sportswriter who grew up near Ebbets Field, covered the Dodgers for the Herald Tribune in the 1950s and tells the story here in all its glory and pathos—right up to the day in 1958 when the team moved to Los Angeles and took the heart and soul of Brooklyn with them. You don't have to love baseball to love this book.





Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
In April 1992, following several years of solo adventures and sometimes odd behavior, 24-year-old Chris McCandless burned the last cash in his wallet and walked into the Alaskan wilderness on a personal quest to find new meaning in his life. Four months later, hunters found his decomposing body in an abandoned school bus. In this book, which inspired the current movie directed by Sean Penn and scored by rocker Eddie Vedder, author Jon Krakauer tries to understand how and why McCandless died—and what he discovered on his spiritual journey.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
If you haven't read To Kill a Mockingbird since high school or college, it's time to take another look. Harper Lee's first and only novel, which won her a Pulitzer Prize and inspired an Oscar-winning film, offers one of the best role models for fatherhood in all of literature in the character of Atticus Finch. The novel also takes a compelling look at the cancerous effects of institutionalized racism on a small Southern town in the years before the civil rights movement.







Understanding Men's Passages by Gail Sheehy
For men, midlife is often seen as a time of crisis and confusion. But it's also a time when many men reinvent themselves and take control of their lives. Bestselling author Gail Sheehy has written what may be the ultimate relationship book for men. By sharing the stories of real men coping with the changes and challenges they encounter during their 40s, 50s, 60s, and beyond, Sheehy shows all men how to develop a truer relationship with themselves and to open their hearts more fully to the people they love.





A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean
Made into a 1992 movie starring Brad Pitt and directed by Robert Redford, Norman Maclean's book of two brothers following different paths is a poignant and lyrical story of loss, and our all-too-frequent inability to understand and help the people we love the most. Set in 1930s Montana, with some great fly-fishing scenes, Maclean tells his moving memoir in prose as clean and clear as a trout stream.






I Killed: True Stories of the Road from America's Top Comics by Ritch Shydner and Mark Schiff
More than 200 standup comedians come clean in this hilarious and sometimes bizarre look at what goes on behind the laughter when comics are on the road. Contributors include legendary comic all-stars such as Jonathan Winters, Dennis Miller, Drew Carey, Chris Rock and Rita Rudner as well as a lineup of nearly anonymous rising stars. The stories range from Jerry Seinfeld's memory of being heckled by a Mafia hit man to Jay Leno's anecdote about accidentally leaving a groupie tied to her bed overnight. Authors Shydner and Schiff are veteran standup comics whose own recollections are included in the book.


The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century by Thomas L. Friedman
In his bestselling book, New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman argues that economic, political and technological forces have led to a new stage of globalization that is creating previously unimagined opportunities and crises. Not everyone will agree with Friedman's conclusions, but there is no question that he does a masterful job of tracing many of the new trends and complex relationships that affect our lives.




Niagara Falls All Over Again by Elizabeth McCracken
This story about the 30-year friendship of two vaudeville comedians who make it big in the early days of Hollywood and television is touching, insightful, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Although as different offstage as on, straight man Mose Sharp and funny man Rocky Carter both struggle to overcome their demons and discover the essential value of male friendship.






Seabiscuit: An American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
One of the great underdog sports stories of all time, Seabiscuit: An American Legend tells how a horse that nobody wanted won the heart of a nation. Misunderstood and mishandled during his early racing career, Seabiscuit looked like a loser but became a champion. Competing during the bleakest years of the Great Depression, Seabiscuit was a symbol of triumph and hope for millions of Americans.