666photography Translates Rockabilly Culture Onto Film

Austin is known for its slogan “Keep Austin Weird” because of the unique culture that thrives in the heart of Texas. From the “Hi, How Are You?” frog mural by Daniel Johnston on the side of the old Austin Sound Exchange music store on Guadalupe, to being dubbed “The Live Music Capitol of The World,” the eccentric side of this city is visible where ever you are. 666photography was founded by Gayla, a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and her vision adds to what makes this town so great.

She has always been interested in modern rockabilly culture, art nouveau, vaudeville, and Victorian fashion, so she was naturally inclined to begin shooting glamorous pinup photography. Gayla has early recollections of family outings to antique auctions or estate sales and has been collecting distinct pieces since she was small. Her first major purchase as a child was a 1930's armoir, and her furniture collection has since grown so vast that her storage room “looks like a bomb blew up in a vintage store.” There is no idea Gayla and 666photography can't recreate for their models. They build their sets from the ground up, and often hand make their costumes, hats, and accessories to form the concept perfectly.

Gayla was the photographer for the cover of Halloween Man, which I featured last week. Jami Deadly, who portrays the character on the cover, has modeled for Gayla on numerous occasions, and is married to Drew Edwards, the writer/creator of Halloween Man. Gayla knew if she combined her photography with Jami's look, they could give Drew the cover shot of Lucy, a main character in HM, he was looking for.

666photography currently has numerous projects in the works including two books, one of them covering the Seven Deadly Sins, and their schedule is filled through December 2007. If you would like to make an appointment and discuss a photography shoot with Gayla, you can reach her through her MySpace page here. To ensure you grab her attention, she humorously encourages titling messages to the effect of “Read This! I Want To Give You My Money,” and that should bump you up to the top of her respondee list.

Be on the lookout for the conclusion of this trilogy with my upcoming blog featuring Jami Deadly!

Apple TV Or Something Just Like It

I have a 1.5gh Apple Powerbook G4 that i used constantly for work and play for 3 years. it's a great computer but about 4 months ago the backlight on the screen died and to replace was more than a new mac I really needed a work laptop so i had to get a new Macbook Pro. I was planning on selling my powerbook on ebay but i had forgot i had it then today i noticed it sitting there and thought about what i could do with it. - the rest of the machine works fine with external monitor - but without a extra monitor at home. i plugged my older TV in my bedroom into the S-video plug and - it doesn't look half bad for playing video. "wa-la" I have an Apple TV .....sort of - The resolution of the mac os is a bit grainy on NTSC but with a bit of tweaking i have it quite usable. The DVD drive plays movies great and i have full internet access via airport. - plugin a USB keyboard and mouse and i can close the lid and slip the notebook into a shelf above the TV. - i use a wireless mouse and will be getting a bluetooth keyboard so i can hide all the wires.i thought i was going to have to copy my iPod videos etc to its hard drive - then i remembered the new iTunes sharing feature. I just shared the itunes library on my office desktop G5 Mac via airport and i can view everything over the net! i am sitting here watching videos streaming from the other room. this is great since i have a ton of already ripped video that i don't need in 2 places. if i need to copy large files i can hook up a firewire drive - but since it has a DVD player it replaces the one i had in bedroom. the resolution on an older TV is just fine. So see what you can do with that old computer before you sell or trash it. have you ever done something unique with your older technology?

Halloween Man Mixes Classic Scary And Pulp Fiction Into A New Comic

"Imagine a world where every piece of pulp fiction is true. Where superheroes fly through the sunlit sky and terrifying creatures go bump in the night. Where flying cars, robots and time travel are commonplace, and ancient evils plot to rise again. This is Solar City, Texas – home to a heroic monster and the brilliant woman by his side.”

What an attention grabber, right?! Halloween Man is a comic on the verge of being released and I urge any comic enthusiast to check it out. Drew Edwards, writer/creator for Halloween Man, pulled the majority of his inspiration from classic monster movies, Marvel's Silver Age Comics, and the cartoons of Charles Addams, as well as from experiences in his own life, when he created this rough and rowdy comic.

His crazy cast of main misfits includes Solomon Hitch and Dr. Lucy Chaplin, who are accompanied by Man-Goat and Morlack. Solomon falls in a long line of misunderstood monsters and conflicted heroes. Though sometimes surly, he is a fairly good guy with good morals, who just happens to be an undead, flesh-eating, killing machine. Dr. Lucy Chaplin is best described as the body of Marilyn Monroe with the brains of Reed Richards. She's Solomon's lover and also happens to be one of the smartest people in the world. Morlack, an aged wizard turned beatnik, and Man-Goat, an upright, crime fighting, talking goat, round out their crew.

Be sure to pre-order Halloween Man at your local comic book store with the Diamond Code: AUG07 3961. Drew's iTaggit collection will be available here soon, (comic book writers are busy people too). For Halloween Man's website, click here. For Halloween Man's MySpace, click here.

Featured on the cover of Halloween Man is Jami Deadly, a professional blonde bombshell and Marilyn Monroe impersonator. The cover art itself was shot by Gayla, owner of 666 Photography. I will be posting a blog around her and her company in the near future so stay tuned!

Thrift Thursday - Antique Quilt Block

One of my favorite pastimes is rummaging through piles of fabric at thrift stores. On occasion, I come up with a real treasure. My mom is an avid quilter, and I absolutely adore quilts - especially old quilts.

I found this hand-pieced quilt block about 2 years ago in one of my favorite vintage stores - New Bohemia in Austin, Texas. I had found two blocks from the same maker months before, and given them to my mom. Then I found this one, and decided to keep it!

I think the fabric is from the 1930s - but I am not sure. It is very old, and the prints are amazing. I just pinned it to a piece of acid free paper and framed it in a cheapie frame. It hangs in my "textile corner" at the iTaggit offices.

One of the things I love about iTaggit is how I can store so much information about each item - multiple pictures, the story of how I bought it, and all kinds of specialized fields depending on the item's category. My mom recently added a collection of her small quilts - check them out! Much more on quilting and quilters to come!

Ten Tricks To Overcome When Buying A New Vehicle

Have you ever seen a car dealership ad that has flashing, appealing prices on your t.v. set while the announcer speaks 90-to-nothin' about how much you can save? It seems more and more of car and truck commercials are heading that way during the end of the 2007 model sales. Deals are about to start popping up now that the 2008 models are beginning to roll in. Dealers entice consumers with their "spectacular" deals that "no one else" has because they are the most amazing dealership in the whole country. (Aren't you lucky you live near them?!)

Below is a list, as originally written by Eric Peters on aol.com, on what to look for when you are wanting to buy a vehicle with one of these deals. Don't forget to catalog your vehicles and any information that needs to be easily accessible to you on iTaggit.com (with your setting on private of course).

"Offer only available in FLA, GA, SC... " (and so on).
Many incentives offered by the automakers are regional -- meaning, if
you don't live in one of the areas where the deal is good, the deal is
not available to you. The same new car prices might be $1,500 less (or
more) just by crossing the state line.

"All estimates are computed on the basis of a 10 percent down payment..."
Some financing deals are contingent on things like the buyer coming up
with a predetermined cash down payment. In the example above, you'd
need $4,000 in cash at the time of sale to take advantage of the
advertised low-rate financing on vehicles with a new car prices of
$40,000. If you don't have the cash down payment, they may stick you
with a higher finance rate.

"Offer not compatible with other offers..."
This means you may not be able to get both low-rate financing and "x"
dollars cash back. You have to pick one or the other. It's important to
run the new car prices before you are in the pressure cooker of the
dealer's store, too. This way, you'll know ahead of time whether it
makes more sense for you to go with the lower-rate financing -- or the
rebate.

"Dealer participation may affect savings... "
This means the offer's contingent on the dealer's "participation" in
the program (rebate/cash back, special rate financing, etc.) being
advertised by the automaker. Remember: Dealers are independent
operations; they may sell Fords or Hondas,
etc. -- but you are not dealing with Ford or Honda, per se. Be sure the
dealer you're negotiating with is, in fact, participating in the
rebate/cash back deal you saw on TV. He may not be. Don't assume he is.

"For Bonus Cash, buyer must take retail delivery by ..."
As implied, the deal on new car prices is only good if you buy the car
before a specific date. This can put pressure on the consumer to make a
snap decision -- or purchase a car "off the lot" that may not have all
the features and equipment (or color) the buyer wanted, etc.



"Estimates do not include the cost of transportation and handling charges, dealer prep, labor..." This is a potential loophole big enough to drive a Hummer
through. The new car prices you thought you were getting could very
well turn out to be nothing like the new car prices you actually end up
getting -- if you are not very careful. Insist that every charge/fee
associated with the proposed purchase be clearly spelled out, in
writing, before you commit to buy. "Dealer prep" alone can add hundreds
to the bottom line -- negating any savings you may have expected via
the "cash back" lure that got you into the showroom.

"Not all buyers will qualify..."
Most finance offers have this little caveat somewhere in the fine
print. If you are a young/first-time buyer -- or have less than
exemplary credit -- that 1.9 (or lower) finance rate you were counting
on may be unavailable to you. It's a good idea to check alternate
sources for financing -- such as a bank or credit union -- just in case
the deal being offered by the automaker's finance arm won't be extended
to you.

"Residency and other mileage restrictions may apply..."
This means the offer might be contingent not just on where you happen
to live -- but also on how many miles you drive annually (lease
contract). It doesn't do you much good to get a great deal on a lease
if your annual mileage exceeds the maximum allowable -- at which point
you'll get whacked with additional charges. It's always best to
over-estimate your annual mileage -- just to be safe -- when it comes
to lease contracts.

"Vehicle shown may contain optional equipment available at additional cost..."
In other words, what you see (in the ad) may not be what you get (at
the dealer). Be sure the car you want -- with the equipment and new car
prices you want -- is in fact available under the terms of the offer. A
great deal on a car you don't want isn't much of a bargain.

"Bonus cash offered on eligible vehicles must be financed or leased through (the automaker's captive finance arm)"
This means that in order to get the offered cash back/rebate, you have
to finance the new car prices through the automaker's own finance
company (Ford Credit, GMAC, etc.) rather than a credit union or private
bank. You may also not be able to get the cash back if you pay cash for
the vehicle. Basically, the automaker is looking to recoup the "cash
back" by making money from you via interest payments. It may still be a
good deal for you -- or not.

The key to negotiating the fine
print with new car prices is to take the time to read and understand
every clause, caveat and potential loophole before you sign anything or
cut a check. To read more vehicle news or articles written by Eric Peters, check out AOL Autos.

DIY: Jewelry Screen Project

This Wednesday's project is super easy, and super useful! How many of us gals have piles of earrings laying around - in a drawer or on a dresser, all tangled up? I wanted to make something pretty to hang my earrings on, and this Jewelry Screen is what I came up with!

Difficulty Level: 3 out of 5

Estimated Cost: $20 - assuming you have some of the basics on hand

Materials:

• Picture Mat that fits frame
• Wire Screen (usually sold as repair item for a screen window or door)
• Foam Core
• Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
  
• Craft Scissors and X-acto Knife or Rotary Cutter
  
• Ruler
• Optional: Paint and Brushes to decorate Picture Mat
• Optional: Paper for background
  

Step One: Preparing the Frame

Take the frame back off and set aside, make sure to attach the hanging wire, if necessary. Discard or reuse the glass for the frame. Now you can decide if you want to paint or decorate the mat - you can buy them in colors, but many frames will come with a plain mat. I chose to paint mine a pretty coral color with acrylic paint - you could decoupage it, stamp it, glue fabric on it - the sky is the limit!

Step Two: Preparing the Screen

Roll the screen out, and hold it flat with some heavy objects. Place the back of the frame on top, and cut the screen to the same size with your craft scissors. The screen's edges can get sharp, so be careful.

Step Three: Preparing the Foam Core

(get your pet to help!)

You will need 4 pieces of foam core. Use your ruler to measure the width and length of the long side of the mat - cut 2 of this size. Then, lay those two pieces on the mat, and you will have a space left for a top and bottom piece. Measure and cut these 2 pieces. The best way to cut Foam Core is with an X-acto Knife or Rotary Cutter, using a ruler as a straight edge. *The pieces of foam core are more clearly shown in the next photo...

Step Four: Assemble the Mat, Screen, and Foam Core

First, plug in the hot glue gun! Lay the mat decorated side down, then lay the screen on top and hold it in place with a heavy object in the middle. Squirt hot glue onto one of the long sides of the mat, and press the foam core on top. Repeat for the other long side, then do the top and the bottom. This will hold the screen in place, and give you necessary space between the screen and the frame back to hang your earrings.

Step Five: Finish the Project!

Place the Mat, Screen and Foam Core "unit" face down into your frame. This is where you decide whether you need a background color or pattern. If you do - place it down first, and then put the back of the frame on. Close it all up, and hang it!

I am new at writing these tutorials - so please send me your feedback! Was this easy to follow? Was my "level rating" on target? Send me pictures if you create one!

Collecting WarGame Miniatures

I have been fascinated with miniature lead soldiers since i was a kid. i used to collect 1/72 scale plastic armies of Airfix napoleonics and the large scale WW2 soldiers, plus Britain's Ltd. knights, civil war and cowboy and indian sets - i still have them and my kids play with them today. i loved seeing displays of huge miniature armies at museums and toy shops. Influenced by my dad and uncle, i started painting larger scale lead figures - naploeonics are still my favorite - that period had the best uniforms. I stopped for a while (other teenage interests and hobbies took precedence) but when games workshop released their Warhammer 40k figures in late 80's i was intrigued again, so i started painting fantasy miniatures.

Warhammer 40k and Warhammer Fantasy battle figures are cool but i never got into gaming with them. just couldn't get into the math and dice rolls - took the fun out of it. i did try playing a war game with English civil war armies at a local shop but still just couldn't get in to it.

I had been collecting a large army of Warhammer figures and to make room for others - i sold a few on eBay and was AMAZED at how much the painted figures sold for. so i ended up selling all my fantasy figures to finance my own eBay addiction. I began to buy figures just to paint and sell, it's satisfying to paint something and have others enjoy it instead of it sitting in your display case. People started asking me for commissions and i took certain projects - but only if i enjoyed painting the figure. i didn't want it to be a chore.

meanwhile i started collecting and painting my own personal armies from my favorite historic periods. Currently i have: Dark ages Viking army, Romano- British army (arthurian age), English Civil War - new model army, and my pride and joy - a Large Russian Napoleonic army. Collecting historical figures is very interesting as you have to research the uniforms and the history surrounding them. as for the historical figures - the best out there are from War Games Foundry and Perry Miniatures (the Perry brothers used to sculpt for foundry and created the Napoleonics i have).

For fantasy figures- i LOVE Rackham's line of figures. other really nice fantasy figures come from Privateer Press and Crocodile Games and of course games workshop. A great site to see and rate mini's is Cool mini or not - i have figures there and it's a good cross link for selling on ebay to target miniatures collectors.

i am starting to post my collections on iTaggit currently i have my Rackham Confrontation set (i don't own them - all were sold) and will post more soon. meanwhile you can see more on my personal site - www.beyondbeyond.com. If you have your own armies, fantasy or historical please post them on iTaggit we'd all love to see them.

Happy Collecting!

30 Years Have Come And Gone Since The Passing Of The King

"Elvis Week" is being held at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee this week to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley. It is estimated that upwards of 75,000 Elvis fans will make the pilgrimage to Graceland over the next week in celebration of his life and achievements. A candlelight vigil is being held on Graceland's drive to allow visitors to pay their respects over the King's final resting place.

Catalog and share your Elvis memorabilia in the iTaggit Gallery and honor this truly great American musician this week.

DIY Project - Painted Pots!

Ok friends - this is my very first attempt at writing a DIY Project blog! I have been crafting for almost all of my 28 years - and I am ready to start sharing some of my fun projects with you.

This Spring & Summer have been all about the pots and plants. I decided to start container gardening, and being the crafty gal I am - I just had to have handpainted pots! So here we go on the tutorial:

Supplies:

• Terra Cotta Pot(s)


• Acrylic Paints - Basic white for base coat & pretty colors for fun


• Brushes - Sponge Brushes are easy and cheap


• Polyurethane for sealing


• Drop Cloth or Newspaper to protect your work surface


• Wax paper or something to squirt out your paint on

The Process:

Step One: Start with a clean, dry pot - mine were all new - but it doesn't hurt to rinse them off. Paint the pot with two base coats - I used Acrylic Gesso - but you can use Spray Paint too.

Step Two: Paint the pot a pretty color! Acrylic paints are inexpensive and readily availbe at Craft and Hobby Stores. You can judge if you need one or two coats depending on the quality of paint.

Step Three: Paint designs! I tried to keep things simple and just painted freehand. If you're a beginner, try drawing your designs on the pot with a pencil and then painting over them. A Q-Tip works great for little dots...

Optional: Try Decoupage! Such a fancy word for an easy technique - cut out shapes from Fashion Magazines and glue them on with White Glue or ModgePodge. After many months of rain - my Decoupaged pots aren't holding up as well - but they're still cute!

Step Four: After the paint is all dry - spray the pots with 2 coats of Polyurethane Spray. Do this OUTSIDE and follow the instructions on the product. It helps to coat the inside of the pot too, as terra cotta is very pourous.

Enjoy your Pots! Check out more of my crafts and additional pot pictures in my iTaggit Crafts Collection. I would love to see your crafty projects posted on iTaggit for all to see!

New Funky Vintage Jewelry Collection!

So for those of you who don't know - I collect jewelry. I started adding my extensive collection to iTaggit last week - and it was so fun!

I can remember where I bought most pieces, or who gave them to me. I like being able to write the history of each piece on iTaggit.

I wanted to feature a few of my favorite pieces today

First is this huge necklace that my friend Jasmine gave to me. I love the organic feel it has, and it makes any t-shirt immediately dressy.

Second is my "wooden delight" necklace - I scored it at a Thrift store for a few bucks, and I get SO many compliments on it.

Read more of my blogs on Jewerly, Art, Crafts and Antiques here!

New Features Improve Sharing and Browsing

iTaggit is always on the move with new features and improvements. Just look around the site and you’ll notice some small changes designed with you in mind. Here are a couple we’ve just added:

Stay Connected

It’s a small change, but it’s a feature that reflects iTaggit’s commitment to making things quick and easy for its members. Now, when you sign in, you can check the “Keep Me Logged In” box. If you close your browser or restart your computer (without logging out) and return later, you will still be logged in. Just go to itaggit.com and access your collections instantly!

Share Items and Collections

How many times have you wanted to show a public item or collection (including your own) with your friends? Now it’s easier than ever. Next time you see an item or collection you think your friends would like to see, choose “Send This (Item/Collection) to a Friend” from the Item Action menu. Enter their email address(es), and if you’d like, personalize your message. Included in their email will be a link to the item or collection. It’s just another way iTaggit makes things more enjoyable!

I'll Trade You My Apple For A Nutty Buddy

My three favorite times as a child, in this order, were:

1. Last day of school

2. One day of year when it snowed

3. Back-to-school shopping

Back-to-school shopping was probably the only thing that got me stoked about the approaching school year. It wasn't that I didn't like school, but summers were just so unbelievably freeing. I disdained all the apple imagery that began popping up all the ads, reminding me of the inevitable early mornings, homework, and teasing. But once I got the school shopping list, my dread turned to eager anticipation. Maybe it was the smell of school supplies or the satisfaction of having a bunch of untouched objects at my disposal, but whatever the reason, I loved the careful choosing of supplies.

That's why I collect vintage lunch boxes. Because besides backpacks, lunch boxes were the single supply that insisted on personal expression.

I don't think I meant to collect lunch boxes. Something about that boxy, metal tote just triggered a memory one day when I was browsing a flea market. I opened up the lid and saw a Thermos. Oh yeah...Thermoses. I remember these...

And so the love affair began and has been rekindled since I've put them all on iTaggit. It's so much fun to stand back and look at these things that may not be worth much, but have always been a part of what makes me different.

How do your collections make you different?

Czech Pottery & Texas Traditions

Today I used iTaggit's awesome research feature to find out more about a piece of pottery I purchased last year. It's a funky bowl from the 1950's with a gorgeous linnear design and a pretty glaze. I was able to make out DITMAR URBACH on the mark, and found a website with a history of this pottery online, as well as photos of their marks.

It's a Czecheslovakian factory that has it's origins in the late 1800s, and was two factories combined into one. After going through several ownerships, it was confiscated by the Nazi's in 1938, and then nationalized in 1945. I found this info on the Collector's Circle website.

I was also able to find a matching piece online! I have contacted the owner of this vase to see about buying it, and used their selling price as a reference in valuing mine.

Now - onto Texas Traditions. For those of you who don't know, Texas has a rich history of immigrants from Eastern Europe. One of the cultural groups that is thriving is that of Czech Descendants. Any Texan can swear by a homemade Kolache - yummy pastries with fruit (or many other) fillings that are sold all over the State.

I have fond memories of going to the Texas Folk Life Festival as a kid, eating Kolaches, and going 2-Steppin' at the local SPSJT Hall. In fact, no road trip from Austin to Dallas is complete without a stop in West, Texas - home of the best Kolaches around!



So you see - I was meant to own this piece of Czech Pottery - it's right at home here in Central Texas! Without iTaggit, I never would have learned all this info. One of the things I love so much about collecting is how it can enrich your life!

See my decorations collection here, and check out more of my blog posts here!

The Top Ten Moments of Comic-Con '07
(as originally written by Neil Miller)

Being about a week removed from the heart of this year’s Comic-Con International in San Diego, I can say that now is the time to look back and reflect on some of the most memorable things that happened. If you were there, you could probably jot down 20-30 great moments in a matter of minutes. It was that much fun. If you weren’t there, here are 10 things that should have you kicking yourself for missing the event:

10. Tony Stark’s Car at the Omni Hotel.It wasn’t enough just to have the man himself, Robert Downey Jr. (aka Tony Stark in 2008’s IRON MAN) in the house, they had to bring his slick ride along as well. On Saturday during the Marvel Studios panel, this hot ride showed up in front of the Omni Hotel directly across from the Convention Center. I bet I could get chicks too with a ride like that…

9. The Heroes Panel . Any time you put Hayden Panettiere in a room you are going to get a reaction. The reaction was extremely positive as Hayden and her castmates gabbed on about the upcoming season of Heroes and the spin-off show, Heroes: Origins. Also exciting was the announcement that Kevin Smith would write and direct at least one episode of Origins. The show had a huge presence at this year’s Con and that’s a good thing — people just can’t seem to get enough of it.

8. The Stars of Balls of Fury.Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon and Dan Fogler were all on hand to promote their upcoming flick BALLS OF FURY. Their panel, which was part of the Focus/Rogue Studios presentation, was one of the most entertaining panels of the entire Con. “Reno 911″ co-star Cedric Yarbrough showed up in the Q&A align along with some interesting characters like Bob Stencil (more on him later). From talking about the gayness of mustaches to Thomas Lennon in spandex, these guys really know how to entertain. If their movie is half as entertaining as their panel, it is going to be one you won’t want to miss.

7. Stan Lee shows up to the Marvel Panel.Comic-Con just wouldn’t be Comic-Con without an appearance from Stan Lee. And as if it wasn’t enough that the crowd that assembled for the Marvel Studios panel was getting bombarded with footage from IRON MAN, the man himself decided to drop by and give his blessings to the flick. Stan was pumped up for IRON MAN. You should be, too.

6. The “Masters of the Web” Party and Panel.Sure there was some controversy over Robert Sanchez at IESB’s comments during the “Masters of the Web” panel on Sunday, but we should not let that overshadow the great time had by all. Saturday night’s party was one of the highlights of the entire week, hands down. Robert and Kelvin Chavez from LatinoReview.com truly know how to throw a bash. Plus the panel the next day, a panel of guys for whom I have immense respect, was both insightful and entertaining.

5. The Joyous Masses.No, I am not referring to the cult-like nature of some comic book factions. I am referring to the 123,000 strong who attended this year’s Con. They are dedicated and often costumed, but they are to be taken seriously. Like die hard sports fans, these folks are honest with themselves and not afraid to just “geek out” — something that is honorable, indeed.

4. Zachary Quinto and Leonard Nimoy.We can’t claim to have scooped the fact that Zach Quinto would be named as Spock in the upcoming STAR TREK flick, but we can say that it makes sense. Not only was the announcement a delightful surprise, but the fact that Leonard Nimoy would be involved was also good to see. Seeing these two on stage side-by-side was eerie. Can’t wait to see the film.

3. Bob Stencil.Bob Stencil was a rather interesting character, constantly popping up to ask questions in Hall H. It turns out that he is a Comic Con veteran and a traveling comedian of sorts. His crowning moment was his discussion with the guys from BALLS OF FURY about the gayness of his mustache. Check out his MySpace page for more… You shan’t be disappointed.

2. Kevin Smith vs. a Heckler. This rather infamous event was twice as funny in person as it was watching it again later on YouTube. A non-believer in fan favorite Kevin Smith grew a pair and attempted to call him out asking, “Are you ever going to make a movie with original characters that doesn’t suck?” He forgot rule #1 of Q&A: Don’t mess with the guy with the microphone. Don’t worry, Kevin Smith reminded him. Check out the video here.

1. Jon Favreau Showing off Iron Man. By and large the best moment of the Con came on Thursday of all days. No one expected Jon Favreau to show up during the Paramount Panel, as IRON MAN had been officially moved to Saturday’s Marvel panel. But he did show up and he did show off IRON MAN. A shockwave of chills flowed through Hall H as the clip displayed Robert Downey Jr. embodying Tony Stark and donning not one, but two suits. Then as if to add the cherry on top, Iron Man was shown flying through the air followed by 2 F-22s. From that moment there was no two words that got more play during the Con than IRON MAN.

So there you have it, my own personal Top 10 Most Memorable Moments from Comic-Con 2007. I guess that closes out our Con coverage for the year. It is a little sad, really. As a Comic-Con virgin, I have to say that I have never seen anything like it. The fans. The spectacle of it all. The great people I met both in and outside of the business. It was all a bit surreal. And I can’t wait to go back next year.

To check out more on Neil Miller and his blog page, click here.

Comic Book Challenge Down To Final Ten

The first round of the 2007 Comic Book Challenge was held during International Comic-Con in San Diego last weekend. Four Californians made the Top 10 cut, as well as representatives from Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, West Virginia and Kentucky. There is less than ten days left in the 2nd round of voting to weed the Top 10 down to the Top 3, and then a final round will end August 26th and produce this year's winner. For behind the scenes coverage and photos of Round 1, check out Duncan's blog. For more on the progress itself, check out the AT&T Blue Room, partially sponsored by us here at iTaggit!

Tabor's Book Takes A Look Into One Of The Deadliest Mountaineering Disasters In North America

James Tabor's Forever on the Mountain: The Truth Behind One of the Most Tragic, Mysterious, and Controversial Disasters in Mountaineering History takes an exhaustive look at the doomed 1967 expedition to scale Alaska's Mt. McKinley. Tabor goes into gripping detail of the infamous climb that claimed seven of the 12-man team during their ascension to the 20,320-foot summit, making it one of the deadliest mountaineering disasters in North America. Tabor explores the problems that hindered the trip from the beginning and profiles the survivors 40 years later. Forever on the Mountain has been given wonderful reviews by critics and readers alike. Don't forget to catalog it and others in your book collection on iTaggit!