People who are familiar with LA’s historic Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, or people who watch MTV’s Rob and Big, know all about the super hero fans who dress as their favorite comic book character and pose with tourists.
Now you can learn even more about them by watching “Confessions of a Super Hero.” The movie, which was just released on DVD, chronicles the lives of these super fans. Superman, The Hulk, Batman and Wonderwoman are all featured.
If you are a fan of a certain super hero, surely you have all of his or her comic books. If you find yourself wondering “How do I value comics?” don’t worry, iTaggit.com can be your comic price guide.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Death Dealer and The Sword Sell Out
If you love Frank Frazetta’s Death Dealer #5 and The Sword #4, don’t bother checking your comic price guide because they’ve both sold out. The comic’s popularity is unquestionable, as they’ve now sold out a whopping five times!
Thanks to the continued success, an oversized deluxe hardcover edition will soon be available. Fans who want to get in on this series can find the books ranging from $2.99 to $3.99, but you better hurry because these comics prices are sure to rise.
Thanks to the continued success, an oversized deluxe hardcover edition will soon be available. Fans who want to get in on this series can find the books ranging from $2.99 to $3.99, but you better hurry because these comics prices are sure to rise.
New Patricia Briggs Adaptation
The Dabel Brothers who have brought us many great comic book adaptations of paranormal thriller novels are at it again. They’ve added another title to the Mercedes Thompson series that began in 2006.
Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson is a paranormal shapeshifter/mechanic who has all kinds of supernatural adventures. Patricia Briggs, the author of Moon Called, the first book in the series is writing a new original story exclusively for comic release.
The original story will consist of a four-part comic book miniseries and will be released sometime after June 2008. This series is sure to become a collectible so grab them as soon as you can!
If you often find yourself wondering “How do I value comics?” just head on over to iTaggit.com for all the help you’ll need finding comic prices.
Mercedes “Mercy” Thompson is a paranormal shapeshifter/mechanic who has all kinds of supernatural adventures. Patricia Briggs, the author of Moon Called, the first book in the series is writing a new original story exclusively for comic release.
The original story will consist of a four-part comic book miniseries and will be released sometime after June 2008. This series is sure to become a collectible so grab them as soon as you can!
If you often find yourself wondering “How do I value comics?” just head on over to iTaggit.com for all the help you’ll need finding comic prices.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
My Last Day At iTaggit
Dear iTaggit Users,
I would like to thank you for your patronage to my blogs, as I have thoroughly enjoyed writing for you over the past eight months. Today is sadly my last day at iTaggit, but I could not be handing over the reigns to a cooler blogger. You may have seen me mention ummjamiesha and her collections in past blogs, and Ms. Jamie is indeed my successor. I look forward to taking part in iTaggit as strictly a user now, and will enjoy reading Jamie's contributions to the site. Thank you again for all of your comments and encouragements in the past. They certainly helped me develop my skill.
Keep on collecting!
-Kristen
Monday, January 21, 2008
Phoenix Comicon
Geeks unite Jan. 25-27 at Phoenix Comicon, a convention bringing together comics collectors, actors, comic book artists, anime voice actors and authors. Convention director Matt Solberg said 'comicon' is a catchall term to the comic book community. This year's comicon features a zombie beauty pageant, Jedi light saber training for kids, a fashion show of Japan's extreme street wear, an art auction, a costume contest and anime dodge ball. Attendees also can meet their favorite
authors, actors and artists, participate in how-to sessions with professors from Collins College and the Art Institute of Phoenix, sit in on question-and-answer panels and compete in gaming and art tournaments.
The favorite attractions vary among fans, Solberg said, but generally, meeting the film and TV stars of programs such as Star Wars and Star Trek is the most popular. It's really about "being able to hang out with friends and others who share similar interests," he said.
The first comicon Solberg put together was in June 2002. It was a one-day event that lasted about six hours, a far cry from the three-day event held now. Last year, 3,200 comics enthusiasts showed up for the convention.
Lou Ferrigno of TV's Incredible Hulk will meet with fans and talk about the upcoming Hulk movie, in which he makes an appearance. "Greeting the fans is something I really enjoy doing," he said. "The fans helped make me who I am today." Ferrigno, 56, has been active in conventions for years and will attend one in Arizona for the first time. He's been to the state before but only for a short time. "I'm looking forward to coming to the show, spending time in Phoenix and meeting my fans," he said.
For more of the original article, as well as convention information and prices, click here.
authors, actors and artists, participate in how-to sessions with professors from Collins College and the Art Institute of Phoenix, sit in on question-and-answer panels and compete in gaming and art tournaments.The favorite attractions vary among fans, Solberg said, but generally, meeting the film and TV stars of programs such as Star Wars and Star Trek is the most popular. It's really about "being able to hang out with friends and others who share similar interests," he said.
The first comicon Solberg put together was in June 2002. It was a one-day event that lasted about six hours, a far cry from the three-day event held now. Last year, 3,200 comics enthusiasts showed up for the convention.
Lou Ferrigno of TV's Incredible Hulk will meet with fans and talk about the upcoming Hulk movie, in which he makes an appearance. "Greeting the fans is something I really enjoy doing," he said. "The fans helped make me who I am today." Ferrigno, 56, has been active in conventions for years and will attend one in Arizona for the first time. He's been to the state before but only for a short time. "I'm looking forward to coming to the show, spending time in Phoenix and meeting my fans," he said.
For more of the original article, as well as convention information and prices, click here.
Super Bowl XLII
It's official. Super Bowl XLII will host Eli Manning and the New York Giants as well as Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. This is quite surprising considering where these two teams began the season: an 0-2 start that had the fanbase questioning the QB as a franchise disappointment and an organization wrapped in a cheating scandal of which they were found guilty. But lo and behold, these two phoenix-like teams have risen above the ashes and landed themselves in the big
Last night, Eli Manning and Plaxico Burress froze the Packers dreams of returning to the Super Bowl. Burress played beyond his average greatness, catching 11 passes for 154 yards, and forcing two defensive penalties out of Packer Pro Bowl cornerback Al Harris during his 60-minute workout.
Earlier in the day, it seemed that the Patriots were faltering from their usual level of play, led by Tom Brady's carelessness in his passing game. The Chargers defense, who led the NFL in interceptions and takeaways,
Needless to say, Sunday February 3rd won't come quietly, as these two set up for a great rematch. For sports cards collectors, this is the golden ticket for authentic sports memorabilia. Manning vs. Brady. Burress vs. Moss. The match ups at each position are star-studded and fully aligned for an exciting clash. The autographed memorabilia from this meeting should be something worth holding on to.
Nine Reasons To Look Forward To Baseball Season
I found this great article on MSNBS about the 2008 baseball season, and I thought I would share. It was rather long, so I trimmed out some parts, although it doesn't appear that way, so click here if you would like to read it in its entirety.
We come to you today from the performance enhancing drug-free zone, with zero tolerance for grandstanding, blame-gaming and WADA references. Instead, in the spirit of moving forward, we bring you nine reasons for delicious anticipation of a new season that is about to unfold:
Don't forget to value your baseball cards and manage your collection with us!
We come to you today from the performance enhancing drug-free zone, with zero tolerance for grandstanding, blame-gaming and WADA references. Instead, in the spirit of moving forward, we bring you nine reasons for delicious anticipation of a new season that is about to unfold:
1. The Boston Red Sox, and this century’s first shot at a mini-dynasty. They have won two World Series in the last four seasons, and are the odds-on favorite to win another as they return virtually intact from a
2. The Johan Santana question. Has a pitcher of this magnitude ever been stuck in this must-be-dealt situation? And where he goes — Red Sox, Yankees, Mets or surprise late-bidder — will alter the balance of power in either league. The Twins are trying their best to maximize their return, but in reality, they are up against it here. You can only ask for so much young talent for a pitcher who will be signing an extension in the $150-million range, and both the Red Sox and Yankees wisely aren’t willing to go any higher than they’ve already gone. The Mets might be willing to, but don’t really have as much to offer.
3. Joba Chamberlain, Philip Hughes and Ian Kennedy. We pretty much know what to expect from the rest of the Yankees’ roster . What we don’t know is just how good Chamberlain, Hughes and Kennedy will be, and how soon they will get there. And so these three young pitchers who will make about $1 million between them could be the key to the Yankees’ fortunes in 2008 — an interesting twist from the franchise that brought you the first $200-million payroll.
4. The Detroit Tigers’ lineup. Any way Jim Leyland decides to go — and knowing him, he will go in many different directions — this is a potential 950-run monster. Here is one possible combination: Curtis Granderson, Placido Polanco, Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield, Carlos Guillen, Jacque Jones, Edgar Renteria, Ivan Rodriguez. With this group 
5. The National League West race. Good luck winning it, as the division that gave us the 2007 NLCS matchup is poised once again. The Dodgers have added Joe Torre, Andruw Jones and Hiroki Kuroda in hopes of erasing the memory of their late-September meltdown. Meanwhile, the comebacks of Jason Schmidt, Rafael Furcal, Hong-Chi Kuo and Yhency Brazoban are on schedule. The Diamondbacks pulled the winter’s biggest coup by landing Dan Haren for a bunch of prospects they can do without, giving them their best 1-2 rotation combination since their 2001 World Series title season. And you have to figure that young core players Conor Jackson, Stephen Drew, Mark Reynolds, Justin Upton and Chris Young will get better. The Rockies lost more than they added this winter, but there is little debating the fact that they were the best team in the National League during the entire second half, not just their late-September run. And they should get full seasons from No. 2 and No. 3 starters Aaron Cook and Ubaldo Jimenez, which they didn’t get in 2007.
6. The Milwaukee Brewers. While Commissioner Bud Selig finds himself embroiled in a mess that won’t go away, his former team is doing its best to fight the fight of the small-to-mid-market franchise. Look no further for a team poised to improve in 2008 behind emerging stars Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, Yovani Gallardo, Rickie Weeks and Ryan Braun.
7. The Chicago Cubs. They needed a corner outfielder and some left-handed power to balance their lineup, and got both in Kosuke Fukudome. He could hit second, or he could hit fifth, and his power should translate to Wrigley Field, adding another threat to the combination of Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. There are plenty of quality late-inning bullpen options in Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood, Bob Howry and Jose Ascanio, rotation depth has been added with Jon Lieber and Ryan Dempster, and it says here Carlos Zambrano is poised for his first 20-win season in a bounce-back year of sorts. Felix Pie and Geovanny Soto will have to do what Ryan Theriot was able to do
8. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Randy Johnson, Trevor Hoffman, Curt Schilling, Jamie Moyer, Kenny Rogers: We’re running out of time to appreciate this stellar group of 40-somethings that could include up to five future Hall of Famers. And in fact, it could be our last chances to watch Maddux and Glavine, two 300-game winners who did it in the biggest offensive era in the game’s history.
9. Ken Griffey Jr.’s 600th homer (he’s seven away); Maddux’s 350th win (three away); Manny Ramirez and Gary Sheffield’s 500th homers (10 and 20 away, respectively); the 2,600th hit for the game’s new active career leader — surprise! Omar Vizquel (two away); and maybe — just maybe — Johnson’s 300th win (he’s 16 away).Don't forget to value your baseball cards and manage your collection with us!
Final Harry Potter Movie To Be Split In Two
According to this article, Harry Potter fans are set to get a double treat in the film of the final story – and movie makers are set to double their money.
Crew working on the sixth Potter film, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood
For film-makers Warner Bros, whose first five Potter films have made £2.5billion in box office receipts – more than any other movie series – it could mean a £500million bonus in ticket sales. But sources insist the reason behind the two-movie plan is artistic rather than financial.
The books got progressively longer – the first, the Philosopher's Stone, had 223 pages while Deathly Hallows has 776 – and fans have complained chunks of later novels have been left out of films. A film source said: “There's so much to fit that the view is the last movie should be in two halves. There is a huge battle when Harry, played by Daniel Radcliffe, takes on Voldemort that needs to be done really well.”
And Ms. Rowling points out on her website: “It is simply impossible to incorporate every storyline into a film under four hours long.”
At Warner Bros, who are rumored to be thinking of Oscars and a big-name director such as Steven Spielberg for the final film, a spokesman said: “People are discussing all possibilities.”
Sounds to me like its good news for all Harry Potter collectors and enthusiasts! Check out ummmjamiesha's collection of Harry Potter memorabilia and be sure to manage your collectibles from the Harry Potter series in our gallery as well!
British Town's Famous Lights To Be Sold
The Blackpool Illuminations is an annual lights festival in the English seaside resort of Blackpool on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire. Founded in 1879, they run each year for 66 days, from late August until early November, at a time
when every other English seaside resort's season is coming to an end. Dubbed as the greatest free light show on earth, the council has organized collections of lights that run six miles long and use over one million bulbs. Every year there is also the Festival of Light which features interactive installations and is described as being “a contemporary look at the concept of light and art working together to create entertainment.”
when every other English seaside resort's season is coming to an end. Dubbed as the greatest free light show on earth, the council has organized collections of lights that run six miles long and use over one million bulbs. Every year there is also the Festival of Light which features interactive installations and is described as being “a contemporary look at the concept of light and art working together to create entertainment.”Some of the light-up figures that form part of the famous Blackpool Illuminations are to go on sale January 30th at the council's Rigby Road depot, and it is open to the trade and members of the public. Genies with lamps, seahorses and seashells, and a huge Thunderbird 3 aircraft are just some of the items being sold off by Blackpool Council. A council spokeswoman said it was a great opportunity “to own such an unusual piece of memorabilia”.
“I am obviously very sad to see these fabulous illuminations go,” said councilor Maxine Callow.
“But at the same time I am very pleased that the public as well as the trade are being given the chance to own such an unusual piece of memorabilia. 
One of the seven horses that used to light the Gynn Square roundabout carousel will also be featured in the sale. The council believes some buyers may want to use the old features as garden ornaments.
Prices for the famous lights range from £50 to £350. For more history on the Blackpool Illuminations, check out this page in Wikipedia where I found my information, and for more on the original article, click here.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Spider-Man And Mary Jane Call It Quits
I've only been on vacation one week, in Hollywood no less, and celebrities have been having babies, a predicted favorite football team of mine lost, and divorces are always in the headlines, but Spider-Man splitting
with Mary Jane? I did not see this one coming, and I am not sure how to react to it, but this article from FOXNews helps clarify some details.
Joe Quesada, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, believes it is time to shake things up in the life of Peter Parker, the nerdy New Yorker who upon being bitten by a radioactive spider attained the ability to transform himself into a web-spinning world savior. And it was easier to do that, he said, if Parker wasn't married.
Still, as the writer and artist who created the story that transformed Spider-Man into Single-Man earlier this month, Quesada has made himself about as popular with some of his readers as the villainous Green Goblin. "When we first did it, the reaction was, 'How could you do this? This is a terrible thing to do," he recalled. "But with the first issue of 'Brand New Day' [in which Spider-Man returns to single life], our letters very quickly changed to people saying, 'This is fantastic. This is the Spider-Man we remembered. We didn't know what we'd been missing."
To briefly recap Spider-Man's trials and tribulations, his beloved Aunt May was recently wounded by an assassin. To save her life he and Mary Jane struck a deal with the devil-like Mephisto in which she would be restored to good health if they allowed Mephisto to erase every memory of their time as a married couple.
Reaction from the critics was swift.
"Considering I have been reading Spider-Man for exactly 20 years now, and that seems to be the amount of time Joe Q. has decided to rip from Spider-Man continuity, can I simply return all of my Spider-Man comics for a full refund?" asked one of the more polite postings on Marvel's Internet message boards. "It's heresy for some people," laughed Dave Pifer, who runs the Secret Headquarters comic book store in Los Angeles. Others, however, have been more quick to adapt. "The ones who are new to superheroes like Spider-Man, they're excited about it," Pifer said. "They feel like they're starting at the beginning." One message poster even joked that the beautiful Mary Jane, who remains in the Spider-Man cast, is free now to pursue Brad Pitt.
But what of the man who created Spider-Man? What does he think? "I think it's a very creative idea. It should stimulate a lot of interest in the characters and the books, and I'm eager to see what happens next," said Stan Lee, who wasn't involved in the current story.
It was Lee who married Spider-Man and Mary Jane in a mock ceremony at New York's Shea Stadium in 1987.
"Amazing that they're not even middle-aged yet," Lee quipped.
So how do our comics collectors feel? You tell us!
with Mary Jane? I did not see this one coming, and I am not sure how to react to it, but this article from FOXNews helps clarify some details.Joe Quesada, editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics, believes it is time to shake things up in the life of Peter Parker, the nerdy New Yorker who upon being bitten by a radioactive spider attained the ability to transform himself into a web-spinning world savior. And it was easier to do that, he said, if Parker wasn't married.
Still, as the writer and artist who created the story that transformed Spider-Man into Single-Man earlier this month, Quesada has made himself about as popular with some of his readers as the villainous Green Goblin. "When we first did it, the reaction was, 'How could you do this? This is a terrible thing to do," he recalled. "But with the first issue of 'Brand New Day' [in which Spider-Man returns to single life], our letters very quickly changed to people saying, 'This is fantastic. This is the Spider-Man we remembered. We didn't know what we'd been missing."
To briefly recap Spider-Man's trials and tribulations, his beloved Aunt May was recently wounded by an assassin. To save her life he and Mary Jane struck a deal with the devil-like Mephisto in which she would be restored to good health if they allowed Mephisto to erase every memory of their time as a married couple.
Reaction from the critics was swift.
"Considering I have been reading Spider-Man for exactly 20 years now, and that seems to be the amount of time Joe Q. has decided to rip from Spider-Man continuity, can I simply return all of my Spider-Man comics for a full refund?" asked one of the more polite postings on Marvel's Internet message boards. "It's heresy for some people," laughed Dave Pifer, who runs the Secret Headquarters comic book store in Los Angeles. Others, however, have been more quick to adapt. "The ones who are new to superheroes like Spider-Man, they're excited about it," Pifer said. "They feel like they're starting at the beginning." One message poster even joked that the beautiful Mary Jane, who remains in the Spider-Man cast, is free now to pursue Brad Pitt.
But what of the man who created Spider-Man? What does he think? "I think it's a very creative idea. It should stimulate a lot of interest in the characters and the books, and I'm eager to see what happens next," said Stan Lee, who wasn't involved in the current story.
It was Lee who married Spider-Man and Mary Jane in a mock ceremony at New York's Shea Stadium in 1987.
"Amazing that they're not even middle-aged yet," Lee quipped.
So how do our comics collectors feel? You tell us!
Artist Combines Sports And Art In Gallery
If you find yourself in Edmond, Oklahoma, this article outlines a gallery with a new concept worth taking a look at. David Fisk, artist, found a business that combines sports and art with “Images Gallery: The Art of Sport.” The gallery, which opened Dec. 20, features sports photography and artwork by about 100 artists. The artwork portrays a variety of sports, including basketball, football and golf.
“I always liked sports art and there’s nothing like this around here. It’s a niche I saw a great potential for in Edmond. There’s already quite a few art galleries in Edmond,” he said. Fisk previously worked in the newspaper business and did everything from page design to editing. “I was just ready to enter a new phase of life,” he said. “I did that for 36 years, and I was ready for something else.” Fisk said what he most enjoys about his new gallery is just sitting and looking at the different artwork on his walls. “I spend a lot of time in here,” he said. “It doesn’t really get old.”
The authentic sports memorabilia in the gallery ranges from $5 to $13,000. One of the most expensive is a painting of Roy Williams titled “Over the Top,” which was painted by Christopher Nick, a popular children’s book illustrator. “That’s a pretty famous shot,” Fisk said.
He said the gallery offers art on commission and art searches to find a certain image. He said they can convert a photograph into a painting. In the spring, Fisk plans to commission a few artists who will convert sports photos into art for parents who want paintings of their children playing or in their uniforms.
Fisk said he has sold a lot of OU and OSU paintings, but he’s been collecting artwork from all across the nation since last summer. “My goal is to represent some Oklahoma artists nationwide as an art representative,” he said. Two of his featured artists include Stephen Holland and Robert Hurst, who are considered top sports artists in the nation. Fisk said Holland is the official artist for the Baltimore Ravens and Muhammed Ali. Hurst is the official artist for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Steve Boaldin, Edmond artist, said he is submitting several paintings that feature everything from golf to baseball.
“I always liked sports art and there’s nothing like this around here. It’s a niche I saw a great potential for in Edmond. There’s already quite a few art galleries in Edmond,” he said. Fisk previously worked in the newspaper business and did everything from page design to editing. “I was just ready to enter a new phase of life,” he said. “I did that for 36 years, and I was ready for something else.” Fisk said what he most enjoys about his new gallery is just sitting and looking at the different artwork on his walls. “I spend a lot of time in here,” he said. “It doesn’t really get old.”
The authentic sports memorabilia in the gallery ranges from $5 to $13,000. One of the most expensive is a painting of Roy Williams titled “Over the Top,” which was painted by Christopher Nick, a popular children’s book illustrator. “That’s a pretty famous shot,” Fisk said.
He said the gallery offers art on commission and art searches to find a certain image. He said they can convert a photograph into a painting. In the spring, Fisk plans to commission a few artists who will convert sports photos into art for parents who want paintings of their children playing or in their uniforms.
Fisk said he has sold a lot of OU and OSU paintings, but he’s been collecting artwork from all across the nation since last summer. “My goal is to represent some Oklahoma artists nationwide as an art representative,” he said. Two of his featured artists include Stephen Holland and Robert Hurst, who are considered top sports artists in the nation. Fisk said Holland is the official artist for the Baltimore Ravens and Muhammed Ali. Hurst is the official artist for the Texas Sports Hall of Fame. Steve Boaldin, Edmond artist, said he is submitting several paintings that feature everything from golf to baseball.
Yardley Community Center Antique Show
The national trend of going green has worked its way into the world of antiques. That's what Joy Harrington — a collector, dealer and the organizer of this weekend's Yardley Community Centre Antique Show — said as the center sets the stage for its 54th annual show. An antique isn't just something that sits on a living room hutch anymore, said Harrington, a community center board member. “People are starting to remember, or think about, older things and are reusing them,” she said. Of course, some things (read: the expensive ones!) are meant to be just collectibles, she added.
For more of this article, or if you would like to attend the Yardley Community Center Antique Show, click here.
New 'Supernatural' Comic Book Series
According to this article from buddytv.com, Supernatural: Rising Son is a six-issue miniseries that will tell another story about the young Sam and Dean Winchester, much to the enjoyment of comic collectors of the Supernatural: Origins comic books published by WildStorm last year. The first issue is set to hit stores on April 23 and will pick up a few years after Origins, following a 7-year-old Sam and 11-year-old Dean as they
travel with their father, John.
“Whereas the first series was more about John and his becoming a hunter, this one's much more of a dysfunctional family story,” explains writer Peter Johnson, who's also a co-executive producer on the TV show. “We're really going to explore the differences between Sam and Dean in this one,” Johnson continues. “Dean is becoming aware of what his dad's up to and we'll see him training and hunting a little bit, while John will start to key in on something different about Sam.” The bad news about the series is that show creator Eric Kripke, who had a lot of input on Origins, couldn't have any involvement due to the writers' strike. While the strike doesn't preclude people from writing comic books, Kripke bowed out due to the thin line between writing for a TV series and writing a comic based on a TV series.
Despite that, Johnson promises that the Rising Son story will fit in nicely with the show, and even feature some familiar faces such as Bobby, a fellow demon hunter. He also says that readers should expect “freakier monsters,” including “some badass female villains and a big bad villain that may have something to do with the TV show.”
For those who missed Origins in its single issue format, a trade paperback collecting the entire series will be published in April. Johnson also mentions that he made an editorial change in the collected edition regarding the Winchester's signature Chevy Impala. In the original comic the Impala was something John found on the road, but due to the protests of fans it will now be something that was in the Winchester family prior to the beginning of the comic series.
There's already talk of a third miniseries being planned that would bring the story right up to the pilot of the television series. Even with Supernatural being sidelined due to the writers' strike, fans of the Winchester boys should have plenty of demon slaying fun to indulge in for months to come.
travel with their father, John.“Whereas the first series was more about John and his becoming a hunter, this one's much more of a dysfunctional family story,” explains writer Peter Johnson, who's also a co-executive producer on the TV show. “We're really going to explore the differences between Sam and Dean in this one,” Johnson continues. “Dean is becoming aware of what his dad's up to and we'll see him training and hunting a little bit, while John will start to key in on something different about Sam.” The bad news about the series is that show creator Eric Kripke, who had a lot of input on Origins, couldn't have any involvement due to the writers' strike. While the strike doesn't preclude people from writing comic books, Kripke bowed out due to the thin line between writing for a TV series and writing a comic based on a TV series.
Despite that, Johnson promises that the Rising Son story will fit in nicely with the show, and even feature some familiar faces such as Bobby, a fellow demon hunter. He also says that readers should expect “freakier monsters,” including “some badass female villains and a big bad villain that may have something to do with the TV show.”
For those who missed Origins in its single issue format, a trade paperback collecting the entire series will be published in April. Johnson also mentions that he made an editorial change in the collected edition regarding the Winchester's signature Chevy Impala. In the original comic the Impala was something John found on the road, but due to the protests of fans it will now be something that was in the Winchester family prior to the beginning of the comic series.
There's already talk of a third miniseries being planned that would bring the story right up to the pilot of the television series. Even with Supernatural being sidelined due to the writers' strike, fans of the Winchester boys should have plenty of demon slaying fun to indulge in for months to come.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Intimidating Reliever Gains Election In Ninth Year On Ballot
According to the recently released Baseball Writers' Association of America article, Rich "Goose" Gossage, who tormented batters as one of the game's most intimidating relief pitchers over a 22-season career, was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the BBWAA in balloting verified by Ernst & Young. He will be inducted into the Hall July 27 at the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Gossage will be honored along with one of his former managers, Dick
Gossage was listed on 466 ballots (85.8%) to win election in his ninth year on the ballot, a gain of 14.6 percent over his percentage in 2007 when he finished 21 votes shy of the necessary 75 percent. His election brings to 286 the number of elected members of the Hall. Of that total, 199 are former Major League players, of which 106 have been through the BBWAA ballot. Gossage is the 61st pitcher overall elected to the Hall and the fifth reliever, joining Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley and Bruce Sutter.
Gossage, 56, compiled a 124-107 record with a 3.01 earned run average and 310 saves in 1,002 games for nine clubs with his best seasons coming with the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. The hard-throwing righthander led the American League in saves three times, twice won the Sporting News' AL Fireman of the Year Award and was selected to nine All-Star teams.
The closer on the Yankees' 1978 World Series championship club, Gossage also pitched in the 1981 World Series for the Yankees and the 1984 World Series for the Padres. He had a 2.63 ERA and two saves in 13 2/3 World Series innings. Primarily a closer in his career, Gossage did make 37 starts during his first five seasons with the White Sox and had 16 complete games.
To see a complete list of those to be inducted, check out the original article here. Find out your baseball card's value by adding it into our “What's My Item Worth” Collection, and organize and show off your authentic sports memorabilia using a collection of your own.
January Is National Hobby Month
January is National Hobby Month- what better time to get your collectibles organized and your collections valued from the holiday haul? Choose a hobby that you have always wanted to pick up and make a New Year's resolution to let yourself indulge in your new activity. If you have children, help them beat the winter blahs by assisting them with starting a new collection or craft interest. If you need any more ideas, check out this article's list. Add your newly acquired pieces into your iTaggit collection and show them off to our other users. I hope you enjoy your new 2008 pastime and Happy National Hobby Month!
The Art Of Collecting Cookbooks
Miner del Mundo, a food consultant who hails from Manila, started in the food industry at age 19, with his first stint as chef de partie at the Legend Hotel, Palawan. He later became the sous chef for Gualtierro Marchesi, which led him to travel in Portugal, Lisbon, Paris and Milan. In 2005, he went home to the Philippines and established his consultancy firm and, as they say, the rest is history. Del Mundo wrote this fascinating article about collecting cookbooks, which I would like to pass on to you:
In my quest for collecting cookbooks, I already have 250 titles. Not much of a promising feat but maybe when I reach the age of 50, I could have a thousand at least. I had my first cookbook during second year high school. It's the Good Food Cookbook, in full-color and contains simple instructions.
Here are some of the general cookbook classifications you could follow when starting your book collection. Cookbooks are divided into several categories: Type of Cuisine, Specialty Courses, Artisanal Cookbooks and Fundamental Cookbooks. The Cuisine Type Cookbook is focused on a specific country's cuisine --- Spanish, Italian, French or Filipino. One that has colored photographs is better so you could have a comparison with what you cooked. Specialty Courses focus on key areas of cooking like All Salad Recipes or the Pasta and Pizza Book, Purely Fish or Succulent Meats. They also focus on the cooking methods --- Grill, Saute and Boiling, among others. Artisanal Cookbooks are cookbooks written by chefs and are the most expensive. A three-piece collection by Fernan Adria of El Bulli, Spain costs P14,000. Fundamental Cookbooks are those made by top culinary schools like the Culinary Institute of America or the Le Cordon Bleu. You only need to purchase one title that could help you in culinary terms and techniques in case you want to pursue professional cooking.
The important thing is to enjoy and learn from these pieces of knowledge, get inspiration from and develop your own culinary style. If you want to concentrate on one area, it's fine. Just enjoy reading. Until next time. Ciao!
Chef del Mundo offers a great piece of advice about collecting knowledge and deriving inspiration from cooking over time. As time passes, modern software for collectors has been created to help manage collections of recipes that have been passed down. Now, web-based management systems such as iTaggit, have been created for storing and distributing recipes amongst friends and family as a secure means of saving your culinary heirlooms. Check out Okishorty's collection of recipes for a great example. For more on Miner del Mundo's background and accomplishments, click here. For his article in it's entirety, click here.
The Future Of Baseball
I found this feel-good article about what the future has in store for America's Favorite Pastime:
One 1987 Topps Card is the only thing we could find with Roger Clemens
Part of that has to do with the fact that we're in Cardinal and Cubs country here in the Heartland. The other has to do with the recent Mitchell Report, suggesting Clemens and others may have used performance enhancing drugs.
"It's had an impact on cards of players named," said Dan Fox, of Fox Sports and Collectibles in Marion. "Clemens cards don't sell for what they used to. Bonds is also down in value."
In fact, dealer Bruce Marsan says that '87 Clemens card is only worth $1.50.
Overall, cards of players who have been implicated are down 30 to 50 percent, dealers estimate. But, Fox says it's hard to tell how long that will last.
"I think the steroid thing is a blip on the radar," said Fox. "Sure, Bonds hit homeruns on steroids, possibly. But, how many pitchers was he batting against that were also using."
Still fans and dealers at the convention say it's good to see all the youth who are interested in trading baseball cards. They say it gives every indication the future of baseball is bright.
For more of the original article, click here.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Baseball Card Market Should Survive Mitchell Report
I found this article about the Mitchell report's affect on baseball cards very interesting:
When experts weighed in with their thoughts on the effect of the
“Roger Clemens collectibles have taken a hit since the report was made public. Clemens has always had the benefit of playing for two of the most popular and widely collected teams in his career — Boston and N.Y. — but even that rabid fan base hasn’t been able to stop some of the initial bleeding that is taking place on his more widely sought-after RCs. Right now, the short term outlook for Clemens’ collectibles is that they will likely be accompanied by down arrows for a few months until the initial rush to judgment levels off. “The fact that many of the Mitchell report were common players will prove to be beneficial to for the hobby long-term. Miguel Tejada and Andy Pettitte are primarily considered ‘commons’ in the hobby despite their career accolades. Being named in the Mitchell Report certainly won’t help their popularity among the player collectors who are the most active hobbyists pursuing their cards.”
What are your thoughts?
Colonial Williamsburg's Annual Antiques Forum
When Colonial Williamsburg presents its 60th annual Antiques Forum, more than 20 of the nation's top antiques experts will share their latest discoveries between Feb. 3-7. Titled "From North to South: Regional Diversity in American Decorative Arts," the program features a comprehensive schedule of illustrated lectures and video-assisted workshops designed to survey the rich and varied heritage of early American regional antique styles before 1830. The talks will explore the period's unique ceramics, silver, textiles and paintings as well as its buildings.
The keynote speaker is cultural historian and educator Barbara Carson, who will present The Chipstone Lecture on "Cultural Diversity in Early America." Other visiting scholars include Carrie Rebora Barrett, curator of American paintings and sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who will discuss "Regional Rules and Provincial Politics: How American Painters Dodged the System." Dean Failey of Christie's New York auction house will explore "Regionalism in American Decorative Arts."The program also will include several presentations by Colonial Williamsburg curators. Ronald Hurst, who is the Carlisle H. Humelsine Chief Curator and vice president of collections and museums, will profile "Regional Traits of Urban American Furniture, 1750-1800" and detail "What's New in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection."
Advance registration and payment is required. The registration fee of $550 includes admission to program presentations, an opening reception, daily continental breakfasts, coffee breaks and afternoon refreshments as well as a closing reception and dinner. For more information, consult the original article by Mark St. John Erickson here.
The keynote speaker is cultural historian and educator Barbara Carson, who will present The Chipstone Lecture on "Cultural Diversity in Early America." Other visiting scholars include Carrie Rebora Barrett, curator of American paintings and sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, who will discuss "Regional Rules and Provincial Politics: How American Painters Dodged the System." Dean Failey of Christie's New York auction house will explore "Regionalism in American Decorative Arts."The program also will include several presentations by Colonial Williamsburg curators. Ronald Hurst, who is the Carlisle H. Humelsine Chief Curator and vice president of collections and museums, will profile "Regional Traits of Urban American Furniture, 1750-1800" and detail "What's New in the Colonial Williamsburg Collection."
Advance registration and payment is required. The registration fee of $550 includes admission to program presentations, an opening reception, daily continental breakfasts, coffee breaks and afternoon refreshments as well as a closing reception and dinner. For more information, consult the original article by Mark St. John Erickson here.
Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull Comic Adaptation
Adapting comic books to the big screen is nothing new for the comic industry. When looking at Wikipedia, one can see the recent surge in comics-to-silver screen popularity among comic collectors and movie mavens alike. Marvel has had Blade, X-Men, Spiderman, and Ghost Rider adapted just to name a few. DC's list includes fan favorites Batman Begins,
According to the excerpt “the intrepid Doctor Henry Jones Jr. is back in his biggest adventure yet! This time, the world-renowned archaeologist finds himself caught in a series of events that all point to a discovery unlike any other. But will his rivals in pursuit of this priceless treasure seize his quarry right from under his nose? Not if he, and a few unexpected companions, have anything to say about it! The thrill and the humor, the action and the romance, the hat and the whip—everything you love about Indy is here! This is a tale sure to please longtime fans as well as foster a whole generation of new ones!” Sounds like an interesting read to Indy fans. Be sure to add it to your collection when you pick it up!
Friday, January 4, 2008
Comic Proportions Quotable Top 9 Comics Of 2007
I found a great blog by Carlton Hargro that appeals to any comics collector listing the "Comic Proportions Quotable Top 9 Comics of 2007." I PG'd the wording up a bit, so if you care for more colorful language, click the link above for the original article.
Action Comics (DC Comics): "Let's face it, Superman is a tough character to write. He's
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 (Dark Horse Comics): "If you're a Buffy fan, you should be reading this. And if you're not, pick it up because it's a compelling read with action, humor and pathos."
Doktor Sleepless (Avatar): "The 'hero' of the book -- Doktor Sleepless -- follows in the footsteps of Ellis protagonists like Spider Jerusalem, Richard Fell, Desolation Jones and more ... meaning he's smart, he's a rebel, he's an outcast and a complete ***. I love the brain-numbing amount of off-the-wall science speak ... Here's an example of some of the crazy lines that Doktor Sleepless spouts off in, like, every panel: 'Electricity can only be replenished by whiskey. This is actual physics. Do not argue with me. I am a doktor.' Crazy, eh?"
Fell (Image Comics): "Honestly, I'm usually not a big fan of mystery comics, but Ellis is a master at making a sometimes-boring genre exciting and bizarre. One of the cooler features of the book is the actual page structure; Ellis and Templesmith have created a panel grid that makes reading the 16-page comic seem like you're reading a 32-page comic."
Green Lantern, "Sinestro Corps War"(DC Comics): "Forget all those other DC crossovers and big-time storylines -- "The Sinestro Corps [War]" is the best epic going on at DC. And what makes it so good? The villains. Writer Geoff Johns has assembled the most hardcore crew of villains I've ever seen in the DCU -- and he's given them a common goal. The Sinestro Corps is the type of evil team that makes you wonder how the heroes will actually win. And, really, it's about time. The Green Lantern's ring is the most powerful weapon in the universe and Johns has finally given it an equally powerful opposite number."
Immortal Iron Fist (Marvel Comics): "Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker understand the appeal and unique qualities of Iron Fist. They've transformed a poor-man's Bruce Lee into a complex, interesting and multi-layered character. In past Iron Fist series, the writers seemed content to take a pretty undeveloped hero and just throw him in stories where he's drop-kicking a bunch of generic bad guys. Fraction and Brubaker, however, have created a rich mythology surrounding the character and his powers."
Mighty Avengers (Marvel Comics): "[Brain Michael Bendis'] approach to Mighty [Avengers] is almost the total opposite of what he does on New [Avengers]. He's loaded the comic with heavyweights like Wonder Man, Sentry, and Ares (the god of war) instead of scrubs like Echo and Ronin -- and he's downplayed the tongue action to play up the fisticuffs and explosions. If you hate Bendis, you'll love Mighty Avengers. Oh, and the art in the first six issues is by Frank Cho, and it's good."
Thor (Marvel Comics): "Looking back on the history of the character, Thor has always done best when he's done big. Big allies. Big adversaries. Big scenery. (I mean, the dude is a god.) And in this brand new No. 1, writer Straczynski succeeds at capturing Thor's big scale and scope. I love it. Every. Page."
Walking Dead, hardcover No. 1 (Image Comics): "I thoroughly enjoyed reading this comic, about a world overrun by zombies, from the beginning. Truthfully, I now think this series is best enjoyed from the beginning. Read it from issue No. 1 and you get to see how all these relationships started and the underlying emotional conflicts that have come to define the characters -- making this hardcover required reading for anyone interested in jumping on the book."
Buffalo Sabres To Produce Framed Limited Edition Winter Classic Collectible
In celebration of the Amp Energy NHL Winter Classic, the Buffalo Sabres are producing a limited edition framed collectible that will be autographed by Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller.
The autographed memorabilia will feature two photographs framed side by side in a solid wood gallery frame measuring 27"x21." One picture will be an autographed action shot of Miller from the game, and the other will be an aerial photo of Ralph Wilson Stadium, also taken during the game. Also included will be Winter Classic, Sabres and NHL pins, along with an inscription plate mounted within the frame.
Only 2,008 pieces will be made available, and can be purchased online at www.sabres.com, and at the Sabres Store at HSBC Arena. For more of the original article, click here, and also be sure to organize your collectibles with us. If you need your collections valued, add them into our “What's My Item Worth” collection.
The autographed memorabilia will feature two photographs framed side by side in a solid wood gallery frame measuring 27"x21." One picture will be an autographed action shot of Miller from the game, and the other will be an aerial photo of Ralph Wilson Stadium, also taken during the game. Also included will be Winter Classic, Sabres and NHL pins, along with an inscription plate mounted within the frame.
Only 2,008 pieces will be made available, and can be purchased online at www.sabres.com, and at the Sabres Store at HSBC Arena. For more of the original article, click here, and also be sure to organize your collectibles with us. If you need your collections valued, add them into our “What's My Item Worth” collection.
Collectible Card Game To Be Exhibited At International Consumer Electronics Show
TM Media Group, Inc. announced that it will be attending this year's International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada and will be exhibiting its new online video and collectible card game, Street Cred at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, offering the Company a vital opportunity to reach out to industry professionals and joint marketing partners. TMMG will also have Manaj, daughter of Hip Hop pioneer Dr. Dre, make a public appearance at this year's show. Manaj is the first rap artist signed to TM Media Group, and also appears in Street Cred.
The International Consumer Electronics Show is the world's largest annual tradeshow for consumer technology and America's largest annual tradeshow of any kind. The event is held at various locations throughout the city, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Expo and Convention Center, and the Las Vegas Hilton, where over 2,000 exhibitors will be showing off the latest in Electronic Gaming, Mobile Electronics, Robotics, Retail Resources, and more.
"The Consumer Electronics Show is one of the biggest venues for electronic gaming in the world and we look forward to showcasing Street Cred to a very large audience. We believe this year's show will be a launch pad for a new era of online and collectible card games worldwide," stated Matt Harmon, CEO of TM Media Group, Inc.
Street Cred is the first and only online video and collectible card game to incorporate urban motifs, settings, images and celebrities. The marketing of Street Cred will follow a proven and successful model of online game delivery with a collectible card game component. The Company intends to continuously launch new online and offline add-on products simultaneously. This course enables users to play the game online initially as a free version with in-game advertising and then subsequently on a subscription basis, as well as having the ability to purchase trading cards in stores. TM Media's goal is to ensure a long product cycle for Street Cred by creating add-ons and upgrades, as well as by establishing and supporting organized tournaments and community based professional 'Street Cred players.' Additionally, the Company intends to utilize and capitalize on ancillary marketing opportunities by licensing celebrities for its card imaging, as well as designing customized cards by top industry artists.
If you enjoy interactive games, does Street Cred sound like a successful idea? The cards seem to have the potential of becoming a collection of value. If you play this, organize your collectible cards on iTaggit and let us know how the idea turns out. For more information from the original release, click here.
The International Consumer Electronics Show is the world's largest annual tradeshow for consumer technology and America's largest annual tradeshow of any kind. The event is held at various locations throughout the city, including the Las Vegas Convention Center, Sands Expo and Convention Center, and the Las Vegas Hilton, where over 2,000 exhibitors will be showing off the latest in Electronic Gaming, Mobile Electronics, Robotics, Retail Resources, and more.
"The Consumer Electronics Show is one of the biggest venues for electronic gaming in the world and we look forward to showcasing Street Cred to a very large audience. We believe this year's show will be a launch pad for a new era of online and collectible card games worldwide," stated Matt Harmon, CEO of TM Media Group, Inc.
Street Cred is the first and only online video and collectible card game to incorporate urban motifs, settings, images and celebrities. The marketing of Street Cred will follow a proven and successful model of online game delivery with a collectible card game component. The Company intends to continuously launch new online and offline add-on products simultaneously. This course enables users to play the game online initially as a free version with in-game advertising and then subsequently on a subscription basis, as well as having the ability to purchase trading cards in stores. TM Media's goal is to ensure a long product cycle for Street Cred by creating add-ons and upgrades, as well as by establishing and supporting organized tournaments and community based professional 'Street Cred players.' Additionally, the Company intends to utilize and capitalize on ancillary marketing opportunities by licensing celebrities for its card imaging, as well as designing customized cards by top industry artists.
If you enjoy interactive games, does Street Cred sound like a successful idea? The cards seem to have the potential of becoming a collection of value. If you play this, organize your collectible cards on iTaggit and let us know how the idea turns out. For more information from the original release, click here.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Headlocked: Work of Art
Since its release on October 31, Headlocked: Work of Art has garnered near unanimous praise from both the wrestling and the comic book
world. The book was hailed as "one of the year's best comics" in a 5 star review from Silver Bullet Comics and as "a non-condescending and realistic view of the world of rasslin’" from the Encyclopedia of Wrestling Comics.
Kingston's myspace page features pictures and quotes from a variety of wrestlers endorsing the book including Samoa Joe, Greg Valentine, Shawn Daivari, Chris Hero, Justin Credible, Dawn Marie, Blue Meanie, and Sara Del Rey. Based on the initial response, a new mini-series has been greenlit by publisher AAM/Markosia and is currently in production.
So while the book has been very well received it has become very difficult to find on the shelves. If you are a comics collector, and missed out on the initial offering of Headlocked: Work of Art for whatever reason, it is still possible to obtain a first printing of the book.
With a bright future and a low initial print run, Headlocked:Work of Art seems primed to become a collector's item. Kingston already has some big surprises lined up for the next series so he advises people to get their re-orders in for Headlocked: Work of Art before they're all gone.
If you have this book, add it into your iTaggit collection and let us know what you think about it! For more of Michael Kingston's article, click here.
world. The book was hailed as "one of the year's best comics" in a 5 star review from Silver Bullet Comics and as "a non-condescending and realistic view of the world of rasslin’" from the Encyclopedia of Wrestling Comics.Kingston's myspace page features pictures and quotes from a variety of wrestlers endorsing the book including Samoa Joe, Greg Valentine, Shawn Daivari, Chris Hero, Justin Credible, Dawn Marie, Blue Meanie, and Sara Del Rey. Based on the initial response, a new mini-series has been greenlit by publisher AAM/Markosia and is currently in production.
So while the book has been very well received it has become very difficult to find on the shelves. If you are a comics collector, and missed out on the initial offering of Headlocked: Work of Art for whatever reason, it is still possible to obtain a first printing of the book.
With a bright future and a low initial print run, Headlocked:Work of Art seems primed to become a collector's item. Kingston already has some big surprises lined up for the next series so he advises people to get their re-orders in for Headlocked: Work of Art before they're all gone.
If you have this book, add it into your iTaggit collection and let us know what you think about it! For more of Michael Kingston's article, click here.
Graphic Novels Gaining On Traditional Comic Books
Most of the business at comic book stores isn't in comic books anymore. According to pop culture trend tracker ICv2, graphic novels have begun to outsell comic books. Graphic novels are essentially comic books on steroids, with longer, more complex, darker stories. The term can also include putting together a long story arc initially published in half a dozen regular comic book issues, but purists tend to refer to those as trade paperbacks.
Statistics aren't available yet for 2007, but 330 million graphic novels were sold in North America in 2006--a 12 percent increase. That wasn't bad news for comic book publishers like DC and Marvel. There was an even bigger jump in sales of traditional monthly periodical comic books like "Batman" and "Spider-Man." They were up 15 percent to 310 million in 2006. And comic book publishers like DC are doing quite well with graphic novels. Where they once appealed almost exclusively to teenage boys, they now sell to people of all ages, male and female.
In Spotsylvania County, Mike Porter, comics collector and owner of the new Little Fish Comics & Collectibles store at Cosner's Corner, isn't just trying to ring up sales when he insists that graphic novels like "Watchmen," "Kingdom Come" and "V for Vendetta" qualify as legitimate literature.
Porter is a true believer. In 1995, he was a teacher's aide lecturing on Alan Moore's "V for Vendetta" as part of a science-fiction literature course at Guelph University in Ontario, Canada. He says students and their parents would come to him and ask if there was additional literature they could read to help with the course. You know, Mr. Porter, "real" literature. "Real" books. Not comic books. No, Porter would say, the best examples of the graphic novel form are real literature. "It's definitely literature," he says standing in his store surrounded by Batman, Spider-Man and Superman comics and action figures. "It stands up to any distopian literature."
George Orwell's "1984" is an example of distopian literature. Distopian protagonists, such as Winston Smith in "1984" and the character V in "V for Vendetta," challenge negative aspects of their societies, putting themselves at risk in the process.
An argument can be made that anything that gets people--especially young people--to read in today's TV and video game culture is good. For the rest of Michael Zitz' Free-Lance Star article, click here.
A New Year's Link Between Organization And Good Health
After the holidays, many shoppers load up their carts with storage bins, shelving systems and color-coded containers, all in a resolute quest to get their collections organized for the new year. The country's collective desire to clean up and manage collectibles is evident in the proliferation of organization-oriented businesses like the Container Store and California Closets. Reality shows like "Mission Organization" on HGTV and "How Clean is Your House?" on Lifetime feed a national obsession to de-clutter.
Getting organized is unquestionably good for both mind and body -- reducing risks for falls, helping eliminate germs and making it easier to find things like medicine and exercise gear.
"If you can't find your sneakers, you aren't taking a walk," said Dr. Pamela Peeke, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Maryland and the author of 'Fit To Live,' which devotes a section to the link between health and organization. "How are you going to shoot a couple of hoops with your son if you can't even find the basketball? "Dr. Peeke says she often instructs patients trying to lose weight to at least create one clean and uncluttered place in their home. She also suggests keeping sporting goods and a gym bag with workout clothes and sneakers in an uncluttered area to make it easier to exercise.
She recalls one patient whose garage was "a solid cube of clutter." The woman cleaned up her home and also lost about 50 pounds. "It wasn't, at the end of the day, about her weight," Dr. Peeke said. "It was about un-cluttering at multiple levels of her life."
For the extended New York Times article, click here.
Getting organized is unquestionably good for both mind and body -- reducing risks for falls, helping eliminate germs and making it easier to find things like medicine and exercise gear.
"If you can't find your sneakers, you aren't taking a walk," said Dr. Pamela Peeke, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Maryland and the author of 'Fit To Live,' which devotes a section to the link between health and organization. "How are you going to shoot a couple of hoops with your son if you can't even find the basketball? "Dr. Peeke says she often instructs patients trying to lose weight to at least create one clean and uncluttered place in their home. She also suggests keeping sporting goods and a gym bag with workout clothes and sneakers in an uncluttered area to make it easier to exercise.
She recalls one patient whose garage was "a solid cube of clutter." The woman cleaned up her home and also lost about 50 pounds. "It wasn't, at the end of the day, about her weight," Dr. Peeke said. "It was about un-cluttering at multiple levels of her life."
For the extended New York Times article, click here.
A Big Surprise In A Little Shell
Here's one way of happening on a collectible of value, so to speak. Florida couple George and Leslie Brock, decided to stop into Dave's Last Resort & Raw Bar during a day at the beach. Mr. Brock was about
halfway through a dozen clams when he chomped down on something hard - a rare iridescent purple pearl. At least one expert said the find could be worth thousands. “Few are round and few are a lovely color, so this is rare,” said Vermont gemologist Antoinette Matlins. “I think they have found something precious and lovely and valuable.” The gems occur most frequently in large New England quahogs, clams known for violet coloring on the inside of their shells. Brock's $10 plate of clams came from Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle, said restaurant manager Tom Gerry. The Brocks, of Royal Palm Beach, plan to have the pearl appraised and said they'll sell it if it's worth a lot of money, so be on the look-out for this if you collect rare jewelry pieces. For the original article, click here, and if you are looking to get organized for the new year, create your inventory list and manage your collections on iTaggit!
halfway through a dozen clams when he chomped down on something hard - a rare iridescent purple pearl. At least one expert said the find could be worth thousands. “Few are round and few are a lovely color, so this is rare,” said Vermont gemologist Antoinette Matlins. “I think they have found something precious and lovely and valuable.” The gems occur most frequently in large New England quahogs, clams known for violet coloring on the inside of their shells. Brock's $10 plate of clams came from Apalachicola in the Florida Panhandle, said restaurant manager Tom Gerry. The Brocks, of Royal Palm Beach, plan to have the pearl appraised and said they'll sell it if it's worth a lot of money, so be on the look-out for this if you collect rare jewelry pieces. For the original article, click here, and if you are looking to get organized for the new year, create your inventory list and manage your collections on iTaggit!
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