Action Comics

A rare and pristine copy of the first issue of Action Comics, famed for the first appearance of Superman, has set a record Wednesday for the most money paid for a single comic book: $2.16 million.The issue, graded at 9.0, was auctioned starting Nov. 11 online at www.comicconnect.com. The starting bid was just $1 but there was a reserve price of $900,000. Neither the name of the buyer nor seller was disclosed.It's the first time a comic book has broken the $2 million barrier. The issue was published in 1938 and cost just 10 cents.
"When we broke the record in 2010 by selling the Action Comics No. 1, graded at 8.5, for $1.5 million, I truly believed that this was a record that would stand for many years to come," said Stephen Fishler, CEO of ComicConnect.com and Metropolis Collectibles.The previous record set in March 2010 was followed by the sale of another copy for $1 million. But neither of those issues was in as good a condition as the issue that sold Wednesday, though it's pedigree of setting records was already documented. Twice before it set the record for the most expensive book ever, selling for $86,000 in 1992 and $150,000 in 1997.
But in 2000, it was stolen and thought lost until it was recovered in a storage shed in California in April this year.About 100 copies of Action Comics No. 1 are believed to be in existence, and only a handful of those in good condition.After it was stolen, Fishler said, collectors figured it would never be found or, worse, would be destroyed.Clearly, I was wrong. Not in my wildest imagination could I have predicted that this legendary, stolen Action Comics No. 1 would be found, graded at 9.0 and break the record a year and a half later," he said.

Glee Makes Me Happy

Since I’m so bored in the office and I just watched finish Nikita and Glee last night, I’m gonna blog about Glee!Glee makes me happy! Really happy cause some parts of the show is damn stupid.
I know Glee through Cheris. She promotes to me about Glee and let me listen to some of Glee’s song and true enough, I fall in love with Lea Michele’s voice! I know she is not pretty when she sings and all but I like her voice! Season 1 is good but Season 2 has no proper storyline! I continue watching cause of the songs they sing.Season 2 has more original songs which I don’t feel it fantastic and all. But Glee really makes me happpy!Songs that I love from Glee
1. Take A Bow

2. Blame It

3. The Only Exception

4. Endless Love

5. Total Eclipse Of The Heart

6.  Poker Face

7. Faithfully

8. I Feel Pretty/Unpretty

9. Teenage Dream

10. Lucky

11. Marry You

Personally I feel that all these songs above are really better than the original singers. Really better, I feel. If you are a fan of any of the original song above, I suggest that you go and watch Glee and judge yourself!Am trying to look for ”Pretending” this song by Rachel and Finn in the last episode when they are fighting for Nationals. Kinda like the song after the first time I hear!Like I said one thousand time before, Glee makes me happy though they have stupid story line now! Hahahahaha, so I’m now still waiting for Season 3 to be out!

Kids’ Entertainment And Learning

If you are working parents then a big question of keeping your kids at your home while you two will be going to offices. Parents are now opting for babysitter or governors for keeping their kids at home safely. But the important thing to look at is giving them company and proper attention. And this thing is the most important thing to care for. But parents can not understand how to do this and get the kid happier even staying at home. When he or she is in the play ground then you can normally expect him or her to be happy but it is found to be more difficult to make her or him happy when he or she is in home and without his pr her friends. Another important thing is the age group in which kids fall. Determine the age factor and then choose the website for kids. You have to understand his or her taste and lists of choice at first and then you have to decide on the factor. Without that you will fall to satisfy his or her requirements of entertainment. As for entertainment it can be said little bit of entertainment is also necessary to grow the kids up. It helps to encourage your kids to read and study and with that he or she will find a new space in the area of practical idea about the outside world, intelligent quotient. Normal intelligence is enhanced by the practicing of simple puzzle round, quiz and g.k. all these websites for kids help this process. Free online games and free games are also worth noticing as these help to grow up the patience, activity skills and intelligence too.
Why the websites for kids? There are several reasons that may lead you to choose a good websites for kids like kidzter which offers many innovative free online games and free games which help the kid to make his or her intelligence growing and simultaneously making her happy with music, games and educational activities like solving quizzes and puzzles. All these help him or her to develop his or her basic knowledge and intelligence quotient as these activities require intelligence, patient and skill. There may be a great controversy that free online games and websites having free games spoil the kids and make them game hooked all the day. But the responsibility of choosing the site should be conferred on the parents. If you are a parent then you can choose a website for kids like kidzter.

entertainment center is a major piece of furniture

When referring to a home entertainment center, one should keep in mind that it is greater than a table that holds a handful of items.  A home entertainment center is a major piece of furniture that is designed to accommodate many electric and electronic devices that provide entertainment in the home including the TV, VCR and other disc players, the sound system, speakers and the home theatre system in general.  This furniture is a significant point in a home since it is a center of attraction for anyone visiting the home, no matter their age, interests or preferences.  Despite everything that you place on the home entertainment center, the TV is the main component that will determine the overall perception of the furniture and the entertainment system.  Generally, a home entertainment stand serves as an organizer of the house entertainment functionally.  However, its other purpose is to optimize the general perception and style of the home furniture.

If your entertainment systems are of exceptional quality or meet certain standards and class that you wish, the furniture that these systems rest on should also be complementary to give the desired feel of relaxation and style, not distraction and competition.  If your perfect idea of entertainment is relaxing in your home, watching the TV or playing cool music, the home entertainment system is a perfect idea for you.  There are a wide variety of contemporary home entertainment stands available for you to choose from to match your taste, style, budget and class.  Since the industry of furniture production has gone high tech just like the electronic themselves, it is now easy to find a modern piece of furniture that will look like it was designed with your entertainment style in mind.

A perfect entertainment center stand should rhyme well with other furniture including the seats and the room in general.  If it has room for all the accessories you have or intend to acquire, the better.  The aesthetic value of the entertainment center stand should stand out without compromising its functionality and style.

Everyone expects that they choose furniture carefully because it is not shopping that happen frequently.  The decision to settle for a particular entertainment stand should be guided by the fact that the material should withstand age and allow future expansions and improvement in the electronic entertainment system.  In a nutshell, as a proud homeowner, it is vital for you to get an entertainment TV stand that adds a great deal of functionality, theme and style to your home.

Could Sega and Red Be Announcing a Revival Over The Next Couple Of Weeks?

　　There have been some rumors of late about new developments in the Sakura Wars series. These may or may not pan out, but there's one thing for sure: the franchise's developer, Red Entertainment, is going to be announcing something within the next couple of weeks.
　　An update at the Red Entertainment staff blog today had a hint about a possible announcement. Closing off the post, the blog's writer noted that the Tokyo Game Show is approaching. He wrote, "The next time I handle the blog, I believe I will, for the first time in a while, be able to have a splendid announcement."

The Sakura Wars franchise, which originated as a 1996 Sega Saturn title, turns 15 next year, and there's recently been some talk about possible celebrations from Red and the series' publisher, Sega. Series creator Ouji Hiroi perked fan interest when he took the stage during an August talk event promoting a Sammy Sakura Wars 2 pachinko game and said that those interested in the future of the series might want to check a September issue of Famitsu.

The Red Entertainment

　　Since its founding in 2002, Red Entertainment Agency has established itself as a leading entertainment talent agency, guiding the careers of an elite roster of musical artists. Under the leadership of agency President Carlos Keyes, Red Entertainment has carved out a distinctive niche in the entertainment landscape and earned a reputation for putting artists' interests above all else.
       With a select group of professional agents working side by side, the Red Entertainment credo is one of team work and availability that translates into successful relationships for all clients.Red Entertainment’s select yet diverse client list allows it to effectively compete with other large agencies while guaranteeing personalized attention to every client. With offices in New York City, Red provides representation to clients across its music, motion picture, television and personal appearances worldwide.

And the Oscar Goes to…

The 81st Annual Academy Awards went off without a hitch this year, and benefitted from production design & staging that, on several occasions, reflected the categories for the awards being presented—an obvious but effective choice we haven't seen in previous ceremonies.
Hugh Jackman proved an able host, deftly blending comedy with a song & dance routine with top hat and cane. Thanks to his Broadway experience, Jackman demonstrated that he's as comfortable walking in the shoes of Gene Kelly as he is wielding the retractable claws of Wolverine.
Still, the ceremony was simplified this year to reverse years of declining TV ratings. A record low 32 million people tuned in last year. This year’s viewing figures will be announced Monday. Advertisers such as General Motors and L’Oreal withdrew their support, ostensibly due to the current recession and unfavorable television demographics (the average US viewer is 49), though these reasons sound suspect, and in GM's case, their precarious financial situation is more likely to blame.
As to the winners themselves, there were few surprises this year. Slumdog Millionaire was the Academy Awards champion, wrapping up its rags-to-riches story by taking home not only the Best Picture Academy Award, but also Best Director for Danny Boyle, along with awards for adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing, and both music Oscars for score and song.
The other top winners: Kate Winslet, Best Actress for the Holocaust-themed drama The Reader; Sean Penn, Best Actor for the title role of Milk; and Penelope Cruz, Best Supporting Actress for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
In a move that many anticipated — and hoped for — the Academy chose to honor Heath Ledger as Best Supporting Actor for his demented reinvention of the Joker in Chris Nolan's The Dark Knight, becoming only the second actor ever to win an Oscar posthumously. (The previous posthumous Oscar recipient was Peter Finch, who won Best Actor for 1976's Network two months after his death.)
Ledger's Oscar for the Warner Bros. blockbuster was accepted by Ledger's parents and sister on behalf of the actor's 3-year-old daughter, Matilda. "I have to say this is ever so humbling, just being amongst such wonderful people in such a wonderful industry," said his father, Kim Ledger. "We'd like to thank the academy for recognizing our son's amazing work, Warner Bros., and Christopher Nolan in particular for allowing Heath the creative license to develop and explore this crazy Joker character."

Amanda Tapping Seeks Sanctuary for Kids

In the spirit of the Syfy series Sanctuary in which she stars, actress Amanda Tapping (Stargate SG-1,Stargate Atlantis) has helped to found a non-profit organization aimed at giving children a better life.
The organization, called Sanctuary for Kids, was started by Tapping, Sanctuary creator and writer Damian Kindler and Jill Bodie. The idea was borne out of their collective desire to use the public profile ofSanctuary and the active fan base of the show to make a difference.
"We all feel very lucky and honoured to be able to do jobs we love with people we love in this industry," said Tapping. "Jill, Damian and I all felt a very strong desire and real responsibility to do something with the reach and audience we have through Sanctuary and the sci-fi community. We didn't want to waste the influence that the series has, or the meaningful connections we personally have made with so many people around the world."
Tapping plays Dr. Helen Magnus in Sanctuary, which airs on Friday nights on Syfy in the United States and SPACE in Canada. Magnus runs the titular establishment to provide shelter and medical treatment for 'abnormals.' These mutant creatures stay in hiding or live out in the open but keep their differences a secret out of fear of persecution.
Sanctuary started life in 2007 as a series of 15-minute Webisodes and is currently in its second television season. Tapping and Kindler are also executive producers on the show. Using it as a platform for a a good cause is something that Kindler hopes will start a trend in Hollywood.
"Ultimately, we want to set an example and make charitable giving and outreach a standard practice in the television and entertainment industry," he said. "We all feel that it would be irresponsible to ignore that influence."
Sanctuary for Kids will host three auctions throughout the year selling "priceless" items as well as meet and greet opportunities with Sanctuary actors and producers. The first auction is taking place now until November 22, 2009. On offer are such items as a behind the scenes set tour and lunch with Amanda Tapping, a personal Skype chat with Amanda Tapping, Damian Kindler and director and fellow executive producer Martin Wood, a well known prop used in the series (the "Sonic Stunner"), and an opportunity to name a new character in the show.
"This is an initiative that is based on relationships and working as a community at large," said Jill Bodie, Director of Sanctuary for Kids. "It's about doing something very real and tangible for children and youth who desperately need protection. Sci-fi fans are so connected and loyal. We will be relying on their connectivity and passion to help spread the word about the work we are doing."
Sanctuary for Kids has chosen the Nepal Orphans Home and Watari's TTIP (Transitioning to Independence Program) and TIPPY (Transitioning to Independence Program for Parenting Youth) Programs to launch the foundation. The Nepal Orphans Home (www.nepalorphanshome.org) attends to the welfare of children in Nepal who are orphaned, abandoned or not supported by their parents. Watari's Programs (www.watari.org) work with the homeless youth population in Vancouver to help stabilize single, pregnant and parenting youth in safe, affordable housing and encourages commitment to their treatment plans.

Vancouver Production Update

Lots of production taking place here in Hollywood North this month, from returning skeins Smallville, Supernatural, Stargate Atlantis, Reaper and Eureka, to new series Harper's Island and a Shaun Cassidy-produced pilot featuring Tricia Helfer entitledInseparable.
Meanwhile, the Battlestar Galactica telefilm is currently lensing, as well Roland Emmerich's epic, 2012 (now labelled Farewell Atlantis). Below is the complete list:
100 Mile Challenge Reality
Lifestyle Apr 8 – Oct 17 '08
Battlestar Galactica 2009 Movie
MOW Sep 2 – Sep 29 '08
Cats & Dogs 2
Feature Film Sep 8 – Dec 17 '08
Chop Shop Reality
Lifestyle Jul 30 – Dec 19 '08
Eureka - Season 3
TV Series May 14 '08 – Feb 13 '09
Farewell Atlantis (2012)
Feature Film Jul 28 – Dec 12 '08
George Lopez Untitled Project Digital
Feature Aug 21 – Sep 26 '08
Glutton For Punishment – Season 3
Reality / Lifestyle Jun 6 – Dec 20 '08
Harper's Island
TV Series Aug 8 – Jan 28 '09
Inseparable
TV Pilot Sep 9 – Sep 26 '08
Keeping It Real
Documentary Series Aug 28 – Dec 12 '08
The L Word – Season 6
TV Series Jul 2 – Oct 1 '08
Night at the Museum 2
Feature Film Jun 9 – Sep 23 '08
Psych – Season 3
TV Series Apr 28 – Oct 21 '08
Reaper – Season 2
TV Series Jul 22 – Dec 18 '08
Smallville – Season 8
TV Series Jul 7 '08 – Apr 3 '09
Smart Cookies – Season 2
Reality / Lifestyle Aug 12 – Dec 12 '08
Stargate Atlantis - Season V
TV Series Feb 19 – Sep 23 '08
Storm Hawks
Animation Nov 17 '07- Dec 22 '08
Supernatural – Season 4
TV Series Jul 3 – Mar 27 '09
Tidal Justice
MOW Aug 27 – Sep 11 '08
Trust
MOW Sep 3 – Sep 18 '08
Untitled Twisted Pictures Project
Feature Film Sep 2 – Oct 2 '08
Word Travels – Season 2
Reality / Lifestyle May 27 – Sep 7 '09
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy
Animation Nov 1 '07 – Feb 1 '09
Zeke's Pad
Animation Mar 17 – Jan 2 '09

Falling Loonie May Re-Attract U.S. Productions to Canada

With the value of the CDN dollar falling through the floor in recent days (75 cents USD as of this writing), and a number of U.S. states reevaluating their filmincentive programs, American financed film productions are expected to begin eyeballing Canada as the preeminent shooting destination once again.
"You put the Canadian dollar together with the tax credits we've already got and we're completely back in the game," said Ken Ferguson of Toronto Film Studios, owners of the new mega studio FilmPort, withBoondock Saints 2 and an untitled George Romero film, both starting in Toronto.
Meanwhile, a Michigan Senate committee has begun discussion of capping its tax credit at US$50-million, Rhode Island capped its incentives at US$15-million per year and Florida slashed the budget of its governor's film office by 80%.
US taxpayer anger has grown at incentives in Massachusetts and Louisiana after high-profile events revealed their cost, with a Massachusetts report revealing that in two years the state missed out on US$120-million in taxes thanks to its credit program, while a Brad Pitt feature shooting in Louisiana cost that state US$27-million.
Industry sources say the state of New York, which bolstered its tax credit in April, has already begun reviewing whether to scale it back."Some of the extraordinary tax credits that are offered in some states, I think, are entirely unsustainable," said Ferguson."So it's not surprising that under some duress they'll have to cap those or throttle them back considerably."The hope is that those "who do production elsewhere might look to Vancouver and other parts of Canada with renewed interest," said Harvey Kahn, president of Vancouver's Front Street Pictures.