Archive for the ‘Buying’ Category

Today's your last chance to win some amazing Can't Stop the Serenity auctions and benefit Equality Now. Up for grabs: a Serenity mini-poster signed by Joss Whedon, a Dr. Horrible poster print signed by Neil Patrick Harris, Nathan Fillion and Felicia Day, a copy of The Guild DVD signed by the cast, assorted fan packs of merchandise, more autographs, and even an amazing one-hour tour behind the scenes of the Dollhouse set with costume designer Shawna Trpcic. Check out the whole list here. It's down to the final hours so you'd best get over there.

Money raised from the auctions will be included in the CSTS 2009 Global Donation Total, which currently stands at US $128,000. Your bids will help CSTS to reach this year’s goal of US $150,000 raised for charity!

Also included: the set of chopsticks used (almost) in the movie that I won from serenitymovie.com back in the day.

Announced at the Creation con yesterday, QMx will soon be making officially licensed collectibles for Firefly and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog. We're talking props, ships, t-shirts, maquettes and novelties (keychains, bumper stickers, etc.) So what do you want to see?

Me, I'd suggest for replica catalyzers, blinking van-top bombs with magnetic bottoms for personal use, Vera, the big red button, letters from Bad Horse, a variety of pistols, and maquettes including the Dr. Horrible crew, a bathing Inara and a naked Mal on a rock. Let's go, people!

New, at the Prop Store of London: an Alliance uniform cap. But the description puzzles me:

A purple cap with a triangular patch on the front made for the sci-fi action film Serenity. The cap is similar to the version worn by the Alliance soldiers onboard the Operatives ship when it is attacked by the Reavers. One size fits most.

"Similar to"? Is it an actual costume prop or a replica? The price ($59) suggests it's a real costume prop — too pricey for a home-made or licensed replica, I would think — but maybe one that never saw screen time, which would cost much more.  And it's listed under Props, instead of Replicas. The Prop Store is usually better about such distinctions. Maybe they couldn't conclusively identify where it was used, so declined to say either way?

Whichever it is, it's a nice looking cap for your purple-belly friends.

For the next two weeks (until Nov. 14) Best Buy has the Firefly DVD set on sale for $12.99. Doesn't get much cheaper than this, and you won't find a better return on your investment. For less than a buck an episode, you can get some of the best entertainment ever put on TV.

More to the point, you almost certainly already have a copy if you're reading my site but now it's cheap enough for you to buy another copy or two to give out as presents or just loan to friends and coworkers.

Or if you're like me, it's time to buy a replacement copy for the one you've already been loaning out that's getting a little ragged.

Don't know yet if the prices are the same in the regional stores — anyone? — but this is one of the best deals ever for this set. And I understand some minor gift-giving holiday is coming up soon…

Formerly only available at BlizzCon and PAX conventions, now you can preorder your own copy!

For a limited time, get the 'Spires of Dragonor' poster which features original artwork by Jeff Carlisle. The 'Spires of Dragonor' is a fictitious expansion to the MMORPG game played by the Knights of Good in the web series 'The Guild.' This artwork was commissioned by 'The Guild' for Season 3…

The poster is 11×17" and printed in the US in full color on 100# white book gloss paper.

The $30 poster can be ordered for $27 until Oct. 30. Ships in November. Limit one per person, only.

And don't miss Season 3 of The Guild, going on now.

The Inara Shuttle ornament from Dark Horse is seriously cool and great for your desk, shelf or Christmas tree, but if you really want an authentic model there's only one place to go (besides Joss' house): The Prop Store of London.

This is a model of Inara's (Morena Baccarin) shuttle from the 2005 science fiction movie Serenity. [...] This model has been scratch built from resin and styrene, and crafted with incredible detail: painted silver with small, colored accents; doors, windows, and valves etched into the model; and the words "Firefly Class Shuttle" written on the side. There were three of these shuttle models created for the production, but this one was not used. The model measures about 19" x 8.5" (48cm x 21.5cm) and is in excellent condition. This item is presented in a custom-fabricated acrylic display case, with a laser-cut mat featuring the film title and movie images.

Granted, it is a bit more expensive than the ornament — by about $4,470 — but it's a beautiful piece of the show and I hope if you buy it, you'll let me look at it and sigh wistfully.

OK, these are just cool.

I was wandering around the Showtime store — just yesterday I broke down and ordered my first premium cable channel, Showtime, because I don't watch a lot of TV but 3 of my favorite shows are there and the DVDs were getting expensive — and because Bon Jovi's documentary "When We Were Beautiful" is airing there first on Oct. 24 and Teres has been hinting strongly, and by hinting I mean the sort of gentle encouragement that would be prohibited by the Geneva Conventions — and I checked out the Dexter section. Lots of shirts, DVDs, expensive Decter-themed jewelry, the strangely popular bobble heads… and these.

A set of four coasters, complete with blood drops, stored in Dexter's iconic slide tray. Tell me the thought of serving drinks on top of a serial killer's souvenir blood doesn't cheer you right up!

They ain't cheap — $44.99 — but they are seriously cool. They're also evidence, so watch it.

I posted a review of Jeff Lindsey's latest Dexter book "Dexter by Design" and the new Dexter iPhone game here, by the way.

So, the camera I've been using for the last few years is the Canon PowerShot A630. And day in, day out it's a pretty decent camera. Sharp pics, nice range of options, 4x zoom, 10 megapixels, handles my average photographing needs. But there are two situations where it's not really up to snuff: low light, and anything requiring a fast shutter speed. It's just not a quick camera.

And two places where I take a lot of pictures are at concerts (low light, lotsa movement) and conventions (low light, lotsa movement), so I'd like to get another camera that's suited for those sorts of situations since I love going to cons and I know Teres will be making plans for the upcoming Bon Jovi tour. However, there are some restrictions.

- It's got to be in my price range, which means under $150 at the most and at that I'll be selling some stuff on eBay first. (Although if an expensive camera is otherwise perfect, I can always look for a used one.)
- It needs to perform well in low-light, fast-moving situations. Sharp zooms would be nice.
- It needs to be fixed-lens, since most big concert venues frown (and may confiscate) pro-looking cameras or cameras with detachable lenses.
- The faster the shutter response time from the second I push the button, the better.

However, this camera doesn't have to be good at anything else. My Canon works very well for most things I use it for. I just need something for specific conditions where my current camera is weak. So basically I need a cheap pocket camera that takes amazing concert photos. How tough could that be?

Ideally the new camera would also use AA batteries and SD cards to match my current one, but that's optional. I want a concert camera.

Any suggestions?

On sale at eBay, 7 of these limited-edition Dollhouse etchings engraved on aluminum.

Made exclusively for San Diego Comic Con 2009 and Limited to 250 pieces.
Don't fall asleep and miss out on your only chance to own this very unique piece of art.

This is not a poster, it is a shiny engraved piece of aluminum.
Photos do not truly convey this stunning piece of art.  Details follow:

Eliza Dushku as Echo. Eliza Dushku as Caroline. Eliza Dusku as…
Coated Aluminum Etching
Artwork size: 12"x24"
Image(s) are mounted on black foam core and ready for framing.

$50 each, plus shipping. There's a video on the page to give you a better idea of what the engraving looks like. Click here to check it out.

The official, licensed, Museums Replicas versions of River's axe and a Reaver sword were certainly impressive, reasonably accurate, and came with a cool wall plaque, but they weren't exactly cheap. And the actual props from the Prop Store of London were even more expensive.  What's the economically disadvantaged fan to do?

Never fear! Bud K is selling the "Serenity Axe" and "Serenity Fantasy Sword" for just $27.99 each! OK, they're not exactly like the movie versions — slightly different shapes to the blades — but they're not bad and definitely closer to my personal price range. And I like how the description tells you that "Dedicated fans and hardcore followers of cult sci-fi hits will instantly recognize this replica weapon" without actually mentioning River or Reavers.

The axe measures measures 27" overall and features an "authentically detailed" stainless steel 19 1/2" axe blade and wood handle. The sword is 16" overall with a stainless steel 11" blade and wood handle. Both come with nylon sheaths.  Great for your wall or your cosplaying, easy on the wallet.