Horror history made as the Raven debuts

On January 29, 1845 the world was introduced to Edgar Allan Poe when the New York Evening Mirror published The Raven. The narrative poem, which was the first work attributed to Poe by name was an instant hit with readers and secured Poe’s place in literary history. Although it made Poe a household name and was widely popular during his lifetime, Poe earned only $9 for the poem’s publication.

Although the first stanza is the most often quoted and many individual lines and phrases have entered popular culture, it is the final stanza which makes The Raven a preternatural classic. It states:

---

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
                                                                                          shall be lifted — nevermore!

Three Games Store relaunched in the UK

Leading UK mobile network operator, Three, has re-launched its Games Store with a string of highly innovative features including social media integration and a dedicated HD games section. A section featuring an extensive selection of social games which allow users to interact and compete with each other is also in the works but not yet available.

What is available is a browser-baser portal store is a variety of games and apps that will appeal to everyone from casual gamers to hardcore game enthusiasts. The objective of the new Games Store is to create a must-go-to destination for all gamers using Three. The huge range of games, tips, information and reviews, as well as the ability to connect with an active community of like-minded players and fans is the latest addition to a growing portfolio of hosted multi-content services managed by the Livewire Mobile Inc. team in partnership with Three.

The relaunched Games Store will support content across a number of phone operating systems.

Currently, the Games Store includes Android games and apps targeted at the increasing number of Three gamers that use the portal as their mobile gaming hub.  A dedicated Android app with integrated Three billing is scheduled to be released ready for devices that will be in-store and available during the holiday shopping season.

“This is an area that continues to grow in popularity and with the biggest 3G network in the UK — and one designed for the high-speed mobile internet — we believe our customers now have access to the very best mobile Games Store in the UK where ever they are,” said Neil Andrews, Head of Media Sales and Content services at Three UK.

Witches, drugs & evil spirits fill the most rented and best-selling DVDs with preternatural themes.

Three preternatural films appeared on Rentrak’s most rented DVD list and best-selling DVD list this week.

In its third week on video, Limitless, fell from the Number 1 ranking to the Number 2 ranking on the most rented DVD list and fell to the Number 9 ranking on the best-selling DVD of the week. Directed by Neil Berger for Fox, and starring Eddie Mora (Bradley Cooper), Carl Van Loon (Robert De Niro) and Lindy (Abbie Cornish, better known as Sweet Pea in Sucker Punch), a writer discovers a top-secret drug, which bestows him with super human abilities.

In its fourth week on video, Insidious, ranked as the 7^th most rented DVD and the 6^th best-selling DVD of the week. Directed by James Wan and starring Josh Lambert (Patrick Wilson, who played Dan Dreiberg/Night Owl in Watchman), Renai Lambert (Rose Byrne, last seen as Moira MacTaggert in X-Men: First Class) and Dalton Lambert (Ty Simpkins), A family looks to prevent evil spirits from trapping their comatose child in a realm called The Further.

Directed by Bragi F. Schut for Fox, Season of the Witch, starring Behmen (Nicolas Cage who also lends his face to Johnny Blaze in Ghost Rider and the upcoming Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance due out in 2012), Felson (preternatural icon Ron Perlman, otherwise known as Hellboy or Vincent from the 1980′s series Beauty and the Beast) and the girl (Claire Foy), in its sixth week in video, did not appear on the best-selling list, however, it is still holding strong on the most rented DVD list, ranking as the 9^th most- rented DVD this week. Season of the Witch chronicles the adventures of 14^th Century knights (Cage and Perlman) escorting a witch (Foy), who is accused of being the source of the Black Plague, to a monastery.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is holding strong on the best selling DVD list this week. Directed by David Yates for Warner Bros. and written by Steve Kloves and J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 ranked as the 5^th best-selling DVD this week in its 17^th week on video. As Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint) race against time and evil to destroy the Horcruxes, they uncover the existence of three most powerful objects in the wizarding world: the Deathly Hallows.

What have you rented and/or bought to watch this weekend?

North America enjoys DQ Miracle Treat Day

Miracles, by definition, are preternatural. They are, according to Dictionary.com “an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.” Today, 11 August, 2011, ordinary humans can help create miracles for hospitalized children and reward themselves during the sixth annual Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day. 

The Dairy Queen system is one of the top 10 contributors to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, having raised more than $86 million since 1984. Last year, Dairy Queen locations across the U.S. and Canada raised nearly $5 million on DQ Miracle Treat Day. In 2011, $1 or more from every Blizzard® Treat sold at participating Dairy Queen locations on 11 August will be donated to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. All donations collected on Miracle Treat Day stay in the community in which they are raised to support local kids at area Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a charity that raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals in the U.S. and Canada. These hospitals, in turn, use the funds when it is needed most. Donations have gone to support research and training, for the purchase of equipment and to pay for uncompensated care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more that $4 billion, most of it $1 at a time.

The original Oreo® Blizzard Treat is  the featured Miracle Treat Day Blizzard of the Day. The Oreo ® Blizzard Treat has reigned as the most popular flavor since Blizzards were introduced in 1985.

“Miracle Treat Day has become one of summer’s most celebrated events and something that our customers and franchises really look forward to,” said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for American Dairy Queen Corporation. “We hear stories families with children who were patients at a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, as well as from friends and neighbors who are so eager to help. This day of goodwill for children touches all of us in communities throughout the United States and Canada. We appreciate everyone who supports Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by participating in the Miracle Treat Day.”

Macy’s Great American Elf Adventure begins celebrating 85 years of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

“Macy’s Great American Elf Adventure is a fantastic way to kick-off our 85th Anniversary celebrations,” said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. “Since 1947, the iconic Macy’s elf balloons have been fan favorites and for generations have served as an emblem of the Macy’s Parade. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a key element of America’s favorite parade is one that aspiring artists should not miss. We can’t wait to see all the inspired creations and look forward to the winning design joining the rest of the Macy’s elf family in the Parade this year.”

So what is Macy’s Great American Elf Adventure? Well, is seems that Macy’s existing Parade Elves have been dispatched across the U.S. as well as in Guam and Puerto Rico, to celebrate the upcoming 85th Anniversary of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade®. In their excitement, the elves left Santa’s Workshop in the middle of summer and weren’t quite ready for their Parade debut. As a result, well, they’re a little colorless. Which is great news for anyone who has ever dreamed of becoming a balloonatic as Macy’s Parade balloon designers are called.

Beginning 9 August, 2011, artists and amateur balloonatics need to search out any of the more than 10,000 rambunctious elves in need of a paint job at Macy’s stores nationwide. Once an elf has been spotted, artists can let their imagination run wild as they transform the elves from understudy to a multicolored creation of wonder and star of the show. Would-be balloonatics have until 24 August, 2011 to enter their creation at Facebook.com/Macys for the chance to win a trip for four to New York City and see it soar to new heights in the legendary holiday extravaganza.

Macy's Elves (image courtesy of Macy's)

To find Macy’s magical elves in Macy’s Great American Elf Adventure, look for clues on Macy’s Facebook page and via Twitter @Macyservents or #Macyself. Each day between 9 and 24 August, Macy’s will post a clue and a password that will help reveal the location of the elves. The daily clue and password can also be retrieved by texting  ELF to MACYS (62297). Once would-be-balloonatics have deduced where the elves have taken shelter that day they must tell a department sales associate the daily password to receive their coveted fae model.

In addition to sheltering colorless elves in Macy’s stores across the U.S., 10 cities will host Macy’s Elf-Apolooza as a few high-spirited gnomes take a road-trip across the country. Starting from New York City and Jackson, MS, the elves and some helpers will be bringing fun-filled family events to Los Angeles, Omaha, Detroit, Little Rock, Greenville, Des Moines, El Paso and Anchorage.

The magic really begins once the artists get their new elf friend home. Fans are asked to let their imagination take flight and design what could be the newest member of the Parade elf contingent. Once their masterpiece is complete, the amateur balloonatic should submit detailed front and back photos of their creation to Macy’s via Facebook. To enter, participants will need to “like” Macy’s on Facebook and the download the “Elf” application. Entries must include the identification serial number found on the packaging containing the elf (all real Macy’s elves will have one) and upload their photo and complete application by Wednesday, 24 August at 11:59:59 PM ET.

A judging panel from Macy’s Parade & Entertainment Group will narrow the entries down to the Top 85. These 85 entries will be posted to Macy’s Facebook page on Tuesday, 30 August for fans and friends to begin voting for their favorite elf. The elf garnering the most votes as of Tuesday, 6 September, 2011 will be announced in mid-September. The winning design will then be transformed into a helium wonder by the magicians of Macy’s Parade Studio. In addition the winning artist and newest balloonatic, accompanied by three friends or family members will receive a trip to New York City to see the Parade live and enjoy their elf’s maiden flight.

Complete entry rules and regulations for Macy’s Great American Elf Adventure are available in-store or by visiting Facebook.com/Macys.

The 85th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airs on Thursday, 24 November, 2011 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. in all time zones on NBC-TV. Check your local listing for station information.

Intelligent discussion of new Bible will be televised

A new edition of the Bible was published in June 2011. That isn’t exactly news. Dozens, hundreds, maybe even thousands of editions have been published since Gutenberg produced the first one. Tree of Life Bible: The New Covenant, however, is the first of it’s kind, which is probably why it rates discussion on national television in the U.S.

The Tree of Life Messianic Bible represents a collaboration between Messianic Jewish and Christian scholars, leaders, artists, linguists, rabbis, writers, psalmists and others who came together to create a Messianic version of the Bible suitable for the entire family and followers of many faiths. Jews curious about Messiah will see how Yeshua became the Prophet, like Moses, full of glory, grace and truth. Modern-day Christians can rediscover the Jewish roots of their faith. People of all faiths can compare that the New Covenant says with what the Hebrew Bible says and not just from one person’s or belief’s point of view.

The stimulating conversation around this profoundly different yet thoroughly accessible Bible with Dr. Raymond L. Gannon will be broadcast nationally on CTN, TBN, Daystar, Angel One, TCC Church Channel, NRB Network and GEB. Involved in widespread Jewish evangelism, Messianic synagogue planting and Bible college and seminary teaching methods for more than four decades, Gannon joins Jonathan Bernis on Jewish Voices to discuss how this latest version of the Bible came about. Gannon also contributed to The Tree of Life Messianic Bible.

Check your local listing for station and time information.

True Blood Tainted Love #5 hits devices

Have you ever wondered how Jessica ended up being chosen to be the life the Magister demanded of Bill back in Season 1 of the HBO original Series True Blood?

Look no further than True Blood Tainted Love #5.

Cover of True Blood Tainted Love #5 courtesy of IDW

The digital comic, True Blood Tainted Love #5, was released for iDevices on 2 August, 2011 by publisher IDW, along with Zombies v. Robots Undercity #1, Dungeons & Dragons #8  and more. Tainted Love #5 continues to explore the contaminated Tru Blood storyline, even as it gives readers and fans a glimpse into Jess’ backstory. It’s also refreshing to see Bill and Pam working together with…Lafayette? Talk about your odd but somehow intriguing trios!

“Sugar, you gotta stop letting men define who you are. It is terribly gauche.” ~Pam

To find out what Sarah and Steve Newlin are up to (not to mention why Sookie is flying high with Eric), iPhone and iPod Touch users can download it through the IDW app or the True Blood Tainted Love app.

Sookie Stackhouse shorts in August: Charlaine Harris publishes short story and novella

It’s been nearly three months since Charlaine Harris’ Dead Reckoning arrived on bookshelves everywhere. Usually fans are forced to spend an agonizing year, anxiously salivating for the next installment of the series. The only glimmer of relief is the highly anticipated release of a short story in the fall.

This year fans everywhere are in for a treat! Not only has a Sookie Stackhouse short story,  ”If I Had a Hammer” been released in Home Improvement: Undead Edition, but a novella is included in The Sookie Stackhouse Companion, which will be released on August 30th.

Fans will also be pleased to learn that Charlaine has finished the twelfth book of the series, titled Deadlocked. What else is in store for everyone’s favorite fair-haired telepathic barmaid? The only way to find out is to be patient and wait for the next installment and, as we all know, waiting sucks. But Charlaine gives some hints in her blog:

Last night, Sookie got kidnapped, and I’m going to see how that shakes out. A character I thought was dead is probably alive, and I’m real happy for him. Then again, if the work doesn’t go so well today, he may be dead again.

Charlaine hasn’t given away much, but this little sneak peek into Deadlocked should have bookies everywhere speculating for months. Just who has kidnapped Ms. Stackhouse? Jaded lover, a certain Queen we have yet to be properly introduced to, or perhaps someone of the Fae-persuasion?

As for the not finally dead, but previously believed to be dead, character? My money is on Andre. There’s no logical reasoning behind this choice. Just would be a nice way for Charlaine to stir the pot. Having him return after assuming Quinn killed him, would make an interesting twist to the already hectic world of Vampires, Weres  and waitressing.

The games never end in the UK thanks to GameStop

GameStop, the world’s largest multichannel video game retailer has launched a new website designed specifically for gamers in the Untied Kingdom. Game enthusiasts in the UK will now have round the clock access to the widest selection of gaming hardware, software , accessories  and pre-owned games, as well as GameStop’s full range of digital content and services through www.gamestop.co.uk.

To celebrate, GameStop is offering online customers at http://www.gamestop.co.uk a number of special offers, including:

• Nintendo 3DS Cosmic Black Console, no only £154.97
• Call to Juarez only £21.97 (for Ps3 or Xbox 360)
• 3 for 2 on Pre-owned Games — buy two pre-owned games and get the third free. Thousands of titles to choose from.
• Exclusive Assassin’s Creed® Revelations Animus Edition now available for preorder.

In addition, gamers who pre-order Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare on www.gamstop.co.uk will be entered into a contest to win two tickets to the Call of Duty XP event in Los Angeles, CA, USA. For more details on entering, visit www.gamestop.co.uk/MW3/Preorder.

All offers are limited and available on a first come first serve basis.

“GameStop’s entry into the UK online market will provide consumers with more choices and exclusive content that they can’t find anywhere else,” said Mike Mauler, executive vice president of GameStop International. “One of our European exclusives is for the anticipated release of Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition, which will be available to UK gamers on through www.gamestop.co.uk.”

Assassin's Creed Revelations Screenshot courtesy of Ubisoft

Nintendo 3DS price drops but current owners get free games

“For anyone who was on the fence about buying a Ninetendo 3DS, this is a huge motivation to buy now,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “We are giving shoppers every incentive to pick up a Ninetendo 3DS, from an amazing new price to a rapid-fire succession of great games.”

Which is better: getting a bargain price on a hot portable games system or getting hot new games based on some of the most beloved video game franchises for free?

New Low Price

Effective 12 August, 2011, Nintendo of America is dropping the retail price of the Nintendo 3DS™ system from the suggested launch price of $249.99 to $169.99 in the U.S. The lower price opens up the glasses-free 3D experience and one of the strongest game lineups of any video gaming system just in time for the holiday shopping season. In addition to great games, and a new great price, Nintendo 3DS has a host of attractive features including:

• The new Nintendo Video™ service which automatically delivers short 3D videos from Hollywood as wells as music videos and animation.
• The Nintendo eShop, a digital store for Nintendo 3DS owners that provides access to a wide variety of downloadable content, such as original 3D software, classic games remastered in 3D (3D Classics), Game Boy™ and Game Boy Color “Virtual Console” games in their original 2D glory and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare™ games. Visitors to the Nintendo eShop can also view video game trailers, screen shots and product information for games, including those available at retail locations.
• Speaking of viewing, a free application allows Netflix members with unlimited streaming plans to instantly watch TV episodes and movies streaming from Netflix.

Not a bad gift, right?

This is the first time in Nintendo’s history, according to Fortune’s Tech blog, that the company has cut the price of a newly launched product by 40 percent during the first 6 months.

Free Games

What if you’re among the more than 830,000 people in the U.S. alone who have already purchased a Nintendo 3DS since the system launched in March? Don’t despair! Nintendo recognizes that these early adopters of the Nintendo 3DS represent some of the company’s most loyal customers. Nintendo is rewarding current owners of the Nintendo 3DS system with 20 downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop for free.

If you already own a Nintendo 3DS system, all you have to do is connect, at least once, to the Nintendo eShop using a wireless broadband internet connection before 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on 11 August, 2011. When you do you will be automatically registered in the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador program.

There are two elements to the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program:

1. Beginning 1 September, 2011, Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors will be able to Download 10 NES™ Virtual Console™ games at no charge. Better yet, Ambassadors will be able to download their games before the Nintendo eShop makes them available to the general public as paid downloadable games. Even once the paid versions of the games, which include such popular titles as The Legend of Zelda™, Super Mario Bros.™, Ice Climber™ and more will be available to Ambassadors for download at no cost.
2. By the end of 2011, Nintendo will provide Ambassadors with 10 Game Boy Advance Virtual Console games including titles like Yoshi’s Island™, Metroid™ Fusion, WarioWare™ , Super Mario™ Advance 3, Mario Kart™: Super Circuit, Inc.: Mega Microgame$ and Mario vs. Donkey Kong™. These games will be available exclusively to Ambassadors. Nintendo has no plans, at this time to make these 10 games available to the general public on the Nintendo 3Ds in the future.

Nintendo 3DS (image courtesy of Business Wire)

Some business analysts see the price cut and free game offer as a sign that Nintendo, whose Game Boy portable player and Wii console system have long dominated the market, as a sign of desperation resulting from the growing popularity of gaming on smartphones and tablets. The offers have led Nintendo to lower their annual profit forecast to 20 billion yen, a level last seen by the company in 1986, according to the San Francisco Chronicle and Bloomberg.

As challenging as the immediate future may look for Nintendo, gamers who don’t already own a Nintendo 3DS  face an even tougher challenge: deciding which is better: free games or a lower price. You have until 11 August, 2011 to decide.