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Action Figures: Antiques for the Common Man
Author: Dave Carter
Given enough time, one boy's toy is an antique collector's prized possession. Strange as that may sound, there are many collectors who would love to see an original G.I. Joe or an original Star Wars action figure. Remember He-Man? Action figures tend to be based on shows, movies, or comics that always have a following, and therefore even years after companies stop producing the figures, there are individuals who still seek to collect them. There are many a man who think of all the G.I. Joes they blew up with fireworks, only to find out twenty years later how many hundreds or even thousands of dollars their collection would have been worth if it remained in mint condition!

One interesting story dealing with action figures involves Takara, a Japanese toy company. They are best known to modern toy collectors as the company that built the original Transformers action figures. In 1974 Takara created a 4-inch humanoid action figure, which was called "MicroMan." In the late 70's and early 80's this toy was brought over to the United States by the Mego Toy company, which was desperate for a hit after they made the famous blunder of passing on Star Wars. They re-named the line "Micronauts", and created enough of a back story for Marvel Comics to get a good run of comics. Mego got several years of good sales, which was about the same size as Star Wars figures, before the whole company went down.

The basic construction of the Micronauts action figure would soon be utilized by Hasbro for their new action figures: the now famous and very collectible 3-3/4" G.I. Joes (an action figure famous amongst young boys of the time for their propensity to have bad run-ins with fireworks). In recent years, the Micronauts concept has enjoyed somewhat of a resurgence. There has been a decently successful series of comic books, a trilogy of paperback novels, and a toy company called Palisades managed to re-create many of the original Micronauts molds. Now the original company is coming out with larger action figures based on the originals. Like many classics, companies want to keep dipping back for more. Why mess with success? Still it's the old action figures that gain the most attention from collectors, so if you're thinking about putting out the old toys from twenty years ago out in the garage sale, maybe think twice and take a second look before putting the boxes out. Who knows what you might find?

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Dave is the owner of fun-action-figures.info and cheap-action-figures.info websites providing information on action figures.

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Superhuman Senses: How Wireless Sensors Keeps You Safe, Healthy and Successful
Author: Bruce Kasanoff
You have superhuman senses, but you don't know it yet.

You can detect the presence of a tiny speck of anthrax in a vast public space, or count the fish in a 4,000 square mile area. You can hear a gunshot hundreds of yards away and use your super-powerful vision to zoom in on a criminal as he tries to escape. You can look in the eyes of a person you've never met, and tell me her identity.

Best of all, with every passing day, your superhuman senses grow stronger. You acquire new ones, too. No, you didn't get bitten by a radioactive spider or exposed to gamma radiation. You're not a mutant X-Man.

You are just lucky enough to be alive during the birth of a new class of computers, called sensors. They are multiplying faster than chocolate stains at a nursery school birthday party.

In the time it took me to write this far, the human race deployed thousands of new sensors into the world. Some are old-hat sensors like burglar alarms and smoke detectors. But others extend and supercharge our senses in ways that seem ripped out of the pages of your favorite comic book.

If a tree grows in the forest and no one is there, does it make a noise? Sensors are being added to forests – often to study the behavior of wild animals – and the answer is a resounding yes.

Sensors called drifters have been floating on ocean currents for several years now, sending back information not only to researchers but also to elementary school classrooms. In the process, we are learning immense amounts about our oceans and climate.

Thanks to sensors, Air Force pilots in Colorado Springs now control drone planes that run bombing missions in Afghanistan; the pilots' biggest problem is coming home to a normal family life at 5 pm, after operating in a war zone.

Sensors extend your senses to the very little, and the very distant. They can detect pathogens at the molecular level, and monitor the Earth – or other planets – over vast distances. Pictures from satellites show the impact of human development on places such as Mexico City, Las Vegas and the Amazon.

Never before have you – or any other human – been able to see in such detail how our world changes from one day to the other, or one year to the next.

Four big changes are impacting the growth of your new superhuman senses:

1. Sensors are increasingly becoming wireless, which means they can operate almost anywhere

2. We are figuring out how to get sensors to use very small amounts of power, or even to generate all the power they need from their environment (i.e. solar power, or power from natural vibrations)

3. Sensors are shrinking rapidly

4. Sensors are being networked together

Altogether, these changes mean that sensors will literally be woven into the fabric of our world.

Think of a new Internet of sensors, which will extend your senses in ways that are difficult to imagine. Do you know where your children are right now? Soon, your answer will always be yes.

In fact, it's already a mistake to think that Google only searches web pages. Through the web, you can already access millions of sensor readings, from radar screens and satellite imagery to sensor data from nature preserves such as Great Duck Island

If you have ever read a comic book, you know that gaining superhuman powers will change your life. Peter Parker didn't come home with new spider powers and go on with life as usual. These powers turned his life upside down.

Likewise, these new powers will change the course of human history. Quickly.

Sensors will reveal the truth about our history, environment, interactions, and universe. Just look at NBC's Olympic coverage, and you'll get an idea what I mean. They can now superimpose one ski racer's run over his competitor, so you can see precisely when and how one racer got the edge. No more vague generalities; we can now see 1/100ths of a second differences between two performances.

Knowing the truth excites some people, and terrifies others. Just ask Superman what it's like to have x-ray vision. Sometimes it's pretty depressing to know the truth.

Take a moment and look around. In less time than it will take the Yankees to win another World Series, sensors will be in your clothing, walls, pets, vehicles and body. Of course, you may be an early adopter, in which case all of these are already true.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

The best technology firms in the world have a secret weapon. He's Bruce Kasanoff , a writer with a remarkable gift for making complex innovations easy to understand. Bruce turns techno babble into interesting and engaging stories. If prospects are having troubles understanding what you do - and why they need it, email Bruce today, or call 203-341-9448. If you want more proof of his superior abilities, check out Superhuman Senses and keep up to date on the latest sensor developments and how they are likely to change your life.

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Comic Book Art
Author: smgenie
With the variety of comic books on the market today no wonder so many young people have decided to enter the comic book art market. There are never ending opportunities in this field and you do not have to be a natural to make it happen.

Artist's workshops

Comic Book artist workshops are designed for anyone that would like to get into the market for comic book art. They will have the chance to learn the secret language of chronological story telling in comics. While having the opportunity to create characters and tell stories through pictures, they can grow in a direction that will teach them about the many forms of communication. Learning to draw from imagination or from real life experiences, you can turn these experiences into comic book stories and learn to express those ideas in the very best ways.

Online comic book art workshops

The best way to attend a workshop is online, as the workshop is completed in the comfort of your home and you will be able to find one that suits your needs. Workshops can be found by searching keywords, such as online comic workshops, workshops for artists, etc.

Offline comic book art workshops

There are also many offline workshops, offered through local universities and art schools. The best ways to locate these are to contact those places and ask when the next comic book art workshop is available.

Teach yourself comic book art

There are also pdf courses you can download to teach yourself how to create comic books and art. The six-lesson course is a great way to start if you do not have the funds to go take a comic book art class or workshop. This can be downloaded at http://gpn.unl.edu/guides/755.006.pdf.

By starting to learn comic book art at an earlier age you will be a pro by the time you finish high school. Comic Book writers are always a growing market and your drawing skills can take you far.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

For more information, visit Comic Book Art

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comicbooks-19

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Figurine – Reminiscent Of Artistic Wonders
Author: Sharon Albright -
A pretty figurine…isn't the very concept reminiscent of romantic splendors and art wonders? Yes because figurines are minute forms of figures or statues of angels, humans and animals. They are much smaller than life-size and are fabulous iconic display of the imaginative thoughts of art creators. The earliest figurines were usually made of stones and metals but on recent days, the figurines are made of wood, plastic, ceramic and crystals.

With the society changing its norms from the earliest Anglo-Saxons to the contemporary Moderns, even figurines have undergone significant changes in their texture, stature and themes. While the earliest figures were mainly those of Greek goddesses like Venus, Aphrodite, Hera and Demeter, with time the concepts changed to depicting African, Asian and European princesses. The figurines are basically pretty pieces depicting men, women or a whole group enacting different feelings of laughter and sorrows.

The figurines were used for a variety of purposes. While some were used to serve as deities in religious and ceremonial occasions, some of the figurines depict special purposes. This means that a woman gifted with figurine of "pregnant Venus" implied wishing successful fertility. Since figurines are mainly female figures, so they make great gifts in wedding and other rituals. The figurines are also meant to amuse children who spend their time playing with them. Some of the figurines also serve as jewelry for women.

Recently, there are terms like Inaction figures and Staction figures that are used to refer to figurines of comic books or depict sci-fi/fantasy characters without movable parts. However, figurines with movable parts are more commonly known as dolls or action figures [robots or automata as they move on their own].

Another important type of figurine includes Olmec Figurine that describes a number of archetypal statues produced by inhabitants of Mesoamerica, bearing hallmarks of Olmec culture. These figurines are made of terracotta, serpentine, nephrite, jade, basalt and other priceless gems.
Other types of Olmec figurines are as follows:

- Transformation figurines- these figurines contained figures transforming from human to animal and vice versa.

- Naturalistic figurine- these include naturalistically portrayed human figures with big face, huge busts or tall legs.

- Fetal style figurines- these are mainly fetus figures depicting infanticide and infant sacrifices.

You can collect figurines of different ages to know more about the culture and spirit of that Age.

Article Source : http://www.articledashboard.com

Sharon Albright is the owner of Figurines Site. Read more articles on Figurines and visit her recommended resources.

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