~ Welcome to RTMemo
~ Featured This Issue
        - Dr. No and James Bond
        - Richie Rich Maquette
        - 2002 International Model & Hobby Expo
~ News Highlights
~ From the Buzz
~ From the ShopCenter/MarketBuzz
~ From DisneyStore.com
~ Toy Link of the Week
~ Non-Toy Link of the Week

------ Welcome to RTMemo ------

So, how was your summer? I blinked and missed it, myself. ;-)

The season premiere of the Sopranos on HBO is Sunday night - USA Today has an article in today's edition on the wave of tie-in products, from books to t-shirts to food products. Anyone hoping for action figures?

The news section this week is longer than usual, and again we have tossed in a few extra non-toy links of the week.

------ Featured This Issue ------

Spotlight: Dr. No and James Bond
The RTM Spotlight gets shaken (not stirred!) when it looks at the first set of James Bond action figures from Sideshow Toy: Dr. No and Sean Connery as James Bond:
http://www.toymania.com/columns/spotlight/ssdrno.shtml

RTMisc: Richie Rich Maquette
RTMisc makes a new friend, a poor little rich boy - the Richie Rich Teeny-Weeny Mini-Maquette from Electric Tiki, the first in a new series:
http://www.toymania.com/columns/rtmisc/etrichierich.shtml

2002 International Model & Hobby Expo
Last weekend was the 2002 International Model and Hobby Expo, a show primarily for model railroads and r/c vehicles. But several companies were there showing action figures and related items, and RTM attended to cover those companies. Highlights include the Star Trek and Batman model kits from Polar Lights, the huge display booth from 21st Century Toys, and the MechWarrior action figures from JoyRide Studios and Racing Champions Ertl:
http://www.toymania.com/toyshows/expo02/

------ News Highlights ------

Sympathetic Teddy Bear
SmartGroup introduces the Touch My Heart Fuzzy Bear, with interactive phrases - tell him what's on your mind, and he asks for more information or lets you know that "I know exactly what you mean."
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2316.shtml

Alliance of Fear 4-pack
Information about the next Batman four-pack of action figures to be launched at Toys'R'Us:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2300.shtml

DC Direct Arrivals Update
A list of which DC Direct products are due in comic shops this month:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2319.shtml

Spike Mini-Statue
Moore Creations unveils their mini-statue of Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2280.shtml

Ultimate Punisher Bust
Diamond Select translates the Punisher into bust format:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2285.shtml

Jam Pony Max
The Previews-exclusive Max action figure from Art Asylum's Dark Angel series:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2288.shtml

Time Squad Toys at Subway
From September 30 to November 17, Subway will be offering toys based on Time Squad in their Kids Pak Meals:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2256.shtml

X-Files Canceled
Moore Action announces that their series of X-Files action figures has been canceled:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2258.shtml

Armored Core 3 Limited Edition
Agetec is bundling Armored Core action figures with the upcoming PlayStation 2 release:
http://www.toymania.com/news/messages/2273.shtml

As always, these are just a few of the news highlights from the past week. To see all the news, check the main news index and the latest archives:
http://www.toymania.com/news/index.shtml

------ From the Buzz ------

Mom Racer shares the annual "Mindset List" from Beloit College. Up this year is the Class of 2006:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/15579.shtml

The Spanking Fish had a great toy run in Seattle:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/15536.shtml

L shares the joys of being a toy collector:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/15521.shtml

Rescue_commander has a new mailing list for collectors of Rescue Heroes and the Spidey and Friends toy lines:
http://www.toymania.com/toybuzz/messages/15563.shtml

(The posts on the Buzz last only a few days, so if you are reading this more than two or three days after this issue of RTMemo was sent out, the posts will likely be gone.)

------ From the ShopCenter/MarketBuzz ------

Taichi is looking for MUSCLE figures:
http://www.toymania.com/marketbuzz/messages/8232.shtml

Dean needs one of the A*Teens dolls:
http://www.toymania.com/marketbuzz/messages/8223.shtml

Two SpencerGifts.com coupon codes:
http://www.toymania.com/marketbuzz/messages/8206.shtml

------ From DisneyStore.com ------

The Disney Store online has several deals if you pre-order "Beauty and the Beast" either on DVD or VHS. The release date is October 8th, so these deals are only valid through October 7th. The deals include your choice of a free lithograph set or a free pen set:
http://www.toymania.com/disneypromo.shtml

------ Toy Link of the Week ------

How Stuff Works
Ever wondered what makes a toy tick? How Stuff Works has a special section for toys and games, in which they explain how yo-yos, Magna-Doodles, singing fish, r/c cars and See-N-Say toys work, as well as many kinds of gaming consoles. The pop-up windows are a bit annoying, but the information is interesting enough to visit the site:
http://www.howstuffworks.com/category.htm?cat=Toys

------ Non-Toy Link of the Week ------

The Stained Apron
If you've ever had a job in food service, you'll nod your head as you read many of the pages on this site. If you've only been a customer in restaurants and never worked in one, it might be better on your stomach if you don't look. The Stained Apron is a place for venting frustrations about working with the "dining public," and the people who have vented certainly didn't hold anything back:
http://www.stainedapron.com/

HGTV Great Fall Fix-Up Sweepstakes
The cable channel devoted to all things handy and helpful for around your home is holding a new sweepstakes - this time around the prizes include $25,000 and an SUV. US residents can enter daily until September 20th:
http://www.hgtv.com/HGTV/pac/0,1964,greatfall02_main,FF.html

Hershey's Great American Dream Giveaway
The candy company is holding a sweepstakes with a few yummy prizes - $50,000, weekend stays at hotels, and candy bars. US residents can enter daily until February 28, 2003:
http://www.hersheysgreatamericandream.com/daily_drawing.asp#

------ In Closing ------

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- the RTM Staff
http://www.toymania.com