Raving Toy Maniac

Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm, Scheduled to Appear at Star Wars Celebration Europe this July in Essen, Germany

May 2013 - Kathleen Kennedy, the President of Lucasfilm and producer of Star Wars Episode VII, will make her inaugural Star Wars Celebration appearance in Essen this July. Kennedy will make an appearance on the main Celebration stage talking with celebrity host Warwick Davis about her amazing career in the movie industry and her recent move to Lucasfilm.

"When I joined Lucasfilm, I immediately saw the true passion shared by Star Wars fans around the world. I'm thrilled to attend my first Star Wars Celebration and see in person that energy that makes the Star Wars experience so special."

May 15, 2013 - (Sponsor Announcement) - Online retailer BigBadToyStore.com has several items of interest to collectors:

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NEW PRE-ORDERS
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NEW DC COLLECTIBLES

Star Trek's Enterprise-E Makes 'First Contact,' and the Excelsior Joins the Fleet!

May 2013 - Diamond Select's fleet of electronic Star Trek ships is undergoing a rapid expansion of late, and two new starships are preparing to join fans' collections!

First up is a limited variation on the U.S.S. Enterprise E – the First Contact edition! With a new, detailed paint scheme based on Star Trek: First Contact, this new E is visually distinctive from the previous edition, which was based on its appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis. With the same great lights and sounds as the previous E, it will be a striking addition to any fan's collection, and will be ready to ship this summer.

Jon-Paul Kaiser x outsmART originals - Summer Collection

May 2013 - outsmART originals present the Jon-Paul Kaiser T-Shirt Summer Collection: http://outsmartoriginals.storenvy.com/

Previously launched as the Return to the Sea set, due to popular demand we have expanded the collection to include reverse colorways for the season. The collection includes both the Skull of the Corsair and The Mermaid tees available on black or white t-shirts. In addition, the mens tees will be screen printed on Ultra Cotton Tees for a classic fit while the ladies tees will be screen printed on American Apparel Fine Jersey tees for a super soft and flattering fit.

Shipping in June and priced at only $20.00 each, outsmart originals and Jon-Paul Kaiser are sweetening the pot by adding some great incentives:

Live Long & Eat Bacon... New Release from The Bacon University (outsmart originals)

May 2013 - outsmart originals - It's only logical that we offer up a new bacon sci-fi tee for this week from our sister company, The Bacon University. Now in stock and just $15.00 - now available while supplies last: http://nvy.gd/XZfZh9

Running into someone who doesn’t care for bacon is like meeting someone from another planet. In that case, this tee will keep the universal message of Bacon alive. Screen printed on ultra cotton tees for a classic fit and comfort. Available for men and women.

Live Long & Eat Bacon!

Pretty Ugly Announces Custom Designed Footwear with The Ave Venice

Green Brook, NJ - May 14, 2013 - Pretty Ugly™, LLC owner of the UGLYDOLL® brand has partnered with The Ave Venice, a concept store that delivers unique and legendary footwear. The Ave Venice will be offering a selection of custom designed and printed UGLYDOLL Converse Chuck Taylors.

The first UGLYDOLL was drawn in a letter written by David Horvath to his now-wife, Sun-Min Kim. In the letter, David drew the character we now all know and love as Wage™. Their dream was to tell stories through books and toys. Fast forward over ten years and UGLYDOLL has become a household name where 'ugly' means special and unique.

Disney's Mike And Sulley Don Monster-Sized Milk Mustaches In New got milk? Ad

Monsters University Stars Scare Up Some Protein with Milk at Breakfast

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 -- Disney-Pixar's Monsters University takes everyone's favorite scare pair, Mike Wazowski and James P. Sullivan, "Sulley," back to their college days, where they learned that nothing scares up successful days more than a breakfast with milk. A glass of milk – with 8 grams of high-quality protein in each 8 oz serving – can help power your monster days.

The new Milk Mustache ad features Mike and Sulley from their days as MU coeds sporting the iconic Milk Mustache. The ad, being released in advance of the film's June 21 release, reads "Scare up some protein. Monster days start with milk at breakfast. got milk?"

At MU, it takes a lot to fuel a day of scaring. Fortunately, milk – the breakfast super food – has 9 essential nutrients, including protein.

Toys R Us and Touchrate Elevate the Shopper Experience In-Store through Interactive Digital Tablet Displays

ORLANDO, Fla., May 14, 2013 -- Touchrate, in collaboration with Toys R Us, Inc., has just released interactive sales-assist solutions in select Toys R Us stores. Touchrate tablet and touchscreen devices extend the marketing message in-store, helping shoppers to learn and better select products and brands in the aisle.

Touchrate provides the hardware, dynamic graphics, software, content, installation and maintenance monitoring while Toys R Us suppliers populate the solutions with data and content.

Apple and Touchrate were among the first to introduce this self-help concept to retail with Touchrate's introduction in 2009 and Apple in their retail stores in 2010.

Touchrate touchscreen solutions empower consumers in-store using self-help touchscreen technology with a decision tree of product knowledge, algorithms of peer-like purchases and social sharing. Shoppers make an emotional investment, when they thoughtfully engage, select and decide by touching a self-help sales-assist touchscreen, in exchange for product guidance in-store.

Pizza Hut® BOOK IT!® Reading Program Extends Partnership With Diary Of A Wimpy Kid

DALLAS, May 14, 2013 -- The Pizza Hut® BOOK IT!® Program announced that it is again joining forces with best-selling author Jeff Kinney and his book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid for the 2013-14 school year. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, one of the most successful children's book series ever published, will be integrated into all BOOK IT! classroom materials, teacher printables and web creative at http://www.pizzahut.com/bookit. With this exciting partnership comes a new twist this year: one lucky BOOK IT! classroom will win a visit from Jeff Kinney!

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2013 -- Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

TUESDAY, MAY 14: YOUNG READERS

Profile America — Tuesday, May 14th. This week is the 94th annual Children's Book Week - encouraging the joy of reading for young people. The idea began in 1913 with a drive by the librarian of the Boy Scouts, Franklin Matthiews, to promote higher standards in children's books. He got two other key people to join him –- the editor of Publisher's Weekly and the head of children's works at the New York Public Library. Children's Book Week began in 1919, and over the years, its efforts have helped to find and promote high quality children's books. In today's world, there are many alternatives vying for children's attention - computers, electronic books, DVDs and video games. But sales of printed books for youngsters still top $2.5 billion worth each year. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: http://www.bookweekonline.com