Tag: charity

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EUbits: To Crucible or not to Crucible?

Crucible The upcoming post-Fate of the Jedi is on everyone’s mind. Roqoo Depot’s Skuldren takes a look at Scoundrel’s Luck, the 1990 WEG gaming adventure that author Troy Denning hinted holds a clue to the book’s villain. Meanwhile, Nanci at Tosche Station – not exactly Denning’s chief cheerleader – implores burned fans to give Crucible a chance.

I myself remain rather ambivalent on the book, but I can pretty much guarantee I’ll read it. Or try to, anyway, which is more than I can say for the other SDCC announcements.

The blogside, pro edition. Over at the Star Wars Blog, Leland Chee explains the Holocron, while Jonathan Rinzler introduces himself and writes about interviewing George Lucas. And this morning, Pablo Hidalgo gives us a tour of the new Insider

Nonfiction. The new book by super-collectors Gus Lopez and Duncan Jenkins, Gus and Duncan’s Guide to Star Wars Prototypes, will be available in August.

Interviews. John Jackson Miller chats with the Wisconsin State Journal about Star Wars and his new book.

Chat. There’ll be a Twitter chat with Tom Taylor on Thursday.

Charity. EUCantina is selling t-shirts for their A Force for Childhood Literacy program.

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EUbits: Kotobukiya is going to Bishoujo Mara Jade, Star Wars Reads day

Namesake corner. Reports out of SDCC are saying that Kotobukiya’s next Star Wars Bishoujo statue will be none other than Mara Jade. (NOT the figure at right; see below.) Here’s hoping they show the same restraint they did with their Jaina Solo, though I’m guessing the catsuit will be anything but optional.

UPDATE #1: Here’s the Mara slide from Kotobukiya’s presentation… It features art from the cover of Sacrifice, not an original sketch. Maybe at CVI? Meanwhile, Hasbro has listed their Jedi Mara figure for Wave 2 of the Droid Factory line.

Meanwhile, the official Celebration store will have a Mara mini state one day at Celebration VI. I wonder if it will be the never-produced Mara statue that Star Wars Shop was showing off at Celebration V?

UPDATE #2 (7/15:) Rebelscum has pictures from the Collector’s Panel, and it looks like I was right on the Mara mini-figure being the one (above) from CV! As well as Darth Bane (see comments,) plus a Quinlan Vos.

Events. Lucasfilm and its publishers have announced a a national Star Wars Reads Day for October 6. Bookstores and libraries who participate will get a free event kit, plus I suspect the 501st and Rebel Legion will be all over this.

The blogside. Tricia Barr and the late Racheal Ambrose discuss the Hapans; Topless Robot picks the best and worst of Marvel Star Wars

Interviews. Star Wars Book Report talks to Mike Stackpole, while Mark at Jedi News has a chat with John Jackson Miller.

Summer for Children’s Literacy. EUC is offering free bookmarks for the summer reading program.

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EUCantina kicks off their Summer for Children’s Literacy

Fellow fansite EUCantina launched their Summer for Children’s Literacy yesterday. The program, which runs through September 12th, is focused on raising awareness of the issue, and money for Reading Is Fundamental, a charity that Club Jade has long supported.

The site will be hosting several contests, with prizes donated by Del Rey, and is also selling t-shirts featuring the program’s logo. Head over to EUC to donate and get more details on what’s to come.

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EUbits: EUC chats with Lucas Books art director; fansites take to the blogside

Interview. EUCantina interviews Lucas Books Art Director Scott Biel about creating covers for Star Wars books. He talks about the process, why the Mercy Kill cover got a makeover, and Mara Jade’s Choices of One jumpsuit.

In other news, EUC is kicking off their Summer Reading for Children’s Literacy program on July 11th. They’re (again) raising money for Reading is Fundamental.

The blogside. Lots going on this week! At The Galactic Drift, Racheal takes a look at how Tahiri Veila has been misused, while NJOE’s new hire Matthew Rushing takes on the state of Luke Skywalker. Meanwhile, Megan at Knights Archive reviews Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor, and Tosche Station is taking a look with their X-Wing Retrospective.

Conventions. The Del Rey folks will have a double-sided poster that they’ll be giving out during summer con season. It features the cover art from The Essential Reader’s Companion and The Old Republic: Annihilation. Look for Del Rey at San Diego Comic Con, Star Wars Celebration VI, and New York Comic Con.

eBooks. Knights Archive looks at the upcoming Star Wars eBook releases.

Endnotes. Jason Fry posted the 12th part of the series going behind-the-scenes of The Essential Guide to Warfare.

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EUbits: EUC’s #SWEU t-shirts benefit Reading is Fundamental

For a good cause. EUCantina is selling #SWEU t-shirts with all the profits going to CJ’s favorite charity, Reading is Fundamental. There’s far more than tees in the store, and $3 of each purchase will go towards the charity. (Which really needs all the help it can get right now.)

UPDATE: There are tees for #ZahnSolo as well.

The blogside. Galactic Drift makes a point about poorly crafted villians, something some of us saw as a major problem in Fate of the Jedi. Meanwhile, Tosche Station collected folks dream Star Wars novels.

Interviews. Tom Taylor talked to Big Shiny Robot, Rebelscum and CNN.

Background. Even more Essential Guide to Warfare endnotes from Jason Fry. Speaking of, Jacob, one of Jawajames’ friends, recorded Fry’s author talk and more at one of the San Diego “Attack of the Authors” tour stops. (You did watch James’ interview, right?)

Reviews. James takes a look at Dawn of the Jedi #3 and Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost #6.

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Star Wars art auction to raise money to help one-year-old Princess Leah

A number of Star Wars artists and fans have pitched in their talents to help raise money to defray the health care costs of little Princess Leah Esquenazi. As we reported last year, when Leah was just two-months old, she came down with a mysterious illness that kept her mostly hospitalized, and the Star Wars fan community rallied to help her parents offset the costs of her medical bills. Now Leah is over a year old, and continues to require hospitalized ventilator support with the diagnosis of a mitochondrial illness. An ebay auction started on May 25th with over 100 unique and rare Star Wars art pieces and craft items to raise money for Leah’s care. Right now, there are items donated by Matt Busch, Randy Martinez, Amanda Howard, Michael Ramirez, and Joe Corroney.

My friend Lesley, of the 501st Legion’s Southern California Garrison, has been busy organizing the auction, and has a photo album of the donated art pieces. Follow the auction news on Facebook at facebook.com/ArtForLeah. After only 24 hours, there’s already over $1,000 in bids for items. A second group of auction items will going up for bid in a few days. You can also follow Leah and her family via their blog. Check out the auction and find a piece of your own to bid on!

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The Clone Wars distinguishes ‘Friends and Enemies’ tonight

Obi-Wan Kenobi’s undercover mission continues on this week’s new episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – ‘Friends and Enemies’. While Obi-Wan (in his guise as his own killer), Cad Bane and Moralo Eval (there’s another transparent name in this galaxy) are on the run after their escape from prison, they decide to solve their relationship issues and go shopping. Meanwhile, Anakin and Ahsoka, still not in on Kenobi’s secret mission, have their own objectives: track down the jailbreaking trio.

Back on earth, director Dave Filoni announced that he is auctioning off a rare Celebration V poster of his art, depicting Boba Fett and Cad Bane, and signed by himself, George Lucas, Daniel Logan and Corey Burton. Proceeds to benefit the AIDS and Breast Cancer Emergency Fund of San Francisco.

Combining earth and the galaxy far, far away… there seems to be a rather familiar chapeau in Pablo Hidalgo’s millinery emporium in this second clip from ‘Friends and Enemies’:

Continue reading “The Clone Wars distinguishes ‘Friends and Enemies’ tonight”

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Wear Star Wars, Share Star Wars on December 16th

Remember last year when the Star Wars community rallied around Katie in Chicago who was bullied for liking Star Wars? Everyone wore Star Wars and was encouraged to donate a Star Wars toy in her honor.

We’re going to do it again this year! Friday, December 16th is the day to wear Star Wars in some sort of capacity.

Fans are also encouraged to donate a Star Wars toy to a charity (labeled as “either boy OR girl”).  If you’d like to really keep it in the Star Wars family, the 501st is a big supporter of Toys for Tots.

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Doing good: Princess Leah hanging in there

With coverage on Today, little Princess Leah Esquenazi is getting a lot more attention than just from Star Wars fans.

What started as word of mouth with Star Wars fans through a Facebook page and other online presences like the 501st, Artoo-Katee and even Steve Sansweet, has turned into nearly $20,000, a fundraiser raffle and lots of guesses to try and help this little baby with the mysterious illness that is affecting her muscles and breathing.

Her family is keeping everyone updated through a blog and are trying to stay positive.

If you are so inclined to help the family with a donation, there is a donation function on the web page.