Thursday, January 8, 2009

News Bites: Spider-Man, Charities, and more

** Coming to a Comic Bookstore Near You. Spider-Man Saves the Day!!!. In the upcoming Spider-Man comic, Peter Parker goes up against one of his rogue gallery who is attempting to thwart the swearing in ceremony of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. According to Marvel, the comic will be written by Zeb Wells with artwork by Todd Nauck and Frank D'Armata.

Marvel's Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada said, "when we heard that President-Elect Obama is a collector of Spider-Man comics, we knew that these two historic figures had to meet in our comics' Marvel Universe," says . "Historic moments such as this one can be reflected in our comics because the Marvel Universe is set in the real world. A Spider-Man fan moving into the Oval Office is an event that must be commemorated in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man." The much anticipated AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #583 will be hitting comic book shelves nationwide January 14th. (Marvel News)

** Macy's to Close 11 Stores. The Cincinnati company said it will close 11 underperforming stores in nine states, which will affect 960 employees. "The decision to close stores is difficult, and often occurs when the market changes, new competing shopping centers are opened nearby to existing older ones, or when customers change shopping habits. In the store closing process, we are committed to treating affected associates with respect and openness," Chief Executive Officer Terry Lundgren said in a press release. For the list of closing stores click here. (MSN)

** According to Fashion Week Daily, New York magazine's biannual spin-off New York Look will not be publishing a Spring 2009 issue, and a Fall edition doesn't appear likely. The content featured in the publication, is devoted to coverage of runway shows in New York, Paris and Milan. Instead the issue will be folded into New York magazine's Fall Fashion issue.

** Actress Alyssa Milano is engaged to Hollywood agent David Bugliari. Bugliari proposed just before Christmas, according to Us magazine. The pair has been dating for more than a year.

** Financial Crisis Snuffs Out Perfume Retailer. Perfume retailer Passion for Perfume went into administration this week after the company directors failed to find a buyer for the struggling business. Administrators at Deloitte said the company made 185 redundancies across its 45 stores on New Year’s Eve and let go of 9 employees at its head office in Manchester.

Passion for Perfume was established in 2004 and sold perfume online and through its network of shops in the UK. In recent times, the company fell into financial difficulties that it blamed on ‘challenging trading conditions and reduced consumer demand’. The fragrance market has been stagnant for a while, growing barely above zero in Europe since 2002, according to figures from market researchers Euromonitor. The failure of Passion for Perfume follows the demise of a number of other leading retailers in the UK. Woolworths, Adams and Zavvi are among those to be placed in administration in recent weeks. (Cosmetics Design)

** TNT has picked up Jada Pinkett Smith's new medical drama "Time Heals," with a 10-episode order. The series is produced by and stars Pinkett Smith. The show also features David Julian Hirsh (TBS' "Lovebites"), Laura Kenly, Christina Moore ("90210") and Suleka Mathew ("Men in Trees"). (Black Entertainment News)

** Princes William and Harry are working together to raise charitable funds for schools in Uganda for the Henry Van Straubenzee Memorial Fund. It was named after a young man who died in a car crash in 2002 and whose family is very close to the House of Windsor. Henry was a classmate at the Ludgrove prep school with Prince Harry while William is friends with Henry's older brother Tom.

The charity helps the school where Henry van Straubenzee was planning to work during a year off before university. Thanks to efforts by the princes and other friends, the organization has expanded to assist 11 schools in the African nation. On Jan. 8, the princes will attend a reception to officially launch the charity and mark their patronage. The occasion marks another milestone in the princes' working lives, coming just days after they announced the formal start of their new office, complete with "cyphers," or logos. (People magazine)

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