While Christmas shopping with her mother and older brother Friday at Opera House Antiques in Kingsville, she focused on the stuffed collectibles. READ FULL STORY HERE

Won't You Track My Sleigh Tonight?
From: Beanieholics
It's Christmas Eve. Time to hang up the stockings. Leave out a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. And then log on to your computer and track Santa's progress on the Internet. It used to be, the only way to see St. Nick was to go to your bedroom window, wipe yourself a nice clear peeking hole, press your nose against the cold glass, and keep a sharp eye on the night sky. Now, all you have to do is visit http://www.noradsanta.org. Click Here For More Info

REMINDER ~ MESSAGE FROM La RUE
Want to let the Chubbley collectors know that the retired Chubbleys are now all $8 as of the 1st of January, they will be increased $10. Included with orders of Retired Chubbleys will be the new "Collectibles Extravaganza" publication, as I would like to hear your comments. Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for your support in 2002.
La Rue/Kansas Brass & Pewter http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/cb.html

-=DECEMBER 23, 2002=-
Weaver Beanie Baby story turned out to be a talker
Readers reacted passionately to a front-page story on the missing Beanie Babies of Delores Weaver. It seems someone stole them from her Alltel Stadium luxury box.

Criticism fell into several categories. If you like the wife of Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver, then the story appeared to be making fun of her. Some readers felt it gave special treatment to one of Jacksonville's social elite.

Michael Pittius called the Dec. 13 story "insignificant drivel," a "puerile commentary" that did not belong on the front page.

"I understand the Times-Union staff cannot be held accountable for the immaturity and ignorance of its constituents, but it certainly can do a much better job of deciding what is relevant and what is the mindless ranting of someone with too much time on her hands," he said.

Strong reactions to the Weaver story are understandable. We received dozens of e-mails. I have no quarrel with the objections and don't want to debate the Beanie Baby issue here.

But the criticism that I would like to address is its placement on the front page. Readers challenged the relative importance of this story when compared to news of war, recession, racism, layoffs, smallpox and more. There's no comparison, of course. It's a legitimate point. READ FULL STORY HERE

Wishing and Hoping
Remember when you carefully penned letters to Santa Claus, making sure your penmanship was perfect and your spelling correct?

Every year we ask school classes and individuals to submit letters to Santa Claus.

The letters are printed in the newspaper in a special section. Publication of the letters makes it easy for Santa's helpers to know what kids want for Christmas.

This year we're sharing some of the letters in advance of the special section. These letters were written by MerryAnn Brower's third-grade class in Lyman.

Here's what they have to say: READ FULL STORY HERE

Girl, 10, strives for life’s high notes
WEST HAVEN — Jenny Glazier plays with American Girl dolls, hangs out at the mall and collects Beanie Babies just like other 10-year-old girls.
But unlike many of them, she doesn’t dream of some day growing up to be Britney Spears.

Jenny, a precocious blonde who began singing at age 5, dreams of some day becoming the next Pavarotti or Renee Fleming.

On her first CD, which came out last month, she puts her surprisingly big and well-controlled 10-year-old voice to work on 11 classical Christmas songs. READ FULL STORY HERE

Warning: Your Christmas presents can kill
Each holiday season, there are 25 toy-related deaths and 255,000 injuries among children. That's even more than you can blame on Michael Jackson. How did we survive?

I remember getting toy trains with exposed electrical wiring, guns that shot darts, action figures with tiny choke-hazard guns and accessories, and a sled my drunken father assembled backward, so the smooth handles were on the bottom and the running blades were on top.

What a gauntlet of death the holidays were! Most of us survived, and all that danger made us tough.

But if the toys considered hazardous now are any indication, today's kids are more fragile than Ted Turner's sanity.

The vigilant gang at Netscape News compiled a list of this year's most dangerous toys from two research groups, World Against Toys Causing Harm and the Public Interest Research Group's Toy Safety. READ FULL STORY HERE

-=DECEMBER 22, 2002=-
MESSAGE FROM La RUE
Want to let the Chubbley collectors know that the retired Chubbleys are now all $8 as of the 1st of January, they will be increased $10. Included with orders of Retired Chubbleys will be the new "Collectibles Extravaganza" publication, as I would like to hear your comments. Merry Christmas to you all and thank you for your support in 2002.
La Rue/Kansas Brass & Pewter http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/cb.html

Oh, Christmas Tree ...
Just what will happen to thee? 
Pity your poor, innocent Christmas tree.

Sure, for the next few days, all of America's sentimental glances will be cast its way, as families gather around it to watch beaming children open brightly wrapped packages filled with toys and whimsical playthings. Scarf-swaddled youths will extol its virtue in carols, and lovers will cuddle beneath it, sipping frothy mugs of hot cocoa.

But for a noble Douglas fir or Scotch pine that's spent its waning days covered not with fallen snow but crudely glued popsicle-stick ornaments and garishly flickering light bulbs, a much crueler fate awaits: the whirring jaws of a mulching machine.

"We try to find a way to return the trees to their natural state," said Glenn Lightsey, owner of Lightsey's Trees, a staple of the St. Augustine Christmas season that's been in business more than 20 years. "So we started mulching the trees. We give it away for flower beds." READ FULL STORY HERE

Humble Slinky still a mainspring of fun
Thousands of high-tech toys are expected to be under Christmas trees Wednesday, patiently waiting to be ripped open, plugged in and played with.

Tiny remote control cars, PlayStation 2s, and talking and dancing dolls have been hot sellers at toy stores this season, but simple, old-school toys still have a place in children's hearts as evidenced by Saturday's Slinky Science workshop at Imagination Station, 600 N. Fourth St.

"I like them because you can stretch them," said Mallaurie Luedtke, a third-grader at Glen Acres Elementary, doing just that with one of the floppy, loose spring toys.

Slinkys were used to teach a small group of Greater Lafayette first-, second- and third-graders different ways energy and force is used in motion.

A closed Slinky shows compression. A stretched one shows tension, and a stretched Slinky swung around your head is a good example of centrifugal force. READ THE STORY HERE

Ty Withdraws Hotel Spa Plans
From: Beanieholics
Beanie Babies billionaire Ty Warner is withdrawing plans for renovating the Four Seasons Biltmore Resort in Montecito while he reconsiders whether the $100 million-plus project should include a controversial spa on adjacent property. His project agent said revised plans may be submitted to the county Planning Department early next year. Click Here For Story

Pompey Exclusive Update
From: Bean eWonderland
On Monday 16th December all TY Retail outlets in Portsmouth with the exception of the Fratton Park shop (football grounds shop) received an Invoice from TY Europe for an item called "Pack P". When Ty were telephoned to ask what the invoice was for, the retailers were told it was a surprise package, but they would like it.

On Tuesday, "Pack P" turned up to all TY Stores in Portsmouth. It contained 72 Beanies, 48 of which were Pompey Bears. There are approximately 20 retailers in the Portsmouth area, and every single one received this pack, except Fratton Park. They were told this was a one off delivery, however if they immediately put in another order, they would receive a second "Pack P" which would be delivered before Christmas.

A few of the stores did this, and received a further 48 Pompey Bears on Thursday 18th December. Most were put on the shelves, and were sold out in a very short time. From a separate source who is very reliable, I have been told that Fratton Park have requested no more Pompey Beanies for a while as they are causing them huge problems and they want to concentrate on Football Kits. The Beanies that went to the retailers were supposed to go to the Pompey Shop, which if you work out, 48 x 20 is 1080 which is what the Pompey Shop was getting each time.

-=DECEMBER 21, 2002=-
IN-HAND PICTURES OF BABE-e
Bean Watcher shares:
"Hi Lisa! Just wanted to let you two know that I have posted an in-hand photograph of Babe-e the Ty Store exclusive Beanie Kid on my news page:  http://news.beanwatcher.com/  I received permission from the seller to post his in photograph from his eBay auction on to my news site." Enjoy! Bean Watcher

Beary Merry Christmas
$15,000 for charity for card design
Now the Chicago Bears have yet another connection to Kankakee County.

Mary Dattilo-Apel, director of the Day Program at Good Shepherd Manor in Momence, is the winner of a statewide competition to design the NFL team's annual Christmas card.

The Aroma Park resident's design featured a Bears player decorating a Christmas tree and placing a football at the top instead of the traditional star. It was chosen over hundreds of other entries from Illinois.

None was more excited than Dattilo-Apel whose personal prize for winning included a box of Bears goodies: a hat, media guide, yearbook, Beanie Bear, pins and a Brian Urlacher bobble-head doll. READ FULL STORY HERE

Fire Department Sets Off 'Spark' For Holidays
From: Beanieholics
It's almost time for Santa to hop on his fire truck and ride through Redlands for the Spark of Love Toy Drive hosted by the Redlands Fire Department in association with KABC. Santa's little helpers, Fire Department employees and volunteers, are working hard to make the drive possible, which is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23. Last year they were running low on donations, but this year "we have everything from Beanie Babies to bicycles," said Chief Investigator Rich Lindner, who was also volunteering his time. He estimated that they had around 1,000 gifts laid out on the tables. Someone donated 200 Beanies Babies alone, said Lindner. Click Here For Full Story

-=DECEMBER 20, 2002=-
COLLECTIBLES EXTRAVAGANZA ARRIVES
La Rue writes: " The "Collectibles Extravaganza" has arrived at Kansas Brass & Pewter and are available online for purchase. All pre-orders are being shipped today (Friday). I am very impressed with the publication. Lisa, this is an exciting magazine. " http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/cb.html  Don't forget to check out all of the Chubbley Bears La Rue has in stock.

ASK TY
Q: What have you got up your sleeve for the 10th anniversary of Beanie Babies? (submitted by americanmaid)
A: This is a very special 10 year anniversary and . . . I think a year long celebration is in order!
http://www.tytrade.com/askty_home

Owl be home for Christmas
Frances Swick, 64 of Lantana, bought her first owl 30 years ago from JCPenney. She handed me hunk of flat green glass 2 inches thick that was shaped much like an owl, It weighed 7 pounds.

"I think it was the eyes that got me. I like owl eyes."

So buy an owl and you get a set of owl eyes. The logic stops there. The madness started with the first owl. One was too many and 3,700 is not enough. Swick wants in the Guinness Book of Records.

And, of course, more owls. All she can get. She also collects plush toys, Beanie Babies, snowman dolls, Christmas bric-a-brac. READ FULL STORY HERE

Hot holiday item: Bobbleheads
If you have to ask who Anna Nicole Smith is, you probably won't find her under your Christmas tree. But bobblehead dolls modeled after the busty, blond star of her own reality TV show may be an adult version of the popular Barbie as Rapunzel this year.

"They must be giving a lot of them because we have sold a lot," said Todd Bosley, co-owner of manufacturer Bosley Bobbers in Canton, Ohio.

The second President Bush, former Pirates outfielder Roberto Clemente and the Three Stooges all have proven their jaw-wiggling value in the bobblehead business, a craze that took off a couple of years ago and hasn't quit yet.

"Bobbleheads, right now, are a better investment than the stock market," said Albert Elovitz, a Pittsburgh novelty dealer with a flair for the dramatic. While Wall Street hasn't been too dependable, the dolls are profitable, he said.

Some compare the fad to the Beanie Baby madness and the Pog spree of the past. Others say baseball cards are a better comparison. Where few might want a card featuring former Pirate shortstop Kevin Polcovich, many will chase after one for Joe DiMaggio. READ FULL STORY HERE

Students learn lessons while giving to those in need
Students from Solon Springs chose the ‘divide and conquer’ method to purchase hundreds of dollars worth of toys for the Superior/Douglas County Toys for Tots program Tuesday.

Fourth-grade students were dropped off at Wal-Mart, fifth-grade students went to Kmart and the sixth-graders stopped at Target to do their holiday shopping.

“Let’s have some fun,” said sixth-grader Daniel Cosgrove, as he walked up and down the aisles.

His classmates Casi Rice, Alex Rowe and Devin Stone worked together to spend $30.60 on a brighter Christmas for others. Their expedition included forays into math and consumer education. READ FULL STORY HERE

Kids Bingo A Winner At The Y
From: Beanieholics
B-1. I-23, N-37, G-56, O-72. What does that spell? BINGO, of course. And when you win a game and get a chance to cart home a Beanie Baby as a prize, it's no wonder why the century-old game has become such a hit with the after-school crowd.
Click Here For Story

And The Nominees Are...
From: Beanieholics
The ballot is out! The nominees for the Toy Industry Association's Third Annual T.O.T.Y. (Toy Of The Year) Awards have been selected and they cover all aspects of the industry in 14 categories. Click Here For List Of Nominees

Ty Sponsors 'Amazing Kids!' Toy Design Contest
From: Beanieholics
Sal's Attic shares the following: One lucky young aspiring toy designer between the ages of 5 and 17 will be given the chance to work with a professional toy designer as their mentor as part of the winning prizes for the first annual Amazing Kids! Plush Toy Design Contest. Amazing Kids!, an educational non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring excellence in children and helping them realize their own amazing potential, announced today the launch of the Amazing Kids! Plush Toy Design Contest, which is being sponsored by Ty, creator of the wildly popular Beanie Babies and the leader in plush toys. Click Here For Link To Sal's Attic

CHRISTMAS CAROLS FOR THE PSYCHIATRICALLY CHALLENGED
Candy shares this in an email and I just had to share it with you. LOL
Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Queens Disoriented  Are

Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angles Sing About Me

Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Busses and Trucks and trees and Fire Hydrants and......

Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Get me

Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire

Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll tell You Why 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ---Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells... 

PEACE JINGLE WITHOUT PEACE SIGN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=3101463477

-=DECEMBER 19, 2002=-
FAST SHIPMENT OF BABE-e
SHeL shares the following:
Subject: Ty Store Shipment Confirmation 
Dear Shel, Thank you for your order from the Ty Store. This is to confirm shipment of the following order: 
Order - 9086xxx 
Ship date - 12/18/2002 
Item Detail: 
Qty     Description  
4           BABE-E  
4           CAND-e 
Ship To Address: Please note, all prices are quoted in US dollars. Your order is being shipped through the Postal Service. Thank you for ordering from the Ty Store. Regards, Ty Store

CHUBBLEY BEAR PRE-ORDERS
Gayle of Grandmas Bears is now accepting preorders of the latest batch of Chubbley Bears. She should have them in stock the first of the year. The following can be preordered: Honey (honey-colored) Chubbley, Snowbear (red scarf) Chubbley, Russel Chubbley, Bubbley Chubbley, Rollem Cub, and Sleepyhead Cub. Visit Gayle here: http://www.grandmasbears.net  Be sure to tell Gayle I sent you. ;o)

HALLMARK EXCLUSIVE ONLY FOR U.S.
Bean Watcher shares the following:
"Hi Lisa! I knew that Hallmark stores existed outside of the U.S., but was uncertain if any of them were "Hallmark Gold Crown" stores.  If any of them were, then those living outside of the U.S. could purchase the Hallmark-exclusive Beanie Baby within their own countries. So I wrote to Hallmark's Consumer Care Division.  Based on the response I received, it appears that the store-exclusive bear will be available only in retail stores within the U.S., making it a U.S. exclusive  I've posted my email and Hallmark's response on my news page at http://news.beanwatcher.com/ "

Ring bologna and a teddy bear picnic
A Christmas Eve picnic in front of a decorated tree is an essential part of the holidays for Perry Hall residents Donna and Craig Thompson, daughters Jamie-Lee and Elise and son Chad.

The menu for the indoor picnic never varies _ ring bologna and mustard, cookies and soda _ and neither do the extra guests: stuffed animals collected by Jamie-Lee, 12.

The picnic tradition was born on a Christmas Eve about eight years ago, said Donna Thompson, when her daughters were too excited to go to sleep and decided to have a snack by the tree with dad to wind down.

"I'm not excluded, but usually I'm somewhere else in the house cleaning or wrapping presents," Donna said.

The tradition survived, even after the family moved from their house in Parkville to live with Donna's mother while house-hunting for a new home in Perry Hall.

The girls now are joined by 5-year-old Chad as they sit by the tree with dad on their very traditional lace-edged baby blankets _ two pink, one blue _ kept by mom.

"It's a very low-key, relaxing event," said Craig, a Med-Evac helicopter pilot.

The ring bologna menu is a tribute to the Pennsylvania roots of Craig's parents.

The stuffed animals _ teddy bears, Beanie Babies, you name it, said Craig _ are a tribute to Jamie-Lee's love of collecting. READ FULL STORY HERE

Gifts carry kids' loving care
Lake Fenton - About 120 foster children soon will receive a piece of luggage they can call their own.

Students at Torrey Hill Middle School painted and decorated the suitcases, delivering 26 of them Tuesday to Fenton social worker Nancy Stockham.

"They're beautiful!" Stockham exclaimed as children paraded through her door with the colorful suitcases, some personalized with names. Inside each was a toothbrush, T-shirt and Beanie Baby. READ FULL STORY HERE

Beanie Babies Donated To Comfort Children
From: Beanieholics
A 1990s fad may bring some comfort and security to children today. Sally Kirkpatrick came up with the idea while looking at a box full of Beanie Babies gathering dust in her home. Kirkpatrick, a nurse who works at LaPorte Hospital, has seen little children, either as patients or family members, who go through traumatic experiences in the hospital emergency room. "I recalled the hospital giving teddy bears to the children to calm them down," she said. Kirkpatrick then decided to contact the New Carlisle Volunteer Ambulance Service to find out if they could take the Beanie Babies collection and use them on their emergency runs. Click Here For Story

Snowmen Popularity Snowballs
From: Beanieholics
Snowmen that don't thaw at 32 degrees are hot, hot, hot. Just take a spin around any neighborhood, craft show, mall or department store. Snowmen cool their heels everywhere. They're also collectible. "It's the face, because it's just so cute," says Lisa Haner, manager at Gags & Gifts Party. "That's what a lot of people look at, even in a Beanie Baby. If the face is cute, that's why they buy it." Click Here For Article

-=DECEMBER 18, 2002=-
CHUBBLEYS BACK IN STOCK
Kansas Brass & Pewter has received their replacement order on Chubbleys.
http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/cb.html

CHARLENE'S GRANDBABIES LOVE TY Caden is holding CuddleCub to the left and holding Chubbley George above. Evan is giving Pluffie Grins a big squeeze. This is what it's all about folks. Look at them smiles!! :o)

SINGAPORE TY RETAILER DISPLAY PICTURES
Kendrick shares with Ms. Janie
"I passed by one of Ty retailer in Singapore today and I saw their very creative & cute display using Ty Beanie, so I took a few shots to share with everyone! I especially like the Jingle Rovers taking over the reindeer's job in the air with Jingle Santa! LOL! Snowgirl & Serenity's sing the Christmas carol, while 2002 Holiday Teddy, Jingle Mistletoe & December 2002 play the Christmas song! On the other side, the audience! LOL! Oh, by the way, did you see Herald & Halos flying in the air too? Very cute right? LOL! Hope all of you enjoy! =) Merry Christmas, Kenrick" http://www.msjanie.com/2002_photos/Kenrick_Ty-Display.html

Give safe toys this holiday season
Whether it's due to the demands of commercial-addled kids or the good intentions of exuberant gift-givers, the concept of toy safety is often lost over the holidays.

But experts say safety considerations should be at the top of any wish list.

Case in point: Last year, the hot gift of the season -- scooters -- arrived under many a Christmas tree without any accompanying safety accessories. Consequently, more than 42,000 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for scooter-related injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports. READ FULL STORY HERE

Boyds Donates $1.8 Million In Bears
From: Beanieholics
From Boyds Bears: On December 4, 2002, Liz Smith, VP of Stuff was on TV and no, for once we're not talking about QVC! She appeared with Katie Couric and Matt Lauer on the Today Show. That's because Boyds donated 1.8 million dollars worth of bears to the Today Show Holiday Gift Drive. (And, you thought we were just trying to get some free airtime…well that too!!) Some of our beary best friends are already on there way to help brighten the holidays for hundreds of thousands of children. Click Here To Visit The Boyds Website

-=DECEMBER 17, 2002=-
HAVE YOURSELF A CHUBBLEY LITTLE CHRISTMAS PAN CONTEST
La Rue and I are running another one of La Rue's famous PAN contests this evening (TUESDAY) at 8:00pm EST and 7:00pm CST. You won't want to miss out on these prizes. Check the PAN contest pages for details and to see what you can win.
La Rue's 1-300: http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/1decpan.html 
Lisa's 301-600: http://www.planetbeans.com/PANDecember.htm

CHRISTMAS: A gift of patriotism
Patriotic gifts are among the hottest sellers this Christmas season, according to Fox News.

The White House, U.S. Mint and both houses of Congress have gift shops, and all are reporting very brisk business. Perhaps the two most popular items are White House ornaments and glassware with the presidential seal. Red-white-and-blue beanie bears have been a popular item. Quite a few people also are buying an Air Force One play set -- "complete with the plane, motorcade vehicles and other pieces," Fox says. READ FULL STORY HERE

BBOC Offer Extended
From: Beanieholics
Today was to be the last day to order the current items available from the Beanie Babies Official Club. The BBOC web site now states:

"The current Exclusive Offer is valid only from September 16th through December 31st, 2002, or while supplies last, whichever occurs first."

This info is found under the BBOC Exclusive Terms And Conditions page located through the link below. Click Here For More

-=DECEMBER 16, 2002=-
M.C. BEANIE II HANG TAG & PICTURES
Bean Watcher shares the following:
Just wanted to tell you that I was finally able to get a photograph of the INSIDE of the hang tag of the anniversary MC Beanie II bear.  The correct name of the bear is "MC II Anniversary Edition," as shown by the hang tag. http://news.beanwatcher.com

THE SPIRIT OF CHILDREN THE SADNESS OF LIFE
Becky shares the following:
" My other daughter will be 27 next week... I used to give her all my Susan B  Anthonys, and she saved them up until Christmas when she was about 6 or 7 yrs old... She had about $20 worth, and wanted to get me a present, and do it all  by herself... I let her shop alone, and she came back with a little bag... The store was closing, so as we were walking out to the car, I asked her how much money she had left... She said, "None"... I said, "You spent all of it?!? How much did it cost???" She said, "I wanted to get you a robe, but didn't have enough money"... I asked how much the robe cost, and she said an amount (I forget now) that she did have... I got suspicious, and asked to see the receipt... It was a total of about $5.00... That clerk took full advantage of her, and counted those Susan B Anthonys as quarters!!! I was livid, but the store was closed, and I knew she had probably kept them and taken them home with her, anyway... I never carried Susan B Anthonys to spend again... :'-( "

Beanies donated for kids at shelter
Children who flee abusive homes this holiday season in the Grand Valley will have a soft and cuddly animal to comfort them, thanks to some caring spirits in the area.

Debbie Pease and Rhonda Mumby of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority presented 200 Beanie Babies to Hilltop Community Services Vice President of Development Janell Bauer on Wednesday.

The soft creatures include Propeller the fish, Lefty 2000 the red, white and blue donkey, Topaz the bear, Niles the camel and Goattee the goat.

The Beanie Babies will comfort children of abused adults who seek refuge at a shelter provided by Hilltop's Latimer House.

Eighty of the Beanie Babies will be given to low-income children at a Hilltop Christmas party this week, said Bauer. The balance will be used at the Latimer House shelter. READ FULL STORY HERE

Hot toys hard to find on shelves
Stores stock less to avoid leftovers
NEW YORK -- Parents who haven't found FurReal Friends or Bratz accessories for their children this holiday season might have to rethink their shopping lists.

These toys, as well as several other popular items, including Chicken Dance Elmo, Kasey the Kinderbot, Yu-Gi-Oh! trading cards and Beyblades, a line of spinning tops, already are hard to find, retailers say.

Parents are having a difficult time locating the toys because stores were conservative in their holiday merchandise orders, hoping to avoid piles of leftovers Dec. 26. Aggressive discounting during the Thanksgiving weekend also helped deplete inventories. READ FULL STORY HERE

MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES
This morning was more hectic than most. Today is my son's 10th birthday so this morning he wanted to open a present or two before going to school. I also was gathering the snacks and drinks for him to share with his class to help celebrate his birthday. In the middle of doing all of this I tried to update the news. While on my news rounds this morning I saw a message on Bean eWonderland about the Underground Bean farewell message. I linked to this information without reading it. I want to send my sincerest apologies to Ms. Janie and the other people this slanderous article was geared towards. Mainly Ms. Janie. I DON'T share Yavett's views and most that know me know that I have the deepest respect for Ms. Janie. I have removed the information and link to this article and in the future, will read thoroughly before sharing. 

BBOC Deadline
From: Doodle's Page
Will 'Color Me Beanie' retire today? ... along with the BBOC Clubby 5 Anniversary set and pins? Or will the date be extended? As we reminded you a couple of days ago, Ty's site states 'The offer is valid from September 16, 2002 to December 16, 2002, or while supplies last'. Maybe we'll even see the 'BBOC is Back' removed from Ty's main page soon. Click here to visit the BBOC

INTRODUCING BABE-e 
http://www.ty.com/Babe-e-intro 

-=DECEMBER 15, 2002=-
Making a bad day brighter
MIDDLEFIELD -- Jessica Robinson knows that little things matter.
These include pennies, a toothbrush, a stuffed animal -- little things that can make a bad day a little bit brighter.

For the last four years, 13-year-old Jessica has organized the one-girl "Pennies for a Purpose" campaign to raise money to make bags filled with toys, toiletries, crayons and paper for children going into the care of the state Department of Children and Families.

"I call them emergency bags," Jessica said. "When kids are taken from their house by DCF, they can’t go back to their house to get things. With these bags, at least they’ll have something to call their own."

Every year Robinson creates about 80 bags, 40 for girls, 40 for boys and a few for babies.

To create the bags, Jessica has acquired donations from companies such as Lego Inc., which sends boxes of Lego playsets, and Kimberly-Clarke, which contributes packages of Kleenex.

During the summer, Jessica puts "Pennies for a Purpose" cans in stores in Durham, Middlefield and Middletown to raise the money for buying hair brushes, combs, stuffed animals and dental floss.

"I put a Beanie Baby in each bag so the children will have something to hold onto," she said. "It’s funny going into the stores and seeing the cashier’s faces when you’re buying all these single Chapsticks." READ FULL STORY HERE

Beanie Babies heist has trappings of foul play
Spinning around the news dial ...click.

The FBI is notoriously tight-lipped in such matters, but my sources indicate that the case of Delores Barr Weaver's missing Beanie Babies is more than a simple theft.

The Beanie Babies, taken from the Weavers' luxury suite at Alltel Stadium last month, were kidnapped and there is a ransom letter.

The letter, according to my sources, contains this message, spelled out in letters clipped from Times-Union sports stories about the Jaguars' eight losses this season: "You get the Beanie Babes [sic] back when Tom Coughlin is fired."

The FBI suspects there may be more than one person involved.

Click.

OK, pig lovers, now look at what you've done. READ FULL STORY HERE

Laughing till it hurts with Bengals fans
CINCINNATI -- So you're fed up with the Jaguars? You're tired of Decembers full of meaningless games? You want to see the coach fired, the quarterback traded and the owners' Beanie babies held for ransom?

Win eight games or Buzzie the Bee gets it.

The football fans in Cincinnati feel your pain.

No, wait, they laugh at your pain. READ FULL STORY HERE

On eBay, No One Can Hear You Scream (Over High Price of Hot Toys)
Td49244, known to some of his hundreds of satisfied customers as Santa Tony, has three dozen jovial Chicken Dance Elmos staring him down in his Staten Island basement, but he is hardly unnerved.

He takes the long view and will not sell short, at least through Dec. 25. Toys-as-commodities are a big game for him, as he watches the fickle fluctuations of the market for fun.

"Two weeks ago, FurReals were $70 each, and now they're $40 or $45," said Td49244, a Staten Island utility worker who buys popular toys at regular prices in stores and then sells them to the highest bidder on eBay, the Internet auction site where hard-to-find items are not so hard to find. "The people that want it are going to get it as early as possible."

Who knew that buying something as soft and purring as a FurReal Friend, a robotic cat, could require the hard-core economic calculus used in the world of pork belly futures?

Td49244 (who spoke on the condition that he be identified by his eBay screen name or as Tony D., instead of by his full name, so store managers will not recognize him) is one of those e-elves who give desperate shoppers a chance to buy the toys that are ranked first on many children's wish lists, but are not on store shelves. He is Santa's newest reindeer, perhaps. Call him Scalper. Or Super Seller, as he was called by someone who recently bought a FurReal Friend and a Chicken Dance Elmo from him for $71 plus $15 shipping and handling. (In stores, the two would cost a total of $55..)

Those who handicap hot toys each holiday season are intrigued by the snapshot of the market provided on eBay, where seller and buyer come together.

"I think it's a real testament to the power of the free market economy," said Chris Byrne (he spells it "B as in boy, Y as in yippee"), an independent toy consultant, researcher and analyst. "I use eBay as kind of the Nasdaq for toys, to really see what people are believing is going to be hot." READ FULL STORY HERE

CLARIFICATION ON THE M.C. BEANIE PROGRAM
Bean Watcher shares the following:
Your Friends at Ty have posted clarification on the MC Beanie program.  Check it out!  Bean Watcher

ONE MORE QUESTION ON THE SPECIAL MC BEANIE??
fiftiesnut1942   (Dec 14, 2002, 02:26 PM)
Message Id: 236683
fiftiesnut1942 writes:
My One Year Anniversary Date for $pending $5,000 was in August, 2002. The first billing that I can find is in September, 2002. Will I get the Special Beanie (in December) based on my Anniversary Date or (in January) based on my billing date? I have already received MC I and MC II Beanies. Comments, please http://www.ty.com/tytalk_Message_Display/1,3041,1_19-236683-0-1,00.html