February 29, 2004
Beanies head for Iraq
Sly shares with Ms. Janie
More than 12,000 Beanie Babies collected by Escambia and Santa Rosa County residents will be shipped to Iraq today after a two-month "Beanies for Baghdad" collection effort.

It all began when one U.S. soldier decided to share a little "courage" with a young Iraqi girl: While serving in Iraq, an Army soldier saw an opportunity to put a smile on a young girl's face by giving her a Ty Beanie Baby named "Courage."

The girl was overcome with joy and that prompted the soldier, Maj. Jim Barker, to start a nationwide effort to send more Beanie Babies to Iraqi children.

The 12,700 Beanie Babies collected by area residents, as well as other toys and school supplies, were packed up Friday at the Gulf Power corporate office. The toys and gifts filled 84 boxes, all 16 inches wide by 16 inches deep. Gulf Power, local McDonald's franchises, Baptist Health Care and the Bank of Pensacola spearheaded the collection effort. Collection began Dec. 1 and ended Jan. 31. VIEW FULL STORY & PIC HERE

February 28, 2004
UNABLE TO SEND NEWSLETTER
Topica is down for routine maintenance so your newsletter won't be going out today. :o) As a reminder to you.. If you don’t receive a newsletter daily please check the news page. Usually I send newsletters daily but if I don’t the reason could be one of the following: no news to share, Topica is down, or the website is down.

ALL INFO PAGES UPDATED
Yesterday I found the time to update the complete checklists and the Beanie & Buddy Info pages with the retirements and newest releases. http://www.planetbeans.com/beanie_info.htm

PUNXSUTAWN-e PHIL RETIRES (finally!)
The Ty Store finally has Punxsutawn-e Phil as retired. http://www.tytrade.com/TyStore

Sisters shelter Vietnamese youths
Sisters Truc and Chi Nguyen started off with a personal Beanie Baby collection, homemade almond toffee and whatever else they could sell to raise money for children in Vietnam. Chi Nguyen didn't think they would make back the cost of a $30 newspaper ad.

But today, their efforts fully fund a shelter, with school classes, for about 100 children in the southern Vietnamese city of Can Tho.

Their main fund-raiser is a yearly benefit concert that will be held for the fifth time Sunday in Pleasanton. Besides classical and jazz, this year's concert will have Chi Nguyen playing piano with musicians playing various Vietnamese instruments.

In 2000, the sisters organized their first concert at the Amador Theater, where the concerts continue. Businesses donate refreshments, and the homemade candy will be among the goodies available. As news of their efforts has traveled, the sisters have also gotten Beanie Baby donations to sell. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

NEW HALLMARK EXCLUSIVE BEANIE
The following was posted on the Cyberboard yesterday:
ANOTHER HALLMARK EXCLUSIVE....
oreoman (Feb 27, 2004, 06:12 PM)
Message Id: 681505
oreoman writes:

"DEAR" to be released April 15th or thereabouts. Mother's day bear Listed on the Hallmark retailers site. Only for gold crown stores.

Poem
There is no one who can compare
You always show how much you care
For all the things you say and do
With love, I give this gift to you!

Watch for it.
http://www.ty.com/tytalk_Message_Display/1,1581,1_19-681505-0-1,00.html

February 27, 2004
SNOW DAY PICTURES
I spent a couple of hours outside with the kids playing in the snow and took some pictures so I thought I’d share them with you. http://www.planetbeans.com/SnowDay.htm

ASK TY
Q: Why did you use a heart for your hang tag? (submitted by joeswife)
A: From the very beginning, I wanted to create products that people could feel good about giving to one another . . . . a gift given "With Love" and from "The Heart". http://www.ty.com/askty_home

TY MAGAZINE MENTIONS 2 NEWBIES COMING
Eggbeart (Ty Store Exclusive) 
Date of Birth: April 11, 2004 

This brightly colored egg you see
is a special gift from me 
But just who will I give it to? 
Happy Easter. . . it's for you! 

PEEPERS (March BOTM) 
Date of Birth: March 2004

You might think that I'm asleep 
'Cause I won't make a single peep
Until you take me home with you
And then we'll chat the whole night though!

DADDY WARLOCK$
February 27, 2004 -- Harry Potter has performed his greatest magic trick yet - the brilliant boy wizard has transformed his creator into a billionaire.

J.K. Rowling, the once-penniless writer who shot to stardom with tales of young orphan Harry in her wildly popular books and movies, is now worth an astounding $1 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

The top five singles are: Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen with $21 billion; BMW heir Stefan Quandt, $6.5 billion; Beanie Babies creator H. Ty Warner, $6 billion; oils, metals and engineering czar Mikhail Prokhorov, $4.8 billion; and eBay co-founder Jeffrey Skoll, $4.4 billion. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

(more of the same but complete list)
Bill Gates Tops Forbes List of Billionaires for Seventh Year
Feb. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Bill Gates, founder and chairman of Microsoft Corp., is the world's richest person for the seventh consecutive year with a net worth that has risen to $46.6 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

Gates, whose company is the world's largest computer-software maker, saw his net worth increase 14 percent over the past year, the magazine said. Investor Warren Buffett was second on the annual Forbes list of billionaires. His net worth climbed $12.4 billion, or 41 percent, to $42.9 billion. 65 H. Ty Warner U.S. $6.0 Beanie Babies. VIEW COMPLETE LIST OF 552 BILLIONAIRES HERE

<my comments: I found it interesting reading the "source" of the billions. Some had inherited, while others earned theirs. One person listed as "marriage" and it looks like she may have been married to the #2 man on the list but not sure. Her portion was far less as she was listed as  #153.> 

February 26, 2004
WE HAVE SNOW!!
No school today and all three kids are up and ready to go outside to build a snowman. No snow at all last year so we are going to take advantage of this winter wonderland in a few minutes before it starts to melt. :o)

MARCH INTRODUCTIONS
BEANIES (http://www.ty.com/March04_BB): Giraffiti, Jimbo, Kookie, Mother 2004, Mystique, New York, Vegas
BUDDIES (http://www.ty.com/March04_BBD): Bloom, Fancy, Mother
CLASSICS (http://www.ty.com/March04_TC): Baby Xio Lin, Xio Lin

MARCH RETIREMENTS
http://www.ty.com/Feb2004_Retirements
BEANIES: Booties, Muddy, Seadog, Wish, Zoom
BUDDIES: Billionaire, Classy, Magic, Poseidon
TEENIE BOPPERS: Shy Shannon

NEW COMPETITION AT BEANZADDITION
Hayley writes: “Hi Everyone, The new competition is up and running! Visit www.beanzaddiction.com for a chance to add Jack the new UK and show exclusive to your collection.

The new competition will run from today (26th Feb) until 5th March.

The idea of the game is to name country exclusives! Each day a flag will be posted on the site and you have to submit the name of any one bear who is exclusive to that country. For example, if the flag was the US Flag, you could submit the name of any one of the US Exclusives, eg. Spangle. Good luck! Hayley”

Teachers, burgers and fries
Danville-Neel staff takes over McDonald's, nets $4,100

HARTSELLE — McDonald's Restaurant turned into McChaos on Tuesday as Danville-Neel Elementary School teachers gave up their rulers and dry markers to make french fries and shakes.

McDonald's regular employees cooked the burgers and sandwiches, shaking their heads in disbelief at the 300 orders. The towns of Danville and Neel filled the U.S. 31 restaurant with lines that ran out the front door and kept the drive-through busy.

Restaurant training coordinator Delana McNatt compared the turnout to Christmas parade nights and Beanie Baby promotions. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

MORE BEANIES & BUDDIES FOR SALE
Sandy writes: “hi lisa.. was wondering if you can put a link to my web page for the beanies and buddies i have for sale.. thought it would be easier to list them on a web page here is the link. Click here: beanies4sale

February 25, 2004
CHUBBLEY NEWS FROM LA RUE!
La Rue shares info on some retirements coming on Sunday as well as info on new releases to come out soon. VIEW HERE

La Rue writes: “News from the "Chubbley World" has been happening in the last several days. First of all, the January Releases are on their way and should be here shortly. The next releases will be placed on their website, which is completed and will be up and running next week. However, the site states "online ordering" which will only be available to retailers only.

As of now, the plans are to release a Red Dragon named Daffydd which has created confusion as to its correct spelling. Some say it is Daffyd and some say it is Daffydd. Chubbleys has named it Daffyd so maybe there will be one of each to reach the marketplace.

Then there will be Kayak, a Chunky; Tattoo;, Flossie;, Bunny, this is a bear and then Hannibal. We have seen Kayak Chunky in the centerpage of BBCM. No release date has been given and will probably be placed on the Chubbley web site. The Chubbley web site will give full details.”

CARE BEARS
La Rue writes: “New to Kansas Brass & Pewter. Yes, I am entering my second childhood as my grandchildren have been given my collection. The line of Care Bears started in the mid-80s with the larger version. KB&P will be retailing only the Beanie, about 6" and the Backpack Clip, now called Micro, at this time. As time passed, it is now seen that the prices will be $6.95 for the Beanie and $4.95 for the Clip. Will be bringing them in larger quantities and have a break in their price. The web page will have to be corrected as it is just in the beginning stage of developing. What I do have on hand can be found--price change must be made”: CARE BEARS

I apologize for the wrong link being provided these past few days that I’ve listed about La Rue’s Care Bears page. I inadvertently left off the f in angelfire so if you clicked on the link you would have been taken to a totally different page. Clicking on CARE BEARS above will take you to the correct page. :o)

CIRCUS BEANIES
Marilyn shares her great photos with Ms. Janie:
VIEW ALL 5 CIRCUS BEANIES
VIEW GIRAFFITI w/tags
VIEW VEGAS w/tags
VIEW KOOKIE w/tags
VIEW MYSTIQUE w/tags
VIEW JIMBO w/tags

From Cracker Jack prize to jackpot
The Major League Baseball team that should need the least promotion is at it again.

Chicago Cubs officials, who have established a reputation for being among the most innovative marketers in sports, are ushering in the era of the limited high-value giveaway -- hoping to sell tickets with the lure of a limited promotional item.

This season, the Cubs plan to give away 1,200 jerseys, each ranging in value from $180 to $300, at 12 separate games. The first 20,000 fans entering the gate on the day of the game will receive a scratch-off card for the chance to win the jersey of the day. The jerseys include replicas of Greg Maddux's 1992 jersey, a 1958 Ernie Banks road uniform and the 1984 jerseys of Ryne Sandberg and Rick Sutcliffe.

"We've gone with the less-is-more philosophy here," said John McDonough, the Cubs' vice president of marketing and broadcasting. "We're trying to be unique and walk down a different path. I think this will show that the era where we'd give away things in volume is coming to an end."

McDonough said the Cubs were happy with the results of trying the high-priced giveaway last season when the team offered fans at select games the chance to win 5,000 autographed baseballs of Cubs greats.

"I'm pretty sure nobody complained that we were being unfair," said McDonough, who came up with the idea of offering Beanie Babies as giveaways at major league games in 1997. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Man arrested in 'Beanie Baby' slaying
Nearly a year to the day after a Winnetka man suspected in a series of burglaries was found shot to death near his North Shore home, police in Wisconsin arrested the victim's lifelong friend, authorities said today.

David Kraybill, 41, faces a first-degree murder charge in the Feb. 24, 2003, killing of Joel Cacharelis, authorities said. The suspect was taken into custody Friday on an arrest warrant issued by Winnetka police.

February 24, 2004
CHERISH AUCTION RESULTS
Sue writes: “I am delighted to tell you that the CHERISH auctions in support of International Childhood Cancer Day raised £544.75 - a wonderful total for research into Children's Cancers. Thank you so much to everyone who helped to spread the word, donated items, arranged to have items signed and of course to those who bid!

The next series of CHERISH auctions on eBay will be in mid-March - some breakfast-related items on eBay, including a Harrods exclusive Teddy Bear signed and donated by Mohamed Al Fayed - this has been packaged with a Harrods mug and English Breakfast tea bags! For the veteran eBay bidders there will be the chance to own your very own eBay Mug and Bidder Beanie to hold as you wait to place that final bid...

There will also be silent auctions on www.boglin.net of the entries to the Decorated Breakfast Beanie Contest. There is a wonderful and varied selection of entries already on show on the website - do please take a look as your vote will be invited to select the winners of the contest in March. There is still time to enter - see website for further details. Thank you! Sue Owen

eBay: Where the Action Is Online
Expanding services, foreign growth, and ever-expanding popularity earn the online auction giant S&P's top rating of 5 STARS, or buy

From its humble beginnings as an Internet auctioneer mainly for collectible items like PEZ dispensers and Beanie Babies, eBay (EBAY; recent price, $69) has evolved into the world's largest online marketplace. Standard & Poor's Equity Research believes its shares represent a compelling investment opportunity, based upon eBay's leadership in what we consider the attractive areas of Internet auctions, retail and payments, and its proven ability to expand into new categories, geographies, and services. We also think the shares are appealingly valued, based on our intrinsic analysis. The stock carries our highest investment ranking of 5 STARS, or buy. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

PICTURES OF JANUARY CHUBBLEYS
Hayley has posted some great pictures of the newest Chubbleys. VIEW HERE  From what I see.. looks like Barker and Cherish are must haves for us Chubbley collectors.

February 23, 2004
Beanie Bears visiting library
The cuddly Beanie Bears on display in Freedom Library this month are only part of an Oak Run owner's collection. Harriette Beispiel said there are about 50 in the lobby showcase, but the other 150 are at their "Shorebird" home in Lakewood, N.J.

She and her husband, Mike, don't consider themselves Snowbirds, as they spend about eight months a year in the Corridor.

The way she got interested in Beanie Bears was through a co-worker. The friend got her interested in collecting what were once grandkid gifts in 1996. The cuddly variation of the classic Teddy bear has become the perfect gift for the adult who has everything, she said.

The colorful baby bears are still a good buy. They cost between $5 and $7. The most Beispiel paid for a Beanie Bear is $20. She doesn't collect the more common Beanie Babies, just the bears.

In 1999 it was rumored that Ty Warner was going to quit making the bears, and she bought the jet-black Teenie that was supposed to be the end of the line, but the line has continued. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

February 22, 2004
CHERISH AUCTION REMINDER
Sue writes: “Just a reminder that the auctions in aid of International Childhood Cancer Day will close from 20.00 GMT today.

Although the total is looking good for the charity, some individual items are not fetching what I would have hoped for this worthy cause, research into Children's Cancers. All items have been donated and some have also been sent from overseas so they are surely deserving of more realistic bidding? Please take a look at the list of items on offer and if you could place a bid or two that would be very much appreciated. Click here to view all auctions

I have added more photos of Decorated Ty Products on the breakfast theme to the website at www.boglin.net and http://www.boglin.net/decorated_beanies.htm

As we approach the end of February and the 1st Birthday of www.boglin.net I am delighted to see that visits to the website have reached almost 10,000!

Thank you to everyone for the interest that you show and the support that you give.
I hope that you will enjoy the Global Breakfast offerings that I am preparing for you next month! I have receieved some exciting donations for this event as well as the promise of more! Some events will be exclusive to the website. Other activities and a mail-in offer are in the current issue of Bean Bag and Collectables Magazine.
PLEASE KEEP SENDING IN THE BREAKFAST RECIPES/SUGGESTIONS/PHOTOS! Sue Owen

Beanie Baby czar building a hotel empire
After mesmerizing the nation with a stuffed plush toy, H. Ty Warner is putting some of the $6 billion fortune he built into high-end lodging.

Like a modern-day Rumpelstiltskin, Oak Brook denizen H. Ty Warner spun a $6 billion fortune by tinkering with a commonplace item, the stuffed plush toy, transforming it into a Beanie Baby.

And then as the Beanie craze began to ebb at the close of the century, the lanky marketing genius turned to an entirely different realm, that of the ultraplush hotel, paying dearly for three choice plums.

If this were truly a fairy tale, his small, bejeweled hotel kingdom would have floated on a soft, white cloud as the shattering effects of 9/11 and the economic downturn plunged the hotel industry into a deep moat. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Cooled-off Beanies are still selling
H. Ty Warner's Beanie Baby business remains very much alive and well, if more modest in scale, says Michael W. Kanzler, chief operating officer at Ty Inc., Warner's plush-toy company.

"I see it as a good, solid, steady product," he said, likening it to the once-hot yo-yo, which remains a popular toy for school kids.

What does this mean, in numbers? The ultraprivate Ty Inc. isn't saying.

But sales clearly are down from their peak in 1998, the one year Ty published figures as a way to thumb its nose at Hasbro and Mattel. That year, net operating income was $700 million on sales of more than $1 billion.

Some published reports put annual sales in recent years at $750 million, but they do not identify the source of the estimate.

A look at the nation's plush-toy industry offers some clues.

Sales of traditional plush toys (those that don't do anything special, like walk or talk), were $1 billion in 2003, down 10 percent from 2002, said Christina Charasse, senior toy analyst at NPD Group Inc.

Ty is one of the major manufacturers of such toys, but still, its sales are just a part of that total.

And NPD estimates Ty product sales in 2003 were 28 percent less than in 2002, though it does not issue estimated sales in dollars. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

A day for smiles
UF program shows 'a day at the dentist' can, indeed, be fun
The sound of children's laughter resounds over the commotion of bur drills, curing light tools, suction machines and the shuffling of little feet.

"This is awesome!" exclaims 9-year-old Chadrick Hill as he looks up from the blue dentist chair.

He dances down the halls of the University of Florida College of Dentistry and smiles at passing dental students clad in light blue scrubs.

Chadrick says he had never seen a dentist before last week, when he attended UF's second annual "Give Kids a Smile" day.

At "Give Kids a Smile Day," in addition to receiving sealants on their teeth, both Chandria and Chadrick were given goodie bags filled with Beanie Babies, movies on videotape, floss and battery-operated toothbrushes.

They spent the day eating pizza, sandwiches and sweets and were entertained by a balloon-making clown. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

GLENDA'S ST. PATTY'S DAY DISPLAY
Thank you to Glenda for sharing her picture with us. http://www.planetbeans.com/GlendasDisplay.htm 

February 21, 2004
JANUARY CHUBBLEYS TO ARRIVE SOON
La Rue of Kansas Brass & Pewter has informed me that the latest Chubbley releases are on their way and are due to arrive any day. http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/cb.html

CARE BEARS AT KANSAS BRASS & PEWTER
A limited supply of the 20th anniversary Care Bear plush toys are now at Kansas Brass & Pewter. La Rue also has some of the Care Bear backpack clips listed. These will go quickly so don't miss out. There will be new additions to this page as time permits. She also has several of "Good Luck" the St Patrick's Care Bear which will be added very soon. http://www.angelfire.com/ks2/kansaspewter/carebears.html

CIRCUS BEANIE TAGS
Sue shares pictures of the inside of the hang tags and pictures of the Circus Beanies with Ms. Janie. The inside of the hang tags are yellow! VIEW TAGS HERE -- VIEW CIRCUS BEANIES HERE (The Circus Beanies have been added to the Complete Beanie checklist and to the Beanie Info pages. The Beanie Birthday Calendar has also been updated with these Beanies.)

February 20, 2004
THE "RING" AUCTION
Remember that auction I mentioned in yesterday's news about the special ring from the ‘Bachelor’ show that Aaron Buerge gave to Helene Eksterowicz? When I reported about this auction yesterday there were no bids. The auction has ended with a high bid of $28,300.00 and had 52 bids. VIEW AUCTION HERE

ASK TY
Q: If you could have any other job in the world, what would it be? (submitted by minnickk)
A: It's difficult to imagine a job that could be better than the one I have right now. I'm very fortunate to be in a position where smiles are the end result of my labor. I love what I do and wouldn't switch places with anyone ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

Elmo, Bratz dolls lead Toy of the Year parade
Winners of the toy industry's biggest honor, the Toy of the Year (TOTY) awards, were announced last Saturday as the kickoff to the American International Toy Fair in New York. The fair serves as the annual vehicle for manufacturers to introduce their new products to retailers.

Fisher-Price's Hokey Pokey Elmo was named Toy of the Year. Taking home top honors were: Girl Toy of the Year, Bratz Super Stylin' Runway Disco; Boy Toy of the Year, Hulk Hands; Infant/Preschool Toy of the Year, Hokey Pokey Elmo and Little Touch LeapPad Learning System (tied); Game of the Year, Cranium Hullabaloo; Educational Toy of the Year, Leapster Multimedia Learning System; Property of the Year, MGA Entertainment's The Bratz. The winners were chosen by popular vote by members of the toy industry.

As part of Toy Fair's 100th anniversary celebration, the Toy Industry Association, which has managed the fair since 1932, has compiled a list of the top 100 toys introduced in the past century, including Lionel Trains (1900); Erector Sets (1913); Radio Flyer Wagon (1917); Mickey and Minnie Mouse plush dolls (1930); Betsy Wetsy doll (1937); Scrabble (1948); Hula Hoop (1958); Barbie (1959); Easy Bake Oven (1964); Twister (1966); Uno Card Game (1972); Teddy Ruxpin (1985); Beanie Babies (1996); and LeapPad (1999). VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

February 19, 2004
BLARN-e INTRODUCED
http://www.ty.com/BB_BLARNe_Intro

THOUGHTS ON THE “CIRCUS” BEANIES
Rose writes: “Hi Lisa, Just thought I would let you know my feelings on the new Circus Beanies I think they are awful Has TY lost it & thinks collectors will buy anything he puts out This is one old gal that won't be buying. Rose”

Do you have comments to share about the “Circus” Beanies? Lisa@planetbeans.com 

The 'trophy' hotel: fabulous fixer-upper
Beverly Hills, Calif. -- When Hollywood's Golden Globe awards aired recently from the Beverly Hilton hotel, certain details of the star-studded event went unseen on camera. Among them: the hotel's stained carpeting, chipped paint and decidedly outmoded decor.

Despite its glitzy reputation, the Beverly Hilton has been decaying for years while its owner, 78-year-old former talk-show host Merv Griffin, bypassed maintenance and sought a buyer. It's a fate that often befalls so-called trophy hotels -- famed lodgings that are the jewel in an owner's crown -- when said owners tire of lavishing them with time and money.

The result can be a pricey labor of love for the next owner. Beanie Baby creator Ty Warner is pouring millions of dollars into refurbishing the Four Seasons Biltmore hotel in Santa Barbara, Calif., and the nearby San Ysidro Ranch, where Jack and Jackie Kennedy honeymooned. The royal family of Brunei has twice renovated the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles after paying roughly $600,000 per room to buy it a number of years ago. The effort helped restore the hotel's five-star rating this year by Mobil Travel Guides. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

MOTHER 2004
Ms. Janie has information as well as pictures of the new "Mother's Day" bear that has yet to be released VIEW HERE

February 18, 2004
Hospital collects toys for Afghan children
It was an act of kindness sparked by a water bottle.

Army Reserve Sgt. Joe Mollinger, a Toledo Hospital nurse stationed in Afghanistan, e-mailed to his wife that in one village a little boy wanted his water bottle. Thinking the boy was thirsty, Mr. Mollinger told his wife, via e-mail, that he gladly gave it to the boy but was surprised when the child poured the water out and began to play with it.

"He said, ‘Take some money out of our account and buy them some toys,’" said his wife, Jody Mollinger, also a nurse at Toledo Hospital. "The poverty just broke his heart."

A box of donated toys and school supplies was sent three weeks ago, but nurses, doctors, and others kept giving. So nine more boxes full of Beanie Babies, pencils, crayons, and other items were mailed to Afghanistan yesterday.

"They love it," Mrs. Mollinger said. "They act like they’ve been given a million dollars."

Beanie Babies, which are easy to ship given their small size, are an especially big hit.

Mrs. Mollinger said she and her fellow employees were heartbroken by the stories of the conditions many of the children lived under. VIEW FULL STORY & PICS HERE

Child Internet victimization: more than illegal images
FARMINGTON — David Rose, a broad, powerful State Bureau of Investigations agent with a gun and a badge on his belt, and granite-tough, tan boots below — the kind of guy you absolutely want on your side in a fight — has an unusual undercover role: once a week he becomes a 13-year-old girl.

On the Internet, that is.

Rose is part of Utah’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. The ICAC, one of the first of several ICACs now operating across the nation, was formed in 2000 to combat the sexual victimization of children via the Internet.

How it happens — an actual case
Rose displayed Internet screen captures of a chat room where an online predator “Bulls are1” tracked a girl, “Amanda01.”
“Bulls are1” found his victim in a “teen chat” room, a place where teens discuss common concerns and angst.

“Bulls are1” was able to use “Amanda01’s” user profile (information requested when setting up email accounts), and some creative, inductive detective work to learn key information about her. This happened even though “Amanda01” left most of the information on her user profile blank.

From her hobbies alone “Bulls are1” learned a lot. He guessed correctly from her “seashell collecting” hobby that she lived near a beach, and from her love of “English class,” he could tell she was still in school. “Rollerblading” and “playing with my brother Billy Jr.” told him something of her age and, likely, her father’s name.

“Bulls are1” then did an Internet search on “Amanda01’s” username to see if she had made any offers, advertisements or announcements and found three entries where she had offered to buy Beanie Babies (“Make sure the tags are attached,” she requested). “Amanda01” included her home phone number in the offer.

“Bulls are1” entered that phone number on an Internet “reverse search” web page. The screen that popped up gave him her family name, “Williams,” and her address. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

TY (FROGMORE ) - PORTSMOUTH FC OFFICIAL MASCOT
Laura shares info with Ms. Janie on an item created by Ty exclusively for Portsmouth. All I can say is EWWWW! This frog is downright scary looking! LOL VIEW HERE

Brent shares additional info on FROGMORE with Bean Watcher. VIEW HERE

February 17, 2004
CIRCUS BEANIES?
A flyer is circulating around with pictures of "The Greatest On Earth!" Beanies. View a picture of Giraffiti the Giraffe, Jimbo the Elephant, Kookie the Dog, Mystique the Tiger, and Vegas the Zebra HERE 

A GIRL NAMED SKYE
She is a toddler who has lost her fingers and is losing toes. She is battling leukemia. But she is also a fighter who has won the hearts of her doctors and nurses. A charmer ...
Skye Crawford giggles and laughs when she looks at the purple polish on her right thumbnail -- the only finger the 2 1/2-year-old has.

"We see only one fingernail; she looks down and sees how pretty it is," said Dr. Darryl Glaser, assistant professor of pediatrics, Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children.

"She is such a delight. ... Her power to adapt and her family's power to adapt just amazes me."

Radiation technicians at the hospital started her on a Beanie Baby collection, giving her one after every painful dressing of her feet, Yandow said. "She is a precious child. After I've done dressing changes and had to give her narcotics, this child will give me a big hug." VIEW FULL STORY & PICTURE HERE 

February 16, 2004
MORE SHOW NEWS
Ms. Janie has more info and pictures of New York. VIEW HERE

Mike shares with Ms. Janie:
"Hi Ms. Janie, I just got back from the NYC Toy Fair. There is a new line of Beanie Babies that come with a display called : "The Greatest Show On Earth". There are (5) five new Beanie Babies with the following names: 
Giraffiti the Giraffe
Kookie the Dog
Mystique the Tiger
Vegas the Zebra
Jimbo the Elephant 

TY is also giving away a "I Love NY" Bear to retailers that order at the Toy Show. It is different than the one available directly from TY as it says " I Love NY" and NOT "I Love New York". Mike"

IN-HAND AUCTIONS FOR NEW YORK "SHOW" BEANIE
There have been 15 bids so far and the high bid sits at $160.50. Time remaining for this auction is 6 and a half DAYS! VIEW AUCTION HERE

Here's another in-hand auction for New York. There have been 3 bids with a high bid sitting at $107.51. Time remaining is 2 and a half days. VIEW AUCTION HERE (This seller also has several more of the New York bear on auction so be sure to view other auctions.)

There are other auctions for New York. I'm only listing those that have actual pictures. Be careful of the auctions that are selling the New York bear because several don't specify which version so you may end up with the retail version and pay to much for it!

(this is a special and very moving story... please read if you have time)
Little John's Journey: It's OK to fly, mother tells him
In the hospital, “Little John” Martzahn tries at times to switch roles and become the caregiver. He tries to comfort his mother, who has spent the past dozen years comforting him.

Helen Martzahn says it made her day when John said from his hospital bed, “Mommy, I will love you forever.”

She says he always has been like that — so sweet, so caring

“If there is a stick of gum or half a candy bar, he’ll give you the bigger half or offer it to you,” his mom says proudly.

At this point John has no major arteries in his legs — they all have been used for various medical procedures.

The veins in his arms mostly are undetectable, and his IV’s must be moved on occasion or they will simply fall out.

Sharon Henkel, born nearly two decades before her brother, stands over his casket and softly cries as she talks to him. As usual, “Stripes” is at John’s side, as are three of his favorite Beanie Baby angels, two large plastic containers of Yu-Gi-Oh cards, and two teddy bear figurines from his aunts. The bears have x’s and o’s on their sweaters, and signify the hugs John was always ready to give, and the kisses he blew his aunts over the telephone, even when he had no strength to talk.

REMINDER: BEANIE COLLECTION FOR SALE LOWER PRICES
Toni has grouped some Beanies and has lowered prices. She has some great Beanies left and they start as low as 50 cents each. She has references (all positive). I've received MWMT Beanies from her already and they came to me tag protected and shipping was fast. You can email Toni at beanies@mncable.net for a complete list and prices.

February 15, 2004
Toy industry revs up
If you asked the toy industry how its holiday season fared, the answer probably would not be sunny or enjoyable.

A couple of local toy companies, however, remain optimistic and still are having fun despite several damaging trends affecting their industry.

Rosenbaum and Lee said that the industry could benefit from a new home run product like Beanie Babies, marketed by Westmont-based Ty Inc., was in the 1990s. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

REPORT OF NEW BEANIES AT AMERICAN TOY FAIR
Bean Watcher has posted some info on some new Beanies that were introduced as well as a new bear called NEW YORK that will be available in a "show" version and a "retail" version. LEARN MORE & VIEW PICTURE OF NEW YORK HERE

CHERISH AUCTION UPDATE
Sue has posted some auctions on eBay. VIEW AUCTIONS HERE

February 14, 2004
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
I hope this is a special day for you and your sweethearts. :o)

(Thank you to Donna for sharing the following news story)
'Do Not E-Mail' Site a Scam, U.S. Officials Say
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumers should not submit their e-mail addresses to a Web site that promises to reduce unwanted "spam" because it is fraudulent, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said on Thursday.

Though the Web site found at (http://www.unsub.us) promises to reduce unsolicited commercial e-mail, those who sign up could end up receiving more spam than ever or even fall victim to identity theft, the FTC said. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

CHERISH UPDATE
More auctions starting Sunday
Items on auction will be:

Abbott the Barton's Creek Gund bear (pictured opposite)
Papel Me to You Tatty Teddy figurine signed by Mike Payne aka 'Miranda'
New York Issy and Card
Set of 2003 Ty Beanie of the Month
Chubbley package of Terri Sopp Rae original painting and bears signed by Darren Barker and Charles Rogers
Set of 5 versions of Punxsutawney Phil
Patricia Roche signed Serenity Beanie
Frank Bruno signed England Beanie
Sophie Lawrence signed Star Beanie
Carly Hillman signed Secret Beanie
Richard Orford signed Bubbly Beanie
Ian McGlyn signed Frost Beanie
Signed set of 'Poo Poo People' books
Beauty and the Beast signed print and tee shirt

Click here to view the auctions when live on Sunday 15th February
New entries for the Decorated Breakfast Beanie Contest have been added to the Home Page too! Best wishes, Sue 

Shoplifting ring busted
LANCASTER -- A pair of drifters in their 50s allegedly peddled hundreds of thousands of dollars in shoplifted goods from a booth at the Lancaster Flea Market, police said Thursday.

"It's so vast, it's unbelievable," Lancaster police Sgt. Edwin Burgwinkel said from inside the flea market where detectives investigated Thursday night. "I've never seen anything like it. It's one of the biggest rings I've ever seen."

Burgwinkel said police found another $150,000 of inventory at the warehouse, more than half of which had been identified as stolen as of Thursday night.

Burgwinkel said he has not identified the source of more than 15,000 Beanie Babies and stuffed animals. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

CONNIE’S FINDS
Connie shares pictures of her It’s A Boy, It’s A Girl, and Eggs 2004 Beanies: http://www.planetbeans.com/ConniesFinds.htm

February 13, 2004
ASK TY 
Q: What's your favorite Valentine's Beanie? (submitted by scotchtape) 
A: I would say that out of all the Valentine's Beanies, I have a soft spot for the very first one . . . . Valentino ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home

What's New
FRESH
Humor, love and passion-all are qualities your Valentine possesses in abundance. Celebrate these qualities when you give the gift of a fresh floral, arranged as a topiary. Always a hot gift item, fresh flowers are guaranteed to warm the heart of any heart breaker. The featured arrangement, called the "Bear Hug Bouquet," boasts red carnations, white daisies, baby's breath and an adorable Ty Beanie Baby, aptly called "Flame." Item provided by Luepke Florist of Vancouver. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

Beanie Valentines
Make your own special Valentines Cards with your favorite Beanies and other collectibles. An outdated magazine is an excellent source for hundreds of little pictures.

This project is rated EASY to do. LEARN MORE HERE

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
I've moved your thoughts on the new Asia-Pacific 2004 Beanies HERE New thoughts are welcome.

February 12, 2004
DOMESTIC BLISS
We begin today with a pop quiz.

You thought those ended in high school, didn't you? Oh, no. You should know by now that NOTHING ends in high school. We're doomed to repeat it all, endlessly, from getting "performance review" report cards to voting for homecoming king, except we do that every four years.

So. Now that I have you properly depressed and in the mood - to the quiz!

Question: What is the most terrifying holiday of all when you're in elementary school?

It was not until I was older - much older - that I learned the truth. A fifth-grade boy I knew very well, who shall remain nameless, went to school on Valentine's Day and found a gift from a girl on his desk.

Well. After school, panic. He had to get her a gift before the day ended. But what? He liked her, he really, really liked her, but he did not know anything about her. Fifth grade is the embryo of reality dating shows.

We went to the nearby stores. We looked. I made suggestions. He silently shook his head. By long process of elimination, I hit on a winner: A Beanie Baby. Second problem. Beanie Babies had hit their market peak that year. There were no Beanie Babies to be bought.

So we went to - oh, girls, I hate to tell you this - Rite-Aid. They had Beanie Baby knockoffs. We bought one. We went home and wrapped it. He signed a card.

It turned out I was driving a car pool that evening, and the girl was part of it. He brought the gift to the car, and - so no one else would know about it - he jammed it under the seat. We dropped off the other kids, one by one. READ FULL STORY HERE

PICTURES OF NEW ASIA-PACIFIC EXCLUSIVES
Odie has shared some great pictures with Ms. Janie. You can view close-ups as well as the hang tags HERE Beautiful bears and I wish all of you luck in getting a set for yourself. :o)

February 11, 2004
MORE BEANIES & BUDDIES FOR SALE
Sandy writes: “hi lisa.. was wondering if you can put a link to my web page fo the beanies and buddies i have for sale.. thought it would be easier to list them on a web page here is the link. Click here: beanies4sale

The Newest Toys for 2004
Toy Fair 2004
More than 1,500 exhibitors will debut almost 6,000 creations throughout the next four days. Following is a sneak peek to help you scout out the hottest picks for 2004.
Keys Publishing, Booth 5242
Keys Publishing is launching "The Playmakers: Amazing Origins of Timeless Toys" as a celebration of classic toys and a tribute to the people who invented them. A 312-page gift book with over 420 color photographs and hundreds of stories, The Playmakers chronicles the creation of everything from Teddy Bears (1903) to Beanie Babies (1993). VIEW FULL LIST HERE

February 10, 2004
REMINDER: BEANIE COLLECTION FOR SALE PER PIECE
Toni writes: "Hi Lisa, Is there anyway you can put in your newsletter that I'm selling my collection. I have a list if anyone is interested and I do have refs all ++++'s. We are moving and I need to sell them all. I'm willing to split shipping on large orders and overseas is welcome. They can email me at beanies@mncable.net for a complete list and prices. Thanks so much Beanie Hugs Toni" Toni still has lots of Beanies left so be sure to email her for an updated list. She has some great stuff on there. I received a package yesterday myself and the Beanies were all MWMT and tag protected.

Why didn't I think of that?
Companies are being built around simple concepts -- with a twist
BUILD-A-BEAR
It started when Maxine Clark, a former department store executive, resigned as president of Payless ShoeSource in the mid-'90s to start her own business. At the time, Beanie Babies were hot, and she decided on a takeoff on the craze for stuffed animals.

"My ideas were to bring a theme park environment into the mall, rather than just add another store with similar merchandise," Clark said.

Her first store opened in 1997 in St. Louis at a cost of $750,000. The privately held company now has more than 150 stores in malls across the country and sales of $170 million. VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

BOOKMARKS FOR BABY
"A lot. A whole lot," says Ben Treesh.  That's how many bookmarks these students at Three Rivers Montessori have made. In fact, the number is well over 200.  "We've had orders as far as Florida and Arizona," explains teacher, Carrie Kile. These hand-made beaded bookmarks are Jake Hayden's idea. He wanted to do something for his little cousin, Maggie, who was born four months premature over the Christmas holiday. For $5.00 each, these kids are hoping to sell enough bookmarks to help with Maggie's medical expenses.  "She's really small. I can't imagine how small she is," says Jake. Right now Maggie weighs just two pounds, two ounces. Her twin sister died a few days after being born. In the first two weeks of their small lives, the medical bills were already $80,000. "I saw a picture of her sitting next to a beanie baby and she was smaller than the beanie baby," says Ben. VIEW FULL STORY  HERE

YOUR THOUGHTS
I'm curious to know what you think of the latest set of Asia-Pacific Exclusives. If you have comments please share: Lisa@planetbeans.com. I didn't much care for Silver or Ocker but really liked the other four. I love flowers so they appealed to me. Now whether I will ever own these is unknown since I have only one Beanie from the past two sets. LOL

UPDATES: BEANIE INFO PAGES
I was able to add the new Asia-Pacific Exclusives to the info pages and checklists yesterday so these pages are up-to-date. http://www.planetbeans.com/beanie_info.htm 

February 9, 2004
ASIA-PACIFIC INTRODUCTIONS
Cinta, Hannah, Joaquim, Nara, Ocker, and Silver http://www.ty.com/Asian_Pacific_Intro 

BIDMUCH.COM COMMENTS
Linda writes: “That www.BidMuch.com has a trade sight also! They have done a wonderful job of listening and still are. Best of all they are FREE to post your trade items. I have put some items on their auction sight and I am thrilled they way it works. They also opened up a Store area that is wonderful. I can post my sale items in there I do not want to be on an auction board and sell through that. It's great for me for it's less work. What really nice is I get FREE photo hosting for my auctions and store front. Great job they are doing and to think I read all about them on your sight first!!!!!!!!!! Thank you very much. Linda”

HEMPORIUM PEACE SCAM
Anonymous writes: “There was a post put on the traderslist about it in Jan of this year.  I was shocked when I read it for that very same Peace Bear was being talked about on up4trade!  Well I felt I needed to warn the others that something seemed up with it.  Now there is a rule on up4trade that we can not post anything neg. about another member.  We are also not to give out private information.  So I did not do the top of the post but did do the whole body.  Well I got the boot from up4trade for breaking the rules.  Seems one of the people on that scam is a member there after all. 

I find it very scary that a trade site will prevent there members from passing on information like this.  Also that they will not let you tell others when you are having trouble with a trader.  Well anyway, that is why I did my post on the traderslist.  And while checking to see if they had posted anything on it I see more post for this month on that Peace Bear even from some very important people.  You really should check it all out. 

While you at it, if you are a member of up4trade go to the message boards and under the Peace Bear section read what is written there.”

February 8, 2004
FAKE LETTER FROM YAHOO!
Donna shares the following: “just wanted to let those of you who may use yahoo that i got a email that looks as though it comes from yahoo saying my account would be closed out unless i clicked on this url and updated. It didn’t have my correct name and a lot of their words were misspelled and it had stuff like@included in the contents. poor quality of a letter. needless to say i did not click on the url and just deleted it. it just didn’t look authentic. keep your eyes out for it and don’t open it up.”

Ty Warner
Earning a fortune by selling the planet's dominant computer operating system or owning a worldwide chain of superstores are impressive feats. But try to build a $6 billion nest egg by peddling cutesy-named, cuddly beanbag toys. Now that's impressive. And it's just what Ty Warner did as founder of Ty Inc., the firm behind Beanie Babies. Warner, whose office would say only that he is in his "late 50s," began selling the plush creatures in 1993. By 1999, sales at the Westmont, Ill., firm had hit nearly $1.3 billion, as Beanies became white-hot collector items (partly thanks to Warner's limiting supply and sales outlets). Some Beanies sold for thousands of dollars on the secondary market.

The public's frenzied enthusiasm for Beanies peaked right along with Internet stocks and then similarly plunged. "You had people going out and buying in volume," says industry analyst Chris "the Toy Guy" Byrne. "Then it really cooled off." Perhaps the craze suffered from the general cooling of exuberant spirits that accompanied the bear market in stocks. Or perhaps it was Warner's embarrassingly obvious marketing ploy: In 1999, he said he was retiring Beanies at the end of the year--and then changed his mind after thousands of collectors voted to "save the Beanies." VIEW FULL ARTICLE HERE

February 7, 2004
NEWS ON THE ASIA PACIFIC 2004 SET
Brent shares the following:
I heard that the Asian-Pacific Sets for 2004 will be announced soon. I also heard that they will be a little bit tougher to get this year since the 6 countries are only going to receive their perspective bear instead of the complete set as they used to. They are rumored to be flowered prints with their country flag on their chest.

February 6, 2004
Suspected Beanie Babies burglar faces murder charge
An Ardmore man, on the lamb since fleeing charges in connection with the 1999 burglary that included $10,000 worth of Beanie Babies from a local store, is behind bars in Oklahoma City facing murder charges in connection with his teenage daughter's death. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Only slits of eyes peek out from the head sock that is only part of the padding protecting him from succumbing to his creation.

With the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" as background music, he chips away at his latest snow masterpiece.

A small, brown, clay version is the model he works from. He'll soon add some monkeys hanging from the sides. For that, Congo, a palm-sized Beanie Baby, patiently sits on a yard stick modeling. After, some food coloring will bring the sculptures to life. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

PEACE'S WORK EXPERIENCE
Hayley of BeanzAddiction is so clever! If you've not visited her site lately you are missing some great stuff. Take a look at Peace's diary on work experience. Make sure to read as well as viewing the pictures. VIEW HERE

February 5, 2004
BROWN DECADE RETIRES
Thank you to La Rue for pointing this out to me. :oD
http://www.tytrade.com/TyStore
 
NEW ASK TY
Q: Do you ever give Beanie Babies as Valentines instead of cards? (submitted by 1712115408) 
A: I think Beanies are much more fun to give than cards . . . especially on Valentine's Day. What better way is there to say "I Love You" than with a sweet Beanie like Sonnet, Kissy, Valentine, Secret, or Smooch-e ? For a super special Valentine, I'd add a Cupid or Kiss-e Beanie Buddy to complete the package ! http://www.ty.com/askty_home 

INTRODUCING DEUTSCHLAND
new German exclusive: http://www.ty.com/Deutschland 

PICTURES OF THE FEBRUARY RELEASES
Marilyn shares with Ms. Janie...
VIEW GROUP PICTURE  -  VIEW GODDESS  -  VIEW DIPPY BUDDY  -  VIEW EGGS 2004  -  VIEW SPRINGFIELD  -  VIEW EGGERTON  -  VIEW MR. BUDDY  -  VIEW IT'S A BOY  -  VIEW IT'S A GIRL

One man sentenced, another pleads in unrelated Internet fraud cases
A 21-year-old Minnetrista man who didn't deliver the goods he sold over the Internet was sentenced Wednesday to two years in federal prison.

Richard K. Parris pleaded guilty in May to mail fraud and trafficking in counterfeit goods. His sentence, imposed by U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery in Minneapolis, includes paying more than $31,000 in restitution.

Authorities say Parris defrauded hundreds of customers in the United States, Canada and Britain of more than $120,000, finding victims through Internet auctions and e-mail messages. He instructed customers to send payment to him by wire, check or money order, but then failed to deliver merchandise to many buyers or delivered counterfeit items to others. He admitted buying counterfeit Beanie Babies and North Face jackets from China. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Green Tree - Blankets go to charity
Fourth-graders in Becky Brannigan's class at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic School in Green Tree started making blankets this week for Project Linus, a nonprofit organization that delivers blankets to children around the world.

The St. Margaret's blankets will go to Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, along with a donation of 500 Valentine Beanie Babies from Ty Inc., arranged by parent Julie Langmann. STORY FOUND HERE

Students make a difference overseas
Students at the Isanti Middle School and Minnesota Center can say they have really been a part of something special and are responsible for putting many smiles on the faces of children living in the village of Golam Ali, in Afghanistan.

Master Sergeant August Hohl, from Mauston, WI had spent the past nine months in Afghanistan as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, before returning home two weeks ago.

“It sucks — that’s the truth,” Hohl said. “Aside from my job, I had no family, friends. It was like being stuck with your classmates for a very long time.”

There was an unexpected, exciting moment for student Amanda James during the presentation.

Hohl explained inside one of the boxes he received from the students was a Beanie baby American Bear. He received permission from Mr. Hawkins to keep the bear, since he had started a collection of bears while overseas.

He explained he got one of the air force pilots to bring the bear up on a flight and got a picture taken of it. He presented the picture and a certificate to a surprised James, who had sent the bear to him. He said the American bear is now at home with him. VIEW ENTIRE STORY HERE - worth reading

-=February 4, 2004=-
CHERISH NEWS
Sue writes: "Wednesday 4th February at 22.00 GMT some Valentines-themed auctions will begin on eBay under seller ID sue_owen for CHERISH

All proceeds will go to Breast Cancer Research

Also on sale will be a Tatty Teddy figurine, the sale of which has already raised money for the ABC charity (Against Breast Cancer). The designer, Mike Payne, has signed his pen-name 'Miranda' on the base of the figurine for CHERISH. This beautiful grey bear figurine with a real cancer awareness ribbon would make a wonderful gift or enhance anyone's collection.

Finally there is the chance to own a rare painted Chubbley. This item has been decorated by Terri Sopp Rae, better known for her painted Beanies. 'First' Chubbley has been decorated with beautiful flowers and given a pink bow. She was donated by Kathie Currie.

Both of these items can be gift-wrapped if the buyer wishes

More pictures are on my website at www.boglin.net"

In pursuit of Deanie Babies
I, for one, love covering the presidential primary process. As New Hampshire reporters we have a front row seat to the public, and not-so-public, side of the primary.

The two men were also marketing the latest line of Deanie Babies (www.deaniebabies.org), a spin-off of the popular Beanie Babies, but made with organic soy beans and in various versions of the former Vermont governor, including backwoods-themed Deanie Babies with red flannel and Iowa-themed Deanie Babies, which come complete with a cornstalk. VIEW FULL STORY HERE

Phil predicts six more weeks of winter
PUNXSUTAWNEY - It's a wonder Punxsutawney Phil's shadow wasn't shivering.

At 7:27 a.m. on Monday, Punxsutawney Phil emerged from his burrow with the help of his handler Bill Deeley, saw his shadow and declared that there would be six more weeks of winter.

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