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19-Year-Old Theology Student Wins $100,000 in Beanies!

Joel Weck of Jamesburg, N.J., a 19-year-old theological student and Beanie Baby collector, surrounded by every single Beanie manufactured through August. That's more than 200 different Beanies worth more than $100,000. Weck is the winner of the $100,000 Beanie Giveaway sponsored by Mary Beth's Beanie World Monthly, the leading magazine devoted to Beanie Babies. Weck's name was selected from among nearly 170,000 entries at the magazine's web site (www.beanieworld.net). H&S Media, the magazine's publisher, is flying him in to company headquarters to collect his prize

Spy Agency Bans Furbys As Threat - WASHINGTON (AP)

- Warning: Furbys could be a threat to national security. The National Security Agency has banned the popular mechanical pets from its Fort Meade premises in Maryland. In an internal message to workers, the NSA issued a warning about the toy, which is embedded with a computer chip that allows it to utter 200 words - 100 in English and 100 in ``Furbish.'' ``Personally owned photographic, video and audio recording equipment are prohibited items. This includes toys, such as 'Furbys,' with built-in recorders that repeat the audio with synthesized sound to mimic the original signal,'' the Furby Alert read, according to today's editions of The Washington Post. ``We are prohibited from introducing these items into NSA spaces. Those who have should contact their Staff Security Office for guidance.'' The Furby resembles an owl, with tufts of hair between its huge pink ears. Because of its ability to repeat some of what it hears, NSA officials were worried ``that people would take them home and they'd start talking classified,'' one Capitol Hill source told the Post.

Beanie Baby raffle to help fund search for missing teen - West Bend -- The investigation into the disappearance of a young Campbellsport woman now will focus on the Washington County area, according to the lead detective in the case. Amber Wilde, 19, moved to Green Bay last fall to attend the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. She struck her head in a car accident Sept. 23, and her whereabouts have not been known as of Sept. 24. "We have done a major investigation on it here, and we're now pointing to an investigation in the Washington County-West Bend area," said Michael Zettel, a Green Bay police detective newly assigned to the case. "We do have specific people we want to talk to," he said. "I guess there are suspects in the Washington County area, and we need to find out more about them. I would have to say suspects plural, because we never give up on anybody." Click here to read the rest of the story

First hand view of some of the new Beanies and Buddies can be found in an item on Beaniemom. Jeannine, who once did Beaniemom's Q&A section tell about her recent trip to the Philadelphia gift show. She also tells of some fantastic luck her family had while opening Trading Cards! Click here to read the story.

People are actually buying from Home Shopping Network. St. Petersburg-based Home Shopping Network reported gross sales of $160 million in December, its largest sales month ever. Among highlights: HSN sold 100,000 Barbie dolls and 550,000 Beanie Babies

Toy maker sues Sam's Club over Beanie Baby packaging BENTONVILLE -- The Beanie Baby trade is a high-stakes business. Anyone who has paid hundreds of dollars for a plush bag of beans deemed rare can tell you that.

But this may take the craze to a new level: Illinois-based toy maker Ty Inc. has sued Sam's Club, the wholesale club division of Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc., for selling improperly packaged Beanie Babies. By selling Beanies bundled into sets of 12 with unauthorized packaging, Sam's broke trademark and copyright laws, the suit alleges. Click here to read the rest of the story

Ty's Newest Beanie Baby Poems

Goochy- #4230

Birthday: November 18,1998

Swirl, swish, squirm and wiggle

Listen closely, hear him giggle

The most ticklish jellyfish you'll ever meet

Even though he has no feet

Nibbler- #4216

Birthday: April 4,1998

Twitching her nose, she looks so sweet

Small in size she's very petite

Soft and furry, hopping with grace

She'll visit your garden, her favorite place!

Nibbly- #4217

Birthday: May 7,1998

Wonderful ways to spend a day

Bright and sunny in the month of May

Hopping around as trees sway

Looking for friends, out to play!

Scat- #4231

Birthday: May 27,1998

Newborn kittens require lots of sleep

Shhh...it's naptime, don't make a peep

Touch her fur it feels like silk

Wake her up to drink mother's milk!

Tiny- #4234

Birthday: September 8,1998

South of the border, in the sun

Tiny the Chihuahua is having fun

Attending fiestas, breaking piñatas

Eating a taco, or some enchiladas!

Valentina- #4233

Birthday: February 14,1998

Flowers, candy and hearts galore

Sweet words of love for those you adore

With this bear comes love that's true

On Valentine's Day and all year through!

Slippery- #4222

Bithdate: January 17,1998

In the ocean, near a breaking wave

Slippery the seal acts very brave

Oh his surfboard, he sees a swell

He's riding the wave! Oooops...he fell!

Ewey- #4219

Birthdate: March 1,1998

Needles and yarn, Ewey loves to knit

Making sweaters with perfect fit

Happy to make one for you and me

Showing off hers, for all to see!

Goatee- #4235

Birthday: November 4,1998

Though she's hungry,she's in a good mood

Searching through garbage, tin cans for food

For goatee the goat,it's not a big deal

Any thing at all makes a fine meal!

Kicks- #4229

Birthdate: August 16, 1998

The world cup is his dream

Kicks the bear is the best on his team

He hopes that one day he'll be the pick

First he needs to improve his kick!

1999 Signature Bear- #4228

No birthdate

No poem

Inside simply says 1999 Signature Bear

Millenium- #4226

Birthdate: January 1, 1999

A brand new century has come to call

Health and happiness to one and all

Bring on the fireworks and all the fun

Let's keep the party going 'til 2001!

Sammy- #4215

Birthdate: June 23, 1998

As Sammy steps up to the plate

The crowd gets excited, can hardly wait

We know Sammy won't let us down

He makes us the happiest fans in town!

Butch- #4227

Birthdate: October 2, 1998

Going to the pet shop to buy dog food

I ran into Butch in a good mood

"Come to the pet shop down the street"

"Be a good dog, I'll buy you a treat!"

Stilts- #4221

Birthdate: June 16, 1998

Flying high over mountains and streams

Fulfilling wishes, hopes and dreams

The stork bring parents bundles of joy

The greatest gift, a girl or boy!

Luke- #4214

Birthdate: June 15, 1998

After chewing on your favorite shoes

Luke gets tired, takes a snooze

Who wouldn't love a puppy like this?

Give him a hug, he'll give you a kiss!

Mooch the Spider Monkey

Birthday: August 1,1998

Look in the tree tops, up towards the sky

Swinging from branches way up high

Tempt him with a banana or fruit

When he's hungry, he acts so cute!

15 Poems of the New Beanies out of 24

Sammi- 6/23

Mac- 6/10

Goatee- 11/4

Millenium- 1/1

Valentina- 2/14

Ewey- 3/1

Butch- 12/2

Kicks- 8/16

Tiny- 9/8

Scat- 5/27

Nibbler- 4/6

Goochy- 11/8

Mooch- 8/1

Stilts- 6/16

Slippery- 1/17

NEW BEANIE TAGS AND POEMS!