ShaqBear(TM) is a 10" medium brown Beanie Baby(R) bear, wearing a white jersey and shorts, with red and yellow trim. The jersey front is embroidered with "SHAQ" and the Dunkman logo; the jersey back reads "O'NEAL" and has the number 32, all in red lettering. ShaqBear(TM) also wears Dunkman athletic shoes with the name "SHAQ" on the tongue. ShaqBear(TM) has 3 different hang tags; each tag variation has its own poem, Shaq Fact, and an inspirational message for children from Shaquille O'Neal.

"I am honored to be the first athlete for whom Ty created a Beanie Baby," said Shaquille O'Neal. "Beanie Babies have been providing companionship and strong values to children around the world for a long time. Those things are important to me, and partnering with Ty to continue to spread those messages really means a lot."

"We believe that ShaqBear has universal appeal," said Ty Warner, Chairman and CEO of Ty Inc. "Sports fans will want this item for its collectability, and children, adults and Beanie Baby fans will want this piece for our usual high quality, attention to detail and overall cute characteristics."

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The Attack of the Marshmallow Gun

We know what we want in our stockings this holiday season: a giant marshmallow shooter. Available at MarshmallowShooter.com, this handy weapon of choice retails for $24.95. It would also make a great gift for any child that you like who has parents that you can't stand -- because they're not going to be pleased with a gift that shoots sticky marshmallows all over the house. But hey, that's not your problem, is it? Be sure to load up with extra marshmallow ammo.

Posted on December 2, 2005
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Ken Gets an Extreme Makover, But Will Barbie Care?

Ok, we accepted the fact that Ken and Barbie broke up, although we thought it was weird: after all, they were made for each other (literally), right? (It was that Australian surfer named Blaine that broke the couple up after 43 happy years together). Now CNN reports that Ken is getting an extreme makeover in order to win Barbie back.

Ken's fans might see "some big changes in Spring 2006," Mattel said in a statement. The company did not offer specific details about the makeover, but personal stylists offered some suggestions. Among the changes they'd like to see are a better tan, an eyelid surgery that allows him to wink at his favorite lady and a more lean and defined physique.

*****

Mattel spokeswoman Lauren Bruksch offered little specifics when asked whether Ken's revamp was an attempt to reinvigorate the Barbie brand, saying, "A makeover for Ken was inevitable. A new changeover was in the cards." Video games and other electronic media are posing a challenge to many players in the traditional toy market, but Mattel's third-quarter results were especially disappointing.

Maybe it's just us, but the photos of Ken over the years make us think that he might be more interested in Blaine than Barbie.

Posted on October 24, 2005
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Britney's Unusual Toy Bear

Britney Spears is auctioning off some of her clothes, shoes and furniture to raise money in a special ebay auction for Hurricane Katrina survivors. One of the items up for auctions is called Britney Spears' Huggable Teddy. Many media outlets, including MSNBC, London Free Press and CBS News, are calling this item a teddy bear or Britney's toy bear but it doesn't look like any teddy bear we have ever seen. Maybe that's why Britney is getting rid of it. But poor Huggable Teddy sure looks sad to be leaving Britney. Here are some of Teddy's many features.

Huggable

White head

Black body with red flowers and green stems

100-percent silk jersey

dry clean only

Measures approximately: 10 inches tall

We are surprised that Huggable Teddy's cool and wavy white hair was not mentioned as a feature. We hope Britney's odd teddy bear finds a new home soon.

Posted on October 4, 2005
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