D E C E M B E R
In a message dated 8/12/98 4:21:54, you wrote:
<<Hi, my name is Amy and I live in Tennessee. My mom told me about your page when we couldn't come up with an answer. I belong to a sunday school group that has kids in it from 8 or 9 up to 14. About all we all like is beanies so we decided to do a nativity scene for our program using a beanie from each of us. Its was real easy because of all the animals and we are using bears for people. Mary is played by Valentino and Curley is Joseph. The wise men are all peace bears. My mom even let us have her Lefty for the donkey. The problem is who should play baby Jesus? Some of the old people are mad at my mom for coming up with this idea, but we have had a lot of fun doing it. Please help us decide who ought to be the baby. Thank you. Amy age 13 >>
Hello Amy,
Christmas Teddy and Halo think that idea is really kewl!! It is VERY original.
Glory said that he would make the best Christ child!! The stars on his body represent the one that guided the wise men, your 3 Peaces, to the manger.
You should take a pic of the nativity scene and send it to me for other kids to see your project.
I bet you anything that even the "old people" loved it when it was finished!!
REX
I won Rex Dec. contest and my mom said I must write and thank you for such a nice beanie. He is the oldest one I have and I really like him. I have taken somme pictures and will send you of my beanie nativity when you get home form your trip. Hope you had fun. We had a tornado, but are not hurt. Thank you again for the 97 Teddy. Your friend, Amy
In a message dated 5/12/98 22:41:50, you wrote:
<<I was wondering if it was possible to get a purebred from a hybred. I think it is, but how can that be? If it has a little bit of another organism in it, it can't be a PUREbred. And if it is true, is it possible to get a purebred dog from a cocker spaniel mixed with a blood hound if you found another cocker spaniel mixed with a blood hound? I don't know, but it sounds like a very cute dog!!! Katie age 12 Kansas>>
Hello Katie,
Purebreed means that the animal or plant sort of looks like the parents, and has similar characteristics. IF you found a male from a Cocker Spaniel / Bloodhound mix and bred him with a female from a similar but different parented dog, at least some of the puppies would probably look like the parents.
Spunky thinks the puppies would be really cute!!
REX
In a message dated 5/12/98 14:22:38, you wrote:
<<Dear Rex! Hi! This is your friend Ashley from Connecticut. Right now, I'm studying genetics in science. Boy, is it confusing! Anyways, my teacher was telling us how some scientists believe that parents can decide what their child will look like by changing their (the child's) genetic structure (or something like that!). For some reason, I just can't comprehend that! I mean, how can scientists actually switch 2 genes around? They're so small! Do they have special tools or something to do it? My teacher said, by doing that, the scientists would be defying the law of independant assortment...is that true? I'm kind of confused by the whole concept, so any help would be really appreciated! Thank you! :o) Ashley
P.S. PLEASE DON'T LEAVE, REX! You're such a great friend and teacher to all of us children! If we have a question, you're always there to answer it. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that you would be greatly missed. Please don't leave!>>
Hello Ashley,
Scientists have only been able to change the genes in a few VERY simple animals and plants. It is a VERY complicated, yet sort of simple process, and then they would have to know about the entire "genome" of the organism to do it correctly. The entire human gene makeup is not known at this time.
Wise says that it may be possible in humans, someday, and that yes, it would sort of "defy" the NATURAL laws in general!! He thinks it is the scientists way of playing God, and this doesn't even sound right-- or correct!!
Cloning might be a little simpler, BUT would you like to see a dozen kids exactly the same as yourself in your school? It might get a little confusing!!
I am not yet sure whether I will continue my contest throughout 1999, although I really have fun doing it! We shall see. At least the January and February contests are announced already.
REX
In a message dated 22/12/98 15:58:21, you wrote:
<<Hi Rex, I'm writing again to you to confide in your great wisdom. My name's Bim and I am 13. I live in London (U.K.) and can't find Britannia. I've looked on the internet and their a many people looking from all over the world and many People from the U.S. asking if she is limited to Britain but she isn't in the British shops. What has happened to your friend please help me find her! All me beanies say hi and Erin wants to know if you're free Saturday night. Bye from Bim and her beans!>>
Hello Bim,
It seems as if people hoard bears in the UK also!!
Here in the States nobody can usually find any of my Beanie bear pals because many Official Beanie Adoption Centers sell their entire shipment "out the back door" to secondary market dealers who then sell them at HIGH prices at flea markets and online.
Did you ever notice how many there are listed on that infamous eBay auction site? And many times the listing is for "unopened TY bags"!!
Teddy bears have been VERY popular for about a century already, and it seems as if everybody is getting on the bear bandwagon-- from sports bears to famous person and even State bears!! I hear that there are some really cute Australian bears also.
REX
In a message dated 4/12/98 16:38:43, you wrote:
<<Hi Rex, my name is Cody from New Mexico. How are you? We are fine. I have a questin for this month contest. You know how there are lots of planets and stuff out in space. Lots of galaxys to. We have a place matt with this galaxy on it. My Mom told me that there are lots of other galazys in space to. My questin is are there other people in the other galaxys to? Dad says that may be there are some other people just like us there who do the sme things we are doing now. Do you think so? May be that is who the aliens are when they come here in their sausers. I'm so glad you are still here. Moms computer broke and lost all information so we lost your email address and every thing. I'm learning a lot in school and my spelling is better now. thanks Rex. By, Cody from New Mexico>>
Hello again Cody, my friend,
There are MANY galaxies that we know of in the Universe, and some of them may have planets. Scientists have discovered some planets within out own galaxy already.
Yes, there may be extraterrestrials more or less like us, but not necessarily exactly the same, living on those planets. IF flying saucers do exist, they may come from one or more of these far away planets.
BUT there is NO PROOF that intelligent life on some other planet does exist! My friend, Sonny, has always wanted to meet one though!! Can you imagine the technology that they might have that would benefit mankind?
IF they do exist, some day we may be contacted by them. That would be real fun, supposing that they were totally peaceful, and NOT like the ones in that stupid "Mars Attacks" movie!!
REX
NOVEMBER
In a message dated 2/11/98 4:57:01, you wrote:<<Dear Rex, My name
is Chard Rowland, I live in Baltimore, MD and I am 10 yrs old. I have 10
of the beanie babies they gave out at McDonalds. I want to keep them real
nice so I can have them when I am grown up. I have kept them in their plastic
bags. Now I am reading on the Internet that this might not be a good idea.
Plus they are selling hang tags for them. Since I know you know every thing
there is to know about Beanies I thought you might give me a good idea of
which to do, if I want to keep them for years. Leave them in own bags or
take out and put in cases with hang tags. Thank you for your answer last
month, it made little Ali real happy. She loves playing with her Teddy.
Love, Chard>>
Hello Chard,
WOW, you got my Teenie friends!! They are the cutest critters!!
I personally don't see why you couldn't just leave them in their original sealed plastic baggies and store them somewhere that is not damp. If you like, you could use a hole puncher and make 2-3 little round holes in the plastic for air to get in and the cloth to "breath", as long as it is not damp and all. And don't keep them in the Sun-- that makes their color change!
You could always get some of the smaller tag protectors and keep them with the Teenies, without opening the baggies or actually putting them on.
Slither tells me that he has not seen any long term negative effects of keeping Beanies in plastic-- it does keep them cleaner than having them out, or even in some display case with glass doors. Dust does get in!
All my Beanie pals really hate to be kept in bags-- they can't breath too well that way, and it gets very lonely in some closet somewhere!! They love to be held and played with.
REX
Oh Rex, I do not know what to say! Thank you so very much. The Teddy Beanie I won is so wonderful it was my very favorite Christmas present. I did not get him until we came home from my aunts house. Something happened to our electric and it would not work so we had to stay at my aunts for Christmas. When we came back home my neighbor gave me the box from you. My mom said you were a blessing! I think you are just wonderful. Did you and Sonny get what you wanted for Christmas? I certainly hope so. You sure deserved it. I got a Roam beanie baby for Christmas and a remote control car. My aunt gave me 2 puzzles and a nice shirt. If you have time tell me what you got! Well, I have to get ready for bed now. Thanks again and I am glad you are my friend. Have a happy new year. From Chard!!
ps: who is watching you while sonny is gone? be careful and take care
OCTOBER
In a message dated 15/10/98 01:26:29, you wrote: <<Dear Rex, I
am 12 years old and in science we learned about DNA and how you can change
someone's looks by altering their DNA. They said they haven't really done
it on humans, but they have on E.Coli to make an oil eating bacteria for
oil spills. But if they can find a way to do it on humans, instead of altering
my looks and since I'm so short, do you think they could make me taller?
I sometimes ask my beanies these queations, but at least I'll get an answer
from you! Katie from Kansas>>
Hello Katie,
Well, I had to ask Wise about this one!!
E.coli is a teensy weensy bacteria and the even smaller genes are somewhat easier to play with than in humans.
What you read in school is that certain genes sort of control or determine what hair color you have, the color of your eyes, and loads of other phycical characteristics-- what scientists call "phenotypes". Gregor Mendel first discovered this genotype/phenotype connection over 100 years ago in his work with plants.
Although I have seen MANY newspaper articles that say this sort of DNA change is "possible" in humans, it would be very difficult and has NOT YET been done. They could even possibly take out genes for cancer and other diseases-- wouldn't that be great!! I think that there are too many little details that are still unknown about human genes to be able to even attempt to do such a thing for MANY years yet. Be happy as you are-- the real you IS NOT your tallness or shortness, it is in HOW you are!!
Can you imagine some nutty scientist inventing an oil eating dog or human?? That's great for bacteria because they are too small to go to a fast food place anyway!! I personally will stick with one of my favorite foods-- pizza!!
REX
In a message dated 21/11/98 1:19:16 PM, you wrote:<<Thank you thank you thank you thank you! I got Spooky today and I was sooooo happy! I screamed and was sooo excited I bent backwards and I think my leg bent the way it shouldn't have, but it was worth it! I love him! I didn't think I'd get a beanie so hard to find! I can't believe he is sitting here right now! My mom is going to flip! Thank you sooo much! You are the best dino in the world of beanies! He is so cute! So are you! Thank you! I'll keep him forever! Thank you! Gracias! Dunke! Gratzi! ank-Thay! Thank you! A Big Fan, Katie>>
In a message dated 18/10/98 04:27:55, you wrote: << My name is
Hannah and I live in Massachusetts. I am an 8-year-old home schooler. I
have been trying to understand magnetism. The earth is like a big magnet
with a north and south pole. That is why a compass works. But why is the
earth like this and how did it get that way? Are other planets like this
too? Does it have to do with electrons? I am trying to understand electrons
and static electricity. I was wondering if you have this problem, that when
you walk accross a carpet and touch a door knob, do you get a shock or are
dinosaurs not bothered by this? Hannah from Waltham, MA>>
Hello Hannah,
Even scientists DO NOT totally understand magnetism or electricity!!
They say that the Earth has a VERY hot nickel-iron core, which is sort of liquid. It is thought that the heat is left over from when the Earth formed many scores of millions of years ago-- the rocks on top of it act like insulation and some of the heat was trapped in the core. This core moves around or spins slowly due to the rotation of the Earth, acting like a "dynamo" motor which produces our planets magnetic field. Some of the other planets also have the same metals in them and also have magnetic fields.
Static electricity has to do with a buildup of an "electric charge", meaning electrons. Electricity is thought of simply as a movement of these electrons. At school you may have seen a Van Der Graff generator, with a metal ball on top of a long tube. A moving rubber belt inside the tube rolls very fast and the static electricity is stored in the metal ball until you touch it-- then a spark jumps to your finger giving you a slight jolt, much in the same way as when you walk along a carpet then touch a metal door knob.
YES, even dinosaurs get a slight shock every now and then, especially IF it is VERY dry in the house.
REX
In a message dated 24/11/98 7:11:11 PM, you wrote: <<Dear Rex, I got my prize today. It was fun to go to the post office and sign for it. When my Mom helped me open it and I saw it was Spooky I screamed I was so Happy! I dont have him! And he is retired! Thank you so much! I will think of more questions to send but not this month. I got a part in the Boston Ballets Nutcracker and I have no time. It is so exciting I cant believe I am in it. Do you like Ballet? Love, Hannah>>
In a message dated 3/10/98 00:50:44, you wrote: <<Hi Rex! (My
mom is typing this for me.) My name is Christa and I am 7 years old. I live
in Arlington, Texas. This is my beanie question: It is so hard to find bears.
Can you tell me why they don't make more bears so I can have some too? >>
Hello Christa,
Father Ty makes just as many bears as he does my other Beanie Pals. Glory tells me that you don't usually find them in the Official Adoption Agencies, BUT you can find tables full at any local flea market!!
That probably means that the official dealers sell them all to friends, and these friends then supply them to the infamous "secondary market" people-- who then sell them for $25-50!!
This is NOT supposed to happen!!
REX
In a message dated 23/11/98 5:09:53 PM, you wrote: <<Hi Rex! Christa received Spooky on Saturday! She was so excited for him to arrive. He has gone everywhere with us since he got here. I do not believe he will be lonely! Christa wanted to say a big THANK YOU! We hope you human friend is much better now. We, too, have had that cold stuff, and it is not fun at all! Everyone take care! Have a Happy Thanksgiving! Christa and her Mom >>
A BIG Beanie Thank you !!
September
Well, school has begun again for most of you, at least in the United States. All the Beanies are back from vacation and are excited about their new classes, which will include Computer Literacy for the first time!! They all want to learn how to use the Internet for learning new things.
My friend Sonny still doesn't have everything unpacked from his BIG move, but slowly things are getting back to normal here.
This time Princess picked the best 9 out of all the entries, Peace narrowed them down to 6 and I let Steggy pick what he thought were the best-- there were 4 winners BUT one did not reply to the winners' email.
And this months winners are:
In a message dated 7/9/98 17:08:15, you wrote:
<<Dear Rex, Hi Rex! How are you today? My name is Katie and I am 7 years old. I live in Florida. I love your page. It teachs so much. I love this contests too. I just started second grade and we are in a space unit. I have a question. How do you we know that all these planets and star excitist. I have asked people before but all they have given me were big words I didn't understand. I mean I know the 9 planets and the Astrobelt (I was astrod #1 in a play) but is there more? Thank you for your time. I love beanie babies. and I love you but you cost more then my 3$ allowence. I would also like to thank my sister right now for helping me type and word this. Thank You Katie >>
Hello Katie,
Scientists ONLY believe what they can see and measure. To actually see these planets outside of out Solar System, they use really big telecsopes and take hundreds of photos of different parts of the sky.
When they put one photo on top of another, a star will always be in the same place BUT a planet will seem to move slightly from where it was in another pic.
In the 28 September of Science News, a kewl science news magazine that comes out every week, scientists have already discovered 12 planets that are not in our solar system. Peace found a website that has info on these planets "The Extrasolar Planets" . Check it out-- it is way kewl!!
Princess said to say hello to you and your sister.
REX
In a message dated 10/10/98 20:20:23, you wrote: <<Rex, Hi! Thank You For Stinger! I love him so much. Love You, Katie>>
In a message dated 3/9/98 19:40:10, you wrote:
<<Dear Rex, I am 12 years old and often hear a term I don't really understand: Global Warming. I hope you could explain to me what it is and how will affect us and what causes it. I also wanted to let you know I love beanies! Thanks so much! You are cool! :)-------> Kelsey, Baldwinsville,NY>>
Hi Kelsey,
Global Warming is a term that many people use to mean that the Earth is warming up and will eventually become so warm that some of the polar ice caps will melt and flood cities along the coasts around the world.
They say is it due to "greenhouse gases", cows belching, use of spray containers, the gas in many old air conditioners and refrigerators-- and many other things. Steggy even said he saw something in a paper recently that connected it with some insects or something like that.
Bronty suggests that we have seen many climate changes in our times, and that you should not worry about these things which are only a theory anyway!! And Sonny predicted over 10 years ago that the 21st Century will be notably colder than the one we are in now!!
REX
In a message dated 23/8/98 04:02:23, you wrote:
<<Dear REX, I really like your homepage!!!! My name is Guy, and I was wondering if you knew how the names of all the beanie babies became their names? Is it from something that they do, like Roary the lion. Is he called that because he roars? But not all the names match like that one, so maybe you could help me. thank you. I hope Mr. Ty brings out some more dinosaures, I like learning about them and I think they are really COOL!!! My mom just got me Peace, I sure wish that the money she paid for it would go to a charity to help bring peace in this world. It's too bad that people fight over the color of someone or the religion they believe in, too many people die or get hurt over these things and I don't understand it?! It's really really sad :( Everytime I hug Peace I think of how nice it would be if everyone liked each other!!! Thanks for having a great page, I can't wait to hear from you. Love, Guy from Minnesota>>
Hello Guy,
Only Father Ty knows why he names my Beanie friends as he does. Many seem to have to do with what the animal does, or how it looks. Beak says it must be his beak that gave him his name! And Buffalos do "roam" the prairies, don't they?
If people can fight over Beanies at an adoption center, I am sure they will do it over other things. Unfortunately that's how many people are!!
At least we Beanies are peace loving!!
REX
June - July
Well, it's summer and my friend, Sonny, hasn't finished moving yet. You should see the stuff he has to unpack and all!
Once again we had 11 finalists out of a couple hundred entries. It has been way too hot here and most of the Beanies went to the beach to try to keep cool, so they couldn't all vote this time. My helpers Peace, Bronty, Steggy, and Princess voted on the best ones, and I personally choose the 4 winners. One was not really technically a question BUT showed the REAL reason why we Beanies exist!!
In a message dated 29/6/98 15:48:41, you wrote: <<My name is
Molly Rose and I am six years old from Tennessee. I do not have a question
but I wanted to tell Rex that I love my Beanie Babies. I pick one each night
to sleep with me and I do not get scared. Molly Rose >>
Hi Molly,
Thank you very much for loving your Beanies as much as you do. All my Beanie pals are jumping up and down because they say that you are one of the few children who have written that they actually sleep with them, not smother them in some plastic baggie hoping to become a millionaire someday!! You don't want to know what they are "worth", because they are your friends, and a good friend don't scare you or have a price tag (or even a tush or hang tag!!) attached to them!!
They all send you their Love.
REX
In a message dated 2/6/98 01:52:37, you wrote: <<Dear Rex, I
wrote you last month for the first time and I got a response. Thank you.
My mom helps me write these questions because I am just six years old. I
am in kindergarten now. I want to know how come we can sometimes see a Rainbow
when the sun is shining and the rain is coming down. The beanie named Rainbow
helped me come up with this question. I looked for a rainbow yesterday when
the sun was shining and it was raining but I could not find one. I am Kellie
and I live in Quinton, Va if I am the winnng question for the month of June.
Thanks so much for having such an informative site. I am also watching lots
of tad poles get bigger. They are on top of my pool cover. How long before
they turn into frogs? Kellie in VA. Age 6>>
Hello Kellie,
Rainbows are formed when the sunlight passes through some rain droplets. It doesn't have to be actually raining where you are, but somewhere between you and the Sun, which should be shining (= not totally cloudy). The water droplets act as little "prisms" that bend or "refract" the light waves into different wavelengths, and each wavelength (measured in Angström units) has its own color.
An easy way to remember the colors is by the funny name ROY G. BIV = red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.
The tadpoles should already be jumping around in your pool! It only usually takes a couple weeks, depending on the kind of frog.
REX
In a message dated 29/6/98 14:11:19, you wrote: <<Dear Rex, My
name is Nan and I wanted to ask you why bears are more expensive than other
animals? The others are very cute too!!! I really want princess and Erin
(Who doesen't?) but there price 40-100$ each!Ty priced them to be $5 so
why are they so expensive? Your fan, Nan Ni Lexington KY>>
Hello Nan,
It seems that people have liked bears ever since the first "Teddy" came out many years ago to honor one of the Presidents of the United States, Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.
Some people only collect bears, and many different companies make ONLY bears. Of course the older ones are now VERY expensive, and by "old" I do not mean as NEW as the Beanie bears!!
IF people would not pay such high prices for Princess and Erin and some of the other "current" bears, then the prices would get to be where they are supposed to be. After all, they are just toys!!
REX
In a message dated 21/7/98 22:52:20, you wrote: <<Hi Rex, My
name is Erin and I love beanies! I have a friend who lives in Australia.
Over there they are always a day ahead of us [like if it is Saturday here
it would be Sunday there] and they are eighteen [18] hours ahead of us also.
Does this happen because the world is always spinning? Thanks so much for
your time. Sincerly, Erin Hanley, Washington State>>
Hello Erin,
We on Earth tell time by the Sun and its apparent movement across the sky. It is called "Sidereal Time". This movement is actually the result of the Earth spinning from West to East on its imaginary axis.
Noon, any place on the planet, is when the Sun is at its highest point above the horizon AT THAT PLACE. Since Australia is on the other side of the Earth, they have "night" when we have daylight, and visa-versa.
REX
Dear Rex, Thank you for your time!I love SPOOKY, he is soooooooooooooooo cute.I just got him yesterday in the mail.I was so happy.TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT TTTTHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNKKKKKKYOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOU!!!! I really like that you do this for kids like me.Please keep doing this for us! Sincerely, Your Friend, Erin Hanley
