But are these items really antiques???

I spent part of my Sunday browsing through antique malls in the KC area. At one mall in Grain Valley, MO I saw a display case with a Cookie Rojas bobblehead doll, a Steve Busby bobblehead doll, a George Brett bobblehead doll, a Paul Splittorf bobblehead doll, a Dick Howser bobblehead doll, and even a Kirk Hinrich bobblehead doll.

Now here's the thing that bothers me. The Royals organization this year had a Steve Busby bobblehead night, a Cookie Rojas bobblehead night, and in the near future they will have a Fred Patek bobblehead night. I think who ever rents this display case is trying to make a quick buck with items that were given away free at a Royals game. Also, since these bobblehead dolls were massed produced for about 20,000 fans, what convinces this person to put these items in an antique mall display case?

I think this person is taking advantage of his display case rental and preying on unsuspecting Royals fans from the past who are unaware today's Royals organization have these promotional events. Shame on you.

Your Saturday Morning Cartoon

I remember seeing this Canadian piece of animation back in the mid '90s and thought it was fun to watch. Enjoy! BTW, that's NOT me playing the tuba.

While out walking this morning.....

I finally found out what "they" are developing at 152 Highway and Ambassador Road near Barry Road. They are putting in a new shopping area which will include a Target, Best Buy, Home Despot, and a JCPenny's. All of this is about three miles west of my house.
Now about a half mile to the east of my house is....a Target, Best Buy, JCPenny's, and Home Despot is about five miles to the south.
My question is this: How much development is too much development.
Another point to ponder: the Metro North Mall's days are numbered. Since I moved up to the Northland Fall 2001, there has been a drainage, if you will, of businesses from the mall. Dillards recently had a sale of all inventory and it's now empty. The mall is half occupied. I would be surprised that the mall faces demolition in the next five to ten years and "they" building an apartment complex there or perhaps a deluxe grocery store.
Meanwhile, the Barry Road and I-29 area will be saturated with traffic problems. And I wonder if "they" will be able to fix that.

Random Observations

1. According to NPR, today is the 100th birthday of the Pike Street Market in Seattle. Happy Birthday to a place that gives Seattle its personality.


2. The hot weather has taken its toll here in the Midwest and my neighborhood has also been battered by the brutal heat. A water main broke right on the driveway of a house to the west of mine. For a week, you could see water pouring out of the blacktop and rushing to the sewer about a hundred feet away. Last night, the city water department repaired the main but in the process destroyed the concrete. I sincerely hope the city will foot the bill as the homeowner will have to rebuild the driveway. When I walked by the driveway this morning, I decided that the city did a mediocre job of repairing the main because there was still water coming from below the blacktop and draining to the sewer.


3. In another heat-related note, for the first time in four weeks I mowed my lawn this morning although there was not much grass to mow. The heat plus the lack of rain has caused my lawn to go dormant. After finishing the front lawn, I spot mowed the back yard realizing that there was not much grass to cut. We need two or three days of a good soaking rain in these dog days of August.


4. The Unshelved comic strip strikes the proverbial nerve as it pokes fun at libraries forced to reconsider their web page:
   


5. Finally, a belated Happy Birthday wish to my niece, who turned 13 a couple of days ago. Watch out Mom and Dad---She's a Teenager!!!

KC Librarian goes to NEKLS Tech Day 2007

For the third consecutive year, I attended Tech Day sponsored by NEKLS and hosted by The Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. BTW, it was good to see Patti back on Kansas turf.