RIP Moford's Hallmark

After 25 years the local Halmark store on 410 is closing. When I think about retail business ideas for downtown Sumner this is not one I would choose. The world is changing and handwritten cards become less used every year, especially the ones sent by the postal service who are also in distress.

I believe the stores in Puyallup and Gig Harbor are still open.

Quirky

Just read an awesome story about Quirky, a business that helps people become inventors and then shares an income stream with them. Why is this so awesome? For years, I have met people that had an invention, sometimes even a patent and the system found a way to steal their idea.

Sometimes outright intellectual property theft, more commonly they were working on a shoestring budget and a well funded company fielded a knock-off product. You may win in court, but it could take years to settle the case and many inventors just give up . . . and swear off inventing from then on.

Lake Tapps Polar Bear Plunge

You have to see this one to believe it. People jumping into a lake off Driftwood Park that is fed by a glacier in the middle of the winter. But Patch posted a video, maybe you can join next time. We might go see it next year ( New Years Day), but we aren't jumping in. It is for a good cause, bring some canned food for the food bank. It even brought in romance for this couple. There is even a facebook page for the event. It was organized by Scott Thorsteinson.

Here is an article on the event and here is another. Apparently, this is a big deal in Washington State, here is a story about a plunge in the Sound off Tacoma.