THE LEFT LANE
Bear of a birthday

• 1902 — Toymakers Morris and Rose Michtom invent "Teddy's Bear," to commemorate President Theodore Roosevelt's refusal to shoot a bear cub.
• 1912 — Black "mourning" bears are sold in memory of the Titanic disaster.
• 1926 — "Winnie the Pooh" introduces "a bear of very little brain."
• 1983 — Teddy Bear and Friends magazine is founded for collectors of bears and other toys.
• 2002 — The Teddy Bear celebrates its 100 birthday.

The May/June edition of Teddy Bear and Friends magazine celebrates the Gund company, famous for its bears. And the magazine will play host to a weekly webcast in this centennial year, for teddy fanatics (www.VoiceAmerica.com, 8 a.m. Tuesdays, with repeats at 2 a.m. Wednesdays). You can learn more at www.teddybearand friends.com.