Mary Warner, Museum Manager at the Morrison County Historical Society:

Have you heard? The Smithsonian Institution has negotiated a deal with Showtime to create Smithsonian On Demand, a service that will provide digital cable programs for the network using Smithsonian resources. Heres the kicker: The deal allows Showtime exclusive access to Smithsonian resources whilst excluding other commercial filmmakers from using the resources for more than incidental use. The full extent of the Smithsonian/Showtime contract is confidential. It should be noted that 75 percent of the Smithsonians funding comes from taxpayers. The Smithsonian is arguing that the deal will bring in money to finance its mission and also give the public more access to its collections via the digital cable programs. So, local museum professionals, what do you think? Has the Smithsonian made a deal with the devil? Or, are they just being smart capitalists?

In the July/August issue of the Minnesota History Interpreter the issue of how to care for Large Functional Objects (LFOs) in your collection was discussed. Tell us about your LFOs. To get the discussion started, here are a few LFOs from around the state:

• Cattail Bailer at the Marshall County Historical Society in Warren. This implement tells about homefront activity during World War II, namely the harvest of cattails to fill life vests used by the U.S. Navy.
• Fire Engine at the Koochiching County Historical Society in International Falls. This object highlights early 20th century public safety history in International Falls.
• 1906 Auto Bug at the Wheels Across the Prairie Museum in Tracy. The Auto Bug illustrates the transition from horse and buggy to automotive transportation.

What kinds of LFOs do you have in your collection? What stories do you tell with them? What challenges do you have in making the best use of LFOs? Where do you draw the line between full restoration and retaining historical patina?

Vintage bicycles, well used, free to historical museum: mans 3 speed English style mid-1960s; womans 3 speed English style mid-1960s; and childs high handle bar style mid-1970s. Contact Thelma Boeder, or 651 489-2604. Free delivery to any location in Minnesota probably can be arranged.