Baltimore is about to get its fill of Amazon.

The online retail giant is about to build one of its eight “fulfillment centers” in Charm City.

The “Fulfillment centers” are ginormous distribution warehouses. These suckers (with an exciting name) are sprouting up across the nation. Amazon has already planted them in 14 states and there’s no sign things slowing down.

Amazon announced plans this week to open up shop in Florida and Maryland. The company claims that these centers will create more than 1,000 full-time jobs each with many more part time and seasonal positions available.

The Maryland center will be located in Southeast Baltimore and will replace a former GM plant that was operating until 2005. This marks both a symbolic and real transition from the old to the new.

Baltimore City’s Vice President, Edward Reisinger, had this to say:

“It means jobs for Baltimore City. They’ll purchase homes here and will pay personal income taxes…they’ll be off the unemployment rolls.”

It’s hard to argue against jobs because Baltimore City definitely needs jobs. But “fulfillment center” may be a misnomer.

The centers have been called a “soulless” place to work.

Also, Marylanders and Floridians can say goodbye to the no-sales-tax-Amazon-shopping they’ve enjoyed. A physical presence by the company means that customers in those states will have to pay the dreaded sales tax for their Amazon orders.

Regardless, Amazon will continue to expand. It seems Baltimore, for now, is welcoming the change. 

Have you ever thought about how you would want to leave this earth?

How do you want to be buried?

What would your tombstone say?

Would Spongebob Squarepants be involved?

That question is exactly what the family of U.S Army Corporal Kimberly Walker answered recently. At her burial site at the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, Ohio the family spent over $13,000 on the gravestone of the cartoon’s likeness.  The family was determined to honor their daughter’s dedication to Spongebob by commissioning a special headstone including having to obtain copyright permission from Nickelodeon.

Even though many fans could identify with Corporal Walker’s love of Spongbob, families who have loved ones interred in the cemetery have expressed disapproval and believe that it is not appropriate to have a cartoon character as a gravestone.

Earlier this week the 6’8 inch tall 7000 lb granite headstone was removed without the family’s knowledge.

So what do you think? Should Spongebob be expunged?