Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around 5 million, including just under two million in the United States and around 480,000 in England, Scotland and Ireland.The various forms all share moral and metaphysical ideals, which include, in most cases, a constitutional declaration of belief in a Supreme Being.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
In GOD We Trust
Notice the difference: The motto "In God We Trust" does not
appear on the 1935 dollar bill (top).
The phrase only began appearing in the late 1950s.
appear on the 1935 dollar bill (top).
The phrase only began appearing in the late 1950s.
In God We Trust is the official motto of the United States and the U.S. state of Florida. The motto first appeared on a United States coin in 1864 during strong Christian sentiment emerging during the Civil War, but In God We Trust did not become the official U.S. national motto until after the passage of an Act of Congress in 1956.It is codified as federal law in the United States Code at 36 U.S.C. § 302, which provides: "In God we trust" is the national motto".
Below is a listing by denomination of the first production
and delivery dates for currency bearing IN GOD WE TRUST:
DENOMINATION, PRODUCTION, DELIVERY
$1 Federal Reserve Note / February 12, 1964 / March 11, 1964
$5 United States Note / January 23, 1964 / March 2, 1964
$5 Federal Reserve Note / July 31, 1964 / September 16, 1964
$10 Federal Reserve Note / February 24, 1964 / April 24, 1964
$20 Federal Reserve Note / October 7, 1964 / October 7, 1964
$50 Federal Reserve Note / August 24, 1966 / September 28, 1966
$100 Federal Reserve Note / August 18, 1966 / September 27, 1966
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Black Friday
It is Black Friday time again. It is the time of the year
where people can run after Deals of many things
they don’t necessarily need. Whether you have already
scoped out the net for the best Black Friday Deals or not,
let's look at it more deeply.
they don’t necessarily need. Whether you have already
scoped out the net for the best Black Friday Deals or not,
let's look at it more deeply.
Good attitude toward B.F.Shopping
It is almost batttle field. To get more great deal,
be prepared for everything much earlyer.
The ultimate sale...Is it worthy?
... If you are not ready to fight and jump into mad shoppers to lust your futuer poor stuff, be smart. Don't even think about malls, sales, and B.F, stay at home and enjoy free time in your bed or couch. It is only time to allow you be a couch potato.
Ads
The madness of crowd
Monday, November 23, 2009
Macy's Thaksgivig Parade
Every year, more than 3 million people line the streets and another 44 million tune into NBC to watch the balloons, floats and falloons join celebrities, bands and clown crews in the most spectacular holiday celebration in the world. The sprit of that small group of 1924 Macy’s employees lives on today with the participation of more than 4,000 volunteers on the famous 2 1/2 miles march through Manhattan’s streets.
1924
Originally known as Macy’s Christmas Parade, the Thanksgiving Day Parade was stated by Macy’s employees and featured animals from the Central Park Zoo. It was such a rousing success that Macy’s declared it would become an annual event. 1927 Big Bang
The 1927 Parade included helium-filled Balloons for the first time. They were released above the city during the grand finale, but unexpectedly burst above Manhattan’s skyline.
1928 Helium hunt
1934 oh Mickey, you’re so fine
Macy’s designers collaborate for the first time with Walt Disney Productions, including the Parade’s first Mickey Mouse balloon.
1942-1944 War halts the Parade
World war 2 brings the Parade to halt for the first time in its history. Due to rubber and helium shortage, balloons were deflated and donated to the government, providing 650 ponds of scarp rubber for the war effort.
1946 TV time
The parade began using the same Manhattan route that’s used today, drawing a record-breaking 2 million live spectators. It was also televised for the first time locally in 1946, nationally in 1947.
During the 1957 Parade, a downpour filled the cap of the Popeye balloon with gallons of water, causing him to veer off course and dump water on surprised spectators.
1969 the first floats
Our world-renowned creative team, led by Manfred Bass, began building out Parade floats in 1969. To this day, the floats continue to be designed in our Parade Studio, a former Tootsie Roll Factory in Hoboken, NJ. The floats stand up to 40 feet tall, but can be folded to make their Parade eve trip to N.Y City via the Holland Tunnel, whereupon crew toil through the right to reassemble them for the 9 am step-off. 
Balloons
Snoopy sightings
The Parade character with the most balloons in history is Snoopy. The current character, Snoopy in Flying Ace, is Snoopy’s 6th balloon character.
Spot the falloon
A falloon may sound like an exotic bird, but it actually a term the Macy’s Parade Studio coined for a float with a balloon character on it.
Floats
Clowns
Marching Bands
Throughout the century, those who couldn’t make it to Manhattan in person have been able to enjoy the Parade on NBC Nine broadcasts since 1979 have been awarded the converted Emmy for outstanding achievement.
2008 Macy's Parade Highlights
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Hello~ Uncle Sam!
Uncle Sam is the national personification of the United States and sometimes more specifically of the American government, with the first usage of the term dating from the War of 1812 and the first illustration dating from 1852. He is depicted as a serious elderly white man with white hair and a goatee beard, and dressed in clothing that recalls the design elements of flag of the United States—for example, typically a top hat with red and white stripes and white stars on a blue band, and red and white striped trousers.
The American icon Uncle Sam was in fact based on a real man, albeit a beardless one.A businessman from Troy, New York, Samuel Wilson, provided the army with beef and pork in barrels during the War of 1812. The barrels were prominently labeled "U.S." for the United States, but it was jokingly said that the letters stood for "Uncle Sam." Soon, Uncle Sam was used as shorthand for the federal government. 
But Sam Wilson looked nothing like the Uncle Sam pictured above. Uncle Sam's traditional appearance, with a white goatee and star-spangled suit, is an invention of artists and political cartoonists. One of these political cartoonists was named Thomas Nast. Nast produced many of the earliest cartoons of Uncle Sam. 
The most famous image of the Uncle Sam persona was a World War I recruiting image that depicted a stern Sam pointing his finger at the viewer and declaring, "I want you". It was painted by artist James Montgomery Flagg in 1916, just prior to US involvement in World War I.
Daylight Saving Time
Daylight saving time (DST; also summer time in British English Terminology) is the practice of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn. Modern DST was first proposed in 1895 by George Vernon Hudson, a New Zealand entomologist.
Daylight saving time in the United States was first observed in 1918. Most areas of the United States currently observe daylight saving time, with the exceptions being the states of Arizona and Hawaii along with the territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. From 1987 to 2006, daylight saving time in the United States began on the first Sunday of April and ended on the last Sunday of October. The time is adjusted at 2:00 AM (0200) local time.
Since 2007, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November, with all time changes taking place at 2:00 AM (0200) local time. Under Section 110 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. Department of Energy is required to study the impact of 2007's DST extension no later than nine months after the change took effect. Congress has retained the right to revert to the DST schedule set in 1986. One potential issue is that some northern regions on the western edges of time zones are, for the first time since the 1974-75 "almost year round" DST experiment, experiencing sunrise times that occur later than 8:00 AM (0800).
Benefits of DST
- enables outdoor activities to have natural sunlught
- reduces need for artificial light (and the consumption of electricity) in the evening
- retailers, including sporting goods makers, generate more sales as people have the ability to engage in outdoor activities
- the U.S. Department of Transportation reported a 0.7% reduction in traffic fatalities during DST - in the American Journal of Public Health 1985-92–95.
- There is also evidence to suggest that turning our clocks back by 1-hour can help the heart. In Stephanie Nano’s article “ Turning Back the Clocks Can Help Your Heart," from the Associated Press, October 30, 2008, "Swedish researchers discovered by keeping records for over 20 years, that the number of heart attacks dipped on the Monday after clocks were set back an hour, possibly because people got an extra hour of sleep.”
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunday, October 4, 2009
American Holiday
U.S National Holidays
Interesting feature of U.S holidays is the United States does not have national holidays where all employees in the U.S. receive a day free from work and all business is halted. The U.S. Federal government can only recognize national holidays that pertain to its own employees; it is at the discretion of each state or local jurisdiction to determine official holiday schedules. There are ten federal holidays and state holidays. Most of the holidays are on Monday, so people can rest on friday through on monday for 4 days. If holiday falls on nonwork day such as saterday and sunday, the holiday usually is observed on Monday or Friday.
Federal holidays
New Year's Day = Feb. 1
The first day of the new year, often celebrated with fireworks at the stroke of midnight as the new year starts. The current celebration includes parades such as the Tournament of Roses parade, college football bowl games such as the Orange Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl.
Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday = Third Monday in January
A United States holiday marking the birthdate of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., observed on the third Monday of January, around the time of King's birthday, January 15. It is one of four United States federal holidays to commemorate an individual person.
President Day = Third Monday in February
This legislation moved the legal observance of George Washington 's birthday from February 22 to the third Monday in February. Since Washington's birthday fell so soon after Abraham Lincoln's birthday (February 12), many states chose to combine the two events into President's Day. Other states honor all former presidents on this day.
Memorial Day = Last Monday in May
The original purpose of the day was to honor those who fought in the Civil War, but now it is expanded to honor those who died during each of the wars in which the United States fought. Typical activities include placing flowers on the graves of soldiers and many communities have parades as tributes to the soldiers who died. It marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season.
Independence Day = July. 4
The Fourth of July had become the most significant patriotic occasion in the United States. It celebrates the birthday of the United States of America. Founded July 4th 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence, America is celebrating it's 233rd birthday this year (2009) 
The 4th of July is a time for the Red, White and Blue. A time for Picnics, Parades and Marching Bands. A time for Beaches, BBQs and "Bombs Bursting in Air."
Labor Day = First Monday in September
Labor Day occurs on the first Monday in September and was first celebrated in the United States on September 5, 1882. The date was deliberately selected to fall between Independence Day and Thanksgiving. The first celebration was observed only in New York City with a parade of about 10,000 workers. The idea spread quickly and in 1894, President Grover Cleveland declared Labor Day a national holiday. It means the end of summer and the vacation season as well as the beginning of school for many students.
Columbus Day = Second Monday in October
Veterans Day = November. 11
Veterans Day is an annual American holiday honoring military veterans who have served in the armed forces of the United States. Both a federal holiday and a state holiday in all states.
Thanksgiving Day = Fourth Thursday in November
One of the most important holidays in America, traditionally celebrates the giving of thanks for the autumn harvest. Most Americans celebrate by gathering at home with family or friends for a holiday feast. Traditionally includes the consumption of a turkey dinner. Traditional start of the holiday season.
Christmas Day = December. 25
An annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth althought It is unknown whether this day is Jesus' actual date of birth. Christmas is also the popular secular holiday which focuses upon the many versions of St. Nicholas and other traditions such as Christmas carols, mistletoe, Christmas cards, and giftgiving. Children write letters to Santa Claus and tell him what they'd like to receive for Christmas.
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