Freemasons

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.

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.

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

Patriotic Christianity

Black Friday

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.

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

http://www.dramastyle.com/view-g-Black_Friday_Deals_November_24_2009-sq-132830.html

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

The following year, the helium balloons were redesigned with safety values allowing them to float for several days. The improved balloons also featured return address laves offering prizes in case any balloons floated away. Those lucky enough to find them could bring them back to Macy’s for a reward. 

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.

1957 Popeye runs astray
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

The Emmy goes to

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

Superbowl Commercials

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.