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  • The original Rudolph did not have a red nose. In that day and age, red noses were seen as an indicator of chronic alcoholism and Montgomery Ward didn’t want him to look like a drunkard. To complete the original picture, he was almost named Reginald or Rollo.
  • The Christmas wreath was originally hung as a symbol of Jesus. The holly represents his crown of thorns and the red berries the blood he shed.
  • The three traditional colors of most Christmas decorations are red, green and gold. Red symbolizes the blood of Christ, green symbolized life and rebirth, and gold represents light, royalty and wealth.
  • Tinsel was invented in 1610 in Germany and was once made of real silver.
  • The oldest artificial Christmas trees date back to the late 1800s and were made of green raffia (think grass hula skirts) or dyed goose feathers. Next the Addis Brush Company used their machinery that wove toilet brushes to create pine-like branches for artificial Christmas trees that were less flammable and could hold heavier decorations.
  • ‘Jingle Bells’ – the popular Christmas song was composed by James Pierpont in Massachusetts, America. It was, however, written for thanksgiving and not Christmas.
  • Coca-Cola was the first company that used Santa Claus during the winter season for promotion.
  • Hallmark introduced their first Christmas cards in 1915.
  • The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on December 25th was in 336, during the time of the Roman Emperor Constantine. A few years later, Pope Julius I officially declared that the birth of Jesus would be celebrated on that day.
  • Santa Claus's sleigh is led by eight reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder (variously spelled Donder and Donner), and Blixem (variously spelled Blixen and Blitzen), with Rudolph being a 20th-century inclusion.
  • Outdoor Christmas lights on homes evolved from decorating the traditional Christmas tree and house with candles during the Christmas season. Lighting the tree with small candles dates back to the 17th century and originated in Germany before spreading to Eastern Europe.
  • That big, jolly man in the red suit with a white beard didn’t always look that way. Prior to 1931, Santa was depicted as everything from a tall gaunt man to a spooky-looking elf. He has donned a bishop's robe and a Norse huntsman's animal skin. When Civil War cartoonist Thomas Nast drew Santa Claus for Harper's Weekly in 1862, Santa was a small elflike figure who supported the Union. Nast continued to draw Santa for 30 years, changing the color of his coat from tan to the red he’s known for today.
  • Christmas 2018 countdown has already begun. Will you be ready???
  • Why do we love Christmas? It's all about the traditions. In this chaotic world we can miss the "good old days." Christmas reminds us of that time.

BMcGeeny

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Posts posted by BMcGeeny

  2. Posted

    Anderson has been a big name around here Tim for over 50 years. As of late though the quality of their windows has dropped greatly.

    We have an home builder in our office building, little guy, builds three houses a year, won't talk to you unless you start at $750,000. When I was doing some windows in one of my house's, he sent me to Jeld-Wen. He uses them and Eagle. I also have put in some Traco.

    I would take a Jeld-Wen over the new Anderson any day. (I have 55 year old Andersons in my house and still take them over the new Anderson any day.

    Keep in mind that the Anderson you buy at Menards and the Anderson you buy at Kruse lumber are two different windows. Anderson has tried to keep up sales by makeing a lower end window for the HD/Lowes/Menards market.

  4. Posted

    Not sure how else to strip it other than chemicals. The window frames have a "stepped" surface with lots of small areas, including grooves where the screens sit, etc. I didn't want to attempt to use a heat gun that close to the glass for fear of messing up the seal between the panes. The chemical is working reasonably well, but is slow... Not as stinky as you might think though...

    I'm sorry you couldn't get your woodwork away from the glass. I'm also sorry they were not three seperate layers of glass like mine were so I could take out all the glass and putty and use the ultrasonic heat gun and a blower heat gun and I'm sorry that you are not going to be at the Minn-Mini on those paint fumes. That would be fun to watch.

    It is a little more expensive, but the dry paint stripper is easier to work with.

  5. Posted

    I'm sorry that stripping paint is a gawd-awful job. And that I've probably taken a few years off my life by working with that chemical crap tonight. And that I'm not even halfway done yet.

    I'm sorry you didin't post what you are stripping paint off. I'm also sorry because if it is anything but plastic you should not be using chemicals.

  6. Posted · Report reply

    One of the relatives came for a permanent visit and insisted that we have our picture taken. I am a little embarrassed having to wear his hand me downs, while he is all decked out in his new duds....

    Mel

    Uhm,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Huh Chuck would you explain

  7. Posted · Report reply

    I have three PC16 30amp controllers that I am trying to see if I can unload. I would like to convert to a different system and I would like to raise the money by unloading the old controllers if I can get the right price. Anyone know what the going rate would e for these?

    Unload being a key word here.

    Price?

  9. Posted · Report reply

    hi

    empire is not in business anymore, but general foam i believe make them now, so yes if they are made by empire they would be worth more money to some collectors.

    gary

    You mean there are people who collect these? I thought they were to put out in the yard for decorations.

    I am however looking for 12 - 15 choir singers.

  10. Posted · Report reply

    The topic title doesn't really explain what I want to ask, I guess I could have just as well yelled "FIRE" or even "SEX!!!" and gotten the same attention, but here goes...

    If I get into a sequence and decide the music is too long, and I'm too far along to start over, is there a way to edit the song length?

    Thanks,

    Tom

    Yes, use Audacity.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    hi

    i found these choir peeps on craiglist today, they are in excellent shape.

    Ok, so I am not really into molds. I have 6 that fit in my display, 2 snowmen, a santa, two gnomes and something else I can't remember. What I want to add is a 12 - 15 choir molds. I don't want to spend a ton. My thought was to put up a small bleachers with the Choir on it.

    What would you guys recomend I start looking for? They need not all be matching, but close in height. 12" to 15" sound right?

  14. Posted · Edited by BMcGeeny · Report reply

    That one says it is .5 Watt. 500 MW

    I have one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&Item=390046401571&Category=4675&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26its%3DI%26otn%3D2

    It gets about 1/2 mile in heavy residential area, but it is not PPL and has a dial to tune it. Once warm however it does not drift. It also requires a mutiplexor to transmit in stereo

    And I bought another one that is .5 watt but cannot find it listed again. $80 shipped from China

    Way to much is put onto the transmitter and not nearly enough on the power supply. Both my units worked and sounded much better with a regulated filtered power supply from Power One than they did with a used computer power supply.

    Plan on spending $150 for transmitter, power supply and antenna. 50-75 feet is not nearly far enough, unless you want to put marks down and sign that says "Park exactly here" to listen to the music. 500 feet is more realistic.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    ............you will need four conductors to move it to the new location: two 110v lines, one neutral, one ground. Though your ground does not need to run through the conduit. It is undersized in comparison and runs to the local ground rods.

    QUOTE]

    Unless you are in Minnesota and then the two hot and the neutral go in the conduit and the copper ground has to be run to an 8' copper ground rod within 3' of the meter and directcly to the water pipes BEFORE the meter!

    (learned that the hard way)

  17. Posted · Report reply

    I really like how there are always a lot of comments on questions about electrical upgrades!

    Shaun, typically the guys at Menards are pretty good. Make sure you go weekdays in the daytime though. The guys from the electrical dept will have a pretty good knowledge of local codes and requirements.

    Each installation is different. I have done all my own electrical work, includeing install of new services on all my own homes. I do not beleive I have ever hired an electrical contractor. It can be done however it takes a lot of planning.

    The only advice I give about doing it yourself is make sure and have it inspected before you ower up anything.

    Also do not cheap out on materials.

    Don't know when you are doing it but I would also get a couple quotes even if it is your brother that is the local contractor. And while you may be able to do some of the work, I would have the contractor pick the materials.

  18. Posted · Report reply

    Shaun, you aren't too far from me..but that weekend is my son's graduation from high school so I'm tired up.

    I would love to try to come to a mini in WI, so if you do pick another date (that doesn't conflict with PLUS09) please let me know?

    Carrie Sansing "tied up" ????????????

    CHUCK! Say something.

  19. Posted

    I'm sorry, but you're not lost. This whole thread was lost, pages ago. But that's the beauty of it...

    At least it's not the "Opps..." thread... ;)

    I'm sorry that tfischer has to go to his mother's house and will miss the Minnesota Mini.

    Wanna go to the Wisc mini in Fremont?

  22. Posted · Report reply

    Carrie i beg to differ. RIGHT NOW there is a plan for a "smart" power grid which includes a meter that will monitor and limit your use of electricity. There are already meters of this type in use for people that fail to pay their electric bills but the company doesnt want to shut the power off completely.It includes a thermostat in your house that you will have no control over. And will be set to power saving levels.

    YES we do have a CONSTITUTION that is being trampled on and torn on a daily basis. As it has been for years. Limiting our use of electricity for the greater good of the planet fits right in to todays thinking. 10 years ago you wouldnt have thought the government would be running banks and automakers either would you?? I know I wouldnt : (

    Look out now man, you better duck. The Black Helicopters are getting closer.

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