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The holiday season, with its many traditions, family gatherings and general good feelings, will soon be upon us. To commemorate this time of year, the U.S. Census Bureau presents the following holiday-related facts and figures from its data collection.

Season’s Greetings
1.9 billion
Number of Christmas cards sent to friends and loved ones every year, making Christmas the largest card-sending occasion in the United States. The second largest is Valentine’s Day, with approximately 192 million cards being given. (Source: Hallmark research)

Christmas Trees
20.8 million
Number of Christmas trees cut around the country in 2002. These trees were located on 21,904 farms spread out across 447,000 acres. (Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service)

6.5 million
Number of Christmas trees cut in Oregon in 2002, making the Beaver State the nation’s leader. (There were 2.6 million trees cut in Clackamas County, Ore., alone.) Also topping the 1-million mark among states were Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.

Pennsylvania led the nation in the number of Christmas tree farms, with 2,164; Oregon was tops in acres devoted to Christmas tree production, with 67,800. (Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service)

$506 million
The amount of money the nation’s Christmas tree farmers received from tree sales in 2004. Oregon was the top state in tree sales ($143 million), followed by North Carolina, Washington and Michigan. (Source: USDA Economic Research Service)

$561 million
The value of U.S. imports of Christmas tree ornaments from China between January and August 2005. China was the leading country of origin for such items. Similarly, China was the leading foreign source of artificial Christmas trees shipped to the United States ($69 million worth) during the same period.

$80.2 million
Value of shipments by U.S. manufacturers of article trees, including Christmas trees, in 2002.

Holiday Names
1,162
Population of Christmas, Fla., an unincorporated town. (Source: American FactFinder)

Other places whose names are associated with the holiday season include North Pole, Alaska (population 1,659 in 2004); Santa Claus, Ind. (2,201); Santa Claus, Ga. (238); Noel, Mo. (1,476); and — if you know about reindeer — the village of Rudolph, Wis. (418). On top of that there is Snowflake, Ariz. (4,836); Dasher, Ga. (822); and a dozen places named Holly, including Holly Springs, Miss., and Mount Holly, N.C. (Source: American FactFinder)

$291,085
The value of U.S. imports between January and August 2005 from Christmas Island, an Australian territory in the Pacific Ocean, south of Hawaii. Perhaps some of these were “Christmas gifts from Christmas Island.�?

Holiday Shopping — The December Rush
The holiday season is critical for retailers. How critical? Well, here are some examples using the most recent Census Bureau data available. Note that the estimates that follow have not been adjusted to account for seasonal or pricing variations.

$31.9 billion
Retail sales by the nation’s department stores (including leased departments) in December 2004. This represented a 54 percent jump from the previous month (when retail sales, many Christmas-related, registered $20.8 billion). No other month-to-month increase in department store sales last year was as large.

Other U.S. retailers with sizable jumps in sales between November and December 2004 were clothing stores (48 percent); jewelry stores (170 percent); book stores (100 percent); sporting goods stores (63 percent); and radio, TV and other electronics stores (58 percent).

15 percent
The proportion of total 2004 sales for department stores (including leased departments) that took place in December. For jewelry stores, the percentage was 24 percent.

24 percent
The proportion of growth in inventories by our nation’s department stores (excluding leased departments) between the end of August and the end of November 2004. Thanks to the holiday crowds, inventories plummeted by 23 percent in the year’s final month.

1.8 million
The number of people employed at department stores in December 2004. Retail employment typically swells during the holiday season, last year rising by 50,900 from November and 195,500 from October.

E-Shopping
$21.5 billion
The value of total retail e-commerce sales for the fourth quarter of 2004. This amount, represented 2.3 percent of total retail sales over the period and exceeded e-commerce sales for all other quarters of the year. E-commerce sales were up 24 percent from the fourth quarter of 2003.

32 percent
The percentage of adults who shopped online in 2003, up from 2 percent in 1997. No doubt many of these customers were doing some holiday shopping at some point during the year.

Where are Christmas Gifts Made?
124
Number of establishments around the country that primarily manufactured dolls and stuffed toys in 2003; they employed 2,123 people. California led the nation with 19 such locations, and Vermont employed the most, 670.

733
The number of locations that primarily produced games, toys and children’s vehicles in 2003; they employed 16,996 workers. California led the nation with 118 establishments and in the number of people they employed, 2,581.

$3.9 billion
Total value of shipments for dolls, toys and games by manufacturers in 2003.

$656 million
The value of U.S. imports of stuffed toys (excluding dolls) from China between January and August 2005. China was the leading country of origin for stuffed toys coming into this country, as well as for a number of other popular holiday gifts that were imported. These include electric trains ($71 million); puzzles ($48 million); roller skates ($44 million); sports footwear ($204 million); golf equipment ($43 million); and basketballs ($26 million). Canada was the leading supplier of ice skates ($7 million).

Where Holiday Gifts are Purchased
16,049
The number of electronic shopping and mail-order houses in business in 2003. These businesses, which employed 264,868 workers, are a popular source of holiday gifts. Their sales: $131 billion, of which 31 percent were attributable to e-commerce. California led the nation in the number of these establishments and their employees, with 2,493 and 32,665, respectively.

If you’re not sure where to do your shopping, choices of retail establishments abound: In 2003, there were 148,012 clothing and clothing accessories stores; 9,366 department stores; 10,274 hobby, toy and game shops; 34,287 gift, novelty and souvenir shops; 22,410 sporting goods stores; 28,527 jewelry stores; and 11,036 book stores.

47,835
The number of malls and shopping centers dotting the U.S. landscape as of 2004, a total that had increased by approximately 10,000 since 1990. (Source: Upcoming 2006 Statistical Abstract)

Winter Wonderland
6.8 million
The number of Americans who say they downhill-ski more than once a year. Other popular winter sports are cross-country skiing (1.9 million), ice hockey (1.8 million) and snowboarding (6.3 million). (Source: Upcoming 2006 Statistical Abstract)

It’s in the Mail ...
20 billion
Number of letters, packages and cards delivered by the U.S. Postal Service between Thanksgiving and Christmas. The busiest mailing day this year is expected to be today (Dec. 19), with more than twice as many cards and letters being cancelled as on an average day. (Source: U.S. Postal Service)

About 1 million
Number of packages delivered by the U.S. Postal Service every day through Christmas Eve. The busiest delivery day: Dec. 21. (Source: U.S. Postal Service)

We traveled Christmas day to Powder Springs and Kennesaw, GA to visit family. We stopped at S. Pittsburg, TN for a pit stop and fill up. I was amazed at the number of men (dads perhaps) who were there alone buying cases of beer. I bet I saw in a 15 minute time spanat least 6 different guys slapping down different quantities of libations. I was saddened really that such a special day is still missed by so many. Then I thought about how I celebrated Christmas. Did I give the Saviour his due? Were the gifts I gave to my kids and my wife more important than the simple gift of time given to the one who gives me life? My friend Randy (Ethos) speaks of Moments that we miss in the grand scheme of living, and I think how many times I've brushed off the opportunity to find true community with Jesus. Well, there is always today. And i thank God for it.

I grew up in Maine where we had regular "severe winter snow events". We just called them snow days. Rarely was there a need to make a run on the local grocer to stock up. I remember getting up early on the day we heard there might be some snow. We would listen to the radio station for our school closing report. In Maine our schools were set up with district numbers. Ours was #61. You can imagine how long of a wait that seemed like. I suppose most kids get excited about snow and a day off that might result.

We had a ski mountain in our town and back then you could get a season pass for under a $100. It didn't take long for us to get our gear together and head to the slopes. Most of the time I'd run into friends from school (not in the literal sense of course). If you've ever walked in ski boots, you know that it is just like having your ankles fused together. Forget about running in them... impossible. I remember snowmobiling too. Nowadays, a fast sled can travel near 100 miles/hour. Then, for added fun, my sister would hook up a ski rope to her horse and tow us around in the field on our snow skis. I think the best thing was when my dad would hook up a toboggan to the back of the car and speed us down the road zig zagging to hit the 6 foot high banks on the side of the road. We lived on a street where few others lived and rarely did a car pass. Occasionally, one of us would fall off and would have to run to catch up. Ah, the memories of childhood.

So as i look outside this morning, I'm thinking about what fun things i can introduce my kids to on a cold, snowy, Saturday morning in middle Tennessee. The snow won't be here for long.

Except if you consider that God himself painted it.

The east side of the Carrizo plain, in the Temblor Range, about 50 miles due west of Bakersfield, California. Photo taken by Barbara Mathews, May 14. 2005.

A friend of mine (we'll call him Bob) has a great way of relieving the frustration that begins upon his return home where he typically finds three offers of credit at 0% interest in his mailbox. Well, you know how they give you a business reply envelope which allows you to enclose your "application for credit". Bob sends them back empty. The credit card company has to pay for each one it recieves. Imagine for a moment if a beehive of other frustrated and angry folks like Bob created a snowball effect by doing the same. Do you suppose we could make the evening news? Hmmm... just a thought there.

Ahhh. Spring is almost here. I'm sitting in my driveway watching the sprinkler douse my freshly seeded lawn. It wasn't supposed to work out that way today. In fact, I was all ready to have a relaxing day catching up on finances and other honey-do's when the distant strains of a briggs and stratton engine drifted through the walls of my house. My neighbor had been out early to get a de-thatcher and aerator for his yard. Not wanting to waste $40 on himself, he made the neighborly rounds and asked if we'd be interested in using the yard equipment. Taking him up on It seemed like a good idea at 9 am this morning. It's 4 pm now and my legs and back ache. So I de-thatch, a process by which you destabilize the dead grass that hides beneath the live grass by digging into it at a high rate of revolutions. Well, in order to complete the task, the dead grass and weeds has to go somewhere. We then raked the yard, clearing it of as much of the stuff as possible. Well, it then becomes prime for planting new grass seed. Hadn't thought of that. Well my other neighbor, also suckered into this yard work, and I decided to get some grass seed. 50lb bag between the two of us was all it took. Of course, new grass seed is very thirsty for water and will not germinate without it. So I get the watering mechanisms out and proceed to get the angle just right to cover the most grass while using the least amount of water. Good thing I passed physics because you practically need to be a rocket scientist to get the sprinkler pointing in just the right direction. So I'm writing while listening to the birds and the sprinkler and I'm having fun. What a day it's been.

Have you ever thought about the precipitation percentages that weather forecasters use? I've found that a 30% chance of precip means that you can assume you'll get some precip 50% of the time. Maybe my memory is not as good. But just what is a "percent chance" of precipitation anyway. I mean, what is the referential "yardstick" with which to base the percent on. Is it historical data? Like "30% of the time when conditions were exactly like this we had rain" kind of thing. How often are conditions exactly the same? What if Google operated this way? Imagine hearing that you have a 30% chance of finding what you are looking for today, but tomorrow should be better because there will be a 50% chance of success then. I imagine that most of us don't pay attention to how accurate weather forecaster predictions are anyway. Like have you ever sat down and entered a 10-day forecast into excel and watched the results unfold.

OK, so why do I care? I planted grass seed a few weeks ago and all i want is a little rain. It just passed me by today. That 30% chance landed tails.

Yourself

Your Lender

Your Buyer

Your Appriaser

Your Tax Assessor

This tree stands alone amidst much new growth. Mile after mile similar scenes were depicted.

While in Spokane recently, I was stopped by a local TV news reporter who was asking about why Spokane ranked 68th on the list of the most Angry Cities. At first I thought the higher the number, the more angry. But it was the other way around. I said to her that I lived in Nashville, where no one is angry. Life is peaceful, life is grand. After all it is the heart of Country and Christian music. She surprised me by informing me that Orlando was ranked angriest on the list. Now, come on. Mickey Mouse and crew? Angry. What gives?

Well the survey, done by Men's Health magazine of all things, had an interesting city in the top 10. Nashville!! Whoa... how can Nashville come in at 5th angriest city. This can't be. According to the article:

Our search for evidence of urban anger began with the percentage of men with high blood pressure, from the CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (as calculated by Sperling's BestPlaces). We then factored in FBI rates of aggravated assaults and Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers on workplace deaths from assaults and other violence. And because rage and the road often go hand in hand, we also included traffic-congestion data from the Texas Transportation Institute, as well as speeding citations per state from the Governors Highway Safety Association.

So here is the list. Where does your city fall in?

1. Orlando, FL

2. St. Petersburg, FL

3. Detroit, MI

4. Baltimore, MD

5. Nashville, TN

6. Wilmington, DE

7. Miami, FL

8. Memphis, TN

9. Jacksonville, FL

10. St. Louis, MO

11. Chicago, IL

12. Tampa, FL

13. Jackson, MS

14. Albuquerque, NM

15. Charlotte, NC

16. Dallas, TX

17. Houston, TX

18. Tucson, AZ

19. Indianapolis, IN

20. Wichita, KS

21. Birmingham, AL

22. Providence, RI

23. Durham , NC

24. Altanta, GA

25. Washington, DC

26. Denver, CO

27. Philadelphia, PA

28. Baton Rouge, LA

29. Fort Worth, TX

30. Phoenix, AZ

31. Lubbock, TX

32. Cleveland, OH

33. Greensboro, NC

34. Cincinnati, OH

35. Arlington, TX

36. Los Angeles, CA

37. Buffalo, NY

38. Grand Rapids, MI

39. Boston, MA

40. Columbia, SC

41. Tulsa, OK

42. Aurora, CO

43. Seattle, WA

44. Sacramento, CA

45. San Diego, CA

46. Montgomery, AL

47. Raleigh, NC

48. Yonkers, NY

49. Oakland, CA

50. Fort Wayne, IN

51. Newark, NJ

52. Las Vegas, NV

53. Columbus, OH

54. St. Paul, MN

55. Charleston, WV

56. Kansas City, MO

57. New York, NY

58. Oklahoma City, OK

59. Toledo, OH

60. San Antonio, TX

61. Riverside, CA

62. Modesto, CA

63. Louisville, KY

64. Honolulu, HI

65. Richmond, VA

66. San Francisco, CA

67. Bakersfield, CA

68. Spokane, WA

69. Milwaukee, WI

70. Jersey City, NJ

71. Lexington, KY

72. Little Rock, AR

73. Lincoln, NE

74. Billings, MT

75. San Jose, CA

76. Hartford, CT

77. Minneapolis, MN

78. Boise, ID

79. Anaheim, CA

80. Norfolk, VA

81. Austin, TX

82. Fremont, CA

83. Fresno, CA

84. Anchorage, AK

85. Cheyenne, WY

86. Rochester, NY

87. Madison, WI

88. Salt Lake City, UT

89. Omaha, NE

90. Pittsburgh, PA

91. Colorado Springs, CO

92. El Paso, TX

93. Sioux Falls, SD

94. Des Moines, IA

95. Burlington, VT

96. Portland, OR

97. Corpus Christi, TX

98. Fargo, ND

99. Bangor, ME

100. Manchester, NH

It's probably a good idea if you are into telling the world about cookies that you make your site compatible with more than just IE. I noticed that Southwest Airlines website references Cookie Central as a great informational tool for info about browser cookies. Those of you thinking Nestle Toll House can go back to whatever you were doing. Anyway, I go to the Cookie Central site and the header looks like this in Firefox:

When opened in IE, it looks like it should here:

I don't even know if this is the best reference Southwest could have used since most southwest travelers are probably not IE users. Perhaps in this case Wikipedia is a better choice for the enlightened (aka Firefox users).