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I still believe in Saint Nicholas.

Predatorocks — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:13:40 GMT

He was deemed a saint because he gave poor children gifts because his parents were wealthy. He went from house to house. He gave everything he had because God wanted him to.

Santa really is him however you want to say it, Santa Clause is Saint Nicholas with less letters.

Santa
Saint (- the a)

Claus or Clause
Nicholas (- n i h and o) - Is that how they came out with the phrase Ho-Ho I don't know. -h and - the o?

The real reason why they made Santa is because whatever religion you are (or non-religious), you can buy gifts based on him, but really he is based on a Saint. Sleighs they had back than (It was the way they got around). Horses usually pulled them around, but than they substitued them for deers because they live in colder climate, and how in the world would horses looking up in the sky (They are so darn big compared to deers). Why in the sky? Well, how is going to get from house to house? Is he going to walk like St. Nicholas?

Why the North Pole? Maybe, because not many people live there! According to wikipedia, you have only about 2,000 people in the North Pole, Alaska. In Alaska only, you only have 686,29 people. It's the least populated state per square mile in the US. They also made him bigger based on how American's are, and they could sell more stuff of an old guy who is jolly, and overweight than a person who is religious, and not so jolly.

'Christ' mas stuff has so much based on Christ that people don't even realize. Candy canes, stars, trees/advent wreaths, angels, candles, and lights.

The stuff that I believe is not based on anything are stuff like Penguins, Polar Bears (These are really because of just cold winters.), Village houses, and trains (You put them under a tree.), Gingerbread stuff (I don't know why), Mrs. Clause (Did St. Nicholas really have a wife. I don't know.), snowflakes, and Snowmen (obvious why they are around).

In case you don't know the meaning of a saint, it's means these are people that are like heroes to the catholic church, and thus they did something really good that people should follow after.

So, matter what the stores want to tell me when I look at Santa Clause, I really am seeing St. Nicholas, and yes I do still believe in St. Nicholas, Jesus, and God.

Forum: Off Topic Board

What do stores should be doing?

Predatorocks — Thur, 12 Nov 2009 17:32:04 GMT

To combat with other stores, stores should be asking their customers what they want to see in the stores. The old thing of we pick out the merchandise, and you choose it isn't always that great. It's because competition is fierece. If I want a bowling shirt, and Kmart doesn't have it, I'm going to look elsewhere. You can find it on the Internet, or find it at another store.

They found out that last year stores bought too much, and had to drastically reduce prices at the end of the year. Think about this. If the stores actually found out (asked the people) what the people want, than they could get a lot more people shopping at these stores. How do you ask people? Well, you give them some insentive like a drawing, or $1 gift card. It's not like you have to ask every single customer. Pick a 1000 people, and see what they have to say.

When you go to JcPenny's, what are you looking for? Sometimes, people are just window shoppers, but sometimes, people really are wishing for something, and the store doesn't have what you want.

I'll just end saying about Halloween merchandise. People have merchandise at home from last year, and the year before. People aren't into lights at Halloween like they are at Christmas. So, do stores really need to have orange, and purple lights every year? Let's say people bought them 5 years ago, and they are still working fine. Than, they have a cutout skeleton, Dracula, and so on. Don't people have a skeleton cutout from previous years?

Why again do people feel they need to get that? What sells in seasonal in my opinion the most is stuff that's unique, and different. An animatronic that looks great, and is completely different than what you just had last year is going to fly off the shelves whereas orange lights you had in the store for 10 years straight probably won't.

So, imo if stores see drops in seasonal, it's sometimes because the merchandise is so similar to last year and years before, that no one is buying it or it plain out is terrible.

Forum: Off Topic Board

Goodbye In Store Video Rental / Bookstores, Goodbye Arcades

Predatorocks — Thur, 12 Nov 2009 17:13:06 GMT

Don't people see one of the major reasons why the economy is so messed up? Video Rental stores are going to becoming extinct. Instead, you have Redbox, Netflix, and Blockbuster online. Why, is this a bad thing? Well, instead of multiple stores of maybe 5000 (Hollywood Video, Blockbuster as major ones) over the US, and maybe 12 workers a day, you might have 5 people working for Redbox switching dvds in and out, and than corporate. I'm talking per each state.

This year they are introducing the new Nook thing, and Kindle for books. Is Barnes and Nobles, Waldenbooks, and Borders going down the toliet for in-store soon? What the companies want to do is get rid of the employees and than they can make more pure profit. No electricity, no heat, why not; they say? The Nook device is in order of Itunes in which you can download books from the device, and read them on the device. So, what's the point of going in-store anymore.

Are we soon going to see only non-instore, and than no one has any jobs to pay for the stuff online???

For arcades, are the games we have getting so advanced that the arcades are going away one by one? They just buy a Wii game, and play that. What's the point of going to the arcade anymore when you can experience the same thing at home?

Why is Circuit City gone? Is it just because they had poor business, or is it because Itunes was a major threat, and it hurt them so bad. Sure, Circuit City sells other things, but they have movies and cds. You don't have to buy full cds. You can buy one song on Itunes, but at Circuit City, you have to buy a full 12 album cd, and how many times do you hear a single, and it's awesome, but than you buy the cd, and a lot of the songs are bad!!

I feel a big problem with our economy is the INTERNET. With the Internet, companies understand that they can not have so many employees, and what happens is that people don't have jobs, and can't pay for the stuff they want, or need. The Internet has exploded. You can go to Walgreens, and yes you can buy stuff online. You can go to almost any store that has an online website, and buy something.

I see the Nook/Kindle as the next death to in-stores, and companies will get what they want. More money, and a lot less employees.

Forum: Off Topic Board

Frustrations with Businesses and also merchandise

Predatorocks — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:31:48 GMT

The places I am either frustrated with, or just that they have poor merchandise are: Factory Card Outlet, KFC / Taco Bell, Michael's Craft Store (Go for Halloween and Christmas), Wal-Mart, and Kmart.

Yeah, that's about it for now.

For Factory Card Outlet, and Kmart, they have stuff on the Internet, and they don't have stuff in the stores. They don't have a site to store thing either. Only Ace and Wal-Mart are smart enough to figure that out. On top of it, Factory Card Outlet sends people a 25% deal off of the whole store, yet they don't have much Christmas stuff put up. So, why send it now if you don't have it in, or put up???

For Kmart, I went to the Friends and Family 10% or 20% thing (This is for anyone, not just employees - only on Sunday), and first off they want you to sign up for their card (like a Jewel, or Dominick's card). So, have a sale that acts like people are your friends, and than force them to sign up for your card in order for them to give the discount. Than, on top of that, they had so much on sale in Kmart, that not much stuff, you were able to get 10% or 20% extra off because it says excludes sale prices. So, what garbage is that Kmart??

For Wal-Mart, they sell a bunch of junk for Christ-mas this year on the Internet. They have the whole Christ-mas section up on the Internet, so it's not like they have nothing at all. Mostly, what they have for indoor decor is just calendars. Where are the houses, or anything much? Where are nativities, where are cutouts, and such. Hey, even St. Nicks, or stockings?

For Michael's, their houses look like junk. They have them 50% off (Yes, in November), and I wouldn't even pay $10 for them. Lowe's has better ones, or Kmart has the ones better on the Internet, but not in the store.

For KFC, and Taco Bell, I want to go to their regular website, but yet all I get is mobile KFC and Taco Bell. Why do I want a half screen for a regular monitor?

And the stores wonder why they stink so much, and are closing like anything? Hey, Blockbusters not doing nothing wrong at all. Hey, they only charge $5 for a new rental when you get the same new rental at a redbox within a mile of your house for only a $1.

Forum: Off Topic Board

halloween

carneytodd — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 03:59:34 GMT

how many trick or treaters did you guys have? strange halloween, I didn't have any one come by, must be the weather.

Forum: Off Topic Board

happy halloween

carneytodd — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:53:35 GMT

everyone have a safe, and happy halloween.

Forum: Off Topic Board

WILLIAM BRUNDAGE

Brian_Wayton — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 11:37:03 GMT

Courtesy of Chicago Tribune

thanks to bill Johnson

William Brundage, "Mr. Bill", "Red", "Bozo", for his abundant Irish red hair, age 69, of Lyons, IL, formerly of Evergreen Park and South Chicago, loving husband of Frances Biedron; father of Steven, Linda (Jorge) Roldan, and the late Daniel (Debra); cherished grandfather of Richard, Charles, Jorlin and Juliana; great-grandfather of Emily and Richard; many other relatives and close friends. Resting on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 at Tower Home for Funerals, 4007 S. Joliet Ave. (but not Joliet Road - Between Harlem and First Ave., just South of Ogden Ave.) Lyons, IL 60534. "Mr. Bill's" Food Vending Services appeared at many community food festivals. He was member of the Showman's League of America. Visitation Wednesday, 3 to 9 p.m. Information, 708-447-7900.

Forum: Carnival / Show discussion

HELP HELP

Brett — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:22:32 GMT

I was looking to scratch build Astro's old orange & white Super Swinger from the old days. I have a picture of it from the website, but I was trying to find a pic w/ a little more detail & close up. No luck so far. Does anyone out there know who might still run this ride? Or where I could find a pic? Colors don't have to be exact, I have those. And abouts how tall was it? Thanks.

Forum: Carnival / Show discussion

Updated Big H ride line up

Brett — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:34:28 GMT

Big H lineup:

Tilt
Swinger
Super Slide
Hampton (space age)
Hampton (motorcycles)
Dragon Wagon
Train Station
Jolly Choo-Choo
Berries
Pony Carts

ALSO:

There's a major that looks like a Tempest, but w/ 2 tubs--instead of 4. Looks like an older version, but same basic idea. Don't know the name of it.

No pics. Line up basically same as last year.

Forum: Carnival / Show discussion

Site update for 10-25-2009

Brian_Wayton — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:39:54 GMT

Added North American Midway's Allstar unit pictures from Humbolt Park submitted by Bill (discover) - http://amusementco.com/asahumboltpark.html

Added North American Midway's Astro unit night pictures from Downers Grove submitted by Brett Whiting - http://amusementco.com/aadgnm.html

Forum: Midwest Carnival site updates

I like to question stuff, figure how to fix it, and ask why?

Predatorocks — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:55:03 GMT

I know it's a pretty strange topic, but I'm like that, and I wonder how many people are like that. An example what I mean is let's take a ride that breaks down somewhat. One ride that comes to mind is the Spin Out. Why is it breaking down enough, but yet you have other rides like the Power Surge that don't have what I think is the specific problem with the Spin Out. How can you fix it, and why is it happening?

Sometimes I think some people are so convinced a certain way, and don't try to monkey with stuff. I'm not a maintenance type of person to make the Spin Out work, but in my thinking it's the motor. The motor isn't strong enough to turn the thing. To me, rides are built powerful, but just not enough when you have problems like this. It's like a one arm thing that's turn the thing upside down. Two arms would make a whole lot more sense, but that's more costly.

Just twist your hand trying to lift something, and you will see the problem that I think this ride is facing. Power Surge is a little bit better because the ride almost goes vertical, but the tilting part on the arm isn't like the Spin Out. It's much worse on the Spin Out to turn it over. Power Surge is more like a Ferris Wheel whereas Spin Out is like a Ferris Wheel that's tilted 90 degrees, plus it turns over. That's a lot of motor that ride needs, and it doesn't have enough in my opinion.

Aside from rides, another question is why is the economy so bad, and is it really? Well, first off you can blame outsourcing as a key component in my opinion. How many US products are there anymore? Are they made in China, Tawain, and India? They hire them for cheaper labor over there, and than the US loses jobs, and the workers also don't have that much money over there because they pay them so little. Talk about a lose lose situation.

You can blame the Internet for shopping on it (reducing physical stores), you can blame Wii/X-Box for arcades closing, you can blame cruddy merchandise, you can blame cellphones for their expensive prices, and people not having money to shop, you can blame Digital tv for being so high priced and people having to buy them, or for them getting a digital box, you can blame itunes for buying just songs instead of whole cds, you can blame recordable anything on your computer - rw/r (There is a bad site. I forgot the name that should be shut down because it's totally illegal!) you can blame in store do it yourself registers, you can blame goodwill for opening so many stores, and other stores closing (You can buy a $55 stereo system for $8 at Goodwill.), you can blame shipping on the Internet for people not buying, you can blame gasoline & and thus plastic stuff being higher priced, you can blame companies get rid of people because the minimum wage has gone up, and they don't want to keep more people, so they fire some.

Mostly, who I want to blame is the MEDIA for just scaring everyone into a frenzy, and this is what we are stuck with because of them!!

So, I sometimes question stuff, and try to figure out why it's broke, and how to fix it. How do you fix the economy? The first key component as I said is OUTSOURCING! They need to stop it now! Cheaper labor over there means there are less people to buy your stuff over here which is quite ironic, and backfiring on them completely!

IPOD is made in China, my speakers are made in China, Westinghouse lightbulb is made in China, Rayovac flash light is made in Thailand, Halloween Animatronic made in China, Price is Right handheld game made in China, VHS Tape (I know no one uses VCR anymore - So, I do, but this one I think I just bought) is assembled in China and made in Korea, 7 1/2 light bulbs are made in China, Right Guard deodarant is made in Canada, and Ban deodarant is made in Canada.

Holy cow, Duracell, it says Made in the US. I must be dreaming! Also, equaline floss is Made in the US.

There are more stuff, but that's all I'll say to make my point.

Forum: Off Topic Board

Favorite Horror Movie

Predatorocks — Thur, 22 Oct 2009 22:50:26 GMT

I guess I have tie between Leprechaun, A Nightmare on Elm Street, or Friday the 13: Part 3 and above. I like Friday the 13th Part 1, and Part 2, but without the mask I can't rank it that high.

Forum: Off Topic Board

Yahoo Email is Bothering ME!!!

Predatorocks — Thur, 22 Oct 2009 22:47:26 GMT

Just today, I went to print something. So, I go to print an email, and I get an error for like 4 times, and and it closes. 4 separate times I did it, and it closes. Than, it finally works, and it doesn't print all the graphics that it's supposed to. Than, I print screened the thing, and opened it in paint, and low and behold I probably need the whole page or they won't believe me where it's from. So, of course, you can't print screen the whole page unless you make it smaller, and than no one can see it.

So, what I'm going to do is give them the little coupon that doesn't have any stipulations, or say the company, and than give them the other part without the graphic that the other picture is missing, and that's it. They better give it to me!!

Forum: Off Topic Board

Feel Free

Brian_Wayton — Thur, 22 Oct 2009 21:03:20 GMT

feel free to post anything in this board, I mean anything!

Forum: Off Topic Board

posting to this board

Brian_Wayton — Thur, 22 Oct 2009 21:02:31 GMT

anyone can add shows and fests that are coming up. Feel free.

Forum: Upcoming shows, carnival, and events

Midwest Carnival Message Board Midwestcarnivalshows.com Amusementco.com

I still believe in Saint Nicholas.

What do stores should be doing?

Goodbye In Store Video Rental / Bookstores, Goodbye Arcades

Frustrations with Businesses and also merchandise

halloween

happy halloween

WILLIAM BRUNDAGE

HELP HELP

Updated Big H ride line up

Site update for 10-25-2009

I like to question stuff, figure how to fix it, and ask why?

Favorite Horror Movie

Yahoo Email is Bothering ME!!!

Feel Free

posting to this board

Midwest Carnival Message Board
Midwestcarnivalshows.com
Amusementco.com