Cheap Girl Toys

Monday, July 15, 2013

Artificial Christmas Tree

History

The first artificial Christmas trees were developed in Germany during the 19th century, though earlier examples exist. These “trees” were made using goose feathers that were dyed green. The German feather trees were one response by Germans to continued deforestation in Germany. Developed in the 1880s, the feather trees became increasingly popular during the early part of the 20th century. The German feather trees eventually made their way to the United States where they became rather popular as well. In fact, the use of natural Christmas trees in the United States was pre-dated by a type of artificial tree. These first trees were wooden, tree-shaped pyramids lit by candles, they were developed in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania by the German Moravian Church in 1747.

Types of artificial trees

Feathers

Main article: Feather Christmas tree

An example of an antique feather Christmas tree

Feather Christmas trees, originally of German origin, became popular in the United States as well. Feather trees were initially made of green-dyed goose feathers which were attached to wire branches. These wire branches were then wrapped around a central dowel which acted as the trunk Feather Christmas trees ranged widely in size, from a small 2 inch tree to a large 98 inch tree sold in department stores during the 1920s. Often, the tree branches were tipped with artificial red berries which acted as candle holders. The branches were widely spaced to keep the candles from starting a fire, which allowed ample space for ornamentation. Other benefits touted for feather trees included the elimination of a trip to the tree lot and the lack of shed needles.

Brush bristles

In 1930 the U.S.-based Addis Brush Company created the first artificial Christmas tree made from brush bristles. The company used the same machinery that it used to manufacture toilet brushes. The trees were made from the same animal-hair bristles used in the brushes, save they were dyed green. For a time, the brush trees were immensely popular, with large numbers exported to Great Britain, where the trees also became popular. These brush trees offered advantages over the earlier feather trees. They could accept heavier ornamentation, and were not nearly as flammable.

Aluminum

Main article: Aluminum Christmas tree

An aluminum Christmas tree

Aluminum Christmas trees are a type of artificial tree that are made largely from aluminum. The trees were manufactured in the United States, first in Chicago in 1958, and later in Manitowoc, Wisconsin where the majority of the trees were produced. Aluminum trees were manufactured into the 1970s, and had their height of popularity from their inception until about 1965. That year A Charlie Brown Christmas aired for the first time, and its negative portrayal of aluminum Christmas trees is credited for a subsequent decline in sales.

Plastic

A PVC Christmas tree decorated with fairy lights and baubles

Most modern artificial Christmas trees are made from 100% recycled plastics of used packaging materials, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or other plastics. Just about 10% of trees made in the recent years are using virgin suspension PVC resin and despite being plastic most artificial trees are not recyclable or biodegradable. PVC trees are fire-retardant but not fire-resistant. Many of these trees are made in China; from January to August 2005 $69 million worth of artificial trees from China entered the United States.

Plastic trees come in a variety of different styles. Some have become more and more lifelike over the years and may contain polyethylene in their branches for further realism. The Prelit Tree has become increasingly popular in the United States and Germany as well, most prelit trees are not made from recycled plastic materials because all prelit trees are being classified into the categories of electrical products and are subject to the mandatory regulations for the safety standards of electrical products e.g. UL, CSA, GS, BS and RoHS. Artificial Christmas trees may be “frosted” or “glittered” and designed for outdoor uses with UV additives. Plastic trees can come in a variety of different colors, and one type came with built-in speakers and an MP3 player.

Companies such as Mountain King, Barcana and the National Tree Company have marketed increasingly realistic PVC trees made to closely resemble Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine or other common types of Christmas trees. During the 1990s trees not only began to appear more realistic but some also smelled more realistic. Many of these more modern models came with pre-strung lights and hinged branches which simply had to be snapped into position.

Other

An stand-alone upside down Christmas tree

Trends in artificial tree consumption have constantly evolved and a number of designer and other types of artificial Christmas trees have appeared on the market. Fiber optic trees come in two major varieties, one resembles a traditional Christmas tree. The other type of fiber optic Christmas tree is one where the entire tree is made of wispy fiber optic cable, a tree composed entirely of light. David Gutshall, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, received a patent for the latter type of fiber optic tree in 1998.

One Dallas-based company offers “holographic mylar” trees in many hues. Tree-shaped objects made from such materials as cardboard, glass, ceramic or other materials can be found in use as tabletop decorations.[citation needed] Upside-down artificial Christmas trees were originally introduced as a marketing gimmick; they allowed consumers to get closer to ornaments for sale in retail stores as well as opened up floor space for more products. There were three varieties of upside-down trees, those bolted to the ceiling, stand alone trees with a base, and half-trees bolted to walls.

Sales and usage

Artificial trees became increasingly popular during the late 20th century. Users of artificial Christmas trees assert that they are more convenient, and, because they are reusable, much cheaper than their natural alternative. Between 2001 and 2007 artificial Christmas tree sales jumped from 7.3 million to 17.4 million.

In 1992, in the United States, about 46 percent of homes displaying Christmas trees displayed an artificial tree. Twelve years later, a 2004 ABC News/Washington Post poll revealed that 58 percent of U.S. residents used an artificial tree instead of a natural tree. The real versus artificial tree debate has been popular in mass media through the early 21st century. The debate is a frequent topic of news articles during the Christmas holiday season. Early 21st century coverage of the debate focused on the decrease in natural Christmas tree sales, and rise in artificial tree sales over the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The rise in popularity of artificial trees did not go unnoticed by the Christmas tree farming industry in the United States. In 2004, the U.S. Christmas tree industry hired the advertising agency Smith-Harroff to spearhead an ad campaign aimed at rejuvenating lagging sales of natural trees. A 1975 poll by Michigan State University showed the reasons why consumers were beginning to prefer artificial over natural Christmas trees. The reasons included safety, one-time purchasing, and environmental responsibility but the biggest reason respondents gave pollsters was no messy needle clean up.

Production

A PVC Christmas tree decorated on Christmas Eve

Most artificial Christmas trees are manufactured in the Pearl River delta area in China. Promoters of artificial trees highlight them as convenient, reusable, and of better quality than artificial trees of old. Supporters also note that some apartment buildings have banned natural trees because of fire concerns.

There is also a robust market for artificial Christmas trees in Poland. An estimated 20 percent of all Christmas trees sold in Poland are artificial, and many are made domestically by individual families. One producer from Koziegwki stated that every other house was an artificial tree producers. The trees are made from a special film which is imported from China or Thailand. Entire families take part in production and the trees are sold throughout Poland with some being exported to the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Environmental issues

General issues

The debate about the environmental impact of artificial trees is ongoing. Generally, natural tree growers contend that artificial trees are more environmentally harmful than their natural counterpart. On the other side of the debate, trade groups such as the American Christmas Tree Association, continue to refute that artificial trees are more harmful to the environment and maintain that the PVC used in Christmas trees has excellent recyclable properties. One researcher at Kansas State University called the idea that artificial trees are eco-friendly an “urban myth”.

Lead contamination

In the past, lead was often used as a stabilizer in PVC, but it is now banned by Chinese laws. Most PVC materials for making artificial Christmas trees are now using tin as a stabilizer in recent years. PVC was used in some of the 2007 recalled Chinese toys. A 2004 study found that while in general artificial trees pose little health risk from lead contamination, there do exist “worst-case scenarios” where major health risks to young children are present. The lead author of the 2004 study, Dr. Richard Maas, noted in 2005: “We found that if we leave one of these trees standing for a week, and we wipe under the tree wel find large amounts of lead dust in many cases under the tree”.

In 2007, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) asked the Consumer Products Safety Commission to investigate lead levels in Chinese imported artificial trees. Lead-free artificial Christmas trees do exist; for example, one U.S.-based company uses barium instead of lead as a stabilizer in its PVC trees. A 2008 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency report found that as the PVC in artificial Christmas trees aged it began to degrade. The report determined that of the 50 million artificial trees in the United States approximately 20 million were 9 or more years old, the point where dangerous lead contamination levels are reached.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Top Family Days Out

Article from: My Family UK

The following ideas are for kids who are tireless bundles of energy, who always need entertainment. A family day out is a great way to get some fresh air and let the kids run around a bit.

For some brilliant, family-tailored days out, see our top choices below.

1) Adventure

Your little monkeys can swing from tree to tree at a Go Ape! centre (several locations over the UK), provided they are over 10 years old.

Under 18s must be accompanied by a participating adult, so make sure youâ€™ve brought a head for heights.

If wheels are more their thing then Mercedes-Benz World lets children drive real cars around specially designed tracks.

Try go-karting with F1K in Loughborough.

More unconventional fun can be had at Orb360 in Brighton, where kids over 1.5m tall crash downhill in giant inflatable bubbles at 30mph.

Littler thrill-seekers can have big fun at Airkix: indoor skydiving for the over-fives.

2) Nature

For fun with flora hit the Eden Project and experience tropical rainforests.Explore a real life Secret Garden at The Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Simply go walking in the Lake Districtâ€™s stunning natural environment.

For fantastic fauna, visit the free-range environment Fota Wildlife Park in Co.Cork.

Drusillas Park has more activities than you could shake a stick-insect at.

Donâ€™t forget London Zoo â€“ the worldâ€™s oldest scientific zoo.

3) Bookworms

Explore Winnie-the-Poohâ€™s Hundred Acre Wood at Ashdown Forest in East Sussex where a guide to Pooh-sites can be picked up from the Forest Centre â€“ and donâ€™t forget to bring some pooh-sticks!

The World of Beatrix Potter brings Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck and the rest to life.

Lovers of Oliver Twist must visit Dickens World, where there is a Victorian street made up of famous Dickensian places from the books.

4) Sports

Learn to climb indoors at Edinburghâ€™s International Climbing Centre, the worldâ€™s biggest, where anyone over 1.4m tall can tackle the Aerial Assault course suspended 100m off the floor.

Water-babies can learn to surf with the British Surfing Association at Fistral Beach in Newquay, or get into paddle-sports in Cardiff Bay.

Keeping it cool is Manchesterâ€™s Chillfactore, where you can ski, snowboard and even visit an Alpine Village, indoors.

As for footy, try a visit to the National Football Museum in Preston. Alternatively, your own beloved team most likely has a stadium tour of its own so pass on the legacy!

5) Science & Technology

â€œExterminateâ€ dull weekends at the Doctor Who Museum, Blackpool.

For science of a more Earth-bound kind, Cardiffâ€™s Techniquest is a very hands-on centre for exploring maths, engineering and technology.

The Catalyst Science and Discovery Centre in Widnes focuses on the colourful and often combustible world of chemistry and has family workshops during half-term holidays.

The National Science Museum in London always has loads of informative exhibitions and, on designated Science Nights, kids can even camp overnight among the exhibits!

6) Dinosaurs

Track T-Rex or play dino-themed mini golf at The Big Dinosaur Adventure in Norfolk.

Dorchesterâ€™s Dinosaur Museum has life-size reconstructions of all the favourites and in this museum kids are encouraged to touch them!

That isnâ€™t the case at The Natural History Museum but for the brave young archaeologists they do have a moving, roaring, Tyrannosaurus!

For informative outdoors fun, go fossil-hunting along the Lyme Regis Jurassic Coast.

7) Space

The National Science Museum has a permanent exhibit tracing the story of the space rocket and all sorts of interstellar info.

Spaceport in Seacombe makes kids feel like astronauts with its simulators, planetarium and interactive audio-visual galleries.

At the National Space Centre in Leicester, your child can even learn how to run a space mission in their Challenger Centre!

If your kids are more ‘Skywalker’ than ‘Sky At Night’, then Laser Quest centres offer games of laser-tag in suitably futuristic arenas.

Historical

The Imperial War Museum North is about more than just the facts; itâ€™s about people, their lives and stories and loads of interaction â€“ ever wondered what a WWI trench smelled like?

From the Navy to pirates, life on the high seas can be explored at the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich.

In York, the Jorvik Viking Centre presents the sights â€“ and smells! â€“ of Viking life, with reenactments over half-term holidays.

Also great at half-term, or any other time, is Warwick Castle, where kids can be knights for the day.

Or if your little terrors like things a bit more gory try The London Dungeons for a gruesome history lesson.

9) The Arts

Budding poets can see Wordsworthâ€™s cottage in the Lake District.

Young thespians should tour The Globe.

In Spring/Summer the open air cliff-top Minack theatre is a stunning venue to take in a play.

For kids in the North-West who want to get stuck into arts projects and workshops, check out the Action Factory Community Arts website for the latest events.

The newly opened British Music Experience charts the stars, the trends, fads and fashions of the last 60 years of popular music so you and the kids can learn about each otherâ€™s eras.

10) Machines

Take a spin 35m into the air on the worldâ€™s largest rotating boat-lift in Falkirk, a futuristic addition to one of Scotlandâ€™s oldest and most scenic canal networks.

Move off the wheel and get behind it at Diggerland, where kids can drive and operate heavy-duty construction vehicles in a diggable environment.

From trams, buses and tubes to artwork and posters, the London Transport Museum is a cool place to learn everything about the heritage of Londonâ€™s transport.

Or check out the 57 varieties of aircraft and cockpit sections at Newark Air Museum which has been capturing kidsâ€™ imaginations for over 40 years.

Further Information

For further information, and for more great ways to have fun with your family, log on to www.myfamilyuk.com. With a huge collection of articles covering everything from child safety to rainy day activities, you’ll find all the help, guidance and entertainment you need to be a great parent. Go to My Family UK now!

Top Family Days Out

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Ten Safety Tips When Traveling With Children

Traveling abroad is a great learning experience for kids and parents. Here are 10 tips to help keep your family safe, and ensure everyone has a great time.

1. Fill out all emergency information on your passports. Make sure family members wear their passport on their body at all times. Children should carry the phone number and address of at least one trusted adult back home.

2. Read, understand, and follow all travel warnings issued for the area you are visiting. Do not travel to unsafe areas.

3 .Make two copies of everyoneâ€™s passport id page. Carry one copy with you in a separate place from your passport, and leave the second with a trusted friend or family member back home. Parents should carry additional copies of childrenâ€™s passports.

4. Always carry current photos of your children with you.

5. Leave a copy of your travel plans with family or friends at home. Include hotel names and phone numbers. Have your children carry a copy of travel plans with them, as well.

6. Learn local laws and customs before you leave for your trip. Be sure your children understand them as well.

7. In airports, bus depots and train stations, never leave your luggage unattended. Instruct your children not to touch other peopleâ€™s luggage, or pick anything up from the floor.

8. If you will be in a foreign country for more than two weeks, contact the embassy or consulate in that country. This will make it easier for officials to find you in case of emergency back home.

9. Do not wear expensive jewelry, or clothing that stands out. Donâ€™t carry more money than you will need. Consider credit cards or travelers checks.

10. Make sure you exchange money at authorized places. If you have any questions or get in trouble, contact the closest embassy.

Article Source : http://blogatme.com/2008/09/11/ten-safety-tips-when-traveling-with-children/

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