Wednesday Open Line


Many avid skiers are headed to the slopes these days, anxious to try out the new equipment and colorful hats, gloves, and jackets they received for Christmas. It’s the height of the skiing season, and the lodges and ski lifts at resorts are getting crowded. Skiing was introduced to America in the 1840s and ’50s by Norwegians and Swedes, who came to the U.S. as part of the Gold Rush. The first winter Olympics were held in 1924. Today, snow means fun and excitement for millions of fans of downhill and cross-country skiing, as well as snowboarding. There are close to 400 ski facilities across the U.S., and those who enjoy them spend $2.2 billion during their days of fun each year. Profile America is in its 16th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Tuesday, December 25th. Today is Christmas Day — observing the birth of Jesus and one of the happiest days in the long calendar of the year. Outside, in conditions ranging from snow to warm sunshine, children are busy trying out their shiny new treasures, ranging from skateboards to bikes. Inside, others are busy with video games and other electronic marvels. Many of the two-thirds of adults who are members of Christian churches will have attended services to honor the day. And in many of the more than 117 million households in America, holiday music and lights will be joined by the inviting smells of a special dinner to be shared with family and friends. The men and women of the U.S. Census Bureau across the nation wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday.

Monday, December 24th. Today is Christmas Eve — and last-minute shoppers searching for their final gifts are anxiously scanning shelves nearly picked bare. If the recipient is a man, one gift is always appropriate. All over the country, millions of men will unwrap a suspiciously familiar, long, thin package — inside will be a necktie. One of every five ties sold is a Christmas gift — that’s why this is National Tie Month. King Louis the 14th of France is credited with making ties popular. He was impressed by the visit of a military regiment from Croatia, whose officers wore bright colored handkerchiefs around their necks. Today in the U.S., making neckties is a $300 million a year business. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sunday, December 23rd. An organization that has been in the news a lot this year, and which has come in for its share of criticism during the nation’s current fiscal problems, observes the 99th anniversary of its founding today. The Federal Reserve System, known simply as “the Fed,” came into being on this day in 1913, with the job of keeping the nation’s complex financial system in tune. Acting as the nation’s central bank, “the Fed” influences the lending and investing activities of all banks, along with the availability of money and credit. There are more than 91,000 commercial banks in the U.S., with profits of over $600 billion a year. You can find current data on the country’s economy by downloading the new “America’s Economy” mobile application at <www.census.gov/mobile>.

Saturday, December 22nd. Millions of bleary-eyed Americans who stumble around in the morning owe a lot to someone they never heard of — James H. Nason of Franklin, Massachusetts. This month in 1865, he received a patent for a coffee percolator, making it much easier to brew just the right cup of coffee to get started in the morning. Now, not only does just about every home in the U.S. have a coffee maker but many also grind their own fresh from coffee beans. Millions of Americans enjoy coffee all during the day and depend on the nation’s 19,000 coffee shops to brew just the right cup of regular, decaf, latte or espresso to keep them going. Those shops sell more than $10 billion worth of coffee annually. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.