|
|
|
December 2006
Cam Tech
will be closed Friday at noon, December 22, 2006 and will re-open
on Tuesday, January 2, 2005.
Thank you for your interest in
CAM TECH School of Construction. We provide the latest contractor information right to your computer. You can learn all you need to know from our website at
www.camtechschool.com and by visiting one of our
Free Licensing Information Seminars. Need books? We have a full
Construction Bookstore online! We will keep you updated on what you need to know as a Florida Contractor or Future Florida Contractor!
In this issue, we are including information about:
February and April Classes
If you are testing in either
February or April, classes are starting IN JANUARY! In
Tampa, Orlando and
Ft. Myers, class begins on January 12, 2007. This is our first session of classes
for the year 2007, so if you plan to test in February or April, now is the time
to get registered! You can print out a class schedule in our
Schedules section, you
can register for classes in the
Register section, and you
can purchase books in our online
Bookstore!
Please Note: Exam seating is limited. We recommend you apply as early as
possible.
Meeting the deadline does not guarantee admittance to the State exam.
Best Wishes for a wonderful and safe Holiday Season from all
of us at
Cam Tech!
 The
Many Faces
of
Santa
"He had a broad face
and a round little belly,
That shook when he
laughed, like a bowl full of jelly,![]()
He was chubby and
plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I
saw him, in spite of myself"
Clement Moore, "A Visit from St.
Nicholas"
On
the night before
Christmas, all across the world, millions of children will be tucked in their
beds while “visions of sugarplums dance in their heads. When they awake they
will check their stockings to see if Santa Claus has come.
Santa Claus
has become the most beloved of Christmas symbols and traditions. The image of
the jolly old elf
flying in a sleigh pulled by reindeers and
leaving toys and gifts for every child is know worldwide.
The history of
Santa Claus begins with a man called
Saint Nicholas,
the Bishop of Myra in Asia Minor, in what is now
Turkey. Saint
Nicholas was known for his charity and wisdom. Legends tell of him coming from a
wealthy family and giving all his money to the poor. He also was said to possess
magical powers. He died in 340 AD and was buried in Myra.
Late in the 11th century religious soldiers
from
Italy
took the remains of the saint back with
them to Italy. They built a church in honor of him in the town of Bari, a port
town in southern Italy. Soon Christian pilgrims from all over the world came to
visit the church of Saint Nicholas. These pilgrims took the legend of Saint
Nicholas back to their native lands. As the legend of Saint Nicholas spread it
would take on the characteristics of each country.
In
Europe
during the 12th century Saint Nicholas Day became a day of gift giving
and charity.
Germany, France, and Holland
celebrated December 6th as a religious holiday
and gave gifts to their children and the poor.
When the
Dutch
colonists traveled to America, they brought with them their
Sinterklaas,
an austere bishop who wore a red bishop's
costume and rode on a white horse.
The
American
image of
Sinterklaas
would gradually evolve into that of a jolly old elf.
He was first described as a plump and jolly old Dutchman by
Washington Irving in his comic History of
New York. In 1823 Sinterklaas/Saint Nicholas' metamorphosis continued with the publication of
Clement Moore's poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas (T'was the night before
Christmas...).
In the 1860s cartoonist Thomas Nast drew
pictures of a plump and kindly Santa Claus for the illustrated
Harper's Weekly. This image of Santa Claus was becoming ingrained in the
minds of the American people. As time went on this image of Santa Claus traveled
across the globe, back to Europe, to
South America, and elsewhere.
Many countries have kept their own customs and
traditions of
Saint Nicholas. In some cultures Saint Nicholas
travels with an assistant to help him. In
Holland,
Sinterklaas sails in on a ship arriving on December 5th. He carries a big
book which tells him how the Dutch children have behaved during the past year.
Good children are rewarded with gifts and the bad ones are taken away by his
assistant, Black Peter.
In
Germany Saint Nicholas also travels with an assistant, known as Knecht
Ruprecht, Krampus, or Pelzebock, and comes with a sack on his
back and a rod in his hand. Good children receive a gift, but naughty children
are punished by the assistant with a few hits of the rod.
In
Italy
La Befana is good witch who
dresses all in black and brings gifts to children on the Epiphany, January
6th. In many Spanish countries;
Spain,
Puerto Rico,
Mexico, and South America, the children wait for the Three Kings to bring
their Christmas gifts.
In
France
Father Christmas or Pere Noel bring
gifts for the children.
Switzerland
has the Christkindl or Christ Child who bears gifts. In some towns
children await the Holy Child and in others Christkindl is a girl-angel who
comes down from heaven bearing gifts. The
Scandinavian
countries celebrate with an elf, called the julenisse or the juletomte
who bears gifts. And in
England Father Christmas, an more austere and thinner version of Santa Claus,
brings gifts.
In
North American
it is the round and plump "Ho Ho Ho'ing"
Santa Claus who flies in a sleigh
pulled by eight reindeers delivering toys to the children of the world.
Construction News
Cam Tech does not endorse any of these companies or websites. This is a list of construction-related news, companies and websites provided for your convenience.
Cam Tech is not responsible for the content of the following websites.
 -
Whether you are celebrating
 Christmas,
 Chanukah,
 Kwanzaa
or others it is a special time for family and friends and a time to celebrate Peace, Joy and Love. During this holiday season,
we hope you will take time to express your love to those close to you. Visit
one of the links below for a variety of special Holiday celebrations, music,
gifts, history, etc.:
http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/ ,
http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/ ,
http://www.merry-christmas.com/.
Stronger walls for high seismic zones tested
Generic metal shear wall panels that can provide three times the strength of
plywood shear walls are being tested for use in low-rises in high seismic zones.
The walls, which also offer twice the strength of any proprietary system and are
more economical, could be available to structural engineers on a case-by-case
basis by April.
Engineering News-Record
 Hydronic heat helps in Woodrow Wilson Bridge project
A
project director in charge of the rebuilding of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge in
Virginia turned to a Ground Heaters hydronic heating system to allow for a
suitable cold-weather concrete curing environment on the bridge. The process
isn't cheap, however -- including equipment, insulating blankets, fuel and
labor, the cost of using hydronic heat was about $500,000.
Associated Construction Publications
Bush's "fence plan" draws unlikely skeptics
President George W. Bush's proposed 700 mile fence built along the U.S.'
Southwest border has sparked debate over the effectiveness of such a massive
plan. Proponents point to the large drop in immigration and its related crimes
when a similar plan was enacted in the San Diego region during the early-'90s,
while the fence's opponents state that more law enforcement is need to
effectively curtail illegal immigration.
USA TODAY
 $1 billion Fla. project to break ground next spring
Forest City Enterprises Inc. and
Magna Entertainment Corp.
are in the planning stages of a major mixed-use
lifestyle project in Hallandale Beach, Fla., located next to the Gulfstream Park
racetrack. The Village at Gulfstream Park will include 1,500 residential condos,
retail and office space, a cinema, a hotel and 225 affordable housing units.
Construction is expected to take 15 years.
Commercial Property News
Education fastest-growing market for green construction
Schools, which represent the largest construction sector by value, are emerging
as a strong market for green building, a report says. Research from McGraw-Hill
Construction shows fiscal advantages and "improved health and well-being" are
driving factors, while higher first costs are the main challenge.
GreenerBuildings
 Study: Industrial investment a good risk
A
recent survey shows that prices for land and new construction should create a
good environment for investing in commercial real estate, particularly
industrial properties. The Real Estate Research Corporation's report also
expressed concern about retail due to what it called overpricing, decreases in
consumer spending and tenant risk.
FacilitiesNet
Experts: Housing slowdown may affect heavy equipment sales, cranes to remain in
demand
Contractors who are used to having to wait in line to buy heavy equipment should
find a market this year that's more to their liking. Industry leaders predict a
slowing housing market will take small machinery sales with it, while commercial
construction equipment like cranes should remain in reasonably high demand.
Engineering News-Record
 Euro engineers try new traffic control method: none at all
Traffic engineers are experimenting with a strategy that may make American
engineers quiver. Officials in several European countries, building on the
belief that drivers are more careful when there are no signs directing their
movements, have turned to the notion of designing "naked highways" -- roads
stripped of all signs and signals.
USA TODAY/Associated Press
Research center to focus on U.S. transportation
A
new research facility at Purdue University, sponsored by the U.S. Department of
Transportation, will attempt to boost the efficiency of America's airports, rail
lines, highways and waterways. The center's main focus is to develop a system to
coordinate passenger and freight travel.
The Indianapolis Star
 Accounting
Tips For Contractors
Are you using the correct accounting method?
Construction companies may be liable for Federal excise taxes or due a fuel tax
credit or refund.
Are you using the correct construction codes on your tax return?
The Internal Revenue Service has identified several issues that may cause
problems for the owners of small construction businesses. This information is
intended to make you aware of these issues and to provide you with tools to help
you avoid pitfalls along the way.
For more information visit
Accounting for Construction Contracts - Construction Tax Tips
"Christmas gift suggestions:
To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect."
~ Oren Arnold
Look for our next month's issue of the Newsletter in
early January. We hope to bring you the latest news from the State of
Florida construction Industry Licensing Board and a whole lot more.
View past Newsletters!
Join our E-Mail list
and receive this newsletter in your E-mail, along with other important Construction and Contractor Information!
|
|
