Welcome to my blog * thoughts and things * poetry, pictures * ideas * opinions * kindness * video * stay and read a while.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Presidents




BARACK OBAMA is our 44th president, but there actually have only been 43 presidents: Cleveland was elected for two nonconsecutive terms and is counted twice, as our 22nd and 24th president.

EIGHT PRESIDENTS were born British subjects: Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, J. Q. Adams, Jackson, and W. Harrison.

EIGHT PRESIDENTS never attended college: Washington, Jackson, Van Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, A. Johnson, and Cleveland. The college that has the most presidents as alumni (seven in total) is Harvard: J. Adams, J. Q. Adams, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Rutherford B. Hayes, J. F. Kennedy, and George W. Bush.

THE MOST COMMON religious affiliation among presidents has been Episcopalian, followed by Presbyterian.

THE ANCESTRY of all 44 presidents is limited to the following heritages, or some combination thereof: Dutch, English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Swiss, German , and Africian.

THE TALLEST president was Lincoln at 6'4"; at 5'4", Madison was the shortest.

FOURTEEN PRESIDENTS served as vice presidents: J. Adams, Jefferson, Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, A. Johnson, Arthur, T. Roosevelt, Coolidge, Truman, Nixon, L. Johnson, Ford, and George Bush.

VICE PRESIDENTS were originally the presidential candidates receiving the second-largest number of electoral votes. The Twelfth Amendment, passed in 1804, changed the system so that the electoral college voted separately for president and vice president. The presidential candidate, however, gradually gained power over the nominating convention to choose his own running mate.

FOR TWO YEARS the nation was run by a president and a vice president who were not elected by the people. After Vice President Spiro T. Agnew resigned in 1973, President Nixon appointed Gerald Ford as vice president. Nixon resigned the following year, which left Ford as president, and Ford's appointed vice president, Nelson Rockefeller, as second in line.

THE TERM "First Lady" was used first in 1849 when President Zachary Taylor called Dolley Madison "First Lady" at her state funeral.  It gained popularity in 1877 when used in reference to Lucy Ware Webb Hayes. Most First Ladies, including Jackie Kennedy, are said to have hated the label.

JAMES BUCHANAN was the only president never to marry. Five presidents remarried after the death of their first wives——two of whom, Tyler and Wilson, remarried while in the White House. Reagan was the only divorced president. Six presidents had no children. Tyler——father of fifteen——had the most.

PRESIDENTS LINCOLN, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy were assassinated in office.

ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS were made on the lives of Jackson, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Truman, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, G. H. W. Bush, Clinton, and G. W. Bush.

EIGHT PRESIDENTS died in office: W. Harrison (after having served only one month), Taylor, Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, Harding, F. Roosevelt, and Kennedy.

PRESIDENTS ADAMS, Jefferson, and Monroe all died on the 4th of July; Coolidge was born on that day.

KENNEDY AND TAFT are the only presidents buried in Arlington National Cemetery.




Source:  Excerpted from
Joseph Nathan Kane as posted on http://www.infoplease.com/spot/prestrivia1.html


Continue Reading...

Sunday, December 27, 2009

1776

The Americans of 1776 had the highest standard of living and the lowest taxes in the Western World!
      Farmers, lawyers and business owners in the Colonies were thriving, with some plantation owners and merchants making the equivalent of $500,000 a year. Times were good for many others too. The British wanted a slice of the cash flow and tried to tax the Colonists. They resisted violently, convinced that their prosperity and their liberty were at stake. Virginia's Patrick Henry summed up their stance with his cry: "Give me liberty or give me death!"
Source:  Little known facts about the American Revolution
http://www.state.de.us/facts/ushist/revfacts.htm




Continue Reading...

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Oh Africa




I saw a video on YouTube about hi rise buildings and opulent neighborhoods in some of the African cities.  I wanted to show a city from every African country, so I searched the web for images of the capitols and I believe I may have got them all.  I hope you'll watch through the affirmation at the end.

 
Continue Reading...

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Light Shines Through


A Greek philosopher and teacher ended a lecture asking, “Are there any questions?” In the audience was Robert Fulghum who asked, “Dr. Papaderos, what is the meaning of life?”


Fulghum relates: “The usual laughter followed, and people started to go. Papaderos held up his hand and stilled the room and looked at me for a long time, asking with his eyes if I was serious and seeing from my eyes that I was. ‘I will answer your question,’ he said. Then taking his wallet out of his hip pocket, he fished into it and brought out a very small, round mirror, about the size of a quarter. Then he said, ‘When I was a small child, during the war, we were very poor and we lived in a remote village. One day, on the road, I found several broken pieces of a mirror from a wrecked German motorcycle. I tried to find all the pieces and put them together, but it was not possible, so I kept only the largest piece. This one. And by scratching it on a stone, I made it round. I began to play with it as a toy and became fascinated by the fact that I could reflect light into dark places where the sun would not shine – in deep holes and crevices and dark closets. It became a game for me to get light into the most inaccessible places I could find.

'I kept the little mirror, and as I went about my growing up, I would take it out in idle moments and continue the challenge of the game. As I became a man, I grew to understand that this was not just a child’s game but a metaphor for what I might do with my life. I came to understand that I am not the light or the source of the light. But light – truth, understanding, knowledge – is there, and it will only shine in many dark places if I reflect it.'

‘I am a fragment of a mirror whose whole design and shape I do not know. Nevertheless, with what I have, I can reflect light into the dark places of this world – into the black places in the hearts of men – and change some things in some people. Perhaps others may see and do likewise. This is what I am about. This is the meaning of my life.' “And then he took his small mirror and, holding it carefully, caught the bright rays of daylight streaming through the window and reflected them onto my face and onto my hands folded on the desk.”


http://www.robertfulghum.com/ Robert Fulghum's Official Website
Continue Reading...

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Two Andrews

Soprano lessons


-- Posted from my iPhone
Continue Reading...

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

What has Obama done

"Professor Watson writes
Hi friends,

I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.

As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years.

Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).
Robert

  • Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
  • Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
  • Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women
  • Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
  • Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
  • Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
  • Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family
  • The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
  • Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
  • Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House
  • Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
  • Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
  • Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
  • Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
  • Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
  • New federal funding for science and research labs
  • States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal standards
  • Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
  • Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
  • New funds for school construction
  • The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
  • US Auto industry rescue plan
  • Housing rescue plan
  • $789 billion economic stimulus plan
  • The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
  • US financial and banking rescue plan
  • The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
  • Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
  • Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
  • The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
  • Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
  • Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
  • Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
  • Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
  • Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
  • US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
  • Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
  • Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
  • Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
  • Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
  • Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
  • Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
  • Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
  • Expanding vaccination programs
  • Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
  • Closed offshore tax safe havens
  • Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
  • Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
  • Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices
  • Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
  • Lower drug costs for seniors
  • Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
  • Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
  • Improved housing for military personnel
  • Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
  • Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
  • Increasing student loans
  • Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
  • Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
  • Established a new cyber security office
  • Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
  • Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
  • Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
  • Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
  • Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
  • Improving benefits for veterans
  • Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
  • Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
  • The FDA is now regulating tobacco
  • Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
  • Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
  • Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
  • Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
  • Making more loans available to small businesses
  • Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
  • Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
  • Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
  • Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
  • Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
  • Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
  • Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
  • New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy, and good government practices by Afghans
  • Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
  • Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
  • Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his own pocket
  • Held first Seder in White House
  • Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured
  • Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
  • Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
  • Has announced his intention to push for education reform
  • Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office!
b
Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.Coordinator of American Studies
Lynn University"

 

 

 

 
-- Posted from my iPhone
Continue Reading...

Popular Posts


5 most recently updated from the blogs I'm following

Followers

Science of Mind and Spirit For Begnners

Science of Mind and Spirit For Begnners
"This wonderful book guides any individual to understand Science of Mind with ease and grace. It is a simple and beautiful presentation of the Spiritual Principles Science of Mind teaches. I highly recommend this book to students, licensed Practitioners and ministers. Blessings to Rev Edward." ~ Johan Gonzalez RScP. Science of Mind and Spirit for Beginners: Four Chapters in Simplified Prose, paraphrased by Edward VIljoen

Practice The Presence Journal

Practice The Presence Journal
Journaling offers a powerful way to record your spiritual growth. Writing in a journal calls on you to be more conscious of the insights that occur daily in your life. It gives you an opportunity to examine your beliefs and be mindful of your choices.

Seeing Good At Work

Seeing Good At Work
I have been through the book three times over three years, and am starting it again. This is not because the material in the book is not working, but because it is working so well! The weekly lessons keep me on track and focused on what is actually true and important, and help me experience more good in every area of my life. LS

Ezine.com