| A seaside theme is an inviting way to decorate a living room. A seaside theme works beautifully with calming wall colors like blue and green and neutral shades like sand with accents in white. An adaptable and versatile scheme, existing furniture and wall colors may already provide a perfect backdrop for a nautical theme. All that's left to do is add some ocean-inspired wall art décor, table top accents and other affordable accessories.
Create a Focal Point A bare expanse of wall over a couch or above a low console may be an ideal spot for nautical inspired wall art that influences the accent colors and accessories of your room. Metal wall hangings of realistic fish, calming waves, and underwater plant life will add color and texture to the walls. Repeat the colors in the metal wall art elsewhere in the room; beautiful coral and white in the metal wall art can be repeated in throw pillows or an area rug used to define a conversation area. Add light and dimension to nautical wall décor by including a pair of candle lanterns reminiscent of those used by lighthouse keepers. Add Accents for a Designer Touch Keep a nautical theme flowing throughout the living room space by repeating colors, textures and thematic accents: Candle wall lanterns are a good start. Continue using candles to create ambiance and nautical atmosphere. Pillar candles in hurricanes on a mantle, coffee table or side tables can be nested in handfuls of seashells, beach glass, and gleaming stones polished by the sea. Set candles in place inside the cylinder or hurricane and arrange large shells, starfish or glass and stones around the candles. Create a table top centerpiece with a simple tray or charger in an accent color. Pour clean craft and on top of the tray or charger and swirl it as desired. Tuck in shells, glass, stones and faux sand dollars and starfish. Add fragrant tea light or votive candles in sparkling crystal cups in scents that capture the fragrance of sea spray or an ocean breeze. Gather a woven vase full of sea grasses and seed heads next to the candle arrangement, or choose a tall woven vase and set it on the floor.
Bring the entire room together will throw pillows and floor cushions in your accent colors. Blue, greens, and coral look smashing against a neutral background of sand or light blue. Ticking stripes, bold checks in blue and white and accents of red provide a shipshape motif against a simple backdrop of light blue and white.
Lamps in classic nautical brass, wall sculpture and decorative wall art with a nautical twist are ocean-inspired accents that may be used throughout the room. For more information about Real Estate - visit: http://www.dfwhomeforsale.com |
Monday, July 27, 2009
Accenting a Living Room with a Seaside Theme
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Beyond the Barbeque
From a clever twist on the usual potluck to a summertime spread gone international, with a dash of imagination and a quick change of scenery, our alfresco dining ideas are sure to please the crowd.
- Make-Together Meal
Get collaborative with your guests in the kitchen, and then enjoy the homemade meal together beneath the stars. Decide on a menu and complete the basic prep at home, asking that your friends bring over specific ingredients you still need.Perhaps it's chicken kabobs seared to perfection on the grill-purchase the chicken and skewers yourself and let the meat marinate ahead of time. Suggest that your friends bring over their favorite vegetables, then assemble them together and grill them outdoors.
For even more bonding time in the kitchen, try making the entire meal from scratch with your friends. Ask each of your guests to bring the ingredients for one of your pre-determined dishes, then prepare the meal indoors and enjoy it outside. To avoid a crowded kitchen, try splitting up tasks, even sending some people outdoors to prep the grill or set the table. The food may taste delicious, but even more satisfying is knowing that you've prepared a wholesome, homemade meal together-with a lot of fun and laughter along the way.
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...For Real Estate Ideas or to learn how to Buy, Sell or Invest in Real Estate - visit http://www.robertjrussell.com
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- Summertime Shrimp Boil
It's a savory, beach-inspired meal without the mess. In typical one-dish dinner fashion, our Frogmore Stew Recipe-a traditional Southern blend of seafood and vegetables-fills up stomachs and keeps clean up to a minimum. Simply spread a disposable tablecloth or newspaper on a picnic table and let everyone dig in using their hands. Just be sure to keep plenty of paper towels around! When the party's over, you can easily dispose of the paper and tote your stewpot home.To keep the fun, hands-on spirit alive at your outdoor gathering, set up a few summertime activities, like face painting with skin-friendly paints and tie-dying. To tie-dye your threads, purchase inexpensive white cotton t-shirts at your local retailer and twist into tight shapes with several rubber bands. Fill old buckets with an array of fabric dyes, and then let your guests dip to their desire. Lay the wet shirts in a sunny spot in the grass to let dry.
- Neighborhood Picnic Party
Running short on tables and chairs? Just because you can't provide everyone in your neighborhood with a place to sit shouldn't keep you from hosting a party with the feel of a street-wide picnic. On decorative paper, send out simple invitations asking each of your neighbors to gather on your lawn with blankets and one or two easy, portable dishes. Everyone can come together to enjoy homemade snacks, then lie down for summer stargazing after sunset.
- A Worldly Buffet
Hosting an intercontinental dinner party is always a fun feat, but by moving the bash outdoors, your guests can enjoy the warm weather, too. To get a taste of the world without ever leaving home, try setting up a potluck buffet in your backyard or patio that features exotic cuisine from various locales. Assign each of your guests to a different country-when you send out your invitations, try tailoring each invite's design to the nation's theme.
Take your summertime entertaining to new heights by moving delicious meals outdoors. Whether it's an impromptu picnic with neighbors or an exotic trip across the globe for your taste buds, getting creative with your cuisine and taking advantage of the summer air is always a recipe for success.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Luxury & International Resort Properties
Are you looking for Luxury or International Resort Properties ?
We offer properties all over the world - Call Robert J Russell, International Real Estate Specialist for more details - 972-679-9029
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Open the Door to the Home You Want
Purchasing a home can feel overwhelming for buyers no matter how many times they've been through the process. And today, your credit score is more important than ever when it comes to your ability to buy the home you really want. If you are looking to improve your credit score, now is the perfect time to get started. Here are some great strategies you can utilize right away to give your score a little boost. For Information about Credit Scores, Mortgage Loans, Home purchase visit http://www.robertjrussell.com.
Create Some Balance: While paying down installment debt (car, school, mortgage, etc.) will definitely boost your credit score, paying down or paying off revolving debt, such as credit cards, can cause a quick jump in your credit score. The trick is to get and keep your balances below 30% of your credit limit on each card. For faster results, attack those cards with balances closer to their respective credit limits first, as opposed to those cards with simply the highest debt. Remember, if you pay off any credit cards completely, do not close your accounts without discussing it with your mortgage professional first. Cancelling those cards may inadvertently undo all of your hard work.
Know Your Limits: Make sure that your credit card issuers are reporting the correct limits on your accounts to the three major credit bureaus. Without an available limit, your account will appear to be maxed out at its highest reported balance each month. This could cost you up to 80 points in certain instances. Some creditors, such as American Express® and certain cards issued by Capital One®, actually have a policy of not reporting available credit. However, most companies will report your credit limits if you ask them in writing.
Take Some Credit: If you have a credit card account in very good standing, make sure that all three credit bureaus know about it. Just like your credit limits, some creditors don't report your information to all three credit companies - this is why credit scores often vary between bureaus. If this is the case, give them a call to find out why. Correcting this oversight could provide a significant boost to your score. Also, if you're in very good standing, ask your creditor for a lower rate or higher credit limit. This will increase the gap in the debt you owe versus the credit you have available. Sometimes hinting about closing an account can suddenly bring out the generous spirit of certain card issuers. Give it a try. The worst they can say is no.
Protect Your Interests: Your credit is calculated based solely on the information available to your creditors. If you have a HELOC, make sure it's listed as a mortgage or an installment account on your credit reports and not a revolving debt. If you had a bankruptcy, be sure that all items associated with the bankruptcy are being reported correctly, that is with a zero balance. This action could increase your score by 50-100 points. Because simple mistakes like these can wreak havoc on your credit score, it's important to monitor your credit every four to six months.
Even the Score: If you find information on your credit report that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete, then you have the right to dispute it free of charge. For the fastest results, visit the appropriate credit bureau's website and file a complaint online. If supporting documents are necessary, you have to file your dispute by mail.
With just a little bit of effort, you could be well on your way to a higher credit score...and to owning the home of your dreams!
Friday, July 17, 2009
Luxury Bueonos Aires Apartments!
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Thursday, July 16, 2009
Successful Webinars for Real Estate
Webinar Advantages: Better Than Being There?
A virtual seminar is a live event with a main speaker, in which attendees can view slides of the presentation on their computer desktops and the speaker's voice is delivered through the phone or computer speakers.
The advantages to you and your audience are many, such as:
- Convenience: Your prospects don't have to get into a car and go somewhere (nor do you). They can participate right from the comfort of their home or office, which means they are more likely to attend.
- Control: Attendees will have less fear of being "overpowered" by a sales pitch because they are not physically present and can click off at any time.
- Interaction: Most webinar systems give the speaker the ability to interact directly with attendees using real-time polls and a chat box for questions and comments.
- Feedback: Some webinar solutions allow you to automatically launch a survey immediately after the seminar ends. This is a great tool to receive candid feedback to gauge how well you did, how you could make it better, and expression of interest (including buying signals).
- Cost: If you choose wisely, you can put on a webinar for a fraction of the cost of a traditional seminar.
- Content: If your webinar system allows you to record your sessions, then you have an ongoing source of updated multimedia information for your Web site or blog.
At this point you may be thinking, "OK, great, but does it really work to generate new business?"
Let me put it this way: As a professional international speaker for nearly 15 years, I can attest to the business-generating power of seminars. In fact, during the past six months, webinars have been my only method of delivery. They have empowered me to reach more people than I ever have before with just a fraction of the effort and time involved with traditional seminars. (View an example: See a webinar I delivered to Maryland Association of REALTORS® associates last April.)
You too can use webinars to establish yourself as an expert, reach far more prospects, and convert more of them into clients.
The Technology You Need to Set it Up
Here are some tools you need to host a Webinar.
- Webinar system: What you want from a webinar platform is a combination of affordability, accessibility, and user interactivity. The one I use is GoToWebinar.com from Citrix. (Not to be confused with GoToMeeting, which is offered by the same company but does not include polls or surveys and is limited to 16 people.) The company offers a reasonable "all you can meet" pricing model either by the month or annually. This means you can use the system as many times as you want, with as many people as you want (up to 1,000) at any time. You can even try it free for 30 days. Remember: You need to practice on the system a few times before you conduct a live webinar. Some other popular webinar vendors include Adobe Connect, WebEx, and ConferencePlus.
- Internet connection: Make sure you have a reliable broadband connection because you will be broadcasting your voice and sometimes even your computer screen.
- Cordless phone headset: During a webinar, people will hear your disembodied voice and see whatever you are sharing on your computer screen-and that's it! This means your voice has to do the heavy lifting to keep the group engaged and their energy up. The easiest way to do that is to stand up and move while you are talking. This automatically improves your voice with that extra dose of energy and enthusiasm. A cordless headset can give you the freedom to do that. HelloDirect.com is one company that offers these; I personally prefer the GN950e, which gives you 350' of freedom and can be used as a computer headset as well.
Checklist: How to Prepare
Keep the following items in mind as you set up your webinar so you have no surprises when the time comes to put on your show.
- Schedule the day and time: Set the time, duration, and date that works best for your prospects. Try to keep the duration to no more than one hour until you develop strong confidence in your presentation skills. Also, be aware of what time zone you are using. Obviously, use your local one if all your attendees are local. Otherwise, for North America, use Eastern time, and attendees outside of that time zone can calculate for their own time (at least you hope they can).
- Describe the webinar: Give your webinar a title and description. Make sure your webinar title is very compelling and attractive to your intended audience-otherwise, they will not even bother to register. Also, the webinar description copy should include bullet points that outline the benefits of attending.
- Add panelists: These are people that either present with you or help you present (more on this later).
- Customize the webinar theme: This is the look and feel of what attendees will see when they receive your e-mail announcement and when they first log in. You can change the color, upload your logo, and include your photo.
- Set up a registration form: This is the information-mostly contact information-that your attendees will need to supply in order to register. Avoid mandatory fields whenever possible. (For example, GoToWebinar requires a name and e-mail address, but everything else is optional.)
- Arrange for a post-webinar survey: Think through the questions you want your attendees to answer and be sure to ask if they would like to schedule an appointment with you (the call to action). Then, plan on sending the survey out to all your attendees following the webinar.
- Set up your polls: These are a great way to get attendees to anonymously interact with you and each other in real time. They are typically used for larger audiences (50-plus). If you expect to use a poll in your webinar, set them up well in advance of your webinar and be sure to practice using them with a friend. Remember to talk to your audience while they fill these out, rather than just waiting silently and creating a "dead air" effect.
- Coordinate your e-mail reminders: Determine when e-mail reminders of the webinar will be sent to the registrants and what they will say. You will want to send out at least one or two reminders to registrants so they don't forget about the webinar. Be sure to include important log-in information and a phone number, if applicable, so they'll know how to access the webinar when the time comes.
2 Ways to Promote Your Webinar
So now that you have the logistics of your webinar all in place, you are now ready to announce it. Here are two primary ways to announce your webinar:
1. E-mail: Most providers have some sort of e-mail template, as well as the means for sending it to registrants. I use the basic format generated directly by GoToWebinar and then modified it slightly before sending it out. For e-mail announcements and reminders, I have found that three times within about a 45-day period works best, with the last reminder just a few days before the webinar date.
2. Web: You can post the registration link (using suitable promotional copy) on your Web site, blog, or any social media sites you belong to.
Don't hesitate to use affiliate relationships (title companies, mortgage lender, attorneys, etc.) to help spread the word.
With most webinar vendors, you'll be able to log into your account at any time to see who has registered, who they are, and if they had any pre-attendance questions.
3 Reminders for the Day of Your Webinar
Here are some things you'll want to have ready before your webinar goes live.
1. Prepare your materials: Make sure that you have pre-loaded any Web sites and your PowerPoint presentation well in advance of launching your webinar.
2. Adjust your screen resolution: Make sure your screen resolution is set to 1024 x 768, especially if you have a high-resolution screen. If you don't, your attendees may have a hard time viewing details on your screen if you're sharing it with them.
3. Make a knowledgeable friend or trusted colleague a panelist: It is very important to have someone who is familiar with your content and who can answer most questions and even run through the typed-in comments within the Q&A box that come in from attendees. There is no way you can do this yourself and keep your presentation flowing smoothly. When your friend logs in as a panelist, be sure to make them an "Organizer" so she can see and respond to the typed Q&A questions.
5 Presentation Tips
You want to deliver a high-performance and engaging webinar. Follow these pointers for presentation style.
1. Have a killer opening: Briefly introduce yourself and your fellow panelists and explain why attendees are there (keep it benefit-oriented) in a way that will grab them immediately.
2. Give an overview: Tell them what you are going to cover (again, stress the benefits).
3. Be participant-centric: In addition to keeping the webinar benefit-oriented, allow for audience interaction, which is much more engaging than just listening to someone. Note: Don't overwhelm your audience with PowerPoint slides. Use as few as possible and fill in the blanks with your personality and words.
4. Review what you cover: Stick to a few main points and the benefits they'll receive from learning this material.
5. Close with a call to action: Thank them for attending and be sure to remind them to complete the post-webinar survey too. In addition to establishing yourself as an expert, you want to use this opportunity to persuade them to become clients.
Due to high-speed Internet and affordable webinar systems readily available, webinars have made it easier than ever-and more fun-to show prospects that you're a top professional in the industry. So jump right in and explore this whole new world of business-generating opportunity awaiting you and you'll be propelling your virtual stardom in no time.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Want to Buy a House ?
Buy a Ticket
RISMEDIA, July 15, 2009-(MCT)-With a housing market sinking to lows seldom seen in this country's history, some people are resorting to seldom-used practices to sell their houses.
Don and Karen Carroll count themselves among that group. With plans to move to Painesville Township, the Eastlake couple is trying to sell their home of five years but to this point haven't had much luck.
"Our house has been on the market for almost a month and a half, but only one person has come to look at it," said Don, 40. "That being the case, we're kind of worried."
So, they've come up with a Plan B.
"I was sitting in the living room last week, and I said to my husband, 'What if we tried to raffle this house?' " said Karen, 50. "Somebody in this big world had to have done it before."
In fact, someone has. Last year, a Maryland couple raffled off their four-bedroom farmhouse - which was appraised at $390,000 when it was first put on the market - by selling 6,289 tickets at a price of $100 each.
The entire process took about two and a half months and the raffle even raised about $225,000 for a charity of that couple's choice.
The Carrolls first hoped to do exactly the same but have since learned that Ohio law prevents them from doing so, Don said.
However, another entity - like a nonprofit organization - can conduct such a raffle, Don said, explaining that led the Carrolls to approach the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland in hopes of working something out.
"My mother just passed away last month from diabetes," said Karen, explaining why the couple chose the Beachwood-based nonprofit.
However, such a raffle would have to be approved by the association's board of directors and there are still a number of legal questions that must be answered, said Lori Izeman, director of development and communication.
"We're interested in looking at new streams of revenue, and this may be an exciting opportunity," she said. "We're thrilled they're thinking locally, because the Diabetes Association of Greater Cleveland is the only local nonprofit dedicated to diabetes. We're not part of a national organization."
Should things not work with the association, Don said he and his wife would look for other nonprofits in hopes of arranging a raffle.
"In my heart, I think this could be a successful thing for whichever organization was willing to do it," he said.
In the meantime, the three-bedroom, one-bathroom raised-ranch house at 1259 E. 362nd St. is still up for sale. It's been appraised at $115,000, Don said.
Realtor Daryl Poe, who along with wife Georgia is the Keller Williams Realty agent for the house, said the couple would likely sell their home before any raffle if a buyer stepped forward.
Still, he gives the Carrolls credit for deciding to raffle the house.
"As a Realtor, it didn't bother me," Poe said. "You got people thinking outside the box."
Copyright (c) 2009, The News-Herald, Willoughby, Ohio
Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
United State Foreclosure Laws
Are you Money Smart ? How about your Children ?
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Money Smart for Young Adults The FDIC's Money Smart for Young Adults curriculum helps youth ages 12-20 learn the basics of handling their money and finances, including how to create positive relationships with financial institutions. Equipping young people in their formative years with the basics of financial education can give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to manage their finances once they enter the real world. Money Smart for Young Adults consists of eight instructor-led modules. Each module includes a fully scripted instructor guide, participant guide, and overhead slides. The materials also include an optional computer-based scenario that allows students to complete realistic exercises based on each module. The curriculum is distributed on CD: click here to order it. Money Smart for Young Adults is:
Modules range from 90-110 minutes if taught in their entirety. However, the content is layered so that it can be taught in two (or more parts). To help an instructor tailor the modules to the needs of the audience, the front of each module includes a matrix or Layering Table to delineate the module's components. The matrix will assist an instructor in presenting material responsive to the needs of your target audience within the available time frame. A description of each of the eight modules follows:
Potential Uses of Money Smart for Young Adults
Additional Information on the Computer-Based Scenarios
Need for Youth Financial Education The curriculum is distributed on CD: click here to order it.
For Information about Real Estate & Insurance - visit http://www.robertjrussell.com
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Monday, July 13, 2009
3 Steps - Staying Motivated towards your Goals
It's not always easy to stay motivated when you're trying to achieve a goal. Some experts say that the "goal" itself should be enough to inspire unwavering diligence toward achieving it...and there is an element of truth in that. However, the reality is that the discomforts of striving for a particular goal can sometimes cause us to lose focus.
Want to get in shape, save for a large purchase, "make the grade" in your studies? Don't worry... whatever you're trying to accomplish, the following tips can help you stay motivated and on track.
Visualize the End Result
Can't you just see yourself pounds lighter and fitting into a nifty outfit? The key question is how do you imagine yourself "feeling"? Healthier? Sexier? More self-confident? When you develop the ability to visualize your goals and imagine what the end results will be, you are more likely to stay motivated.
Many people have found it helpful to compose a "dream board" which is an arrangement of images representative of the goal. For instance, if you were saving money for a tropical beach vacation, then you'd get some travel brochures or create a collage of pictures from a magazine of blue ocean, palm trees, exotic fruit drinks...you get the picture!
Set Intermediate Goals and Reward Yourself for Small Victories
It's human to want results now. However, some worthwhile goals may require a great deal of effort and time to accomplish. Don't let that deter you. By setting smaller goals, you can work on each step that will eventually add up to big results in the end.
And don't forget to reward yourself when you reach small milestones along the way. Knowing that there are little "treats" along the journey to your goal will keep you excited and motivated.
Draw Inspiration from Others
Sources of inspiration to stay motivated can come from success quotes, lyrics, movies that depict people who attained their dreams through hard work or even speaking with others who have achieved what you're working toward. If they could do it...so can you!
If your focus begins to fade or you skid on a patch of discouragement, you may find it helpful to identify an accountability partner who will encourage you to stay the course. And, in instances where your partner is also striving toward an accomplishment, you'll experience the magic of motivating each other toward success.
Visualizing the end result, celebrating small victories along the way and drawing inspiration and encouragement from others are three powerful, easy-to-implement methods of staying motivated toward reaching your goals. So, go for it!
To find out more about Robert J Russell - visit http://www.robertjrussell.com
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Is Social Media a Double Edged Sword
We view social media as a critical aspect of our marketing strategy and focus a good deal of time and energy implementing our social media plan. This has generated new business for us, helped us make new friends, meet local business leaders, and is an enjoyable part of our day.
Social Media has become an inexpensive way to reach hundreds, thousands, and in some cases, even millions of people in an instant. This is great when you are broadcasting a new blog post to generate traffic to your website or announcing a new listing.
What happens when someone is dissatisfied or has a gripe about a business or service - or worse yet - about your business or service? It too, can spread quickly across the world wide web.
There have been several examples of this recently, including the disgusting Domino's Pizza video on how not to make pizza that was made as a joke by some employees and posted on YouTube and was broadcast across social media sites to a huge audience, causing quite a headache for the pizza franchise.
In social media, it is possible for a single individual to have a greater reach than even a large established news organization as demonstrated by Ashton Kucher in his race to a million followers on Twitter with CNN. In case you missed that story...Ashton won hitting a million Twitter followers before the CNN. One single person can have a big impact on the brand of a business or an individual - good or bad.
Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff's recent book Groundswell points out that in any social media situation 18% of the participants are creative and contributory while 25% are critical (thus, there will be more critics than contributors).*
So, what can you do to protect your brand and image on social media?
1.) Have a Plan and be prepared to respond quickly to criticism if it appears online.
2.) Monitor what is said about your name and your company name on social media sites. You can set up free alerts through Google and Twitter alerts and should monitor blog comments received to your posts on a regular basis.
3.) Be Transparent - if you are genuine it will come across in your social media efforts. No one likes a phony in real life, or in social media.
4.) Build Relationships - Social Media is about relationships and building them helps your business and provides you with credibility if you need support.
5.) Stay on the Battlefield * - If you receive a negative comment on Twitter, respond to it on Twitter.
Guy Kawasaki, a leader in technology recently said that, "Twitter is the best thing to happen to marketing since television, It's cheaper, it's fast and it's free." I believe this statement applies to all of social media, you just also have to be aware that there is another side to that sword.
*Resource: "When Social Media Turns Hostile: A Guide to Brokerage Self Defense" by Jeremy Conaway.
Presidential Facts - Did you know
Did you know that Barack Obama isn't actually be the 44th president? He is the 43rd person to hold the office. So why all the confusion?
It all goes back to Grover Cleveland, who was elected to two terms as president. However, because his terms were not consecutive, he was counted twice - Cleveland is listed as the 22nd and the 24th president. As a result, the number of people who held office is actually one less than the number of presidents the United States has had.
That's just one of many fun presidential facts behind the story of America's presidents. For even more oddball twists and tidbits, take the quiz below and share the answers with your family and friends this month!
Take the Presidential Tidbit Challenge...
1. Who was the first president to live in the White House?
A. George Washington
B. John Adams
C. Millard Fillmore
D. Theodore Roosevelt
ANSWER: This is a bit of a trick question. Officially, John Adams became the first president to live in the presidential residence that we know as the White House. However, when he moved into the residence during 1800, it wasn't called the White House. Instead, it was referred to as the President's Palace, the President's House, or the Executive Mansion. The first president to live in the "White House" was Theodore Roosevelt, who gave the residence its official name in 1901.
2. Who was the tallest president?
A. James Madison
B. Abraham Lincoln
C. Benjamin Harrison
D. Franklin Pierce
ANSWER: The tallest president of the United States was Abraham Lincoln, who stood 6 feet, 4 inches tall. Conversely, the shortest president was James Madison, who was only 5 feet, 4 inches tall - an entire foot shorter than Lincoln.
3. Although it seems like an odd question, who was the first president to be born as a US citizen?
A. Abraham Lincoln
B. Martin Van Buren
C. Herbert Hoover
D. Richard M. Nixon
ANSWER: Martin Van Buren was the first president to be born as a citizen of the newly created United States of America. The seven presidents prior to Van Buren (Washington, J. Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, J.Q. Adams, and Jackson) were considered British subjects. Incidentally, William Henry Harrison, who took office immediately after Van Buren was also born as a British subject. The other names listed above also represent interesting facts about birthplaces of US presidents. Abraham Lincoln was the first president born outside of the original colonies. Herbert Hoover was the first president born west of the Mississippi River. And, finally, Richard Nixon was the first and only president born in California.
4. Who was the youngest president of the United States?
A. Theodore Roosevelt
B. Franklin Delano Roosevelt
C. John F. Kennedy
D. Ronald Reagan
ANSWER: This is another tricky one. Theodore Roosevelt was actually the youngest president of the United States. He was only 42 years old when he took office; however, he became president after William McKinley died in office. John F. Kennedy was the youngest president ever "elected" to office. He was only 43 years old when he was elected president in November of 1960. So depending on how you interpret the question, either answer could be correct. On the flip side, Ronald Reagan was the oldest president. He was 69 when he took office and 77 when he left.
5. Who was the first president to appear on television?
A. Warren G. Harding
B. Rutherford B. Hayes
C. Franklin D. Roosevelt
D. John F. Kennedy
ANSWER: Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to appear on TV. The appearance took place during the opening ceremonies of the World's Fair in 1939. John F. Kennedy, however, was the first president to give a live television news conference. Warren G. Harding and Rutherford B. Hayes had famous firsts of their own. Harding was the first president to address the nation via radio, and Hayes was the first president to have a telephone in the White House.
6. Which president was born on July 4th?
A. John Adams
B. Thomas Jefferson
C. James Monroe
D. (John) Calvin Coolidge
ANSWER: The only president to be born on the Fourth of July was Calvin Coolidge, who was born on July 4, 1872. However, three presidents died on this national holiday. Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died on July 4, 1826. And James Monroe died on July 4, 1831.
7. Which president lost the popular vote, but still became president?
A. John Quincy Adams
B. Rutherford B. Hayes
C. Benjamin Harrison
D. George W. Bush
ANSWER: All of the above. John Quincy Adams was actually voted into office by the House in 1824 after the general election failed to produce a majority of the electoral votes. The other three presidents listed above also took office despite losing the popular vote: Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876; Benjamin Harrison in 1888; and most recently George W. Bush in 2000.
8. Which president graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis?
A. Ulysses S. Grant
B. Woodrow Wilson
C. Dwight D. Eisenhower
D. Jimmy Carter
ANSWER: The only president to graduate from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis was Jimmy Carter, who graduated in 1946 and then served in the nuclear submarine program. Ulysses S. Grant and Dwight D. Eisenhower both graduated from West Point. Woodrow Wilson, on the other hand, was the only president who had a Ph.D. He received a doctorate in political science from Johns Hopkins University in 1886.
9. Which president served in the US Congress after leaving office?
A. Andrew Johnson
B. John Quincy Adams
C. John Tyler
D. William Howard Taft
ANSWER: Andrew Johnson and John Quincy Adams were the only two former presidents to serve in the US Congress after leaving office. Johnson served in the Senate, and Adams served in the House. John Tyler did not serve in the US Congress, but he did serve as a delegate to the provisional Congress of the Confederacy after the outbreak of the Civil War. On the other hand, William Howard Taft is the only president to serve as chief justice of the US Supreme Court. After leaving the White House, he became a professor of constitutional law at Yale and was later appointed chief justice in 1921.
10. Who is the only person to become president without being elected as either president or vice president?
A. Millard Fillmore
B. Theodore Roosevelt
C. Gerald Ford
D. Lyndon Johnson
ANSWER: The only person ever to become president of the United States without being elected as either president or vice president is Gerald Ford. He was nominated to be Richard Nixon's vice president after Spiro Agnew resigned. Later, when Nixon resigned on August 9, 1974, Ford became the 38th president.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Summer Activities
Baseball, Hotdogs, Apple Pie...And Great Summertime Websites
Fun In the Sun Is Just a Click Away
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Summer is officially here, and there are plenty of ways your family can have fun in the sun, while also staying safe and healthy! Whatever plans your family has in store...in addition to enjoying the traditional baseball, hotdogs, and apple pie...here are some great websites that can help.
Hitting the Road...or Air...
Plan Your Road Route: There are a number of websites such as www.mapquest.com and maps.google.com that can help you plan your route. So make sure you take a few minutes to plan your drive and print out any directions that you may need.
Fly Smarter: For the latest information on prohibited items, acceptable IDs, and other security-related items, visit www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel.
Weather Watch: Whether you're travelling by road or air, you'll want to keep an eye on www.weather.com. Not only does this site help you discover the weather of your final destination, it also helps you keep an eye on how the weather is impacting airports across the country.
Work and Play...
Stay Connected: Learn where you can get free wireless Internet access while you're on the road this summer at www.wififreespot.com.
Stay Healthy...
Breathe Easier: Learn tips for fighting hay fever, asthma, and other summertime allergens at http://allergy.healthcommunities.com.
Camp Itch-Free: Visit www.poison-ivy.org to make sure you can identify poison ivy and poison oak before you plan any camping or hiking excursions.
The Great Outdoors...
Camping Across America: If you're planning a camping trip this summer-whether it's down the road or across state lines-take a few moments now to plan the trip and reserve your campsite. There are a number of online resources for specific campgrounds and state parks, but you can also reserve a spot at campsites across the country by visiting the following websites:
US National Parks: Find a National Park near you...or one that you may be near during your vacation in another state. It's as easy as visiting the government's official National Parks page at http://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm and clicking on the state of your choice! The site will display a map of the state to locate the parks, and you can scroll down to learn more about each park and even get directions.
Exciting Activities and Oddities...
Festival Fun: Visit www.festivals.com for information on over 40,000 community events, including air shows, cook-offs, craft shows, music festivals, and more.
See the Country: Find information on attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and more at http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/Travel_Tourism/State_Tourism.shtml
Family Theme Parks: No matter where you're going or what your budget is, you'll find the perfect park to fit into your travel plans. Just visit http://www.familythemeparkvacations.com/attractions-search-by-state.html and scroll down to choose the state you're in or visiting. Once you're on the state page, simply scroll down to see a variety of family theme parks-from water parks to amusement parks.
Odd Attractions Along the Way: Looking for the largest ball of twine? Bonnie and Clyde's death car? A toy robot museum? Well...you've come to the right place. Just visit http://www.roadsideamerica.com/location/ to find oddities and tourist attractions in every state-and even Canada! Simply click on either the map, the state links in the left sidebar, or type a city into the search at the top of the page. Then scroll down to view Featured Attractions or see the list of cities in the right-hand sidebar.
Sun and Sand...
Beach Vacations: Every state boasts about their beaches. Some have oceans while others have gulfs, bays, rivers, lakes or reservoirs. Whatever form the water takes, adventures and sports of all types can be found. Just click on the state of your choice in the map at the top of the page or choose from the alphabetical list below it. http://www.chiff.com/recreation/beaches/USA.htm
Sites for Kids...
Websites to Keep Kids Thinking: Sure...kids love summer because there's no school. But all that time away from the books can lead children to regress a little bit in what they know. Luckily, there are a variety of websites dedicated to providing fun online games that actually help kids activate their brains during their long summer vacation. For example, when you visit http://www.lac-k8.net/summer_websites_for_kids.htm you can find a list of websites dedicated to specific grades or even subjects such as math or science. So if your children keep asking you what they should do or if they want to play on the computer instead of outside, point them in the direction of a site that is good for their brains.
Regardless of whether you're traveling near or far this summer, take a few minutes to check out these sites and find activities and adventures in the sun, while also staying safe and healthy!
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