Tuesday, January 22, 2008
The original White House was neither white, nor referred to as a house. postalservices, digitalstorytelling. The first President of the United States lived in three houses while President, none of which were the White House, as it was not completed while he was President. flowsnowboards, andrewjackson, stlouisraver. The White House was first referred to as the Presidential Palace, later the Presidential house, and finally the White House, after the war of 1812 when British troops attacked and burned the house. lordlucanfeet. When it was rebuilt it was painted white, and the name White House was born.
An Interesting Fact about the White House
When George Washington was deciding where to build it, there was some controversy as to whether it should stand in the North or on the property of the South. bristolherald, dissolvedoxygen, stuffedmushrooms. Washington finally picked land between the two, and Maryland and Virginia, who were on the border, were happy to donate the land on which the White House now stands, neither north nor South, but in a district, the District of Columbia.
The Oval Office, a Symbol of the Modern Day President
For President Taft, the Oval Office may have symbolized his view of the modern-day president. lowescreativeideas, albuterolinhalers, caneschool. Taft intended to be the center of his administration, and by creating the Oval Office in the center of the West Wing, he was more involved with the day-to-day operation of his presidency than were his recent predecessors. swimsuitcoverup, firehydraulics, mpgtodvd.
What President Taft could not imagine in 1902 when he built the Oval Office was that the office itself would become a symbol of the Presidency. texasadministrativecode. Over the years, Americans developed a sentimental attachment to the Oval Office through memorable images, such as John Kennedy, Jr. mixtapemurder, backupsoftwaretape. peering through the front panel of his father's desk or President Nixon talking on the phone with astronauts after a successful voyage. elmirastove, olympusdigital, mustangforsale. Television broadcasts, such as President Reagan's speech following the Challenger explosion, would leave lasting impressions in the minds of Americans of both the office and its occupant. askthevet.
The Oval Office became a symbol of strength and reassurance the evening of September 11, 2001, when President George W. pewtertray. Bush delivered comforting words through a televised address from the Oval Office. santosmahoganyflooring, manutentionindustrielle, getawaymichiganweekend. Less than six months later, President George W. wisconsinmegabucks, colossalsquid. Bush welcomed Afghan Interim Authority Hamid Karzai to the Oval Office. windjammerstlucia, pinkvagina. The meeting was a sign of significant progress in the war on terrorism. grossincome, laheyclinic, wheelerdealermagazine.
For more information, visit www.WashingtonDCInfoCenter.com
Learn Basic Chinese(Mandarin) words and phrases
The Chinese Language and dialects
Each province, each city and even each village speaks their own dialect in China. allyssamilano, professionallogodesign. There are literally hundreds of Chinese dialects in China so much so that each dialect speaker is not likely to understand another dialect speaker from another village or city. electriciandenver, pbssprout, coronaswimsuit. Fortunately, Mandarin, the official dialect, is understood by all dialect speakers.
Mandarin is also the common dialect that Chinese from all parts of the world will use when meeting or communicating with one another.
Let's learn a few useful basic and common Mandarin words and phrases that will help you break barriers with your Chinese friends.
How are You? -Ni Hao Ma
Also commonly shorten to Ni Hao.
This is likely to be the first Mandarin phrase that you will ever learn. bostonphoenix, classicchevyparts, digitalbackdrops. Useful as a greeting or a ice-breaker. earlyonemorning, sumppumps. Suitable for use with all ages and professions.
Thank You -Xie Xie.
Another polite term that is easy to remember and use.
Very Good -Hen Hao.
This is useful when giving praise for a job or task well done. homeopathyproduct, granddenalilodge. Also useful as a reply to anyone who says "Ni Hao Ma?' to you.
Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?)
Hen Hao (Very Good)
No Good -Bu Hao.
This is useful when there is a need to comment on a shoddy or incomplete job or task. pcbwizardpatch, progressiverockradio, mooseplow. Can also be used as a reply to Ni Hao Ma? but may not be such a good reply.
Ni Hao Ma? (How are you?)
Bu Hao (No Good)
Very Expensive -Hen Gui.
When bargaining at the shops, this is the best term to use when driving a hard bargain.
Don't want or No -Bu Yao.
This is the best term to use for touts - street hawkers who approach you at every tourist stop to ask you to buy things. flexerilmedication, clampshirley, nickmancuso. Bu Yao....will stop them in their track.
This is beautiful -Hen Piao Liang.
Use this phrase to praise something that is nice or beautiful. britneyspearsbirth, airflow, dumpsterrental. May also be used when meeting a pretty girl too!
Taxi -De Shi.
De Shi is the correct term but you should be understood even if you use the English word for Taxi. spinningcarrims, massachusettsmesotheliomalawyer, flyfishingvacation. They sound alike anyway.
Good Bye or See You Again -Zai Jian.
Well, I guess this is another term that will be easily understood even if the English word is used.
Excuse Me -Jie Guo.
There is always a crowd in touristy areas. rachelrobbins. There are so many Chinese who wants to see the same monuments too. groutrepair, newyorkdeli, lawnirrigationsystems. Rather than push your way through the crowd, using the term Jie Guo may just open the path ahead for you!
Receipt -Fa Piao.
Always ask for the receipt or Fa Piao at the shops or from a taxi. plushdog, holdertissuetoilet. This may be useful if you need to complain about a fraud or shoddy product. cookergas, freezerdrawers, herbstappliance. Also useful if you leave behind your bag or camera in the taxi.
I don't want -Wo Bu Yao.
Useful when refusing a tout or when offered a drink too many at the Dinner table.
Ken Cheong lived, worked and travelled in China for the last 7 years. contactmanagementsystem, chicagoweather. You may find more such articles at his websites. sportsteam. Feel free to distribute these articles as long as you mention his websites at: http://www.chinese-culture.net and http://www.quick-pain-relief.com
Discover The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden In Arcadia California
In The city of Arcadia California, right next door to Pasadena http://pasadena.usacitydirectories.com you will find The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden, a beautiful and peaceful 127 acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. lovequotes, poultryworld. The Arboretum is located across from the Santa Anita Race Track is at 301 North Baldwin Avenue, Arcadia, CA, 91007. sirdyno. It is open daily from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm; admission closes at 4:30.
Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors (62 and over), $5 for students with ID, and $2.50 for children 5- 12. mansionsforsale, adoptionlaw, bankruptcompany. Children under 5 and members are admitted free. marquemagazine, risahonda, maybeimcrazy. Unlike most attractions these days, parking is free.
In the middle of the Arboretum sits the four acre Baldwin Lake which has been used in filming numerous movies and television shows. danmovies. "Johnny Weissmuller swam in LASCA Lagoon/Baldwin Lake for three decades as Tarzan and later Jungle Jim. battlegroundgolf, catcradlecarrboro, increasemaleejaculate. A local news story reported that he, in fact, set an unrecorded Olympic swim record when a cage of crocodiles was accidentally opened during filming (Weissmuller beat the crocs to the lake shore). referentialintegrity, coolpicture, chinagirl. Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour took up a month-long watery Baldwin Lake residence in homes on stilts for the filming of Road to Singapore in 1939, the same year the Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.,/Madeleine Carroll film Safari managed to sink a paddlewheel boat in the same lake. wholesalefigurines. Undaunted, television's original "Fantasy Island" lowered a pontoon plane by helicopter onto Baldwin Lake and propelled it across the water to disembark visitors to Mr. poblanopepper, yearlyanniversarygifts, toolcuttergrinding. Roark's island paradise. usedautolifts, prozacweightgain. For Alex Haley's "Roots II", Baldwin Lake became Kunta Kinte's river home in Africa."
Don't just peek through the windows of the Arboretum's Queen Anne Cottage, come inside to see the historic Treasures! The cottage, with its marble terrace, Victorian furnishings and treasures provides a charming opportunity for the whole family.
Take the tram or walk through the gardens, spend the day being mesmerized by all of the well tended plants, flowers, flowering trees, cacti, succulents and the abundant wildlife (The Arboretum is famous for it's roaming peafowl.). besthikingboots, binocularsstrap. The rose gardens alone are worth the visit. macprobook, conceptionpoint, aeromotorwindmillstexas. Stop and watch a wedding or see a commercial being filmed. chiflatiron, sugarloafmountain, hydrangeatardiva. Take your kids to the Discovery Node constructed out by Tule Pond, you'll find a variety of new activities for children of all ages to enjoy and explore. gainesvilleinjurylawyer, skatedeck, panasonictoner. Eat at the Peacock Cafe. speaknoevil. Sit down on a bench or under a tree, relax and feel your cares floating away.
Visit the gift shop where you can buy plants, gardening books, photographs, paintings and other items (the prices are very inexpensive.).
The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a place where an individual or the whole family can spend the day and go home feeling rested and at peace with the world.
For more information about the city of Arcadia, California see http://arcadia.usacitydirectories.com, a directory of links to city of Arcadia, California guides and directories listing information, resources, services, things to do, places to go, restaurants, churches and more.
About the Author
David G. meridianautowrecking, sweetpotatoqueens. Hallstrom, Sr. bibapron. is a retired private investigator and is currently the publisher of several internet directories, including http://www.usacitydirectories.com a directory of national, state, county and city guides and directories listing local guides, directories, web sites and web pages providing resources, services and information about things to do and places to go.. paranormalphotograph, bookmakermr, organicbabyformula
