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Learn to Cook for a President

YumSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:03:31 -0800

Happy President's Day everyone! To celebrate I've rounded up a selection of presidential cookbooks. For years, presidents and their families have been eating well, and if you've ever been curious to see how the presidents eat, then click "Start Slideshow" below!

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Presidential Fitness Challenge

FitSugar — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 02:30:00 -0800

When was the last time you took the Presidential Fitness Challenge? I like home fitness tests, this one the only test approved by the leader of the western world. Regardless of how you feel about the man holding the office, take the Presidential Fitness Challenge and see how you stack up against school age children! It is President's Day after all.

Here are the details of the challenge.

Curl ups: Lie on back with knees bent and feet about 12 inches from booty. Have partner hold your feet (or put them under your couch). Arms are crossed with hands placed on opposite shoulders and elbows held close to chest. Curl up touching elbows to thighs and then lower the back to the floor so that shoulder blades touch the floor. That's one rep. Count how many reps you can do in 60 seconds.
Measures: Abdominal strength and endurance
Shuttle Run: Mark two parallel lines 30 feet apart and place two blocks of wood or similar object behind one of the lines. Start behind opposite line. Run to the blocks, pick one up, run back to the starting line, place block behind the line, runs back and picks up the second block and runs back across. Don't forget to time yourself.
Measures: Speed, quickness and agility

There are three more elements to the challenge so read more
Endurance Run/Walk: Run or walk a mile as quickly as possible.
Measures: Heart/lung endurance
Pull-ups
Pull-Up: Hang from a horizontal bar at a height the student can hang from with arms fully extended and feet free from floor, using either an overhand grasp (palms facing away from body) or underhand grip (palms facing toward body). Raise body until chin clears the bar and then lower body to full-hang starting position. See how many you can do.
Measures: Upper body strength and endurance
"V" sit: Mark a straight line two feet long on the floor, this is your baseline. Draw a measuring line perpendicular to the midpoint of the baseline extending two feet on each side and marked off in half-inches. The point where the baseline and measuring line intersect is the "0" point. Sit on floor with measuring line between legs and soles of feet placed immediately behind baseline, heels 8-12" apart. Clasp thumbs so that hands are together, palms down and places them on measuring line. Reach forward as far as possible (have someone hold your feet if you can), keeping fingers on baseline and feet flexed. Hole for three seconds and that is your distance.
Measures: Flexibility of the lower back and hamstrings

To be presented with the Presidential Fitness Award you need to be in or above the 85th percentile. For a 17 year old girl they are as follows:

Curl ups: 44 in 60 seconds
Shuttle run: 10 seconds
One mile run: 8:15
Pull ups: 1
"V" sit: +8

So how did you do?

Baby Bait For Presidential Candidates

LilSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:00:46 -0800

One of the Presidential candidates will be the future leader of our country, but would you trust them to hold your babe? One dad did.

Darren Garnick, father of two, recants his experience hitting the campaign trail for pictures of Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson and Mitt Romney with his 5-month-old daughter, Dahlia in a recent Slate article. He wrote:

"As a resident of the "Live Free or Die" state, I'll concede that the New Hampshire presidential primary gives us ridiculously disproportionate influence. But I love the fact that my state's electoral power comes with a great fringe benefit: It's easy to enshrine the next president in your family scrapbook. A sucker for political kitsch, I set out to photograph my 5-month-old daughter, Dahlia, in the arms of every candidate with a prayer of making it to the White House."

To finish the post, read more.

The quest for photographs took Garnick from a parade to a private party and a sporting goods shop to a bookstore. But, he is no novice when it comes to getting political figures to say cheese with his lil ones. He admitted:

"During the 2004 presidential race, I took a few photos of my then 2-year-old boy, Ari, with Democrats Howard Dean, Joe Lieberman, and Wesley Clark. As a first-time parent, I was overly protective and had most of the candidates pose next to his stroller."

How Well Do You Know Your Presidential Tots?

babysugar — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 11:00:51 -0700

This week's Access Hollywood interview with the Obama family got me thinking about children in the White House. Though the Obama girls would not be the youngest inhabitants of the presidential home, they would be the youngest since Amy Carter arrived there at the age of 9. How well do you know your presidential tots? Take my quiz and find out!Source

Take the quiz

Obama to "Seal" His Fate By Stealing the Seal? Slick or Sorry?

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 06:00:11 -0700

What, haven't heard people chanting "Vero Possumus" lately? How about the non-Latin translation, "Yes, we can." The Obama campaign rolled out a snazzy new logo at a round table meeting with 16 of the nation's Democratic governors on Friday, that inspired one big question: "Did I sleep through the last seven months and Obama is president already?"

The logo is a dead ringer for the presidential seal, (note the Vero Possumus switch) right down to the cargo the eagle is toting (though I haven't seen any website plugs on the real deal. . . ) The stolen seal has quite a few dishing about the audacity of the swipe.

On MSNBC Pat Buchanan unleashed on the make believe seal saying, "It is too cute by half. It's a knock-off, it's a rip-off, it's a counterfeit. . . they oughta get rid of that nonsense and they're going to be mocked and ridiculed until they do."

A Republican National Committee spokesman said, “Unfortunately for Barack Obama, props won’t seal the deal with the American people. Obama will be judged on his record not oversized, make-believe presidential logos.”

The Obama camp defended the decoration saying, "We've used different design elements at different events, this worked well for this event."

Is this clever graphic design, or a disrespectful (possibly illegal?) game of campaign make-believe?

Source

Debate Talk: Who Said It?

LibertySugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:00:45 -0700

There's no doubt about it: Presidential and vice-presidential debates offer some of the most exciting fodder along the campaign trail. While we all tuned in to watch John, Obama, Sarah and Joe face off at their prospective matches I got to thinking about some of the great debates of the past. Do you know who said these memorable quotes?

Question 1 of 6

"I have as much experience in the Congress as Jack Kennedy did when he sought the presidency."

Mommy? What's a President?

LilSugar — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:30:53 -0700

Kissing babies has long been a part of the presidential election process, but now more children are becoming interested in the campaign as a result of nonstop media coverage and listening in to mommy and daddy's conversations.

The What Presidents Are Made of book ($13) is a good starter for political tots. It focuses on 17 US presidents and includes short antidotes that show the human side of our former presidents. For example, George Washington is "…made of good deeds."

Looking for more presidential presents? I've rounded up some patriotic gear and a few other books that will help you teach your children about the presidential process.

Me for President ($40)	Liberty Lollipops ($14)
John, Paul, George & Ben Book ($12)	America the Beautiful: A Pop-up Book ($17)

Debate Rebate: Our Reactions to the Last Presidential Debate

CitizenSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:37:58 -0700

They may have very well saved the best for last. This was the most direct, most on task, most like an actual conversation debate we've had thus far. And not a moment too soon. The candidates were juxtaposed beautifully and answered questions not only on specific policies, but on the conduct of their campaigns. It was nail-biting, uncomfortable at times, but deftly handled by moderator Bob Schieffer. Here's what we thought:

Citizen: Wearing each other's "team" ties in what I hoped was a nod toward cooperation, the economy was ripped open right at the start. Both candidates spoke straight at the camera, directly it seemed, to me. It was eerie and wildly effective, with Joe the Plumber becoming an instantaneous celebrity, the cornerstone of their duel over small business taxes. Earmarks and pork barrel and budget overruns, oh my. I do like Obama's line of needing a "scalpel, not a hatchet," if only because it comforts me that he intends to cut spending as well.

When Schieffer pinned the candidates down on the negative aspects of the campaign I was breathless. It was baldly frank (seeming, I mean it is politics) talk, and when McCain whipped out the stat that Obama had spent the most money on negative campaign ads, it hit home - but was parried well by Obama's stat that six in 10 perceive McCain as negative. Then, the politest knock down-drag out on Ayers and ACORN. We knew it was coming all day, but when it did it was all the more potent. When Roe v. Wade popped up, I was actually heartened to hear civilized talk of the difference between choosing judges for their ideologies, and choosing judges for their adherence to the Constitution - it could be the most cogent debate on the issue we've had thus far.

To see the rest of my thoughts, and what Liberty has to say, read more.

As for the "Gore sighs" the nonverbals that will kill a performance: both were guilty of the smirk, if only perhaps to relieve the tension. I know I could barely handle it, it stands to reason it had to express itself somewhere, so to speak. In all, the debate was like a floaty butterfly fairy tale meets a brick wall. The second you got caught up in the story Obama was spinning, then came McCain with his smack down of reality. Even 20 months in, it was confusing and captivating and perfectly encapsulated these diametrically opposed yet unflinching campaigns - and illuminated the very choice we all have to make in 20 short days. Now as Bob Schieffer's mother says, "Go vote now. It will make you feel big and strong."

Liberty: In the most high tension, and perhaps most conversational, debate John McCain came out looking for a game changer. McCain seemed rested and eager (did you hear the Al Gore sighs?) while Obama seemed reluctant and a little low on energy. Still, Obama's calm demeanor allowed him to rise above a potential catty debate, and focus on his issue advantages.

Coming out strong, McCain's crisp statement: "Senator Obama, I'm not President Bush" had no matching punch line from Obama, perhaps giving McCain an edge in the sound-bite battle.

In the middle, the candidates spent much time talking about attack ads, leaving me lamenting that this is what the American people get to listen to from their presidential candidates. By noting that William Ayers has become the center of McCain's campaign, Obama made McCain's campaign look deaf to the real issues facing the American people. After setting the record straight about his strained connection to Ayers, Obama then took the opportunity to make a positive and reassuring argument about the capable people who will advise him, such as Warren Buffet and former NATO head Jim Jones.

After a discussion on healthcare, which left me thinking Obama knows more about McCain's plan than McCain does, the two got talking about abortion. Obama called out the McCain/Palin refrain that he supported infanticide, pointing out that there was already a law on the books requiring care to babies of botched abortions when he voted against an Illinois bill for other reasons.

Obama then took the dialogue to another level saying that he wants everyone to work together to reduce the number of abortions and promote adoption. McCain went on to slam the pro-choice movement with the pejorative "pro-abortion." I'm still wondering if considering the country's at war and in an economic crisis, and after eight-years of a pro-life President and more Roe v. Wade, whether the abortion discussion was worth the time.

While this was McCain's best performance by far, I think Obama maintained a presidential and informed presence. Maybe I can find Joe the Plumber and ask him what he thinks.

What did you think?

Source

Sarkozy Collects Stamps? 10 All-American Presidential Hobbies

CitizenSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:00:04 -0800

French President Nicolas Sarkozy revealed yesterday that he really likes collecting stamps. It sort of surprised me that the supermodel seducer has such a harmless hobby. The little known fact also got me curious about American presidents' pastimes. Take a look at 10 of my favorite presidential hobbies. Source

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Think You Know Your Presidential Pets, Part II?

PetSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 07:30:22 -0800

Did you already test your knowledge recalling not one but two presidential pets from different families? For the second part of the quiz, I've included a picture of the president with his pooch – hopefully giving you a clue to name that pet!

Source

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