Know your presidents?

[Fairy]

Thank you, Ratosti, for inspiring my latest querie to the group. I always thought knowing presidential history was important, so I'm pretty good at this. Now, I also think math is important, but unfortuantely, 6 x 8 is about as far as I go ...

[Radosti]

Hehe, you are welcome!!!

Wait, Yakko also has a math song... it's called Multiplication:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9MgEhxziFg

[Radosti]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqGIiW8IqLc

And DH's favorite song... Wakkorotti... The Master and His Music
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JJcJIiQq2A&mode=related&search=

[Fairy]

My father can name every single president backwards and forwards, their years of service, almost every vice president, and all the English Royalty back many years (ok, not to the Normans, but before Horny Henry). Therefore, of course, I have to do it cuz, well, my Dad can do it. Unfortunately, I can't seem to duplicate any of these feats other than the presidents. Getting close on the years of service. Veeps? No. English Royalty? Oh, surely you jest!

Seriously, tho, I've always felt that it is important to know presidential history. Forgetting politics, it just always seemed to me to be something that each person should know so that they can understand the history of their country. If you know one thing each president did (ok, Harding didn't do much; McKinley died before he could do squat; Taft did alot of eating ...), then you know alot about how we got here. I can't name a feat for each president, but I'm trying. There was a great special on The History Channel called "The Presidents" that gave a brief history of their administration Washington - Bush. I was like a kid in a candy store. Actually, I think I have an idea for DH to get me for Xmas!

Here they are, backwards:

Bush
Clinton
Bush Sr.
Reagan
Carter
Ford
Nixon
LBJ
JFK
Ike
Truman
FDR
Hoover
Coolidge
Harding
Wilson
Taft
TR
McKinley
Cleveland (this was the 2nd time he was elected; not consecutive)
Harrison
Cleveland
Arthur
Garfield
Hayes
Grant
Johnson
Lincoln
Buchanan
Pierce
Filmore
Taylor
Polk
Tyler
Harrison
Van Buren
Jackson
John Quincy Adams
Monroe
Madison
Jefferson
Adams Sr.
Washington

[Fairy]

One more quick story. At work a few years ago, we were talking about who knows what, and it wandered into who was president in the past, and I said, well how far back can you go? One girl about 22 at the time -- I kid you not, here, people, a college graduate! -- said,

"Um, let me see, um ... Clinton, Bush, um ... Reagan ... um. Uh ..."
"Carter ...?" I prodded.
"Yeah, Carter, then um ... Kennedy ..."

I just wanted to cry. I'm not saying that if you don't know who was president in 1837 you're not smart. But Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, KENNEDY?! Oy vey.

[Fairy]

Oh, the Animaniacs are sooooo great. And I love Pinky & the Brain, too! These were so clever and wonderful. You can't tell me Spongebob is better than this!

OkLoveYaBye!

[MeAndMyStar]

"In 1844 the democrats were spliiiit!" (One of my favorite They Might Be Giants songs is about James K. Polk.) I used to love all this state capital, maps and president stuff when I was in elementary school. Fairy, did you see the youtube thing with the kid reciting his US state capitals? So cute!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIH1I1doUI4

-Sarah

[redhookmom]

I don't but my 7 year old does. His Grandma promised him a trip to ChuckECheese if he memorized them. IT's all about motivation b/c he learned them quick. Turns out ChuckECheese wasn't exactly what he thought it was. He is now memorizing vice presidents for a Playmobil set.

[Fairy]

Holy crap. I'm using this. I'm using this over and over and over again. Me loves me some of this. Why did I not think of this?!

[Fairy]

That kid is adorable.

I always remembered Kentucky cuz you can't eat a Frankfurter at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Ya know, theoretically.

[kijip]

Yes I do, including vps. And I know most of the defeated canidates from major parties too, LOL. I had to sharpen this knowledge when my 12 year old nephew took a liking to learing presidential trivia about 2 years ago. :)

[candybomiller]

I know nothing! I think I probably used to, but there's nothing in my brain now, except maybe a few pretty little butterflies. To quote one of my all time favorite shows: "fire bad, tree pretty." That's pretty much what's going on inside my head these days.

LOL.

[Corie]

We would be great friends!! :)

[katiesmommy]

On the contrary, I'm sure you know lots of things, like the right bath water temp for a 4 yo, and how to make a pb&j sandwich in your sleep.

[candybomiller]

Sarah,

I might know that stuff. Unfortunately it won't get me lots of money on Jeopardy though!! LOL.

[katiesmommy]

true, very true. LOL

[Fairy]

Was that Buffy? Buffy want beer!

[mudder17]

Hee, hee, when Buffy said that, I rolled because that's what my head was thinking at the time. :P

We would make great friends, Candy!


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 34 months...

http://www.tickercentral.com/view/6wrn/1.png

http://www.tickercentral.com/view/6wrn/2.png

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[candybomiller]

I never had any doubts Eileen! :)