Who Were Our Presidents? Part 11

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
Oct. 14, 2009

Editor’s Note: How many of us along with our children? Know who our Presidents were and what they have done in Office.

Each week we will pick a President and tell you about them and their Accomplishes.

We hope that you will enjoy this series. And let us know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

 

11. JAMES K. POLK 1845-1849

Often referred to as the first “dark horse” President, James K. Polk was the last of the Jacksonians to sit in the White House, and the last strong President until the Civil War.

He was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, in 1795. Studious and industrious, Polk was graduated with honors in 1818 from the University of North Carolina. As a young lawyer he entered politics, served in the Tennessee legislature, and became a friend of Andrew Jackson.

In the House of Representatives, Polk was a chief lieutenant of Jackson in his Bank war. He served as Speaker between 1835 and 1839, leaving to become Governor of Tennessee.

Until circumstances raised Polk’s ambitions, he was a leading contender for the Democratic nomination for Vice President in 1844. Both Martin Van Buren, who had been expected to win the Democratic nomination for President, and Henry Clay, who was to be the Whig nominee, tried to take the expansionist issue out of the campaign by declaring themselves opposed to the annexation of Texas. Polk, however, publicly asserted that Texas should be “re-annexed” and all of Oregon “re-occupied.”

The aged Jackson, correctly sensing that the people favored expansion, urged the choice of a candidate committed to the Nation’s “Manifest Destiny.” This view prevailed at the Democratic Convention, where Polk was nominated on the ninth ballot.

“Who is James K. Polk?” Whigs jeered. Democrats replied Polk was the candidate who stood for expansion. He linked the Texas issue, popular in the South, with the Oregon question, attractive to the North. Polk also favored acquiring California.

Even before he could take office, Congress passed a joint resolution offering annexation to Texas. In so doing they bequeathed Polk the possibility of war with Mexico, which soon severed diplomatic relations.

In his stand on Oregon, the President seemed to be risking war with Great Britain also. The 1844 Democratic platform claimed the entire Oregon area, from the California boundary northward to a latitude of 54’40’, the southern boundary of Russian Alaska. Extremists proclaimed “Fifty-four forty or fight,” but Polk, aware of diplomatic realities, knew that no course short of war was likely to get all of Oregon. Happily, neither he nor the British wanted a war.

He offered to settle by extending the Canadian boundary, along the 49th parallel, from the Rockies to the Pacific. When the British minister declined, Polk reasserted the American claim to the entire area. Finally, the British settled for the 49th parallel, except for the southern tip of Vancouver Island. The treaty was signed in 1846.

Acquisition of California proved far more difficult. Polk sent an envoy to offer Mexico up to $20,000,000, plus settlement of damage claims owed to Americans, in return for California and the New Mexico country. Since no Mexican leader could cede half his country and still stay in power, Polk’s envoy was not received. To bring pressure, Polk sent Gen. Zachary Taylor to the disputed area on the Rio Grande.

To Mexican troops this was aggression, and they attacked Taylor’s forces.

Congress declared war and, despite much Northern opposition, supported the military operations. American forces won repeated victories and occupied Mexico City. Finally, in 1848, Mexico ceded New Mexico and California in return for $15,000,000 and American assumption of the damage claims.

President Polk added a vast area to the United States, but its acquisition precipitated a bitter quarrel between the North and the South over expansion of slavery.

Polk, leaving office with his health undermined from hard work, died in June 1849.

 

Editor’s Note: Here are some of James K. Polk accomplishes:

President James Polk had some major accomplishments which still affect us today. Mainly he was responsible for the annexation of Texas as a state and getting the US into a war with Mexico.

The results of this were that the US was doubled in territory by annexing half of Mexico, as well as gaining enormous amounts of wealth by mining gold and silver that was in those new territories.

If there is some other accomplishments that you think he as done as President, dan@youngchronicle.com it could win you a prize.

Source: White House AllExperts

Medal of Honor Recipient – U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Paul R. Smith

By Dan Samaria
Publisher/YC
Oct. 14, 2009

Each week we at the Chronicle will be honoring one of these true heroes.

We will call it Medal of Honor Recipient of the Week.

We hope you will join with us to honor these true heroes. Who have given us the greatest sacrifice that one could give their life, to save their fellow soldiers?

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

This Week’s Hero: U.S. Army Sgt. First Class Paul R. Smith

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Sergeant First Class Paul R. Smith distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with an armed enemy near Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad, Iraq on 4 April 2003. On that day, Sergeant First Class Smith was engaged in the construction of a prisoner of war holding area when his Task Force was violently attacked by a company-sized enemy force.

Realizing the vulnerability of over 100 fellow soldiers, Sergeant First Class Smith quickly organized a hasty defense consisting of two platoons of soldiers, one Bradley Fighting Vehicle and three armored personnel carriers. As the fight developed, Sergeant First Class Smith braved hostile enemy fire to personally engage the enemy with hand grenades and anti-tank weapons, and organized the evacuation of three wounded soldiers from an armored personnel carrier struck by a rocket propelled grenade and a 60mm mortar round.

Fearing the enemy would overrun their defenses, Sergeant First Class Smith moved under withering enemy fire to man a .50 caliber machine gun mounted on a damaged armored personnel carrier. In total disregard for his own life, he maintained his exposed position in order to engage the attacking enemy force.

During this action, he was mortally wounded. His courageous actions helped defeat the enemy attack, and resulted in as many as 50 enemy soldiers killed, while allowing the safe withdrawal of numerous wounded soldiers. Sergeant First Class Smith’s extraordinary heroism and uncommon valor are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Third Infantry Division “Rock of the Marne,” and the United States Army.

Source: Us Military

Obama-Inspired LA High School Students Sing, Cook & Write In White House Bid

It’s Time Home Schooling

By Apple 4 the Teacher
Oct. 12, 2009

It’s not boring as all get out.

I spent the first 5 and a half years of my education in public schools. There were, of course, times when I enjoyed learning things and talking to my friends. On the flip side, though, there were long stretches of monotony and boredom. And that was just grade school! I can’t even imagine what it would have gotten like in middle and high school.

I vaguely remember a class I took in 6th grade before I began to be homeschooled. “Conflict resolution” they called it. It was an entire class we had to sit through for 50 minutes a day on how not to get in a fight. Instead of teaching us something useful like math, history or science, we had to sit and learn that getting in a fistfight wasn’t good for anybody.

I think it goes without saying that homeschooling was far more interesting. I was either doing something and learning, or I was enjoying my free time. I never had to sit through extended periods of monotonous lectures or stare at a chalkboard while a teacher catered to the slowest student in the classroom. I was able to learn at my own pace and enjoy it.

 

No one gives you wedgies.

Unless, of course, you have an older sibling and then you might get more wedgies than you can handle. One of the fantastic things about being homeschooled is that there is no awkward social structure that you have to fit yourself into. Unless you live in a very complicated family, there are no bullies, no drug addicts and so forth.

Again, the advantage is more than what you don’t have to deal with, but also in what you do get. Being homeschooled enabled me to develop much stronger relationships with my parents and my siblings, and I did find a variety of friends through our homeschool group and church and so forth. I found that when I got to college I was able to comfortably communicate with everyone from the older students (some who were even grandparents, coming back for their education) to the younger students and even the professors and staff. None of these people ever gave me a wedgy.

 

Odds are your teacher will probably like you.

I didn’t personally ever have issues with a teacher that didn’t seem to like me or treat me well, but I do know that those experiences are out there. The odds increase, I think, as you get into high school that you might run into a teacher that you either don’t like or who doesn’t like you for some reason. I wouldn’t say that it’s anything personal, just sometimes there are personality clashes.

On the other hand, I think you benefit from home schooling because you’re able to develop a much deeper relationship with your parents. Instead of coming home from school and simply telling them what you did (if you can even remember all the details) you live it with them.

Source: Apples 4 the Teacher

 

Editor’s Note: Ever wonder why some students simply adore being homeschooled? Read why this former student thinks homeschooling rocked!

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Who is in Control?

by Jim Burns
Oct. 12, 2009
 
Editor’s Note: During these tough times, there is only one person that can get us through besides ourselves is GOD. We hope you will enjoy this
We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com .

 

What good is it for man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? –Mark 8:36.

 

When it comes to our life, we have nothing to say about our birth and little say about our death, but in between these two events most of the decisions are ours to be made. Are you letting life and circumstances control you, or are you controlling your own life and destiny with God’s help.

Don’t let life pass you by when you have the God-given ability to make things happen. I’ve heard it said You can’t control the length of your life, but you can control its use.
 
You can’t control your facial appearance, but you can control
its expression.

You can’t control the weather, but you can control the moral
atmosphere that surrounds you.

You can’t control the distance of your head above the ground,
but you can control the height of the contents in your head.

You can’t control the other fellow’s annoying faults, but you
can see to it that you do not develop similar faults.

Why worry about things you cannot control? Get busy controlling
the things that depend on you.

 

Source: Home Word

Michael Phelps Motivates Children

By Shelby Fairleigh
Oct. 12, 2009

Set goals and follow your dreams, Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps told students at Wiley Middle School in Leander, Texas, on Tuesday. The students in this particular school must have already known that. Phelps’ appearance was the reward for winning first place in the Scholastic Book Fairs’ National Middle School Contest.

His appearance helped reach another student goal, one established by the award-winning book fair. The school transformed its media center into Mrs. Magorium’s Reading Emporium, to promote the love of books and reading. Phelps came to motivate students to study and work hard, and to promote his own book, No Limits: The Will to Succeed.

 

Phelps Phans

The packed gym went wild when the winner of 14 gold swimming medals stepped through the door. Kids yelled and stomped on the bleachers. They even started doing the wave.

“It was really cool,” said Macy, one of the students at the event. “He described how you should follow your dream and never give up.”

Or as Phelps put it: “You never want to sell yourself short.”

 

Lessons in Motivation

In his motivating speech, Phelps spoke about how he learned the importance of setting goals in his own life. He said he has was inspired to set goals by his two older sisters. He has been setting goals for himself since he was 7 years old.

At the age of 11, his coach Bob Bowman (who is still with him today) told him that if he trained hard he could compete in the next summer Olympic Games. Phelps got to work and broke his first world record when he was 15.

“Once I accomplished that, I wanted to do something better,” he told the Leander middle schoolers.

At his first Olympic competition, Phelps came in fifth and was disappointed. He set another goal. He decided he would win eight gold medals at his second Olympic Games. He was again disappointed, but it didn’t stop him. He just worked harder. Last year, at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing, China, Phelps again set his sights on eight gold medals. After he earned his sixth gold medal, he went to his coach, discouraged.

“I have nothing left; I am completely drained,” he told Coach Bowman. With the help of his coach and his own determination, he pushed through the exhaustion and didn’t give up.

“I swam the last two races on just adrenalin,” he said.

Phelps went on to claim those two events and win a total of eight record-breaking gold medals—the most in Olympic history.

Next stop for Phelps? Retirement was his first thought. But after talking it over with his coach, he established bigger and better goals for the 2012 Olympics in London, England. He’s keeping those goals a secret for now, he told Wiley Middle School students.

Next summer, Phelps will compete against the European swim team in his first big event since the 2008 games. Phelps said he is working hard on getting back into shape in time for his next event. The swimmer practices 12 times a week: nine times in the pool and three times in a gym.

One-on-One

After the assembly, Phelps answered questions and signed copies of his new book.

“What is the best part of swimming?” one student asked.

“One of the coolest things is representing our country,” he said.

He also stopped to answer questions from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps. Kids want to know, this reporter asked, what do you think about when swimming a long distance? Quick answer: he sings whatever song he last heard.

Phelps talked about his swimming favs, too. His favorite stroke when he was younger was the 50-yard butterfly.

When asked for a tip on how to improve this young swimmer’s performance, he said to practice kicking.

“Most world class swimmers are great kickers,” he said. One-fourth of his workout is focused on kicking.

Phelps said he is most comfortable and happy when he is in the water.

“The pool is like my home, it’s part of my life,” he said. “It has given me great opportunities.”

Water and sport also gave Phelps something to aim for in life.

“Dream big and don’t give up,” he said, no matter what your “home” turns out to be.

Source: Scholastic News Online

 

Editor’s Note: Michael Phelps (center) visited Wiley Middle School in Leander, Texas, on October 6, to motivate, promote, and reward. The school won the visit by having the best book fair in the country. (Photo Courtesy Scholastic)

 

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Food Good For Us Bad For Dogs

By Julia Szabo
Oct. 12, 2009

Editor’s Note: We love when we get leads for stories from our readers, here is such one. If you are a dog lover like we are. You will find this article, very important that we all must read.

Than let us know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Most of us who live with animals know that chocolate and dogs do not mix. But there are  many other harmful foods lurking in our pantries and fridges – seemingly innocent vegetables, fruits, and other edibles that may be delicious to us, but are dangerous, and even deadly, to our dogs.

To learn more about what foods are and aren’t safe for dogs to share with us, we consulted veterinary nutritionist Joan Weiskopf, author of Pet Food Nation: The Smart, Easy, and Healthy Way to Feed Your Pet Now (Collins). A breeder of champion Bedlington terriers, Weiskopf is a font of information on the subject of what foods are and aren’t safe for dogs to eat, and has a thriving business consulting by telephone with clients about individual canine diets.

Take onions and garlic, for instance. These culinary staples are used to create any number of delicious recipes from all over the culinary map. The trouble is that onions and garlic cause serious health problems in dogs. “Onions and garlic both contain N-propyl disulfide, which destroys red blood cells, leading to hemolytic  anemia,” Weiskopf says. And despite garlic’s longstanding reputation as a flea repellent, “There really is no scientific proof that garlic prevents fleas.” (What really works to prevent fleas is Neem oil.)

What if Spot scores a bite of the kids’ pizza, or a lick of Ragu spaghetti sauce? Or what if you’ve made chicken soup with onions, and you’d like to ladle some over your Friend’s bowl? Don’t panic, Weiskopf advises. “Nothing’s going to happen. What you don’t want to be doing is chopping raw onions into your dog’s bowl! A little onion or garlic is fine once in a while; a lot is not a good thing.”

Be careful with onion and garlic powders, as well, or any product containing them (i.e. chips), for besides being more concentrated, powdered onion and garlic also contain salt. “Salt preserved with anti-caking agents is bad,” Weiskopf says. “I prefer Celtic sea salt because a little goes a long way, plus it contains all kinds of good microtrace nutrients. But sugar is a no.” Red pepper, on the other hand, is good for dogs with arthritis because of the Capsaicin it contains; other spices recommended for dogs with joint swelling are “all the yellow spices: turmeric, cumin, and curry,” Weiskopf adds.

If you’re a cooking buff with a regular habit of setting saucepans and plates on the floor for Spot to lick clean (also known as the “pre-wash” cycle in dog-friendly kitchens), you could be compromising his health if you cook certain other veggies. “Dogs – and humans – with arthritis should be careful about overloading on nightshade vegetables, as they aggravate arthritic conditions,” Weiskopf points out. “The nightshade vegetables – so called because they mature at night – include green peppers, eggplants, potatoes, and tomatoes.”

Raisins and grapes are forbidden fruit, for they can cause kidney failure in dogs; sadly, many pets have died from ingesting raisins. Although it’s not known exactly why grapes and raisins don’t agree with dogs, Weiskopf has a theory: “Grapes are a heavily sprayed crop, and since so many grapes are coming from Chile, I suspect there’s a pesticide that’s causing problems for dogs. Also, raisins are preserved with sulfites, which cause allergic reactions in many dogs.” (Be wary of foods preserved with nitrates, as well, such as sausages and bacon; delicious as these are, they too can trigger allergic reactions in dogs.)

“Legumes such as soy products and beans contain phytate, which inhibits the digestion and absorption of other vital nutrients – including your dog’s important minerals,” Weiskopf says. “If you’re going to feed legumes of any kind, such as chickpeas or lima beans, at least make sure they’re well-cooked, because that does help; it’s much worse if your dog eats these raw.”

Many seasoned snackers – especially the vegetarians in our midst – keep on hand a supply of that hugely popular chickpea dip known as hummus. Again, don’t panic if Spot helps himself to some. “If you’re eating crackers and hummus and your dog gets one, don’t worry that you’ve harmed your dog – just don’t let him ingest huge amounts of legumous vegetables.”

Meanwhile, if Italian food is on the menu and you’re letting your pet participate in pasta preparation, make sure Spot does not take his al dente. “Always overcook grains and pasta when you feed them to dogs, because they don’t have the starch-digesting enzymes that we do,” Weiskopf explains. “It’s best to overcook any grain material that you feed your dog, including rice.”

On the road to and from grandmother’s house for a holiday feast, the fast-food signs are bound to beckon. “If you’re stopping for a bite at McDonald’s or KFC, I don’t have a problem with giving the dog some chicken – just peel off the skin, because it’s got all kinds of spices in it. Another acceptable road food option is the McDonald’s Filet of Fish sandwich.”

In fact, “fish is absolutely fabulous for dogs,” Weiskopf says, “and you should include the skin because in and under the skin is where the majority of the Omega 3 is stored, and you want your dogs to have Omega 3s. Deep, cold water fish are best: salmon, mackerel, sardines. Anchovies are too salty.”

Thanksgiving has its own caveats. Don’t let your dog lick the turkey-roasting pan – “that’s the surefire way to give a dog a pancreatitis attack,” Weiskopf says. “You can pour a tablespoon of drippings over your dog’s food, but do not let him lick the pan clean.” Carved turkey meat and small bits of skin are fine dog treats; cooked turkey bones are not. If you’re not planning to use the turkey neck for another culinary purpose, such as gravy, offer it raw to your dog as a special holiday treat – but first, dip it in boiling water for 10 seconds to kill surface bacteria. Cranberries are fine, but avoid canned cranberry as it’s high in sugar. Sweet potatoes are also fine; just take care never to serve your dog raw skin off any potato.

Upon graduating from puppyhood, dogs start to resemble lactose-intolerant people. “After infancy, dogs lose the enzyme Lactase, which helps them digest milk products,” Weiskopf says. “Feeding milk products to dogs and cats can cause gastric distress. However,” she adds, “feeding them fermented milk products such as yogurt and buttermilk are fine for dogs; they don’t usually distress the animal’s system.

For those who just can’t resist giving dogs ice cream, go ahead – in moderation. “You can give them some ice cream; a little bit isn’t going to hurt,” Weiskopf says. “But if you notice your dog gets gastric distress, don’t do it again.” And of course, avoid any ice cream flavor that contains chocolate, chocolate chips, or raisins.

Source: Fetch Dog

Alexander – Halloween Food You Can Eat

By Alexander
Oct. 11, 2009

Dear Alexander,

(Q) Halloween is coming up soon and I love Halloween! I want to go trick-or-treating and eat candy, but my mom is worried about me having a reaction.

(A) No one wants to have a reaction, on Halloween or any other day. But on Halloween, you definitely have to be extra careful because there is so much candy everywhere that looks pretty yummy. But just as you would never eat a food that someone offered you without checking with a trusted adult, you must never eat, or even open a piece of candy if your parents haven’t said it’s okay.

There are ways to stay safe and have fun on Halloween. You could have your friends over for a Halloween get-together and safe treats, or make a haunted “house” with friends. If your parents allow you to go trick-or-treating, see if your family can buy some safe candy beforehand. Go with a parent and don’t open any candy until your parents have a chance to read the labels. There may be a few, or even a lot, of pieces of candy that your mom and dad take away from your treat bag. But you know what? You can swap out that candy for some of the safe candy you already bought. Ask your mom and dad to check out www.foodallergy.org/featuredtopic.html for more tips on staying safe on Halloween.

Good luck!

Your friend,

Alexander the Elephant

Source: Food Allergy

Editor’s Note: The information above is not designed to take the place of a doctor’s instructions. Patients are urged to contact a doctor for specific information regarding guidelines for care.

We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

McGruff Tip of the Week – Guns

McGruff and Scruff
Oct. 11, 2009

In 1974, a neighborhood crime watch group was organized in South Dade County. Citizens met with their local law enforcement departments to ask what they could do to help the police apprehend a rapist terrorizing their community. From this first informal meeting, communities and law enforcement began to work together to keep neighborhoods safe and free from crime. An organization was formed, and Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County, Inc. (CCW) was registered as a 501(c) (3) non profit organization. Today, over 1,600 neighborhoods participate in the crime watch concept.

In 1979, the crime watch concept was introduced into the public school system at one school. Because it succeeded in curbing school crime, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) requested we, CCW, expand its student crime watch program from one school to include all public schools in the county. Since that time, Youth Crime Watch of Miami-Dade (YCW) has functioned as an allied program of the public schools.

Methodology The public school system contracts with YCW to educate and train students in violence and crime prevention strategies. Children also learn that good citizenship and personal responsibility include watching out for family, friends, schools and community. YCW maintains a presence in all M-DCPS.

The foundation of the YCW program is built upon a “school safety survey” which is administered at the school during the first few months of the school year. It asks respondents to rank their particular safety concerns – those issues which they believe have the potential to cause harm to themselves or their schoolmates. YCW students, student advisors, and our staff are then enlisted in the effort to resolve those issues impeding the safety, health, and education of young people. The results of the survey are prioritized and comprise the core content of the YCW program.

The YCW program is structured to teach leadership skills to students who volunteer to learn about school safety. While they learn how to keep themselves safe, they also learn public speaking, critical thinking, leadership, and other skills that will serve them into their adult lives. This, in turn, reinforces their self-esteem and promotes positive involvement, again curbing misbehavior, crime and violence in the school.

I’m McGruff the Crime Dog – world famous for my advice on how to stop crime before it happens, and for my great sense of humor. But seriously, my job is to help people, especially kids, learn how to be safe and make their neighborhood safer. Something else you should know about me is that I go all over the country to talk to people about how they can take a bite out of crime. So if you see me in your town, come on up and say hi. You can recognize me by my tan trench coat – I never go anywhere without it.

This here is my nephew Scruff. He helps me show kids how they can stay safe. Scruff’s a good pup but sometimes gets himself into a bit of trouble. Lucky for him he’s got a good memory – eventually he remembers the right thing to do to get out of trouble. Want to know more about me and Scruff?

You can read more about yours truly in the story How McGruff Became the Crime Dog, and you can read some of Scruff’s adventures in these comic books.

Today we will talk about: Guns

Stay safe around guns.

Do you know someone who owns a gun? Most adults are allowed to own a gun by law, and many have one. This means that even if there isn’t a gun in your house, you need to know what to do if you see one.

If you see a gun, follow McGruff’s four steps to safety.

1. Stop.

2. Don’t touch.

3. Get away.

4. Tell an adult.

When you follow these steps, you’re protecting yourself and helping keep other people safe.

Here are some examples of times you might see a gun. Do you know why each example is dangerous?

• Your friend shows you his dad’s gun.
• You see a gun in someone’s backpack at school.
• You hear a girl say she’s going to bring a gun to school.
• You find a gun in the park by your house.

If you’re not sure why one is dangerous, talk to a parent about it.

Print out this coloring page (PDF) of McGruff’s steps to gun safety.

Source: McGruff

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@youngchronicle.com

Tom and Jerry Sliding Puzzle

  Source Fupa

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