New front page – the Kitchen

Well, it’s finally happened. I haven’t posted anything for an entire month. And now I have two front page change postings back to back.

Aw, nuts.

Well, at least this is a new image never used before on the site. And, surprisingly, it’s the first time I’ve ever used a staff area for the front page.

New front page and other changes

I’ve changed the front page for January. It’s a photo of the original Press Briefing Room created by Richard Nixon that I first used back in the fall of 2007.

Also, I’ve changed the menus a little. This puts Air Force 1 and the vice-president’s residence pages on the Home menu and moves About, Q&A, and Site Map over to Overview. However, I haven’t extended the change to every page yet, just the main ones.

My resolution for the new year is to rebuild the site in a format that is easier to maintain in this way, probably using PHP rather than straight HTML, or possibly using a wiki. This would break any links that outside sites have to the current pages, which is something I hate, but I should be able to figure out some automated way of making sure it degrades gracefully (automatic redirects, etc.).

I’m open to any ideas about layout changes. Since I designed the site in mid-2006 (3-and-a-half years ago), the collection of photos for each room has ballooned enormously. I hate galleries of images that are displayed in separate pages or pop-ups, but loading all the images can be tedious.

New: Air Force One page

At last, with the fantastic help of Peter Sharkey, I’ve created a page for Air Force One. You may recall that there is already a page for the 3D model of Air Force One, but the new page includes a full history and photos of all the different versions of the airplanes of the chief executive, from Sacred Cow to SAM 29000.

Don’t forget that you can keep an eye on Pete’s work on Wingnut’s Workings.

EDIT:  Weirdly, I happened to be watching Stephen Fry in America episode 7 (because I’m cultured, you know) and he visited, among other places, the Air Force moth ball facility in the desert. I immediately picked out one of the 707-based Air Force One aircraft among the planes, altho the tail number was obscured by sun.

Christmas photos

Obama Christmas 2009

The White House photostream has put up some photos of the Christmas decor and events. There are some wonderful images of performers, guests, and ornaments for the holidays.

Also, I just noticed an image of the president getting a vaccination in the White House doctor’s clinic, a space we haven’t seen for quite a long time.

Situation Room video

The White House has released a great video showing off the Sit Room.

Thanks to Colton, and also to Pete, who has already done some captures.

New front page – West Wing corridor

I’ve changed the front page to a nice photo of Obama walking thru a corridor in the West Wing with a gift-wrapped present. It’s by Pete Souza, of course, from back in October, but seems appropriately Christmasy.

VP office repaint

Visitor “The Subtle Knife” points out that the VP’s office in the West Wing has been repainted blue. Quite a bold choice.

Crashing the White House

Huge tent on the south lawn (Getty)

A couple apparently crashed the White House state dinner the other night, held in a fantastic tent on the south lawn that I think the Bushes used a couple of times. I don’t typically blog about news events, even as they pertain to the White House, but I just wanted to note a couple of things about the coverage.

• It’s a slow news day, so anything of national interest is going to make headlines.
• Even proper party guests don’t get into the White House without being screened for weapons.
• People who represent a serious security risk would not have gotten in.
• That was a beautiful dress.

I regard this as less a breach of security than a breach of state protocol, but the couple will obviously face some serious questioning, and shrugging it off as a harmless prank isn’t going to cut it. I see a public apology and community service in their future.

Turkey pardoning vid

POV vid of the West wing… from a turkey’s eye view.

Thanks to Tinman!

The triumphant return of Peter Sharkey

After taking some time to have a family life earlier this year, Pete Sharkey is hard at work again on 3D models. This time, he is creating a more detailed model of Air Force One than the current one. See it progress on Wingnut’s Workings. Thanks Pete!

Halloween at the White House and more

Navy Mess corridor

There are some great new photos available on the White House Flickr photostream, including shots of the Halloween decor and photos showing the Oval Office corridor and outer office as well as this great one of the corridor in the ground floor leading to the Navy Mess.

New front page – Taft’s study

I’ve changed the front page to one of the Treaty Room in Taft’s time. Oddly, this is the first time the Treaty Room has served as the front page in all of the 3-and-a-half years since I started the site.

Also added a marvelous Halloween photo of the north lawn.

New photos

I’ve added a few new photos based on your suggestions, including some of the vegetable garden groundbreaking and harvest. Thanks!

Early Roosevelt Room, Ushers Room, and more

I did another pass thru the Library of Congress and found a few new photos, including the Roosevelt Room before it was even the Fish Room and the Ushers Room and Linen Room. These happen to feature staff, and it’s nice to see Mr. Crim and Mrs. Nesbitt in what are practically portraits.

I also added a couple of brand new photos of the Tennis Court as basketball court.

Tennis b-ball and more

There are some great new photos available on the White House Flickr photostream, including several of the tennis court as a basketball court and some showing new carpet in the West Wing. Thanks to Colton for pointing this out!

New Flickr pics…wait what the—?

New photos were added to the White House Flickr stream yesterday. There a few nice ones in the White House itself, including one in the Family Theater.

Oh, and, uh, the Treaty Room has been redecorated apparently in burlap.

[The/Fifth] Avenue in the Rain

Have you seen me?

I got a question about the location of Hassam’s The [or Fifth] Avenue in the Rain painting during the second Bush administration. I recall looking for it at one time and not finding it, but does anyone recall seeing it hanging anywhere in one of the White House videos, perhaps?

It hangs now in the Oval Office, next to the desk, as shown in the new photo I’ve posted.

New front page — JBK bedroom

I’ve changed the front page for October to one of my favorites: Jackie Kennedy’s bedroom.

I’ve continued looking for new photos on the Library of Congress site, the Google Life photos site, and the White House Flickr feed, but there isn’t much new. I have some video captures that were sent to me that I’ve been meaning to add, but there’s not a whole lot that’s really new, just slightly different perspectives.

New Flickr feed photos

Painter in the Cross Hall

At last we’ve got some good new photos on the White House Flickr feed. These include some in the West Wing and also a rather nice one of fresh paint in the Cross Hall. Here’s a close up one that one.

New front page – old front page

I changed the front page to a beautiful photo of Mrs.s Ford and Rockefeller in the yellow-clad Solarium that I first used three years ago.

I also added a couple of new photos that I found on the Google-Life magazine site.

New Flickr photos

The White House has released some more new photos over the last several days, but there aren’t many that show interesting details of the mansion or wings. One that show the Resolute desk could have been nice, but the depth of field is so short that the president is in focus but the front of the desk isn’t.

The summer time of the first year of an administration is a natural period of a lot of travel. I suspect the first family will settle down soon as the holidays approach, and we’ll see some more interesting photos come out.

Vice-president’s residence

I’ve just added two new photos of 1 Observatory Circle that Seth B pointed me to. Great pics of the back of the house.

Senator Ted Kennedy

Multi-time White House hopeful, brother to statesmen John and Robert Kennedy, Senator Ted Kennedy died last night after a lengthy period of poor health. Certainly a polarizing figure in his personal as well as political life, the senator was personally known to be generous and capable of compromise. Condolences to his family.

Your refreshing beverage, Mr. President

Peter Sharkey writes:

I was watching Who Wants to be a Millionaire yesterday and a contestant was able to work all the way up to the Million-dollar question and that question was:

For ordering his favorite beverages on demand, LBJ had four buttons installed in the Oval Office labeled “coffee,” “tea,” “Coke” and what? A. Fresca, B. V8, C. Yoo-hoo, D. A&W” Basin answered Yoo Hoo which was wrong, and lost the $1,000,000 prize money.

I thought it was an interesting tidbit of info.

Oh, man. I totally knew that one.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: LBJ was the crazy uncle of American presidents. Policies aside, I would be just like him. “More water pressure! Shut off those lights! I’ve named my dogs after pronouns! I named by daughter after myself! I don’t trust a man unless I’ve got his @#$%#$ in my pocket!”

ETCetera Magazine

The September issue of the typewriter enthusiast’s ETCetera Magazine is out, and features an article by Peter Weil detailing the creation and operation of the old White House telegraph and communications room. I’m happy to say that WHM was a help to him in the creation of the article, and he graciously acknowledged the site for information, photos, and diagrams. Thanks, Peter!