Summarize the following:
If you were unable to get tickets for one of the self-guided public tours of the White House and will be in Washington, visit the grounds of the White House, also called President’s Park. From the White House Visitors Center to The Ellipse and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, these places will give you a chance to see the White House even if you can’t get inside of it.  The grounds of the White House, also called President’s Park, extend from Lafayette Park at H Street, NW in the north to The Ellipse at Constitution Ave, NW in the south and between 15th and 17th Streets, NW. You can’t visit the grounds inside the White House fence. Even ticketholders for White House tours are not allowed to stroll around the grounds inside the fence. Street parking is limited near the White House grounds and spaces fill very quickly. In addition, if you’re not familiar with driving in Washington, DC, which is tricky because of the city’s street plan, it’s advisable to use public transportation.  Public transportation to the White House grounds is best by Washington’s subway system, called the Metro. The closest stops to the White House are Federal Triangle, Metro Center, McPherson Square, and Farragut North. The Ellipse is a grassy area that extends from the South Lawn of the White House to Constitution Ave, NW. From this point, visitors get spectacular views of the South Portico of the White House.  The Ellipse is open to the public all day, every day unless otherwise posted. If you are in Washington during the holiday season, you’ll be able to see the National Christmas Tree and National Menorah on the Ellipse. Lafayette Square, named for the Revolutionary War General Marquis de Lafayette, is a small park that extends from H Street, NW in the north to Pennsylvania Avenue, NW in the south. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1970.From this point, visitors get excellent and very close views of the North Portico of the White House.  Lafayette Square is open to the public all day, every day unless otherwise posted. If you are lucky, you may get to see the President or members of the First Family arriving or leaving from this vantage point. Secret Service agents guard the area around Lafayette Square because it is so close to the White House. The guards are often friendly and may answer questions if you have them. Formerly called the Old Executive Office Building, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building was once the largest office building in the world.It now houses most of the White House staff’s offices.  The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is located right next to the White House at 1650 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.  Because the building houses for White House staff, there are no public tours or visiting hours for the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. If you were unable to get tickets for one of the self-guided public tours of the White House, the White House Visitors Center offers an excellent alternative to the actual site.  The Visitor’s Center offers a touch screen virtual tour of the White House as well as artifacts and a film called “The White House: Reflections from Within.”  The Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW and charges no admission. It is open daily from 7:30am to 4:00pm except January 1, Thanksgiving, and December 25.

summary: Visit the White House grounds. Visit The Ellipse. Visit Lafayette Square. Visit the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Visit the White House Visitors Center.


Summarize the following:
Of course, to form your clay dragon you'll need clay, but there are many options to choose from. For the purposes of sculpting an amateur mini-dragon, you might consider using Sculpey®, Souffle®, or Premo® polymer clay.  If you plan on giving your dragon some color or highlighting its features, like it's eyes and wings, you'll also want a spray paint primer and some paint for your hardened clay.  Acrylic paints are recommended by many clay artists for painting baked polymer clay.  Aluminum knitting needles are also useful tools for styling and adding details to your clay dragon. Finer needles can be used for finer detail designs, like the features of your dragon's face. Fresh from the packaging, your clay might seem stiff and difficult to mold. To limber your clay and ready it for sculpting, you'll want to tear it into pieces and knead it in your hands.  Your hands will warm your clay, softening it and making it easier to work with. Sculpting clay is intended to be worked with in this fashion. The size of the dragon you intend to make will determine how much clay you use. However, a surprisingly small amount of clay goes a long way, and you can always add more clay if necessary. The warmed clay should shape more easily now that you've finished activating it. Smooth out the surface of your clay ball and create a general sphere shape with it. From your central ball of clay you are going to pull out your dragon's limbs. Do this by pinching out four legs at regular intervals without separating it from your clay ball.  Flatten the limbs and bottom of your ball to create a solid base. Thick legs will create a more solid shape and will prevent your dragon's limbs from breaking free of its body. Feel free to adjust limbs as needed. For example, you may need to push the legs a little more closely together or pull more clay from your clay ball to give the limbs stability. Pull some clay from your limbed clay ball forward for the neck and head of your dragon. Make sure the base of your dragon's neck is thick enough to support the head and the length of the neck. A stout, short neck can be easier to accomplish for beginner level sculptors.  At the end of your neck, you can fold down the end of the clay to form a head. Dragons typically have serpentine features, so the head of your dragon will likely be triangular in shape, ending in a point.

summary: Gather your materials. Activate your clay. Roll some clay into a single ball. Form the limbs of your dragon. Model the neck and head.


Summarize the following:
Typically, a set of inside-mount blinds should measure about 1⁄2 inch (1.3 cm) less than the width of the window frame. Make sure you measure the inside of the frame, where the blinds actually fit, and not the entire window frame. Measure in at least three places -- the top, bottom, and middle of the window. Most windows are going to have regular, even spacing, but older houses may have some variability. If there is a change, use the smallest measurement taken. This small gap will keep your blinds from getting cut or stuck on the windowsill. Use the measurement found above and mark the headrail (the top of the blinds) at this length. You may either cut an even amount off of both sides or cut only from the pull cord side. If the chords are on one side, you can cut only from the other side. In many ways, only cutting one side is much easier. Simply start sawing to remove the headrail where you noted:  Remove the metal end stiffener bracket from the side(s) you are cutting. Use the hacksaw or tin snips to cut the headrail per your measured mark. File any rough edges with a metal file. However, keep in mind that the headrail edges will be covered by the mounting brackets, so a rough cut will not be visible. Replace the metal end stiffener onto the newly cut headrail.
summary: Measure the width of the window to determine the necessary width of the blinds. Mark the smallest measurement, and cut to this. Subtract 1/4-inch from each side to ensure the blinds have room to move up and down. Measure the blinds from the head rail and use a pencil to mark your new desired length. Cut the blind headrail using a hacksaw or tin snips.