Obama's Christmas Vacation in Hawaii: Day 2

How President Barack Obama spent the second day of his Christmas vacation on Sunday in Hawaii:

— INOUYE FUNERAL: Obama and first lady Michelle Obama attended a memorial service for U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, sitting in the front row with Inouye's widow.

— PAYING RESPECTS: After the service, Obama briefly visited the grave of his grandfather, World War II veteran Stanley Dunham.

— HIKING: The first family went on a hike to Maunawili Falls, a popular, easy trail in Kailua near the Obamas' vacation home that leads to a waterfall and swimming hole.

Source  http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/obamas-christmas-vacation-hawaii-day-18052953#.UNgN-_IrdqQ

How Obama seized the narrative

Barack Obama may finally be defining himself as president. The question is: What took him so long to seize the narrative and find his character as “leader.”

Obama now has strong public support in the fiscal crisis faceoff. Even as the House Republicans scramble to find a way into the argument, the president has a tight grip on the storyline.

This is a big change from the fierce healthcare reform fight and the 2011 debt limit crisis. The chattering class then continually asserted that Obama had “lost control of the narrative.”

But now the president has a strong narrative arc:  He is the protagonist who will stand up for what he believes in, battling the odds.

A dramatic character holds our attention based on what he wants—the “spine of a character” in a play is defined by a clear through-line of intention. For much of Obama’s first term, the American public — his audience — felt that he had lost his way.

The problem was that Obama, as president, had cast himself as consensus seeker or conciliator. This role took him out of the action of his own narrative.

Other characters were able to rush in to fill the narrative void. The contentious cast of Congress became the new focus of national attention. Obama, by deliberately sitting out the public debate on healthcare and letting Congress put together his signature legislation, lost sight of his goal.

This was surprising for many voters, who had been captured by the compelling drama of Obama’s 2008 campaign. As “candidate,” Obama understood his part was all about aspiration. His goal was clear — and there are built-in stations of conflict.

Obama’s personal story was so powerful, in fact, that he was able to vanquish a master of the narrative, Hilary Clinton. He skillfully defined himself as the brave, young combatant challenging a ruthless political machine.

Brash, bold and thrilling — Obama was the protagonist for a new American electorate. He reflected the character of a nation we wanted to be — diverse, young, hip and hopeful. Audacious.

But once the campaign’s dramatic arc was fulfilled, and Obama assumed the presidency, he did not have a new narrative to replace it.

Obama deliberately refused to put conflict on the table during the health care debate. He did not want to be defined as a fighter. The Republicans knew this—and maintained a one-sided battle, casting themselves as opponents willing to fight for their goals.

Obama lost more ground during the debt ceiling crisis. Rather than confront the opposition and the possibility of failure, conflict-weary Obama settled for a tired solution: He would agree to discuss it later.

In both these scenarios, it didn’t seem as if the dramatic stakes were high enough for Obama to take a risk. By playing the conciliator-in-chief, Obama created a role for himself that was fundamentally undramatic. He was no longer the star of his own narrative.

As his re-election neared, Obama continued to let the GOP define his leadership—even his back story. Birthers created an alternative-universe origin story for Obama, even accusing him of being part of a Manchurian Candidate-like socialist conspiracy. Obama had created the void that made room for this.

Meanwhile, a slew of Republican candidates were defining themselves. The GOP ultimately chose a nominee whose personal narrative was nimble enough to fit any prototype. Mitt Romney’s Etch-a-Sketch leadership qualities could fit any focus group.

Against this, Obama’s re-election campaign started without any new narrative. He could no longer use his 2008 aspirational language of “hope.” At best—he could attack Romney’s narrative.

A powerful surrogate finally gave Obama’s campaign its first real boost. Bill Clinton’s “comeback kid” narrative — crafted so carefully by his Hollywood pals — had served him through two campaigns, and also through the crises of his presidency. The narrative of “resiliency” is sometimes comic — but certainly always joyous, and fun to watch.

In Clinton’s final comeback, the former president ignited the Democratic National Convention in North Carolina. He presented a compelling new narrative line for Obama, focusing on his unfinished goals.

The turning point was in the first debate. The disengaged president conveyed the impression that he would rather be dining with his wife on their anniversary than addressing the electorate. The fatal question was raised: “Does he really want to be here?”

The failure of that first debate seemed to jar Obama into re-assuming a narrative he was comfortable with — as “candidate.”  The dramatic sense of conflict was back, the race was on and the audience (the American public) energized.

He was again aspiring to something. Even those monitoring the statistics on Nate Silver’s 538.com blog felt the nerve-shaking tension of Obama as underdog. This new dramatic tension was so palpable that many Republicans seemed genuinely shocked when they didn’t win.

Obama won the narrative because he fought for the presidency. It now looks as if he is willing to extend that clarity of intention into his second term.

With the fiscal cliff looming, Obama’s new narrative features taking on the Republicans and fighting over tax increases for the top 2 percent. The president  has embraced the drama of the ticking clock, which may make a showdown over the financial crisis as inevitable as the gunfight in High Noon.

Obama has found a way to extend his narrative into a template for leadership. He is again an audacious protagonist – and the focus of all our attention.

Source  http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate/2012/12/17/how-obama-seized-the-narrative/ 

Obama laying groundwork for climate-change treaty

As leaders in Washington obsess about the fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama is putting in place the building blocks for a climate treaty requiring the first fossil-fuel emissions cuts from both the U.S. and China.

State Department envoy Todd Stern is in Doha, Qatar, this week working to clear the path for an international agreement by 2015. Though Obama failed to deliver on his promise to start a cap-and-trade program in his first term, he is working on policies that may help cut greenhouse gases 17% in 2020 in the U.S., historically the world's biggest polluter.

Obama has moved forward with greenhouse-gas rules for vehicles and new power plants, appliance standards and investment in low-emitting energy sources. He also has called for 80% of U.S. electricity to come from clean energy sources, including nuclear and natural gas, by 2035.

"The president is laying the foundations for real action on climate change," Jake Schmidt, who follows international climate policy for the Washington-based Natural Resources Defense Council, said in an interview in Doha. "Whether or not he decides to jump feet first into the international arena, we'll see."

Envoys from more than 190 nations are entering their second week of talks today at the United Nations conference working toward a global warming treaty. Their ambition is to agree to a pact in 2015 that would take force in 2020. It would supersede limits on emissions for industrial nations under the Kyoto Protocol, which the U.S. never ratified.

Obama's push is being pursued without fanfare as the administration and Congress grapple to avert a budget crisis and $607 billion in automatic spending cuts. Unlike 2009, when Obama failed to prevent the collapse of climate talks in Copenhagen, Denmark, the U.S. can point to more concrete actions it's taking to fight global warming.

Obama has more ammunition at hand. The Environmental Protection Agency is required under the Clean Air Act to move ahead with regulations on emissions from existing power plants. Those are responsible for about a third of U.S. emissions, the largest chunk.

Measures such as those, along with continued low natural gas prices and state actions, can cut emissions 16.3% by 2020, research firm Resources for the Future estimates. Emissions already are down 8.8% from 2005 levels, according to Jonathan Pershing, a State Department negotiator in Doha.

"The U.S. is in a much stronger position going into the Doha talks despite failure of Congress to pass comprehensive climate legislation," said Trevor Houser, a former U.S. climate negotiator who served during the Copenhagen meeting. "For countries like China that were able to hide behind a perception of U.S. inaction, the fact that U.S. emissions are falling helps increase pressure. It takes away the excuse that action is stalled because of the U.S."

A summer of extreme weather also is supporting the U.S. delegation in the talks by raising public awareness and concern about the risks of climate change, Pershing said last week in Doha. So far this year, superstorm Sandy devastated the East Coast while wildfires raged in the west and a record drought wrecked crops in the Midwest.

"The combination of those events is certainly changing the minds of Americans and making clear to people at home the consequences of the increased growth in emissions," he said at a Nov. 26 news conference in Doha.

The portion of Americans who say climate change will affect them a "great deal" or by a "moderate" amount rose by 13 percentage points to 42% from March to September, according to a poll by Yale University and George Mason University.

Source  http://www.freep.com/article/20121203/NEWS07/312030143/Obama-laying-groundwork-for-climate-change-treaty

Obama opens landmark visit to Myanmar

Launching a landmark visit to long shunned Myanmar, President Barack Obama said he comes to "extend the hand of friendship" to a nation moving from persecution to peace. But the praise and personal attention come with an admonition from Obama: The work of ensuring and protecting freedoms has just begun.

Obama touched down Monday morning, becoming the first U.S. president to visit this Asian nation, which is also known as Burma. He will meet with the nation’s prime minister and democracy advocates, and close with a speech at the University of Yangon, where he will praise the country’s progress toward democracy but urge further reforms.

"Instead of being repressed, the right of people to assemble together must now be fully respected," the president said in speech excerpts released by the White House. "Instead of being stifled, the veil of media censorship must continue to be lifted. As you take these steps, you can draw on your progress."

Obama’s visit was to last just six hours, but it carries significant symbolism, reflecting a remarkable turnaround in the countries’ relationship.

Hundreds of children and young people dressed in white shirts and green sarongs, many of them wearing traditional cheek makeup smears and holding small U.S. flags, lined both sides of the road for more than half a mile heading out of the airport.

Obama will meet separately in Myanmar with Prime Minister Thein Sein, who has orchestrated much of his country’s recent reforms. The president will also meet with longtime Myanmar democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi in the home where she spent years under house arrest.

Obama has rewarded Myanmar’s rapid adoption of democratic reforms by lifting some economic penalties. The president has appointed a permanent ambassador to the country, and pledged greater investment if Myanmar continues to progress following a half-century of military rule.

In his speech, Obama recalls a promise he made upon taking office — that the United States would extend a hand if those nations that ruled in fear unclenched their fists.

"Today, I have come to keep my promise, and extend the hand of friendship," he said. "The flickers of progress that we have seen must not be extinguished. They must become a shining North Star for all this nation’s people."

Some human rights groups say Myanmar’s government, which continues to hold hundreds of political prisoners and is struggling to contain ethnic violence, hasn’t done enough to earn a personal visit from Obama. The president said from Thailand on Sunday that his visit is not an endorsement of the government in Myanmar, but an acknowledgment that dramatic progress is underway and it deserves a global spotlight.

The president’s Asia tour also marks his formal return to the world stage after months mired in a bruising re-election campaign. For his first postelection trip, he tellingly settled on Asia, a region he has deemed the region as crucial to U.S. prosperity and security.

Aides say Asia will factor heavily in Obama’s second term as the U.S. seeks to expand its influence in an attempt to counter China.

China’s rise is also at play in Myanmar, which long has aligned itself with Beijing. But some in Myanmar fear that China is taking advantage of its wealth of natural resources, so the country is looking for other partners to help build its nascent economy.

Even as Obama turned his sights on Asia, widening violence in the Middle East competed for his attention.

Obama told reporters Sunday that Israel had the right to defend itself against missile attacks from Gaza. But he urged Israel not to launch a ground assault in Gaza, saying it would put Israeli soldiers, as well as Palestinian citizens, at greater risk and hamper an already vexing peace process.

Source  http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20121118obama_myanmar_trip_not_an_endorsement_of_govt/

From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121119/NATION/211190332#ixzz2Cf9n3mZ8

The U.S. and Britain on Sunday warned about the risks of Israel expanding its air assault on the Gaza Strip into a ground war, while vigorously defending the Jewish state's right to protect itself against rocket attacks.
The remarks by President Barack Obama and Britain Foreign Secretary William Hague were part of a diplomatic balancing act by the West as it desperately seeks an end to the escalating violence without alienating its closest ally in the region.
"Israel has every right to expect that it does not have missiles fired into its territory," Obama said at a news conference in Bangkok at the start of a three-nation visit to Asia.
"If that can be accomplished without a ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that's preferable," Obama said. "It's not just preferable for the people of Gaza. It's also preferable for Israelis, because if Israeli troops are in Gaza, they're much more at risk of incurring fatalities or being wounded."
The president spoke shortly before an Israeli airstrike leveled a home in a residential neighborhood of Gaza City on Sunday. Among the 11 dead were four small children and five women, including an 81-year-old, Palestinian medical officials said. The attack was the single deadliest incident of the five-day-old Israeli operation.
A similar scene unfolded elsewhere in the city early today, when an airstrike leveled two houses belonging to a single family, killing two children and two adults and injuring 42 people, said Gaza heath official Ashraf al-Kidra.
Rescue workers were frantically searching for 12 to 15 members of the Azzam family under the rubble.
In all, 81 Palestinians, half of them civilians, have been killed and 720 have been wounded. Three Israeli civilians have died from Palestinian rocket fire, and dozens have been wounded..
The Israeli military said the target of Sunday's attack was a top rocket mastermind of the Islamic Jihad militant group. The claim could not be verified, and the attack raised speculation that Israel could face increased international pressure if the civilian death toll continued to rise.
Hague said Hamas, Gaza's militant ruler, "bears principal responsibility" for initiating the violence and must stop all rocket attacks on Israel. But Hague also made clear the diplomatic risks of an Israeli escalation.
"A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathize with or support, including the United Kingdom," he said.
Israeli officials say the airstrikes are aimed at ending months of rocket fire out of the Hamas-ruled territory. Israel began the offensive with an airstrike that killed Hamas' military chief, and since then has targeted suspected rocket launchers and storage sites.
The Mideast ally is now at a crossroads: launch a ground invasion or pursue Egyptian-led truce efforts. But with Israel and Hamas far apart on any terms of cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, "The Israeli military is prepared to significantly expand the operation."
The crisis threatened to overshadow Obama's trip to Asia, which includes stops in Myanmar and Cambodia as part of a broader effort to expand the U.S. economic and military presence in a region long dominated by China.
So far, the U.S. has thrown its weight behind Israel, and Obama has called on Egypt and Turkey to intervene on Israel's behalf.
Obama said he has told Egypt's president, Mohammed Morsi, and Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that "those who champion the cause of the Palestinians should recognize that if we see a further escalation of the situation in Gaza, then the likelihood of us getting back on any kind of peace track that leads to a two-state solution is going to be pushed off way into the future."
Obama also pointed to the next 48 hours "to see what kind of progress we can make."
Members of the U.S. Congress, which overwhelmingly supports Israel, criticized Egypt and Turkey for not doing enough to intervene. They said all eyes were on Morsi.
On ABC's "This Week," Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, called Egypt's response to the crisis "pretty weak" so far. "I think that they're going to have to take some very serious steps diplomatically to make it clear to Hamas that they're going to lose support in the Arab world if they continue these rocket attacks on Israel," said Levin, D-Detroit.


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121119/NATION/211190332#ixzz2Cf9n3mZ8

The U.S. and Britain on Sunday warned about the risks of Israel expanding its air assault on the Gaza Strip into a ground war, while vigorously defending the Jewish state's right to protect itself against rocket attacks.
The remarks by President Barack Obama and Britain Foreign Secretary William Hague were part of a diplomatic balancing act by the West as it desperately seeks an end to the escalating violence without alienating its closest ally in the region.
"Israel has every right to expect that it does not have missiles fired into its territory," Obama said at a news conference in Bangkok at the start of a three-nation visit to Asia.
"If that can be accomplished without a ramping up of military activity in Gaza, that's preferable," Obama said. "It's not just preferable for the people of Gaza. It's also preferable for Israelis, because if Israeli troops are in Gaza, they're much more at risk of incurring fatalities or being wounded."
The president spoke shortly before an Israeli airstrike leveled a home in a residential neighborhood of Gaza City on Sunday. Among the 11 dead were four small children and five women, including an 81-year-old, Palestinian medical officials said. The attack was the single deadliest incident of the five-day-old Israeli operation.
A similar scene unfolded elsewhere in the city early today, when an airstrike leveled two houses belonging to a single family, killing two children and two adults and injuring 42 people, said Gaza heath official Ashraf al-Kidra.
Rescue workers were frantically searching for 12 to 15 members of the Azzam family under the rubble.
In all, 81 Palestinians, half of them civilians, have been killed and 720 have been wounded. Three Israeli civilians have died from Palestinian rocket fire, and dozens have been wounded..
The Israeli military said the target of Sunday's attack was a top rocket mastermind of the Islamic Jihad militant group. The claim could not be verified, and the attack raised speculation that Israel could face increased international pressure if the civilian death toll continued to rise.
Hague said Hamas, Gaza's militant ruler, "bears principal responsibility" for initiating the violence and must stop all rocket attacks on Israel. But Hague also made clear the diplomatic risks of an Israeli escalation.
"A ground invasion is much more difficult for the international community to sympathize with or support, including the United Kingdom," he said.
Israeli officials say the airstrikes are aimed at ending months of rocket fire out of the Hamas-ruled territory. Israel began the offensive with an airstrike that killed Hamas' military chief, and since then has targeted suspected rocket launchers and storage sites.
The Mideast ally is now at a crossroads: launch a ground invasion or pursue Egyptian-led truce efforts. But with Israel and Hamas far apart on any terms of cease-fire, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting, "The Israeli military is prepared to significantly expand the operation."
The crisis threatened to overshadow Obama's trip to Asia, which includes stops in Myanmar and Cambodia as part of a broader effort to expand the U.S. economic and military presence in a region long dominated by China.
So far, the U.S. has thrown its weight behind Israel, and Obama has called on Egypt and Turkey to intervene on Israel's behalf.
Obama said he has told Egypt's president, Mohammed Morsi, and Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that "those who champion the cause of the Palestinians should recognize that if we see a further escalation of the situation in Gaza, then the likelihood of us getting back on any kind of peace track that leads to a two-state solution is going to be pushed off way into the future."
Obama also pointed to the next 48 hours "to see what kind of progress we can make."
Members of the U.S. Congress, which overwhelmingly supports Israel, criticized Egypt and Turkey for not doing enough to intervene. They said all eyes were on Morsi.
On ABC's "This Week," Sen. Carl Levin, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, called Egypt's response to the crisis "pretty weak" so far. "I think that they're going to have to take some very serious steps diplomatically to make it clear to Hamas that they're going to lose support in the Arab world if they continue these rocket attacks on Israel," said Levin, D-Detroit.


From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20121119/NATION/211190332#ixzz2Cf9n3mZ8

Recommended tips for men to remain healthy as they get older

With age comes wisdom. Unfortunately, it also comes with an increased threat of developing health problems. 

Prostate cancer and other diseases affect a disproportionately large amount of American men. According to the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF), more than 16 million men are affected by the disease globally, and American men represent 2.5 million of that figure. 

EAT RIGHT: If you've eaten a particular way your whole life, you might find it difficult to change. But cutting out the junk in favor of fruits, vegetables and whole grains is well worth the effort.
Opt for fish over red meat. Evidence from several studies suggests that fish can help protect against prostate cancer because it contains "good fat," particularly omega-3 fatty acids. A free nutrition guide and tasty recipes are available at www.pcf.org/nutrition . 

STAY ACTIVE: A sedentary lifestyle contributes to your risk of obesity, heart disease and cancer.
GET CHECKED: While it's always important to be open with your physician about your health and your family's health history, starting at age 40 it becomes crucial. Regular doctor's visits are also an important component of early diagnosis. While these tests may not be fun, they can save your life. If you have a history of prostate cancer in your family, consider a yearly rectal examination and a Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test starting in your forties. 

Broader awareness and understanding of the health risks associated with aging can save lives. So don't shy away from talking to your friends and family about your health.

Source  http://www.thinkstewartville.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=19&ArticleID=6480

3 Tips for White Teeth

Whitening is a very popular trend in today’s world. I’ve noticed that it has become a lot like coloring your hair- everyone has standing appointments prior to big events. Any why shouldn’t they; after all, white teeth are beautiful and can make your face seem brighter. Keeping your gums healthy is just as important as any other organ in your body. I have a few tips and tricks for you to whiten your teeth and keeping your gums healthy.

Stop Stains at the Source:
Stains come from a variety of places. One of the sneakiest culprits that stain your teeth is your morning coffee or tea. We all have that habit, you know the one. We go to Starbucks or any local coffee shop for our “morning jolt of coffee” and rush off to work. The stain from the coffee stays on your teeth and builds up, eventually turning them dark. What can you do for a quick fix? Rinse your mouth out with water right after your morning coffee so that the dark stains are washed away.

Whiten At home:
For a cheap, at home alternative to bleaching, you can us my “special mix” of a little baking soda and hydrogen peroxide blended into a paste to brush your teeth for about two minutes; spitting is ok if necessary. Be careful because this can be abrasive so use it sparingly and only once per week. This mix will help remove the stains left behind by coffee, tea and red wine.

Visit Your Dentist
Your dentist can help you decide on the whitening procedure that would be best for you and your teeth. One long term solution that has become popular is porcelain veneers. For those whom have bleached and are still not pleased, porcelain veneers can transform crooked, yellow, or poorly shaped teeth to perfection. Veneers are fabricated from porcelain so they won’t change color or stain. The process involves removing about .5-1.5 mm off the front surface of the tooth to make room for the custom fabricated thin porcelain sheets that are placed on the front surface to create the “perfect & natural” smile.

An accomplished leader and innovator in cosmetic and reconstructive dentistry,
Dr. Sherri Worth is one of the top dentists in the country. Dr. Worth uses her expertise in the field to create “smile makeovers” for celebrities, models, professional athletes, and everyday people alike. Specializing in porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges, implants, and reconstructive dentistry, Dr. Worth’s perfectionism is demonstrated not only in her patients’ flawless teeth but in her state-of-the-art dental facility. Located in Newport Beach, CA, her facility fuses the latest technology and equipment, including digital imaging and x-rays, with a team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff. For more information, go to: www.drsherriworth.com

Source  http://www.healthnewsdigest.com/news/Dental_330/3_Tips_for_White_Teeth.shtml

President Obama, Mitt Romney compete for underdog status in debates

It’s the debate before the debates: Who gets to play the role of underdog, President Obama or Republican challenger Mitt Romney?

Neither candidate wants to be labeled the favorite and with a week to go before the first rhetorical rumble of the general election, each campaign is -- in a dramatic departure from its usual negativity -- praising the opposition.

“Mitt Romney had many, many debates, and he was very good in them,” Obama adviser David Axelrod told Reuters last week, referring to Romney’s 20 debates during the Republican primary. “By and large, when he needed to bring it, he did. He memorizes his set pieces, and he delivers them well.”

Another Obama adviser, Robert Gibbs, was more direct during an appearance on CNN Sunday.

“Mitt Romney, I think, has an advantage,” Gibbs said.

Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, who has played Obama in Romney’s debate preparations, responded on Monday: “One thing that I think has been missing in some of the discussion I’ve heard is that Barack Obama is a very effective debater,” Portman told Politico. “He’s articulate; he’s smart. He did a great job in 2008 during that campaign as a debater.”

The same candidates who have spent months trying to convince voters of their superiority on everything from the economy to foreign policy now are attempting to relieve the pressure to win arguments on those very subjects.

“Why do they do it? Because if you don’t do as well, you have an excuse,” said Allan Louden, chair of the communications department at Wake Forest University and an expert on political debates. “If you exceed expectations, everyone’s elated.”

The strategic lowering of debate expectations goes back at least as far as the 1980 presidential race between incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter and GOP nominee Ronald Reagan, Louden said.

A Globe story published on the day of that year’s second debate quoted Reagan press secretary Lyn Nofziger as saying “there’s minimal risk for Reagan. There’s enormous risk for Carter.” Another Reagan aide said that “if Reagan gets a draw, Carter loses.”

After setting his standard of success at a mere tie, Reagan was more brazen after a good performance in Cleveland, declaring he had won before flying to Texas. Polls backed up his claim: An ABC News/Harris survey showed voters overwhelmingly believed Reagan won, 44 percent to 26 percent. An Associated Press poll gave Reagan the victory, 46-34.

This year, there will be three 90-minute debates between Obama and Romney, each of which will be televised between 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. The first is next Wednesday at the University of Denver, where the focus will be on domestic policy. 

The second debate is Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y. and will feature questions from undecided voters in the style of a town hall meeting. The final debate is Oct. 22 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. and will cover foreign policy.

Vice President Joe Biden will debate Romney’s running mate Paul Ryan on Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky. on both foreign and domestic topics.

The goal for each campaign, Louden said, is to control the media narrative before and after the debates. There are explicit and implicit arguments on both sides.

The explicit argument from the Obama campaign is that Romney should be expected to fare well because of his recent debate experience and reportedly intense preparation. The implicit argument is that for the same reasons, Romney should be pilloried if he fares poorly.

Romney’s explicit argument is that he is well-practiced, yes, but has not debated a Democrat in a decade and that Obama has the advantage of being president -- dealing with the foreign and domestic duties of the office every day. The implicit argument is that a debate defeat would be embarrassing for the incumbent.

“Who’s really the underdog? I think it’s pretty irrelevant,” Louden said.

Source  http://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2012/09/25/president-obama-mitt-romney-compete-for-underdog-status-debates/LnZbZDZeXn7cDsVkqUxesJ/story.html

Golf tips to help your wallet and health

The few things in golf that don’t go up in-season are the cost to practice or the cost to take a lesson.

With the shorter days it can be a challenge to find the time. However, you will get more out of your practice if you are not sweating to death and can actually hold onto the club.

If you look around and are willing to travel, you may even find greens fees that won’t break the bank. Don’t forget that most courses will let you walk at certain times and there is no better way to play this great game than walking the course.

Not taking a cart will help your health, wallet and game.

Now you have a few ideas to help not only your finances but your overall well being and some great family time. Excuses be gone!

Source  http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20120909/SPORTS/309090020/Golf-tips-help-your-wallet-health?nclick_check=1

Obama Skipping AIDS Conference for Campaign Draws Activists’ Ire

For all the dignitaries on the schedule at the International AIDS Conference this week in Washington, including Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates and former President Bill Clinton, it’s the absence of one that has activists talking. 

With the conference being held in the U.S. for the first time in 22 years, President Barack Obama is out of town campaigning and raising money for his re-election. His only presence is a 50-second cameo in a three-minute video welcoming delegates. Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s only appearance is in a video message to a meeting on the sidelines of the conference on the role of the faith community.

“It’s a huge missed opportunity,” said Matthew Kavanagh, head of policy for Health GAP, an advocacy organization on AIDS. “The people who are touched by HIV in this country and who care about HIV are potential core constituents for the president.” 

Adding to the ire of activists is Obama’s proposed 2013 budget, which would cut funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, an initiative started by President George W. Bush, by seven percent compared with 2010 levels. 

Part of the calculus for Obama is that the economy, the federal budget deficit and the cost of health care are the dominant issues in his race with Romney. At the same time, public concern about HIV/AIDS has waned.

Pressing Issues

A survey by the Washington Post and the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation found 10 percent of Americans identified HIV/AIDS as the most urgent health problem facing the U.S., behind cancer, which was mentioned by more than a third, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, insurance and health costs. In 1995, 44 percent named it as the most pressing health issue. 

Obama’s stops this week, at the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention on July 23 in Reno, Nevada, and the National Urban League Conference today in New Orleans, give him a chance to address issues that will loom larger in November. 

HIV/AIDS is “not high on the list of what most voters care about,” said Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. “But those that would be sympathetic to the movement to reduce AIDS, whether it’s the increase in African-American men or how it affects young children in Africa, are the same people he needs to get out the door and vote for him in November.”

‘Loyal Troops’

Still, she said it makes sense for Obama to spend his time in front of broader constituencies, including the National Urban League, a century-old civil rights organization. 

“The National Urban League is going to be like President Obama’s army, so if you have to make a choice between the Urban League and the International AIDS Conference you go with your solid, loyal troops,” Schiller said. 

For many activists, the bigger issue than Obama’s attendance at the conference is his administration’s commitment to funding global treatment for the disease. 

Bush more than tripled U.S. funding for global treatment during the last five years of his administration through the program known as Pepfar. With that increase, the U.S. accounted for about 59 percent of all donations for international AIDS relief, according to Jennifer Kates, director of global health and HIV policy for the Kaiser Family Foundation, of Menlo Park, California. 

The U.S. has spent about $46 billion since 2003 combating the disease internationally through Pepfar, which primarily funds the purchase and distribution of antiretroviral drug treatments for people in developing nations.

AIDS Budget

In 2010, the Pepfar budget was $6.9 billion, including money to combat tuberculosis, the leading killer of AIDS patients. If Obama’s current budget plan is enacted, the funding will fall to $6.4 billion in fiscal 2013.

“It’s ironic but Bush, I think, when it came to HIV/AIDS, understood the public health issue better than Obama,” said Jessica Reinhart, a grassroots manager with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a Los Angeles-based group that provides AIDS treatment. “The fact that Obama’s going to cut funding for Pepfar could possibly increase new infections.” 

Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, causes AIDS. The virus attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers. 

A record 34.2 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS according to the World Health Organization. In South Africa alone, a country where almost 1 in 3 people survive on less than $2 a day, 18 percent of those ages 15 to 49 are infected, the data shows.

Enthusiasm Gap

Wearing a tee-shirt emblazoned with a stop sign and the message “Stop Pepfar Cuts,” Reinhart, who led a protest from the convention to the White House on July 23, said she’ll continue supporting the president. Her enthusiasm has diminished, though. 

“He’s upset a lot of the AIDS community, and it could be detrimental to his candidacy,” Reinhart said.

Still, total spending on HIV/AIDS programs has increased during Obama’s term. It would rise to $28.4 billion in fiscal 2013, up from $27.7 billion in 2012 and $27 billion in 2011, according to data from the Kaiser foundation. 

Administration officials defended the president’s priorities and his attention to the issue.

Eric Goosby, Obama’s Global AIDS Coordinator, said the U.S. wants other countries to carry a larger portion of the financial load. 

“The United States can’t be ministries of health for all of these countries,” Goosby said in an interview. “Our best chance at not having the United States be the predominant resource motor for HIV treatment and HIV/TB treatment on the planet is to bring others to the table to put their resources to it.” 

Caitlin Hayden, a spokeswoman for Obama’s National Security Council, said in an e-mail that “the most important metric for Pepfar is lives saved, not dollars spent, and through smart investments we are delivering results.” 

Source  http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-07-25/obama-skipping-aids-conference-for-campaign-draws-activists-ire

Tips to stay healthy in the water

Oxford County Public Health and Emergency Services is asking local residents as part of its yearly prevention campaign on recreational water illness to stay healthy in the water by not swimming when they are ill with diarrhea.

According to public health, it takes only trace amounts of fecal matter to make others sick and some of the germs can survive for days, even in swimming pools with good filtration and disinfection systems.
One of the most common parasites Cryptosporidium can survive up to eleven days in a chlorinated swimming pool.

According to public health swallowing water contaminated with feces is still a leading cause of recreational water illness because germs from stool can easily contaminate the water in a large pool or water park.
“Children love visiting the beach, pools and water parks in the summer, but children are also one of the groups most vulnerable to recreational water illness because their immune systems are maturing and they are more likely to swallow water,” said Peter Heywood, Oxford public health program supervisor.

Public health’s campaign features “Swimming and diarrhea don’t mix” and “Wash your baby” posters at public pools to remind people to stay out of the pool if they have diarrhea and to wash babies thoroughly before swimming.

“Even if you think you’re well enough to swim, to help protect everyone’s health, we’re asking people to wait until they know their diarrhea has completely subsided before stepping foot in a public swimming area,” Heywood said.

Swimmers can also protect themselves by using the showers at public pools to rinse off before swimming, washing their hands after using the bathroom or changing a diaper, taking children on bathroom breaks and changing swimming diapers often and avoid swallowing pool or beach water.

Recreational water illnesses can cause skin, ear, respiratory, eye and wound infections, and are responsible for more serious health complications in children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems.

Public health’s said their role in helping to prevent recreational water illness includes inspecting pools and splash pads in the community to ensure health procedures are followed.

Public Health also samples beach water weekly from mid-May to Labour Day to check bacteria levels. Area beaches with high levels of bacteria are posted on site as not safe for swimming. Beach water updates are available online at www.oxfordcounty.ca/health or by phone by dialing 2-1-1.

Source  http://www.woodstocksentinelreview.com/2012/06/26/tips-to-stay-healthy-in-the-water

The Best Golfers Never to Win the U.S. Open: A Fan's Take

Many great golfers have claimed the United States Open title. On Father's Day a new champion will be crowned at the 112th U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, California. Yet there are many great golfers throughout history that have never had their name engraved on the trophy. As always lists are quite subjective by their very nature. That being said here is my list of the greatest players (in alphabetical order) never to claim the United States Open Championship. 

Seve Ballesteros

Spanish golfing legend Seve Ballesteros won five major championships in his career. Arguably one of the greatest players that continental Europe has yet produced, Ballesteros claimed three British Open titles and two green jackets. In addition to his success in the United States Ballesteros won 50 titles, including his major wins, on the European Tour. This remains the European Tour record. Ballesteros' best U.S. Open finish came in 1987 when he placed third. 

Nick Faldo

Englishman Sir Nick Faldo claimed six major championships in his career but never the United States Open championship. Faldo also enjoyed substantial success of the European tour claiming 30 victories. Faldo's best U.S. Open finish was second place in 1988. 

Bobby Locke

Bobby Locke was one of the great golfers in history and yet many American fans likely know little about him. Locke is most well-known for winning four British Open titles and for being one the greatest if not the greatest putter that ever lived. Locke's famous quote, "drive for show, putt for dough" is known by most every golfer. A native of South Africa, Locke was also the first great golfer that was neither British nor American. In only six U.S. Open appearances, Locke recorded five Top Five finishes. 

Phil Mickelson

It is difficult to place Phil Mickelson on this list because his career is not complete. Yet I think his career to this point warrants his inclusion. Phil Mickelson has won four career major championships; three Masters titles and a victory at the 2005 PGA Championship. In total Mickelson has 40 career PGA Tour titles which places him in the Top 10 all-time. While he cannot lay claim to being the greatest player of his generation, he is certainly no worse than number two. He has had many chances to hoist the U.S. Open trophy yet he is been relegated to runner-up status five times. Unfortunately for Phil his time to claim the U.S. Open title is running short. 

Sam Snead

Sam Snead was a legendary figure in the world of golf. He won seven major championships in his illustrious career. In all Snead won 82 career PGA Tour titles. That is still a record that stands to this day. It's not that Sam Snead did not have some success at the U.S. Open because he certainly did. Snead finished as the runner-up to the U.S. Open champion four times in his career. 

Source  http://sports.yahoo.com/news/best-golfers-never-win-u-open-fans-001800381--golf.html

No. 1 again! Luke Donald wins Transitons playoff, reclaims top ranking

Luke Donald is thinking about what might be, Ernie Els can only think about what might have been Sunday in a dramatic finish that saw Donald walk away with the Transitions Championship and reclaim his No. 1 ranking in the world of golf.

Els had the tournament firmly in his grasp, he was 14-under par through 15 holes at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course and had just hit his second shot within five feet for birdie at the difficult 16th. He missed that short putt then suffered bogeys on each of the final two holes.

He hit a poor tee shot at the 218-yard 17th that left him short right and he had no shot at saving par. Then Els shot himself in the foot on the 18th green when he missed a three-foot par putt that would have put him at 13-under par and in a playoff with Donald, Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Sang Moon Bae.

Instead, it was Donald who went back to the 18th to take on those three. Donald was first to hit his approach to the 425-yard par four and he stuck it within six feet. Garrigus matched him, landing just outside Donald’s ball from 116-yards out after a monster drive.

Disappointing second shots left both Furyk and Bae with lengthy birdie putts they both failed to convert.

Garrigus missed his bid for birde and Donald calmly found the inside left of the cup and walked away with his fifth PGA Tour win and returned to the top of the World Golf Rankings, jumping over idle Rory McIlroy, who moved into the spot two weeks ago at the Honda Classic.

Donald shot 66 for his final round and had to wait for about an hour while Els, Furyk and Bae finished. Garrigus shot 64 and had a four-hour wait to learn that he was in the playoff.

Another trio besides Els finished one out of the playoff. Scott Piercy posted a spectacular 62 and was done four hours before the leaders teed off. Overton shot 66 and Ken Duke a 68 to finish 12-under.

The win had Donald looking forward to his next appearance and that will come at the Masters in three weeks.

“It’s another step in the right direction,” Donald said of his victory. “It’s a perfect preparation for Augusta.”

Was Donald contemplating regaining the No. 1 ranking? “No, I was focused on trying to win this tournament,” he said. Donald played steady early. “I had my eye on the leaders,” he recounted. “I birdied 11 to get to 13-under. I had a good chance for another birdie at 14 but didn’t make it.”

His run of seven straight pars to close out his day was good enough for him to post 13-under, 271. He then watched and waited and saw the misfortunes that cost Els the tournament and an invitation to the Masters.

Els was in the left center of the fairway at the final hole, 165 yards out. He pulled his approach but he was just off the green on the fringe and putted three feet past the hole. “I pulled my putt,” Els said as he stood near the 18th green, head down.

Source http://gantdaily.com/2012/03/18/no-1-again-luke-donald-wins-transitons-playoff-reclaims-top-ranking/

Are you a gym rat or gym brat? Workout tips for staying healthy and not offending others

This is the time of year when the rolls of health clubs swell with new members. Getting in shape is a good thing. Healthy people are happy people. That the general populace understands the benefits of regular exercise is part of why we as a species are living longer.

In a perfect world, the fitness center should be a place of joy and harmony. After all, it's a place where every day, in every way, the people in attendance are getting better and better.

So can someone please explain to me why when people get in a gym, they lose all basic sense of manners? People who normally wouldn't hiccup without a torrent of apologies and "excuse me's" suddenly feel free to gawk and stalk and spit on the floor in front of 100 complete strangers. Why is it that otherwise normal, decent people lose their ding-dong minds when they change into sweat clothes?

Unfortunately, health clubs are full of people who have some ways about them that just aren't right. They seem to be missing the self-awareness gene. Don't become one of these people.

Are you the guy at the gym who wears street clothes while working out? You're wearing slacks and wingtip shoes on the treadmill. You can afford a health club but not sweat pants? Really?

Just because working out is your life, that's no reason to look down your nose or roll your eyes at people who are new to the experience. Fat people go to health clubs because they don't want to be fat anymore. Show some compassion, Mr. And Mrs. Hotbody. Being in shape is not as easy for some people as it has become for you. And you might try reading a book once in a while.

Are you the woman who is at the club every day with a different sparkly spandex outfit, wearing full makeup and sporting daggerlike, decorated nails? Lady, this is a gym, not a fashion runway. Try some aerobics. Your brain is in obvious need of oxygen.

Does the idea of other people's germs make you insane? Do you feel the compulsion to sanitize everything you touch or breathe on? Maybe it's time to invest in some home exercise equipment.

Are you the big galoot who feels the need to draw attention to yourself by dropping your weights with a huge crash after your last repetition to show everyone how much you're lifting? Everyone hates you.

When you finish your drill on the weight machine or treadmill, reset it to neutral. Chances are the next person to use it won't be exactly like you. Just a guess.

Are you the inconsiderate pig who does not wipe your sweaty residue off the weight machine you've just been spritzing on for 10 minutes? The spray bottle of disinfectant and paper towels are there for a reason. Use them.

Do you sing along to the songs on your iPod at the top of your lungs while on the treadmill? Please don't. You're annoying everyone in the room. This isn't an audition for "American Idol." Save it for the shower -- the one at your home.

The hair dryer in the locker room is for the hair on your head. Enough said.

Do you hog the weight machine between sets by texting and pretending you don't notice the person standing right there waiting to use it? People like you should save the texting for when you are driving during rush hour.

Are you the strange guy in the locker room who enjoys a period of prolonged nudity a little too much? There are gay bathhouses for that. Join one.

Do you give the big, long, gawky eyeball to whoever catches your attention? That's rude. Go back to staring at yourself in the mirror.

Are you the person who spends an hour and a half at the gym but only 10 minutes working out? You're not the social director on the Love Boat, pal. Heard of pull-ups?

Are you the chatty type? Do you love to meet new people? Can't help but comment on people's hair, clothes, demeanor? Are you dying to discuss the movie you saw last night, the book you just finished? The gym is for working out. Join Facebook.

Ladies, gents, easy on the cologne and perfume. People are trying to get oxygen here.

The mirrors are there so you can see that you are doing your exercises properly for maximum physical benefit, not so you can make out with yourself for an hour. Get a room.

For most people, the gym is a place where they want to get in, work out and get on with their lives. Therefore, don't hog the equipment, drinking fountain or shower. Work on your flabbiest muscle. The one that strengthens your consideration for others.

Source http://www.cleveland.com/pdq/index.ssf/2012/02/gym_rat_and_gym_brats_health_c.html