Hurricane Sandy and the Election

If you watched any news at all yesterday, you probably saw the constant loop of storm updates sprinkled with election news. In print and on TV, reporters kept talking about the potential impact of Hurricane Sandy on the election. This was bothersome to me, knowing many people's lives were at stake and for some, life as they know it would be altered by this storm.
I think it goes without saying that there is likely to be some impact on the election based on how  the President handles this disaster. There is likely to be some impact because campaigns were cut short and early voting was closed for two days. Bottom line, though, is that is not what matters.

President Obama addressed this very well when he said, "I’m not worried at this point about the impact on the election,” Obama said in a short briefing, in a response to the only question he answered. “I’m worried about the impact on families, I’m worried about the impact on our first responders, I’m worried about the impact on our economy and on transportation. The election will take care of itself next week. Right now, our No. 1 priority is to make sure we are saving lives, that our search-and-rescue teams are going be in place, that people are going to get the food, the water, the shelter that they need in case of emergency and that we respond as quickly as possible to get the economy back on track.”

In an event of a natural disaster this large, extraneous worries, including reelection, need to be put on the back burner. The Presidency is supposed to be about being self-less. Many presidents spend their entire term trying to get reelected, campaigning, and schmoozing, and whatever else, but a president who puts that aside for the common good is a president that will demonstrate he is a leader.

Thoughts and prayers with those impacted by this large storm,

--Megan

Extraordinary Gender Gaps 2012

According to the New York Times yesterday, if only women voted, President Obama would be on track for a landslide re-election, equaling or exceeding his margin of victory over Senator McCain in 2008. On the flip side, if only men voted, President Obama would be defeated by Mitt Romney.

I find this to be extremely interesting. It is also interesting because most pollsters state that social issues matter in the gender gap, but the real big dividing lines are what government should be doing for the poor, the elderly and the size of safety net.

So how can our society be so split? And how will these figures impact the election?

--Krystal

Making a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow

Fans of Stephen Colbert already have heard of Stephen's mock Super PAC, which has raised a significant amount of money over the past year, and put out a few ads promoting Colbert's (fake) campaign for presidency. The super-PAC's slogan, "making a better tomorrow, tomorrow," has often been the theme of the Colbert Report as Colbert frequently discussed his super PAC with his guests and in his segments. 

His intentions might seem comical, but Colbert is clearly criticizing the current system with his sarcastic super-PAC and the hilarious attack ads he has put out. This critique is not just in fun; Colbert is adding to a larger conversation about political spending and financing campaigns. Common sayings on his show include "corporations are people," and "money equals voice," which he always says in a manner of pretending to agree with these notions. 

His superPAC, while he has never publicly addressed it as such, has largely been a method in demonstrating how out of control our system has become and the dangers of anonymous, unregulated monies in our political and financial systems--and has Jon Huntsman said recently on an episode of Colbert--a threat to democracy as we know it. 

Colbert might get the "last laugh" after all, according to Politico, as Colbert still has some $776,000 unspent dollars, which could be key in the final moments of this election in key swing states. 

Wouldn't that be the best way to serve justice in these highly immoral and unregulated political campaigns? What if Colbert could influence the campaign as he wished with this money he has raised anonymously? It's perfectly legal for him to do so, and in fact, prohibiting his ads would violate his super PAC's right to free speech (oh, yes).  This would be a demonstration of why, exactly, super PAC money isn't fair. 

The election is just weeks away, we'll have to wait and see what plays out... Personally, I wish Colbert luck in his campaign to show the ugly truth of campaign money. 

--Megan

Meditation on Success

I was at a workshop a couple of weeks ago, and a speaker told the group, "If you do something for 15 minutes per day, 3 days a week, you will become an expert at that thing." 

I was really happy to hear that. Sometimes I get frustrated with all of my time, energies, and focus going into my work week, with barely any time left over to dedicate to pursuing personal interests or bettering myself personally. 

I want to challenge myself to pick something I'd like to get into--I'm thinking writing, Spanish, learning about new music, or meditation--and spend 15 minutes per day on that thing, reading articles about it, practicing it, focusing my time and energy on it. This will allow me to use my personal time wisely and develop a skill I am passionate about.

When your mind's eye is focused on a positive outcome, it will be more challenging for you to get all jumbled up in confusion and bogged down by a particular day's tediousness. Don't let your personal talents and interests slip away because your time is limited. Pursue them, schedule them into your day, block out time, and talk about them with others. Make room for the things in your life that make you better. 

The challenge here is, of course, striking the right balance. Even if you fill your days only with things you love doing, if you fill them too full, you will feel stressed and you won't excel. When you are stretched in all directions, you lose focus, and your mind rushes you through an activity that is meant to be enjoyable to squeezing in another enjoyable activity. 

Relax, breathe, focus on the positives in your life, the things you want to accomplish, alongside those people and things that are important to you. Refocus yourself throughout the day on who you want to be, where you want your mind to be, and what you want to get done. Hopefully keeping your mind full of positive thoughts, and refocusing them throughout the day, will help you relax and feel happiness.

May your weekends be full of personal passions!

Megan

7 Autumn Activities for All

My 7 Ways to Enjoy the Autumn Season

Have a pumpkin-carving party. If you take the time to search hard enough you can find really good deals for pumpkins at a local farm or market. Invite some friends over,provide the tools and inspiration, everyone brings a pumpkin, and then let the carving begin. 

Plan a Halloween party. Planning an event can add some additional stress, so get started now do it with a group of friends and get the full pleasure out of your party.

Go to a football game. For me, nothing screams Fall like football. Get a group together, grab tickets to a local game and root for your favorite team, or just pick the underdog and go for it.

Find a fire. Go to a bonfire or just cozy up next to a fireplace at a restaurant. If you can start your own fire be sure to bring marshmallows and enjoy some delicious s'mores.

Go apple picking. Your favorite bloggers did an apple picking adventure that we enjoyed last Fall. The best part about this activity is you finish your night off with apple cider and some hot apple pie.

Take a weekend trip. I am working on setting this up right now. Nothing is better than taking a couple of days to get away and have some fun in a new place. Rest, relax, recreate.

Visit a Winery. You can always find a winery not too far that is hosting a tasting or festival and isn't too far of a commute. This is great to do with friends or a significant other. Taste new wines, cheese and enjoy the new adventure of the day.

I plan on taking part in all 7 of these activities this fall and I encourage you all to do the same. It can get a little cold, but dress warm and get out of the house and enjoy the days before winter arrives.

--Krystal

The difference between Republicans & Democrats

So within the past month I have started a book club with friends, our first book is JK Rowlings' Casual Vacancy, and I've started my own personal "book club", that first book being Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project. Both of these were acts to get myself to read more frequently and efficiently. So far so good. Well the second book I've begun reading on my own is Joe Scarborough's Rome Wasn't Burnt in a Day. I have a been a fan of Joe's since college when I started watching him on MSNBC's morning show, Morning Joe. Joe is a former Florida Republican Congressman, but to quote Senator John McCain Joe is truly an independent thinker, which is refreshing.

Joe also spends quite some time discussing the difference between Republicans and Democrats and comes to the conclusion that when it comes to spending tax payer dollars there isn't much of a difference today. Joe also does a great job breaking down how bills really passed and how much a congressman can sell his soul once he begins working on the Hill.

This book was written a few years ago, but I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in politics and knowing what really happens on Capitol Hill.


--Krystal

Learning Non-Cognitive Skills in School

I like to catch up on This American Life  when I'm doing my laundry or other household chores. Last week's, titled "Back to School" (#474) was of particular interest to me, and I wanted to discuss it on the blog.
"Back to School"was about working with children on other skills that are currently not taught in school. Researchers have looked at success rates amongst high school graduates, people who receive GEDs, and those who do not graduate at all, and found that high school graduates fair far better than people in either of the other category as far as job retention and professional mobility, not because they are more qualified for the job, but more because they possess skills like patience, resilience, and basic understanding of dealing with adversity that they figured out during the time spent in the classroom.
Schools are beginning to see research in these areas and actually focus children on picking up these non-cognitive skills.
Students learn a lot of basic life skills during their school years, simply by being around peers and needing to follow certain protocol. These skills are not measured on standardized tests, but do become increasingly important as children age and need to find jobs and began careers.
A guest speaker on the show also went on to discuss the effects of poverty-related stress on the brain, and how school systems ought to try and combat that. Many children are being taught more of "survival" skills at home, due to circumstances pertaining to poverty. These skills are not conducive to thriving in school, and can keep children from picking up on both cognitive and non-cognitive skills as they struggle through their own set of challenges. For example, a child who might not be guaranteed dinner each night, doesn't learn impulse control or manners;  this child might eat whatever is put in front of them, even if asked to wait. In another example, a child who is experiencing poverty-related stress might not ask questions for fear consequences of talking too much or being in the way.
For those of us interested in education and the effects of poverty on educational achievement, this was a good 59 minutes. The speakers presented a number of good ideas pertaining to helping children succeed in school. I was encouraged by the idea that school systems might begin to recognize non-cognitive skills as important school topics and what this could mean for low-achieving school systems and at-risk students.

--Megan

The Presidential Debate

Obama and Romney had their first debate last night over domestic issues. The debate got a little hung up on taxes and tax cuts. I found it painful to watch, due to the back and forth between the candidates over small details, and the inability to talk about the real issues. 

Romney came out strong, with clear talking points. He looked President Obama in the eye, as though he was actually speaking with him. He came out on offense, and he dominated the debate. President Obama, as I saw in one article today, "endured" the debate. He kept his head down, and didn't hit hard when Romney claimed new things that we have not heard from him before. 

Romney and Obama discussed the hard economic times and debated whether or not Obama's administration has added to that. 

It was hard for the average viewer to decipher who was portraying the truth. Both candidates had a different idea on what caused the deficit and what was best to do about it. I'm not sure if the candidates are blatantly lying in these cases or speaking theoretically--meaning they're just as unsure as the rest of us how this crisis has happened. 

It must be said that Romney came out strong, ready to debate, and won the debate. Obama let him. Obama let him come out with an entirely different set of policies then he has been campaigning on in the past year, a much more moderate set of policies. I would have hoped to see Obama really question these moderate responses, and get to the bottom of whether or not Romney was fishing for votes or has really changed his tune. 

As an Obama supporter, I am concerned to see the President "endure" a debate in this manner, knowing that there are many undecided voters who are making up their mind based on these debates. Many will take Romney at face value, and others will see that Obama played it safe and didn't fully defend his current policies or come out to question Romney's politics. Obama didn't even mention his past accomplishments, including killing Bin Laden, until his closing remarks.

It will be interesting to see how the rest of the debates go, and the outcome of these debates.

Stay tuned!

--Megan