What might Obama's legacy be after 4 more years?

As jubilant Democrats celebrated the re-election of Barack Obama at his Chicago victory party, talk quickly turned to how the U.S. president's legacy hinges on his next four years in office — and how compromise will be crucial in approaching issues ranging from avoiding another recession to taking the lead on climate change.

The struggling U.S. economy was the dominant election issue and chief on most voters' minds, according to exit polls. But Obama, in his victory speech early Wednesday, gave some indications of where he wants his second term to head beyond the recovery.

In a lofty address, he appealed for compromise with Republicans, saying he was willing to work with them to reduce the federal deficit and the country’s dependence on foreign oil, as well as reform the tax code and fix the immigration system.

The president also made a passing reference to the dangers of climate change, an issue that was barely mentioned in the campaign's earlier months until it roared back into the spotlight in the final days with superstorm Sandy's recent devastation of the coastlines of the U.S. northeast states.

"We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened by inequality, that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet," Obama said.

Speaking ahead of the president in his later-than-expected concession speech, defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney made his own appeal for co-operation from both sides.

“At a time like this, we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing," he said. "Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work, and we citizens also have to rise to the occasion."

But several volunteers and supporters attending Obama's victory bash said they now want the president to use his new mandate to go further, such as tackling climate change head-on or finding a peaceful solution to the impasse with Iran on its nuclear program.

Breakthough on immigration?

With a broader mandate than expected from Tuesday’s win, Obama also has the chance to shape and leave a legacy not just for himself, but also for his party, through the election’s connection with new constituencies that seem to be forming.

One obvious group would be Latinos, who overwhelmingly supported Obama at voting booths.

Polls have indicated a large majority of the Latino community favours immigration reform that would give some path toward permanent residency to the more than 12 million undocumented immigrants who already live and work in the United States.

Republicans, perhaps looking at how badly they fared among Hispanic voters in the presidential race this time around, could be willing to work to find common ground, despite past bipartisan attempts ending in failure and bitter recriminations.

At the Obama celebration in Chicago, supporter Angie Vaca said she wants the president to make immigration reform his top priority to help people "who love this country and live in fear of being pulled away from their dream."

“We’re tired of waiting," Vaca, 30, a nurse and U.S.-born Latina, told CBCNews.ca.

Congress still gridlocked?

Despite the conciliatory words from the two candidates, when the dust settled, Republicans still retained control of the House of Representatives, and the Democrats will hold on to the majority in the Senate.

That leaves the structure of the partisan gridlock in Congress that plagued the last two years of Obama’s first term essentially intact, meaning he may again find himself limited in what he can accomplish when the new members take office in January.

"I'm not optimistic for a lot of healing coming out of this election,” Roger Simon, chief political columnist of Politico, told CBC News on Tuesday before the results came in.

In Simon’s eyes, the U.S. has entered a deep period of hyper-partisanship that has created a paralysis in Congress that shows no signs of dissipating.

“Congress is a place where hope goes to die,” Simon said bluntly.

Fiscal cliff, Iran loom as challenges

Even before Obama’s second term technically begins in January, he faces immediate short-term challenges, including high unemployment, slow growth and the country’s latest “fiscal cliff” of a budget crisis — this time, a set of already legislated federal spending cuts totalling $600 billion US with higher taxes caused by the expiration of tax cuts brought in by Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, coming down the pipe during the month.

If no budget deal is reached by the end of the year, world markets could panic as they did in previous U.S. fiscal showdowns, further threatening the country’s economic recovery and possibly triggering another global economic crisis.

Also looming is the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran and Israel pressing Obama for a so-called "red line," or threshold that would determine when both the United States and Israel would take military action against Iran's nuclear enrichment sites.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/07/us-election-obama-win-legacies.html

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

What might Obama's legacy be after 4 more years?

As jubilant Democrats celebrated the re-election of Barack Obama at his Chicago victory party, talk quickly turned to how the U.S. president's legacy hinges on his next four years in office — and how compromise will be crucial in approaching issues ranging from avoiding another recession to taking the lead on climate change.

The struggling U.S. economy was the dominant election issue and chief on most voters' minds, according to exit polls. But Obama, in his victory speech early Wednesday, gave some indications of where he wants his second term to head beyond the recovery.

In a lofty address, he appealed for compromise with Republicans, saying he was willing to work with them to reduce the federal deficit and the country’s dependence on foreign oil, as well as reform the tax code and fix the immigration system.

The president also made a passing reference to the dangers of climate change, an issue that was barely mentioned in the campaign's earlier months until it roared back into the spotlight in the final days with superstorm Sandy's recent devastation of the coastlines of the U.S. northeast states.

"We want our children to live in an America that isn't burdened by debt, that isn’t weakened by inequality, that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet," Obama said.

Speaking ahead of the president in his later-than-expected concession speech, defeated Republican nominee Mitt Romney made his own appeal for co-operation from both sides.

“At a time like this, we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing," he said. "Our leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work, and we citizens also have to rise to the occasion."

But several volunteers and supporters attending Obama's victory bash said they now want the president to use his new mandate to go further, such as tackling climate change head-on or finding a peaceful solution to the impasse with Iran on its nuclear program.

Breakthough on immigration?

With a broader mandate than expected from Tuesday’s win, Obama also has the chance to shape and leave a legacy not just for himself, but also for his party, through the election’s connection with new constituencies that seem to be forming.

One obvious group would be Latinos, who overwhelmingly supported Obama at voting booths.

Polls have indicated a large majority of the Latino community favours immigration reform that would give some path toward permanent residency to the more than 12 million undocumented immigrants who already live and work in the United States.

Republicans, perhaps looking at how badly they fared among Hispanic voters in the presidential race this time around, could be willing to work to find common ground, despite past bipartisan attempts ending in failure and bitter recriminations.

At the Obama celebration in Chicago, supporter Angie Vaca said she wants the president to make immigration reform his top priority to help people "who love this country and live in fear of being pulled away from their dream."

“We’re tired of waiting," Vaca, 30, a nurse and U.S.-born Latina, told CBCNews.ca.

Congress still gridlocked?

Despite the conciliatory words from the two candidates, when the dust settled, Republicans still retained control of the House of Representatives, and the Democrats will hold on to the majority in the Senate.

That leaves the structure of the partisan gridlock in Congress that plagued the last two years of Obama’s first term essentially intact, meaning he may again find himself limited in what he can accomplish when the new members take office in January.

"I'm not optimistic for a lot of healing coming out of this election,” Roger Simon, chief political columnist of Politico, told CBC News on Tuesday before the results came in.

In Simon’s eyes, the U.S. has entered a deep period of hyper-partisanship that has created a paralysis in Congress that shows no signs of dissipating.

“Congress is a place where hope goes to die,” Simon said bluntly.

Fiscal cliff, Iran loom as challenges

Even before Obama’s second term technically begins in January, he faces immediate short-term challenges, including high unemployment, slow growth and the country’s latest “fiscal cliff” of a budget crisis — this time, a set of already legislated federal spending cuts totalling $600 billion US with higher taxes caused by the expiration of tax cuts brought in by Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, coming down the pipe during the month.

If no budget deal is reached by the end of the year, world markets could panic as they did in previous U.S. fiscal showdowns, further threatening the country’s economic recovery and possibly triggering another global economic crisis.

Also looming is the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran and Israel pressing Obama for a so-called "red line," or threshold that would determine when both the United States and Israel would take military action against Iran's nuclear enrichment sites.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2012/11/07/us-election-obama-win-legacies.html

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

New Canadian $20 bill goes into circulation tomorrow

Canada's new plastic $20 bills go into circulation tomorrow.

The polymer bill is set to be issued less than a week before Remembrance Day, and pays tribute to the contributions and sacrifices of Canadian military men and women. The back of the bill features the Canadian National Vimy Memorial.

On Tuesday, the new bill will get its official launch at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Hon. Steven Blaney, the minister of veterans affairs, and David Houghton, president of the Vimy Foundation, are expected to attend the ceremony.

The $20 bill is the country's mostly widely used bank note.

The Bank of Canada began issuing polymer money a year ago, starting with the $100 bill in November and followed with the $50 note in March. The polymer notes are more secure and durable than earlier bills, according to the bank's website, which says they "are easy to check and hard to counterfeit."

New plastic $5 and $10 notes are scheduled to be issued by the end of 2013.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/11/06/can-new-money.html

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Reducing Stress With Feng Shui

Decorating your home is an art. The furniture, the colors, the artwork, the lighting—you want all of these elements to balance in perfect harmony.

But a harmonious space means more than having the right drapes or perfectly matched linens. A harmonious space should be pleasing to the eye as well as the soul. Most of all, a harmonious space should reduce anxiety and bring about inner harmony, and that’s where the ancient Chinese practice of feng shui comes in.

“Any major energetic unbalance will result in stress,” says Natalia Kaylin, a feng shui consultant based in Massachusetts. “If you feel stressed and unmotivated, or have low energy and disrupted sleep patterns, the probability is high that your environment may be a contributing factor,” she explains.

According to Kaylin, the key to reducing this stress lies in creating balance between Yin and Yang (the two opposing forces discussed in Chinese philosophy) as well as the five Elements, which consist of water, wood, fire, earth and metal. For example, a home with too much Yang (e.g. too much brightness, lots of straight lines, lots of sharp lines) can create a stressful environment. Likewise, too many fire elements (deep reds and triangular shapes) will do the same.

So what can you do to make your living space a more peaceful, stress-free environment? Interior decorator and feng shui enthusiast Vanessa Deleon recommends you consider redesigning. “An incorrectly designed space can just cause more anxiety and stress in your life,” she says. Deleon also explains that colors, furniture placement and even clutter can be contributing factors, so every room in the home can benefit from a feng shui makeover.

The entrance
“The entrance is the area where energy comes in and distributes throughout the house,” says feng shui expert Kaylin, who believes it’s also one of the most important spaces in the home. To invite good energy, she recommends reducing all clutter, softening any sharp design features and introducing curved furniture. “If the entrance is small, open up the space by introducing a piece of art with a subject like an ocean, a meadow or a path,” she advises. Mirrors work well too, she says, just as long as they’re hung on a perpendicular wall from the door.

The bedroom
It’s especially important to have a stress-free environment to sleep in, because so much of our time is spent in the bedroom. “The bedroom is where you wind down at night, but it’s also the place where you start every morning,” Deleon reminds us. She advises positioning the bed far from the door, and never on the floor. “This keeps the energy from flowing beneath you when you sleep,” she says.

As Kaylin adds, “A person’s energy is more open, and therefore very vulnerable in the bedroom.” The consultant’s recommendation is to keep furniture—especially books and bookshelves—to a minimum. “Too many things in the bedroom equal stress,” explains Kaylin, adding that the same rule applies for electronic devices. If you can’t completely rid your bedroom of electronic devices, like a cell phone or alarm clock, at least keep them away from your head while you’re sleeping.

The home office
“De-clutter, de-clutter, de-clutter,” says Kaylin of the home office. (In fact, that’s a rule she recommends throughout the entire home.) “Clutter is vicious, it takes many forms, and is the biggest contributor to stress,” she continues. She recommends installing a good filing system to keep clutter at bay. And if you’re having trouble staying organized, Kaylin says you might have too many earth elements in the room (square shapes, stone, earthy colors) that need to be balanced with metal elements (metallic colors, sculptures or vases).

Another important factor is the positioning of your desk. Kaylin and Deleon believe it should be situated in a place where your back is against a solid wall as opposed to a wall with a window. And never sit with your back facing a door, as this is an easy way to invite stress into your workspace.

Lastly, rid the room of fluorescent lighting. “The faint humming, unnatural spectrum and subliminal flickering all contribute to a sense of unease and dislocation,” warns Kaylin.

The living room
This space, like all rooms in the home, will benefit greatly from the right colors. Kaylin likes to avoid colors such as red, orange and black, opting instead for softer pinks, yellows, greens and whites. “Sage green is my favorite,” says Kaylin. She also warns against using blue on any northern walls, as feng shui practitioners believe this makes a space cold and unwelcoming.

The right size and shapes of furnishings in your living space play an important role in reducing stress and promoting peacefulness. “Furniture must be proportional to the room size,” says Kaylin, who explains that too-large furniture can interrupt the flow and circulation of good energy. She recommends choosing furnishings, wherever possible, that feature round or curvy designs. “We are still part of nature and relate well to more organic, natural and curved shapes,” Kaylin says. “They are more natural then straight, sharp lines.”

Finally, don’t over-decorate your space. According to the expert, too much decoration—and especially too many small objects such as photos and décor items—can “create chaos.” Whittle down your decorations to items that “create a warm emotional response,” such as vacation photos or soothing paintings. Try to make room for natural objects like plants, too. “We are creatures of nature and still have strong connections with it deeply in our genes,” says the expert.

The kitchen
“The best feng shui kitchen design is a triangular design where the stove, refrigerator and sink are placed at the ends of a triangle,” says Kaylin. While she acknowledges that this may take some time (and money) to execute, she says it’s important if you spend a lot of time in this room.

If this setup still isn’t realistic for your home, Deleon suggests shift your appliances so the stove isn’t directly opposite from the sink, dishwasher or refrigerator. “The clash of fire and water elements is not good,” she says. And if this also isn’t a possibility, she recommends keeping your fridge and cabinets stocked at all times. “This implies wealth and abundance,” says Deleon.

But above all, remember that your home and personal tastes are unique, so it might take some time to find out what works for you. “Be prepared to change room colors to a more relaxing palette, and to move a few pieces of furniture around to achieve the easiest and the most harmonious flow,” says Kaylin. In other words, don’t be afraid to experiment—there’s really no harm in trying out a few of these feng shui tips.

And if they spark a bit of inner harmony, so be it.

http://news.health.com/2012/11/02/reduce-stress-with-feng-shui/

Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan

Daylight Savings Time: Falling back can have sleep side effects

The end of daylight-saving time this Sunday will allow an extra hour of beauty sleep, but not without some pesky effects.

“Some people don’t think that an hour has any impact at all on your body and that’s not true,” says Dr. Colleen Carney, a sleep specialist who teaches at Ryerson University, and is director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory.

She likens lack of sleep to driving through a time zone when you’re hungry.

“If you’re starving and you’re driving through one time zone and it’s supper time and then you’re suddenly in a different time zone, the hunger doesn’t go away.”

There are two separate clocks: one in our bodies and the other, on the wall.

People often attribute jetlag to travel but it’s really just a mismatch between the time you’re travelling in and your inner clock.

“When your inner clock doesn’t match the environment, your body is going to have to match up. So whenever we change the environment, daylight-savings time, for example, your body will still be aligning itself with the inner clock, not the clock in the environment we’re in,” Carney explains.

She says that could affect mood, eating and social habits. She says you may wake up starving because you are used to eating at an earlier time or you may feel a bit cranky and adds that if your body is usually alert at a certain time, it will continue to be, making sleeping in difficult.

For most people the effects shouldn’t be too dramatic. But for people already suffering from sleeping problems such as insomnia and those with depression — the switch could be particularly hard.

“Adding an hour of sleep can exacerbate insomnia,” by throwing off the regular sleeping schedule so crucial to helping with insomnia.

Canryey’s suggestion: Think of the beginning and end of daylight-saving times as you would a New Year’s Eve resolution — reflect on how you sleeping and think about prioritizing your sleep schedule.

Five tips to a good nights sleep from the Mayo Clinic:

 • Stick to a sleep schedule. Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. Being consistent reinforces your body’s sleep-wake cycle.

 • Pay attention to what you eat and drink. Don’t go to bed either hungry or stuffed.

 • Limit daytime naps. If you choose to nap during the day, limit yourself to about 10 to 30 minutes and make it during the midafternoon.

 • Include physical activity in your daily routine. Regular physical activity can promote better sleep, helping you to fall asleep faster.

 • Manage stress. When you have too much to do — and too much to think about — your sleep is likely to suffer.

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1280958--daylight-savings-time-falling-back-can-have-sleep-side-effects

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Three things to do in Toronto this weekend

Go BIG

The Royal Ontario Museum’s (100 Queen’s Park) new exhibit focuses on costumes and textiles that are big in some sense, whether in size, price tag or historical importance. Opening Nov. 3, BIG features artifacts from around the world and continues until Fall 2013. Tickets, $15. For more, visit www.rom.on.ca.

Celebrate culture

The Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay W.) channels Mexico during its weekend-long Day of the Dead Festival. The free family-friendly festival kicks off Saturday and features Mexican cuisine, face painting, music and dancing. For more, visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com.

Head to the farm

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair brings hundreds of breeders, growers and exhibitors to Exhibition Place (Lake Shore Blvd.). The indoor fair features giant farm animals and vegetables, an equestrian competition and shopping. From Nov. 2 through 11, tickets, $18. For more, visitwww.royalfair.org.

http://www.thestar.com/living/article/1280325--three-things-to-do-in-toronto-this-weekend

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Halloween Health and Safety Tips

For many people, autumn events like Halloween and Harvest Day are fun times to dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, attend parties, and eat yummy treats. These events are also opportunities to provide nutritious snacks, get physical activity, and focus on safety.

Check out these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for trick-or-treaters and party guests.

Going trick-or-treating?

	Swords, knives, and similar costume accessories should be short, soft, and flexible.
	Avoid trick-or-treating alone. Walk in groups or with a trusted adult.
	Fasten reflective tape to costumes and bags to help drivers see you.
	Examine all treats for choking hazards and tampering before eating them. Limit the amount of treats you eat.
	Hold a flashlight while trick-or-treating to help you see and others see you. Always WALK and don't run from house to house.
	Always test make-up in a small area first. Remove it before bedtime to prevent possible skin and eye irritation.
	Look both ways before crossing the street. Use established crosswalks wherever possible.
	Lower your risk for serious eye injury by not wearingdecorative contact lenses.
	Only walk on sidewalks whenever possible, or on the far edge of the road facing traffic to stay safe.
	Wear well-fitting masks, costumes, and shoes to avoid blocked vision, trips, and falls.
	Eat only factory-wrapped treats. Avoid eating homemade treats made by strangers.
	Enter homes only if you're with a trusted adult. Only visit well-lit houses. Don't stop at dark houses. Never accept rides from strangers.
	Never walk near lit candles or luminaries. Be sure to wear flame-resistant costumes.

 

Expecting trick-or-treaters or party guests?

• Provide healthier treats for trick-or-treaters such as low-calorie treats and drinks. For party guests, offer a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses.
• Use party games and trick-or-treat time as an opportunity for kids to get their daily dose of 60 minutes of physical activity.
• Be sure walking areas and stairs are well-lit and free of obstacles that could result in falls.
• Keep candle-lit jack o'lanterns and luminaries away from doorsteps, walkways, landings, and curtains. Place them on sturdy tables, keep them out of the reach of pets and small children, and never leave them unattended.
• Remind drivers to watch out for trick-or-treaters and to drive safely.

Follow these tips to help make the festivities fun and safe for everyone!

http://www.cdc.gov/family/halloween/

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