| Flying Over Ames
Despite consistently strong performances in all televised debates, and spending far more money than his GOP rivals, the Gallup Poll puts him in fourth place—with only half the backing of third-placer John McCain. Part of the problem may be the spreading perception that he's “too perfect" to be president. The other major candidates have experienced divorce, infidelity, or both, but Romney married his high school sweetheart 39 years ago and they've produced five spectacularly successful, happily married sons. This impeccably-groomed multimillionaire also affiliates with a controversial church that prohibits pre-marital sex, alcohol, tobacco, and divorce. Somehow Romney needs to identify with his imperfect fellow citizens. Maybe he could start by expressing sympathy for rival Rudy Giuliani and his wife in the face of scurrilous personal attacks against them in Vanity Fair magazine.
Romney's straw poll drive pays off
Giuliani's and McCain's decisions in June to skip the event altered the straw poll's role. Typically seen as a potential first measure of candidate strength in the field at large, this year's event was more of an opportunity for a second-tier candidate to emerge.
Giuliani and McCain finished near the bottom, receiving less than 2 percent of the vote.
Huckabee said his surprise finish was a testament to his upbeat message.
"No one thought we would even come in third," he said. "It's not about the money. It's about the message."
U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado finished fourth with 1,961 votes or 13.7 percent, while U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who has sparked a loyal grass-roots following, finished fifth with 1,305 votes or 9.1 percent. U.S.
Lack of Sleep and Its Effects on Children
Sleep deprivation in children can increase their risk of participating in anti-social behaviours such as smoking and drinking as well as poor grades according to research that is being presented at the 2007 Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting. The research, presented about the effects of too little sleep in adolescent-aged children, was carried out in China by University of Pittsburgh researcher Dr. Xianchen Liu. In the study, 1,362 children, with an average age of 14.6, were asked a series of questions about their sleeping habits and other behaviors including, drinking and stress. The results of the study linked a number of sleep problems with drinking. For example, the study found that children who were not getting a full eight hours of sleep each night suffered from bad dreams and had a hard time falling asleep and were connected with drinking.
HEADLINE NEWS
In an effort to preserve and share their culture, a group of Tibetan Buddhist monks was in St. Jacobs this week.They were also in town to make money.Laurel Antti, co-ordinator of the Canadian part of the monk's second annual Drepung Gomang Scared Art Tour in North America, said the main reason the monks came from India is to raise money for food and medicine back home. Funds are also directed to new projects for the monastery, including a residence building, new hospital and new kitchen.There presence in the region was well received.“It generates a lot of interest because people are curious," said Antti. “The response has been amazing."In their fundraising efforts, the group has gone public with the ancient Tibetan art form of sand mandala, which was usually done in the privacy of the monastery.The sand mandala is made from different colours of dyed sands, which, once complete is ceremonious poured into a local waterway to spread healing energies around the world.Besides working on the sand mandalas, the monks also held butter sculpture workshops for both adult and kids.
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