TresSugar

Arianna Huffington Says Sleep Will Change the World

Emily Co — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:11:29 PST

A few hours of snooze time could've nipped the economic collapse problem in the bud. Maybe. That's what my revelation was last night, which hit me when Arianna Huffington spoke at the Commonwealth Club, a nonprofit organization that holds public forums for the greatest minds and influencers.

At the end of each Commonwealth speaking engagement, the moderators always asks their high-profile guest to voice a 60-second pitch to change the world. Arianna, the woman who made the magic of Huffington Post happen, replied in less than a minute and said, "Get enough sleep." Wait a minute. That's it? Don't tell me that issues like the 8 million Americans who lost their jobs last year, the 1.4 million who filed for bankruptcy, and more personally, my friend who is on the verge of losing her house, can be solved with a simple trip to dreamland?

Of course, Arianna was half joking, but at the same time, there was a tone of truth to it. The news website mogul said she really believes that if leaders were sleeping enough, they would be wiser about their decisions. Even President Obama and his economic brain team, which includes Timothy Geithner and Larry Summers, need to have a good work-life balance. Let's face it, they're humans too. This means they can burn out, just like everyone else.

I've constantly talked about the dangers of being sleep-deprived, such as how it can result in mental problems, so Arianna's comment on shuteye just further drives the importance of sleep home. Do yourself a favor, and take heed from Arianna's words: "It's time to get some sleep."

Did You Know the Recession Ended Last June?

SavvySugar — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 12:00:26 PDT

It's all over the news: the recession ended a long time ago.

Data released by the National Bureau of Economic Research today said the greatest recession America has faced since the 1930s ended last June. The technical and most common definition of a recession is negative economic growth for at least half a year. Economic growth in America slowly began from July of last year, and we're apparently still in the throes of recovery.

Although we're out of the recession, the country is still reeling from the aftereffects of it. Take a look at some of these sobering statistics:

One in seven Americans lived in poverty in 2009. This figure is 32 percent higher than the previous year.
More than eight million people lost their jobs because of the recession
Over 1.4 million people filed for bankruptcy last year

President Obama said today that even though the recession officially ended last Summer, the recession is still painfully "real" for jobless Americans. Does it feel like the recession is over?

Salary Check: Presidential Style

SavvySugar — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 06:00:00 PDT

You get many perks when you're leading a country, and a high six-digit salary is one of them. President Obama's salary is $400,000 (not factoring in his book sales) while British Prime Minister David Cameron is getting paid a hefty $231,000. I know that sounds like a lot, but wait till you hear how much this guy makes.

To find out, read more.

New Health Insurance Rules For Free Preventative Care

FitSugar — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 04:30:18 PDT

According to the government, over half of Americans don't seek out the preventative care that most doctors and public health officials recommend. In an effort to reduce preventable and expensive long-term health problems, the White House has issued new rules requiring health insurance companies to provide access to routine preventative care at no cost to members. Included in the new rules are procedures like cancer screenings, diabetes and cholesterol tests, routine vaccinations, prenatal care, and well baby and child checkups. Additionally, the administration is working on a supplemental list of preventative care services for women. The new regulations, which will not allow deductibles or co-pays toward included procedures, apply to new health plans as of September 23, or existing health plans that make major changes to their policies. The new requirements could raise insurance premiums an average of 1.5 percent.

Exact details surrounding the included services are a bit gray. Even the official White House site doesn't contain a definitive list of included services, which leads me to believe that the exact list of procedures may be able to be determined by individual insurance companies within the guidelines set by the government.

A Lesson From Obama: Give the Gift of Health

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:00:29 PST

It's often pointed out how fit and healthy President Barack Obama is - he plays basketball with a passion, goes to the gym six days a week, and when on vacation chooses to bodysurf over lounging on the beach. It was even reported that during his presidential campaign he hit the gym for 48 days in a row. In light of his struggle to kick a nicotine habit - something he says he is 95 percent cured of - Obama lives a pretty fitness-focused lifestyle.

Last night the first couple was interviewed by Oprah Winfrey for the holiday special, Christmas at the White House, which gave viewers a peek into how the first family spends their holidays together. While watching, I was struck by a few things that the president said on Christmases past and thought to myself that particular gifts he received as a child helped shape him into the health conscious man that he is today.

To find out what the president's favorite childhood gifts were,

When asked what his favorite gifts as a child were, the president fondly remembered receiving a basketball from his father the first time he met him.

"You know, I do remember the one time I met my father he was visiting during Christmas and he gave me a basketball and - the degree to which I came to love basketball - it wasn't until much later in life that I realized, ‘Actually, he gave me that basketball.'"

The president also reminisced on receiving his first "big kid 10 speed bike" as a Christmas gift and how special it was. It's clear that the Obamas believe that many of life's lessons start at home, and I couldn't help but think that these two gifts were motivating factors for the president to be active even as a little one. If you have a special youngster in your life, consider giving them a gift that encourages them to get up and get moving. The smallest gifts we give may leave lasting impressions later, as is illustrated in the president's life - decades later, the basketball he received as a child is still the main focus of his fit lifestyle.

Biggest Headline of 2009: Obamas in the Food World Spotlight

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 05:50:04 PST

We knew it'd be a big year for President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. But there's no way we would have predicted the extent to which they would become involved in America's growing culinary culture and increasing food politics. Not only did the first couple set an extraordinary example of how the nation should eat healthy and local, but every single bite, it seems - from a cheeseburger lunch in Arlington, VA, to barbecued chicken in the White House on Father's Day - seemed to be deemed worthy of national news and attention. Regardless of how you feel about the Obamas' year in the food spotlight, they certainly garnered plenty of attention.

Obama Buys $4,800 Recycled Chandelier For Daughters' White House Bedroom

CasaSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:00:56 PDT

In last night's episode of Man Shops Globe, Keith Johnson traveled to South Africa, where he was on the hunt for not-so-typical African crafts. After stumbling upon some unusual pottery and a handmade wooden dining chair straight out of a Van Gogh painting, he wandered into a magical art collective shop called Magpie , which sells knickknacks and décor made entirely from recycled objects. Be it a lid to a dog food can, a wine cork, or a Barbie, the eco-conscious craftsman turned the disposable into the extraordinary. Johnson was blown away by a tall, dramatic chandelier made from found objects, trinkets, and castoffs, and ordered one for Anthropologie.

As it turns out, President Obama bought the $4,800 recycled chandelier for Sasha and Malia's bedroom in the White House. We did learn back in January that the Obamas planned to decorate the girls' room with Pottery Barn and Anthropologie, and that they already have a large collection of African and Asian art, so it's quite fitting actually! While the purchase is certainly expensive for young girls, as is the family's celebrity decorator Michael Smith, Barack and Michelle did decide to pay for their White House renovations personally, and forgo the allotted $100,000 presidential decorating budget, so you can't blame them!

Was It Fab That Michelle Obama Stuck With a Hometown Designer For the Convention?

FabSugar — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:00:22 PDT

With the fashion world at her fingertips, Michelle Obama could have worn a frock from the likes of Oscar de la Renta, Yves Saint Laurent, or St. John at the Democratic National Convention. Instead, Obama opted for a '50s-inspired turquoise blue fitted sheath dress from her favorite hometown designer, Maria Pinto. This leading lady is loyal, and we love it.

The designer has been dressing Michelle and her two daughters since the beginning of the campaign trail. "She's like an average customer. She'll say, 'Oh, I like that dress.' She'll buy one or several," said Pinto, who credited Obama for her success.

Timing couldn't have been better for the designer, who recently rebounded from employee embezzlement that resulted in bankruptcy and an illness, which left her bedridden for six months. Obama has been spotted wearing Pinto's frocks throughout the campaign trail and if she continues, Pinto's success will rise as well.

Source

This Just In: The Obamas Tune in to HGTV

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 08:30:40 PDT

Entertainment Weekly recently quizzed the two presidential hopefuls on their pop culture preferences and routines, and found that the Obama household favors HGTV when it comes to what's on the tube. Here's an excerpt from the interview:

EW: So neither [you nor your wife, Michelle] are fascists when it comes to the remote . . .
OBAMA: If I tell her, "Sweetie, we've got game 5 of the NBA finals on," she's willing to give me a little slack. Most of the time, though, the TV is on HGTV, and I suffer that silently.

Whatever your political persuasion, you know I've got to give a thumbs up to Obama for watching one of my favorite networks — even if he "suffers it silently."
Source and Source

Check This: Kennedy Mantel Passed to Obama

LibertySugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:48:51 PST

Senator Barack Obama secured a huge endorsement from Democratic icon Senator Ted Kennedy. Teddy just delivered a stirring speech, hitting Hillary Clinton on all of her talking points regarding experience. The electricity in the room was palpable even for those watching from the other side of the television camera.

Senator Kennedy, often alluding to his brother President John F. Kennedy, said he has always planned to

"Support the candidate who inspires me, who inspires all of us, who can lift our vision and summon our hopes and renew our belief that our country's best days are still to come."

Caroline Kennedy, the sole survivor of President Kennedy, and Representative Patrick Kennedy joined in the Obama lovefest. The Kennedy endorsements will aid Obama on a national and local level. As the battle for delegates moves to congressional districts, the Kennedy stamp of approval may help local leaders feel confident endorsing Obama.

Does the Kennedy endorsement make a difference to you?