Topic: University of Virginia

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America's 4 parenting cultures

What parenting culture do you belong to? Do you spank? Attend church regularly? Believe teens need birth control education? Let your belief in the inherent goodness of humans guide your parenting? There are "Four Family Cultures" or moral ecosystems in the US, say researchers at the University of Virginia's Culture of American Families Project. See where you fit in to the four cultures of Faithful, Detached, Engaged Progressive or American Dreamer.– Stephanie Hanes, Modern Parenthood Blogger

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The Vote Chris Christie praises Obama (again): Is he digging himself in deeper? (+video)

Six months after his famous – some say costly – hug of the president on the Jersey Shore, Gov. Chris Christie says Obama 'kept every promise that he made' on hurricane Sandy disaster relief.
Panetta: Defense furloughs would be 'disruptive and damaging' (+video)

In a letter Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told Congress there were no 'viable alternatives' to putting civilian defense employees on furlough should scheduled budget cuts take effect on March 1. President Obama spoke in favor of avoiding the cuts on local television around the country, Wednesday.
John Kerry speech: US must resist temptation to turn inward

Secretary of State John Kerry delivered his first major policy speech as the nation’s top diplomat, focusing on broad global challenges such as human rights and climate change.
Cover Story Future hangs on misunderstood majority of gun owners

Gun control seen through the eyes of the misunderstood majority of gun owners is more nuanced and complex than the absolutism of America's big gun lobbies. The Obama administration is courting this breed of centrist, gun-friendly Americans on the fence about gun control.
It's 'common sense' – or is it? The politics of Obama's new favorite phrase.

Politicians from the president to the tea party use the rhetoric of 'common sense' to support their thinking on key issues. But is the phrase really telling us anything at all?
'Bump fire' devices turn rifles into machine guns: How is that legal?

One legal device turns regular semiautomatic rifles into rapid-fire weapons. Guns can't be mechanically customized to spray-fire, but a device that simply aids the shooter's own firing action remains legal.
Where do big deficits come from? James M. Buchanan had an idea.

James M. Buchanan, who died Wednesday, concluded that a government's rules often favor its own expansion. He furthered 'public choice theory,' which says that politicians and others tend to act in self-interest.
America's 4 parenting cultures

What parenting culture do you belong to? Do you spank? Attend church regularly? Believe teens need birth control education? Let your belief in the inherent goodness of humans guide your parenting? There are "Four Family Cultures" or moral ecosystems in the US, say researchers at the University of Virginia's Culture of American Families Project. See where you fit in to the four cultures of Faithful, Detached, Engaged Progressive or American Dreamer.– Stephanie Hanes, Modern Parenthood Blogger
'Fiscal cliff': Has Obama overdone the PR? (+video)

It's possible, especially to folks paying close attention to fiscal cliff negotiations. But with polls showing support for tax hikes on the wealthy, he appears to be leveraging public opinion effectively.
The Monitor's View 'Petraeus scandal' as a mirror on marriage

As the 'Petraeus scandal' widens with probes and politics, it should also throw a spotlight on the state of marriage.
Election Day: Does Obama have the edge? (+video)

The final polls show President Obama with a slight lead. But Republicans show greater enthusiasm for turning out. So the race this Election Day is far from over.
Decoder Wire Polls show a dead heat. So why so many predictions of an Obama win? (+video)

Among pundits and prognosticators – as well as the public at large – there's an expectation that President Obama will win reelection, despite the fact that the race is still a virtual tie, nationally.
Could anger over superstorm Sandy response taint recovery, election?

The longer Sandy survivors suffer, the more harshly incumbent officials – from Gov. Chris Christie (R) to President Obama (D) – will be judged for their response, experts say.
Unemployment rates fall in most swing states. Why that may not help Obama.

Of nine battleground states, unemployment rates dropped in seven and held steady in two, according to the state-by-state report for September. It's good news for Obama, but he may not be able to capitalize on it.
Chapter & Verse Amazon struggles to get its books onto the bestseller charts

Books published by Amazon like the Penny Marshall memoir 'My Mother Was Nuts' have not seen strong sales.
Decoder Wire Egypt embassy protests: Will Mitt Romney's comments matter in November? (+video)

Gaffes spoken in haste on the campaign trail can fade. But an inaccurate statement, geared for political advantage at a time of national crisis, could have a longer impact on the presidential race.
Maria Montessori: Is the Montessori method any good?

Google celebrates the 142nd birthday of Italian physician Maria Montessori. Does Montessori's 'child-centered' method work?
Convention bounce: How much will Romney and Obama get?

The numbers don't lie - political conventions give their respective party candidates some positive momentum going into the general election season.
Decoder Wire Could Todd Akin still win? (+video)

Todd Akin has not dropped out of the US Senate race in Missouri after his 'legitimate rape' comment. Missouri's rightward tilt gives him hope this fall, but not too much, experts say.
Mitt Romney's illegal immigration problem: Would he reverse Obama's order?

Some young illegal immigrants can begin applying for deportation deferrals Wednesday under a politically popular move by President Obama in June. It puts Mitt Romney in a bit of a pickle.
Obama's 'DREAM Act': How it will work is still a work in progress

The official responsible for carrying out Obama's 'DREAM Act' answered questions Tuesday on the illegal immigrants program, but said final details will be known only on Aug. 15, when the first applications are accepted.
How Bill Clinton's prime-time convention speech could hurt Obama

Democrats are excited that former President Bill Clinton will deliver a prime-time address the night before President Obama's big speech in Charlotte, N.C. But there could be a downside, which the Republicans are already trying to exploit.
Teenagers talking back? It could help them avoid peer pressure

Teenagers talking back may frustrate parents, but a new study says that teaching young teens to argue effectively (controlling emotions and using reason) will help them stand up to negative peer pressure.
Decoder Wire Wisconsin recall: Why stakes for Obama are lower than you think

If the Wisconsin recall effort fails against Gov. Scott Walker, Obama will be seen as one of the losers. The GOP will be energized to wrench Wisconsin from the Democrats, but November is five months away.
Romney, Obama send out troops to spin the bad news on jobs

The latest news on US employment is grim – fewer jobs created than expected and an unemployment rate that ticked up to 8.2 percent. On Sunday, the Obama and Romney campaigns sent surrogates to spin the news on TV talk shows.