New England editorial roundup

Both Democrats and Republicans should welcome the addition of U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan to Mitt Romney's presidential ticket as vice president.

For Republicans, Ryan offers clarity and detail.

Nothing clouds this Wisconsin congressman in mystery. There is no fog on the horizon to block the view of voters nor behind which Ryan might hide should he misstep while on the campaign trail.

The husband and father of three has been heavily influenced by the writings of Ayn Rand. From biography.com comes a pertinent reference to Rand:

"Rand's novels and nonfiction work are heavily influenced by and intended to promote her philosophy of objectivism, which holds that individual self-achievement (emphasis added) is more important than tradition or altruism, a theory that is closely tied to laissez-faire capitalism."

Also pertinent to who Paul Ryan is can be found in an excerpt from Ryan's vice presidential acceptance speech when he said of his campaign with Romney:

"We won't duck the tough issues -- we will lead!

"We won't blame others -- we will take responsibility!

"We won't replace our founding principles -- we will reapply them!"

While such words, as well as Ryan's actions in Congress, seem to be energizing the Republican base, Democrats should also be pleased.

As President Obama noted in response to the selection of Ryan, "Congressman Ryan is a decent man. He's a family man. He's an articulate spokesman for Gov. Romney's vision. But it's a vision that I fundamentally disagree with."

Taking the high road as the president has done will be fundamental to moving the discussion forward in a civil fashion. If supporters of the president take the hint, Democrats will challenge Ryan on substance and on policy -- both of which are plentiful.

Ryan has developed a reputation as a numbers guy. He relishes delving into the federal budget and analyzing what has gone right and what has gone wrong. Ryan has offered plans and vision statements that leave little doubt the path to fiscal solvency he wishes to help take the nation.

Along with the respect shown Ryan by the president, this should help bring substance to the campaign and hopefully usher aside debates over birth certificates and Olympic dressage.

A debate over how to rid the nation of its Jimmy Carter-like malaise is what voters need. The addition of Ryan to the Republican ticket now makes that debate more possible and more focused than it has been to date.

The Bangor (Maine) Daily News, Aug. 16, 2012

OK, so you can't lose weight just by sleeping if you eat doughnuts five times a day and never leave your couch. But, it turns out, there may be a correlation between your appetite and how much and how well you sleep.

It's a captivating idea, and it could have repercussions for increasingly sedentary, stress-filled lifestyles. People who sleep less may tend to eat more.

A recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health, Minnesota Obesity Center and the Mayo Clinic found that people who were sleep deprived ate more than 500 additional calories per day.

Previous studies have also found that a lack of sleep is linked with weight gain and obesity, but more are needed to confirm the results. The idea is that less sleep and sleep disruption can affect people's hormones -- specifically their leptin and ghrelin levels -- both stimulating their appetite and making them not as satisfied after they eat.

Dr. Michael Breus, a nationally recognized sleep expert, traveled around Maine early this summer and talked about the difference more sleep can have on a successful versus a failed diet.

Sleep experts suggest turning cellphones and computers off an hour before going to bed, keeping naps short during the day, maintaining a comfortable temperature in the bedroom, sticking to a similar routine during the week and on weekends and exercising regularly (but not right before bed) as ways to improve your sleep.

Whether it helps you lose weight or not, it's good to aim for a restful sleep. Just do your best to not dream about cake.