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All about turnout and racial composition… National NBC/WSJ poll: Late momentum appears to favor Obama… Shades of 2004?... Romney up with independents, ahead on economy… But is the undecided vote breaking in Obama's direction?... NBC/WSJ/Marist poll of VA: Obama 48%, Romney 47% -- same as our national poll… Closing time: Obama (in WI, OH, IA) and Romney (FL, VA, OH, NH) spend their final day on the trail in the states they HAVE to win… And welcome Kate Montanaro!
*** All about turnout -- and racial composition: Our final national NBC/WSJ poll has it Obama 48%, Romney 47% among likely voters. If anything is likely to decide this very close presidential contest, it probably comes down to turnout (duh!), as well as the racial composition of the electorate. Since the campaign began, Team Obama has assumed that whites would make up 72% of voters, down from 74% in 2008. (The logic: This percentage has decreased in every U.S. election, and the minority population continues to grow.) On the other hand, Republicans counter that due to greater GOP enthusiasm, the white percentage could very well stay the same as in 2008 -- or even be a tick higher. And according to our NBC/WSJ pollsters, the final outcome here could sway the election. If you assume that both sides maximize their margins (Romney wins whites by 20 percentage points and Obama wins minority voters by 60 percentage points), whites making up 75% of the electorate would give Romney the edge with the popular vote by a fraction of a point. But if the white percentage is 74%, Obama would win the popular vote by a fraction of a point. And if it's 73%, Obama wins by one point. Bottom line: Watch the white percentage in tomorrow night's exit polls; it will tell you more about where Virginia or Iowa or Colorado or Wisconsin will go.
With polls showing a neck-and-neck presidential race, NBC's Chuck Todd runs through some potential paths to presidential victory, including how it might go if President Obama won the Electoral College vote and Governor Romney won the popular vote.
*** Late momentum appears to favor Obama: The national NBC/WSJ poll provides good news for both Obama and Romney. For Obama, the past couple of weeks have been kind to the president: 41% of likely voters say that what they have read, heard, and seen over the past couple of weeks have given them a more favorable impression of Obama, compared to 40% who said it had given them a less favorable impression -- which is up from his 38%-43% score on this question two weeks ago. Part of that more favorable impression is due to his handling of Hurricane Sandy, of which 67% of likely voters approve. By comparison, 45% of voters say they have a less favorable impression of Romney from what they have read, heard and seen over the past couple of weeks, versus 40% who have a more favorable view. But two weeks ago -- fresh off his debate performances -- Romney's score here was tied, 44% more favorable, and 44% less favorable. So if there's been a bump, it's been in Obama's direction. The caveat for Team Obama: Al Gore in 2000 and Gerald Ford in 1976 had the momentum in the closing days, and they ended up losing (both were representing the incumbent party).
Keith Srakocic / AP
*** But is this 1976 or 2004?: In other good news for Obama, his numbers in this national poll look almost identical to George W. Bush's in the final NBC/WSJ survey before the 2004 presidential election, which Bush ended up winning 51%-48%. Obama's approval rating among likely voters stands at 49 percent -- exactly matching Bush's 49% approval in the final '04 NBC/WSJ poll. What's more, 42% say the country is headed in the right direction, versus 41% who said the same thing in late Oct. 2004. And the head-to-head score between Obama and Romney -- 48% to 47% -- is identical to what it was in the final NBC/WSJ poll before the 2004 election: Bush 48%, Democrat John Kerry 47%.
*** Romney up with independents, on economy: The good news for Romney in this national poll is that 53% of likely voters are comfortable with the idea of him as president, which ties Obama's percentage on this question (although 39% are "very comfortable" with Obama versus 26% who are "very comfortable" with Romney). Also, Romney is ahead of Obama among independents, 47% to 40%. And the former Massachusetts governor leads Obama by five points on which candidate is better prepared to create jobs and grow the economy, 47%-42%. However, a majority of voters -- 52% -- say the economy is recovering.
*** Undecided vote breaking in Obama's direction? Here's one last point we want to make about our national poll: The survey found that 9% of the likely voters are up for grabs (meaning they're undecided or just leaning to a candidate), and these folks have more positive feelings toward Obama than Romney. Obama's job approval with them is 48% approve, 41% disapprove. What's more, Obama's fav/unfav with them is 46%/29%, vs. Romney's upside down 22%-49%. Bottom line: Our pollsters see more of an opportunity for Obama among these voters and more of an uphill climb for Romney.
*** Breaking down the NBC/WSJ/Marist Virginia poll: Meanwhile, our final NBC/WSJ/Marist state poll before the election shows the race extremely close in Virginia, which makes sense since Virginia most closely mirrored the national popular vote in 2008. Our Virginia numbers are identical to our national numbers, where Obama gets support from 48% of likely voters and Romney gets 47%. The other findings pretty much mirror what our other state polls have shown: Obama's approval rating (48%) matches his ballot percentage (48%); Romney has a slight lead on which candidate would better handle the economy; and a whopping 71% approve of Obama's handling of Hurricane Sandy. But the Virginia survey has a narrower gender gap than elsewhere – Obama wins women by six points, 51%-45%, and Romney is up by five with men, 50%-45%. And in the Senate contest, Tim Kaine (D) leads George Allen (R) by three points among likely voters, 49%-46%.
*** Closing time: One striking thing about today is that both Obama and Romney are in states they HAVE to win rather than WANT to win. Obama is in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Iowa -- the firewall states. And Romney hits Florida, Virginia, Ohio, and New Hampshire. Yesterday was about luxury (Obama in Florida, Romney in Pennsylvania); today is about necessity. By the way, as NBC's Justin Kirschner observes, both Obama and Romney will conclude their 2012 campaigns where it all began for them. For Obama, his final rally is in Iowa the state that launched his 2012 presidential bid. And for Romney, his last rally will be in New Hampshire, where he launched his 2012 campaign and where he owns a home.
*** Final ad-spending numbers in the battleground states by all the campaigns and outside groups: OH: $189 million; FL: $185 million; VA: $146 million; CO: $79 million; IA: $72 million; NC: $69 million; NV: $56 million; WI: $40 million; NH: $40 million; PA: $22 million.
*** On the trail: The final day of campaigning: Obama campaigns in Madison, WI at 11:45 am ET (with Bruce Springsteen), in Columbus, OH at 2:25 pm ET (with Springsteen and Jay-Z), and in Des Moines, IA at 10:30 pm ET (with Springsteen and wife Michelle)…. Romney holds rallies in Sanford, FL at 9:00 am ET, Lynchburg, VA at 12:35 pm ET, Fairfax, VA at 2:45 pm ET, Columbus, OH at 6:25 pm, and Manchester, NH at 11:00 pm ET (with wife Ann)… Biden stumps in Virginia… Ryan hits Nevada, Colorado, Ohio, and Wisconsin… And Michelle Obama makes stops in North Carolina and Florida.
*** And welcome Kate Montanaro! Congratulations to Domenico and Beth Montanaro on the birth of their baby daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Montanaro. Kate was born yesterday on Nov 4 -- two days from Election Day! -- and she checked in at 7 pounds, 2 ounces and 19.25 inches. Mom, dad, Jack, and Kate are all doing well.
Countdown to Election Day: 1 day
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The Balkan Flexipass is the ultimate pass to explore Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, *Romania (only on-board trains operated by REGIOTRANS) and Turkey, countries steeped in traditions and culture. Discover the golden sandy beaches of the Bulgarian black sea, Romania's famous and tasty mamaliga polenta, the old Skopje Bazaar in Macedonia, the delightful Turkish cakes and much more.
The Balkan Flexipass allows you unlimited travel with the freedom to hit the tracks whenever and wherever you want! You can take as many trains as you like and there is no limit on the distance you can travel within a travel day. All of this at a fixed price.
Hop on and off trains at any time according to your desires and encounters. Just show up at the nearest train station and get ready to go and explore a new destination. (See 'Things to know' for more information about seat reservations).
The Balkan Flexipass is packed with bonuses to make your trip even more enjoyable. Hotel discounts, reduced museum fares, free ferry trips and more are included in your pass.
Whether you are the adventurous traveller or the avid planner the Balkan Flexipass is your pass to freedom and the key to an unforgettable trip!

subset: commoncrawl


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I recently got the following email, which raises an interesting issue, especially with more people holding off their retirement these days: "After many broken promises in the extremely ephemeral business of networking technology and systems software, I am working to start a life insurance practice at age 68. Thankfully, I have sound health and a ready willingness to learn. Any advice you can cast my way is heartily appreciated. And, please don't forget to acknowledge the growing number of us who are working very hard to get in—and get profitable."
I have to admit that I haven't run into many situations like this before, but it's coincidental that I got this email when I did. Just the other day I was talking to my father-in-law about his business. He, like the advisor above, was frustrated with his prior career when he retired at age 65, and started his current business. He is now 78 and has a very successful small business, which produces a very nice living for him. The business he created had little to do with his past working experience, so he essentially started over.
After a long conversation about all the challenges he faced (my father-in-law likes to talk!) I asked: "Looking back, what is the one major thing you did that made the business successful despite your age?" He answered: "I partnered with Jon [a younger gentleman] who also wanted to learn the business." This struck me as excellent advice for anyone who looking to start an advisory firm or any other small business as a second or third career.
Here's why: The way my father-in-law divided up the responsibilities in his new company, Jon did all the selling, networking, marketing and business development. My father-in-law ran the business, negotiated the contracts and oversaw the production of their products, approved the contracts that Jon negotiated with their customers, and ensured they were profitable, all while drinking coffee at McDonalds and/or playing golf with his retired buddies. The bottom line? They learned and built the business together, while creating a company that could endure. My father-in-law made money and more important, was able to continue using his hard-earned knowledge, and in Jon, was training a successor who would eventually buy from him the remaining shares of the business.
On my end of the spectrum, I know a lot of young people (like Jon) who'd love the opportunity to learn from the life and working experiences of someone who is willing to pay them to do it—and to help build a financial services firm that they will eventually own and run. The key to my father-in-law's success and the success of other older "entrepreneurs" is the same as all great business owners: to recognize their own limitations, and bring in others to fill those gaps.
Older folks tend to be loaded with experience and knowledge, but are often a bit light on the kind of get-up-and-go it takes to launch a new business. Partnering with someone younger, who has the energy and the drive to succeed, can be a winning combination.


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Mayotte map
Switch map
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Temperature labels
/* first 4: ca-pub-6790680921474958 */?>
Mayotte map, satellite view. Share any place, address and postal code search, ruler on Yandex map, live weather. Region and city list of Mayotte with capital and administrative centers are marked. State and region boundaries; roads, highways, streets and buildings photos from satellite. Airports and seaports, railway stations and train stations, river stations and bus stations. Banks and hotels on the map, bars and restaurants, gas stations, cinemas, parking lots and groceries, landmarks, post offices and hospitals. Where is Mayotte located on the map. Africa online.
Mayotte map


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Not only do these devs have the coolest name on the App Store (Mysterious Trousers), but their fantastic Calvetica calendar app is one I've come to love and use exclusively on the iPhone for all my scheduling needs. As such, it's one of those apps I keep a close eye on for news and updates. While the 4.2 update brings about minor tweaks and improvements rather than major new features (that's coming in 4.3), it does have one addition in particular I'm happy to see: the ability to choose which calendar you'd like an event to go under after every creation. Here's the complete list of what's new:
+ In settings you can ask the app to ask you what calendar to add an event to every time.
+ Manage alarms from within the event "details"
+ 24-hour support in Landscape week view.
+ Says "No Events" on days that that don't have any events in agenda view
+ Week number added to week agenda view
+ Month in "Jump To Date" now swipe able
+ You can move the delete slider in event details like the other details
If you're still on the look out for a reliable and fun calendar app to use, I highly recommend you take a close look at Calvetica ($2.99). Myterious Trousers also have 2 other apps priced at $0.99 without all the bells and whistles, but are just as user friendly and well designed: Calvetica Classic and Event Calendar (Tempus).
 Mysterious Trousers, Fast Calendar & Tasks (Calvetica), 4.0 MB – $2.99


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This little gem of a craft was too cute and too easy to pass by.
I first saw it here at Our Day Our Journey Blog
then I saw it on another preschool blog (can't find the link -- I'm sorry!)
and knew I had to do this one with the girls.
A few days ago, one quiet afternoon while big sister was still at school,
"C" and I started making these tiny little bird nests.
We have a huge basket full of acorn caps in our art studio.
The girls and I are part squirrel -- we can't help ourselves and collect them every fall!
(Here's a quarter so you can see how small they are!)
You never know when you'll need an acorn cap for a
nature project, wooden peg fairy hat, or tiny bird nest craft!
We collected a few small pebbles from our backyard and painted them robin's egg blue
with some washable acrylic craft paint.
Then, we put a blob of clear Elmer's glue
inside an acorn cap, added a small sprinkling
of dried moss, then another blob of clear glue
and the painted stones (tiny eggs!)
So sweet for a nature table, easter egg tree, or tiny fairy land.
If you are wondering if this craft would be too tricky
for your own kiddos, I assure you it's super easy!
I got a phone call as soon as we glued the first nest together,
while I was talking to my friend,
"C" hopped out of her chair,
grabbed a handful of acorn caps from the basket,
and got to work painting stones,
and gluing the nests together on her own!
(That's my little independent crafty 4 year old.)
She decided each nest should only have one egg
that's why we have so many made that way
("C" made all of those by herself!)
I made the three egg nests with her.
These would be an adorable Earth Day Spring Craft!
Happy Nature Crafting.


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Britain's appetite for buying movies makes it a lively laboratory for Hollywood's marketing experiments. One of these is the "triple play" bundling of a Blu-Ray disc, regular DVD and digital file in the same package - a practice now standard here. Unfortunately, however, we won't be at the forefront of UltraViolet just yet, billed as the second generation of triple play.
20th Century Fox says Blu-Ray sales rose 49 per cent in Q3 over the previous quarter, and Vincent Marcais, Senior Vice President of International Marketing, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, says he expects Blu-Ray viewing to overtake DVD in 2013.
"The UK has the biggest per capita proportion of buyers in the world, the demand of British movie buyers is insatiable. Ninety per cent of UK consumers who are actively involved with video choose to buy. That's really striking, compared to US where people are renting."
As for UltraViolet, the cloud locker scheme devised by cross-industry consortium DECE, it would seem we'll have to wait for that too. But Marcais thinks we in the UK deserve a little something for our open-walletedness.
"Where you get a lot of people who buy content, I think we should reward that," he says. "The notion for consumers is safety - buy once and play everywhere."
"Personally, I'm convinced that Blu-Ray will be the gateway to the UltraViolet file, so if you buy a Blu-Ray disc that has an UltraViolet copy on it, you have the safety of an HD disc - but it's also in the locker for you on all your other devices. In the beginning that's going to be the environment." ®
Sponsored: Webcast: Discover and secure all of your attack surface


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The Division of Neurology is a vibrant community of neurologists under the leadership of Dr. Xavier Montalban, numbering approximately 71 full-time members across the University of Toronto. We consist of many diverse and exciting subspecialties including movement disorders, epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, behavioural neurology, sleep, headache, general neurology, neuro-ophthalmology and neuro-oncology. With this breadth of expertise, we are proud to be able to provide outstanding care, research, and training opportunities in any subspecialty in the field.
Neurology Research
Our faculty members conduct a wide range of research from basic molecular and genetic studies, animal models of diseases, drug discovery, human physiological and imaging studies, clinical trials to clinical epidemiology and health services research.
Neurology Fellowships
The Department of Medicine offers more than 100 fellowships across our affiliated hospital sites. More than 10 of those fellowships are through the Division of Neurology.
Resident Resources
Where you'll find everything from trainee schedules, manuals, learning resources and more.
Division Director
Meet the Divison Director for Neurology
Clinical Programs
Our division offers many clinical programs including movement disorders, neuromuscular diseases, epilepsy and sleep disorders.
In 1905, Dr. Meyers established the "Nervous Wards" at the Toronto General Hospital, which also treated "functional neuroses" in indigent patients...


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Lombardy is a region located in northern Italy. It is bordered on the north by Switzerland, by the Emilia-Romagna on the south, Veneto to the east, and Piedmont to the west. One of Italy's largest regions, Lombardy is home to cities like Bergamo, Brescia, Cremona, with its capital being Milan. Lombardy is home to a wide range of landscapes, including the breathtaking mountain chain that boasts the Valchiavenna, Valtellina and the Camonica Valley.
Situated on the flat plains of the Po Valley, Milan is Italy's most cosmopolitan city, home to Europe's two most powerful football teams and is at the epicentre of Italian fashion where international fashionistas, designers, supermodels and paparazzi descend upon the city twice a year for its spring and autumn fairs. This is certainly one of the best places in Italy to shop, or window-shop. Milan being the main industrial, commercial and financial centre of Italy, is as such, home to important financial institutions and company headquarters .
Most of Milan's points of interest and attractions are located in the city centre. If you are arriving by train from Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi, take the metro to reach the city centre. Get off at the Duomo metro station at the Piazza del Duomo. In front of you stands the Milan Cathedral also known as the Duomo di Milano. The Gothic masterpiece took nearly six centuries to complete and as of today stands as the 5th largest cathedral in the world. Just opposite the Milan Cathedral, is the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, referred as Milan's living room. Shopping is the Galleria's main activity, and fashion flagships radiate out from the twin powerhouses of Prada and Gucci. You can continue your shopping spree in Milan's fashion district located in Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga and Brera.
Afterwards, continue north to La Scala (Teatro alla Scala), a world-renowned opera house. Visit its La Scala Theatre Museum, which contains a collection of paintings, statues and costumes. Next go to the Castello Sforzesco and don't miss a visit to the different museums within the complex. Continue to the western part of Milan to reach Santa Maria delle Grazie, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which contains the famous mural of the Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci.
Milan > Bergamo
Bergamo is a city rich in art and history, located to the northeast of Milan (50 min trip). Have a pleasant walk in the morning and, since Bergamo is divided into two (the town on the plain and town on the hill), dedicate the first part to lower Bergamo.
Walk along the tree-lined avenue that starts at the station and head to Piazzetta Santo Spirito in the lower part of Via Pignolo, a very old street that leads to upper Bergamo. The atmosphere in the square is tranquil, and your eye will be drawn to the facade of an unfinished church. Inside, you will find the splendid altarpiece by Lorenzo Lotto.
Take the Via Tasso road from Piazza Santo Spirito to reach the city centre. The street is lined with majestic buildings and shops. The left-hand side is dominated by the Provincial Authority building and further ahead, by the former Town Hall, both built in the second half of the 19th century. The road ends at the Church of San Bartolomeo, which houses the Martinengo Altarpiece, another work of Lorenzo Lotto.
Lower down the road is one of Bergamo's best known areas. It is known as the Sentierone. This spacious area is the place where Bergamo's inhabitants like to meet for their traditional walk. The Donizetti Theatre (on the left) is one of the area's most important buildings. Continue to Via Venti Settembre, Bergamo's traditional shopping street, which starts after the columns of the Sentierone. The road leads to an open space, which on the left opens up onto the Piazza Pontida, once the heart of intense trading activities. After admiring the medieval Vicolo delle Torri and the Monastery of San Benedetto take the Via Botta, which leads into Viale Vittorio Emanuele. At the end of the road you will find the funicular railway station. Take the funicular to climb the hill and admire the continuously changing panoramic views. The hilltop, in Piazza Mercato delle Scarpe, is the perfect starting point to discover the old city.
At the crossroads between Via Lupo and Via San Lorenzo, is the Gombito Tower. Take a detour towards Piazza Mercato del Fieno, which is the site of the city's History Museum. Afterwards, return to the Gombito Tower to visit the magical Piazza Vecchia, an extraordinary place, considered one of the most beautiful squares in Italy. In this 15th century square, your eye is immediately drawn to the Contarini Fountain in the centre. In a corner stands the Civic Tower, known also as the Campanone (large bell tower). After Piazza Vecchia, following the main road of Via Colleoni, you will come across the Teatro Sociale (Social Theatre) designed by Leopoldo Pollack; the Piazza Mascheroni with its Bell Tower; and the Citadel along with the Civic Archaeology Museum and the Natural Science Museum. This area leads to Colle Aperto, where public transport buses and coaches filled with visitors arrive. On your way back you will see the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
Bergamo > Brescia
Brescia is one of the few cities in northern Italy where important remains from the Roman period still surprise visitors (50 min trip from Bergamo). Start from Piazza della Loggia, Renaissance jewel in Venetian style, where ancient inscriptions and friezes were set into the facades of Monte Nuovo and Monte Vecchio palaces. From this square, take Via dei Musei, the former Roman main road, and visit the heart of the ancient city, the Forum, dominated by the Capitolium, the temple built by Emperor Vespasian in 73 AD. Look at the remains of the theatre to the east of the temple and then enter Palazzo Martinengo, where two archaeological sites of great beauty, the remains of private domus, a tavern and a spa, can be found.
Continuing along Via dei Musei, reach the Longobard monastery of Santa Giulia, founded by Desiderius, the last king of the Longobards, in the eighth century. It houses the Museum of the city, where more than 14,000 artefacts and works about Brescia history and art are on display in the buildings which compose the monumental complex: the domus dell'Ortaglia archaeological site, the Longobard church of San Salvatore, the Romanesque church of Santa Maria in Solario and the sixteenth-century nuns' choir. This extraordinary site, along with the archaeological area of the Capitolium, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From the monastery you can walk to the castle, an imposing medieval fortress with breathtaking views over the city, and then reach Piazza Paolo VI, where you can enjoy a glass of excellent Franciacorta wine, comfortably sitting opposite the beautiful stone facades of the cathedral.
Brescia > Cremona
Cremona (1h trip from Brescia), is the ideal place for a cultural excursion that will lead you to the discovery of a rich and prestigious heritage of monuments, history and traditions that are thousands of years old, artistic craftsmanship which are famous all over the world, and a gastronomy with dishes of old and tasty peasant recipes. The great economic wealth of the old medieval commune has left incomparable testimonies in the historic centre, parrticularly in the imposing Piazza del Comune which is surrrounded by great monuments forming a rare evocative vision, and make this Piazza one of the most harmonious medieval complexes in Italy.
The musical past of Cremona and its art of violin making have left many attestations, such as those relating to Antonio Stradivari's life. Discover his house and, not far from Piazza Roma, a modern statue in his commemoration. Don't foget a visit to the Stradivarian Museum.


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Washington D.C., Oct 25, 2012 / 11:10 am MT (CNA).- A group that works to offer a Catholic voice in the public square has released a new guide to inform Spanish-speaking voters of religious liberty concerns in the presidential election.
"Our Christianity – our religious fervor – is a huge part of our lives," said Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie, director of Hispanic Outreach for the Catholic Association.
She told CNA on Oct. 24 that Hispanic voters need to realize that the current administration "has been aggressive" towards religion, conscience and the Church.
Religion is "intrinsically" part of the Hispanic way of life, she said, and "it's too central to our culture to give that up."
Christie is currently using a "grassroots system" that reaches out through local parishes, pro-life groups and religious freedom rallies to distribute Spanish voter guides in the key battleground state of Florida.
The voter guide scores presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney on seven key religious freedom issues, including conscience rights, abortion, religion in the public square, houses of worship and international religious freedom.
President Obama is given a failing grade for his policies, including the federal mandate that requires employers to offer health insurance plans covering contraception, sterilization and abortion drugs, even if doing so violates their consciences. Romney is given an "A+" for his actions and pledges to uphold religious freedom.
Growing up largely in Mexico with parents from Cuba, Christie said that most Hispanics in the U.S. "have left their countries because of a lack of freedom" in the economic, political or religious realms.
It is important for the Latino community to realize that persecution can happen in the U.S. too, she said, pointing to the contraception mandate as an "assault on one of our basic rights."
Despite controversy over the mandate, Obama holds a strong lead among Latino voters in recent polls. Christie said this is due not to a lack of values but to "a lack of information and a lack of education" within the Hispanic community about threats to religious freedom.
She urged Hispanic voters to listen to the message of the Church and to be careful about the ideas presented by the mainstream media, which do not share a Catholic outlook and are not always accurate on religious freedom issues that affect Catholics.
The Church has made tremendous efforts to raise awareness about the critical issue of religious liberty, Christie said.
Ashley McGuire, senior fellow at the Catholic Association, explained that the decision to publish a Spanish version of the voter guide sprung from the overwhelming success of the English version, which was released on Oct. 4.
More than 1 million copies of the English voter guide were requested for distribution, many in swing states, she said, and the association began receiving requests for a Spanish version as well.
McGuire sees the Spanish voter guide as an opportunity to reach an important demographic in the presidential election.
She explained that "the majority of Spanish speakers in this country are Catholic and deserve to know how the candidates measure up."
The current admiration has been "deceptive" about the impact that its policies will have on religious freedom in America, she said.
"It's hard for English speakers to navigate it all," she observed, let alone those for whom English is a second language.
"I truly believe that Hispanic Catholics are the future in many ways of the Church in America," McGuire said, pointing to the growing Latino population within the Church.
Therefore, she said, it is "hugely important" for these Catholics to understand the threats facing the Church in this country.
The voter guide is now available in both English and Spanish on the Catholic Association's website and has attracted significant media attention.
While the Catholic Church "does not tell people how to vote," McGuire said, it is important for the faithful to maintain a well-formed conscience.
She encouraged voters to look beyond jobs and the economy to consider "what is right and wrong on a fundamental level" and how each candidate will respond to these basic issues.
"I think that message will resonate with Hispanic Catholics," she said.
Tags: 2012 election, Catholic vote
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490 Main North Road, Blair Athol
Telephone 08 8260 5757
Distance calculated from Adelaide
Serving Asian & Indian.
Just discovered this place recently and from what I have had so far it's not bad. "Rustic" atmosphere inside. So far the standouts have been the Samosa Chat , which I have never seen before and is basically squashed Samosa in a container (takeaway) with yummy mint sauce and chutney on top, absolutely outstanding! The Palak Paneer was very nice as was the Eggplant Curry (Baigan Bhartha). The Butter Chicken was, I would say, better than average but not the best I have had. The Tikka Masala had a beautiful creamy sauce, but in my opinion was a little overpowered with love or cardamon. Roganjosh, again, average, didn't really stand out to me. The meat seemed good quality though not fatty. Overall, a good alternative to the others in the Prospeect/Nth Adelaide area, and both times I've been it has been bustling with customers (always a good sign). Will definately be going back.
Fantastic food, good value meal
One of our friend recommended us abuot Indian Temptation, and it was the best recomendation ever. We recently moved to Adelaide, and didn't know which place to try for some good Indian Food with reasonable pricing. And, this is our greatest discovery so far in terms of good food. We tried twice already, and believe we shall drive and get some quick food in the mid night as they informed us they are open till 2 in the morning :)))
Since moving to Enfield approx 12 years ago this is the only Indian restaurant we will go to.I have introduced my work friends to Indian Temptations and they now go there plus we get their takeaway during the week sometimes.They are friendly,well mannered and their food is fantastic.We love it,In fact I am about to leave to pick up our Sunday night meal now.Thanks Indian Temptations,Don't change a thing,you are the best.I would'nt change a thing xxxJulie
I loved it. best food in town. lovely people. love the atmosphere. very kind and generous people and serves
This is the reasonably priced decent Indian take away food you can find in Adelaide.
This is the best Indian food I've eaten! I've tried many in Adelaide including the posh ones, but Indian temptations is a winner! The food is rich in flavour, not westernised and great value for money! Highly recommend the chicken tikka masala and the dahl!
Best Indian for food quality and value in town (inc the up market ones). As for ambience, it is as close to real India as you're gonna get in South Australia (other than our local stringent hygiene requirements) - I love it for that too and the cosmopolitan customers, I have tried most of their dishes and only the Tandoori Chicken was not as good as the rest - still better than any other Indian in Adelaide, and I've tried most. Naans are best ever and the tikka masala unbeatable. Desserts are great too. If eating in too squishy try al fesco with the Main North Road traffic!
Always good food and great value for money. They're opened quite late so it also adds some added convenience for any late night cravings.
Best indian food I've ever had and great value
Quite simply the best indian (Real Indian) food in adelaide. This is not modified, westernized indian food; this is the real deal. If you wanna eat the food which "indians eat in india", head over to temptations. Most people call it Temps !! While you're there, YOU HAVE TO EAT "Chicken Tikka Masala". I feel like goin there right now.... :)
Best Indian take away in the Adelaide area. Overseas friends can't believe the authenticity of each dish that is freshly prepared in front of us.
Last night my wife and I had a chicken vindaloo, butter chicken and wholemeal rotis, and it was all unbelievably good, we have eaten here four times now and all of the food has been fantastic.
excellent food. Friendly staff, very busy but fast service. Dined in the temporary location last night, but will certainly go back & see what the new premises has to offer. Excellent value, & the biggest Nann I have ever seen !
Love this place - because it's open til the early hours, we can stop in here for take away after work. The chicken tikka masala is the best, also love the beef madras...come to think of it, the naan, the vindaloo, rogan josh even the butter chicken for the softies ! Staff couldnt' be friendlier either! :)
"Hello Boss!" HAHA the owner always greets his customers with this little saying! The BEST Indian food in Adelaide! You must try the butter chicken and beef korma. For those with a chilli tongue, the vindaloo is perfectly spiced! We always take-away a couple of curries and four naans. Garlic naan is the best! I would suggest ordering take-away as the place tends to get quite busy and there's not many tables in there. You must try this place!
I love this place the food is halal and absolutely amazing!!! i love their vindloo... and my kids live the butter chicken and garlic nanns, if you're looking for a cheap family take away you can't go past it!!!
My spouse and I were craving some curry on a Sunday afternoon. After a Net search, I located this restaurant which was roughly 20 minutes drive from our beach side home. We were not disappointed. The establishment might be without decor and nondescript from the street, but it was the best curry we have had in years since moving to Australia. Incredible, freshly-made meals at a great price. A gem of a place.
I have had the pleasure to eat at many indian places around adelaide including Jasmines and Tandoori Oven. These places do not come close to the quality of food that Indian Temptations dish up. I have never been dissappointed with any dishes i have had there. HELLO BOSS!! thats a classic i love that guy!! My wife and i share a joke about him that he looks like the Indian version of super mario lol. The staff are friendly and always smiling. Sure ive had a couple of orders go wrong....but who cares! they are in a foreign country showing us all why we love Indian food. By far the best in Adelaide!!!!.
This is by far my favorite Indian takeout, and its also passable for eating in because once your food comes you are so absorbed in eating it you forget your surroundings. Love the bhajis and samosas, the chicken tikka masala, lamb roganjosh, beef vindaloo, and fish curry, though all of the curries are perfect. The vegetarian dishes are the real highlights - try the baigan bhartra if it's on, or the mustard greens. You also must have the pilau rice and a big buttery round of garlic naan.
Great Value! Amazing most authentic food I have tasted in adelaide. Ask for anything made mild if your scared :D Chicken Tikka, Butter Chicken, lamb Spinach, Chicken Curry I love every dish I have tried! Entrees are a crazy size!
We've been to this restaurant for the past 2-3yrs. Very good customer service & very friendly. The food is reasonably priced & affordable.The naans are made in the traditional clay oven which is extra tasty. It's not a modern environment, very small dining area & they cook in front of you so you know what you are getting If you still haven't tried it go for it you will love it.
I went there on the weekend as a first timer and thank the reviews to this place for it. I must say I was very impressed with the food and I'm definitely going back there. I had beef vindaloo, lamb roganjosh, samosa and garlic naan. I'd love to try the butter chicken and tikka masla next.
As long as food is 100% top marks, who cares about ambience anyway. We have been ordering takeaway from there at least once a week since 2006. Highly recommended! P.S highly recommeded by Guy Sebastian as well. Check out the framed autograph on the wall.
Prices are slightly cheaper than average, bit run down but the food is tasty. Will visit at least once a month.
A friend recommended this place for indian takeaway in our area. We ordered delhi samosa, chicken curry, chicken vindaloo, rice pilau and garlic naan. We loved the food. We eat indian a lot, and at a lot of different restaurants, and generally are disappointed. Most places claim "hot", when their vindaloo could be likened to a butter chicken (in terms of heat). Our experience with Indian Temptation was completely the opposite. The food was tasty, and the vindaloo was HOT, as described! The quality of the ingredients was fantastic as well. - Couple of recommendations: 1. this is not a dine in restaurant, you would only eat there if you were passing through. 2. Take a bag, they charge 40 cents for a paper bag. Considering the price of the food is very reasonable, that's no big deal, but if you want to save the money, take a bag!
just had a very nice spinach paneer. $8.50 and well worth it! Friendly staff. I'll be back...
Even though the actual place looks dilapidated and somewhat thord world, the food is simply the best Indian food in Adelaide, and quite easily probably the best I've tasted in all of Australia. I love the fact that the food has not been westernized to appease conservative palates. For example when they say a curry is hot here, it actually is hot. Add to this very generous portion sizes, it is easy to see why this place is always packed. I don't even live close to it, yet for me the half hour drive is worth it. I'm getting hungry just thinking about this place.
This place is perfect for a quick, tasty, filling, AND cheap meal. Perfect for a night-in at home and even better after a night out (just ask all the taxi drivers at 2 in the morning!). I highly recommend dishes which include spinach, and their infamous butter chicken!
I live in the western beach area and travel all the way down here for two reasons... the first being they are open until 3am (give or take) and the second for their amazing Chicken Tandoori and Garlic Naan. That being said I do have some negative comments. Like another reviewer said, most of their curries taste the same like as if they use the same base. I haven't tried the Chicken Masala or Butter Chicken yet, being a lamb and spicy fan, so I think I will try them next time. The place does look a little unhygienic but that is due to the fact that they have an open kitchen where you can see everything (not very commen in Indian restaurants) and I'm sure most Indian kitchens look this way. My last and final complaint is the service. There is a lady that works there and I don't think she understands english at all (which is fine but just don't put her at the register serving customers) and everytime my friends, family, or I are served by her she always makes a mistake in the order (forgetting an item, giving the wrong order/item, etc). Once, by the time I got home, I realised that she had forgotten a whole curry and one entree. When I rang to complain she answered with a "you can come back and we will give you the item" (as previously mentioned I live in the western beach area) no refund or apology offered... I then explained where I live and that this simply wasn't acceptable... she then argued back and hung up on me (being too tired and hungry I just let it go). The older man (possibly the owner) is also very rude. All that being said... I am addicted to their Naan and Tandoori Chicken (soooo tender and not dry like all the other tandoori chicken I have tried)... So I will be coming back again and again!
One of Adelaide's best kept secrets. Being a regular, I've never been disappointed once ever with their food. Some of my favourites chicken tikka and butter chicken. Unlike most places when their curry is watered down, this places serves thick and flavoursome curry. Service is almost non existent but staff are still friendly, ambience is dull but this is mainly a take away place. Beware that you WILL smell like food if you dine in. But still more than happy to go back all the time.
As a takeaway place, Indian Temptation is all that you can ask for; cheap, fast, and plenty of options, including vegetarian ones. But, if you are looking to go out and have dinner with a few friends, or go out on a date, its probably not the best choice. Also, the indian food here is authentic enough, but a bit on the oily side. It does taste better then the aussified-toned down indian food which, alas, is what is served in most of the places in Adelaide, but that dosnt excuse the fact that there is a sameness to most of the dishes, as if they have all been cooked from the same base, with a few hardly-discernible changes. All said, the chaats are gr8!
Possibly one of the worst indian restaurants I ate at. I heard a lot about the food but it is utter disappointment. There is no hygeine. They cook dishes in the same pan without washing it. Taste is pathetic. There is a poster on the wall saying GUY SEBASTIAN loved the food there, if this is true guy has a utterly bad taste. Final word: NO NO.
I used to work there and I spit in the food, my friend still work there and he spit in all the food. Enjoy the flavor. the owner is a real dirty scab and has respect for no one. Enjoy the spit it free bonus.
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RBC.com | Français | | Contact Us
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About RBC > Media Newsroom > Speeches > Striking the right work/life balance: Building employers of choice
Charlie Coffey
Executive Vice President
Government Affairs & Business Development
RBC Financial Group
Work/Life Balance Community Forum
Centre for the Arts
Cambridge, Ontario
Wednesday, May 11, 2005
Mayor Craig (Doug), thank you for the hearty Cambridge welcome and warm introduction I've been to this city enough times to know that it truly is "a fine place to do business, a great place to call home." Cambridge is often described as a thriving city, a well-positioned city, a quality of life city and a vibrant, unique business/trade city - a vital member of the triangle. I couldn't agree more on all counts. And Cambridge is also a city that takes pride in its people and its future. The Mayor's leadership speaks volumes. Whether it's in part because of his teaching, public affairs, newspaper or public service background, (which includes some time on a daycare advisory committee), it's clear that the man who some of you will see at the Cambridge Mayor's Gala Dinner & Auction tomorrow night - an event that recognizes Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada as the first recipient of the Mayor's Community Award (with proceeds supporting child and youth programs) - is a Cambridge man who gets it.
It's equally clear that the same Mayor who will be hosting
the 12th annual Mayor's Award for Excellence in Workforce
Training & Development on May 16th understands that in
"today's competitive business environment, sound, strategic
workforce training and development simply makes good business
sense. Organizations are benefiting from the long-term value
provided by a well-trained and forward-thinking workforce.
Training and development enhances a company's competitive
advantage, improves efficiency and directly influences employee
goodwill." In recognizing workplace leaders, Cambridge
is emphasizing the role that learning plays in driving this
city's innovative growth and economic prosperity. And the
City is also emphasizing the importance of work/life issues
in business and in the community. We know the Mayor and the
City of Cambridge gets it. So does the Social Planning
Council of Cambridge and North Dumfries.
As most of you know, the Council engages community residents, human service organizations, governments, business and investors in its varied work. From independent, community-based research and planning, to groups such as the Cambridge Action on Homelessness, Work-Life Balance, Employment Facilitation of Cambridge and North Dumfries and the North Dumfries Community Development Network, this Council is nothing less than leadership in action. Linda Terry and her team are evidence of that - as both Nora Spinks and I are here today because of the Council's determination to place work/life balance issues on the front burner.
We're in Cambridge to talk about the value of work/life balance and to engage all of you in thinking, dialogue and action. Work/life balance is "an issue in Canada because of the significant changes taking place in multiple dimensions. Global economic change, new technology and the shift to the knowledge-based economy, coupled with population aging, are creating labour shortages right here and in many countries around the globe. The nature of work, the organization of work, and employment relationships are all changing. There are (also) a large number of social and institutional changes taking place in Canada affecting families (for instance, there are many more dual-earner and single parent families, affecting employees' needs in the work place). Employers (and some employees) are seeking more employment flexibility. Changes to the composition of the workforce and to work structures are resulting in greater work-related stress, due to increased workload, non-standard hours and job insecurity. Work-related stress and work-life conflict are a growing concern for employees and employers who are experiencing increased benefit costs, absenteeism and productivity losses. The workplace is where there is a convergence of the major changes in Canadian society and the economy." (From The Changing Face of Canadian Workplaces, Government of Canada - Department of Human Resources and Skills Development). And striking the right work/life balance is also about building employers of choice.
Since I have the pleasure of sharing this podium with a woman who is the epitome of leadership in action and a good friend of RBC, I'm taking the liberty of quoting Nora Spinks, without stealing her thunder. Nora has often said: "unless there are "teeth" to work/life strategies, they are only a piece of paper." She couldn't be more right on the mark. In developing work/life balance strategies, we must remember to "clearly articulate roles and responsibilities and identify accountability measures." Clarity usually builds for success
As RBC Financial Group's CEO, Gord Nixon confirms, "We believe that our success as a company is intrinsically connected to the economic and social well-being of our community and our country. Behaving in a socially responsible manner is not just something we want to do. It's something we know we must do as an essential part of our relationships with our customers/stakeholders and as a strategic investment in the future prosperity of a civic society we believe that by contributing our funds, our network, our leadership and, most importantly, by encouraging and celebrating the involvement of our people, we can make a difference in helping to build a strong, healthy society". Being socially responsible starts right in our own backyard, where supporting our people makes the difference in promoting and sustaining a healthy workplace and healthy communities. RBC is strongly committed to investing in our people not only by offering competitive compensation and benefits - but by investing in learning and education - by fostering a work environment that values communication - and by supporting diversity as well as work/life solutions.
At RBC, work/life is a formal series of policies, programs, resources and benefits for our employees, designed to help people manage work, family and personal responsibilities over a lifetime, while meeting and supporting business objectives and strategies. Establishing work priorities within our broader life framework is a partnership between RBC and employees. We also continue to develop innovative ways of looking at where, when and how work is done - offering choices and customized work accommodation options as well as introducing workload management solutions. RBC is in the business of building business and it begins with the way we care for and treat our people. People are our most valuable asset. Technology and financial products/services can be copied, bank rates can be matched and the list goes on. So what's left? The one sustainable advantage is what's left - the best people in the business. To secure and manage the "top talent" on our team and your teams, not to mention be an "employer of choice", we must all be creative/flexible in our approaches.
Work/life helps RBC respond to the ever-changing nature of
the workforce/workplace, recruit and retain employees, increase
individual and organizational performance, leverage diversity,
reduce stress and short-term absenteeism, as well as gain
a competitive advantage. Work/life continues to have a strong
tie to diversity, which is why it's a high priority on the
agenda of RBC's Diversity Leadership Council, a Council composed
of senior executives from all businesses in Canada/United
States and chaired by Gord Nixon. We're now operating in the
most diverse marketplace, with the most diverse workforce
we've ever seen. The most successful organizations will be
those that best adapt to the current reality - that re-shape
their cultures - that plan for the future today. The replacement
cost of "top talent" is huge
just consider
this: "Canadians who have a hard time juggling work/life
are costing employers at least $2.7 billion a year in lost
time due to stress, medical leaves/health care costs, absenteeism,
lost productivity."
More research tells the story an AON Consulting Canada work-study, in partnership with RBC, resulted in some of the following findings:
A 2002 RBC survey, conducted by Ipsos-Reid, "showed how information technology and the Internet shapes Canadian family life, and helps families and small business owners better balance the new demands and opportunities of home and work life. The survey also demonstrated that the PC and the Internet are redefining how Canadians approach many aspects of their lives. More than ever, people can work at home in a fashion that replicates the office. More time working and less commuting time means more time with the family. The tangible benefits of telecommuting are many: 77% say it increases job satisfaction - 72% say it allows more time with the family and 58% say it permits more convenient child care arrangements."
On February 2, 2005, the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal (JCCM) unveiled a new position paper, which proposes measures to create a better work-life balance. "The Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal believes it must contribute to this debate. It's essential that they (governments and business) understand and react to the needs of the next generation, and that all those who are involved take responsibility for reaching this balance." From more flex time, daycare hours and telecommuting (better time management), to increased information/accessibility, not to mention, the support of non-conventional work styles, such as self-employment (for example, "family savings plans to ensure long-term financial stability"), young professionals are speaking up and speaking out about work/life balance priorities.
Research of Canadian law firms "shows that work life
balance is now an issue for both male and female lawyers.
A new study released on March 16 by Catalyst Canada (based
on a survey of more than 1400 lawyers across the country),
presents a strong business case for flexibility in law firms.
The study, Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Building the Business
Case for Flexibility, demonstrates that losing legal talent
because work life balance issues in firms are not being addressed
can cost millions of dollars a year."
"There is of course the odd company that is spoken of in hushed, awed tones by workplace-family experts. Husky Injection Molding Systems of Bolton, Ontario, is one such company. Founder Robert Schad receives kudos for his progressive employment practices and his work with environmental groups. Campus life offers fitness and wellness facilities, a child development centre, subsidized cafeterias, a commitment to recycling, and natural landscaping. Staff have at least diplomas, but usually degrees, in early childhood education, and there is far more staff than what the law demands."
As for RBC, our work/life solutions have come a long way since we launched the original Work and Family program in 1990. We've gone from being reactive and active, to proactive and now interactive. We also developed an Intranet web site for staff that outlines work/life components and how our people can benefit from the variety of programs.
Here are some examples of our work/life tools and choices offered across the country - and of course right here in Cambridge - solutions that help us invest in our people and build healthier workplaces and communities:
Flexible Work Arrangements. We experiment with various work arrangements where it's in the interest of employees, the organization and our clients. We provide ongoing professional development and career opportunities to those employees who choose to pursue flexible work options. Some options include: reduced hours, job sharing, flex-time, modified work week, flexi-place (working off-site, from home or a satellite office) and phased retirement.
With more than 1000 job-shares across the country, we're finding that our teams tend to be very productive. In many cases, customers also tell us they're receiving better service because two people are familiar with their account/business.
Wellness. A diverse range of employee health service resources and information is available to our people, including access to health and safety committees and the RBC EmployeeCare Program employees can gain information/support on a number of health and wellness related topics via telephone, e-mail, online and one-on-one meetings.
Dependent Care. The RBC EmployeeCare Program, our combined employee assistance and work/life support services, provides up-to-date, expert information and support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - to help employees deal with various life issues such as parenting and quality child care, resources for seniors - eldercare, disability and accessibility. Professional consultants provide confidential, personalized telephone consultations, individualized searches as well as referrals and educational materials.
Child Care. "As part of our ongoing commitment
to create work/life options that support employees in meeting
their diverse needs we piloted in 2004 an Emergency Backup
Childcare program for staff in the downtown Toronto area.
Designed to respond to the needs of employees whose regular
child care provider is ill/not available, their usual child
care site is closed, or their child's school is closed due
to bad weather, RBC sponsored free coverage for up to 5 days
of a licensed child care provider close to the office. Over
200 employees accessed the service, with 38% of this group
purchasing additional coverage directly from the service provider.
Based on the positive response from employees, we plan to
continue offering some version of this program in 2005."
Needless to say, I've only mentioned some RBC initiatives today. If you're interested in finding out more about our work/life solutions, please check out the web site, www.rbc.com, then click on the Unique Careers link followed by the Diversity link. Members of the RBC team can also tell you what work/life means to them. Peter Nickerson, who many of you know as our team leader for small business in this region, can speak to many successes in Cambridge and the surrounding area. From promoting job sharing, to flex time and volunteer activities, Peter is another example of leadership in action. He can tell you how some employees feel about the opportunity of coming into work, picking up a child later in the day and returning to the office - accommodating work/life situations on a one-by-one basis. He can also tell you about the group of 9 in Cambridge that delivers Meals on Wheels during lunch hours - and that RBC encourages extra time to do so - to support volunteer activity in the community.
From the beginning, we knew that the success of work/life depended on how well it was developed, communicated, managed and measured. Nothing has changed on this score. Although we know that on any given day, approximately 30%-40% of our employee population uses a component of our work/life solutions, we also know that employee/management buy-in, effective communication and changing economic times, as well as shifts in values and work expectations are ongoing challenges.
We don't pretend to have all the answers, however we subscribe to continuous learning and improvement. Visible senior leadership and supportive managers are essential, as well as employee ownership of the tools at their disposal. Creating solutions where everyone wins - the employee, the employer - the customer, the shareholder - the community this is the total reward.
Work/life is an investment in human capital - a long-term
commitment - and it's here to stay. However, we need to consistently
monitor programs (using measurement tools) to ensure objectives
are being met. We're also watching what other companies are
doing, sharing ideas and considering/piloting innovative programs
of our own. I'm sure there are many success stories and promising
practices in this room
RBC Financial Group is committed to staying on the cutting edge of trends in the workplace. Partnering with leading Canadian survey/research companies and academia has a two-fold result. RBC has access to the information we need to remain leaders in people management and we also contribute to the body of workplace knowledge - assisting other companies and organizations in nurturing the Canadian healthy workplace/workforce - today and in the future. There's still much to be accomplished on RBC's work/life journey
Special thanks to Linda, Dina Etmanskie and Wendy Adema for helping to coordinate this event. I want to close with an excerpt of an article entitled, "Employers ease staff childcare emergencies", that appeared in the February 9th edition of the Globe and Mail, by Wallace Immen and a quote from a popular former CEO in the States
" the most chilling moment of her 11-year professional career came late on a Sunday night last September, when her nanny called in sick just hours before (she) had to chair a make-or-break meeting about a multimillion-dollar deal. Calling off the crucial Monday morning meeting to stay home because she had nobody else to look after her four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter would have been a career killer." As she said, "I was the original link in the deal and I had to be there. To bail out at the last minute would make it look like I wasn't organized professionally." "Fortunately, (she) didn't have to make such a choice, thanks to an initiative by her employer to help staff handle such child care emergencies. (She) was able to drop off her kids at a centre in the heart of Toronto's financial district on her way to the meeting, which, she says, ended up going extremely well." This is a story about RBC's own Kate Stothers, who sums it up well: "Having a family makes balancing a career more difficult, but having an employer that understands makes it so much easier it's comforting to know you don't have to worry if your normal plan falls through."
Brian Dyson, CEO of Coca Cola Enterprises from 1959-1994, had his own take on work/life balance. It goes like this: "Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends, and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends, and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged, or even shattered. They will never be the same." Lesson learned: We must all strike the right work/life balance - as employees and as employers of choice. And yes, we must keep on juggling, with great humanity and a little humour to boot
Thank you by the way, both Nora and I will field questions after her presentation - we really want to hear from all of you!


text:
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IEEE ... International Conference on Computer Vision, Volumes 1-2
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Voi U-Shaped Workstation with Low Credenza
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Great workspaces don't need to take up a great deal of space. This Voi setting combines mixed materials and a multi-level worksurface creates a fresh design approach. The lower storage credenza and stack-on storage keep everything neatly hidden away when not in use.
This is one of our most appealing and multi-surfaced desking solutions. It takes the standard U Shaped Work Station and deconstructs it by removing the desk space in the center and replacing it with a low credenza that connects the two remaining (and now separated) desks. This creates a whole new area for storage and display, and it also creates a truly attractive and modern style. This is a desking solution you'll be excited to sit and work at every day.
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*Please note that seating and accessories pictured are sold separately.
If you're thinking about using the Voi Series for your office, the video below is a pretty cool demonstration of how versatile, sleek, and modular it is. You can see more Voi office setups here.
Voi's layered worksurfaces, practical storage options, versatile materials and compact footprints provide an ideal mix of function and style. These pre-configured settings simplify the purchasing process and let you concentrate on the work at hand.
About the Manufacturer
HON Office Furniture
Inspired by practicality and invested in understanding the needs of its customers, The HON Company strives to establish meaningful connections resulting in product solutions and customer support that exceed market demands. As a leading designer and manufacturer of workplace furniture including chairs, storage, panel systems, tables and desks, HON's commitment to serving its customers is rooted in reliable performance and a member culture that is approachable, confident, smart and ready to serve. Headquartered in Muscatine, Iowa, The HON Company has numerous manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the United States, and markets its products through a nationwide network of loyal dealers and retailers.
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Former wrestler Stacy Keibler has laughed off speculation she split from George Clooney because she is eager to settle down and start a family.
Reports of a break-up first surfaced earlier this month after the couple spent the Fourth of July holiday in different parts of the world, and now the blonde beauty is speaking out about the end of her two-year relationship.
The 33 year old admits she and her closest friends find the rumors about her desire to get married and have children hilarious because it couldn't be further from the truth.
During an interview on "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, she said, "Actually, everyone that knows me thinks that's the funniest story. That's the last thing on my mind. I don't really think about that right now. We didn't discuss that."
And Keibler claims she is coping well with her new single status as the split was completely amicable.
She told Eonline.com, "I'm great. … George and I have always been friends and we always will be friends."


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Review time!
The three components of paladin healing:
1- Beacon of Light Usage
2- Holy Power building and sinking
3- Cooldown Management
Yesterday we explored Beacon, today we're doing Holy Power.
Holy Power: The Basics
Like a Rogue's combo points, different spells you cast will give you points of Holy Power, which you can sink on a fun mana-free heal of your choice. You can use either Holy Power sink whether you have one, two or three points, but the more points you have, the stronger the spell.
Since Mists, the game lets us collect up to five points at a time, but a full strength sink will only use up 3 points. (The extra points are there so if you overshoot your Holy Power building, the casts aren't wasted.)
Gaining Points Through Healing
We've got two healing spells that will always give us points and two spells that will give us points if we cast them on our Beacon target.
Holy Shock: Holy Shock (or, affectionately, HS) will give one point of Holy Power per cast. Since it's very mana efficient and of decent strength, you should be using it on cooldown. I'm not kidding. The first thing I do when someone hands me their logs is whip out my calculator and check their HS per minute.
Holy Radiance: Holy Radiance (HR) is cast on a target and AoEs to heal nearby allies. Unlike it's previous incarnation in Cataclysm, it does not heal over time. It's still a useful spell, but very expensive, so use it wisely.
Divine Light (DL): This is our strongest single target heal. Slow and relatively expensive, this is a spell you'll use on most, if not all fights, but that you have to use wisely if you don't want to find yourself gasping for mana. You'll gain a charge of Holy Power if, and only if, you cast Divine Light on your Beacon target.
Flash of Light: Flash of Light is our highest heal per second spell, but unfortunately, also our highest mana drain per second spell. Like DL, it grants Holy Power if you cast it on your Beacon target. As a general rule, you'll only want to use it in emergencies or for gimmicky fights. (I'll use it on Tsulong paired with Glyph of Flash of Light. I also used it early in the expansion as I was trying to heal through Gara'jal's Spirit World in my quest-green gear.)
Healing Spells that Will Not Give Holy Power
Because I'm trying to squeeze a full spell guide into this post, I needed to find a way to include Holy Light.
Holy Light: This is our small, cheap heal with the same cast time as Divine Light. It won't generate Holy Power, but it does have the advantage of completely transferring (that's 100%!) through Beacon. Good for when you're waiting for Holy Shock to come off cooldown, don't have the mana to cast Holy Radiance and aren't close enough to the boss to cast Crusader Strike.
Non-Healing Ways to Build Holy Power
"When you cast Word of Glory using 3 Holy Power you will gain 1 Holy Power."
– PvP 4 piece bonus
While you'll usually build up your Holy Power by healing, there are a few other ways to squeeze in a point.
Crusader Strike: If you're in melee range, Crusader Strike is a fast, cheap, easy way to get some extra Holy Power during times of more relaxed healing. I do find this tier to be unfriendly to healing in melee, but if you're able to pull it off, you'll be rewarded in Holy Power.
PvP 4 piece: For awhile, even the blue pvp set was considered better than raid gear because of how amazing the 4 piece bonus is (all this time, instead of doing dailies, you should have been doing BGs!). The 4 piece is still used quite frequently, especially by those who don't run with the pve tier 4 piece.
Level 75 Talents: Holy Avenger is a powerful cooldown that, when active, will make your Holy Power generating spells produce 3 points per cast instead of one. Sanctified Wrath will let you use Holy Shock more often when Avenging Wrath is active (and it lets Avenging Wrath be active longer) and Divine Purpose will sometimes give you a free 3 Holy Power strength spell after using a points sink. Which talent is best is debatable and more or less up to personal preference. See Talent section for more details.
Glyph of Blessed Life: I'm only adding this for the sake of completion. In PvE, you'll never be feared, stunned or immobilized enough for a 50% single point proc to be useful.
Sinking Your Holy Power
As soon as you get 3 points of Holy Power, sink them. You're allowed to bank two extra points if you go over, but going over should really only happen by accident. There's no point in sitting on Holy Power.
You get two choices of where you sink your power.
Word of Glory/Eternal Flame: A strong, mana-free single target heal. The level 45 talent Eternal Flame adds a heal over time (HoT) component to it as well.
Light of Dawn (LoD): A multi target one-time heal. Can be modified with Glyph of Light of Dawn if desired. If someone chooses to heal with LoD as their primary Holy Power sink, they should consider taking Sacred Shield as their level 45 talent, as Eternal Flame is wasted if you never cast Word of Glory.
Opting for Light of Dawn as your primary Holy Power sink is often referred as "traditional" or "normal" healing: you rack up Holy Power, and at three points you hit your "Light of Dawn" button. Your Beacon target receives 15% of the healing you emit and you can use Sacred Shield as a bubble on your healing target.
Eternal Flame healing involves having as many Eternal Flame HoTs rolling on different players at a time. In addition to, well, healing them over time, the HoTs contribute to Mastery bubbles meaning those players will take less damage, AND the total healing (including overheal) transfers 50% through Beacon.
Raw healing potential wise, as far as I can tell, Eternal Flame healing beats Light of Dawn healing. Period.
In practice, though, both styles can be strong and viable. In the guild I'm raiding with now (they're middle of road in terms of progression), I'm an Eternal Flame healer and one of my co-pallies uses Light of Dawn/Sacred Shield and we put out roughly the same numbers (however, I am just coming back from a month-long hiatus and am new to the team, which means I'm rusty, less geared and still learning the damage patterns. I'll get back to you once I'm healing at full strength!)
Sinking at One Holy Power vs at Three Holy Power
I've been experimenting with this and reviewing logs from top guilds, and it does seem that sinking at 3 Holy Power beats sinking at 1, despite how much long it takes to build up that power. Though the paladins in the logs I've been reading likely used the PvP 4 piece. If you use the PvP 4 piece, you should definitely only be casting at 3 Holy Power – anything less would defeat the purpose.
However, as Talarian points out in the comments, the Eternal Flame HoT scales linearly (so if your 1 hp EF ticks for 200, your 2 hp EF will tick for 400 and your 3 hp EF will tick for 600), 3 people (non-tanks) with 1 Holy Power EF should come out to the same as one person with a 3 Holy Power EF. Better perhaps, because you've got 3 people getting little heals, rather than one person getting overhealed. Exception may be in certain 10 man fights where it is possible to have 2-3 Holy Power on the entire raid at once (this never happens on 25 man unless, by some godly intervention, you get 25 consecutive Divine Purpose procs).
And as Rades points out, the more times you cast Eternal Flame, the more chances you have of procing Divine Purpose, if you're specced into it. Then, there's also that emergency situations where you're almost mana dry, need to get a heal out AT THAT VERY SECOND, Holy Shock is on cooldown and all you have is one flimsy Holy Power. That one Holy Power might be what prevents the wipe.
So one Holy Power or three? If you're using the PvP bonus, three. On the tanks, three if possible. Other than that, use your discretion.
(Thank you to Talarian and Rades for your imput!)
And that completes another section of Holy Pally 4eva!
Tune in next time for cooldowns!