Religion News Service | Blogs | Mark Silk - Spiritual Politics ...

The morning-after snapshot of religion and the election is that, as usual, Catholics were the bellwether. They voted for Barack Obama over Mitt Romney by 50-48, and Obama captured the popular vote by...50-48.

Obama lost non-Catholic Christians (i.e. Protestants) by a hefty 15-point margin, 42-57. but this was more than compensated for by the rest of the pack: Nones (70-26), Jews (69-30), Others (74-23).?

Evangelicals in the end don't seem to have sat on their hands, and they voted for the Mormon candidate at Bushian levels, 78-21. Indeed, evangelicals voted for Romney at exactly the same rate as his own co--religionists. Imagine that.

As for the God Gap, despite earlier signs to the contrary, it again outstripped the Gender Gap. Those who said they attend worship weekly preferred Mitt Romney by 20 points, 59-39. Those who said they attend less frequently went for Obama by 25 points. That compares to a male preference for Romney of seven points and a female preference for Obama of 11.

All told, it looks like the basic religious divides in the U.S. electorate remain where they were established in the 1990s. Plus ?a change, plus c'est la m?me chose.

Source: http://www.religionnews.com/blogs/mark-silk/religion-and-the-election-short-version

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Big Four Losing Share | Debt Consolidation

Australians are again flocking to smaller banks and lenders for their home loans after the big four banks recorded their biggest drop on record of mortgage-broker loans.

The big four bank account for just 59.8 per cent of new home loans taken out nationally through mortgage brokers, compared with 64 per cent a year ago.

In Victoria, the figure has fallen from 63.9 per cent to 62.3 per cent.

According to independent research firm Market Intelligence Strategy Centre, the big four banks have lost all their gains in market share that they clawed back during the global financial crisis and are now back to pre-GFC levels of 2007 and 2006 when smaller lenders were rapidly gaining popularity.

Aggressive competition, switching incentives and discounted rates and products catering for clients suffering Mortgage Stress, have helped the non-major banks increase their market share, a MISC spokesman said.

Better deals: Mortgage broker ResiMortgage chief executive Lisa Montgomery.
Although the big four banks, Westpac, ANZ, Commonwealth and National, have had a slightly lower market share of broker initiated mortgages, the latest June statistics show it is the biggest single drop on record, down 4.2 percentage points in 12 months.

Mortgage broker ResiMortgage chief executive Lisa Montgomery said the dramatic change in market share indicated increased competition and a win for borrowers, particularly those seeking Debt Consolidation.

Major banks arent getting as much market share because the second-tier banks and other lenders are becoming more popular. And the reason theyre more popular is because theyre offering better deals, so thats got to be a win for borrowers, Ms Montgomery said.

She said it had been a deliberate strategy of the smaller lenders to offer good value to brokers and their customers. What we are seeing now are the results of their hard work and their efforts to offer better value than the big four banks. She said.

During the financial crisis, there was a fight to the big four banks because of the uncertainty and fear surrounding those times and the uncertainty about smaller lenders not as being as safe. Not that more people understand the financial system, the volume of new mortgages is being steered across many lenders, not just the major players.

We would like to Acknowledge Karina Barrymore for this Article

About the Author:
Audrey Patts has been helping thousands of clients with mortgage solutions, she has assisted individuals,small business even big companies with Home Loans and has offered a lot of lending solutions to all that is experiencing financial strain.
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Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Big-Four-Losing-Share---Debt-Consolidation/4254976

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Majority of pregnant women require an average of two months sick leave from work, studies suggest

ScienceDaily (Nov. 7, 2012) ? Three quarters of pregnant women take sick leave from work but employers can help reduce this through flexible work adjustments, suggests a new study published November 7 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The study looked at women scheduled to give birth, at the Akershus University Hospital in Norway over an 18 month period and the prevalence of, reasons for and factors associated with sick leave during their pregnancies.

Researchers gathered information via a questionnaire conducted at week 17 and week 32 from a total of 2,918 women, of which 2,197 (or just over 75%) received sick leave at some point during their pregnancy.

The study found that women took an average of eight weeks sick leave, ranging from one to 40 weeks, the majority needed between four to 16 weeks. The factors associated with sick leave varied according to trimester of pregnancy with more women requiring time off as their pregnancies progressed. By week 32, 63% of the women were taking sick leave.

Overall 35% of women sited fatigue and sleep problems as the main reason for taking sick leave, followed closely by pelvic girdle pain (pain caused by limited mobility and functioning of the pelvis joints) and nausea or vomiting, with 32% and 23% of women suffering these symptoms respectively.

While very few women (2.1%) sited anxiety or depression as a reason for their sick leave, they recorded the longest average of sick leave taken at 20 weeks.

The study also looked at work adjustments for pregnant women and found 60% of the 2,197 women reported having adjustments made to their working situation. On average these women reported taking seven days less sick leave than those who went without job adjustments.

Dr Signe Dorheim, Division of Psychiatry, Stavanger University Hospital, Norway and co-author of the paper said:

"We found that a large number of pregnant women take time off work as sick leave. The factors associated with sick leave varied according to the trimester of pregnancy but some of these factors are not necessarily caused by pregnancy alone.

"While past medical history and socioeconomic conditions can influence the occurrence and length of time taken off as sick leave, women's working situations during pregnancy were significant contributors to our findings.

"Women who suffer from work-related fatigue, such as insomnia, are likely to require more time off, especially during late pregnancy.

"Further research is needed to look at how treatment of certain conditions and work adjustments can lead to less time being taken off work and ultimately a better quality of life for pregnant women."

John Thorp, BJOG Deputy-Editor-in-Chief added: "This study was conducted in Norway, where sick leave entitlements allow workers to receive very good compensation for time taken due to illness, so this may impact the findings.

"However, the factors that affect pregnant women in the workplace are universal and this study shows a clear link between working conditions and the duration of sick leave, which highlights the potential benefits for employers to have a support system in place. "Pregnancy is a normal physiological state, however, it can affect women in different ways. If a woman is concerned she should talk to her employer, GP or midwife for support."

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Wiley, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. SK D?rheim, B Bjorvatn, M Eberhard-Gran. Sick leave during pregnancy: a longitudinal study of rates and risk factors in a Norwegian population. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.12035

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/living_well/~3/8PxMH6maWLQ/121107085656.htm

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An emotional Obama makes his closing argument in Iowa

President Barack Obama in Des Moines, Iowa. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

DES MOINES, Iowa -- At first glance, President Barack Obama's campaign event here Monday night was much like most of the other rallies to re-elect the president held around the country in the past few weeks.

American flags lined the risers above cheerful Democrats who huddled together in the crisp autumn night. Generators hummed in the distance, powering the flood lights that shined upon the lectern, which displayed with the Seal of the President of the United States. The crowd, 20,000 in all, filled the boulevard that led to the Iowa state capital building. After a prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, a performance by Bruce Springsteen and an introduction from his wife, Michelle, Obama approached the stage to the music of U2, just as he has done so many times before.

But this night, the final presidential rally of Obama's career, was different. The president appeared? more patient and familiar, taking time to tell stories instead of repeating campaign slogans. His address Monday retained the outline of his stump speech, but he devoted much of the night to reminiscing about his first campaign in 2008 and tried to re-energize his supporters with anecdotes from the past. While he spoke, a photographer captured a moment when a tear appeared to flow down his cheek.

"I came back to ask you to help us finish what we've started because this is where our movement for change began," Obama said, pointing behind him to the modest building that housed his first Iowa campaign office in 2008. "Right here."

It was in this state where Obama's presidency first took root more than four years ago. Before the Iowa caucuses of January 2008, Obama was seen as little more than a long shot challenger to then-New York Sen. Hillary Clinton. It was her turn in the line to lead the party, after all, and her nomination seemed inevitable. But when Iowa Democrats visited their caucus sites, they chose Obama. The momentum would ultimately squeeze Clinton out of the lead and launch Obama on a journey that took him to the White House.

Four years later, after the first term of a presidency that pursued policies that left a nation divided, Obama has returned to these Iowan stomping grounds--older and, admittedly, his hair grayer--to close the deal for the final chapter of his political career.

In his speech Monday, which went on longer than his usual campaign address, Obama recalled the earliest days of his first campaign, a time before Air Force One and other trappings of the White House. He paid homage to Edith S. Childs, a local councilwoman in South Carolina who was one of his earliest supporters and who coined the chant, "Fired up! Ready to go," which became a staple of his campaign in 2008.

He also reflected on his own presidency, conceding that he knew that his supporters sometimes found themselves "frustrated by the pace of change."

"I promise you," Obama told the crowd. "So have I."

It was all the more reason, Obama argued, to re-elect him. While the president did not once mention his opponent by name in this speech, he warned that "progress" would be lost and vowed to fight against "the status quo" in his second term.

Whether Americans will offer him a fresh opportunity may be known in the next 24 hours, and both campaigns are making a play for Iowa to achieve victory. Despite the state's small contribution of six Electoral College votes, the Buckeyes have played an outsized role this election cycle. Both candidates have invested significant resources into securing victory here, making Iowa a must-stop on the campaign trail. While it's not a certain must-win, Obama's efforts here have forced Romney to secure support elsewhere, just in case.

While Romney has events planned in Ohio and Pennsylvania Tuesday, Obama decided to make Monday night his final public appearance before election night. He'll spend part of the day Tuesday playing basketball while the votes are counted.

"It's out of my hands now," Obama said. "It's in yours. All of it depends on what you do."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-makes-closing-argument-iowa-054435826--election.html

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Canada to allow civil nuclear trade with India, no timeline

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Canadian firms will soon be able export uranium and nuclear reactors to India for the first time in almost four decades following an agreement between the two countries, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on Tuesday.

It will end a penalty Canada imposed in 1976 after India secretly exploded its first nuclear bomb in 1974, commonly called "Smiling Buddha", using material from a Canadian-built reactor in India.

"Being able to resolve these issues and move forward is, we believe, a really important economic opportunity for an important Canadian industry, part of the energy industry, that should pay dividends in terms of jobs and growth for Canadians down the road," Harper said during a visit to New Delhi.

He gave no timeline for implementation of the new deal. The two countries signed a nuclear cooperation pact two years ago, but until now had not agreed on the final details.

India aims to lift its nuclear capacity to 63,000 MW in the next 20 years by adding nearly 30 reactors. The country currently operates 20 mostly small reactors at six sites with a capacity of 4,780 MW, or 2 percent of its total power capacity, according to the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited.

It was not immediately clear what safeguards there would be to ensure that Canadian material does get used again for making nuclear bombs, an issue that had been a key obstacle to the agreement.

Canada's ambassador to India, Stewart Beck, said on Monday that his country wanted to be able to track all nuclear material, but that India felt it only needed to report to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Harper said the Canadian nuclear safety commission had worked to "achieve all of our objectives in terms of non-proliferation"

Canada is in a race against Australia, its strategic ally but a commercial rival in the uranium business. Australia is also trying to nail down safeguards under which it too could sell uranium to India.

Opening up the huge Indian market would be a major benefit to Canada's Cameco Corp, the world's largest publicly traded uranium producer.

Another potential beneficiary is Canadian engineering firm SNC Lavalin, which bought the government's commercial nuclear division, which designed the Candu reactor that is in use in numerous countries.

Harper also said Canada welcomed foreign investment, after the country temporarily blocked Malaysian state oil firm Petronas' C$5.17 billion ($5.19 billion) bid for gas producer Progress Energy Resources on October 20.

Late on Friday, Canada extended to December 10 its review of a $15.1 billion bid made in July by China's CNOOC Ltd for Canadian energy producer Nexen Inc. Reuters had reported on Wednesday that an extension was likely.

(Writing by Frank Jack Daniel, Editing by Jonathan Thatcher)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/canada-allow-civil-nuclear-trade-india-no-timeline-122735433.html

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Source: http://green-generalcontractor.com/Blog/2012/11/06/kitchen-remodeling-sylmar-21/

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Analysis: Goal line technology may be a red herring

By Brian Homewood

updated 9:32 a.m. ET Nov. 5, 2012

BERNE (Reuters) - Soccer's authorities spent years agonizing over whether to introduce goal line technology, yet its use would not have solved any of the recent refereeing controversies which have blown up in Italy, England and Brazil.

Video replays, on the other hand, would instantly have cleared up any doubts, yet they have barely been discussed by football's rule-makers and remain firmly off the agenda.

The paradox has been highlighted in Brazil where the result of a match has been put under investigation because, although match officials made the right decision, there is a suspicion they used information from television replays to do so.

Millions of television viewers were instantly able to see that Palmeiras striker Hernan Barcos punched the ball into the net Diego Maradona-style when he scored against Internacional in the Brazilian championship on October 27.

The referee initially missed the incident but, amid outraged Internacional protests, agreed to consult the other match officials and then changed his mind. Internacional went on to win 2-1.

Palmeiras , however, claimed officials made their decision after speaking to television staff who had seen the replay and Brazil's top disciplinary tribunal provisionally declared the result void pending an investigation.

It is not the first time officials have been accused of breaking the rules by using replays to make the right decision.

ZIDANE DEBATE

There was considerable debate after the 2006 World Cup final that Zinedine Zidane was only sent off for his head-butt on Italy defender Marco Materazzi after the fourth official saw the incident on a TV replay.

Several minutes elapsed before referee Horacio Elizondo dealt with the matter and he did so only after Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon drew the assistant referee's attention to what had happened.

But FIFA brushed aside the suspicions, and the possibility that the final would have to be replayed, saying the incident had been 'directly observed' by the fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo from his position at the side of the pitch without the use of a monitor.

There was another bizarre episode at the 2010 World Cup, on the same day that Frank Lampard's disallowed goal for England against Germany prompted FIFA to re-open the debate on goal line technology

A stadium screen replayed Carlos Tevez's opening goal for Argentina against Mexico 3-1 and, in doing so, clearly showed it should have been ruled offside.

Eighty thousand people knew the correct decision within seconds and the Mexican players surrounded the referee urging him to look at the screen but the official had to go by what his own eyes had told him.

VIDEO UMPIRES

Other sports have embraced video umpires, notably the two codes of rugby and cricket. In rugby union, for example, a Television Match Official can rule on whether the ball has been grounded for a try while in rugby league officials can go further back to check for offside or knock-ons during the build-up to a score.

Awaiting the video verdict on a batsman's fate has become part and parcel of cricket, as officials use a combination of TV replays and other technology, while teams are allowed a set number of challenges to umpire's decisions.

Serie A's Catania would certainly have benefited from a similar system last week.

The Sicilian side had a goal wrongly disallowed for offside in the first half of their match against Juventus and then were beaten 1-0 by a goal in the second half which replays showed should not have stood.

On the same day, October 28, Lazio had a goal wrongly ruled out, also for offside, in a 2-0 defeat at Fiorentina while Liverpool had what should have been a last-minute winning goal at Everton also disallowed in the English Premiership.

On Saturday, Stoke City manager Tony Pulis called for the retroactive use of video evidence to punish divers, believing that the free kick from which Norwich City beat his side 1-0 in the Premier League had been wrongly awarded.

'DIFFERENT ANGLES'

"It should be taken out the of the referee's hands and looked at on the Monday (after the match)," he told the BBC. "We should have a rule that people will view it on Monday from different angles. It's very, very difficult for referees to see on the day."

But why wait until the Monday, when all that can be done is to punish the alleged diver, when the decision could be quickly corrected on the spot by an official in the stands with a monitor?

FIFA have argued that video evidence would disrupt the flow of the game. But that has not been the case in rugby and cricket, where anticipation of the big-screen verdict is part of the fan experience.

In any case, the inevitable arguing and protests which arise when a team believes it has been wronged also stop play and can lead to yellow and red cards which further distort the final result.

Catania lost their composure after their goal was disallowed against Juventus and had four players booked in quick succession.

After years of debate and a u-turn by president Sepp Blatter in 2010, soccer's rule-making body the International Football Association Board (IFAB) finally gave the go-ahead to the use of goal-line technology in July.

But IFAB was also adamant that the use of technology would stop there.

"None of us are considering any type of technology which would interfere with the free-flowing nature of our game," said Alex Horne, the English member of the IFAB.

Yet only a fraction of footballing controversies involve decisions over whether the ball has entered the net or not, while goal line technology is expensive to install and it has required a year of painstaking tests to find two systems which FIFA considers reliable.

With such few benefits, the whole debate about goal-line technology may have been little more than a red herring, distracting attention from the more wide-ranging benefits of video replays.

(Editing by Alison Wildey)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Check for restrictions at: http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

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San Jose's in control (kinda)

PST: Earthquakes have reigning MLS champs on brink of elimination after 1-0 win, but that's not necessarily because they were the better team.

Earthquakes beat Galaxy in extra time

CARSON, Calif. (AP) - Victor Bernadez scored on a free kick deep into stoppage time Sunday night to lift the San Jose Earthquakes to a 1-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Galaxy in the opener of their Western Conference semifinal series.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49693447/ns/sports-soccer/

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