Author Paola Gianturco Supports Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign

A community advocate, mindSCOPE Staffing and Recruiting Software CEO Daniel Duic enjoys supporting activities and events that promote well-being. A regular participant of the Terry Fox Run benefiting the Canadian Cancer Society, Daniel Duic also extends his charitable efforts overseas by contributing to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Named after Canadian Parliament member Stephen Lewis, the Stephen Lewis Foundation established the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign in 2006. In just eight years, the campaign has raised $19.5 million thanks to its dedicated group of African and Canadian grandmothers who volunteer time and money to support fellow grandmothers in Africa caring for children orphaned by AIDS. Currently, 240 active grandmother groups in Canada take part in the campaign.

In an effort to support the foundation’s initiative, award-winning author Paola Gianturco dedicates 100 percent of the royalties from her book Grandmother Power: A Global Phenomenon to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. The book documents grandmother groups from around the world as they work to protect their culture and health, and shape the future of education and human rights.

A Brief History of Cricket

Daniel Duic, a Toronto-based software executive, serves as CEO of Mindscope Cura Staffing Software, a company he co-founded in 1998. In his free time, Daniel Duic enjoys a range of activities, including running, traveling, and watching cricket.

Although the game’s exact origins are unknown, it is believed that cricket originated in England as early as the 13th century. Cricket was mostly played by children until the early 1600s, when adults took up the sport and began to organize inter-county matches throughout southern England. As its popularity grew during the 17th and 18th centuries, cricket became more competitive and began to attract large crowds of disorderly gamblers.

By 1800, cricket had become a major sport in every area of England, and its popularity soon spread to other countries, including Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and India. Cricket remains extremely popular in these countries, especially India, where it is played on city streets and open fields throughout the country.

Recently, the development of a truncated version of cricket called Twenty20 (T20) gave rise to new techniques that have improved the play of both batsmen and bowlers. While the much longer traditional form of the sport remains the standard, T20 has been commercially successful and is growing in popularity throughout the cricket world.

Making Healthy Choices with a Mediterranean Diet

Daniel Duic, cofounder and CEO of mindSCOPE Staffing & Recruiting Software, has worked to develop software products and expand international business operations for over two decades. A hobby cyclist and a regular participant in the Terry Fox Run, Daniel Duic enjoys supplementing a healthy lifestyle with different cuisines.

Sicilian fare often provokes images of large feasts, assorted pastas, and cannoli. But, in moderation, a classic Mediterranean diet has historically been associated with various long-term health benefits. In the 1960s, it was discovered that Italy had one of the lowest rates of chronic disease in the world, as well as one of the longest life expectancies. As the largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily is home to an array of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and seafood dishes. By prioritizing olive oil and monounsaturated fats (from nuts) as primary fat sources, and by limiting the consumption of red meat and dairy products, a traditional Sicilian diet in combination with a regular exercise routine can have a profound impact on health. Among its advantages are a reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. Non-refined whole-grain pastas such as cuscusu (couscous) or quinoa make up the foundation of the “ideal” Mediterranean diet, while fish entrées provide a healthy source of proteins and Omega-3 fatty acids.

Bringing the African AIDS Epidemic into Focus with the SLF’s New Film

Daniel Duic has been involved in database software development for nearly 30 years, creating automated workflow processes and statistical modeling software for both domestic and international firms. Lending his support to advocacy efforts for HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa, Daniel Duic also works with the Stephen Lewis Foundation Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.

Since the HIV virus was first discovered in the 1980s, sub-Saharan Africa has been among the most affected regions globally. Millions of African adults have died without access to treatment, effectively leaving an entire generation of orphaned children, many of whom face the added burden of their own deteriorating health. In some regions, an estimated 40-60% of children live in households headed by grandmothers. To that end, the Stephen Lewis Foundation strives to draw attention to the plight of African grandmothers, providing for those who support the community. To date, the SLF has donated more than $21 million to 15 countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. But, further advocacy efforts are needed to reverse the tide of AIDS in the region, whose afflicted adults account for 71% of HIV patients worldwide. Most recently, the SLF premiered its new documentary at the 2014 International AIDS Conference in Australia. Entitled African Grandmothers Tribunal: Seeking Justice at the Frontlines of the AIDS Crisis, the film explores the plight of six grandmothers in Africa who strive to feed, nurture, and educate children in HIV prevention, while facing the obstacles of social violence and inadequate healthcare. The film will be screened in select locations throughout Canada, and is currently available as a Blu-Ray or DVD.

To order a copy, organize a screening, or to donate to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, visit africangrandmotherstribunal.org.

Updating Human Resources Software

As a founding CEO of the Mindscope Group of Companies, Daniel Duic draws on more than 16 years of experience in database software. Daniel Duic routinely visits with Mindscope clients to determine what they need in a staffing software.

As a key element of workplace technology, human resource management systems (HRMS) have undergone a number of changes in response to data management trends. HRMSs has arisen in response to the large quantities of data that human resources professionals process on a daily basis, but the rise of “big data” has placed even greater demands on these systems.

Over half of the HRMSs in place at large companies were more than seven years old as of early 2013, and many systems are being updated or will need to be updated soon.

HRMS developers are offering customizable systems that provide greater analytic capabilities, integrate with other software, allow for mobile recruiting, and enable companies to find answers to the specific questions that they pose about their candidates. Updated HRMS systems can also serve as online file repositories that enable access to documents such as benefits forms and employee handbooks. Sophisticated HRMS systems can also automate tasks and eliminate the need for HR staff to engage in labor-intensive data-entry-type functions.

Common Sicilian Dishes and Desserts

A talented software developer with more than 25 years of experience working for database software companies, Daniel Duic currently serves as the CEO of Mindscope Cura Staffing Software. An avid cook, Daniel Duic spends much of his free time learning to cook new food and dishes, and he is currently studying Sicilian cuisine.

Sicilian cuisine is well known around the world, yet many individuals are surprised at the cuisine’s diversity. One dish that is commonplace in Sicily is arancini, which are basically balls of saffron rice filled with a mix of cheese and meat. Resembling the shape and size of an orange, arancini is rolled in flour, egg, and bread crumbs before being deep-fried. Another common dish throughout Sicily is pasta con le sarde, a basic pasta dish topped with sardines sauteed in olive oil. After the sardines are sauteed, they are generally dressed with pine nuts, almonds, raisins, and finocchietto before being tossed with some pasta.

Sicilian cuisine also a number of popular desserts, one of which is cassata siciliana, a decadent dish that is one of the area’s sweetest. The dish is made of a liqueur-soaked sponge cake layered with sweetened ricotta and topped with icing and almond paste. The cake is commonly decorated with candied fruits or other sweets around the top. Cannoli is another treat that is less sweet than the cassata siciliana. The pastry is essentially a fried dough tube filled with sweetened ricotta and topped with either chocolate chips or candied fruit.

Stephen Lewis Foundation: Advocating for Grandmothers and Orphans

Daniel Duic joined Mindscope Cura Staffing Software in 1998, the year the company was formed. At present, he serves as the company’s CEO and has been involved in the database software field since graduating from University of Toronto. Beyond his professional duties, Daniel Duic supports charitable entities such as the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) collaborates with community organizations to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Specifically, the SLF strives to support women, children, and seniors struggling with the disease.

The SLF takes a keen interest in grandmothers combating HIV/AIDS by calling attention to initiatives that support these strong women working to raise orphaned children in the face of the crippling disease, as well as initiatives that appear to neglect them. SLF representatives have gathered statistics to show that grandmothers in many countries are responsible for providing care to between 40 and 60 percent of orphans, of which 15 to 16 million exist.

Fortunately, the SLF is not alone in advocating grandmothers and orphans, two woefully underrepresented groups. Initiatives such as the People’s Tribunal explore and spread awareness on the way African grandmothers stricken with disease live their lives.

Getting Into Wine Collecting

A more than 25-year veteran of the software development industry, Daniel Duic serves as the CEO of Mindscope Cura Staffing Software. In his free time, Daniel Duic enjoys a wide range of hobbies, including wine collecting.

Wine collecting can become rather expensive, but setting a budget when first starting out prevents overspending. Even a small budget of around $300 is enough for new collectors to buy several great bottles. Typically, a collecting budget is spread out over several months, so many beginners can accommodate far larger budgets and greater buying flexibility. Once a budget is set, focus on buying wines that are enjoyable.

Collecting wines with at least two years of aging potential lets collectors see how their wines develop over time. Not all wine categories age well, so doing some research on different types before buying ensures that collectors get a good variety. Asking questions at a local fine wine store and reading wine collecting books helps beginners learn about collecting basics.

Storing wine properly is an important part of collecting; however, professional refrigeration is not necessary for everyone. If the collector doesn’t have access to a storage location that stays cool year round, investing in a temperature-controlled wine fridge may be necessary. The best storage temperature is around 55 degrees since it allows wine to continue to age while still maximizing its life span.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Exceeds $1 Billion Research Investment

The CEO of Mindscope Cura Staffing Software, Daniel Duic, has more than 25 years of experience in the software development industry. Daniel Duic gives back to his community through charitable contributions to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a nonprofit health agency committed to blood cancer research and support services.

At LLS’s recent, 3-day conference in Washington, D.C, the organization announced that it surpassed $1 billion in blood cancer research investment. The organization recognized this significant landmark in its history amidst a conference at which leading researchers presented new insights into promising therapies. Discussion panels featured patient testimonials and reviews of patient access to new treatments. One focus of the conference was to encourage more than 500 LLS advocates to meet with and petition government officials in an effort to encourage support of legislation that improves treatment affordability.

Reflecting on the work still to be performed, the LLS interim president, CEO, and chief mission officer emphasized the importance of LLS’ endeavors: “While the one billion dollar research investment is helping to save lives today and extending survival rates for many patients, there are still few, if any, means for preventing or early screening for most blood cancers. More than one third of blood cancer patients do not survive more than five years after diagnosis.”