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Drugs won the drug war: the world's laissez faire narcotics enforcement
On the books, marijuana is illegal in Cambodia. But on the streets -- in particular, the capital's main riverside promenade -- travelers will find a poor man's Amsterdam.
Phnom Penh's downtown dealers are unabashed. After nightfall, they line Sisowath Quay, about a dozen blocks of Cambodia's finest riverfront real estate. Foreigners on an evening stroll down the main drag pass through a gauntlet of pot propositions: "You want smoke? Marijuana?"
They do not bother to whisper.
Those skittish of street deals can duck into one of several pizza shops, "Happy Herb's Pizza" or "Pink Elephant Pizza" among them. They are cannabis dispensaries concealed under a thin veil of innuendo. Pizzas ordered "happy" are dusted with flakes of ganja.
The effect: a high that fogs thought, puts lead in your footsteps, stokes the appetite (perhaps for more pizza) and throws a dull haze over the next 24 hours. That's right, 24 hours.
Traditionalists can order 10-gram bags from the kitchen stash for $20.
If the pizza shops aren't convenient enough, smokers can stay indoors and call the delivery hotline.
"Just don't smoke it on the street. That's all," said a server at one of Phnom Penh's downtown pot-and-pizza joints. "Don't worry about police. Police know everything."
Nations such as Portugal and the Netherlands have the most prominent reputations for rejecting the United States-helmed "War on Drugs" approach in favor of liberal narcotics laws. Latin American countries including Mexico and Colombia, bloodied by cartel carnage, have pushed the trend further by decriminalizing small amounts of pot.
But Cambodia -- like Pakistan and Egypt -- belongs to a lesser-recognized category: countries that have adopted US-style pot laws under White House pressure but seldom enforce them. Its modern marijuana market offers a case study in de facto decriminalization.
Drug policy experts contend that nations such as Cambodia, impoverished and deeply reliant on US aid, must feign an anti-cannabis stance -- even in the absence of political or popular support for police action against pot.
"If they didn't, there would be serious backlash from the US," said Benoit Gomis, a narcotics policy analyst with the London-based Chatham House research institute. "So is it worth making a big fuss about drug policy when you receive assistance for so many other things? Like your economy? That's a diplomatic calculation they have to make."
The world says, legalize it!
Across the globe, pot tolerance is trending up. The list of nations that have to some degree decriminalized cannabis possession in small quantities grows by the year. An incomplete roster now includes Argentina, Australia, the Czech Republic, Colombia, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain and Uruguay.
In Italy and parts of Australia, users may grow a small amount on their terrace. In parts of India, state-managed shops in certain provinces can sell "bhang" -- hash balls -- and mystics can indulge with impunity. In Spain's Basque Country, smokers are free to join "cannabis social clubs" that cultivate their own pot to meet members' needs.
Mexico is pursuing a radical change in its approach to drugs. After a six-year battle against gangs and traffickers that cost some 60,000 lives, the country's new president has announced a new emphasis on prevention. The government will spend $9.2 billion on social programs -- including infrastructure, construction and longer school hours -- in Mexico's 251 most violent neighborhoods.
"It's clear that we must put special emphasis on prevention, because we can't only keep employing more sophisticated weapons, better equipment, more police, a higher presence of the armed forces in the country as the only form of combating organized crime," said President Pena Nieto in announcing the program.
Even in brutally authoritarian North Korea, police squads execute meth abusers while ignoring marijuana use, according to reports from Open Radio for North Korea and NK News.
But perhaps the boldest challenge comes from South America's Uruguay, where lawmakers are considering government-run marijuana emporiums. The proposed "National Institute of Cannabis" would sell pot at below-market rates, undercut the street traffickers and funnel the proceeds towards drug treatment centers.
This global loosening of pot laws is testing rigid United Nations drug conventions, which favor US-style prohibition and still regard marijuana as a dangerous narcotic.
"The starting point of the drug convention is that drugs are bad," Gomis said. "It says that if people are allowed to consume drugs legally, they'll consume way more drugs. And that will lead to more death and violence and social disorder."
The UN conventions are clear: Countries that have signed on (as almost all sizable countries have) are not permitted to start up a regulated marijuana trade in the vein of booze and tobacco markets.
"Any shift away from the predominately zero-tolerance approach of the UN treaties generates a number of oppositional forces," said David Bewley-Taylor, a drug policy specialist at Swansea University in Wales.
"The reach and well-established nature of the global drug prohibition regime," Bewley-Taylor said, "ensures that most states are reluctant to deviate ... and risk being labeled by the international community a rogue state."
But that standard is shaken now that the US has developed its own rogue states: Washington and Colorado. Last fall, both passed referenda compelling the outright legalization of marijuana -- although it remains to be seen how this will work while the federal government still bans the herb. Moreover, medical marijuana is allowed in a total of 18 states. America's position to "exert pressure," Bewley-Taylor said, "has been undermined by the situation in Washington and Colorado."
And politicians, long shy about an issue that could alienate soccer moms, are increasingly speaking out. Recently, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that people busted with small quantities of pot in the city will no longer spend the night in jail. He also called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to loosen marijuana laws.
The world, it seems, has reached a tipping point in the drug war.
Flouting a US ultimatum
In the 1990s, when war-torn Cambodia was even more unruly than it is today, marijuana was traded openly. Vendors in Phnom Penh's downtown markets freely sold fat pillows of marijuana weighing a kilo or more. The herb grows naturally in the tropical nation of 15 million people, many of whom know pot as an old-timers' habit or an ingredient in upcountry soups.
But when the US and other Western nations began showering Cambodia with aid in the 2000s, authorities suddenly deemed marijuana a nuisance and swept it from public view.
"The US gave them an ultimatum," said a UN drug analyst speaking on condition of anonymity. "They said, 'You can either have foreign aid or legal cannabis.'"
Today, drivers of "tuk-tuks" (motorized rickshaw taxis) are Phnom Penh's go-to source for ganja. As in neighboring Thailand and Laos, tuk-tuk crews often act as intermediaries between travelers and vice: prostitutes, ganja or harder narcotics.
The pushy types park their tuk-tuks and work the riverside gauntlet. Some will advertise their wares by waving a still-fragrant, half-smoked joint under a tourist's nose. In plain view, they often swap US cash for bags of so-called "skunk," marketed as a higher quality of pot.
But Chhon -- plump, smiley and 30-something -- is a less aggressive breed of downtown Phnom Penh dealer on wheels.
"I just ask a person if he wants a ride and then talk about ganja in the tuk-tuk," Chhon said. "A lot of people want ganja. The police know what we do. If they catch you, they might ask for some small money but they don't stop it."
That doesn't mean top authorities don't talk tough on pot. The national drug czar in 2008 went so far as to declare to a regional news outlet, The Mekong Times, that "marijuana is no longer available in Cambodia" after crop eradication campaigns.
But the government's own drug figures render such bold pronouncements absurd.
For four years straight, Cambodia hasn't managed to report arrests for pot possession to the regional UN narcotics database. In the last reporting year, 2008, authorities reported a scant six marijuana-related arrests.
The nation's crop eradication efforts are similarly meek. In all of 2008, amid the run up to the then-drug czar's proclaimed end of pot in Cambodia, drug police destroyed a mere 177 square meters of marijuana fields -- a size comparable to a typical three-bedroom apartment. Even that was a bonanza compared to the most recent eradication figures: just 200 or so cannabis plants destroyed in 2011, according to government figures.
"We've noticed in the past five or six years, the quality of reporting coming from Cambodia dropped," said Tun Nay Soe, a senior officer with the UN's SMART program, which monitors global drug use trends. "We know they have plantations of cannabis that are grown commercially. But methamphetamine is much more of a problem there."
Chhon is somewhat mystified by young foreigners' deep appreciation for marijuana. According to a UN survey, marijuana is the fourth most-popular drug among Cambodians: crystal methamphetamine, meth and even inhalants are more widely consumed.
"Ganja is not so big for Cambodians," Chhon said. "Most people with money want ice."
This is Southeast Asian code for crystal meth, which grows more popular by the year. Its jumpy highs and wretched comedowns are totally unlike the marijuana high and the substance is now classified as the region's top threat among regional drug agents.
But even Cambodian authorities indirectly concede that the pot prohibition stance in Washington, DC, never really took hold.
"The extent to which cannabis is used in Cambodia is unclear due in part to a level of tolerance for its traditional consumption," the National Authority for Combating Drugs stated in an annual report.
This "traditional consumption" -- sprinkling marijuana in select dishes -- is also prevalent in surprisingly strict places: communist-run Laos, and the wilds of Indonesia's Aceh province, the only Southeast Asian enclave controlled by Islamic Sharia Law.
"Even in my country, Myanmar, it's quite normal for people to put cannabis in their food as a spice," Tun Nay Soe said.
Whether Cambodia and other US aid-reliant nations keep up their anti-pot charade may largely depend on whether more influential nations can take on the prohibition regime. Officials in Mexico and other Latin countries, the chief targets of America's foreign drug war, could feel emboldened to loosen pot laws further as select US states opt for legal pot sales.
"There's been a realization almost everywhere that criminalization and the hard approach on drugs just isn't working," Gomis said. "It creates a bigger black market. It creates more violence."
But Chhon is ambivalent about the future of Cambodia's pot laws. After all, US interference shifted pot from the market stalls to the streets, where he can sometimes make $20-25 -- no small sum in Cambodia -- selling just one overpriced $40 bag to foreigners.
"Now, you can still buy ganja, you can smoke. There is still no trouble and no problem," he said. "Just stay away from the street and don't be stupid."


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42 Martyrs of Ammoria in Phrygia - Troparion & Kontakion
Troparion — Tone 4
Your forty-two holy martyrs, O Lord, / through their sufferings have received incorruptible crowns from You, our God. / For having Your strength, they laid low their adversaries, / and shattered the powerless boldness of demons. / Through their intercessions, save our souls!
Kontakion — Tone 4
Forty-two holy martyrs of Ammoria, / you contended for the sake of Christ on earth; / you were revealed as crown-bearing martyrs, / and have been received into the life of the joy of heaven. / Since you overthrew all the wiles of the enemy / by your sufferings and the blood of your wounds, / you continually send down from on high remission of sins to those who praise you.

subset: commoncrawl


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A new lawsuit has been filed by a Christian business owner who says the "compromise" from the Obama administration, which has claimed it is working with business owners of faith who object to Obamacare requirements to pay for abortifacients, does nothing to help him.
Dr. Stephen Briscoe is the owner of several businesses in Greeley, Colo., and other cities along the state's Front Range. Collectively his businesses employ some 200 people. As an evangelical Christian, Briscoe says being forced to offer abortifacients and similar drugs would make him violate his conscience and faith.
Thus, he has sued, alleging violations of his rights under the First and Fifth Amendments, as well as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
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While multiple lawsuits have been filed over the employer mandate in Obamacare, Briscoe's case is unique in that it is the first filed since the administration announced last week it was addressing the concerns of religious employers in its requirements.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius claimed officials were responding to concerns by religious employers over rules in Obamacare demanding businesses provide employees with health plans that covered abortion-inducing drugs as part of the contraception coverage required under Obamacare.
TRENDING: 'Time to fact-check the fact-checkers': Candace Owens filing defamation suit against Facebook
"The administration is taking the next step in providing women across the nation with coverage of recommended preventive care at no cost, while respecting religious concerns," Sebelius said at the time.
The new proposal would permit religious groups that oppose abortion the ability to offer birth control, including abortifacients, through a "third party administrator" rather than offering it themselves. Employers would still be forced to provide their employees with the abortifacients.
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Mike Norton, an attorney with the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is representing Briscoe, said the new proposal does absolutely nothing for his client.
"What the administration came out with in its so-called Compromise No. 2 isn't helpful to religious non-profits and doesn't materially change the game rules," Norton said. "It likewise has no effect on for-profit corporations or business entities that are owned and run by people who have religious convictions. The government takes the view that a for-profit business is a freestanding entity that essentially belongs to the government rather than the people who built it and run it."
In 2011, HHS announced all employers would be required to provide birth control and sterilization coverage to their employees and that the coverage would cover drugs that cause abortions. When the rules were announced, HHS claimed it would provide a narrow exemption for religious institutions that met four requirements. An organization has to have the inculcation of religious values as its purpose, primarily employ and serve persons who share its religious tenets, and be a recognized non-profit organization.
However, HHS was not able to commit to defining how it would define the phrase "share religious beliefs."
When HHS was asked how narrowly they planned to interpret the requirement, such as would it require a Catholic hospital to hire and provide services to Catholics rather than Christians from other denominations, the agency was non-committal.
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"The rule is the rule, I can't break it down any more than what it actually says," Keith Maley, a spokesman for HHS, said.
When pressed further, Maley said, "It is what it is and what it states. They are pretty specific regarding the language for what is required to qualify, but I just cannot define them further."
Last year, president Obama held a press conference with Sebelius where he stated he would not force employers to pay for birth control and the abortion-inducing drugs, he would simply require all insurance providers to include the services as part of their basic level of services required under Obamacare.
Religious business owners immediately decried the move saying they were still being required to provide services that violate their conscience.
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Since the mandate was issued by Sebelius, numerous lawsuits have been filed by business owners with most rulings going against Obama. Several judges including those at the appellate bench have ordered the government to not enforce the mandate.
Among the cases are:
- Wheaton College of Illinois and Belmont Abbey College – appeals judges required the administration to report back to it every 60 days beginning in February, until its promise for a new rule protecting the colleges religious freedom was in effect.
- Denver based Hercules Industries challenged the contraception and abortifacient demand and a judge prevented the government from forcing the requirement on the organization pending further court action.
- Francis A. Gilardi Jr. and Philip M. Gilardi, two brothers who own and control Freshway Foods and Freshway Logistics. The two companies employ over 400 employees in the food industry. They say the HHS mandate violates their religious beliefs.
- Bible publisher Tyndale House successfully was able to have a judge block enforcement of the mandate. The government had argued the Bible publishing company, which donated most of its money to faith causes around the world, was not religious enough to qualify for an exemption.
- Hobby Lobby, a Christian owned company which is closed on Sundays is in the process of fighting the mandate. A recent appeal to the Supreme Court for an immediate injunction stopping HHS from enforcing the mandate on the company was turned down by Obama nomine Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
Norton said it is obvious by HHS's most recent position on the mandate that the Obama administration is continuing to ignore the First Amendment rights of Christian business owners.
"The administration's position ranges from incompetency to intentional interference with religious liberties," Norton said. "I don't know where in that spectrum administration sits, but clearly the administration is not considering First Amendment protections or the exercise of religious freedom in this latest accommodation."
Norton noted the administration is attempting to reframe the issue by claiming it supports freedom of worship rather than freedom of religion.
"The Obama administration has been trying to put a spin on the First Amendment by calling it freedom of worship rather than freedom of religion. What they mean by freedom of worship is that you are free to worship inside the confines of your church, synagogue or home but you cannot take your religion into the marketplace or the public forum. That is totally contrary to 400 years of religious liberty in American history."
When the mandate was first issued, abortion activists decried any type or conscience exemptions for employers including churches and private business owners.
"The National Organization for Women said in an action alert that, "The federal government should not permit a solitary religious viewpoint to override good public health policy. Allowing certain faith-based organizations to avoid this statute is, in fact, promoting the private interests of a tiny religious minority. This exemption and all other refusal or conscience clauses infringe upon women's constitutional right to freedom of religion and freedom from religion."
Nancy Pelosi also criticized Christian organizations and individuals for wanting to exercise their conscience rights regarding abortion.
Pelosi said allowing Catholic hospitals to have conscience protections is akin to them saying "to a woman, 'I'm sorry you could die' if you don't get an abortion." Pelosi went on to say she is a devout Catholic and those who disagree with her on abortion "have this conscience thing."
Norton said contrary to what pro-abortion supporters such as Planned Parenthood and NARAL claim, Christian business owners are not attempting to force their religious views on anybody.
"This issue is not about attempting to impose someone's religious views on another person, rather it's about people of faith being forced to violate their conscience with business owners being forced to provide abortion inducing drugs that go against their faith," Norton said. "These types of drugs are readily available, and almost freely available through various state and federal programs. There are vending machines on college campuses and people pass these things out freely. It's not an idea of imposing anyone's religious views on anyone. It's about whether the employers who built and run the business should be forced to violate their conscience."


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$title = "LinuxHacker: Main Page"; include("header.ph"); ?>
Today, RSS provides a much better way to aggregate news from multiple web sites. I use the excellent NetNewsWire RSS reader for Mac OS X, but there are many others available, including some that are web based.
The linuxhacker.org mailing lists are still available here, and will continue to be for the forseeable future.
Alex Holden, linuxhacker.org admin.


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LONDON, England (CNN) -- It may look like an air mattress you might see lying around next to a swimming pool but in reality its function couldn't be less trivial.
The Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin could play a major role in saving lives in the developing world.
The Solar Water Disinfecting Tarpaulin (SWDT) -- a new portable water purifier -- could be a major step forward in the fight against disease and mortality in the Third World.
Eric Olsen, a San Francisco-based architect and the inventor of the SWDT believes the product could help eradicate the scourge of polluted water which the World Health Organization (WHO) estimate claims over 1.5 million lives every year.
Not only does it purify water -- up to 20 liters -- it makes it more portable in large quantities -- a vital dual role in Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Central Asia where access to clean water is often scarce.
"There are lots of products that do one or the other," Olsen told CNN. "There's a really interesting product that's been around for 10 or 12 years called the Hippo Water Roller -- a 20 gallon drum with a handle attached that allows people -- mostly women -- to transport a week's worth of water back home".
Olsen also points to another product developed by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) that has successfully tackled water impurities.
According to Eawag SODIS (Solar Water Disinfection Process) is already used by more than two million in over 30 countries.
"The idea of SWDT," he says, "is to combine these two products and make them into something that can do both roles effectively".
Made out of a top layer of recycled low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and a bottom layer of durable rubberized nylon, the SWDT is both flexible and robust.
Its design was morphologically inspired by the saguaro cactus and is adaptable to a variety of situations -- as a wrap to carry or placed on the roof of a mud hut -- and is easy to store.
The SWDT uses passive solar radiation -- a water sterilizing method approved by WHO -- which disrupts the reproduction of microorganisms.
Heat and UVA radiation from the sun pass through the LDPE layer and into the water cavity and are reflected back by the bottom layer of nylon. On a sunny day purification takes five hours.
Olsen admits that its performance is hampered by its low density -- scratches to the surface mean it doesn't transmit the sun's rays as effectively -- but he is confident that this can be overcome with more research.
Production using a Radio Frequency Welding equipment may be relatively expensive but Olsen says that the raw materials are cheap and the labor is inexpensive.
"We are trying to imagine ways that this thing can be made and repaired by people where it is most needed," he said. "We are working on a sheet welding process which is much lower tech, inexpensive and also capitalizes on the handcraft skills of local people".
What started out as a solo effort a little over a year ago has gradually grown into a collaborative project. Olsen's students at the California College of Arts, where he currently teaches -- he moves to a new post at Woodbury University this fall -- have lent their enthusiasm and experts from the bioscience and textile industries are increasingly coming on board.
Olsen's efforts have already been recognized. The SWDT won first prize in the 2008 Next Generation Design Competition run by Metropolis Magazine -- netting him $10,000 -- and he is waiting for conformation that the invention has been selected for Wired Magazine's Next Fest show which takes place in Chicago later this year.
So what next for Olsen and his invention? The aim is to adapt the original design and turn it from a water carrying wrap into a fully fledged coat and he's also looking at ways the material might be redrawn as a tent.
He's currently in the process of trying to qualify for non-profit status. And with the likes of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other institutions out there, he thinks the prospects for funding development and deployment look promising.
All About Alternative Energy Technology • Clean Water Policy • Sub-Saharan Africa


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Voltaire Short Fiction Analysis
Voltaire's wit and insight into the human condition found a memorable forum in his short stories. These stories were not merely entertaining fantasies but were works of philosophical and social reflection as well. By allowing his readers to see the world through his characters' eyes, Voltaire taught new ways of thinking about the attitudes and situation of humanity.
Voltaire's fiction ranges from extremely short pieces to the longer works Zadig: Ou, La Destinée, Histoire orientale (1748; originally as Memnon: Histoire orientale, 1747; Zadig: Or, The Book of Fate, 1749), Le Micromégas (1752; Micromegas, 1753), Candide, and L'Ingénu (1767; The Pupil of Nature, 1771; also as Ingenuous, 1961). While those longer works are the primary stories for which he is remembered, his shorter tales contain many of the same themes in a tightly crafted and inventive form.
Voltaire was fascinated throughout his life with the issues of good and evil, freedom and determinism, and the nature of Providence. A Deist to the end of his life, convinced that God had created the world and left it to run according to an original plan, Voltaire yet struggled with the concepts of fate and Providence from the human perspective. The view of Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz and others that this is the best of all possible worlds fit with Voltaire's Deism but not with his experience of the world. Voltaire's stories show a continually deepening sense of the evil and folly in life, in which it is difficult to find the good. His protagonists often undertake long and bizarre journeys, on which they learn tolerance from the experience of the universality of human suffering. Human goodness does not seem to be rewarded in the long run, and no obviously overarching plan shows itself to his heroes. It appears that existence is a pointless interplay of events in which evil people seem to be quite happy and successful, and the good often suffer miserably. Yet Voltaire always allows for the possibility that some good may be present in the worst of situations, even if that good is well hidden.
Within Voltaire's longer stories, this theme is quite obvious. In Zadig, the protagonist encounters a continually changing cycle of fortunes and misfortunes until he finally decides in despair that goodness will never be rewarded. An angel in disguise teaches him that the ways of Providence are inscrutable and all that happens in life creates the best possible world as a whole. Once Zadig realizes that the evil in the world is part of the divine plan, and that the world would be imperfect without it, he is freed from his ignorance and becomes the happy man that he had always believed he would be. He ends up a king, ruling more justly and compassionately because of the wisdom gained from his misfortunes.
In the later work, Candide, Voltaire's growing pessimism is evident. Candide is an innocent and optimistic young man who undergoes an incredible series of cruel and painful disasters. Considering the enormity of the ills which meet him from all sides—he is exiled, drafted, beaten, robbed, and continually loses the woman he loves—he is amazingly slow to question his optimistic view of the world. By the end of his life, however, Candide settles down on a small farm with the woman he sought all his life (now grown quite ugly and disagreeable), and he brushes aside his original belief that things are all ordered for the best. He recognizes that the attempt to try to ignore the inevitability of suffering and evil in life leads to a tragic failure: the failure to try to improve the world in whatever ways are possible. He is now more content with the attitude that "we must cultivate our garden," thus abandoning the question of the good of the whole universe for the task of alleviating the misery of existence in his small corner of the world.
In Voltaire's shorter...
(The entire section contains 1764 words.)
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Trying for our 3rd?
Are you considering having another child after preeclampsia? Trying again after preeclampsia can be an emotional challenge. You can find support with others who share your concerns here.
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Re: Trying for our 3rd?
The re-occurrence rate isn't a simple formula, unfortunately and, as it has been said, depends on different factors. One of them being your severity and time of onset (according to my MFM). The earlier the onset, the higher your risk (again according to my doc). Having said that, my doc decreased my risk due to the fact that I am healthy, and have no underlying disorders or risk factors. So, I think it might be best to start out by seeing your OB or even better a MFM for a pre-consultation, so your personal physical status quo and PE history can be evaluated for a re-occurrence rate that applies to you.
MC 3/2009 and 3/2011
H (1/1/2010-1/7/2010) - forever loved and missed; severe PE with Hellp; partial placental abruption, classical c-section at 25.6 weeks
M (Nov. 2012, born at 35.4 weeks) - severe PE
H (1/1/2010-1/7/2010) - forever loved and missed; severe PE with Hellp; partial placental abruption, classical c-section at 25.6 weeks
M (Nov. 2012, born at 35.4 weeks) - severe PE
Re: Trying for our 3rd?
My Dr told me that once you have PE one time that you have the same amount of risk in every pregnancy. My Dr told me around 80% of not having it in any pregnancy after PE.
Son born healthy at 5lbs 8oz at 35 weeks +2 days due to Severe PE on 7-21-09
Re: Trying for our 3rd?
I am sure that someone will post a better answer soon, but it is extremely difficult to quantify risks for recurrence. Have your doctors given you any input on the likelihood that you could get PE again? Your risk will depend on whether or not you have any pre-existing conditions. Many of the women on the board see their OB or MFM for a pre-conception consult to discuss their risks and any testing that might be informative. I have to hope that one healthy pregnancy would work in your favor.
Daughter born April 2009 at 35 weeks due to Class 1 HELLP
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Trying for our 3rd?
With my first pregnancy I had severe pree with elevated liver enzymes. I delivered at 25 weeks 2 days. With my second I didn't have pree and delivered via repeat c/s at 37 weeks weeks 4 days. Although, i did have low amniotic fluid towards the date leves at 7cm down from my average 11-12. Doctors dudnt seem concerned. Also, They say I can't go past that from my classical cut the first time. Anyways, weare trying for our 3rd in dec. what are the chances of getting pree again? I took baby aspirin and extra folic acid for my 2nd, so I'll probably do that again. I'm just afraid that my last was a "fluke" and that I'll get pree again even with precaution.
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During one Christmas break when he was in college, Rick Cole and a friend decided to see Los Angeles by city bus. They bought a couple of student transit passes and spent 10 days crisscrossing the region, from Watts to Malibu, bunking down at night with professors, on the beach and, once, in a movie theater. Cole's friend, who grew up near Denver, announced afterward that he'd never again live in a city like Los Angeles. Cole, who grew up in Pasadena, declared that he could never live anywhere else.
What he'd gotten over the course of his travels was a quick lesson in the lush diversity of the urban landscape. Cole has been paying close attention to how communities look and function ever since, first as a journalist, then as a city council member and mayor and finally as a city manager. His chosen venues — a trio of Los Angeles suburbs — have not been especially large, but that hasn't kept Cole's strong views on what it takes for cities to thrive from having an impact on the planning community in California and nationwide.
Cole, 53, is perhaps best known as a strong believer in compact, even dense, development, but he is equally dedicated to strong civic engagement and effective, accountable government. "Those three strands," he says, "are inextricably intertwined in a healthy and successful city. You go to New Orleans or Newark, and you can see perfectly good urban fabric that New Urbanists would cry over, but the cities are a catastrophe. So, obviously, form doesn't trump everything else. Without the civic activism, you don't have the buy-in of the community and the mobilization of private-sector and third-sector resources. And, of course, if you don't have a government that can issue permits in less than three years or the ability to keep a park safe, then building houses above a park won't work. You have to put these three things together to have any of them be a success."
As mayor of Pasadena during the early 1990s, he took a populace that had been deadlocked between pro- and anti-growth forces and focused it on developing a vision for the city as a whole. The result was one of the most attractive and attention-getting downtowns in the region. "The idea that you could rally thousands of Pasadenans to get interested in a general plan, and to make planning seem like something the average person could get his or her hands around, showed his brilliance," says Larry Wilson, editor of the Pasadena Star-News. "To this day, it's quite a legacy."
Cole, who as a student activist and as a politician had developed a reputation for a no-holds-barred rhetorical style, eventually left elective politics to become city manager in Azusa, a down-on-its luck town that, as the Los Angeles Times dryly noted, had a "commercial core so bleak that an AM/PM convenience store ranks among the city's top sales tax generators." Cole spent six years there, plunging into the seemingly mundane mechanics needed for revitalizing a city and its government — replacing an aging library, overseeing the creation of Azusa's first general plan in two decades, helping 1,500 new homes get built.
Now, in Ventura, which recently topped 100,000 residents, he is working on a larger canvas but with an equally intense focus on the details that add up to a vital city. He helped the city council breach a six-year deadlock over its general plan and has been adamant about making developers — and Wal-Mart — stick to the vision of a pedestrian-friendly downtown, mixed-use developments and interesting neighborhoods. He led the city in moving a homeless encampment that had annoyed citizens and then assisted its residents in setting up a self-governing permanent campground. And he is now helping to shepherd a sales-tax increase to boost public-safety staffing.
Cities, Cole argues, can create their own destinies. "You can't give up on them and say, 'Oh, there's poverty and racism and we need a Marshall Plan for the cities,' " he says. "You have to roll up your sleeves and make our schools and streets and local governments work, so that people can use their energy and their passion in their family and business life to bring life back to older towns and older cities. It can be done, and there's no excuse for not doing it."
— Rob Gurwitt
Photo by Donna Granata


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A winter storm dumped almost 9 inches of heavy, wet snow in some far northern suburbs before tapering off Thursday evening.
A winter storm warning was set to expire at midnight for Lake and McHenry counties, with Cook, DuPage and DeKalb counties under a winter weather advisory.
Some areas, such as near Beach Park, had 8.5 inches by Thursday evening, with suburbs in Lake and McHenry counties expected to get a total of at least 6 inches, according to the National Weather Service. By Thursday evening, Elgin recorded 4 inches, while Hanover Park saw 3.2 inches and Evanston 2.1 inches, according to the weather service.
Chicago sent out 199 of its snow and salt trucks and expected to patrol main streets throughout the evening rush.
The Illinois Tollway mobilized its full fleet of 182 snowplows during rush hour and throughout the evening across the 286-mile system, according to a release.
North and northwest suburbs saw numerous accidents, from Barrington to Antioch, according to Traffic.com.
In McHenry County, police warned motorists to avoid U.S. Route 31 between Crystal Lake and McHenry because the road was "impassable" where it crosses over a hill.
The Weather Service warned that Thursday's storm produced what's "often referred to as a heart attack snow" because wet snow can cause people to overexert themselves, causing heart attacks.
"Be sure to take frequent breaks while shoveling so as not to overdo it," the weather service warned.
Some snow accumulation is possible into Friday's early morning hours, with up to an inch in northern suburbs, according to the weather service. After a possibility of flurries Friday morning, the day will turn sunny and temperatures will go up to the low 30s. There will be gusty winds of up to 35 mph in the afternoon. Saturday is expected to be sunny and in the mid-30s. A high in the mid-40s is expected Sunday, with rain.
Photos: Chicago winter 2012-13
Still, the storm was nothing like the one barreling toward New England with forecasts of up to two feet of snow. A blizzard warning has been issued for New York City, Connecticut and the Boston area.
Forecasters warned the snow would begin lightly on Friday morning but ramp up to blizzard conditions by afternoon, leading Boston Mayor Thomas Menino to order the city's schools closed Friday. He asked businesses to consider allowing staff to stay home.
"We are hardy New Englanders, let me tell you, and used to these types of storms. But I also want to remind everyone to use common sense and stay off the streets of our city. Basically, stay home," Menino told reporters. "Stay put after noontime tomorrow."
The National Weather Service said Boston could get one to two feet of snow on Friday and Saturday, which would be its first major snow fall in about two years. Light snow is expected to begin falling around 7 a.m. EST on Friday, with heavier snow and winds gusting as high as 60 to 75 miles per hour as the day progresses.
"It's the afternoon rush-hour time frame into the evening and overnight when the height of the storm will be," said Kim Buttrick, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Taunton, Massachusetts. "That's when we expect the storm to begin in earnest."
The heaviest snow was expected around Boston, the region's most populous city, with cities from Hartford, Connecticut to Portland, Maine, expected to see at least a foot.
If more than 18.2 inches of snow fall in Boston, the storm will rank among the 10 biggest snowfalls on record in the city. The heaviest snowfall ever recorded in Boston was a 27.6 inch dump that accompanied the blizzard of February 17-18, 2003.
The storm's timing brought back memories of the blizzard of 1978, Boston's second-heaviest recorded snow fall, which roared in on an afternoon, dropping 27.1 inches of snow, trapping commuters on roadways and leaving dozens dead across the region, largely as a result of downed electrical lines.
Peter Judge, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, said one of the state's biggest worry is power outages.
"It being winter, folks losing their power means they're also losing their heat, and if you lose heat during the middle of the storm, you're not going to be able to go out to get to a shelter," he said, adding that the agency would begin 24-hour operations at its emergency compound at noon (1700 GMT) on Friday and would be in close contact with local utilities.
Unlike the 1978 blizzard, which had been forecast to drop far less snow than it actually did, he said he hoped several days of news coverage about this storm would prompt people to stay off the roads.
"People have been warned, they have been told what the issues are," Judge said. "We don't expect people to be surprised."
Reuters contributed to this report.
Twitter: @chicagobreaking


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Editor's note: Roland S. Martin is a CNN contributor and a talk-show host for WVON-AM in Chicago.
(CNN) -- Political junkies are excited and electrified over a potential independent presidential bid by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and for good reason.
CNN contributor Roland Martin says there is no national clamor for a Bloomberg candidacy, unlike in 1992 when Ross Perot garnered attention.
If the billionaire jumps into the race, he would be the 19th candidate to declare for the presidency. He is worth $5 billion -- some say as much as $20 billion -- and the thought of a serious third-party bid hasn't been a reality since diminutive billionaire Ross Perot garnered 19 percent in the 1992 election, helping Democratic challenger Bill Clinton beat President George H.W. Bush to win the presidency.
It is assumed that Bloomberg would have to drop $500 million of his own money to compete for the White House, and considering he spent $140 million on two successful campaigns for mayor of New York City, he clearly has shown that he's not afraid to toss a few dollars around to get what he wants.
His run is being compared to Perot's bid in 1992, and on the surface, that make sense. Dissatisfaction with the Republican and Democratic choices led to America pining for a new voice 15 years ago. We wanted someone who eschewed partisan politics and who saw himself as bidding to save America from ruin.
While declaring that he doesn't want the job, Bloomberg has worked feverishly to burnish his national appeal by giving substantive policy speeches about non-New York City issues. He's traveled the nation to speak with numerous political leaders and revamped his Web site. He's also ditched the Republican Party label, which he took on before his inaugural mayoral run in 2001 after years of being a Democrat.
On paper, he has the bona fides to run for president, but other than being a billionaire and calling for change in America, there is a significant difference between a potential Bloomberg candidacy and that of Perot's: The nation clearly isn't the same today as it was then.
Go back to February 20, 1992, when Perot appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" and opined about a number of critical issues. The nation was in a mess. We were buried in a recession, Bush had gone back on his no tax pledge, and his Republican supporters were angry and out for blood.
In steps a tough-talking Texan who brought a no-nonsense approach to politics. His voice was fresh -- albeit a bit squeaky -- he didn't bite his tongue on the tough issues, and then, of course, singer/actress Cher phoned in and expressed her support for him running for the White House.
So Perot made it clear: Get me on 50 ballots and I'm your man.
That led to the creation of the Reform Party, a group of grassroots activists tired of the established political parties. The nation was begging for a change and Perot was their man.
Fast forward to today. There is no national clamor for a Bloomberg candidacy. He is a sitting politician who is known more for being a great manager than someone who will speak truth to power and generate attention with soaring oratory. In fact, he is downright boring in his speeches. America is just as dissatisfied today as it was in 1992, but this time, it's about the Iraq war. A lot of folks thought the nation spoke by giving Democrats the Congress in November, but that still hasn't changed the war. So how will Bloomberg fix the most critical issue facing the country?
Who is Bloomberg's constituency? Is it Republicans who are desperate for a standard-bearer in the mold of Ronald Reagan? Bloomberg doesn't appeal to the GOP base -- he's liberal, from New York and is Jewish. (Be honest, if he was a hard-core conservative and a Baptist, they would be falling over him.)
He might appeal to disenchanted Democrats like Perot did, but the left is energized by the last election, and the last thing they want to do is back a candidate who may keep them out of the White House after eight years of George W. Bush.
The New York Times has reported that Bloomberg's camp has studied the Perot race, but that's technical stuff. There is no passion, excitement or a significant rallying point to jump behind a Bloomberg run. And with the possibility of Rudy Giuliani winning the GOP nomination and Sen. Hillary Clinton grabbing the Democrats' top spot, the idea of choosing between three New Yorkers is too much to handle.
At the end of the day, Michael Bloomberg is simply a rich guy looking to spend what it takes to move into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. And that simply won't cut it with the American people.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer. This is part of an occasional series of commentaries on CNN.com that offers a broad range of perspectives, thoughts and points of view. E-mail to a friend
All About Michael Bloomberg


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My daughter Shirley somehow finds the time to cook awesome meals even though whenever I call her cell, she always whispers, "Ma- you can't call me when I'm in class!!!"
I love when she emails me a recipe that she whipped up for Max or dinner guests. It's a great feeling when your kid picks up a couple of tips here and there while growing up, and then speedily takes off on their own awesome path.
Thanks for the yummy recipes, Shirl! Love you- Mommy
Baked Sweet Potato Fries:
- mix 3-4 sliced sweet potatoes, 1 packet taco seasoning mix, 1/4 olive oil
Lemon Pepper Fries:
- 3-4 sliced regular potatoes, 3 tbs lemon pepper seasoning, 1/4 cup lemon juice to taste, salt, 1/4 olive oil
Put in oven at 350 until slightly crispy.


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Wednesday wasn't hump day at Loretta's, it was mud day. Rain late in Tuesday's program left the track sloppy, then more rain Tuesday night left it worse, and then a single moto ran Wednesday morning to churn up the muck—before the mega rains started coming down. Right down into the ruts and bumps everyone created in that first moto!
Three motos raced in the slop, and they proved a true test. This is why they race three motos on three different days down here—you have to do well in all conditions to prove you're worthy of a championship in the Red Bull AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship presented by Amsoil.
You want ups and downs? Jerry Robin, everyone's favorite rider, the kid who qualified in the B class on a 1985 Honda CR250, won the first moto of the day. And he did it in everyone's favorite class—Two Stroke! But, Robin didn't do it on his trusty '85, because it wasn't so trusty. The poor thing blew up in practice, but he was loaned a 2007 Honda to race the Two-Stroke Class. And he straight up won the darned moto!
The Supermini class holeshot.
Ken Hill photo
After that moto, it rained so hard that only true mudders could thrive. Tyler McSwain, son of former Enduro and GNCC pro Steve McSwain, showed he had mud riding in his genes by dominating the 450 B moto to a scary degree. We're talking a 30-second lead in two laps, and nearly a two minute lead at the finish! Then in 450 A, Jace Owen, the rider oddly known as the top privateer of the amateur set (because in this day and age, we expect big factory support for fast ams) put a whipping on everyone else. Then it started to rain harder and harder and harder, and the action finally had to come to a stop. Yeah, you can race motocross rain or shine, but this was an exceptional amount of rain. We're talking straight deluge.
A full three hours went by while the track continued to get pounded by rain. The sun finally came out, and an hour of track work produced a (somewhat) raceable track. Racing resumed. But the mud kept giving gifts and snatching them away. In a 40+ class loaded with famous ex-pro talent like Keith Johnson, Trampas Parker, Barry Carsten and Mike Treadwell, an unknown named James Bennett grabbed the Motorcyclesuperstore.com holeshot and promptly left everyone behind. He had it dialed until he crashed with three laps to go, and stalled his bike as he picked it up. Johnson slithered past for the win, with Bennett second. All the industry people on the infield could only ask, "Who the heck is James Bennett." And that's how it works down here.
Thanks to some better weather expected soon, there's a chance we'll be racing dry motos before long here. But the shadow of these mud races will remain. In 250 B, Factory Connection Honda's Jordon Smith is the favorite, but he struggled huge in the slop until his bike finally quit. Scratch Jordon from title contention in this class. Aaron Plessinger, like McSwain, the son of an off-road star (multi-time GNCC Champion Scott Plessinger), lays a whipping on the field in the mud. That's two moto wins in two starts this week for A-Pless. By the way, Jerry Robin got the 1985 CR250 rebuilt and raced it in this B class moto. In the mud! He finished ninth. Kid is legit.
Jerry Robin (85) is legit!
Ken Hill photo
Crazier yet came the 250 A moto, which featured nearly a half dozen riders leading and crashing in the muck. Kawasaki riders Colt Nichols and Thomas Covington led early, but both crashed, then Troy Lee Honda's Shane McElrath also ran up front but then fell. The winner? Factory Connection Honda's Matt Bisceglia, who now has two moto wins in his bid for the AMA Horizon award. "I just rode smart," he explained, with riders crashing all around him. McElrath was right behind—could be a showdown looming between these two at some point.
Bisceglia was one of the few race contenders not to hit the ground at least once. For example, the loaded Supermini 2 class features the very fast Austin Forkner, who got out front early, and then, like so many others, crashed. But he dug back through the pack, getting Ramyller Alves, Derek Drake and Ashton Hayes to get back to the lead and take the moto win. It was not easy.
Aaron Plessinger shined under less than ideal conditions.
Ken Hill photo
Oh, and in the 65 (7-11) Limited class, Ty Masterpool leads, falls, and comes all the way back to win. Sense a pattern here?
The track was actually getting decent by the very end of the day, thanks to hard work and about five hours without rain. Could things be back to normal on Thursday, or Friday? Hey, they're already back to normal if you think about it—surviving a mudder is just part of the standard drill at Loretta's. See you tomorrow.


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'Get Out'
Release Date: Feb. 24, 2017
Director: Jordan Peele
Starring: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams and Bradley Whitford
Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Rating: R for violence, bloody images and language including sexual references.
Grade: A+
Obviously, I loved "Get Out." If you somehow have not seen and loved "Get Out" by now, I hope you do so immediately. What more can be said about this hugely successful movie? It's easily the best horror film of 2017 and one of the defining horror films of our generation. So many things about "Get Out" are brilliantly executed, thanks to Jordan Peele's excellent writing and directing talents. It's frightening, savvy and thought-provoking — so topical it's inspired countless analyzations, memes and major award nominations. The film follows Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a black photographer, who is going to meet his white girlfriend Rose's (Allison Williams) family for the first time. He quickly notices something off about the countryside neighborhood, the father who is swift to brag about voting for Obama, and the only two other black people present — a highly-strung maid (Betty Gabriel) and a silent groundskeeper (Marcus Henderson). As the visit goes on, the film's clever twists and turns lead the viewer on a terrifying and all too real journey. Best of all is the brilliant conclusion and electrifying final scene that seems to succinctly sum up the film's overall message.
Release Date: Feb. 17, 2017
Director: Jovanka Vuckovic, Annie Clark, Roxanne Benjamin and Karyn Kusama
Starring: Natalie Brown, Melanie Lynskey and Breeda Wool
Genre: Horror
Rating: R for horror violence, language and brief drug use.
Grade: C
I enjoy horror anthologies for a lot of reasons. I appreciate the short story format, and I love the opportunity to see multiple directors' takes on the genre. "XX" is a 2017 horror anthology featuring the work of only female directors, which is also cool. It would've been cooler if the shorts were better, but what can you do? The best piece is "The Birthday Party," also known as "The Memory Lucy Suppressed From Her Seventh Birthday That Wasn't Really Her Mom's Fault (Even Though Her Therapist Says It's Probably Why She Fears Intimacy)." This short was written and directed by indie musician Annie Clark, who performs under the stage name St. Vincent. Starring Melanie Lynskey as neurotic housewife Mary, "The Birthday Party" is the most put-together and well-acted story. It's darkly funny, slightly creepy and thoroughly entertaining. The scariest piece is the anthology's most simple, Roxanne Benjamin's "Don't Fall," which is straightforward in its depiction of a group of friends who encounter a demonic creature while camping. They hear it, then it gets 'em, and that's it. The end. Karyn Kusama, who brought us "The Invitation" last year, presents "Her Only Living Son," a complex piece that could absolutely be expanded into a full-length feature tackling the idea of Rosemary's baby growing up to be Rosemary's pubescent teenager. And, finally, Jovanka Vuckovic attempts an adaptation of a Jack Ketchum short story with "The Box." It's a thought-provoking and eerie story, but it's poorly executed and the acting is abysmal.
Release Date: March 10, 2017
Director: Julia Ducournau
Starring: Garance Marillier, Ella Rumpf and Laurent Lucas
Genre: Drama, Horror
Rating: R for aberrant behavior, bloody and grisly images, strong sexuality, nudity, language and drug use/partying.
Grade: A
"Raw" is a great horror film. It's so disturbing and bloody that viewers reportedly fainted during early screenings, but it's also very relatable! There are some really sick, depraved scenes that are all kinds of fun for gore aficionados, and some excellent character development to elevate the story beyond the surface level. Justine (Garance Marillier), a lifelong vegetarian raised in an all-vegetarian family, is heading off for her first semester at the same veterinary school her older sister Alexia (Ella Rumpf) attends. She is shocked by the unfamiliar environment and struggles to fit in. During a hazing ritual for incoming freshman, Justine is pressured to eat raw meat and finally does so after seeing her sister do the same. Unfortunately, this small taste awakens a dark thirst inside her for more. Like "Ginger Snaps" before it (which equated girls' coming of age to becoming a werewolf), "Raw" appropriately compares cannibalism to female adolescence. Despite the strict protectiveness of her upbringing, Justine eventually finds a way to become free and explore her own identity. She is no longer able to suppress her inevitable growing desires — both sexual desires and the desire to eat human flesh. It's an interesting film and a nicely-done take on the monstrosity of young adulthood.
Release Date: Sept. 8, 2017
Director: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Skarsgård and Sophia Lillis
Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller
Rating: R for violence/horror, bloody images and language.
Grade: C
"It" was definitely the high-budget, must-see horror film of the year, but I wasn't too impressed. I was hoping this remake would fill in some of the gaps where the 1990 Stephen King adaptation was lacking (there were a lot), but it didn't really do that. The 2017 "It" mostly excelled in its visuals. Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise the Dancing Clown is fabulously constructed and aesthetically impressive with his creepy, lurky smile and a costume ruffled for the gods. Several of the film's phenomenal sets seem ready to be transported directly to Universal Studios for a Halloween Horror Nights maze. But the plot was as convoluted as ever. Basically, a group of youngsters have to work together to defeat a mysterious evil being that lives in the town's sewer system, dresses in a clown costume and kidnaps children. Why does no one mention how strange this story is? It's super weird and makes no sense for this monster to appear as a clown. Like, WHY is it a clown? In the original novel, It is actually a shapeshifting demon that takes the form of your greatest fear, which is an important bit of explanation that is never, ever brought up in the film. I guess they're just assuming everyone's greatest fear is a clown with a gigantic forehead?


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The Greatness of Service
Are we seeking self-promotion? Do we aspire to greatness and think that the way to get there is to step on people on our way up the ladder? If so, then we have not understood Jesus' teaching on true greatness. ...Read More
Angels in God's Providence
Angels make up a mighty army dedicated to advancing God's purposes. This is good news for the believer, since if we are on God's side—or better, God is on our side—the angels are on our side. Knowing this gives us ...Read More
The Light of the World
Many people in our relativistic age claim that there are many lights that can illumine the path out of spiritual darkness. Eastern religions, in fact, often speak of people as receiving illumination from Buddha or another respected figure. But Jesus ...Read More
The Excellent Wife
The wisdom of Proverbs is not meant to remain "out there" in theory but is to take root in the everyday lives of God's people. The excellent wife embodies the Lord's wisdom in fulfilling her divinely appointed role and in ...Read More
Go to the Ant
Christians from the Reformed tradition believe that God has revealed Himself in Scripture and in creation. We cannot obtain saving knowledge of the Lord by observing the world around us; for that, we must have the special revelation given to ...Read More
The Diligent Hand of the Prudent Son
After a hard day's work, it can be hard to put in the requisite effort to grow in the things of the Lord. Nevertheless, if we are to grow to maturity in Christ, it is important that we be diligent ...Read More
When Others Don't Keep God's Law
It is easy to see the decline of biblical virtue around us and lash out merely in anger and dismay. While there is a proper place for righteous anger, we should never let our rage at people's failure to obey ...Read More
The Virtue of Patience
Impatience can lead to frustration, which can lead to anger. Cultivating a patient spirit by focusing on the promises of God in His Word and the work of the Spirit of the Lord will lessen frustration and reduce the anger ...Read More
God on Our Side
Augustine of Hippo writes, "From what class soever my enemies may arise, whether from the number of evil men, or from the number of evil angels; in the Lord's help, unto whom we chant the confession of praise, unto whom ...Read More
True Friendship
Although Jesus is far more than a friend to us, we are blessed indeed to be counted as friends of His (John 15:13–15). Because His love is not finally grounded in what we are but who He is, we can ...Read More


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Complete Story
President Obama Nominates Genachowski As FCC Chairman
By: John Eggerton, Multichannel News
President Barack Obama Tuesday expressed his intent to nominate Julius Genachowski to be chairman of the FCC.
Genachowski has been a tech policy advisor to the president with a background in law, policy and the business of communications.
The administration signaled the pick several weeks ago.
"I can think of no one better than Julius Genachowski to serve as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, "said Obama. "He will bring to the job diverse and unparalleled experience in communications and technology, with two decades of accomplishment in the private sector and public service. I know him as the son of immigrants who carries a deep appreciation for this country and the American dream; and as the proud father of three children working with his wife Rachel to be responsible parents in this digital age."
Genachowski, a former Harvard Law School classmate of Obama's, helped draft the Obama campaign's tech policy plan, which some at the time boiled down to "open government, open networks, and open markets."
Only days after the election, he was tapped along with another Hundt lieutenant, Blair Levin, to draft tech policy for the new administration.
Genachowski had been thought to be a top candidate for a new tech czar post Obama is creating, so long as its powers were well-defined--and it actually had powers. That job description has remained sufficiently nebulous that the top FCC post appears the more attractive to someone looking to affect communications policy.
Genachowski has a range of experience in the law, business, politics, communications, and new media to draw on.
He is co-founder of venture capital firm Rock Creek Ventures, a former adviser to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, and was a senior executive from 1997 to 2005 at Barry Diller's Internet company, IAC/InterActiveCorp. He is also former law clerk to Supreme Court Justice David Souter and retired Justice William Brennan. His congressional experience includes the staff of the Joint Select Committee on Iran-Contra and in the office of then Rep. Charles Schumer of New York.
Genachowski must still be approved by Congress, with a confirmation in the relevant Senate committee--in this case the Senate Commerce Committee Chairman by Jay Rockefeller (D-WVA)--and then a floor vote. The average elapsed time between nomination and approval is a couple of months, said one veteran nomination watcher, depending on the committee's schedule. Rockefeller's press sectretary was checking into the possible timing of a nomination hearing at press time.
Industry response poured in to Genachowski's nomination.
"We congratulate Julius Genachowski on his nomination as Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission," saidNational Cable & Telecommunications Association president Kyle McSlarrow in a statement. "He is an excellent choice, and combines the policy savvy and real-world experience that will be necessary to confront both the challenges and opportunities presented at a time of incredible change sweeping the media, communications and technology marketplace. We look forward to working with Julius and the entire commission as they seek to chart a course that contributes to our economic recovery and benefits all Americans."
Noted Public Knowledge president Gigi Sohn: "We are pleased that President Obama today announced his intent to nominate Julius Genachowski to be the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. Julius is an outstanding choice for FCC Chairman. As the architect of President-elect Obama's Technology and Innovation Plan, it is clear that he understands the importance of open networks and a regulatory environment that promotes innovation and competition to a robust democracy and a health economy."
"I have known Julius for over 15 years, both as a public servant and as a savvy and progressive businessman. He worked with me to promote the public interest in communications in his role as chief counsel to then-FCC Chairman Reed Hundt and then as an aide to Barry Diller when Diller and I were members of the Advisory Committee on the Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters (Gore Commission)."
"Julius Genachowski is one of the best-qualified appointees ever named to head the FCC," said Andrew Jay Schwartzman, president and CEO of Media Access Project. "We look forward to having a more transparently-operating FCC which will promote the free flow of information on all electronic media. The fact that Julius is a close confidant of the President is especially important, as it demonstrates the high priority that this Administration will place on developing proactive media and telecommunications policy."
Two current members of the FCC also weighed in on the nomination.
"President Obama has made an excellent choice in announcing his intent to nominate Julius Genachowski to be the next Chairman of the FCC," said the current acting chairman, Michael Copps. "Julius has the knowledge, experience and dedication to lead this Agency forward as we tackle the many challenges confronting the country - and the Commission. I look forward to the prospect of working with him on a communications agenda focused on serving consumers and the public interest. He will find here a talented and energized team of public servants committed to precisely this goal. I wish him a successful Senate confirmation."
"I warmly congratulate my friend Julius Genachowski on his nomination by President Barack Obama to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission," said Democratic Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein. "He is the right person at the right time for the job. His leadership, experience and intelligence will serve him and the American people well, as he takes the helm of the FCC during this pivotal time for our country and the agency."
Added FCC commissioner Robert McDowell: "I congratulate Julius Genachowski on his nomination to be chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. He will bring a valuable perspective to the Commission with his experience not only in government but also in the private sector. I look forward to working closely with Mr. Genachowski on the many important communications challenges that lie ahead for the American people."
It is actually the second round of congratulations, given that Genachoswki had been the presumptive nominee for the past six or seven weeks. The first round came in early January after sources that Genachowski was the one.
Source: http://www.multichannel.com/article/189410-President_Obama_Nominates_Genachowski_As_FCC_Chairman.php?rssid=20059


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31 U.S. Code § 3105. Savings bonds and savings certificates
Historical and Revision Notes
1982 Act
Revised Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
31:757c(a)(1st sentence), (b)(1)(1st sentence), (d)(1st sentence).
Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, 40 Stat. 288, § 22(a)–(d)(1st sentence); added Feb. 4, 1935, ch. 5, § 6, 49 Stat. 21; restated Feb. 19, 1941, ch. 7, § 3, 55 Stat. 7; Mar. 26, 1951, ch. 19, § 1, 65 Stat. 26; Apr. 20, 1957, Pub. L. 85–17, § 1, 71 Stat. 15; Sept. 22, 1959, Pub. L. 86–346, § 101(b), 73 Stat. 621; Dec. 1, 1969, Pub. L. 91–130, §§ 1, 2(b), 83 Stat. 272; Aug. 24, 1970, Pub. L. 91–388, § 3, 84 Stat. 830; Mar. 15, 1976, Pub. L. 94–232, § 4, 90 Stat. 217; Apr. 2, 1979, Pub. L. 96–5, § 4, 93 Stat. 8; Oct. 3, 1980, Pub. L. 96–377, § 1, 94 Stat. 1512.
31:757c(b)(1)(2d sentence proviso, last sentence).
31:757c(a)(last sentence), (b)(1)(2d sentence less proviso, 3d, 4th sentences), (c).
Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, 40 Stat. 288, § 22(h); added Apr. 11, 1943, ch. 52, § 3, 57 Stat. 63; restated Apr. 3, 1945, ch. 51, § 3, 59 Stat. 47; Oct. 17, 1968, Pub. L. 90–595, § 1, 82 Stat. 1155.
Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, 40 Stat. 288, § 22(j); added July 1, 1973, Pub. L. 93–53, § 3(a), 87 Stat. 135.
In subsection (a), the words "through the United States Postal Service or otherwise" and "Treasury" before "savings" are omitted as surplus. The words "and may buy, redeem, and make refunds under section 3111 of this title" are added because of the restatement. The words "for expenditures authorized by law" are substituted for "to meet any public expenditures authorized by law, and to retire any outstanding obligations of the United States bearing interest or issued on a discount basis" for clarity and because they are inclusive. The word "combination" is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (b)(1), the words "Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection" are added for clarity. The word "conditions" is substituted for "terms" for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. The word "calendar" is omitted as surplus. The words "(or, beginning on October 1, 1976, if later)" are omitted as executed.
In subsection (b)(3), the words "at their option" and "upon them" are omitted as surplus. The last sentence is substituted for 31:757c(b)(2)(B) for clarity.
In subsection (c), before clause (1), the words "subject to the limitation imposed by section 757b of this title" are omitted as surplus. The words "issued under this section" are added for clarity. In clause (3), the words "terms and" are omitted as surplus. The words "consistent with subsections (b) to (d) of this section" are omitted as unnecessary because of the restatement. In clause (4), the words "before maturity" are omitted as surplus. In clause (6), the words "a way to evidence payments for" are substituted for "issue, or cause to be issued, stamps, or may provide any other means to evidence payments for" because they are inclusive. The text of 31:757c(c)(last sentence) is omitted because section 5 of the Public Debt Act of 1942 (ch. 205, 56 Stat. 189), ended the authority of the Postmaster General to issue stamps. In clause (7), the word "maximum" is added for clarity. The words "at any one time" are omitted as surplus.
In subsection (d), before clause (1), the words "under such regulations as he may prescribe", "or permit", and "commercial banks, trust companies, savings banks, savings and loan associations, building and loan associations (including cooperative banks), credit unions, cash depositories, industrial banks, and similar" are omitted as surplus. In clause (1), the words "Commonwealth of the Philippine Islands" in section 22(h) of the Second Liberty Bond Act (ch. 56, 40 Stat. 288) are omitted because of Proclamation No. 2695 (July 24, 1946, 60 Stat. 1352) proclaiming the independence of the Philippines. In clause (3), the words "department or equivalent" are omitted as surplus. In clause (5), the word "duly" is omitted as surplus.
In subsection (e)(1), the words "by regulations" are omitted as unnecessary. The words "a way" are added, and the words "However, a check may become a bond" are substituted for "This subsection shall apply", for clarity.
In subsection (e)(2), the words "Except as provided in paragraph (2)" are omitted as unnecessary. The words "is deemed to be" are substituted for "shall be treated for all purposes of law as" because a legal fiction is intended. The words "calendar" and "In the case of . . . under this subsection" are omitted as surplus.
1983 Act
Revised Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
31 App.:757c(b)(1) (2d sentence).
Sept. 3, 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, § 289(a)(1)(A), (B), (D), 96 Stat. 571.
31 App.:757c(b)(3)
31 App.:757c(b)(2).
31 App.:757c(b)(1) (3d sentence).
Sept. 3, 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, § 289(a)(1)(C), 96 Stat. 571.
In subsection (b)(1), before clause (A), the words "and except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection" are added for clarity. In clause (B), the word "change'' is substituted for "provide for increases and decreases in" to eliminate unnecessary words. The word "investment" is omitted the 2d time it appears as surplus.
1994—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–465 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows:
"(b)(1) With the approval of the President and except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Secretary may—
"(A) fix the investment yield for savings bonds; and
"(B) change the investment yield on an outstanding savings bond, except that the yield on a bond for the period held may not be decreased below the minimum yield for the period guaranteed on the date of issue.
"(2) The investment yield on a series E savings bond shall be at least 4 percent a year compounded semiannually beginning on the first day of the month beginning after the date of issue of the bond and ending on the last day of the month before the date of redemption.
"(3) With the approval of the President, the Secretary may prescribe regulations providing that—
"(A) owners of series E and H savings bonds may keep the bonds after maturity or after a period beyond maturity during which the bonds have earned interest and continue to earn interest at rates consistent with paragraph (1) of this subsection; and
"(B) series E and H savings bonds earning a different rate of interest before the regulations are prescribed shall earn a rate of interest consistent with paragraph (1)."
1986—Subsecs. (a), (e)(1). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted "Internal Revenue Code of 1986" for "Internal Revenue Code of 1954".
1983—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–452, § 1(6), added par. (1) and redesignated former par. (1) as (2), in par. (2) as so redesignated, struck out provision that except as provided in former par. (2), the interest rate on, and the issue price of, savings bonds and savings certificates and the conditions under which they might be redeemed might not yield more than 5.5 percent a year compounded semiannually, struck out former par. (2) which provided that the Secretary with the President's approval might fix the yield on savings bonds at any percent per year compounded semiannually, but that total increases in a six-month period might not exceed one percent a year compounded semiannually, redesignated provisions of par. (3) as subpars. (A) and (B), and, in subpar. (B), as so redesignated, substituted provisions that series E and H savings bonds earning a different rate of interest before the regulations are prescribed shall earn a rate of interest consistent with par. (1) for provision that series E and H savings bonds earning a higher rate of interest before the regulations were prescribed would continue to earn a higher rate of interest consistent with par. (1).
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 97–452, § 1(7), struck out "(expressed in terms of the maturity value)" after "denominations".
Pub. L. 103–465, title VII, § 745(b), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 5011, provided that:
Ex. Ord. No. 11981, Mar. 29, 1977, 42 F.R. 17095, provided:
By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and statutes of the United States of America, and as President of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. (a) There is hereby established the Interagency Committee for the Purchase of United States Savings Bonds (hereinafter referred to as the Committee). The Committee shall consist of a Chairman, who is to be appointed by the President for a term of two years, and the heads of Federal agencies. Each member of the Committee is responsible for the success of the Payroll Savings Program in his agency.
(b) Members of the Committee may designate an alternate, who shall serve as a member of the Committee whenever the regular member is unable to attend any meeting of the Committee. The alternate member may be authorized to act for the regular member in all appropriate matters relating to the Committee. In the case of an executive or military department, a Deputy Secretary or an Under Secretary may be designated as an alternate member. In the case of any other Federal agency, the alternate member shall be designated from among the officials thereof of appropriate rank.
(c) The Chairman will designate the Federal Payroll Savings Officer of the Savings Bonds Division, Department of the Treasury, to act as his liaison officer with members of the Committee.
Sec. 2. The Committee shall perform the following functions and duties:
(a) Formulating and presenting to the Federal agencies a plan of organization and sales promotion whereby the Payroll Savings Plan and Military Bond Allotment Plan, hereinafter referred to as the Plans, will be made available to all uniformed and civilian personnel of the government for the purchase of Savings Bonds, and whereby all such personnel will be urged to participate.
(b) Assisting the Federal agencies in installing the Plans and in solving any special problems that may develop in connection therewith.
(c) Acting as a clearinghouse for Federal agencies in compiling and disseminating such statistics and information with respect to the implementation and sales promotion of the Plans as may be appropriate.
(d) Recommending to the Federal agencies any methods for improvements in the program adopted pursuant to the Plans.
(e) The Committee will meet, and will be available to meet with the President, at least once each calendar year and at such other times as may be necessary to carry out its responsibilities.
Sec. 3. Each Federal agency shall institute and put into operation, as soon as practicable, a plan of organization and sales promotion recommended by the Committee, with such modifications as particular circumstances may render advisable.
Sec. 4. As used in this Order, the term "Federal agencies" means departments, agencies, and establishments of the Executive branch of the Government.
Sec. 5. This Order supersedes Executive Order No. 11532 of June 2, 1970.
Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 289(b), Sept. 3, 1982, 96 Stat. 57, provided that for a savings bond issued before the 30th day after Sept. 3, 1982, for purposes of sections 757c and 757c–2 of former Title 31, the minimum yield for the period held is the scheduled investment yield for the period in effect on the 30th day.


text:
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Hotel & Meeting Site
Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel
1551 N. Thoreau Dr.
Schaumburg, Illinois 60173 USA
Phone: 1-847-303-4100 / Fax: 1-847-303-4199
NCER 2013 will be held at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center just outside of Chicago. The Renaissance has 148,000 square feet of modern meeting space and will comfortably accommodate NCER's extensive meeting requirements. A northwestern suburb of Chicago, Schaumburg is part of the Golden Corridor just under 30 miles from downtown Chicago and approximately 10 miles northwest of O'Hare International Airport. Schaumburg features the Woodfield Mall, the 9th largest mall in America, which has over 300 stores.
Most notably, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Chicago Wilderness awarded the Renaissance the 2010 Conservation and Native Landscaping Award. The award recognizes seven and a half acres of ponds, wetlands and prairie plantings that surround the hotel. Native plantings were incorporated in the hotel grounds replacing a majority of the grass and ornamental plants originally found in the area. These new plants help trap pollutants, clean storm water and reduce runoff. After the new plants established themselves in the environment, the use of herbicides was cut in half, maintenance hours were reduced by one third and water use has been reduced to only watering the limited turf grass and annual flowers found throughout the property. NCER attendees will enjoy the landscape by utilizing walkways, bridges and overlooks that surround the property's natural areas.
Special Group Rate Information
The Renaissance Schaumburg is pleased to offer the prevailing Federal Per Diem rate, currently at $155 per night plus applicable taxes (currently 14%) for single and double occupancy in standard rooms. The hotel offers complimentary 24-hour health club access to all hotel guests.
Reservations must be made by Friday, June 14, 2013 to guarantee availability. Please be aware the block of rooms may fill before the deadline, so we urge you to make your reservation as soon as possible.
Meeting attendees staying in a hotel other than the Renaissance will be charged a $75.00 facility usage fee.
A dedicated booking website has been created for NCER attendees to make, modify and cancel hotel reservations online, as well as take advantage of any room upgrades, amenities or other services offered by the hotel.
To make your reservation online, please click the following link:
You may also call the hotel directly at (800) 468-3571 OR (847) 303-4100 to make a guest room reservation. Identify yourself as an attendee of the NCER 2013 so your reservation is coded to our group. A first night room deposit or credit card guarantee is required. You must cancel within three (3) days of arrival or forfeit the first night's room and tax deposit. If you are tax exempt in Illinois, you will need to furnish the appropriate exempt form from your organization and payment must be in the form of a government issued check or credit card.
Click on this link to view the hotels FACT SHEET with detailed information about guest rooms, parking, internet access, information on the fitness center as well as maps, directions and other property information.
The average rate for a taxi from Chicagos OHare International Airport to Schaumburg is $35.00. From Midway it is $60-70. Because of the variation in arrival dates and times, individuals are on their own to arrange transportation to and from the airport. If you need information on taxi or shuttle service, visit the travel section of the NCER web site at:
Midway is smaller than OHare so easier to negotiate. Both airports are roughly the same distance to Schaumburg about 13-15 miles. NOTE: Southwest flies to Midway. USAir only flies to OHare, Delta flies to both and the fares are comparable on the major carriers.
Daily self parking is complimentary. Valet parking is $14 daily +tax and includes in/out privileges.
Internet Access
Complimentary wireless internet is available to hotel guests in the public and lounge areas. For in-room access, a Guest Room Wired for Business Package may be purchased for $14.95 per night. The package includes high speed internet access, unlimited local phone calls, and unlimited long-distance phone calls within the US.
Check-in Time: 4:00pm | Check-out Time: 12:00pm
Suggested Customary Gratuities for Hotel Staff
No porterage or maid gratuities will be included or automatically charged to your room; both are at your discretion.
CLICK HERE to open PDF of Program Book including
Conference Abstracts
Conference Deadlines
Abstract Submission Deadline:
- January 7, 2013
Notification of Selected Presenters:
- March 1, 2013
Deadline for Presenters to Register & Confirm Participation:
- April 15, 2013
Early Registration Deadline:
- May 17, 2013
Hotel Registration Deadline:
- June 14, 2013
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