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I don't know if this will be much of a post. I just need to get some things off my chest and think through some things aloud. So some brief information about me, I work at a community college as an academic advisor and recently took over advising nursing students. I was in a meeting the other day, and one of the women who works in the nursing department in an administrative capacity said she would NEVER have a vaginal birth after a c-section because of all the horror stories that she's heard from the nursing instructors. I got a little scared and defensive because my son was born via c-section and if we have another child, I absolutely want to try for a VBAC. The woman was talking about how it is so dangerous to have a VBAC compared to a c-section, and I spoke up and said that I had heard the opposite, that a c-section was more dangerous or just as dangerous as a VBAC. Then she went on about how the last doctor at our local hospital who performed a VBAC lost the mother in the birth and said, "Never again."
I guess I'm a little scared now about a VBAC, but I know some of this fear has to do with being exposed to the medical attitude about birth. The nearby hospital and its employees are, in my opinion, conservative in their views, especially since VBACs are banned. Some doctors in the next city over will do a VBAC, but I guess they are hard to find. I live near the Wisconsin border, and there is a hospital in the nearest city in WI that will perform VBACs. I've even emailed someone there, and a VBAC does sound like a real possibility there.
Anyway, I guess I am just looking for some reassurance that a VBAC is a possibility and that there are things I can do to prepare myself to ensure that my next birth goes how I would like it to go. Thanks for reading.
Views: 36
Heather, in my opinion VBAC can certainly be a safe choice. If you want to learn more about the risk/benefit profile, I like http://consensus.nih.gov/2010/vbacstatement.htm and the acog statement (which I can only find as a PDF, but just google "Practice Bulletin #115, "Vaginal Birth after Previous Cesarean Delivery," August 2010 issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology and you'll find it.")
The short answer is that VBAC is more dangerous for the baby, but repeat c-section is more dangerous for the mother. But for good candidates, the absolute risks to both you and the baby are very low, so both choices are really very safe.
I had a c-section with my first and was an excellent candidate for VBAC. I was gung-ho about it before I got pregnant again, but less certain when I actually was pregnant (my pelvic floor suddenly became my big concern. All the moms I knew would joke about how they leaked pee when they sneezed, and I didn't have that problem. It really started to worry me after a while!). Anyway, my OB was really behind VBAC though, so I was going to try for it anyway. Fortunately in the end, my daughter was positioned terribly and I was 4 days past my due date with no sign of cervical change or labor, so I finally got my OB to agree to a c-section. It went perfectly and I'm glad I went that way. Of course, if I'd had an equally easy labor and recovery, I'm sure I'd be saying I'm glad I VBACed.
I'm not sure what you can really do to prepare for a VBAC. I tried to be fit, and I did spinning babies faithfully (positioning was a problem with my first baby too, but not the cause for the c-section). Spinning babies didn't work, but at least I felt like I tried! Finding a supportive provider is big too I think. I knew I'd need one that was ok with waiting until 41 weeks to schedule a repeat c-section because I went late with my first too.
Anyway, good luck!
Hi Heather,
I had a pretty rough experience recovering from an emergency c-section with my 1st baby. It was painful both physically & emotionally (I really missed out on the bonding that happens right at birth. During surgery many other things are going on that interfere with that process.)
Then, when I got pregnant with my 2nd baby, I had a hard time finding doctors who supported VBACs. I interviewed a midwife who had stopped doing VBACs, but I would've been her first in almost a decade, which made both of us nervous. Finally, through ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) I found supportive women who believed in natural birth & encouraged homebirths & vbacs for moms who desired them. Through them I found a group of doctors who were incredibly supportive of my desire to have a vaginal delivery, even when at 38 weeks just before my daughter was born at 39 weeks I developed high blood pressure. These doctors kept an eye on baby & me, even during labor & delivered my baby safely. I thank God for a supportive hubby, family & friends who prayed & helped us through to a wonderful birth.
Now I am grateful for my two babies & healthy births (c-section & Vbac), but I am extra grateful for the healing that I experienced as a result.
I don't know your spiritual beliefs, but famous midwife Ina May talks about spiritual birth and it made a difference for me to know that God was with me every step of the way, and that he would "deliver" me. (Psalm 91:15) Might sound crazy, but it really helped me! :)
My sister was hoping for a drug free first birth, but after 3 hours of pushing finally accepted a c-section. She then had multiple post-partum issues with painful scar, infection at her incision site which migrated to her back...terrible stuff. She was so scared to have another baby at all.
She did her research and found that for women who have only had one section, have waited at least 2 years to have the next baby, had a horizontal suture, and there was something about double suturing at the incision site, the risk of rupture is the same as someone who has never had a c-section. It was also important not to have pitocin either for induction or augmentation...as that increases the risk of rupture.
She went into labor two days past her due date, labored at home for 6 hours, in the car for the hour and 30 minute drive to the nearest hospital that would do a VBAC, got to the delivery room and pushed out my beautiful niece in three pushes. We were all amazed!
She has had so much HEALING because of her birth. Her first OB told her that she was not able to give birth vaginally and that's why she had to have a section. She proved him wrong.
It's possible. It's the best thing for most moms...but do your own research and then hold firm.
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News: To(e) The Line: PCC Men's Swimmer Repeats SCC 100 Butterfly Title
For the second straight year, Pasadena City College men's swimmer Stephen To won the 100-yard butterfly title on day 2 of the 2013 South Coast Conference Championships held Friday at Chaffey College.
To (pronounced toe), who is the CCCAA defending state champion in the longer 200 fly, swam a slightly slower time of 51.69 seconds than his winning mark last year (51.47). The win was the first by the Lancers' men's team at the conference finals.
To is the sixth PCC swimmer under head coach Terry Stoddard (took over program in 2000) to be a repeat conference champion, all occuring since 2007. He is the first since Nick Lao (2006-2007) to repeat as 100 butterfly champ.
Lancer Michael Chiodo swam a 54.02 time to place second in the 100 backstroke. Willie Nitinthorn placed fourth in the 400 individual medley (4:36.94) while Anthony Vega-Fujioka scored an eighth place medal with a personal best 4:54.02.
John Darrin Smith also hit his personal best with his 11th place showing in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.39). In the 800 freestyle relay, the Lancers took sixth at 9:05.53 as three different swimmers posted their personal best 200 splits in Jairo Albayero (2:14), Jordan Porchia (2:33) and Vega-Fujioka (2:12). The lead swimmer was Agasi Gukasyan, who had the fastest split with a 2:05.
PCC stands in sixth place going into the final day of the SCC Championships on Saturday, April 20.
[Photo--Lancer Stephen To is a happy camper moments after becoming a repeat conference champion in the 100-yard butterfly Friday at Chaffey College, image by Richard Quinton, sports information photographer.]
Release Date: 04/20/2013


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Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Tony Parker had 31 points and eight assists
in the San Antonio Spurs' 11th straight win, a 104-94 triumph over the
Minnesota Timberwolves.
Danny Green added 28 points for the Spurs, who have prevailed in 20 of their
last 23 contests overall.
Nikola Pekovic tallied 21 points and 10 rebounds for Minnesota, which has
dropped 13 of its last 15 tilts.
The Sports Network


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Last week Gov. Deal made official his position on the expansion of Medicaid in Georgia under the Affordable Care Act referred to by opponents as Obamacare. As soon as the news cycle with Deal's position was complete, the spin began and oh the wailing and gnashing of teeth! Seniors and children are going to be thrown in the streets. Diabetics will lose limbs. Hospitals will be forced to close their doors. And on and on. All because of the supposed evil being perpetrated upon the citizens of Georgia.
So how is it that Congress can pass such a sweeping law and Gov. Deal simply decides that Georgia would not participate you might ask? Simply put: the Supreme Court of the United States said he could. In the ruling earlier this year upholding the Affordable Care Act based on the Congress' taxation powers, Chief Justice John Roberts also said the federal government can offer more funding to states for the purpose of expanding Medicaid but could not punish states that opt not to participate in the program by withholding existing funds (see page 5 of the ACA ruling). Georgia joins a growing list of states that have already announced they too will not participate in this expansion of Medicaid due to budget concerns.
Governing is about making choices and Gov. Deal is doing what he believes is best for our state as a whole. If you have been caught up in the hype, relax. Nothing has changed and no, the sky is not falling. The same programs that have been there for decades remain in place. Nobody is being thrown out in the streets. However, about 1 in 5 Georgians will remain without health insurance. This fact remains regardless of the spin coming from those who support the governor's decision.
What kind of people are these? What of their compassion for the poor and underprivileged among us? What indeed! Let me ask a question: why are we counting on government to assist the needy among us? Do you know how many charitable organizations there are in Cobb and Cherokee Counties that are trying to fill that gap? Don't take my word for it (go check for yourself) but I can tell you that are a lot of them. Good men and women with the courage of their convictions trying to make a difference.
Now, let me take this a step closer to home. How many in our pews are giving to charity? I'm not just talking about your church either. When was the last time you supported one of the fantastic charities here in Cobb and/or Cherokee County? Cobb Pregnancy Services, Tommy Nobis Center, The HopeQuest Ministry Group, and MUST Ministries (Cobb & Cherokee) to name only a few all need financial assistance. Here's the kicker: they need volunteers too!
Well, I am calling out my fellow Christians on this one. When was the last time you volunteered to serve others in your community? Again, I'm not just talking about your local church though I will say far too many congregations are inward focused rather than focused on reaching the community with the Good News (in my opinion). I am talking about us individually. Writing checks is goo but giving a few hours a month is better! Regardless of what you may think of Gov. Deal's decision, people of faith can make a difference in the lives of those among us in need. That is, if we are willing to do so. Are you?
About Christopher:
Christopher is a recent graduate of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary of Liberty University where he earned the Master of Religious Education. He also holds MBA Finance and BS Management degrees. A former resident of Powder Springs, Christopher and his family now reside in Woodstock. Having enthusiastically embraced social media in 2007, he blogs regularly at www.chris-sanchez.com and is very active on both Facebook and Twitter.


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Royals Game Preview: October 2
The Royals play host to Detroit tonight in the next-to-last game of 2012. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera is chasing history as he tries to become baseball's first Triple Crown winner since 1967. Cabrera currently leads the A.L. in all three Triple Crown categories (batting average, home runs and RBI). The 7:10 start will be on FOX Sports Kansas City and the Royals Radio Network.
Here's a look at the lineups:
Detroit: Berry – CF, Santiago – 2B, Cabrera -3B, Fielder – 1B, Young – DH, Avila – C, Boesch – RF, Kelly – LF, Worth – SS. Fister – RHP
Kansas City: Dyson – CF, Escobar – SS, Gordon – LF, Butler – 1B, Perez – C, Francoeur – RF, Pena – DH, Abreu – 2B, Falu – 3B, Guthrie – RHP
Royals Game Notes (PDF file): Game_161_vs._Detroit
Trivia Note: We usually have a Royals-related note…but this note is very rare, so we'll pass it along. Miguel Cabrera enters tonight with 203 hits, 40 doubles, 44 home runs and 137 RBI. It is just the fourth time in Major League history that a player has reached all of those numbers in the same season. The other three times – Babe Ruth (1921) and Lou Gehrig (twice, 1927 and 1934).


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Used Trailers
Nooteboom 7-Axle MasttransporterV003504 (2008)
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Nooteboom Modular trailerV003491 (2009)
ScheuerleV003486 (2011)
Scheuerle 5-Axle Low-loader + 3 axle InterdollyV003469 (2015)
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Nooteboom 4-axle TelescopicV003462 (2013)
Cometto Modular trailerV003454 (2003)
ES-GE 6-Axle StepframetrailerV003453 (2004)
ES-GE 5-Axle TelescopicV003452 (2004)
Nooteboom 5-Axle Low-loader + 3 axle InterdollyV003448 (2006)
Nooteboom Low-loaderV003447 (2004)
Scheuerle Modular trailerV003443 (2007)
Nooteboom LiftadaptersetV003439 (2007)
DO TRAILERS 4-Axle StepframetrailerV003438 (1992)
Floor 5-Axle StepframetrailerV003435 (2008)
Scheuerle Bolsters for use of longmatrial dollyV003428 (2004)
Nooteboom 4-Axle StepframetrailerV003425 (1993)
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Nooteboom 3-Axle Low-loaderV003412 (2007)
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Hi Forum
we have a problem with 'Out of Office' (=vacation, = auto-reply) messages.
Our setup
A=an external mail account
B=Mail gateway with a user configured email forward (MX record) to 'C'.
C=Zimbra server
1) a mail from 'C' to 'C' triggers an OoO mail.
2) a mail from 'B' to 'C' triggers an OoO mail.
3) a mail from 'A' over 'B' to 'C' will be delivered to 'C', but triggers no OoO.
I've setup a new OE ZCS 7.0.0 (one host, Ubuntu 10.04) with only one domain ( it should not be an domain alias problem).
Logfiles: For point 3) there is no attempt of zimbra sending any messages.
1) and 2) are fine (entry in the logfile, mail delivered and received).
Assuming the auto-reply is handled over sieve (I'm not sure if this is correct): are there any sieve log files ?
Thanks a lot.


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The average traveler doesn't want to spend their life savings on a decent hotel room. At the Four Points Hotels by Sheraton, you don't have to. The motto at Four Points Hotels is simple - "simple pleasures." The staff at Four Points Hotels by Sheraton knows exactly what their customers need and want: great amenities, a comfortable bed, and prices you can afford. At Four Points Hotels by Sheraton you can be assured you will receive value, comfort and friendliness. What more could you want?
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Posted by emasssoccer2010
I thought that Winchester was the best team CC has played (including very good LS, NA, and AB teams). If it didn't seem like high level soccer, I would submit it was because Winchester played such high level defense. They were very fast, very physical, and very hungry....making CC have to do everything quite a bit faster than they would have preferred. Winchester were the bigger kids, but like good wrestlers they would scrum with low, strong hips often running CC off the ball for much of the first half. CC held their ground better in the second half. They got used to the defensive pressure and intensity, started winning their fair share of headers, and kept the ball on the ground where they seemed the better club. CC did get the better of the play after half, though they still needed a very good game from their goalie. These were different style teams, but both seemed plenty worthy of getting to the semis.
A couple of notes: I would say that the CC had great boisterous fans, but they were sometimes annoying and whiny.
I would say the the Winchester coaching staff had their kids coached up and ready, but they were also very whiny.
Tough, physical game to ref, but the ref didn't deserve the constant whining of both of these groups.
Girl's Belmont--Danvers game was a peach, unfortunately decided by the dreaded shoot-out.


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I just want to say Muchas Gracias. in my firts write to zimbra team and and members.
Sorry by my poor english.
I successfull upgrade Zimbra from 4.5.3 to 4.5.6 on Centos 4, and my problems like (reply not working, no access with iexplorer) disappeared. all of them with only one step. Gracias, muchas gracias.
Rosendo Guzman Nogueda
Acapulco, Gro.


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Testimony :: Alexandra Arriaga
Director of Government Relations - Amnesty International USA
Opening Remarks
Mr. Chairman and members of the Commission, thank you for the opportunity to testify at this important hearing.
Amnesty International is concerned by the prevalence of anti-Semitism today and the disturbing wave of incidents occurring in Europe in recent months. Amnesty International strongly condemns all anti-Semitic acts and firmly opposes the recent wave of attacks in Europe. These acts are violations of the most fundamental human rights committed on the basis of an individual's religion or identity. Not only is the victim harmed, but also the community, which becomes the target of fear, intimidation, and other forms of harassment. These attacks demonstrate the depths of intolerance against religious, racial, cultural and national differences and the dangers intolerance breeds. Amnesty International unconditionally opposes anti-Semitism, and all such racist and threatening acts.
Mr. Chairman, I will focus my remarks on general trends and possible contributing factors, comment on government responses, and offer policy recommendations.
Amnesty International
Throughout the last forty years, Amnesty International has monitored human rights violations around the world and witnessed the persistence of anti-Semitism and other forms of racism. Since its founding in 1961, Amnesty International has worked on religious freedom and religious persecution issues and has called for the unconditional release of any person imprisoned for freedom of conscience, including religion. The first Amnesty International conference was a Conference on Religious Persecution, held in Paris in 1961, and the first of the organization's investigative missions was in 1961 to Czechoslovakia to document and protest the imprisonment of Archbishop Beran and to gather information about the conditions of other religious prisoners.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Amnesty International took up cases of persecution against Jews and other religious minorities. Amnesty International was especially active in spotlighting the cases of Jewish Refuseniks, speaking out against their harassment, intimidation, and beatings; opposing the house searches, and intimidation in synagogues; and calling for their immediate release from psychiatric hospitals and labor camps. Amnesty International persistently raised these cases with officials and helped bring public attention to the climate of persecution and discrimination against Jews and other targeted minorities.
Today, Amnesty International continues to advocate for the rights of individuals who face harassment and persecution because of their faith or identity. We currently are working on behalf of the attacks on Jews in Russia, Jehovah's witnesses in Armenia and Azerbaijan, Baptists in Turkmenistan, Copts in Egypt, Baha'is in Iran, minority Shiites in Saudi Arabia, Christians and Tibetans in China, Muslims in Uzbekistan, Catholics in Vietnam, too name just a few examples. And throughout its history, Amnesty International has had occasion to condemn anti-Semitic acts against Jews or Jewish property the world over. But there is more we need to do.
This year, the organization has set a course to redouble its efforts to collect information on recent attacks, document incidents, monitor the progress by officials investigating the cases, and take further action as needed to ensure victims are protected and perpetrators are brought to justice. We are also launching two campaigns in the months ahead: one on human rights in Russia and another on identity-based discrimination. Both will focus attention on anti-Semitism and, we hope, will help bring governments to account for their actions to prevent and prosecute such acts. They will also include educational materials to help human rights activists oppose such incidents.
Trends and Contributing Factors
Amnesty International condemns anti-Semitism in all its forms. In recent months, we are deeply saddened by the alarming rise in the number of anti-Semitic incidents worldwide. The attacks include threatening hate mail, death threats, verbal and physical abuse against Jews, arson and other forms of destruction of synagogues, and desecration of cemeteries and other religious sites. Amnesty International strongly condemns the wave of attacks, and calls on governments to redouble their efforts to combat racism in all its forms and to bring to justice all suspected perpetrators of hate crimes.
It is impossible and I would not want even to attempt to address the reasoning behind such abusive attacks, but it may be worthwhile to consider factors that might be contributing to the escalation of incidents at this time.
Heightened Tensions in the Middle East
There were numerous anti-Semitic incidents throughout the last year. There was a notable increase, however, beginning this year in March as tensions and violence increased in the Middle East. Since the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, hundreds of attacks have taken place worldwide. These attacks are wrong. They are anti-Semitic attacks against innocent men, women, and children. They are racist, discriminatory, and hateful attacks that cannot be justified under any circumstances.
We are especially concerned that legitimate criticism and debate about Middle East policy, in some instances, has degenerated into racist epithets and anti-Semitic attacks. I would like to offer as an illustration an incident that took place recently in the United States. The Washington Post on Sunday (May 19, 2002) carried an article by William Booth about heightened tension on college campuses where peaceful demonstrations have turned into hateful, racist, and intolerant attacks. At San Francisco State University, pro-Israel demonstrators were met by pro-Palestinian counter-demonstrators and the event degenerated; both sides reportedly exchanged insults and epithets. University President Robert Corrigan is quoted as saying that "a small but terribly destructive number of pro-Palestinian demonstrators . . . abandoned themselves to intimidating behavior and statements too hate-filled to repeat." According to students, the counter-demonstrators "were screaming that Hitler should have finished the job" and "they called us . . . terrorists."
Criticism of specific Israeli actions and policies must not become the basis for violent attacks on Jews and Jewish institutions. This devastating incident is not isolated and clearly illustrates a case in which what might have been legitimate views in opposition to Israeli policy transformed into hateful statements against Jews. This is anti-Semitism.
Taken to the next step, such hatred is extremely dangerous. Take for example the attack in Antwerp, Belgium during Passover this spring, in which a mob of an estimated 700 people staged a demonstration on De Keyserlei, a broad avenue leading toward the old Jewish district of the city. The mob shouted, "Sharon is Hitler" and "Stop the Palestinian genocide." Police erected a barricade to protect the Jewish neighborhood. Several demonstrators slipped through and attacked a 17-year old religious girl in a wheelchair, threw Molotov cocktails at property, and ransacked a kosher bakery. Police arrested 80 rioters before restoring order; reportedly, they are currently investigating these attacks.
It is a travesty that such incidents are occurring the around the world. Last month in Tunisia, for example, a driver rammed a truck bomb into an ancient synagogue on the island of Djerba. The bomber killed 17 people, most of them German and French tourists. The victims of this attack were targeted simply because they were in a synagogue, an identifiably "Jewish" place. Amnesty International has condemned these acts and called on officials to hold accountable those who carried out these crimes.
Such crimes have no place in the legitimate discussion over what is happening in the Middle East today. The perpetrators carried out anti-Semitic acts against individuals solely because they were perceived to be Jews or associated with Jews. We deplore such racist attacks.
Historical Context of Anti-Semitism
The recent resurgence in anti-Semitism must also be considered in the context of Europe's history. Economic and political dislocations across Europe have led to blaming scapegoats for problems, including wrongfully blaming Jews and other minorities as scapegoats. For instance, the ancient "blood libel" accusation has been revived in Russia, in which Jews are alleged to kill Christian children for sacrificial purposes. There has also been a revival of the notorious Protocols of the Elders of Zion, a book known to have been concocted by the tsarist secret police under Tzar Nicolas II about one hundred years ago. (It describes alleged plans for a world Jewish conspiracy including control over the media.) And fueling the Holocaust was Hitler's ideology that viewed Jews as an inferior race. Today, the language used to express racism often takes the form of derogatory and insulting language describing Jews.
The State Department Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2001 states that in Russia, for example, "anti-Semitic themes continue to figure prominently in some local publications around the country, unchallenged by local authorities. However, traditionally anti-Semitic publications with large distribution, such as the newspaper Zavtra, while still pursuing such anti-Semitic themes as the portrayal of Russian oligarchs as exclusively Jewish, appear to be more careful than in the past about using crude anti-Semitic language."
Anti-Semitism remains among the most common expressions of ethnic and religious intolerance and xenophobia today, particularly in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe, but in many other regions as well. European leaders have a special obligation to protect the continent's remaining Jewish communities, six decades after the Holocaust. Recent attacks are taking place within an atmosphere of inflamed and ugly rhetoric.
In England, Oxford University Professor Tom Paulin told the Egyptian Al-Ahram Weekly on-line edition that he had "nothing but hatred" for "Brooklyn-born Jewish settlers," who "should be shot." It is deplorable that the Italian newspaper La Stampa recently depicted a baby Jesus looking up from the manger at an Israeli tank, saying "Don't tell me they want to kill me again." Such a cartoon echoes centuries of anti-Semitic libel. Such comparisons can only serve to inflame public opinion and incite acts of violence.
It is difficult to get precise figures on this topic because of a lack of monitoring and an apparently justifiable lack of public trust in the willingness and ability of law enforcement to combat hate-based crimes and activities.
Neo-Nazi Skinheads
Recently, Europe has also seen a resurgence in violence by neo-Nazi skinheads. For too long skinheads have carried out violence and threats, and for too long their racist and anti-Semitic acts have been excused by local officials as "hooliganism" or "youthful pranks," despite the fear and suffering they inflict on their victims. This has been the case especially in Russia.
Skinhead violence occurs year round and generally without a serious criminal investigation or condemnation by authorities. Sadly, April 20 – to most of us not a noteworthy date – has become a rallying point for skinheads as they mark the anniversary of Hitler's birth. This year, many local police took seriously the threat of skinhead violence on April 20 and are likely to have prevented some anti-Semitic and racist violence throughout Europe. Nonetheless, skinheads on April 20 succeeded in carrying out vandalism, inciting hatred, and screaming insults and threats. It is important to note, however, that skinheads were also responsible for violence leading up to and following the date when officials may not have been on such a heightened alert.
Recently, the Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union (UCSJ) issued a report on skinhead violence in Russia. The report concludes that local government authorities, through inaction, have made it possible for skinheads to organize and carry out violence without consequence for so long now, that it has reached a point "where it is almost beyond control."
Law Enforcement Inaction and Continued Impunity
Police and other law enforcement officials routinely subject racial and ethnic minorities to harassment and intimidation and often respond with indifference to racial attacks. The irresponsible and disinterested attitude of many law enforcement officials is an underlying challenge to combating anti-Semitism and helps sustain the problem and create a climate of impunity for the perpetrators.
We heard earlier about the seven attacks of severe vandalism of the synagogue in Tyumen, Russia, which were carried out by skinheads last year. And the reports that the local skinhead chapter reportedly boasted about the attacks on its website, made reference to the "pleasant sound of breaking glass," and threatened next time to use Molotov cocktails. Sadly, police have not detained any suspects, claiming that the culprits must be caught in the act before they can be arrested. (UCSJ report)
We also heard reports by the Simon Wiesenthal Center regarding a Jewish center in Tomsk, Russia. Three days before the ceremony commemorating the opening, the building was defaced with swastikas and graffiti of "Yids get out of Russia!" and "Russia for Russians!" We are told that, although a policewoman arrived on the scene, she refused to record the incident as a crime, arguing that nobody was hurt and therefore the police would not search for the culprits, and that local press and officials ignored the incident.
In the Czech Republic, the State Department's 2001 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom reports that "police were criticized on several occasions….for failing to intervene against neo-Nazis shouting anti-Semitic slogans at concerts and rallies." The same State Department Report summarizes incidents in Romania where Jewish cemeteries were desecrated in six localities. Only in one instance was a perpetrator identified.
The Anti-Defamation League points to "a policy of non-enforcement of the law against evident manifestations of anti-Semitism . . . including an obvious reluctance of prosecutors to enforce the existing legislation."
Amnesty International has collected numerous accounts of racist acts in which the victims frequently complain that law enforcement officials are reluctant to register attacks as racist or fail to understand the serious implications of racially motivated violence.
Federal authorities allow city and regional authorities to ignore federal laws governing freedom of movement and religion, and frequently discriminate against minorities. Amnesty International believes that authorities must instead demonstrate a vigorous response to racism and ensure prosecution of offenders, to end the tide of attacks against minorities.
Government Responses
Several Presidents and Prime Ministers throughout Europe have made official statements condemning anti-Semitic and other racist acts. But words alone are not enough.
Russia's President Putin has publicly condemned racially motivated violence and anti-Semitism and urged tolerance for a multiethnic Russia. The Russian government has also implemented an interagency program to "combat extremism and promote religious and ethnic tolerance," but the implementation of this plan, according to the State Department, has been "sporadic."
In France, where there has been a particularly serious wave of attacks, police recorded 395 anti-Semitic incidents between March 29 and April 17, of which 63 percent involved anti-Semitic graffiti. Between January 1 and April 2, there were 34 "serious anti-Semitic actions" recorded, referring to attacks on Jewish persons or property, including synagogues and cemeteries. In March and April, several synagogues, in Lyon, Montpellier, Garges-les-Gonesses (Val d'Oise) and Strasbourg were vandalized, while the synagogue in Marseille was burned to the ground. In Paris, a crowd threw stones at a vehicle transporting pupils of a Jewish school, and the vehicle's windows were broken. We are told that authorities are now investigating these attacks, but many still fear for their safety and have little faith that the investigations will result in prosecution of the offenders.
In England, a synagogue in Finsbury Park, London, was desecrated on April 27th. Vandals sprayed swastikas, smashed windows, scattered prayer books and religious articles, sprayed the ark with green paint, even defecated at the building's entrance. Authorities publicly condemned the act and police are investigating this case, but, to our knowledge, no suspects have been apprehended.
In Belgium, synagogues in Brussels and Antwerp were firebombed in April; the facade of a synagogue in Charleroi, southwest Belgium, was sprayed with bullets. A Jewish bookshop and delicatessen in Brussels were destroyed by fire. Officials opened criminal investigations into these incidents, as well as into a physical assault on the Chief Rabbi of Brussels in December 2001. Authorities have also issued public statements condemning the attacks, opposing all forms of anti-Semitism, and specifying that the situation in the Middle East should not serve, under any circumstance, as a pretext for acts of violence and intolerance against a community.
Last month, the European Union pledged to continue to make "efforts against all forms of intolerance which take as their pretext the conflicts and act of violence in the Middle East and are aimed at persons of the Muslim, Jewish or any other faith. At a time of acute international tension, especially in the Middle East, it is vital to preserve the spirit of harmony, entente and intercultural respect within our societies." More recently, Javier Solana, Foreign Policy Chief for the European Union, conveyed his belief that Europe is a tolerant place and dismissed concerns of the White House and others about the wave of incidents in Europe. Solano said, "Europe will continue to be a place where almost all citizens continue defending values of tolerance and comprehension which are absolutely incompatible with anti-Semitism." (Reuters)
More must be done to ensure governments redouble their efforts to combat anti-Semitism and racism, and to bring to justice suspected perpetrators of hate crimes.
International Standards
Several international instruments address government responsibility for protecting against human rights violations associated with anti-Semitism and other forms of racism.
Among the relevant agreements of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to hold parties accountable on this issue, especially relevant is the OSCE Copenhagen Concluding Document – 1990. It states: (40) "The participating States clearly and unequivocally condemn totalitarianism, racial and ethnic hatred, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and discrimination against anyone as well as persecution on religious and ideological grounds . . ." and "declare their firm intention to intensify the efforts to combat these phenomena in all their forms.
More recently, the Ministerial Council Decision No. 5 - (MC(9).DEC/5) 2001 called on OSCE institutions to pay increased attention to manifestations of aggressive nationalism, racism, chauvinism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and violent extremism, to countering intolerance and discrimination on the ground of racial or ethnic origin, religious, political or other opinion and to fostering respect for rule of law, democratic values, human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of expression, thought, conscience, religion or belief." It also tasked the Permanent Council "to consider developing further measures in this regard."
In addition United Nations instruments that hold governments accountable on this issues include: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), the Declaration on the Elimination of All for of Racial Discrimination, and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
The American Jewish Committee has conducted important historical research into the history of anti-Semitism and the international response. The AJC documents how the United Nations declarations on racial discrimination and on religious intolerance were drafted initially in response to outbreaks of anti-Semitic incidents in 1959-60. The incidents compelled the sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities and the Commission on Human Rights to condemn anti-Semitism specifically in a resolution adopted March 16, 1960: "noting with deep concern the manifestations of anti-Semitism and other forms of racial prejudice and religious intolerance of a similarl nature . . . which might be once again the forerunner of other heinous acts endangering the future . . ." the resolution "condemns thee manifestations as violations of the principles embodied in the Charter of the United Nations and in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and in particular as a violation f the human rights of the groups against which they are directed, and as a threat to the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all peoples."
The United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination obliges States not only to end discrimination by government officials, but also to protect people against racial discrimination and violence at the hands of private individuals, groups or institutions.
Additional mechanisms adopted by European countries to combat racial discrimination include the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities, the European Social Charter, and the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) whose mandate is to combat racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and intolerance at a pan-European level.
Clearly, governments have a mandate and obligation to implement measures that prevent anti-Semitism and other forms of acts of racist and religious intolerance, and to ensure prosecution against those who commit such hatefully motivated crimes.
Policy Recommendations
National Plans of Action
· Amnesty International urges European authorities and community leaders to vigorously and publicly condemn anti-Semitism and racism in all its forms.
· Amnesty International calls on European authorities to adopt a national strategy and plan of action to combat anti-Semitism and all forms of racism, as recommended by the OSCE and other international bodies.
· The national strategy and plan should include specific measures to prevent manifestations of anti-Semitism and racism in the administration of justice.
· The design of such a strategy and plan should include meaningful consultations with representatives of affected groups, relevant NGOs and experts working on the issue of racism and the administration of justice, as well as relevant officials.
· The strategy and plan contain measurable goals and monitoring mechanisms.
Individual and Community Security
· Local authorities should provide adequate protection to Jewish and other minority groups, including Jewish public buildings.
· Governments should provide a set of guarantees for religious and ethnic minorities, investigation and prosecution of hate-based crimes, and support in protecting and returning religious property.
· Governments should effectively monitor incidents of anti-Semitism and other forms of persecution and discrimination, and should implement and monitor effectiveness of legal frameworks to protect an individual's right to freedom of religion, association, and belief.
Law Enforcement and Preventing Impunity
· Human rights and race-awareness training should be a fundamental part of the training of all law enforcement, judicial and immigration officials from the point of recruitment onwards.
· Central, autonomous and local governments must ensure that police officers are trained in the effective prevention and response to anti-Semitic and racial violence and discrimination carried out by private individuals, groups, or institutions.
· National governments should urge thorough investigations into hate-based crimes and should support efforts by local officials to bring to justice those responsible for such abuses.· All allegations of torture, ill-treatment, and other race-related abuses by individuals or by agents of the state should be subject to prompt, thorough, effective and impartial investigations. Complainants should receive protection against any form of intimidation.
· Any officials who have consistently failed to launch serious criminal investigations into such human rights abuses should be held accountable and removed from their positions of responsibility pending the outcome of disciplinary and/or judicial proceedings against them. Investigation procedures should be prompt and transparent. Complainants should have full access to the information they need to prosecute a case and be kept informed of the progress of the investigations.
· Governmental monitoring agencies, such as Ombudsman's offices, should maintain and publish regular and comprehensive data on anti-Semitic and race-related complaints. This data should include data on complaints against public officials. It should also provide information on how the complaints were handled, so as to identify patterns of violations and recommend appropriate remedial action. Police and Civil Guard departments should provide information on internal disciplinary processes and publish regular statistical data on the type and outcome of complaints and disciplinary action. Clear guidelines must require officers to report abuses, and officers with chain-of-command control should be held responsible for strictly enforcing guidelines and penalties for failing to report, or covering up abuses.
Implementation of international standards
· European countries should implement in full the International Convention Against All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and other international human rights treaties prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, or other forms of identity.
· European countries should ensure full implementation of the recommendations made by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the United Nations, regarding the prompt and thorough investigation of allegations of anti-Semitic and other racist attacks; effective compliance with safeguards against such ill-treatment; measures to address the particular risks of Jewish communities and other minorities; and the need to tackle underlying economic and social causes of racism and racist ill-treatment.
United States Initiatives Related to the Bush-Putin Summit
· As the US Congress considers the lifting of Jackson Vanik, it should also consider leveraging the potential change in policy to seek improved policies on the part of the Russian government regarding human rights, including addressing anti-Semitism and other issues of religious, racial and ethnic discrimination.
· Although President Putin has made strong public statements against such human rights abuses, the interagency program Putin established to "combat extremism and promote religious and ethnic tolerance" is largely ineffective, and local authorities generally fail to launch serious criminal investigations into such racist attacks. President Bush must urge the Russian government to take measures to effectively prosecute offenders.


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It seems the "wacky" behavior of Team Djokovic during Sunday's Australian Open final wasn't high on the list of many people - including Steve Tignor's. The TENNIS.com editor wants us to know he's fine with it now, but don't annoy him with anymore helpings of this cheese.
Tignor penned these thoughts in his Concrete Elbow column saying,
"As a fan, I've enjoyed the wacky Djokovic clan so far—their brazen cheesiness was refreshing on Sunday after the long, entitled reign of that sphinx of the sidelines, Mirka. But how will we feel about Srdjan and company as Djokovic continues to ascend? On Sunday we saw Djokovic as a future king of the sport for the first time, rather than an up-and-coming, attention-seeking class clown. Here's a guess: His crew's coordinated shirts and relentless cheerleading—not to mention his own "Yes, I have heart, it's located here!" chest thumps—are going to wear extremely thin if Djokovic begins to dominate the sport. But we're not there yet, and we should forgive him his over-the-top excitement this time."Forgive him? We actually thought the men's final was fascinating not only for the tennis but also for the youthful energy and appreciation of the moment. We enjoyed watching Nole's chest-thumping and his box's enthusiasm and "brazen cheesiness"after countless matches watching the stoicness of Federer and his "sphinx of the sidelines" whispering encouragement from the stands.
We'll take fire in the eyes over a stone-cold stare anyday - so we'll forgive you, Steve Tignor.
(image via tennis.com & PETER PARKS/AFP/Getty Images)


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Cinnamon Tortilla Triangles
Thank you Angie and Pampered Chef!
6 (10 inch) flour tortillas
3 tablespoons white sugar, mixed with
1 tblsp. ground cinnamon
Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Arrange tortillas on a cookie sheet and spritz with water or butter flavored cooking spray.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture.
Cut into 6-8 wedges (pizza cutter works really well).
Bake for 13 minutes.
Serve the Cinnamon Triangles warm with chilled fruit salsa.


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Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
It all began with a television producer's phone call asking KraftMaid to help a deserving family in need of a fresh start. Seasons later, we are proud to remain the exclusive cabinetry provider of ABC's award-winning program, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
Episode 7The Farina Family
As a child Shawna Farina watched as her mother, only 29 at the time struggled to beat breast cancer. Now, Shawna's three children have spent this past year watching their 26-year-old mother struggle to beat her own battle with breast cancer. This past year has been excruciating for Shawna. She has had chemo treatments, radiation and finally had to have a bi-lateral mastectomy and a total hysterectomy.
Over the years the Farinas were making improvements on their 135 year-old farmhouse when money allowed, now due to extremely large medical bills all home improvements have come to a halt. Shawna now walks around her house and feels guilty knowing that her family home suffers more and more each day due to the lack of funds her cancer has created. In this episode of ''Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'' the team travels to Indiana to give this ''Super Mom'' and her family a new, safer home to live in while at the same time helping to raise awareness of just how important it is to raise funds to help win the battle against cancer.
The Farina's new kitchen features KraftMaid cherry wood cabinetry in a warm Honey Spice on the wall cabinets and a complimentary, deeper Black Glaze on the base cabinets. Venetian Bronze hardware accents the drawers, while cascade glass inserts adorn the doors. The warmth of Honey Spice was brought into the master bathroom as well, but embellished with Satin Pewter Square door knobs.
Maple wood cabinetry was installed in the family's new office, finished in a creamy Hazelnut Glaze with pewter hardware and Barnstead glass inserts completing the look. The blue-grey highlights of Wedgewood Glaze update the Farina's new laundry room, providing ample storage and cabinet space. Finally, the upstairs bathroom sparkles in white thermofoil cabinetry with Stainless Steel Bar knobs and pulls finishing this additional bathroom on the family's spacious new home.


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Royals announce 2010 Awards Night recipients
The Royals are pleased to announce the remaining organizational award winners for the 2009 season. The honorees will be recognized at the 2010 Royals Awards Night, presented by James B. Nutter, on Thursday, January 14 at the Overland Park Convention Center in Overland Park, Kan. Information on the event and the Budweiser Pre-Party, including how to purchase tickets, will be released in the coming days.
During the event, the Royals will recognize 13 honorees for their contributions both on and off the field in 2009. Former Royals greats such as George Brett, Frank White, Willie Wilson and Paul Splittorff will be among the presenters in attendance.
Previously, the club announced the following award recipients as voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA). A.L. Cy Young winner Zack Greinke was a unanimous selection for the 2009 Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year and Billy Butler was also unanimous as the 2009 Les Milgram Player of the Year. Infielder Alberto Callaspo was named the 2009 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award winner.
Adhering to tradition, the Royals will announce and present the Ewing Kauffman Mr. Baseball Award at the event. In honor of the club's first owner, this award recognizes an overall contribution to baseball in the Kansas City area.
The remaining award recipients to be recognized at the event include:
Louie Medina (left), recipient of the Art Stewart Scout of the Year – recognizing an outstanding scout. Medina just finished his ninth season with the Royals, his second as special assistant to the general manager/player personnel. He is being honored for his ongoing contribution to the professional scouting department and was instrumental in bringing All-Star closer Joakim Soria to Kansas City.
Mark Davis (right), recipient of the Dick Howser Player Development Person of the Year – recognizing an outstanding member of player development. Davis (right) has spent four seasons in the Royals system tutoring the pitchers at the rookie league level for Surprise (Ariz.). The 1989 N.L. Cy Young Award winner pitched 16 seasons in the Majors, including a two and a half year stint in Kansas City.
Martie Cordaro, vice president and general manager of the Omaha Royals, is the recipient of the Matt Minker Award – recognizing an outstanding minor league affiliate employee. Cordaro was recently among the honorees for the Midlands Business Journal "40 under 40" recognizing entrepreneurs and business executives.
Clint Robinson (left), recipient of the Mike Sweeney Award – recognizing a player who best represents the organization on and off the field. The 24-year old first baseman, the Royals' 25th-round pick in 2007, batted .298 with 13 home runs for the Blue Rocks. Off the field, Robinson logged over 36 hours to Wilmington schools and camps as well as the local Children's Hospital. According to the Blue Rocks community relations staff, Robinson made himself available for each and every community appearance.
Jarrod Dyson (right), recipient of the Willie Wilson Base Runner of the Year – recognizing the organization's top base runner. Dyson, 25, stole a combined 46 bases in 56 attempts for Burlington (A) and Northwest Arkansas (AA) in 2009. The Royals' 50th-round selection from the 2006 Draft swiped two more bases and hit .310 for the Surprise Rafters in the Arizona Fall League and was added to KC's Major League 40-man roster in November.
Salvador Perez (left), recipient of the Frank White Defensive Player of the Year – recognizing the organization's top defensive player. The 19-year old catcher spent time in 2009 at both Idaho Falls (R) and Burlington (A), throwing out one-third of all attempted basestealers (28-for-84). Perez was signed as a non-drafted free agent on September 27, 2006.
Mike Montgomery (right), recipient of the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year – recognizing the organization's top pitcher. The Royals sandwich selection (36th overall) in 2008, the 20-year old posted a 2-3 record with a sparkling 2.17 ERA in 12 starts for Burlington (A) last season before his promotion to Wilmington (A Advanced). The 6-foot-5 lefty continued his success for the Blue Rocks, compiling a 4-1 mark with a 2.25 ERA in nine starts.
David Lough (left), recipient of the George Brett Hitter of the Year – recognizing the organization's top hitter. The 23-year old outfielder had a breakout season in 2009, combining for a .325 average with 28 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 61 RBI and 19 stolen bases in stops at Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas. The left-handed hitter and thrower was the club's 11th-round selection in 2007.
In addition, the Royals will honor LeRoy Zimmerman with the Dan Quisenberry Special Achievement Award – recognizing an outstanding member of the community. Zimmerman is a tireless volunteer who serves low income seniors in Kansas City's urban core, often focusing on home repairs such as building wheelchair ramps, widening doorways and installing safety upgrades in bathrooms. In addition, the Overland Park, Kan., resident is active in prison ministry and serves on the board of Metro Lutheran Ministry.


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Human relations-understanding and getting along with people
Newscast Media HOUSTON, Texas—One of the most valuable qualities a person can possess is the ability to understand and get along with people. Regardless what one's profession may be, one will always have to interact with other people either privately of publicly, yet few people invest in acquiring skills that will enable them to effectively engage in fruitful interactions with others.
I was reading an article this morning that claimed to teach people how to be genuine. It is impossible to teach someone how to be genuine. Either people are genuine, or they are not. There is no in-between —just like a woman cannot be a little bit pregnant. Either she is, or she's not.
Dale Carnegie said, "Everybody in the world is seeking happiness—and there is one sure way to find it. That is by controlling your thoughts. Happiness doesn't depend on outward conditions. It depends on inner conditions. It isn't what you have or who you are or where you are or what you are doing that makes you happy or unhappy.
It is what you think about it. For example, two people may be in the same place, doing the same thing; both may have about an equal amount of money and prestige —and yet one may be miserable and the other happy. Why? Because of a different mental attitude."
In a sense Carnegie is talking about the authentic self. It also has to do with putting purpose behind one's actions and having the right motive for doing something. It is the purity of intention that makes people genuine because the actions do not seem contrived.
Authenticity is sub-communicated. The hallmark of authenticity is being honest with a person's self. This means deeply examining and taking an inventory of ourselves—something that's too uncomfortable for many. When we dislike who we are at the core, it is impossible to examine ourselves out of fear of shattering our false personae. We are then forced to wear masks and masquerade through life hiding from
the true selves we are unwilling to confront. We find the truth about ourselves to be nauseating, because of the deeply-seated insecurities that plague our beings. Yet behind all the facade is the desire to feel worthwhile or important, and to a small extent to be likeable.
Some might use social status, material wealth or other superficial means to be validated by others, but this generates an unhealthy outlook within the one seeking acceptance or the need to fit in. It is dependent upon what others think about you instead of how you view yourself.
When I was eight years old in third grade, after our mid-terms we received our grades in science class. I was new at the school, and most of the kids were bright. The teacher always had a habit of calling out our names, and reading the grades in front of the class. When my turn came, he called my name and read my grade, which was an average grade. He then said to me, "Why can't you be intelligent like your father?"
He then rudely handed me my paper and I went back and took my seat. At the end of the semester, the teacher gave my parents the report card and said, "You have a clever son…but you need to scare him a little to make him more talkative."
The teacher was surprised that I and two other pupils had tied with the highest grade. I did not let him define me, because at an early age I knew who I was. I also did not raise my hand in class so he assumed I did not know the answers—but when I got the highest grade, he rationalized by once again assuming I was quiet, and needed to be more talkative. Most people who are not good at certain subjects are the way they are because perhaps they believed a teacher or parent who told them they would never be good at that subject. They allowed someone else to define them, and those are the types of people, who as adults, tend to seek validation and the to be accepted. They are afraid to blaze their own trails and instead run with the crowd.
We are all endowed with unique abilities. You are never as good as people say you are, but at the same time, you are never as bad as people would like you to believe. The unique quality I discovered about myself at the age of eight was the ability to recall things in detail. I am still greatly benefiting from this as an adult, especially in recalling specific dates and events. I discovered I could quote entire lectures or paragraphs from textbooks after reading them once or twice. I still took notes so as not to offend my teachers.
True authenticity does not need validation, status or fancy material things. One does not need to learn how to be popular or likeable. Authentic people do things with the right intention, rather than with good intentions. They add value to other people's lives, instead of being takers. They are whole because they've learned to embrace who they truly are, and are in harmony with their very essence and the underlying reason they exist.
Categories: News Tags: authentic people, creating value, Dale Carnegie, effective communication, effective leaders, how to win over enemies


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Austin, Texas is a highly desirable place to find an apartment due to its warm weather, outdoor lifestyle, political activity, rich culture and diverse population. Students at the University of Texas at Austin, legislators from the Texas Capitol, musicians, athletes, educators, cowboys and techies make their home in Austin, Texas. The Latino influence is also prevalent, with Mexican and other Latin American cultural traditions enhancing the overall atmosphere of Austin.
Renting an apartment in Austin is often competitive. Austin real estate is booming and people are moving into the area on a consistent basis. With the influx of residents, apartments, being built to suit a variety of tastes, are growing in number. From new downtown lofts to north Austin luxury apartments, to funky South Austin communities, Austin has something for everyone.


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In-person early voting begins in Ohio today. Find your nearest polling booth here.
Cincinnati could change how it gathers trash in the future. City officials, under the request of City Manager Milton Dohoney Jr., are looking for a way to make trash collection more automated and reduce the amount of manual labor required to pick up trash. Michael Robinson, director of public services, described the possible changes to WVXU: "Implement a new cart system using semi-automated trucks as well as automated units to reduce our workers compensation claims." The changes would save the city money.
For the second year in a row, statewide college enrollment declined. The two-year drop is the first time college enrollment has dropped since the 1990s.
Casinos are popping up around Ohio — including the Horseshoe Casino in Cincinnati — but Ohioans do not have a gambling problem. A new survey, which seeks to establish a baseline to find out the impact of new casinos around the state, found problematic gambling is fairly uncommon in Ohio with about 250,000 Ohio adults, or nearly 3 percent of Ohioans, reporting problems.
Cincinnati-based Macy's will be hiring 80,000 new employees for the holidays.
Several Ohio testing centers will be partnering up with the GED Testing Service to allow taking GED tests online. The GED test, which is accepted by most U.S. employers and colleges, gives a second chance to adults who did not get a high school diploma.
JobsOhio, Gov. John Kasich's privatized economic development program, suffered a serious setback Friday when an Ohio Supreme Court ruling dismissed efforts to clarify the program's legal status. Critics of JobsOhio say the program is unconstitutional and illegal, and their complaints have often been legitimized by lower courts. State officials hoped the Ohio Supreme Court would put the issue to rest, but the court said a decision would have to be given by lower courts first.
Josh Mandel, state treasurer and Republican U.S.
senatorial candidate, doesn't seem to be handling the stress of the
campaign very well. In a newly released video, Mandel is seen on an
elevator in an awkward confrontation that gets a little physical with a
campaign tracker. The tracker's story was confirmed by a reporter at The Columbus Dispatch, who was also on the elevator and can be seen and heard in the video.
The amount of abortions in Ohio is down 12 percent, according to a new report by the Ohio Department of Health.
A Xavier study found trust in government and business is on the rise. The increase is typical in a growing economy.
About 60 percent of doctors would quit their jobs today if
given the chance. Not a good sign for a health-care system that was
expecting a doctor shortage even before Obamacare was passed.
U.S. home prices rose the most they have in six years. The year-over-year increase of 4.6 percent is a potential sign of a recovering economy.
Want to increase your productivity? Look at cute kitties.
The three measures set up $15 million to front to Duke Energy to move utility lines out of the proposed path; changes the source of funding to repay some $25 million in bonds used to pay for the streetcar; sells $14 million in bonds for streetcar improvements; and changes the municipal code to clarify that it is the responsibility of a utility to relocate its structures.
The $15 million comes from the $37 million sale of city-owned land near the former Blue Ash Airport.
Council voted 6-3 to approve the front money, improvement bonds and bond repayment, a vote that largely mirrored a Monday Budget and Finance Committee vote. Councilman Chris Smitherman was the sole "no" vote on the ordinance to change the municipal code.
Councilmembers Cecil Thomas, Wendell Young, Roxanne Qualls, Laure Quinlivan, Chris Seelbach and Yvette Simpson voted to pass funding, while Councilmembers Smitherman, P.G. Sittenfeld and Charles Winburn voted against.
"My concern with all of these votes … in particular the Blue Ash Airport dollars, these were promises that you made to the neighborhoods and I don't have the confidence that the legal battle against Duke Energy is going to yield a 100 percent win for the city of Cincinnati, so there's no assurance that these dollars are going to come back," said Councilman Chris Smitherman, one of the most vocal opponents of the streetcar.
"I want to be clear that it's something that I don't support."
The $15 million would be fronted to Duke to move its lines while the city and utility work out who is responsible for funding the move.
Duke estimates the full cost at $18 million and argues
that the lines would not have to be moved if the streetcar wasn't being
built. The city maintains that it has always been the responsibility of
utilities to move or upgrade their structures — which the third measure
clarified in the municipal code. If the city loses a legal battle against Duke, it will not
recoup the $15 million.
The second proposal switches the source of funding for
streetcar bonds from money coming into city coffers from southern
downtown and the riverfront area to a 1995 fund set up to collect
service payments from the Westin/Star, Hyatt and Saks. The measure wouldn't use any additional new money for the streetcar.
That downtown area wasn't bringing in as much cash as
expected but the city hopes to repay the other fund once the downtown
district — which includes the Banks and the casino — rebounds.
Meanwhile unemployment in Cincinnati dropped to 7.5 percent in August, down from 8.2 percent in July. Unemployment in Hamilton County dropped to 6.8 percent in August, down from 7.3 percent. The Greater Cincinnati's jobless rate for the month was 6.7 percent, putting it below that of the state (7.2 percent) and the nation (8.1 percent).
Speaking of numbers, a new poll released today shows Obama leading Romney in Ohio – the third such poll in the last four days. The Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times Swing State Poll shows Obama leading Romney 53 to 43 percent in Ohio, and by similar large margins in the battlegrounds of Florida and Pennsylvania.
The typically media-shy Republican Ohio Treasurer and Senate candidate Josh Mandel proposed three new rules for members of the U.S. Congress in a rare Tuesday news conference. He said he wants members of Congress to lose their pensions if they became lobbyists, be limited to 12 years in the House and Senate and not be paid if they failed to pass a budget. Mandel says his opponent, sitting Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, broke his promise to voters that he would only serve 12 years in Congress. Mandel himself promised to fill his entire term as state treasurer, but would leave halfway through if he wins the Senate race.
The governors of Ohio and Kentucky continue to move toward jointly supporting a financing study for a replacement of the functionally-obsolete Brent Spence Bridge, and both governors favor a bridge toll to fund construction. The Kentucky Legislature would have to approve a measure to allow tolling on the bridge.
Forty percent of Hamilton County's septic systems are failing, and homeowners and utilities are arguing over who should foot the $242 million bill. The Enquirer has an analysis of the ongoing battle.
The Associated Press reports that Andy Williams, Emmy-winning TV host and "Moon River" crooner, has died.
The Enquirer is still doing all it can to keep the Lacheys relevant instead of letting them die off like all bad 90s trends like Furby and Hammer pants. The paper blogged that Lachey finished in the bottom three in the first week of the new Dancing with the Stars: All Stars.
Speaking of those replacement NFL refs, apparently some of them were fired by the Lingerie Football League for incompetence. Yes, there are totally unrelated pictures of women playing football.
Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan weighed in on the controversy over replacement National Football League referees in a Tuesday town hall-style meeting in Cincinnati, comparing the Obama administration to the substitute officials who cost his home-state Green Bay Packers a victory with their botched call Monday night.
"Give me a break. It is time to get the real refs," Ryan said.
"And you know what, it reminds me of President Obama and the economy — if you can't get it right, it's time to get out. I half think that these refs work part time for the Obama administration in the budget office."
Ryan was referencing a play that should have been called an interception for the Packers but instead allowed the Seattle Seahawks to score a game-winning touchdown on Monday Night Foodball. Replacement referees — some of whom may have been fired by the Lingerie Football League for incompetence — are filling in for unionized officials who are locked out.
The vice presidential candidate spoke inside a Byer Steel warehouse surrounded by piles of I-beams and rebar. A self-proclaimed Southern gospel rock band played before the event, occasionally pausing to talk up GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney's conservative credentials.
Much of Ryan's prepared speech, as well as questions from participants in the town hall, focused on the economy, the deficit and the need for changes to entitlement programs.
Asked by an audience member how he would limit government and eliminate programs, Ryan said he and Romney would spur economic growth by lessening the tax burdens on small businesses, cut discretionary spending on government agencies and overhaul entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security.
Outside before the rally, protesters called for Ryan — whose House-passed budget made deeps cuts to many welfare and safety-net programs — to have more compassion for the poor.
Meanwhile an airplane sponsored by MoveOn.org carried a banner reading, "Romney: Believe in 55% of America?" referencing comments revealed in a recent video where Romney claimed 47 percent of Americans didn't pay any income tax and viewed themselves as victims reliant on government so it wasn't his job to worry about their votes.
"We're here with several messages, including the immorality of the Ryan budget and how it will impact the vast majority of Americans negatively," said David Little with the liberal advocacy group ProgressOhio. "When a budget protects those with the most and negatively impacts those with the least, I would suggest that is immoral."
Bentley Davis with the Alliance for Retired Americans said she was concerned about what Romney and Ryan's plans for Medicare and Social Security would do to retirement security.
Ryan had proposed to keep Medicare the same for anybody already 55 and over, but give younger Americans the choice to get money to spend toward private insurance or stay in a Medicare-like program.
Inside the warehouse was a digital sign that ticked up the national debt, which was at $16 trillion and rising.
"Here is what our government, our Congressional Budget Office, is telling us our debt is in the future if we stay on the path that President Obama has kept us on, has put us on … the debt goes as high as two and a half times the size of our economy by the time my three kids are my age," Ryan said.
The Obama campaign fired back in an email response, saying Ryan used misleading rhetoric to hide his own record and Republican plans to raise taxes on the middle class to fund tax cuts for wealthier Americans.
"The Romney-Ryan ticket has plenty of questions to answer about a failed record on manufacturing and job creation and their support for policies that will devastate middle class families by raising their taxes and shipping jobs overseas," Obama for America – Ohio Press Secretary Jessica Kershaw wrote.
"These policies would take the growing manufacturing industry backward, not forward."
For some in the audience, the economy was also on the forefront.
Steve Teal, 56, of West Chester, said he doesn't like the direction the country is going in.
"Just get the country back to work," Teal said. "I don't trust him (Obama). He doesn't stand up for America. He doesn't stand up for Americans."
CityBeat writer Stefane Kremer contributed to this report.
Ryan went from Cincinnati to an event with Romney in Dayton later on Tuesday.
Cincinnati and Hamilton County are making a comeback. In August, the city dropped to 7.5 percent unemployment, down from 8.2 percent in July, according to new data released by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. The county dropped to 6.8 percent, down from 7.3 percent in July.
Ohio's seasonally unadjusted rate saw a similarly large drop from 7.4 percent in July to 6.8 percent in August. The U.S. unadjusted rate dropped from 8.6 to 8.2 percent.
From a year-to-year basis, Cincinnati and Hamilton County saw even larger drops in unemployment. On August 2011, unemployment in Cincinnati was at 10 percent, 2.5 points higher than August 2012. Hamilton County was at 8.8 percent, 2 points higher than August 2012.
Greater Cincinnati's seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate also saw large drops, remaining below the state and nation. The 15-county area dropped from 7.2 percent unemployment in July down to 6.7 percent in August. That is a 1.9-point drop from August 2011, which saw an 8.6 percent unemployment rate.
The federal and state unemployment rates are typically adjusted for seasonal factors, but the local rates are not. The adjusted unemployment rates for August were 7.2 percent for Ohio and 8.1 percent for the United States.
The unemployment rate only considers people who are unemployed and looking for work. People not looking for work are deemed to be outside of the labor force.
City Council approved a $29 million plan that will shift $15 million from the Blue Ash airport deal to move utility lines and pipes in order to accommodate for streetcar tracks. The money will be reimbursed if a conflict with Duke Energy is settled in the city's favor. The city is currently trying to resolve the conflict over who has to pay for moving utility lines and pipes. If the city wins out, Duke will have to pay up, and the money from the Blue Ash airport deal will be put back where it belongs. If Duke wins out, that money could be lost forever — a worry Chris Smitherman voiced in the public City Council session. Smitherman, Charlie Winburn and P.G. Sittenfeld voted against the plan, and Roxanne Qualls, Laure Quinlivan, Yvette Simpson, Cecil Thomas, Wendell Young and Chris Seelbach voted for it.
CORRECTION: This blog originally said the entire $29 million plan will be reimbursed by
Duke. Only the $15 million from the Blue Ash airport deal will be
reimbursed if the city wins in the dispute.
Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted received a failing grade from Voters First Ohio and the Ohio Unity Coalition for the way he's handled the 2012 election. The left-leaning groups criticized Husted for taking away in-person early voting hours that were available in 2008 and issues regarding provisional ballots, wrongful terminations and misleading language on the November ballot.
The Controlling Board unanimously approved $4 million Monday to conduct a study to determine possible funding for the Brent Spence Bridge. The study will look at tolls and the viability of various public-private partnerships to see how the bridge will be paid for.
Jungle Jim's is opening an Eastgate location today, and people are apparently really excited for it.
The state launched a new website to connect Ohio job seekers and opportunities in the energy industry. The website presents opportunities in advanced energy, renewable energy, energy efficiency and gas and oil.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will be in southwest Ohio today,
and Obama will be in other parts of the state. The state is typically
considered a must-win for Romney and Ryan, but aggregate polling has looked worse lately for the Republican duo.
Speaking of Romney, he indirectly admitted he'll have to raise taxes on what he considers middle income. Remember when Republicans ran on tax cuts?
Another problem with global warming: Hotter days make people less productive, which greatly hurts economic output.
A Cincinnati research team found NFL players die often to Alzheimer's disease and Lou Gehrig's disease. The two diseases kill NFL players four times more often than the average U.S. population, and other neurodegenerative diseases kill them twice as often as the norm.
Having sex once a week instead of once a month is the "happiness equivalent" of making an extra $50,000 a year. Do not try that line at home.
Mayor Mark Mallory was not happy with Hamilton County Commission President Greg Hartmann's Tuesday letter criticizing him for failing to follow through with a city-county shared services plan. Mallory fired back today in his own letter, criticizing Hartmann for going to the media first and explaining why he no longer supports the City County Shared Services Committee.
"We have had a strong working relationship since you have become Commission President," Mallory wrote. "So, I was surprised and disappointed that you sent the letter to the media instead of sharing your concerns with me directly; after all, you have my cell phone number."
Mallory went on to point out that Hartmann is the fourth commission president he has worked with, and the previous three "never would have handled City/County relations in such a confrontational manner."
The mayor also clarified why he no longer supports the City County Shared Services Committee, which was meant to consolidate county and city services to end redundancies and improve efficiency and competitiveness.
"As the scope of the proposed committee's work was developed, it became clear to me that not only were we already collaborating at a high level, but that several new collaborations proposed by the City had met resistance from the County," Mallory wrote. "I began to question the need for a committee to conduct a $400,000 study of future collaboration if there were already potential new collaborations sitting on the shelf."
Mallory also said he "will never give away the ability of the citizens of Cincinnati to control crucial City functions." He cited the examples of prosecutors and health clinics, which Mallory implied could have been given off to the county if the committee pushed through its recommendations.
The mayor also pointed out that even if the city and county approved the committee and its recommendations, Hamilton County would still have serious budget problems: "You and I both know that the recommendations of the Shared Services Committee would never have resulted in close to enough savings to close the County's budget deficit, and to pretend otherwise is disingenuous." In other words, stop shifting the blame.
The rest of Mallory's letter went on to point out Cincinnati and Hamilton County collaborate on a regular basis to "improve services, create efficiencies, and save money." The mayor pointed to many programs for examples of the city and county working together: the Banks development, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Metropolitan Sewer District, emergency operations, the Port Authority, a $1.9 million city-county contract that has the county manage Cincinnati's Tenant Based Rental Assistance Program and the Neighborhood Stabilization Program Consortium.
Mallory also claimed there have been cases in which the county declined to collaborate with the city, citing the Indigent Care Levy. The county's consultant recommended Hamilton County give some of that levy to provide county residents access to primary care at the City Health Center System, but the county declined the potential partnership.
Mallory then said he was willing to work on collaboration with purchasing, fire hydrant maintenance and economic development — three areas Hartmann cited in his own letter to Mallory.
The letter finished with a call to end the politics of the back-and-forth: "I feel very strongly that it is time to take the politics out and leave the matter to the public sector professionals. The City Manager is ready to meet with the County Administrator to discuss any proposed partnership that would improve the lives of our citizens by improving service, increasing efficiency, or saving money."
In his letter, Hartmann criticized Mallory for not keeping his promise to back the city-county committee, citing a previous letter from Mallory to the Ohio Department of Development that promised $100,000 for the new committee.
Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan will be stopping by Greater
Cincinnati next Tuesday. The campaign stop is part of a three-day bus
tour across Ohio. The state is considered a must-win for Romney's
presidential campaign, but aggregate polling is not friendly to his
prospects in Ohio.
Will Romney dye his face for the Ohio events? Gawker was among a few outlets and individuals that noticed Romney dyed his face brown for an event on a Latino television network.
Ohio's unemployment rate remained at 7.2 percent, the same as July and June. The state made gains in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, financial activities and government, but it had losses in trade, transportation, utilities and educational and health services. Still, Ohio's unemployment rate remains far below the national unemployment rate of 8.1 percent.
City Council is taking action to prevent further delays for the streetcar, but the city says the delay to 2015 is still set. By moving money around, the city will be able to front money to pay for moving utility lines and pipes, but it expects to get the money back eventually. The city says Duke Energy is responsible for moving the lines to accommodate for the streetcar, but Duke says it's the city's duty since the streetcar is the city's project. If the city is right, it gets the fronted money back. If it's wrong, the money is on the taxpayer dime.
The Cincinnati Park Board struck down Park Rule 28, a rule that had come under fire by homeless advocates. The rule allowed the city to put up signs that would immediately enact rules as law. Homeless advocates said the signs allowed Washington Park to make rules that discriminated against the homeless and poor. The dispute led to a lawsuit, which three Over-the-Rhine residents filed on Sept. 4. The city countered by saying they took down the signs weeks before the lawsuit and that the rules were never truly enforced on any individual
The Anna Louise Inn won a zoning appeal yesterday. The
appeal gives way to the $14 million renovation at the Anna Louise Inn.
But Western & Southern will continue its opposition to renovation of the historic
building, even though it could have avoided all its problems by simply
buying the Anna Louise Inn when it had the chance. In related news,
Western & Southern commissioned a study from the University of
Cincinnati to see how replacing the Anna Louise Inn with a hotel would
work, which prompted laughter from Vice Mayor Roxanne Qualls because the building isn't theirs.
The Cincinnati Hispanic Center is launching an initiative to connect bilingual and multilingual people around the region. The initiative will help multilingual individuals flaunt their skills to employers and anyone else in need.
In Butler County, fewer teens are using alcohol and tobacco, but more are using marijuana and prescription pills.
Procter & Gamble and a local manufacturing contractor are getting sued for religious discrimination. The dispute began when P&G and its contractor allegedly fired a Muslim employee after she was humiliated by another employee.
Bioscience looks to be a rising star in Ohio's job market, according to a new study.
An Ohio woman unknowingly married her dad.Your next leather wallet may be grown in a petri dish.
Cincinnati plans to avoid a streetcar delay. Despite what the city told CityBeat Monday, it seems the delay was due to the ongoing conflict with Duke Energy, and the city wants to put an end to it. City officials are seeking to set aside $15 million from the recent sale of the Blue Ash Airport to ensure the streetcar stays on track by initially paying for moving utility lines and pipes to accommodate for the streetcar. The money is expected to be recovered once issues with Duke Energy are settled. Expect more details on this story from CityBeat this afternoon. CityBeat previously covered the connections between the Blue Ash Airport sale and streetcar here.
Cincinnati's economic recovery is coming along. In August, Greater Cincinnati home sales hit a five-year high. The 2,438 homes sold were a nearly 16 percent increase from August 2011.
Voters First is suing the Ohio Republican Party for what the organization says are false claims over Issue 2. The complaint, filed to the Ohio Elections Commission Tuesday, points out three allegedly false accusations about the redistricting amendment. A hearing on the complaint is today. Also, it seems Ronald Reagan, who modern Republicans claim to greatly admire, would have supported Issue 2:
Natalie Portman was in Cincinnati yesterday. She talked
about her support for President Barack Obama's reelection and women's
issues. She did not mention the awful Star Wars prequels that ruined childhoods. Other speakers attended as well, and they all echoed the message
of Obama being better for women voters.
Kroger recalled bags of fresh spinach in 15 states, including Ohio, yesterday. The spinach, which was supplied by NewStar Fresh Foods LLC, may hold listeria monocytogenes, which could make a pregnant woman or anyone with a weakened immune system very sick. The specific product was a Kroger Fresh Selections Tender Spinach 10-ounce bag that had a "best if used by" date of Sept. 16 and the UPC code 0001111091649.
More than 450 apartments are being planned for downtown West Chester.The Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services (ODJFS) is looking for advice. Every four years, the department hosts the Child Support Guidelines Advisory Council, which revises the state child support program, and gets citizen feedback on how the program can improve. The public meeting will be at 10 a.m. on Oct. 19 at the former Lazarus Building at 50 W. Town Street in Columbus. The council will report its findings and conclusions to the Ohio General Assembly in March 2013.
An underused plane at the could save the Ohio Department of Transportation $3 million, a new state audit found.
The Natural Resources Defense Council is reaching out to victims of fracking. With a new program, it will provide legal and other protections for individuals, communities and governments affected by fracking.
Despite tensions between former Obama chief of staff and now-Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Obama can still count on Ohio teachers for support.
Mitt Romney and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin are planning an Ohio bus tour next week. The state is considered a must-win for Romney, but recent aggregate polling puts him in a fairly grim position with less than two months to Election Day.
How do nuclear explosions affect beer? The U.S. government apparently found out.
Actress and acclaimed rapper Natalie Portman played up her Cincinnati ties in a Wednesday appearance at the Obama campaign-sponsored Women's Summit at Union Terminal.
The Academy Award-winner said her mother graduated from Walnut Hills High School and her grandfather — Art Stevens — grew Champion Windows in Cincinnati after starting as a door-to-door salesman.
"Because of that, I see President Obama's support of small businesses as so crucial to our economy," Portman said, adding that Obama has cut taxes for small businesses 82 times since taking office.
Portman said the Republican Party and their presidential ticket of Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan did not have the best interests of women at heart. She pointed to attacks on the Affordable Care Act's mandates that insurers provide birth control to women and ensure preventative care such as mammogram screenings for breast cancer is covered, as well a bill sponsored by Ryan and embattled congressional candidate Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) that would eliminate all abortion funding except for cases of "forcible rape."
"We need to stand up for ourselves," Portman told the packed auditorium that was crowded with an audience of mostly women. "Our mothers and our grandmothers made giant steps for us. We can't go backwards. We need to go forwards."
Portman was joined by Obama Campaign National Women's Vote Director Kate Chapek, former Ohio first lady Frances Strickland, Ohio Rep. Alicia Reece and Obama campaign volunteer Mary Shelton.
An Ohio Romney rep said the campaign did not have a comment on the Women's Summit, but is hosting a "Women for Mitt" call night featuring former Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao in Kenwood on Thursday.
"Ohio women believe in the Romney-Ryan path for America that will result in lower taxes, less spending, less government and more economic growth," said a release from Romney's campaign.
The Obama event on Wednesday catered to women, with Chapek telling the audience she knew how difficult it was for women to get there with jobs and the challenge of getting their kids to school. She framed women's role in the election as a conversation.
"The conversation starts like this: women, turns out, we're not a constituency," Chapek said. "Who knew? Apparently Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, because they don't realize that women are actually a majority in this country."
She told the women gathered to have conversations with their neighbors and friends and encourage them to volunteer at phone banks or knocking on doors.
Strickland talked about the need to reconcile qualities traditionally seen as masculine — like power — with those seen as feminine — like love.
She also took the opportunity to riff on a statement made by Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who said political wives were heroes because while they're husbands were on stage in the limelight, they were at home doing things like laundry.
"I even did the laundry last night so I could come here today," Strickland said. "Even (former Gov.) Ted does the laundry."
Summit attendee Ray Boston, a 67-year-old retired writer for AT&T, said Natalie Portman's presence caught his eye.
"I'm a celebrity photo enthusiast," he said. "Nothing's official until I've taken a picture of it."
Boston said he didn't vote in 2008, but felt the upcoming November election was too important to sit out. He said he was leaning toward voting for Obama and liked his health care overhaul, but was opposed to the president's views on gay marriage for religious reasons.
Gwen McFarlin, who works in health care administration, said she was there to support President Obama. She supports his health care overhaul, but thinks it's a first step to further changes.
She said she was encouraged by the diversity of the women in attendance.
"For me, I'm sure the women who are here represent all the world, not one issue," she said. "We're here as a group of women working to empower all the U.S. and the world."


text:
This months challenge is to take an existing board game and give it an update and maybe a cool twist as well. Battle Ludo, Orkish Chess, Steam Punk Monopoly, Lizards and Stairs - what ever fun idea you can come up with - just remember to use an existing game as "base".
Don't forget to follow the Mapping Challenge rules.
This challenge will end on the 26th of February. The winner will get a shiny golden compass added to their profile.