text:
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on a paroled DUI offender
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about the harsh and ever increasing penalties for those guilty of DUI. DUI offenders tend to be non-violent offenders with no other criminal background. Can you imagine going to prison for a DUI? This man just got out and still his debt isn't over.
March 31, Aledo, IL
A Mercer County man with a history of drunk driving convictions has been paroled.
According to the Illinois Department of Corrections, Bruce Fish was released from Thomson Correctional Center on Monday of this week.
Fish served less than half of his latest ten year sentence. He was sent to prison most recently in 2006 after police stopped him for drunk driving in Cable, Illinois.
Fish still owes nearly 10-thousand dollars in court fees and restitution. He will be on parole for another year.
Well he hasn't worked in over four years so my guess is the $10,000 in court fees and restitution will not be paid any time soon.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on court watchers
This Chicago DUI lawyer got a compliment… she thinks. As I checked in with the clerk in the court house I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. It was a dapperly dressed gentleman that I recognized instantly. He said, "I've been watching you and you are a very good attorney." I thanked him.
I see him in the court rooms now more than ever before this year, or so it seems. He's not the only one I see. There's the sweet faced little lady with strawberry blonde curls; she usually, nods or waves at me. So why do I recognize these two? They are volunteers. They sit in court most days and watch. They don't have cases nor do they have family charged with offenses. They wear these official looking little name tags that identify them as court watchers for AAIM. Some lawyers I know despise them. They feel that there very officious presence does nothing more than bully judges and prosecutors, I'm certain there's no prosecutor or judge who would ever admit to feeling some sort of pressure from the court watchers.
I often wonder what these folks think while they sit in court. Perhaps I should ask them if they think everyone there is guilty. I wonder if they think the system wouldn't be better served if we just eliminated prosecutors, defense lawyers, and judges and just rely on the word of the police. There's one problem with that vision, they wouldn't get to be court watchers.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on Chicago Cops' reluctance to keep the cameras rolling
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about the need for video to be installed in police cars. Yes, it is a boon to defense lawyers, but it should also protect law enforcement. Unfortunately, I'm not surprised that some officers don't want to abide by the rules and keep the camera running.
March 29, Chicago, IL
In the 1960s, Chicago cops initially griped about having to wear radios on their belts.
In the last decade, some fretted about having to communicate for the first time through laptop computers in their cars.
Now some officers have been resisting the latest police technology: video cameras installed in 340 vehicles.
"For an organization of this size, this is a fundamental change, and it will take a while to be accepted," said Jonathan Lewin, commander of the Information Technology Section.
Privately, some cops told the Chicago Sun-Times they were ignoring the rule to turn on camera systems because they're worried their words and actions will come back to haunt them. They explained they sometimes must use harsh language to establish control over people they stop.
As a taxpayer, I'm not particularly worried about words coming back to haunt a police officer, assuming the words are profane and not a threat or a lie, but I wonder what actions they are concerned would come back to haunt them?
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on Illinois State Rep's DUI
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about politicians being charged with DUI. Usually, these arrest aren't here in the Land of Lincoln but looks like that has changed.
March 17, Decatur, IL
State Rep. Ron Stephens is facing a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol after he was found using the wrong lane by Decatur Police and admitted having several Jack and Cokes at dinner.
Stephens, 62, was ticketed Monday night by Decatur Police for improper lane usage and driving under the influence. The ticket states his breath alcohol level was 0.101. The limit in Illinois is 0.08, the equivalent of about three drinks for an adult male.
Stephens issued this statement on Tuesday: "Early on Monday evening, I was stopped by the Macon County Sheriff's police and received citations for improper lane usage and driving under the influence. I cooperated fully with the police officers, was ticketed and released later that evening. "I exercised poor judgment that evening, and I am truly sorry for my actions. I also regret having disappointed my family, friends, and those I represent. I take full responsibility and stand ready to face the consequences of my actions."
I wonder if he intends to plead guilty? I also wonder if he has any idea what the consequences of his actions are?
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on not 1, not 2, but 3 DUI charges for a Cop
Whoa! This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here about cops with DUI arrests. That said she's never heard of a cop with 3 separate pending DUI arrests. Where's MADD when you need them?
March 24, Santa Ana, CA
An Anaheim police officer resigned Tuesday amid a department investigation and after being charged with driving under the influence of a cocktail of prescription drugs for the third time in less than a year.
The officer, who hasn't been to work since late 2008 but remained on paid administrative leave, has pleaded not guilty in one case of driving under the influence from an incident last March. The two latest charges were filed last week and Tuesday.
Kevin Noel Schlueter, 37, of Costa Mesa, is charged in three separate cases with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs for each case.
Schlueter's three DUI arrests were first revealed earlier this month by the Register.
If convicted in all three cases, Schlueter faces up to two years and six months behind bars. Schlueter is scheduled to appear in court Friday.
Schlueter had been on leave since November 2008 for what department spokesman Sgt. Rick Martinez said was "a variety of reasons." Personnel rules prohibit him from giving specifics, Martinez said.
Schlueter's leave had been unpaid at first. But then in November 2009, months after Schlueter's first DUI arrest, Anaheim officials put him on paid administrative leave.
After Schlueter's arrests were publicized by the Register, Anaheim police issued a statement saying:
"The Anaheim Police Department is cooperating with the OC District Attorney's office in its prosecution of these cases and we have contacted the Department of Motor Vehicles regarding the officer's future driving privileges. We are also expediting our internal investigation into this matter in order to reach a decision concerning the officer's employment as soon as possible."
It's clear that the nature of the job can cause some law enforcement officers to need additional support in order to avoid a tragic ending, like this one to employment, not to mention the little matter of three separate criminal charges for DUI.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on extradition and DUI
Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here about DUI's outside of the U.S. A closer connection puts a Chicago man on the international stage for extradition because of an old DUI.
A man accused in the drunken-driving deaths of two 17-year-old girls in Poland escaped from a hospital there after the 1994 crash, fled his homeland and hid for nearly 15 years in Chicago.
The past caught up to Andrezej Piotrowicz, 35, in November 2009, when U.S. marshals arrested him. They were tipped off by Polish authorities who tracked him to a brick home in Chicago's Belmont Heights neighborhood, where he was living with his sister and elderly mother.
An extradition hearing was held in January, and a federal judge is expected to rule soon on Poland's request. The ultimate decision will be made by the U.S. State Department.
Blood drawn at the hospital showed Piotrowicz had a blood-alcohol level of 1.23, six times the country's legal threshold, according to court records. The figure is 15 times the legal threshold in Illinois.
It was unclear how Piotrowicz, who had suffered a concussion, was able to flee the country.
Piotrowicz first appears in Chicago-area public records in 1995, when he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, court records show. On May 31, 1996, he got an Illinois driver's license, according to the secretary of state's office.
Piotrowicz bought his Belmont Heights home in 1999, records show. The brick home with a basketball hoop on the backyard garage has his name on the mailbox.
Are you surprised at how far reaching DUI laws can be? I suspect the judge will rule that Mr. Piotrowicz must be extradited to Poland to face the charges.
Chicago DUI lawyer says you can be found not guilty of a DUI and still have your license suspended for a DUI
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here about Statutory Summary Suspensions. By law, your license is suspended just for being charged with a DUI. In Illinois, even if you are found not guilty of the DUI or the charges are dismissed your license is still suspended unless you have a successful Statutory Summary Suspension hearing. I just talked about this a few hours ago. Even the powerful and famous can be thwarted by this suspension.
March 25, New York, NY
A Manhattan jury acquitted Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV on Thursday of drunken driving but found him guilty of a lesser charge, driving while ability impaired.
Because that charge is only a violation, akin to a speeding ticket, Mr. Powell, 47, will not have a criminal record.
Judge Larry Stephen, who presided over the case in Manhattan Criminal Court, fined Mr. Powell $300, suspended his license for 90 days and required him to participate in an educational program.
"I respect the verdict, but I do disagree," Mr. Powell said outside the courthouse.
One juror, who declined to give his name, said a video of Mr. Powell's behavior at the police station after his arrest, which was introduced by the prosecution, helped the jurors reach their decision.
"He was not drunk, absolutely not," the juror said.
I know it doesn't make any sense. Either you are drunk driving or you aren't. It's disturbing that you can be found not guilty of DUI and still have your license suspended just like Assemblyman Powell.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on Chicago Police patrolling the expressways
This Chicago DUI lawyer isn't surprised that times have changed. She's posted here, here, and here about taxpayers needing to vote with their wallets on what is important to them. Now it looks like CPD may have to step up its game by patrolling Chicago Expressways.
The Chicago Police Department might be forced to assume primary responsibility for patrolling 53 miles of Chicago area expressways — at a time when police manpower is woefully short — under Gov. Quinn's proposal to slash the Illinos[sic] State Police budget and lay off 464 troopers.
The state police have had exclusive control over the expressways since 1985.
In 2001, the Chicago Police Department joined with the state police to help enforce traffic laws on the Eisenhower, Dan Ryan, Stevenson, Kennedy, Edens spur and Bishop Ford to curb rampant speeding.
Now, Quinn's sweeping budget cuts are threatening to shift the entire burden to Chicago as early as July 1.
It couldn't come at a more difficult time. In year No. 2 of a hiring slowdown, the Chicago Police Department is 700 officers short of its authorized strength and more than 2,100 officers short each day, counting those on medical rolls and limited duty.
Perhaps giving out speeding tickets shouldn't be CPD's priority if ISP stops patrolling the expressways.
Chicago DUI lawyer says state legislators think speeders are worse than drug users
This Chicago DUI lawyer is surprised that state legislators are more concerned with an individual speeding than an individual with drugs or charged with a violent crime. The other day the local media noted that those folks travelling more than 40 miles over the legal limit shouldn't be entitled to court supervision, even though the charge of Aggravated Speeding is currently a Class A misdemeanor punished by a maximum penalty of 364 days in the county jail and fines up to 2500 just like a DUI.
From chicagobreakingnews.com:
A proposal to toughen punishment for extreme speeders passed a key legislative hurdle Monday, while also reopening the debate about how much leeway judges should have when sentencing defendants.
A Tribune investigation, published Sunday, found that since 2006, Chicago-area courts have given a special probation to nearly two-thirds of speeders going 100 mph or faster. The probation, called court supervision, keeps the tickets off offenders' driving records. It was given to people caught driving that fast while drunk as well as to drivers cited repeatedly at that speed.
In response to the Tribune's findings, state Rep. John D'Amico, D-Chicago, drafted legislation to ban judges from granting court supervision to anyone found guilty of driving 40 mph over the speed limit or faster. A House committee voted 5-0 to move it to the full House for a vote.
"A person (driving that fast) becomes a missile," said Republican Rep. Dennis Reboletti, of Elmhurst, who voted for the bill. "They make a projectile."
"When you're going 40 mph over the speed limit, you're really being reckless and you're putting the lives of innocent people in your hands," D'Amico said. "They should not be allowed to get supervision."
From HB6463:
730 ILCS 5/5-6-1
(c) The court may, upon a plea of guilty or a stipulation
by the defendant of the facts supporting the charge or a
finding of guilt, defer further proceedings and the imposition
of a sentence, and enter an order for supervision of the
defendant, if the defendant is not charged with: (i) a Class A
misdemeanor, as defined by the following provisions of the
Criminal Code of 1961: Sections 11-9.1; 12-3.2; 12-15; 26-5;
31-1; 31-6; 31-7; subsections (b) and (c) of Section 21-1;
paragraph (1) through (5), (8), (10), and (11) of subsection
(a) of Section 24-1; (ii) a Class A misdemeanor violation of
Section 3.01, 3.03-1, or 4.01 of the Humane Care for Animals
Act; or (iii) a felony.
At the very end of House Bill 6463 is where you find the amendment that throws speeders under the bus:
Section 1-129.1 of the Illinois Vehicle Code.
(p) The provisions of paragraph (c) shall not apply to a
defendant charged with violating Section 11-601.5 of the
Illinois Vehicle Code or a similar provision of a local
Section 11-601.5 of the Illinois Vehicle Code applies to Aggravated Speeders.
What is it about speeding that makes it so heinous compared to selling or using drugs or beating someone up or stealing? Is this the type of legislation you want them to focus on in Springfield?
Chicago DUI lawyer explains why the accused doesn't have to blow
This Chicago DUI lawyer will admit it; she's surprised that prosecutors still think the burden of proof belongs to the accused, not the government. Today, after asking a prosecutor about his bracket our conversation turned back to the law. "Hey Ava, if your client's innocent, why won't they just blow"? I'm sure the look on my face didn't hide my initial thoughts, but here's the answer that I wished I'd given him:
You do realize that in Illinois the government is given not one, but two bites at the apple when it comes to DUI arrests right? That's right, anyone charged with a DUI who submits to blood, breath, or alcohol testing will find themselves with not one but two charges of DUI. One charge will be issued if the results of the chemical testing are above the legal limit of .08 but another one will be issued as a just in case.
Here's how the just in case works. What if the accused submits to the chemical testing and the results are under the legal limit? Well, it's certainly been my professional experience that people still find themselves arrested and charged with DUI. They still find themselves having to hire a lawyer to defend them. They still face all of the fear and confusion that comes with wondering why on earth they got arrested when their test results proved their innocence.
In a nutshell, Mr. Prosecutor the burden of proof isn't on the accused but on the government. This isn't the Salem witch trials where those accused of witchcraft were given the test of being tied into a sack and thrown into a body of water. If they floated, they were guilty of witchcraft. If they sunk, they were innocent. Like the two DUI charges, the witchcraft tests sound a lot like a damned if you do, and a damned if you don't situation. Fortunately, we don't require that people prove their innocence, no the burden of proof rightly belongs to the government.
Chicago DUI lawyer says the media is wrong (again) about the law
This Chicago DUI lawyer doesn't know where the media is getting its information, but it is wrong!
llinois looks tough on speeders, at least on paper. The reality is that most official driving records wind up looking far cleaner than they would in nearby states.
The Secretary of State's office suspends drivers' licenses for those who rack up three speeding tickets in one year, no matter how fast the driver was speeding.
In Wisconsin and Indiana, three minor speeding tickets don't automatically carry suspensions.
But Illinois has something envied by speeders in other states: a generous "diversion" program, called court supervision.
The gist is simple: Admit you did wrong, do court-ordered penance, pay a fine and the case is dismissed. It's as if the ticket was never written. Most drivers qualify. Often it's as simple as checking a box on the ticket envelope, or signing up online.
That highlighted paragraph is wrong! In Illinois, the case is NOT dismissed just because you "do court-ordered penance and pay a fine". In fact that court-ordered penance and fine are required in order to receive court supervision. The truth is, if you plead guilty or are found guilty the case is not dismissed. No wonder so many of my clients think that paying a court fine removes the ticket from their record. Let me be clear, it doesn't!
Chicago DUI lawyer thinks the media doesn't understand the difference between public records and court records
This Chicago DUI lawyer posted here about making speeding 30 miles over the posted speed limit a jailable offense. Today there's a story about aggravated speeding, a criminal misdemeanor, not being available on public driving records.
Sam Sanfilippo was caught going 103 mph on Interstate Highway 294 in 2006 — 48 mph over the speed limit — but you wouldn't know it by looking at his driving record.
That's also the case for Marvin McCraney, cited for weaving at 103 mph on Interstate Highway 55 in 2008.
And for Jermaine Johnson, who police said hit 110 mph on I-57 that year — and was drunk.
All got court supervision, a form of probation that kept the traffic tickets off their public driving records, and a Tribune investigation found those cases weren't exceptions.
For triple-digit speeders, they are the norm.
While the tickets may not be available to the public, that doesn't mean they aren't available to the judges and prosecutors. Do you think everyone has a right to review your driving record?
The police, the prosecutors, and the courts have access to information about an individual's driving record that the general public does not. Can someone explain to me why that's a problem?
Chicago DUI lawyer is glad that DUI cops don't decide guilt
Today, this Chicago DUI lawyer heard it straight from the police officer's mouth. "I only charge them if they are guilty." The case didn't look that open and shut to me.
1. There was no accident
2. There was no bad driving
3. The individual wasn't accused of stumbling, tripping, falling, vomiting,
urinating, sleeping or fighting
4. There was no drug recovery
The accused was charged with a DUI based on Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis. This occurred when the accused was stopped at a roadside safety check.
I just don't get it. I reminded the officer that if his word was all that was necessary we wouldn't need courts at all. I can't imagine why he seems to think to the contrary, but Americans have decided that police don't decide if an individual is guilty or not. We've left that task up to the justice system.
Chicago DUI lawyer provides an update on DUI for school bus driver
This Chicago DUI lawyer posted here about the bus driver charged with a DUI. She even wondered why she was permitted to drive drunk in the first place with kids on the bus. Now comes breaking news that the local school board has moved swiftly to fire her and her supervisor.
March 18, Mt. Prospect, Il
School officials in Mount Prospect on Thursday fired the bus driver who was allegedly drunk while 50 students were aboard, and also fired the district's transportation coordinator, who failed to remove her from the route despite allegations of alcohol use.
"It was something Betty did," said parent Ellen Loeb, whose sixth-grade daughter rode Burden's bus. "And to put it on Vince when he didn't get the proper training ... In my opinion the best thing would be to have Vince back in that job, if he's properly trained."
The board voted 6-1 to fire him.
Looks like there should be a couple of job openings for transportation director and bus driver. Whatever is necessary to protect the children.
Chicago DUI lawyer explains what happens when you testify in a minor case
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about accidents. She recognizes that sometimes bad things happen and it is an accident. Why on earth you would want to put people in jail or prison for an accident is beyond her comprehension. Now comes news that the court system wants you to come testify when you are involved in an accident.
In the wild kingdom of Traffic Court, a "CW" is the rarest of birds -- you can be in court all morning and never spot one.
"CW" is courthouse shorthand for "complaining witness." If someone's driving like a goof and rear-ends your car or runs you over, the ticket will likely get thrown out unless you appear in court to make your complaint.
So where are all the complaining witnesses?
If a police officer did not see the traffic violation that led to an accident, he's not the witness. He collects the information from the people involved and writes the ticket. The victim has to go to court to make the charge stick.
But most witnesses in traffic cases skip court, probably because in most cases the person who hit them took care of the property damage or injury through insurance, according to Cook County Circuit Court Judge Walter Williams, supervising judge of the 1st District Traffic Court, which covers Chicago. Williams said judges find this disappointing, especially if there was a serious injury. He said the judge may continue a case to give the state's attorney another chance to bring in a witness.
There's one big problem with this. They don't tell the CW what could happen. I really don't know why they don't because when I was prosecuting these cases I always told complaining witnesses what was at risk. If a CW testifies, anything they testify to can be used in a civil case. That's why many civil attorneys advise folks not to testify in these minor matters. After all, there is no restitution associated with a finding of guilty on minor traffic cases, even if someone tragically died. Sometimes bad things happen and it is an accident.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on legislative relief to traffic cameras
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about red light cameras. They may increase the number of accidents at intersections (my husband's concern); they seem to be more of a revenue maker than safety device for municipalities; and the bulk of the people caught are failing to come to full and complete stops prior to turning right. In other words, they aren't "running" a red light as most of us think of it.
They are wheeling and dealing down in Springfield during the current legislative session to turn of the revenue garnering power of red light cameras.
March 16, Springfield, IL
Red-light camera tickets would be slightly harder to get and cheaper to appeal under a reform plan endorsed by Senate leaders Monday that fell far short of the sweeping overhaul demanded by critics of the automated devices.
The measure was sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and hammered out in a closed-door meeting last week with other lawmakers and lobbyists for Redflex and Redspeed, vendors hired to operate camera systems for Chicago and many suburbs.
The Cullerton plan, sent by the Transportation Committee to the Senate floor on a 10-0 vote, would nibble at the edges of complaints that have arisen as cameras have proliferated across the region in recent years. It would ban the city and suburbs from tacking on an extra fee to the standard $100 fine if a ticket is appealed, a common practice which deters many motorists from fighting the charges.
The measure would also give drivers more wiggle room to creep up to the edge of an intersection before stopping. A complete stop would still be required before making a right turn on red, but drivers could come to a halt after the painted stop line without getting a ticket as long as pedestrians were not nearby. Drivers awaiting a green light to head straight into an intersection also could make stops past the stop line without being nabbed by a camera.
"We want to take away the motivation of the municipalities to just make money by issuing red-light tickets," Cullerton said. "The whole goal here is safety."
I'm not that convinced that the goal was ever safety instead of revenue both for the municipalities as well as the corporations with contracts from your tax dollars for the cameras.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on legislation to let the government jab a needle in you
Finally, some sense! This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about forced blood draws in DUI cases. Now the Chicago Tribune's Editorial board weighs in.
March 11, Chicago, 2010
Over the past couple of years, Kane County State's Attorney John Barsanti has staged what he calls "no refusal" weekends.
Drivers suspected of being intoxicated are arrested and told they must provide a breath or blood sample. A judge is on hand to issue a search warrant. If the driver refuses, he faces the threat of being shipped to the hospital to have his blood taken involuntarily.
In the end, few have refused. No one has been strapped down and forced to give blood. One suspect who refused a test was charged with contempt of court, but a judge found him not guilty.
Barsanti complains that if a suspect can refuse a search warrant to submit for a blood sample without facing consequences, then the law has "no teeth."
Now Rep. Keith Farnham, D-Elgin, is trying to insert some fangs. He has introduced a bill that authorizes police to use "all necessary and reasonable force" to execute a search warrant, whether for driving under the influence of alcohol or anything else. That means suspects could be restrained at a hospital so a nurse or doctor could draw blood or a hair sample.
Really? Does Rep. Farnham think this is an American piece of legislation? Or maybe he thinks "all necessary and reasonable force" doesn't include strapping someone down and jabbing a needle into them. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that he talked to anyone about the Constitutionality of this legislation.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on the Bulls loss to the Heat--even with a player's DUI team suspension
This Chicago DUI lawyer can't believe the losing streak that the Chicago Bulls is on. Friday night's loss to the Miami Heat in marks the seventh consecutive loss for the Bulls. She's posted here, and here, about athletes charged with DUI. Now comes news that makes the Heat's suspended Dorell Wright breathe a sigh of relief.
March 13, Miami, FL
With two veterans serving team-imposed suspensions and its second-leading scorer out with an injury, the Heat appeared to enter Friday's game in pretty bad shape.
Fortunately for the Heat, its opponent had it even worse.
With Derrick Rose joining Luol Deng and Joakim Noah on the injured list, a team disguised as the Chicago Bulls showed up to face the Heat at American Airlines Arena.
``At this time of the year, most [teams] only got seven or eight guys in the rotation anyway,'' Heat guard Dwyane Wade said. ``We're not the most healthy team, either.''
The Heat had enough productive bodies to hold off the Bulls in a battle of shorthanded teams fighting for the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Miami withstood a turnover-filled night from Wade and a second-half deficit to pull away for a 108-95 victory. The Heat (34-32) moved into seventh place in the East, a half-game ahead of eighth-place Toronto and 2 ½ in front of Chicago (31-34).
Heat forward Michael Beasley, the No. 2 pick two years ago, sat out with a thigh bruise he sustained in Wednesday's victory against the Los Angeles Clippers. Rose, the top pick in 2008 and Chicago's leading scorer, was out after he sprained his wrist in Thursday's loss at Orlando.
``We can't look past anybody, take anybody lightly,'' Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. ``We have to take care of business at home. Our guys are ready for the challenge.''
The Heat also was without reserve forward Dorell Wright, who began his two-game suspension Friday for his DUI arrest Thursday. Veteran guard Rafer Alston, who was suspended indefinitely a week ago, was suspended for the rest of the season Friday.
However, the pressure for this young man could just be too much.
From miaminews.com:
For Dorell Wright, becoming a first-round NBA draft pick meant a three-year, $3-million-plus contract, a Nikeendorsement contract, a sweet condo in the Grove, 100-plus pairs of shoes, and hero status among all who know him. But that won't help him start basketball games. Wright, whose 21 years old now, has languished on the Heat bench for the better part of three seasons, upsetting his supporters and stagnating his development. His patience has been rewarded only periodically, when other players get injured. Wright seems to handle this as well as any young athlete could, but with his career and millions of dollars on the line, you better believe he's upset.
His plight relates to the larger issue of how inexperienced young men adjust to a highly public, pressurized environment like the NBA. "In a lot of ways, they're like a lot of spoiled kids," former NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said recently in an online interview. Abdul-Jabbar thinks the straight-out-of-high-school scenario is a crapshoot for a lot of kids who know little about the world. "When somebody drops $20 million in their laps," he says, "it's going to have an effect on their egos."
It just goes to show how far stretching a DUI arrest is. This young man is at the end of his contract and given his stats and now this arrest I suspect he won't land well. I guess time will tell.
Chicago DUI lawyer thinks folks maybe listening this St. Patrick's Day
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about St. Patrick's Day celebrations and increased DUI roadblocks. Now however, she wonders if the message is actually getting through to the revelers.
Then there's this story reminding folks of the end of the South Side parade:
Inside the Beverly Arts Center today, young children had shamrocks painted on their faces and decorated "Blarney stones" with glitter and glue.
It was the beginning of a new tradition for many families who for years had attended the South Side Irish Parade, which organizers cancelled last year after about 300,000 people packed the city's Irish enclave, drunkenness was rampant and nearly a dozen police officers were assaulted.
Kathleen Herber grew up in Beverly and had looked forward to passing on the parade tradition to her 1-year-old daughter, Anna. Instead, she took her daughter on Saturday to the South Side Irish Parade Family Fest, created out of the parade's demise.
"I miss the parade," she said. "I wish it was back this year, obviously. But we're trying to give this a try and bring back the spirit and tradition that usually accompanies the annual parade."
Meanwhile, bars along Western Avenue in Chicago's Beverly neighborhood are gearing up for what could be a massive pub crawl Sunday.
Laura DeVries, a bartender at Cork and Kerry, 10614 S. Western Ave., said the bar has prepared by putting away glassware and serving only in cans or plastic cups. She said many patrons in years past never even watched the parade.
On a window outside the bar, a poster invites patrons to visit Sunday by saying: "Some traditions never die."
But this year, police have said bar owners will find themselves in hot water if they allow overcrowding, underage drinking or allow people to leave carrying alcohol.
"There are a lot of restrictions so I don't see it being as busy as it was last year, " DeVries said. "It's bad because of the revenue that's going to be lost for everybody. Especially with the economy, business is down already. To have the biggest day of the year taken away is a hit."
The pub crawl was spearheaded on Facebook by Evergreen Park resident George Kelleher after the parade was cancelled. At one time, as many as 13,000 people pledged to go. But the Facebook event page has since disappeared.
The weather is not great and with the increased number of revelers I saw today on the North Side and on public transportation or foot, I just don't think there will be many arrests for public intoxication or DUI.
Chicago DUI lawyer warns of DUI roadblocks this St. Patrick's weekend
Spring is in the air. It's gorgeous today, plus it's Friday, plus it's St. Parick's Day Weekend. That means lots of drinking and perhaps some alfresco dining. I just hope it doesn't include any driving.
From chicagopolice.org:
DUI STRIKE FORCE PATROL IN THE HARRISON (011TH) DISTRICT
The Chicago Police Department will conduct a DUI Strike Force Patrol in the Harrison
(011th) District beginning at 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 12, 2010 and ending at 3:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 13, 2010.
The purpose of this program is to saturate a pre-designated area with roving police
officers that continually monitor vehicular traffic for signs of impaired driving. Patrols also place emphasis on speed, alcohol-related and safety belt violations.
It's been my experience that if the officers smell alcohol (or you tell them you had a drink) or drugs you will find yourself in need of the services of a Chicago DUI lawyer. Remember to be foretold is to be forewarned.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on 1st Responders' distracted driving
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here on distracted driving. Now comes news of 1st Responders being just as distracted as everyone else.
March 11, New York, New York
They are the most wired vehicles on the road, with dashboard computers, sophisticated radios, navigation systems and cellphones.
While such gadgets are widely seen as distractions to be avoided behind the wheel, there are hundreds of thousands of drivers — police officers and paramedics — who are required to use them, sometimes at high speeds, while weaving through traffic, sirens blaring.
The drivers say the technology is a huge boon for their jobs, saving valuable seconds and providing instant access to essential information. But it also presents a clear risk — even the potential to take a life while they are trying to save one.
In April 2008, an emergency medical technician in West Nyack, N.Y., looked at his GPS screen, swerved and hit a parked flatbed truck. The crash sheared off the side of the ambulance and left his partner, who was in the passenger seat, paralyzed.
In June 2007, a sheriff's deputy in St. Clair County, Ill., was driving 35 miles per hour when a dispatcher radioed with an assignment. He entered the address into the mapping system and then looked up, too late to avoid hitting a sedan stopped in traffic. Its driver was seriously injured.
"My partner was checking baseball scores as he was driving a patient to the hospital.
I looked through the passageway and said, 'You've got to stop that right now,' " recalls Greg Friese, a paramedic in central Wisconsin, who was treating a patient in the back. Mr. Friese also develops online training programs for medics, E.M.T.'s, police officers and firefighters.
"We're dealing with the carnage, which ranges from the trivial to the tragic, of distracted driving," he said. "We should know better."
Once again, it looks like Pandora's Box has been opened and there just isn't any way to put the lid back on it… alas we can always hope.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on a school bus driver charged with a DUI...on the job
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about bus drivers. Now comes news of a school bus driver charged with a DUI.
March 10, Rolling Meadows, IL
A northwest suburban school bus driver was arrested Tuesday and charged with DUI after allegedly failing field sobriety tests and registering nearly three times the legal limit on a breath test.
About 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Mount Prospect police Sgt. Michael Eterno got a call from Vincente Ramirez, transportation coordinator for Mount Prospect School District 57, according to a release from police.
Ramirez told the sergeant one of the district's bus drivers, 54-year-old Betty A. Burden of Mount Prospect, was operating bus No. 11, transporting about 50 students from Lions Park Elementary School in Mount Prospect to various bus stops in the village, the release said.
A co-worker had reported smelling an alcoholic beverage on Burden's breath about 2:30 p.m. and Ramirez wants police to investigate, the release said.
She did submit to Breath Alcohol Testing. The results were more than two times over the legal limit.
I will admit, I'm curious as to why her colleagues would let her leave with a bus load of children if they thought she was under the influence.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on defendants fighting against DUI license suspensions
This Chicago DUI lawyer has commented here, here, and here on Statutory Summary Suspensions. Statutory Summary Suspensions are issued by the Secretary of State and suspend the driver's license of all charged with a DUI (whether they are found guilty or not). The only way to avoid the suspension is to have a successful Petition to Rescind Summary Suspension.
Today, my suspicions were confirmed that folks were not just taking these suspensions lying down. I overheard a police officer this afternoon commenting he was on his second Statutory Summary Suspension hearing of the day. He shook his head in surprise that he was at court all day today in order to testify. What laid in the balance wasn't the accused's innocence or guilt. All that would be decided in the hearing is whether there would be any restrictions on the accused's ability to drive.
In today's rough economic environment the accused needs to be able to drive in order to fulfill her work and family obligations. People are protecting their rights to drive while the DUI case is pending. The irony is that it looks like the use of BAIID has backfired and instead of getting more folks to participate in the driving program fewer are choosing to do so (at least without a fight).
Chicago DUI lawyer believes in the justice system, win, loose, or draw
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here on DUI decisions. Some of the decisions I thought were correct, others I disagreed with, still it's our justice system and sometimes it isn't perfect. That said, I was shocked by what a MADD spokesperson had to say about the jury process.
February 22, Belleville, IL
Illinois State Police charged James L. Griesbaum, 32, with driving under the influence after a stop on July 12, 2008, near Joliet, but when the case went to trial in November 2008 in Will County, a jury found Griesbaum not guilty, according to court records.
"A not-guilty verdict by a jury often shows the community sees drinking and driving as an acceptable behavior," said Kristi Hosea, spokeswoman for Illinois Mother's Against Drunk Driving. "It could also be a refusal where the defendant was not compelled to do a breathalyzer or provide a blood test to check for alcohol. Without that, it may be a difficult charge to prove."
Yikes! Talk about frightening. She has the audacity to challenge a jury because she thinks the result wasn't correct. Looks like she should be lobbying to prohibit anyone charged with a DUI having a trial. In fact, clearly her idea of justice is guilty once charged with a DUI. No need for a judge, a DUI lawyer, a prosecutor, let alone those 12 plus citizens who are away from work and family, listening to all of the evidence, deliberating, and then rendering a verdict. I know the police operate as judge and jury in some countries, but hopefully that view of justice isn't coming here, despite Ms. Hosea's thoughts to the contrary.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on handcuffed nurse's DUI lawsuit settlement
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here about hopsitals and hospital personnel drawing blood in DUI arrests. Now comes news that a local nurse has settled her lawsuit against the City of Chicago.
March 3, Chicago, Il
A nurse who was handcuffed when she refused to draw blood from a drunken-driving suspect has settled her lawsuit against a Chicago Police officer for $78,000, according to city records.
Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center nurse Lisa Hofstra sued Officer Marcelo Rodriguez and the city, saying she was handcuffed and forced to sit in the back of a squad car for 45 minutes in August. She said Rodriguez became belligerent when she told him the hospital could not draw blood until the driver was admitted as a patient.
Well the nurse was never charged with a crime. Do you think local hospitals are going to be less apt to draw DUI suspects' blood? Perhaps they will even leave a critical patient untended in a rush to draw the DUI suspect's blood in order to avoid being handcuffed by the police.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on the "beer belly" starting in Illinois
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted on DUI's in Illinois here. She's also posted on DUI's throughout the Midwest here and here. Now comes a bit of human geography that may explain it.
From consumerist.com( via floatingsheep.org) :
Starting in Illinois, the beer belly expands up into Wisconsin and first spreads westward through Iowa/Minnesota and then engulfs Nebraska, and the Dakotas before petering out (like a pair of love handles) in Wyoming and Montana.
The clustering was so apparent that we wanted to check how it compared to the "official" data on this activity. So we gathered 2007 Census Country Business Pattern on the number of establishments listed in NACIS code 722410 (Drinking places (alcoholic beverages)) and divided by Census estimates for state population totals for 2009 and found remarkable correspondence with our data.
On average there are 1.52 bars for every 10,000 people in the U.S. but the states that make up the beer belly of America are highly skewed from this average.
FWIW- Wisconsin comes in third for bars per 10,000 people. It's hard though to be certain that the number of bars noted is accurate because in many small towns and trout hamlets the bar serves as a gathering spot for entire families and communities.
Chicago DUI lawyer discusses the penalties of a DUI ...these are the one's that hurt your pocket
This Chicago DUI lawyer just got off the phone with a friend who is a lawyer with the public defenders' office. Times are getting more difficult economically and he witnessed a rash of people who are being punished for not having money to pay court costs, fees, and fines.
All of them couldn't comply with the state's requirement of paying for a drug and alcohol evaluation. This is required for all pleas of guilt or findings of guilt in DUI cases. So what's the cost? A whopping $250 dollars, but wait there's more. That's in addition to the $250 fee that must be paid to the Secretary of State if you didn't win your Petition to Rescind Statutory Summary Suspension.(fee is for first time offender only, it cost more if it isn't your first DUI arrest) It also, doesn't include the approximately $1,000 assessed in vehicle impoundment fees simply for being charged with a DUI. Did I mention that doesn't include the installation and monthly fees for a BAIID?
Did you notice what I didn't mention? Here's a few tangibles: lawyer fees, counseling fees, time loss at work because you must appear in court, transportation cost to and from court(for those of you who aren't installing a BAIID into your car).
All of the above plus court fees and fines if you get sentenced to jail. Yep, they charge you court fees and fines even if you go to jail. Who says you can't get blood from a stone?
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on another politician's DUI arrest
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here and here about politicians being charged with a DUI. Now comes news of another politician who gets charged.
March 4, Bakersfield, CA
A California state senator who reportedly has voted against every gay rights measure since he took office eight years ago was charged with driving under the influence on Wednesday, reportedly after leaving a gay nightclub in Sacramento.
Sen. Roy Ashburn, a Republican from Bakersfield, was spotted driving erratically at about 2 a.m. Wednesday in downtown Sacramento, officials said.
He was arrested after taking a sobriety test, and he was taken to Sacramento County Jail, where he was administered a blood-alcohol test prior to being booked and released.
He was charged with two misdemeanors: driving under the influence and driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 percent or higher.
Ashburn, a 55-year-old father of four, apologized for his actions.
"I am deeply sorry for my actions and offer no excuse for my poor judgment," he said in a statement. "I accept complete responsibility for my conduct and am prepared to accept the consequences for what I did. I am also truly sorry for the impact this incident will have on those who support and trust me -- my family, my constituents, my friends, and my colleagues in the Senate."
Unfortunately, for him, he has more than just a DUI arrest to focus on.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on evidence being kept out in judge's case
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here on Judge David Hall's DUI.
Now comes huge news that his Constitutional rights will be protected in a case that has come to symbolize the farcical nature of DUI prosecutions.
From dailyherald.com:
Evidence of Circuit Judge David Hall's blood-alcohol level at the time of his 2008 arrest for DUI will be barred from his trial, scheduled to begin next week.
Kane County Circuit Judge F. Keith Brown's ruling Monday that proper procedures were not followed in the testing of Hall's blood is the latest blow to the case against Hall.
In spite of the ruling, and the June 2008 death of arresting officer Jesse Goldsmith, prosecutors said they intend to forge ahead with the trial on Monday.
As indicated above, the arresting officer in Judge Hall's case is dead. Yep, you got it, the government is going forward with its prosecution although Judge Hall's Sixth Amendment right via the Confrontation Clause is not available.
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on trooper being hit by distracted, albeit sober, driver
This Chicago DUI lawyer has posted here, here, and here on distracted driving. I've even posted here when I got hit because the driver that hit me was on the phone.
Now comes news of a lady who hit a trooper… she was on her phone.
A cell phone-using driver plowed into an Illinois State Patrol trooper Saturday night on the Dan Ryan Expy, apparently ignoring warnings from her passenger that she was getting too close to the trooper, a Cook County judge heard today.
Cook County Judge Jackie Portman set bond at $50,000 today for Moore, who is charged with aggravated reckless conduct, a felony.
The trooper, who suffered a broken pelvis and two broken legs, remained in intensive care this afternoon and faces the possibility of further surgeries, said State Patrol Master Sgt. S. Nowak.
The trooper was struck shortly after 9 p.m., while standing on the right shoulder of northbound Dan Ryan near 63rd Street, investigators said. At the time, the trooper was handling an unrelated traffic stop, investigators said.
Today, I stopped at the phone store to pick up a new Bluetooth headset. Funny, the sale's associate mentioned she got a ticket recently for driving while on her phone. She said she had her phone on speaker, but she was holding it near her mouth. The ticketing officer told her, "it's hands-free, not hand-free".
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on a paroled DUI offen...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on Chicago Cops' reluc...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on Illinois State Rep'...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on not 1, not 2, but 3...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on extradition and DUI...
Chicago DUI lawyer says you can be found not guilt...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on Chicago Police patr...
Chicago DUI lawyer says state legislators think sp...
Chicago DUI lawyer explains why the accused doesn'...
Chicago DUI lawyer says the media is wrong (again)...
Chicago DUI lawyer thinks the media doesn't unders...
Chicago DUI lawyer is glad that DUI cops don't dec...
Chicago DUI lawyer provides an update on DUI for s...
Chicago DUI lawyer explains what happens when you ...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on legislative relief ...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on legislation to let ...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on the Bulls loss to t...
Chicago DUI lawyer thinks folks maybe listening th...
Chicago DUI lawyer warns of DUI roadblocks this St...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on 1st Responders' dis...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on a school bus driver...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on defendants fighting...
Chicago DUI lawyer believes in the justice system,...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on handcuffed nurse's ...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on the "beer belly" s...
Chicago DUI lawyer discusses the penalties of a DU...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on another politician'...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on evidence being kept...
Chicago DUI lawyer comments on trooper being hit b...


Reiker, Julia. 2016. "Glimpses of the Horror of Normalcy" - female dwarfs in literature. In: Tracing the footsteps of dwarfs: images, concepts and representations in popular culture, 121–144.
Reiker, Julia. 2015. "The Wedding was very much like other weddings": the concept of the "heroine" and its relevance for Jane Austen's Emma. In: Heroes anywhere and forever: from a German, Indian and American perspective, 93–100.
Reiker, Julia. 2013a. Biografische Bezüge in Opfergang. In: Der Opfergang, 71–73.
---. 2013b. Ewige Tränen: Biografisches zu Paula Ludwig. In: Traumaufzeichnungen: eine editionskritische Studie, 78–80.


Capp studied landscape architecture at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts school and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia. In 1933 he was hired as an assistant to Ham Fisher, the creator of "Joe Palooka." "Li'l Abner" first appeared in The New York Mirror in 1934. The broadly humorous comic strip was set in the fictitious backwoods community of Dogpatch, U.S.A., and featured Li'l Abner, a shy and awkward rustic; Daisy Mae, a persistent damsel who finally caught Abner after a 17-year pursuit; the pipe-smoking Mammy Yokum; and various social caricatures. "Li'l Abner" ended upon Capp's retirement in 1977.


text:
John Wick: Chapter 3 Plot Details Revealed!
John Wick: Chapter 3 - ParabellumCinemaCon Movie News
By Spencer Perry
Keanu Reeves' latest action icon is set to return very soon with the in-development John Wick: Chapter 3 coming in 2019. Ahead of the Lionsgate panel at CinemaCon later today, Collider has the first details on the plot for the upcoming film, which reads as follows:
"John Wick (Keanu Reeves) is on the run for two reasons… he's being hunted for a global $14 million dollar open contract on his life, and for breaking a central rule: taking a life on Continental Hotel grounds. The victim was a member of the High Table who ordered the open contract. John should have already been executed, except the Continental's manager, Winston, has given him a one-hour grace period before he's 'Excommunicado' – membership revoked, banned from all services and cut off from other members. John uses the service industry to stay alive as he fights and kills his way out of New York City."
John Wick: Chapter 3 is set to arrive May 17, 2019 with director Chad Stahelski set to return behind the camera. Common, Laurence Fishburne, and Ruby Rose are expected to reprise their roles in the sequel with Hiroyuki Sanada (The Wolverine) reportedly playing the villain.
The world of John Wick will continue to expand as well beyond the third film with the spin-off TV series The Continental in the works at STARZ with acclaimed writer/producer Chris Collins (Sons of Anarchy, The Wire) executive producing; and with the spin-off feature film Ballerina which follows a child assassin in the world of John Wick.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Meta SE header banner contains the old Stack Overflow logo icon This is the MSE banner background:

Note the Stack Overflow logo contains 6 overflowing bars.
Here's the current Stack Overflow icon:

DISCREPANCY ALERT!

All out-of-date icons:

*

*Stack Overflow - Report

*Electrical Engineering SE - Report

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Home » 50 million baht stolen from businessman's accounts
Crime National News Asia
50 million baht stolen from businessman's accounts
An elderly businessman said he will file a legal complaint after allegedly discovering that 50 million baht had disappeared from his bank accounts.
He believes the culprit is his adopted daughter.
Prasert Kaewpakapongsri, 77, went to the provincial Damrongtham centre to complain that the funds had vanished from six of his bank accounts.
He is also lodging a complaint with the Crime Suppression Division.
Mr Prasert said he has asked the bank for a detailed statement as he claims the money was withdrawn without his knowledge.
However, the bank only provided records of three accounts. Mr Prasert said he has also brought the matter to the attention of the Bank of Thailand, which directed the commercial bank that safeguards Mr Prasert's money to look into the incident.
According to Mr Prasert, the statements showed the money had been taken out by a former bank manager who is the husband of one of his adopted daughters.
The former manager made several withdrawals totalling 50 million baht without using passbooks.
Mr Prasert claims to have made a fortune from selling rice at a market and lending money.
His net worth is estimated at over 100 million baht.
He has two biological and two adopted children. The latter were reportedly unhappy at how Mr Prasert had decided to divide up his estate among them.
Covid-19International NewsnewsPattayaOne newsThailand
Crowd trouble early on in Wembley qualifier
Star Trek star William Shatner ready to boldly go into space


Across four tracks our marketing experts will share their industry knowledge around content & social media marketing, digital transformation, data, UX, AI, SEO, eCommerce, personalization and so much more...Our fantastic speakers are senior industry leaders who provide real-life examples and explore current and future challenges marketers face. Click here to see our speaker line up.
We aim to bring together 1200+ senior-level digital marketers to discuss all things social, content, data and beyond. Join us at #DMWF Europe, 25th – 26th November in Amsterdam and meet like-minded marketing professionals who will share insight, inspire and allow you to take your own activities to the next level!


The numbers for overall premiums growth, penetration and density in the Lebanese insurance market in 2017 may not bring huge surprises. In 2016 the sector delivered 3 percent nominal growth in gross premiums, from $1.52 billion in 2015 to $1.56 billion, according to the latest quarterly report of the Association of Insurance Companies of Lebanon (ACAL). The compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of written gross premiums for the period 2009 – 2015 was 7.6 percent, according to the latest figures published by the Insurance Control Commission in its annual report for 2015.
The 7.6 percent CAGR of written gross premiums was eclipsed by the CAGR of claims at 15.6 percent, but in line with the 7.1 percent CAGR of the sector's net income after tax. It also is notable that year-on-year growth for gross written premiums in 2015 was better than in 2014, at 7.8 percent versus 4.3 percent, but that the last three years have witnessed significantly lower annual growth rates than the years 2007-2011. Total premiums were $727.52 million in 2007, roughly half their level in 2015. Total net profit for the sector according to the ICC stood at $93,150 in 2015.
The overall underwriting activity of Lebanese insurers is segmented into three main business lines – life insurance, medical insurance and motor insurance. The percentage split has been grosso modo stable for years, with about 30 percent in life, 30 percent in medical, and 22 – 25 percent in motor insurance. The next business line by volume is fire insurance, which according to ACAL accounted for 6.9 percent of the total market in 2016.
All other non-life specialties contribute less than 3.5, and often less than 1 percent, to the total premiums pie – incluing coverage for workers' compensation, engineering, contractors' all risk, cargo, travel and transportation, public liability, and credit insurance, as well as policies against perils such as political risk, hostage and ransom, terrorism, riot and civil unrest, loss of a company's key person, directors and officers liability, and so forth.
Policies and awareness of coverage for incidents that will define the corporate risk landscape and insurance contracts of future decades, like cyber insurance, seem to still linger beyond the horizon of most companies. It seems one can insure (almost) everything in Lebanon (ironically, the ICC lists no local companies as licensed for the agriculture branch, one of six licensing categories under the regulatory portfolio), but the demand here is focused on mandatory coverage, not on the risks that might have the greatest impact on an economic entity or the whole country.
The challenges in this situation, where insurance is understood as being vital for the Lebanese economy and society, while awareness of its importance is still focused on basic coverage, were highlighted in the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) latest evaluation of insurance in context of the national financial sector. The evaluation was published earlier this year under the IMF's Financial Stability Assessment Program (FSAP) and notes that the Lebanese insurance sector is confronted with "structural challenges" to its development.
With regards to the overall financial system of Lebanon, the FSAP sees sovereign and credit concentration risks as potential vulnerabilities in the nation's banking sector, based on solvency stress tests and sensitivity analysis. It further asserts that neither the capital markets nor the secondary debt markets are well developed. "Capital markets are small and contribute little to the financing of the economy, and expansion prospects for the insurance sector are hindered by a relatively weak regulatory and institutional framework," concludes the document's executive summary.
Given the overall state of the financial environment, insurers in Lebanon are facing an economic path that looks mildly challenging, but at the same time slightly promising – more promising the more the economy and regional stability recovers, and the more the Lebanese state overcomes its inefficiencies and inequities. That notwithstanding, to borrow from George Orwell, some insurers appear a bit more equal than others when it comes to thinking about the future and initiating promising new trajectories.
While it is true that some insurers have outperformed the overall sector in 2016, this is not a narrative that will advance the Lebanese insurance industry on a path to new life. The real story is that some of these outperformers are the very companies that have declared themselves adherents to practices and principles which in the past were not common practice in the sector.
The first of these is a commitment to transparency and governance. Nothing currently obliges insurance companies in this country to practice either. And no Lebanese insurance company is listed in the stock market, so even if the Beirut Stock Exchange had much stronger governance requirements, this would not matter for insurers.
In this desert of transparency, void of culture and incentives for governance, it is encouraging to encounter a full and proper board structure in a sizeable Beirut-based group like Chedid Capital Holding, whose bread and butter is insurance, and find that it is indeed possible for such a group to perform well in the current economic environment. According to group chairman Farid Chedid, organic top line growth in the past year was over 30 percent (including the acquisition of Sharjah-based brokerage Al Manara, "we reached growth of over 40 percent in the top line," he says).
Even more impressive is that the boards of units in the group are not opaque or stuffed with names of only one family, but entail credible Lebanese and foreign names among their independent, non-executive directors. There are other examples of liberated financial thinking in the management strata of local insurance companies, such as an orientation toward competition over quality, solvency and sustainable long-term profitability.
This contrasts with the lack of a regional or national culture in Middle Eastern insurance sectors, with very poor habits when it comes to annual report writing, communication and general transparency toward analysts and the public. Sector practices have for many years given an uninspiring impression of a field characterized by politicking, narrow interests, undemocratic debate, and horse-trading or influence peddling.
The second uncommon valor is modern positioning vis-a-vis the customer and an emphasis on employee welfare. In December of last year, Lebanon's largest insurance company by consolidated premiums undertook its inaugural customer loyalty survey, conducted by a multinational market research company. The survey was focused on customer experiences in life insurance, but there are plans to conduct a second survey on non-life insurance, Allianz SNA's chief market management officer Raed Labaki tells Executive.
"It was an external survey to compare the satisfaction of our customers in life insurance with our main peers and with the rest of the life insurance market. We were happy to find that we were the loyalty leaders compared with the average of the market but, most importantly for us, [the survey] helped us to identify our strengths and our weaknesses, both [our customers'] delights and pain points," he says. According to him, the company will now consult with experts in the global group and develop a customer experience action plan to improve on the pain points that were identified. "Our aim now is to maintain this loyalty leader position," he enthuses, adding that the group's lead over the market in terms of loyalty was in double-digit percentages for each measured touch point.
Inspiringly, it is not only the Lebanese units of large foreign insurers but also hometown players that are betting on customer centricity as their new angle. "We decided to become not just customer focused but customer obsessed. Every single client counts enormously for us, because it is an opportunity to make the client our brand ambassador and show people that we value them. This is how we are going to grow our business," says Anthony Khawam, the company's 29-year-old deputy CEO and a third generation member of the family that controls Securite Assurance.
Securite Assurance, which in the past was notable for writing a large part of its portfolio in simple compulsory third-party liability covers against bodily injury in motor insurance, has been shifting out of this market and into more complex businesses, targeting growth of its medical and no-fault motor business as a first step, with plans to focus on developing its term life insurance business.
Next to the emphasis on customer experience and, for distribution of policies, on serving its broker community with high commissions and new digital tools, a third pillar in Khawam's thinking is employee centricity. "People – this is the most important thing in the company, not the service but the employee, because giving great service and having a great brand is nothing [compared with] having a great culture," he says.
He says the family company has worked for the past three years on building an advanced service infrastructure, and is now in the middle of developing a brand infrastructure. The company took many cues, atypically for a Lebanese insurer, from consumer branding strategies in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods industry. It also is adopting a corporate lingo and communication style that is similar to management consultants.
Customer relationship management and human capital development have been established practice for years in companies that applied customer and employee retention, development strategies, and had real HR departments instead of personnel departments. But such corporate philosophies are still out of the ordinary in parts of the local economy. Having said that, managers like Arope GM Fateh Bekdache told Executive years ago of their preference for an appreciative pat-on-the-back in employee motivation, just as a handful of other insurance CEOs in Beirut have long stressed upon the importance of corporate governance in their organizations.
Even the office landscapes of some insurers are developing, with some pleasant surprises. A reporter 10 years ago might have left the premises after an interview with memories of claustrophobic dark walls, intimidating fortress-like desks, warrens of corridors and confusing office layouts.
These days, some insurance companies can be found in buildings constructed especially for them, or are engaged in building their own premises, which in the past one would more commonly see with banks (a clustering of insurance companies even seems to be happening in the Hazmieh/Jisr Bacha neighborhood). Alternatively, insurers might reside in the same buildings as a decade ago (with their uninviting lobbies and old elevators), but have invested in creating much more appealing office environments. A major example of a surprising redesign and jump into office contemporariness is the lair of Securite Assurance, where a transformation to literal office transparency is in progress this year, with the implementation of interior glass walls and new staff amenities that seem right out of a manual for achieving better work-life balance.
Another hopeful sign of soft development in the Lebanese insurance sector is the adoption of new methods, technologies and processes. It goes hand-in-hand with empowerment of the next generation of insurance leaders, in both family-owned and operated firms and in the few corporate insurers on the local scene. For example, one large bank-owned insurer recently hired its first-ever junior digital marketing officer. Another bank-owned provider told Executive it was working on a corporate website that actually deserves to be called functional and would present something other than an online billboard. Overall, while digitization is still in its exploratory stages in the country, many sector companies have committed to or have already implemented new websites and evidence suggests that insurers are increasingly thinking about how to communicate and live up to the behaviors of the digital age.
Such innovations and changes are part of normal corporate existence anywhere, but it gives hope to see that such things are becoming more visible from insurance companies in the local climate. Just as it takes many drops of rain or grains of sand to make a storm, culture change in an industry can only came to fruition when many small components interact. This observation comes with the caveat that the companies in the Lebanese insurance sector are far too numerous to undertake any exhaustive investigation of their new behaviors and the degree of their seriousness and sustainability, or to say what innovations or best practices may have already quietly been bred at companies years ago.
Equally, it is far from visible today where the Lebanese insurance industry might be 10 years from today. One thing that the numbers do tell is that the industry ridiculously still harbors many companies that have either an annual production of gross premiums below $1 million and/or capital that is below any rational consideration for a modern financial firm, and purely based on the outdated minimum requirement for $1.5 million in capital under the current law. Given the sector's fragmentation, consolidation remains a key challenge, but there are hopeful signs reaching the public that this could take place. In its overall prospects, the Lebanese insurance sector looks better in 2017 and going forward than it has for quite some years.
It looks like another scheme of a bunch of scams.


While Barack Obama took a premature victory lap today in the heart of Berlin, proclaiming himself a "citizen of the world," John McCain continued to make his case to the American citizens who will decide this election.
There were, of course, problematic parts, like introducing himself as a "citizen of the world." These carefully-chosen words, loaded in the context of the current campaign, were obviously intended to advance the image that Obama wants to present to American voters. It's far from clear, however, that "citizen of the world" is at the top of the list of qualities voters are looking for this year.
And tonight, we declare anew to our fellow citizens of the world: Freedom is not the sole prerogative of a chosen few; it is the universal right of all God's children. Look to where peace and prosperity flourish today. It is in homes that freedom built. Victories against poverty are greatest and peace most secure where people live by laws that ensure free press, free speech, and freedom to worship, vote, and create wealth.


text:
Anti-Racist Reading List
Ceremonies/Celebrants
Journals, Calendars & Stationery
Travel Narratives
Work/Career/Management
Writing & Reading
Books from AWF Winter Series 2020
Women Leadership Symposium
Faves & Raves
Faves & Raves 2020
50/50 Women
Ladies' Litera-Tea 2020
A Life in Parts
Author(s): Bryan Cranston
With BREAKING BAD, Bryan Cranston created moments that had the world on the edge of their seats and coined catchphrases that became famous all over the globe. Now, at last, we can learn of the man behind one of TV's most successful programmes ever. Bryan Cranston's profile has skyrocketed, due to his portrayal of chemistry teacher turned drug manufacturer Walter White, for five seasons in the award-winning BREAKING BAD.For the first time readers can discover how he beat off competition from Matthew Broderick and Steve Zahn for the role, to stories about the cast and life after Walter. Told with honesty and intrigue this will be Bryan's first - and - definitive autobiography. It is the ultimate book for the fans of BREAKING BAD.
Bryan Cranston is an Emmy award-winning actor and is most famous for playing Walter White in the TV programme BREAKING BAD. Born in California, the actor, screenwriter and film producer has appeared in numerous films and TV programmes including SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, ARGO and MALCOLM IN THE MIDDLE. He is currently starring on Broadway in the play ALL THE WAY and it has widely been reported he is in the process of developing a new TV programme with Sony Pictures Television. Follow him on Twitter: @BryanCranston
Publisher : Orion Publishing Co
Imprint : Seven Dials
Author : Bryan Cranston
Dewey classification : 791.43028092
THE WOMEN'S BOOKSHOP
105 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand (Near the Richmond Rd traffic lights. Opposite Ponsonby Central)
Phone: 09 376 4399 | Email: books@womensbookshop.co.nz
Saturday & Sunday 10am - 5pm


text:
Taylor Lockwood Booth (September 22, 1933 – October 20, 1986) was a mathematician known for his work in automata theory.

One of his fundamental works is Sequential Machines and Automata Theory (1967). It is a wide-ranging book meant for specialists, written for both theoretical computer scientists as well as electrical engineers. It deals with state minimization techniques, Finite state machines, Turing machines, Markov processes, and undecidability.

Education
Booth studied at the University of Connecticut, where he received his B.S., M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.

Professional career
At his alma mater Booth was professor at the Computer Science and Engineering department.

He was the founder and director of the Computer Applications & Research Center (CARC) at the University of Connecticut's School of Engineering. In 1981 the center was created to support the school's growing need for centralized computing research and development services. After his death the center was renamed to "Taylor L. Booth Center for Computer Applications and Research" or in its shorter form the "Booth Research Center". In 2002 this merged with the Advanced Technology Institute (ATI), another center at the School of Engineering, to form the "Booth Engineering Center for Advanced Technology" (BECAT).

Booth was the first president of the Computing Sciences Accreditation Board, founded in 1984 and since renamed to CSAB.

Awards and honors
Professor Booth received following awards and honors:
 The Frederick Emmons Terman Award from the American Society for Engineering Education in 1972, to recognize the outstanding young electrical engineering educator.
 The IEEE Centennial Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 1984.
 The Distinguished Service Award from the IEEE Computer Society in 1985, for his accreditation work.

Taylor L. Booth Education Award
After Booth's death, the IEEE Computer Society established the Taylor L. Booth Education Award, to keep his name in memory. The award is given annually for individuals with an "outstanding record in computer science and engineering education".

References

External links
 Taylor Booth (1967) Sequential Machines and Automata Theory, John Wiley and Sons, New York. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 67–25924.

1933 births
1986 deaths
University of Connecticut faculty
20th-century American mathematicians
IEEE Centennial Medal laureates
People from Manchester, Connecticut
Mathematicians from Connecticut

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Открыть доступ к localhost Вот интересуюсь каким образом открыть localhost для другого юзера, тобишь чтоб он ввел мой IP и видел мой сайт на локалке. Подскажите пожалуйста каким образом это реализовать?
A: Вам нужно выключить файрволл, либо открыть порт 80 на ПК, а так же роутере, модеме или что там у вас ещё есть.
В настройках хостов должны быть *:80

Ни каких дополнительных действий над хостом не требуется

A: Есть отличный вариант: ngrok.
Качаешь небольшой клиент, выполняешь в командной строке что-то типа: P:\ath\to\ngrok.exe http 80 и всё.
Выдаются внешние адреса вида:
http://a76b8f94.ngrok.io -> localhost:80
https://a76b8f94.ngrok.io -> localhost:80

Конечно, у Вас должен быть сервер (или что-то, что может принять запрос и дать ответ) на локалке и нужном порту.

A: Прописываем VirtualHOST на той машине где поднят веб-сервер
<VirtualHost *:80>
    DocumentRoot "C:/webserver/webname/www"
    ServerName webname
    ErrorLog "C:/webserver/webname/error.log"
    CustomLog "C:/webserver/webname/access.log" common
    <Directory "C:/webserver/webname/www">
        Options FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Order allow,deny
        Allow from all
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Если надо, чтобы обращение с другого компьютера происходило именно по имени компьютера на котором находиться сайт (или что там еще...), необходимо настраивать DNS Server. А так если все компы в локалке, то просто вписываем IP адрес веб-сервера в браузере и должны увидеть сайт.
Ну а так вообще здесь инфы поболее...


If the Etrex swings sligthly » Blog Archive » at night….
I read your nighttime geocache trip. I wish I spoke/read/understood Deutsch. I wanted very much to understand you audio message. I just got my first GPS - a Garmin 60CSX to get starting geocaching. I have lived in Germany for about 2 and 1/2 years and will be here for another 2 and 1/2 years. I hope to do a lot of geocaching in the next years and meet fellow geocachers like yourself.


A 3-part webinar series for healthcare professionals that delves into this growing issue.
We'll cover the shocking ways toxins have seeped into our everyday lives, give you insight into how our bodies biotransform them and then discuss how our genes play a role. You'll learn the disturbing connections between these toxins and disease.
Finally, we'll give you a culinary toolbox to create dishes that contain key ingredients needed to support this critical process needed for health.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! SAVE $30 WHEN YOU REGISTER NOW.
Questions? Email us at info@genomainternational.com and we'll be happy to answer them!
Webinar is over, you can not register now. If you have any questions, please contact Webinar host: Roberta Kline.
Hi there, You are invited to a Zoom webinar. Topic: How Toxic Are We? The Shocking Reality and What You Can Do Register in advance for this webinar: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cPoQzXvwS3SEMe6fESM8nw After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. ---------- Webinar Speakers Amanda Archibald RD (Founder @Genomic Kitchen) Amanda Archibald is the founder of The Genomic Kitchen, a system of choosing, preparing and understanding food based on culinary genomics, a term she coined to express this revolutionary merging of genomic science (nutrigenomics) and the culinary arts. Widely recognized for her trailblazing work as a culinary nutritionist and dietitian, Amanda has a longstanding commitment to redefining the food, nutrition and cooking education footprint in ways that make them understandable, meaningful and fundamentally achievable for all Americans. Her cutting edge work in Culinary Genomics, unveiled in 2015, has created a new frontier, uniting the fields of Genomic Medicine with the Culinary Arts. Through this work, Amanda is placing food, chefs and the kitchen at the epicenter of healing and igniting a new nutrition conversation for the world. Amanda has taught extensively in the USA, Europe, South Africa and includes Australia in 2019. Joe Veltmann PhD FAAIM DCCN (Co-founder, CSO @Genoma International) Dr. Veltmann is a scientist, healthcare practitioner, author, teacher and expert in genomic testing and interpretation. With over 40 years of experience as a researcher and practitioner, Dr. Veltmann has made a career of translating lab results into practical clinical applications for patients around the world. He achieved international recognition as the pioneering developer of the GENESIS Matrix™ holistic health model that explored the interactions between seven key variables to create better preventive health strategies. This approach has been shown to improve health outcomes and achieve significant cost savings. As a nutritional biochemist, Dr. Veltmann developed and taught nutrition science programs to graduate students while an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University. Author of more than 30 published scientific papers that have been cited more than 1800 times, Dr. Veltmann continues to apply this scientific rigor to genomic medicine. Roberta Kline MD (Co-founder, CEO @Genoma International) Dr. Kline is a board-certified Ob-Gyn physician, author, educator, genomics expert and entrepreneur who is passionate about helping others harness the power of DNA-directed healthcare. Feeling limited by conventional medicine after 20 years as an Ob-Gyn, she transformed her traditional practice by embracing innovative scientific advancements and holistic elements. As she incorporated genomics into her practice, she experienced first-hand the power of an integrated DNA-directed approach. She became an advocate for personalized genomic medicine, working to extend this model beyond her private practice. Dr. Kline has created and taught courses in functional and genomic medicine through faculty positions for UNECOM and The Graduate Institute. Dr. Kline is co-author of the Blood Type Cookbook: Easy, Healthy and Delicious Recipes for the Whole Family, and Orthogenomics: Genome-Guided Metabolic Therapies in Metabolic Therapies in Orthopedics by CRC Press.


Are you and your family moving to a new home?
Ask Jake's to help make your move to or from Silver Spring stress-free.
A main reason our clients choose to work with us is because we are licensed, bonded, and insured, qualifying us to handle your valuable possessions and household treasures. We treat each of our clients with the same care and attention to detail we would give to our own family members' moves. We're are fast and friendly movers in Silver Spring, MD, and we offer up front, flat rate pricing, so you will know exactly how much the move will cost before you hire us. We serve the entire community of Silver Spring, MD with our residential and commercial mover in Silver Spring, MD, including last minute moves, in-house moves, and student moves. To make preparing for your move easier, we provide packing and unpacking as well as furniture assembly and disassembly services. Plus, we have very few restrictions on the distance we travel: we are certified not only for local moves but also long distance moves across the nation!
Are you and your family moving to a new home? Jake's Moving and Storage would be proud to assist you. We understand the rigors and the stresses associated with moving. It is a time which requires a lot of coordination and patience. Allow us to help reduce some of your responsibilities. At Jake's, we are professional Silver Spring, MD movers that you can count on. As a professional moving service with more than a 10 year history of successful commercial and residential relocations in Washington D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, we are the movers in Silver Spring, MD you should call first.
We offer our clients a wide range of services to assist with their relocation. Beginning with our friendly and professional customer service representatives who will price and schedule your move, all of our staff including our packers and movers are honest and dependable.
If requested, our packers will arrive on time at your home to begin packing your household items using the appropriate protection for delicate pieces, being sure to wrap larger pieces of furniture with blankets. Our knowledgeable movers will then load your boxes and furniture with care and forethought. Our drivers, who each possess a clean driving record, will proceed to drive your possessions to their new destination where they will be carefully unloaded.
The heavier items can be placed exactly where you would want them placed and all the remaining items can be placed in their preferred rooms. The last moving assistance you may decide to request is our unpacking and furniture disassembly service. We do everything with pride and we can leave your new home looking as if you have lived there comfortably for years.
As local movers we conduct relocations within Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and surrounding areas. Jake's Moving and Storage are among the most frequently hired movers in Silver Spring, MD, having been responsible for many successful local and long distance moves for residents and businesses in the area. We handle each task with the expertise needed, including moving antiques such as crystal and paintings, and moving large items like pianos and hot tubs. We offer the same expertise to our commercial clients needing office relocation. We are also heavy equipment and machinery movers, offering our commercial clients a much needed service.
We are a professional moving service offering long-distance moves from Silver Spring, MD to anywhere within the contiguous states of the U.S. All of our moves are meticulously planned to ensure your property arrives at its final destination in its original condition. We take into account the distance we will be carrying and we secure the truck for long transport. We understand that the timely arrival of your household goods is important to you, so we make every effort to ensure the timing of your moving truck's arrival coincides with your plans.
Experts at Moving Expensive Pieces, Antiques, Pianos and Spas, etc.
Whether you're planning a local or a long distance relocation, we're the movers in Silver Spring, MD that can assist you with your move. Equipped to handle most moves, we have the facilities for storage Silver Spring, MD for your excess property if you're downsizing and a fleet of trucks able to accommodate the furnishings of most large homes. We are available for both planned and last minute moves. We handle each with the same care and professionalism. Wherever your final destination is, we prepare your belongings for the trip, ensuring that they arrive in good condition. And finally, we work with our clients to make sure that your property arrives in a timely manner so you can begin your life in your new home comfortably and on schedule.


text:
Ireland: No Country for Pregnant Women
Realise Your Rights - The Birth of AIMSI
In March 2007, a group of women came together with a common goal: to help other women who had been neglected, coerced, disrespected - and sometimes abused - in their maternity care to realise they are not alone. The Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services Ireland (AIMSI) believed that women were not being supported and respected in their childbirth choices and set out to campaign and lobby to change the culture of birth in Ireland. For the past 6 years, AIMSI has put in thousands of volunteer hours providing support, writing letters, researching evidence-based care in childbirth, participating at committee level to improve maternity services and making certain that the respect of women in childbirth is a right, not a privilege.
There is a long history in Ireland of women and their bodies being the domain of the State. Looking back through the annals of time, there are countless stories of women being told they must give up their babies because they were seen as 'unfit mothers' or that they must be committed to an institution, such as a Magdalene Laundry, often for no other reason other than they were not compliant with the sociocultural 'rules' of the State. Even some things that seem unrelated, such as the State obliging women to leave paid employment after marriage or making it legally impossible for a woman to petition for divorce from an abusive spouse, set the tone for many women to accept that they had very little to no autonomy or self-determination in relation to their bodies and their lives.
In recent years, thanks to the tireless work of activists and advocacy groups, like AIMSI, Ireland has moved on from the explicit discrimination of women, but these cultural attitudes are very hard to shift after years of indoctrination and justification. Recently an article in The Journal described the "grotesque and violent" treatment of women at the hands of surgeon, Dr. Michael Neary. It is widely known that Dr. Neary removed the wombs of at least 129 women and that many of these women are still waiting for compensation for this brutal and unnecessary surgery. The most poignant comment in The Journal article is that of one of Neary's victims when she says:
"Even when the story broke years later, I was still convinced I needed it. I told people, 'I wouldn't be one of them'. I believed he totally saved my life. I did actually think he was a good man who knew what he was doing, and that he was doing it for the right reasons."
This is what many women who attend a hospital birth and who undergo surgical interventions, from an episiotomy to Caesarean section, often are told - that the interventions a woman has been subject to are necessary and have saved her from pain and suffering or even from death. Women who have given birth in Irish maternity hospitals often tell dark stories of being threatened into complying with treatment (usually with the "dead baby card") or of being refused extra time in labour, all for the sake of medically managing their labour. The policy of Active Management of Labour (AML) was devised in the 1970s in the National Maternity Hospital in Dublin and is now practiced and taught internationally. The basic policy of AML includes that:
each labouring woman will fit into a standardised method of care whereby she will dilate at 1cm/hour
a woman will have a maximum of 12 hours to labour (including latent labour)
a woman will undergo routine amniotomy or 'breaking of the waters' by a midwife/doctor
the administration of synthetic oxytocin (Syntocinon®/Pitocin®) will be used to augment, or speed up, labour
a medical decision will be made regarding surgical intervention - episiotomy, forceps, ventouse, c-section - in the case of prolonged labour (+12 hours)
the 3rd stage of labour - delivery of the placenta - will be managed using a uterotonic drug, such as Syntometrine®
On the surface, AML sounds as if it is a method of protecting women from facing complications due to a painful and prolonged labour and birth - but in reality it is an inconsistent and unreliable method of controlling birth that solely focuses on the management of labour and has little regard for the woman who is actively labouring. The consequence of a medicalised birth, such as AML, is that women have begun to lose trust in their ability to manage their own labours. The talk of risk and intervention by midwives and doctors leads women to believe that there are inherent dangers in childbirth. Research that is used to support claims about the risks in childbirth are methodologically weak at best and spurious at worst. Of course, as in any medical emergency, there are instances where surgical intervention is necessary for the health and well being of the patient. But how does this explain the increasing rates of intervention in maternity care, such as a steep rise in inductions, epidurals, episiotomies and c-sections? Or even more telling, how can stark regional variations in these interventions across Ireland be explained?
These are the questions that AIMSI vigorously investigates on behalf of all women who are involved in the Irish maternity services. Our mission is not to deny that some births will necessitate medical intervention - it is to ask for the validity and respect of the woman's voice when making informed decisions in her maternity care, whether it involves an emergency or not. While the vast majority of births are non-emergencies and require no intervention, the following statistics in maternity care contradict this and demand closer scrutiny:
the sharp rise in inductions of labour (approximately 1 in 3 pregnancies are induced in Ireland)
the increased use of epidural for pain relief (this occurs for approximately 70% of first time births in Ireland, and at slightly lower rates for subsequent births)
the inconsistency in rates of episotomy (from less than 2% to more than 27% across maternity units in Ireland)
the broad variations in c-section rates in Irish hospitals (anywhere from 22% to 43%)
It is simply implausible to say that these increased rates of intervention have saved lives. All scientific research is governed by the phrase: correlation does not imply causation. Therefore, it is almost impossible to determine the validity of interventions in childbirth after the fact. The glaring omission in AML is the risk that the above interventions all carry. The misperception of these interventions being "almost risk free" means that there is very little chance of accurately assessing the risk to the mother versus the risk to the unborn baby. This is further confounded by Draft HSE National Guidelines on Consent which state that a pregnant woman's right to refuse treatment must be balanced with the right to life of the unborn.
Many women will report to friends and family that if it weren't for a given intervention, her baby may not have been born healthy or alive. This is the power that a policy such as AML has over women who are pregnant, labouring or giving birth. The control of her labour and delivery by the 'experts' means that she should be grateful that they have intervened. Like the quote from one of Dr. Neary's victims above - a woman is expected not to ask questions and to accept that she and her birthing baby "needed" the intervention(s). AML has not only ensured that women's labour is managed, it has also perpetuated a myth that all interventions are being done "for the right reasons". Even the doctors who originally invented AML were very open about the primary reason for controlling labour, and it was not to simply reduce c-sections or to nobly save lives - it was invented to reduce the number of hours each woman would require the care of the obstetric team. It is aptly summed up in this article by Dr. Marsden Wagner. He in turn quotes from an article by Marc Keirse called A final comment - managing the uterus, the woman or whom? that appeared in the journal, Birth in 1993:
"It would appear that there are a large number of situations in which augmentation of labor is not directed at correcting a perceived abnormality in a woman's labor, but at shortening the labor commitment of her care givers"
It is a fallacy of logic to take a result, such as a healthy baby, and to attribute a number of interventions as the cause of that baby being healthy. Likewise, it is difficult to gather reliable and accurate statistics on the number of births that require no intervention because the standard of care in Ireland includes routine intervention, whether it is needed or not. One only has to flip through the partograms in any birth unit or to talk to a student midwife to get a clear picture of how rare it is to have a birth that is intervention-free. The strongest argument for the revision of AML is that it was originally introduced as a method of reducing c-sections and "the labor commitment of caregivers", but the rapid increase in c-sections and other interventions across Ireland (and internationally, since we exported AML) show that it has patently failed in this outcome. The paucity of reliable statistical data coupled with the lack of a national policy in maternity services makes for an ad hoc system of care. It is impossible to have consistent, evidence-based research policies and standards of care in pregnancy, labour and childbirth when each unit is operating as its own self-regulated medical outpost.
AIMS Ireland are trying to change these unsupported policies one woman at a time. Education, information and support are integral to bolstering women's confidence in their ability to birth and in their choices of how and where they wish to birth. Until the veil has been lifted on the dearth of evidence that supports AML and the risk of many of these interventions is highlighted and shared with birthing mothers, then improvements in the maternity services will be slow to positively change.
AIMS Ireland urges women to realise their rights in their choices on how and where to birth:
the right to an informed second opinion
the right to informed choice in the case of routine procedures such as electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), amniotomy, induction, movement in labour and position for birth
the right to informed refusal in the case of the procedures listed above and other routine interventions, such as pain relief (epidural, pethidine, gas and air), valsalva maneuver - or 'purple pushing' - and episiotomy
the right to choose between a home birth or hospital birth (in spite of restrictions that the HSE are attempting to place on this choice)
NB. Many women attend antenatal classes at the hospital where they are planning to give birth. While the antenatal educators arguably have the good intention of providing information on labour and birth to pregnant women, they are bound by the policies - ie. AML - of the hospital that employs them, so the information is skewed towards how a woman should behave or is allowed to behave during labour and birth. There is no mention of the 'domino effect' of one intervention often leading to the next - referred to as the 'cascade of intervention'. It is recommended to go to these classes with a critically analytical mind so that you are prepared for the policies of the hospital where you are going to labour and birth, and most importantly - you are prepared to ask questions and to exert your rights to informed consent and informed refusal.
Look out for a follow up blog post that will look at the reliance on technology in maternity services and a more detailed explanation on the 'cascade of intervention'.
More information on birth statistics in Ireland can be found here.
If you have any queries or would like more information or if you have been affected by your birth experience, please contact AIMS Ireland: info@aimsireland.com or support@aimsireland.com
Posted by BCWestern at 23:00
Kathi Valeii 26 March 2013 at 16:19
Again, such a well-written piece. While the written AML guidelines in Ireland are abhorrent, they may as well be written guidelines for elsewhere in the industrialized world, including the U.S. - in practice, these routine interventions are carried out with or without written guidelines in most births. Thanks to organizations like yours for speaking loud and strong, and for encouraging women to find their voice in the revolution to take back birth.
AIMS Ireland
What do 'Human Rights in Childbirth' look like?
Submission from Association of Maternity Services ...
HSE set to dismantle Cavan MLU? For a non-maternit...
AIMSI's PQs via Clare Daly: High Court Caesarean C...
Seeking women/woman for an Irish CEDAW complaint o...
If in doubt, blame it on 'safety'; HSE closures in...
Woman's story: UCHG denies D&C for inevitable misc...
HSE says pregnant women don't have same rights
No Country for Pregnant Women - Press Release
AIMSI on Facebook
Aims Ireland | Create Your Badge
AIMSI on Twitter
Tweets by @AIMSIreland