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Tenth annual Global Code Jam registration opens today

Posted: 12 Mar 2013 12:03 PM PDT

Algorithmic competitions are to programmers what tournaments are to tennis players: an opportunity to feel the rush of competition, learn new techniques and face off against their best counterparts from around the globe. Code Jam, Google’s worldwide online programming competition, gives developers a chance to use their favorite programming languages to solve algorithmic problems created by a team of contest champions at Google.

Our 10th annual global Code Jam kicks off next month, starting with a qualification round on April 12. After three more online rounds, the top 25 contestants will be invited to Google’s London office on August 16 for a final matchup and a chance to win the coveted title of Code Jam Champion.

With more than 20,000 participants last year, Code Jam has grown leaps and bounds since it began in 2003*. To celebrate the competition’s 10th anniversary, we’ve raised the stakes: the winner will claim $15,000, and will automatically qualify for the 2014 Code Jam finals to defend his or her title.

If you’re up to the challenge of solving tough problems and coding elegant solutions (and perhaps debugging less elegant solutions), then register now. Want to warm up for the Qualification Round with a problem or two? How about finding the margin of safety for contestants on a television show, optimizing a tower defense game or swinging through the jungle on vines? You have a whole month to prepare yourself for the first hurdle on Friday, April 12.

Posted by Onufry Wojtaszczyk, Software Engineer, Google Code Jam

*To the mathematically inclined (all of our competitors), 2003-2013 sounds like enough time for 11 Code Jams. Nevertheless, this one will actually be our tenth global contest: we went through a major format change between 2006 and 2008, and there wasn’t a global contest in 2007.

Bills & Hearings in the House


Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

Bills for the Week of Mar. 11, 2013

Items that may be considered under suspension of the rules

H.R. 1035 To require a study of voluntary community-based flood insurance options and how such options could be incorporated into the national flood insurance program, and for other purposes           [PDF]
              Added              03/08/2013 at 12:48 PM
H.R. 749 Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act           [PDF]                  [XML]
              Added              03/08/2013 at 12:48 PM

Items that may be considered pursuant to a rule

H.R. 890 Preserving Work Requirements for Welfare Programs Act of 2013           [PDF]                  [XML]
:: Rules Committee Print 113-3, showing the text of H.R. 890 as ordered reported by the Committee on Ways and Means and H.R. 987 as introduced.           [PDF]                  [XML]
H.R. 803 SKILLS Act           [PDF]                  [XML]
              Added              03/07/2013 at 02:01 PM
:: Rules Committee Print 113-4, showing the text of H.R. 803 as ordered reported by the Committee on Education and the Workforce           [PDF]                  [XML]
              Added              03/07/2013 at 02:01 PM

HOUSE Hearings for MARCH 3/13

Time (EST) Session
9:30 am Hearing: Oversight Hearing – Water Infrastructure FinancingCommittee on Appropriations: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
10:00 am Hearing: Oversight Hearing on “The reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act”Committee on Natural Resources: Full Committee
10:00 am Hearing: Examination of Litigation AbusesCommittee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution And Civil Justice
10:00 am Hearing: POSTPONED:Is U.S. Homeland Security Threatened by the European Union Not Designating Hezbollah as a Terrorist Organization?Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
10:00 am Hearing: Addressing Transparency in the Federal Bureaucracy: Moving Toward A More Open GovernmentCommittee on Oversight and Government Reform: Full Committee
10:00 am Hearing: STEM Education: Industry and Philanthropic InitiativesCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Research
10:00 am Hearing: Chairman Nunes Announces Hearing on  U.S.-India Trade Relations: Opportunities and ChallengesCommittee on Ways and Means:
10:00 am Hearing: Meeting Patient Care Needs: Measuring the Value of VA Physician Staffing StandardsCommittee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Health
10:00 am Hearing: DHS Cybersecurity: Roles and Responsibilities to Protect the Nation’s Critical InfrastructureCommittee on Homeland Security: Full Committee
10:00 am Hearing: FBI Headquarters ConsolidationCommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management
10:00 am Hearing: Public and Outside Witnesses HearingCommittee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
10:00 am Hearing: National Forest Management and its Impacts on Rural Economies and CommunitiesCommittee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry
10:00 am Hearing: Oversight Hearing – Federal Emergency Management Agency – Hurricane Sandy FundingCommittee on Appropriations: Homeland Security
10:00 am Hearing: Hearing entitled “Mortgage Insurance: Comparing Private Sector and Government-Subsidized Approaches” Committee on Financial Services: Housing and Insurance
10:00 am Hearing: Oversight Hearing – Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection ServiceCommittee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
10:00 am Hearing: Impact of the Continuing Resolution, Sequestration, and Declining Operations and Maintenance Budgets on Military Personnel and Family Related ProgramsCommittee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel
10:00 am Hearing: DOE Management and Oversight of Its Nuclear Weapons Complex: Lessons of the Y-12 Security FailureCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
10:00 am Hearing: “Keeping College Within Reach:  Examining Opportunities to Strengthen Federal Student Loan Programs”Committee on Education and the Workforce: Committee on the Education and the Workforce
10:15 am Hearing: Obamacare’s Impact on JobsCommittee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health
10:30 am Markup: Budget for Fiscal Year 2014Committee On The Budget: Full Committee
11:00 am Hearing: Oversight Hearing – National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationCommittee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
11:30 am Hearing: Investigating and Prosecuting 21st Century Cyber ThreatsCommittee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, And Investigations
12:00 pm Hearing: Oversight Hearing – Syria (CLOSED)Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
2:00 pm Hearing: The Rebalance to Asia: Why South Asia Matters -Part IICommittee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
2:00 pm Hearing: Information Technology and Cyber Operations: Modernization and Policy Issues to Support the Future ForceCommittee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Emerging Threats & Capabilities
2:30 pm Hearing: Gulf War: What Kind of Care are Veterans Receiving 20 Years Later?Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
2:30 pm Hearing: urthering Asbestos Claim Transparency -FACT- Act of 2013Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial And Antitrust Law
2:45 pm Hearing: Oversight Hearing – Hurricane Sandy Supplemental ImplementationCommittee on Appropriations: Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
2:45 pm Hearing: Oversight Hearing – American Battle Monuments Commission, U.S. Court of Appeal for Veterans Claims, Armed Forces Retirement Home, and Army National Cemeteries Program Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
3:00 pm Hearing: Federal Financial Support for Energy Technologies: Assessing Costs and BenefitsCommittee on Science, Space, and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy
3:00 pm Hearing: H.R. 803—SKILLS ActCommittee on Rules: Full Committee

CONGRESS: Republican led House ::::::: ::::::: the Senate led by Democrats HR933


March 2013
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The Senate stands in adjournment until 9:30am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013.

  • Following any Leader remarks, the Senate resume the motion to proceed to Calendar #21, H.R.933, the continuing appropriations bill.
  • During Tuesday’s session, cloture was filed on the motion to proceed to H.R.933, the continuing appropriations bill.  If no agreement is reached, the cloture vote will be Thursday morning

The Senate adopted the motion to proceed H.R.933, Department of Defense, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2013.

Senator Reid then called up Mikulski-Shelby amendment #26, as modified (substitute). The substitute is the text of The Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, which includes separate divisions for the Fiscal Year 2013 Agriculture; Commerce, Justice and Science; Defense; Homeland Security; and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Acts.

We are in a period for debate only until the managers of the bill come to the floor, around 10:30am.

We expect the first amendments to the bill to be offered by Senator Cruz (Affordable Care Act funding) and Senator Harkin (Labor-HHS).

Senator Cruz called up amendment #30, which prohibits funds for the Affordable Care Act. The managers are talking about an appropriate time to vote in relation to the amendment, could be around the noon hour. Senators will be notified when a vote time is set or expected.

The following amendments are pending to H.R.933, the continuing appropriations bill:

The following amendments have been considered to H.R.933:

  • Cruz amendment #30 (defund Obamacare) Not Agreed to: 45-52
  • McCain amendment #33 (Guam) Not Tabled: 48-50; agreed to by voice vote

The Senate has reached an agreement that results in a vote in relation to the Cruz amendment #26 (defund ACA) at 2pm.

The time until 2pm is equally divided and controlled between Senator Mikulski and Cruz, or their designees. At 2pm the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the Cruz amendment. No amendments are in order to the amendment prior to the vote. We expect a motion to table the Cruz amendment.

Upon disposition of the Cruz amendment, the next amendment in order is a Harkin amendment relative to Labor-HHS Appropriations.

2:02pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Cruz amendment #30 (defund Obamacare)

Not Agreed to: 45-52

Senator Harkin has called up amendment #53 (Labor-HHS flexibility). The Harkin amendment replaces the Labor-HHS division of the CR/omnibus with the text of the full Labor-HHS appropriations bill.

Senator McCain has offered amendment #33 (strikes certain DoD Operation and Maintenance grants to Guam).

Votes are possible in relation to the Harkin amendment #53 (Labor-HHS) and McCain amendment #33 (strikes certain DoD Operation and Maintenance grants to Guam) in the not too distant future. Another message will be sent if and when an agreement is reached.

The time until 5:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between Senators McCain and Durbin, or their designees. At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to vote in relation to the McCain amendment #33.

The McCain amendment #33 strikes $13 million for construction of a regional public health laboratory and $106.4 million for civilian water and wastewater improvements in Guam through the Office of Economic Adjustment; and strikes the Department of Defense authority to make grants, conclude cooperative agreements, and supplement other Federal funds.

5:34pm The Senate began a roll call vote on the Durbin motion to table McCain amendment #33 (Guam and grant authority);

Not Tabled: 48-50, Agreed to by voice vote

The McCain amendment #33 was not tabled 48-50 and was then adopted by voice vote.

Senator Inhofe then asked unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment in order to call up amendment #29 (Farms-EPA oil spill and prevention rule). Senator Boxer reserved her right to set aside the pending amendment unless Senator Inhofe would be willing to agree to a 60 vote threshold. Senator Inhofe agreed and the amendment was called up.

There will be no further roll call votes this evening, however, additional amendments may be offered and debated

There will be no further roll call votes during Wednesday’s session of the Senate

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTES

1) Cruz amendment #30 (defund the Affordable Care Act) to H.R.933, the continuing appropriations bill; Not Agreed to: 45-52

2) McCain amendment #33 (Guam) Not Tabled: 48-50

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Adopted S.Res.76, Designating room S-126 of the United States Capitol as the “Senator Daniel K. Inouye Room” in recognition of his service to the Senate and the people of the United States.

Began the Rule 14 process of S.558, To prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from awarding any grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other financial assistance under section 103 of the Clean Air Act for any program, project, or activity outside the United States. (Paul)

No EXECUTIVE ITEMs

7:53PMET This evening Senator Reid filed cloture on the Mikulski-Shelby substitute amendment #26, as modified, and the underlying bill, H.R.933, the Continuing Resolution. However, we hope to reach an agreement to complete action on the bill without cloture.

The filing deadline for first degree amendments to the substitute and underlying bill is 1:00pm tomorrow, Thursday, March 14.

If cloture is invoked, germane amendments must have been filed at the desk prior to the deadline to be considered in order post-cloture. Please send a signed copy of the amendment to the cloakroom prior to the deadline so that we may file it at the desk for you. If you have already filed, there is no need to re-file.

 

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Watch Most Recent House Floor Activity

Last Floor Action: 3/12
8:10:14 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on March 13, 2013.

Birth Control and Bosses Don’t Mix : NWLC


National Women's Law Center
Support Birth Control without Co-pays
                Tell HHS you support a workable plan to make birth control coverage without co-pays available to women, regardless of where they work.
Take Action

Something is wrong with this picture: you, your boss, your birth control.
The reality is birth control and bosses don’t mix. This isn’t a question, at least for you and me. But there are actually people who think that bosses should be able to make their employees’ personal medical decisions — over 50 bosses have even gone to court over it.
The health care law guarantees that women can get birth control covered with no co-pays or deductibles. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released a proposed rule whose goal is making sure this is a reality regardless of where a woman works, and the agency is asking people to comment on it.
Bosses who oppose this will be speaking out. We need you to speak out even louder in support of birth control without co-pays for women, regardless of where they work.

Send in your comments today and tell HHS you support a workable plan to make birth control coverage without co-pays available to women, no matter where they work.
When studies show that 99% of sexually active women use contraception, and that Catholic women use contraceptives at nearly the same rate as the general population, it’s shocking that some employers are trying to block access to birth control. Women must have access to no-cost, comprehensive birth control coverage without extra burdens or barriers, as promised in the health care law. So it’s up to us to ensure that the Administration’s plan gives women the ability to get seamless coverage of affordable birth control, no matter who their boss is.
Tell HHS that bosses shouldn’t stand in the way of a woman getting seamless access to birth control.

Send in your comments today and show your support of a workable plan to make birth control coverage without co-pays available to women, regardless of where they work.
We need to stand strong against these efforts to make sure important preventive health services — including birth control — are available and affordable for women who need it.
Thanks for fighting for women’s reproductive health.
Sincerely,

Judy Waxman Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National Women’s Law Center   

P.S. Your support allows us to continue to fight for women’s health, as well as work on many other critical issues. Please consider making a generous donation today.