# File app/models/conference.rb, line 32
  def self.in_reg_period(req={})
    self.find(:all, { :conditions => 'now()::date BETWEEN ' +
                'COALESCE(reg_open_date, now()::date) AND ' +
                'COALESCE(reg_close_date, finishes, now()::date)',
                :order => :begins}.merge(req))
  end