Estimated reading time: 27 minute(s)
Some of us say from our lipsÂ â€œI want for my brother what I want for myselfâ€, but it may not necessarily be in our hearts or manifested in our actions.
Well let me share with you an experience I had during my trip to New Orleans, Louisiana on March 20-22. I was flying into town to be a panel moderator at the 7th Annual International Human Rights Film Festival.
Before my departure from Houston on March 20, I received a call from Student Captain Jason Muhammad of Muhammad Mosque No. 46 to let me know that a single FOI by the name of Charles Muhammad offered for me to stay with him in his apartment for the weekend.
Capt. Jason said the brother had a couch and I said â€œThatâ€™s all I need.â€ I thought to myself,Â there is nothing like true brotherhood.Â Let me tell you moreâ€¦.
I then received a call from Student Minister Willie Muhammad who informed me that fiery Student Minister Harold Muhammad was coming in town from Atlanta for the weekend as well so they were hosting a special mosque dinner for him that night. Historically, Min. Harold used to be the head of the mosque in New Orleans and Min. Willie is one of those who came under his tutelage.Â Min. Willieâ€™s heart of humility and gratitudeÂ causes him to always show appreciation for those who paved the way for us. In this case it was Min. Harold, who was also invited to deliver the keynote address at the Sunday Mosque meeting.
Airport and Late Landing
So after these two phone calls, I was eager to get to the Crescent City to attend the dinner and embrace my brothers. Unfortunately, the unforeseen weather conditions caused me to get to the airport late so I missed my first flight, got bumped to a later one and the rain kept that flight delayed.
When I finally landed in the city, I was picked up from the airport by Fatima, who is theÂ cousin of Jamil Joyner, a brother on lockdown involving an unjust case I also came to investigate forÂ The Final Call.
She took me to the mosqueâ€¦.I missed the dinner! And Capt. Jason made sure to let me know of all of theÂ different types of foods I missed! Lolâ€¦that was cold.
Then he shared with me some unexpected news. Bro. Charles, the brother I was going to stay with, decided toÂ give me his entire apartmentÂ for the weekend while he went to stay with his parents across town.
â€œWhat? No sir, please tell him he doesnâ€™t have to do thatâ€, I said. But the captain insisted that â€œthis is how we treat our brothers in this city to show our love.â€™â€¦then Min. Willie asked me to say a few words on Sunday before Min. Harold delivered the keynote. What an honor!
One little thing I noticed was that Min. Willie and Capt. Jason was cleaning up the mosque in preparation for the Sunday meeting and theyâ€™re the highest ranking NOI officials in the city. Good example.
We drove over to Bro. Charlesâ€™ apartment and his door was wide open because he was doing what seemed to be some cleaning in preparation for my arrival. â€œWowâ€ I thought.
I greeted the brother and again told himÂ â€œYou donâ€™t have to do this brother. I am fine with sleeping on the couch.â€
Bro. Charles wasnâ€™t trying to hear it, he said â€œNo sir brotherâ€”itâ€™s my honor. You can have it as long as you want. Youâ€™re my brother. This is what we do.â€
Capt. Jason smiled and left. Bro. Charles even apologized for not having a chance to go grocery shopping for me and said he only had â€œwater and some fruits.â€â€¦.I said â€œthatâ€™s all I need. I am good with whatever you have.â€
He gave me the keys and left to go stay at his parentâ€™s home. See, I knew Bro. Charles a little because he had resided in Houston for a short while before returning to New Orleans.Â Now I know him as an even greater brother, which is the best title.
Just weeks before this, the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan stated thatÂ one of the highest forms of respect and honor shown in IslamÂ is for someone to give you their bed to sleep inâ€¦.and here I was witnessing it firsthand.
The weekend got even better.
Sunday morning (March 21) I was picked up by Capt. Jason for the mosque meeting.Â The spirit in how the Believers of the mosque greeted meÂ was very sincere the moment I stepped out of the vehicle. When I went upstairs to the office adjacent to Min. Willieâ€™s office, I immediately went to sit in a folding chair in the corner just to gather my thoughts. Capt. Jason then pointed at the glass desk with a huge chair positioned behind it and said â€œNo sir Bro. Jesse, you can sit over here. This is where all of our guest speakers sit. Youâ€™re our brother. Please sit here.
I thanked him but declined.Â I stayed in the corner with the small chair.Â Again, I said to myself â€œThis is true brotherhood.â€
I was blessed to say a few words to the audience centered around guidance from Minister Farrakhan in the book â€œClosing the Gapâ€ by scholar Jabril Muhammad. It was in my short talk that I took the opportunity to tell the Believers thereÂ they would forever be my heroesÂ because I witnessed their struggles and triumphs post-Katrina. They rebuilt in the face of adversity and havenâ€™t missed a beat in my eyes.Â Thatâ€™s the heart of champion. Thatâ€™s faith in action. Thatâ€™s love for a mission.
Then I sat down to hear theÂ thunderous keynote address by Min. HaroldÂ on the subject of â€œThe Judgmentâ€. When he concluded, I went to the back to embrace him. It was then that he started giving so many encouraging words to me and about those of the younger generation. I could tell in his tone that he loves to see the young soldiers shine!
Wait, there is more.
I hopped in the FOI detail that was escorting Min. Willie to aÂ â€œStop the Violenceâ€ event that was being held at the Craige Cultural Center. He delivered a passionate short talk to the crowd and I could tell he and the brothers in the mosque have built some tight alliances in the community. The people were showing love!!Â Barbers were cutting hair for free in support of stopping the violenceâ€¦..Black men came together in one of the most crime-ridden cities in the country. I know you didnâ€™t know, so I had to tell. (smile)
Afterwards the brothers were kind enough to roll with me over to the Zeitgeist CenterÂ where I was scheduled to moderate a panel about the state of violence and community responseÂ as part of the closing sessions of the PATOIS film festival. It was productive. The FOI even participated in the discussion. (Note:Â I am going to blog more about these two events in separate posts)
Following that, I was taken out to dinner by Min. Willie and Capt. Jason for some food and a few hours of dialogue.Â These two brothers are f-u-n-n-yÂ and I admire their teamwork as a dynamic duo in this army.
When I got back to the apartment, I was in for another surprise. Tell me why the place was filled with groceries? Bro. Charles called me to say he just could not let the weekend go by without making sure I had plenty to eat and reiterated â€œYou can have the apartment as long as you need.â€
All I could say wasÂ â€œThank you brother—Allah is going to truly bless you beyond measure.â€Â He also shared with me a new endeavor he has embarked upon and for his kindness I offered to market any and everything he is doing.
Monday: On the grounds investigating
This day was dedicated toÂ further investigating the NOPD cover-ups post-Katrina as well as the unjust case of Jamil Joyner. This time I was picked up by Bro. Vincent X, who is a former co-defendant in the same case. We had talked several times prior to my arrival and I could detect he was a soldier to the core.
I was correct.
Bro. Vincent took me to interview several people who could bear witness toÂ the beautiful character of JamilÂ and why they know he would not do the thing that he was convicted of: shooting a NOPD officer.
Fatima also came along to film footage as Bro. Vincent took me through the incident at the same Chevron that it occurred at in 2005. I got a lot of information I will be reporting on in an upcoming edition ofÂ The Final CallÂ Newspaper. Until then you can read more about Jamil Joynerâ€™s case atÂ http://www.jamiljoyner.com
From there, Bro. Vincent and I went over to the Danziger Bridge,Â the site where the NOPD shooting cover up took place in 2005. As I went over the bridge I was imagining those corrupted cops murdering two of our people and injuring four others while lying about it to the point of even conspiring to plant false evidence!
I got angry.
We then met up with local activist Parnell Herbert and Lawrence Martin, who directs NOLA.TV, a web-based news station. I interviewed Bro. Parnell aboutÂ on the ground moves being made by organizations in responseÂ to the developments plus background information on other victims at the hands of the NOPD. Mr. Martin filmed the entire interview and it may air soon.
Then it was time for me to head to the airport.Â Bro. Vincent was gracious enough to drop me off. We greeted one another â€œAs-Salaam Alaikumâ€ and he departed.
Since the New Orleans airport security line was stretched for miles (exaggeration)Â I had time to reflect on what I had just experienced. I remembered what attracted me to the Nation of Islam the most and it was seeingÂ Black men loving one another, working together, and moving in the community as one solid wall.
Thatâ€™s the FOI.
Then I thought about when I first joined and it didnâ€™t matter thatÂ I only had one grey wool suit that I wore to every meetingÂ while rotating different bowties and shirts. It didnâ€™t matter because I was in a brotherhood that encouraged me to just keep thatÂ one suit sharp as a tack, my white shirts crisp and Allah would bless me with a new one soon.
Thatâ€™s the FOI.
I thought about how I was heavily recruited in college to join fraternities and the masons. Although I respected them I humbly declined because I knewÂ I had already found a brotherhood. A universal one.
Thatâ€™s the FOI
This trip to New Orleans reminded me of the words written in 1 JohnÂ â€œWe know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethrenâ€.
Thank youÂ Min. Willie, Capt. Jason, Bro. Charles, Bro. Vincent, Fatima and all of the FOI & MGT of Muhammad Mosque No. 46 in New Orleans.
P.S.–If you’re in New Orleans reading this blog, the Mosque is located at 4201 Downman Road….but I promise you that you won’t be a “Down man” after you leave there….corny joke but you get the point. (smile)


Top-notch communication pros know that one the best ways to remain indispensable is to alleviate your bosses’ biggest burdens.
But with all the chaos swirling around, what, exactly, is keeping CEOs up at night?
A new survey released by The Conference Board–featuring insights from about 900 CEOs and nearly 700 other C-suite executives–finds that labor shortages, inflation and ongoing “COVID-19 disruptions” top this year’s list of C-suite concerns. U.S.-based leaders, in particular, are also stressing about supply chain bottlenecks, cybersecurity and drastic “changes in consumer behavior.”
The most dramatic shift communicators should be mindful of is anxiety about rising prices. According to The Conference Board, inflation ranked 22nd on CEOs’ worry list from last year. This year, it’s No. 2. And 55% of execs expect inflation to last into 2023 or longer.
The survey also reveals a big change in how CEOs are feeling about remote work. A third of global CEOs anticipate counting on a “remote-heavy” workforce—even after the pandemic subsides. According to The Conference Board’s data, that’s nearly double the percentage of CEOs who said they had remote workforces in 2019. U.S.-based CEOs (53%) are the most likely to expect remote-heavy workforces moving forward. However, in order for hybrid or remote workplaces to succeed, 88% believe they’ll need “more effective internal communication.”
Let’s see what else is raising the hackles of top dogs:
1. Internal challenges become external nightmares.
Labor shortages are a top concern across the board. It’s especially a crunch in the U.S., where comms pros should gear up for another year dedicated to doing everything in their power to engage and retain top talent. Note, also, how high concerns about cybersecurity have become. Now would be a good time to get those crisis plans in place, eh?
2. It’s all about keeping workers on board.
Regardless of geography, industry or niche, 2022 is all about “attracting and retaining talent.” Doing so might require some changes, however.
According to Rebecca Ray, executive vice president of human capital at The Conference Board, leaders are increasingly seeing the need to forge a new culture that suits post-pandemic life and profoundly altered workplaces. She says:
“Sixty-one percent of CEOs globally believe a significant shift in corporate culture will be required for hybrid work to be successful. To develop and sustain a thriving corporate culture—an environment in which companies attract and retain talent—organizations must prioritize aligning employees to the company’s mission and purpose.”
How might you do that? Ray says:
“Ask for their help in building the future, encourage a ‘speak up’ culture, and develop empathetic managers who ensure that all employees, regardless of where or how they work, have opportunities for growth and impact. Companies can also offer, where possible, greater flexibility. At a time when not all staff are in the office, taking and communicating these steps can be all the more challenging, but absolutely critical to maintaining an inclusive culture that allows for productivity and engagement.”
3. Remote work is here to stay—and will be most common in the U. S.
The Conference Board finds that of the percentage of CEOs now planning to have remote-heavy workforces has doubled
- U.S. CEOs:
- Pre-pandemic, 2019: Just 28% of U.S. CEOs had 40% or more of their workers remote.
- 2022: Nearly double (53%) plan to have 40% or more remote—even after the pandemic subsides.
4. CEOs expect stronger productivity but weaker culture with the hybrid workplace.
As for the hybrid model’s impact on productivity and culture:
- U.S. CEOs: Thirty-eight percent expect productivity to increase; 23% expect it to decrease. Meanwhile, 51% say it will weaken culture, and 18% say it will strengthen culture.
Also of note: 88% of CEOs believe hybrid model success will require “more effective internal communication.”
5. ESG priorities focus on equality.
Economic opportunity and equality are the top-ranked ESG priorities of all CEOs worldwide, though U.S. CEOs are more likely to prioritize racial and gender equality in 2022.
U.S. execs are also more likely to face stakeholder pressure about the business’ role in society.
Paul Washington, executive director of The Conference Board’s ESG Center, offers a reminder that “sustainability” initiatives are about much more than PR or ticking a token philanthropy box. Demonstrating tangible, meaningful proof of your company’s ethical actions can be a huge competitive advantage moving forward. He says:
“CEOs across the globe need to have candid and ongoing discussions with their boards and C-suite colleagues about what these changes mean for their business strategy, operations, talent, and governance—not just to reduce risk, but to create and seize growth opportunities.”


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Bring fairy-tale adventures to life with our noble plush Dragon, aragon! Featuring an array of specially selected designer fabrics, This is one Dragon stuffed animal that will stand out in a Crowd. Aragon has been crafted with rich, Navy coloured plush material Featuring A textured scale pattern for realistic fun. Bright turquoise scales run along his underside and metallic gold accents detail his crest, wings, and feet. Aragon's alert upright pose and graceful curves add a touch of elegance to this handsome Dragon plush toy. Whether He plays the role of faithful guardian or worthy adversary, aragon the plush Dragon is sure to be a fun and exciting addition to any mythical quest!
the Douglas cuddle toy company is family owned and has been creating unique plush animals since 1956. Our skilled in-house design team in keene, new Hampshire knows what it takes to give stuffed toys that little spark of something extra. Here at Douglas we place High value On producing Plush animals that are not only emotionally engaging but safe as well. Our stringent safety tests ensure each and every Douglas toy to be a safe and reliable companion for all stuffed animal lovers over the age of 2 years. Treat yourself to a Douglas original today!

domain: design


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Optimum Hydroponix Giga Boost
Maximize your plant’s flowering and fruiting potential by adding Optimum Hydroponix® GigaBoost to your favorite bloom fertilizer. GigaBoost delivers an iconic boost to your growing program by adding optimal ratios of phosphorous, potassium, and magnesium combined with key essential elements including L-Form amino acids to rev up a plant’s flowering performance.
Less Stress = Maximized Performance
While most flowering fertilizers provide the basics, GigaBoost adds essential building blocks that plants need to perform their best under the stresses of the indoor growing environment. As a result, plant energy becomes targeted on producing bigger, heavier and more fragrant flowers and fruit. Add GigaBoost to your nutrient solution from early flowering through to a couple of weeks prior to harvest for optimized results whether growing in soil, peat, hydroponics or coco-based growing mediums.

domain: hobby


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The world's most famous endangered species, the Chinese giant panda, appears to be in much better shape than previously thought.
China says its conservation measures are bearing fruit
The Chinese government has released the results of the most comprehensive survey of giant pandas ever.
It found that there were around 1,600 of the creatures left in the wild, 40% more than previous figures.
But the numbers may reflect the fact that the survey was so thorough, rather than a genuine recovery in numbers.
"Because of improved census methods, we have a more accurate count of how many there are in the wild, where they are, and the state of the habitat on which they depend," said World Wildlife Fund China's (WWF) James Harkness.
"The results of the survey will be used to help ensure that over the next few years we make even greater strides to protect this rare and precious animal."
Just 15 years ago, many environmentalists were predicting the giant panda's imminent demise. They topped China's list for rare animals under special protection in 1962.
Its bamboo forests in western China were disappearing fast, and only 1,000 pandas were thought to be left in the wild.
The latest survey, China's third since the 1970s, represents a huge success for China's conservation efforts.
It has been far more comprehensive than previous studies. It covered a wider area of western China, and used much more sophisticated surveillance technologies.
The pandas were tracked through their droppings, and their distribution as well as population density was mapped.
China now has 40 panda reserves compared with 13 only 20 years ago.
At least 95% of giant pandas in the wild are protected.
Even though the news that there are more pandas surviving in the wild than previously thought is positive, it does not mean that the giant panda is out of danger, let alone that its population is on the road to recovery.
Deforestation and poaching by fur trappers continued to pose a major threat to their long-term survival, the WWF said.

domain: biology


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Katsina United VS Kano Pillars: Nigerian League Management speaks on what to do
The League Management Company has finally reacted to the violence that erupted during the Nigeria Professional Football League tie between Katsina United and visiting Pillars at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, Katsina last Wednesday.
The match ended 1-1, with Seun Yusuf putting Pillars ahead in the 34th minute, before Tasiu Lawal drew level for the home side 10 minutes later.
According to report, at least two Kano Pillars fans were left seriously injured on Wednesday, after angry home fans went berserk.
The LMC, in a statement released on Saturday said it was looking into the matter as they await reports from relevant authorities. It said it would help them to punish the perpetrators and also set out strategies to prevent future occurrence.
“The League Management Company has been engaging the relevant authorities in respect to the unsavoury incident that occurred within the city of Katsina after the Match Day 15 NPFL match in Katsina between Katsina United and Kano Pillars,” the statement reads.
“We are still awaiting the on-the-spot report from relevant authorities on the breach of public order in Katsina city said to be associated with rival fans of Katsina United and Kano Pillars.
“As the incident allegedly happened after the match within the city, the LMC is awaiting the report from the police authorities and other protocols such as identification of the culprits, and medical reports of the three persons reportedly injured to enable us have an informed opinion on the actions to be taken, not just to sanction the perpetrators but to set out strategies and corrective actions to eliminate this dangerous rivalry between the fans of the two clubs to avoid future occurrence.
“It must be pointed out that the initial reports on the incident emanating from both clubs and match officials are at variance and conflicting. In the circumstance, a police report is absolutely necessary to help establish the veracity of the various accounts and bearing on the case of the reported breach of public peace.
“Meanwhile, the LMC is also reviewing various reports put out in the social media by both clubs in the aftermath of the game with a view to curtailing reckless and inaccurate accounts of events in the NPFL.”

domain: law


Moment of joy filled the Super Eagles dressing room after securing a comfortable win against rivals Cameroon.
Super Eagles showed class and superiority against Cameroon as they defeated the Indomitable Lions 2-0.
Two goals from Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman sealed the win and took them through to the quarter-finals to face Angola.
14:47 - 28.01.2024
AFCON 2023: Super Eagles legend Daniel Amokachi shows dancing skills as he celebrates Nigeria's win against Cameroon
Daniel Amokachi, Super Eagles legend expressed his joy as Nigeria defeated Cameroon in their round of 16 fixture.
14:38 - 28.01.2024
Super Eagles defeated Cameroon in their round of 16 tie to book a place with Angola in the quarter-finals.
Super Eagles dressing room celebration
The whole team was up for celebration after the final whistle as they expressed their happiness with the win.
The players were filled with joy as they danced around the room, leaping in jubilation and singing some famous routine song.
There has been a lot of happiness in the camp of the Super Eagles which has lifted their spirit as they set sight on the AFCON trophy.
With the team still in celebration mode, they will face Angola on Friday evening as they look to book a place in the quarter-final.


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KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety is investigating a large house fire that shut down traffic for more than two hours on West Kalamazoo Avenue near Woodward Avenue in Kalamazoo's Stuart neighborhood.
Kalamazoo Public Safety was called to the scene at about 6 a.m. Large flames were shooting through the roof. Firefighters used defensive tactics to battle the blaze. Two fire trucks were used to spray water onto the roof.
By about 7:45 a.m., the flames were put out and firefighters were working to put out hotspots.
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Chief Jeff Hadley said everyone escaped the home safely. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the fire.

domain: news


All experienced commercial pressure washers realize that ice could be fatal to have an industrial pressure washer. Take into account that water expands 9% if this freezes. Which means that should you leave water inside your pressure washer more than a freezing spell, you would likely break internal components. Continue reading to learn to prepare a commercial pressure washer for cold conditions. You will also uncover the very coldest temperatures where commercial pressure washers ought to be operated.
1. Do not let your equipment to freeze.
When freezing climate is within the forecast, you’re ready to move your power washing equipment to some warm, dry place. When the washer is within a limited space, like a van, you may want to move a heater inside to help keep it warm overnight. Inside a pinch, a 500-watt halogen bulb might be targeted at the pump to avoid freezing. For those who have room to maintain your machine warm, you may either constantly run tepid to warm water through it, or pay for it having a tarp and expect the best.
2. An anti-freeze flush is the perfect method to safeguard it.
Ideally, you’ll have ample warning time before cold conditions hit. If that’s the case, washing your pressure washing equipment with anti-freeze may be the best approach to take. Just make certain the vehicle or RV anti-freeze you are using is rated towards the cheapest common temperatures for the area.
To purge anti-freeze using your machine, begin by flowing anti-freeze in to the float tank. Activate the commercial pressure washer to transmit the anti-freeze with the system. To protect the coils, pump, and plumbing, take away the spray tip off after which put the wand within the float tank. To transmit anti-freeze with the unloader bypass line, pump the trigger for a few minutes, activating and releasing the device. Lastly, in case your pressure washing equipment works with chemical cleaners, you will need to send anti-freeze with the chemical line hose individually. It ought to be easy to capture and reuse exactly the same five gallons of anti-freeze throughout this process. Around the off chance that the pressure washing equipment lacks a float tank, simply employ a 5-gallon bucket rather this is actually the pool which will feed water intake hose.
If you’re caught in desperate situations without anti-freeze, you are able to flush a commercial pressure washer by helping cover their air. However, as this may leave trace levels of water in a few components, this isn’t the suggested approach.
3. Avoid operating in cold temperature.
The cheapest safe temperature for commercial pressure washers to function at depends upon the wind conditions as well as your machine’s abilities. If no wind exists, 15-25 degree climate is safe for warm water operation of the industrial pressure washer. (Only warm water machines ought to be run when climate is below freezing.) In comparison, on the windy day even warm water pressure washing equipment ought to be put aside once the temperature drops below 34 degree F.
When the warm water leaves your industrial pressure washer, it’ll soon use ice, that is a big liability from you. To prevent creating hazardous conditions in your clients’ driveways along with other surfaces, bring and apply calcium chloride or rock salt. Finally, don’t aim your power washer at locks, brake drums, or any other equipment that may break under ice.
Those, who want to make their carrier in best industrial pressure washers in Singapore, must know it works. The power of these washers is measured in amps, volts, and horsepower. More power is required to clean bigger spaces. 10-12HP is enough to clean large industrial or commercial places.


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Lynd Ward, an American Expressionist artist, and “father of the graphic novel,” helped shape the conventions of contemporary artists’ books. His legacy has influenced the direction beyond the graphic novel in areas such as the use of Expressionism and printmaking in the artists’ book, breaking graphic conventions, and using the artists’ book to convey a socio-political commentary. This paper will explain his influence and legacy by comparing his work to four contemporary artists’ books. Ward’s work, however, has only recently been recognized as a significant influence on graphic novels and has yet to be fully acknowledged as an influence on American artists’ books.
|Commitee:||Smith Jr., Kenneth C.|
|School:||The George Washington University|
|Department:||Corcoran School of Arts and Design|
|School Location:||United States -- District of Columbia|
|Source:||MAI 55/04M(E), Masters Abstracts International|
|Subjects:||American studies, Fine arts, Art history|
|Keywords:||Artists' book, Artists' books, Book arts, Studio art, Ward, Lynd, Wordless novels|
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2020 Update of a Brief Overview of the Transgender Employee in California & Their Rights in the Workplace
Editor’s Note: This article was updated in December 2020. The original was published in the February 2017 issue of Contra Costa Lawyer magazine.
The ensuing 2020 update to the previous 2017 article, provides a brief overview of the current status of the California transgender population, rather startling statistics concerning discrimination faced by the transgender community in the workplace, a brief discussion of relevant federal law as well as the status of California law for which a MCLE Self-Study Elimination of Bias one (1) unit of credit test is available hereinafter.
I. What It Means to be Trans
Transgender people are your friends, coworkers, neighbors, peers within your networking and social groups, they are also your parents, siblings and children. The transgender community is extremely diverse, consisting of persons from all communities including racial and ethnic backgrounds and religious faiths.
Transgender or Trans is an umbrella term describing people whose gender identity differs from the gender (or sex) they were assigned at birth. Transition includes a social transition and a physical transition. Social transition means to socially aligning one’s gender with the internal sense of self such as changes in name, pronoun, bathroom facility usage and the like. Hence, the person’s gender expression, gender-related appearance and behavior, whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth may alter. The physical transition includes medical treatments an individual may undergo to physically align their body to an internal sense of self including but not limited to hormone therapies or surgical procedures. When a person decides to transition (male to female/female to male), to help bring their body closer to the gender identity they feel on the inside, some undergo surgery but not all do, those who do not are just as trans as those who engage in all or some of the medical transition.
Please see Language Matters article for further guidance as to terms and vocabulary.
II. California Transgender Status
There have been various studies and assessments of the transgender population, however, many LGBTQ+ activists believe those surveys are unreliable, noting there are likely many more trans people than recorded due to fear of discrimination and transphobia. An often referred to survey from Williams Institute reported in June 2016, adult persons who identify as transgender, is slightly under 1.4 million in the United States. This number is nearly double what it was four years prior. Adult identifying transgender persons are approximately 0.76% of the California population or 218,000 in California. California ranks the second (2nd) largest population in the U.S. for identifying transgender adults. In 2017, GLAAD reported that an estimated 3 percent of the US population identified as transgender across various age groups. Currently, the Human Rights Commission (HRC), estimates there are more the 2 million transgender persons across the United States.
In December 2016 the largest survey examining the experiences of transgender people in the United States was issued to date. The report provided a detailed look at the experiences of transgender people (referred to as “respondents”) across a wide range of categories including employment. The findings reveal disturbing patterns of mistreatment and discrimination.
- The unemployment rate among respondents (15%) was three times higher than the U.S. population (5%).
- 27% of respondents who applied for a job during that year reported being fired, denied a promotion, or not being hired for a job they applied for because of their gender identity or expression.
- 30% of respondents who had a job in the past year reported being fired, denied a promotion, or experiencing some other form of mistreatment related to their gender identity or expression.
- 77% of respondents who had a job in the past year took steps to avoid mistreatment in the workplace, such as hiding or delaying their gender transition or quitting their job.
Moreover, there are countless reports as to the negative impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had specifically on the transgender community who have been forced to delay or halt scheduled medical procedures and treatment, or legal name change proceedings as a result of court closures, causing significant mental and physical distress and resulting in further bias including in the workplace. Since COVID-19:
- 19% of transgender people and 26% of transgender people of color have become unemployed due to COVID-19.
- 29% of transgender people and 31% of transgender people of color have had to take unpaid leave due to COVID-19.
- 54% of transgender people and 58% of transgender people of color have had their work hours reduced due to COVID-19.
- 22% of transgender people and 32% of transgender people of color have no health insurance.
The growing bias against transgender people is highlighted by the shocking ongoing brutal murders across the country of trans women with a large number of these murders focused on black trans women. As of October 11, 2020, there were 33 murders within 2020, though those numbers are likely even higher as there are countless victims misgendered by police and not reported. These victims, like us, were people – loving members of a family and friend groups, participants in their communities, employees and co-workers, and so much more. While details of each murder differs, the violence disproportionally impacts transgender women of color – Black transgender women – shining a light on the intersectionality of racism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.
With these sobering statics, an overview of California employment laws is discussed.
III. Bostock v. Clayton County
The U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County, on June 15, 2020, must be noted when discussing updates as to transgender rights. The decision centered upon if federal protections against discrimination found within Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 applied to a transgender person.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on sex, and applies to employers with 15 or more employees. Pursuant to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it is illegal for an employer to fire, fail to hire, or discriminate in any way against another with respect to their compensation or in the terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because they are a man or a woman. These prohibitions on discrimination also apply to sex-based “harassment.” Harassment occurs when a supervisor or co-worker subjects another to hostile, offensive, or intimidating behavior because of their sex that is so severe or pervasive that it interferes with your ability to perform your job. Sex discrimination includes situations where someone is treated unfairly for not looking or acting in the way expected of a man or a woman. Discrimination against someone for not conforming to gender stereotypes about the way people of a particular sex are supposed to look or act is sex discrimination.
On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Bostock v. Clayton County, that the 1964 Civil Rights Act protected gays, lesbians, and transgender employees from discrimination based on sex. The ruling was 6-3, with Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump’s first appointee to the court, writing the majority opinion. The opinion was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts and by liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.
“Today,” Gorsuch said, “we must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender. The answer is clear.” He found such discrimination is barred by the language in the 1964 law that bans discrimination in employment based on race, religion, national origin or sex.
“It is impossible to discriminate against a person for being homosexual or transgender without discriminating against that individual based on sex,” Gorsuch wrote. “Consider, for example, an employer with two employees, both of whom are attracted to men. The two individuals are, to the employer’s mind, materially identical in all respects, except that one is a man and the other a woman. If the employer fires the male employee for no reason other than the fact he is attracted to men, the employer discriminates against him for traits or actions it tolerates in his female colleague.”
Similarly, as reasoned by Justice Gorsuch, if an employer fires an employee because that person was identified as male at birth, but uses feminine pronouns and identifies as a female, the employer is taking action against the individual because of sex since the action would not have been taken but for the fact the employee was originally identified as male. However, the Bostock decision does not address related issues under Title VII such as dress codes, bathroom access, or locker room access, which were raised by Justice Alito’s dissent.
Even though the Court in Bostock did not address the full scope of potential protections under Title VII in the manner activities would have like, the ruling was considered a win for the LGBTQ+ community and their allies. In face of a win, shortly after the Court’s ruling, the administration eliminated federal protections against discrimination in health care for transgender people and barred them from military service except under certain circumstances. Under the correct factual situation, one practicing in California would site to said decision, however, the laws as to transgender persons in California have consistently been and will continue to be more expansive.
IV. Overview of California Workplace Protections
A. California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (“FEHA”)
As of January 1, 2004, California’s Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) made it illegal for an employer with 5 or more employees to fire, fail to hire, or discriminate in any way against employees who are or are perceived to be transgender or gender non-conforming.
The FEHA also prohibits “harassment” on the basis of gender identity or gender expression, regardless of the employer’s size. Harassment occurs when a supervisor, co-worker, or non-employee in a workplace subjects one to hostile, offensive, or intimidating behavior because of gender identity or gender expression.
The FEHA uses the phrases, “sex, gender, gender identify and gender expression” to define transgender. Gender expression is defined by the law to mean a “person’s gender related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person’s assigned sex at birth.”
On February 17, 2016, the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (“DFEH”) issued guidelines on transgender employee rights. Pursuant to said clarifications, an employer may ask an employee/applicant as to their employment history, for references and non-discriminatory relevant questions. However, an interviewer should not ask questions designed to detect a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, including marital status, spouses name, or relation to household member. Further, employers should not ask questions about a person’s body or whether they plan to have surgery.
Additionally, the law prohibits an employer from denying an employee the right to dress in a manner suitable for that employee’s gender identity. A transgender employee should be allowed to serve in a sex-segregated job based on their gender identity. An employer who requires a dress code must enforce it in a non-discriminatory manner. Though a job assignment can be based on sex so long as the assignment is otherwise in compliance with state law.
All employees have a right to safe and appropriate restroom and locker room facilities. Including the right to use a restroom or locker room which corresponds to the employee’s gender identity regardless of the employee’s assigned gender at birth. If possible, the employer should provide an accessible unisex bathroom for use by any employee regardless of reason, though use should be a matter of choice not requirement.
Violations of the FEHA create a private right of action for the individual victim for which the individual may seeks assistance through the DFEH or through an individual attorney.
B. California Political Activity Laws – “Coming Out”
California Labor Code Sections 1101 and 1102 prohibit employers from preventing an employee’s political activity, or punishing an employee due to that employee’s political activity. The California Supreme Court has interpreted “coming out” by lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees to constitute protected political activity. Likewise, if one discloses gender identity or openly transition from one gender to another, the employee may argue that these actions are protected political acts.
C. Bay Area Specific Laws
Several local Bay Area cities such as San Francisco, Oakland, City and County of Santa Cruz, have laws that prohibit gender identity discrimination in employment. For example, in San Francisco, the Human Rights Commission can investigate a complaint of discrimination and mediate a settlement between the individual and the employer. Other localities may have similar commissions, civil rights offices or equal employment officers who may assist with a complaint under the local ordinance. However, these local laws often are of limited value to employees because California law bars an individual from actually bringing a lawsuit under local law. Therefore, if mediation does not result in a satisfactory resolution, the human rights commission or similar agency can’t do anything more to enforce the law on behalf of the individual.
Those who identify as transgender and those who feel comfortable doing so despite the growing number of violate attacks, are growing in California. As a community, transgender people face frequent employment discrimination, which leads to high rates of unemployment. California workplace laws continue to develop and grow in relation thereto. Education of employment rights and duties is an important element in prevention and resolution.
MCLE Self Study
Earn one hour of Elimination of Bias MCLE credit by answering the questions on the Self Study MCLE test available here.
Send your answers along with a check ($30 per credit hour for CCCBA members/ $45 per credit hour for non-members), to the address on the test form. Certificates are processed within 2 weeks of receipt. If you prefer to receive the test form via email, contact Anne K. Wolf at email@example.com or (925) 370-2540.
 How Many Adults Identify as Transgender in the United States? By: Andrew R. Flores, Judy L. Herman, Gary J. Gates, and Taylor N. T. Brown; the Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law June 2016, pages 2-4. Of note, the Williams Institute conducted a LGBT Data & Demographics survey of 2019 data wherein they determined : 5.3% of the adult population were LGBTQ+ and 1,19400 workers were LGBTQ+, however did not specifically note transgender status.
 Accelerating Acceptance, A Harris Poll Survey of Americans’ Acceptance of LGBTQ people (2017), by: GLAAD, page 4.
 James, S. E., Herman, J. L., Rankin, S., Keisling, M., Mottet, L., & Anafi, M. (2016). Executive Summary of the Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. Washington, DC: National Center for Transgender Equality. December 2016.
 Executive Summary of the Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. December 2016.
 The Economic Impact of COVID-19 Intensifies for Transgender and LGBTQ Communities of Color, Human Rights Campaign, April 2020.
 Fatal Violence Against the Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Community in 2020, Human Rights Campaign, October 2020.
 Cal. Gov. Code § 12940.
 Cal. Gov. Code § 12926(r)(2).


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Nanotechnology has made another breakthrough at the University of California San Diego. For the first time the researchers have shown that micromotors or microscopic robots could be used to treat a bacterial infection in the stomach in mice models win the laboratory.
The micromotors are each about half the thickness of a human hair and are capable of swimming fast throughout the stomach and help to neutralize the highly acidic medium within the stomach. Then they release their cargo of the antibiotics at the pH that is set from before and help cure the infection. The study report was published in the journal Nature Communications.
The team of researchers included nanoengineering professors Joseph Wang and Liangfang Zhang at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering. These professors have earlier developed the movement of these micromotors within the body. This effort makes these micromotors as excellent drug delivery options they said.
Micromotors treat bacterial infection
According to the team of researchers, this new method could be the breakthrough that was being anticipated. It could treat stomach and gastrointestinal tract diseases with acid-sensitive drugs now.
Earlier most of these acid-sensitive agents got destroyed in the stomach acid as soon as they came in contact with the acid within the stomach. Notably antibiotics and protein based drugs got easily damaged with the acid in the stomach.
To prevent damage to the drug before it can act, the patient had to be asked to take agents such as proton pump inhibitors, to suppress gastric acid production. Drugs were also being developed with an acid-resistant coating to protect them from the acids.
However none of these were foolproof and the overall effect of the acid-sensitive drug remained low. Proton pump inhibitors further caused other side effects especially when used over a long period of time.
With this new technology the micromotors are built with a mechanism that can neutralize gastric acid to bring the pH to a desired level. Once the optimum pH is achieved in the stomach, the micromotors can safely deliver the antibiotics they are carrying.
These antibiotics can act without fear of getting denatured by the acid. Berta Esteban-Fernández de Ávila, a postdoctoral scholar in Wang's research group at UC San Diego and a author of the paper explained that now there is no need for a two step process – neutralization of the acid and then administration of the drug. Now a one step process that combines “acid neutralization with therapeutic action” can be achieved.
The authors explain that each of these tiny robots or micromotors carry a spherical magnesium core. This gets a coating of a protective layer of titanium dioxide. Over this coat is a layer of the antibiotic clarithromycin.
On top of these layers is another layer of a positively-charged polymer called chitosan. Chitosan would help these micromotors adhere to the stomach wall while they are inside the stomach. Once this bidning or adherence takes place the magnesium cores react with gastric acid. This leads to formation of hydrogen microbubbles.
These microbubbles help to propel the motors around inside the stomach. Also this reaction reduces the gastric acid and raises the pH by reducing the gastric acid. Once the desired pH is achieved the micromotors release the drug. Normal acidic pH comes back within 24 hours of the treatment write researchers.
The micromotors are made up of biodegradable materials and do not pose a threat to the patient. The magnesium cores as well as the polymer layers are dissolved by gastric acid.
As an initial step the team of researchers used these micromotors in mice with Helicobacter pylori infections.
The micromotors carried clinical dose of the antibiotic clarithromycin and were given to the mice orally once a day for five consecutive days.
After the study the counts of the bacteria within the mouse stomach was assessed to check the effectiveness of the drug. Two groups of mice were tested. One with the micromotors carrying the antibiotic and another with traditional oral clarithromycin along with a gastric acid suppressor proton pump inhibitor.
The micromotors were found to be more effective compared to the traditional approach in reducing the bacterial load write researchers.
This is still an early stage and further studies are needed to prove the efficacy and safety of these nano technology marvels. Other diseases and drug combinations would also be included in the studies to check if this system works.


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Digital rendering is an extremely effective medium enabling architects, clients and investors to envision a structure before it is even built. Presenting a design idea to a client can be equally challenging as the design process itself. In recent times, computer generated images and renderings have played an extremely pivotal role in architectural presentations. While renderings can provide strikingly accurate depictions of buildings, are architects being true with these depictions? How much creative liberty can an architect take to convey the design idea? These questions are highly subjective, and whether we agree or disagree, stylized renderings have been an integral part of the architectural profession including competitions and commissions.
Architectural renderings range from being sketchy and conceptual to photorealistic. Of the infinite rendering styles, the images below represent some contrasting styles of rendering.
Creating an image that accurately represents the design requires a substantial skill set and investing a great amount of time perfecting it. 3D renderings are often inspired from architectural photography. In creating the perfect rendering that represents the design, some thumb rules of photography should be considered while modeling and rendering the structure. Three of these guides have been illustrated below.
In recent times, renderings and stylized representation of buildings have become hyper-idealistic images and are in itself a form of art. The degree of perfection attained in a computer generated image can never be achieved in reality. Thus, the two-dimensional graphic representation of architecture has, traditionally, been the precursor or subsequent by-product of architecture — but never a substitute. A two-dimensional image may never be able to communicate the experiential qualities of a three-dimensional space. A digital image may be a powerful artistic or theoretical conception, but it is far from reality.
Muse MATTERS is a series of dialogues that as a studio we shall engage in– the purpose of the dialogues is for the studio to discuss matters, ask questions, share lessons learnt and may be in the process we can make a difference. Topics discussed shall not be restricted to the field of architecture and design necessarily; they could be about an experience, a journey, a comic strip and anything in between or beyond. We will use this space to share our thoughts and blurbs.

domain: artistic


The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) is working with stakeholders to streamline standards and centralise employment statistics generated within the productive sectors for effective reporting and targeting.
This, the Ministry said, would ensure easy disaggregation and analysis of employment data by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies for use by policymakers towards national development planning.
Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Sector Minister, said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mr Kizito Ballans, the Chief Director, during an Inter-sectoral Stakeholder Meeting on Employment Impact Assessment, Employment Targeting and Reporting and Related Matters in Accra on Tuesday.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to be adopted for Employment Impact Assessment in the Public Sector.
It was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Finance, the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
It aims at enabling government to report creditably on employment numbers as well as set realistic targets for the productive sectors with corresponding allocation of resources to achieve those targets.
Mr Awuah said data on employment creation was not readily available to guide evidence-based policymaking, and as a result, statistics churned out by various institutions on employment were always at variance to one another.
He said employment reporting was fragmented, uncoordinated and remained at the productive sector level without any form of verification or validation from a statutory body.
“Employment is a macroeconomic issue and cross-cutting one, which requires the involvement of stakeholders. As a macroeconomic issue, one will expect that every year, there will be national and sectoral targets on employment just as it is done for Gross Domestic Product growth, inflation, fiscal deficit, and exchange rate,” he said.
Mr Awuah said it was through targets setting that the country could monitor progress made on employment creation at the various levels.
He said the importance of Jobs Impact Assessment was evident in the country’s policy planning processes and discrepancies associated with employment data.
“The call for Jobs Impact Assessment has been on the rise as government is interested in determining which sectors of the economy create more jobs over other sectors for similar expenditure under similar circumstances,” he said.
However, the role of the Ministry in employment assessment is to coordinate these employment interventions, evaluate the number of jobs created and ensure they conform to decent work standards and report periodically to the public.
Mr Awuah said the meeting would facilitate the development of a framework for employment targeting and reporting for use by public sectors to aid forecasting, evidence-informed policymaking and development planning.
He expressed the hope that the discussions would deepen the growing consensus on instituting employment impact assessment in all sectors towards the creation of decent opportunities for the labour force.
Dr Akua Ofori-Asumadu, the National Project Manager of ILO, Accra, said the Organisation had initiated a project dubbed: “Strengthen Project” implemented in 10 countries including Ghana, with support from the European Union.
It is two components; Employment Impact Assessment of Public Policies in selected sectors, and Assessing and Addressing the Effects of Trade on Employment.
It aims at strengthening the capabilities of country partners to analyse and design sectoral and trade policies and programmes to enhance job creation in terms of quality and quantity.
Touching on the achievements, Dr Ofori-Asumadu said the project, among other things, had enabled policymakers to be trained on analytical tools to assess the employment impact of pre-selected sectoral policies that effectively responded to employment challenges and promoted decent work to meet international labour standards.
Mr Maikel Lieuw-Kie-Song, the Strengthen Project Manager, Employment Policy Department, ILO Geneva, focusing on Good Practices and Approaches for Monitoring and Assessing Employment Impacts, said all public-sector projects must undergo a job impact assessment.
This, he said, would enable government to analyse how the various jobs were being created so as to better structure incentives and stimuli for higher-skilled jobs and opportunities for Ghanaians.
He urged member countries to adhere to good practices for assessing employment impacts by identifying activities and link them to policies and strategic documents, budgets and implementation plans.
Some participants suggested that job assessment impacts should be considered in the national planning process especially for productive sectors.
Others supported the creation of indicators to be harmonized for use by the NDPC and the need to take into account the unemployed youth who had sat home for more than five years in their unemployment assessment.


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When the Utah Jazz signed guard Shaq Harrison last week, it was widely figured that it meant fellow backcourt mate Nigel Williams-Goss would eventually be waived.
On Tuesday afternoon, that indeed occurred. The Athletic’s Tony Jones first reported the news about an hour before the team announced it.
The 55th pick of the 2017 NBA draft out of Gonzaga (he had transferred there from Washington), Williams-Goss spent the first few seasons of his professional career in Serbia and Greece before signing with the Jazz prior to last season.
He wound up playing in 10 games during the 2019-2020 campaign and scored 14 points with eight assists.
Off the court, the Oregon native took an active role in the protests for racial justice that occurred in Salt Lake City earlier this year.


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#1 hit, "Santa Baby"... (Soundtracks: Party Monster, NCIS LA)
Latest News: Actress, Jazz Singer Cynthia Basinet Reflects On Love In Elle Magazine - http://news.allaboutjazz.com/news.php?id=103240
"one of the most sultry.seductive voices around."-declares ARTISTdirect.com.
15 years in the making, the debut CD of Jazz STANDARDS
"Sweet Dreams", "Going Out Of My Head", "Blue Moon", "The Christmas Song", are NEW versions.
”What a knock out!” -Dick Hughes, Jazz Action Productions
”Excellent artist and songs.” -Wyn Machon, Oamaru Heritage Radio
”The sound of your voice is a pearl to my ear!.” -Paul van Kuik, Radio 0162
”American Actress Cynthia Basinet truly uncovers her talents with this EP 4 track offering on UNCOVERED. She's got the looks, style, and ability to deliver a tune. A class act!” -Helen Simons, The JazzXpress Caravan Jazz Radio 94.1FM Australia
”...This EP is definitely a keeper, and with another EP and a full length album out there, there's plenty more Cynthia Basinet to get your teeth into. Go forth and enjoy.” -Zeitgeist UK
”The charactor of the music style presented gives this CD (Uncovered) a unique feel, with an individual personality presented inside it's contents. Great work, and we sure look forward to hearing from you in the future...” Graham, Soundwavefm.co.nz
”Basinet has a powerhouse of a voice; she can be seductive when she wants to be and effectively woeful if the lyrics call for it. Even if you'll hate her because she's beautiful, you'll love her because her singing will knock your socks off.” -Ink19.com
”Unquestionably, Cynthia's voice is one of the most striking and sparkling voices in the world of American Standards. It is an oasis of luxurious vocal beauty, magnetizing sensuality and warmth. This singer is the real thing!” - ENTERTAINMENT: DIVAS, CABARET, JAZZ THEN AND NOW (book)
”Cynthia Basinet is an actress and as evidenced by this record a terrific singer as well. Her collection is very varied in nature and takes in several styles; opener Just is a blue aching ballad with heavy reverb. Jazz standard Someone to Watch Over Me follows that and is beautifully sung. The seasonal Santa Baby is sung sexily and has been mistaken for a recording by Marilyn Monroe. She never sang the song back then, that was Eartha Kitt. The less we say of Madonna s miserable version the better it is. Here ms. Basinet gives it her all alongside a nice little male backing part. Water s Edge is coolly sung torch, style that she excels at. Yellow Taxi (no, not the Joni song) is a neat little dance number. Basinet s album is very diverse but it all holds together thanks to her vocal talent.” —CollectedSound.com
For Cynthia Basinet, her voice itself is an instrument; in terms of emotional power, it's a lethal weapon. Sensual, emotionally damaged and world-weary, Basinet's vocals have the makings of a film noir femme fatale. Her midnight blue voice on The Collection can conjure black and white images of ill-fated romance, especially on Just and Eventually. Set to a crestfallen piano backdrop, Eventually expresses deep-seated feelings of love lost; the heartbreaking ache in her vocals reveals real, honest pain. However, melancholia is only side of Basinet's persona. In this compilation of her work, she juggles with light and darkness. The giddy sweetness of her cover of Santa Baby is miles apart from the fresh wounds of Haunted Heart. Furthermore, the electronica tracks Yellow Taxi and God unveil a completely different side of her artistry. For those not familiar with Basinet's previous recordings, such varied elements might seem confusing. But this is a career retrospective, after all, and the most exciting musicians are the unpredictable ones. Nevertheless, it's obvious where Basinet's strengths are. On the slower songs, where Basinet can croon her heart's desires, she has a commanding presence. Her version of the oft-covered Someone To Watch Over Me has undeniable charm; her voice truly soars, dripping with sultry yearning. Because of Basinet's background as a model and actress, there are some who probably won't take her music seriously. However, even the most skeptical will have a hard time resisting the gripping drama of Water's Edge. — Allaboutjazz.com


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Candidates for gov. talk education at city forum
A new study out of the Mayo Clinic sheds light on the link between sleep deprivation and obesity. Lisa Robinson reports.
The standoff between the United States and Russia over Ukraine is not preventing President Barack Obama from pursuing his domestic agenda - and his vacation.
The foreign policy crisis has occupied the bulk of Obama's attention this past week although ...


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Continuing the heart-pounding, time-bending action of the TimeRiders series, The Eternal War brings readers back to a pivotal time period in American history: The Civil War. Only this alternate history is one where a young Abraham Lincoln has somehow followed Liam into the present from 1831, and the entire course of American history has changed. If the TimeRiders can't return Lincoln to the past, the country could be trapped in a dangerous state of never-ending civil war.
More than 60 years have passed since the outbreak of the most catastrophic conflict the world has known: 30 million people dead and unbelievable devastation. In the third edition of this popular volume, Keith Eubank seeks answers to the questions that have plagued us: Why, after the ghastly ordeal of World War I did Western powers undervalue the threat from Hitler? Why was there so much reluctance on the part of Britain and France to confront Germany? Why had Germany been permitted to rearm and to occupy independent nations without a struggle? What was the policy of appeasement?
Gifford's Wild at Heart (and the award-winning film it inspired) introduced Sailor Ripley and Lula Pace Fortune, the most passion-driven, star-crossed lovers since Romeo and Juliet. Now they're back, in interlocking novellas that reaffirm the redemptive jujitsu of romance and the terminal weirdness of the world outside the bedroom.
In Circling the Bases, leading sports economist Andrew Zimbalist continues his discussion and analysis of the major issues and challenges confronting the sports industry in the second decade of the 21st century. Presenting a general overview of the sports business at the college and professional levels, this volume places concerns such as the antitrust status of sports leagues, the stalled progress of gender equity in college sports, and the control of performance enhancing drugs in historical context.
In April 1945, The Nazis, reeling and near defeat, frantically work to hide the huge store of art treasures that Hitler has looted from Europe. Truck convoys loaded with the cultural wealth of the Western world pour in an unending stream into the compound of the vast Altaussee salt mine high in the Austrian Alps. But with the Allies closing in, the vaunted efficiency of the Nazis has broken down. At Altaussee, all is tumult and confusion.
Action, adventure, predators and peril - the first novel written and read by Bafta Award-winning Deadly Tv presenter and wildlife expert Steve Backshall about saving tigers. Saker is a member of the Clan. They're like brothers, but once you're a member you can never leave - ever. Each member has their own animal identity and tattoo, and each is an expert in jungle law, survival and the ways of animals in order to make them better spies, thieves or assassins.
Matti Glover is thrilled to learn that hot Hollywood heartthrob Antonio Reed is not only filming a movie in Santa Fe, but staying in the exclusive complex where she's housesitting. She rescues him from a busload of teenage girls, and grateful and intrigued, he asks her for a date. Matti's caught up in a Cinderella dream come true - until midnight hits and it's pumpkin time. Any reader who ever cherished a secret crush on Robert, Justin, or Orlando will enjoy this romp through the fan's ultimate fantasy.
Determined to leave her old life behind, retired assassin Leine Basso accepts a job working security at one of television's most popular reality shows, Serial Date. When a contestant is found dead in the prop closet, it appears the killer is one of the 'bachelors' on the show - an ex-con billed as a serial killer - but the detective in charge of the case isn't so sure. When Leine's estranged daughter is abducted by a man claiming to be the real killer, she's forced to rely on old skills to find her, and must come to terms with who she really is.
Three moons are rising. They are rising over the snowy Archen Mountains, where Teia struggles through the high passes to carry her warning to the Empire: The Nimrothi war band is poised to invade and at their head stands Ytha. She means to release the Wild Hunt - and with it Maegern the Raven, the Keeper of the Dead.
Andrea Begley stunned the nation with her unique voice and was the brilliant winner of series two of The Voice UK. This is the exclusive story of her journey to the top. From her childhood in Ireland, coming to terms with the loss of 90% of her vision, to her university days and her passion for politics and above all, music. The Voice was the opportunity Andrea had been waiting for and she made sure nothing would hold her back.
Take a town full of West Virginia coal miners, 17th century nobility, one of the longest and bloodiest wars in history, d'Artagnan (without the three musketeers), Blaise Pascal, Rene Decartes, Galileo, Oliver Cromwell and Gustav II Adolph. Shake well and simmer for thirteen years. Eric Flint's world of 1632 is an amazing and complex alternate history universe that split off from ours one spring day in 2000 and 1631. The Grantville Singles provide listeners with the opportunity to sample some of our favorite stories from the semi-monthly magazine devoted to the series, The Grantville Gazette. We hope you enjoy them.
In this sequel to The Spy Princess, Lilah, newly made a princess, teams up with Atan, the hidden princess of the oldest country in the world, Sartor, to free the kingdom from a century of enchantment. Capture, escape, a forest beyond time, ancient beings, civilizations secreted in caves, and a deadly enemy await the girls. Atan knows that if she survives, the challenges facing a 15-year-old queen are only beginning.
Trapped in a London laboratory during a worker uprising in 1924, ex-artillery officer and physics instructor Jeremy Tuft awakens 150 years later - in a neo-medieval society whose inhabitants have forgotten how to build or operate machinery. Not only have his fellow Londoners forgotten most of what humankind used to know, before civilization collapsed, but they don't particularly care to re-learn any of it. Though he is at first disconcerted by the failure of his own era's smug doctrine of Progress, Tuft eventually decides that post-civilized life is simpler, more peaceful.
Lou is in the middle of a quarter-life crisis. Fresh out of college, she’s unemployed and unsure of herself. But when she gets the chance to escape to Scotland with her best friend, it could be the answer to her quest for self-discovery. The trip is not at all what she expected, especially when her tour guide turns out to be the dreamy historian Brian, and together they embark on a hunt for information about Isobel Key, a woman accused of witchcraft in the seventeenth century.
"The tale of Carl Wake and the hurricane that was waiting for him goes straight to the heart of the greatest sea stories: they are not about man against the sea, but man against himself. John Kretschmer's audiobook is as perfectly shaped and flawlessly written as such a story can be. In addition to being the best depiction I have ever listened to of what it is like to be inside a hurricane at sea, At the Mercy of the Sea is as moving a story of a man's failure and redemption as can be found anywhere in the literature of the sea. This audiobook is surely destined to become a classic."
In the end, it all comes down to what your customer wants to tell you about your product. However, how many of us have been taught how to listen to our customers?
California now has more trees than at any time since the late Pleistocene. This green landscape, however, is not the work of nature. It’s the work of history. In the years after the Gold Rush, American settlers remade the California landscape, harnessing nature to their vision of the good life. Horticulturists, boosters, and civic reformers began to "improve" the bare, brown countryside, planting millions of trees to create groves, wooded suburbs, and landscaped cities.
Though she is free of the palace, rescued from her position as a blood slave, Aria is haunted by the memories of her time spent within the fortress, tormented by memories of Braith, the prince that betrayed her and shattered her heart. Every day is a struggle to get through, and the only solace she is able to find is with Max, her best friend, and fellow captive.
America has been devastated by both plague and the nuclear weapons used to kill off the infected flesh-eating creatures that roamed across the land preying on human beings. National Clandestine Service black ops agent Chad Halverson and dress designer Victoria Brady take refuge in a blast shelter in the Nevada desert when an A-bomb is dropped on Las Vegas at the behest of the president of the United States. Halverson and Victoria are forced to leave the safety of their cement shelter when they run low on water.
After the tragic death of his parents when Talon was young, he's dedicated his life to protecting the Pantera. To the strikingly gorgeous man, loyalty and honor mean everything. So it's no surprise that he's determined to treat Isi Rousseau as the enemy. If the elders believe she is a danger then he will do whatever necessary to prevent her from destroying his beloved Wildlands. But discovering the delicate beauty sleeping in his bed, Talon discovers his noble intentions wavering.

domain: literature


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We've decided to make a little tribute to some of the folks we jam with... Lots of people join some or all of Ballistic Pig at our Monday night jams at Jack's Pub in Tofino and every once in a while we are able to incorporate some of these people into a "proper" gig.
So meet our first Honorary Pig, Johnny. He's got an infectious smile, blows a mean blues harp and kinda look like Bruce Willis.... these are all good things. Johnny joined us this past weekend for a set and it was a highlight of the night for us. More Honorary Pigs are coming, we're sure so check out the Honorary Pig tab just above this post.

domain: entertainment


text:
The re-imagined Game is available for download on Google Maps and Google. It’s also open on a vast range of devices, including mobile phones. The game has reached a public field situation. Google revealed the 255-level version of Pacman on its greeting page. Google created the Game’s transformation from scratch using the Game’s code. The resulting design retains the classic Game’s look, but isn’t a principal retro-future model.
Game is reimagined to appeal to today’s gamers
The classic video game has a unique place in history and today’s culture. While the original Pacman game is difficult to master and has spawned dozens of sequels, Google’s new reimagined version is easier to play and still maintains its classic appeal. The game will be available on Google Play this weekend. If you’re a Pacman fan, be sure to download the game and give it a try.
In Pac-Man World Re-Pac, the iconic character becomes a platforming game. The player must help Pac-Man rescue his family from the evil Ms. Pac-Man and the little Pac-kids in order to escape the infamous ghosts. While he’s on his quest to save the world, he’ll also encounter interesting enemies, including ghosts and slugs.
The original game was first released in 1982. It was the first game with a playable female character. The character first appeared in a fur stole and heavy stage makeup. Tim Balderramos, the author of The Perfect Game, was the fourth person to achieve the perfect score in the original game. He was drawn to Pac-Man by its charm and the fact that it was free of guns and widespread destruction.
The original Pac-Man was released back in the 80s, and since then, it has become one of the most influential games in video game culture. It’s instantly recognisable and remains a popular game across generations. As an added bonus, the game’s reimagined versions have added extra gameplay elements and improved audiovisual style. In addition to its timeless appeal, it has also become an iconic part of video game culture, featuring animated cutscenes and modern-style graphics.
Today, Pac-Man continues to entertain a new generation of gamers. The video game industry has finally achieved its long-earned status as a legitimate art form, but a number of challenges remain. Increasingly, indie games are providing much-needed diversity in the gaming industry. So, don’t miss this exciting new take on the classic. It will surely appeal to new generations of gamers!
New version is 255 levels long
A game called Pacman 30th Anniversary is a PC maze chase game. The object of the game is to collect items while avoiding the ghosts. It has a lot of levels that can be difficult and frustrating. It also has a lot of features. For instance, you can eat fruits to collect more points and you can also defeat ghosts to earn bonus lives.
The 255-level Pac-Man doodle will be available for 48 hours before the Pac-Man 30th Anniversary. It is designed to be true to the original game’s look and feel. A miniature replica of the original game is also included in the Doodle. This game is still very popular, and fans have praised Google for celebrating its 30th anniversary by creating a Doodle that pays tribute to their favorite arcade game.
A few years ago, Google created an interactive version of their logo incorporating the popular video game. In this way, people can play the Pac-Man game on Google’s website and learn more about Google. Pac-Man has a huge following and is now available in more than a dozen languages. As a way to celebrate this, Google created a special Google Doodle that features a playable version of the game. The doodle also offers an animated version of the Pac-Man game that you can play directly from Google.
While the first Google doodle featured themed games, the second featured the video game, which commemorated Oscar Fischinger’s birthday. The Google doodle for Pac-Man 30th Anniversary is 255 levels long, and the game’s score was composed by Kodama Yuichi. It’s also playable online. Google has made it easy to play, even if you’re not the most experienced Pac-Man player.
The game has a history of influence, from video games to modern trends. With its incredibly addictive gameplay, Pacman 30th Anniversary and Doodle of Google 2022 is a must-have for any ‘Pacman fan.’ This doodle is a great way to revisit childhood memories while playing the game on your PC. It can be challenging, but you’ll love the nostalgic value it brings to you.
It is available on Google Maps
The Pacman 30th Anniversary Doodle of the Google Maps is now live! One of the most popular video games of all time, the Pacman video game is still popular today. To celebrate the anniversary, Google created an interactive version of its logo starring the iconic mascot. Playing the game is simple, as it starts automatically and is controlled using the arrow keys. You must collect all the dots on the screen while avoiding ghosts.
The Pacman 30th Anniversary Doodle of Google has a special game for players to play that will take them on a journey through time. The game is available in Google Maps, Google Search, and on Google+. The Pacman 30th Anniversary Doodle of the Google Maps will be available in Google Maps until September, 2022. To play it, you must have Google Chrome browser.
This Google Maps doodle is fun and educational, as it features a real-world street map of the game’s original location. The game can be played like the classic game, or played as a realistic simulated version on Google Maps. If you’re a die-hard Pacman fan, you’ll love this doodle! There are even hidden elements and challenges. There are more than 4000 Google Doodles, created by internal designers and external firms.
The Pacman 30th Anniversary Doodle of Google Maps is a fun way to celebrate the iconic video game. Playing the game in Google Maps is easy as long as you have a Google browser and a Google search option. Simply search for the location you want to visit and click the “play” button. And you’ll see the doodle of Ms. Pacman on Google Maps!
If you’re a game lover, you can play this online game on any device with Internet access. The game is available in full screen mode and is free to play on all computers and mobile devices. The main feature of this game is that you can play it as much as you want, without stopping. In fact, if you stop playing, you’ll lose a life!
It is available on Google
The Google Doodle for its 30th anniversary honors one of the most beloved video games of all time, the maze-hunting game Pac-Man. Initially, the Doodle was only supposed to be an easter egg, but after positive analysis, the company decided to make it a permanent treat. It has now been made playable by tapping on it, and after the week’s end, the logo will advance to Google’s report page. The logo is a link to the original Pac-Man game, and the user can use the link to play the game online.
The game itself is free, and can be played on a variety of devices, including phones, tablets, and computers. It also offers multiple stages that are compatible with all regions. The graphics are similar to the original Game, which has been upgraded in terms of animation and sound, and there are achievements for players to earn. The Google Doodle will remain online until April 2022, when it will become a part of Google’s website.
The Google homepage is known for entertaining doodles, but this year’s doodle features the iconic pizza-shaped creature eating a dot. The Doodle is displayed on Google’s homepage in several languages. Google is also making several online advertisements that feature the game. Featuring the mascot, Pacman, as well as other characters from the game, the ad allows players to revisit the game’s lore and learn more about it.
This year, Google is celebrating its 30th anniversary by embedding a new version of the Pacman logo. The doodle will also enable users to play the game directly from Google’s greeting page. It is the ultimate celebration of the game’s iconic appeal. There’s even a playable online version of the game, which can be played without any installation or download. There’s no reason why gamers shouldn’t get to play the game, which is available online and offline.
You don’t even need to be an expert to play the game. All you need is a Google browser and the game will pop up. When you find it, simply click on the Google Doodle and click “play” to start playing the Pacman game. The game itself is easy to play and will satisfy your need for Pacman gaming. With its simple structure, it is the perfect game for everyone.


Chip Actuator CA2001
The chip actuator CA2001 is a compact, multi-functional miniature linear actuator, designed with a broad range of applications in mind - from basic push or pull operations to the actuation of disposable on-chip valves. With its stroke of 2 mm and a peak force of 3.5 N, the CA2001 is highly adaptable and suitable for a variety of applications.
Simple and fast testing desired?
The memetis small electronic control unit enables you to easily and quickly test the CA2001. It can either be powered by USB B micro or an external power supply.
Once the user has seen at least one product this snippet will be visible.


Who says Watson's only good for laying the smack down on former Jeopardy champions? In what can only be described as the natural progression of things, Herbert Chase -- professor of clinical medicine in Columbia's Department of Biomedical Informatics -- is working with IBM in order to retrofit the supercomputer to "help doctors diagnose and treat patients." According to Chase, this level of robot practice has been impossible for the past score or so, and if the experiment works, Watson could serve to provide physicians "immediate, accurate answers to unusual, head-scratching questions that come up in their daily practice and do so based not only on the latest published research, but also the blogosphere." In other words, Watson could rapidly collect and analyze up-to-date published data from a near limitless amount of online sources, and then use that knowledge to recommend suggestions that a seasoned M.D. may never consider. Furthermore, Chase sees tremendous potential for Watson in the realm of personalized medicine; considering that two patients with the same diagnosis won't necessarily react to treatments the same way, Watson could come up with alternatives on the fly. There's no clear indication of when the testing will wrap up, but see how far you get next time you're in the emergency room by inquiring about Dr. Watson's availability.


Well, HM The Queen has been informed, and they’re off although it’s hard not to think from watching recent performances at PM’s Questions that Westminster has been electioneering for at least a couple of months. It’s only Day 3 of the official campaign and the main parties have yet to publish their manifestos, but already it seems that all sides will play it safe and that the electorate are going to have a particularly tedious 5 weeks.
In a previous post called avoiding the debate, I mentioned some of the factors that have broken the British political debate resulting in electoral apathy and a dangerous cynicism of the modern democratic process in the UK. These included the lack of proper argumentation and the one-sided and repetitive promotion of policies without even a nod to the counter-arguments or an acceptance that a policy is rarely ‘right’ but merely ‘the best’ course of action. This type of campaigning is the result of an unholy alliance between an army of politicians’ media advisors and the media itself who rarely have time for much more than a quick soundbite.
What is rapidly becoming apparent is immeasurably more cynical and disturbing, and that is a ploy by the parties deliberately to avoid clearly stated positions aside from vacuous statements such as ‘I want a country of opportunity’ or ‘we want prosperity for all’. The saddest part of this problem is that it is a deliberate ploy. By taking a firm position on a matter and producing a firm and directed policy to support that belief, it is likely that a floating voter, somewhere, will disagree and switch to the other side. With conventional 2 party political in free-fall, every floating voter has to be courted and issues that might encourage him to vote for the other side avoided. The debate is therefore reduced to dishonest and meaningless platitudes with discussions on personality and looks rather than political substance. It also encourages the promotion of polices targeted at single-issue or niche voters. This provides a poor foundation for proper government as such policies are inefficiently piecemeal and lack an intellectual basis or strategic framework. In effect they are bribes.
In an ideal world, a Party would start with a political philosophy, then develop a strategy for applying that philosophy and then develop policies that fit within that overall intellectual framework. It’s what we used to have before politics became fragmented and it made it interesting which is why voters engaged and, by in large, viewed parliament with respect. The problem is that the more that party politics fragments, then the more the parties will behave in the current manner putting us in a downwards spiral of electoral discontent. The sad thing is that the media advisors are wrong. The public is crying out for a debate based on solid political conviction and belief. Ed Miliband came close to it the other evening during the TV debate which is probably why he polled quite well afterwards.
Things won’t change soon, however, and the sterile debate will get a lot worse before we eventually have to overhaul the system, probably by a change in the voting system. I would also like to see a British Federation to bring politics closer to the people and improve accountability but more of that soon.
More hay, Sir?


text:
The short story is the following: Irini Studios is a cozy family-run holiday resort, located 15 minutes from the center of Parga. The true story: Irini Studios is you. Twenty five years have passed by, at first we were a family of six people and now we have lost counting. This is not a place where people go for summer holidays. This is a meeting place of good friends, a place for sharing memories and treasure moments.
In our surroundings you can familiarize with the architecture of Epirus region, mainly wood and stone. We have created little "green" corners with flowers and as you will find out we have grew a local variety of lemon trees.
You are more than welcome to explore all the areas of our place and become part of it. You cannot miss our fountain, an actual gem of our Studios. Christos had build it, according to Irini's sketches.

domain: geography


text:
The State of Sex: Tourism, Sex and Sin in the New American Heartland - , Crystal A. Jackson
This file is no longer available on Tradebit.
Author: Brents, Barbara G.
Author: Jackson, Crystal A.
Author: Hausbeck, Kathryn
Title: The State of Sex: Tourism, Sex and Sin in the New American Heartland
Pages: 00000 (Encrypted PDF)
On Sale: 2009-12-23
Lib Category: Prostitution - Nevada
Lib Category: Brothels - Nevada
Category: PSYCHOLOGY / Human Sexuality (see also SOCIAL SCIENCE / Huma
Category: Non-Classifiable : Non-Classifiable
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text:
The Snake Fly Generation?Published: 3rd July 2017 | Author: Rob Edmunds
Every generation seems to produce a classic pattern that devastates fish stocks from small still waters to reservoirs, In the 1980’s it was the Booby, the 1990’s The Humungous, 2000’s The Blob etc… I’ve seen the future and boldly make a prediction that “The Snake Fly” will be the next modern classic.
I will go so far and say that every angler should own at least 6 snake patterns (2 x booby versions and 2 x standard weighted versions and 2 x unweighted versions)
“The Snake” is a relatively modern pattern that has taken both the small water and reservoir scene by storm over the last few years. It first became mainstream some 10+ years ago in 2005 when it was responsible for a number of double figure browns at the top of Rutland’s South Arm in a matter of days. Suddenly everyone had “Snake Fever” for the month only for it to die out as quickly as it had begun.
Variations remained popular on the small water scene but were only used by a few knowledgeable anglers who recognised their effectiveness but decided not to promote the pattern too much as it may dilute its effectiveness.
Personally, I have always loved fur based patterns, and use them almost exclusively at “fry time” the Minkie being a prime example of a fry pattern that pulsates in the water at the slowest speeds, yet undulates with a fast roly-poly. Over the years it’s been one of the first patterns I would turn too in the Autumn… that, however, has all changed over the past 2 years – I’m now convinced the snake fly is way more effective in every circumstance.
As with most patterns, I have tweaked the original concept a little to arrive with my own 3 variations on a proven theme:-
1 – The Booby Snake
2 – Unweighted “Neutral” Snake
3 – Weighted Snake
My favorite colour schemes are based on modern classics (the Cats’ Whisker and Hummungus) basically a Black and Silver Snake and a Green & White Snake fly They are the perfect patterns for big Rainbows and Browns all season long. They basically tick all the boxes to induce the take, movement, silhouette, target point, disturbance, colour etc… what has also become apparent is that the snake is also deadly for recent stock fish, and wised up pressured fish… in fact, any predatory fish will take the lure from a Trout to Zander if it is presented correctly!
In the winter of 2013 my idea of the “Snake Booby” was spawned, since then I have used the pattern extensively over a number of seasons on a range of waters. It has proved deadly on all the Anglian waters especially when fished on a fast sinking line and a 6 – 10ft leader. With a slow figure of 8 retrieve the fly will undulate in an enticing motion. However a fast figure of 8 or slow to medium paced roly-poly, the fly dances back causing massive disturbance – fry feeders seem to find it irresistible and it often stimulates a response when all others fail! last year alone for my small select group of friends (my pattern testers) it has accounted for 2 doubles from reservoirs and another 50 fish over 5lb.
Because the “Snake fly” is a relatively large pattern I only fish it as a single fly, on rods of AFTM 6, 7, 8 or 9 and with a 8 lb+ fluorocarbon leader of between 5ft and 10ft for the booby version, and 7 and 13ft for the weighted or “neutral density” versions. The single fly approach and stiff leader help turn over the cast and reduce tangles. Also, you are likely to hook much larger than average fish, and a dropper is an unnecessary risk.
How to fish the Snake
The snake will work on any line from a floater to a Di-8 – it really is that versatile. However, I find there are a number of distinct retrieves that allow you to get the best out of the pattern, and you should consider them all on any given day.
1 – The Roly Poly: Slow, Medium or Fast paced it will work, especially on the weighted or booby versions, the fly will undulate through the water and literally look alive. Personally, I find that this continuous retrieve works best in the summer and autumn months (June – November) when the fish are on the fry and willing to case.
2 – Medium or Fast figure of 8: Absolutely deadly when using the booby version along the bottom or the neutral density version midwater, The figure of 8 still allows you to impart so much movement into a fly at low speeds, its an essential tactic on hard fished waters or in cold weather or in coloured water. Best results for fishing the figure of 8 retrieve are November – June.
3 – Short 6 ” Strip: A retrieve that’s best suited to the weighted version, as the short hard pulls will get the fly to “duck & dive” in an exaggerated motion effective all year round.
4 – Mix it Up: Often it’s the change of speed during the retrieve that will induce any following fish into the take, it’s a natural reaction as the fish thinks the food (your fly) is about to escape. So consider starting off with a slow roly poly or medium figure of 8 retrieve, only to speed up significantly half way through your cast. When fishing lures you should aim to get the “majority” of your takes when half the fly-line is retrieved this will mean you catch those fish that are slightly higher in the water (at the start of your retrieve) and deeper in the water at the end of your retrieve, fish do not all hold at exactly the same depth and move up and down in the water column during the day.
I often hear the argument that ” I loose a lot of fish on snakes, or I miss too many takes on them” Yes I completely agree that you will miss a higher proportion of takes when compared with any other type of pattern – this is due to the size of the snake fly and that some fish hit or strike the “head end” or front of the pattern. I usually leave the head hook on the fly (only snipping it off when fishery or competition rules dictate) however the extra hook will undoubtedly lead to more tangles as the braid can wrap round the front hook – again you can simply cut off the hook if it becomes a problem.
In an average 7 hour day, I expect to get 20 – 25 takes to the snake fly, but only land 12 – 14 fish… a very poor ratio, but remember with the snake will get you much more takes in the first instance. Look at all the other anglers at a fishery, they may be struggling for takes and may only put 2 or 3 fish in the bag. If you usually catch 2 or 3 fish per day and the snake fly allows you to catch 5 or more (and usually bigger fish) then that is a huge improvement to your catch rate – and the hookup ratio is largely irrelevant.
Why is it a must have pattern?
I knew the pattern was essential for big resident reservoir fish, it has proved itself time and time again over the last 5 seasons, in truth even Humungous or Minkies (my benchmark big fish flies) don’t get close to matching the results of the snake.
What I didn’t realise was just how effective the pattern is for recent stocked fish, or fish that have received angling pressure and wised up – This was however brought home to me at the 2017 World Bank Masters at Farmoor Reservoir.
The event attracted the best anglers from around Europe, including former world champions and members of the Spanish, Belgium and Polish World teams, there was no-one in attendance that was simply making up the numbers. After practice, it soon became apparent that lures on a variety of sinking lines from Di-3 – Di-7’s were the method of choice. Initially, anglers fished brightly coloured weighted patterns at the beginning of each session before switching to more sombre natural neutral density patterns as the fish became pressured.
As boobies were banned I opted to fish a “Perch snake” on a Di-5 with a slow roly poly, dropping the lure through the top 20ft of the water column I would often get a slight tap, tap on the lure but the continued steady roly poly ensured the fish eventually locked up, I began picking 1 or 2 fish up from most pegs and was building a nice bag. I finished the day with 13 fish all to the Perch Snake; with the highlight of my day 3 overwintered rainbows all around 6 – 7lb from one peg (by the tower) that were clearly “fry-feeding” and a 30lb pike!
I estimate that 90% of all competitors were using snake fly patterns in weighted and unweighted versions, such is their effectiveness, initially the weighted patterns fished with a fast roly poly, then unweighted versions fished with a medium paced figure of 8 or slow roly poly once the fish had wised up.
I’ve since discovered that some fisheries and matches have a “Snake fly” ban!! And I can understand why, as they are just so effective at putting fish in your bag – I urge you not to miss out on the excitement, get a small selection of snakes now. This is not a pattern that will fade into obscurity and I can only see it gaining in popularity as it’s success will filter down from the competition scene.
Tips on Snake Flies
1 – Snakes do not last forever, they will quickly lose their effectiveness once the fur begins to fall out (usually they last 6 – 8 fish per fly or a couple of trips, that’s all!).
2 – Do not leave wet snakes in your fly box – they need to be dried straight, and taken care of if you want to get the best out of them (colours can leech from other flies etc).
3 – If you tie your own, use a good quality supple braid 20 – 25 lb the type used for spinning as a mainline (not braided backing as this is far less supple).
4 – I tie my braid to the eye of the second hook then superglue the knot – braid knots are notorious for slipping so double check knots before tying and when fishing.