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Home NEWS Science News Chemistry
New technique 'prints' cells to create diverse biological environments
in Chemistry
Researchers harness photolithography and programmable DNA to rapidly construct arrays of cells and proteins that mimic living conditions
Credit: (UC Berkeley graphic by Olivia Scheideler)
Berkeley — Like humans, cells can be easily influenced by peer pressure.
Take a neural stem cell in the brain: Whether this cell remains a stem cell or differentiates into a fully formed brain cell is ultimately determined by a complex set of molecular messages the cell receives from countless neighbors. Understanding these messages is key for scientists hoping to harness these stem cells to treat neurological conditions like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.
With the help of photolithography and a creative use of programmable DNA, University of California, Berkeley, researchers have created a new technique that can rapidly "print" two-dimensional arrays of cells and proteins that mimic a wide variety of cellular environments in the body — be it the brain tissue surrounding a neural stem cell, the lining of the intestine or liver or the cellular configuration inside a tumor.
This technique could help scientists develop a better understanding of the complex cell-to-cell messaging that dictates a cell's final fate, from neural stem cell differentiating into a brain cell to a tumor cell with the potential to metastasize to an embryonic stem cell becoming an organ cell.
"What's really powerful about this platform is you can create in vitro tissues that capture the spatial organization of cells in the body, from the intestinal lining of your digestive tract to the arrangements of different cell types in the liver," said Olivia Scheideler, who completed the research as a graduate student at Berkeley. "I think you could apply this technique to recreate any tissue where you want to explore how cellular interactions contribute to tissue function."
In a paper appearing today (Wednesday, March 18) in the journal Science Advances, Scheideler and her collaborators show that the new technique can be used to rapidly print intricate patterns of up to 10 different kinds cells or proteins onto a flat surface.
"Essentially, what this technique allows us to do is pattern different kinds of conditions in one shot and in a high-throughput manner," said Lydia Sohn, Chancellor's Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UC Berkeley and senior author of the paper. "It provides a whole range of options for what you could study, because it's so flexible. You can pattern many different kinds of cells or proteins."
Caught on a DNA tether
In the new technique, each cell or protein is tethered to a substrate with a short string of DNA. While similar methods have been developed that attach tethered cells or proteins one by one, the new technique takes advantage of a patterning process called photolithography to attach, or print, each type of cell protein in one quick batch, greatly speeding up the process.
"It's like color laser printing, where you print one color and then print another," Sohn said.
Like photography, photolithography works by exposing a coated surface or substrate to a pattern of light, which initiates a chemical reaction that dissolves the coating in the illuminated areas, leaving a templated substrate. In the new technique, the substrate is then bathed in strands of single-sided DNA, whose ends have been chemically altered to firmly latch on where the coating has been dissolved.
Each single-sided DNA strand is programmed have a specific sequence of the nucleotides adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C). Single-sided DNA strands with the complementary nucleotide sequence are embedded or attached to cells or proteins of interest.
Finally, the surface is washed with a mixture of cells or proteins attached to the complementary strands of single-sided DNA, which bond with the single-sided DNA already attached to the surface to form double-helix "tethers."
"All the cells and proteins attach exactly where they should be because of the DNA programming," Sohn said.
By repeating the process, up to 10 different kinds of cells or proteins can be tethered to the surface in an arbitrary pattern.
Conflicting messages
To demonstrate one of the many applications of the technique, Scheideler and co-author David Schaffer, Hubbard Howe Jr. Distinguished Professor of Biochemical Engineering at UC Berkeley, used the platform to study the chemical signaling that cues neural stem cells to differentiate into mature cells.
"Stem cells have programs embedded inside their DNA that tell them (to) either stay a stem cell or to differentiate into a mature cell,'" Schaffer said. "And they receive a lot of information about what to do and which programs to activate from the environment, from other cells around them. If we could learn how to make stem cells do our bidding, how to turn them into a particular cell type, then we could harness the stem cells to mass produce specialized cell types that were lost due to disease or injury."
Neural stem cells in the brain regularly receive conflicting messages from their neighbors about how they should behave, Scheideler said. One messenger, the FGF-2 protein, tells them to make more stem cells. The other, the ephrin-B2 protein, tells them to differentiate into a mature neuron.
Scheideler used the new technique to pattern neural stem cells onto thousands of different arrays of the two proteins, FGF-2 and ephrin-B2, to see how the spatial organization of the two signals helps determine the cells' ultimate fate.
She found that many stem cells differentiated into mature neurons, even when they were primarily in contact with FGF-2, or "stay a stem cell," messengers. When she looked closer, however, she found that those cells that differentiated were more likely to have small, finger-like extensions, or "neurites," that touched the ephrin-B2 or "differentiate" messengers.
"The great thing about this patterning technology is you can easily replicate these little patterns hundreds or thousands of times across a slide," Schaffer said. "It is like running a thousand little independent experiments, each of which is a trial run to see how a stem cell listens to the cells around it. And then you can get very, very deep statistics about the various ways that it can be regulated."
Co-authors of the paper include Chun Yang, Molly Kozminsky, Kira I. Mosher, Roberto Falco?n-Banchs, Emma C. Ciminelli and Andrew W. Bremer of UC Berkeley and Sabrina A. Chern of Harvard University.
This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health through grants 1R01CA190843-01, 1R21EB019181-01A1, NIH/NCI F32 CA243354-01, and 1R21CA182375-01A1. It was also supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship program, the Siebel Scholars program and a PEO Scholarship.
Kara Manke
Related Journal Article
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aay5696
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Into the vortex


Established in Kobe City as Kansai Television Laboratory, Ltd.
Incorporated as Kansai TV Industrial Company, and established sales offices in Osaka, etc.
Indoor antenna "SK-11" received the "Good Design Award of Small and Medium Enterprise Products"
Entered into the audio, video, and home electronics market under the new brand name DX BROADTEC in business alliance with Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
RoHS compliant (approved as environment-friendly manufacturing guideline at European Parliament) model exceeded 200.
As a result of the share transfer, the parent company has been changed from Funai Electric Co., Ltd. to Elecom Co., Ltd.
Relocated the headquarter to the location of Seishin Technology Center.


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Dallas Premiere: Holding Hope
in Entertainment, Featured
Premiere in Dallas is scheduled for September 05, 2010: Location: Studio Movie Grill-Royal Lane [11170 N. Central Expy, Dallas, TX]
September 5 at 7:00pm – September 6 at 4:00am
Holding Hope is a Royal Arts Academy Production starring Desmond Elliot, Uche Jombo, Nadia Buari, Ngozi Nwosu, Rukky Sanda, Biola Williams and directed by Desmond Elliot. Based on an exclusive Interview with Uche Jombo by Bode Ojo of Golden Icons, she indicated that the "script started as a true life story of 3 cancer survivors; However, the movie focused more on only one of the survivors", and it is a movie that she does cherish very much.
Holding Hope – Trailer
Exclusive Interview with UCHE JOMBO Regarding this Movie, HOLDING HOPE
Golden Icons:Can you touch base on your other movie project "Holding Hope".
Uche Jombo: Okay, now I can talk about Holding Hope. Holding hope is also a movie that I cherish very much. In as much as I love to laugh, I am also very much aware about the serious things in life, especially things that are the effects of forces of nature, which you also do not have control over; for example, forces like cancer, death, and so on. Though this might cause me to reflect on life's experience, but I can't change what is, or what will be. The script started as a true life story of 3 cancer survivors. However, the movie focused more on only one of the survivors, as I personally think she had the most dramatic experience out of the three of them. I had a cancer story similar to the one Emem Isong had, and we kind of combined our thoughts together. The movie was written by three script writers – myself, Emem Nsong, and Uduak Emem Oguwamalam. It was a project we all believed in, and as a result we came together to produce it together. Desmond Elliot, Emem Isong and I were the Executive Producers. For a project to have these many brains coming together, you can only imagine that it must be huge and very dear to our hearts. It's a movie that I intend and want people to see in the cinema, and be moved by it, cry about it, and at the same time, laugh. Really, life is too short, as there are things you can change in life, but there are also things you cannot change. However you can allow yourself to enjoy those things you can change, and be depressed about those you cannot.
Starring in the movie are myself, Desmond, Nadia, Ngozi Nwaosu, Rukky Sanda, Biola Williams and directed by Desmond Elliot. For the most part, the movie was shot in Lagos, and we also shot some scenes in America. Since the movie was cancer-related, the United States was the best option for executing a particular phase of the movie. Otherwise, people will say, if you have cancer and you are treating it in Nigeria, there is no hope for you. But I basically think we can all joke about cancer, but it should not be forgotten that it is a very serious issue. Just to let you know how serious it was, one of the characters that we were describing in the movie passed away before we even finished shooting the movie.
Golden Icons:By the way, just looking at the pictures that were taken behind the scenes of this movie, I saw a picture of you, which showed that you were kind of 50 lbs lighter, how did you achieve that?
Uche Jombo: Oh my God! First of all, I had to play one of the cancer patients, so while preparing for this movie; the movie directors made me sleep for only about 2 hours a day, even though I usually sleep between 5-6 hours on a regular day. Also, they made me do everything to ensure I look ill and pale, like someone that was not eating well (I was actually starving myself), and of course during the set, I did not wear make-up for the scenes, and I had to put white powder on my face to make me look like I had low blood count. That was pretty tough, for real. This actually got so many people talking about the way I look, and so many stories were propagated from that. I really should be upset about it, but on the contrary, I'm happy because I was able to achieve the looks that fitted the role of the character. For me, acting has gotten to the point where I have to fit into the character for it to make sense to the people watching the movie. In addition, I work out a lot, usually twice a week, but during this movie, I was working out about 5 times a week, which was extremely excessive for me.
Photo Courtesy: Uche Jombo and Enhanced by Bode Ojo of Golden Icons
Interviewby Bode Ojo for Golden Icons
Tags: Biola WilliamsDallasDesmond ElliotHolding HopeNadia BuariNgozi NwosuNollywoodPremiereRukky SandaUche Jombo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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01782 461127	info@auctioneersarms.co.uk
The Auctioneers Arms
with The Gavel Coffee Bar & Brasserie
Tag Archives: Temporary Closure
April 19, 2020 by The Auctioneers Arms In News	Tagged Covid-19, Temporary Closure
It was with great regret and sadness that following the Government guidance relating to the Covid pandemic crisis we had to TEMPORARILY close the Auctioneers Arms (and The Gavel) on Friday 20th MARCH 2020.
To all our customers, staff, volunteers and shareholders, we repeat the government advice. Stay at home, keep yourselves, your friends and your neighbours safe and let's support our NHS.
We intend to re-open the Auctioneers Arms as soon as we are allowed to where we look forward to your custom and continued support. All events are cancelled until further notice.
Lunch Menu July 2021
Volunteer Team Award Winners
Interim Newsletter April 2021
Menu April 2021
Opening Times April 2021
From July 2021
12:00hrs to 23:00hrs
The Green, Caverswall, Stoke on Trent. ST11 9EQ
Email: info@auctioneersarms.co.uk
It has been a very long road but thankfully we made it! A huge thank you goes out to all of our customers for your continued support and our staff and volunteers who have enabled the Auctioneers Arms to operate in a safe environment.
On the 19th July we opened for 7 days a week again with the newly relaxed social distancing guidelines.
We will be reintroducing:-
- the Tues quiz night
- darts nights - Mon and Wed
- live entertainment at weekends
- a new food menu.
We look forward to seeing you all
Terry Rogers - Manager
We are a newly owned community pub located in the historical village of Caverswall, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. The Auctioneers Arms opened on Saturday 19th May 2018 after the doors were closed in October 2016. It was sold to a property developer and was due for demolition but, after months of planning, absolute dedication and working together, our community saved it!
Come along and enjoy!
The Caverswall Community Society began in 2017. Our vision is to develop a sustainable community business, that is inclusive and with a reputation for good customer service, that contributes to a vibrant and thriving village.
Click here to go the CCS website


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Q: Cube is falling through terrain - Unity3D I have a Terrain and Cube. Terrain has terrain collider attached and cube has  box collider on it. But still cube is falling through the terrain. I tried lot of things explained in other questions and on other forums but none of them has fixed the issue. Screenshot of both cube and terrain setting is attached below.
Cube Settings:

Terrain Settings:

A: you need to add a rigid body to the cude AND make sure that this rigid body has the property of "is Trigger" not enabled, if u needed enabled u need to wrap the whole cube inside empty object and make it enabled in the new wrapper and disabled in the cube, this will solve the probelm

A: It's because your cube need a rigidBody component.
After manage the gravity with this component and if you have to move your cube do it in the FixedUpdate, not the Update.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Justia Dockets & Filings Ninth Circuit California Southern District Whitman v. Colvin Filing 24
Whitman v. Colvin
REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION of United States Magistrate Judge Re Plaintiff's 22 Motion for Summary Judgment and Defendant's 23 Cross-Motion for Summary Judgment. Objections to R&R due by 6/8/2017 and Replies due by 6/22/2017. Signed by Magistrate Judge Jan M. Adler on 5/18/2017.(ag)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 JOEY DALE WHITMAN, 11 Case No.: 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 12 Plaintiff, 13 vs. 14 NANCY A. BERRYHILL, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, 15 16 Defendant.1 17 REPORT & RECOMMENDATION OF UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE RE PLAINTIFF'S MOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT AND DEFENDANT'S CROSSMOTION FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT [ECF Nos. 22, 23] 18 19 Plaintiff Joey Dale Whitman ("Plaintiff") seeks judicial review of Defendant 20 Social Security Commissioner Nancy A. Berryhill's ("Defendant") determination 21 that he is not entitled to disability insurance benefits ("DIB") and supplemental 22 security income ("SSI"). The parties have filed cross-motions for summary 23 judgment. [ECF Nos. 22, 23.] For the reasons set forth below, the Court 24 recommends Plaintiff's motion for summary judgment be DENIED and 25 26 1 27 Nancy A. Berryhill, the new Acting Commissioner of Social Security, is substituted as the Defendant in this suit pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25(d). 1 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 Defendant's cross-motion for summary judgment be GRANTED. 2 3 I. BACKGROUND Plaintiff was born on December 23, 1968 and is a high school graduate. 4 5 (Admin R. at 30-31.) Plaintiff worked as a warehouse manager and delivery 6 driver for a party rentals company from 1998 to 2010. Id. at 31, 152. Plaintiff 7 stopped working in August 2010 due to swelling and pain in both Achilles 8 tendons. Id. at 31. 9 On August 16, 2011, Plaintiff filed an application for a period of disability 10 and disability insurance benefits. Id. at 16. On October 31, 2011, Plaintiff 11 protectively filed an application for supplemental security income. Id. at 16, 141, 12 157. In both applications, the Plaintiff alleged a disability onset date of August 13 8, 2010. Id. at 16, 141, 157. The Social Security Administration denied the 14 claim initially on October 26, 2011 and again upon reconsideration on March 14, 15 2012. Id. at 75-84. On April 27, 2012, Plaintiff filed a written request for an 16 administrative hearing. Id. at 99-104. On December 9, 2013, a hearing was 17 conducted by Administrative Law Judge ("ALJ") Leland H. Spencer, who 18 determined on February 28, 2014 that Plaintiff was not disabled within the 19 meaning of the Social Security Act. Id. at 16-23. On April 27, 2014, Plaintiff 20 requested a review of the ALJ's decision. Id. at 12. The Appeals Council for the 21 Social Security Administration ("SSA") denied Plaintiff's request for review on 22 November 6, 2015. Id. at 1-4. Plaintiff then commenced this action pursuant to 23 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 24 // 25 // 26 // 27 2 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 II. MEDICAL EVIDENCE 2 A. Scripps Clinic, Treating Physicians (August 2010 – October 2011) 3 On August 8, 2010, Plaintiff presented to the urgent care at Scripps Clinic 4 and was examined by Scott Krishel, M.D. Id. at 189. Plaintiff complained of 5 pain and swelling in the bilateral Achilles heel tendons over the past several 6 months, with the right tendon becoming particularly worse, making it difficult to 7 walk. Id. Plaintiff had a history of gout. Id. Dr. Krishel reported slight 8 tenderness on the right side at the base of the heel and no tenderness or 9 swelling in the left Achilles tendon. Id. Dr. Krishel reported 5/5 for dorsiflexion 10 and plantar flexion of the ankle against resistance. Id. at 190. Dr. Krishel 11 completed x-rays of the ankle and foot bilaterally and indicated no definite acute 12 changes, pending the radiologist's reading. Id. Plaintiff's right leg was splinted 13 and he was given crutches. Id. Dr. Krishel advised Plaintiff to continue non- 14 steroidal pain medication and prescribed a small dose of Vicodin. Id. 15 On August 9, 2010, Plaintiff presented to Dr. Clifford Feaver, a podiatrist. 16 Id. at 191. Plaintiff reported the Vicodin prescribed to him in Urgent Care had 17 not helped much. Id. Dr. Feaver noted Plaintiff was a very pleasant man, in no 18 acute distress. Id. at 192. Dr. Feaver reported the radiographs of the right 19 ankle were negative and (1) there was quite substantial inflammation and 20 swelling around the Achilles tendon bilaterally, (2) there was thickening in the 21 middle third, (3) it was much more tender on the right than on the left, (4) the 22 Thompson test was negative, (5) Homans' sign was negative, (6) there was no 23 particular pain with compression of the calves on either side, (7) mild cavus foot 24 structure, (8) dorsiflexion at the ankle was limited bilaterally, and 25 (9) neurovascular status was grossly intact bilaterally. Id. Dr. Feaver 26 immobilized the right side in a Controlled Ankle Motion ("CAM") Walker boot for 27 3 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 added comfort and protection and advised Plaintiff to increase his medication 2 dosage for gout. Id. Dr. Feaver also ordered an MRI for the more symptomatic 3 right Achilles tendon and advised Plaintiff to follow up when the study became 4 available. Id. 5 On August 10, 2010, Plaintiff presented to Edward V.H. Skol, M.D., a 6 rheumatologist. Id. at 194. Plaintiff reported the increased dosage of his gout 7 medication had not helped. Id. Dr. Skol noted Plaintiff was well appearing, but 8 obviously uncomfortable. Id. at 195. Dr. Skol reported there was a thickening 9 and swelling of both Achilles tendons in the proximal aspect and tenderness to 10 palpation. Id. The doctor opined that although he could not rule it out 11 completely, he did not think this was a gout flare-up because of the duration of 12 the pain and the non-responsiveness to the increased medication. Id. at 196. 13 Dr. Skol advised Plaintiff to continue to wear the CAM Walker boot on the right 14 and to avoid working. Id. 15 On August 16, 2010, Plaintiff returned to Dr. Feaver for the MRI review. 16 Id. at 197. The MRI demonstrated a moderate grade intrasubstance tearing 17 longitudinally of the right Achilles tendon which clinically correlated to the 18 thickening and the area of chief complaint. Id. at 197, 232. Dr. Feaver 19 diagnosed Plaintiff with bilateral Achilles tendinosis, greater on the right than the 20 left. Id. Dr. Feaver directed Plaintiff to continue wearing the CAM Walker for an 21 additional two weeks, at which time physical therapy would be initiated. Id. 22 From August 30, 2010 to June 28, 2011, Plaintiff presented to Dr. Feaver 23 approximately every six weeks for follow-up. Id. at 198-211. By the October 4, 24 2010 appointment, Plaintiff had developed more significant symptoms on the left 25 and a CAM Walker was dispensed for use on that side. Id. at 200. During 26 those follow-up appointments, Dr. Feaver advised Plaintiff to try and wean 27 4 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 himself off the CAM Walker. Id. at 198, 200, 203, 205, 207. At the June 28, 2 2011 appointment, Dr. Feaver noted over the past ten months that Plaintiff 3 consistently had physical therapy and had made relatively good progress, but 4 Plaintiff still experienced significant symptoms with extended activity. Id. at 211. 5 Plaintiff reported he had attended a fair the previous week for much of the day, 6 but had taken "mini rest breaks." Id. Upon physical examination, Plaintiff was 7 able to do toe raising, but Dr. Feaver noted tenderness to palpation and fusiform 8 thickening in the middle third of the Achilles tendon bilaterally. Id. Dr. Feaver 9 also noted the left was worse than the right, but there were no other significant 10 changes. Id. Dr. Feaver assessed Plaintiff's pain had improved by 80%-90%, 11 but Plaintiff continued to have significantly restricted activity and was unable to 12 work. Id. Dr. Feaver recommended a consultation with Dr. Rosen to discuss 13 surgical options. Id. 14 On August 10, 2011, Plaintiff presented to Dr. Adam S. Rosen for surgical 15 consultation. Id. at 213. Plaintiff reported the CAM Walkers and physical 16 therapy had helped somewhat, but he essentially had not improved and 17 continued to be out of work due to pain. Id. Dr. Rosen requested an MRI of the 18 left ankle and discussed the possibility of surgery on the left Achilles. Id. at 214. 19 The MRI of the left ankle, performed on August 25, 2011, showed Achilles 20 tendinosis with microscopic intra-substance tearing and mild paratenonitis. Id. 21 at 236. 22 From August 30, 2011 to October 12, 2011, Plaintiff presented to Dr. 23 John Cronin due to persistent loud snoring and struggling to breathe while 24 sleeping. Id. at 216-21, 254-56, 259-61. After completing a sleep study, 25 Plaintiff was diagnosed with mild obstructive sleep apnea. Id. at 220, 306. 26 During follow-up visits, Dr. Cronin noted Plaintiff responded well to CPAP, and 27 5 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 was still responding well as of January 11, 2012. Id. at 243-45. 2 B. George G. Spellman, Jr. M.D., Non-Examining Physician 3 (October 2011) 4 On October 14, 2011, Dr. George G. Spellman, Jr. completed a physical 5 residual functional capacity assessment regarding Plaintiff. Id. at 238-40. Dr. 6 Spellman reported limitations due to bilateral degenerative joint disease of the 7 feet, Achilles enthesopathy bilaterally, and obesity were evident in the medical 8 evidence of record. Id. at 239. Dr. Spellman found Plaintiff was only partially 9 credible because the alleged persisting severity was not evident in the 10 longitudinal treatment record showing improvement in the Achilles tendon. Id. 11 Dr. Spellman further noted Plaintiff's obstructive sleep apnea was mitigated by 12 the CPAP. Id. Dr. Spellman opined Plaintiff was capable of performing at least 13 light work. Id. 14 C. Adam Rosen, M.D., Treating Physician 15 (October 2011 – January 2012) 16 On October 20, 2011, Dr. Rosen operated on Plaintiff for chronic left 17 Achilles tendinosis. Id. at 281. At the time of his left Achilles tendon 18 debridement and repair surgery, Plaintiff was found to have thickened fibrotic 19 tissue in the intrasubstance of the tendon. Id. at 282. No calcific pieces were 20 noted and more than 50% of the tendon was intact. Id. 21 Beginning on November 2, 2011, Plaintiff presented to Dr. Rosen for post- 22 operative follow-ups. Id. at 252. Dr. Rosen noted that clinically, Plaintiff was 23 doing well and converted him into a short-leg cast in slight plantar flexion. Id. 24 On November 16, 2011, Dr. Rosen noted there was some slight pulling and 25 tightness when he brought Plaintiff up to neutral, but observed he was doing 26 well clinically. Id. at 250. On December 7, 2011, Dr. Rosen again noted 27 6 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 Plaintiff was doing well and had a well-healed incision. Id. at 248. Plaintiff was 2 converted into a CAM Walker and given a prescription for physical therapy. Id. 3 On January 11, 2012, Dr. Rosen noted Plaintiff had not yet started 4 physical therapy. Id. at 246. Upon examination, Dr. Rosen again noted a well- 5 healed incision, but also mild palpable nodular thickening over the area of his 6 prior surgical debridement. Id. He noted no tenderness on palpation and good 7 dorsiflexion and plantar flexion, although it was somewhat stiff compared to the 8 contralateral side. Id. Plaintiff was converted from his CAM Walker to a shoe 9 with a heel lift and was encouraged to start physical therapy. Id. 10 D. 11 James Metcalf, M.D., Non-Examining Physician (March 2012) On March 13, 2012, Dr. James Metcalf analyzed Plaintiff's case and 12 affirmed Dr. Spellman's October 14, 2011 finding of a light residual functional 13 capacity. Id. at 308. Dr. Metcalf noted that since the initial decision, Plaintiff 14 had undergone left Achilles tendon debridement and repair. Id. Dr. Metcalf 15 noted Plaintiff was doing well as of January 11, 2012 and was ready to begin 16 physical therapy. Id. Dr. Metcalf's review of Plaintiff's recent activities of daily 17 living showed that Plaintiff reported no problems with personal care, and could 18 prepare sandwiches, soups, and cereal daily. Id. Plaintiff also reported he was 19 able to fold laundry while sitting, go outside daily, drive short distances, and 20 shop in stores for up to 35-40 minutes. Id. Additionally, Plaintiff reported he 21 could watch movies, play board games, and visit with others, and could lift up to 22 ten pounds and walk up to 100 feet. Id. Plaintiff also reported pain with 23 exertional activities and use of the CAM Walker daily. Id. Dr. Metcalf affirmed 24 Plaintiff's light residual function assessment lasting until October 20, 2012, one 25 year from the date of surgery. Id. 26 // 27 7 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 E. Adam Rosen, M.D., Treating Physician (May 2013) Plaintiff returned to Dr. Rosen, his surgeon, on May 8, 2013. Id. at 335. 2 3 Dr. Rosen noted Plaintiff had undergone a repeat debridement with flexor 4 transfer on the left Achilles tendon on October 23, 2012. Id. 2 Plaintiff reported 5 he had completed physical therapy and was doing well, but there was pain in 6 his right heel. Id. Dr. Rosen noted Plaintiff still had swelling of his left foot and 7 as a result, Plaintiff had to increase his shoe size. Id. Plaintiff reported 8 occasional burning sensations that worsened after days in which he stood for 9 long periods. Id. Plaintiff also noted occasional use of 800 milligrams of 10 ibuprofen, which helped. Id. 11 Dr. Rosen made the following findings: there was a well-healed incision, 12 Plaintiff had mild puffiness to the retrocalcaneal bursa, but no significant edema 13 of the lower extremity; calf was supple and nontender; mild tightness 14 approximately six degrees of dorsiflexion on the left; sensation was grossly 15 intact, and pulses were intact. Id. at 335-36. Dr. Rosen adjusted Plaintiff's shoe 16 by adding heel lifts to use for a number of weeks and noted Plaintiff's 17 ambulation improved with the lifts. Id. at 336. Dr. Rosen advised Plaintiff to 18 wean out of the heel lifts as his symptoms allowed. Id. Dr. Rosen 19 recommended a five-day course of 800 milligrams of Motrin three times a day to 20 help with swelling and pain, and discussed using over-the-counter capsaicin. 21 Id. Dr. Rosen also discussed the continued role of stretching and advised 22 Plaintiff to use his night split. Id. Dr. Rosen spent twenty-five minutes with 23 Plaintiff, noting half the time was spent on patient counseling. Id. 24 // 25 26 27 Medical records pertaining to Plaintiff's second surgery on October 23, 2012 are missing from the record. (Admin. R. at 49, 59.) 2 8 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 F. Arch Health Partners, Treating Physicians (May 2013 - October 2013) On May 17, 2013, Plaintiff presented to Dr. Mark Hubbard of Arch Health 2 3 Partners for a second opinion. Id. at 324-26. Plaintiff reported he was still 4 seeing Dr. Rosen for bilateral Achilles tendon ruptures, and that he also had 5 depression. Id. at 324. Dr. Hubbard referred Plaintiff to Dr. Brad S. Cohen. Id. 6 On May 28, 2013, Plaintiff presented to Dr. Cohen and complained of 7 clicking and pain in his Achilles tendons, rated as 10/10, that woke him up 8 during the night. Id. at 310. Upon examination, Dr. Cohen reported findings 9 consistent with the prior surgical procedures. Id. Dr. Cohen recommended 10 Plaintiff seek another opinion. Id. at 311. 11 On October 25, 2013, Dr. Hubbard reported that Plaintiff saw orthopedic 12 surgeons Dr. Sitler and Dr. Copp, both of whom advised against further 13 surgeries. Id. at 316. Dr. Hubbard recommended a follow-up in six months. Id. 14 at 317. 15 G. 16 Adam Rosen, M.D., Treating Physician (December 2013) On December 4, 2013, Plaintiff presented again to Dr. Rosen. Id. at 332. 17 Plaintiff reported that since completing therapy, he had fluctuating pain, 18 sometimes exacerbated without any significant trauma. Id. Dr. Rosen noted 19 Plaintiff came to the office in normal shoes and walked with minimal to 20 nonantalgic gait. Id. Dr. Rosen's physical examination revealed a well-healed 21 incision, intact pulses, and strength at about 4/5 compared to 5/5 on the 22 contralateral side. Id. Dr. Rosen also noted no papable defects, mild 23 tenderness along the path of the Achilles and mild tenderness with calcaneal 24 squeeze. Id. After a long discussion with Plaintiff wherein Plaintiff reported he 25 still suffered from symptoms, Dr. Rosen recommended a conservative approach 26 of stepping back and placing Plaintiff back into the CAM Walker for 27 9 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 approximately three weeks. Id. at 333. If the CAM Walker did not help to 2 decrease symptoms, then Plaintiff was directed to go back on crutches for a 3 week or two to decrease the stress across the foot. Id. Dr. Rosen provided a 4 sample of diclofenac patches and a prescription for 800 milligrams ibuprofen to 5 be taken three times a day for ten days. Id. Dr. Rosen noted that after 6 Plaintiff's pain decreased, they would discuss a gradual return to strengthening 7 exercises and possibly a revisit to formal physical therapy. Id. 8 9 III. 10 THE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING The ALJ conducted an administrative hearing on December 9, 2013. 11 Id. at 27. 12 A. 13 Plaintiff's Testimony Plaintiff testified he was born on December 23, 1968 and graduated 14 from high school. Id. at 30. From 1998 until August 2010, Plaintiff worked 15 at a party rental company. Id. at 31. In August 2010, Plaintiff stopped 16 working because he ruptured both of his Achilles tendons. Id. Plaintiff 17 testified he did not look for other work that allowed him to sit down because 18 he could not concentrate due to "excruciating pain." Id. at 32. 19 Plaintiff underwent two surgeries on his left Achilles tendon, the 20 second of which was in October 2012. Id. at 37. Plaintiff testified Dr. 21 Rosen wanted to get the left tendon under control before performing any 22 work on the right. Id. at 41. Plaintiff worked the left tendon with a stretchy 23 band daily to help strengthen the tendon. Id. at 42. Plaintiff took 800 24 milligrams of ibuprofen three times a day to help with the swelling of the 25 tendons. Id. at 37. 26 Plaintiff also testified driving approximately once per month in case of 27 10 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 emergencies. Id. at 34. Otherwise, Plaintiff stated he stayed home and did 2 not engage in much physical activity. Id. Plaintiff's daily activities 3 consisted of making food and using an iPad. Id. at 34-35. Plaintiff also 4 testified he could stand for approximately ten minutes, could walk with 5 crutches, and that he elevated his feet while sitting. Id. at 34. Plaintiff 6 testified he was prescribed Allopurinol for gout, Zoloft for depression, and 7 Lipitor for cholesterol. Id. at 36. Plaintiff noted his gout was under control 8 from consistent use of his medication. Id. at 41. 9 Plaintiff testified he uses a cane around the house and crutches if he 10 leaves the house. Id. at 38. Since August 2010, Plaintiff has used the 11 crutches approximately 80% of the time. Id. at 39. Plaintiff also noted 12 using a CAM Walker boot since August 2010. Id. Plaintiff told Dr. Rosen 13 he was in severe pain and he would sometimes remove the boot because 14 he was tired of wearing it. Id. at 40. Plaintiff indicated Dr. Rosen told him 15 he cannot take off the boot. Id. 16 B. 17 Medical Expert Testimony Medical Expert ("ME") witness Dr. Arthur Brovender testified at the 18 administrative hearing. Id. at 42. The ME's review of Plaintiff's medical 19 records indicated Plaintiff had bilateral Achilles tendonitis in the right and 20 left feet. Id. at 46. The ME found Plaintiff was provided crutches in 21 preparation for the first surgery, but the record did not support a need for a 22 cane or crutches for the years post-surgery. Id. at 51, 53. The ME also 23 indicated the record did not support a limitation in the capacity to walk or 24 stand. Id. at 53. Upon examination by Plaintiff's attorney, the ME testified 25 the record did not show a need for surgery or other intervention with the 26 right Achilles tendon. Id. at 54. The ME also testified the record did not 27 11 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 support a listing under Listing 1.02A, even after taking Plaintiff's obesity 2 into consideration, because the record did not indicate Plaintiff needed two 3 crutches or canes and he was able to get around. Id. at 55-56. 4 5 Vocational expert Connie Guillory appeared at the hearing, but did not testify. Id. at 16. 6 7 8 9 10 11 IV. THE ALJ DECISION After reviewing the record, ALJ Spencer made the following findings: …. 2. The claimant has not engaged in substantial gainful activity since August 8, 2010, the alleged onset date [citation omitted]. 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 3. The claimant has the following severe impairments: bilateral Achilles tendonitis, left greater than right, status post left Achilles tendon debridement on October 20, 2011 and repeated debridement with flexor tendon transfer on October 23, 2012; and obesity [citation omitted]. 4. The claimant does not have an impairment or combination of impairments that meets or medically equals the severity of one of the listed impairments in [the Social Security Regulations]. 20 21 22 23 5. After careful consideration of the entire record, the undersigned finds that the claimant has the residual functional capacity to perform the full range of sedentary work standing for no more than two hours in an eight hour workday [citation omitted]. 24 25 6. The claimant is unable to perform any past relevant work [citation omitted]. 26 27 .... 12 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 10. Considering the claimant's age, education, work experience, and residual functional capacity, there are jobs that exist in significant numbers in the national economy that the claimant can perform [citation omitted]. 1 2 3 4 11. The claimant has not been under a disability, as defined in the Social Security Act, from August 8, 2010, through the date of this decision [citation omitted]. 5 6 7 Id. at 18-23. 8 9 V. 10 STANDARD OF REVIEW To qualify for disability benefits under the Social Security Act, an 11 applicant must show: (1) He or she suffers from a medically determinable 12 impairment that can be expected to result in death or that has lasted or can 13 be expected to last for a continuous period of twelve months or more, and 14 (2) the impairment renders the applicant incapable of performing the work 15 that he or she previously performed or any other substantially gainful 16 employment that exists in the national economy. See 42 U.S.C. § 17 423(d)(1)(A), (2)(A). An applicant must meet both requirements to be 18 "disabled." Id. Further, the applicant bears the burden of proving that he or 19 she was either permanently disabled or subject to a condition which 20 became so severe as to disable the applicant prior to the date upon which 21 his or her disability insured status expired. Johnson v. Shalala, 60 F.3d 22 1428, 1432 (9th Cir. 1995). 23 A. 24 Sequential Evaluation of Impairments The Social Security Regulations outline a five-step process to 25 determine whether an applicant is "disabled." The five steps are as follows: 26 (1) Whether the claimant is presently working in any substantial gainful 27 13 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 activity. If so, the claimant is not disabled. If not, the evaluation proceeds 2 to step two. (2) Whether the claimant's impairment is severe. If not, the 3 claimant is not disabled. If so, the evaluation proceeds to step three. (3) 4 Whether the impairment meets or equals a specific impairment listed in the 5 Listing of Impairments. If so, the claimant is disabled. If not, the evaluation 6 proceeds to step four. (4) Whether the claimant is able to do any work he 7 has done in the past. If so, the claimant is not disabled. If not, the 8 evaluation continues to step five. (5) Whether the claimant is able to do 9 any other work. If not, the claimant is disabled. Conversely, if the 10 Commissioner can establish there are a significant number of jobs in the 11 national economy that the claimant can do, the claimant is not disabled. 20 12 C.F.R. § 404.1520; see also Tackett v. Apfel, 180 F.3d 1094, 1098-99 (9th 13 Cir. 1999). 14 B. Judicial Review 15 Sections 205(g) and 1631(c)(3) of the Social Security Act allow 16 unsuccessful applicants to seek judicial review of the Commissioner's final 17 agency decision. 42 U.S.C.A. §§ 405(g), 1383(c)(3). The scope of judicial 18 review is limited. The Commissioner's final decision should not be 19 disturbed unless: (1) The ALJ's findings are based on legal error or (2) are 20 not supported by substantial evidence in the record as a whole. Schneider 21 v. Comm'r of Soc. Sec. Admin., 223 F.3d 968, 973 (9th Cir. 2000). 22 Substantial evidence means "more than a mere scintilla but less than a 23 preponderance; it is such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might 24 accept as adequate to support a conclusion." Andrews v. Shalala, 53 F.3d 25 1035, 1039 (9th Cir. 1995). The Court must consider the record as a 26 whole, weighing both the evidence that supports and detracts from the 27 14 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 ALJ's conclusion. See Mayes v. Massanari, 276 F.3d 453, 459 (9th Cir. 2 2001); Desrosiers v. Sec'y of Health & Human Servs., 846 F.2d 573, 576 3 (9th Cir. 1988). "The ALJ is responsible for determining credibility, 4 resolving conflicts in medical testimony, and for resolving ambiguities." 5 Vasquez v. Astrue, 572 F.3d 586, 591 (9th Cir. 2009) (citing Andrews, 53 6 F.3d at 1039). Where the evidence is susceptible to more than one rational 7 interpretation, the ALJ's decision must be affirmed. Vasquez, 572 F.3d at 8 591 (citation and quotations omitted). 9 Section 405(g) permits this Court to enter a judgment affirming, 10 modifying, or reversing the Commissioner's decision. 42 U.S.C.A. § 11 405(g). The matter may also be remanded to the SSA for further 12 proceedings. Id. 13 14 VI. DISCUSSION 15 Plaintiff contends the ALJ committed error by failing to articulate 16 legally sufficient reasons for discrediting his symptom testimony and finding 17 him not credible. (Pl's Mem. at 3-10.) 18 In determining a claimant's residual functional capacity, the ALJ must 19 consider all relevant evidence in the record, including medical records, lay 20 evidence, and "the effects of symptoms, including pain, that are reasonably 21 attributed to a medically determinable impairment." See Robbins v. Soc. 22 Sec. Admin., 466 F.3d 880, 883 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing SSR 96-8p, 1996 WL 23 374184, at *5). "Careful consideration must be given to any available 24 information about symptoms because subjective descriptions may indicate 25 more severe limitations or restrictions than can be shown by objective 26 medical evidence alone." SSR 96-8p, 1996 WL 374184, at *5. An ALJ 27 15 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 must provide specific, clear and convincing reasons for rejecting a 2 claimant's testimony about the severity of his symptoms. Treichler v. 3 Comm'r, 775 F.3d 1090, 1102 (9th Cir. 2014).3 4 Here, the ALJ found Plaintiff's medically determinable impairments 5 could reasonably be expected to cause the alleged symptoms, but 6 Plaintiff's statements concerning the intensity, persistence and limiting 7 effects of these symptoms were not entirely credible for the following 8 reasons: 9 (1) The objective medical evidence did not support the Plaintiff's allegations of a disabling physical impairment or combination of impairments and related symptoms; (2) Plaintiff experienced improvement with conservative treatment; (3) Plaintiff's daily activities were not limited to the extent one would expect, given the complaints of disabling symptoms and limitations; and (4) Plaintiff's testimony was inconsistent with the medical evidence. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Plaintiff contends Social Security Ruling ("SSR") 16-3p applies to this case. (Pl's Mem. at 4 & n.3.) Defendant contends it does not because SSR 16-3p became effective on March 28, 2016, well after the ALJ's decision. (Def.'s Mem. at 3 n.2.) SSR 16-3p and SSR 96-7p both relate to the evaluation of symptoms in disability claims. SSR 16-3p superseded SSR 96-7p and removed the term "credibility," clarifying subjective symptom evaluation is not an examination of an individual's character and an ALJ must instead assess whether the claimant's subjective symptom statements are consistent with the record as a whole. See SSR 16-3p, 2016 WL 1119029 (amended at 2016 WL 1237954). Here, the ALJ's decision was issued over two years before SSR 16-3p became effective. Thus, the ALJ could not have employed the new SSR, and his decision includes reference to Plaintiff's "credibility." In any case, because the Court finds the ALJ's findings pass muster irrespective of which SSR governs, the Court need not resolve whether SSR 16-3p retroactively applies. See, e.g., Anderson v. Colvin, 2016 WL 7013472, at *10 n.8 (D. Or. Nov. 30, 2016). 3 27 16 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 (Admin. R. at 19-22.) The Court must determine whether the ALJ provided 2 clear and convincing reasons to discount Plaintiff's subjective symptom 3 testimony. 4 A. 5 Objective Medical Evidence The ALJ's first reason for finding Plaintiff's pain testimony not 6 credible, that the weight of the objective evidence did not support Plaintiff's 7 claims of disabling limitations to the degree alleged (id. at 20), is a clear 8 and convincing reason. Although an ALJ may not disregard a claimant=s 9 testimony Asolely because it is not substantiated affirmatively by objective 10 medical evidence@ (see Robbins, 466 F.3d at 883 [emphasis added]), the 11 ALJ may consider whether the alleged symptoms are consistent with the 12 medical evidence as one factor in his evaluation. See Lingenfelter v. 13 Astrue, 504 F.3d 1028, 1040 (9th Cir. 2007); see also Burch v. Barnhart, 14 400 F.3d 676, 681 (9th Cir. 2005) (AAlthough lack of medical evidence 15 cannot form the sole basis for discounting pain testimony, it is a factor that 16 the ALJ can consider in his credibility analysis.@) 17 Here, the ALJ evaluated the medical record, which showed Plaintiff 18 had bilateral Achilles tendinosis and tears. (Admin. R. at 20, 197, 293, 19 297.) The ALJ reviewed medical examinations and noted Plaintiff 20 participated in physical therapy and used a CAM Walker for added comfort 21 and protection. Id. at 20, 192, 197, 200, 201, 203, 207. The ALJ reviewed 22 early progress notes showing physical therapy and the CAM Walker were 23 relatively effective in providing some pain relief. Id. at 20, 203, 209, 211. 24 Although Plaintiff worked on weaning himself from using the CAM Walker, 25 the record reflects Plaintiff never fully weaned himself off it and appeared at 26 the ALJ hearing in the CAM Walker. Id. at 39, 200, 203, 205, 207, 209, 27 17 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 213, 246, 333. The ALJ acknowledged the record reflected that Plaintiff 2 showed reduced range of motion and some swelling and tenderness, but 3 also that Plaintiff's feet had adequate strength and were neurovascularly 4 intact. Id. at 20, 264. The ALJ reviewed other progress notes showing 5 Plaintiff had a well-healed incision, intact pulses, minimally decreased 6 strength in one foot but full motor strength in his other foot, no palpable 7 defects, and only mild tenderness. Id. at 21, 332. 8 9 Plaintiff argues the ALJ did not sufficiently consider treatment notes reflecting tenderness on physical examination but fluctuating pain levels, at 10 times exacerbated without significant trauma, as well as Plaintiff's 11 nonantalgic gait and shortened stride on the left side and early heel off. 12 (Pl's Mem. at 6-7.) However, these same treatment notes also reflect that 13 Plaintiff wore normal shoes, walked with minimal to nonantalgic gait, and 14 had a well-healed incision, pulses intact, strength of about 4+/5 compared 15 to 5/5 on the contralateral side, no palpable defects, and only mild 16 tenderness. (Admin. R. at 332.) The treatment notes also show mild 17 puffiness to the retrocalcaneal bursa but no significant edema of the lower 18 extremity, mild tightness, and sensation grossly intact. (Id. at 336.) The 19 ALJ reasonably found these clinical findings did not support Plaintiff's 20 claims of disabling limitations to the degree alleged. 21 The Court finds the ALJ's determination that the objective medical 22 evidence in the record does not support Plaintiff's allegations of disability is 23 clear and convincing. 24 B. 25 26 Plaintiff's Improvement With Conservative Treatment The ALJ's second reason for finding Plaintiff's pain testimony not credible, that Plaintiff's condition improved with conservative treatment, is 27 18 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 clear and convincing. Receiving only Aminimal@ and Aconservative@ 2 treatment is a valid reason to discredit a claimant=s symptom testimony. 3 Meanel v. Apfel, 172 F.3d 1111, 1114 (9th Cir. 1999). Plaintiff's treatment 4 primarily consisted of physical therapy and a CAM Walker boot. The ALJ 5 noted Plaintiff primarily took only ibuprofen and had not alleged any side 6 effects from the use of medications. (Admin. R. at 21, 333, 335.) The ALJ 7 also noted the advice to Plaintiff to wean off the use of a CAM Walker. Id. 8 The ALJ found no indication Plaintiff's physician recommended permanent 9 or long term use of any assistive device and the pattern had been to use a 10 CAM Walker for a short period of time and then wean off it. Id. Although 11 Plaintiff points to his use of crutches, and infers that crutches are not 12 conservative treatment (Pl.'s Mem. at 6), the physician's suggestion to use 13 crutches was part of the conservative approach to step back and use 14 assistive devices for only a short period of time (a week or two). (Admin R. 15 at 333.) Also, as the ALJ correctly noted, there is no indication Dr. Rosen 16 ever recommended permanent or long-term use of any assistive devices. 17 Id. The CAM Walker was prescribed for approximately three weeks, and if 18 needed, the crutches for one or two weeks only. Id. Although Plaintiff 19 underwent surgery, which is generally not considered conservative 20 treatment, the surgeries were generally successful in improving Plaintiff's 21 symptoms. Id. at 21. Additionally, treatment notes do not reflect Dr. Rosen 22 recommended any further surgeries and Dr. Sitler and Dr. Copp advised 23 Plaintiff refrain from undergoing any further surgeries. Id. at 316. 24 The ALJ's finding that Plaintiff's improvement with conservative 25 treatment does not support his allegations of disability is clear and 26 convincing. 27 19 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 2 C. Daily Activities The ALJ's third reason for discounting Plaintiff's pain testimony is that 3 Plaintiff's daily activities were not limited to the extent one would expect 4 given Plaintiff's complaints of disabling symptoms and limitations. Id. at 21. 5 It is proper for an ALJ to consider the claimant=s daily activities in making 6 his credibility determination. See, e.g., Thomas v. Barnhart, 278 F.3d 947, 7 958-59 (9th Cir. 2002); see also 20 C.F.R. '' 404.1529(c)(3)(i), 8 416.929(c)(3)(i) (claimant=s daily activities relevant to evaluating 9 symptoms). AOne does not need to be >utterly incapacitated= in order to be 10 disabled.@ Vertigan v. Halter, 260 F.3d 1044, 1050 (9th Cir. 2001) (citing 11 Fair v. Bowen, 885 F.2d 597, 603 (9th Cir. 1989)). A[M]any home activities 12 are not easily transferable to what may be the more grueling environment 13 of the workplace, where it might be impossible to periodically rest or take 14 medication.@ Fair, 885 F.2d at 603. Only if a claimant=s level of activities is 15 inconsistent with his claimed limitations would activities of daily living have 16 any bearing on the claimant=s credibility. Reddick v. Chater, 157 F.3d 715, 17 722 (9th Cir. 1998). 18 The ALJ determined Plaintiff's daily activities did not support his 19 allegations of disability because he went to a fair and spent much of the 20 day there with only short rest breaks, prepared meals, drove a car, and 21 shopped in stores for 35 to 40 minutes. (Admin. R. at 21.) Plaintiff testified 22 he drives approximately once a month and although he is able to make 23 himself something to eat, he can only stand for ten minutes. (Id. at 34.) 24 Plaintiff also testified he used crutches when going out to the store and a 25 cane around the house. Id. at 38. Plaintiff also reported going outside 26 once a day, folding laundry while sitting, and spending time with others by 27 20 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 watching movies, playing board games, and conversing. Id. at 171-73. 2 These activities are basic human functions that are not determinative of 3 disability. See Vertigan, 260 F.3d at 1050 ("the mere fact that a plaintiff 4 has carried on certain daily activities…does not in any way detract from 5 [plaintiff's] credibility as to [plaintiff's overall disability.") As for Plaintiff's trip 6 to the fair, this was a one-time only event, and Plaintiff's taking small rest 7 breaks during his visit actually supports his testimony rather than detracting 8 from it. In short, Plaintiff's reported daily activities, mainly staying at home, 9 standing for approximately ten minutes at a time, and using assistive 10 devices when he leaves the house, do not provide a basis for the ALJ to 11 discount Plaintiff's symptom allegations. Plaintiff's testimony about his 12 daily activities does not necessarily help him establish disability, either, as it 13 is not inconsistent with an ability to function in a workplace environment. 14 Therefore, this factor weighs neither for nor against the ALJ's evaluation of 15 Plaintiff's pain testimony. 16 D. Inconsistency of Plaintiff's Testimony With the Medical Evidence 17 The ALJ's fourth reason for finding Plaintiff's pain testimony not 18 credible, that Plaintiff's testimony is inconsistent with the medical evidence, 19 is clear and convincing. 20 The ALJ found by May 2013, after both surgeries, Plaintiff was doing 21 well overall, had some pain in his right heel and some swelling in his left 22 foot with only occasional burning sensation for which he took ibuprofen, 23 which helped. Id. at 20, 335-36. By December 2013, Plaintiff noted 24 fluctuating pain after completing physical therapy, but presented in normal 25 shoes, walking with a minimal to nonantalgic gait. Id. at 21, 332. The ALJ 26 also noted Dr. Rosen found a well-healed incision, intact pulses, minimally 27 21 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 decreased strength in one foot but full motor strength in the other, no 2 palpable defects, and only mild tenderness. Id. The ALJ found although 3 Plaintiff alleged chronic and disabling bilateral foot pain, progress notes 4 frequently showed he was in no acute distress on physical examination. Id. 5 at 21, 192, 244, 316, 319, 324. The evidence of fluctuating pain, general 6 improvement, and the lack of acute distress is inconsistent with Plaintiff's 7 statements of excruciating and disabling pain. Inconsistent statements and 8 testimony can bear upon a claimant=s credibility. See, e.g., Verduzco v. 9 Apfel, 188 F.3d 1087, 1090 (9th Cir. 1999). The ALJ properly considered 10 Plaintiff's inconsistent statements in discrediting Plaintiff's symptom 11 testimony. 12 An ALJ=s assessment of pain severity and claimant credibility is 13 entitled to Agreat weight.@ Weetman v. Sullivan, 877 F.2d 20, 22 (9th Cir. 14 1989). The Court concludes the ALJ articulated sufficient clear and 15 convincing reasons supported by substantial evidence to discount Plaintiff's 16 subjective pain testimony. 17 VII. CONCLUSION 18 For the reasons set forth above, Plaintiff's motion for summary 19 judgment should be DENIED and Defendant's cross-motion for summary 20 judgment should be GRANTED. 21 This report and recommendation will be submitted to the Honorable 22 Michael M. Anello, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). Any 23 party may file written objections with the Court and serve a copy on all 24 parties on or before June 8, 2017. The document should be captioned 25 "Objections to Report and Recommendation." Any reply to the Objections 26 shall be served and filed on or before June 22, 2017. The parties are 27 22 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA 1 advised that failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the 2 right to appeal the district court's order. Martinez v. YIst, 951 F.2d 1153 3 (9th Cir. 1991). 4 DATED: May 18, 2017 5 6 ___________________ Jan M. Adler U.S. Magistrate Judge 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 23 3:16-cv-28-MMA-JMA


I can't figure out what she really wants. He said that he bought an old car. My house is smaller. His spirit still haunts the manor. Living life in the fast lane is like burning the candle at both ends. I help her almost every day. Ask anybody who's had a chance to meet Khanna in person, and they'll tell you just how easy it is to warm up to him. It was obvious to everyone that the marriage would sooner or later end in divorce. My friend scored 95 on the maths exam. Christopher is a great guitarist.
I am watching this video. The sun just came up. I told you everything I had to tell you. These gloves are too small for me. Nobody can pay that. Roast the bhakri while the pan is heated. Who will swim most quickly? The education in that institute is simply pathetic. He is a clever boy. All I really want to do is talk to Susanne.
What's London really like? You were always on my mind. Are we going out for lunch today? How many people live in Australia? The man connected two wires. Wes hurried toward the elevator. I took off my hat and entered the church. The problem is Piet's complete unwillingness to negotiate. Seenu is the only adult Rees knows who can't drive. The humidity is very high, isn't it?
He will have been writing a letter. Sanjib said you were smart. Gunnar saw right through Moses. You cannot separate the milk from the coffee once you put it in. I couldn't understand his ideas. Their team doesn't have a ghost of a chance of winning this season. We can't forget Shaw. I'm almost certain it was Terri who stole my wallet. I am a fanatic of ecology. Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution.
I think it's time to get started. He went back to Japan. Both roads lead to the station. The Earth's climate is fragile. I don't know if I can wait that long. What a beautiful painting. Who gave it to you? Keep them safe. February is the only month in the year where there are less than thirty days. Has Kenneth quit smoking? Have you allowed for any error in your calculation?
Graeme refused to admit that he was wrong. Tony's lack of knowledge was obvious. We spent some time together last summer. I like solving puzzles. It's getting cooler, particularly in the mornings and evenings. We'd be very interested in what you think. Muzzle it. Gaziantep was freed from the French occupation in 1921. It's being manipulated by investors trying to make it rich. Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure.
I'll make it up to him. I got there in time for the train. We're not yet sure what the problem is. I think you know what I want. It would've been great if you could've been here for my birthday party. I don't like to run a risk. I've got the feeling I already met her somewhere. I like English better. He said the treaty must be approved as written. Shyam has a daughter about your age.
I told you I'd be quick and I wasn't lying. She tells us interesting things. They dug up a box containing human remains. She spends way too much time surfing the web. You could say it that way, but it's quite vulgar. I think food is expensive in Japan. I'm going to get the truth out of you. Make me a better offer. Can I drop off the car? Parking isn't allowed here.
Ronald doesn't know what the homework assignment is. Would you like a coffee? Lock windows and close blinds. He explained the process of building a boat. If the phone rings, don't answer. It is necessary to make the study of languages easier. Some shadow of doubt now covered his face. I see my ship. Why did you buy such an expensive dictionary? You didn't drink that water, did you?
We need to tell them about this. I've been to Italy on a study abroad program. Terrance always likes a challenge. It's mediocre. Eva is hanging up washing. It's cold today. My arm is killing me. Dennis is used to staying up late. I did warn them. He has started to write a novel.


text:
Chainsaw Records ist ein 1991 von Donna Dresch gegründetes Plattenlabel aus Portland, Oregon. Das Label ist auf feministische und queere Bands spezialisiert und gilt zusammen mit Labels wie Mr. Lady Records und Candy Ass Records als Zentrum der Queercore Bewegung.

Labelgeschichte

Dresch begann in den späten 1980er Jahren das queere Magazin Chainsaw herauszugeben. 1991 entschied sie sich das Magazin durch ein Plattenlabel zu ergänzen und schließlich zu ersetzen. Ab 1994 wurden reguläre Alben und Singles veröffentlicht, zunächst von The Fakes (Ein Projekt u. a. von Bikini Kill Mitgliedern), The Need und Nation of Ulysses. Später kamen auch kommerziell erfolgreichere Bands wie Sleater-Kinney und Tracy + the Plastics hinzu.

Literatur

 Amy Spencer: DIY: The Rise Of Lo-Fi Culture, Marion Boyars Publishers, London, UK, ISBN 0-7145-3105-7

Weblinks

 Offizielle Homepage

US-amerikanisches Musiklabel
Punk-Label
Independent-Label
Unternehmen (Portland, Oregon)
Medienunternehmen (Oregon)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


This is one of the best value restaurants in Dublin with a brasserie menu to suit all tastes. It won the Best Value Restaurant Dublin in "The Dubliner" Top 100 restaurants in 2012, having previously won the Irish Restaurant Awards' Best Casual Dining Restaurant in Dublin in 2010. Value and quality.


The Detroit Pistons introduced the team's three newest members on Wednesday afternoon and you can watch the recap below.
Griffin, a five-time All-Star, is the headliner of Monday's shocking trade with the Los Angeles Clippers for Tobias Harris, Avery Bradley, Boban Marjanovic, a first-round pick (protected 1-4) and second-round pick.
Griffin signed a five-year, $171 million contract (details explained) with the Clippers last July.


"Really lovely friendly, clean and great value for money B&B..."
"Lovely welcome. very clean premises,immaculate. Beautiful house with really nice country touches,Breakfast very good and plenty of it. On ar..."
"From the moment you arrive, it instantly feels like you are staying at a relatives retreat in the country. It was homely and comfortable, a..."
"Very friendly welcome, excellent accommodation. Views were very good with a magnificent sunset over the Somerset Levels. Breakfast was very..."
Meare Green Farm is a family dairy farm on the lush pastures of the Somerset levels.
Jane Pine runs a Trip Advisor recommended Visit Britain 4 Star, Gold Award, & Pets Welcome Bed and Breakfast, as well as Cookery and Craft courses at Cames Mead.
Husband Chris and son James have a herd of 400 Holsteins supplying Dairycrest to Sainsburys with high levels of animal welfare and hygiene standards.
The land is in a Higher Level Stewardship scheme and runs down to water filled rhynes on the moors and levels. Fishing on the River Tone and Willow Walk on the farm.
Relax in comfort in a choice of Double, Twin or single rooms, centrally heated with beautifully furnished and stylishly decorated. Luxurious en suite bathrooms with sparkling granite tiles, top end white suites and power showers. Bedlinen is quality Egyptian cotton and plenty of fluffy towels and towelling robes. Complimentary tea and coffee tray in each room together with flat screen freeview tvs and free Wifi. We are dog friendly and well behaved pets are welcomed by our resident spaniels and Birman cats.
Breakfasts - Full Aga cooked hearty English breakfasts are served using our farms freshly laid free range eggs. Also Meare Green farm bacon and sausages, ( if unavailable sourced locally), mushrooms, tomatoes etc. Homemade preserves, garden fruit in season and locally produced yoghurt. Special dietary requirements catered for please notify in advance.
Please provide mobile number and approx time of arrival when booking, thankyou.
Please note there are 2 pet cats at the property.


I like this edit. My only complaint is that its obvious you cloned the yacht windows... both sets look exactly the same with the same shapes in the windows.
I didn't mind that as much as the body parts in the drivers side and rear window that wasn't cloned out.
I'd prefer the first one also. But others prefer the instagramish look.
I like both, but like the color tones better in the second one. Just watch out for a bit of haloing around the roof of the car.
Good eye. It is very sloppy brush work. But next time I'll watch for that.
Reflections on the car are totally out of place.
Canon Rebel T2i, Gripped, this and that.
Not a usual edit from me. It was one of those "I wonder if I can save it" type things.
99.9% of this image is generated from a single frame. The birds are real - the second bird is actually the same bird captured in another frame.
I've got a couple more in my photostream if your are interested.


A reported 17,000 Palestinians peacefully marched in Gaza on March 30 as they made their historic demand for a right to return to their ancestral lands when they were met by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) snipers who opened fire, killing 17 people and wounding about 1,500. The Great Return March was the beginning of a six-week long protest that was due to end May 15, the 70th anniversary of the Nakba (catastrophe) marking the day 750,000 Palestinians were driven from their homes by the new state of Israel in 1947.
The Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) condemns this and all violence carried out against the Palestinian people by the Israeli government. BAP demands an end to the occupation and the continued theft of land and resources by the Israeli government. BAP calls on the U.S. government to cease financial and military support for Israel, which makes every U.S. resident complicit in an ongoing war crime. BAP condemns the corporate media that characterized the assault as a "clash"—where one side had the power of a militarized state and the other side had nothing but unarmed men, women and children.
The Israeli government continues its brazen disregard for life and even bragged about the killing in a now-deleted message posted on Twitter, proclaiming they "know where every bullet landed." Israel has no reason to fear retribution. As a client state of the United States, it acts with complete impunity. Every gun, bullet, bomb and tank in Israel is paid for by our government. The United States uses its seat on the United Nations Security Council to protect Israel and to defend it against the international law it violates on a daily basis.


text:
import inspect
import re

import kiel.clients.client
import kiel.clients.consumer
import kiel.clients.grouped
import kiel.clients.producer
import kiel.clients.single
import kiel.cluster
import kiel.compression.gzip
import kiel.compression.snappy
import kiel.connection
import kiel.constants
import kiel.events
import kiel.exc
import kiel.iterables
import kiel.protocol.coordinator
import kiel.protocol.describe_groups
import kiel.protocol.fetch
import kiel.protocol.join_group
import kiel.protocol.leave_group
import kiel.protocol.list_groups
import kiel.protocol.messages
import kiel.protocol.metadata
import kiel.protocol.offset
import kiel.protocol.offset_commit
import kiel.protocol.offset_fetch
import kiel.protocol.part
import kiel.protocol.primitives
import kiel.protocol.produce
import kiel.protocol.request
import kiel.protocol.response
import kiel.protocol.sync_group
import kiel.zookeeper.allocator
import kiel.zookeeper.party
import kiel.zookeeper.shared_set

modules_to_test = (
    kiel.clients.client,
    kiel.clients.consumer,
    kiel.clients.grouped,
    kiel.clients.producer,
    kiel.clients.single,
    kiel.cluster,
    kiel.compression.gzip,
    kiel.compression.snappy,
    kiel.connection,
    kiel.constants,
    kiel.events,
    kiel.exc,
    kiel.iterables,
    kiel.protocol.coordinator,
    kiel.protocol.describe_groups,
    kiel.protocol.fetch,
    kiel.protocol.join_group,
    kiel.protocol.leave_group,
    kiel.protocol.list_groups,
    kiel.protocol.messages,
    kiel.protocol.metadata,
    kiel.protocol.offset,
    kiel.protocol.offset_commit,
    kiel.protocol.offset_fetch,
    kiel.protocol.part,
    kiel.protocol.primitives,
    kiel.protocol.produce,
    kiel.protocol.request,
    kiel.protocol.response,
    kiel.protocol.sync_group,
    kiel.zookeeper.allocator,
    kiel.zookeeper.party,
    kiel.zookeeper.shared_set,
)

def test_docstrings():
    for module in modules_to_test:
        for path, thing in get_module_things(module):
            yield create_docstring_assert(path, thing)

def get_module_things(module):
    module_name = module.__name__

    for func_name, func in get_module_functions(module):
        if inspect.getmodule(func) != module:
            continue
        yield (module_name + "." + func_name, func)

    for class_name, klass in get_module_classes(module):
        if inspect.getmodule(klass) != module:
            continue
        yield (module_name + "." + class_name, klass)

        for method_name, method in get_class_methods(klass):
            if method_name not in klass.__dict__:
                continue
            yield (module_name + "." + class_name + ":" + method_name, method)

def get_module_classes(module):
    for name, klass in inspect.getmembers(module, predicate=inspect.isclass):
        yield (name, klass)

def get_module_functions(module):
    for name, func in inspect.getmembers(module, predicate=inspect.isfunction):
        yield (name, func)

def get_class_methods(klass):
    for name, method in inspect.getmembers(klass, predicate=inspect.ismethod):
        yield (name, method)

def create_docstring_assert(path, thing):

    def test_function():
        assert_docstring_present(thing, path)
        # TODO(wglass): uncomment this assert and fill out the param info
        # for methods and functions
        # assert_docstring_includes_param_metadata(thing, path)

    test_name = "test_docstring__%s" % de_camelcase(path)
    test_function.__name__ = test_name
    test_function.description = test_name

    return test_function

# TODO(wglass): remove __init__ from this when the param metadata assert is
# re-enabled
skipped_special_methods = ("__init__", "__str__", "__repr__")

def assert_docstring_present(thing, path):
    if any([path.endswith(special) for special in skipped_special_methods]):
        return

    docstring = inspect.getdoc(thing)
    if not docstring or not docstring.strip():
        raise AssertionError("No docstring present for %s" % path)

def assert_docstring_includes_param_metadata(thing, path):
    if inspect.isclass(thing):
        return

    docstring = inspect.getdoc(thing)
    if not docstring:
        return

    for arg_name in inspect.getargspec(thing).args:
        if arg_name in ("self", "cls"):
            continue

        if ":param %s:" % arg_name not in docstring:
            raise AssertionError(
                "Missing :param: for arg %s of %s" % (arg_name, path)
            )
        if ":type %s:" % arg_name not in docstring:
            raise AssertionError(
                "Missing :type: for arg %s of %s" % (arg_name, path)
            )

first_cap_re = re.compile('(.)([A-Z][a-z]+)')
all_cap_re = re.compile('([a-z0-9])([A-Z])')

def de_camelcase(name):
    return all_cap_re.sub(
        r'\1_\2',
        first_cap_re.sub(r'\1_\2', name)
    ).lower()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Report: MLB GMs Are Sick Of Dealing With The Mariners
Barry Petchesky
Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal dropped a report yesterday that MLB executives are getting sick and tired of waiting for Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik, widely expected to be a buyer at the trade deadline, to actually buy something.
The Mariners, just on the edge of contention and with a lot of good young players who could be traded for win-now rentals, haven't done squat, and they're apparently holding up all kinds of other deals. Anonymously, via Rosenthal, those other GMs say dealing with Zduriencik is like dealing with the most annoying person in your fantasy league.
"He has made offers and then pulled back after we have said, 'This is something we would do,"' one executive said. "He responds (by saying) it wasn't an offer and that he will need to discuss it with his guys."
Another executive added, "I don't always get the sense that he knows what he wants to do. One day, he's interested in one thing. The next day, he's interested in another. That's what makes it challenging."
A third executive said, "They (the Mariners) don't set out on a trade saying, 'Here's what we need. Let's do what we can to get him.' They think, 'Who can we give up that will never be any good?' They don't want to give up anyone who will haunt them. That's just flat-out fear."
Zduriencik defended himself and his team's strategy in an email to Rosenthal, saying that he's never retracted an offer, never misled a fellow exec, and that these sore feelings are just a normal part of doing business.
All of which may very well be true! But it was barely seven months ago that we went through something vaguely similar to this, with baseball people running to Ken Rosenthal to complain about Jack Z. In that case, it was disappointment among agents that after splurging on Robinson Cano, the Mariners appeared to be done spending in free agency. (And they turned out to be largely right. The Mariners' only significant signing after landing Cano in early December was closer Fernando Rodney.)
So maybe Rosenthal has managed to find himself baseball's go-to conduit for dumping on Jack Zduriencik. But Occam's razor suggests it's more likely that the Mariners front office is just kind of a mess.
[Fox Sports]


Easy Read Clocks are a brilliant design and help children learn to tell the time. The past side is green, the to side is red – to help kids learn and remember which side is which. PAST and TO are clearly printed on each respective side as well. Each minute is numbered – to hep kids quickly work out how many minutes to or past the 'big hand' (minute hand) is on. The small hand (hours) is half the size of the big hand (minutes) – so it is easy for kids to tell the difference. 1/4 past and 1/4 to are also written on the face of the clock. It really is easy to teach kids to tell the time using this clock. Follow our blog posts to learn more and see footage as well. An extra bonus is that these Easy Read Clocks also have a matching watch version – the same clock face so your kids have consistency when learning to tell the time. The Easy Read clocks are large, colourful and perfect for the home, work place, early learning centre or school. The seconds hand is not audible, and therefore not a distracting influence or upsetting for those with sensory processing disorder. Teach children to tell the time using simple steps (see our blog) and by using the Easy Read Clock. Approx 28.75cm in diameter.


text:
A Restaurant Designer Gives His Personal Tour Of Chicago
TRAVEL + LIFESTYLE | BY LACY MORRIS | March 23, 2017
A portrait of Robert McAdams. Photo by Clayton Hauck for Land & Sea Dept.
One of McAdam's recent projects: the design of Longman & Eagle. Photo by Clayton Hauck.
A bar at Parson's Chicken & Fish, also designed by Land & Sea Dept, makes it easy to want to belly up. Photo by Clayton Hauck.
Another peek inside Longman & Eagle. Photo by Clayton Hauck.
Robert McAdams
Founding Partner, Land and Sea Dept
When the James Beard Foundation announced the winner of 2016's most outstanding restaurant design, the trophy went to Chicago's Land and Sea Dept for the firm's work on the Cherry Circle Room, a moody, hark-back-to-the-old-days-style establishment tucked inside the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. The notable award placed a national spotlight on the concept and product-development studio, which is known for its multidisciplinary work such as design, construction, art and even marketing for projects and places like restaurants and bars, art exhibitions and concerts. The Cherry Circle Room was one of the group's first projects outside Logan Square, where founding partner Robert McAdams lives with his young family. When he's not collaborating with his partners on the city's next hotspot, he's milling around his neighborhood, oftentimes soaking in the atmosphere at establishments where he's left his own mark. We tapped McAdams for the best of Chicago, and he responded with picks to take us through Logan Square, Wicker Park and Bucktown.
10:30 a.m. Start your day off right by going straight to Parson's Chicken & Fish for brunch. Parson's is a family favorite for us regardless of the season; however, during the summer months, my 3-year-old definitely prefers to play Ping-Pong outside on the huge patio while my wife, Susan, and I sip Negroni slushies.
12 p.m. Walk off your loaded hash browns with a visit to the Museum of Contemporary Art. The MCA always has an interesting rotation of new exhibits that keep me inspired; the Kerry James Marshall exhibit there in the fall was one of my favorites. Before you leave, browse the art book selections in the gift shop.
2 p.m. Head to Big Star in Wicker Park for some queso fundido and margaritas. The bar always has a great soundtrack, whether it's from a DJ or spinning records. My millwork shop, Mode, helped on the original build-out at Big Star, and I've always felt really comfortable in the space.
4 p.m. From here, it's a quick walk to Reckless Records on Milwaukee Avenue. This store has one of the best selections of vinyl in the city. I always see if any records came in from my list of requests and check out any new selections from Light in the Attic Records or Mississippi Records.
5 p.m. Grab a pre-dinner drink at Danny's Tavern, one of the first bars I ever went to in Chicago when I first moved here in 1998. It's a small, comfortable spot in an old brick house tucked back on a residential street in Bucktown. My favorite drink is the rye Manhattan, while Susan either has a martini or a glass of wine.
6:30 p.m. Take a two-block stroll down Damen Avenue to Le Bouchon. It's an intimate restaurant that seems like it should be in France or New York, but despite the small space it's still very private. My wife and I have been going here for years. Even though we enjoy everything on the menu, we always land on the steak frites. And don't overlook the wine list–Le Bouchon's is excellent.
8 p.m. Have an after-dinner drink at Longman & Eagle. I like to grab either a spot at the bar or a two-top out back at Longman's Off Site Bar. I usually end the night with a digestif; lately, my pick has been a mix of Amaro Montenegro and Cynar with a cube. You also can't go wrong with a classic: The Longman Manhattan or Old Fashioned are both strong choices to finish your day.


Strictly limited to a run of just 99 worldwide, this is a rare opportunity to own a significant piece of art history.
Rosenthal have created a range of porcelain inspired by Warhol's many sketches and paintings that depict one of his many obsessions - sweet things! This brilliantly garish, colourful object was inspired directly by Warhol's 'Fancy Red' drawing from his 1959 series 'Ice Cream Dessert'.
Originally designed as a biscuit jar, it is perhaps too precious to be anything other than a decorative, attention-demanding vase.
We are delighted to offer #42, presented in a heavy-duty wooden crate, with a stamped certificate of authenticity.


text:
Tanner Babcock
Ratings and...
About These Ratings • My Top 60 Films • Random Film Page
See All Completed Reviews
Filmmakers: Films I've seen:
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Carl Theodor Dreyer
Bruno Dumont
Michel Gondry
F. W. Murnau
Elio Petri
Jacques Rivette
Roberto Rosellini
Josh Safdie & Benny Safdie
Todd Solondz
Steven Speilberg
Hiroshi Teshigahara
Thomas Vinterberg
Andrey Zvyaginstev
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Web software designed and developed by Tanner Babcock.
Except otherwise noted, all content Copyright © 2015-2020 Tanner Babcock.
Memory: 771912 b, Time: 0.1299939155579 sec, Output: 23832 b


text:
At the Margins of a Hot War, Somalis Are 'Hanging on by a Thread'
Feb 26, 2015 by Editor -
Credit: Oxfam/Petterik Weggers
After twin suicide bombings at a popular Mogadishu hotel last week that killed 25 and wounded 40, news reporters were seen swarming through the city, spotlighting the victims, the assassins, the motives and the official response.
This left actor Barkhad Abdi, who played opposite Tom Hanks in the movie Captain Phillip and was making his first visit to Somalia since age seven, unlikely to have the usual paparazzi following his every move.
Yet Abdi, a Goodwill Ambassador for Adeso, a Kenya-based development charity, was there to bring attention to the plight of ordinary Somalis, facing life without a lifeline since the shutdown of money transfers that have been key in rebuilding Somali lives.
The money – over a quarter of a billion dollars from the U.S. alone – comes from families in the diaspora, the charity Oxfam America reports.
"The small amounts of money that members of the Somali diaspora send their loved ones comprise Somalia's most important source of revenue," wrote OxfamAmerica on its website. "Remittances to Somalia represent between 25 and 45 percent of its economy and are greater than humanitarian aid, development aid, and foreign direct investment combined.
"Remittances empower women and help give young men alternatives to fighting in armed groups. The money is the country's lifeline."
Because Somalia lacks a formal banking system, small companies were established, run by money transfer operators who could safely and legally deliver money to relatives and friends in Somalia. These companies used bank accounts to wire the money but most of those banks have shut down including the California-based Merchants Bank just last month.
According to the banks, around one percent of money transfer firms could not be properly investigated and pass due diligence checks by the federal currency control office. Yet this decision ignored the 99 percent of money transfer businesses which have been operating in this sector for decades.
Most money wired to Somalia originates in the U.S.
The move by Merchants Bank to pull the plug on the money transfer network could force law-abiding U.S.-based Somalis to choose between three options, according to Professor Laura Hammond of the UK School of Oriental and African Studies.
"They can stop sending money to their relatives living in the Horn of Africa. They can try to find alternative legal channels, but as a result are likely to be charged much higher transfer rates, reducing the amount of money their relatives receive. Or they can use unregulated and illegal ways to send money."
Opinion writer George Monbiot put it more strongly. The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, which triggered the bank closings, is, he charged: "The world's most powerful terrorist recruiting sergeant… Its decision to cause a humanitarian catastrophe in one of the poorest, most troubled places on Earth could resonate around the world for decades.
"During the 2011 famine in Somalia, British Somalis saved hundreds of thousands of lives by remitting money … reaching family members before aid agencies could mobilise," he wrote in The Guardian newspaper.
"Government aid agencies then used the same informal banking system – the hawala – to send money to 1.5 million people, saving hundreds of thousands more. Today, roughly 3 million of Somalia's 7 million people are short of food. Shut off the funds and the results are likely to be terrible.
"Money transfers from abroad also pay for schooling, housing, business start-ups and all the means by which a country can lift itself out of dependency and chaos," he continued. "Yes, banking has its uses, as well as its abuses. Compare this pointless destruction with the US government's continued licensing of HSBC."
Alternative, if more expensive, means of sending money legally, for instance through Western Union, are possible for some but not for people sending money to smaller towns and rural areas in Somalia and other parts of the Horn, where Western Union and smaller companies that still send remittances do not have a presence.
Instead, according to Oxfam, a large proportion of the 200 million dollars sent from the U.S. to Somalia each year will be forced underground. People will send money the way they did before Somali money transfer companies were formed: in cash, stashed in bags and pockets, or in other ways that will be impossible to track.
Meanwhile, as Abdi made a tour of his country of birth to see the impact of the diaspora dollars, he came in for a shock.
"Based on what you hear on the news, I expected to see a shattered country," Abdi recalled from his visit. "But what I saw instead was a place full of resilience, entrepreneurship and hope."
Accompanied by his sponsor, the Nairobi-based Adeso service agency, he said he met with young men who were learning how to become electricians to take part of the rebuilding of their country, and with women who were using newly acquired skills to come together and open successful businesses.
"When I was in Somalia I didn't just see conflict, drought, and hunger," Abdi said. "I saw people building a better future for themselves. And part of the reason why they've been able to do so is because of the remittances they receive from overseas. Let's not threaten that lifeline and risk reversing all the gains that are being made."
Hawala is one of Africa's great success stories, wrote Monbiot. "But it can't work unless banks in donor nations are permitted to transfer funds to Somalia."
The report, "Hanging on by a Thread," by Oxfam, Adeso and the Global Center on Cooperative Security, can be found on the Oxfam website.
Somalia fighting with 'Ahlusunah Wal Jamaa' leaves 15 dead
by Editor - Feb 26, 2015
Al-Qaida planning kamikaze attacks on ships in Mediterranean, cables claim


Some cloud storage providers who hope to be on the leading edge of cloud security adopt a "zero-knowledge" policy in which says it is impossible for customer data to be snooped on.
Some cloud storage providers who hope to be on the leading edge of cloud security adopt a "zero-knowledge" policy in which says it is impossible for customer data to be snooped on. But a recent study by computer scientists at Johns Hopkins University is questioning just how secure those zero knowledge tactics are.
Zero knowledge cloud vendors examined by the researchers - in this case Spider Oak, Wuala and Tresorit - typically use a method where data is encrypted when it is stored in the cloud and only unencrypted when the user downloads it again from the cloud. This model is secure. But, the researchers warn that if data is shared in the cloud, meaning that it is sent via the cloud service without the user downloading it on to their system, then vendors have an opportunity to view it.
"Whenever data is shared with another recipient through the cloud storage service, the providers are able to access their customers' files and other data," lead author Duane Wilson, a doctoral student in the Information Security Institute at the Department of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University, was quoted as saying in a review of the report. View the full PDF of the report here.


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