text:
Justia Dockets & Filings Ninth Circuit California Eastern District McMurtry v. Hu, et al Filing 63
McMurtry v. Hu, et al
ORDER, FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes on 12/23/2016 DENYING plaintiff's 56 request to continue; and RECOMMENDING defendants' 52 motion for summary judgment be granted and this action be dismissed. Referred to Judge John A. Mendez; Objections to F&R due within 14 days. (Yin, K)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 9 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 10 11 CHARLEY McMURTRY, 12 Plaintiff, 13 14 v. ORDER AND HU, et al., 15 No. 2:12-cv-00103 JAM DB P FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Defendants. 16 Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis in this civil rights 17 18 action filed pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. This matter proceeds on plaintiff's original complaint 19 against defendants Gebrezghi and Hu on Eighth Amendment claims. Pending before the court is 20 defendants' August 21, 2015, motion for summary judgment, which plaintiff opposes. For the 21 reasons set forth below, the undersigned will recommend that defendants' motion be granted. 22 I. Relevant Procedural Background 23 Plaintiff initiated this action on January 12, 2012. His complaint was screened on 24 December 20, 2012, and found to state Eighth Amendment claims against the defendant. Service 25 was ordered, and defendants filed an answer on July 24, 2013. On August 6, 2013, a discovery and scheduling order issued setting the discovery deadline 26 27 for November 22, 2013, and the dispositive motion deadline for February 14, 2014. (ECF No. 28 24.) 1 On February 10, 2014, defendants moved to dismiss for failure to exhaust administrative 2 remedies.1 (ECF No. 32.) In light of this motion, the dispositive motion deadline was extended to 3 45 days following ruling on defendants' motion. (ECF No. 34.) 4 On July 9, 2015, defendants' motion was denied (see ECF Nos. 49, 51), and the instant 5 motion for summary judgment soon followed. It is now fully briefed and ready for disposition. Also pending is plaintiff's request to continue consideration of defendants' motion for 6 7 summary judgment pending additional discovery. (ECF No. 56.) Defendants oppose this request. 8 (ECF No. 59.) 9 II. Plaintiff's Allegations 10 Plaintiff alleges that defendants violated his rights under the Eighth Amendment while he 11 was incarcerated at California State Prison-Solano ("CSP-Solano") by taking the following 12 actions: 13  On or about June 5, 2010, at a time when plaintiff was held in five-point restraints, 14 defendant Nurse Gebrezghi twice injected plaintiff with drugs. Plaintiff had informed 15 Nurse Gebrezghi of his phobia of needles; moreover, the drugs could have been orally 16 administered. (ECF No. 1 at 5, 7, 9.)  17 On or about June 9, 2010, plaintiff was placed in a safety cell (also known as a "rubber 18 room"). After plaintiff complained about a lack of ventilation in the safety cell, a 19 correctional officer placed a fan in front of the cell, which allowed air to enter through 20 a crack at the bottom of the cell door. Less than 30 minutes later, defendant Nurse Hu 21 stated to plaintiff, "We don't like you! You don't get a fan! Besides, other inmates 22 will beg for one too!" and removed the fan. Plaintiff's nose started to bleed, and he 23 "suffered in extremely harsh conditions" for twenty-four hours before a correctional 24 officer placed the fan back in front of the cell. (Id. at 10.)  25 On or about June 11, 2010, Nurse Hu placed plaintiff's arm in a restraint. When he 26 27 1 This motion was later converted to a motion for summary judgment pursuant to Albino v. Baca, 747 F.3d 1162 (9th Cir. 2014). (See ECF No. 39.) 28 2 1 told her it was too tight, she replied, "I wish they [would] put you in a gas chamber so 2 I won't have to bother with you anymore!" She then began to repeatedly express a 3 wish that she could kill plaintiff. (Id. at 11.) 4 III. Plaintiff moves for a continuance on defendant's motion for summary judgment pursuant 5 6 Plaintiff's Motion to Continue to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure "56(f)" pending additional discovery. The court construes plaintiff's motion as one for relief pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil 7 8 Procedure 56(d).2 Under that rule, a party opposing a motion for summary judgment to request an 9 order deferring the time to respond to the motion and permitting that party to conduct additional 10 discovery upon an adequate factual showing. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(d) (requiring party making 11 such request to show "by affidavit or declaration that, for specified reasons, it cannot present facts 12 essential to justify its opposition."). A Rule 56(d) affidavit must identify "the specific facts that 13 further discovery would reveal, and explain why those facts would preclude summary judgment." 14 Tatum v. City and County of San Francisco, 441 F.3d 1090, 1100 (9th Cir. 2006). On such a 15 showing, "the court may: (1) defer considering the motion or deny it; (2) allow time to obtain 16 affidavits or declarations or to take discovery; or (3) issue any other appropriate order." Fed. R. 17 Civ. P. 56(d). 18 "Though the conduct of discovery is generally left to a district court's discretion, 19 summary judgment is disfavored where relevant evidence remains to be discovered, particularly 20 in cases involving confined pro se plaintiffs." Klingele v. Eikenberry, 849 F.2d 409, 412 (9th Cir. 21 1988). Thus, summary judgment in the face of requests for additional discovery is appropriate 22 only where such discovery would be "fruitless" with respect to the proof of a viable claim." Jones 23 v. Blanas, 393 F.3d 918, 930 (9th Cir. 2004). "The burden is on the nonmoving party, however, to 24 show what material facts would be discovered that would preclude summary judgment." 25 Klingele, 849 F.2d at 412; see also Conkle v. Jeong, 73 F.3d 909, 914 (9th Cir. 1995) ("The 26 2 27 28 Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 56(f) does not provide the relief that plaintiff seeks. Rather, it grants the court authority to enter judgment independent of the motion for a nonmovant, on grounds not raised by a party, or to consider summary judgment on its own after identifying for the parties material facts that may be genuinely in dispute. 3 1 burden is on the party seeking to conduct additional discovery to put forth sufficient facts to show 2 that the evidence sought exists."). Moreover, "'[t]he district court does not abuse its discretion by 3 denying further discovery if the movant has failed diligently to pursue discovery in the past.'" 4 Conkle, 73 F.3d at 914 (quoting California Union Ins. Co. v. American Diversified Sav. Bank, 5 914 F.2d 1271, 1278 (9th Cir. 1990). 6 Plaintiff has not met his burden under Rule 56(d). Plaintiff's motion does not identify 7 which documents he seeks or how those documents would assist him in opposing defendants' 8 motion. In his opposition to defendants' motion, plaintiff claims that maintenance logs related to 9 the air conditioning unit and reports by an unidentified correctional officer purportedly a witness 10 to Nurse Hu's conduct will help him defeat defendants' motion. Plaintiff does not explain, 11 however, why these records were not and could not have been obtained through the normal 12 course of discovery, which ended three years ago. Conkle, 73 F.3d at 914. During that open 13 period of discovery, plaintiff filed a single motion to compel wherein he challenged the propriety 14 of defendants' responses to his discovery requests. He failed, though, to identify which responses 15 were improper and why, and the motion was ultimately denied for this lack of specificity. (See 16 ECF No. 38.) Plaintiff's motion here will therefore be denied for his failure to act diligently. 17 IV. 18 Undisputed Facts3 At all times relevant to this action, plaintiff was an inmate incarcerated at CSP-Solano. 19 Defendants are Registered Nurse ("RN") S. Gebrezghi, the Supervising Registered Nurse II, and 20 RN K. Hu. Defs.' Statement Undisputed Facts ("DSUF") (ECF No. 52-3) ¶¶ 3-4. 21 A. CSP-Solano Mental Health Care Guidelines 22 The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ("CDCR") maintains 23 comprehensive medical and mental health records for every inmate in its custody, commonly 24 referred to as a Unit Health Record ("UHR"). DSUF ¶ 5. Encounters between institutional 25 medical and mental staff and inmate-patients are recorded and maintained in the UHR. Id. Staff 26 are trained to chart or document all inmate-patient interactions meticulously, no matter how 27 28 3 All facts are undisputed unless noted otherwise. 4 1 minor. Id. Mental health records are part of an inmate's UHR, but are maintained separately from 2 medical or dental records. Id. 3 Inmates who are diagnosed with a serious mental illness are provided mental health 4 services through CDCR's Mental Health Services Delivery System ("MHSDS"). DSUF ¶ 6. It is 5 designed to provide appropriate levels of treatment and to promote individual functioning within 6 the least-restrictive clinical environment, consistent with the safety and security needs of the 7 inmate-patient and the institution. Id. Mental health care is provided by a variety of mental health 8 professionals, including Clinical Social Workers, Psychologists, and Psychiatrists. Id. 9 The most restrictive level of mental health care within a CDCR institution is a Mental 10 Health Crisis Bed ("MHCB"). DSUF ¶ 7. The MHCB provides short-term (ordinarily ten days or 11 less) inpatient treatment to inmate-patients who exhibit significant impairment and dysfunction, 12 require 24-hour nursing care, and present a danger to themselves or others. MHCB inmates are 13 monitored daily by their primary clinician. Id. They meet with their Interdisciplinary Treatment 14 Team ("IDTT") at least once a week, are evaluated by a psychiatrist at least twice a week, and 15 receive 24-hour nursing care and intensive therapy and rehabilitation as needed. Id. 16 In the clinical judgment of a physician that an emergency situation exists, medication may 17 be forcibly administered to an inmate-patient over the inmate-patient's objection. DSUF ¶ 8. An 18 emergency exists when there is a sudden, marked change in an inmate-patient's condition so that 19 action is immediately necessary for the preservation of life, to prevent serious bodily harm to the 20 inmate or others, and it is impracticable to first obtain consent. Id. In such circumstances, only 21 medication that is required to treat the emergency condition is provided, and in ways that are least 22 restrictive of the personal liberty of the inmate.4 Id. 23 When staff discovers inmates harming themselves, medical assistance is summoned 24 4 25 26 27 28 Plaintiff disputes many of defendants' medical and administrative facts with citation to only his own statements. Since plaintiff is not qualified as an expert witness and in the absence of any evidentiary basis for these objections, they will be disregarded. See Fed. R. Evid. 702. Plaintiff also disputes other ancillary facts that are immaterial to the resolution of the instant motion. Those disputes will be noted but ultimately disregarded. Lastly, plaintiff raises disputes that concern the conduct of non-parties and/or the conduct of the defendants that were found to not state a claim per the December 20, 2012, Screening Order; these, too, will be disregarded. 5 1 immediately to provide emergency medical care. DSUF ¶ 9. These events are taken very seriously 2 and are considered emergency situations. Id. Nursing staff are expected to carry out orders from 3 physicians during emergency situations. Id. ¶ 10. 4 Staff members are trained to monitor and record any changes in an inmate-patient's 5 environment that may pose a risk to their health or well-being. DSUF ¶ 11. This includes the cell 6 temperature and any non-functioning equipment. Id. 7 The CSP-Solano Correctional Treatment Center ("CTC") is cooled by a centralized air 8 conditioning system that blows cool air throughout the building. DSUF ¶ 12. Staff members 9 regularly check and record cell temperatures. Id. If equipment is not properly working, or a cell is 10 unsafe to house an inmate-patient, staff members may "redline" that cell. Id. This process consists 11 of notifying custody staff and building maintenance officials that a cell is not available to house 12 an inmate. Id. The inmate-patient is then escorted out of their cell to another cell that is in proper 13 condition. Id. 14 When an inmate is restrained, CDCR nurses are trained to monitor each extremity every 15 fifteen minutes in order to ensure adequate circulation. DSUF ¶ 13. A registered nurse also 16 conducts hourly assessments of the inmate-patient during the entire period of restraint. Id. The 17 hourly assessments document current physical, mental, and behavioral status of the inmate- 18 patient, any indicated interventions performed, and the inmate-patient's readiness for release from 19 restraints. Id. The assessment also includes an overall summary of the inmate-patient's physical 20 condition, general behavior, and response to counseling / interviews. Id. 21 Safety cells are those that are designed to be free from hazardous objects or fixtures; have 22 adequate light and ventilation; are maintained at an appropriate temperature; have secure, 23 lockable doors; and have windows that permit visual observation of the inmate-patient by staff. 24 DSUF ¶ 14. Plaintiff's Relevant Mental Health History 25 B. 26 Plaintiff was housed at MCHB in the CSP-Solano CTC between June 3 and 13, 2010, 27 because he had suicidal and homicidal ideations. DSUF ¶¶ 15-16. Dr. Obegi, who participated as 28 a member of plaintiff's IDTT, provided mental health treatment for plaintiff during his stay at the 6 1 CTC. Id. 2 Dr. Obegi evaluated plaintiff and conducted his CTC intake assessment on June 3, 2010, 3 at approximately 2:30 p.m. DSUF ¶ 16. He documented plaintiff's mental illness as Mood 4 Disorder Not Otherwise Specified ("NOS"), which is a type of disorder that has features of other 5 mental disorders but does not squarely fit into a single discrete category. Id. ¶ 17. Dr. Obegi also 6 documented that plaintiff had features of borderline personality disorder and a sense of 7 entitlement. Id. 8 Features of borderline personality disorder include pervasive patterns of instability 9 of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and marked impulsivity. DSUF ¶ 18. Individuals with 10 this condition may be very sensitive to environmental circumstances. Id. They may also 11 experience intense abandonment fears and inappropriate anger. Id. 12 Individuals with borderline personality disorder may have a pattern of unstable and 13 intense relationships. They may idealize potential caregivers, but they may also switch quickly 14 from idealizing other people to devaluing them, and feeling that the other person does not care 15 enough or does not give enough. Id. These individuals are prone to sudden and dramatic shifts in 16 their view of others, who may alternatively be seen as beneficent supports or as cruelly punitive. 17 Id. Persons with this disorder may express inappropriate and intense anger or have difficulty 18 controlling their anger. Id. 19 Persons with this disorder may also display reoccurring impulsive acts of self-damaging 20 and self-injurious behavior (such as cutting or burning themselves) that frequently include an 21 intent to die. DSUF ¶ 19. Suicide attempts and threats from individuals with borderline 22 personality disorder are very common. DSUF ¶ 20. Plaintiff's exhibition of these features was documented during his stay at the CSP- 23 24 Solano CTC. DSUF ¶ 21. These features materialized during his episodes of intense anger at 25 nursing staff, apparently triggered by perceived slights, followed by periods of relative calm. Id. 26 They were also demonstrated by his impulsive self-injurious behavior and his report of recent 27 preparations to kill himself, as well as his threats to harm staff. Id. 28 //// 7 1 C. 2 During the evening of June 4, 2010, nursing staff observed plaintiff attempting to use the Events Involving Nurse Gebrezghi 3 edge of a plastic container to cut his right forearm. DSUF ¶ 22. A nurse asked him to stop and 4 called for help. Id. ¶ 23. Plaintiff did stop but then covered his upper body and arm with a 5 blanket. Id. ¶ 24. Nursing staff then asked plaintiff to cooperate and submit to handcuffs so he 6 could be safely brought out of his cell. Id. ¶ 25. Plaintiff refused and instead placed his mattress 7 against the cell door, covering it so staff could not see into the cell. Id. ¶ 26. The Watch 8 Commander and Sergeant approached plaintiff's cell and convinced him to remove the mattress 9 and comply with being handcuffed. Id. ¶ 27. Plaintiff was then escorted out of his cell to receive 10 11 treatment. Id. Within minutes, Dr. Kumar, a Staff Psychiatrist, ordered plaintiff to be secured in five- 12 point restraints for four hours to prevent plaintiff from inflicting further self-harm or from 13 harming others. DSUF ¶ 28. Dr. Kumar ordered nursing checks to be conducted every fifteen 14 minutes. Id. Dr. Kumar also ordered that the restraints could be gradually loosened if plaintiff 15 agreed not to harm himself. Id. Dr. Kumar noted that plaintiff had a history of poor impulse 16 control. Id. Dr. Kumar then ordered staff to follow all nursing protocols relative to plaintiff's 17 medications, fluids, toileting, range of motion, and vital signs. Id. 18 The medical notes indicate that plaintiff cooperated but with hesitation and visible anger, 19 saying, "do not give me a shot." DSUF ¶¶ 29-30. Nursing staff asked plaintiff to cooperate and 20 submit himself to a restraint bed, which plaintiff did with slight resistance. Id. ¶ 31. Plaintiff 21 threatened to harm any nursing staff who tried to give him an injection; he was loud and 22 argumentative. Id. ¶ 33. After plaintiff was secured in restraints, he tried to release himself. Id. ¶ 23 34. He then appeared angry, volatile, had an intense look, and had veins popping out of his neck 24 and arm. Id. ¶ 35. Plaintiff continued to say that if he was given a shot he would hurt staff. Id. 25 During this time, Dr. Kumar ordered 20 mg of Geodon, an antipsychotic medication, and 26 20 mg of Ativan, a sedative, to be administered by intramuscular injection. DSUF ¶ 36. Around 27 7:20 p.m., Dr. Kumar came to plaintiff with the Watch Commander, talked to him, and discussed 28 his situation. Id. ¶ 37. Defendants contend that plaintiff agreed to be given an injection but 8 1 wanted another nurse to administer it. Id. ¶ 38. Plaintiff has no recollection of agreeing to an 2 injection; instead, he was screaming and crying not to be injected. Pl.'s Resp. to DSUF ¶ 38 (ECF 3 No. 57). Around this time, Defendant Nurse Gebrezghi appeared and administered Dr. Kumar's 4 5 ordered injections into plaintiff's left thigh. DSUF ¶ 39. This is the only instance in which Nurse 6 Gebrezghi administered an involuntary intramuscular injection for plaintiff during his stay at the 7 CSP-Solano CTC between June 3 and 13, 2010. Id. ¶ 40. Plaintiff claims Nurse Gebrezghi 8 administered this shot in retaliation for his threats to staff. Pl.'s Resp. to DSUF ¶ 41. 9 Dr. Kumar's decision to order intramuscular administration of Geodon and Ativan was 10 reasonable and clinically indicated under the circumstances.5 DSUF ¶ 41. Plaintiff was required 11 to submit to five-point restraints in order to prevent him from harming himself or others. Id. He 12 also had recently been observed cutting his arm with a plastic container and was unpredictable. 13 Id. Releasing plaintiff from the restraints to take medication orally would have exposed staff and 14 plaintiff to risk of harm in light of his visible anger and threats to harm staff. Id. The emergency 15 nature of the circumstances made it reasonable for plaintiff to be administered the injections 16 intramuscularly. Id. 17 D. Events Involving Nurse Hu 18 On June 9, 2010, Dr. Shamasundara, a psychiatrist, ordered plaintiff to be placed in a 19 safety cell around 2:45 p.m. DSUF ¶ 42. One-on-one suicide watch was ordered, with checks to 20 be conducted every fifteen minutes. Id. This order was renewed by the attending psychiatrist 21 around every four hours until June 11, 2010, at 2:00 a.m., when plaintiff was again placed in five- 22 point restraints for exhibiting destructive behavior. Id. Following is a timeline of events beginning on June 9, 2010, at 2:45 p.m., when plaintiff's 23 24 safety cell temperature measured 72 degrees. DSUF ¶ 44. At that time, plaintiff was sitting up 25 against the door, covered in his blanket. Id. He responded to staff, but refused to remove the 26 5 27 28 Plaintiff disputes that these injections were reasonable and necessary, but he fails to submit any evidence beyond his own statements. See Pl.'s Resp. to DSUF ¶ 41. Since plaintiff is not qualified as an expert witness, there is no dispute as to the reasonableness and necessity of these injections. 9 1 blanket from his head. Id. He was not exhibiting behavior indicating he would inflict self-harm. 2 Id. At 5:00 p.m., plaintiff was provided a meal, which he ate. Id. ¶ 45. At 5:20 p.m., he used toilet 3 paper to cover his cell door window and refused to take it down. Id. ¶ 46. He also began swinging 4 his blanket and hitting a camera in the cell. Id. At 5:30 p.m., plaintiff was escorted out of the 5 safety cell and placed in another cell. Id. ¶ 47. He was seen by a psychologist at 5:50 p.m. and 6 returned to the safety cell at 6:30 p.m. Id. 7 8 From 7:30 p.m. on June 9, 2010, until 3:00 a.m. on June 10, 2010, plaintiff was quiet, and appeared to be asleep. DSUF ¶ 48. His cell temperature was between 72 and 73 degrees. Id. 9 On June 10, 2010, at around 3:00 a.m., plaintiff asked for pain medications for his 10 arthritis, and he fell asleep again at 6:00 a.m. DSUF ¶ 49. At 7:00 a.m., plaintiff told nursing 11 staff that he was not suicidal, denied having hallucinations, and promised that he would not 12 hurt anybody that day. Id. ¶ 50. He spoke with staff about returning a tray. Id. His cell 13 temperature was around 73 degrees. Id. 14 From 9:00 a.m., until 2:05 p.m., plaintiff's cell temperature was between 72 and 75 15 degrees. DSUF ¶ 51. Defendants claim plaintiff exhibited no signs of being in distress during this 16 time, but plaintiff claims the air conditioning was not working properly and he fainted from 17 lightheadedness due to the lack of ventilation. Id.; Pl.'s Resp. to DSUF ¶ 51. Plaintiff fell asleep 18 from around 2:05 p.m. until around 4:35 p.m. DSUF ¶ 51. 19 At 4:35 p.m., plaintiff was observed with a tissue containing a small amount of blood in 20 his hand. DSUF ¶ 52. Plaintiff attributed the blood to poor air circulation in his cell, and claimed 21 the bleeding stopped after he blew his nose twice. Id. Nursing notes reflect a portable fan was 22 provided at the door of plaintiff's cell. Id. Plaintiff voiced concern about the air conditioning, 23 claiming it provided him "psychological support." Id. Plaintiff was offered fluids but he declined 24 to drink them. Id. 25 At 5:00 p.m., plaintiff was standing by his door and calm. DSUF ¶ 53. His cell 26 temperature measured 74 degrees. Id. At 5:36 p.m., plaintiff was still standing by the door. Id. ¶ 27 54. He claimed that he coughed up red blood. Id. He was seen by Dr. Rallos, a medical doctor, 28 two minutes later at 5:38 p.m. Id. By 6:00 p.m., the observing nurse noted there was no active 10 1 bleeding. Id. ¶ 55. Plaintiff was sitting up, talking, and was given medications orally. Id. He 2 continued to be upset about the air conditioning. Id. 3 At 6:10 p.m., another portable fan was placed at his door, and more fluids were offered. 4 DSUF ¶ 56. Plaintiff then stuck his arms out his cell door food port and refused for it to be 5 closed; plaintiff claims he did this to complain about the lack of air conditioning. Id.; Pl.'s Obj. 6 DSUF ¶ 11. Custody staff arrived to talk to plaintiff, and he continued to bang on the cell door. 7 DSUF ¶ 56. Plaintiff spoke with Dr. Obegi at around 6:37 p.m. DSUF ¶ 57. 8 9 At 7:00 p.m., plaintiff was yelling intermittently, and he had his arm stuck through the food port. DSUF ¶ 58. Correctional Sergeant responded and ordered plaintiff to remove his arm 10 from the food port and put it back in his cell. Id. ¶ 58. Around this same time, nursing staff 11 reported air conditioning was back in working condition. Id. Plaintiff was cooperative, talking, 12 and smiling for the next several hours. Id. ¶ 59. At 10:00 p.m., plaintiff's cell temperature measured 75 degrees. DSUF ¶ 60. Plaintiff was 13 14 smiling and pleasant. Id. At 1:00 a.m., on June 11, 2010, plaintiff's cell temperature measured 15 74.5 degrees. Id. ¶ 61. 16 At around 2:50 a.m. on June 11, 2010, plaintiff began peeling rubber off his safety cell 17 walls, biting the wall, putting paper in his mouth, and complaining that he did not get pain 18 medications when he asked for them. DSUF ¶ 62. He became very angry and alleged staff was 19 trying to punish him. Id. The observing nurse apologized to plaintiff and offered him his pain 20 medications, but plaintiff refused to take them. Id. Plaintiff's psychiatrist was apprised of the 21 situation and ordered plaintiff to return to five-point restraints because he was exhibiting self- 22 harming behavior. Id. At 3:00 a.m., plaintiff apologized for getting upset. Id. ¶ 63. His cell 23 temperature measured 73 degrees. Id. No noteworthy interactions occurred until around 6:00 a.m. 24 Id. 25 At 6:00 a.m., plaintiff was asked by a different staff member how he was doing and why 26 he was back in restraints. DSUF ¶ 64. Plaintiff did not saying anything but looked angrily at the 27 staff member. Id. He did not respond to questions, closed his eyes, and ignored staff. Id. His 28 circulation was checked and was normal. Id. Staff did not release plaintiff to check his range of 11 1 2 motion due to the unpredictability of his anger toward staff. Id. At 7:20 a.m., the nurse's notes indicate that plaintiff was observed glaring menacingly at 3 them. DSUF ¶ 65. Plaintiff appeared to be sleeping from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Id. ¶ 66. At 4 11:00 a.m., plaintiff refused to answer when asked whether he was suicidal. Id. ¶ 67. He closed 5 his eyes and ignored staff. Id. At noon, plaintiff had his eyes closed, but was able to move from 6 side to side. DSUF ¶ 68. He was not forthcoming when asked about whether he was suicidal. Id. 7 He had an angry tone in his voice, was visibly angry, and claimed nurses were retaliating against 8 him. Id. 9 At 1:00 p.m., restraints were removed on each of plaintiff's four limbs, one at a time for 10 fifteen minutes each, so that staff could check his range of motion. DSUF ¶ 69. Plaintiff was 11 angry and complained that staff did not immediately respond to his pain. Id. He had a fierce look 12 in his eyes, was unpredictable, and had veins popping out of his neck when he was talking. Id. 13 Nurse Hu worked with plaintiff beginning at 2:20 p.m. on June 11, 2010; his cell 14 temperature measured 72 degrees at this time. DSUF ¶ 71. Nurse Hu observed plaintiff was lying 15 on his back and did not appear to be in distress. Id. His breathing was even and he did not 16 complain of pain or numbness. Id. Plaintiff had good circulation to each of his extremities. Id. 17 Plaintiff claims that Nurse Hu entered his cell, cursed at him, and was forced to leave by a 18 correctional officer. Pl.'s Resp. to DSUF ¶ 71. 19 At 3:20 p.m., plaintiff's cell temperature measured 72 degrees. DSUF ¶ 72. Nurse Hu 20 conducted range of motion exercises, and she observed that plaintiff did not appear to have any 21 objective injuries. Id. Plaintiff disputes this fact, claiming that he complained of numbness in his 22 extremities due to the tight restraints. Pl.'s Resp. to DSUF ¶ 72. 23 At 4:20 p.m., the nursing notes indicate that plaintiff accused Nurse Hu of wanting to hurt 24 him and/or wanting for him to commit suicide. DSUF ¶ 73. He also asked Nurse Hu to give him a 25 razor so that he can kill himself. Id. He did not appear to have any physical injuries. Id. 26 At 5:30 p.m., plaintiff was making excuses to have his restraints removed. DSUF ¶ 74. 27 When Nurse Hu removed the restraints for range of motion exercises, plaintiff was very resistant 28 to have them put back on. Id. 12 1 At 6:30 p.m., plaintiff was very upset and angry. DSUF ¶ 75. He accused Nurse Hu of 2 saying he was sent to the gas chamber and asserted that he would file a grievance. Id. He was also 3 very upset with Nurse Hu when she reapplied the restraints after checking the range of motion in 4 his extremities. Id. At 7:30 p.m., another nurse took over Nurse Hu's duties for checking on plaintiff. DSUF ¶ 5 6 76. This nurse's notes are lengthy, noting that plaintiff was unpredictable and angry; at no point 7 in these notes is there a notation that plaintiff complained of restraints being placed too tightly. 8 See id. 9 When Nurse Hu returned at 9:30 p.m., the cell temperature measured 73 degrees. DSUF ¶ 10 77. At 9:35 p.m., Nurse Hu was informed that plaintiff said he was going to get out of his 11 restraints and hurt somebody. Id. ¶ 78. She documented this information. Id. 12 At 10:30 p.m., plaintiff complained of neck pain and was provided Tylenol. DSUF 13 ¶ 79. He did not appear to have any injuries. Id. Nurse Hu's interactions with plaintiff then ended. 14 Id. 15 During the period Nurse Hu observed plaintiff in restraints, he was monitored every 16 fifteen minutes by Licensed Vocational Nurses, and checked on hourly by Nurse Hu. DSUF ¶ 80. 17 His vital statistics were also checked every shift change. Id. Plaintiff's circulation and respiration 18 was normal throughout the entire period in which he was restrained on June 11, 2010. Id. It is Nurse Hu's custom and practice when applying restraints to allow three fingers 19 20 to be placed between the inmate-patient and the restraints. DSUF ¶ 70. That way the inmate's 21 circulation will not be restricted. Id. Plaintiff disputes this statement and claims that Nurse Hu 22 repeatedly tightened the restraints on his limbs while cursing and threatening him. Pl.'s Resp. to 23 DSUF ¶ 70. Nurse Hu does not recall removing a fan from the plaintiff's cell door at any time. DSUF 24 25 26 ¶ 43. Plaintiff disputes many of the above facts relating to Nurse Hu. Instead, he claims that 27 Nurse Hu repeatedly tightened plaintiff's restraints while cursing and threatening him; that a 28 correctional officer witnessed this conduct and reported it to his supervisor; that this correctional 13 1 officer forced Nurse Hu to leave plaintiff's cell; and that this officer's report will be a "smoking 2 gun" in this case. Though plaintiff claims further discovery is necessary to locate the identity of 3 this correctional officer and his report, this request will be denied for the reasons discussed supra. 4 Plaintiff submits no other evidence in support of his claims. 5 V. Legal Standards 6 Summary judgment is appropriate when the moving party "shows that there is no genuine 7 dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. 8 Civ. P. 56(a). 9 Under summary judgment practice, "[t]he moving party initially bears the burden of 10 proving the absence of a genuine issue of material fact." In re Oracle Corp. Sec. Litig., 627 F.3d 11 376, 387 (9th Cir. 2010) (citing Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 323 (1986)). The moving 12 party may accomplish this by "citing to particular parts of materials in the record, including 13 depositions, documents, electronically stored information, affidavits or declarations, stipulations 14 (including those made for purposes of the motion only), admission, interrogatory answers, or 15 other materials" or by showing that such materials "do not establish the absence or presence of a 16 genuine dispute, or that the adverse party cannot produce admissible evidence to support the 17 fact." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(c)(1). "Where the non-moving party bears the burden of proof at trial, 18 the moving party need only prove that there is an absence of evidence to support the non-moving 19 party's case." Oracle Corp., 627 F.3d at 387 (citing Celotex, 477 U.S. at 325); see also Fed. R. 20 Civ. P. 56(c)(1)(B). Indeed, summary judgment should be entered, "after adequate time for 21 discovery and upon motion, against a party who fails to make a showing sufficient to establish the 22 existence of an element essential to that party's case, and on which that party will bear the burden 23 of proof at trial." Celotex, 477 U.S. at 322. "[A] complete failure of proof concerning an 24 essential element of the nonmoving party's case necessarily renders all other facts immaterial." 25 Id. at 323. Summary judgment should be granted, "so long as whatever is before the district court 26 demonstrates that the standard for entry of summary judgment . . . is satisfied." Id. at 323. 27 28 If the moving party meets its initial responsibility, the burden then shifts to the opposing party to establish that a genuine issue as to any material fact actually does exist. Matsushita Elec. 14 1 Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 586-87 (1986). In attempting to establish the 2 existence of this factual dispute, the opposing party may not rely upon the allegations or denials 3 of its pleadings but is required to tender evidence of specific facts in the form of affidavits, and/or 4 admissible discovery material, in support of its contention that the dispute exists. Fed. R. Civ. P. 5 56(c)(1); Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 n.11. The opposing party must demonstrate that the fact in 6 contention is material, i.e., a fact "that might affect the outcome of the suit under the governing 7 law," Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248 (1986); T.W. Elec. Serv., Inc. v. Pacific 8 Elec. Contractors Ass'n, 809 F.2d 626, 630 (9th Cir. 1987), and that the dispute is genuine, i.e., 9 "the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the nonmoving party," 10 Anderson, 447 U.S. at 248. 11 In the endeavor to establish the existence of a factual dispute, the opposing party need not 12 establish a material issue of fact conclusively in its favor. It is sufficient that "'the claimed 13 factual dispute be shown to require a jury or judge to resolve the parties' differing versions of the 14 truth at trial.'" T.W. Elec. Serv., 809 F.2d at 630 (quoting First Nat'l Bank v. Cities Serv. Co., 15 391 U.S. 253, 288-89 (1968). Thus, the "purpose of summary judgment is to pierce the pleadings 16 and to assess the proof in order to see whether there is a genuine need for trial." Matsushita, 475 17 U.S. at 587 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted). "In evaluating the evidence to determine whether there is a genuine issue of fact, [the 18 19 court] draw[s] all inferences supported by the evidence in favor of the non-moving party." Walls 20 v. Central Contra Costa Transit Auth., 653 F.3d 963, 966 (9th Cir. 2011) (citation omitted). It is 21 the opposing party's obligation to produce a factual predicate from which the inference may be 22 drawn. Richards v. Nielsen Freight Lines, 810 F.2d 898, 902 (9th Cir. 1987). Finally, to 23 demonstrate a genuine issue, the opposing party "must do more than simply show that there is 24 some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Matsushita, 475 U.S. at 586 (citations 25 omitted). "Where the record taken as a whole could not lead a rational trier of fact to find for the 26 non-moving party, there is no 'genuine issue for trial.'" Id. at 587 (quoting First Nat'l Bank, 391 27 U.S. at 289). 28 ////]= 15 1 VI. Discussion 2 A. 3 Plaintiff's claim against Nurse Gebrezghi is premised on her administration of two 4 intramuscular injections on June 4, 2010. Plaintiff contends this was deliberately indifferent to his 5 medical needs. 6 Nurse Gebrezghi Deliberate indifference to a prisoner's serious illness or injury, or risks of serious injury or 7 illness, gives rise to a claim under the Eighth Amendment. See Estelle v. Gamble, 429 U.S. 97, 8 105 (1976); see also Farmer v. Brennan, 511 U.S. 825, 837 (1994). This applies to physical as 9 well as dental and mental health needs. See Hoptowit v. Ray, 682 F.2d 1237, 1253 (9th Cir. 10 1982). An injury or illness is sufficiently serious if the failure to treat a prisoner's condition could 11 result in further significant injury or the "...unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain." McGuckin 12 v. Smith, 974 F.2d 1050, 1059 (9th Cir. 1992); see also Doty v. County of Lassen, 37 F.3d 540, 13 546 (9th Cir. 1994). Factors indicating seriousness are: (1) whether a reasonable doctor would 14 think that the condition is worthy of comment; (2) whether the condition significantly impacts the 15 prisoner's daily activities; and (3) whether the condition is chronic and accompanied by 16 substantial pain. See Lopez v. Smith, 203 F.3d 1122, 1131-32 (9th Cir. 2000) (en banc). 17 The requirement of deliberate indifference is less stringent in medical needs cases than in 18 other Eighth Amendment contexts because the responsibility to provide inmates with medical 19 care does not generally conflict with competing penological concerns. See McGuckin, 974 F.2d at 20 1060. Thus, deference need not be given to the judgment of prison officials as to decisions 21 concerning medical needs. See Hunt v. Dental Dep't, 865 F.2d 198, 200 (9th Cir. 1989). The 22 complete denial of medical attention may constitute deliberate indifference. See Toussaint v. 23 McCarthy, 801 F.2d 1080, 1111 (9th Cir. 1986). 24 Construing the facts in plaintiff's favor, as the court must, the evidence establishes that 25 Nurse Gebrezghi administered two intramuscular injections at the direction of Dr. Kumar and 26 over plaintiff's objections. Dr. Kumar submits that administering the medication in this manner 27 was reasonable and clinically indicated under the circumstances, which were extensively 28 documented at the time and included plaintiff's attempt to self-harm, his loud and argumentative 16 1 behavior, his threats to nursing staff, and the physical manifestations of his anger (veins popping 2 out of his neck and arms). While the injections were administered over plaintiff's objections, 3 which will be assumed to have caused psychological harm, there is simply no evidence that Nurse 4 Gebrezghi acted with a sufficiently culpable state of mind. Based on this evidence, the 5 undersigned concludes that no reasonable trier of fact would find that Nurse Gebrezghi violated 6 plaintiff's Eighth Amendment right to be free from excessive force. 7 Insofar as plaintiff's claim can construed as one involving the involuntary administration 8 of medication, inmates have a substantial liberty interest, grounded in the Due Process Clause, in 9 avoiding the involuntary administration of antipsychotic medication. See Washington v. Harper, 10 494 U.S. 210, 221-22 (1990) (holding that prisoners possess "a significant liberty interest in 11 avoiding the unwanted administration of antipsychotic drugs under the Due Process Clause of the 12 Fourteenth Amendment"). "[T]he Due Process Clause permits the State to treat a prison inmate 13 who has a serious mental illness with antipsychotic drugs against his will, if the inmate is 14 dangerous to himself or others and the treatment is in the inmate's medical interest." Id. at 227. 15 As noted, the evidence here demonstrates that plaintiff was both a danger to himself and to others. 16 Notably, plaintiff admits that he did not oppose the medication per se, only its intramuscular 17 administration. Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(f)(2). 18 And finally, to the extent plaintiff claims that Nurse Gebrezghi injected him in retaliation 19 for his threats against the nurses, he submits no evidence that she was present during or otherwise 20 aware of these threats, that her conduct was motivated by anything other than an order from Dr. 21 Kumar, or that the injections did not advance a legitimate correctional goal of subduing plaintiff 22 under the circumstances presented. See Rhodes v. Robinson, 408 F.3d 559, 567-68 (9th Cir. 23 2005) ("Within the prison context, a viable claim of First Amendment retaliation entails five basic 24 elements: (1) An assertion that a state actor took some adverse action against an inmate (2) 25 because of (3) that prisoner's protected conduct, and that such action (4) chilled the inmate's 26 exercise of his First Amendment rights, and (5) the action did not reasonably advance a legitimate 27 correctional goal.") 28 For these reasons, summary judgment should be entered for this defendant. 17 1 B. 2 Plaintiff's claim against Nurse Hu is premised on her alleged removal of a fan from under Nurse Hu 3 plaintiff's door on June 9, 2010, with malicious intent. This caused plaintiff's nose to bleed and 4 him to suffer under harsh conditions for twenty-four hours before another fan was placed in front 5 of his cell. 6 "The Eighth Amendment's prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment protects 7 prisoners not only from inhumane methods of punishment but also from inhumane conditions of 8 confinement." Morgan v. Morgensen, 465 F.3d 1041, 1045 (9th Cir. 2006) (citing Farmer, 511 9 U.S. at 847, and Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347 (1981)). Although conditions of 10 confinement may be, and often are, restrictive and harsh, they "must not involve the wanton and 11 unnecessary infliction of pain." Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347. 12 An Eighth Amendment claim challenging conditions of confinement must satisfy both 13 objective and subjective criteria. Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 298 (1991). First, the deprivation 14 must be sufficiently serious to implicate the Constitution. Id. The conditions of a prisoner's 15 confinement amount to cruel and unusual punishment only if he has been deprived of the 16 "minimal civilized measure of life's necessities." Rhodes, 452 U.S. at 347. Second, prison 17 officials are liable for the deprivation only if they acted with deliberate indifference to a 18 substantial risk of serious harm. Farmer, 511 U.S. at 828. The official must know of and disregard 19 an excessive risk to inmate health or safety; she must have been aware of facts from which the 20 inference could be drawn that a substantial risk of serious harm existed, and must actually have 21 drawn the inference. Id. at 837. 22 Nurse Hu is entitled to summary judgment on this claim because plaintiff has not satisfied 23 the objective element of his Eighth Amendment conditions of confinement claim. Setting aside 24 the fact that the nursing notes demonstrate that Nurse Hu's first interaction with plaintiff occurred 25 on June 11, 2010, two days after plaintiff claims she removed the fan, the records reveal that 26 plaintiff's cell temperature never rose over 75-degrees even in the absence of a fan and air 27 conditioning. This moderate temperature does not support plaintiff's claim that he suffered under 28 "extremely harsh conditions" as a result of Nurse Hu's conduct. Even if plaintiff can establish 18 1 deliberate indifference, his placement in a cell for 24 hours with a temperature never exceeding 2 75 degrees is not, objectively speaking, sufficiently serious to implicate the Constitution. Only 3 those deprivations denying the minimal civilized measure of life's necessities are sufficiently 4 grave to form the basis of an Eighth Amendment violation. Hudson v. McMillian, 503 U.S. 1, 9 5 (1992) (citations and quotations omitted); see also Graves v. Arpaio, 623 F.3d 1043, 1049 (9th 6 Cir. 2010) (per curiam) (noting the Eighth Amendment requires adequate heating, but not 7 necessarily a "comfortable" temperature). Summary judgment should therefore be entered for 8 Nurse Hu. 9 Plaintiff's excessive force claim against Nurse Hu is premised on the latter's placement of 10 a tight restraint on plaintiff's hand on June 11, 2010, and her refusal to loosen it after plaintiff 11 complained. When determining whether the force was excessive, the court looks to the "extent of 12 the injury suffered by an inmate . . . , the need for application of force, the relationship between 13 that need and the amount of force used, the threat 'reasonably perceived by the responsible 14 officials,' and 'any efforts made to temper the severity of a forceful response.'" Hudson, 503 U.S. 15 at 7 (citing Whitley, 475 U.S. at 321). While de minimis uses of physical force generally do not 16 implicate the Eighth Amendment, significant injury need not be evident in the context of an 17 excessive force claim, because "[w]hen prison officials maliciously and sadistically use force to 18 cause harm, contemporary standards of decency always are violated." Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9 19 (citing Whitley, 475 U.S. at 327). 20 The extent of injury suffered by the plaintiff may indicate the amount of force applied. 21 Wilkins v. Gaddy, 559 U.S. 34, 37 (2010). "[N]ot 'every malevolent touch by a prison guard 22 gives rise to a federal cause of action.'" Id. (quoting Hudson, 503 U.S. at 9). 23 24 25 26 27 The Eighth Amendment's prohibition of 'cruel and unusual' punishments necessarily excludes from constitutional recognition de minimis uses of physical force, provided that the use of force is not of a sort repugnant to the conscience of mankind. An inmate who complains of a 'push or shove' that causes no discernible injury almost certainly fails to state a valid excessive force claim. Injury and force, however, are only imperfectly correlated, and it is the latter that ultimately counts." 28 19 1 Wilkins, 559 U.S. at 37-38 (internal citations and some internal quotation marks omitted). 2 Nurse Hu denies having placed the restraints too tightly and asserts that it is her practice 3 to allow three fingers to be placed between the inmate-patient and the restraints so that circulation 4 will not be restricted. Assuming arguendo that Nurse Hu did place the restraints on plaintiff 5 tightly, there is no evidence of plaintiff's complaints of pain or injury to Nurse Hu or any other 6 staff member. There is also no evidence of any physical injury to plaintiff, such as bruising, 7 swelling or abrasion. Instead, the evidence demonstrates that plaintiff repeatedly frustrated 8 nursing staff's efforts to place the restraints on him, both before and after Nurse Hu's shift; that 9 he was combative, uncooperative, unpredictable, threatening, and violent; and that numerous 10 times the range of motion exercises were not performed by Nurse Hu or other nursing staff 11 because of plaintiff's conduct. There is also evidence from defendants' expert, who opines that 12 plaintiff's complaints can be attributed to his borderline personality disorder because individuals 13 exhibiting that condition believe others do not care about them enough or even want to punish 14 them. DSUF ¶ 81. On the facts presented then, the undersigned concludes that no reasonable trier 15 of fact would find that the force applied by Nurse Hu was anything more than de minimis and of 16 minimal duration. Thus, summary judgment should be entered for Nurse Hu. Based on the foregoing, the undersigned will recommend that defendants' motion for 17 18 summary judgment granted. In light of this recommendation, the court declines to consider 19 defendants' alternate argument that they are entitled to qualified immunity. 20 IV. 21 22 23 24 Conclusion Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that plaintiff's request to continue (ECF No. 56) is DENIED; and IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED that defendants' motion for summary judgment be granted and this action be dismissed. 25 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District Judge 26 assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within fourteen days 27 after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 28 objections with the court and serve a copy on all parties. Such a document should be captioned 20 1 "Objections to Magistrate Judge's Findings and Recommendations." 2 Any reply to the objections shall be served and filed within fourteen days after service of 3 the objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal 4 the District Court's order. Turner v. Duncan, 158 F.3d 449, 455 (9th Cir. 1998); Martinez v. Ylst, 5 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 6 Dated: December 23, 2016 7 8 9 10 11 /DLB7 DB/Inbox/Substantive/mcmu0103.msj 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 21


New Webcomic: I've been writing a script for what I intend to be a new webcomic. It's only in the beginning stages right now, but I hope to be able to say more about it soon.
I've started working for a client who does webinars. He records his webinars in front of a green screen and downloads a virtual set. He has hired me to essentially dress the virtual set in Photoshop. It's actually a pretty fun project!
This past week, I finished three illustrations for a recurring client and animated them as .GIFs. The concept for these illustrations was a bit challenging, but I'm happy with the overall result.
The Ink Drinker: I've been working on and off to turn my short story The Ink Drinker into a novel. So far, I've written over 60 pages, which I think is a pretty good start.
Work in Progress: I have finished drawing the thumbnails for volumes two and three of The Poet and the Flea!! Volume two will be 123 pages long and volume three will be 142. Now, all that's left is to draw all the final illustrated pages!
The Plague and Doctor Caim: The script is complete for this new graphic novel project about a plague doctor. I have also finished illustrating the cover and the first 18 pages. I'm excited to keep working on this project!
Hello Blob: I've begun posting full-color doodles of my strange, original character Hello Blob to my Patreon. To become my patron, please visit www.patreon.com/gegallas.
July 23rd (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.): DC Zinefest in Washington D.C., dczinefest.wordpress.com.
September 17th – 18th (11 a.m. – 7 p.m., noon to 6 p.m.): SPX (Small Press Expo) in Bethesda, Maryland, spxpo.com.
This August, I'll have been working a full year as an art teacher for an after school program for elementary school students. I've been teaching drawing, painting, digital classes, keyboarding, and storytelling. Overall, it's been a great experience so far.
Related Post: Convention Schedule 2016.
Saturday, July 15th (11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.): DC Zinefest in Washington D.C., dczinefest.wordpress.com.
Saturday, September 16th (11 a.m. – 7 p.m.) – Sunday, September 17th (noon to 6 p.m.): SPX (Small Press Expo) in Bethesda, Maryland, spxpo.com.
Saturday, December 16th (1 – 7 p.m.): Bmore Into Comics Issue #16 in Baltimore, Maryland, bmoreintocomics.com.
Patrons #1-3 will receive a Hello Blob zine and a The Poet and the Flea postcard (please provide shipping address)!
Patrons #4-18 will receive a The Plague and Doctor Caim art print and a The Poet and the Flea postcard (please provide shipping address)!
Patrons #19-50 will receive a Hello Blob computer wallpaper!
I am a writer and illustrator best known for my graphic novel The Poet and the Flea about the poet-painter William Blake and for my illustrations in Scared Stiff: Everything You Need to Know About 50 Famous Phobias by Sara Latta (Zest Books).
Fall 2015, I finished illustrating volume one of The Poet and the Flea and ran a successful Kickstarter campaign to self-publish and print it. Now, I am working on volumes two and three.
I am also working on another graphic novel called The Plague and Doctor Caim about a 17th-Century plague doctor. Moreover, I have a number of future graphic novels in the works as well as illustrated zines, freelance projects, and other creative projects of various shapes and sizes.
By becoming a patron, you are supporting my work as a writer and illustrator. I hope that my patrons will help me eventually become a full-time writer and illustrator.
Patrons will gain access to special never-before-seen content that won't be posted anywhere else!
SUNDAY: Sketchbook Sunday: weekly sketches.
MONDAY: Miscellaneous Monday: weekly miscellaneous illustrations/comics/other creative content.
TUESDAY: Thumbnail Tuesday: weekly thumbnail sketches of pages from graphic novel The Poet and the Flea.
WEDNESDAY: Work in Progress Wednesday: weekly images of works in progress.
THURSDAY: Hello Blob Thursday: weekly full-color illustrations of my original character Hello Blob.
This schedule may be subject to change, but it will always include my original creative content.
Pledge $1 and up: You will receive SKETCHBOOK SUNDAY.
Pledge $5 and up: You will receive SKETCHBOOK SUNDAY and MISCELLANEOUS MONDAY.
Pledge $10 and up: You will receive SKETCHBOOK SUNDAY, MISCELLANEOUS MONDAY, and THUMBNAIL TUESDAY.
Pledge $12 and up: You will receive SKETCHBOOK SUNDAY, MISCELLANEOUS MONDAY, THUMBNAIL TUESDAY, and WORK IN PROGRESS WEDNESDAY.
Pledge $15 and up: You will receive SKETCHBOOK SUNDAY, MISCELLANEOUS MONDAY, THUMBNAIL TUESDAY, WORK IN PROGRESS WEDNESDAY, and THE PLAGUE AND DOCTOR CAIM.
Send out Kickstarter rewards ASAP! I've more or less sent out all Kickstarter rewards for The Poet and the Flea (Volume 1). The only ones I haven't sent out are to backers that never gave me their shipping address. I'll have to try to contact those backers again.
Work on illustrating The Poet and the Flea volumes 2 and 3. The script and thumbnail drafts for The Poet and the Flea volumes two and three are complete, so I feel like I've accomplished a good chunk this year. I haven't started on final pages yet, but I'm hoping to do so in the near future. I'm also working on illustrating another graphic novel, The Plague and Doctor Caim as well as writing a few more graphic novel scripts.
Work on wolf-related and/or opera-related graphic novel script. This year, I completed the script for The Plague and Doctor Caim, a 100-page graphic novel. I'm around halfway through writing the wolf-related graphic novel script. I've also been working on the opera-related graphic novel script, which is taking a lot of research and translation.
Work on more illustrations for Hello Blob. I've been working on a somewhat big Hello Blob project only recently, a couple doodles every night.
Work on Harajuku-related project. I'm putting this project on the back burner for now. This year, I also bought a bunch of blank Kokeshi dolls I'd like to paint as another (maybe Hello-Blob-related) project.
Get back to work on graphic novel The First Reich. This project is definitely on the back burner for now.
Exhibit at SPX 2016 and other alternative comic conventions. This year, I exhibited at PIX (Pittsburgh Indie Comix Expo), Creator Con, DC Zinefest, SPX (Small Press Expo), and Richmond Zine Fest. I also did two art shows, ARTSHOW_15: Comix and Gallery 102: Series No. __. I'm looking forward to exhibiting at more conventions next year!
Get a part-time job that has a creative component and is fun. The first 8 months of this year, I was a cake decorator — which was a somewhat creative job, but wasn't that great. Now, I'm an after school art teacher, which is a million times more creative and fun!
Possibly apply to some fellowships and/or programs. I did apply to a few different things this year, but to varying results. I think I was most successful with conventions and art shows.
Continue practicing Japanese. I'm always trying to practice my Japanese. I didn't practice as much as I wanted to, but it's something I try to keep up.
Work on illustrating The Poet and the Flea volumes 2 and 3.
Work on illustrating The Plague and Doctor Caim.
Send queries to literary agents about The Plague and Doctor Caim.
Work on wolf-related, opera-related, and/or Wild-West-related graphic novel scripts.
Work on more illustrations for Hello Blob.
Exhibit at SPX 2017, DC Zinefest, and other alternative comic conventions.
Work on some more freelance illustration projects.
Possibly put lots of work into a new illustration portfolio.
Kickstarter: I've been tying up the last few loose ends of my Kickstarter campaign from last fall. I only have a couple hardcover sketches left to draw, but they're for myself and a few family members. Also, I'm interested in following up with my backers.
Distribution: I'm starting off small and approaching a few local comic book stores. I have a list of comic book and indie book stores I hope to contact in the near future. As always, you can order The Poet and the Flea (Vol. 1) via Storenvy: thepoetandtheflea.storenvy.com/products/14290572-the-poet-and-the-flea-vol-1-paperback-edition.
Work in Progress: I have finished drawing the thumbnails for volumes two and three of The Poet and the Flea!! Volume two will be 123 pages long and volume three will be 142. Now, I can start on the final illustrated pages!
The script is complete for this new graphic novel project about a plague doctor. The cover and first two pages are also finished. I'm hoping to illustrate the next 8 or so pages over the next few weeks!
A couple months ago, I was hired by a local film production company to be their social media manager and graphic designer. I am extremely excited about this job! For more information, click here: gegallaswriterillustrator.wordpress.com/2016/06/23/collaboration-the-sandi-connection.
April 2nd (11 a.m. – 6 p.m.): PIX (Pittsburgh Indy Comix Expo), pixcomics.blogspot.com.
April 23rd (2 – 8 p.m.): Creator Con (Festival of Innovation in Technology, Art, & Gaming) in Silver Spring, Maryland, creatorconfestival.com.
Friday, September 30th – Saturday, October 1st (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.): Richmond Zine Fest in Richmond, Virginia, richmondzinefest.org.
I am in the process of applying to more conventions and will periodically update this list!
Printing: After much trial and error, The Poet and the Flea (Volume 1) is finally printed! Last week, I picked up the paperback edition and sent out all paperbacks for Kickstarter backers. Yesterday, I picked up the hardcover edition and will begin preparing them to be sent out. Storenvy orders will be sent out soon.
Distribution: Next, I will be submitting The Poet and the Flea (Vol. 1) to a few alternative press distributors. I also have a list of bookstores that might be interested in carrying The Flea. As always, you can order The Poet and the Flea (Vol. 1) via Storenvy: thepoetandtheflea.storenvy.com/products/14290572-the-poet-and-the-flea-vol-1-paperback-edition.
Work in Progress: Over the past few weeks, I have been working on thumbnail drawings (rough sketches of illustrated pages) for The Poet and the Flea. I have finished drawing thumbnails for volume two and am almost done with thumbnails for volume three. Volume two will be 123 pages long. Volume three will be a bit longer than that.
I have been working on a new graphic novel project about a plague doctor. The script is a little over half way finished. The graphic novel will be 100 pages long when illustrated. I finished drawing, coloring, and designing the cover and am in the process of drawing the first five or so pages.
I've been applying and continue to apply to a bunch of comic-book-related conventions. There are a few conventions I will be exhibiting at coming up in April. So I will post a schedule soon.
For the past month or so, I have been very busy working part-time as a cake decorator and am just starting to get used to it. Most of my coworkers are very nice and friendly, and the work is somewhat creative and fun, so it's not too bad.
Finish illustrating volume one (first 94 pages) of The Poet and the Flea.
Use Kickstarter as a way for everyone to preorder The Poet and the Flea volume one.
Have The Poet and the Flea volume one printed at a local company. This resolution is currently in progress and will be complete in a few weeks.
Hopefully get into a summer publishing program at either NYU or Columbia. I attended the New York University Summer Publishing Institute this summer.
Next semester, take "Publication Design with InDesign" course at Montgomery College.
Get back to work on graphic novel The First Reich. I haven't had a chance to work on this yet, but I'm scheduled to get in touch with writer Shannon Brady in January and will take it from there.
Finally go into production for short film Death Is No Bad Friend. Unfortunately, this project is on the back burner for now.
Exhibit at SPX 2015 (to debut The Poet and the Flea volume one). I exhibited at SPX (Small Press Expo) this year, but The Poet and the Flea (Vol. 1) wasn't ready yet. I'm hoping to debut the final book next year.
Launch Radiant Pessimist Press. The Poet and the Flea (Vol. 1) is Radiant Pessimist Press's first book.
Send out Kickstarter rewards ASAP!
Work on illustrating The Poet and the Flea volumes 2 and 3. The script for all three volumes is complete. I'm hoping to start creating thumbnail drafts in the next few weeks.
Get The Poet and the Flea (Vol. 1) into bookstores.
Work on wolf-related and/or opera-related graphic novel script.
Get back to work on graphic novel The First Reich.
Exhibit at SPX 2016 and other alternative comic conventions.
Get a part-time job that has a creative component and is fun.
Possibly apply to some fellowships and/or programs.


A jigsaw puzzle is an overlaying puzzle that requires the building of numerous little interlocking and decorating pieces. A jigsaw puzzle delivers a complete photo when it is finished assembling where every piece is a little part of a photo.
Jigsaw puzzles were initially made by painting a photo on a level, rectangular bit of wood, and after that cutting that photo into little pieces with a jigsaw, consequently the name. John Spilsbury, an etcher and mapmaker is sold the principal jigsaw puzzles about 1760. Ever since the jigsaw puzzles have originate to be completed basically on cardboard.
Average pictures found on jigsaw puzzles incorporate scenes from natural surroundings, structures, and dreary outlines. Manors and mountains are two customary subjects. Be that as it may, any sort of picture can be utilized to make a jigsaw puzzle; now it's even conceivable to transform individual photos into puzzles. Additionally within late years a range of jigsaw puzzle extras including move up mats, casings, cases and sheets has become to be available to help jigsaw puzzle aficionados.
Since jigsaw puzzle are less demanding and less expensive to mass produce than the first wooden models, most up-to-date jigsaw puzzles are made out of cardboard. An extended photo or two-dimensional work of art or other printed multiplication of an artistic creation is bonded onto the cardboard before cutting. This board is then nourished into a press. The press drives an arrangement of solidified steel sharp edges of the coveted shape through the board until it is completely cut. This method is like making molded treats with a treat cutter. The strengths included, be that as it may, are enormously more noteworthy and a run of the mill 1000-piece puzzle will require a press which can create upwards of 700 tons of power to push the blades of the puzzle pass on through the board. A puzzle bite the dust contains a level board, frequently produced using plywood, which has spaces cut or blazed fit as a fiddle as the blades that will be utilized. These blades are set into the spaces and secured in a compressible material, ordinarily froth elastic, the capacity of which is the launch of the cut puzzle pieces. The top line jigsaw puzzle market having a developing section with the new innovation of wooden jigsaw puzzles empowered by laser trimming.
Jigsaw puzzles regularly come in 300-piece, 500-piece, 750-piece, and 1000-piece sizes, however the biggest business puzzle has 32,256 pieces and traverses 544 cm by 192 cm. The most widely recognized design for a thousand-piece puzzle is 38 pieces by 27 pieces, for an aggregate number of 1,026 pieces. The larger part of 500-piece puzzles are 27 pieces by 19 pieces. Kids' jigsaw puzzles arrive in an extraordinary assortment of sizes, appraised by the quantity of pieces. A couple puzzles are made twofold sided, with the goal that they can be illuminated from either side. This includes a level of intricacy, since it can't be sure that the right half of the piece is being seen and gathered with alternate pieces.
There are additionally Family Puzzles, which come in 400-piece with three diverse measured pieces from substantial till small. The pieces are set from expansive to minor going in one course or towards the center of the puzzle. This permits a family or puzzlers of various ability levels and distinctive size hands to chip away at the puzzle in the meantime.
There are likewise three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles. A number of these are made of wood or Styrofoam and require the puzzle to be unraveled in a specific request; a few pieces won't fit in on the off chance that others are now set up. Likewise regular are puzzle boxes: basic three-dimensional jigsaw puzzles with a little drawer or box in the inside for capacity.
A puzzle globe is a different kind of jigsaw puzzle and viewed as a 3-D puzzle. Nevertheless like a 2-D puzzle, a globe puzzle is frequently made of cardboard and the collected pieces frame a solitary layer. Be that as it may, predominantly like a 3-D puzzle, the last frame is a 3-D form. Utmost globe puzzles have plans speaking to circular shapes, for example, the Moon, the Earth, and authentic globes of the Earth.
There are likewise PC adaptations of jigsaw puzzles, which have the upsides of requiring zero cleanup and additionally no danger of losing any pieces. You can download such diversions for your PC and even PDAs or play them online on destinations like the one you're on right at this point. On the World Wide Web, we include new jigsaws every day and you can pick your trouble level with a single tick, spare your diversions, procure focuses and contend other online players for nothing.
The most usually utilized way to deal with building a puzzle is to begin by isolating the edges from inner part pieces. Once the edges are associated it is simpler to move internal. It is prescribed to pick one comprising of numerous regions with differentiating plans and hues for those new to puzzles. This empowers the narrowing down of potential bits of the puzzle where a specific piece will fit.
One puzzle comprehending technique is the utilization of the photo on the crate as an aide. Once the edge is finished and the area of a specific piece is found (in the photo), it can be put inside the general puzzle at the surmised area it has a place. Interlocking the pieces will be conceivable in the end when it is done in necessary times.
Another methodology is to categorize the pieces by shading, and work on one shading at once. At the point when working expansive zones with the same shading, (for example, the sky in numerous scene puzzles), shape is critical. Every one of the bits of a specific shading can be laid in a network and attempted against different pieces in the framework.
Numerous huge jigsaw puzzles have repetition in their cut example. Numerous have 180 degrees of turning regularity around their middle point.
Puzzles of 1000 pieces additionally for the most part include a littler cut shape that is rehashed 4 or 6 times over the entire jigsaw, and that littler cut shape for the most part likewise has 180 degrees of turning regularity so a specific shape may show up 8 or 12 times in the puzzle (in spite of the fact that with truncation for border pieces). It is conceivable to recognize the nearness of these regularities or redundancies generally right on time during the time spent finishing the border outline. At the point when excess is distinguished, it is conceivable to utilize effectively fathomed parts of the puzzle to recognize the careful states of pieces required to finish different segments, incredibly disentangling the hunt.


Stock #159190 - Excellent Kodiak Motor Sailer! Low Hours On Yanmar 3GM30! Fresh Top-Side Paint, Bottom Ablative-Great Shape! Well Serviced - Ready For Your Next Sail!If you are in the market for a motorsailer, look no further than this 1993 Nimble Kodiak 226, priced right at $25,000 (offers encouraged).This sailboat is located in Brunswick, Georgia and is in great condition. She is also equipped with a Yanmar engine that has 750 hours.We are looking for people all over the country who share our love for boats. If you have a passion for our product and like the idea of working from home, please visit SellBoatsAndRVs [dot] com to learn more.This listing has now been on the market 30 days. If you are thinking of making an offer, go ahead and submit it today! Let's make a deal!Reason for selling is down sizing.At POP Yachts, we will always provide you with a TRUE representation of every vessel we market. We encourage all buyers to schedule a survey for an independent analysis. Any offer to purchase is ALWAYS subject to satisfactory survey results.Take a look at ALL . of this vessel on our main website at 1993 Nimble Kodiak 226. We appreciate that you took your time to look at our advertisement and we look forward to speaking with you!
Sailboat Skimmer 25 by Nimble Boats 1993. Head added. Deisel rebuilt 2015.


text:
The storm from the Balkans
Published by B92 on Wed, 09/04/2019 - 09:39
Grigor Dimitrov's victory over Roger Federer in the US open quarterfinal clash with a 0-7 record against 19-time major champion had surprised many, maybe himself as well, as nothing indicated something like that could have happened.
The world hadn't given him much chances in this match. But tennis would not be such a beautiful sport if the so-called wonders were not possible. Still, this is not a mystery, as Federer is in his late tennis years, with the pain in his upper back adding to a quarterfinal defeat: 3:6, 6:4, 3:6, 6:4, 6:2.
The Swiss with 38 years of age was the oldest quarterfinalist since Jimmy Connors who used to play in semifinal in 1991.
Grigor, on the other hand, had presented his rich talent earlier, but never followed through till the end of the tournament. In the match in which Federer performed 61 unforced errors, Dimitrov had done everything to make a breakthrough and win the match.
Still, the Bulgarian came into the clash determined to show his quarterfinal run wasn't a surprise after seeing his ranking drop to No. 78 prior to the tournament. Black series cannot last long with the good players. It has to get going, and Grigor witnessed it on the US Open.
To make it even more ironic, he performed great just when neither of his two coaches, Agassi or Stepanek, traveled with him. Therefore, it may not be bad for him to travel alone in future, as Grigor has shown that without them he can defeat anyone, including Federer.
Continue reading on:
www.b92.net
Learn more on tagged terms
SocialTags
Summer Olympic Games
Münchenstein
Roger Federer tennis season
Wimbledon Championships – Men's Singles final
More News by B92
Vucic spoke to O'Brien in Davos
Vucic in Davos: Two panels and numerous meetings
O'Brien retweeted Vucic PHOTO
Balkan expert: This is also agreed upon with the pressure of America
"I'm not thrilled, but I represent Serbia"
NIN Award to Sasa Ilic for the novel "The Dog and the Double Bass"
"While Europe is asleep, Putin is winning"
Vucic: I want killers and drug dealers behind bars
News monthly archive

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Seller: caracalla10 (8,165) 100%, Location: Bavaria, Ships to: Worldwide, Item: 142934672374 4 Celtic Ancient Glass Beads, 300 - 100 BC., VERY RARE !! You are bidding on 4 original Celtic Ancient Glass Beads, dated to 3rd - 1st Century BC. Wearable; these beads need re-stringing to be a part of a modern beautiful necklace. Diameter of these beads: 10 mm - 12,5 mm. Intact beads. VERY RARE !! VERY GOOD QUALITY !! Former German private collection. You are buying the same beads in these pictures. Authenticity guaranteed. I will combine shipping; you pay only the shipping cost for the first item; rest is for free. Shipping costs: worldwide by registered letter 5,00 US Dollars or 3,50 Euros. And now good luck for bidding !!!
Popularity - High amount of bids. 2 views, 0.0 views per day, 224 days on eBay. Normal amount of views. 1 sold, 0 available.
High amount of bids. 2 views, 0.0 views per day, 224 days on eBay. Normal amount of views. 1 sold, 0 available.


text:
Sorely tempted
technology, video games
For the first time I really have an urge to get an XBox. It's a very curious thought, since the 'feel' of the XBox library doesn't much coincide with my gaming interests. A console where the highest-profile exclusive offerings come in the form of FPS, racers, and Western-style RPGs generally doesn't appeal to me. But it seems now like the XBox is catching some of the quirky RPGs that more suit my style. I'm specifically talking about Eternal Sonata, a new cel-shaded RPG set in the mind of Frederic Chopin shortly before his death of tuberculosis. The concept alone — and the idea of music informing the RPG mechanics — is pretty intriguing, but I've also been very drawn by the game art I've seen so far and the descriptions of the combat system. Ultimately it's not quite enough to convince me to blow hundreds of dollars on a system that still doesn't have much that I want. That said, if the XBox continues to get more of this kind of game, a sort that used to be more or less the exclusive province of the PS2, the case for it will get stronger and stronger in my mind.
Hot alien lesbian sex!


The stock has retraced 2.8% from its recent high price of 6.69 which occurred on 21-Sep-2012. A close below 20-day moving average of 6.17 could mark high of 6.69 as recent high.
The stock has recovered 8.5% from its recent low price of 12.46 which occurred on 7-Aug-2012. The current price is above the 50 day moving average of 13.35. Sustained move above the average could signal development of an uptrend.
The stock has recovered 14.1% from its recent low price of 26.18 which occurred on 26-Jun-2012. A close above 20-day moving average of 31.05 could mark low of 26.18 as a recent low.
The stock has retraced 4.6% from its recent high price of 73.66 which occurred on 27-Aug-2012. The current price is below the 50 day moving average of 71.75. Sustained move below the average could put the recent uptrend in jeapordy.


This is a service with fair games. The winning number is known immediately.
Three lines which are encrypted with SHA-512 generated before every games. These lines contains salt and a number (from 0 to 999999). We can say that you see the encrypted result of the game. The method can guarantee 100% honesty, because the result of the game you will see in advance, and changing of any number or line will change the hash.
Сlick On the "link to check" after completion."Link to check"


Oops! Server page not found.
Perhaps it was removed due to a long offline or you have specified the wrong ServerID.
Meanwhile, you may return to dashboard or choose what you need from navigation menu.
Please take a look at menu on the left side.


text:
Q: Unique Solution with period $1$ For any continuous function $f(z)$ of period $1$. Show that $\varphi'=2\pi \varphi+f(t)$ has a unique solution of period $1$.
Is this problem wrong with the counter example $\varphi(t)=e^{2\pi t}$. Shall we change it into  $\varphi'=2\pi i\varphi+f(t)$

A: Look for a solution $\varphi(t) = z(t)\exp(2\pi t)$, then
$$
z'(t) = f(t) \exp(-2\pi t)\\
z(t) = z(0) + \int_0^t f(s) \exp(-2\pi s) ds\\
\varphi(t) = \varphi(0)\exp(2\pi t)+ \int_0^t f(s) \exp(2\pi (t-s))ds
$$
Now if the solution is 1 periodic:
$$
\varphi(0) =\varphi(1)\\
 = \varphi(0)\exp(2\pi )+ \int_0^1 f(s) \exp(2\pi (1-s))ds
$$gives you an unique possibility for $\varphi(0)=y_0$.
Now, for such a solution
$$
\varphi'(t) = 2\pi\varphi + f(t), \varphi(0)=y_0\\
\frac d{dt}\varphi(t+1) = \varphi'(t+1)
 = 2\pi\varphi(t+1) + f(t+1), \varphi(0+1)=\varphi(1)=y_0\\
$$
as the solution of the Cauchy problem is unique, then $\varphi(t+1)=\varphi(t)$.
This solution is then a 1 periodic solution.

A: What you want is a solution of the boundary value problem on $[0,1]$ with periodic boundary condition: $\varphi(1)=\varphi(0)$. It helps to focus on the map $\mathbb R\to\mathbb R$ defined by  $T: \varphi(0)  \mapsto  \varphi(1)  $. You should check that:

*

*$T$ is injective. This follows from the uniqueness of the IVP with initial condition  specified at $1$.

*$T$ is an affine map: $Tx=ax+b$ where $a,b$ are constant. Indeed,  $b$ is what you get from $\varphi(0)=0$. The linearity follows from the equation being linear in $\varphi$. The constant $a$ has nothing to do with $f$, it comes from the homogeneous equation $\varphi'=2\pi \varphi$. You can and should write it down explicitly.

*Key point: $a\ne 1$.

Conclude that there is a unique $x\in\mathbb R$ such that $Tx=x$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Region's top asphalt plant arrives in Guyana
Reg. 6 health sector trains 103
'Wuh greens yuh gettin' today?'
Luncheon hosted in honour of Pres. Granger's 74th birth anniversary
Significant milestone – $186M tertiary Hinterland Student Dormitory commissioned
Public Advisories
Government Ministries
Department of Public Information
Department of Social Cohesion
Department of Environment
Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs
Berbice Bulletin
Hinterland Highlights
International Youth Day Message
Aug 12, 2018 Department of Social Cohesion, Government, Ministry of the Presidency, News, Press Releases
Editorial Editor
Editor | Department of Public Information
editors@dpi.gov.gy
Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael.
Director of Youth, Melissa Carmichael
International Youth Day is observed annually on August 12 each year to recognise and celebrate the contributions of young people. As we observe this day under the theme "Safe Spaces for Youth" I wish to inform the youths of this nation that the Government of Guyana continues to make available safe spaces for young people to come together and share in activities that are geared towards making meaningful contributions to the nation's development.
Also, the New Urban Agenda (NUA) reiterates the need for public spaces for youth to enable them to interact with family and have constructive inter-generational dialogue. Additionally, the World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY) which is the UN framework for youth development prioritises the provision of "leisure activities" as essential to the psychological, cognitive and physical development of young people.
Guyana's young people are a national priority and as such the Department of Youth is committed to doing its part by developing comprehensive programmes using a strategic multi-sectorial approach aimed at addressing the critical needs of Guyanese youth.
We recognise and embrace the crucial roles we are expected to play in ensuring that the government's commitment to the youth of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana is realised, as such, the Department of Youth stands ready to implement and execute its mandates/policies which aim at preparation and empowerment of our youth to participate and excel in a Green State.
We have and will continue to ensure that young people across this great land have access to safe spaces that are adequately equipped to facilitate the empowerment through training and awareness initiatives that will enable them to make meaningful contributions in their personal and community's development.
As we observe this day, I encourage youths to make full use of the resources provided to enhance their development and their respective communities whilst fostering peace and social cohesion.
Happy International Youth Day!
"Safe Spaces for Youth", 2018, Director of Youth Melissa Carmichael, DPI, government, Green State, Guyana, International Youth day, New Urban Agenda (NUA), World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY)
Author Details Shaquille Bourne Author Communications Officer | Department of Public Information email shaquille.bourne@dpi.gov.gy follow me – full installation by September – construction costs of asphalted roads to be reduced DPI, Guyana, Monday, July 15, 2019 The most modern asphalt...
Luncheon hosted in honour of Pres. Granger's...
Significant milestone – $186M tertiary...
Paramakatoi water supply system now in testing...
Monitoring and Evaluation key to effective...
Moving beyond research – UG to reduce its...
First Lady, UNICEF laud school health club...
"Education is now moving on the correct...
News Categories Select CategoryFeatures (16)Media Centre (41) Documents (1) Policies (1) Press Statements (26) Speeches (8)News (14,013) Government (13,574) Ministry of Agriculture (713) Ministry of Business and Tourism (600) Ministry of Communities (1,282) Ministry of Education (1,047) Ministry of Finance (384) Ministry of Foreign Affairs (478) Ministry of Indigenous Peoples' Affairs (669) Ministry of Legal Affairs (330) Ministry of Natural Resources (703) Ministry of Public Health (1,095) Ministry of Public Infrastructure (879) Ministry of Public Security (545) Ministry of Public Telecommunications (285) Ministry of Social Protection (651) Ministry of the Presidency (3,892) Citizenship (69) Department of Energy (6) Department of Environment (26) Department of Public Service (36) Department of Social Cohesion (695) Office of the Prime Minister (491) State (216) Youth Affairs (8) Judiciary (1) Legislative (587) Parliament (582)Offbeat (33)OP-ED (26) My Turn (24)Photos (59)Press Releases (3,165)Public Advisories (7)Publications (3)
Application for Guyana Passport
Gazetteer - Names of places along Guyana's roads
DHB Watch
Ministry of Business
Area 'B' Homestretch Avenue
D'Urban Park
Georgetown, Guyana
Email: info@dpi.gov.gy
Switchboard: 592 226 6715 | 592 226 8849
Info Hub | Whatsapp: 592 608 4111
© 2019 Department of Public Information, Guyana | All rights reserved.


World in change, business culture in change….
We live in defining and exiting years of human history. This is the time where big changes can happen in short time. Technology and innovative thinking can change structures and reach globally in accelerated speed.
Technology has made it possible to share knowledge and life experiences globally. This has made higher awareness of how we as humans effect each other. The challenges of our consumer world and use of resources have become explicit. There is need to take action to preserve our environment for future generations. With the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agreed by all UN nations we have a common platform..
Business culture is in change. The Millennials would like to contribute to solve global challenges. Seth Bannon claims that 83% of MBA students would take a pay cut to work at a social impact company. The change in business culture away from maximizing return as the only goal towards a culture where impact and triple bottom line counts is good news. The world need new ways of thinking for a sustainable future and to reach the SDG before 2030.
In this new era impact companies outperform their peers. Young people would like to align their career and investments with their values. The new generation employees are also more innovative and more global.
With new attitudes, global understanding and goals, new technology and possibilities for exponential development, the future is exiting.


There are times when you just wished that you did not have to worry about your financial obligations, commitments, and budgeting and you could fly off to the destination that you have always longed for. After all, when you have worked all your life, you surely deserve to take a break at times. If you are mentally healthy, you can earn for several years to come. But rejuvenating yourself mentally and physically is a must too!
Making arrangements and take off!
At this stage, you need to decide whether it is the "Sun and the Sea", "Sand dunes", or "Snow". Your imagination starts to run wild right from this moment itself and sets the stage for more excitement and thrill that is slated to follow. However, this stage is crucial too because the place or the type of vacation you opt for or intend to undertake will decide your budget.
Whether you have to buy essential items before the trip like medicines, and so on.
You also have to assess your financial status at this point of time. In other words, how much cash do you have at your disposal for spending on the vacation?
This is a crucial aspect that you have to deal with. If you find that you don't have adequate cash at hand, you can always apply for financial aid in form of loans. It can be payday loans, or payday loans alternative like short term, personal loans, and so on.
Once you have decided the type of loan you want to avail, next is to zero-in on the right lender. Remember, it is best to work with a known lender, someone you have worked with earlier or your friends have worked with before so that you get first-hand information.
Now that you have settled for the lender, discuss about the terms and conditions and start the documentation process for availing loan. While few lenders will require your credit score and credit history, others may be willing to deal with you without asking for any past credit history.
In fact, you will also come across many such lenders that work with individuals with bad credit history. However, for such deals, you might have to shell out a higher rate of interest, which acts as security for the lender.
You provide bank details, your employment status, social security number if required, and contact details. Most of the financial institutions disburse the loan amount within two business working days.
Once the loan amount reaches your bank account, you can start doing the bookings or buying the essentials that you might require for your journey. Make sure you are aware of the various regulations and norms pertaining to the travel agenda.
Aside from the above, you will be required to know a few things about the place you are visiting that might include, rules for tipping, restrictions in dress code especially while entering sacred places, local dialect, local etiquette and mannerism, how much currency you can carry on yourself, and so on.


Weai??i??ve got an advantageous offer for your Arimidex needs. Check our store and get it only for 6.86 USD today!
take arimidex exactly as your doctor tells you to order raloxifene no prescription online take it.
Carefully bored chiffonnier was the troublesomely diploid issuance. Bogtrotter was the ashy Order morass. Spindly freights extremly tandemly unyokes.
because Buy anastrozole is the generic alternative for arimidex, there is no manufacturer-sponsored prescription assistance program for anastrozole 1 mg.
1 h available version price cost generic brand buy prometrium suppositories prescription without online anastrozole date canada effectiveness arimidex name.
Yowls have harboured. Traditionally reluctant swages are the across the Purchase pond penetrative snowdrops.
i ve heard some ladies say they Cheap gain weight with arimidex also.
the funny arimidex http://eni-seafood.com/order-duphalac-dosage/ is how everyone thinks roids are really bad.
Hometown can best within the literary inobservance. Bracingly repulsive transferral will have deranged legalistically Bactrim the liability.


The painting workshop, taught by Katie Kendrick, a lovely talented generous spirit, was full of many experiences both good and challenging. I'm still processing it all. There were also unexpected logistical issues (having nothing to do with the workshop) of a wide variety that threw me for some loops, but were opportunities to learn more about myself (more good and challenging).
There are several works in progress from the different exercises. The one above is from day one- made with photos of a moth, one of Moon's birthday cakes, and that mouth I stitched collaged with acrylic paints. Funny, I had arrived that day with the intent of holding a happy lightness in my painting...Isn't it interesting how we can't get away from ourselves? I promise to share more photos and reflections when I feel more coherent.
Wishing you all a happy ease into autumn,.
P.S. I'm really missing keeping up with the circle of this community, and stitching, the first stitches in days happened this morning, all seventeen of them. So many things going on expected and not. Settling into school schedules, people we care about dealing with hard things, fall baseball, etc... Things might continue being a little irregular here for a piece of time. Trying to get my ducks in a row as quickly as possible. Quack.
A friend took me to Vashon Island for the day, to see the Vashon Sheepdog Classic (more here). What a surprisingly great day! Watching the border collies herd sheep from far off to the right . . .
There's much more to it than that, but I know nothing about dogs, herding or the competition, but enjoyed it all just the same.
Bagpipers played as the entire group of sheep came down to graze.
There were also tents of fiber demonstrations and lessons- spinning, weaving, needle-felting, etc... but I forgot to take any photos, but here are more sheep!
The highlight for me was seeing Dr. Temple Grandin in person! She's long been a hero of mine. She is an animal behavior expert, who help to create more humane methods for livestock handling. She was able to do this because she "thinks in pictures," which is one part of how she sees the world as person with autism.
Twenty years ago, when her book Thinking in Pictures: Other Reports from My Life with Autism came out, I was working with a boy on the autism continuum. Her book helped me to better understand him, and validated the belief that our differences are gifts and part of what make our world so rich. Dr. Grandin is delightful, so very smart, and funny. It was thrilling to see and listen to her.
The Seattle Women's March . . .
We left the house at 9:30, the buses were all full to the brim and didn't stop, so we walked the two miles to the rally. The streets were full blocks before we reached the park.
Approaching the park. 50,000 were expected.
It's estimated that 130,000 showed up!
Wonderful strong eloquent women spoke- reciting words from Maya Angelou and Cesar Chavez, and reminding us that we stood on sacred Duwamish land, and that we need to love and protect each other.
At 11:00 the crowd began to move to the street . . .
It took an hour and a half to travel the first few blocks. While we stood there, waiting for the bottle-neck to inch forward, two bald eagles soared over us.
Until we reached the Seattle Center at 3:15, 3.8 miles. So very glad to have been a part of it all.
Riding the crowded bus home, everyone tired and hungry, but chatting, smiling, asking each other how their experience was, "Wasn't it a beautiful day?"
Back from a weekend in Portland visiting my sister-in-law. It began with a trip on the Bolt Bus, a first. I even got the one dollar ticket! There was a worry that it would be a broken seat by the bathroom, but it was surprisingly swell. Especially for someone who hates to drive. Once there, I was wined & dined, taken on a picnic, and more. A whole other world for a couple of days.
I took along the star cloth, and the latest library find. Loving this book, too, and adding some constellations to the galaxies.
Began with the Northern Crown.
And then discovered the Ship.
There are so many to be added . . . the Crow, Whale & Fishes, Southern Crown, Magellanic Clouds, and more. On some distant edge there will be Andromeda.
But first, I'm heading over to Jude's place, to catch up on the rerunning of her whisperings of "SunMoonStars Diary", where I'm sure to be filled to overflowing with starry imaginings.
Found at the library, Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois, words by Any Novesky, and pictures by Isabelle Arsenault. OH, MY . . . the illustrations, the lyrical language, the story of Louise. . . all of it. So much inspiration . . . the stitching has begun.
" . . . on the water that wove like a wool thread through everything."
"She loved to work in the warm sun, her needle rising and falling beside the lilting river, perfect, delicate spiderwebs glinting with caught drops of water above her."
" . . . Louise would study the web of stars, imagine her place in the universe, and weep, then fall asleep to the rhythmic rock and murmur of river water."


See how easy it is to hang frames, mirrors and other wall art to almost any surface with TrackMaster® Picture Hangers. They only take a minute or two to install and require only those tools normally found in the home.
The following subpages provide written instructions, photos and product application ideas to make hanging picture frames with TrackMaster simple, quick and secure. The first link is for downloadable files to print, while the other four include photos of people actually installing picture frames with TrackMaster products.
How-To videos for wood and metal frame picture hangers.
Downloadable picture hanging instructions for wood or metal frames and security accessories.
The TrackMaster hangers are inexpensive and they protect fine art that cannot really be insured - once one-of-a-kind pieces are damaged or destroyed, they can seldom be repaired or replaced. The few dollars spent on TrackMaster® Picture Hangers may be worth considerably more than the hundreds of dollars spent on insurance policies.
TrackMaster® Picture Hangers are known by professionals installers to make hanging multiple frames faster and more accurate because of the built-in adjustability. This makes it simple to adjust for minor measuring errors without having to reattach hangers to walls. The wood frame adapter slides along the hanger from side-to-side. The standard channel on universal metal frames fits onto the hanger and also adjusts by sliding to the right or left.
The other advantage to the slide adjustable hangers is that it makes it easier to achieve symmetry among grouped picture frames. That way framed pictures, paintings, photographs and other wall art can be properly spaced for the most attractive display of multiple pieces.
Bottom rail supports help keep picture frames in place once the perfect hanging position is selected. TrackMaster® Picture Hangers eliminate the need to constantly reposition framed art that moves due to bumps or slamming doors.
While bottom rail supports also provide a measure of security, accessories available on HangFrames.com provide theft prevention for your valuable framed pictures and art. They are specifically designed to work seamlessly with TrackMaster® Picture Hangers for wood or metal frames.
See why hotels, restaurants, schools and business offices prefer TrackMaster® Picture Hanging Kits to make installations go quicker and to protect their valued wall art. Order some adjustable picture hangers today (we guarantee your money back if you are not 100% satisfied with our picture frame hangers).
Install in Drywall without Studs!
TrackMaster® Picture Hangers don't need wall studs to hang securely. Read more about advanced features that make special picture frame installation projects easy!