text:
Consumer demand for products containing cannabidiol (CBD) is on the rise across the country, with industry experts estimating that the market for CBD products will reach $20 billion by 2024. This boom in consumer demand has outpaced the regulatory framework surrounding these products. While the 2018 Farm Bill decriminalized hemp, it left much up to individual states and preserved the FDA's jurisdiction over dietary supplements, foods and cosmetics. The FDA has not yet issued any specific rulemaking for CBD products.
Against this background, it is not surprising that consumer class actions regarding hemp-derived CBD products are flourishing. Over the past year alone, the plaintiffs' bar has filed approximately twenty putative class action lawsuits against manufacturers of hemp-derived CBD products. The cases are primarily in federal court in California and Florida, with additional cases in Illinois and Massachusetts. Plaintiffs challenge the marketing and advertising of a variety of CBD products, including oils, gummies, capsules, creams, pet products and more.
The cases so far follow a familiar pattern seen in prior consumer class actions, especially in the food and beverage industry. Read on to learn what plaintiffs have claimed in the CBD lawsuits, how companies are defending their products, and how best to position your hemp-derived CBD products in light of lessons learned from past litigation.
What These Lawsuits Are Claiming, and How Companies Are Defending Their Products
In most of the recent CBD lawsuits, plaintiffs claim either that: 1) product labels over- or understate the amount of CBD in the products; and/or 2) the sale of CBD products is inherently misleading to consumers because the products are purportedly illegal under federal law. Regardless of which theory underlies the claims, plaintiffs typically frame their claims as consumer fraud, false advertising, breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and/or deceptive trade practices.
In most cases, defendants have filed motions to dismiss seeking to have the cases thrown out. In these motions, defendants argue that plaintiffs' claims are "preempted" by the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDCA), and that only the federal government can enforce the FDCA. Some defendants have additionally argued that if the court is not prepared to dismiss the claims as preempted, the doctrine of "primary jurisdiction" applies. This means that the issues raised regarding CBD are for the FDA to decide, and the cases should be stayed until the FDA finalizes and issues rules on products containing hemp-derived CBD. Many defendants have also advanced dismissal arguments for lack of standing, claiming that the individuals bringing the lawsuits are trying to sue for conduct that never harmed them personally (e.g., because they never purchased a particular product), or will not harm them in the future (e.g., because plaintiffs have stated they will not buy the product again). The standing arguments often apply to particular claims or products within the lawsuit, rather than to the lawsuit as a whole.
Current Status of the Cases
Of the approximately twenty consumer class actions filed over the last year, about half remain pending:
- Five have been stayed pursuant to motions filed by defendants;
- Two have motions to dismiss pending;
- One has a pending motion to vacate a default judgment against defendants;
- One was filed earlier this month, and defendant's deadline to respond has not yet elapsed.
To date, none of the cases (currently pending or otherwise) has proceeded to discovery, and no class has yet been certified. That means that no court has yet determined that these cases are appropriate to bring as class action lawsuits, rather than as separate claims on behalf of each individual member of the putative class. This is significant, because plaintiffs' ability to achieve class certification will likely influence whether these CBD lawsuits will continue to be filed. Consumer fraud cases like these typically do not claim any physical injury, and the monetary damages per individual plaintiff are relatively low. As such, the cases often are not worth pursuing if they cannot proceed as class actions.
Of the cases that are no longer pending, all but two were voluntarily dismissed by plaintiffs. While the motivation behind these dismissals is not always announced, approximately half of the voluntary dismissals came after defendants filed a motion to dismiss, but before the court had ruled on it. One Florida case was mediated and settled after the court denied defendant's motion to dismiss.1 A California court spontaneously dismissed one matter (without the defendant having filed any motion) due to a procedural defect in the complaint, which plaintiffs failed to correct by the court-imposed deadline.2
Early Outcomes on Motions to Dismiss
Of the thirteen motions to dismiss filed to date, only five have been decided. So far:
- No court has dismissed a case based on federal preemption grounds. Courts have either deferred ruling on preemption, or denied it without prejudice to re-raising it at a later time.
- Four courts have stayed cases based on primary jurisdiction.3
- Only one court has denied the primary jurisdiction argument.4
- Standing arguments have been successful in three cases,5 and deferred or denied without prejudice to later re-raising in the other two cases.6 However, the standing arguments applied only to certain products/claims, and were not dispositive of all claims in any case.
These rulings show a clear trend towards staying the cases pursuant to primary jurisdiction. In granting these stays, courts have noted that regulatory oversight of CBD ingestible products, including labeling, is currently the subject of FDA rulemaking, and that FDA is "under considerable pressure from Congress" to expedite the publication of regulations and guidance.7
Plaintiffs may be recognizing the trend towards primary jurisdiction as well, since there is now at least one case where plaintiffs agreed to a stay after defendant filed a motion to dismiss asserting, among other things, primary jurisdiction.8 But some plaintiffs are still resisting. For example, in the first case to have been stayed plaintiffs have since filed a motion to lift the stay. The motion—which was filed after the case was reassigned to a different judge—argues that primary jurisdiction does not apply, and that the FDA's recent report to Congress suggests no CBD-specific rulemaking is forthcoming.9 The motion is pending.
Lessons Learned From Food Industry Consumer Class Actions
The motions to dismiss that have been filed to date in CBD-related class actions follow a tried and true playbook that has been developed by defense counsel in other food and beverage industry class actions. For example, the primary jurisdiction arguments that have been gaining traction in the CBD consumer class actions are very similar to primary jurisdiction arguments that were successful years earlier in cases involving the term "natural" and other food labeling matters.10
Similarly, the standing arguments that have succeeded in the early motions to dismiss CBD consumer class actions followed similar standing arguments made years earlier in food and beverage class actions.11
The preemption arguments that have largely been deferred in CBD consumer class actions to date could become a powerful argument if and when the FDA completes its CBD rulemaking. The preemption defense has been particularly effective when the preemption arguments focus on state law claims that require defendants to omit or add language to their federally approved or mandated product labeling, or where plaintiffs otherwise seek to require something different from what federal standards mandate.12 These arguments could be particularly compelling once the FDA issues its long-anticipated rulemaking with respect to CBD products.
Until then, primary jurisdiction will likely continue to gain traction. The FDA's comprehensive regulatory scheme over food, dietary supplement, drug, and cosmetic products, combined with the FDA's frequently-expressed intention to issue rulemaking with respect to CBD-products, and a need for national uniformity in how such rulemaking will interface with state requirements, converge to make primary jurisdiction especially appropriate for CBD-related class actions.13
How to Best Position Your Products
Until the FDA issues its long-awaited rulemaking regarding CBD products, companies can take the following steps to best position their products to avoid litigation and/or succeed in the event litigation arises:
- Work with reputable labs to ensure the amount of CBD stated on product labeling and advertising is accurate;
- Ensure that the product is manufactured according to appropriate current Good Manufacturing Processes (cGMPs);
- Ensure that any claims made on product labeling and/or in advertising are consistent with FDCA requirements and applicable FDA guidance to date – for example, if the product is a dietary supplement, avoid making express or implied claims that it can cure or prevent disease;
- Maintain a file with appropriate substantiation to support any claims stated in product labeling and advertising;
- Work with legal counsel to stay abreast of developments in federal and state laws applicable to hemp-derived CBD products, and how any changes might impact potential class action defenses; and
- If a lawsuit arises, work with legal counsel to develop a strategy that not only resolves the current litigation as efficiently as possible, but also positions the company strategically for any future consumer claims that may arise.
- Final Mediation Report, Potter v. Potnetwork Holdings, Inc., 1:19-cv-24017-RNS, (S.D. Fla. July 30, 2020).
- Court Order, Davis v. Redwood Wellness, LLC, 2:20-cv-03273-PA-JEM (C.D. Cal. Apr. 10, 2020).
- Electronic Order, Ahumada v. Global Widget LLC, 1:19-cv-12005-ADB (D. Mass. Aug, 11, 2020); Memorandum and Order, Glass v. Global Widget, LLC, 2:19-cv-01906-MCE-KJN (E.D. Cal. June 15, 2020); Order Granting in Part Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Staying Remaining Causes of Action, Colette et al. v. CV Sciences Inc., 2:19-cv-10227-VAP-JEM (C.D. Cal. May 22, 2020); Order on Motion to Dismiss, Snyder v. Green Roads of Florida LLC, 0:19-cv-62342-AHS (S.D. Fla. Jan. 3, 2020).
- Order on Motion to Dismiss, Potter v. Potnetwork Holdings, Inc., 1:19-cv-24017-RNS, (S.D. Fla. Mar. 30, 2020).
- Order Granting in Part Defendant's Motion to Dismiss and Staying Remaining Causes of Action, Colette et al. v. CV Sciences Inc., 2:19-cv-10227-VAP-JEM (C.D. Cal. May 22, 2020); Order on Motion to Dismiss, Potter v. Potnetwork Holdings, Inc., 1:19-cv-24017-RNS, (S.D. Fla. Mar. 30, 2020); Order on Motion to Dismiss, Snyder v. Green Roads of Florida LLC, 0:19-cv-62342-AHS (S.D. Fla. Jan. 3, 2020).
- Electronic Order, Ahumada v. Global Widget LLC, 1:19-cv-12005-ADB (D. Mass. Aug, 11, 2020); Memorandum and Order, Glass v. Global Widget, LLC, 2:19-cv-01906-MCE-KJN (E.D. Cal. June 15, 2020).
- Order on Motion to Dismiss at 12, Snyder v. Green Roads of Florida LLC, 0:19-cv-62342-AHS (S.D. Fla. Jan. 3, 2020).
- Minute Entry, Pfister v. Charlotte's Web Holdings, Inc., 1:20-cv-00418 (N.D. Ill. Aug. 11, 2020).
- Plaintiff's Motion to Lift Stay, Snyder v. Green Roads of Florida LLC, 0:19-cv-62342-AHS (S.D. Fla. July 13, 2020).
- See, e.g., Astiana v. Hain Celestial Grp., Inc., 905 F. Supp. 2d 1013 (N.D. Cal. 2012), rev'd on other grounds, 783 F.3d 753 (9th Cir. 2015); Taradejna v. Gen. Mills, Inc., 909 F. Supp. 2d 1128 (D. Minn. 2012).
- See Miller v. Ghirardelli, 912 F. Supp. 2d 861, 869 (N.D. Cal. 2012) (holding that the named plaintiff lacked standing where the products purchased by the putative class members were not "substantially similar" enough to those purchased by the named plaintiff); Colucci v. ZonePerfect Nutrition Co., No. 12-2907-SC, 2012 WL 6737800 (N.D. Cal. Dec. 28, 2012) (finding one of two named plaintiffs lacked standing because, even though the other named plaintiff (his fiancée) purchased the nutrition bars for him, he himself did not purchase any of the bars); Veal v. Citrus World, Inc., No. 2:12-CV-801-IPJ, 2013 WL 120761 (N.D. Ala. Jan. 8, 2013); Robinson v. Hornell Brewing Co., No. 11-2183 (JBS-JS), 2012 WL 6213777 (D.N.J. Dec. 13, 2012) (holding that there was no Article III standing because the named plaintiff had testified and stated in written discovery that he would not purchase the product in the future).
- See, e.g., Turek v. Gen. Mills, Inc., 662 F.3d 423 (7th Cir. 2011); Lam v. Gen. Mills, Inc., 859 F. Supp. 2d 1097 (N.D. Cal. 2012); Veal v. Citrus World, Inc., No. 2:12-CV-801-IPJ, 2013 WL 120761, at *9-10 (N.D. Ala. Jan. 8, 2013).
- See, e.g., Astiana v. Hain Celestial Grp., Inc., 905 F. Supp. 2d 1013 (N.D. Cal. 2012), rev'd on other grounds, 783 F.3d 753 (9th Cir. 2015); Taradejna v. Gen. Mills, Inc., 909 F. Supp. 2d 1128 (D. Minn. 2012).


text:
Smash Those 2020 Goals
The new year is here! Let's jump straight into it. Smash your 2020 goals with these five (5) tips below:
Take a break
Yes, it's the last thing we think of when setting new-year goals but burnout is real. Rest is necessary not only for rejuvenation but to re-ignite your creative process. Taking a break involves more than sleep, it includes making time for hobbies or outings that allow us to unplug.
Pace Yourself
We tend to focus for the first month of the year, then fall off. Our goals excite us, we try to juggle everything at once and then we expect change now! It hasn't worked for years yet we keep doing it over and over. Reach for the stars yes, but pace yourself. Focus on what you can now, you still have 11 more months to tackle the others.
Find an Accountability Partner
Get yourself someone who holds you accountable for doing the things you said you were going to do! Your accountability partner could be a coworker, friend, mentor - anyone who will be firm yet supportive in the process. Choose a different partner for each goal if necessary!
Celebrate Small wins!
Why do we celebrate when babies take their first step? Because it's progress to their development. Each baby step will eventually lead to them walking, running, skipping and jumping! Each baby step in our lives is worth celebrating. Don't wait until you reach the end, enjoy the process. You are winning!
Follow up regularly
Check in on your goals to see where you're at. Are you on track? Following up is just an opportunity to see how far you've come and what else needs to be done.
Here are a few affirmations to repeat when following up: You still have time! You've only just begun! Don't give up! Keep pushing! You'll get there! It's okay, try again! You're doing great! I'm so proud of you!
Here is a list of goals Sagicor can help you with for the new year. Are any of these on your list? Call us at 1 (800) 744 7707 to find out more!
• Savings
• New Home
• Investment
• Retirement Planning
• Protecting your Child's Future
• Protecting your health
• Protecting your home
• Protecting your vehicle
• Protecting your personal items
• Protecting your business
Please note the above list varies by country.
Let's do this! 2020, here we come!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
BEIRUT – Syrian rebels have scored one of their biggest strategic victories since the country's crisis began two years ago, capturing the nation's largest dam and iconic industrial symbol of the Assad family's four-decade rule.
Rebels led by the al-Qaida-linked militant group Jabhat al-Nusra now control much of the water flow in the country's north and east, eliciting warnings from experts that any mistake in managing the dam may drown wide areas in Syria and Iraq.
A Syrian government official denied that the rebels on Monday captured the dam, saying that "heavy clashes are taking place around it." The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. But amateur video released by activists showed gunmen walking around the facility's operations rooms and employees apparently carrying on with their work as usual.
In the capital, Damascus, the rebels kept the battle going mostly in northeastern and southern neighborhoods as the fighting gets closer to the heart of President Bashar Assad's seat of power.
Monday's capture of the al-Furat dam came after rebels seized two smaller dams on the Euphrates River, which flows from Turkey through Syria and into Iraq. Behind al-Furat dam lies Lake Assad, which at 640 square kilometers (247 square miles) is the country's largest water reservoir.
The dam produces 880 megawatts of electricity, a small amount of the country's production. Syria's electricity production relies on plants powered by natural gas and fuel oil.
Still, the capture handed the rebels control over water and electricity supplies for both government-held areas and large swaths of land the opposition has captured over the past 22 months of fighting.
"This is the most important dam in Syria. It is a strategic dam, and Lake Assad is one of the largest artificial lakes in the region," said Rami Abdul-Rahman, who heads the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.
"It supplies many areas around Syria with electricity," Abdul-Rahman said, citing the provinces of Raqqa, Hassaka and Aleppo in the north as well as Deir el-Zour in the east near the Iraqi border.
The dam, constructed in the late 1960s in cooperation with the Soviet Union, is located in a northeastern town once called Tabqa. After the dam was built, the town's name changed to Thawra, Arabic for revolution, to mark the March 8, 1963 coup that brought Assad's ruling Baath party to power.
Early Monday, when the rebels stormed the dam and the town, one of the first things they did was set ablaze a giant statue of the late President Hafez Assad, the current president's father.
"This is one of the biggest projects that have a moral value in Syria's history," said Dubai-based Syrian economist Samir Seifan. "It was the Syrian government's biggest project in the 20th century."
Seifan said that the dam is "a very sensitive plant" and it is very important that technicians and experts keep it running as usual because any mistake could have dangerous consequences.
He added that any mistake could "release massive amounts of water that will drown wide areas including the city of Deir el-Zour as well as cities in Iraq." Seifan added that "any damage will have dangerous consequences on civilians. It supplies hundreds of thousands of hectares with water."
An amateur video released by activists showed rebels walking through large operations rooms as employees went on with their work as usual.
"The al-Furat dam is now in the hands of the Free Syrian Army heroes," says the narrator. "And these are the workers, continuing their work as usual."
The video appeared genuine and corresponded to other Associated Press reporting on the events depicted.
Abdul-Rahman, of the Observatory, said the rebels have told their fighters not to interfere with the work of the dam. He added that the gunmen will leave the dam for employees to run but will keep their checkpoints around the dam.
The rebels now control three dams on the Euphrates. In November, they captured the Tishrin Dam, near the northern town of Manbij. And last week, they took the Baath dam, close to al-Furat.
In Damascus, activists reported clashes and shelling mostly in the northeastern neighborhoods of Jobar and Qaboun as well as the southern parts of the city.
Over the past four days, the rebels brought their fight to within a mile of the heart of the capital, seizing army checkpoints and cutting a key highway.
Syrian TV showed footage from Abbasid Square, a landmark plaza in central Damascus, after sunset Monday to counter activists' claims of fighting only hundreds of meters (yards) away. The footage showed little traffic in the square, and it was dark.
Meanwhile, the Observatory said members of Jabhat al-Nusra blew themselves up in two car bombs outside an intelligence office in the northeastern city of Shadadah, killing at least 14 security agents and wounding many people.
The Observatory said Shadadah has been witnessing heavy clashes between troops and rebels.
The al-Qaida-linked Jabhat al-Nusra, which led the fighting at the dam, has been named by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization. It has proved to be the most effective group among rebels fighting in Syria.
Also in northern Syria, a car bomb exploded at a border crossing with Turkey in Idlib province. Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, said 13 people died in the blast. He didn't specifically say the explosion was caused by a bomb, possibly in deference to an ongoing investigation, but he left little doubt that authorities believed it was the work of assailants.
"The incident is very important in showing to what extent our stance on terror and our sensibility toward Syrian incidents is well-directed," Erdogan said.
The border area between the two countries has seen fierce fighting in the civil war. Tensions have also flared between the Syrian regime and Turkey in the past months after shells fired from Syria landed on the Turkish side.
As a result, Germany, the Netherlands and the United States decided to send two batteries of Patriot air defense missiles each to protect Turkey, their NATO ally.
Associated Press writers Chris Torchia in Istanbul and Ezgi Akin in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.


text:
Specialized coverage so you don't get blown away.
Commercial hurricane insurance provided by Nusbaum Insurance Agency.
Hurricanes can be devastating to a business, and every year from June to November your business is at risk for damage. From heavy rains to strong winds, there's a lot to take into consideration. That's why it's important to get commercial hurricane insurance to protect your business in the event of a hurricane.
Your commercial property insurance might not cover hurricanes.
You might not know this, but your commercial property insurance may exclude hurricane damage from your policy or it may contain a high deductible. In that case, you will need a separate policy to go with your standard commercial property insurance. Factors like the location of your business, proximity to the coast, and your insurance carrier will likely influence the cost of your policy. However, when looking at the potential for many thousands of dollars in damages from just one storm, it's beneficial to consider hurricane coverage.
Hurricanes can do a lot more than just damage your property.
Hurricanes devastate communities, resulting in flooded roads, fallen trees, and downed power lines to name a few. All of this, combined with any damage to your property, could cause your business to be shut down for days or weeks. Including business interruption insurance with your commercial hurricane insurance policy can help you avoid financial difficulties by providing your business with income until you are able to resume your normal operations.
Commercial hurricane insurance is not flood insurance.
While it's important to know what commercial hurricane insurance does cover, it's also important to know what it does not cover. The heavy rainfall can cause major flooding, which may result in harm to your business. However, your commercial hurricane insurance policy will not provide coverage for that damage. Flood insurance is a separate policy that you may want to get in addition to your commercial hurricane insurance to provide all-around protection for your business.
Your business should consider how to mitigate your risks.
While you'll never be able to stop a hurricane from happening, there are ways that your business can prepare for the worst and mitigate the risks that hurricanes pose to it. Risk management services can help you plan for potential hurricanes by examining your current coverage for gaps and then finding the right coverage to protect your property, employees, and equipment. Taking risk management steps can help save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
To learn more about commercial hurricane insurance and how it can protect your business in the event of a storm, contact us today.
Get Started Today
As an independent agency, we are here to help you find the right Commercial Hurricane Insurance coverage.
Commercial Hurricane Insurance Quote Request
As an independent agency, we are here to help you find the right coverage.
Get a Quote
It only takes a minute to get started.
- Fill out the form, we'll be in touch.
- Review options with an agent.
- Get the coverage you need.


text:
All the tips and tricks needed to shape up for 2013. Each day brings new, expert advice on how to look your best and live life to the fullest, while having a little fun doing it.
It's only natural to want to wear your favorite shirts as often as possible. And even the cleanest men can be afflicted with ring around the collar and dingy cuffs. That stain you see embedded into your favorite shirts, sweaters and jackets isn't really dirt—it's actually a build-up of sweat along with the natural oils from your skin (and maybe a touch of cologne or hair product). That's why standard washing rarely removes it.
Run the collar under warm water and add a dime-sized amount of shampoo or dish detergent (like Palmolive) to the center of the stain.
Take the fabric and rub it against itself, working from the center out to the ends of the collar.
Lather, rinse and repeat if necessary
Toss the shirt in the regular laundry and it should come out good as new.
Prevent future rings by washing your light colored shirts after every wearing. Run a gel stain remover, like Shout Advanced Ultra Gel ($4) before washing.
A Hollywood costume designer turned us onto the Wash & Stain Bar ($6) by the Laundress. A mix of natural vegetable soap, borax and other non-toxic ingredients, it works incredibly well on worn-in grime that's been there for months or even years.


text:
Issues Concerning Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Bisexual and other Sexual Minorities Africa We started off as GayUganda...., but time changes all....
Sunday, January 11, 2009
I read somewhere, (don't remember where) that some of us seem to have an inborn fear of change. That 'conservatism' may actually be 'in the blood', so to say. Could it be true? That as a consequence of our evolution, we have internalized a resistance to change- yet change is a must. We are a very intelligent specie, us human beings. The need for adaptive change comes up against the need to maintain that which has worked for years. Most of us are wired, despite our intelligence, to resist change, however logical it is. Some are less so than others. And of course what drives us is the reality of our genetic makeup against the reality of our ever increasing knowledge and our capacity of intelligence.
It is an interesting proposition to think of the guys who are so adamantly homophobic. Nsaba-Buturo. Ssempa. I love the lessons that Ted Haggard is giving all of us. He is bi, at least, more than likely homosexual. Has struggled with his sexuality. He cannot hide from his own intelligence, as he cannot hide from his sexuality.
But he lives in a world that seeks to deny his knowledge and his experience, as against what he thinks is his world. I don't think we are through hearing from him. This former champion of conservatism, brought low by his own intelligence, and the sexuality that he has sought to run away from.
I digress. I was reading this article about how some 'phobes were fighting a battle against trans-sexuals. Why, why do they believe it is a necessity to oppose anything which smacks of equality for the gay minority in our hetero dominated societies?
I am gay. But the constant harassment, to me, seems to be over the top. There are many causes in the world. Why does one choose to pursue one which seeks to deny rights for a minority? Why would it matter to me that a transwoman chooses to go into a public toilet for women?
I have inadvertently read up a bit on the homosexual hating literature. We call ourselves gay. They insist we are homosexuals. And, in such a tiny thing one can see the differences of opinion. Ssempa, bless him, is not very bright. Charismatic, without a doubt, but he shows such a huge knowledge gap that I think him more stupid than clever. He once stated that he did not hate homosexuals, but was totally against the 'normalisation of homosexuals in society'. Translated, don't hate the sinner, but hate the sin. And do all that you can to make the sinner feel that he and she is less than a person, while you piously admit to not hating them.
So, if a trans-woman uses a women's public toilet, what would this do? It would be a tiny step in the normalization of sexualities other than heterosexuality. A very small step.
So, it necessitates an all out assault.
So, why do they do it? Here is the story. I really would love to know why I threaten a person like Ssempa so much. Or Nsaba-Buturo.
Florida's Transgender Bathroom Rule Angers Conservatives
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A blond girl heads from a playground into a women's restroom. A scruffy man, lurking outside, darts in behind her. "Your City Commission Made This Legal," the words on the TV screen read.
The dark ad came from opponents of a gender identity provision added last year to the city's anti-discrimination ordinance, which now allows the city's roughly 100 transgender residents to use whichever restroom they're most comfortable using.
Foes want to repeal the new protection with a March 24 ballot measure that has divided Gainesville, a generally gay-friendly university city surrounded by staunchly conservative north Florida.
Those who support the transgender protections say their opponents are really unleashing a broader attack on the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender individuals in general.
The city commission approved the restroom provision by a 4-3 vote a year ago. Before the ink could dry, Bible-quoting opponents angrily began working for its repeal.
"You are trying to operate in a realm you do not have the authority to operate in," one pastor, George Brantley, told the commissioners.
The debate is expected to become noisier as the ballot nears with opponents resorting to more TV ads and campaigns pegged to such slogans as "Keep Men out of Women's Restrooms and vice versa."
3 comments:
- Leonard said...
You find the most interesting material to cover...thanks
About the ¨fear¨ of change...I don´t honestly, from my own experience, think homophobia is anything more than MEN, in particular since I´m a Man and know them best, are very sexual...I think it makes most Men nerveous because most men are capable of anything when the door closes and the light goes off...maybe I´m wrong...but, that´s what I think!
Guilt, Fear, Shame is more the name of the game. - January 12, 2009 at 5:05 AM
You are so right, Leonardo!
There's that terrible little dark spot down inside all men which absolutely terrifies them, and since they refuse to face it in themselves. They deny it and then attack it in others who HAVE recognized and embraced it.
That's why they have such hard time trying to explain their homophobia in rational terms -- because it is, in fact, not rational at all. (It's like their accusation that somehow same-sex marriage will cause damage to heterosexual marriage: but no one can ever explain how that could happen --because it is a non-rational argument.)
It's the "projection" that one learns about in Psychology 101: when there is absolutely no apparent objective harm being caused by those who are attacked, the attack has to have an internal (and sometimes deeply repressed) origin and motive. There is no other explanation possible.
And what this means, of course, is that homophobes will never be changed by rational discourse -- only by some powerful emotional experience (like discovering one's son or dearest friend is gay). - January 12, 2009 at 6:56 AM
- spiralx said...
Agreed. Men - as women have known for ages - have the most fragile little egos!
In Africa in particular, the culutural norm apparently is towards the conservative.
Understandable, really, on a continent where there is often so little leeway for manoeuvre, sometimes, that it's safer to stick with what you have, than risk losing even that, and starving to death.
But it does make for a fatalistic and stubborn 'stickiness' which is difficult to counter... - January 12, 2009 at 11:59 AM


text:
We know that a lot of workplaces can't find enough employees right now for a variety of reasons - among the employers, child care providers like day care centers. Here's Michelle Jokisch Polo of member station WKAR in Lansing, Mich.
MICHELLE JOKISCH POLO, BYLINE: During the pandemic, tens of thousands of child care centers across the country were forced to find new ways to work. They had to embrace physical distancing and masking requirements while finding enough workers to keep their doors open. Many could not. Others reduced hours and availability. Elisabeth Tobia runs EC3, a day care company operating in downtown Lansing for nearly 40 years. Before the pandemic, Tobia was managing two locations and the care of nearly 200 children. Today, the second location has closed, and enrollment at EC3 has been cut in half. Despite increasing demands for child care, Tobia says she's struggling to find new staff.
ELISABETH TOBIA: We've had to put a freeze on enrolling children until we can find skilled people who want to work in this field. So now we're operating at a level that still isn't break-even for us financially, but we can't find people to apply for jobs.
JOKISCH POLO: The challenges of providing affordable child care have increased substantially for day care providers since the pandemic began. According to data from the Center for American Progress, costs per child have gone up to an average of 47%, in part because day care programs had to reduce capacity, sanitize spaces and increase worker pay. Simon Workman is a national expert on child care finance.
SIMON WORKMAN: Because families can't afford that, the providers are either cutting staff, or they are going into the red. Right? They are taking on personal debts. They are taking on business debt. They are not replacing people when they leave.
JOKISCH POLO: Workman says the pandemic highlighted how severely underpaid child care providers have been for decades. Brooke Aernouts' experience bears that out. During the pandemic, she left her job at a day care center because she didn't feel like it was worth exposing herself to COVID-19 for the low wages she was earning.
BROOKE AERNOUTS: It's really frustrating to be in this field and to dedicate so much time and energy to essentially raising children to be paid poverty wages.
JOKISCH POLO: Simon Workman says once assistance from the federal government stops, he expects many more child care centers to close. With rising costs, there may not be enough parents who can afford upwards of $20,000 per year. In Michigan, a bipartisan deal was reached to use $1.4 billion of federal money to expand affordable child care options for parents and provide additional money to child care workers. But Elisabeth Tobia says it's just a temporary fix.
TOBIA: So when we begin to realize that preschool and education, even for the zero to 3 age group, is more important than college education and needs to be funded accordingly, we're going to be struggling with this for a long time.
JOKISCH POLO: Providers hope the next step will be acknowledging just how crucial good day care is, both for children's development and for their parents' ability to return to the workplace.
For NPR News, I'm Michelle Jokisch Polo.
(SOUNDBITE OF MOONLIT SAILOR'S "THE FOG IS LIFTING") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
Asiana Airlines Crash Survivors Recall Harrowing Moments Before Impact
307 passengers were on board Asiana Airlines Flight 214 when it crashed.
July 7, 2013— -- When Eugene Rah looked out the window from his seat on Asiana Airlines Flight 214 as the flight approached the runway at San Francisco International Airport, he said he knew the plane was going to crash.
"Right before the plane touched the runway, I could hear they were putting full power through the engine to try and lift the plane back up," he told ABC News' "Good Morning America" today. "I knew it was too late."
San Francisco Plane Crash: 2 Killed in Asiana Crash Were Teenage Girls on School Trip from China
Rah, a hip-hop producer, said he gripped his chair to brace for impact, but the plane landed so forcefully on the runway that he thought he had died upon landing.
"The impact was so powerful, I thought that was it. I thought I was dying until the plane stopped," he said.
Rah, who has taken the flight from Seoul, South Korea to San Francisco 173 times, said passengers on board panicked as the plane crash landed on the runway, and only started to calm down when the plane came to a stop.
"When it first crashed, everyone was screaming," he said. "Finally when the plane stopped, there was silence for some time before people started realizing we are back alive."
San Francisco Plane Crash: Asiana Airlines Flight 214 Crash Timeline
Rah said the plane's crew was heroic, and immediately helped passengers exit safely from the plane before it caught fire. But Rah said pilots did not warn the passengers of the possibility of a crash.
Another passenger who survived the flight, Lee Jang Hyung, told ABC News that upon landing, a voice came over the plane's intercom to say the flight had landed safely and everyone should stay in their seats.
Crash Survivor Says Announcement Claimed the Plane Had Landed Safely
Hyung, a 32-year-old Korean citizen who lives near Berkeley, Calif., was travelling with his wife, Lee Jee Young, 33, and their 15-month-old toddler son. The family was sitting in the front row of the plane's economy class section. His wife's parents were in business class.
Hyung said he put on an oxygen mask that had dropped down and put another on his young son and ran to the door after the announcement was made.
"But I was turned back to my seat by the flight attendants. Right when I came back to my seat, I saw smoke and fire outside the right window. The flames were spreading and smoke started to come inside the aircraft. I grabbed my wife and son and ran to the exit door. By then, they had slides ready," he said.
SLIDESHOW: Plane Crashes at San Francisco Airport
While the cause of Saturday's crash is still unclear, ABC News' aviation consultant Col. Stephen Ganyard told "Good Morning America" it seems unlikely that the Asiana Airlines flight suffered from a mechanical error.
"If [Rah] could hear the engine spool up to a full power position, it tells me that at the last second, this crew realized how low and slow they actually were," he said. "They were trying to save the airplane by running the engines up to full throttle."
Rah's daughter, Eunice Rah, was not on board the flight with her father but learned about the crash a significant time before she heard from him. It wasn't until he text messaged her that she knew he was safe.
"Just that he texted me, I was OK with that," she told "Good Morning America." "I finally felt oxygen in my lungs again."
Benjamin Levy, who walked away from the crash's wreckage, told ABC News the "bouncing" plane's landing was surreal.
"The plane started going back up again and you don't know if you're going to go in a tailspin or not. Lucky we didn't," he said.
Levy said once the plane hit the runway, it was chaotic on board.
"People started going out and I just tried to lower the screaming and tried to have them exit as fast as possible," he said.
But despite witness accounts of the plane cart-wheeling or flipping onto the runway, Levy said it would have been impossible for that to have happened.
"If we flipped, none of us would be here to talk about it," he said.


text:
Planet Waves Pearl Celluloid Picks - Med-WhitePearl 1CWP4-10
Planet Waves
The Planet Waves 1CWP4-10 is a 10-pack of premium celluloid picks in white pearl, medium gauge.
Celluloid is one of the most popular guitar pick materials today. Available in a wide variety of shapes, colors and thicknesses, celluloid is known for providing a natural feel and warm, fat tone. A man-made material, celluloid was first introduced in the early 1900's as a substitute for natural tortoise shell picks.


text:
School districts and taxpayers are saving money now that the Legislature has put caps in place for school employee health insurance premiums, meaning the savings can be redirected toward the classroom where it belongs with expanded course offerings and programs for students.
By MICHAEL VAN BEEK and KYLE A. JACKSON
Rising health insurance costs have squeezed school budgets considerably in recent years. According to statistics from the Center for Educational Performance and Information, these costs have grown in per-pupil terms by 31 percent since 2004. Michigan taxpayers now contribute over $2 billion annually, or about $1,300 per student, to provide health insurance for public school employees.
Factors contributing to these rising costs are many, but two stand out. First, most districts (about 80 percent) purchase health insurance plans from the Michigan Education Special Services Association, a third-party administrator affiliated with the state's largest government employee union — the Michigan Education Association. Secondly, school employees, especially teachers, have for many years contributed far less towards the cost of their own health insurance premiums than the average private-sector employee.
Mackinac Center research found that the average MESSA premiums used by districts in 2011 were $7,210 for single, $16,173 for two-person and $17,692 for family plans. These are substantially more expensive than Michigan's private-sector averages: According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, MESSA premiums are 52 percent (single), 64 percent (two-person), and 36 percent (family) more expensive than Michigan's private-sector averages.
Recently approved legislation limits the amount districts can spend on health insurance to $5,500 for single plans, $11,000 for two-person and $15,000 for family plans. If districts purchase more expensive plans, school employees will have to pay the difference. Considering MESSA's average costs, this will assuredly save districts (and taxpayers) millions of dollars.
Districts may choose to spend beyond these, but only if school employees pick up at least 20 percent of the premium. But even these districts will likely save overall, since most teachers have historically contributed very little — or nothing — to the cost of health insurance premiums.
By limiting school health insurance expenditures, Michigan's Legislature made significant strides on two important fronts: Devoting more resources to student learning and leveling the disparities between private- and government-sector benefits. This reform was sorely needed, and is already paying large dividends for schools, students and taxpayers.
A 2009 Mackinac Center survey of districts found that teachers contributed on average only 4 percent to the cost of a family health insurance premium, and in more than 300 districts teachers paid nothing. The average for a private-sector employee in Michigan is 22 percent.
This new legislation is spinning off other positive effects. Some districts are starting to draw hard lines at the bargaining table for the benefit of taxpayers. For instance, the Dearborn Heights district went from fully subsidizing teacher health insurance to offering teachers two options: pay 20 percent of the premium for a less expensive health insurance plan or pay between 32.5 and 37.5 percent for high-priced MESSA insurance. The district saved $750,000.
MESSA also appears to be responding to the changes. It will start offering consumer-drive, high-deductible health insurance plans paired with health savings accounts — a price-effective innovation the Mackinac Center has promoted for years. Perhaps MESSA is recognizing that using the MEA's negotiating power to sell their high-priced plans might not work anymore now that hard caps are in place.
These health insurance savings should be funneled back into student programs and services. This will be especially helpful for districts that have been cutting programs in order to meet rising labor costs. Taxpayers should expect to see schools starting to expand the services and opportunities offered to students.
Of course, there is a very real concern that other rising costs in school budgets will nullify these savings. The state-run school employee pension program, for example, is growing to be a huge financial burden for districts. The state Legislature should get these costs under control and reduce schools' long-term financial obligations.
To be sure, school districts still face many severe fiscal challenges, but recent actions by the Legislature alleviate the rising health insurance costs that had burdened districts for years.
(Michael Van Beek is director of education policy and Kyle Jackson is an education policy analyst at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a research and educational institute based in Midland.)


text:
Efimer is a project based on the concept that fashion is ephemeral. To represent this idea I designed a haute couture collection made by vegetables, which are ephemeral too. I decided to paint the vegetables to give uniformity at the clothes and express the purity that provides the white color.
awwwards – Special Mention
csswinner – Winner of the Day
cssreel – Winner of the Day
Anna Salvador


text:
Reignier Catholic School Production of The Unfortunate Tale of Walter Wolfe.
- Copyright
- © Richard Furhoff. All rights reserved. Image must not be reproduced or distributed, whole or in part, without the expressed written permission of Richard Furhoff Photography.
- Image Size
- 3000x2000 / 1.9MB
- www.furhoff.com
- Keywords
2018 School Production, Music, Musical, Musical Production, Napier Community Theatre, Napier Theatre, Performance, Performing Arts, Play, Reignier, Reignier Catholic School, Reignier School, Reignier School Production 2018, School Musical, School Production, Singing, The Unfortunate Tale of Walter Wolfe, Year 5, Year 6, Yr5, Yr6
- Contained in galleries


text:
TechRadar Verdict
Apart from the slightly limited subwoofer, this system offers great sound quality at a not too expensive price
- +
Bold, well behaved satellites
- +
Great value for money
- -
Lively enclosures, especially the subwoofer, which can sound boxy and coloured
Why you can trust TechRadar
Teufel's Theater 200 system follows in the heritage of its Theatre 2 system, which first appeared in the mid-1990s and is described as 'legendary' by, er, the company's own website. So it has a lot to live up to.
It's a cute 5.1 system, which can easily be expanded to a 7.1, 9.1 or 11.1 package, if you want.
Changes over the original Theater 2 speakers include new drivers and rare earth neodymium magnet technology, and an optimised design.
The front three speakers use what the maker describes as staggered tweeters (otherwise know as 'time aligned'), meaning they are set back from the main low-frequency drivers. Indeed, with the T 200 C centre cabinet, the tweeter is mounted in a housing on top of the main enclosure for all to see and touch, including inquisitive young children; the two T 200 F front speakers mount the tweeters on the baffle, set back from the plane of the main drivers.
The effect is similar in the two cases, which is that when heard at ear height in a normally adjusted system, the path is the same from the drivers in each speaker to the ear, giving a more focused and more consistent soundfield and better stereo imaging.
The T 100 D rear speakers work in a different way acoustically. Although the drive units seem related to those of the fronts, they're clearly different in detail, not least because they're not the same size. Also, there's no off-setting or time alignment of the tweeters.
The surrounds can be used as dipoles, in which the front and rear sections work in anti-phase and give a more diffuse, larger scale sound, or, at the flick of a switch, the back-facing section can be switched off, leaving on just a single mid-range unit and tweeter for a traditional direct dispersion.
Advice about which radiation pattern to use, and how to set the speakers up is given by Teufel in its straightforward set up notes. That said, it fails to point out that there are so many variables in practical systems that 'suck it and see' is almost certainly the best advice.
The last part of the package, the T 2000 SW subwoofer, is a bruiser. It has an impressive 13in drive unit in a needlessly big enclosure. Such enclosures are physically hard to control structurally, and this one is far too lively, especially when the volume's high, or the low pass filter is set too high. I couldn't justify setting it anywhere other than its lowest setting, which indicates that it's not behaving as it should.
The sub has all the controls you need, but it can only be driven at line level. The enclosure is bass-reflex loaded, but while reflex ports often yield impressive LF extension, they tend to add noise and distortion when air is being squeezed in and out of it. Here, the sound's character changes with volume.
Bold and big
Despite some limitations, the Teufel Theater 200 turns out to be an impressive system, though it leans firmly in the direction of boldly painted home cinema FX, and is much less convincing when used playing high-quality audio recordings in stereo, despite claims to the contrary from the brand.
With Cloverfield (Blu-ray), it delivered an impressive, if not always the most subtle, soundfield. It's unusually good value, and the satellites are expertly fine-tuned. So, even while the subwoofer imposes some firm limits to system performance, at moderate volume the results are highly commendable.
Follow TechRadar Reviews on Twitter: http://twitter.com/techradarreview


text:
This product is temporarily out of stock
Other names:1985 Qi Men Hong Cha
Taste:The fragrance of Keemun is called Qi Men Xiang in China (meaning the sweet fragrance of Keemun) and is characterized by its wonderfully harmonious combination of Orchid and fruity aroma. The taste of 1985 Keemun is strong and finished with a lingering aftertaste. 1985 Keemun has a subtle hint of rose wood taste. This tea is good for multiple infusion.
Appearance:Tightly curled black tea leaves.
Origin:Qi Men, An Hui Province
Harvest Period:2012


text: CS 2415 recommended for sealing external seams, depressions and gaps on aircraft to yield weather tightness and achieve aerodynamic smoothness. CS 2415 is a non-flow material and may be utilized on vertical and overhead, as well as horizontal surfaces. CS 2415 is a Thixotropic, fuel resistant sealant for use on pressurized cabins. A two component, polysulfide based, aluminum filled, non-flow, filleting material designed for Aircraft sealing. CS 2415 is based on Flamemaster technology, utilizing Permapol P-5 Polymers, an improved chemical modification of Thiokol LP* polymers. Permapol P-5 polymers are covered under U.S. Patent 4,623,711


text:
New Oregon Laws for 2009 list anywhere?
My dad reminded me today that he enjoyed reading about the 700 new laws that went into effect in California today, so I set out to find an equivalent list for Oregon.
So far, after half a dozen Google searches I can only come up with the 6 laws listed here from yesterday's Oregonian. Quick summary: smoking ban in all bars and restaurants, bottle deposits, free electronics recycling, DMW checking immigration status, ATV safety for kids, and increased drug offender sentences.
Six new laws doesn't seem like much, is there a more complete list anywhere? Every other newspaper and TV site seems to be pointing to these same six laws as the sum total of legislative changes going into effect and that doesn't sound right to me.


text:
Long Sleeve Oxford Shirt
The easiest care oxford cloth button-down shirt! Stain resistant and wrinkle free means just wash and wear, no ironing required. Plus, extra buttons included!
Laundry Instructions: Machine wash warm. Tumble dry low. Remove promptly. Use warm iron if needed. Use non-chlorine bleach when needed.
Fabric: 60% Cotton / 40% Polyester
We recommend 2-5 shirts per student
Our School Year Guarantee
We're so confident in the quality of our products that we offer a school year product guarantee: If you're not completely satisfied with the way a Flynn O'Hara uniform item is holding up within a year of purchase, we'll replace it with an identical item at no charge.
Returns & Exchanges
Flynn O'Hara accepts returns and exchanges up to 180 days from the date of purchase. Items can be returned by mail or at any of our retail stores, and must be brought back in sellable condition (unworn, unwashed, with tags still attached).


text:
Dr Ginas Radio Chat, March 30, 2022
Dr Gina's Radio Chat with Dr. Gina R. Prince
Guests, 2X SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, TYRONE POOLE and Gospel House Mix by DJ DAVE SPIVEY
Dr Ginas Radio Chat
"I'll help you move past life's turmoil."
I'm more than a conqueror! And so are you. We all go through challenges in life. Exactly how to move past them is not always evident. Before the whispers in you mind field turn into screams, allow me to assist you in finding freedom, deliverance and peace with yourself and those who require your forgiveness.
Dr. Gina's Radio Chat is Fun! Exciting! And full of laughter! We will keep it real at all times. It is a place where everyone can come express themselves openly their very own perception and experiences. It's a platform of transparency. A talk show of encouragement. Dr. Gina's Radio Chat is safe and every topic is led by God. You never know where it's going to go. For there is nothing we can do without Him. Every opinion, wisdom, knowledge, and experience is appreciated. So get ready! Dr. Gina's Radio Chat will be ready for you! EVERYONE IS WELCOME to join in the conversation! Let's Talk! Dr. Gina's Radio Chat
Author Dr. Gina R. Prince shares how to become Transformed, live a New Life Destiny and Thrive; Moving past all adversity and Shining Out!
For a long time, Gina Prince's life didn't seem to be heading toward a happy ending. Through her turbulent adolescence and young adulthood, Prince learned what she now believes were important lessons about the sinful nature of man and the enemy's tactics for infiltrating and corrupting the lives and destiny of God's children—lessons she shares in her book, Born into Sin, Transformed into Destiny. Her candid nature and wisdom will help readers identify who they really are and what motivates them so that they can surrender their lives fully to the restorative, radical power of God and His Divine Plan for their lives.
Let's Bring those Walls Down!


text:
Live Documents
Office for the Internet Generation
Live Documents is the Office suite for the Internet Generation - a set of web-enabled, feature-rich applications for word processing, spreadsheets and presentations that increase personal productivity and facilitate group collaboration. Learn more...
Live Documents gives you the choice and flexibility of creating, sharing and editing documents anytime anywhere. All you need is a browser. Your documents look and behave the same way everywhere and you can confidently share your documents with anyone you choose without having to worry about operating system versions or browser compatibility. See how it works...
Live Documents is the only online office suite that doesn't require you to sacrifice features for collaboration. We give you all the major productivity features of Microsoft Office and several new unique aspects that help you "get the job done". Live Documents also extends collaboration to new levels with unique features such as granular revision history, seamless co-editing and playback.
Live Documents is the only online Office suite that offers "non-lossy round-tripping" with Microsoft Office - you can import the most complex Microsoft Office documents into Live Documents. When you export these documents back to Microsoft Office formats, all data, formats and object elements in the original document, including those currently unsupported by Live Documents, are retained as they were.
Live Documents provides powerful capabilities in a familar user interface similar to the desktop applications that you use today. If you are a user of Microsoft Office or Open Office, you will find that there is nothing to learn to start using Live Documents.
Try it today - See for yourself. Sign up for a free account today


text:
Control your web-pages' typography with @font-face
One of the most common mistakes a n00b web-designer makes — and one that took me a long time to figure out back when I started — is to assume that the way their shiny web-pages look in the WYSIWYG editors is actually the way how they'll be presented to all variety of end-users. That crazy gothic font can totally get you hawt on FrontPage, but to say that it would look crippled on most of your visitors' screens would probably be an understatement.
The CSS @font-face
feature debuted a little while ago to rectify the font mess. To put it simply, it allows authors to "embed" fonts on their web-pages. And I'm a bit late on this, but it has found its way into the newest release of Firefox as well. The example rendered perfectly on version 3.5 using the new font, raising a few points in my head:
- The rule certainly has considerable space for abuse. But then, which technology on web doesn't?
- For the paranoid, Firefox does provide the
to turn the feature off. - Out of curiosity, I checked out IE's status on
support. Turns out that it also supports font-embedding, albeit using an obscure format called EOT which is basically what one would label as "DRM for fonts". How surprising. - Prior to downloading the new fonts, the demo page gracefully degraded to stock ones.
In a nutshell, intriguing at worst and exciting at best. Also, it's nice to see that IE 6's death is prompting a steady progress in CSS and HTML. About time as well.
Tags: CSS, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Technology, Web


text:
The heavy shorebreak ground out
a plodding hymn to monotony.
I walked along the beach my mind
flicking restlessly over various topics—the political conversation
that had dominated lunch and had taken the bite out of the paella,
the sailing of the Shtandart from Tarragona and with it my childish
pipe-dream of embarking (they were looking for crew to sail to
Monaco); the fickle nature of creative satisfaction, it's value in
life's equation and whether it can be substituted by hard cash; how
the sunset, a lurid smear across the western sky, had briefly swept
petty ponderings under the carpet, and how rapidly the same had
returned with the sun below the horizon; and finally, I swear, what I
might eat once home.
In the half light one wave,
larger than the herd, crashed onto the sand sending a flood of spumy
water up the beach, washing round my ankles and filling my turn ups.
The dog nimbly bounced across the strand keeping to the dry. Water
receded, sucking at my soles, leaving the beach glistening darkly.
And suddenly on the black sand flickering stars appeared, flashing
silver and flipping and flapping. I was surrounded by anchovies. My
first thought was 'Dinner!' and I knelt to pick them up but then,
having gathered a handful, I threw them back into the waves. The fish
were frantic and I franticly returned them to the water. They
back-flipped out of my hands and I crawled across the wet sand to
pick them up again and return them to whence they came. The scene was
biblical. Their eyes gazed unblinkingly and their mouths gasped
airlessly and their firm little bodies glinted as they arched back
into the waves. Eventually the remaining fish on the beach stopped
moving and my thoughts turned back to dinner. I harvested the silver
ingots and was forced to store them in my shirt pocket as they slid
from my overloaded palm.
At home in the light their fresh
brilliance continued to amaze. They hadn't been dead 15 minutes. I
rinsed them, floured them, salt'n'peppered 'em and dunked them in hot
olive oil where they bucked and twisted for a moment before turning
crispy and golden. Parsley, lemon, a beer and I stood in the kitchen
popping the anchovies into my mouth. At first their taste was all
that I expected but then there was an unexpected, unpleasant crunch.
Of course, those death throes at the water's edge, all that gasping,
they'd filled themselves with sand.
photo courtesy of My Kitchen in Spain |