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John CONSTABLE | Study of 'A boat passing a lock'

Great Britain 1776 – 1837
Study of 'A boat passing a lock' c.1826
oil on canvas
103.5 (h) x 129.9 (w) cm
National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia, Felton Bequest in 1951
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The subject of this painting is the same as Constable’s Diploma picture for the Royal Academy,  A boat passing a lock 1826 .  Both compositions are horizontal and their general structure is identical. Like the Diploma painting there is a rainstorm in the sky. However this work differs in that Constable painted the background in a looser fashion – and he did not include the dog that appears in the right foreground  of the Diploma painting. Moreover the lock keeper wears a hat (as opposed  to a cap)  and has raised arms as in Constable’s original representation of the figure. A pentimento suggests that one of the posts at the entrance to the lock was originally higher than it now appears (W.G. Constable, ‘“The Lock” as a theme in the work of John Constable’, in F. Philipp and J. Stewart (eds), Essays in Honour of Daryl Lindsay, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, 1964, p. 139).

Scholars have put forward a number of suggestions regarding the relationship of this work to Constable’s Diploma picture and his other versions of the subject. At first it was generally accepted to be a preliminary oil study for the Diploma picture. Then in 1956 W.G. Constable claimed that this painting might be an independent work, as ‘there seems to be nothing lacking that is necessary to a complete and finished picture’ (ibid., p. 138). Following this, in 1976, the fully finished foreground and carefully painted sky of this work led Leslie Parris and Ian Fleming-Williams  to suggest that it was an unfinished replica of the Diploma picture  (Tate 1976, p. 155). Robert Hoozee agreed. Reynolds, however, in his catalogue raisonné of Constable’s work, argued that it was indeed  a sketch for the Diploma picture. He pointed out that it was in keeping with Constable’s practice ‘to make a sketch when he was undertaking a major change in an existing composition’. He suggested that in transforming  his vertical Lock images into a horizontal format, with an extension of the view to the right, Constable may well have made Study of ‘A boat passing a lock’ as a preparatory sketch. (Constable made at least three versions that had a vertical format: Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection on loan to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid; Philadelphia Museum and Art Gallery; and private collection). In 1991 Parris and Fleming-Williams revised their earlier opinion to suggest that this painting might be an abandoned work, that Constable may have painted it before his Diploma picture, and even before the upright Lock which he exhibited in 1824 (Tate 1991, p. 289). In 1996 Sarah Cove, in a detailed technical report of the Diploma picture, concluded that ‘this version is the sketch for, or certainly the precursor to, the Royal Academy picture’  (Sarah Cove to Anne Lyles, 12 September 2005, NGA file 04/0501–0).

While it seems most likely that the painting in the National Gallery  of Victoria’s collection was the sketch for the Diploma picture, it would appear unlikely that it was a precursor to any of the upright Locks, as in this painting Constable introduced a number of features that he also included in the Diploma picture, but which do not appear in the upright versions – the boat with a sail, willows (rather than oaks),  and the rainstorm – and he positioned the vessel as it would be travelling up river, as opposed to down river as in the upright Lock paintings.  Although it is possible that Constable chopped and changed in subject and in format, it is more likely that he painted the three upright versions and then the two horizontal versions. The Fitzwilliam drawing of c.1826 acts as a intermediary in the process of working out the compositional ideas with neither the barge in the upper lock chamber (as in the upright versions) or the boat with a sail below (as in the horizontal versions).

Whatever the purpose of this work, in painting it Constable used more finished brushwork and greater definition and coherence than  he frequently employed in his full-scale preliminary sketches. He carefully modulated the light in the sky to create a sense of wind and weather, and he depicted the plants on the riverbank and the lock’s wooden structure with considerable attention to detail.

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The Senate on Tuesday invited the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami to come and explain why it is necessary for him to drag Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, to court over alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules.

Following a motion by Senator Dino Melaye, (Kogi West) titled: “Imminent threat to our democracy,” the Senate resolved to invite Malami to explain why he allegedly disregarded and reopened the alleged forgery case against Saraki and others when a court of competent jurisdiction had struck it out.

The Senate said Justice Gabriel Kolawole of Abuja High Court adjudicated and ruled on the matter, affirming that the issue is an internal affair of the Senate.

Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, in a letter NASSIS/CJHL/024/2016/10 dated 27th June, 2016 and addressed to Hon. Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said Malami should appear before it on Thursday to explain his role in Saraki and Ekweremadu’s arraignment.

The letter was received at the AGF office on Tuesday.

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More than 170,000 people have fled war-torn Yemen for the Horn of Africa and the Gulf, the U.N. said Wednesday, as they appealed for $94 million in aid.

“Around 170,000 Yemenis, refugees and third country nationals have fled to Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan and some Gulf countries,” the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) and International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement, after aid meetings in the Kenyan capital.

The U.N. said it needed over $94 million (86 million euros) to support those fleeing the war in 2016.

Thousands have been killed and the impoverished nation plunged into profound humanitarian crisis since March, amid battles between pro-government forces supported by Saudi-led air strikes and Iran-backed rebels.

Most of the refugees have made a “perilous crossing” across the Gulf of Aden to the Horn of Africa, said Claire Bourgeois, who heads U.N. refugee agency operations for those fleeing Yemen.

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Aug 31st, 2016

Indie RPG Quest of Dragons will be released on the Wii U on September 29 in the US and Europe, developer Upfall Studios announced. Quest of Dragons is a top-down RPG with retro 16-bit graphics — yes, another “retro” indie game.

Quest of Dragons was originally released on the PC a couple of years ago, and will also get a Nintendo 3DS release in the future. And it will support cross-buy, meaning if you purchased the Wii U version, you’ll get the 3DS version for free.

The game will cost $8.99 / €8.99 / £7.99 on the Wii U eShop.

Check out the trailer of the game below (thanks to user Denvy).

local_offer    Nintendo  wii u


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Nov 4

Nov 04 2012
Nithyanandeshwara Nithyanandeshwari
Kalpataru is a powerful workshop that aligns your actions with your true intentions. It is a simple method that allows you to awaken your innate power so that you can manifest your own destiny.
ABOUT THE TECHNIQUE You are always ashamed of your desires! You don’t realize, every desire you have is only a reflection of your deep desire for inner fulfillment...
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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post3507460558106394216..comments2017-01-24T11:50:53.668-05:00Comments on No More Mister Nice Blog: Steve M.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11963290427258439242noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-24129360977851695382013-01-15T08:33:58.256-05:002013-01-15T08:33:58.256-05:00Well said. Look what happened when George Zimmerma...Well said. Look what happened when George Zimmerman decided to make himself an amateur cop. We must not forget the lesson of Trayvon Martin.Susanna Kinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05836224575041085431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3856837.post-68725690335494092472013-01-15T06:43:10.051-05:002013-01-15T06:43:10.051-05:00I still think having armed guards in schools is a ...I still think having armed guards in schools is a stupid response to this problem - which is, more and more guns, too many of them semi-automatics with large magazines, in less and less hands.

The percentage of people who own guns has dropped in the last 50-60years - which makes sense, since once rural and wilderness areas where hunters hunted, have turned into roads, suburban homes, malls, and strip malls. I've seen that happen here, in Upstate NY.

And, most tenants in apartments in urban areas don't usually have guns. Neither do most condo or co-op owners.
The laws against guns are pretty strict in cities - just ask Plexico Burress, formerly of the NY Giants.

It's the number of guns that that dwindling percentage of gun owners still have, that's the problem. And that group is the group that keeps on buying more and more new guns.

No one is looking to ban a handgun or shotgun for home protection (though, with the number of accidents and suicides, perhaps that will warrant a look in a generation or two).
And no one is looking to ban rifles used for hunting.

It's semi's, and large magazines, that are the problem.

And the solution isn't to have armed guards in schools, it's to get rid of those guns.

You want to stimulate the economy a little while getting rid of some guns?
Have a buy-back program, where you give a Gift Card, good for 90 days, worth $500 for each gun, and $1 for each bullet. Victorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06609452382111686086noreply@blogger.com


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Please help to save the handmade industry (CPSIA HR4040)

I never had a slice of bread,
Particularly large and wide,
That did not fall upon the floor,
And always on the buttered side.
(anonymous verse,circa 1841)

There's alot of concern in the children's handmade toy and clothing industry at the moment. There's a lot of confusion, a lot of anxiety, and a lot of worry. Why? Well, if you haven't already heard - the US Congress is on the verge of passing a bill called HR4040 (the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act).

We're sure you heard the stories recently associated with the public scare associated with imported toys from certain Chinese manufacturers - and for good reason. These cheaply made items were tainted with high levels of lead and phthalates (a substance used to make plastics more flexible). Cheap and Badly made products were coming back to haunt us. Bad on them for these factories for producing such things. Bad on us if we bought this cheap throwaway crap for the sake of saving a few dollars! arghh! As a consequence, the US Congress has acted to clean up the mess.

The problem is that word has spread fast among small business associations that the bill mentioned above, as it is written now, is far from clear, way to broad in its demands, and unfair to small business. As some people have insinuated, we honestly don't think that this bill is a big-business-influenced stab at small business. We feel it's more of a matter of hastily arranged and over-reactive bureaucratic language - something that can be a common occurence when legislative bills are first drafted. All the more reason, at this stage to get involved and have your voice heard. We here at Nonchalant Mom think that the online industry with it's 'Etsy' and 'Dawanda's' supporting crafters of all sorts is such a benefit to our country and economy... we had always hoped that this was the direction that our country is turning. So, legislation such as this could severely quell this wonderful aspect of the online community and further crack the backbone of small businesses that have already withstood many a storm. We need to voice up and stand strong for these wonderful people making very special things for our kids and our homes.

To be as concise as possible, if it is possible to do so, we'd like to share with you what the bill basically proposes starting this February. To do this, we will borrow some words from our friends at SMALL MAGAZINE who have been very supportive in spreading the word to everyone concerned about how truly devastating this can be for everyone who produces, manufactures, designs, sells, or trades in children's toys or clothing items:

"...parts of this bill will directly effect all small handmade toy makers, designers and store owners in a way that will put many of them out of business. The CPSIA rules now requires all children's products, including natural handmade toys and clothing to be tested by a Third Party Lab, often at a cost of up to $4,000 per item. That could cost a small company more than $20,000 a season.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of children's goods that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys, clothes, and accessories made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade children's products will no longer be legal in the US.

If the bill is to be taken seriously at this point, then it will not only effect small businesses nation wide who deal with producing or selling toys and clothing, but it will effect you as a consumer as well since many, if not all, small businesses like ours will be deeply impacted - thus reducing your ability to find handmade items for your children. And, worse, there is talk that this bill will even affect such business' as second-hand stores, and at worst, even something as small as a garage sale - since any time an item is sold, or made even by your grandmother at her kitchen table, it will be subjected to the mandatory and potentially expensive third-party testing to insure that the items are not tainted. This is some sweeping legislation..... !!!

The irony in all of this is that there is no evidence showing that any tainted items were produced in the USA or Europe. This has largely been initiated because of the recent scare concerning items produced by some large factories in China. No, that isn't ironic - it's cynical. We are all going to be subjected to a punishment that many many many small business' in this country and Europe did nothing to prompt.

But, before we get going on this thing... let's keep in mind some good news. Congress probably means well by trying to protect the consumer. And, we believe the bill will be reviewed and will probably be rewritten. Congress has the best of intentions, even if its current draft is HARSH. This is our government, and we need to take action. And, believe us when we tell you that almost every small business we know is deeply concerned (as if we need more) and is acting to bring attention to the potential consequences.

So, if you would like to have some more information about this bill please go to the following website and download the current bill yourself at CPSIA. Or, go ahead and search the many blogs and chat pages that are discussing this potential bill. It's all very confusing and potentially very scary!

If you'd like to act to clean up the terms of this bill and bring attention to its potential harm for many small businesses, we suggest contacting your state representative's office (Congressperson or Senators) - it isn't that hard to send an email and ask them to clarify their position concerning this bill, as well as tell them your concern.

here are some things that you can do to help, they only take a minute and if all of us voice-up someone will hear the call:

1. sign the petition click here

2. vote to modify the CPSIA on change.org - this website is amazing! the top 10 ideas from change.org will be presented to President Obama on inauguration day. we are currently at number 1 in the economy section - so keep it up there and vote now!!

3. phone or email your representatives in the house & senate (it's easy just click and select your state).

4. write a letter to congress you can use this sample letter or write your own.

5. join the save handmade toys facebook group

6. join the CPSIA discussion group.

Wish us all luck - and this includes yourself as a discerning consumer! We are not given to hyperbole normally - but this is going to be a sad day for the small guys/gals if it continues as is! Thanks for listening!

karen said...

Thanks for posting this and bringing it to the attention of your readers. We all want to be nonchalant to the hype that surrounds this, but this bill was written in such a way it would devastate so many businesses on many levels. It is hard to ignore.

I think it is great our government is trying to care about the content of products in the marketplace, but the sad fact is that most of those who have been irresponsible in creating toxic toys and goods are the companies that are large enough this will not greatly affect.

I hope everyone will vote on change.org!

Anonymous said...

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Sorry for offtopic


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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Erik and Chilin eat maniroce fruit for supper

Chilin (top) and Erik are enjoying a rare treat. They are eating maniroce fruit from our botanic garden.
They have also made an appearance on Facebook. You should check out a group called Simian Samaritans. Look for Philip Cordrey on Facebook and you will find the Simian Samaritans. Or just look for Simian Samaritans under groups. Become a Sam, join the group.

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Friday, September 22, 2006

Calls of Note Part 4

Cowen notes that last night competitors of Dyax (NASDAQ:DYAX), Jerini and Kos announced mixed results from 2 Phase 3 trials of Icatibant in HAE. While one of the trials succeeded, the other missed its primary endpoint. The FDA has been pretty clear that Dyax and Genzyme need to submit two randomized, positive, blinded Phase III studies for DX-88. Should the same standard apply to Icatibant, Jerini and Kos would need to conduct another trial, presumably pushing out Icatibant's launch to H2:08, in line with DX-88's timing. Although this is not assured - Kos and Jerini continue to expect to file for U.S. and EU approval by YE:06 - last night's news is a positive for Dyax. With a <$100MM enterprise value and a product that has solid
proof-of-concept data, firm believes that downside to DYAX is limited and that the stock is positioned to outperform over the next 12-18 months as DX-88 makes progress in completing its clinical trial program.

Notablecalls: May see mild interest in DYAX today, but wouldn't count on it. Rather take it as an educational note in case of further news from Jerini/KOSP.

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Friday, August 28, 2009

Free Trade

Free trade policy refers to a trade policy without any tarrifs, quantitative restrictions and other devices obstructing the movement of goods between countries.

Arguments in favour of Free Trade:

The classical economists were in favour of free trade policy of the modern economists Haberler advanced the following arguments in favour of free trade.

1. Maximization of output: Under free trade a country specializes in the production of those commodities which for those imports which it can obtain more cheaply. This maximises the output of all the participating countries because all gain from trade which in turn increases the real national in come of the world economy. Thus free trade leads to the maximisation of output.

2. Optimum utilization of resources: Free trade leads to international specialization and division of labour. As a result the existing resources in each trading country are employed more productively and the resource allocation becomes more efficient. There is more efficient utilization of factors within a firm or industry. Thus international trade and division of labour lead to optimum utilization of resources.

3. Optimization of Consumption: Free trade secures the optimization of consumption. In other words it benefits the consumers when they are able to buy a variety of commodities from abroad at the minimum possible prices. This in turn has effect of the raising their standard of living.

4. Educative Value: According to Haberler free trade has an educative value. International competition encourages home producers to sacrifice leisure in order to increase productivity. For this they innovate and bring improvements in organization and methods of production.

5. Wide Markets: Free trade leads to wide extent of markets for goods. As the demand for goods is not confined to one country but to a number of countries, the entire world becomes the market for all types goods. This leads the production of quality goods at low prices because of world competition.

6. Prevent monopolies: Free trade prevents the establishment of monopolies. Under free trade each country specialises in the production of few commodities, and the firms or industries are of the optimum size so that the cost of production of each commodity is the minimum. Thus free trade ensures a lower price for exports as well as imports and the price mechanism under perfect competition prevents the formation of monopolies.

7. Best policy for economic development: Haberler point out that “substantial free trade with marginal insubstantial corrections and deviations is the best policy from point of view economic development”.

Arguments against the free trade:

There are certain theoretical and practical difficulties in following the free trade policy.

1. Free trade presupposes the existence of laissez faire and the working of price mechanism under perfect competition. But these conditions do not exist in the present dag world. Monopoly, monoprony, cartels, imperfect labour markets and tarrifs led to the abandonment of free trade.

2. Under the policy of free trade, some industries expand in which the country possesses comparative advantage but other industries are not developed. An agricultural country may develop only agriculture and neglect the industrial sector. Or one type of industries may be developed while others may remain undeveloped. This naturally leads to the one sided development of economy. Hence free trade had to be abandoned.

3. There being no restrictions on the movement of goods under free trade, substandard and harmful commodities are likely to be produced and traded. This leads to diminution of social welfare. Trade restriction on import of such commodities become necessary. This was another cause of abandonment of free trade.

4. Countries with better factor endowments are able to produce certain commodities cheaper than others. This led to cut-throat competition in the world markets under free trade. So certain countries like Japan resorted to the policy of dumping whereby they would sell huge quantities of their products at rock-bottom prices in the foreign markets. Naturally this policy led to imposition of trade restrictions.

5. Free trade may lead to the emergence of international monopolies and local monopolies, according to Haberler, such monopolies developed under free trade which proved harmful to the other countries and the domestic interests. This factor also led to the adoption of the policy of protection.

6. Economists do not agree with Haberler that the free trade policy helps in the development of under developed countries. Rather this policy led to the exploitation of countries during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is now recognised that under developed countries can develop under a policy of protection and not of free trade.

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'Equation Matcher' printed from

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Why do this problem?

This problem encourages students to get into the real meaning of graphical representation without getting bogged down in algebraic calculations or falling back into blind computation. It will also encourage them to think about error in measurement.

Possible approach

There are two levels at which the graphical data can be interpreted. At a basic level, the students can easily see if a measurement increases or decreases from point to point or whether the measurement is positive or negative. At a more advanced level, they can suggest some rate of change of the measurements from point to point: although there are no units on the charts, there are certain key points (the grid lines) which allow some 'indirect' by-eye measurement. Students will need to realise this more subtle point to make full progress. (Note that the points have been carefully placed by the question setter!)

The question of the accuracy of the 'by-eye' measurements can raise interesting discussion about the accuracy of the measurements. Since no context is given in the question it is natural to assume total accuracy, but would this be the case in practice?

Key questions

  • We only have two measurements, but what information can we deduce from these?
  • How can we relate this information to the equations?

Possible extension

Think of other equations which might match the points on the graphs. How many could you think of?

Possible support

Let students leaf through a science textbook searching for graphs and charts. Do they notice that the same shapes of charts appear frequently? For each chart they find, which measurements would be a possibility?

You might also first try Real-life equations.


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The Numbers Give the Design

Make new patterns from simple turning instructions. You can have a go using pencil and paper or with a floor robot.

problem icon

Straight to Curves

How can you make a curve from straight strips of paper?

problem icon

Colouring Curves Game

In this game, try not to colour two adjacent regions the same colour. Can you work out a strategy?

Celtic Knot

Stage: 2 Challenge Level: Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3 Challenge Level:3

Can you find the four corner pieces and put them in place?
Can you now place the pieces with curves round the edge?
It might be helpful to follow the design from this sheet.


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Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Ehrman and Theodicy

Stanley Fish of the NY Times writes a book review on both Bart Ehrman and Anthony Flew's newest books. I'm more interested in Ehrman's because of the topic on which he's writing: "God’s Problem: How the Bible Fails to Answer Our Most Important Question – Why We Suffer.”

I love reading anything Bart Ehrman puts in print, so I'm sure I'll be reading this as soon as possible. Two statements Dr. Ehrman gives in the interview intrigue me:

Given [the] theology of selection – that God had chosen the people of Israel to be in a special relationship with him – what were Ancient Israelite thinkers to suppose when things did not go as planned or expected? . . . . How were they to explain the fact that the people of God suffered from famine, drought, and pestilence?”

And one more...

“If he could do miracles for his people throughout the Bible, where is he today when your son is killed in a car accident, or your husband gets multiple sclerosis? . . . I just don’t see anything redemptive when Ethiopian babies die of malnutrition.”

In the article, Ehrman also goes on to talk about how most books that deal with theodicy do so in such an abstract manner as to tone down the severity of the evil that goes on.

This is not commenting on the book, but rather on theodicy in general. I agree with Dr. Ehrman - it is a great evil that any child would die of malnutrition. It is uncomfortable to look upon death, regardless of how used to it you are. There is always this sense of "This should not be." Without God, not only does evil not make sense, but our response to evil makes absolutely no sense. If Ethiopian children dying of malnutrition is simply the way things should be in a natural world, we should have no qualms over it. It's just how things go. We should be like Camus and think that everything is just absurd, pointless. But we aren't like that. We recognize that this is not how things should be. The reality of evil, outside of syllogisms and textbooks and philosophical glitter, points me in the direction of God, not away from Him.

(HT: Mark Goodacre)

Danny Garland Jr. said...

It's not surprising to see that Ehrman doesn't think the Bible answers the question of suffering, since believes the Bible has been corrupted and made up by the "orthodox party." If he actually believed in the Bible and in Christ, he would see that the Bible does in fact answer the question of suffering. Christ transforms suffering from humiliation and tragedy into glorification and redemption. The Glory of the Cross is the hardest thing to understand when you dismiss the Bible like Ehrman does.

....which gives away my answer to your other post...yes, it is a necessity for one to belief in order to teach theology! We actually talked about this in class today [always up on the current situation-you! ;-) ]. You should hear what Newman has to say about this. It's excellent!

Johnny Vino said...

much of the suffering in the world is horrifying to us because it is unjust and unfair. So its really hard to see any value in suffering where the victims are random and their tragedy so absurdly unfair. The only way it can start to make sense is if there was a reference point for unfair and unjust suffering which could clue us to a purpose. This is what we have in the Cross. No one has a claim to injusice more than the Jesus. He IS justice - He IS innocence, yet he was accused and punished with the guilty. No blood cries out for the wrath of God more than his only Son, yet our Lord gave that blood of his own will. So now, no matter what manner of senseless evil we heap on each other, and no matter what degree of pain and sorrow people endure from famine, war, or natural disaster; suffering is not an abyss into hell. Christ's suffering is the ocean that all human sorrow drains into and we are promised in Revelation that "the sea shall be no more".


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Mark Angel Pagan v. Correctional Medical Services and the Citizens' Policy and Complaint

June 6, 2012

The opinion of the court was delivered by: Ramos, D.J.:

Pro se plaintiff Mark Angel Pagan brings this suit pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 against twelve defendants whom he alleges violated his constitutional rights while he was incarcerated at the Orange County Correctional Facility ("OCCF"). Specifically, he claims that the defendants deprived him of his Eighth Amendment right to medical treatment by rejecting his requests for surgery on his left knee.

Mr. Pagan has named two organizations and ten individuals as defendants: (1) Correctional Medical Services ("CMS"); (2) Corrections Administrator Dominick Orsino; (3) Administrative Captain Joseph Ryan; (4) Grievance Coordinator Sergeant Edward Kistner; (5) Health Services Administrator Tom Roome; (6) former Health Services Administrator Brian O'Donohue (sued here as Brian O'Donnell); (7) facility Medical Director Terry Hanson; (8) former facility Medical Director Mary Delgado; (9) Dr. Oladayo Kehinde (originally sued as a John Doe); (10) nurse practitioner Carman Burgos (originally sued as a Jane Doe); (11) the Citizens' Policy and Complaint Review Council ("CPCRC"); and, (12) CPCRC's Chair Frances Sullivan. Second Am. Compl. at 2. Mr. Pagan sues each of the natural person defendants in both their individual and official capacities.

Six motions are before the Court. First, three of the OCCF defendants-Mr. O'Donohue, Ms. Delgado, and Dr. Kehinde-move for summary judgment on the ground that all of Mr. Pagan's claims against them are barred by the statute of limitations. Doc. 75. Second, the CPCRC, which denied appeals of Mr. Pagan's grievances, and its Chair Frances Sullivan, move to dismiss Mr. Pagan's claims against them on multiple grounds. Doc. 84. Third, Ms. Burgos has filed a motion to vacate default and/or compel acceptance of service of answer. Doc. 78. Fourth, Mr. Pagan moves to amend to add Dr. Muhammad Shahid and Dr. Marie Chiao. Doc. 100. Fifth, Mr. Pagan moves for discovery sanctions. Doc. 104. Sixth, Mr. Pagan moves for appointment of pro bono counsel. Doc. 114.

I. Mr. Pagan's Factual Allegations

Mr. Pagan was incarcerated at OCCF from September 16, 2004 to May 27, 2005 and again from December 18, 2007 to July 16, 2008. Second Am. Compl. ¶¶ 2, 23.

Mr. Pagan alleges that, by the time he was processed for his first period of incarceration at OCCF, he was already suffering from an injury to his knee. Id. ¶ 1. He claims he received "nothing more than Tylenol . . . and an x-ray for chronic pain and swelling" despite his requests for additional treatment. Id. ¶ 3. Specifically, he alleges that he asked the facility physician- whom he mistakenly identifies as Dr. Kehinde*fn1 -to let him visit an orthopedic specialist to examine his knee, to no avail. Id. ¶ 4.

Frustrated with what he took to be inadequate medical treatment, on March 13, 2005 Mr. Pagan filed a grievance (hereinafter "First Grievance") against the facility staff. Id. ¶ 5.

Mr. Kistner, the Grievance Coordinator, denied Mr. Pagan's grievance. Id. ¶ 7. Mr. Pagan appealed the denial to Mr. Orsino, who also denied the appeal. Id. Mr. Pagan appealed again, this time to the Citizens' Policy and Complaint Review Council. Id. Ms. Sullivan, on behalf of the CPCRC, denied the appeal. Id.

Mr. Pagan alleges that Mr. Ryan, OCCF's Administrative Captain, responded to the grievance informally as well, telling Mr. Pagan in person that any surgery on his knee would have to wait until he was transferred to another facility. Id. ¶ 6. Mr. Pagan also alleges that the investigation of the First Grievance revealed that Mr. Ryan had personally cancelled scheduled consultations with an orthopedic specialist. Id. ¶ 8.

On May 27, 2005, Mr. Pagan was transferred out of OCCF. Id. ¶ 10. Between that date and December 18, 2007, a period of approximately two and one half years, Mr. Pagan was incarcerated briefly at the Downstate Correctional Facility and then at greater length at the Elmira Correctional Facility and the Attica Correctional Facility. See id. ¶¶ 10-22. At Elmira, Mr. Pagan alleges that he saw an orthopedic specialist and received an MRI, which showed that his left knee was significantly injured. Id. ¶¶ 14-15. At Attica, he alleges that he received physical therapy and was recommended for an unspecified "intervention." Id. ¶¶ 21-22.

Mr. Pagan then returned to OCCF and alleges that he asked to be seen by an orthopedic specialist and to have his medical records sent to OCCF. Id. ¶¶ 24-26. On February 18, 2008, Mr. Pagan filed a second grievance ("Second Grievance"), claiming that his medical treatment had been inadequate because he had not received the surgery he sought. Id. ¶ 28. As in 2005, Mr. Kistner denied the Second Grievance, and Mr. Orsino and the CPCRC-through Ms. Sullivan-denied the appeals. Id. ¶ 30. Mr. Pagan alleges that, in retaliation for filing for the Second Grievance, Mr. Roome required Mr. Pagan to submit to a mental health evaluation. Id. ¶ 29.

Mr. Pagan admits that, despite denying his Second Grievance, OCCF staff did schedule him for a consultation with orthopedist Marc Appel, who examined him on March 4, 2008. Id. ¶

31. Mr. Pagan has submitted to the Court Dr. Appel's report, which does state that Mr. Pagan requires surgery to his ACL, but describes the surgery as "elective." Appel Report ¶ 5.

In April, Mr. Pagan spoke with Mr. Hanson, the OCCF's medical director, about Dr. Appel's recommendation. Second Am. Compl. ¶ 36. Mr. Pagan alleges that Mr. Hanson told him that, because the surgery he sought was elective, it would not be performed with state funds. Id. ¶ 37.

In May, Mr. Pagan saw Dr. Muhammad Shahid, who recommended a second orthopedic consultation. Id. ¶ 38. Dr. Appel examined Mr. Pagan again on May 13, 2008 and again recommended "[e]lective" surgery. Second Appel Report ¶ 4.

Mr. Pagan mistakenly*fn2 alleges that on May 18, 2008, yet another physician, Dr. Marie Chiao, recommended an offsite consultation for surgery. Second Am. Compl. ¶ 40.

On July 15, 2008, Mr. Pagan filed a new grievance ("Third Grievance"), and the next day he was transferred out of the OCCF. Id. ¶¶ 45-46. As a result, the Third Grievance was not adjudicated.

Mr. Pagan alleges that on January 27, 2009, while incarcerated at another facility, he received the surgery he sought and claims that there was additional damage to his knee that could have been prevented had OCCF staff sent him for surgery earlier. Id. ¶ 50.

II. Discussion

A. Motion for Summary Judgment by Ms. Delgado, Dr. Kehinde, and Mr. O'Donohue

Ms. Delgado, Dr. Kehinde, and Mr. O'Donohue move for summary judgment. They argue that Mr. Pagan's claims against them are barred by the relevant statute of limitations.

Summary judgment is granted "if the movant shows that there is no genuine dispute as to any material fact and the movant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." Fed. R. Civ. P. 56(a). In considering a motion for summary judgment, a district court is instructed not to "weigh evidence," but to "resolve all ambiguities and draw all inferences in favor of the non-moving party" so as to ascertain "whether any reasonable trier of fact would have to conclude that the evidence was so strongly in the [movant's] ...

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Eyes on the Street: Prospect Park Road Diet in Action

Photo: Ben Fried

As first documented by @noahbudnick, the section of the Prospect Park loop south of the lake has had new markings (and a smooth, fresh surface) for a few weeks. On this section you can experience the more spacious 24/7 accommodations for walkers, joggers, and cyclists that will soon expand to the rest of the loop. I was over there about two weeks ago and it was kind of remarkable to see everyone using the lane designated specifically for them.

According to electronic message boards stationed in the park, the rest of the loop will get new markings starting on May 11 (word is new pavement is not in the works). Now about that rush-hour car lane…

Photo: ##http://www.flickr.com/photos/waywardcourier/6973277192/sizes/z/in/photostream/##waywardcourier/Flickr##
  • Anonymous

    The roadway is a bit wider there by the lake.I don’t expect that we will get buffers between the lanes elsewhere.

  • Daphna

    I wish the whole loop of Central Park could have the same treatment!  It would help tremendously to reduce speeding if motorists had only one lane.  Currently with two lanes, that is too much capacity for the volume of vehicles. so speeding is rampant.  How can Central Park get the same road diet treatment?  (Reducing the vehicle lanes from two to one has been proposed in Central Park 72nd Street to allow a contraflow bike lane, but the vehicle lane reduction is also needed also on the 6.1 mile loop.)

  • Sure looks pretty to me.

  • Hilary

    It is functional but a visual abomination. It intrudes an expressway aesthetic into Olmsted and Vaux’s picturesque landscape. If those masters of park and road design had been available, I think they would have installed different pavements appropriate for the modes. Gilmore D. Clarke (Moses’s parkway landscape architect) would have had more aesthetic solutions as well. The parkways relied on the seams of concrete to indicate the lanes, and separated pull offs and bike paths with unobtrusive low curves, strips of green, stone blocks set in grass.  They resisted striping the roads and cluttering up the landscape with signs to the very end, knowing how it would turn their scenic parkways into ordinary highways. They were right.  (ANd what is the electronic bullletin board doing in Prospect Park?!) Where is the Art Commission? the Landmarks Preservation Commission?!

  • Danny G

    @5a471fba0c53eda855a5cc4524342ab0:disqus, It was already an expressway aesthetic with striped lanes. It has been this way for at least ten years. I would love to see different pavements, but as a taxpayer, I also know that doing so would be an expensive long-term project, especially when compared with the low cost and quick installation of what is simply paint.

    We are also experiencing a cultural shift regarding whether motor vehicles should be a part of Olmsted’s bucolic and pastoral vision at all. Just last year, a few of the Manhattan Community Boards surrounding Central Park were pushing to return it to it’s roots by banning motor vehicles from the loop road.

    Combine this short-term solution with this long-term cultural shift, and you might come to the conclusion that by the time these lanes fade away in 5 to 10 years, striping will be unnecessary because by then, the parks will be totally car-free.

    Alternatively, I’d like to see access to the park restricted to vehicles from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, to better suit the surrounding pre-war buildings and underlying Olmsted aesthetic.

  • Nick

    It’s unfortunate runners must use the most steeply graded portion of the road. It’s horrible for your knees/hips and a common source of injury for recreational runners. Does anyone else feel that way?

  • Now we have to get them to get rid of those traffic lights.

  • Nick http://disqus.com/guest/848d8717c976fe6acd7ef9bc20f15e9e/ ,

    This is a point I hear from runners in Central Park, who deliberately run in the designated bike lane, rather than the designated running lane, to avoid the grade near the curb. Can you post links to serious literature documenting exactly how common injuries related to running in these conditions are?

    Accepting that running on the grade near the curb is a source of at least some level of injuries, the answer to the problem clearly is getting rid of the cars.  As long as there are cars, vulnerable users must be relegated to the margins for safety, and the only safe place I can see for cycling traffic on a roadway with both cars and pedestrians is in a dedicated space between the cars and pedestrians (absent physical barriers separating modes).

  • carma

    why do i hate this picture.  that road looks so cluttered with markings.  buffers would have been better.

  • J

    This reminds me of a few fantasy drawings, where the cars are relegated to the edges of the roads, and bikes and pedestrians get the lions share of road space. It’s pretty awesome to see this actually happen in NYC. Also, I second copying this design in Central Park, and I’ve advocated this idea for years. No need to allow cars to pass each other at high speeds, which the current design allows/encourages.

  • Anonymous

    It is a vast improvement that should give meaningful lanes of travel and allow recreational runners and cyclists to enjoy the loop at prime hours of daylight without being at each other while competing for space with speeding cars in those 7AM to 9AM and 5PM to 7PM time slots immediately before or after work.
    My one complaint, other than the fact that there still IS a car lane, is that while it is great for users operating parallel to the road, it still does not provide enough crossing guidance. The wimpy 3 ft. wide shoulder at the outside, the purpose of which escapes me, should really be a fully protected walking lane, perhaps even a raised sidewalk. This would allow pedestrians wishing to get to or from the inside of the park an opportunity to walk along the road to a point where it is easier and safer to cross. A few yellow blinking light crossing locations could also be added, particularly at locations such as at the GAP and Garfield Pl. entrances. As it is, it seems that the tendency will continue to be that people will cross whenever and wherever without paying adequate attention.
    And YES! Please lose those red light traffic signals during non-car hours to blinking yellows, unless they can be converted to manual control for pedestrians to use when people actually need to cross.

  • Michael

    @wkgreen:disqus : “And YES! Please lose those red light traffic signals during non-car
    hours to blinking yellows, …”   Actually, why restrict the blinking yellow to car-free hours?  Blinking yellow has a well-identified and desired meaning also with car traffic and would the priorities in a park right.   That would also solve the problem mentioned by Parks and/or DoT that programming the lights for car-free vs car hours is impossible/expensive: i’m pretty sure switching to yellow blinking all the time is technically feasible and occurs only a one-time cost ….

  • Station44025

    Nick, Bicycles Only: Yes, running on the crown of the road is a sure fire way to get ITB pain, ankle problems, hip pain, etc..  I don’t know about research–I’m sure there is plenty–but anyone who runs can tell you that it happens.  Running around the curve of a track will do you in eventually too.

Traffic Lights Don’t Belong on a Park Loop

Two separate crashes in which cyclists struck and killed pedestrians on the Central Park loop have garnered more media attention than any other traffic safety issue in the past two months. In addition to the inevitable reemergence of a few bikelash trolls, the collisions have led to a round of less spiteful stories that still miss […]

Caption Contest: Chuck Schumer Rides the Prospect Park West Bike Lane

Looks like protected bike infrastructure is growing on Chuck Schumer. High-powered backchannel NIMBY assault notwithstanding, New York’s senior senator apparently does enjoy riding the bike lane in his front yard, as you can see in this Sunday morning photo courtesy of fellow PPW resident Paul Steely White. So, when will the rest of Streetsblog’s 2011 April Fools […]


text:
A Barf-o-rama in Brooklyn

Yesterday in an English class at Frederick Douglass Academy VIII in Canarsie, a 13-year-old boy opened up a bottle that set off a powerful odor throughout the classroom. The substance — which police later described as a mix of cough medicine and an unknown substance — was nontoxic, but when the smell hit the crowd, the fumes made a number of kids “queasy,” the Post reports. Girlfriends barfed on boyfriends! Kids barfed on other kids! The teacher barfed in her purse, probably. Firefighters and paramedics rushed to the scene and took eleven kids and two adults to the hospital, but all turned out fine — it seems they had just experienced their first ever complete and total barf-o-rama.

Brooklyn kids sickened by noxious odor of cough-medicine brew [NYP]


text:
$10M gold tablet doesn’t belong to Holocaust survivor: court

New York’s highest court on Thursday ordered loved ones of a Long Island Holocaust survivor to fork over an ancient gold relic, worth $10 million, to a German museum.

A  3,000-year-old, 9.5-gram tablet  has been with former Auschwitz prisoner Riven Flamenbaum and his Great Neck family since the end of World War II.

Flamenbaum had always told loved ones he got the credit-card-sized tablet in a trade for cigarettes with a Russian soldier. After his death in 2003, son Israel Flamenbaum went behind his family’s back to tell the Vorderasiatisches Museum about the artifact, according to lawyers for the estate.

The New York Court of Appeals rejected the estate’s “spoils of war” argument that the relic was acquired through legal means, because Soviet authorities allowed their troops to grab German valuables.

“Obviously they’re [the Flamenbaum family] very disappointed,” estate lawyer Steven Schlesinger said.

If the estate doesn’t appeal, the ancient tablet – dating back to  Assyrian King Tukulti-Ninurta I – could be returned to Germany shortly after Thanksgiving.

“They’re [the German museum] very thankful that the New York Court of Appeals reached this decision,” said the museum’s New York lawyer Raymond Dowd.

Schlesinger still believes the piece was legally gained by Riven Flamenbaum.

“You can’t argue that the United States doesn’t recognize the right of conquest,” he said. “If you don’t, then let’s give back Texas to the Mexicans.”

German archeologists found the tablet during excavations between 1908 and 1914 in what’s now northern Iraq. It was sent to the famed Berlin museum, which was closed down in 1939 at the outbreak of World War II.

The valuable artifact was considered a mere trinket by Riven Flamenbaum and everyone in his family, other than Israel Flamenbaum, lawyers said.

“I don’t know when Israel figured out what it was,” Schlesinger said. “Our belief is that he went to the museum for a reward and to cut his sisters out of it.”

Israel Flamenbaum declined comment on Thursday. He’s estranged from his two sisters, including estate executor Hannah Flamenbaum.

The family believes New York’s high court ruled against their side, fearing that upholding a “spoils of war” theory could be used against World War II survivors who lost art to looting sanctioned by Nazi authorities.

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Pro Football

NFL Football
Scoreboard|Stats|Standings|Teams|Players|Player News|Injuries|Transactions
Cary Williams
Tackles Sacks Int
- - -
Team: Ht/Wt: /
Position: CBBorn: // Birthplace: ,
College: Draft: th Round th pick by ()

Latest News
Jan. 5, 20167:14 AM PT8:14 AM MT9:14 AM CT10:14 AM ET15:14 GMT11:14 PM 北京时间8:14 AM MST10:14 AM EST9:14 AM CT19:14 UAE10:14 ET13:14 - Williams' agent says the cornerback has agreed to sign with the Washington Redskins.
Analysis: Williams was released by the Seattle Seahawks last month is expected to be available for Washington's wild-card game Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Harold Lewis confirmed an ESPN report in an email to The Associated Press that his client will sign with the Redskins. Williams, 31, had 46 tackles in 10 games with Seattle this season. Washington is coping with injuries in its secondary, including two in the regular-season finale Sunday in Dallas.
Dec. 7, 201512:23 PM PT1:23 PM MT2:23 PM CT3:23 PM ET20:23 GMT4:23 AM 北京时间1:23 PM MST3:23 PM EST2:23 PM CT0:23 UAE (+1)15:23 ET18:23 - The Seahawks have released Williams.
Analysis: Signed to a three-year contract during the offseason, Williams started the first 10 games but never quite fit into Seattle's vaunted 'Legion of Boom' defense. He was a healthy scratch in the team's last two games.
Mar. 9, 20158:24 PM PT9:24 PM MT10:24 PM CT11:24 PM ET3:24 GMT11:24 AM 北京时间8:24 PM MST10:24 PM EST9:24 PM CT7:24 UAE (+1)23:24 ET2:24 - Before free agency started, Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider knew he needed to make additions to the secondary. So there was some relief for Schneider when the Seahawks finalized a three-year contract with Williams on Tuesday.
Analysis: Williams started every game the past four seasons, two of those with Philadelphia and two with Baltimore, where he won a Super Bowl. Last season he had 59 tackles, nine passes defensed and two interceptions for the Eagles.
Mar. 3, 20158:29 AM PT9:29 AM MT10:29 AM CT11:29 AM ET16:29 GMT12:29 AM 北京时间9:29 AM MST11:29 AM EST10:29 AM CT20:29 UAE11:29 ET15:29 - The Philadelphia Eagles released Williams.
Analysis: Williams was signed by the Eagles as a free agent in 2013 and started all 32 games over the last two seasons. He had five interceptions.

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text:
Inventory of the Robert Presley Papers

Archives Staff and Sara Roberson
California State Archives
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 653-2246
Fax: (916) 653-7363
© 2005
California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Inventory of the Robert Presley Papers

Collection number: See series descriptions

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California
Processed by:
Archives Staff and Sara Roberson
Date Completed:
April 2005
Encoded by:
Sara Roberson
© 2005 California Secretary of State. All rights reserved.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Robert Presley papers
Dates: 1973-1994
Collection number: See series descriptions
Creator: Presley, Robert B.
Collection Size: 23.5 cubic feet
Repository: California State Archives
Sacramento, California
Abstract: Robert Presley, Democrat, was a California State Senator from 1975-1994. The Robert Presley Papers consist of 23.5 cubic feet of records reflecting Presley's activities during his 19-year Senate career. The records contain Bill Files, 1975-1994; Subject Files, 1973-1994; and Correspondence, 1985-1990.
Physical location: California State Archives
Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Several items are restricted from bill file SB269 (1993-1994) due to restrictions under California Penal Code, sec. 3515 and from bill file SB1218 (1991-1992) due to restrictions under California Insurance Code, sec. 1877.3-1877.4. The following subject files are restricted. LP347:362 is restricted under the Public Records Act, California Government Code, sec. 6254 (f). LP347:368 and LP347:370 are restricted under the Public Records Act, California Government Code, sec 6254 (c).

Publication Rights

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Robert Presley Papers, LP[number]:[folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Acquisition Information

The California State Archives acquired the Robert Presley Papers following his final term in the California Legislature.

Robert Presley, Democrat, was a California State Senator from 1975-1994. In 1974, Presley was elected to represent California's 34th Senate District, which included cities within Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. Following redistricting in 1982, he represented California's 36th Senate District that encompassed Riverside County only. Robert Presley served Riverside County exclusively until another redistricting in 1992 shifted the 36th district to include a portion of San Diego County.
Robert Presley was born on December 4, 1924 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. He was the first-born son of Doyle and Ann Presley who had lived in the Tahlequah area their entire lives. His father supported his family through farming and later in his life he acquired a job with the Oklahoma State Parks Department. His mother spent her days with her children as a homemaker. For most of his childhood, Presley attended local public schools. However, for ninth and tenth grade he attended boarding school at Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas, then returned to Tahlequah to complete high school at the Central High School in Tahlequah. His parents stressed the importance of education, especially given the disruptions of the Great Depression of the 1930s. Senator Presley remembered his mother describing education as "something they can't take away from you" (Presley Oral History, 4). He credited his parents with giving him both determination and a strong work ethic.
When Presley graduated from Central High School the world was in the midst of World War II. After graduation, he quickly signed up for the Army at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma and served in the Medical Corps. Presley was honored for his service when he received a Bronze Star for heroism in Italy. The military also exposed Presley to California for the first time when he was stationed at Beale Air Force Base near Marysville, California. When he was discharged in January 1946, Presley went to Riverside County for the first time to visit relatives for a few months. (Presley Oral History, 6-7)
Also at this time Presley married his wife Ahni with whom he had three children: Marilyn, Donna, and Robert Jr. (Who's Who in the California Legislature, 1994, 69).
It was during this time that Presley became involved with the Sheriff's office and remained in Riverside County for the next 36 years. While Presley worked for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, he attended Riverside City College where he earned an Associate of Arts degree and took courses in police science. Presley attended the FBI National Academy in Washington, D.C., the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of California, Riverside; however, he never completed the requirements for his Bachelor's degree. Presley holds a lifetime Designated Subjects Teaching Credential.
Presley worked for 24 years with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, and served as Undersheriff for 12 of those years. Presley began his law enforcement career in a patrol car, and quickly worked his way up through the ranks. He specialized in homicide cases. In the detective division, he was promoted to sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. Presley's promotion to criminal division chief positioned him for appointment to undersheriff when the current sheriff died in office and the current undersheriff took his place. Presley's experiences as a detective remained with him forever and greatly influenced his legislative policies. In particular, he focused on domestic violence and the flaws he observed in treating victims of that crime. As a Senator, Presley worked diligently to reform this portion of the penal code and established domestic violence shelters (Presley Oral History, 8-15; Who's Who in the California Legislature, 1994, 69).
With no significant political experience, Presley ran for the California State Senate in 1972 in a special election. The special election was held because Governor Reagan had appointed Riverside County's Republican Senator, Gordon Cologne, as a justice for the California Appellate Court. The Democratic Central Committee convinced Presley to run for the open seat and the Democrats fought hard to beat the incumbent Republicans. However, in his first attempt at the State Senate Presley lost to Assembly Member Craig Biddle by 2,586 votes. Nevertheless, the close race finally convinced Presley that he was a serious contender and the following election year, 1974, he sought out the Democratic nomination for Senate. On his second attempt, Presley fully committed himself to the campaign and beat Biddle by 253 votes (Presley Oral History, 15-19; California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), 1973, 76).
Although Presley's transition into politics was abrupt, he succeeded in his new profession. Throughout nearly 20 years of service, Presley remained active in his representation of his district as well as in his commitment to improve and reform California's government. This commitment coupled with his moderate political attitude allowed Presley to pass the majority of the bills he introduced. His reputation and work ethic also made him a favorite candidate to serve as Chair on numerous legislative committees such as the Joint Prison Committee and the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, which he chaired from 1987-1994 (Who's Who in the California Legislature, 1994, 69).
In addition to his political activities, Robert Presley was also a member of the Lions Club, Riverside Family Services Association, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Loyal Order of Moose, and the Elks Club. By 1982, Presley had been named as one of Ten Outstanding State Legislators in the United States by the National Assembly of Governmental Employees, and twice named "Legislator of the Year" by the California Peace Officers Association. During his twenty years in office, he received numerous awards including a special award from the California State Sheriffs Association, the Sierra Club's Distinguished Legislative Achievement Award and the League of California Cities' Special Services Award (California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), 1982, 35; 1983, 35).
According to the California Legislature at Sacramento (Handbooks), Presley served on the following committees:

California State Senate, 1974-1994

  • Standing Committees
  • Agriculture and Water Resources 1975 -1994
  • Appropriations 1987-1994
  • *Chairman 1987-1994
  • Budget and Fiscal Review 1985-1986
  • Business and Professions 1977-1978
  • Finance 1980-1984
  • Health and Welfare 1977-1979
  • Industrial Relations 1975-1976
  • Judiciary 1975-1976, 1980-1994
  • *Vice Chairman 1980
  • Local Government 1975-1976, 1993-1994
  • *Vice Chairman 1975-1976
  • Natural Resources and Wildlife 1981-1990
  • *Chairman 1981-1986
  • Rules 1979-1980
  • Toxics and Public Safety Management 1985-1986
  • Transportation 1977- 1979
  • *Chairman 1977-1978
  • *Vice Chairman 1979
  • Subcommittees
  • Subcommittee on Auto Repair 1981
  • Subcommittee on Social Services and Welfare 1978-1979
  • Subcommittee on Corrections 1980-1983
  • *Chairman 1980-1983
  • Select Committees
  • Select Committee on Children and Youth 1977-1994
  • *Chairman 1977-1994
  • Select Committee on Political Reform 1978-1979
  • Joint Committees
  • Joint Committee on Job Development 1978-1979
  • Joint Legislative Audit Committee 1980-1983
  • Joint Legislative Ethics Committee 1980-1983
  • *Chairman 1982-1983
  • Joint Committee on Peace Officer Classifications 1979-1980
  • *Chairman 1980
  • Joint Committee on Prison Construction and Operations 1984-1986
  • *Chairman 1984-1986
  • Joint Prison Committee 1987-1994
  • *Chairman 1987-1994
Senator Robert Presley did not run for re-election in 1994. This decision was based on the new term limits that would only allow him to stay in the Senate for one more term. Presley personally disliked the amount of effort and fundraising necessary to win an election campaign. Since the boundaries of Senate District 36 were again moved to include more Republican communities, another reelection campaign would have required considerable effort. Therefore, Presley retired from his Senate seat in 1994. He had served as a California Senator for 19 years (Presley Oral History, 134).
Following the conclusion of Presley's legislative service, he continued to participate and influence California politics. Initially, Presley returned to Riverside County to serve as the Chairman of the Board of the Crime Control Technology Research Center at the University of California, Riverside. However, his desire for the quick pace of politics lead him back to Sacramento in 1995 when Governor Pete Wilson appointed him Chairman of the California Youthful Offender Parole Board. In 1999, Governor Gray Davis appointed Presley as Secretary of the Youth and Adult Correctional Agency. He served until 2003 when Governor Schwarzenegger appointed Roderick Q. Hickman in his place. In January 2004, Presley filed lobbying papers with the Secretary of State and established his own lobbying firm in Sacramento to provide legislative representation for his clients, which included the County of Riverside (Presley Oral History, ii, 136-137;
The California Legislature and Riverside County have shown their gratitude for Robert Presley's civil service. In September 1989, the county renamed the Riverside County Jail located in Riverside, California the Robert Presley Detention Center. Then in 1994, Presley's aspiration to provide more advanced training to criminal investigators was realized when AB1329 (Stats. 1994, ch. 43) added Penal Code section 13519.9 and formalized the Robert Presley Institute for Criminal Investigation under the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) (;

Scope and Content

The Robert Presley Papers consist of 23.5 cubic feet of records reflecting Presley's activities during his 19-year Senate career. The records contain Bill Files, 1975-1994; Subject Files, 1973-1994; and Correspondence, 1985-1990.
The bill files document his legislative activity during his term as a member of the California State Legislature. The bills introduced by Robert Presley include a wide array of subjects. He authored bills concerning prisons and corrections; child safety, education, and rights; professional ethics; and environmental issues. Senator Presley's primary issue while in the Legislature was corrections. He regularly introduced and supported legislation that attempted to modernize and improve California's Penal Code. Presley looked at every aspect of the correctional system beginning with the Peace Officers who enforce the laws to the problem of overcrowding in California's prisons. In 1982, he became Chairman of the Joint Committee on Prison Construction and Operations and served in this capacity until 1994. As Chairman of this joint committee, Presley consistently introduced bills to improve California's prison system. From 1982-1994, California opened sixteen new state prisons (
Senator Presley also regularly introduced legislation concerning the environment. Being that he was from the inland county of Riverside, Presley was acutely aware of Los Angeles' chronic air pollution problems as much of that region's smog blew directly into his eastern county. In 1981, Presley passed SB33, establishing the Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program that required motorists in certain urban districts to get annual emissions inspections in order for California to comply with federal Environmental Protection Agency standards (Stats. 1982, ch.892). Because of Presley's commitment to his constituents and his genuine concern for the environment he annually reintroduced legislation to control car emissions with mandatory statewide smog requirements. The subject files series provides further detail on Presley's policy towards corrections and environmental issues.
The correspondence series represents a sampling of his office's active communication with his constituents. For every letter or group of letters that Senator Presley's Sacramento or Riverside office received, he would send a response. The content of these letters range from angry constituents with certain needs to thank you notes from constituents who were pleased with Presley's representation. This series illustrates Presley's continued professionalism and his respect for his district's concerns.

The Robert Presley Papers are arranged into three series: bill files, subject files, and correspondence.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Presley, Robert B.
Prisons Law and legislation
Family violence
Correctional law
Air pollution
California. Legislature. Joint Committee on Prison Construction and Operations
California. Legislature. Joint Legislative Prison Committee

Related Material

Robert Presley, Oral History Interview, conducted 2001 by Patrick Ettinger, Oral History Program, California State University, Sacramento for the State Government Oral History Program available at the California State Archives and some other repositories.

Series Descriptions

folder LP220:30-79, LP228:57-114, LP347:1-347

Series 1  Bill Files 1975-1994

Physical Description: 455 file folders

Arranged chronologically by legislative session and numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill files created by Robert Presley document legislation he authored while serving as a member of the State Senate. An average file may contain drafts of bills, analyses by committees and state agencies, comments by constituents or other interested parties, notes by Presley and his staff, relevant background reports or newspaper articles, correspondence in support of or opposed to legislation, veto messages, notices from the legislative counsel about related bills and other miscellaneous materials. Depending on the extent of the bill file, they help reveal the legislator's intent for the measure.
Among his significant initiatives was a package of ten bills that proposed to reform the California's Corrections policy in 1991. The bills sought to redistribute the power at California prisons. In a press release from February13, 1991 Presley stated, ". . . wardens have too much control and do not take enough direction from the Director to assure a standardized statewide operation." Therefore, he introduced SB346 and SB345, which attempted to put medical and educational decisions at prisons in the hands of professional physicians and educators. SB 343 proposed to require wardens to obtain a Master's Degree and deputy wardens a Bachelor's Degree in an appropriate field such as criminology or business administration. Other bills focused more on prisoners and their interactions with correctional officers. SB223 sought to extend Presley's SB1913 (Stats. 1988, ch. 1579) which permitted prison officials to demand a prisoner be tested for AIDS if there is a possibility either an officer or a fellow inmate may have contracted AIDS from that individual. Several bills proposed positive solutions to the state's overcrowded prisons problem. SB187, the Community Offender Re-Entry Act, would provide judges and parole and probation officers with more options than incarceration for the punishment of non-violent criminals. During his nineteen years as a Senator, Presley maintained one of the greatest percentages of getting bills passed. However, nearly all of the bills in this prison reform package failed to become law.
Presley was much more successful with other corrections legislation. He passed legislation to protect Peace Officers physically by allowing them to carry weapons while off-duty (SB1445, Stats. 1982, ch.1086) and protected them from retaliation by making their personal information confidential (SB241, Stats. 1984, ch. 399). Presley also focused on the Courts and in 1984 introduced SB365 (Stats. 1984, ch. 1311) to increase the number of Superior Court Judges in several counties, including Riverside, in order to decrease the 40-year case backlog. Presley continuously addressed the problem of overcrowded prisons in California and in 1982 he proposed and passed two bills to build new prisons in southern California and northern California (SB1574, ch. 1549; SB1609, ch.1548).
Presley regularly proposed unconventional solutions to society's chronic problems. One such example of this method was his idea to help society cope with domestic violence. Every two-year session Presley introduced a bill that would increase marriage license fees by about $5 to provide more funding for domestic abuse centers through out the state. For example, in 1982 he introduced and passed SB1330 (1982, chaptered 522), which increased the fees to $13 then the following session Presley's SB1364 (1984, chaptered 112) further increased the fees to $19. He continued this pattern for the duration of his legislative term. Presley's commitment to a cause he felt strongly about was characteristic of his political career.
1975-1976: SB203-SB2104; SCR38, SCR94; SJR11, SJR67 (16ff) LP220:30-45
1977-1978: SB56-SB2136; SCA20 (34ff) LP220:46-79
1979-1980: SB69-SB1982; SCA7, SCA17; SCR25, SCR52; SR25 (58ff) LP228:57-114
1981-1982: SB14-SB1988; SCR38, SCR39, SCR80; SJR36 (38ff) LP347:1-38
1983-1984: SB21-SB2278; SCA10; SCR48-85; SR43 (36ff) LP347:39-74
1985-1986: SB3-SB2562; SCR34-SCR56; SJR13, SJR28 (57ff) LP347:75-131
1987-1988: SB4-SB2868; SCR43-105; SJR15; SR39 (48ff) LP347:132-179
1989-1990: SB4-SB2882; SCR23-45; SJR65-74; SR62 (69ff) LP347:180-248
1991-1992: SB5-SB1958; SCA29; SCR39-83; SJR26, SJR55 (52ff) LP347:249-300
1993-1994: SB5-SB2056; SCA19; SCR52; SJR18-SJR26; SR29; SB13X-SB44X (47ff) LP347:301-347
folder LP347:348-389

Series 2  Subject Files 1973-1994

Physical Description: 42 file folders

Arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject files can contain newspaper clippings, press releases, correspondence, reports, notes, memorandums, and other materials. The subject files contain information gathered by Presley throughout his political career and demonstrate his wide array of political interests. Several files contain information concerning children and youth specifically the problems of runaway and missing children, and foster care. The subject files also provide more detail into Presley's environmental concerns such as toxic waste at the Stringfellow site in Riverside County and the Better Automotive Repair Program. Many files reflect Presley's involvement and commitment to the committees, which served as Chair. For example, Presley served as Chairman for Joint Prison committee's from 1984-1994 and the files he maintained on subjects such as prison construction and renovation, and improving the standards and hiring ethics of the Department of Corrections are well represented in the subject files.
A list of subject headings is available in Appendix A of the master finding aid at the California State Archives.
folder LP347:390-392

Series 3  Correspondence 1985-1990

Physical Description: 3 files folders

Arranged chronologically by date.

Scope and Content Note

The correspondence files include letters to Senator Presley from concerned constituents and in some cases his response to those constituents. Also included are letters to and from other public officials such as Governor George Deukmajian, Attorney General John Van de Kamp, fellow legislators, and local officials from his district. The series covers only the years 1985-1990, however, it shows Presley's strong commitment to respond to the concerns of his constituents both publicly and personally.
This correspondence series is distinct from the support and opposition letters found in the bill files. It includes support and opposition letters about bills that Presley did not author, but because he served as the Chair of several committees including the Senate Appropriations Committee, his vote was important. The majority of these support and opposition letters concern animal testing, gun control, and education funding and his responses explain his position on some of these issues. Also included are Presley's responses to invitations to events, congratulatory letters to constituents who were celebrating wedding anniversaries and graduations, as well as condolence letters to constituents who recently lost loved ones.


text:
an obession with first principles

Versioning and Releasing

Posted: Thursday Jan 6th | Author: JohnO | Filed under: Leadership, Management, Programming | View Comments

OK, I wrote about this a while ago. I still see lots of people wondering about just how to do this. The local Boston django group has about four people who submitted ideas around project management and deployment.

In the abstract you really need three things: 1) a distributed version control system (I prefer git), 2) a database migration system (in the rails world, rake, in the django world south, in the php world you can use manual sql files for both up/down migrations with a simple DB table keeping track – it is essentially what rake and south do, only without an ORM), and 3) a system that gets you onto all of your servers to run the necessary commands/scripts (again, in the rails world capistrano, in the django world fabric, in the php world make some shell scripts).

I have found it easiest to create feature branches in git for new features. Having your main production server running off of master. To write new features you just create a branch off master. If these features need qa, or user acceptance testing, you can create a point release branch to push to those servers only the features which you need at any time (or if it is not that busy, just push the feature branch).

(Aside: I always work in a local branch. So if I am working on master features. I create a master_local. If I am working on feature_a which is a remote branch, I create feature_a_local. This enables you to rebase upstream changes from master/feature_a without messing up the distributed history. It also prevents the useless commits from when pull causes a merge.)

I am against a release branch. I am fine with QA/user acceptance testing branches. This is the difference. If the QA branch gets messed up – fine, create another one. If the branch for the client’s preview gets messed up – create another one. (If you’re squashing your commits it makes it even easier to keep track of things). But once something is ready for release you just don’t want to touch it. Only things you are absolutely positively sure of get on master. Nothing else. That is an easy rule to enforce. Master is production. You mess with master you’re in trouble. With point release branches you get the endless wondering of “wait, which version is production, and which is QA, and which is the clients?”. It is fine that a QA or client branch get messed up because someone merged to the wrong point branch. But when you have master checked out and you type `git merge` you better be doing the right thing. It is a lot harder to confuse `master` with `` vs ``.

Some people worry about reverting. With git it is easy to revert. If you are pushing lots of things you should be squashing your releases down to one commit (that is, when you merge your feature branch into master, squash it first). So if your release goes poorly you can migrate off whatever you need (or don’t), and then git checkout the patch before the release.

Some people worry about atomicity. Git is built from a filesystem perspective so there is no lag time where any files are out of version with one another. In any case, once you’re making DB changes in addition to your code pushes – any atomicity (in milliseconds) is ruined since the DB takes seconds (in the case of large indexes, perhaps even minutes) to get up to date. If you’re worried about atomicity stop the webserver gracefully. If you’re worried about down-time – you shouldn’t be. If you gracefully take apache down, and seconds later bring it back up it is unlikely any user will ever notice. If you’re worried about it – release when your system is least in use. (In the case of rails and django you have to stop the webserver when releasing to ensure that your updated source files get re-compiled.)

And I will add one more tip for client caching. Users ought to cache this content aggressively. As a developer it is your job to deliver the new application code to them. You will want to add a version to the querystring to all the CSS and JS that you send out in your application. So when you make a change to a statically served file, you change the version on that querystring (in a settings file) so that no user has this cached.

All in all I really don’t see the huge headache in this area. I hope that we (Active Frequency) can put together a presentation on the specifics of our django deployment process (fabric, south, git/mercurial). (We also use virtualenv to sandbox our pypi and django version dependencies.)

Be Wrong

Posted: Monday Jun 21st | Author: JohnO | Filed under: Leadership | View Comments

I want to be successful. We all want to be successful. We have to be wrong. Take this on for size:

I had this experience a couple of years ago where I got to sit in on the editorial meeting at the Onion. Every Monday they have to come up with like 17 or 18 headlines, and to do that, they generate 600 headlines per week. I feel like that’s why it’s good: because they are willing to be wrong 583 times to be right 17.
Ira Glass

The Onion is a hands down success. Everyone recognizes their brilliance. They are wrong 583 times per week. And they know it. They relish in it. Being means they can be right. I have to remember that being wrong is part of being successful. If you are never wrong – how do you know you are right?


text:
After Delay, Broad Foundation Makes Payment to L.A. MOCA

eli broad After Delay, Broad Foundation Makes Payment to L.A. MOCAThe Broad Foundation has made a $1.5 million payment to the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art after withholding a scheduled payment earlier this month because, as a foundation spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times, $2.1 million previously given to the museum had not yet been used. The payments are part of a 2008 agreement that Eli Broad would give MOCA $3 million a year for five years to help support its exhibitions programming.

Here’s more from the L.A. Times:

Charles Young, the former chief executive Broad recruited to run MOCA on an interim basis until June 2010, when current director Jeffrey Deitch arrived, said this month that the December 2008 agreement by which Broad bailed out the financially depleted MOCA didn’t allow payments to be delayed under any circumstances. Young, a former UCLA chancellor, noted that the deal gives MOCA the right to stockpile exhibition support if it chooses, rather than having to spend funds already received to qualify for more.

MOCA issued a statement acknowledging that the payment has been received, and that it’s “very grateful for the [Broad] Foundation’s continuing support and generosity.”


text:
Filed Under (Freaky Fish Friday, On TV) by Alexa & Cindy on 30-07-2010

Tagged Under : , , ,

We’ve taken a little break after our Sharktakular last week, but we’re back, and want to wish you a happy Freaky Fish Friday and a great weekend.

Today, Nat Geo Channel serves up our FFF via its Dangerous Encounters  episode featuring an ambitious research team that wants to put an underwater camera in places its never been.

Tonight, at 9p.m. ET/6p.m. PT, that camera will attempt to reside on a Humboldt squid, a ferocious predator whose mouth you never want to get your fingers anywhere near.

Alexa caught up with the show’s host, Dr. Brady Barr, and had a few biting questions she just had to ask.

Check out this amazing video featuring Barr’s second encounter with a Humboldt squid, then read Alexa’s Q & A with the good Doctor.

What would you do if you came face-to-face with a Humboldt squid?

Alexa: What made you want to study Humboldt squids?

Brady Barr: Im always fascinated with predators, especially little known predators, and ones that you can’t see in captivity. They epitomize “wildness” and “untamed”.

Animals, like the Humboldts, or adult Great White sharks, are so special because it doesnt matter who you are, how much money you have, or how powerful you might be, you still have to be graced by their presence. You cant go to a zoo or aquarium to see these beasts, you have to simply be graced by them in the wild. For me, it simply does not get any better than that.

A: How do you feel about the risks of doing this job?

BB: The risks concern me greatly, but the thirst to learn more about these mysterious animals is also great. Expeditions involving animals and in places that are not in the realm of my expertise are always very stressful. I did take some precautions. I had an expert diver in the water with me at all times who’s sole responsibility was my safety.

At the end of the day I am willing to take some chances, especially when it comes to such a charismatic, little understood predator as the Humboldt Squid.

In addition, the chance to do something that has never been done before (put an untethered camera on one to acquire first ever footage of these creatures in their element, at depth without the aid of lights, submersibles, or divers) is just too alluring…like the song of the mythical siren! In today’s world there aren’t many big apex predators that the scientific community doesn’t know much about. I was honored to be on this expedition.

A: How did you feel when you slipped the camera sleeve over the first squid?

BB: I was very skeptical. I wasn’t convinced that the sleeve design would work, so I was much relieved as well as surprised when it actually stayed on the squid. It was awesome to touch such an animal, that so little is known about, one that is so mysterious, and calls it’s home the abyss. For a guy that grew up in the cornfields of southern Indiana, it was beyond my wildest dreams!

A: What did you think when the squid didn’t immediately swim away?

BB: That didn’t surprise me. I have worked with wild animals for 20 years, and i have learned that being captured is a stressful, exhausting, ordeal, for them. It takes them time to recover and get their bearings. I am sure we would be the same way. I was just glad the squid decided t return to the depths instead of look for a little payback.

A: Was it you holding the octopus? If so, what did it feel like?

BB: Yes, I captured the octopus. It was so thrilling, because its a really big animal, and really powerful, yet very methodical, content, almost passive. It showed no ill will towards us interacting with it, no aggression what so ever. They’re very intelligent animals. I felt honored to be interacting with it.

A: Do you think the Humboldt squid would win in a battle against a Great White?

No way! The Humboldt is an awesome predator, but few predators can stand up against a one or two-ton, 18-foot Great White. I just returned from a Great White Expedition, so I got to see their awesome, almost incomprehensible power first hand. Now, if we were talking about a giant squid (Architeuthis), of 60 feet long, then I would put my money on the squid.

A: You learned a lot of new things about Humboldts with this research. What do and/or your colleagues plan to do with it, and what would you like to find out next about the Humboldt?

BB: I’m no squid expert, but the squid researchers we had with us were simply astounded with the footage we captured. Not only did we get a glimpse into the world of the squid, we also saw communication between individuals, social behavior, as well as aggression.

I have done a lot of research on bite force, so I was especially intrigued by the bite force data we gathered. A thousand pound bite was simply mind blowing for me, I’m not sure I even believe it!

A bite of that magnitude makes it one of the strongest biters on the planet, up there with crocs, and hyenas. And the squid is an invertebrate! Unreal. I definitely plan to return to the sea of Cortez and do some more bite force experiments.

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Freaky Fish Friday: the Ratfish

Filed Under (Freaky Fish Friday) by Alexa & Cindy on 18-06-2010

Tagged Under : ,

FFFToday’s FFF is a guest post by the multi-talented science journalist Allie Wilkinson, owner of the blog OH, for the Love of Science! We’ve already got chills and thrills over her Ratfish – check it out, with pics and a video, and see what you think!  Enjoy.

Spotted ratfish are unlike anything you have ever seen before.

They have smooth, scaleless skin that is silvery-bronze in color, with sparkling shades of gold, blue, green, or a pinky-purple sort of color, and are speckled with white spots.  Their tail is almost half of their body length and looks like a rat’s tail, which is how they get their name.

They have a long venomous spine in front of the dorsal fin, and their pectoral fins are big triangles, that go straight out from the body and look like airplane wings.  On their cute rabbit-like faces, they have large emerald green eyes that are able to reflect light, similarly to the eyes of a cat.  Oh, and they have an extra sexual organ in the middle of their forehead, like a horn on a unicorn, which they use to hold onto the female’s dorsal fin during mating.  Is that freaky enough for you?

Spotted ratfish are among the deepest living fishes, ranging from depths of 0 to 3,000 feet below sea level.  They are related to sharks and rays, and are considered to be the missing link between the bony and cartilaginous fishes because they have characteristics of both.

Ratfish flap their large wing-like pectoral fins to move, which makes them look incredibly graceful.  Normally, they glide over the seafloor in search for crunchy foods like crabs and clams.  But when I took care of these little guys at the Florida Aquarium, we would feed them shrimp.  Feeding the ratfish was always one of my favorite parts of the day, because they turned into graceful little ballerinas at feeding time.  Imagine water ballet, with all of  its synchronized swimmers.  Well, when I would feed the ratfish, they would swim up to the surface, and bring the tops of their bodies out of the water, twirling around, as if they were dancing.

I’ve been to a LOT of aquariums around the world (about 18 or so!) and the Florida Aquarium is the only one that I’ve been to that has these little guys.  I’m glad they do, because I probably wouldn’t have ever found out about such a cool, cute, weird, and freaky little fish otherwise.  If you get a chance to ever see them in person, make sure you do!

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Freaky Fish Friday – J.Y. Cousteau edition: the Sea Pig

Filed Under (Freaky Fish Friday) by Alexa & Cindy on 11-06-2010

Tagged Under :

Hi, Ocean Lovers!

Happy 100th birthday, Jacques Cousteau! Today’s FFF is a crazy being we are sure Captain Cousteau would be fascinated by if he were here today. (Have you seen the Google homepage today?)

I’d like to introduce you to…THE SEA PIG! I’ve been waiting for weeks to post on this creature, so here goes:

The Sea Pig, aka Scotoplanes globosa, does indeed look pretty globby. It’s actually kind of cute, and it’s a member of the sea cucumber family.

Sea cucumbers are called echinoderms, and include starfish and sea urchins, too. Overall, there are about 1,250 species of sea cucumbers. And you guessed it – many of them have soft bodies and actually look a bit like cucumbers. Sometimes a small group of these cucumbers are collectively called Sea Pigs.

Some Sea Pigs live in shallow waters, while some live deep down, at the bottom of abysses. Scotoplanes globosa is one such deep dweller, living almost four miles under the ocean’s surface.

Scientists don’t know much about these creatures, but when they do encounter them, it tends to be in a group. They eat a microscopic diet of detritus, which they scoop up in their big mouths.

Sea Pigs have been studied recently in the Southern Ocean off of Antarctica, where they live in more shallow waters. What’s really crazy that scientists have found is that parasites like snails can somehow grow inside a Sea Pig’s body!

Check out the below slideshow, and also Echinoblog for more creepy and kinda cute Sea Pig pics!

What do you think – creepy, awesome, or cute?

Have a great summer weekend and hope you are enjoying your World Oceans Day week!

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