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Daily Archives: November 20, 2017 (27 Articles Found)
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'Lightning strike' near Bedok MRT, train captain warded at CGH
Town councils given top marks for lift performance in annual report card
Subcontractors owed for T4 works to get back 25% after court approves payout scheme
RHT Chestertons launches in Singapore with eye on expanding Asian presence
Mystery of shared bikes left by PIE slip road, as firms face challenges to curb errant parking
Strategies to reduce food waste
Security at airport's airside needs attention too
Outsource train maintenance to third-party firm
Seven banks to allow NETS QR code payments at hawker centres, food stalls
MND to review Town Council Management Report indicators
Government ministers doing 'all the work'?
Phase 2 of deep tunnel sewer system designed to last 100 years
Fewer people applying for BTO flats, continuing downward trend
AHTC says will strive to comply with rules in response to town councils report
Common Singapore QR code to be rolled out next year
Pair of Craig Road shophouses sold for S$18m
SRX Singapore
Smaller supply of quality units slows shophouse market in H2
We must get to root of MRT problems, put it right: PM Lee
Mayfair Gardens sold en bloc for $311m
Lift company Sigma still banned from new HDB projects
Deliveroo may soon operate a dine-in restaurant
Upgrading from an HDB flat to a condo unit – steps to take
99.Co
One simple way HDB could stop your flat being a money trap (but won't)
Singapore REITS focus: Best commercial REITS to invest in Singapore 2017
Loss of $2.57 mil at Turquoise
City Suites sees seven units sold in a week
South Bridge Road building to be auctioned off
An SMRT train captain has been warded for observation at CGH, after one of the rail operator's trains was apparently struck by lightning near Bedok station on Mon afternoon. SMRT spokesman Patrick Nathan said that the rail operator…
In a year with a spate of lift breakdowns, all 16 town councils received top marks on their lift performance in an official report card for town councils. MND released the TCMR for the 2016 financial year on…
A group of subcontractors who have been owed payment for their work on Changi Airport's T4 are set to receive a 25 per cent payout after waiting for more than a year, ST understands. The latest development comes…
A new property consultancy firm has been launched in Singapore. RHT Chestertons is the result of a partnership between integrated professional services company RHT Wealth Holdings and London-based real estate agency Chestertons. The collaboration will see Chestertons, which…
When shared bicycles are parked indiscriminately, they are normally strewn about in a residential estate or in places where many people would pass through. So, when 20 shared bicycles were seen parked and dumped near a small forested…
Food composting is a good way of turning our food waste into useful by-products. However, food wastage in Singapore remains a subject of concern. In just 10 years, the amount of food waste generated increased by more than…
Changi Airport's airside safety team responded appropriately to the family of otters that turned up on site such that airport operations were not disrupted. If more undesirable elements were to follow in the otters' footsteps, security will be…
MOT should consider a structural change to the business and management model of SMRT. The maintenance of SMRT trains and infrastructure should be delinked from SMRT and outsourced to a third-party company. SMRT can continue to run and…
In the first partnership involving all the major players in the cashless payment scene here, customers will be able to pay for kopi at a hawker centre or candy at the neighbourhood minimart using NETS, by scanning a…
More town councils had a moderate level of estate maintenance issues, while AHTC maintained its "red" banding in corporate governance in MND's latest TCMR released on Mon. The ministry also announced it would review the current set of…
I refer to the report, "Khaw 'deeply sorry' for first major incident involving new MRT signalling system" (Nov 15). I am really wondering why the Transport Minister has to apologise and not the SMRT management. Is the transport…
The second phase of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) will incorporate innovative features in order for the infrastructure to last 100 years, PUB said on Mon. The features include embedded fibre optic cables for remote monitoring; air…
Fewer people are applying for BTO flats, continuing a downward trend in the number of applications received for the units. In Nov's sales exercise, about three applications were received for every two flats, across all flat types offered.…
AHTC will take remedial action to comply with town council financial rules, it said on Mon, after it was flagged for unsatisfactory corporate governance in MND's TCMR for FY2016. "AHTC has reviewed our statutory auditor's comments. We will…
A common SG QR will be rolled out and adopted by payment service providers in Singapore next year, MAS said on Mon. Payment services providers in Singapore have also committed to update their mobile payment apps for consumers…
Recently transacted conservation shophouses for which caveats have been lodged include a pair of adjoining conservation shophouses at 38 and 39 Craig Road. With a courtyard in front, the pair of shophouses were bought for S$18 million by…
The shophouse market is poised for a slower second half after having hit high notes in the preceding two half-year periods. The drop in transaction values comes not from sagging demand, but rather a lack of quality supply…
The Bishan flooding and Joo Koon collision hurt public confidence in the MRT, and should not have happened. "But they have, and we must learn the right lessons from them, get to the root of the problems, and…
The collective sale market continues to thrive, with the latest being Mayfair Gardens, snapped up by listed property developer Oxley Holdings for $311 million. The reserve price was $265 million. Each owner stands to collect a gross sale…
Lift company Sigma Elevators is still banned from tendering for new projects, said HDB, as its performance has yet to meet the required standards. The update comes nearly a year after HDB revealed it had forbidden Sigma from…
Deliveroo could soon operate a dine-in restaurant in Singapore that serves food to customers at their tables – potentially the first by a food delivery app here, BT has learnt. The London-based food delivery startup, which launched in…
If you're making the big step to upgrade from an HDB flat to a condo, it pays to know the finer details. Here's what you'll have to go through, depending on whether you sell-then-buy, or buy-then-sell.
Have you ever heard of cash-out refinancing (aka a reverse mortgage)? No? Then chances are you live in an HDB flat, where "cash-out refinance" is an impossibility; you can only do it with private property. The problem is,…
Commercial REITS have been a vibrant REIT segment in Singapore this year. Many analysts are foreseeing an uptick in demand for Grade A office buildings, which would be a source for higher bargaining power for prime real estate…
On Nov 6, a four-bedroom, 2,411 sqft unit on the fifth floor of Turquoise was sold for $3.7 million ($1,535 psf). The price is 41% lower than the $6.27 million ($2,600 psf) that the previous owner paid in…
Balestier has seen a revival of interest with new projects completed in the past few years and many older developments hitching on to the en bloc sale bandwagon. A project that has seen a spike in sales is…
A five-storey commercial building in South Bridge Road will be put up for sale via auction on 23 Nov at a guide price of $7 million, according to Colliers Intl. The guide price works out to $5,573 psf…


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The Favorite Sister
July 2, 2018 June 29, 2018 ~ perpetuallybooked	~ Leave a comment
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for providing me with a copy of Jessica Knoll's latest novel, The Favorite Sister, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT– "Goal Diggers" is a reality show about a group of highly driven and successful entrepenurial women. All are successful in their careers, but the show creates a new format in which they can compete. The women backstab and lie in efforts to show that they are valuable enough for the network to cast them on the subsequent season of "Goal Diggers." Those who do not prove their worth by being entertaining enough are ruthlessly shown the door.
Long time cast member Brett, owns a chain of cycle fitness centers with her older sister, Kelly. This season, we learn that Kelly has been added as a full-time cast member. This shocks the cast because Kelly is a single-mom and being a mother had never been part of the plan for any of the other "Goal Diggers". Kelly's teenage daughter is beautiful, sassy and bi-racial. Stephanie, the only African-American and the oldest member of the cast, immediately feels threatened, thinking that Kelly's daughter might be her replacement.
Early in the novel, we learn through a flash-forward that Brett is dead and there is something very fishy regarding her death. However, to figure out how Brett died and who is responsible, we need to sit back and enjoy the current season of "Goal Diggers": the most vicious and shocking season to date!
LIKE– I loved Jessica Knoll's debut novel, Luckiest Girl Alive and I was thrilled to be granted a copy of The Favorite Sister. Knoll has a fabulous writer's voice and excels at tone. The tone of The Favorite Sisteris snarky and bitchy, there are so many cutting remarks. It's a black comedy and often very funny. I don't remember the exact line, but a memorable comment that made me laugh-out-loud, was when one character uses the term "Bae" and another character cuts into her fear of being old, by telling her that no one under thirty uses "Bae" anymore. Knoll's novel is filled with comedic moments.
The Favorite Sister made me feel stressed. All of the characters are constantly struggling to maintain their image and push their brand. Logically we know, and they probably know, that nothing that they ever do will be enough. It's a never ending hamster wheel. However, to a much lesser degree, this is what a majority of us do when we waste time on social media. I think this is why I felt anxiety reading The Favorite Sister, it touches a nerve.
The characters are successful in their careers, yet it seems like none of that success counts, unless they are able to prove their worth on "Goal Diggers". On the surface, "Goal Diggers" claims to be a show that lifts-up women and showcases their successes, but of course that is all a sham for a reality show that is just as dirty as the latest "Housewives of…" series. The participants on the show all willingly play into the charade, all desperate to keep in the spotlight.
I'm a Reality TV fan, so the overall theme appealed to me and I loved Knoll's behind the scenes look at the fictitious "Goal Diggers." It's fun to see the manipulation on the production side. The ending was an unexpected surprise with great twists.
DISLIKE– The Favorite Sister was not an effortless read. It took me about half the book to really keep all of the characters straight. It didn't help that I was trying to read it during my vacation in England: not a distraction free environment. If you plan to read The Favorite Sister, I suggest setting aside a large chunk of time to really get into the story.
Also making it difficult was the pacing. I found the middle of the story to be sluggish. I think it may be in part due to the nature of the story with regard to tone. None of the characters are even remotely likable and their ceaseless negative attitudes is draining on the reader. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of funny moments that comes with this territory and the story world dictates this behavior, but it's also cumbersome. I couldn't call this a page turner, because I had to set it aside, not wanting to spend too many minutes in this world at a time.
RECOMMEND– Maybe. I highly recommend Knoll's first novel, Luckiest Girl Alive, but I'm hesitant to recommend The Favorite Sister. That said, Knoll is a very gifted writer and I will absolutely read her next book. I appreciate what she was trying to accomplish withThe Favorite Sister, but the negative energy drained me.
May 4, 2018 May 3, 2018 ~ perpetuallybooked	~ Leave a comment
Thank you to Doubleday Booksfor providing me with a copy of Rebecca Harrington's novel, Sociable, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT– Journalist Elinor Tomlinson is devastated when her boyfriend and fellow journalist, Mike, breaks up with her. They had been dating for four years and the break-up seems to have come from out of the blue. Elinor suspects that Mike was cheating on her with his colleague, Andrea, but no matter how much she dives into Mike's social media, she cannot get concrete proof. In the months after the break-up, Elinor starts working at a company called Journalism.ly, where she has a knack for writing articles that go viral on social media. She starts figuring out life on her own with a new apartment and jumping back into the dating scene, but Mike is never far from her mind. Will Elinor ever understand her breakup or will she just drive herself crazy by using social media to relay to Mike that her life is fine without him?
LIKE– One of the best part of Sociableis the commentary on how men treat women in the workplace. Elinor is a talented journalist, yet the men in her life use subtle tactics to undermine her efforts. When she is dating Mike, his career and talents always shine above hers. The ending of the story has a nice nod to Elinor realizing that she is just as talented and worthy. Her superiors at Journalism.ly, are male and they constantly belittle her. One guy, who is her age and whom she went to college with, feels that he can serve as her mentor, because he has been at the company a few months longer. It's insidious and the worst part is the men clearly don't even realize what they are doing. It's simply the way things between men and women have always been. I certainly recognized the behavior from my own experiences in the work place. Men can be very patronizing, even when they are the "good guys."
Speaking of the men in Sociable; they come across as very flat characters, especially Elinor's co-workers. When I finished the novel, I felt disappointed, especially with Peter, a coworker whom it seems might have a crush on Elinor, but where the storyline never develops. However, after giving it some thought, I've concluded that the point of Sociableis that Elinor allows her fixation on Mike to get in the way of her goals. The point is for Elinor to come into her own and realize that she is worthy outside of having a relationship or validation from social media. It was a little odd that so much of the Peter situation was developed without a pay-off, but the ultimate pay-off was Elinor's self-realization.
And Elinor, oh Elinor…she's a mess. It's not a requirement to have a likable protagonist, but I have to confess that I wish that I had been able to like Elinor a bit more. She reminded me of a character from Lena Dunham's series, Girls. Elinor is self-involved, not particularly nice to her friends, and neurotic. She is full of contradictions and is rather unpleasant. I felt that her situation was highly relatable, but I found myself rooting for her to succeed in her situation, not her as a person. That said, I found Sociableto be a compulsive read that I didn't want to put down. I was locked-in and finished it in one afternoon.
I also want to mention that the same day that I sat down to read Sociable, my husband and I had a discussion about Facebook and the fake realities that people create for themselves or how they post things on social media just for attention. I found this to be very timely with regard to my reading of Sociable, especially how Elinor works hard to cultivate a perfect social media presence. In several scenes, Elinor is at party or a mixer, and she is on her phone (as are others) ignoring real social interactions, while favoring documenting a false version of the situation on their social media accounts. It's stomach turning, because it's what's happening in real life all of the time. Reading Sociablehas made me step back from my own social media usage.
DISLIKE– Besides wishing that I had liked Elinor, I found it odd that the story occasionally broke the fourth wall, addressing the reader directly. It was infrequent enough to be a quirk that I found unnecessary and distracting. It always pulled me out of the story.
RECOMMEND– Yes. Sociableis a quick read that stuck in my mind for several days after I finished reading it. It reminded me so much of Girls, that I recommend it to fans of the show. Harrington is a solid writer and this is a on-point topic.
First in the World Somewhere: The True Adventures of a Scribbler, Siren, Saucepot, and Pioneer
Thank you to Unbound for providing me with an advance copy of Penny Pepper's memoir, First in the World Somewhere: The True Adventures of a Scribbler, Siren, Saucepot, and Pioneer, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT– Penny Pepper's life has been shaped by a severe and crippling form of arthritis that she has had since childhood. However, she has not allowed her disability to define her. Coming of age in England during the early 80's, Pepper became enamored with the punk culture and started a career singing under her alter-ego, Kata Kolbert. In addition to performing, she also became a writer and advocate for disability rights.
LIKE– Pepper is a strong woman and a role model. I love her fighting spirit; the way she continues to fight for her dreams, even when the odds are stacked against her. I admire that she isn't afraid to share her fears and struggles.
I had never heard of Pepper's condition; an arthritis that is so severe, that she requires a wheelchair and needs aids to do tasks like going to the bathroom. The bathroom situation is a really big deal, because Pepper does not have funding for a twenty-four hour caregiver and although during parts of her life she is either married or living with a friend, when she is alone in the house, she is very vulnerable. She often does not have the strength for tasks such as using a bathroom without assistance. Pepper's condition constantly puts her at odds with the basic human desire to be self-sufficient.
The title of the book comes from Pepper finding out that she was the top of the charts for Indie music in Italy and Greece. The title also stands for Pepper's fight for change. She might not actually be the first disabled person who sings in a punk band or the first disabled person writing about her challenges, but it doesn't matter. She doesn't need to be first to be making an important contribution.
I like the open, frank writing that Pepper does regarding her sexuality. It seems like many of the doctors and other professionals that she encounters do not treat her like a female or someone with sexual desires. At one doctor's appointment, it is suggested that she have a hysterectomy. She was in her twenties. I don't think the suggestion is necessarily insulting, but the way that it is suggested, so flippantly, as if this wouldn't be a sensitive subject for Pepper, is horrific.
Tamsin, Pepper's best friend and first roommate is another strong force in First in the World Somewhere. Tamsin has a similar disability, and although she tries living on her own with Pepper, the two part ways when Tamsin envisions a different type of care for herself. This was an interesting dynamic, with both women attempting to be independent, but also coming to terms with their individual needs.
DISLIKE– I'm an American married to a Brit and even though I picked up on a lot of the terminology and "Britishness" of the memoir, I wondered how much would have gone over my head without my husband. Pepper is very involved in politics of the time ( mostly 80's-90's) and although I knew some of the players, such as Margaret Thatcher, I think being American and also a little younger than Pepper, made me feel lost in these sections.
RECOMMEND– Yes. First in the World Somewhere is a wonderful memoir about empowerment, overcoming obstacles, and following your dreams. Pepper's story would be an excellent pick for disability advocates and generally, an important read for everyone. Her openness with regard to her challenges will make readers more understanding and compassionate.
The Long Run: A Memoir
Thank you to Crown Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of Catriona Menzies-Pike's memoir, The Long Run, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT – When she was in her early twenties, Catriona Menzies-Pike was dealt a major life-change, when her parents both died in a plane crash. She spent the following decade finishing her education, while dealing with both her profound grief, and the extensive probate process to close her parent's estate. She had never considered herself very athletic, but when she turned thirty, she decided that she wanted to change her lifestyle and began running. The Long Run chronicles her journey to becoming a marathon runner, including an examination on how running helped her cope with loss and the history of female runners.
LIKE– I'm not a runner. I've finished a handful of half-marathons and other athletic events, but I've always been more of a slow finisher, mostly walking. I've never had the drive to turn myself into a runner. Running is not what drew me to Menzies-Pike's memoir. Like Menzies-Pike, I also lost my parents at a young age and this is what made me interested in her story.
The Long Run is half a history of running, specifically female runners. I was not expecting her memoir to be so heavy on the history, but I'm glad it was, as it was fascinating. I had recently heard the story of runner Kathrine Switzer, who in 1967 was the first woman to run the Boston Marathon as an official participant. Switzer registered using her first initial, rather than her name, and snuck by in a time when women were not allowed to participate. Famously, a race official tried to physically remove her from the course, but her boyfriend at the time, stepped in and Switzer kept running. The Long Run is filled with stories of other female runners from around the world who helped break down barriers. I may have zero interest in running, but I'm grateful to these women who took risks so that I could have opportunities. It's amazing to me to think that Switzer's Boston Marathon run was just ten years before I was born. I feel like I grew up in a world where I could aspire to anything.
Menzies-Pike also writes about the fear that women have, a fear that has been drilled into them, regarding things like running alone or running at night. Until last summer, when I moved to downtown Portland, I've never felt unsafe in my environment. Now, I live in a place where I would not walk outside of my building at night without my husband. In the daytime, I even feel nervous. A big part of this, is that we live right next to a pretty park, where unfortunately, bad things have happened. This fear has limited my life. I don't go to writing events or other things, stuff that I wouldn't have hesitated to do when we lived in Los Angeles. Fear is powerful and controlling.
DISLIKE– I wish Menzies-Pike had made her memoir more focused on her grieving and transformation. It could have been more introspective. If I was a runner, I think I would have been more interested in the specific details of her major races. As a non-runner, these portions were a little tedious and I found my attention drifting.
RECOMMEND– If you're a female athlete or interested in the history of marathons, The Long Run would be a great pick.
One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter: Essays
May 6, 2017 ~ perpetuallybooked	~ 2 Comments
Thank You to Macmillan- Picador for providing me with an advanced copy of Scaachi Koul's, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter: Essays, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT– In her essay collection, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, Koul explores growing up in Canada as a child of Indian immigrants. She write about her culture, dating, and dealing with sexism and racism, both stemming from societal biases or the kind that is overt, and from a place of hate. Her writing is both funny and gut-wrenching.
LIKE- I immediately fell in love with Koul's voice. She's witty, razor sharp, and insightful. She writes with an openness that is rare: sharing with readers intimate details of her life. For example, she writes about body issues as a child, like worrying over her body hair with an obsession that would never have occurred to her fairer, white classmates. The pain of this is acute, when she recalls a male classmate pointing out the hair on her arms. As a woman, thinking back to that age, my heart broke for her. She writes about being roofied in her twenties, and the way young women have mixed messages drilled into them: Drink to be fun, but don't get sloppy drunk. Drink to be flirtatious, but be on guard that you're not a tease. Go out and enjoy yourself, but predators are lurking everywhere. Koul nails the frustrations of being a woman.
I was most disturbed regarding a chapter when explained how she was cyber attacked for voicing a controversial opinion. It wasn't so much that people disagreed, but it was the way in which they disagreed: through hate. She received messages attacking her sex, her race, her body; truly vile messages. It was shocking and stomach churning.
The chapters where she wrote about her family and traveling to India, were my favorite. The title of her collection actually comes from her cousin, who was getting married in India. It is in reference to the arduous and tedious week-long marriage celebration, which includes elaborate ceremonies, strict traditions, and many changes in outfits. Koul explains how no one who has actually attended an Indian wedding, would want to attend an Indian wedding. I enjoyed this glimpse into another culture and hearing about her family. Just like any family, there is a lot of affection and frustration.
DISLIKE– Nothing. This is an poignant, thought-provoking, and frequently humorous collection.
RECOMMEND– Yes!!! Koul has a unique and appealing writer's voice. I finished, One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter, and was left wanting more. She's a great writer!
The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness
Thank You to Perseus Books Group, PublicAffairs Books, and Nation Books; for providing me with an advanced copy of Jill Filipovic's The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT– Can American women truly find happiness? Jill Filipovic explores the issue of happiness and feminism, looking at the history of the United States, statistics, and personal stories.
LIKE– I was raised by a strong, single mom, and from birth, I was always told that I can do/be anything I want. I never felt like being female limited my possibilities. That said, I'm not blind to the fact that things are not equal. I guess I chalked things up to we've come a long way, but there is still further to go and it takes time. Rome wasn't built in a day, et… I'm an optimist. However reading The H-Spot was eye-opening. Filipovic made me realize that maybe I should reconsider my optimism, by showing me ways that the system has been stacked against women.
For example, Filipovic talks about the expectation that women will give up their last names when they marry. I've been married twice. The first time, I kept my maiden name and it bothered family members/friends: I got heat for my decision. The second time, I took my husband's name. I'm proud to have my husband's last name, but it's the societal expectation that is troublesome. She explains that the burden is on women alone, and when surveyed, it became clear that most men, would not even entertain the idea of taking their wives last name, and many would be upset if she didn't take his. To take this further, Filipovic links the last name to identity and power, something that a woman is pressured to give up. This idea of a lost identity is something that I had never given much thought, but in retrospect, I believe it is why I was reluctant to change my name in my first marriage.
Filipovic put it in terms of a power play, men get to keep the power, while women are expected to sacrifice. The same thing happens when it comes to careers and children. Yes, there are stay-at-home dads, but more frequently, the woman is expected to give up her career or take the time away to be at home. The worst of the situation is when there is a lack of support from the community, including other women. The decisions that women make, often pit them against other women: working mothers vs stay at home moms, those who breastfeed and those who don't, mom's vs childless women, et…the support system is flawed, making security and happiness hard to come by.
I liked how Filipovic balanced the content of her book, not just relying on history or personal stories, but blending the two. This made her exploration feel more comprehensive. I was most interested in the latter chapters, those dealing with subjects like fertility and body image. I wish that she had included even more interviews and personal stories. As she mentions, it's impossible to write a book that is exhaustive on this subject, but Filipovic does a solid job at hitting the main points.
DISLIKE– I was unevenly interested in the chapters, especially the early chapters. I've taken several college level women's history courses, so the history was very familiar: I wasn't learning anything new, it was more of a refresher. However, to someone who hasn't had the exposure, the history should be enlightening and interesting.
RECOMMEND– Yes. The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness is a must-read for women. Filipovic's honest exploration of modern feminism is a worthy read.
The Rules Do Not Apply
March 20, 2017 March 20, 2017 ~ perpetuallybooked	~ Leave a comment
Thank You to Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an advanced copy of Ariel Levy's memoir, The Rules Do Not Apply, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT- In her memoir, The Rules Do Not Apply, journalist Ariel Levy explores love and loss, in her relationships, career, and path to motherhood. She learns the hard truth that life is a series of trade-offs and that the conventional concept of "having it all," is a myth.
LIKE– I vividly remember the final lecture of a Western Civilization class that I took at Pasadena City College, when I was in my early-twenties: The male professor, an self-proclaimed feminist, who would later be caught in several scandals and removed from his position, gave a piece of advice, that in way I've forgotten, was tenuously related to the lecture; he said that time is limited and that fertility did not last forever. He was speaking primarily to the females in the class, urging us, as we focused on our education and careers, to consider that the time frame for fertility is limited. I'm not quite sure what prompted this advice, but I remember the urgency in his tone. He was middle-aged, and in hind-sight, I'm guessing a recent personal predicament influenced his words. I've never wanted children, but that advice has stayed with me, especially as I near forty, still not wanting children, but realizing that the window of opportunity may already be shut. This idea is at the forefront of Levy's memoir.
Levy's road to motherhood is not clear. She is in an unstable marriage with Lucy, an older woman, who is an alcoholic. As Levy tries to strengthen her marriage, she is tempted through reconnecting with former lovers. Her writing career has always been important, and one that sends her on assignments around the world. Lucy's alcoholism isn't the only instability, as Lucy has sunk their savings into starting a solar panel company. Levy is in her late-thirties when she finally decides that she wants to be a mother, and they have a close friend who is happy to not only donate sperm, but to help out financially, and be another adult figure in their child's life. Levy easily becomes pregnant, and her life seems to be heading towards stability and happiness, until tragedy strikes. Levy delivers her child prematurely, alone in a hotel room, while on assignment in Mongolia. The baby is born alive, but dies about fifteen minutes later, as Levy is rushed to the hospital. It's crushing, even more so that she had minutes where she held her living child.
The title, The Rules Do Not Apply, are about all of the conventional things that as a child (or even into adulthood), you expect will happen. You expect to graduate from college and land a great job. You expect to fall in love and have a family. You expect that your parents will live long enough to see those grandchildren. You expect that hard work and being a good person should grant these rewards. However, as Levy points out, this has not been the case for her, and it has not been the case for many of her friends. Life simply does not work like that for most people. Conventionality is a myth.
Levy's thoughts are poignant and her personal story is compelling. She has a knack for phrasing and writes beautifully. She weaves her story with the stories of people that she profiles in her reporting, making her memoir global and expansive. I can't imagine any reader would be left unaffected by this emotional and thought provoking memoir.
DISLIKE– Nothing. The Rules Do Not Apply is powerful and riveting.
RECOMMEND– Yes! The Rules Do Not Apply is a must-read memoir. I'm certain that Levy's story will be a bestseller and generate a lot of buzz. Read it and be part of the conversation!

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Trifold cowhide leather purse, label GIANNI CONTI, brown, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3¾x4¾x1¼in (9.5x12x3cm), comes in gift box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 7 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets, 1 of whicht transparent, 2 medium sized multi purpose pockets.
Trifold wallet, leather, label GREEN BURRY, dark brown, light brown, embossed logo, vertical, 5x3¾x1in (12.5x9.5x2.5cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 2 of which transparent, 8 drivers licence pockets.
Small trifold wallet, cowhide leather, label GOLDEN HEAD, solid brown, metal logo, with snap closure, vertical, 3¼x4x1in (8x10x2.5cm). 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 10 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 1 small multi purpose pocket.
Trifold wallet, leather, label BRUNO BANANI, black, brown, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5x1¼in (10x12.5x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold cowhide leather purse, reptile syle, label GIANNI CONTI, beige and brown, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 4x5x1¼in (10x12.5x3cm), comes in gift box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 6 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label GIANNI CONTI, solid dark brown, embossed logo, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5¼x1¼in (10x13.5x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 10 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, woven fabric and leather, label STUDIO MILANO, solid brown, vertical, 4x4¾x1in (10x12x2.5cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 6 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold purse, velvet leather and cowhide leather, label GIANNI CONTI, reddish brown, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3¾x5x1¼in (9.5x12.5x3cm), comes in gift box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 7 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pocket, 1 of which transparent, 2 smaller multi purpose pockets.
Trifold purse, varnished cowhide leather, label GIANNI CONTI, dark brown, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3¾x5x1¼in (9.5x12.5x3cm), comes in gift box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 7 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pocket, 1 of which transparent, 2 smaller multi purpose pockets.
Trifold wallet, leather, label GIANNI CONTI, solid cognac, embossed logo, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5¼x1¼in (10x13.5x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 10 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold purse, cowhide leather, label GIANNI CONTI, greyish beige, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3¾x5x1¼in (9.5x12.5x3cm), comes in gift box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 7 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pocket, 1 of which transparent, 2 smaller multi purpose pockets.
Trifold special cowhide leather wallet, label GOLDEN HEAD, tobacco brown, vertical, 3½x4¾x0¾in (9x12x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 7 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold special cowhide leather wallet, label GOLDEN HEAD, tobacco brown, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3½x4¾x0¾in (9x12x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 6 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label GOLDEN HEAD, solid brown, vertical, 4¼x4¾x0¾in (10.5x12x2cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 14 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label GOLDEN HEAD, solid brown, horizontal, 5x3¾x0¾in (12.5x9.5x2cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent, integrated RFID shielding metal film.
Trifold wallet, leather, used-look, label GREEN BURRY, solid brown, vertical, 4x4¾x1¼in (10x12x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 7 credit card pockets, 5 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Bifold money purse, used-look, natural cowhide leather, label GIANNI CONTI, dark brown, vertical, with snap closure, 3½x4½x1¼in (8.5x11.5x3cm), comes in stable carton box. 1 bill compartment, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 4 credit card pockets, 2 medium-sized multi purpose pockets.
4fold wallet, leather, used-look, label GREEN BURRY, solid brown, vertical, 3¼x4x1in (8x10x2.5cm), comes in carton box. 3 bill compartments, 1 of which with zip closure, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 6 credit card pockets, 3 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, synthetics, label CAMEL ACTIVE, solid brown, vertical, 4x4¾x0¾in (10x12x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 of which with zip closure, 1 coin compartment with zip closure, 6 credit card pockets.
Small trifold used-look wallet, natural cowhide leather, label GREEN BURRY, brown, vertical, with snap closure, 2¾x4x0¾in (7x10x1.5cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 2 credit card pockets.
Trifold special cowhide leather wallet, label GOLDEN HEAD, tobacco brown, vertical, 3¼x4x0¾in (8x10x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 5 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 2 multi purpose pockets.
Trifold ladies' wallet, leather, label BOSS, solid black, with snap closure, vertical, 4½x3¾x1½in (11.5x9.5x3.5cm), in gift box, with key ring. 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with zip closure, 11 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label CAMEL ACTIVE, solid brown, embossed logo, vertical, 3½x5x0¾in (9x12.5x2cm), comes in carton box. 3 bill compartments, 1 of which with zip closure, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold ladies' wallet, leather, label MYWALIT, dark brown, apple green, olive green, with ochre, with snap closure, vertical, 4¼x6¾x1in (10.5x17x2.5cm). 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 10 credit card pockets, 2 of which transparent, 4 drivers licence pockets, 1 large multi purpose pocket, ballpen loop.
Trifold wallet, leather, label TOMMY HILFIGER, solid brown, metal logo, vertical, 3½x5x1in (9x12.5x2.5cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Bifold ladies' wallet, leather, Label WATZMANN, solid dark brown, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5½x1¼in (10x14x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 6 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 4 drivers licence pockets, 2 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label GIANNI CONTI, solid black, embossed logo, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5¼x1¼in (10x13.5x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 10 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label MYWALIT, brown, orange, green, with snap closure, horizontal, 5x4x0¾in (12.5x10x2cm). 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 9 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 2 drivers licence pockets.
Trifold ladies' wallet, cowhide leather, label CALVIN KLEIN, solid black, with snap closure, vertical, 4¼x6x1¼in (10.5x15x3cm), comes in carton box. 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 10 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold special cowhide leather wallet, label GOLDEN HEAD, tobacco brown, vertical, 4x4¾x0¾in (10x12x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 14 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Bifold wallet, leather, solid brown, with snap closure, vertical, 4x4¾x0¾in (10x12x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 6 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets.
Bifold money purse, used-look, natural cowhide leather, label GREEN BURRY, brown, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3¾x5¼x1¼in (9.5x13x3cm). 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 7 credit card pockets, 2 drivers licence pockets.
Trifold cowhide leather wallet with extra flap, label MANO, greyish beige, extra flap with snap closure, vertical, 4x4¾x1½in (10x12x3.5cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 5 drivers licence pockets, 2 of which transparent.
Bifold ladies' wallet, leather, Label WATZMANN, solid cognac, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5½x1¼in (10x14x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 6 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 4 drivers licence pockets, 2 of which transparent.
Trifold cowhide leather wallet, label BUGATTI, black, vertical, 4¾x5½x1in (9.5x13.5x2.5cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, containing pocket for single key, 7 credit card pockets, 5 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent, 2 tiny extra pockets.
Trifold special cowhide leather wallet with extra flap, label GOLDEN HEAD, tobacco brown, vertical, 4½x5¼x1½in (11x13x3.5cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 21 credit card pockets, 5 drivers licence pockets, 2 of which transparent and 1 of which quite spacious.
Trifold synthetic wallet, violet and pink, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3½x4¼x¾in (9x10.5x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 5 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 3 smaller multi-purpose pockets.
Trifold synthetic wallet, black and red, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3½x4¼x¾in (9x10.5x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 5 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 3 smaller multi-purpose pockets.
Bifold ladies' wallet, leather, used-look, label GREEN BURRY, solid brown, embossed logo, with snap closure, vertical, 3¾x5¾x1¼in (9.5x14.5x3cm), comes in carton box. 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with zip closure, 8 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets.
Ladies' zip-around wallet, textile, tartan pattern black, beige, grey, with snap closure, vertical, 3¾x4¾x1¼in (9.5x12x3cm). 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 10 credit card pockets, 6 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold used-look purse, natural cowhide leather, label GREEN BURRY, khaki green, vertical, small flap with lock closure, 3¾x5x1¼in (9.5x12.5x3cm). 1 bill compartment, 2 coin compartments with zip closure (with tiny extra pocket), 6 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets, 2 of which transparent.
Trifold synthetic wallet, dark orange and light orange, vertical, small flap with snap closure, 3½x4¼x¾in (9x10.5x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 5 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 3 smaller multi-purpose pockets.
Bifold money purse, used-look, natural cowhide leather, label GIANNI CONTI, light brown, vertical, with snap closure, 4x6¼x1½in (10x15.5x3.5cm), comes in stable carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 12 credit card pockets, 4 wide drivers licence pockets, 1 big outside pocket with zip closure.
Bifold synthetic zipper purse, camouflage pattern in brown and beige, vertical, with snap closure, 3½x4¼x1in (8.5x10.5x2.5cm). 1 bill compartment, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 4 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 1 medium-sized multi purpose pocket.
4fold ladies' wallet, synthetics, tartan pattern, khaki, blue, orange, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5x0¾in (10x13x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 of which with zip closure, 1 coin compartment with zip closure, 6 credit card pockets, 2 of which transparent, 2 drivers licence pockets.
Trifold synthetic wallet, printed and embroidered, label CHIEMSEE, brown, vertical, with velcro closure, 3¾x5½x1in (9.5x13.5x2.5cm). 1 bill compartment, 3 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets, 1 multi-purpose pocket.
Trifold ladies' wallet, textile, label O'NEILL, tartan pattern pink, beige, white, embroidered logo, with velcro closure, vertical, 3½x5½x0½in (9x14x1.5cm). 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with zip closure, 3 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold ladies' wallet, very soft leather, label STUDIO MILANO, black, brown, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5x1in (10x12.5x2.5cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 7 credit card pockets, 6 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, textile, label O'NEILL, floral pattern, many colours, brown, with velcro closure, vertical, 3¾x5¼x0¾in (9.5x13.5x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 of which with zip closure, 1 coin compartment with zip closure, 3 credit card pockets, 2 drivers licence pockets.
Trifold wallet, vintage style leather, label CAMEL ACTIVE, solid brown, vertical, 4x4¾x0¾in (10x12x2cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 6 credit card pockets, 6 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent, 1 medium-size multi purpose pocket.
Trifold wallet, leather, label BRUNO BANANI, solid brown, vertical, 3¼x4¼x0½in (8.5x10.5x1.5cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label BRUNO BANANI, solid brown, vertical, 3¾x4¼x1in (9.5x11x2.5cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Small trifold wallet, cowhide leather, label GOLDEN HEAD, solid black, metal logo, with snap closure, vertical, 3¼x4x1in (8x10x2.5cm). 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 10 credit card pockets, 1 of which transparent, 1 small multi purpose pocket.
Zipper wallet, cowhide leather, label GOLDEN HEAD, solid brown, with zip closure, vertical, 4¼x5x0¾in (11x13x2cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 8 credit card pockets, 4 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold used-look wallet, stonewashed canvas with leather, label GREENLAND, greyish blue with brown, vertical, double snap closure, 4x5x1¼in (10x13x3cm), removable and adjustable neck strap. 1 big bill compartment with zip closure, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 3 credit card pockets, 2 medium sized multi-purpose pockets, big multi-purpose pocket with velcro fastening.
Zipper wallet, leather, label BRANCO, solid brown, vertical, 4x5x0¾in (10x13x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 6 credit card pockets, 5 drivers licence pockets.
Bifold ladies' wallet, leather, label ROGNER, solid brown, vertical, 4x5x1¼in (10x13x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 12 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 2 of which transparent.
Trifold ladies' wallet, leather, label GIANNI CONTI, solid powerful red, embossed logo, with snap closure, vertical, 4x5¼x1¼in (10x13.5x3cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 10 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Bifold ladies' wallet, leather, label GIANNI CONTI, solid brown, embossed logo, with snap closure, vertical, 4x6x1in (10x15x2.5cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 2 coin compartments with zip closure, 16 credit card pockets, 5 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold wallet, leather, label PIERRE WALDON, solid dark brown, vertical, 4¼x5x0¾in (10.5x12.5x2cm), comes in carton box. 2 bill compartments, 10 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets.
Trifold textile wallet, label PROTEST, red with olive, on front big logo, vertical, with touch fastening, 3½x5½x0½in (9x14x1.5cm). 1 bill compartment, 1 coin compartment with zip closure, 3 credit card pockets, 3 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent.
Trifold cowhide leather purse, label MANO, orange, vertical, with snap closure, 3½x4¾x1in (9x12x2.5cm). 2 bill compartments, 2 big coin compartments with zip closure, 5 credit card pockets, 2 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent, 1 small multi-purpose pocket.
Trifold cowhide leather wallet, label STUDIO MILANO, dark brown, vertical, extra flap with snap closure, 4x4¾x0¾in (10x12x2cm). 2 bill compartments, 1 coin compartment with snap closure, 6 credit card pockets, 7 drivers licence pockets, 1 of which transparent and 1 of which outside.


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Featured on over 168 top ten lists, BIRDMAN has garnered attention worldwide and has received more than 200 nominations from such esteemed groups as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, receiving nine Academy Award nominations, including "Best Picture," won two Golden Globe awards ("Best Performance by an Actor," "Best Screenplay"), received the Darryl F. Zanuck, Producer of the Year Award for "Best Motion Picture," as well as a Screen Actors Guild award ("Best Ensemble,") and has also been nominated for six Spirit Awards, including "Best Feature." BIRDMAN has also earned nods from the American Film Institute, the National Board of Review and the New York Film Critics Online.


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text:
package pl.dawidgdanski.tictactoe.game.view;

import android.content.Context;
import android.graphics.Canvas;
import android.graphics.Color;
import android.graphics.Paint;
import android.graphics.Point;
import android.os.Parcel;
import android.os.Parcelable;
import android.util.AttributeSet;
import android.view.MotionEvent;
import android.view.View;

import com.google.common.base.Preconditions;
import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableMap;

import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

import pl.dawidgdanski.tictactoe.game.TicTacToeGame;
import pl.dawidgdanski.tictactoe.game.TicTacToeGameContract;
import pl.dawidgdanski.tictactoe.game.TicTacToePoint;
import pl.dawidgdanski.tictactoe.game.interfaces.OnGameStateChangeListener;

public final class TicTacToeView extends AbstractView implements View.OnTouchListener,
        TicTacToeGameContract {

    private final int RADIUS = 100;

    private Paint boardPaint;

    private Paint crossPaint;

    private Paint circlePaint;

    private Paint gameWonPaint;

    private int radius = -1;

    private OnGameStateChangeListener onGameStateChangeListener = NULL_LISTENER;

    private Map<TicTacToePoint, Point> pointsMap;

    private TicTacToeGame game = new TicTacToeGame();

    private TicTacToeGame.Player turn;

    public TicTacToeView(Context context) {
        super(context);
        initializeView();
    }

    public TicTacToeView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs) {
        this(context, attrs, 0);
    }

    public TicTacToeView(Context context, AttributeSet attrs, int defStyleAttr) {
        super(context, attrs, defStyleAttr);
        initializeView();
    }

    public void setOnGameStateChangeListener(final OnGameStateChangeListener listener) {
        this.onGameStateChangeListener = listener == null ? NULL_LISTENER : listener;
    }

    private void initializeView() {
        setMinimumHeight(RADIUS);
        setMinimumWidth(RADIUS);
        setOnTouchListener(this);
        setSaveEnabled(true);

        boardPaint = new Paint();
        boardPaint.setColor(Color.BLACK);
        boardPaint.setStrokeWidth(20);

        crossPaint = new Paint();
        crossPaint.setColor(Color.BLACK);
        crossPaint.setStrokeWidth(15);

        circlePaint = new Paint();
        circlePaint.setColor(Color.BLACK);
        circlePaint.setStrokeWidth(15);
        circlePaint.setStyle(Paint.Style.STROKE);
        circlePaint.setAntiAlias(true);

        gameWonPaint = new Paint();
        gameWonPaint.setColor(Color.GREEN);
        gameWonPaint.setStrokeWidth(10);
    }

    @Override
    protected Parcelable onSaveInstanceState() {
        return onSaveInstanceStateStandard();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onRestoreInstanceState(Parcelable state) {
        onRestoreInstanceStateStandard(state);
    }

    @Override
    protected int getMaximumViewWidth() {
        return RADIUS;
    }

    @Override
    protected int getMinimumViewWidth() {
        return getSuggestedMinimumWidth();
    }

    @Override
    protected int getMaximumViewHeight() {
        return RADIUS;
    }

    @Override
    protected int getMinimumViewHeight() {
        return getSuggestedMinimumHeight();
    }

    public void setTurn(TicTacToeGame.Player player) {
        this.turn = player;
    }

    @Override
    protected void onDraw(Canvas canvas) {
        final int width = getWidth() - getPaddingRight() - getPaddingLeft();

        final int height = getHeight() - getPaddingBottom() - getPaddingTop();

        final int minEdge = Math.min(width, height);

        final int edge = minEdge / TicTacToeGame.DIMENSION;

        final int spaceX = (width - 3 * edge) / 2;

        radius = edge / 3;

        final int x = (int) getX() + getPaddingLeft() + spaceX;

        final int y = (int) getY() + getPaddingTop();

        drawBoard(edge, x, y, canvas);

        final Map<TicTacToePoint, Point> pointsMap = getPointsMap(x, y, edge);

        for (TicTacToePoint point : getXStates()) {
            drawCross(pointsMap.get(point), radius, canvas);
        }

        for (TicTacToePoint point : getOStates()) {
            drawCircle(pointsMap.get(point), radius, canvas);
        }

        final boolean hasOWon = hasOWon();

        final boolean hasXWon = hasXWon();

        final boolean isDraw = isDraw();

        if (isDraw) {
            onGameStateChangeListener.onDraw();
            return;
        }

        if (hasOWon || hasXWon) {
            setClickable(false);

            List<TicTacToePoint> points = game.getWinningPoints();

            Point point1 = pointsMap.get(points.get(0));
            Point point2 = pointsMap.get(points.get(1));
            Point point3 = pointsMap.get(points.get(2));

            canvas.drawLine(point1.x, point1.y, point2.x, point2.y, gameWonPaint);
            canvas.drawLine(point2.x, point2.y, point3.x, point3.y, gameWonPaint);

            if (hasOWon) {
                onGameStateChangeListener.onOWin();
            } else {
                onGameStateChangeListener.onXWin();
            }
        }
    }

    private void drawBoard(final int edge,
                           final int x,
                           final int y,
                           final Canvas canvas) {

        final int verticalEndY = y + 3 * edge;

        final int rightVerticalLineX = x + 2 * edge;

        final int leftVerticalLineX = x + edge;

        //vertical lines
        canvas.drawLine(leftVerticalLineX, y, leftVerticalLineX, verticalEndY, boardPaint);
        canvas.drawLine(rightVerticalLineX, y, rightVerticalLineX, verticalEndY, boardPaint);

        final int horizontalEndX = x + 3 * edge;

        final int horizontalUpperLineY = edge;

        final int horizontalLowerLineY = 2 * edge;

        //horizontal lines
        canvas.drawLine(x, horizontalUpperLineY, horizontalEndX, horizontalUpperLineY, boardPaint);
        canvas.drawLine(x, horizontalLowerLineY, horizontalEndX, horizontalLowerLineY, boardPaint);
    }

    private Map<TicTacToePoint, Point> getPointsMap() {
        return pointsMap;
    }

    private Map<TicTacToePoint, Point> getPointsMap(final int x, final int y, final int edge) {

        if (pointsMap == null) {
            Point point00 = new Point(x + edge / 2, y + edge / 2);
            Point point01 = new Point(point00.x + edge, point00.y);
            Point point02 = new Point(point00.x + 2 * edge, point00.y);

            Point point10 = new Point(x + edge / 2, y + edge * 3 / 2);
            Point point11 = new Point(point10.x + edge, point10.y);
            Point point12 = new Point(point10.x + 2 * edge, point10.y);

            Point point20 = new Point(x + edge / 2, edge * 5 / 2);
            Point point21 = new Point(point20.x + edge, point20.y);
            Point point22 = new Point(point20.x + 2 * edge, point20.y);

            pointsMap = ImmutableMap.<TicTacToePoint, Point>builder()
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(0, 0), point00)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(0, 1), point01)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(0, 2), point02)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(1, 0), point10)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(1, 1), point11)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(1, 2), point12)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(2, 0), point20)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(2, 1), point21)
                    .put(new TicTacToePoint(2, 2), point22)
                    .build();
        }

        return pointsMap;
    }

    private void drawCross(final Point point, final int radius, Canvas canvas) {

        final float[] points = new float[]{
                point.x - radius, point.y - radius,
                point.x + radius, point.y + radius,
                point.x - radius, point.y + radius,
                point.x + radius, point.y - radius};

        canvas.drawLines(points, crossPaint);
    }

    private void drawCircle(final Point point, final int radius, Canvas canvas) {

        canvas.drawCircle(point.x, point.y, radius, circlePaint);
    }

    @Override
    public boolean onTouch(View v, MotionEvent event) {

        if (event.getAction() != MotionEvent.ACTION_DOWN) {
            return false;
        }

        Map<TicTacToePoint, Point> pointsMap = getPointsMap();
        if (pointsMap == null) {
            return true;
        }

        if (isGameOver()) {
            return true;
        }

        final int x = (int) event.getX();
        final int y = (int) event.getY();

        Point point = new Point(x, y);

        TicTacToePoint pointFound = PointFinder.findPointIfWithinRadiusFromTouhcPoint(getPointsMap(), point, radius);

        if (pointFound != null) {
            performMove(pointFound, turn);
        }

        return true;
    }

    @Override
    public List<TicTacToePoint> getAvailableStates() {
        return game.getAvailableStates();
    }

    @Override
    public List<TicTacToePoint> getXStates() {
        return game.getXStates();
    }

    @Override
    public List<TicTacToePoint> getOStates() {
        return game.getOStates();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean isGameOver() {
        return game.isGameOver();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean isDraw() {
        return game.isDraw();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean hasXWon() {
        return game.hasXWon();
    }

    @Override
    public boolean hasOWon() {
        return game.hasOWon();
    }

    @Override
    public void performMove(TicTacToePoint point, TicTacToeGame.Player player) {
        game.performMove(point, player);
        turn = getOpponentForPlayer(turn);
        if (!isGameOver()) {
            onGameStateChangeListener.onPlayerTurn(turn);
        }
        invalidate();
    }

    @Override
    public TicTacToeGame.Player getOpponentForPlayer(TicTacToeGame.Player player) {
        return game.getOpponentForPlayer(player);
    }

    @Override
    public TicTacToePoint getBestMove(TicTacToeGame.Player player) {
        return game.getBestMove(player);
    }

    @Override
    public List<TicTacToePoint> getWinningPoints() {
        return game.getWinningPoints();
    }

    @Override
    protected void onDetachedFromWindow() {
        super.onDetachedFromWindow();
        onGameStateChangeListener = NULL_LISTENER;
    }

    private void onRestoreInstanceStateStandard(final Parcelable state) {
        if (!(state instanceof SavedState)) {
            super.onRestoreInstanceState(state);
            return;
        }

        final SavedState savedState = (SavedState) state;
        super.onRestoreInstanceState(savedState.getSuperState());

        this.game = savedState.game;
    }

    private Parcelable onSaveInstanceStateStandard() {
        final Parcelable parcelable = super.onSaveInstanceState();
        SavedState savedState = new SavedState(parcelable);
        savedState.game = game;

        return savedState;
    }

    public void performCpuMove() {
        if (!isGameOver()) {
            performMove(getBestMove(turn), turn);
        }
    }

    public void performFirstRandomMove(TicTacToePoint point) {
        Preconditions.checkNotNull(point);

        if (!isGameOver()) {
            performMove(point, turn);
        }
    }

    private static class SavedState extends BaseSavedState {

        private TicTacToeGame game;

        private SavedState(Parcel source) {
            super(source);
            game = source.readParcelable(null);
        }

        private SavedState(Parcelable superState) {
            super(superState);
        }

        @Override
        public void writeToParcel(Parcel dest, int flags) {
            super.writeToParcel(dest, flags);
            dest.writeParcelable(game, 0);
        }
    }

    public static Parcelable.Creator<SavedState> CREATOR = new Parcelable.Creator<SavedState>() {

        @Override
        public SavedState createFromParcel(Parcel source) {
            return new SavedState(source);
        }

        @Override
        public SavedState[] newArray(int size) {
            return new SavedState[size];
        }
    };

    private static OnGameStateChangeListener NULL_LISTENER = new OnGameStateChangeListener() {
        @Override
        public void onPlayerTurn(TicTacToeGame.Player player) {

        }

        @Override
        public void onXWin() {

        }

        @Override
        public void onOWin() {

        }

        @Override
        public void onDraw() {

        }
    };
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Watch the best, the rarest and the most extraordinary films and TV programmes from the BFI National Archive with BFI Mediatheque from Friday 19 July 2013.
Our film and TV programme archive is about to get bigger—much bigger. On 19th July, TV Heaven will close, and we'll be opening BFI Mediatheque, doubling the amount of films and TV programmes you can watch here for free to more than 2,500 titles.
The Mediatheque is the place to make new discoveries and get reacquainted with old favourites. By simply logging on at a viewing station, you'll be able to enjoy highlights from the BFI National Archive, the world's greatest and most diverse collection of film and television.
From feature films to home movies, documentaries to children's TV, many titles have rarely been seen since their original release or broadcast—if at all.
First introduced in 2007, BFI Mediatheques are multi-seat viewing stations which essentially act as a digital jukebox of rarely seen material and well-loved classics of film and television. The Mediatheque collection—currently 2,500 titles—is growing all the time.
Visit any of the Mediatheques in the UK for free access to many of the rarest and most extraordinary titles in the BFI National Archive and partner archives.
Hours of classic films, television, and documentaries form a fascinating window to the nation's shared history. You'll find classic comedies, hard-hitting documentaries, family favourites and memorable dramas.
The BFI is developing its own plans for making more archive film available online. However, there are limits to what can be put out for free online, due to copyright restrictions. Therefore Mediatheque offers you a chance to explore a much wider cross section of the nearly 1 million titles held in the BFI archive.
We launch two very special collections when we open BFI Mediatheque on 19th July—The TV Heaven Collection and God's Own County: Yorkshire on Screen.
Over 50 titles will be included in Mediatheque from our original TV Heaven viewing gallery, which was Britain's first publicly accessible archive of TV programmes when it opened here in 1993. It covered the last 67 years of British television history, including some of the greatest programmes ever to have been screened.
A specially curated collection of material relating to the Yorkshire and Humber area, features one 100 film and television programmes which offer a dazzling insight into the rich heritage of film-making in the county drawn from both the BFI National Archive collections and the holdings of the Yorkshire Film Archive.
Highlights of God's Own County: Yorkshire on Screen include a filmic journey through Victorian Bradford in 1896, a turn of the century Punch and Judy show in Halifax, and daring Edwardian egg harvesters on Flamborough Head.
A hand-picked selection of home movies and documentaries preserved by the Yorkshire Film Archive offer a more personal and often strikingly creative perspective on Yorkshire life, framed by Queen Victoria's 1897 visit to Sheffield and contemporary docudrama The Last Tribe (2010), an engrossing portrait of Leeds' Jewish community.
For more information about our brand new gallery, visit our BFI Mediatheque page, or go straight to the BFI website for the full list of films and television programmes waiting for you at your local BFI Mediatheque.
Iain was Associate Curator of Television and Radio at the National Science and Media Museum until 2016.


text:
Q: cabal doesn't find Source.hs My project structure is as follows:
~/.../project_name
project_name.cabal
Setup.hs
src/
    Main.hs
    Data/
        ...
test/
    MainTestSuite
    ...

I have (amongst others) the following lines in my project.cabal:
build-type:          Simple
...
executable project_name
main-is: Main.hs
...
hs-source-dirs: src

When I cabal configure (works fine) and then cabal build I get the error message:
cabal: can't find source for Setup in src, dist/build/autogen

It works when I put Source.hs in src but this seems messy to me and I haven't seen this in other projects, where Source.hs is always in the project root. How do I get cabal to find Source.hs?

As an aside: What's the purpose of Source.hs anyways?

A: The problem was caused by accidently adding the Source file as a dependency in other-modules in the cabal-file of the project ... that caused all the trouble.

A: hs-source-dirs: ., src comes to mind as a fast fix.
That's what my projects use, and I generate my cabal files automatically (so I suppose that's the default).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
UKnowledge > College of Arts & Sciences > Hispanic Studies > Theses & Dissertations > 53
Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies
Queer(ing) Confessions: Representations of Female Non-(Hetero)Normativity in Texts of the Spanish Silver Age (1898-1939)
Alley Santos-Martin, University of KentuckyFollow
Dr. Susan Larson
Second Advisor
Dr. Moisés Castillo
Queer(ing) Confessions reconsiders the readings – both the act of reading, as well as the interpretations produced during that act – of Silver Age Spanish texts representing non-(hetero)normative identities and behaviors. Traditionally, texts portraying female queerness have been read as either literary tropes and constellation points for anxieties of modernizing Spain, or simple, saucy smut intended to fuel male fantasies. These interpretations – which have now become normative – are, nevertheless, rooted in thorny notions of authorial intent and textual purpose. This dissertation diverges from existing scholarship in proposing that a shift in paradigm – away from the Author, and toward the function of the reader in their process of literary exchange – can liberate these truly revolutionary texts from the prisons of purpose and intention in which they have been incarcerated.
Breaking away from author-centered approaches to literature that envision texts as fixed artifacts that contain predetermined messages which require decoding, the present project posits Carmen de Burgos's La melena de la discordia (1925), Zezé (1909) by Ángeles Vicente, and Se limpia a domicilio (c. 1916-1927) by Carlos Santafé, as the confessions of a queer society, the revelations of a perverse, and, yet, very real nonnormative social truth. Transliterated by subjects made privy to said truth, it is that very truth, and the reading subject's psychical exchange with it, that take center stage in this framework. These textual compositions, rather than fixed artifacts containing predetermined meanings and requiring decoding, had the potential to become radically liberating spaces of psychical fantasy for early-twentieth-century Spanish readers. For some, these emancipatory spaces provided a simple judgment-free jaunt into taboo territory; for others, they afforded a necessary psychical release, essential for the queer subject's very survival in a material reality hostile to non-normativity. The consideration of these radical psychical experiences presents a necessary alternative to studies that reproduce "normative" readings of these texts, interpreting them through a heteropatriarchal lens, and further contributing, however unintentionally, to the silencing and rendering invisible of non-(hetero)normative female subjects and their queer voices.
Taking an eclectic but decidedly queer methodological approach, Chapter One analyzes the societal framework and dominant gender ideology in circulation in early twentieth-century Spain. Chapter Two looks to Carmen de Burgos' La melena de la discordia to illustrate how the framework and ideology discussed in Chapter One confesses itself upon
the Silver Age page, revealing society's queerness. Chapter Three, calling upon Spanish philosopher María Zambrano's concept of razón poética as well as her publications La confesión: género literario (1941), La vida en crisis (1934), and El freudismo, testimonio del hombre actual (1940), in conjunction with Foucauldian notions of confession, articulates a theory that understands literary texts as compulsory confessions of (societal)-truth-witnessing subjects. Chapter Four, engaging with nonfictional representations of non-(hetero)normativity in illustrated magazines, as well as with the sociological studies of Ramón Serrano Vicéns and Matilde Albarracín, reveals data-driven truths about real-life Silver Age queer female subjects. Chapter Five, drawing from psychosocial as well as Benthamian and Foucauldian panoptical theories, exposes the why and how behind the closeting of the queer truths – the erasure of the real-life presence/existence of non-(hetero)normative female subjects – revealed in Chapter Four. Bolstered by psychoanalytic theory (particularly the work of Jean Laplanche and Jean-Bertrand Pontalis, Jacques Lacan and Sigmund Freud), reader-response (Louise Rosenblatt and Wolfgang Iser), and reception theory (Hans Robert Jauss), Chapter Six illustrates how, through the psychoanalytic structure of phantasy, queer(ing) confessions function as, both, psychical spaces of liberation and/or edification. Chapter Seven carries out be(for)e the reader, the queer(ing) confessionary exchanges through close readings of selections from Zezé and Se limpia a domicilio. Chapter Eight humanizes the academic research proposed in the pages of this dissertation, highlighting its importance and utility not solely within the realm of Hispanism, but beyond.
Queering Confessions, in scrutinizing Spanish texts, subjects, and social structures between 1898 and 1939, is a comprehensive study specific to Silver Age Spain. Nevertheless, in exposing the universal human psychological processes, and social politicoreligious processes that are involved in upholding and perpetuating iniquitous systems that necessitate the persecution and erasure of subjects that defy facile categorizations of gender and (sex)uality, this dissertation may also appeal to a broader readership. While enriching the field of Hispanism, this dissertation also seeks to make a strategic intervention in Anglophone areas of study that consider alternative female identities and sexualities, while simultaneously making a strategic contribution to the current political debate regarding LGBTQ+ rights in contemporary North America.
Santos-Martin, Alley, "Queer(ing) Confessions: Representations of Female Non-(Hetero)Normativity in Texts of the Spanish Silver Age (1898-1939)" (2022). Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies. 53.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/hisp_etds/53
Available for download on Monday, December 16, 2024
Spanish Literature Commons


We wonder if the most popular question asked about Star Wars is "why do Storm Troopers always miss?" then is the second most popular question "why did Princess Leia leave the Empire to Yavin IV" and thus the location of the rebel fleet?
What is the answer anyway?
The short answer is Leia bet the farm on taking down the Death Star.
Once the planet Alderaan was destroyed Leia realised that the Empire was in a massive new position of power.
There was nothing left to lose now that the Emperor had the power of the Death Star at his disposal.
There would be no more negotiations with dissenting planets - anyone who stood in the Empire's way could be obliterated.
Basically, it was now or never and so Leia deliberately let Han Solo drive the Falcon to Yavin IV in the knowledge she and her rescuers had been allowed to escape (which explains why the Storm Troopers missed all their shots).
She knew Tarkin and Vader would have a plan and she was correct in that the Falcon had been bugged.
Recall Leia says to her rescuers "They let us escape".
It was thus a game of I know you know with Tarkin.
One which ultimately cost Tarkin his life.


La Crescent is a Japanese x american hybrid plum that is round, has golden flesh and is sweet. The fruit sometimes has a pink blush on the skin when fully ripe.
Apple trees are relished by deer, numerous small mammals, and insects.
Like all plums this variety will require pruning in the dormant season (late winter-early spring). Learn about Training & Pruning Fruit Trees.
The fruit can be susceptible to brown rot (fungal) and plum curculio (insect). Plums are also prone to bacterial canker.
This variety was introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1923. It is hardy to zone 4.
La Crescent requires cross pollination with American plum or any Japanese/American hybrid cultivar that flowers at or near the same time. Toka and American plum work well as pollinators for La Crescent. Other Jap/american hybrid plums may work too if they are in bloom at the same time as La Crescent.
Johnson's Nursery, Inc.™ is a third generation, family-owned business. We passionately pursue our goal of providing hardy nursery stock to clients in SE Wisconsin and beyond.
Essentially we are a wholesale grower that welcomes the general public. Johnson's Nursery provides Retail sales and Landscape design/build services from our Menomonee Falls headquarters. Our wholesale clientele of municipalities, landscape contractors, garden centers, and other nurseries can arrange to pick up material either in Menomonee Falls or our Jackson, WI Farm holding yards.
Please keep in mind that the information found on our website is provided free of charge and Johnson's Nursery, Inc.™ does not assume any liability resulting from the information we provide. We hope this information helps, but please note that these are just rough guidelines, and not all possible situations are covered. Your plant material and landscape should be inspected by a trained professional.


A young, gifted Asst. District Attorney's tragic end, after revealing himself a victim of a high-level targeting program, enforced by advanced psycho-physical technology, reporting it covertly destroyed his life and career. He met his demise after opening fire at Florida State University's Strozier Library, just after midnight, November 20, 2014, injuring three and his quest for "Suicide by Cop."
This short ebook describes some methods to fight back against the criminals of the Deep State. It does not involve violence, but has been proven to be very effective. The yard sign shown on the cover is one method, informing FBI agents. The CIA runs the microwave torture program, and the FBI is in charge of the gangstalking. Break down the Deep State, then the microwaves will stop.
According to a civil lawsuit filed in 2014, it appears that the FBI refers to Targeted Individuals as "Non-Investigative Subjects," and lists them on the Terrorist Watchlist. The U.S. government added more than 1.5 million names to its Terrorist Watchlist in the five year period between 2009 and 2014. They are adding about 300,000 names each year. This concerns many human rights organizations.
This short ebook accuses 11 military officers of High Treason against the United States. The Air Force Space Command headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, is the primary organization that is using microwave satellite technology to track and attack civilians all around the world. These civilians are known as Targeted Individuals.
This short ebook presents evidence that our global system of private banking is seriously flawed, primarily due to the greed and fraud conducted by a small group of wealthy families. In the United States, the Federal Reserve system is owned by a group of private corporations, including the Rothschilds. The Federal Reserve is a private corporation. It is not Federal, and there are no reserves.
In the wide-open spaces of Colorado, who in their right mind would pay $400K - $500K for a house that was attached to another house? Does this seem odd? It only makes sense if the builder and property owner happen to be the Government, and your boss is the CIA. This short ebook documents the continuing fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds that is occurring at the CIA.


When planning their destination wedding in Marbella, our bridal couples expect nothing more than exceptional service, a stunning location and, of course, a touch of glamour. This five-star hotel encompasses everything a bridal couple needs for their wedding in Spain.
Situated on the coast's prettiest stretch of beach, the hotel is famed for its beautiful location and fantastic amenities – not to mention the sumptuous weddings it hosts.
Built in a modern Mediterranean style with Arab influence, the hotel has 137 elegant rooms and suites, all designed in the hotel's impeccable, signature style. There is also a magnificent spa, where couples can enjoy the best in relaxation and pampering before their big day.
This luxury wedding venue is surrounded by large private gardens, filled with tropical foliage and trees. There are 3 swimming pool areas to choose from, two dining terraces and the hotel's very own, exclusive, beach club. Whether you are looking for a romantic outdoor wedding on their sweeping lawns, or something a bit glitzier on the beach, each of these are backdrops are available as both wedding ceremony locations or wedding reception venues. Your guests can sip champagne overlooking the beach or enjoy canapes beneath the shade of the towering palms, either way they won't forget the breath-taking location.
The hotel's award-winning chefs are on-hand to produce the wedding banquet of your dreams. From canapes and buffets, to multiple-course meals – both indoor and outdoor – your guests will be wowed by the culinary wedding menu on offer.
Working closely with hotel staff, our personalised wedding services cater for your any type of wedding. If you prefer to marry at nearby churches instead of the hotel, we can also arrange transport for you and your guests to Marbella or nearby Benalmadena and Mijas.
Because of the size and location of the venue, one of the advantages of getting married at this splendid hotel is that there is no cut-off time for your party. This means you and your guests can party on to the early hours – the perfect end to a wedding of your dreams.


text:
Supreme Court Backs Federal Circuit Over MSPB on Position Sensitivity Cases
In denying a hearing on the matter (certiorari), the Supreme Court backed the Federal Circuit in setting limits on the MSPB's jurisdiction to hear appeals of removals or other actions taken by an Agency when an employee loses the ability to hold a "sensitive" government job. As the author points out, many more Federal employees hold positions with a sensitive rating than do those with security clearances.
By Bob Gilson April 1, 2014 7:51 PM Categories Court Cases, Current Events Leave a comment
On March 31, 2014, the Supreme Court denied review of the holding of the Federal Circuit reversing the Merit Systems Protection Board (the Board) on the issue of its jurisdiction in cases involving security clearances and position sensitivity. In a simple denial of certiorari, the Court let stand the Federal Circuit's landmark decisions in cases in which OPM challenged the Board's holding. The Court decision embraced the idea that not only was a security clearance not appealable to the Board but neither was employee's loss of the ability to hold a sensitive position rating.
Let's say an employee who, as part of their job, accesses a confidential financial or human resources database. Because of that access, the employee's job description and position requirements have position sensitivity of "sensitive" or even "non-critical sensitive". Going further, the Agency, based on misconduct on the part of that employee, determines that the individual may no longer occupy that position due to the misconduct and removes or demotes the individual. Usually the demotion or removal would be appealable both on the merits and on the following of statutory and regulatory procedures. Under this decision, the only matter appealable to the Board is whether the Agency process used to determine the revocation of the "sensitive" rating on the job met due process standards. In other words, the Agency rational for denying the rating and removing or demoting the employee is solely an Agency determination.
Why This Is A Big Deal
When the Civil Service Reform Act passed in 1978 creating the Board, OPM, and other Agencies, a stated purpose was the simplification of the disciplinary and performance process for managers while endorsing a fair system for employees. Anyone, who would suggest the MSPB's process is either fair or simple, would subject themselves to abject ridicule or perhaps a straightjacket. MSPB considers itself a high tribunal calling its hearing officers administrative judges perhaps purposely confusing them with Administrative Law Judges, a much higher bar to meet. Over the years its rulings and procedures have become more and more difficult to understand. So difficult that the adjective Byzantine would be a clear understatement.
Much Greater Agency Authority
The ruling in this case puts a great deal of authority in the hands of Agency management to cut through all of the Board's second guessing and deal effectively with those whose misconduct should jeopardize their jobs. In essence, while the procedural aspects of an adverse action are still appealable, the merits of whether an individual may be removed from a position or demoted for an inability to hold a sensitive position is the sole determination of the Agency. This decision applies across government, not merely in the Departments of Defense or Homeland Security. Any employee who holds a sensitive position in any Agency is subject to this decision.
I suspect that much will be written about this decision and Agencies capable of rising above bureaucratic impediments will take advantage of this new flexibility. It would be nice if OPM would address the matter with guidance (hopefully accurate this time) to help Agencies ensure their processes are up to the challenges involved.
As always, if you discern an opinion above, it's my responsibility alone.
OPM vs. MSPB
© 2023 Bob Gilson. All rights reserved. This article may not be reproduced without express written consent from Bob Gilson.
Tags Employee Relations Leave a comment
Ryan Budget Calls for Hike in Federal Employee Retirement Contributions
Stocks Up Slightly in March for Most TSP Funds
Bob Gilson is a consultant with a specialty in working with and training Federal agencies to resolve employee problems at all levels. A retired agency labor and employee relations director, Bob has authored or co-authored a number of books dealing with Federal issues and also conducts training seminars.


text:
About DICE
Partnerships to Broaden Diversity
Prospective Student UHS Alternative Spring Break
Post-Doctoral Fellows and Residents
Diversity Reps
Indian Health Service Trip
Geisel Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Ohiyesa Fund at Geisel
Rural Health Scholars
Urban Health Scholars
UHS Mission Statement
UHS – Who We Are
Meet the UHS Scholars
UHS Graduate Scholars
Meet the UHS Advisor
UHS Projects
UHS Trips
UHS Resources
Prospective UHS Scholars
Contact UHS
Geisel Diversity Council Reference Guide
Center for Health Equity
Dar Dar
Employee Resource Networks
Institutional Diversity and Equity
Office of Pluralism and Leadership (OPAL)
New Orleans - 2018
New Orleans 2018 Trip Report
New York City - 2018
New York City 2018 Trip Report
Boston - 2017
Boston 2017 Trip Report
Chicago - 2013
Chicago 2013 Trip Report
In March of the 2012/2013 Geisel academic year, four MS1 Geisel School of Medicine Scholars (Asha Clarke, Bianca Williams, Asha McClurg, and Evelyn Bae) visited the city of Chicago, the third largest city in the United States with a population of nearly three million people. Chicago is known for the rich diversity of its many neighborhoods.
The scholars had an action-packed week, and their travels included:
Shadowing in a Cook County Level 1 Trauma Center and ER
Volunteering at a local women's shelter on Chicago's South Side
Teaching healthy eating habits (in English AND Spanish!) at a Community Health Clinic in the Ukranian Village
Meeting with Dr. David Ansell himself, author of "County: Life, Death, and Politics at Chicago's Public Hospital" and a tireless advocate for better health care outcomes for the underserved.
In January of the 2012/2013 Geisel academic year, four MS2 Geisel School of Medicine Scholars (Swapna Sharma, Emily Carson, Katherine Zeitler and Joseph Graterol) and five MS1 Geisel School of Medicine Scholars (Asha Clarke, Bianca Williams, Inyang Jr Udo-Inyang, Asha McClurg, and Evelyn Bae) visited the city of New York, a city which boasts an incredibly diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic population. A number of the city's hospitals and other healthcare organizations are still recovering from the recent flooding and damage brought on by Hurricane Sandy. The Scholars were thus presented with the unique opportunity to learn about the city's immediate and long-term response to this natural disaster, as well as the ways in which New York's more vulnerable populations were affected by the emergency evacuation and could be better protected in the future.
In September of the 2012/2013 Geisel academic year, four MS2 Geisel School of Medicine scholars (Swapna Sharma, Emily Carson, Katherine Zeitler and Joseph Graterol) and four new MS1 Geisel School of Medicine scholars (Asha Clarke, Bianca Williams, Inyang Jr Udo-Inyang, and Evelyn Bae) visited the city of Boston, a city with a considerably diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic population. Boston has recently undergone significant health care reform in recent years, providing the scholars a unique opportunity to explore how these policy changes have affected the city's more vulnerable populations and the institutions that serve them.
During their trip, the scholars had the opportunity to visit and tour the Lawrence Family Health Center, discuss Medical-Legal partnerships with Geisel alumna Dr. Megan Sandel in the Boston Medical Pediatrics department, volunteer at the annual Mattapan Health Care Revival, among many other things. The scholars followed up this trip with a journal article discussion back at Geisel about the work that Dr. Sandel has undertaken with Medical-Legal partnerships, so that their fellow students could also be informed about her work.
Philadelphia - 2012
During the Spring break period of the 2011/2012 Geisel academic year, all four MS1 Geisel School of Medicine scholars (Swapna Sharma, Emily Carson, Katherine Zeitler and Joseph Graterol) visited the city of Philadelphia, a city with a considerably diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic population, and a great model for learning about urban medicine.
During their trip, the scholars had the opportunity to shadow in bustling community clinics, attend a conference at CHOP about Asthma Disparities, and tour a homeless shelter serving runaway youth… among many other things! The scholars were also fortunate to meet with several Geisel alumni who currently reside in Philadelphia. Dr. Roy Wade, however, deserves a special mention. Dr. Wade, a well-known Geisel alumnus who is now a Clinical Scholars Fellow with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, played a very significant role in making this trip possible for the scholars.
The Urban Health Scholars traveled to New York City for a two-day immersion in urban health. The team visited a public hospital, a community health clinic, a free clinic, and a private pediatrics practice. The UHS members also worked at a soup kitchen and met with public health workers.
The Urban Health Scholars returned to Mattapan in 2011 and once again enjoyed participating in the Health Care Revival. The group had the chance to teach the community about exercise, healthy diet and exercise. The group also visited the Lawrence Family Medicine Clinic and met with several Geisel alumni who shared their experiences in med school and beyond. Also on the itinerary was the Lemuel Shattuck Hospital, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, and Culture InSight.
Miami - 2011
UHS traveled to Miami, Florida to provide service and outreach to communities around Miami. The group's goals were to provide community service, get a sense of the health care system in Miami-Dade County, learn about the medical challenges facing immigrant communities, and promote diversity in health care careers. To meet these goals, UHS participated in a variety of clinical, teaching, and outreach experiences.
During the 2010 Cultural Immersion Tour, the first and second year UHS spend the weekend in Concord, NH and Boston, MA. After attending a meeting with Geisel alum, Dr. Trinidad Tellez, they received a tour of the Harvard Street Neighborhood Health Clinic, and ended the day having dinner with Geisel alum, Dr. Roy Wade, who offered guidance to the students. The following day was spent at an annual Health Care Revival (organized by the Mattapan Community Health Center) where they ran a table about HIV testing, performed blood pressure screening, and assisted other groups who were also at the event.
Washington, D.C. - 2010
Washington, D.C. 2010 Trip Report
In 2010, members of UHS traveled to Washington D.C. and earned valuable clinical and service experience at the Bread for the City Clinic. While the Geisel students were able to shadow some doctors, they were also able to learn more about health in urban areas, as well as the relationship between health and government.
Back to UHS Home


Its Friday again, where did this week go??? I have been crazy busy with getting all of my usual DT work done and to add to that I have been asked to Guest DT at two seperate places so have been working on the kits for those. On top of that and in my insanity I have accepted a very special scrapbooking gig thats yet to be revealed (insert extreme excitement here), so have some wonderful things on the go for this one and can't wait to share but will have to be patient until the new year for those little rippers to be revealed. Most of the projects are done which is great I wanted to have them signed, sealed and delivered before I head off on our holiday down south in a fortnights time and I think I am tracking well within that time frame.
So as you can imagine its been all systems go here. I have managed this past week and a bit to scrap 7 traditional and 4 digi LO's plus 16 sketch templates yep 16, I have even created an OTP this week which is so out of my comfort zone...OMG that is crazy stuff seeing it like that! Let me tell you I am a non smoker but I could go a tall glass of scotch and a big puff on a ciggie right now but I finally think my head is above water which feels like I have achieved a massive feat this week...she says smiling widely hope I don't collapse into a ball of hysteria tee hee!
Anyways its Friday like I said before I started rambling and The Color Room has a fantastic palette on offer this week I really think you'll like the reveal. Here it is followed by my DT page a digi for this week.
Oh Em I love, love, love this! What an awesome design and perfect use of the colors for this week! Just fab!
Skippety - do-darr.. a new gigi.. Cant wait to hear.. come on January 2012!!!!


text:
Home » Russia's Black Sea Fleet
Russia's Black Sea Fleet
2023/01/30 - 11:50 • Latest news Ukraine
Ukraine's deputy foreign minister: one German submarine will kick Russian fleet out...
Ukraine's deputy Foreign Minister and former Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk has called on Germany to supply a HDW Class 212A submarine by ThyssenKrupp to Ukraine. According to him, the Bundeswehr has six such submarines; only...
Sudden increase in Russian navy activity in Black Sea may indicate impending...
On 22 December, defense analysts saw a sudden change in Russian navy activity in the Black Sea near occupied Sevastopol, which may indicate impending operations: the area "was busy with Russian submarines and warships,"...
Attack on Russia's Novorossiysk oil depot near naval base shows Black Sea...
The British Defense Ministry's November 22 intellligence update addresses the November 18 maritime attack on an oil terminal at Russia's Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk next to a base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet (BSF)...
Ukrainian forces may have attacked Grigorovich-class frigate near Sevastopol – ISW
Institute for the Study of War believes it is "likely" that "Ukrainian forces conducted an attack against a Grigorovich-class frigate of the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol with unmanned surface vehicles on October...
Footage of alleged Ukrainian attack on Russian warships in occupied Sevastopol published by journalist Andrii Tsaplienko.
At least three Russian ships damaged in blasts in Sevastopol – media...
On October 29, the Russian-appointed so-called governor of occupied Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, said that residents of the city heard explosions caused by a Ukrainian "drone attack." Sevastopol repelled drone attack,...
2022/04/15 - 05:46 • Russian Aggression
Russian nuclear-capable flagship Moskva sinks after Ukrainian missile strike
Nuclear capable "aircraft carrier killer" The cruiser Moskva was laid down and built as Slava ("Glory") at a shipyard in the Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv in the late 1970th. Nicknamed "aircraft carrier...