Former Bristol City player Lee Tomlin has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm without intent following an alleged incident outside a nightclub in Leicester.
Tomlin was allegedly involved in the incident, which occurred in the early hours of January 22 – a day after the Robins lost 1-0 away to Nottingham Forest.
The 28-year-old, who now plays for Cardiff City following a £2.9million move in the summer , was charged alongside Accrington Stanley striker Billy Kee.
Janine Smith, from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), told the Daily Mail : "The CPS has received a file of evidence from Leicestershire Police relating to an incident in the early hours of 22 January.
The pair are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on September 18.
Prior to departing Ashton Gate in July, City manager Lee Johnson said Tomlin remained part of his plans for the forthcoming season but that wasn't to be the case after he joined Neil Warnock's side across the Severn Bridge.
Johnson had said: "He has to make sure he conforms to everything that's a part of that Bristol City culture and Bristol City ethos."
Former Middlesborough and Bournemouth player Tomlin has made three appearances for his current side and Championship leaders Cardiff City this season but is yet to score.
Kee, 26, has scored twice in three games for Accrington, who are ninth in League Two.


Southern Rail is warning commuters to complete their journeys by 3pm due to worsening weather conditions and the potential disruption which could be caused.
The train operator is advising passengers to leave early on Friday (March 2).
Rail and public transport has been hit hard by snow, ice and below freezing temperatures for a majority of the week, with many trains delayed or cancelled.
Southern has been running an amended service on many routes, and it looks as though the problems are not over.
The tweet on Southern's official account read: "We are advising passengers to complete your journey BEFORE 3pm today.
"While a good service is currently running on most routes, the weather is expected to deteriorate this afternoon and we may be prevented from running services on some routes."
Southern's website has run a warning since the snow began to fall on Monday, February 26, advising customers to ensure travel is necessary before undertaking it.
The statement reads: "We strongly advise you to check before you travel, travel as early as possible this afternoon, and consider if your journey is necessary before travelling.
"If we are unable to operate our train services we will not be able to guarantee alternative transport such as replacement buses due to hazardous road conditions."
The latest MetoGroup weather forecast is predicting light snow for Croydon from 1pm on Friday, which is due to fall all afternoon and into the evening, before stopping at 9pm.


The Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, has broken ground at the Port Clarence Renewable Energy Plant, a new £160m power station that will enter commercial operation in 2018.
Port Clarence Energy is owned by Glennmont Partners, a UK financial institution with interests in renewable energy projects elsewhere in the UK and across Europe.
The 40MW plant is being built on land which has lain empty for many years and which is situated on the north bank of the River Tees, close to the Transporter Bridge. Fuelled by waste wood, the power station will generate electricity for the equivalent of 75,000 homes across the Tees Valley and elsewhere in the North East.
The construction of the plant is being carried out by Babcock Wilcox Lagan in partnership with Eco2, the company that originated and secured planning for the Port Clarence Energy plant in 2014. There are currently 40 people employed on the site and this is expected to rise to 300 people at the peak of the construction period. Once operational in 2018, the scheme will directly employ 30 people.
Leader of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, Councillor Bob Cook, said: "Glennmont's investment in our Borough is certainly welcomed as through the introduction of technologies such as biomass they can help grow our economy and create jobs for local people.
"I am delighted to see the Port Clarence Energy project begin to come to fruition and I'm looking forward to residents and businesses benefitting from the energy it will produce.
In January, a website for the project will go live – www.portclarenceenegy.co.uk . This will provide additional information on the project and provide local residents, businesses and other interested parties with regular updates on the construction of the project.


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definition of concrete waste
Is concrete hazardous waste? Is concrete a hazardous material?
So on that basis alone, is concrete a waste? NO. Concrete is a building material, and if used for its originally intended purpose, it is not a waste material at all. Since it is not a waste first and foremost, it cannot be a hazardous waste by definition. So the question of is concrete hazardous waste is clearly no.
solid waste: Solid or semisolid, nonsoluble material (including gases and liquids in containers) such as agricultural refuse, demolition waste, industrial waste, mining. [24/7 online] Concrete. Concrete definition is naming a real thing or class of things How to use concrete in a sentence Did You Know? naming a real thing or class of things; formed by coalition of particles into one solid mass, See the full
recycled concrete Topic
Oct 01, 2020· Definition: hardened concrete that has been processed for reuse, usually as aggregate.-. ACI Concrete Terminology. The reason for recycling is the reduction of waste in order to protect nature against pollution, the increasing shortage of suitable dumping grounds, and to save energy and natural resources. Concrete debris is typically reclaimed as
Waste Materials Used in Concrete Manufacturing ScienceDirect
These waste materials can partly be used, or processed, to produce materials suitable as aggregates or fillers in concrete. These can also be used as clinker raw materials, or processed into cementing systems.
What to do with "concrete waste" at any type of concrete
If it's really waste, bite the bullet and haul it to a landfill (usually at huge costs)! If your material has any sort of value, and you realize it's a potential resource, instruct everyone to stop calling it waste. Maybe you can reuse or recycle the material. Start referring to it as 'concrete material', 'excess concrete material', 'concrete fines', or my favorite 'recyclable concrete'.
Concrete recycling. The high demand of concrete means more new building will be constructed after the demolition of old buildings, generating a large volume of C&D waste (construction waste & demolition waste) as a by product of economic growth However, the most common way to dispose this waste.
The output of waste materials suitable as cement replacement (slags, fly ashes, silica fumes, rice husk ash, etc.) is more than double that of cement production. These waste materials can partly be used, or processed, to produce materials suitable as aggregates or fillers in concrete.
Construction and Demolition Wastes and Clean Rubble
waste: concrete and concrete products including reinforcing steel, asphalt pavement, brick, rock and uncontaminated soil as defined in rules and regulations adopted by the secretary." KSA 65 -3415b lists " clean rubble " as a waste which is exempt from the state solid waste tonnage fee.
Construction Waste an overview ScienceDirect Topics
Construction waste is defined as relatively clean, heterogeneous building materials generated from the various construction activities (Tchobanoglous et al., 1993).Possible sources of generating construction waste can be classified under six main categories (Al-Ansary et al., 2004a; Gavilan, 1994), namely: design source, procurement source, handling of materials source, operation source
Stormwater Best Management Practices: Concrete Washout
of the collected concrete washout water and solids. Another . Description of Concrete Washout at . Construction Sites. Concrete and its ingredients. Concrete is a mixture of cement, water, and aggregate material. Portland cement is made by heating a mixture of limestone and . clay containing oxides of calcium, aluminum, silicon and other
Construction and demolition waste Minnesota Pollution
Construction and demolition waste (C&D) is generated during the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings or structures. These wastes include materials such as concrete, bricks, wood and lumber, roofing, drywall, landscape and other wastes.
Construction and demolition waste
waste asphalt, bricks, concrete, plasterboard, timber and vegetation asbestos and contaminated soil The advice on this page covers all wastes that may be generated as part of construction and demolition activities, including 'building and demolition waste' as defined in the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 .
Uncontaminated soil, rock, stone, gravel, brick and block, concrete and used asphalt; and; Waste from land clearing, grubbing and excavation, including trees, brush, stumps and vegetative material. Management of Construction and Demolition Waste. Salvaging By definition, materials salvaged for use in their intended function are not wastes.
40 CFR § 260.10 Definitions. CFR US Law LII
This definition also applies to facilities implementing corrective action under RCRA Section 3008(h). (3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this definition, a remediation waste management site is not a facility that is subject to 40 CFR 264.101, but is subject to corrective action requirements if the site is located within such a facility.
Concrete Definition of Concrete by Merriam-Webster
concrete: [adjective] naming a real thing or class of things.
CONSTRUCTION, DEMOLITION, AND RENOVATION
s pay an average of $500 per home for waste removal. C&D debris is one type of solid waste. It is a large and varied waste stream that includes concrete, asphalt, wood, gypsum, and asphalt shingles generated from the construction, renovation, and demolition of buildings, roads, bridges, and dams. Total C&D waste
Research Article Effect of Ground Waste Concrete Powder on
e amount of paste/mortar in waste concrete is about between % and %, but relative research is very limited [ ]. Lv found that when waste concrete powder contentislowerthan%,itse ectoncementstrengthisthe sameas yash sandthatitse ectbecomesmoreevidenta er heattreatment[ ]. In order to e ectively utilize waste concrete, the e ects
concrete Definition, Composition, Uses, & Facts Britannica
Concrete is characterized by the type of aggregate or cement used, by the specific qualities it manifests, or by the methods used to produce it. In ordinary structural concrete, the character of the concrete is largely determined by a water-to-cement ratio. The lower the water content, all else being equal, the stronger the concrete.
Construction waste Designing Buildings Wiki
Construction waste Designing Buildings Wiki Share your construction industry knowledge. Construction activities can generate large amounts of waste materials that then need to be disposed of. In addition, at the end of a building's life, it may be deconstructed or demolished, generating significant amounts of waste. Construction waste includes waste that is generated during construction
The Importance of Concrete Recycling
Dec 29, 2017· Construction and demolition (C&D) waste is a central component of the solid waste stream, amounting to roughly 25 percent of total solid waste nationally. The largest part of C&D material is concrete, which encompasses around 70 percent of C&D generated material before recycling, according to the U.S. EPA. Construction (21.7 million tons) and demolition (353.6 million tons)
Defining Hazardous Waste Department of Toxic Substances
Materials may not be wastes if they are recycled in certain ways, i.e., they may be excluded from the definition of waste in 22CCR Section 66261.2 of the hazardous waste regulations. Besides 22CCR Section 66261.2, you will have to refer to Health and Safety Code Sections 25120.5,25120.55,25121.5,and 25143.2 (and perhaps others) when
Construction and demolition waste Environment European
Construction and demolition waste (CDW) is one of the heaviest and most voluminous waste streams generated in the EU. It accounts for approximately 25% 30% of all waste generated in the EU and consists of numerous materials, including concrete, bricks, gypsum, wood, glass, metals, plastic, solvents, asbestos and excavated soil, many of which
Classify different types of waste: Construction and
Concrete, bricks, tiles and ceramics This list excludes asbestos-containing materials refer to the insulation and asbestos materials table for any waste with asbestos. Waste status
40 CFR § 761.61 PCB remediation waste. CFR US Law
A cap means, when referring to on-site cleanup and disposal of PCB remediation waste, a uniform placement of concrete, asphalt, or similar material of minimum thickness spread over the area where remediation waste was removed or left in place in order to prevent or minimize human exposure, infiltration of water, and erosion.
Construction and Demolition Debris Recycling
According to the 2014 Disposal Facility-Based Characterization of Solid Waste in California, construction and demolition (C&D) materials are estimated to account for between 21.7 to 25.5 percent of the disposed waste stream.Previous study estimates have ranged from 29 percent in 2008 to 24 percent in 2004.. Common C&D materials include lumber, drywall, metals, masonry (brick, concrete, etc
(PDF) Effect of Ground Waste Concrete Powder on Cement
The paste/mortar attached to the recycled aggregate decreases the quality of the aggregate and needs to be stripped. The stripped paste/mortar is roughly 20% to 50% in waste concrete, but relevant
Division of Materials and Waste Management (DMWM)
The Division of Materials and Waste Management (DMWM) is a nationally recognized leader in traditional and innovative waste materials management, demonstrated by. Common sense regulations that remain protective of public health and the environment while emphasizing recycling, energy recovery and alternatives to disposal
Managing Construction and Demolition Waste
Solid Waste Management Law Violations: Civil Penalties Any person who disposes of construction and demolition waste, or allows the disposal of construction and demolition waste in an area not permitted for such disposal may be assessed a civil penalty of up to $5,000 per day per violation (§260.240, RSMo).
Ways to Recycle and Reuse Concrete
Jan 07, 2019· Recycling concrete helps reduce construction waste and extend the life of landfills as well as saving builders disposal or tipping fees. It also reduces transportation costs because concrete can often be recycled in areas near the demolition or construction site.
Disposing of Construction Waste Different Types & What to Do
May 10, 2019· Inert waste, which includes concrete, bricks, asphalt, stones, and soils, make up the bulk of construction, demolition, and excavation waste, but you will likely also produce various other types. Common types of construction waste include: Concrete, bricks, tiles, cement, and ceramics.
CONSTRUCTION WASTE DNR
CONSTRUCTION WASTE Construction waste is normally combined with demolition waste and described as "construction and demolition" (C&D). There are many definitions for C&D. Virtually every state has a slightly different definition for C&D waste. The EPA'sCharacterization ofBuilding-Related
What is Construction Waste?
When properly sorted, materials such as concrete and asphalt can be recycled for use in construction. The remaining non-inert substances in construction waste include bamboo, timber, vegetation, packaging waste and other organic materials.
Use of RECYCLED AGGREGATES In CONCRETE- A Paradigm Shift
Most of waste materials produced by demolished structures disposed off by dumping them as land fill. Dumping of wastes on land is causing shortage of dumping place in urban areas. Therefore, it is necessary to start recycling and re-use of demolition concrete waste to
Yield Problems and Waste Allowance| Concrete Construction
May 01, 1997· The book Concrete Construction & Estimating says to include 3% waste for concrete placed on the ground but no waste for concrete placed in forms. However, the book also says: "If an item calls for 31 1/4 cubic feet of concrete, call it 32, picking up part of a cubic foot on each item. This is how to include waste on the job.
Problems with Concrete Materials Association of State
Disintegration and Scaling. Disintegration can be described as the deterioration of the concrete into small fragments and individual aggregates.Scaling is a milder form of disintegration where the surface mortar flakes off.Large areas of crumbling (rotten) concrete, areas of deterioration which are more than about 3 to 4 inches deep (depending on the wall/slab thickness), and exposed rebar
Managing Construction & Demolition (C&D) Wastes Mass.gov
C&D Waste Calculator (from the U.S. Green Building Council) C&D Recycling Association: Find a Recycler Open PDF file, 144.36 KB, for Massachusetts Sample C&D Waste Plan (PDF 144.36 KB)
Missouri Department of Natural Resources
Demolition or renovation operations can create several different kinds of waste. Those include: Clean fill uncontaminated soil, rock, sand, gravel, asphaltic concrete, blocks and bricks, and minimal amounts of wood, metal and inert solids. These can be used to fill in excavated holes from demolition or
Construction Waste Management WBDG Whole Building
Oct 17, 2016· Some waste generated in the process of construction can be eliminated. For example, durable modular metal form systems for use in concrete construction may be selected on the basis of being readily demountable and reusable on other projects, thus eliminating wood waste associated with formwork fabricated of plywood and dimensional lumber.
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text:
- One chapter from my PhD thesis (16 chapters in total) - Re-conceiving Cross-Dressing -
In Chapter 6 I have created new theories deriving from the research I have done (detailed in my other chapters). These theories developed as I became aware that some past theories were inappropriate to my more contemporary research into gender expressions.
'GEN(D)ERALISED' PERCEPTIONS
Your gender isn't beauty or ugliness. I mean - that's all your ideas.
(Boy-George, 1995:2)
This chapter presents theoretical viewpoints about transgenderism that derive from postmodern investigations of the gathered data. Previous analyses relating to the motivations of trans* people will be deconstructed within standpoints that stem from analysing the actual experiences of trans* communities socialising in Manchester's Gay Village.
This chapter includes deconstructing the statements by de Beauvoir (2010 [1949]) within Queer Theory and alleged masculine insecurities. There will also be investigations of the preoccupations of people to 'pass' within stereotypical gender normativity. During this, there shall be critical evaluations of various theories, including those by Lacan (1949) and Butler (1999), which encompass deconstructing psychoanalytic hypotheses.
Adverse impacts upon transvestic identities are examined, which include deconstructing connections between transvestism and fetishism. Within this position, the intense emotional needs to cross-dress shall be analysed. There will be investigations of the alleged hierarchy of trans* identities that may be an impact deriving from several previous assessments of transgenderism. There will also be cynical examinations of societal preoccupations with 'binary' concepts.
False Perceptions
In the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA, there is an abstract painting by Jackson Pollock called Autumn Rhythm (Number 30). When I saw it in 2004, I overheard a museum guide describing this painting to a group of young people. She instructed everyone looking at it not to make meaning from what is seen but rather from what is felt.
Similarly, in order to attempt to understand a trans* person's existence, one must deconstruct traditional ways of perceiving. Many medical and social science examinations of cross-dressing have attempted to comprehend the phenomenon by objective fixed perceptions (Bullough and Bullough, 1993). These observations originate from patriarchal – male controlling – indoctrinations with attempts to define 'reality' and separations of 'fact' from 'fantasy'. This separation is illusory. It is 'gospel truth' – barely questioned mythological biases that have shaped and repeatedly reshaped societies for thousands of years (Barthes, 1957; Levi-Strauss, 1958).
Trans* people (and others not conforming to patriarchal normativity) socialising in Manchester's Gay Village define perceptions in their minds and then shape the social spaces of this area. The Village is mainly a protective refuge that provides alternatives from what is perceived 'outside' as mainstream 'reality'.
Gender Insecurities
Tyler (2003) discusses theories of the philosopher Luce Irigaray who asserts that, by being a 'mimic', a woman challenges patriarchally designed feminine stereotypes. The objective is to suggest a concept of femininity, which is not dependent upon the gender binary concept with masculinity. However, Tyler expresses that the imitation emphasises masculine hegemony rather than destabilising it. Furthermore, 'queer theorists' contest the assertion of a 'true' or 'fundamental' femininity. Indeed de Beauvoir writes, "one is not born, but rather, becomes a woman" (Beauvoir, 2010:x [1949]). Therefore, the 'mimicry' is a false construction of a false construction of femininity. Consequently, there is cynicism about this ironic multifaceted falsity being able to deconstruct de Beauvoir's definitions of 'woman' as the 'Other' of 'man'.
Nevertheless, these theories ignore a fundamental binary construction of 'masculinity' performed/adhered to by many men within most patriarchal societies. Masculine identity can often be defined as being 'not women' (McElvaine, 2001). Several religious teachings emphasise numerous ways to separate 'man' from 'woman'. Some stress, for instance, a man should never shave his beard to avoid looking like a woman. Religious teachings often stipulate distinctively gendered clothing and prohibit countering normative gender identifications. Within western societies, particularly after World War II, there developed a frequent dislike by heterosexual males of the colour 'pink', commonly defined as 'feminine' and as a signifier when worn by homosexual men (Garber, 1992). There is the 'basic' definition of men as being connected to death as opposite to women being connected to life through childbirth (Laqueur, 1990). These gender insistences may suggest 'man' being jealous of 'woman', defined by the psychoanalyst Horney (1939) as 'womb envy'. It has been suggested that 'breast envy' can also be a connected factor (Beiter, 11th May 2010).
Thus, the regard of women as being the 'Other' of men within patriarchy may rest upon a disguised insecurity that many men could actually regard themselves as the 'Other'. Consequently, sexism, which may be violent and maliciously expressed, can be viewed as being based upon patriarchy's central anxiety of the status of 'man', not as being fundamental to the formation of life but of being an 'accessory'.
Women are then deceived into constructing a false image that is the reflection of the fabricated masculinity that derives from an unconscious instability. An ironic parody that is not recognised as irony, indeed it cannot be so recognised because it is not allowed to deconstruct. Thus the mimicry is not an ironic deconstruction but an assurance against masculine anxiety. Central to this is the 'male 'gaze', which Mulvey (1975) critically analyses concerning the objectification of women in cinema (and in reality). Resultantly, conforming to this 'gaze' can shape the actual appearances of many contemporary women.
So where do trans* people feature in this?
An MTF trans* person occupies numerous preconceptions and presuppositions. Is the trans* woman shaping her female identity as to masculine visual presumptions about femininity? Is she conforming to the preconceptions of femininity as many women? Is she deconstructing those presuppositions about gender identity, especially if she knows she will not 'pass'?
Serano (2007) details the contradictory concept of 'passing' for gay men and lesbians. Here to 'pass' is to be visually assumed to be heterosexual, a desire that is wrought by heteronormative patriarchy. In a similar vein, Serano writes that her 'passing' was 'pretending' to be a male. However, 'passing', before her permanent gender transition, also meant that in her cross‑dressed 'guise' she would be visually taken for being a woman. However 'passing' can also be divorced from the trans* person's active preoccupation. Mainstream cisgender societies police the gender consistency of everyone seen. Thus the concept of 'passing' is a preoccupation enforced upon most people. There could be a multiple aspect to a trans* person 'passing'. She/He may be effective in 'passing', effectively becoming cisgender.
In Manchester several transvestic women have been observed who have no intention to 'pass' as conforming to gender normativity. They are not always overtly political nor are some even consciously aware. However, their deconstruction of stereotypes is notable in that it counters the patriarchal 'gaze'. Their visual deconstruction cannot completely divorce itself from patriarchal control. Rebellion, which can be unknowing, can only exist if it has something to rebel against. Irigaray's contention of an alternative existence that is not dependent upon difference becomes more interesting from that perspective.
Tyler refers to a woman's identification that is not a reflection but as her 'jouissance', which apparently concerns a woman having a sense of her internal sexualised 'gender identified' being in a way that a man may not. Perhaps this arises from women being defined as central to the creation of new life, whether they reproduce or not. This internalised and expressed power can sometimes be expressed as, in Lacanian terms, possessing the 'maternal phallus'. This is Lacan's Caucasian, middle class, patriarchally defined heterosexual signifier for the mother's various desires leading to control over the (male) child (Stratton, 1996; Bailly, 2009). A possible alternative viewpoint could be dualistic within a female position as being a maternal being and, separately, as a sexual being (Chodorow, 1989; Spillers, 1987). Perhaps the power over the child, that is either an actual child or one who is the object of her non-sexual influence, could be referred to as 'matric' power whereas the power that is the femininely sexually propelled influence over someone or something might be named 'connubialic' power. This is not the active sexual interactions with anyone but can involve manipulating the patriarchally shaped 'gaze' of men upon a woman (Mulvey, 1975; Foucault, 1977).
So it could be suggested that a male child can be the object of 'matric' power and she teaches him, implicitly and explicitly, that he is not like her. Perhaps this leads to his need to compensate for his lack of identification through interpreting and developing 'phallic' power, particularly during his teens. Consequently, 'phallic' power becomes expressed as the less complicated metaphor used by some academics such as Tyler. A female child may identify with her mother but the child's 'connubialic' power, developing through her puberty, might give her a need to become more clearly distinct from her mother.
This is not suggesting a reversal of power interpretations, leading to a suggestion of male inferiority, but rather different viewpoints to unearth the sources of some male insecurity and female self‑doubt arising from the uncertainty generating ('gen(d)erating'?) diktats of binary interpretations.
From these above theoretical suggestions a trans* person's development could be expressed differently. An MTF trans* child may be puzzled by hir mother's instructions that (s)he is not like her when (s)he wishes to replicate hir mother's 'matric' power rather than fully embracing 'phallic' power. A FTM trans* child may be confused by hir mother's suggestions that they are alike when the child feels they are not. This may lead the female child to identify with 'phallic' power. As much as anyone theorises about alternative definitions, these meanings are intrinsically connected to gender binaries in some way. All that can be achieved are alternative perceptions for the 'gen(d)eralised' binaries. This is where transvestic identities may give further different viewpoints.
Transvestic Fetishism and Fétichisme
Transvestites have been psychoanalysed as attempting to be 'phallic women' (Bullough and Bullough, 1993). Transvestism is often contentiously dismissed as a fetish (Johnson, 2003; Ekins and King, 2006). Several researchers contradict this assumption (Woodhouse, 1989; Boyd, 2003, 2007; Serano, 2007). The psychologist Fenichel (1946) postulates that the transvestite both fetishes hir 'phallic mother' and wishes to replicate her. However, Tyler describes how in contemporary society "both masculinity and femininity are signified fetishistically, and love itself, for both sexes is fetishistic" (2003:52). This replicates assertions by Gosselin (1980) although they only seem to discuss these theories in a heterosexual context. Tyler reflects a normative heterosexual mutual desire for completeness postulated by Lacan (Bailly, 2009:142-144) and mixes the patriarchally defined word 'phallic' with her previous detailing of the feminine 'jouissance'.
A central aspect of a person's fetishism may be hir seeking 'completeness', whatever this individual's gender identity and sexuality. A cross‑dresser can seek a sexual desire additionally to emotionally needing to cross‑dress. That sexual desire may be expressed differently or similarly, depending upon whether or not the transvestite is cross‑dressed. This could suggest that the need to be trans* might not be directly connected to a sexual motivation. Consequently, I apply the word 'fétichisme' to indicate the strong emotional desire for expressing a trans* identity. Thus, the female outfits can signify the MTF trans* person's internal 'fétichisme' (Chandler, 2007).
Serano (2007) details her progress as a cross‑dresser to her permanent gender transition. Her autobiographic details outline not only her progression but also how cross‑dressers are perceived and how they regard themselves and their relationship with sexual feelings. Serano desired to be female when she was a child but was taught, as many young male children are, that femininity was inferior to masculinity and so, consequently, women were marginalised within society (Hooks, 1984). This marginalisation, or ignorance, of women can lead many men to objectifying women. Studies suggest that some boys who are very strongly gender instructed develop powerful misogynistic attitudes (Ducat, 2004). However, as Serano writes, even within their sexist views, many men do have a powerful curiosity about this mystifying gender.
Those boys/men who are cross‑dressers may feel this curiosity stronger than many other boys/men. Serano (2007) describes cross‑dressers
are likely to be a heterogynous groups, encompassing a spectrum of individuals who have a feminine gender expression and/or a female subconscious sex, and who experience those inclinations at varying intensities. This explains why some crossdressers never transition, while others eventually do, and why some view crossdressing as a way to express a feminine side of their personalities, while others see it as an opportunity to experience themselves as female as much as a male bodied person possibly can.
Serano details that this marginalisation of femininity assists the understanding of how MTF and FTM trans* people differ in the progressions of their gender identities. She writes that children can identify their gender identity early in life but learn between four and seven years old that gender is fixed – referred to as 'gender constancy' (Ruble et al., 2007). Serano opines that boys who recognise their feminine aspects prior to 'gender constancy' never see femininity as puzzling. Some of these boys then become 'primary' transsexuals, transitioning in their teens or twenties.
Serano describes how boys who have become aware of their self-identified (partial) feminine character then, by some process, integrate this into their patriarchally taught viewpoint that femaleness is 'alien'. Thus, their intense emotional 'need' - their 'fétichisme' - to express their perceived inner femininity, may be compartmentalised through intermittent cross‑dressing.
A Cross‑dresser's Self-perceptions
The term 'cross-dresser' is used here because it may be regarded that, initially, nearly all transgender people could be perceived as cross-dressers. Most remain as cross‑dressers while some go on to permanently transition. Within that brief sentence are a multitude of variations. Some always wanted to transition from a very young age but not every transsexual person knew when s/he was a child that s/he was going to transition. There are also those who fit many transsexual criteria but choose not to transition.
Several begin cross‑dressing before puberty whereas others cross-dress from their teens. The pubescent period is confusing for nearly all people with the development of their sexual feelings, triggered by the hormone testosterone present in both sexes (Burke, 1996). Social effects shape a person's conceptions of sexual desire(s). Tyler details how fetishistic perceptions of gender are signified within numerous present-day societies, where the designs of many clothes for women appear to emphasise sexual allure (Boyd, 2003). Consequently, cross‑dressing often (confusingly) becomes tied into this growing sexual awareness and so a transgender person's sexual desires can become linked to their emotional fétichisme. However, some researchers examining transgenderism do not account for these situations, including ignoring that numerous contemporary women dress in sexually alluring clothing (Brown and Rounsley, 2003; Johnson, 2003). These researchers may be indoctrinated by patriarchal societies' insistences about stereotypical femininity. Many cross‑dressers/transvestites move beyond their initial perceptions but, like numerous cissexual women, are still mildly (often unconsciously) sexually aroused by certain feminine clothing. Some items, such as corsets, are more intensively erotic both for cissexual women and for cross‑dressers. This effect is often unavoidable as corsets are often used by many cross‑dressers/transvestites who want to express what they perceive as a more 'feminine' figure.
Just as the process that young women go through, cross‑dressers travel along paths of learning what female clothing reflects the woman they want to be. For many MTF transgender people, their perceived masculine physicality 'inhibits' their feminine appearance. However, their self-perception is not completely reliant upon stereotypical masculine defined realities (Mulvey, 1975). The graphic novel How Loathsome by Naifeh and Crane (2004) deconstructs present-day concepts of sex and sexual conduct (Derrida, 1976; Foucault, 1979). It features Chloe, a trans* woman, who, at one point, privately discusses her self-perception while looking at her reflection in a mirror:
Drowning in you. The cold-eyed reflection of the secret self reflected in the mirror. Sights unseen. Hopes undreamed.
"What would you say to yourself, myself, my projection, the perfect image of 'me' without dichotomy? I am- more perfect than I will ever be. My eyes deceive me.
"I refuse to live afraid of my own shadow."
A fantasy version of reality Vs. the real me.
(p. 100)
Thus, we reconceive perceptions of 'fantasy' and 'reality'. If human concepts of gender have been repeatedly altered over the past centuries, then, through postmodern concepts, one can be compelled to deconstruct perceptions of reality and resultantly question the 'validity' or 'falsity' of a trans* person's perceptions. Gender 'reality' in the quote above is a person's perspective against the collective conditioning of people conforming to mainstream versions of gender 'reality'. The mirror's reflection is not merely an image of one 'reality'. It may change according to the watcher's mind. The mirror can present a private trans* perception, which could be visually interpreted as an idealised form of their fétichisme, divorced from the constraints of 'unwelcome' masculine stereotypes.
Inevitably a trans* person's obsession with hir reflection brings up references to concepts of 'narcissism' (Freud, 1914) and the 'mirror phase' (Lacan, 1949). A reflected person is recognised as both hirself and immediately not hirself (Bailly, 2009). As Lacan describes it, the reflection is the 'Ideal-I'. This narcissistic idealisation is expressed with the knowledge that the image seen is not what others may perceive but it can also reinforce the desire to become that ideal.
Serano (2007) writes:
Eventually, I reached the point where I could fairly consistently appear female to myself when I looked in the mirror. This "mirror moment" was always the highlight of any crossdressing session for me, as I found it strangely comforting to be able to see my female reflection staring back at me.
She also details that in her passage towards transsexuality she began to cultivate "relationships with people who primarily or solely knew me when I was in girl mode" (303/4). This led to her being perceived differently. She was less viewed as a heterosexual man or even occasionally not as a man at all. The spaces she existed in during this time were different from the spaces she had previously attended. She began to perceive herself not as a cisgendered male but as bi-gendered person and then ultimately as a transsexual woman.
The Village in Space
The Village is both a partial reflection as well an alternative to this narcissism. It provides social spaces that are attended by many trans* people regardless of their sexualities. Serano's personal positive experiences of the social spaces she attended while cross‑dressed can be partially replicated in the Village. She expresses:
While I certainly do not believe that crossdressing is phase that eventually leads to becoming a transsexual woman, I do believe that many crossdressers experience similar phases of demystifying femaleness/femininity and unlearning maleness/masculinity over the course of their lives.
The Village is an area at discursive margins. In this place, perceptions are different from mainstream society. Separated from patriarchal gender normativity, perspicacities of gender roles and expressions are diverse in this geographical area. The alternative nature of this area's social spaces is shown during annual events hosted in the Village such as the international trans* celebration Sparkle. During Sparkle, the Village becomes, reinterpreting Bakhtin (1968, 1984 [1929]), 'carnivalesque'. Bakhtin makes a distinction between contemporary carnivals and those from medieval times, saying that the former are merely displayed performances whereas the latter enable potent personal re-interpreting events for the participants. The Sparkle festivals enable large numbers of trans* people to visually express their trans* identity with constructive support. For some, it leads them to publicly expressing their gender divergent identity in mainstream social spaces. That largely safe public expression allows them to learn about their personal position along the line from intermittent to permanent transgender identity.
A person can express non-cross-dressed representations outside the Village that may replicate stereotypical gender normativity but, when cross-dressed in the Village, this person is able to express different verbal and physical expressions. Here, a cross-dresser negotiates what can be named as an internal 'Foucauldian Pendulum'. This is a combination of ideas from the philosopher Michel Foucault and the physicist Jean Foucault (Foucault, 1972; Murdin, 2009). The latter was credited with the invention of 'Foucault's Pendulum', which is a tall pendulum allowed to swing in any direction. Its movement is visible evidence of the rotation of the Earth. If I reinterpret this concept with Michel Foucault, then a 'Foucauldian Pendulum' swings internally to the cross‑dresser's varying expressions (and perceptions) of hir body, according to the contradictory discourses (s)he has to repeatedly negotiate. Throughout hir various expressions, hir fétichisme never disappears. It may (intermittently) fade, it may stabilise or it may intensify to such a distracting extent that (s)he needs to dismantle hir 'Foucauldian Pendulum', perhaps surgically.
Transsexualism Vs. Transvestism
Apparently, some transsexual women 'look down' upon cross-dressers or even less 'dedicated' transsexual women (Buhrich, 1996 [1976]; Whittle, 2001). Within poststructural standpoints, these hierarchical perceptions of 'in-groups' and 'out-groups' can be reinterpreted as Marxian class definitions (Marx, 1998 [1848]; Tajfel, 1978; Bechhofer and Elliott, 1981; McLeod, 2008). Therefore, the medical and social 'definers' of transgenderism could be regarded as the 'bourgeoisie'. The MTF and FTM transgender people who have transitioned permanently to their preferred gender may be defined as the 'petit(e) bourgeoisie'. The 'petit(e) bourgeoisie' also includes people who, when cross-dressed, 'pass' as, patriarchally defined, 'glamorous' women and, resultantly, they possess 'connubialic' power. The transvestites/cross-dressers who are 'out of the closet' can be classified as the 'proletariat'. 'In the closet' transvestites/cross-dressers might be controversially described as the 'lumpenproletariat' or 'underclass' (Blunden, 2008). These categories are viewed in Figure 6.1:
The Hierarchy of Transgenderism
The triangular stratified class structure presented in Figure 6.1 can visually suggest the sizes of these groups. This structure connects with the assertions of power defining knowledge (Foucault, 1972, 1977), which is reflected by those in the transgender 'petit(e) bourgeoisie' who may assert their attained 'status' with increased transgender knowledge/power upon the perceived 'lesser' transgender people. The transgender 'proletariat' and 'lumpenproletariat' are conflicted between (mostly) accepting their 'subverted' status and the few who seek 'political' changes.
This hierarchical structure is perhaps a consequence of past medical objectification of trans* people, particularly those who are transvestic. Medical, legal, and academic discourses appear to collaborate in the indoctrination of many trans* people to reflect societal gender normativity. It could be regarded that this has produced an impact where some transgender people may attempt to attain delusional superiorities upon other trans* identities and, thus, are perhaps developing a trans* hegemony, rather than regarding the varied expressions of gender diversity as equally valid.
There are repeated references to binary conceptions within societies' structures (Cixous, 1975; Whittle, 1996). Many heteronormative misogynistic prejudices assert that 'male' is 'superior' and 'female' - the 'Other' - is 'inferior' (de Beauvoir, 2010 [1949]; Suthrell, 2004; Serano, 2007). This seems to be similarly expressed within other binaries.
Within Manchester's Gay Village interpretations of these hierarchical prejudices can be observed within the multiple layers of binary definitions of LGB&T communities. Some gay men are prejudiced against lesbians, which can evoke concepts of misogyny (Geoghegan, 28th Sept. 2009). There are dualistic prejudices actioned by both heterosexual and homosexual people, which include the bias against bisexual people as they deconstruct the sexuality binary. 'Biphobia' is dubiously claimed to be "the last bastion of prejudice" (Nunn, 14th Jul. 2009:1), which seems to ignore the hierarchical prejudices against trans* people as they deconstruct the gender binary. Therefore, transvestic people can be the recipients of adverse duality prejudices by some heterosexual, homosexual and transsexual people.
This chapter has presented several hypotheses, which assist in the deconstruction of visual assessments of trans* women, divorced from the patriarchal insistence of stereotypical gender presentations. There were examinations of masculine insecurities with suggestions that they could lead to the objectification of women. As a result, trans* women may reflect this objectification and seek to 'pass' as natal women in order to conform to patriarchally shaped gender normativity.
The Caucasian middle-class heteronormative Lacanian hypothesis of the 'phallic mother' is critically analysed. Alternative theories of 'matric' and 'connubialic' power are proposed to support the development of transgenderism. There are sceptical investigations of the claimed opinions that transvestism is a fetish. It is suggested to define the intense emotional need to cross-dress as a 'fétichisme'.
It is proposed that Manchester's Gay Village enables transgender women to learn internally and externally about their feminine personae with their 'fétichisme'. This theorised emotional 'need' is in all trans* identities and the hypothesised 'Foucauldian Pendulum' is a visual metaphor to aid understanding the different intensities of 'fétichisme'.
It is proposed that the contemporary hierarchy of transgender identities could be an impact from previous studies of gender diversity. These claimed levels of transgenderism, within a transgender hegemony, may have had negative effects upon the self-regard of some transvestic women and related trans* supportive political actions. These adverse effects are coupled with multiple prejudices against cross-dressers, which derive from transvestic people opposing the deconstructions of binary normativities.
The next chapter will examine Internet trans* discourses with indications that these discussions inspire trans* women to express themselves within the Village. This chapter will also examine present online deconstructions of trans* concepts.


text:
Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar, No. 12-484 (U.S. June 24, 2013) and Vance v. Ball State Univ., No. 11-556 (U.S. June 24, 2013)
By Paul Mollica of Outten & Golden LLP posted in Daily Developments in EEO Law on Monday, June 24, 2013.
The Supreme Court, by identical 5-4 majorities, places the goals of convenience and ease of litigating Title VII cases over the legislative imperative of expanding opportunities in the workplace for all. Vance holds that a "supervisor," for purposes of proving vicarious liability for harassment against employers, must be an agent with the power to take "tangible acts" against the employee, such as firing and setting pay. Nassar holds that employees may never shift the burden to employers to disprove causation for Title VII claims of retaliation under 42 U.S.C § 2000e-3(a). Both based their interpretations in part on the convenience of allowing lower courts to take these issues away from juries.
When the Supreme Court interprets Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, often the core rulings can be expressed in a few words, while the analysis that the Court uses to reach those decisions has more enduring impact. The Court's method of interpreting this signal civil-rights act becomes part of the running, half-century dialogue of what employment discrimination means under the law. A patient reading of how the Court reached its decisions tells us a lot about where the law is heading.
And so, with the Supreme Court's pair of 5-4 decisions today in Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center v. Nassar, No. 12-484 (U.S. June 24, 2013), and Vance v. Ball State Univ., No. 11-556 (U.S. June 24, 2013), the rulings themselves are facially modest. Vance holds that a "supervisor," for purposes of proving vicarious liability for harassment against employers, must be an agent with the power to take "tangible acts" against the employee, such as firing and setting pay. Nassar holds that employees may never shift the burden to employers to disprove causation for Title VII claims of retaliation under 42 U.S.C § 2000e-3(a). The holdings themselves are relatively easily absorbed into the law, while the analysis used by the majority opinions will reverberate in future disputes about the meaning of Title VII.
There are parallels between the cases. Both decisions, on the surface, are primarily of interest to lower court judges and litigators - neither opinion changes the fundamental human-resource imperative of employers under Title VII to prevent and correct harassment, and to prohibit retaliation against employees complaining about discrimination. Another commonality: both cases are essentially glosses on There, prior Supreme Court decisions. Vance interprets the vicarious liability/affirmative defense framework of Burlington Industries, Inc. v. Ellerth, 524 U. S. 742 (1998), and Faragher v. Boca Raton, 524 U. S. 775 (1998). Nassar is a direct extension of the Court's recent decision in Gross v. FBL Financial Services, Inc., 557 U. S. 167 (2009), holding that There is no mixed-motive liability under the ADEA. In both cases, as it turns out, the five-justice majority chose to read the prior decisions in the light most favorable to the employers: interpreting Faragher/Ellerth supervisor liability narrowly in Vance, while expanding the Gross holding to cover a claim under Title VII. Finally, in both cases the majority rejects the considered views of relevant EEOC interpretations.
Vance: The Vance majority (authored by Justice Alito) holds that "an employer may be vicariously liable for an employee's unlawful harassment only when the employer has empowered that employee to take tangible employment actions against the victim, i.e., to effect a 'significant change in employment status, such as hiring, firing, failing to promote, reassignment with significantly different responsibilities, or a decision causing a significant change in benefits.'"
In Vance, the plaintiff - who worked a part-time catering assistant - complained to Ball State's human resources office about alleged racial harassment against her by another employee, Ms. Davis. The harassment allegedly took the form of Ms. Davis "glaring at her, slamming pots and pans around her, and intimidating her," smiling at her, "block[ing]" her on an elevator, and the shooting of "weird" looks in her direction. Ms. Davis was senior to Ms. Vance in the workplace, and gave her directions at the job, yet did not have direct authority over her. The parties agreed that Ms. Davis "did not have the power to hire, fire, demote, promote, transfer, or discipline Vance."
The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the employer on the ground that Ms. Davis was not a "supervisor," whose harassment could be imputed directly to the employer, and that the employer otherwise took reasonable steps to prevent racial harassment by a non-supervisor. The Seventh Circuit affirmed.
The court majority affirms the lower courts. The majority begins by restating the general standard of employer liability for harassment, i.e., "when the employer was negligent with respect to" preventing or correcting the "offensive behavior." It then notes that Faragher/Ellerth devised a different rule for supervisors who can use their authority to aid in the commission of a hostile work environment. Faragher/Ellerth made employers automatically - vicariously, or strictly - liable for harassment by supervisors (subject, in some cases, to an affirmative defense that the employer had an effective anti-harassment policy that employee unreasonably failed to use).
Yet the Faragher/Ellerth Court, arguably, did not decide who exactly constitutes a "supervisor." Subsequently, some courts (and the EEOC, in its non-binding Guidance) regarded the category of "supervisor" to cover any employee with discretionary power over the complaining employee, while Theres (including the Seventh Circuit) held that "supervisors" had to exercise specific authority to determine material terms and conditions of the plaintiff's employment.
The majority notes that the term "supervisor" has no fixed meaning generally, either colloquially or in the law, though it typically refers to the agent's "ability to take tangible employment actions." (The majority, in a lengthy footnote, points to the National Labor Relations Act - which defines "supervisor" very broadly - as an exception that proves the rule. The NLRA definition is meant to prevent those with some management authority from participating in the same bargaining unit as those with no such authority.) The majority also holds, over vehement opposition by the dissent, that the Faragher/Ellerth decisions themselves did not provide support or guidance for a particular definition of "supervisor."
Finding a clear field, Therefore, the majority adopts the narrowest interpretation of "supervisor" presented in the law - meaning only those with "the authority to make tangible employment decisions." It does so with the avowed purpose of creating a legal standard that can be easily applied by courts on summary judgment motions, and - though only in exceptional instances - by juries at trial. It disparages the more generous EEOC Guidance standard of "supervisor" as "nebulous," "ill-defined," "confound[ing]," "abstract," "expansive, vague," and "a study in ambiguity." Meanwhile, the majority lauds the narrower standard as "workable" and "readily determined, generally by written documentation."
The majority patently declares a functional purpose to its interpretation: to hone the issue to a legal standard generally fit for resolution by a judge at summary judgment. As the majority states outright,
"Under the definition of 'supervisor' that we adopt today, the question of supervisor status, when contested, can very often be resolved as a matter of law before trial. The elimination of this issue from the trial will focus the efforts of the parties, who will be able to present their cases in a way that conforms to the framework that the jury will apply. The plaintiff will know whether he or she must prove that the employer was negligent or whether the employer will have the burden of proving the elements of the Ellerth/Faragher affirmative defense. Perhaps even more important, the work of the jury, which is inevitably complicated in employment discrimination cases, will be simplified. The jurors can be given preliminary instructions that allow them to understand, as the evidence comes in, how each item of proof fits into the frame work that they will ultimately be required to apply. And even where the issue of supervisor status cannot be eliminated from the trial (because There are genuine factual disputes about an alleged harasser's authority to take tangible employment actions), this preliminary question is relatively straightforward."
The choice of the narrower interpretation means that juries will seldom be allowed to decide, based on the facts at trial, whether the harasser was also a "supervisor." Instead, as the majority states outright, "supervisor status will generally be capable of resolution at summary judgment." The jury will then be instructed under the relevant employer-liability standard. (This observer finds that it is not a coincidence that the opinion author - Justice Alito - spent fifteen years deciding employment-discrimination cases on the Third Circuit, and was thus possibly more fully preconditioned to the culture of summary judgment in Title VII cases than his High Court colleagues.)
(Even for non-supervisor harassment, such as in this case, an employer may still be found liable under Title VII - but only if the employer had some kind of notice of the hostile work environment and failed to correct it: "victims will be able to prevail simply by showing that the employer was negligent in permitting this harassment to occur, and the jury should be instructed that the nature and degree of authority wielded by the harasser is an important factor to be considered in determining whether the employer was negligent.")
The dissent by Justice Ginsburg would have adopted the EEOC Guidance standard, and castigates the majority for narrowing the scope of employer liability: "The limitation the Court decrees diminishes the force of Faragher and Ellerth, ignores the conditions under which members of the work force labor, and disserves the objective of Title VII to prevent discrimination from infecting the Nation's workplaces." The dissent closes by calling Congress into action to correct the majority's misdirection: "The ball is once again in Congress' court to correct the error into which this Court has fallen, and to restore the robust protections against workplace harassment the Court weakens today."
The bottom-line moral may be that five justices principally base their interpretation of Title VII not on Congressional intent, or on which definition of "supervisor" would further the purposes of the act, but on simply how easy the rule might be for courts to administer. Such a circular decisional framework, unmoored from the policy of Title VII to encourage full participation in the workplace by all, vests more power in civil-rights cases in judges and werests it away from juries. The persons most likely to have current, direct experience with the realities of the workplace, Therefore, will experience a diminished role in enforcing these laws.
Nassar: Congress amended Title VII in 1991, and one major change was to rewrite the standard of liability for discrimination under Title VII. Under the amended act, "an unlawful employment practice is established when the complaining party demonstrates that race, color, religion, sex, or national origin was a motivating factor for any employment practice, even though There factors also motivated the practice." (42 U.S.C. §2000e-2(m), emphasis added). As the majority in Nassar summarizes, under this standard "[i]t suffices . . . to show that the motive to discriminate was one of the employer's motives, even if the employer also had There, lawful motives that were causative in the employer's decision."
The question presented by this case was whether the same causation standard applies to retaliation claims under 42 U.S.C § 2000e-3(a). Because § 2000e-2(m) expressly referred only to the employment discrimination provisions of that subsection, some courts since 1991 have held that it does not apply to There kinds of Title VII claims, principally retaliation.
Justice Kennedy's opinion for the majority holds that § 2000e-2(m) has no application to retaliation claims, and that such claims must be decided under conventional "because of" (or "but-for") analysis.
In this case, There had been a jury trial on two Title VII claims: racially- and religiously-motivated harassment leading to constructive discharge, and retaliation. The district court charged the jury that the "motivating factor" standard of § 2000e-2(m) applied to both claims. On both counts, it awarded Dr. Nassar over $400,000 in backpay and more than $3 million in compensatory damages. The district court reduced the compensatory damages award to $300,000 cap under Title VII. On appeal, the Fifth Circuit tossed the constructive discharge count, finding insufficient evidence, but upheld the retaliation verdict.
The five-justice majority reverses. After stating that employment-discrimination claims -like any kind of tort claim - require proof at least of "causation in fact," the majority specifies that "this standard requires the plaintiff to show 'that the harm would not have occurred' in the absence of-that is, but for-the defendant's conduct." The majority then, to cue up the analysis, divides Title VII essentially into two categories of cases. Claims based on the "personal characteristics" of employees (termed "status-based") are governed by § 2000e-2(a) and (m), while Congress elected to codify protected employee conduct (retaliation) in a different section, § 2000e-3(a). (Curiously, the majority ignores another large category - disparate impact, governed by 42 U.S.C. §2000e-2(k).)
Customarily in tort law, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving causation. The majority recognizes that the Court in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U. S. 228 (1989), in a fractured opinion, held that the "because of" standard under Title VII might in some cases warrant shifting that burden to the employer to disprove discrimination, where There was some quantum of evidence that a personal characteristic was a "motivating" or "substantial" factor. In response to that decision, Congress in 1991 enacted § 2000e-2(m), codifying the Price Waterhouse burden-shift and improving upon it by providing entry of judgment for plaintiff even if the employer proved the defense. The amended act nevertheless included an affirmative defense to damages and some kinds of equitable relief, 42 U.S.C. §2000e-5(k).
Gross, in 2009, held that the § 2000e-2(m) burden-shift did not apply to age bias cases under the ADEA. The Gross five-justice majority (the same five justices as in Vance and Nassar) held that Congress deliberately elected not to amend the ADEA to track Title VII. And because Price Waterhouse construed the pre-amended Title VII, the Gross court held, it had no applicability to construction of the ADEA.
In this case, the majority holds that Congress's decision not to extend the1991 Act burden-shift to Title VII cases based on protected conduct (retaliation) must also be observed, based on the plain language:
"[B]ecause Title VII defines 'unlawful employment practice' to include retaliation, the question presented by this case would be different if §2000e-2(m) extended its coverage to all unlawful employment practices. As actually written, however, the text of the motivating-factor provision, while it begins by referring to "unlawful employment practices," then proceeds to address only five of the seven prohibited discriminatory actions-actions based on the employee's status, i.e., race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. This indicates Congress' intent to confine that provision's coverage to only those types of employment practices."
The majority observes that apart from the language and structure of Title VII, Congress - by adopting a separate section specifically devoted to retaliation - tailored liability and remedies precisely, and did not intended the broad anti-discrimination prohibitions to encompass retaliation claims. Title VII was thus distinct from statutes like section 1981 and Title IX that used broad prohibitions to describe both discrimination and, by inference, retaliation: "Text may not be divorced from context. In light of Congress' special care in drawing so precise a statutory scheme, it would be improper to indulge respondent's suggestion that Congress meant to incorporate the default rules that apply only when Congress writes a broad and undifferentiated statute."
The majority also pointed, as in the Vance decision, to the practical effect of its decision, in light of the growth of Title VII retaliation litigation: "The proper interpretation and implementation of §2000e-3(a) and its causation standard have central importance to the fair and responsible allocation of resources in the judicial and litigation systems. This of particular significance because claims of retaliation are being made with ever-increasing frequency . . . . In addition lessening the causation standard could also contribute to the filing of frivolous claims, which would siphon resources from efforts by employer, administrative agencies, and courts to combat workplace harassment."
Like Vance, the majority cites to the imperative of courts to be able to dispose of Title VII cases on summary judgment:
"If respondent were to prevail in his argument here, that claim could be established by a lessened causation standard, all in order to prevent the undesired change in employment circumstances. Even if the employer could escape judgment after trial, the lessened causation standard would make it far more difficult to dismiss dubious claims at the summary judgment stage."
Finally, the court rejects an EEOC Compliance Manual interpretation favoring the application of the burden-shift to Title VII retaliation cases. "The manual's failure to address the specific provisions of this statutory scheme, coupled with the generic nature of its discussion of the causation standards for status-based discrimination and retaliation claims, call the manual's conclusions into serious question."
The dissent, again by Justice Ginsburg, notes that majority - seemingly forgetting another lesson from Vance - adopted a rule that will be harder for courts to administer: "The Court shows little regard for the trial judges who will be obliged to charge discrete causation standards when a claim of discrimination 'because of,' e.g., race is coupled with a claim of discrimination 'because' the individual has complained of race discrimination. And jurors will puzzle over the rhyme or reason for the dual standards."
At the same time, the dissent highlights the standardless drift of the majority's analysis, unfortunately mirrored in Vance as well: "In this endeavor, the Court is guided neither by precedent, nor by the aims of legislators who formulated and amended Title VII. Indeed, the Court appears driven by a zeal to reduce the number of retaliation claims filed against employers. See ante, at 18-19. Congress had no such goal in mind when it added §2000e-2(m) to Title VII."
Paired with Vance, the five-justice majority ignores the impulse of the 1964 and 1991 Acts to expand judicial remedies and jury trials over claims of workplace bias. It instead gives in to pressure to boil down and regiment Title VII law to empower courts to enter more summary dispositions. None of this judicial lawmaking furthers the ambitions of Title VII's drafters to expand economic opportunity for all in the American workplace. Congress must, in a third generation of Title VII, check the judicial erosion of its lawmaking in this area.
Tags: Harassment, Retaliation, Supreme Court, Title VII
Related Posts: Fox v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. 17-0936 (2d Cir. Mar. 6, 2019), Hannah P. v. Coats, No. 17-1943 (4th Cir. Feb. 19, 2019), EEOC v. Global Horizons, No. 16-35528 (9th Cir. Feb. 6, 2019) , EEOC v. McLeod Health, Inc., No. 17-2335 (4th Cir. Jan. 31, 2019)


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Rose Bowl, Jan. 1 at Pasadena, Calif—Ohio State vs. Stanford.
Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1 at New Orleans—Air Force vs. Ten nessee.
Orange Bowl, Jan. 1 at Miami—Nebraska vs. oppo nent to be named (Notre Dame has received invitation).
Cotton Bowl, Jan. 1 at Dallas—Texas or Arkansas vs. opponent to he named.
Sun Bowl, Dec. 19 at El Paso, Tex.—Texas Tech vs. Georgia Tech.
Bluebonnet Bowl, Dec. 31 at Houston—Alabama vs. Oklahoma.
Tangerine Bowl, Dec. 26 at Orlando, Fla. — William and Mary vs. Toledo.
Gator Bowl, Jan. 2 at Jack sonville, Fla.—Mississippi vs. Auburn.


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Carol Wolter Hall
The Hall-Crawford family is saddened by the loss of Carol, also known to many of her friends as Caroline, who passed away peacefully on January 25th in her 65th year. Proud mother to Cassandra (Liam) and...
Lucy Boi Phuong Wong Lau 黄楼佩芳夫人
Gwendolyn Veronica Ward
On January 12th Gwendolyn Veronica Ward of Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis, took her final breath, surrounded by her loved ones. The sun rose and the world welcomed Gwendolyn, affectionately known to many as...
Wilbert George Williams
A live web stream link will be available at the top of this homepage on Friday, January 13, 2023 starting at 1:30 p.m.
Sui Moi Wong
July 30, 1927 - January 6, 2023
Oi Chun Wong
November 6, 1925 - January 3, 2023
It is with great sadness that the family of Oi Chun Wong announce her passing on January 3, 2023 at age of 97 surrounded by her daughter and son-in-law. She was known by all to be very humble and compassionate....
Samuel and Joanne Walker
Joanne, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away in her 98th year, with family and companions by her side. Joanne was born to Ivan and Dorothy Morris and was older sister to brother...
George Alan Whittle
George Whittle, aged 77, passed away peacefully in his sleep at Holland Christian Homes, Grace Manor on December 31st, 2022. George was born in Bolton, England on April 24th, 1945, to George and Florrie...
Donald Francis Whitty
It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Don Whitty on Friday, December 30, 2022, at Mt. Sinai Hospital, with his loving wife and daughter by his side, after an unexpectedly brief...


You know what time it is! The month of July is done for and therefore it is that time to reflect on the dividend income I received. Although, this month has been somewhat of a shallow dividend income when compared to the previous ones, I still continue receiving automatic deposits from some of most profitable companies on the planet. To me, this whole concept is priceless when you don't have to lift a finger and money just comes month after month, year after year. But don't get me wrong, it is not easy. It took me years to build up the portfolio where it is at now and it will take me many more years of creating earned income, living bellow my means, saving, and the ultimate form of paying your future self in the form of dividend growth investing. Anyways, lets get down with the numbers.
I enjoy publishing these monthly dividend income reports as I have gained a much better understanding in how much of my passive income is coming in every month and how much it is growing over time. For the month of July, I have received a total of 5 diversified direct deposits in the form of dividends to my brokerage account. Unlike last month, July has been one of my lowest months where I earned less than $100 in a single month. The last time I earned so little was 2 years ago in October of 2013. It doesn't bother me though, I had an amazing last month and so during the whole year everything will eventually even out to even bigger dividends.
When statistically comparing last years dividend income total in July 2014 to July 2015, it represents a negative 19.7% for a year over year decreased growth. The difference from last quarter is negative 10.4% quarter over quarter decreased growth.
Goal: With 7 months behind, I am 49.8% of my goal complete. I am a 8.3% behind.
Thank you, it truly is nice when the portfolio works similarly like a pension fund, but better. The part of very little maintenance and overwatch is extremely magnificent to me.
I am very glad these dividend income reports have value for the readers. I hope one day they will show that financial independence is real and with hard work and determination it can be achieved.
Continued success to you too!
BAX is definitely an interesting topic to ponder about. With the recent spin off from its pharmaceutical business BXLT, it now has 1.16% dividend yield, even lower yield on costs. I am probably going to hold on to it for a bit while keeping an eye on their balance sheet. I found this article bellow from Dow Jones Newswires.
Thanks for sharing DivVet. That's passive income for you and it's wonderful not having to physical work for it. You keep it up and I wish you the best. Thank you my friend.
My pleasure. Absolutely, who wants to work to spend for the rest of their lives. It is much smarter to spend less and invest the rest.
Thanks for the kind words, I will try to do my best!
Close to $100. Good job for July!
Close to $100 but no cigar, while July was somewhat of a down month, I just keep on thinking the amazing June I had.
Great dividend income, soon you will get the $100 dividend income milestone, keep the snowball rolling.
Thanks for commenting anyhow, love getting any and all feedback.
Well done, DividendVet. I recently found your blog somewhere off of dividenddreams.com (I think in a comment), and am looking forward to following your progress. I've recently started getting into dividend investing, and like the idea as a passive income stream. Granted, it takes a decent amount of capital to get to the point where those dividends will really pay off, but we all have to start somewhere.
Glad you found my blog, we have a truly great interconnected DGI community here. Lots of things to learn from everyone. I really think you got one huge concept down, "we all have to start somewhere" you nailed it right on the head there. We all have to begin somewhere in our endeavors and nothing gets huge without being small first. Just focus on month to month, rather than on yearly basis. Earn income, save, invest, repeat. Simple.
All the best in your very own journey.
Although it may not be a record breaking month for you, the companies you received this money from, are still looking very strong. They will pay you even more in the future. To a better August!
I'm long KO, but PM, BAX & O are on my watchlist.
Indeed they are some of the best companies in the world. I have no doubt many will be around for many more decades to come.
I would really like to add some more shares of these companies into my portfolio.
Cheers, to better a better August to come!
BTW, why the drastic decrease YOY? Was that because of stock you sold to fund the house purchase?
There was an error in my year over year decrease which is primarily due to stocks such as UNP switching paying months of June rather than July. Not to mention ARCP was sold out for property downpayment.
Can't wait to see how you did in July.
It can be frustrating when you get behind in your goals. Still, as long as your stocks are not losing value, every bit of dividend income is good.
It can be, but I am not frustrated nor sad about it. It is long term type of perspective and as long as I give my best shot at achieving these goals I know I did everything I could.


Take the mystery out of common weather phenomena with BarCharts' updated and expanded Meteorology QuickStudy® guide. Now in three-panel format, this guide contains up-to-date, key information on weather patterns and the variables that affect them, including the atmosphere, heat and radiation, severe weather, clouds, and fronts, as well as charts and diagrams to further illustrate key processes. This study tool can be used as an introduction to the field, a personal guide to the weather, or a companion to various weather-related academic courses.


• Piano and Music Theory Instruction Samuel Yaffe, New Haven, CT. Four years. Jane M. Jones, East Haven, CT. Five years.
• Songwriters Guild (Songwriting Workshop) New York, NY. Four years.
• BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop New York, NY. Four years.
• Glen Rock Middle School (tenured, present employment) Glen Rock, NJ. Music Teacher for grades 6, 7 and 8. Responsibilities include the Exploratory Arts Program where music lessons are integrated with Dance, Drama and Visual Arts Programs. Students compose and perform original songs, learn to play the guitar. The 8th Grade Chorus performs at five functions a year including Winter and Spring Concerts. They also participate in a Broadway Master-class given by Broadway Performers.
• Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Coleman Elementary School and Central Elementary School (tenured) Glen Rock, NJ. Music Teacher for grades K-6. Responsibilities included General Music, Recorder Instruction, Band Direction and Instruction, Chorus Direction and Instruction, Stage and Music Direction of School Plays.
• Public School 9 Elementary School, District 10 (tenured) Bronx, NY. Music Teacher for grades K-6. Responsibilities included General Music, Vocal Music, Instrumental Music. 6th Grade Chorus performed at Lincoln Center and Lehman College through a Multicultural Outreach Program.
• The Learning Center Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Music Teacher for grades K-6 and special needs students. Responsibilities included General Music, Vocal Music and Music Therapy.
• Music on the Move New City, New York. Band Instructor for Parochial Schools throughout New York State (Counties of Rockland and Westchester) Responsibilities included group instruction for brass, woodwind, percussion and string instruments.
• Piano Instructor Gave private piano lessons throughout Rockland County, NY for a period of four years. Over fifty students.
• High Meadows Treatment Center Hamden, CT. Child Care Worker. Four years. Created guitar and recorder workshops for patients at the facility. Organized trip to a Broadway show. Composed the music to a large Musical Theatre Production involving all patients and staff at the institution.
• Bergen County Teen Arts Festival Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ. Three years. Workshop Presenter: "Lyrics and Music for Song." "Lyric Writing." Advisory Committee: Responsible for selecting workshop presenters for the Arts.
• Pomona Cultural Center Pomona, NY. Workshop presenter: "Beginning Songwriting Workshop."
• Ramapo College, Berrie Center Mahwah, NJ. "Ignite the Spirit": A conference on Education and the Arts. Presented Songwriting Workshop and performed excerpts from original musical, ISAAC´S WINDOW.
• New Jersey YMHA-YWHA Camps Fairfield, NJ. Workshop Presenter: Introduction to MIDI and Music Sequencing.
• BOCES, New Rochelle High School New Rochelle, NY Workshop Presenter: "Lyric Writing and Composing for Musical Theatre."
• Nominated for the PRINCIPAL´S PRIDE OF MUSIC Public School 9, Bronx, NY. Two consecutive years.


text:
Environmental Management ›
Bachelor in Environmental Management
We train professionals from a multidisciplinary perspective so that they are able to identify socio-environmental problems in the fields of planning, conservation, administrative, social, economic, legal, and environmental quality management, aimed at different sectors and actors of society. related to the environmental field. We have transversal axes such as research, development, innovation, and ethical behavior, these allow us to generate a positive impact on the conservation, protection, management, evaluation, monitoring, and control of environmental resources.
Technical University From Loja
Loja, Ecuador
The Private Technical University of Loja was founded by the Ecuadorian Marist Association (AME) on May 3, 1971, and recognized by the Ecuadorian State under Executive Decree 646, published in the offi ... Read More
The Private Technical University of Loja was founded by the Ecuadorian Marist Association (AME) on May 3, 1971, and recognized by the Ecuadorian State under Executive Decree 646, published in the official register No. 217 of May 5, 1971, it is constituted as an autonomous legal entity under the protection of the "Modus Vivendi" celebrated between the Holy See and Ecuador, taking into account the norms of the Church in its organization and government. The mentor and first chancellor of the University were the Marist brother Santiago Fernández García and the first rector of the UTPL was the engineer Alejo Valdivieso, who was appointed as the main authority of the University on October 3, 1971. The UTPL is an autonomous institution, with a social and public purpose that imparts, develops research with scientific-administrative freedom, and participates in development plans of the country. It is a pioneer in the modality of distance learning education since 1976, opening the possibility to access a higher education of quality. In 1997, the Diocese of Loja transferred to the Institute of Christ the Redeemer, Missionaries and Ideological Missionaries the leadership of the University so that they could lead it with total autonomy and in keeping with the Idente charism. Read less


David The Geek: How do I transfer music from Rhapsody 4 to my device?
How do I transfer music from Rhapsody 4 to my device?
How do I transfer music from Rhapsody 4 to a portable device or MP3 player like the Sansa e200R Rhapsody?
In brief: drag and drop tracks, albums, album cover images, and playlists onto the image of your MP3 player in the Sources area of Rhapsody 4. We use the Sansa e200R Rhapsody in the example below.
Before you start: If you have a Rhapsody To Go subscription and a compatible portable device, any streamed Rhapsody tracks you drag to your device will be automatically downloaded. If you do not have a Rhapsody To Go subscription, or if any of the tracks are unavailable for download without purchase, the "Purchase" dialog will open. Please see What types of files can I transfer from Rhapsody 4 to my Rhapsody MP3 Player? for details.
1. Open Rhapsody and sign in.
2. Attach your device to your computer.
Note: If you get a Rhapsody was unable to disconnect your device error, use the Microsoft utility called Unplug or Eject Hardware or Safely Remove Hardware, visible in the lower-right corner of your computer screen.
For more details, check out the Transfer Tracks to a Portable Device Help topic, which includes a Flash movie and text instructions on manually transferring tracks and playlists to your portable device, as well as a Flash movie and text instructions on setting up Library Transfer (like synching, it means transferring your entire Rhapsody library to your device).
Note: In Rhapsody 3, the Mixer was used to transfer tracks to a portable device.


text:
Geo Clothing
#BeProudToBeYou
About Geo
Geo Charities
Supporting charities close to our heart is very important to us. That's why we're teaming up with some Geo charities in the form of local organisations and projects to raise much needed funds and awareness through our products and designs.
SOHAS
Sheffield Occupational Health Advisory Service
SOHAS is a registered charity (no. 1085464) based in Sheffield whose main objective is to provide support and advice for people whose health is affected by their work.
We worked together with Lily Gaskell (Skater extraordinaire) to produce our RIP Negative Thoughts tee where all profits will be donated to SOHAS charity.
Safe!
SAFE! is a local charity based in Thames Valley who provide support for young people affected by crime. Check out their work here.
To raise money for SAFE! we have designed a muscle tank of which, 20% of the profits will be donated. Click on the link to check them out.
Stars and Lilys
Stars and Lilys is a small business run by Amber who creates "Hann Bags" that she sells to support the charity; Homeless Oxfordshire. With each Hann Bag sold, a toiletry pack is donated to Homeless Oxfordshire.
We worked with Amber to create the Oxford Skyline design that she uses on her tote bags and we look forward to working and creating more designs in the future. Go check them out by searching @starandlilys on Instagram.


Campbell Ave to Bon Aire Circle. 1st parking lot after main entrance (second center island) on the left.
This content last refreshed on 4/23/2019 1:53 PM. Some properties which appear for sale on this web site may subsequently have sold or may no longer be available.
I am interested in 8 Bon Aire Circle UNIT 101, Suffern, NY 10901.


MIDDLEBORO - On Thursday, June 14, Middleborough High School hosted members of the Middleborough American Legion Post 64 and the Middleborough Veterans Honor Guard for the annual Flag Day ceremony in the Wayne Caron Auditorium.
Middleborough Veterans Agent Jason Cox and Middleborough Superintendent of Schools Brian Lynch were among the speakers to address students, MHS students provided music for the event and the Honor Guard presented the American flag and flags representing the different branches of the United States Armed Forces.
The event also gives the MHS staff and student body the opportunity to recognize those students entering into military service and add those students to the MHS Wall of Honor, on display in front entry way to the school.
This year, MHS added five students: Charles Browning, John Curtin, Dakota Phillips, John Porier and Matthew Tortora.
"This event is a very special one for MHS," said Middleborough High School Principal Paul Branagan.
"We partner with the American Legion of Middleborough and the Middleborough Veteran Honor Guard to honor the American Flag with a special ceremony in our auditorium.
"In 2017, we created a Wall of Honor to recognize our graduates that are entering the Armed Forces upon graduation. We add a special ceremony to our Flag Day events honor the five graduates of the Class of 2018 to take their place on the Wall of Honor. It is a very special event."


text:
require 'spec_helper'

describe Puppet::Type.type(:git_config).provider(:git_config) do

  let(:resource) { Puppet::Type.type(:git_config).new(
    {
    :key       => 'user.email',
    :value     => 'john.doe@example.com',
    }
  )}

  let(:provider) { resource.provider }

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Bad debts cut Barclays profits by a third
By Nick Goodway for MailOnline
Updated: 04:12 EST, 7 August 2008
Barclays boss John Varley apologised to shareholders today for the bank's falling share price as first-half profits dropped by a third and it took another £1bn hit from the credit crunch.
Outlook: Barclays chief John Varley reckons the next couple of years will be tough
That made the bank's credit crunch writedowns for the first six months of the year £2bn and left its investment banking arm Barclays Capital, run by Barclays president Bob Diamond, nursing a 68% collapse in profits to £524m.
In turn that accounted for the bulk of the fall in group profits from £4.1bn to £2.75bn in the six months to end-June on flat revenues of £11.8bn.
'A decline in profits of 33% is acutely disappointing,' admitted Varley. 'And I add to that my disappointment at the decline in our share price [down 44% in the past year]. Our shareholders have had to endure a lot. We are, and we will be, working as hard as we can to create the conditions that enable a higher price to be placed on our shares over time.'
He told investors there were no quick fixes, adding: 'We have experienced significant writedowns. But it would be wrong to suggest that market conditions over the foreseeable future will be anything other than tough, not least because we are now seeing the impact of slowing economies around the world and that means we must remain very vigilant to managing risk.
'In some areas of our business, it may take quite some time for volumes to be restored to those we have seen in the past: we see patterns of deleveraging by both companies and personal customers around the world, and this will continue to impact on activity levels.'
Varley said that following the recent £4.5bn fundraising backed by four sovereign wealth funds and a major Japanese bank he planned to use around half of it to keep the bank's capital ratios above target and half to expand the business over time. The key measures of balance sheet after the fundraising are a Tier One capital ratio of 9.1% and a core equity ratio of 6.3%.
Varley said the group's risk exposures had been reduced considerably in the first half, but could not rule out further markdowns if credit markets continue to deteriorate. In the UK the bank's 11.5m customers helped push profits up by 7% to £690m with a particularly strong performance in mortgage lending, where Barclays' share of net new lending soared from 6% to 26% as it took advantage of competitors pulling out of the market.
Barclaycard saw a 10% rise in bad debt provisions, largely as a result of its takeover of rival card Goldfish. But its profits rose 30% to £388m.


Bean Bags R Us NewsOutdoor Bean BagsWhy Are Our Outdoor Bean Bags Are So Popular?
There are many types of outdoor bean bags on the market today. However, we are constantly surprised by the fact that many people are unaware that these types of products even exist.
Bean bags are becoming more popular for outdoor use for a range of reasons. They are the ultimate choice for outdoors because of their convenience, price, and durability.
Unlike most outdoor bean bags, our products repel water and are easy to keep clean, making them a great choice for anyone who wants easy to care for furniture.
Modern technology has enabled the creation of different materials and fabrics that today's bean bag furniture is made from. These products can withstand intense weather conditions from direct sunlight and snow.
Heavy-duty polyester and nylon will allow your furniture to remain outdoors, even in direct sunlight, without causing damage to the fabric or the inner filling.
Our outdoor bean bag covers are extremely durable, so consider using them in place of boring old sun lounges and poorly made patio chairs.
If you were to conduct a blindfold comfort test between bean bags and regular patio furniture, which one of them do you think would win?
It's quite obvious that beanbags are more comfortable than regular furniture simply because the filling conforms to the shape of the body that sits in it.
They also provide the optimum comfort and support that other furnishings are unable to. Imagine sitting under the sun on the beach, or next to a resort style swimming pool, relaxing all of your cares away!
Plenty of patio furniture has cushions and straps that simply become uncomfortable as time goes by, but our outdoor bean bags will stay comfortable from the first time you sit on them.
Everyone will agree that the best thing about beanbags is that they are so lightweight and easy to move from one part of the house to another.
If you decide to bring the beanbags inside, or you want to take them from your living room to your lawn, you won't need help in doing so.
Traditional chairs and lounges are too bulky and are difficult to lug around. They can be really heavy and dangerous if not handled correctly.
Many outdoor sun lounges often have metal ratchet systems that can accidentally pinch your fingers if you are not careful enough, which can be dangerous for children.
A lot of lawn furniture comes with cushions that you have to fasten and care for. Frequently these will fade, making them look unsightly and worn out.
This is indeed daunting and full of hassle when moving them in order to protect them from too much heat or rain. Beanbags also require less overall maintenance. Simply wipe away dirt or spills!
Outdoor bean bags may not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering the purchase of new furniture for your patio or deck, but when you see the products available in our online store, you will see why they are so popular.
Nothing beats the cost-effectiveness of these products when shopping around for cool lawn furniture. Our outdoor bean bag chairs range in price from just $75 to $149, making them affordable for all ages and budgets.
With free delivery to your door, all you need to do is purchase the filling for your outdoor bean bag and your living room or patio will come to life!


I built a mini Arduino project that prints out my PC's CPU and memory utilization stats on an LCD display. I used a Python client to send content into my Arduino board over USB.
All of the components I used came from this Arduino Starter Kit I purchased to ease myself into electronics. Getting started with electronics was a bit of a hassle for me. I had no idea what components to buy, or what I needed an Arduino for, so buying this kit was like buying a bucket of Lego pieces for me to play with.
It even came with a book of sample projects that can be done with the included components!
The complete code is already hosted on my Github page. On this post, however, I'll try to explain what is happening on each chunk.
First, we import and initialize an object on Arduino's built in LiquidCrystal library meant for controlling LCD screens like the one we have.
Then, we initialize our strings that would contain each line of our message.
Next, I made a function that would use the LiquidCrystal library to clear the current content of a line and display the new content right after.
The setup sequence done in setup() is pretty straightforward. We open the serial stream, initialize the LCD display, and then print out "Waiting for connection..." -- if anything, the last part is for us to know that our hardware setup works.
Okay! If that went well, we proceed to building our main loop.
On each iteration, we start with waiting for any input from our serial port.
To avoid garbage being displayed on the screen by unintentional connections to our serial port, we use a key (in our case, Clujlusjarr7) to tell our Arduino that the next 2 lines should be displayed on the screen.
The readStringUntil function from the Serial library is perfect for this, as it will discard any input from the serial buffer until it sees a specific string.
When the script finally continues, meaning the readStringUntil function finally saw our token, we read the next two lines, assuming each line ends with a \n character. We then use our printSerialLine function to print both lines onto the screen.
There you have it! By now, we should have working Arduino code that displays 2 lines sent through USB.
Next, I'll talk about the Python client we run on the PC. This component is responsible for reading our PC's system status every second and sending data to our Arduino via USB.
In your command line/terminal, go to the extracted directory.
Plug in your Arduino, the script should automatically attempt to connect as soon as it sees it!
For those of you who are feeling adventurous and those who would like to get their hands dirty on the Python code, this section is for you. Much like our Arduino code, our Python client can also be found on Github.
Most of the important stuff can be found inside pc_stats/pc_stats.py -- we'll focus on this part.
raise "Cannot find a device"
Automatically looks for and connects to an Arduino device.
Checks and updates CPU and Memory usage statistics every 2 seconds.
psutil is the library we use to fetch CPU and Memory usage details.
Click is a library I use for command line parameters. (This part is actually unnecessary at this point since we do not have parameters yet, but I set it up for future plans).
Remember the token we specified as a start marker for our messages in the Arduino code? It should match the one we specify in START_MARKER.
RETRY_INTERVAL will control how often we try to look for and connect to an Arduino device.
It basically tries to connect to an Arduino, catches any error encountered, then tries to connect again after our RETRY_INTERVAL.
It uses the list_ports function from the serial library to list out the names of connected devices. From those devices, try to get one with the name that starts with "Arduino" -- this part can be improved to look for a specific one.
If a valid port is found, we now trigger the main loop with loop(serial_port).
We enter the main loop, where we use the psutil library to fetch CPU and memory utilization percentages. We then build the lines we want to display and call our displayToHardware() function to send these lines to our Arduino.
It is pretty straightforward. We make the two strings exactly 16 characters in length, which is the row length of the LCD display I am using. Then we send the start marker, to tell the Arduino to display the next two lines. Then we write the two lines.
We can run this code: python pc_stats.py. And watch our LED dashboard come to life!
We can stop here, although building a case for it would be nice. Maybe next time?