Loud 4a Librarian

Inexcusable: “The Way It Looks Is Not the Way It Is” | Bitch Magazine

Lucky_Librarian — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:49:48 +0000

Inexcusable: “The Way It Looks Is Not the Way It Is” | Bitch Magazine.

Book review from Bibliobitch.

Intro:

“In Chris Lynch’s 2005 young adult novel Inexcusable (2005 National Book Award Finalist – Young People’s Literature, 2005 School Library Journal’s Best Books, 2006 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults) is a disturbing tale of the effects of rape culture from the inside. In narrator Keir Sarafian, high school senior and football star, Lynch has created a sickeningly realistic embodiment of a teen rapist.”

Book Review – The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Lucky_Librarian — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 23:02:25 +0000

The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Other readers have stated that they thought this book started very slowly. I experienced the audio version and it had me hooked right away. Based on Kathleen Kent’s family history, The Heretic’s Daughter is the fictionalized tale of the Carrier family during the Salem witch trials. The tale is told through the perspective of Sarah Carrier, a ten year old child in the family.

Kent took me back to the late 1600’s with an understanding of rural life and the everyday attitudes towards family, religion, and conflict resolution. I was amazed at how superstitious people were and how those interpretations led to hysteria. Especially appalling was the way in which “criminals” were housed and treated by the justice system. Kent writes concisely and vividly and the plot unfolds dramatically.

I highly recommend this book to historical fictional fans. There are descriptions of the torture inflicted on the accused which may disturb younger/sensitive readers.

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Taylor Swift Wants To Ban Access To Your Lady Bits | Bitch Magazine

Lucky_Librarian — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 04:05:41 +0000

Taylor Swift Wants To Ban Access To Your Lady Bits | Bitch Magazine

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Intro:
“Ladies, gentlemen: it is time to discuss the pernicious influence of Taylor Swift on our society today.

Oh, I know. I’ve heard all the pro-Taylor propaganda – about how she’s a “good role model,” and an antidote to your Lohans or your Hiltons or your Gagas or whatever other female celebrities are being held up as examples of Moral Decay this week. Taylor is so SWEET. Taylor is so CUTE. Did you SEE that video where Taylor was insanely obsessed with that one boy but could not possibly be with him because she had GLASSES? Unlike that slutty mean POPULAR girl, who had the temerity to date a dude and disagree with him at times and be more socially adept than Video-Taylor! Clearly, Taylor speaks for us all! “

Great commentary on the teen parables in Taylor Swift videos.

The Pornification of a High School Sports Rivalry

Lucky_Librarian — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:13:40 +0000

http://feministlawprofessors.com/?p=13251
I found this on Jezebel, but the image was originally submitted to Feminst Law Professors. Apparently, gang rape, bestiality, and school spirit are linked at this high school. What were these people thinking?

Book Review – Fallen Skies by Phillipa Gregory

Lucky_Librarian — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:19:58 +0000

Fallen Skies by Philippa Gregory

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a superb historical novel with tragic themes. Phillipa Gregory demonstrates the she can craft such a great story that takes place in the past century. (This book was initially released in 1993. Due to Gregory’s popularity, it has been reissued.)

The story focuses on the dysfunctional marriage of Lily Valance and Captain Stephen Winters. Stephen was traumatized by his service during World War I. He is clearly suffering from PTSD and other issues. Yet he refuses treatment of any kind and is plagued by nightmares. Lily marries him and she is unaware of his condition until their honeymoon.

Before she met Stephen, Lily was an up and coming singer and chorus girl. Due to personal tragedy, Lily ends up marrying Stephen to survive. As she is from the working class and the Winters family is upper class, conflicts naturally occur. Compounded with Stephen’s psychological problems and misogynist attitudes and Lily’s inexperience, the marriage is immediately plagued by problems. There are continual themes of marital rape. While Gregory is not graphic in her depictions, it is still distressing material.

Gregory excels at describing Stephen’s remembrances of the war. She also gets into the head of all her characters. The reader understands what makes each character tick. Overall, this book is an indictment of the attitudes of the upper class. When Stephen is observing his wife while she changes their son’s diaper, the present day reader understand how warped his sensibilities have become.

“Stephen gazed at the two of them in a sort of horror: at his son’s innocent babyish maleness, and at Lily’s confident handle of him. As if she were some kind of red-handed nurse, as if she were not a lady at all. Stephen was appalled that Lily should lower herself to be so intimate with the child. It was worse than servitude, what she chose to do. It was disgraceful that she should do it and feel no shame at being watched.”

As Lily continues to assert herself, Stephen’s mental health and behavior declines. It is inevitable that this marriage will end in tragedy. Gregory keeps us guessing as to who will be harmed the most. The last few chapters kept the tension building beautifully. I highly recommend this book to historical fiction and Phillipa Gregory fans even though it is very dark material.

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Notice of Proposed Rule to Revise ADA Regulations Published

Lucky_Librarian — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:14:16 +0000

From SHRM online by Allen Smith.

http://www.shrm.org/LegalIssues/FederalResources/Pages/NPRMADA.aspx

Intro:The Federal Register published the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s notice of proposed rulemaking to revise its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations on Sept. 23, 2009. The proposed rule has been issued to align the ADA regulations’ definition of “disability” with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008, which took effect Jan. 1, 2009.

Peggy Mastroianni, EEOC associate legal counsel, told SHRM Online that prior to the enactment of the ADAAA there was “a real disconnect” between what usually went on in the workplace and what often happened in court. Most HR professionals have always focused on trying to figure out how to solve problems in the workplace, not whether people bringing the problems to their attention had disabilities, she explained. But for years, courts spent an inordinate amount of time on the threshold question of whether individuals had disabilities covered by the law. Now that the ADAAA has clarified that the definition of ADA disability is intended to be broad, she said courts “hopefully will start addressing issues” that might help provide employers with more answers, such as what exactly constitutes an undue hardship or the meaning of a direct threat to health or safety.

3rd Circuit: Ledbetter Law Leads to Equal Pay Victory

Lucky_Librarian — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:19:16 +0000

From SHRM online article by Amy Onder

http://www.shrm.org/LegalIssues/FederalResources/Pages/3rdCircuitLedbetter909.aspx

Intro: The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a district court ruling in light of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act where a failure to answer a request for a raise qualifies as a compensation decision because the result is the same as if the request had been explicitly denied.

Mary Lou Mikula managed the police grants budget for Allegheny County, Pa. On two occasions, Mikula asked for a raise, noting that she was paid $7,000 less than a male colleague who performed substantially the same job. She never received a response.

U.S. Employers: ‘We’ll Pass Along Health Reform’s Added Costs’

Lucky_Librarian — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:13:32 +0000

From SHRM online by Stephen Miller

http://www.shrm.org/hrdisciplines/benefits/Articles/Pages/PassAlong.aspx

Intro: U.S. employers say they will not absorb any additional costs that result from health care reform and plan to reduce benefits, raise prices for customers and cut head count to accomplish this financial goal, according to a survey of HR and benefit executives from mid-size and large U.S. organizations conducted by professional services firm Towers Perrin. The firm's Health Care Reform Pulse Survey report, released in September 2009, analyzed responses collected two months prior.

Beer-drinking Muslim woman’s caning to go ahead – The Connecticut Post Online

Lucky_Librarian — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:42:33 +0000

Beer-drinking Muslim woman’s caning to go ahead – The Connecticut Post Online

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Wine Tasting Bachelorette Party – Some Excellent Finds!

Lucky_Librarian — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 16:33:13 +0000

For my best friend's bachelorette party, we had a wine tasting paired with our dinner. We went to GUSTO Ristorante in Manhattan and Swirl Events conducted the food & wine tastings. Anu, the CEO of Swirl Events, did a phenomenal job with the wine selections and pairings. We had a special evening for our bride and friends.

Here are some of my favorites that we tasted.

Vignoble Brisbarre Vouvrey, 2003, Loire, France – wonderful sparkling wine

Esporao Defesa Rose, 2007, Alentejano, Portugal – This is the best rose I have ever had – not overly sweet or syrupy. I have got to find this wine!

Per Anu's blog SwirlSavvy:

In regards to what to order on a date. "Why you want to order this: If you’re stuck deciding what to order with your two very different meals, try a dry rose. It works with so many different kinds of food and it looks gorgeous in a glass. Plus, ordering a rose shows your sensitive and sophisticated side. Rose is all the rage these days and ordering one shows your date you’re beyond the usual stereotypes and secure with yourself. Plus, you can talk about how universally food friendly it is. And it will make her think you were thinking just of her when ordering it."

Sori Paitin, Dolcetto d'Alba, 2007, Piedmont, Italy

Here is a review of this wine from WineAccess Monthly.