The FBI recently discovered an additional 15,000 emails from Hillary Clinton’s tenure as Secretary of State. Though a vast majority of those communications appear to be innocuous, a federal judge has ordered their release beginning on September 13th.
Most folks know Justin Roiland as the co-creator and lead voice actor behind Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty, but it’s less widely known that he’s obsessed with virtual reality. The entertainer was one of the first backers of Oculus’ original Kickstarter…
A beautiful baby boy was given a warm bath and tons of extra attention by state troopers ― turning an otherwise nightmarish evening around.
The 1-year-old was discovered in the backseat of a car, covered in vomit, Tuesday evening in Princeton, West Virginia, State Police said, leading to a DUI arrest.
“As a father myself, I couldn’t let it sit in its own urine and feces and vomit,” Senior Trooper D.C. Graham, who responded to the scene, told WVNS-TV.
“So I went ahead and drew a bath in the sink of the detachment and was able to clean him up a little bit and get him feeling a little bit better.”
Trooper B.R. Wood told The Bluefield Daily Telegraph that the child is believed to have been unwell for some time.
He went on to call the child “the best little baby. He had just started to nod off when [Child Protective Services] arrived.”
“The baby has now been placed with a legal guardian,” he told the paper. “He is safe at this time and under the supervision of CPS.”
Police said the car’s occupant, who has not been identified, faces a charge of Driving Under the Influence with a minor.
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In the eyes of a child, few joys are greater than unpacking a perfect, mouthwatering lunch. But perfection is a tall order for modern parents who are trying to sneak healthy bites into a yummy lunch. For one thing, children are notoriously fussy about their food! One kid may relish a no-nonsense turkey sandwich on white bread with the crusts painstakingly removed, while another prefers a thick, frothy chocolate shake that can barely be slurped through a straw.
In service of puzzled parents everywhere, this back-to-school season we partnered with Nature Valley™ Backpacker™ chewy oatmeal bites to discover exactly what kids would make if they had their druthers come lunchtime. Spanning the kooky to the unabashedly particular to the surprisingly sophisticated, here are seven cuisine choices children made when asked, “What would be in your dream lunch box?”
The Everything-But-The-Kitchen-Sink Lunch
“A chocolate bar, three fruit snacks, cupcakes, juice box, and a sandwich with a grape on top held with a toothpick.” – Nathan F., age 6
The Lunch That’s Not Actually A Lunch
”A car, and a race car, and another race car.” – Oliver Austin, age 2
The Not-Your-Mama’s Lunch
“If there was a way to have steak or grandma’s spaghetti every day, I’d love that. Not YOUR spaghetti. Just to be clear.” – Anna S., age 7 (addressing her mom)
The Liquid Lunch
“All the chocolate milk. Just chocolate milk. One, two, three, four, five chocolate milk[s].” – Lucas R., age 5
The Future Olympian’s Lunch
“Duh, tacos. Homemade tacos with cheese and lots and lots of lettuce, but not iceberg … I like hearts of romaine. Then a salad ― a big salad ― with romaine and mixed power greens with that red wine vinaigrette.” – Domenick R., age 14 … and a wrestler
The Empire State Lunch
“Good good hot dogs from New York, and chicken nuggets, and root beer … [and] on the side, some fresh cantaloupe.” – Aurelia S., age 7
The ‘Sharing Is Caring’ Lunch
“A huge gummy bear. I want a cherry flavored one. I would share it with Chelsea. Then, I want Cheerios. We need gluten-free [food] so I can share with those who can’t have gluten. Also cow’s milk not almond milk. I hate almond milk! Then, I want apples without the skin on them.” – Zoe M., age 5
As parents, we do our best to give our kids everything they need to be great out there every day, including the lunch of their dreams. Delicious, poppable, portable Nature Valley™ Backpacker™ Chewy Oatmeal bites are the perfect snack to ensure kids make the most of their day when they’re on the go and away from home.
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In life, we tend to gravitate to those we know. We join clubs to make friends with people who have a similar outlook on life and whose background closely matches our own, and we live in communities with those more like us.
And so it has been for decades in the boardrooms of corporate America where in the S&P 500, nearly 480 of the CEOs and about 80% of the board seats belong to men.
Where are the women? Women are not hiding from the boardroom. In fact, it is the exact opposite. Communities such as the Women’s Forum of New York, the premier organization advancing women’s leadership in New York, and Catalyst, the leading global organization accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion, strive for gender parity through, respectively, their Corporate Board Initiative and Corporate Board Services.
The dismal findings of the 2015 Catalyst Census: Women and Men Board Directors demand action. Catalyst has been tracking women in U.S. corporations in the C-suite and boardroom since 1995 and yet, even after 20-plus years, about four out of every five director seats continue to be held by men. More notably, the 2015 Catalyst Census found that of new S&P 500 director seats filled in 2015, almost three out of every four new appointments went to men. Those appointments represent many missed opportunities to change the status quo. With men comprising the majority of both existing director seats as well as new director appointments, parity is nowhere in sight.
However, other regions employing a range of approaches are moving the needle for women. Norway, the U.K., and Canada have demonstrated that when government, regulators, and business leaders take action together, change is possible.
Although initially met with strong resistance, Norway’s legislated quota approach has helped women’s representation on public company boards in the OBX-index rise from 6.8% in 2002 to 35.5% in 2014. This meteoric increase is all the more notable because in 2002, before quotas were introduced, more than three-quarters of boards had no women board members at all.
In the U.K., a hybrid government-led /private sector-led voluntary approach has yielded significant progress. Lord Mervyn Davies was appointed by the government to study the situation, and he issued a report in 2011 that challenged business leaders to do better. Because of his report, as well as strong commitment and highly visible support from senior leaders in the government, stakeholders, and organizations like The 30% Club – founded by Helena Morrissey, CEO of Newton Asset Management – the representation of women on FTSE 100 boards has more than doubled from 12.5% in 2011 to 26.1% in 2015.
In Canada, securities regulators in 10 jurisdictions across the country implemented rule amendments in December 2014 requiring all TSX-listed issuers to follow a ‘comply or explain’ model. Although it is too soon to see the effects of the regulations, recent research released by Catalyst in its report Gender Diversity on Boards in Canada: Recommendations for Accelerating Progress suggests that these measures will reap long-term benefits.
Closer to home, we are finally starting to see sections of our government grow impatient. SEC Chair Mary Jo White recently supported a rule to facilitate more robust disclosure about the diversity of board members. She referenced a GAO report commissioned by Representative Carolyn Maloney that estimated it could take at least 40 more years for women’s representation on boards to reach parity.
All of these examples, however, overlook the role that search firms can play, especially in the U.S., where we have a particularly developed industry that can act as a catalyst for change, educating and advising boardroom directors and CEOs. To be sure, many search firms have played significant roles in advancing gender diversity.
A study published in a Harvard Business Review (HBR) article “If There’s Only One Woman in Your Candidate Pool, There’s Statistically No Chance She’ll be Hired,” (April 26, 2016) recently found that “people have a bias in favor of preserving the status quo; change is uncomfortable. So because 95% of CEOs are white men, the status quo bias can lead board members to unconsciously prefer hiring more white men for leadership roles.” This research underscores the critical role search firms in the U.S. could play by, for instance, following the example of their U.K. colleagues.
In the U.K., Lord Davies presented a simple new solution to an age-old problem⎯the Voluntary Code of Conduct, which 86 search firms have signed as of July 2015. The Voluntary Code of Conduct is simple, effective, efficient, and elegant. In part, it states that: “In presenting long lists, search firms should ensure at least 30% of the candidates are women–and, if not, should explicitly justify to the client why they are convinced there are no other qualified female options, through demonstrating the scope and rigour of their research.” Thus, search firms do all their necessary due diligence with regard to the gap analysis of competencies needed in succession-planning, board refreshment, and work to support the Board Chair and Nominating/Governance Committee.
In some cases, search professionals lag behind their clients. Mindy Grossman, CEO of HSNi, remembers asking a search firm to find a woman with a certain set of skills, experiences, and background to add to her board. The search firm kept giving her only men. She repeatedly told the firm, “I guess you did not hear me–I want all those experiences and I want a woman for the diversity of thinking on my board. And if you cannot bring me that woman, I will get another search firm.” Ultimately, the firm found a woman who fit the director profile. Mindy had been very clear and she was not compromising; in fact, she was focused on better corporate governance and decision-making by enhancing her board to reflect her marketplace, her employees, her shareholders, and her community. Today, 50% of HSNi’s board directors are women.
In the United States, we cannot keep doing the same thing and expect a different result — that’s the definition of insanity. We need to take action ⎯ now. U.S.-based executive search firms can be catalysts for change by advising and encouraging corporate boards to be more heterogeneous. Research demonstrates that diversity, well-managed, can produce strong results and improved decision making. We propose three simple suggestions for search firms to adopt and to adapt to their client needs.
1) Balanced candidate pools. In light of the research from the HBR article mentioned above, it is critical that search firms provide clients with a “long list of candidates” that has at least 50% women candidates, including women of color, with the skills and profile sought. Women, including women of color, should also comprise at least 50% of the interview pool. If that does not occur, the search firm will document why it could not produce an adequate number of women candidates to meet the needs of the company.
2) Transparency. Search firms should disclose the number of board placements fulfilled over the past three years and the percentage of them that were filled by women and people of color. Transparency with regard to the ratio of diverse placements on boards will give a board an indication of a search firm’s commitment and ability to accelerate the pace of change for women on boards.
3) Demonstrate commitment. The firms should publicly state their commitment to enhancing board diversity on their website and in their materials, including by providing the disclosures listed above. Search firms can (and many do) collaborate with organizations working to advance gender diversity. These relationships, along with their existing clients, can help them develop long-term relationships with the pipeline of female talent.
The pipeline of great talent is there. There are many databases to tap into. The Women’s Forum of New York started its CEO-Sponsored Board-Ready Women database in 2011, and it is available to Nominating/Governance Committees and search firms at no cost. These are women who have been endorsed by CEOs who know that these women are ready to serve on a board and may currently be on only one or no boards, but should be. Catalyst also has a database of CEO-sponsored board-ready women, the Catalyst Corporate Board Resource, available for consultation. It also has another cadre of CEO-sponsored board-ready women through its Women On BoardTM program, where over 50% of alumnae from the Canada program have been appointed to corporate boards. The program was expanded to the United States this year.
Search firms have a key role to play. They can be proactive agents of change rather than reactive to demands of clients. Making progress requires all ‘legs of the stool’ to work together. In our respective roles, we know that it takes all of us working together to accelerate progress toward a greater number of women on boards. Today we call on the search firm community to work with us to be champions and catalysts of change and move to board parity.
Janice Ellig is Co-CEO of Chadick Ellig, an executive search firm, and Chair of the Women’s Forum of New York Breakfast of Corporate Champions, which biennially honors companies with boards composed of at least 20% women. The next event will take place November 14, 2017.
Deborah Gillis is President & Chief Executive Officer of Catalyst, the leading organization working to change workplaces and improve lives by accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion. A thought leader and advocate, she twice served as a candidate for elected office, and has made coaching and mentoring of women in business and political life a personal priority.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
— This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.
This post was coauthored by Nake M. Kamrany, University of Southern California and Cole Kosydar, University of Pennsylvania.
Ostensibly the hallmark or seal of Mr. Barack Obama’s presidency is blemished with the radicalization of U.S. foreign policy. The lamps are going out across America and the western world and we don’t see them coming back on for some time unless the U.S. changes course. Global circumstances may be far from what they were in 1914 and Sir Edward Grey’s words today certainly do not carry the same prescient doom, but the global order that has been the bedrock of western stability since the end of the Second World War is shaking. NATO’s commitment and resolve is under siege, Putin continues to flex Russia’s military muscle in Eastern Europe in a seemingly vain attempt to reinvent the Soviet Empire, and the U.N., after failing to react in any substantial way to the ongoing refugee crisis is clinging to whatever prestige it has left. And throughout all of this, American leadership has been occupied by a selective but futile airstrike campaign in the Middle East.
In the snake pits of foggy bottom, the finger pointing is already under way. With his usual panache, Niall Ferguson has argued that the President’s belief in the superiority of his own judgment and his aversion to the so-called Washington Playbook of tit-for-tat diplomacy is to blame. And there is some truth there. When the Washington establishment from Secretary of State John Kerry to Susan Rice, Obama’s own National Security Advisor, argued that we needed to cross the red line, President Obama walked the other way.
But then again, why should he have acted? Washington titans like former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, who voted for the Iraq War, have found various reasons to disavow their support. Moreover, there was no international coalition of the willing standing up to join him. And if Nestor, a boastful character from Greek mythology, himself could have conjured the last piece of resounding evidence to argue against intervention, it could have been hardly better than Obama’s explanation, that the support of the American public for another war was simply non-existent. With supposed shrewdness, Obama backed down and instead opted for drone targeted attacks, carefully avoiding his Iraq or Vietnam disaster. Or so he thought.
Yet the use of drone warfare and airstrikes is not without severe collateral damage and growing legal concern. As Senator Kaine pointed out, in a notable disagreement with his running mate Hilary Clinton, the U.S. may lack the legal authority to carry airstrikes against Libya. If the military assault is to continue the Congress would have to authorize it and place limits on its extent and an exit strategy. More importantly, such tactics undermine our leadership role – using the threat system instead of propagating peace, economic development, education and liberal values.
Taking a long-term perspective, the U.S. must assess whether continued military engagement in the Middle East is even productive for our national security. After all, the nature of war has shifted drastically in this online age that has created new digital microcosms for extremism to fester. Moreover, radicalization is a very complex threat to identify much less defend against; good and bad people can become radicalized as the result of grief, revenge, antagonism, mental instability and a culmination of many other factors. Seamus Hughes from George Washington’s Program on Extremism, lamented about the recent surge of American recruits to jihadism that there was ” no clear profile. The path to radicalization wasn’t linear or predictable.” Because the radicalized lone wolves do not have a nucleus of command and control, it is difficult to create a coherent military strategy to defeat them. While drones and aerial bombing may eliminate their targets, ultimately they are not effective because the bombings of villages naturally foster more radicalization and serve to inflame the very problem we wish to address.
It follows that the Western nations could be engulfed in an “endless war” and sustain damages that are hard to protect against. The Western nations should also be cognizant of the damages their own governments inflict upon the third world nations. President Obama may have avoided his war of entanglement, but he is presiding over one of the largest humanitarian disasters of this century.
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After decades of practicing meditation, four years of teaching happiness meditation classes and workshops, and now leading weekend retreats, I finally wrote my own guided meditation, “A Walk in the Woods.” Being in nature makes us happy, but it isn’t always possible to physically be outside drinking up the sights, sounds, and smells of a wooded trail. We can, however, savor the forest sensations mindfully by taking the time to mentally create or recreate that experience in as much detail as possible.
I was inspired by the local Trails Committee and by the transformative Helen Keller essay, “Three Days to See.” With gratitude to them, I offer the following meditation to you. Please make it your own. I’ve based the meditation on a summer walk in the Vermont woods, but your walk may be in the fall, spring or winter, on a real or imaginary trail. Create or recreate the experience that best suits you. The following is more a series of suggestions than a road map.
A Walk in the Woods
I invite you to start by easing into your meditation practice. With your eyes closed, let your breath out with an audible sigh. Do this several times if you like. Take a moment to notice all the places your body is in contact with the floor, chair, or cushions. Appreciate the support of the furniture and the building you are in, as well as the strength of the earth, making it safe for you to relax into your meditation time. Next, in an easy gentle fashion, focus on your breath, for a few minutes, until you feel ready to proceed. Take as much time with this transition as you want.
When you are ready, imagine you are at the trail head, ready to step in among the trees. Before you begin your walk, take time for gratitude. You may be grateful to have an able body. You might thank those who built the trail, or the landowners who share their property with the public. Perhaps your gratitude is for the weather, or for a strong pair of sneakers and good socks. What are you grateful for? Again, take your time. There is no need to hurry.
Remember to breathe.
Now, stepping into the woods, where do your feet land? What does the trail look like? Are there trail blazes or other markers on the trees? Who made them? Are there roots or rocks you might stumble over? Fallen branches? Are ferns or maybe even poison ivy growing near the trail? Is it a sunny day? What kinds of patterns does the play of light through the tree canopy make? Look around, what can you really see?
When we practice mindfulness, we can try to use all our senses. Right now, for example, what do you hear in your own little forest? Maybe leaves crunching underfoot? Or birds — is there a variety of bird calls if you really listen? Is it a still day, or is a breeze blowing? What does that sound like? Other animals? Insects whirring by your ear or chirping from afar? Maybe even traffic or construction noises off in the distance? Mindfulness is about more than appreciating beauty — it is, deeply observing what truly is.
Still breathing?
What does the air smell like? Did it rain recently? Are there rotting logs nearby? Do you smell your own shampoo, or toothpaste? Maybe there are flowers, or berries — do you want to lean in and breathe in their aroma?
And touch — is the air on your arms and face cool from the shade, or is it a hot sultry day even in the woods?
Even taste — did you bring a water bottle along? What does the water taste like? Any leftover meal flavors still lingering in your mouth? Did you pick a berry to eat? Was it sweet, sour, overripe?
Breathing deeper now, and looking more carefully around you. You’re surrounded by trees, but what species? Have any blown over, from the wind or maybe lightning? What bark do you see around you? Patterns? Growths on trees? Any holes in the trees? Perhaps holes made by animals, or perfect for animals to crawl into. And of course the leaves, or pine needles — different shapes, various shades of green? Are there also browns, and reds — trees in distress, or maybe autumn is coming on. It’s time to see the trees themselves, not just the forest. Are there any very old trees? Or very young ones? Any competing for the sunlight? What else?
Where would we be without trees? Can you feel gratitude for them?
Still remembering to breathe, turn now to the rocks and stones. Do you see ledge, or quartz? What sizes — boulders? Pebbles? Do you have to climb over any rocks? Are they moss-covered? Sharp, rounded? Maybe you can even spot one that is heart shaped.
Now we’re walking next to a mountain brook. Is your brook full and flowing forcefully? Maybe it just rained? Or is it late summer, with only a trickle? Pause and put your hand in. How cold is it? What does the brook sound like? What patterns do you see, in the way the water falls, and on the rocks below the surface? Linger by the brook as long as you’d like.
When you’re ready, notice that the trail is going up hill. What are the sensations in your muscles? Are you winded? Sweaty? Thirsty? How is your body doing on this hike? Or is it more of an easy going walk for you? Even on this mental journey, can you listen to your body’s experience?
In this moment, we’ve stepped out of the woods into a meadow. It may be sunny, or overcast. Is it hotter? Or is there a wind blowing, making your skin cooler? Looking up, what do you see in the skies? Have the sounds in the meadow changed from those in the woods? And sights — perhaps here you might see butterflies. What else is different on this part of the walk?
Finally we’ve arrived at an overlook, where conveniently there’s a bench to sit on and savor the view. What do you see? A lake in the distance? Mountains? A city? Is the view awe-inspiring? Does the larger vista give you a sense of place in the world, maybe putting your own cares in perspective? Can you pay attention to your feelings as well as the view? Just accepting your feelings, not trying to change them or judge them in any way.
Spend as long as you want sitting on the bench, taking in whatever is present for you in this moment.
Finally, let’s end this meditation the way we began: with gratitude. Grateful perhaps for beauty, for public policies that have preserved park land, for your own self to take this time to flex your mindfulness muscles and nurture your connection with the natural world. Who and what are you grateful for?
When you are ready, open your eyes and gently return to your regularly scheduled programming.
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As a small business owner, we understand the constant juggling act it takes to manage each aspect of your business. But you don’t have to do it all by yourself and waste valuable production time and money. Take advantage of these must-have small business tools and work smarter, not harder.
WordPress
When it comes to optimizing your website for the search engines and getting your company known by consumers, you need to have fresh content on your blog. WordPress is the most well-known blogging software, and is user-friendly and offers tons of helpful plugins.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics gives business’s access to just about every detail regarding your website traffic. It provides statistics and information regarding your visitor’s demographics, what they do on your site, and how long they stayed on your website.
Skype
Skype allows you to connect with business partners and clients on your smartphone or computer without any phone fees. The multi-purpose tools allow you to send documents during a call all while chatting on your phone or sitting in for a group meeting.
DropBox
DropBox eliminates the need to keep track of piles of paperwork and creates an online link for all your images, documents, and videos. You can share all of your documents between employees and prevent anything from getting lost again.
MailChimp
Email marketing is very effective for all types of businesses and keeps your customers updated on what’s new and trending in your industry. MailChimp is an automated email server that allows you to create newsletters and send them to all of your email subscribers with one click. It has been an invaluable tool for businesses like Artificial Plants and Trees who need to consistently reach customers to keep them inspired about their products, as explained here by CEO Doug Hopeman.
“MailChimp has helped my business effectively keep my customers updated on new blogs, DIY crafts, products, and specials. The platform is easy to use and the templates are clean and present our deals and products in an organized manner.”
HubSpot
HubSpot is a popular inbound marketing tool used by businesses of all kinds. It is an all-in-one marketing software that manages everything from social media publishing, email marketing, content management, and reports on how well your content is doing.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a brand management service and social media tool that can be used for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. You can create content and set schedules for when it is published on each platform, all from one virtual location.
Evernote
Evernote was designed to help you keep track of your individual notes for a project. You can keep them all in one place, and can compile them to effortlessly create a presentation for a business meeting or client consultation.
Get Satisfaction
Get Satisfaction helps businesses connect with their customers and acts almost like a Facebook page on your website. Your customers can offer tips, share their experience with your services and products, and ask questions directly to your customer service representatives.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is a bookkeeping service designed for small businesses to help manage invoicing, payroll, and expenses. You can connect the program to QuickBooks to send your invoices and expense reports directly to your accounts.
There are so many tools for small business owners that can help you accomplish virtually any task. Start with these tools and you’ll be well on your way to managing each aspect of your business, minus the juggling act.
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If you read one gripping book this fall, it should be the story of the Chimera Group, a multi-cultural group of mobsters running a shell investment firm in the 1960s.
A time when civil rights and anti-war were the chants of the protesters in the streets, they were known as the Rude Boys and were making waves in the ultra-exclusive culture of New York City Cosa Nostra.
Their story is told in Victoria Bolton’s Rude Boy USA Trilogy. The series consist of three books: Rude Boy USA, BunnyWine, and The Tide Is High.
Mob boss Bernie Banks and his associates–John, Ben, and Jerome–differ from your ordinary Sicilian and Irish mob families. Two white, two black, they style themselves after the Rude Boy culture made famous in Jamaica.
Operating as an investment shell company supported by illegal activities, the Chimera Group hopes to become as powerful as other crime families and gain respect from the Cosa Nostra. Bernie, a war veteran of Jewish and Greek descent, begins his business in his apartment and grows it into a multimillion-dollar empire.
He and his crew resemble a more sophisticated subculture of urban street gangsters with their Ray-Ban sunglasses, loafers, and debonair style. But they want fear and admiration.
John LeBlanc, Chimera’s number two man is the underboss and decision maker when Bernie is not available. He and his associate who is also his best friend, Jerome Dexter keep the company profitable and stable while Bernie makes deals with other groups in Atlantic City.
John runs the rest of the team with high precision, so well that he is set to inherit the business once an unexpected turn hits Bernie Banks. In Banks absence, John runs into trouble, brought on by internal strife between him, his wife Edina and one of his associates Ben Berardi who has a problem with John being the face of Chimera due to John being black and Ben being Italian.
Their efforts draw the attention of the rival Ambrosino family, who does not want to see a group making waves in the Cosa Nostra who are not native Italians. They also face civil conflict when Jerome Dexter brings in his cousin who is a former Playboy Club waitress, Celia Jones into the company.
Celia had dated John before she found out that he was married. During her time in the company, she ends up dating another associate.
None of the women are in the kitchen in this trilogy. They are likely trailblazers in a time when women were in the beginning stages of making decisions for themselves outside of societies expectations.
The feminist revolution of the period is featured in the story with the ladies being in charge of their decisions regarding sexual relationships, desires and how much power they truly possess.
Bolton’s unapologetically blunt language brings the fictional story to life with a style that many native New Yorkers are familiar. She writes scrupulously and valiantly about the realities of mob life, all of it not glamorous as portrayed in some of the popular movies that many of us call classics.
It flips the notion of the mob being a monolithic culture on its back and sheds light on other crime groups from the past that had not been talked about in as much detail or in a celebratory manner.
The characters will make you angry or want to cheer for them despite their weaknesses. By the end of the trilogy, you will know them as if they were real people.
What I Think
Bolton writes about life in New York City in the early 1970s in so much detail that you feel as if you were there with the characters.
She introduces us to another facet of life in the mafia as a minority without making their existence in the culture seem tragic. Each chapter is tense with sudden twists and turns, but the story never falls flat or repetitive; it stays fascinating with new surprises throughout.
What Other Reviewers Think
“Bolton writes with unwavering confidence and grace, unveiling a plot that is laced with unusual turns and sudden surprises, a pace that quickens with the reader’s heartbeat.” Reader’s Favorite
“Bolton aptly captures the tempestuous spirit of the time-a volatile brew of political radicalism, crime, racial tension, and sexual libertinism-and her painstaking historical research is evident on virtually every page.” Kirkus
About the Author
Victoria Bolton is an Award-winning author. Her book trilogy Rude Boy USA, a historical crime fiction book is the winner of the Pacific Book Award.
Audience
Anyone interested in classic historical crime fiction, stories about New York mobsters, or stories set in cities.
Opening Lines
“In the middle of a block in busy Midtown Manhattan full of shops and stores stood a silver building just twelve feet wide. Distinctive architecture decked in superior aesthetic treatments surrounded this place. Professional pedestrians, as well as regular shoppers, walked up and down the block every day. The noise of cars, police sirens, fire trucks, ambulances, and human voices filled the street twenty-four hours a day. There was no other place like Nineteen West Forty-Sixth Street.”
Notable Passage
“I thought by joining the service to fight in Vietnam; I was doing something honorable. I would have run to Canada with the rest of them if I really knew what I was getting myself into. It changed me forever.”
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