Why werent the bookstores hit?

First the story. I quote:

Are books just for the middle class? As society puzzles over its divisions, perhaps the publishing industry should follow suit

Oh how Twitter scoffed and acted unsurprised as we woke to find our local bookshops had escaped the attentions of the looting riotniks. Waterstone's even challenged rioters to loot them as "they might learn something". Ha ha! LOLZ! Sigh. It's difficult to argue with the stark economic realism of those who weighed up their looting options and came down firmly on the side of widescreen TVs and box-fresh kicks. Maeve Binchys don't fetch a huge resale price on the black market – especially if they're already in the 3 for 2.

But while the rioters' indifference to the intellectual riches on offer at Waterstone's may or may not be attributable to the much-touted death of the book, it does throw up some stark questions. Is reading just for the middle classes? Are you more or less likely to riot if you read? What could books offer the looters anyway?

As the riots fade and the talking starts, all the rhetoric is about community, education, offering the rioters prospects and life expectations and qualifications and journeys towards growing up as well-adjusted members of society.

How better to do all these things than with books?

Maybe it's just a question of class. As the author Gavin James Bower says, "Jobs in publishing overwhelmingly go to white, middle-class people. The product reflects this, which isn't much good if you're a working-class kid." If publishing is full of white, middle-class people is it any wonder that bookshops are too? The writing community can be as diverse as it likes – in class, race, religion and genre – but if publishers don't know how to market these books, they're not going to find readers. Or maybe it starts even earlier, in school, where according to the journalist Kieran Yates "young people often don't feel like they can empathise with a syllabus of literature that is so far removed from their own lives".

But as the children's writer Irfan Master points out, young people are reading "blogs, texts, comics, magazines" all the time. Poet and playwright Sabrina Mahfouz agrees, saying there is a switch in what is read and written, rather than a "demise" in reading and writing. "This is the first generation that is consuming more written content generated by their own age group than from older, adult writers," she writes.

This is indeed curious but sad as well. To see this from the perspective of race is stupid. Rioters were from all ends of society. They were teachers, unemployed youths, social workers, university students, etc. etc. Very many were young. There is no single common factor. They wont go to university? Or study at all? Or are they saying that these people will never pick up a book? Bah!

Fatalism leads to more accidents in Bangladesh

From here.

This study was conducted to see whether fatalism is an important factor in explaining occupational accidents among medical waste operatives in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data were collected using a variety of qualitative techniques and included observation, formal and informal dialogue. Sampling strategies included formal representative sampling, purposive and authoritative sampling. Employers did not supply PPE or offer training to their staff. Most workers (73%) did not wear PPE regularly, and a further 18% wore only insufficient PPE. Consequently, most waste workers (95%) reported that they had experienced occupational accidents, mostly (75%) from used needles and other sharps. These observations were associated with fatalistic beliefs among the participants, both managers and employees, who attributed these events to “fate” reflecting their perceived lack of control over such accidents. This study reveals many examples of a lack of organisational awareness that can occur within a culture of fatalism.

Quite a sad state of affairs, eh? Even if they had proper equipment, they dont wear it thinking that if it has to happen, it will happen. Inshallah. Bhagwan ki Daya Hai. I hate this bloody philosophy. God has nothing to do with it, you muppets. You are responsible for your own life, actions and rewards. And this causes problems in business clearly. There is simply no drive. Where are the unreasonable men and women who drive the productivity, quality, customer service to excellence and beyond? Not many will come up with a feeling of inshallah I am afraid. Bah!

Train driver sues parents of suicide victim

Gobsmacking. First the story.

The legal hearing on the dispute was held in a court in Nuremberg on Tuesday, according to news magazine Der Spiegel.
The 52-year-old driver has ceded his complaint to his wife, who is appearing as the plaintiff, so the driver himself can appear as a witness.
The wife initially asked for €15,000 compensation. She says her husband has suffered nightmares, sleep disturbances and headaches since the incident. Additionally, he was unable to work for two weeks after the accident.
The dead man's parents, who are not appearing in court, are still grieving, their lawyer Julian Rösch said.
“They can’t do anything about it. They have been affected and punished enough.”
The parents, Klaus and Martha S., believe their 20-year-old son Stefan, was the victim of an accident, rather than a suicide, when he was struck and killed by the train in January 2009.
Stefan was hit by the train at about 1 am near the Rehdorf train station just west of Nuremberg. The driver had no chance of stopping, as is usually the case in such incidents. According to investigation documents, the driver thought he had hit a wild boar and continued driving.
On his return along the same route, he checked the scene and this time thought he had hit a deer. Only on his third pass of the site of the incident did he realise he was looking at the body of a person. He alerted a colleague, who finally discovered Stefan’s body.
Since January 2011, the driver had come to terms with the incident and returned to a normal life, his wife’s lawyer Stephan Baumann said. But for two years he had suffered “the most serious problems” coping with everyday life. The image of the young man haunted him.
Judge Jana Lux said the damages amount was too high and suggested €3,000 to €5,000 was more fitting. The driver’s wife accordingly lowered it to €5,000 and the driver said he was amenable to that.
“I have no desire to go through the whole thing again,” he said.
Stefan’s parents now have two weeks to decide whether to accept the settlement or fight on. Their lawyer Rösch said that was still “a heap of money” to compensate two weeks off work.

The chap wants to sue the parents of the poor man, and this too after 2 years? I don't have words to describe this behaviour. Frivolous or what?

Some case studies from Home Start

Here are some case studies of the people we helped.

1. A HEALTH VISITOR’S REFERRAL

Jo’s health visitor made a referral to Home-Start Hillingdon because Jo was suffering from post natal depression after the birth of her daughter 1 month ago. Jo and her husband had 4 other children aged 2, 3, 8 and 17 years and were living in very overcrowded 2-bedroomed accommodation. An accident six months previously had left her with an injury which made walking difficult and for which she was still receiving physiotherapy. She was also caring for her elderly mother who was in poor health.

The referrer asked for both emotional and practical support from a volunteer.

How the volunteer helped

During the co-ordinator’s initial visit, Jo talked about the stresses in her life and became tearful. She badly needed a ‘listening ear’ as she was very isolated. She had been offered anti-depressant medication but had refused this as she ‘didn’t want to admit that something was wrong’. Jo was also having difficulties with the 3 year old, who was very clingy, and the 8 year old, who was having problems at school.

Sue began visiting Jo and her focus was to offer emotional support and ‘an extra pair of hands’. Sue’s visits had a calming influence on the situation and gradually she was able to support Jo through the range of difficulties the family was experiencing. The next 18 months was a roller-coaster of events but Sue’s warmth and commitment to the family were a source of comfort and reassurance to the family.

Sue’s support continued for 18 months, towards the end of which the family were re-housed into accommodation which met their needs. It was planned to end the volunteer’s visits shortly after the move but then Jo’s mother died and Sue continued to visit for another 2 months while Jo came to terms with her loss.

The mother’s feedback

On the feedback form, after the visits had ended, Jo wrote:

Sue was a wonderful friend to me and the kids loved her to bits. She was always helpful and even picked them up for school for me. She was always kind and loved to play with the kids. I know she was always busy but she never made a rush for the door. If I was up to my eyeballs with things she would just roll her sleeves up and do all she could to help me. She has a very gentle nature and I miss her very much. The kids still talk about her and wonder how she is.

Home-Start is very lucky to have her. I just wish the world was full of people like Sue as it would be a much better place.

The health visitor’s feedback

The service made a fantastic difference to the family.

2. THE STORY OF A HEALTH VISITOR’S REFERRAL

Sarah suffered a brain hemorrhage 15 years ago which resulted in some loss of sight and ‘dysphasia’ - a condition which causes her to have difficulty with her verbal communication. She also has severe migraines and occasional fits.

The health visitor made a referral to Home-Start after the birth of Sarah’s 2^nd child which was delivered by Caesarian section. Sarah is unable to drive because of her medical condition and was finding it difficult to get out with a baby, Jon, and a boisterous toddler, Sam. In addition, her frustration at her limitations was causing her to feel stressed which, in turn, was increasing the number of migraines she was having. The referrer asked for both emotional and practical help from a volunteer.

How the volunteer helped

During the co-ordinator’s initial visit, Sarah confirmed what the health visitor had said and talked about her difficulty in coming to terms with the effects of her disability and the difficulties this caused her as a mother.

The volunteer, Vanessa, began her weekly visits to Sarah and the focus of support was identified in response to the areas of need identified with Sarah:

Feeling isolated- it was agreed that the volunteer would help TO reduce Sarah’s isolation by her weekly visits

Parent’s emotional health/well being - the volunteer to ‘lend a listening ear’ and to help build Sarah’s confidence by going out together

Parent’s physical health/well being - the volunteer to sometimes look after the children to allow Sarah to have a rest to help prevent stress-related migraines

Being involved in the children’s the volunteer to support Sarah in setting boundaries with Sam and supporting her with managing his toilet-training.

After 11 months, during the co-ordinator’s review visit, Sarah said that, although she would have liked Vanessa’s visits to continue forever, she felt that she was now managing and that another family probably needed the support more than she did.

It was agreed that visits would end but, as often happens in Home-Start, Sarah and Vanessa continue to see each other as friends.

The mother’s feedback

At the final review visit, Sarah said outings with Vanessa, including attending a parent and toddler group, had helped increase her confidence and that she now goes to yoga and singing classes. Vanessa had offered suggestions about managing Jon’s behaviour and Sarah intended speaking to her health visitor about parenting classes. Her migraines were also less frequent. Summing up how she had felt about the volunteer’s visits, she said:

‘When Vanessa arrived, I felt relaxed. I was like a weight was being lifted from me and I will always be grateful for her help.’.

 

3. THE STORY OF A REFERRAL

Julie and Derek were referred by their health visitor who felt that they were in need of support. The couple has two boys, William aged 4 and Dominic and 1 year. William had been diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome and his behaviour was very challenging and could be aggressive towards his brother.

Julie was concerned that she was not spending enough quality time with Dominic due to William’s demands. The situation was putting the parents under enormous strain which had contributed to Julie feeling depressed and needing to take anti-depressants in addition to medication for a chronic physical illness.

In addition, both parents worked hours which allowed one of them to be a home at all times and this was contributing to their feelings of stress. Throughout this visit, Julie was tearful and clearly feeling at the end of her tether.

How the volunteer helped

During the co-ordinator’s initial visit, both parents said that it would be helpful if a volunteer could play with the children to give Julie a break or play with one of the boys to allow her to have individual time with the other child. It was also agreed that, once the volunteer and the children had got to know each other, she would sometimes look after the children to allow the parents time alone.

A volunteer, Jackie, was introduced to the family and began to visit once weekly. During her support to the family she developed a close relationship with each of them. William started school, which helped considerably, and Jackie then took Dominic out alone. During the school holidays Jackie took both children for outings to the park or MacDonald’s during which time William was sometimes very challenging but this did not phase her as her commitment to the family was unswerving.

After 14 months the co-ordinator and parents agreed that the situation had progressed to a point where the volunteer’s visits could end. Julie was sad for this to happen but acknowledged that she was coping better, to a point where she had stopped taking anti-depressants.

The parent’s feedback

Without a doubt Jackie is one of the nicest people we have ever met. We feel blessed to have had her as our friend for over a year and we hope it continues. The boys are extremely fond of her – she has been a rock for us. We were desperate for help and she came upon us like a guardian angel at just the right time.

She was so reliable and nothing was too much trouble for her. I (Julie) will never forget how she helped me through one horrible day with loads of calls, empathy and support. The way she dealt with William is amazing and she never took it personally when he was having a bad day and took it out on her. I guess she was really accepting of him which is what he needs.

She has brought sunshine and laughter into a house where they were missing for a while. We all love her and will miss her warm loveliness. Thank you so much Linda and Home-Start for restoring our faith in humankind.

 

4. THE STORY OF A SELF REFERRAL

Meena rang Home-Start shortly after the birth of her twins. She had previously been working full-time in London and therefore had few contacts locally. Her husband was supportive but worked long hours, leaving early and arriving home late in the evening. Meena’s mother had recently become seriously ill so the arrangement for her to come and stay and help after the births could no longer happen.

Although she was thrilled with her daughters, Meena was exhausted and feeling overwhelmed by their demands. She was full of doubts about her competence as a parent and daunted by the responsibility of looking after two babies. In addition to this, she was struggling to cope with her fears about her mother’s illness.

How the volunteer helped

Judy began visiting Meena and they developed a relationship in which Meena was able to voice her fears about her mother’s illness which alleviated some of her anxiety.

Initially Judy agreed to visit twice weekly and reassured and encouraged Meena in her ability to look after the girls. Meena’s confidence quickly increased to a point where she could trust her own judgement about their care. Gradually she was able to recognise that, although having twins would always be hard work, she was not only competent to look after them but that she was really enjoying it.

Meena had always intended to return to work part-time and it was agreed that Judy’s support would cease at this point.

The mother’s feedback

During the final co-ordinator’s visit, Meena said “I could talk to Judy about anything! It was so useful to speak to someone who was independent of my family – she was a good ‘sounding board’”

After the volunteer’s visits ended, Meena wrote a letter expressing her thoughts:

Dear Linda

Please may I thank you once again for the support I received…..The care and concern you showed for my family over the last 6 months was both very timely and so welcome. We all appreciate the hard work that volunteers such as Judy do and she was very well-matched to our family. We loved having her here and do hope that she will keep in touch.

May I take this opportunity to say what a valuable contribution Home-Start Hillingdon makes to the community.

 

5. FEEDBACK FROM FAMILIES

Small things we do, we help families and intervene where very low cost assistance can avoid heavy cost intervention and assistance later on. And these are some of the decent interventions, some others are truly hairy. Our brave volunteers are all amazing, the pain they go through. To the families they are calm, positive and unflappable but hey, they are doing this without any monetary recompense but think about having to deal with this stuff day in day out? I would be screaming and be a basket case.

Cassettes

Do you remember these? I can still remember my first walkman. Gosh, I felt so cool, to carry my own music around. And taping from the radio. The earthshattering joy of seeing a twin deck cassette deck.

Mother wins right to more than half of ex-husband's £500,000 crash compensation payout as `her needs are greater'

From here.

A woman battling her amputee ex-husband for the lion's share of his £500,000 compensation has won her right to over half of his money in a landmark ruling, after the Appeal court declared her and their children's immediate needs were more important than those of the disabled man.
Lord Justice Thorpe ruled that the money Kevin Mansfield received in 1998 after losing a leg in a road smash - five years before he met his former wife Cathryn - ought to be 'available to all his family' and that her needs and those of their children are 'primary' and outweigh his own.
Mr Mansfield, 41 now faces having to sell his home, a specially adapted bungalow in Chelmsford, Essex - to meet the court's order that he pay £285,000 to 37-year-old Cathryn, so she can buy a new home for herself and their two children.

I was really puzzled and bewildered by this. And the immediate reaction was outrage but then the cooler head prevailed. What a terrible decision to make for the judge. Who do you look after first? the amputee? the wife? the kids? as it so happens, it was the kids which came first. And then i put myself in the man’s position and I couldn't. Outrage would have been an easy option and i can only thank the Lord that I am not faced with making such a decision. What a horrible situation. What can you do? not give money to the kids? or force them to live in their dad’s house? One can mumble something about feckless couples who divorce far too easily. What a mess.

The escape from reality

What a beautiful picture. Books help you escape a horrible reality and give you dreams. Specially for kids. Excellent imagery.

But I realise I might be over-romanticising it. In the recent riots in the UK, guess which stores were ransacked? JD Sports, Armani, Miss Selfridges, Liquour Stores, Carphone Warehouse. Guess which store wasnt touched? Waterstones or any kind of bookshop. Frikking feral rats. But despite this, there are good kids in there and we see them when we are working with the charities.

Some words on the scummy rioters

From here.

These are youngsters who are uniquely alienated from the communities in which they grew up. Nurtured in large part by the welfare state, financially, physically and educationally, socialised more by the agents of welfarism than by their own neighbours or local representatives, these youth have little moral or emotional attachment to their communities. Their rioting reveals not that Britain is in a time warp in 1981 or 1985 with politically motivated riots against the police, but that the tentacle-like spread of the welfare state into every area of people’s lives has utterly zapped old social bonds, the relationship of sharing and solidarity that once existed in working-class communities. These riots suggest that the welfare state is giving rise to a generation happy to shit on its own doorstep.

This is not a political rebellion; it is a mollycoddled mob, a riotous expression of carelessness for one’s own community. And as a left-winger I refuse to celebrate nihilistic behaviour that has a profoundly adverse affect on working people’s lives. Far from being an instance of working-class action, this welfare-state mob has more in common with what Marx described as the lumpenproletariat. Indeed, it is worth remembering Marx’s colourful description in The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon of how that French ruler cynically built his power base among parts of the bourgeoisie and sections of the lumpenproletariat, so that “ruined and adventurous offshoots of the bourgeoisie rubbed shoulders with vagabonds, discharged soldiers, discharged jailbirds, escaped galley slaves, swindlers, pickpockets, tricksters, gamblers, brothel-keepers, organ-grinders, ragpickers, knife-grinders, tinkers, beggars and from this kindred element Boneparte formed the core of his [constituency], where all its members felt the need to benefit themselves at the expense of the labouring nation”. In very different circumstances, we have something similar today where the decadent commentariat’s siding with lumpen rioters represents a weird coming together of sections of the bourgeoisie with sections of the underworked and the over-flattered, as the rest of us, “the labouring nation”, look on with disdain.

African famine blamed on Chinese land grab

This is an interesting view.

Germany's Africa policy coordinator on Thursday blamed China's practice of buying up land in the Horn of Africa for contributing to the devastating famine ravaging the region.

Günter Nooke told the daily Frankfurter Rundschau it was clear that "this catastrophe is also man-made."
"In the case of Ethiopia there is a suspicion that the large-scale land purchases by foreign companies, or states such as China which want to carry out industrial agriculture there, are very attractive for a small (African) elite," he said.
"It would be of more use to the broader population if the government focused its efforts on building up its own farming system."
He said that the Chinese investments were focused on farming for export which he said can lead to "major social conflicts in Africa when small farmers have their land und thus their livelihoods taken away."
"Not everything the Chinese are doing in Africa is bad," Nooke said. "Chinese investment has perhaps an advantage: it will show how industrial farming in Africa can be carried out effectively."
He said that Germany supported a gradual phase-out of European agriculture subsidies so African farmers could have a shot at exporting their produce but admitted that there was still strong resistance.
Somalia is the Horn of Africa country worst affected by a prolonged drought - the region's worst in 60 years - that has put some 12 million people in danger of starvation and spurred a global fund-raising campaign.
The catastrophe has also hit parts of Ethiopia, Djibouti, Kenya and Uganda.

I am not sure this argument holds. The famine in the horn is a very complex beast and for somebody like Gunter to say that this is a problem due to chinese land holdings is very strange.

An American talks about wealth

Interesting snippets

1.  You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.

2.  What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.

3.  The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

4.  You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

5.  When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does  no good to work, because somebody else is going to  get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of any nation.

Pretty simplistic but then, why make things complex when things can be made simple? Have an Occam’s Razor.

I was thinking about this when hearing about the riots and how the spending cuts helped it and how poverty is driving people to riot and break into JD Sports to nick a pair of sneakers or throw a brick into Carphone Warehouse to steal a mobile. Yep, that’s what poor people do, riot.