sluggerotoole--2020-08-25--Why we cannot leave ‘the past’ to those who have no interest in historical complexity.

A few years ago Irish born Observer tech writer and Cambridge Professor John Naughton observed of the digital era is how to avoid what Michael Mann calls “ the sociology of the last five minutes ” .
This ‘ new ’ technology John says “ reduces our collective attention span to that of newts ” .
This capture of the collective imagination has obvious consequences for how politics ( think Trump and Jamie Barlett ’ s politics-as-gameshow analysis ) is conducted and subsequently how we view ourselves as social or collective beings .
Even Sinn Fein ’ s fidgety positioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do ?
Well , perhaps remember that history isn ’ t written in blogs and tweets where huge amounts of context can go missing in battle on platforms that have no time for the careful weighing of facts .
Although here on Slugger we do try our best , we ’ re really not in the history writing business .
So what is history , and how can we tell the difference between the business of history writing and simple storytelling ( which in my view is a vital contemporary component of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is nearly always present , but not quite so vital ) ?
New website Dissenting Voices eschews the blog format and instead devotes itself to the publication of serious and well thought out papers that cover each subject at length and in some depth .
The first essay is jointly curated by Arthur Aughey and David Hoey , and it attempts to answer such questions .
It takes for its starting point the current challenge posed to historical literacy ‘ in public education , on the streets , and in social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democratic legitimacy and the rule of law ” .
A key concern is an increasing belief that contemporaneous processes can write history on the fly .
It ’ s clear focus is post-conflict Northern Ireland but their analysis is embedded in much wider trends in the modern ( or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it the postmodern ) world .
It begins by asking a couple of essential but essentially impartial questions :

A few years ago Irish born Observer tech writer and Cambridge Professor John Naughton observed of the digital era is how to avoid what Michael Mann calls “the sociology of the last five minutes”. This ‘new’ technology John says “reduces our collective attention span to that of newts”.
This capture of the collective imagination has obvious consequences for how politics (think Trump and Jamie Barlett’s politics-as-gameshow analysis) is conducted and subsequently how we view ourselves as social or collective beings. Even Sinn Fein’s fidgety positioning on Covid regulations.
So what to do? Well, perhaps remember that history isn’t written in blogs and tweets where huge amounts of context can go missing in battle on platforms that have no time for the careful weighing of facts. Although here on Slugger we do try our best, we’re really not in the history writing business.
So what is history, and how can we tell the difference between the business of history writing and simple storytelling (which in my view is a vital contemporary component of any lively human culture) and propaganda (which is nearly always present, but not quite so vital)?
New website Dissenting Voices eschews the blog format and instead devotes itself to the publication of serious and well thought out papers that cover each subject at length and in some depth. The first essay is jointly curated by Arthur Aughey and David Hoey, and it attempts to answer such questions.
It takes for its starting point the current challenge posed to historical literacy ‘in public education, on the streets, and in social media” and its “deeper impact on democratic legitimacy and the rule of law”. A key concern is an increasing belief that contemporaneous processes can write history on the fly.
It’s clear focus is post-conflict Northern Ireland but their analysis is embedded in much wider trends in the modern (or perhaps it would be more accurate to call it the postmodern) world. It begins by asking a couple of essential but essentially impartial questions:
What do people mean by the commonly expressed concern about ‘the rewriting of history’? Surely history is always being ‘rewritten’? The important answer, which may seem obvious but is generally ignored for narrow party political purposes (or perhaps because our politicians have long since given up on reading the data on now actual demographics are changing) to which they give is as… There is no ‘definitive’ account of any event or epoch. Historians are always revising, re-assessing and re-examining the evidence, either challenging received wisdom or providing more complex interpretations of ‘what really happened’. [Emphasis added] This provisionality of knowledge in history is parallel to the provisionality of science which is causing such discomfort and ambiguity around the best way to handle a novel virus like Covid 19. Indeed, history and science have separate etymological roots (Greek and Latin) in the same term, knowledge. So it stands to reason then, that… There are and always will be disagreements between historians on context or approach. Those disagreements occur within a discipline of knowledge which requires interpretation according to evidence – evidence that may be judged, added to, debated and disputed as the ‘evidence obliges one to believe’. Evidence is key to legitimate history, but much of what we are currently experiencing is the exercise of opinion contra opinion, rather than the gathering, examination, and thorough interrogation of a usefully broad set of actual evidence… Stressing the central importance of evidence and the ‘record’ will irritate those who want to achieve political results ‘as the crow flies’, those who are in a hurry to impose an interpretation on ‘history’, an impatience to ‘cut to the chase’. Oakeshott described this style of ‘history’ as a pursuit in which we exercise our current moral and political opinions like whippets in a meadow on a Sunday afternoon. His term for this understanding of the past was ‘practical history’ and practical history is the past revised to conform to present purposes or to a political agenda. [Emphasis added] And then comes the fulcrum of the piece, where this sort of whippet coursing of opinion meets the slower moving exacting eye of the historian (a diligent class of folk who Stalin once famously derided as ‘archive rats’). The paper turns to David Hackett Fischer’s Historians’ Fallacies: …the process of historical truth-telling itself is never more intricate than the truths which historians tell. Every true statement must be thrice true. It must be true to its evidence, true to itself, and true to other historical truths with which it is colligated. Moreover, a historian must not merely tell truths, but demonstrate their truthfulness as well. [Emphasis added] However, it argues, within post conflict Northern Ireland we have seen a narrowing of the ground on which the impatient, ‘as the crow flies’ players have persuaded us to site a lot of the so called ‘reconciliation’ processes. Processes which could almost have been designed to fail (and which have). Among them claims of collusion (which are rarely proven) and the use of theories of ‘transitional justice’ theories which focuses on injustice in a systemic sense, thereby, according to the authors, presents a legalistic definition of the past that confines exploration of the last 50 years to activities of the state. They write… If we are to understand the history of the decades of sectarian terrorism in Northern Ireland it would be entirely wrong to dwell on statistics of murder only. This would ignore that the terrorist aim on the republican side was primarily ‘Brits out’ and on the loyalist side was sectarian anti- Catholicism. These campaigns involved the deliberate terrorist policy of inflicting life changing injuries, bombing commercial and other ‘targets’ across Northern Ireland. It ignores the consequences of those objectives on the communities from which the terrorism was organised and on whom it was perpetrated – intimidation and social control, extortion, kidnapping, torture and a culture of lawlessness; some of which persists today. It ignores the purpose of which murder and bombing was part. It ignores the declared campaign objectives of terrorist organisations to wage economic war, to undermine the rule of law as well as to subvert democratic politics. Most fundamentally, it ignores the voices of democratic politicians across the spectrum, those who throughout the decades of sectarian terrorism were adamant and courageous in their unstinted opposition to and condemnation of both republican and loyalist terrorism. If one cares to look at it historically, the democratic political parties, the British Government, the Irish Government, the churches, ‘civil society’, public opinion, the ‘international community’, all condemned the use of violence by republican and loyalist terrorists. It is remarkable today how this truth has become discounted. As far as I know, it’s mere happenstance that this paper came after the death of John Hume, but the death of one of Northern Ireland’s elder statesmen has served as a reminder to a new generation that this leader of Irish nationalism was both tough mindedly against violence but ever committed to reconciliation. However, the later and deeply ahistorical narrowness of the field of study has come to mean that… …the issue we face is one where debate is being closed down, not opened up, where intellectual sovereignty is being asserted over national symbolism without debate, by Twitter edict, short circuiting democratic processes and expecting the state to comply with ‘non-negotiable demands’. Indeed, what we’ve seen most recently has been an attempt to de-legitimise British history. Finally, they don’t let the British government off the hook for its tendency to disconnect from the core of the problem… The casual disregard for history, and the consequently weak defence of the rule of law in addressing ‘legacy issues’ in Northern Ireland, reveals an intellectual and political incapacity to engage on the part of the Government. The same underlying features are found in other recent militant campaigns about ‘the past’, and the common factor is a soft response from Government. This last carries an echo of the consistent criticism of both the British and the Irish Governments the new Taoiseach made whilst head of the opposition. Neither have had a consistent formulae for British Irish relations or how relations with the Belfast Agreement might be practically developed. The many absences the paper identifies relate directly to a past unwillingness of both UK and Irish governments to take the legacy of the Belfast Agreement as seriously as it requires. In that vacuum, a demagogic simplification has grown that deliberately excludes the peaceful majority from its account. As Aughey and Hoey say in the final paragraphs of the paper… Any evidence of pushback is welcome, of course, but it is hard to accuse others of ‘rewriting history’ when there is a lack of intellectual rigour in challenging them when they do – apart from statements by Ministers that ‘we won’t allow the re-writing of history’. History is always being rewritten by historians, but we shouldn’t leave ‘the past’ to those who have no interest in historical complexity. I would say it is well worth giving the whole thing a read before responding to this review. It’s four and a half pages long so it won’t take long to read. Whether or not you agree with its premises or the detail of the arguments it makes, it is a thoughtful and challenging assay of the precise ways NI has lost its way. Recovering and reconciliation require contemporary leaders who understand the huge social value of rigorous accounting of the past and paying attention to the actual needs of the present, as per Professor’s Shirlow’s recent arguments on #CargoOfBricks, in order to open up our options on the future (be they British or Irish)… Powered by RedCircle Photo by Free-Photos is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-08-28--Assembly Commission amend 2016 determination with improvements for staff wages.

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission has published a new determination which amends the determination taken in 2016 .
This is what governs how the staff costs for MLAs and other associated costs with running an office .
The headline from the latest determination is that salaries of staff members working for MLAs are set to rise .
This change brings staff employed by MLAs into line with other staff members in the Assembly .
Grade one staff will see their starting salary rise from £18,000 to £23,490 , Grade two staff from £19,750 to £29,400 and Grade three staff from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar with the work that MLA staff do , it can range from communications , constituency queries , managing diaries , writing questions and assisting with relevant policy work .
If the full entitlement is taken up by MLAs it would cost £4.2 million per year .
The Speaker of the Assembly , Alex Maskey said ; “ This amended 2016 Determination will enable MLAs to carry out their legislative and constituency responsibilities in an appropriate , efficient and flexible way .
“ The most significant change is to how MLAs ’ staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and MLAs strongly believe that the staff MLAs employ should not be treated less favourably than Assembly staff , especially in light of the important role they play in providing services to constituents .
“ I want also to make it very clear that the changes to the 2016 Determination in no way diminish the scrutiny and oversight that the Assembly Commission applies to all allowances that are available to MLAs to pay their staff and run their constituency offices .
MLAs must continue to demonstrate that monies spent are in accordance with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assembly Commission is rigorous in ensuring that MLAs comply with the rules before it reimburses expenditure incurred by MLAs .
Expenditure by MLAs will continue to be published quarterly.
” In today ’ s Irish News , John Manley reports some criticism of the decision from Alan McQuillan .

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission has published a new determination which amends the determination taken in 2016. This is what governs how the staff costs for MLAs and other associated costs with running an office.
The headline from the latest determination is that salaries of staff members working for MLAs are set to rise. This change brings staff employed by MLAs into line with other staff members in the Assembly. Grade one staff will see their starting salary rise from £18,000 to £23,490, Grade two staff from £19,750 to £29,400 and Grade three staff from £22,750 to £36,100.
For those not familiar with the work that MLA staff do, it can range from communications, constituency queries, managing diaries, writing questions and assisting with relevant policy work.
If the full entitlement is taken up by MLAs it would cost £4.2 million per year.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Alex Maskey said;
“This amended 2016 Determination will enable MLAs to carry out their legislative and constituency responsibilities in an appropriate, efficient and flexible way. “The most significant change is to how MLAs’ staff are treated. Both the Assembly Commission and MLAs strongly believe that the staff MLAs employ should not be treated less favourably than Assembly staff, especially in light of the important role they play in providing services to constituents. “I want also to make it very clear that the changes to the 2016 Determination in no way diminish the scrutiny and oversight that the Assembly Commission applies to all allowances that are available to MLAs to pay their staff and run their constituency offices. MLAs must continue to demonstrate that monies spent are in accordance with the rules regarding such payments. The Assembly Commission is rigorous in ensuring that MLAs comply with the rules before it reimburses expenditure incurred by MLAs. Expenditure by MLAs will continue to be published quarterly.”
In today’s Irish News, John Manley reports some criticism of the decision from Alan McQuillan.


sluggerotoole--2020-08-28--Putting a trans-border university at the heart of the Shared Island agenda  – The regenerative role

Putting a trans-border university at the heart of the Shared Island agenda  – The regenerative role of a local university

With plans to form a Shared Island unit in the Taoiseach ’ s Office there will be opportunities for Dublin ’ s new coalition government to select a number of flagship projects that can form part of a transformative legacy .
One that can contribute significantly to the re-imagination of our island is a trans-border university in the North West .
The region could lead the way in both pedagogical and ecological innovation as we prepare to ‘ Build Back Better ’ to address the impacts of both Covid-19 and the profound economic challenges of a Just Transition to address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with some support from Simon Harris TD , has just written enthusiastically about a cross-border university dedicated to the legacy of John Hume .
He wrote : “ There is also great potential for a cross border university incorporating the existing colleges of higher education in the region into the structures of the university .
These could include the Magee campus of the Ulster University , the Institutes of Technology in Letterkenny & Sligo , and the North West Regional College in Northern Ireland .
The educational , social and economic benefits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ireland are compelling.
” When a global spirit of liberation ignited a generation of rights activism in the 1960s , the relationship between knowledge and power was manifest in the role of universities and university students .
The university issue in Derry became and remains totemic because the cultivation of knowledge can be a route to transformation when it is used to speak truth to power and liberate ethical imaginations .
The civil rights demands of the 1960s and 1970s – championed by community leaders on all sides of our communities – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our understanding of justice that incorporates care and responsibility for the earth and our island ecology .
No longer can nationalisms or unionisms get away with declaratory commitments to the land , the forests , the rivers and loughs without grounding that intention in the soil of active policies founded in a new ( is ) land ethic .
Our ecological challenges are much more than technocratic and bureaucratic questions ; they are provocations that must reach deep into our cultures , ways of knowing , being and belonging if we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ habitat in a deep spirit of inter-dependence .
Let the cry of the earth join the cry of the poor in transforming us !
The original acts of resistance in Derry were inspired by ( and inspired ) an emergent worldwide movement of resistance , confronting multiple forms of social exclusion and post-colonial oppression .
In the same way , the current campaign for an authentic local university presence can contribute to contemporary movements of liberation , including those that refuse to partition social and ecological transformation .
There can be no future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not wholly imagined within “ Planetary Boundaries ” and thresholds that define the conditions for our lives together .
The Latin origins of the word “ genius ” convey more than a unique endowment of creativity and insight .
Early usage referred to an “ attendant spirit ” or care and cultivation for our ways of understanding and acting in the world .
There was an implicit ethical dimension , linking the ways in which we care for ourselves and the quality of attention and care we can bring to the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , created in a spirit of service to the care and regeneration of our cross-border communities is a chance for a renaissance of our local genius , in that original sense .
Genius as a pursuit of learning attended by deep care for each other and for the communities of species with whom we share our deep sense of place , and from whom we draw our stories and identities in this ( eco ) region we call the Foyle .
Those seeds of a spirit of mutual care and attention have already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular history of engagement between once hostile political traditions ( the so called “ Derry Model ” ) and can be drawn on again to co-author an inclusive vision of regeneration for our cross-border bioregion .
Something that binds all communities in our city region is an abiding sense that the tapestry of our ancestries , connections and landscapes was never fully interrupted by a line on a map .
Donegal and its Atlantic hinterlands are the spiritual commons that invite us to unlock an “ economy of regard ” and generosity encompassing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As a seat of monastic learning , Derry , Donegal and our environs have a close association with an ancient understanding of learning that has a deep integrity : a connectedness that can now be recovered if we are to work our way through the challenges presented by the social , economic and ethical crises that have become visible in ecological breakdown .
Consider , for example , how our mainstream understandings of “ economy ” have become partitioned from the deep rhythms , cycles and enlivenment of nature that ultimately sustain all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awareness , not yet reflected in most university teaching , that a “ system error ” sits at the heart of capitalist economics .
This design error is summed up in the fiction that economic activity can be partitioned from the reality of limits , or pursued without regard for the physical boundaries of our planet ’ s capacity to sustain the conditions for human life .
The ancients understood that learning and the practices of caring for our bodies and minds were inseparable .
In the Scholasticism of the High Middle Ages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a seamless integration of : lectio ( reading ) , meditation ( thinking about ) , oratio ( praying ) , and contemplation ( contemplative union ) .
Today , leading thinkers such as Byung-Chul Han issue profound and urgent calls for a modern reclamation of the “ contemplative life ” ( vita contemplative ) , lingering and slowness , lest we suffocate from our own hyper-activity , and life is reduced to mere industry and labour transformed into a commodity .
The great Quaker educationalist , Parker Palmer , summed up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Every way of knowing becomes a way of living.
” He believes that the dominant forms of learning in our institutions have spawned an associated ethic of violence associated with the scientific world view , with its emphasis on reducing the world and nature to a series of objects for manipulation and exploitation .
A new university can draw from these new insights and contribute to a renaissance founded on a new reconciliation of wellbeing and economy , meaning and human flourishing , human and ecological liberation .
As we draw from new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together , older narratives give way to a generosity that restores a will to novelty and the unexpected .
In close collaboration with Zero Waste North West , one of our most creative – locally embedded and globally connected – cross community networks of activists , Derry and Strabane District Council have embarked on a significant journey towards a circular economy .
One that will redesign our local production and consumption to bring it into line with the cycles of nature .
Acknowledging that design is the first signal of human intention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of our economic system .
It will be a long journey .
Thankfully every step is an arrival .
Regenerating our economy is now about transforming ourselves , our communities and about the ways in which we draw pleasure , rest and meaning from our lives in the here and now .
Daniel Christian Wahl , one of the intellectual authors of the “ regenerative economy ” has warned us that redesigning our industrial system of production and consumption around the circular patterns of resource and energy use that we observe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redesigning our economy .
To create a truly regenerative economy challenges us to ask deeper questions and initiate more far-reaching transformative change .
Education , research and new forms of community collaboration in the generation of new and meaningful knowledge will take centre stage in bringing about that transformation .
For Wahl living regeneratively is about going much further than merely sustaining the current economic system .
Regeneration is about living in right relationship to the dynamically evolving nested wholeness of life as a planetary process .
Wahl adds : “ Living regeneratively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or local genius ] and expressing it in service to our communities and life ’ s ongoing evolutionary journey.
” So living in ways that puts right relationships front and centre is also about being conscious of how all our thoughts , words and actions have creative agency in what will emerge from the fabric of social and ecological networks we reside in and are expressions of .
By understanding our own individual and collective ability to act and impact on life as a planetary process and our fundamental dependence on the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to understand that nurturing the health , resilience and adaptive capacity of our communities and the wider community of life is in all our enlightened self-interest .
In calling for a new university let us also re-imagine the university , with a nod to the ancients who knew well that our ways of seeking , knowing and understanding are also destined to become our ways of being in the world .
Let us re-imagine a university in a new spirit of freedom and liberation extended to our relations with all species , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the Foyle river system and all of its communities .
As Derry ’ s Holywell Trust once observed in a publication some decades ago , even an economy demands our love .

With plans to form a Shared Island unit in the Taoiseach’s Office there will be opportunities for Dublin’s new coalition government to select a number of flagship projects that can form part of a transformative legacy. One that can contribute significantly to the re-imagination of our island is a trans-border university in the North West. The region could lead the way in both pedagogical and ecological innovation as we prepare to ‘Build Back Better’ to address the impacts of both Covid-19 and the profound economic challenges of a Just Transition to address climate change.
Colm Burke TD, with some support from Simon Harris TD, has just written enthusiastically about a cross-border university dedicated to the legacy of John Hume. He wrote: “There is also great potential for a cross border university incorporating the existing colleges of higher education in the region into the structures of the university. These could include the Magee campus of the Ulster University, the Institutes of Technology in Letterkenny & Sligo, and the North West Regional College in Northern Ireland. The educational, social and economic benefits of a full university in the north west of Ireland are compelling.”
When a global spirit of liberation ignited a generation of rights activism in the 1960s, the relationship between knowledge and power was manifest in the role of universities and university students. The university issue in Derry became and remains totemic because the cultivation of knowledge can be a route to transformation when it is used to speak truth to power and liberate ethical imaginations. The civil rights demands of the 1960s and 1970s – championed by community leaders on all sides of our communities – have now been joined by an extension of our understanding of justice that incorporates care and responsibility for the earth and our island ecology.
No longer can nationalisms or unionisms get away with declaratory commitments to the land, the forests, the rivers and loughs without grounding that intention in the soil of active policies founded in a new (is)land ethic. Our ecological challenges are much more than technocratic and bureaucratic questions; they are provocations that must reach deep into our cultures, ways of knowing, being and belonging if we are to emerge anew and inhabit our shared habitat in a deep spirit of inter-dependence. Let the cry of the earth join the cry of the poor in transforming us!
The original acts of resistance in Derry were inspired by (and inspired) an emergent worldwide movement of resistance, confronting multiple forms of social exclusion and post-colonial oppression. In the same way, the current campaign for an authentic local university presence can contribute to contemporary movements of liberation, including those that refuse to partition social and ecological transformation. There can be no future in an economic project or renaissance that is not wholly imagined within “Planetary Boundaries” and thresholds that define the conditions for our lives together.
The Latin origins of the word “genius” convey more than a unique endowment of creativity and insight. Early usage referred to an “attendant spirit” or care and cultivation for our ways of understanding and acting in the world. There was an implicit ethical dimension, linking the ways in which we care for ourselves and the quality of attention and care we can bring to the world around us. A North-West trans-border University, created in a spirit of service to the care and regeneration of our cross-border communities is a chance for a renaissance of our local genius, in that original sense. Genius as a pursuit of learning attended by deep care for each other and for the communities of species with whom we share our deep sense of place, and from whom we draw our stories and identities in this (eco)region we call the Foyle. Those seeds of a spirit of mutual care and attention have already been well cultivated in Derry’s particular history of engagement between once hostile political traditions (the so called “Derry Model”) and can be drawn on again to co-author an inclusive vision of regeneration for our cross-border bioregion. Something that binds all communities in our city region is an abiding sense that the tapestry of our ancestries, connections and landscapes was never fully interrupted by a line on a map. Donegal and its Atlantic hinterlands are the spiritual commons that invite us to unlock an “economy of regard” and generosity encompassing all relationships: human and ecological.
As a seat of monastic learning, Derry, Donegal and our environs have a close association with an ancient understanding of learning that has a deep integrity: a connectedness that can now be recovered if we are to work our way through the challenges presented by the social, economic and ethical crises that have become visible in ecological breakdown. Consider, for example, how our mainstream understandings of “economy” have become partitioned from the deep rhythms, cycles and enlivenment of nature that ultimately sustain all activity. There’s a growing awareness, not yet reflected in most university teaching, that a “system error” sits at the heart of capitalist economics. This design error is summed up in the fiction that economic activity can be partitioned from the reality of limits, or pursued without regard for the physical boundaries of our planet’s capacity to sustain the conditions for human life.
The ancients understood that learning and the practices of caring for our bodies and minds were inseparable. In the Scholasticism of the High Middle Ages, the education of the monks consisted of a seamless integration of: lectio (reading), meditation (thinking about), oratio (praying), and contemplation (contemplative union). Today, leading thinkers such as Byung-Chul Han issue profound and urgent calls for a modern reclamation of the “contemplative life” (vita contemplative), lingering and slowness, lest we suffocate from our own hyper-activity, and life is reduced to mere industry and labour transformed into a commodity.
The great Quaker educationalist, Parker Palmer, summed up this insight with the words: “Every way of knowing becomes a way of living.” He believes that the dominant forms of learning in our institutions have spawned an associated ethic of violence associated with the scientific world view, with its emphasis on reducing the world and nature to a series of objects for manipulation and exploitation. A new university can draw from these new insights and contribute to a renaissance founded on a new reconciliation of wellbeing and economy, meaning and human flourishing, human and ecological liberation. As we draw from new ways of knowing, being and living together, older narratives give way to a generosity that restores a will to novelty and the unexpected.
Partitioned Knowledge and the Regenerative economy
In close collaboration with Zero Waste North West, one of our most creative – locally embedded and globally connected – cross community networks of activists, Derry and Strabane District Council have embarked on a significant journey towards a circular economy. One that will redesign our local production and consumption to bring it into line with the cycles of nature. Acknowledging that design is the first signal of human intention, the circular economy is about designing waste out of our economic system.
It will be a long journey. Thankfully every step is an arrival. Regenerating our economy is now about transforming ourselves, our communities and about the ways in which we draw pleasure, rest and meaning from our lives in the here and now.
Daniel Christian Wahl, one of the intellectual authors of the “regenerative economy” has warned us that redesigning our industrial system of production and consumption around the circular patterns of resource and energy use that we observe in mature ecosystems is only one part of redesigning our economy. To create a truly regenerative economy challenges us to ask deeper questions and initiate more far-reaching transformative change.
Education, research and new forms of community collaboration in the generation of new and meaningful knowledge will take centre stage in bringing about that transformation. For Wahl living regeneratively is about going much further than merely sustaining the current economic system. Regeneration is about living in right relationship to the dynamically evolving nested wholeness of life as a planetary process.
Wahl adds: “Living regeneratively is about finding our own uniqueness [or local genius] and expressing it in service to our communities and life’s ongoing evolutionary journey.”
So living in ways that puts right relationships front and centre is also about being conscious of how all our thoughts, words and actions have creative agency in what will emerge from the fabric of social and ecological networks we reside in and are expressions of. By understanding our own individual and collective ability to act and impact on life as a planetary process and our fundamental dependence on the health of ecosystems and planetary health, we come to understand that nurturing the health, resilience and adaptive capacity of our communities and the wider community of life is in all our enlightened self-interest.
In calling for a new university let us also re-imagine the university, with a nod to the ancients who knew well that our ways of seeking, knowing and understanding are also destined to become our ways of being in the world.
Let us re-imagine a university in a new spirit of freedom and liberation extended to our relations with all species, including those who make up this region, including the Foyle river system and all of its communities.
As Derry’s Holywell Trust once observed in a publication some decades ago, even an economy demands our love.


sluggerotoole--2020-08-28--DARVO: Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender.

Interesting take on what Martina Anderson ’ s tweet ( now duly apologised for and we understand , Martina duly balled out by her immediate superiors , whoever they may be ) meant , Fionola Meredith , adding this useful little piece of context… Here ’ s an abbreviated quote from her BelTel column… Martina Anderson may not know it , but this week the Sinn Fein MLA and former IRA bomber produced a textbook example of what psychologists call DARVO .
The acronym stands for Deny , Attack , Reverse Victim and Offender .
This is a tactic used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals and other unpleasant , manipulative people .
They frequently employ it to deflect blame from themselves and to avoid being held accountable for their actions .
Conveniently , it allows them to do or say the most appalling , contemptible things , and then turn it around so that they get to be the poor oppressed victim .
By stating that the allocation of Troubles pension money would “ discriminate , criminalise and exclude ” Ms Anderson inverted the whole situation .
Hey presto !
Now it ’ s the victims themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the state , viciously discriminating against those poor , sweet , defenceless republican ex-prisoners , criminalising and excluding them from their rightful benefits .
That Sinn Féin looks with contempt upon the victims of the campaign it continues to laud .
What ’ s reveal by Ms Anderson ’ s well structured and thought out ( yet somehow ‘ clumsy ’ ) tweet , is the degree to which Sinn Féin ’ s internal thinking is out of step with the wider population .
DARVO is the populist way… It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world over , and the Angrynomics ( blindness in the centre-ground parties to the need to tackle material inequality ) that feeds it… Photo by Anemone123 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Interesting take on what Martina Anderson’s tweet (now duly apologised for and we understand, Martina duly balled out by her immediate superiors, whoever they may be) meant, Fionola Meredith, adding this useful little piece of context…
Here’s an abbreviated quote from her BelTel column…
Martina Anderson may not know it, but this week the Sinn Fein MLA and former IRA bomber produced a textbook example of what psychologists call DARVO. The acronym stands for Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender. This is a tactic used by narcissists, emotional blackmailers, high-conflict individuals and other unpleasant, manipulative people. They frequently employ it to deflect blame from themselves and to avoid being held accountable for their actions. Conveniently, it allows them to do or say the most appalling, contemptible things, and then turn it around so that they get to be the poor oppressed victim.
She also notes..
By stating that the allocation of Troubles pension money would “discriminate, criminalise and exclude” Ms Anderson inverted the whole situation. Hey presto! Now it’s the victims themselves who are the aggressors: corrupt agents of the state, viciously discriminating against those poor, sweet, defenceless republican ex-prisoners, criminalising and excluding them from their rightful benefits.
That Sinn Féin looks with contempt upon the victims of the campaign it continues to laud. What’s reveal by Ms Anderson’s well structured and thought out (yet somehow ‘clumsy’) tweet, is the degree to which Sinn Féin’s internal thinking is out of step with the wider population.
DARVO is the populist way… It’s evident the in autocratic populist projects the world over, and the Angrynomics (blindness in the centre-ground parties to the need to tackle material inequality) that feeds it…
Photo by Anemone123 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-08-28--#TheReset: Slashing The Presenteeism Umbilical Cord…

Recent months have seen a significant change in the way we work .
On Friday 13th March 2020 , Northern Ireland ’ s workforce made their usual commute home from the office , and the majority of them haven ’ t returned since .
While a number of our local employers embraced working from home as an option for their team prior to lockdown , few of them had engaged in a remote-working-only strategy rendering their office lease and funky fit-out somewhat redundant .
While the early days of moving a team who worked almost solely in the office into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required much organisation and improvisation ( I cast my mind back to seeing my Linked In feed full of ironing boards doubling up as desks ) , those organisations who have passionately facilitated this new way of work are beginning to reap the rewards .
Almost overnight , micromanagers had the presenteeism umbilical cord slashed and were forced to focus on more quantifiable , perhaps more useful KPIs such as productivity and output .
Although there are a few organisations who remain intent on measuring time spent at the desk , companies who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the times are seeing much better results .
Going forward , those businesses who measure performance based on output achieved are likely to experience much higher productivity and even better time management as employees strive to balance home life with meaningful performance indicators .
There is also an opportunity to make the office a more collaborative space reserved for those who want to work together on a project or host meetings and training with the team .
Time in the office has become much more intentional and purpose-driven meaning that people are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they could ultimately have done at home .
On the face of it , this may seem like a loss for local coffee shops , restaurants and even public transport however as the dust settles over the new way of working , we realize that working remotely doesn ’ t necessarily mean working from home and many will choose to work from a local coffee shop or hot-desking space thus continuing to contribute to the economy , albeit in a different way .
There could also be a considerable lift to those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Many local organisations fear that the rise of remote working may deplete the talent pool , as many of our young professionals now have the option to enjoy the best of both worlds , combining the Northern Ireland lifestyle with working for an international company .
However , this is an opportunity for our organisations to up their game and properly communicate the benefits of choosing them as an employer to their ideal candidates .
Additionally , they can also take advantage of a global workforce by employing international candidates and diaspora @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from home felt somewhat disorganised and ( as my granny would say ) a bit through-other in the beginning , it really is an opportunity for local businesses to reset their way of working .
It is important for employers to reflect on their core objectives and exactly how their workforce should contribute to these .
This post is part of our # TheReset series in association with Ulster Bank Photo by Anrita1705 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

Recent months have seen a significant change in the way we work. On Friday 13th March 2020, Northern Ireland’s workforce made their usual commute home from the office, and the majority of them haven’t returned since. While a number of our local employers embraced working from home as an option for their team prior to lockdown, few of them had engaged in a remote-working-only strategy rendering their office lease and funky fit-out somewhat redundant.
While the early days of moving a team who worked almost solely in the office into their respective homes was a challenge which required much organisation and improvisation (I cast my mind back to seeing my Linked In feed full of ironing boards doubling up as desks), those organisations who have passionately facilitated this new way of work are beginning to reap the rewards.
Almost overnight, micromanagers had the presenteeism umbilical cord slashed and were forced to focus on more quantifiable, perhaps more useful KPIs such as productivity and output. Although there are a few organisations who remain intent on measuring time spent at the desk, companies who have refined their KPIs in line with the times are seeing much better results. Going forward, those businesses who measure performance based on output achieved are likely to experience much higher productivity and even better time management as employees strive to balance home life with meaningful performance indicators.
There is also an opportunity to make the office a more collaborative space reserved for those who want to work together on a project or host meetings and training with the team. Time in the office has become much more intentional and purpose-driven meaning that people are not spending valuable hours commuting to do something that they could ultimately have done at home. On the face of it, this may seem like a loss for local coffee shops, restaurants and even public transport however as the dust settles over the new way of working, we realize that working remotely doesn’t necessarily mean working from home and many will choose to work from a local coffee shop or hot-desking space thus continuing to contribute to the economy, albeit in a different way. There could also be a considerable lift to those rural and ‘commuter’ town economies.
Many local organisations fear that the rise of remote working may deplete the talent pool, as many of our young professionals now have the option to enjoy the best of both worlds, combining the Northern Ireland lifestyle with working for an international company. However, this is an opportunity for our organisations to up their game and properly communicate the benefits of choosing them as an employer to their ideal candidates. Additionally, they can also take advantage of a global workforce by employing international candidates and diaspora on a remote basis.
Although working from home felt somewhat disorganised and (as my granny would say) a bit through-other in the beginning, it really is an opportunity for local businesses to reset their way of working. It is important for employers to reflect on their core objectives and exactly how their workforce should contribute to these.
This post is part of our #TheReset series in association with Ulster Bank
Photo by Anrita1705 is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-08-29--#InConversation Podcast with Professor David Rooney from Queen’s about renewable energy and electric

#InConversation Podcast with Professor David Rooney from Queen’s about renewable energy and electric cars…

David Rooney is a Professor in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen ’ s University Belfast .
@ @ @ @ @ chat about improvements in battery technology and how this will affect the growth of electric @ @ @ @ @ Hydrogen as a fuel source for transport .
Already nearly 50 % of the electricity @ @ @ @ @ from renewable sources and this figure will continue to rise .
We discuss new ways @ @ @ @ @ anaerobic digestion and energy from waste .
This mix of energy sources provides a challenge @ @ @ @ @ to manage it all .
There are practical issues like a lot of renewable energy @ @ @ @ @ of NI , but it is mostly used in the Belfast area .
We need @ @ @ @ @ as well as reconsider projects like the interconnector .
Let me know what you think @ @ @ @ @ comments .
You can subscribe to Slugger Podcasts on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts or @

David Rooney is a Professor in the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Queen’s University Belfast.
In this podcast, we chat about improvements in battery technology and how this will affect the growth of electric cars. We also discuss Hydrogen as a fuel source for transport.
Already nearly 50% of the electricity generated in Northern Ireland comes from renewable sources and this figure will continue to rise. We discuss new ways of generating electric such as anaerobic digestion and energy from waste. This mix of energy sources provides a challenge to the grid of how to manage it all. There are practical issues like a lot of renewable energy is generated in the West of NI, but it is mostly used in the Belfast area. We need to improve the transmission network as well as reconsider projects like the interconnector.
Powered by RedCircle
Let me know what you think of the chat in the comments.
You can subscribe to Slugger Podcasts on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts or Spotify


sluggerotoole--2020-08-29--RIP Sir Ken Robinson: may your creative spirit inspire us to change…

This week I was challenged by a comment on this platform which claimed that studies over the last 35 years have shown that intelligence is largely ‘ innate.
’ In simpler terms it is implied that intelligence is the sum of genetic characteristics which give some individuals natural advantage ( or “ talent ” ) over others no matter what environmental factors are applied – i.e .
education , health or nutrition .
I struggled greatly with this , as in our age of fake news and ‘ feeling ’ politics I am determined to maintain an empirical outlook which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ biology teacher stressed greatly in our evolution lessons that educational ability was not innate , I sensed because of the history of eugenics which saw an apex in unethical scientific methodologies that this was as inspired by good intention as it was by empirical data .
Last week the great educator Sir Kenneth Robinson passed away .
In homage to his lifelong worth , his radical educational outlook and his unquestionable charisma , the TED talks daily feed replayed an old lecture by Robinson in 2006 .
In it he pokes fun at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational systems , that educators are preparing children for the future when in fact none of us can predict even the next five years .
On the matter of intelligence , he said three things which struck me : We know three things about intelligence .
One , it ’ s diverse .
We think about the world in all the ways that we experience it .
We think visually , we think in sound , we think kinaesthetically .
We think in abstract terms , we think in movement .
Secondly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the interactions of a human brain , as we heard yesterday from a number of presentations , intelligence is wonderfully interactive .
The brain isn ’ t divided into compartments .
In fact , creativity — which I define as the process of having original ideas that have value — more often than not comes about through the interaction of different disciplinary ways of seeing things .
This linear view we have been stuck with since the beginning of the industrial age has , Robinson argues , stifled creativity .
He contended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that the system of education to varying degrees drills this out of us at a very early age .
He didn ’ t see ‘ grade inflation ’ as a measure of continuous improvement ( which as a sidebar point I still do believe in ) but rather a failure of our skills training system .
Sir Kenneth Robinson has now left us but his radical ideas and capacity to study talent in all its forms without fear , favour or prejudice is the kind of thinking we need to meet the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic has accelerated an already looming crisis in productivity , automation , working in remote environments , heavy burdens on communications infrastructure and fundamentally how we educate ourselves and children in society .
RIP Sir Ken , may your words inspire us through the ages : What TED celebrates is the gift of the human imagination .
We have to be careful now that we use this gift wisely , and that we avert some of the scenarios that we ’ ve talked about .
And the only way we ’ ll do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the richness they are and seeing our children for the hope that they are .
And our task is to educate their whole being , so they can face this future .
By the way — we may not see this future , but they will .
And our job is to help them make something of it .
“ Sir Ken Robinson @ The Creative Company Conference ” by Sebastiaan ter Burg is licensed under CC BY-SA

This week I was challenged by a comment on this platform which claimed that studies over the last 35 years have shown that intelligence is largely ‘innate.’ In simpler terms it is implied that intelligence is the sum of genetic characteristics which give some individuals natural advantage (or “talent”) over others no matter what environmental factors are applied – i.e. education, health or nutrition.
I struggled greatly with this, as in our age of fake news and ‘feeling’ politics I am determined to maintain an empirical outlook which is science based. My secondary school biology teacher stressed greatly in our evolution lessons that educational ability was not innate, I sensed because of the history of eugenics which saw an apex in unethical scientific methodologies that this was as inspired by good intention as it was by empirical data.
Last week the great educator Sir Kenneth Robinson passed away. In homage to his lifelong worth, his radical educational outlook and his unquestionable charisma, the TED talks daily feed replayed an old lecture by Robinson in 2006. In it he pokes fun at the paradox at the heart of modern educational systems, that educators are preparing children for the future when in fact none of us can predict even the next five years.
On the matter of intelligence, he said three things which struck me:
We know three things about intelligence. One, it’s diverse. We think about the world in all the ways that we experience it. We think visually, we think in sound, we think kinaesthetically. We think in abstract terms, we think in movement. Secondly, intelligence is dynamic. If you look at the interactions of a human brain, as we heard yesterday from a number of presentations, intelligence is wonderfully interactive. The brain isn’t divided into compartments. In fact, creativity — which I define as the process of having original ideas that have value — more often than not comes about through the interaction of different disciplinary ways of seeing things.
…And the third thing about intelligence is, it’s distinct.
This linear view we have been stuck with since the beginning of the industrial age has, Robinson argues, stifled creativity. He contended quite strongly that we are all creative and that the system of education to varying degrees drills this out of us at a very early age. He didn’t see ‘grade inflation’ as a measure of continuous improvement (which as a sidebar point I still do believe in) but rather a failure of our skills training system.
Sir Kenneth Robinson has now left us but his radical ideas and capacity to study talent in all its forms without fear, favour or prejudice is the kind of thinking we need to meet the challenges of the next age. The pandemic has accelerated an already looming crisis in productivity, automation, working in remote environments, heavy burdens on communications infrastructure and fundamentally how we educate ourselves and children in society. RIP Sir Ken, may your words inspire us through the ages:
What TED celebrates is the gift of the human imagination. We have to be careful now that we use this gift wisely, and that we avert some of the scenarios that we’ve talked about. And the only way we’ll do it is by seeing our creative capacities for the richness they are and seeing our children for the hope that they are. And our task is to educate their whole being, so they can face this future. By the way — we may not see this future, but they will. And our job is to help them make something of it.
“Sir Ken Robinson @ The Creative Company Conference” by Sebastiaan ter Burg is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-08-29--United pressure on Sinn Féin may be needed to break the legacy payments deadlock. Their own will ben

United pressure on Sinn Féin may be needed to break the legacy payments deadlock. Their own will benefit

Has Martina Anderson ’ s outburst distracted attention away from the substantive issue of the legacy payments deadlock , or given a boost to resolving it , following the court case requiring Michelle O ’ Neill in effect to remove her veto it or exercise her option to resign ?
The scheme covers violence related to the Northern Ireland Troubles between 1966 and 2010 , including incidents in Great Britain and Europe.. .
People will get between £2,000 and £10,000 a year for the rest of their lives .
Upon their death , a spouse or carer , will get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The scheme is a recognition that criminal injuries awards from decades ago were largely inadequate .
Justice has been nominated as the sponsoring department through which payments would be made , but a money resolution of the Assembly is still needed to implement it .
The issue has since gone ominously quiet .
Is this the calm before another storm that could again threaten the Assembly ’ s existence ?
Sinn Féin thrown on the defensive is no guarantee of their giving way .
More likely the parties are still mulling over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thicket of issues which by their nature can not all be cut and dried before implementation .
Most injured former IRA members , including those with serious convictions , can expect to qualify for the pension .
They will not qualify if they injured themselves but that is an exclusion that applies to everyone .
Nearly all will if being ‘ pro peace process ’ is judged to meet the “ positive behaviour ” threshold in the guidelines .
Troubles pension may only be judged “ inappropriate ” where an applicant has either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ b ) seriously injured/killed another person and not demonstrated “ remorse , restitution or positive behaviour since ” .
“ Continuing disregard for the law ” is also considered .
The conditions will mainly catch active dissidents and loyalists.. Perhaps what is driving this persistent misrepresentation of the scheme is that even Sinn Féin realises it can not justify holding payments up for thousands of victims in order to fight a narrative battle around a handful of extreme cases As Allison Morris of the Irish News points out , the traumatised bereaved and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t witness the attack regardless how serious , are ruled out completely .
A new Victims Commissioner will not be allowed to let that pass .
As the BBC ’ s Julian O ’ Neill reports in a fact file , the source of funding a notional £800 million is the still the subject of a tussle between Westminster and Stormont .
The total bill is bound to be an estimate until applications have been made and the total number granted with each amount is known .
Neither administration wants to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious obstacles look like being gradually and quietly removed Although the ex UU MP and ex service man Danny Kinahan has been appointed to the new a new post of Veterans Commissioner , Sinn Fein have not supported Anderson ’ s claim that the security forces will be given preferential treatment Objections to the UK government ’ s proposal for a “ desk top review ” of security forces cases have been muted .
The transitional justice team of local academics have declared that the process would be human rights compliant provided legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a prison sentence to follow .
If Sinn Fein were to remain obdurate , pressure should be exerted on them by all the other parties uniting to move an Assembly resolution approving a funding resolution in principle to trigger the payments , shaming them into compliance , if only for the sake of hundreds of their own supporters .

dFM Michelle O’Neill, Sinn Féin
Has Martina Anderson’s outburst distracted attention away from the substantive issue of the legacy payments deadlock, or given a boost to resolving it, following the court case requiring Michelle O’Neill in effect to remove her veto or exercise her option to resign?
The scheme covers violence related to the Northern Ireland Troubles between 1966 and 2010, including incidents in Great Britain and Europe.. . People will get between £2,000 and £10,000 a year for the rest of their lives. Upon their death, a spouse or carer, will get the payments for a further 10 years. The scheme is a recognition that criminal injuries awards from decades ago were largely inadequate.
Justice has been nominated as the sponsoring department through which payments would be made, but a money resolution of the Assembly is still needed to implement it. The issue has since gone ominously quiet. Is this the calm before another storm that could again threaten the Assembly’s existence? Sinn Féin thrown on the defensive is no guarantee of their giving way.
More likely the parties are still mulling over their next move for cutting through the thicket of issues which by their nature cannot all be cut and dried before implementation.
Newton Emerson has demolished Sinn Féin’s specific objections.
Most injured former IRA members, including those with serious convictions, can expect to qualify for the pension. They will not qualify if they injured themselves but that is an exclusion that applies to everyone.
Nearly all will if being ‘pro peace process’ is judged to meet the “positive behaviour” threshold in the guidelines. Troubles pension may only be judged “inappropriate” where an applicant has either (a) injured themselves or (b) seriously injured/killed another person and not demonstrated “remorse, restitution or positive behaviour since”. “Continuing disregard for the law” is also considered. The conditions will mainly catch active dissidents and loyalists..
Perhaps what is driving this persistent misrepresentation of the scheme is that even Sinn Féin realises it cannot justify holding payments up for thousands of victims in order to fight a narrative battle around a handful of extreme cases
As Allison Morris of the Irish News points out, the traumatised bereaved and others suffering “ secondary trauma” who didn’t witness the attack regardless of how serious, are ruled out completely. A new Victims Commissioner will not be allowed to let that pass.
As the BBC’s Julian O’Neill reports in a fact file, the source of funding a notional £800 million is the still the subject of a tussle between Westminster and Stormont. The total bill is bound to be an estimate until applications have been made and the total number granted with each amount is known. Neither administration wants to write a blank cheque.
Still, serious obstacles look like being gradually and quietly removed
Although the ex UU MP and ex service man Danny Kinahan has been appointed to the new a new post of Veterans Commissioner, Sinn Fein have not supported Anderson’s claim that the security forces will be given preferential treatment
Objections to the UK government’s proposal for a “ desk top review” of security forces cases have been muted. The transitional justice team of local academics have declared that the process would be human rights compliant provided legal process was fulfilled, even with immunity from a prison sentence to follow.
If Sinn Fein were to remain obdurate, pressure should be exerted on them by all the other parties uniting to move an Assembly resolution approving a funding resolution in principle to trigger the payments, shaming them into compliance, if only for the sake of hundreds of their own supporters.


sluggerotoole--2020-08-30--Speech Wars: Trump v Biden…

Speech Wars: Trump v Biden…

Both speeches of the two US presidential candidates at their respective party ’ s national convention accepting their party ’ s nomination are very different , only sharing a few similarities .
Both Trump and Biden believe the upcoming US presidential election will be the most important of all – though don ’ t all candidates say that ?
They say this for different reasons , though : For Trump , “ this election will decide if we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny… whether we rapidly create millions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industries and send millions of these jobs overseas… whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists and agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens… whether we will defend the American way of life or allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it.
” For Biden , “ we can choose the path of becoming angrier , less hopeful , and more divided .
A path of shadow and suspicion .
Or we can choose a different path , and together , take this chance to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unite .
A path of hope and light… Character is on the ballot .
Compassion is on the ballot .
Decency , science , democracy.
” Trump ’ s speech was over an hour long ; Biden ’ s in about 25 minutes .
Trump took an unorthodox approach to hold his outside the White House , descending from a fairytale-style stairway to US patriotic music with minimal adherence to social-distancing and little wearing of face coverings among his 1,500-2,000 invited guests , climaxing in fireworks lighting up the night sky and opera @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s was virtual .
Trump ’ s speech was over 6,000 words long ; Biden ’ s over 3,000 .
Biden ’ s speech was a lot better delivered and crisper in its efficiency of words used and coherency of message , making it a speech very quotable for headlines and highlights for the media to report ; while Trump ’ s was very repetitive and rambling in enforcing and reinforcing his key themes , which would be better if you were listening to it live , though I often found my attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommend keeping a speech to about 20 minutes or so for this reason ) .
Even as I type this , I ’ m often shortening Trump ’ s quotes as they are overly long and clumsily put together .
Similarities in both speeches were the eagle-headed American flags orderly lined up as a backdrop to both candidates delivering a scripted , prepared speech through use of a teleprompter .
Both candidates are using flags and references to God to appeal to American national identity , as they describe what their America looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the worst light , with Trump describing Biden as “ the destroyer of America ’ s jobs ” , claiming he “ spent his entire career outsourcing their dreams and the dreams of American workers , offshoring their jobs , opening their borders and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign war ” while Biden describes Trump as a “ President who takes no responsibility , refuses to lead , blames others , cosies up to dictators , and fans the flames of hate and division .
He will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all about him .
Never about you.
” In terms of vision , Trump ’ s America “ is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world .
Our country wasn ’ t built by cancel culture , speech codes , and crushing conformity .
We are not a nation of timid spirits .
We are a nation of fierce , proud , and independent American patriots… no matter where your family comes from , no matter your background in America , anyone can rise with hard work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can reach any goal and achieve every ambition .
Biden ’ s America in contrast is “ is generous and strong .
Selfless and humble .
It ’ s an America we can rebuild together .
To open the doors of opportunity to all Americans .
To save our democracy .
To be a light to the world once again.
” Trump ’ s speech was a lot more negative in tone , despite serving as President .
While he made some references to his self-proclaimed achievements in office such as withdrawing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the creation of the US Space Force and the building of closer ties to Israel , he spent a lot more time attacking Biden as a “ Trojan horse for socialism ” , bizarrely claiming his “ agenda is made in China ” , implying Biden would be the weaker candidate in terms of dealing with China and the hard left within the Democratic Party .
Biden ’ s speech , as the challenger , was more positive in tone .
While he rubbished Trump ’ s term in office on his handling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job losses , he quoted the Irish poet Seamus Heaney and promised to listen to scientific advice on dealing with the pandemic , pledging to “ have a national mandate to wear a mask ” and that he will not “ put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise – voting ” with reference to Russia .
The themes of both speeches were in stark contrast to one another .
Trump positioned himself as the President of “ law and order ” , claiming he is on the side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledging to keep America safe from what he sees as internal and external threats while claiming to create and protect jobs .
Biden on the other hand focused on recognising the socioeconomic inequalities for minority communities in America and pledged to “ stand always for our values of human rights and dignity .
And I will work in common purpose for a more secure , peaceful , and prosperous world.
” It ’ s of no surprise that each candidate plays to the political psychology of their voters and those likely to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minority in Trump ’ s America , you might feel wronged and unrepresented by the current Trump administration , and so will find Biden ’ s speech of hope and change more appealing as it has been proven in political research the left respond better to messages of hope that aspire towards social justice .
The right however respond better to messages that promise security against what they fear as threats to their position , which Trump plays to .
Though in the case of the Coronavirus pandemic , the US left seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US right , possibly because they see minority communities being more disadvantaged by it than majority communities .
In this instance , Trump has warned if Biden becomes President , the US could see a shutdown , which is a reference to Biden speaking hypothetically where he said he would initiate a shutdown if scientists recommended it – not that he will actually do it if he becomes President .
This was one of many of Trump ’ s misleading claims against Biden , of which there are too many to type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommend referring to other articles for a fact-check breakdown .
Whether Trump or Biden win the US Presidency in November 2020 is about as uncertain as Trump ’ s claim to “ have a safe and effective vaccine this year ” to “ crush the virus [ Covid-19 ] .
” I will let you ponder on both points .
What did you think of both candidates ’ speeches ?
“ Joe Biden ” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA

Both speeches of the two US presidential candidates at their respective party’s national convention accepting their party’s nomination are very different, only sharing a few similarities. Both Trump and Biden believe the upcoming US presidential election will be the most important of all – though don’t all candidates say that? They say this for different reasons, though:
For Trump, “this election will decide if we save the American dream or whether we allow a socialist agenda to demolish our cherished destiny… whether we rapidly create millions of high-paying jobs or whether we crush our industries and send millions of these jobs overseas… whether we protect law-abiding Americans or whether we give free rein to violent anarchists and agitators and criminals who threaten our citizens… whether we will defend the American way of life or allow a radical movement to completely dismantle and destroy it.”
For Biden, “we can choose the path of becoming angrier, less hopeful, and more divided. A path of shadow and suspicion. Or we can choose a different path, and together, take this chance to heal, to be reborn, to unite. A path of hope and light… Character is on the ballot. Compassion is on the ballot. Decency, science, democracy.”
Trump’s speech was over an hour long; Biden’s in about 25 minutes. Trump took an unorthodox approach to hold his outside the White House, descending from a fairytale-style stairway to US patriotic music with minimal adherence to social-distancing and little wearing of face coverings among his 1,500-2,000 invited guests, climaxing in fireworks lighting up the night sky and opera singing enthralling the crowd; Biden’s was virtual. Trump’s speech was over 6,000 words long; Biden’s over 3,000.
Biden’s speech was a lot better delivered and crisper in its efficiency of words used and coherency of message, making it a speech very quotable for headlines and highlights for the media to report; while Trump’s was very repetitive and rambling in enforcing and reinforcing his key themes, which would be better if you were listening to it live, though I often found my attention drifting at times (communication experts often recommend keeping a speech to about 20 minutes or so for this reason). Even as I type this, I’m often shortening Trump’s quotes as they are overly long and clumsily put together.
Similarities in both speeches were the eagle-headed American flags orderly lined up as a backdrop to both candidates delivering a scripted, prepared speech through use of a teleprompter. Both candidates are using flags and references to God to appeal to American national identity, as they describe what their America looks like.
Both candidates painted each other in the worst light, with Trump describing Biden as “the destroyer of America’s jobs”, claiming he “spent his entire career outsourcing their dreams and the dreams of American workers, offshoring their jobs, opening their borders and sending their sons and daughters to fight in endless foreign war” while Biden describes Trump as a “President who takes no responsibility, refuses to lead, blames others, cosies up to dictators, and fans the flames of hate and division. He will wake up every day believing the job is all about him. Never about you.”
In terms of vision, Trump’s America “is the greatest and most exceptional nation in the history of the world. Our country wasn’t built by cancel culture, speech codes, and crushing conformity. We are not a nation of timid spirits. We are a nation of fierce, proud, and independent American patriots… no matter where your family comes from, no matter your background in America, anyone can rise with hard work, devotion, and drive. You can reach any goal and achieve every ambition.
Biden’s America in contrast is “is generous and strong. Selfless and humble. It’s an America we can rebuild together. To open the doors of opportunity to all Americans. To save our democracy. To be a light to the world once again.”
Trump’s speech was a lot more negative in tone, despite serving as President. While he made some references to his self-proclaimed achievements in office such as withdrawing the USA from the Iran nuclear deal, the creation of the US Space Force and the building of closer ties to Israel, he spent a lot more time attacking Biden as a “Trojan horse for socialism”, bizarrely claiming his “agenda is made in China”, implying Biden would be the weaker candidate in terms of dealing with China and the hard left within the Democratic Party.
Biden’s speech, as the challenger, was more positive in tone. While he rubbished Trump’s term in office on his handling of the Coronavirus pandemic and the resulting job losses, he quoted the Irish poet Seamus Heaney and promised to listen to scientific advice on dealing with the pandemic, pledging to “have a national mandate to wear a mask” and that he will not “put up with foreign interference in our most sacred democratic exercise – voting” with reference to Russia.
The themes of both speeches were in stark contrast to one another. Trump positioned himself as the President of “law and order”, claiming he is on the side of law enforcement and US Border Patrol, pledging to keep America safe from what he sees as internal and external threats while claiming to create and protect jobs. Biden on the other hand focused on recognising the socioeconomic inequalities for minority communities in America and pledged to “stand always for our values of human rights and dignity. And I will work in common purpose for a more secure, peaceful, and prosperous world.”
It’s of no surprise that each candidate plays to the political psychology of their voters and those likely to vote for them. If you are a minority in Trump’s America, you might feel wronged and unrepresented by the current Trump administration, and so will find Biden’s speech of hope and change more appealing as it has been proven in political research the left respond better to messages of hope that aspire towards social justice. The right however respond better to messages that promise security against what they fear as threats to their position, which Trump plays to.
Though in the case of the Coronavirus pandemic, the US left seem to be more concerned about it than the US right, possibly because they see minority communities being more disadvantaged by it than majority communities. In this instance, Trump has warned if Biden becomes President, the US could see a shutdown, which is a reference to Biden speaking hypothetically where he said he would initiate a shutdown if scientists recommended it – not that he will actually do it if he becomes President. This was one of many of Trump’s misleading claims against Biden, of which there are too many to type about in this article and I would recommend referring to other articles for a fact-check breakdown.
Whether Trump or Biden win the US Presidency in November 2020 is about as uncertain as Trump’s claim to “have a safe and effective vaccine this year” to “crush the virus [Covid-19].” I will let you ponder on both points. What did you think of both candidates’ speeches?
“Joe Biden” by Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-08-30--The grim new world of the COVID-19 cinema experience…

I went to the cinema on Friday to see Tenet .
It was the first time I had been in a cinema since February and I was curious to see what the new COVID-19 cinema experience is like .
The film was at 2pm in my local Omniplex so I rocked up at ten to 2 and that ’ s when I ran into the first problem .
When I asked the woman behind the counter for a ticket she informed me you can no longer buy tickets at the counter .
You need to preorder online .
The woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not see what risk there was selling me a ticket and me paying by contactless .
The Omniplex also has about 5 touchscreen ticket kiosks but they are also turned off under this new regime .
But no problem , I thought as I whipped out my phone , only to discover the next issue .
You can only book up to 20 minutes ahead so I needed to book for the next showing .
This is despite the fact that you need to sit through at least 20 minutes of ads and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on .
The booking process on the Omniplex site is woeful .
My day job is creating websites so having to endure the terrible user experience of trying to register an account , select the film and pay just added to my growing anger .
Eventually , after ten minutes I got my ticket booked and I was able to join the other 4 people in the theatre .
On a related note , why do Omniplex not sell tea or coffee ?
I don ’ t want a gallon of coke , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tenet is a huge disappointment .
The plot is all over the place : I won ’ t even try to explain it to you .
The big issue with the movie is the terrible audio mixing that makes the dialogue next to impossible to hear at times .
But the main issue was that the movie was incredibly LOUD – deafening loud .
I had to go out and ask the manager to check the sound levels , which to be fair she did .
I thought it was just me but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online complaining about the sound .
Christopher Nolan is a famously controlling director so I can only assume he thought the deafening cacophony would somehow add to the disorientating vibe of the movie .
I know Christopher Nolan has complete control as his movies usually make bucket loads of cash but someone at Warner Bros really needs to do an intervention and insist he makes something comprehensible for his next outing .
I really feel sorry for cinemas .
There is no way they can survive on these low levels of customer numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience is just not there .
It ’ s hard to enter the escapist world of film when you have the worry of picking up the plague constantly in the back of your mind .
I suspect most people will be sticking to the sofa .
There are some great shows on streaming at the moment that you can enjoy in the safety of your own living room .
You can pause it to go for a wee and most importantly you can control the sound .
I predict more films will just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor old traditional cinemas will be no more .
Once this is all over I think the cinemas that will survive will be the ones that offer a unique experience and a sense of community .
The QFT is a perfect example .
The best thing the government could do is to come up with some way of letting cinemas , theatres and other live venues go into some kind of suspended animation until all this is over .
PS : If anyone from Omniplex reads this I am more than happy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make their online booking better , they can reach me at [ email protected ] Photo by Clem Onojeghuo is licensed under CC0

I went to the cinema on Friday to see Tenet. It was the first time I had been in a cinema since February and I was curious to see what the new COVID-19 cinema experience is like.
The film was at 2pm in my local Omniplex so I rocked up at ten to 2 and that’s when I ran into the first problem. When I asked the woman behind the counter for a ticket she informed me you can no longer buy tickets at the counter. You need to preorder online. The woman was behind a screen so I could not see what risk there was selling me a ticket and me paying by contactless. The Omniplex also has about 5 touchscreen ticket kiosks but they are also turned off under this new regime.
But no problem, I thought as I whipped out my phone, only to discover the next issue. You can only book up to 20 minutes ahead so I needed to book for the next showing. This is despite the fact that you need to sit through at least 20 minutes of ads and trailers these days before the movie comes on.
The booking process on the Omniplex site is woeful. My day job is creating websites so having to endure the terrible user experience of trying to register an account, select the film and pay just added to my growing anger. Eventually, after ten minutes I got my ticket booked and I was able to join the other 4 people in the theatre.
On a related note, why do Omniplex not sell tea or coffee? I don’t want a gallon of coke, I want a cup of tea.
Tenet is a huge disappointment. The plot is all over the place: I won’t even try to explain it to you. The big issue with the movie is the terrible audio mixing that makes the dialogue next to impossible to hear at times. But the main issue was that the movie was incredibly LOUD – deafening loud. I had to go out and ask the manager to check the sound levels, which to be fair she did. I thought it was just me but there’s a lot of people online complaining about the sound. Christopher Nolan is a famously controlling director so I can only assume he thought the deafening cacophony would somehow add to the disorientating vibe of the movie.
I know Christopher Nolan has complete control as his movies usually make bucket loads of cash but someone at Warner Bros really needs to do an intervention and insist he makes something comprehensible for his next outing.
I really feel sorry for cinemas. There is no way they can survive on these low levels of customer numbers. Worse than that the traditional cinema experience is just not there. It’s hard to enter the escapist world of film when you have the worry of picking up the plague constantly in the back of your mind.
I suspect most people will be sticking to the sofa. There are some great shows on streaming at the moment that you can enjoy in the safety of your own living room. You can pause it to go for a wee and most importantly you can control the sound.
I predict more films will just go straight to selling online and the poor old traditional cinemas will be no more. Once this is all over I think the cinemas that will survive will be the ones that offer a unique experience and a sense of community. The QFT is a perfect example.
The best thing the government could do is to come up with some way of letting cinemas, theatres and other live venues go into some kind of suspended animation until all this is over.
PS: If anyone from Omniplex reads this I am more than happy to give them some free advice on how to make their online booking better, they can reach me at [email protected]
Photo by Clem Onojeghuo is licensed under CC0


sluggerotoole--2020-09-01--The schools are back, but for how long?

The schools are back, but for how long?

At last , the moment parents have been waiting for – the kids are back at school .
There may be lots of new rules , visors and more alcohol than a party conference but the main thing is they are back .
It has been a hard aul slog these past few months trying to keep the kids entertained at home .
Homeschooling was a complete head wreck for both children and parents .
Whatever teachers get paid it is not enough – give them whatever they want I say .
More money , Nespresso machines in the staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep the gates open .
We have no idea if there is going to be a second wave , but we can take comfort in the fact Covid-19 does not seem to affect healthy kids .
Off course there is the risk that they will bring home the bug and pass it on to the rest of us , but life is risk .
Schools have been opened in other parts of Europe with no major ill effects so hopefully , that will be the case with us .
I do worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will all be sent home for 2 weeks , but all you can do is take every day as it comes .
I am not as jubilant as I imagined .
I had plans to clear out the house this week and get back into some work but to be honest I feel knackered .
Dr Google tells me this is likely to be an anxiety hangover .
We have all been living so much on our nerves that past 6 months that when things start to get more back to normal you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t feel bad if your emotions are all over the place , these are strange times we are living in .
“ Children at school ” by Lupuca is licensed under CC BY-SA

At last, the moment parents have been waiting for – the kids are back at school. There may be lots of new rules, visors and more alcohol than a party conference but the main thing is they are back.
It has been a hard aul slog these past few months trying to keep the kids entertained at home. Homeschooling was a complete head wreck for both children and parents. Whatever teachers get paid it is not enough – give them whatever they want I say. More money, Nespresso machines in the staff room, hot tubs whatever they need to keep the gates open.
We have no idea if there is going to be a second wave, but we can take comfort in the fact Covid-19 does not seem to affect healthy kids. Off course there is the risk that they will bring home the bug and pass it on to the rest of us, but life is risk. Schools have been opened in other parts of Europe with no major ill effects so hopefully, that will be the case with us.
I do worry the first time a kid sneezes they will all be sent home for 2 weeks, but all you can do is take every day as it comes.
I am not as jubilant as I imagined. I had plans to clear out the house this week and get back into some work but to be honest I feel knackered. Dr Google tells me this is likely to be an anxiety hangover. We have all been living so much on our nerves that past 6 months that when things start to get more back to normal you get a massive crash. So don’t feel bad if your emotions are all over the place, these are strange times we are living in.
“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.” ― Jon Kabat-Zinn
“Children at school” by Lupuca is licensed under CC BY-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-09-02--#TheReset: Time to wake up to Covid’s economic challenges and get beyond our long sleepy capture by

#TheReset: Time to wake up to Covid’s economic challenges and get beyond our long sleepy capture by the Status Quo…

And after a brief break after the first series of the Cargo Of Bricks , we start the second series in partnership with Ulster Bank with a brief introduction from Richard Ramsey to the Reset Project , an overview of where Northern Ireland finds itself regarding Covid and how to get involved in # TheReset .
In it he covers… • How politicians need to take heart from their ability to work under the pressure of the crisis and change things that needed changing , now to take urgent but unpopular decisions and actually see their popularity rise as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from right across the field .
• During the debt crisis of 2008/9 Northern Ireland experienced the deepest and the longest recession of any part of the UK .
We needed a conversation then , which subsequently failed to happen .
The contraction this time is three times larger .
We can no longer duck that conversation .
• If our elderly are on the frontline of the health emergency , our young people are on the frontline of the economic emergency .
Youth employment is set to rise to unprecedently levels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , throw off our ‘ capture ’ by the status quo , and find new ways to mitigate those effects .
The crisis has revealed many of the underlying conditions that have been holding Northern Ireland back .
Serious deficits in infrastructure , the highest rate of unqualified students leaving school , and the longest health waiting lists in the UK .
Few of us want to return to that status quo .
We are short of new ideas and perhaps the confidence to invest in those ideas across the piece .
Like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interconnected so much of what needs to happen is to gather better intelligence from experts and ordinary citizens ( young and old ) about the best ways to proceed .
So , over the next two months or so , we want to hear from as many voices as we can , to help us set the context for positive actions , to examine latent opportunities for rising to the challenges of the future , drawing from the positive can-do approaches of the last six months .
We ’ ll look to co-operate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new voices to the forefront , particularly of younger people most likely to be profoundly affected not just by future change but a wider refusal to contemplate such changes that can mitigate or even improve long term outcomes .
If you would like to get involved in # TheReset , either as an individual or as part of an organisation , please do get in touch by emailing us at [ email protected ] with an idea for inclusion in a range of articles or events over September and October .
In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Bricks and In Conversation and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you get your quality podcasts .

And after a brief break after the first series of the Cargo Of Bricks, we start the second series in partnership with Ulster Bank with a brief introduction from Richard Ramsey to the Reset Project, an overview of where Northern Ireland finds itself regarding Covid and how to get involved in #TheReset.
Powered by RedCircle
In it he covers…
How politicians need to take heart from their ability to work under the pressure of the crisis and change things that needed changing, now to take urgent but unpopular decisions and actually see their popularity rise as a result. And how leadership has come from right across the field.
During the debt crisis of 2008/9 Northern Ireland experienced the deepest and the longest recession of any part of the UK. We needed a conversation then, which subsequently failed to happen. The contraction this time is three times larger. We can no longer duck that conversation.
If our elderly are on the frontline of the health emergency, our young people are on the frontline of the economic emergency. Youth employment is set to rise to unprecedently levels. He urges us all to wake up, throw off our ‘capture’ by the status quo, and find new ways to mitigate those effects.
The crisis has revealed many of the underlying conditions that have been holding Northern Ireland back. Serious deficits in infrastructure, the highest rate of unqualified students leaving school, and the longest health waiting lists in the UK. Few of us want to return to that status quo.
We are short of new ideas and perhaps the confidence to invest in those ideas across the piece. Like all wicked problems blocking issues can be interconnected so much of what needs to happen is to gather better intelligence from experts and ordinary citizens (young and old) about the best ways to proceed.
So, over the next two months or so, we want to hear from as many voices as we can, to help us set the context for positive actions, to examine latent opportunities for rising to the challenges of the future, drawing from the positive can-do approaches of the last six months.
We’ll look to co-operate with organisations who can help us bring new voices to the forefront, particularly of younger people most likely to be profoundly affected not just by future change but a wider refusal to contemplate such changes that can mitigate or even improve long term outcomes.
If you would like to get involved in #TheReset, either as an individual or as part of an organisation, please do get in touch by emailing us at [email protected] with an idea for inclusion in a range of articles or events over September and October.
In the meantime, you can catch up Cargo of Bricks and In Conversation and subscribe on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your quality podcasts.