Blog assignment 3

A Star Called Henry-by Roddy Doyle

"Born in the slums of Dublin in 1901, his father a one-legged whorehouse bouncer and settler of scores". If this was an intro to a song you would most likely want to switch to something more cheerful. This book is written by the Irish author Roddy Doyle and it's one of my favourite authors.

Roddy Doyle is maybe a new name for you, but you may be aware of films made from his books, for example "The Commitments" and "The Van". These films are mostly humorous but with an undertone of working-class problems. The music in the films are brilliant!A Star Called Henry is a historic novel. If the previous books, written by Roddy Doyle, have had an undertone of working-class problems, there is a dramatic increase of the description of these problems on Ireland beginning of the century in this book. You follow Henry Smart from his early childhood. Born into a poor family where new children are born each year but rarely survive birth or their first year. His strong will to survive throughout childhood and as an adult is both sad and inspirational. The book is fiction but some of the historic events are true. It's also interesting to find similarities between Ireland and Sweden during this time.

When you read a book like this just before Christmas with all that implies like buying gifts, enormous amounts of food and travelling maybe you stop and start thinking. What is important really? Will we ever appreciate what we have? All of a sudden you might start feeling satisfied that you have somewhere to live, clothes that prevents you from beeing cold, having enough food on the table. But then again, this novel is of ancient times. Now is now and our lives are set on the standard of the year 2010.

What you can "learn" from this novel is to never give up and you should try to have as much fun as you can even if the odds are against you.

 

Blog assignment 2

Watching The Story of Stuff gave me a feeling of resignation...

Being told that one third of the worldwide nature resources are gone, hearing about neurological toxics especially the way it was described via breast feeding and many other awful describtions increased this feeling of resignation. All this production demanded by us, you and me. Without thinking why we need certain things and how they are produced.

The positive thing is, as it was described in the film, that we still can make a difference. Everyone can start all over again and make it right by taking control over the situation. I think we need this types of reminders every now and then. It's easy to fall back into old habits.

Let's hope that we can re-claim the earth before it's too late

Blog assignment 1

Reading the article "Snooping Bosses" gives you a number of mixed, both positive and negative, feelings.

One of the first things that came on my mind in the introduction of the article was, it all depends on who you are. Are you a snooping boss or an employee?

If you are running a company you must look after your business. Of course you'll embrace all the existing and future possibilities if it means that you can protect your interests. Always good to try to be one step ahead....  The feeling is not that positive if you are "on the other side", iaw as an employee. Being monitored must provide a sense of persecution. In my own thinking, these types of surveillance will not be applied in Sweden with all personal laws etc, this is the US, but I know I'm wrong. We have this already and more will come.

Also, looking outside the business world and into the future, there could be areas where you would welcome surveillance. For example, in the future all babies will have chip in their arm and we'll have no more children being kidnapped!!