Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy

Posted on by

antisocial media, Facebook,

2.2 Billion people use Facebook every month. In this age of no privacy and mass commercial surveillance this book was never needed more. Our entire lives are subject to digital tracking. We have never had less privacy. The true scope of it is shocking, and all to sell things to us. Personally I hate targeted advertising. This fantastic book gives a strong argument that Facebook makes democracy a lot more challenging. A must read.

If you wanted to build a machine that would distribute propaganda to millions of people, distract them from important issues, energize hatred and bigotry, erode social trust, undermine respectable journalism, foster doubts about science, and engage in massive surveillance all at once, you would make something a lot like Facebook. Of course, none of that was part of the plan.

In Antisocial Media, Siva Vaidhyanathan explains how Facebook devolved from an innocent social site hacked together by Harvard students into a force that, while it may make personal life just a little more pleasurable, makes democracy a lot more challenging. It’s an account of the hubris of good intentions, a missionary spirit, and an ideology that sees computer code as the universal solvent for all human problems. And it’s an indictment of how “social media” has fostered the deterioration of democratic culture around the world, from facilitating Russian meddling in support of Trump’s election to the exploitation of the platform by murderous authoritarians in Burma and the Philippines.

Facebook grew out of an ideological commitment to data-driven decision making and logical thinking. Its culture is explicitly tolerant of difference and dissent. Both its market orientation and its labor force are global. It preaches the power of connectivity to change lives for the better. Indeed, no company better represents the dream of a fully connected planet “sharing” words, ideas, and images, and no company has better leveraged those ideas into wealth and influence. Yet no company has contributed more to the global collapse of basic tenets of deliberation and democracy. Both authoritative and trenchant, Antisocial Media shows how Facebook’s mission went so wrong.

Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy

Poem for all parents of A level students whose results show they are off to uni. Milly Adams

Posted on by

With the A level results just in, a poem to enlighten, or perhaps warn, all  ‘packhorses’ (and indeed lecturers) as they help deliver their off-spring to their halls or residence: by Milly Adams, author of The Waterway Girls series (Arrow)

In the Corridor of a College Lodgings by Milly Adams

 

‘Who’s this?’ the lecturer asked my daughter.

She said, all bare midriff with tattoo peeping,

‘Only Mum. She’s carrying my plants,

Helping to move me in.’

‘Hello, Mum,’ he said, not looking, just

Brushing

The leaves of the ornamental fig as he passed.

A plant, my daughter felt, would make her room

Look familiar, lived in. ‘Like you,’ she’d joked.

At her doorway I placed it in her arms,

But it was his bustling back I watched

As he turned this way and that

Distributing greetings to other beasts of

Burden.

Not waiting for their replies, either.

I called, too loud perhaps, ‘My name is

Rosemary.

I usually wear stiletto shoes, and pink jackets.

When not camouflaged as a removal man

I have cycled the Alps for charity. If you’d

Looked

You’d have seen highlights in my hair.

I belly dance and have a name.

My name, again, is Rosemary.’

 

‘Way to go, Mum,’ my daughter whooped,

And up and down the corridor’s length and

Breadth

Plants. laptops and kindles were handed

Over.

Students were kissed with love. And left.

‘Yes, we have names,’ we all said.

As thoughts of achievements big and small

Lent wings to trainers. ‘And places to go. And

Lives to live.

Fashion statements to make, and parameters

To break.’

 

Goodbye, Lecturer,’ we smiled, as we passed by.

 

Hope on the Waterways, the final in the Waterway Girls series, is published on 20th September.

The Waterway Girls, and Love on the Waterways are available now. 

 

Life’s Vital Link By Y.W. Loke

Posted on by

I found this book fascinating. Did you know that the baby makes the placenta, not the mother? Or that it has genes from both the mother and father? There are facts from other animals too. I found Kangaroos particularly impressive. Well researched and written in an accessible way, this book is highly recommended.

The development of the placenta was a pivotal event in evolution. Without it, we would still be laying eggs instead of giving birth to live offspring. It represents the critical link between the foetus and the mother, but its character is extraordinary — it is, in effect, a foreign tissue that invades the mother’s body.

Compared to many other animals, the human placenta represents a particularly aggressive body. But how is it managed and controlled? How did such an organ evolve in the first place? And why is it tolerated by the mother? Y.W. Loke explores the nature of the placenta and what it can tell us about evolution, development, and genetics.

Available here.

Success for Oliver Eade, WforW award winner, in the Segora one-act play competition 2018

Posted on by

.

Frost Magazine’s has learned with great pleasure that the Words for the Wounded’s recent winner of the Young Adult Fiction Georgina Hawtrey-Woore Award, Oliver Eade (with The Kelpie’s Eyes) has done it again. He has won the Segora one-act Play Competition 2018 with The Other Cat.

Fiona Frazer was placed second with Gloop.

The judge, Gordon Simms says: It has been such a pleasure to read this year’s entries, including as they did a wide range of themes and styles. Radio and television plays as well as some that would lend themselves to film came in alongside stage plays to make an intriguing mix.

Gordon Simms has been a Head of English, Head of Performing Arts and a Drama Advisor. He has written several full-length and one-act plays. His ten-minute play Zero Contract was presented in August 2017 at theCharroux Literary Festival where he led a workshop on writing ten-minute plays. He goes on to say:  I was struck by the quality of dialogue in many entries. If substance was a little short in some examples, at least the dialogue was entertaining and convincing.

Four very different pieces made up the short-list. Previous winner Doc Watson offers a typically energetic, even frenetic, tussle between two self-important musicians, where it transpires the third member of the trio is the real villain. Anthony Powers’ play begins with exciting action which leads to a definite result, then leaves us with a delicate situation hanging over two friends – a situation which may be resolved in the future. What is unsaid between them creates a poignant finale.

Two plays presented me with a dilemma: totally different, one from another, yet having enough in common to demonstrate just how varied and versatile the craft of play-writing may be. I was torn between Oliver Eade’s fascinating exploration of quantam physics and Fiona Fraser’s treatment of contemporary issues in an historical setting. Both plays deal with time in unusual ways, both have a crime (or supposed crime) at their heart and both involve flights of fancy. But there the similarities end. Oliver Eade has written quick-firing dialogue in a fast-moving scenario, though whether we are invited to move forwards or backwards is not at first easy to know. Fiona Fraser uses a much more relaxed and seamless conversational style which includes, particularly as it is written for sound production, more observational narrative. However, her play for voices could be staged without difficulty. What a double-bill the pair of them would make – humour, intrigue and plenty to stir the imagination.

So close was my decision that I felt I could not ‘abandon’ either, so rather than share first prize I have introduced a second. This addition also reflects the largest number of entries yet received in this section of our competitions.
Once again the judging experience has been informative and uplifting, and I thank again all those who entered to make it so.

Oliver Eade: The Kelpie’s Eyes. 

Words for the Wounded

HIPCHIPS – RESTAURANT REVIEW

Posted on by
Concept bars are always cropping up in London – whether it’s a loaded-fry focus (mmm), a cereal focus (mmmm) or, in this instance, a fresh crisp focus (mmmmm!)
Based in Soho, the ever hip ‘HipChips’ focusses on making beautifully crunchy, flavoursome crisps out five different potato types. To accompany this classic carb, HipChips offers a range of savoury and, wait for it, SWEET dips.
There is plenty of choice on both sides of the fence when it comes to the sides. Savoury? We’re talking Baba Ganoush, jerk chicken, Moroccan yogurt and the absolute classic, smokey cheese fondue.
If you’ve got more of a sweet tooth you can get your crisps dusted with cinnamon sugar and opt for chocolate mousse, peanut butter and jelly or even campfire s’mores as your dunking delights.
Prices are really reasonable too given the area is truly the heart of Central London. A large dish (with six generous portions of dip) will only set you back £12.95 and we defy you to try and finish it all in one sitting!
Check out the HipChips website for more details.

The Definition of Us By Sarah Harris | Book of The Week

Posted on by

This is a heart-warming and endearing novel. A YA novel which can be read by any age. A wonderful book on mental illness that will not just entertain, but also could improve, and even save, some some young people’s lives. We need more books like this. Just stunning and so important.

NORMAL (definition)
(adj.) Conforming to a standard; regular, typical or expected
(urban) A word inapplicable to human beings
(Florence) Round, smooth and bumpy like a cobbled street

Florence doesn’t always see things the way other people do. She feels different.

When Florence meets Jasper, Andrew and Wilf she can’t imagine they’d have much in common – with at least five mental health conditions between them, they all have very different reasons for being referred to Manor Lane Therapy Centre.

It’s only when their therapist, Howard, goes missing that they find a common purpose. Worried by his disappearance and wanting answers, the four of them decide to track him down.

As they cross the country in a ‘borrowed’ van, asking each other Ultimate Questions and facing a series of challenges along the way, they start to reveal their true selves – and Florence realises there’s more to all of them than just a diagnosis . . .

Maybe they’re not so different after all?

Full of irreverent humour, witty dialogue and characters you can’t help but fall in love with, this timely novel is perfect for fans of John Green, Rainbow Rowell and Jennifer Niven.

‘This is without a doubt one of the best (if not THE best) YA book about mental health that I’ve read; Sarah Harris takes such a delicate subject, weaves humour and love and friendship, and creates such a beautiful book’ Beautiful Bookland

‘This endearing story does much to enlighten readers of all ages by dispelling myths surrounding mental health in a rollickingly entertaining manner . . . a heart-warming odyssey’ Peterborough Telegraph

‘I can honestly say that this is the best book about mental health that I’ve read to date. The representation, understanding, acceptance and ‘relatability’ of mental health portrayed in this book was, in my opinion, flawless. It’s juxtaposed with sweetness, humour, romance and friendship and I enjoyed every minute of it’ My Endless Shelf

‘Everything I love about contemporary YA . . . highly recommended’ Goodreads reviewer

The Definition of Us By Sarah Harris is available here.

Friday Focus: THE REAL DEAL AROUND ROSEHIP OIL

Posted on by
When details of a product which keeps Miranda Kerr and David Gandy looking fresh landed in our inbox, we took immediate attention (with a carefully placed level of scepticism, of course).
Rosehip oil has a tonne of benefits including soothing the effects of sunburn, reducing stretch marks and generally improving the quality of your skin.
According to the realm of Rosehip oil, the ‘elixir’ of sorts is extracted from Rosehip berry seeds without using heat, solvents or chemicals. Like any product, brands vary with creation / extraction techniques too.
Rosehip Plus, an organic cold pressed oil, is the only range to remove the flesh from the berry before pressing out the oil. This one of a kind technique means that the maximum level of nutrients are retained and your skin gets all the benefits – who knew!
So, next time your reach for the Aloe Vera as we approach the Indian summer, reach for the Rosehip oil instead and compare the effects for yourselves.
You can purchase Rosehip Plus at All About Beauty for as little as £10.

Miss Nightingale’s Nurses By Kate Eastham | Recommended Reads

Posted on by

miss nightingale's nurses

A great read.

Liverpool 1855.

Ada Houston is alone.

Her grandfather has recently passed away and her brother is missing, last seen working on the Liverpool docks. Everyone assumes him to be dead.

But she will not give up hope.

Ada’s determined search takes her to the Crimea where she joins the team of Florence Nightingale’s nurses. She may have set off looking for her brother, but along the way Ada finds friends, romance and a new purpose in her own life in the most troubling and difficult of places.

Available here.