http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw Just another Mother Grapevine (BETA) weblog Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:59:38 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Thanks to Demos for this issue, the think-tank that brought you Cool Britannia, with a modern look at where Britain is now. http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/12/sftw-the-modern-britain-issue/ You can't always get what you want, and today many people are struggling even to get what they need. This is resulting in what politicians like to refer to as a 'horizon shift', with people finding meaning in doing things, rather than wanting things. In 1997, we were told that ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/12/horizon-shift/ Our houses are getting smaller. Unlike in France and Germany, where houses are bigger – and have to be by law – houses in the UK are getting smaller by the square foot and by the room. In 1991, 73% of new builds were houses, to 27% flats. This is ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/12/diminishing-returns/ How do you build a modern economy? With creative learning that is about enjoying exploring ideas and negotiating modern day problems, not memorising dates and times tables at desks. Despite our fairly advanced knowledge economy, British schools are still built on an industrial model, with bells for clocking in and ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/12/the-nappy-curriculum/ Was it a coincidence that this year's Victoria Park fireworks were Blitz themed? Or that the muted colours of fashion's contemporary pallet echo wartime sobriety? Or that the Conservative's Party Conference slogan was 'together in the national interest'? Probably not. We Brits slip all too easily into the wartime spirit. ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/12/keep-calm-and-carry-on/ Young people take the Internet for granted but most don't understand how it works. It's the primary place where young people form beliefs about the world and gives them unprecedented access to learning, knowledge and information. But it also bombards them with equally large amounts of propaganda, user-generated nonsense, conspiracy ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/12/anti-trust/ Thanks to Sara Tate for this issue. http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/05/sftw-the-pop-issue/ No matter how bright our star shines we are all worm food in the end, as we were reminded last week when a memorial headstone was unveiled for Anthony H Wilson who died in August 2007. The tribute to the legendry Factory Records founder was designed by colleagues Peter Saville ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/05/worm-food/ Once again I find myself not agreeing with the Daily Mail. An article earlier this year painted a bleak picture of today's youths brought up believing they could have it all come crashing down to earth when faced with the harsh realities of recessionary Britain. TV shows are blamed for ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/05/generation-compromise/ Whilst the rest of society wastes away its days staring at the idiot's lantern, rock and pop stars continue their march towards world domination. It would appear that banging out pop songs for the hit parade qualifies you to do...well, pretty much anything. As Jon Bon Jovi so humbly and ... http://mothergrapevine.com/sftw/2010/11/05/the-rise-and-rise-of-brand-rockstar/