Finished!!

Hi guys, I think the presentation went together really well and the idea of the interviews was brilliant and funny! Im glad that it all went well and pleased with all the good feedback. I think I can certainly say that we have not been idle with all the work we have done for this presentation and with doing the presentation itself, well done us!!

Holiday preparations

Well Done Ladies

Congratualtions to us I think. I am really pleased with how it all went - the hard work definately paid off. The initial problems of a very large group diminishing to a very small one needed not to be of concern. I thought it was professional and we got all the points across, even though the philosophical info from the Learning Centre etc on Idleness was quite minimal (to say the least). We received some good feedback and you could tell we practised and put the effort in. And best of all - no technical hitches. Last day tomorrow so Im off to do battle with Aristotle's vicious friends before jetting off to Spain - the first picture above is just wishful thinking. I definately fall into the second. So cheers - here's to long and conicle!!! Happy holidays

The End

Russell mentions that Satan finds mischief for idle hands to do, and I will agree with this.. the presentation is over, and the holiday begins, I plan on idleness and loads of mischief! I really enjoyed working with you all, thank you all for your imput and hard work, and thanks to baby Amelia for her imput, and the imput of Clare's husband. Having asked fellow students today what their reaction was, the outcome is very positive, and praiseworthy. The presentation was different and witty, and certainly made all laugh.. I also think we made our key points and when asked to vote on our issue, everyone agreed that society needs to change to allow more idleness therefore indicating that everyone understood the issues. Mission accomplished. I also thought Meena's comments after were enthusiastic and positive, I am so glad she enjoyed it.. so all in all, a most enjoyable experience for us and the audience.Can't wait for the next one!!

The Home Run

Here we go girls - just for a laugh. The final version is now complete for Thursday. Thank you Yvonne for the extra material for the News readers. I think the videos are good and funny and do contain many of the main points - but I think that by making the studio stuff serious and a little more in depth, we will get the best of both. I will also add some more and email this on Tuesday, just to ensure that all the main points have been covered. That will be the final version ready for the big day. I just hope that the technology side of it goes according to plan! Will see you on Thursday and believe me the out takes are funny!! Will make a dvd I think. See you then

Working mothers look

It is important that the working mother looks the part. So the working mother will be wearing jogging bottoms and a plain jumper(clothes that are fit for doing house work in!). The mother will also have a mop, brush or a rag around her waist, a duster in her one hand and the baby in the other hand, this will help to put across the message of how much the mother works to show that she is certainly not idle.

I can't type for laughing... we have missed our vocation in life, script writing!!! well all is set for tomorrow. props at the ready, scripts typed, just hope the weather holds. One thing for sure, we certainly haven't been idle!!

Interview with Waynetta Smith

Hello and here were are in the heart of the Black Country, a place synonymous with hard graft and where the working classes have always strived to achieve the best for themselves and their family. Let’s see if we can find a willing member of the public to offer their opinion on the current situation facing this area and what Bertrand Russell has to say about improving life for all.
I: Good Morning Madam. I’m broadcasting live on Newsnight today. Would you mind answering a few questions?

C: Arr, go on then.

I: Thank you and what’s your name?

C: Waynetta Smith

I: Thank you. Woolworths have just announced massive losses and have gone into administration; do you think anything could be offered to help save the stores?

C: Ar. The Xbox games are dead expensive in Woollies; I think them cheaper at ASDA. And I think that the crisps are always cheaper in Asda an all. They should’ve taken a leaf out of their book and done em on 2 for 1.

I: Oh, er right. Well how about the working day for the staff. Do you think they should all work a few hours less, or drop all full time staff at 37 hours a week to 15 hours to try and cut overheads?

C: Blimey, I day think that people were allowed to work 15 hours a week never mind 37. Ay there some law about that? I cor work cos of me bad leg and 7 kids. And I wow get no benefits if I work so it doh effect me. Dunno really…

I: OK, well, er, perhaps if they were to work less hours there would be more jobs for people like yourself to go out and work.

C: Ya what? I ay got time to work. Its half past twelve now, I gotta go to the Post Office now for Child Benefit, then its Thrifty Thursday at the Mecca Bingo, where I meet me Mum and give her me washing and ironing, get the kids tea from the chippy on the way home, watch Eastenders and then meet me mates in the Legion for a few pints. Where the hell do you think I can fit work in there? There’s an old saying me Nan used to say, ‘All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy’. Well I ay Jack but I ay gonna be able to work with all that going on am I?

I: Well I suppose not. Do you think the Government should step in and help?

C: Yeah, if I had childcare included in me benefits; I could have a few more hours in the week so I could go to fiver fever at Gala on a Monday afternoon.

I: Well, what I actually meant was, well, er, never mind…

C: Did you say this was live?

I: Yes

C: Oh bloody hell, should’ve phoned me boyfriend and he could’ve recorded it on the new knocked off DVD recorder that he bought from his mate Gazza.

I: Well thanks for that Waynetta. This is … reporting live from the hard working city of Wolverhampton (puzzled look on face)

any questions

hello all. just a thought..we should invite any questions from the group watching.. although how on earth we will answer them ...I guess we will have to say, as lady bagshot isn;t here, I will answer on her behalf.. or as she is not here, we will forward the question on to her and get her to email you the rreply.. we could ask that persons name and then email it to them that afternoon..anyone else any ideas.???. I will now adjust the newsnight speech. don't be idle..Yvonne

script for full time working mother

Great idea about doing the presentation threw interviews like this! Here is the script for the working mother.

We are here live at the working mothers house.

So tell us why do you see the need to work and be a full time mother?
W.M: Well I enjoy work, it makes me feel good and useful to society.

Why does doing all this work and being a full time mother make you feel 'good' and 'useful' to society?
W.M: It makes me feel as if I am doing my bit for society.

How would you feel if you didnt work and just stayed at home to be a full time mom?
W.M: Well I think that if I did not work folk would think I was I idle.

Is there any other reason why you feel the need to work other than people thinking you are idle?
W.M: Yes, I have to work to pay for things for my family.

Well surely it would be easier to claim benefits to provide for your family instead of you working and being a full time mother?
W.M: I dont want to claim benefits.

Is their any reason why you dont want to claim benefits?
W.M: Yes, I have respect for myself and also If i did not work I would be seen as Idle and I am certainly not Idle!

Well thankyou very much for your time.

If there is anything you want to change in this script dont hesitate to tell me! I will tell you more of what I will be doing as the working mother in my next blog.

Just for Joy/daftpunk

just for Joy..Meena says we need to use our own names on the blog as she won't know who we are.. if linda had been here she was going to change hers back so can you change it.. I know you are busy not being idle so you should have plenty of time to do it!! Also if you are struggling for the key text as you were in labour when she handed it out try. http://www.zpub.com/notes/idle.html

Yvonne

newsnight

hi all..thanks for the vote of confidence. I reckon we all have our place in this presentation.. I wear my fingers to the bone typing, clare has to be the technican engineer and camera man, while Joy has to keep the live props(Amelia)in good shape and happy so she won't cry..such is life..oh to be idle!! Any way. moving on ..this is the script for the actual presentation in class (my stomach just churned!!) Do you reckon we will look like the newsreaders here?In our dreams!!
Welcome to Newsnight. I'm Yvonne Johnson
I'm Clare Walker
And I'm Joy Killian (if she attends)

Tonights program is Broadcast from the University of Wolverhampton from their exciting new campus. Our hosts are the philosophy department, one of the leading academic teaching universities for philosophy in the country.

Tonight's program is concerned with the virtue of Idleness, which is seen differently by the various sections of society. In today's climate of redundancies and job losses due to the economic climate, we have to ask ourselves whether as a modern industrial country we need to adopt a different idea of working practice, therefore accepting that more idleness should be allowed, or do we allow idleness to continue as it is within society today?

As usual you the viewers can have your say and the telephone lines will be open later in the program and the studio audience can have their say at a later point.

our program involves a number of interviews with members of the public who will share their views on Idleness. We also are extremely privileged to have an exclusive interview with the eminent philosopher Bertrand Russell who has left his home in Plas Penrhyn in Wales for this occasion and he will comment on his essay 'In Praise of Idleness,' and the interesting hypothesis that 'immense harm is caused by the belief that work is virtuous and that what needs to be preached in modern industrial countries is quite different from what always has been preached.' Our first interview is from the city of wolverhampton. where yet more redundancies have been announced with the impending closure of Woolworths. Over to the city centre.

Thank you for that report.We now have an interview with a shareholder of the largest pharmaceutical company in cheshire which has announced redundancies nationwide. Over to our reporter in Cheshire.

Thank you for that report. we now have the opinion of idleness from opposing ends of society and from the perspective of the philosopher Montaigne, who outlined that leisure always breeds an inconstant mind. He also made the point that when he tried to rest or allow his mind to be idle, his mind became even more active with his own thoughts. He conpared his mind to a runaway horse. With that in mind, perhaps we should put a wager on Lady Bagshots horse in the Grand National!. Moving on..We now have an interview recorded earlier today with a working mum from Walsall.

Thank you for that report. We now have another aspect of idleness from working parents.
the question whether society should remain with the traditional perceptions of idleness or whether as a modern society we need to adopt a differentworking practice to allow for more idleness is the point raised.

The lines are now open. Calls will cost 10p from landlines, calls from mobiles will cost more. Call 0800 000 001 if you think society should continue to allow traditional perceptions of idleness, or 0800 000 002 if you agree that society needs to adopt different working practices in our modern society to allow for more idleness.

While the lines are open and we count your votes, we will go over to our studio in London where our reporter Clare has an inclusive interview with Mr. Bertrand Russell. the 20th century philosopher. (I thought he was dead?)

Er.. yes thank you for that ,er, enlightning interview. The telephone lines are now closed. If you telephone now your vote wont be counted and you may be charged for the call.

While the votes are counted it is the turn of the studio audience to vote. As we have a technical hitch with the buzzers in front of you due to the wolf system here at the university being updated, I would ask those of you to raise your hand if you think society should continue to allow traditional perceptions of idleness....thank you.. now raise your hand if you think as a modern society we need to adopt different working practices to allow more idleness. .. thank you.. Those not voting?... thank you.

We now have the result of the phone in.. those in favour of society allowing the traditional perceptions of idleness,,,0 ..those in favour of the modern society adopting different working practices to allow more idleness....0

so there you have it.. Our listeners are probably too idle to vote.. Do we have any questions from the floor??

Thank you for watching.Next weeks program is from Oxford University and we shall be continuing the debate into the economic climate.

Our thanks once again to the philosophy department of wolverhampton university for their hospitality.

Good night.

if you want to alter any of it or comment feel free,, we can highlight ouy own passages to read when we know who is interviewing who and if Joy needs to come in as meena said she would'nt need to.. its up to Jjoy of course,, we now need to arrange interview day and gather props. Hope this finds your bodies idle.. at least our minds aren't idle as our minds do have fixed aims as montaigne outlines...Yvonne

The Virtues of not being idle

as demonstrated by Yvonne - I reckon that picture reflects what it must have been like in your house creating all these messages. I think that you should contact Oliver Stone etc for a job in the movies, with all the script writing youve been doing. I will of course put all of the scripts toghther and start working on the technology side of things and I will have to email that to you. I will put the scripts on word and email round to all. When I have completed the other script then I can post that on here as well. I will post again before Thursday to let you know where I am at with it all, but wanted to acknowledge all the fine work you've been doing. I have been having a more practical approach to the virtues of idleness (well it is Sunday)- but will endeavour to cease that and pull my finger out (so to speak!!)

Just a bit of idle reading:

http://www.thetablet.co.uk/page/leisure1

hi all...Just emailed Meena the title of the presentation.. I know Linda put The Virtue of being Idle, but as the module is called it shouldn't be allowed, I thought we could call it Should Idleness be allowed.. after all, I guess thats what we are looking at in considering idleness amongst the classes and society.. Hope this is okay. I said we would definately want the last week cos of Joy and baby. she also wanted the link and password sending to her, but I think Linda has to do that which is difficult now. If there's a problem, I guess we will hear. All for now.. Don't be idle!!

lady Bagshot

It's me again.. Done a script for lady Bagshot.. Of course it is only an idea and will be improvised on the day. The idea is to put across the upper classes view of idleness for the w.c.according to Russell. Also to add comments on idle minds from De Montaigne. Also. I have realised that the interviewer will have the questions on a board infront of her, reading the script, as it would be impossible for the interviewed person to learn big scripts at this point..here goes..
Hello Lady Bagshot..( who wears riding gear and a stuffed dobby horse named rupert)Kind of you blah blah..Tell me, as a shareholder of a large pharmaceutical company, how do you feel concerning the redundancies announced today.
LB. well. one has to cut costs to maintain profits for the shareholders.
Do you anticipate those made redundant will find new employment in the current climate?
LB Oh Yes..they can't survive without working. Work is a duty.
Would you agree with the comments by experts in the field, that without the leisure class, or people such as yourself, mankind would never have emerged from barbarism.
LB..of course.
would you also agree that your lifestyle or as some may say your idleness, is only possible because of the industry of others?
LB..I suppose so. Someone has to provide work for the masses. why should'nt we reap the benefits.
Thank you for that opinion, but would you agree that if the ordinary wage earner only worked 4hrs aday, there would be enough for everyone and no unemployment?
LB..yes, but they would only get half pay, How would they live?
There is a suggestion that to pay for the extra benefits, the rich would have to pay extra taxes.
LB. I think not.. steady rupert. I will not pay wages and then extra taxes to supplement those wages. I think the idea is perposterous!!
That would be the general idea, although the fact that the w.c. would then enjoy more leisure time, therefore would create more jobs in the leisure industry has to be considered. Jobs in pubs and cinema.
LB. That sort of behaviour leads to crime.
Do you not agree with the argument by an eminent philosopher that people are alike across all society and all need to occupy their minds either in work or structured leisure time?
LB. Havent really condidered it. VARIAM SEMPER DANT OTIA MENTEM.
Excuse me?
LB. Leisure always breeds an inconstant mind. Thats why I keep myself busy. Going to enter Rupert in the grand national aren't we..good boy.
So would you disagree with the idea that modern industrial countries should adopt a different idea of working practices.
LB. yes. things are alright the way they are.
would you disagree withthe belief that work being classed as a virtue causes harm to the lower classes?
LB. of course..the w.c. know no different. The virtue of work harmful??I should jolly well think not.
Thank you Lady Bagshot for your time and interesting comments..I know how busy you are..
LB. Yes. must dash..rupert needs stabling before I meet the duchess for a champagne breakfast. Come along Rupert..tally ho.
over to the newsroom.
thats the basis of it.. outlining points from the 2 philosophers in a fun yet real situation.. I will wear riding gear and no knickers, just to be authentic of course. Well, see what you think. comments and more info at your leisure..you idle lot!!!!

Michel de Montaigne

Just read an essay by Montaigne (really interesting philosopher although I haven't had time to read as much as I would have liked cos we're so busy with uni work) try http://www.plato.stanford.edu/entries/montaigne/ for more information on him..
Anyway,he writes a short essay on idleness although in no great depth. Interestingly, he says that the mind that has no fixed aim loses itself, for to be everywhere is to be nowwhere, I feel my mind is like that having so much to think about!!Nevertheless. he does say that he could leave his mind to idleness and rest, but he finds his mind is more like a runaway horse when he tries to do this, more active when focusing on his own thoughts than if focused on other people's thoughts. I think this is good advice.. to focus on ourselves as the fixed aim and not try to worry about family and everyone else. I will try and encorporate his philosophy into the script for Lady Bagshot. if you want to read for yourself, try website: http://www.uoregan.edu/~bear/montaigne/
Talk to you all later..

script.

Thought I would script a couple of ideas.

I have had a few thoughts on the script for Russell. One of us dress up, as close as possible to picture, and act like you can't hear. After every question the answer is yes and put hand to ear as if didn't catch it. This way, the interviewer is in control of the questions and no script to be learnt as interviewer will read the questions and the fact that he is deaf will be funny.

Idea for The Script.

Interview: Thank you for giving this prestigious long awaited interview on your essay in praise of Idleness. I am sure the nation is waiting with bated breath for your comments. Firstly, the economic climate is such that more and more people will be unemployed and have more time for leisure. Would you agree that the traditional system of work is not adapted to the modern world.

R.yes

could you like to enlarge on the statement?

R. yes (long pause)

Hum..well..you state in your essay that the morality of work is the morality of slaves, the modern world has no need of slavery.

R. yes

so the economic crisis forcing redundancies and unemployment may change this morality

R yes

it is interesting that you put forward the hypothesis that if the ordinary wage earner worked just 4hrs aday this would be enough for everybody and no unemployment

R. yes

But on one hand, dont you agree that people today feel they have to work fulltime and long hours because it is expected of them? It is tradition...therefore, people may not want to work just 4hrs aday. They would see this as idleness.

R. Yes

On the other hand would you agree that some people within society know the benefits of being idle, making workers work for them to keep them idle. therefore idleness is good not bad.

R. yes

coming back to the 4hr day, do you consider that the remaining leisure time of the masses should be used wisely?

R. yes

Yet you state in your essay that you consider that impulses that created peasant dances have died out yet these impulses still exist in human nature. Do you suggest we all start dancing?

R. yes

I see. so would you consider that leisure time is the perogative of the small privledged classes or a right evenly distributed throughout the community?

R. yes

which one?

R. yes

Er, thank you mr. Russell for that enlightening interview. Over to you at the studio.

Please feel free to comment or disregard some of this.. I may add to it cos I've found a chapter in Michel de Montaigne that might be useful.. also will look at lady Bagshot's script if you Clare can look into the wainetta persons script. and when joy comes on line, can you look at the working mum.Hope that is okay. I know I am scripting alot as I have alittle less pressure than you Clare at the moment, but as I am computer limited I am relying on you Clare to edit all this and put the whole thing together... Anyway, its all open to suggestion and can be altered to suit.

camera, lights, action.

After considering your proposals, Clare. and just incase we loose anyone else. I think we need to multi task and be multiple people..no one will know-honest!!I have come up with a very basic outline. It could be a special newsnight report on Idleness in the current recession. We two could introduce show, details on who is who and who interviews who to be decided, focusing on redundances in current climate. Over to Clare in walsall.. then interview with working mum. (Joy) who has babe in arms. brush tied to back and duster in hand, sweat running down face -we could spray her face with water!!!Had hours cut at work, but juggles job, family, baby. no time for idleness. if she doesnt work, thinks she is idle. Back to studio.

Next interview..over to Yvonne in outside broadcast in telford.. stops person in street.. Excuse me madam ect your name.Wainetta or tracy?. (woman is rough, tarty and fag )Have you a job.. did have but made redundant. used to work for JCB. off sick for 2 years, bad back then finished me. doesnt work as full rent paid and all allowances .work no more cos of benefits..(info on benefits from http://www.direct.gov.uk.) wainetta at this point looks to see if anyone watching, pulls hat on and dark glasses on incase anyone watching. gets stuffed dog, says excuse as going to get her place outside m&s to beg for drink money . Back to studio.

Now over to cheshire with reporter, clare.. Interview with Lady Bagshot. ...me cos you said you wanted to wear knickers.. .wearing riding gear, riding hat stuffed hobby horse. A shareholder of JCB. thinks workers idle. should work harder to make her more money, that is their roll in life.etc. etc.. Asked about redundancies and says always work for lower classes. cleaning toilets, even mucking out stables.. too idle to look for more work. Finishes with must feed rupert (stuffed horse) tally ho, and off to health farm and champagne weekend at Balmoral. BACK TO STUDIO.
Now have expert in field. Bertrand Russell. Over to the westminster studio.. One of us dressed up. moustache. hat, man . pipe or whatever. Then have interview and all he says is Yes to every question??Need to research this to ask one answer questions but need to get points from his essay across..Back to studio.
There you have it. (what ever it is!!!!!). good bye from me and her..

this is just a template of ideas,, we need to keep it extremely over the top and funny. This is all open to suggestions and imput before our group numbers fall even lower. .. yvonne

Time for Plan B

Well guys, as we don't know what tomorrow brings, I thought we would need to have a back up plan with the developments to our group over this week. On Thursday we went from a 6 to a 4, then back up to a 5 with Joy's wonderful news! However, with Linda's absence and the difficulties facing Joy I have had an idea ( I don't get these very often, so I will take to my bed after typing this). We need to approach the presentation without the use of music, and adapt to enable Joy to contribute. How about a TV news report? We could video Joy as part of an outside broadcast - which would allow her to make her contribution without worrying about leaving little Amelia. Yvonne and I could be 'in the studio' present the show. Also Russell touches on the subject of 'consumerism' or the developing industry making it harder for people to work and enjoy leisure time. I would think we could find out some 'fat cat' story - big bosses living it up while people are working themselves to the brink. What do you reckon folks?...

Preference - to wear knickers please

Hello all. Finally logged in - the joys of technology eh? I think that is a really good idea - I also I think that Linda could do with singing a song about being idle etc like the ones that Meena used in the lecture. Following on from that class, we really need to show different sides of idleness - the difficulty is how. Russell implied that that working classes are not idle - may some are? Also that the idea of idleness has been covered up by the upper classes - you know, that they do nothing but dont want the commoners to cotton on. So perhaps an upper class with some morals - now thats a novelty!! haha. Also perhaps Joy could be a working mum - no leisure time etc and Linda could just be idle!? - that may be what you were saying Yvonne. I must state that I would prefer my nether regions to be warm in this current climate and draws are my choice...

presentation

hi everyone.. Just to let you know that I have had an idea for the presentation.. After the last lecture which was relevant to us, I was interested by what Russell has to day on the subject of Idleness. I had already read this article from the library, and reading it again reinforced some ideas. I was interesed in his comments that if everyone worked 4 hours there would be no unemployment, and that the upper classes kept the working classes in work in order to keep their lifestyles.. I came up with this idea. Linda could play her guitar(lets use those talents )whilst sitting on the floor with a stuffed dog(sympathy vote) and a cap with coins. Joy could push baby (yes, Ist stage appearence at a few weeks old) and be single parent. clare and I could be upperclasses, talking posh, fur coat and no knickers (perhaps too cold for no knickers!) and could comment on the other two. Using Russells arguments we could make a script using the two sides of the arguments.. Sounds good or not? It would make people laugh in the 1st instance don't you think! It would be easy to script and enjoyable.. Anyway, just an idea. Let me know what you think and put forward your suggestions or add to this.Also there is an interesting essay on Russell.. http://www.panarchy.org/russell/idleness.1932.html. Have a read. Yvonne

First Past the Post!

Welcome to our blog. We are a group of six students who will be making a presentation entitled 'The Virtues of Idleness', as part of our studies at Wolves Uni. In this 'faster, sooner, now' world, I personally believe that there is a lot to be gained from occassionally doing nothing, although the concept of idleness as a lifestyle is something I shall enjoy investigating!!

As group blog administrator, it has fallen to me to set up this blog and give it a name, which I hope my fellow group members will like - too late now anyway LOL

We will be making posts individually over the next few weeks regarding the preparation for our presentation, ideas and such like, plus any other relevant musings. I imagine this will result in some interesting debates and conversations!