Reporting on real life
Love Wins Together Manchester
To so many of our residents, admittedly the fluctuating population of students and professionals that are here for a short stay, it meant little more than a branding exercise. This tragedy took the symbol and recreated the buzz it initially represented. Everyone knows the Manchester Bee now.
Manchester Unites Against The Right | The Prole Star
The glorious weather we saw on Sunday in Manchester was the perfect backdrop for a good old-fashioned British protest. The Football Lads Alliance held a rally at the Castlefield Bowl, met by a counter-protest against their presence in the city. The FLA claim to be gathering to make a stand against Islamic extremism, while the counter-protesters saw this as thinly-veiled racism and an opportunity to exploit the fears and grief of a city touched by the aftermath of a terrorist attack.
Funding UBI with a tax on land – Katy Preen – Medium
One of the most common questions asked about Universal Basic Income (UBI) is “how are we going to fund it?”. Based on the current UK tax structure, it could be paid for through income tax, but it would require an increase in rates at every tax band.
Changing Your Mind? – Katy Preen – Medium
I read an article in Inc. about whether one has a fixed or a growth mindset, and how that can affect one’s life chances: Before I dig any further, I’m going to say that I do agree with the initial…
The Moral Case for Universal Basic Income | The Prole Star
One of the barriers to adopting Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the feeling in neoliberal societies that nobody should get something for nothing. Even if the money is available, and there would be tangible improvements to society, the rule is that individuals must work in order to get recompense.
Fake It ‘Til You Make It? – Katy Preen – Medium
It’s a phrase I’ve heard again and again in business settings, yet it’s trotted out as arcane wisdom every time without a thought as to what that really means. Supposedly it’s related to CBT theory, in that the more you visualise and repeat an action, you train yourself to become better at it.
My Brain Tumour Story – Katy Preen – Medium
It was scary, but I lived to tell the tale. I felt inspired to finally write about my diagnosis and treatment for a brain tumour after reading Jennifer Dary’s account of her recovery from brain surgery, plus this article from the Guardian that appeared in my Twitter feed.
Public Health Messages and Fat Acceptance – is there a conflict?
B oth the UK and the US have high levels of obesity. In the UK 62% of the population is overweight or obese, and in the US it’s 74%. There is a wealth of advice from government and the medical profession encouraging us to slim down, to avoid the risk of serious illnesses and early death.
The Moral Case for Universal Basic Income – Member Feature Stories – Medium
One of the barriers to adopting Universal Basic Income (UBI) is the feeling in neoliberal societies that nobody should get something for nothing. Even if the money is available, and there would be tangible improvements to society, the rule is that individuals must work in order to get recompense.
Good Girls, Bad Boys and Relationship Power Dynamics
Do we always have to follow the same patterns? I left an abusive relationship almost 10 years ago, and I’ve been through counselling, therapy, a domestic abuse recovery program, and I’m still not completely over what happened to me. The process has helped me understand what went on, learn more about myself, and to rebuild my life.
Love Hurts – Katy Preen – Medium
We never discuss the most important reason for staying. W hen we talk about domestic abuse, we miss one of the most important factors - love. We frame the argument in more rational terms, e.g. when we believe the victim only stays for practical reasons. We feel it must be because of lack of resources, or isolation, or logistics.
Good Girls, Bad Boys, and Relationship Power Dynamics
I left an abusive relationship almost 10 years ago, and I’ve been through counseling, therapy, a domestic abuse recovery program, and I’m still not completely over what happened to me. The process has helped me understand what went on, learn more about myself, and to rebuild my life.
Love Hurts
When we talk about domestic abuse, we miss one of the most important factors-love. We frame the argument in more rational terms, e.g. when we believe the victim only stays for practical reasons. We feel it must be because of lack of resources, or isolation, or logistics.
Who are the Windrush Generation, and why are they facing deportation?
There is a history of racist and xenophobic policies behind this. The Windrush generation are named after one of the ships that transported large numbers of people from Commonwealth nations to the UK in the 1940s, 50s and 60s (see image above). This migration was encouraged, and was seen as mutually beneficial.
Radical Feminism – a good idea in theory – Katy Preen – Medium
Welcome to the academic mean girls club. Radical feminism often gets a bad press, but it’s one of the branches of feminism that has been central in forming the movement that we have today.
Writing a Badass Book Review – The Writing Cooperative
I began reviewing books when I was ten years old, in my middle school English class. We were required to produce one per week, with occasional gems being read out in front of the class. Partly due to the frequency and volume of my work, and partly because I genuinely enjoy reading, and then considering and writing about books, I’ve become rather good at it.
Convincing the British to Adopt UBI – Part 2 – Katy Preen – Medium
Following my first article exploring the subject of whether we could easily convince the UK to adopt a Universal Basic Income (UBI) system, I’ve had feedback both on Medium and elsewhere. I always try to respond to comments because in writing an article I have begun a conversation, and I’d like to keep the conversation going.
The Landlord’s Game – Katy Preen – Medium
Have you heard of Elizabeth Magie? She is one of many unsung female heroes of our time, and like so many other talented women over the years, she invented something that would change the world, and had her idea stolen by a man.
Sweet Sixteen and Never… by Jeanne Betancourt – Amateur Book Reviews – Medium
Growing up is easier when you have an instruction manual. I’m taking another step back in time to consider a vintage title. Vintage by my own Millennial standards, anyway. Following my review of last week, I’m looking at Sweet Sixteen and Never… a book that I read twenty years ago.
How do we convince the British to adopt UBI? – Katy Preen – Medium
I’ve lived in Britain all my life, and nothing ever gets done around here. I approached this topic with a sense of doom and gloom, because it seems way too progressive for Brexit Britain to adopt. My elderly relatives are literally expecting the return of pounds, shillings and pence when we exit the EU.
The Importance of Going to Work When You Work From Home
Becoming self-employed has given me a lot of freedom. I can work my own hours, take breaks when I want, write in my pyjamas if I feel like it. But sometimes I just don’t have the inclination to actually do some work.
The Frailty of Consent when all you know is Shame – Katy Preen – Medium
We need to change our attitudes on sex - but to what? Since the revelations of #MeToo, we’ve started some important conversations about not just consent, but pleasure and communicating our desires to our partners. The two are natural bedfellows, but these conversations are difficult for those who have been brought up to feel that sex, and our own bodies, are inherently shameful.
The State of the Welfare State
The UK welfare system has a lot of problems at the moment. The reasons behind those problems differ depending on one’s political outlook, but there are issues that need addressing whatever your views. It’s worth looking back at the history of welfare in the UK, in order to understand how we have arrived at this point.
Within My Means – Katy Preen – Medium
If you’ve been paying attention to my writing of late, you’ll know that I’ve found myself in a deepening pit of poverty, with any attempts to dig myself out of it ending in failure and more debt, insecurity and worry.