The Wardman Wire

Racism: I think Yasmin Alibhai-Brown has stepped over the line

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown's column from Monday's Independent expresses stereotypes that I can only call racist. Ostensibly it is a column about the "eat local food" movement, but Yasmin draws conclusions that she applies to all "indigenous Britons".

One example of a Yasmin statement: The country can't stomach any more foreignness and wants old simplicities back again. Applying that sentiment to the whole population is no more acceptable than "all black people are stupid" or "the Irish are a race of bogtrotting terrorists".

Time to stop, Yasmin.

Move Over, Darling: Westminster Watch: w/b 12th May 2008

There's been a distinct whiff of the final stages of the Book of Revelations around Westminster this week, with the Gord forced to make expensive concessions to ensure the success of the Finance Bill, widespread criticism over the comrades' campaigning tactics in Crewe and Nantwitch, and an outbreak of bitchslapping between a Cabinet Minister and a newly ennobled Awkward Squad member. In other news, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill continues its interminable Parliamentary progress as "Mad" Nad Dorries accidentally causes a hands-across-the-water alliance between bloggers from the feminist movement, the libertarian right, the museli knitting liberals, and the Labour left. And adding a touch of farce to the proceedings was Caroline Flint who learned - like Jacqui Smith before her, albeit in a different context - that it's best to keep one's assets under wraps at all times, and we all got treated to faaaaaaar more information than we ever wanted to about the horizontal jogging antics of the Blairs. That's right folks, prepare to scrub your mind's eye. With BLEACH.

The Life of Freelance Politicians and IT Workers: Cartoon by Indexed

A cartoon from Indexed.

The Struggle to be Truthful: Thinking Aloud by Simon Barrow

I’m not a journalistic pessimist. Overall, I think the massive expansion of the media is a good thing. I also believe that truthfulness has a way of continuing to assert itself, if we are serious in attending to it. But that takes some hard work, and in the meantime there can be little doubt that modern reporting and commentary is frequently tempted to put passion well ahead of precision. A couple of recent items concerning religion might serve as an example.

Blogging from home or work? Cartoon by Gaping Void

Cartoon: Gaping Void

Editorial Intelligence - a quick run down of services and alternatives

Yesterday I had a look at Monitoring the Commentariat for free. Iain Dale has translated that as:

"Matt Wardman thinks he can put Editorial Intelligence out of business."

Now there's another challenge. In the spirit of enquiry and to encourage enterprise (!) I thought I'd do a quick minute rundown of Editorial Intelligence's services and a few of their potential free competitors.

Who, exactly, is the more out of touch here? Politics Decoded with Garbo

This wouldn’t have happened under Blair Who’s ever idea it was to campaign in Crewe and Nantwich dressed up as “toffs” in tailcoats and top hats should immediately be sacked by the Labour party. Given that this is such a crucial campaign in fact, I am surprised that Brown has not intervened himself… then again I [...]

Blogging: Collaboration and Creation. Cartoon by Gaping Void

Cartoon: Gaping Void

How to Monitor the Commentariat for Free

Yesterday I said in passing that I thought that it may now be possible to deliver much of the value added by subscription services designed to help organisations "get to grips" with the published commentary relatively easily - based on the insight that the supply of news and comment is no longer an expensive commodity. I have had a go myself today, and this article is to introduce the results.

Blogging: Get some Organised Chaos: Cartoon by Gaping Void

Cartoon: Gaping Void

The Power of the Commentariat. Or Perhaps Not: Blog Platform

A couple of days ago I drew your attention to a seminar to launch a report by Editorial Intelligence called "The Power of the Commentariat". Or rather, they have launched half of it and expect the public to buy the rest from Amazon. It's an interesting document and I'd like to do a review of the whole thing. I have asked Editorial Intelligence for a review copy of the whole document. If one is not forthcoming, I shall review the half of the report that they have seen fit to release. Listening to the podcast of the seminar, there are a number of moments of "Don Quixote" incongruity. However, if you want to skip the fun, and just hear what I think - then go to the next section.

Are you a Born Optimist? Cartoon by Gaping Void

Cartoon: Gaping Void

A Clash of Symbols II: What is the Sound of One Symbol Clashing?

There is a competition for a hilltop sculpture to be a focus or the new "town" at Ebbsfleet. David Keen reflects on the five competition entrants, and wonders whether a giant silicone sculpture of Jordan's breasts would be a better symbol of the national soul. Surely three hills are better than one, anyway?

Mr Robert Mugabe’s Election Photo Album, and Sokwanele (”Enough is Enough”)

This post may well ruin your Saturday breakfast, and it is shocking. The article highlights some of the physical violence used by those working for Mr Mugabe and his friends in their campaign to retain power in Zimbabwe. Not pleasant - but neither is Zanu PF's campaign.

Who am I? … Cartoon: Asbo Jesus

A cartoon from ASBO Jesus.

Instant Interactivity is Back: Chatrooms on Political Blogs

One of the key benefits that came from the existence of 18 Doughty Street - whatever you thought of the overall balance (old bones that I am not interested in gnawing) - was the opportunity for political bloggers to talk and debate together, and to interact with the wider political blogosphere instantaneously.

The Metric Minister on Mr Blair and Mr Brown from February 2007

Just a bit of fun. This is Mr Miliband talking on Question Time in the last days of the Blair regime:

Mr Galloway prepares for retirement II: Gorgeous George

The problem with being a gin-soaked popinjay, is that you only end up in one place...

...even though gutter tactics had been fruitful in the past for George.

Inspired by Friday Lolcats meme.

The Electoral Hokey-Cokey: Out after 200 hours

I don't normally cover day to day council politics here, but we have what I think is the first ejection of a Councillor since the Local Election last week.

Noticed by sweet Emily on election night…

I didn't spot it before I've had Emily Maitlis listening to my Twitter feed. Click through for the full screenshot.

A Bar Chart for the Crewe and Nantwich Byelection

I have a leaked By Election Bar Chart from the Crewe and Nantwich byelection. I'm assuming that they won't be using this one.

Rounding Up the Blogs: Senedd Circular w/b 04 May 2008

This week we have a special "link blog" Senedd Circular, as Matt has been rounding up the daffodils earlier and Miss Wagstaff had a night on the tiles (allegedly). So this is a "Matt" roundup.

Buying Welsh vs Free Trade: Exploring the tension

Prof. Dylan-Jones Evans is arguing that there should be a preferential option for local suppliers over to foreign suppliers. Examples Dylan quotes include foreign organisations from as close as Sheffield or Cornwall.

Hmmmm. Existentialism. Cartoon by Gaping Void

Hmmmm.

Cartoon: Gaping Void

Editorial Intelligence get half the point

[This article escaped early. Withdrawn to be edited.] Sorry.

CCTV Boom has failed to slash crime

Justin over at Chicken Yoghurt has been a touch Boris obsessed for my taste recently, but he's back on form:

CCTV boom has failed to slash crime, say police
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…

Personally, I'd add 76 more "Ha ha ha"s and a "Yay" - celebrating the failure of CCTV, not the failure of CCTV to reduce the crime rate.

Minder - Quote of the Day

I'm writing this posts at 2:30am, having just switched on "Minder" on one of the minor ITV Channels. The first words that come out summarise the whole thing:

"My God, they've nicked Pongo. That's a fly in the ointment."

A TV series summarised in 11 words.

Time for a change in Government or just Labour leader? - Politics Decoded with Garbo

They’re back! It is official: It is ok to vote Tory once again. It has taken the best part of fifteen years, but no longer is it something people are embarrassed to do. Next stop: Government. Well, not quite. It could not have been worse for the government Let’s make no bones about it. Last week’s election results were [...]

Matt Wardman Blogging Hiatus (almost) in May

I've just reached 1500 posts since the blog started, so I'll be taking a partial break during most of the rest of May to recharge my blogging batteries, and to do some thinking about the development of the Wardman Wire. Everybody else will continue to post.

Double trouble (nearly) - Clegg and Clegg

Hmmm. Clegg and Clegg. Nearly, but not quite. There's something about the eyes, though...