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Archive for the Category "Politics"

Shameless self-promotion Dec 12

Coming at you via the new QuickPress window in WordPress 2.7, here’s a plug for the imaginatively-titled (the last time I make a throwaway remark at a Lib Dem Voice team meeting) Tangerine Book:

Support independent publishing: buy this book on Lulu.

It’s a collection of some of the best pieces from Liberal Democrat Voice. If you like to hold words in your hand, rather than see them flash up on a screen, the shop is here.

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Who are the Twitterati? (UPDATED) Nov 21

As Twitter slowly ekes its way into the public consciousness – and it has a considerable way still to go – various… people you’ve heard of… or might have heard of… famous people… OK, celebrities… various celebrities have signed up and started twittering.

So who are these slebs, and where be they? Here are an assortment of folk you may have come across by rough category.

Politicians and government

Chris Reed has already discovered that there are only four MPs currently on Twitter – and that’s if you count Number 10.

The UK Parliament also has a feed, as there are official and unofficial accounts for various government departments. And, of course, there are various feeds for US election candidates, including the now fairly quiet (and never that human) Barack Obama feed.

Musicians

Actors and broadcasters

  • Brea Grant (plays Daphne Millbrook in Heroes)
  • Greg Grunberg (plays Matt Parkman in Heroes)
  • Robert Llewellyn (actor, comedian, broadcaster and writer who played Kryten in Red Dwarf)
  • Wil Wheaton (best known as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek, he’s a blogger, writer, stand-up comedian, poker player…)
  • John Cleese (actor, writer, comedian and Python, probably most famous for his party political broadcast for the Liberal/SDP Alliance)
  • Stephen Fry (of A Bit of Fry and Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster, QI and V for Vendetta fame – as if you didn’t know)
  • Rory Cellan-Jones (BBC technology – and sometimes business – correspondent)
  • Tina Fey (from Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock)
  • David H. Lawrence (plays Eric Doyle in Heroes)
  • Jonathan Ross (of Jonathan Ross Show fame)

Writers and artists

  • Paul Cornell (writer of three episodes of <DOCTOR.WHO>, plus other TV, books and comics)
  • Warren Ellis (author of comics and novels)
  • Zoe Margolis (author of the book and blog Girl with a One Track Mind)

plus various tech journalists.

Sportists

  • Andy Murray (tennis player of “Come on, Andy!” fame)
  • Will Carling (described on his Twitter feed as “old has-been rugby player”)

Internet celebrities

and no doubt, by definition, many more.

So… who have I missed?

My first political memory Nov 20

How’s this for tag lag? Lynne Featherstone tagged me with this meme 14 months ago. Better late than never – and there’s nothing like a meme to get me blogging.

My first political memory was probably from November 1990. (I definitely helped deliver leaflets in an election prior to 1997 but I don’t know if it was 1987 or 1992 – or, I suppose, whether it was a general election at all.)

I was in my first year of secondary school when Margaret Thatcher was seriously challenged for the leadership of the Conservative Party. What with her being PM – not to mention the area being quite Tory – it was a big deal and I remember us discussing it in one of our lessons.

Knowing pretty much nothing about politics, I was convinced that she would win. This was probably a symptom of having lived my entire life under her premiership.

Time makes fools of us all.

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Could you be Black Rod? Nov 12

The post is a high-profile and challenging one suitable for someone at a senior level in the public or private sectors with proven leadership and administrative skills. The ability to work in a complex political environment, and experience in the area of security, are essential.

So says the job ad in theguardian seeking a replacement for Sir Michael Willcocks, who retires next April. The job will be a scaled-down version of the current role, according to the Telegraph, retaining ceremonial duties – and, judging by the job ad, security responsibilities – but passing the running of the Lords to a new director general.

Still, a senior civil service salary and the chance to dress up in tights and wave a big staff around aren’t to be sniffed at.

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