The Westminster Skeptics in the Pub gathered last night in a different pub, the Old Monk, for a different type of event- a discussion on ‘what difference does political blogging really make?’
The evening focussed around a couple of questions; what is the relationship between traditional journalism and blogging, and is it sustainable; and what influence [...]

It’s been a familiar line, on whose veracity I will not comment, that while the right-of-centre was merrily blogging away, the left-of-centre blogosphere was somewhat flaccid. Part of the reason for this, so the trope goes, was that Labour was in power. The Tories stole a march because they could freely open fire at teh [...]

I’m no fan of the Hon. Member for Mid Beds, but, credit where credit’s due, I wholly agree with her on the question asked by Andrew Marr of the PM.
Attacking the man in such a personal way, and not at all professionally, took journalism to a new low and eroded what respect is left within [...]

From Chicken Yoghurt:

Remember this story in The Sun from earlier in the year?
Fears grew last night that hate-filled Islamic extremists are drawing up a “hit list” of Britain’s leading Jews – bringing the Middle East conflict terrifyingly close to home.
TV’s The Apprentice boss Sir Alan Sugar and Amy Winehouse record producer Mark Ronson are [...]

There’s an amusing fellow on YouTube called Lee Doren. He’s of the flavour of politics that sees Barack Obama as a socialist and/or fascist. His channel on YouTube is called ‘How the World Works’ – a singularly inappropriate title.
I have a webcam for Skype calls, so I thought I’d use it to make a response [...]

Political wonks will be familiar, at the bottom of every piece of election literature (including stickers and t-shirts), with an imprint along the lines of
Printed and promoted by Anne Agent on behalf of Can D’Date, both of 29 Acacia Avenue, Dandytown.
I believe that’s a requirement under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000 (PPERA). [...]

Paul ‘Guido Fawkes’ Staines says that Gordon Brown may be taking an anti-depressant of the MAOI class; apparently the story is doing the rounds of the Westminster village. The article goes to show what a little shit Paul Staines is.
Begin brief rant
Mental illness is not a lot of fun. It’s also poorly understood by a [...]

I’ve spent a very pleasant evening in the company of the Sceptics in the Pub London, where the speaker was Dr. Aubrey de Gray, Chief Scientific Officer with the SENS Foundation. In brief, de Gray (Wikipedia article) set out the work of the SENS foundation which, as I understand it, looks at ageing as a [...]

Neil Williams (blog, Twitter) has drafted a template strategy for Government departments wanting to use Twitter; find it on the Cabinet Office’s Digital Engagement Blog or on Neil’s website as a PDF. It’s a good document – you have to bear in mind that this is for civil servants – and could be a good [...]

Jack of Kent has rapidly become one of my favourite blogs; it is in the ‘must read’ section of my RSS.
Firstly, he has a rare ability amongst lawyers: that of making complex legal principles and processes understandable to the layperson.
Secondly, he campaigns tirelessly for one of the great rights: freedom of speech.
Thirdly, he does it [...]