The Last Ditch

Britblog roundup 159

Link: Suz Blog: Britblog roundup 159.

The latest Britblog Roundup is over at Suz Blog

Today in Paris

I am off to Paris today to take part in a conference. I am thinking of changing my car and, before settling down to the serious business of the week, will be road testing this little beauty around the Arc de Triomphe. My choice of cars is limited by how tall I am. I simply don't fit into many cars I would have liked to own. Wish me luck.

I am delighted to say that there is now a TypePad "web app" for the iPhone that allows me to post to the Last Ditch on the move. This is my first such posting.

A picture of thousands of words

Late last year I posted a graph of this blog here. The java applet to create these graphs is to be found here. There is something strangely fascinating in watching the graphic form. I am not tecchie enough to understand what the different elements represent and now I am puzzled that, although The Last Ditch now contains hundreds more posts and many hundred more links than it did last year, today's graph appears simpler. Can any tech-minded reader explain why?

The Top 500 Political Blogs in the UK

Link: Iain Dale's Diary: The Top 500 Political Blogs in the UK - Voted for By You.

My thanks those who voted for the Last Ditch. I am surprised to be rated higher than many blogs I consider to be better; e.g. the relentlessly sound Bel is Thinking, the wittily brilliant As a Dodo, the seminal Nourishing Obscurity and the legendary The Policeman's Blog. I am also gratified to be ranked higher overall by my fell0w-bloggers than Iain placed me in his listing of "Right of Centre" blogs.

It is an index of the mess that the Conservative Party is currently in that my humble, amateur, part-time effort is rated 16 places higher than the Party Leader's fully-staffed, professionally-designed blog. Give up, Dave.

The costs of blogging?

Last week I was approached with a proposition I could not accept because of this blog. I realised I was unconcerned about declining. Although I despair at times, this little blog is more important to me than fortune or glory. Its readership is small and it has precious little impact, but I would rather have my say than not. Watching, reading and listening to the media's sickening hagiography of the man Brown after his Conference speech yesterday, I was delighted I had a blog. I could not bear to be constrained in expressing my contempt for that odious man and his pathetic media sycophants.

You cannot hope to bribe or twist (thank God!) the British journalist. But, seeing what the man will do unbribed, there's no occasion to.

When journalists belittle blogs and bloggers, they reveal their lack of understanding of a basic human impulse (presumably strong in them, given their choice of career). We want our opinions to be heard. MSM critics might like to consider that if they reflected the full spectrum of political opinion in Britain, political blogging would hardly exist at all. Britain's political bloggers are, above all, a living rebuke to Britain's journalists. Perhaps that's why they hate us?

So far, so good

I rather frightened myself in the discussions on my last post with the thought that my blog might, thanks to Google, become associated with its odious subject matter. According to my stats package however, it seems (at least not yet) to be the case. Here are the searches that brought people to The Last Ditch yesterday.

	2	10.53%	socrates's the unconsidered life
	2	10.53%	wellingborough blogs
	1	5.26%	example of justice
	1	5.26%	current affairs knowledge of last six month of world
	1	5.26%	quotes from children at slag heap in aberfan
	1	5.26%	tom paine
	1	5.26%	pictures of thomas paine's family
	1	5.26%	tom paine moscow
	1	5.26%	bbc smoking
	1	5.26%	gordon brown british values
	1	5.26%	do you agree with socrates's the unconsidered life
	1	5.26%	birthday breakfast
	1	5.26%	romania eu culture
	1	5.26%	arif ahmed
	1	5.26%	underclass telegraph
	1	5.26%	what to do to get ready to dance
	1	5.26%	comments margaret thatcher and gordon brown

I can happily live with being associated with Socrates, Thatcher and Paine. I have no idea why "what to do to get ready to dance" should bring someone here. My terpsichorean talents are noteable only by their absence. I am delighted that anyone should have come to me looking for an "example of justice." I only hope he found it. It's a long time since I was in Wellingborough, but I find no shame (only puzzlement) in being associated with that fine town.

Do my fellow bloggers worry about the concepts with which Google may associate them? I hate memes, so please don't take this as one. However, I would be interested to hear your thoughts, whether in comments or on your own blogs.

Northern Blog Meet

Today I rested after my journey from the South of France, before returning to Moscow tomorrow. I had the pleasure of meeting my friend from Second Life and fellow blogger Bag for a lunchtime drink in my home town in Northern England.

It was rather surreal that we were able to recognise each other on first meeting as we look like our SL avatars. I am pleased to report that Bag (pictured, dancing at the Blogpower Awards) is just as nice a guy in RL as SL, if not quite as exotically-dressed .

I would like to thank my wife, my mother, my daughters...

I am very pleased to have been voted the "Best Expat Political Blog" in the Witanagemot Club's blog awards. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. It is a little encouragement in time of dire need.

The USS Higham, and the man himself

It's the final day of preparations. Tomorrow at 1400 London Time, the Blogpower Awards will be presented in Second Life. Yesterday, the founder and guiding spirit of Blogpower, James Higham, finally made his SL debut. After a tetchy start beset with difficulties, but with the guidance of a number of Blogpower SL veterans, I think it's fair to say our boy is ready for the big match.

Here, courtesy of Free Jersey Blog, is the photographic evidence (click to enlarge).

Today also saw the launch of the latest craft in Second Life to be named after a Blogpower blogger. Here is a photograph of my new space craft, the USS Higham.

Congratulations, James, and here's hoping that it all goes well at the awards.