From Our Rutland Correspondent....

Rutland: BBC recognised

2009-12-15T10:54:00.002Z

Fairly major news today as one of the local RAF bases, RAF Cottesmore, faces closure.

What staggered me this morning is two-fold. First, the BBC news website has the word Rutland on its front page. Normally heralded under the banner of 'East Leicestershire', Rutland finally gets the recognition it deserves.

Secondly, the Rutland Times website, one which I usually enjoy reading, has nothing on the story. Amazing.

What a day!

Malcolm Tucker: My PR Hero

2009-12-13T15:18:00.005Z

(from left: Glenn Cullen, Terri, Nicola Murray, Malcolm Tucker and Ollie Reeder in character from 'The Thick of It')

Quite possibly the most outspoken, rude and no-holds-barred man on UK television, apart form Gene Hunt (another fav. hero), Malcolm is a true PR hero for me.

I'm sure academics, fellow students and possibly my own mother would argue that that simply cannot be. Here we have a man that uses dirty tricks, fairly blue language and sandpaper insults to move MPs and civil servants into line.

We also have a man that is committed to doing his job. Albeit a fairly sleaze ridden one, he does seek to keep the government in power, whatever the cost.

This is what a PR should be. Dedicated to his agency/department, no matter how bad the times get. The interesting dilemma comes when a PR has to search morally for answers to questions which just 'aren't cricket'.

The most recent Thick of It, broadcast on 12/12/09, saw two of Malcolm's colleagues talking about a report into one of the men's conduct. The other man was the chair of the report. For the context of this you'll need to see the rest of the previous episode. Suffice to say, Malcolm needed revenge.

What does he do? He tips off a photographer that they would be meeting. The saying 'A picture tells a thousand words' comes to mind, and the papers make a meal out of the pair of them.

Ethical? Probably not. Was it justified? If a little over the top, possibly. Was the intention of good PR there? I would argue yes. To save his job was Malcolm's first priority, as well as getting even with his colleagues. However, he also knew that this report could be damaging to the government and his 'company's' reputation would be on the line.

Malcolm doesn't necessarily show he can cope under pressure, but he can handle any crises that come up.

Would I encourage people to be like him? Definitely not. What I would say is take a page out of his book. Don't be put off by crises and look after your company or clients.

Three top insults soon to go into 'The Rutland Correspondent recommends...'

'Oh f***, here comes the beige power ranger'

'What's the story, f***-a-nory'

'He's so dense that light bends around him'

Top Raddlemen on Twitter

2009-12-10T08:12:00.013Z

Hiatus over, it's time to just mention some of the excellent Raddlemen I am following on Twitter.

It proves that Rutland isn't still in 1954.

@Mercury1695 For the near up to the minute happenings of my part of the world.

@rutlandweather is someone I have followed since my humble beginnings in social media. A 4-hourly service telling me the weather in my home county. This isn't, however, a 'bot account', or that posts automatically. The gentlemen behind it also runs a weather blog. Unbelievably, I can't find it currently, as the post it was on is now too old.

@Rutlandbubble , part of the FORC family, has been on Twitter a month less than I have. Following mainly his musings on life at the cutting edge of rural insurance, as well as his occasional commentary on home life, proves incredibly useful.

@M4ryLamont I discovered when our local radio joined the service.

@RutlandRadio , Though humble in it's followings, keeps me up to date with the station when I am away at University. Whether its a winning weekend or a now - playing mention, it's just great to get niche updates from my local radio.

Of course, this correspondent's old school chum @Odbe34 who talks politics and other Rutland stories needs a mention

Finally, for the definitive list of Raddlemen on Twitter, check out the Rutland Radio list here. A collection of 8 or so others on Twitter from the smallest county in England.

UPDATE 1: @konin , owner of the Toots Sweets of Oakham. A store of old fashioned sweets in Oakham, is the latest addition to this growing list

UPDATE 2: @M4ryLamont has come up with the following:

Thanks for the help!

40th Post; What's been happening

2009-09-28T10:38:00.007+01:00

As Freshers Week comes to an end, final year of university begins and I have dropped my washing off at the launderette for the first time this year, I thought I should pen some thoughts on what's been happening.

Freshers week was very steady. A couple of nights out with people I live with currently and shared a halls with two years ago proved to be very entertaining. In usual Media Centre style, the PR 1st years had an introductory day with lectures and a music quiz at the end (which they valiantly lost)

A distinct lack of accessible internet for the week had meant that Ed H-J and I needed to fulfill the time with some quality Playstation 3 entertainment. Having bought Need for Speed Shift and Guitar Hero 5, we haven't looked back.

Here are a couple of pictures of the room; a definite mix of Life on Mars circa Sam-Tyler bedroom furnishings with some modern comforts.

A catch up drink and meal with Simply Jack follows tonight, with 3rd year beginning tomorrow.

I would not recommend buying Europe's greatest hits. Even if it is in the HMV 2 for £10. It is a definite musical journey of 3 tracks, followed by 24 pieces of filler music.

A response to Simply Jack....

2009-09-04T11:20:00.004+01:00

My colleague Simply Jack and I talked yesterday over my lack of blogging. In fact, I was grateful for his call.

A busy time at work, coupled with a busy time at home has meant I have had to spend time away from the blog. I told Jack this, to have the reply: 'But Ollie, you haven't posted in over a month. Come on!'

This posed a very serious question: Did I have anything to blog about?. The answer: probably not. I could talk to you about the recent work I have done with two funeral service trade magazines. This involved a couple of press releases highlighting the new Hearse Covers the company I work for now sell. This could be conceived as interesting, in an odd kind of way, albeit slightly tedious.

I could also talk to you about the pigs at home. We've had another lot slaughtered, and the sausages are fantastic. We've just started to think about what breed we'll be going for for the Uppingham Fat Stock show. More, of course, to follow.

For a political/PR/Rutland blog, it doesn't seem particularly relevant. Then again, there are aspects of all 3 in my points of interest. Hearse Covers: okay, not overtly political, but a definite PR challenge, and based around Rutland. Pigs: Definitely political (don't get me started on DEFRA), major PR issues for farming and most definitely bred in Rutland.

Talk to me: If you'd like to know more, I will be happy to post more. I should hope to blog a little more at University, particularly as I won't be over at home, enjoying peace & quiet in Redoak's grounds.

Just to please the old RSS Feeds and Blogger feeds, I'll even include a picture of the awesome Hearse Covers!!

Rockingham Track Day

2009-07-16T07:29:00.004+01:00

Thanks to the good people at MTP, I managed to get along to the Ferrari Track day at Rockingham Raceway. Here's a selection of photos from the day. I'll hopefully be posting some videos on here soon; I'm making them on the subject of car detailing. Enjoy!

(P.S I promise to resume normal service soon, it's been a busy time at work/home)

The eyes to the right: seeing sense. The Noes to the left: keep on pointing

2009-06-23T20:28:00.008+01:00

BBC Have your Say has the classic mixed bunch of anarchists, socialiasts, commies and anything else one can think of as being left-field idiots.

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=2&forumID=6629&edition=1&ttl=20090623202415&#paginator

Let's look at this classic from Sam, London

Oh look, a New Labour stool pigeon in Blue colours who wants MP's to have a massive pay rise gets elected to be the speaker.

They have learnt nothing, they are all despicable and I wouldn't spit on any of them if they were on fire.

What fantastic insight into the mind of a commie, who likely doesn't vote at an election. For those who enjoy this sort of non-sensical argument, try Liberty_Rose from Essex (as he calls, not Europe).

No! I'm disgusted. MPs have stuck two fingers up at the public and announced business as usual and that the reforms will be merely cosmetic. Neither of the final two candidates had a sufficiently clean record to become Speaker. Only Ann Widdicombe did - and that's why they refused to elect her. They chose the one who wants MPs to have a £40,000 pay rise.

Time for independents to stand!

What people are forgetting is that the Speaker can only keep order in the house, not instruct its proceedings. It can influence them, thought not wholly say right or wrong to them. That would be an unfair amount of power.

My apologies for perhaps not understanding, but 'Time for the independents to stand!'? They already do, Liberty_Rose. Do you not watch election broadcasts?!

And let's be fair, at least an old Thatcherite got in. Even if he's changed his hue slightly, he is still a registered Conservative.

As an aside, my heart goes out to those killed in the WMATA Red Line crash on the DC/Maryland border early yesterday.

Twittering, Live from the #admeet

2009-06-14T10:17:00.002+01:00

Here's my tweets from Alan Duncan's expenses public meeting. I'll try and find newspaper comment alongside this, but use this as a gist of the meeting. #tcot is posting it to Topconservativesontwitter.org, #uktcot is the equivalent for the UK, and #rutland means it is more searchable for Rutland News

The bottom of the post is the beginning of the Tweet list. Sadly, the formatting from Twitter doesn't allow otherwise.

The end of te meeting, had to thank the chair. Chec the blog later for further comment and analysis. Thanks all #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 23 hours ago from txt

Vicar is rounding up now. He's hada really tough crowd. #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 23 hours ago from txt

Answer the question are cheers from the crowd. Ill try get a photo of this silly hat this socialist is wearing #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 23 hours ago from txt

More socialist comment. He called rutland a state of anarchy, having lived here 27 years. What a douche #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 23 hours ago from txt

And so the socialists stand up. A cartoonist im next to said shes f***ing mad! #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 23 hours ago from txt

Rutland is the biggest open prison in the uk! When is there a byelection? #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 23 hours ago from txt

'why pay back if you haven't done anything wrong?' #tcot #uktcot #rutland great one from the chair, even if it isn't impartialabout 24 hours ago from txt

@konin is asking a question now.... #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 24 hours ago from txt

#tcot #uktcot #rutland interesting, he's been asked what should he be paidabout 24 hours ago from txt

#tcot #uktcot #rutland ad answering questions about unemployed n. Hang on, isn't this about expenses?!about 24 hours ago from txt

#tcot #uktcot #rutland willetts (oo) mum here I think, and saying she has 3 jobs speech etc, and now talking about absenteeismabout 24 hours ago from txt

Dangerous assumptions in the crowd: they're playing into his game #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 24 hours ago from txt

True: he has never flipped homes #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 24 hours ago from txt

Now blaming hignfy edititng team for 'disaster' edition last time he was on #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 24 hours ago from txt

Round of applause for his speech. Overall, yes, he deserved it, just..... #tcot #uktcot #rutlandabout 24 hours ago from txt

Come on, we're over time now. Lol @ his comment 'ive been drawing off savings' major draws of breath at that #tcot #uktcot #rutland1 day ago from txt

'theres no market (wage) rate for mps' #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:17 AM Jun 13th from txt

Valid point from ad: he published expenses on the web before other mps. #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:16 AM Jun 13th from txt

Nick clegg charging 1400 for food? Can some tweeple check that out? #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:13 AM Jun 13th from txt

And now a policeman is in the room... #tcot #uktcot #rutland. Intimidation or what2:13 AM Jun 13th from txt

History behind 2nd homes. Come on, get to the gritty bits! #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:12 AM Jun 13th from txt

Justifying travel expenses. The crowd is now muted #admeet #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:10 AM Jun 13th from txt

Now explaining the green book.... #admeet #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:08 AM Jun 13th from txt

He's about to have 10 mins to himself. Oh god, he's on to democracy #admeet #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:06 AM Jun 13th from txt

Another joke, another heckler e #admeet #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:05 AM Jun 13th from txt

Art of public meets lost?! No shouting?! He's in for a treat...2:04 AM Jun 13th from txt

Nice intro for the mp, vicar cracks a joke #admeet #tcot #uktcot #rutland2:03 AM Jun 13th from txt

Wow, the room is filling up! Worryingly think im the youngest here #admeet #tcot #uktcot #rutland1:58 AM Jun 13th from txt

Just at the alan duncan public meeting and its looking fairly quiet #tcot #uktcot #rutland

A (hopefully) welcome return

2009-05-31T21:04:00.003+01:00

After a few weeks off from the ol' blogosphere, the Rutland Correspondent returns

After meeting up with Twitterer @JayRutland and another drama-group buddy from those hazy old days in Oakham, he asked me (amongst a few things) for comment on the expenses scandal. Having purposefully kept quite on the issue, because of the ad nausem coverage by New Labour same old biased BBC and the good people at ITN, I shall now break silence.

From now on, can we please call it the allowance scandal? They are, after all, allowed such finance as part of the job to supplement wages and other taxed income.

I would put forward the Simon Woodroffe argument(another name amongst Old Oakhamian rankings). By paying MPs more, we wouldn't have this issue. Alright, they've fiddled allowances, but tell me who else doesn't in middle management across the UK. In the words of Simon Woodroffe (roughly) 'if we pay these people peanuts, we're going to get monkeys. Give them more and we'll have a better quality of MP'. Woodroffe, founder of the YO! empire, has some most excellent words.

On a more Rutland-centric note: Alan Duncan, ha'way now. He's actually not too bad, though not too good either on the old finance front. Let's take a quick look at public information on his wallet here. Cutting through some of the Grauniad spin on things, he's a fairly straight up guy (excuse the pun)

To end with, lets just bask in the glory of song. The O'Jays, famed for their music from the US' Apprentice television series, provide the song 'For the Love of Money'. Poignancy, current, satirical, whatever.

Viva la Capitalism/Conservatives

A new dawn for the RC

2009-05-12T13:24:00.004+01:00

So, it is the first post post-assessment. How does it feel; alright!

In typical fashion, here's a funny video from YouTube, to introduce the new season, featuring a cat you can follow on Twitter. @sockington is incredibly funny, and I recommend you follow him

Sleeping in Light (A thank you)...

2009-05-05T15:57:00.004+01:00

The assessment period for From Our Rutland Correspondent is nearly over and, whilst the time draws near, I thought I would take this opportunity to make a couple of thank you messages. If you were one of the lucky few who got the Babylon 5 reference in the title, you will be able to tell how monumental this post is.

The Rutland Correspondent will continue to be the one-stop for Rutland's news, right-wing blogging and even a little humour. I hope you, the reader, will be there with me.

During these few months blogging, there have clearly been some character's shape postings and the blog overall.

In the beginning, I blogged about my friend @MsVFAB on Twitter and our reactions to the Stimulus Bill going through congress. Since then, I have been in touch with @MsVFAB and we shall continue our exchanges across Twitter.

As time progressed, I connected with many class mates who we're also beginning to blog at the time. To my MAC299 Social Media class, thank you, and I hope we have excellent times together in our final year.

Within the class, there are some notable characters I must personally thank. Simply Jack, for guiding me on what I can and can't get away with on the blogosphere. Our many conversations are like Wikipedia 0.1: verbal collaboration. Though we have often very differing views (Telegraph vs. The Grauniad to name one), we still manage to get along. Long may your rise into the PR Stratosphere continue.

Another thank you must go to Lady Foreman, as she has shown me that blogging needn't be too serious, and you can have fun while you do it. I will confess I have thought we share a great rivalry between our blogs. You are always a clear favourite amongst the class. I hope one day there will be a novelisation of Lady Foreman. Please continue to blog.

To the many contributors and commentators on the Rutland Correspondent's musings. Robert Burns, Jay Green, Sarah Frankland are to name but a few. To those who post Anon too. I'm always very grateful for your feedback, and I do hope we can continue our online conversations.

Outside of the class, I have to thank The Conservative Cloakroom; you are always a number 1 source of political news, views and widgets. You are also one of the few political bloggers to give me credit on your Blog List. For that, I thank you.

To the good people at YouTube; A picture tells a thousand words, and if there is 27 frames a second in video, then you do a much better job than me! Also a big thank you to the good people at Google Images; sometimes I just need that photo I can't quite get anywhere else.

If I have forgotten anyone; I apologise, and I hope you won't hold it against me if I stand for public office.

As always,

Oliver CD Burns, Our Rutland Correspondent.

There's only one, MHT

2009-05-04T16:20:00.006+01:00

Long live the Torch Of Freedom: 4/5/79 - 4/5/09

I'll even let Boris tell the tale....

To tour or not to Tourism, that is the question

2009-04-29T21:01:00.005+01:00

All of a quandary, I looked at the following story in the Rutland Times.

Rutland's tourist officer should be a crucial job. As one of the county's, sadly, popular industries, I would agree that the position is tenable.

However, I can' t seem to agree with financials. If anything, it should be a volunteer position, and should be fielded by more than one person

I seem to get the feeling that Rutland County Council office is sometimes like the video below. Class characters, but sometimes, they are silly enough to believe some of the paperwork.

B & G's first foray onto the media

2009-04-25T12:57:00.005+01:00

Feel free to visit the website here for an article detailing Rutland & Stamford NFU's new partner, Nicola Goodall.

The article is part of an increasing campaign of awareness for the offices.

Long may Sheep Market's finest continue to provide support to the local farming and non-farming community.

Redoak Pigs Strike Back!

2009-04-22T10:25:00.008+01:00

Continuing in the usual Redoak tradition, here are some pictures of our recent batch of Pigs. There is also a shot of a slightly disgruntled looking Rutland Correspondent, ill prepared for the camera. The two in the blog banner were our first batch, and have been immortalised on Youtube. You can find two videos, both here and here.

I can highly recommend keeping pigs, and urge anyone who has any questions on it to please get in touch. They are very rewarding animals.

The Long Good Friday....Oakham

2009-04-14T09:45:00.004+01:00

Good Friday in Oakham, a perfect time for some photos for blog followers to put a 'face to the name' of the town of Oakham, Rutland

1) Oakham School's School House, the 7th From Day Boys end. One of the Rutland Correspondents old stomping grounds

2) Shop frontage of Hambleton Bakery

3) Whiper In, the town's equivalent to the old Plaza, New York

4) All Saints Church

5) The mystical Oakham Castle. Home to the UK's biggest collection of ceremonial horseshoes.

Rutland Prison Riots!

2009-04-11T17:21:00.002+01:00

HMP Ashwell has played host to a 400-man prison riot!

Details can be found here http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/7994616.stm

UPDATE: I will be uploading the photos from Oakham in my next post, as promised. I thought the Ashwell riots took precedence.

Easter Holidays

2009-04-07T07:16:00.004+01:00

Spring Term has finished at Sunderland university, bringing with it a holiday of (hopefully) Morcott sunshine, many trips to Uppingham & Oakham market, and other Rutland curiosities.

I shall be uploading a few photos of things that happen around Rutland, and try to put 'a face to a name' to the towns of Oakham & Uppingham.

If there is anything in particular you would like to know about Rutland, leave me a comment and I shall do my best to answer your question/request.

Adblogging

2009-04-02T11:57:00.006+01:00

In our Social Media class today we sat around and brainstormed the idea of advocacy blogging.

An unusually dry topic from the Rutland Correspondent, I struggled to think of a suitable topic to bring a crescendo. I looked to my previous posts, and found that the 'Lambing With LEDs' is adblogging in practice.

By creating a funny viral video, posting it to a couple of FWI blogs, critical to it's target audience, Samsung will be maximising audiences, reach, potential sales etc.

But, from FWI's perspective, is it right to be blogging about products favourably? Perhaps if its a Klass or Massey tractor, yes, but Samsung? Probably not.

Online product reviews could already be seen as adblogging. Portmanteau aside, it is an online publication, containing opinion, that can be favourable (yet also show some negatives). Take a look at this HAWX review for the PS3. Whilst the reviewer is highlighting its negative sides, he does recommend it to users at the end.

For a different perspective on adblogging, check out The Real Student Voice, an honorary Raddlemen

Is it all really just an April Fools?

2009-04-01T07:29:00.006+01:00

Today's news that unitary authorities, opposed by many who work in local government at the minute, are being rolled out across the UK should be seen as an April fools.

Full details here

Targeting predominantly Conservative Councils, our Labour government really are plucking at straws to distract from another recent bout of bad news.

But targeting Conservative councils? That's just cheap.

Also in Rutland News was the potential loss of full-time firefighters in the area: details found here

It can already take Police just under 2 hours to respond to an emergency call; do we really need a slow/non existent fire service?

Oakham & Stamford police effectively work 9 till 5, with calls then being shifted to Leicester Police. If the same were to happen to our fire service, Raddlemen would be lost for words.

We can only hope that this is all just an April fool, for those not just in the new unitary authorities, but also to all Raddlemen.

Lambing with LEDs

2009-03-30T07:23:00.003+01:00

Farming isn't all bad after all, especially if you can produce these fine specimens.

Hat's off to the people who make/are making/made this year's lambing season go well.

The Rutland Correspondent doesn't just blog...

2009-03-26T17:27:00.005Z

...he's also made it onto his old school's Drama homepage movie.

Check it here

Who said politics & acting never went together!

We, the people....

2009-03-26T08:23:00.005Z

...produce a video advertising the 'Tax day tea party', which has the right message, but delivers it in a wholly wrong way.

I like: The idea and the message: Boston tea party as a sense of revolution/protest. Some of the banners too. 'Repeal the pork or your bacon is cooked' and 'tcot report dot com' (of which The Rutland Correspondent is a member: SnudgeB). The child holding the 'I read as much of the Stimulus bill as my congress did' is also a classic.

I don't like: The music, it's a homage to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, but still, a tad inappropriate. The constant 'we the people' flying across the screen, 'Speak now or forever hold your peace' as a final slogan, and the slightly haunting picture it dubs. The Windows PowerPoint backgrounds at the start

Breaking News: Outen is Out!

2009-03-24T21:14:00.006Z

Sarah Outen, of 'Rutland's news is a bit like Preston Hill...' fame, has sadly been forced out of her record attempt to cross the Indian Ocean.

The latest can be found here.

I'm sure Raddlemen across the UK will be wishing her well, and hoping she hits the water again soon.

Hello, Afternoon, Morning. I mean, what time is it?

2009-03-24T10:13:00.002Z

Boris at his best. And a bit of bread and butter PR at the same time.

Viva la Conservatives....

Shooting, Conservatives, Palin and The Rock?

2009-03-21T13:23:00.009Z

This month's The Field Magazine has a couple of interesting items I can thoroughly recommend reading. The opening story is of how the Olympic shooting team was snubbed by Cherie Blair when they received the opportunity to meet dignitaries at Number 10. The article goes further into how the Olympic Budget has seen shooting's slice slashed by 80%. A temporary shooting ground (quite indicative of the current administration) is to be erected at a cost of £25 million to the tax payer at Woolwich. This comes as Bisley still maintains it's world-renown status following the 2002 Commonwealth games.

The second item comes from the letter's page, where a lady wrote in to inform The Field of friend of the author hitting a right and left at a woodcock ( a very difficult manoeuvre to pull off in shooting). The end of the letter ends as such:

'...the more ladies we can encourage into shooting the more support we can expect from the public at large'

Being a typical PR student, I pondered this end statement. Normally a celebrity spokesperson may add weight to a cause, but more women in a oft-mistaken male-orientated sport? A most interesting idea....

Let's look stateside for some answers. The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) of WWE fame, and a Correspondent recommended auto-bigoraphy, once spoke at the Republican National Convention (much like Conservative Conference Season). A known Republican, he could be seen as a brand champion:

O. Burns Celebrity Endorsement Formula

'Keen & Clean' celebrity spokesman + product/belief + media channel(s) = air time

air time ÷ new/renewed interest in product/belief = % positively changed public opinion

Perhaps this idea might help our shooting cause. What if someone like The Rock could become a brand champion for one of Great Britain's most traditional of past times. Would that celebrity be willing to take the regular flak from the often left-wing (and possibly there biggest fan base) argument that it is the sport of the rich killing the defenseless for pleasure? I might conclude not.

What if our brand champion wasn't quite as big as The Rock. What if that brand champion wasn't just one person? Perhaps the author does have the right idea of getting a group of people (in this case, UK women of 18+) to start taking up the sport and championing it's cause....

Then again, would we get a Palin effect? Great ideas, great image, great to start off with, but will it just wither out over time very rapidly? Would our brand champion/champions fit the 'Keen & Clean' part of our equation? Again, I may argue not.

We might find, therefore, that brand champions for shooting are a no-no. Perhaps having pictures of women holding guns is the way forward for the sport. Political Parties may be the stopping point for celebrities to publicly endorse without too much flak.

One thing is for certain: for the great sport to survive the next ten years, it needs to get more supporters. How to do that without celebrity endorsement?: another blogpost for another day.

A Rutland minute on Blogging and Social Networking 2.25

2009-03-19T12:12:00.006Z

Our PR class today was taken by another lecturer from the University, who was an experienced blogger and journalist.

As a class we brainstormed the things we had learnt from our blogs, and what we would do to improve/enrich audience and readers. The two words which proved most popular were varied and relevant.

If I was to create a mission statement on what I'd like to achieve with this blog, I might actually struggle. Not simply because I can't think of what to write, but because I might be struggling to put it into 150 words. Much like Twitter's 140 character limit, I think I might need to sort out and compartmentalise my goals.

"I try to be funny, though careful as to my style of humour. One great business lecturer once said that "No one buys from a clown". I try to interest my readers in politics. Particularly so from a conservative viewpoint, as it is often a subject many shy away from socially, but willing to discuss with great account otherwise. I also try to bring news from my home county Rutland, which would mostly go unnoticed in the busy world around it. I also find the blog somewhat personal, even though I were advised not to be overtly life-sharing."

98 Words. Hang on, I just thought I'd struggle to write that. Perhaps I can't quite touch the word count, but it is a very messy statement.

Perhaps the answer is in the blog sub-title

"Multum In Parvo, Latin for Much In Little" (Rutland's motto)

I do have a lot to say and do, and not a lot to say it in. I do have much to talk about, though find it hard putting it down as a condensed posting. I also have much to say about Rutland, but in a too smaller channel for mainstream media to pick up. Truly, it is Much in Little. So it may not be the most auspicious mission statement, though my county is proud to carry it as it's motto. I too shall be proud to have it as this blog's mantra.

As an aside to today's class, we were also asked to think about Twitter, 5 weeks on from our original opinions. To use my regular lecturer's words from our internal class blog, 'the often dismissive and unflattering' comments we pass about twitter are still fairly prevalent. I would agree to an extent with them, though I am pleased to have found very like minded people on their. My 76 followers are mostly US-Born. Is this good or bad? Who knows. I'm pleased, though, that I have met them online and that Twitter does allow me to see all their happening without digging to deeply into their lives. Perhaps this is Social Networking 2.25? Personal, Online, Global and yet not too personal?!

Rutland's news is a bit like Preston Hill...

2009-03-17T10:29:00.005Z

On the up-side:This week Sarah Outen, of Oakham, heads into waters known along the the Indian Ocean, and you can follow her progress with her blog live from the boat here. We wish our intrepid Raddleman well.

On the down-side: It was a sad story this week to hear RPC, one of Rutland's biggest employers, is set to make redundancies. Based along the Pilling's Road industrial estate, RPC is well known for it's plastic works within several key industries.

Forget Foggy-Bottom and Pentagon City

2009-03-14T17:31:00.010Z

The next train at, Platform 1, is for AOL...

Liberal Island Discs

2009-03-13T20:02:00.008Z

I awoke after last night's PR night out to Desert Island Discs on the radio, with guest Richard Madeley (of Richard & Judy fame). I heard his Who song choice and was thoroughly impressed. I didn't manage to catch the whole programme, and it is one of the few not available as a catch up on the BBC iPlayer.

As I walked into town, I suddenly decided to begin part hum and part sing a couple of Feeder songs. I think I was pondering about some long lost love interest, and one of Feeder's songs, Just The Way I'm Feeling, came into my head and reminded me of her.

Later on, I was doing a due essay for University, and had my music player on Shuffle Play-All. The Jam's (commercially most successful) b-side, Butterfly Collector, came on, as did the Travelling Wilbury's Dirty World.

This had me pondering, if I was stuck on an island full of liberals, what would be my desert island discs (not minding an island to myself, an island of liberals might just send me off the wall). One might argue I'm already on that island, but that's for another blog post, another time.

In typical R4 fashion of maintaining the rules, I'll choose my 8 tracks, a book and a luxury item.

So, which tracks, who by and why? (Links to videos of the song have been included)

Just The Way I'm Feeling - Feeder: The track that really switched me on to the band, I vividly remember them in concert. What a band. Reminds me of so much in my life.
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana: Bedroom Rock at it's finest, this was the band when I was 14. Their Unplugged session was, in my opinion, their best session and album. This track, though, is their symbol. Kurt = Hero
Freestyler - Bomfunk MCs: Hungarian euro dance techno whatsit at its finest. My first ever album, In Stereo, by the band was and still is a real treasure. This classic tune still hasn't lost it's original glory with me. A remixed version, compiled by me and some D of E chums, also helped us when we climbed some distant hills in Exmoor.
Cherry Pie - Warrant: Filled with lude humour, innuendo, and a video that can make any man lust after Bobbi Brown, Warrant really get into the 80s hair metal. Released in 1992, this song captures all of the 80s rock you can think of, and doesn't take itself too seriously. One of the two most stable women in my life, the other being Greggs ladies of Fawcett Street
Mama Weer All Crazee Now - Slade: A karaoke must and good clean rock & roll. Played all the way up the A6 to Ballathie, and many places since. Anyone can sing along to the simple chorus at the end, and guaranteed to get everyone rocking out the place.
Baggy Trousers - Madness: Oakham School in a nutshell. It was 2004 I picked up Madness: The Lot, 6 of their best albums digitally remastered. This track now just makes so much sense. 'Oh what fun we had, but did it really turn out bad?'
Stronger - Kanye West (feat. Daft Punk): A strange choice. I'm not usually a fan of rap/r&b etc, but this song makes an excellent fusion of house and rap. It just reminds me of 4 months of my life: September - December 2007. Starting University, I suddenly found life really was Harder Better Faster Stronger. I'd still like to give shout out to P. Diddy, M.O.P, 2pac and a little 50 cent. All of them 20 tracks in my WMP library classed as 'rap', they all have their place.
Round & Round - The Fantasticks: One of the most undiscovered musicals in the UK, this was my last foray on the stage. A truly fantastic musical, full of humour and romance, despair and hope, this song is one of my favourites from it. I played Henry, the aging bald actor who was really about ready to retire from the stage (an ominous sign in my real life, it still nearly brings a tear to my eye).

If they were all about to be washed away, and I could save only one record?: Feeder's Just The Way Im Feeling

My book?: The House Of Cards by Michael Dobbs - The book that introduced me to Politics and Public Relations. I can only dream of one day being in Francis Urqhart's position of power

My Luxury?: Toilet Paper, the no. 1 item that goes into a D of E rucksack any day

And there you have it, The Rutland Correspondent's Liberal Island Discs. Id urge any of my followers to post their Liberal (or Desert) Island Discs on their blogs, it can really surprise you and your friends when music tracks old and new come up for discussion

The train approaching Platform 1...

2009-03-11T09:17:00.009Z

...is the 07.51 National Express Service to Glasgow Central, calling at...

As I sit in a first class carriage, on my way back to Sunderland, I thought I would take the time to say thanks to all the people at National Express East Coast for making the east coast service a fantastic rail service.

The only real service between Peterborough and Newcastle, NXEC (the old GNER) is a benchmark which other train services should look up to.

How funny that a privatised railroad, often overtly critiscied by the many, really is a dream come true. Ticket prices are very competitve, service is fantastic and the efficiency is most noticeable.

On the subject of trains, don't you wish you had a pair of these?!

I’m not a politician. I’m a businessman, with a sense of history

2009-03-08T09:18:00.005Z

The Lessons of The Long Good Friday

A very young cast of Pierce Brosnan, Hellen Mirren and Bob Hoskins all star in what is arguably the best British gangster film.

When reading The Spectator (a magazine with mainly right-wing comment) this week, I came across the article on how we have learnt lessons from the film. Below is the video of one of the best scenes in the film, Harold Shand giving his famous speech

Skip to 1.15, otherwise you may be put off by the story arcs introduced so early on; it's the speech Id like to focus on.

A true visionary, but are we living out his own downfall? By the end of the film, Harry is slowly losing grip on his empire, and the ambiguous last scene is roughly where we are now in the recession

No comment from me this time, I leave that to The Spectator, as I cannot improve on it.

One final note: Buy this film (£4 from leading retailers), Watch it and enjoy

Previously along Uppingham's High Street West

2009-03-04T20:50:00.004Z

While Obama is losing the battle in DC, the Uppingham Raddlemen are triumphing over the town's great 'parking war'.

Viva la Conservatives

From Clacton to Manhattan, on Social Media Airways' Business Class

2009-03-03T08:37:00.008Z

Whilst sitting in my Social Media class at university, we came across the story of Kimberley Swann, a 16 year old Essex girl who was asked to leave her employer. Her dismissal was down to her posting as her Facebook status that she was 'Bored at Work'.

Whilst the saying goes 'all publicity is good publicity', the firm at the center of the row, Ivell Marketing & Logistics, has seen a huge rise in groups opposing her dismissal. Just searching for the company on Facebook displays an array of groups that seek to show their near hatred for the company.

As a class, we were asked to pick a firm we know to have a web presence, and do a communications audit on them. Simply put, this is a review of what they say, what we say, and whether its good or bad, on several different platforms. The stipulation: Our only source of information was the internet.

Two of my passions in life are food and the USA. Where better to review than one of my favourite restaurants, the Comfort Diner in Manhattan, NY. Famed for good quality food, and featured in the Rutland Correspondent Recommends listing, it seemed the perfect choice.

Like Spandau Ballet, 'To cut a long story short', I didn't quite lose my mind; I instead found some fairly interesting stuff.

Having searched Youtube, Facebook, Amazon, Google, Wikipedia, Google Maps, Flickr and Review sites, one great feature was clear: It was nearly all very positive user-generated content. The good people at the Comfort Diner have a website, and very little else which they themselves control. A fanbase internet-wide has formed, without the Comfort Diner doing very much. On being asked 'What would you do if you were the Comms. Dept for Comfort Diner?', I had a typical Raddlemen's answer: Multum In Parvo.

By not publishing as much, and having user generated content, Comfort Diner should have a fantastic press. Much press from little input. Though there would be a lot to be said for not publishing very much either. How do I tell my diners about new menus? How do I tell them about the new Staten Island Diner? Without using some self-publicising, I wouldn't be able to tell them.

While it's good to have great reviews and a huge fanbase appreciating what you do, be it food or clothes, insurance or wealth management, you need to give back to them. Don't be afraid to publish yourself or your product, even if you have a strong and loyal fans.

Perhaps all publicity is good publicity. Like a good pancakes and syrup, pour some publicity over that large mountain of fans.

Photos A'hoy

2009-03-01T16:10:00.003Z

Some photos of Whitby, as promised

Taken using the HTC TyTN II phone; apologies for poor quality

Whitby A'hoy

2009-02-26T11:02:00.004Z

Away for the next few days to Whitby, shall try and take some photos, weather-permitting! Dracula, 99s with chocolate flake toppings.......

Postman Pat's Modern Britain

2009-02-24T09:14:00.007Z

Having watched the video, what comparisons can we observe about the postal service in Modern Britain, and how it relates to Postman Pat's world?

Today's news that 30% of Royal Mail could be sold off in a bill proposed Thursday seems to have already happened to him. No royal mail signs are present in the programme, unless you count his hat
There are enough distribution centre jobs for all of one person in Pat's world; a sign of the times here
The HSE (Health & Safety Exec.) are still to question Pat about the presence of his beloved feline on his regular rounds. A clear health hazard. In the UK, he would be facing civil proceedings against him by now
He drives a half empty van of parcels, a clear decline in the use of 'snail mail'
Pat still goes out of his way to retrieve parcels, and isn't questionned by police for harrasment/driving across designated green lanes/public nuisance.
Cramped Trains plague Pat's world; I too would be on a motobike by then.
There is the presence of a Policeman, Farmer, Mechanic and Shopkeeper all helping load his van, a sight of community not seen for a very long time
The tradtional market town still exists, but with less people using it. Tesco have yet to invade Pat's world.
Homeowners paranoid of who is at the door; perhaps knife crime has finally come to Pat's world
Royal Mail/Consignia should consider using helicopter drops, it might actually be more efficient for a change, and customers may receive post quicker

Rob Toy, 1940 - 2009

2009-02-21T11:42:00.001Z

Well known Raddleman Rob Toy sadly passed away on Wednesday this week.

Tributes can be found on the Rutland Times Website here.

Free Breakdown Recovery for 1 mile

2009-02-21T08:15:00.010Z

For those accustomed to travelling the UK highways and byways, you will often see roadworks advertising 'Free Recovery' if you breakdown within the set of works.

Obama's team have set up 'www.recovery.gov', a free website that shows where all the Stimulus Bill money is going. The website has a very handy diagram to show where this money is going, and in proportion to the total $787 Billion.

Do not adjust your sets, that really is $8billion on other.

The rest of the website is also quite interesting. There is no further breakdown of the figures on the website. This picture is the closest Joe Public will get to a balance sheet.

Also of interest is the map of jobs saved/created. Again, your eyes aren't deceiving you. That really was saved/created. I too ask myself the question, what is saved/created?

I think I might go save/create myself some breakfast.

NTARCbook, MyNTARC, NTARCster, NTARCtube?!

2009-02-18T09:35:00.010Z

The US' National Terror Alert Response Center has launched it's own networking site, akin to Facebook, MySpace etc.

NTARC

It's interesting to see how it's 'Prepared Communities' policy is taking shape, and using the internet as it was designed for: information and communication.

I can also recommend viewing the videos hosted by the network. Particularly of interest is the 33 minutes video, posted here. Whilst I normally find these mini documentaries interesting, it can be said this is using a few scare tactics. Can anyone imagine a UK version of the video?

Campaign for Honest Food

2009-02-16T13:43:00.008Z

Here's one for the books......

Porkulus Bill Passes Representatives

2009-02-13T19:30:00.011Z

Courtesy of Twitter & Livestation, I was able to follow the US Stimulus bill heading into the House Of Representatives. This bill gives the US nearly $1 trillion to boost the economy

One of the top quotes from my news feed in Twitter was ''Way to go House Republicans! :)'', Posted by a fellow member of #tcot (topconservativesontwitter.org). It then began to flow through my feeder. US Republican activists were really pleased at party unity over voting no. They were also really pleased that 8 Democrats voted against the bill.

It still shows that the G.O.P (Grand Old Party, another name for Republicans) has a lot to do to stop legislation being piledrived through the Capitol.

Though two lessons to draw from this: Twitter is a fantastic source for news, if you log on at the right time. Also, if your Republican, avoid Friday 13th!

UPDATE: The bill has been made into law, with all but 3 of the Republicans voting no in the senate. Everyone is also complaining that the bill was only made available at 11 p.m (4 a.m GMT) Thursday night.

Welcome To Rutland

2009-02-12T12:35:00.001Z

From Our Rutland Correspondent is live! In the coming weeks I hope to comment on news and politics from the UK and US! Be sure to have your RSS feeders digesting any new posts.