Top Raddlemen on Twitter

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:

@lisabatty

@nicomorgan

@BigPinkHeart

@bubith

@TrevorLamont

@DiscoverRutland

@Mysitcomlife

@lamontplumbing

Thanks for the help!

Twittering, Live from the #admeet

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 Rutland minute on Blogging and Social Networking 2.25

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?!

Porkulus Bill Passes Representatives

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.