Broadcast / Podcast ... right way up!

Right way up this time hopefully??

Broadcast / Podcast experiment ;-))

Well; I've no idea how this will go down ... several of my avid readers have suggested doing a short 'broadcast / podcast' of my own; so here it is!

Now, my computing skills are reasonable, but not great ... so I've recorded this onto my very cheap digital camera, opened a You Tube account, loaded it onto You Tube and posting a link here ... I hope it all works??

More election broadcast mania?

Well, not really ... but several of you have asked if I'd consider putting up a short, personal PPB for the Ward I'm standing in??

I had been thinking of this; but am completely illiterate when it comes to 'all-things video' on the web ... but, in the spirit of trying to respond constructively to blog-posts, I'm going to have a go at this as soon as I get a few spare minute - - don't hold your breath ;-(

Caption Competition ;-)

I just know I'll regret this ;-((

Sent to me earlier this evening - was taken when we were all out on Friday in the Hutchison estate.

The observant amongst you will recognise St. Cuthbert's Primary School in the background ...

Poll volatility

Douglas Fraser, in the Herald this morning, mentions a poll putting Labour 3-points clear ... same polling outfit (in the same newspaper) had us 12-points behind just a few weeks ago?

... proof, if ever it were needed, that the result is indeed pretty "unpredictable". I'll say.

Election broadcast mania

Election broadcast mania in the press today ... over a Scottish Labour Party PPB that's going out today/tomorrow.

... okay, it's undoubtedly a good story - I'm not denying that - but does it "really" warrant front-page coverage the first weekend after all the main Party manifestos have actually been launched?

Candidates Victorious! (No Election Necessary)

For anyone who thinks First-Past-the-Post is just fine as an electoral system; have a quick look at this.

... two WHOLE COUNCILS decided by unopposed Wards!

Quite unbelievable really.

Thankfully, that type of democratic accountability won't be happening in Scotland ever again ;-))

STV Explained

ERS Scotland website has a really good "STV Explained" section on its homepage ... well worth a look ;-)

... loads of other useful information on voting systems in general, as well.

Office duties this afternoon

Office bound all of this afternoon, whilst rest of the team were out doing yet more leaflet delivery and canvassing ... it never ends ...


Weather absolutely fantastic and here's hoping it's just like today on Thursday 3rd May ;-))

Gorgie Road

Out in Gorgie Road campaigning this morning - Sarah and Alistair with us again ... and once again a pretty reasonable reception received.

Will be interesting to see if the national polls have moved any at all ... guess the Sunday papers will have plenty tomorrow, which will be the first since all the main Party manifestos have been published.

Evening in

An evening in ... what a joy after a pretty busy week. Great to see the family again and forget about envelopes, leaflets, posters, stickers and votes for just a few hours ;-))

Hutchison estate

Out in the Hutchison estate again this afternoon with Sarah and Alistair ... pretty good reception overall; no correlation with the national polls whatsoever.

Guess we'll find out which is correct in less than 20-days from now!

Semblance of normality returns

A semblance of some normality should return to the flat this afternoon, as the family gets back from their Easter break ... better get the microwave cleaned up pronto ;-)

No question that I've seen much more of Labour Party activists this week than my own wife ... all you political anoraks out there will thus, I'm sure, appreciate just how good a week this has been ;-))

Friday 13th

Friday 13th - surely time for another national opinion poll to be published ;-(

Seven candidate locally!

Seven candidates in my own patch - Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart (Ward No.9) ... all four main parties, plus Greens, SSP and Solidarity ... no Independents?

... although there are several spread across many of the other new multi-member Wards in the City.

Four candidates only?

All the Holyrood constituencies have their candidates nominated now - thought it pretty noteworthy that there are only 4 main-Party candidates in every one of the 6 seats, with the exception of one additional Independent in Edinburgh West. Quite a change from 2003.

That said, there does appear to be a record number on the Lothian List side of the ballot paper - some 23!

... and Edinburgh Central has 4 female candidates - wonder if it's the only such constituency in Scotland ... I suspect it may be?

Reith Lectures 2007

Caught the first 2007 Reith Lecture earlier today on Radio 4 (I have a complete addiction to Radio 4 with it on in the background at every possible opportunity) ...

Anyhow, this year's series of lectures being given by Jeffrey Sachs and it was a very compelling performance. I'll definitely listen to the other 4 lectures, if possible, or at least catch up with them via the Radio 4 website in due course.

... notice the last one is actually being delivered locally here in Edinburgh ... would be good to attend ;-)

Admin, admin, admin ...

Spending most of today running around doing a variety of highly important (??) campaign tasks:

• ordering and delivering yet more envelopes to the main campaign office (I really think someone may be eating them?)
• finalising drop-off schedule for the remainder/s of Sarah's election address with the Royal Mail ... who have been very, very helpful thus far!
• finishing off the ordering of the next round of leaflets for my own local Ward ... Fountainbridge/Craiglockhart, which was of course Craiglockhart/Fountainbridge until a few weeks ago ;-))
• mailing and delivering a wide-variety of letters/forms to a range of constituency/Ward contacts about the new voting system/s ... as easy as 1,2,3 ;-)

... all this in an atmosphere of austere calm of course ;-((