Parlez~me~'n~Tory

Rightly Wry, Satirically RIGHT

I started this blog back in July 2009 some 14 months ago and have promised to sort out some of the structure ever since.

Today I undertook some serious spring cleaning which has involved moving the widgets (left hand side bar stuff) into a more agreeable order and removing the categories and placing them into a drop down menu. Part of the clean was to remove the R4 podcasts as they had very little outlinks.

One vital area of cleaning was the removal of the “RIGHT way to blog” blogroll. It has been replaced with Coalition, Opposition and Alternate and if you’re reading this and wish to be placed amongst the listed please let me know on @Parlez_me_nTory

One other area that changed today is that ALL new blog posts including this one are automatically pre-fixed with the Twitter hashtag of #BlogParlez – this will facilitate finding of all blog posts from within Twitter, this is something I believe that ALL bloggers should emulate for their readers benefit.

If you have any suggestions for further changes please get in touch as I would love to hear your views, thank you.

This morning on Twitter I asked the question “what does it mean to be a blogger”.

I received an amazing array of responses including “bringer of justice” – “open access” – “holder of integrity” – “freedom to intrude” – “to be corrosive”.

For myself, I was under the impression that to be a blogger it was about honesty and fairness, to rise above the gutter that the mainstream media inhabits so often.

I care not if you are reading this and thinking I am only writing this because William Hague is a Conservative, you’re wrong. This would have been written whoever the public figure was and my recent stance on Twitter would’ve remained the same that what Paul Staines has done has brought a bad stench on the world in which we bloggers inhabit.

I know not why Guido decided to go after Mr Hague and/or Mr Myers in such a fashion. I have shared my suspicion a number of times on Twitter and shall do so again in the next sentence.

I personally believe that Paul Staines was given a tip off from a past victim of his who is trying to ingratiate themselves with Guido. That tip off may have only been that the room was shared and an over eager imagination set to work.

I know not why I feel so strongly about this but perhaps it has something to do with the world that I feel so strongly about, the one with honesty and fairness has been badly sullied due to the actions of a once great activist.

I don’t have an issue with the premise of what Guido has done but I do have a major issue with the way in which he undertook his work, it is reminiscent of the gutter press at its very worst.

Perhaps he is obliged because he has column inches to fill, perhaps he is obliged because of the expectation that weighs on his shoulders, perhaps he’s stepped over the line of what it means to be a blogger?

Don’t waste time reading this, get BBC2 on and watch Five Days That Changed Britain…then consider coming back

Parlez_me_nTory was recently approached to assist with a blog post concerning NHS Wales and a scandal within.

Whilst content to write the post I thought it would carry much more weight and heartfelt concern if it came straight from the heart and therefore this post is courtesy of Carolyn Webster whom I am sure you will agree feels very passionately about this subject.

NHS Wales. In the care of whom?

I have pretty much relied on the NHS for my children.

One child was referred to Great Ormond Street hospital at 3 months old, she’s fine now. The other child will need the NHS for the rest of his life. His condition is not life limiting.

The medical staff and therapists in the NHS who have played such a vital role will continue to play that part for the rest of his, hopefully, long life.

It is due to this absolute dependency of the NHS that when I read an article posted by Aberdareonline posted WAG must not put NHS managers before nurses I was horrified.

To make mattes worse this information has barely received any media attention.

In Wales, the control over the NHS is devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG).

This means that out of our budget managed by the Labour/Plaid Administration (yes, Labour still hold a little power somewhere), not only do we get free prescriptions, but it seems that we can now afford to maintain a policy that protects the jobs and salaries of the Chief Executives and other directors of former NHS Wales Trusts (all previous trusts were amalgamated to form 11 trusts).

In the real world, there would have been a round of redundancies, and redundancy payments, a bit of Gardening Leave, maybe a leaving do. But no, these non-job holders get to keep their jobs and salaries for 10 years.

This is despite a WAG annual operating framework where Local Health Boards are instructed to make a 3% reduction of the workforce of those above a band 5 salary scale post every year for the next 3 years. Basically this directive means that over the next 3 years, 2000 nursing and midwifery posts are threatened.

But meanwhile those Chief Executives, whose roles were in effect made redundant are safe for another 10 years.

So, Senior Management. Which of you will step forward to help my son speak?

Which one of you will care for him after another medical procedure?

Which one will hold my hand as I cry at another hurdle faced by my son?

Come on. Who cares?

Good day to you, one and all. Time is short and so shall this be.

If you don’t know why I do this then read carefully.

Are you still clogging up the Twitter servers with #ff recommendations? Still shouting at the WhaleFail when as a result of your overuse of the #followfriday hashtag it appears all too often?

Why not think outside the box, harness the power of individual thought and step outside?

Henceforth from this moment explanations as to why a recommendation is made will not accompany a Political Tweep nor a SmileMaker Tweep as I believe they speak for themselves.

1. Politics (10)
Pam_Nash
AliBulger
DeclanLyons
ToryDoc
JonBoyes
SamCEllis
Firebird2110
LadyHaylon
SensibleCharity
ELJMayes

2. Smile Makers (5)
TheKeithChegwin
CaroleHarry
ChaosAltar
PPWFC_MGraham
DaveMBruce

3. Humour (1)
Kelsey_Grammer has long been a favourite of mine and I only discovered his Twitter presence 10 days ago

4. Newly Discovered Tweeps (2)
RAFairman a decent man doing a decent job
PearlyDean makes his debut today as I found him via RAFairman

5. Because I Want To (1)
GaryMurning / check Gary’s blog and I have promised to buy his book

Got anything to say about why I issue these blog posts on a Friday? Do get in touch. Want to feature in next week’s blog post? Do interact.

Oh and have a great weekend.

We all know the premise behind 1984, Big Brother and all that, watching, manipulating and channeling your very thoughts until you obey. Forbidding the power of individual thought and ensuring you conform. Well, “that ain’t me”! So, if you feel the same please read on, if you disagree then read on and comment.

It’s that time of the week again and after the week Twitter has had it is clear there is not enough capacity on those Twitter servers, therefore we should all being doing our very best to help them out.

Hence, if you read this post last week or this post today from @SpiderPlant88 aka Lisa, then you will understand the path and stance that I am taking.

BTW, Lisa’s addition is a good route to take and demonstrates how we can all have the power of individual thought!

If you wish me to follow you on Twitter the best way is to engage me in conversation or debate, I like reasoned people from all sides. I will not follow people simply because they follow me but again, simple interaction may be all that is required. After all, that is the big idea behind Twitter.

Similarly I will not issue a #ff simply on the basis that I was issued one by a Tweep but I am extremely grateful for all and every single #ff or #followfriday I receive. Once you understand my stance and rationale you will agree, I am sure that being selective will enhance the whole experience.

New rules:

1. Politics (as this is the reason for my existence on Twitter) will have 10 nominations per week, no more, no less. They will be a mix of Coalition, Opposition, Libertarian, Independent.

2. Smile Makers will have 5 nominations

3. Humour will have a single nomination

4. Newly Discovered Tweeps will have 2 nominations

5. Because I Want To will have a single nomination.

Once more into the breach…..

Politics (10)
If you are easily offended then why not run the gauntlet with @OboTheClown a pure Libertarian

Here’s a bit of a ménage à trois and really rather entertaining in the Political sphere @Political_Fun @James_Monk and @CateyMaxx

We have lacked something since Lady Thatcher left office so thankfully we now have @LadyHaylon

An everpresent and intellectually astute Tweep @eljmayes

Whatever the reason some people are just on the wrong side of the house, (IMO) but that doesn’t make them bad people, in fact, it is a good thing and promotes healthy debate hence one of my favourite Opposition Tweeps is the very lovely @Tchee

It should be noted that there are amongst others quite a number of nice Opposition members ;o) and this week I shall include both @SamCellis and @MattJNewman in those ranks who are always civil and utterly friendly

Last but most certainly not least this week in this bracket we have @AliBulger who desperately needs a lock on his Political chambers!

Smile Makers (5)
The sole reason I started this blog and still my favourite Yorkshire lass @CaroleHarry

Following a brief recollection of Floyd’s Brick in the wall this morning I have to thank @PhilipCMeyer (who’s planning his “field” trip to Pilton) for uplifting my mind today

You can choose your friends but not your family, sometimes that’s a good thing as you may not choose the right family. I am proud to nominate my father @WicksieSnr in this bracket this week following his 50th Wedding Anniversary last Saturday

A few months ago I was surprised to find myself enjoying BBC Question Time with Richard Madeley as a guest. I’ve always quite liked Richard but I was impressed at how “on the ball” he was in his perception of current affairs and Politics hence he is a firm follow that I recommend to you via @richardm56 in the knowledge he will at some stage share a nugget of wisdom that will make you smile

Whilst This Tweep could fit into a number of other areas within this post @NeilWigg is safely in the smile maker bracket today as his honesty and refreshing Tweets help amongst the mud slinging that sadly goes on within Twitter

Humour (1)
Without a shadow of a doubt you will smile at least once a day courtesy of @TheKeithChegwin (yes, it really is Cheggers)

Newly Discovered Tweeps (2)
Some rather entertaining discussions this week regarding The Chicken Song with @CarolynAWebster

Following an incredible F1 race in Canada and an exchange of “related” topics I am pleased to be following @bnzss though it should be noted he “could” fit into the Political arena under Libertarian

Because I Want To (1)
In my past life I interviewed an incredibly intelligent and fascinating man, the man who brings science down to the human level; the first man since Johnny Ball to do that. It is no surprise that @slsingh is also an incredibly talented author

Didn’t feature this week? Please don’t be offended, it is always going to be hard selecting only 19 recommendations but interact and you never know what’s around the corner…

Without a shadow of a doubt the whole Twitter #ff or #followfriday thing is either something you love or hate, there is simply no middle ground.

Personally I love it what it brings and the people it brings to my account, I love the interaction and the possible glimpse into another’s timeline and the resulting success it may bring. What I don’t love is the laborious way in which we basically have to write every Friday off in favour of the #ff hashtag.

This Friday I propose to change how we or I at least do business via the #ff tag and it is my aim to blog a post that will contain the usernames of those that I have discussed with during the previous week, debating partners, considered intelligentsia of the political world (whatever flavour), this post will remain active henceforth until the next one supersedes it the following week.

What will this bring us? Well, for a start it will reduce the burden on the twitter servers, it will stop our timelines clogging up and it will allow all of us to do the right thing.

Just a quickie to let you know that blogging shall return as soon as my thumb permits me to hit the spacebar without taking 5 minutes to type a paragraph.

Exciting times are ahead with the Queen’s speech, Cameron’s 500 day plan and the Labour leadership bids beginning to take shape and some already faltering.

So, just as soon as I can I shall be back, thank you.