Longevity

I have installed the wordpress broken links plugin on several of my blogs. I am sort of fascinated in how many they generate on the first run. Obviously the wayback machine is of some help, but I remember taking the decision, on advice, that using hyperlinks was better, morally and technically than leeching the content. I don’t think either of us expected my little bliki to outlast some of the resources I was linking to. …

Runaway

Someone pointed me at this article by Alex Nunns in Red Pepper, “The Labour conference that the media failed to report”, I think he catches what happened well. I have bookmarked it on Diigo, and highlighted two quotes.

This was a conference full of conflicting dynamics, but with an overarching story of left delegates gradually asserting themselves as they learned the ropes…..

Having organised for months in advance of contentious votes over rule changes, many grassroots activists felt deflated when their efforts were displaced by an old-fashioned deal brokered by the leadership at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in the week before Brighton.

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Sink

Another thought on Labour’s Rules, some are arguing that there are too many Londoners on the NEC. I don’t know if I agree, with the proposition or the proposed remedy. It would seem that the critical accountability should be political.

My experience of regionally based national committees is that they act as a barrier to the political majority, particularly if the regions elect their own representatives. Anyway, the CLP representatives are no longer so London centric. (There is only one.) …

Stuffed parrots…

I picked this up on my way out of Labour Conference, it’s an interesting review, from a 1st time delegate, a supporter of the Labour Party Marxists. The author talks about the use of late notice and secrecy to manipulate delegates, the lottery of speaker selection, just as well he didn’t see the speaker called in 2014, for waving a baby, and the opacity (and again luck) of reference back on the Policy Forums reports. He talks of the pressure on CLPs to remit their rule changes despite their importance. Worth reading; the platform’s power is no less than it was, we have some way to go. …

Windows RT

A friend asked about Windows RT. I have a windows RT tablet, made by Nokia. it’s core difference from other windows OS’s is that it runs on ARM processors. This means that the versions/instances of the apps are different from those that run on the other versions of windows which need Intel processors. The app. choice in the store is much more limited than if using other versions of windows, but all the basics are there and it can co-operate with Microsoft & Google’s cloud services. It has a desktop application panel, and so can use MS Office applications and the file explorer.

Microsoft have decommitted from RT so the versions of the software (apps & OS) that work are old. This includes internet explorer, which means that some/many web apps will no longer work and places a future risk on the use of such web/apps. Third Party developers no longer develop for this platform. This makes it hard to keep up to date. This will only et worse.

I bought a Bluetooth keyboard (and mouse) and use it mainly for blogging on the road as it is much lighter than my current first choice laptop.

I like the Metro interface but I think RT’s time is past, even if it is used by Felicity Smoak. …

Local Leadership

It will come as no surprise that I am talking about who should stand for office in Lewisham Deptford CLP. The Labour Party publishes a series of useful guides and job descriptions for CLP & Branch Officers on its members site, membersnet, which can/must now be accessed via the single sign on site, my Labour. Having a look at these might help some comrades understand if they have the both the time and recognise that they have the skills required from their everyday life. I am consistently shocked at how much personal admin the paperless world of today requires when dealing with the utility companies, banks and insurance companies. We all  have useful skills in this area.
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