The Best Waste of £200k of Public Money: Meme

Matt Wardman believes it's time for a Meme and he could be right. I've been tagged and it all started with this:

This morning Tom Harris MP proposed that the Howden and Haltemprice by-election was a monumental “waste of public money” of the order of “two hundred grand”. I differ; it is well worth it.

Matt's suggestions for the most monumental waste of £200k include:

The £200k costs being paid by the taxpayer for Ann Winterton MP and Nicholas Winterton MPs to rent their London house from themselves, and the death duty tax dodge that goes with it. The £200k estimated to have been spent by Mr Speaker Michael Martin on Legal Fees in order to keep MP’s expense details concealed from the public. The £200k of public money spent on each 0.04% of the £500 million just written off by the M.O.D. over the Special Forces Helicopters disaster.

I haven't seen the figure quoted in the Welsh budget but THIS public relations exercise isn't going to be cheap.

I’ll tag:
Cambria Politico, Cynical Dragon, Dylan Jones-Evans, Ordovicius, Peter Black AM, David Cornock (BBC Journalist), Three Line Whip, Iain Dale's Diary, and J. Arthur MacNumpty

Update: Italian chairs and desks formed part of a total spend of £880,000 on furnishing the new Caerphilly Council headquarters at Tredomen Business Park in Ystrad Mynach.

Talk about taking it to the next level.

A 'Blogging Award' from the mother of the Valleys

Since being nominated as an 'Excellent' political blog by the equally excellent Valleys Mam, I now have to nominate five political blogs and five non-political to pass it on to.

I've decided not to replicate any blogs [excellent though they are] that have already been chosen by others, but have no idea how many have been tagged into this. My political choices are not based on 'politics'. Instead I have based my choice* on what they offer - concentrating on my Welsh Political Blogroll - as my full blogroll reflects my true eclectic choice.

Political Blogs (alphabetical order):

1. Bethan Jenkins AM (Plaid Cymru)
2. Glyn Davies (Conservative)
3. Normal Mouth (Labour)
4. Peter Black AM (Liberal Democrat)
5. Vaughan Roderick (Media)

Non-Political Blogs (alphabetical order):

1. Chris Cope
2. Ellee Seymour
3. Petite Anglaise
4. Skidmore's Island
5. The Last of the Few (18+)

* Please note that this list is probably biased and based on those that I have recently discovered or read on a daily basis.

Update: As I've been asked again about my political choice - I read each one for different reasons and they provide me with a wide range of thought. My actual list would be much bigger and include blogs that are just as good as those selected or better.

Thought I'd clear that one up :)

Top 20 Posts Meme (First 3 months of a blog)

Now that this blog is officially 3 months old (such a cute anniversary) and I've returned from a weekend spent with the family, thought I'd take a look at the posts so far and compile a list of what seems to be the most popular ones. Difficult to qualify as what exactly is a popular post? I've chosen ones that have caused the most comments - whether good or bad - and ones that have drawn other people to this blog over the last three months.

Top 20 Posts in the life of this blogs first 3 months (in no particular order):

• Inequality at the Assembly, 2 November 2007


• Coalition creates new commitment - apparently, 8 November 2007


• AM.PM...and the winner is, 12 November 2007


• Drowning in Clear Red-Green Water, 13 November 2007


• Members' Restaurant Launch, 14 November 2007


• Tinkering, Tailoring, but not Soldiering and Spying, 16 November 2007


• Pay and pension can be a lottery, 19 November 2007


• Welsh Government Package for Disabled Children, 19 November 2007


• AM Bloggers up against the Standards Committee, 21 November 2007


• Fundamental flaws found in drawing up a new law, 22 November 2007


• Sir Emyr's around Wales rally ends in 2009, 23 November 2007


• Welsh Woman of the Year, 26 November 2007


• Llandudno will be the Cardiff of the North, 27 November 2007


• Education: When do we start to point the finger?, 5 December 2007


• Former Assembly Members - Where are they now?, 7 December 2007


• Permanent Secretary to the Welsh Assembly Government, 1 January 2008


• Older People's Champion, 7 January 2008


• Assembly Senior Civil Servant Accused, 10 January 2008


• Peter Hain: Cock-up doesn't fit the bill, 11 January 2008


• Education: When do we get down to business?, 16 January 2008

Why not turn this into a meme and tag others, I thought. As this is my first attempt to create a meme I've decided to tag all those that are included in my blogroll to date - are still active bloggers - and hopefully they will post on their Top 20 popular posts from their blogs in the first 3 months of their lives. If some of them take part it'll be interesting to see what was dominant in the news at the time of starting their blogs and also what they were passionate about.

Alan in Dyfed, Alex Williams, Alun Cairns AM, Andrew Nutt, Bethan Jenkins AM, Betsan Powys, Ceredig Daily Post Blogs Damon Lord Daniel Davies David Cornock David Davies MP David Jones MP David Peter David Williamson Dylan Jones-Evans Glyn Davies Guerrilla Welsh Fare Half-Blood Welshman Homage to Catatonia Huw Lewis AM Independent Wales Johnny Foreigner Julie Morgan MP Leanne Wood AM Leighton Andrews AM Llanelli Journal Luke Young Mark Young Martin Eaglestone Matt Withers Miserable Old Fart Morgan Hen New Welsh Right Nick Bourne AM Normal Mouth Ordovicius Paul Flynn MP Penri James Peter Black AM Pilchard Red Anorak Senedd Whip Southpaw Grammar Steffan Lewis Stephen Crabb MP The Bright Side of Insomia Thoughts of Oscar Tom Bodden Tomos Livingstone Valleys Mam Vaughan Roderick Wales World Nation Welsh Blog Index Welsh Independence Welsh Ramblings Welsh Womens Voice What is Wales? Amlwch to Magor Adam Price MP David Jones MP Nick Bourne AM Paul Flynn MP Coffee House Justin Webb Mark Mardell Nick Cohen Nick Robinson Tom Bodden Tomos Livingstone Vaughan Roderick A Liberal goes a long way A Very British Dude An Englishman's Castle Beau Bo D' Or Bob Piper Boris Johnson MP Burning our Money Charlie Marks Chris Paul's Labour of Love Cicero's Songs Conservative History Conservative Home Croydonian Daily Referendum Dave's Part Devil's Kitchen Dizzy Thinks Dodgeblogium Donal Blaney Edland Ellee Seymour EU Referendum Bloggerheads Grendel Guido Fawkes Hunter and Shooter Iain Dale's Diary J. Arthur MacNumpty James Cleverly Jon Swift Kerron Cross Laura-Rose Saunders Libdem Voice Liberal England Little Man in a Toque Luke Akehurst Lynne Featherstone MP Man in a Shed Michael Meacher MP Mike Rouse Ministry of Truth Monkey with a Blue Rosette Mr Eugenides Nadine Dorries MP Newmania in Lewes Nicolas Webb Norfolk Blogger Nourishing Obscurity Paul Bristow Paul Burgin, Mars Hill Paul Linford Political Betting Praguetory Quaequam Blog Reactionary Snob Recess Monkey Rob Newman Shane Greer Skipper Slugger O'Toole Stumbling and Mumbling Susanne Lamido Tartan Hero The Ink The Last Ditch The Waendel Journal The Wilted Rose Thunder Dragon Tory Radio UK Daily Pundit Wardman Wire Wardman Wire (UK) Westminster Wisdom Westmonster Womble on Tour Annie Rhiannon Blog Cymru Blog Power Chris Cope Everything is Electric Girl With A One Track Mind Hoby Cartoons Menopausal Old Bag Mutley the Dog No Good Boyo Petite Anglaise Rachel North London Skidmore's Island Smiling Under Buses The Last of the Few Theo Spark Wife in the North Welsh Political News Welsh Blogs.com Poliblogs Scottish Political News

Technorati and the Desktop Meme

I've only just noticed that Damon Lord has tagged me into what's known as the Desktop Meme, where you share with others a view of what your desktop looks like - folders [warts] and all.

Firstly, although I think it's an interesting prospect that would bring you a little closer to the psyche of a fellow blogger - good or bad - I find this difficult to carry out in my case as on my desktop is a cute picture of my little boy in 'cheeky boy' pose.

Secondly - and the reason why I'm bringing it up in this post - is that only recently I've noticed this particular tagging, and that I've also noticed that Technorati is rather slow these days in tracking those that have tagged you on their blog, and is becoming unreliable. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm positive that the more technical minded would've already posted on this, but thought it worth a mention.

Before I go. Why do I get the impression that most men have pictures of women on their desktop? ;)

Tagged to take part in the 'Crazy Eight'

I have been tagged by Dylan Jones-Evans to take part in the Crazy Eight. As everyone else seems to be doing this I'd better get on with it. Like Dylan, if I started it again tomorrow some answers will probably change.

8 things I’m passionate about:

My partner.
My son.
My friends.
My job and doing the right thing.
My social life (Good food and good wine and good conversation).
Having fun and plenty of it.
Healthy work-life balance.
Attempt to be passionate about most things I do.

8 things I want to do before I die

See my child and future children grow up and have families of their own.
See Wales become a successful and respectable partner within the UK.
Start my own business.
Move to the countryside.
Travel as much as possible.
Give my children the best education and much love and support.
Make sure that I have made the most of opportunities that pass my way.
Have a walk-in wardrobe built for myself.

8 things I say often

Very good.
Please tell me you're joking.
I'll take a stab at it tomorrow.
"X, do you love your mummy?"
What shall we do this weekend?
Are we going out tonight?
Any chance of something to drink?
Chwarae Teg to my English partner.

8 books I’ve read recently or am still reading

501 Must-Visit Destinations.
Numerous Children's books.
Rough Guide to Venice.
Alastair Campbell, The Blair Years
Kim Edwards, The Memory Keeper's Daughter.
Past Times Historical Anecdotes
Kerry, Too Much Too Young (was recommended by my sister).
Too many books relating to my work in human resources.

8 songs I could listen to over and over and do:

Baby Can I Hold You, by Tracy Chapman

Motorcycle Emptiness, by Manic Street Preachers

Somewhere Only We Know, by Keane

Wicked Game, by Chris Isaak.

Angels, by Robbie Williams

Sarabande, by Handel (atmospheric)

Little Bird, by Annie Lennox

In My Life, by The Beatles

8 things that attract me to my best friends

Loyalty
Social life
Intelligence
Humour
Personality
Honesty
Shared passion/interest
Openness

8 people I think should do Crazy 8s
I think that most people have been covered, but here goes.

David Cornock, Normal Mouth, Glyn Davies, Ceredig, Bethan Jenkins, Homage to Catatonia, Paul Flynn MP, Julie Morgan MP (what are the chances of those two?).