The Thanet Star

Revamping the ellection battle.

Sat, 7 Nov 2009 19:56:13 +0000

Thinking of the Ellections in Dane Valley (bits of Dane Park and Millmead in old money) it is clear that both the Conservatives and Labour have set themselves up with such epic lack of a snow-balls-chance-in-hell that I figure they might need some help.

What follows is approximately ten thousand times better than anything Labour and Conservative normally spout and a whole lot more logical. Now they have no excuse for making an interesting election with an actual attempt of the impossible (getting anyone to stop laughing long enough to vote).

Dear Voters. Leading Tory councillors have sugar in their coffee, Hitler took sugar, therefore do not vote Tory or it would be like voting for Hitler and we wouldn't want that would we. Love the Labour party (rightful rulers of Millmead).

A message from the conservatives: A Conservative Councillor is better than Nothing. Nothing is better than a perfect councillor. Therefore a Conservative councillor would be better than a perfect councillor. Clearly it is in your interest to vote for us.

Dear Voters, All men are mortal. Cllr Stephen Broadhurst is a (mortal) man and look how that turned out. Mrs Sandra Hart is, however, a woman and therefore a far more suitable replacement. Lots of Love - The Labour Party (at least we're not BNP, Tory or Sandy Ezekiel).

Pay attention both of you who vote. We're in a bit of a bind and require your support. If you don't vote our new paper candidate in then the others over on the estate might ellect a flipping lefty. That is all. Regards - Your all powerful leaders (do not question us)

People of Millmead: We know that you do not vote please continue not to do so that we may reclaim this accidentally lost seat. Thank you. The Conservatives. (Please go back to your meaningless existence).

Dearest Voters, we are sure it was an oversight that you forgot to vote for us last time. However while the (mostly absent) Tory councillor held the seat we have seen a massive credit crunch. Obviously this was caused by Dane Valley having too many Tory councillors. Please vote Labour at the next elections. Lots of love - The Labour Party (better than substance abuse, war or voting Tory).

A message from the conservatives: Having three conservatives representing Dane Valley scares away killer lions. When have you last seen a killer lion in Thanet? For all our sakes vote Conservative.

Dearest Voters, the Tory candidate talks with his mouth. Bin Laden used to do the same thing. Clearly it would be insanity to vote conservative again. For all our children vote Labour. Lots of love - The Labour Party (put us back where we rightfully belong).

A message from the conservatives: What is the primary difference between war and left wing councils. One is an insane time of pointless death, lies and explosions and the other one is war. Vote Conservative because Labour have small willies.

Please feel free to write your own for our sadly un-inventive councillors to (try) to use.

A few more thoughts on the Dane Valley By-Election

Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:28:38 +0000

Following up on Tony's post here are a few more thoughts on the Dane valley By-Election.

Both main parties are going to be hard pressed to win much of the vote and should be working flat out to see off any chance of some fringe nutters (like the BNP) from grabbing a seat. Sadly this does not seem to be the case. According to my Labour party source the Labour councillors that had the opportunity to do exactly nothing for Dane valley prior to the last ellections were all doing one last stint before retirement in a "traditional Labour ward".

In other words Dane Valley was seen as an area where Labour would always get in and so needed to do nothing. While it is true that Dane Valley is a hot spot for Labour voters it is a race of two parts.

Prior to some rather pointless looking boundry changes what we call Dane valley was made up of Millmead estate and Dane Park. Strong Labour and Conservative respectively. The resultant ward is one of 13 places in the whole of the UK where the number of children from families that claim out of work benefits is twice the national average (so is Newigton by the way). To be sure of a win a councillor must not only court the attention of the home owners that largely consider themselves to be "Dane Park" but also the disenfranchised Millmead crew who are likely to tell you voting is pointless because they are all the same anyway.

With a low publicity election a councillor might slip in on Dane Park votes but should be careful because anyone able to muster even a fraction of the Millmead vote will soon find they have a strong majority. Right now, however the Millmead voter is facing unemployment and the political force behind that appears to be the Labour party. Thanet Labour are going to have to work like stink to get a seat and then keep working like the end of the world right up and through the next election. Right now however they are being sufficiently "safe" to safely get no seats at all.

Unless the lib-dems can pull something out of the bag we could be stuck with another four years of Sandy Ezekiel selling carpets to China instead of real care for the district.

Screening will show how much Thanet has lost

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:15:06 +0000

A film screening about Thanet, it's claimed, will expose the shocking truth about how much has been lost of the isle's attractions as a holiday area.

The screening, called "Thanet On Film" shows footage of the area from the 1920s to the present day and shows Thanet at the peak of its popularity.

The film-maker behind the screening, Christine Tongue, said: "We will be showing Thanet in the days when tourists were literally pouring onto its beaches and thronging its attractions. Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs were all packed with visitors."

Christine said that the footage provides vivid evidence of the mismanagement of Thanet. "When people see these pictures they will say, how could this have happened? How could our politicians have got it so wrong?"The film highlights many important attractions, said Christine, which have been lost to the isle. "And not just the famous Dreamland funfair," Christine said, "But places like the Model Village and the Marina swimming pool in Ramsgate, Bleak House in Broadstairs, the Lido in Margate."

"And the public gardens and green spaces, too," added Christine, "the film shows what we once had and how it's all been left to decay. Our political leaders have been criminally negligent in their duty of care for this area."

Politicians who have played leading parts in Thanet's history are featured, including Jonathan Aitken, Steve Ladyman and Barry Coppock.

Christine urged everyone interested in the future of Thanet to come to the screening. "People are staying in Britain for holidays in bigger numbers than ever before, and Thanet could benefit enormously from this. But we have to give tourists something to come here for - these films show hard evidence of the quality of holiday experience we can provide, if given half a chance.

"The council is currently consulting on the future for Thanet, well they should come and see these films and learn some lessons about what was being done when the area was a hugely successful tourist attraction. Maybe we can make the isle a better place for visitors and residents alike."

The screening, "Thanet On Film", is being held under the auspices of the Thanet Film Society and will take place at 5pm on Sunday November 8th at the Palace Cinema, Harbour Street, Broadstairs.

For more information ring Christine Tongue on 01843 604253.

Raise your glasses and some funds for Kent Air Ambulance

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:10:12 +0000

This Saturday get yourself down to the Oldest Pub in Margate and help raise money for Kent Air Ambulance. If you get there by about 2pm you should be nice and snug somewhere by the time KMFM's Johnny Lewis shows up. I understand that Jonny boy will be drawing the raffle and helping to announce who has won the �80 bottle of drink (it's big) by guessing how much cash was in the other bottle.

I poped in there earlier this week which is how I learned that sponsored events have been going on already and the owners are hoping to raise more then ever before. They are not so very far off doing it too. Sadly I have commitments that will be keeping me very far from most things all weekends so have a pint for me and tell them I sent you.

The pub, as if you needed telling, is the Northen Belle which is tucked away opposite what may one day be the Turner Centre. The Northen Belle has been listed in the Good Beer Guide for many years running so you know that its going to be good inside.

Are BNP a credible threat to Thanet?

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 10:36:41 +0100

Given that Yahoo news has announced that over one fifth of the population (22%) would consider voting for the racist BNP party in the next election Thanet needs to be on it's guard. (YouGov Poll for the Daily Telegraph)

Prime BNP targets include areas that traditionally vote Labour but have elected Conservatives - such as Dane valley Ward. Right now we have a ward that has become so thoroughly offended by the party that should be traditionally caring for it that it has voted for the other side only to have them bog off to be Mayor of Margate or to do some business halfway across the globe.

Let's face it Dane valley will have had 8 years of total disinterest by the next full elections. 4 years from a choice of two Labour oldies looking for an easy ride to retirement and a conservative whom no one was ever able to reach. 4 years after that of total disinterest from Conservatives.

When turn out has fallen below 30% as the general population of Dane valley realises that there is no point voting because both parties couldn't give a toss who are Dane Valley going to turn to?

Labour have failed, conservative have failed and the Liberal Democrats have failed to get any attention at all.

Keep reading after the light hearted video to find out why all parties are failing so hard and what might be needed to turn the tide.

Purple Cows

Seth Godin (leading new marketing author and no relation to a certain local property tycoon) puts it like this: If you are driving along and you see a brown and white cow for the first time you might want to stop and look. After a few miles you've seen so many cows that you stop noticing. If you saw a purple cow, on the other hand, that might be worth looking at again.

Why is that. It is because the purple cow is remarkable.

In a world where all parties are converging slightly right of centre and are seen as harmonized to the point of indifference any party that is different is both remarkable and refreshing.

The BNP, while possibly the worst choice ever, are remarkable. In a world of faceless grey suited nobodies the BNP are different - they are the purple cow. In this alone they will always have the edge. They win by default.

People will vote for a name they recognise long before they will consider a party they have lost faith in.

Thanet's most interesting cows

Who are the District councillors that get the most press time, the most blog time, the most talked about? In rough order of remarkableness: Sandy Ezekiel (con), Iris Johnson (lab), Simon Moores (con) and Mark Nottingham (lab).

Why do you think a seemingly universally despised District level part retains power time and again? Why do the Conservatives vote for such an unpopular leader? The same reason that 22% of people might vote BNP - they are remarkable.

They are remarkable for all the wrong reasons but they are remarkable.

They get to trounce the others not by being right (which anyone could argue that they are not) but by being remarkable. Trying to be "right" to play it safe means that you blend right in and go unnoticed. As the BNP have proven safe is the new dangerous.

How can Clive and Sandy save their parties from a BNP lashing?

The only way to get ahead in a world where safe is so dangerouse is to give up trying to be perfect (it's impossible anyway) and start being remarkable. Yes you will draw enemy fire, yes you will be heavily criticised by bloggers and newspapers from time to time but as Mr Wilde so dryly pointed out - the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.

It may be a clich� but it happens to be pure 100% proof truth. The BNP have got people talking and writing about them. By being different to the rest the pack they are gaining a lead.

Will we see Clive and his Labour buddies abandoning safe and shooting for remarkable? Not likely - remarkable is a young man's game and frankly the gray hair count might actually be too high in the Labour party right now. Mark Nottingham might actually be their last best hope - unreasonable attitudes and all.

What remarkable action would you advise Clive and Sandy to direct their party towards?

All the right things

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:28:15 +0100

This blog post is written today with the single aim of reminding Thanet's bloggers - you are doing it right*.

Conventional blogging wisdom says that there are a bunch of things that a successful blogger does and I can assure you that our bloggers are doing them. Well done you lot.

For reference this is a list of most of the things the pro-bloggers will advise you about.

Strong headlines
Smart writing techniques
Call to action / question to end with
Celebrity gossip
Political gossip
Breaking news
Telling stories
Uncovering facts
Being funny - making readers laugh
Stategic use of controversy
Reviews of the latest event/technology/news headline/political action
Linking to similar stories (by other bloggers)

* For given values of right

National Novel Writing Month

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 01:50:53 +0100

Could you write 50,000 words in just 30 days? That's the challenge that people all over the world will be taking on this November

The month of November is (inter)national novel writing month (often dubbed NaNoWriMo) and the challenge is to average 1,666 words (about three pages of typed A4) every day. At the end of the month participants would have the rough draft of roughly two thirds of a novel and the reward of having written it.

I have taken part on this event for the past five years and despite mid month doubts have completed a word count of over 50,000 words (this is my profile). While I have no manuscripts ready for the publisher I have had the experience of producing a lot of work under a tight time schedule (often in somewhat adverse conditions).

It can be done and I challenge all of Thanet's bloggers to have a go.

You have about a week or so to sign up.

Lumpy walls trump flat ones apparently

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 09:49:00 +0100

I have been looking at planning applications on the very badly made planning application website. One particular one got my interest planning application F/TH/09/0518 which is due to be considered. It interested me because it was both mundane and simple and a reapplication. Last year the church group that owns the property applied to extend the wall a little to make the hall a little larger. (F/TH/08/1139).

They had specified that they would rebuild in such a way as to reuse the original materials and retain the characteristics of the building. There was only one objection that was worried that there might be more noise and more cars and so parking off street might be an issue. Kent highways felt this was unlikely and it was noted that the building had been a school and light industrial in its time so this would be no real change.

So all objects settled it all looked good for the application but someone decided that the flush wall all along would not look as good as an irregular shaped wall and so they said no.

Given some of the ugly things TDC have said yes to this seems a little hypocritical. Any way we'll soon find out if this church gets a bigger hall and a new fire exit and if not what the excuse is this time.

I can't link to the applications due to the unusual nature of the planning website which requires you to enter the planning number every time.

Crushing blow for UKIP may have been due to a TDC (mal)administration

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 12:37:20 +0100

UKIP is being forced to surrender �363,697 to the treasury and it might just be down to a TDC blunder.

The money in question was donated to UKIP by retired bookmaker Alan Bown between Dec 2004 and Jan 2006. The problem is that he was not on the electrol register during this time. The reason appears to be a mistake in administration. Administration taken care of by Thanet District Council if I am not mistaken.

The BBC says Mr Bown had been on the electoral register in Thanet, Kent, but was removed apparently by mistake without his knowledge in December 2004. Which to me is a nice way of saying that someone cocked up and it cost someone else �363,697.

What Thanet tax payers should now be worried about is if the wheels of justice, or at the very least a bright solicitor, should come looking for the money in the coffers of Thanet District Council.

Hollywould - Kent TV - Facts and Myths

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:45:00 +0100

The launch of Hollywould took place with a "premier" and sneak peak at the first six episodes. The video on Kent TVs website (which I found eventually) is full of praise for this innovation. But what is so innovative about an am-dram film that comes in at under an hour? People have been making those for ages.

Myth Kent TV Claims: This is the first ever drama to be souly on the Internet.

Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere you will be aware that YouTube and countless other sites like it have been home to dramas, animations and film releases created exclusively for the Internet. this has been going on for some time now.

Myth Hollywould is interactive.

No mater how many times you say it does not make it true. A DVD player is interactive by those standards. The only interactivity ist hat it is responsive to input. However Interactive drama allows the audience to interact with the drama. It's not rocket scince here. A common way to have a drama be interactive is to have the outcomes chosen by audience vote.

Myth Hollywould is special and better because it is on demand.

Big deal. The Internet is on demand. With normal TV a decent computer and a copy of MythTV and normal TV is on demand too.

Myth This is the model of how local authorities should communicate with young people. Kent TV claim that With young people using sites like youtube and facebook we need to be using the same sorts of tools.

That statment demonstrates the fallacy that separates the dinosaur age mentality that created Kent TV and the reality of modern marketing. If you want to communicate with a group you do not create a new silo and try and get them to visit it. You go and be where your target audience is and present them with something that meets their needs. The world of "I talk you listen" is dead folks so get with the program.

Myth All the young people in Kent are going to watch Hollywould and learn stuff.

According to Alexa Kent TV get's about a quater of the traffic that Thanet Star does and most people in the real world have never heard of Thanet Star. What hope has the slef congratuary Kent TV got? Put that content on Youtube and watch as the traffic count shoots up... oh but wait, then they couldn't justify the expensive website.