Welsh Blogs.com

Leighton Andrews boasts “I am now on Twitter”. Congratulations, bach. This statement was published via his website (see screenshot, left) . For us it it provoked an image of a comic conversation between the generations. Something one might hear in a play by Rhondda dramatist Frank Vickery. “I’m on Twitter” claims the politician. And in reply, the elderly grandmother says, “Oh, poor dab, you must be baad. I’m on Co-dydramol for my knees. I’m still under the doctor waiting for the op.” Every few weeks, Mr Andrews telegraphs another message via his blog about his latest online toy. In January, the toy of the month was Facebook, an online social networking site. The constant name-dropping of American brand names eg. You Tube,...

Aberdare Blog started as an experiment in communicating views of Aberdare and views from Aberdare. It remains an experiment in communication open to participation. Jane from Mountain Ash blogged the lead story on the Mountain Ash Opencast plans this week. Why not blog your own story from Aberdare today ? Here is a list of the Top 100 tags used to describe posts on Aberdare Blog… if we haven’t blogged on a subject close to your heart, you can fix that yourself. If you prefer to blog a story with photos or video, that’ll do nicely thank you, send them today. abercynon aberdare Aberdare Town aberdare_park Ann Clwyd Baptists bbc bbc_wales Books Caerphilly capitalism cardiff Ceredigion Chapels charity christine_chapman christmas christmas_2005 Church coal comedy...

Leanne Wood seems to have disappeared down a virtual rabbit hole in cyberspace. This week the Plaid Cymru Assembly Member’s blog disappeared off the face of the Net. It is like a Lewis Carroll story with the eponymous heroine disappearing into another world. So therefore we dub this news story, Leanne Wood’s Adventures in Cyberspace.......

The Wikipedia article for Rhondda’s Labour MP Leighton Andrews is being vandalised. Interesting elements of Andrews’ career are being removed from the article only to be restored by conscientious editors. It is like a virtual tug-o-war played out publically in a small niche of Welsh cyberspace. So what is this Wikipedia thing ? Wikipedia is the world’s largest encyclopaedia and it’s all available for free online. The encyclopaedia was created by a collaborative effort involving people from across the world. If there isn’t an article on a noteworthy subject, then create it. If you want to contribute or edit an article, you can. Thus in the example of the Leighton Andrews article, certain facts have been removed. References to political researcher David Taylor...

I'm so sorry to have to tell you this... But you, my friends, signify nothing. That's the message from Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews. Returning to his normal blog, the man who is now in possession of one of the largest Labour majorities in Wales has given the following appraisal of the Welsh political blogosphere:I wasn't that impressed with the so-called 'Welsh blogosphere' during the campaign...Too many blogs, including this one, seemed more interested in gossip and rumour. When that spreads to the BBC, it's bad news. The Beeb should apply the same standards to its blogs as to the rest of its news coverage. I do agree with this one that the absence of competition in the Welsh news media gives more opportunity for bloggers, but having now caught up with some of the blogging from election...

BBC Wales' political reporter Adrian Browne has written an article on the contenders for the Welsh Labour leadership after Rhodri Morgan steps down. He outlines the strengths and weaknesses of the (many) possible candidates and concludes that it's a wide open race. AMs mentioned in the article are: Leighton Andrews (Rhondda) Carwyn Jones (Bridgend) Andrew Davies (Swansea West) Edwina Hart (Gower) Jane Davidson (Pontypridd) Huw Lewis (Merthyr Tydfil and......

The BBC continues to subsidise the Labour Party’s Welsh Assembly Election campaign by flogging the Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews’ Burberry story. Last weekend, the BBC Online website’s section for Wales ran the Burberry ‘news story’ as leading story from Friday 26th January until Sunday 28th January 2007. This weekend, they’re back on the ball and Leighton Andrews’ Burberry story re-emerges into the limelight at the Wales section of the BBC Online news website. This weekend it is a “discussion”. Dear Old Aunty wants to know “Is fashion chain Burberry right to close its Rhondda factory?” We want to know, “Is the BBC right to subsidise the Labour Party’s re-election campaign?” Discuss. bbc, Burberry,...

Rhondda’s dynamic duo Chris Bryant MP and Leighton Andrews AM attempt to bully Burberry at a press conference held at the Welsh Assembly this week. They are photographed looking steely faced and determined whilst holding a Burberry poster alongside their own “Made in China” poster. They aim below the belt, jabbing Burberry hardest where it hurts : the Burberry brand name. Leighton Andrews is a skilled campaign manager. His indelible signature is visible on Burberry news stories that have reverberated around Wales and beyond for months. The campaign drum-beat grows louder. His former employer the BBC fawn and wag their tail at his every move in the Burberry campaign. It is a modern wonder of Wales to see this one-man political campaign feeding journalists from the palm of...

The Walk Against the Wind Farm was the front page story in Aberdare’s local newspaper last week. Several hundred people met at Dare Valley Country Park for a ‘ramble in the rain’. They braved the wettest and windiest weekends of the New Year for their walk. The message was a clear “NO” to the Welsh Assembly Government plans to see wind turbines erected in their community. There is a very edgy Head Saleswoman for Cynon Valley’s first Wind Farm. That saleswoman is the local Labour Assembly Member Christine Chapman. In an unusually verbose letter printed in the Cynon Valley Leader, January 4 2007, the Labour AM attempts to belittle those who oppose the wind farm : “some people’s views are strong and emotive” and “I am very...

A little while back, I wrote that Wolves were right to ban Cardiff fans from attending Molineux tomorrow. I was writing in anger at the trumped-up little turds who were setting off flares and then throwing missiles (unprovoked) at police during and after the Tottenham game.I wanted the sizable minority of City fans to be told in no uncertain terms that their actions were juvenile and idiotic. Perhaps banning supporters from the Wolves game would cause the Bluebirds to self-reflect, to escape its obsession with victimhood and kick-out the crap from its ranks.I still believe that Cardiff is in for a tough slog if it's to shake off its yobbish image. But loyal away fans don't tend to be the same people as the spotty mock-Burberry delinquents who cause trouble at home. Moreover, Wolves'...

Leighton Andrews is frequently mentioned as one of the Welsh Assembly's most famous bloggers. He's linked to in all sorts of places, and gets a lot of attention for doing something a great deal of ordinary people do quite routinely.However, he's an elected representative, and therefore his willingness to at least make some effort at communicating with people via his blog is commendable.But Leighton doesn't seem to fully understand the medium.Blogs have comments, and other bloggers are commenters. The internet is democratic, and it is now more than ever about debate.Some bloggers wish to moderate comments and that, I suppose, is fair enough.But policing comments is something totally different. I've now remarked a few times on some of Leighton's posts, but he seems to have chosen not to...

Leighton Andrews Assembly Member for Rhondda, you are hereby charged … … with driving your website at very high speeds but with no Search Facility. So your constituents can’t read what you’ve said in the past. This is a dangerous way to drive a website Mr Andrews. Being able to Search your website is very important, as you know. As this is your first Internet Offence, you will receive a caution Mr Andrews. Good day and safe surfing. assembly member, comedy, humour, leighton andrews, south wales, valleys, wales, welsh, Welsh Assembly, welsh assembly government © 2005-2006 - Visit Aberdare Blog for more great content....

18 Doughty Street is the UK's first online political television station.Leighton Andrews AM isn't a fan - he took a pop at the project in his video blog."I don't think people want more suits on sofas" he said.What's that you're wearing...