Mark Braggins

I know I’m biased, but…

I live and work in Hampshire. I’m biased. But I still think this is really nice.

Camping without the tents: UK GovCamp 2012

I spent Friday and Saturday in London at UK GovCamp 2012, or #UKGC12 as it’s known on Twitter. It was an “unconference” with no prepared agenda. If you aren’t familiar with unconferences, Steph Gray gives a good description in his November 2011 article in The Guardian. It amazes me that so many people are willing to give…… Continue reading Camping without the tents: UK GovCamp 2012

Tracks, Maps, and Apps

I got the idea of blogging about maps and apps a couple of weeks ago whilst reading Louise Brown’s fascinating first post for the #weeklyblogclub entitled: “How will I be using technology in 2012”. I’m interested in technology – not for the sake of it – but where it can be used to solve practical…… Continue reading Tracks, Maps, and Apps

Drumalism – great new app from @SemanticTourist

Steve Peters aka @SemanticTourist describes himself on Twitter as an: “Open Data enthusiast and LinkedData fan; armchair developer…” In a great example of that armchair development – in his spare time over Christmas – he’s put together an excellent app which draws together hyperlocal media sites and feeds, Twitter & Facebook for local authorities. He…… Continue reading Drumalism – great new app from @SemanticTourist

Something for the weekend, Sir?

The Village Barber by H Bunbury 1772 Image courtesy of City of London, London Metropolitan Archives

Visit a traditional barbershop and you can get a haircut for under a tenner. It may not have the exoticism of today’s stylist or unisex salons, but its history is every bit as exotic, and much longer. According to The Old Testament, in a tale of treachery and barbarism, Samson received one of the earliest recorded…… Continue reading Something for the weekend, Sir?

New Starts and Looking Forward

Right. No more excuses. There are only so many times I can sharpen and rearrange my metaphorical pencils. This is my first blog post for 2012. Or, to put it another way, my fifth blog post ever. It’s dedicated to the weekly blogging club which Dan Slee suggested setting up to encourage lapsed bloggers to get back in…… Continue reading New Starts and Looking Forward

Twitter Down

How ironic. I finally start blogging and my first couple of posts are both about Twitter. This coincides nicely with Twitter being down “for maintenance”

Ten of my favourite reporting and analysis tools for Twitter

I’ve been tweeting for just over a year during which time I’ve tried a variety of tools for reporting and analysis. Some have been quite impressive, but many have been pretty awful. Here’s a quick look at ten of my favourites. It’s only a small selection of what’s available – there are loads of others…… Continue reading Ten of my favourite reporting and analysis tools for Twitter

Jon Snow: “Crime, Punishment and the Media” – the tenth annual Longford Lecture

I wrote this before I realised that there was a full transcript of the lecture available. Not having blogged before I didn’t actually publish it at the time, and have left it in draft for weeks. I thought I may as well publish, and have just added in a link to the transcript in the…… Continue reading Jon Snow: “Crime, Punishment and the Media” – the tenth annual Longford Lecture