The April 2011 stat porn for my little blog

Continuing my regular monthly stat porn figures for anyone who is remotely interested in who reads my little blog, what stories they read and from where they read it, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for April 2011.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Sunday 17th April, the day I blogged about John Lamont's short term memory loss, as he attacks an opponent for wanting to be an MP - as he did just twelve months ago!

Last month I had 1,182 absolute unique visitors, a slight dent on last month. They made 1,458 visits and 1,792 page views.

13.99% of the visitors were through direct traffic, 34.22% from referring sites and 51.78% via search engines.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;

1. Facebook (1)
2. Blogger (7)
3. Google.co.uk (5)
4. Twitter (2)
5. Better Nation (12)
6. Lib Dem Voice (4)
7. Mungiuns Republic (9)
8. Lib Dem Blogs (6)
9. Planet Politics (14)
10. Google.com (11)
During April I wrote just 7 blog posts, another poor month.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. Police Federation go for scaremongering advert
2. Conservative candidate John Lamont has short term memory
3. Labour leader Iain Gray: "I want a zero tolerance approach on literacy"
4. Supporting the NUS Scotland LGBT mental health campaign is important - DO IT!
5. Jack Frew - murdered in cold blood for being gay?
6. The biggest story in Scotland today
7. Adam Levine gets naked
8. Who reads which newspaper?
9. Angela Constance MSP is new Scottish Minister for Skills & Lifelong Learning
10. Save our Scottish Police from the SNP, Conservatives and Labour plans

Once again a real mixed bag this month and as I only wrote 7 blog posts, the top 10 was always going to include stuff from previous months - so this month a naked Adam Levine returns as does the tragic death last year of Jack Frew, in addition we have the NUS LGBT campaign and the single police force issue.

The visitors to my little blog came from 48 countries this month, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. France (3)
4. Australia (=8)
5. Canada (4)
6. India (12)
7. New Zealand (47)
=8. Brazil (21)
=8. Netherlands (11)
10. Italy (10)

Enjoy the porn because, that's all folks!

The March 2011 stat porn for my little blog

Continuing my regular monthly stat porn figures for anyone who is remotely interested in who reads my little blog, what stories they read and from where they read it, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for March 2011.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Sunday 20th March, the day I blogged about the iphone app that claims to cure you if you are gay.

Last month I had 1,543 absolute unique visitors, a decent increase on last month. They made 1,946 visits and 2,460 page views.

11.30% of the visitors were through direct traffic, 23.77% from referring sites and 64.91% via search engines.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;
1. Facebook (2)
2. Twitter (4)
3. Delicious (16)
4. Lib Dem Voice (7)
5. Google.co.uk (3)
6. Lib Dem Blogs (8)
7. Blogger (6)
8. Politicshome.com (New Entry)
9. Mungions Republic (14)
10. Lallands Peat Warrior (13)

During March I wrote just 9 blog posts, that is 3 times as many as last month but even so, it is still rubbish.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. Glasgow Labour Councillor William O’Rourke sacked over rape remarks
2. Are you gay and need curing? There's an app for that
3. Dunfermline Labour Party in election blunder
4. Ben Bradshaw - MP or candidate?
5. Ed Miliband's insult to the voters of Scotland
6. Labour run Haringey Council - the truth about the cuts
7. Adam Levine gets naked
8. Can you afford £15 to help fund a new business?
9. Jack Frew - murdered in cold blood for being gay?
10. Angela Constance MSP is new Scottish Minister for Skills & Lifelong Learning
A genuine mixed bag this month and as I only wrote 9 blog posts, the top 10 was always going to include stuff from previous months, although it is just 3 - so this month is about naked men, curing gays via your iphone, Labour gaffe's and Jack Frew.

The visitors to my little blog came from 52 countries this month, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. France (4)
4. Canada (6)
5. Germany (New Entry)
6. Belgium (=7)
7. Philippines (13)
=8. Australia (=9)
=8. Spain (5)
10. Italy (19)

Enjoy the porn because, that's all folks!

The February 2011 stat porn for my little blog

Continuing my regular monthly stat porn figures for anyone who is remotely interested in who reads my little blog, what stories they read and from where they read it, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for February 2011.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Friday 18th February, the day I blogged about the Conservatives European bedfellows being a bunch of homophobes.

Last month I had 1,113 absolute unique visitors, a massive drop from last month. They made 1,317 visits and 1,657 page views.

14.88% of the visitors were through direct traffic, 31.06% from referring sites and 54.06% via search engines.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;

1. Google.co.uk (6)
2. Facebook (2)
3. Blogger (5)
4. Twitter (1)
5. Betternation.org (11)
6. Google.com (7)
7. Lib Dem Voice (4)
8. Lib Dem Blogs(3)
9. Planet-Politics (16)
10. Scottish Roundup (17)

During February I wrote just 3 blog posts, I have really found it hard to connect with my blog this month.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;
1. Jack Frew - murdered in cold blood for being gay?
2. "I don't understand why anyone should want to be proud of being a homosexual."
3. Adam Levine gets naked
4. The first Royal Wedding of 2011 - Andrew and Roger Reeves
5. The November stat porn for my little blog
6. Clinton Cards - homophobic or just plain lazy?
7. Rugby star Gavin Henson strips off to raise awareness for male cancer
8. Angela Constance MSP is new Scottish Minister for Skills & Lifelong Learning
9. Why I'm getting married today!
10. Edinburgh Capitals ice hockey team on the turn?

A genuine mixed bag this month and as I only wrote 3 blog posts, the top 10 was always going to include stuff from previous months - so this one is about my wedding, naked men, homophobia and ice hockey.

The visitors to my little blog came from 52 countries this month, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. India (7)
4. France (8)
5. Spain (6)
6. Canada (3)
=7. Belgium (15)
=7. Poland (52)
=9. Netherlands (=11)
=9. Australia (5)

Enjoy the porn because, that's all folks!

The December and final for 2010 stat porn for my little blog

Continuing my regular monthly stat porn figures for anyone who is remotely interested in who reads my little blog, what stories they read and from where they read it, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for December 2010.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Saturday 18th December, the day I was suspended from Twitter and this was down to the story about the tweet from ITV slagging Nigella Lawson off.

Last month I had 2,351 absolute unique visitors, a great increase on last month. They made 2,980 visits and 3,814 page views.

22.08% of the visitors were through direct traffic, 46.31% from referring sites and 31.61% via search engines.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;
1. Twitter (2)
2. Facebook (1)
3. Lib Dem Blogs (3)
4. Lib Dem Voice (4)
5. Blogger (5)
6. Google.co.uk (6)
7. Google.com (8)
8. Munguins Republic (11)
9. Caron's Musings (7)
10. SNP Tactical Voting.com (10)

During December I wrote 26 blog posts, one more than the previous month but still a long way behind where I have been in the past.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;
1. ITV News tweets Nigella Lawson not as attactive as she thinks she is
2. Mike Crockart MP, no really he is
3. Andrew Reeves is still suspended on Twitter - but the support is awesome
4. Labour MSP John Park stands down as Dunfermline candidate?
5. X-Factor's Gamu Nhengu and Aberlour Choir for the Christmas No.1
6. Angela Constance MSP is new Scottish Minister for Skills & Lifelong Learning
7. Jack Frew - murdered in cold blood for being gay?
8. Daily Telegraph expose MP Michael Moore, for being, erm, well, honest
9. Keith Brown MSP is new Scottish Transport Minister
10. My response to Ed Miliband's request to join him and Labour - their lies, hypocrisy and arrogance

A mixed bag once again this month ranging from my suspension from twitter because of a rogue tweet from ITV News, the impersonation of Mike Crockart MP, the Daily Telegraph undercover journalist sting of many MPs including Michael Moore and once again the extremely sad case of Jack Frew's murder back in May, he is obviously missed by friends and family alike.
The visitors to my little blog came from 56 countries this month, up 1 on last month, the top ten were as follows;
1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. Canada (3)
4. Ireland (4)
5. Australia (12)
6. Spain (6)
7. India (9)
8. France (7)
9. Netherlands (=11)
10. Brazil (=11)

That's all folks.

Top 100 Tweeting Bloggers

Another achievement for my little blog in 2010, although this year I have slipped some 32 places to 93, sitting in between a journalist William Green and an Archbishop Archbishop Cranmer.

I am sure there is a joke there somewhere.

The top 100 tweeting blogger's list can be found here on A Very public Sociologist.

The British blogosphere loses it's blogfather Iain Dale

Wow - I didn't see that one coming.  I am not one of Iain Dale's greatest fans, we had a small argument online years ago and ever since he does not flatter me or my blog with comments or links despite him then linking to someone else who covers my story after I do - but hey, life goes on.

I will despite this however miss Iain on the blogosphere and am relieved he will still be in the political arena, he has a lot to offer.

His reasons for giving up seem very sincere and certainly I can relate to many of them.  I was a little surprised that he didn't mention his partner in the long list, because the hours Iain is working must also have an impact on their relationship.

The fact Iain never made it into the House of Commons was also quite sad, and it appears that he has parked that ambition for now, but as he says on his blog today;

I'm running a very successful publishing company which is, I believe, on the brink of great success. I've achieved a lifetime's ambition of having my own daily radio talk show. I am not about to put either of those things at risk.

Iain explains in great detail why he has stopped blogging HERE.

So, goodbye for now Iain, we await your new website and the blog posts however intermittent they are.

The November stat porn for my little blog

Continuing my now regular monthly stat porn figures for anyone who is remotely interested in who reads my little blog, what they read and from where they read it, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for November 2010.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Thursday 11th November and this was down to two stories, one was about the stupidity of a Conservative Councillor who called for the stoning of Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on twitter and the second was the Guardian's Julian Glover giving Liberal Democrats members and voters10 top tips.

Last month I had 2,044 absolute unique visitors, a good increase on last month. They made 2,596 visits and 3,259 page views.

16.45% of the visitors were through direct traffic, 44.14% from referring sites and 39.41% via search engines.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;

1. Facebook (2)
2. Twitter (1)
3. Lib Dem Blogs (3)
4. Lib Dem Voice (5)
5. Blogger (4)
6. Google.co.uk (7)
7. Caron's Musings (12)
8. Google.com (16)
9. Better Nation.org (6)
10. SNP Tactical Voting.com (9)

During November I wrote 25 blog posts, up on the previous month but still behind where I have been in the past.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. Conservative Councillor Gareth Compton calls for stoning of Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on twitter
2. English Defence League Protest in Preston - One mans perspective (Guest Post)
3. Should Luciana Berger MP stayed on air with Kelvin MacKenzie?
4. Chris Bryant naked with a journalist in a sauna!
5. Jason Manford quits BBC One Show after flirting on skype and twitter
6. Ten tips for the Liberal Democrats - members, voters and activists alike
7. Conservative MSP John Lamont uses poppy to score cheap political points
8. No action against election overspend by Conservative MP David Mundell
9. Phil Woolas MP loses court case over his election
10. Jack Frew - murdered in cold blood for being gay?

A mixed bag once again this month from Phil Woolas MP losing his court case causing a by-election, but when? to John Lamont MSP using the poppy to attempt political point scoring, Jason Manford quitting the One Show and a Conservative Councillor calling for the stoning of Yasmin Alibhai-Brown on twitter, just for a joke mind.  An interesting guest post from a good friend on the recent EDL march in Preston and once again the extremely sad case of Jack Frew's murder back in May.

The visitors to my little blog came from just 55 countries this month, up 5 from last time, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. Canada (3)
4. Ireland (=7)
5. Germany (10)
=6. Spain (14)
=6. France (5)
8. Philippines (13)
9. India (=7)
10. Sweden (37)

That's all folks.

Andrew Marr on bloggers - socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald

Now, I am not Andrew Marr's biggest fan, I personally think he is one of the group of journalists who think that they are are more important than many of their guests and who treat politicians with no respect whatsoever and just constantly talk over them instead of asking a question and then letting the guest answer it.

However, I do think his rant against bloggers is somewhat over the top.

Andrew Marr, speaking at a Cheltenham Literature Festival audience, said:

"Most citizen journalism strikes me as nothing to do with journalism at all,"

He then, once warmed up, went on;

A lot of bloggers seem to be socially inadequate, pimpled, single, slightly seedy, bald, cauliflower-nosed, young men sitting in their mother's basements and ranting. They are very angry people.

OK – the country is full of very angry people. Many of us are angry people at times. Some of us are angry and drunk. But the so-called citizen journalism is the spewings and rantings of very drunk people late at night.

As a blogger, I take exception at Marr's comments - I have never claimed to be a journalist nor do I state my writings are journalism, although on occasion I get a story out there before journalists and have in fact been linked to by journalists.

Nor am I socially inadequate, pimpled, single (I am getting married next year), slightly seedy (okay, he may have me on that one), bald (balding but not bald), cauliflower-nosed, young or in my mother's basement.

The final one is possibly correct when I write sometimes, angry.  Yes, sometimes I am angry and today is one of those days.

Once again one of our elite journalists think they are above everyone else and generalise on a level that is somewhat amazing - and yet if a blogger did that, what would Marr call them then?
I will leave the final word to Roy Greenslade of the Daily Telegraph blog;

But I'm surprised at the Marr assault because he is usually so thoughtful. Aside from the paradox of him indulging in a rant to complain about other ranters, it is the one-sidedness of his argument that is so striking.

My monthly report on internet stat porn

So, continuing my monthly stat porn figures for anyone who is remotely interested in who reads my little blog, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for September 2010.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Wednesday 1st September and the story was about the coalition replacing NHS Direct but highlighting Labour's hypocrisy and lies on this as it was in their election manifesto, to do the very same thing - many thanks to Guido Fawkes for linking to the story.

Last month I had 6,950 absolute unique visitors, over 2,500 up from last month. They made 8,169 visits and 10,231 page views.

11.46% of the visitors were through direct traffic, 59.53% from referring sites and 29.01% via search engines.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month (with previous position in brackets) were;

1. Order-Order.com (1)
=2. Facebook (3)
=2. Twitter (2)
=4. Lib Dem Blogs (4)
=4. Lib Dem Voice (5)
6. Blogger.com (7)
7. Google.co.uk (8)
8. SNP Tactical Voting (6)
9. Total Politics (49)
9. Better Nation (New Entry)

During September I wrote 31 blog posts, once again keeping up the momentum from the month before.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. John Prescott, Labour and the truth about NHS Direct
2. William Hague's special adviser Christopher Myers quits
3. The Liberal Democrats Conference in Liverpool was a disaster
4. Clinton Cards - homophobic or just plain lazy?
5. No word from Clinton Cards on whether they are homophobic or just plain lazy?
6. Conservative Minister to address the Liberal Democrat Conference this weekend
7. Chris Bryant MP tells Sky's Kay Burley she's a bit dim
8. Rugby star Gavin Henson strips off to raise awareness for male cancer
9. Clinton Cards answer back
10. Conservative MP Nadine Dorries loses the plot

This month is dominated by Clinton Cards stories, Labour's lies about NHS Direct (again), Conservatives quitting, Kay Burley is dim according to Chris Bryant MP, a naked Gavin Henson and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries loses the plot once more.

The visitors to my little blog came from 81 countries this month, up 13 from 68 last time, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. France (3)
4. Canada (5)
5. Spain (10)
6. Ireland (5)
=7. Netherlands (9)
=7. Germany (=7)
=9. Australia (=7)
=9. Belgium (4)

Conservative MP Nadine Dorries loses the plot

Over on Nadine Dorries MP's blog, she questions whether you can be addicted to Twitter?

Firstly though, she plugs the fact that she has written an article for Iain Dale's book, before she then questions whether you can in fact be addicted to Twitter, she writes;

In the article, in which I very clearly define the reasons why MPs should not blog or Twitter (yes, I know ) I mention someone who has posted 22,000 tweets in four months.

Today, someone has emailed my office with the details of a political/personal Tweeter who has posted 35,000 tweets in a similar amount of time.

I'm going to have to set up a Twitter account again so that I can check this out for myself!... Not.

Is there such a thing as Twitter addiction?

I think this is funny given Nadine has given up on Twitter (although it was always funny how she blocked people who didn't agree with her) but still blogs - what's that old saying?

Don't do what I do, do what I say.

It seems appropriate for Nadine Dorries on this issue.

Anyway, I digress.  What is wrong with posting 22,000 comments over a period of four months?

Nadine explains;

Surely these people cannot be in employment because if they are, how can they work? if they aren't then it's time they got a job which involves being sat at a key board because there's nothing much up with their fingers, brain or attention span!!

Oh my god, it is stupid ridiculous comments like this that remind me despite being in coalition, our two parties are so far apart.

Anyway, if that comment from Nadine Dorries wasn't enough to drive you to drink, then hold on to your hats folks.

In the meantime, do you know of anyone else who has Tweeted more than 35,000 times in less than six months? If so, email my office and let me know. Or, better still, if it's someone you know is on benefits, contact the DWP.

Honestly, you really could not make it up could you?

Andrew Reeves running blog stat porn for May 2010

So, continuing my monthly stat porn figures, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for May 2010.

The busiest day on my blog last month was in fact Monday 10th May and the story was about Jack Frew, the gay 16 year old who was tragically murdered.

Last month I had 6,069 absolute unique visitors, massively up from 3,436 last month. They made 8,749 visits and 12,488 page views.
 
So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month (with previous position in brackets) were;
1. Twitter (1)
2. Facebook (3)
3. Lib Dem Voice (2)
4. Lib Dem Blogs (5)
5. SNP Tactical Voting (7)
6. Blogger (6)
7. Wikio.com (110)
8. Wikio.co.uk (11)
=9. Carons-Musings.blogspot.com (17)
=9. Google.co.uk (16)

Last month I wrote 26 blog posts.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. Jack Frew - murdered in cold blood for being gay?
2. Jack Frew RIP
3. David Laws - the sheer hypocrisy....
4. Sky News Kay Burley - reporter, presenter, journalist or bully?
5. Peter Mandelson's resignation forces Harriet Harman to reshuffle
6. Adam Boulton gets a dose of his own medicine and doesn't like it
7. Conservatives to freeze pay of public sector workers on £18,000+
8. Scottish Conservative reshuffle - hold onto the deck chairs
9. Vince Cable stands down as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats
10. Councillor Bailie Gordon Matheson is new leader of Glasgow City Council

So this month's mixed bag is about Kay Burley bullying an interviewee, Jack Frew, Vince Cable standing down as Deputy Leader, Annabel Goldie moves the deckchairs on the titanic and Peter Mandelsons resignation!

The visitors to my little blog came from 54 countries this month, up slightly from 52 last time, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. Netherlands (5)
4. Australia (7)
5. France (9)
6. Canada (3)
7. Ireland (4)
8. Spain (12)
9. Belgium (7)
10. Germany (6)

The Reeves review of the stat porn for April 2010

So, continuing my monthly stat porn, the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics is as below for April 2010.

The busiest day on my blog last month was in fact Thursday 29th April and the story was about Labour's Twitter Czar breaching election law by tweeting postal vote results.

Last month I had 3,436 absolute unique visitors, well up from 2,702 last month. They made 4,666 visits and 6,070 page views.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month (with previous position in brackets) were;
 
1. Twitter (2)
2. Lib Dem Voice (5)
3. Facebook (1)
4. Guardian.co.uk
5. Lib Dem Blogs (4)
6. Blogger (7)
7. SNP Tactical Voting (3)
8. Slaveboys.co.uk (New Entry)
9. Forums.SomethingAwful.com (New Entry)
10. Planet-Politics.blogspot.com (9)

Last month I wrote 27 blog posts.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. Tut tut - Kerry McCarthy breaches election law on Twitter
2. Labour candidate in Moray, Stuart MacLennan in Twitter ranting shame 3. Cameron's Glasgow South West candidate, Heather MacLeod quits over party’s ‘nest of vipers’
4. Aberdeen South Conservative candidate Mark Jones quits
5. Not a good day for the Conservatives - one former candidate endorses the Liberal Democrats as one candidate is suspended
6. Banksy and the Liberal Democrats
7. Conservative Chris Grayling MP in homophobic comments interview
8. Was the YouGov poll fair last night after the Sky Prime Ministerial debate?
9. STOP - put the chicken sandwich down, move away, it could turn you gay!
10. Breaking News: Stuart MacLennan sacked by Labour

So this month's mixed bag is about Chris Walker returns to endorse Michael Moore, Labour & Tory resigning candidates, Twitter cock-ups, Banksy, YouGov and fairness and don't eat chicken as it will turn you gay!

The visitors to my little blog came from 52 countries this month, up from 45 last time, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. Canada (3)
4. Ireland (6)
5. Netherlands (7)
6. Germany (4)
=7. Australia (8)
=7. Belgium (8)
9. France (5)
10. India (10)

The Reeves review of the stat porn for March 2010

I am going to continue the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics now I have mended the broken link, so preventing me for the last two months doing so.  So here are the results for March 2010.

The busiest day on my blog last month was in fact Tuesday 30th March when the story about Aberdeen South Conservative candidate Mark Jones resigning broke.

Last month I had 2,702 absolute unique visitors, up from 2,549 in October and way up from 1,311 in September. They made 4,010 visits and 5,327 page views.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month (with previous position in brackets) were;
 
1. Facebook (4)
2. Twitter (3)
3. SNP Tactical Voting (7)
4. Lib Dem Blogs (2)
5. Lib Dem Voice (5)
6. Conservative Home (new entry)
7. Blogger (6)
8. BBC.co.uk (37)
9. Planet-Politics Blogspot (19)
10. Caron's-Musings blogspot (11)

Last month I wrote 39 blog posts.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;


1. Aberdeen South Conservative candidate Mark Jones quits
2. East Lothian Labour Party in complete disarray as Anne Moffat MP deselected
3. Exclusive: ‘Stressed’ city leader Councillor Steven Purcell to stand down
4. Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods in email gaffe
5. SNP candidate for Glasgow North East David Kerr quits
6. Tory LGB group in turmoil over Cameron's catastrophic gay times interview
7. Conservative election campaign is too complicated admit the Conservatives
=8. Labour seek new MP for East Lothian as Anne Moffat MP's appeal fails
=8. Labour select Ian Murray to replace Nigel Griffiths MP as their candidate
10. Jack McConnell MSP applies for job with Cameron's Conservatives
 
So this month's mixed bag is about resigning candidates, many many problems with Anne Moffat MP and East Lothian Labour party, the Tory LGB groups defence of David Cameron's car crash interview & the complicated Conservative campaign amongst others.
 
The visitors to my little blog came from 45 countries this month, down from 52 last time, the top ten were as follows;
1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. Canada (3)
4. Germany (9)
5. France (6)
6. Ireland (5)
7. Netherlands (10)
=8. Australia (7)
=8. Belgium (4)
10. India (8)

Tories Twitter Rules for Twits

The Daily Mail today is covering the story so a hat tip to them.

The Conservative high command has issued a directive to every one of their candidates in the forthcoming general election that all twitter, facebook, blog and website comment must be checked first!

So, they are saying every tweet must be approved, every facebook status update must be approved, every letter in the local paper must be approved, every blog post must be approved and every comment or post on a website must be approved.

What they are actually saying is this, we don't trust you to make decisions on your own and we will dictate more than Alistair Campbell and Peter Mandelson did in 1997.

What a load of crap, I'm intrigued how Tory Central Office will even cope with this?

They can't cope with the gaffes that Chris Grayling MP, George Osborne MP and David Cameron make, so how do they propose to manage 650+ candidates?

This is the party that could, according to their own arrogance, possibly form the next government!

Don't get me wrong, people make mistakes on these outlets but that's because they are human.

As a person who uses social media and also works for the Liberal Democrats I would be horrified if the party or my bosses started to tell me what I can or cannot put on my blog, twitter messages and facebook statuses.

But that's the difference.

The Liberal Democrats believe in personal freedom, the Tories, as is becoming more apparent believe in a central dictatorship.

More power to the power of social media and a lot less for Tory CCHQ.

The final stat porn for this decade and 2009

Once again my thanks to Stephen Glenn for the idea, here is the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics for December 2009.

I have done this for the last three months and as it was somewhat interesting for me to see the numbers, like many others including Stephen I am sharing them.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Tuesday 1st December when the story of Fiona Hyslop being sacked after Tavish Scott discussed with other parties introducing a vote of no confidence, Alex Salmond sacked her before the vote.

Last month I had 1,444 absolute unique visitors. They made 2,089 visits and 2,938 page views.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;

1. Facebook (3)
2. Lib Dem Blogs (1)
3. Twitter (2)
4. Blogger (5)
5. Lib Dem Voice (4)
6. SNP Tactical Voting (6)
7. Planet-politics (18)
8. Wikio (15)
9. Freedom and Whisky (27)
10. Google (12)

Last month I wrote just 40 blog posts, a somewhat quieter month for me.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. Top rugby star Gareth Thomas says he is gay
2. Gay Trooper Ben Rakestrow is out in Afghanistan
3. SNP Minister Mike Russell's Aide Mark MacLachlan in smear campaign
4. Ashay Ghai wins Bearsden South by-election from Cameron's Conservatives
5. Flyglobespan Update
6. Subrosa shuts down the blog - another one bites the dust
7. Scottish Liberal Democrats at The Glasgow Wave
8. Dual mandate hypocricy of the SNP - attacking Labour and Conservatives
9. Detention for Fiona Hyslop as Tavish Scott goes top of the class
10. Alex Salmond gets stood up in Copenhagen

So this month's mixed bag is about people coming out, many many problems within Alex Salmond's SNP party, the Lib Dems winning another by-election from the Conservatives and the Mcblogosphere.

The visitors to my little blog came from 49 countries this month, down from 52 last month, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. Australia (7)
4. France (6)
5. Canada (3)
6. Belgium (4)
7. Ireland (5)
8. Spain (17)
10. Netherlands (12)
10. Germany (8)

The Orwell Prize for Bloggers

The Orwell Prize, Britain’s most prestigious prize for political writing, is inviting entries for a Blog Prize for a second year.

If you’d like to enter, you need to submit 10 URLs you’ve written in 2009.

They do not have to be from the same blog, but they should all be written by you – the prize is self-nominating.

The entry form can be found here at this site, with full rules and regulations here.

The entry deadline is 20th January 2010.

The winner of the prize receives £3000 and an Orwell Prize plaque. Richard Horton (Jack Night) and Oona King are the judges of this year’s Blog Prize.

Entries are also being invited for the Book Prize and Journalism Prize.

If you would like to refer to the prize on your blog please link this here to ensure that other budding entrants know where to find us.

Subrosa shuts down the blog - another one bites the dust

What the hell is happening in the Scottish blogosphere?

Recently there have been some blogs disappearing from amongst our midst, such as Advanced Media Watch, Wardog, Moridura, and even Jeff at SNP Tactical Voting is wondering what the end game for bloggers is.

And now another day and another blog has shut down. Today it is the turn of Subrosa and to be honest this is all becoming strange and somewhat weird now. It appears someone has discovered Subrosa's identity and she wants to ensure her family is safe.

I blogged on Sunday about Mike Russell MSPs former staffer Mark MacLachlan who had been "uncovered" as a blogger who also hid behind a pseudonym.

That doesn't mean they were the same, in fact chalk and cheese spring to mind.

Now I appreciate that losing Mark MacLachlan's blog, and some say the same of Wardog is no great loss.

I say as I find. I enjoyed Wardogs blog and although I really disagreed with some of the postings it was an interesting read. Mark MacLachlan's blog was rude and just angry rants and to me just causing trouble. Advanced Media Watch and Subrosa I really did enjoy, didn't always agree but the debate was always inspiring.

They were both on my daily reading list and for slightly different reasons. Subrosa's continued support for our troops was admirable and I am genuinely going to miss this blog.

I am also pleased that Jeff is continuing because that blog disappearing on top of AMW and Subrosa would not have been good for Scottish blogging.

I know some of this does have history and there are some people in Scotland really should be ashamed of themselves over this whole sorry matter. In some respects I wish I knew more about the history and that I had even been here during the whole thing.

Blogging and journalism can and should live together in harmony. I appreciate sometimes that us bloggers will get a scoop that will annoy journalists but that is how the world is now.

We all have to learn to work alongside each other and maybe event together on some things.

We live in a different electronic age to that of five years ago and who knows what will be happening in five years time or how that will affect us?

Newspapers in the current hard copy may no longer exist as more and more people move to electronic communication, I don't think so for the record, I think newspapers will still exist but so will blogging.

Blogging has moved on from the initial online diary concept and journalism has moved on from the old Fleet Street days, now both sides have to learn to co-exist in better harmony in Scotland than now.

Andrew Reeves monthly stat porn

Once again to Stephen Glenn, I am going to continue the monthly summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics for November 2009.

I have done this for the last two months here and here and it was quite interesting for me just to see, other sites do this as well.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Sunday 29th November when the Mark MacLachlan smear story broke and Zac Goldsmith admitted being a non-dom.

Last month I had 2,091 absolute unique visitors, down from 2,549 in October but up from 1,311 in September. They made 3,066 visits and 4,207 page views.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;

1. Google (1)
2. Lib Dem Blogs (3)
3. Twitter (1)
4. Facebook (2)
5. Lib Dem Voice (4)
6. Blogger (5)
7. SNP Tactical Voting (7)
8. Norfolk Blogger (6)
9. Scottish Round Up (8)
10. Christopher Lovell (30)

Last month I wrote 58 blog posts, the second highest amount.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. SNP Minister Mike Rusell's Aide Mark MacLachlan in smear campaign
2. Labour candidate Peter White calls the Queen "vermin" and a "parasite"
3. Hypocritical Tories - Zac Goldsmith admits to being a 'non-dom' and avoiding paying tax in UK
4. David Cameron's Conservatives Jedward Poster
5. STV Debate for the 4 main parties in the Glasgow North East by-election
6. Racism alive and well in David Cameron's Conservative Party
7. Scottish Lib Dem Conference aftermath
7. St Austell says no to Caroline Righton's Conservatives
9. The Caroline Righton smear campaign moves onto Wikipedia
10. Caroline Righton - the silence is broken
10. John Lamont is the most expensive MSP and the Conservatives stick their fingers up to Kelly Report

So this month's mixed bag is about the Glasgow North East by-election, many many problems within David Cameron's Conservative party, Caroline Righton & the Tory smear campaign in Cornwall (again) and John "Bubbles" Lamont MSP.

The visitors to my little blog came from 52 countries this month, down from 54 last month, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (1)
2. United States (2)
3. Canada (3)
4. Belgium (6)
5. Ireland (5)
6. France (7)
7. Australia (10)
8. India (15)
9. Germany (8)
10. Philippines (29)
10. Netherlands (12)

Scottish Round Up Guest Editor

This week I was the guest editor for the great website Scottish Round Up, this was my second time so not only was I more relaxed I had planned better and had been reading more Scottish blogs during the week.

It was politically a busy week to review but actually that made it much harder to write.

I also wanted to make sure I wasn't reviewing the usual suspects, although after I read through my write up again I have also realised there were a couple of newer Scottish blogs I had missed off, but next time eh?

If you are a Scottish blogger, please do submit nominations for good blog postings, including your own, it doesn't hurt to be pleased and impressed with what you have written yourself.

I hope you enjoy my write up and I look forward to doing my next one.....

The Reevesometer blog stats

As last month, thanks again to Stephen Glenn, I am going to continue a summary of my visitor stats according to google analytics for October 2009.

I did this last month for the first time and it was quite interesting for me just to see, a couple of others said it was fun, bless them for that.

The busiest day on my blog last month was Monday 26th October when the fury of the Caroline Righton smear story broke.

Last month I had 2,549 absolute unique visitors up from 1,311 in September. They made 3,877 visits and 4,975 page views.

So, my top 10 referring sites for the last month were;

1. Twitter (2)
2. Facebook (7)
3. Lib Dem Blogs
4. Lib Dem Voice (5)
5. Blogger (4)
6. Norfolk Blogger (new)
7. SNP Tactical Voting (8)
8. Scottish Round up (13)
9. Conservative Home (18)
10. Networked Blogs (3)

Lat month I wrote 66 blog posts, the highest amount I have ever written in one month, and it has been an enjoyable month.

The top 10 stories by direct page views that you've read most were;

1. Caroline Righton and Tories in dirty campaign tricks - shame
2. The Caroline Righton smear campaign moves onto Wikipedia
3. Right wing homophobic paper strikes again
4. Le Grand Bleu yacht update
5. Jan Moir's homophobic column in the Daily Mail
6. Guardian injunction and twitter # trafigura
7. Caroline Righton and her dirty tricks smear campaigns
8. Postal strike - who is benefitting?
9. Labour's Glasgow North East by-election gaffe #3
10. Karen Whitefield MSP in Glasgow North East by-election email cock-up

So this month's mixed bag is about Labour gaffe's in the Glasgow North East by-election, Jan Moir's homophobia and Caroline Righton & the Tory smear campaign in Cornwall.

The visitors to my little blog came from 54 countries this month, up from 36 last month, the top ten were as follows;

1. United Kingdom (-)
2. United States (-)
3. Canada (4)
4. New Zealand (7)
5. Ireland (11)
6. Belgium (3)
7. France (6)
8. Germany (7)
9. Guernsey (new)
10. Australia (4)