Mike Riversdale

Off my work's internal 'jokes, humour and fun stuff' blog:

This article is now at Enterprise 2.0 New Zealand style: 3 stages that you go through when wikis come into your organisation

Still evening on the river Originally uploaded by Dave JG . Love it - The Teifi Estuary near St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

Despite what you may have read recently about the changes with Google's PageRank ratings this is not the reason that the service we know as Google isn't quite as effective as it used to be. The real reason was has been discovered by NewsBiscuit with the shock article, 'Disillusioned' Mr Google resigns : Ken Google, whose hard work and long hours made him a household name to the worldwide online community has resigned from single-handedly running the Google search engine, citing ‘overwork and increasing disillusion with the public use of the internet’ as his reasons. Mr Google, 43, had been the power behind the ‘www.google.com’ website since 2001. ‘It started as a bit of a hobby, but it just got out of hand’ he explained. Ken often found himself working 23 hour shifts from his one-bedroom flat in Stafford town centre looking things up at lightning speed in an extensive collection of encyclopedias, dictionaries and 1960s ‘I-Spy’ handbooks. ‘I used to get a real buzz out

The last of the starred items from my Google Reader for today. Cool photos Stairway to heaven McNaught A Pale Blue Dot Wellesley boat Hurricanes Vs Bulls Jack's Pub Learning style posters: Kinaesthetic , Auditory , Visual , Negotiation Ha ha ha ha - read and enjoy HOW TO CONSTRUCT A FUN - PROVOKING Cigarette Dispenser (May, 1936) PROVING WOMEN ALSO HAVE IDEAS (Jan, 1937) QI Rolling News feed Marshall Blucher, the Prussian General whose intervention won the Battle of Waterloo, suffered from the paranoid delusion that he had been made pregnant by a French grenadier, and was about to give birth to an elephant. ==== “Women are like elephants to me; they're nice to look at but I wouldn't want to own one.” - W. C. FIELDS (1880 - 1946) HAVE THRILLING RACES AT HOME! (Apr, 1948) 'Gay bomb' scoops Ig Nobel award Quote : "I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours." - Jerome K. Jerome, "Three Men in a Boat", 1889 / British humor writ

As I further work my way though the 116* starred items in my Google Reader I thought I'd try and group them together into themed postings. This one is all about the application that I use for everything, the Mozilla Firefox internet web browser ("Firefox") 20 must-have Firefox extensions These plug-ins give you souped-up functionality, better look and feel, and streamlined development tasks. And some are just plain cool. I use quite a few of the ones listed but the best way to see what I use is to check my Facebook: Rock Your Firefox app currently listing: ColorZilla del.icio.us Bookmarks Dictionary Switcher Download Statusbar Firebug Gmail Manager Google Icon Greasemonkey IE Tab Image Zoom meebo Noia 2.0 (eXtreme) - theme Operator StumbleUpon That's a fair list but I couldn't imagine living my life online without del.icio.us Bookmarks , Gmail Manager and meebo . Life would be a lot less easy without the rest. And that's the point of the add-ons, they make

Following on my earlier posting, 114 starred items including 'Documentaries on Google Video' ... , and a much earlier question I ... oh, on checking back my question was about the alleged UK plane bombers(Feb 5th, 2007) . Anyway, this Google Video: Ludicrous Diversion - 7/7 London Bombings Documentary - and the the eroding of the UK public's rights is interesting/scary and probably starting to happen over here (NZ): On the 7th of July 2005 London was hit by a series of explosions. You probably think you know what happened that day. But you don’t. The police have, from the onset of their investigation, chosen to withold from the public almost every bit of evidence they claim to have and have provably lied about several aspects of the London Bombings. The mainstream news has wilfully spread false, unsubstantiated and unverifiable information, while choosing to completely ignore the numerous inconsistencies and discrepancies in the official story. The government has finally,

Hee hee - blue cat is a blog I read because it makes me realise that life isn't all boring and shite AND that working in the 'entertainment industry' can be quite boring. It wasn't even a D20.

I dedicate this to my fluey wife, my 'wake up crying' daughter and to my kick ass friends that came around to our house and cooked for us - thank you Pete and KK. Also to Karen and Will for helping the evening go with a blast. Thanks to all of you, and now let's dance!

With the Web now becoming more and more useful there's no need* for anyone to download, install , upgrade, download, install, uninstall, crash, worry, strife, arrrgh ... you just don't need to. And if you're trapped within the walls of an IT Departments 'security' model you might even dream of the freedom that would come with installing your own useful and productive software. Well jump out/over the whole need. Use the one piece of installed software that comes on every PC, the web browser . Sure you might have to fight your IT Department to get access to sites because of perceived 'security risks' but don't let them beat you down. They should have enough 'security' software (virus detection, stop naughty access and the like) on their internet servers to lower the risk to a business acceptable level ... that's their job. If they don't, ask them why not. Also ask why their perceived lack of ability to do their job means the business canno

Facebook is definitely the newest cool kid on the (NZ) block which must be an annoyance to Google and bring a wry smile to Microsoft as they cozy up to Facebook to try and be cool by association. And to show just how much Facebook is spreading Allen Qu and Charles Coxhead have come up with the first (as far as I know) New Zealand Facebook application which is of course based on the hugely popular TradeMe site using its feed of sellers items . TradeBook: http://apps.facebook.com/trade_book_app/ About TradeBook TradeBook is a really easy way to automagically have your Trade M e auctions display on your Facebook profile... How it works: Enter your Trade Me username Select the no. of auctions to display Add to profile! That's it! TradeBook will automatically update your profile when it sees your new auctions. If you have any feedback or questions please head over to the about page . TradeBook is not affiliated with Trade Me As Charles said in a recent email announcement: Include

Movember , a time for grown (and growing) men to proudly discard their shaving equipment, sprout hair upon the upper lip and stand proud in the Wellington wind as the handlebar moustache whips the ears. All in the name of supporting men's health, in this case, Prostrate Cancer Research I want you to do two things: Decide if you're man enough to sign-up (yes, you are!) Sponsor me 1: Decide if you're man enough to sign-up (yes, you are) Of course you're man enough ... and even if you're not there's a Mo Sista section for those of a feminine persuasion. Sign-up : Join a team - check to see if you're work/rugby club/drinking buddies are involved, if not start a team ( huh? ). You'll be happy to know I'm in Fronde's 'Frovember' team headed by the gentleman pictured below Go it alone and sign up - on ya, stuff the boring ones and do it anyway! But don't just sign-up and get the money, ooooh no. Be proud of your Mo, let the world see you

It's taken a while but we both just realised that when Chris Knox's Not Given Lightly plays in the car* we both think of each other. It's our song and we never knew until a a few weeks ago. And yes, it's probably a million other Kiwi's song and so we're not original, but then again a million Kiws aren't us and so, "Yar boo sucks!" to that thought! Not Given Lightly - Chris Knox * rare occasion either of us get to play something other than The Wiggles or some god damned fairy stuff

Two Google-ish stories plopped across the old Reader this arvo: IT's Third Epoch...and Running IT at Google The Supercomputer that Connects Everything and Everyone which is really The Times: Google. Who's looking at you? I could wax on lyrically about both but hey, just follow the links and read it yourself. If you're a CIO (or any type of IT manager) then may I respectively ask that you sit back and ponder your navel after reading IT's Third Epoch...and Running IT at Google , thank you. For everyone else that's just read The Times: Google. Who's looking at you? ... crickey moses eh!?

This article is now at Enterprise 2.0 New Zealand style: The beauty of information

I have 114 starred items in my Google Reader. I use the star to remind me of tip-top articles that I simply MUST blog about. I have 114 starred items ... best get blogging then! And so, let's make it 113 starred items by linking you to BoingBoing: Documentaries on Google Video Here's a link to the free documentaries on Google Video -- all 3,713 of them, including a 1978 BBC documentary of a road trip with Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman called Fear and Loathing in Gonzovision and a 40-minute documentary about Richard Feynman called The Pleasure of Finding Things Out . These days, there are fewer reasons than ever to turn on the television. Link | RSS feed The reason this is starred is not just that there are a few online videos out there you might like to see. No, it's because there is the world of online 'tv' out ther e that, once you discover it, will have you questioning the crap you are fed each night by mainstream TV be it terrestrial or satellite/

One of the joys of this interweb thingy is that you can subscribe to some flows of content that you just would not have had the opportunity to encounter otherwise. I know there's much talk about 'information overload', an 'avalanche of content' and other such whingey whiny view points but I generally like to look at the glass half full. Yes, the world is full of too much information for one brain to take in - admit that and you'll suddenly be free of the inner guilt of not being completely, 100% up to date. My suggestion is that you pick your favourite feeds, review their relevance every now and again and be happy in the knowledge you've done your best. And one of the most relevant to me is Modern Mechanix ("Yesterday’s tomorrow, today.") which has recently celebrated it's second anniversary . It's not relevant in a work or personal way but brings a large amount of fresh air into my online life. I notice I relax when I see the new posts an

I've been meme tagged by Spentrails and, despite years ago complaining to the world that they suck because they were coming out 1 every second, I'm quite chuffed. The passion/fad for memes seems to have died down and I don't see so many ... or I am now a public no-meme zone due to previous meme grumpiness? Anywho, Spentrails has asked me to do/complete/participate in the 'Desktop Free View' meme. I will have to cut-n-paste the details as she's had to limit her blog to invite only due to weirdos in the world finding her and trying to reacquaint themselves by leaving stupid comments: Here's what you need to do: A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun. Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V). If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it. You can do a screen c

Fog and streetlights, Monmouth Originally uploaded by AlfieUK . New PC wallpaper already - this is my home town taken by AlfieUK who's amazing photo's I'd recommend anyone to go and have a look at.

Living in Wales the answer to this was always, "Australia, of course" ... but is it? The excellent If you dig straight down, where will you end up? mashup using Google Maps shows you. Drag and zoom-in/out on either map and the other will move showing you exactly where the other side of the world is. And if I dig straight down ("up") from Miramar, Wellington (New Zealand / Aotearoa) I will end up near to the town of Siete Iglesias de Trabancos * (Spain): * Siete Iglesias de Trabancos translated into English gave me, Seven Churches of Trabancos . The Trabancos is a river in Spain ( Wikpedia )

Plug in the headphones, turn up the speakers and click - http://www.internetisseriousbusiness.com/ 100% work friendly!

Despite the first glimpses of it all a few days ago we're only now getting this , this and most horrifyingly this . We urge all reader to stay clear of this , this and most definitely this . This isn't too bad actually .. nor this . WARNING! This is for readers aged 21-years+ and haven't eaten recently. On lawyers advice we ask that you sit down before viewing. We applaud the dedication of the official party photographer , Jake, and wish him all the best with a speedy recovery. Be warned, their are shots of a man in a mankini ... only for the strong of constitution and crazy of mind

In the spotlight Originally uploaded by abstract_effects . Just cracking ...

And the answer is >>

Having told the world about Blog Action Day (today) I should really post something "environmental" ... but I'm struggling as it's not really my area of expertise. Last night Liz and I sat down to watch An Inconvenient Truth (coincidence) and my lasting memories of it are: There's something slightly unnerving about the Al Gore voice overs He has a mission in life and it's inspirational to see him go about his work Where did he acknowledge the (assumed) team of people behind him ... or is it really just him and his "slideshow"? He deals with "sceptics" very well The DVD "updates" were well worth watching 10 years is not a long time 10 years was how quickly Europe plunged back into a mini Ice Age after the rather large pool of fresh water crashed into the Atlantic from Canada/North America. 10 years is probably all it would take if Greenland and/or West Antarctica melted . This has, however, been challenged by a British judge : Th

As a special for all those foreigners living in NZ and those that have friends, family and colleagues overseas (OE anyone?) may I make the following Christmas shopping suggestion. Pop over to Martha Craig's tip top shop , Babyliciou s, and pick out something wearably Kiwi: Whilst the shopping experience is aimed at the little people in the world (kids, dwarves and midgets*) they are able to supply a lot of growed-up clothing that 's exclusive enough to be cool in London and yet won't break the bank. And how's this: Free delivery within New Zealand. International delivery available. So you could get online , order , pay (Visa or MasterCard) and get it sent to your Mum. She can then pop it into the one big parcel that's sure to be wining it's way over to you, them or others - sorted! Of course the Riversdale's will be availing ourselves of plenty of kiddlie-winkly type clothes for all the new members of the family and those that just wanna be kool both in

This article is now at Enterprise 2.0 New Zealand style: Knowledge mangement - how it was and how it really is - slide show

It can now be revealed (!) that I was attempting to go to Adam's party in the style of Daffyd, the only gay in the village . Whilst he's rounder than I, shorter than I, more hair (now) than I, the costume still held people's mouth's open, stopped traffic and gave the beige amongst us a lot to tut and talk about. I. Loved. It. ... and there's gonna be so much more than just this : It wasn't just the growed-up Riversdale's at play on this particular Saturday: And what with one Rugby World Cup and another I haven't been posting up quite so many photo's for the fandambily in wonderful Wales and stunning Stockholm - this is about to be rectified. Cast your mi... oh, and if you're not from those places you can still read on ... cast your mind back to the previous uploads of photo's ... anyone tell me when it was as I've completely forgotten. Let's say it was before August - since then we've had: (click on the title/picture to see ea