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Showing posts from September, 2008

Don't Look ... Too Late, Now Try And Forget

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NZ Political Debate (Clark vs Key), TVNZ + YouTube

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You may already have seen the announcement earlier in the year or on Geekzone that TVNZ are partnering with Google/YouTube to run the debate between the incumbent, Helen Clark, and the pretender to the throne, John Key on Tuesday 14th October . Where to go: http://nz.youtube.com/debate And in true "get involved" style it's not just streaming the debate via YouTube but also them wanting you to ask your questions: As the 2008 general election campaign heats up, the official ONE News YouTube Election Debate, between Helen Clark and John Key, will be broadcast live on TV ONE on Tuesday, October 14th. ... All you have to do is create a short video (no more than 30 seconds) and submit it here. ... I also like the list of subscriptions that the "debate" is subscribed to : MaoriParty / Videos: 20 nzlp / Videos: 5 NZNats / Videos: 243 nzgreenparty / Videos: 66 NZFirst / Videos: 13 unitedfututure / Videos: citizentube / Videos: 102 TVNewZealand / Videos:

The Periodic Table Of Videos

This is such a brilliant use of on-line videos by Nottingham University (UK) - The Periodic Table of Videos . And with 2.5 million video views so far they've obviously hit on a very popular way of getting the knowledge out there! Favourite element so far is Zinc , because of the wild haired professor and the ending, "I really don't know what else to say about zinc. It such a boring metal" :-) Thank you Euan for the link

What Was The Most Number Of Clipholes You Got On A 10-trip Ticket?

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Wellington bus 10 trip clip ticket (front) Originally uploaded by Mike Riversdale And so the final whistle has been blown on the "Most Number Of Clip Holes On A 10-Trip Ticket" game here in Wellington with the introduction of the "efficient" (NOT!) and therefore boring Snapper card I think it's time to let the wild and unsubstantiated bragging begin. How many clips did you manage to squeeze onto a ticket? I think I once had a 15 hole'r ... you - leave a comment

Project Calls For Ideas To Change The World

Official site , read more and more Have a great idea to change the world? Google's Project 10^100 is helping you Impact Your World. People across 42 countries can submit their ideas for making the world a better place -- and Google has committed $10 million to turning up to five of those ideas into a reality

Tell me if you like ...

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... kissing your Dad when he hasn't shaved Show all | explain this

This Isn't Net Neutral, Is It?

TelstraClear are offering a deal (see below) that offers free TradeMe and Clearnet/Video access and, after my first reaction of, "Cool, free stuff", I instantly thought, "Hey, this is not net neutral, surely?" Once we get used to these sorts of deals then it's only a few more steps to stopping someone going to a particular site because that's outside the "package you've bought". Imagine if your Web viewing (or email sending - anything via the Internet and not just the Web) worked in the same way as SkyTV does. Pay $x for the basic package but if you want to see other stuff then pay more. For instance, pay $x for NZ Web traffic with a few high profile international sites thrown in but pay $x+ for sites off an approved list. Oh, you want to send email, that's another $y dollars for that sort of traffic and $y+ for international. I am NOT saying that's where it IS going but it's where it COULD go. Anyway they deal from TelstraClear (r

Advice On Buying An Apple Laptop - Can You Help Me?

Any reason why I can't buy these from TradeMe? 15.4" MacbookPro 2.2GHz ($2,600*) Apple Macbook Air 1.6Ghz/80Gb BRAND NEW ($2,450*) Or should I just go (online) to the local Mac shop ( http://www.magnummaconline.co.nz ) and buy a new one? All advice (I know NOTHING) about buying an Apple laptop is greatly received. Leave a comment What do I want it for? Getting online (WiFi and/or Telstra cable) Watching stuff via our TV Hooking up the (to be bought) iPhone to iTunes Storing and playing all my CD's Um, er that's it ... (and I know this is the second time I've asked this, please bear with me) * at time of posting

Smiles And Questions

Smiles Had the pleasure (sort of planned) be walking between meetings when the Wellington Lions Ranfurly Shield had their parade through the streets. And it made me smile. In fact, that's what I saw an awful lot of; smiles from kids, smiles from respectable looking guys in suits, smiles from hip girls with mobiles; smiles from the team; smiles from everyone. All good!! Oh, and I saw an awful lot of cameras - be interesting to see how many photos end up on Flickr. Questions Q1: How can the "market" decry Government intervention until it all goes tits up? Q2: AIG collapse - how can the world's largest insurance company not have something put away for a rainy day? (note: this question has been asked elsewhere but only original answers are acceptable in this exam) Instructions: Use all the paper provided , no talking during the exam and if you need to talk to the invigilator raise your hand and wait to be asked.

Parade Tomorrow, 12:45pm - Top Work Wellington Lions Ranfurly Shield Fellas

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Not having Sky meant it was back to basics at the Riversdale's house as I had the radio on quietly in the kitchen area into which I popped to "fill a glass for a guest" and subsequently spent a couple of minutes hunched over the speaker to get the latest score. Once our fine friends had gone Liz was subjected to the final quarter of me jumping around the room every time Wellington got close to the Auckland try line. Even she had a wry smile when they scored :-) And so, it's parade time tomorrow (Tuesday) . For non-rugby people you have a day to ramp up the whinging, distaste and complaining - here's one to get you in the mood: "Why does my lunchtime have to be disrupted just because of a stupid rugby game!?!?" The parade will start at 12.45pm in front of the old Government Buildings, make its way along Lambton Quay and Willis St, ending in Civic Square. Source: Stuff - Shield fever on parade in Wellington

Time Is Being Eaten By A Grasshopper

The hour approaches. The beast's jaws gape, its tail quivers and then snap! Another minute has been devoured, and the hour strikes with the ominous clonk of a chain dropping into a coffin. The creature blinks twice in satisfaction. "It is terrifying, it is meant to be," said John Taylor, the creator and funder of an extraordinary new clock to be unveiled tomorrow by Stephen Hawking at Corpus Christi College in Cambridge. "Basically I view time as not on your side. He'll eat up every minute of your life, and as soon as one has gone he's salivating for the next. It's not a bad thing to remind students of. I never felt like this until I woke up on my 70th birthday, and was stricken at the thought of how much I still wanted to do, and how little time remained." Source: The Grauniad: Beware the time-eater: Cambridge University's monstrous new clock And now watch it in action ...

Accomodation in Rotorua, Any Recommendations?

The family (2 adults, 2 kids) are off to Rotorua for a long weekend end of November and would love recommendations. Looking for something that's something like this: own kitchen two bedrooms view of something nice (the lake?) not too far out of town "oldee worldee" (think luxurious ;-) not cost an absolute fortune avaialable 27th-30th November Anything, anyone? If so, drop me an email miramar.mike@gmail.com

Test For Those NOT Colour Blind

You've named countries in 5 minutes and passed the idiot test , now it's time to test your colour IQ

'Tis Talk Like A Pirate Day - And You've Been Challenged

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Aharr me saucy beautie, 'tis Talk Like A Pirate Day and yee scurvy swabs 'ave to be reprting 1 unexpected ret'rn of a, "Yo ho ho". Mine was the bus cap'n, top work land ship pilot.

Tell me if you like ...

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... closing your eyes as tight as possible so that a kaleidoscope of colour and light appears behind your eyelids Show all | explain this

Those WERE The Droids I Was Looking For ...

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Even The Wiggles Are Celebrating International Talk Like A Pirate Day

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And with Captain Feathersword a long time member of Australia's dominant entertainment troupe (always wanted to use that word) why wouldn't they! According the Wiggles Fan Club email Jack just got there is a special on: Be sure to check out our great September special at The Wiggles Shop with 15% off all books - now that's certain to get the Captain dancing! The links you need: International Talk Like A Pirate Day The Wiggles - site / Fan Club / shop

International Talk Like A Pirate Day, This Friday

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Ahaar me beauties, 'tis this Friday 19th September ... THIS Friday! What's it all about? Why , when and what now and more of your nosey questions answered . How to talk like a pirate The ancient art of Pirate speech was almost lost. Thankfully we now have the following helpful guides to keep the language alive and well: The basics - Ahoy!, Avast! and Arr! Advanced - Bilge rat, grog and lubber Top 10 pickup lines : Example - 5) Pardon me, but would ya mind if fired me cannon through your porthole? For the kids The full on "Talk Like A Pirate" kit You can throw a party with (all in pdf): invitations , posters , badges and eyepatches ... Where to get more info Original dudes: USA: http://www.talklikeapirate.com YouTube vids UK: http://www.yarr.org.uk Australia: http://www.yaaarrr.com MySpace page Facebook groups: International Talk Like A Pirate Day Talk like a Pirate Day - NZ Group More fun stuff Yee'll be needing one these today for your computer fandangle

YouTube in 1985

Ha ha ha ha - brilliant Thanks to Google Blogscoped

Dr Smith (National) and Mr Key (National), Please Explain

From The Fundy Post

Wallace And Gromit Turn Into Male Models

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Hee hee - nice touch by Harvey Nics. Here's just one of a couple ... Thanks to Notcot.org for the link

Tell me if you like ...

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... doing a wee or a poo in the toilet and watching what happens when you flush Show all | explain this

Re-Calling All London Based Readers, Help Me Celebrate The Beano's 70th Birthday

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Um ... any news on someone going to The Beano Birthday Bash for Jack and I (mostly "I")? Stu? Shona? Amy? Kim? ... ? This from my previous post ... [snip] Anyone pop along, get a program, take photos, steal original art? Cartoon Museum - 35 Little Russell St, London, WC1A 2H View Larger Map

I've Been Shot And I Loved It

Ha ha ha ha ... read the top Men With Pens disection of this blog and the profile picture: Avatars can be cool – but man, yours is downright creepy. That may be great, depending on what you want the site to accomplish or the mood effect you want to play up for readers, but honestly? It’s very hard to enjoy reading comfortably with a round eye peering at us like that. Ha ha ha ha ... I know, the weird picture will probably have to go, especially as it's really part of the company and not me per-se ... but I'm starting to grow attached to the weird eye thing.

Christchurch ... Safe Community ... Who'd Have Thought

Wow ... and there's me thinking it's one of the roughest places I've ever lived in. Last time I went there I was punched for walking down the street ... middle of the CBD. Anywho, International Safe Community think differently .

I Dont Even Know - Missions To Warp Your Mind

Ha ha ha ha ... I didn't want to play, I thought I'd have a look though ... STOP IT, I WANT TO GET OFF THE COMPUTER ... maybe just one more mission ... Aaaargh! I Dont Even Know. No, I serious this times! Be the one true answer for teh winnings! By far the best game ever ... I think. http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=32676

Oh, Don't Forget The World Ends In The Next Few Days

Just a cheery reminder Huh? Video!

Painting The Mona Lisa In 0.008 Seconds

Painting Mona Lisa In .008 Seconds - Watch more free videos

NZ Party Party - 45 Members And 6 Logos In 1 Day

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NZ Party Party ( join on Facebook ) is fast becoming the (slurred) voice of a bored nation. Get involved: Join the party Give yourself an official NZ Party Party Officer title Pass it on via Facebook (open to those in the New Zealand network) Tell everyone - use one of the campaign poster/logos (or add your own) Await the invite to the party Add you voice, put the logos ( you choose ) everywhere and let's see if we can get to 200 and then wring some money out of the tax payers for a PARTAY!* (thanks to John) And remember our founding principle from the NZ Party Party's grand poobah : Man, I'm so BORED by this election already. Time to start the Party Party, we just wanna party! I'm accepting nominations, and counting on government funding, since Helen is keen that political parties be funded by government, rather than rich friends. Rich friends will be expected to host fabulous parties in their mansions for Party Party members. * I have no idea how legal, correct or a

Welcome to MikeRiversdale.co.nz

Without me telling you shouldn't notice a thing (but if you have, I am profoundly sorry). My personal blog is now held at http://blog.mikeriversdale.co.nz If you have subscribed ( here ) then fear not, you have to do nothing as I have re-directed it for you. Let me know if there's any problems ...

NZ Party Party - 200 Facebook Members And We're Official, Right?

Go on, join the NZ Party Party on Facebook and make it real. This from the NZ Party Party glorious founding mother : Man, I'm so BORED by this election already. Time to start the Party Party, we just wanna party! I'm accepting nominations, and counting on government funding, since Helen is keen that political parties be funded by government, rather than rich friends. Rich friends will be expected to host fabulous parties in their mansions for Party Party members.

The Universe Has Some Very BIG T H I N G S

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"Space," it says, "is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly hugely mindbogglingly big it is. I mean you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space." The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams If you see only the Earth wait few seconds Cheers again to Adams Jokeslist - leave a comment if you want to get on it, it is quite good and not too spammy :-)

Join the NZ Party Party

Through an extreme act of self sacrifice Martha is willing to help us all ditch the boring politics already being played out in the (not official) run up to our own wee election by creating the Party Party : Man, I'm so BORED by this election already. Time to start the Party Party, we just wanna party! I'm accepting nominations, and counting on government funding, since Helen is keen that political parties be funded by government, rather than rich friends. Rich friends will be expected to host fabulous parties in their mansions for Party Party members. Leave a comment on her blog expressing your undying support!

Tell me if you like ...

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... peeling an apple or an orange in one go so that the peel ends up as one long spiral Show all | explain this

Hurricane Gustav from YouTubers - Old Media, Watch Out

Why would I both watching the news when I can just get first hand footage of the hurricane ? This is a playlist of Hurricane Gustav vids: Those living in areas affected by Gustav have been uploading videos documenting the storm from their vantage points -- whether it be from inside their homes , braving the elements in their backyards , or even surveying empty streets while riding on a bike .

ZoomIn Now Runs On Google Maps ... I'm Sad

Whilst I totally and utterly support John and the ProjectX team in getting out of the way of the Google train before it runs them over I am still sad that ProjectX are no longer running an independent mapping service and has hopped onto the train . Way of the world I s'pose. But don't think they've shut up shop completely and are now re-focussing on: Independent consulting on online map tools and frameworks. We’re used most frameworks and know intimate details of the pro’s and con’s of different data and mapping frameworks. We’re data neutral ie. we build web applications on any data. We’ve got experience building web services using GIS data from around the world - New Zealand (LINZ, Terralink, NZ Post), Australia (PSMA), USA (TeleAtlas). We’re framework neutral ie. we can build maps using any framework - Google , MapQuest , Virtual Earth , GeoSmart , OpenLayers , ModestMaps or even the ZoomIn engine. Bespoke development - We build smart online map applications and w

Christchurch Bloggers/Tweeters Meet-up, 7am 9th October

From Simon - leave him a comment if you can go! Breakfast for the NZBlogger/Tweets is now being served on 7am, 9th October 2008 at the Decadence Cafe 71 Victoria St, Christchurch. Ph (03) 377 8944 I currently have the following people attending: Barb Jane Nicholls Lenva Jamin Lietze Heymilly E Freeman AllanahK If you wish to be added to the list please leave a comment below. It’s just around the corner from the Conference Centre Here is the breakfast menu

Avast, Me Proud Beauty! Wanna Know Why My Roger Is So Jolly?

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We be counting down, arrrrr! Friday 19th September, TLAP Day