Search This Blog

Mike Riversdale

Moss Grows On Which Side?

By Mike Riversdale / Monday, July 03, 2023

I was told moss grows on the north side of a tree because it's sheltered from the drying effects of the sun.

Is that always true?

Waitārere Beach 5510, New Zealand

#plant

Comments

Time, A Discussion

Apart from gravity , which currently CANNOT be defined at a quantum level which means it can't be a thing (but it is, just not what you think), time is probably one of the last great mysteries of the universe. So much so that we humans can't even agree if time actually exists. Time, what is it? Our gut reaction usually says that time is what we measure using clocks as it flies forward like an arrow. Yes, we measure it with clocks, but what IS it that we are measuring. We use scales to measure weight (mass), and we can now say exactly what mass is, but time, what IS it that we're measuring using clocks? Here's a few quotes to show the differing views of time is, to show that it's truly unknown .. at the moment. Problem of time In theoretical physics, the problem of time is a conceptual conflict between general relativity and quantum mechanics in that quantum mechanics regards the flow of time as universal and absolute, whereas general relativity regards the flow of t

My Most Embarrassing Moment

I have in my head three cringe worthy moments in my life. Those memories that have you making that noise and curl your body when they pop into your mind, "What the hell was I thinking?!" One I remember and will share one day, another has now faded so far away that I'm not even sure it was me. And then there's this. About 35 years ago, I was around 20 years-old, it was my first proper job working in a head office in Swindon and it was everything I had hoped pod life would be. The team became mates, the bosses were supportive and lovely, I was challenged and got to show off both my skills and personality in a way I had always believed grown up life would allow. After about a year one of my colleagues decided to throw a home party for all her work colleagues to celebrate something, a leaving do perhaps. Her small cottage was humming, music was playing, drinks were flowing, and everyone was having a grand time. One of my first work heroes, Dave, a lovely man who I shall

The Difference Between One Million And One Billion

It's feels like a billion is just a bit bigger than a million. Obviously it's bigger but it fits on the same scale as a million, surely. It doesn't. A billion is so so so much bigger than a million. I've trawled the internet finding graphics and videos that show the VAST difference between one million and one billion. Oh, and just to finish with a different misconception about space starting with the classic opening line from the great Douglas Adams and The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy : “Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space.”

Make Your Public Event Calendar Usable To All

If you run a sports club, this post is for you. If you are on a community committee, this post is also for you If you host events, this is for you. If you put on shows, this is for you. In fact, if you do anything that has a date/time component that you'd like to share with people, this is for you . Yep, probably for all of us. Sharing calendars can be both: an effective way of letting everyone know a complete and utter technical pain in the bottomly region If you've posted up an events page onto your website you know how difficult it is to keep up to date, how the readers have to keep coming back to get the latest changes and don't even think about integrating with somebody else's "events page". Ok, so we all know the problem. What's the solution? iCalendar (normally shortened to iCal) ... yep, it's a geek word that you will come to know and love just as much as RSS. In fact, think of it as RSS for calendars. But that's enough geekery, if you want

100 Things I Know

Here's a list of 100 things I know to be true and am passing them on to you. Love is the answer. Change is only difficult if people don't understand why and aren't supported. We are all islands. We are all connected. Photographs can overwhelm the actual memory of that moment. Trust is a rare commodity, don't give it away without reason. Ask for what you want. Belly laughs are the best. Laugh often, laugh at yourself, laugh with others, laugh when you're alone. Kairos is how to measure life. Being kind is active, brave, and fun. Always check and change the defaults. Repeat often. Hugs, ask before going in for one, and, if ok, make it last at least 20 seconds. Read. New Years resolutions don't work, but a theme for your year does. The best support for a business is to become a customer. Don't compare the yoof, they aren't living in your olden times. Music wasn't "better back then". Science doesn't always know, but it's raison d