Mike Riversdale

Over the years we all collect articles that intrigue us, make us smile, or challenge us ... don't we, don't you? Oh, you don't, you're #41 :) I use Pocket  app both on the phone ( Android | iOS ) and web with associated sharing/extensions ( Chrome | Firefox ) to tap and save. I usually do this when an article is probably good but looks a bit long at the time. Or, when I know you, dear reader, will lurve it to bits and can't wait for me to pop it onto the blog* Here's five from over the years all about Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ) that are worthy of a read even now. New Zealand’s weirdest and most wonderful town slogans Timaru: Touch, taste, feel Timaru Dunedin: A pretty good plan D Featherston: If you lived here, you’d be home now Stokes Valley: Better than you imagine  Tuatapere: The sausage capital of the world Wow, and that's just my top five, there more in the article ... Take this deal all the way to Invercargill Can your whole country change more t

There are many that say, "Science is wrong", "Just because they say it's true doesn't mean it is", and "I am an independent thinker". I am all for curiosity however not so keen on just making shit up. Curiosity is what the  science method  is built up on and from where all our theories* of the universe emerge. It also takes a LOT to prove a theory, mostly observation of predictions made by the theory. If gravity is what Newton says and put into mathematical terms then his maths should be able to be used to make predictions.  They were, and they (mostly) do in all circumstances. "Mostly", bloody Mercury just wouldn't conform to Newtonian maths, FFS. In 1915 Einstein, an "independent thinker" BUT standing on the shoulders of giants, published a theory that gave gravity a new meaning and Mercury was no longer an outlier. In 1919,  Arthur Edington proved it . That's science, look at the universe, make a theory about some p

In the Hengwrt room that you have to go hunting for within  LLyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru (National Library Of Wales) are the oldest items the library has on display, and it's a delight. Left top large: Poem manuscript by Dylan Thomas, 1939 Considered to be one of the greatest Welsh poets of all time, Dylan Thomas (1914-1953) is largely known for his imaginative use of language and vivid imagery in his poems. His most famous works include the poem 'Do not go gentle into that good night' and the play for voices 'Under Milk Wood'. Here is a manuscript draft of 'Poem on his Birthday', which was written to mark his thirty-fifth birthday. Dylan often made wordlists to help him write poetry and these provide an insight into his meticulous methods. Casgliad Jeff Towns (Dylan Thomas) Collection, E1/2/6 Right top small : Geographia map of Wales printed by Johann Reger, late fifteenth century This is the oldest surviving geographical record of Wales and is taken fro

On ACT’s Takeover Of The Government Agenda Thursday, 15 August 2024 - Gordon Campbell The ACT Party won only 8.6% of the vote last year, so how come it seems to be driving about 75% of the government’s agenda? It's quite surreal to watch a country move from kindness to selfishness. It's also a bit weird to watch the majority party be led by the nose by the two minority parties of the coalition. Having said that, I'm not sure National are actually bothered as Act and NZ First are merely saying / doing what they would want to say but feel hamstrung by history and legacy. I now also think these three will be back following the next election. Yes, they are hurting people, they are fucking up the environment, they're killing the economy, and they've no plans that doesn't involve ensuring rich multinationals and friends benefit.  They're doing all that in such a way that their voting base isn't really feeling it. It's not really pinching, it's not quit

Spoilers no-one likes them! The popular Signal app has resolved this with the finest of features. Alongside bold , italic , they have a "spoiler" format that hides the text you cover. When it arrives at the readers it's all sparkly and takes a tap to uncover the words. Yes! Make this everywhere!

It's got books, but as we know it's got exhibitions about a lot of things Welsh-y, um, Welsh-esque, no, Welsh-y. Art, a lot of brilliant (and some, hmmm, not so) contemporary art was on display at The National Library Of Wales .  My favourite four ... Top : Kiss it! , by Abbie Trayler-Smith, 2013 Shannon, age 16, has the words ‘Kiss it!’ tattooed. Fascinating background to this and other photos of Shannon. Middle left : Angharad by Luned Rhys Parri , ? Middle right : Salem , by Sydney Curnow Vosper, 1908 Salem is an iconic record of Welsh life and the non-conformist tradition in Wales. It depicts a scene at Salem Chapel, Cefn Cymerau, Llanbedr, where Siân Owen is the central character of the painting. This work is one of two versions painted by Vosper. The first was originally purchased by an industrialist called William Hesketh Lever and was used in a far reaching promotional campaign by Sunlight Soap, the Lever Brothers' company. As a result, reproductions of the paint

A list of lists, mostly for me to work my way through or just get inspiration from in those, "Oh hell, what can I watch / read ..." times. Oh, and you don't like these lists, it's ok there's millions out there for you to look at, or even go ahead and make your own. These'll do me for now. The 30 Greatest Book Series Of All Time 30. The Expanse series by James S.A. Corey 29. The Southern Reach Trilogy  by Jeff VanderMeer 28. Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson 27. The Red Rising Saga  by Pierce Brown 26. Thursday Next series  by Jasper Fforde 25. Bartimaeus Sequence  by Jonathan Stroud 24. The Kingkiller Chronicle by Patrick Rothfus 23. Riyria Revelations  by Michael J. Sullivan 22. The Witcher series  by Andrzej Sapkowski 21. The Belgariad  by David Eddings ✅ 20. The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula K. Le Guin 19. Crazy Rich Asians  by Kevin Kwan 18. Goosebumps  by R. L. Stine 17. The Dresden Files  by Jim Butcher 16. Percy Jackson & the Olympians  by Rick Riordan

Within the Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru there is a fairly extensive exhibition on Welsh TV which is a lot of immersive fun. Of course, being British, the weather is always uppermost in our minds and a stalwart of every conversation ... Day 1 Monmouth - Crickhowell - Brecon - Llandrindod Wells - Elan Valley - Bishop's Castle Day 2 Bishop's Castle - Welshpool - Llangollen - Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - Wrexham Day 3 Wrexham - Penrhyn Bay - Llandudno - Conwy Castle - Betws-y-coed - Beaumaris / Cemaes Bay Day 4 Llanfairpwllgwyngyll - Caernarfon - Llyn Peninsula - Portmeirion - Porthmadog Day 5 Beddgelert - Llyn Dinas - Llyn Gwynant & Mountains - Barmouth & surrounds - Machynlleth Days 6 & 7 Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Aberystwyth - Devil's Bridge - Pentre Ifan “Burial Chamber” - St Davids Cathedral - Solva & roads - Usk - HOME!

Gravity is NOT a force. Gravity is not a force pulling you down, up, or sideways. Why not, because gravity is NOT a force. Gravity used to be thought of as a force , invented (😉) and mathematically worked out by Sir Isaac Newton. For a tonne of maths it can be considered a force and it's no biggie, but it is NOT a force, even though you were taught that it was, it's not. "Jeez, I hear you Mike. So what are you thinking a force is, coz gravity definitely feels like one?" A force is an influence that can cause an object to change its velocity unless counterbalanced by other forces. The concept of force makes the everyday notion of pushing or pulling mathematically precise. Because the magnitude and direction of a force are both important, force is a vector quantity.  "Ok, so what is gravity?" In physics, gravity (from Latin gravitas 'weight') is a fundamental interaction primarily observed as mutual attraction between all things that have mass. Gravit