Mike Riversdale

Newport (Ymerodraeth State of Mind) [video]

2010-07-22T08:24:00.001+12:00

Ha ha ha ha ... if you've been there you'll giggle

A Song About Monkeys [video]

2010-07-14T22:16:00.002+12:00

Thank you Stephen Fry and Robert Llewellyn

The Old Spice YouTube Adverts Are ... Brilliant Fun

2010-07-14T21:16:00.000+12:00

Check out the originals here and here (laydees, be aware) ... but then look to the right (or here) and see the fantastic video responses they are also making to Twitter posts. Great.

Curmudgeons amongst us have made to points:

Can't embed
Great ad but will anyone actually buy more Old Spice (@BenKepes)

Meh ... "I'm on a horse"

The Amazing Travelling Photo Booth - Top Fun

2010-07-14T16:58:00.002+12:00

At a friends wedding recently they hired these dudes from The Amazing Travelling Photo Booth and it was a lot of fun, gave us some silly photos to remember it all by and I heartily recommend them for your next event.

http://www.TheAmazingTravellingPhotoBooth.co.nz

Tim Vine - Pen behind the ear...[video]

2010-07-11T15:04:00.002+12:00

One of the best comedy items I've seen in a log time. Tim Vine, live on stage performs "Pen behind the ear" which, as the title of the item explains in awesome clarity, is Tim Vine trying to get a pen behind his ear.

IF he does it I bet you cheer!
IF he runs out of time I bet you feel cheated/sad.

So, without any further ado (what does that mean?) here is Tim Vine and, "Pen behind the ear ..."

And then you can move on to Hockey stick behind the ear ...

I Miss Spam

2010-07-11T11:29:00.001+12:00

Gmail's spam filters are almost flawless and I very rarely receive any spam in my InBox and this is good.
But, now and again something sneaks through that makes me laugh out loud and I hanker for the creative spam days of yore.

This for instance:

FROM: MICROSOFT CORPORATIONS to microsft

SUBJECT: [none]

You have been awarded the sum of E1,625,000.00GBP in the MICROSOFT EMAIL PROMOTION AWARD 2010.Cont Mr Mark Anderson with your names,address,phone and Country to Email: microsft.loto2010@9.cn or call +4470-4573-9535 for moreinformation on this award.

Great eh - it's not only A LOT of money that I've "been awarded" but it comes, simultaneously, in two currencies. Nice. As for the spelling, punctuation and general feel ... not even my Mum would fall for this, who the jolly heck are they aiming it at??

More spam posts for you to giggle at ...

What Your Google Search Has To Go Through To Get Your Results

2010-07-11T11:22:00.000+12:00

Ok, it's complicated but no-one thought any less surely.
BUT, what blows my mind is that they do it in less than a second over 300 million times a day.

Wholly Fuck!

(click for biggerness)

Infographic by PPC Blog

Is It "New and Improved" - NO!

2010-07-09T13:28:00.003+12:00

Google News has changed and some like it, some don't. What I can tell you though that it is not "new" AND "improved" because YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT! You listening Barbara (or whoever it was that wrote the headline to your article) - "Google News: Yes, it's new, but is it improved?" ???

Do not fear though both TradeMe and Yahoo! have fallen into this age old trap.

BTW: I am wiling to have my logic tested on this one because, at a pinch you could get away with this IF you think the full headline could read, "Google News: Yes, this version of Google News is a new product, but is it an improvement on the previous Google News product that is no longer used". In essence are we talking about two completely separate services/products ... but then, it's not really is it, it's just an upgrade to Google News and in that case you can't say it (because it's not new, we've had it before).

Thoughts?

It's Rugby Time On The Internet Again

2010-07-09T12:10:00.001+12:00

Whilst the football world cup has drained itself of interest form me (wellll, alright, I will get up and see the final) we now get into the real sport, RUGBY!

This weekend sees the All Blacks take on their only real competitors at the moment, the extremely competent and very scary South Africans.

If you're not going to come down to The Green Man (Wellington) this Saturday to enjoy the Alternative Rugby Commentary with Jed in full 3D real life then do not fear you have the streaming over teh interwebs as a brilliant second option:

Jed Thian 09 July at 11:21

Kia Ora to you The Rugby Universe..!

Use the link from 19:00 NZT, you'll hear music, sweet music, then some breaking glass and then loud noises and then...Jedi.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/alternative-rugby-commnentary

Look forward to your input on the chat window during the game..!

Jedi

Touché [video]

2010-07-08T01:23:00.001+12:00

After this there can only be ...

But there are those amongst us willing to try Android, @smrtgirl:

I think I've agreed to try an android device for a week. Watch this space.

"I Want An iPhone" [video, swearing included]

2010-07-01T14:56:00.002+12:00

HA HA HA HA HA - this goes out to all the Apple/iPhone fan boys and girls out there.

"If it's not an iPhone, why would I want it!?"
Or even, "It can grant up to 3 wishes even if one of those wishes is to get an iPhone." ... "I don't care!" - brilliant

AND, I will be saying, "It has the WiFis" for ever!

Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows 3rd Trailer [Official video]

2010-06-30T11:30:00.000+12:00

Not sure about 3D or in 2 parts ... but still, COOOL!

In Depth And Highly Scientific Comparison Between Microsoft Windows And Ubuntu

2010-06-30T09:52:00.000+12:00

I've always had the impression that Ubuntu (Linux) boots a gazzilion times faster on The Beast* than Microsoft Windows Vista. But does it really?

So, out with the stop watch for a few tests, first up Windows Vista:

From dual boot to login: 40 seconds
From entering my password and pressing go to Chrome loading my Gmail: 2mins 30secs
Logging off: 15 seconds
Re-enter password and back to Gmail again: 25 seconds
Restart (all the way back to the dual boot): 40 seconds

Hmm, some surprises in there.

Right, next is Ubuntu 10.04:

From dual boot to login: 30 seconds
From entering my password and pressing go to Chrome loading my Gmail: 1min 5secs
Logging off: 5 seconds
Re-enter password and back to Gmail again: 11 seconds
Restart (all the way back to the dual boot): 16 seconds

Well, it obviously beat Windows Vista in all areas but, to be honest, not by that much to really care.
The initial boot up is almost negligible in human experience terms but I always had the perception that it was slower - interesting.

The biggie though is what happens after you enter your password to log on for the first time.
Vista is massively slow compared to Ubuntu BUT Ubuntu isn't lightening fast either. In fact I think it's got a wee bit slower recently, probably after I've added all the eye candy - it's definitely usable though and doesn't have me swearing at the computer muttering, "Come on, come on, COME ON!"

The biggest surprise was the re-logon. I knew Ubuntu would be great at this but had never noticed it with Vista because I normally boot up, login, sync the iPhone and restart back into Ubuntu. Well done Vista.

And finally shutting the machine down. Well Ubuntu is always the winner, it just does it - click, off. Lahverly.

Now, before you Windows fan boys get your knickers in a twist and claim it's not fair that I'm comparing Vista (an "old" Microsoft operating system) to Ubuntu 10.04 (the very latest). Tough, it's what's on my machine and unless your gonna pay for an upgrade just live with it!

BTW: I rounded up the figures after five goes at it as each time was fairly consistent for both operating systems.

* The Beast = the name we lovingly give to the very large laptop we use as our entertainment / Internet hub back at the ranch

There Is Always Hope For Me As I Get Older [video]

2010-06-29T12:29:00.000+12:00

Excellent to know that when (yes "when", thank you!) I get old I can continue to boogie to the pop hit sensations of the day ...

Thanks, as always, to the wildly eclectic Adam's JokesList

Christchurch Spring 2009 Tilt Shift [video]

2010-06-21T21:14:00.002+12:00

I know, I am getting obsessed with tilt shifted [huh?] photos and videos ... but come on, it's just so cool!

This Is What #RedShoesDay Can Mean To Your Online Presence

2010-06-21T09:50:00.000+12:00

These are taken from Google Analytics run on this blog 2 days ago ... dramatic eh!

#RedShoesDay Fun From Mojo Coffee [video]

2010-06-18T13:06:00.002+12:00

7 Ways Life Instantly Becomes Better By Nicholas Bate

2010-06-18T12:51:00.002+12:00

Not sure how I can show an excerpt from Nicholas' original post because, well, it's this:

By accepting that which comes with Life. Such as the weather.
By accepting that which comes with the job. The occasional totally eccentric boss.
By deciding to change that which is under your control: energy, attitude, choices, approach, goals...
By helping wherever possible. Call it Newton III, call it karma, call it what you will. But boy does it help keep you grounded.
Edit out the crap memories. Simply learn from them but don't replay them. Ever again.
Play those great times a-plenty. In full on technicolour.
By getting on with it.

AWESOME!

Original over at Nicholas Bate's blog

Wellington Tourism + Mojo Coffee + TVOne Breakfast = #RedShoesDay Prizes

2010-06-17T12:49:00.004+12:00

Well, it's all go with this #RedShoesDay eh!

It started small, gained a little traction with Matt from @MojoOldBank, went a bit mad with @MojoCoffeeNZ and now we have @Wellington_NZ (official Wellington Tourism) taking it to the masses via TVOne's Breakfast show and with @Fly_PacificBlue in-flight staff

And so, tomorrow morning get yourself along :

These foxy red shoes are the Cinderella of the Spoil Yourself in Wellington campaign - the dress usually gets all the glory. But not on Red Shoes Day.

To celebrate this absolutely positively Wellington event, Positively Wellington Tourism and Mojo are offering the chance to win a Spoil Yourself in Wellington prize that includes:

a Mojo coffee subscription

$200 voucher to buy yourself some new shoes from fabulous Mischief Shoes (you can’t keep our ones sorry)

dinner for two at Cuisine Restaurant of the Year Logan Brown

two tickets to see Sir Ian McKellen in Waiting for Godot at St James Theatre on Thursday 1 July

our friends at Hooch are also going to throw in a couple of post-theatre cocktails.

To enter you just have to make a gold coin donation to the Neonatal Trust, slip your footsies in and, if the shoes fit*, do a brief strut down Lambton Quay holding a coffee…bonus points if you do this on your head. Easy.

Size does matter
*A panel of three highly qualified judges – Red Shoes Day founder Mike Riversdale (AKA @MiramarMike), Mojo’s Steve Gianoutsos and Sarah Meikle from Positively Wellington Tourism – will judge whether the finesse with which you walk proves the shoes genuinely fit. The winner will be decided by unanimous vote and is completely up to the panel. If you spill the coffee you’ll probably be disqualified, unless you make us laugh – at which point, you might win. We’re pretty much making this up as we go along. No correspondence or heated discussion will be entered into. If you don’t win, get over it.

For your chance to Spoil Yourself in Wellington come down to Mojo Old Bank at 8.10am this Friday June 18. Competition starts at 8.20am or thereabouts. We’re doing a live cross with Breakfast, so it’s kind of up to them.

(source: Absolutely Positively Wellington on Facebook)

Read the history of RedShoesDay ...

#RedShoesDay 2010 Is Going Ever So Slightly BIG ... Watch This Space

2010-06-16T18:22:00.007+12:00

Announcement tomorrow - watch any of the following ...

Twitter:

@RedShoesDay - new!
@MojoCoffeeNZ
@Wellington_NZ
@MiramarMike
#RedShoesDay search ...

Facebook:

Red Shoes Day event
Me ("Daphne Fairfax Jr" - the post of why is coming, promise)
Absolutely Positively Wellington
MojoCoffee Wellington

Wellington after work drinks ("tweetup")

Hooch (46 Courtenay Place), 5:30pm+ - RSVP at http://twtvite.com/redshoesday

And the history of the day is all here - http://bit.ly/RedShoesDay

Photo source: chandimak (thanks mate)

FREE Coffee This Friday From Mojo Coffee In Auckland/Wellington If ...

2010-06-14T20:59:00.000+12:00

... you're wearing red shoes!

Huh - Read more ...

AND, don't forget the #RedShoesDay drinks in Wellington this Friday at Hooch (46 Courtenay Place) from 5:30pm+ for a chance to show off you red shoes (or other bling). RSVP at http://twtvite.com/redshoesday

7 x 13 = 28 [video]

2010-06-14T11:05:00.002+12:00

Fernies Sweetie Shop In Monmouth

2010-06-08T13:18:00.002+12:00

Ok, so I do have a downer on Facebook a lot of time (and who wouldn't) but now and again I re-discover an old friendship or even better a group like called Mr Ferneyhough! Your Memory Lives on!

(click for bigness)

The picture that I have 'alf inched from the group is so evocative of my childhood days in Monmouth that I was instantly transported back to the sounds, smells and weather of those days. I could hear my mates, I could feel the plastic wrapping on the albums in Round 'Ear and most importantly I could remember how much shtick we little sods gave Mr Ferneyhough. Well, to be honest I was a good little boy and was a bit scared about going into the shop when the oiks where in there giving him a hard time ... sods!

To place yourself in the right place The Sweetie Shop (which I didn't know was it's officially name even though that's what I called it) was at 24 Church Street, Monmouth:

View Larger Map

If you're from Monmouth before the 1980's then I urge you to join the many others on the group and have a bloody good reminisce.

Oh, and I've also put out a call on the Flickr: Monmouth (Wales, UK) group to see if anyone can upload either new photos or more importantly, ones taken when it was still The Sweetie Shop ...

Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra - Short People [video]

2010-06-08T12:17:00.000+12:00

Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra - I Love You, Raylene [video]

2010-06-02T14:22:00.001+12:00

From THE concert of the past 10 years according to all of us ...