World Cup is here

I took a survey on Twitter, I told Twitter that I wasn't particularly interested in the World Cup and that I certainly wasn't going to follow it on Twitter. Not withstanding, this turned up on my Twitter page yesterday morning.

Google meanwhile were getting in early (prior to the Google Doodle). A tour of the streets painted in celebration of the games? OK, firstly Google the World Cup doesn't get referred to as games (football is usually matches you know) and secondly the painting I've seen on the news wouldn't appear to be celebrating the World Cup as much as asking it to please go away (and not quite as politely as I'm putting it).

Here is the Google Doodle to celebrate the World Cup.

Google Doodle

Google is, today, celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Mary Anning - 19th Century fossil collector and paleontologist.

Don't be evil!

40 years ago today Erno Rubik invented his fiendish puzzle. I've never finished the Rubik cube (unless you count the time I peeled off stickers and stuck them back on in a different order). Tempting as today's interactive Google Doodle is, I'm not sure that I've the time to waste and sit and try and solve a virtual Rubik cube! Come on Google, don't be evil!

Valentine

Another interactive Google Doodle - make your own gift!!!

Year of the Horse

恭禧發財

Happy New Year

Google gorillas

Google celebrates the 82nd anniversary of the birth of the late zoologist Dian Fossey.

If you try Google around the globe I think every day is a doodle day...

Google Doodle - British Museum

The 255th Anniversary of the foundation of the British Museum, the first public museum in the world. It wasn't one of the stops on our honeymoon as we'd both been there in our youth, but it hasn't dropped off our radar.

From recollection it's a time and time again sort of place. You need to go with an objective in mind and then revisit for a different objective. I was seventeen the last time I went (over 20 years ago!) so the new courtyard wasn't in existence back then.

We are spoilt in London for museums. The best bit is that they are free entry, charging generally only for 'special' exhibitions - although all encourage donations! Exhibition Road out in Kensington will yield the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum. Head over to Bloomsbury for the British Museum, or off into the City or Docklands for the Museum of London.

There are also numerous other smaller collections and art galleries to be found hidden away in unexpected places. Watch this spot for our future travels...

Amazing Grace

Google today are honouring the anniversary of the birthday of Grace Hopper an early female pioneer in the field of computer programming. 

I missed just over a week ago their delightful tribute for St Andrew's Day.

Google... not Doodle

Google - say what you see...

Today's Google Doodle celebrates the 126th  anniversary of Hermann Rorschach's birth.

Inventor of the famous inkblot test, there are several opportunities to play and share your answers on Google+, Twitter or Facebook.

Google Doodle - Jump!

Today Google is celebrating the 216th anniversary of the first parachute jump. A whimsical animated doodle, which is worth replaying as where you land may vary!

 Touchdown in the sea, by the river, or even in the jungle!

Bye Bye iGoogle

Google, continuing the trend from Reader of shutting down loved institutions is saying goodbye to iGoogle.

However, there is a new kid in town. Log into any Google service and you will be introduced to the new home of Apps.

That tiny box of 4x4 square hides quick access to a selection of Google products (non-customisable).

If you use Chrome it gets better though. You can attach a little button to your task bar - the same 4x4 button (now in Google/Chrome colours).

This time it is customisable.. you can choose your contents.

You also get the same choices on a new tab inside the chrome browser. Assuming that, as this is attached to your Google profile, this somehow crosses into an Android phone (I'll let you know next month when I get one) this could be a step change in the way we interact with Google.

Google UK

Google+ is getting local! This is the UK's own page. I suggested (I'm sure I'm not alone) the

London Eye, Forth Bridge, Angel of the North and Stonehenge. I tried very hard not to be too London-centric in my views!

Clair de Lune

Google are celebrating the 151st anniversary of Claude Debussy's birth with a beautiful animation set to Clair de Lune.

If you missed it, check out the Doodle Archive.

Goodbye old friend

Tomorrow, for reasons which were explained but still seem inadequate, Google is retiring Google Reader.

Google Reader (when I first started using it) made perfect sense. Most of the blogs I read were hosted on Blogger (owned by Google) and it was easy to put them into Reader.

Is it that Google and Blogger have slowly but surely lost their stranglehold on Blogging to Wordpress? Do Google just want to grow in other areas? Whatever the reason, if you use Reader and haven't yet hooked up with another service you need to visit Google Takeout now and download your feeds for future use. All we can say is, thank you Reader for your years of service... you will be missed!

Bye bye Reader

Anyone who knows me knows I am a Google girl. That is why the Better-half wasted no time in letting me know that Google is shutting down its Reader. Because he knows how much I use Reader he also sent me an article by CNet suggesting some possible alternatives.

I've met quite a lot of the alternatives - and the one I like the look of the most is Feedly. I use Feedly, Pulse and Flipboard already (the other two suggestions seem variants on these themes) and don't like Pulse or Flipboard for blogs. 

If you use Reader you may want to go looking for your own alternative in the grace period before it is gone forever. Goodbye Reader - you served us well.

Google Doodle Olympics

From the Opening Ceremony on Friday Google UK have been putting an Olympic themed Doodle on their homepage every day.

I have come to the realisation that the Doodles must be Geo-specific as looking through the Gallery there are sometimes 2 Doodles on the same day; and of the 161 so far this year an awful lot I haven't seen!


I'm a huge Google Doodle fan... a lot of them are fun, and bring a smile to your face when you're searching the net. They've been around since 1998 and there have been over 1,000!

Google Doodle

Today's Google Doodle celebrates the birth of female aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart 115 years ago. 

The exploits of the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic have inspired generations of adventurous young girls. Earhart's plane disappeared over the Pacific ocean 75 years ago whilst she was undertaking an attempt to circumnavigate the globe. A recent multi-million dollar expedition seeking the wreckage of the doomed flight returned with no results.

Jubilee

Google are joining in the Jubilee Celebrations with their Google Doodle. If you're going to enjoy the river pageant or concert in London this weekend, remember to dress for the weather!

Google Doodle

Today Google's Doodle is celebrating the anniversary of the birth of renowned maker of jewelled eggs Peter Carl Fabergé.