5 posts categorized "Me"

30 March 2008

Tax Benefits

This month I looked at my pay-slip which stated exactly how much tax had been deducted over the (full tax) year and thought, that’s a lot.

Yesterday, a fairly routine visit to the GP ended up with my Mum being admitted to hospital. Within a hour she was there, through the afternoon a bunch of brilliant Nurses and Doctors did their thing, tests, cardio, x-ray, etc and an overnight stay, just to be sure.

Nobody asked “who is your insurance provider, what is your health plan, do you have credit?” or a worry about cost.

Tax Benefits

31 December 2007

2007 Blogging Highlights

It’s time to do a Blog related review of the year so here goes…

Best Blog Discovery: 

I use this heading every year but it isn’t really appropriate for this years selection. Simon’s Web Journal made a huge impression and it’s for that reason alone that it was “best”. The story it told, the feelings it shared and the eventual outcome of events were as far from “best” as it’s possible to get. It began as blog about Life, Linux and everything but tragic events changed that within days. I didn’t know Corwin before I read it, and sadly never will, but won’t forget sharing his journey. Best, worst, and unforgettable.

Best Comment:

I got an email, not the usual spam but it was a “recruitment device”, suggesting I watch a video on a Agel. They use a very complex distribution structure to sell “Health Supplements”. I was somewhat skeptical of the product but even more so of the “business model” and it’s commission system. My resulting post has generated quite a bit of traffic and comment but the best came from Jon M. Taylor, MBA, Ph.D. His site has a wealth of information on Multi-Level Marketing.If you, or anyone you know is considering getting involved a MLM business do them a favour and have them read: http://www.mlm-thetruth.com/

Best Blog Event: 

Well, it’s not really a blog event but Autodesk University probably brings together more bloggers than many dedicated events manage. I was fortunate to attend again this year and the real highlight is meeting fellow bloggers and readers. It was great catching up with old friends and meeting new ones  I won’t name names for fear of leaving someone out but to all I met at Autodesk University thanks for reading and saying hello. I’m constantly amazed people all around the world invest their time in reading this stuff

It’s for that reason Autodesk University is again, as in 2005 and 2006, the best Blog Event I attended this year.

Best Podcast:

I don’t listen to every episode of “Sunday Night Safran” but do hear most and enjoy the mix of topics, John’s views and the delightful Father Bob.

Biggest Surprise?

 A year later and I’m still called “the Paper Plane Guy” at Autodesk University!

Busiest Month:

Huge Top Gear related bump in December/Jan and mostly Auto related posts in August for the Personal blog. On the CAD blog it’s usual Autodesk launch related peak around March. 

 Best Blog Decision:

 Might turn out to be a mistake but I’ve decided to stop using both Vox & Blogger and concentrate on my TypePad Blogs. Both were interesting to play with but I still find TypePad is the best mix of ease & power for me.

Blog Related Concern:

 I need to do more for CAD/BIM related posts on my “Cad Blog”. If you’ve got any ideas for things to cover email me or leave a comment!

Best New Blog Tool:

 Last year it was Camtasia, this year it’s SnagIt. It’s not new but recent add-ins for Blog Platforms (like TypePad & Wordpress), Flickr and MindManager make it a tool I use for virtually every post, including this one!

“Doh!” of the year:

 Finding a HTML error of my own making. Thanks to TypePad Support and Dimtry [BlogJet] for helping me track it down and fix it.

Boring Blog Stats – Only here so I can look back at them

RobiNZ CAD Blog [2006 figures]

2007_world_visitsPosts: 1,157 [860]  |  Comments: 674 [390]  |  TrackBacks: 74 [67] | Pages:  3 [New in 2007]

Page Views: Total 405,974 [284,009] | Average Per Day 298.07 [220]

Subscribers (via Feedburner): Avg: 576 [312] Max: 707 [640]

Most visited post of 2007: DWG to [Google] Earth, do you read me? - Autodesk Labs AutoCAD Google Earth Extension (from 2006)

Most Popular Post from 2007: Align, the forgotten AutoCAD hero

RobiNZ Personal Blog  [2006 figures]

2007_world_visits_rpb

Posts: 1,216 [978]  |  Comments: 566 [398]  |  TrackBacks: 14 [12]

Page Views: Total 160,101 [128,072] | Average Per Day 156.20 [127]

Subscribers (via Feedburner): Avg: 49 [23] Max: 79 [47]

Most visited post of 2007: The Top Gear Stig (Although from 2005 it still generates loads of traffic and comments!)

Most Popular Post from 2007: Is the "Agel phenomenon" a scam?

Thanks for visiting during 2007, Happy New Year for 2008!

27 September 2007

Goodbye...

GoodbyeIt started as a blog about Linux but rapidly, tragically, turned into so much more.

I never met you but it was a privilege to know you through your Dads writing.

Goodbye Corwin, rest in peace.

Pohutukawa Flowers for Corwin

22 September 2007

A lesson on life

“If I don’t seem as depressed or morose as I should be, sorry to disappoint you.” 


CMU professor gives his last lesson on life - Spotback
Watch the video, read the story
 

Tags:

15 January 2007

A Ferrari arrives on my Birthday!!!

Two things were born today. One is sexy, fast (hopefully) and very red while the other, which arrived decades earlier, is not sexy, or fast and only slightly red after catching some sun while cycling yesterday…

See the new Ferrari F1 2007 at www.ferrariworld.com

Ferrari2007


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  • Shane Jacobson: Kenny

    Shane Jacobson: Kenny
    To say it's Aussie Toilet humour is, well it's accurate, but doesn't do this film justice. Wonderful script, brilliant acting and finely balanced, like a teetering porterloo, mix of humour and pathos. It's nearly as good as "The Castle", my favourite Aussie film.

  • Christopher Nolan: The Prestige

    Christopher Nolan: The Prestige
    I didn't know anything about this movie before seeing it but it's one of the best for years. About illusionists, it is packed with constant twists and surprises. Add a great cast, direction and production and you have a must see.

  • Nick Park: Creature Comforts - The Complete First and Second Seasons

    Nick Park: Creature Comforts - The Complete First and Second Seasons
    Brilliance of "person-on-the-street" interviews coupled with aardman's outstanding claymation and subtle visual gags

  • Pat Metheny Group: The Way Up - Live

    Pat Metheny Group: The Way Up - Live
    It's their best performance, their best composition - recorded live in Korea.

  • Kevin Macdonald: The Last King of Scotland

    Kevin Macdonald: The Last King of Scotland
    Great performance by Forest Whitaker. Not pleasant viewing but much more interesting than I expected.

  • Todd Field: Little Children

    Todd Field: Little Children
    Don't expect a happy childhood story. It's confrontational and disturbing but also rewarding. Worth seeing for Kate Winslets performance alone.