RobiNZ Personal Blog

Traffic Light Thought - My Fiat sounds like a Ferrari

Sitting at the lights and I think, geez the Bravo is sounding racy, but then noticed a Ferrari 430 had pulled up behind me! As I followed it along the motorway, thought the 100 km/h limit must b... Read more →

TypePad Web App works great on the iPhone!

I recently got an iPhone so can join the world of mobile blogging. It's something the old cracked screen Nokia couldn't do, well it could but I couldn't stand the press, press, press keyboard. I downloaded a TypePad iPhone app but find the web editor better. The app wouldn't load my blog categories? While I wouldn't want to write War & Peace on it the iPhone keyboard is OK for shorter posts*. So far I'm impressed with the new toy, it will be great for AU. * But I can't see how to do a hyperlink Read more →

Traffic Light Thought - How tell them, but not cause a heart attack?

It was after sundown and the dark VW Golf ahead was quite hard to see. It had brake, indicator and headlights that worked but there was no sign of normal taillights. After following for a few kilom... Read more →

Supermarkets rebrand, but why Countdown?

This is work related, I mean Progressive own 10% of TWL, but I’m just a consumer who wondered about today’s announcement (which I first read about weeks ago on this blog). It makes sense although some of the comments about retaining co-sited Woolworths, Foodtown as Countdowns post re-brand seems bizarre. I have no idea on the real reasons behind it but in my mind it went something like this: They are going to rebrand Wooloworths, Foodtown and Countdown Woolworths, Nationwide, actually Kiwi (Nathans etc) but perceived as Australian and expensive. Not a good mix. No! Foodtown, Not nationwide, perceived as... Read more →

The 1.0 Litre Ferrari - Total Cost of Ownership

It’s often said that running a car is more expensive than public transport. From 1996 – 2008 I travelled 178,000km in the mighty Uno. A few seconds in Quicken revealed how much it cost: Sum of Cost $/Year Fuel $12,479.49 $1,039.96 Other Auto (Insurance/WOF etc) $4,228.31 $352.36 Service (Everything inc tyres) $13,498.98 $1,124.92 Depreciation $11,000.00 $916.67 Grand Total $41,206.78 $3,433.90 It’s about $0.23/km. Almost certainly cheaper than a bus, my work commute was $55/week, plus I could go anywhere – literally to Bluff – when I wanted and it was fun (which buses aren't). Read more →

Sony NZ Outlet Store now on Twitter

Worth a follow if you’re considering anything Sony, in New Zealand Sony NZ Outlet (sonynzoutlet) on Twitter Read more →

xkcd show why we should SETI and, maybe, why not

Why I support SETI and why I wonder if it will ever work summed up in one image, but you have to click through to see it. The Search - xkcd.com Read more →

A Fiat Bravo touched by his noodly appendages

Although not exotic I know my Fiat Bravo HGT is relatively rare in New Zealand. Only a few dozen were imported in total, have been told maybe twelve of the Mk2 version I have. However something has happened which I’m almost certain will make it unique. It has been touched by the noodly appendages of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It seems fitting to have the Pastafarian emblem on a car made in the land of Pasta: a Fiat Bravo HGT 155 FSM! The FSM emblems, and other merchandise, are available from Ring Of Fire who now ship outside the US... Read more →

Do you want to buy this train?

The Kingston Flyer, originally uploaded by RobiNZ. I'm not a trainspotter but the sight of this appearing out of the mountain gloom was too good to miss. It's for sale if you're interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingston_Flyer Read more →

Cheers Keith Floyd, my kind of TV Chef

Long before Gordon was effing, before Jamie was lisping or the myriad of “personality chefs” took over primetime TV I remember watching a cooking show for the sheer personality of the host, and I don’t really like cooking! The Stranglers theme introduced Keith Floyd, a cook (it’s what he called himself) who was as interested in people, places and wine as the food the show was supposed to be about. It wasn’t all slick, it wasn’t all scripted and he often resorted to on-screen direction of the camera “come in closer Clive” (or Dennis or Malcolm) but the passion and... Read more →