RobiNZ Personal Blog

The Amaz!ng Meeting Australia – Day 2, Sunday #TAMOZ

The second (official) day kicked off with a Tim Mendham moderated panel “The Media & the Message”. It was interesting to hear the News vs Science media approach to a topic. As a Kiwi I found the “ABC’ness” aspects rather irrelevant but maybe that was due to jealously. At least Australia have Public (especially TV) media worth debating as it seems the whole quality versus ratings/commercial argument is over in New Zealand for TVNZ. I had met Dr Rob Morrison, who was on the panel, at tea the day before and was very surprised when he asked: ”Don’t I know... Read more →

The Amaz!ng Meeting Australia – Day 1, Saturday #TAMOZ

After an official opening, that’s why this is Day 01, Brian Dunning of Skeptoid (right) took the stage. His “Sounds from beyond” included unexplained sounds from radio telescopes, explained but still amazing tones from rotating super massive collapsed stars. He demonstrated how those “hidden backwards lyrics” are much easier to decode if you are told what the hidden message is before you hear the sound. That is why ghost programmes etc always do it in that order. If you want to hear some examples check out his related Skeptoid episodes especially one about the missing Russian Cosmonaut conspiracy. Loretta Marron... Read more →

The Amaz!ng Meeting Australia – Day 0, Friday #TAMOZ

I arrived in Sydney on Thursday which meant could attend a couple of TAMFringe Meetups. It was great to meet Jason @BastardSheep (who organised them) and some other Skeptwitter’ers I had been following in the lead up to the the event including @HappySinger, @Purplefae, Skeptics NZ @unifex and about thirty others. We had a lunch at Darling Harbour on a lovely day but it was sobering to see the flags at half mast honouring the Pike River Mine disaster. I wandered back to my Hotel the long way around the waterfront, can’t miss a chance to visit the Opera House,... Read more →

The Amazing Invisible Undetectable Aura~Band

This is to announce an amazing new product: The Amazing Invisible Undetectable Aura~Band! This wrist band has magical benefits enhanced by additional invisibility and placebo properties. Best of all, other than feeling better you won’t even notice it’s on! What are the benefits of the Amazing Invisible Undetectable Aura~Band? Testimonials from users* mentioned increased happiness, social (media) interaction, reduced stress and increased general wellbeing. How was the Amazing Invisible Undetectable Aura~Band invented? It was a joint invention made possible through the power of social media aided by non-delivery of another band. ChrysStevenson Waah. Placebo band hasn't arrived yet. Hope I... Read more →

#TAMOz and #AU2010 , the countdown begins!

It seems a long time since the idea of attending both The Amaz!ng Meeting Australia and Autodesk University occurred to me. It’s now only a few days before I set out and the to do list seems rather full. All the important boxes are ticked; Flights, Accommodation and Travel Documents and the rest you can make up as you travel. I have a pretty full agenda at both events and, literally, just a flight recover between them so my only real concern is keeping awake. At least I have six years of blogging insomnia as training! Read more →

Traffic Light Thought – Bottle throwing Pajeros

Was it really necessary to throw a nearly, but not totally, empty plastic drink bottle out your 4WD window so it hits another car? Fitting that they were in a Pajero, because that’s description which came to mind. Read more →

Be Part of History with Dr Karl!

I’ll be there! Be Part of History with Dr Karl! As part of TAM Australia Dr Karl to smash Guinness World Record in Sydney in November Australia’s best loved scientist Dr Karl Kruzselnicki will make history on Friday 26 November when he challenges magician David Copperfield’s record for the world’s largest magic lesson by teaching nearly 300 people the secret of spoon bending. Dr Karl will be assisted in this challenge by internationally renowned skeptic and spoon bender extraordinaire Richard Saunders. In an added twist, the challenge will be taking place on site of the largest international skeptics convention ever... Read more →

Alfie resting after a big climb at Karekare Beach

Alfie resting after a big climb at Karekare Beach, originally uploaded by RobiNZ. I reckon we were about 200-300m above the carpark Read more →

Awesome walk at Karekare Beach

Karekare Beach, originally uploaded by RobiNZ. Bit of a climb (from the Pohutakawa Glade) but worth it for the view Read more →

Flying Spaghetti Monster at Auckland Skeptics in the pub

As presented by Cap’n Toast & Robin to Auckland Skeptics in the Pub 2010-11-02 Find out more about The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster at http://www.venganza.org/ Follow our Prophet on Twitter @henderob This presentation contains inspiration & content from Venganza.org. All rights remain with it’s respective noodley creators. Read more →