RobiNZ Personal Blog

The Nocebo effect?

Found via SkepticBros.com, where you can get your Placebo Band, posted here so I can find it Read more →

A Pilot’s story, from Flying Boats to Jets

A mate has documented, in blog form, his Fathers flying career which spanned Sunderland/PBY Catalina flying boats to DC8 jets (including survey flights for the Coral Route). The blog has many diary extracts and photos from a time when aviation in NZ & the Pacific evolved from an adventure to a business. Cliff Le Couteur - http://clifflecouteur.blogspot.com/ His historical record as written by one of his sons Cliff Le Couteur was my father. My name is William Le Couteur and I have decided to write what I know of his life mainly to provide a record for interested parties With... Read more →

Traffic Light Thought – Following a Space Station fan?

Their personalised number plate was: ISS 1 I thought of International Space Station, and my visit to KSC after Autodesk University Orlando 2005 (below), but maybe it meant something else? Read more →

No, I haven’t been arrested…

Sometimes a Google vanity search is not a good idea… Salisbury woman charged with extortion - WGMD.COM Last Friday Salisbury Police arrested 46 year old Robin Capper on an outstanding warrant. Capper is charged with threatening an elderly man that unless he gave her money she would report to police that the man had assaulted her. Read more →

Far above the clouds, faith or evidence?

During an idle moment, waiting for something, a noise drew my gaze toward the sky. It came through the solid cloud cover and I strained to identify the source. I had a good idea but wondered how you’d explain it to someone who didn’t, who knew nothing of our modern world? Of these alternatives I doubt they would pick the correct one: Angry Sky Gods? Thunder, from lightening I couldn’t see? Several hundred people (and hundreds of tonnes of metal, fuel, luggage) high above the cloud watching movies and, possibly, about to tuck into a late lunch while doing about... Read more →

A new tactic to get a airline upgrade?

I laughed when I saw “I am very tall and really need some more space” in this article: 'Sir Richard Branson promised me'- Virgin Atlantic reveals unusual upgrade requests Undoubtedly the top wish of any traveller is an upgrade, but let's face it: unless you shell out cash or miles, your chances are slim. But that doesn't stop some people from trying… [but they do] Can I change to an exit row? It reminded me of something overheard while waiting to board a flight from Auckland to LAX. I don’t sit in the gate lounge as leaving New Zealand a... Read more →

SkepticBros & the Placebo Band #TAMOz

It was great to meet the Skepticbros, Tom and Nick, at the TAMOZ fringe Bloggers Breakfast (seen below being interviewed for Token Skeptic #42 Podcast by Kylie "Podblack Cat" Sturgess). Inspired, more accurately appalled, by dubious claims & massive profit margins made by plastic hologram bands they did something about it and made their own. The Placebo Band Placebo Bands are a stretchy silicon band with a hologram & embossed text. They don’t claim to rely on mystical qualities as any effect is entirely from the mind of the wearer (as described in this quote from the Placebo Band site):... Read more →