RobiNZ Personal Blog

TVNZ iPhone app reveals why NZ sports media is boring

Look at the categories which feature then think what is consigned to "Other Sports". Read more →

“Labouring” maybe, but Construction & Architecture? Really?

A browse of the TradeMe Construction & architecture salary information guide led me to Browse Construction & Architecture jobs and this (below) was the first listing. Seems like a rather tenuous link to “Construction & Architecture” although probably pays better if that hourly rate can be believed. Read more →

Tim Minchin - Storm

If you haven’t already seen Tim Minchin's beat poem about a new age dinner guest, watch it. I prefer the unofficial text version as it’s simple presentation lets the message shine, and what a message. Text & Tim The Official Movie Live Read more →

Traffic Light Thought — Stupid Speed Limit or Stupid Signs?

I wonder why there is about 650 metres of “open road” (100km/h) on ramp between 50km/h Onewa Rd and the 80km/h zone approaching the Harbour Bridge? I join the on ramp from Sylvan Avenue. About 150 metres (estimated) along the on ramp a sign indicates Open Road and means that the maximum speed that you can travel at is 100km/h. Another couple of hundred metres later you get a warning that an 80km/h zone starts in 300 metres. The 80km/h zone (which is actually practically far less than that about 6 hours a day due to traffic!) begins. Why not... Read more →

“Comfortably Numb”, cycling and @noozeeland

A tweet from @noozeeland today inspired this post. He shared a phrase which commanded only one response. I know the lyrics to Comfortably Numb quite well as I love the song itself, but also for another rather odd reason. When I’m cycling and feeling really tired it’s one song that often gets stuck in my mental playlist. “Comfortably Numb” is an admirable compromise to aim for when all sorts of bits ache but you still haven’t finished the ride! I change the lyrics a bit to so here is my “PsychPod” version, adjusted for cycling, presented with due apologies to... Read more →

The West Coast Penguin Mystery?

Back in 2006 I took a photo of this rather unique road sign on the South Island’s West Coast. This year (in somewhat better weather) I couldn’t resist taking the same photo again. It wasn’t until I got home that I noticed “next 10km” of penguin in 2006 had reduced to 5km in 2011. However a few kilometres up the road there was another “Next 5km” of penguin so maybe they have just moved along the coast a bit? Read more →

Coast To Coast 2011 — New Zealand South Island Cycle Trip

I recently spent ten days in the South Island on a fabulous cycle tour from Christchurch over to the West Coast (Punakaiki to Karamea), Abel Tasman Park, Nelson Lakes, Picton & Kaikoura with Adventure South Cycle Tours. How quickly the daily grind returns, not helped by the end of daylight saving and arrival of winter soon after I returned to Auckland. At least there are the memories & photos of a wonderful holiday with great people. I have added some of the photos to my daily blog posts, written on the iPhone as we went. All are indexed, along with... Read more →

Traffic Light Thoughts - Daylight Saving or Headlight Failing?

Thanks to no daylight saving and the first burst of winter weather it is now properly dark when I leave work. Tonight I passed five, yes five, cars driving in the gloom with only fog-lights/parking lights on or no head lights at all. Is it not adapting to daylight saving or just a driver fail? Read more →