RobiNZ Personal Blog

Dodgy German flow foils Fiat finesse

The Flying Spaghetti Machine is back! Over the past few weeks it occasionally felt odd, with an intermittent throttle lag I can only compare to a poorly engineered turbo installation. Bit of a concern when it is not a turbo! A few days ago the engine system warning light came on, occasionally at first, then persisting until the ignition was switched off/on, then finally on all the time. Of course the day before it was due to visit to the Fiat wizards at Italian Autos the light went off, and stayed off. They diagnosed a dodgy air flow meter, a... Read more →

Symptom of the Auckland Housing Boom?

Can relate to this sign, seen on a letterbox today. Sent from my Lumia 1520 Windows Phone Read more →

Dog sneezes for @DoctorKarl @zanrowe

@DoctorKarl @zanrowe 100% of dogs I know sneeze almost immediately when turned on back, but I only know one dog, Alfie, well enough to test it... (video) Science on Mornings, on triplej Fart breathing, killer nightmares, spider muscles | media | triple j Why do humans need pillows? Why do dogs sneeze when they lie on their back? Why do house flies fly in a box formation? Note: No dogs were harmed in the making of this video, one was slightly confused. Read more →

Vale Rudy Sunde

Sad to hear today that family friend and West Auckland identity Rudy Sunde died. I’d didn’t write ‘passed away’ as the Rudy I knew wouldn’t didn’t have much time for euphemisms. By profession he was a Horticulturalist who became an Entomologist specialising in aphids. If you meet a “Paradoxaphis aristoteliae Sunde” you’ll know where it got its name. Rudy’s passion was music, particularly folk music and sea shanties. A life of writing, organising, researching and performing around New Zealand and, via the Maritime Crew Sea Shanty group he formed, the world. It was during the organisation of one of the... Read more →

As seen on Dept. of Conservation’s website!

It was cool to find my photos being used to promote some great Hauraki Gulf Island walks—although I was (legally) cycling when I took them—on the Department of Conservation website. They discovered them on my Flickr site and thought worth sharing. Motutapu Longer Walks Motutapu Shorter Walks UPDATE 11/7/2015: And another! Fox Glacier Walk Source Photos Read more →