RobiNZ Personal Blog

TEDx Auckland 2015 Victorious? | #TEDxAKL @TEDxAuckland

My notes & photos from TEDx Auckland 2015. I only took the phone (for both notes & photos) and was sitting right at the back of the hall so my shots are a bit ‘distant’. The italics are the speaker profiles sent out by TEDx Auckland The bullet points my OneNote notes taken on the day (which may contain errors) and a few post-TEDx thoughts after. SIOUXSIE WILES Award-winning scientist Dr. Siouxsie Wiles describes herself as a microbiologist and bioluminescence enthusiast but to others she is “that pink-haired science lady”. She believes that playmakers like Lego should lead the way... Read more →

TEDx Auckland 2014, unexpected Himalayan cycle tour preparation!

When I saw TEDx Auckland 2014 announced I really wanted to go but was a bit torn. I loved the 2013 event but it meant a precious day of weekend gone. Weekends were crucial as I was trying to get fit for a rather demanding cycle tour in the Himalayas. The TEDx 2014 theme was ‘Ascending’: Ascending is about individuals and society rising to a higher level of consciousness. Ascending is about finding the positives in any situation and building on them to make our lives, community, business and planet better. As it turned out, the day spent at TEDx... Read more →

TEDx Auckland — 2013 remembered, bring on 2014!

While buying my ticket to TEDx Auckland 2014 remembered I’d never gotten around to writing a post about the 2013 event. Earlier this year there was some flack about TED, prompted it seems by some ‘dubious’ TEDx events. From my experience at TEDx Auckland it certainly wasn’t one of those. The Aotea Centre was full, the speakers uniformly excellent and it covered a wide variety of topics. In his intro MC @VaughnDavis (below right) made a comment which summed up my TEDx experience. He said with TED on-line you tend to self censor, focus on the familiar, topics of interest.... Read more →

Radiolab Live: Apocalyptical and Amazing

I’ve heard all their podcasts—so expected the typical Radiolab brilliance—but this video of the Radiolab Live tour is amazing. I heard the audio version on Sunday and just watched the video. If you have any interest in science and/or art you must see this. Robert Krulwich and Jad Abumrad appear with comedians, musicians, video, that distinctive Radiolab audio mix and ‘live’ dinosaurs to tell of endings which changed our world. Radiolab Live: Apocalyptical http://www.radiolab.org/live/ Thanks to everybody who came out to see us on our 21-city tour! We had a blast, and we're so proud of how this show turned... Read more →

Vale Don Binney

I didn’t know Don Binney but his art, like “Swoop of the Kotare, Wainamu”, made my life better. Thanks and Farewell. Radio New Zealand : News : National : Artist Don Binney dies The artist Don Binney has died of a heart attack, aged 72. He was a professional artist, lecturer, and writer on the arts and was known for his distinctive paintings featuring large, perfectly centred native birds poised over landscapes… Te Henga, Bethells Beach was one of many West Auckland locations featured in his work. Read more →

Henderson Valley rail bridge art

Until recently this was a boring raw concrete bridge pylon seen from the bike path which connects Henderson to the Corban Estate Arts Centre. This is a collection of iPhone 3GS snapshots stitched together in a click by Microsoft Live Photo “Panorama” tool. Read more →

Phil Llewellin’s Finest Hour online thanks to #CAR50

Back in 2006 I blogged about a collection of articles by one of my favourite writers: Phil Llewellin on "The Road to Muckle Flugga"? - RobiNZ Personal Blog The Road to Muckle Flugga is collection of articles about “Great drives on Five Continents” by the late Phil Llewellin. He was a wonderful writer, who happened to write about motoring, for CAR Magazine (U.K.) among others. I referred to an article I still have: I think the finest piece is, the appropriately named, “Their Finest Hour”. I clipped this out of CAR when first published in 1990 as I loved it... Read more →

This film is a stunning lifesaving minute - Immunity #stopavn

@purplefae’s beautiful film tackles the anti-vac myths in a minute. More at www.purplefae.com Read more →

The Ferrari Pinin Sedan Concept Car for sale (without my interior)

I was interested to see reports that the 1980 Ferrari Pinin Sedan concept is going to be sold. Ferrari Pinin Concept to be auctioned in London - www.eurocarblog.com 1980 Ferrari Pinin Concept, the one and only sedan with a Ferrari badge ever made, will soon be up for auction. This outstanding one-off was built to celebrate designer Pininfarina 50th anniversary… (continues with Ferrari Pinin Concept photo gallery) 1980 Ferrari Pinin Four-Door Sedan Concept up for Grabs – Carscoop The 1980 Ferrari Pinin will go under the hammer at the forthcoming RM Auction in London, England on October 26, where it... Read more →

Othello, a Peach Theatre Company masterpiece

This isn’t a review from an avid theatre or Shakespeare fan. In fact I must admit I didn’t pay for the ticket and distantly know the Director. My Aunt was Principal of Jessie’s Primary School, his Mum taught with her and I first knew him as the guy behind the Bird Barn counter selling me Cockatiel seed before his media & theatre career blossomed. My last contact with “real” Shakespeare was at High School and I shudder to think that was 30’something years ago!. I only remember “doing” Macbeth but there must have been others. I know of his work... Read more →