RobiNZ Personal Blog

Traffic Light Thought–Commuting and The Greatest Story Ever Told…SO FAR @joerogan @LKrauss1

Traffic was lousy this morning, in part due to the wet weather, but I really didn’t care. I had downloaded Joe Rogan’s latest podcast featuring theoretical physicist Prof. Lawrence M. Krauss*. The topic was (nominally) his latest book—The Greatest Story Ever Told…SO FAR—but the discussion was wide ranging and fascinating. It went something like: Symmetry and what it means in this universe A plain language explanation of Gauge Theory Universal laws and impacts of them on our place in the universe The Higgs field and what it really means Life and evolution The evolution of religion, why it exists Progress... 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 →

Amazon’s ‘Recommended For You’… Got me!

I was watching a documentary about Facebook which, in part, mentioned how their adverts are targeted: “Going by the ads I see Facebook thinks I want an AMEX card, a new kitchen, a cinema ticket, a Honda and a holiday in Rotorua. That's zero correct.” Then a bit later: “The ads now think I still want a Honda, tickets to cricket, AMEX Platinum and affordable wall art. Oh, and Facebook marketing. No, no, no, no and no!” On the other hand, Amazon’s ‘Recommended For You’ is absolutely spot on. I had actually banned myself from purchasing any new media until... Read more →

Joe Windred, bizarre Australian & San Francisco connection

I found this, true, tale of mistaken identity, wrongful conviction and the link to San Francisco history fascinating. Check out the bizarre links in the life of Joe Windred, onetime mayor of Orange, NSW in this ABC radio podcast. Stephen Dando Collins - ABC Conversations with Richard Fidler Stephen Dando Collins has uncovered yet another extraordinary true story: of the Australian man wrongly convicted of identical crimes in Sydney and San Francisco. Little did the people of Orange NSW know when they twice elected Joseph Windred their mayor that this upstanding Windsor-born businessman, colonial hero and founder of their local... Read more →

Wayward Sailor: The real Tristan Jones is as interesting as the fiction

I read Tristan Jones’ book Incredible Voyage as a kid. It was a rollicking tale about a yacht voyage from the Dead Sea to Lake Titicaca. This adventure had everything from evading pirates in the Middle East, hauling a yacht into the Andes (chased by customs officers) and a voyage down the Amazon River. I also remember reading his later book Ice! (tales of sailing in the Artic) and, more vaguely, Saga of a Wayward Sailor . His writing was wonderful, his achievements remarkable but it’s been a long time since I last thought of Tristan Jones. I don’t remember... Read more →

Driver, not incorporated, and lousy treatment from Tangible Media

Recently the April issue of Autocar (NZ) appeared in my mailbox. I was initially perplexed as I don’t subscribe to it but then noticed a (printed) sticker with the words “incorporating Driver”. I have subscribed to Driver since issue one so that was the connection. A few weeks earlier I had already received the April issue of Driver and there was no mention of any planned changes. I’m not aware of the story behind this, sure there is one, but as a subscriber I’m not impressed with the way Tangible Media (Driver’s former publisher) have handled it. To be fair... Read more →

Phil Plait and the title that hinders airport book sales...

I don’t know how many times I’ve read the title, on his blog or wherever, and never even thought about the possible implications of reading it on the plane. Tempting as have 28 hours of flying coming... Read more →

Robin, the Rail Trail and NZ Today

For years I’ve subscribed to all three magazines published by Straight 8 Publishing: Driver Magazine - The latest and greatest from the new car world NZ Today - Travel, social comment and muc... Read more →

Farewell Arthur

I’ve posted regarding Arthur C. Clarke’s death on my CAD Blog. From childhood much of my interest in science, reading, writing and even religion was formed by reading his work. Working with Stanley Ku... Read more →

Was L.J.K. Setright a God?

From Amazon tonight. We recommend: The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins Recommended because you purchased or rated: Drive On!: A Social History of the Motor Car by L.J.K. Setright L.J... Read more →