RobiNZ Personal Blog

Stuff iPhone App, very much version 1.0

The Stuff iPhone app has serious deficiencies: - No indication of article publish/update date/time. - Does not remember text size setting. Default too large & I don't want to set every time I read an article - No way to disable the story image icons which are often unneeded & generic. Worse than the stuff mobile website Read more →

Traffic Light Thought – Fix the stupid “left gives way to right” turn rule

I was listening to TV3 news in the car waiting to make a right hand turn into a side street as this story aired. A continuous stream of approaching traffic meant those turning left didn’t have to give way but several hesitated as if going to do so. It was bizarre to see a live demonstration of the current give way rule failing as they read the story! This insane rule that requires a left turning car to judge what is happening in front (is someone turning right), behind (is the traffic behind turning or going through) and often around... Read more →

The Sunday Tsunami Cycle

My regular Sunday cycle was a little unusual this week. When your route includes Tamaki Drive, Auckland's Waterfront, Tsunami warnings on the news get your attention. Heading through Waterview first sign of anything unusual was a couple of Police cars stationed to close the on-ramp to the, barely above sea level anyway, North Western Motorway causeway. We headed towards town, through the Domain and down to the Gladstone Rd lookout (near the Parnell Rose Gardens). It was strange to see the port empty, all the ships had sailed and the ferries, and Navy (all 4 of them!) out in the... Read more →

Christa's Angels

I don’t usually re-post someone else’s work but this post from Earl is worth sharing: Off Topic for a moment... - EKlectiCAD Blog I'm not usually one for inspirational stories. You can be sure that you will never see an email from me with some heartlifting carp, the bottom line urging you to pass it on to all your friends. But I'll bend that rule today to do it here. Do you remember a few weeks back, just after the Haiti earthquake, hearing a news story about Christa Brelsford, an American girl who was there when the quake hit? She... Read more →

Paul Holmes : Gormless

I'm no fan of Telecom but there is one one entity that appears "gormless" as a result of this article and that is the author. If this is an "award-winning Herald on Sunday column" they must give them out in cereal packets. Paul Holmes : Gormless Telecom - Paul Holmes on New Zealand - NZ Herald News “This week, in the Poukawa valley, just south of Hastings, the internet crashed. We can forget how dependent we've become on the internet until it crashes…” Read more →

Not PC on leaky buildings

Peter Cresswell cuts through the bullshit that surrounds leaky homes in New Zealand: LEAKY HOMES, Part 1: The myth of deregulated building LEAKY HOMES, Part 2: What’s going on inside your walls? Read more →

Supermarkets rebrand, but why Countdown?

This is work related, I mean Progressive own 10% of TWL, but I’m just a consumer who wondered about today’s announcement (which I first read about weeks ago on this blog). It makes sense although some of the comments about retaining co-sited Woolworths, Foodtown as Countdowns post re-brand seems bizarre. I have no idea on the real reasons behind it but in my mind it went something like this: They are going to rebrand Wooloworths, Foodtown and Countdown Woolworths, Nationwide, actually Kiwi (Nathans etc) but perceived as Australian and expensive. Not a good mix. No! Foodtown, Not nationwide, perceived as... Read more →

Why should I care about the Kiwis in Hopetoun, Western Austrailia?

I'm watching Sunday about Kiwis who chased the "big" money in Western Australia, which has evaporated, and thinking why should I care? They made the decision, they chased the big money in the Nicke... Read more →

I don't need this, but it is funny...

Leaving your job isn't as simple as you'd think! OK to tell boss to stick his job - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz. Telling the boss to "stick his job up his arse" is not always the same as a resignation, the Employment Relations Authority says... Read more →

The Northern Gateway Toll Road, or 214km for Fush n Chups

I was watching TV3 Evening News and they showed the new Northern Gateway Toll Road, which opened yesterday with a traffic jam. It's going to be $2 each way and I thought " I'll never see it " for seve... Read more →