RobiNZ Personal Blog

Getting to Argentina | Antarctic Mission Log 01

I covered the ‘why’ of this trip to Argentina and Antarctica in an earlier (2018) blog post so this series covers the trip, and after, based on my notes and referencing a superb detailed voyage log written by our Expedition Crew. The ‘Antarctic Mission’ title is a reference to two films from the 1980s, their soundtracks part of my life since then, and a significant inspiration for this journey. I was scheduled to arrive in Ushuaia, to join Dr Karl’s Expedition Cruise, on November 23 2019. I began considering this trip mid-2018, booking late October 2018, so had plenty of... Read more →

Does the USA need another burger chain? BurgerFuel isn’t just another

It is interesting to see BurgerFuel are taking on the USA. The little Kiwi burger company (if now 10% owned by Subway) are taking burgers to the land of burgers, which may raise the question: Why? I was going to write about that when I remembered an unsolicited review of BurgerFuel, by an American, I saw back in April which explains it better than I ever could. George (Geo) Hrab, musician and podcaster extraordinaire, of the Geologic (nothing to do with rocks) Skeptic Podcast wrote this in an email to his Geologists (financial supporters of his podcast). I’m a long... Read more →

2016 Blogging Highlights

See 2016 Blogging Highlights on the CAD blog Read more →

Shipwreck Tales with John McCrystal

Thanks to Radio Live for posting this brilliant series on-line. Shipwreck Tales with John McCrystal airs after the 23:00 Sunday news on Radio Live and features a new shipwreck tale every week. Gripping, often harrowing, tales of survival (or not) from maritime history. A must listen Live or on-line here: Shipwreck Tales with John McCrystal - www.radiolive.co.nz 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 →

Congratulations to The Skeptic Zone Podcast, 200 Episodes!

Congratulations to Richard Saunders & co on achieving the two hundredth episode. The Skeptic Zone Podcast - The Podcast from Australia for Science and Reason. The Skeptic Zone #200 - 18.August.2012 I have enjoyed listening, mostly while walking the dog, since I discovered it back in 2010. My most memorable episode is The Skeptic Zone #110 - 28.Nov.2010 as I saw it being recorded at The Amaz!ng Meeting Australia. I don’t expect he remembers but I did briefly meet Richard there and pass on my thanks for the work he does for the Zone and Skeptic related events like TAM.... Read more →

'An Honest Liar’ - The Story of the Amazing James Randi

Sometime over the holiday break, one of those frequent rubbish days of a summer not to remember, I stumbled upon the documentary film ‘Being Elmo’ on a Sky channel. It was a fascinating look at Kevin Clash's life and career to as the man behind Elmo. Although released a few weeks back I just heard an interview with ‘Being Elmo’ Editor Writer Justin Weinstein about his next project: 'An Honest Liar’ - The Story of the Amazing James Randi: On James Randi’s An Honest Liar – Token Skeptic podcast Episode One Hundred And Eight A first for the Token Skeptic... Read more →

Me, the Fairlight CMI, Thomas Dolby and back to the Murrumbidgee River?

(Way) Back in the 80s I used to buy an Aussie technology magazine “Omni”, correction it was “Omega Science Digest”!. One issue had a card you could send off (with a few au$) to get the demo cassette for a remarkable new electronic instrument. Yes, that there was an analogue demo cassette for a digital instrument gives an idea of how long ago that was! It had a bunch of different tracks, samples etc. all created with the Fairlight Computer Musical Instrument but one (complete unlike the others) was the most memorable. I found Claude Larson’s Murrumbidgee River on YouTube... Read more →

Skepticality, Packing for Mars

I first saw Mary on Colbert, a great interview, and have added her book to my wishlist to get next time I go Amazon shopping. I’m a bit behind with my Skepticality listening (but have them all saved to catch up) but jumped the list to hear this one! Skepticality - The Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine (Promoting Science and Critical Thinking) This week on Skepticality, (episode 137), Swoopy talks with psychologist, journalist and bestselling author Mary Roach. Her new book Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void Right Click Here to Download and Save Read more →

Flying with "Betty in the Sky with a Suitcase!"

If you fly, professionally or as a passenger, you’ll love this podcast. I’ve listened to it for years but the real podcast worlds collided on a flight earlier this year. It was in the middle of my... Read more →