RobiNZ Personal Blog

Help save NZ’s native praying mantis!

Not pretty like a Panda or iconic like a Kiwi, actually quite gruesome in their eating habits but Native Preying Mantis (with blue spotted arms below right) awesome little creatures well worth saving. How you can help save our native praying mantis - Photos - Graeme Hill - Weekend Hosts - RadioLIVE Good Mantis-Bad Mantis. You can help save our native Praying Mantis… Graeme’s photos show which Mantis and mantis egg cases to save, which invaders to destroy and an interview with entomologists about the invasion. Read more →

Odd Todd’s dog math cures Odd Dog?

It was great to find Odd Todd on Twitter last night. Had been a while since I visited his site and I did not realise he was tweeting. Little did I know it would also help cure Alfie’s recent annoying behaviour of barking, seemingly at nothing, from about 19:00 till bedtime. As I read Odd Todd’s recent tweets Alfie started barking, again. Then I saw this: When I ask my dog 'What's 1+1?' He looks at me like I can go f myself for mocking his dog brain... — Odd Todd (@OddTodd) April 13, 2012 What is bizarre, ok maybe... Read more →

Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies

A great reference to test your own, or others, conclusions: Thou shalt not commit logical fallacies - www.yourlogicalfallacyis.com A logical fallacy is usually what has happened when someone is wrong about something. It's a flaw in reasoning. They're like tricks or illusions of thought, and they're often very sneakily used by politicians and the media to fool people. Don't be fooled! This website and poster have been designed to help you identify and call out dodgy logic wherever it may raise its ugly, incoherent head. If you see someone committing a logical fallacy, link them to the relevant fallacy to... Read more →

Paleo, another way to spell fad, Diet?

This started as a comment on a blog post but got a bit long and involved. I’m not much of an expert on dieting as have only managed my own weight without formal dieting. I’m also far from perfect but perhaps lucky in finding lots of potentially fattening food unappealing. If I have a flaw it’s probably eating too little, or at odd times, and a bit much fried stuff. I like most veg, love fruit and rare meat. Maybe that’s why the Paleo thing is of interest. A theory shot down by also loving pasta, rice, bread and grains!... Read more →

Traffic Light Thought — Is a silent Alfa, really Alfa?

On today’s bike ride caught a Mito* at the lights. It looked great in gloss black, nice music audible from within, attractive blond at the wheel but something seemed strange, wrong. Couldn’t figure out what until the light turned green. There was a burst of starter motor and off it zoomed. This Mito with a engine stop/start was sitting silent at the lights. I know it’s good for fuel economy and the environment but I think Italian engines should always be heard! * Photo is another black Mito photographed at the dealers a couple of years ago when they first... Read more →

Wished I had a real camera today, missed a classic aircraft photo

While walking the dog I heard the distinctive sound of an old aircraft engine. Looked up to see a de Havilland Dragon (like the one below) heading west. As I watched, in the background, an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 broke through cloud — gleaming white in a beam of sunlight — on approach into Auckland. Unfortunately the iPhone camera didn’t get close to capturing it in any worthwhile detail. I wished I was carrying a real camera! Amazing to think only sixty five years development separates these two. de Havilland DH.84 Dragon image by Nigel Ish via Wikipedia Air... Read more →

Last ride to Whangarei, huh? ~ Northland Sojourn 2012 Day 10

Yet again weather, the wind, dictated a change in plan for the last day. The route map had us heading south from Mangawhai Heads towards Wellsford, down Highway 16, and our Auckland destination. From Wellsford the road follows the Kaipara Harbour coast and climbs to some exposed ridges. This is a secondary highway but there was concern the strong south easterly crosswind would be pushing cyclists into the traffic flow. That wasn’t the only reason everyone agreed a Whangarei finish — and drive straight back to Auckland — would be best but I’ll get to that later. So we headed... Read more →

Whangarei to Mangawhai Heads, in an odd way ~ Northland Sojourn 2012 Day 9

It was another day when weather changed the plans. Having a Whangarei local on the trip helped scope out a ride almost opposite to the route map which looped south towards Managawhai Heads. It would have been a bash into the still strong South Easterly wind. Instead we shuttled East out to Whangarei Heads and rode North up the coast and back into town. The surf at Ocean Beach was pretty impressive, for the East Coast, with the easterly providing a nice tailwind for the first part of the ride! The road inland passes two striking volcanic peaks then follows... Read more →

Russell to Russell, and “a moment” ~ Northland Sojourn 2012 Day 8

One of the things I like about Adventure South is the flexibility of their plans. Obviously some aspects like accommodation must be pre-booked and you get a detailed itinerary, along with daily ride sheets with profiles, but it might change. Today was one of those days as we were supposed to ride from Russell along the coast road to Whakapara. It was still blowing a, literal, gale from the East/South East (yellow arrows). After consultation we were driven to Whakapara down the inland main highway (blue arrow), with a short diversion to see the toilets in Kawakawa, and rode the... Read more →

Russell, a day of rest ~ Northland Sojourn 2012 Day 7

Monday was a rest day and after something like four hundred, at times challenging, kilometres in the previous few days it was welcome. It’s also intended for the overseas visitors to get out into Bay of Islands on the many boat (classic & modern), jet boat, helicopter and seaplane tours available. Although Paihia, Russell & Waitangi are nice you have to get on the water to really appreciate the area. We stayed at The Duke which is an old (again by NZ std’s) Hotel which has, to quote their website, “been Refreshing Rascals and Reprobates since 1827 and holds New... Read more →