Another Website About Stuff 2016-01-03T13:14:01+13:00 Raj http://www.phigmov.co.nz/ rpatel@phigmov.co.nz tag:r-log,2016:r-log PivotX Copyright (c) 2016, Authors of R-Log 2013-04-01T14:00:00+13:00 2012-04-27T17:04:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2012:r-log.810

I mentioned Tiny Houses way back in 2006 - theres now a doco - posted in its entirety on Youtube. Its definitely worth a watch and theres some inspirational ideas for efficient use of space in here too - check it out.

Tiny Houses way back in 2006 - theres now a doco - posted in its entirety on Youtube. Its definitely worth a watch and theres some inspirational ideas for efficient use of space in here too - check it out. ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:38:00+13:00 2008-12-18T12:13:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2008:r-log.713

I almost created a 'nostalgia' category to post this under . . . Anywho, 'The Fitz' is closing. Probably the most popular student bar in Palmerston North (possibly NZ). Rumour has it that a previous owner (a hotel chain) was going to close it down but they looked at the financials and realised it was the only thing keeping their chain afloat. As a pub it was a dive - if you haven't experianced an old urban Kiwi Tavern (rural ones actually have a bit of character) they tend to be designed in the 56/60/70's to maximise profit and minimise pretty much everything else. A big hall with a long bar and uncomfortable seating on stools and tall tables with cheap tin ashtrays embedded in them (they tend to fill with beer by nights end). The carpet is industrial and usually beer soaked (ie sticky) and the bogs are tiled and industrial to allow for easy hose-down. if you were lucky it'll include some pool tables and dart boards. When I was there you could get a jug of beer (about 2.5 pints) for $5 - most nights it was standing room only so there was plenty of spillage as people tried to pour beer into their 7-ounce glasses in a heaving crowd. You'd invariably stumble home (via the 24 hour hot-bread shop or pie-dispensing 24 hour petrol station) covered in beer and reeking of cigarette smoke. Most Taverns had a 'sport bar' annex which was marginally classier (it had pokey machines and comfy seats) and had the older die-hard alcoholics in it. Still, for all its faults, you could bowl on up the The Fitz (short for Fitzherbert - the street it was on) at almost any time of the day and be sure of meeting someone you knew from uni there procrastinating the day away. So RIP The Fitz.

Anywho, 'The Fitz' is closing.

Probably the most popular student bar in Palmerston North (possibly NZ).

Rumour has it that a previous owner (a hotel chain) was going to close it down but they looked at the financials and realised it was the only thing keeping their chain afloat.

As a pub it was a dive - if you haven't experianced an old urban Kiwi Tavern (rural ones actually have a bit of character) they tend to be designed in the 56/60/70's to maximise profit and minimise pretty much everything else. A big hall with a long bar and uncomfortable seating on stools and tall tables with cheap tin ashtrays embedded in them (they tend to fill with beer by nights end). The carpet is industrial and usually beer soaked (ie sticky) and the bogs are tiled and industrial to allow for easy hose-down. if you were lucky it'll include some pool tables and dart boards. When I was there you could get a jug of beer (about 2.5 pints) for $5 - most nights it was standing room only so there was plenty of spillage as people tried to pour beer into their 7-ounce glasses in a heaving crowd. You'd invariably stumble home (via the 24 hour hot-bread shop or pie-dispensing 24 hour petrol station) covered in beer and reeking of cigarette smoke.

Most Taverns had a 'sport bar' annex which was marginally classier (it had pokey machines and comfy seats) and had the older die-hard alcoholics in it.

Still, for all its faults, you could bowl on up the The Fitz (short for Fitzherbert - the street it was on) at almost any time of the day and be sure of meeting someone you knew from uni there procrastinating the day away.

So RIP The Fitz. ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:38:00+13:00 2008-12-06T16:36:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2008:r-log.705

Just caught the two new trailers for their upcoming HBO season - Driving and shooting and Flying without pants. Hopefully it lives up to expectations!

Driving and shooting and Flying without pants.

Hopefully it lives up to expectations! ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:38:00+13:00 2008-11-11T21:03:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2008:r-log.700

These guys are doing some really awesome stuff - Macro to Micro Etching as it relates to the Rosetta Disk. Think about Very Long Term Backup. This kind if thing is amazing - how long will anything you do now last ? As it stands the high-tech information we're all collecting and storing by the terabyte is likely to last no longer than 5 to 10 years. Sure you can throw it into the 'cloud' but who really trusts this medium and as file formats become obsolete, opening the files will become problematic. Remember that plain text is your friend and if you have anything *really* important commit it to paper - it'll outlive your disks and PC.

Macro to Micro Etching as it relates to the Rosetta Disk.

Think about Very Long Term Backup.

This kind if thing is amazing - how long will anything you do now last ? As it stands the high-tech information we're all collecting and storing by the terabyte is likely to last no longer than 5 to 10 years. Sure you can throw it into the 'cloud' but who really trusts this medium and as file formats become obsolete, opening the files will become problematic.

Remember that plain text is your friend and if you have anything *really* important commit it to paper - it'll outlive your disks and PC. ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:38:00+13:00 2008-11-01T08:33:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2008:r-log.699

Its that time of year again - gro' a mo' and raise some money for Prostate Cancer awareness, research and treatment. So get your mates together and join in the Movember fun. Update - you can sponser me via this link or my team the TECMO's (don't ask) by going here, clicking on 'Donate to a Team', enter our team name 'tecmos' and the 'Donate' button.

So get your mates together and join in the Movember fun.

Update - you can sponser me via this link or my team the TECMO's (don't ask) by going here, clicking on 'Donate to a Team', enter our team name 'tecmos' and the 'Donate' button. ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:37:00+13:00 2008-04-21T14:56:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2008:r-log.660

For those frustrating days - Every single Sopranos death. Probably best not to view before eating.

Every single Sopranos death.

Probably best not to view before eating. ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:37:00+13:00 2008-02-21T20:04:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2008:r-log.647

Best use of a limited amount of space I've ever seen - coolest staircase ever. Problem solved

coolest staircase ever.

Problem solved ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:37:00+13:00 2007-11-14T12:49:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.624

According to this wonderful New Scientist article humanity is going to feel the mineral resource crunch in a serious way in the next 5 to 10 years. Check it out - we run out of Platinum in 15 years and Indium (used for those swanky LCD's everyone is buying to replace their CRT's and TV's) in 5 - 10 years. Let the hoarding begin . . .

wonderful New Scientist article humanity is going to feel the mineral resource crunch in a serious way in the next 5 to 10 years.

Check it out - we run out of Platinum in 15 years and Indium (used for those swanky LCD's everyone is buying to replace their CRT's and TV's) in 5 - 10 years.

Let the hoarding begin . . . ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:37:00+13:00 2007-11-02T14:38:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.620

We've finally moved into our new house (new is relative - the house was built in the 1920's). A new header with our view will follow shortly. A few moving related recommendations - A1 Movers - at about $95Z/hr (+ a $10 difficulty allowance) these guys are brilliant. Being a mover of any kind (delivery, furniture, piano etc) in Wellington is a difficult job - anyone thats seen the place will know that those tight contours make moving anything bigger than a small crate pretty painful. These two guys got two double beds, a sofa bed, tv, fridge and 15 large boxes shifted in two hours flat! Colin Web Plumber & Gasfitter - turns out that leaving your gass switched off for awhile results in dust and moisture sealing up your pilot light nozzles. So if you need hot water after you get your gas reconnected it pays to get a gas-fitter in to make sure your cylinder and heaters work the way they're meant to. Colin was available within hours of discovering a problem after the gas was hooked up - calling three other gas-fitters that were only available the following week which didn't help us as we were moving in the following day. He was able to assess and fix the problem within 40 minutes.

A few moving related recommendations -

A1 Movers - at about $95Z/hr (+ a $10 difficulty allowance) these guys are brilliant. Being a mover of any kind (delivery, furniture, piano etc) in Wellington is a difficult job - anyone thats seen the place will know that those tight contours make moving anything bigger than a small crate pretty painful. These two guys got two double beds, a sofa bed, tv, fridge and 15 large boxes shifted in two hours flat!

Colin Web Plumber & Gasfitter - turns out that leaving your gass switched off for awhile results in dust and moisture sealing up your pilot light nozzles. So if you need hot water after you get your gas reconnected it pays to get a gas-fitter in to make sure your cylinder and heaters work the way they're meant to. Colin was available within hours of discovering a problem after the gas was hooked up - calling three other gas-fitters that were only available the following week which didn't help us as we were moving in the following day. He was able to assess and fix the problem within 40 minutes. ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:37:00+13:00 2007-10-08T11:24:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.609

Q - ‘whats the difference between a tea-bag and the All Blacks?’ A – ‘the tea-bag stays in the cup longer’ 'Les Bleus' for the Rugby World Cup ! At least the Aussies got beaten too.

A – ‘the tea-bag stays in the cup longer’

'Les Bleus' for the Rugby World Cup !

At least the Aussies got beaten too. ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2007-07-27T07:01:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.335

Visio is one of my all time favourite Microsoft (they actually bought the app back in 2000 from Visio Corp) applications - now you can play at being a CSI and draw crime-scenes using specialised specialised templates. So next time you're drawing up your network diagram be sure to drop in a blood spot or a few footprints

bought the app back in 2000 from Visio Corp) applications - now you can play at being a CSI and draw crime-scenes using specialised specialised templates.

So next time you're drawing up your network diagram be sure to drop in a blood spot or a few footprints ]]> raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2007-06-18T17:27:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.332

As per Dave Bishops post - "He's baaaaaack!" Utopia was a great episode. Looking forward to the final two in the series . . .

Dave Bishops post - "He's baaaaaack!"

Utopia was a great episode. Looking forward to the final two in the series . . . ]]> raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2007-03-01T11:29:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.337

Fascinating - Running the numbers. Statistical imagery representing facets of the USA - see how many handguns are out there, how many painkillers are used, how many brown paper bags are used, see a painting made up of cans etc etc If you fancy yourself as an artiste take a look at The Structure of Man - a blog with video to help you learn to sketch the human form.

Running the numbers. Statistical imagery representing facets of the USA - see how many handguns are out there, how many painkillers are used, how many brown paper bags are used, see a painting made up of cans etc etc

If you fancy yourself as an artiste take a look at The Structure of Man - a blog with video to help you learn to sketch the human form. ]]> raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2007-02-28T07:06:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.331

if you're a fan of maps and geography check out the Strange Maps blog. Theres a wonderful explanation of how the left/right hand drive systems evolved in different parts of the world.

Strange Maps blog. Theres a wonderful explanation of how the left/right hand drive systems evolved in different parts of the world. ]]> raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2007-01-14T15:51:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.329

Useful services you can trust from friends & colleagues - almost all of them are based in the UK but theres a few NZ ones in the list: * IT Consultation & Help in Cambridge, UK - Cambridge Helpdesk * Scientific & Technical, Design Documentation & Help Authoring in Cambridge, UK - ScriboScience * MacVector - Mac DNA/Protein Sequencing - recently spun-off from Accelrys * Internet Security & Consulting - Liverton - Web/Mail Marshal & SEEMail specialists among other things * Web Design, Development & Hosting - Face * Handyman Services - MrLex These are all firms either started by people I know or who have a key part to play in the services they offer. So be sure to support small business

* IT Consultation & Help in Cambridge, UK - Cambridge Helpdesk

* Scientific & Technical, Design Documentation & Help Authoring in Cambridge, UK - ScriboScience

* MacVector - Mac DNA/Protein Sequencing - recently spun-off from Accelrys

* Internet Security & Consulting - Liverton - Web/Mail Marshal & SEEMail specialists among other things

* Web Design, Development & Hosting - Face

* Handyman Services - MrLex

These are all firms either started by people I know or who have a key part to play in the services they offer.

So be sure to support small business ]]> raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2007-01-03T13:41:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2007:r-log.327

Some interesting Kiwi artists - * Michael McCormack - you get a wonderful feel for a variety of Wellington locations from this Island Bay artist. * Michael Riley - definitely a nice slice of Kiwiana in his photorealistic Weatherboard paintings. You gain a whole new appreciation for weatherboards once you have to strip and repaint them. Theres some cool stuff available via Affordable Art too.

* Michael McCormack - you get a wonderful feel for a variety of Wellington locations from this Island Bay artist.

* Michael Riley - definitely a nice slice of Kiwiana in his photorealistic Weatherboard paintings. You gain a whole new appreciation for weatherboards once you have to strip and repaint them.

Theres some cool stuff available via Affordable Art too. ]]> raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2006-12-22T10:22:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2006:r-log.336

A couple of really interesting data visualisation blogs - * Infosthetics - look for the Information Cocktail which mixes a drink based on events (in this case a Netherlands/Germany soccer match). * Datamining - interesting charts based on publicly available data - check the GIS section for some 3d mapping comparisons between Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth, Yahoo Maps etc

* Infosthetics - look for the Information Cocktail which mixes a drink based on events (in this case a Netherlands/Germany soccer match).

* Datamining - interesting charts based on publicly available data - check the GIS section for some 3d mapping comparisons between Google Earth, Microsoft Virtual Earth, Yahoo Maps etc ]]> raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2006-11-29T08:51:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2006:r-log.320

Charles Stross points out a very scary (and not previously mentioned) tidbit concerning the recent death of ex Russian agent Litvinenko - If something as difficult to acquire and produce as Polonium is being used to bump someone off in central London (a city where Big Brother is definitely watching) then what's to say something infinitely nastier isn't floating around ready to use on the city - A dirty question ?

If something as difficult to acquire and produce as Polonium is being used to bump someone off in central London (a city where Big Brother is definitely watching) then what's to say something infinitely nastier isn't floating around ready to use on the city - A dirty question ? ]]> raj 2010-03-04T17:09:00+13:00 2006-10-27T11:52:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2006:r-log.330

Try the Political Compass. I come down kind of in the middle of Left/Libertarian. On the same side as Nelson Mandela & The Dalai Lama. Nice to see I'm in good company

Political Compass.

I come down kind of in the middle of Left/Libertarian. On the same side as Nelson Mandela & The Dalai Lama.

Nice to see I'm in good company ]]> Raj 2009-05-24T19:36:00+13:00 2006-10-04T10:59:00+13:00 tag:r-log,2006:r-log.333

I'm sure I've pointed to these guys before but it took me two days of googling before I found them again (even on my own site) - shows the importance of metadata and keywords. So if you're after a tiny (small) cabin (cottage, house, home) then the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company have plans for some wonderful ones.

Tumbleweed Tiny House Company have plans for some wonderful ones. ]]> raj