Friday, August 22, 2008

Olympics

I have spent the fortnight enjoying the Olympics, especially the cycling.
I was amazed at the amount of money spent on the latest Cycling technology.
250k on streamlined boots, 5k on waxing the legs and incredible amounts on the suits and cycles, just to shave that 1000th of a second off the clock.
Yet when I look at some of the cyclysts I am amazed at the size of the their ears!!! (Just look at the size of the guys ears in Blue next to Charlie Chaplain here)
Now you don't have to be a rocket scientist to realise the amount of drag this causes.
My solution a $2 reel of double sided tape affixed to the back of each ear.
You just watch the records fall!!






Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Lost car?


Back in 1997 in Gisborne I had an unusual incident which I am still slightly embarrased about.

I always cycled to work but this particular day I drove the car. The car was low on fuel so on the way I stopped at the local Mobil petrol station. The forecourt attendant served me, we had a chat then I proceeded to work it was around 7.50am.

The day went as any normal day until around 1pm when Sarah (my wife) phoned to see if I could pick her up from work around 4pm.
I thought I had my bike as the car was not outside the office.
Sarah was very insistant that I had the car yet I couldn't see it.
I was confused.
It suddenly dawned on me where it was. I was horrified, shocked, you name it every emotion went through me.
I thought of the invoice for lost revenue I would recieve from Mobil.
I arrived at the Mobil garage very red faced.
The car still as I had left it.
Every time I filled with Petrol I was reminded by the forecourt staff.
Just as well I moved South I guess.

Image: 'Lost Volvo'
www.flickr.com/photos/89672898@N00/50162555

Monday, August 18, 2008

Ghosts?

I have always been a sceptical about ghosts until I saw this video.

What do you think?



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e26gXsI_Ak

Friday, August 15, 2008

Dishwasher?

Our good friend, the Dishwasher?
Many people around the world will stop using their dishwashers when there is a water shortage. I would rather not use the cooker, using the BBQ instead.

Dishwasher facts.
It was invented by a lady named Josephine Garis Cochrane (1893) who was so fed up with her servants breaking her prized crockery!

Testing times?
In an experiment in Bonn Germany the diswasher was matched against 75 human dishwashers from nine countries. The results were conclusive.
Humans used 15 – 345 Litres of water, 2.4Kw of Electricity.
Dishwasher used 12 - 20 Litres (on Economy setting), 1 Kw of Electricity.
Only 15% of the items washed by humans matched the cleanliness of the Dishwasher.

Save Your Money
Tip to save power with dishwashers is to use the air drying setting if you have one, or to open the door and not use the drying element.
The drying element in Dishwashers uses the most electricity.

Ref: Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, 2006, Dissing the Dishwasher, Great Scence Mythconceptions & Other Curious facts, Pg127-129 HarperCollins Sydney.
Image: 'modern convenience' www.flickr.com/photos/53493629@N00/4026499

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Turtles butts


Did you Know that some Turtles breathe through their Butts?
According to WikiAnswers the Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops)
found in Queensland shares the ability with dragonfly nymphs,
sea cucumbers, and the odd other Australian!!!


Image: 'Bobble Head Turtles' www.flickr.com/photos/64251830@N00/362823582

The MOB


The MOB


I awoke in the early hours this morning realising that I was a member of the MOB.
Of course the MOB I am talking about is the
Miserable Old Buggers.
Just look at this guy, he must be a member too!!
Thanks for your comment Carolyn.



Image: 'Frank Sinatra Mugshot' www.flickr.com/photos/49503168697@N01/916884

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Things that annoy me!!



Things that annoy me !!

How people ask how you are and yet not prepared to hear , how you are?
What the heck is ‘Yous’?
People that overtake in a risky maneuvre only to turn off 200 metres further on!
People that finish every sentence with ‘eh?’ !
People that relieve you late from work when you’re on night shift then spend 10 minutes telling you how bad the traffic and road works were. Then do the same the next day!!
When you are queuing at a supermarket checkout and the person in front of you hasn’t enough cash on them for the groceries in their trolley, tries the ATM card, then the credit card finishing with the chequebook that needs management approval!!
It’s only worse when you’re the one with not enough cash at the head of the queue and it all happens to you!!!!
You fill the car with petrol and that evening the price drops!!
You stop to pick up your neighbour at the bus stop and take them to town as any good gesture. Then a month later your at the same bus stop and your neighbour drives by and toots their horn!!
Australian virtual rugby fans!!
Image: 'Sin título' www.flickr.com/photos/91485322@N00/1749725842

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Blog here I come!!


Blog is a word that I know very a little about but it has become very common in our household.
Sarah my wife started blogging over the last couple of years and everytime I switch on the PC there is a barrage of blogs. This has been quite useful in that a blogging colleague of Sarahs lives in Utah and resides near the Dayton Airbase (Wright Patterson). As an avid plane buff my ears tuned in, the very next day I received weblinks to the local Dayton news broadcasts kindly sent from Sarahs blogging colleague. So a big thanks to Bill Perry .


Image: 'F-22 Raptor' www.flickr.com/photos/34259482@N00/1297343791