Things to do when you're bored
Make a slide show of Bill McCready removing eleven tightly packed tandems (+ 11 tandem teams and a dozen other amused ferry riders) off the less than sizable Whitianga Ferry. Keep watching, and you can see another six or seven more go on back across the Bay of Plenty. Keep watching even longer, and it repeats a few times until the song ends.
[In retrospect, I probably should have ended the song when I ran out of photos.]
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
So I'm not the only one calling them kiwi bucks.
``People are very worried about the global recession, about the meltdown we're seeing in emerging markets,'' said Danica Hampton, a currency strategist at Bank of New Zealand Ltd. in Wellington. ``People are bailing out of growth-sensitive currencies like the kiwi in favor of safe-haven currencies,'' she said, using the New Zealand's dollar's nickname.
Okay, maybe I'm the only one calling them kiwi bucks, but if you just call the New Zealand dollar "kiwi", someone might get confused.
``People are very worried about the global recession, about the meltdown we're seeing in emerging markets,'' said Danica Hampton, a currency strategist at Bank of New Zealand Ltd. in Wellington. ``People are bailing out of growth-sensitive currencies like the kiwi in favor of safe-haven currencies,'' she said, using the New Zealand's dollar's nickname.
Okay, maybe I'm the only one calling them kiwi bucks, but if you just call the New Zealand dollar "kiwi", someone might get confused.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Sunday, March 08, 2009
775 New Zealand photos shot with the new Pentax. They can be viewed by clicking here. The pictures are pretty much in chronological order (NZ is the oldest, then NZ2 then NZ3). Nico shot a few more with the other camera which she might be posting somewhere.
Many of them did not come out well, and it is unlikely that I'll have much time to edit them in the near future. If you see a picture you like, and you are interested in a high resolution version (I have jpegs in the 10 MB range and RAW in the 12 to 14 MB range), shoot me an email with the image number (or post your request in the comments field). If you have already given me an email address, and I said I would send something to you, I am certain that I will do that eventually; but it might be faster if you requested again as above.
PS: I think I took 200 pictures of Picton. Can you blame me?
Many of them did not come out well, and it is unlikely that I'll have much time to edit them in the near future. If you see a picture you like, and you are interested in a high resolution version (I have jpegs in the 10 MB range and RAW in the 12 to 14 MB range), shoot me an email with the image number (or post your request in the comments field). If you have already given me an email address, and I said I would send something to you, I am certain that I will do that eventually; but it might be faster if you requested again as above.
PS: I think I took 200 pictures of Picton. Can you blame me?
You'll dig it the most.
But you know what the funniest thing about New Zealand is? It's the little differences.
Examples?
In New Zealand, everything has a light switch. (If you're in a hotel, the light switch is probably labeled...to let you know what it does.) But here's the kicker: to turn something off, you push the switch down.
In New Zealand, environmentalists, such as this man, boast about having killed over 50,000 possums.
But you know what the funniest thing about New Zealand is? It's the little differences.
Examples?
In New Zealand, everything has a light switch. (If you're in a hotel, the light switch is probably labeled...to let you know what it does.) But here's the kicker: to turn something off, you push the switch down.
In New Zealand, environmentalists, such as this man, boast about having killed over 50,000 possums.
Monday, February 16, 2009
The view from here
January did not end at the end of January, leaving us with very little time to train for New Zealand. So we decided to cram all of our (pre-New Zealand) riding into one day on Saturday's Tour de Palm Springs.
After the first 12 miles (up hill and into the wind), I was getting pretty worried. Fortunately, as usual, I was able to find a tandem or two (and even a triplet) to draft behind. After the first rest stop, we met up with our Santana friends Mark and Maureen. Mark assured me that the next 50 miles would be down hill, and that the Tour de Palm Springs is the easiest century ever. You would not think it would be necessary to point out that Maureen told me last year they were going to ride one century a month for the entire year...but it is indeed necessary; there is no such thing as an easy century. As a matter of fact, this century was 102 miles long (my flight deck measured it at 104).
Things overheard during the tour (some may have been spoken by me):
"This stopped being fun at about mile 45."
"I've been surviving the last 10 miles on packets of mayonnaise." (I certainly did not say that one.)
"I like peanut M&M's."
Here's a couple of pictures Nico shot from the bike: Mark and Maureen, then a very flexy triplet...I did not really believe in frame flex until I rode behind them. Off in the distance of the triplet, you might be able to make out some windmills. The photo does not capture how fast they were all spinning.
Our times were not impressive; somewhere around 8 hours total and 6 & 1/2 hours pedaling. But we finished, it didn't rain, and we can go to New Zealand next week knowing that we are in 100 mile shape.
In other news, the takealotofdrugs photo equipment has just been upgraded. You'll still probably see some pictures from the point and shoot Sony, as I'm afraid to let Nico take pictures with my new Pentax K20D from the bike. We have not yet decided if the new camera will be joining us on the bike (it weighs over 2 pounds, and would not take kindly to a fall).
I stepped outside this evening to test it out. People are always asking if we can see the ocean from our house. I usually respond: "From the street out in front." Here's a picture of said view, shot with a 50 mm lens (which I'm told is equal to a 75 mm lens on a film camera, which if my memory from high school photography class is correct is about equal to what you would see if you were standing on my street [and looking through a viewfinder without magnification]).
And here's a shot of the harbor from the park across the street. (The size of this picture is 33% of the original.)
January did not end at the end of January, leaving us with very little time to train for New Zealand. So we decided to cram all of our (pre-New Zealand) riding into one day on Saturday's Tour de Palm Springs.
After the first 12 miles (up hill and into the wind), I was getting pretty worried. Fortunately, as usual, I was able to find a tandem or two (and even a triplet) to draft behind. After the first rest stop, we met up with our Santana friends Mark and Maureen. Mark assured me that the next 50 miles would be down hill, and that the Tour de Palm Springs is the easiest century ever. You would not think it would be necessary to point out that Maureen told me last year they were going to ride one century a month for the entire year...but it is indeed necessary; there is no such thing as an easy century. As a matter of fact, this century was 102 miles long (my flight deck measured it at 104).
Things overheard during the tour (some may have been spoken by me):
"This stopped being fun at about mile 45."
"I've been surviving the last 10 miles on packets of mayonnaise." (I certainly did not say that one.)
"I like peanut M&M's."
Here's a couple of pictures Nico shot from the bike: Mark and Maureen, then a very flexy triplet...I did not really believe in frame flex until I rode behind them. Off in the distance of the triplet, you might be able to make out some windmills. The photo does not capture how fast they were all spinning.
Our times were not impressive; somewhere around 8 hours total and 6 & 1/2 hours pedaling. But we finished, it didn't rain, and we can go to New Zealand next week knowing that we are in 100 mile shape.
In other news, the takealotofdrugs photo equipment has just been upgraded. You'll still probably see some pictures from the point and shoot Sony, as I'm afraid to let Nico take pictures with my new Pentax K20D from the bike. We have not yet decided if the new camera will be joining us on the bike (it weighs over 2 pounds, and would not take kindly to a fall).
I stepped outside this evening to test it out. People are always asking if we can see the ocean from our house. I usually respond: "From the street out in front." Here's a picture of said view, shot with a 50 mm lens (which I'm told is equal to a 75 mm lens on a film camera, which if my memory from high school photography class is correct is about equal to what you would see if you were standing on my street [and looking through a viewfinder without magnification]).
And here's a shot of the harbor from the park across the street. (The size of this picture is 33% of the original.)
Thursday, February 05, 2009
It does exist!!!
Well I didn't actually see it moving, so it remains possible that the people at Aptera have just built an impressive looking plastic shell so that I won't ask for my deposit back.
Of note:
1) All dimensions are much smaller than I had been picturing.
2) Aptera does not have a Lexus sized budget for models.
3) I had to bring my own model, but I could not convince her to take off the purple trench coat.
4) Too bad they are no longer making Prowlers. (In case you didn't notice, I'm making fun of the aforementioned purple trench coat.)
Well I didn't actually see it moving, so it remains possible that the people at Aptera have just built an impressive looking plastic shell so that I won't ask for my deposit back.
Of note:
1) All dimensions are much smaller than I had been picturing.
2) Aptera does not have a Lexus sized budget for models.
3) I had to bring my own model, but I could not convince her to take off the purple trench coat.
4) Too bad they are no longer making Prowlers. (In case you didn't notice, I'm making fun of the aforementioned purple trench coat.)
The End of Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll
Alternative Title #1: The End of Happy Hour
Alternative Title #2: Wednesday is Now Prince Spaghetti Day
Alternative Title #3: Hey, My Friend Wants to Know Where the 12 Year Olds Hang Out
dubious integrity I may have associated with midweek over the last several years: Nicole has quit the Rainbow business. What's Rainbow, you ask? If I had to describe it in one word, I guess I'd say: "Service". If you gave me more than one word, I'd probably say something like this.
PS: Writing extra titles is fun. I had a few more, but they were even more likely to get me into trouble.
Alternative Title #1: The End of Happy Hour
Alternative Title #2: Wednesday is Now Prince Spaghetti Day
Alternative Title #3: Hey, My Friend Wants to Know Where the 12 Year Olds Hang Out
dubious integrity I may have associated with midweek over the last several years: Nicole has quit the Rainbow business. What's Rainbow, you ask? If I had to describe it in one word, I guess I'd say: "Service". If you gave me more than one word, I'd probably say something like this.
PS: Writing extra titles is fun. I had a few more, but they were even more likely to get me into trouble.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
I should have taken some "before" photos...
Most of you have probably seen the before anyway. It was not very impressive. The "after" probably won't be very impressive, either. The "during" however, is quite a sight.
(Disclaimer: This is actually the neighbor's place, but it looks about the same as ours.
Most of you have probably seen the before anyway. It was not very impressive. The "after" probably won't be very impressive, either. The "during" however, is quite a sight.
(Disclaimer: This is actually the neighbor's place, but it looks about the same as ours.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Now that I'm management...
Every time I start a new sailing class, I am always surprised at how difficult it seems to be for my students to stay near my flags. Take a look at picture #3 below to see how easy it is to spot one of these flags. They are bright orange; they say UCI on them; and compared to the height of the boats, they are pretty damn big. A lot of thought goes into placing these flags in the water, and if they stay near them the class goes really well. (Sailing 90 degrees off the wind is easy; anyone can do it immediately after getting in a boat for the first time. All other directions are more difficult [or impossible].)
Last week, I made everyone practice going around the flags on the dock. Not sure why neither flag is visible in this picture, but they performed this task flawlessly.
And the "dry" practice seemed to help with the actual sailing.
Every time I start a new sailing class, I am always surprised at how difficult it seems to be for my students to stay near my flags. Take a look at picture #3 below to see how easy it is to spot one of these flags. They are bright orange; they say UCI on them; and compared to the height of the boats, they are pretty damn big. A lot of thought goes into placing these flags in the water, and if they stay near them the class goes really well. (Sailing 90 degrees off the wind is easy; anyone can do it immediately after getting in a boat for the first time. All other directions are more difficult [or impossible].)
Last week, I made everyone practice going around the flags on the dock. Not sure why neither flag is visible in this picture, but they performed this task flawlessly.
And the "dry" practice seemed to help with the actual sailing.
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