Just been reading the February New Zealand Engineering News. An article in there mentions that the output of their CNC controllers range from 8.9 to 100 "Arms" and later they mention another product has an output of 20+20 "Arms". Now, I may not be fully conversant with all aspects of CNC control design but I am prepared to bet that they meant to say Amps.
My guess is that this company employed a non specialist to write their press release and stuck it straight into print without proof reading it. The press release has been internationally released and an internet search reveals that it has been copied word for word on several industry sites. It may not be a big thing but when companies are trying to project a professional image, mistakes like this can be fatal.
The lesson here is to employ a writer who can tell his "Arms" from his elbow.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Monday, October 27, 2008
Election 2008
If the National Party has had 9 years in opposition to select, groom and hone a dream team of politicians then how come we still have Maurice Williamson and Lockwood Smith as spokesmen?
You would think that there would be policy to burn with carefully costed master plans for everything but no, we have dribbles of policy made up on the spot to appeal to which ever sector may supply a few easy votes.
Where is the “This is what we stand for” statements? We get meaningless waffle such as “Less Bureaucrats”, “Tax Cuts for All” and “Stop People Going Overseas” or “Longer Prison Terms” with no background.
Where will bureaucrats be cut from? What cut backs will be made to give tax cuts? What is so bad about getting some OE? Do we enjoy our status as having the second highest prison population in the modern world?
The National Party seems to think they can sleep walk to an election victory and then make up policy as they see fit. They have got to do a lot more than that to convince me they will be suitable to govern the country.
You would think that there would be policy to burn with carefully costed master plans for everything but no, we have dribbles of policy made up on the spot to appeal to which ever sector may supply a few easy votes.
Where is the “This is what we stand for” statements? We get meaningless waffle such as “Less Bureaucrats”, “Tax Cuts for All” and “Stop People Going Overseas” or “Longer Prison Terms” with no background.
Where will bureaucrats be cut from? What cut backs will be made to give tax cuts? What is so bad about getting some OE? Do we enjoy our status as having the second highest prison population in the modern world?
The National Party seems to think they can sleep walk to an election victory and then make up policy as they see fit. They have got to do a lot more than that to convince me they will be suitable to govern the country.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Hardware Wars
Every now and then I need to pop down the road and get some simple hardware items like a few screws or a tap washer and since my local hardware store closed a year or so back, I end up at the hardware "Mega Store" (I won't mention any names but you know the ones.) As I park the car in the rugby field sized car park I start to get a sinking feeling that things are just not going to go my way.
I could park directly outside my old hardware store and be in and out in a jiffy, it now takes 5 minutes to walk to the yawning sliding doors and step inside. The sheer scale of these buildings is hard to comprehend, they stretch for miles in every direction, and the flags at the end of each aisle are a blur in the distance so I pick a direction and set off in search of my quarry.
The place seems unmanned apart from stray shoppers who wander round with glazed expressions (and not because they have been in the window section) I spot an assistant, you can tell them, as they are the ones with waistcoats. (Worn as a warning to all who may be considering a lowly paid job to stay at school and get an education.) Steeling myself I ask where could I find some 1/2 inch 8 gauge pan head pozi drive zinc plated screws? There are usually two answers, the first is to point confidently and say aisle 18 then scuttle off in the other direction, as the screws will be in any aisle other than 18. The second approach is usually used by the junior staff who say “huh??? I’ll have to ask someone.” and then scuttle off and never return.
Eventually after scanning every aisle I find myself confronted by a floor to ceiling wall of fastenings of almost every shape, size and pitch. I say almost, as the size you are after is never there. Eventually I find something that is close and will possibly do the job and then I’m given the further dilemma of whether to buy two packets of five screws for the six I require or buy a box of seven hundred that is only two dollars dearer.
I eventually reach the checkout with the box of seven hundred almost right screws and then the performance of buying them begins.
First the bar code does not scan so after a five minute wait a waistcoated drone appears and is sent to get the price off the shelf. It disappears in the wrong direction and reappears about half an hour later with a number written on it’s sweaty palm. The number is entered and the till reads 700 porcelain washbasins price $18,957.25. I point out the mistake and I get a withering look from the cashier as if to say “Can’t you just pay it and get out of my face?” and they begin a grim search of the computer database to try and find the item. Eventually they find something close in description and price to what is on the checkout and then comes the final straw. “Do you have a loyalty card?” I refrain from saying “Loyalty is the last thing you will EVER get from me.” and silently pay the money. Running out the door I breathe the fresh air outside and vow never to return. That is until I get home and find I forgot the tap washer……
I could park directly outside my old hardware store and be in and out in a jiffy, it now takes 5 minutes to walk to the yawning sliding doors and step inside. The sheer scale of these buildings is hard to comprehend, they stretch for miles in every direction, and the flags at the end of each aisle are a blur in the distance so I pick a direction and set off in search of my quarry.
The place seems unmanned apart from stray shoppers who wander round with glazed expressions (and not because they have been in the window section) I spot an assistant, you can tell them, as they are the ones with waistcoats. (Worn as a warning to all who may be considering a lowly paid job to stay at school and get an education.) Steeling myself I ask where could I find some 1/2 inch 8 gauge pan head pozi drive zinc plated screws? There are usually two answers, the first is to point confidently and say aisle 18 then scuttle off in the other direction, as the screws will be in any aisle other than 18. The second approach is usually used by the junior staff who say “huh??? I’ll have to ask someone.” and then scuttle off and never return.
Eventually after scanning every aisle I find myself confronted by a floor to ceiling wall of fastenings of almost every shape, size and pitch. I say almost, as the size you are after is never there. Eventually I find something that is close and will possibly do the job and then I’m given the further dilemma of whether to buy two packets of five screws for the six I require or buy a box of seven hundred that is only two dollars dearer.
I eventually reach the checkout with the box of seven hundred almost right screws and then the performance of buying them begins.
First the bar code does not scan so after a five minute wait a waistcoated drone appears and is sent to get the price off the shelf. It disappears in the wrong direction and reappears about half an hour later with a number written on it’s sweaty palm. The number is entered and the till reads 700 porcelain washbasins price $18,957.25. I point out the mistake and I get a withering look from the cashier as if to say “Can’t you just pay it and get out of my face?” and they begin a grim search of the computer database to try and find the item. Eventually they find something close in description and price to what is on the checkout and then comes the final straw. “Do you have a loyalty card?” I refrain from saying “Loyalty is the last thing you will EVER get from me.” and silently pay the money. Running out the door I breathe the fresh air outside and vow never to return. That is until I get home and find I forgot the tap washer……
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Grand Tour South XV
We extended our break and had three days relaxing at Hahei, it was good not having to drive anywhere and also not having to end our holiday so soon but we couldn’t put it off forever. The forecast was for rain but we set off with the roof down and had a good run over the ranges and across the Hauraki Plains, climbing up the Bombay hills we could see rain ahead so we took the Ramarama off ramp and put the roof up just as it started to pour. We stopped at the kennels and once again had to make room for the dog. It was a tight squeeze but with the roof up there was a fraction more space behind the seats. Back on the motorway it was a slow but steady trip back to the big smoke. Rear visibility was even less with a muzzle and big pink tongue in the rear view mirror. Leaving the motorway we threaded our way through the suburbs to home, unloaded the car and backed the car down the drive. The trip meter was reading 3,224 miles after 24 days away. It had been a tiring trip at times but we had seen a huge amount of the country, the car had mostly behaved well and proved comfortable with no sore backs or bums. It was a great place to view the country from. With the top down you had the full panorama of mountains and sky, and experienced the sounds and smells (some good, some bad) of the countryside. If you have any Alfa, especially a Spider you owe it and yourself the experience of the South Island roads. It was an unforgettable experience and made us keen to see more. Maybe not in the Spider next time and also we would probably take the time to explore a small section more thoroughly rather than race past to the next destination.Anyway there's a baby on the way so summer holidays will never be the same.
Grand Tour South XIV
After being on holiday for almost three weeks it was a shock to the system to be woken up at 6.20 in time to check in for the ferry back to Wellington. We were in plenty of time and were soon aboard the Santa Regina bagging the best seats and a fresh cup of coffee as we settled in for the trip across the Strait. It was miserable on deck, a cold wind and frequent showers drove everyone inside. Cook strait was calm and we docked on time just after 11am.
We drove off the boat into the rain. We were following a large truck in front of us that turned off down the wharf and left us trying to work out where we should be going. There was a long queue behind us so any mistake could be potentially embarrassing as I headed along what looked like the wrong way down a one way street with a fork hoist in front of us. Fortunately it was the right way as we shortly turned onto Aotea Quay and onto the motorway north. It was a nightmare on the motorway, rain, mist and cars sweeping past throwing up more spray. With no wing mirrors and a rain covered bit of plastic surrounded by two huge canvas blind spots it was hard to see any traffic approaching from behind. Ahead wasn’t much better, blurred tail lights disappeared into the gloom about 50 metres beyond. Brake lights flashed ahead so I touched the middle pedal and the car lurched sideways before straightening up as the wet discs dried out. A huge truck was monstering me from behind but I wasn’t game to go much above 80K in these conditions. We left the motorway as the rain eased and the mist pulled up into the hills making driving conditions easier. The heater, having paid good service keeping the windscreen mist free, became a problem again as the temperature rose. The clouds still looked threatening but at Sanson we stopped for lunch and lowered the roof. Things improved and it turned into a lovely but slightly cool afternoon as we fuelled up at Waiouru and took to the Desert Road. There was a heavy black cloud up ahead as we descended towards Rangipo but the shower passed ahead of us soaking the road but leaving us dry. We made good time to Taupo and late afternoon found us turning off Highway 27 just past Matamata heading towards Te Aroha, Paeroa and then taking the steep and twisting road over the Coramandel ranges. I was getting tired as we left Tairua for the last few kilometres when some big American 4WD with huge wheels and chrome teeth tried to monster me through the windy bits. I wasn’t in the mood for that and planted my foot, using the nimble handling and all 108 horsepower, we left him scrabbling and squeaking through the corners. A loud wooshing noise from the engine on the short straight bits saw him catch up some of the distance but he was dropping behind until a noise from the passenger seat made me back off. The 4WD raced up, sitting on my bumper, filling my mirror and snarling at us so at the first opportunity I let him on his way. With the twilight turning to dusk, we finally arrivied at Hahei around 8.45, turning into the drive and switching off the engine. Silence.
Grand Tour South XIII
After our 3 nights it was time to see how all our new purchases could fit in with all our other luggage. It was raining so with the roof up there was a fraction more space for everything, it remained to be seen if we could do the same with the roof down. It rained on and off all the way to Blenheim where we called in on friends Mike and Eveline. After admiring the collection of Alfas in Mike’s garage he fired up his 2600 Spider and he and son Tim lead us to the Omaka Avation Heritage Centre which houses a fascinating display of WW1 aircraft, memorabilia and information. Many of the planes are working replicas built to painstaking authenticity set in scenes depicting actual events, making the experience much more involving.
The rain on the hanger roof was a reminder that things had not improved much outside and so we left Omaka with the roof up and the familiar drip on the right foot. Lunch stop was at the Marlborough River Queen, a ferry done up like a paddle steamer but powered by two well-hidden outboards. The ferry wasn’t sailing but was offering large lunch platters of local meats and cheeses on board. We were the only ones to brave the rain so we watched the ducks paddle past and the trout scooting across the shallows from the comfort of the saloon. Our hosts joined us and told us of their hopes that the business would take off soon but things had not gone as smoothly as they had hoped since they had bought the business 9 months earlier. Wishing them all the best with their venture we headed off to Picton only to come across a car accident that had happened moments earlier. Fortunately no one was hurt but one car was blocking both north and south bound lanes with a bent suspension arm jamming the front wheel making it impossible to shift by the limited manpower present. A grader that we had overtaken shortly before arrived and hooked the car onto the back and dragged it to the shoulder allowing the traffic to pass. We eventually got to Picton and booked back in to our motel. We were looking forward to having a lazy afternoon exploring Picton and the surrounding area but the weather precluded that so we hit the streets for some window shopping - not that we could fit anything more in the car - and a last chance for a meal of blue cod (not Terakihi).
Grand Tour South XII
There was already plenty of heat in the day when we awoke and packed the tent. Destination for the morning was Puponga where we took the Coastal Panorama 4WD tour to Cape Farewell and views of Farewell Spit. It was sunny but the wind was a strong southerly at around 40 knots, whipping up a huge sandstorm on the sand spit below. It was an awe inspiring panorama, the deep blue white crested swells marching up the coast, the white sand spit stretching into the distance towards the hazy blue hills across Golden Bay, further round there was Puponga below us with the green farmland leading into the Kahurangi National Park and completing the 360 degree view, the white cliffs of Cape Farewell plunging to the Tasman Sea.
Back at the car park the wind had whipped up a storm and coated the car in a fine grey dust. We brushed the worst off the hood and folded it down for the trip to Nelson. We stopped at the Pupu Springs the crystal clear water was tempting for a paddle but that’s no longer allowed. Out of the bush and back at the car, the heat was intense, the shade of the trees on the Takaka Hill kept things cool but past Motueka, the sun beat down and the holiday traffic crawling along stopped us getting good airflow to keep the heat at bay. Panting, we eventually pulled up outside Shortbread Cottage and sought out the shelter of our room. Cooled and rested we walked into town for lovely dinner but the heat of the day had taken its toll so we retired early. Just dropping off to sleep we were woken by voices outside, and someone trying to break in. It transpired that our room had been double booked and the other party had been told that key would be in the door. The manager sorted things out and was most apologetic to us in the morning.
We had 3 days in Nelson so we explored the city and the nearby attractions. A trip to Mapua saw us trying to work out how much artwork we could manage to squeeze in for the trip home and the Hoglund glass blowing studio saw me trying to fit another small package in the cavity between the inner frame and the outer skin of the bodywork. The poor car was going to be packed even tighter for our trip home.
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