TEXT & PIX

2010-10-09T21:21:00.002+10:00

A letter to the program 'Saturday Extra' on ABC Radio National on 02/10/2010 following a discussion on Student Union fees.

02 Oct 2010 8:13:50am

In the late 1990s and 2000s I studied part time externally from UNE. I paid just under $2000 in compulsory SU fees. In return for this I had around half a dozen evenings in the SU operated bar of which 3 were 'welcomes to residential schools' with free orange juice and wine, by the SU.

The longer Australia is free from the plague of COMPULSORY SU fees the better!!

Note that at UNE the SU was bankrupted during the compulsory fee era. Apparently something to do with owning cinemas and pubs.

2010-09-25T16:46:00.000+10:00

Ha Ha Ha!

Railway Level Crossings Railroad Grade Crossings

2009-12-05T10:34:00.003+10:00

STOP signs and RED lights at railway crossings mean STOP!
Video

Aperture f Number

2009-11-05T23:08:00.000+10:00

The aperture measurement, the f number, is derived from a ratio. This ratio is the diameter of the hole which lets the light through divided by the focal length of the lens. For example the old lens I use as a magnifying glass has a 25mm diameter and 50mm focal length. Divide the 25 by 50 to get 1/2 (ie half). The f number is the lower part of the fraction, the denominator, f2. This is the maximum aperture of the lens. Each increase in f number represents half the amount of light entering the camera. So changing from f8 to f11 has the same reduction in light into the camera as changing from 1/250th to 1/500th of a second exposure. This also means that 1/500th at f8 lets in the same amount of light as 1/250th at f11 or 1/60th at f22. f22 is a typical minimum aperture. When the aperture gets smaller (bigger number) the effect of the glass lens is reduced and the lens starts to behave as a pinhole camera. A manual lens should have marks either side of the 'focus' mark with f numbers These indicate the manufacturer's suggested range of acceptable focus for the f number. This means the f4 marks will be closer to the 'focus' mark than the f16 marks. This is called 'depth of field'.

When a lens has a longer focal length the diameter of the lens has to be increased to have the same f number. For example a 200mm focal length (telephoto) lens needs a 100mm diameter to have a f2 maximum aperture.

Recruitment Agencies

2009-11-05T19:48:00.001+10:00

Recruitment Agencies are CRIMINALS. They continually commit the crime of AGE DISCRIMINATION! Date of birth is their most important selection criteria all telecoms and IT positions. They have destroyed my careers in these fields.

2009-04-08T17:50:00.003+10:00

The Australian Government has proposed contructing a national broadband network with fibre to most homes and businesses. Taxpayer money will be a significant part of the funding. Many particularly the Federal Opposition are against it due to the cost to taxpayers.

Taxpayers funded the development of Australia's telephone system via the Postmaster Generals Dept. Taxpayers funded the development of most of Australia's railways via State and Commonwealth Governments. The market could not build these.

I'm glad to see a political Leader who can see past the current electoral cycle to Australia's longterm interest. He must have learned something while living in China.

2008-12-08T14:41:00.002+10:00

2008-08-06T22:14:00.002+10:00

Our most recent bag of rice.

2007-11-19T09:46:00.000+10:00

Repairing Holden Isuzu Shuttle Ignition

The Denso brand ignitor was unobtainable in late 2007. A Champion brand ignition module can be substituted. For details see here.

2007-10-31T15:51:00.000+10:00

FREE SOFTWARE - Its done nothing wrong.

2007-09-06T13:44:00.000+10:00

Memories of Sputnik

Nineteen fifty seven was the year I started school and the year space travel commenced. October this year is the 50th anniversary of the three week long flight of Sputnik I.

At that time my Dad was working as a scientist in Australia's CSIRO Radio Research Board (RRB) under Dr David F Martyn based in the Sydney area. This research group was investigating the structure and behaviour of the upper atmosphere. The experimental side of this work involved transmitting radio signals up and observing to the reflected signals returned. This meant that there was a selection of antennas, receivers and expertise available to receive signals from the first spacecraft.

One Saturday afternoon Dad drove us to a building in the grounds of the University of Sydney. I remember being in a room dimly lit by outside light through high blinded windows. There were large grey equipment racks, some with dark knobs, glowing dials and lamps on front panels. I remember one with a round green CRT display. There was the dull red glow of valve heaters visible where there were no front panels. On a work table there was an incomplete looking metalwork thing and some cylindrical objects with wire pigtails. I had seen a similar sight in a WWII bunker used by RRB near Camden Airport, back before I started school. The room had a wonderful mysterious feel.

Knobs were adjusted then we waited, Dad attempting but failing to explain Sputnik. Then it started, bleeep bleeep bleeep bleep. The explanations then became simpler. The sound was coming by radio from 90 miles above from the first manmade orbiting satellite. My first thought was this was like many other bleeps I had heard while near equipment racks. But I then realised the usually unemotional Dad was keen to share both the facts and his excitement, about this scientific and technical advance. Soon the bleeps ceased. We left the magical room and went back to normality and home.

My recollection is that Sputnik I was not visible to the unassisted eye due to its small size but that the final rocket stage was. However, Dad said these didn’t pass over Sydney at dusk or dawn and so he couldn’t show it to me. I think the rocket stage was visible further south. In the next month, on November 3rd, Sputnik II was launched. This was visible in the evening sky from my home; we saw its star-like appearance hurrying across the sky with its dog and, I assumed, its bleeper.

Delegates to an unknown conference at University of Sydney in 1949. I'd love to know Copyright and other details.

Nearest to camera is Sir John Madsen, second row behind also on the RHS in the light coloured suit is Dr David Martyn and behind him to the left is John Harvey (aka Dad).

2007-08-21T21:06:00.000+10:00

Glenreagh Mountain Railway

This day, 17/06/07, was a trial day for a new rail service vehicle.
More photos at GMR and at Glenreagh station.

2007-08-18T21:05:00.000+10:00

Miscellaneous Railway

Catch the train.

Parked in a Parkes park.

2007-08-18T20:57:00.000+10:00

Jersey Journeys with John

A micropart of a major telecoms project.

Adventure commences.
Green scenes, blue views.
Look here.

The Haven, Terrigal.

Go west young man, that way.
Red roads, watered courses.

Another Haven, Tibooburra.

Inland images.
Wild animals, wide horizons, interesting roads.
Open the gate.

Marsupial supervision.

Last journey starts here .

Last sight on the trip.