Alan,

On Wed, 4 Feb 2004 16:02:39 -0000, Alan B. Pearce wrote:

> >> As another 'innovative ozzie :-)' I read somewhere that the
> >> Australia/NewZealand/US have such innovative cultures because of th=
e
> >>genetic stock of being free-settlers from various mother countries (=
like
> >> england) looking to better their lot in life and take risks to do s=
o..

I'm not sure what the ratio of "free settlers" to the other kind is in A=
ustralia, but still... ;-)

> I have often figured this was the case too, but then I am a Kiwi :))

Now there I have no argument.  Having been there a couple of times I hav=
e great respect for your countrymen,
and the things they have achieved.  I was surprised to find a solution t=
o variable supply:demand of
electricity in Oamaru, was that when there's excess capacity (local smal=
l-scale hydro-electric, so not very
controllable) they send a signal down the mains to turn on electric stor=
age heaters in peoples' homes to
absorb the excess!  I never did find out how this is accepted/paid for b=
y customers, but it's an interesting
technical solution.  And the underground hydro-electric generating stati=
on in the middle of the mountain near
Milford Sound (I forget its name) is just amazing!

Shame about the 100kph speed limit though - I got my second-ever speedin=
g ticket (having been driving in the
UK for about 30 years) on my first visit to NZ.  Those darned through-th=
e-windscreen radar units in police
cars are an invention you can keep!  :-#

> >That's right. However - why exactly in embedded/Pci etc.., not in ano=
ther
> >areas?
> >What makes embedded so special?
>
> Nothing makes embedded so special, perhaps it is just that others don'=
t know
> about what the antipodeans do. I will relate some kiwi ones.

>snip<

All acknowledged.  Except that Tensing Norgay *may* have been the first =
to set foot at the top... :-)))

> I am sure that other Kiwis and Ozzies on the list can come up with mor=
e for their respective countries.

I won't run through inventions from the UK, but a small aside: I was ama=
zed to hear it confirmed in a
television programme about the Jet engine that despite inventing it in 1=
928, and patenting it, Frank Whittle
got virtually nothing (apart from a knighthood) from it.  If he'd had =A3=
1 royalty from every jet engine made,
he would have been a Very Rich Man when he died - but no, the Government=
 virtually stole it from him, and then
later gave it away to America.  Luckily we still have RR making the thin=
gs, otherwise it would have been a
total loss to the UK.

> Alan (Kiwi and proud of it)

Cheers,

Howard (Englishman and proud of it, which for some strange reason is oft=
en frowned upon!)

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