I bumped into this sign last week when I was visting my clients in Auckland Central area. Can you make any sense out of it?Sunday, August 31, 2008
Balcony Warning Sign
I bumped into this sign last week when I was visting my clients in Auckland Central area. Can you make any sense out of it?
The Great Ape 2008
Left: The Limited Edition Piaggio Ape Calessino — only 999 produced worldwide
It’s an Italian icon; Pope Benedict XVI has two of them; it has appeared in many films and has sold millions worldwide. Yet you probably don’t know what I’m talking about because you’ve never been able to buy one in New Zealand. Until now that is.…
For 60 years Piaggio, the makers of Vespa (Italian for wasp) scooters, have been selling the Ape (pronounced are-pay which is Italian for bee), a three wheeled scooter crossed with a truck, to Italian trades people, retailers, farmers and teenagers. India has also embraced the Ape in a big way. Now New Zealanders can join the revolution.
Are we ready for the Ape though? It is, after all, very small, only 50cc, and has a top speed of less than 50km per hour [The limited edition Calessino model pictured above is a water-cooled 422cc]. Anything travelling under 50kph on a New Zealand road is in danger of ending up as road kill. On the plus side, it can be registered as a moped so requires no WOF and the registration costs are very low. It will also run on the smell of an oily rag (make sure that rag’s very oily though as it is a two stroke).
Your average New Zealander will likely suffer a crisis of self confidence driving an Ape, not to mention a dose of status anxiety. However, if you can get over this, the Ape is a very cool vehicle indeed. Yes, travelling at under 50kph everywhere will make you very un-cool with some other drivers, not to mention unpopular, and yes you’ll always be on your own, although not because people don’t want to be seen with you but because it only has one seat. But cool it definitely is.
It’s the versatility that has really made the Ape such a success story in Italy. From the mobile barista and window cleaner to the refuse collector and grocery deliverer, there seems to be a neverending list of uses the Ape can be tailored to. Apparently, if you’re a very large German man, you can even take it camping. Okay, that’s not very cool but it is ingenious.
Let’s face it, the main use for the Ape in New Zealand will be as a promotional tool; a mobile billboard. I think that’s a little disappointing. Micro cars in Europe are used by many people as daily transport; in New Zealand they are used almost exclusively to promote pizza chains and banks (does anyone in New Zealand drive a Smart car that’s not sign written to promote a business?). It’s strange that we use the smallest vehicles as mobile billboards.
So, while I don’t expect to see the streets of our major cities awash with buzzing Apes, I will look forward to being stuck behind one at least once in a New Zealand city. For a fleeting moment I’ll feel like I’m in a Tuscan village in search of la dolce vita, just before it gets driven off the road by an impatient SUV driver.
Finally, if you thought from the intro that the Pope would settle for the same model Ape as you, you’d be wrong. It’s the Pope for God’s sake! What were you thinking?
2008 Piaggio Ape 50
Year: 2008
Make: Piaggio
Model: Ape 50
Listing Type: Motor Scooter
Mileage: new
Colour: Red
Condition: New
Availability: Available
Price: $9,499
Technical Specifications
Engine type: petrol
Displacement: 50cc
Stroke: 2 stroke
Power(HP): 2 KW
Bore x stroke: 38.4mm x 43mm
Fuel system: carburettor
Ignition: electronic
Lubrication system: autolube
Cooling system: forced air
Gearbox: four speed manual + reverse
Dry weight: van 260kg, ute 230kg
Overall height: 1550mm
Overall length: 2500mm
Overall width: 1211mm
Wheelbase: 1590mm
Front tyre dimensions: 100/90-10
Rear tyre dimensions: 100/90-10
Front brakes: manual drum
Rear brakes: hydraulic drum
Top speed: 50 kph
Fuel capacity: 10litre
It’s an Italian icon; Pope Benedict XVI has two of them; it has appeared in many films and has sold millions worldwide. Yet you probably don’t know what I’m talking about because you’ve never been able to buy one in New Zealand. Until now that is.…
For 60 years Piaggio, the makers of Vespa (Italian for wasp) scooters, have been selling the Ape (pronounced are-pay which is Italian for bee), a three wheeled scooter crossed with a truck, to Italian trades people, retailers, farmers and teenagers. India has also embraced the Ape in a big way. Now New Zealanders can join the revolution.
Are we ready for the Ape though? It is, after all, very small, only 50cc, and has a top speed of less than 50km per hour [The limited edition Calessino model pictured above is a water-cooled 422cc]. Anything travelling under 50kph on a New Zealand road is in danger of ending up as road kill. On the plus side, it can be registered as a moped so requires no WOF and the registration costs are very low. It will also run on the smell of an oily rag (make sure that rag’s very oily though as it is a two stroke).
Your average New Zealander will likely suffer a crisis of self confidence driving an Ape, not to mention a dose of status anxiety. However, if you can get over this, the Ape is a very cool vehicle indeed. Yes, travelling at under 50kph everywhere will make you very un-cool with some other drivers, not to mention unpopular, and yes you’ll always be on your own, although not because people don’t want to be seen with you but because it only has one seat. But cool it definitely is.
It’s the versatility that has really made the Ape such a success story in Italy. From the mobile barista and window cleaner to the refuse collector and grocery deliverer, there seems to be a neverending list of uses the Ape can be tailored to. Apparently, if you’re a very large German man, you can even take it camping. Okay, that’s not very cool but it is ingenious.
Let’s face it, the main use for the Ape in New Zealand will be as a promotional tool; a mobile billboard. I think that’s a little disappointing. Micro cars in Europe are used by many people as daily transport; in New Zealand they are used almost exclusively to promote pizza chains and banks (does anyone in New Zealand drive a Smart car that’s not sign written to promote a business?). It’s strange that we use the smallest vehicles as mobile billboards.
So, while I don’t expect to see the streets of our major cities awash with buzzing Apes, I will look forward to being stuck behind one at least once in a New Zealand city. For a fleeting moment I’ll feel like I’m in a Tuscan village in search of la dolce vita, just before it gets driven off the road by an impatient SUV driver.
Finally, if you thought from the intro that the Pope would settle for the same model Ape as you, you’d be wrong. It’s the Pope for God’s sake! What were you thinking?
2008 Piaggio Ape 50
Year: 2008
Make: Piaggio
Model: Ape 50
Listing Type: Motor Scooter
Mileage: new
Colour: Red
Condition: New
Availability: Available
Price: $9,499
Technical Specifications
Engine type: petrol
Displacement: 50cc
Stroke: 2 stroke
Power(HP): 2 KW
Bore x stroke: 38.4mm x 43mm
Fuel system: carburettor
Ignition: electronic
Lubrication system: autolube
Cooling system: forced air
Gearbox: four speed manual + reverse
Dry weight: van 260kg, ute 230kg
Overall height: 1550mm
Overall length: 2500mm
Overall width: 1211mm
Wheelbase: 1590mm
Front tyre dimensions: 100/90-10
Rear tyre dimensions: 100/90-10
Front brakes: manual drum
Rear brakes: hydraulic drum
Top speed: 50 kph
Fuel capacity: 10litre
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
How Really Smart Are You?
Test for Dementia
Below are four ( 4 ) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly.. You can't take your time, answer all of them immediately . OK?
Let's find out just how clever you really are....
Ready? Set and Go!
Question (1):
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!
Try not to screw up next time. Now answer the second question, but don't take as much time as you took for the first question, OK ?
Question (2):
I f you overtake the last person, then you are...? (scroll down)
nswer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?
You're not very good at this, are you?
Question (3):
Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your head only Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000 . Now add 30 Add another 1000 . Now add 20 Now add another 1000 Now add 10 . What is the total?
Scroll down for answer.....
Did you get 5000 ?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
If you don't believe it, check it with a calculator! Today is definitely not your day, is it? Maybe you'll get the last question right... Maybe.
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Did you Answer Nunu? NO! Of course it isn't. Her name is Mary. Read the question again!
Okay, now the bonus round:
A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?
He just has to open his mouth and ask...It's really very simple.
PASS THIS ON TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!
Below are four ( 4 ) questions and a bonus question. You have to answer them instantly.. You can't take your time, answer all of them immediately . OK?
Let's find out just how clever you really are....
Ready? Set and Go!
Question (1):
You are participating in a race. You overtake the second person. What position are you in?
Answer: If you answered that you are first, then you are absolutely wrong! If you overtake the second person and you take his place, you are second!
Try not to screw up next time. Now answer the second question, but don't take as much time as you took for the first question, OK ?
Question (2):
I f you overtake the last person, then you are...? (scroll down)
nswer: If you answered that you are second to last, then you are wrong again. Tell me, how can you overtake the LAST person?
You're not very good at this, are you?
Question (3):
Very tricky arithmetic! Note: This must be done in your head only Do NOT use paper and pencil or a calculator. Try it.
Take 1000 and add 40 to it. Now add another 1000 . Now add 30 Add another 1000 . Now add 20 Now add another 1000 Now add 10 . What is the total?
Scroll down for answer.....
Did you get 5000 ?
The correct answer is actually 4100.
If you don't believe it, check it with a calculator! Today is definitely not your day, is it? Maybe you'll get the last question right... Maybe.
Fourth Question:
Mary's father has five daughters: 1. Nana, 2. Nene, 3. Nini, 4. Nono. What is the name of the fifth daughter?
Did you Answer Nunu? NO! Of course it isn't. Her name is Mary. Read the question again!
Okay, now the bonus round:
A mute person goes into a shop and wants to buy a toothbrush. By imitating the action of brushing his teeth he successfully expresses himself to the shopkeeper and the purchase is done.
Next, a blind man comes into the shop who wants to buy a pair of sunglasses; how does HE indicate what he wants?
He just has to open his mouth and ask...It's really very simple.
PASS THIS ON TO FRUSTRATE THE SMART PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE!
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