SiC – David Sidwell

It looks good on the ad. Broadband at Dialup prices. Sure does. But take a closer look. That price is only ‘low’ speed ADSL (256 kbps) and a VERY limited download maximum (200 MB). Then they’ll hit you at 15 cents per MB you get after that 200MB is reached. Hey, sounds cheap!

Do your maths and then think again. Trust me, when you get Broadband, there’s a good chance you’ll be downloading GB per month. Even only 1 GB is about 1,000 MB per month. BTW A single CD holds nearly 2/3rd of one GB.

With ADSL – even at only 256 kbps – you can download 10 MB in about 8 minutes. At that speed, you’ll do your 200 MB in (8 x 20) 160 minutes. Under 3 hours of download.

Do the numbers on something like 1000 MB. That’s $29.95 Per Month base + an ‘extra’ 800 MB Per Month. At 15 cents per MB. I calculate a total of $149.95 per month.

I’m with Netspace – who aren’t even the ‘cheapest’ provider – but here’s a comparison. I get DOUBLE the speed (512 kbps) and QUADRUPLE the download limit (4 GB) for under HALF of that $149.95. That’s $59.95. To me, that’s about 8 times the value.

Shop around. Do not fall these ‘honeymoon’ prices. Numbers, plans and rates used were as of March 21st 2004. These seem to change every few months. So, you should confirm the current deals, then do your comparisons.

On balance, “2001 : A Space Odyssey” is probably my favourite film of all time. I first saw it in about 1973 as a 12 year old at the Trak cinema in Toorak. It was ‘only’ 5 years old at that stage, so still fairly fresh.

Two things stick out about that first viewing. A mate had said it was about “a journey to Jupiter” (true) and secondly, when the Star Baby floated into view and the credits rolled…I sat there waiting for the next bit. You know, the bit that finished it up. Explained and closed things out. It, of course, never came and the lights came on. At least in the cinema.’,'I won’t sit here and lie, expressing how – as a 12 year old – I researched into what the movie meant and ‘got it.’ Nope, didn’t happen. But nor did I forget the impact it had on me.

I saw it again at university a few years later in the late 1970s. This was the full show; music playing before the curtains parted and even an interval. Subsequent readings and study gave me some further clues as to what it ‘meant’. These – and my own insights and multiple viewings – have served me quite well in the 20 years since. Until last week that is.

A reading of Leonard F. Wheat’s “Misconceptions about 2001″ article added a whole new level to the thinking.

Wheat is expanding upon ideas in his own book Kubrick’s 2001: A Triple Allegory. I didn’t study the classics nor philosophy, but he explained enough background in the Misconceptions article, that I wasn’t disadvantaged.

To summarize the starting point of the article, Wheat is suggesting that 2001 depicts not one but three allegories. An allegory is a “a surface story whose characters, events, and other elements symbolically tell a hidden story. One story tells another.” (source link: ibid)

(As an aside I’d first hit allegories as a teenager when I “got” what Lord of the Flies was alluding to. A year later I’d “worked out” Animal Farm. )

To summarize Wheat’s opening points, he proposes that the three allegories depicted are:

1. Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche’s work, “Thus Spake Zarathustra”
2. The classical epic poem from Homer , “The Odyssey”, and
3. Arthur C Clarke’s theory (expanded by Kubrick) that man and machine will one day merge into a symbiotic entity, a sort of humanoid machine. (source link: ibid)

I find it fascinating reading. The piece is well written and well argued. I offer no judgements apart from to suggest that you take a look at it for yourself, plus his subsequent “Fresh Insights into 2001″ article. Keep an open mind and I’m sure you’ll find them rewarding.

Probably the single most useful piece of software on my PC is Password Safe. It was originally developed by Bruce Schneier, cryptography specialist and author of that excellent book “Applied Cryptography”.

As Bruce describes it “With Password Safe, a free Windows 9x/2000 utility from Counterpane Labs, users can keep their passwords securely encrypted on their computers. A single Safe Combination–just one thing to remember–unlocks them all.” – (quote from above schneier.com)

As I said, Password Safe is now an open source project, and is available from its SourceForge page. Look at me virtual-kimmies. I’ve got one word to say to you: Get It

Firstly give yourself a pat on the back and a kangaroo stamp if you correctly got the song hint.

But it’s the movie that intrigues me. I vaguely recall seeing The Day the Earth Stood Still on some wonky, ripped and rolling video tape. Didn’t quite do it justice. So, the recent chance to see it – in a restored print too – on DVD, was just too much to resist.

This was made the year we hosted our first Olympics. The black and white days of 1956; when other SciFi movies were full of zaps and flashes and saucers and cups full of chilly monsters. In contrast TDTESS has a sensitive alien in the sympathetic lead role. He’s been sent to Earth with a simple message. One which, nearly 50 years on, rings out loudly and more true than ever.

What an intelligent and thoughtful, no…insightful film. Klaatu, we need you! Come back now.

Not sure quite where these originated from or if they are copyright.

Some of the finest double entendres on British TV & Radio:

MICHAEL Buerk watching Phillipa Forrester cuddle up to a male
astronomer for warmth during BBC1’s UK eclipse coverage remarked,
“They seem cold out there, they’re rubbing each other and he’s only
come in his shorts.”

KEN Brown commentating on golfer Nick Faldo and his caddie Fanny
Sunneson lining-up shots at the Scottish Open: “Some weeks Nick likes
to use Fanny, other weeks he prefers to do it by himself.”

MIKE Hallett discussing missed snooker shots on Sky Sports: “Stephen
Hendry jumps on Steve Davis’s misses every chance he gets.”

JACK Burnicle was talking about Colin Edwards’ tyre choice on World
Superbike racing: “Colin had a hard on in practice earlier, and I bet
he wished he had a hard on now.”

Chris Tarrant discussing the first Millionaire winner Judith Keppel
on This Morning: “She was practising fastest finger first by herself in bed
last night.”

WINNING Post’s Stewart Machin commentating on jockey Tony McCoy’s
formidable lead: “Tony has a quick look between his legs and likes
what he sees.”

ROSS King discussing relays with champion runner Phil Redmond: “Well
Phil, tell us about your amazing third leg.”

CRICKETER Neil Fairbrother hit a single during a Durham v Lancashire
match, inspiring Bobby Simpson to observe: “With his lovely soft
hands he just tossed it off.”

CLAIR Frisby talking about a jumbo hot dog on Look North said:
“There’s nothing like a big hot sausage inside you on a cold night
like this.”

JAMES Allen interviewing Ralf Schumacher at a Grand Prix, asked:
“What does it feel like being rammed up the backside by Barrichello?”

WILLIE Carson was telling Claire Balding how jockeys prepare for a
big race when he said: “They usually have four or five dreams a night
about coming from different positions.”

CARENZA Lewis about finding food in the Middle Ages on Time Team Live
said: “You’d eat beaver if you could get it.”

A FEMALE news anchor who, the day after it was supposed to have
snowed and didn’t, turned to the weatherman and asked, “So Bob,
where’s that eight inches you promised me last night?” Not only did
HE have to leave the set, but half the crew did too, because they
were laughing so hard!

PGA Commentator – “One of the reasons Arnie (Arnold Palmer) is
playing so well is that, before each tee shot, his wife takes out his
balls and kisses them …. Oh my god!!!!! What have I just said?!!!!”

METRO Radio – “Julian Dicks is everywhere. It’s like they’ve got
eleven Dicks on the field.”

HARRY Carpenter at the Oxford-Cambridge boat race 1977 – “Ah, isn’t
that nice. The wife of the Cambridge President is kissing the Cox of
the Oxford crew.”

TED Walsh- Horse Racing Commentator – “This is really a lovely horse.
I once rode her mother.”

NEW Zealand Rugby Commentator – “Andrew Mehrtens loves it when Daryl
Gibson comes inside of him.”

PAT Glenn- Weightlifting commentator – “And this is Gregoriava from
Bulgaria. I saw her snatch this morning and it was amazing!