Mar 22 2004

Beware of those $29 per month Broadband plans!

Tags: site admin @ 11:19 am

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.


Mar 19 2004

Password Safe now Version 2 and Open Source

Tags: site admin @ 8:20 pm

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


Mar 19 2004

Finest British double entendres

Tags: site admin @ 9:07 am

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!


Feb 11 2004

Scorched 3D: free… and it will hook you

Tags: site admin @ 4:24 pm

Scorched 3D is a game based loosely (or actually quite heavily now) on the classic DOS game Scorched Earth “The Mother Of All Games”. Scorched 3D adds amongst other new features a 3D island environment and LAN and internet play. Scorched 3D is totally free and is available for both Microsoft Windows and Unix (Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris etc.) operating systems.

The above comes from the Sourceforge home page of this VERY addictive game.


Jan 24 2004

Citizen Kane

Tags: site admin @ 7:33 pm

This “two disc special edition” of what most critics regard as the Best Movie of All Time, is a must. Orson Welles was the Peter Jackson of his time. Now that will get me into trouble…’,'Made in 1941, the movie has both a complex story – supposedly based on the life story of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst – as well as ground breaking on-screen techniques.

Dozens of books have been written about this masterpiece. This DVD does it justice. Two full length commentaries provide insightful and interesting listening. Alas Orson Welles died some years ago; his company on commentary track 3 would have been amazing.

Disk Two has a two hour documentary “The Battle Over Citizen Kane.” This details the clash between Welles and Hearst et al. Hearst, umm, wasn’t happy with the movie and tried everything to get it stopped. Even this 1994 documentary was nominated for an Oscar!


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