Sponsor's Message

According to a NASA funded-researcher, it seems we've already begun the colonisation of Mars, thanks to various microbes that will have been attached to a number of the craft sent there from earth in recent years.

Believe it or not, these simple life-forms are robust enough to survive the journey and "could" actually survive on the surface of Mars.

As Jeff Kargel from the US Geological Survey so aptly put it "maybe we've just done a really terrible thing."

Yesterday's column had a tilt in favour of Microsoft and a "serves yourselves right" message to those who are complaining about the way it abuses its monopoly.

Well our other favourite monopoly, Telecom, deserves no such support from me.

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I read with interest yesterday that the Commerce Commission is prosecuting Telecom for its own anti-competitive tactics.

It seems that the telco was wholesaling some data services at a price which was higher than its own retail prices.

Maybe the CC ought to also take a look at the way Telecom has engaged in what some claim are very devious tactics to hijack customers from other ISPs as part of the JetSurf roll-out.

I have an incredibly large pile of emails here from people who have had nothing but grief from Telecom when they've tried to switch from another plan to these new options -- while using an ISP other than Xtra.

Not only has Telecom tried to twist people's arm to move their toll business to them in order to get lower-priced DSL but readers report that there appears to be very definite attempts to switch them from those other ISPs to Xtra rather than just switch DSL plans.

Most disturbing is the way in which, when it suits them, Telecom distances itself from Xtra and says they are different organisations -- yet just a few moments later (again when it suits them) they use the words "Telecom" and "Xtra" interchangeably.

I wonder how many people have simply been so confused by all this that they've ended up being switched from their existing ISP to Xtra without even realising it until the next bill arrives?

If you've been in this position, I'd certainly like to hear from you.

And what's worse, I (like many others) are now paying good money for a sub-standard service (JS-Starter) while I wait for my current billing cycle to end.

If I go over my data-cap, I'm going to end up paying far more for my JS-Starter connection than I would pay if they'd already switched me to the JetSurfer 10GB plan.

I know I've mentioned it in a previous column but I'm mightily ticked-off that I've still got to wait another two weeks before my plan is changed.

It's not like Telecom are out of stock and it's not like it's brain surgery or rocket science -- is it?

Boy, if this government doesn't force the unbundling of the local loop then I want to see a damned good excuse.

Lighten Up
Yes, it's back -- despite the fact that I'm low on material I have managed to drag up a few worthwhile links.

Warning -- this one may upset your tummy if you don't like the sight of blood -- but it's really rather ironic. Apparently this aeroplane hit a deer (I kid you not). Check-out the crest on the side of the plane.

And while we're on a roll, here's what happens when a fast-moving plane meets a slow moving bird (owch!)

Damn it, I've been trying to work this out for ten minutes but my brain just isn't functioning this morning. Whoever gets it first might want to post the solution to the forums.

New Forums!
Yes folks, good news. The grotty ezboard forums have been replaced with a new phpBBS-based system that won't assault you with a myriad of pop-ups and other flotsam.

A big thanks to Managed Internet Solutions for offering to provide this service.

You can access the new forums over at aardvarkforums.co.nz

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