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Firstly, I see that Apple have sold their 100 millionth track over the internet. That's really cool -- someone actually taking advantage of the benefits of new technology rather than just bitching about the threat it poses to an old and outdated business model.

How many *mainstream* NZ record labels make their music available to NZ Net users I wonder?

Let's face it, if the recording industry doesn't start making its material available for download in a format that is compatible with the iPod and a raft of other personal stereo systems they're just asking to have their CDs ripped and illegally distributed.

Here's a useful warning from someone who discovered that just because Telecom advertise that DSL is available in your area doesn't mean it's true.

It would be sage advice to double-check everything before handing over your hard-earned cash to switch to DSL, especially if you're using an alternative toll provider.

Now have your say Got something to say about today's column, or want to see what others think?  Visit The Forums While you're here, why not visit the Aardvark Hall of Shame and perhaps make your own nomination.

By the way, if you're living in a rented house you might find this story from Stuff to be of interest.

And here's something that might be better saved for a Friday's Lighten-Up edition but I can't help but suggest that Jim Anderton takes a good look at this as a way of solving NZ"s energy crisis.

Oh my goodness, what have I done -- I can hear Jimbo opening the state coffers to these people as I type :-)

It would seem that despite the very high over-cap charges that Telecom levies on DSL users, there's a lot of under-utilised cable capacity between this part of the world and the rest of the globe.

So much capacity in fact that Aussies will be receiving their Olympic Games video coverage by cable rather than satellite.

When I was a kid, the biggest danger we faced was falling off our bikes and skinning our knees but it seems that today's young-uns engage in far riskier pastimes.

Yes, hours spent on the evil TV, Playstation or XBox is compromising our kids health in an unprecedented manner. This sedentary behaviour is apparently turning our kids into a race of slothful fatties who risk a reduced lifespan and other problems.

So which innovative game-console maker will come up with a Cyber-Olympics game which includes some kind of body-fitting that effectively adds a degree of resistance to the movement of major muscle groups and allows the little puddings to compete against others via the net?

I can see it now -- the virtual cyber arm-wrestling champs.

Let's use their addiction to computer games to build their little muscles and actually increase their fitness eh?

Oh well, you've just read the result of a slow news day -- I hope it didn't bore you.

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