Sponsor's Message

Suddenly the government and its agencies have woken up to the fact that consumers are getting a very raw deal when it comes to electricity and telecommunications services.

2006 could see the Commerce Commission handling the setting of Transpower pricing and, so we're promised, some pretty agressive regulation of the telco industries -- including mobile rates.

Of course calling these monopolies to task has taken far too long so now we run the risk that the pendulum will swing too far -- significantly disadvantaging the encumbents. However, few people will shed a tear, since Telecom, Vodafone and Transpower all had the opportunity to be a little more moderate in their pricing right from the start.

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. 7

What may hurt most of all though, is the fact that we're headed for lean-times in the economy. This means that those companies facing regulation will be hit by a double whammy: the loss of overtly excessive margins plus a downturn in demand.

Having seen how pendulums swing, I just hope we don't end up going overboard with all this regulation -- to the point where we drive investors away from critical infrastucture providers.

Meanwhile, governments around the world have used the war against terror to introduce even more hi-tech ways of spying on their citizens and restricting their rights to privacy.

Here's something to think about -- many times more people die in road accidents every year in the USA, Australia and Britain than are killed by terrorists. More people suffer accidental drowning in these countries than are killed by terrorists each year. Indeed, more people die from sporting-related injuries and alcohol-related fights or accidents than from terror attacks.

So why don't we see a "war against water" or a "war against bad driving"?

One can't help but get the feeling that this "war against terror" is really being used as an excuse to significantly extend the power of politicians while compromising the rights of those they're elected to serve -- or have I got this wrong?

Bouquets
This is the last edition of Aardvark Daily before Christmas so I'd like to take a moment to thank you -- yes, that's right, you!

I appreciate all those folks who drop in and get their daily fix of Aardvark -- without your visits I'd just be wasting my time here wouldn't I?

I'd also like to give a huge thanks to IHUG for their continued sponsorship of this column. This small stipend has ensured that we'll soon be celebrating Aardvark's 10th birthday which must be something of a milestone in an industry as young as this one. Hell, here I was blogging before anyone even heard of the word blogg :-)

Remember that it might be nice to put IHUG at the top of your list if you're shopping for any of the services they provide, they deserve to be rewarded for their loyalty to this column.

I'll be taking the statutory holidays off and maybe a few days between Christmas and New Year -- but you never know, I may roll out a special edition sometime next week so keep your eyes peeled.

Lighten Up

Well it's time for the last lighten-up of the year. Thanks for sending in your suggestions.

Although it is the season of good cheer, it's also a time of year when burglars and thieves seem to be very active so be sure and follow this fellow's lead and lock your car.

There are a not-load of pretty good Flash-based animations on the Net but every now and then you come across one that *really* stands out as being different. THIS is one of those rare gems, but it might not be what you're expecting (good music too).

Need a gift for someone you really don't like? Well how about this?

Here's one to try on your drunken or possible numerically illiterate friends. Is it really psychic?

Hitachi seem to think that most folks are pretty thick and need a primary-school-level explanation of what perpendicular orientation means in respect to hard drive technology. Watch this and feel insulted :-)

And finally, if you've ever wondered what to do with all those old Cyrix processors that seem to collect in the back of the wardrobe, here's a suggestion. Have a good Christmas folks!

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If you feel that this is a good thing and/or you hold a "geniune affection" for yours truly -- then you are welcome to gift me some money using the buttons provided. In gifting this money you accept that no goods, service or other consideration is offered, provided, accepted or anticipated in return. Just click on the button to gift whatever you can afford. NOTE: PayPal bills in US dollars so don't accidentally gift more than what you were intending :-)

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