Valium for the Soul

80 per cent of households able to access speeds of up to eight megabits from 19 different providers.

Another 14 providers were offering speeds of up to 24 megabits to around four million households, the minister said, and Telstra's roll out of its 3G network would provide speeds of up to 40 megabits.

All of which makes a lot of assumptions and imho is very incorrect. Assumptions like the lack of availability for rural and remote areas who cannot get broadband. They can. A large number of remote customers use satellite - which will not get the high speeds due to latency issues. On the other hand I can't get anything other than satellite (which is significantly better than dialup) due being on a RIM (remote integrated multiplexer) which has not been fitted with a mini-mux (cmux is a customer multiplexer which is required for DSL. A mini-mux is a miniature version designed for RIM's which are in essence miniature exchanges).

So while Murdoch is right - we do have crappy broadband in Australia - he is also operating on an agenda precipitated by the failure of US Congress to pass the net neutrality laws. In effect allowing telco's and other large ISP's to create an 'information superhighway' leaving the rest of us povs (ie anyone who can't afford a gazillion dollars) with a windy dirt track - which is the equivalent to what Australia currently has. Unless broadband speeds are increased and made more reliable then his ability to increase revenue through streaming media etc is grossly impeded.

2. Favorite planet?
Neptune - I think its an ocean thing - but I always loved it & Saturn best

3. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone?
No caller id.... probably my mum calling from work

4. What is your favorite ring tone on your phone?
On my old phone that only played polyphonics it was the Harry Potter theme - now I have a phone which plays mp3's - so it changes. At the moment it is that song by Eagles of Death Metal.

Optimistically pessimistic control freak

6. What does your watch look like?
I can't wear watches - I'm too magnetic :-) Basically I kill them so I just use my phone or the big clock I spend most of my day in front of....

7. What were you doing at midnight last night?
Trying to stay awake waiting for the boy to finish his neb.

8. What did your last text message you received on your cell say?
Hows things?

9. What's a word that you say a lot?
FFS - way to much

10. Last furry thing you touched?
Inch - then washed my hands cause its raining & I hate the feel of wet fur

11. Favorite age you have been so far?
I really liked 30 - but I kind of like every age

Procrastination

13. What is your current desktop picture?

This

14. What was the last thing you said to someone?

"Goodnight sweety I'll see you at midnight" - to small boy who is on 4hrly nebs - honestly its worse than breastfeeding - at least I could go to sleep then & he would just turn himself off!

15. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly what would it be?
At the moment, probably the million - then i could afford a jetpack.

16. Do you like someone?
nope - well thats not true I like most of my friends & my kids are ok & I quite like the dogs.

17. The last song you listened to?
Pierre by the Dresden Dolls

18. What time of day were you born?
I think it was early in the morning - to be honest I don't remember much about the day at all.

19. What's your favorite number?
Anything with a 7 or 8

20. Where did you live in 1987?
Ayre Street Morphett Vale SA - sharing with a girlfriend - we were both putting ourselves through school, so we had the party house as there were no 'adults' - gosh that was fun!

21. Are you jealous of anyone?
nope - no point

22. Is anyone jealous of you?
doubt it - not unless they are in need of some serious medication

24. Do you consider yourself kind?
I do kind, but I don't do nice - it maybe a semantic difference, but the distinction is important.

25. If you had to get a tattoo, where would it be?
I want to get the chinese symbol for change on the ring finger of my right hand. The symbol is made of 2 other symbols (danger & opportunity). I like the idea of being able to cover it with a ring when necessary. I probably won't get it though because I don't like pain.

26. If you could be fluent in any other language, what would it be?
French & Latin. French because it sounds beautiful, latin because I would like to understand the asterix & obelix jokes (other than the really obvious word play ones).

27. Would you move for the person you loved?
thats a tricky one - would depend on context and reason.

28. What's your life motto?
Pav & Kate had one of mine already, 'This too shall pass'. The other is more of a recognition than a motto 'the world is full of idiots, and they are breeding'.

29. What's your favorite town/city?
Somewhere I haven't been yet.

30. When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper and mailed it?
I don't remember. I'm not very good at writing, so I tend to lose touch unless people are on email. Otherwise I talk on the phone, I'm good at talking.

31. Can you change the oil on a car?
Yes. I can do most car maintenance on the condition that the car is old enough to not have an onboard computer that I can break by playing with spark plugs or other hoses....

32. Your first love: what is the last thing you heard about him/her?
I have no idea - last time I saw him was the end of primary school.

33. How far back do you know about your ancestry?
On my fathers side back to the arrival of my convict 5-greats grandfather, and on mothers - back to the Harper who was the first anglican minister in WA and then his son who founded Guildford Grammer School. The family home is a national trust home now.

34. The last time you dressed fancy, what did you wear and why did you dress fancy?
A couple of years ago I was a bridesmaid for a friend. She wanted us to have something we could wear again, which come to think of it I did - so the last time I dressed up was for another friends wedding where I wasn't a bridesmaid but wore the same dress - it is a deep red cocktail dress with beading across the bodice and an asymmetrical hem; very flattering. It has a matching embroidered bag with a silver chain. The chain matches the silver slip on heels that go with it.

35. Have you been burned by love?
Not burned per se. I have learned a lot about myself and expectations of relationships. I'm glad for each one, but gladder that they are over.