'What are you doing?' she asked.
'Hunting Flies", he responded.
'Oh! Killing any?' she asked.
'Yep, 3 males, 2 Females,' he replied.
Intrigued, she asked, 'How can you tell them apart?'
He responded, '3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone.'
Friday, May 11, 2012
Telling The Sex Of Flies ....
'What are you doing?' she asked.
'Hunting Flies", he responded.
'Oh! Killing any?' she asked.
'Yep, 3 males, 2 Females,' he replied.
Intrigued, she asked, 'How can you tell them apart?'
He responded, '3 were on a beer can, 2 were on the phone.'
Connecting To The Internet
(Presentation to Sunshine Coast Computer Club, Sat May 12th)
Download pdf of this presentation HERE.
Download pdf of this presentation HERE.
"Types Of Connections"
1. Wireless WAN (through the mobile phone network). These are available from most of the larger phone companies, Telstra, Optus, etc. Typical plan would be 6GB for $40.- easy to connect
- convenient
- portability
..... easily the most expensive per GB!
2. ADSL (connection through your existing phone line)
- great value, cheaper per GB. - often can be "Bundled" as a plan which includes your phone line rental as well as local and national calls to landlines.
- easily create a 'local wireless network' (LAN) so you can connect other devices, TV, Smartphone, media player and allow internet access to each of them.
- may require a 24 month commitment.
Hardware and other Costs to Setup ADSL:
- a router/modem ($80 - $200), If you select a wireless modem/router you will have the ability to connect devices to the internet wirelessly through your adsl connection.- "Setup" (to have your line converted to have both phone and internet on the one line) ($100)
- filters ($15 each), 1 for each landline connected phone in your home)
- a contract with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) which may have a term commitment attached.
The ISP you choose may be able to provide you with the equipment you need setup and ready to go (pre-configured). All these details are available from the ISP. The ISP you select will arrange to have your phone line converted to enable both phone and adsl.The rear of the modem router above has 4 ports allowing the wired connection of 4 computers, it has wireless and also has Voip telephone connections. A voip modem router can cost from $140 to $300 depending on the quality you want. The one in the photo cost around $150.
"Connecting"
Internet connection comes in various 'speeds', 256, 512, 1500, 8000 and 20,000. Nowadays a preferred speed would be at least 8000. For general internet use, emails etc 1500 would be ample.
'RIMS'
A RIM is a Telstra owned 'box' on many newer estates which allow for easier phone connections. If your phone service is via a RIM your phone connection is 'owned' by Telstra. Telstra is 'required' to supply ADSL to every home. ADSL is up to 8000. Therefore if you are behind a RIM, they are set to supply internet at 8000.Telephone exchanges house nearly all the telephony equipment. In some cases Optus, iiNet and other ISP's may install their own equipment in telephone exchanges. At Caloundra we have Telstra, Powertel and Agile equipment installed. If your ISP uses Powertel or Agile equipment you will enjoy more download, faster speeds and cheaper prices.
If you are behind a RIM your ISP has to 'rent' the phone line from Telstra (at a higher cost) before it can connect you to their services. Usually this means higher prices and less download per month compared to the services they can supply using their 'own' equipment. Plans are referred to as On-Net (through their own equipment) and Off-Net (via Telstra owned equipment).
All plans available to people behind a RIM (except Bigpond) are Off-Net plans. Currently there is a discussion via the ACCC in an endeavour to lower Telstra's charges to ISP's. The decision may be a month or two away and will lead to lower prices and better deals.
What will rescue those stuck behind Telstra RIMs and paying extra for internet connections, .... NBN!
How To Find Plan That Suits You?
Try to "Future Protect" yourself.
Broadband Choice: http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/
Bigpond: http://go.bigpond.com/broadband/
Or Bigpond Bundles: http://www.telstra.com.au/bundle-save/index.cfm
Optus: https://www.optus.com.au/shop/broadband/bundles/homeadvantage
iPrimus http://www.iprimus.com.au/PrimusWeb/HomeSolutions/BundleDeals/
The difference between On-Net and Off-Net
http://www.internode.on.net/residential/adsl_broadband/all_plans/
Let us run through Find A Plan at Broadband Choice (Whirlpool)!
Broadband Choice: http://bc.whirlpool.net.au/
If you are not sure, then ASK SOMEONE here at Computer Club!
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Glorious Autumn Day
The sun is out, the sky is blue and we expect a top around 24 degrees. After a brisk 10 degree start, the day will pan out to be just perfect.
As with many others we received new "Fly Buys" cards recently in a massive shopping push by Coles. In the correspondence which arrived was a special deal for an inexpensive and not overly sophisticated smart phone. It was going at 'half price', around $50.
The internet was my friend with phone reviews and recommended retail prices on this model. As a pre-paid cheapie it received pretty good reviews and came 'locked' to Telstra. However if you search eBay you can get an guaranteed to work unlock code for around $2. A recent RRP I found online was over $120.
Some of the forums I visit indicated this special was selling like hot cakes with several stores 'sold out'. Trish thought she would enjoy one and visited our local Coles buy it. Caloundra Coles had sold 35 of them over the last few days so it is a popular buy. Trish already has a cheap $20 per month Telstra phone deal so we slipped the sim card into the new phone and "Hey Presto" she is now connected with her inexpensive smart phone.
The black ale I brewed the other day is bubbling quietly in the garage but it isn't enjoying the cooler mornings.It should be ready to bottle around Wednesday.
Computer Club on Saturday was especially successful with several members taking my advice and being delighted with their new devices or services. Aldi had a recent special on a wireless 4 port modem router for under $50. I am heading around tomorrow to set one up for an older club member. Another chap is giving away his "wireless dongle broadband connection" and having his service converted to landline ADSL with Optus. He says he is getting 50GB broadband as well as all his local and national calls (with a few exceptions 1900 nos etc) for $60 per month. Where he lives he is able to connect directly into the Optus equipment at the Caloundra Telephone Exchange which gives him this great deal.
We are unable to have a direct connection to Optus where we live so would be ineligible for the deal. Over the next month or so many Internet Service Providers will have some better deals going when Telstra slowly loses its grip on the copper network and the NBN Co. begins to take over.
Because of the way the telephone connection to new estates is nowadays many of us only have access to Telstra telephone exchange equipment. Therefore ANY company we use to connect to the internet has to 'lease' the Telstra connection already there. Telstra charges a lot for this lease, so we are stuck with expensive internet costs compared to many others.
For us and many like us we can't wait for the NBN to be come to our area.
As with many others we received new "Fly Buys" cards recently in a massive shopping push by Coles. In the correspondence which arrived was a special deal for an inexpensive and not overly sophisticated smart phone. It was going at 'half price', around $50.
The internet was my friend with phone reviews and recommended retail prices on this model. As a pre-paid cheapie it received pretty good reviews and came 'locked' to Telstra. However if you search eBay you can get an guaranteed to work unlock code for around $2. A recent RRP I found online was over $120.Some of the forums I visit indicated this special was selling like hot cakes with several stores 'sold out'. Trish thought she would enjoy one and visited our local Coles buy it. Caloundra Coles had sold 35 of them over the last few days so it is a popular buy. Trish already has a cheap $20 per month Telstra phone deal so we slipped the sim card into the new phone and "Hey Presto" she is now connected with her inexpensive smart phone.
The black ale I brewed the other day is bubbling quietly in the garage but it isn't enjoying the cooler mornings.It should be ready to bottle around Wednesday.
Computer Club on Saturday was especially successful with several members taking my advice and being delighted with their new devices or services. Aldi had a recent special on a wireless 4 port modem router for under $50. I am heading around tomorrow to set one up for an older club member. Another chap is giving away his "wireless dongle broadband connection" and having his service converted to landline ADSL with Optus. He says he is getting 50GB broadband as well as all his local and national calls (with a few exceptions 1900 nos etc) for $60 per month. Where he lives he is able to connect directly into the Optus equipment at the Caloundra Telephone Exchange which gives him this great deal.
We are unable to have a direct connection to Optus where we live so would be ineligible for the deal. Over the next month or so many Internet Service Providers will have some better deals going when Telstra slowly loses its grip on the copper network and the NBN Co. begins to take over.
Because of the way the telephone connection to new estates is nowadays many of us only have access to Telstra telephone exchange equipment. Therefore ANY company we use to connect to the internet has to 'lease' the Telstra connection already there. Telstra charges a lot for this lease, so we are stuck with expensive internet costs compared to many others.
For us and many like us we can't wait for the NBN to be come to our area.
Friday, May 04, 2012
Back To Normal
It is Friday morning, Trish is at Quilters and I am doing stuff on my PC. Things are back to normal!
Before picking Trish up from Brisbane Airport around 3 pm yesterday afternoon, I spent a little time getting the lawn mower out and cutting the front lawn. The forecast was for a showery Friday clearing up to glorious sunny long weekend here (Labor Day holiday here on Monday). Getting the lawn cut would get one of those jobs which need to be done out of the way. It came up OK.
The forecast showers was more like rain after 7 am this morning. There is another 15 mls in the rain gauge and the skies remain overcast. After an unsettled afternoon the weather is expected to 'clear' the coast and leave us with mid 20 degree days and cooler mornings.
Trish was home here, unpacked and catching up with things by 5pm. Friends Ian and Kerrie were heading overseas to the U.S. for 5 weeks early Friday and wanted to catch us for drinks if possible. As usual it was pleasant with a few drinks, some nibblies and a good chat. Trish and I finished up at the local Tavern to share a $10 pizza for tea which was all we needed.
With a wet Friday I decided today would be a home brew making day. I am making a Black Ale and the mix in the photo is around 280gms of "mix", (dried corn syrup, dextrose and malt) along with 130gms of lumpy 'dark brown sugar'. The mix gives the Black Ale a rich malty taste. I expect to bottle-wash Monday and bottle either Wednesday or Thursday. This amount of mixture should create an alcohol content of around 3.5% at the most.
Click on either photo for a larger view.
No 'Friday Drinks' today as Ian and Kerrie are away and John and Margaret are off in their motor home for a "Music Festival".
We have new home owners on our right as you face the house and renters on the other side. A "For Sale" sign went up on the rental property yesterday. They have $396,000 on it. I would be rapt if the got that as it would make our little place $400,000+. At $396,000 I believe it is way overpriced by around $30,000+.
One of the TV Series both Trish and I enjoy is a UK Crime Series called "Scott and Bailey" which has just finished its second season of 8 shows in the UK. I don't think it has come to Australian TV screens just yet. We watched an episode last night. Anything we had to watch previously was usually in a .avi format and a one hour show would be around 450mb download. Many of the new shows are now in .mp4 format and an hour show is around 260mb with no noticeable drop in movie quality. However a few of the newer mp4 files may have the audio out of sync with lip movement and Scott and Bailey is one such series.
The latest model WDTV Live SMP media player has a function whereby you can adjust the lip sync. This is an extremely handy function to have and made what would have been an insufferable watching of TV last night into one which was perfect. I had to set the audio delay to -400ms and it was then perfect to watch and enjoy. Audio out of sync is a common problem with files obtained from the internet.
The forecast showers was more like rain after 7 am this morning. There is another 15 mls in the rain gauge and the skies remain overcast. After an unsettled afternoon the weather is expected to 'clear' the coast and leave us with mid 20 degree days and cooler mornings.
Trish was home here, unpacked and catching up with things by 5pm. Friends Ian and Kerrie were heading overseas to the U.S. for 5 weeks early Friday and wanted to catch us for drinks if possible. As usual it was pleasant with a few drinks, some nibblies and a good chat. Trish and I finished up at the local Tavern to share a $10 pizza for tea which was all we needed.
With a wet Friday I decided today would be a home brew making day. I am making a Black Ale and the mix in the photo is around 280gms of "mix", (dried corn syrup, dextrose and malt) along with 130gms of lumpy 'dark brown sugar'. The mix gives the Black Ale a rich malty taste. I expect to bottle-wash Monday and bottle either Wednesday or Thursday. This amount of mixture should create an alcohol content of around 3.5% at the most.Click on either photo for a larger view.
No 'Friday Drinks' today as Ian and Kerrie are away and John and Margaret are off in their motor home for a "Music Festival".
We have new home owners on our right as you face the house and renters on the other side. A "For Sale" sign went up on the rental property yesterday. They have $396,000 on it. I would be rapt if the got that as it would make our little place $400,000+. At $396,000 I believe it is way overpriced by around $30,000+.
One of the TV Series both Trish and I enjoy is a UK Crime Series called "Scott and Bailey" which has just finished its second season of 8 shows in the UK. I don't think it has come to Australian TV screens just yet. We watched an episode last night. Anything we had to watch previously was usually in a .avi format and a one hour show would be around 450mb download. Many of the new shows are now in .mp4 format and an hour show is around 260mb with no noticeable drop in movie quality. However a few of the newer mp4 files may have the audio out of sync with lip movement and Scott and Bailey is one such series. The latest model WDTV Live SMP media player has a function whereby you can adjust the lip sync. This is an extremely handy function to have and made what would have been an insufferable watching of TV last night into one which was perfect. I had to set the audio delay to -400ms and it was then perfect to watch and enjoy. Audio out of sync is a common problem with files obtained from the internet.
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
Tidy Up Time
Trish returns home from Melbourne tomorrow Thursday around 2:30 pm. This means I have to get the washing all done, get the place vacuumed and any outside jobs completed. Extensive showers were forecast for today and this has turned out to be the case. Despite a couple of light showers yesterday I managed to get the washing done and to get it all dry.
Today's wet weather means I missed on my morning bike ride.
I will vacuum the floors later today and that should be it as far as floor cleaning is concerned.
One of the hassles with living in this part of the world is that of mildew. Areas which don't totally dry out require a good clean at least once a year to get rid of any mildew buildup. The area known as "The Beer Garden" at our home is one such area. The new pressure cleaner was put to work yesterday and the area was given a good clean. It looks heaps better.
Trish tells me the car door problems on our Melbourne car have not been totally overcome. We use the remote controls all the time to lock the car. The car's door keys are hardly ever used. Now with the electronic alarm and door openers not working 100%, we have gone back to needing to use the keys to get into the car. However the keys do not turn the door lock!
It looked like around $500 worth of new door lock barrels were required. Trish dropped the car off yesterday to have the work done today. The guy there tried a magic spray as a last resort as the locks may have seized owing to lack of use. The locks were left to soak in the spray overnight.
Though a little stiff, the locks now work again so we have saved ourselves quite some money. The car will have a basic service and we will throw the remote controls away meaning the car will now only lock using the keys.
The thought of replacing the car did cross our minds. We may be in the market for a cheap reliable car to use as our second vehicle when in Melbourne. Any good deal would be considered!
Today's wet weather means I missed on my morning bike ride.
I will vacuum the floors later today and that should be it as far as floor cleaning is concerned.
One of the hassles with living in this part of the world is that of mildew. Areas which don't totally dry out require a good clean at least once a year to get rid of any mildew buildup. The area known as "The Beer Garden" at our home is one such area. The new pressure cleaner was put to work yesterday and the area was given a good clean. It looks heaps better.Trish tells me the car door problems on our Melbourne car have not been totally overcome. We use the remote controls all the time to lock the car. The car's door keys are hardly ever used. Now with the electronic alarm and door openers not working 100%, we have gone back to needing to use the keys to get into the car. However the keys do not turn the door lock!
It looked like around $500 worth of new door lock barrels were required. Trish dropped the car off yesterday to have the work done today. The guy there tried a magic spray as a last resort as the locks may have seized owing to lack of use. The locks were left to soak in the spray overnight.
Though a little stiff, the locks now work again so we have saved ourselves quite some money. The car will have a basic service and we will throw the remote controls away meaning the car will now only lock using the keys.
The thought of replacing the car did cross our minds. We may be in the market for a cheap reliable car to use as our second vehicle when in Melbourne. Any good deal would be considered!
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