Have you noticed how hard it is getting to find an open access point? It used to be that you could simply turn on your PDA or computer and hook up to at least half of the access points in the vicinity. Well, no longer. Fortunately or unfortunately (depending on whether you are a user or abuser), encrypted access points are becoming the norm. This is particularly the case in built up areas, which are also those most prone to being ‘borrowed’. Many people are probably still using WEP, and probably more still are using pathetic passwords, but it’s still enough to keep the casual passerby out. How annoying.

In Australia things are even worse due to the draconian traffic restrictions imposed by ISPs. There’s no such thing as an ‘unlimited’ internet plan, if you exceed a couple of gigs of traffic a month you have to start paying extra for it. While this isn’t so important for the average home user, it rapidly becomes an issue for anyone running an open access point, particularly in a public place. The result: Free wireless internet connections are pretty hard to find. Even public libraries don’t seem to have them (why?!?). Most hotels and cafes offer *paid* wifi instead, usually through a commercial third-party service provider.

And this is where things get nasty. Have you seen the cost of wireless internet access in Australia? Telstra’s hot spots (ie. the major ISP) cost 20 cents per *minute*, or a mere $12/hour. That’s cheap. They also charge a ‘connection fee’!! I’ve seen other providers up to $25/hour. So, if you were thinking of spending the morning in a cafe doing some work and enjoying the coffee...you better head back to whatever country you came from. Unless money is no object, of course, in which case you probably already have your own private mansion with a cafe and coffee slaves. And an open wireless access point.

Free wireless internet: A human *right*!!!

Crushdepth.

Years ago I had this song I heard going around in my head (I hear the screaming jets...). I didn't know what it was called and so had no hope of finding it (these were the pre-internet days). Today it crossed my mind, I typed it into Google and hell, there it was. And there's even a You-tube video to go with it. Enjoy this marvellous one-hit wonder from 1982 (with background lyrics by Peter Gabriel, no wonder I liked it):

I couldn't help but notice Kevin's body language while talking about petrol prices tonight. Was our Prime Minister trying to send a hidden message to motorists? You be the judge

So I took my shorted-out laptop power supply down to the shop and asked for it to be replaced under warranty. And I explained about the smoke, fire and sparks and suggested that it might be a bad idea to plug it in again.

And of course, they don't trust me, so they plugged it in. What happened? It errupted in smoke, fire and sparks

Then he wandered over with the still-smoking cable in his hand and asked if I wanted it back. 'No warranty for cord!', he said.

Thanks, genius, very helpful.

Crushdepth.

My laptop power supply just errupted in sparks, flames and smoke. Lucky I was around to pull it out of the wall or things might have gotten nasty. Not sure what the cleaners are going to think about the char marks on my bed:

Cleaner: Must have been a pretty hot chick?

Me: Yeah, she was smokin'...

Externally, the box *looks* ok and the cord only has a small melted section. This means I am going to have a hard time getting the whole thing replaced under warranty tomorrow - they will try to fob me off with a new cord for sure. I hate trying to get warranties honoured in Thailand.

Crushdepth.