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Wednesday, February 02, 2005

Broadband Update 2: Are we in cyberspace yet?

The answer is no. Thinking that perhaps the problem was that the new ADSL connection has been interfering with the phone & modem, I bought an ADSL line filter and connected it up last night, in the naïve expectation that it would siphon off all that nasty broadband interference and – at the very least –restore our phone services to us.

Nuthin’. Both lines are still fritzed.

Extremely arduous calls to the ISP and Telstra fault lines have revealed the likelihood that in fact the phone line itself is having problems. As we originally suspected, until we second-guessed ourselves. Oh well. So even though the wireless modem will be showing up this morning, hooking it up might still not get us online. A fearless Telstra technician has been dispatched to identify the cause of our torment. Nevertheless I’m getting a distinct sense of unease that this tedious affair is far from over.

Macced up

In (dashed) anticipation of a restoration of access to the Young Person’s Interweb, Jimbo done buyed hisself one a them thar purdy Mac Minis. Whew! It’s small but it’s zippy. And did I remember to mention how goddamn cool it looks? Coz it does. And zippy? My word yes. Even when he was using his old computer as a monitor via Ethernet cable, it still came off as pretty damn quick.

And it would have been even zippier if he could have had the extra RAM installed, but apparently you need a special opening knife to get the back off them (the traditional 10c piece can’t prize apart this baby’s armour, lemme tell ya) and it’s so new that they didn’t even have one in the shop.

He’s just been out to Fyshwick to pick up a second hand (monstrous) monitor, because that whole old-PC-as-monitor-via-ethernet thing just ain’t zippy enough so pretty soon he’s gonna be redlining on the information superhighway.

If the onramp ever opens again, that is.

Misss-ter Gari-bal-di!

So by popular request, I tried my hand at recreating my favourite Italian dish, the Chicken Garibaldi, which to my knowledge has only ever been served in one place – the small trattoria around the corner from Rob and Waa’s old place in Kirwan. I can’t even remember its name, but I can still vividly recall latching on to this one dish and never eating another thing that that place served, despite frequent visits during the ‘90’s.

To the best of my recollection, it’s chicken breast in a brandy cream sauce with peppercorns and sundried tomatoes. Not an especially complex entry into the rich lexicon of Italian cuisine, but most of my previous shots at it have fallen a bit flat. Last night’s attempt was a valiant one – I think I got just about everything right, but I slightly overdid the mustard and cooked the chicken a bit too long, so it was too dry.

But I’m getting there. One day, I will achieve my goal. Oh yes.

7 smartarse remarks Post a Comment

7 Comments:

He bought one? Alreaaaady? Damn, cool.

L.

By Anonymous, at 11:24 AM

Yah. It shiny!

By Dave, at 11:28 AM

In further anticipation, I just ordered myself 512MB of RAM and an Airport card (on the basis that you ain't mistaken about the wireless router thang) for iMacilicious. So my 'puter may well go zip across the airwaves shortly.

Remind me again why I need to see a financial planner?

Das iMonster

By Anonymous, at 11:43 AM

You need help. Run - don't walk - to that plannermajigger feller.

PS: Suh-weet!

By Dave, at 12:16 PM

What a coinkydink. I bought one of them dinky new 12" powerbooks today, not three hours ago. It's currently doing all those software update thingys. Then I'm going to go to bed with it. And write stuff.

By Andrew Shellshear, at 1:25 PM

You should talk to Stu about all the problems we had with phone lines and getting boradband installed at our place. Hell on wheels. One question- do you have a back to base alarm system at your place? If so, you'll actually need a central filter (splitter).

Jen (Barrow)

By Anonymous, at 9:32 AM

Jen - we have a Back to Base, but it's not installed (came with the house). Will remember that if we ever get around to having it connected and if we ever get our phone back...

By Dave, at 7:18 AM


	Wednesday, February 02, 2005 Broadband Update 2: Are we in cyberspace yet? The answer is no. Thinking that perhaps the problem was that the new ADSL connection has been interfering with the phone & modem, I bought an ADSL line filter and connected it up last night, in the naïve expectation that it would siphon off all that nasty broadband interference and – at the very least –restore our phone services to us. Nuthin’. Both lines are still fritzed. Extremely arduous calls to the ISP and Telstra fault lines have revealed the likelihood that in fact the phone line itself is having problems. As we originally suspected, until we second-guessed ourselves. Oh well. So even though the wireless modem will be showing up this morning, hooking it up might still not get us online. A fearless Telstra technician has been dispatched to identify the cause of our torment. Nevertheless I’m getting a distinct sense of unease that this tedious affair is far from over. Macced up In (dashed) anticipation of a restoration of access to the Young Person’s Interweb, Jimbo done buyed hisself one a them thar purdy Mac Minis. Whew! It’s small but it’s zippy. And did I remember to mention how goddamn cool it looks? Coz it does. And zippy? My word yes. Even when he was using his old computer as a monitor via Ethernet cable, it still came off as pretty damn quick. And it would have been even zippier if he could have had the extra RAM installed, but apparently you need a special opening knife to get the back off them (the traditional 10c piece can’t prize apart this baby’s armour, lemme tell ya) and it’s so new that they didn’t even have one in the shop. He’s just been out to Fyshwick to pick up a second hand (monstrous) monitor, because that whole old-PC-as-monitor-via-ethernet thing just ain’t zippy enough so pretty soon he’s gonna be redlining on the information superhighway. If the onramp ever opens again, that is. Misss-ter Gari-bal-di! So by popular request, I tried my hand at recreating my favourite Italian dish, the Chicken Garibaldi, which to my knowledge has only ever been served in one place – the small trattoria around the corner from Rob and Waa’s old place in Kirwan. I can’t even remember its name, but I can still vividly recall latching on to this one dish and never eating another thing that that place served, despite frequent visits during the ‘90’s. To the best of my recollection, it’s chicken breast in a brandy cream sauce with peppercorns and sundried tomatoes. Not an especially complex entry into the rich lexicon of Italian cuisine, but most of my previous shots at it have fallen a bit flat. Last night’s attempt was a valiant one – I think I got just about everything right, but I slightly overdid the mustard and cooked the chicken a bit too long, so it was too dry. But I’m getting there. One day, I will achieve my goal. Oh yes. 7 smartarse remarks Post a Comment 7 Comments: He bought one? Alreaaaady? Damn, cool. L. By Anonymous, at 11:24 AM Yah. It shiny! By Dave, at 11:28 AM In further anticipation, I just ordered myself 512MB of RAM and an Airport card (on the basis that you ain't mistaken about the wireless router thang) for iMacilicious. So my 'puter may well go zip across the airwaves shortly. Remind me again why I need to see a financial planner? Das iMonster By Anonymous, at 11:43 AM You need help. Run - don't walk - to that plannermajigger feller. PS: Suh-weet! By Dave, at 12:16 PM What a coinkydink. I bought one of them dinky new 12" powerbooks today, not three hours ago. It's currently doing all those software update thingys. Then I'm going to go to bed with it. And write stuff. By Andrew Shellshear, at 1:25 PM You should talk to Stu about all the problems we had with phone lines and getting boradband installed at our place. Hell on wheels. One question- do you have a back to base alarm system at your place? If so, you'll actually need a central filter (splitter). Jen (Barrow) By Anonymous, at 9:32 AM Jen - we have a Back to Base, but it's not installed (came with the house). Will remember that if we ever get around to having it connected and if we ever get our phone back... By Dave, at 7:18 AM