NEWSBYTES May / June

Contents:

Variety SA announced best in the world!
Indiana Jones movie night whips up funds for charity
Goulish Gala a great success
Sex and the City movie night sold out
Batman: The Dark Night movie night reminder
Tim Adams Wines getting into the spirit for Variety

Welcome to the May / June edition of Newsbytes, the bi-monthly Adam Internet newsletter.

Newsbytes will keep you updated on what's happening at Adam Internet, provide hints and tips for getting the most out of your connection and let you know about specials or new services that you can take advantage of.

If there's anything you would like to see in Newsbytes, either as a feature or as a regular column, please email us at newsbytes@adam.com.au

Adam in the Spotlight

• 'Naked' broadband will strip cash from Adam
  
• Welcome Aboard
• Gateway to the net
• Award-winning family firms the pride of South Australia
• One-time bulletin board's web of influence
• Smashing a Bash best
• All together ooky
  

Outage Wednesday 11 June 2008

As most of you are now aware, last week saw the most significant outages in Adam Internet's 20-year history. Throughout the years, and particularly in recent times, we have invested heavily in both staff and infrastructure to make certain that events like last week cannot occur. It was therefore very concerning to us that our valued customers experienced such prolonged outages and our business' reputation for excellence was tarnished. While some aspects of the outages remain unclear and under investigation, I can assure you we have the entire Adam Internet networking team currently working with Silk Telecoms (our backhaul provider) and Ericsson (our ADSL DSLAM vendor) to ensure this does not happen again.

Adam Internet management and staff would like to apologise to our loyal customers for this outage and to thank you for your patience and continued support as we work through this problem. Our commitment to customer service is unparalleled in our industry, and we accept that this outage, while not completely within our control, is not consistent with the level of service that our customers have come to expect from Adam Internet.

[For more detailed information please click this link]

Currently, we can only put this down to an underlying compatibility issue between one particular release of an Ericsson switch used in our AdamDirect exchanges and Silk Telecoms' Nortel core network.

As with any such event, Adam Internet will take the opportunity to analyse the events of this outage and learn from the outcomes of this analysis. At this stage, we are continuing to monitor the network closely and to fine tune performance as any remaining issues are identified.

Unfortunate events like this have highlighted the importance of keeping our customers informed, without you being burdened with lengthy hold times. During events such as this, customers are obviously unable to access their e-mail or our website to see details of any outages. As such, we have made a further enhancement to our system, and in three weeks we will have an Adelaide metropolitan telephone number available for you to call from any landline or mobile phone anywhere in Australia. This will use a new smart application that turns the summary text in any outage notification on our website to speech. This means that at any time (24 hours a day) you will be able to call this number and find out instantly the status of our network. As a further enhancement, in line with the new Cisco phone system recently introduced by Adam Internet, any time you call the Adam Internet helpdesk, this information will instantly be played back to you to save unnecessary hold times.

Adam Internet wins award for Family Business of the Year

Adam Internet has won the "second generation business" title in this yea's South Australian Family Business of the Year Awards.

The prestigious award celebrates the company's current leadership under Managing Director, Scott Hicks, and recognises the achievements of its founder, Chairman Greg Hicks.

By 1992, the growth of the service merited the move to form a proprietary limited company - Adam Internet. The business' first office in Adelaide was opened in 1994, with Gregs son, Scott, joining the company working his way up to the role of Managing Director.

With Greg as Chairman and Scott as Managing Director, the father-son team has driven the company through a significant period of growth during the past few years. Now serving more than 70,000 customers in SA, Adam Internet has established its own exchanges and launched ADSL services across the metropolitan region. Now launching new products such as Unconditioned Local Loop (ULL) - otherwise known as naked DSL - the company is proving its title as a leader in its industry.

Scott Hicks says the award reflects the company's dedication to upholding its family values while growing to accommodate its customers.

"Winning the Family Business Award for SA not only shows our commitment to developing our business, but also proves our dedication to serving our customers and our industry," Mr Hicks said.

"Our goal is to keep that small business mentality, where every customer is just as important as the next. We continue to offer the best solutions at the lowest price for all customers whether they be residential, government or business," he said.

Adam Internet will compete for the national "second generation business" title in Cairns on 9 August.

Adam Internet double decker bus wins Children's Choice at the Novita CMV Convoy For Kids

Adam Internet's bright yellow double decker bus was the top choice at the Novita CMV Convoy For Kids on Sunday 25 May, winning the James Kemp Children's Choice Award.

The Adam Internet bus followed a procession of nearly 400 heavy vehicles from Barrett Reserve in West Lakes Shores through to King William Road before traveling back down Sir Donald Bradman Drive.

"I would like to extend my appreciation for the time and effort that your company provided on the Convoy. My son has autism and is obsessed by yellow, he was very fearful of riding in a truck on the day. Your bus provided us with the opportunity to take part in something we would normally have missed out on. Your staff are to be commended on their professionalism and wonderful service. I will remember the day with great joy, and offer my congratulations on winning the Children's Choice Award for the day. It was well deserved."

Novita's annual event helps to raise funds to aid South Australian children and their families living with disabilities. If you'd like to find out more, please visit www.novita.org.au

Adam Internet Technology Show Update

The first ever Adam Internet Technology Show is to be staged at the Adelaide Showground from 11 - 13 July. This exciting new event will feature over 100 suppliers showcasing the latest for your home and office including computer hardware, software and services, printers, office furniture, home automation, information services, mobile technologies, cameras, home entertainment and games.

Staged alongside the Building & Home Improvement Show, the two events will give insight into the latest technological and home innovations all in the one location. Spanning across three pavilions at the Adelaide Showgrounds, the event will provide the opportunity to see and sample the latest products, which you can also buy at special show-only prices.

You can come and meet the Adam Internet Team at our interactive display in the Ridley Centre, where you can pick the brains of our Internet experts as well as have all your Internet related questions answered.

The event will also feature a Games Zone, where visitors of all ages can have some fun and experience 'what's new' in interactive home entertainment.

Admission prices give access to both events. Adults $ 9.00, Concessions $ 7.00, Children under 15 Free.

We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information on the event or to discuss showcasing a product, please contact Sean at Kym Jones Exhibitions on 08 8177 1499 or email sean@kjex.com.au

www.KymJonesExhibitions.com.au

[Click here to view the poster]

'Flower Power meets Disco' at Sfera's Park Suites and Convention Centre for Christmas in July

Take a step back in time to the 60s, 70s and the Elvis era with themed floorshows provided by KTC Entertainment. Featuring plenty of prizes and giveaways, this dinner event hosted by Sfera's Park Suites and Convention Centre will make you think all your Christmases have come at once.

For more information on Christmas in July, [click this link].

When the real Christmas season rolls in at the end of 2008, Sfera's are again set to party with "Staying Alive in Motown" and "Hollywood Legends" themed functions.

For more information on "Staying Alive in Motown" [click this link] .

For more information on "Hollywood Legends" [click this link].

Sfera's Park Suites and Convention Centres offer a wide range of services, including a function room and convention centre, accommodation, tourism and hospitality training plus gourmet food and catering for a variety of events.

Visit www.sferas.com to make a booking today.

Variety Update

Variety SA announced best in the world!

Variety SA has been named the best performing Variety organisation in the world, receiving the Gold Heart Award at the Variety International Convention in New Zealand.

The award recipient is judged on a set criteria including:

• the amount of money raised in a year
• the spirit of the organisation
• the impact on the children of their community
• efficiency of the operation and its fundraising

Variety SA has contributed more than $27 million to local children and their families since 1983, and last year the organisation raised its net revenue intake by 27 per cent.

Adam Internet is proud to support Variety SA, taking part in one of its largest fundraising events, the Variety Bash. Last year, Car Adam was the "best virgin basher" raising over $104,000 for Variety, contributing to the overall fundraising total of $1.7 million. This year, thanks to the support of our sponsors and our customers, is expected to be another record-breaking year.

Congratulations to Variety SA on the receipt of this prestigious award and we look forward to continuing to support Variety - The Children's Charity.

Indiana Jones movie night whips up funds for charity

On Friday 30 May, Adam Internet, with the support of Wallis Cinemas, hosted a special screening of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, raising funds for our Bash car, Car Adam, as part of our commitment to Variety - The Children's Charity.

The night was a huge success, with all tickets sold out. Even Indiana Jones himself, turned up to crack his whip for Variety. Over $3000 was raised on the night through tickets sales and a raffle for two Indiana Jones box sets thanks to EzyDVD.

Thank you to all who attended, we hope you had a wonderful night.

Goulish Gala a great success

Adam Internet's second annual Adams Family Charity Gala was a huge success, raising over $40,000 for Variety - The Children's Charity.

Held at Sfera's Park Suites and Convention Centre on Friday 13 June, guests dressed up as characters from the classic television series The Addams Family, and enjoyed a 3-course dinner, complemented by Tim Adams Premium Wines with beer and champagne courtesy of the Fosters Group.

Jane Reilly was kind enough to donate her time as our witty MC and Anthony Toop, of Toop&Toop, helped guests to open their wallets to donate to Variety SA.

Thank you to all the guests who attended, donated, and danced the night away.

Click the thumbnails below to view photographs from the evening.

Sex and the City movie night sold out

On Sunday 15 June, Car Adam together with Car Bali hosted a super sexy evening out for the ladies (and a few reluctant men).

The Pink Pig Wine Bar provided VIP's with pre-movie cosmopolitans while Muse Boutique and Cheeky Babe Lingerie showcased the latest in runway fashion. Guests then headed to Wallis Cinemas for a private screening of Sex and the City. After the film, guests were treated to an exclusive after movie party at the Pink Pig where gossip flowed faster than drinks!

Batman: The Dark Night movie night reminder

Keep your schedule relatively free mid-July, when the final of our annual movie nights for Variety concludes with the latest Batman film, The Dark Knight.

Tickets to go on sale shortly, stay tuned for more details.

Tim Adams Wines getting into the spirit for Variety

Tim Adams Premium Wines have an exclusive offer for Newsbytes wine lovers.

For every dozen of Tim Adams Premium Clare Valley wines sold at a special discounted price, $20 will be donated to Car Adam in support of Variety - The Children's Charity.

To take advantage of this special offer, simply fill in the order forms and the wine will be delivered hassle free to your door.

Visit https://members.adam.com.au/timadams to place an order today.

Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine - The National Railway Museum

Join Sir Topham Hatt the Fat Controller at the National Railway Museum from 12 - 20 July for 9 days of fun and entertainment, with train rides on Thomas the Tank engine, Peronne or our famous Red Hens rail cars, at the Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine.

Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine 2008 promises to be bigger and better than ever! The National Railway Museum has invested in the stage production Where's the Best Engine? produced by Eastern Seaboard Productions, written and directed by Martin Christmas, with Robert Petchell as composer and musical director. The City of Port Adelaide Enfield is proud to be a major sponsor of this fun new initiative.

Official friends of Friends of Thomas the Tank Engine include Channel 9, Mix 102.3, the Port Centre Coordinating Group, The Advertiser, APN Outdoor, PlaygroupSA, and Network/Ooh!, who are supporting the project. The Rotary Clubs of Flinders Park and Kidman Park will again provide valuable catering from the 'Hamburger Tent' and the Cafeteria Car.

Circkidz acrobats, Dan Burt the One Man Band and jazz group the Eddie White Allstars will be providing entertainment on the day, with additional activities, including badge making, amusement rides, face painting and the Island of Sodor bouncing castle, keeping children active.

Be sure to check out the Break of Gauge Shop for Thomas the Tank Engine toys and books, railway books, videos and DVDs. Open every day from 10am to 5pm. Kids can enter our colouring competition to earn free entry and a chance to win a birthday party in the Cafeteria Car.

Exclusive to Adam Internet customers, free access for one child per paying adult when you print and present the special voucher located [here].

The National Railway Museum is a not for profit, self-funding, volunteer organisation.

National Railway Museum
Lipson Street South
Port Adelaide
South Australia 5015
T 08 8341 1690
www.natrailmuseum.org.au

BodyTalk Health with Phil Sheldon

Are we being poisoned?

UK researchers tested the effects of a range of artificial colourings on children's behaviour. From this testing it is understood that the results support previous research linking additives to hyperactivity and poor concentration. The British Government have not yet banned these chemicals, nor has Australia, however independent experts say parents should avoid foodstuffs containing the additives, which include tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124), sunset yellow (E110), carmoisine (E122), quinoline yellow (E104) and allura red AC (E129), as test by a team at the University of Southampton.

Over the years, I have interviewed Government and Industry representatives regarding chemical pollution of our food and the environment. I am told that there is not a problem - the levels are well within world health limits and pose no danger. No problem, or so they say, with the thousands of agricultural chemicals leeching and seeping into the food we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe.

It seems very few of these thousands of chemicals used in food production, food processing and agriculture - let alone manufacturing - pose little or no danger to us humans. The increase has been amazing, from approximately 600 grams per each person alive in the 1940s, to approximately 70 kilograms of production per person alive today. What's more, chemicals are everywhere; in our food, our clothes, the water we wash with, our shampoos, our soaps, cosmetics, soft drinks, cars, furniture, toothpaste, carpets and even paint. Chemicals are sprayed on crops, added to processed foods and are in our children's foods and the medicines we take.

Studies carried out on humans have repeatedly shown in blood and urine tests residuals of pesticides, dioxins, cadmium plastics and the list goes on. One study looked at breast milk from breast-feeding mothers and in all cases was found to contain levels of chemicals such as pesticides and dioxins.

Evidence of the effects on wildlife has also been devastating. Phthalates, which are used during plastic manufacturing to make materials soft and flexible, are proven to be endocrinal disrupters, causing birth defects among wildlife from fish, birds and even alligators in the everglades of the USA.

So, are we being poisoned and are we being told the truth? Regardless of where we live and where we work I believe there is a danger, especially for our children. Generations will look back in anger and disbelief at what we have done, as many far-sighted people are now doing with despair and sadness.

© Phil Sheldon 2008
www.philsheldon.com.au
www.bodytalkhealth.com
The Balanced Way
205 Payneham Road, St Peters SA 5069
8362 1157

Toopy's Tips

Adelaide - The next Perth?

Across the nation all eyes are coming to rest on Adelaide. Why? Because when it comes to the property market, Adelaide is in a strong position to see plenty of growth.

We are on track to be the next 'Perth'.

Back in 2001, Perth, who had always been undervalued by the rest of the nation, embarked on what was set to be the biggest real estate boom they'd ever experienced. A huge growth in mining caused an urgent necessity for skilled workers in Western Australia and resulted in an increased demand for property. Investors jumped on board, taking their returns from the increased commodity prices on the share market and putting them to work in the property market. In the space of 6 years Perth saw their median house price increase from $180,000 to $450,000 - a huge rise of 150%.

So how does Adelaide compare to Perth?

Adelaide has always been undervalued by the bigger cities and in recent weeks even regarded as ‘a back water’ by our eastern cousins! The facts are that our mining boom is just beginning and house prices in Roxby are already showing the effects of the increased demand. Strong Defence contracts in place is seeing increased growth flowing out from the region surrounding the Edinburgh RAAF Base, with a prime example being the immense re-development of Port Adelaide – the last major city undeveloped port in Australia. South Australia’s Agriculture and Aquaculture industries are also set to attract skilled workers and further the growth of the property market.

At this current point in time, Adelaide is recording a median house price of around $360,000 – sitting in sixth position behind Sydney, Canberra, Perth, Brisbane and Darwin respectively. Although interest rates are currently holding the market tight, our Real Estate market remains in a fantastic position to surge forward with continued growth and enter another boom time. For the next 3 to 6 months we’re predicting that the market will remain stable, but, if rates drop, hang onto your hats – we could be in for a great ride!

Anthony Toop
Toop&Toop Real Estate
23-25 The Parade
Norwood 5067
(08) 8362 8888

Wide World of Finance – Presented by Jeff Potter and Macquarie Bank

How borrowing in super has stepped up a gear

Article by Themi Karakaidos

If you’ve recently heard that you can now borrow within super, it’s true. What isn’t true, however, is that it’s a new concept.

Borrowing within super has been common practice for many years through the use of instalment warrants and geared managed funds. However, in 2006 the regulators came to the view that gearing in super using instalment warrants involved a breach of the borrowing exception in the legislation.

After feedback and consultation with the industry, Federal Parliament passed legislation in September 2007 which exempted instalment warrants from breaching the borrowing rules. In addition, the legislation broadened the scope of the rules to not only apply to instalment warrant products, but to a wider range of share and property arrangements – hence the reason many people may think that it’s ‘new’.

However, it’s not as simple as a super fund taking out an investment loan. The borrowing arrangement needs to meet a long list of conditions.

Utilising this strategy largely depends on your retirement objectives and appetite for risk and return. It can be a high risk strategy and should only be undertaken if your objectives are for growth in the run up to retirement. In addition, unlike gearing outside of super, generally your capital cannot be accessed until you reach at least 55 years of age and are retired. So, if the capital is required to fund a lifestyle event prior to retirement then this strategy is probably not appropriate for you.

Taking into consideration the above, gearing in superannuation may suit those who:

• have a need to accelerate wealth to fund their retirement;
• have a reasonable super balance and/or adequate cashflow in super;
• are investing for the long term and have an appetite for risk.
  

Your current super balance and also cashflow position will determine the level of borrowings and whether you can fund the loan repayments. In order to ensure that you can meet the loan repayments, it’s essential that your cashflow position is monitored vigilantly.

For instance, you should make sure that you will always have enough cash to avoid a situation should the interest expense on a loan be greater than the investment income earned within the fund. You do not want to encounter a scenario which results in you having to make an injection of capital into the loan, particularly if the contribution limits have been utilised that financial year. This could result in the forced sale of assets.

However, borrowing inside of super can be an efficient means of accumulating wealth as earnings and gains are taxed at concessional rates. It also provides the opportunity to increase your retirement capital further in an environment where your capital can be drawn tax-free after the age of 60. While there are limits on the amount that can be contributed to super there is no limit to the amount that you can accumulate.

Gearing within super can be very effective for assets that are expected to provide good long-term capital growth well in excess of borrowing and other expenses, given the lower tax rates applicable within super on earnings and in particular capital growth (when compared to an individual’s marginal tax rate). It may suit assets with a high income expectation or those with a low loan to value ratio which means that the total income may be above the total interest payable. Based on this, growth assets may include shares, private equity and property. Given the current environment, it is important to be selective about the assets that you choose and the way that you finance them.

A number of new products have been released recently to allow you to gear in super and access the above assets. Macquarie Private Wealth has modelled a number of different scenarios and assessed the benefits and risks of each one. There is a wide range of different options to choose from, especially around the borrowing arrangements. Where products are being used, they should generally have a product ruling from the ATO. There is also the option of tailoring your own gearing arrangement using a self managed super fund to suit your needs using specialist legal, taxation and financial planning advisers. With this option, however, there are even more risks to be aware of, especially as there are still some grey areas around the rules that are awaiting clarification.

In all cases, however, it is important you talk to an adviser for the most appropriate arrangement for your personal situation.

If you have any enquiries relating to superannuation please contact Avi Kleinburd, Financial Planner, Macquarie Private Wealth on 08 8203 0338 or Avi.Kleinburd@macquarie.com. For all other general enquiries, please contact Jeff Potter, Private Client Adviser, Macquarie Private Wealth on 08 8203 0352 or Jeff.Potter@macquarie.com

Macquarie Private Wealth’s services are provided by Macquarie Equities Limited (MEL) ABN 41 002 574 923, Participant of Australian Securities Exchange Group, AFSL No. 237504, Level 18, 20 Bond Street, Sydney NSW 2000.

MEL is not an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959 (Cth), and MEL's obligations do not represent deposits or other liabilities of Macquarie Bank Limited ABN 46 008 583 542 (MBL). MBL does not guarantee or otherwise provide assurance in respect of the obligations of MEL

This general advice has been prepared by MEL and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on this general advice you should consider whether it is appropriate to your situation. We recommend you obtain financial, legal and taxation advice before making any financial investment decision. Gearing will magnify losses as well as gains. The Macquarie Group does not give, nor does it purport to give, any taxation advice. The application of taxation laws to each investor depends on that investor’s individual circumstances. Accordingly, investors should seek independent professional advice on taxation implications before making any investment decisions

Music networking tool - www.last.fm - While MySpace and Facebook are great networking tools, when it comes to music, Last.FM is the best. Setup an account, download the client, begin listening to your music on your computer and Last.FM will keep track of what you listen to, suggest friends with similar taste, provide radio stations featuring new music you might like and more. It's the perfect tool for any music lover.

Why South Australia? - www.southaustralia.com - Our great State's official page includes calendars with upcoming events, travel information, and a large collection of helpful tips for making the most of the South Australian lifestyle.

Why South Australia? (Business) - www.southaustralia.biz - Discover why SA is the place to do business in Australia. The site features information on upcoming business workshops, presentations, important events, publications, grant programs and news.

• Right-click on your desktop and choose "Personalize"
• Click on the "Change desktop icons" link in the upper left hand corner
• In the "Desktop Icons Settings" window, check the "Recycle Bin" box and click "OK"

Easy, right? If you're still unsure, click the image to the right for visual reference.

Windows XP and Vista

Both Windows XP and Vista make use of a Quick Launch bar, located next to the Start button on the bottom left-hand side of the screen. This bar provides one-click access to programs, folders and documents with ease and can help make navigation faster. Simply click and drag an icon from your desktop or an open window over the Quick Launch bar to add a shortcut. Why not use the Quick Launch bar for your favourite media player, a to-do list, your My Documents folder or cleaning up your desktop?

Linux

Unused icons cluttering your Applications menu? Try hiding them. Simply right-click on the Applications menu and select ‘Edit Menus'. You can then select which icons you would like displayed by clicking on the check boxes. A tick means the icon is displayed, no tick means it's hidden. For a visual reference, click the image to the right.

Keep your Applications menu tidy and help improve your productivity!

Mac OS X 10.5

OS X 10.5 Leopard offers the ability to establish a variety of separate Spaces for your applications, which is similar to having a variety of different desktops on the same monitor. For instance, you may have a word application program open full screen and with a touch of a button you can switch to another screen where an excel spreadsheet is open full screen.

Setting up Spaces can save a lot of time and help you to be more productive, however it requires a little time to become familiar with.

Visit ["Mac 101: Using Spaces to organise your windows and applications in Leopard"] for more information.

iPhone 3G comes in both 8 gigabyte and 16 gigabyte versions and will be available only through Optus and Vodafone contracts from July 11. Australian prices are yet to be released.

In the US, the iPhone 3G will be sold for a mere US$199 for the basic model, however it is uncertain whether Australian prices will be similar.

Visit http://www.apple.com/au/iphone/ for more information on the Apple iPhone.

Plan information will be available shortly from http://www.vodafone.com.au and http://www.optusiphone.com.au .