Web-based email. Also provides access to all .NET Passport sites, including access to MSN Messenger (instant messaging).

 

 

Provides ringtones for Nokia phones that you can type into your phone instead of having to download (and pay for).

 

 

The Facts: Ian Thorpe was disqualified from the 400m qualifier. Grant Hackett and Craig Stevens came first and second respectively, and thus qualified for the Athens Olympics. Craig Stevens has declared his intent not to race in the 400 at Athens. Both Ian Thorpe and Craig will be competing in other events regardless.

 

What I Think: First of all, I think Ian Thorpe is an excellent swimmer and seems to be a really nice guy. However, according to the rules of Swimming Australia (however flawed they may be), he was disqualified from the race. Craig Stevens earned his spot fair and square. I don't think he should have to give up his place to anybody, even Ian Thorpe. I am not concerned about Australia winning more medals because:

 

The Issue: It was going to be about bus drivers, but some other 'bus issues' have occurred to me.

 

What I Think: First of all, student IDs. Fair enough that I get carded when I get on from the bus stop near my house. But do you really think it necessary to ask for my ID when I'm at the uni bus stop, juggling a bga, folder, text books, and money? Apparantly so. Let me tell you something: I wouldn't be doing all of that if I wasn't a student.

 

Second, common courtesy should be a given. Bus drivers should treat all passengers with the respect they deserve as passengers, whether they be 13, 30, or 300 years old. It also goes the other way. Try to swear every second word when you're in an enclosed area with other impressionable people.

 

And finally, if a mother - or indeed father - gets on the bus with a kid in a pram, move from their spot - you know, where two seats face each other with a nice big space for a pram or wheelchair. Yes, get up and move.

And while we're on that, if there are ten people on a bus, and there are ten chairs (so 20 seats), of course they will all be sitting by themselves. But if a family of four gets on - or two, or anything more than one - shuffle around so they can sit together. It won't kill you to sit next to a stranger.

 

What I Think: Abbreviations are great. In lectures, I never ever write government in full, as it is much quicker and easier to write govt. Constitution becomes Const'n. Likewise, every word that ends in -tion gets a 'n added to the end. Executive, legislative and judicial become exec or exec've, leg've, and jud'l. But this is in my personal lecture notes where nobody needs to read or understand them but me.

When I am chatting on MSN Messenger, I never use capital letters. I think they are a waste of time when you are trying to have a conversation. I do use full stops, commas, apostrophes, and some abbreviations. Howver, abbreviations that aren't any shorter, or a only one letter shorter, than the original word I think are ridiculous. Whateva, for eg. I'm sure there're more but I can't think of any atm.

Emails, depending on who they are for, can be excused for not using 100% capital letters. Full stops are essential. There is nothing worse than having to try and work out where the sentance ends and where the next one starts.

 

There, their, and they're. Its and it's. Not that hard. Get it right.