• Introduction
• From the Managing Director
• News
• Adam in the Spotlight
• Customer Service Desk has moved
• Adam Advances
• Be heard with Adam Internet YourSay
• Adam Internet defying economic downturn
• ABC iView service now counted as local data
• Events
• 2009 Footy Tipping Competition open for registration
• Ride Like Crazy a crazy success
• Arts Access SA presents Access to Fringe 2009
• Special Offers
• Buy Tim Adams Wines and support Variety
• Feature
• BodyTalk Health with Phil Sheldon
• Entertainment
• Weblinks
• Hot Tips

It is with great excitement that I, along with the Adam Internet team, welcome in the new year, which is guaranteed to be remembered as a year of massive growth and unbridled innovation for Adam Internet.

As you may have already seen, we have refreshed the Adam Internet brand. In order to further establish an iconic, memorable and recognisable brand identity, we have worked closely with a design team to reinvigorate our logo and our approach to public advertising. This began in 2008 with the Adam Naked DSL and AdamRewards television commercials featuring our liberated ‘naked guy’ Chris. The changes will continue this year with the official release of the new Adam logo, which you can see at the top right of this newsletter. It is clean, fresh and striking and will replace the old Adam Internet logo over the course of the year.

In addition to a refreshed brand identity, we are also expanding the range of services we offer to our customers, launching the AdamMobile and AdamAnyG services later in the year. Together, these products will provide customers the ability to take Adam Internet's fast and reliable Internet service Australia-wide and at competitive prices.

While we are working to expand the range of services on offer, Adam Internet has also expanded in size – both in our workforce and in our office environment.

We have recently hired a great number of staff, creating new employment opportunities for many South Australians during this period of financial turmoil. At present, we are still interviewing for new Customer Service Officers and expect to continue expanding our workforce throughout the year. This is in addition to a continually growing client base consisting of both residential and business customers.

To accommodate the new staff and equipment required to maintain our high levels of customer service and super-fast Internet products, we have acquired eight out of the eleven floors at our Adelaide-based office building. Our new Customer Service Centre is now located on level two, and we will continue to refurbish additional floors, creating a Tech Centre, Sales Centre and an Executive hub. Our bright, new offices provide an open and welcoming work environment and our staff are extremely positive about the changes we are making internally.

As in previous years, Adam Internet has been a company that maintains a strong community focus, and as such, we will be supporting the Animal Welfare League throughout the year, as well as to a number of other community groups, such as the Mick Koerner Foundation, which has raised over $80,000 for those with cancer.

Our staff enjoy participating in a variety of charity events, such as Movember, in support of men’s health and The World's Greatest Shave, for the Leukemia Foundation. However it makes me especially proud to announce that our staff recently pulled together in support of the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal and donated over $1000 of personal funds. Adam Internet matched staff donations dollar for dollar for a total of $2027.80. We also encourage you to contribute to the appeal - if you haven't already - as the victims of the fire have lost everything from personal belongings through to houses and loved ones, with those that survived left to rebuild their lives from scratch. In 2009 we are hoping to continue to support those in need by being involved in community and charitable events.

On behalf of all the staff at Adam Internet, welcome to an exciting new year and we look forward to providing you with the fastest and most reliable Internet services available in South Australia.

Best regards,

Scott Hicks
Managing Director

Please don't forget, 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.

• Have globe, will travel
• Defying the downturn? Adam looks 3G
• Adam expands workforce, office space

The Adam Internet Customer Service Desk has moved to a new and improved office space.

On Monday 15 December, our Customer Service Desk was relocated to level two within our building at 117 King William Street, only five floors down from the previous location on level seven.

Featuring a shiny new Customer Service desk, new iMac account sign up computers and funky orange and yellow stools, we've never been better equipped to answer your queries.

In addition to the Customer Call Centre, we are now refurbishing another two floors, creating more space for additional staff and to facilitate the development of a "Tech Centre", which will be home to the tech staff who maintain the Adam Internet network and various services.

As well as office refurbishments, faster, quieter and more efficient elevators are also being installed in the building, with the first of the new elevators up and running in late February, and the second to be functioning by August.

Adam Internet is happy to announce that we will be refreshing our brand image in 2009, coinciding with the launch of a variety of new and exciting products.

This refreshment began with the roll out of the new Adam Internet logo, simply titled "Adam", which will be the umbrella under which all other Adam products fall.

New "Adam " logo

Example of new "Adam" logo used in branding, such as "Adam Internet".

The new Adam logo has already been frosted onto the glass of our brand new Customer Call Centre and front service desk on level two, 117 King William Street. Observant customers may also have noticed "AdamMobile" adorning the glass and we're proud to officially announce this exciting product.

Coming later this year, Adam Internet will be launching AdamMobile - a mobile phone service to complement our current provision of Internet services.

In addition, we will be launching a 3G Wireless Internet service called AdamAnyG. Providing a fast and cost effective Internet service for mobile phones and portable Internet devices, AdamAnyG will allow our broadband customers to take their Internet connection Australia-wide*.

With Adam Internet, AdamMobile and AdamAnyG services, you'll have access to fast and reliable Internet service from anywhere in Australia, all on the one bill.

2009 will be a massive year for Adam Internet as we continue to grow and bring our customers the latest technologies at competitive prices. Thank you for inspiring us.

* Only available in areas covered by the Optus 3G Wireless Network.

YourSay is an innovative new service established by Adam Internet to create a direct line of communication between customers and senior staff.

Aside from the already existing help desk which services any regular inquiries or technical support, YourSay will allow customers to approach senior level staff with more pressing and higher level issues such as ongoing problems, concerns, feedback or suggestions regarding any of our services. All emails will be read by a senior staff member and will be responded to directly.

YourSay is not a help desk system, so if you have any questions or concerns about troubleshooting, Adam Internet services or general inquiries about Adam Internet, then please contact the help desk directly on 08 8423 4000.

If you have something that you would like to say, then please email YourSay@adam.com.au.

Adam Internet is defying the economic downturn by significantly expanding its workforce – and office space – to keep up with customer demand.

Securing a number of new customers, Adam Internet has made 23 new appointments including two senior roles - Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to assist with the financial management and technological development of the business.

Fortunately, the IT sector is one of the few that isn’t feeling the effect of the global credit crunch, with the next few years tipped to show continued, strong growth. This is clearly evident through the number of major contracts and awards won by Adam internet, as well as the high level of customer sign ups, which is consistently around 1,800 customers per month.

For the first time, Adam Internet has employed a CTO and a CFO, which will further assist in the development of the business.

Jon Gerschwitz joins Adam Internet as CFO, with a solid background in the banking, finance and accounting sectors. He most recently held the position of Chief Financial Officer at the Australian Retail Franchise Group and led the organisation’s business services group which covered finance, IT, supply chain, franchising and administration.

Rob McKeon will take on the role of CTO, and will be responsible for the strategic development and management of technology solutions, further strengthening Adam Internet’s service delivery. Mr McKeon has more than 20 years’ experience in senior IT management roles, most recently as Program Director, Business Systems Integration with Adelaide Bank.

Have you missed one of your ABC favourites lately – the most-recent episode of Doctor Who, The Einstein Factor or the latest documentary on the royal family? Then you need to check out ABC iView - a free Internet broadcasting service designed for high-speed ADSL2+ Internet connections (1.1Mbps and above), which offers full-screen television programs on-demand and at a high resolution.

Adam Internet is excited to announce that ABC's iView now counts as local download content, providing access to some of the highest-quality programs available for free, without exceeding your allocated download quota.

As all content is streamed, each video will begin to play instantly, similar in concept to the popular YouTube service, thus eliminating download times.

The five ABC iView channels include:

• ABC CatchUp -- Recent best of ABC1 & ABC2 TV
• ABC News -- Current affairs from the trusted source
• ABC Kazam! -- Action animation for all ages
• ABC Docs -- ABC's best factual programs
• ABC Arts -- ABC's best arts programs

In addition, iView has a playlist feature allowing you to save a list of all your favourite programs and effectively create your own television station, and the ability to preview many of the DVDs found in the ABC Shop so you can try before you buy.

To access ABC iView today, visit  www.abc.new.au/iview or, for more information visit http://www.abc.net.au/tv/iview/requirements.htm

Registration for the Adam Internet 2009 Footy Tipping Competition is now open, ready for those venerable Nostradamus' of tipsters to compete for cash and glory.

Register now for your chance to share in a total cash prize pool of $2,750*:

First Prize: $2,000 cash
Second Prize: $500 cash
Third Prize: $250 cash

In addition to the end of season prizes, the top three tipsters every round will each win 4 Wallis Cinema tickets.

To register your FREE entry for the Adam Internet 2009 Footy Tipping Competition, simply log into the Adam Internet Members Services Area at https://members.adam.com.au and select Footy Tipping from the left-hand side menu. Complete the simple registration form and place your tips.

Tips for each week must be lodged at least one hour before the first match of the round. All tipsters will be notified of the results for each round via email.

The 2009 AFL Premiership season begins this Thursday 26 March as Richmond take on Cartlon at the MCG, so get to it and register NOW.

Remember: you’ve got to be in it to win it!

* The Adam Internet 2009 Footy Tipping Competition is open to Adam Internet customers only.

Recently, South Australia Police (SAPOL) STAR Group member, Mick "Crazy" Koerner (pictured right) was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. In support of Crazy and his family, his workmates organised Ride Like Crazy -- a charity bicycle ride to increase awareness of cancer and raise funds for the Mick Koerner Foundation.

The event, which took place on January 22 this year, raised more than $80,000 for the Mick Koerner foundation.

Wearing a personalised Ride Like Crazy jersey, more than 650 riders pedaled up to 137km of the Tour Down Under’s Marion to Victor Harbor route, raising $60,000 in the process. The group was treated to a Subway and barbecue lunch, kindly arranged by T&R Pastoral, while the professional Tour Down Under riders crossed the finishing line.

On the following night, 350 people attended "Drinks with Crazy" at The Highway Inn where $20,000 was raised in a charity auction.

With the overwhelming success of Ride Like Crazy 2009, the Mick Koerner Foundation are already looking at organising further events.

If you would like to make a donation to the Mick Koerner Foundation, contact David Scutchings at david.scutchings@police.sa.gov.au or donate direct by transferring funds to the following bank account:

Account name: Mick Koerner Foundation
Bank: Police Credit Union
BSB: 805005
Account number: 5213316

Please send an email to David Scutchings post-donation for a tax invoice.

For more information, please visit www.ridelikecrazy.com and sign up to receive the latest news via email by sending an email to info@ridelikecrazy.com.

Arts Access SA presents Access to Fringe 2009, featuring exhibitions and workshops promoting up and coming South Australian disabled artists.

You can find a selection of exhibitions and events below, with a full list of events and details available via the Arts Access SA website at http://www.artsaccess-sa.org.au/festivals or you can download the Access to Fringe 2009 brochure from Adam Internet via this link.

Art on the Edge

When: Thursday 26 February to Saturday 21 March

Tuesday to Saturday from 12 noon - 5pm

Where: 106 Currie Street, Adelaide

What: Spread over two floors at 106 Currie Street, Adelaide at AASA’s new CBD creative space, this exhibition with a difference and the associated events should not be missed this Fringe.

The visually stimulating creative offerings at 106 Currie Street range from the work of talented disabled illustrators, textile artists and photographers to painters and mixed media practitioners.

Artists in Residence

When: 26 February – 21 March

Tuesday – Saturday 12 noon - 5pm

Where: 106 Currie Street, Adelaide

What: This will be an ongoing Artists in Residence program highlighting the process behind artists in the current Fringe exhibition and with the artists working on site in the studio at 106 Currie Street daily.

It will allow visitors to chat to the artists while they work and get a behind the scenes look at work in progress.

Short & Sweet -- Short film evening

When: Thursday 12 March at 6.30pm

Where: 106 Currie Street, Adelaide

What: Three of SA’s best disabled short film makers will screen their latest works with the Directors talking us through their inspirations and processes. The three directors and their films are:

• Mitchell Wetherill with Ella Rising, an entertaining fake horror film trailer
• John Willanski with Dusk Day, an animated feature in the style of a black fairy tale

Feature presentation: The talented Rachel High will be present as we screen her film, Brown the Dirt. This fantastic children’s comedy is about a twelve-year-old adventurer and animal lover called Craig who dreams of the endangered zebra kangaroo and its cry to save the species. This is the directorial debut of Rachel High, possibly Australia’s first ever Downs Syndrome film director. Brown the Dirt is played by a wonderful cast of new and established theatre and film actors including Lorcan Hopper as Craig, Steve Noonan as Corbett and Hew Parham as Gough.

Brown the Dirt has been proudly supported by SAYA, the Richard Llewellyn Arts and Disability Trust and the Screen and Media Department of Flinders University.

Adam Internet is a proud sponsor of Arts Access SA.

Stock up on Tim Adam's Premium Clare Valley wines at special prices and support South Australian children in need.

For every dozen Tim Adams Premium Clare Valley wines sold at the special discounted price, $20 will be donated to 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.

The current range of delicious drops includes 2008 Chardonnay Brut, 2007 Riesling, 2008 Chardonnay, 2005 Cabernet and NV Rose from the Clare Valley together with a 2005 Shiraz from the Southern Flinders Ranges.

To place an order visit, https://members.adam.com.au/timadams/

Stress can be a killer
 
We all hear about and talk about stress, but just what is stress and can it really cause us mental and physical harm? After all, even with global financial meltdowns, horrendous natural disasters, global warming, environmental plunder and global destruction we have probably never had it so good. Many of us still live a life of abundance. So, what is all this about stress then?

We need to break it down into 'positive stress' versus 'negative stress'. Take positive stress, for example, when building your own home there are bound to be lots and lots of problems and at times you may wonder why you even bothered, but when it is all finished and you are sitting on your verandah sipping a glass of wine and loving where you live, the stress melts away. The same goes for working hard towards a long term goal, a project or an assignment at work, University or school. It is hard, you're over it, you have had enough, but when you finally get it in on time, when you receive a good grade, or win over that major client, you come to realise it was all worth the effort.

So what is the negative stress, the chronic stress, doing to us?  When our hormonal levels go haywire, we are switching on the fight or flight response.  Adrenalin and cortisol from your sympathetic nervous system goes into overdrive, as well norepinephrine from the medulla of the adrenal glands. The release of all these hormones is triggered by acetylcholine released from preganglionic sympathetic nerves, which causes certain physical and mental responses kick into action, such as:

• Acceleration of the heart and lung function
• Paling or flushing, or alternating between both
• Inhibition of stomach and upper-intestinal action (digestion slows down or stops)
• General effect on the sphincters of the body
• Constriction of blood vessels in many parts of the body
• Liberation of nutrients for muscular action
• Dilation of blood vessels for muscles
• Inhibition of Lacrimal gland (responsible for tear production) and salivation
• Dilation of pupil
• Relaxation of the bladder
• Evacuation of the colon
• Inhibition of erection
• Auditory Exclusion (loss of hearing)
• Tunnel Vision (loss of peripheral vision)
• Acceleration of instantaneous reflexes

So as you can see, it is a very involved process and negative stress can be very detrimental to our physical self, increasing the risk of certain cancers as well as cardio vascular disease, mental and physical exhaustion and a lowered immune response making us more susceptible to illness. 
So, it’s important we realise the symptoms and take action. A good diet is essential, as well as regular physical exercise, maintaining a sense of humour, learning to relax with meditation, yoga and tai chi – all of which are all useful in diluting stress. Most of all, try to keep it all in perspective. It sounds simple but the majority of things we worry about or get stressed about are just not worth it, and will probably never happen. It’s not like the song that once stated, “don’t worry be happy”, rather, don’t worry quite so much and breathe deep, breathe in full, breathe out, life is still wonderful.

©  Phil Sheldon MSc
www.optimalessentials.com
www.philsheldon.com.au

ANYONE with personal problems can call Lifeline on 131 114.

All views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, Adam Internet.

Keep track of the weather -- http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/sa/sa-forecast-map.shtml -- the Australian Bureau of Meteorology's official website provides detailed weather forecasts for any location Australia-wide.

Adelaide gets festive -- http://www.adelaidefringe.com.au -- the Fringe Festival 2009 (27 February -- March 22) has descended upon Adelaide. Drop in at the free to access Garden of Unearthly Delight in Rundle Park for that unique carnival atomosphere that comes with giant Ferris Wheels, variety acts and Silent Disco, or be entertained by comedy, cabaret, music, film and exhibitions -- some events free and some not. Check the website for all the details.

Petrol heads rev up -- http://www.clipsal500.com.au/2009-bring-it-on -- following the Fringe Festival 2009, Adelaide will be invaded by roaring Ford and Holden V8 Supercars as they tear up the streets in the Clipsal 500 (19 - 22 March). Tickets are now available for purchase for both the race days and evening concerts, with performances by The Living End, The Potbelleez, The Presets, Faker, Wolfmother, Lee Kernaghan, Pete Murray and more.

For those of you that work in an office environment, are studying or otherwise use a real desktop -- as opposed to the virtual one on your PC -- you may have already learned that the secret to being efficient and to avoid distractions is to keep your work area clean and organised.

This same principle applies to your computer desktop. If you find yourself staring at a messy virtual desktop stacked with shortcuts, an assortment of random and meaningless downloaded images or other files and folders that you never use, here are some quick suggestions on how you can tidy up.

1. Some Operating Systems, such as Windows XP and Windows Vista, include a built-in feature called Desktop Wizard, which will help you clean away your unwanted files and icons. To access the wizard, follow the official instructions at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306542
2. Set some time aside to go through all your unwanted icons and either find a home for them elsewhere, such as Documents, Pictures, Music, etc (Mac OSX) or My Documents, My Pictures, My Music (Windows XP and Vista), put them in the trash or throw them into a new folder on your desktop to tidy up later.
3. Create a new folder for your desktop by right-clicking on an empty space and selecting "New Folder" (Mac OSX) or "New" -> "Folder" (XP and Vista), name it "Desktop Junk" or "Unwanted Files" or anything you prefer (no quotation marks). Now you have an empty folder, drag and drop the excess desktop contents into the folder to do a quick bout of spring cleaning. Click on the image to the top-right of this article for visual reference. Please note, this pictorial is for Mac OSX, however Windows users may follow along noting that to create a new folder, right-click and highlight "New", then in the new list of items select "Folder".

If your desktop is full of shortcuts to programs or folders that you use on a regular basis but would still like to remove these can be pinned to the Dock (Mac OSX) or Start Menu (Windows XP and Vista).

• Mac OSX: To place a folder or program in the Dock, simply click and drag the item over a space between two other icons in the dock, then drop. More information available in Newsbytes September/November 2008.
• Windows XP and Vista: To pin a folder or program to the Start Menu, simply click and drag the item over the Windows Start Menu button, wait for the window to open, then drop the item in the top half of the left window. The Wuick Launch Bar offers similar space-saving benefits, with a full explanation available in Newsbytes May/June 2009.