In the immortal words of Bob Dylan, “the times, they are a-changing”.

Fittingly, this month’s Westnet Newsletter features news of a couple of changes. One involves the most popular social networking tool on the planet; the other puts the spotlight on an innovative program looking to shape a cleaner and more energy-efficient future.

If you or someone you know has a Facebook profile, you might have heard a whisper about some recent changes to the social networking phenomenon. With Facebook Community Pages now up and running, we take a look at how this new feature could help you learn even more about your favourite things, and connect with others who share the same passion.

At Westnet HQ, we’ve been jumping on the carbon-neutral bandwagon in support of daysofchange.org – an innovative local program paving the way for a cleaner, environmentally friendly tomorrow. As you’ll see, it’s easy to make a difference (Westnet staffers are already organising carpools and planning shorter showers), so we’d love you to get involved.

In other news, Westnet Members on eligible plans would be loving all the great content in the Westnet Freezone – what, with all the great television, sport, games and music on hand 100% quota-free. But did you know we’ve loaded up on some special treats for the little ones to enjoy, too? Freezone Kids now has a whole load of new content to get the young ones singing and dancing, so take a look.

Lastly, we’ve put together two great competitions to round off another edition of the Westnet Newsletter. There’s a whole bunch of double passes up for grabs, so get your entries in and good luck!

Chances are you or someone you know has a Facebook account. After all, it’s the world’s most used social networking website, with over 400 million users across the world choosing Facebook to keep in touch with others online.

At Westnet, we’ve got in on the act with our own Facebook page, complete with the latest news, updates, product details, videos and everything else Westnet. It’s our way of keeping our Members ‘in the loop’, and helping those who aren’t with Westnet learn about what sets us apart.

If you’re also a Facebook user, you’d know it’s a great place to share photos, videos and messages, or keep in touch with family and friends abroad. What you might not know of some changes introduced by the team at Facebook with the potential to reshape (and smarten-up) your networking experience.

The honchos at Facebook have recently unveiled around 6.5 million Community Pages – specially designed info-pages within the realms of Facebook, covering a whole stack of topics. Think of them as information hubs on almost any topic, accessible by all members at any time.

Previously, users became ‘fans’ of certain topics, people or organisations, and received alerts direct to their profile on news, updates or opinions posted on these pages. Community Pages look set to simplify things a little; allowing users to ‘like’ certain pages and create a direct link from the topic to their Facebook profile. Facebook detects areas of interest entered into a users profile and recommends pages it thinks would be of benefit.

For example, our Westnet Facebook page could connect to Community Pages across topics you’d expect us to be interested in – like the internet and computers, and others that might come as a bit of a surprise – such as pigeon racing or neurophysics. (OK, maybe we’re not as keen on the last two – but you get the idea.)

Think of Community Pages as ways of sharing information, experiences and opinions on topics dear to your heart. If you consider yourself a bit of a whiz in the kitchen, ‘like’ a cooking page for inspiration on everything culinary; or if you ‘like’ bushwalking, you could discover the very best places to trek in your area.

The Facebook gurus have used the wonders of Wikipedia to initially source a range of information for some 6.5 million Community Pages, with the aim of eventually allowing individual users to contribute to pages and share their tips, tricks, experiences or opinions.

As a word of caution, it’s important to remember that these are public pages within the Facebook world.  While privacy setting are in place to control who sees your profile (and therefore links to your chosen Community Pages), anyone else visiting these pages will be able to see you’re connection to it.

So, it looks like Facebook continues to evolve into something much more than a space for sharing short messages and photos. Now with everything from business advertising and community-based support groups to online games and new Community Pages, this social networking leader is swiftly becoming an all-in one communications, entertainment, shopping and educational experience.

Everyone can do their bit to ease the environmental squeeze. Thanks to our relationship with iiNet, Westnet staff members have now started doing a little more in support of daysofchange.org.

daysofchange.org is a program connecting people with information, inspiration and the support to live and work in more sustainable ways. The program encourages individuals, organisations, teachers and students to make simple changes in their homes, workplaces and schools; with the goal of treading more lightly on our planet.

The innovative minds at daysofchange.org have put together 30 actions – or ‘pledges’ – that  can be implemented in the home, at work or school, out on the roads or simply as part of daily life. The goal is to bring people together and reduce energy consumption by promoting health and wellbeing, minimising waste and supporting the community.

Here are just a few of ways you can pledge your support for a better environment (and save money) as part of the daysofchange.org program:

• Reduce your plastic waste by carrying reusable shopping bags and a refillable drink bottle wherever you go to save up to $378 a year, while keeping those nasty plastic bags out of our waterways and waste disposal areas.
• Use fans, breeze and clothing to help regulate your home comfort, or set your air thermostat to 18-20°C in winter and 26°C in summer will save you around $131 a year in reduced energy consumption.
• Replace your old gas or electric storage hot water heater with a solar hot water system and you’ll be up to $260 a year better off.

At Westnet, we’ve already got a whole bunch of staff on board – we hope you’ll join us by doing your bit to reduce, reuse and recycle your way to a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Simply sign on to daysofchange.org in support of a better tomorrow and start doing your bit to reduce your footprint. Once you’re up and running, you’ll find the full list of sustainability initiatives on downloadable Pledge Cards – so you can start making a difference.

Members with access to the Westnet Freezone will be loving all the quota-free content packing its pages right now. Remember, there’s heaps of great sports and television to enjoy, plus we’ve recently added some great tunes from John Butler Trio to sing along to.

There’s also plenty going on in Freezone Kids – our designated area for the young ones (or the young at heart) to enjoy some great sights and sounds with some fun new programs now available.

When you arrive at Freezone Kids, you’ll notice Devious Della all dressed up in her riding gear, trying to catch a seahorse who’s crazy for iiguana TV. Right now there’s 6teen, Cyberchase, Stickin’ Around, Medabots and Cadillacs & Dinosaurs showing.

The ugogo music volcano has been updated too, with tunes from The Saddle Club, The Wiggles, Lazy Town, The Fairies, Monica Trapaga and The Star Girls sure to get little feet tapping.

Or take a look at Baby Gecko atop the sandcastle for some quiet time with gekko TV, but having to deal with a “Top Gun” dragonfly! It’s a good thing Baby Gecko has some pretty handy swatting skills – nothing will stop him from watching DoodleBops, Lazy Town, Babar, Maggie & the Ferocious Beast, Franklin, Toopy & Binoo and Word World.

As you see, Freezone Kids has so many shows, with heaps of new episodes and music for the little ones to enjoy every month. We’ve put together Freezone Kids as a safe online environment for young eyes, where children can dance and sing to some of their favourite shows.

To check out the other great content currently available – or to see if your plan delivers you all this goodness quota-free, head to the Westnet Freezone today!

There’s been loads of sweaty FOX SPORTS action in the Freezone Sport channel this month. Here’s a round of updates for our rugby and football followers:

2010 Investec Bank Super 14 update

It certainly will be interesting to see how the finals will shape up with only two games to play in the regular season. Tune into our Freezone Super 14 channel this weekend for the following match ups:

Hurricanes v Reds - Available Fri 7 May 2010, 11:35am WST

Chiefs v Waratahs - Available Sat 8 May 2010, 11:35am WST

Brumbies v Highlanders - Available Sun 9 May 2010, 1:40am WST

Cheetahs v Western Force - Available Mon 10 May 2010, 7:05am WST

Barclays English Premier League update

The four coveted Champions League places have now been sewn up. To catch our latest On Demand game, fire up our Freezone Barclays Premier League player:

Burnley v Tottenham - Available Sun 9 May 2010, 10:55am WST

Chelsea v Wigan Athletic - Available Sun 9 May 2010, 10:55am WST

Manchester United v Stoke City - Available Sun 9 May 2010, 10:55am WST

West Ham United v Manchester City - Available Sun 9 May 2010, 10:55am WST

Remember, all this great sports action comes completely quota-free for Westnet Members on eligible plans, thanks to our relationship with the good people at iiNet. Visit the Westnet Freezone for more information on this and other great quota-free content available, or to find out if you’re on an eligible broadband plan.

Westnet and Paramount Picture are pleased to present The Kings of Mykonos:  Wog Boy 2.

The Kings of Mykonos: Wog Boy 2 heralds the return of Steve Karamitsis (Nick Giannopoulos) alongside Frank (Vince Colosimo) in a story that takes our heroes from one Greek paradise (Melbourne) to another (Mykonos) in order to reclaim a family inheritance.

The sequel picks up a few years after the original and things aren’t going so well for the ‘Wog Boy’; he’s lost his true love (a ’67 Valiant Pacer) and all his assets because he trusted the wrong Italian.

Steve’s best mate Frank has lost his touch with the ladies after a messy divorce. But fortune, as ever, favours the ‘Wog’ when Steve discovers that he has inherited a beach on the resort island of Mykonos from an uncle he never met – a beach worth millions.

For your chance to win one of 20 in-season double passes to The Kings of Mykonos: Wog Boy 2, yet to be classified and in cinemas May 20^th, simply click the ‘Enter’ button in the Westnet Newsletter in your inbox. Entries are limited to one per Westnet username. The competition closes at 12.01am (WST) on Monday May 24^th, 2010.

Westnet and Sony Pictures are pleased to present Legion – when the last angel falls, the fight for mankind begins.

In this supernatural action thriller, an out-of-the-way diner becomes the unlikely battleground for the survival of the human race.  When God loses faith in mankind, He sends his legion of angels to bring on the Apocalypse. Humanity’s only hope lies in a group of strangers trapped in a desert diner and the Archangel Michael (Paul Bettany).

For your chance to win one of 25 in-season double passes to Legion, yet to be classified and in cinemas June 3^rd, simply click the ‘Enter’ button in the Westnet Newsletter in your inbox. Entries are limited to one per Westnet username. The competition closes at 12.01am (WST) on Thursday June 3^rd, 2010.