ok, pada, this is what my hosts file looks like now:
# Copyright (c) 1993-1999 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host
127.0.0.1 localhost
#
# Thanks goes to Catal, HavocXphere, Blogbytes & fragtion_ for contributing hostnames
#
# On SAIX:
# <Google IP> = 165.165.38.147
# <YouTube IP> = 165.165.38.144
# <Facebook IP> = 165.165.39.200 / 165.165.39.202 / 165.165.39.203
# Google Searching
165.165.38.147
www.google.co.za
165.165.38.147
www.google.com
165.165.38.147 google.com
165.165.38.147 google.co.za
# Gmail and chat withing Gmail
165.165.38.147 mail.google.com
165.165.38.147 chatenabled.mail.google.com
# Google Code & Pada's Traffic Splitter Google Code address
165.165.38.147
www.gmodules.com
165.165.38.147 traffic-splitter.googlecode.com
165.165.38.144
www.googlecode.com
165.165.38.144 code.google.com
# Blogspot
165.165.38.147
www.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 bp0.blogger.com
165.165.38.147 bp1.blogger.com
165.165.38.147 bp2.blogger.com
165.165.38.147 bp3.blogger.com
165.165.38.147 0.bp.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 1.bp.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 2.bp.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 3.bp.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 4.bp.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 image.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 buttons.blogger.com
165.165.38.147 upload.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147 googleappengine.blogspot.com
165.165.38.147
www.blogger.com
165.165.38.147
www.blogblog.com
165.165.38.147 img1.blogblog.com
165.165.38.147 img2.blogblog.com
165.165.38.147 www1.blogblog.com
165.165.38.147 www2.blogblog.com
# Google Eath & Google Maps
165.165.38.147 maps.google.co.za
165.165.38.147 maps.google.com
165.165.38.147 csi.gstatic.com
165.165.38.147 maps.gstatic.com
165.165.38.147 gg.google.com
165.165.38.144 kh.google.com
165.165.38.144 mw1.google.com
165.165.38.144 mw2.google.com
165.165.38.144 earth.google.com
165.165.38.144 mt0.google.com
165.165.38.144 mt1.google.com
165.165.38.144 mt2.google.com
165.165.38.144 mt3.google.com
165.165.38.144 khm.google.com
165.165.38.144 cbk0.google.com
165.165.38.144 cbk1.google.com
165.165.38.144 cbk2.google.com
165.165.38.144 cbk3.google.com
# Other Google Services
165.165.38.147 news.google.com
165.165.38.147 blitz.appspot.com
165.165.38.147
www.google-analytics.com
165.165.38.147 ssl.google-analytics.com
165.165.38.147 t0.gstatic.com
165.165.38.147 t1.gstatic.com
165.165.38.147 t2.gstatic.com
165.165.38.147 t3.gstatic.com
165.165.38.147
www.gstatic.com
165.165.38.144 books.google.co.za
165.165.38.144 books.google.com
165.165.38.144 calendar.google.com
165.165.38.144 video.google.com
165.165.38.144 translate.google.com
165.165.38.144 docs.google.com
165.165.38.144 appengine.google.com
165.165.38.144 clients1.google.com
165.165.38.144 clients2.google.com
165.165.38.144 clients3.google.com
165.165.38.144 clients4.google.com
165.165.38.144 clients5.google.com
165.165.38.144 id.google.com
165.165.38.144 dl.google.com
# YouTube
165.165.38.147 ad-emea.doubleclick.net
165.165.38.147 s.ytimg.com
165.165.38.147 webcache.googleusercontent.com
165.165.38.144 youtube.co.za
165.165.38.144 youtube.com
165.165.38.144
www.youtube.co.za
165.165.38.144
www.youtube.com
165.165.38.144
www.youtube-nocookie.com
165.165.38.144 i1.ytimg.com
165.165.38.144 i2.ytimg.com
165.165.38.144 i3.ytimg.com
165.165.38.144 i4.ytimg.com
# Facebook
165.165.39.200
www.facebook.com
165.165.39.200 static.ak.fbcdn.net
165.165.39.200 profile.ak.fbcdn.net
165.165.39.200 upload.youtube.com
now, when i try to access gmail, i get the following error:
http://mybroadband.co.za/photos/showphoto.php/photo/17626/title/error/cat/500
ping results: Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\Documents and Settings\User>ping mail.google.com
Pinging mail.google.com [165.165.38.147] with 32 bytes of data:
Reply from 165.165.38.147: bytes=32 time=46ms TTL=60
Reply from 165.165.38.147: bytes=32 time=45ms TTL=60
Reply from 165.165.38.147: bytes=32 time=45ms TTL=60
Reply from 165.165.38.147: bytes=32 time=46ms TTL=60
Ping statistics for 165.165.38.147:
Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 4, Lost = 0 (0% loss),
Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
Minimum = 45ms, Maximum = 46ms, Average = 45ms
C:\Documents and Settings\User>
i can (still) access google, youtube and facebook

i wasn't able to access google maps while capped before making the above changes - i can now - thanks very muchly!
