problem: I can't `telnet smtp.comcast.net 25` from my BSD box

fact: I can `telnet 192.168.1.91 25` from my BSD box to a computer on my LAN with netcat listening
fact: I can `telnet smtp.comcast.net 25` from a computer on my LAN

*here is ipfw tables ( note 87 and 88 are blank or empty )

rmccurdy# ipfw table 87 list
rmccurdy# ipfw table 88 list
rmccurdy# ipfw show
00010    0       0 deny ip from any to table(87) via ed0
00010    0       0 deny ip from any to table(87) via ed0
00011    0       0 deny ip from table(88) to any via ed0
00011    0       0 deny ip from table(88) to any via ed0
00100  288   18816 allow ip from any to any via lo0
00200    0       0 deny ip from any to 127.0.0.0/8
00300    0       0 deny ip from 127.0.0.0/8 to any
65000 7699 2326108 allow ip from any to any
65535    0       0 deny ip from any to any

•	my /etc/hosts.* are here www.rmccurdy.com/stuff/WTF is there something wrong here ?

my question is what else could it be ? I have a netgear router could that be it ?