Internet Service via Powerlines

27 February 2001 – 6:42 pm

While it has been discussed for quite a while, this article from Reuters mentions that MVV Energie in Mannheim, Germany is working on the first commercial launch of Internet service via powerlines. They are using powerline communications (PLC) technology from Main.net in Israel, which is working in Europe and the United States.

(Oddly enough, Main.net — also referred to as MainNet.net, M@in.net, or just MainNet — doesn’t control either the Main.net, an environmental policy website, or MainNet.com, the website of an ISP (also at MainNet.net), domain names.)

The technology has been trialed with 200 households and an Internet caf

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This Should Be Said More Often

13 February 2001 – 3:40 pm

I think it is quite obvious to many (if not most) people that the Canadian Parliament is a sham, but unfortunately not nearly enough people — especially the Members of Parliament themselves — are willing to admit that publicly. Ex-MP Lee Morrison of Eastend, Saskatchewan is one of those willing to point it out.

As published in the National Post Mr. Morrison’s short and to the point final speech in the House of Commons, for the record:

Mr. Speaker, this will probably be my last day in the House. I will not regret leaving what has become, under Liberal management, a totally dysfunctional institution. I will not miss the thrill of making well-researched speeches in a virtually empty room. I will not miss working long hours on irrelevant, ministerially guided committees. I will not miss the posturing. I will not miss the emasculated government members howling because they do not understand the difference between intelligent heckling and boorish noise. Perhaps it is their subconscious recognition of their own political impotence that drives them to act like hyperactive children. I do not know what I will be doing for the next few years, but whatever it is I expect that I will be dealing with grown-ups. I am sure that it will be more useful than this past seven years that I have spent in this rubber-stamp Parliament. I shall not look back.

Hat tip to National Post Headline Scan

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Twisting Tale Of “Twisted”

7 February 2001 – 3:18 am

I was uncertain about posting this Globe & Mail update to the story of “Twisted” because, unfortunately like too many other stories in the news, it seems that this story will be completely different by the time it is wrapped up. However, I’ve already posted a couple of comments on the story so I decided that I would add this one as well. But, except for the what’s written above, I’ll leave it without comment.

Four Cornwall-area teenagers have been charged with assaulting a 16-year-old schoolmate who vaulted to national prominence after being charged criminally in connection with a story he wrote for a school assignment.

The charges against the four boys relate to a schoolyard incident last November in which the 16-year-old is alleged to have been knocked to the ground and beaten.

Hat tip to Buzz.ca

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The Leafs’ New Specialty Channel

5 February 2001 – 11:41 pm

I’m not a fan of sports entertainment (although I do occasionally watch or, preferably, listen) or most television programming, but
this Globe & Mail report caught my attention. According to the article Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Limited (MLSEL) received licenses from the CRTC last November for two specialty cable channels devoted to their sports franchises, the Toronto Maple Leafs of the NHL and the Toronto Raptors of the NBA. They have hired John Shannon, the former executive producer of the CBC‘s Hockey Night in Canada, to oversee both television and Internet operations and hope to launch the Maple Leaf channel by the middle of September (with the channel for the Raptors coming later).

“The Maple Leaf channel will provide an in-depth look at the club’s history and tradition. In addition, the channel will take fans behind the scenes at the Air Canada Centre and bring them up close with all their favourite Leaf personalities….

… One important element it lacks, however, is the ability to broadcast games. Currently, the MLSEL sells those rights to a number of different networks….

… The Leaf channel will provide extensive pre- and post-game coverage. It will also broadcast the team’s annual Blue and White Game and eight preseason games.”

It is certainly an interesting idea, and the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey Club is arguably the most valuable franchise in the NHL so they have as good a shot at making it work as anyone. (According to the Globe currently the only current franchise operated channel is the Manchester United’s MUTV.)

“This is a birthplace for a new, exciting sports format for many teams in North America,” Mr. Shannon predicted. “If this works here, there’s no reason the New York Yankees, Montreal Canadiens or any team with a firm hold in their market can’t duplicate our success. We’re leading the way.”

Hat tip to GlobeTechnology.com

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