Well, according to the CBC, Bell is going to buy a ton of “The Source” outlets soon. Formerly known as “Radio Shack”. Given Bell’s track record I guess that means that “The Source” is going to suck pretty heavily soon.
I’ll just cross one more place off my shopping list then.
For a few years, my wife and I both worked at Nortel, our first job out of University. We were there during the dot-com crash around 2000, and that company has been heading downwards ever since, for a variety of reasons.
Maria stayed when I moved on to Mitel, as I was fed up and we also didn’t want both of us in the same company in case the whole company went under. Maria stayed, and we kept waiting for her to get hit by a round of layoffs, as they had many. She wasn’t hit, and now she’s still there, which isn’t great considering that they just filed for bankruptcy protection.
The ride was over long ago, but this feels more like the wheels falling off the car at the end. Still, life goes on, and with an eye towards the future, Maria has started a new blog called Life after Nortel. She hopes that it will be a place that ex-Nortel people can tell their stories, network, and find new opportunities.
If you are ex-Nortel, you might find it worth your time.
Cheers.
Today’s telecom landscape is so backwards and ignorant of the Internet. It’s like the executives of Bell Canada have their fingers stuck in their ears while everyone around them yells about the Internet, and they’re shouting “La La La, I can’t hear you”, like some silly ten-year-old.
There I was in Marineland yesterday, with a friend that I wanted to call within line of sight, but because we both have Ottawa area-code cell numbers, I had to call long-distance to Ottawa to call him, with the long-distance tolls that implies.
Is there any technical reason why the network can’t figure out where we are and avoid using the long-distance network? None at all. In fact, it must locate both parties to route the call in any case, so the only reason is that it might actually save us money, and the bastards at Bell aren’t about to do that unless they have to.
In time, they’ll find themselves obsolete by new wireless devices that use only the Internet and VoIP, and bypass their antiquated technology completely.
I can’t wait.
So, I received a response from Gordon O’Connor’s office today.
Dear Michael Soulier: On behalf of Gordon O'Connor, thank you for your recent correspondence regarding copyright reform. On June 12, 2008 our government introduced important amendments to the Copyright Act to bring it up-to-date with advances in technology. Our approach is in line with international standards. It should be clear, however, that it is a Made-in-Canada approach that will benefit all Canadians. For consumers, it allows the recording of webcasts and television and radio programs to be enjoyed at different times; music to be copied on devices such as MP3 players; and the copying of books, newspapers, videos and photos into different formats. It also sets statutory damages at $500 for individuals if they infringe copyright for private use-provided the material is not protected by a digital lock. (Currently, statutory damages could be as high as $20,000 for a single infringement). Canadian educators and students stand to benefit from uniquely Canadian reforms that would allow greater use of material posted on the Internet, the legal delivery of course material through the Internet, and electronic delivery of materials loaned between libraries. For Canadian Internet Service Providers (ISPs), our bill includes a one-of-a-kind "notice and notice" regime. Compared to the "notice and takedown" approach that is used in other markets, it better addresses peer-to-peer file sharing, and clarifies the responsibilities of ISPs online. Our Made-in-Canada approach strikes a proper balance between all stakeholders. It promotes the protection of creators' rights, and access by students and researchers. It means consumers can enjoy everyday uses of copyright material. And it provides fairness and clarity for industries that operate in the digital environment. Its uniquely Canadian provisions recognize that we all have a stake in fair copyright laws. For more information, please visit the Copyright Reform Process website at www.ic.gc.ca/epic/site/crp-prda.nsf/en/home Thank you for sharing your views on this important matter. John Aris Constituency Manager for Hon. Gordon O'Connor, P.C., M.P. Minister of National Revenue Carleton-Mississippi Mills Tel: 613-592-3469 Fax: 613-592-4756 www.gordonoconnor.ca
If you’re not sure how to phrase a letter to your Minister of Parliament regarding Canada’s version of the DMCA, Bill C-61, this might help.
