strangely entangled

I’m posting this article via my new Novus high-speed internet connection. Unlike Shaw high-speed, Novus is fully symmetrical. That means I get 10 Mbps on both downloads and uploads, and so far it is very, very sweet. The price is right too: $27.50 a month. The catch is that Novus is only available in certain buildings in Vancouver. Apparently Novus runs fibre direct, and then puts switches on every 10th floor or so. That means no cable or DSL modem to tinker with either.As I’m lucky enough to live in a new condo, all it took to get connected was a quick 15 minute visit from a technician. Kudos to Novus on their scheduling: unlike cable companies, Novus gave me an exact time when the tech would show, and so he did.I only wish I could afford the Net 50 SOHO plan … mmmm, 50 Mbps up and down!  

Augh! The CBC has canceled my favourite new show, Douglas Coupland’s jPod. If you haven’t seen it already, head over to the show’s website and watch a couple episodes (all of the eps are online). It’s offbeat, quirky, filled with humor (dark and otherwise), and doesn’t hide the fact that it takes place in Vancouver, BC.

I found the Save jPod website and petition - get over there, sign up, and help save a unique Canadian TV show. Kam Fong will be most angry if you do not.

As I mentioned previously, UPS nailed me with an excessively large brokerage fee on a jacket that I recently purchased from a US company. So, I was happy to hear that I’m not the only one, and that a Vancouver law firm has launched a class action lawsuit against UPS Canada.

From what I’ve learned since, UPS only charges these brokerage fees on ground shipments. Somehow, items shipped by air are mysteriously exempt. I hope these guys win. Charging $79 to import a $130 jacket is insane.