Pre-recorded cassettes first appeared in the mid-60s and reached their commercial peak in the mid-80s before slowly fading away over the next couple of decades. This brings me to the problem of the disastrous EMI cobalt cassettes of the 90s.

They seemed to use high-tech ferric-cobalt technology, but in fact, highly compressed audio to mask the fact that EMI was using poor-quality tape. Marketed as xDR cassettes, they were duplicated so that they sounded good on boomboxes and portable cassette players but terrible everywhere else. The music sounded harsh and rough on something like a good car stereo. Listener fatigue was a problem. Not only that, but because the base tape was substandard, xDR tapes degraded fast, especially when it came to treble frequencies.

So, if you’re a collector of vintage cassettes, stay away from these things. They are not worth your time.

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

We’ve all been faced with end-user license agreements or “EULAs.” They come in the form of dialogue boxes that pop up when we’re installing new software or hoping to use a certain product online. To get it working, we have to click “agree.” By doing that, you’re now a party to a legally binding agreement between a software vendor and you that protects the developer from—well, everything that could go wrong.

And let’s face it, no one ever reads those things because they’re long and incomprehensible. We don’t know what we’re agreeing to. Here’s my favourite.

The EULA to download a single song on iTunes has a word count greater than what Shakespeare needed to write Macbeth. But it gets even better. This is a real clause from the document. “You also agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of missiles, or nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.”

For downloading a song on iTunes? Talking about covering your butt, huh?

© 2026 Corus Radio, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

As wildfires continue to burn across northwestern Ontario, Jenny and Kevin VanderHooft tried to save their resort. But the actions they took to do so could cost them thousands.

Jenny told Global News she has been threatened by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) with fines for flying her drone to get video of approaching fires, as well as returning to her property during an ongoing evacuation order.

The VanderHoofts own Open Bay Lodge, a resort located in Upsala, Ont., approximately 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay. The couple said they first noticed smoke in the distance on the evening of July 12 and reported a fire to the MNR.

Their lodge burned down two days later.

When the VanderHoofts returned on July 17 while an evacuation order was still in effect, they witnessed what Kevin called “total destruction.”

“Power lines down in our yard. Everything was burnt. The house is gone,” he said, but added that somehow, seven out of eight of their cabins were still standing.

The couple used five-gallon pails and a garbage bin to put out what was still smouldering.

“It took us nine hours. Just the two of us. No food, no water, no nothing. We just went at it,” Kevin said.

Unsure of what was still to come, Jenny told Global News she launched her drone to see if any other fires were approaching.

That decision could now cost her a hefty fine.

On Saturday, the MNR said in a social media post it was aware of drone footage taken inside the perimeter of Fort Frances 14. It stated that the video, captured by the drone and posted online, was in contravention of Canadian Aviation Regulations.

An investigation into the VanderHoofts’ situation “remains active,” according to a ministry statement to Global News.

“As such, the ministry is unable to comment on the specific circumstances of this case at this time,” a spokesperson said.

It is illegal to fly a drone within 9.3 kilometres of wildfires, according to Transport Canada.

“Unauthorized drones create a serious risk of collision with firefighting aircraft, forcing crews to ground their operations and putting lives at risk when every minute counts,” the agency said in a media release at the beginning of July.

Administrative monetary penalties can be imposed for people caught operating drones in these restricted areas, Transport Canada said. Fines can reach a maximum of $5,000 for individuals and $25,000 for corporations.

“Multiple penalties may apply where more than one offence has occurred,” the natural resources ministry said.

The VanderHoofts told Global News they may be facing fines for another reason.

Kevin said they were approached by MNR officials on the highway, barricading the road back to the lodge. He said he was told he could be fined more than $800 if he chose to return.

“Unauthorized entry into an area subject to an evacuation order may result in enforcement action, including charges and fines, depending on the circumstances and applicable legislation,” the natural resources ministry spokesperson told Global News.

The couple decided to return anyway, saying the $800 fine was worth trying to save $800,000 in infrastructure.

“I know they have a job to do for safety. They don’t want people in there. I get it, and I tried my hardest, but I couldn’t stay away that one day,” Kevin said.

Fort Frances 14 is the closest wildfire to Upsala and is currently more than 51,000 hectares in size and is not under control, according to data from Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources. An evacuation order remains in effect.

More than a dozen communities and areas were forced to evacuate over the past week, including 11 First Nations.

The VanderHoofts told Global News they will deal with the fines if they are charged, but their primary focus is rebuilding their lodge.

“We have to,” Jenny said. “Our customers have been so loyal and faithful to us, and they’re like family.”

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is trying to sell the province as an energy powerhouse at this week’s premiers’ meeting in Charlottetown.

While there is broad agreement that more electricity will be needed to grow the economy, experts are divided on the best way to produce it.

“New Brunswick is an energy leader because we have diversified sources of energy,” Holt said Wednesday.

She says the province’s energy infrastructure should be central to economic growth. That infrastructure includes nuclear, hydroelectric power, and its transmission connections across Atlantic Canada, Quebec and the northeastern United States.

Holt adds she’s also open to hyperscale AI data centres, but only if they meet certain conditions.

“(They have to be) net neutral to the cost of power to New Brunswickers. And that’s one of the conditions,” she said.

Meeting that demand would require more electricity.

NB Power says it already relies on independent producers for about 14 per cent of its current needs and warns that electricity demand is rising faster than expected.

William Cook, director of the University of New Brunswick’s Centre for Nuclear Energy Research, says expanding the grid is no longer a question of choice.

“I don’t think practicality really has much to do with it at this point, it’s a function of necessity,” he said.

He notes the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generation Station currently supplies roughly one-third of New Brunswick’s electricity.

To keep the lights on, he says the province will need to keep up with not only New Brunswickers’ demands, but also neighbouring provinces connected to the grid.

How to do that, however, is where opinions differ.

“Expanding our energy grid is a great idea, as long as we’re focusing on clean, renewable energy, such as wind and solar,” said Beverly Gingras, executive director of Conservation Council of NB.

Cook sees it differently.

“Our only two options if we want to meet our mandates and close down the use of coal burning … is either natural gas or large-scale nuclear plants,” he said.

The Conservation Council argues expanding hydroelectricity can flood land and disrupt ecosystems, while nuclear raises concerns about radioactive waste and long-term environmental impacts.

But Cook argues wind and solar aren’t reliable enough, and that nuclear has provided reliable low greenhouse-gas electricity in the province for decades.

The same sentiment extends to AI data centres, he adds.

“Data centres are going to become more and more necessary. So we have to support them and supporting them in an economical and an environmentally-friendly way is I think what we need to do,” he said.

Gringas counters that there’s “very little benefit” to them.

“They do have a lot of potential environmental and human health costs, and you know, communities see very little benefit from having these centres,” she said.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

A series of storms swept across central Alberta on Saturday, July 18, including a system that triggered two tornadoes in Rocky Mountain House and surrounding Clearwater County.

On Wednesday, Environment Canada confirmed there were two twisters after researchers had a chance to survey the damage in west-central Alberta.

The national weather agency came to the conclusion in partnership with the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), which sent a team to do an on-site storm damage survey after the weekend storm.

The tornadoes uprooted and snapped trees in half, downing entire sections of forest. It also tore roofs off buildings and scattered debris around yards.

The first tornado touched down at 6:18 p.m. to the south of Rocky Mountain House. It caused damage to several properties, including homes, barns and outbuildings, garages, vehicles, and trees.

The second tornado showed up 18 minutes later at 6:36 p.m., on the east side of town, where locals said it travelled about five km east into in Clearwater County, going towards Leslieville.

It also damaged several properties, Environment Canada said. Locals reported hail the size of golf balls.

No human injuries were reported from either tornado, although Environment Canada was told two animals were injured by the second twister.

Environment Canada uses the Enhanced Fujita Scale to measure the wind damage from a tornado.

It ranges from an EF0, with a wind speed between 90 and 130 km/h to an EF5 with a wind speed of 315 kilometres or more per hour.

Both Rocky Mountain House tornados have been given an EF2 classification, with estimated maximum wind speeds of 190 km/h.

That same night, severe storms swept across central Alberta, including the Edmonton region, where heavy rain flooded roads like Whitemud Drive and Yellowhead Trail.

Storms have battered parts of Alberta on a regular basis for nearly two months now, leading to the ground being so saturated it doesn’t have a chance to dry out — forcing more runoff into storm water systems in urban areas.

In Edmonton, utility provider EPCOR said the system is overwhelmed and needs a stretch of dry weather to recover.

As of July 22, there have been 27 tornadoes recorded in Alberta this year — an increase by over 50 per cent compared to previous years, according to the Northern Tornadoes Project based out of Western University’s Canadian Severe Storms Lab in London, Ont.

The NTP’s research team has been compiling data for nearly a decade and has been able to nearly double the 30-year average number of tornadoes documented across Canada on a regular basis.

Members of the team travel across Canada throughout the summer storm season when a tornado is suspected to have occurred, working with Environment Canada to document the twisters.

Alberta tornados confirmed by the NTP in 2026

• EF0 rating: 18 tornadoes
  • Crestomere on May 17
  • Didsbury on May 17
  • Olds on May 17
  • Olds on May 18
  • Garfield on May 18
  • Gull Lake on May 18
  • Blackfalds on May 18
  • Usona on May 17
  • Ponoka on May 18
  • Heisler on May 19
  • Two in Tilley on June 16
  • Seven Persons near Medicine Hat on June 16
  • Hines Creek on June 15
  • Nampa on June 15
  • Falher on June 15
  • McLennan on June 15
  • Culp on June 15
• EF1 rating: Three tornadoes
  • Enilda on June 15
  • Two in Eaglesham on June 15
• EF2 rating: Five tornadoes
  • Girouxville on June 15
  • Dillberry Lake on July 8
  • Prospect Valley on July 8
  • Two in Rocky Mountain House on July 18
• EF3 rating: One tornado
  • Tulliby Lake in eastern Alberta on July 11
• Pending: A tornado that touched down last Friday, July 17 near Robb, south of Edson in western Alberta’s foothills, is still under investigation and hasn’t yet been classified

Anyone with more information about the Rocky Mountain House tornadoes, who has not yet reached out to Environment Canada, is asked to report it by calling 1-800-239-0484, emailing storm@ec.gc.ca, or posting to social media with the hashtag #abstorm.

The same goes for any severe weather forecasters should be aware of.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Winnipeg police say they are looking for a suspect after a woman reported she was sexually assaulted on Sunday night.

The woman was walking southbound on Toronto Street and had crossed Portage Avenue near Picardy Place around 10:30 p.m. Sunday. At that point, a man she did not know grabbed her, the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) said in a news release.

“He threatened to harm her if she screamed and she was pulled into an alcove nearby,” the release said, adding that the woman was choked, sexually assaulted and robbed.

The suspect is described as a man in his 30s, approximately six feet tall with a heavy build and short, spiky dark hair. He was said to be shirtless and wearing black shorts and black shoes.

Anyone with information or surveillance video is asked to contact Winnipeg police or submit an anonymous tip on Crime Stoppers.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

Some Manitobans may find they are unable to call emergency services on Wednesday.

Manitoba RCMP has been made aware of an issue affecting 911 calls and is in contact with the service provider, a spokesperson told Global News in an email statement.

The disruption is impacting the entire province, excluding the City of Winnipeg, an emergency alert said.

Manitobans who require emergency services are urged to try 911 first, but if they can not get through, they are told to call their local fire, police or ambulance service directly.

The Brandon Police Service said the disruption is not related to the Brandon Public Safety Communication Centre and that the telecommunications service provider is “actively working to resolve the issue”.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

The federal government released the text of what it’s calling an agreement in principle with the United States for the Gordie Howe International Bridge, which outlines how revenues could be collected — and shared — for the bridge that was entirely financed by Canadian taxpayers.

Portions of it appear to contradict what Prime Minister Mark Carney has said about how money will be split and how much the U.S. will get before Canadians are repaid for the debt of the bridge.

Carney said last week that Canada will not share any tolls collected from the bridge until Canada’s $6.4-billion debt from building it is repaid, but he also said that “net revenues” will be split over 15 years.

“Splitting of tolls, any sharing of the toll, won’t happen until all of the debt is repaid,” Carney told reporters on July 16.

“We will split net revenues over the course of the first 15 years and those net revenues are after operational costs — it’s manning the toll booth, it’s maintenance, it’s snow removal, a series of other operational costs.”

That came after Carney had told CTV on July 12 that, “We get the revenues. Then the servicing of the costs of the bridge and paying the debt of the bridge, and then what’s left over, there’s a split of that for 15 years.”

However, the text of the agreement in principle states that Canada will make payments to the U.S. totalling 50 per cent of “net bridge and crossing related revenues” for 15 years, and doesn’t clearly define what counts as operating costs or make mention of Canada’s debt.

The bridge is set to open on July 27  after several months of delays, and it will generate revenue mainly from drivers paying a toll to cross it.

But Canada sharing any portion of the bridge’s revenues, including from tolls, means it make take longer for Canada to make back the money paid to build the bridge in the first place.

Canada originally paid the entire $6.4 billion cost to build the bridge, and under the terms of the original 2012 agreement with Michigan, Canada would have been entitled to receive all toll revenues until its total debt was recuperated.

But under the terms of the new agreement in principle, some of those revenues would be sent to the U.S. for the first 15 years.

“Canada will provide annual economic participation payments, outside the 2012 Canada–Michigan Crossing Agreement equal to fifty (50) per cent of net bridge and crossing related revenues for the first fifteen (15) fiscal years of bridge operations,” the new agreement in principle says.

“Net bridge and crossing related revenues is all revenues collected with respect to the bridge, less all incurred operating costs of the bridge. Such payments shall be made to a United States-Canada Economic Development Fund, established and solely controlled by the Government of the United States.”

Those “operating costs” are not defined in the text. Typically, the phrase would refer to things like expenses to run the bridge on a regular basis, but the text does not factor in the initial capital expense Canada spent to build the bridge.

The new agreement in principle makes no direct mention of Canada’s initial cost to build the bridge, but does distinguish the 2012 agreement as being a separate binding agreement.

“Nothing in this Agreement in Principle shall be interpreted as amending, modifying or superseding the 2012 Canada–Michigan Crossing Agreement or the ownership, governance and financial framework established thereunder,” it says.

The U.S. controlled Economic Development Fund is also detailed in the new agreement as being something both Canada and the U.S. “will reasonably agree on,” and that “will be for the benefit of the United States,” as well as trade between the U.S. and Canada.

The amount that drivers pay in tolls to cross the bridge will be set by the Canada-run Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, as originally stated in the 2012 agreement.

But the new agreement in principle states that certain proposed adjustments to those tolls during the first 15 years of the bridge’s operations will require a 30-day waiting period to allow the U.S. to either provide written consent of those changes or reject them.

The specific adjustments that may be subject to a 30-day waiting period include the following:

• “a. a proposed toll-rate increase (i) exceeds ten percent (10%) within any fiscal year and (ii) would result in toll rates that are above the average of comparable regional crossings; or
• b. a proposed toll-rate reduction would result in toll rates falling below the average of comparable regional crossings,” the new agreement in principle says.

The new agreement in principle also states that its terms must be confirmed by both parties (Canada and the U.S.) by the bridge’s pegged opening date of July 27, 2026, and a ceremonial opening event must be held by Aug. 3, 2026.

Carney’s statements, Concordia University economics professor Moshe Lander says, may have been a point of confusion because of the financial semantics: for example, distinguishing between “splitting of tolls” and splitting “net revenue.”

“If the prime minister had just made that statement and we had been done with it, OK. It’s that he then came out and said something slightly different,” says Lander.

“He almost seemed to be suggesting that there’s another source of revenue that could be generated here, and I’m struggling to figure out — a toll bridge —how else are you making revenue?”

Lander said it will likely “take a little longer to recoup the cost because some of that money is going to front loaded and shared with the U.S.”

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre posted on social media Wednesday, and said the new agreement in principle’s terms describe “profit sharing on a bridge 100 per cent built with our tax dollars. The opposite of what you said.”

https://x.com/PierrePoilievre/status/2079922627007721557?s=20

 

Although the bridge is still scheduled to open next week, Canada and the U.S. will not be celebrating the opening together after U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened Canada with new tariffs of up to 50 per cent.

© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

As they process their emotions over the recent death of teammate Jayden Dalke, the Saskatchewan Roughriders are still attempting to focus on Thursday’s CFL game against the Edmonton Elks.

Dalke and Bhishma Rajyaguru, a 22-year-old from Regina, were both killed in a two-vehicle collision Saturday evening just outside Lumsden, about 30 kilometres north of Regina.

RCMP said Dalke, 30, was driving a silver SUV northbound in the southbound lane of the divided highway when his vehicle collided with Rajyaguru’s black SUV. There were no passengers in either vehicle.

RCMP said alcohol and cannabis were found in Dalke’s vehicle. Autopsies and toxicology tests are being conducted.

The Riders were gathering for their first practice following a bye week on Sunday when the players were informed of the accident and Dalke’s death.

Practice was then cancelled, but the team returned to the field Monday to prepare for the Elks and the battle for first place in the West Division.

While many of the Riders declined to take questions about Dalke and the accident, quarterback Trevor Harris touched on what the past four days have been like for him and his teammates.

“It’s been a lot. It’s been quite a rolling week,” Harris said. “It’s been a heavy week, but we also know we have a job to do. We know what Jayden would like us to do, as we kind of alluded to all week.

“There’s been great spirit about the team this week in terms of what we need to go out and do and accomplish.”

The Riders made three players — Harris along with linebackers Nick Wiebe and Jameer Thurman — available to the media on Monday.

Thurman spoke about honouring Dalke, a linebacker who was in his fifth season with the Riders, and the players supporting each other while still performing on the field against the Elks.

“We’ve got work to do at the end of the day. I know he would want us to be here. He wouldn’t want us walking around, moping around, and stuff like that,” Thurman said.

“I’ve been, for the last two years, sitting next to him in all our meetings. It was tough. But I know he’s always watching over us, making sure that we are being held accountable for each other.

“Not only are we playing for him, we’re playing for each other as well. You’re not just out there for yourself. You’re playing for the guy next to you, playing for their families and different things like that. The Dalke family, we love them.”

The Riders announced Tuesday night that they will honour Rajyaguru in a pre-game ceremony at Mosaic Stadium and said the team was working with his family “on the best way we can support them.”

“A gifted percussionist with a deep love of music, Bhishma’s passion and presence left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him,” the CFL club said in a statement. “Our hearts are with his family, friends, and all those mourning his loss.”

Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day has already said the team plans on holding a tribute for Dalke before Thursday’s game.

The Elks (5-1) come into the contest with a two-point advantage over the Riders (4-1). Edmonton’s strong start can be attributed to a balanced offence and a revived defence that leads the league in points allowed per game (23.0) and turnover ratio (plus-11).

The secondary has been red-hot of late with 10 interceptions in the last three games, including four picks in a 40-17 win over the Ottawa Redblacks on July 9 and another four in a 19-17 victory over the B.C. Lions on July 17.

For defensive back Kenneth Logan Jr., the recent success of the secondary has been a group effort.

“We’re just focusing on the details,” Logan said. “The guys up front are getting it done, getting pressure on the quarterback. Then it’s us just believing in the coaching and then it’s the little things we’ve been doing at practice, like catching or different ball drills, just to make sure we’re locked in when the ball comes.

“We’ve all been playing next to each other for multiple games. We all believe in each other. We all trust each other … It definitely feels good to get our offence back the ball and see those guys work because that’s a high-power offence. But any chance we can get our hands on the ball and create a turnover and create a spark for our team, that’s what we’re willing to do.”

Rolan Milligan, the CFL’s outstanding defensive player in 2024, returns to the Saskatchewan lineup after separating his shoulder in the season opener against B.C.

CHANGE OF FORTUNES — At 5-1, the Elks are off to their best start since 2017 when they began the campaign 7-0. The impressive start bodes well for Edmonton ending its playoff drought at five seasons, the longest in franchise history.

RIDERS HISTORY — Harris surpassed Edmonton quarterback Cody Fajardo last week for sixth on Saskatchewan’s all-time passing yards list. Harris has 10,716 with the Riders while Fajardo totalled 10,632 yards during his three seasons in Saskatchewan (2019-2022).

THREE TIMES THE FUN — Saskatchewan receivers KeeSean Johnson, Kian Schaffer-Baker and Samuel Emilus have combined for 1,314 of Saskatchewan’s 1,629 passing yards this season — that’s 81 per cent.

© 2026 The Canadian Press

A Vancouver Island man has been criminally charged in a fatal crash last year that killed another man who had been standing on the side of the road.

The BC Highway Patrol says in a statement that the crash happened on July 31, 2025, on Highway 19A near Fanny Bay.

Police say a pickup towing a camping trailer crashed into multiple vehicles, hitting the man who later died of his injuries.

The 61-year-old driver of the pickup from Port Alberni, B.C., has been charged with impaired driving causing death and obstruction of a peace officer.

The BC Prosecution Service has also approved a charge of driving with a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit.

Police say the man was arrested last week and is being held in custody pending a bail hearing.

© 2026 The Canadian Press