This article from MSNBC tells us that Matsushita has developed a technology to turn every day electrical outlets into broadband connections.  This sounds like a great idea.  I've thought for a long time that the electrical outlets should send out a standard time beacon-type thing, so that whenever you plug in a clock or computer or oven or anything that plugs in and has a clock can set itself.  I'd be happy never to see a blinking 12:00 again.