This has got to be the biggest Ethernet cable on record.

Instead of cutting a ribbon like a normal company, Microsoft this week officially opened its first software development center in Canada, in Richmond, British Columbia, by connecting a massive Ethernet cable.

Microsoft offers a picture here. As you can see, it's not your standard RJ-45 jack, thought it would appear that someone took the time and effort to make it look like one. And it's transmitting data so fast that the wires are actually glowing - which may be cause for concern, come to think of it.

Still, this one might actually be worth $500.

Microsoft is a software company, of course, and an Ethernet cable is more representative of network hardware. But it's harder to officially open a facility with something as non-tangible as software. Microsoft could use an actual window as a prop, I suppose, but what's it going to do? Open it?

No, the Ethernet cable is much more sensible, much more dramatic, and Microsoft took advantage of the imagery to signify "the connection of Microsoft to the British Columbia economy."

The Microsoft Canada Development Centre (if you're curious) employs 300 software developers working on everything from Windows and Office to Zune and Xbox 360. The picture shows Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell, Microsoft Canada Development Centre Managing Director Par Singh, Microsoft Canada President Phil Sorgen, and Microsoft Senior Vice President Lisa Brummel connecting the Ethernet cable.

It occurs to me that this might not be the first time a massive Ethernet cable has been used to officially open the doors on a technical facility. Does anyone out there know of any others?

And while we're at it, networking has added so much to our lives - surely someone, somewhere has created a large-scale representation and erected some kind of statue in tribute to, say, Ethernet cables or fiber optics. If you know of any, send me pics. 

Jeff Caruso is site editor at Network World.