In this issue...
• It looks like TikTok may be on its way out in the U.S.
• CBC Radio's Under the Influence: When cars become the stars
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• Shortage of tradespeople is costing Canadians
• Car boots attached to tires now have some competition: the Barnacle!
• Mother's Day is Sunday, May 12
• 1,100+ copies sold! #1 bestseller on Amazon: Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week
• Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: Monday, May 27
... and trivia, quotes, community events and more!
| |
It looks like TikTok may be on its way out in the U.S.
U.S. President Joe Biden has signed a bill that will ban TikTok across the nation in a year if the company doesn't divest itself of its Chinese ownership.
Article excerpt: "Legislation forcing TikTok’s parent company to sell the video-sharing platform or face a ban in the U.S. received President Joe Biden’s official signoff Wednesday. But the newly minted law could be in for an uphill battle in court.
Critics of the sell-or-be-banned ultimatum argue it violates TikTok users’ First Amendment rights. The app’s China-based owner, ByteDance, has already promised to sue, calling the measure unconstitutional.
But a court challenge’s success is not is not guaranteed. The law’s opponents, which include advocacy organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union, maintain that the government hasn’t come close to justifying banning TikTok, while others say national-security claims could still prevail.
For years, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed concerns that Chinese authorities could force ByteDance to hand over U.S. user data, or influence Americans by suppressing or promoting certain content on TikTok. The U.S. has yet to provide public evidence to support those claims, but some legal experts note that political pressures have piled up regardless."
This will be fascinating to watch. National security concerns aside (and I in no way mean to deny them), many creators will be really hurt - and the important content they create will either disappear or have to be transferred elsewhere. Where will they go? Facebook? YouTube? Instagram? And yes - some of these creators do make very important content.
Look at the courts to be very busy over this issue. TikTok will throw a lot of money at these lawsuits.
Read: TikTok vows to sue over potential U.S. ban. What’s the legal outlook? Related: Life after TikTok: Why ban would be buzz kill for viral beekeeper.
|  | |
CBC Radio's Under the Influence: When cars become the stars
The latest episode of CBC Radio's Under the Influence with host Terry O'Reilly looked at how cars sometimes become the breakout stars in the entertainment world and play a large part in marketing.
• April 25, 2024 - Cars Are The Stars: Automobile Brands in Hollywood. Synopsis: "Almost every movie and television show needs cars, and auto companies are happy to supply them - because it helps sell a lot of cars. We’ll look back at James Bond and Starsky & Hutch, and explore auto partnerships with movie franchises like Transformers and Marvel. We’ll also tell a crazy story of how the most sought-after car from a Steve McQueen movie was finally found - and the cosmic coincidence that led to its discovery. Cars are the stars." Click here to listen to the episode. Click here for the website post.
Click here for the show's website and here for the show's podcast archive.
| |
 |  |
Shortage of tradespeople is costing Canadians
One of the worst things that ever happened in the education system was the downgrading or elimination of trades education in schools. These actions resulted in the trades being perceived as lesser careers or ones for "less-than-intelligent" individuals.
This shortsightedness has come back to bite us in the you-know-what. There is a large shortage of qualified tradespeople in Canada, leading to higher costs for consumers as competition for talent increases.
Article excerpt: "A shortage of qualified people to work in skilled trades is making rising costs of living even worse, economists and trade industry veterans say.
'It used to be 70 or 80 bucks for somebody to come to your house as a service call just to look at your dishwasher; now you're going to pay double that,' said Mandy Rennehan, founder and CEO of construction company Freshco, which specializes in building retail stores.
And it's not just homeowners paying the price.
'Anybody can expect to bear some of impacts of this shortage,' said Simon Gaudreault, chief economist and vice-president of research for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) based in Montreal.
From a lack of transportation mechanics driving up the cost of bus fare and plane tickets, to a shortage of cooks affecting menu pricing at restaurants, 'this is all interconnected in ways that sometimes people underestimate,' Gaudreault said.
He said these 'underappreciated' careers are not just critical to our economy - they impact us as individual consumers, too. A CFIB report found that small Canadian firms lost $38 billion in business opportunities due to labour shortages in 2022, with the construction sector bearing the largest portion."
Trades need to be promoted as viable careers for everyone - women and men. These are good, well-paying jobs, and they directly affect the quality of life of Canadians. Let's just say that when your toilet is plugged, you don't call someone with a PhD in philosophy, right?
Read: Shortage of skilled tradespeople is hitting all Canadians in the pocketbook, economists say.
| |
Car boots attached to tires now have some competition: the Barnacle!
No, Big Bird didn't just poop on your car's windshield. Canadians are seeing more and more of these funny-looking yellow things attached to vehicles who park illegally. The Barnacle is the new "boot" - which immobilizes cars by making tires unable to turn. The Barnacle suction-cups itself to a windshield and makes it impossible for the driver to see.
Article excerpt: "Barnacles have appeared on vehicles in Saskatchewan's capital, but they're not sticky little water-dwelling crustaceans.
The bright yellow devices, used to make sure parking scofflaws pay their tickets, could soon be making their way to other parts of the country.
'You will see more and more Barnacles,' Colin Heffron, chairman of Barnacle Parking, said in an interview from New Jersey.
When a Barnacle is placed on a vehicle's windshield, commercial-grade suction cups latch onto the glass with more than 450 kilograms of force. It can only be removed once the driver uses a QR code on the device to pay outstanding fines."
Looks like we'll soon be seeing people with their heads craning out of their windows driving down the road.
Read: What's a Barnacle? It's yellow, sticks and screams if you try to pry it off your car. Related: Barnacle Parking.
| |
1,100+ copies sold! #1 bestseller on Amazon: Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1
My very first book is now available for purchase! Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1 is a compilation of recipes gathered from members of the Acadian Poutine Râpée Facebook Group and elsewhere.
There are more than 100 recipes available in the book - many of which are family recipes that are impossible to find! Enjoy the extra bonuses of exclusive goodies from Marven's Biscuits and Cy's Seafood Restaurant, too - both iconic food legends in Moncton, New Brunswick!
On March 21, the book reached #2 on Amazon Canada bestsellers list for ALL books in Canada.
The print edition and ebook (Kindle) are available exclusively on Amazon. Click on the country you live in to visit the appropriate site for purchase:
• Amazon Canada
• Amazon U.S.
• Kobo.com (for Kobo ebook readers)
I'm also pleased to announce that the next two books in the series will be released this year. Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 2 and Acadian Recipes and More - Holidays. Stay tuned!
This is a great book for delicious homestyle recipes. Enjoy!
| |
Trivia: Did you know?
In the past century, what has been the most popular name for baby boys in the United States? Is it John? Michael? Robert?
Actually, none of the above! In the past 100 years combined, James has been the most popular name for baby boys in the the United States.
| |
Quotes of note
• 1. "Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today."
- James Dean (1931-1955), actor (see photo)
• 2. "We do not remember days, we remember moments."
- Cesare Pavese
• 3. "It is never too late to be what you might have been."
- George Eliot
• 4. "There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. 'Good pride' represents our dignity and self-respect. 'Bad pride' is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance."
- John C. Maxwell
• 5. "A crown, if it hurts us, is not worth wearing."
- Pearl Bailey
• 6. "A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work."
- Colin Powell
• 7. "I can excuse everything but boredom. Boring people don't have to stay that way."
- Hedy Lamarr
• 8. "It's useless to hold a person to anything he says while he's in love, drunk, or running for office."
- Shirley MacLaine
• 9. "I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it."
- Mitch Hedberg
• 10. "Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?"
- George Carlin
| |
Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: Monday, May 27
The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, May 27, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only). Click here for the Facebook event listing.
Participants may play as teams or individuals. The winning team gets 50% of the door receipts as their prize.
It is strongly suggested that participants arrive by 5:15-5:30 p.m. for a seat. Trivia begins at 6:30 p.m. sharp and is usually over by 8 p.m. Everyone welcome!
Please note that restaurant reservations are NOT available for this event. First come, first served. Limited seating of approximately 50 guests.
Participants may bring an optional non-perishable food item (box of granola bars, Kraft Dinner, cereal, etc.) for distribution at Krista Richard's Community Sports Program events, of which the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club is a sponsor. Any donations will be gratefully received and provided to Krista for distribution to her program participants (school-aged children from Moncton-area schools).
Since Rotary Trivia Nights began in 2016, the Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club has donated nearly $20,000 to Atlantic Wellness, Karing Kitchen, Ray of Hope Kitchen, Salvus Clinic, The Humanity Project, BGC Moncton (Moncton Boys & Girls Club), Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Project Linus - Moncton Chapter, and Krista Richard's Community Sports Program, among others. During the last Rotary Trivia Night season (September 2022 to May 2023), more than $6,000 was raised.
The Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club gratefully acknowledges the kind and generous sponsorship of its restaurant partner, St. Louis Bar & Grill.
See you on Monday, May 27!
| |
Spring is here! Enjoy the great outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
In April, the Greater Moncton Walking Group meets in Rotary St-Anselme Park located at 505 Melanson Road in Dieppe, meeting in the Rotary Lodge parking lot.
In May, the group moves to the Dobson Trail in Riverview, meeting at the parking lot on Quinn Court.
The group meets for walks every Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. New participants are always welcome! For more information, please contact Wayne Harrigan at 506-386-2187 or via email.
| |
|
About this newsletter
Brian Cormier's Weekly Update is distributed weekly from September to June via email to more than 500 subscribers in addition to many others who access it online. If you're reading this newsletter online and want to subscribe, please email me, fill out the subscription form on my website, or subscribe via the "Join Our Email List" button at the top of the newsletter (if you're viewing this in a browser.) This newsletter is not published in July and August and on holidays.
| |
© 2024 Bricor Communications | | | | |
