In this issue...
• Happy Easter!
• Canadian adults no longer have access to the high school equivalency test - the GED
• Halifax man owes millions after his illegal TV streaming empire is taken down
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• Hertz car rental company tanks on its investment in electric vehicles. CEO resigns.
• 600+ copies sold! #1 bestseller on Amazon: Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1
• Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: Monday, March 25
• Easter is Sunday, March 31
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week
• Acadian mugs with family names - nearly 100 options!
... and trivia, quotes, community events and more!
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Happy Easter!
For those of you who celebrate, I hope you have a wonderful Easter filled with a sense of peace and renewal! This is another postcard from my maternal grandmother Rose Pineau's (1903-1983) collection from the early 1900s.
This newsletter will not be published on April 1 due to the Easter holiday.
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Canadian adults no longer have access to the high school equivalency test - the GED
What a terrible thing for adult learners in Canada! The GED will no longer be available to them as an alternative option for getting their high school diploma. The private American company that offers the service in Canada is pulling out of the country entirely, leaving adult learners high and dry. (Am I the only person who didn't know a private company provided the GED?)
Article excerpt: "For weeks, Gail Feliciant has been trying to book a General Educational Development (GED) test but hasn't heard back from schedulers.
The 62-year-old from Burlington, Ont., said she's seeking the GED to get the certificate - an equivalent to a high school diploma - to gain more opportunity to work before retirement age.
She said she registered before the Jan. 31 deadline and still has hope she'll be able to schedule it before March 31, the deadline set by province, but there isn't much time left.
Pearson Vue GED Testing Service, the company behind the test, is ending service in Canada after this month.
'It's ludicrous,' Feliciant said about the program ending and the tight deadline.
When the end of the program was announced last year, provinces were left to find their own solutions.
In the meantime, people who miss the deadline to schedule a test this year won't get another chance - and without any alternative right now in some provinces, such as Ontario, adults wanting to get the equivalent to a high school diploma will face barriers.
'We were completely blindsided by that, as were our students... This is just another roadblock for them,' said Steven Lobodici, a professor and assessor at Mohawk College, adding he first learned of the change in August 2023."
What a sad state of affairs for so many adult learners who will now have their potential limited by a lack of a high school diploma. I hope the provinces step up to the plate soon - as suggested may be happening in the linked article below. This is nothing less than an emergency for both adult learners and employers who require high school diplomas (or their equivelent) for their employees.
Read: Canada's GED high school equivalency test ends after March, leaving adult students in limbo.
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Halifax man owes millions after his illegal TV streaming empire is taken down
For some reason, I just assumed the purveyors of these huge (clearly illegal) pirate services were offshore in the Carribean somewhere. But Halifax? Who knew? One guy was caught offering illegal TV streaming packages to clients and is now paying the price - $7.1 million!
Article excerpt: "Last fall, Activeits, also known as Tyler White - who lives on Old Sambro Road on the outskirts of Halifax - was ordered to pay $7.1 million in penalties to some of the largest entertainment companies in the world for his role in a streaming service called Beast TV.
The case offers a window into the inner workings of operations that break copyright laws but which many law-abiding Canadians quietly use - pirate services offering thousands of channels for a fraction of the price of legitimate cable or streaming packages.
'We view it as a critical threat to not just our platforms, but to the creative sector as a whole,' said Aaron Wais, the head of global litigation for the Motion Picture Association, a group that includes Disney, Netflix and Warner Bros.
'It impacts us as right-holders. It impacts creators across the industry. It causes hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and thousands of lost jobs.'
There are many legitimate IPTV (internet-protocol television) services that offer TV streaming over the internet, including those run by major Canadian broadcasters like Bell Media and Rogers.
But over the years, the internet has been littered with illegal IPTV operators, some of them peddling huge packages of live sports, television and movie channels for as little as $20 a month. Only the big ones catch the attention of the major studios, and Beast TV was one of them."
I don't care how cheap these pirate services are. I would never take a chance that I would be targeted as one of the provider's clients once they were inevitably taken to court. I can't imagine waiting for a knock on the door or a letter in the mailbox telling me that I'm in big trouble. I watch TV for relaxation and education, not to be stressed out wondering if it's still going to be there in 20 minutes because it's been taken down.
Read: The rise and fall of a Halifax man's illegal TV streaming empire.
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Hertz car rental company tanks on its investment in electric vehicles. CEO resigns.
I would buy a hybrid vehicle any day of the week. But a 100% electric car? Nope. Too many horror stories of inconvenience. I'm all about convenience. I have no desire to be on my nerves during an entire trip because I have to plan ever inch of the trip around electric vehicle chargers. How annoying.
Hertz thought that they'd maybe hit the jackpot when they invested millions in a fleet of electric vehicles for their rentals, but the entire project flopped when customers voted with their feet... by walking next door to another company where they could rent a gas-powered vehicle.
And now the Hertz CEO has paid the price for the debacle - with his job.
Article excerpt: "In 2021, Hertz made a big splash when it announced plans to buy 100,000 Teslas and greatly expand its fleet of EVs. That deal, which came just half a year after a $4.2 billion restructuring saved the company from bankruptcy, moved the brand's stock price up 40% over two weeks. Two and a half years later, the brand is selling off many of those EVs at perilously low prices and the stock is trading at just 20% of its 2021 high. That is the sort of outcome that suggests a huge gamble did not pay off, and as a result, CEO Stephen Scherr is stepping down from his role."
... "Hertz is the latest automotive giant to feel the sting of an early investment in EVs not going to plan immediately. For the rental car giant, the biggest issues were low demand from renters and high repair costs from suppliers. That led the company to announce plans to sell 20,000 of its fleet of EVs."
Until there are lightning fast chargers on every corner, I do not plan on buying an electric vehicle soon. Can our electricity grid even handle that increase in demand?
Read: Hertz CEO resigns after big bet on EVs fails to pay off. Related: Hertz CEO out following electric car "horror show".
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900+ copies sold! #1 bestseller on Amazon: Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1
I'm thrilled to announce that 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!
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Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: Monday, March 25
The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, March 25, 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, March 25!
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Trivia: Did you know?
On January 15, 1919, 2.3 million gallons of molasses burst from a collapsed storage facility and flooded Boston streets, killing 21 people and injuring 150. Today, it is known as the Great Molasses Flood. Some say you can still smell molasses in the area on hot summer days.
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Quotes of note
• 1. "Why didn't you tell me I was in love with you?"
- Fred Astaire (1899-1987), dancer, actor, entertainer (see photo)
• 2. "Wait. Be patient. The storm will pass. The spring will come."
- Robert H. Schuller
• 3. "Easter is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal and new life."
- Janine Di Giovanni
• 4. "Recipes are just descriptions of one person’s take on one moment in time. They’re not rules."
- Mario Batali
• 5. "The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases."
- C.G. Jung
• 6. "I do not know anyone who has gotten to the top without hard work. That is the recipe. It will not always get you to the top, but it will get you pretty near."
- Margaret Thatcher
• 7. "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds the most discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' but 'That's funny...'"
- Isaac Asimov
• 8. "Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great."
- Bob Saget
• 9. "I do benefits for all religions. I'd hate to blow the hereafter on a technicality."
- Bob Hope
• 10. "Do you know what it means to come home at night to a woman who'll give you a little love, a little affection, a little tenderness? It means you're in the wrong house, that's what it means."
- Henny Youngman
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Enjoy the outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
In March, the Greater Moncton Walking Group is walking on the Northwest Trail, meeting in the parking lot of the YMCA North End at 70 Twin Oaks Drive, Moncton.
In April, the group moves to Rotary St-Anselme Park located at 505 Melanson Road in Dieppe, meeting in the Rotary Lodge parking lot.
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.
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Acadian mugs with family names - nearly 100 options!
From Acadistuff: Acadian flag mugs with family names. Nearly 100 options available! Free shipping to U.S. and $7.50 CAD flat rate shipping to Canada.
• 11-oz. mug: Click here
• 15-oz. mug: Click here
Don't see your family name there? Contact me via email to have it added. These mugs have been shipped all over North America! There are many more Acadian-branded items available, as well, including hats, aprons, pillows and even blankets! Click here for the entire Acadistuff catalog.
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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.
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