In this issue...
• The end of the long dash: CBC Radio's longest-running feature ends
• A walk down memory lane: Mr. Dressup documentary released to honour Ernie Coombs's legacy
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• Another big brand changes its logo because younger folks can't read cursive (i.e. "handwriting) text
• EU official gives his blessing to Bluesky as frustration over X (formerly Twitter) explodes
• Wear a poppy to honour Canadian veterans
• Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night returns on Monday, October 23
• Time to get ready for Halloween!
• A great Christmas gift! Acadian mugs with family names - dozens of options!
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week!
... and trivia, quotes, community events and more!
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The end of the long dash: CBC Radio's longest-running feature ends
Oh the humanity! A CBC Radio feature that has been helping Canadians set their clocks to the exact time was unceremoniously cancelled recently. The daily National Research Council's time signal on CBC Radio has left the airwaves after an incredible run of 80 years.
Article excerpt: "For more than 80 years the beeps and tones of the National Research Council (NRC) time signal have connected Canadians at exactly 1 p.m. ET.
But as of Monday, CBC Radio One audiences won't be listening for the beginning of the long dash - they'll have listened to the end of it.
Variations of the daily message and the 'pips' that sound along with it have played over CBC's airwaves since Nov. 5, 1939 - forming a link that connects Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
CBC and Radio-Canada have announced they'll no longer carry the National Research Council (NRC) time signal.
Monday marked the last time it was broadcast, ending the longest running segment on CBC Radio.
CBC declined an interview and would only provide written responses to questions about the change.
In a statement, spokesperson Emma Iannetta described the signal as a 'wonderful partnership,' but confirmed it's being dropped.
Given the range of CBC platforms from traditional over-the-air radio, to satellite and the internet, the long dash undergoes a range of delays by the time it's heard, leading to accuracy concerns from the NRC, she wrote."
Despite having my share of connected devices that display the proper time - including my cell phone, television and a computer - I did use the "long dash" from time to time to set the alarm clock in my bedroom. I'm sorry to see it go, but accuracy is a serious business, even if it's barely noticeable sometimes.
Read: The end of the long dash: CBC stops broadcasting official time signal.
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A walk down memory lane: Mr. Dressup documentary released to honour Ernie Coombs's legacy
If you were a child living in Canada from 1967 to 1996, odds are that you watched your fair share of Mr. Dressup, starring Ernie Coombs (1927-2001) as Mr. Dressup and accompanied by a whole slew of characters, including Casey, Finnegan, Aunt Bird and many others!
A new documentary looking back at the show and the joy that Ernie Coombs brought to generations of Canadians started airing on Amazon's Prime Video on October 10.
Article excerpt: "After 29 seasons and more than 4,000 episodes, Mr. Dressup's place in the Canadian cultural landscape was pretty much cemented.
But even with that impressive pedigree, London, Ont., filmmaker Robert McCallum didn't think it was enough. Because, he said, those numbers don't come close to showcasing the immense impact Ernie Coombs's TV show Mr. Dressup had on five generations of viewers.
'It's just that kind of stuff that united us. You say Mr. Dressup, we know what you mean, and all those memories flood back in an instant again,' McCallum told CBC News. "Coast to coast to coast - regardless of region, regardless of belief - the creative exploration that show instilled in us, plus the values of society."
It's that legacy McCallum was drawn to uphold and illustrate in his new documentary Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe, which follows Coombs's life as he built up the iconic children's show filled with puppets, patience and play that aired on CBC from 1967 to 1996.
And while a considerable section of the documentary focuses on the particular style Coombs developed on Mr. Dressup, engaging in crafts and talking to friendly characters in a colourful, child-friendly environment, McCallum also says it reveals more about the man behind the name than many might know.
That includes the connection between Canada's Mr. Dressup, and his American counterpart, Mr. Rogers."
As the saying goes, you know you're a true Canadian if you cried when you heard that Mr. Dressup died.
I look forward to watching the documentary. It's sure to bring back a lot of happy memories.
Read: Mr. Dressup documentary aims to showcase a legacy of kindness. Related: Heartwarming Mr. Dressup documentary sure to delight Canadians of all ages.
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Another big brand changes its logo because younger folks can't read cursive (i.e. "handwriting") text
First Johnson & Johnson and now Eddie Bauer. Both companies recently changed their logos because an entire generation of consumers can no longer read cursive text.
Man, that makes me feel old.
Article excerpt: "After 59 years, outdoor outfitter Eddie Bauer is trading its cursive logo for something a bit more tangible: a goose.
But not just a goose. The bird is accompanied by a simplified version of the brand name, now written in all-caps block lettering. On the full stack logo, additional details include the company’s date of establishment (1920) and the phrase outdoor outfitters. It’s a major rebrand that launches on Eddie Bauer’s digital platforms today and will start to appear at international brick-and-mortars on a rolling basis. By fall 2024, all Eddie Bauer products will begin to feature the updated logo.
The change comes during a period of flux for the brand. Just over a year ago, CEO Tim Bantle joined Eddie Bauer after an extensive career in the outdoor goods industry, having worked at Patagonia, Black Diamond Equipment, North Face, and VF Corp. As he researched the brand’s history and spoke with employees, he created a three-pronged approach for expanding Eddie Bauer’s efforts: focusing more on wholesale retail, increasing international distribution, and reaching a new generation of customers. Achieving those goals, Bantle says, requires an instantly recognizable logo that will still resonate 50 years from now."
Will anyone be able to read cursive handwriting 50 years from now? It will probably look like Egyptian hieroglyphs to us all by then.
Read: Eddie Bauer changed its logo because Gen Z doesn’t read cursive. Related: Johnson & Johnson marks new era as global healthcare company with updated visual identity.
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EU official gives his blessing to Bluesky as frustration over X (formerly Twitter) explodes
As Twitter implodes under the chaotic ownership of Elon Musk, news junkies everywhere are looking for a new source for timely as-they-happen updates of things going on in the world. As Twitter devolves into oblivion, the world grew accustomed to its capabilities, despite its many faults, especially journalists.
A senior European Union (EU) official recently gave his blessing to Bluesky, a new social media platform started by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.
Article excerpt: "Since Elon Musk hollowed out Twitter's staffing, pushed services behind a paywall and renamed it X, many users have been thrashing around for an alternative social media platform.
So far none has emerged as a clear winner, but EU commissioner Thierry Breton, alarmed at the disinformation on X, has just made a very public choice to switch to Bluesky -- one of the lesser-known X rivals.
The platform was created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey as a side project in 2019.
Dorsey put five engineers aside to build a decentralised alternative to Twitter.
He said at the time that centralised attempts to police abuse and misinformation on a platform like Twitter were unlikely to work, and wanted to give users more control of personal data and content moderation.
But Bluesky did not see the light of day until earlier this year.
The current version looks and feels incredibly similar to the Musk-owned site.
High-profile early adopters include US politician Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and fashion model Chrissy Teigen.
And journalists and media organisations, frequent targets of Musk's ire on X, are moving over in numbers.
US outlets like the Washington Post and New York Times already post their stories on Bluesky.
However, the platform has not yet achieved a huge network effect and discussion of current events is limited."
Let's hope that Bluesky is successful! The world needs a multiple-source instant access to breaking news. Feel free to follow me on Bluesky here: @briancormier.bsky.social
Read: Bluesky, the X rival boosted by EU's tech enforcer.
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Wear a poppy to honour Canadian veterans
Poppies will be available in Canada on the last Friday of October (October 27 this year) for wearing to honour our country's veterans. Contrary to popular belief, poppies are not actually sold; however, donations are gratefully accepted for the Poppy Fund which directly supports Canada’s veterans and their families in need. Click here to read the Royal Legion's page on poppy etiquette. Wearing your poppy properly is another way to show respect to veterans.
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Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night returns on Monday, October 23
The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, in Moncton on Monday, October 23, 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 6:30-6:45 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 Hospice SENB, 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 Nights 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 October 23! Click here for a larger version of the event poster shown above.
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A great Christmas gift! Acadian mugs with family names - dozens of options!
New from Acadistuff: Acadian flag mugs with family names. Dozens of options available! Shipping is included in all prices. Tax extra.
• 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!
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Trivia: Did you know?
Nepal is the only country in the world with a flag that isn't rectangular or square.
Click here to learn more about the Nepalese flag.
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Quotes of note
• 1. "Winning may not be everything, but losing has little to recommend it."
- Dianne Feinstein, U.S. Senator, d. Sept. 29 (see photo)
• 2. "Terrorism has become a festering wound. It is an enemy of humanity."
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee
• 3. "There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’ No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster."
- Dalai Lama XIV
• 4. "Even paranoids have real enemies."
- Golda Meir
• 5. "In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves. Self-discipline with all of them came first."
- Harry S Truman
• 6. "I am my own sanctuary and I can be reborn as many times as I choose throughout my life."
- Lady Gaga
• 7. "I desire that we be better strangers."
- William Shakespeare, As You Like It
• 8. "Old age is always 15 years older than I am."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes
• 9. "My uncle's dying wish - he wanted me on his lap. He was in the electric chair."
- Rodney Dangerfield
• 10. "Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days."
- Benjamin Frankllin
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Greater Moncton Walking Group
In October, the Greater Moncton Walking Group is at Centennial Park, meeting in the parking lot on St. George Boulevard.
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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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 the months of July and August and on holidays.
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