In this issue...
• Netflix plans on opening physical locations
• Would you try macaroni-and-cheese-flavoured ice cream?
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• Best Buy to cease selling physical DVDs
• Pete Davidson surprises with touching comments on Israel-Hamas war
• Wear a poppy to honour Canadian veterans
• Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: 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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Netflix plans on opening physical locations
Netflix plans on rolling out branded storefront in the U.S. to reflect the streaming service's programming and over related sidelines such as dining, etc.
Article excerpt: "Netflix recently shuttered the longstanding mail-order DVD service that led to the closure of video stores around the world and ushered in the era of streaming. But now the company appears to be embracing brick and mortar.
According to a Bloomberg report quoting Josh Simon, the company's vice president of consumer products, Netflix aims to open a network of stores offering retail, dining and live entertainment that leverage its TV shows and movies.
Netflix has not announced what it will be selling at the locations; it's unclear if DVDs or any type of physical media will be part of the inventory.
The streamer plans to open the first two of these 'Netflix House' locations in unannounced cities in the U.S. in 2025. It hopes to expand the concept to major cities around the world thereafter."
Actually, this could work. I think there are enough devout fans of certain shows that would show up at places like this. Dining menus could be catered to visitors based on various shows, etc. The potential to sell show-related merchandize is enormous.
Yeah, I can see it! Will be interesting to see how this unfolds.
Photo credit: Free Stock photos by Vecteezy.
Read: Netflix plans to open brick and mortar locations.
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Would you try macaroni-and-cheese-flavoured ice cream?
Believe it or not, when Walmart in the U.S. brought in Kraft Macaroni & Cheese-flavoured ice cream for a limited run in 2022, it sold like hotcakes! Well, it's back!
Article excerpt: "In July 2021, an ice cream flavor you didn’t know you needed landed.
At the time, 6,000 pints of Kraft Mac & Cheese x Van Leeuwen Ice Cream sold out in less than an hour.
If you missed your chance to try it - no worries. That specialty flavor is returning along with six other new yummy winter flavors.
Kraft Mac & Cheese ice cream will return on Oct. 23 only at Walmart stores nationwide.
After the July 2021 sell-out, Van Leeuwen brought it back online only then launched it in Walmart stores in March 2022 - it’s 'most successful limited-edition product with Walmart ever.'"
Other flavours being introduced to U.S.-based Walmarts include dill pickle, peppermint stick, caramel sticky bun, peanut butter fudge, kettle corn, and holiday cookies and cream.
Dill pickle ice cream? I'd buy it on a lark, but I can't imagine it being any good! Still, I'd buy it. Too bad it's not available in Canada, eh?
Read: It’s back! Kraft Mac & Cheese ice cream will return to Walmart freezer aisle soon.
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Best Buy to cease selling physical DVDs
With the onset of so many online streaming and rental services, who buys DVDs now anyway? As you can see by my eclectic collection of DVDs shown above, I haven't bought any in years, clearly. I mean, who owns full series sets of The Waltons and Oz at the same time? It's eclectic, to say the least! (If you're not familiar with Oz, it's a very violent series based in a prison. Let's just say that John Boy wouldn't have stood a chance after dropping his soap in the shower in Oz!)
So, the news that Best Buy will no longer be selling DVDs isn't exactly a shocker.
Article excerpt: "Being able to walk through the Best Buy DVD aisles will soon be a thing of the past. Starting in 2024, Best Buy will be ditching the sale of physical DVDs both in-store and online, as streaming services have rendered physical media more and more obsolete.
The new sales strategy was first reported on by The Digital Bits and then confirmed by Best Buy in statements to different media outlets.
'Making this change gives us more space and opportunity to bring customers new and innovative tech for them to explore, discover and enjoy,' a Best Buy spokesperson said in a statement to Bloomberg.
In a statement to the Associated Press, the company pointed to the changing times and the difference in how people consume video content as the reasons for ending DVD sales.
'To state the obvious, the way we watch movies and TV shows is much different today than it was decades ago,' Best Buy said in a statement to the Associated Press."
But hey, LPs made a comeback, right? Anything is possible.
Read: The end of an era: Best Buy will stop selling physical DVDs.
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Pete Davidson surprises with touching comments on Israel-Hamas war
I don't know about you, but I certainly didn't have Pete Davidson saying something touching and comforting about the Israel-Hamas war on my 2023 bingo card.
What many people may not realize is that Davidson's father was a New York City firefighter who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Davidson's cold opening during the October 14th episode - a week following terrorist attacks on Israel - struck a chord with viewers as thoughtful and touching. He could completely empathize with the innocent victims.
Article excerpt: "In a world raging with conflict, Saturday Night Live returned for its 49th season premiere with oft-troubled comedian Pete Davidson at the helm - and once he got into his opening monologue, it became clear that there may not have been a better choice.
Davidson, 29, was uncharacteristically sombre as he delivered the cold open, and the lights were turned down in the studio to emphasize the gravity of the topic: the Israel-Hamas conflict.
'This week we saw the horrible images and stories from Israel and Gaza,' he started. 'And I know what you’re thinking, who better to comment on it than Pete Davidson?'
'Well, in a lot of ways I am a good person to talk about it because when I was seven years old, my dad was killed in a terrorist attack. So, I know something about what that’s like,' he said, referring to his father, Scott, who was a New York City firefighter who died on Sept. 11, 2001.
Davidson then spoke out about the horrific images of dead and injured children that have emerged from the conflict.
'I saw so many terrible pictures this week. Children suffering, Israeli children and Palestinian children,' he said. 'And it took me back to a really horrible, horrible place. No one in this world deserves to suffer like that, especially not kids.'"
Saturday Night Live has a long history of impactful cold openings following tragedies, including 9/11 itself and the start of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. They always seem to hit the right tone on these things and rarely miss making a powerful emotional impact.
Read: Pete Davidson delivers emotional ‘SNL’ cold open about Israel, Gaza. Related: Saturday Night Live returns to NBC with promising audience growth for season 49 premiere.
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Wear a poppy to honour Canadian veterans
Poppies will be available in Canada on the last Friday of October (later this week on October 27) 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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Next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night: 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?
Of horror author Stephen King's books, The Shining stands atop of the list in sales numbers. Shown above is a scene from the 1980 film adaptation of the book featuring Shelley Duvall (Wendy) cowering in fear as Jack Nicholson (Jack) tries to break into the bathroom through the door to... well... "have a chat".
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Quotes of note
• 1. "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
- C.S. Lewis, author (1898-1963) (see photo)
• 2. "It's a lot of work to keep reinventing yourself and coming up with new stuff, but that's what it takes to be in show business."
- Donny Osmond
• 3. "Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear."
- Albert Camus
• 4. "I don't let a lot of people know about my dad dying on 9/11. It's not a way to introduce yourself. So I never told anybody, and then I would do jokes about it... and I think people thought I was lying about it. Which would be crazy!"
- Pete Davidson
• 5. "My father wasn't perfect. He had a temper. I took some of that. He would snap, but the older he got, he started calming down. He learned about life, but the thing that he taught my whole family was that family was the most important thing and, no matter what, if a family member needs you, you go and help them out; you get there."
- Adam Sandler
• 6. "Life is a great big canvas; throw all the paint you can at it."
- Danny Kaye
• 7. "I never wanted to be the next Bruce Lee. I just wanted to be the first Jackie Chan."
- Jackie Chan
• 8. "Never go on trips with anyone you don't love."
- Ernest Hemingway
• 9. "A grandmother pretends she doesn't know who you are on Halloween."
- Erma Bombeck
• 10. "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull."
- W.C. Fields
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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.
In November, the group moves to the Irishtown Nature Park, meeting in the 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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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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