Please note that there will be no newsletter published on October 14 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. |
In this issue...
• When political candidates use tragedy for their own political gain, it usually backfires
• Mad Magazine's cultural influence highlighted in CBS Sunday Morning report
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• Fans concerned for 90-year-old singing legend Frankie Valli as his advanced age is in clear evidence at performances
• Thanksgiving is Monday, October 14
• Just released: Acadian Recipes and More – Volume 2!
• Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night returns on Monday, October 28!
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed last week
... and trivia, quotes, community events and more!
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When political candidates use tragedy for their own political gain, it usually backfires
One of the #1 rules of politics is to not make ridiculous comparisons to a massive tragedy for your own benefit. For some inexplicable reason, New Brunswick Albert-Riverview candidate Sherry Wilson decided to compare policies that protect trans-questioning students in the province with Indigenous children snatched from their homes, thus losing their families, their cultures and - for many - their lives.
The disgusting amount of mental gymnastics required to come up with her post marking Canada's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was worthy of an Olympic gold medal. She learned fairly quickly, however, that the medal was made of fool's gold.
To say the least, Wilson was blasted from all corners of the province and the issue made national news. She never apologized. Premier Blaine Higgs didn't think much of the situation and said she'd stay on as a candidate. Nothing to see here! Since then, she's gone quiet and has limited who can comment on her social media. She deleted the post - pretending it just didn't happen. In a way, I don't blame her. It was indefensible and any kind of apology wouldn't have sounded too genuine. The post was very well thought out. It wasn't just a slip of the tongue, so to speak. It was done on purpose.
Article excerpt: "A Progressive Conservative candidate for a seat in the New Brunswick Legislature is facing calls she withdraw from the campaign after she compared protections for 2SLGTBQ+ students to the systematic taking of Indigenous children from their parents to place them in residential schools.
Sherry Wilson said the federal system of forcing tens of thousands of First Nations, Inuit and Métis children into the schools was 'only allowed to happen because children enrolled in school were isolated from their parents' oversight, input and influence.'
She implied there was a parallel between that and the province's original Policy 713 - which allowed 2SLGBTQ+ students to adopt names and pronouns at school without their parents knowing.
'We cannot afford to repeat the tragic mistakes that destroyed the lives of thousands of Indigenous families,' Wilson, the PC candidate in Albert-Riverview, wrote in the statement posted on social media.
'Therefore I am committed to keeping the parents of minor children aware of, and involved in, their children's development while they are entrusted to our government schools.'
The post was removed from Wilson's Facebook page Tuesday morning.
The PC government changed Policy 713 last year to require parental consent if students under 16 wanted to adopt new names and pronouns consistent with their gender identity."
I'm not sure how someone comes back from such a monumentally disgusting claim. If she manages to get elected, though, it also says a lot about the people in her riding.
Click here for a larger version of the message.
Read: PC candidate compares N.B.'s original 2SLGBTQ+ policy to Indigenous residential schools.
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Mad Magazine's cultural influence highlighted in CBS Sunday Morning report
Permit me to be a bit self-indulgent and relish a recent CBS report on Mad Magazine. I was a big fan and bought every issue back in the day. I absolutely loved Mad and can attest to the fact that its sarcastic sense of humour definitely rubbed off on me!
Article excerpt: "At its peak in 1974, Mad sold 2.1 million copies. It was wildly profitable, even though Bill Gaines (its publisher from the magazine's founding until his death in 1992) refused to accept advertising. 'This is just a thing with me: I've always been against ads,' Gaines told 30 Minutes. 'It's a good thing to publish, if you can, without any outside help, so you're not beholden to anybody.'
But eventually, readership began to decline. People have all kinds of theories as to why: magazines began dying off, the 'usual gang of idiots' began dying off, the internet happened.
And then, there was the ownership problem, according to Ficarra: 'Bill sold it to a guy who owned another magazine that was losing money. They sold it to, I think, a holding company. We became part of Warner Publishing. And then, just as I was leaving, AT&T bought the company, really screwed it up (please don't cut that out!), and sold it again now to Discovery.'
DeBartolo said, 'For a very brief time, I think it was just a month, it was Smucker's Jams and Jellies! We thought, 'How did we get there?''
Mad's last regular issue came out in April 2018; the Mad exhibition runs through the end of October. But the Mad influence still runs strong, its impact acknowledged by The Simpsons, Weird All Yankovic, Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. Laurie Drucker Bachner said, had there been no Mad, 'You think there would have been SNL? Or any of the standups?'
Brodner said, 'Mad actually created a revolution in the United States. People are still saying, 'I don't believe that. I'm gonna investigate this and see what the truth of it is.' And I think that's what Mad is saying: Don't buy the con, you know?'"
Despite the magazine having stopped publishing original content in 2018, compilations of old material are still being published a few times per year. And yes, I'm a subscriber! I hope they continue to publish these because I'm there for the long game. Great memories of my youth!
Read: How Mad Magazine's humour created a revolution.
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Fans concerned for 90-year-old singing legend Frankie Valli as his advanced age is in clear evidence at performances
If you haven't seen some of the truly tragic videos of 90-year-old singing legend Frankie Valli pathetically trying to get through concerts, spare yourself the sadness. They're like trying not to look at a car accident while driving by. The Zombie-like Valli can barely move, misses cues, doesn't blink and looks like a statue most of the time, all while trying to lip sync / mumble realistically, which he completely fails to do. It's pitiful and sad to watch.
It's definitely time for him to retire.
Article excerpt: "Frankie Valli, the legendary crooner and frontman of the Four Seasons, turned 90 this past May but continues to maintain a robust touring schedule, with concerts planned well into 2025. However, recent concert footage of the singer has gone viral on social media over the last few weeks, with many expressing concern over his well-being.
Many of the clips show Valli singing with the microphone far below his mouth. He often struggles to keep up with the music, barely moving his lips as backing tracks play. At other times, he seems to miss his cues entirely. Making the scenes all the more jarring is the juxtaposition of the much younger Four Seasons members singing and dancing in the background, along with the accompaniment of a full band.
Understandably, many people in the comments expressed their concern for Valli. 'This is a tough watch,' one person wrote. 'This is cruel,' another person commented. 'If I paid for this show and this is what I got I’d be pissed,' someone else stated."
Meanwhile, he claims he's not being abused or railroaded into being on tour. If he's not, then someone who loves him should sit down and tell him that it's time to put the microphone back in the stand and call it a day. I don't care how beloved someone is, people shouldn't be paying their hard-earned money to see these so-called concerts. I think at this point that many are going just to see how bad it is - and that's not a reason to continue being on tour. Go out on a high!
He also claims to be singing at the concerts. Sure...yeah... OK.
The above photo is from a screenshot taken from a YouTube video from his concert on June 9, 2024.
Read: Videos of lip-syncing Frankie Valli go viral on TikTok, spark concern. Related: Frankie Valli speaks out against claims he is the victim of elder abuse.
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Just released: French and English versions of Acadian Recipes and More – Volume 2!
I'm thrilled to announce the release of the French and English versions of Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 2. (And yes, this one includes poutine râpée recipes and advice.) This book includes 120+ recipes and is 40+ pages longer than Volume 1 for the same price!! The cover features my mother's family (Pineau) enjoying a meal at their kitchen table in the mid-1950s in Hope River, PEI. Proud Acadians from the Island! (The French version of the book should be available later in September.)
Once again, thanks to Angella Cormier of Ancor Creative Solutions for her invaluable work in getting this across the finish line! Another one down and many more to go! Thanks, as well to Claire Lanteigne for her contribution to the French edition!
The books are available immediately via Amazon. They are also rolling out to various retail locations. See the list below for the list of where to buy.
English:
• Amazon Canada (paperback, ebook, hardcover): amzn.to/3B4mOK3
• Amazon USA (paperback, ebook, hardcover): amzn.to/4dIYsUN
• Le P'tit Coin Acadien Poutine Râpée Restaurant (paperback), Bouctouche NB
French:
• Amazon Canada (paperback, ebook): amzn.to/3ZN5MdQ
Also available on Amazon:
• Acadian Recipes and More - Volume 1
• Recettes acadiennes et plus - Volume 1
• Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1
Coming soon:
• Acadian Recipes and More - Holidays
• Recette acadiennes et plus - Fêtes
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The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night will be held on Monday, October 28!
The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night of the 2024-2025 season will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, October 28, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only). (Facebook event listing: bit.ly/3N9nyAB)
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 more than $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, Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement New Brunswick, Children's Wish Canada and Krista Richard's Community Sports Program, among others.
The Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club gratefully acknowledges the kind and generous sponsorship of our restaurant partner, St. Louis Bar & Grill.
PLEASE NOTE: There is a no telephone rule at these events. The answers cannot be researched except among discussion with your team members.
See you on Monday, September 23!
The Trivia Night schedule for 2024-2025 is as follows:
• Monday, October 28, 2024
• Monday, November. 25, 2024
• Monday, January 27, 2025
• Monday, February 24, 2025
• Monday, March 24, 2025
• Monday, April 28, 2025
• Monday, May 26, 2025
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Trivia: Did you know?
Can't find Lay's potato chips while you're visiting the U.K. or Ireland? There's a good reason for that! In the U.K. and Ireland, Lay's are sold under the brand name Walkers. Same product, but with regional flavour variations, of course.
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Quotes of note
• 1. "Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart. 'Cause that's all that matters in the end."
- Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024), singer and actor, died September 28 (see photo)
• 2. "It is never too late to be what you might have been."
- George Eliot
• 3. "My soul will find yours."
- Jude Deveraux, A Knight in Shining Armor
• 4. "Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness in people."
- Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart
• 5. "Books have a unique way of stopping time in a particular moment and saying: Let’s not forget this."
- Dave Eggers
• 6. "Never memorize something that you can look up."
- Albert Einstein
• 7. "Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
- Marcel Proust
• 8. "Anyone who thinks sitting in church can make you a Christian must also think that sitting in a garage can make you a car."
- Garrison Keillor
• 9. "I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it."
- Mark Twain
• 10. "You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do."
- Anne Lamott
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Enjoy the beautiful weather this fall with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
The group celebrates the beginning of their 20th year in October when they will be walking in Centennial Park until Thursday, October 31. A beautiful place to enjoy in the fall! Meeting place is in the parking lot on St. George Boulevard.
In November, the group will be walking in Irishtown Nature Park. Meet-up is in the parking lot beginning on Tuesday, November 5, until Thursday, November 28.
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. 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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