In this issue...
• Vancouver taking action against vehicle headlights that are blindingly too bright
• Creepy men using smartglasses to record themselves trying to pick up women and then uploading the videos online
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• CBC Radio's Under the Influence: 1) Catalogues are making a comeback; 2) Connection between cars and food
• Brutally honest obituary doesn't pull any punches for addict family member
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed in the news
• Trivia: Did you know?
• Quotes of note
• Enjoy the outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
• Mythical Creatures: A colouring book by Rose Michaels
• Monday, March 2: Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night
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Vancouver taking action against vehicle headlights that are blindingly too bright
If you're like me, you're now saying, "I thought it was just my imagination!" It turns out that it wasn't. Vehicle headlights are becoming brighter and are causing a danger to public safety - especially in higher vehicles like pickup trucks. Try as we might, sometimes, we can't just look away or squint to the point where you can't see anything.
Article excerpt: "Vancouver city council unanimously passed a motion last week, calling on the federal government to address overly bright vehicle headlights.
The mayor will write a letter to Transport Canada urging action to address excessive headlight brightness, including updates to national vehicle safety standards.
'I remember asking myself when I first started seeing these headlights on the road: how is this legal?' said Coun. Sean Orr, who submitted the motion, in last week’s meeting.
Experts say LED headlights on newer vehicles are brighter, smaller, and bluer than the warmer old-style halogen lights on cars people grew up with. This creates a more intense, concentrated light that causes people to squint in discomfort.
The motion notes that excessively bright car headlights are increasingly common in Vancouver, and are a growing concern for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians."
I truly hope these efforts work. It's becoming dangerous.
Read: Vancouver city council calls on feds to address headlight brightness. Related 1:
Throwing shade on those super bright headlights. Related 2: Yes, headlights have become blindingly bright in Canada. Here's what the experts are saying.
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Creepy men using smartglasses to record themselves trying to pick up women and then uploading the videos online
Holy moly, guys. If this is your way of impressing women, you're not doing yourselves any favours. Creepy much?
Article excerpt: "Toluwa was waiting for her flight in an airport lounge in Washington, DC, when she said she was approached by a stranger.
The pair got chatting and, after a while, she agreed to exchange numbers with him. It wasn’t until she got home and searched his social media that she discovered he had posted numerous videos of himself trying to pick up women in airports.
These videos were taken using a built-in camera on his glasses – smart glasses, which look like regular eyewear and, while still relatively niche, are growing in popularity.
'I creeped, I found his TikTok. I found out that he does these ‘rizz’ videos,' Toluwa said, using a popular slang term derived from 'charisma' for social media videos showing men approaching women in public and chatting them up. Toluwa wished to be identified by her first name only for privacy reasons.
While in contact over text, Toluwa said the man sent her the footage he had filmed of her without her knowledge, saying he wanted to 'run it past' her before he shared it online."
Get used to being alone, dudes. A gentleman, you are not.
Common decency and respect go a long way. This is just the opposite. Awful!
Read: So-called "manfluencers" are filming themselves trying to pick up women. Smart glasses are their perfect tool.
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CBC Radio's Under the Influence: 1) Catalogues are making a comeback; 2) Connection between cars and food
The last two episodes of CBC Radio's Under the Influence with host Terry O'Reilly looked at 1) how catalogues are making a comeback and 2) the connection between cars and food.
• February 12, 2026 - From Tiffany’s to Donkeys: Catalogues Rise Again: "This week, we look at the staying power of catalogues. They’ve been around since the mid 1800s, and they helped build the country. We’ll talk about how catalogues let retailers reach people in far-flung towns and villages. How catalogues finally allowed rural folks to have access to the same goods as city dwellers. And how Seinfeld’s J. Peterman became an owner of the actual J. Peterman catalogue." Click here to listen to the episode. Click here to read the episode-related article on the show's website.
• February 19, 2026 - Car Cuisine: Car Companies in the Food Business: "This week, we look at the link between food and cars. Did you know that Volkswagen makes sausages, and Rolls-Royce makes honey? Did you know cars have even been named after foods and beverages - like the Mitsubishi Pistachio and the Suzuki Cappuccino (shown above)?" Click here to listen to the episode.
Under the Influence airs Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. on CBC Radio One; Tuesdays at 4 p.m., Thursdays at 11:30 a.m. and Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. on Sirius XM Channel 169. The show is also available as a podcast through your favourite podcast provider. Click here for the show's website and click here for the show's on-demand audio archive.
Please note: For some reason, not all episodes make it to both the CBC "On Demand" page and/or the website page for the show. Links are provided as available.
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Brutally honest obituary doesn't pull any punches for addict family member
Over the years, there have been many published obituaries that are brutally honest. This is one of them - for Erica Hilton of the Digby County area in Nova Scotia. She was an addict who'd lived a very difficult life that affected herself - obviously - but also her loved ones. They certainly didn't pull any punches in her to-the-point obituary.
Article excerpt: "Our thanks to all those who faithfully over the past many years held up this gifted human in your prayers and showed unconditional love and understanding. But by the Grace of God go I. Please continue to shine a light on the present day epidemic caused from drug use, illness of addictions, judgments and hurtful misunderstanding. Thanks to caring police men & women, case workers, QE11 cardiac team and Doctors, friends, strangers and all who helped Erica in Digby area & HRM. Especially her brother, Big Al, who was her hero even through his sister’s darkest crack-brain logics and behaviors.
In 2024 she was literally tossed into the street by sickness, her boyfriends arrest and his being jailed for a year, her unhealthy false-pride choices on top of 20 years of crack cocaine use. That March, Alex and a police officer found Erica freezing and close to death wrapped in a wet slashed tarp and under Halifax’s MacDonald Bridge. Because of her brother’s presence and persistence The Bridge Shelter NS accepted her into that newly funded shelter for the homeless. It was not perfect but it was a safer place than the street, offering help, safety, better choices and much needed services.
If you are reading this please be an advocate. Be kind to the homeless and the beautiful broken ones. Show empathy and compassion. Realize an addict’s family is often damaged, too. Some of the hardest decisions are made by family members because they see their beloved is unable to help themselves – and family members know they do not owe their loved ones their own life – especially if they are dangerous to them and to themselves because of the choices they can no longer control.
We as Erica Joy Axent Hilton’s family are telling her story because in doing so maybe just one life will be saved. We want the addict, family, stranger and friends to understand they are not alone on the battle field of addictions."
There's something to be said for brutally honest obituaries. Some may be offended, but obituaries like this let people know they're not alone... and maybe it will help someone.
Read: Obituary for Erica Hilton.
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Trivia: Did you know?
During the rule (1558-1603) of Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603) of England, it became popular for women to start wearing red lipstick in order to keep evil spirits away.
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Quotes of note
• 1. "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us."
- J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973), English author, The Fellowship of the Ring (see photo)
• 2. "Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else."
- Gloria Steinem
• 3. "No matter what anybody tells you, words and ideas can change the world."
- Tom Schulman, Dead Poets Society (screenplay)
• 4. "Tears are words that need to be written."
- Paulo Coelho
• 5. "You cannot protect yourself from sadness without protecting yourself from happiness."
- Jonathan Safran Foer
• 6. "Every man has his secret sorrows which the world knows not; and often times we call a man cold when he is only sad."
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• 7. "Our work is the presentation of our capabilities."
- Edward Gibbon
• 8. "Hustle until your haters ask if you’re hiring."
- Steve Maraboli
• 9. "Life is hard. After all, it kills you."
- Katharine Hepburn
• 10. "I don't need to be reminded of my age. I have a bladder to do that for me."
- Stephen Fry
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Enjoy the outdoors with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
In February, the group is walking in Centennial Park, meeting in the parking lot off St. George Boulevard.
In March, the group moves to the Northwest Trail with meet-up in the parking lot of YMCA Moncton North at 70 Twin Oaks Drive.
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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Mythical Creatures: A colouring book by Rose Michaels
Step into a world where imagination knows no limits with Mythical Creatures by Rose Michaels - a magical colouring book for all ages. Inside, you’ll discover an enchanting collection of beings from ancient legends and pure fantasy. From graceful mermaids and mighty gods to towering ogres and creatures never before seen, each page invites you to explore the impossible. Could they exist? Perhaps - after all, they’re mythical! Featuring a variety of styles and details, this book is perfect for anyone who loves adventure, creativity and the thrill of bringing legendary worlds to life with colour. Available now on Amazon! A total of 50 images are available in the book with a blank page on the other side of the image if you want to use markers.
• Amazon Canada: amzn.to/4nUQrRX
• Amazon USA: amzn.to/3Wo6lYB
To view the entire list of Rose Michaels' colouring books, visit her website or follow her Facebook page.
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Monday, March 2: Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night
THE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, ROTARY TRIVIA NIGHT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO MONDAY, MARCH 2, DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST!
The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Club Trivia Night will be held at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 1405 Mountain Road, Moncton, on Monday, March 2, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only).
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 8-8:15 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, canned goods, 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, Krista Richard's Community Sports Program and Bicycle Program, Diabetes Canada's D-Camps for kids, and Anglophone East School District's School Supplies Drive, 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.
Facebook event listing: bit.ly/4a1gf8U
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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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