In this issue...
• What does "elbows out" mean when Canadians are talking about tariffs?
• Kentucky whining about having their Bourbon removed from Canadian shelves falls on deaf ears
• By the numbers X 10 + 1
• CBC Radio's Under the Influence: Brand failures of 2024
• Jeff Douglas releases new "We are Canadian!" video that has gone viral as Canadian pride explodes in the era of American tariffs and attacks on sovereignty
• New release: The Hump Day Collection - Volume 1
• Buy them now! Acadian Recipes and More - Volumes 1, 2 & 3, and Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1
• The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night will be held on Monday, March 24
• Before you go: 7 things you may have missed in the news
• St. Patrick's Day is Monday, March 17
• Enjoy the outdoors this winter with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
... and trivia, quotes and more!
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What does "elbows out" mean when Canadians are talking about tariffs?
You've probably been seeing the term "Elbows up!" a lot lately, especially in the contest of the on-again / off-again tariffs against Canada by the U.S. government. It's actually a reference to hockey great Gordie Howe, who used his elbows as quasi-lethal weapons during games.
Article excerpt: "When Canadian actor and comedian Mike Myers, clad in a 'Canada is not for sale' T-shirt, twice mouthed the words 'elbows up' and tapped his own left elbow on Saturday Night Live last weekend, he was sending a not-so-subtle signal to his compatriots north of the border: Get ready for a fight.
... In hockey-loving Canada, the phrase automatically evokes memories of one of the game's greatest players, Saskatchewan-born Gordie Howe, who before becoming Mr. Hockey had earned another nickname: Mr. Elbows.
Unfailingly humble, generous and gentlemanly off the ice, Howe would wield his elbows like weapons when battling for the puck.
'If a guy slashed me, I'd grab his stick, pull him up alongside me and elbow him in the head,' Howe once said, describing his favourite method of retribution."
And now you know! "Elbows up, Canada!"
Read: "Elbows up" rallying cry evokes memories of Mr. Hockey.
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Kentucky whining about having their Bourbon removed from Canadian shelves falls on deaf ears
Oh boo-hoo!!!!
Donald Trump campaigned on tariffs. Jack Daniel's' parent company Brown-Forman supported Donald Trump's inauguration, offering bottles of one of their products as gifts. They were all in.
But when Donald Trump decided to impose punishing tariffs on Canada and provinces fought back by removing Brown-Forman products from its shelves across most of the country, now Brown-Forman is crying foul.
Article excerpt: "After Canada pulled American-made spirits off its shelves following President Donald Trump’s implementation of tariffs on Canadian imports, the CEO of Brown-Forman, which makes Jack Daniel’s whiskey and other liquors, blasted the move as 'disproportionate.'
'That’s worse than a tariff because it’s literally taking your sales away,' said Lawson Whiting in an earnings call Wednesday, noting the 'very disproportionate response' to the 25% tariffs applied this week.
Provinces across Canada have pulled American-made spirits, beer and wine off their shelves. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario said in a statement that it’s pushing shoppers to seek Canadian-made alternatives and that US products will remain off shelves until it’s 'directed by the government to resume normal business.'
However, Lawson noted that Canada accounts for just 1% of the company’s total sales, so the company can 'withstand' the losses. He’s also awaiting a response from Mexico, which was also slammed with a 25% across-the-board tariff, to see how the move affects business there, since it accounts for 7% Brown-Forman’s total sales."
Oh give me a break. You can't support something happening (tariffs by default through Trump's election) and then cry when it happens - but only when the consequences affect you. The company literally supported tariffs via their support of the new president. As well, two-thirds of Kentucky voters supported Trump in the last election. Two-thirds! They voted for tariffs on purpose. OK, fine. But did you expect the people on the other side of the tariffs to just roll over and play dead? Is your cult that strong that you truly believe the entire world admires you when, in fact, they're shaking their heads and laughing?
Deal with it. Meanwhile, many Canadians will be trying alternatives while you're off our shelves. And it could be a very long time before you return. I hope it was worth it.
And, by the way, if Canada is so insignificant to your sales, why are you whining in the first place? You should be pleased that we're gone, right? Aren't we just a bothersome pimple on your butt? We'll relieve you of having to do all that paperwork of invoicing and getting paid. We don't want to bother you. Sorry, eh?
Read: Jack Daniel’s parent company says Canada pulling booze off shelves is even worse than tariffs.
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Jeff Douglas releases new "We are Canadian!" video that has gone viral as Canadian pride explodes in the era of American tariffs and attacks on sovereignty
Actor (and now CBC Radio host) Jeff Douglas played "Joe" - the character in the viral (and beloved) Molson Canadian beer commercial from 25 years ago in 2000. (If you're unfamiliar with the ad, click here to watch it on YouTube.)
Douglas and some friends decided to get together recently to recreate the video for the current political landscape. It's a feat of Canadian patriotism, for sure.
Article excerpt: "The man behind an iconic Canadian beer ad is back, 25 years later, with a new patriotic rallying cry.
But this time, it's not about selling drinks.
Jeff Douglas, from Truro, N.S., became a national sensation after starring as flannel-wearing Joe Canada in Molson Canadian's 2000 ad 'The Rant,' which was a huge success for the beer company and popularized the slogan, 'I am Canadian!'
On Wednesday, a new video appeared on YouTube featuring Douglas, back on stage in flannel, this time defending Canada from attacks by U.S. President Donald Trump, before launching into a similar string of boasts about his home country.
'They mistake our modesty for meekness, our kindness for consent, our nation for another star on their flag,' he says into the microphone after showing photos of Trump. 'And our love of a hot cheesy poutine with their love of a hot, cheesy Putin.'
Titled 'We are Canadian,' the clip sees Douglas chest-thump about Canada with increasing intensity to applause from an invisible crowd, in front of a screen beaming bits of Canadiana, from ketchup chips to beavers to hockey players."
Click here to watch the entire video on YouTube.
You may want to get your tissues out. I thought I was going to lose it when "the land that Terry ran" came up. Oh man... What a great video. And you know it's touched a nerve when even the prime minister shares it, especially when it mentions the Russian dictator in the way it does. The gloves are off!
Read: "We are Canadian": 25 years later, Joe Canadian is back with a new patriotic video,
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CBC Radio's Under the Influence: Brand failures of 2024
Last week's episode of CBC Radio's Under the Influence series with host Terry O'Reilly looked at some of the biggest brand fails of 2024.
• March 6, 2025 - Wicked Brand Fails of 2024. Synopsis: "Recorded before a live audience at Reid’s Distillery, this episode lists some of the biggest brand fails of 2024. We’ll talk about when Apple launched its thinnest computer ever, which led to a big fat PR problem. We’ll look at a seasonal candle that fired up accusations of white supremacy. And we’ll try and figure out how a children’s doll package ended up listing the URL for a porn site." Click here to listen to the episode. Click here to read the episode's website post.
Click here for the show's website and here for the show's podcast archive.
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New release: The Hump Day Collection - Volume 1
I'm thrilled to announce that The Hump Day Collection - Volume 1 is now available for purchase through Amazon in ebook or paperback (300+ pages) format. The book contains 75 updated and revised Hump Day stories that ran for many years in a local newspaper. I've been asked many times to put these in book format, so I'm hoping you'll like it! For ebook lovers, the book is part of the Kindle Unlimited subscription-based program from Amazon. To purchase today:
• Chapters (Dieppe NB location)
• Amazon Canada: amzn.to/4gckiQX
• Amazon USA: amzn.to/3CnKfiF
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Buy them now! Acadian Recipes and More - Volumes 1, 2 & 3, and Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1
My three volumes of Acadian recipe books (English and French) and Forgotten Recipes - Volume 1 are out now and make a great addition to your recipe book library or a gift for someone else! They are available on Amazon Canada, Amazon USA and in some local retail outlets in Southeastern New Brunswick:
• Chapters (Dieppe) (Volumes 1-3, Forgotten Recipes)
• Le P'tit Coin Acadien Poutine Râpée (Bouctouche) (Volumes 1-3)
• Jean Coutu Pharmacy (Champlain Street, Dieppe) (Volumes 1-3)
• Monument-Lefebvre (Memramcook) (Volumes 1-2)
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The next Greater Moncton Sunrise Rotary Trivia Night will be held on Monday, March 24
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, March 24, beginning at 6:30 p.m. $10 per person (cash only). Facebook event listing: bit.ly/4hIvvKF.
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.
The remaining Trivia Night schedule for 2024-2025 is as follows:
• Monday, March 24, 2025
• Monday, April 28, 2025
• Monday, May 26, 2025
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Trivia: Did you know?
The man pictured on the front of the now-defunct paper version of Canadian Tire bonus money has a name: Sandy McTire.
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Quotes of note
• 1. “For Donald Trump, any opposition, either personal, ideological, or political is treason. Anyone who stands in his path betrays the Great Leader. Anyone who fails to take the knee is a traitor.”
- Rick Wilson, American political commentator (see photo)
• 2. "The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love and loyalty."
- Zig Ziglar
• 3. “Vulnerability is not weakness. And that myth is profoundly dangerous.”
- Brene Brown
• 4. "In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you."
- Deepak Chopra
• 5. "The battlefield is a scene of constant chaos. The winner will be the one who controls that chaos, both his own and the enemies."
- Napoleon Bonaparte
• 6. “Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”
- Francis of Assisi
• 7. "The most High approveth not the gifts of the wicked."
- Saint Patrick
• 8. "A doctor gave a man six months to live. The man couldn't pay his bill, so he gave him another six months."
- Henny Youngman
• 9. "I was so ugly my mother used to feed me with a sling shot."
- Rodney Dangerfield
• 10. "I live on a one-way street that's also a dead end. I'm not sure how I got there."
- Steven Wright
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Enjoy the outdoors this winter with the Greater Moncton Walking Group
In March, the group is walking on the Northwest Trail in Moncton. Meet-up is in the parking lot of YMCA Moncton North located at 70 Twin Oaks Drive.
In April, the group will be walking in Rotary Park, Dieppe, with meet-up in the Rotary Lodge parking lot located at 505 Melanson Road.
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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