Throwing The Baby Out With The Bathwater II

Last April I posted a blog entry on why I think it is rather shortsighted to consider cutting funding to the CBC and Radio-Canada. But apparently the conservatives are actually trying to make this policy on behest of media conglomerates that refused to pick up the programming I do watch.

Yes, we’re listening to a media conglomerate whose news network failed because of bad ratings in Canada, who claim to be speaking for Canadian taxpayers. And we’re all supposed to believe the programming CBC and Radio-Canada viewers watch will be automatically picked up by other networks, when the media conglomerate in question did not.

I would be watching this programming on other Canadian networks, had they purchased their rights. But all of these private networks are cutting back to afford buying the rights to foreign programming so it makes no sense to axe public broadcasting in Canada.

It doesn’t appear to matter that very little of CBC and Radio Canada’s programming is political in nature. Cultural programming is to be considered collateral damage thanks to foreign sentiments and incredulity in regards to the arts in Canada.

They think government funding is a means to get their foot in the door to impose their appeal to bias fallacy based narratives, which is what their failed news network pushed since 2011 and personalities from this network now do with impunity online.

If this wasn’t politically motivated they wouldn’t be so dismissive towards CBC and Radio-Canada’s non-political programming. But their snide commentaries drip with disdain against the other major political parties and they’re clearly doing all of this to poach viewers from a foreign network that is currently under review at the CRTC for promoting hatred and violence.

They downplay government funding for the other networks and the fact that their former network begged the CRTC for “must carry status” in 2013. And although some claim they want all funding to stop, I suspect the gap caused by this lack of funding would result in heavy lobbying for pharmaceutical advertising in Canada, and/or possibly food and beverage advertising targeting children.

In the end, this all comes off as vindictive and disingenuous. And I am not interested in the programming provided by the media conglomerate form which the complaints originate, so I will oppose their defunding scheme.

Events This Weekend.

There are three record conventions in Ontario this weekend, as well as a three day Comic Convention in Ottawa.

The North Bay Record Show will be held on Saturday, the 9th of September 2023 at the Elks Lodge at 325 Elks Lane from 10am to 3pm.

Admission will be $5 (or $10 for early entry at 9am). And the nearest bus stops serviced by North Bay Transit are 1147 (Trout Lake Rd at Bank St) and 1022 (Trout Lake Rd at Elks Ln).

The Ottawa Record Fair will also occur on Saturday, the 9th of September 2003 but from 11am to 3pm at the Carleton Dominion-Chalmers Centre at 355 Cooper Street in downtown Ottawa.

Admission will be $5 and the nearest bus stops are on Bank Street, one block west of the venue: 1902 (Bank/Somerset W) and 2487 (Bank/Lisgar). Consult OC Transpo for details.

The Sudbury Music & Collectibles Show will be held in the Aspen Hall of The Northbury Hotel & Convention Center at 50 Brady Street on Sunday, the 10th of September 2023 from 10am to 4pm.

Admission will be $5 (or $10 for early admission at 9am). The nearest bus stop is on Riverside and is serviced by Route 3 but you will need to contact Sudbury Transit for additional details.

Ottawa Comiccon will run 3 days from the 8th to the 10th of September 2023 at the EY Center at 4899 Upland Drive.

Ticket information can be found by clicking here. And the nearest bus stop, #4213, is serviced by route 97. A travel planer is available on the OC Transpo web site.

Back To School Deals

Back To School offers for vinyl, CDs and television, film and music related merchandise are available at multiple retailers:

Buy One Get One 50% Off offers on posters and t-shirt can be found in store at Sunrise Records, as well as a 10% off offer on new CD purchases of over $50 and 15% off offer on new vinyl purchases of over $100.

Indigo also has a select number of new vinyl releases online with a offer for free shipping on orders over $35.

If you’re looking for used vinyl, CDs, DVDs and blu-ray you can buy one and get 20% off on the second used purchase at Legend Records, both online and in store in Ottawa. And Sonic Boom Toronto will ship orders over $175 free to any destination in North America with some limitations (posters, turntables, speakers and record storage crates are ineligible).

Don’t forget to drop by at your local record store this long weekend for labour day specials.

Enjoy.

Events This Weekend.

613Flea is a free event in which 150 local vendors are housed at the Aberdeen Pavilion in Landowne Park, Ottawa. And some vendors sell vinyl records, CDs and television, film and music themed merchandise.

This event will occur from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, the 2nd of September. And although 613Flea occurs once a month, the venue changes so click here for more information on the latest location.

Landsdowne Park is regularly serviced by OC Transpo Routes 6 and 7 at Bus Stop 3080.

Enjoy.

Optimum and Sunrise Records Offers

There are two offers that I thought you’d like to know about.

The first is from PC Optimum and includes an offer for 5000 bonus points on $50 Apple Gift card purchases from participating retailers, which expires on August 30th, 2023 and can be used on up to a maximum of $500 in card purchases. Click here for details.

The second is an in-store offer from Sunrise Records, which includes a 25% discount on vinyl with the purchase of a turntable. Contact your local store for details.

Just thought you’d like to know.

Sunrise Records is offering discounts on new vinyl and compact discs until September 3rd, 2023 – 15% off on in store purchases of vinyl over $100 and 10% off on in store purchases of compact discs over $50.

Enjoy.