SGI Canada will be tripling donations to the Canadian Red Cross until May 18th, 2022.
You can click the following URL to donate : www.redcross.ca/matchmygift
Record Store Day – Tomorrow
Don’t forget to visit your local record stores tomorrow. Several special releases will me made available, most of which will be limited edition vinyl singles and LPs.
Jack White Appeals To The Labels
In 2021, vinyl sale revenue grew by 61% in the states to a Billion Dollars according to the Recording Industry Association of America. But the major labels don’t have their own pressing plants, regardless of vinyl’s ever growing popularity. And unfortunately album pressings are delayed here in Canada as well.
Hopefully there won’t be any delays for Record Store Day on April 24th.
Donations To Ukraine Matched
The Canadian Red Cross is currently taking donations for the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis and these donations will be matched by Global Affairs Canada until March 18th, up to a maximum of $10 million.
Click here to donate to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
Netflix Fare Hike Survival Tips
So, Netflix has decided to raise their prices by one or two bucks, depending on your subscription. And although it is a bit disappointing, I know how to save a few bucks whilst being subscribed to this film streaming service:
- I subscribe to the Standard Plan, not the Premium Plan, mainly because Ultra HD only offers a limited visual improvement on many films and some films are not made available in that higher resolution rate. And I rarely have multiple films streaming to several televisions or devices anyway.
- Netflix gift cards are occasionally discounted or sold with bonus loyalty points at some stores and gas stations in Canada so you can stock up for a year’s worth of subscriptions or more using these offers. I take advantage of Air Miles offers at Shell Gas Stations and Optimum Points offers at my Shoppers Drug Mart/Pharmaprix, Loblaws, Your Independent Grocer and Real Canadian Superstore stores. These are usually advertised in their flyers.
- You might also consider cancelling your subscription to the other streaming services you don’t actually need. I personally got rid of Paramount+ because they aren’t going to be streaming the new Picard series in Canada and i’ve already watched everything I wanted on Apple+ so i’ve cancelled that one as well, although you should note that offers for free subscriptions to the latter are occasionally made with purchases from Apple.
- In regards to CraveTV, you can save a few bucks by just viewing streaming content on your tablet and/or paying for your yearly membership in advance, preferably with a discounted gift card. And yearly membership is also available on Disney+, who offer a limited amount of Ultra HD films to their subscribers at no extra cost.
- I also personally never subscribed to Spotify because Amazon Music is offered to me free via my Prime Membership at Amazon.ca, along with Prime Video, which has a decent selection of films and concerts.
- I’ve also saved on extra cable outlets by installing an omnidirectional outdoor antenna, connecting my bedroom televisions to that antenna. I was mainly watching my local television stations on those televisions anyway. And some cable companies allow streaming on tablets and/or Roku, which eliminates the need for extra cable outlets.
I hope these tips are useful to some of you.
Ontario/Quebec Covid Update & More
Capacity limits will be removed today on establishments that require vaccine passports in Ontario, like cinemas and conventions. But it appears a 50% limit will be imposed on concert venues and theatres according to the official press release from the Government of Ontario.
Proof of vaccination requirements will be lifted on March 1st but social distancing, masks and hand sanitizing will remain for some time, as it will in Quebec, where capacity limits have been lifted for cinemas.
Smaller venues in Quebec with less than 10,000 seats will be allowed to fully open but restaurants, bars and taverns will be limited to 50% capacity until March 14th.
By the way, the Record Store Day release lists for April 23rd and June 18th have been released. You can view them by clicking here.