Justin Bieber says fame opened door to using ‘heavy drugs’

Justin Bieber was discovered at age 13. Within a couple of years, he was a pop superstar and had begun amassing millions of dollars and fans. That kind of fame at such a young age was perilous and led him to make “terrible decisions,” he said Monday in a lengthy and personal Instagram note posted to his 118 million followers.

“I started doing pretty heavy drugs at 19 and abused all of my relationships,” Bieber, now 25, wrote. “I became resentful, disrespectful to women, and angry. I became distant to everyone who loved me, and I was hiding behind, a shell of the person that I had become. I felt like I could never turn it around.”

Bieber went on to say that he was raised in an unstable home and that being overwhelmed with praise so young not only gave him an inflated sense of self but also robbed him of the ability to learn basic life skills.

“Have u noticed the statistics of child stars and the outcome of their life?” he wrote. “There is an insane pressure and responsibility” put on these children, whose “brain, emotions, frontal lobes (decision making) aren’t developed yet.”

“Humility comes with age,” he added.


Bieber has credited his marriage last year to model Hailey Baldwin (now Hailey Bieber), 22, with helping him gain perspective, and he did so again Monday, calling their union “an amazing, crazy, new responsibility.” (Bieber dated actress and singer Selena Gomez on and off for years, starting around 2011 through early 2018.)

The post was probably in part a follow-up to a video Bieber posted on Instagram last week of an emotional performance he gave at his Los Angeles church. “God is pulling me through a hard season,” he wrote in that post. “Having trust in Jesus at your worst times is the absolute hardest.”

“Jesus loves you,” he wrote Monday.

Bieber has not performed much this year or put out much music since his fraught last tour for his fourth studio album, “Purpose” (2015). In the summer of 2017, he canceled its final 14 shows. “I got really depressed on tour,” he told Vogue this year. “I’m still processing so much stuff that I haven’t talked about. I was lonely.”

Bieber has dealt with legal and other issues over the years. In 2014, he was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and with an expired driver’s license, and resisting arrest without violence. Police said that he had admitted to having beer, marijuana and prescription drugs in his system. He was able to avoid jail time. Around that time, videos emerged of him using racist language, which Bieber apologized for.

He isn’t the only child celebrity turned adult superstar to use social media recently to talk about dealing with the spotlight.

Last month, on Twitter, Miley Cyrus, 26, defended herself against rumors that she had cheated on Liam Hemsworth, the actor who filed for divorce from Cyrus in August. While doing so, she said that after years in the public eye, she had nothing left to hide. “It is no secret that I was into partying in my teens and early 20s,” she wrote. “My biggest song to date is about dancing on molly and snorting lines in the bathroom.

“At this point, I had to make a healthy decision for myself to leave a previous life behind,” she went on. “I am the healthiest and happiest I have been in a long time.”


2019 The New York Times Company

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Let's Make a Deal' host Monty Hall dead at 96

Monty Hall, one of the most popular game show hosts in American television history as he presided over a throng of outrageously costumed and nearly delirious contestants on "Let's Make a Deal" for almost three decades, died on Saturday at age 96, his son said.

Richard Hall said his father died at home in Beverly Hills, California, likely of heart failure.


Members of his audiences, dressed as clowns, playing cards or giant tomatoes, would shriek "Monty, Monty, Monty!" as they tried to convince Hall to give them a chance to win a washing machine or a new Cadillac. Sometimes the prizes were a "zonk" - a gag gift such as a live donkey or a wrecked car.

Hall was the co-creator of "Let's Make a Deal" and hosted more than 4,000 episodes from 1963 to 1986 (with occasional hiatuses) and then again in 1990 and 1991. The show drew good ratings even as it jumped from network to network and into syndication.

"Let's Make a Deal" became a part of American pop culture, with Hall one of the most recognizable stars on TV.

Hall also produced other game shows, hosted variety shows and appeared as a guest star on television series. He was known for charity work for organizations including Variety Clubs International, which raised money for disadvantaged children.

"Many people know my father as an icon on TV but he was also a tireless supporter of charities that meant as much to him as his TV work," Richard Hall said by telephone from California.

He was born Monte Halperin on Aug. 25, 1921, in Winnipeg, the son of a slaughterhouse owner father and an actress mother. After working in radio in Canada, he came to the United States in 1955.

In the early 1960s, he was developing game shows and joined forces with TV veteran Stefan Hatos. They devised "Let's Make a Deal" in which Hall picked people from the audience to become contestants in sort of a trading game. Initially, audience members wore normal clothing but started wearing costumes and carrying funny signs to get Hall's attention.

Hall would offer contestants a modest prize, then give them a chance to trade it for a mystery prize hidden by a curtain, stashed in a big box or concealed behind door No. 1, door No. 2 or door No. 3. That prize might be worth thousands of dollars or might be a "zonk" like a farm animal. Audience members jumped up and down, shouted, cried and kissed Hall when they won, and sometimes even when they lost.

"In 4,700 shows, I got kissed 50,000 times," Hall said in an interview with a classic TV website. "Even when they lost, they were very nice about it. But you know the law in game shows - if you go on a show and you win a donkey, that's your prize. You're entitled to it."

The show's producers showed mercy on the "zonk" winners, however. After the taping of the show, they would be offered a substitute prize, such as a television, and most would take it.

"In 1 percent of the cases, they didn't," Hall said. "There was a time when a farmer won five calves and he wanted the calves. That cost me a fortune because when you rent them from the animal place, they're expensive."

Other members of the show's team were studio announcer Jay Stewart and model Carol Merrill, who displayed the prizes.

Hall made appearances on revivals of the show, including the version hosted by comedian Wayne Brady starting in 2009.

In 1991, the New York Times published an article about what became known as "the Monty Hall problem" - a probability puzzle hotly debated by mathematicians centering on the advisability of switching choices when given options like those on his show. The conundrum was featured in the 2008 film "21" with Kevin Spacey.

Hall was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1973.

In 1947, Hall married his wife, Marilyn, who became an Emmy Award-winning producer. Their three children include Tony Award-winning actress Joanna Gleason. (Reporting and writing by Will Dunham; Additional reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Bill Trott)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Rock drummer Joey Muha plays 'TV Patrol' theme

Canadian heavy metal drummer Joey Muha is at it again, this time with a drum cover of the opening score of "TV Patrol."

Muha shot to fame through his YouTube videos covering everything from rock songs to nursery rhymes. Collectively, his drum cover videos have been viewed millions of times.

Unlike other metal and rock drummers, Muha doesn't shy away from doing playful covers of tunes that have become part of pop culture.

He previously also did a drum cover of "Tatlong Bibe," as well as the "Energy Gap" song.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Wiggins is Rookie of the Year; Clarkson makes All-Rookie team

Andrew Wiggins of the Minnesota Timberwolves has been selected the NBA Rookie of the Year, the league announced on Monday.

Wiggins, the first Canadian player to win the honor, was the only unanimous choice in voting for the NBA rookie team by 130 American and Canadian sports writers and broadcasters.

The first overall draft pick in 2014, he played in all 82 games for the Timberwolves, averaging a rookie-high 16.9 points.

Joining Wiggins on the first team were Nikola Mirotic (Chicago Bulls), Nerlens Noel (Philadelphia 76ers), Elfrid Payton (Orlando Magic) and Jordan Clarkson (Los Angeles Lakers).

Montenegro-born power forward Mirotic, who plays internationally for Spain, averaged 10.2 points for the Bulls.

American Noel had a stellar season with a poor team, pulling down 8.1 rebounds per game. He also ranked 10th in the NBA in steals and seventh in blocks, the only player in the league to rank in the top 10 in both categories.

Point guard Payton was the rookie leader in assists, while guard Clarkson averaged 16.7 points in 28 games after the All-Star break.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North , editing by Gene Cherry)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why this Canadian wants to become Pinoy

MANILA – It seems that he already tried it all. He climbed a coconut tree. He grated fresh coconut, drank sikwati, attended fiestas, tried the pedicab, jeepney and even sold balot in the streets.

But for Canadian Kyle Jennermann, he knows there's still more to experience before really becoming a Filipino.

Yes, that's his aim.

"A lot of people send this message to me 'Oh, you want to become Filipino? Just marry a Filipina'. For me love is love. If it happens, it happens. Don't get me wrong. I met so many beautiful, amazing, nice Filipinas but I'm just in love with their culture, these people, right now," he said.

Achieving this goal is no longer that difficult for this 26-year-old Canadian as he happily embraced Filipino culture.

In fact, he uses 'Kulas' as his local name. He lived in Cagayan de Oro for five months and now continues to explore what Mindanao has to offer. He also knows how to speak Bisaya.

"Ako si pangalan si Kyle pero Filipino pangalan Kulas. I could say 'Unya adto nako sa balay kaon mga udto pero kagabii inum gamay," he said.

Jennermann was a former outdoor consultant for an outdoor adventure company in Hong Kong. He visited the Philippines last year and came back to Cagayan de Oro. He also participated in the mission to help survivors of super typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban. It was that experience that further made him admire the resiliency of Filipinos.

"You know what? It's the ability to share happiness, to share positive things regardless of your status in life. Just the ability to still be resilient and share positive things with others," he said.

Now, Jennermann is spreading this happiness to other people as he encouraged them to see for themselves why it's more fun in the Philippines.

"I love Canada. I've been to 30 countries. I love all these countries I've been to. They're beautiful, they're amazing but here, it's the culture. I just said how people, they worked so hard sometimes, but they take moments to enjoy their lives. How people have so little are still giving," he said.

To further speed up his goal of becoming Filipino, Jennermann tapped social media and launched #BecomingFilipino on Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter and encouraged Filipinos to send ideas like what to eat and where to go that would really make him Filipino.

On his YouTube account, Jennermann said:

"I love the Philippines. I look up to, and am inspired by Filipino culture."

"But! I am not Filipino. If you are Filipino I need your HELP! I need your help in creating a cultural list. A list full of experiences, places, history, food, drink... Filipino things! What makes you Filipino!? What will help make me part Filipino!? Where should I go!? What should I do!?

A 100% Filipino made list that will help me in #BecomingFilipino."

-- report from Angielyn Siwagan, ABS-CBN News

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fil-Canadian teen's invention gets Google's attention

MANILA – Fifteen-year old Ann Makosinski of Victoria, British Columbia has capitalized on the heat radiated by the body to create light.

The Filipino-Polish-Canadian teen is one of the finalists in this year's Google Science Fair for the age group, 15-16.

Her invention: The Hallow Flashlight.

"I power the flashlight solely from the heat of the human hand," she said in one of her presentations uploaded on video sharing website, YouTube.

She used peltier tiles set on an aluminum tube that transfers or take out the heat quickly. The electricity is created by placing a palm on the peltier ties and letting the other side cool with the ambient air.

Makosinski, the only daughter of Sandra and Arthur Makosinski, said she motivated to make the project following several trips to her mother's homeland, the Philippines.

"I've been to the Philippines quite a few times, and in some of these villages I know some of the boys and girls there personally and some of them in particular have failed their grades solely because they just didn't have any light to study in," she said in the video.

She added, "imagine what it would be like if they could just have free access to light, such as my flashlight to use".

Aside from her experience in the Philippines, Makosinski was also motivated to pursue the projects in the hopes of eliminating the use of batteries in the future.

The Google Science Fair will be held in Mountain View , California on September 23, 2013. The grand winner will enjoy a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands with the National Geographic Expeditions and US$50,000 in scholarship funding.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Carly Rae Jepsen talks about Filipino ex

 

'Call Me Maybe' hitmaker thrilled over PH concert

MANILA -- Carly Rae Jepsen used to date a Filipino musician with whom she frequently collaborated before making waves worldwide with the juggernaut hit "Call Me Maybe."

This was the Canadian singer-songwriter's candid sharing with ABS-CBN News on Thursday, when asked whether she is open to collaborating with any Filipino artist.

"Yeah, when I'm not writing for myself, I like to write for other artists, too, so that would be definitely something I would be open to doing," she said through a phone interview.

"Actually the second boyfriend that I ever dated was Filipino, and he was a talented musician. He used to play the saxophone all the time. We used to come together all the time," the 27-year-old pop star added.

Set for a one-night concert at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on August 7 -- her first in the Philippines -- Jepsen said she intends to expand her Filipino connection.


 
Speaking with ABS-CBN News' Gretchen Fullido, the former "Candian Idol" finalist shared her excitement about finally meeting her Pinoy fans, and what they can expect from the "retro-pop party" that is her concert.

Has someone ever used the line, 'Call me, maybe' on you?

(Laughs) Yes, I would say quite a few people have -- but I have a new song, but everyone seems to want that to be the first question that they ask! -- but no, it's happened a few times. And it's usually a radio DJ, something like that!


Is there any artist you would like to collaborate with?

I really love Kelly Clarkson. She's a total sweetheart, she's probably one of my favorite pop artists, just for her personality and like how a warm person she is. And if she would be interested in working together, I would totally want to!

Did you know you have so many fans here in the Philippines?

That means so much to me, and I think that's why it's really important for me to get to be there for the first time and meet the fans face-to-face and thank them for all their support.

Are you excited to be coming for your concert?

I honestly can't wait. It's going to be my first time to be visiting Manila and the band boys and me are so, so, so pumped!

What can we expect from your concert here in Manila?

Well it's going to be a party, like a retro-pop party. We've got lights, we will enourage every one to sing along and dance. It's going to be a lot of fun!

Will you be dancing and interacting with the fans?

Well I also enjoy a little spontaneity. I really like feeling the crowd, and I feel like if somebody shout out loud, 'That's a song I love,' I usually grab them up on stage with me! And for some reason, when I sing a song in front of everybody, I make them all sing and it's just fun! I'd like for the show to take on its little path as I go.

What song of yours would you dedicate to your Filipino fans?

I think 'This Kiss' is what I would dedicate, because it's just fun and a little flirtatious, and since I'm coming there for the first time, that's exactly what I plan to do.

Are you going to travel within the Philippines to discover our food and beaches?

I have heard a lot of great things about that actually. That's something we always make an effort to do, to sort of go from place to place, to experience and definitely try the beaches. And if we have time... I will be trying as much Filipino food as I can get my hands on.

What's your message to your Filipino fans?

My main message would just be... Thank you so much, and I love you all, and I can't wait to see you in person. It's going to be a really fun show, and try to make it to the party, so come on down!

What would be your advice for young singers who want to make it big?

I would say, number one, if you have a dream, hold on to it, and work as hard as you can to just exercise as many different opportunities out there, and try different means to get to your goal.

I would say, funny, I knocked on eight different doors. Seven of them didn't open and one sort of become my chance to be my lucky ticket, so just keep your chin up and keep trying.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

2 people shot, killed in Philippine court

A Canadian man fired his gun in a Philippine courtroom Tuesday, killing two people and wounding another before being shot fatally, authorities said.

It was not clear whether the man turned the gun on himself after the shootings or was shot by police in Cebu City, capital of Cebu province.

ABS-CBNnews.com reported the man killed two people and wounded an assistant prosecutor before turning the gun on himself. Another report said he was shot by a responding policeman.

The ABS-CBN said the attacker fired his weapon inside the Marcelo Fernan Hall of Justice, killing two people, identified as Rene Rafols, a pediatrician, and his lawyer Jovian Atias, who died at the scene.

Later the gunman wounded assistant city prosecutor before turning the weapon on himself, the report said. The prosecutor was reported in critical condition at a hospital.

The Philippine Star reported the 65-year-old gunman had been accused of malicious mischief and was at the court for a hearing. But the reason for his sudden outburst was not known immediately.

The Star said initial reports indicated that while the hearing was on, the gunman pulled out a firearm and shot the complainant, Rafols, and his lawyer Atias.

The Star said a responding police officer later shot the attacker. It quoted other reports as saying the assailant also was battling a deportation case.

The report said it was not clear how he managed to bring a gun inside the court.

source: upi.com

Teen who posted video about cyberbullying commits suicide

A bullied teen girl told her story with flashcards in a YouTube video.

She couldn’t take it anymore.

A Canadian teenager  who was bullied and tormented online by classmates --- and who described her ordeal in a heartbreaking YouTube video --- killed herself a month after she posted it on the web.

Amanda Todd died Wednesday. She was just 15.

But Amanda's mom doesn’t want the video — which explains how a photo of her topless daughter sparked the cyberbullying — to go away.


 “I think the video should be shared and used as anti-bullying tool,” Carol Todd told The Vancouver Sun.

“That is what my daughter would have wanted.”

She posted the video online Sept. 7.  It's not known how she killed herself on Wednesday.

The Vancouver-area teen tells her sad story in a slide show of short phrases printed on flashcards. It began when she was chatting online with someone who urged her to take her top off and expose her breasts. Amanda eventually gave into the stranger’s request.

A year later, the photo came back to haunt her, when it surfaced at school.

“Then nobody liked me,” one of the cards read. “I can never get that photo back.”

Amanda says she was mercilessly bullied, forced to change schools and eventually got into drugs and alcohol and began to cut herself. A peer made the photo of her breasts his Facebook profile photo. Another student punched her. Amanda tried to kill herself by drinking bleach, but was rushed to the hospital and survived.

Peers learned about that, too — and mocked the botched suicide attempt by posting pictures of bleach containers online, and tagging Amanda in the photos.

“She should try a different bleach,” one student wrote on Facebook, according to Amanda’s story. “I hope she dies this time and isn’t so stupid.”

Amanda was in the 10th grade at Coquitlam Alternate Basic Education in Coquitlam, near Vancouver.

The school was aware of the YouTube video before Amanda’s suicide and had “support in place,” according to Cheryl Quinton, a spokeswoman for the district.

Quinton described the alternative school as a “close-knit community” with only 200 students. Grief counseling is being provided.

“Bullying is a concern in every district,” Quinton said. “The element of social media, it adds a different element of danger. We’re [working to] continue the dialogue to heighten awareness of cyberbullying.”

source: nydailynews.com

French police focus on bar, hotels in 'Canadian Psycho' hunt

PARIS -- French police checked a Paris bar and two hotels in their hunt for a Canadian porn star suspected of filming the dismemberment of his boyfriend and mailing the body parts, a police source said Saturday.

Police had carried out "targeted searches" as they looked for Luka Rocco Magnotta, 29, dubbed "Canadian Psycho" by the popular press, amid reports he may be in France, said a police source.

The source would not say if these searches were based on the known haunts of Magnotta on previous visits to France, or definite reports he was in the country.

Investigators focused on a main road in the Batignolle neighbourhood of the capital's 17th arrondissement in the northwest of the city, the police source told AFP.

Late Friday, they visited Le Petit Batignolles bar, where they looked at security tapes, showed a photo of the suspect to the manager and left with empty Coca-cola bottles, taking care not to smudge potential fingerprints, said one witness who asked not to be named.

The bar owner denied police had visited.

In the nearby Studio des Batignolles hotel, two officers stopped by Thursday evening, employee Mohamed Sbibi said.

"They showed us a photo and asked if we had seen him," he said. "We'd never seen him."

At the neighbouring Hotel des Batignolles, two officers arrived early Saturday morning and asked if they recognised the suspect, according to one employee who asked not to be named.

Interpol on Thursday issued a Red Notice wanted-persons alert for Magnotta, also known as Eric Clinton Newman and Vladimir Romanov, to its 190 member countries after a video of the grisly killing surfaced online.

Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail meanwhile quoted unnamed sources as saying he could be in France.

The killing came to light when Canadian police said Tuesday that a human foot had been sent to the headquarters of Canada's ruling Conservative Party.

A hand was later found in the mail at an Ottawa post office, and a torso was discovered in Montreal. Canadian police believe the remains belong to a man who was dating Magnotta -- and that Magnotta is to blame.

Canadian authorities say they believe the suspect may have fled the country and Canadian newspapers have published earlier pictures of him posing in front of Parisian landmarks.

An airport official said passenger lists of flights from Canada were being checked, so far without result.

The suspect has been dubbed "Canadian Psycho" because the video circulating online shows a man stab another man with an ice pick and dismember him while a song from the film "American Psycho" plays in the background.

The victim, a student identified as Lin Jun, had been "in a relationship" with the porn star, according to Montreal police commander Ian Lafreniere.

Lafreniere said Magnotta wears wigs and sometimes disguises himself as a woman.

"We believe he could be anywhere at this point," Lafreniere added, noting that Magnotta may have returned to Canada under another identity.

source: interaksyon.com

Celine Dion cancels US shows due to voice problem

LOS ANGELES - Grammy-winning singer Celine Dion announced Tuesday she had canceled a string of upcoming shows in Las Vegas due to a virus-triggered problem with her vocal chords.

The Canadian-born star was due to sing at Caesars Palace in a series of shows through March 18, but has called them off after being ordered to rest her voice for six to eight weeks.

After difficulties last week forced her to cancel weekend performances, she decided to seek advice from laryngeal physiology expert Gerald Berke in Los Angeles.

The five-time Grammy winner "flew to Los Angeles on Monday afternoon and had a thorough examination at Professor Berke's clinic," Dion said in a statement, adding that the doctor "diagnosed Celine with weakness in her right vocal chord, secondary to a viral illness."

Berke prescribed resting her vocal chords "in order for Celine to completely recover from this condition," said the statement on her website.

"I tried to sing at my sound-check last week, and I had no control of my voice whatsoever," said Dion, who is the mother of twin boys born in October 2010.

"We thought that after a few days rest I would improve but it wasn't getting any better... I guess it was worse than I thought. I'm fortunate that I was able to see Professor Berke.

"He identified what was causing the problems I was having, and he assured me that with the amount of rest he prescribed, I would be back to 100 percent."

She added: "Obviously this is the worst thing for a singer... not being able to do your shows. I feel worse knowing that I'm disappointing my fans. I'm so sorry... I hope they forgive me."

Dion expects to be back on form for her next run of Vegas shows from June 9 to August 19, said the statement, adding that fans with tickets for the canceled shows will be offered refunds.

source: interaksyon.com

Leonard Cohen sings the blues

PARIS -- For four decades Leonard Cohen's brooding lyrics won him fans and accolades the world over, but the folk-rock poet never felt legitimate singing the blues -- until now.

Elegantly clad in a suit and black trilby, the 77-year-old Canadian was in Paris this month to promote his new album "Old Ideas," the first in eight years -- 10 pared-down songs with a strong blues flavor.

"I've always loved the blues, I've always loved the musical construction of the blues, but I've always felt that I didn't have the right to sing the blues," he explained, in his distinctive baritone.

"But somehow, the right was granted to me, I don't know by what authorities, but I felt that I had the right to use that form and a number of songs came to me that way.

"Now I have the permission to sing the blues," he said.

Born in the tiny English-speaking quarter of Montreal, Cohen published books of poetry before embarking on a singing career with his debut album "Songs of Leonard Cohen," featuring such tracks as "Suzanne" and "So Long, Marianne."

Since then the singer has inspired countless artists, who have produced more than 1,000 cover versions of his work including "Hallelujah," a cult favorite covered by the late singer Jeff Buckley.

Released on January 30, the sound of "Old Ideas" marks a departure from Cohen's last work, the 2004 "Dear Heather," but it returns to the often weighty themes he holds dear, of spirituality, love, sexuality, the past and death.

"I think like tofu the song takes on the flavor of the emotional gravy of what you sense," he said. "If one needs one's own suffering to be addressed, I think you can find that component in a song," he added.

But there is a vein of humor and self-deprecation on the album as well, like on the opening track "Going Home," in which Cohen addresses "Leonard," "a sportsman and a shepherd," "a lazy bastard, living in a suit."

Cohen suffered in the past from long-term depression, but says he has now escaped from under its shadow.

"I am happy to report that at a certain point in my life that depression slowly dissolved and it has not returned with the same kind of ferocity that prevailed during most of my life."

"So hopefully that's gone, and it won't return," he said.

On the whole, Cohen said he was "quite in a good mood" when he wrote the 10 songs on the album, some as early as 2007.

Asked about his reputation as a charmer, he said wryly: "For me to be a ladies' man at this point involves a great deal of humor."

And to another journalist's question probing his interest in death: "I've come to the conclusion, reluctantly, that I am going to die, so the possibility produces some thoughts.

"I'd like to come back as my daughter's dog," he quipped.

Cohen quit the music scene in the early 1990s to join a Buddhist monastery in California, where he was ordained a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk and took the name Jikhan, meaning "silence."

But the singer-songwriter, whose music has featured in dozens of movie soundtracks from "Natural Born Killers" to "Shrek," was forced to make a comeback after being swindled out of his retirement nest egg by his former manager.

He went on a world tour from 2008 to 2010, with a series of performances that received rave reviews from the public and critics, although some shows had to be postponed due to a back injury.

Nevertheless, Cohen says a return to the stage in 2012 is "certainly in my head."

And a sequel to "Old Ideas" could also surface fairly quickly.

"I have enough for a new record which I'm working on now. So, God willing, I'll be able to finish another record within a year or so," he said. "I have lot of unfinished material," he said.

source: interaksyon.com

No white Christmas for much of Canada for the first time

OTTAWA - Most Canadians will not wake up to a white Christmas on December 25 for the first time since Canada's weather office began recording snowfalls in 1955, the government agency said Wednesday.

With just days before the Christian holiday, Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips told AFP he has never seen so little snowpack in Canada's cities.

And the forecast for the coming days is sunny and very mild.

"A white Christmas is usually a sure thing in Canada, but not this year," Phillips said.

"We are usually the snowiest country in the world," he said. "But this year, like no other since we've been monitoring in 56 years, there will be many Canadians just dreaming of a white Christmas and not getting one."

For a city to qualify as having a white Christmas, Environment Canada must note at least two centimeters (0.79 inches) of snow on the ground at 7 am on December 25.

This month has been on average six to seven degrees (Celsius) warmer than normal and most snow that has fallen has melted soon after hitting the ground.

Gander, Newfoundland -- usually "the snowiest place in Canada" -- only has a trace of snow on the ground today, Phillips noted.

Winnipeg, Manitoba -- once ranked the coldest metropolis on Earth -- usually has a 98 percent chance of snow at Christmas. But temperatures in the west of the country are expected to hover just above freezing in the coming days.

Other cities in the east like Saint John's, Newfoundland have a few centimeters of snow on the ground but rain is forecast.

Phillips said Canadian winters are generally becoming milder, and starting later, and so the idea of a white Christmas may be something of the past.

He pointed to a combination of climate change and an "urban heat island effect" created by Canada's growing cities. High energy use generates heat that is retained by materials in urban developments, resulting in areas that are consistently hotter than surrounding rural areas. — Agence France Presse

source:gmanetwork.com

New policy in Canada fast-tracks processing of work permits for caregivers

Canada has shortened the procedures needed for foreign caregivers to obtain permanent resident status and has enacted several measures to protect the caregivers from abusive employers.

Canadian Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney said this was the Canadian government’s response to reports of abuse to foreign caregivers by their employers.

He said it is “frustrating” that many live-in caregivers have to stay in their employer’s home even though they have already completed their work obligations because they are waiting for their application for permanent residence to be reviewed. He said in several cases, this set-up had resulted to maltreatment of workers.

“This is understandably frustrating,” Kenney said. “That's why we have started issuing open work permits to live-in caregivers as soon as they have completed their obligations and submitted an application for permanent residence.”

Under the new procedure, a foreign caregiver can obtain permanent resident status in 18 months or less. They can apply for permanent residence after 3,900 work hours, rather than two years of work, to ensure overtime is appropriately recognized.

The need for second medical examination when the caregiver applies for permanent residence has likewise been eliminated in the new guidelines. Also, a standardized employment contract has been adopted so that both the employer and the caregiver agree to the salary, hours of work, vacation time, overtime, holidays, sick leave, and the terms of termination and resignation.

The new policy also defines the costs the employer is obliged to pay, including the caregiver's travel expenses in coming to Canada, medical insurance, workplace safety insurance, and third-party representative fees. It also provides for emergency processing of work permits and employer authorizations to hire live-in caregivers who have been abused and need to leave their employment immediately while a dedicated phone service for live-in caregivers has been set up.

To assess the legitimacy of a job offer, Canadian authorities would verify if caregivers would be residing in a private residence and providing child care, senior home support care or care of a disabled person in that household without supervision, as well as whether the employer has sufficient financial resources to pay the wages of the caregiver and whether the accommodations being provided are adequate.

For employers who have failed to live up to the terms of past job contracts, they will be banned from hiring foreign workers, including live-in caregivers, for two years.

Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan said the revised labor policies for caregivers demonstrates “the continued trust and confidence of the Canadian society on the skills and dedication to work of Filipinos in general.”

Government estimates Filipino caregivers in Canada to be more than 100,000, some of them have complained of labor abuse from their employers ranging from non-payment of salaries to physical maltreatment.

Kenney said the Canadian government has taken action to protect live-in caregivers from exploitation with regulatory improvements implemented under its Live-in Caregiver Program in 2010 and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in 2011. — KBK, GMA News

source:gmanetwork.com