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Book Review: David Mamet screams at clouds in new collection of grievances about Hollywood

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

Just in time for Christmas, when you need a gift for that weird old uncle who is upset that everyone gets a trophy in youth soccer, comes a new David Mamet book.“Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood” is a collection of observations, stories and aphorisms about Hollywood from one of America’s foremost writers and, these days, provocateurs. It is virtually unreadable.This is a book that resembles the idled rantings from a feverish, unsolicited email stuck in your spam folder. There are weird capitalizations, uneasy conclusions and the rat-a-tat of non-sequiturs all held together by bad faith. It’s illustrated by Mamet’s own cartoons, which echo a middle schooler’s sense of humor and maturity.He clearly hates film producers — “Village Idiots” is the nicest of adjectives — but he hates PC culture more. He lambasts “Diversity Porn,” arguing that the logical extension of color-conscious castin...

British research ship crosses paths with world’s largest iceberg as it drifts out of Antarctica

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s polar research ship has crossed paths with the largest iceberg in the world — a “lucky” encounter that enabled scientists to collect seawater samples around the colossal berg as it drifts out of Antarctic waters, the British Antarctic Survey said Monday.The RRS Sir David Attenborough, which is on its way to Antarctica for its first scientific mission, passed the mega iceberg known as the A23a on Friday near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The iceberg — equivalent to three times the size of New York City and more than twice the size of Greater London — had been grounded for more than three decades in the Weddell Sea after it split from the Antarctic’s Filchner Ice Shelf in 1986. It began drifting in recent months, and has now moved into the Southern Ocean, helped by wind and ocean currents. Scientists say it is now likely to be swept along into “iceberg alley” — a common route for icebergs to float toward the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.“It...

Assembly of First Nations to elect new national chief in Ottawa this week

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

OTTAWA — The Assembly of First Nations is set to elect a new national chief this week in Ottawa.Six candidates are in the running to secure the top job, including Reginald Bellerose, Craig Makinaw, Sheila North, David Pratt, Dean Sayers and Cindy Woodhouse.The election comes after the dramatic ouster of former national chief RoseAnne Archibald, who was voted out after colleagues accused her of creating a toxic work environment — an allegation she continues to deny.Joanna Bernard was elected as interim national chief and has been representing the group since Archibald’s ouster.Those running to be the next national chief have presented plans to reform the assembly and rebuild trust with communities and leaders.The AFN represents more than 600 First Nations chiefs in Canada, and they or their proxies will elect the next national chief in a special assembly vote expected to take place on Wednesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

France’s parliament considers a ban on single-use e-cigarettes

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

PARIS (AP) — The French parliament is considering a ban on single-use, disposable electronic cigarettes that are popular with teenagers for their sweet flavors and are under scrutiny as a new source of trash.The ban, supported Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne and Health Minister Aurelien Rousseau, aims to protect the health of youths and mitigate the environmental impacts of the increasingly popular disposable products known as “puffs.”The National Assembly was expected to vote on the measure Monday night. If passed, it would then move to the Senate and could go into effect by September 2024.Disposable e-cigarettes are small, battery-powered devices that deliver vaporized nicotine with various flavorings. While they do not contain tobacco, many include nicotine, a substance known for its addictive and toxic properties.They differ from reusable vaping devices in that they are not designed to be refilled or recharged. Their small, non-rechargeable lithium batteries often end up in landf...

‘Atmospheric river’ set to hit Metro Vancouver, southern coast of British Columbia

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

VANCOUVER — Much of British Columbia’s south coast is bracing for stormy weather as Environment Canada says a “potent and impactful” storm will bring heavy rain to Metro Vancouver.Environment Canada is also warning drivers on the Sea to Sky Highway from Squamish to Whistler to exercise caution due to heavy rains raising the risk of flooding and landslides along the route.The rainfall warning says an atmospheric river is set to make landfall on the province’s southern coast today, bringing as much as 150 millimetres of rain to Western Vancouver Island.Meanwhile, Inland Vancouver Island, the Howe Sound region and parts of Metro Vancouver, including the North Shore, Coquitlam and Maple Ridge, are expecting up to 100 millimetres of rain from the storm.The forecast says the rest of Metro Vancouver could get up to 70 millimetres of rain today before the storm eases on Tuesday morning.Environment Canada also says motorists on the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merr...

Global journalist group says Israel-Hamas conflict is a war beyond compare for media deaths

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

BRUSSELS (AP) — With a journalist or media worker killed every day on average in the Israel-Hamas war, the head of the global organization representing the profession said Monday that it has become a conflict beyond compare.About 60 have been killed since the Oct. 7 start of the war, already close to the same number of journalists killed during the entire Vietnam War half a century ago. Other brutal wars in the Middle East have not come close to the intensity of the current one.“In a war, you know, a classical war, I can say that in Syria, in Iraq, in ex-Yugoslavia, we didn’t see this kind of massacre,” Anthony Bellanger, the general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, told The Associated Press.And since the end of the weeklong cease-fire in Gaza on Friday, the misery has continued, he said: “Unfortunately, we received the bad news this weekend — after the end of this cease-fire — and at least three or four were killed.”Bellanger said they are mourning ar...

Unity Acquisitions snaps up much of toy store Mastermind, 18 stores to close

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

TORONTO — Mastermind GP Inc. says it has reached a deal to sell the bulk of its business to Unity Acquisitions Inc.Financial terms of the asset purchase agreement signed by the Toronto toy retailer and Unity owners Joe Mimran, Frank Rocchetti and David Lui were not disclosed.The deal includes the majority of Mastermind Toys store locations and will allow a “significant” portion of employees to continue with the business.The announcement comes as Mastermind has begun telling customers 18 of its stores are due to close as the company continues with the creditor protection process.The stores closing include nine locations in Ontario, four in Alberta, two in New Brunswick and one each in B.C., Nova Scotia and Manitoba.An Ontario court granted Mastermind permission to liquidate the stores last week, saying the sales must be wrapped up by Feb. 29.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press

Canada proposes new methane emissions rules for oil-and-gas sector

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

OTTAWA — Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault says the controlled release or burning of methane from oil and gas production sites will be almost entirely barred by 2030. Guilbeault is in Dubai for the annual global climate talks, which this year are known as COP28. He is publishing draft regulations today that aim to cut at least 75 per cent of methane emissions from the oil-and-gas sector by 2030, compared to what was emitted in 2012.A federal review found in 2021 that Canada was on track to hit its current regulatory target of cutting methane output from oil and gas by 40 to 45 per cent by 2025, but more recent reports suggest methane leaks and releases are not well-documented.Methane doesn’t stay in the atmosphere as long as carbon dioxide, but it is better at trapping heat, so cutting methane emissions is considered one of the most effective ways of reducing global warming.Methane contributed just under 14 per cent of Canada’s total emissions in 2021, and the oil-a...

The trial of 4 Egyptian security officials in the slaying of an Italian student is set for February

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

ROME (AP) — Court officials in Rome set a new trial date Monday for four high-level Egyptian security officials in the 2016 abduction, torture and slaying of an Italian doctoral student in Cairo.Lawyers and the parents of Giulio Regeni, whose mutilated body was found along a highway in Egypt, said the trial on charges of abduction, torture and murder would begin at a Rome courthouse on Feb. 20.The development followed a September ruling by Italy’s Constitutional Court that the defendants could be put on trial even though they they hadn’t received formal notification because Egyptian authorities declined to provide addresses for them. Regeni’s parents have spent years seek justice in their 28-year-old son’s slaying. “It’s a beautiful day,” Regeni’s mother, Paola Deffendi, told reporters after emerging from the courthouse after the trial date was set.Still, “the pain remains,″ Claudio Regeni, the slain student’s father, said.Regeni was researching labor u...

November new car sales see biggest monthly gain so far this year: DesRosiers

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:05:39 GMT

TORONTO — DesRosiers Automotive Consultants Inc. says new car sales in November soared 20.7 per cent compared with last year, as vehicle supply improves.Andrew King, managing partner at DesRosiers, says November saw the largest percentage gain in sales so far this year.The data shows car sales continued to defy affordability woes and high borrowing costs, with November marking the thirteenth straight month of year-over-year gains.King says improving vehicle availability and strong pent-up demand from the pandemic are continuing to fuel sales.However, he adds the monthly total for car sales was still below the pre-pandemic November market.King says this year’s car sales have already topped 2022 levels, even with December sales yet to come, pointing to an important recovery since the COVID-19 pandemic.This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 4, 2023.The Canadian Press