News
Richard Simmons, Flamboyant Fitness Icon, Dies at 76
Richard Simmons was easily identifiable in his short shorts, flashy tank tops, and frizzy hair. He was among the most unique, vivid, and popular fitness celebrities in the last 50 years.
Richard Simmons died on Saturday at his Los Angeles home; a spokesman told NPR. He was 76. A spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Police Department told NPR that officers investigated a death at a Hollywood Hills location. NPR used public records to link the address to Simmons’ house.
Police did not specify the cause of death, but no foul play was suspected.
Richard Simmons built a fitness empire in the 1970s encompassed tapes, classes, books, goods, infomercials, his program, and numerous television appearances.
It helped that his business venture coincided with new technologies – at least in the 1980s. Simmons released fitness classes on VHS cassettes to be played on VCRs. During his lifetime, he created over 65 workout DVDs, including “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” which sold over 20 million copies.
Milton Teagle Richard Simmons was born in New Orleans and describes himself as a compulsive eater as a child. Others teased and mocked him because of his weight.
“I grew up without any physical education,” he remembered on NPR’s Tell Me More in 2008. “I was 200 pounds in eighth grade. And when I graduated high school, I weighed about 300 pounds. I was a sad, perplexed teenager who couldn’t figure out what I wanted out of life or why I had such a strong relationship with food.
According to Simmons’ website, he experimented with diets and laxatives before settling on “a lifestyle of balance, moderate eating, and exercise.” His life’s job became making exercise enjoyable for all types of bodies.
Simmons started his Beverly Hills studio in 1974, catering to clients looking to reduce weight and fit. It was originally called The Anatomy Asylum, but it was eventually renamed SLIMMONS. It also included one of the earliest salad bars in the area, dubbed “Ruffage.” Simmons remained there until 2013.
Simmons’ exercise technique was lively and inviting. In a commercial for one of his popular “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” videos, he exclaimed, “If you’re looking for a lively, entertaining, stimulating, humorous, colorful, frolicking, playful, inspiring, safe, low-impact workout that’s full of kicks, thrills, gusto, fervor, passion, fury, bustle, and action, you don’t have to look any further.” “This is it!”
No other fitness celebrity resembled Richard Simmons. According to historian Natalia Mehlman Petrzela, the people in his sessions were unlike anyone else in era-specific fitness films. “They were all different ages and genders. Most notably, many would have been deemed overweight according to the standards of the period.”
According to Petrzela, author of Fit Nation: The Gains and Pains of America’s Exercise Obsession, the inclusion of overweight individuals in fitness throughout the 1970s and 1980s was groundbreaking. Petrzela says Simmons has recently faced criticism for fat-shaming.
“That criticism is not misplaced,” she argues. “But I also think it’s so important to see the way that … the important work that he did in expanding people’s sense of who deserved to exercise, who was welcome at the gym and who was deserving of finding joy through movement and in communities of movement.”
Richard Simmons became a recluse after reaching his 60s. Many of his fans were perplexed why this outgoing and happy individual remained silent and did not leave his house.
Several films, including one made by TMZ and aired on Fox and Hulu, and the podcast Missing Richard Simmons have explored the topic. Simmons acknowledged his supporters briefly in a message issued in 2022. Previous interviews, including one on the Today show in 2016, mentioned health difficulties and a desire to spend time alone.
Richard Simmons’ philosophy was simple. He advocated for positivism, portion management, and at least 30 minutes of daily physical activity. That message spoke to people who didn’t see themselves in the typical realm of fitness and felt like they were the last person chosen for the squad.
Source: npr.org
News
Trudeau Rocks to Taylor Swift While Montreal Burns
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has come under fire yet again after a video surfaced on X, showing him dancing at a Taylor Swift performance while anti-Nato protestors ransacked downtown Montreal.
Trudeau attended Taylor Swift’s concert in Toronto on Friday night. Before Taylor Swift approached the stage, X shared a viral video of him dancing and singing along to the song “You Don’t Own Me.”
The image of Trudeau dancing amid violent protests in Montreal generated widespread indignation online. Some social media users even compared Trudeau to the ancient Roman dictator Nero, known for “fiddling while Rome burned.”
Don Stewart, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing part of Toronto, called out the prime minister in a post on X.
Lawless protestors run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest.
The Prime Minister dances.
This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.
Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved. pic.twitter.com/PVJvR6gtmf
— Don Stewart (@donstewartmp) November 23, 2024
“Lawless protesters run roughshod over Montreal in violent protest. The Prime Minister dances,” Stewart wrote. “This is the Canada built by the Liberal government.”
“Bring back law and order, safe streets and communities in the Canada we once knew and loved,” the MP added.
On Saturday, the day after Taylor Swift’s concert, Trudeau condemned the anti-NATO protests, calling them “appalling.”
Anti-NATO activists set off smoke bombs and marched through Montreal’s streets waving Palestinian flags. According to the Montreal Gazette, rioters set fire to automobiles and battled with police.
Pro-Palestinian protests
Protesters also tossed tiny explosives and metal objects at officers. At one point, the mob torched an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Police used tear gas and batons to disperse the gathering, and three persons were arrested for attacking officers and impeding police operations.
Masked protesters were seen burning flares and bashing storefront windows in videos and photographs shared on social media. Pro-Palestinian protests have been taking place across Canada since the Israel-Gaza conflict began late last year.
Critics have lambasted Trudeau for doing nothing to stop the violent pro-Palestinian marches, with some claiming he has fueled anti-Israel sentiment in Canada.
On Friday, Trudeau stated that Canada would respect the orders of the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Mr Netanyahu, even if it meant arresting the Israeli prime leader on Canadian soil.
Related News:
Trudeau Called the Greatest Threat to NATO
News
Calgary Zoo Admits Human Error in Death of Baby Gorilla
The Calgary Zoo has admitted in a public statement that a zookeeper’s negligence caused the death of a 2-year-old baby gorilla. Eyare, a newborn gorilla, died last week after being slammed in the head by a hydraulic door.
The accident occurred when a zoo worker attempted to separate Eyare from the rest of the gorilla tribe for a solitary training session.
The gorilla died from significant head injuries, according to the zoo’s statement.
“This tragedy has struck us all in the deepest way imaginable,” Colleen Baird, director of animal care at the Calgary Zoo, said during a news conference. “Eyare’s brief but meaningful existence gave so much joy to our community, and all will sorely miss her. We will do everything possible to prevent repeat accidents.”
According to Baird, the staff member involved was immediately removed from the workplace and will be reassigned to another area of the zoo. The Calgary Zoo stated that it would take preventive steps, such as specialist personnel training and animal behavioral training, to avoid a similar incident.
Calgary Zoo Questioned
It is not the first time an animal at the zoo has died from negligence at the Calgary Zoo. A capybara was accidentally crushed by a hydraulic door similar to the one that killed Eyare in 2019.
An otter died in 2016 after being entangled in an “unauthorized” pair of jeans that a zookeeper had dropped in its enclosure. In 2013, a penguin died in “a freak accident” after swallowing a stick.
Animal Justice, a Canadian group that promotes animal welfare, has called for an independent investigation of animal safety and oversight at the Alberta facility.
“The Calgary Zoo appears to have a higher rate of animal deaths compared to other zoos, and in light of Eyare’s death there should be a systematic review of the zoo’s operations and practices, conducted transparently by the government or another outside party,” according to Camille Labchuk, the executive director of Animal Justice.
The Calgary Zoo refuted that it has more animal deaths than other zoos, emphasizing that it adheres to operating requirements and has maintained accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ independent Accreditation Commission since 1978.
“We love and care for more than 4,000 animals representing over 100 species that call our zoo home,” stated a Calgary Zoo representative.
“Human error-related deaths in animals are quite infrequent. We have lost two animals in the last ten years: a North American river otter in 2016 and ‘Eyare’ this week.
While rare, even one human-caused death is too many. These unfortunate instances have served as vital learning experiences, prompting us to examine and tighten protocols to provide the greatest level of care.”
Baird said at the news conference that using hydraulic doors is “common practice with accredited zoos,” adding that the facility will consider switching to alternate doors to improve safety.
The Calgary Zoo, which established the Wilder Institute in 2021, caters to nearly 4,000 creatures, including six more western lowland gorillas.
Related News:
Beluga Whales Dies at Canada’s Marineland
Outrage Erupts After 17th Beluga Whale Dies at Canada’s Marineland
News
Canada’s Lotto Max jackpot Climbs to $80M
Lotto Max in Canada has reached $80 million for only the second time in Canadian lottery history. Friday’s draw sought a winner for a $75 million pool, but the top reward remained unclaimed as of Saturday, increasing the jackpot.
Only once did the jackpot reach $80 million in September, when it broke the previous record. Before that, the prize was $75 million, a record.
The Lotto Max prize maximum was boosted earlier this year, enabling for jackpots of more than $70 million. The cap is now at $80 million.
While a greater fee may encourage more people to play, the odds of winning the lottery remain extremely low.
According to the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation, the odds for a $5 ticket are around one in 33,294,800.
While there was no jackpot winner in Friday’s draw, someone did match six of the seven winning numbers, plus a bonus, earning them a payout of more than $320,000.
Lotto Max History
Lotto Max is one of three national lottery games in Canada, overseen by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation. The game was introduced on September 19, 2009, and its inaugural draw occurred on September 25, 2009. It replaced Lotto Super 7.
The odds of winning the Lotto Max are 1 in 33,294,800. This is correct to a point but misleading.
Let’s have a look at the rules:
- Players choose 7 numbers out of 50
- Numbers cannot be repeated
- Numbers are automatically sorted into ascending order
- Each play buys 3 lines
- Each play costs $5
Seeing that players choose 7 out of 50 non-repeating numbers, the equation for the total number of possible combinations (this is different from permutations where the order in which the numbers appear is significant) when playing the Lotto Max is 50! / (7! x 43!)
-
Politics2 weeks ago
Trudeau Orders Facebook to Block Australian Presser Video
-
Business4 weeks ago
Canada CBC News CEO Catherine Tait Recalled to Parliamentary Committee
-
Celebrity4 weeks ago
Shaun White’s Proposal To Nina Dobrev Was Romantic Gold
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Apple Launches The IPhone Into The AI Era With Free Software Update
-
News3 weeks ago
Pro-Khalistanis Sikhs Attack Hindu Temple in Brampton
-
Food4 weeks ago
Starbucks Is Making A Popular Add-On Free Of Charge