Author: Martin D'Anjou

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Potins

Trial of Michael Jackson’s doctor starts today

This morning (September 27) at 8:45 a.m. local time, the trial gets underway for Dr. Conrad Murray, charged with involuntary manslaughter in the death of pop star Michael Jackson.

While preparing for his concert series This Is It, Jackson died of acute propofol intoxication on June 25, 2009 at the age of 50, after suffering from cardiac arrest. Before his death, Jackson had been administered drugs including propofol and lorazepam.

The Los Angeles County Coroner declared his death a homicide, and his personal physician pleaded not guilty to charges of involuntary manslaughter. Dr. Conrad Murray admitted that he injected the singer of propofol, a powerful anesthetic that the star used as a sleeping aid.

Jackson’s 14-year-old-son, Prince Michael, who was often present when the doctor treated his father, is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.

The defense intends to show that the singer was in poor physical and mental condition, several months before his death.

A jury of seven men and five women, aged 32 to 57, will decide the fate of the 58-year-old doctor who faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

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Canada ties for third place in global air quality

Canada ranks third in the world for air quality, according to new statistics compiled by the World Health Organization.

Estonia took first place, with the highest air quality in the world, followed by the African island nation of Mauritius. Canada tied with Australia for third place, with an annual average of 13 micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic meter.

Measuring 10 micrometers or less by definition, PM10 particles can do serious damage when they pass though the lungs into the bloodstream, increasing the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, and acute lower respiratory infections.

WHO guidelines advise a maximum of 20 micrograms per cubic meter, but their findings showed that some cities had as many as 300.

"Air pollution is a major environmental health issue and it is vital that we increase efforts to reduce the health burden it creates," said Dr Maria Neira, WHO Director for Public Health and Environment, in a statement.

"If we monitor and manage the environment properly we can significantly reduce the number of people suffering from respiratory and heart disease, and lung cancer."

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Most surgeons are music lovers

In a poll marking the launch of the seventh season of the hit TV series House, 90 percent of British surgeons said they practiced their craft to music, reports the Independent.

Of these, 50 percent of British surgeons said they preferred listening to upbeat rock music. Seventeen percent of respondents expressed a preference for pop music, while classical music was selected by 11 percent.

According to survey respondents, music helps create a peaceful and harmonious work environment, although a third of surgeons suggested that music helps prevent them from being bored at work.

Of all the specialties, plastic surgeons were the most musically-inclined with 100 percent of this group listening to music, while ear, nose and throat surgeons were the least likely to listen to music while operating.

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Cinéma

Michael Fassbender to star in RoboCop?

Award-winning Brazilian director José Padilha (Elite Squad), director of upcoming film reboot of RoboCop said that he would like actor Michael Fassbender (Jane Eyre, A Dangerous Method) for the role.

In an interview on Brazilian television’s Globo 1 to discuss the sequel to his smash-hit, Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within, the filmmaker revealed some details about an upcoming remake of RoboCop, based on the 1987 sci-fi action thriller starring Peter Weir.

“I can’t talk yet, it’s too early to speak, but there are some actors I like. I really like Fassbender, I’d like to talk to him – I’ll talk to him. There’s a possibility…”

Padilha also mentioned that he had been working with the writer on the script over the last couple of weeks, and if all goes according to plan, RoboCop is expected to shoot in February or March in Detroit, where the original was filmed, for a release date in 2013.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Camping on land… and sea?

An amphibious trailer that will allow camping enthusiasts to travel both by land and sea is expected to go on sale next year, reports the Daily Mail.

Dubbed the Sealander, the trailer-boat features full cooking, bathing and sleeping amenities, just like any mobile home. When faced with a body of water, however, the trailer converts into a boat, complete with its own outboard motor and double hull to prevent leaks.

"This extends the possibilities of camping and leisure. Whoever travels with our floating caravan can spend free time on both land and on water," explained Daniel Straub, creator of the Sealander.

"It’s just like a holiday should be – up to them and unlimited possibilities. You can settle for the night at the campsite and during the day sunbathe, cruise on the lake or even go fishing for dinner."

Currently, the sole available design is only able to handle shallow bodies of water, but Straub says he is working on bigger models that would be able to handle larger lakes and possibly even the sea.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Set sail in northern Europe on a Tall Ship

Starting in spring 2012, travelers can sail the Baltic Sea in a magnificent Tall Ship as they trace paths once forged by the Vikings through Northern Europe, as Star Clippers launches a new set of cruises based upon the discoveries of these intrepid warriors and explorers.

Aboard the Star Flyer – a 350-foot long Tall Ship that has been completely outfitted as a modern cruise ship – guests can "trace the Vikings’ extraordinary voyages, following the routes of those passionate explorers to storied lands and places," explains the website.

"Along the way, Star Flyer will also participate with other magnificent tall ships in celebratory sailing parades in the German ports of Kiel, Hamburg and Rostock (Warnemuende)."

The new service begins May 5, 2012 with a six-day journey from Southampton, U.K. to Hamburg, Germany. Beginning May 10, travelers can book a four-day cruise that remains in the city, in order to take part in the Hamburg sailing parade. From there, it’s on to Amsterdam in the Netherlands with other voyages to Oslo, Norway; Stockholm, Sweden; and Warnemuende, Germany.

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Nouvelles quotidiennes

Wax museum to open in Montreal

A new waxworks, Grévin Museum, is expected to open in downtown Montreal, Canada, on the top floor of the Eaton Centre in early 2013, reports Radio-Canada.

The Montreal museum will be the first of its kind outside of France. The company is investing about $13 million to expand its brand overseas.

Visitors will be able to admire more than 120 wax mannequins, from a company that got its start in 1882 in France.

One of the oldest wax museums in Europe, the original Grévin Museum contains 300 characters arranged in scenes from French history and modern life, including bloody scenes from the French revolution, as well as international figures, movie stars and athletes.

In an era before newspaper photography, wax mannequins allowed visitors to put a face to the names in the news.

Canadians immortalized by the Grévin Museum in Paris include singers Celine Dion and Roch Voisine.

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Frequent sex could mean improved fertility

The more often a man has sex, the less likely he is to carry to damaged sperm, suggests research outlined at a European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology meeting in Amsterdam.

As part of the study, 118 Australian men with damaged sperm were told to have sex once daily for seven consecutive days. After the seven days, 81 percent of the men showed a 12 percent decrease in damaged sperm – validating the belief that the longer sperm resides in the body, the higher chance it has of becoming damaged.

Based on the findings, Dr David Greening, of Sydney IVF – a private fertility clinic in Australia – has now begun to prescribe daily sex to couples having difficulty conceiving: "Some of the older men look a little concerned," he said. "But the younger ones seem quite happy about it."

Sperm quality can also be improved by avoiding cigarettes, reduced alcohol intake and increased exercise.

While experts agree that Greening’s research was promising, it does not prove that daily sex for men with fertility problems would absolutely produce more babies.

Greening remains adamant: "If you want to have a baby, our advice is to do it often."

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Food variety may promote obesity

While Americans consider themselves fortunate to have so many choices when it comes to food, researchers at the University of Florida believe that a diverse menu in fact encourages overeating and contributes to the escalating obesity rate.

The study, to be published in August’s American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, was initiated in response to a preceding study which showed people’s increased disinterest in food when they are repeatedly exposed to the same item.

The study’s co-authors Nicole Avena and Mark Gold wrote: "Clearly, school-lunch planners and public health officials should note that diversity in the menu is not necessarily a virtue, and in fact may be associated with promoting excess food intake and increased body mass index."

The findings of this study could prove significant for people who suffer from food addictions, researchers say, as highly palatable foods trigger the same brain behavior connected with highly addictive drugs.

A similar study published in Behavioral Processes last year showed that when capuchin monkeys were given a choice between their favorite food and a variety of food choices, the monkeys opted for variety.

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Sports could be significant to child development

A team environment, assessment of one’s own performance, and involvement in challenging practices are key to a child’s positive developmental experience playing team sports, says a Canadian research project.

In her findings, Jean Côté – head of the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University and a youth sport and coaching expert – explained that sports offer more than just the simple concepts of winning and losing: "Under the right conditions, youth sport can help children develop transferrable personal and social skills – citizenship qualities that they’ll retain throughout their lives."

In the study, Dr. Côté found that children between the ages of nine to 19 responded positively when placed within a cohesive team environment where the coach encouraged all members to socialize outside of the sport.

In addition, coaches who refused to compare one team member to the next – and instead focused on helping children improve their own personal bests – helped to foster an environment in which young players could stay engaged and motivated.

"Other research we’ve conducted suggests that kids don’t necessarily need lots of pressure early on to become elite," explains Dr. Côté. "If you create a coaching environment where the kids are happy and passionate they’ll continue to be involved and develop their skills.”

This research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).