China's Canadian-designed, high-tech man cave

IMAX says it will begin installing luxury home theatres in China at a cost of $250,000 and up. (David Gray/Reuters)

China's newly minted rich can now get up close and personal to the movies after mega-screen maker IMAX Corp signed a deal to produce luxury home theatres in the company's second largest market.

The fifty-fifty joint venture with Shenzhen-based TCL Multimedia Technology Holdings Ltd will give Chinese the chance to watch IMAX-enhanced Hollywood blockbusters in the comfort of their homes, maybe even on the day of their world premieres.

The price? At least $250,000. The joint venture is targeting wealthy homeowners in Hong Kong, Russia, and the Middle East, but the main focus, IMAX Chief Executive Richard Gelfond said, is China.

"China now is our second largest market in the world, and our fastest growing market," Gelfond told Reuters on Friday. "We spend a lot of time concentrating on the Chinese market."

Mississauga, Ont.-based IMAX earns 16 percent of its revenue in China, and now has 131 screens installed there.

Like other global brands, IMAX is betting on the appetite of ultra-rich Chinese for luxury goods and unique experiences, which is also helping the sales of retailers like LVMH and Tiffany & Co.

The number of Chinese millionaires rose by more than 14 percent last year to 643,000, the most recent wealth survey by Capgemini and RBC Wealth Management shows. The country is now home to the fourth largest number of high net-worth individuals in the world.

Neither IMAX nor TCL Multimedia Chief Financial Officer Edmond Chen would forecast how many home systems the company expects to sell when it kicks of production in 2015. The deal was signed this week.

TCL estimates annual growth for home theatre sets is likely to exceed 20 percent in the next five years. It said the market for home theatres may be about 2,000 sets now.

In July, IMAX announced an agreement with local conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group Corp to build up to 120 new theaters in China. The deal would raise the number of IMAX theaters to about 400, with Wanda running around half.

Gelfond in September helped Dalian Wanda launch a $8 billion production, entertainment and real estate project in the coastal city of Qingdao, surrounded by stars including Nicole Kidman and Leonardo DiCaprio.

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1,000 dolphins swim beside ferry off B.C. islands

Video

Rob Maguire filmed the pod while on the ferry from the Gulf Islands to Tsawwassan

CBC News Posted: Nov 01, 2013 5:29 PM PT Last Updated: Nov 01, 2013 5:31 PM PT

Passengers aboard a BC Ferries vessel were treated to a rare sight on Friday, as a pod of about 1,000 Pacific white-sided dolphins swam next to the boat for several minutes.

Though this species of dolphin is known for forming large pods, it's unusual that such a large pod was spotted in the Strait of Georgia, rather than in more open waters, such as on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

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Pope Francis photobombed by little boy

Pope Francis was delivering a homily but a little boy stole the show.

Pope Francis let the boy explore the area undisturbed before tens of thousands of people. (L'Osservatore Romano/Associated Press)

Francis was speaking in St. Peter's Square about the important role grandparents play when a little boy walked up behind him and confidently climbed up and sat down on the pontiff's white chair.

The Vatican says Francis was surrounded by elderly faithful and their grandchildren Saturday night at a rally to encourage family life when the boy came up, wearing a striped shirt, jeans and sneakers.

Francis let the boy explore the area undisturbed before tens of thousands of people. The pope smiled while reading his speech as the boy sat in the empty chair, gazed up at him and even at one point clung to the pontiff's legs.

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Woman gives chiding letter to overweight trick or treaters

A woman in Fargo, North Dakota, is stirring the cauldron this Halloween by sending home letters about obesity to kids she believes are overweight.

The woman, who identified herself as Cheryl, called into WDAY's Y-94 FM Morning Playhouse radio program on Wednesday, said she will give out the scolding letter, directed at the parents.

"It's just these, these kids, I can see them and they're struggling to stay healthy and they want to play with the other kids and I think it's really irresponsible as parents to sort of send them out looking for free candy just cause all the other kids are doing it," Cheryl told the radio station.

Still, she said she doesn't intend to deny candy to any of the kids. She just wants to add the letter to get some parents thinking.

"Parents should take more responsibility for their kids, they're becoming little fat kids. You know, they're probably going to be teased at school," she added.

She was grilled by the radio host, who asked, "Why is it your business as to how these people parent their kids?"

Cheryl said the children in any community "are everybody's kids. It's a whole village."

In the unsigned letter, she writes: "You [sic] child is, in my opinion, moderately obese and should not be consuming sugar and treats to the extent of some children this Halloween season.

"My hope is that you will step up as a parent and ration candy this Halloween and not allow your child to continue these unhealthy eating habits."

Winnipegger Trina Larsen called the woman's actions a bad way to treat children on a night that is supposed to be fun.    Being mean won't help children become healthy, she said.

"I think it's terrible. I think that shaming children into feeling worse about their bodies does not accomplish anything," she said.

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James Taylor botches U.S. anthem at World Series

Hall of Famer starts singing America The Beautiful

By Doug Harrison, CBC Sports Posted: Oct 25, 2013 11:47 AM ET Last Updated: Oct 25, 2013 11:47 AM ET

James Taylor won a Grammy Award in 1971 for song of the year and record of the year with "You've got a Friend."

Apparently, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer needed a friend on the field at Boston's Fenway Park Thursday night prior to Game 2 of the World Series.

The legendary folk singer flubbed and started "America The Beautiful" instead of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Taylor corrected himself quickly and started the anthem but his mistake didn't go unnoticed.

Click below to watch Taylor's performance.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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Sylvester Stallone unveils his paintings in Russia

Sylvester Stallone has unveiled a retrospective of his art at the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg, admitting that he thinks he's a better painter than an actor.

The 67-year-old actor and filmmaker helped launch the exhibit Sylvester Stallone. Art. 1975-2013 at the venerable museum on Sunday. The star of Rocky, Rambo, The Expendables and the recent Escape Plan told reporters that if he had the choice, he would spend his life as a visual artist.

"I think I'm a much better painter than an actor," he said.

"It's much more personal and I'm allowed to just do what I want to do. Quite often in acting you have to play a certain part, you cannot speak as much as you want to speak."

The works on show include colourful self-portraits and bright abstract pieces. The exhibition has already attracted hundreds of curious art lovers as well as Stallone fans to the museum, which was established in the historic capital by Nicholas II — Russia's last tsar — in 1895 and is known for its collection of Russian art.

Some political leaders blasted museum leadership for highlighting an American celebrity's art — especially the art of the actor who portrayed the "anti-Russian" Rambo — in the revered museum.

"If my visit is a challenge for somebody, let it be so," said Stallone, who studied art before starting his movie career.

Museum staffers have pointed out that the Stallone exhibition is being shown in a branch of the main museum that displays contemporary and modern art, including works by Western artists.

Stallone's paintings "show the character of a passionate man" and are not "the work of an amateur," museum director Vladimir Gustev told media.

"This is a real artist," he added. "The Russian Museum does not show weak artists."

Stallone has previously shown his artwork in Switzerland and Miami.

The exhibit continues in St. Petersburg through Jan. 13, 2014.

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'Human hands' turn out to be rotting polar bear paws

CBC News Posted: Oct 23, 2013 10:40 AM CT Last Updated: Oct 23, 2013 11:26 AM CT

Iqaluit RCMP received a strange call this week. Somebody reported seeing a pair of dismembered human hands lying on the ground, in the downtown area.

Police went to check it out. Turns out, what looked like hands were actually polar bear paws—partially decomposed.

RCMP Corporal Yvonne Niego says it was an honest mistake, not a hoax.

"The individuals calling weren't local," she says. "I don't know if they were here for long, but I think most people are pretty aware of the hunting lifestyle here. In this case, it's just because there were only the paws, and polar bear paws happen to look very human!"

Niego says police disposed of the paws so nobody else makes the same mistake.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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James Taylor botches U.S. anthem at World Series

Hall of Famer starts singing America The Beautiful

By Doug Harrison, CBC Sports Posted: Oct 25, 2013 11:47 AM ET Last Updated: Oct 25, 2013 11:47 AM ET

James Taylor won a Grammy Award in 1971 for song of the year and record of the year with "You've got a Friend."

Apparently, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer needed a friend on the field at Boston's Fenway Park Thursday night prior to Game 2 of the World Series.

The legendary folk singer flubbed and started "America The Beautiful" instead of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Taylor corrected himself quickly and started the anthem but his mistake didn't go unnoticed.

Click below to watch Taylor's performance.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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'Human hands' turn out to be rotting polar bear paws

CBC News Posted: Oct 23, 2013 10:40 AM CT Last Updated: Oct 23, 2013 11:26 AM CT

Iqaluit RCMP received a strange call this week. Somebody reported seeing a pair of dismembered human hands lying on the ground, in the downtown area.

Police went to check it out. Turns out, what looked like hands were actually polar bear paws—partially decomposed.

RCMP Corporal Yvonne Niego says it was an honest mistake, not a hoax.

"The individuals calling weren't local," she says. "I don't know if they were here for long, but I think most people are pretty aware of the hunting lifestyle here. In this case, it's just because there were only the paws, and polar bear paws happen to look very human!"

Niego says police disposed of the paws so nobody else makes the same mistake.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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James Taylor botches U.S. anthem at World Series

Hall of Famer starts singing America The Beautiful

By Doug Harrison, CBC Sports Posted: Oct 25, 2013 11:47 AM ET Last Updated: Oct 25, 2013 11:47 AM ET

James Taylor won a Grammy Award in 1971 for song of the year and record of the year with "You've got a Friend."

Apparently, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer needed a friend on the field at Boston's Fenway Park Thursday night prior to Game 2 of the World Series.

The legendary folk singer flubbed and started "America The Beautiful" instead of "The Star-Spangled Banner." Taylor corrected himself quickly and started the anthem but his mistake didn't go unnoticed.

Click below to watch Taylor's performance.

Comments on this story are pre-moderated. Before they appear, comments are reviewed by moderators to ensure they meet our submission guidelines. Comments are open and welcome for three days after the story is published. We reserve the right to close comments before then.

Submission Policy

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are moderated and published according to our submission guidelines.

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