A Canadian Surreal Experience At Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion

© FACEBOOK Julie McLeod of Oakville looks back fondly about her time at the Playboy mansion in the 1980s in the wake of Hugh Hefner's death

Since news broke that Hugh Hefner, founder and editor of Playboy magazine, died Wednesday night at the age of 91 fans called him a “cultural icon,” and “media titan,” while critics hesitated to mourn a man they said embodied “male entitlement.”

Oakville resident Julie McLeod remembers him another way: as a kind, gracious host.

Hefner was well-known as a radical hedonist who played a major role in bringing sex into the mainstream of American media — a legacy that’s brought him both praise and derision.

McLeod, a former model and actress, was living in a hotel in Los Angeles in 1984 when her friend and fellow model Carrie Leigh — then Hefner’s girlfriend — invited her to stay at his famed home instead.

“I was a young woman so I was apprehensive,” McLeod told the Star on Thursday, nodding to the controversy surrounding Hefner that he made his living largely off women’s sexuality.

“There are a lot of people that will presume I must have been a playmate and it must have been wild. That was contrary to my experience.”

Inspiring Story of Young African! Wins $4000 Scholarship to Study Mining Engineering in Canada

A young Nigerian girl, living in Toronto, has recently proven that your surroundings don’t have to be a hinderance to your potential for greatness and achievements.

According to the report by CTV News, since moving to Toronto 5 years ago, Hafeezat Ameen, lived in a low income neighbourhood. However, she didn’t let that stop her.

She worked hard at school, (also tutoring) and worked at Tim Hortons to make some extra cash to support her family. Today, she is one of two women who have been awarded $4,000 scholarship for the mining engineering program at Laurentian University.

The $100m Rag to Riches Man: Steve Harvey

Comedian, actor, talk show host and best selling author, Steve Harvey has had some ups and downs and now the comedian is opening up about being homeless at the beginning of his career. His rags-to-riches tale is one of integrity, ingenuity and success.

For an interview with People, Harvey revealed that while he's now amassed an empire estimated to be worth $100 million, he was once homeless and living out of his Ford Tempo. The Family Feud hosts says that there were moments when he wasn't sure how he'd make it through.

"It kills me when I hear very successful people say, 'I always knew I would get here,' " he says. "I didn't. I always hoped I would get somewhere, but this is above and beyond. My imagination didn't even go this big."

"Everybody has a moment when they turn back, when you say to yourself, 'This is too much,' I had it on several occasions."

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Inside Story Of Mariah Carey And Nick Cannon Divorce

Nick Cannon and Mariah Carey’s divorce details have just been released by TMZ. Read below..

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon have a prenup with a confidentiality clause ... and if she blabs out of school she gets socked for twice what he'd have to pay if he violates it.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ...if Nick violates the confidentiality clause he has to pay her a $250,000 penalty, but if she spills the beans she has to pay him $500K.

CBC Health Story Of The Year

Research suggests only about five per cent of people who try to lose weight ultimately succeed, but we cling to their stories as proof that losing weight is possible. (Canadian Obesity Network)

A story about how our biology taunts us by making short-term weight loss fairly easy but permanent weight loss nearly impossible was the top health news story of the year.

The second-most ready story was an analysis of public health inspection reports from national chain restaurants. It revealed a range of health violations, including temperature and food storage issues, food handling and handwashing problems, pest control, cross-contamination and general kitchen cleanliness.

A food-related story rounded out the top three. Researchers said artificial sweeteners may have directly contributed to enhancing the obesity epidemic that the calorie-free sweeteners were intended to fight.

Plunge in crude oil prices named top Canadian Press business story of the year

A person pumps fuel in Toronto after gasoline prices rose overnight on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.  CP

Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press

From Alberta oilfields to Bay Street boardrooms to the gas station on the corner, the precipitous drop in crude prices is expected to have far-reaching impacts across the country heading into 2015, making it The Canadian Press Business News Story of the Year.

The abrupt turnaround in oil markets was chosen by half of the 50 editors and news directors across the country who participated in the annual survey.

In explaining their pick, many respondents noted the story's ripple effects beyond the oilpatch.

Richard Dettman, business editor at News 1130 in Vancouver, said the halving in crude prices over a six-month span created a "gusher of stories" — the hit to federal and provincial government coffers, the plunging loonie and the benefit to consumers, to name a few.

How Votes Were Cast In Canadian Press News Story of Year

Supporters pay tribute as the Body of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo is transported in a hearse from Ottawa to Hamilton, along the Highway of Heroes in Porthope, Ont., on Friday, October 24, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

The Oct. 22 attack on Parliament Hill and targeted killing of soldiers Nathan Cirillo in Ottawa and Patrice Vincent in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Que., are the overwhelming choice as The Canadian Press News Story of the Year for 2014. Here are the voting results:

Parliament Hill attack: 59

Sexual harassment/Jian Ghomeshi: 10

RCMP murders in Monction:10

Death of Tina Fontaine: 2

Senate scandal: 2

Prostitution laws overturned: 1

Nursing home fire in L’Isle Verte, Que., kills 32: 1

SOURCE: The Canadian Press

Rick Ross Shares His Weight Loss Story & How a Seizure Pushed his Change

Police Killings Voted Top Story of 2014 in AP Poll

Demonstrators march in New York, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2014, during the Justice for All rally and march. John Minchillo—AP

The killing of unarmed black men Michael Brown and Eric Garner by police officers was voted the top news story of 2014 in a survey of news directors and editors around the country.

Police killings, and the federal investigations and civil unrest they unleashed, came out on top from among the 85 votes cast with 22 first-place votes, in the Associated Press poll. Voters placed the Ebola outbreak in West Africa as second biggest, and the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria third biggest story of the year.

The poll was conducted before the U.S. announced it would re-establish diplomatic relations with Cuba.

These, in order, are the top ten stories of the year as determined by the AP poll.

Interesting! Man Who Went On Fishing Trip To Gambia marries Bride 32 Years Younger

A married couple born 32 years apart have proved that age is irrelevant when it comes to love.

Father of seven Thomas Bolton, 56, shocked his family by returning from a fishing holiday, with an unusual catch - a bride more than three decades his junior.

Mr Bolton fell 'hook line and sinker' for Jainaba Sawo, 24, during the trip with his brothers in Gambia - with the pair tying the knot just three weeks later.

Despite concerns from Mr Bolton's family that Jainaba was 'just after a visa', the husband and wife have been happily married for three years and now have a 17-month-old son, Malang.

Jainaba and Thomas first met in December 2011 in Tallinding, Serrekunda in western Gambia, while Thomas was holidaying with his brothers.

The joiner, from Accrington, Lancashire, said: 'I went to Gambia on a fishing trip with my brothers and came back with a wife. It was very unexpected, but I'm so happy.

'I had finished an afternoon of fishing and was walking along the Kotu beach when I spotted Jainaba sunbathing.'

MTO proves that Rihanna is pregnant

MediaTakeOut.com just received a blockbuster report yesterday - Rihanna is pregnant. This is not rumors y'all . . . it's 100% certificate

We spoke with two separate sources that told us that Rihanna is working on a new song on her albumM - where she will talk about being pregnant. One tipster explained, "The song is a ballad, where Rihanna talks about the "baby growing inside me."

And there's more. Rihanna has banned ALL WEED SMOKING inside the studio while she records - a VERY unusual step for Rihanna, who is known for smoking weed like a CHIMNEY!!

Incredible Success Story Of Young Man Goes From Homeless To Harvard

Inside Story of India’s Gated Transgender Community – The “Hijra”

India is known for being the 2nd most populated country in the world. With a total of 1,262,670,000 men and women, there is a section of that population that is a little different – the 2 million members of their transgender community.

In a bid to discover the transgender world and enter this gated community of women who used to be men, called the “Hijra”, Asha Leo of Refinery29 traveled to the Coimbatore, India to meet, live and discover the ways of the Hijra.

The Hijra are described as a diverse range of people who consider themselves to be outside the categorization of male or female – but are largely described as those born male who transition through a combination of “gender affirmation” surgeries.