Lifestyle FRIDAY, JUNE 23, 2017 Sam Baker makes art with a style all his own f Bob Dylan's Nobel Prize re-ignited the sit down and listen. The words emerge in sharp debate on what separates popular music relief from a soundscape of restrained guitar, Ifrom poetry, Sam Baker is here to complicate piano, strings and muted trumpet. Baker has things further. Baker makes elegant, original mostly veered away from the story-portraits of music. Nothing he does could be mistaken for earlier and toward songs about heart- anyone else's work. Baker's career emerged break and loss. There are hints of bitterness, and from a remarkable life story. In 1986 he was on a if there is hope to be found, it lies in the majesty train in Peru when a bomb set by terrorists of the music. A song called "The Feast of Saint exploded. Baker suffered brain damage, hearing Valentine," for example, dwells on a "wish you loss and a hand injury that forced him to teach well" card that hints at a recent breakup. himself to play guitar left-handed. Impossibly sad, it's delivered against an ascend- The simple grace of his craft, on full display in ing backdrop that could be the soundtrack of his fifth release, "Land of Doubt," emerged from mountains. Somehow, it lifts the spirit. The that tragedy. With a sound both soaring and effect, utterly evocative, may or may not qualify sad, the Texas-based Baker sings in a raspy talk- as poetry. But it is certainly poetic. — AP whisper that makes you stop what you're doing,

A file photo shows actor Russell Crowe on the red carpet during the world premiere of ‘ Charice Water Diviner’ in Sydney. — AFP announces new transgender name Appeals court Russell Crowe to S television star and music sensation Charice Pempengco of the has reinstates Howard's Uannounced a new transgender identity, lead new Asian film revealing his new name on : . "My first tweet as Jake. Overwhelmed. Saw all your love comments and I'm so happy. Finally. I divorce judgment jury in Australia love you, everyone and see you soon," the 25- year-old wrote this week on his revamped Twitter California appeals court on account, which has nearly a million followers. "I Wednesday reinstated Terrence ollywood star Russell Crowe will chair a won't let anyone ruin this moment. I won't let Howard's divorce judgment involving This file photo shows Filipina singer Charice A jury to decide the best Asian production anyone ruin my happiness. Thank you to all the his second wife after finding the actor was Hat Australia's annual film awards this year, beautiful write ups about me." Pempengco performing during the launch- not coerced into signing it. The ruling could which will recognize excellence in Asian movie- The artist born as Charmaine Clarice ing of her first in Makati, financial dis- allow Michelle Ghent to claim some of making for the first time. The new award for top Pempengco inspired millions of Filipinos with her trict of Manila. — AFP Howard's lucrative earnings from the hit Fox Asian feature will be handed out at the presti- journey from poverty to sharing the stage with gender (LGBT) students across the Philippines television series "Empire." The three-justice gious Sydney bash in December, as appetite for , and , suffered bullying and discrimination in school panel of the 2nd District Court of Appeal in regional films surges Down Under. It is part of a even singing at Barack Obama's pre-US presiden- due to their sexual orientation and gender identi- Los Angeles ruled unanimously to reinstate plan by the Australian Academy for Film and tial inauguration galas. Her self-titled debut ty. "LGBT students in the Philippines are often tar- the judgment that was tossed out by a lower Television Arts (AACTA) to boost the relationship album in 2010 landed at number eight on the US gets of ridicule and even violence," Ryan court in 2015. That ruling found the "Empire" between the nation's respected film industry and Billboard 200 Albums chart, the same year she Thoreson, LGBT rights program fellow at the US- star was under duress when he agreed to its closest neighbors. starred in the American hit television series: based monitor said in a statement, adding teach- pay Ghent generous spousal support Sitting on the jury alongside Crowe will be "", playing exchange student character ers and schools took part in the mistreatment. because he feared she would leak embar- Chinese director Lu Chuan, prolific Indian actor Sunshine Corazon. The Philippine edition of Esquire magazine apol- rassing information about him. Anupam Kher, Oscar-nominated producer Gary Pempengco also appeared as herself in the ogized on Wednesday for an article on Zyrus's Howard claimed Ghent made the threat Kurtz, and acclaimed South Korean writer, direc- 2009 film ": The announcement that made fun of the singer's in a 2011 phone call. A year later, the couple tor and producer Kim Ki-Duk, among others. "As Squeakquel". In 2013, Pempengco came out as a choice of name. agreed to a divorce settlement that paid her the Asian screen industry continues to grow and , which caused controversy in the "We thought we were being a crass-but-sup- significant spousal support. Wednesday's the traditional borders to content distribution are Philippines, where most Filipinos are Catholic and portive friend in the way we wanted to show our ruling says the passage of time negates breaking down, audiences across the world are homosexuality is tolerated but not totally accept- support while poking a little fun at Jake, but we Howard's claim that he was forced to sign discovering what other regions have to offer," ed. The following year Pempengco opened up on totally drunk-uncled our way through it," the the agreement. The ruling also noted said AACTA chief Damian Trewhella. "There is 's television show, saying: magazine wrote on its website. Zyrus expressed Howard's repeated attempts to reconcile strong audience demand for Asian cinema in "Basically, my soul is male." his appreciation on Twitter. "Apology accepted, with his ex-wife as showing he was not Australia and an increase in co-productions A report released by Human Rights Watch all love to you @EsquirePH," he wrote. "Respect coerced into the agreement. A phone mes- between Western and Asian filmmakers. Thursday said lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans- for everyone." — AFP sage left for Howard's attorney Thomas Dunlap was not immediately returned. The 2012 agreement called for Howard to pay Ghent monthly support of $5,800 and as After over 25 years, Ice Cube's still got something to say much as $4 million a year, depending on his earnings, including potential income from t's been more than 25 years, and Ice Cube's song, "F--- tha Police," but Cube said he's his role as Lucious Lyon on the Fox series still got something to say. The 48-year-old "always really hoped good police would take "Empire," which had not yet premiered. In a Ientertainer has come a long way from his care of bad cops," that while the 1988 song was deposition, Ghent denied extorting the actor start as part of the West Coast rap group N.W.A. a "revenge fantasy" type of thing against police and argued that he didn't prove she had and later a solo artist, branching into movies abuse, the new song is a plea for honorable made threats in 2011 to force him to sign the and now founding a soon-to-be-launched half- cops to step up and speak out. agreement, her lawyers said.—AP court basketball league. But some things "They're our last line of defense against this haven't changed, like his willingness to call out onslaught of abuse," he said. He has seen law enforcement on the way he sees policing changes he thinks are positive, he said, pointing done and to speak his mind on race issues, like to officers in fatal shootings at least getting to he did recently when he took late-night host Bill In this photo rapper and actor Ice Cube pos- the stage of undergoing trials, even if convic- Maher to task for his use of the N-word during a es for a portrait in to promote the tions are still extremely rare. In the days of his show. 25th anniversary re-release of his 1991 solo youth, "police could do no wrong ... now you He brought that attitude to the 25th anniver- album, ‘Death Certificate.’— AP fast forward 25 years later, at least the cops are sary re-release this month of his 1991 solo being put on trial for their actions." album, "Death Certificate," with its newly added- costs," Cube, born O'Shea Jackson, said Tuesday And it's not just the police that Cube is will- on lead single, "Good Cop, Bad Cop." Asked for in an interview with The Associated Press. "Win ing to, well, police. His appearance on "Real his thoughts about where the country is with now, apologize later, that's the model. By having Time With Bill Maher" was noted for his strong policing, especially in the wake of several high- that way of thinking and that philosophy, it's all criticism of Maher, who had jokingly referred to profile shootings of minorities by officers, he about 'Us against Them,' that's the mentality." himself by using the N-word during the previous In this file photo, Terrence Howard was blunt: "Same as we always been." "Good Cop, Bad Cop" calls on good cops to week's episode. —AP arrives at the 68th Primetime Emmy "Police have a philosophy, they have a theo- speak and act against corrupt police officers, a Awards in Los Angeles. — AP ry, they have a way of doing stuff, it's win at all far cry from the attitude in N.W.A's infamous