Russell Peters, the comedian enjoying the last laugh

Russell Peters, the comedian enjoying the last laugh
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Updated 01 March 2024
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Russell Peters, the comedian enjoying the last laugh

Russell Peters, the comedian enjoying the last laugh
  • Canadian performer advises people to follow their dreams despite setbacks
  • Stand-up veteran recalls earning $50 for gigs, being booed off stage and learning on the job

RIYADH: Award-winning Canadian comedian Russell Peters has revealed the secret behind his successful career.

“Identify your dream and actively chase it,” Peters said during a recent interview on Arab News’ podcast, The Mayman Show. “It’s far more rewarding to have pursued your dream, even if you fail, than to passively wonder about it.”

Peters found his own path in 1989 when he began performing stand-up comedy at amateur shows. Despite not being allotted more than five minutes with the mic, he was determined to pursue his passion.

“If I got one laugh, I think that’s all I needed: Let’s figure this out, let’s try to figure out how to get more of those people,” he said on learning from his first performances.

Discussing his early career, he talked about being booed off stage in Toronto in 1993 while opening for The Pharcyde, a hip-hop group from the US. With hindsight, he laughs at his own arrogance then, viewing the experience as a well-deserved lesson.

Peters recounted how he would drive hours to perform, earning $50 plus complimentary chicken wings, a tank of gas, and a soda. During those days, he thought: “If I stayed, I’d be in the exact same financial position I would have been had I gone. So I wasn’t losing anything and I’d stay there and I’d be talking to people for free,” he said. “I just remember all the hard gigs, those were the fun ones.”

Fast-forward to 2024, and Peters has been hailed as one of the greatest comedians of all time by Rolling Stone, and has held the record for being the longest-standing comedian since 2007. He was also the first comedian to sell out Toronto’s Air Canada Center in 2007, and has performed in Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, London’s O2 Arena, and more. As part of his “Act Your Age” tour, which he has been doing since 2021, Peters recently took to the stage in Riyadh, performing at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University on Feb. 24.

This is his third visit to the Kingdom, and Peters admires the generosity of the Saudi people: “I remember at the hotel, they said, how did you sleep? And I said, it was honestly like the best, the most comfortable bed I’d ever felt in my life, and when I came back to my hotel room, they had packed up all the stuff that I complimented and shipped it to me in America.”

Peters also cherishes the memory of his performance at the Maraya building in AlUla in 2016, renowned as the world’s largest mirrored concert venue. “The acoustics are great in there because it’s built for that. And they put the sound dampeners in there. The same can’t be said for when I just performed in Egypt,” he said.

During his one-night performance in the country, American comedian Adam Hunter opened his show. Hunter is known for his popular Instagram channel, MMA Roasted, in which he humorously critiques fighters, and has been traveling with Peters for some time.

His latest show in the current tour is scheduled for March 3 in Bangalore, India, a place he regards as his true home. Beyond the stage, Peters also feels at home in the DJ booth. He said that his DJ career was purely for enjoyment, focusing mostly on old-school music. Peters said that his go-to song is “Black Trump” by Smif-N-Wessun and Raekwon.

Peters is currently practicing jujitsu, a form of martial art. His enduring passion for combat disciplines began at the age of 16 with boxing, because of bullying at school. Boxing became more than just a sport; it was a coping mechanism, especially after he was kicked out of school.

Later on, as his career developed in comedy, it also became a way of dealing with challenges.

“I would do it all the time growing up,” Peters said, “to try and get out of situations, dealt with a lot of racism growing up. So you just kind of figure out a way of getting out of situations by being funny.”


Boston Dynamics founder not concerned about robot takeover, warns against overregulation

Boston Dynamics founder not concerned about robot takeover, warns against overregulation
Updated 5 sec ago
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Boston Dynamics founder not concerned about robot takeover, warns against overregulation

Boston Dynamics founder not concerned about robot takeover, warns against overregulation
  • Robots eliminating people is not ‘serious concern’
  • Excessive restrictions could slow progress, says Raibert

RIYADH: The idea that robots could take over the world is not a “serious concern,” said the founder of advanced robotics company Boston Dynamics, as he warned against excessive regulation at a Riyadh technology conference on Sunday.

“There’s some fear that robots are going to somehow get out of hand and take over the world and eliminate people. I don’t really think that’s a serious concern,” Marc Raibert said during the fourth edition of the LEAP summit.

While regulation is necessary, Raibert believes that excessive restrictions could slow progress.

He expressed his concern about “overregulation stopping us from having the benefits of AI and robotics that could develop because robots can solve problems that we face in addition to causing problems.”

He added that while regulating mature applications makes sense, limiting the technology too early could hinder its potential.

His comments were made during a fireside chat titled “The Future of Robotics and AI,” in which he highlighted the role of artificial intelligence-powered robots in elderly care and assistance for people with disabilities.

“We have a couple of teams working on physical designs, but more importantly on the intelligence and perception needed to be able to do those kinds of tasks,” Raibert said.

Beyond industrial use, robotics is expected to play an important role in healthcare, supporting patient care, people with disabilities, and elderly assistance, according to Raibert, who founded the leading robotics company in 1992.

“I think cognitive intelligence, AI, is going to help us make it a lot easier to communicate with the robot, but also for the robot to understand the world, so that they can do things more easily without having everything programmed in detail,” he added.

Raibert also introduced a project at his AI Institute called “Watch, Understand, Do,” which aims to improve robots’ ability to learn tasks by observing human workers.

The initiative focuses on on-the-job training, where a robot can watch a worker perform a task — such as assembling a component in a factory — and gradually replicate it. While this process is intuitive for humans, it remains a technical challenge for robots, requiring advancements in machine perception and task sequencing.

He pointed out that while humanoid robots are gaining attention, true human-like capabilities go beyond having two arms and two legs. He emphasized that intelligence, problem-solving skills, and the ability to interact effectively with the environment will define the next generation of AI-driven robotics.

Raibert discussed the differences between robotics adoption in workplaces and homes, explaining that industrial environments offer a structured setting where robots can operate more efficiently. He noted that robots are likely to become more common in workplaces before being integrated into homes.

However, integrating robots into homes presents additional challenges, including safety, cost, and adaptability to unstructured environments. He said while home robots will eventually become more common, their widespread adoption will likely follow the expansion of industrial and commercial robotics.

As part of LEAP, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority is gathering global AI leaders at its DeepFest platform during the fourth edition of the summit.

With more than 150 speakers, 120 exhibitors, and an expected attendance of over 50,000 people from around the world, DeepFest showcases a range of cutting-edge AI technology.

The event explores emerging technologies, fosters collaboration, exchanges expertise, and builds partnerships, contributing to innovation and strengthening cooperation among experts across diverse industries.
 


Saudi Royal Guards show skills in sports, combat

High-ranking officials, senior Royal Guard officers and members attended the event. (SPA)
High-ranking officials, senior Royal Guard officers and members attended the event. (SPA)
Updated 17 min 44 sec ago
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Saudi Royal Guards show skills in sports, combat

High-ranking officials, senior Royal Guard officers and members attended the event. (SPA)
  • This event comes in the framework of the Royal Guard Presidency’s commitment to developing the combat and athletic skills of its members, enhancing their constant readiness to execute assigned duties with efficiency and professionalism

RIYADH: Under the sponsorship of the chief of the Royal Guard, Lt. Gen. Suhail bin Saqr Al-Mutairi, the Royal Guard Presidency celebrated the graduation of security and protection course participants and the conclusion of the second sports league, the fourth shooting championship and the third infantry competition, the SPA reported on Saturday.

High-ranking officials, senior Royal Guard officers and members attended the event, which featured sports performances and competitions in various disciplines, and demonstrations of shooting and marching, showcasing the participants’ high level of readiness and proficiency.

At the end of the event, Al-Mutairi honored the winning teams in the sports league and shooting championship, as well as the top achievers in the infantry competition.

He also honored the graduates of the security and protection courses who successfully completed their training programs, becoming a valuable addition to the Royal Guard Forces.

He stressed the importance of such events in fostering a spirit of competition, discipline and professionalism among members of the Royal Guard and commended the participants’ level of performance in various competitions and training exercises.

This event comes in the framework of the Royal Guard Presidency’s commitment to developing the combat and athletic skills of its members, enhancing their constant readiness to execute assigned duties with efficiency and professionalism.

 


Klija festival sheds lights on honey

The festival’s pavilion featured 10 sections with displays of beekeeping, honey, and olive oil products. (SPA)
The festival’s pavilion featured 10 sections with displays of beekeeping, honey, and olive oil products. (SPA)
Updated 21 min 9 sec ago
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Klija festival sheds lights on honey

The festival’s pavilion featured 10 sections with displays of beekeeping, honey, and olive oil products. (SPA)
  • The 16th edition of the Klija Festival in Buraydah has garnered substantial attention with strong support from the region’s emir

RIYADH: Buraydah hosted the 16th Klija Festival from Jan.31 to Feb.9 at King Khalid Cultural Center, which attracted a large number of visitors.

The festival’s pavilion featured 10 sections with displays of beekeeping, honey, and olive oil products, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Visitors were able to explore a wide range of honey types and select their favorites from the diverse range of offerings.

Beekeeper Walid Al-Faifi said that at a young age he inherited the art of beekeeping from his father.

With more than 30 years’ experience, he presented several honey varieties at the festival, including sidr, samar, majra, and talh.

Beekeeper Abdulsalam Al-Muqbel, who has eight years’ experience, discussed the secrets of the profession that allow him to produce various honey types, such as wild sidr, fennel, arugula, citrus, shaflah (caper), talh, samar, and alfalfa honey, as well as pollen, local propolis, and royal jelly.

Beekeeper Mohammed Al-Muhaimid said that he was participating to be able to introduce visitors to the importance of honey, particularly its health benefits.

He highlighted its use as a natural ingredient in many dishes, including klija, and as a healthier alternative to sugar in tea.

Al-Muhaimid said that honey production demands significant time, effort and careful attention to the right conditions to ensure the best quality.

The 16th edition of the Klija Festival in Buraydah has garnered substantial attention with strong support from the region’s emir.

It promotes financial sustainability as an excellent platform for productive families and owners of small and startup businesses, offering them the opportunity to display their products and engage directly with customers.

 


Head of Muslim World League reviews medical program in Guinea-Bissau

Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa delivers a lecture in Bissau. (SPA)
Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa delivers a lecture in Bissau. (SPA)
Updated 21 min 16 sec ago
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Head of Muslim World League reviews medical program in Guinea-Bissau

Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa delivers a lecture in Bissau. (SPA)
  • Al-Issa inaugurated a Qur’an competition and was awarded the country’s highest medal of honor for his efforts in religious diplomacy

RIYADH: The head of the Muslim World League delivered a lecture and reviewed the league’s medical program during a visit to West African country of Guinea-Bissau.

The league secretary-general, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, reviewed the medical program, which performs operations and distributes supplies in collaboration with the National Hospital in Bissau, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The meeting was part of an official visit at the invitation of Guinea-Bissau’s prime minister, Rui Duarte de Barros.

Al-Issa earlier inaugurated a Qur’an competition and was awarded the country’s highest medal of honor for his efforts in religious diplomacy.

 


GCC secretary general receives chairman of Sumitomo Corporation in Riyadh

Jasem Albudaiwi (R) and Masayuki Hyodo in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Jasem Albudaiwi (R) and Masayuki Hyodo in Riyadh. (Supplied)
Updated 21 min 33 sec ago
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GCC secretary general receives chairman of Sumitomo Corporation in Riyadh

Jasem Albudaiwi (R) and Masayuki Hyodo in Riyadh. (Supplied)
  • Albudaiwi stressed that Japan is a strategic partner for the region and underscored the mutual commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Albudaiwi received Masayuki Hyodo, chairman of the board of Sumitomo Corporation, and his accompanying delegation from the Japan Business Federation, in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, Albudaiwi said that the visit reflects the profound historical and economic ties between GCC countries and Japan, the General Secretariat said in a report.

He also stressed that Japan is a strategic partner for the region and underscored the mutual commitment to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields.