| Taking Canberra's Pulse; Youth-Day Beanies
SYDNEY, Australia, NOV. 22, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Among my many and frequent travels across this Australian land of late, I have been overwhelmed by the fervor of each of the 28 dioceses in the anticipation of World Youth Day. I look forward to giving you all a taste of what's to come via this column by highlighting the activities being coordinated by each diocesan group over the coming months. * * * The Capital In his speech to the hundreds of young participants gathered in the hall of Canberra's Marist College, Archbishop Mark Colerige of Canberra-Goulburn told the group that, combined they all looked like "one big refresh button on a computer." Archbishop Colerige was addressing his flock at the first annual diocesan youth summit -- "The Pulse" -- held Nov.
Diva with a capital 'D'
The buzz was under way long before the curtain rose on Chicago Opera Theater's staging of Monteverdi's "The Coronation of Poppea" in February 2004. It was the company's first production in the recently opened Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park, a performance space that promised to be ideal for COT. Toss in a new production of a rare Monteverdi opera, and COT audiences were dreaming of nirvana. Nirvana came with a bonus, a soprano then in her early 20s named Danielle de Niese, as Poppea. Born in Australia to parents of Dutch and Sri Lankan heritage, raised in Los Angeles and possessing a resume that already included roles at the Metropolitan Opera and in Paris, she exploded like a bombshell in every sense of the word. With a bright, elegantly flexible voice and the dark-eyed beauty and lithe, sexy figure of a pop star, she was the kind of singing actress who opera directors and audiences adore.
Get ready for the last days of 2007
Thanksgiving is finished, and only 38 days are left in 2007. Thanksgivings of past bring memories of family, wonderful friends, fantastic food, very special rolls, Ohio State-Michigan games, shopping and so many memories to reflect on. For myself and family, we have a birthday to celebrate because memories of Thanksgiving cause me to remember when my son was born on this day, Thanksgiving of 1978. So whatever you planned to have a happy Thanksgiving, I hope it was good and you enjoyed it. .
Toy wishes
An avalanche of toys that encourage activity and imagination are here for the holidays. For the rock star in the house, the latest musical-instrument video games and karaoke software should fill the bill. For the budding builder, some new kits from Lego and a fast-paced, magnet-powered roller-coaster set might do the trick. Among the other offerings: a soft puppy that grows (and speaks), remote-controlled helicopters that duel indoors and a Barbie "doll" that doubles as an MP3 player and interacts in her own virtual world online. These ideas, of course, make up just a tiny fraction of the possibilities. Today, in launching our annual holiday gift guide, we've consulted magazines, retailers and toy experts. Most of the items suggested are sold at toy, retail and discount stores; and through online outlets.
Insurance.com Launches Reality Rejects Online Comedy Series
Insurance.com, the largest online auto insurance agency in the United States, has launched Reality Rejects, an online comedy series based loosely on reality TV. The series is hosted on a dedicated YouTube channel, as well as on Insurance.com's MayTheBestWin blog. .
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