| Simple fun with simple toys
Guitar Hero blasts a Lynyrd Skynyrd riff on the Xbox. Infant gyms in psychedelic plastic flash and beep and play "Yankee Doodle." Diego has a talking rescue centre. Santa's elves must be getting more than their share of headaches at the workshop these days, judging from the sensory overload induced by this season's hot toys. But amid the din of Bratz handbag-boomboxes, crashing Transformers and the chirping of the High School Musical crowd, there's a peaceful oasis forming in toyland. A small but growing group of toymakers and parents is harkening back to a time when toys were more about the wonder of kids than the wonders of technology. At The Toy Space in Toronto, owner Randal Lee stocks toys made with all-natural and sustainable materials like reclaimable rubberwood, organic textiles and vegetable dye.
Big fish from a small port has Scots in sight
ESKIFJÖRDUR, population 972, is one of Iceland's major fishing towns inclusive of export harbour with direct sailing to Europe. It also markets a fine line in international footballers with ambitions of leading their country to the 2010 World Cup. One is Brondby's Stefan Gislason, another Eggert Jonsson of Hearts. The latter took his international bow aged 19 in Copenhagen's Parken Stadium last week, whilst back home the gathered residents in Eskifjördur's local tavern felt their Omega 3-filled hearts swell with pride. Two local boys in the same Iceland team was indeed cause to pour a Brennivin or two. .
Dolls gone wild: Unhappy moms want wholesome alternatives
Moms are hunting through toy aisles for more wholesome-looking dolls, concerned that the scantily clad Bratz dolls with their Party Palaces and Magic Make-up Studios are sending their daughters the wrong message about how they should dress and act. With their heavily made-up faces, short shorts and halter tops, Bratz are the No. 2 best-selling dolls in the country, just behind Barbie, but creeping up on her with their own lines of clothing, school supplies, video games and, most recently, a live-action movie playing in theaters. And some Moms are not happy about it. "I don't want my daughter viewing herself that way," says Gloria Baca of Tempe, Ariz., who has steered her daughter, now 10, away from Barbie and Bratz in favor of an American Girl doll by Mattel named Josefina.
'Brown Bag' back at park
Rock 'n Roll Hall of Famer Gregg Allman will headline the 22nd season of Fanfare, Southeastern Louisiana Univer-sity's annual celebration of the arts, humanities and social sciences.Allman, who is both a founding member of the still-active and thriving Allman Brothers Band and a critically acclaimed solo talent, will perform at the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. His concert will be one of the many films, recitals, plays, musicals, dance concerts, lectures and community events offered during the arts festival, which in turn is the opening act for the yearlong entertainment season of the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts.It has been a long-standing tradition to open Fanfare with music and socializing at Cate Square, the small park in the heart of Hammond and a few blocks south of campus.Last year, however, Fanfare's usual "brown bag" lunchtime concert was on hiatus as the city redesigned the historic park, and Fanfare launched the new entertainment season by dedicating the performance hall of the Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts to the late Sen.
Zimbabwe: Zim Select Beat SA Composite XI
ZIMBABWE Select turned on a spirited show at the weekend when they beat South Africa Composite XI by 10 wickets at Sedgars Park in Potchefstroom. The match was in the first of the three four-day cricket matches in the Supersport Challenge against the SA Composite XI that was chosen by that country's National Selection Panel. .
Christmas Wish deadline is today
Today is the last day to submit a Christmas Wish application. The deadline to turn in an application is 5 p.m. at The Baxter Bulletin office, 16 W. Sixth St. If Wish applications are mailed, they must be postmarked today. The Wish Distribution Center is due to open Tuesday. Volunteers have been busily working to set up the center and get organized to begin filling wishes to provide a merrier Christmas for families in the Twin Lakes Area. Those wanting to volunteer should call Wish Director Cathy Neider at 404-4177. .
|
