I hear it is snowing in the midwest, but California remains sunny and warm.  The bird of paradise in my backyard has just begun to flower, and the limes are ripe.

Based on the novel of the same title, the ballet depicts the liberation of a peasant girl in Hainan Island, and later, her rise in the Chinese Communist Party. The ballet version blends western dancing art with traditional Chinese dancing, shedding new light on distinctive Chinese ballet.

The patriotic ballet has been warmly welcomed at home and abroad since its premiere in 1964. It was also performed for former US President Richard Nixon during his visit to China in 1972.

In 1992, the Central Ballet revised the production, receiving warm approval from audiences and praise from experts. Up until now, five generations of artists in the group have performed in the work.

The invitation from the Paris Opera House made the visit possible. The performance will now run through Saturday. To help express their appreciation to the hosts, the Central Ballet will also present the representative ballet of the French school, “Sylvia”.

Brigitte Lefevre, dance director of Paris Opera, said, “The Central Ballet of China is famous in France. I appreciate very much that the group is innovative in choreography, professional in performing and

has a wide repertoire. I’m happy we can invite such an excellent ballet to Paris. It is a great opportunity for us to exchange ideas, and the visit will definitely strengthen our bilateral friendship.”

Established in 1875, the Paris Opera House has been honored as “one of the most beautiful buildings in the world”. It features a wide-selection of ballet performances and a grand orchestra as well as over one-thousand artists.

Over 600 operas have been staged in the famous opera venue which keeps it at the zenith of French opera.

The job pays 150,000 Australian dollars (105,000 US dollars) and includes free airfares from the winner’s home country to Hamilton Island on the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland’s state government announced on Tuesday.

In return, the “island caretaker” will be expected to stroll the white sands, snorkel the reef, take care of “a few minor tasks” — and report to a global audience via weekly blogs, photo diaries and video updates.

The successful applicant, who will stay rent-free in a three-bedroom beach home complete with plunge pool and golf buggy, must be a good swimmer, excellent communicator and be able to speak and write English.

“They’ll also have to talk to media from time to time about what they’re doing so they can’t be too shy and they’ll have to love the sea, the sun, the outdoors,” said acting state Premier Paul Lucas.

“The fact that they will be paid to explore the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, swim, snorkel and generally live the Queensland lifestyle makes this undoubtedly the best job in the world.”

Lucas said the campaign was part of a drive to protect the state’s 18 billion Australian dollar a year tourism industry during the tough economic climate caused by the global financial meltdown.

“Traditional tourism advertising just doesn’t cut it sometimes and we are thinking outside the box by launching this campaign.”

Queensland Tourism Minister Desley Boyle said some people might question whether it was risky to let an unknown person become an unofficial tourism spokesperson for the state.

“I think the biggest risk will be that the successful candidate won’t want to go home at the end of the six months,” she said.

“This is a legitimate job which is open to anyone and everyone.”

Applications are open until February 22. Eleven shortlisted candidates will be flown to Hamilton Island in early May for the final selection process and the six month contract will commence on July 1.

Job-seekers can apply on .

Islandreefjob.com

ROME (Reuters) – Down-and-outs and hard up pensioners in Milan will enjoy a rare Christmas treat this year: choice beluga caviar confiscated from traffickers.

Italian police seized over 40 kg (88 lb) of the delicacy, worth some 400,000 euros ($558,300), from two men who last month smuggled it into the country from Poland for sale in the shops of Milan and the rest of the wealthy Lombardy region.

The head of the local forest police who carried out the raid kept the bounty in barrack fridges for several weeks, but realized it would soon go bad.

“Tests showed us the food was still perfectly OK to eat but it couldn’t be stored much longer, so we decided to give it to the poor,” Juri Mantegazza told Milan daily Corriere della Sera.

A small amount of the sturgeons’ eggs have been kept for further analysis while the rest has been sent to voluntary associations, charity kitchens and old people’s homes.

“Everything that comes our way is very welcome, even though most of our guests don’t even know what those little black balls are,” said Virginio Colmega, a priest who helps run the House of Charity in Milan.