LOS ANGELES ― Daniel Catan, an opera composer and librettist whose works including “Il Postino” and “Florencia en el Amazonas” have been praised for their lyrical romanticism and humane generosity of spirit, died suddenly Saturday in Austin, Texas. He was 62.Catan’s death was announced by the Butler School of Music of the University of Texas, where he was a visiting artist. The cause has not been

Performance April 12, 2011

ANCHORAGE, Alaska ― Who knew those blue-black clusters of crowberries mingled into blueberry patches across the Chugach range could be the key ingredient in an expensive, antioxidant-packed, wrinkle-fighting serum?That’s right. Look out, Oil of Olay. Forget Vitamin C and green tea. Make room for beauty products made with the essences of crowberries, fireweed and Arctic sage. Arctic plants are tren

Arts & Design April 11, 2011

SAN JOSE, California ― Fawn Lee had big dreams for her family. She would enroll her three young children in the best schools, drive them to soccer, piano, swimming and dancing.Since moving from Vietnam with her parents and 11 siblings when she was 4, Lee had worked hard to create her opportunities. Cum laude graduate from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, California. A job she loved at Seagate. A husb

People April 11, 2011

Despite lackluster imperial porcelain sales, Hong Kong auction sets new recordHONG KONG (AFP) ―Sotheby’s said Saturday it sold a record HK$3.49 billion ($447 million) worth of Asian and Chinese art, fine wines, watches and jewels at its eight-day Hong Kong auction.The auction house offered 3,600 lots in eight categories in what its Asia CEO Kevin Ching described as the “most successful Hong Kong s

Performance April 10, 2011

Biker club cares for safety, fellowship while enjoying majestic countrysideDriving a motorcycle in Seoul is an enthralling real-life trip into the depths of one’s resolution, courage, patience, motor skills and coordination. In a country with one of the highest traffic death rates in the world, the challenge becomes a daunting case of one near miss after the other.Putting all that aside, very few

Arts & Design April 8, 2011

What is the line between being a ghoul and a do-gooder when it comes to visiting a recent disaster area? It’s a question to be asked again when the crisis in Japan finally abates.But what is an appropriate waiting period to visit a country hit by a magnitude 9 earthquake and 20-foot-high tsunami that killed thousands of people in northeastern Japan and created a nuclear radiation crisis?In natural

Travel April 8, 2011

Despite the lingering chill, things are looking fresh and green at area farmers markets.Little by little, baby greens, hearty spinach and kale ― locally grown in hoop houses or greenhouses ― are showing up.You can buy just about any produce year-round, but something changes when spring finally arrives. Cooks crave these delicate green harbingers because they require so little fuss. They’re simple

Food April 6, 2011

KATMANDU (AP) ― A team of mountaineers led by a veteran Sherpa guide flew Wednesday to Mount Everest on an expedition to clear away tons of trash left on the world’s highest peak.Since Everest was first conquered in 1953, thousands of people have climbed it, leaving behind the empty oxygen bottles, ropes, tents and other garbage that made their journey possible.Nepal’s government has since imposed

Travel April 6, 2011

ROME (AP) ― Italian researchers said Tuesday they will dig up bones in a Florence convent to try to identify the remains of a Renaissance woman long believed to be the model for the “Mona Lisa.”If successful, the research might help ascertain the identity of the woman depicted in Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece ― a mystery that has puzzled scholars and art lovers for centuries and generated countl

Performance April 6, 2011

WALNUT CREEK, California ― After the birth of her daughter five years ago, Cynthia Li, of Berkeley, California, was diagnosed with a severe thyroid condition and was unable to breast feed.Knowing the benefits of human milk, Li didn’t want to use formula and lamented her situation to a friend. The friend offered to send out a mass email on Li’s behalf asking like-minded moms to donate their extra b

Technology April 4, 2011

Beneath glinting disco balls and festive decor, illuminated by multicolored strobe lights, the group ― all beaming, glistening with sweat ― are caught up in hip-shaking, body-swirling dance moves. But this isn’t a nightclub. This is Zumba ― a Latin-inspired fitness program that has gripped dance and exercise lovers in more than 110 countries and has now landed in Itaewon, Seoul. “Zumba has changed

Technology April 4, 2011