World

Despite the global village and medical advancements, there remain areas of the world where the inhabitants carry on in the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Jared Diamond, an established American scientist, details the lifestyle and lack of medical knowledge of the Pirahã people. The Pirahã people represent the dangers associated with a society lacking in basic medical knowledge and amenities. Americans remain largely ignorant to less-fortunate people around the world. We are not fully aware of critical crises around the world, due to our fast-paced lives.

A catamaran floated through the air Thursday. A crane lifted the 35,000-pound vessel over the side of Lido Park Drive and placed it into Newport Bay between Lido Isle and the peninsula, launching it for the first time. Courage and Shannon Winter, along with their six children and Courage's brother Loyal, watched their new home float. They'd moved out of a hotel that morning and planned to sleep on board the 58-foot craft Thursday night. In March, the family from Bakersfield will head south to Mexico.

For some reason, I have been reading a number of books set in foreign countries. Three that I will recommend are "Say You're One of Them" by Uwem Akpan (Africa), "Finding Nouf" by Zoe Ferraris (Saudi Arabia) and "Death in a Strange Country" by Donna Leon (Italy). Actually, I have read several of Leon's books, all featuring Commissario Guido Brunetti. I have grown quite fond of this character and look forward to reading more of Leon's series; not just for Brunetti, but for the way the author describes the politics and scenery of Italy.

At the end of his rambunctious one-man show Thursday at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, William Shatner gave what must have been the least-needed apology uttered that night in Costa Mesa: "Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm real. " It wasn't an off-the-cuff apology; Shatner was reciting the Brad Paisley-penned song (or, rather, monologue with music) that closes his 2004 album "Has Been. " Over the last 90 minutes, Shatner had reminded the audience repeatedly that he was less than mythic - with stories about forgetting his lines while performing Shakespeare, earning poor grades in college and more.

Natalia Kaliada has faced rejection from arts facilities, endured police raids, been arrested and lived in exile for more than two years. All of that for one cause: a relentless commitment to free thought and expression. As the founding co-artistic director of Belarus Free Theatre, the sole 25-person acting troupe in a population of nearly 10 million people, Kaliada, along with her husband, Nicolai Khalezin, and director, Vladimir Shcherban, were forced out of their home country, Belarus, in 2010.

Once upon a time, it was weird to drive alone in your car with your lips moving. In the dark days before Bluetooth technology, a jabbering jaw on a bouncing head meant a driver was singing along with the radio. But a moving mouth on a stationary noggin meant the driver was arguing with an invisible leprechaun about whether she should burn down the nearest Arby's. Lucky for me, my most recent bout of behind-the-wheel babbling took place in an age when I just might have passed for sane.

I know you're all disappointed. And here in the newsroom, we're taking it harder than anyone. According to the ancient Mayan calendar, the world was supposed to end Friday. The news always slows down around the holidays, so we at Times Community News South were counting on that story for our weekend coverage. We had the layout all prepared, the bylines assigned and instructions given to our photo desk: Just aim the camera at the sky and you're bound to capture something. Of course, we always do our best to scout out neighborhood stories rather than "localize" national ones.

As I prepare my Sunday morning meditation for our third Sunday of Advent, the day we light the candle of joy upon our wreath, I cannot help but feel inauthentic. Like you, I have been jolted from my Christmas preparations by the shocking news of the mass murder that took place in a Connecticut elementary school Friday morning. How do we sing "Joy to the World," awaiting the birth of baby Jesus, the son of God, while listening to the news commentary that reports a rising death toll of innocent children of God?

Corona del Mar High twin seniors Stephania and Ioanna Haralabidis hope to help the Sea Kings win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 girls' water polo title in February. But over the weekend, the transfers from Greece earned another big title - and a gold medal. The Haralabidis sisters helped Greece's youth national team win the inaugural FINA Youth World Championships in Perth, Australia. Greece beat the United States, 8-3, in the semifinals before topping Hungary, 9-5, in the championship match on Sunday.

Corona del Mar High senior twins Stephania and Ioanna Haralabidis will play for a title Sunday at the inaugural FINA Youth World Water Polo Championships in Perth, Australia. The Haralabidis sisters and Greece topped the United States, 8-3, in a semifinal Friday. Stephania Haralabidis scored a goal for Greece, which will play Hungary in the championship match Sunday at 3:30 p.m. Perth time (12:30 a.m. Pacific Standard Time). The United States, which features Newport Harbor High graduate Maddy McLaren, CdM senior Cassidy Papa and Newport sophomore goalie Carlee Kapana, will play Russia in the bronze-medal match on Saturday at 11:10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time.