Norad Santa Claus Tracker 2009

The NORAD Tracks Santa web site is the newest version of a public relations program by NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, involving the countries of Canada and the United States. Every year for over fifty years on Christmas Eve, NORAD has put out stories of how their powerful tracking systems, such as the Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line), had detected Santa Claus leaving the North Pole to deliver his presents to children in North America, and in more recent years, around the world.

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Kara DioGuardi american idol judge

FOX announced the addition of a fourth American Idol judge — songwriter Kara Dioguardi — on Monday. Who is the woman who will be joining Simon, Randy, and Paula?

Kara DioGuardi's Wikipedia page describes her as "an American songwriter, record producer, and singer who has contributed to a long list of internationally successful popular songs" — she grew up in Westchester, New York, attended Duke University, and worked in marketing and publishing at Billboard Magazine.

Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi (born December 9, 1970) is an American songwriter, record producer, and singer who has contributed to a long list of internationally successful popular songs. She writes music of the light pop-rock genre. She will be a judge on the eighth season of American Idol. Kara DioGuardi's songs have been recorded by artists including Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Pink, Hilary Duff, Carrie Underwood, Avril Lavigne, Hannah Montana, The Jonas Brothers, Faith Hill, Santana, Ashlee Simpson, Jewel, Christina Aguilera, Kylie Minogue, and many others. DioGuardi has also had much success with major Latin music artists including RBD, Laura Pausini, Enrique Iglesias, Marc Anthony, Thalía, Ricky Martin, and Carlos Santana. DioGuardi can also be heard performing backup vocals on some of these recordings.

Closing Ceremony Details

Program Sequence of Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony (see photos here)

* Fireworks prelude, including a firework countdown above the National Stadium itself, at 8:00PM CST.
* Introduction of IOC members and Hu Jintao.
* Raising of the Chinese national flag, to the Chinese national anthem, March of the Volunteers.
* Mass games performance by a troupe of drummers.
* Orange sparkling fireworks.
* Performers in translucent costumes, with some riding on circular objects.
* Flag bearers enter the stadium.
* Athletes enter the stadium.
* Athletes gather in the stadium, with drumming throughout the precession.
* Presentation of the final men's marathon medals; including the national anthem of Kenya: Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu, for the gold medallist.
* Presentation of twelve athlete volunteers and twelve child volunteers and closing of the Olympic pool.
* Raising of the Greek national flag, to the Greek national anthem, Hymn to Liberty.
* Welcoming of the President of the BOCOG, Liu Qi, and the IOC President, Jacques Rogge.
* Speech by Liu Qi in Mandarin Chinese, concluding in French with "merci beaucoup".
* Speech by the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, in English, French and concluding in Mandarin, declaring the Beijing Games "truly exceptional". He closes the Games.
* Raising of the Union Flag, to the national anthem of the United Kingdom, "God Save the Queen".
* Lowering of the Olympic Flag and singing of the Olympic Anthem.
* Handing of the Seoul Olympic Flag by Mayor of Beijing Guo Jinlong to the Mayor of London Boris Johnson.
* Fireworks representing the Olympic rings.
* Eight minutes of presentation of the 2012 London Olympics.
o A British Modern Cultural Performance, involving a double-decker bus, bicycles and commuters.
o Leona Lewis and Jimmy Page perform "Whole Lotta Love".
o Appearance by David Beckham, who kicked a ceremonial football into the rows of volunteers.
* Procession of performers on an airport terminal staircase, with events during the 2008 Olympics on-screen.
* Extinguishing of the Olympic Flame, following a recitation of the 16 days of Olympic competition and of the Ancient Greek competition.
* Performers on a tall pillar (called the memory tower), waving arms and symbolising the Olympic flame, eternally unextinguished. Performers group to form Chrysanthemums, with hurdle runners on top of the pillar. Performers then reclimb the pillar, which is then covered in red sheets. Roses are formed along with athletes below (with pillar as a stigma), the athlete crowds as petals. Red sheets are levitated upward and reveal the performers arranged in the form of Dancing Beijing, the 2008 Olympic logo.
* Fireworks.
* Song "Beijing Beijing, I Love Beijing" (Běijīng Běijīng, Wǒ Ài Běijīng) by Hong Kong singer Kelly Chen, Chinese-American singer Wang Lee Hom and Korean singer Rain. Erhu instrumental; acrobats leap from the tower by wire.
* Soprano group singing of Chinese folk song "The Moon is Bright Tonight".
* Opera tenor Plácido Domingo and Chinese singer Song Zuying sing "Ài de Huǒyàn (The Flame of Love)" (composed by Bian Liunian and Klaus Badelt).[3][4]
* Song "Tomorrow's World".
* Song "Hard to say Goodbye" led by Chinese stars such as Wei Wei, Jackie Chan, Andy Lau, Karen Mok, Joey Yung, Emil Chau and many other singers along with many others representing the 56 ethnic groups of modern China
* Song "Surpass It".
* Fireworks, Pyrotechnics & Ethnic Dancing.
* Farewells.
* Conclusion of Closing Ceremony at 9:55PM CST.

2008 Beijing Olympics Medal Tally/Medal Standings

The following are the latest results in the ongoing 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The medal count/medal tally below represents the updated results of the competition in Beijing.

Please check this Beijing Summer Olympics Medal Count/Medal Tally regularly.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

J.K. Rowling's sixth novel about the boy wizard appears on screen in this film from David Yates, the director of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are back as the beloved Hogwarts students, and Oscar winner Jim Broadbent joins the cast as... Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince is J.K. Rowling's sixth novel about the boy wizard appears on screen in this film from David Yates, the director of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson are back as the beloved Hogwarts students, and Oscar winner Jim Broadbent joins the cast as Horace Slughorn.

It is the much-anticipated latest installment of the very popular (and profitable) Harry Potter series. The trailer has just been released and this heightens fans' anticipation even more.