Lead-up to day of infamy

“Countdown to Pearl Harbor: The Twelve Days to the Attack” By Steve TwomeySimon & Schuster (416 pages, $30) As Hollywood regularly reminds us, the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, was an act of duplicity so monstrous that President Franklin D. Roosevelt called it a “day which will live in infamy.”Japanese warplanes appeared without warning early that Sunday, sinking or disabling 16 US battleships, cruisers and other warships. The sneak attack killed more than 2,400 Amer

BooksNov. 30, 2016

‘The Lion in the Living Room’ explores why we love cats

“The Lion in the Living Room: How House Cats Tamed Us and Took Over the World”By Abigail TuckerSimon & Schuster (237 pages, $26)I read much of Abigail Tucker's “The Lion in the Living Room,” appropriately, with a cat on my lap. And though I sat quietly, she did not: sometimes perching on the arm of my chair, staring vaguely but fixedly into space while her tail blocked the pages; sometimes jumping out of my lap and noisily racing around the room for no apparent reason; sometimes launching into a

BooksNov. 30, 2016

Coll Thrush’s ‘Indigenous London’ spins history’s lens

“Indigenous London: Native Travelers at the Heart of Empire” By Coll ThrushYale University Press (328 pages, $38)Vancouver-based scholar and author Coll Thrush cleverly spins history's lens with “Indigenous London: Native Travelers at the Heart of Empire.”Thrush, author of the 2008 volume “Native Seattle,” is clear about his aim for both books.By showing us how Inuit, Ojibwe, Maori, Salish and other peoples interacted with and viewed the seat of the former British Empire, Thrush hopes to “indige

BooksNov. 30, 2016

Megyn Kelly's memoir revisits controversies with Roger Ailes and Donald Trump

“Settle for More” By Megyn KellyHarper (352 pages, $18) This was supposed to be the Year of the Woman. Instead, 2016 has shaped up to be the Year of Powerful Men and the Women They Demeaned, Harassed or Worse. The charges against Bill Cosby, the fall of Fox’s Roger Ailes and the rise of President-elect Donald Trump all contributed to that distinction.It's no surprise, then, that Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly’s new book, “Settle for More,” gives a behind-the-scenes look at her dealings with two of

BooksNov. 30, 2016

Pirelli launches covered-up 2017 calendar with top actresses

PARIS (AP) -- Pirelli on Tuesday unveiled the 2017 edition of its famed calendar, which sees photographer Peter Lindbergh mature beyond snaps of seminude models and set his lens on Hollywood.The calendar, entitled “Emotional” and launched in Paris, stars 14 Oscar-winning actresses featured in black-and-white close-ups, in clothed poses with invisible makeup. The photos, while beautiful, show wrinkles, lines and imperfections. It’s a dramatic move away from decades of risque shots that made the c

CultureNov. 30, 2016

Van Gogh Museum rules out debate over ‘lost’ notebook

THE HAGUE (AFP) – Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum ruled out Tuesday a public debate over the authenticity of a book of sketches that an art historian has said belonged to the Dutch impressionist.Bogomila Welsh-Ovcharov, a University of Toronto academic, has declared the apparent find to be “the most revolutionary discovery” in the history of Van Gogh’s work. But the Dutch museum says the sketches, said to be from the artist’s stay in the French city of Arles, are fake.Welsh-Ovcharov’s French publish

CultureNov. 30, 2016

Pope to host Scorsese as new film unveiled to priests

VATICAN CITY (AFP) -- “Goodfellas” director Martin Scorsese is to be granted a private audience with Pope Francis on Wednesday after unveiling his latest film to an audience of 400 Jesuits, the Vatican said.“Silence,” an adaptation of Shusaku Endo’s 1966 novel of the same name, tells the story of two Jesuit missionaries (played by Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who visit 17th century Japan in the footsteps of their mentor (Liam Neeson).Francis was not due to attend the screening of the film in

FilmNov. 30, 2016

As kids, they starred with the Rockettes. Now they're back

NEW YORK (AP) -- Megan Levinson had one wish when she turned 12. She was already starring onstage as Clara in the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” but she wanted more. “I blew out my candles and I said, ‘I hope I grow tall enough to be a Rockette,’” she recalled. Wish granted.Levinson, of North Caldwell, New Jersey, is one of two former Claras who have graduated to the ranks of the 80 women whose high kicks electrify this year’s holiday show in New York. A family tradition for many, the show a

PerformanceNov. 30, 2016

'Missing,' a dark film by women about women

“Missing” is a rare film in several ways: Made by women about women, it ultimately unites the two main characters in a deep, scarred female kinship, blurring the line between protagonist and villain. Directed by Lee Eon-hee and starring two women -- Gong Hyo-jin and Uhm Ji-won -- as leads, the film tells the story of a struggling divorcee who discovers her infant daughter and Chinese nanny have gone missing.But it is not a traditional story about a mother who pines for her lost child, according

FilmNov. 29, 2016

Eric Nam to join hands with Timbaland

Singer-songwriter Eric Nam is gearing up for a collaboration with renowned US producer Timbaland. Timbaland -- which has worked with global pop icons, including Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Drake and Rihanna -- aims to show a more masculine and mature side of Nam with the upcoming single “Body,” according to entertainment agency CJ E&M.The two artists will perform their fresh track on stage at this year’s Mnet Asian Music Awards, one of Asia’s largest K-pop venues, which will take place a

PerformanceNov. 29, 2016

MC Mong set to end 2016 on a high

Returning with his seventh album this month, MC Mong is looking to end the year with a bang.The hip-hop artist, who recently released his 13-track album “U.F.O,” unveiled the guest lineup for upcoming concerts, titled “U.F.O,” taking place this weekend at the Blue Square Samsung Card Hall in Hannam-dong, Seoul.The concerts will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. K.Will and Leebadab, will join the performance on Saturday, while Mamamoo and Lyn will appear the following day.  Hip-hop duo Mi

PerformanceNov. 29, 2016

Rocky: 40 years later, he's still a lovable underdog

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- On Nov. 21, 1976, audiences met Rocky Balboa, the southpaw boxer from south Philadelphia. Four decades later, Sylvester Stallone’s lovable character resonates with fans drawn to his underdog tale of determination, grit and sleepy-eyed charm. The reach of “Rocky” is international, and the film serves as a slice of Americana. It is shorthand for Philadelphia as much as the Liberty Bell or Benjamin Franklin. “Anytime we are speaking to overseas visitors ... the conversation alw

FilmNov. 29, 2016

Hans Zimmer channels his inner rock star for upcoming tour

SANTA MONICA, California (AP) -- Celebrated composer Hans Zimmer is hitting the road again with his career-spanning concert tour, which he describes as a little bit cinematic and a little bit rock ’n’ roll.“People came thinking it’s going to be sort of a bit stodgy. ... It’s going to be the pretentious composer sitting at his big, black, grand piano,” the Oscar winner said of his tour, “Hans Zimmer Revealed,” which kicked off in Europe earlier this year.“It’s a very, very different way of presen

PerformanceNov. 29, 2016

Germany's 'Mr. Flirt' teaches refugees how to pick up women

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) -- The subject was pickup lines, and Germany’s “Mr. Flirt” offered a few examples to his class of Syrian and Iraqi refugees. “I really love the scent of your perfume,” he suggested. “You have a beautiful voice.” He invited his students to take a stab.Essam Kadib al Ban, 20, raised his hand. “God created you only for me,” he said, then tried another, “I love you. Can I sleep over at your place?”Horst Wenzel winced, but caught himself quickly. “Don’t tell them you love them

CultureNov. 29, 2016

S.E.S returns strongly

Reunited after 14 years, first-generation K-pop group S.E.S has returned with a bang. The trio announced their latest single “Love [story]” on S.M. Station, S.M. Entertainment’s digital music platform, Monday morning. The song is part of the group’s long-term project “Remember,” which commemorates the band’s upcoming 20th debut anniversary next year.The track ranked among the top five on major local music charts, including Olleh, Mnet, Naver Music, Bugs and Monkey3, upon its release, according t

PerformanceNov. 28, 2016