BUDAPEST ― “Hey!” an almost-naked man cheerily called to me.“Um, hey, back at you,” I couldn’t help but giggle as I answered, waving with one hand, my camera in the other.“You take my picture,” he commanded in halting, Hungarian-accented English before a striking a Schwarzenegger-like Mr. Universe pose. Click. Click, click, click. Then, with once last slightly embarrassed glance, I rushed away qui

Travel April 22, 2011

MILOS, Greece (AP) ― The Greek island of Milos is less well-known than some of the others in the Cyclades group of islands, such as the world-famous Santorini and Mykonos. But Milos, a volcanic, horseshoe-shaped island about 160 kilometers southwest of Athens, is a perfect beach destination, and with no major ruins of note, natural beauty is the main attraction.Otherworldly rock formations decorat

Travel April 22, 2011

BOSTON (AP) ― Boston’s Museum of Science has exhibits on natural history, dinosaurs, space travel and electricity, all enclosed within four walls.Paul Fontaine, vice president of education, has for years wanted to expand beyond the bricks and mortar. He got his wish this month with the launch of the Museum of Science Segway Experience, an outdoor tour of the area around the museum using the gyrosc

Travel April 22, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― Teenage girls largely live in a lookalike culture, wearing the same styles that they got in the same stores as their friends. On prom night, though, the idea is to stand out, making sure no one arrives to the big dance in the same outfit.To ensure their uniqueness ― after they’ve shopped in faraway malls and tapped into store registries ― girls are using social media to claim dibs

Arts & Design April 20, 2011

Used toys are notoriously difficult to recycle; most end up in trash binsLOS ANGELES ― Americans bought 2.9 billion toys last year. As I stumble through the house after play dates, it sometimes feels as if my 8-year-old son owns all of them.Our living room is exploding with Lego bricks, Nerf weaponry and rubbery bounce balls. My son’s bedroom is, more often than not, carpeted with Pokemon cards an

Arts & Design April 20, 2011

Rejection of new interpretations of traditional dishes hamper hansik globalizationThe following is the first in a series of articles on the contemporizing of Korean culture -- Ed. KwangJuYo CEO Cho Tae-kwon holds a special soju drinking vessel that prevents the drinker from overfilling the cup. (Park Hyun-koo/The Korea Herald)With societies becoming more affluent, food is no longer just about fill

Food April 19, 2011

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) ― Amid a burst of fireworks and a haze of smoke, a burly showman in a white sequined suit and gold lame cape appears with a flourish. Over the next 45 minutes, he appears to make a Pyongyang bus levitate and wriggles free from a box sent crashing to the stage through a ring of fire.This is magic North Korean-style performed in a show touted as the country’s biggest ever

Performance April 19, 2011

“People who litter public areas suffer from mental and social dysfunction which makes them unable to achieve success in modern societies,” writes journalist Sandra Brasil in one of the most prestigious Brazilian weekly magazines, VEJA. Harsh words to describe a common but unfortunate behavior pattern of people from all over the world. Littering does not spare any country or culture whether it is G

People April 19, 2011

INDIO, California ― As the U.K. folk-revival quartet Mumford & Sons, all of whom are in their early 20s, stared out on the 70,000 people or so gathered to watch their set at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival on Saturday night, they couldn’t help but remark on how much had changed for them. “In 2008, I was a punter sneaking in here for Rage Against the Machine,” one of the Mumfords’ string

Performance April 18, 2011

BALTIMORE ― At first glance, Whitney Morris’ second-floor walk-up resembles most bachelor pads. An office has been converted into a “man cave” filled with a keyboard, a couple of guitars and a computer. The kitchen looks virtually untouched. It isn’t until you walk into his bedroom that you realize Morris has a serious addiction to shoes ― Nike Dunk SBs to be exact.“One hundred sixty-something (pa

Arts & Design April 18, 2011