WARSAW (AFP) ― Six letters written by 19th century composer and pianist Frederic Chopin, thought to have been lost since World War II, were Thursday revealed by the Polish museum dedicated to the musical icon.Warsaw’s Chopin Museum said that it spent almost a decade trying to obtain the letters and dozens of other documents related to the composer after getting wind of them in 2003.The paper trial

Performance March 27, 2011

IN THE SERENGETI, Tanzania ― The lion isn’t sleeping tonight, and neither are most of the people around him.The eerie calls of male lions echo throughout the Serengeti at night.In a tent, even a luxury one, it is an unsettling sound, but the workers at the comfortable Kirawira Lodge in the western Serengeti smile reassuringly and insist that lions can’t work the zippers on the tent flaps. But even

Travel March 25, 2011

NEW YORK, New York (AP) ―Bacon. It’s everywhere. U.S. fast food chain Wendy’s features it in the “Baconator” and Paula Deen crumbles it into quiche. Ditto for those deluxe cupcakes top-heavy with frosting. Is there a bakery or supermarket that doesn’t sell them?Bacon and cupcakes ― like sliders, bubble tea, popsicles, food trucks and chipotle ― have caught on from coast to coast.But how?Food fads

Food March 23, 2011

NEW YORK, New York (AP) ― Flat-heeled shoes have stepped up their game to emerge as a hot fashion trend for the spring-summer season.The detailed and embellished ballet flats, sandals and peep-toes have been elevated to become a serious alternative to the high heels that some women still feel are needed for dressy or business occasions.In fact, the flat-shoe shape might be a better complement to t

Arts & Design March 23, 2011

WASHINGTON (AFP) ― A song by a California teenager that has been mercilessly panned by music critics has topped 30 million views on YouTube and rocketed up Apple’s iTunes charts.“Friday,” sung by 13-year-old Rebecca Black, was uploaded to YouTube last month by Ark Music Factory, a Los Angeles-based company that was hired by the girl’s parents to produce the song for their daughter.“It’s Friday, Fr

Performance March 23, 2011

HONG KONG (AFP) ― South Korea’s finest in film celebrated after blitzing the annual Asian Film Awards on Monday, bolstering the country’s growing reputation as the pre-eminent force in the region.South Korean movie stars and filmmakers dominated the glitzy ceremony in Hong Kong, now in its fifth year, snapping up awards for best director, best screenplay, best actor, best supporting actress and be

Film March 22, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ― Sometimes it’s a fast-moving ooze: A street becomes a stream, grows into a river and then a raging mountain of moving debris. Sometimes, it’s a wet curtain of water crashing over a shoreline, tossing trees, ships and cars casually aside as a child would a stack of Legos.Until a week ago, a tsunami was one of the most mysterious of natural events, its devastating power usually evide

Television March 21, 2011

LOS ANGELES ― When pop stars Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Nelly Furtado and 50 Cent recently said they’d renounced millions of dollars they’d received for performing for members of Libyan strongman Moammar Gadhafi’s family, they drew attention to a growing and controversial cultural phenomenon: celebrity artists being hired by rich, powerful and sometimes disreputable clients to play at private or semi-

Performance March 21, 2011

Spring’s hottest shape in sunglasses is the circle. Reminiscent of John Lennon’s signature specs, round frames have been popping up on more than a few celebrities over the last year, but this season round will be the frame du jour.In February, Ray-Ban launched the exact style Lennon used to wear ($145). These are obviously the most authentic in style and shape and would work for anyone who consist

Arts & Design March 21, 2011

RALEIGH, N.C. ― For the past three years, American consumers have been on a shopping diet. They cut nonessentials from their shopping lists. They’ve made do. They’ve thought twice before buying.And yet, they’ve continued to open their wallets for natural and organic products.Many shoppers say that natural and organic items remain on their shopping lists because they’re concerned about their health

Food March 21, 2011