Review: "Another Earth" is a thoughtful sci-fi romance

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap) - Can't bear to sit through yet another robot or superhero-filled extravaganza or R-rated raunchy comedy this summer? "Another Earth" offers the discerning moviegoer a welcome alternative.

This indie drama -- a prizewinner at this year's Sundance Film Festival -- is a sci-fi romance. But there's not a single alien in sight. Rather, the movie's all-too-human characters are more than a little alienated from their own feelings at times, trying their best to push down and mask painful emotions.

It's about exactly what the title says: a second Earth, complete with its own moon, has suddenly appeared. It hangs, shimmering on the horizon, visible from our Earth day and night and tantalizing all with its possibilities.

This other Earth first appears on the very night that a smart high-school senior, Rhoda Williams(played by newcomer Brit Marling, who co-wrote the script with first-time feature director Mike Cahill), is out celebrating getting accepted by M.I.T. Driving home after a night of partying, she runs a light and slams into a car carrying respected composer John Borroughs (William Mapother), his pregnant wife and young son.

When Rhoda gets out of prison a few years later, she seeks out John, the only one in his family to have survived the accident. She and John are both mere shells of their former selves, cut off from others emotionally by the after-effects of the tragedy. Without revealing her true identity, she inserts herself into his life. Slowly, these two help each other to begin to return to the land of the living.

Throughout the movie, there's constant talk on the radio and on TV about the other Earth and plans to journey there. Shades of TV's "Fringe": Could it be that everyone on our Earth has a doppelganger on the second Earth, an identical twin to yourself who just might be a happier and more successful version of you? It's a question of special appeal to both Rhoda and John.

Marling is a rangy blond with a long face that is just this side of interesting rather than being blandly beautiful. There is a muted intensity to her performance, which is all the more hauntingly effective for its restraint, especially as Rhoda begins to shed her emotional numbness.

It's a measure of "Another Earth's" ability to move a viewer that when you come out of the movie, you'll find yourself gazing upward, checking almost hopefully to see whether a second Earth hasn't made an appearance.

10,000 fans attend RI's Newport Folk Festival

David Wax performs with his band David Wax Museum at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I., on Sunday, July 31, 2011. (AP Photo/Joe Giblin)

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — Blue skies and strong ticket sales blessed this year's Newport Folk Festival, two days of veteran acts and up-and-comers from a variety of musical genres.

An estimated 10,000 people attended the long-running festivalSunday at Fort Adams State Park, and they were treated to performances from Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Wanda Jackson and more than a dozen other acts on three stages set around Newport's historic fort.

Hundreds more fans listened from sailboats, kayaks and rafts just offshore.

"We've been trying to get here for 40 years," said Terry Reese, of Fallbrook, Calif., who attended the festival with her husband, Donn, to celebrate their 36th wedding anniversary. "We wanted to hear real music, music that's not canned or packaged."

The festival, first held in 1959 and known as the place where Bob Dylan went electric in 1965, sold out in advance for the first time this year. Festival creator George Wein decided earlier in the year to make the folk festival — and its sister, the Newport Jazz Festival— non-profit in an effort to ensure their long-term survival.

 Pete Seeger, right, talks backstage with his grandson Tao Rodriguez-Seeger at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I., Sunday, July 31, 2011. 

The event's mix of musicians from country, rock, blues and independent genres pleased festival-goer Jason Rosenstein, of Tiverton, R.I. He said that while the festival could rely on only older, established acts, it successfully injects a more youthful spirit by including many younger, up-and-coming bands.

"There's a lot of connecting going on, younger bands, older bands, different genres," he said. "It's a very positive energy."

It was a sentiment echoed by musicians including Taylor Goldsmith, of the band Middle Brother. Goldsmith said theNewport festival is his favorite festival for performing. The waterfront venue, with views of Newport's harbor, is one reason. The crowd and the lineup are others, he said.

"It's less about the festival, less about the acting crazy and more about the music," Goldsmith said.

Harris performed the final set of this year's festival, which began Saturday. Harris said she remembered hearing about the festival when she was a high school student listening to albums by Dylan, who was cheered by fans as an acoustic folk singer at the 1963 and '64 events but was jeered when he performed with an electric guitar in '65.

"I knew there was something going on out here, and there still is," Harris told the audience.

As an encore, folk pioneer Pete Seeger took the stage alongside Harris and several other musicians to lead the audience in singing two classics, "Turn! Turn! Turn!" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?"

The Newport Jazz Festival kicks off Friday at the same site.

Top United States Army Special Operations Conflicts

The United States Army special operations community is comprised of four main combat elements: Delta Force, Green Berets (Special Forces), Rangers and Nightstalkers (Special Operations Aviation Regiment or SOAR). In the past thirty years, these units have participated in conflicts around the globe.

Operation Eagle Claw (Desert One): Iran

On April 24, 1980, elements of Delta Force and 1^st Ranger Battalion set out to rescue 53 Americans who had been taken hostage at the American embassy in Iran.
With mechanical issues with three helicopters, the mission was aborted.
Shortly after the order was issued to abort, another helicopter crashed into a C-130 causing eight casualties.
The mission was a failure and the hostages remained in Iran until the following January.

Operation Urgent Fury: Grenada

On October 25, 1983, Delta Force, 1^st Ranger Battalion and 2^nd Ranger Battalion invaded Grenada to protect American citizens and assist in restoring order to the island nation.

A great portion of the forces had to unexpectedly jump into the combat zone while the rest were inserted by fast roping out of Blackhawk helicopters.
The mission was a success though highly criticized by other nations including Canada, Russia and Britain.

Operation Just Cause: Panama

On December 20, 1989, Delta Force, Special Forces and all three Ranger Battalions were tasked with taking down the PDF and capturing General Noriega in Panama so he could be charged with drug smuggling.
They seized the airfield and the surrounding areas under heavy gun fire from the PDF. Even with 23 American casualties, the mission was a success and ended on December 27^th.
Noriega surrendered on his own to face the charges against him.

Task Force Ranger: Somalia

In 1993, the UN Ambassador to Somalia requested assistance in removing Mohamed Farrah Aidid from power in the country.
The United States deployed elements of Delta Force, 3^rd Ranger Battalion and Nightstalkers to accomplish the task.
The elements entered the country in August but the real mission took place on October 3^rd when intelligence indicated Aidid would be meeting with two of his top lieutenants.
The mission was going as planned until the opposition took down a Blackhawk helicopter that was circling the area. Some of the teams were redirected to the downed helicopter. Shortly after, a second helicopter was hit. Known for never leaving a fallen comrade, the special operations teams worked their way to secure the bodies in the two helicopters.
The pilot of the second helicopter had his body dragged through the streets and was held hostage for eleven days before eventually being released. When October 4^th arrived, the Americans had suffered nineteen casualties and endured the worst fighting in recent history ultimately resulting in a failed mission.

Battle of Takur Ghar: Afghanistan

On March 4, 2002, a Navy SEAL fell from a helicopter that was fired on by Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Rangers from 1^st Battalion were flown by Nightstalkers to rescue the fallen SEAL.
With communication issues, the Rangers were unaware they were landing in a hot zone and immediately came under heavy fire. The troops were able to secure the mountain top. Whether the mission was a success depends on who is asked.
Arguing between high-ranking officers led to the communication issues and played a part in the American deaths that occurred. It is also widely believed that high ranking Al Qaeda officers, including possibly Bin Laden, were able to escape during the battle.
All photos courtesy of USASOC.

Saddest Movie Ever Pinpointed by Science

If you ask 100 people what the saddest movie ever would be, you’re likely to get 100 different answers… or so you’d think.
Perhaps Bambi among Disney fans, or The Crow among goths, or Big Momma’s House among people who actually appreciate humor. All would be wrong, however, according to science. A recent delving into sad movies has determined the saddest movie of all time, and none of the above were pinpointed as the most sad movie ever.
Smithsonian Magazine wrote about the sad movie study this month, citing data from 1995 wherein scientists made the determination. It turns out that it was necessary to use a movie clip to induce sadness- as telling people their puppy was run over or that their grandma had succumbed to a disease is considered unethical. And out of all the clips used, one from the film The Champ starring Jon Voight and Ricky Schroder was most likely to get the waterworks going:

According to Smithsonian.com, scientific study has determined that the most reliable tearjerker of all time is 1979′s ‘The Champ,’ in which washed-up boxer Jon Voight returns to the ring in order to earn enough to retain custody of his son, Ricky Schroder. Particularly, the climactic scene where — spoiler alert! — the little boy watches his battered dad die (end spoiler). It’s a moment that makes Schroder and the hardened old men in the scene all bawl their eyes out, and it’s all but guaranteed to do the same to you.

Do you agree? What do you think is the saddest movie of all time?

World’s Worst Airports

What is the biggest frustration when it comes to traveling? “Everything was wonderful, except the delays, extra airline fees, and the airport!”
You’ve heard those sentiments from travelers, and likely spoken the very words yourself. To truly enjoy your travel, it’s best to be informed, prepared, and well-equipped.
There are things you can do to increase you rate for success. Know which amenities are available at the airports you will be arriving and departing from. Pack a nutritious snack in your carryon.
Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. And bring something for entertainment; a deck of cards, iPod, laptop, or a good book. If you can, avoid troublesome airports. This list of World’s Worst Airports is based on the lack of service, safety, comfort, and/or cleanliness.

Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) – World’s Worst!

CDG – aerial view

“I’m a French traveler and from what I saw abroad, CDG airport is the worst one I have ever been in.
I am fluent in French but still it is hard for me to find accurate information from the employees.” – Kimchietrip, sleepinginairports.com
“[Paris CDG has] the charm of a WW II concrete bunker and the rudest personnel in the world…” – IrmainNewberin, sleepinginairports.com
CDG has done much to improve their reputation (having been voted World’s Worst Airport several times). A few major problems still exist. There are many permanent residents at CDG. The homeless are mostly harmless, but an occasional drunken reveler is enough to upset travelers.
It has been reported that terminal one is now closed to the public at night. Admittance is only allowed with a flight ticket and valid ID. Terminals 2b and 3 are shockingly rough. Not what you expect from a world class city. Explore the terminals before setting up camp if you must sleep here. Sleep near travelers, not homeless.

Runners Up

BVA – Terminal 3 Beauvais-Tillé Airport (BVA) – B

Beauvais closes between 11pm and 6am. You will be kicked out at night.
There are no services, the terminal is a tent, and seating is limited.

SVO – jaunted.com Sheremetyevo International Airport(SVO) –

Moscow’s airport is dirty chaotic and smoky.
Even after some updates and remodeling, nonsmokers report they just can’t handle the smoke.

LAX – mahalie via Flickr Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) –

California’s popular airport is busy and crowded with limited seating. Travelers label personnel as rude. Poor signage and poor bathrooms are other frustrations.
“I have seen grown men in my company sit down and cry a little, when they were told they had to fly through LAX. I am still wondering after 18 years, why nothing changes for the better ever in LAX.” – IrmainNewberin sleepinginairports.com.
“It’s a shame that many visitors from the pacific flying into LAX get their first impression of America and Americans at this dump.” – DonP

MNL – TOC SME via photobucket Manila International Airport (MNL) –

Manila is the main international gateway for travelers to the Philippines. The older terminal is in rough shape.
There is no seating and getting through customs is a difficult ordeal.
Be prepared to ignore beggars or people asking for bribes. On the upside the newer terminal (3) is clean, spacious, and has internet.

LTN – airliners.net London Luton Airport (LTN) -

London Luton is cold, drafty, and noisy.
The noise is punctuated with annoying announcements. The limited seating is uncomfortable.

JFK – bing John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) –

Not your only choice in New York, JFK garners complaints of “hectic and noisy.”
Seating is limited. The layout is confusing and amenities close at night. On the plus, there is WiFi.
We can survive anything with an internet connection!

One Place you WON’T Mind Getting Stranded

SIN – poshposh.com Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) –

The IATA call letters don’t do SIN any justice. Singapore’s Changi Airport was voted the best place for unexpected stopovers.
Of the 1,000 International Airline Passengers Association members surveyed, 32% said this was by far the best airport for delayed passengers. The multiple options for entertainment, beautiful décor, and abundance of greenery make it easy to pass the time here.
SIN 750,000 square feet of space for shopping and eating. Extensive upgrades and brands like Prada, Gucci, Bulgari, and Hermes make this the place to shop. Two different lounges with 24-hour napping areas, showers and spa facilities, hotel and pool amenities are just the start of the amenities list.
Have you ever been to an airport with a Nature Trail? There are six open-air gardens, children’s play areas, and TV viewing lounges.
Since opening in 1981 SIN has been the benchmark for service excellence. Changi Airport has won over 340 awards from 1987 to 2009, including 27 ‘Best’ awards in 2009. Changi continues to update, expand, and provide a high level of customer service.

The Best Small Dogs

You see them on the arms of socialites, or worse, popping up out of their purses.  Yep, we’re talking about small dogs: often though of as obnoxious, with a bark that’s annoying.  But small dogs don’t have to be that way.  I grew up with a Pomeranian… one that could ride a surf board when the waves were good (and a skateboard when they weren’t).  The stigma surrounding small dogs comes from their owners, and lack of training.  Large dogs need to be trained in order to be controlled, but a small dog?  If they’re misbehaving, just pick them up!  Right?  Nothing like positive reinforcement for a bad habit.  So what am I saying?  I’m saying that small dogs are awesome!  They’re just unfortunately sometimes owned by morons.

Pomeranian

If we’re going to talk about little dogs, then I’m going to have to start with my favorite, which, of course, is the Pomeranian.  Beyond the fluffy cuteness, a Pomeranian is effectively a Spitz, which is a German breed of working dog (and you know the Germans make good stuff).  In fact, in many other countries, Pomeranians are known as a Zwergspitz, which translates to “Dwarf Spitz”.  Pomeranians used to be larger, probably between 30-50 pounds.  So what happened?  Queen Victoria somehow got herself an incredibly small Pomeranian, and suddenly everyone else wanted a really small one too.  Breeders were more than happy to oblige, and thus we have the little dog we know today.  But underneath it all, there is still the Spitz heritage.  Pomeranians are stubborn, but smart.  They can be trained.   Like mine (well—my mother’s).

Chihuahua

With my admittedly biased love of Pomeranians out of the way, we’re safe to move on to what for many is there favorite small dog, the Chihuahua.  This is another dog marred in unnecessary stigma.  Granted, if there’s a ditzy blonde with a small dog in her purse, it’s probably a Chihuahua, but let’s get one thing straight… the dog doesn’t *need* to be pampered to such an outrageous degree.  In fact, the dog doesn’t need to be pampered at all.  Yes, the Chihuahua is the dog of Aztec Kings, and sure it used to be bigger, but not that much bigger.  Apparently after the Aztecs were largely killed off by the Spanish in the 1500’s, many of the dogs were left behind to fend for themselves among the Aztec ruins.  They thrived.  The Chihuahuas formed into packs and managed to survive for 300 years on their own before civilization rediscovered them.  Chihuahuas may be a toy dog, but they’re still a dog, and they’re a great one.

Toy Poodle

If there’s one small dog that can handle itself on its own though then it’s the toy Poodle.  In fact, Poodles as a whole are considered one of, if not the smartest breed of dog in the world.  Its rival is the border collie.  Poodles are unusual in that they come in a huge array of sizes, ranging from toy, to miniature, and all the way up to standard.  Here, we’re of course discussing toy Poodles, but remember even though it’s tiny, it’s still a Poodle, and Poodles are a gun dog.  That’s right, and it’s exactly what it sounds like.  Poodles were originally bred to assist hunters who used guns.  Further, they were bred as a water dog.  With their special water resistant coat, and excellent swimming skills, Poodles were brought on hunts to retrieve gamebirds that had been downed into bodies of water.  In fact, the word “poodle” comes from the German word “pudel”, which means to splash into water.  They may be cute and often pampered, but poodles instinctively know their way around a man with a gun.

Yorkshire Terrier

Another dog bred for hunting?  The Yorkshire Terrier… a companion for little old ladies worldwide.  Unlike Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers only come in one size: tiny.  So what could it possibly have been bred to hunt?  Rats.  No joke.  That silly little dog on that old ladies lap is a genetically engineered rat hunter.  The dogs were bred by mill workers in Yorkshire to protect their textiles from vermin.  The dogs, because they’re little and cute, soon ended up being used as companion pets, like Pomeranians.  Today, they’re still one of the most popular breeds out there.

Shih Tzu

As far as little old ladies and their dogs go, I have to mention another breed, the Shih Tzu.  My grandmother had a pair of these.  As the name may imply, these dogs came from China.  They’re also one of the oldest breeds in the world.  They were brought to Europe in the 1930’s.  Strangely enough, the Shih Tzu breed came to the United States when they were brought back by soldiers at the end of World War II.  So yes… apparently badass World War II veterans like cute little dogs too.
What’s interesting to me is how ancient some of these breeds are.  One would think that up until recently dogs would have been bred for practicality as hunters and guard dogs.  Sure there are hunters like the Yorkshire Terrier that were bred to be small for practicality, but that was only over the past few centuries.  Shi Tzu’s are also somewhat older, and a pure companion dog.  That said, even by Shih Tzu standards there is a different companion dog that is absolutely ancient: the Maltese.  How old are they?  The ancient Romans wrote about them.  An ancient Greek vase from 500BC displayed a picture of one.  So yes, even our ancient ancestors enjoyed companion dogs.  They’re anything but a modern obsession.
It’s easy to forget that little dogs are still dogs.  The big differences we see in personality from larger breeds tends to have more to do with the way the smaller dogs are treated than any genetic disposition.  As such, one shouldn’t be discouraged from buying a small for yourself.  If you train them like a real dog, then they’ll act like a real dog.  And if you’re a guy who thinks little dogs might be too girly, I’ll just tell you one thing (and this is coming from first hand experience).  Little dogs… are the ultimate chick bait.
Photo credit: Photospin,Photospin, Photospin, Photospin

Inside the world's most humane prison

Anders Behring Breivik, the suspect in Norway's twin attacks, may end up serving time in a newly built maximum-security prison that's considered among the world's most luxurious, according to The Telegraph.

To ease the psychological burdens of imprisonment, the planners at Halden spent roughly $1 million on paintings, photography and light installations. According to a prison informational pamphlet, this mural by Norwegian graffiti artist Dolk "brings a touch of humor to a rather controlled space." Officials hope the art — along with creative outlets like drawing classes and wood workshops — will give inmates "a sense of being taken seriously."

Green algae in the Yellow Sea

Come on in, the water's . . . green. In Qingdoo, Shandong Province of China, the coastal waters are covered with algae called enteromopha prolifera. The algae is not poisonous and doesn't affect water quality, but there are concerns about how it may affect local sealife and whether it might spur a drop in tourism. Not everyone, it seems, wants to look like the Incredible Hulk while swimming.

So, what exactly is going on here? According to CNN, researchers aren't entirely sure what's behind the green invasion. One expert told the network that it's possible that the lush green algae plume  may have something to do with "the change in the environment," but is mum when it comes to specifics.

Regardless, the bright green goop has inspired a slew of amazing photographs. In some photos, the algae, which now covers 200 square miles of the Yellow Sea, looks so thick that it resembles a fairway on a golf course. Go to the link for more photos.

Invisible wounds of war: There's an app for that?

 Sgt. Mark Miranda, a public affairs specialist stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, demonstrates the use of a program for tablet computers and smart phones that is designed to help calm symptoms of post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury, Friday, July 22, 2011. Miranda said he does not suffer from PTSD, but after trying the app, he said he may suggest its use to other soldiers who he has deployed with. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

WASHINGTON (AP) — When terrifying battlefield memories come rushing back, causing night sweats, flashbacks or a panic attack, some troops and vets now find comfort by reaching for their smartphones.Using new-age technology to cope with age-old wounds of war, they tap into mobile phone applications, or "apps," designed to help with post-traumatic stress and brain injuries."I'm not going to lie — when this came out, we sort of wanted to slam it," a once skeptical Staff Sgt. Meg Krause said of her group of veteran friends."But it surprised us and has been a phenomenal tool," said the 29-year-old reservist and medic, who has had counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder.A half-dozen apps with names like "T2 MoodTracker," ''PTSD Coach" and "Breathe2Relax" have been developed by the Pentagonand Veterans Affairs Department, but not to diagnose illness or replace psychiatric counseling. Rather, the apps offer at-your-fingertips information about what the military calls "invisible wounds" of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan — and techniques for managing the symptoms.All but one were the work of the Pentagon, starting with MoodTracker, which lets users rate how they're feeling — worthless, happy, lonely and so on — and keep a record of their ups and downs over time.The newest, released in May, was a joint Pentagon-VA effort — PTSD Coach. It helps self-assess symptoms, gives step-by-step instructions in muscle relaxation and breathing, helps users create a phone list of people to call when they need support and helps vets contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline in an emergency."Someone who's struggling ... all they have to do is pull out their smartphone or their iPhone and say, 'I can help myself,'" Krause said. "To know that there is something that I can pull out and watch, and it will help me go through my breathing techniques so I don't get to that crisis moment, I think is immensely important."There's also an app for health care providers that includes definitions, causes and severity ratings formild traumatic brain injury — or concussions — suffered by so many troops from roadside bombs and other explosions. Another for doctors treating PTSD is expected in the coming months. Officials hope the apps for troops, vets and their families will encourage more people to get professional help and will be used by others to supplement professional therapy.Krause served twice in Iraq and has worked for the "Real Warriors" campaign, a separate defense program in which service members tell their personal stories to encourage other troops to go for counseling.Finding others to talk about using the apps is hard since the free downloads are anonymous. Preserving that privacy is a big selling point for a military population that hides its problems for fear of appearing weak or being passed over for promotions."Engaging veterans on their own terms is especially crucial in the area of mental health," said Dr. Sonja Batten, a clinical psychologist who works on national mental health policy for the VA. Providing services that are safe, reliable and private is a priority for the VA, she said, where the number of vets getting mental health care has increased to 1.2 million from 900,000 in the past four years.Last year alone, over 400,000 veterans who received mental health treatment had a diagnosis of PTSD, Batten said. Among troops still in the military, officials estimate 1 in 5 has suffered acute stress, anxiety, depression or other mental problems from a war zone deployment.Some 2.3 million men and women have served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past decade. The apps are among the latest ideas by a government still struggling to prevent, treat and more fully understand the mental health problems that have ballooned over that time.In a vast and unprecedented wartime effort that has struggled to keep up with troop needs, the government in recent years has increased mental health screening, hired more psychiatric staff, sent mental health survey teams directly to the battlefields, launched new research and started or bolstered myriad programs from suicide prevention to resilience training to family counseling. They've promoted the efforts with booklets, boot camp training, interactive websites, social media, call-in phone lines and more.Still, some troops complain that there isn't enough help. And others simply won't go for psychological treatment. Up to half of soldiers in the most recent battlefield survey said they feared it would make them appear weak to buddies and their leaders.Defense officials in 2008 set up the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, known as T2, to look at leveraging technology against the mental health problems."The Defense Department is doing something different, is doing everything, to try and reach the audience instead of trying to simply put out a better-looking brochure," T2 spokesman Joseph S. Jimenez said of the apps and other initiatives started at the T2 center in Fort Lewis, Wash. "Some people don't respond to a better brochure, some people don't respond to being told to go to the doctor."Aside from the anonymity, the apps virtually put into the pockets of troops a tool that today's young, tech-savvy force can relate to."They like portable technology and they are very much into gaming and smartphones," Jimenez said.Use of smartphones for mental health issues comes amid a larger military effort to incorporate them more on the battlefield. For instance, the Army is testing several iPhones, Androids and computer tablet devices to allow more troops in battle to see real-time images of insurgents taken by drone aircraft."Like the old adage about having to fish where the fish are, using online media to reach an online generation will be worth it even if it just helps one veteran," Joe Davis, spokesman for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said of the phone apps.Just how many troops and vets are being reached — and helped — is hard to know.Because of the anonymity, there is little feedback on the program that started last summer with MoodTracker. But officials said they plan to find volunteers in the future to help with a study on the program's effectiveness.For now, what's known is that MoodTracker was downloaded about 17,000 times since it was introduced. Since PTSD Coach was released in May, it has been downloaded about 11,000 times in 37 countries, including Mexico, Latvia and Japan.Although the app is particularly tailored to the needs of active-duty troops and veterans, some users may also be PTSD sufferers with no military background. Officials believe it's likely some are civilians who've had other types of trauma, such as from physical or sexual assaults, car accidents or natural disasters.___Online:National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2): http://www.t2health.orgReal Warriors Campaign: http://realwarriors.net

Azkals Lost to Kuwait, 3-0

The Philippine Azkals lost to Kuwait, 3-0, in the first leg of their FIFA World Cup qualifying match.

The Kuwait National Football team trumped the Philippine Azkals early Sunday morning (Philippine Time) at the 25,000-seater Mohammad Al-Hammad (Qadsia Club) stadium in Hawally.
Yousef Nasser opened the scoring board in the 16th minute, Musaed Neda made it 2-0 in the 65th minute and lastly, Fahed Al-Ibrahim hit the final score for Kuwait in the 85th minute.
The Philippines nearly scored a few minutes into the first half when Phil Younghusband, who played a lone striker role, went one-on-one with the Kuwaiti goalkeeper, who barred his shot.
The win was Kuwait’s 8th-straight victory.
The Azkals in action during this morning’s game were Neil Etheridge, Rob Gier, Jason Sabio, Anton del Rosario, James Younghusband, Phil Younghusband, Manuel Ott, Jason de Jong, Ray Anthony Jónsson, Chieffy Caligdong, and Angel Guirado.
The second leg of the World Cup qualifying tie will be held at the Rizal Memorial Stadium this Thursday, July 28.

Food Trip: Pampanga

by Lori Baltazar

Everybody's "murcon" is a guarded family recipe and takes 6 hours to make

Kapampangans are generally regarded to be the best cooks in the country and for Manilans, the 1.5 hour drive makes it even easier to indulge in the area's bounties. Here's a list of my favorites.
Everybody's Morcon
Everybody's is a typical provincial restaurant: it's a cafeteria-style set-up, where the food is displayed behind a glass counter. Scan the dishes and hail the first server (all of them are clad in white casual barongs); they'll take care of your order.
The place may strike you as a bit "tired," it's been around since 1967 after all, although the business itself began in 1946. Get over the restaurant's façade and your initial impressions, and let your taste buds take over.
The star at Everybody's is the morcon, or how they spell it, "murcon." Traditionally a beef roll, this is made from a guarded family recipe. I'm told by the owner, Pette Jorolan, that it takes six hours to make — a dish that defines the spirit of slow food. The murcon glistens in its drippings, the color of what I imagine the sun would be if it were dipped in honey. Taking a bite, I taste deep meaty flavors echoing with saltiness.
Uraro and San Nicolas Cookies
These are two types of cookies from Pampanga that I like: uraro and San Nicolas. Native to the area, both are examples of arrowroot cookies.

Uraro is a cross between polvoron and butter cookies.

Arrowroot is a starch powder obtained from the root of a (West Indian) plant. If I'm not mistaken, I think it may be the cassava plant. Similar to cornstarch or rice flour, it's often used as a thickener for puddings and sauces. It also has a very low gluten content, so cookies made from it are delicate and powdery, much like shortbread. Because the powder is also called araruta, that may have been where the name uraro originated, thus uraro cookies. Its texture is a melting sort of crunchy, if you can imagine that, given its ingredients of arrowroot (cassava) flour, butter, sugar, salt, eggs, and milk. To put it more illustratively, uraro is a cross between polvoron and butter cookies.
Where uraro is found, the San Nicolas cookie can never be too far behind. Also made from arrowroot flour, sugar, and eggs, some versions include anise, dayap (lime) and coconut milk. The cookies are made to celebrate the feast of San Nicolas, the patron saint of bakers. Its characteristic leaf shape is created by rolling the dough then pressing it into wooden molds carved with the saint's likeness. The mold is a favorite among antique collectors because no two San Nicolas cookie molds are alike.

The cookies are made to celebrate San Nicolas, the patron saint of bakers

I've never been able to make out the impressions on these cookies, but it supposedly shows the saint wearing his Augustinian habit and holding a bird on a plate.
Available at Pampanga supermarkets, pasalubong stores, and some restaurants like Everybody's.
A La Crème
I love ube cake but there isn't much of it or a wide variety available in Manila. The A La Crème ube cake is dense and believe it or not, has macapuno and walnuts rippled in the cake. The cake's ube buttercream filling and frosting has that characteristic ube taste with a velvety texture.

The A La Crème ube cake is dense and has macapuno and walnuts

The servers also recommend the Chocolate Sin, a cake with alternating layers of mousse layered between a walnut-encrusted chocolate cake. It's impressive and massively chocolatey.

A La Crème servers recommend the Chocolate Sin cake

I also really like the Belgian Chocolate Cake, the store's version of a decadent chocolate cake. It's so dense that it sticks to the roof of my mouth and it's imbued with a deep chocolate flavor, not to mention that it also weighs a ton in one hand!
A La Creme
Alcon Bldg., MacArthur Highway
Angeles City, Pampanga
Philippines
Tel: (45) 888 2303
CTH Bldg., MacArthur Highway, San Fernando City
(45) 861 0829 / 961 7624
3933 MacArthur Highway, Balibago, Angeles City
(45) 892 1205 / 332 1593

North Korea tested missile rocket: report

North Korea last year tested a rocket to carry long-range missiles in an apparent attempt to showcase its weapons capability to the United States, a report said Sunday.
The communist state conducted the rocket engine test at the new Tongchang-ri missile base on the west coast in October, Yonhap news agency said, citing a senior Seoul official.
"We believed that the test, carried out at an hour when the US military satellite could detect it, was aimed at showcasing its missile threats," Yonhap quoted the official as saying.

Satellite images taken in January showed that North Korea had completed a launch tower at the Tongchang-ri missile base, which was bigger and more advanced than the older Musudan-ri base on the east coast.

The North launched long-range missiles at Musudan-ri in 1998, 2006 and 2009, sending its Taepodong-2 missile to land some 3,200 kilometres (2,000 miles) in the Pacific in April 2009.
Analysts said the new base in Tongchang-ri, whose construction was believed to be almost complete, was seen as a key in the North's quest for an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICMB) that could possibly strike the United States.
The North has started to build new railways to transport materials needed to complete the new base, said the official quoted by Yonhap, adding Seoul saw no immediate signs that the North was about to launch long-range missiles at the site.
Seoul intelligence believe that the North's Taepodong-2 missile, whose maximum range is estimated at 6,700 kilometres, could reach the US west coast within about 20 minutes if successfully launched at the new base, Yonhap said.

Troubled diva Amy Winehouse dead at 27

LONDON (AP) — Few artists summed up their own career in a single song — a single line — as well as Amy Winehouse.

"They tried to make me go to rehab," she sang on her world-conquering 2006 single, "Rehab." ''I said 'No, no no.'"

Occasionally, she said yes, but to no avail: repeated stints in hospitals and clinics couldn't stop alcohol and drugs scuttling the career of a singer whose distinctive voice, rich mix of influences and heart-on-her sleeve sensibility seemed to promise great things.

In her short lifetime, Winehouse too often made headlines because of drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, destructive relationships and abortive performances. But it's her small but powerful body of recorded music that will be her legacy.

The singer was found dead Saturday at age 27 by ambulance crews called to her home in north London's Camden area, a youth-culture mecca known for its music scene, its pubs — and the availability of illegal drugs.

The London Ambulance Service said Winehouse had died before crews arrived at the house in leafy Camden Square. The cause of death was not immediately known.

The singer's body was taken from her home by private ambulance to a London mortuary where post-mortem examinations were to be carried out either Sunday or Monday. Police said in a statement no arrests have been made in connection with her death. It was not a complete surprise, but the news was still a huge shock for millions around the world. The size of Winehouse's appeal was reflected in the extraordinary range of people paying tribute as they heard the news, from Demi Moore — who tweeted "Truly sad news ... May her troubled soul find peace" — to chef Jamie Oliver, who wrote "such a waste, raw talent" on the social networking site.

Tony Bennett, who recorded the pop standard "Body And Soul" with Winehouse at London's Abbey Road Studios in March for an upcoming duets album, called her "an artist of immense proportions."

"She was an extraordinary musician with a rare intuition as a vocalist and I am truly devastated that her exceptional talent has come to such an early end," he said.

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood said he was dedicating Saturday's reunion performance of his band The Faces to Winehouse. "It's a very sad loss of a very good friend I spent many great times with," he said.

Winehouse was something rare in an increasingly homogenized music business — an outsized personality and an unclassifiable talent.

She shot to fame with the album "Back to Black," whose blend of jazz, soul, rock and classic pop was a global hit. It won five Grammys and made Winehouse — with her black beehive hairdo and old-fashioned sailor tattoos — one of music's most recognizable stars.

"I didn't go out looking to be famous," Winehouse told the Associated Press when the album was released. "I'm just a musician."

But in the end, the music was overshadowed by fame, and by Winehouse's demons. Tabloids lapped up the erratic stage appearances, drunken fights, stints in hospital and rehab clinics. Performances became shambling, stumbling train wrecks, watched around the world on the Internet.

Last month, Winehouse canceled her European comeback tour after she swayed and slurred her way through barely recognizable songs in her first show in the Serbian capital of Belgrade. Booed and jeered off stage, she flew home and her management said she would take time off to recover.

Fans who had kept the faith waited in vain for a followup to "Back to Black."

Born in 1983 to taxi driver Mitch Winehouse and his pharmacist wife Janis, Winehouse grew up in the north London suburbs, and was set on a showbiz career from an early age. When she was 10, she and a friend formed a rap group, Sweet 'n' Sour — Winehouse was Sour — that she later described as "the little white Jewish Salt 'n' Pepa."

She attended the Sylvia Young Theatre School, a factory for British music and acting moppets, later went to the Brit School, a performing arts academy in the "Fame" mold, and was originally signed to "Pop Idol" svengali Simon Fuller's 19 Management.

But Winehouse was never a packaged teen star, and always resisted being pigeonholed.

Her jazz-influenced 2003 debut album, "Frank," was critically praised and sold well in Britain. It earned Winehouse an Ivor Novello songwriting award, two Brit nominations and a spot on the shortlist for the Mercury Music Prize.

But Winehouse soon expressed dissatisfaction with the disc, saying she was "only 80 percent behind" the album.

"Frank" was followed by a slump during which Winehouse broke up with her boyfriend, suffered a long period of writer's block and, she later said, smoked a lot of marijuana.

"I had writer's block for so long," she said in 2007. "And as a writer, your self-worth is literally based on the last thing you wrote. ... I used to think, 'What happened to me?'

"At one point it had been two years since the last record and (the record company) actually said to me, 'Do you even want to make another record?' I was like, 'I swear it's coming.' I said to them, 'Once I start writing I will write and write and write. But I just have to start it.'"

The album she eventually produced was a sensation.

Released in Britain in the fall of 2006, "Back to Black" brought Winehouse global fame. Working with producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi and soul-funk group the Dap-Kings, Winehouse fused soul, jazz, doo-wop and, above all, a love of the girl-groups of the early 1960s with lyrical tales of romantic obsession and emotional excess.

"Back to Black" was released in the United States in March 2007 and went on to win five Grammy awards, including song and record of the year for "Rehab."

Music critic John Aizlewood attributed her trans-Atlantic success to a fantastic voice and a genuinely original sound.

"A lot of British bands fail in America because they give America something Americans do better — that's why most British hip-hop has failed," he said. "But they won't have come across anything quite like Amy Winehouse."

Winehouse's rise was helped by her distinctive look — black beehive of hair, thickly lined cat eyes, girly tattoos — and her tart tongue.

She was famously blunt in her assessment of her peers, once describing Dido's sound as "background music — the background to death" and saying of pop princess Kylie Minogue, "she's not an artist ... she's a pony."

The songs on "Black to Black" detailed breakups and breakdowns with a similar frankness. Lyrically, as in life, Winehouse wore her heart on her sleeve.

"I listen to a lot of '60s music, but society is different now," Winehouse said in 2007. "I'm a young woman and I'm going to write about what I know."

Even then, Winehouse's performances were sometimes shambolic, and she admitted she was "a terrible drunk."

Increasingly, her personal life began to overshadow her career.

She acknowledged struggling with eating disorders and told a newspaper that she had been diagnosed as manic depressive but refused to take medication. Soon accounts of her erratic behavior, canceled concerts and drink- and drug-fueled nights began to multiply.

Photographs caught her unsteady on her feet or vacant-eyed, and she appeared unhealthily thin, with scabs on her face and marks on her arms.

There were embarrassing videos released to the world on the Internet. One showed an addled Winehouse and Babyshambles singer Pete Doherty playing with newborn mice. Another, for which Winehouse apologized, showed her singing a racist ditty to the tune of a children's song.

Winehouse's managers went to increasingly desperate lengths to keep the wayward star on the straight and narrow. Before a June 2011 concert in Belgrade — the first stop on a planned European comeback tour — her hotel was stripped of booze. It did no good,

Winehouse swayed and slurred her way through barely recognizable songs, as her band played gamely and the audience jeered and booed.

Winehouse flew home. Her management canceled the tour, saying Winehouse would take some time off to recover.

Though she was often reported to be working on new material, fans got tired of waiting for the much-promised followup to "Back to Black."

Occasional bits of recording saw the light of day. Her rendition of The Zutons' "Valerie" was a highlight of producer Mark Ronson's 2007 album "Version," and she recorded the pop classic "It's My Party" for the 2010 Quincy Jones album "Q: Soul Bossa Nostra."

But other recording projects with Ronson, one of the architects of the success of "Back to Black," came to nothing.

She also had run-ins with the law. In April 2008, Winehouse was cautioned by police for assault after she slapped a man during a raucous night out.

The same year she was investigated by police, although not charged, after a tabloid newspaper published a video that appeared to show her smoking crack cocaine.

In 2010, Winehouse pleaded guilty to assaulting a theater manager who asked her to leave a family Christmas show because she'd had too much to drink. She was given a fine and a warning to stay out of trouble by a judge who praised her for trying to clean up her act.

In May 2007 in Miami, she married music industry hanger-on Blake Fielder-Civil, but the honeymoon was brief. That November, Fielder-Civil was arrested for an attack on a pub manager the year before. Fielder-Civil later pleaded guilty to assaulting barman James King and then offering him 200,000 pounds (US$400,000) to keep quiet about it.

Winehouse stood by "my Blake" throughout his trial, often blowing kisses at him from the court's public gallery and wearing a heart-shaped pin labeled "Blake" in her hair at concerts. But British newspapers reported extramarital affairs while Fielder-Civil was behind bars.

They divorced in 2009.

Winehouse's health often appeared fragile. In June 2008 and again in April 2010, she was taken to hospital and treated for injuries after fainting and falling at home.

Her father said she had developed the lung disease emphysema from smoking cigarettes and crack, although her spokeswoman later said Winehouse only had "early signs of what could lead to emphysema."

She left the hospital to perform at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday concert in Hyde Park in June 2008, and at the Glastonbury festival the next day, where she received a rousing reception but scuffled with a member of the crowd. Then it was back to a London clinic for treatment, continuing the cycle of music, excess and recuperation that marked her career.

Her last public appearance came three days before her death, when she briefly joined her goddaughter, singer Dionne Bromfield, on stage at The Roundhouse in Camden, just around the corner from her home.

Despite the years of frustration and disappointment, Winehouse retained a huge body of fans, all hoping she would find her feet again. Some gathered outside her home after her death, laying flowers, comforting each other and taking in the police tape and ambulance that marked the end of her journey.

Winehouse is survived by her parents and an older brother, Alex. Her father, Mitch, who released a jazz album of his own, was in New York when he heard the news of her death and immediately flew back.

Winehouse's spokesman, Chris Goodman, said "everyone who was involved with Amy is shocked and devastated." He said the family would issue a statement when they were ready.

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