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DNA from bones on a Revolutionary War battlefield solves the case of ‘America’s oldest John Doe’
After 246 years, Pvt. John Pumphrey is unknown no more. Through DNA testing and old-fashioned sleuthing, the Maryland teenager who died in one of the last big battles of the American Revolution can now take his place in history, just in time for the 250th birthday of the nation he fought to create. “There was […]
Not Greek to them. Scholars question Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’
NEW YORK | For Greek translator Emily Wilson, the release of director Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” has been gratifying in various ways. Her acclaimed 2017 edition of Homer’s epic has reached the top 5 on Amazon.com, leading a wave of similar books boosted by the movie. Nolan has even cited her translation, notably the opening […]
Toronto International Film Festival sets lineup with films by Chris Rock, Peter Farrelly
NEW YORK | The Toronto International Film Festival unveiled the bulk of the lineup to its 51st edition on Monday, setting world premieres for Chris Rock’s drama “Misty Green” and Peter Farrelly’s Sylvester Stallone film “I Play Rocky.” TIFF, North America’s largest film festival, annually hosts some of the fall’s most anticipated titles. On Monday, […]
How to keep babies safe when temperatures soar
Infants, toddlers and young children need outdoor activity to build strong bodies and minds, but they also require extra care in the heat. In the summer months, those twin imperatives can make parents anxious. How long should kids be out? How do I know they’re OK? What should I avoid? Human-caused climate change is making […]
Guns shaped America. Dirty Harry’s .44 Magnum is king
There are as many handguns in the U.S. as there are adults. Perhaps none is more iconic than the .44 Magnum revolver. “The most powerful handgun in the world,” Clint Eastwood says with a mix of pleasure and malice as detective “Dirty Harry” takes aim at a bank robber. The 1971 movie made the hefty […]
10 songs to get hyped for the World Cup final
NEW YORK | Regardless of World Cup allegiances, there is one thing everyone can agree on: There’s nothing better than a themed playlist to get pumped for Sunday’s big match. The Associated Press has you covered there. Whether you’re hoping Argentina will become the first repeat champion since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, or that […]
Brenda Fricker, the first Irish actress to win an Oscar for ‘My Left Foot,’ dies at 81
LONDON | Brenda Fricker, who won an Academy Award for her role as Bridget Fagan Brown in the 1989 film “My Left Foot,” has died. She was 81. The Irish character actor died Thursday night in Dublin after a period of ill health, her agent, Phil Belfield said in a statement. Fricker became the first […]
Movie Review: In Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey,’ an ancient epic is reborn
Getting home, and turning back the clock, has long been at the root of Christopher Nolan’s films. The astronauts of “Interstellar” painstakingly lose 23 years in space travel, almost the same length of time Odysseus is away from home in “The Odyssey”: a decade fighting the Trojan War, a decade trying to return to Ithaca. […]
Ava DuVernay announces ’14th’ documentary on birthright amendment contested by Trump
NEW YORK | Ava DuVernay announced Thursday that she has made a documentary for Netflix on the 14th Amendment, which gave liberty and rights to formerly enslaved people following the Civil War, and which has come under legal attack from President Donald Trump. Netflix said Thursday that it will release “14th” later this year. The […]
Federal government replaces slavery exhibition at Washington’s home in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA | The Trump administration on Wednesday replaced an exhibit on slavery at the site of President George Washington’s home in Philadelphia with a version that historians say whitewashes the nation’s history. The new exhibit was installed in the same area where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. “Overnight, under the […]