The three Oscar-nominated songs that were performed on the awards show last month did little to warm me up to the film. In fact I had to leave the room on two occasions. But on one level I was actually looking forward to watching the film because I am fond of the film's star, Amy Adams. She had been genuinely enchanting in a small indie film called

And then there have been all those indirect jabs made by someone other than the candidate (see,

This doesn't quite qualify as a film event but it is a multimedia performance put on by a friend who has volunteered numerous hours for the San Diego Latino Film Festival and my own Film School Confidential Showcase of San Diego and Tijuana Filmmakers. So I think it's perfectly apt for me to promote her event here.

A Marine was charged Tuesday with murder and dereliction of duty for his alleged role three years ago in the death of detainee in Fallujah, Iraq.

California's State Board of Education has adopted new sex education standards for public schools. Officials say students will first learn about Sex Ed in the fifth grade. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has the story.

Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are seeking treatment for mental illness in ever increasing numbers. Since the start of the war in Afghanistan in 2001, more than 100,000 combat veterans have sought help for mental illness – half for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We'll talk about PTSD and what the Veterans Administration is doing to assist those who suffer from it and other war-related illnesses.

How has five years of war in Iraq affected local military families? We speak to a military couple and the president of the local chapter of Operation Homefront to talk about the needs of local military families, and how the global war on terror has impacted their family structure.

What were the highlights from the Padres' trip to Beijing? We speak to Mark Zeigler of the “San Diego Union-Tribune,” about the Padres' two-game exhibition series in China. We talk to Zeigler about China's reaction to Major League Baseball, and the sport's potential for growth in that country.

A local hospital uses robots to perform surgery on patients. Dr. Kris Ghosh with the Palomar Medical Center explains the benefits to this kind of surgery, how he adjusted to this new way of operating, and why it may be the future of medicine.

A record nine million Californians voted in last month's presidential primary election. San Diego County's turnout was the highest in more than 30 years. KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps has details.

A landmark conservation plan would link up wildlands in Southern California. A report to be released Wednesday by the group South Coast Wildlands maps out strategies to preserve and link vast stretches of terrain. KPBS Environmental Reporter Ed Joyce tells us the plan would connect several areas in San Diego County and Mexico.

Do you know who owns and operates San Diego's landfills? We sent KPBS reporter Andrew Phelps to dig up that information.

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