Qualified

SEATTLE  - Juergen Klinsmann went 23 months and 28 matches as coach of the U.S. national soccer team before starting the same lineup in consecutive games. The experiment didn't last long. Klinsmann, who lost midfielders Jermaine Jones and Graham Zusi in last week's win in Jamaica, will go back to the drawing board to find a starting 11 for Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against unbeaten Panama at CenturyLink Field (TV: Unimas, ESPN, 7 p.m.). Jones is out with a concussion, while Zusi is suspended a match after picking up two yellow cards.

If you're over 40, you probably remember that first time someone called you "Ma'am" or "Sir. " It almost surely hurt, no matter how young and fit you felt. Evidently, your age was showing in those wrinkles and sags. Some decide to live with it; others do everything they can to obliterate the evidence. Today there are more nonsurgical options than ever to erase lines, thanks to new developments in the world of fillers. Thirty years ago, a filler such as Zyplast (cow collagen) would be injected to bring a line or scar up to the level of the surrounding skin.

Alice Marie Francis believes it's important to have health insurance, but finding a plan that fit her budget was no easy task. "Money is tight," says the 50-year-old Burbank mother of two, whose children are insured by their father's work-based policy. To make sure she had coverage that didn't break the bank, she opted for a high-deductible health plan - an increasingly popular option with lower monthly premiums but high upfront costs before most insurance payments kick in. High-deductible plans are typically recommended for younger policyholders who are in good health and have less need for doctor visits and prescription drugs, and for people with incomes high enough to cover the cost of routine medical care.

"Don't go there," a well-traveled friend said when I mentioned my plans to visit Capri, a sunny island off southern Italy. Why? "You're not going to want to come home," he said. I laughed. My friend, a know-it-all author, loves to give advice. I didn't need it; I already knew I would fall in love with Capri. It's been one of Europe's favorite island getaway for more than 2,000 years, enthralling a cast of characters ranging from Roman emperors to 21st century luminaries and A-listers.

SACRAMENTO - California lawmakers Wednesday advanced a dozen gun-control measures, including background checks for ammunition buyers, and gave early approval to a tax penalty on the Boy Scouts for barring openly gay leaders. Legislators also voted for a new $75 charge on real estate transactions to pay for affordable-housing projects. Mass shootings such as the one in Newtown, Conn., in December spurred Democratic lawmakers to look for ways to tighten California's gun laws, already some of the toughest in the nation.

The Obama administration's new plan to stimulate refinancings of FHA mortgages is likely to help large numbers of homeowners — even those who are deeply underwater — cut their monthly costs by switching to a loan with a rate below 4%. Here's a quick overview of the "streamline refi" program and what it will take for you to qualify. First, the baseline criteria: Your current home loan must be FHA-insured and must have been put on the Federal Housing Administration's books no later than May 31, 2009.

I was personally offended by Alison Dakota Gee's article about my late husband, Bruce Lee ("Dragon Days," Calendar, July 20). Purporting to commemorate the flourishing of his legacy 25 years after his death, The Times' story sank to the depths of tabloid journalism in sensationalizing the life and death of an extraordinarily gifted human being. Having been married to Bruce for nine years and being the mother of our two children, I am more than qualified to give a correct recital of the facts.

Morning light revealed pitched tents and scattered sleeping bags in front of the sales offices of luxury builder Woodbridge Pacific Group. Attracted by a dozen new Huntington Beach homes touted as "starting in the low 1,200,000s," about 15 hopefuls had camped out for days. They were waiting for a chance to get their names on a list to buy into the first phase of a new subdivision. One would-be buyer had flown in a friend from Las Vegas to hold his place in line. Another shopper had hired a pair of men to wait in 12-hour shifts.

He's an interesting guy, this coach. Resembles actor Richard Gere. Is said to be the very best in his field. Won NBA championships. Dated Jeanie Buss. Meet Chip Engelland, San Antonio Spurs assistant. The shooting specialist credited with sharpening the strokes of Grant Hill, Tony Parker and, most recently, Kawhi Leonard. Engelland, 52, was a UCLA ball boy in the days of John Wooden and led the City Section in scoring as a senior at Palisades High in 1979. Basketball fans around the Westside mention his name in the same breath as former NBA sharpshooters Kiki Vandeweghe and Steve Kerr.

Question: What are the travel requirements for going to Cuba? Is it possible to fly out of Tijuana, Mexico, to Cuba with a U.S. passport? Are there any other ID or passport cards required? Patricia Morrison San Juan Capistrano Answer: Yes, an individual can fly to Cuba from Tijuana, but a license - that is, a special permission - is required to do so (although some websites argue it's not necessary). Treasury Department regulations say this: "The Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 CFR Part 515 (the 'Regulations')