March 09, 2008
March 08, 2008
`Sex is Zero 2' Loses Its Edge
After a night of partying, Eun-sik (Im Chang-jung) finds himself in a compromising position in the college sex comedy ``Sex is Zero: Season.''
While the ``American Pie'' trilogy cooked up a stir in the United States, Korea had its own version of a witlessly wholesome sex comedy, ``Sex is Zero'' (2002). It's always hard for sequels to live up to the glory of their predecessor, but such biting reality hit ``Sex is Zero: Season 2'' especially hard ― slapping the tasteless college story in the face over and over again.
In ``Zero 2,'' the popular actors from the first installment reconvene and the narrative elements are tweaked here and there. Good-hearted Eun-sik (Im Chang-jung) is a law student who, driven by his hormones, is more preoccupied with checking out miniskirt-clad legs in the library than preparing for the state exam.
Male-Turned-Female Actress Appears in Sex Is Zero Sequel
An actress, who will feature in a Korean film scheduled to open next month, has drawn media attention because she has changed her gender.
Lee Sea-youn, 28, who previously went under the name of Lee Dae-hak, will appear in the sequel to ``Sex Is Zero'' to be released nationwide on Dec. 13. Reportedly, Lee underwent a sex change operation earlier this year. The actress is still legally registered as a male.
She has not made any contact with anyone since her sex change became known to the public Friday, ``I am still afraid of showing up before the audience, who may see me with a biased view,'' a movie official delivered Lee's message on her behalf.
The movie production, a sequel to ``Sex Is Zero,'' also faced barriers in promoting the film because many media outlets here have given more weight to the transsexual entertainer rather than the new comic movie.
``With Lee's experience being treated merely as an eye-catching story, we are extremely cautious about handling the issue for fear that she may be affected negatively by what people and the media say,'' said the official. ``We hope Lee will show up in the near future and explain her opinion on the issue.''
Foreign Teachers Campaign for Colleague Injured in Fire
Save Bill Kapoun!
William Kapoun, 26, loved teaching kids. But the young, confident American will not be able to continue what he loves ― at least for a long while. About 10 days ago, a fire broke out at his apartment at dawn and left him with third-degree burns over 70 percent of his body.
The part-time teacher at Bulam Elementary School in northern Seoul is now in intensive care. He will have to endure reconstructive surgery on numerous occasions and a lengthy recovery. Despite the will to live, however, he lacks the means to fight the brutal battle.
The blaze not only altered his body and dreams but also laid bare working conditions that are void of shelters or insurance schemes against such terrible accidents. His full treatment is estimated to cost roughly $130,000.
Save Bill Kapoun @ Blogspot
March 01, 2008
Thaksin makes triumphant return home
AP, BANGKOK
Friday, Feb 29, 2008
Deposed Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra returned from 17 months in exile yesterday to face corruption charges, receiving a hero's welcome from supporters and vowing to restore his reputation following his ouster in a coup.
Police briefly took the 58-year-old billionaire into custody after he arrived at Bangkok's international airport on a Thai Airways flight from Hong Kong, and brought him before a top court where he was immediately released on bail.
While he could face up to 15 years behind prison bars, Thaksin's return was a triumphant re-entry to the center stage of Thai politics despite efforts by the country's most powerful institutions, including the military, to eradicate his legacy and keep him at bay.
"The case of Thaksin is very unique in Thailand's political history. He is the first to have been toppled by a coup and come back in full glory. Those who toppled him became a joke," said Charnvit Kasetsiri, a historian from Bangkok's Thammasat University.
Thaksin has pledged to stay out of politics, but his critics don't believe him and say he already has been exerting influence from behind the scenes.
"Thaksin's real intention is not merely to fight charges in court. We believe he returned to restore his power," said Suriyasai Katasila of the People's Alliance for Democracy, whose protests against Thaksin culminated in the Sept. 19, 2006, coup toppling him.
Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee said that the government would consult him for economic advice.
"I don't want to be involved in politics any longer. I want to live peacefully with my family and die in this motherland," Thaksin told a news conference at the riverside Peninsula Hotel, where he was flanked by family members.
On the plane flight from Bangkok he told reporters that his main interest now was running Manchester City football club.
Thaksin had tears in his eyes as emerged from the airport's VIP room, where thousands of supporters erupted in cheers, waving signs saying "We love Thaksin!"
He knelt and touched the ground with his forehead, his palms pressed together in the Thai gesture of respect.
Police escorted Thaksin to the Supreme Court where he and his wife Pojaman face corruption and conflict of interest charges in connection with her purchase of a piece of Bangkok real estate in 2003.
The charges against him were read and then he was released on 8 million baht (US$267,000) bail. The court set a trial date of March 12.
He then proceeded to the Attorney General's Office where he was freed on 1 million baht bail in a second case in which he and his wife are accused of concealing ownership of shares.
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