Bloomsday, a commemoration to celebrate the life of Irish writer James Joyce that also relives events from his novel Ulysses, is to be held in Seoul.“The evening will be a convivial mix of drama, readings and music,” said Ireland’s Ambassador Eamonn McKee.“It is a world-wide phenomenon which reflects the admiration and love for Joycean literature, specifically the greatest novel yet written, ‘Ulys

Jon Austin’s wife, Amy, had a blunt assessment for her husband as the Minneapolis couple watched Rep. Anthony Weiner’s stunning confessions on television this week.“You’d be dead,” she told him.Regardless of his professional future, it’s Weiner’s predicament at home that seems to be launching countless discussions among couples like the Austins. And this time, it’s not a question of actual physica

KANSAS CITY, Missouri ― When you push through the revolving doors of an inner-city hospital, you don’t expect modernist sculptures in Popsicle colors between the glass doors.But at Truman Medical Center in Kansas City, glazed ceramics in abstracted flower shapes twirl around with the human traffic 24 hours a day. The display shelves are positioned low, at wheelchair level. Or scared-kid level.The

CHICAGO (AP) ― The violin isn’t pretty, but its scratched frame has been well-loved by the girl who cradles it now, and those who played it before her. Her mother calls it her daughter’s “soul mate.”The instrument doesn’t belong to Nidalis Burgos. It is on loan from her school, where the seventh-grader packs it up each weekday to bring it home.She practices anywhere she can ― in her bedroom, in th

PARIS (AFP) ― Napoleon’s first English lessons while he was banished to exile on the South Atlantic island of Saint Helena fetched more than 93,000 euros at an auction in France Sunday, several times more than they had been valued.Three lots of text in English and French, as well as drawings, by the fallen emperor had been valued 7,000 to 9,500 euros, said the Osenat auction house.A fragment of a

CULVER CITY, California (AP) ― Fresh from leading the Cannes film festival jury, Robert De Niro found himself on stage at the Guys Choice Awards praising Keith Richards’ “big brass balls” and telling an audience that Sean Penn peaked with “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.”De Niro played the dirty-mouthed elder statesman at Saturday night’s Spike TV honors, a sort of brash, puerile younger brother to

Are people in like with Woody Allen again, after all these years?The limited-release box-office performance of Allen’s latest, “Midnight in Paris,” suggests as much. In 58 theaters nationwide last week, the romantic fantasy starring Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard made $2.6 million, averaging more than $45,000 per screen. In Chicago, even better: on four screens, an average of $49

UNIVERSAL CITY, California (AP) ― The MTV Movie Awards was more like “The Team Edward Show.”“Twilight” star Robert Pattinson sucked up the spotlight ― and the popcorn-shaped trophies ― at Sunday’s shenanigan-packed ceremony. Among the goofy actor’s moments: winning three different awards, unexpectedly kissing co-star Taylor Lautner, and slipping the F-word past censors when presenting Reese Wither

VENICE, Italy (AFP) ― An array of sometimes disconcerting sights and sounds went on public display Saturday on the shores of the Venice lagoon for the Biennale contemporary art festival.From a picture of Jesus in his underwear to a human skull decorated with pearls, the images at the festival provoke, bemuse or titillate.“This is completely amazing!” exclaimed Edouard Duval-Carrie, an artist from

LOS ANGELES ― When Prince called into George Lopez’s “Lopez Tonight” TV show in early April and announced that in less than a week he’d play the Inglewood Forum to kick off a string of 21 concerts in the region, some of his staunchest fans wondered whether he’d bitten off more than even he could chew.The enigmatic singer, guitarist, songwriter, producer and entrepreneur is on track to wrap up his

NEW YORK (AP) ― Over the years, one of the last things a viewer would on the youth-obsessed MTV was a parent.Now moms and dads are not unusual sights, even on the twin totems to wild behavior and its consequences “Jersey Shore” and “Teen Mom,” which are key to the network’s latest resurgence. Many young viewers targeted by MTV have no problem with parents being an active part of their lives, even

BAZARAK, Afghanistan (AFP) ― A holiday in Afghanistan? It may not sound like an enticing prospect, but one province hopes that its history of warfare can help pull tourists in rather than put them off.Panjshir, around 130 kilometers northeast of the capital Kabul, is dominated by the snow-capped mountains of the Hindu Kush, plunging valleys and a fast-flowing river which snakes through the middle.

SINGAPORE ― If you are searching for blazing sun, beautiful beaches and great scenery for your summer holiday but have overlooked Singapore, it’s time to reconsider.With the opening of Universal Studios last week, the Resort World Sentosa on Sentosa Island off Singapore, is now transformed into an international leisure complex, aiming to attract more than 600,000 visitors annually. The Lost WorldT

Francesco Rinaldi, one of the oldest estates in Piedmont, is known for its classic Barolo. Those who prize the elegance and earthiness of Piedmontese reds should seek out Rinaldi’s single-vineyard Dolcetto d’Alba “Roussot.”In Piedmont, you’ll find winemakers drinking Dolcetto at their own tables ― with salumi, pasta or panini. But this Dolcetto, made with grapes from a vineyard near the famous Can

VENICE, Italy (AP) ― Outside the U.S. Pavilion, a runner pounds a treadmill on an overturned 60-ton military tank. The visually commanding exhibit at the 54th Biennale contemporary art exhibit reverberates ― loudly.At the Danish Pavilion nearby, a contemplative exhibition that explores free speech issues is periodically disturbed by the rumbles.The juxtaposition of the booming Americans and the qu

LOS ANGELES (AP) ― MTV says Reese Witherspoon will receive its Generation Award at Sunday’s MTV Movie Awards.The 35-year-old Oscar winner is being recognized for her range as an actress and for delighting the MTV audience throughout her career. MTV President Stephen Friedman called Witherspoon “one of the most versatile and accomplished performers of her time.” Reese Witherspoon (AP-Yonhap News)“S

LOS ANGELES ― Jeffrey Katzenberg was visiting the University of Southern California recently when a faculty member stopped to chat with him. As the two parted ways, the DreamWorks Animation chief urged him: “Just keep sending me magicians.”The magicians Katzenberg seeks are animators, in high demand as the art form has exploded not only in movies and video games but also arenas such as medical res

NEW YORK (AP) ― Forget the pear-vs.-apple and curvy-vs.-curveless shape charts for a minute. There’s another divide in the two-piece swimwear discussion: What if you actually have to get up and move around instead of lying on the chaise with a cool drink in hand?The runway swimsuits and magazine-shoot bikinis, with their thin straps, triangle bottoms, decorative hardware and high ratio of white fa

LOS ANGELES ― Most people would not think of combining seemingly polar opposite pursuits such as Pilates and boxing. But the odd pairing makes perfect sense to one fitness instructor.Former dancer and certified Pilates teacher Viveca Jensen thought the mindful core-strengthening properties of Pilates would complement and counterbalance the quick cardio-heavy pace of noncontact boxing with weighted

Rubs, brines, marinades make thrills for the grillWALNUT CREEK, California ― We may grill all year round, but summer traditionally signals the start to barbecue season. And something about that barbecue grill, says Food Network star Guy Fieri, conjures up all the best parts of summer. Summer traditionally signals the start to the barbecue season. (Contra Costa Times/MCT)“I think we all have an add