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

Books June 8, 2011

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

Culture June 8, 2011

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

Film June 6, 2011

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

Film June 6, 2011

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

Film June 6, 2011

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

Performance June 5, 2011

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

Television June 5, 2011

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.

Travel June 3, 2011