Christmas arrived a few days late for the paparazzi tailing lady killer-turned-boozehound David Tao (陶吉吉) - but it was worth the wait.
Much to the delight of the nation's tabloid journalists, the pop idol has been lighting it up with great frequency ever since last year's string of widely reported flings with mixed-race models. It was only a matter of time before the handsome barfly got caught making a fool out of himself.
That came sooner than expected. Last Friday night, after a bender at the uber-trendy Barcode lounge in Taipei's Xinyi District, Tao's taxi driver dropped him off at a nearby police station because the booze-addled star was unable to recall where he lived.
PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES
Obviously more than a few sheets to the wind, Tao became a little too friendly with local law enforcement, engaging in amiable antics like high-fiving, incessant small talk, and fawning over officers who just wanted the inebriated star to stand still. Tao's lively display of drunkenness even included calling the Next magazine paparazzo who had been called to record the silly scene his "bro."
The late-night farce ended with an unexpected grand finale when Tao tried to show his gratitude by planting a kiss on a woman who had been dispatched to escort him home.
In a more touching turn of events, Selina - she of girl band S.H.E - is said to have found herself a new Prince Charming after years of failed romances with showbiz peers such as Alan Luo (羅志祥), Mickey Huang (黃子佼), the aforementioned David Tao and Wang Lee-hom (王力宏).
PHOTO: TAIPEI TIMES
The 26-year-old starlet's marriage prospects look to have improved greatly ever since the arrival of square-looking, suit-wearing lawyer boyfriend Chang Cheng-chung (張承中), who won the star's affection after two years of persistent wooing.
Selina is evidently a cheap date, at least that's the conclusion drawn by Next's first expose on their until-now well-hidden relationship. Evidently, a plebian dinner with her 37-year-old beau at a Formosa Chang's (鬍鬚張) franchise - they had minced fatty pork over rice (魯肉飯) - was romantic enough for the pop idol.
Moving on now to news about intellectual property, no sooner did the crooners of boy band Lollipop (棒棒堂) release their first album than they were exposed as a (boy) band of copycats. The guys from the Channel V variety show had plagiarized around 90 percent of their lyrics and music video content, it seems, from Japanese acts News and Hey! Say! Jump.
Then again, who expected originality from a bunch of pretty faces with voice coaches whose only talents are knowing how to grin deliciously and act cute?
This week's New Year Eve's celebrations once again saw a legion of stars answering the call to see off the old year. Hard-working rockers Champion (強辯) topped the rest, rushing to five concerts across the nation on the night of Dec. 31, 2007. ABT idol Wang Lee-hom earned second place with three performances, from Tainan to Kaohsiung.
However Wang had it easy. He only had to take the High Speed Rail to his shows. Shin (信), of Shin Band (信樂團), however, took a much more circuitous route involving a scooter, Taipei's MRT, the High Speed Rail and, finally, a car to travel from Taipei to Yunlin.
Seeing idols cash in on publicly-funded New Year's bashes is all very well and good, but Pop Stop can't help but wonder just when our city and county governments will come up with a year-end celebration that's more inspiring than a litany of sickly sweet pop tunes.
Just after 6am, I walked up to the ticket gate at Taipei Main Station and entered the Taiwan Railway platform without scanning any ticket; instead, I flashed the Sanrio Fun Rail pass on my phone to the gate worker and was admitted. I found my train and prepared to board. My destination? This very same station. I was embarking on a 13-hour journey on one of two round-the-island trains operated by ezTravel. They run each day, one counterclockwise around the island and one clockwise. They differ in a number of ways from an ordinary Taiwan Railway train and can make for
Jason Han says that the e-arrival card spat between South Korea and Taiwan shows that Seoul is signaling adherence to its “one-China” policy, while Taiwan’s response reflects a reciprocal approach. “Attempts to alter the diplomatic status quo often lead to tit-for-tat responses,” the analyst on international affairs tells the Taipei Times, adding that Taiwan may become more cautious in its dealings with South Korea going forward. Taipei has called on Seoul to correct its electronic entry system, which currently lists Taiwan as “China (Taiwan),” warning that reciprocal measures may follow if the wording is not changed before March 31. As of yesterday,
The Portuguese never established a presence on Taiwan, but they must have traded with the indigenous people because later traders reported that the locals referred to parts of deer using Portuguese words. What goods might the Portuguese have offered their indigenous trade partners? Among them must have been slaves, for the Portuguese dealt slaves across Asia. Though we often speak of “Portuguese” ships, imagining them as picturesque vessels manned by pointy-bearded Iberians, in Asia Portuguese shipping between local destinations was crewed by Asian seamen, with a handful of white or Eurasian officers. “Even the great carracks of 1,000-2,000 tons which plied
On Thursday, former Taipei mayor and founder of the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) was sentenced to 17 years in prison and had his civil rights suspended for six years over corruption, embezzlement and other charges. Seven others related to the case were also handed prison sentences, while two were found not guilty. It has been a bad week for the TPP. On Tuesday, prosecutors charged Chinese immigrant Xu Chunying (徐春鶯) with suspicion of taking part in Beijing-directed election interference. Xu has strong links to the TPP, which once offered her a party list legislator nomination. Tuesday also
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