There are funny drunks and nasty drunks. Actor Tuo Tsung-hua (庹宗華) can now be filed under the former category after his shenanigans at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. According to an article in yesterday's Liberty Times (the Taipei Times' sister paper) the thespian who is best known for playing soldiers in movies like Yes, Sir (報告班長) started sousing himself in alcohol on a flight from Hong Kong. After touching down in Taiwan he got himself into a real pickle when his younger brother failed to greet him at the arrivals gate.
Fellow passengers and airport security were surprised to find the Golden Bell award winner repeatedly crying "Where are you?" and becoming increasingly agitated. Surveillance cameras show Tou weaving uncontrollably around the airport and saluting in a drunken fashion the security officers who detained him. Currently filming Ang Lee's (李安) new film Lust Caution (色戒), Tou was eventually taken home by his apologetic sibling. Since he was not disorderly on the plane and only made a fool of himself at the airport he faces no charges.
Tou's brother, the barfly and club owner Tuo Tsung-kang (庹宗康) was also in the news yesterday after appearing on a show with singer and TV host Little Pig (小豬), otherwise known as Alan Luo. Sparks were expected to fly as Little Pig's rumored girlfriend Selina, of the pop group SHE, had been quoted as saying she fancied Tou. Since Little Pig has been denying any hanky-panky with Selina, it would have been odd indeed for him to show any jealousy. Instead Little Pig demonstrated how easy it is to challenge paparazzi evidence of a relationship.
"My teacher told me that unless you are caught in bed you can deny anything," Little Pig told his TV audience. He then grabbed Tou by the hand and said if photographers caught him in a similar situation he would explain it away by claiming the girl had fallen and he was helping her up. As if we didn't know already.
Last weekend the most interesting event in celebrity land was the "Battle of the Moms" between TV host Little S (小S) and glamorous entertainer Janet Lee (李蒨蓉). The two appeared on the same stage for a milk powder company and were clearly pulling out all the stops to be crowned spiciest mom (辣媽). Though Lee wore a red dress that was slit to expose her breasts and Little S wore an ultra mini skirt, both insisted they were dressed conservatively. Lee got the upper hand, however, when Little S said she wanted a little boy but it was not easy to become pregnant. Lee responded that conceiving children was the easiest thing in the world for her. She said that even though she only had sex just before or after her period she still got pregnant twice. The Apple Daily quoted her saying, "A safe time of the month really is not safe" As if we didn't know already.
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
It’s only half the size of its more famous counterpart in Taipei, but the Botanical Garden of the National Museum of Nature Science (NMNS, 國立自然科學博物館植物園) is surely one of urban Taiwan’s most inviting green spaces. Covering 4.5 hectares immediately northeast of the government-run museum in Taichung’s North District (北區), the garden features more than 700 plant species, many of which are labeled in Chinese but not in English. Since its establishment in 1999, the site’s managers have done their best to replicate a number of native ecosystems, dividing the site into eight areas. The name of the Coral Atoll Zone might
Nuclear power is getting a second look in Southeast Asia as countries prepare to meet surging energy demand as they vie for artificial intelligence-focused data centers. Several Southeast Asian nations are reviving mothballed nuclear plans and setting ambitious targets and nearly half of the region could, if they pursue those goals, have nuclear energy in the 2030s. Even countries without current plans have signaled their interest. Southeast Asia has never produced a single watt of nuclear energy, despite long-held atomic ambitions. But that may soon change as pressure mounts to reduce emissions that contribute to climate change, while meeting growing power needs. The