Former American figure skating champion Michelle Kwan will visit South Korea early next month as an American public diplomacy envoy, local media reported Wednesday citing an official at the U.S. State Department.

The two-time Olympic medalist, five-time World champion and nine-time U.S. gold medalist will visit South Korea for the second time, after she performed with the reigning world figure champion Kim Yu-na in August this year.

During her planned seven-day stay, Kwan is expected to meet with a group of aspiring South Korean figure skaters and give lectures at universities, local media reported.

With his fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. in jeopardy due to a disagreement over pre-fight drug testing, Manny Pacquiao responded today to suggestions that he has used performance-enhancing drugs.

During a radio interview in October, Mayweather Jr. insinuated Pacquiao may have used drugs due to the Philippines' supposed reputation for being a large producer of performance-enhancing drugs. Pacquiao has threatened to file a lawsuit against Mayweather over the remark. Floyd Mayweather Sr. and the boxer's uncle, Jeff Mayweather, have also suggested in interviews that Pacquiao may have used drugs.

"Liars go to hell. They should be man enough and own up to their words," Pacquiao said in a statement. "For including my country in the picture, claiming that we are the producers of the best performance-enhancing drugs, Mayweather and those who are guilty need to get punished, the sooner, the better, whether it be in the courts or the ring.

"Last week, I told Floyd Jr. to shut his big, pretty mouth and that we should fight so that the world will get to see who is the best fighter on the planet."

Pacquiao also reaffirmed his stance on the drug-testing issue:

"In all my years of fighting, I have never tested positive for any steroids or performance-enhancing drugs.... I will provide any specimen, whether it be blood or urine samples, just right after the fight but not a day or two before, for obvious reasons."

Manny is all business. Mayweather might literally have his foot put in his mouth!

Source www.latimesblogs.latimes.com

The Asian model of the moment, Liu Wen (Marilyn) for China Vogue 2010.

Editorial: The Resort Duet
Photographer: Kai Z. Feng
Stylist: Yoyo Yao

Tip from Conrad at Asian Models Blog

At his concert in Las Vegas this Christmas, Rain said, "I think I can be recognized in the global market place by making the final product with the world's best skills utilizing something Korean and something worldwide with great exactness."

Continuing, "I've decided my next projects, having my two sights set on recovering singer Rain and engraving actor 'Jeong Ji-Hoon' in 2010. I'll charm my Asian fans, there have scarcely been that many chances to meet them, with a Korean-Chinese-Japanese drama in July next year. Also, as a singer, I'll reach global music fans, releasing a collaboration album with the singers who represent USA and Europe."

Rain'll go on his encore concert in Japan in January next year after a brief break after finalizing his work of the year 2009, and he's going to appear in a new blockbuster Hollywood movie in February next year, the contract of which might be nearing a close.

Source: America's Daily Hankook Credit: Yahoo Korean News
Brief translation by rain bird@rain-eu

SFGate.com published a letter from a Franklyn Dickson who knows someone who plays golf with Tiger Woods's agent, Mark Steinberg.

Here's what apparently really when on and is continuing in the Tiger Woods' debacle: (Makes sense)

From: Franklyn Dickson

Subject: inside story on Tiger

I actually believe this:

I have a Member who lives 10 houses down from Tiger in Isleworth. As we know Tiger's agent is Mark Steinberg. My Member plays golf and is real good friends with another IMG Agent, who is very good friends with Steinberg and they share the same office.

This information came from the other IMG Agent to my Member, and then to me today, and according to them is up to date as yesterday when my Member left Orlando.

On Thanksgiving Day, after he and Elin and the family had Turkey Dinner, he spent the rest of the afternoon on the couch watching football and texting Rachel (Uchitel, who's alleged to have been Woods' mistress).

After each received and sent text message he would clear his message box to rid himself of the evidence. Sometime in between there, one of his Orlando buds called him to see if he wanted to get together at the Clubhouse to play poker with the guys, to which Tiger said yes. Tiger left the house around 7:30 to go play poker, and left behind his cell phone... and one message he had forgot to delete from Rachel.

When Tiger returned home around 11:30 - 12 that night, Elin confronted him about the text message in the phone, and the started a heated discussion to its regards. According to what I was told, there was more "incriminating evidence" than just the text message (i.e. photos).

Tiger tried to play it off to Elin by telling her she was reading too much in to it, and did not know the story, etc. Tiger went upstairs to chance into his gym shorts and t-shirt, came back down, and Elin confronted him again; to which Tiger gave the same story.

Tiger sat down in a chair in the living room, and Elin sat acorss from him urging Tiger to just come clean. Tiger stuck to his guns and denied everything. At one point Tiger turned away to look at the TV, and as he turned back, Elin hit him on the right side of the face with the head of a 9 - iron.

When she struck Tiger, she put a huge gash in the right side of his face next to his nose (causing his nose to bruise some), and virtually knocking two of his upper teeth out, and breaking the bone on the upper right side. Tiger ran scared as hell out of the house (which is why he had on no shoes) with Elin swinging the golf club throughout the hallway to the garage (i.e causing the severe damage which has been reported).

Tiger hopped in the Escalade and tried to leave; and as we know Elin knocked out the windows in the Escalade. When Tiger crashed, Elin panicked and was not sure what to tell the police (which is why there are two conflicting stories from her).

When this happened. Elin immediately called Mark Steinberg to tell him what happened, and Mark told Elin to tell him what hospital they were going to, and he would meet them there.

Tiger is transported to the hospital with Elin in the ambulance, and as they arrive Mark is there waiting for them. The people from the hospital and the doctors take Tiger in for X-Rays etc to check out the damage caused. The doctors tell Mark there is not much they can do to repair the teeth and the gash, but the doctor knows a cosmetic dentist and plastic surgeon in Phoenix who will make Tiger look as if nothing happened.

Tiger tells Mark to get the jet ready and "lets head to Phoenix to get this done." Friday after Tiger is released from the hospital, he does not return home. He and Mark board the plane for Phoenix. If you remember, FHP (Florida Highway Patrol) kept showing up at Isleworth to talk to TIger, and was told by another FL attorney (who Tiger hired for PR reasons) Tiger was not ready to talk. (That person is Orlando Lawyer Mark LeJane)

Well now we know why... he was in Phoenix, and did not arrive back in Orlando until either late last Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. The surgeries were more intense than what they had originally planned, which meant Tiger was in PHX longer than he should have been.

Upon arriving back in Orlando, Tiger and Elin have been in intense marriage counseling sessions (up to 6 to 7 hours a day) every day! Both Tiger and Elin have told the counselors they love each other, and want to make the marriage work.

The reports you are reading on TMZ and RadarOnline are about 30 percent accurate at best according to Mark.

In regards to Tiger's boat being in Palm Beach this week, along with Rachel; that part is true. However, Tiger is not on the boat, and is not in Palm Beach; and Rachel is not on the boat. Her parents live 6 blocks from where the boat is, but that is it.

Tiger has not returned to his house at Isleworth since the day of the accident except for the therapy sessions. IMG has enlisted the assistance of one of its most recognized sports figures, and Tiger has taken up residence in his neighborhood; Bay Hill.

IMG contacted Arnold Palmer because of the high regard in which Tiger holds Arnold. Arnold has agreed, and IMG has said if anyone can get through to Tiger, Arnold may be the only person who can, based on his public persona when he was at the height of his game as well.

The moving trucks being shown on TMZ and RadarOnline are moving out pictures and furniture which was damaged during their Thanksgiving Day argument; not of her moving out. Yes, Elin has retained a divorce attorney (Sorrell Troupe), but has not filed any papers, and as of yesterday had no intention on doing so.

Tiger has not made any public appearances or statements due to the surgery and plastic surgery he had in PHX. It will be about another month if not more before he gets in front of a camera. Yes, Tiger is hitting golf balls late at night at Bay Hill out of their teaching center (which is equipped with lights).

Read more: www.sfgate.com

In this little skit, Jib Jab includes the Laura Ling and Euna Lee debacle, the Tiger Woods scandal and Jon & Kate Gosselin..

Asiance intern, Yae-Jin Park, met Seonyeong Lee in a shop downtown, NYC.

What do you do in NYC?
I am studying English as an ESL student. I've been in NYC for almost 1 month and I love NYC. It's so much fun to live here, meeting new people from different places. I want to have special memories with my lovely friends.

Do you like shopping and how often do you go shopping?
Yes, I like shopping. When I really want to buy pretty clothes or cute accessories, I go shopping. Also, when I feel blue, I go window shopping to make me feel refreshed.

Whom do you go shopping with?
I enjoy shopping by myself or with some of my close friends.

What was the concept of today's dress-up?
I wanted to express myself as a cool girl. With all black, I look simple but at the same time it has a strong impact. I like to dress-up in simple style.

Who influences your fashion style?
I don't have any specific designer or celebrities who influence my fashion style but since I live in New York City right now, I am influenced by New Yorkers. If you see women on the street in New York, they dress simply and have lots of black clothes. So in these days, I am so into black.

Christian Serratos (Twilight) was at the Govinda Gallery in Georgetown during the unveiling of Serratos' PETA 'Fur? I'd Rather Go Naked' poster, part of the PETA's "Naked Ambition: 20 Years of PETA's Sexy Celebrity Ads" exhibit at the gallery on M Street NW.

Serratos and her PETA co-horts, Michelle Cho and Jack Ryan, pranced around in the snow, showing off their PETA ads and acting like the region wasn't in the midst of a major snowstorm/blizzard.

That's dedication! Go Michelle!

Last year, we featured a folk-rock and pop group called Good Asian Drivers.

Since then, they've made a brand new video, been on 2 national tours, have a 3rd member (legendary drummer, Ashley Baier) and have a BRAND new studio album!

Watch the official music video of their new hit single "Here's To You" by the Good Asian Drivers. It's great!



Visit www.goodasiandrivers.com

Legendary filmmaker-scriptwriter Paul Schrader is ready to begin filming 'Xtreme City', yet another Hollywood film set in Mumbai. But unlike Danny Boyle's 'Slummdog Millionaire', 'Xtreme City' will not showcase the grimy underbelly of the city.

"My film will not be a shanty film. Not like Slumdog Millionaire at all, thank you." Schrader said. In case you didn't already know, Paul Schrader is the screenwriter of such critically acclaimed films as 'Taxi Driver' and 'The Last Temptation of Christ'. Schrader said that his film will be the total opposite of 'Slumdog', and that it would show Mumbai at its colourful best. "I have scoured Mumbai and have looked at locations. But unlike Slumdog, my focus will not be shanties. Slumdog was too British...and too one-sided. Danny Boyle's film, well...It seems that India is boiling with poverty all the time. That is the way the West wants to see it. But my film will be different."

"Between any two buildings, there is bound to be some space for somebody to live in, a shanty, may be. That is not my primary concern. Xtreme City will show Mumbai at its colourful best." he added. There were rumours that Priyanka Chopra and Shahrukh Khan are in negotiations to star in the film. However, Schrader stated that the Indian cast has not been confirmed yet, but that Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are being considered for the role of the American hero. "All talk of Indian number 1 Shah Rukh Khan having confirmed as the Indian hero is mere imagination. For the American hero, the names of Brad Pitt and Leonardo Dicaprio are being actively pursued. Shooting for the film will begin early next year." he said.

Schrader confirmed that 'Xtreme City' would follow the naach-gaana formula of a Bollywood movie and that there would be at least five songs in the film. Goes without saying, AR Rahman is his first choice to score the music. "There will be at least five songs and dances in the film, typically Indian stuff. This will attempt to be the first crossover potboiler. A Bollywood potboiler used to have a dozen songs earlier, a comedy had around eight...I think now it can be five and we are safe," he said."I would love A.R. Rehman to score the music. He is the Everest of Indian music. I intend to make a real pop cultural hybrid. There will be commerce at its best. The film will show a city where contradictions live side by side."

"In other films, my goal was art...this time, my goal is commerce and I am clear about that. The only film of mine with which I can compare the script of Xtreme City is Yakuzo directed by Sydney Pollack in 1976." Co-producer Mushtaq Sheikh and co-writer said, "Other films show India's pimples...we will show the dimples. Slumdog Millioanire cannot be the end point of all matters Mumbai. This "White man, please save me,' syndrome is disgusting. We are not going to allow milking this city dry because the West wants to live in that myth."

By: Mihir Fadnavis | India.com

A Korean-American activist for North Korean human rights is known to have secretly entered the North Friday via China.

Robert Park (Korean name Park Dong-hoon), 28, is the head of Freedom and Life 2009, an organization promoting human rights in the North based in the U.S.

Pax Koreana, another organization for North Korean human rights, said yesterday that Park entered the North Korean village of Dangwon-ri in Hoeryong, North Hamkyong Province, by crossing the Tumen River from China around 5 a.m. Friday. He reportedly carried a letter urging North Korean leaders to assure human rights for their people.

In his letter addressed to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il and other high-ranking officials in Pyongyang, Park said, “We simply want every North Korean to enjoy a free and safe life.”

In an interview with Reuters Wednesday in Seoul just before leaving for China, he said, “As a Christian, I think entering North Korea is my duty.”

“Even if I’m detained in the North, I don’t want the U.S. government to save me,” he added, referring to U.S. government intervention that got two American journalists freed in August.

Andrew Rain, vice spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said Friday in Washington, “The U.S. government puts utmost priority on protection and safety of American citizens,” reflecting the basic U.S. stance on the matter.

Pyongyang made no comment on Park’s entry as of yesterday.

Don't you think there are more productive ways of addressing these issues than drawing attention to yourself and making us look like even bigger idiots and/or putting other individuals in jeopardy? Let him rot there.

Beat Freaks' Maryss, Lindsey, Rino, and Keeley learned to vogue at a class from Pony Zion and Dashaun of Vogue Evolution and learned how to vogue. This is a trailer for a documentary called “Freak the Vogue”!

FREAK THE VOGUE Trailer from Beat Freaks on Vimeo.