hehe! I've been "samsookied".

And for no good reason, may I add! I wasn't trying to steal Gong Yoo, cingdoc, truly! But drooling is a purely uncontrollable action.

Now whomever may have laid prior claim to Jang Hyuk...fair warning. I'm after him BIG TIME. If samsooki can have two men, so can I. :-D

Nope. Samsooki can't have two men.
There can only be one. (for Samsooki. everyone else has no limit ;) )

@ langdon813

Did you start Robbers yet?

I was going to watch Ninja Assassin today, but hubby made plans to have dinner with a friend. He was actually sulking that I didn't remind him that I wanted to watch it. (Hello! What have I been saying everyday for the past week?!!!)

2nd try at posting this... the first time it came up marked as "awaiting moderation" which I guess means it's more problematic to post links than I thought (having seen so many here but never having tried to post any myself)... so I've removed them.

@ 96 doublethink101

Your post reminded me that I’ve been meaning to recommend an Australian movie which I loved–and which is about an aging boy band (ie now in their 40s)–Boytown. It’s hilarious … especially the way they try to target their songs to their new (40s) demographic, eg “Picking the Kids up from School”.

Might make a nice follow up to YB (if it takes a long time to get the cast together again for ‘Season 2′ this might be how it ends up! ha!). I don’t know where you can watch it online but I’m sure it’s somewhere. I ordered it through an Australian online dvd store called homesick dot com dot au. A few of the songs are on youtube.

Another Australian series I’ve been reminded of recently is Grassroots, which some City Hallers might enjoy… in that it’s about murky local politics in a suburb of Sydney. Not so much a romcom as a com. Very murky and very funny.

@ 101 hjkomo

I did start Robbers earlier tonight (watched Eps 1 & 2) and I think it's great. I was hooked after the first scene at the airport! He does sleazy really well. :-)

I also finished Thank You earlier today and (other than screaming at the mother to get off her dead ass more than a few times) I thought it was pretty good. Not great, but enough to put me hot on the Jang Hyuk trail. By the time Chuno rolls around I should be well and truly versed in all things JH. Wonder what's the story about him trying to evade his military service, did he try to get out of it citing medical reasons or something? I read about it on Dramawiki but there weren't any details.

And I feel your Ninja Assassin pain. I'll probably get it at my local theater right around the time it shows up on Netflix.

Okay, I think I'm slightly recovered enough (although, I suspect that I will never ever fully recover) from finishing watching Conspiracy In The Court - Director's Cut to share a few thoughts with my OT pals.

Are you tired of dumbed-down dramas that view their audience as mindless idiots? Want action, mystery, politics, love...fabulous writing, perfect casting, and a great soundtrack...directed by one kick-ass PD?

Then, this is the drama for you.

After rave reviews from people whose recommendations I trust and watching PD Kwak Jung Hwan's take on the Gumiho folktale in last year's Hometown Legends, I knew CITC would be good...but I don't think I was fully prepared for what lay ahead.

Seriously, I will never look at sageuks (or any drama) the same way again.

I'm still reeling from the experience. I would have finished the drama last night (or I daresay, early this morning), but fatigue won out in the end, so I had to delay watching the last episode until this afternoon. And since then, I've been listening to the OST, watching MV's on youtube, and reading any and all I can find on the drama.

Here's a little taste of CITC, but it's only a fraction of what the drama has in store for the most fortunate viewer.

MV of Parallel Lines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHZ6ATdORic&NR=1

@ langdon813, Taohua

I'm sorry I'm late with my Eight Days/CITC comments. It really isn't necessary to watch Eight Days before CITC, but I certainly enjoyed it. It is important to note, though, that Eight Days is not for everyone. The writing is dense, and it's definitely less approachable than CITC. Eight days isn't as well directed as CITC, and it focuses mostly on the politics. But if you like the intricacies of politics and the strange bedfellows it makes, then you may enjoy it. It actually took me about three episodes to wrap my head around all the history and background information.

Watching Eight Days did help me to understand the politics of the era (8 Days takes place 5 years before CITC), but it also slightly spoiled one of the mysteries in CITC - not that that really took anything away from CITC. It's just that awesome. I don't know how else to explain it. I'm still kind of speechless at the moment. ;)

There's plenty of fluff and mindless entertainment out there, but if you're looking for a masterpiece...a wonderfully human story in the hands of a master...then look no further.
Watch Conspiracy In The Court. :D

If this is what Kwak Jung Hwan can do with a mere 100 million won per episode, I'm peeing-in-my-pants excited to see what he's going to do with Chuno. 39 days and counting...

@ djes

Welcome to the Assorted Gems viewership! You know it's good writing when a certain grumpy drama guru calls it a "solid weekend drama." That's high praise, indeed.

I don't know about the delay in ripped subs. I suspect it probably does have something to do with viikii's recent problems. I usually don't go back to rewatch with subs, but this is one of the rare dramas that I do go back and rewatch certain scenes with subs because the dialogue is so rich with cultural idioms.

@ langdon813

LOL at "dead ass". :P
I routinely yelled at Gong Hyo Jin's "doormat" character, too. I found it especially grating because I had just finished watching her as another doormat character in Biscuit Teacher & Star Candy.

I don't know the details, but I believe there was a big crackdown on famous people and sons of the wealthy and politicians who tried to get out of their military service by citing "medical reasons". At least, I think that was the story.
Jang Hyuk was one of several entertainers (including Song Seung Heon and Han Jae Suk) who were caught up in it.

@ hjkomo

Please restrain your bladder, otherwise I may be compelled to send you a box of Depends soon. ;-) I don't want to see you bed-bound prior to Chuno's premiere.

See, you can cheer for the Cardinal, as long as we hate the other team with a passion (i.e. USC, ND, etc.).

@ langdon-unni

Did'ja see Vanness' latest tweet, I dies in laughter, I guess being a lawyer is so bad that he can't even pretend to be one for longer than 13 weeks.

And I wonder what tale Tiger will spin tomorrow. Hard to tweet or facebook this, but TG actually was my class in college, and he and I lived in the same freshman dorm and I saw him like everyday in the halls or meals, so that's why his BS-tale was especially timely at my dinner with college girlfriends cuz we all know him (prior to his billionaire days, of course).

I'm totally unmotivated to *start* a new drama, other than Hero, which god must hate because, in addition to all the calamities that have befallen that production, each time I try to watch it, my computer dies or crashes, it's like a horrible horrible murphy's law or something. But I know I'll love it, so I shant give up. But my gorgeous box set of Damo is still sitting on my table waiting for me to pop it in and watch.....

On Air is now on episode 5, and I'm intrigued when it's on but have no desire to continue watching the entire thing now. It's nice to have 4 strong, interactive leads. But I can do with toning down the bitchiness.

YB has now taken over STS's nighttime Wed/Thurs slot on LA 18, and hubby caught episode 1 with me on Thurs, and all he could say was "he's so gay!!!??? why are you watching this?" And I can only peep quietly "but its such a cute show, his gayness becomes totally not distracting afer a few episodes, honest injun."

I'll try to catch AC early tomorrow to give y'all a early mini-cap. Apparently, Vic may be reluctant to reprise his role as Pi-Zi in the B&W movie after feeling miffed Mark won the Best Actor award. I hope this is all just newspaper drivel fanning the flames, because without Pi-Zi there is no B&W the movie, end of story.

@107 ockoala

HEE! You said y'all!

G'nite peeps, 8:00 comes early and that's only 6 hours from now for me, so I'll catch up tomorrow and hopefully make more sense when I post. No promises, though! ;-)

@ ockoala - i did hear about Vic and his possible non-reprisal of Pi Zi role from my mom but she also said it was just unfounded rumors (so far) as it's not really MARK'S fault that he got nominated and won. it's not like he petitioned for it....right? but the ending of B&W is set up so perfectly for a movie that....u kinda gotta continue it right? and really Vic, when was the last time you had such a sweet role to play?!?! i'm just really hoping it's not true because i cannot wait for B&W to turn into a movie and continue this awesome story.... plus i want more of Jason Zou and hopefully a Xi Ying/Cheng Nuo storyline maybe??

ps - what did Vanness tweet?? i'm curious hehe

@ 95 lovenyc52
Oh, it looks like we have lots of songs in common on our play lists, I didn't bring my ipod down with me to this computer room. Yet I see the names I recognize... and I can humm the tunes in my head

Heaven (both korean and japanese version)
Remember (both korean and english version)
Lie (korean)
Top of the World (japanese)
Stay (japanese)
Gara Gara Go (japanese)
Together Forever (english), Candle (japanese version)
We Belong Together (korean with park bom)
Foolish Love (korean)
Number 1 (korean)
But I Love U (korean)
Always (korean and japanese)

Since I forgot to bring enough reading materials on this layover, I was listening to them in my bed first thing in a morning, then later on while running for the first time in a month(too busy, got sick and finally re-committing myself to it), I was listenning to them again, then later walking around downtown Sydney, the music was on, I'm totally totally into them right now.
As soon as I get home, I'm gonna check out the ones you'd mentioned above(and not on my play list) Thanks! It's so frustrating not to have internet access in my own room, It's $25.00/24hrs. I'd pay up to $20.00, but not at $25.00. I guess it's s a bit psychological... Sorry, I just have to get it off my chest.

Anyways, can't wait to get home and finally watch YB ep16... 2 more days.... and catch up with some J dramas. Ohitorisama, it's actually getting more interesting on top of the great title song : D and some others.

@ 76 celestialorigin

Golly, I've just come FROM Sydney - flew home the day you posted. We might have met! Perhaps as we stood in a DVD shop, pursed our lips in irritation and moved them from side to side, as we realised that it didn't stock any K-dramas. Or as we haunted internet cafes looking for sufficient broadband.

@107 ockoala

TG - Wow! I'm seriously impressed. Do keep us updated with the goss... It was front page news in our national newspaper, at the other end of the world. I read the "official" explanation and thought "yeah, right..." But then, I'm cynical. Speaking of which ...

Vanness' tweets - ok, I'm not really sure that I should ask this, because if I do I may have to "out" myself. Oh, what the hey... Do you find his comment about playing a lawyer funny because you are one and/or there are lawyers who habitually inhabit OT?

@110 lovenyc52 Vanness' tweet:
  
"I don't want to be a lawyer any more...hahaha c'mon God~ let's finish this~! WooHoo!!! http://tweetphoto.com/5544225"
And the photo is of his script marked up with yellow highlighter - so, yes, my guess is that the legalese is killing him. Hee.

Ahh, Vic has to do the movie. There is just no way Black and White can do a movie without Vic. I am going to choose to believe it is just rumors. Besides, the director knows Vic so well since he is the director for Mars as well. I saw an interview with Vic and the director together and they seem to REALLY know each quite well. The director said he specifically wanted B&W for Vic b/c from Mars he saw Vic's playful side (not in the show obviously but after getting to know him) and wanted to showcase a different side of Vic instead of the idol image the public knows him as. Vic has gotten his two best roles (he has said it was from Mars that he realized he actually was interested in acting) from this director so I can't see him making things difficult for him.

@ockoala or someone else who knows
I know someone posted Vanness's tweet address before but I have no idea where in the massive OT I am going to find it. Can you provide a link to it? I am getting addicted to AC so I would love to read what he posted. I am excited for Monday to come so I can watch ep. 9!

@celestialorigin & lovenyc52
I'm going to join the Big Bang Lovefest since they have been on my korean playlist as well in addition to Brown Eyed Girls, and You're Beautiful OST. I saw Big Bang in concert when they first debut and I thought to myself that they were going to be really be famous one day because I thought they were really talented and was disappointed they went so pop. My favorites songs for them are

Haru Haru
Hallelujah
La La La

I wish they would make more songs like "Hallelujah" though and less pop sounding songs. Also for anyone watching IRIS episode 9 and onward, I find the insertion of the song "Hallelujah" to be really strange and awkward. Love the song but doesn't meld well with the scenes.

BTW I was a little disappointed in ep 15 and 16 of YB but I'll reserve final judgement until I've seen them with subs since nuances get lost in my 80% comprehension of Korean watching the raw. Viikii has been so overloaded lately I couldn't get access.

I love thanksgiving and the long weekend. Lots of great food, reconnecting with family, and not thinking of work.

Decided to watch Twilight few days ago, and then went to see New Moon. I uhhh kinda liked both movies . . . . *wince*

I don't know -- I think the whole notion of a vampire-rom saga centered around abstinence and wholesome family values is about as counterintuitive as, say, a musical in high school without clouds of weed and Alice Cooper. And yet . . .

Twilight: It kinda plays like a 2-hour episode of Degrassi, you know? Perhaps it was due to the Northwest scenery, but Catherine Hardwicke quietly played up grunge-era/My So-Called Life idioms that made me fond of that time. While watching, I thought "you know, 2 years from now, when the 80s is finally over and the Gen-Z kids put on the flannel and never wash hair, they're going to look like THIS. Edward and Bella are The New Whatever Generation."

New Moon: My e-mail is "dreamcatcher", so seeing that motif in the film kinda pressed a button. In fact -- 4 reals -- the Jacob/Bella treatment would make a wonderful TV series covering real subjects like domestic violence, racism, real marginalization of native American cultures, gang ethics, adolescence, peer-based masculinity, and SURFING. (Werewolves of North Shore, ya feel me Joss Whedon? :D ) You can feel the Twin Peaks influences with Weinz's direction (moreso than Hardwicke's mudhoney sensibilities) -- this could be like Twin Peaks with Abs.

So, yeah, Team Jacob. Definitely. Bella retreats from her self completely when she is around Edward. It goes past passion and into nihilistic narcissism. I don't know whether she fears old or up. If not outliving Edward, outgrowing him, a miserabilist Peter Pan. And exempting the direction and literal content of the script, it seems Kristen acted Bella as if the character genuinely -- and passionately -- fell in love with Jacob. The passion thing confused the crap out of me. Bella was genuinely crazy about Jacob too, in a way where her quality of "the alive" was in her willingness to accept herself, her change, his change, and to become a partner in a relationship, rather than a woman fearing premature cronification by the windowsill. It's even a radical idea for a teen flick - compassionate love can be hot love too.

OMG I think I loved this movie. Help me. :( (The montage where they had the wolves chasing after the vampire with OMG OMG OMG NEW THOM YORKE . . . okay that scene got me . . . )

BTW, for fans of the sageuk Immortal Lee Soo Shin (and for those who are interested but can't be bothered to sit through 2 hours of men with beards yapping with sore throats) . . . you now got the webcomic YI SOO SHIN. Made by talented white people for weekly consumption. This looks epic.

http://www.co2comics.com/pages/co2_yi_soon_shin.html

i love you foor your YB recaps....thank you soo much for your hardwork!

@ serendipity

Do "out" yourself. samsooki, hjkomo and I are in the legal profession, and I hope this is it, because too many of us in one forum isn't always a good thing (case study #1: samsooki and hjkomo's long-running, irreconciliable differences with respect to who *owns* Kang Ji-hwan - I suggest you stay far away from watching Hong Gil Dong because you risk throwing throwing you hat in the ring in that fight). ;-)

Alright, you asked for it, I deliver. This is pure 10000% gossip, nothing substantiated, but I have to say, way more believable than Tiger wanting Taco Bell at 2:30 a.m. and leaving his house while on prescription meds. This from TMZ (source of the world's unsubstantiated gossip).

"During the phone conversation on Friday, Tiger told his friend, "I have to run to Zales to get a 'Kobe Special.'" The person on the other end of the phone asked Tiger what a "Kobe Special" was. The reply -- "A house on a finger." During the conversation, Tiger said his wife had "gone ghetto" on him."

Yup, we've now coined the term "Kobe Special" and it has nothing to do with steak, so pitiful. Oh, and I grew up a Laker, and Kobe has been my favorite player for the last 13 years, and the scandal made me dislike him as a person but I still loved him as a player. But its getting real hard to separate public athletic job and personal life these days.

"hjkomo and I are in the legal profession"

Either of you went to Boalt? Just curious . . .

Yeah one rumor goes that Tiger's wife chased after Tiger with a golf club. Presumably after a fight or because Tiger was going to celebrate the Year of Tiger (next year = Year of Tiger) a few months early. ;)

Wanda Sykes - "The black part of Tiger Wood bought the Cadillac. The Asian part of him crashed it."

@ ockoala

Hubby has already gotten me up to date on the Tiger Woods gossip.
The man finds many kdramas dumb but likes to peruse the news from TMZ and Perez Hilton. Men. Go figure.

To be mistaken as a lawyer - I don't know if I should be proud or embarrassed... ;)
In my past life, I did have lawyers as coworkers, doing exactly the same work...but that was a long time ago. I am more than happy to have left that world behind. :)

@ belleza

I believe Mr. ockoala went to Boalt.
I've only been in the library. ;)

@ cingdoc

I hear you. I wasn't with my extended family this holiday, but I heard all about the latest developments over the phone with my mom. It's at times like these, being a lawyer would actually come in handy.

And don't worry...Samsooki will learn...
...some day.....
.....we hope......
:P

just finished HGD, and it got me curious about korean history during the chosun dynasty. if anyone can recommend some good books, let me know.

thanks.

@ djes
Thank you for the site address. I checked out his blog as well and thought the behind the scene of when he got stabbed pretty funny. AC ep9 is out! Can't wait to watch it.

@125,

There will come a time when the three of us, you, JB and I, will find ourselves on a city block. JB will be on one corner, you will be catty-cornered from her, and I will be perpendicular and adjacent to both of you.

And lo and behold, KJH will be jay-walking in the middle of the crosswalk. He will see each of us, and then he will decide for himself who to walk towards: you, JB or the light.

Walk towards the light, KJH, towards the light.

=)

@ hjkomo and belleza

Ooops, my bad. Didn't mean to besmirch you with mistaking you for also being a legal eagle. But you are correct, belleza, my Cal-loving hubby went to Boalt, and with his entire extended family all attending Cal for undergrad (and him being the only one not to), his allegiance to blue and gold is very strong. I sometimes catch of whiff of it and immediately put on some Cardinal t-shirts to ward off the enemy.

@ cindgoc

I'll let you guys know my weekend whereabouts again and we can play where's ockoala. I tried to go to South Coast Plaza today, and gave up before exiting the freeway, no desire to commit retail seppuku. Spent the morning at B&N reading kids books instead.

Autumn's Concerto update:

Episode 9 is all about the re-connection of Vanness and Ady, without any single kapow moment or catharsis, but chock full of the sparkling chemistry that existed between them when they first met. It's clear that even without Ady having Vanness' son, theirs is a relationship where the attraction between them remains palpable and realistic. Ady looks absolutely gorgeous, the woman is improving episode to episode, so much that by the end of the series, I'd be ready to marry her myself! And Vanness' boy charm is in full swing again, Ady brings out his rascally side and his caring nature. I LOVED the scene where he switches out his son's meat only lunchbox with a box full of carrots and rice. Win!

The second male lead Tuo-ye, he's still as winning as ever as a certifiable candidate for Ady to pick, too bad she just doesn't love him like that. And we can't force love, she fell for caddish Vanness before he turned all good guy with a heart because of her, but that was a huge risk, what if he remained a surly wastrel? Anyhoo, I'm so happy I picked up AC, and started following VWu on twitter, his tweets are pretty cool.

And I'll admit it here, I have ZERO YB withdrawal, but happy the drama ended and that I enjoyed it until the very end. Of all the Hong sisters dramas - my favorite is now HGD and no longer My Girl. I actually re-watched My Girl last weekend, and I didn't talk about it because I didn't like it! I actually was fast forwarding through it, and realized that it was the charm of LDH and her chemistry with LDW that made the first viewing so special to me then. But the story is actually pretty flimsy, and I hated then, and hated more now, the conflict, it just doesn't make sense. But I'm more in love with Junki than ever, thanks MG re-watch, you only spurred me to *watch* *Hero* *immediately*!

Team Underdog Fighting! (good one, hjkomo, coin such an endearing new term, how can someone not join the team?)

I'm been pretty pissy the last few days with adults, only feeling normal around the babies, so I'm glad I'm feeling much more myself today. Toodles everyone!

@ ockoala

"Hubby has already gotten me up to date on the Tiger Woods gossip.
The man finds many kdramas dumb but likes to peruse the news from TMZ and Perez Hilton. Men. Go figure. "

Did we marry the same guy? My husband is the same. He rolls his eyes about me watching kdramas but first thing this morning he tells me with boyish excitement about Tiger Wood's predicament and then proceeds to update me with the developing news and gossip throughout the day at brunch and on our walk in central park--BTW gorgeous day in NYC today with highs in mid-60s. I was a little surprised about how talkative he was about this considering this is the same man who usually grunts at me.

Regarding the Kobe Special. My husband got the biggest chuckle when I related that comment and then he goes on and on about how he can relate to Tiger more now and something about how some men can get sick of eating steak every day at home and sometimes they just want a hot dog before he starts noticing I'm not smiling or talking but giving him the stare down and then he quickly adds "not that I personally like hot dogs or anything like that and Tiger just seems so perfect so I'm just saying he just seems more human etc etc". I have to say if I was Tiger's wife, he wouldn't get away with 4 million dollar rock. He would have to sustain a broken finger or two and a broken leg before I would even think of forgiving him.

@ nycgrl

That comment you quoted was from hjkomo describing her hubby, but definitely describes mine as well. So we three are married to pretty much the exact same guys, just three of them, one for each of us! Yay, us! (and yes, I'd be following my husband outside with a golf club as well, to scare the living sh*t out of him if the rumors of an affair were true, because hollay that's not right and acceptable!).

I, too, am guilty of following PZH and TMZ on occasion, but more to keep up with the rapid fire news stream and pop culture mores. It's hard to remain wedded only to the *legit* news sites these days, the lines are blurring more than ever.

I made a stir fry of my leftover spicy korean fish cake side dish with my left over seafood pancake. Is that kosher? It tastes so good though.

@ djes, I tried not to spoil details of what exactly happened in AC during my mini-caps, as most will not be watching until this week. But I wanted to give a more general overview, so I'm happy you liked it! I hate being the spoilery foil here in OT, and I have been on occasion when my enthusiasm outwits my netiquette.

@ samsooki

Must applaud yet again your creativity in creating scenarios involving KJH where you are given an unfair advantage. Kudos, sir, your fervor and resolve is to be applauded. I shall definitely emulate should anyone try to take my Jung Woo-sung (whom I am willing to open negotiations with only with hjkomo should she lose the KJH battle - if she wins the KJH battle, then all bets are off, sis).

Episode 9 of Autumn's Concerto is so good. I was a mess during the first scene of Ady watching a sleeping Vanness. It is like seeing these two people falling in love all over again, except the second-time-round chemistry is heaps more intense!

@ ockoala, nycgrl

I guess we are all married to the same man. :P
Except mine says that men are stupid to have affairs because they're too much work, and most end up with someone who's essentially the same as their current partner, so why bother? Should I be glad that my husband's faithful out of devotion or just plain laziness? I kid, I kid... ;)

@ ockoala

No worries...my law experience was limited to Title 26, but I do understand the working environment you and ^.^ (henceforth, the symbol for the person formally known as Samsooki) have to deal with.

My Girl is actually my least favorite Hong Sisters' drama. It was enjoyable to watch once, but I have no desire to watch it again. And for those who voted it Lee Da Hae's best work in thundie's poll, I went "HUH?!" o_O

@ #129, ^.^

Keep on dreaming, if that's what's needed to sustain you... ;)

@ djes

Last week's ripped subs for Assorted Gems is up on aja-aja.

@langdon183 and ockoala:
Thanks for ur recs,i will try watching snow queen first (partly bcos of binny and partly cos samsooki kept talking how good it was).
Regarding HGD,i've spoiled myself by reading JB's recaps,and i'm a little hesitant to watch it bcos of the ending.
Really want to watch beautiful days,but i dont know where i can watch it online or dl it.

Sorry hjkomo! I confuse you for ockoala and ockoala confuse you for a lawyer. Its your day to have an identity crises.

"Except mine says that men are stupid to have affairs because they’re too much work, and most end up with someone who’s essentially the same as their current partner, so why bother? Should I be glad that my husband’s faithful out of devotion or just plain laziness?"

Haha I told my husband in college on our first date that I would never stalk him if we broke up because I'm too lazy to stalk anyone. Apparently this must have made some impression on him since I got a 2nd date and another and another so I guess laziness is sometimes good?

@ockoala "I made a stir fry of my leftover spicy korean fish cake side dish with my left over seafood pancake. Is that kosher? It tastes so good though."

Nope its not but hey I guess everything wounds up in the same place. My brother's roommate cooked only one dish and it was this instant ramen with tofu and fried wings dish (all cooked together in one hot pot!). I remember going over and being served this special dish and wanting to run when I saw this greasy wing floating on top of the ramen.

Javabeans,
Do you know any websites where you can download the You're Beautiful OST? I've tried a few websites but I can't move my songs into my iTunes.
Thanks!

@113 serendipity

Awww! That's too bad you have gone home, we could have gotten together... Do you come to Sydney often? I come here just about twice a month.
And K-drama DVDs, there are 3 stores in Chi-town with one of them having practically everything and they do specials like buy two get the 3rd one free and so on. Just in case for your next time, it's on Gorge st. right about across from Paddy's market. As for watching dramas on internet cafes... That's another problem, so much gaming going on inside cafes and computers get so slow and it's practically impossible to watch...I've been there, sometime, it's possible, most of the time, not... That's why I'm dying to go home to catch up...

@116 nycgrl

Welcome! It's funny, as I walked into this computer room I was listening to Bigbang... Actually that's the only playlist I'm listening to on this layover... I'm a bit obsessed at this moment. I'm soooooooooooo envious of you for having been able to see them live.... Next time please take me with you!

I'd better get going to Chi-town to see if they have Pig rabbit somewhere in one of those Korean boutiques. Otherwise, I have to ask my Korean girl friend from work to get me one next time she has layover in Seoul.

@138 jm126

Why not? Somehow, I've managed to have them all on my Itune/ipods. had been listening to them all till my Bigbang fever started... and I'm not techy at all. Even from some of youtube mp3 links. Good luck for you!

By the way, I had the best Dolsot Bibimbap last night here... Yum.

@119 belleza

Yes, that's a bit worrying. But [whispers] I enjoyed Twilight the movie too. There's something in expectations being way way low, being in the mood for a mock, and watching on in-flight entertainment (no regret about spending good money on a ticket). Nonetheless, it held my attention from beginning to end (whereas I couldn't get past ten pages of the book). Have to confess it was more morbid fascination than anything, but, hey, at least I wasn't bored. Hm, maybe I need to check out New Moon too.

@ 122 ockoala

Legal -- Eeek. [runs and hides.] In my defence (ahem), can I just say that after more years in the profession than I care to admit, I have completely reinvented myself and am now doing something completely different - far far less lucrative, just as stressful in some ways, but imo much more fun.

And, I have watched HGD and I do love KJH. Uh oh. Adverse Possession slug-out, anyone?

Gossip -- Well, I don't think you are shattering any dimensions by passing on that very plausible piece of gossip. Wanting Taco Bell at 2.30am is just about as believable as needing to take a golf club to the back of your husband's car in order to rescue him from it.

I dunno - I've always felt a little sorry for public figures who are supposed to lead blameless lives. So, if my area of excellence is in, oh, say, investment banking lawyering, I don't have to keep my nose clean, but if my area of excellence is in sports I have to be a role-model for school children everywhere? Hmm. Maybe it's because sports figures gets tons of money for endorsing products, so you are paid money for your clean public image and that's the deal? Hmm. So if I'm a sportsperson can I behave badly so long as I'm not getting endorsement money? Hm.

Autumn Concerto -- I watched episode 1 and got bored. I didn't like the stereotypical characters and heavy-handed plot. But reading your @ 130 has gotten me thinking: maybe I do need to check this out after all.

@ 139 celestialorigin

A Dramabeans Meet in Sydney! Aw, if only. Sadly, I don't get to Sydney too often. I travel more around East Asia, where I'm based. If I ever do make it back I'll be sure to check out Chi-town. George St, across from Paddy's Market - that sounds easy to find. You must rack up a ton of air-miles if you go twice a month and you are based in the States.

My 15-year old niece, the closest thing to an arbiter of coolness in my life (I have no kids), says that her favourite K-band is Bigbang. So there, it's official. You are on the very cutting edge of youthful coolness.

@celestialorigin

Are you in NY area? I try to catch as many kpop/hip hop groups when they come to the area. Rain was the only one I didn't bother since I'm not a fan. I usually go with my cousin but I've been known to drag my husband if she can't go much to his utter joy. Epik high was the last one I went to and it was really a blast and even hubby sort of liked it. BTW it was the YG family concert and I went to the concert to see 1Tym and Jinusean but wound up leaving and loving Big Bang even though they are a bit young for me.

@ nycgrl - oh you went to the mapthesoul concert for epik high in NY? i went to the one in LA :) such an amazing amazing group. and we got to see far east movement as well so that just rocked. the YG family concert... was that the 10 year concert like 3 years ago?? i actually ALMOST went to that one in LA but at the last minute decided against it (DAMMIT!) now who knows when the next time i'll be able to see Big Bang in concert.. If they ever have a YG Family concert again here i'm SO there it's not even funny. Love Big Bang. Love 2NE1 too. and if 1tym and jinusean and gummy performed as well, that would just be the best concert hehe.

re: Big Bang - oh yea. i'm obsessed. totally on repeat all the time. can't help it.

re: Autumn's Concerto - sigh. i am SO loving this show. and really sad that there's an ENTIRE WEEK until the next one.

i did start watching MNIKSS again (i totally stopped during YB's airing) and am totally loving it. KSA is just hilarious! and Binnie has the cutest dimples! And Daniel Henney.... um... is so darn pretty? Haha.

@ serendipity

I find that the *role model* tag comes along with being an *entertainer* of whatever variety, whether its acting, singing, sports, novelist, etc. If your job, the thing you do that makes money and sustains your living, involves being in the limelight and becoming most likely a person others idolize and/or want to emulate, then the unfortunate reality is that in choosing such a profession, it comes with the need to maintain a clean image. Investment bankers and lawyers are rarely in the mass public limelight, so their shenanigans and pecadilloes fly under the radar for the most part. I think it's a fair price to pay for their jobs being so lucrative with the sucre, you get paid to sell your image along with your mad skillz. Unless one is Ricky Williams and just comes out and says I'm a giant pot-head, take it or leave it, and the Maimi Dolphins took it. Go figure.

As for Autumn's Concerto - AC's greatest strength to me is its sheer simplicity in story and execution. AC has virtually no set up prior to delving right into the meat and potatoes of every good love story - The Meet-Up. Then AC completely does away with useless side characters, and the remaining few, we never get to know their motivations, their own sob stories. We see the second male lead's totally cute first meeting with our heroine, but we never see why he loves her, but it doesn't matter, because the execution is so smooth and the characters feelings painted with a clear brush that I believe he loves her sincerely as their friendship progresses.

Up til episode 9, there hasn't yet been any useless sub-plot or wasted time spent with characters the audience doesn't care about - it's been the Mu-cheng (Ady) and Guang-xi (Vanness) story from frame to frame. And I love it, it's the only way the cliches the story is constructed from doesn't bog down the story.

And I confess - if the lead wasn't played by Vanness (looking hotter than ever) with such finesse and heart, I may not find AC worth watching. Goes to show, the right casting and the indefinable chemistry between the leads is pretty much a deal maker or breaker in love stories. AC is carried on the backs of Ady and Vanness, and they are doing a great job in making me care about them. AC breaks no new ground, probably won't linger in my mind long after I finish it, but for a TW-drama, I think it's hands down the best idol love story I have seen second to ISWAK (which I hate to love because of how much Xiang-qin annoys the bejesus out of me). Prince Turns into Frog is up there with the chemistry between Ming Dao and Chen Qia-en, and Fated to Love You is probably more melodramatic with the twists and turns and betrayals and the transformations and the big moments. But AC succeeds on the little things that may not catch the viewers eye at first glance, but together little by little builds into something really moving.

Oh, and I'm so happy and envious that you and hjkomo have re-invented yourselves and are much happier with what you do. I'm almost there by going from private practice to in-house, but there are still days I wish I was a romance novelist eating bon bons.

All right...I just came back from watching Ninja Assassin. (sorry langdon813!)
Surprisingly, hubby was very eager to watch it...but when I asked him if he wanted to watch it because of his own interest or mine, he answered mine. :D

A bit too much blood and body parts for my taste,
but an entertaining watch, nonetheless. Hubby even liked it.
- Good fight scenes.
- Rain's Engrish wasn't too horrible.
- Ben Miles was a plus (I didn't know he was going to be in it, and I always like seeing him onscreen.)
- No cheers from the audience (it was a small crowd), and I was the only one who laughed at the boy-band joke.
- If you think the camera went a bit too low Vanness's shower scene...there was one shot of Rain where I could've sworn that he must have had some waxing done. ;)
- Yes, only one ninja was injured, and the rest were killed.

That about sums it up. :P

It's been ages since we've gone to see a movie at the theatre, but the trailers were interesting. Sherlock Holmes and Avatar are already on my to-watch list, but I hadn't heard anything about The Wolfman until I saw this trailer tonight.
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVKyeMQcUNY

Another trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS02xaTIdRI

@ serendipity
"I have completely reinvented myself and am now doing something completely different – far far less lucrative, just as stressful in some ways, but imo much more fun.

Ah, same here! Because life's too short to be wasted on being miserable. :D

@ lovenyc52

Yes to the epik high concert and yes to the YG family concert 3 years ago. That was the year Big Bang debuted it was a great concert and Big Bang was throwing a lot of stuff into the crowd like water bottles, towels and shirts and I kept ducking (I was pretty close to the stage) since I didn't want to get hit and also I had no idea who they were so I wasn't as interested in getting their stuff.

Big Bang and Stony Skunk (indie reggae group) were the big surprise for me that night. I also miss 1Tym and Jinusean performing and hope if they do another concert I'll get to see them perform again and 2Ne1 of course since I want to hear G-Dragon's The Leader with CL. CL is all sorts of awesome.

@142 serendipity

Oh, and to be exact. The store is 1 block away from Paddy's. on George St. sort of at the same cross street. on the next block toward Central station from Starbucks on George. I don't get any miles, my day job being a fly girl, you know what I mean, your onboard safety proffetional/trash management specialist/waitress/counseler /babysitter/CPR administrator and what not...

@143 nycgrl @144 lovenyc52

Humm, NYC, So far... I'm in So. Cal... Anyway, if there's any info. about their concerts in future, please let me know. A bit young for you? In that case, they are way too young for me as they are younger than my son! LOL! I don't worry too much about those things anymore. Art reaches out to our souls in profund ways, like a soul to a soul communications, sort of...

One more night and be home! Can't wait to just sit in fromt of my computer and catch up with everything. AC is definetely on my list. Miss my home...

Whoops, above comment was by me.