HONG KONG ― India has the Taj Mahal. In France, of course, it’s the Eiffel Tower. Russia has Red Square and South Africa has Cape Town’s Table Mountain. Each a treasure, and each reason enough for a pilgrimage.In Hong Kong, the sight to see is not a single monument or even a majestic natural vista. It is the city’s glittering homage to the modern skyscraper ― a breathtaking skyline with verdant Victoria Peak as the picture-postcard backdrop.Still, when I arrived in Hong Kong for a long weekend l

“Engines of Change” By Paul Ingrassia (Simon & Schuster)It would be impossible to count the number of automotive makes and models that have come and gone since the car was first invented ― or the number of books that have been written about them. The inescapable ubiquity of the automobile has made them, for better or worse, a sort of cultural fodder that Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Ingrassia inventively exploits in “Engines of Change.”The question at the center of his treatise: Do car

“A Simple Murder” By Eleanor Kuhns (Minotaur) During the mid-19th century, the Shakers were the largest and most successful utopian group in existence, with tight-knit communities scattered throughout the Northeast and in Kentucky. The religious sect, which began in England during the late 1700s, stressed equality of the sexes, pacifism and hard work. Sexual relations, even among married couples, were forbidden, making it a difficult religion for many to follow.Today, the Shakers are mainly reme

Sandwiched between two respected Texas historians on a hard church pew, the compact Englishman looks nervous, stroking his stubbled chin as he eyes 60 or so people crowded into the Buffalo Gap Chapel waiting for the sound of that voice they couldn’t have escaped hearing over the last 40 years.Never mind that he’s performed before crowds a thousand times bigger, sold a gazillion records, won Grammys and an Academy Award. British singer and drummer Phil Collins is fidgeting because he’s about to g

  State-run institute also plans to translate Korean works of genre fictionThe Korea Literature Translate Institute announced on Tuesday they will select 15 local writers and support them with publishing their works overseas.The 300 million-won ($257,000) project consists of translating excerpts from the selected writer’s works of fiction and sending them to literary agencies in foreign countries, especially the U.S. The institute is to announce the selected writers by the end of this year. “The

Calera is best known for its compelling Pinot Noirs, but the limestone soils of the Gavilan Mountains east of Monterey Bay work their magic on Viognier too. That’s the genius of the site founder Josh Jensen chose for Calera Wine. This Viognier comes from the Mt. Harlan vineyard, first planted with the grape in 1983 and farmed organically. The bouquet of jasmine and ripe stone fruit draws you in right away. Then comes that lush texture and the tastes of honey, pear and tropical fruit. It’s got a

You have to wonder about the man who ate the first artichoke.Prickly and ugly with a giant fur ball inside, how could he have known what a treasure he had?Luckily, we can all reap the rewards of his bravery, particularly now when artichokes are in season and easy to find in the grocery store produce section.“I think it’s an intimidating-looking vegetable,” said New York-based cookbook author and Italian cooking expert Michele Scicolone.While artichokes are abundant in Italian cuisine, many home

Jeonbokjuk is a delicacy made of sliced abalone and non-glutinous rice. It has a sweet taste, pleasant aroma and is rich in nutrients. It was served as a noble dish in Joseon’s royal courts. Blue jeonbokjuk is a special delicacy cooked with abalone entrails. It is blue in color and has a bitter taste. Ingredients- 1 1/4 cups non-glutinous rice - 2 abalone - 1 tbsp sesame oil - 8 cups water - 1 tsp clear soy sauce - 1/2 tsp salt 1. Wash the rice, soak in water for 2 hours, drain for 10 min.2. Was

U.S. scientists have discovered that when a person gets suspicious, certain part of the brain ‘lights up’, much like a lie detector, Science Daily reported Thursday. Researcher at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute found that concept of suspicion is linked to two regions in the brain: the amygdala, which controls fear and emotional memories, and parahippocampal gyrus, related to recognition of scenes and declarative memories.The amygdale is closely related to a person’s baseline level

Men connect eating meat -- especially muscle meat like steak -- with masculinity, but vegetables were not considered masculine, U.S. scientists found.(MCT)Study authors Paul Rozin of the University of Pennsylvania, Julia M. Hormes of Louisiana State University, Myles S. Faith of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Brian Wansink at Cornell University said several studies showed meat ge

From catering companies to restaurants serving elaborate course meals of Korean cuisine, a new buzzword has found its way onto menus that focus on seasonal ingredients and their health-giving benefits.The word “yakseon,” literally meaning “food that is (as good as) medicine,” has spread to community centers that have set up classes teaching its basic principles and home recipes. Ahead of the regional festival season in coming months, more yakseon seems likely to be introduced in presentations an

PARIS (Yonhap News) ― French President Francois Hollande has appointed his South Korea-born adviser Fleur Pellerin as minister for digital economy, making her the first ethnic Korean to advance to the French cabinet, according to a news report Thursday. Hollande, sworn in early this week as France’s first Socialist president in 17 years, unveiled a list of ministers for his new cabinet, including 38-year-old Pellerin, a French TV channel TF1 TV said.She served as a digital economy adviser for Ho

DETROIT ― When Don and Darla Daley dine at restaurants near their Royal Oak, Michigan, home, they no longer drive their car.It’s the same with quick trips to the store or nearby Royal Oak Farmers Market. They hop on the bicycles they bought two years ago ― their favorite form of recreation and exercise.The Daleys are discovering what many people are getting to know. Bicycling is a great route to fun and fitness for people of all ages.In the two years since the Daleys purchased their bikes, Darla