Livewire: Kim Jong-un

Kim Jong-un,North Koreas young dictator,is taking unprecedented steps to breathe some fun into his repressive regime

Kim Jong-un,

North Koreas young dictator,is taking unprecedented steps to breathe some fun into his repressive regime,helped by women rock stars in miniskirts and killer heels,and cultural icons from the usually reviled United States.The unusual gala performance featured Walt Disneys Its A Small World,a thumping rock version of the theme tune to Rocky and Frank Sinatras My Way,a song that might have particular appeal to the Kim family,whose word is law in North Korea. There was even a love interest,and an element of mystery. Who was the attractive woman accompanying the third Kim to rule North Koreahis wife,lover or sister? Some observers in South Korea have speculated she is a singer he dated years ago before his father put a stop to it,but now back on the scene.

Fred Willard

may be the hardest-working man in show business,truly,and at age 72,he shows no signs of slowing down. The comedic actor,whose credits include more than 200 films and TV series and range from WALL-E to Modern Family and Best in Show,has three new projects reaching audiences. The new show Trust Us With Your Life,which premiered July 10,and Rob Reiner movie The Magic of Belle Isle is playing in major U.S. Cities. Willard is also hosting Market Warriors,a new reality series. Talking about Trust Us With Your Life,he says,The show came out of nowhere. The man behind Whose Line Is It called me from London and explained they wanted me to host this mix of improv and a talk show. Id talk to the celebrity guest and then at certain interesting spots we8217;d stop and act out a portion of their life,and he said I was the only one who could do it.

Eamonn Gearon,

the author and analyst wandered the Sahara for years,often on the back of a camel,before he wrote The Sahara: A Cultural History,a book that dispels myriad myths about a place and people long caricatured by clueless foreigners. What surprised him the most about his research,he says is that the history of the Sahara is replete with examples of major civilisations,empires that disappeared because their water dried up8230; There are only 4 million native inhabitants of the desert proper but throughout history the Sahara has been seen as a place of outlaws and rebels. Also,he adds What is true of Saharan people is their self-sufficiency. What characterises them most is their absolute and unqualified hospitality. If they come across someone in the desert,they have the obligation to feed and water you for three days before even asking your name.