April 22, 2001

Peter Passell reviews Hyundai XG300 L and Kia Optima SE V-6; photos; list of specifications (M)

In-depth profile of and interview with Israeli-born, low-budget movie director Amos Kollek who, despite living in and chronicling New York City in films, including his latest, Fast Food Fast Women, has found fame in Europe but not in city; photos; list (L)

Two key players for Toronto Raptors, Charles Oakley and Chris Childs, may have some unique insights, as they prepare to play New York Knickerbockers, where both played previously; photo (M)

Sen Robert G Torricelli played busy, behind-the-scenes role in support of campaign donor's bid to buy South Korean insurance company in 1998; Torricelli insists he did nothing more for David Chang, New Jersey businessman, than he would have done for any constituent; in fact Torricelli wrote letters to Korean leaders, met with senior officials in Korea and recommended Chang and his company in glowing terms; he also took Chang to briefing on economic issues with South Korea's finance minister, using occasion to lobby for Chang's company; this concerned American diplomats in Seoul enough to prompt United States ambassador to later apologize to finance minister; what help Torricelli gave to Chang, one of his most generous supporters, is critical question as wide-ranging federal inquiry into his and his staff's activities focuses on allegations that he took tens of thousands of dollars in unreported cash and gifts from Chang from 1996 to 1999 in violation of federal law; photo (L)

In Mississippi Delta, blues is fading from very place it was born; blues survives in music collections of yuppies, in college seminars on folk culture, in festivals and clubs around world; but in Delta, there is little live music left; bluesmen from Delta still play at festivals and in few weekend clubs that have endured; but even on jukeboxes there is little Delta country blues; hip-hop, Gospel, country and soul music dominate radio; original bluesmen such as CeDell Davis and James (T-Model) Ford recall glory days of blues and lament passing of era; photos; map (L)