The New York Times today brings word of a sex scandal that has been burning up the East Asian media for the past two weeks, but which is only starting to generate heat here. The story so far: Edison Chen, a B-list movie star in the states (The Grudge 2!) but an A-list star in his native Hong Kong, took compromising photos of himself with a slew of Asian actresses and teen idols and put them on his computer. According to a police report, Chen left his laptop at a computer repair store, where the machine's memory was copied. A few days later, the photos made their way to the Web (an employee of the store has been arrested, but not charged), and as is the natural progression of these things, they quickly metastasized online faster than prudish Hong Kong censors could have them taken down. (Those interested in seeing the uncensored photos, click here.)

Today, Hong Kong law enforcement agents are arresting bloggers who post the pictures, which is raising the ire of free speech activists in the Chinese territory. Chen's career is now in serious jeopardy (he's already been cut from one film, and his bit role in the next Batman movie is under review), and Hong Kong gangsters, who have a vested financial interest in the territory's film industry, are threatening his life.

The lesson, as always: If you are in any way, shape, or form a public figure and wish to have/continue having a legitimate career, kindly refrain from taking naked photos of yourself and your lovers. If you simply aspire to be in any way, shape, or form a public figure, however, snap away!