Mr. Big MV: Lee Hyori

Friday, August 29, 2008

Still waiting for some of the tracks that are more R&B/Hip Hop, but here's the MV for the latest dance track "Mr. Big".

Dumbass Blog Post: Is America Now No Longer Racist?

Friday, August 29, 2008

Happened to catch this via a Google Alert from some blog called Environmental Republican:

Democrats for years have said we should be more politically nuanced like European nations and stop being so racist and...well, American.

Now that we have nominated a Black man for Chief Executive--something no European nation has ever done--can we now agree that America is no longer racist?

Fat chance of that happening as identity politics are the mothers milk of the Democrats but at least now their claims will ring a lot less hollow than before.
Yeah, because with one black presidential candidate, racism everywhere is just wiped away.

South Jersey must be really proud of Scott's blog post.

Federal Judge Samuel Kent: Sex Offender

Friday, August 29, 2008



Let's be honest about it. While he might be the first federal judge ever to be charged with federal sex crimes, he really does have that sex offender look, and I'm kind of surprised he wasn't in the news sooner:

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent was indicted Thursday on charges of abusive sexual contact and attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a female employee, making him the first federal judge to be charged with federal sex crimes and the first in Texas indicted in recent history.

The federal criminal investigation was launched in November 2007 after Kent's former case manager, Cathy McBroom, complained that the judge physically touched her under her clothing twice and often made obscene suggestions during the six years she worked for him.

In the indictment, he is accused of making unwanted sexual contact "with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass (and) degrade." [...] The judge faces an additional charge of attempted aggravated sexual abuse related to his alleged attempt during the March 2007 incident to force McBroom's mouth toward his groin.
Here's hoping he gets what he deserves.

Phuket: PAD Versus Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej

Friday, August 29, 2008



Even though there seems to be some unrest over whether or not the Samak government is really a puppet for Thaksin, or if the PAD is just plain crazy (and if you believe one survey the majority of folks in Bangkok think they are) - at least there hasn't been any explosions yet:

PM asks people to rethink before joining rally

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said he was the one who ordered police to retreat from the Government House on Friday afternoon to ease tension between anti-government protesters and police officers. "I was afraid that the two sides would clash so I ordered the retreat," he said. He also called on the Thais to re-think before deciding whether to join the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) rally, saying that the protest does not reap any benefit to the nation. He called on the people to be on the government's side to prove their love and respect to the royal institution. "Do you want the country to fall apart in front of your eyes?," he asked. "Or are you not Thais?"
Rifts behind Thailand's political crisis

The PAD first emerged in September 2005. At the time it was a largely personal crusade by maverick media mogul Sondhi Limtongkul, once a passionate Thaksin supporter who turned on his former mentor after feeling abandoned when his business went bankrupt. But it picked up momentum at the end of that year as public unease grew over the tax-free sale of the Shinawatra family telecoms business for an estimated $2bn (£1bn) and escalated into a movement that helped bring the seemingly impregnable Thaksin administration down. Most Thais probably thought that was the last they would see of the PAD
Thai protesters, police scuffle over court order

The alliance accuses Samak's government of serving as a proxy for former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a 2006 coup and faces several pending corruption cases. Thaksin is in self-imposed exile in Britain. The crowd outside the compound swelled Friday afternoon. When the police pulled back, many demonstrators followed them to a horse racing track about 500 yards from the Government House. Sonthi Limthongkul, a protest leader, vowed Friday to continue the protests until Samak steps down. "We definitely won't leave the Government House until we can topple Samak's administration," Sonthi told the Associated Press. "He cannot stay on for long, I am very sure of that. You can see people coming more and more to join us."
Thai Protesters Enter Prime Minister’s Compound

An estimated 30,000 protesters gathered outside several government ministries and entered the grounds of the prime minister’s office. To avoid them, Mr. Samak moved a scheduled cabinet meeting to the military headquarters. Protesters often gather outside the building, called Government House, but rarely enter the grounds. The crowd, which did not try to enter the building, appeared peaceful, television showed. Mr. Samak said he would not be provoked and would continue to take a soft line with the protesters. Continuing protests by the same group, the Peoples Alliance for Democracy, weakened Mr. Thaksin before he was ousted in a coup in September 2006. Mr. Thaksin is in London, where he fled 10 days ago from Beijing, to evade prosecution in Thailand for corruption cases. He is reported to have asked for political asylum together with his wife, Pojaman. The couple left Thailand after Ms. Pojaman was sentenced July 31 to three years in jail for tax evasion. After attending the Olympics in Beijing, they failed to return home for a scheduled court date. The Peoples Alliance, a loose grouping of pro-democracy advocates, anti-Thaksin forces and others, has accused Mr. Samak and his party of trying to amend the Constitution to help Mr. Thaksin evade the corruption charges.

Leon Le: Returning Back to HCMC

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Caught this article down at VietNamNet on actor Leon Le who's been in Broadway productions of Chicago and Beauty and the Beast and recently played in The Missing Women, and just thought it was interesting that he was going back to Saigon to work on his career - which in a way could tell you what's out there for Asian American stage actors and the different types of receptions they receive:

Many Viet kieu (overseas Vietnamese) artists seem to have little success abroad but they easily achieve fame when returning to their homeland. What about you?

I was trained to be a stage actor so I work on stage more than in motion pictures. It is true that there are not many opportunities for Asian artists in Western countries but I can say that I’ve been lucky in my career.

There are many overseas Vietnamese film makers who come back to shoot in Viet Nam. However, many of them have received negative feedback from critics as they are said to have missed the mark when it comes to in-depth issues of modern society. What do you think?

I have seen films such as Buffalo Boy and The Rebel by Viet kieu film makers, and I think that Viet Nam’s motion picture industry has been making progress. We cannot deny the contribution of overseas Vietnamese film makers in the whole process. A unilateral perception of Vietnamese modern society is inevitable as most overseas Vietnamese film makers were born or have lived abroad for most of their lives. We should support overseas film makers making films about Viet Nam and welcome their interest
Read the full interview here.

More Joy More Luck

Thursday, August 28, 2008



Is it just me or is there a Joy Luck Club revival going on?

Last year the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre did a show and now the San Diego Asian American Repertory Theatre is doing one too:

While some have criticized Tan for perpetuating fictions and stereotyped portrayals of Chinese and Chinese-Americans in "Joy Luck Club," in this production it’s white males that get the stereotype treatment, even if unintentionally. Waverly’s boyfriend, as portrayed by Robert Borzych, would be insufferable under any circumstances. But played for laughs, he’s the very picture of the culturally ignorant white American social doofus.
You already know some of my thoughts on the JLC (which shouldn't be a surprise because I do like the occasional Wonder Girls' track) - so I hope they're getting a good reception.

Check out more here.

Linked Up: Elaine Chao

Thursday, August 28, 2008


ShanghaiDaily.com

Thought I would throw up some links and news stories on Chinese American Elaine Chao, the current US Secretary of Labor who was the first Chinese and Asian American to be appointed to a US cabinet.

The New, The Old, The Profiles

How a Chinese family beat the odds to make it big in the US

It's not everyday that an immigrant family makes it big even in the "land of plenty". But the Chao family has made it. US Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao took part in China Daily online dialogue Monday to share the story of her family's struggle with Chinese netizens.
US reassures on workers rights


The United States and China will strengthen cooperation to protect workers' rights and interests, US Secretary of Labor Elaine Lan Chao said yesterday.

Chao made the announcement in a speech at Shanghai Jiao Tong University yesterday morning where she addressed students in Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Building, which is named after her mother.
Wikipedia


Chao received her B.A. in Economics from Mount Holyoke College in 1975 and her MBA from the Harvard Business School. Chao is the second Mount Holyoke alumna to become Labor Secretary. Frances Perkins, a 1902 graduate of the College, was the first woman to hold a Cabinet post and served as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Secretary of Labor from 1933 to 1945. Chao also studied at MIT, Dartmouth College, and Columbia University. She is the recipient of 31 honorary doctoral degrees from colleges and universities around the world.
White House Profile


Secretary Chao's career has spanned the public, private and non-profit sectors. As President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of America, she restored public trust and confidence in one of the nation's largest institutions of private charitable giving after it was tarnished by mismanagement and financial abuse. As Director of the Peace Corps, she established the first Peace Corps programs in the Baltic nations and the newly independent states of the former Soviet Union.
TIME's 10 Questions for Elaine Chao


It is perhaps fitting that an immigrant from Taiwan who once ran the Peace Corps and United Way is tasked with helping improve the labor skills of the U.S. workforce. As overseer of America's retirees and 150 million workers, Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, 52, spoke with TIME's Eric Roston about the impending pension crisis, the growing skills gap and life as half of a Washington power couple.

Retro Taiji

Thursday, August 28, 2008

While Seo Taiji's new single has been doing well on the SK charts - I still need to warm up to it - so instead of posting the MV for that, I thought I'd go a little retro instead with Live Wire.

Obama Makes History

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

No matter who you were voting for, you knew that this election was making history, and as of today another milestone has been reached in what can only be described as America finally embracing the diversity that truly reflects who we are as a nation, as Barack Obama has become the first black major-party nominee for President in the history of our nation. And while in may ways it seems like this should have happened years ago, you can only hope that this is the start of a new racial diversity not only in politics, but across the board.

Below are the full transcripts pulled from the DNC site of speeches which have helped shape this election, signifying the true change that we're witnessing.

Speeches: Michelle Obama | Hillary Clinton | Bill Clinton | Mike Honda
John Chiang | Doris Matsui

Michelle Obama

As you might imagine, for Barack, running for president is nothing compared to that first game of basketball with my brother, Craig. I can’t tell you how much it means to have Craig and my mom here tonight. Like Craig, I can feel my dad looking down on us, just as I’ve felt his presence in every grace-filled moment of my life.

At six-foot-six, I’ve often felt like Craig was looking down on me too, literally. But the truth is, both when we were kids and today, he wasn’t looking down on me. He was watching over me. And he’s been there for me every step of the way since that clear February day, 19 months ago when, with little more than our faith in each other and a hunger for change, we joined my husband, Barack Obama, on the improbable journey that’s brought us to this moment.

But each of us also comes here tonight by way of our own improbable journey. I come here tonight as a sister blessed with a brother who is my mentor, my protector and my lifelong friend. I come here as a wife who loves my husband and believes he will be an extraordinary president. I come here as a mom whose girls are the heart of my heart and the center of my world. They’re the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when I go to bed at night. Their future and all our children’s future is my stake in this election.

And I come here as a daughter raised on the south side of Chicago by a father who was a blue-collar city worker and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me. My mother’s love has always been a sustaining force for our family and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion and her intelligence reflected in my own daughters.

My dad was our rock. Although he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in his early thirties, he was our provider, our champion, our hero. As he got sicker, it got harder for him to walk. It took him longer to get dressed in the morning. But if he was in pain, he never let on. He never stopped smiling and laughing, even while struggling to button his shirt, even while using two canes to get himself across the room to give my mom a kiss. He just woke up a little earlier and worked a little harder.

He and my mom poured everything they had into me and Craig. It was the greatest gift a child can receive: never doubting for a single minute that you’re loved and cherished and have a place in this world. And thanks to their faith and hard work, we both were able to go on to college.

So I know firsthand from their lives and mine that the American dream endures. And you know, what struck me when I first met Barack was that even though he had this funny name, even though he’d grown up all the way across the continent in Hawaii, his family was so much like mine. He was raised by grandparents who were working class folks just like my parents and by a single mother who struggled to pay the bills, just like we did. Like my family, they scrimped and saved so that he could have opportunities they never had themselves.

And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them. And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values and pass them on to the next generation, because we want our children and all children in this nation to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.

And as our friendship grew and I learned more about Barack, he introduced me to the work he’d done when he first moved to Chicago after college. Instead of heading to Wall Street, Barack had gone to work in neighborhoods devastated when steel plants shut down and jobs dried up. And he’d been invited back to speak to people from those neighborhoods about how to rebuild their community.

The people gathered together that day were ordinary folks, doing the best they could to build a good life. They were parents living paycheck to paycheck, grandparents trying to get by on a fixed income, men frustrated that they couldn’t support their families after their jobs disappeared. Those folks weren’t asking for a handout or a shortcut. They were ready to work. They wanted to contribute. They believed, like you and I believe, that America should be a place where you can make it if you try. Barack stood up that day and spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about the world as it is and the world as it should be. And he said that all too often we accept the distance between the two and settle for the world as it is, even when it doesn’t reflect our values and aspirations.

But he reminded us that we know what our world should look like. We know what fairness and justice and opportunity look like. And he urged us to believe in ourselves, to find the strength within ourselves to strive for the world as it should be.

It is because of their will and determination that this week we celebrate two anniversaries: the 88th anniversary of women winning the right to vote and the 45th anniversary of that hot summer day when Dr. King lifted our sights and our hearts with his dream for our nation.

I stand here today at the crosscurrents of that history, knowing that my piece of the American dream is a blessing hard won by those who came before me. All of them, driven by the same conviction that drove my dad to get up an hour early each day to painstakingly dress himself for work. The same conviction that drives the men and women I’ve met all across this country: people who work the day shift, kiss their kids goodnight and head out for the night shift without disappointment, without regret. That goodnight kiss a reminder of everything they’re working for.

The military families who say grace each night with an empty seat at the table, the servicemen and women who love this country so much, they leave those they love most to defend it. The young people across America serving our communities teaching children, cleaning up neighborhoods, caring for the least among us each and every day.

People like Hillary Clinton, who put those 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, so that our daughters and sons can dream a little bigger and aim a little higher. People like Joe Biden, who’s never forgotten where he came from and never stopped fighting for folks who work long hours and face long odds and need someone on their side again.

All of us driven by a simple belief that the world as it is just won’t do. That we have an obligation to fight for the world as it should be. That is the thread that connects our hearts. That is the thread that runs through my journey and Barack’s journey and so many other improbable journeys that have brought us here tonight, where the current of history meets this new tide of hope.

That is why I love this country. And in my own life, in my own small way, I’ve tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That’s why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities.

Because I believe that each of us—no matter what our age or background or walk of life—each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation. It’s a belief Barack shares, a belief at the heart of his life’s work. It’s what he did all those years ago on the streets of Chicago, setting up job training to get people back to work and after-school programs to keep kids safe, working block by block to help people lift up their families.

It’s what he did in the Illinois Senate, moving people from welfare to jobs, passing tax cuts for hard-working families and making sure women get equal pay for equal work. It’s what he’s done in the United States Senate, fighting to ensure the men and women who serve this country are welcomed home not just with medals and parades, but with good jobs and benefits and health care, including mental health care.

That’s why he’s running: to end the war in Iraq responsibly, to build an economy that lifts every family, to make health care available for every American and to make sure every child in this nation gets a world-class education all the way from preschool to college.

That’s what Barack Obama will do as President of the United States of America. He’ll achieve these goals the same way he always has—by bringing us together and reminding us how much we share and how alike we really are.

You see, Barack doesn’t care where you’re from, or what your background is, or what party, if any, you belong to. That’s not how he sees the world.
He knows that thread that connects us—our belief in America’s promise, our commitment to our children’s future—is strong enough to hold us together as one nation even when we disagree.

It was strong enough to bring hope to those neighborhoods in Chicago. It was strong enough to bring hope to the mother he met worried about her child in Iraq; hope to the man who’s unemployed, but can’t afford gas to find a job; hope to the student working nights to pay for her sister’s health care, sleeping just a few hours a day.

And it was strong enough to bring hope to people who came out on a cold Iowa night and became the first voices in this chorus for change that’s been echoed by millions of Americans from every corner of this nation. Millions of Americans who know that Barack understands their dreams, that Barack will fight for people like them and that Barack will finally bring the change we need.

And in the end, after all that’s happened these past 19 months, the Barack Obama I know today is the same man I fell in love with 19 years ago. He’s the same man who drove me and our new baby daughter home from the hospital 10 years ago this summer, inching along at a snail’s pace, peering anxiously at us in the rearview mirror, feeling the whole weight of her future in his hands, determined to give her everything he’d struggled so hard for himself, determined to give her what he never had: the affirming embrace of a father’s love.

And as I tuck that little girl and her little sister into bed at night, I think about how one day, they’ll have families of their own. And one day, they—and your sons and daughters—will tell their own children about what we did together in this election. They’ll tell them how this time we listened to our hopes, instead of our fears. How this time, we decided to stop doubting and to start dreaming.

How this time, in this great country, where a girl from the south side of Chicago can go to college and law school, and the son of a single mother from Hawaii can go all the way to the White House. We committed ourselves to building the world as it should be.

So tonight, in honor of my father’s memory and my daughters’ future, out of gratitude to those whose triumphs we mark this week and those whose everyday sacrifices have brought us to this moment, let us devote ourselves to finishing their work. Let us work together to fulfill their hopes and let us stand together to elect Barack Obama President of the United States of America.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.

Hillary Rodham Clinton

I am honored to be here tonight. A proud mother. A proud Democrat. A proud American. And a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

My friends, it is time to take back the country we love.

Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose. We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines.

This is a fight for the future. And it’s a fight we must win.

I haven’t spent the past 35 years in the trenches advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women’s rights at home and around the world . . . to see another Republican in the White House squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people.

And you haven’t worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership.

No way. No how. No McCain.

Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our President.

Tonight we need to remember what a Presidential election is really about. When the polls have closed, and the ads are finally off the air, it comes down to you -- the American people, your lives, and your children’s futures.

For me, it’s been a privilege to meet you in your homes, your workplaces, and your communities. Your stories reminded me everyday that America’s greatness is bound up in the lives of the American people -- your hard work, your devotion to duty, your love for your children, and your determination to keep going, often in the face of enormous obstacles.


You taught me so much, you made me laugh, and . . . you even made me cry. You allowed me to become part of your lives. And you became part of mine.

I will always remember the single mom who had adopted two kids with autism, didn’t have health insurance and discovered she had cancer. But she greeted me with her bald head painted with my name on it and asked me to fight for health care.

I will always remember the young man in a Marine Corps t-shirt who waited months for medical care and said to me: “Take care of my buddies; a lot of them are still over there….and then will you please help take care of me?”

I will always remember the boy who told me his mom worked for the minimum wage and that her employer had cut her hours. He said he just didn’t know what his family was going to do.

I will always be grateful to everyone from all fifty states, Puerto Rico and the territories, who joined our campaign on behalf of all those people left out and left behind by the Bush Administrtation.

To my supporters, my champions -- my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits – from the bottom of my heart: Thank you.

You never gave in. You never gave up. And together we made history.

Along the way, America lost two great Democratic champions who would have been here with us tonight. One of our finest young leaders, Arkansas Democratic Party Chair, Bill Gwatney, who believed with all his heart that America and the South could be and should be Democratic from top to bottom.

And Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones, a dear friend to many of us, a loving mother and courageous leader who never gave up her quest to make America fairer and smarter, stronger and better. Steadfast in her beliefs, a fighter of uncommon grace, she was an inspiration to me and to us all.

Our heart goes out to Stephanie’s son, Mervyn, Jr, and Bill’s wife, Rebecca, who traveled to Denver to join us at our convention.

Bill and Stephanie knew that after eight years of George Bush, people are hurting at home, and our standing has eroded around the world. We have a lot of work ahead.

Jobs lost, houses gone, falling wages, rising prices. The Supreme Court in a right-wing headlock and our government in partisan gridlock. The biggest deficit in our nation’s history. Money borrowed from the Chinese to buy oil from the Saudis.

Putin and Georgia, Iraq and Iran.

I ran for President to renew the promise of America. To rebuild the middle class and sustain the American Dream, to provide the opportunity to work hard and have that work rewarded, to save for college, a home and retirement, to afford the gas and groceries and still have a little left over each month.

To promote a clean energy economy that will create millions of green collar jobs.

To create a health care system that is universal, high quality, and affordable so that parents no longer have to choose between care for themselves or their children or be stuck in dead end jobs simply to keep their insurance.

To create a world class education system and make college affordable again.

To fight for an America defined by deep and meaningful equality - from civil rights to labor rights, from women's rights to gay rights, from ending discrimination to promoting unionization to providing help for the most important job there is: caring for our families. To help every child live up to his or her God-given potential.

To make America once again a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws.

To bring fiscal sanity back to Washington and make our government an instrument of the public good, not of private plunder.

To restore America's standing in the world, to end the war in Iraq, bring our troops home and honor their service by caring for our veterans.

And to join with our allies to confront our shared challenges, from poverty and genocide to terrorism and global warming.

Most of all, I ran to stand up for all those who have been invisible to their government for eight long years.

Those are the reasons I ran for President. Those are the reasons I support Barack Obama. And those are the reasons you should too.

I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?

We need leaders once again who can tap into that special blend of American confidence and optimism that has enabled generations before us to meet our toughest challenges. Leaders who can help us show ourselves and the world that with our ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit, there are no limits to what is possible in America.

This won’t be easy. Progress never is. But it will be impossible if we don’t fight to put a Democrat in the White House.

We need to elect Barack Obama because we need a President who understands that America can’t compete in a global economy by padding the pockets of energy speculators, while ignoring the workers whose jobs have been shipped overseas. We need a President who understands that we can’t solve the problems of global warming by giving windfall profits to the oil companies while ignoring opportunities to invest in new technologies that will build a green economy.

We need a President who understands that the genius of America has always depended on the strength and vitality of the middle class.

Barack Obama began his career fighting for workers displaced by the global economy. He built his campaign on a fundamental belief that change in this country must start from the ground up, not the top down. He knows government must be about “We the people” not “We the favored few.”

And when Barack Obama is in the White House, he’ll revitalize our economy, defend the working people of America, and meet the global challenges of our time. Democrats know how to do this. As I recall, President Clinton and the Democrats did it before. And President Obama and the Democrats will do it again.

He’ll transform our energy agenda by creating millions of green jobs and building a new, clean energy future. He’ll make sure that middle class families get the tax relief they deserve. And I can’t wait to watch Barack Obama sign a health care plan into law that covers every single American.

Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq responsibly and bring our troops home – a first step to repairing our alliances around the world.

And he will have with him a terrific partner in Michelle Obama. Anyone who saw Michelle’s speech last night knows she will be a great First Lady for America.

Americans are also fortunate that Joe Biden will be at Barack Obama’s side. He is a strong leader and a good man. He understands both the economic stresses here at home and the strategic challenges abroad. He is pragmatic, tough, and wise. And, of course, Joe will be supported by his wonderful wife, Jill.

They will be a great team for our country.

Now, John McCain is my colleague and my friend.

He has served our country with honor and courage.

But we don’t need four more years . . . of the last eight years.

More economic stagnation …and less affordable health care.

More high gas prices …and less alternative energy.

More jobs getting shipped overseas …and fewer jobs created here.

More skyrocketing debt ...home foreclosures …and mounting bills that are crushing our middle class families.

More war . . . less diplomacy.

More of a government where the privileged come first …and everyone else comes last.

John McCain says the economy is fundamentally sound. John McCain doesn’t think that 47 million people without health insurance is a crisis. John McCain wants to privatize Social Security. And in 2008, he still thinks it’s okay when women don’t earn equal pay for equal work.

With an agenda like that, it makes sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities. Because these days they’re awfully hard to tell apart.

America is still around after 232 years because we have risen to the challenge of every new time, changing to be faithful to our values of equal opportunity for all and the common good.

And I know what that can mean for every man, woman, and child in America. I’m a United States Senator because in 1848 a group of courageous women and a few brave men gathered in Seneca Falls, New York, many traveling for days and nights, to participate in the first convention on women’s rights in our history.

And so dawned a struggle for the right to vote that would last 72 years, handed down by mother to daughter to granddaughter – and a few sons and grandsons along the way.

These women and men looked into their daughters’ eyes, imagined a fairer and freer world, and found the strength to fight. To rally and picket. To endure ridicule and harassment. To brave violence and jail.

And after so many decades – 88 years ago on this very day – the 19th amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote would be forever enshrined in our Constitution.

My mother was born before women could vote. But in this election my daughter got to vote for her mother for President.

This is the story of America. Of women and men who defy the odds and never give up.

How do we give this country back to them?

By following the example of a brave New Yorker , a woman who risked her life to shepherd slaves along the Underground Railroad.

And on that path to freedom, Harriett Tubman had one piece of advice.

If you hear the dogs, keep going.

If you see the torches in the woods, keep going.

If they're shouting after you, keep going.

Don't ever stop. Keep going.

If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.

Even in the darkest of moments, ordinary Americans have found the faith to keep going.

I’ve seen it in you. I’ve seen it in our teachers and firefighters, nurses and police officers, small business owners and union workers, the men and women of our military – you always keep going.

We are Americans. We're not big on quitting.

But remember, before we can keep going, we have to get going by electing Barack Obama president.

We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare.

Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance.

I want you to think about your children and grandchildren come election day. And think about the choices your parents and grandparents made that had such a big impact on your life and on the life of our nation.

We've got to ensure that the choice we make in this election honors the sacrifices of all who came before us, and will fill the lives of our children with possibility and hope.

That is our duty, to build that bright future, and to teach our children that in America there is no chasm too deep, no barrier too great – and no ceiling too high – for all who work hard, never back down, always keep going, have faith in God, in our country, and in each other.

Thank you so much. God bless America and Godspeed to you all.

Bill Clinton

I am honored to be here tonight to support Barack Obama. And to warm up the crowd for Joe Biden, though as you’ll soon see, he doesn’t need any help from me. I love Joe Biden, and America will too.

What a year we Democrats have had. The primary began with an all-star line up and came down to two remarkable Americans locked in a hard fought contest to the very end. The campaign generated so much heat it increased global warming.

In the end, my candidate didn’t win. But I’m very proud of the campaign she ran: she never quit on the people she stood up for, on the changes she pushed for, on the future she wants for all our children. And I’m grateful for the chance Chelsea and I had to tell Americans about the person we know and love.

I’m not so grateful for the chance to speak in the wake of her magnificent address last night. But I’ll do my best.

Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she’ll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama.

That makes two of us.

Actually that makes 18 million of us – because, like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November.

Here’s why.

Our nation is in trouble on two fronts: The American Dream is under siege at home, and America’s leadership in the world has been weakened.

Middle class and low-income Americans are hurting, with incomes declining; job losses, poverty and inequality rising; mortgage foreclosures and credit card debt increasing; health care coverage disappearing; and a big spike in the cost of food, utilities, and gasoline.

Our position in the world has been weakened by too much unilateralism and too little cooperation; a perilous dependence on imported oil; a refusal to lead on global warming; a growing indebtedness and a dependence on foreign lenders; a severely burdened military; a backsliding on global non-proliferation and arms control agreements; and a failure to consistently use the power of diplomacy, from the Middle East to Africa to Latin America to Central and Eastern Europe.

Clearly, the job of the next President is to rebuild the American Dream and restore America’s standing in the world.

Everything I learned in my eight years as President and in the work I’ve done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job.

He has a remarkable ability to inspire people, to raise our hopes and rally us to high purpose. He has the intelligence and curiosity every successful President needs. His policies on the economy, taxes, health care and energy are far superior to the Republican alternatives. He has shown a clear grasp of our foreign policy and national security challenges, and a firm commitment to repair our badly strained military. His family heritage and life experiences have given him a unique capacity to lead our increasingly diverse nation and to restore our leadership in an ever more interdependent world. The long, hard primary tested and strengthened him. And in his first presidential decision, the selection of a running mate, he hit it out of the park.

With Joe Biden’s experience and wisdom, supporting Barack Obama’s proven understanding, insight, and good instincts, America will have the national security leadership we need.

Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world. Ready to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be President of the United States.

He will work for an America with more partners and fewer adversaries. He will rebuild our frayed alliances and revitalize the international institutions which help to share the costs of the world’s problems and to leverage our power and influence. He will put us back in the forefront of the world’s fight to reduce nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and to stop global warming. He will continue and enhance our nation’s global leadership in an area in which I am deeply involved, the fight against AIDS, TB and malaria, including a renewal of the battle against HIV/AIDS here at home. He will choose diplomacy first and military force as a last resort. But in a world troubled by terror; by trafficking in weapons, drugs and people; by human rights abuses; by other threats to our security, our interests, and our values, when he cannot convert adversaries into partners, he will stand up to them.

Barack Obama also will not allow the world’s problems to obscure its opportunities. Everywhere, in rich and poor countries alike, hardworking people need good jobs; secure, affordable healthcare, food, and energy; quality education for their children; and economically beneficial ways to fight global warming. These challenges cry out for American ideas and American innovation. When Barack Obama unleashes them, America will save lives, win new allies, open new markets, and create new jobs for our people.

Most important, Barack Obama knows that America cannot be strong abroad unless we are strong at home. People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power.

Look at the example the Republicans have set: American workers have given us consistently rising productivity. They’ve worked harder and produced more. What did they get in return? Declining wages, less than ¼ as many new jobs as in the previous eight years, smaller health care and pension benefits, rising poverty and the biggest increase in income inequality since the 1920s. American families by the millions are struggling with soaring health care costs and declining coverage. I will never forget the parents of children with autism and other severe conditions who told me on the campaign trail that they couldn’t afford health care and couldn’t qualify their kids for Medicaid unless they quit work or got a divorce. Are these the family values the Republicans are so proud of? What about the military families pushed to the breaking point by unprecedented multiple deployments? What about the assault on science and the defense of torture? What about the war on unions and the unlimited favors for the well connected? What about Katrina and cronyism?

America can do better than that. And Barack Obama will.

But first we have to elect him.

The choice is clear. The Republicans will nominate a good man who served our country heroically and suffered terribly in Vietnam. He loves our country every bit as much as we all do. As a Senator, he has shown his independence on several issues. But on the two great questions of this election, how to rebuild the American Dream and how to restore America’s leadership in the world, he still embraces the extreme philosophy which has defined his party for more than 25 years, a philosophy we never had a real chance to see in action until 2001, when the Republicans finally gained control of both the White House and Congress. Then we saw what would happen to America if the policies they had talked about for decades were implemented.

They took us from record surpluses to an exploding national debt; from over 22 million new jobs down to 5 million; from an increase in working family incomes of $7,500 to a decline of more than $2,000; from almost 8 million Americans moving out of poverty to more than 5 and a half million falling into poverty – and millions more losing their health insurance.

Now, in spite of all the evidence, their candidate is promising more of the same: More tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that will swell the deficit, increase inequality, and weaken the economy. More band-aids for health care that will enrich insurance companies, impoverish families and increase the number of uninsured. More going it alone in the world, instead of building the shared responsibilities and shared opportunities necessary to advance our security and restore our influence.

They actually want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them four more. Let’s send them a message that will echo from the Rockies all across America: Thanks, but no thanks. In this case, the third time is not the charm.

My fellow Democrats, sixteen years ago, you gave me the profound honor to lead our party to victory and to lead our nation to a new era of peace and broadly shared prosperity.

Together, we prevailed in a campaign in which the Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be Commander-in-Chief. Sound familiar? It didn’t work in 1992, because we were on the right side of history. And it won’t work in 2008, because Barack Obama is on the right side of history.

His life is a 21st Century incarnation of the American Dream. His achievements are proof of our continuing progress toward the “more perfect union” of our founders’ dreams. The values of freedom and equal opportunity which have given him his historic chance will drive him as president to give all Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability, their chance to build a decent life, and to show our humanity, as well as our strength, to the world.

We see that humanity, that strength, and our future in Barack and Michelle Obama and their beautiful children. We see them reinforced by the partnership with Joe Biden, his wife Jill, a dedicated teacher, and their family.

Barack Obama will lead us away from division and fear of the last eight years back to unity and hope. If, like me, you still believe America must always be a place called Hope, then join Hillary, Chelsea and me in making Senator Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Mike Honda

My name is Mike Honda. I am a proud Sansei Democrat and a Silicon Valley Congressman. But above all, I’m a teacher.

One of my proudest moments was when I received keys to my first classroom. It was high quality public education that allowed this son of strawberry sharecroppers, raised in the Japanese American internment camps of World War II, to grow up to become a Peace Corps volunteer, a Vice Chair of the DNC, and Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Education is the gateway to the American dream. Barack knows first-hand that immigrant families – Asian, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, African and others – can attain the American dream through a quality, equitable education, and hard work. Barack's story of promise and opportunity proves that education can be the great equalizer. Sadly, over the past eight years, the misguided Bush/McCain priorities have bled our schools' resources dry, shutting down that gateway to success, and hijacking our children's capacity to achieve the American dream.

We are now at a crossroads. We can either continue on a path of failed policies with John McCain, or, for the change we need, we can elect Barack Obama president. America is in dire need of leadership. Barack knows that education leads to innovation, a critical engine of our economy. His ability and his vision will help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to obtain a quality education. Barack will fight for our children's future.

Rather than burning through billions of dollars on failed foreign policies and an open-ended war, Barack knows that the real war to be fought is for the education of our children, the future of America’s economic health. He is committed to developing the teachers of tomorrow from among the brightest in our classrooms today and preparing, retaining and rewarding every teacher in America for their service.

In 1965, President Kennedy’s call to service led me to build schools in El Salvador. Now, though my hair is gray, I am inspired again. With Barack Obama and Joe Biden as our ticket – yes, there is hope for the change we need!

Thank you, Senator Obama, for unlocking the imagination and idealism of all generations of Americans, including our Asian and Pacific Islander communities. Thank you for inspiring us to be a critical part of your journey to victory this November. And thank you for your commitment to education, for knowing the strength of America’s tomorrow lies in the classrooms of today.

John Chiang

Four years ago, the son of a Kenyan father and Kansan mother stood before you and delivered an address that lifted our nation’s hearts and hopes by reminding us that together we can achieve greatness. As I watched him speak, I couldn’t help but think that unlikely as his story may be, it is my story too. It is our story. It is the American story.

On the surface, it could be viewed that Barack Obama’s parents had little in common with my parents. His father came from Africa; my parents came from Asia. They spoke different languages. Their paths surely never crossed. Yet our parents had much in common because they were united by the values they taught their sons: that in America, it doesn’t matter where you came from, but where you are going. It doesn’t matter what your name is, but whether you are willing to work hard to make a name for yourself.

Barack Obama’s life reaffirms the American dream, a dream living in the hearts and lives of countless American families from the eastern shores, to the farmlands, to the Rocky Mountains, to my beloved California, and beyond. This is our nation’s great promise. But the promise feels harder to reach.

As the Controller of the State of California, my job is to build a brighter fiscal future for my state and her 38 million residents. Like every state, California is struggling with foreclosures, record gas prices and rising unemployment. We are working harder than ever, but still many of us are falling further and further behind.

But we know our future is still golden. We know of a path to the promised land and Barack Obama will lead us there. He understands, as John F. Kennedy said, that “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Together we will rise, or together we will fall.

Here in Denver, and all across our country, we choose to rise. Together, we will rise and reject another four years of the same policies that brought us from a decade of economic prosperity to a decade of economic despair. Together, we will rise and overcome the challenges of poverty, access to health care, and energy independence.

Barack Obama will give us the change we need, so that the values of hard work and opportunity that our parents taught us will ring just as loud, clear and true for our children as they did for us. Let those values be our calling. And once again build a country that embraces the great promise of her people.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Doris Matsui

Thank you very much and good afternoon fellow delegates.

First, I want to thank Howard Dean, the distinguished chairman of the Democratic National Committee who’s done an outstanding job over the last three and a half years. Thank you, Governor Dean.

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m very proud to be the parliamentarian of this historic convention. As such, it’s my duty to advise the chair on the issues confronting the convention. I’m here to advise all of you as well, and stand ready to answer any parliamentary questions that may arise throughout the week.

I’m especially honored to be joined in the duties of parliamentarian by four outstanding Americans: Commissioner Roger Johnson, a third-generation family farmer and North Dakota’s agriculture commissioner; Cassandra Butts, a noted domestic policy advisor who most recently was with the Center for American Progress; and Helen McFadden from South Carolina, the first woman parliamentarian of a national convention.

And finally, it is my distinct pleasure to be joined by a colleague and a friend, a leader of Democrats in the House and a fighter for all Americans, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. It’s our responsibility to help the chair apply and enforce the rules of this convention. In that capacity, I would advise the delegations that proxy voting is prohibited. Rather, if a pledged delegate is absent, he or she must be replaced by an alternate.

During the convention, the parliamentarians will be available to respond to any of your questions about the order of the proceedings, the methods of voting and the nature of our procedures. Each delegation can call our office at any time, and a parliamentarian will always be on the podium, available for advice and counsel.

Ladies and gentlemen, we know that this will be a well-run, orderly and successful convention, and we’re honored to join with you in a convention that will nominate the next President of the United States, Barack Obama. Let’s have a great convention.

Because You Want Your K-Pop: This Time

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

DVD/Series: 交渉人- The Negotiator

Tuesday, August 26, 2008



If you like SVU or Criminal Intent, you'll probably like The Negotiator, an eight episode Japanese series aired earlier this year, that stars Yonekura Ryoko (Usagi Reiko) as part of the metropolitan police department's special investigation team.

Here's a description from wiki.d-addicts.com:

In a modern society in which violent crimes are on the rise, there is a team that tries to resolve cases without bloodshed. It is the metropolitan police's special team, known by the abbreviation SIT (Special Investigation Team). The SIT doesn't get into action after a case but heads to the site just as a crime is being committed. They are on the front-line of risky missions, facing off against criminals; tenaciously conducting negotiations with criminals. As a result of the rigid police hierarchy that can curb the conduct of negotiators, the SIT is also a male-dominated society controlled with strict discipline. There is one female negotiator, Usagi Reiko, who bravely fights at the frontline. She is isolated in the male world of the SIT but courageously fights against crime as well as her organization.
While the series has some good hostage/negotiation stories (and some great characters) what really kind of sucks you in is the relationship between Usagi and a death row inmate and how that connection relates to SIT, and what - if anything - she'll find out about that past (and telling you anything else would be a definite spoiler).

If you're interested, check out more here.

NY Korean Film Festival 2008

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

I forgot to post on this at the start of the film festival, but the NY Korean Film Festival is going on right now through the 31st and they have a cool lineup including Open City, Hellcats, My Father, and Once Upon A Time In Corea.

Here's the trailer for the festival.



To get the full schedule and see some flicks on the big screen, check out the NY Korean Film Festival site.

Mickey Rooney Forgives Us All

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

While I know I shouldn't really care what an out of date actor or his eighth wife really think, I have to admit that I actually jumped out of my seat when I read this article in The Sacramento Bee about Mickey Rooney's response to the fact that Breakfast at Tiffany's got replaced with Ratatouille at Sacramento's Screen on the Green free movie series:

One of the most beloved and enduring movie actors in American history, Rooney was shocked to hear that his comic role as Mr. Yunioshi, Audrey Hepburn's cantankerous upstairs neighbor in "Breakfast at Tiffany's," had been branded racist by several Asian American activists in Sacramento.

"Don't break me up – I wouldn't offend any person, be they black, Asian or whatever," said the veteran of 360 films. Rooney still performs worldwide with his eighth wife, Jan Chamberlain [...]

Rooney's wife, Jan, who said they love Chinese art, food, culture and medicine, explained the film role was meant to be fun. "It's terribly sad, and I feel bad for the people taking offense," she said.
But here's what really gets me and actually made me jump out of my seat:

"Those that didn't like it, I forgive them and God bless America," he said.
Seriously?

That's some fucked up old white man shit and there's not much else to say about it.

And If You Wanted To Know: Your Miss Asian America '08

Tuesday, August 26, 2008



Louisa Liu (who was Miss San Francisco Chinatown 2007 - middle).

Here's some info on her from her profile at alivenotdead.com:

Born in China, Louisa immigrated to the United States at the age of 5, but continues to speak Cantonese and Mandarin fluently, along with English. All throughout her life, she has taken lessons in Chinese dance, ballet, gymnastics, piano, violin, and singing, and enjoys each one of these activities with a passion. Louisa graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008 with a double degree in Psychology and Theater.
Check out her blog and other assorted pics down at her profile.

Hit By A Taxi But Still Running

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Here's a story from the Times about Queens' Assemblywoman Ellen Young who was recently hit by a taxi while riding a bike about a month ago, but who's still on the campaign trail and out in Denver for the DNC:

"I am feeling much better and I’m back to my regular campaign activities," Ms. Young said in a phone interview this morning from the convention. "I had a concussion and injuries from head to toe. But I had a pretty speedy recovery and I feel that I’m back to normal."

And not a moment too soon, her supporters say. Ms. Young, who is in her first term, is in the only contested Democratic primary for an Assembly seat in Queens. And in that race, she faces Grace Meng, a lawyer who is the daughter of Ms. Young’s predecessor, Jimmy K. Meng.
Asian people. We're tough.

FilAms In The Newsroom

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

There's a good article down at the Asian Journal about FilAms and other Asian Americans in the newsroom:

"These are just a few faces that look like us, disseminating the news," said Winston Emano, a FilAm public relations executive who organized an event last year at Loyola Marymount University (LMU) featuring Dador and Quiban about their experience on the news.

Since Taiwanese-American Connie Chung broke the mold during the 1980’s when she achieved prominence by becoming the first Asian American nightly news anchor for a mainstream broadcast news network, more Asians are following her footstep.

Asians and FilAms are reaping the benefits from Chung’s broadcast success.
Yeah - I always liked Connie even if she does seem a little wacko.

Hot Track: Asami, Anty Kunoichi, Lisa Yamaguchi with Hi-D

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Can't Wait For The SmackDown: USA Versus Spain

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Chalk this up to a can't miss game because not only do I finally want to see my team recapture the gold - but let's think about it for a moment - even if you're not from the U.S., who would you rather be rooting for:

Lebron and Co.



Or the I don't see how what we're doing offends anyone, this is absurd to call it racist Pau Gasol team from Spain?



It's kind of a no-brainer.

Robin Shou And Death Race

Saturday, August 23, 2008



To be honest I don't know much about his role in the film other than I've seen him in some scenes in trailers and he's listed as 14K in the IMDB credits and down at his site (where you can also get some pics of his role as Gen in Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li) - but still wanted to post up on it (and the poster is pretty slick).

Death Race starts showing this weekend.

Boston Progress & The Re-Up Proudly Present… Make It Rain: A Birthday Art Show & Fundraiser for New Orleans

Saturday, August 23, 2008



This is pretty cool. The folks down at Boston Progress and Re-Up are putting on a benefit to help the student organization RETHINK:

The show is going to go down at The Re-Up at 1 Brighton Ave, Allston, MA around the corner from the Super Eight Eight. All proceeds from the benefit will go to RETHINK. Rethink is a group of students in New Orleans who want to rethink and rebuild their schools after Hurricane Katrina. Their vision is simple: a great education for every kid in New Orleans, no matter the color of their skin, what neighborhood they stay in or how much money their parents make. No one deserves a voice in rebuilding New Orleans schools more than the students who go to these places every single day.


For more information on the event check out bprlive.org.

It's Settled: Obama Picks Biden And The Safe Play For VP

Saturday, August 23, 2008



Well everyone - it's official. Obama has chosen his running mate for Vice President and like many have speculated (especially in the last hours) - it indeed is Senator Joe Biden of Delaware.

While I understand some of the reasons behind it (wooing conservative white middle class catholics, being a counter to McCain's longstanding political presence, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, a former chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, etc.) - I just have to wonder if it's still the safe play.

Biden is fine in his own right, but still (and you can fairly say that I just need to let it go) - wouldn't Hillary on the ticket really have made the statement of true change, at the same time reaching out to help unite the Democratic Party?

It could have been this incredible juggernaut, and while my vote is still for Obama these days - I do think he missed a chance to do something even greater than he ever imagined, and I have to believe that if he goes on to lose the race, the decision of not choosing Clinton will definitely become a focus when looking back on this election.

And you still have to wonder about what Biden said back in '07 when talking about Obama, which was "I mean, you got the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy," Biden said. "I mean, that's a storybook, man." - to which Obama said "I didn't take Sen. Biden's comments personally, but obviously they were historically inaccurate. African-American presidential candidates like Jesse Jackson, Shirley Chisholm, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton gave a voice to many important issues through their campaigns, and no one would call them inarticulate."

I mean in a way, it does kind of make you go "Ummm...."

But then again, I guess if you had to disqualify every Senator who has said something with racial bias attached to it, there really wouldn't be anyone left to pick from either.

Hmmm.

And Comments Are Now Open

Saturday, August 23, 2008



Hey Folks. Just a quick note that after about ten months of being down at Blogger with comments turned off (for a variety of reasons), Disqus, which is a third party commenting tool (co-founded by Asian American Daniel Ha), has now been installed here on Slant Eye, so feel free to add in some comments if you want, or just read as you normally have.

Either way - keep it Slanty :)

YouTube: The Dark - From Where I Sit

Friday, August 22, 2008

So the contest that this film was made for has been over for about month, but the video is still definitely worth posting.



Here's some more info on the group from Westscape Films:

Directed/Written/Edited - Vu Hoang
Cinematography - Shaun Nguyen
Original Music - Joe Cheung

Check out more here.

The Joachim Remixes Vol. 4 - Free Download

Friday, August 22, 2008



If you're looking for some cool tunage to vibe too, producer/dj/mix-master Freddie Joachim made his Vol. 4 remixes available for a free download at his MySpace page.

Nice.

Here's a list of the tracks

01 Freddie Joachim - Marie feat. Choice37 (Remix)
02 Common - I Used To Love Her (Freddie Joachim Remix)
03 Common - The Light feat. Erykah Badu (Freddie Joachim Remix)
04 Freddie Joachim - Matter of Time feat. Surreal (Remix)
05 Himuki - Hold On feat. Sene (Freddie Joachim Remix v.2)
06 Slum Village - EZ Up (Freddie Joachim Remix)
07 Slum Village - Get Dis Money (Freddie Joachim Remix)
08 NBC's The Office - Dunder Mifflin Infinity (Freddie Joachim Remix)
09 Freddie Joachim - Love Is feat. Profile & Latanya Lockett (Remix)
10 Son Of Ran - As Long As There's You (Freddie Joachim Remix)
11 Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Freddie Joachim Remix)
bonus tracks:
12 Freddie Joachim - Color Blue
13 Freddie Joachim - Summer Breeze

And once you get your free groove on, check out the In With Time Limited Japan Vinyl that you can order here.

P.S.

Friday, August 22, 2008

If there's been one moment in the Olympics when I think the whole world wanted to reach out and give someone a hug I think it had to be when little Haley Ishimatsu from the U.S. diving team was being interviewed after she didn't advance to the finals and she kept on tearing up and saying "I'm sorry".

I mean it just kind of got to you.

But don't worry Haley - you'll be back, and I'm sure next time it will be with a medal.

Because Breakfast at Tiffany's Just Can't Seem To Die

Friday, August 22, 2008



UPDATE: Breakfast at Tiffany's was cancelled and was replaced with Ratatouille.

So I was reading this article in the San Jose Mercury News about a free screening of the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's and I just really can't believe how some people still to this day don't understand how offensive the Mickey Rooney Yellow Face is:

Thursday, Cohn publicly apologized to Sacramento's Asian American community and the rest of the citizenry for including the film in his Screen on the Green free movie series.

"We were unaware of this racist content," he said.

In the movie, Mickey Rooney plays Mr. Yunioshi, the bumbling, cantankerous upstairs neighbor of Audrey Hepburn's character, country girl turned socialite Holly Golightly.

Rooney's character "conjures all the requisite 'Jap' stereotypes: grotesque buckteeth, thick-rimmed glasses, unforgivable 'Asian' accent," wrote Dr. Christina Fa of San Francisco-based Asian American Media Watch in a letter to Cohn.

Fa, a longtime Sacramento resident, called the film "arguably the most racist anti-Asian film in American cinematic history" and asked it be canceled. The movie won two Academy Awards for its music.
How can you not be aware of the racist content?

And while you can say that it's great that they'll put up a disclaimer and try to cut out some scenes and use it as a learning experience - the bottom line here is that they shouldn't be showing it at all for this type of event no matter if it's already in the mail or not.

Sacramento Vice Mayor Steve Cohn - get a clue.

1OAK, Cecilia Shim, And White Girls Only

Friday, August 22, 2008

Picked this up from the NY Daily News and New York Post:

NY Daily News

Waitress Cecilia Shim and bartender Laurence Brown claim in a lawsuit filed Thursday in Manhattan Federal Court that their July firings had more to do with skin color than performance.

Shim, an Asian-American, says manager Francis McHugh told her owner Scott Sartiano only wanted "white girls he could f---" serving drinks.

"What's the point of having girls if we can't f--- them?" the lawsuit quotes Sartiano as telling McHugh.

Brown was fired the first week of July, along with Shim and two other minority employees, the lawsuit claims.

Shim says McHugh told her when she was fired: "Scott has a thing about Asians, he wants all white girls."
New York Post

TWO cocktail waitresses are suing nightclub king Scott Sartiano, claiming he canned all the black and Asian waitresses at 1Oak so he could replace them with white girls. In a suit in Manhattan Federal Court, Cecilia Shim and Laurence Brown claim 1Oak manager Frank McHugh said he was firing them on July 8 on order from Sartiano, who allegedly told him: "What's the point of having girls if we can't [bleep] them?"
While you already know what I think about the let's go back to segregation when white people ruled America sentiment - I have to ask - even though the NY Post is a gossip rag, did they really need to go with the title "RACE CARD IN CLUB LAWSUIT"?

We all know what "Race Card" implies - that people of color are just whining and that racial discrimination and bias never happens (and that when people of color bring it up, we're really doing it to get ahead).

I mean being a gossip rag is one thing, but being a gossip rag who likes to tilt in the favor of the We're not going to let those colored workers sully the good name of a white guy, because just look at this picture that we put up of him - how could a nice white boy like this have a racist bone in his body, and if you don't believe us at least believe Russell Simmons crowd - well - that's something completely different.

Hot Track: Baby V.O.X Re.V

Friday, August 22, 2008

The video isn't the best - but its got a pretty good dance hook.

Wang Chen Makes Some History

Thursday, August 21, 2008

I have to be honest and say that I never thought I would have heard the words "I really need to see that table tennis match" come out of my mouth - but I'm kind of getting sucked in a little bit - and there's some history being made too:

Wang Chen of the United States defeated Kim Kyung-ah of South Korea on Thursday to become the first American in Olympic table tennis history to reach the quarterfinals.

All three Chinese players also advanced and kept alive the possibility of a medal sweep for the host team. After her 4-3 win over Kim, the world's top defensive player, Wang collapsed to her knees next to the table and cried into her towel.

"I thought it was possible to beat her as long as I was full of confidence, because she's a defensive player," Wang said about her victory. She won 11-9, 9-11, 11-8, 10-12, 6-11, 11-9, 11-5.

Wang, who's ranked No. 23 in the world and runs a popular pingpong club in New York City, will face sixth-ranked Li Jia Wei of Singapore on Thursday night.
Who's a Ping Pong Playa?

It's The Kinesio: Walsh And May-Treanor Put On A Great Finals

Thursday, August 21, 2008



While you definitely have to give it up to Walsh And May-Treanor -- back-to-back American gold medal winners -- as well as the team of Wang Jie and Tian Jia (pictured far left who got the silver) -- let's also give a little hand to the Kinesio Tex Tape invented by Dr. Kenzo Kase over 25 years ago in Japan -- because in a way, it's kind of cool to think that behind the 2008 U.S. Beach Volleyball Gold Medal, there's a little bit of Japanese technology.

MV: Alx Kim Hoang

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Song: Thêm Một Phút, Thêm Một Giây.
About: R&B singer/songwriter in Vietnamese and English.
CD Release: 08.30.08.
Tour Info: Starting September. Playing OC, LA, SJ, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, VA, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Grand Rapids.



In his own words: Besides music and touring, I am also producing and hosting a new talk show called Next Selection. "Next Selection" is all about promoting new upcoming talents, whether it is in music, film, or designing..we promotes it all on our show. The show is 1 hr long and Vietnamese influenced. The show's mission is to bridge gaps between Viet/Asian American and the Vietnamese community. So I'm bringing in guests such as Kristine Sa, Thomas Apartment, JNT COUTURE, VuDOO, and many many others to come. The show has an unscripted, up close and personal feel to it. Will def. upload a preview or a teaser clip for you guys to see.

MySpace: Go here.

Cho Show Review

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

If you're interested, there's a review on The Cho Show down at the LA Times and while it focuses half of the article on her and her past, it's there if you want to check it out:

Still, comedy subsists on pain, and the show, whose tenor is largely happy and light, goes for fuel to still-painful memories of darker times.

"I totally forget," she says, tearing up. "Like, I'm so, like, fabulous now, I'm so glamorous now. But I really didn't feel like that when I was a kid at all -- it was really hard."

On the premiere episode, Cho is to receive an award -- KoreAm Journal’s "Entertainment Achievement Award" and not, as she insists, "Korean of the Year" -- which brings up questions of acceptance by her community.

She's "angry" about the years she felt rejected by them, she tells her "spiritual advisor." (This overplays somewhat the hostility of a group that is, after all, throwing her a party, but it ends in love.)
Read the full article here.

Review: Goh Nakamura's Ulysses

Wednesday, August 20, 2008



So I've been meaning to pop up this review over the last few days, and even though late, I figure since it is the day of the CD release show - it kind of works out - and definite props to Goh for making it easy to grab information and check out the CD online for bloggers and other folks of that ilk.

Overall impressions

Probably what I like most about it -- because I think it's hard to do -- is that "Ulysses" has a consistent feel throughout the whole CD, but every song doesn't sound the same either. You still get individual highlights and tracks, but they all co-exist together without a need to appeal to every single listener. In that way, you get what you expect.

Sweet Tracks

I've been listening to the tracks on my MP3 player, computer, and car, and while later on I'm sure other tracks will get under my skin, here's a list of some of the one's that I'm definitely vibing too:

  • Home: Probably three reasons I like this. One is that it was the first track I heard from the CD (so it sticks with me), two is the piano, and the third is I just like the sentiment of the song.
  • Sarah Rose: It just reminds me of Almost Famous, Francis McDormand pointing to a S&G album cover and saying "They're on pot", and Zooey Deschanel leaving to be a flight attendant.
  • Suitcase: Because of the infectious melody and guitar hook.
  • Red Balloons: At least for now, I think vocally it's the best track on the CD - and any song which makes reference to board games and geometry is O.K. in my book.
  • Telemachus: I like the trippy feel but I also like the placement of it on the CD.
  • Shoulder: I don't really know how else to explain it except that it has this kind of old school Beatle's rock vibe that doesn't pummel you, but keeps you going, and it'll definitely become a staple of my late-night-driving-windows-open-I-just-have-to-drive tunage.
Check out more down at Goh Nakamura's site.

2042: Is The White Minority A Myth?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

There's an interesting article at the Boston Globe which brings up the question of whether or not excluding the population which is both white and Hispanic when discussing race in the future begs the question of whether or not there will be a white minority in the coming years:

But there was another problem with all this coverage of how white America is becoming a minority: The Census Bureau never said it.

You can see the numbers for yourself on the Census Bureau website. In a spreadsheet titled "Projections of the Population by Race and Hispanic Origin for the United States: 2008 to 2050," the bureau forecasts a rise in the number of whites from about 243 million today to 325 million at midcentury - an increase of 82 million. A related spreadsheet gives the percentages: Whites today account for nearly 80 percent of the US population. In 2050, they'll constitute 74 percent - still a very hefty majority.

So what explains the persistent drumbeat about the impending white minority? A statistical distortion: the exclusion of Hispanic whites. If only non-Hispanic whites are counted, the white population today amounts to 66 percent of the total, and will hit around 46 percent by 2050.

But excluding whites of Hispanic origin from the overall white population makes no more sense than excluding whites of Slavic or Scandinavian origin.
I don't really have any opinion myself on this right now - but it's definitely something to chew on.

We Can Fence Too?

Wednesday, August 20, 2008



I have to admit that I don't really know much about fencing or the fencing world. I mean it looks great in the movies, but I don't think I've ever actually fenced in my life (and who knows if that's even the proper term because "I fenced with him" just doesn't sound altogether like a phrase people in fencing would even use).

Either way, I am glad to know that we fence, and that Emily Cross (far right in the picture) helped bring home a silver medal.

h/t epicanthus.net

Don't Tease Me Now

Wednesday, August 20, 2008



Kaine, Biden, Bayh, Sebelius? Could Clinton still be in the running?

Senator Barack Obama, D-Illinois, and his yet-to-be chosen Vice Presidential running mate will hold an event at the symbolic old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois – the site where Obama kicked off his own presidential run eighteen months ago.

“This will be the kickoff to our trip to the convention,” Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki says of the midday event.
I guess we'll find out soon - which for anyone wondering - means Saturday.

Undercover: Maggie Q's Need For Speed

Wednesday, August 20, 2008



While everyone agrees that The Transporter may not be Oscar worthy material, using it as inspiration for a video game might not actually be that bad of an idea. Throw in some Maggie Q to be featured in live action sequences, and who knows - EA's "Need For Speed Undercover" might just turn out to be a bona fide hit.

Here's some of what Maggie Q had to say about working on the new game from Electronic Arts which is coming out later this year:

"Unlike a movie, when you're shooting something like this you're definitely taking a piece in a world and you're integrating it into another world. So because I didn't design the game, I don't know this world, and that's not my thing.... When you have a movie script, you know from A to Z where it's going," explained Q. "With this, we kind of had to really sit down and be very specific about where we are in the game, and what our motivation is, and what we're trying to say, and where we're trying to bring the player. It's very, very technical, so in that sense it is very difficult."
View the trailer below

U.S. Rep. Mike Honda And The Democratic Convention

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

If you happened to miss it, there's a really good article on U.S. Representative Mike Honda down at the Mercury News:

If ever there was an election cycle that was ready for a Spanish-speaking, Japanese-American politician who likes singing karaoke and counts Silicon Valley among his key constituents, this is it. With such a resume when the Democratic theme is dump the status quo, U.S. Rep. Mike Honda has the eye of many Democrats. He speaks at Barack Obama fundraisers, sits as an influential Democratic Party vice-chair and on Tuesday will speak to the Democratic convention.

As of now he is just one of four California congress members who have speaking slot. The other three are two Southern California Latinos and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. He has yet to write his Tuesday night speech, to be delivered before the much anticipated address by Hillary Clinton, but Honda, 67, gave a preview Tuesday, saying he will urge Americans to vote for hope.
Check out the full article here.