Interview: Lang Lang

Saturday, November 29, 2008

If you're a Lang Lang fan and you happened to miss it - there's an interview with the famous pianist who begins a weeklong residency at the San Francisco Symphony next week in the San Jose Mercury News:

Q You've said that Chinese classical music students play extremely well but don't understand the music, while American classical music students understand the music but don't play so well. Why is that?

A Because American students and European students — they know the culture of this music. They're born with it. It's the tradition. The Chinese students don't have the tradition, but they work harder. They have a better facility with their hands. I'm just generalizing, of course.

Q But generally, Chinese students work harder?
Telling it like it is?

Read it in full here.

Multiracial Families, Obama, And Breathing It In

Saturday, November 29, 2008

There's a good article down in the LA Times on families in Illinois who see a part of themselves in Obama, and what I found particularly interesting was the following quote:

Harris-Lacewell said she did not "normally have mixed-girl emotions," but added: " I had more emotions about being biracial during this campaign then I've ever experienced."
What I found so interesting was just how human it really is - that until we're actually faced with something so much a part of us - especially in terms of race - we sometimes just never see it before that -- and I'm glad this election was eye opening - on all fronts.

Check out the full article here.

And The Flat Panel TV Isn't Worth That

Friday, November 28, 2008

I know that we're all looking for deals since the economy is in the tank, gas was $5 a gallon just a few short weeks ago, and no matter who you are - unless you're The Heff with some denture cream and bouncing baby bosoms chillin at the mansion - a few hundred bucks is still a few hundred bucks.

But killing someone over some low fucking prices because you couldn't wait to get your hands on some discounted shit is like screwing your aunt while your grandma gives you the reach around and your uncle jerks off in the corner getting ready to lick the dog's ass.

THAT SHIT'S FUCKED UP AND EVERYONE KNOWS BETTER.

Learn how to wait in line people.

Thailand: These Really Are Peaceful Protests

Friday, November 28, 2008

Earlier this week my friends down at Disgrasian had a great post on the Thai protesters at the airports, and as I was catching another article about how Thailand vows a peaceful end to the "siege", just thought I would post up some pics that I caught down at hurriyetdailynews.com - because it really is a peaceful protest (and if there's anywhere that should have a peaceful protest I'm thinking it has to be in Thailand where the noodles are always hot, the haircuts are incredible, and when you decide to cross the street oblivious to everything else because you just have to make last call, some nice person pulls you back and saves you from being hit by a taxicab):











When you're wearing the King Bhumibol Adulyadej shirts - no one's really going to pummel bullets into you.

I'd say that was good planning.

Home And Abroad: Mumbai

Friday, November 28, 2008



There's a lot of information coming out on the attacks in Mumbai, and while I have thoughts on both a personal and political level, for right now, here are some links to news both here and abroad:

Indian Commandos Storm Jewish Center

Indian commandos staged a dramatic helicopter raid and battled pockets of militants on Friday as security forces tried to end the bloody assault by terrorists on Mumbai, the financial and entertainment capital of India.

Commandos slid down ropes from a hovering Army helicopter Friday morning as they stormed a Jewish center that had been seized. The blue-uniformed troopers landed on the roof and soon made their way inside Nariman House, home to the Orthodox Jewish group Chabad-Lubavitch. A gun battle was continuing inside the building, with hundreds of shots fired over at least five hours but there was no word on the fate of hostages assumed to be held there.
Chicago-area Indians worry, wait for news after terrorist attacks in Mumbai

Mafat Patel slept in spurts Wednesday night, waking every few hours to check Indian television and Web sites for updates on the coordinated terrorist attacks in Mumbai. His brother had already canceled a trip to India after a wedding he planned on attending was postponed.

Across the street from Patel Brothers, the popular spice and produce store in the heart of Chicago's South Asian shopping district on Devon Avenue, Vishal Chhabria was having lunch with his father at Uru-Swati, their restaurant. Their family members are Bombayites (as most residents of Mumbai still call themselves). He spent hours sending text messages to friends and relatives, making sure everyone was OK.

Friends of Chhabria visiting Mumbai to shop for a wedding had to be evacuated from the coffee shop at the Oberoi Hotel, one of the luxury hotels attacked by terrorists. A cousin had been hanging out in Colaba, a popular neighborhood where the landmark Taj Mahal Palace hotel and Leopold Cafe are located. He heard explosions, ran home and alerted relatives via Facebook that he was fine.

The bombing also hit home with a Jewish community in Skokie. The Lubavitch Chabad of Illinois held prayer services for hostages at a sister organization, the Chabad Jewish center in Mumbai.
Silicon Valley Indian-Americans react with horror to Mumbai attacks

The attacks, Mishra said, eclipsed the horror of previous terrorist incidents in India "by an order of magnitude" because they clearly targeted prominent places and people. Reports indicated that American and British visitors were sought by the terrorists as hostages.

And Indians in the Bay Area were "absolutely" riveted to news of the attacks on hotels serving an elite clientele of prominent Indians, foreign dignitaries and visiting business leaders. "I just can't believe this is happening," Mishra said.

For many Silicon Valley residents, the ties to Mumbai are both personal and professional. The first report that Silicon Valley Bank executive Ash Lilani received from his hometown was sketchy.
Blogs feed information frenzy on Mumbai attacks

Bloggers across Mumbai fed live updates of the action after Islamist gunmen launched waves of attacks in the heart of India's financial capital, highlighting the emergence of citizen journalism in news coverage. Some, including a blogger named Vinu, were furiously uploading photos of damage from the attacks that killed at least 101 people and injured 287, with scores of foreigners, including Westerners trapped in luxury hotels. Images of the attacks also surfaced on photo-sharing website Flickr. Some bloggers provided running descriptions and commentaries from near the action, while others vented emotions.

"I've been tweeting almost all night, too, from Mumbai. Upset and angry and bereft," said businesswoman Dina Mehta on her blog, www.dinamehta.com/blog.

Video: The Ups And Downs Of Being Asian

Wednesday, November 26, 2008



All I know is this:

I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to buy this kid a beer, a dictionary, and a lap dance.

May not be suitable for work (unless everyone around you has a sense of humor like you do).

Superbad!

I Guess That's As Good As We're Going To Get From Kid Rock

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I'm not sure we should be looking for anything more from Kid Rock when it comes to statements about race, racism, and the election in the U.S.:

"It's a great thing for black people. Black people were kind to me growing up and taught me hip-hop and the blues, so it's good the US has proved it's not as racist as it's sometimes portrayed."
Why did I post on this again?

Watch It Now: BoA's Live Tokyo Concert

Wednesday, November 26, 2008



In addition to the YouTube Live we saw here in the U.S. there was also the YouTube live going on in Tokyo, and one of the featured performers was none other than BoA - so if you can't make it out the NYC show - at least you can check her out live here.

I have to admit that while it was a pretty good performance, it doesn't compare to some of the other live performances I've seen by her, and "Eat You Up", while still a good performance, wasn't actually the best of the songs she performed - "Listen To My Heart" and "Lose Your Mind" were the highlights of the mini-concert (along with "Meri Kuri" which she closed out the set with).

AsianGeek

Wednesday, November 26, 2008



Just thought I'd do a quick post up and say that if you haven't checked out AsianWeek's AsianGeek yet -- it's not too bad. Here's the link and here's some more info on it:

With thumbs of steel and reflexes like lightning, veteran gamers and frequent AsianWeek contributors Josh Laddin and Andrew Lee bring readers the latest reviews, previews, features, and interviews from the Asian American gaming scene, in AsianWeek.com’s new gaming blog, AsianGeek.

AsianWeek, the largest Asian Pacific American outlet, launched AsianGeek, on Nov. 13. The blog features a conversation with Mirror's Edge producer, Tom Farrer, and hands-on impressions and reviews of the anticipated titles like Prince of Persia and Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party for the Wii console and is available online at http://asiangeek.asianweek.com

Laddin, who’s of half Chinese and half Jewish descent, began his gaming career with the Nintendo Entertainment System before he even started going to school, and has never looked back since. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from the University of California, Davis. He is also a contributor on the popular website http://www.gamefaqs.com. Lee is a Korean-American alum of the University of California, Berkeley and a member of the Nintendo generation.

“Within the gaming community Asians have always been looked upon as the quiet geeks,” Laddin said. “With AsianGeek we are redefining the stereotype and showing that we’re not so quiet and have a lot to contribute.”

AsianGeek covers games for every console, handheld, and PC. The writers may be contacted for game coverage and interviews by email at jladdin@asianweek.com and alee@asianweek.com.

Win Tickets To BoA Live NYC December 3rd, And What's With That Ching Chong

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Caught down at AAM that you can win out tickets for BoA's performance down in NYC (and I'm thinking it should be a good time and hopefully it will go well as I've always liked BoA's music and videos). Here's the scoop from MTVIggy:

BoA LIVE in NYC! First time EVER!

25 LUCKY FANS MAKE IT INSIDE MTV’S TIMES SQUARE STUDIOS!

Don't miss BoA's first-ever U.S. performance! Her American debut is happening on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 in the MTV Times Square studio in NYC, brought to you by MTV's new global music and pop culture network, MTV Iggy. So support your #1 girl - and maybe even watch her perform from inside the studio!

If you are BoA’s biggest fan, email us @ BoALiveNYC@gmail.com and tell us why. 25 lucky fans will receive a pair of tickets and a chance to meet BoA in Person! MTV will simulcast air the performance on the largest high definition screen in the heart of Times Square.

Also, go to http://facebook.mtviggy.com to get the Iggy app and more BoA goodness!
And in somewhat related news

As I was scrolling through the content filter on the side of MTVIggy I happened to see something called "Ching Chong" and at first I was like "Wtf!" - and then I actually dragged it to the panel and hit "find" and it turned out to be the Beau Sia's "Open Letter to all the Rosies".

Guess it wasn't as bad as I first thought it was...

Listen To Beau Sia's East Meets Words Performance

Wednesday, November 26, 2008



So if you're interested in hearing Beau Sia's performance from the recent East Meets Words you can check out the podcast here (down at the bottom of the post).

I just started listening to it myself, but apparently the performance is both foul and fabulous...

Learning Something New And If The Bomb Was Good Enough For Us...

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Was checking out some posts down at The Minority Militant and happened to catch an interesting post called Something About The Militant where I learned that Laos "is still currently the most heavily bombed country on earth per square mile".

At the same time it brought up a thought I sometimes have when I think about other wars and other countries and while I know it's completely wrong to say - truly it is - I still can't help but think it sometimes:

If the Atomic bomb was good enough to drop on my Asian people, I say it's good enough for everyone else too.

Bob Jones U: Better Late Then Never But Still Not Quite Good Enough

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

I was reading this article down at Skyebox on the apology that Bob Jones University gave for its past policy of banning African-American students and interracial dating and while I'm glad they did it's kind of like so eight years later you finally decide to step up and apologize?

Hmmm - wonder what historical election played a part in that decision.

At the same time - something I had no idea about was that even though they've "allowed" interracial dating, apparently you still need a note from your parents.

I mean seriously - a note from your parents?

The apology is fine in its own right - but they still have a long ass way to go.

Getting Together To Denounce Hate Crimes

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Obviously you'd rather not have hate crimes happen - but if they do happen - it is nice to see groups spread across the racial and ethnic spectrum speak out against them:

A coalition of seven civil rights organizations denounced what the groups said was a recent rash of hate crimes since the presidential election.

The Anti-Defamation League joined the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Latino, African-American and Asian-American groups at a news conference Monday to deplore "the rise in hate and violence against our communities," said Janet Murgia, the president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza.

Murgia specifically cited the Nov. 8 murder of Ecuador native Marcelo Lucero on Long Island in New York by seven teenagers who told police they "simply wanted to beat up someone who looked Mexican" and an assault on a Liberian teen on election night in Staten Island, N.Y., by teens shouting "Obama" and racial epithets.

Noting that hate crimes against Latinos and Asian Americans have risen steadily over the past four years, she attributed the spike to the "wave of hate unleashed by the polarized debate over immigration." Murgia noted that the issue was not as significant in the election campaign as had been expected.

"Make no mistake, there is a direct connection between the tenor of this political debate and the daily lives of immigrants in our communities," said ADL Washington counsel Michael Lieberman.

Speakers at the news conference said they had no specific figures documenting an increase in hate crimes over the past few weeks. Lieberman said the quarterly hate crimes statistics compiled by the federal government would not be available until next year, but did say the ADL had recently found "dramatic increases in Internet hate."

News conference participants called for Congress to pass the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, legislation that would expand the number of bias-motivated crimes covered under federal law and allow greater jurisdiction to federal authorities to investigate such crimes.

Artist: Katana And Kaotica

Tuesday, November 25, 2008



I got sent some info on artist Katana who's released her album Kaotica, and from the songs I previewed both on her site (which you can download) as well as her MySpace page - she's definitely worth checking out especially if you're into spoken word and vibin' on the political and personal of being an Asian woman. Standout tracks - "Mama San", "Geisha Girl", "Woman's Worth", and "Night Bird"

Here's some more info on Katana:

Katana is a spoken word artist who was a ghost writer and backup dancer for various mainstream artists. She has now decided to strike out on her own by creating, producing, and writing her own album which is now available on ITunes. Katana has opened for Damian Marley, Mario Africa, Yellow Rage and Public Enemy. Lee Cataluna of the Honolulu Advertiser has said of Katana that "She speaks of broken promises, dead ends and betrayal; but within her words are the seeds of hope and the search for simple dignity."
For more check out the following links: www.katanamusic.com, www.myspace.com/keatika, www.imeem.com/kaotica, www.last.fm/music/poetic+katana.

Japanese Man Makes Mexico's Terminal His Home

Tuesday, November 25, 2008


MSNBC

Art imitating life or life imitating art?

Hiroshi Nohara is on a layover at the Mexico City airport. It has lasted almost three months, and he has no plans to leave.

For reasons he can't explain, the Japanese man has been in Terminal 1 of the Benito Juarez International Airport since Sept. 2, surviving off donations from fast-food restaurants and passengers and sleeping in a chair.
Reading some other articles down at Univision it seems like his travels do have a purpose - a crazy thing called love.

Read the full article here.

DVD Round Up

Monday, November 24, 2008

Spider Lilies



I saw this on a whim and I'm definitely glad I checked it out. It's the second feature by Zero Chou and won the Teddy Award for best feature film down at the Berlin International Film Festival and got released on DVD in the U.S. this summer. If you like love stories with a twist - specifically some of the dream sequences that character Takeko has - I think you'll enjoy it.

It stars pop icon Rainie Yang as webcam girl Jade (in her first lead role) and Isabella Leong as tattoo artist Takeko.



The Go-Getter



Released this summer and put out on DVD last month, I'm not exactly sure what I liked about this film - but I liked it - and that's pretty much all I wanted to say about it (and this is the reason why I'm not a film reviewer for a living).

Here's the trailer which is what made me check out the film in the first place.



Bella



I have to admit that I think sometimes I just get lucky when I pick out films to see. I'll just grab them, or pop them in my queue, or order them online and hope for the best - and in Bella, which got released on DVD this year it seems I was lucky again. Love, redemption, great acting, and a killer soundtrack to boot. What more can I ask for?



American Fusion



So this is an older Asian American film - it technically came out in 2005 - but it's still been going strong (picking up awards at the 2007 VC Film Fest) and it's actually going to be released on DVD in early 2009, but I happened to be able to borrow a copy of it from a friend who happened to have a screener of it. It's definitely a fun movie which made a good point, but didn't beat you over the head with it like a PSA (although it does play up the stereotypes but seemingly for a good cause). Sylvia Chang, Esai Morales, and the whole cast are really enjoyable so make sure to check it out on DVD when it comes out next year (January of 2009).



The Forbidden Kingdom



They can't all be winners, and even though I didn't expect much from this - almost nothing - I still thought to be fair I would give it a view, but I didn't expect that it was going to be so bad that I would turn it off after the first 10-20 minutes.

Seriously. It was that bad.

中島美嘉 - ORION

Monday, November 24, 2008

From her recently released 27th single Orion which is also going to be on her upcoming album Voice set for release this November 26th.

Anh 'Joseph' Cao And New Orleans

Monday, November 24, 2008


I was reading this article out on Anh 'Joseph' Cao who is running for Congress in New Orleans against a popular Democratic incumbent named William Jefferson , and one of the more interesting aspects of the article was a quote by Cao who said:

It's no longer an issue of black and white. It now goes to the issue of who's going to better represent the 2nd District to bring about change, to bring about reform.
And while Cao is a Republican - I like the fact that Cao is touching on race in his bid for Congress and how he's putting it out there that the only viable candidates aren't just black and white - but that Asian Americans need to be included in the mix as well.

On another note I couldn't help but wonder about the last two paragraphs in the article:

Cao has compared himself to President-elect Barack Obama for his potential for cross-racial appeal. But the Obama factor that may help him most is the possibility that black voters may not show up in great numbers in December now that they have helped elect a black president. Fred Menville, 47, who is black, said he was usually inclined to vote for Jefferson. But this time, he said, he got "what we wanted" with Obama's election. "I think I might sit out this time," he said.
I just think it's funny how they take one person's opinion and apply it to the whole demographic of black voters in New Orleans while at the same time neglecting to focus on any other racial demographic in terms of voter apathy.

Just par for the course I guess.

General Housekeeping

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Just a couple of quick items which amount to some housekeeping on some blogging here and in other places.

1. If you happened to catch any of my blog posts down at Hyphen Magazine, even though I didn't end up blogging there a ton, just an FYI that you won't be seeing them around anymore. When they asked me to blog for them I wasn't quite sure if I wanted to go the group route but thought I'd check it out and lend a voice over their way, and while it was a good ride while it lasted - all rides have to come to an end eventually, and I just wasn't able to keep on blogging there anymore as well as here. Make sure to keep on going out and supporting their events and what they do in the community.

2. Another FYI - if you happened to be one of the few who ended up finding the Slant Eye profile down on Facebook - even though it didn't have any problems for the past year while it was up and running apparently someone decided to call it on in and its been disabled. Not a huge deal as I didn't use it that often, but if you found the Slant Eye profile missing from your friends list, you now know why. Hit me up for another profile and if you're good, Santa Slanty will forward it on your way.

Out.

YouTube Live: Planet B-Boy

Sunday, November 23, 2008

And the crowd goes wild with some of the live performances.

Nice.

YouTube Live: DJ Mike Relm

Sunday, November 23, 2008

You've heard me talk about Mike Relm before in previous posts and if you've never seen his work - check it out now from a couple of his YouTube Live sets - definitely vibin'.

Remixing YouTube Favorites



Lionsgate Mashup of The Spirit, Transporter 3, and Punisher: War Zone

YouTube Live: John Chu, Little Demon, And Michael Buckley

Sunday, November 23, 2008

A lot of good clips from YouTube live with Asian faces. Just one of the many videos that'll be getting posted up here.

Doesn't Little Demon rock?

Hari Kondabolu, Ali Wong, And Chris Garcia

Sunday, November 23, 2008



Hari Kondabolu who's been on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Comedy Central's Live at Gothem, as well as the 2007 HBO Comedy Festival - and who also wrote the funny as hell Manoj - passed along some information that he'll be playing some shows down in Seattle at the Comedy Underground with Ali Wong and Chris Garcia - so if you're in the area make sure to check it on out as they'll be one of the last shows he'll be doing out in the Seattle area for a while.

Info on the shows

What: Hari Kondabolu with Ali Wong and Chris Garcia
When: Dec. 3rd and 4th at 8pm (Doors at 7:30)
Where: Comedy Underground (109 S. Washington Street)
Cost: $12 ($10 in advance): http://www.ticketweb.com/snl/VenueListings.action?venueId=underground, 21+

Video Links

Hari Kondabolu: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuCaktPdSCo
Ali Wong: http://vimeo.com/1376818
Chris Garcia: http://vimeo.com/2024295

Asian Americans And Immigration

Sunday, November 23, 2008

I think this probably has a lot more to do with the generational gap - but it does stop and make you think that as a community we should be more involved:

"There's been a lot of attention paid to immigration rights and policy," said the institute's director, Paul Watanabe, at the survey's unveiling last month. "But the fact is, there is virtually no [statistical data] based upon Asian immigrants and the Asian community."

"There's been a lot of attention paid to immigration rights and policy," said the institute's director, Paul Watanabe, at the survey's unveiling last month. "But the fact is, there is virtually no [statistical data] based upon Asian immigrants and the Asian community."
Read it in full here.

So If You Spray Paint The Words "Hang Obama by a Noose" Should You Be Expelled?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

I was reading this article about an NCSU student who (with three other students) wrote things like "Let's shoot that n-- in the head'', "Hang Obama by a Noose'', and also made references to the KKK (and apparently the hate graffiti was even examined by United States Secret Service to determine if it amounted to death threats against President Elect Obama) and I wonder about the punishment for the crime.

The student who took primary responsibility had to issue an apology, and has to participate in diversity training, as well as perform community service.

One one hand it seems a little light. I mean doesn't expulsion seem more apropos for hate graffiti?

At the same time it makes me think about the question of when do you stop giving someone a chance to learn? Is there an age limit? Is it the frequency of the acts? A combination of the two?

To be honest - I don't know.

I'm just thinking out loud.

Getting Your Degree On And Getting Some Help

Friday, November 21, 2008

Caught this article down at the Northwest Asian Weekly on the some of the new government funds that are going to be given out to schools to help the Asian American students who aren't born out of the womb destined for ivy league colleges (because some of us are just happy to pass a drug test):

"What it means, first of all, is that we have been approved by the Department of Education to develop best practices to help underrepresented Asian Pacific Islander students successfully complete their degree and transfer to a four-year school,” said vice president of student services Mark Mitsui. “With that comes the funding for two years to develop the initiative."

South Seattle will receive $1.17 million its first year. After sending a progress report to the Department of Education, the school will receive an additional $1.24 million the second year. Mitsui hopes this grant will break down some stereotypes of Asians and Pacific Islanders.

“You probably have heard of the model minority myth, and the significance of the grant is the acknowledgment of the impact of the model minority myth on API students in higher education,” he said. “The stereotype is that API students don’t struggle in college when, in fact, we know that many API students do struggle if they get in at all. What’s groundbreaking is that this is the very first time that the U.S. government has acknowledged this category of need in this type of college.
The only thing about this article that made me scratch my head a little was on the Native American part of it - that's a little new.

The Host Gets A Remake

Friday, November 21, 2008



First Oldboy and now The Host - damn - like I've said before on remakes - on one hand I like the fact that a classic can get a new interpretation - but can't we at least give it a few more years?

Universal Pictures and Gore Verbinski will remake the 2006 Bong Joon-ho-directed Korean thriller "The Host," with commercials director Fredrik Bond making his feature helming debut and Mark Poirier ("Smart People") to pen the script.
All I know is this - and it's like I've said before - if they do the remake of Seven Days without Kim Yun-jin - that's when I'll get royally pissed.

Read it in full down at Variety.

The Patient Doctor Relationship And Bedside Manner

Friday, November 21, 2008

Caught this blog entry from an Asian American doctor and I just wanted to post a little bit on it as I thought it was a good read:

While there are probably multiple factors involved, researchers over the past decade have looked at how patients’ and doctors’ race and ethnicity might contribute to these disparities. One of the leading researchers in this area is Dr. Somnath Saha at the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland. Dr. Saha and his colleagues have shown that minority patients and white patients report better health care experiences when their doctors are of the same race or ethnicity .

But as my residency colleague, Eric, could attest, race and ethnicity can also influence the experiences of minority physicians. A recent study by Dr. Irena Stepanikova from the University of South Carolina notes that white patients who had non-white physicians were more likely to report a medical error than white patients with white doctors.
There's a lot more to the post - catch it here.

And for anyone that reads it, I wonder if you'll ask yourself the same question that I did when you read a specific line.

Did They Really Give This A Review Of 5 Cherries? Jax Cassidy And The Art Of Sensuality

Thursday, November 20, 2008



I'm going to freely admit that I haven't read this book or anything else by this author.

I don't know the first thing about Jax Cassidy other than that she's Asian American, and I can't even come close to telling you much else except that she just released her new book The Art Of Sensuality and that one of the many reviews on her site gave the book a rating of 5 Cherries.

Combine that with the fact that one of her books is titled Santa's Helper and I just couldn't pass up the post.

Here's a little more on Jax:

Jax Cassidy is a multi-published author and has written under the pen name Cassidy Kent. She is Co-Founder of Romance Divas, an award winning romance writer's website and discussion forum. In between skydiving for charity and campaigning against human trafficking, she enjoys the company of close friends and indulges her caffeine fix at the nearest cafe. An avid traveler and an adventurous spirit, Jax has drawn inspiration from her experiences and often blends the exotic mix of Eastern and Western lifestyles into her writing. When she isn't locked up in her office penning her latest manuscript, Jax can be found creating abstract paintings for future art shows, or dividing her time between California, Texas, and Florida.
Check out the Web site here.

Don Wakamatsu: First Manager Of Asian American Descent In MLB

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Peeped this down at SFGate as I've been catching up on news and damn - that's some pretty cool news and it just goes to show you that after year and years, and well - a lot of years - we're finally making some headway:

Wakamatsu, 45, got his start coaching in the Seattle system 13 seasons ago, and he told The Chronicle, "It's like it's meant to be. It's coming full circle."

Wakamatsu spent the past season as the A's bench coach and he was well respected by the players. Third baseman Eric Chavez recently said that Wakamatsu was right at the top of the list of the best coaches he's ever had.

Wakamatsu and A's catcher Kurt Suzuki were so close that this month, Suzuki jokingly told Wakamatsu he planned to call the Mariners and bad-mouth him to try to prevent him from leaving Oakland.

Suzuki compared Wakamatsu to the mentor in "The Karate Kid," saying, "He's like the Mr. Miyagi of baseball."
I guess when you say it in this context - maybe it's not so bad after all.

Don Nakanishi Receives Yale Medal

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Now, I'm not saying I ever received a Yale medal, but since 267 people have already received it since its inception in 1952, doing some late night math......one plus one, carry the two...wait.....ummm.......that's actually a lot of people - not like one every four years or anything like that - but then again it's not like I even know where Yale is on a map (I could have sworn it was in Louisiana...) - either way - congratulations to Don Nakanishi for receiving the honor for three decades of outstanding service.

Tangy

Thursday, November 20, 2008

More do-gooders in the world - and if you're at the University of Colorado at Boulder and are thinking about going abroad to China - then this news is for you:

A $1.2 million gift from the Tang Fund of New York to the University of Colorado at Boulder, the largest endowed gift ever made to the Center for Asian Studies, will allow students to experience China through a new study abroad program.

The Tang Fund donation to CU-Boulder will provide support for an annual summer program in China and cover expenses for one faculty member and about 12 students to study in China and neighboring countries. The program will be available to faculty and students in all disciplines, said Laurel Rodd, director of the Center for Asian Studies.

"Firsthand experience in China can enrich education across all disciplines," said Rodd. "It is our hope that by taking advantage of this program, students will gain new perspectives on their areas of study and a deeper understanding of China."

The program is unique because it is not restricted to students majoring in Asian Studies and seeks to expose a broad spectrum of students to Chinese culture, Rodd said, and will have a different curriculum and professor each year.

Topics covered by the program will include Chinese culture, history, religion, art, politics, environment and other disciplines. The program also differs from traditional study abroad programs in that expenses are covered by the endowed gift.

"This gift makes China and the study of Chinese cultures accessible to all CU-Boulder students," said Rodd. "By opening this opportunity to students of all economic backgrounds and in all fields of study, we can encourage more students to learn about one of the world's oldest, most populous and influential societies."

The program will also help CU-Boulder attain one of its major "Flagship 2030" goals of extending the university's educational reach around the world.

"This gift will help the university to realize one of our most important strategic goals -- establishing CU-Boulder as a global crossroads of education," said CU-Boulder Chancellor G.P. "Bud" Peterson. "Under Flagship 2030, we envision a campus that is a true global destination for higher education, and a point of embarkation for our students to points around the world. We are grateful to The Tang Fund for helping us to move in this vital direction."

Rodd said the length of the study trips abroad will vary depending on the course, but would typically last 3 to 4 weeks. The destination of each course will be up to the faculty who are leading the trip, she said.

"One of the great things about The Tang Fund gift is that we're not restricted to working with a particular institution in China," said Rodd. "Students will go to sites that are relevant to the classes they are taking."

CU-Boulder offered similar opportunities in the past with a donation from the Freeman Foundation, Rodd said. One course addressed how Japan and China present their own pasts, taking students to museums in each country. Another course focused on food, exercise and the body and offered students the opportunity to visit sites related to health and exercise, martial arts and food production.

The new program will be launched during the summer of 2010.

Contact

Laurel Rasplica Rodd, 303-492-1138
Laurel.Rodd@colorado.edu
Kirsten Steinke, 303-541-1209
Oakland L. Childers, 303-492-3117
And yes - I couldn't help that title either - blame on it blogger crusties...

Book Party Event: Snake Dance of Asian American Activism

Thursday, November 20, 2008



While I'm sure there won't actually be any real snakes here - sorry, couldn't help that - I'm sure it's going to be a good time:

The Asian American Resource Workshop is holding an event for author Michael Liu’s new book: “The Snake Dance of Asian American Activism: Community, Vision, and Power“. This event will also serve as the annual membership meeting for the Asian American Resource Workshop. (Download PDF Snake Dance Flyer)

The mission of the Asian American Resource Workshop is to work for the empowerment of the Asian Pacific American community to achieve its full participation in the U.S. society. We are a member-based organization that seeks to document the diverse Asian Pacific American histories, experiences, and social conditions. Our resource and activities are used to respond to current Asian Pacific American issues and to promote Asian Pacific American identity.

Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Time: 11:00 am-1:00 pm
Location: Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, 38 Ash St. Boston, MA

Two Random Video Posts

Thursday, November 20, 2008

After a long three day hiatus that's finally ended (I blame it on smoking lots of pot before actually signing that volunteer waiver which apparently means you actually have to do something) I thought I'd post up two random videos on kind of an old school vibe.

I'm not sure how I really got into the first - some random CD, in some random room, on some random day - but it's become one of my favorite songs by her - and one of the few folk singers I've really ever gotten into so I'm posting up this YouTube video of an old performance I found of hers playing at the BBC.

And as an informational note - yes - this is the first time ever I've used the tag "Folk" on this blog.

Nanci Griffith - Love At The Five And Dime



This next video isn't that far back in the way way back machine but it's definitely one of my favorite vibes and the video - the performance - if this is what U.S. audiences would have seen - I'm not sure how they could have ever said no - and if you've never seen this concert in full - you're missing out on seeing one of the best concerts and stage shows - ever.

Utada - Devil Inside (United 2006 Concert)

And Monday Is Day Of Slanty?

Monday, November 17, 2008

I'm off today (and was over the weekend, so no slew of posts for today if you check in on Mondays to see what the weekend posts were), but should be back to regular posting by tomorrow.

Slanty

Update: Apparently day of Slanty has turned into a few days of Slanty. Hopefully back to regular posting soon...

Blog Quotable: Mixed Race America

Friday, November 14, 2008

From down at Mixed Race America on Obama, the three levels of government and representing:


But what I was really interested in, was a discussion that the voters had about a letter to the editor in their local paper in which a writer complained about Barack Obama's self-identification as a "black" man. The letter writer noted that no other U.S. President self-identified as a "white" man and goes on to accuse Obama for placing undue importance on his "race," and THEN goes on to accuse Obama of being blind to his mixed-race status.
Read the post in full here.

Asian American Nonprofits Struck Hard

Friday, November 14, 2008

Some catching up to do (Slanty's been busy - but more on that later). Caught this article on who's winning and losing in the world of non-profits down at New American Media:

"It's a make or break year," said Rick R. Chen of Asian American LEAD (AALEAD), a nonprofit organization headquartered at 1323 Girard Street where the nation's economic downturn has struck hard.

For the past 10 years, AALEAD has helped low-income Asian Pacific American youth move out of poverty to become successful, self-sufficient adults. Currently, over 300 APA families in the D.C. and Montgomery County take advantage of AALEAD's after school and youth development programs, said Chen, their manager of development and communications.

Like many others, Chen has been following the news about the global credit crunch, rising unemployment and the implosion of some of the nation's leading financial institutions. One headline hit close to home for AALEAD.
Read the full article down here.

News Round Up

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Lot of news coming out from blogosphere and around the way.

Major Study of Chinese Americans Debunks ‘Model Minority’ Myth

The returns on Chinese Americans’ investment in education and “sweat equity” are “generally lower than those in the general and non-Hispanic White population,” says the report, “A Chinese American Portrait.” It adds that, on average, Chinese American professionals in the legal and medical fields earn as much as 44 percent less than their White counterparts. Based on extensive U.S. Census data and independent interviews, the study offers the most comprehensive and current portrait of the highly diverse Chinese American population. The research was conducted by the University of Maryland’s Asian American Studies Program with support from OCA, a national community-based organization of Asian Pacific Americans. The data in the report go through 2006, the latest available.

“Contrary to popular beliefs, Chinese Americans often face extra barriers to economic success, despite their educational achievements,” says principal investigator Larry H. Shinagawa, a demographer and Americans Studies professor who directs the University of Maryland Asian American Studies Program.
http://www.aast.umd.edu/director.html

“Time and hard work simply haven’t been enough for Chinese Americans to fully enter into mainstream social and professional circles,” Shinagawa adds. “I suspect there are many reasons such as language barriers or simply the difficulties that go along with being identified as an ‘outsider.’ In the long run, increasing mentoring efforts and leadership opportunities can enhance the Chinese American community. You need a pipeline, a network to help young professionals rise to their potential, and increase Chinese American participation in top positions. Success begets success.”
A taste of the Chop Suey Circuit

From the 1940s into the 1960s, Asian-American variety performers could make a steady living playing San Francisco and New York theatres and clubs irreverently known as the Chop Suey Circuit. One of its brightest stars was Larry Leung, a handsome, cocky and talented crooner and tap dancer who worked the circuit with his elegant wife, Trudie. He landed a coveted spot on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1950 and performed in an early production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 1958 musical Flower Drum Song before giving up his tap shoes and becoming a PGA golf pro.
Asian Americans are woven into fabric of U.S. military

Hoang Nguyen, 37, knew as a kid that he would join the U.S. military. “I wanted to repay back the United States for helping my family after the fall of Saigon,” he says. He remembers the chaos of the end of the Vietnam war in the late ‘70s. “We took a boat from Vietnam to Guam, then flew to the U.S. with the help of American troops,” he says. “The military had a big impact on me at a young age.”

That’s a common feeling among younger Asian Americans, he says, if they came out of the Vietnam War experience.
Asian-Americans are Top Leaders in Obama’s Transition Team

Two Asian Americans were appointed to top leadership positions in President-elect Barack Obama’s 16-member presidential transition team. Another Asian American will serve in the 12-member advisory board to the transition team.

Pete Rouse, whose mother is a Japanese American, will be one of the 3 co-chairs of the transition team. Chris Lu, a Chinese American, will be the team’s executive director.Sonal Shah, an Indian American, is a member of the advisory board.
Heroes of the Korean War: COL Young-oak Kim

The Korean War is full of many combat heroes from many nationalities that fought to protect the freedom of the South Korean people from aggressive communist expansionism. However, there are few American veterans that fought in Korea that the people they fought to protect from aggressive communist expansionism was in fact their own people. In the aftermath of the North Korean attack on South Korea many Korean-Americans signed up to fight in the country that was their historical home land when the US government made the decision to intervene in the Korean War. The US government was eager to attain the services of these Korean-Americans due to the lack of interpreters and cultural expertise in the US military. Out of all these Korean-American servicemembers one rises in prominence above all others, and that man is the incredible Young-oak Kim.
What's yours?

Growing up, I always knew that I was, technically, Filipino American. I wrote it confidently on my college applications, and I represented it as best as I could during the well-intentioned “cultural events” my largely homogenous school district sponsored on a sporadic basis. To my peers, my identity was pretty obvious due to my brown skin, eye shape, and mild obsession with tropical fruit. My accent was perfect enough for the addition of “American” to my original ethnic marker. Both they and I saw a neat package of Filipino American-ness, a foreign-looking American festooned with the trappings of unfamiliar novelties, like lechon (roast suckling pig) and my parents’ amusing inability to pronounce the “ph” sound. I had no qualms with this conception since I grew up isolated from the Filipino American community, so I too shared the two-dimensional view of my ethnic background. Until I arrived at university, I did not understand that I was more than just a demographic and that identity was not a static concept comprised solely of my ethnic heritage.
School District Tries to Lure Asian Parents

For school officials here, the numbers did not add up. Even as enrollment swelled to 3,200, from 2,600 a decade ago, attendance at Parent-Teacher Association meetings shriveled by half. Even as more students got accepted to Ivy League schools, turnout for the guidance department’s information nights was so anemic that counselors cajoled students to come — and bring along their parents.

Plan Bee, The Hashoo Foundation, And World Challenge 08

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

I got some news sent in to me about a finalist in the BBC/Newsweek World Challenge and wanted to post up on it.

What is the World Challenge '08?

Now in its fourth year, World Challenge 08 is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level. World Challenge 08 is brought to you by BBC World News and Newsweek, in association with Shell, and is about championing and rewarding projects and business which really make a difference. The winner will receive a grant of USD $20 000 to put back into their project/business, and two runners up will each receive USD $10 000. One representative from each of the three finalists will be flown to The Hague, The Netherlands to attend the award ceremony in December 2008.
Here's one of the finalists who sent in some information - check 'em out and put in a vote for them or anyone else you think should win the contest:

The Hashoo Foundation is sweetening the deal for the women beekeepers of northern Pakistan, by selling their top-quality honey in luxury hotels. The former kingdom of Gilgit in Pakistan is among the poorest and most isolated regions in the country. The towns are conservative and male-dominated - a place where women are not much seen, let alone heard.

One of the few income opportunities for women is beekeeping. The unique flora of the region makes for a superior honey that should command a premium price. The hard part is getting the honey to market. That's where the Hashoo Foundation comes in. It takes the women's honey, processes and packages it, and sells it in the high-end shops and hotels of Pakistan's capital Islamabad.

Profits go straight back to Gilgit, where they have a big impact on the women's lives. As the Foundation's Sarah Hashwani explains, "We're not interested in just helping them earn more money - we want to see that their children are better educated, that they have access to healthcare, that the have better sanitation in the houses and that they have better nutrition."
Check out all the finalists down at the BBC.

And East Is East And West Is West

Wednesday, November 12, 2008



Got this comic link sent in down by NY musician Jay Legaspi and it's a nice visual on perception.

Ruby Veridiano-Ching And two.one.five

Tuesday, November 11, 2008



There's a good article down at two.one.five magazine with Ruby Veridiano-Ching where she talks about being the only woman in iLL-Literacy, working at Jive Records, Miss Universe and the hustle of being an artist:

A few months back, I interviewed Adriel Luis of the super spoken word group Ill-Literacy from the Bay Area. Well I’m glad to announce that they’re back in town this week (performing at Swarthmore this Friday) and this time the feisty lady of the pack, Ruby Veridiano-Ching has also just published her first book Miss Universe. I haven’t read it yet, but I know Ruby’s words, she’s fierce when talking about the struggles of interracial relationships, funny when she remarks the complications of a text message relationship and touching when reflecting upon her back and forth speaking of Tagalog and English. Plus she’s one hot mama who can spot a tight manicure from miles away. I caught up with Ruby, on tour with the rest of Ill-Literacy, right as they were descending into the East Coast.
Check out the full interview here.

Notorious MSG on MTV's Radar

Tuesday, November 11, 2008



Love em, hate em, think they're geniuses - somewhere in the middle or none of the above - here's the link to the Notorious MSG out on MTV's Radar.

Best part of the video - someone almost laughing out of character.

Timothy Bui, Ham Tran, Stephane Gauger, Charlie Nguyen, And The Kristine Sa Show 1-hour Concert Special

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

A couple of random quick posts from the Kristine Sa Show.

Interviews With Timothy Bui, Ham Tran, Stephane Gauger, and Charlie Nguyen

If you didn't catch these previously they just got popped up on YouTube last week with Kristine Sa interviewing Timothy Bui, Ham Tran, Stephane Gauger, and Charlie Nguyen.

Here's part 1.



The rest of the links:

Part (2): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMBD8SyyMTM
Part (3): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4dET_qRYSQ
Part (4): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x00tstABEro

1-hour Concert Special

Caught this via a MySpace bulletin and wanted to post up on it as it has some good acts that will be playing:

The Kristine Sa Show 1-hour Concert Special featuring:

* The Shinobies (with Nam Ninja)
* Nylon Pink (with Kaila Yu)
* Thomas' Apartment
* Kristine Sa (with David Tran a.k.a. "Applesauce, Alex Orantes from "Eyeshine, Maurice Salmin from "Eyeshine", and Abner Duran.)

To be aired NOVEMBER 18th on VAN-TV, channel 18-7 in SoCal.

An Art on Market Street Panel Discussion: The Filipino Experience in the San Francisco Bay Area the 1970’s

Tuesday, November 11, 2008



Cool:

The San Francisco Arts Commission is co-sponsoring with Kearny Street Workshop a panel discussion about the Filipino immigration experience in the 1970’s as part of the Art on Market Street Program. The panel will take place on Thursday, November 13th, from 7 to 8:30 PM at Kearny Street Workshop, located at 180 Capp Street at 17th Street, in Space 180.

The panel is presented as part of Flor de Manila y San Francisco, an Art on Market Street Program project that includes a poster exhibition by artist Jenifer Wofford. The panel will discuss the connections between the Philippines and the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly in relationship to the immigration of Filipina nurses. The event is free of charge and open to the public.

This history inspired artist Jenifer Wofford to develop a story narrated in her poster series about the fictional character Flor Villanueva, a nurse who has emigrated from Manila to San Francisco in 1973. The Art on Market Street exhibition includes six different, original poster designs reproduced and installed in 24 of the triangular kiosks on Market Street between Van Ness and the Embarcadero. Ms. Wofford will show slides and details from all six posters at the panel discussion and talk about why she chose to tell this particular story.

The panelists include the following distinguished individuals:

Catherine Ceniza Choy will speak about Filipina nursing and immigration history in the United States. She is an Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley where she teaches courses in Asian American History, Filipino American studies, and contemporary United States immigration. She is the author of the award-winning book, “Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History,” which was co-published by Duke University Press and Ateneo de Manila University Press in 2003.

Dan Gonzales will speak about the Filipino-American experience and Asian American community activism in San Francisco in the 1970’s. He is one of the founders of Asian American Studies and the College of Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University.

In addition to a long history of teaching and writing, he has been an historical advisor to several film and television programs about Filipino American history, Asian Americans and American legal, political and social processes, and Philippine/United States relations.

Joaquin “Jay” Gonzalez will speak about Manila/Philippines political history in the 1970’s Marcos era. He is an Associate Professor of Politics and Director of the University of San Francisco Maria Elena Yuchengo Philippines Studies Program and has had numerous books published, the latest being Filipino American Faith in Action: Immigration, Religion, and Civic Engagement. After 9/11, Dr. Gonzalez was appointed Commissioner of Immigration Rights for the City of San Francisco, and in 2005 was awarded a Special Congressional Recognition by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for his exemplary work on immigrant concerns.

Sukhee Kang: You're Not A White Guy But You're Not The Asian American Candidate Either

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Catching up on some news alerts, it's nice to see that Irvine, CA finally voted in someone of color to their top post as Mayor. Seems like kind of a long time coming though. I guess it just goes to show us that diversity, percentages, and numbers don't always equate to power:

The city elects its first nonwhite official to the top post, reflecting the suburb's transition to an ethnically mixed community. Irvine is more than one-third Asian American and is home to a large Iranian American community. And on Tuesday, voters here elected the city's first nonwhite mayor. Sukhee Kang, a Korean immigrant and city councilman, credits his success to knocking on 10,000 doors, building up his credibility through two City Council terms and amassing a multiethnic coalition of voters.

"I never wanted to be viewed as a Korean American or Asian American candidate," Kang said, his voice hoarse from post-election talks and interviews. "I wanted to be viewed as Sukhee Kang. Because as mayor, you serve the entire community."

Last week, Kang, 56, who immigrated to Orange County at age 24, basked in the spotlight as he became one of a few Korean American mayors in the country, fielding calls from dozens of journalists on both sides of the Pacific and seeing his photo grace the cover of the Korea Times next to President-elect Barack Obama.

"Irvine is much more than a predominantly white community," said Grace Yoo, executive director of the Los Angeles-based Korean American Coalition. "It is definitely mixed and integrated well, and I'm glad to see the elected officials are starting to reflect the entire population."
I get the part about not wanting to be looked at as the Korean American or Asian American candidate - but I just can't help but think how even in a race where a city elects its first mayor of color, which should be celebrated - that the winning candidate still in some ways has to wash away their ethnicity because deep down people still somehow believe that if you're not a white candidate you may be somewhat biased in serving your constituency -- when in all reality people never ask that question (or maybe I should say people never quite worry about it) when the candidate is white, even though history has shown us the exact opposite.

Speaking: Contemporary Issues Facing Hmong Women in Wisconsin

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

For my Hmong out in Wisconsin - support your speakers (and it's free):

Kabzuag Vaj's talk will draw on her personal and professional experiences with contemporary issues affecting Hmong women in Wisconsin. She is a Hmong woman who came with her family the US in 1981. She has been advocating for women and children since she was 15 years old. She founded Freedom, Inc., a grassroots organization that advocates and provides services to low and no-income communities of color in Madison, Wisconsin. She has worked on social justice issues such as welfare reform, immigration issues, youth justice, and racial profiling. In the last 8 years, she has worked on ending violence against women and children, including addressing trafficking issues/abusive international marriages and murder suicide within the Hmong community.

Critical Perspectives on Hmong Scholarship and Experiences
The focus of the speaker series is to provide a platform for scholars, community leaders, and artists from, and working with, the Hmong community to share their work with the UW-Madison campus and the Madison Hmong community.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Madison, WI
Friday, November 21, 2008
2:00-4:00pm
259 Educational Sciences Building
1025 West Johnson Street (Between Mills and Brooks St)

Getting Your 3rd I South Asian Film Festival

Tuesday, November 11, 2008



3rd I, the Bay Area’s premiere showcase for South Asian film, proudly announces the program for 3rd I: San Francisco International South Asian Film Festival. The 2008 festival opens on Thursday, November 13 at the Brava Theatre in San Francisco’s Mission District. This year the festival expands to four days and two venues: Brava Theater, Thursday & Friday, November 13 & 14; and at the historic Castro Theater, Saturday & Sunday, November 15 & 16.

From art-house classics to documentary films, innovative and experimental visions to next-level Bollywood, 3rd I is committed to promoting diverse images of South Asians through independent film. This year the festival will showcase films from India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, and from the South Asian diaspora in South Africa, UK and the USA. As always, the focus of Opening night is on homegrown talent and this year we feature two California-based filmmakers: local filmmaker Saqib Mausoof brings his film KALA PUL (Black Bridge); and KISSING COUSINS by Amyn Kaderali (Bay Area-born, now Los Angeles based).

Other highlights include: RAMCHAND PAKISTANI by Mehreen Jabbar which screened to much acclaim at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film is based on a true event, about a Pakistani Hindu boy and his father who accidentally cross the border into India from their village in Pakistan and spent five years in an Indian prison. The filmmaker lives in New York, and is available for phone interviews.

Bombay-based documentarian Nishtha Jain returns to the festival with her latest offering, LAKSHMI AND ME, a candid look at class issues in a raidly modernizing India. Jain will be present for a Q & A at the festival. Also screening is Vishal Bhardwaj’s MAQBOOL, a masterful reworking of Shakespeare’s Macbeth set in the Bombay underworld, starring Irrfan Khan (NAMESAKE, WARRIOR). Bhardwaj also directed the dark drama OMKARA (OTHELLO) that moved audiences two years ago at the festival.

In addition, the festival has several co-productions with the US, Denmark, France & Germany, including a screening of the stunningly restored print (by the BFI) of the 1929 film A THROW OF DICE (Pranpancha Pash) with a remarkable new score by Nitin Sawhney. 3rd I has featured other films by Franz Osten at previous festivals: SHIRAZ (3rd I; 2003) and PREM SANYAS (co-presented at the 2004 Silent Film festival).
Check out the full details down at the thirdi.org website.

h/t/ AAM

First Filipino: Getting Down With Thelonious Monk

Monday, November 10, 2008



This news is a couple weeks old, but still definitely worth mentioning that I caught over at Asians In America Magazine about Filipino American Jon Irabagon who won the Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition:

Historic First: A Filipino-American Wins Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition. The Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition is the most prestigious jazz competition in the world. It has launched the careers of a number of major jazz greats including Joshua Redman, Jane Monheit, and Joey DeFrancesco. This year, a Filipino-American, Jon Irabagon, won the competition.

In addition to a $20,000 scholarship, Irabagon was also awarded a recording contract with Concord Music Group. The label plans to release Jon's album in mid-2009.
Here's another snippet from an article down at Good News Pilipinas:

Jon is the first Filipino to win this competition that is ranked no. 1 in the world in terms of prestige. Along with the top prize, he also took home a $20,000 scholarship and a record contract with Concord Music Group, one of the leading jazz labels in the US. Raised in Chicago, Jon has been playing the saxophone since he was eight years old, and has one album out as a leader, “Outright!” (Innova). He can also be heard on the new release by the pugnacious post-bop group Mostly Other People Do the Killing. If you would like to watch the newest Fil-Am pride — he will perform at the 4th Annual Filipino-American Jazz Festival at the Catalina Bar & Grill, also in Hollywood, on December 27.
And a little bit more about Jon from the bio on his blog:

Jon picked up the alto saxophone in 4th grade and piano shortly thereafter, but didn't become serious about music until high school. At this time Jon began playing gigs in suburban Chicago, where he grew up, and quickly found himself playing different kinds of music. He then attended DePaul University in the heart of the city to continue his music education, obtaining a Music Business degree with a minor in Journalism in 2000. During these formative years, Jon performed with notable jazz musicians John Abercrombie and Tom Harrell, pop superstars Richard Marx and the Pointer Sisters, and up-and-coming crooner Michael Buble. Jon recorded many albums as a sideman during this developmental time in his musical growth. These recordings span the gamut as far as musical styles go, and include everything from traditional big band recordings to orchestral settings, Brazilian dance music to avant-garde jazz, and backing up singers to backing up hard rock bands.

In the fall of 2001, Jon moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music and study with one of his idols, Dick Oatts. After receiving his Master's Degree there in 2003, Jon was invited to play lead alto for the recently-formed jazz program at the Juilliard school, and received an Artist Diploma there in 2005. Since that time, Jon has been performing in and around New York City, and has toured through the continental United States, Europe, Costa Rica, Japan, and Taiwan.

Waiting For The People I've Slept With

Monday, November 10, 2008



Chalk this up to a film I'm waiting to see (it's in post production according to the film notes) and with Karin Anna Cheung, Archie Kao, Lynn Chen and James Shigeta (written by Koji Steven Sakai and directed by Quentin Lee, both of whom are producing as well) can you really blame me?

Here's the synopsis (which is copied from the film link below):

The People I've Slept With is a sex comedy about a promiscuous woman who finds herself with an unplanned pregnancy and needs to figure out who the baby daddy is...NOW.

Angela Yang (Karin Anna Cheung of Better Luck Tomorrow) loves sex. She loves it so much she needs to make baseball cards of her lovers to help her remember where she's been. She doesn't think twice about her lifestyle until she finds out that she's pregnant.

Her gay best friend, Gabriel Lugo (Wilson Cruz of Rent & My So-called Life), tells her to "take care of it," but her conservative sister, Juliet (Lynn Chen of Saving Face), persuades Angela to get married to the baby's father and lead a "normal" life like her.

Angela listens to her sister, chooses to keep the baby, and goes on a quest to find the identity of the father by any means necessary. She revisits her recent sexual conquests most likely to have impregnated her: 5-Second-Guy, Mystery Man, Nice-Buy-Boring-Guy, Mr. Hottie, and BFF. She finds creative ways to obtain each of their DNA samples in the hope of identifying the dad and ultimately marrying him.

During the search, she gets to know one of the possible fathers, Jefferson Lee aka Mystery Man (Archie Kao of CSI), and quickly realizes that he can giver her the fairytale she wants. As they grow closer, each discovers they both have secrets they're hiding from each other.

While helping Angela on her quest, Gabriel is sorting through his own relationship issues. He's 30 and been in lots of relationships but never in love. When he finally meets someone that he's fallen in love with, he's too scared to admit it and sabotages his relationship. Heartbroken, he tries to win back the first guy he's ever really loved.

Hoping for the best, Angela and Gabriel decide to plan a double wedding. Their philosophy is: if we plan it, the grooms will come. Or will they?

Beneath the steamy adventures of The People I've Slept With lies the touching story of the importance of defining friendship and family for a modern woman who must find the path to accept herself.
Check out the IMDB entry here as well as the film page here and an older interview with Karin Anna Cheung on the film here.

Write-Up: New York Lately

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Got sent this in about a review down at Rogue Cinema on Gary King's New York Lately which I wanted to post on up. Here's a snippet:

Back in May of 2005 I reviewed an absolutely brilliant comedy short from director Gary King called Hubris. It was obvious from that film that Gary King not only had a huge amount of talent as a film maker, but that I could expect to see even better things from him in the future. For a long time now, I had known about a film he had been working on called New York Lately. I didn't know all that much about it other than that it was a feature length film, and vastly different from his short comedy Hubris.

Fast forward to today. I got the film in the mail earlier this month, and when I had a chance to sit down in watch it, I was simply in awe at how brilliant it was. This whole thing is like a showcase of what to do right in a film...
Check it out in full here.

Bulletproof Monk Goes YouTube

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Not everyone's favorite flick - but it is one of the films that will be playing on YouTube as part of a new agreement with MGM:

On Monday, YouTube will move forward a little, announcing an agreement to show some full-length television shows and films from MGM, the financially troubled 84-year-old film studio. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios will kick off the partnership by posting episodes of its decade-old “American Gladiators” program to YouTube, along with full-length action films like “Bulletproof Monk” and “The Magnificent Seven” and clips from popular movies like “Legally Blonde.” These will be free to watch, with ads running alongside the video.

The initial lineup may not be all that compelling, but for YouTube, which is owned by Google, the relationship with MGM is a crucial step in an essential reinvention.
Like I said - it might not be everyone's first choice - but it's still cool that a Chow Yun-Fat film is going to be part of the inaugural MGM rollout.

Random Celtics Post

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Just felt like posting that all is good again in the world as the Celtics are back on top of the Atlantic and just under Atlanta in the Eastern Conference (and I don't see that lasting).

But Utah?

Hmmm...I'm all for the Jazz returning to semi-greatness, but I just don't think it's going to last.

Beau Sia And East Meets Words

Sunday, November 09, 2008

If you're into Open Mic, Def Poetry and some lyrical madness - make sure to check on out East Meets Words featuring Beau Sia:

While another election has come and gone, one thing just keeps on going: the East Meets Words Open Mic, the longest continuously running Asian American Open Mic Series on the East Coast (and maybe in all this country). This month’s feature is Beau Sia...Come on down to the freshly painted East Meets West Bookstore at 934 Massachusetts Avenue in Cambridge. Bring $3, something to share, your kids, your grandma, and Barack Obama if you dare. And come early to sign up for the open mic.
November 14, 2008 - 8:00 pm to 10:30 pm.

Check more out down at Boston Progress Radio.

News Round Up

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Word from blogosphere and beyond.

DISGRASIAN OF THE WEAK! Blaming the Black Voter

If we've learned one thing from this election, it's that we all have to work together. It wasn't black voters alone who got a black President elected. It was black, white, Latino, Asian, mixed, working together. And it's not black voters alone who passed the gay marriage ban, either. We all did--a percentage of us here, a percentage of us there. That's the truth that these exit poll numbers tell us: we failed. All of us. Together.
Tech-Addicted BF

Dear Q: My Chinese American boyfriend is a stereotypical tech geek and addicted to his gadgets. He will look at his PDA, cell, check his email, surf the Web and text while we’re together—in the car, over dinner, while I’m in the middle of a sentence. When we’re not together, he’s on his laptop.

He knows it makes me crazy. We’ve talked about it, but he hasn’t changed (though he stops after I nag him to death). What can I do to make him stop ignoring me?
Miracle of Giving Fool (2008 Korea)

I’ve wanted to see this movie since it came out in Korean theaters back in February but didn’t get my hands on the DVD till last night. I really enjoyed this movie mainly because of the innocent love that Sung-Ryong has for Ji-Ho. Also that fact that Cha Tae-Hyon (My Sassy Girl) is in it is a plus.
The Grewals heart Obama, wake up to a cross-burning for it

A family who had supported Barack Obama’s presidential campaign emerged from their home in the northwestern New Jersey town of Hardwick Thursday morning to find the charred remnants of a 6-foot wooden cross on their front lawn. Pieces of a homemade bedsheet banner reading “President Obama , Victory ‘08,” which had been stolen from the yard the night before, also were found, leading investigators to believe the banner had been wrapped around the cross before it was set afire.
The King of Bhutan is HOT!

The young king ascended to the throne after his father abdicated the throne in favor of his Western educated son. Jigme Khesar is an Oxford grad and began his unusual reign overseeing the democratization of his country, by presiding over the last sessions of the present parliament where electoral laws, land reform and other important issues were deliberated.
Florida's Shame and the Limits of Change

"Change" was in the air last night, as president-elect Barack Obama observed in his acceptance speech at Chicago's Grant Park. But on the eve of Obama's history-making victory, some corners of the country were approaching change cautiously. In the state of Florida, veering hard-blue for Obama and a House-seat pick-up, "change" looks to have been a case of "two steps forward, one step back".
Goodbye "white guilt".

There go my fellow conservatives, glumly shuffling along, depressed by the election aftermath. Not me. I'm virtually euphoric. Don't get me wrong. I'm not thrilled with America's flirtation with neosocialism. But there's a massive silver lining in the magical clouds that lofted Barack Obama to the presidency. For today, without a shred of intellectually legitimate opposition, I can loudly proclaim to America: The Era of White Guilt is over [...] That brilliant proclamation was from a conservative hack by the name of Tom Adkins...
Hope… but verify

As I’ve said before, I am bothered by U.S. Presidents who want to “help” Mexico… which means helping loot the country for the benefit of the United States, and not those things like doing away with agricultural subsidies and dealing with the gun and money laundering problem which are not a matter of charity, but of treating Mexico as a legitimate NAFTA partner and neighboring nation.