The Heat And Spoelstra

Sure.

I know Erik is a fine looking gentleman.

Yes.

Lebron is a great player and Bosh is playing well.

And yes.

I do know that Erik is the first Fil Am Irish Dutch coach in the NBA.

But yet...

Somehow...

I still can't help rooting against them.

Northern Spark: Wing Young Huie, Wang Ping, Vong Vang, Liu Xuguang, And Glow In The Dark Ping Pong

Sounds like an interesting concept if you're down in The Cities over this coming up weekend.

Northern Spark is a new MN Festival modeled on a nuit blanche or “white night” festival—a dusk to dawn participatory art event along the Mississippi and surrounding areas. It will take place the evening of June 4 (sunset 8:55 pm) till the morning of June 5, 2011 (sunrise 5:28 am).

Northern Spark will include a diversity of art forms and projects including multi-story projections, audio environments with vistas, floating works on barges, houseboats and paddleboats, headphone concerts, and the use of everything from bioluminescent algae and sewer pipes for organs to more traditional media such as banjos and puppets [...]

It is in this context that more than 200 artists are presenting 100 installations and performances for Northern Spark from the top of the Foshay Tower to boat rides along the Mississippi to light sculptures and projections to performances galore, including car horn and brass band fanfares, color guards, river dancing, sewer pipe organs, lullabies, and storytelling. Perusing this site will introduce you to the rich variety of offerings that will bloom for one night only. It is not our goal to take over the night like some giant big top tent, but to join it. We meet the city halfway. As you walk or ride a bike or take the bus from one venue to another, see and appreciate your surroundings with new eyes and ears. Celebrate one of the great rivers of the world through two magnificent cities and enjoy the next artistic intervention you come across. It’s an adventure. You make your own journey.

Check more out down at the site.

White House Blog: AAPI Vets: A Rich History of Service

It’s an understatement to say that the United States benefits from its diverse citizenry. The very nature of our country is one where Americans of different races and ethnicities come together to contribute to the rich blend of American culture. Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) are one of the many populations to contribute to the patchwork quilt of America—even though many of these contributions are not widely known. Even as AAPIs have been part of American history, we are also an important part of America’s future as a global economic and innovation leader.

One hundred and fifty years ago, it was Asian laborers who literally moved mountains with their bare hands and bent backs, uniting the nation from East to West by laying the rail line of the first transcontinental railroads. During the Civil War, Chinese Americans fought in white units mostly in the North, while some united under the Confederate banner. Edward Day Cohota, a Chinese immigrant, served in the Union Army during the Civil War and remained in the United States Army for more than twenty years.

Unlike other soldiers who were granted US citizenship under the 1862 Alien Veteran Citizenship act upon their honorable discharge, he was never granted citizenship because of the later 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act which made it illegal for Chinese to become U.S. citizens. And of course we are all familiar with the heroism of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th battalion of Japanese Americans during World War II. Even while their families were herded into internment camps and stripped of their constitutional rights and liberties, these brave Americans fought with a ferocity seldom seen before or since.

What hasn’t changed throughout American history has been the undivided love that AAPIs have for our nation. The story repeats itself throughout American history of AAPIs serving honorably. Today, our Pacific Islander Veterans, along with Native American Veterans, serve in the U.S. military at the highest per capita rates of any population in the nation. There are currently only two Asian Americans in the United States Senate, Senators Inouye and Akaka, and both are Veterans. There is no question of our AAPI service members’ ability to excel in the military, something clearly demonstrated by the military service of people like Secretary Shinseki, Brigadier General Coral Wong Pietsch (1st female AAPI Army general officer) and the 32 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients from the first, José B. Nísperos, to the 22 who were recognized decades after their service on the battlefield such as Senator Daniel Inouye and onto the most recently named Private First Class Anthony T. Kaho'ohanohano.

Today, as other nations develop and become more globally competitive, the United States must draw on the skills of all our citizens in order to win the technological, innovation and production race for the future. So as we celebrate the contributions of AAPIs to our nation’s rich heritage, we should also look forward to where AAPI’s varied contributions will add to the toolkit our nation will use to win the future.

Link.

Triangle Offense + Shirt The Kids NJ Benefit Performance

Welcome to TO Tuesdays, Shirt The Kids NJ Edition! Shirt The Kids NJ is a benefit concert being held on June 3rd at the Union County Performing Arts Center in Rahway, NJ. It's made possible through the combined efforts of West coast based clothing line Pnoy Apparel, and East coast artist booking/management company The Project Mgmt. The guys are excited to be performing alongside other well known YouTube artists such as Jennifer Chung, AJ Rafael, Jesse Barrera, and more. For a glimpse of what to expect at Friday's show, check out their remix of Lupe Fiasco's latest single "Out Of My Head", with the aid of fellow STK NJ performer Danielle Maglente.

Watch the "Out Of My Head (Acoustic Remix)" here: http://youtu.be/SGA0tKkNMUs?hd=1

View the STK NJ Facebook Event Page here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=206486242705273
And purchase tickets here: http://stknj.eventbrite.com/

Also, be sure to check out their latest singles, "Love It (One In A Million)": http://youtu.be/DmWLPrv1eO4?hd=1 and "It's All Good (TO's Diner)": http://youtu.be/xnxyogmqwbg?hd=1

As well as their debut music video, "TGIF": http://youtu.be/rW4n1A06oOQ?hd=1

To download their latest mixtape "The Courting" for free, click here: http://triangle-offense.com/?p=523

Bambu + The Roxy

America: You Are Crazy. Scotty McCreery? He's The Kid From Mad Magazine. Hines Ward Did Win DWTS So That's At Least Something I Guess

What in the world is wrong with America (not all of America just the AI portion)? They choose the kid that looks like the Mad Magazine cover (as my friend pointed out to me). I know people like their country, but - really?

Really really?

At least we have this.

One Year In: Jay Legaspi + The Bitter End (Anniversary Show)

Go out and hear some music.

May 25th marks the 1 Year Anniversary of Jay Legaspi's debut full length album, Picture Perfect. To celebrate, Jay and his band are having a homecoming show at The Bitter End, one of New York City's most legendary venues.

The info is below:

LIVE @ The Bitter End

May 25th 2011 8:00PM (arrive early for seats) 

147 Bleecker Street (between Thompson and LaGuardia)

New York City, NY 10012

$5 + 2 Drink Minimum

18+

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183045631745030

The show features Matt Pana on Drums and John Violago on bass.

Additional info can be found on the new and improved http://www.jaylegaspi.com. The upgraded website is the best place to find updates on future shows and news on current projects. Jay will also be posting exclusive content on the site, so please visit and check back often.

Jay's album Picture Perfect is available for mail order through http://www.jaylegaspi.com and also digitally on iTunes

White Students Afraid Of Frozen Yogurt (Because They're Mildly Racist)

Got this sent in (thanks LJ) and apparently the above was printed at The Wake - and from what I hear Fru-Lala is "a Korean American owned fro-yo shop in dinkytown complete with free wifi and study happy hours (very student friendly). They've been open for about a year, are native English speakers, provide great customer service and have a great frequent customer program."

Guess that says it all.

Ken Jeong + His Wife Tran + Standing Up To Cancer

Connecticut Commission Holds Hearing On Hate Crimes Against Asian Pacific Americans Post Bin Laden

The Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission of Connecticut has scheduled a hearing on whether hate crimes and racial profiling have ended following Osama bin Laden's death.

The chairwoman of President Barack Obama's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is scheduled to give the keynote speech Monday', titled "Post Bin-Laden: Has the Terrorism Ended? Hate crimes, racial profiling, bullying and harassment against Asian Pacific Americans."

Members of the state's Asian Pacific American community are also expected to testify before the state commission, which reports to the General Assembly, to discuss their personal experiences.

Several state lawmakers are scheduled to be on hand for the event and U.S. Attorney David Fein and Chief State's Attorney Kevin Kane.

The only thing I really thought to myself after seeing this was wondering if maybe they just want to get ahead of the curve in Connecticut. I would have waited a year, but maybe that's just me.

Some people call me slow.

In Pictures: The Doi Brothers

WWII 442nd regiment-Asian American Veterans: Michael Doi & brother Jimmy Doi

Flickr credits.

The IMF'ing Of Dominique Strauss-Kahn (And Getting $318,000 For The Rest Of Your Life)

Why is it that all these scandals always involve old White Guys with power?

Oh yeah...

And if all of it wasn't already enough to make you want to kick Dominique Strauss-Kahn in the balls - this will for sure:

Apparently since he stepped down from the IMF his compensation package kicks in which means in part, getting paid $318,000 every year for the rest of his life.

Rock: Ivy Rose + Zombie + APAHM 2011

I see their future 7.5 years from now.

It says record contract and sellout crowds.

Netflix Watch: Hot Summer Days

Not bad.

Local Charts: Far East Movement If I Was You (OMG) + Snoop Dogg

Glad to hear this getting requested #2.

Mitchell Grey

Facebook.

Hines Ward Goes To The Finals (And The Message Is Good Too)

If it was a choice between wax on and wax off or Hines Ward I'm thinking that America has finally made a decent choice (no offense Ralph).

Love them baby pictures.

Get A Job: Asian American Writers' Workshop Website Managing Editor

Start:

The Asian American Writers' Workshop is looking to hire a highly ambitious entrepreneur who wants to build editorial and new media experience with the literary nonprofit that partied with Das Racist and Tao Lin, curated the Asian American ComiCon, and enlisted Salman Rushdie, Naomi Klein and 300 other writers to boycott Arizona and its crackdown on immigrants.

Read it in full and apply online here.

Kollaboration Live @ Atlantic Times Square: Upcoming Lineups for 5/20 and 5/21

You still have time.

Be In The Background

If you've always dreamed but didn't know where to start maybe you can test the waters out by being an extra.

We are currently looking for Background Extras for two of our upcoming shoot dates on SUNDAY, MAY 22 and MONDAY, MAY 23. That's this coming weekend!

If you are interested in attending, please reply to this e-mail ASAP with your NAME, GENDER (if it isn't obvious), AGE, and DATE(S) YOU'D LIKE TO ATTEND, and we can get you registered on our list of extras. You'll hear back from us with full details on call times, locations, and the type of attire you must wear. It should be a fun experience for those who haven't been on a film set before. Please reply no later than FRIDAY, MAY 20!

For full details visit: http://millionstheseries.com/background-extras

Kollaboration New York: Open Mic Benefit Concert

Kollaboration New York Presents: Open Mic Benefit Show

Sunday, May 22
7pm - 10pm

The National Underground
159 E. Houston St.
New York, NY

With guest performers The Suzan, Decipher & Johnnyphlo

The Suzan: www.thesuzan.com
Decipher: http://deciphermusic.com
Johnnyphlo: http://johnnyphlo.com

Tickets: $10 Pre-Sale (end Friday) & $15 At the Door (18+)
All proceeds will go towards relief efforts in Japan.
Pre-sale tickets can be purchased at: http://kollabforjapan.eventbrite.com

For more information, please visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=199923776709356&ref=ts

Fighting the New Global Slave Trade

From Harold Koh and the White House Blog:

As a human rights lawyer and a Korean-American, I am honored to take part in this month-long celebration of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in the United States and to help advance the cause of human rights both within our country and across the globe.

One of the most urgent challenges the AAPI community must address – and one of the most egregious human rights abuses of our time—is the modern global slave trade: the crime of human trafficking.

Traffickers prostitute underage girls, force boys to beg on the streets, subject men to debt bondage in agriculture and factory work, and enslave women in homes as domestic workers. As we have seen in U.S. v. Lee and more recently in the U.S. v Global Horizons prosecution, this crime dramatically affects the rights of those of Asian and Pacific Islander descent on U.S. soil. Trafficking undermines the guarantees of the Thirteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Article 4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

While the problem is massive and global, we are finally seeing progress through the growth of legal norms and regimes. One hundred and forty six countries are now parties to United Nations Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children (Palermo Protocol), which supplements the UN Convention on Transnational Organized Crime. Palermo embodies the “3P” approach to combating trafficking – prosecution, protection and prevention.

Smooth: Baiyu's "Together"

Refugee Nation + PFP

You can still catch some showings.

Refugee Nation tells the stories of a community created by a U.S. led secret war in Laos. Intricately connected to the Vietnam War, Laotian refugees struggle to create a future as their American descendants struggle to understand their past. Since 2005, collaborators Leilani Chan and Ova Saopeng have been collecting oral histories from family and community members across the country to create an interdisciplinary theater performance that explores a growing part of the Asian American Diaspora that is yet to be included as part of the American experience. Through theater and movement they re-construct the stories of families trying to rebuild a community that has been spread like ashes across the U.S. and the world.ONLY 3 PERFORMANCES

Thursday May 19, 2011; 7:30PM at Ethnic Cultural Theater at UW
Saturday May 21, 2011; 2:00PM at Ethnic Cultural Theater at UW
Sunday May 22, 2011; 7:30PM at Ethnic Cultural Theater at UW

TICKETS: $15 (general); $12 (students and seniors)
For tickets and info, visit www.refugeenation.com or call (253) 237-2336
Ethnic Cultural Theater at UW is located at 3940 Brooklyn Ave. NE

PR: Asian Pacific American Leaders Outraged By Failure of Cloture Vote on Liu Nomination

WASHINGTON - A coalition of Asian Pacific American groups today called the U.S. Senate's failure to pass a cloture vote on judicial nominee Professor Goodwin Liu a travesty of the democratic process. Professor Liu was nominated by President Obama to fill a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The vote on a petition for cloture - which would have ended debate and allowed for a full Senate vote on Liu's merits - failed 52 to 43, with 1 Senator voting present. Four Senators did not vote. Sixty votes are required to end debate. A simple majority of votes is needed for a vote on the merits of a judicial nomination. The complete voting record can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/goodwinvote

"We are outraged that the Senate failed to allow Professor Liu the decency of an up-or-down vote," said Paul O. Hirose, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). "Although a bipartisan majority of the Senate was prepared to vote on Professor Liu - and, we believe, a similar majority was prepared to confirm him - Professor Liu has been denied this opportunity because of obstructionism. We are deeply troubled that an exceptional nominee who would also add much needed diversity to the federal bench is denied even a vote by the Senate."
"The failure to allow Professor Liu an up-or-down vote is appalling," said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC). "Asian Pacific Americans are vastly under-represented in the federal appellate courts, where there is only one active Asian Pacific American judge.

Especially during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, it is shameful that a well-qualified Asian Pacific American nominee has been denied the opportunity to serve his country as a federal judge because of extreme partisanship and ugly distortions of his record."

In yesterday's edition of The Hill, Sec. Mineta, a cabinet secretary in both the G.W. Bush and Clinton administrations, eloquently opined on the importance of his nomination to the Asian Pacific American community, stating that "Liu is an extremely well-qualified nominee who has the intellectual capacity, experience, temperament and integrity to be an excellent jurist. If Liu is not confirmed, Asian Pacific Americans may be left with the impression that there continues to be a glass ceiling blocking Asian Pacific Americans from top-level leadership positions regardless of their qualifications." Sec. Mineta was the first Asian Pacific American member of the president's Cabinet.

Asian Pacific American leaders also were troubled by the apparent double standard applied to judicial nominees. "Numerous Republican Senators have repeatedly stated that they believed that filibustering judicial nominees is unconstitutional, and that they believed that all nominees deserved an up-or-down vote," explained NAPABA Executive Director Tina Matsuoka. "For these same Senators to treat prior judicial filibusters as historical precedents and models of Senate behavior suggests that politics has triumphed over principles. Professor Liu, the Asian Pacific American community, and the American public are the victims. In contrast, we applaud Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), who had the courage to stand by her ‘no filibuster' pledge."
Professor Liu had the support of a broad collection of groups and individuals, including numerous Republicans and conservatives. Many faith-based, labor, civil rights, Latino, and African American organizations joined the Asian Pacific American community in support of confirmation.

NAPABA and AAJC greatly appreciate the work that was done by California Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer, who advocated vigorously in support of Professor Liu's confirmation, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Patrick Leahy for their efforts in securing a vote on the nomination. The organizations also thank President Barack Obama for the nomination.

###

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students. NAPABA represents the interests of over 40,000 attorneys and 61 local Asian Pacific American bar associations. Its members represent solo practitioners, large firm lawyers, corporate counsel, legal service and non-profit attorneys, and lawyers serving at all levels of government. NAPABA continues to be a leader in addressing civil rights issues confronting Asian Pacific American communities. Through its national network of committees and affiliates, NAPABA provides a strong voice for increased diversity of federal and state judiciaries, advocates for equal opportunity in the workplace, works to eliminate hate crimes and anti-immigrant sentiment, and promotes professional development of minorities in the legal profession.

The Asian American Justice Center (www.advancingequality.org), a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, works closely with its sister organizations - the Asian American Institute in Chicago (www.aaichicago.org), the Asian Law Caucus (www.asianlawcaucus.org) in San Francisco and the Asian Pacific American Legal Center (www.apalc.org) in Los Angeles - to promote a fair and equitable society for all by working for civil and human rights and empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and other underserved communities.

Watch It Now (Because It's Awesome): "I Got My Music" Video ft. Jin [Magnetic North & Taiyo Na]

Thanks TVu.

I Hate My DSL

At least this week....

Yay! Blogger + DSL Goes Back On

I think that's it.

Wednesday Velvet Rope Circa 1997

Together Again



Velvet Rope Video Remix

Cops Beat Down Asian Americans As Old As Your Grandma. With Mace.

I don't even know what to say to this.

How do you beat down old people? How do you threaten someone's grandpa with Mace and use force that you clearly don't need to use because of the size, weight, and obvious age difference, while all along, your buddies - including from what I saw two APA faces - are beating down another man until he's bleeding from the face (and they actually used the mace on him from what I understand)?

What possesses you to do that?

While the story is still unfolding - and technically no one knows why the possibly 60 year-old man was getting his ass kicked in a scene that I can only imagine a gang rape might start out like - The Gothamist at least reports that "every Saturday and Sunday for years now a group of senior citizens have gathered in the park to sing songs and make music".

No comment yet from the NYPD.

There Really Is A God: Ann Curry Replaces Meredith Vieira

You can check out some video of Ann Curry on Access Hollywood who in the beginning I think gets caught a little off guard but comes back well.

Dia + NBC's The Voice

Get dropped by Warner Brothers.

Put out an album on your own.

On NBC's The Voice.

The CounterParts - What We Do [Official Music Video]

Article III: Judge Edward M. Chen

Random judicial factoid.

Today, the Senate voted 56-42 to confirm Judge Edward M. Chen to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

"This is a day of true celebration as we congratulate Judge Chen on his long-awaited confirmation vote," said Paul O. Hirose, president of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association. "He has been an exemplary federal magistrate judge, and we know that he will be an equally excellent federal district court judge. Judge Chen has been an active member of the Asian Pacific American community for a long time and a hero to many of us, and we are so proud of him today."

With Senate confirmation of the nomination of Judge Chen, President Obama has confirmed more Asian Pacific American federal judges than any other President in history. There are now 14 active Asian Pacific American Article III judges in the nation, 7 of whom were nominated by President Obama.

"Judge Chen has been a tremendous leader within the Asian Pacific American community and a great example to all Americans. We could not be happier for Judge Chen, or prouder of his achievement," said Karen K. Narasaki, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center. "The Asian Pacific American community applauds the President's continued commitment to diversity and thanks all those Senators who agreed to end debate on his nomination and give Judge Chen the vote that he deserves."

Judge Chen is the first Asian Pacific American to serve as an Article III judge in San Francisco. He has served as a U.S. magistrate judge for the Northern District of California since 2001, where he was the first-ever Asian Pacific American federal judge in the 150-year history of that court. Prior to the bench, Judge Chen had over 20 years of litigation experience, including serving on the legal team that overturned the conviction of Fred Korematsu in a coram nobis case. Judge Chen is the recipient of numerous awards, including "Judge of the Year" from the Barristers Club of San Francisco in 2007, California Law Review's "Alumnus of the Year" in 2002, and NAPABA's highest honor, its Trailblazer Award, in 2001.

NAPABA and AAJC are proud to have supported Judge Chen. The organizations applaud President Obama for his nomination, Senate Majority Leader Reid for bringing Judge Chen's nomination for a vote, and California Sen. Dianne Feinstein for her stalwart support of Judge Chen. NAPABA and AAJC also thank California Sen. Barbara Boxer and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy for their unwavering support of his nomination, and the Senate Republican Leadership for agreeing to the expedited time agreement before Judge Chen's roll call vote.

Andrew Wai = Crew Subdues Man Banging on Cockpit in Flight

Crew members and passengers wrestled a 28-year-old man to the cabin floor after he began pounding on the cockpit as an American Airlines flight approached San Francisco, authorities said Monday. (May 9)

Chicago Tribune

The passengers sat stunned as they watched a man walk quickly toward the front of American Airlines Flight 1561 as it was descending toward San Francisco. He was screaming and then began pounding on the cockpit door.

"I kept saying to myself: 'What's he doing? Does he have a bomb? Is he armed?'" passenger Angelina Marty said. Another shocked passenger, Andrew Wai, thought, "Could this be it? Are we going down?" Within moments Sunday, a flight attendant tackled Rageh Almurisi. Authorities do not yet have a motive.

Maybe he was just having an anxiety attack.

Paper Tigers, Wesley Yang, NY Mag, And Fucking Filial Piety

Caught this article down at New York Magazine and wanted to post up a few snippets of it here including the following:

Millions of Americans must feel estranged from their own faces. But every self-estranged individual is estranged in his own way. I, for instance, am the child of Korean immigrants, but I do not speak my parents’ native tongue. I have never called my elders by the proper honorific, “big brother” or “big sister.” I have never dated a Korean woman. I don’t have a Korean friend. Though I am an immigrant, I have never wanted to strive like one [...]

Let me summarize my feelings toward Asian values: Fuck filial piety. Fuck grade-grubbing. Fuck Ivy League mania. Fuck deference to authority. Fuck humility and hard work. Fuck harmonious relations. Fuck sacrificing for the future. Fuck earnest, striving middle-class servility.

Read it in full here.

Pacquiao VS Mosley

While some say it didn't have the flair they had hoped for - a win is a win.

That's A Cute Baby Made By Google

Been seeing this around and wanted to post it up here as well.

Tad Nakamura + PBS

Check your local stations.

Pilgrimage and A Song For Ourselves will be broadcasting together on multiple PBS affiliate stations starting on Mother’s Day, May 8th through the 15th. Two Films by Tadashi Nakamura is the official title of the program. Not every PBS station will be airing the show but it will be broadcasting on 1,104 stations, covering 45% of the country including; San Francisco, Dallas, Boston and New Orleans.

Music: Chirish

18.

Straight outta Ann Arbor, MI.

Bandcamp.

Kollaboration SF: Auditions

Don't say you didn't know now.

BERKELEY, CALIF. (May 4, 2011) –Earlier this month Kollaboration SF wrapped up our first round of online applications. After a flood of applicant videos, requests to re-open the application came along with it. Not to miss a chance at showcasing amazing APA talent in the Bay Area, Kollaboration SF Staff has set to re-open audition applications once again and host a second audition date on May 28th, 2011.

Kollaboration SF auditions seek talented APA artists that include, but are not limited to, musicians, dancers and comedians who will vie for a spot in the September 10th show at Zellerbach Hall in Berkeley, California. Performers will compete for a First Place prize of $1,000 and a People’s Choice Award of $500. Artists must send an electronic application through KollabrationSF.org by May 14th, 2011.

Audition Application Deadline May 14th, 2011
Live Audition May 28th, 2011

For additional information about Kollaboration SF Monica Alegre at monica.alegre@kollaborationsf.org or visit us at www.KollaborationSF.org.

Kollaboration is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the promotion of a strong Asian Pacific Islander presence in entertainment and media industry. Started in Los Angeles in August of 2000, Kollaboration has branched out to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, New York, and Toronto. Detailed information about the organization and its events can be found on the Kollaboration website at www.KollaborationSF.org

Contact: Monica Alegre
Monica.alegre@kollaborationsf.org
(408) 205 – 4303
www.KollaborationSF.org | @KollabSF

Jubilee Project, A World Without Moms, And I Really Like This Video

I think the title says it all.

Movie Stat

According to BoxOffice.com Fast Five has taken in about 92 million dollars since opening up about four days ago. Rio has taken in about 104 million in around eighteen days.

I'd say that's a win.

visualizAsian: Albert Kim, Cheryl Tan, Nikita, And A Tiger In The Kitchen

Because if you don't already know - I'm here to tell you it will be spectacular - more than spectacular - I think it'll be spectacular with a side of hot sauce and some chicken wings.

Sweet sweet chicken wings.

Happy Asian American Pacific Islander Month! We're very excited to announce TWO shows this month, to celebrate the 2nd birthday of visualizAsian.com!

On Tuesday, May 10 at 7 pm PT (10 pm ET): ALBERT KIM, a writer and producer for the hit CW TV series "Nikita" starring Maggie Q. Read about Albert and his career here.

Tuesday, May 24 at 7 pm PT (10 pm ET): We'll speak with CHERYL TAN, journalist and author of a tasty memoir, "A Tiger in the Kitchen." Read more about Cheryl Tan and her book here.

DramaFever, Fog, And The Things We Carry

A quick note that you can watch two new films down at DramaFever for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month including The Things We Carry and Fog.

Cool.

Contributions, AAPIs, And The Federal Government

A snippet from the White House blog (Chris Lu) that I just wanted to post up.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the many contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have made to our great nation. As the head of the White House Office of Cabinet Affairs, I have the privilege of working with many dedicated AAPIs across the federal government. These public servants work on diverse and compelling issues that impact the AAPI community, such as rebuilding the economy, implementing new health care laws, expanding public transportation and livable communities, protecting our civil rights, and reforming our schools.

One of the great highlights of my job is working with our three AAPI Cabinet members [...]

Read it in full.

The Only Thing I Have To Say On The Celtics And Heat

When Boston goes up 3-2 and Lebron mentally breaks down as the last and final game slips away from him, realizing it will be in fact the third time he's been taken out of the playoffs by the same team -- it'll all be worth it.

Lineups: Kollaboration Live @ Atlantic Times Square

Date: Friday, May 6, 2011
Time: Performances start at 7PM
Performers: Shin Kawasaki, Jason Zengo Yano (KA5 Competitor), Alexa Yoshimoto (KA5 Competitor)

Date: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Time: Performances start at 5PM
Performers: The Mood Junkies (KA5 Competitor), Chrizle Reyes (KA5 Competitor), Iris Leonardo, Mike Isberto

Triangle Offense: Swag 101

Just A Random Note On Osama And Doing The Happy Dance In The Streets

I've been hoping we somehow get our hands on Osama as much as everyone else - but celebration out in the streets?

I'm torn.

I'm not saying don't do a happy dance, but...

Just not sure if the masses doing the happy dance while waving the flag is really the image that we should be putting out there - I'm not quite sure it's the thing to do.

But I do love my country and I can't help but be pleased that Terrorist #1 - who killed thousands of Americans - is...well - not going to be living on anymore (even if his doctrine of hate might be).

Don't get me wrong though - I'm not lamenting the fact that his life has been taken.

I'm just not waving the flag and jumping around in the streets because of it.

Grand Master Chu, Yung Monk, And The Mixtape

Got dropped an e-mail from Grand Master Chu and wanted to post up a little bit about his new mixtape.

A well-thumbed holy text in one hand and fresh Jordans tucked under selvage denim, cap slightly askew. He wanders the world by plane, subway, and foot, a 22nd-century global nomad.

Grand Master Chu’s lyrical journey through high school, an undergraduate career at Yale University, and the Beijing underground rap scene has culminated in Yung Monk: the Mixtape. Through its 19 tracks, he demonstrates his years of lyrical growth and personal and spiritual contemplation, laying crisp verses packed with meaning and choruses with smooth, memorable hooks, both sung and rapped.

For hip-hop fans, a strong dose of lyricism is present on songs like “I Need a Savior” (“I need some medicine, penicillin for penances / Pennin the pages, diagnosis: I lack adrenaline”) and “6’7” (Master Version)”, a hijacking of Lil Wayne’s recent single. On “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Sons,” he joins his Model Minority partners in a thoughtful ode to their parents, while he holds his own on “Chinatown Connect”, even paired with Brooklyn street rapper SK.

Still, even the most pop-oriented listeners can enjoy songs like “Café” - a K-pop Big Bang cover featuring Asian-American singer Melloe (with a soon-to-be-released music video)- and “冰红茶 (Iced Red Tea)”, a tongue-in-cheek club song dedicated to the ubiquitous Chinese soft drink (“waiters try to bring me bottle service / if it ain’t cold and red, it got me feeling nervous”).

Between freshness and materialism, joy and greed, exuberance and reflection: the Yung Monk.

Yung Monk: the Mixtape was recorded in Beijing, China; Yale University, Connecticut; and Newark, Delaware. It is now streaming and available for FREE download at bit.ly/fZ2Ddo (http://grandmaster.bandcamp.com/).

Two videos for mixtape tracks “Bustout”/“60” and “Bring Me Down” are online at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziMe-w0TQyM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAWSIcB5kDU.

www.facebook.com/grandmasterchu
www.youtube.com/thegrandmasterchu
www.twitter.com/jasonglchu

You can read more about Grand Master Chu and The Model Minority down at the LA Times Blog from a little bit ago.

It's Our Month

Just remember - you can do pretty much anything you want this month and all you have to say is the following:

I can do whatever the fuck I want to do this month because it's payback for all the times you've oppressed me and my people and yes I completely agree - they should just give us the whole MF year - but no - I won't ever get over it because it's called compounded interest years of discrimination.

And In Celebration Of Us

I think you should send in naked pictures of yourself so I can celebrate each and every one of my APA people.

In private.

Feast For The East

More James Kyson Lee *sigh*...I guess it's for a good cause though huh?

Sung Kang + Tyrese: It's Car Talk 2

Nice.

Thanks Phil