Go Go Andrew Lam + Vietnam As A Country And Not A War + Asia Society

Friday, May 29, 2015

Asia Society has a nice interview with Andrew Lam:

To say Vietnamese American writer Andrew Lam had an unconventional childhood would be a gross understatement. Born in Vietnam in 1964, he was the son of a South Vietnamese general and forced to abandon his homeland at age 11 as Communist forces closed in on Saigon. His family eventually settled in California, where Lam would go on to become an accomplished author writing on the Vietnamese diaspora. He's since co-founded New America Media, an association of ethnic media organizations around the country, and authored the books Perfume Dreams, East Eats West, and Birds of Paradise Lost. In an interview with Asia Blog, he discussed his childhood, his writing, and how the world is changing for Vietnamese immigrants in America.

Getting Down Those Chinese American Stories + Ties That Bind

Friday, May 29, 2015

This was just an interesting story that I enjoyed reading and I'm glad is out there.

Back when the deep south still practiced racial segregation, Chen was allowed to be the only Asian student in an all-white school. He pointed to a picture of himself in the first grade — a Chinese boy in a bow tie smiling in the front row [...] For years, Chen had no memory of many things that happened to his family. But then in his 40s, he began to dig into his roots. And on Thursday, more than two decades later, Chen opened “Ties That Bind: A Transnational Family from China to the U.S.” at California State University, Los Angeles. The exhibit showcases a tale that spans 143 years, from the first Opium War to today.
Read it in full down at the Pasadena Star.

Android Time + Periscoping With Kina Grannis AKA Fine Don't Take Me Seriously And Look What You Miss Out On

Wednesday, May 27, 2015



I swear that no one I know takes me and Periscope serious when I talk about it or anything I'm Periscoping even though it's one of the best things to come around the technology and communication block in quite some time.

It's live. From anywhere you and your phone are. It's instant boot up time. There's interaction.

It's still new and it can be made better. But live streaming, aka Periscoping and Meerkating - it gives content and stories in such a different way.

I got to take a look at master roasting/coffee beans at Starbucks, a bit of a Neil Diamond concert, Jin rapping, and just recently - when Periscope went live on Android OS - Kina Grannis.

Cool to see and she had one of the top 3 banners for Periscope at the time.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 100 - Done

Monday, May 25, 2015

For whatever it's worth - stamp this as done.

Long live AAPI's because we are awesome.

Yes - I'm sure I'll go back to a few posts...

(^_^)

12:15/12:16 AM CST

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 99 - Ken Jeong + Dr. Ken

Monday, May 25, 2015

In case you happened to miss the news Ken Jeong is going to be in a new ABC series called "Dr. Ken".

Sounds cool and it will be nice to have another AAPI family on the TV screen.

Edit: First post had "NBC" updated to "ABC".

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 98 - Really? Leaving Racist Letters?

Monday, May 25, 2015

That's just not what we need.

Racist hate mail won’t force members of a black Long Island family from their home [...] The typed letter said: “Lindenhurst is 84% white population. You don’t belong here!!! Please leave Lindenhurst as soon as you can. It will be better for all of us. Find the town where there are more people like you.”

And yes...you know it's White People.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 97 - Profile It: Binh Tran Of Klout

Monday, May 25, 2015

From the Crunch:

Binh Tran is a Co-Founder of Klout, Inc. and serves as its Chief Technology Officer. Mr. Tran started programming at the age of 13 and started his career as a game programmer, developing console games on the Nintendo 64 and Playstation One. With two titles published, Mr. Tran left the videogame industry to become a software consultant and technology evangelist, touring cities to introduce Microsoft's then new .NET platform to developers.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 96 - I'm Posting April Chase Because I Can

Monday, May 25, 2015



That's it.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 95 - Ghost of Sangju + GR2 + Reading + LA Book Launch

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Forgot to post this earlier on the LA book launch and reading.

Here's info on the event:

20 JUNE
3:00 PM
Giant Robot Store's GR2 Gallery
2062 Sawtelle Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90025


Join hosts Gazillion Strong and Adoptee Solidarity Korea-Los Angeles at Giant Robot Store’s GR2 Gallery as they host author Soojung Jo! Soojung will read from her powerful book Ghost of Sangju: A Memoir of Reconciliation, which Lee Herrick calls “a brilliant and cinematic debut, heart-wrenching and triumphant, liberating and expansive.” Soon-to-be announced special guests will also perform and read as well. Ghost of Sangju will be available for purchase at the event. Drinks and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 94 - Bios And Articles: Mimi Lee

Sunday, May 24, 2015

If you wanted to know more and I think you may check out this article down at Democrat & Chronicle:

For 15 years, Lee has volunteered at Asian American Pacific Heritage Family Day hosted by the Memorial Art Gallery. The event – held May 4 in honor of national Asian-Pacific American Heritage month – offered Rochester area families and community members the opportunity to learn more about Asian/Pacific cultures.

APAA, which Lee helped found in 2002, began as an oral history project documenting the achievements and contributions of Asian/Pacific Americans in the Greater Rochester area. Lee has seen APAA grow into a nonprofit dedicated to collecting, documenting, and preserving oral and visual histories while improving communications among Asian and Pacific Islander groups

To help foster a sense of pride in the community, Lee has initiated or participated in a variety of projects and programs such as the oral history project and the documentary heritage project.

Lee also produced a documentary film in 2005 entitled: "Identity Through Art: Six Rochester Asian American Artists." It proved eye-opening for Lee, who played many roles including an interview with Chinese glass artist Nancy Gong while working in her studio.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 93 - Btw - And At The Same Time With The Entourage Film You Have The Wahlberg....

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Yeah. That also weighs on my mind too and I have to go into a longer post about his movies and him at some point, but all of that being said - I still don't understand why anyone grants it anyway because it was a crime.

Can someone turn their life around?

Yes.

I believe in that.

Should they be pardoned and have that expunged from their record because they want to be a cop?

Little tougher...

I go with no.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 92 - Jurassic World + 22 Years Later For B.D. Wong

Sunday, May 24, 2015



You know I'm going to see this when it comes out and yes, I too wonder like Cinemablend how B.D. Wong stays so young looking!

Wait.

I know this...

It's because he's Asian American!

And takes good care of himself - because that alone doesn't do it people.

Gotta work.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 91 - A Little Paul A Little Kim (Or Keys)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Missed this when it came out a few months ago.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 90 - Richard Lui Goes To Baltimore And Vines (?)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Check out the Vine video (on twitter) from Richard Lui while he's down in Baltimore from earlier this month.

He's got a Vine channel?

I get make a list now...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 89 - Glee: Tina And Arte + Happy Ever After (?)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I'm not saying anything about anything except what I'm saying with the question mark and that can be left up to you to infer what that question mark means.

But I think we know.

And he's called abtacular.

I get it - love is love and circumstance is circumstance - and I'm cool with that too.

I'm just sayin' - might have been nice to see the other guy...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 88 - Kollaboration LA 2015 (Official Promo)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



★Kollaboration LA 2015★
Saturday, June 27
Los Angeles Theatre Center

**TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW**
http://tiny.cc/KLA2015

Featured Finalists:
Track IX http://www.youtube.com/user/ICameISawBeatboxed
Peter Chung http://www.peterchungmusic.com/
Rosy Donovan http://www.youtube.com/user/RosyDonovanMusic
Perry & Danielle
Will Park http://www.youtube.com/user/Wpark523
Lisa Sonoda https://www.youtube.com/user/LisaSonoda

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 87 - In Pics: Kenny Ridwan

Sunday, May 24, 2015



He seems to be everywhere:

The Goldbergs, House of Lies, The McCarthys, The Thundermans and in the 2015 film (according to IMDB) Sins of the Father.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 86 - Trailer (1): Wong Fu + Everything Before Us

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Nice.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 85 - Random Nylong Pink Vlog

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Just checking in as I haven't done so in a little bit. Glad to see the group kicking and having fun.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 84 - Aggressive People Because Of My Asian American-ness?

Sunday, May 24, 2015

So I had this encounter the other day where I was walking into a store that I usually don't go to and the enter stickers were on the right and left outside and right inside doors - so I decide to go on the left and this guy - who sees me, instead of using the other door decides to go out the door I'm coming in through and says "Wrong way" - like I'm a dumbass who can't read English.

At least that's how I felt.

And I wondered why the person needed to say anything at all - because they didn't. And the entry is clearly ambiguous.

I had to wonder if my Asian American-ness promoted them to say that - and yes - I was going to say something, but I let it go.

Because I'm trying to just do that when I can...

Still makes me wonder though...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 83 - Peel It Back: Rock Springs Massacre

Sunday, May 24, 2015

The history that drives us:

The Rock Springs massacre, also known as the Rock Springs Riot, occurred on September 2, 1885, in the present-day United States city of Rock Springs, Wyoming, in Sweetwater County. The riot, between Chinese immigrant miners and white immigrant miners, was the result of racial tensions and an ongoing labor dispute over the Union Pacific Coal Department's policy of paying Chinese miners lower wages than white miners. This policy caused the Chinese to be hired over the white miners, which further angered the white miners and contributed to the riot. Racial tensions were an even bigger factor in the massacre. When the rioting ended, at least 28 Chinese miners were dead and 15 were injured.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 82 - I Need Some Asian-Nation In My Diet (^_^)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Chalk full of so many stats I've been here more than once or twice over the years to help fact check and I think you can safely say - legend of the Web.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 81 - In Pics: The DJs And The Madrid

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Just a cool pic from a good article down at KQED on the "Legions of Boom" and the resurgent (?) DJ scene.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 80 - 19 Left To Go (AKA I'm Still Not A Bot)

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Well - I still don't know if I'll completely make it - but I'm close.

I also may give myself another 15 minutes until 12:30 because of how much I have to prove that I am not a bot.

I like tech. I actually am ok in math. I think I would have a decent AI brain (whatever that means).

But I am not a bot!

I am an Asian American.

And yes - I'm counting this one too...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 79 - Aaron Yoo + Someone Else

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Definitely want to check this out:

A tale of two Korean American cousins. A shy young law student, hungry for a more vivid, risk-taking existence, visits his playboy cousin in New York City. In his quest to emulate his cousin, the law student sheds his old identity and takes a leap into the unknown, where risk, adventure, and a chance at love await. But in a series of surprising twists, his dream of growth and metamorphosis threatens to become a nightmare from which he may never awaken.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 78 - 3X: Bich Minh Nguyen Covers

Sunday, May 24, 2015

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 77 - Ryan Potter + Underdog Kids + Phillip Rhee (AKA Best Of The Best!)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



It's coming soon with Ryan Potter playing Eric Barret.

And who is that?

Oh Yeah.

Phillip Rhee.

Gimme some!

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 76 - Rex Lee On The New Entourage Film And His Character Lloyd

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I do wonder if maybe the time has passed for it to be as big as it could have been but still glad to see Rex Lee reprise his character and be on the big screen.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 75 - South Asian American And 2nd Gen? Looking For Marriage?

Sunday, May 24, 2015

An interesting article down @ the NYT on South Asian American men looking for love while balancing work and life:

Like many second-generation South Asian-Americans, Mr. Khan finds himself walking a fine line between paying respect to traditional matchmaking practices extolled by an older generation and embracing more contemporary methods of finding an appropriate life partner. His search has involved, among other things, being fixed up by professional “Rishta aunties” hired by his mother, meeting women at networking events and suggestions he try online dating.

“It’s exhausting,” said Mr. Khan, deputy counsel for litigation in the New York Public Advocate’s office. “When you’re set up, there’s another dimension to that meeting. You’ve got to give a report when it’s over. That’s the tricky part. How do you tell the referring authority you’re not interested without offending them?”


Read it in full.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 74 - Poem From Bruno Mars Tweets

Sunday, May 24, 2015

And here it is:

I don't care what we do just as long as we're together.
I smile every time I hear your name.
It's so hard not talking to you.


Sure, it's abrupt, but - isn't all good poetry open-ended?

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 73 - Random Vanessa Hudgens On Gigi Fears

Sunday, May 24, 2015



From JJ: My biggest fear is being on a Broadway stage and cracking a note and sounding flat and sharp and all over the place.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 72 - Loving Day Is June 12. This Year I Should Celebrate

Sunday, May 24, 2015

When I think about the fact that I couldn't marry someone outside of my race because of all the back-ass reasoning in our country back in the day - and still now if we think about (which can go many ways) - I feel like I should get a cake, some balloons, and open up my house with an invitation from Craigslist.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 71 - Some Film Review On 9-Man

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Always great to see a film - and one that got started on Kickstarter - keep on making inroads (from Northwest Asian Weekly) :

In order to fund 9-Man, Liang and her small team promoted the project on Kickstarter where they surpassed its $25,000 goal and received $40,591 from public benefactors. Liang indicated that she received a post-production grant from the Center for Asian American Media. However, it did not cover all of the post-production costs. In addition to the costs for production and marketing, she still must cover costs to travel to film festivals and other promotional activities.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 70 - AAPI What?

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Interestingly as I play this quest it does make me think -- and at the end of the day I figure it's okay - and there has to be - posts not directly related to anything AAPI just because that's who I am at times. Because in addition to AAPI events and people and news, I also look outside of my community too.

At least I like to think so.

But is it relevant? Sure - depending on what my intent is - and in this case - I'll say yes.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 69 - I Just Want To Say This Concerning Larry Wilmore And Keeping It 100

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I think it's appropriate now to say phrases like "You just need to keep it Larry Wilmore" and "Who's got the 100 LW?!!!"

That's it.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 68 - Just A Shout Out To Tacos Al Pastor

Sunday, May 24, 2015



This may not be Asian - but that's the point - it's not supposed to be.

I post simply because I love them and it's relevant because I'm Asian American with a taste for some spice and if you don't love a taco al pastor I wonder if you are indeed human.

Or humane?

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 67 - Jason Chu + They Won't Shoot Me (I Am Not #FreddieGray)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



This is just one of those pieces that's part of a larger whole and organism.

Freedom to speak and spit what you need.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 66 - Legend Q & A: Who Was The First Korean American To Win A Grammy?

Sunday, May 24, 2015



A: Joe Hahn

Now I feel like a video.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 65 - How Did You Not See That One Coming Twitter And Government Offices?

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Once the POTUS got a handle I think we all should have known what was going to happen:

"It took only a few minutes for Mr. Obama's account to attract racist, hate-filled posts and replies. They addressed him with racial slurs and called him a monkey. One had an image of the president with his neck in a noose. The posts reflected the racial hostility toward the nation's first black president that has long been expressed in stark terms on the Internet, where conspiracy theories thrive and prejudices find ready outlets. But the racist Twitter posts are different because now that Mr. Obama has his own account, the slurs are addressed directly to him, for all to see."
Don't shut me down interwebs for what I'm going to say - but seriously - you knew it was coming - and if you didn't I think you were all living in la-la land and that's not a good la-la, but more of a la-la-la-la-la everyone's awesome and no one's racist kind of bad la-la.

I'm not saying it's easy but I think a filter or some more controls over that specific account might have been better.

But - we show who we are online don't we?

Yeah...Yes we do.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 64 - Gabe Bondoc + "Nobody Love" + A Tori Kelly Cover

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Can someone please sign him?

Seriously - how long does a guy with that smooth a voice and that type of creativity go w/o getting a contract and making gobs of money and be touring all over the world?

If someone else doesn't sign him - I just might.

And no one wants that because we all know how those parties are going to turn out and then the album will never come out.

Again - just sign him so I don't have to explain why I'm not wearing any clothes trying to do the backstroke down the street.

Yes - that might not make any sense - and neither does not signing him.

Do it.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 63 - MV: DANakaDAN - Til' ft. Paul Dateh

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I hadn't caught this video before - smooth.

Keep doing what you're doing DANakaDAN x Paul Dateh.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 62 - Kina Grannis Behind The Scenes (Tour Time)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I wonder when they'll start Periscoping...

Look at those great crowds - love it.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 61 - KickStart It: The Asian American Community Exchange

Sunday, May 24, 2015



About The Project

The Asian American Community Exchange will be the central channel that collects, classifies, and distributes information on Asian-Pacific American community organizations across the country.

The Asian American Community Exchange is raising money to build a comprehensive community database of Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic-specific community organization across the U.S. Once the database is built and primary data is collected, the Asian American Community Exchange will maintain current information on all identified Asian-Pacific American community organizations.


Check out the Kickstarter.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 60 - Because That's Just The Greatest Smile From A Politician Ever

Sunday, May 24, 2015



And you deserve to be remembered and respected.

We love you Patsy Mink.

Rest in peace and hope your looking down and thinking to yourself "Well...they haven't messed it up beyond all recognition yet..."

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 59 - A Quick Note To Google That #Imnotabot

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Interestingly enough - and yes - I'm counting this post - apparently if you start posting more than you normally do (and this would constitute it I guess) blogger keeps on asking me if I'm a bot. I get it, and absolutely I don't want someone spamming this.

But no.

I am not a bot.

I am an Asian American.

And I have sweet tooth.

Brb?

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 58 - The Rock Breaks The Selfie Record

Sunday, May 24, 2015



That's just awesome.

3 minutes.

105 selfies.

With fans on the red carpet.

Nice.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 57 - Some Kimchi Mama Reads (AKA Loving Your Body Or Teaching That To Your Daughter)

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Straight from the KM blog:

But the body she inhabits now is the body she will have for the rest of her life. It is the vessel that will carry her in this world through adventure and learning, victory and loss. It is a fine balance teaching our girls about healthy eating and healthy living without accidentally seeding a paranoia about what is “wrong” with their bodies. . .

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 56 - The I Am Jason Chen Story + Being Asian American And Getting Your Music On

Sunday, May 24, 2015



This just a great video because you hear from Jason Chen (who you gotta love) and how he got to where he is - graduating in 2010 from college - and what the obstacles were that he had to overcome, as well as what is the landscape now. If you want to know about the modern day times and lives of an Asian American musician - and a YouTuber - definitely check this out.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 55 - The NYT Best Sellers In The Race And Civil Rights Category

Sunday, May 24, 2015

I'll say that the fact that at least the majority of people on this list are POC - is a good thing - and I'm not saying that White People don't have anything important to say - I'm just saying that if the best sellers were all or the majority white - that says something. At the same time, at least with this list - and yes - they can change I get it, etc., etc., shut it down - it would be nice to see some Asian Americans on this list too.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 54 - Reading Is Fundamental. So Is A Gap Analysis

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I was originally going to title this 'Nothing In The Drop Down For "Best books for children of color"' but decided to just put up this stat because again a picture says a lot.

Especially when it has words.

Read this in full because you want to know more.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 53 - Retro Jin From The Way Way Back Machine

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Circa 2003 because sometimes a picture really does say a thousand words about the past, present, and future.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 52 - Dying To Kill + Dwayne Perkins, Lynn Chen, Koji Steven Sakai, Raymond C. Lai

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Can't wait to see this when it comes out because it's got so many good folks in and attached to it.

Maybe I should have made the title "Dying To See It?"...

Yeah - too on the nose...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 51 - Still Photo It: Karin Anna Cheung + The Unbidden

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Great photo from the Unbidden which is Karin Anna Cheung's new film she's in also starring Tamlyn Tomita, Julia Nickson, Elizabeth Sung, Amy Hill, Jason Yee, and Michelle Krusiec.

http://www.theunbidden.com/

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 50 - Web Homage Goldsea.com

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Chalk full of goodness I found many a great things down at the goldsea.com which in someways I think of as the black lacquerware - and in some ways I do not.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 49 - About 1/2 Way

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Well - at this pace I have about 5 hours to kick out about 50 posts which is about 10 per hour.

We'll see.

And yes - I'm sure some even shorter ones are coming around - because sometimes it's just about digging it up?

Asking the question?

Ok - gotta run - I'm on a timeline...damn you sleep.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 48 - The Slants + Better Than a Marching Band: "Misery" promo (AKA That's Some Catchy Guitar And Synth)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Pick up the Yellow Album.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 47 - The Idle Hours: "The Road" (feat BJ Cole) / Storybook Music Video / Alfa & Marc Lacuesta

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Check out more from Alfa down at her YT page.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 46 - It's The Mike Relm Everly Remix

Sunday, May 24, 2015



If you didn't catch this - now you have.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 45 - I Can Like Fresh Off The Boat Without Agreeing With Everything Eddie Huang

Sunday, May 24, 2015

There's a lot more to this obviously and something which I've been thinking about posting longer on - but while Eddie Huang has in many ways been making it tougher to sell some of projects he's involved in - and himself - I don't put the two into the same category simply because of what FOB has now become - and does the show have it's own issues at times - yes - but they have to be given time to work it out - figure out the ensemble casting, who they need to appease - and who they don't - and when to force it - but I can't be who I am without wanting to champion the series because to me I want it to succeed and things just can't be broken down that easily.

At the same time, like with everything else - sometimes I post on things - sometimes I don't - because I don't post on something doesn't mean it doesn't matter to me or get to me, but sometimes I just want to focus on in on good things and let the crap drop where it drops.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 44 - In Pics: Jack Soo

Sunday, May 24, 2015

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 43 - Commercials From The Past: I Got Your Ancient Chinese Secret

Sunday, May 24, 2015



This is one of those commercials where I cringe and at the same time I also go - they were kinda trying?

There's more to discuss on a lot of levels.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 42 - P.S. I Love Red Lobster But I Don't Love You For Your Sexual Harassment + EEOC

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Because if you never check on in at the EEOC you never know how bad people are still being:

BALTIMORE - Red Lobster Restaurants LLC will pay $160,000 and furnish significant equitable relief to resolve a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced today. According to the lawsuit, the then culinary manager at the Red Lobster restaurant in Salisbury, Md., subjected Valerie Serman, Racheal Cox and Jennifer Tolbert to severe and pervasive sexual harassment, including pressing his groin against them, grabbing and groping them. The EEOC charged that the manager also frequently made sexually offensive comments, including remarks about the bodies of female employees and about his genitals. The restaurant's general manager not only failed to take prompt action to stop the sexual harassment, but he too had a history of making vulgar and sexually charged remarks about female employees, the lawsuit claimed. Subjecting employees to a sexually hostile work environment violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit (EEOC v. Red Lobster Restaurants LLC, Civil Action No. 1:13-cv-02860-MJG) in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process.
This is one of those times where I go - it's the location and I can't hold the whole company accountable - but then I wonder if I'm saying only because I really like their chedder biscuits.

Glad they lost and had to pay out some $$'s.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 41 - WTH White People: The Dakota Crochet Episode

Sunday, May 24, 2015

From The NYDaily:

Dakota Crochet, 23, was fired from the French Quarter sports bar this week after the phrase "N----- 100% dislike" appeared on a check he gave to a group of black customers Thursday.

One of the diners, Liryca Neville Branch — the daughter of New Orleans musician Cyril Neville — is now mulling a lawsuit and demanding a personal apology from both the canned waiter and the restaurant’s management. "I've never had anything like this happen before to me," she said. "Trust me — this is not over. I refuse to let this die out." Branch, 33, was eating lunch with three coworkers when they were given a bill with the racial slur in all capitals staring them in the face.

Yeah - I wouldn't let that go either.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 40 - Closer To The Quest Unlike Me Getting To Ever Be President + Wikipedia Tells Me We're Harsh

Sunday, May 24, 2015

While I love our American forefathers for what they did I still can't help but feel a little out of the loop and I think we really need to change laws - to look at laws - on whether or not someone who is foreign born can in fact be president of our country, which I've said before and at least according to this entry we're one of the few countries to have all of these rules anyway - which I question.

Because I'm a little oppositional.

And then I ask if we'll ever be looked at like people who can be trusted versus wanting to sell out our country.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 39 - When You Don't Love Russell Wong He Goes Back To Asia

Sunday, May 24, 2015

This is from an interview in October of last year down at the BBC and if you can't learn anything from listening to Russell Wong on his 3 decades of time spent as an Asian American actor - you can't learn anything.

And I do stand by my statement in the post title because if you don't give someone love - they go elsewhere to find it.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 38 - Some 18MillionRising Because I Feel Like It

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I just wanted to post this pic of the site from 18MR because I like it.

And they do some good.

And they've never thrown rocks at me which is nice because I'm soft and plushy and don't like rocks on my soft plushy body.

But even if they did I'd still post it anyway because being soft and plushy only makes rocks bounce off me...unless they're attached to knives...then I don't think I'm doing so good.

Say hello Civic Engagement.

Say hello.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 37 - And George Takei Smacks Down Marvel With A Taylor Swift Video

Sunday, May 24, 2015


(pic from a BT tweet not related to the tweet I'm talking about but awesome still because it was encouraging Ireland to say YES! and we just love anything George Takei don't we?)

No really. It's true. Well sure, maybe not actually smacking someone down with a video because that actually can't happen right now unless I have on my Oculus VR® gear but you know what I mean...yeah?

From the Yibida:

"Star Trek" actor George Takei recently took to Twitter to praise Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood" video and to call out Marvel for its lack of a movie with more than one female superhero. "Taylor Swift released her much anticipated video Bad Blood starring girl celebs as action stars. Come on Marvel, T. Swift is showing you up," Takei tweeted.

Tell it like it is GT!

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 36 - Looks Cool: Wing Like Museum + "Construct\s": Installations by Asian Pacific American Women Artists

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Definitely sounds like a cool event and if you are so inclined I would head on down and check out the museum:

Curated by Dr. Stacey Uradomo-Barre, who curated The Wing's 2009 exhibition Yellow Terror: The Collections and Paintings of Roger Shimomura, this all female APA artist exhibit is the first of it's kind in the Muesum's history. Featuring installation artwork of six artists, they all draw from their life and experiences, resulting in distinct, powerful, and provocative narratives.

"The installations and conceptual art of Kaili Chun reflects the continuous negotiation of the inner and socio-political struggles of indigenous people in relation to mainstream society, political structures, and dominant conventions."

"Northern Californian based artist Terry Acebo Davis focuses on intimate personal history as a source for her emotional work."

"It is nearly impossible to categorize the work of Yong Soon Min, who has produced an extensive and diverse body of art in various media over the course of 4 decades."

"Tamiko Thiel creates virtual and augmented reality installations that investigates social and cultural issues in relation to their interplay with spaces. ...For the installation at the Wing Luke Museum, Thiel collaborates with her mother Midori Kono Thiel, a painter and calligraphy artist living in Seattle."

"Recognized for her austere, quiet, and contemplative installations, Lynne Yamamoto's art interweaves complex narratives of memory, family, and Japanese American history."


Construct\s is on display from May 15, 2015 to April 17, 2016.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 35 - Was The World Just Not Ready For Anoop Desai?

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I do wonder what happens after the lights go down and the show has ended and how someone can have such a great voice but maybe not make the traction you though they would - and yes, while there are many reasons I do wonder if the world was just not ready for Anoop (and yes I did see Anoop doing a cover contest with Ryan Seacrest but I feel like someone who got that far should have blown up more). Not trying to say he's not doing good and you have to be this or that - but - food for thought - I guess...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 34 - Retro: Kicking Old School Tunes With The Upstarts

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Not making any music anymore as a group but I still love this track from the The Upstarts because you gotta love that hook.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 33 - Waiting For The Second + Lê Thị Diễm Thúy

Sunday, May 24, 2015

When the next book comes, I'll be there to read it.

Le Thi Diem Thuy was born in Phan Thiet, Southern Vietnam. She and her father left Vietnam in 1978, by boat, eventually settling in Southern California. lê currently resides in Western Massachusetts. lê thị diá»…m thúy was born in 1972, a year that is remembered in its totality as “the red fiery summer”, a time of fierce attacks from the north that resulted in fires that scorched the countryside. Le is a writer and solo performance artist and her works, “Red Fiery Summer” (Mua He Do Lua), “the bodies between us” and “Carte Postale” have been presented at, among other venues, the Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris, USA; the International Women Playwright’s Festival in Galway, Ireland; the Vineyard Theater in New York City; and the Crowley Theater in Marfa, Texas. Her prose and poetry have appeared in The Massachusetts Review, Harper’s Magazine, Muae and The Best American Essays as well as in the anthologies Killing the Buddha: A Heretic’s Bible, The Very Inside, Half & Half, and Watermark. She has been awarded residencies from the Headlands Center For The Arts, the GAEA Foundation, and the Lannan Foundation and is the recipient of fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation and the Radcliffe Institute For Advanced Study. A 2008 United States Artists Ford Fellow in Literature, she is currently at work on her second novel.
http://san-art.org/producer/le-thi-diem-thuy/

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 32 - Keep Paying Lucy Liu Please Because She Needs To Get Paid

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Don't get me wrong - let's not go down that route - but I will tell you, when you do a search on Lucy Liu and her net worth you kind of find yourself thinking about the disparity between women in movies and film who command 10/15 million per picture and you have to wonder if we're ever going to see any Asian American women get to that place.

I'll definitely take being a multi-millionaire and being on my game - so again - don't get me wrong - I guess I'm just saying:

Keep paying her because I'd like to see her get to 100 soon.

Edit: * Note - I feel like it should be more and I haven't verified that number extensively so this is a what if as well kinda thought.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 31 - Tony Hsieh And His Bid For Holacracy

Sunday, May 24, 2015



I'll definitely keep reading but if anyone is going to try this - why not have it be Asian American entrepreneur Tony Hsieh who's worth close to 1 billion (and apparently pretty down to earth).

In Holacracy, a key value is explicitness. At Zappos, all the roles, responsibilities and policies of the organization are stored in software known as “Glass Frog.” In his recent memorandum to staff, CEO Tony Hsieh writes: “We will continue using Holacracy’s systems and processes for prioritization and resource allocation, so it’ll be extremely important for all of us to keep Glass Frog up to date.” The challenge of making everything explicit and up-to-date in an organization as dynamic as Zappos is not trivial.
Cool.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 30 - P.S. Same Goes For You Wired Because Holy Fuck You Use Chink A LOT In Your Articles. I Need To Start A Database Of Infractions

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Seriously - wholly fucker.

A link to the latest infraction: http://www.wired.com/2015/05/humans-play-ai-texas-hold-em-now/

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 29 - Why Does The Washington Post And Marissa Payne Still Use The Word Chink? Yes. It's Racist To Use That Phrase

Sunday, May 24, 2015

I just don't get what's so hard about having to remember to NOT use the word Chink? You should be *** that shit out if you're not Asian American.

You don't get to go there.

And yes - it is no surprise that it's a White Woman. Because it's not like an Asian American woman (or man or seeing eye dog for that matter) is going to use that phrase in their article (well - let's at least hope not...).

Here is the paragraph in question:

That said, Nadal has won 17 times on clay this season, a run that was good enough to get him to the finals against Andy Murray in Madrid and to the semifinals against Djokovic in Monte Carlo. He lost both, but according to defending French Open women’s champion Maria Sharapova, the recent chink in Nadal’s armor has hardly been enough to warrant pessimism about his future, especially considering he’s the defending champion at Roland Garros.

I guess Marissa Payne is just lazy?

And racist?

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 28 - From The Harlow Of The Monkey On The Ghost Of Sangju

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Here's an excerpt from a recent review of Asian American and AK writer Soojung Jo's Ghost Of Sangju:

Ghost of Sangju is a valuable contribution to the adoptee-memoir canon, and I recommend that adoption professionals and prospective adoptive parents in particular read this book. It might be difficult to read and tempting to discount Soojung and her omma’s story as only one story; it is one story, but it resonates because it is, in fact, many of our stories. It is time that these narratives are honored and validated, so that birth families and adoptees do not have to exist, as Soojung writes, as “a spirit suspended between two worlds and two families, to be forever in between.”

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 27 - MyxTV And Call to Cosplay Season 2 + Be Sexy Quinn, Be Sexy.

Sunday, May 24, 2015



New Episode Tuesdays at 8/7c on Myx TV - Check your local cable operator.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 26 - Film - Off The Menu: Asian American + CAAM

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Because of the good folks down @ CAAM I was able to check out the film Off The Menu: Asian America and while I still owe a review (I'm okay with helping to ensure longevity) - I wanted to make sure and post this on up because if you do get a chance to see this movie by filmmaker Grace Lee, I highly recommend catching it because of the commanding stories from our community that all revolve around food and how that food, and process, can also help heal and bring together communities. Check out the site to learn more about the film as it has extra stories not in the film about food and Asian America.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 25 - An Open Letter To The Boy Scouts On Gay Asian Americans

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Dear Boy Scouts:

I really don't care why you do it - well I do in some ways because if it's just about public opinion than that really is troublesome - but as long as you change your stance I guess that's what matters because we do have gay people in the Asian American community (gasp!) and guess what - they like to play with race cars, go camping, fishing, work towards a goal, make friends, lead by example, teach - you know - all the fun stuff of the scouts - and denying them is like denying the sun. Why even think about it?

Ok. That's it.

I'll send some literature your way...

And some gardening sheers to cut off your squeegee like and I'm guessing not that tasty or large undersac...

Any by undersac I mean...well - if you don't know - let's have it be a surprise!

See you soon!
Adam

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 24 - Read It: A Fistful of Soundtracks

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Run by Jimmy J. Aquino, AFOS is filled with meaty posts and insight and doing it since 2007 and if you've never found yourself at the AFOS blog before:

a.) Admit it at your own risk.

b.) Get on down and read some.

c). Give it up for AAPI bloggers (hugs are acceptable).

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 23 - Prolific Profiles: Frances Kai-Hwa Wang

Sunday, May 24, 2015

In order to push AAPI issues you have to have people who are out there engaged and active - and I'm always loving the interaction, writing, and reporting that Frances Kai-Hwa Wang - contributor at NBCNews Asian America, Editor at AAPIVoices, speaker, educator, and activist - always brings to the table. A little bit from the LI profile:

Frances Kai-Hwa Wang is a writer, editor, speaker, multicultural educator, and activist on Asian Pacific American community issues. She has worked in International Development in Nepal, nonprofit administration, nonprofit development, marketing, small business startups, philosophy, academics, civil rights activism, community organization, Asian Pacific American organizations and publications, ethnic new media and mainstream media. She is a fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese. She has both administrative skills and writing talent and would like to work for the Asian Pacific American community or Chinese American community at a national or international level.

Specialties: Asian Pacific American issues, Asian Pacific American history, Asian and Asian Pacific American arts and cultures, ethnic studies, multicultural issues, diversity, race, gender, writing, editing, speaking, teaching, lecturing, civil rights activism, revitalizing agencies, computerizing and streamlining systems, marketing, publicity, fundraising, development, logistics, strategy, language learning, raising our children with culture(s), Chinese New Year's traditions and stories.

And bikes. I can write about bikes.

Drop the mic now.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 22 - Five Throwbacks To Some Days Of YesterBlog Interviews

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Let's do a #TBT post except for on a Sunday because I don't need your rules to tell me when I get to post a throwback! Although I still contend that you can't have Throwback Tuesday because phonetically it just doesn't work and while I know that seems a little...umm...hypocritical - I still stand by that statement because we are complicated human beings?

Here's a few interviews on AAPI music, film, and theatre.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 21 - Because You Wanted To Know What's In Michelle Phan's Travel Bag And Yes I Want That Charger...

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Like I've already said - I want that Vinsic Power Bank charger.

Wait...don't go iGo - I still love you - I just charged you..

No - I was just saying...

P.S.

When electronics decide they don't love you anymore it may be time to go back to the facility especially if they are winking at you...

Don't wink at me...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 20 - Black Vs Asian Vs Latino AKA I'm Not Your Chino + Where Are My Native Americans At? Oh Wait They're Right Here

Sunday, May 24, 2015

To be honest, I just felt like writing that title because in some ways it just seems to sum up some of the lateral oppression that we sometimes like to put each other through which we seem to do a lot of these days - especially when we see imbalances of power where our sometime natural defenses go up and we start to minimize everyone else's struggle and what they've been through.

There's more on this - gentrification of one group of color by another or adding to that, real-life versus what we want real-life to be, our own perceptions - but for now - just a tidbit and morsel and maybe something longer and more in-depth at a later time as this seed is just starting to germinate.

Let's.Be.Good.To.Each.Other.And.Not.Forget.Each.Other.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 19 - You're A First: David Ryu + Have We Really Come That Far Since 1850?

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Listen - I'm not saying this isn't cool for everyone involved including what looks to be a very affable David Ryu (and that's just a nice photo from his campaign stash) - because he is a first - the first Korean American elected to the LA City Council. But he's also only the second Asian American to get elected since 1850.

1850.

Who's the first?

Mike Woo in 1985.

1985...30 years ago...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 18 - Governmental Stat: One Asian American Senator Left And Mazie Hirono Is Up In 2019

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Even though Mazie Hirono is awesome I still can't help but wonder what happens if she ends up going after her term in 2019 and we don't have anyone else getting in line to be a Senator - what then? Are you telling me we don't get one?

Not one?

This is why I'll have to run for office one day and when you think about that and me being naked making my speeches we all know there should be another option because no one wants Senator Naked Adam.

Well at least most of you don't - but for those of you that do - please send email to get on my campaign list of early supporters!

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 17 - Keanu Reeves Goes Knock Knock On Eli Roth's Door

Sunday, May 24, 2015



This looks a little crazy and yes I wondered too how come he can't have an Asian American wife - where's Tamlyn Tomita when you need her?

But than I wondered to myself - maybe that's the moral of the story: Don't be married to Tamlyn Tomita, open the door for people you shouldn't, make bad decisions, and then go crazy.

This should be interesting...

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 16 - Apparently Tennis Isn't Our Game Right Now (AKA Tidbits)

Sunday, May 24, 2015

For some odd reason I felt like checking out the stats for 2015 to see if we have any new awesome Tennis Pros in the AAPI community...

Now there could be some up and comers, amateurs, etc., but according to the rankings down at ESPN...

There are exactly 0 Asian Americans sitting anywhere in the top 100 for both men and women.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 15 - OC Asian versus LA Asians

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Oh OC Asians I guess you ratchet like a MF and can't dress!

Oh wait that goes for you too LA.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 14 - And In Other Justin Lin News There's This Thing Called Warrior Inspired By Bruce Lee

Sunday, May 24, 2015

This just both sounds like a crazy awesome MF project AND kicks up a little dust and retribution for how Bruce Lee got screwed back in the day.

Hell yeah I'm liking it.

Director Justin Lin (The Fast and the Furious series, True Detective season 2) is taking inspiration from the writings and concepts of Bruce Lee to create a new TV show. Warrior is being developed for Cinemax based on notes Lee put together for a TV series he never got to develop properly before his untimely death at age 32. Deadline says the show is “a visceral crime drama that traces the path of a gifted but morally corrupt fighter thrown into crisis after a lifelong quest for vengeance is undermined.” It is written by Jonathan Tropper, who is the co-creator of the Cinemax series Banshee.

Morally corrupt, gifted fighter - that's about right down my alley.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 13 - Justin Lin + True Detective

Sunday, May 24, 2015



In some ways I'm not sure what I think about this second season even though I haven't even seen it - because there was that surprise factor in season 1.

But it does have Justin Lin directing the first two episodes...so that's a plus.

Yeah - I'm sure I'll be watching.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 12 - Apparently I Have No Bone (Asian American Man Introspection 2)?

Sunday, May 24, 2015

I guess I decided to take a snooze and get some sleepy time.

No 50-70 by noon.

Guess I just like a challenge?

Yes.

I'm including this one as well.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 11 - Maybe I Won't Crush The Quest...AKA Asian American Man Introspective Moment + #aapiinterwebbies

Sunday, May 24, 2015

I guess sometimes I like to get lost in the choppy waters of the #aapiinterwebbies and while I may not crush it crush it because at this rate I have to increase my output I figure if I'm at 50-70 by noon - well - this dog's got a bone...or something like that.

And yes...

I am counting this post because I typed the hash tag #aapiinterwebbies.

Sue me.

I'm still lazy.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 10 - A Short Verse Poem For Jeremy Lin + Lin On Having A Strong Voice For Asian Americans

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Before the free verse, a link and a quote from a great article down at Asia Society by Tim Lau:

I'm very proud of who I am and my heritage so I have no issues answering questions about it. Early on it was frustrating when I felt like no one cared about my basketball play and only about my ethnicity, but as I get older I appreciate the fact that I have a unique voice and perspective. I hope to eventually be a strong voice to the world on behalf of Asian Americans.

And Now For The Free Verse

Oh Jeremy,

Jeremy,

Jeremy,

Wanderer,

Warrior,

10,000 Lake Laker,

Where Will Thee Yonder Play?

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 9 - Travis Atreo 3x Smooth: Bad Blood, See You Again, Style

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Bad Blood



Everywhere. It's everywhere.

See You Again



If you're sick of the song which some people may - but still like the song - don't pass this one up - this is a nice take on it and 125K people from about a month ago agree.

Style



The video and cover that got the attention of the actual Taylor Swift with the video now at about 1.8 million views. Smooth.

Smooth.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 8 - Linkage: Ted W. Lieu + Sherry Chen

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Articles on Sherry Chen who was accused of spying for China and representative Ted W. Lieu (D) from California who is questioning racial profiling:

“There’s been a history of discrimination against Asian Pacific Americans, and the recurrent theme is one of suspicion,” Mr. Lieu said. “We now have Sherry Chen’s case, and I want to make sure our federal government does not discriminate against any Americans, especially federal employees.” In a letter to Ms. Lynch, Mr. Lieu and 21 members of Congress said they were responding to a recent article in The New York Times that reported federal agents investigated Mrs. Chen as a possible Chinese spy, found no evidence, but still arrested her for lesser charges that could have led to 25 years in prison and $1 million in fines. The government dropped its charges, without explanation, in March. Mrs. Chen was initially suspended without pay, but her benefits and pay have been restored. She is still awaiting a decision from the Commerce Department, which oversees the weather service, on whether it plans to reinstate her.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 7 - Remembering Thuy Trang

Sunday, May 24, 2015



She would have been 42 this year.

Trang's agent landed her a commercial for the Church of Scientology [...] Those opportunities got Trang spotted for a public service announcement on racism. Trang landed her first major role in 1993 as Trini, the Yellow Ranger, on the original cast of the TV series Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Producers later claimed that while they insisted on color diversity, the choice of an Asian as the yellow Rangers was unintentional. Trang was on the show for about one and a half seasons. She left the show, being replaced by Karan Ashley (as the Yellow Ranger, not as Trini), along with Austin St. John and Walter Emanuel Jones, with whom she became very good friends.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 6 - American Girl Adds Asian Doll To Lineup (EDIT)

Sunday, May 24, 2015



So I was reading this article down at pagesix.com about the new American Girl doll and while I'm still debating the Asian look of the doll...I can't help but wonder to myself why the doll can't be born in America as an Asian American doll versus born in Asia Asian American doll (note that I didn't actually see any info on her on the site in regard to where she was born - I guess it must be in the packaging).

Why even in dolls - for whatever you think it's worth or don't - why are we perpetual foreigners in some ways always having to come IN versus ALREADY EXISTING? It doesn't mean we forget about all of the great immigrants from all the Mother Lands that come to this country - including myself - but what about other people?

It'll have to do for now but in some ways it's a failed endeavor at trying to appease a real problem with the same somewhat stereotyped fiction we've seen over and over and it could just be solved with having more than one Asian/Asian American Doll.

Note: Edited after re-post as the original wasn't quite what I was trying to say.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 5 - MANAA Versus Cameron Crowe (AKA I Will Not Stamp Your Passport With Aloha)

Sunday, May 24, 2015

In full disclosure I have to say that I really have loved the film Almost Famous because it just has some of those moments in them - and I love that line about the fax machine from Ben Fong Torres, because that was just groovy - but I don't think I'm having the same reaction for Aloha which apparently is completely white-washed (and from the looks of the cast it does so seem true).

Give it up to MANAA for keeping up the good fight.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 4 - I Love This Cover + Arden Cho And David Choi + Bring Me Some Sixpence Back

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Arden Cho will be in the new film Stuck:

Chance and happenstance collide and strangers, who would probably never notice or speak to each other, get stuck together on a locked subway car beneath NYC. All of them have a story that reaches far beyond what is apparent on the surface.

David Choi recently got back from his world tour.

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 3 - That's Some Good Beats: Kero One Portishead Remix

Sunday, May 24, 2015



From http://www.kero1.com/

“Back in the 90’s, kids like myself would gravitate towards bands like Portishead, particularly when we wanted to take a break from hip hop. Since the drums were dirty and the sounds and singing were soulful, it gave us that familiar hiphop vibe while being something totally different.

Now, Portishead’s style and influence can be heard all over Soundcloud and modern music. 20 years later, its safe to say they were a legendary group who led the way for “trip hop”, fusing hiphop, electronic, and soul music in rare form. For Portishead’s 20 year anniversary, I wanted to re-feature their work with a remix of one of their quintessential tracks. Since the original version of “Roads” uses sparse instrumentation, I thought I could add a fuller dimension to the track while still allowing the lead vocalist – Beth Gibbons – to remain the focus. In the end, I hope this remix renews interest in Portishead among listeners who aren’t familiar with the sound they pioneered. Enjoy.” – Kero One

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 2 - Legends Q & A: Anna May Wong

Sunday, May 24, 2015



Question: What film starred Anna May Wong that also starred her childhood friend and Asian American actor Philip Ahn as the lead?

Answer: Daughter of Shanghai in 1937.

Question: How often do we see that now?

Answer: Yup...

Question: Who approved the 2005 TIME article title "Anna May Wong Did It Right"?

Answer: I don't know but I'd like to pinky wrestle them into submission until they say "I'm sorry for being lazy and othering".

#100PostsIn24HrsForAAPIHeritageMonth - 1 - Time To Press Start

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Between feeling like I've been kinda lazy, a little shamed, and being in the right place at the right time, I've decided to go on a quest. On one hand I don't think this should be too hard and I think I can do it early, but I also feel like I could peter out around sixty-five. Maybe I crumble at thirty. At the same time, while my posts can be short, I won't be posting one word posts for 30 entries, although that could be fun at some point. I think that's it. Pressing start now @ 12:15 AM CST. Bing.

P.S.

Yes.

My blog posts aren't always me writing it out in-depth.

No.

Do your own quest then.

How Weather Reports Should Be

Saturday, May 23, 2015



Checking in on communitychannel.

David So And Your Angry Friend

Saturday, May 23, 2015



I think in another world I could have been this guy - and I can still be militant and vigilant - but I'd like to think more relaxed most of the time.

For the most part.

I Love The @POTUS

Thursday, May 21, 2015

That's it.

A Lullaby Rant: If I'm A Joke I Think I'll Be A Pun Inside A Llama

Thursday, May 21, 2015

This is just one of those posts where I'm a little ranty but I'm still lazy so it's kind of a mild mannered rant and it's probably more like a bedtime story that you would read to your pet lamoid to put them to sleep...

All I'm saying is that I work with people online, offline, and in-between on a lot of different fronts and you know when people either respect what you do or they don't in whatever arena it is. It's not rocket science. It's data. You may not always agree, or be up on every project and endeavor, but at least there's a respect for the work and the effort.

I like that.

Because you have to have that if you want change. If you want dialogue and work to be done no matter what you're doing. Change occurs all over and in different ways. No one has a monopoly or patent on how change has to happen or who's involved in that change, or where that change takes place.

If some of that change takes place on a half robot llama with a built-in PS2 because it's a cyborg llama going old school I'm just going with that's okay (and technically pretty cool as who wouldn't want a cyborg llama?)

Keep the same 'ol same 'ol.

I'm going with furry and electric.

WTF Is Wayward Pines And Did You Say M. Night Shyamalan?

Wednesday, May 20, 2015



In answer to the question posed in the title I think the answer is "What's apparently the Twin Peaks of now" and "Yes. I did say M. Night Shyamalan."

Wayward Pines airs on Fox Thursdays at 9/8c.

Larissa Lam + I Feel Alive

Wednesday, May 20, 2015



So this is just kind of fun song and the video is light, a little throwback.

http://www.larissalam.com./startpage/Main.html

And MN With The Number 1 2015 Draft Pick + Wiggins = Poster Child For Global Warming Because It's Gonna Get Hot As A MF

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

And let's not forget Zach LaVine.

Oh Yeah.

3X Pics And Video: Susan Hum Late Show Costume Designer

Monday, May 18, 2015

A couple pics of Susan Hum from the 3rd last Late Show With David Letterman.



And here's a video from late last year.

60: Vincent Chin

Monday, May 18, 2015



We all know who Vincent Chin is - and he would have been 60 today.

Peace.

Random Kelly Hu

Monday, May 18, 2015

Kelly Hu is busy as hell these days it seems - from Arrow episodes, Mortal Kombat X and Battlefield Hardline video games to Beyond the Game.

Nice to see Asian American actors and actresses who've been doing it for a while, keep on doing it.

Cool.

That's it.

And Ultron Gets Pitch-Slapped

Monday, May 18, 2015


From Forbes

We all knew it was going to tumble anyway because it just couldn't do a 3rd week, but I do like the fact that Pitch Perfect 2 took it down.

Just something about the juxtaposition.

We Have Food Allergies (AKA That's Just A Good Article) + 40% Of Asian American Kids?

Sunday, May 17, 2015

All I'm saying is that this is a good, long, in-depth article.

“I gave him soup to help him feel better,” says Wong. “He ate it and then threw up, and I saw that he was scratching his belly.” She didn’t realize at the time that even before his first sip of the soup, her son was having an anaphylactic reaction: the microscopic particles of peanut proteins released in the air during cooking were causing his throat to swell and close. Fortunately, she called her doctor, who urged her to take her son to an allergist right away.

Wong’s son, who is now 11 years old, is one of the 6 million American children affected by food allergies. Asian-American children are 40 percent more likely to suffer from food allergies than the U.S population at large, according to a 2011 report published in the journal Pediatrics, the only American food allergy study which offers statistics specifically on Asian-Americans. On top of that, treating food allergies can present very unique challenges within the Asian-American community.

Literate + Vietnamese.Adopted: A Collection of Voices + The Vietnamese Diaspora Calls Your Name

Sunday, May 17, 2015



Description: Vietnamese.Adopted: A Collection of Voices is a group of writings each in their own form and style, un-censored in content or subject matter, allowing each person to speak on what being a Vietnamese Adoptee, Adopted Vietnamese, or Vietnamese War Orphan, is to them, as well as in relation to the greater Vietnamese and World communities. Shaped by their own experiences, observations, country, and language, it is the goal of this book to make these narratives, opinions, and perspectives available to the greater Adopted and Vietnamese communities.

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Vietnamese-Adopted-Collection-Voices-Various-Authors/dp/0988585863/

I'm happy to be a part of this anthology and do what I can to help get more voices from the Vietnamese Diaspora, Vietnamese American, and Adopted Vietnamese communities out there. If you think you know the Viet community, but don't know some of the stories and migration paths of Vietnamese War Orphans and Adopted Vietnamese - you don't really know the community. It's like denying the guy who's legs are gone because they got blown off in the war as he's asking you to buy the lottery tickets that you'll never win anyway.

Hana Mae Lee + Pitch Perfect 2 + Bobby Pen + Interviews

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Interview



Random Pic From The MTV Movie Awards

#TBT Denizen Kane "Holdin' Up The Wall"

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Indiegogo It: Little Mekong Night Market + A Kick Ass Video

Tuesday, May 12, 2015



If you are so inclined:

Last year, Little Mekong was successful in bringing vibrancy to the local Frogtown community in the evening hours by creating new opportunities for small entrepreneurs, artists, and cultural performers. The four-night initiative of Little Mekong not only opened a window into the festive night markets in Asian countries, they also fostered a space for cultural exchange between Minnesotans from all walks of life. In order to build upon the success of 2014, we need you to partner with us by offering financial help to expand and enrich this year's Night Market, which will be much bigger [...]

The Little Mekong Night Market is the Twin Cities’s only twilight Asian-inspired street market, located in the heart of the Little Mekong District -- the business and cultural section in St. Paul, MN that boasts a diversity of cultures, top rated restaurants, and unique shopping experiences. In 2014, the Night Market was held four times. There were 50 vendors and more than 200 artists and performers. The festivities brought together well over 9,000 people from all walks of life.


Give Now To Help Keep This Awesome Event Running!

Give Now To Help Keep This Awesome Event Running!

Give Now To Help Keep This Awesome Event Running!

Echo...

Echo......

Echo.......

Help The Slants With Their Trademark Case

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

I've been posting on The Slants for years - including their trademark case - and because it's a Tuesday - and the name's still not theirs - I post again.

C'mon now.

Give 'em a peak.

Just a peak.

In Pics + @BeauSia + #theundisputedgreatestwriterofalltime

Tuesday, May 12, 2015



These are just some cool photos of Beau Sia that he let me take when I met him this past weekend at a Loft EQ show and by meet I really mean accost before and after and no I'm not joking because I am a man on a mission some days and my crazy hair gets the best of me.



When I think about trailblazers in the APIA community who've helped give a voice, to break stereotypes, to inspire, and who've been able to do it in different venues and on different stages and maintain that over time on a consistent basis - it really was a pleasure.

Get a book | Hang at beausia.com | @BeauSia

Even With An Opening In China I Still Don't Think Ultron Makes The Numbers Past Furious 7

Monday, May 11, 2015

Let this be an exercise in numbers and futility but if Ultron is at $874,989,000 and it hopes to pass Furious 7 which is at $1,466,420,000 (as of May 10th), Ultron has to do about $591 million to catch up - and Furious 7 sales need to stand still.

Furious 7 had the biggest box office opening and film in China @ $325-$326 million. Before that it was Transformers: Age of Extinction at $319-$320. I don't think it's going to be massive and completely crush the previous record by doing $400 million - but let's say it does - there's still $191 million left to make up. If Ultron did about $80 million this past weekend and take best case scenario of 50% drops each week @ $40, $20, and $10 million over the next 3 weeks there's still $121 million left.

Where does that money come from?

At the same time, the international haul for Furious 7 is $1,128,000,000. Ultron is @ $562,400,000. If it did $400 million there's still $166 million left on that front. Furious 7 will still have a larger international box office (by then all the large markets are done).

I'm not saying Ultron is doing bad numbers (because it's still $624-$625 million in profit) I'm just asking what those numbers could be if the movie appealed to a wider audience (because environments change) and who actually thinks it won't bow down to Furious 7's sales in the final tally?

P.S. Hell Yeah I'm Going To See #Sanandreas

Sunday, May 10, 2015



It looks like the summer fun action flick I do want to see.

And it doesn't hurt I see some color across the spectrum.

Or that I don't mind supporting a Dwayne Johnson flick to help keep that Go To Guy status.

Spreading The Love Of APIA Music Sometimes Means Putting Up With The Haters Who Make Emoji Signs With A Gun Blowing Their Own Head Off While Crying

Saturday, May 09, 2015



So I admit that maybe "Video Explosion" was a tad hyperbolic but last night wanting to watch some APIA videos I decided I would broadcast a few (mostly cover songs) and Periscope it to the world. Whether or not everyone stayed (and there were more web viewers) it was the most live viewers I've had in total - albeit I did happen to catch this comment (because except for the beginning I just set it up and didn't check in until the end after about 4 vids).



Vol 2 coming next weekend!

Or maybe a good Periscope of me washing my undergarments.

Hmmm....

Ghost of Sangju + Soojung Jo + Reviews

Friday, May 08, 2015



"Ghost of Sangju" takes readers through Soojung Jo's childhood in Kentucky filled with joy, family, friendship—and the loneliness of being marked as an outsider even in her own home. Alternating between humor and heartbreak, she offers a glimpse into a life foreign to most: that of a West Point cadet and her return to South Korea, the country that had once sent her away. Soojung vividly paints a portrait of marriage, parenthood (as both a biological and adoptive mother) and the tumultuous emotions of reuniting, rediscovering, and reestablishing lost familial bonds. "Ghost of Sangju" is a story of one woman’s journey to merge her two selves, and the universal search for self-discovery, identity, and reconciliation.

Praise For Ghost of Sangju


Soojung Jo writes with clarity, wisdom, and the bravery required to fully illuminate the human condition. This is a brilliant and cinematic debut, heart-wrenching and triumphant, liberating and expansive. From Kentucky to South Korea, from West Point to parenthood, from anger and grief to healing and joy, this is a vital contribution to adoption and American literature. This is an exciting and beautiful new voice.

- Lee Herrick, author of "Gardening Secrets of the Dead"

Soojung Jo is trying to create an urtext with "Ghost of Sangju", the urtext of her identity. She is trying to take control of the act of making. The reader has the sense that this is the book Jo has always been writing and always will write, and yet that it is a book she could only have written after reuniting with her Korean family. It is no mistake that I read in these pages the same comparison to the velveteen rabbit made real by love that I myself have expressed as an adoptee parent. This is a narrative that will bring an adoptee to tears, that closes in on the “primal” state Jo is interested in.

- Matthew Salesses, author of "The Hundred-Year Flood"

Soojung Jo has a written a book that is honest, riveting, and at points, incredibly heartbreaking. Early on, Jo reveals that as a child, she wasn't sure if she was real or not real; one gets the sense that "Ghost of Sangju" is a testimony, a demonstration to both the world and herself that she is, in fact, extremely real, that her experiences and history are important to chronicle. If decades of literature have hidden adoptee stories such as Jo's from view, with this brave memoir Jo has firmly asserted that her narrative, and others like it, can no longer be ignored.

- Karissa Chen, author of "Of Birds and Lovers", and Hyphen Magazine fiction and poetry editor

This memoir by Soojung Jo offers a most unique perspective on adoption through the singular lens of a daughter, adoptee, wife, birth mother, and adoptive mother. She finds a way to tell her story with humor, a sharp wit, heartbreaking vulnerability, and unflinching honesty.

- Randy Reyes, Artist Director, Mu Performing Arts

Ghost of Sangju should be required reading for all Asian Americans because it is the kind of story that is bigger than just Soojung Jo. It is a story of identity. It speaks to the heart of the struggle for all people of color who live in a country where—just because of the way they look—are considered perpetual foreigners.

- Koji Steven Sakai, Screenwriter/Producer and Vice President of Programs, Japanese American National Museum

Ghost of Sangju is a valuable contribution to the adoptee-memoir canon, and I recommend that adoption professionals and prospective parents in particular read this book. It is time that these narratives are honored and validated, so that birth families and adoptees do not have to exist, as Soojun writes, as "a sprit suspended between two worlds and two families, to be forever in between."

- JaeRan Kim, PhD, adoption and child welfare researcher and author of the blog, "Harlow's Monkey"

*General disclosure as a newsbyte that I am also one of the publishers of this book*