Pic: Joseph Kahn On His Blank Space Win With Taylor Swift
Monday, August 31, 2015Fuck Me #1 - #3 + Trump Gets A Little Chinky In Iowa + Do You Know How Much Money We Owe The White Countries?
Wednesday, August 26, 2015If you happened to be watching, and maybe you were or maybe you just saw a piece of his speech (that would be me) you couldn't help but notice the xenophobia when talking about the deficit and "mimicking" (AKA see getting kind of Chinky) someone from China in Trump broken English - and yes - that seemed to illicit some smiles from his supporters.
That's fuck me #1 because we all know where that goes.
Just the other day I was talking with a fairly liberal White Man and while they don't like Trump they said they understood him - where he's coming from. It was said in such a way that while not liking Trump they could feel his base concerns and while there was nothing specific mentioned, you can only wonder...
That's fuck me #2 because you can't deny Trump is hitting a "nerve" with people who - you know - maybe still have reservations on so many Brown people, and themselves becoming the minority in this country, even if they're liberals. They may not vote for them, but still - fuck me #2 right? Because we all know the liberal White People who aren't quite as liberal as they think.
And finally - because it's almost my bedtime and I still want coffee - why is it that the Asian countries get called out - specifically China and Japan - when out of the $6.175 trillion there're a butt-load of non-Asian countries who "own" a piece of America too (see the treasury.gov numbers)?
I get it - you don't want one country holding too much - but how come you never hear about Ireland, Belgium, or Switzerland?
In Billions:
Ireland $217.7
Switzerland - $217.1
United Kingdom 2/ - $214.7
Belgium - $207.7
Luxembourg - $184
Add it up - that's $1041.2 billion - aka over a $1 Trillion.
The next Asian country holding any U.S. Treasury Securities outside of China or Japan is Hong Kong - #11 on the list at $181.3 billion.
If you decide to break it down into Asian and Non-Asian countries who we owe money too it's pretty damn even - because we're equal opportunity for cash in this country - sometimes...
But you never hear about how those Irish and Belgium "Engrish" speaking MF's are slowly buying up America do you?
Nope.
They just focus on the Asian countries, which can turn the focus on Asian Americans and not in a good way (because we're just a bunch of shitty speaking english MF's who no doubt will sell out the U.S. even though we live here and are citizens).
And yes - that is fuck me #3 - and yes, I will end with a poem even though you didn't ask.
Nighty night,
Don't let the Donald fuck you up,
Jorge Ramos needs a comic too.
P.S. Ferguson (I Think Judge Donald McCullin Needs His Own Super Hero Comic)
Wednesday, August 26, 2015Yeah.
I like that.
I'll buy it.
Someone needs to get on this...
Paul Rodriguez + Christopher Chann = Trick Challenge Goodness
Tuesday, August 25, 2015Withe close to 330K subscribers, and sticking to his YouTube roots, Christopher Chann it seems is also meeting the right folks.
Here's a quick clip from earlier this month with Paul Rodriguez.
Here's his first street part from earlier this year.
From The Daily Bruin With Love (AKA Arthur Wang, Policy, History And Asian American Success)
Monday, August 24, 2015I can't say I buy into everything on this article - but still a good read:
Amy Chua [...] Her newest work, “The Triple Package,” is a travesty of a social science book that manages to double down on the culturalist interpretation of success. It suggests that these explanations remain highly attractive despite decades of research indicating that Asian academic achievement is connected to government policies and social institutions. The myth that Asian cultural values explain success continues to be repeated after half a century, oversimplifying the complexities and history of Asian Americans.Read it in full at the Daily Bruin.
My Random Thoughts On Ashley And Madison
Thursday, August 20, 2015I try not to make judgements in regard to people's relationships in the sense that I don't know what goes on in private, what hardships are going on, bumps in the road - relationships and marriages and partnerships all take work - I can't condemn someone for "cheating" because it's not my place to judge because maybe it was already on the rocks, maybe there was abuse and that was there way of figuring it out/getting out - I just don't know and that's the point.
At the same time, I don't know who signs up for anything or why. I signed up for Tinder to see how the user interface worked and as an experiment to see how many swipes I could get as an Asian American male in 24 hours (which is currently a post taking time - and yes - I did get me some swipes). My partner was fully aware and I showed her all the data and my account was then deleted - nothing nefarious. So I can't really judge anyone if I would find out they were on the Ashley Madison site because I don't know the reasons - or if they even went through with anything versus just signing up. Nor do I know if maybe the relationship is open to those types of encounters.
That's my take at least and if you want to find out if you've been breached in any way - from any site - check out the haveibeenpawned.com site. And no - I'm not one of those people to put in anyone else's data because I believe in privacy - but it's a great tool to help you manage your accounts/identity in the wake of data breaches (I was affected in the Adobe hack a while back but luckily I have many accounts, different passwords for multiple sites, etc. so the overall effect wasn't bad).
Ok - back to regularly scheduled programming (that means coffee).
P.S.
If you are wondering if I ever was on the Ashley Madison site - it's really none of your business so you can keep on guessing.
I Don't Know Why? My Thoughts On The Now Infamous Alabama Alpha Phi 2015 Music...I Mean Recruitment Video
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
So if you don't know - check here and check the original article - aka SLAM - here:
No, it's not a slick Playboy Playmate or Girls Gone Wild video. It's a sorority recruiting tool gaining on 500,000 views in its first week on YouTube. It's a parade of white girls and blonde hair dye, coordinated clothing, bikinis and daisy dukes, glitter and kisses, bouncing bodies, euphoric hand-holding and hugging, gratuitous booty shots, and matching aviator sunglasses. It's all so racially and aesthetically homogeneous and forced, so hyper-feminine, so reductive and objectifying, so Stepford Wives: College Edition. It's all so ... unempowering.
My Man Helping To Raise Girls And Young Women View
If there's one thing I learned from all the women in my life it's that as a man, it's not my say in what a woman does with her body, chooses how to dress, what to do, etc. (within reason of course, because if they're your kids or partner you get a little say).
It's also my issue - and no one else's - if I objectify someone. That's on me.
And if a woman is talking about gender equality it's my role to listen.
At the same time, I'm not saying if I had a daughter that went to that sorority I would want her to be in every shot of that video - because I still think a one piece is in style - but for the most part, I couldn't really yell at her for being in it either because they're just trying to have some fun and delay "real life" for as long as they can (and I would assume they would have to know that if they flunked out they couldn't enjoy the college good life anymore complete with glitter).
I couldn't tell my daughter that she has to wrap herself up and couldn't be a young woman and dress to have some fun and then have some fun (and what to wear could technically be anything - ripped jeans and funky smelling t-shirt). One, you have to pick your battles. But two - that's just giving in to a mindset that says a young woman can't have fun like a young man can and goes back to fundamentals:
If dudes are in the street wacking off to women wearing heavy parkas because it's 10 below zero, it's hardly the women's or the parka's fault. It's crazy dudes who are wacking off to women in parkas. No one should have to freeze because the crazies get a woody and can't control themselves from wacking off in sub-zero weather (I would imagine btw even with the friction it could still turn into an icicle that would be easily breakable).
And it's college.
They're between 18-22/23 (if they're on the 5/6 year plan). They just got out on their own. They can go to war but maybe can't drink legally. They're adults - but only kind of. It's Phase 2 Puberty with fake id's, no parents, and trying to find themselves.
They can go to R-rated movies alone. We can't expect PG and Sesame Street (and btw - what the fuck is going on with Sesame Street)?
All of that being said though I would agree that it doesn't show the multi-faceted dimensions of young women embarking on a college education - I didn't see a book cracked once, a shot of a library (to at least pretend to be fake studying), anything about academics, technology, sports any of the young women are into, or other groups, etc. - this definitely isn't a video to break stereotypes.
As I said in the title - it's kind of like a music video (and I'll have to be honest I am a fan of the original).
Would it be my recruitment video?
Probably not. I would throw in some of the things I mentioned in the above paragraph showing the full breadth of what my sorority offered - in addition to the fun and camaraderie it offers.
But it's not like everyone was shaking ass getting it on with other college students doing beer bongs - the majority of it was pretty innocent.
I think the mascot actually was the most lewd (and by lewd I mean I would have totally shaken my Furry Mascot Ass back in the day).
Is it representative of all young women's experiences, or wanted experiences?
Certainly not.
My Asian American Man Helping To Raise Girls And Young Women Of Color View
I'll say that this is not the most diverse sorority by the looks of it and as someone tweeted (paraphrasing here) their definition of diversity looks to be having some brunettes in the fold. Would I caution about joining and would I want to see a more diverse base - absolutely - because after college and hopefully in college as well - or in any experiences during those age ranges - you're going to have to deal with diverse individuals (or you should be) and having a diverse group of friends on all fronts can only make you a better person.
In that regard the video doesn't do anything to stop the stereotype of thinking that some sororities/fraternities are exclusive to White People - even if changing (trying to give some benefit of the doubt here) - and I'm not calling anyone blatantly racist here - I'm just saying that I would want a more diverse group for the girls/women under my guidance.
One Last Thing
Even though I'm a guy and have that privilege and have had to learn or re-think some things, or re-verbalize something because that's my responsibility to do that - I still have to help raise girls/women of color and wanted to post my thoughts because I don't think they should be penalized for wearing a dress that doesn't go past the knees or if they want to run through a maze of bubbles with their friends listening to EDM because what does that say to them too? If they were in that video it doesn't mean they can't be a tech giant, kick ass lawyer, CEO, news anchor, et al.
I don't want them to be limited in that way.
P.S.
Again - I realize who I am and where my POV can sometimes come from and I'm not trying to disrespect any opinions out there on this from the gender/role view in the way that someone who's White dismisses someone of Color. I just think there are some extra layers for dialogue and I truly am not trying to be dismissive of the main argument/tenets from which it came from.
Jose Antonio Vargas On Donald Trump’s Immigration Plan
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Great conversation.
Preach Jose.
Preach.
A Moment Of Silence For Bangkok
Monday, August 17, 2015Because if nothing else, I can at least do that.
Myx TV Launches New YouTube Exclusive Channels + The Alternative - EP2 - Restful Sleep - Myx TV
Monday, August 17, 2015Just some quick news if you would like some media info on new channels from Myx TV.
Head on over to Myx TV where you can also catch up on some "Eat Your Words".
I'm Just Going To Post Billy Ocean Circa 2009 Acoustic Suddenly Because Everyone Should Love This
Tuesday, August 11, 2015Labels: Music
Tonight And Tomorrow: Little Mekong Night Market
Friday, August 07, 2015
If you're in the Saint Paul/MPLS vicinity and are looking for something to do this weekend definitely check out the Little Mekong Night Market happening this weekend:
Friday August 7 from 6:00pm – Midnight
Saturday August 8 from 4:00pm – Midnight
The Little Mekong Night Market is inspired by the famous night markets held throughout Asia– with a Minnesota local twist.
A visit to the night market is an unforgettable experience of new sights, sounds and flavors. If you have been to night markets in Asia, you know these open air street markets provide an amazing carnival experience for all your senses. A trip to the night market is an adventure.
We will have food vendors, handicrafts, music, exhibits, cultural performances, and kids activities. Our mission is to support local small businesses and provide a venue for family fun and excitement.
Check more out here.
On 70 Years Since Hiroshima
Thursday, August 06, 2015I think this is one of those hate/love relationship thoughts because as I've said before - defend your country - defend my country - but how come the bomb was only dropped in the motherlands?
Why was it good enough for us but no one else without beautiful brown skin?
And how does that translate into how the world and the U.S. sees us?
Oh wait...
Vietnamese Americans + Silicon Valley
Wednesday, August 05, 2015Skimmed over this article down @ Cnet:
Some other Vietnamese founders of US companies include Binh Tran of Klout, an app and website that ranks influence on social media; Phu Hoang of streaming-media platform DataTorrent; Wendy Nguyen of HealthyOut, a healthy-restaurant locator; Chuck Lai of FoodGawker, a website for food bloggers to share recipes; Brian Nguyen of e-commerce software company Celery; Thinh Tran of semiconductor company Sigma Designs; and Sonny Vu of the popular fitness-tracker startup Misfit.
Read it in full here.