Awkwafina + Margaret Cho = Green Tea And Long Duck Dong Pussy...Wait. What?

Tuesday, May 31, 2016



I'll need to meditate on this.

Some like it and some do not (from the FB comments).

Janet: This is so SAAAAAd, you have older Korean women fighting for the RIght to say "Asian comfort women in wars were wrong". Then you have this new generation singing yellow bitches with puss*. Thanks for the enlightenment, I feel really empowered as an Asian women now. At the end of the day, you have to really ask yourself what kind of stereotypes you are further advancing through your art & lyrics. No need for racism here, when your own kind is bashing and making us even more as an object of comfort.

Tarif: this is so sick, mad props, DFD last week and awkwafina today? Asian rappers on that takeover flow

Music Video Me: Beatrock Music + Rocky Rivera + Turn You + #pussypower

Tuesday, May 31, 2016


My latest video continues where Pussy Kills left off: a declaration to proselytize #pussypower and continue the fight to protect women's rights. To add complexity to the scope of what it means to be a #Feminist, and to buck the impossible gold standard we often make in comparison to ourselves and others. With the help of three SFSU cinema students, @konablue8, @dave_quiroga and @fazeproductionssf @kirstenstorment - who volunteered to shoot the video and submit it as their final project in the class - I rap about my personal experiences navigating life, love, and rap music as a Feminist. Where do you stand? Watch the entire video and leave a comment on YouTube! Most importantly, use it in your educational discussions with young people and each other to dissect what it means to be a Feminist in 2016.

Battle At The Berrics 9: Denny Pham Moves Up

Tuesday, May 31, 2016



Battle At The Berrics 9 - the new blood - nice to see Denny Pham move up to the next bracket where he'll face Diego Najera which should be a great game of Skate.

Two more wins and he's on to the finals.

Jeremy Lin Tweets To Would Be Haters And Racist Comments

Tuesday, May 31, 2016



Just gotta love how he's doing it lately.

In Pictures: Bao Nguyen Is Running For Congress

Friday, May 27, 2016



So I kind of lied - not just a picture - but c'mon - don't you want to see this man in Congress? Ok...sure...looks alone shouldn't make your opinion. Hear what he has to say himself from his site:

Dear Neighbor,

I’m Bao Nguyen, Mayor of the City of Garden Grove. I’d like to share with you why I’m running to represent California’s 46th District in the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress.

I was born in a refugee camp and came to the United States when I was three months of age. I am a proud product of public schools in the cities of Anaheim, Orange and Garden Grove. I earned a bachelors degree in political science from UC Irvine and a masters in religious studies from Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado.

Thereafter, I worked as a substitute teacher and became a community organizer for our local churches. I helped to organize senior citizens in Garden Grove to establish a senior transportation program in the city. I believe in people because I know that when we come together to create positive change in our communities, we can win.

I often reflect on my parents’ journey and it is hard for me to imagine the risks they’ve taken to escape an oppressive government and sacrifice everything for a better future. I am grateful to my parents and I want to honor their sacrifices by fighting to make sure that as Americans we have a government that serves the interest of the people.

During the time I served on the school board, I worked to invest funding to modernize our schools, to improve educational opportunities for our students, and to fight against bullying and discrimination.

As an elected city mayor, I fought to maintain local control of our water resources, going against the big corporate interests trying to charge county residents more for less water while destroying our environment. I have worked to help small business owners and local entrepreneurs by partnering with Google. But my greatest achievement was implementing measures to increase transparency and accountability of our local government.

Now, I’m asking for you to join me in making sure that our voice is heard in Congress. I need your support to fight for a federal government that serves the people. Please vote for me in the June 7, 2016 Primary Election and lend me your support.

Yours truly,

Mayor Bao Nguyen
City of Garden Grove

Now don't you want to see him in Congress?

Bad Korean + Shifting Korean + Cooking Shows = An Article On Korean Americans On Cooking Shows (See Identity Navigation And Ph.D's)

Thursday, May 26, 2016

From the article:

Reality cooking and travel shows highlight the limitations of Asian stock characters, a recent study by an Indiana University researcher finds. Korean American contestants on reality cooking shows are active cultural producers, not passive consumers of both Korean and American culture.

Rather than relying on stereotypes, Korean Americans featured on two shows take on iconoclastic portrayals of either a “bad Korean,” a male in his late 30s who exudes an edgy, bad-boy vibe within the Korean cultural context; or a “shifting Korean,” the female counterpart based on Beverly Kim’s character on “Top Chef.” The “shifting Korean” uses racial stereotypes to her advantage to advance in cooking competitions.

The adoption of these gendered tropes creates a new space for diversified Korean American televisual images, according to the study co-authored by Chi-Hoon Kim, a Ph.D. candidate in food studies in the IU Bloomington Department of Anthropology.
Read it in full.

Ice Cream And Awesome People Always Win Out Over Racists

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Happened to catch this BuzzFeed article on this racist whatchamacallit who decided to take out his angry aggression on two Muslim women in an ice cream shop, where much to his dismay I'm sure - the Muslim women and the good folks working at the ice cream parlor put an end to it - which only goes to show a few things:

1. Keep those cameras handy because you never know when you might need to record a racist (and at the same time you'll have some real live footage of what will hopefully become extinct).

2. People may be scared at times, but fuck if good people are gonna let racists interrupt their ice cream time (and again, I'll take mine lactose free please).

3. The words "You suck" and "You're a racist" never get old.

4. Some people just can't comprehend that White doesn't = White Racist MF and I wonder if one day their heads will just explode from that realization.

No Excuses: Interpretations Film Contest Submission Deadline Extended To July 15th

Thursday, May 26, 2016

In March I posted about the Justin Lin and YOMYOMF Interpretations Film Contest (version 2.0) which you can read here if you're not familiar with it.

At the same time, by popular demand, the deadline to submit your short film for the contest has now been moved to July 15th.

One more time.

The deadline for submission has now been moved (almost a full month) to July 15th.

Basically that means if you need more time you have it, and that there really is absolutely no excuse to not get it done (unless your actors decided to bail on you, you broke a camera, you decided you were better off simply twiddling your thumbs, or your mama told you not to).

Get.It.Done.

And There's Still Nothing New On The Investigation Into The Shooting Of Map Kong

Thursday, May 26, 2016

I'm not saying things don't take time, but every check in with the BCA reveals the status is still the same.

Ongoing.

Here's to hoping "Ongoing" turns into "Done" sometime in near future.

That's A Hot Video: Dumbfoundead's SAFE + #StarringDumbfoundead (?)

Thursday, May 26, 2016


Oh. Hell. Yeah.

Watch It On iTunes - Trailer: Seoul Searching

Wednesday, May 25, 2016



I didn't get to see this when it was playing around at festivals and I'd imagine I'm like other people, and then I'd imagine that just like everyone else who hasn't seen it that I want to see it and so the fact that its on iTunes now (well the trailer with theatrical coming soon), I would imagine, is like a big scoop of lactose free ice cream on a hot summer day.

Well...err...at least when I'm in the mood for ice cream.

I Want This General Tso'Boy Po-Boy

Wednesday, May 25, 2016



There's a story...Chinese American...Jessica and Gary Wu, opening new restaurants...success story, etc., etc...

I just want a Po-Boy now.

Shit We Should Know About If We're Not Dead

Monday, May 23, 2016

Diversity @HuffingtonPost (That Pic): Kind Of, Maybe, Maybe Not, Let's Test It, Well...

Monday, May 23, 2016



So there's been this small thing that popped up on some feeds in regard to the Huff where the executive editor tweeted the above pic and asked "Notice anything about this @HuffingtonPost editors meeting?" and people came up with some of the following:









As you can see, answers all over the board. Some expected, some guessing, some stupid - and what's funny to me is that while it's great for people to call out diversity in a liberal outlet much like you can do elsewhere - some of the callouts can't quite see anything other than white - not even shades.

You have to zoom in a little to get a better gander I think to truly make a good guess (because at this stage in the game, since no one's background is being put out there, you just have to make the guess).

Let's do it (and I'd download the pics or click on them to see them bigger).

Quick note: I'm not trying to vanillafy or becky-fy anyone. White people. You have you heritages too. But in this context - you're all standard White.

Quick second note: Not everyone has the chip - and that's a part of the point. Give me guff - but I'm just human and why don't you try and give it a shot.



From front to back: White, White, White, White. Asian, Black/Blasian, Asian - and no to comments that this is the Chinatown portion of the section. That totals 7.



From front to back: This is the tough row, but outside of #4, #6, and #7 (I'm numbering from front to back) which I go with White - I'm not betting the house on anyone (#1 and #5 I thought could go White but that's a 50/50 bet). I'm going with (and not in order) some Hapa (although maybe it's Winnie Cooper syndrome), maybe some Latina, South American, and maybe Iranian mixes.

Again - mess me up all you want - 'cause I have things to learn and be better at too - but give it a whirl with you and your friends.

It's Futile But It's Not

When a liberal outlet like The Huff puts out a pic and asks that question - be ready. Be ready for it all (Whiteness, ageism, and of course - mac elite, or maybe I should say pc'ist). And if we look at that out of 14 women sitting at the table that we can clearly identify 7 as White - that's 50% - and if we push it up to 9, now we're getting into the 64 percentile range, which is only 1 White person away from 71%.

At the same time - I can't say who is, and who isn't Native American and American Indian. Maybe there could be two (of which I've already given the White label to).

All of which points to the fact that guessing what race and ethnicity people belong too isn't as easy as we can make it out to seem and if we're going to talk about diversity - let's make sure we're trying to be inclusive of true diversity and not count all fair skinned people as White, or that fair skinned isn't actually fair skinned at all.

Cause there are shades.

Other questions/comments remain

1. Is 50% too much Whiteness? I think we can all agree on 71% being too much and I think 65% is pressing close to an absolute answer as well.

2. Doesn't it say something when technically it doesn't necessarily do anything for the status quo because it's not like we're playing let's try and find the White people?

3. Where are the Black women? If I go with there's already one, and then I say there are two Asians and one Happa - I feel like I should at least see the same amount of Black women.

And that's all I have right now.

One Of My Favorite Lines From Drake's "Views"

Monday, May 23, 2016

Why You Gotta Fight With Me At Cheesecake
You Know I Love To Go There


Drake - Views - "Childs Play".

Timothy DeLaGhetto Is Freestylin With The Homies

Saturday, May 21, 2016

It's A Free Concert With Dumbfounded, Awkwafina, Joseph Vincent, And More From LA City Hall

Friday, May 20, 2016



If I wasn't teaching myself how to be a better person through satanic verse only heard by spinning a record backward (because I like to go old school as I feel the needle better enhances the messages of beelzebub which I typically like to shorten to just beelz) - I'd be there.

May 27-28, 2016: Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival

Thursday, May 19, 2016



There's a ton of great films and panels to go to including Breathin': the Eddy Zheng Story, Persona Non Grata, and My America…Or Honk if You Love Buddha to name just a few.

http://www.sapff.org/

#Beautiful And #Inspiring: When Muslim American Kids Read WW2 Letters By Japanese Americans

Thursday, May 19, 2016

I Just Like This Picture

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Google Hearts Yuri Kochiyama

Thursday, May 19, 2016



Google gave some love to Yuri Kochiyama who would have been 95 today.

Vincent Chin: Born May 18, 1955

Wednesday, May 18, 2016



Rest in peace.

May 26, 2016: ISA! Be There...Or Well...Don't Be?

Wednesday, May 18, 2016



I for one think you should be there if you are so inclined and are in the area, but I'm not a dictator.

I'm not gonna nipple clamp you if you aren't.

But then again...if you are in the area, why wouldn't you want to kick it with ISAtv, Wong Fu Productions, Far East Movement and other Asian Pacific American creators?

Exactly.

And yes...I did just put the nipple clamp away (because I have urges and if I were a dictator we'd start slow with just one...).

Register now.

Quan Barry, Rabbit, The Song Ma River, And She Weeps Each Time You're Born

Wednesday, May 18, 2016



Quan Barry’s luminous fiction debut brings us the tumultuous history of modern Vietnam as experienced by a young girl born under mysterious circumstances a few years before the country’s reunification, a child gifted with the otherworldly ability to hear the voices of the dead.

At the peak of the war in Vietnam, a baby girl is born along the Song Ma River on the night of the full moon. This is Rabbit, who will journey away from her destroyed village with a makeshift family thrown together by war. Here is a Vietnam we’ve never encountered before: through Rabbit’s inexplicable but radiant intuition, we are privy to an intimate version of history, from the days of French Indochina and the World War II rubber plantations through the chaos of postwar reunification. With its use of magical realism—Rabbit’s ability to “hear” the dead—the novel reconstructs a turbulent historical period through a painterly human lens. This is the moving story of one woman’s struggle to unearth the true history of Vietnam while simultaneously carving out a place for herself within it.

You're A Nebula Winner: Alyssa Wong

Wednesday, May 18, 2016


Cover art for the story © 2015 by Plunderpuss

Check out Nightmare Magazine where you can read the full short story "Hungry Daughters of Starving Mothers" by Alyssa Wong which won the Nebula for Short Story.

Some more info on Alyssa Wong From Nightmare Magazine

Alyssa Wong is a Nebula-, World Fantasy-, and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author, shark aficionado, and 2013 graduate of the Clarion Writers’ Workshop. Her work has appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, Tor.com, Uncanny Magazine, and Black Static. She is a first year MFA student at North Carolina State University, and can be found on twitter as @crashwong and at crashwong.net.

Watch The Short Film "Lifeline" In Full Starring Leehom Wang, Olivia Munn, And Joan Chen

Wednesday, May 18, 2016



Qualcomm presents Lifeline: a short film by Armando Bo starring Leehom Wang, Olivia Munn and Joan Chen.

Our lives are in our devices. But is her phone enough to save her life?

Kai (Leehom Wang) awakens on his Shanghai houseboat––alone. His girlfriend Emma (Olivia Munn) has suddenly disappeared, leaving behind the one thing that could lead to her whereabouts: her smartphone.

Deeply disturbed, Kai uses her Snapdragon-powered device to uncover where she went, with whom she’s connected, and what she took with her. Is Emma really who she says she is? Or is there something more sinister at play?

As he pieces together the harrowing truth, there are parts of both Emma’s life and his own, that leave him with some difficult questions, and some unsettling answers.

Watch Inside Lifeline to see how the film was made: https://youtu.be/WmKh-PN9G64

Director: Armando Bo
Screenplay: Armando Bo, Lucas Bucci, Mariana Levy
Producers: Vincent Landay, Teddy Lynn, Matt Bonin, Eric Stern, Steve Golin
Original Music by: Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans

Cast: Leehom Wang, Olivia Munn, Michael Dorman, Joan Chen

Visit Lifeline on our WEBSITE: http://www.lifelinefilm.com/

3X SOC: A Little Dante. A Little Basco. And Some Woman Up

Wednesday, May 18, 2016



My SOC is as follows:

Check the above info for the podcast.

Did you know it's the 25th anniversary of "Hook".

From the Dante Basco blog on creative writing:

Not only did these students and that simple question get me to think about what I write about, also got me thinking of why I write. Why do I? Well, the truth is I love writing, I like to think about things and have this discussion with myself and words, sometimes I publish it to have the discussion with the world, other times I just write to digest happenings around me. I think about when I began writing, it all started in my journals as a teenager. I’m sure that’s where many of writers begin. Just chicken scratch on blank pages, random poetry lines describing that girl who you always see walking through the hallways between 3rd and 4th period. Entries about falling in love for the first time, trying to put in every detail you can about the first times of everything, fearing you if you don’t you might lose the memory and something as precious as this deserves to be kept pristine.

#StarringConstanceWu Is Here Too (And It's Awesome)

Tuesday, May 17, 2016



Yes - it appears #StarringConstanceWu is a thing too now - and I'll definitely see all of them.

Sometime.

When I have time.

When they become real.

Here's a snapshot from Twitter when you view all the pics (you can check them out yourself for the larger ones).

Interview It: Michael Nhat + Tiny Mix Tapes

Tuesday, May 17, 2016



From The Interview

I record because I like what I am making. I love my sounds. I love my rap voice, my beats my illustrations, and my fashion preferences. I don’t want to compromise. I’m not trying to appease an old audience or a young one. I’m selfishly making it for myself. Today, if a label is interested I’m willing to listen, but I’m not hoping or waiting for it to happen. I no longer judge success by sales or how popular I am. I judge it by how happy I am with what I am listening to.

Brian Peacock Goes Pro For Primitive Skateboarding

Monday, May 16, 2016



When you go pro and are on the same team as Paul Rodriguez, Shane O'Neill, Carlos Ribeiro, Devine Calloway, Nick Tucker, and Bastien Salabanzi - well - that's not bad company to be in...not bad at all.

And it's a pretty slick looking team pick too.



P.S.

I'm kind of his doppelganger...except I'm not as handsome, thin, young, and I can't even imagine to skate that good...but if you would take a pic of both us skating in a dark alley...and make sure the street lights are out...seriously - it's like I'm his twin.

More Love For Keon From The Blogging World

Friday, May 13, 2016

Helping like others to make sure the links get where they need to be.

So much love for Keon's memory:

Rest in Peace to Minority Militant, Asian American Blogger

I was deeply saddened to learn last night from Phil of YOMYOMF (via Byron Wong of bigWOWO) that the Asian American blogosphere has lost one of its oldest members. Last week, Keon Enoy Muneduoang — who wrote under the moniker the Minority Militant — died at the age of 35.

Rest in power, the Minority Militant, a.k.a. Keon Enoy Munedouang

If you regularly read several blogs written by Asian American authors or you're active in the Asian American blogosphere, you're going to be hearing a lot in the next few days about a reclusive political blogger who wrote under the alias of the Minority Militant. From 2008 to 2010, the Chicago-based Keon Enoy Munedouang, a Laotian American military vet who was found dead last week in Montrose Harbor at the way-too-young age of 35, was one of my favorite Asian American bloggers, whether he was criticizing self-hating Asians who stupidly undergo plastic surgery to look more white, describing right-wing moron Michelle Malkin as a pundit who is "so far right she fell off the edge of a stoop and landed in a pile of jizz after a conservative gangbang convention" or mocking old Vietnamese American Republicans who supported the presidential campaign of Arizona senator John McCain, who had no qualms about continuing to refer to the Vietnamese in public as "gooks" due to the torture he experienced as a Vietnam War P.O.W.

RIP Minority Militant

This is the blog I’ve dreaded having to write since I heard the news via bigWOWO a couple of days ago that Keon Enoy Muneduoang had passed away. Keon was a blogger better known as the Minority Militant.

The Drunk Monk Podcast

Wednesday, May 11, 2016



I like to listen to banter.

I also happen to like the show Monk.

Trying to keep up as best I can.

Ellipsis...

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

I guess this post is just what the title is 'cause you have to segue sometimes.

Sometimes you gotta get out of the dark for bit.

In Retrospect: Some Posts From The Minority Militant Archives

Wednesday, May 11, 2016



I wanted to post up some archives/posts from TMM. Since the blog is locked down and some of the individual posts aren't archived, I provided some links to the main web archives for the months I pulled from, and listed the titles and some of the texts. You'll have to scroll and find them in the months listed. I don't exactly know why I picked these, but I picked them - maybe for the language, the content - what they stood for...these were just a few that stood out to me as I re-read through the MM blog.

http://web.archive.org/web/20101020112458/http://minoritymilitant.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

THE MAN BEHIND THE MAN: REACHING OUT TO THE RICE FIELDS

I consider myself to be no more than an ordinary Joe The Blogger that blogs about things that I feel are important to me and the people that step foot on this site. And when someone up there -- important people that do important things -- is willing to answer some of my questions regarding the AA community, then I think that speaks volumes about them. Granted, I probably said some things that weren't very nice about them in the first place. But this new Obama team, I think I'll be quite fond of them [...] A week later, Mr. Lu emailed me and asked if I wanted clarification on his new role in the Obama Administration. I sent him a couple of questions regarding the specifics of his future assignment as Cabinet Secretary, and how they plan to address the concerns of the Asian American community.

Michelle Rhee Attempts to Revolutionize Public Education
Got this post via the Slanty Slant. If you take a good look at the cover, you know it's gonna sell lots of copies. Not just because it's interesting, because it has an Asian lady holding a broomstick. You know White folks go gah-gah over Asian women holding anything that resembles a stick. At 7Eleven, you might just be able to get a copy of this edition from the same counter you get your Hustler's and Playboy's. If Lou Dobbs had seen the cover, he would've probably thought that "communist China" had taken over our school systems while introducing "sticking" back into the curriculum. Jokes aside, this is obviously great news on behalf of the Asian American community.

ASIAN MEN AND CIRCUMCISION
I've had ongoing debates with my Asian friends all throughout life about the idea of circumcision. As per my experience, I'd have to say half of the men I talk openly with about guy stuff are circumcised, the other half isn't. Now I'm talking just Asian men, not anyone else. This topic is quite sensitive so I'd have to scale back on some of the jokes for and against circumcision so I don't piss any dudes off, or the girlfriends and wives of any of them.

http://web.archive.org/web/20101020112158/http://minoritymilitant.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html

Yellow Terrorism
"Honey, that Chinaman is taking all our gold. Ain't no mo left no mo. We's gotta stop these chinks from takin' our jew-wels. Hand me that Colt so I could put one right through his little skull." That was the typical attitude of Whites in the Southwest once the goldrush came to a screech. If a Chinese man was shot dead in the dry summers of California, people went about their business as if nothing happened. No crime was committed. Business as usual. Just another dead Chinaman laying in the dirt. Did you know that the Chinese were tortured, lynched, and massacred in those days? Often without protection from the law. When no jobs are available, White America conveniently points to the Chinese here (e.g. Vincent Chin) and the ones being outsourced jobs abroad. Apparently, the blood-sucking, profit-driven corporatists must not ever take the onus for any of the economic misfortunes suffered at the hands of working folks. Yellow Peril is recession-proof.

Full Speed Ahead
[...] From the bottom of my bleeding liberal heart, I thank you guys for all the contributions you've made to this movement. Yes, it's a movement. I declared war on Asian America eight months ago and the war is still ongoing. This is truly, as Larry of Asian American Movement has said, "A fight for the heart and soul of Asian America." It's not us versus them to me, it's a celebration of diversity to the often suppressed voices in the AA community that we're talking about. No longer will we continue to look on as AA elitists steer our community into a shit-hole. This blog will continue to embrace diversity and I have a couple of changes in mind that will take place next week to better suit the needs of everyone. Firstly, TMM will be dual sidebar. As you can see there's one sidebar on the right that goes straight down the page. Since I keep getting events promotions emailed to me on a regular basis, I will have a sidebar on the left to accommodate community events that celebrate AA arts, culture, literature, music, and film. It will be a give and take relationship, I promote your event, you donate a few bucks (just a few!) to the Project X Fund. Secondly, I will do relevant news roundups and blog post links as well on the left sidebar.

What about Facebook and Twitter? I understand the full potential of both these social networking tools. I know they can help boost visibility, page hits, and a whole host of other good things, but I remain committed to keeping this blog underground. Don't get me wrong, I have absolutely nothing bad to say about the two. I will continue to network with new and upcoming blogs and the exceptional bloggers and friends I have on the Missile Links on the right. The material here will continue to be raw and unadulterated as always. Nothing is secret on this blog! You know where to find me if you have something to say. I read every single email. Again, thank you all for reading and visiting.

A War Criminal Goes To Die
Those that study 20th century warfare know this man to be the least competent political figure known to the West. Robert McNamara, 93, died yesterday of old age. I know you shouldn't talk bad about people in the middle of an obituary, but this man, the renown architect of the Vietnam War, has been responsible for the deaths of millions of people around the world. I know White folks don't like talking about the atrocities in the Indochina peninsula during the war, so let me take a few minutes to dabble my big mouth in it because no one else will [...] I guess another one bites the dust, literally and figuratively of course. Thanks for the fond memories of Kim Phuc running for her life in the photo without her clothes on. Must have been nice to live almost an entire century with millions of dead people haunting you in your sleep. Only this time, you don't wake up.

http://web.archive.org/web/20101020112308/http://minoritymilitant.blogspot.com/2009_03_01_archive.html

The Evolution of Asian Male Porn in America
If it isn't obvious to you already, Asian American male empowerment was also a part of the theme in which this blog was conceived. Sexual politics, an unspoken struggle within the Asian male community here, is a topic that has had its shelf-life expiration lapsed many times over. Not here, not on TMM, not if I can help it. Sex is a multi-billion dollar industry that has spilled over into the mainstream media and cleverly used as a tool to sexualize or denigrate a select few groups. A prime example of that would be Asian men, heterosexuals and homosexuals, who have been asexualized a world over. The purpose of this post is not intended to promote female objectification, chauvinism, nor misogyny -- except to cast a light on it. I know it doesn't make it right, but let's be honest and admit that there are just as many women these days that watch adult films. If this topic makes you uncomfortable, you should cease reading immediately.

http://web.archive.org/web/20101020105644/http://minoritymilitant.blogspot.com/2010_10_01_archive.html

Multiculturalism, A Love Story
I've lived here almost all of my life and I still don't feel like I'm an American. I served and I saluted the ensign at 8AM many times in the morning in my dress uniform. Yet, I still don't feel welcomed. This is not at all internalized. In one of my classes I briefly spoke about Asian American issues and the entire class was just baffled. I mean, they were just in shear disbelief. I got the look of disdain, like, "There were worse things that happened in history and you're worried about this?" Just unbelieveable. Facial expressions and gestures tell all. That's the kind of response you get for talking about Asian American issues. Americans just do not care to hear about it because there are bigger agendas they have to finish and other things that require more research and time. Should I just be lucky to be in this wonderful country and walk with my head down because I could've still been in Southeast Asia sewing a sneaker together for two dollars a day or collecting scrap metal from a landfill? Maybe the United States of America should not have stuck its nose where it didn't belong and illegally bomb my father's country back to the stone age. Had that never happened, I wouldn't be part of this conversation.

Help With Funeral Expenses For Asian American Blogger Keon Enoy Munedouang

Tuesday, May 10, 2016



bigWOWO updated their post to include the full disclosure of TMM per the family's approval - make sure and read it here. It links to the gofundme campaign which will help pay for the funeral expenses as well as has some new information too. Help out @ this link. I wasn't sure if I should use Keon's name, and it felt strange not to when writing about this because at the end of the day you can't separate them - so I'm glad people get to see that.

From The Campaign

Keon Enoy Munedouang (August 17, 1980 - May 4, 2016) was a Navy veteran and a writer who lost his life last week at the age of 35. He immigrated as a child from Laos as a refugee. Keon enlisted as a young man in the U.S. Navy, achieving the rank of SK2. Upon receiving his honorable discharge, he became a writer and an activist, connecting with others through his spoken and written words. As a writer and activist, Keon's influence was huge. He was known among his peers for his sharp wit, courage, and sensitivity to the less fortunate. He always stood up for those who had no voice. His work inspired a fellow writer and activist to organize the Banana Conference, which eventually became V3Con, the largest Asian American social media conference in the world.

Keon leaves behind his mother, three sisters, two nieces, one nephew, and a community of friends. As a veteran who dutifully protected his country and served with honor, Keon was eligible for a full military burial. However, his family chose to honor him with a traditional Buddhist ceremony followed by cremation, which is in keeping with Lao customs.

Keon was loved by all. He was generous with his time and money and never asked for anything in return. We, Keon's family and friends, ask your help in celebrating Keon's short but amazing life. Keon was always a hero to those around him, standing up for the oppressed, the underserved, and the forgotten. We wish to send him off with a celebration that recognizes him for who he was.

All funds will go to the family to assist with funeral expenses.

Remembering The Minority Militant: With Peace Into The Asian American Blogosphere

Monday, May 09, 2016



I found out this afternoon via FB via a post from bigWOWO Rest in peace, Minority Militant, that Asian American blogger The Minority Militant had passed away and it brings up a lot - and definitely make sure and read the post at bigWOWO as it covers some of the needed words for Militant.

Because you gotta bring it honest - because you gotta bring it clean - I'll tell you that around 2011/2012 I lost touch with Militant. There was a lot going down at that time in the blogosphere and we had talked about things, I learned some things, heard some things. Supported him overall when I could, but didn't always agree on some of the things that was going on and said and wasn't quite sure what was real, what wasn't, who was right, and who wasn't. I'm not sure if that had anything to do with him and I losing touch, or he just faded from most people (and he turned his blog private later on). At the end of the day, whether or not he believed it - and I don't know if he did or would have, because I reached out to him and never heard anything back a few times - I still would have rep'd for him - and I'll still rep for his memory and of the Militant I had gotten to know for a time that seems too short because I always hoped we'd reconnect. That we'd get a chance to sit down and talk.

Sometimes he came into my thoughts and I wondered how he was doing. I thought it would be funny if I'd kick it down to Chicago and somehow we'd just happen to see each other, talk, chill, and drink and smoke until sunrise.

We never did. There won't ever be that chance even if we never even would have.

That's the shitty part of life I guess.

Even if all things come around and come full circle, nothing comes around if someone isn't there.

---

One of the things I truly loved about Militant was that he said it the way he wanted to. I think that was one of the things that initially got us together. He was raw. I was raw. We were both Southeast Asian kicking it from the Midwest. And he was live. Always. Checking out each other's blogs from afar we eventually started the conversations, the back and forths, exchanging some numbers, and doing some cross-postings and guest blogs.


I loved the way he blogged and the way he just put himself out there. He was one of the few people that rep'd back for me and it was something I appreciated. I felt that you know? And he got me in a way others don't. When I was throwing love at bloggers - the way I do - it was cool. He got it:
The Minority Militant: No lie - the top of Militant's head is better looking than my left ass cheek, and let me tell you something - my left ass cheek is the best thing I've got going for me and when the top of someone's head is better looking than the best thing about you - and it's only one of your ass cheeks - this isn't what I'd call a good thing. Stay militant but for god's sake cover your head with a hat.

---

When Banana came about, even though I couldn't get myself to be on a panel because I was shy like that and into my anonymity and not always comfortable in my shoes (which Militant understood), I knew I had to be there. I wanted to see some of my favorite bloggers just kick it.

Sure. He did it his way. And you may hear this and that and other things - but it is what it was and at the end of the day - it was all good.

But I remember when he needed to catch his breath.

When he had to get off the panel and kick it outside. 'Cause it was hot for him. I got it. I remember Gil Asakawa being there trying to bring it down. The only thing I could do, that I knew how to do, was try to insert myself for the moment. Come up and ask for a smoke. See if I could chill it out in my awkward way.

I don't know if he knew it was me or not, I didn't introduce myself. We just kind of looked at each other for a bit.

After the conference was over we were texting to meet up. But there was this drinks and get together afterwards, so you know. That was that.

---

We kept in touch. Did our email and post things. Talked a few times on the phone when things got hot.

And then fade to present.

---

I always hoped if Militant ever had any issues with me he'd talk it out with me. At the end of the day - doesn't matter though. That's just two people. That's the way things go, and forever I'll wonder things. And while I may have wondered before, now it's finite. But that's the selfish portion of me for wanting it to be all good.

Militant was a gift to the blogging world and the AAPI community with his raw and unwavering voice and dedication to try and get it done his way. He had some demons and sometimes you fall down - but who doesn't? He helped inspire a lot of people including me and he'll always be in my memories.

I can still learn from him.

His words, his posts, his voice that he lent here - they'll always be remembered. They'll always be respected. There's love for that even if he's looking on down telling me to shut the fuck up and to kiss the top of his Militant head.

And yeah - that's how I'm doing this - 'cause that's just the way it is.

That's the way it's gonna be.

The archives.

Lit Pic: Ocean Vuong + Night Sky With Exit Wounds

Monday, May 09, 2016



I was going to say something about DMX but then thought, yeah to on the nose, but look at me now.

Already done.

From the Ocean to DMX it is then.

Oh Woody Allen: Your Still A Creepy White Guy (But Then Again Would That Ever Change?) + Why Interview This Aging POS Anyway?

Thursday, May 05, 2016

I was going to post a picture of Woody Allen here with some extra verbiage to it - but then I thought - why waste my time on that one because we all know he's a creepy White Guy who decided to pick up on his daughter - and I don't give a rat's furry behind on what some people say - that was his daughter.

Apparently there was a new article in The Hollywood Reporter which Jezebel broke down into different states of creepiness. Here's a little from the full article which you can read here:

It’s really never a good idea for Allen to talk to the press, but the Hollywood Reporter interview is really something, even by those standards. Back in July, Allen could be found boasting about his “paternal” relationship with his wife Soon-Yi Previn, who was his previous wife Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter. This time around, Allen told Stephen Galloway all about how he’s been able to make Previn’s life better, turning her into “a different person.” Heartwarming.

There's Still Time: 12th Annual 72 Hour Film Shootout

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

https://form.jotform.com/60377710806153

Late Registration of $100 must be must be received by the start of the 2016
Shootout June 2016: THE SHOOTOUT!

2016 72 Hour Shootout LAUNCH PARTY with Opening Remarks by ACV's John Woo

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-72-hour-shootout-launch-party-with-opening-remarks-by-acvs-john-woo-tickets-24683775838

Far East Movement + Swanky Tunes + Entertain Us

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Steve Aoki & Felix Jaehn + Can't Go Home feat. Adam Lambert (Official Video)

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

A Hand Of Talons + PFP

Wednesday, May 04, 2016

Some reviews for Pork Filled Productions' A Hand of Talons.

That's it.

Asian American Performers Action Coalition Releases Latest Diversity Data for 2014-15 NYC Theatre Season

Tuesday, May 03, 2016

Got this sent out to me and wanted to make sure and post it up as there is some great information on - well - what is and is not there for us.

THEATER RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (New York, May 2, 2016)

AAPAC RELEASES DIVERSITY REPORT FOR THE 2014-2015 NEW YORK CITY THEATER SEASON; NON-PROFIT THEATRES DRIVE MOST DIVERSE SEASON YET. BROADWAY NUMBERS DIP.


The Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC) released its annual report, "Ethnic Representation on New York City Stages," detailing the ethnic distribution of actors hired last theater season on Broadway and at the top sixteen not-for-profit theater companies in New York City. It is the only publicly available report of its kind.
In the 2014-15 season, the NYC theatre industry hit a record high in the 9 years AAPAC has data collected. For the first time, 30% of all available roles went to actors of color, a jump from 24% the previous year. After three years in a row of exceeding the nine-year average of 23%, it seems safe to say that there is a definite upward trend in the casting of actors of color.

• African American actors were cast in 17% of all roles, Latino actors in 3%, Asian American actors in 9% and all other minorities (including disabled actors) comprised less than 1% when looking at both Broadway and the non-profit theatre companies. Caucasian actors filled 70% of all roles. Caucasians continue to be the only ethnicity to over-represent compared to their respective population size in the New York City/the Tri-State area.

• On Broadway in the 2014-15 season, numbers for minority actors dropped to 22% of all roles from 24% the previous year. Despite Asian numbers increasing from 2% to 11% (largely due to The King and I which was responsible for employing more than half of all Asians hired in the industry) and Latino representation increasing slightly from 1% to 2%, numbers for African American actors suffered a severe drop, from 21% in the 2013-14 season to only 9% this year, one of the worst showings on record and leading to a net loss for the Broadway industry as a whole.

• The non-profit theatres were clearly the driving force behind the upswing in total minority actors, filling 38% of all available roles with actors of color, a 13 point jump from 25% last year and the highest point on record. Only one non-profit theatre company in the study hired no actors of color this season, MCC Theatre Company.

• In the non-profit sector, African American employment saw the largest increase, filling 26% of all roles, a significant leap from 13% the previous year and a record high for African American employment for the years we have data. Of all the non-profit theatre companies, The Public Theater hired the most African American actors with the largest number of contracts going to its production of Hamilton.

• Latino representation within the non-profit sector remained unchanged from the previous year, holding steady at 4%.

• Asian American representation within the non-profit sector increased to 7% this year from 5% the preceding season. Percentages of Asian American representation among the non-profits have been higher than the 9-year average of 4.4% for the past 3 years, indicating an upward trend. This year, every one of the non-profit theatres studied employed Asian American actors except for MCC Theater, Primary Stages, Signature Theatre, and York Theatre Company.

• Only 10.2% of all available roles were non-traditionally cast this season, down from 11.2% the previous year. This year’s levels revert back to the nine-year average of 10% after slight upticks in the preceding two seasons. Non-traditional casting percentages have largely remained stagnant over the 9 years studied and have not moved as significantly as the percentages for total minority employment.

• 5.3% of roles went to African American actors for roles that were not defined by their race.

• 2.3% of roles went to Latino actors for roles that were not defined by their race.

•2.0% of roles went to Asian American actors for roles that were not defined by their race. Asian Americans were the minority group least likely to be able to transcend their race.

MOST DIVERSE: The following theatre companies hired the greatest number of actors of color based on the percentage of available roles at their theatre. The Public Theater topped the list of companies this year.

1. THE PUBLIC THEATER (62%)
2. SECOND STAGE THEATRE (53%)
3. NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP (50%)
4. PRIMARY STAGES (44%--tied)
4. THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE (44%--tied)

5. SIGNATURE THEATRE (43%)

LEAST DIVERSE: The following theatre companies hired the lowest number of actors of color based on the percentages of available roles at their theatre.
 MCC Theater was the only theatre studied that hired no minority actors at allthis season.

1. MCC THEATER (0%)
2. YORK THEATRE COMPANY (12%--tied)
2. CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY (12%--tied)
3. ATLANTIC THEATRE COMPANY (18 %)

4. ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY (20%)
5. MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB (28%)

HIGHEST NON-TRADITIONAL CASTING: The following theatres had the highest percentage of roles that were cast non-traditionally out of all available roles at their theatre.

1. CLASSIC STAGE COMPANY (100% of 6 minority actors)
2. VINEYARD THEATRE (78% of 9minority actors)
3. NEW YORK THEATRE WORKSHOP (75% of 8 minority actors)
4. THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE(61% of 18 minority actors)
5. THE PUBLIC THEATRE (48% of 61 minority actors)

LOWEST NON-TRADITIONAL CASTING: The following theatres had the lowest percentage of non-traditionally cast roles (though one, The Signature Theatre, was one of the theatres that hired the most minority actors but in racially-specific roles).

1. THE NEW GROUP (0% of 5 minority actors--tied)
1. MCC THEATER (0% of 0 minority actors--tied)
1. YORK THEATRE COMPANY (0% of 1 minority actor--tied)
1. SIGNATURE THEATRE (0% of 29 minority actors--tied)
1. PRIMARY STAGES (0% of 7 minority actors—tied)

The full report is available for download on the AAPAC website: www.aapacnyc.org.
_______________________________
ABOUT AAPAC: The Asian American Performers Action Coalition (AAPAC) was formed in 2011 by a group of American actors of Asian descent to expand the perception of Asian American performers in order to increase their access to and visibility on New York City’s stages. In addition to publishing the only publicly available statistics on ethnic diversity in mainstream New York theatre, AAPAC engages in consciousness raising around issues of difference and access to equal casting opportunities by hosting symposia and roundtables as well as through outreach and dialogue to specific theatre companies. AAPAC has led and advised on several international campaigns this past year surrounding Asian impersonation and exclusionary casting practices, most recently against the Roundabout Theatre Company and its Broadway production of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." AAPAC is actively working with its allies within the industry to create change, including being a participant in the Broadway Diversity Summit, a dialogue organized by the Broadway League bringing together the unions and organizations working within the Broadway space. More information: www.aapacnyc.org.

Film School Shorts + AAPI Heritage Month

Tuesday, May 03, 2016



To celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Film School Shorts put together a playlist films from the past few years featuring Asian characters, and many that have also been made by Asian filmmakers, including shorts like the Student Academy Award-winning Above the Sea and Pagpag (The Refuse), directed by John Paul Su, who was named the Director Guild of America’s Best Asian-American Filmmaker for his work on the short.

5X Work: Dances, Covers, Andrew Garcia, 5Mil+, Alice J, And More

Tuesday, May 03, 2016



Make sure and pick up Andrew Garcia's album "Hell & Back" on iTunes.



1 Million out of the dance studio in SK.



Still smooth.



I'll take a piano cover - I'm not like that.



Is that Dave Grohl in the background? Check out her Ariana Grande cover.

Just Socks: It's Our Month. Time To Get Naked.

Monday, May 02, 2016



Seriously.

It's our month.

Sure. We shouldn't have a month if all things are equal.

But they aren't.

So I say get naked and let the excuses roll.

P.S.

I'm writing this with nothing else but my socks on.

From George Takei On Hillary Clinton

Monday, May 02, 2016


What else can you say?

Out But In: Jeremy Lin's Hairstyle To Points Average, GQ, And Where's He Going Next?

Monday, May 02, 2016



While Lin and the Hornets were out in Game 7, and the debate on where he ends up after this summer (when he'll most likely get courted by a nice big stack of green) is only just beginning - if you need some more Linpostsanity-sanity and didn't already see this article in GQ, What Hairstyle Does Jeremy Lin Play Best In?, from a few days ago - check it out - because I feel like the next NBA stat is here...

Perhaps most notable is the success of the comb-over, which Lin favored from early January until mid-March. The Hornets were a middling 17-18 when Lin truly adopted the look, and he dropped 26 points on the Clippers in a losing effort on January 9, one of his best offensive outputs of the season