Rin on the Rox On Ellen, More Superbowl, And David Choi

You heard me talking about Rin on the Rox in a previous post and how they got their shout out from on the Ellen Degeneres show and while I forgot to post up when they were going to be on you can check them out being interviewed, getting some tickets to the Grammys and of course - singing in the bathroom either down at the Ellen link here, or down at chanelAPA (which also has a full list of Superbowl commercials with Asian faces).

At the same time, while I was checking out channelAPA I also caught this video of David Choi talking about his audition for America's Got Talent:

Random Photo: Wing Luke In The Kitchen, circa 1963

Caught this photo down at Flickr and just wanted to repost it on up along with the text underneath it.



Elected in 1962, Wing Luke was Seattle's first Asian-American city councilmember. He served until 1965, when he died in a plane crash in the Cascade Mountains. Item 103106, Fleets and Facilities Department Imagebank Collection (Record Series 0207-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

And If You Can't Get By On $500,000

Just wanted to make a quick post and say that you have to give it up to Obama for taking the initiative and holding companies that are getting bailout money accountable (because that really should have happened in the first round) - but I just have to say that if you can't make it on half a mil a year - you need to cut down on the M&M's.

American Idol 8: Anoop Desai

Anoop Desai seems to be getting a lot of press as of late and it's possible that he could make it to the top 12 (from the leaked rumors they say that he'll at least be in the top 36).

I caught him last night and he's definitely got a great voice (if you do a search on him you'll be able to catch him with his group UNC Clef Hangers).



Here's also a link to the unofficial fansite for Anoop (aka Noop Dogg) as well as a USA Today article that talks about 12 singers that stand out with Anoop being one of them.

Film: Asian American Studies Now! And Getting A University To Listen

I caught this up on YouTube and while it's still a little raw, you definitely need to check out the teaser for this upcoming documentary on how the University of Maryland got their Asian American Studies Program.

Get Your Stage On: Letters To A Student Revolutionary

I got some info passed via e-mail from addword productions about the play "Letters To A Student Revolutionary" that's being staged to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. The performance will be for one weekend only on Feb 28 - Mar 1 at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (across from the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo) and portions of the proceeds will benefit Amnesty International.

Here's all the info you should need to get on out and support it:

The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy and
addword productions in association with Metamorphosis Theatre Company present

LETTERS TO A STUDENT REVOLUTIONARY
A Play by Elizabeth Wong
Directed by Peter J. Kuo

A Special ONE WEEKEND ONLY Benefit Performance to Commemorate the 20th Anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Massacre

Poignantly moving and at times disarmingly funny, LETTERS TO A STUDENT REVOLUTIONARY traces the decade-long correspondence and search for true democracy between two pen-pals--one Chinese, the other Chinese American--which ends abruptly with the 1989 Tiananmen Square Massacre. First staged in 1991, this is the first play in the United Stated to respond to the tragic historical event.

Community sponsor: Visual Artists Guild. Portions of proceed to benefit the Amnesty International.

WINNER! Best of Fest -- 2008 Fullerton College Director’s Festival

Featuring:

Carin Chea Julia Cho Edward Gunawan Ruffy Landayan
Joon Lee Nghia Luu Sheila Tejada Tina Tong

Day, Date + Time:

Saturday, February 28th @ 8:00 PM
Sunday, March 1st @ 3:00PM* & 7:30 PM

*A panel discussion with human rights advocates & scholars will follow Sunday matinee 3:00 PM performance

Venue:

At the Democracy Forum of
The National Center for the Preservation of Democracy
111 N. Central Avenue (Little Tokyo of Downtown L.A.)

Tickets:

$20 for General Admission
$15 for Students, Seniors, Group (10+), Affiliated APA and Theatre Groups* + Japanese American National Museum Members

Ticket Reservation:

Online: http://www.addwordproductions.com/
Email: addwordproductions @ gmail.com
Phone: (310) 594-3068

Cool.

Best Or At Least Decent Movies Of 2008

So I've finally finished up my "best" list for films from '08 (if only just for me) and like last year, I wasn't able to get on down and see every movie, so like everything else, this too is open for interpretation (as well as not in any order) and if you've learned anything at all - sometimes my tastes are just really questionable.

Out of the 150-200 films I saw, not all were from 2008, but I've tried to stay with those that were released in 2008, had a wide release in 2008, or were released from other countries on DVD in 2008.

Asian American

Anna May Wong: Frosted Yellow Willows



I just liked this documentary on Anna May Wong, and even though I've heard some criticisms about it - that it didn't really show her as a person - I thought it was a good film that at least tried to show us her life in terms in of what she did on screen. At the same time I think it's important to have movies out there that talk about Asian Americans who helped lay the foundation for where we are today even if we don't always think they did.

Princess Of Nebraska



This was probably one of my favorite films I saw this past year and I can't really tell you why. Maybe I like films where the main character gets lost - at least to everyone else - or scenes like in the beginning at the dinner party, or the way it was filmed, or just the acting. Again, I can't really tell you why.



I just liked it.

Ping Pong Playa



So you already know my thoughts on this flick, but it really was a funny movie that if you haven't seen yet, definitely try and get on out to catch.

Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay



Even though I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, I still have to put it on my list because of the simple fact that it was a mainstream film with Asian Americans playing the leads - and at least for now - that's enough (and it was still funny, just not as funny as I thought it would be).

Planet B-boy



It doesn't have a ton of Asian American faces in it, but it was directed by Asian American Benson Lee and has a lot of Asian faces in it, so in that way, I've popped it up here in this part of the list - and it was a hell of a good ride even if you may not be into the B-boy culture, and it really did have me on the edge of my seat all the way until the end (I especially liked seeing where all the groups ended up after the championships).

Gran Torino



I'm probably going to post on this later on - because it really was a mixed bag for me - but it doesn't change the fact that both Ahney Her and Bee Vang have a lot of potential and I thought for the most part held their own along seasoned professional Clint Eastwood.

21



Forget the controversy over the casting for a second - if you did actually see the movie - you had to love Aaron Yoo because even though it wasn't the starring lead, he owned his character, and with a movie as large as 21 there's a lot to be said for that.

Say Goodbye



A short - for the 72 Hour Film Shootout - this was probably better than some of the films I saw this year that were ten times as long with a thousand times the budget, and one which I just absolutely loved. Like I've said before, it just had all of these perfect moments in it that just made you wish it was longer.

And those ones I didn't get to see...

And here's my quick list of Asian American films I just didn't get a chance to see this year but hopefully will soon enough because I know they're good: New York Lately, Roses Have Thorns, Kissing Cousins, Dirty Hands: The Life and Crimes of David Choe, and The Fall.

Asian And Other International

Before I get into the list I do have to say that I didn't really see a lot of films on the international front that weren't made outside of Asia this year. While I do try, for some odd reason I just didn't get there with exception to Slumdog Millionaire (which depending on how you look at it either came out in '08 or '09).

The Chaser



I have to admit that after I watched this I decided to put on the 2005 SK film All For Love, because I just needed to wash that serial killer taste out of my mind. I mean it has some great performances in it and I can see why it ran the theaters this year in South Korea and why it's also getting picked up for a remake - but seriously - that was kind of an effed up movie.



But one that I also really liked.


Machine Girl



I do love my revenge films as well as my blood-soaked-over-the-top films - and this one definitely fits the bill. Girl's family gets killed. She loses an arm. It gets replaced with a machine gun and she goes off for revenge with a trusty sidekick. I don't really need much more to keep me interested.

Open City



Two reasons I liked this: One was that I was surprised that it actually made pickpockets seem dangerous, and the other was that it was a new role for Son Ye-jin, who surprised me playing a ruthless gangster because she's never really played that type of role before (and the box office seemed to like it too because it was one of the top films in SK).

Chocolate



You already know I loved this movie, so there's not really much new to say here except that I think I just might watch this again after I'm done posting up here.

Once Upon A Time (aka Once Upon A Time In Corea)



Set in the 1940's this was a good action/comedy/heist film that also didn't shy away from the realities of the Japanese occupation during that period, which gave it an interesting feel and was probably one of the reasons I put it on this list. While in a lot of ways it was fun and it was entertaining, it also (and for the most part effortlessly) wasn't afraid to cross over into more dramatic territory.

Forever The Moment



You've already heard me talk a little bit about this movie, but what was so good about it wasn't just the acting, but the fact that in so many ways while it was a feel good movie, you still never forgot about the reality of the handball players' situations and what happens after the game is done.

Beautiful



I didn't know if I really wanted to put this film on the list for the simple fact that just because a film takes you to the bottom (and this film does) it doesn't always mean that it's good. At the same time, it's still a movie - it's not real life - so the simple fact that it can be that visceral also says something about the filmmaking and the acting, and in the end that's why it's here.

Bravo, My Life



So this came out later in '07 and then got released on DVD in 2008 and it's just a fun film about a bunch of middle aged guys who've worked for the same company for 20-30 years, but who've also had dreams of being rock musicians. It's definite fluff - but it's good fluff and really rates on the "It's decent for a low key nothing too heavy" night.

Red Cliff



What else can I really say about it that I haven't already? Oh yeah - Part 2.


Seven Days



Hands down one of the best crime thrillers I saw in '08 (released in SK late '07 and then on DVD in '08) and like I've said before, if the U.S. remake doesn't have Yunjin Kim in it - because there's absolutely no reason not too (or she at least doesn't get offered the role) - then it's all out war (and yes, I get the idea of a remake, but in this instance, it makes sense).

You.Will.Like.This.Film.

The Warlords



Even though I had to give Red Cliff the top spot for the Best Asian Epic of the year, The Warlords came in a close second and in the end I might watch this more than Red Cliff on a regular basis.

M



Released in late '07 and then out on DVD in '08 (and also hitting some film festivals) the movie was a lot like one big dream sequence. At times, and one scene in particular that stands out now, it did cross over into the realm of "Was that scene really necessary?" territory - but for a film that I thought was one of the most original of the year, maybe I should expect that.

Love Now (aka Changing Partners)



This just sucked me in with the good story, great cast, and some scenes that just made go "That was really interesting". Sure, I've kind of heard this love story before - but this had some good twists to it while still making me smile.

Lost In Beijing



While Yu's film premiered in early 2007 it didn't get its U.S. release until '08, and in the end was banned by Chinese authorities - which is one reason to watch it - but more than that, much more, was the way it made you feel about the people you were watching - like you were there with them along for the ride - even though sometimes you wish you weren't.

Slumdog Millionaire



This is just one of those movies you have to like because it did everything a great film should - surprises you, keeps you interested, makes you comment that you couldn't believe how great those kids were, or that even though you didn't always like Salim, you understood him - it's that type of film that just keeps you talking about it long after you saw it. What else is there to say?

And Other Films From The U.S.

This year I probably saw more U.S. films (that weren't in the Asian American list) than I have in the past, and while all of them weren't winners - there were some that just weren't that bad.

The Dark Knight



Chalk it up to Heath Ledger's role because without him - it just wouldn't have been that good. And while I can't tell you if it was a mix of both real-life as well as what he brought on screen, I can definitely say it was unforgettable and one of the best roles I saw all year.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall



This was so good I even bought the DVD. Just laugh out loud funny and with some great characters if you haven't seen this yet get on out and check it out, because it's both heart-warming and at the same time you kind of see each person's flaws and why the relationship ended - it shows the gray area - and for a romantic comedy, I thought that was great.

The Bucket List



All I can tell you is that I like Morgan Freeman and I thought it was a fun movie and when I'm that age I just might go out like that.

Incredible Hulk



Maybe it's because I've always like Edward Norton as an actor, or the fact that some of it took place in another country, or just that it was better than I thought (because I wasn't really sure how it was going to go and I liked Ang Lee's version and wasn't sure why they needed to make another) - but overall - that was a good flick.

Definitely, Maybe



I couldn't help it. I just thought it was cute...and that's really all I'd like to say about it.

And other movies that I saw that didn't quite make the list

Here's a quick list of flicks I saw in '08 that I liked (or didn't mind) but just didn't make the cut (some because they were too old and others just because):

Bella, Hellcats, Shaadi Se Pehle, The Golden Compass, Iron Man, The Go-Getter, I Am Legend, Untraceable, Jumper, Hancock, The Forbidden Kingdon, Undoing, Do That Asian Thing, Protégé, Once, Black House, Femme Fatal, Miss Gold Digger, Mission Possible: Kidnapping Granny K, My Father, The Rebel, Lars And The Real Girl, American Fusion, Summer Palace, Seducing Mr. Perfect, 13 Beloved, Baby Mama, Asian Stories, Colma: The Musical, The Eye (Remake), Time.

And Miley Cyrus Goes Chink Eye

Been hearing a lot about this, reading about this, and getting some info passed my way from a few friends on Miley Cyrus doing the ching chong (click the picture above for a larger image) and obviously I have a few thoughts.

1. If you don't get why this if offensive then you've never had someone make this gesture to you while saying racist things, showing their xenophobia, or just being an ass (which actually goes along with the first two). You can't separate the gesture and the action from everything else that comes with it - even if you want too.

2. If you're not Asian American and you've never even heard of that happening to anyone who's Asian American - just see #1 - and then after that, educate yourself a little more on matters of race and racism because it's not solely our job to do that for you.

3. If you are Asian American and never had that happen to you that's great, because it means we're moving in a better direction, but if you think it's just harmless and you're having some fun, let me just point you to comment #43 down at TMZ which reads:

43. Oh, lighten up people!!!
Geez--I'm SICK of this PC World we live in now.
It's no big freak'n deal. Kids are being kids.
..and there's a chink in the photo anyway.
Posted at 8:30PM on Feb 2nd 2009 by moxy

So if you didn't get it, is it making some more sense now?

4. I just wonder when Disney is going to drop the Miley Train and focus more on Brenda Song, because isn't she just that much better?

Free Shanghai Restoration Project Download

For anyone interested in getting a free song from the new Shanghai Restoration Project CD Zodiac, they have a free digital download down at Amazon for the single "vOX (feat. The Virginia Sil'hooettes)". Get it here.

The Great Slanty Read-A-Thon

Just in case you weren't aware I'm kind of illiterate when it comes to actual books, but with a new year and a new President that hopes for change, I decided to make a little change as well and set a hopefully somewhat attainable goal of finishing at least one book in the year of 2009.

Now I what you're going to say and I completely agree with you - I might be setting the bar a little high and pushing the boundaries of what's humanly possible.

But I'm Asian and that's what we do.

We overachieve.

Now like every good Asian American who sets a goal, I'm not going into this blind - I have a plan.

I figure with 256 pages to my book, that comes out to around 21 pages per month which is about 5 pages per week. I know I probably won't read every day, so that means some weeks I'll have to make up some time in one sitting. Since I'm usually a slow reader with most books (like actually mouthing out the words slow) and I'm also a little A.D.D., I'm thinking that I'm going to need something to keep me in my chair long enough to sit there and read -- which would be good alcoholic beverages. But that also poses a problem.

Since I'll probably be a little too buzzed as I'm reading (because I just don't know when to say stop) - I just may not remember everything I read which then means I'm going to have to re-read what I just read - which is really doubling the time - so that really means I can't get behind because I'm never going to finish this book (just like my 2008 in review which btw I'm taking another week to do because the week and the weekend just got away from me).

If that doesn't sound like a plan anymore - you're right. But I figure I have to start somewhere.

You might be asking the question of how I decided to choose the book I did (which would be the one pictured above) for my Slanty Read-A-Thon.

I actually picked up this book over a year or ago for the following simple reasons:

1. It had a shiny black cover.
2. The cover had pictures of food.
3. It was an Asian American author.
4. A few of the chapter names are "Pringles", "Toll House Cookies", and "Green Sticky Rice Cakes".

I know, not a lot going on in my decision process as far as anyone with a MFA is concerned, but since I'm book illiterate, you really shouldn't be that surprised.

So there you have it. Even though I haven't actually opened the book since I first got it except to see how many pages were in it, I still have to go shopping for good reading alcohol, and I've been delaying this post for about two weeks - it's now in stone - I've committed to finishing "the book" (and I just might be posting on my "progress" in the future).

And if you're book illiterate like myself - or even if you're not (you people who read a book a week) - feel free to join in on the Slanty Read-A-Thon. Pick an Asian or Asian American author that you've maybe been wanting to read for a year (or maybe two) and see if it feels good to crack it open and give it a try - because it's not like there's a timetable :)

Superbowl Ad With An Asian Face That I Liked The Most

This year - no real surprise - Asian faces in Superbowl ads were few and far between. Out of about 52 ads there were around seven which had Asian faces in them (and most of course were in the background).

One though that made me laugh where an Asian face actually spoke and provided some comic relief was in NBC's "LMAO Syndrome" commercial (and yes, I realize what you're going to say - that it's pretty sad this is my definition of a commercial "winner").



Btw - if you're curious you can see all the commercials at the following links: NBC Hulu Spike Superbowl-Ads Spotbowl NFL Fanhouse MySpace Youtube.

And yes - I'm going to Denny's to get a free Grand Slam breakfast on Tuesday.

Random Bruce Lee Superbowl Ad

Here's the Pepsi commercial where Bruce comes back to kick it with some Dylan tunes:

End Black History Month?

I don't know about you, but I still think I'll take Black History Month:

I propose that, for the first time in American history, this country has reached a point where we are can stop celebrating separately, stop learning separately, stop being American separately. We have reached a point where most Americans want to gain a larger understanding of the people they have not known, customs they have not known, traditions they have not known. I propose that this month. 142 years after Congress passed the Reconstruction Acts of 1867 that allowed for the Southern states to be re-admitted to the Union, we adopt our own personal reconstruction goals to admit into our lives people who are different, people whose origins differ from ours, people who can teach us so much if we listen. I propose that this month we become not the America of Rush Limbaugh or the America of Al Franken, but to become an America where all opinions matter and hope trumps hate.

Maybe some more on this later, for now though, just the post.

I'm Not Betty Nguyen And I Wouldn't Have Sex With You

I've been meaning to post this for the last month or so, but I got an e-mail from someone asking if my email address was Betty Nguyen's email address, along with a big ass whopping picture of himself attached to it.

Now I'm not saying anything, but I figure if you attach a big ass photo of yourself to an e-mail it means your looking for a job or your looking for sex and I had to wonder if this guy was trying to hit up CNN's Betty Nguyen (for either) or just some random Betty Nguyen who isn't on CNN (who I'm sure is just as cool) -- and I had a few thoughts.

1. Apparently this guy is a VP of something or another - he's got a job - so I figure he was looking for sex.

2. If I was Betty Nguyen (either of them) no way in hell would I have sex with him. You need to go through the proper channels. I mean this was kind of like a cold call booty call and somehow that's just not right, and even though I'm not the Betty Nguyens, I still kinda feel violated. I mean at least attach a free coupon for some pizza or something before you send me your "I'm not naked, but I still want to have sex with you" picture.

3. I thought that someone might just be having some fun with me because who in their right mind actually mistakes me - Slanty (who's a dude) - with the Betty Nguyens?

At the same time I figure some people are just really horny.

Either way - still had fun.

Inside the Transition: AAPI

This got put up on the ChangeDotGov channel and I wanted to post it on up as it shows the Presidential Transition Team's Office of Public Liaison meeting with advocates for AAPI issues.

And You're A Winner Too

Here's the e-mail from Travis who'll be kicking down to Kollaboration 9 with some free tickets representing the Asian Pacific Coalition from UCLA:

As a Chinese American, it's so obvious to me the glass ceiling that is evident in the entertainment industry. To see such a huge cast of rising Asian American artists is proof that our society is moving in a direction that can precipitate great change. I am particularly excited to see the youtube singing duo, Kina Grannis and David Choi, who are likely going to be charming us with their acoustics and vocals for a long time to come. I'm impressed with their ability to gain such popularity through the internet medium, simply on talent and word-of-mouth alone! With my little dance experience, I'm also extremely excited to see Kaba Modern in person. Coming from Atlanta, it is so refreshing to see this strong API presence, and the energy is just amazing here. I would love to be able to go to this event! MY BIRTHDAY IS THE NEXT DAY 2/22!

Hope you have one hell of a time.

This concludes the Slanty giveaway for Kollaboration 9 tickets. Thanks to the good folks down at Kollaboration for setting aside some tix to give away - definitely cool.

A Song For Ourselves: War Of The Flea

I caught this down at the Depth Of Sense blog about A Song For Ourselves:

To help publicize the event, Tad enlisted the help of DJ Phatrick to put together a mixtape of both remixes and original versions of Chris’ music. I contributed a track, a remix of a really beautiful song, “War of the Flea,” by Chris Iijima, Nobuko Miyamoto, and Charlie Chin (as the group A Grain of Sand). It features some poignant and heartfelt verses by legendary local emcee/activist Bambu (of Native Guns). I’m really happy with how it turned out, and it’s available for free download, hope you enjoy!

Below is the track.



Here's also the trailer for the premiere event.

Changing Identity: Recent Works by Women Artists from Vietnam

Definitely sounds pretty cool:

Vietnamese women's voices – often marginalized – are front and center in the exhibition Changing Identity: Recent Works by Women Artists from Vietnam, which opens February 1, 2009 and runs through May 24, 2009 at the Weisman Art Museum.

Changing Identity is the first-ever major U.S. exhibition of Vietnamese women artists. The ten artists in the show work in a range of media from dynamic watercolors on rice paper and ink paintings reminiscent of calligraphy to riveting installations and breath-taking photography. The exhibited works offer rarely-seen perspectives on gender roles, stereotypes, cultural identity, and what it means to be a woman artist in Vietnam.

Vietnamese artists have prospered since the country opened itself to the West twenty years ago. Contemporary Vietnamese art has seen newfound attention on the international art scene – but this attention has been bestowed almost exclusively on men artists. Through their work, the women artists in Changing Identity question and challenge that status quo.

Check out more down here.

And On That Dat Phan Video I Posted Yesterday

So I finally ended up watching that Dat Phan video I posted yesterday - which according to some comments was either really funny or just not that good - and my friends over at Disgrasian apparently really didn't think it was that good either - but I figure since I posted it I should at least watch it (and this should serve as lesson to me for posting stuff I don't watch...at least it should).

And now that I saw it?

I know it's somehow wrong - but I couldn't hep but laugh at it.

Sure it plays on every stereotype, but I figure that sometimes it's O.K. to laugh at ourselves, and I figure white people get to do it all the time so why not us occasionally (although I'm kind of iffy on the blond haired character)?

It's definitely a fine line, and sometimes I'm probably on the wrong side of it, but I also like Mariah Carey and Christina Aguilera, so my tastes are probably up for grabs sometimes.

Either way - I'm just thankful I didn't get Disgrasian of the Weak.

xo back at ya

Race, The Workplace, And Thinking Out Loud

So I had interesting day a couple of days ago and thought I would post up on it, because I figure just like everyone else I don't always have the answers and just like everyone else I'm human especially when it comes to matters of race and racism and how I might deal with it - or the perception - in different areas of my life.

Online and offline I'm pretty much the same - somedays I think I have it, other days I don't. Sometimes I'm up for the fight and other times I let it go because it's just not worth it. I like to think that for the most part I balance out - that I find a middle ground where I'm comfortable in my decisions - it's not always easy and sometimes I have to go through a round of questions - but I at least like to think I get there.

On to my story.

Like most people I have a day job, and a couple days ago I happened to be in ear shot of someone saying something that I thought could be construed as - well - less than appropriate in regard to race - but I couldn't quite be sure. While there's a large part of me that says I heard what I heard - I wasn't - and still can't be 100% sure of what I heard.

I could have made a mistake.

But I still had two options.

One was to track the person down and say "A few minutes ago I could have sworn I heard you say..." and get into it - in fact - there was a large part of me that wanted too.

The other option was to simply let it go - because I wasn't 100% sure.

But what if what I heard was actually what was said?

How do you confront something that you have a feeling about? A gut feeling that 95% of the time is on, but has also been 5% off (where you've had to learn from it) - and do it in the workplace (because it's a different environment)?

Since I couldn't be 100% sure, but had that feeling that something just wasn't right, I decided to tackle it in a somewhat indirect way because I'm not going to get on down and be like "You racist MF" when I'm not 100% sure - because that's just not fair.

So here's what I did.

I don't see this person everyday, or even every week for that matter (they're in another department), but someone who I saw with them at the time is actually fairly close to me (at least within ear shot) and seems to kind of know them.

So the next day I pretended to have a conversation on my cell when that person close to me was at their desk, and the conversation I had with myself went something like this:

"Hey man what's up - yeah - just checking in, I need a break - so how's the day?..............Are you serious?.......seriously? That's insane........you know - this is your call, but I would just take that to HR because that's definitely crossing the line........I mean I can't believe someone would say something so incredibly racist - what was the conversation before that.....what?......oh yeah....totally....yeah - definitely cool down, have a smoke, chill, and just make sure you're cool first you know.......definitely......yeah let me know.....totally......yeah, call me later, I'll be around."

While I think I pulled this off pretty good, maybe it wasn't quite as good as it sounds now, but I figure this accomplished two simple things.

1. Anyone within ear shot now knows that I don't mind saying the phrases "incredibly racist" and "take it to HR". Even though I work in a fairly diverse workplace, it just gives anyone who might have listened to the conversation a little heads up to just think a little before they might say anything that's less than appropriate for the workplace.

2. If indeed I heard what I heard, I'm hoping my "conversation" gets back to the person who said what I think they did (even though I'll never be quite sure) because in the end, most people who say racist things are kind of scared of losing their jobs (for the most part), and just like the people in ear shot that were around me, puts the person on a notice.

And if I was wrong?

No harm was really done, and while you might not do the same thing, I just felt like I needed to do something to satisfy that gut feeling I had, because with it, I just couldn't sit and do nothing, I had to do something even if it was just talking to myself.