Asian Stat Lover

While I didn't read the whole article this little snippet did catch my eye:

According to the 2009 survey of the Committee of 100, 73 percent of Americans believe Asian Americans have made significant contributions to the U.S. culture. By contrast, two Senate seats, six House of Representative seats, and only 1.5 percent of Fortune 500 corporate board seats are held by Asian Americans, while 33 out of 3,200 U.S. colleges and universities currently benefit from Asian Americans serving as presidents.

As to Donald Fan's question of "Why does it appear that so many Asian Americans are successful individually, yet that same level of accomplishment does not translate collectively into the fabric of societal leadership represented by corporate America, politics and education?" I think I could answer that with multiple choice:

1. People are afraid of Asian Americans having real power.
2. They're just following the qutoa rules already set by the film industry.
3. It's called xenophobia.
4. Asshat
5. All of the above.

Kal Penn Robbed

I know Kal Penn might not have the highest level of clearance on the Obama staffing ladder but I'm thinking he might need a secret service detail:

Turns out, the bad guy didn't just take Penn's wallet, the perp also made off with Kal's two cell phones -- one of which belongs to the U.S. government.

Penn is currently a member of President Barack Obama's staff -- serving as the Associate Director in the office of Public Engagement -- and since the crook took Kal's government issued cell, the Secret Service is now joining with the D.C. Metro Police Department to hunt for the bad guy.

Could have been worse.

Tom Tancredo: Maker Of Air Quotes (Or Bunny Ears) Tells Obama To Go Back Where He Came From

If you can't get that telling someone who's a person of color to go back where they came from isn't just a tad on the insensitive side (aka racist) having no historical perspective whatsoever I think you have issues and that you need to get some help (see ass kicking).

Addressing Tea Partiers in Greenville, South Carolina, Tancredo pumped up the crowd by saying "If his wife says Kenya is his homeland, why don't we just send him back?"

You May Not Be Racist But...

You still gotta pay for the reprint when your recipe for spelt tagliatelle with sardines and prosciutto calls for “salt and freshly ground black people.”

Yup.

That Penguin's flying coach.

JohnTheCho, G4, Sexy Sulu, Behind The Scenes, And The Untitled Star Trek Sequel (Not Squeakquel)

Main G4 Interview



Behind The Scenes

Random DWTS Nicole Scherzinger Post

Like you didn't watch it...

Top Chef Masters Bio: Susur Lee

From Top Chef Masters

Hailed by Zagat as “a culinary genius,” Susur Lee has emerged from his humble
beginnings as a 15-year-old apprentice in Hong Kong to become a worldwide leader
in Asian fusion cuisine, blending traditional Chinese dishes with classical
French techniques.

In 1987, Lee opened the doors to his 12-table Lotus restaurant in Toronto, earning rave reviews from The New York Times, Art Culinaire, Gourmet, and Food & Wine magazine. Lotus ran successfully for a decade before Lee decamped for a "re-energizing" period to Singapore, where he served as head chef and consultant. Returning home to open Susur in 2000, Lee has since launched restaurants in Manhattan (Shang), Washington D.C. (Zentan), and a second restaurant, Lee, in Toronto. Lee is a sought-after guest chef across the globe, and has been featured on numerous media outlets.

A noted philanthropist, he contributes regularly to the James Beard Foundation,
cancer research at Spinizolla in Boston and the Null Foundation, which provides
scholarships for underprivileged students to attend culinary school.

Fifth Anniversary: DisOrient Asian American Film Festival

Time. For. Film.

With Asian People.

FRIDAY, APRIL 23rd

4:30 FILMMAKING WORKSHOP: Centerpiece film "A VILLAGE
CALLED VERSAILLES" director/producer S. Leo Chiang will lead workshop on social
justice and filmmaking. (University of Oregon Campus, Lillis 111)

07:00PM OPENING NIGHT FILM: "MR. SADMAN" Director Patrick Epino
scheduled to attend. (Bijou)

09:30PM OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION:
Singer/Songwriter DAWEN performs LIVE; CABA Lion Dance Troupe; and other
performers. Hosted by Gia Vang of KEZI news. (UO Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art)

SATURDAY, APRIL 24th (@ Bijou Art Cinemas)

12:00PM SHORTS
PROGRAM I: "Life As We Know It" featuring the documentary LT. WATADA by Director
Freida Lee Mock. Ehren's father Bob Watada scheduled to attend.

Born
Sweet
Housekeeping
Guam is Crying
The Golden Spike
I Want to be
a Desi 2
Lt. Watada

02:45PM "WHY AM I DOING THIS?" Director and
Actor Tom Huang scheduled to attend.

06:00PM CENTERPIECE FILM: "A
VILLAGE CALLED VERSAILLES" feature documentary. Director/Producer S. Leo Chiang
scheduled to attend.

08:45PM "SECOND MOON" feature film. Director
Masahiro Sugano.

SUNDAY, APRIL 25th (@ Bijou Art Cinemas)

12:00PM SHORTS PROGRAM II: "Love Me Or Let Me Go"

The Legend
of Shizuko Nishimura
Midas' Son
Safe Passage
Piquo
What You Eat
Ajumma! Are you Krazy??? - Director Brent Anbe scheduled to attend.
You Can't Curry Love

02:30PM SHORTS PROGRAM III: "Adventure
Anywhere"

Empire Corner
Works of Art
Said Black
Security
Guard Karaoke King
Paradise Regained
Love? Pain
Mahjong
Wu is
Dead

05:00PM "OPERATION BABY LIFT" feature documentary. Director
Tammy Nguyen Lee.

07:00PM CLOSING NIGHT FILM: "FRUIT FLY" (feature
musical). Director/Writer/Actor H.P. Mendoza & Actor L.A. Renigen scheduled
to attend.

09:00PM CLOSING NIGHT RECEPTION (Oregon Electric Station
Restaurant)

Getting Your Read On: The Asian American Literary Review, Issue 1

Got word from The Asian American Literary Review that their first issue is now available with a cool lineup including (just to name a few) Cathy Song, Karen Tei Yamashita, Alexander Chee, David Mura, and Brian Ascalon Roley.

We are happy to announce the launch of The Asian American Literary Review, Issue 1, which features forum responses by David Mura, Ru Freeman, and Alexander Chee; poetry by Cathy Song, Oliver de la Paz, Paisley Rekdal, April Naoko Heck, Mong-Lan, Nick Carbo, Eugene Gloria, and David Woo; Karen Tei Yamashita interviewed by Kandice Chuh; prose by Ed Lin, Marie Mutsuki Mockett, Sonya Chung, Hasanthika Sirisena, David Mura, Gary Pak, and Brian Ascalon Roley; and book reviews by Paul Lai, Timothy Yu, and Jennifer Ann Ho.

To purchase a subscription, visit http://www.aalrmag.org/. Please direct any questions to editors@aalrmag.org.

And remember:

Read more so you don't turn out book illiterate like me.

Thanks Minh

Hmonglish Musical

A young boy, Peev Xwm, is torn between understanding the choices made by his parents and where his place is in Hmong American life. Through a series of dramatic events incorporating spoken word, breakdance, traditional dance and modern renditions of popular classics, Peev Xwm will lead the audience through the internal turmoil of young Hmong Americans today. Hmonglish Musical creatively captures the essence of being Hmong in America and will lead the audience through a universal journey of struggle, hope and a better understanding of how your collective experiences define your sense of identity.

More.

In Pictures: Half Asian? Half White?

I just liked this pic from a this post down at Kimchi Mamas.

LUMINA Gets A Webby

Got this sent in my way (thanks Jen) and wanted to post it on up because film and its ilk don't end after production.

Hong Kong, SAR, China (Monday, April 19, 2010). LUMINA the Web Series has been selected as an Official Honoree for the Best Editing category in The 14th Annual Webby Awards. As a result of the exceptional quality of submissions this year, the Academy has chosen to recognize work exhibiting remarkable achievement that was not selected as a Nominee. Out of the nearly 10,000 entries from over 60 countries submitted to the 14th Annual Webby Awards, less than 15% are awarded the status of Official Honoree.

Only four, including LUMINA and the Sony web series Angel of Death, were selected as Official Honorees for Best Editing. The Webby Awards Official Honoree distinction marks the groundbreaking Hong Kong web series’ eleventh award distinction since its online release last fall. Previous honors include one Streamy Awards nomination for Best Cinematography, six Indie Soap Awards nominations, including for Best Writing and Best Directing, and three American Soap World Awards nominations. “I am so proud of my team, especially of our editor Bettina Enigl for her hard work and dedication to her craft,” says LUMINA writer and director Jennifer Thym. “This is a great honor and I hope our success encourages other filmmakers to explore the web series medium.”

Here's to Season 2.

A Little Chitty, A Little Bang, Some H-Logic, And Some Swing

Kind of 50/50 on the CCBB vid but definitely liking the clown.

The Banned KBS Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Video



Swing

Thu Tran, Unruly Puppets, The All New Season Of Food Party, And Ninja Dog

All I have to say is that I want my own personal Ninja Dog -- now.

FOOD PARTY, the fantastical, food-centric IFC Original Comedy series created and hosted by Brooklyn fringe artist Thu Tran and her motley mix of unruly puppets, returns to IFC April 27, 2010 at 10:00 pm ET/PT. The comedy’s hallucinatory hijinks will be served in 20 all-new 15-minute episodes, two episodes airing back-to-back during IFC’s Tuesday night AUTOMAT programming block, followed by new episodes of DINNER WITH THE BAND.

The show the Los Angeles Times’ Robert Lloyd recently named one of the top 10 things on TV and “easily the most exciting thing I saw this year,” is best described as a psychedelic melding of Pee Wee’s Playhouse and Rachael Ray with a dash of J-Horror vibe. FOOD PARTY is shot on location in Brooklyn, NY in a handmade, technicolor cardboard kitchen, with each episode a new gastronomical misadventure.

In a surreal, live-action cartoon-like universe, Thu creates out-of-this-world delicacies with a cavalcade of puppets, humans, baked goods and vegetables. This season, Thu mixes it up with returning friends, The Devil, Perv Corn and Ice Cream Cone, and new friends, Randy Ranch, Egg Wizard and King of the Universe, among others.

And what’s special on the menu this season? Peanut Butter Jerry gets himself into another jam as Grape Jenny wants him all to her obsessive and sticky self; we are introduced to Ninja Dog, a kick-ass kitchen helper whose rapid-fire Ginsu skills would put the Iron Chef to shame; and when the amorous Monsieur Baguette breaks bread with Hamburger Bun, the soap opera affair leads to a fresh baked surprise.

FOOD PARTY’s humble origins began in Cleveland, where Thu and a group of fellow grads from the Cleveland Institute of Art rented an inexpensive studio and began working on a public-access-inspired cooking show with puppets. After posting two episodes online, Thu relocated to Brooklyn and expanded her artistic vision for the show. The series soon attracted an online audience and features in New York Magazine’s Grub Street section and the popular blog Gothamist led to more wide-spread attention. FOOD PARTY also won the “Outside of the Box” prize at the 2008 NY Television Festival, a new award given to the most innovative and genre-expanding pilot in competition.

2010 Census: Not Over Until It's Over

I got sent in some info my way on the Fill In Our Future campaign effort which is ongoing and is still in need of attention:

Starting in May, Census workers will be giving a friendly visit to households who have not turned in their initial Census 2010 form. If you would not like to meet a Census representative, please mail in your 2010 Census form by April 19th. It’s easy, private, and vital for you and your community.

If you’ve turned in your 2010 Census form already, you can satisfy your competitive streak by checking in the TAKE 10 MAP to see how your hometown is doing. Is your region one of the top 50 that hasn’t turned their 2010 Census forms in? If so, turn yours in to increase your region’s participation rate!

So remember - there's still some work to do - especially if you haven't already turned in your Census form.

Thanks Courtney

Trailer: Jon M. Chu's Step Up 3D

Tila Tequila: Because You May Want To Know?

www.TilaTequilaOMG.com: Will she take down Perez? Will her time be sucked up by blogging so much that she won't have enough time to make songs like I Fucked The DJ (because that just wasn't that good)?

And do I really care?

Yes.

Maybe.

I'll tell you later?

Thao Nguyen Went To Washington And All You Got Was A Blog Post

Here's a little bit from a post by Thao Nguyen, of Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, down at the Oxfam America Blog:

I have no stripes to be a climate leader, but I do have the privilege of serving as an Oxfam America Sisters on the Planet ambassador. I share the honor with hundreds of wildly impressive and inspiring women from all over the US—former senators, interfaith workers, journalists, the Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin, etc.—all social and environmental justice advocates of admirable proportions.

Last month, we gathered for a summit in Washington, DC, to talk and learn and vent and stir frustration and advocacy on behalf of women who are very busy with other things related to climate change. Examples of these other things: extreme drought, severe flooding, erratic rainfall, land erosion, hunger, disease, thirst, living.

You Might Not Be That Bright And I Wouldn't Want You In My Racist Club

I don't want to tell people how to go about practicing their beliefs, but when you write things like "I'm killen all Mexicans! On Friday" I'm just thinking you're not going to be the next great racist that you're aspiring to be, and if I was heading out a racist organization I wouldn't want anyone like that joining my club because who wants members that promise way more than they could ever deliver?

I mean you can't kill all those people in one day.

It's just not feasible.

If he would have said something like "I'm gonna kick an Asian in the shin! On Tuesday" - still racist, but semi-believable.

At the same time he actually tells people when he's going to try and do the not even close to being plausible act.

Even if it is hopeless, still not that bright.

But honestly - I'm just a little curious too.

Why not a Monday?

What about Hanukkah?

I mean what's so special about Friday?

Just asking.

Starpulse.com Love Bai Ling Long Time

I was actually going to do a semi-legit post on Bai Ling after the headline "Bai Ling's Glittering Almost-Blouse: Hot Or Not?" - but as I went to view the pic itself - I noticed the actual name of the image which I've magnified.

Yeah.

I agree.

That's some covert Glenn Beck shit.