All I know is that when I reach this age I want to have that same awesome swagger.
A man who left his native Laos to attend MTSU in 1972 and became an American citizen in 1984, Sourinho has helped many others who left his former country as refugees become adjusted to life here. He now hopes to help them and many others as the commissioner serving the 21st District.
"I plan to work for all the people and listen to all the people with all the issues," Sourinho said during an interview on a bench outside the Historic County Courthouse, the same place where he'll be attending meetings to represent his constituents.
Sourinho is probably the county's first Laotian or Asian American to be elected to a county government office, said Nell Blankenship, secretary of the Rutherford County Historical Society. "I don't know of anybody else," said Blankenship, who's also a researcher for the society. "To my knowledge, he's the first one who has sought it and won it."
While I really don't know much about the German Communist Party and why some kids are attending a school that starts out with the name "Adolf" - apparently - as a gift to the six year-old children, the GCP gave out porno pens that illuminate erotic images.
Angry parents who discovered that the pens given to their six-year-old children could project erotic images of women informed the headmaster. In a press release the German Communist Party stated that it had purchased the pens from a discount store, which had said the pens lit up at the push of a button.
So again, while I really don't know much about the German Communist Party I at least know that they're not only cheap MF's, but they also don't have any quality control.
Yup folks. That picture of Chan Yung-Jan says it all.
Asia's failure to get a single player into the fourth round of either the men's or women's draw at Flushing Meadows is a disappointing outlay bearing in mind the promise shown of late by a growing hotbed of tennis talent.
Yeah...a growing promise of tennis failure.
But There's A Silver Lining Whose Name Is Chanelle Van Nguyen
Sure, it's the Junior US Open - but c'mon - how many of you ever played in a US Open period? Exactly - so you should take what the tennis world gives you and that's sixteen year-old Chanelle Van Nguyen who's made it past the two qualifying rounds, won her first round and is now on to the second at the grandstand (and apparently she also just came off an abdominal injury, which just means that she's a lot tougher than you or I).
And front page Nguyen (when you click on the US Open main page on the Upcoming Matches tab)?
I was reading this article down at the LA Times where they were talking about how while the unemployment rate for the Asian American community is less than that of other communities - when unemployment does hit - it lasts longer. And while an interesting story, here's quote that stuck out at me:
Some Asian Americans have computer engineering or software jobs that are vulnerable to outsourcing, said C.N. Le, director of the Asian American studies program at University of Massachusetts-Amherst. And a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment rippling through the country might also hurt Asian Americans' chances of finding work.
"In times of recession, Americans are most likely to feel economically threatened by immigrants, and their prejudices, suspicions and tensions rise to the surface," he said. "That can happen on a personal level or an institutional level."
While we all know - or at least should know - about Patsy Mink, I'd never actually saw the documentary Patsy Mink: Ahead Of The Majority, and as my first copy went somewhere the way of - well - I don't really know - the JANM was kind enough to send me out another (because I actually did purchase one when I was down checking out the Giant Robot exhibit) - and you know what?
I had no idea it was going to be that much of a tear jerker.
By the end of the documentary I was literally wiping my eyes uttering "Damn....that was....really really good."
You know what I love about the vizualizAsian series - besides the silky smooth voice of Gil Asakawa - it's just all the API goodness that comes from it.
It's just that damn good - and if you've never gotten the chance to throw some questions out the Disgrasian way - on telephone no less - now's your chance.
Is it just me or is it really running on 4 season since there's been an Asian American male on Survivor? Not that it's the end all be all of everything mind you, but you know - still kind of wrong....
Age: 35 Hometown: Santa Monica, Calif. Connection to your Teammate: Friend Current occupation: Doctor
Favorite hobbies: Cycling, traveling and eating
Achievements: The biggest achievement for me was completing medical school and residency - both of which did not come easy for me.
Lifelong to do list: Learn to scuba dive, surf and cook; have a rewarding career where I am proud of my work; live a healthy and balanced life; have a loving family; run the New York City marathon; remember to live in the present
What scares you most about traveling? Getting sick
What excites you most about traveling? Meeting new people and seeing/experiencing new things - that makes me reflect and learn something new about myself.
If I could switch places with someone: Maybe only for one day, I would switch with a comedian like Chelsea Handler. She's hysterical and what a great skill to be able to make an entire room erupt in laughter.
Role model/hero: I'm inspired by a lot of people -- especially strong, successful women. Thanks to all the female physicians before who paved the way for my generation of doctors.
What are you passionate about? Travel, love and good food
What would you do if you won the million dollars? Donate to charity, pay off part of my medical school loans and bring some loved ones on a sweet vacation
People would be surprised to learn: I'm very sensitive and emotional.
Favorite place you have ever visited: Bali
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Having to adjust to not being in control of our daily schedules
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other then winning one million bucks)? I hope to have a fun adventure. One million dollars would also help make a huge dent in my enormous student loans.
Pet peeve about your teammate: She tends to show up late for things (fashionably of course).
Michael And Kevin Wu CBS Bio
Michael Wu Age: 58 Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas Connection to your Teammate: Father Current occupation: Software Consultant and Content Creator/Internet Entertainer
Favorite hobbies: My favorite hobbies include reading a good book, watching old movies and going to the park/lake.
Achievements: I have provided a stable and comfortable environment for my two kids to grow up. My wife and I did our best to raise them while running our own business.
Lifelong to do list: Travel around the world, be good at martial arts like Tai-Chi and pursue an advanced degree
What scares you most about traveling? Being in an airplane accident
What excites you most about traveling? Seeing different places and people, and getting out of the routine to do something different
What are you passionate about? I like to make friends smile and laugh. I also love to share my knowledge with young people and hope to make a difference in their lives.
What would you do if you won the million dollars? I would share half of the amount equally among the 11 teams and the rest I would donate to charity.
People would be surprised to learn: I am not really comfortable in a competitive situation.
Favorite place you have ever visited: North European countries
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: We need to try and put our different personalities aside and work to be the best team we can be.
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other then winning one million bucks)? I hope the Race will be an exciting and fun experience that we can share for the rest of our lives. I'm also sure that facing the challenges and solving them together will definitely make us understand each other better. I hope to improve our relationship.
Pet peeve about your teammate: He uses foul language in situations when it's not really called for.
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Kevin Wu Age: 20 Hometown: Sugar Land, Texas Connection to your Teammate: Son Current occupation: Student/Internet Entertainer
Favorite hobbies: Making videos, competitive sports and traveling
Achievements: I just recently hit one million subscribers on Youtube. Also I'm the youngest person ever to be on Amazing Race!
Lifelong to do list: Ultimately I would like to learn how to cook, travel the world, start a production company.
What scares you most about traveling? Losing my luggage
What excites you most about traveling? Getting to experience new places
If I could switch places with someone: I'd rather not switch places with anyone.
Role model/hero: My dad. He knows how to keep it real.
What are you passionate about? Food
What would you do if you won the million dollars? I would use it to fund a show I have in mind.
People would be surprised to learn: I make YouTube videos with my dad. My dad is hilarious!
Favorite place you have ever visited: Amsterdam
Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on the Race together: Being decisive and using our heads more than others, because as a team we might be at a disadvantage physically.
What do you hope to accomplish by running the Race (other then winning one million bucks)? The experience of traveling around the globe.
Pet peeve about your teammate: Sometimes we have a difficult time comprehending one another.
The island in San Francisco Bay has often been called the Ellis Island of the West, but it wasn't really, says Erika Lee, director of the Asian-American Studies Program at the University of Minnesota. Lee has joined with Judy Yung, professor emeritus of American studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, on a new book, "Angel Island: Immigrant Gateway to America."
The two descendants of illegal immigrants spoke about their book in Seattle last week. Yes, they said "illegal" rather than "undocumented" because Lee's grandparents and Yung's parents were well documented. But the documents were fake because that is what it usually took to get into America if you were Chinese during the 61 years the Chinese Exclusion Act was in effect [...]
Sixty percent of Angel Island immigrants were detained, while the rate at Ellis Island was 20 percent. The stay on Ellis Island was a few hours to a few days for most European immigrants. For most Asians at Angel Island, it ranged from a few days to weeks. But Asians weren't the only people who tried to enter at Angel Island. In fact, the authors say, the diversity of arrivals makes Angel Island a more accurate picture of America's relationship to immigrants.
Getting front page news on the NY Times as Fashion Week apparently draws close (because I had no idea before I read this article) it seems like Asian American and Asian designers are getting all of the hype - and people are noticing.
The mood was set early at the American fashion awards ceremony at Lincoln Center in June, an event often likened to the Oscars of the fashion world, with a guest list that included celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwyneth Paltrow and almost every top designer. In quick succession, three men were called to the stage to accept their awards as the best new designers of the year: Richard Chai for men’s wear, Jason Wu for women’s wear and Alexander Wang for accessories. It was the first time that all three prizes given by the Council of Fashion Designers of America were awarded to designers who are Asian-American [...]
Their ascent to the top tier of New York fashion represents an important demographic shift on Seventh Avenue. At the Fashion Week that begins here on Thursday, many of the most promising new designers are of Asian descent, a group that includes Mr. Wang and Mr. Wu; Thakoon Panichgul, one of the stars of the documentary “The September Issue,” about Vogue magazine; Prabal Gurung; Phillip Lim; and Derek Lam — names that are increasingly likely to represent the future of fashion.
Just for the record - I really can sew - albeit not that good...
I remember what it was like when I was 16. You just wanted someone to touch you.
Even if a little inappropriately. But even I wasn't this dumb - and sometimes - you just have to call the not so quick ones - not so quick.
A malicious hate crime against an Asian-American family that moved into Happy Valley was actually a hoax perpetrated by one of the couple's teenagers, police announced Friday.
The story about words like "Gook" and "Chink" being spray painted on the family's home, and a note reading "Last warning - we will burn your house down if we have to" left on the property, sent shock waves throughout the community.
The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and the Happy Valley Police Department immediately opened a case and even consulted with the Federal Bureau of Investigation since the incident could have encompassed civil rights violations.
But investigators discovered that the acts were actually done by the family's 16-year-old, who they say is very remorseful.
Don't get me wrong though either - if you're going to do some shit - having White People take the fall for it - well - I don't condone it - but it's better than blaming it on Black People because apparently those relations are already a little strained - at least in the boxing world.
And just for the record - I don't think anyone's going to be asking this kid to hold their stash for them anytime soon....
There's a cool set of columns going on down at 8Asians called APA Spotlight where Koji Steven Sakai gets on down and makes sure that you're getting to know some of the great people in the APA community up close and personal -- with most recent column on Lee Ann Kim, founder of the San Diego Asian Film Festival. Check it out here.
I'm posting this up a couple days late from when I got notice - but it's open up until September 6th - so you can still get in on the action.
DramaFever has teamed up with Asian Cinevision (ACV) to bring you a selection of the best short films from the National Film Tour of 2009′s Asian American International Film Festival (AAIFF) in New York City. Coinciding with the start of 2010′s AAIFF on July 15, DramaFever kicks off our new ACV partner page with an DramaFever Audience Favorite Short Film Award, running from now until September 6. Vote either thumbs up or thumbs down on the scorecard located on the ACV partner page. We’ll add up the thumbs up, subtract the thumbs down, and the short film that has the best ranking will be featured on the front page of DramaFever for a week in September.
To vote, you have to log in to your DF account. (If you haven’t created one, you’ll have to make one here.) Once logged in, you can vote for any short film – either thumbs up or down. Voting closes at 12pm EST, September 6. We’ll announce the winner on September 15 on the front page of DramaFever, where the winning short film will be featured for the whole week.
Start watching a great lineup of narratives and documentaries from the first and longest running film festival in the U.S. dedicated to highlighting the newest Asian filmmaking talent.
Check out the full list of films down at DramaFever.
While the article itself isn't anything to write home about (and why can't someone just be the "next" blah blah blah - verus the "Asian American" blah blah blah?) - I really just wanted to post up the picture.
Apparently some things really do happen after all.
Kimlime Chek-Taylor, a veteran Philadelphia educator of Cambodian descent, has been named assistant principal at troubled South Philadelphia High School, fulfilling Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's earlier notice that she would name an Asian to the post.
Chek-Taylor was previously dean of students at John Taggart, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school.
She immigrated to this country as a child with her family, learning to speak English through school classes, a life experience that mirrors those of many Asian students at South Philadelphia High.
New principal Otis Hackney said he wanted Chek-Taylor on his staff to broaden the diversity of the school leadership, but even more because of her ability and experience.
"It wasn't for optics," Hackney said. "It was for substance."
Chek-Taylor is bilingual, speaking both English and Khmer, the Cambodian language. She graduated from Easton (Pa.) High School.
The slantyapolis/seftre blog has served millions of views trying to help in its own way, to give voice to the Asian and Asian American community, as well as document it, over the last 18 years. Sometimes op-ed, sometimes straight news, sometimes off the beaten path--the continued impetus remains that there's power in sharing voices and in sharing your own voice and reflecting that back into the communities you belong to.
If you're looking for the 2008 In Review Posts, the link list has been moved out, but you can still get to them all by following this link which pulls them up by label (they'll be in reverse so go to the oldest post to read them in order).
2007 In Review Posts
If you're looking for the 2007 In Review Posts, the link list has been moved out, but you can still get to them all by following this link which pulls them up by label (they'll be in reverse so go to the oldest post to read them in order).
