Nice Girls Crew Episode 3

World Pole Dancing Championships

The only reason I seem to be posting this was because I was catching up on some news, and who knew that just four days ago there was something called the World Pole Dancing Championships...which made me have the following thoughts:

One is that I was just amazed that such a contest was going on.

Two is that I'm kind of sad I wasn't able to attend (and no, that doesn't make me a pervert, in fact, I can think of many other things if I admitted to liking that would actually make me a pervert) - I'd just be curious to see what the arena looked like and if they had a special pole for the championship - was it gold plated and 100 ft tall that competitors had to scale?).

And three - who knew CBS would describe it like this:

The public's perception of pole dancing has recently changed to become a popular sport combining physical strength, technique and choreography.

Now I really don't feel like a pervert.

Mr. Sagittarius + Nomi

Go Go Gov. Bobby Jindal

See?

We all can get along:

Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana fiercely shot back at Mitt Romney’s claim Wednesday that President Barack Obama outmatched the 2012 Republican presidential nominee by offering "gifts" to African-Americans, Hispanics and young voters.

“I absolutely reject that notion,” Jindal, who was a surrogate for Romney’s campaign, said at the Republican Governors Association conference in Las Vegas. “I think that's absolutely wrong.” ... “I don't think that represents where we are as a party and where we're going as a party,” he continued. “That has got to be one of the most fundamental takeaways from this election.”

Coming Soon: So Kevin End Of Bitter

Calendar Time: Some Kristina Wong

GOING GREEN THE WONG WAY
Created and written by Kristina Wong
Directed by Paul Tei
Design by Ian Garrett
Performed by Kristina Wong

In her quest to pursue sustainable living, Kristina Wong purchased a 1981 pink Mercedes that ran on vegetable oil, and endured a nightmare of never-ending car repairs and near death pursuits for the used cooking oil to fuel it. When the car finally burst into flames on an L.A. freeway, Wong lost the largest line item in her monthly budget, and gained the inspiration for this premiere production. GOING GREEN THE WONG WAY brings our contemporary urban environment to life, revealing just how tricky it is to "do the right thing." Based on Wong's true-life adventures, but elevated to surrealist heights, the production takes us from Kristina's confrontational 6th grade science project, to her wandering years as a missionary of recycling, to her true calling as Los Angeles' patron martyr of carbon-free living.

At Touchstone for two nights only!
Friday 11/16 and Saturday 11/17 at 8pm
Tickets $25 / $15 for students and seniors, with group rates available
Purchase tickets online at http://bit.ly/RRKhwM
Or by phone at 610-867-1689

Random Photos We Don't Mind Seeing

The AAWW Publishing Conference

For all the budding writers and publishers out there, this might be for you.

We also know that sometimes the hardest part isn't getting your ideas down on paper, but getting your manuscript out of the slush pile. It's hard to know where to start, especially if you've got a full-time job or are raising a kid. Enroll in the Asian American Writers’ Workshop's first annual publishing conference and meet veteran agents and editors and publishers from Farrar Straus Giroux, Little Brown Publishing, The New York Times, Grantland, The Millions, and Vice magazine. They'll share their trade secrets to get you on your way from solitary writer to bestselling author. Open to writers of all ages, races, and genres!

...

This is your chance. The Workshop has hand-selected insiders of the publishing industry so that you can get the attention you deserve as an aspiring writer. Veteran agents will teach you how to stand out and attain marketability. Senior editors of coveted publishing houses and publications will tell you the dos and don’ts of pitching and placing from small presses and trade publications to online magazines and new digital publishers like The Atavist and Kindle Singles. Acclaimed writers will share how they got their big break and how you can get yours! And publicists will share their strategies for increasing social media presence. See program schedule below.

12:15-12:45 PM Opening & Lunch

12:45-1:30 PM How to score an agent

1:30-2:15 PM How to pitch for trade publications

2:15-3:00 PM How to get placed in small presses

3:00-3:15 PM Coffee Break

3:15-4:00 PM How I got my big break

4:00-4:45 PM Ultimate Social Media Guide

4:45-5:30 PM Longform

5:30-5:40 PM Closing

Learn more and get tickets here.

Derrick Kahala Watson + United States District Court

Nice work if you can get it. From the Asian American Justice Center.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NOVEMBER 14, 2012

WASHINGTON—Today, President Obama nominated Derrick Kahala Watson to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii. If confirmed, Watson will be the only person of native Hawaiian descent serving as an Article III judge, and only the fourth in American history.

“We applaud Derrick Kahala Watson’s nomination to serve as a federal district judge on the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii,” said Wendy C. Shiba, president-elect of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Mr. Watson has deep roots in Hawaii and if confirmed, he will be the only person of native Hawaiian ancestry on the federal bench. NAPABA commends President Obama, Senator Inouye, and Senator Akaka for supporting the nomination of such a well-qualified nominee to serve the people of Hawaii.”

Watson currently serves as chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Hawaii. Prior to joining the office in 2007, he was in private practice at two firms in San Francisco, and also served for several years in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of California. Watson was a member of the United States Army Reserve and served as a Captain in the JAG Corps from 1998-2006. He attended the Kamehameha Schools, Harvard College, and Harvard Law School, and is the first person in his family to attend college. Watson was raised in a multi-generational household on Oahu that included his mother, who worked at a local bank until her retirement several years ago, and his father, who retired from the Honolulu Police Department.

“We applaud President Obama, Senator Inouye, and Senator Akaka for supporting a nominee who has devoted much of his career to government service,” said Mee Moua, president and executive director of the Asian American Justice Center (AAJC), member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice. “Mr. Watson’s nomination demonstrates the continued commitment of the President to diversify our judiciary.”

Pacific Islanders and Native Americans remain essentially unrepresented in the federal judiciary. No Native Hawaiian currently serves as an Article III judge, and there are currently no Native Americans serving on the federal bench. NAPABA continues to work with our partner organizations to remedy this glaring omission.

Kollaboration Star 2012 - The Finale

Yeah, That's Just Not Right

You might have already heard about this from last week, but in case you haven't - yeah - it's pretty bad.

Do something.

Racism Is Dying?

I think I just disagree based on the premise that Obama getting elected = less racism in this country. Was it less racism that got him elected, or was it just that more People Of Color did what they needed to do to ensure that the racism didn't kick him out of office?

Jhameel: Shadow of a Man Video Teaser

Nice Girls Crew Episode 2 (AKA Put Your Dick On The Table)

Like It: Alfa + Billy Joel

Random Beauty Haul Giveaway

Overstating Headlines

In the NYT's article "Hyundai and Kia Acknowledge Overstating the Gas Mileage of Vehicles", it also says:

Hyundai and Kia apologized to customers for what they called “procedural errors” in testing that resulted in incorrect mileage stickers on some of their most popular models, like the Hyundai Elantra and Kia Rio...

The companies said the misstated mileage figures were a result of internal errors in testing the vehicles for E.P.A. certification.

I don't know how results in testing that were thought to be true equates to the sentiment that the companies somehow exaggerated the numbers more than what was known to be true.

The headline I like more is "Hyundai and Kia Acknowledge Errors In Gas Mileage Performance Data".

Just fact.

On their Web site, Hyundai says to its customers "We’ve got your back" in regard to its program to adjust its stated fuel economy rates and reimburse customers (approximately 900,000 owners) the difference between the previously stated fuel ratings and the new fuel ratings (more about the program in the press release).

Pledge To Vote | 18 Million Rising. Activating Asian America

What? Michelle Obama + School

I just don't get this at all:

First lady Michelle Obama’s request to speak at a Chesterfield County elementary school, while on the campaign trail in Virginia, was rejected by the school officials, citing that it went against school policy.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that the Chesterfield school officials refused to discuss the request made by the Obama campaign.

Why wouldn't you want the First Lady to come and speak at your elementary school?

It wouldn't be fun for the kids?

Pledge To Vote | 18 Million Rising. Activating Asian America

The Last Resort

Pledge To Vote | 18 Million Rising. Activating Asian America

Road to Love

Pledge To Vote | 18 Million Rising. Activating Asian America