08.31.05
A couple of folks have pointed me to this article on "comedian" Ari Shaffir, that bastard also known as "The Amazing Racist": Racist 'Humor' Inspires Hate. Unfortunately, he and his supporters are fond of the 'Bad publicity is good publicity' way of thinking. So I don't think I'll say much more about this racist asshead.
08.31.05
Here's another profile on Sandra Oh: The story of Oh. She's suddenly in the spotlight, and all over the place. But you and I know she's been around, doing her thing for years.
08.31.05
There's an Asian American contestant on NBC's new edition of The Apprentice with Marth Stewart. Jennifer is an attorney from Orange County, CA. How come every time an Asian contestant shows up on one of these reality shows, the website's bio always plays up their Asian immigrant upbringing? I mean, I know that's a major part of the Asian American experience... it's just a trend I've noticed. Anyway, so does she have what it takes? Or will she crash and burn... like Ivana? She took off her pants and got canned for it.
08.30.05
Couple things going on, NY-LA-NY-LA-style...
There's an opening reception for the Museum of Chinese in the Americas/NYU's exhibit, Archivist of the "Yellow Peril." Tuesday, September 6th at the Museum. The exhibit runs through the end of the year. Very cool.
K-Town 9-1-1, September 10 in Koreatown, Los Angeles. One of those massive performance gatherings only Asiatic Empire knows how to put together. With political MCs, poets, and speakers on 9/11 and subsequent conflicts.
New York Seoul Amateur Nights, also Saturday, September 10 at The ImaginAsian. Featuring the best of new, emerging Korean American talent—from hip hop, to jazz, to pop punk, to Christian folk. Check it out.
And every Thursday night, Asian Nights at the world-famous Laugh Factory in Hollywood, hosted by PK. According to the website, there are both Asian and non-Asian comic performances. And I imagine there is much laughing involved.
08.30.05
According to Census Bureau figures released this week, Asians were the only ethnic group to show a decline in poverty—from 11.8 percent in 2003 to 9.8 percent last year: Poverty Rate Rises to 12.7 Percent. Now, before we go patting ourselves on the back, let's think for a second. I'm skeptical, and reluctant to jump along with this characterization of Asians' income. Who are they counting? Who aren't they counting? According to some research out there, there's indication that Asians are often undercounted in census data—specifically certain groups of Asians that have lower incomes. This is one of the major difficulties in lumping ALL Asians and Pacific Islanders into one group. Dare I say, generalizations like this dangerously allow us to turn a blind eye to issues of poverty in the APA community? This is not to say that there aren't affluent groups in the Asian community, but research like this definitely makes it more convenient to forget the other side. Asians Americans—and everyone else—shouldn't be too quick to celebrate. It's not like, yay, we made it! It's stickier than that...
08.30.05
Did you know Jason Scott Lee was a voice in Disney's Lilo & Stitch? He reprises his role for the direct-to-video Lilo & Stitch 2: Jason Scott Lee Interview. For a guy who's been supposedly off the grid, he's popping up a lot lately...
08.30.05
Translating NYC's ethnic politics for Asians and Middle Easterners: The Others. The Others?
08.30.05
F@#K THIS. This can't be real. This CAN'T be. At the risk of perpetuating this damn video further: The Amazing Racist Is Back. I couldn't even get through the whole thing. It made me sick to my stomach. I hope someone kicks this guy's ass. It's crap like this that gets passed off as comedy "pushing the envelope"—good for a few laughs, no harm done. Really, it's just an excuse for racists to celebrate hate. That's racist! (But why bother even saying that?)
08.30.05
Another article on the racist incident at Washington State University earlier this year. If you're unfamiliar with what went down, read up for some background: Asian Americans fault report on WSU players. Honestly, I don't really see much difference between this article, and a previous one published on the 19th: Rights panel criticized in WSU case
08.30.05
We have a winner! Congratulations to Lane O. of Elk Grove, CA, who has won a set of Asian DVDs, courtesy of Palm Pictures. Thank you again, to the good folks Palm. And thank you to all who participated in the giveaway. Lane was chosen at random from a large pool of eligible entries. By the way, just for future reference, it really helps to follow directions when you submit contest entries. Was it really that difficult to write "Palm DVD" in the subject line like I requested? For some, yes. Losers. Anyway. Hopefully, we can do more of these in the future.
08.30.05
Looks like the NBA is going to provide some new programming for AZN Television: NBA, AZN Strike Programming Deal. Under this new agreement, AZN will premiere the documentary series, Yao Ming in the NBA, which chronicles Yao's second season in the NBA. AZN will also produce an original series, Hoopguys, which will follow the antics of three Asian American NBA fans on a season-long quest to experience as many NBA games as possible. Interesting...
08.30.05
There's a new show premiering on CNBC this Saturday, all about football sports betting: The Odds Squad. If you take a look, you'll notice one of the hosts is an Asian dude, Wesley Chu. How about that? Visit the website, check it out. If the pilot gets picked up, it might be a weekly show covering the entire NFL season.
08.29.05
This ad image has been showing up on Yahoo! Mail:
Oh, look at us in our funny, exotic hats and Oriental posturing. You ain't making any friends that way, suckas. Ah yes, white kids, chinkin' it up. You gotta love it. That's racist!
08.29.05
Oh I see, it's not a plan; it's a plot. What the hell is up with this headline: China plotting grand opening to 2008 Games. Because, you see, when those sneaky Chinese are involved, they can't just plan—they plot. And they've got something suspicious plotted for the '08 Olympics. Interesting choice of words. That's racist!
08.29.05
Quang X. Pham's memoir, A Sense of Duty: My Father, My American Journey has been named a finalist for Southern California Booksellers Association 2005 Book Award for nonfiction. And rightly so. Learn more about the book here.
08.29.05
Argh! Those Chinese, selling their knockoff products: Six plead guilty in sale of thousands of fake wristbands. You can bet Lance isn't happy about this.
08.29.05
Chai Soua Vang, accused of killing six hunters last year in Wisconsin, will not pursue a plea bargain: Vang might claim self-defense at trial. The trial is set for September 12 in Hayward, WI.
08.29.05
Gather 'round, Asian pop culture geeks. This weekend's the Pacific Media Expo in Long Beach, CA. There will be plenty to fulfill your fanboy impulses, including stand-up comedy by Rex Navarette, a film festival, panels, workshops, vendors... and my favorite—grown men and women dressed as anime and video game characters. Hell yes. Work that.
08.29.05
Hey dude, there are Asian Americans in Iowa. And they are awesome: Alliance will celebrate Asian-American success
08.29.05
An update on that subway flasher, who was caught in the act with a camera phone, and landed himself on the cover of the New York Daily News... Nearly two dozen people phoned into the paper and the NYPD to say they believe Dan Hoyt, a Manhattan restaurant owner, is the pervman in the photo. Now, two other woman have come forward to say they flashed by the same guy: Restaurant boss in raw - tipsters. Oh, and here's Thao's (the photographer) flickr site.
08.29.05
So this gigantic Chinese basketball player Sun Ming Ming is in need of surgery to remove a benign tumor that is pressed against his pituitary gland: Chinese basketball player, 7' 8", in town for surgery. He and his people have been trying to raise $130,000 to pay for the procedure. Unfortunately, this article is dated August 17th, and only recently came to my attention... But here's a site that's trying to help raise some money: Save Sun Ming Ming
08.29.05
Step off, fool. A leading Australian politician, John Brogden, has resigned after calling an opponent's Asian-born wife a "mail order bride." Get out of here: NSW politician quits after slur. "I acted dishonourably and now is the time to act honourably." Yes. I agree. That's racist!
08.29.05
Got an email from Hyphen forwarded along to me... They're on the lookout for hard-working, resourceful, passionate individuals to join their ranks: Join the Hyphen Staff. Remember, it's all on a volunteer basis, so you won't get paid. However, there is mention of compensation in "occasional meals of Spam and kimchee." That's passion.
08.29.05
Congratulations again to the team from Ewa Beach, the new Little League World Series champs: With One Dramatic Swing, a New Champion Is Crowned. And lots of coverage here: Memea's heroic homer boosts Hawai'i pride. This team of mostly API kids represented the United States—and won. How cool is that?
08.29.05
An obit out of Houston... Benny Den B. Chin, a former grocer and restaurateur who during World War II was a mechanic with the Flying Tigers and taught the Chinese language to the pilots, died Aug. 19 in a Houston assisted-living facility. He was 83: Service earned him the nickname 'Old Soldier'
08.29.05
So the other night, I'm flipping channels on the tube. I currently don't have cable, so my channels are limited. I get about 20 or so channels that come out clearly, and like 17 of them are in Spanish. But I happen to come across an international channel, and they've got one of those Korean dramas on. With English subtitles, no less. So I'm like, what the heck, why not? I start watching, and before you know it, dammit, I'm hooked. I know people worldwide are crazy about these Korean dramas. Now, I think I'm one of them: In a lather over South Korean soap operas
08.29.05
Another article on the celebrated return of the I-Hotel: Crowd is festive 26 years after the razing of site of controversy during '60s and '70s
08.29.05
Abu Bakker Qassim and A'del Abdu al-Hakim are Muslim men from China who have been held in U.S. custody at Guantanamo Bay for three years, despite the fact that a U.S. Combatant Status Review Tribunal has concluded that they're not enemy combatants and were seized by Pakistani forces—and then turned over to the United States—in error. Read here: Don't anybody tell Dick Durbin. And here: How long will the United States detain innocent men? All in the glorious name of national security.
08.28.05
Puffy AmiYumi, a Japanese pop-rock act trying to bust into the American scene. Not easy. So what do you do? Become animated characters on your own cartoon show, and become a hit amongst the under-10 set. Then, bust out your tunes: Japanese duo step out from behind their animated selves. Did you know they used to be just "Puffy"? They changed it, due to an existing American artist with a similar name. Though, do you think anyone would've really confused them with Diddy...?
08.28.05
Awwwww yeah. Hawaii wins, 7-6: Hawaii stuns defending champs for Little League title. Hats off to Michael Memea and his seventh inning homer. Niiice.
08.28.05
Oh hell. Another freak who preys on Asian women. But you know what's even worse? He's got a cop. Fetish with a badge. Veteran Oakland police officer Richard Valerga, 51, has been charged with making illegal traffic stops of immigrant Asian women and then trying to kiss or caress them: Officer charged with illegal stops; Police say he pulled over Asian women, came on to them. He faces seven misdemeanor counts, including two of false imprisonment and five of interference of
civil rights. Of course, the guy maintains that he's done nothing wrong nor inappropriate. Sure, Dick. Targeting Asian women? That's racist!
08.28.05
This story hasn't been on my radar, and I apologize... On August 2, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Hawai'i's Kamehameha Schools' admissions policy of giving preference to historically underserved Native Hawaiian children was unlawful race discrimination. You could say that many people were upset by this decision: 'This ruling is disgusting'; 'Justice now!'; Emotions spill over at rally against ruling. Established in 1887, the purpose of the schools is "to educate children of Native Hawaiian heritage as a way to rectify the increasing marginalization of the native population." Supporters of the schools are still protesting the ruling: Kamehameha Schools Seek Justice.
Now, I'll be honest, I'm kind of in the dark when it comes to Hawaiian issues. But it ain't no secret that Native Hawaiians have suffered culturally and economically over the last two hundred years. And it doesn't take a genius to figure out that much of it started when Captain James Cook first stepped foot on the islands. These schools seem like a way to right some past wrongs...
08.28.05
Badminton. Another sport Asians kick ass. I remember back in high school, one time I was hanging around afterschool, and dropped by the gym for some reason. I look inside, and there are a whole mess of Asian kids in there, warming up. I was surprised. To be frank, the Asian students didn't really rule my school in sporting activities. So what was going on here? Badminton practice. Unbeknownst to me, my school had a badminton team, and they were fierce. Anyway, why am I bringing this up? These guys: Howard Bach and Tony Gunawan. Last week, the American pair won the International Badminton Federation World Championship doubles title in Anaheim, CA. Considering that America has been pretty much been nothing in badminton, they're saying this is probably the biggest upset in badminton history, and one of the biggest upsets in all of sports. They're calling it 'The Miracle on Cotton'.
08.28.05
Golf phenom Michelle Wie, who turns 16 in a few weeks, may sign with the William Morris Agency—and thus, go pro: Wie Looks Like Next Million-Dollar Baby. Expect to see her on Nike commercials or something (but maybe not quite like the fatty deal Nike struck with Tiger). How about it? Michelle Wie—the new young face of golf? Very possible.
08.27.05
Good for you, Thao Nguyen of New York. Some sicko perv exposed himself to her on the subway last week, so she snapped a photo of the guy on her camera phone and gave it to the authorities: Hunt perv caught in a flash. The perv's photo landed on the cover on today's Daily News.
08.26.05
Review of Mike Park's (of Asian Man Records) new album, North Hangook Falling: Mike Park's "North Hangook Falling" a gem. Here's what's interesting. Instead of going on a national tour to promote the CD, he's going on a bicycle ride to raise money to build a San Jose youth center. Park and 15 others, including some top musicians, will ride from Seattle to San Diego from September 8 to October 4 with pledges of support from friends and family for each of the 1,200 or so miles they'll cover. They'll play the new music in campgrounds down the coast (along with two formal gigs, in Oakland and Anaheim). Learn more at Plea For Peace.
08.26.05
Have you been keeping up with the Little League World Series? I'm rooting for this team from Ewa Beach, Hawaii—all API kids (except for one haole). They've been beating up on teams from all over the United States. Here's the latest news: West O'ahu reaches U.S. championship. How cool would it be for these kids to rep the U.S. in the world championship?
08.26.05
According to this article, Patrick Kim McDermott—Olivia Newton John's boyfriend who's gone missing—is indeed of Korean descent: Olivia Newton-John's Lover Gone. Okay. That's all.
08.26.05
"The plain and simple truth is Americans want to see Americans playing or Europeans [who] look like Americans," says a reader who wrote into Gold World. But not Asians who look like Americans, nor Americans who look like Asians, right? Or is there even such a thing to you? That's racist! Koreans are kicking ass at golf, so get used to it, you bigot sucka: View from the bunker: On Asians and racism
08.26.05
Hey, remember Jason Scott Lee, the guy who played Bruce Lee in Dragon: The Bruce Lee story? What happened to that dude? Here he is: Hollywood Drop Out. And here's what he's been doing: Black-box theater is up close, personal
08.25.05
Oh man. It's the international trailer for Memoirs of a Geisha. I do not know what to say. I don't know who to blame.
08.25.05 UPDATE: The contest is now closed. Thanks to all who participated. |
08.25.05
Rapper Jin was recently defeated by Serius Jones at a freestyle event. But the way it sounds, the competition was seriously stacked against Jin, with his opponent coming at him with pre-written material and some serious racist rhymes: Serius Jones Defeats Jin In AllHipHop/ Fight Klub Event. You just know if Jin came back at him with something remotely about being Black, he'd be killed. Literally. So what kind of crap is that?
08.25.05
Jack Herzig, a lawyer who with his wife played an instrumental role in gaining redress from the United States for the internment of JapaneseAmericans during World War II, has died. He was 83: Jack Herzig, helped gain redress for World War II internment, dies at 83
08.25.05
This guy, Ed Liu, apparently drove into a Wal-Mart parking lot in Arizona, and shot two workers: Wal-Mart Suspect Said Mentally Disturbed. Crazy.
08.24.05
And now, the rise of the new International Hotel: Razed in '70s, key Filipino center reborn. I remember the I-Hotel! Okay, so I'm a little too young to actually remember. But I certainly understand. Youngsters, read the article for some background.
08.24.05
OH hell no. What the hell is this? A commercial spoof, seriously messed up: Chinese Baby. So, Asian babies are pretty much disposable playthings for bored white couples? That's racist!
08.24.05
Hotel housekeepers at the Mark Hopkins Intercontinental in San Francisco say they have not received a satisfactory response after they complained in July that a manager forbid them from speaking Cantonese at work. Local union representatives have been negotiating with hotel management since July 22 and are waiting for the hotel's investigation of the incident: Chinese Hotel Workers Still Fuming Over English-Only Remark
08.24.05
Mercury News article on piNoisepop 9: Bring the piNoise
08.24.05
I keep hearing about this Heineken commercial... Two Asian dudes are in a liquor store, decked out in "urban attire," speaking Japanese, and buying some 40s. You know, trying to be cool (okay, let's be honest—Black). Then they see that a Black gentleman in the store has picked up a six-pack of Heineken. He gives them a weird look before taking off. At the end of the commercial we see the Asian guys at the cash register, buying Heineken instead. The message: Asians guys are posers. Of course. They can't be cool, because they copy their cool from others—even their choice of beer. What the hell? That's racist!
08.24.05
Arranged marriages are so yesterday. They're totally out. "Assisted" marriages are what's all the rage. They're so hot right now. All the kids are doing it: In the U.S., 'assisted' marriages for South Asians
08.24.05
I don't really follow pro hockey, but I guess this is noteworty news... Japanese goalie Yutaka Fukufuji signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Kings this month and will attend a rookie camp next month: Japanese Goalie Signs Deal With Kings
08.24.05
This guy is evil. Dominick Galofaro, an Upper East Side landlord, was arraigned on felony charges after he cleared out tenant Hop Eng's $158-a-month rent-controlled apartment—then dragged 87-year-old Eng out of the building when he tried to complain: Busted in rent-control tenant toss
08.24.05
Reuters article on South Korean director Park Chan-Wook: Revenge, an octopus and acclaim for S.Korea's Park. His crazy ass movie Oldboy came out on DVD here in U.S. this week. His latest film, Sympathy For Lady Vengeance has been ruling in Korea since it opened. Can't wait to see it...
08.24.05
Some red carpet photos of Katie Leung, aka Cho Chang, at the London premiere of Dukes of Hazzard. You gotta love it. Dukes of frickin' Hazzard.
08.23.05
Unfortunately, this is a trend that will never go away. As long as there are t-shirts, there will be stupid t-shirt designs. And stupid clothing companies making inane t-shirts with Asian designs that make little sense: The Great Wall of China Sake Bar . What goes through people's heads when they design this stuff? It's probably like, Hey, you know what's cool? Asian stuff. Let's make a t-shirt with Asian stuff. People will eat it up.
08.23.05
Michelle Krusiec has apparently been showing up on the Showtime show Weeds playing Helen Chin, an Asian temptress-type tennis instructor who seduces the married white man. Oh joy. Not really the kind of stuff I want to see...
08.23.05
The Asian American Journalists Association announced its awards for excellence in news coverage of Asian American issues, awards for outstanding work by several of its members, and the election of its 2006-2007 national vice president for print and national secretary: Asian American Journalists Association Recognizes Excellence in News Coverage. Good work.
08.23.05
According to University of Michigan researchers, North Americans and Asians really do see the world differently: Asians, Americans Show Perceptual Divide. Shown a photograph, North American students of European background paid more attention to the object in the foreground of a scene, while students from China spent more time studying the background and taking in the whole scene. I guess those who fall somewhere in the middle—America and Asia—they're perception's just allll messed up.
08.23.05
Operation Smoking Dragon! A lengthy undercover investigation has resulted in the indictments of 87 Asians and U.S. citizens on charges of smuggling counterfeit money, drugs and cigarettes into the United States. Yay. But I kid you not, the California portion of this operation, in which the bulk of the cigarettes were seized, was dubbed Operation Smoking Dragon: Wedding sting hits smuggling ring (fifth paragraph from the bottom). Right, whenever there's somebody Asian involved, you gotta call your operation "Dragon" something or other. I mean, it just sounds cooler. And exotic.
08.22.05
The international trailer for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is up and running around the web. You get a brief glimpse of Katie Leung as Cho Chang. This ought to be interesting...
08.22.05
This might be one of the most pathetic things I've ever seen: Chinese Girl Realizes American Dream through Her Tom Cruise Book
08.22.05
I found out this morning that Olivia Newton-John's boyfriend is missing. Patrick Kim McDermott, 48, failed to return from an overnight fishing trip off the California coast seven weeks ago. Now, if you're like me, you saw his picture asked the same question I've been hearing all day: is this guy Asian? Part-Asian, maybe?
08.22.05
There's a great discussion on Asian stereotypes on this radio program from back in May: 'The Asian Mystique'. With guests Sheridan Prasso, Lan Pham and Connie So.
By the way, Sheridan Prasso's The Asian Mystique is a solid, insightful book that challenges a lot of the West's cultural and political stereotypes about Asia. It was published back in May, and is available widely. Check it out if you get the chance.
08.22.05
Oh hell no. Check out these photos from some party in the Sunday Styles section of the New York Times: Multiculturalism, Newport Style. Chinaman hats and fu manchu beards. Yup, white fools getting their chink on. That's high society. That's racist! Here's some folks to tell that to:
Trudy Coxe
Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director
tcoxe@newportmansions.org
Jennifer V. Paquette
Director of Development
jpaquette@newportmansions.org
John G. Rodman
Director of Sales and Marketing
jrodman@newportmansions.org
Andrea Carneiro
Communications Manager
acarneiro@NewportMansions.org
By the way, does anyone have a high quality scan of this spread?
08.22.05
Here's a really great article from indieWIRE about some of the problems with distributing Asian films in the United States: Asian Films Caught Between U.S. Distribs and DVD-Seeking Fans. If you're like me, you're pretty familiar with this situation. I'm a big fan of Asian cinema, and I try to keep track and seek out whatever's making waves in Asian theaters. Eventually, I get my hands on a DVD copy of a movie like Hero, or Shaolin Soccer, or Oldboy—long before it ever makes it out here. By the time these movies hit U.S. theaters, having sat on the shelf at Miramax or wherever, most of the folks who've really wanted to see it have obtained their copy via eBay or the various online retailers out there. Still, nothing really beats the experience of seeing this stuff on the big screen... what's a Asian movie fanboy to do?
08.22.05
Another good article on Lyrics Born: A Different Take on Hip-hop
08.22.05
Crazy Malkin on Malkin. Her book will remain for sale at Manazanar. Here's the letter they're sending to everyone who wrote in on the matter:
Thank you very much for expressing your opinion about the presence of Michelle Malkin's In Defense of Internment in our Manzanar History Association (MHA) bookstore at Manzanar National Historic Site.
Our decision to carry the book last fall followed extensive review and
consultation with historians, academics, former internees, and others. The
consensus was that, while none substantially agreed with Ms. Malkin's
conclusions or scholarship, it is not the role of the National Park Service
to censor dissenting viewpoints, past or present. As one prominent academic
stated, "providing only one perspective is not education, it is propaganda.
There are not many books written with this general perspective, and it's
important to include dissenting views."
The National Park Service's approach to telling the stories of Manzanar is
to invite visitors to experience the site and leave with memories and
emotions fueled by their own inherent values. The goal is to increase
visitors' knowledge level without dictating their conclusions. To that end,
Manzanar History Association and National Park Service staff work closely
to identify and review titles for the store. As of May 2005, there are 749
items in MHA's inventory, including more than 300 books. Both of our
organizations recognize the sensitivity necessary for any book selection on
a topic as important and emotional as the World War II experiences of
Japanese Americans and others.
In the end, we chose to carry In Defense of Internment for a number of
reasons, including:
Manzanar was designated a national park unit to preserve and interpret the history of the loss of civil rights by Japanese Americans during World War II. We believe that not carrying this book could ironically be viewed as denying the First Amendment rights to free speech.
We believe that it is useful to present various perspectives when reasonable. We do not actively seek materials counter to the majority opinion or materials that are innately controversial, but wish to consider books garnering national attention, as well as books recommended by visitors or others.
We feel we have an obligation to share the unique history of the site in such a way that creates context, encourages open dialogue, and fosters commitment to keep the story alive. Presenting a variety of viewpoints, when appropriate, is essential to this process.
We do not feel that by including Michelle Malkin's book, or any others, we are inferring National Park Service endorsement of the author's perspective and/or opinions.
In the past few weeks, we have received nearly 200 messages on this topic.
We have read every one and are grateful for your willingness to share your
concerns and comments. Your perspective is part of an important dialog that
will help all of us to come to a greater understanding of our history and
our hopes.
On behalf of the National Park Service and Manzanar History Association,
Thank You.
Sincerely, Alisa
Alisa Lynch
Chief of Interpretation
Manzanar National Historic Site
This is pretty ridiculous. The book is jacked up wrong. But it seems even more jacked up wrong for a book called In Defense of Internment to be sitting on the shelf for sale at the former site of an internment camp.
08.22.05
This article describes New York's Chinatown as having "garbage piling up in corners or the stench of sewage, seafood and other mixtures wafting in the air." But there are initiatives underway with hopes to clean up and revitalize Chinatown: Chinatown seeking a rebirth
08.22.05
I watched The 40-Year-Old Virgin last night. Call me juvenile, but I found it pretty damn funny. However, a couple of parts rattled my angry sensibilities. One throwaway line, comparing the title character to an "Asian teenager," referred to him playing too many video games. Groan. Another scene had the protagonist going to get his chest waxed. The woman performing the waxing was played by an Asian actress, who soooo obviously was doing a fake accent—and it was completely unnecessary for the scene. It bugged the hell out of me. That said, I laughed my ass off through the whole scene, so I don't know what to tell you.
08.22.05
Yesterday, nearly sixty Japanese Americans sent to internment camps during World War II belatedly received their high school diplomas at a ceremony in Los Angeles: Interned Japanese-Americans Get Diplomas. The graduates represented the largest group of former internees to ever receive their diplomas at one time. This diploma project is the result of legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber allowing school districts to bestow diplomas to students interned by the government during the war. There's another article here: Graduation Day, Six Decades Late. Congratulations, graduates.
08.21.05
According to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Lafayette High School in Brooklyn has ignored crimes against Asian-American and Asian students and their education rights, violating a federal agreement that requires the school to address racially motivated violence: Lafayette H.S. ignores racially-motivated violence, group charges. You're telling the school has created an environment making it easier for racist assheads to harrass and commit hate crimes against Asian kids? That's racist!
08.21.05
Bay Area music fans, check out piNoisepop 9 Asian American Music Festival. August 25-27, 2005 at Bindlestiff Studio and SomArts Cultural Center. All ages, baby. A community event bringing together the best of independent Asian American bands and artists. By the people, for the people!
08.21.05
Nice article on East West Players, America's premier Asian American theater organization: The 40-Year East West Journey. Learn more about upcoming performances here.
08.21.05
Comedienne extraordinaire Margaret Cho's new performance film Assassin makes its world premiere at the Egyptian Theatre in Los Angeles on August 24th. It opens in select theaters on September 2nd, from Regent Releasing, while simultaneously debuting on here!. She's also got a new book, I Have Chosen To Stay and Fight, coming out in October. Meanwhile, her first narrative feature film project, Bam Bam and Celeste will make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. That's a whole lotta Margaret Cho.
08.21.05
Chinaman. It wields so much sticky trouble these days. Let's just say it right now: it's not OK to use this word in regular conversation. It just doesn't work anymore. And really, what kind of person use the phrase, "Chinaman's chance" in all seriousness? I'll tell ya: former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer. Specifically, "I don't think there's a Chinaman's chance that [Jeanine Pirro] could get the Conservative line." Needless to say, people aren't happy: Spencer blasted for 'Chinaman' comment. That's racist! Heard it all before. But now, he says he's sorry: Sorry for 'Chinaman' comment. Yeah, we've been through this. Sorry you're ignorant, sir.
08.21.05
Seattle, Portland, Oakland, Alhambra! New York's Kite Operations embarks this week on a little West Coast tour.
08.20.05
A momentous race between two Vietnamese American candidates for a San Jose city council seat gets dirty: Gloves Off. Awesome to see representation from within a community that makes up a substantial part of San Jose... it's just sad to see politics as usual—ugly.
08.20.05
AWWWWW yeah. The San Diego Asian Film Festival, by far one of the funnest APA film gatherings I've attended, has announced their lineup of films. This year's festival runs September 29 through October 6. That's over a whole week, not just a weekend, as in previous years.
08.20.05
Seems like we keep coming back to this racist incident at Washington State University... If you remember, an Asian American alleged that a group of white athletes harrassed her and made racial gestures while she was working on campus. The whole thing blew up into a big mess from there, going from accusations to denials to various forms of disciplinary review. Now, a coalition of Asian American groups in Seattle denounced the state Human Rights Commission report on the matter, saying it basically let WSU off the hook: Rights panel criticized in WSU case
08.20.05
More Asians Americans working in newsrooms, thus, more Asian American news coverage. Pretty simple formula. A study that makes sense, courtesy of the Asian American Journalists Assocation: Study Indicates Asian American Coverage in Newspapers Improves With More Asian Americans in the Newsroom
08.20.05
The Asian Arts Initiative in Philadelphia is offering a unique program for Asian American performance artists with a commitment to social justice and their communities. Read on: Asian Arts Initiative seeking socially conscious artists. For information, call 215-557-0455, or email info@asianartsinitiative.org.
08.20.05
China has detained a U.S. citizen on suspicion of spying for Taiwan, keeping him under house arrest without charge for nearly three months: China holds US citizen accused of spying for Taiwan
08.20.05
Sam Yoon is running for Boston's city council: Yoon is busting out all over. They say he's got a pretty good shot. While he's not the first Asian American to run, if he wins, he'd be the first Asian elected to the city's municipal office.
08.20.05
The Asian American Convenience Stores Association recently had their first convention in Tampa, FL: South Asian store owners launch national group
08.20.05
More on the officer-involved shooting that killed two Korean men in Dublin, CA: Widows speak out in wake of officer-involved shootings. What the hell happened here?
08.20.05
A hundred buns in twelve minutes! Is there a future in this? Competitive eating just seems like one of those sports where champions are really going to pay for it later in life: Japanese eating champion wins Hong Kong contest, downs 100 buns in 12 mins. And don't forget 98-pound Sonya Thomas: Thomas defends title, sets new lobster-eating speed record. 44 lobsters in twelve minutes! Gross.
08.20.05
Crazy. Tuan Phuoc Le, 33, a Vietnamese immigrant living in Atlanta, punched a visiting Vietnamese dignitary in the face during a protest in Washington. He now faces charges of assaulting a foreign official, and could possibly be deported: Attack on Visiting Envoy May Lead to Deportation. Get down with your protesting. Do you what you have to do, man. But let's try to avoid turning it into an international incident!
08.20.05
An article on the "Archivist of the Yellow Peril" exhibit, now at the Museum of the Chinese in Americas in New York through December: Demonizing all things Asian
08.20.05
For all you fans of Lost, there are a some spoilers on the upcoming season over at Ain't It Cool News, with a few involving Daniel Dae Kim and Yunjin Kim's characters. Maybe now the two most Koreans on American television? Again, spoilers, so view the article at your own risk. The first season's DVD will be released soon, so that's your chance to catch up, if you missed out.
08.18.05
Almost forgot... the 2005 APIA Spoken Word & Poetry Summit, August 18-21 in Boston. First there was the word. Then there was the fist!
08.18.05
What the hell? Believe it or not, that crazy lady sellout Michelle Malkin's book In Defense of Internment is on sale at the Manzanar National Historic Site. Yes, the book that attempts to justify and legitimize the internment of Japanese American during World War II. And yes, Manzanar, a former camp for said internment. Read more about this at Daily Kos. Now, I've always said that Malkin is entitled to her deranged Coulter-wannabe opinions, but Manzanar certainly has the choice of whether or not to stock this book. And having the book for sale there just seems ridiculously counter-productive to the educational aims of the site. Get that crap out of there!
You can write to the National Park Service Office of Policy here.
08.18.05
Hey, remember Arthur Chi'en, the New York TV news reporter who got fired in May for saying the forbidden F-word on air? He's got a new job: Fired reporter gets a new gig. He'll be starting next week as a general assignment reporter for the WB/11 News at 10 p.m. But what will become of the Revolution?
08.18.05
A mystery novel, Southland by Nina Revoyr, paints a picture of a seemingly harmonious neighborhood of black and Japanese Americans in the central Los Angeles neighborhood of Crenshaw. NPR story: Japanese and Blacks, Sharing the 'Shaw
08.18.05
Boston-area Asian American voters faced significant barriers at the ballot box during the November 2004 election, according to a survey by the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund: Asian-American group alleges poll problems. Many Asian American voters were turned away from the polls, denied access to translated materials, and insufficiently notified of their polling sites. That's racist!
08.18.05
Here are a handful of websites that have come across my desk lately, of varying interest and flavaaaa:
Asian American News Journalism Unlimited - A blog that posts summaries and links to news articles pertaining to Asian America. Pretty simple format, without commentary, but it looks like a pretty valuable resource. Check it out.
Crayon People - A relatively new blog with news links for people of color. Hopefully, it can be gathering place for people of different ethnic backgrounds to constructively converse and debate. Thus, Crayon People. Get it? Cute.
Addicted to Race - A podcast (ooh, technologeeeee) dedicated to exploring mixed race identity and interracial relationships. From the good people who bring us Mixed Media Watch.
AznLover - L'amant Asiatique. A website dedicated to exploring the "soulful, sexy, spiritual, powerful, worldly, sensual, wild, intelligent" Asian lovers and their female admirers throughout the world. Ooh, I forgot mysterious. Whoa, there's nekkid pictures on there!
NK News - Finally, there's this hilarious North Korean news site. It's an archived database of North Korean propaganda. The photo of the Kim Jong Il puppet indicates to me that it's not officially affiliated with the North Korean government.
08.18.05
Congress is considering legislation that would set up a governing body for native Hawaiians. NPR breaks down the "Akaka Bill" for you: Native Hawaiians Seek Self Rule
08.18.05
Remember Ming Kuang Chen, the Chinese food delivery guy who got stuck in a Bronx elevator for 81 hours? He hasn't gotten over it: Deliveryman Relives the Fear of 81-Hour Ordeal in Elevator. Apparently, the ordeal messed up the poor guy pretty bad, now having to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as managing his sketchy immigration status. You gotta feel sorry for the guy...
08.18.05
An article on Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dat Nguyen: Nguyen faces huge challenge
08.18.05
This is pretty idiotic: Woman Acquitted in Sticky Threat Case
08.18.05
I'm not a gamer, so I get my video game news kind of late. But I hear some folks are pretty worked up about some hidden sexual content in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Apparently, somebody discovered and unlocked a code to get to this steamy part of the game. Okay, if you're offended, you're offended. So then where is the reaction to this game, Ethnic Cleansing: Racists launch PC game. It's a first person shooter, where players take on the role of either a skinhead or a Ku Klux Klan member—dressed in full KKK robes and carrying a noose and explore a city that's clearly based on New York. The object of the game is to kill black and Latino people, described as "predatory sub-humans," and their "Jewish masters." I wish this were a hoax, but I'm afraid it's real. The manufacturers describe it as the "most politically incorrect video game ever made." That's racist! And unfortunately, they're proud of it.
08.17.05
I don't wanna hear any cracks about this one: Dog Days Never End at Seoul Cafe. Not a peep.
08.17.05
Much to my dismay, I've been without a TV for a while. So I've been missing what's sounds like a gem of a show, Fox's So You Think You Can Dance. I'm told that two Asian American contestants, Ryan Conferido and Melody Lacayanga, are among the final sixteen. All right then. Dance your ass off and make us proud.
08.17.05
Last month, it was announced that radio producer Rick Delgado, the guy who "masterminded" Hot 97's "Tsunami Song" had picked up a new job with Bay Area station Wild 94.9. Of course, people weren't going keep quiet about this: Asian American Community Denounces Hiring of ëTsunami Song' Creator to San Francisco Radio Station. It may be a different coast, but don't think for a second that we've forgotten "all the screaming Chinks" and "little Chinamen swept away."
08.17.05
Like Asian movies? The ImaginAsian Theater in New York is rolling out some of the best, with The $5 Film Festival, August 19-25. You don't want to shell out ten bucks for the latest Hollywood garbage. Now, for a limited time, you can just plunk down a fiver for a quality Asian movie, like Akira, The Killer, Oldboy, Shaolin Soccer, or Hero. Isn't that nice? Yes.
08.17.05
This week, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Metropolitan King County Council and Seattle City Council honored now-elderly members of the war's Military Intelligence Service, a secret U.S. Army organization made up of 6,000 Japanese Americans: Japanese-American vets lauded for WWII service. The MIS is credited with playing an integral part in ending the war, acting as translators, interrogators and interceptors of Japanese radio messages in the Pacific.
In sort of related news, dozens of Japanese Americans who were teenagers in 1942, when the government ordered them into internment camps, will now finally be receiving their high school diplomas this weekend in Los Angeles: WWII internees receiving diplomas at last
08.17.05
Esther Wong, the unlikely "godmother of punk" whose Madame Wong's clubs in Chinatown and Santa Monica showcased up-and-coming bands in the late 1970s and '80s, has died: Esther Wong, 88; 'Godmother of Punk' Whose Venues Showcased Pop, Rock Acts in '70s, '80s
08.17.05
For those of you in Dallas (yes, Dallas!), here's something for you to do this weekend... The Asian Film Festival of Dallas, "the South's largest showcase of Asian American/Pacific/International film and video," runs August 18-26 at the Magnolia Theatre. Lots of great stuff on the program, so check it out...
08.17.05
Heads up. Past/Forward 2005, September 29th, at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. It's Visual Communications' 35th Anniversary Celebration. That's thirty-five years of Asian Pacific American film and media. Hell yes, I can dig it. Get your tickets here.
08.17.05
Four teenagers in Kansas City have been charged in juvenile court with the stabbing death of Zhihai Cui, 42, a delivery driver for a Chinese restaurant: 4 teens charged in KCK slaying.
This is happening way too often. Since when did Chinese food delivery become a high-risk occupation? Since kids started killing and robbing them for sneakers, and party money. Throw their asses in jail.
08.17.05
This week's the 17th Annual National Convention of the Asian American Journalists Association in Twin Cities, Minnesota. Fun. Shout out to all my Asian American journalist friends out there. You know who you are.
08.17.05
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he's cutting back on Chinese food, as part of an attempt to lose weight for the home stretch of his re-election campaign: Mayor's Move to Cut Chinese Food Stirs a Tempest in a Wok. Now he's feeling the heat from the city's Chinese eateries. Denouncing Chinese food = political suicide?
08.16.05
You're out drinking with some pals. Just two gulps of beer, and the next thing you know, you've got red, blotchy skin, and you're feeling kind of weird. You know what I'm talking about. Wall Street Journal article on something many Asian drinkers are all too familiar with: 'Asian Flush' Spurs Quest for Cures (the article is only available online for a limited time). Ah yes, "The Asian Flush," aka acetaldehydemia—a hereditary condition that makes millions of Asians unable to process alcohol normally. Hey, I've heard Pepcid AC kind of helps...
08.16.05
This article revisits the unsolved 1970 murder of Berkeley Police Officer Ronald T. Tsukamoto: 1970 killing still haunts Berkeley. This week—thirty-five years later—police arrested two men in connection with the killing. But two days later, the suspects were freed after prosecutors said they didn't have a convincing case.
08.16.05
Another one of these situations. What exactly transpired here: Man refuses to drop knife, police shoot
08.16.05
Here's an article on Heart Mountain Relocation Center, a World War II internment camp for Japanese Americans, soon to be the site of an interpretive learning center: Walking trail traces Japanese internment
08.16.05
Washington Times article on changes in DC's Chinatown: Welcome to Chinatoon. Chinatoon?
08.15.05
This was all over the news today... First Lady Laura Bush has named Filipino American Cristeta Comerford the new head White House chef—the first woman and first minority to hold the post: Woman to Head White House Kitchen
08.15.05
As if going to the DMV didn't suck enough... Do you look 'foreign'? Prepare to show them your passport, like Dr. Suvas Desai of Kentucky, who has been living in the United States since 1967: Being targeted at the driver's license office
08.15.05
The case of Denise Woo, an FBI agent being prosecuted by the agency: FBI's Ongoing Racial Profiling Hurts National Interest. The government just can't trust the yellow people!
08.15.05
Daniel Dae Kim's in The Cave. I mentioned this movie a while back, but I guess it's finally coming out this month. See him in the trailer, ever so briefly. Unfortunately, I get the strong feeling that Mr. Kim's character gets eaten by whatever scary thing's in the cave, probably pretty early on. At least he gets to speak English.
08.15.05
I love the title of this piece: Why I'm Still 'Thuy' and Not 'Jane' or 'Susie'. Good for you, Thuy. (No offense to the Janes or Susies out there.)
08.15.05
So I have returned, only to get emails from like fifteen people warning me that Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo has some racist cracks about Asian men and their allegedly small penis size. Hardy har har. Like you didn't see that one coming. I think I'm more appalled that a significant number of you out there actually went and saw Deuce Bigalow this weekend. Silly people. And yes, sad but true— star Rob Schneider is part Filipino. No comment on his penis size.
08.15.05
On the 60th anniversary of the country's surrender, Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi apologizes for Tokyo's wartime colonization and invasions: Japanese PM Apologizes for Past Invasions. The Prime Minister pledged that Japan would never forget the "terrible lessons" of the war, and expressed his "deep reflections and heartfelt" sorrow for the damages. But don't expect Asia's everybody-is-mad-at-Japan tensions to cool down just like that...
08.14.05
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, almost three million Asian Americans turned out to vote on November 2, 2004. A new NAPALC report released earlier this month, "Sound Barriers: Asian Americans and Language Access in Election 2004," details the barriers faced by Asian Americans voted during last year's elections: New Report Highlights Problems Faced by Asian Americans As they Vote. The report "underscores the importance of providing access to the ballot for Asian Americans with limited English proficiency," among other things.
08.14.05
I'm told that up-and-coming reggae artist Tami Chynn is part-Chinese. Yay.
08.14.05
Another Los Angeles event... Don't miss Helen Zia speak at APALC—an evening of advocacy, activism and inspiration: Words of Empowerment: Creating a Nonviolent Society Through Peace Advocacy, A Joseph Ileto Fellowship Lecture Event. Friday, August 26, at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy. It looks to be a really great event. Follow the link for more background info on the murder of Joseph Ileto.
08.12.05
A US immigration judge denied bail to a Pakistani imam in California this week after hearing testimony that he was the contact man for a young Pakistani American who trained at an Al Qaeda camp: US judge denies bail to Pakistani imam
08.12.05
Profile on Shin-B, a Korean American hip hop artist in Los Angeles: Hip-Hop Artist Busts a Rhyme in Two Languages
08.12.05
Lea Duy Loan is a Senior Fellow at Texas Instruments (TI). You know, that company that makes those awesome geeky calculators all the math nerds had back in high school: Vietnamese Defies Odds to Become A Top Woman in Technology. Do high school kids still use those calculators?
08.12.05
Denizen Kane and Jimmy Tran are on Def Poetry tonight!
08.12.05
Pretty Chinese lady poised to be an international Hollywood superstar: Chinese actress Zhang grows into international star
08.12.05
By the way, that dumb Dukes of Hazzard movie is directed by Jay Chandrasekhar. Here's an article: TV series line The Dukes of Hazzard making waves
08.12.05
Here's a lengthy, informative article on the Eddie Zheng case: The Last Stand of Eddie Zheng
08.12.05
For those of you in Southern California, this weekend's the 10th Annual LA Tofu Festival, on 2nd and South San Pedro in Little Tokyo. Tofuzilla — "When Giant Tofu Takes Over Little Tokyo." With food, drink, music, arts, and a whole freakin' lotta tofu. Sounds fun, so be there.
08.12.05
This year's 72 Hour Film Shootout may be over, but the fun don't stop. This Monday, August 15th, there's AAFilmlab's 72 HR Shootout Screening Party at Dekk. So come on out, bring your teams, and see all of this year's films. Details here.
08.12.05
This casting call for an AZN Television reality show was recently posted (okay, over a week ago) on Craigslist: CASTING FOR ASIAN REALITY DATING SHOW!!!. Don't know if they're still looking, but just thought I'd throw it out there. Also came across this one, aimed at Asian American high school students: Casting Call - Asian High School Seniors
08.12.05
An article on Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.ap: No matter how succesful he gets, Black Eyed Peas' Apl never forgets his roots in a Filipino barrio, and his all-Tagalog hip-hop hit proves it. Yes, he's Filipino, and he ain't afraid to say it.
08.12.05
Quentin Lee's Ethan Mao begins a limited Los Angeles run today at the Laemmle's Fairfax 3. Though I haven't seen it yet, I've heard a few mixed reviews from festival audiences. It's described as part thriller, part family drama, about a young, gay Asian American man. And if you can't make it out to a screening, don't worry—the movie will be available on DVD next month.
08.12.05
Jin, uh, actually now known as "The Emcee," has a new website. News is, he's working on a new album to be released independently by the end of the year. I can dig it.
08.12.05
Asian American air guitar domination continues! Last month, Fatima "Rockness Monster" Hoang became the 2005 US Air Guitar Champ. Check out the video on the US Air Guitar Championships website. The Rockness Monster will go on to represent the U.S. at the Air Guitar World Championships. You might remember last year's champion, Sonyk-Rok, who will be defending her title at the world finals. America is watching! Make us proud!
08.12.05
Every now and then I like show you the kind of stuff I receive in my big ol' bag of email. Like this wonderful gem that fell into my In-Box this week:
From: Graystonemaggie
To: angryminsoo@angryasianman.com
Date: Aug 8, 2005 9:41 AM
Subject: feedback..
i don't care for asians. i live in the bay area, and most of the stereotypes have been proven. all those brains and they can't operate simple machinery. they're rude, and invade personal space without a whim of conscience. my question is how do these people feel when they see so many other asians in the same area? do they feel sorry for the natives as the whites feel for the indians? i wish you would all return to your respective lands, and make something great, like the white man did here/
I read this, and I'm like, is this for real? You've got to be kidding me. Are there really people out there this stupid? This can't be real...
08.12.05
I've been enjoying Jeff Yang's bi-weekly Asian Pop culture columns for SFGate.com. This week's article takes a look at the 9th annual (and possibily last) SF Asian Film Festival at the 4 Star Theater (not to be confused with NAATA's festival): Mayhem, Melodrama and a Fistful of Pocky. More details on the festival here. I also really liked his previous piece on Mike Kang and The Motel: Give Me Puberty, Or Give Me Death. I get a sly shout-out near the end of the column, when he calls out Butch Cassidy and his racist salad dressing packaging. Read it, and you'll understand.
08.12.05
My pal Kristina Wong got herself into the latest issue of Bust, a feminist pop culture magazine. She is seriously squeezing every last ounce of notoriety she can get out of bigbadchinesemama.com.
08.12.05
I mentioned this exhibit a few months back, and it looks like it ended last month, but check out the website: Archivist of the "Yellow Peril". It includes an online gallery with some fascinating, relevant (and racist) items. It's enough to get you good and angry.
08.12.05
This article from last month is really really really sad: The quest for a whiter shade of pale. It mentions those ridiculous visor things that seem to be quite popular in Asian communities, from Cupertino to Monterey park. Available here, in an assortment of styles and colors. God forbid a ray of sunlight should graze your skin. You look like a welder, silly woman.
08.12.05
Hey, I'm back. I'm alive and well. I wasn't sick, nor was I in any kind of trouble. Thanks to all who expressed concern/dismay regarding my absence. I took a much-needed, much-enjoyed break. I feel refreshed. So here I am now, back for some Angry Asian action, sort of. The thing is, I've been totally out of it, and have no idea what's going on. I have some catching up to do...sloooowly. But it is good to be back. So yeah, let's do this.
One thing I did want to observe that happened during my hiatus: Kayo Hatta, 47, Winner of Award for Dramatic Film at Sundance, Dies. She was a celebrated filmmaker whose most recent work, Fishbowl, has been screening at film festivals this year. It'll air on PBS in the near future. Here are a few more articles: Kayo Hatta, made 'Picture Bride'; Remembering Kayo Hatta. Her death is shocking and tragic. My condolences to her family.