fukudome signs with cubs; yankees could trade matsui

Japanese outfielder Kosuke Fukudome is coming to the Major League, signing a $48 million, four-year contract with the Chicago Cubs: Japanese star Fukudome coming to Chicago to play for Cubs. Fukudome was considered one of the best outfielders in Japanese baseball, and a key member of the Japan team that won the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. He has 192 home runs and a .305 batting average over nine seasons with the Chunichi Dragons, who their first championship in 53 years last month (though Fukudome had to sit out the series due to elbow surgery). He is expected to play right field for the Cubs. More here: Cubs land Fukudome

In other baseball news, there's been talk that the New York Yankees might trade outfielder Hideki Matsui to the San Francisco Giants, who are very interested: Yanks, Giants reportedly talk Matsui. While Matsui is considered a cash cow for the Yankees, thanks to lucrative marketing deals that followed him from Japan, it looks like the team is open to the possibility: YANKS WOULD DEAL MATSUI AT RIGHT PRICE. As a lifelong Giants fan, I would very happy about this move. As many know, my team is in desperate need of some sluggers these days...

what I've been listening to: remixed and restored, vol.1

Dave Liang, the guy behind the Shanghai Restoration Project, just released his latest project, Remixed and Restored: Vol. 1, through China Records (the Chinese government's record company). The album remixes some of the greatest Chinese songs from the early 20th century, including tunes by Zhou Xuan, Yao Li, Bai Guang, Bai Hong and Li Xianglan—some of the most celebrated singers of the era. The project contains five of Dave's remixes in addition to the five original master versions. It's currently available as a digital download on iTunes and Amazon.com. I've been listening to it over the last week, and it's good stuff. Listen to samples here.

news from around the community

The Art of Charting the Changes in Chinatown: In preparation for a $15 million expansion into a new space designed by Maya Lin, the Museum of Chinese in America is starting an archaeological project around five Lower Manhattan sites to document the shifting patterns of immigration and assimilation in New York City.

Wing Luke Asian Museum prepares to move. Speaking of new museum spaces, after twenty years in the same location, this month the Wing Luke Asian Museum in Seattle packed up its things to re-open next year in a new 59,000-square-foot space.

Asian Americans flex political muscle in wider Bay Area: Though San Francisco's population is one-third Asian, the majority Chinese Americans, there are few prominent politicans of Chinese descent. However, out in the larger Bay Area, the Chinese American community is making dramatic strides in the political landscape of the South Bay.

Jews, Asians are building bonds: Jewish and Asian American leaders, whose communities represent nearly 20% of Los Angeles County's population, are trying to forge friendships in hopes of combating such chronic issues as racism and stereotyping.

Helping South Asian women fight abuse: Sahara is a 3-year-old Miami-based group specifically focusing on combatting domestic violence against South Asian women in South Florida. Contrary to the popular minority myth, domestic abuse in South Asian households does exist, and needs to be addressed.

'I've always felt a little different, but I don't mind': Nice story on the Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, started 30 years ago to create opportunities for Asian Americans in the theater arts and expose audiences to works reflecting the Asian American experience.

Sharing the Dough: Inside a Secret Queens Dumpling Factory: Ancient Chinese secret? Dumpling chef Sun Le reveals her "secret" dumpling factory—a basement kitchen—to the Village Voice. I like her apron.

run dmz

Awesome. The above clip is from Benson Lee's documentary Planet B-Boy. The film journeys with the phenomena of breakdancing from its humble urban roots to its popularity now on an international scale, following the stories of b-boys from Osaka, Paris, Seoul and Las Vegas out to compete for the title of World Champion at the "Battle of the Year." It looks pretty kickass. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, and will hit theaters nationwide next spring from Elephant Eye Films. Check out this badass preview here, and the teaser trailer here. To learn more about the Planet B-Boy, visit the official site here.

I have actually been to the 38th Parallel at the DMZ, but I certainly don't remember seeing anything like this happening there. I wish I had. Perhaps that's the key to peace and harmony on the Korean peninsula. Breakdancing. For the reunification!

journey's new lead singer

I got an email from one serious Journey fan informing me that the band just hired a new lead vocalist, Arnel Pineda, a Filipino guy who was discovered on YouTube. This is not a joke. From the official Journey website: JOURNEY WELCOMES ARNEL PINEDA WITH "OPEN ARMS" TO THEIR FAMILY AS THE BAND'S NEW LEAD SINGER. Hailing from Quezon City in the Philippines, Arnel has been singing Journey songs for years with his cover band, The Zoo. He replaces Jeff Scott Soto, who parted ways with the band earlier this year. When it was time for Journey to look for a new lead singer, the band looked to the internet and discovered Pineda rockin' it on YouTube. Crazy. It's like out of a movie. Check out this video of the man in action, singing "Faithfully." He ain't no Steve Perry, but damn, it comes pretty close.

still no asian american studies at harvard

This is an interesting article in The Harvard Crimson about the push by students for full-fledged Asian American studies program at Harvard: Asian American Studies Still Waiting for an Entrance. The University currently has no permanent professor in Asian American studies, and the Asian American Association is starting (yet another) campaign to bring the field to Harvard. While Asian American studies has flourished at west coast schools since the early 1970s, and has found a home over the last two decades at other Ivy League institutions, Harvard lists only four Asian American Studies courses, all taught by the same visiting professor. Seems pretty odd that a school with such a strong reputation for academic excellence should lack an Asian American studies program, especially considering all the Asian American students that have gone through Harvard. Maybe it's time for a hunger strike—that's what they did at my school.

gold medalists giveaway winners

Thank you to everyone who entered the Gold Medalists CD giveaway contest, courtesy of Actually Records. The City Lights Us on Fire is the debut album from San Francisco's Peter Nguyen. In order to the enter the contest, you had to write in with the answer to this question: Of which two San Francisco-based bands is Peter Nguyen also a member? A correct response would refer to noise/metalheads Total Shutdown and indie-rockers eE. Our winners, chosen at random, are:

Patrick M. of Rockville, MD
Brian M. of Minneapolis, MN
Donald L. of San Francisco, CA
Yuji I. of Parlin, NJ
Justine S. of Princeton, NJ

You should be getting your shiny new CD in the mail soon. Free stuff is fun. The rest of you, sorry. Better luck next time. If you still want the album, you can get your copy of The City Lights Us on Fire here. Special thanks goes to Chien at Actually Records, for hooking it up.

whoa... the machine girl trailer

Okay, I'll admit it. Every now and then I am intrigued by weird-ass Japanese movies. About a dozen people have sent me the trailer for the upcoming Japanese cult horror/action film The Machine Girl, seen over at Twitch (and subsequently on Digg), and... wow. You weirdos. It's pretty much the most insane movie trailer I've ever seen. Not your average revenge flick. Japanese school girl gets her family killed and arm cut off by bad, bad people. Her only course of action is to seek revenge, arm now replaced by a high powered machine gun. Be warned: the trailer is not for the faint of heart, as it features copious violence, blood, guts, gore, ninjas, yakuza, tempura, chainsaws and dismembered body parts. Watch the trailer here. I don't know when this movie is coming out, or if it'll even hit U.S. screens. But dammit, Grindhouse ain't got nothin' on this movie.

survey on indian immigrant working mothers

Got this request forwarded to me from my friends on the NAPAWF listserve:

Survey on Asian Indian immigrant working moms

There is little research on how Asian Indian moms in the United States are dealing with the demands of immigration, motherhood and careers/jobs. Please consider participating in this anonymous survey that seeks to identify factors that help Asian Indian professional/ working mothers negotiate various demands at work and at home. If you meet the following conditions, please participate in the Survey:

1. Asian Indian Woman between the ages of 18-55 years living in the US.
2. A mother of at least one child who is currently between 0-16 years.
3. A first generation immigrant to the United States 4. Are currently employed/professionally engaged for over 25 hours/ week in the United States

Please contact Sundari Balan at sundari@umich.edu for more info.

Maybe you fit the bill, and you can help them out. Take the survey here.

all fortune, no cookie

In London, a wealthy pensioner left her entire fortune to the owners of a Chinese restaurant in her will: Elderly Briton leaves fortune to Chinese restaurant owner. Golda "Goldie" Bechal left 10 million pounds (about $20 million) to Kim Sing Man and Bee Lian man, owners of the Essex restaurant Lian, where Bechal had been a patron for many years. While her nephews and nieces claimed that she was of unsound mind when she made the will, and attempted to have her will declared invalid, a judge at London's High Court ruled that the testament was indeed legit. So the Man family gets the money. Man, I guess it pays to know how to serve a really mean plate of pickled leeks and bean sprouts.

fyi: films by youth inside

Here's a Los Angeles Times story on the work of filmmaker Alex Munoz, who has been teaching a video production program, FYI: Films by Youth Inside, to incarcerated youth for the last five years: Life has its own story line. Under Munoz's tutelage, students conceive stories, write scripts, and ultimately produce short films. A few years back at the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, I had the pleasure of watching some of the work that he's produced with his students, and it's interesting, unique, powerful stuff. The works are rough and far from polished, but there's no doubt that FYI is a worthwhile program. To learn more about Films By Youth Inside, go here.

student killed by car racer

This is a really sad story out of Temple City, CA, about 19-year-old Angela Chung, a Woodbury University student who was killed last week when her car was struck by an alleged street racer trying to evade authroties: Fatal crash haunts student's family. What's always the worst part in stories like this is reading about how a promising life was suddenly cut short, and now what her family has to go through in the aftermath. It's simply a nightmare.

The suspect in the incident, which also injured two others, is a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly racing another vehicle at 80mph. She is being charged with four felony counts including vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and evading an officer, causing death. She, of course, probably walked away from the wreck without a scratch.

To remember Angela, her friends and family have created a memorial scholarship in her name: Scholarship planned to honor victim of alleged street racing. The Angela Chung Memorial Scholarship will be given annually to a student studying human resources in the school of business at Woodbury University, where Angela attended. To make a donation, send a check payable to the Angela Chung Memorial Fund, c/o Staci Chung, P.O. Box 1016, Temple City, 91780. For more information, call Howard Fitzgerald, (818) 252-5207.

undoing now playing in theaters

Just a reminder that Chris Chan Lee's indie noir drama Undoing is currently playing in New York and Boston. Here's a halway decent review from the New York Times: Forget It, Jake, It's Koreatown. (Dude, how many times do we have to see variations on this line from Chinatown?)

sikh man attacked in new york

Got this news forwarded along to me in a press release from United Sikhs... Last month in Richmond Hill, New York City, 59-year-old Gurjit Singh, a Sikh man, was viciously attacked and robbed by three youths, just a few doors away from his home. He was walking towards his house when the three suspects grabbed him from behind, knocked off his turban and threw it to the ground. Two of the attackers repeatedly stamped on Singh's face and body as the othe searched through his pockets for valuables. Singh suffered a number injuries, including swelling and cuts to the face and tongue and extensive brusing to his hands. The youths then ran off with Singh's lunch bag and made off in a black getaway car tha was waiting for them further along the street. Read more about the attack here: Sikh Man Attacked Only Yards From His Doorstep.

United Sikhs is appealing to anyone who might have any information on this incident to please come forward and assist the police in finding Singh's attackers. The organization is also conducting a survey to determine if there is an increase in street crimes in the Richmond Hill community. If you know of any street incidents or crimes in the area, please report them to United Sikhs at 1-888-243-1690 or contact@unitedsikhs.org. Please immediately report such incidents and crimes to the police, as they can only act if they're made aware that something has happened. Don't stay silent!

jamie chung cast in dragonball

It was reported last week that Jamie Chung, formerly of MTV's Real World San Diego, has been cast in the upcoming live-action movie adaptation of the insanely popular Japanese anime/manga series Dragonball: Chung goes live with 'Dragonball'. I mentioned her a few months back when she was cast as the lead for the ABC Family pilot Samurai Girl. Looks like she might be capable of playing roles outside the stuff currently on her resume, which includes "Flirting Girl" and "Hooters Girl." In Dragonball, she will play "Chi Chi," the love interest of Goku while he's growing up. Ah, I see. While everyone else in this movie based on a Japanese series will be played by white actors, the female love interest, of course, can and will be Asian. As previously reported, the movie will be directed by James Wong, and produced by Stephen Chow. I have nothing else to say about this news, except that I can only imagine that this will be a very silly movie.

remembering james kim

A moment to remember James Kim, former editor for CNET, who died last year trying to find help when he and his wife and children became stranded in the Oregon wilderness... Here's CNET's obituary from last year, accompanied by a video tribute: James Kim--family man, gadget fan. I remember being riveted by the story for his search, and deeply disturbed by the news of his death. One year later, and the story is still heartbreaking. One year later, and James Kim is still a hero.

asians on cold case tonight

David Huynh informs me that he'll be appearing on tonight's episode of CBS' Cold Case. If you aren't familiar with the show, it's about a Philadelphia homicide detective assigned to cases that have never been solved. This week's episode focuses on the 1945 murder of a Japanese American family man who was persecuted in his neighborhood following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Here's the brief synopsis from the website:

Sunday, December 9, 9pm et/pt
Family 8108

While investigating whether a man's internment at a camp for Japanese-Americans in California during World War II had any bearing on his 1945 murder shortly after his release, Lilly also attempts to get Stillman to withdraw his retirement papers. TV14-DL

Okay, so that doesn't tell you much. But it sounds kind of like the Cold Case version of the "Chinatown" episode, where a bunch of Asian American actors get a chance to work for a week. Except here instead of gangsters, it's World War II-era Japanese Americans. Interesting. In addition to David, who's a solid actor, the episode guest stars Mia Korf, Kim Miyori, Ian Anthony Dale, Keone Young, and Ron Yuan. I'll be watching with my fingers crossed that this will be a halfway decent story.

norman hsu indicted

Hey! It's everybody's favorite shady Asian political campaign fundraisser... Last week, a federal grand jury indicted Norman Hsu on charges of cheating investors of at least $20 million and making illegal dontations to the political campaigns of congressional and presidential candidates: Democratic Fundraiser Hsu Indicted in NY. In a 15-count indictment, the government accused Hsu of duping investors nationwide with a massive Ponzi scheme. He is also accused of violating campaign-finance lawas by making contributions to various political candidates in the names of others.

It seems Norman was a bit of a high roller, or at least wanted others to believe so. Federal prosecutors said Hsu hoped his lavish campaign contributions would help draw money to his scheme by raising his public profile. To achieve his aims, he apparently pressured many of this victims to contribute thousands of dollars to various candidates. As it came to light this summer, Hsu was once a valued supporter of Clinton, raising more than $1.2 million for her and other Democratic candidates in recent years. The scandal hit the fan when it was revealed he had been hiding from the law in plain sight since 1992. Norman's flight from the law ended in September, after missing a court date, when he was arreseted at a Colorado hospital after attempting suicide.

He now faces six counts of mail fraud, six counts of wire fraud and three counts of violating the Federal Election Campaign Act. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison on each of the fraud charges, and five years on each of the federal campaign-finance charges. He also could face millions of dollars in fines.

speed racer trailer

Whoa. The trailer for Speed Racer hit the web today, and it looks pretty insane. It's the Wachowski brothers' big screen, live-action adaptation of the classic anime series. View it here. The movie hits theaters next summer. As it has been widely reported, Korean pop superstar Rain is in the movie (billed on the official site as "Ji Hoon Jung") as Taejo Togokhan. He makes a couple of prominent appearances in the trailer...


Here he is taking a swing at Speed, with Racer X blocking the punch.


And here's Rain fighting off a bunch of crazy ninja-like dudes.


Oh, and here's another badass-looking Asian dude with some very anime-like white hair. UPDATE: Okay, a gazillion people wrote in to inform me that this guy with the white hair Park Jun Hyung, formerly of the Korean pop group G.O.D. (Groove Over Dose). He and Rain were both apparently once under the same record company, JYP Entertainment.

searching for veronica ruiz

In Mill Valley, California, family and friends have been searching for 25-year-old Veronica Ruiz, who has been missing since Monday, December 3: Missing hiker sought on Mount Tamalpais. She is believed to have disappeared while hiking on Mount Tamalpais, where her last cell phone call was traced. Veronica was described by her family as upset over a fight with her boyfriend, and telling friends she was going for an afternoon hike.

Veronica is described as a Filipina, 5-feet-5-inches tall, 120 pounds, with dark brown hair and brown eyes, and an abdominal scar. Relatives said she may have been wearing trail-running shoes and black capri pants and carrying a gray-and-orange CamelBak water system.

Anyone with information should call (415) 389-4100. Unfortunately, as of Wednesday, the search for Veronica has been suspended by police: Mount Tamalpais search called off. Her friends and family, however, are keeping the search alive this weekend: Help Find Veronica Ruiz. Searches will begin Saturday and Sunday at day break. For to get involved with the search, contact Maricris at 650-222-9578 or findveronicaruiz@yahoo.com. For more information, go here.