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Our hopes for an Asian-American Idol were cut down 33% last Thursday after learning that Paul Kim was voted off in the first round of eliminations on American Idol. Maybe it was because he was sick that week; maybe Americans were tired of his good luck charms (singing barefoot, wearing lucky underwear) after everyone got tired of Jasmine Trias wearing that damn flower in her hair every week.
Most likely it was because he sang Wham’s “Careless Whisper,” which songwise is the kiss of death for any Idol contestant anywhere, ever. Dear anyone who tries out for American Idol: DO NOT SING CARELESS WHISPER. (Ditto for girls that sing “I Feel The Earth Move [Under My Skin].”)
Instead, 8Asians.com’s official vote of confidence goes for AJ Talbado, who was one of the more standout male performers. If only I can get over those weird hand movements he does, though.
7 Comments | Posted in: Entertainment
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For those of you who listen to the radio in the Bay Area, you may be familiar with public radio KQED’s Pacific Tiime:
“Reporting from both sides of the Pacific Ocean, KQED’s Pacific Time explores the ideas, trends and cultural patterns that flow back and forth between Asia and America.”
Tonight’s program had a few interesting segments, including one on Minidoka (located in Idaho, Minidoka was one of the ten camps where Japanese Americans were held.) February 19th was the 65th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 which provided the framework for the forced relocation of 120,000 people of Japanese descent from the West Coast, the majority of whom were American citizens.
It always amazes me to think that 120,000 (or so) AMERICAN’s civil liberties were so blatantly violated. Could it happen today? Hopefully not!
2 Comments | Posted in: Discrimination, Politics
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George Takei has been long known in the Asian American community as an activist for civil rights and more recently, for gay rights.
Hats off to George Takei for his brave PSA addressing Tim Hardaway’s recent homophobic rants.
George, you are my hero.
Hat tip: Jimmy Kimmel
2 Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Discrimination, LGBT, Sports
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So often Asian people are convinced that they can “tell” who their fellow Korean- or Japanese- or Chinese-Americans are. Or that they can identify members of other Asian-American groups. But can we really?
When I pass other Asian-Americans on the street, I feel myself doing the Guessing Game, and I often assume I am right in my guesses. But I am chagrined to say that I have taken the face test TWICE over at AllLookSame, and both times I have failed miserably. (7 out of 18 correct is my average)
Take the test. Can YOU tell the difference?
6 Comments | Posted in: Discrimination, Lifestyles
As you probably have already figured out, I love reading The New York Times (as well as The Wall Street Journal FYI), so I just read “Las Vegas Adapts to Reap Chinese New Year Bounty”
Zhu Yu was not the least perturbed that faux Italian frescoes — rather than Asian silk screens — decorated the ceiling of the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino hallway where he and his family watched on Saturday as a 25-foot-long red-and-yellow dragon shimmied through a traditional Chinese New Year dance. Chinese New Year is one of the most profitable times of the year for Las Vegas casinos like the Venetian, which featured a dragon dance Saturday. “Oh, it’s nothing like what we did when I was a boy in Taipei, but it’s still very exciting,” Mr. Zhu, 49, said over the din of drumbeats as the dragon paused to send good luck in the direction of those inside the high-limit baccarat room. His three daughters, all younger than 10, stood mesmerized in front of his wife. It was the Zhu family’s fourth straight year ushering in Chinese New Year in Las Vegas instead of in their home city, San Francisco.
This is a Las Vegas version of Chinese New Year,” Mr. Zhu said. “It’s its own thing, but we love it.” So do casino executives. Chinese New Year, a 15-day celebration that is set by a lunar calendar and that usually falls in late January or early February, has become one of the city’s most profitable events, drawing thousands of Asian and Asian-American visitors and hundreds of millions of their dollars each year.
The city’s tourism board does not keep statistics on the event’s economic impact, but executives with Las Vegas Sands Inc., which owns the Venetian, say more money is bet during the two-week period than at any other time during the year. “The Chinese New Year is longer than anything,” said the company’s president and chief operating officer, William P. Weidner, “and we see much higher per-player action.”
What can I say? Asians & Asian Americans just love gambling! I personally don’t like to gamble, unless you count the stock market 
I love this quote:
“The highest quality players will get whatever they want. The Chinese are the highest and best quality players in the world, so they’ll have preference. We don’t care how tall you are, how short you are, how fat you are, what color you are. Green is the most important color.”
Like I said, Las Vegas - Anything for a Buck!
5 Comments
Today is Chinese New Year - which is today - Sunday, February 18, 2007! It’s the Year of the Pig (Boar) - I was born the Year of the Pig - so you can guess how old I am! What’s my Chinese New Year’s resolution? The usual: lose weight, exercise more, find that special someone…
Apparently, it’s an especially lucky Year of the Pig and an especially good year for a ‘Golden Pig’ Baby Boom.
Here’s to a great year - especially for those expecting a baby in the New Year!
[Ed: As to why the Chinese character is upside down, this page on Wikipedia should explain things. See, you learn something new every day!]
5 Comments | Posted in: Current Events
What’s a Pinay to do when she really, really loves something? Write a song and sing about it.
That’s exactly what Christine of HappySlip.com did. And whoa boy, does she love that Mac. Watching her with that G5 almost makes me blush. I wonder if the Apple Store employees had to wash it down afterwards. (Word has it this video has even been circulated within Apple’s headquarters.)
Cute, spunky, and hilarious, Christine’s been gaining an audience on YouTube and MySpace. She says she’s not after a career in Hollywood, even though she’s tried auditioning for a few commercials in the past.
What are you tryin’ to do with these HappySlip videos? I’m tryin’ ta have fun, that’s what I’m tryin’ ta do. This is what whole HappySlip thing was born out of, was… (brushes hair back) aaack! Hair in my eye! Hair… in… my… eye…
Since October 2006, she’s created about fifteen videos. Many spoof the Filipino culture and her relationship with her parents (she does a great filipino accent). Lately, she’s been filming a heart-wrenchingly hilarious soap opera with evil twin sisters, drugged apple juice, a Spanish-speaking teenage heartthrob with three kids, and… a horse.
She’s even been able to recruit her parents into a few videos. Her Mom sometimes holds the camera and, uh, massages her feet… See what I mean by hillarity?
Impressively, she scripts, directs, and edits all of these videos herself. She’s a one-pinay production team. And all, of course, on her Mac.
2 Comments
Yul Kwon turned 32 on Valentine’s Day and apparently donated “$50,000 of his cash from winning “Survivor: The Cook Islands” to the Asian American Donor Program, in the hopes the money will help educate Asian-Americans about the importance of bone marrow donation.” according to this San Francisco Examiner article.
As you have probably already read, Yul’s high school friend and Stanford college roommate died of leukemia because he didn’t get a bone marrow donation in time. I donated blood to the Asian American Donor Program many, many years ago because a college friend of mine’s cousin was in dire need of a bone marrow donation. Fortunately, he did get a bone marrow transplant and survived.
However, I know that a work colleague of mines son died of leukemia because his son wasn’t able to get one. A bone marrow match is especially difficult if you are bi-racial apparently (his son was half-Asian, half-Caucasian).
So get yourself into the registry - you could literally save a life!
2 Comments | Posted in: Current Events
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