8 Asians

Taiwan, The Forgotten China

By John | Monday, February 5, 2007 | 3 Comments

This article in The Wall Street Journal about Taiwan as “The Forgotten China” is a very positive piece highlighting all the great things about Taiwan, otherwise known as the Republic of China. To most Americans, I am sure they’re not exactly sure what is going on with mainland China and Taiwan.

“Unlike China, Taiwan doesn’t suppress religion, and Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism have long flourished. The result is a richness and depth of Chinese culture unmatched on the mainland… Despite the opening two years ago of Taipei 101, the world’s tallest building, Taiwan isn’t on the map for most tourists. Last year, for instance, a relative trickle of American tourists visited Taiwan — 86,000. Thirteen times as many Americans, more than one million, went to Hong Kong alone. “We’re the best-kept secret in Asia,” a tourism official says ruefully.”

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3 Comments | Posted in: Lifestyles

Hizashi no Naka no Rairu

By Min Jung | Saturday, February 3, 2007 | 11 Comments

Because seriously… everyone just wants to bone an underage Asian girl, don’t we? And now we can, on the Nintendo DS!

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11 Comments | Posted in: Video Games

What IS the point, anyway?

By Ernie | Saturday, February 3, 2007 | 5 Comments

Early response regarding this website has been… well, interesting.

what does living as an Asian-American mean, anyhow? I’m not being rhetorical or sarcastic (okay so i am a little), but just wondering what’s the point of becoming collective in this theme when also a theme in “Asian-America” is to dispel stereotypes. maybe i’m just miffed becaust the posts on 8 Asians aren’t particularly insightful yet, just people commenting and observing that there are people of Asian descent doing whatever they do, in the United States. big deal. tell me what it means to be of Asian descent, and living in the United States.

So, in my Barbara Walters-like role, I ask you: What does it mean to be of Asian decent, living in the United States?

5 Comments | Posted in: Meta

TeleMongol: Get the “Friends of Min Jung” Discount

By Min Jung | Friday, February 2, 2007 | No Comments

And in other A-Hole news:

Hey, Bay Area Asian American peeps. Seriously, come to this. Be my fricking guest.

Check out this show!

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No Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Entertainment

Who the Heck Speaks Mandarin in Sillicon Valley?!

By Mike | Friday, February 2, 2007 | 1 Comment

Seriously, why would you want your kids to learn Mandarin in Silicon Valley? It’s only spoken by 867 million people and is fast becoming an important tool for global business. And it’s not like Silicon Valley is a good place for growing a global business either.

So there’s obviously no need to learn Mandarin, right? Right.

(Continued)

1 Comment | Posted in: Current Events, Politics

Grace Lee Emailed Me!

By Mike | Friday, February 2, 2007 | No Comments

Pssst! This just in, from Grace Lee (I wrote about her several weeks ago, re: Flesh-Eating Zombies - oh, how I’ve longed to say all that in a sentence). I emailed her to ask when her film The Grace Lee Project will be available on DVD:

still figuring that out!! sorry.. but the film will be broadcasting on sundance channel beginning in february. tell your friends!

best,
grace

You heard her folks! Tune in to the Sundance Channel this month! Especially if your name is Grace Lee!

P.S. I should totally start a Mike Lee Project, shouldn’t I? Hmmm…

No Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Entertainment

Attention, People with Korean-y Blood

By Susan | Friday, February 2, 2007 | No Comments

If you are partly or wholly Korean, you might want to check this out: (thanks to Green Fertility for the heads-up)

Sam is 21 years old. He was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia over the winter break; a good match for a bone marrow donor could greatly increase his chances for survival. He is a hard bone marrow match because he is biracial (Korean/western European). Potential donors (18-60 years old) with similar Asian and/or European backgrounds are his best chance.

There are currently only 10 potential matches for Sam in the bone marrow database throughout the world — and they may or may not ultimately match or be available.

More info on how to register as a bone marrow donor andif you specifically want to be tested to help Sam Cross.

There is also a national Asian American donor registry, and the test doesn’t hurt a bit. I checked it out and there are several Asian-American patients who are waiting for bone marrow matches. Their stories are so compelling and moving. If you are Filipino, Filipino-Caucasian, Chinese, Thai, Chinese-Caucasian, people (mostly young people and little kids) are waiting.
How can you say no to someone like this?

No Comments | Posted in: Current Events, Lifestyles

NPR: Asian-American Politicians Flourish in Santa Clara County

By John | Thursday, February 1, 2007 | 1 Comment

I listened to this piece on National Public Radio on “Asian-American Politicians Flourishing in Santa Clara. It’s great to hear about how Asian-Americans are taking leadership roles in politics in Santa Clara county - there are five Asian-American mayors in this county. Traditionally, Asian-Americans have not been all that active in politics. In 2004, when I volunteered for the Kerry campaign, I rarely saw any Asian-Americans volunteering or going to fund raisers - and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area! I was born-and-raised in Western Massachusetts where there were barely any Asians/Asian-Americans, so that would be expected. But in California? Come on!

1 Comment | Posted in: Current Events