Posts by Jeff
Jeff lives in Silicon Valley, and attempts to juggle marriage, fatherhood, computer systems research, running, and writing.
Ketchup: The Asian American Condiment
While Americans slather on ketchup on their burgers and hotdogs during the July 4th weekend, they might not know that ketchup’s origins are from Asia. This article talks about ketchup’s origin as a sauce from Indonesia, its eventual use of tomatoes (it didn’t start out using tomatoes), and how it grew to be so popular. [...]
Philanthropy YouTube Style
“Maybe we can see Kevjumba!”
The Daughter was excited about that possibility of meeting the YouTube star Kevin Wu as we neared U.C. Davis. I had a meeting there with a graduate student who I collaborate with on research, and since the Daughter was thinking about our fearless leader’s Alma mater as a prospective college, I [...]
Ninja Warrior
Video Game – E3 2009 – Ninja Warrior
Ninja Warrior is a Japanese game show that my sons got me hooked on. I found it absorbing and creative (who says Asians are not creative?), so I vegged out for a weekend watching a Ninja Warrior marathon on the G4 channel. Called Sasuke in Japan after a [...]
Fatherhood, Time, and Success
On a spring morning in 1998, Dominic Orr woke up as he did every day, in the dark. While his children slept, he showered, checked his phone and e-mail messages, and drove from his Saratoga, Calif., home to a breakfast meeting nearby. When he emerged an hour or so later, he stopped cold.
In the early-morning [...]
Asian American Whiz Kid and Activist: Sejal Hathi
Sejal Hathi is an excellent student, earning the highest academic honors at her high school, winning the Presidential Scholar Award and the Principal’s Leadership Award, and going to Yale in the fall. On top of that, she has become an international figure, founding Girls Helping Girls, an international organization in 15 countries that empowers girls [...]
Filipino Debuts, Cotillions and Mantillions
“I WANT A COTILLION!!”
If The Daughter is anything, she definitely is NOT subtle. What’s a cotillion, also known as a debut? For Filipinos, it’s a coming out party for girls, similar to a quinceanera but for eighteen year old girls. These affairs can be extremely elaborate, with choreographed dances, a big reception, formal wear [...]
An Asian-American in the Music Business: Interview with Ryan Buendia (Part 2)
In the first part of my interview with Ryan Buendia, we talked mostly about his work as a producer. In this second part, we discuss his experiences as a DJ, a turntablist, and an artist known as Replay. We cover such topics as working with the Fingerbangerz crew, making music for the Jabbawockeez, and dealing [...]
An Asian-American in the Music Business: Interview with Ryan Buendia (Part 1)
In addition to being a music producer working for Apl.de.Ap of the Black Eyed Peas, Ryan Buendia is an artist and performer in his own right. As a DJ and turntablist, he has performed in various parts of the world. He has created albums on his own and as part of the Fingerbangerz crew, with [...]
