Rickmond Wong: the rock star of ramen

Posted on January 3, 2008 by John

The Los Angeles Times does an interesting profile of Chinese-American Rickmond Wong and his love of Japanese ramen noodles and his food blog / website on ramen, “Rameniac” in the article (1/2/07), “He’s the rock star of ramen“:

“Wong’s website, www.rameniac.com, is a lively compendium of all things ramen, one of the best of the food sites by single-topic fanatics. There is an in-depth discussion of Japan’s regional styles of ramen (22, according to Wong). There are reviews of ramen restaurants. There are reviews of packaged ramen. There are even videos of ramen being made and slurped. There is a forum for discussing ramen and ramen-related issues. Wong says that he eats ramen several times a week when he’s at home in Los Angeles and that he’ll slurp almost nonstop when he visits Japan. “Last year I ate 18 bowls of ramen in 14 days,” he says. “I came back and ate only salads for a month. But while I was there I had to get my ramen.” Next year’s vacation is already planned. “I’m going to bicycle across Japan eating ramen,” he says.” … A mop-topped 33-year-old who was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Wong is the child of Cantonese immigrants. He works as a Web designer for Universal Studios and, with a partner has just started Qio, a clothing store on Pico Boulevard in West Los Angeles dedicated to Japanese street fashion.”

I quite like ramen myself (and noodles / pasta in general), and live not too far from two ramen noodle places in Mountain View, California – Maru ichi and Ryowa – both excellent choices if you are on Castro Street and are craving ramen.

And a quick YouTube search on the keyword “ramen”, provided me a link to this educational and entertaining video backgrounder on ramen in Japan in “Life In Tokyo: Vlog #23 Ramen.“

Posted in Food & Drink | Leave a comment

Lucy Liu in ABC’s Cashmere Mafia

Posted on January 2, 2008 by John

While surfing the web, I came across ABC’s new show that is premiering in January, Cashmere Mafia, co-starting Lucy Liu:

“Four ambitious, sexy women who have been best friends since business school, Mia, Zoe, Juliet and Caitlin, try to have it all. They aren’t just powerful and intelligent as singular executive sensations in a man’s world; they’ve bonded into a formidable unit — a female “boys’ club” — to support and counsel each other through good times and bad. How better to climb up the corporate ladder than with your buddies at your side?”

Lucy Liu plays Mia Mason, “a sexy, competitive woman in the publishing field” who is being pitted against her fiancé for a key promotion. Cashmere Mafia is being positioned as “Sex and the City” meets “CNBC” – promoted as “from the creator of Sex and the City.” It’ll be interesting to see how her character Mia is portrayed (and I can imagine already the comments that will be posted based on the TV promo already…)

Personally, since I went to business school, I’m curious as to see how the show portrays work-life balance for professional women, especially those trying to raise a family. There are already enough television dramas on medicine (ER, Grey’s Anatomy), crime (Law & Order, CSI everywhere), and law (Boston Legal, L.A. Law in the 80s). I guess there is The Office, but that’s more of a comedy sitcom than a drama

Here is a Cashmere Mafia promo on YouTube:

I really liked Lucy Liu in Kill Bill, Volume 1, as well as when she was in Alley McBeal (though I am sure there are many who disliked her portrayal as a “dragon lady.)”

Posted in Entertainment, Observations | 7 Comments

Activists fail to stir opposition to China’s [Rose Bowl Parade] float

Posted on January 1, 2008 by John

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-12/34493402.jpgHappy New Year! Hopefully all of you have fully recovered from your night of debauchery as you get your latest fix of 8Asians.com. Traditionally, on January 1st, there is the annual Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California. A few days ago, The Los Angeles Times reported on human rights activists trying protest and prevent a float celebrating the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in the article (12/30/07) “Activists fail to stir opposition to China’s float“:

“At the heart of the issue is a float celebrating China’s first Olympic Games — apropos, tournament officials say, because the upcoming parade’s theme is “Passport to the World’s Celebrations.” Backers say China’s government had no role in building the float, and that it was paid for by Pasadena-based label maker Avery Dennison Corp. and a coalition of Chinese American business people and philanthropists”

According to the article, there hasn’t been much support for protesting or preventing this float in the parade. Even those in the Taiwanese community are not supporting the cause:

“Even local supporters of independence for Taiwan — who rarely miss a chance to condemn China’s government — have largely stayed out of the parade debate. Some Taiwan activists will hand out fliers at the parade. But after much debate among community leaders, they decided it was too risky to criticize the float because it had such broad backing among local Chinese, some of whom they rely on for support. “If we come out and protest this float in public, we may anger many Chinese people in L.A.,” said a leading local Taiwanese activist who wanted to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the internal debate. “They consider the Beijing Olympics a point of pride. We don’t want a war between the Chinese and Taiwanese in L.A.”

As well intentioned the efforts of the human rights activists are, given the fact that the Chinese government has no role in funding or participating in the Rose Parade or the float, I can see the lack of enthusiasm for the activists.

Posted in Current Events, Observations, Politics | 5 Comments

New Year’s Eve with Kōhaku

Posted on December 31, 2007 by jozjozjoz

As a kid, most of my New Year’s Eve memories involved having dinner (hot pot) at my grandparents home with the extended family and close friends. After dinner, the adults would drink tea (or sake) and sit around the table while talking. In the background, the TV would be blaring TV from NHK Japan: Kōhaku Uta Gassen or the Red White Song Battle (or Song Contest or Song Festival).

My family is from Taiwan, but due to the history of Japanese colonization there, my grandparents and parents learned to speak (and read/write) Japanese. So my personal New Year’s memories are a mix of Taiwanese and Japanese… with the Japanese coming from Kōhaku.

According to Wikipedia:

Kōhaku Uta Gassen, more commonly known as simply Kōhaku, is an annual music show on the New Year’s Eve produced by Japanese public broadcaster NHK and broadcast on both television and radio, nationally and internationally by NHK’s networks and some overseas (mainly cable) broadcasters which bought the program. The show ends shortly before midnight (when NHK switches to a frenzy of “Happy New Year” greetings from around the nation).

Literally “Red and White Song Battle,” the program divides the most popular music artists of the year into competing teams of red and white. The “red” team or akagumi is composed of all female artists (or groups with female vocals), while the “white” team or shirogumi is all male (or groups with male vocals). The honor of performing on Kōhaku is strictly by invitation, so only the most successful J-Pop artists and enka singers can perform. In addition to the actual music performances, the costumes, hair-styles, makeup, dancing, and lighting are also important. Even today, a performance on Kōhaku is said to be a big highlight in a singer’s career because of the show’s large reach.

While I don’t keep up with J-pop or really anything Japanese for most of the year, I always like to turn on the TV and have some Red White Song battling on to make it feel like New Year’s Eve with my family. And on the final night of 2007, I am happy to be staying in J-Town in SF with Kōhaku on the TV while waiting to meet some good friends from 8Asians for dinner.

May you ring in the New Year happily and safely!

Posted in Entertainment | 19 Comments

8Asians.com’s Top 8 Posts of 2007

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Ernie

2007 was a big year for 8Asians.com – and when we say a “big” year, we actually mean our very first year as a website. As the year is about to end, we figured it would be fun to take a look at the year behind us and list the most popular posts of this year. To do this, we calculated some statistics: Permalink views, Homepage Views, Comments, Pingbacks and Trackbacks. What you find to be the most popular posts of the year may surprise you. Or maybe not.
Continue reading →

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Sanrio to start making Hello Kitty stuff for Men

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Ernie

Sanrio, makers of Hello Kitty, announced recently that it was going to start making products targeted for young men.

Rather than coming up with something witty to say about this, I’ll simply copy and paste a recent IM conversation I had with fellow 8Asian.com blogger, Brian.

Ernie: OMG
Brian: finally! validation!
Brian: i can break out my wardrobe with dignity
Ernie: how the fuck would you tailor guys clothes with hello kitty?
Ernie: unless she’s got guns a blazin
Ernie: or smoking a joint
Ernie: in her non-existant mouth

Which leads me to the following question: Guys, what would it take for you to buy something – anything – that has Hello Kitty on it? I would say a Hi Capacity .45 pistol, but it looks like it’s already been done.

Posted in Lifestyles, WTF | 5 Comments

POP 88 #16 – FAVS of 2007!

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Xxxtine

POP 88 - Favs of 2007Happy New Year Everyone!

Since this is the last show of the year, I thought I would share with you my personal favorites of 2007. All have been released this year and no, it’s not all Chae Yeon. I’m actually surprised at my list of top 10, (in no particular order) for this year.

You can also listen to me mull about trying to find a good ramen place in downtown Toronto, my favorite film and album of this year as well as trying to figure out what my New Year’s resolution is going to be. I’d also like to know what your favorite songs released in 2007 were and also your New Year’s resolution – I’m still trying to figure mine out.

Leave a comment over at Popcast88.com or send an email to christine [at] popcast88.com.

Again! Happy New Year to Everyone and see you all in 2008! Continue reading →

POP 88 #16 - FAVS of 2007 [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download
Posted in Entertainment, POP 88 | Leave a comment

The Strong, Bold Women of Shanghai

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Mike

Shanghainese Women

Subtitle: And the Weak, Timid Men of Shanghai?

It’s one of those anecdotes you hear. “If you’re a guy in Shanghai, you’ll get hit on by scores of Shanghainese girls.” Take this particular anecdote from a friend:

So I think I got propositioned the other day. We were walking down the street… Sandy and Lilly were walking ahead of me, when suddenly, this semi-attractive lady came up to me, smiled, and said something in Mandarin. Confused, I stopped and tried to figure out what she wanted. Then she looked over at Sandy (who was standing there fist on hips… doing the “whut? whut?”), and the lady says “wifey?” in broken English. I said yes and before I can blink, she’s halfway down the block. Damn. Why didn’t I pay more attention in Mandarin class? Well, whatever she wanted, it didn’t involve one having a wife.

That’s funny, I thought. So I did some nosing around and discovered more to this phenomenon.
Continue reading →

Posted in Lifestyles, Observations | 3 Comments

Help Kina Grannis get to the Super Bowl

Posted on December 29, 2007 by Ben

Kina Grannis is a beautiful half Japanese musician/songwriter based out of Austin, Texas. I only just heard of her today and I’m already madly in love with her voice. A little late to the game, hopefully the last umph move to get 8A readers to listen to her songs and perhaps help her win the Dorito’s Crash the Super Bowl contest where the winner will get a contract with Interscope Records, and have a sixty second music video aired during the Super Bowl.The song above is actually a cover of I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie but it’s actually my current favorite rendition of it. This round of voting ends on 12/31/2007, and if she makes the final round, then that begins 1/7/2008 where three artists will compete for the final stage. She also has a site covering the two weeks that the voting has been going on for this contest at Two Weeks for Kina.

If the amazing sounds of her voice win you over like they did myself, definitely head over to her site or iTunes and grab the couple of albums that have been produced. You won’t regret it.

Posted in Entertainment | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Hotel Tomo, the kinda-sorta J-Pop Hotel in San Francisco

Posted on December 28, 2007 by Ernie

So I’m flipping through ReadyMade magazine when I come across a full page ad that simply has a giant “友!” in a bright yellow font and a website address – hoteltomo.com. Well, that’s interesting, I think to myself. And from the main description of the website, interesting is definitely a way to describe it:

Welcome to the Best Western Hotel Tomo, newly renovated and inspired by Japanese pop-culture. From the wall of televisions in our lobby to anime murals and glow-in-the-dark desk blotters in each guest room, this is a San Francisco experience like no other.

That’s right folks, it’s like that canceled FOX television show Banzai!, but the hotel version, so says the marketing anyway. I have mixed feelings about this boutique hotel situated in San Francisco’s Japantown: “This is NOTHING like an Anime hotel,” I said upon first going to the website. “Shouldn’t everyone be dressed up as maids? Why do the rooms use unfinished wood furniture? Where is the tentacle porn?”

Once I realized I sounded like Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons and realized it was just an J-Pop inspired hotel, I started to lighten up a little. I’m all for aesthetically pleasing hotels that don’t remind me of The Shining, and Hotel Tomo’s interiors sure look pretty, with murals done by Japanese artist PCP. And, what? There’s a gaming suite with a Wii, a PS3 and a six-foot LCD project screen? Don’t think they have PS3’s at the Francis Drake.

I wouldn’t half mind staying the night there, honestly, but as I’m only going off a website and Flickr photos, I might need to swing by and walk around provided that I don’t get mugged traveling through the Fillmore. (Note to anyone from the hotel reading this: If anyone wants to give us a comp night, we will be more than happy to give you a full-length, totally biased review.)

(Photo credit: YKita on Flickr)

Posted in Lifestyles | 6 Comments

WSJ: The Chungs: Poster Children For Lawsuit Abuse

Posted on December 28, 2007 by John

The Wall Street Journal reports in their Law Blog, “The Chungs: Poster Children For Lawsuit Abuse” and gives an update on the Chungs & Custom Cleaners in Washington, D.C. (8Asians.com had also posted back in May in “Cleaners are taken to the cleaners“):

“U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform’s new Web site. I Am Lawsuit Abuse is a new “public awareness” campaign featuring individuals who have been victimized by lawsuit abuse, and the Chungs are the campaign’s poster children. The owners of Custom Cleaners in Washington D.C. were sued — unsuccessfully — by former judge Roy Pearson — a 2007 Law Blog Lawyer Of the Year nominee — over a lost pair of pants. He claimed $54 million in damages. Click here to watch the Chung video, complete with funereal background music. “At first, we were very happy. The children were doing well and we were settling into our lives here,” says Mrs. Chung, who breaks down midway through the clip.”

http://www.iamlawsuitabuse.org/content/img/f43254/spotlight_chungs.jpg

The United States definitely has to be one of, if not the most litigious societies in the world. Although there are many legitimate lawsuits, it’s cases like the Chung’s which make you wonder – WTF?

Posted in Current Events, Observations | 2 Comments

Benazir Bhutto assassinated

Posted on December 27, 2007 by jozjozjoz

From CNN:

Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated Thursday after addressing a large gathering of her supporters.

Bhutto died of a gunshot wound to the neck, the Pakistani Interior Ministry said. The attacker then blew himself up. The bomb attack killed at least 22 others, doctors said.

Video of the scene just moments before the explosion showed Bhutto stepping into a heavily guarded vehicle to leave the rally.

John Moore, a photographer for Getty Images, said Bhutto was standing through the sunroof of her vehicle, waving to supporters, when two shots rang out.

Bhutto fell back into the vehicle, and almost immediately a bomb blast rocked the scene, sending twisting metal and shrapnel into the crowd, he added.

Police sources told CNN the bomber, who was riding a motorcycle, blew himself up near Bhutto’s vehicle.

Bhutto was rushed to Rawalpindi General Hospital — less than two miles from the bombing scene — where doctors pronounced her dead.

Her body was removed from the hospital — carried above a crowd of supporters — late Thursday night, about six hours after the assassination.

Chaos erupted at the hospital when former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif arrived to pay his respects to Bhutto less than three hours after her death. [full story]

I personally feel a lot of shock and sorrow to hear of this. Regardless of how I felt about Bhutto’s politics, I deeply respect a woman who had the strength and courage to fight for democracy for the people and the country she loved.

Posted in Current Events, Politics | 4 Comments