Author Archives: Jeff

About Jeff

Jeff lives in Silicon Valley, and attempts to juggle marriage, fatherhood, computer systems research, running, and writing.

Asian Americans non-voters: “Too Busy to Vote”

Despite Asian Americans complaining about being treated badly politically with bills like SCA5, they simply haven’t been turning out to vote. This analysis of Census Data from the Pew Research Center says that over time, Asian American turnout is about … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Asian American Commercial Watch: Toyota Time – Spelling Bee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZTS8BFy0nk The theme of “Indian kids as spelling bee champions” seems to have a higher profile lately, especially with the recent movie Bad Words.  This Toyota commercial includes an Indian kid showing off his spelling talents.  The father is apparently … Continue reading

Posted in TV | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Anti-Asian Hate Was One of Killer Elliot Rodger’s Motivations

While I had read that misogyny and a sense of entitlement were motivations of Elliot Rodger, the man who killed six people and then himself near Santa Barbara, I didn’t realize that anti-Asian hate was another one until I saw … Continue reading

Posted in Current Events, Discrimination, Southern California | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Asian American Commercial Watch: “Twins” for Taco Bell’s Spicy Chicken Cool Ranch Doritos Locos Taco

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWRATkGYF-c An Asian guy rarely gets the girl in a TV commercial, but two of them each getting a girl?  And in the same commercial?  And the girls are white too?  Not your typical TV commercial, but although I should … Continue reading

Posted in Dating, TV | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A Look at the Data: Do Elite Colleges Discriminate Against Asians?

While 8asians has covered Asian Americans and college admissions over the years, a recent article from the data services company Priceonomics takes a data driven approach to summarize the arguments in the debate whether elite colleges discriminate against Asian American … Continue reading

Posted in Discrimination, Education | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Few Asian American Basketball Players at the NCAA D1 Level – Does it Really Matter?

After almost 10 years of playing in community, NJB, AAU, and school leagues, Number Two Son dropped out of organized basketball for good this year.  When I saw this article asking why there are very few Asian American division I … Continue reading

Posted in Discrimination, Education, Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Baylor Frederickson and how some Asian Ethnic Groups have Extra Difficulty Finding Bone Marrow Matches

7 year old Baylor Frederickson needs a bone marrow transplant.   If he was purely from one Asian group, it would be hard enough, but since one of his parents is not Asian, it’s even more difficult to find a match.  … Continue reading

Posted in Health | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Asian American Commercial Watch: AT&T’s Network Guys

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw-Amu4IGW4 I noticed this commercial because it has many of my favorite (or perhaps least favorite) Asian American stereotypes: Nerdy Asian technical guy White guy in charge Asian guy awkward with white women The Asian guy is surprised when his … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Dating, TV | Leave a comment

Asian Canadian Sim Bhullar enters the NBA draft

7 foot 5 inch Asian Canadian Sim Bhullar (pictured here on the left next to his brother Tanveer) has decided to put himself into the NBA draft after finishing his sophomore year at New Mexico State.  Bhullar averaged averaged 10.4 … Continue reading

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Colbert Responds to #CancelCobert, as does a Surprising Other Person

The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,Video Archive Earlier we presented opinions both pro and con on #CancelColbert.  The Nerdist has shared Stephen Colbert response, and the first part of his response is shown above.  While … Continue reading

Posted in Comedy, Current Events, Discrimination, Entertainment, TV | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

As Tech Transforms San Francisco, Elderly Filipino Man fights Eviction

Much as been written about how the recent tech boom is transforming San Francisco and the resulting backlash.  We hear about protests of Google buses and artists leaving for Oakland (and perhaps pushing out other artists), but this New American … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Current Events, Discrimination, Real Estate | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Look at Asian American Income Disparities and Variation: “Reading Between the Data”

When this report from Nielsen came out a few months ago about how Asian Americans are a wealthy sophisticated group with above average household income that marketers should target, it seemed to me that the people who compiled that report … Continue reading

Posted in Business, Family | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments