8Asians.com

From the Tumblr: A Filipino Ad Campaign for Nissan Noodles

Guest Writer — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:06:47 +0000

The 8Asians tumblr highlights Asians [& uber talented non-Asians] who draw, dance, build, film, sing, write, invent, paint, teleport, and of course, tumble. It’s curated by Jun, Moye and Ernie.

My First Protest: Asian Americans and Activism

Tim — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:55:42 +0000

Bao Phi wrote a recent blog post in the Star Tribune, which was a compilation of several local and national Asian American activists writing about their first protest. His definition of “protest” is broadly defined as “an action to stand up for what you believe in”, and does not necessarily mean picketing or marching. His post seems to strike a nerve with some readers, based on the comments it has received, but I thought it was a worthwhile effort to make us think about whether we’ve been activists in our own lives, and what that means. My first protest was purely an accident. I happened to be in Washington D.C. on my senior trip, sponsored by my high school. It was the same day that Jesse Jackson was marching on Washington as part of the Rainbow Coalition. While I was probably too young at the time to understand the full implications of the protest, it certainly got me thinking about activism and protests. I’m certainly no activist the way Bao Phi is, but his blog is a good reminder we can all be activists in little things we do every day. Whether it’s just correcting someone when they use a term out of ignorance or signing a petition to support immigration equality, it doesn’t take that much.

Asian American Commercial Watch: Dad & Son in Comcast Ad

John — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:30:59 +0000

Like I’ve said, there seems to have been a slew of commercials (Target, CVS) recently with Asian Americans being portrayed as normal Americans, rather than for fodder. Now, Comcast has an ad touting its HD quality compared with AT&T’s U-verse with an Asian dad & son, along with Shaq. If you haven’t noticed lately, Shaq and Ben Stein have been spokesmen for Comcast this past year or so. Anyways, the kid kind of reminds me a little of Russell from Up. [Because he's, you know, Asian. And chubby. -Editor]

Activisit Feng Zhenghu Caught Between China & Japan

Moye — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:54:46 +0000

I’ll just say it first. It’s like the Chinese version of Steven Spielberg’s The Terminal where one passenger is caught between two countries, unable to enter one country and unable to return back where he came from. Except this time, Chinese activist and economist Feng Zhenghu refuses to pass through Narita airport customs to enter Japan because the Chinese government is refusing to let him come home. Feng believes that his background in human rights against China is illegally keeping him from returning to his family, even when he came as far as landing at the Shanghai airport before officials forced him to return. It’s been over two weeks since Feng first holed up in Narita and you can read the full heart-wrenching story in the LA Times.

Yahoo! Games Writer Freaks Out Over Nintendo DS Dating Simulations

Ernie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:10:37 +0000

A writer at Yahoo! Games recently talked about an anime style Nintendo DS game, Love Plus, a “dating simulation” where you can court several girls virtually, and suggests that “dating” video game characters go too far in the world of human/video game character interaction. Actually, uhm, no. Suggested penetration with said characters using a Nintendo DS stylus is going too far. Ironing a character to a body sized pillow and calling it your girlfriend is too far. This, not so much.

History of Filipino-American DJs at mixcrate.com

Jeff — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:00:42 +0000

A new website for DJs, mixcrate.com, created in part by 8asians alumnus Genghis Mendoza, has a story about how the DJ scene in San Francisco Bay Area became large and influential. Turntablism is now practiced worldwide, and many legendary DJs like Qbert and Babu are Filipino-Americans from the Bay Area. CSU Long Beach Sociology professor Oliver Wang did his Ph.D dissertation at UC Berkeley on this subject. “Spinning Identities: A Social History of Filipino American DJs in the Bay Area” chronicles the history of the mobile DJ scene. He has created the web site http://legionsofboom.com/ for sharing this work.

The Bay Area DJ scene definitely has had influence, even in my family. My nephew Ryan Buendia, who is currently a music producer for the Black Eyed Peas, started out as a turntablist and is part of the Fingerbangerz crew . This DJ crew has produced a lot of music for the dance crew Jabbawockeez.

As I mentioned, mixcrate.com is a site where DJs can share and promote their mixes. Created by Bay Area DJs (Genghis is also a DJ), it too is part of the ongoing heritage that Wang describes.

Adorable Asian Kid Kylie Now Schilling Sony, Getting More Bizarre

John — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:02:48 +0000

First there was a bizarre Sony HDTV ad that claimed that watching their TV could improve your Chinese, and then there was the cute Asian girl Kylie pitching Microsoft Windows 7. Why not just combine those two? Here’s Kylie helping to pitch Sony VAIO Windows PCs, along with Payton Manning and Justin Timberlake. The only thing that would make this commercial more bizarre if there were a Burger King tie-in.

“Hookin’ Up” with Mariko Izumi

Jeff — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:55:21 +0000

“Hookin’ Up with Mariko Izumi” is a show about what you see in this picture. That’s right, that rod she is holding is a fishing rod! Mariko Izumi hosts a fishing show on WFN, the World Fishing Network channel. She is daughter of champion angler Wayne Izumi and the niece of angler and TV host, Bob Izumi. I first encountered the Izumi family when trying to relax by watching guys bash each other on the Versus channel. I noticed a show called Bob Izumi’s Real Fishing show, and the Asian name caught my eye. Bob Izumi is a full time professional angler and in addition to being Mariko’s uncle, is an co-author of a number of books and is the chairman of of the Fish for Ever Foundation, a conservation foundation dedicated toward preserving Ontario’s fisheries.

How did these Japanese Canadians get into the fishing business? It seems that Japanese Americans and Japanese Canadians have had some influence in fishing in the US Northwest and Canada. The fishing technique for salmon called “Mooching,” drift-fishing using only a banana-lead weight tied to a leader with a herring, described here, was said to be invented to by Japanese immigrant fisherman. The name, according to this account, comes from these Japanese fisherman who did so well that other fisherman would “mooch” their bait to use themselves. The Tengu fishing derby in Elliott Bay near Seattle was started by these Japanese-American fisherman in the 1930’s. A “Tengu” is a creature from Japanese mythology whose nose, like Pinnochio’s, grew when it lied, a perfect name for a fishing contest (think “fish” stories about “the one that got away”). The tournament was interrupted by the Japanese American internment, but has been going on ever since. Bob Izumi’s father started one of the first fishing tournaments in Ontario. Japanese-American and Seattle Native Mark Yuasa blogs about fishing for the Seattle Times.

Researching this post makes me want to try fishing some day. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about the influence that Asian-Americans and Asian-Canadians have had on fishing in North America. Plus, Mariko Izumi’s show seems like a great and certainly easy on the eyes way to start learning about it!

San Jose Giveaway: 18MMW at the 9th Annual Asian Comedy Night

jozjozjoz — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:53:40 +0000

If you’re able to make it to San Jose on November 20 or 21st, you should make the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors performance one of your stops! The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors are BACK in the Bay Area with a full length show for the first time in THREE YEARS! Celebrate 15 years of the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors by enjoying their sketches created and performed in Los Angeles and (mostly) NEVER BEFORE SEEN in the Bay Area!

Sketches include:

TORTURE!
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS!
KOREAN BBQ!
And more!

The Contemporary Asian Theater Scene presents The 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors at The 9th Annual Asian Comedy Night!

Friday, November 20, 8pm (with cast reception)
Saturday, November 21, 7pm and 10pm

San Jose Woman’s Club
75 South 11th Street, San Jose 95112-2018

TICKETS:
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/84600
Friday show and reception with cast: $25
Saturday shows: $20

What you could win from 18MMW and CATS: two tickets to either performance on Saturday, November 21.

That’s right! The lucky winner wins a pair of tickets to see 18MMW Saturday night!

How do you enter?
Simply leave a short comment stating why you should win. (Be sure to use the email address you’d like to be contacted at if you’re the winner.)

Hurry, the deadline to enter is: Wednesday, November 18 at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time) One lucky winner will be selected and contacted on Thursday.

Rules for entering:

Please be in the San Jose area (or willing to travel to SJ on your own dime) and serious about using these tickets; if you’re too busy to use these, please don’t take them away from someone who will!
Tickets are non-transferrable; they are good for you and a guest.
Contributors to 8Asians and their immediate family members are not eligible to win.

Prizes courtesy of: 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors and Contemporary Asian Theater Scene (CATS).

Shirley Tan: Advocate Person of the Year

Tim — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:59:59 +0000

I wrote previously about Shirley Tan’s plight of possible deportation and separation from her family, and followed up later with a post on the act of Congress that let her stay with her family in the United States. Tan has been busy testifying before Congress, meeting with White House officials, and speaking to the media about the need for immigration reform to make sure what happened to her family doesn’t happen to any other LGBT families.

Tan’s hard work has earned her the award for 2009 Activist by The Advocate magazine. To read the full write-up about Shirley and the 2009 People of the Year, pick up a copy of the December/January issue of The Advocate, on newsstands now. If you’re interested in helping pass the UAFA in Congress, you can visit the Immigration Equality page that lists ideas including writing and calling Congress, writing to editors, and signing a petition among other activities.