Kent Ninomiya Entertainment

Martial Arts Wandering

2009-06-17T01:21:00.001-05:00

The study of martial arts should ideally be done under the tutelage of a single qualified master. However, in today's modern society people move, schools close, and students get bored.
A lifelong student of martial arts may need to transition to several different martial arts programs in their lifetime. This can be incredibly difficult if you study a somewhat obscure martial art like hapkido. There are very few hapkido schools, so finding one when you move is a challenge. This is why tae kwon do is a good martial art to study if you plan to move a lot. No martial art is more pervasive in America today. The two largest factions of tae kwon do are the World Taekwondo Federation and the International Taekwon-do Federation. Their systems are somewhat standardized. If you study WTF or ITF tae kwon do, you should be able to find another school teaching pretty much the same way in another city. Your rank will also transfer to the new school. This allows you to continue your studies unabated.

Karate Is Back

2009-06-11T21:54:00.000-05:00

When Lyoto Machida won the UFC Light Heavyweight championship two weeks ago, he declared that "karate is back." Machida's martial arts training started at the age of 3 with instruction from his father, a shotokan master. Machita later branched out to sumo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and eventually mixed martial arts. He rose to the top of the UFC using a combination of his skills, but his technique remains dominated by the karate style he learned as a child. Tae kwon do and karate are closely related martial arts. You can see elements of these styles as you watch Machida fight. He is elusive. Machida never stands directly in front of an opponent, so rarely gets hit. He moves laterally with ease and strikes unexpectedly with remarkable precision. This karate style has frustrated opponents used to pounding opponents into submission. The UFC has long been dominated by submission specialists and heavy handed ground and pounders. Karate and TKD have long been written off as impractical for mixed martial arts. Machina is rewriting the qualifications for a mixed martial arts champion.

Tae Kwon Do Evolving

2009-06-06T21:39:00.001-05:00

An 18-year-old second dan named Dakota Srigley just won the ITF tae kwon do Canadian nationals. When asked about his aspirations, Srigley stated that he plans a career in mixed martial arts.
This on top of his next project, appearing in an upcoming movie starring Pierce Brosnan and Uma Thurman. This points out an interesting trend in martial arts. Students are seeing tae kwon do as a springboard to other things. Any actor who wants to be an action star needs to know how to fight. Many actors study tae kwon do strictly for career development. Mixed martial arts is all the rage these days. Kids watch MMA fights on TV then head to the Dojang to try them out. Many move on to other martial arts when they realize that tae kwon do wont help them with their ground game. If this trend continues, it wont take long for the tae kwon do schools to adapt. We will see more hybrid programs and fewer pure tae kwon do schools. Could this be what TKD is evolving into?

The Future of Journalism

2008-06-10T00:54:00.001-05:00

We are entering a new era in journalism. The future belongs to the citizen journalist. Newspapers are shutting down all over the country. TV stations are downsizing or getting rid of news altogether. Magazines subscriptions are dwindling. Each of us now has unprecedented access to a worldwide audience through the internet. Anyone can write an article or shoot a video and have it viewed around the planet instantly. No longer does an affluent elite hold the reigns to the flow of information. A stampede of competing opinion is on the loose spreading long silenced voices across the globe for everyone to hear.
With this awesome new power comes responsibility. There is an unwritten code of journalism ethics. Like most ethics they are subject to broad interpretation. The spread of citizen journalism is making those interpretations even broader. Internet journalism is far more anonymous and brazen. Many so-called journalists are nothing more than gossips who represent blatant lies as fact. These people give all journalists a bad name and contribute to public mistrust of the industry. Real journalists seek the truth and only communicate what they can confirm as the truth at the time. As a journalist you are the gatekeeper of information. It is your duty to sift through it and distinguish verifiable facts from rumor and innuendo. A true journalists verifies facts through secondary sources, gets responses from all sides and has no agenda but to get to the truth. If enough of us stick to that mantra we will win the public’s trust because they know we are fair.
Experience must be your guide to determine what is right or wrong. There is a lot of grey area in news. In our zeal to get a story out first we often cut corners and get sloppy with details. Some of that has to be expected in a time sensitive industry but how much is too much? Every journalist has their own tolerance for ethics compromises and it often shifts from day to day, story to story, and throughout a career. The latest technology allows citizen journalists to upload articles and pictures effortlessly. That leaves less time for contemplation and that can get you in trouble. You can’t take back something once it goes out over the internet, airways or press. There is an inexhaustible supply of attorneys out there lining up to sue journalists. Say something that isn’t true about someone and they’ll go after you for liable, defamation or slander. Don’t let that scare you though. They can all be avoided if you understand how they are defined. Journalists also sue other journalists. Copy something someone else wrote and they’ll go after you for plagiarism. This too can be easily avoided if you are diligent and honest. Knowing the law will help you tremendously as a journalist. In fact, I advise aspiring journalists not to write a word for publication before researching the basics of media law. The most important things are to remember that you are a professional and to act like one.
Journalists are taking a lot of heat these days. From the tabloid hacks screaming half truths for your attention to the network reporters who said there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq to the paparazzi blamed for Princess Diana’s death. Journalists are blamed for many of society’s ills. To a large degree this is a matter of “shooting the messenger.” The public has a voracious appetite for news yet reels in disgust when it doesn’t appeal to them. Despite what you may think, this is actually a good thing. This outwardly dysfunctional relationship between journalists and the public is what makes journalism such a noble profession.
Think of the old days before journalism. People lived out their lives knowing only the information others told them and views of an average person didn‘t spread very far or very fast. Then Johannes Gutenberg started printing books. Suddenly there was a reason to read and people with ideas started spreading them. People with opposing views started printing their opinions and spreading those. Journalism was born. The written word became the forum for conflicting views and outrage. It launched mankind toward enlightenment, introspection and social change. Journalists will never be loved by all, but they’re not supposed to be. If you are doing your job right then someone will be upset by your words. Journalists have a duty to bring facts hiding in the shadows into the light even if people don’t want to see what’s lurking there.
What kind of world do you think we would live in without journalists? Reporters wield the mighty power of public opinion. It’s been used to bring down the corrupt, no matter how rich and powerful they may be. Journalists strive to keep our leaders honest, businesses from cheating us and our world clean, safe and fair. Do you think all that would happen without journalists? We are a necessary part of a vibrant free thinking society.
To be a good journalist you must be multi talented. First and foremost you must be a proficient writer, but you also need to be able to identify a good story, understand how to dig up vital facts and learn the right questions to ask. You must also learn to listen. A lot of people talk but few listen. Journalists need to know when to stop talking and soak in what’s going on around them. Also remember that the news is not about you. A journalist is expected to have a stance and style, but objectivity is essential. Think of yourself as the conduit through which news flows, not the holy grail of news itself.
Media consumers are more savvy than ever these days. They can read between the lines and flush out a pretender. They may read the National Enquirer for fun but go to the New York Times for the truth. This has everything to do with reputation and history. People trust those who are honest with them over the long haul. It’s a relationship built over the years and through countless daily stories. As a citizen journalist, you must ask yourself if you want to be the Enquirer or the Times. Whatever you decide to do, do it well. Take full advantage of this amazing time we live in. Spread your words, views, voice and pictures around your community and around the world. Make a difference.
Kent Ninomiya

The "C" Word

2008-06-03T21:15:00.001-05:00

American sports broadcasters are being criticized for using the word "Chinaman" to describe Chinese sports stars. Last Sunday, Len Dawson of television station KMBC in Kansas City observed that Yao Ming attended the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 auto race. Yao was there to raise awareness about the devastating earthquake in Sichuan province and to urge Americans to donate to relief charities. Instead of pointing out Yao's humanitarian efforts, Dawson, a former professional football quarterback, said "it's not every day you see a seven-foot-four Chinaman working on a car."
The term "Chinaman" is considered derogatory in modern American culture and is defined as an offensive racial slur in current English language dictionaries. It was used in the 1800's to describe men from China in an anonymous dehumanizing way. Chinese men had their names recorded as "John Chinaman" or simply as "Chinaman" suggesting that they were all the same and not important as individuals. Asian American author Maxine Hong Kingston has said the antiquated term is equivalent to the N-word for blacks. The term "Chinaman's chance" is a shortened version of "Chinaman's chance in hell" meaning no chance at all. The expression comes from pre gold rush days in California when Chinese workers were deemed expendable and used for dangerous work such as placing dynamite. The term "Chinaman's chance" refers to the odds of the man surviving.
The comment has American journalists debating among themselves about the severity of the racial slur. The TVSpy Watercooler message board for journalists was a flurry of activity in the days following Dawson's comment. Some suggested it is being taken too seriously. One wrote "Lighten up. If it were done on a continuous basis ... it would be very offensive. But, said once in that context .. a funny line- that's all." In response, another poster wrote "It doesn't matter if it's funny or not. The term "Chinaman" is a racial slur. If he had said 'Look there's an N-word working on his car' this conversation would be about Dawson being fired and whether he'd ever work in TV again."
Just last month, on April 11, CBS announcer Bobby Clampett referred to Chinese golfer Liang Wen-Chong as "the Chinaman" during the Masters golf broadcast. According to CBS spokeswoman Leslie Anne Wade, Clampett later apologized on the Masters web cast. Clampett said, "if I offended anybody please accept my sincere apologies." The apology itself came under fire. On the sports site Fanhouse, writer Michael David Smith said "the style of apology that begins with 'if I offended anybody' always rings a little bit hollow. The word 'Chinaman' is a slur, and it's the slur that should be followed up with an apology, not the reaction of being offended by the slur."
The reaction to the comment is also raising questions about a double standard. Are racial slurs against black athletes taken more seriously than slurs against Chinese athletes? In January, Golf Channel anchor Kelly Tilghman was suspended for two weeks for joking that if young players want to beat golfer Tiger Woods they should "lynch him in a back alley." The "lynch" reference offended African American advocates like Rev. Al Sharpton because of America's painful history of mobs lynching black men. Sharpton led a public campaign urging the Golf Channel to fire Tilghman. There was no such outcry for punishing Clampett for his "Chinaman" comment. Clampett was not suspended like Tilghman. Likewise, Len Dawson has not been suspended by his employer and has issued no apology for his comment about Yao Ming.

Kent Ninomiya

Blackjack top 10

2008-04-27T02:22:00.002-05:00

By Kent Ninomiya
So you watched the movie “21” and you think you’re going to strike it rich at the blackjack tables in Vegas. Well, before you empty your meager checking account and cash in those bonds Grandma gave you when you were a kid, there are a few things you should know. Here is the reality of casino blackjack from someone who played the game for 20 years. Benefit from my trial and error as I dispel the myths about card counting and slap you around with the cold, hard hand of reality. So listen up! Here’s the top 10 rules of blackjack.
The first rule of blackjack is: the house always wins. Let me repeat that. That house always wins! There would not be big gleaming casinos if they were losing money. They would not be handing out free buffets and cheap rooms if they were losing money. You would not still be living in your parent’s basement if it was that easy to take their money. You would be there right now living the high life. That said, there are ways to minimize the house edge, win you a little green, and have some fun while you do it. Read on.
The second rule of blackjack is: there is no such thing as luck. Human nature makes us remember our victories far more than our defeats. We tell our friends with great pride about that time we split aces twice and won three times our bet while neglecting to mention that you left the table penniless a few minutes later. If you are to win at blackjack you must take all the emotion out of the game. Don’t get too happy when you win. Don’t get too upset when you lose. It’s about the odds and the long run. If you play the odds you will do OK in the long run. If you make exceptions to the odds because you are feeling lucky, you will most likely lose in the long run.
The third rule of blackjack is: you must learn perfect play. Perfect play is exactly that. When you are dealt a hand in blackjack you must make decisions with the information in front of you. You know what your two cards are and one of the dealer’s cards. This determines whether you stand, hit, double down or split. For every combination of your first two cards and the dealer’s show card there is a predetermined action you should take. This is called perfect play and is well documented. You can find out what to do on the internet. Check out this link for a perfect play chart. You can even buy one of these credit card sized charts at the casino gift shop. The casinos don’t mind if you look at the card at the table while you play. They realize that even if you use perfect play they will still win slightly more than half the hands. That’s the way the game is set up and in the long run that means most people will eventually lose. They key is to work the odds in your favor and quit while you are ahead. More on that later but first you must master perfect play.
Perfect play can be difficult sometimes because it forces you to do some things that seem stupid. This includes hitting on a 16 or standing on a 12 in some cases. Just know that perfect play was determined by statistical research by people a lot smarter than you. They sat through all those lousy math classes so you didn’t have to. So trust them. Asking whether you would rather lose by busting or having the dealer beat you is like asking whether you would rather have crabs or the clap. Neither sounds good. They key is to avoid both as much as possible.
It feels bad to hit on 16 and bust. What you need to realize is a loss is a loss. Whether you busted hitting on 16 or had a 20 and got beat when the dealer drew to 21, it’s the same thing. By hitting on 16 when the dealer shows a 10 you at least have a chance of winning. The odds say the dealer will almost always beat a 16 when showing a 10 so you might as well hit. Always stick to perfect play and the odds. Leave emotion out of blackjack.
The fourth rule of blackjack is: pick the right table. It may seem like blackjack is blackjack but it’s not. Blackjack is like women. The games are different and the differences can be a bitch. Different casinos have different rules. Different tables in the same casino have different rules. Walk around and find one that benefits you. Written right on the table is whether the dealer must hit or stand on soft 17. This is important. A soft 17 is when the dealer has an ace counting as 11 instead of 1 to help their hand add up to 17. When the dealer hits on soft 17 it improves their odds of winning. Look for a table where the dealer stands on soft 17.
There is a little known casino rule called “surrender.” It isn’t advertised so you need to ask the dealer if they offer “surrender.” Essentially you can “surrender” your hand after the first two cards and get half your bet back. This is great when you have a 15 or 16 and the dealer is showing a 10 or ace. It’s far better to lose half your bet than hit on a 15 or 16. Surrender will save you a lot of money in the long run so use it.
Blackjack can be played with a single deck, double deck or in a shoe with 6 or 8 decks. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of them. In single and double deck blackjacks pay 6 to 5 odds instead of 3 to 2. Also, you can only double down on 10 or 11, not soft hands with an ace. This limits your ability to capitalize on good hands. Most importantly, the cards are dealt face down making card counting much more difficult. If you are going to count cards you need a table that deals from a shoe. Also, avoid those tables with automatic shufflers that mix up the cards with every hand. They make counting useless.
The fifth rule of blackjack is: if you are going to count cards, do it right. If you think about it, counting cards isn’t really illegal. You are only using your brilliant mind and information that is right there in front of you. The problem is casinos are poor sports and don’t like to lose money. So like all poor sports they pout and take their ball home so you can’t play anymore. Actually they’ll ask you to stop playing blackjack and invite you to play roulette or craps or something else that will take your money. If they think you are a chronic card counter they will ban you from their casino and get all the other casinos to ban you too. They probably wont get their goons to rough you up, but you never know. They don’t like losing money in Vegas. The reality though is you probably aren’t big time enough to even be noticed. To win big money you must risk big money. Do you really want to hock your X-box and I-pod to put up the cash? I didn’t think so. Keep bets small and you will probably fly under the radar.
Basic card counting involves looking at every card dealt. You start the shoe with a count of 0. For every low card of 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 you add +1. For every high card of 10, jack, queen, king or ace you subtract -1. You ignore the middle cards of 7, 8 and 9.
The sixth rule of blackjack is: bet without emotion. If you play perfectly the house will win slightly more than half the hands. Varying your bet with the count will tilt those odds in your favor. If you are playing at a table with a shoe you should change your bet when the count reaches +9 or -9. You should have a consistent stake bet, say $10 at a table with a $5 bet minimum. Play every hand at $10 until the count reaches +9 or -9. At +9 double your bet. At -9 cut your bet in half. You may want to press your bet even harder if you are at the end of the shoe and you have a big plus count. The reason for this is simple. When you have a big plus count the shoe is full of 10’s and aces. This improves your odds of getting a blackjack or big hand with your first two cards. A minus count means there are more small cards in the shoe. That makes it more likely you will need to take more cards and lose.
Despite what you see in the movies, big plus shoes don’t come around that often. Sometimes you will play all night and never get one. You must be patient. If you confront a big negative shoe get up and go to the bathroom or switch tables. Don’t play when the odds are stacked against you.
The seventh rule of blackjack is: if you count cards, don’t get caught. The pit boss is watching you like you used to watch Jessica Simpson in the “these boots were made for walking” video. When you are counting cards imagine you are checking out a hot chick but don’t want her to think you are a pervert. Look at the cards but don’t stare. Look around once in a while so it seems like you’re not paying attention. Don’t move your lips or hold up your fingers while you count. I’ve actually seen people do that. Find a system that works for you that isn’t obvious. It could be how you place your foot or stack your chips. Just don’t make it obvious. Cameras are everywhere in casinos and there are lots of people watching you.
The eighth rule of blackjack is: avoid gimmicks. A lot of casinos offer gimmick blackjack games. Examples include side bets for different combinations of cards or the option to play two hands and switch your cards. Don’t fall for any of these. These games would not exist if the casinos lost money on them. They are unpredictable and impossible to figure out the new odds. Stick to standard blackjack where you have some control over the odds.
The ninth rule of blackjack is: don’t play when you are not at your best. You need to be sharp to play blackjack. If you are tired, hungry or drunk you will make mistakes. They offer those free drinks at the tables for a reason. The drunker you are the more you lose. Save your binging for later. Tell your buddies to leave you alone when you play. Nothing makes you lose count faster than a friend who wants to chat. When you are at the table play. Do nothing else. Also, beware the temptation to increase your bet just so you can “break even.” More money is lost trying to “break even” than at any other time at the table. Betting more means you can lose more. Slow and steady wins the race. If you are down don’t make it worse by losing more.
The tenth rule of blackjack is: know when to quit. The casinos wont bother you as long as you are not walking away with thousands of dollars. If you play right you could make a few hundred a session. Don’t rub it in their face. It’s time to cash out and take a walk. Go to another casino. Play another day. Don’t get noticed. That will invite the security goons to eye you on the overhead video camera. Trust me, you don’t want that. Most importantly, don’t play with money that you can’t afford to lose. This is gambling after all. You can follow all the rules and still drop all your cash. You can play like a jackass and still win. However, odds are you will do much better if you follow all the rules without emotion. Since there is no such thing as luck, the odds are all you have. Oh… by the way… good luck!
*** Kent Ninomiya ***

Cellular Phone Scam - Kent Ninomiya

2008-04-09T16:34:00.000-05:00

How many cellular phones have you owned in your lifetime? If you're like me you have no idea. When I got my first cell phone in the early 1990's it was the size of a brick, cost $500 and the calls cost 75 cents per minute. I felt cool carrying it around but was afraid to make calls fearing an outrageous bill. Fast forward a decade and a half and cell phones are like pants. Quite literally everyone has them. In fact I don't know a single person past puberty who doesn't have one. The once pricey phones are now given away "free" when you sign a contract and call minutes are conveniently packaged in monthly bundles for you. It would seem that we've made progress with cellular phones... but have we? Sure they're smaller and do cooler things, but we are paying more than we ever realized we would for something nearly all of us didn't have nor need 20 years ago. Cell phones are now a necessity of life. Even the eccentric families who don't have TV's have cell phones. The cellular phone companies realized that the key to raking in money was volume. Like the drug dealer on the corner, they started giving away the phones for "free" knowing you would be back for more and willing to pay for it. You see... cell phones are every bit as addictive as drugs and much harder to quit. You are encouraged to use them more and more with the minute bundles. When you don't think about the minutes that are ticking away, it's easy to forget you're paying extra for the convenience of a cell phone. Before you know it, a family is paying more than one hundred dollars a month on a cell phone bill. Multiply that by, well everybody, and you have a very lucrative business. Now the only thing the cell phone companies have left to do is fight over market share. They fight hard over that too. Once you are on the hook for a contract you can't get out without paying an outrageous penalty. Have you ever noticed that the cell companies push two year contracts but the free or discounted phone they gave you only lasts about a year and a half? It has happened to me and countless others I know more times than we can remember. When you call to complain they tell you the warranty expired at a year but they would be happy to give you a brand new phone... IF you sign a brand new 2 year contract. THIS IS THE SCAM! It is my hypothesis that the phones are deliberately designed to last less than two years so the cellular phone companies can trap you into renewing your contract. What do you think? Kent Ninomiya

Missing Moses - Kent Ninomiya

2008-04-06T16:34:00.000-05:00

The world says goodbye to one of the few true legends of the silver screen. Charlton Heston was far more than a movie star. In the era of big epic films, Heston was an even bigger epic presence. He commanded the screen and your attention through the sheer power of his acting. Thousands upon thousands of extras could be buzzing around a scene but it was Heston who everyone zeroed in on. He was that kind of man. I had the privilege of meeting Charlton Heston in December 1995. The Northwestern alumnus appeared at events cheering on his team for the Rose Bowl. Although visibly pained by arthritis in his knee, Heston signed every autograph and posed for every picture he was asked for. He was still remarkably tall, chiseled, and commanding in his old age. The crowd behaved like Moses himself had just appeared before them. Of all Heston's magnificent roles, I'd have to say my favorite was his cameo in Wayne's World. I know most will scorn me for this, but let me make my case. Here we have a living legend willing to use himself as a fantastic punch line. When Mike Meyers stopped the movie to ask for a better actor for the gas station attendant, they brought in Charlton Heston to deliver a few lines. That promptly brought Wayne to tears. Talk about a better actor! They don't make movies anymore like the ones Charlton Heston used to do. They don't make movie stars like Charlton Heston anymore either. - Kent Ninomiya

Racist Expression? - Kent Ninomiya

2008-03-28T00:28:00.002-05:00

What is all this about the cover of Vogue being racist? Take a look at the image here on the right. The offended say LeBron James' expression combined with his arm being around Giselle Bundchen's waist “reinforces the criminalization of black men.” What?! Since when is an expression racist? People often see what they want. Perhaps the offended want to see racism here. It's not as though Giselle was in black face or LeBron was flashing gang signs. It's just a picture of two people on a magazine cover! There is enough REAL racism out there to worry about. When a big deal is made about imaginary racism like this magazine cover, it distracts from a real problem in our society. It also gives society an excuse to turn a blind eye when racism does rear its ugly head. When you cry wolf too many times, no one listens when the wolf really comes. Let's call racism what it is. Let's not call it racism when it isn't. Kent Ninomiya

Entertainment or News? - Kent Ninomiya

2008-03-15T22:08:00.000-05:00

Kent Ninomiya - If you watched TV or read a newspaper in the past week, you might be under the impression that we are no longer at war, the economy is no longer in a downward spiral and gasoline prices are no longer hitting all time highs. It would seem that the sexual habits of New York's governor, an off hand racial comment by a former vice presidential candidate to a small newspaper, and sermons by a pastor who knows a presidential candidate are the most pressing issues facing our nation. Journalists en mass are flocking to the scandalous and away from what's important. Sidebars about celebrities who cheat and debriefing so-called experts about why men go to prostitutes produces very little useful information for the average American. Convincing the public that a "scandal" results from comments made by people only slightly connected to a presidential campaign is a gross misrepresentation. Why are we not focusing on things the presidential candidates are actually saying? Why are the sexual activities of the Governor of New York important to anyone not living in New York? Journalists have a duty to put news in context. What we cover is considered important just because we cover it. When we skew public perception by chasing the tabloids. Meanwhile people are dying in war, families can't pay their mortgages and the price of everything is going up because gas prices are at an all time high. Compared to those things, who really cares about the New York governor's sex life? Kent Ninomiya

Post Strike Hangover - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-14T20:22:00.002-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - The writers strike likely end is good news for Hollywood and fans. All that pent up creativity can now come flowing out of the writers. I expect nothing less than brilliant original material at every level. I may not get that but I expect it. The strike allowed studios and networds to prune the withering branches from their production tree. Thankfully lame shows like Bionic Woman and Cavemen will not return. They were doomed anyway because of their inept writing. Movie production is being pushed back. The new Star Trek film will open summer 2009 instead of Christmas. The move will probably make everyone involved a lot more money. Studios are now cherry picking dates and films without rushing projects to the screen. In the long run we could see a better product all around. Let's hope so. Kent Ninomiya

Chinese New Year - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-08T12:22:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Happy Lunar New Year everyone! All around the world there are celebrations with feasts, fireworks and dancing dragons. It's a time for Asian families and familes of Asian decent to get together and revel in the new year. It is Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day all wrapped into one in asian culture. It's often called "Chinese New Year," but this isn't particularly accurate. While it is widely observed in China, it is also an important holiday for people throughout East Asia and of Asian ancestry all over the world. Believe it or not, there are still people out there who do not realize all Asian people are NOT Chinese. Lunar New Year is also a more accurate term. The holiday usually begins on the first day of the first lunar month. This makes the lunar calendar much more accurate than the Julian calendar. Jokes are often made about the Chinese being backward for celebrating the new year late. In reality the west celebrates the new year early. While the traditional Chinese calendar does not record continuously numbered years, 2008 is considered year 4705. So happy 4705 everyone! Kent Ninomiya

Wesley Snipes - Kent Ninomiya

2008-02-01T23:22:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Action star Wesley Snipes is found not guilty of six felony tax charges but found guilty of three misdemeanor counts for failing to file a tax return.

Considering Snipes could have faced 16 years in prison, this has to be called a major legal victory. This is also a victory for those who object to our tax system. Snipes certainly isn't the only one who refuses to submit to our tax system, though he is perhaps the most prominent. Regardless of whether you agree with his views, you have to respect his courage. Snipes could go to prison for his beliefs, yet he is fighting the system anyway. His legal victory will embolden others to follow his example. This could be the beginning of a tax revolution. Kent Ninomiya

New Bond - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-26T00:38:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - The name of the new James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace," has fans and critics everywhere scratching their heads. It's not just an opaque name. It marks a significant change in the direction of the James Bond character and franchise. Not since George Lazenby has there been a more unpopular choice of actor to portray Bond than Daniel Craig. His first Bond film, "Casino Royale," restarts the character from the beginning though it is set in modern times. The movie relied much more on story and character than the action and stunts Bond films are known for. "Quantum" continues right where "Casino" left off. Bond seeks revenge for the death of his love Vesper. Producers promise more action in this film but the die is cast for a new Bond. It is too soon to know if this will work with fans. If "Quantum" is a success then we can expect Bond to continue down a darker brooding path. If it flops we may see the return of Roger Moore slapstick. Hopefully Bond will find a happy medium. Kent Ninomiya

The Daily Show - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-25T01:47:00.002-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - The Daily Show is always brilliant. Tonight they were especially inspired. They notched up their commentary on media responsibility showing anchor after anchor crowing on and on about outbursts and meltdowns on the presidential campaign trail. The anchors suggested Bill Clinton and Mitt Romney "lost it" on reporters. Jon Stewart then, in a way only he could, showed what really happened. Both men were calm and rational. Both discussed their point of views in a controlled manner. The Daily Show called the news industry on their tendency to exaggerate. It was funny and it made us look foolish. No wonder no one believes us anymore when we say the sky is falling. "Chicken Little" should be required reading in J-school. Being a journalist is a tough job. We are supposed to make news interesting as well as informative. This is especially challenging when the news really isn't very interesting. The problem is when we go too far and make story into something it is not. When we do that we lose the public trust. Thank you Jon Stewart for reminding us to keep it real. Kent Ninomiya

Michael Chang Honored - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-25T01:47:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Michael Chang is elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame. This is a big moment for Asian American athletes. It validates the landmark career of this amazing athlete. Chang was just 17 years old when he won the 1989 French Open. He is still the youngest male player to win a Grand Slam title. Chang was also the first U.S. champion at the clay-court Grand Slam since Tony Trabert in 1955. It was an amazing thing to watch. He was so exhasted during his five-set upset of number 1 seed Ivan Lendl that he had to serve underhanded. Still he beat the best player in the world at the time and went on to defeat Stefan Edberg in the final. He never won another Grand Slam but finished runner-up three times at Grand Slam tournaments and won 34 singles titles. Chang reached a number 2 ranking in 1996. Not bad for a kid who was just 5'9" and 160 pounds. In an era when male tennis players were huge and dominated with power, Chang got it done with hustle and heart. Just like Tiger Woods with golf, Michael Chang inspired a generation of Asian American kids to enter the world of competitive tennis. Congratulations Michael, you deserve the honor. Kent Ninomiya

The Suspension Craze - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-23T14:22:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Suspending TV talent for off hand remarks seems to be in vogue these days. Now it's ESPN's Dana Jacobson who is on the hot seat. The co-host of "First Take" on ESPN2 is reportedly serving a one-week suspension for comments made at a January 11 roast of ESPN Radio personalities Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. Jacobsen is said to have made vulgar comments about Notre Dame as a joke. Jacobson is a Michigan graduate who often kids Notre Dame alumnus Golic about the rivalry between the schools. Apparently it went too far. Jacobson reportedly made a number of apologies the next day to Greenberg and Golic, and issued a statement saying, "I am sorry. My remarks about Notre Dame were foolish and insensitive. I respect all religions and did not mean anything derogatory by my poorly chosen words. I also deeply regret the embarrassment I've caused ESPN and Mike and Mike." The apology wasn't good enough for ESPN.

The question I have is: would Jacobson have been suspended if the Golf Channel's Kelly Tilghman had not been disciplined for her comments about Tiger Woods recently. Then Golfweek ran a cover of a noose to exploit the controversy. Editor Dave Seanor got fired for approving it. It seems to be a feeding frenzy on TV talent.

I watch Dana Jacobson on a regular basis. She is a classy professional who presents herself well while doing hours of live television involving contentious debate. She was making jokes at a roast. Did she go to far? Maybe, but come on, it was a roast. A McCarthy style witch hunt is brewing in the broadcast industry where everyone is hypersensitive about what they say and intent is determined by public opinion days after the fact. We need to be careful not to lose our freedoms of expression and press by pandering to "pile on" outrage. They are just words. Let's not make them about something they're not. Kent Ninomiya

Cheap Imitators - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-23T01:20:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Mixed Martial Arts are exploding on the scene. The undisputed king of the genre is the UFC. They deserve to be where they are. They endured while the league struggled with lack of interest, economic viability and lawmakers who wanted to shut them down. Like a true MMA champion they survived it all to thrive. Even though I am a martial arts purist, I confess to enjoying the UFC. I don't watch their reality show because I don't care about the private lives of the fighters, but I like watching these amazing athletes show off their skills. They are professionals and highly trained. Unfortunately, wherever there is success there are cheap imitators. Several inferior leagues have popped up trying to cash in on the UFC's popularity. Some of them are downright sad. For example, I was watching HD Net Friday Fight Night. It was worse than amateur hour. The fighters are pathetically bad. Some are downright fat. They look like they just put down their beer and pried themselves off the couch to fight. Predictably most of the fights last just a few minutes since they have no skills or conditioning. The winners then have the nerve to parade around like they've vanquished Mohammad Ali in his prime. I saw one guy with a 1-6 record win and act like he was the champion of the world. I witnessed another guy with a 6-5 record act like a punk taunting his downed opponant. The worst part about watching it on high definition is that it's crystal clear how pathetic the whole scene is. It made me wish I had an old blurry black and white TV. Kent Ninomiya

New Era for Media - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-19T19:35:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - The two month old Writers Guild of America strike threatens to change every aspect of our media. That includes TV, movies, Internet, and much more. All indications are that both sides are digging in for a long fight. The union would not give exemptions for awards shows like Peoples Choice and Golden Globes. They promise to take a hard line on the Academy Awards next month as well. The studios aren't blinking. They have canceled dozens of writers' contracts suggesting they are willing to concede the fall line up. Ordinarily networks are ordering new shows this month but nothing is happening now. The Directors Guild of America just agreed to a tentative three year contract. The studios hope to hold that over the writers and force them to make concessions on the issue of revenue on digital entertainment. For now neither side is budging and it is laying waste to the industry.As stockpiled TV shows are drying up, favorite programs are going into annoying reruns or disappearing altogether. Reality shows are becoming more popular and successful. This is tragic for lovers of sitcoms and well written dramas. Nightline is enjoying a ratings resurgence at the expense of late night talk shows that disappeared for a while. Many viewers are turning off the TV for other forms of entertainment. Video game and DVD sales are up. The Internet is seeing a remarkable increase in activity. If this continues for months what will be left of television? That isn't clear, but whatever it is, it will be drastically different than it was before. When baseball went on strike in 1994 they lost a significant chunk of their fan base. It took MLB a decade to regain fan trust and flourish again. Likewise TV may see changes that take years to undo. It may also lose forever many of the programs and genres that were once adored. The way we entertain ourselves may never be the same again. Kent Ninomiya

He'll be Back - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-16T16:22:00.001-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - The new Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles TV series has sparked my interest in the upcoming Terminator 4 movie. It's tentatively titled "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins." It's expected in 2009. I'm not the only one interested. Internet searches are way up for everything Terminator. Information on the new film is limited and mostly rumor. The poster here is not official. It's from someone's imagination. This is what I was able to find on the internet: "After the drastic effects of Terminator 3, the story continues as John Connor and soon to be wife Kate Brewster begin the creation of a resistance organization with Earth's remaining survivors against the army of cyborgs slowly being built up by Skynet. As they are building this resistance, one survivor happens to be a traitor in disguise, and has a secret that nobody would ever come to suspect." I can't wait. Kent Ninomiya

Seacrest Tidal Wave - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-16T16:22:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Back in 2001 I did a rather silly dating feature story while working in Los Angeles. The producer arranged for me to follow a man and a woman on a blind date. I can't remember what the point of the story was. I can't remember who the lady was. I do remember the guy. He made quite an impression on me. It was a young deejay named Ryan Seacrest. I imagine he agreed to be set up on the blind date and do the story to get publicity for his blossoming career. At the time he had hosted a few television programs but was relatively unknown nationally. That would change soon. I remember being surprised by how soon. Seacrest got the American Idol gig a short time later. It exploded into an American phenomenon. There are a lot of player haters out there who make fun of Seacrest and his success. Say what you want but the guy is special and it was obvious to me before he was famous. He is charismatic, insightful and smooth as silk on live programs. Although it would be easy to assume he made a pact with the Devil to get his success, that would be unfair. Seacrest is no Brian Dinkleman. Do you remember him? Probably not. Dinkleman was Ryan's co-host on the first season of American Idol but was dumped for the second. There is good reason we never heard from him again and we can't escape Seacrest in the media. The reason has nothing to do with luck or the Devil. Kent Ninomiya

Terminator Back - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-15T20:05:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - As predicted, the new Terminator Sarah Connor Chronicles is creating some buzz out there. Yahoo buzz says searches exploded after the show aired Sunday and Monday. Traffic increased by 400%. Actress Lena Headey, who plays Sarah Connor, doubled her hits. Thomas Dekker who plays John Connor increased 256%. Summer Glau who portrays the hot good terminator went up +346%. Searches also popped for the Terminator movies. Terminator 1, 2, and 3 rose along with request for information on the planned T4. We'll see if the show can maintain its momentum, but for now it looks pretty good. Kent Ninomiya.

New Terminator - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-14T01:19:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - I must confess that I was skeptical as I watched the premier of the Terminator, The Sarah Connor Chronicles over the past two nights. After all, most movie franchises turned television series are pretty lame. I must also confess that my skepticism was unwarranted. I was a fan of the Terminator movies and I am now a fan of this new TV show. The writers obviously spent a lot of time pounding out the time line and plot line. They must know that hard core fans will tear them apart if they are not true to the original story. The writers did a fine job. This series is at first set two years after the second movie in 1999. In an ingenious bit of writing it then fast forwards to 2008 thanks to a time machine that was made by another soldier from the future who was sent back in 1963 by the future John Connor. As a notorious skeptic of poorly conceived science fiction writing, I am difficult to convince. I bought this plot line completely. Granted they do take liberties with the characters. In a reversal of the original roles, the bad terminator is now the huge male robot while the good terminator is the hot girl. She acts more like a girl than a terminator so I will need a little more convincing there. The actors playing John and Sarah Connor are quite good and do their characters justice. The big test is whether the story will justify a continuing television series. I don't know how long this show will be able to maintain their momentum, but they are off to a fine start and I am eager to see the next episode. Kent Ninomiya

Lynching Golf - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-13T16:53:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - A few words about the suspension of Kelly Tilghman. The Golf Channel anchor will leave partner Nick Faldo and the network for two weeks as punishment for her comment that golfers should "lynch" Tiger Woods "in a dark alley" if they want to catch up to him. It was a stupid thing to say but no one believes she meant it literally. Tiger Woods, through his agent, said it was a non issue. The Golf Channel treated it as if it was no big deal and kept Tilghman on the air for several days after the comment. It wasn't until the next week when there was a public outcry and Rev. Al Sharpton called for Tilghman's firing that the Golf Channel took action. Suddenly they condemned her words. They released a statement saying "there is simply no place on our network for offensive language like this." Hmmm... such outrage. Why did it take them so long to feel it? I see hypocrisy here. If there is no room on the Golf Channel for that language then Tilghman should have been yanked from the air immediately. If it was a non issue then she should not be suspended. If you are going to take a moral stand then you have to make up your mind. You can't have it both ways. The late suspension was a compromise to hopefully get angry African Americans off the Golf Network's back. Tilghman's suspension conveniently ends just in time for her to work the Buick Invitational on January 24. It will be Tiger Woods' 2008 debut. I guess the Golf Network's timing isn't completely off... not when it comes to scheduling their outrage. Kent Ninomiya

Is the Strike Working? - Kent Ninomiya

2008-01-12T16:53:00.000-06:00

Kent Ninomiya - Is the month old Writers Guild of America strike working? Anyone saying it hasn't had a significant impact on the industry is lying. It was sad watching Queen Latifah make a fool of herself with her fake canned enthusiasm during the People's Choice Awards "press conference" on Tuesday. The ratings were predictably sad. Only 6 million viewers tuned in compared to 11.3 million last year. We can expect more of the same at Sunday's Golden Globes "news conference." People tune in to these awards ceremonies to see the celebrities. They want to know what they're wearing and share the expressions of victory and defeat on their faces when the winners are announced. No press conference will replicate that. The Writers Guild promises more of the same for the Academy Awards in February. Even though producers of the Oscars promises a stage show as planned, no one believes that's possible without the stars in the seats. There is a lot of money at stake here. That's enough motivation for both sides to get things done. I predict this strike will be all wrapped up before the Academy Awards, though it may be an eleventh hour last minute agreement. Kent Ninomiya