BAMBOO NATION by Prince Gomolvilas

Man Pranks Dog

2017-06-14T06:00:00.012-07:00

[Photo from YouTube]

How much fun can you have with a dog and few stray boxes? Apparently, a lot! A pet parent in Japan decides to pull a prank on his cute Shiba Inu dog, named Koharu, using a collection of boxes that get smaller and smaller. This is entertainment at its absolute purest! Watch:

11 Asian-American Playwrights Recommend 11 Asian-American Plays

2017-06-13T11:21:00.042-07:00

[Haunani Minn, Yuki Shimoda, Jim Ishida, and Josie Pepito Kim
in "And the Soul Shall Dance," East West Players, 1974]

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month might only last 31 days every May—but for me, every month is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! And in order to help you, my dear friends, celebrate year-round, I've compiled a list of classic (know your history!) and contemporary (know your peers!) stage plays to stimulate your intellect and satisfy your innate need for drama.

But instead of me just machine-gunning you with my opinions like I normally do, this time I opted for a more democratic approach. I reached out to a handful of famous Asian-American playwrights (is it hyperbole to call them rock stars?) and asked them, "What Asian-American play, past or present, are you excited to recommend right now?"

I received a bunch of terrific answers from the likes of Philip Kan Gotanda, Velina Hasu Houston, David Henry Hwang, and more!—complete with personal commentary to explain their choices.

And of course I tossed my own recommendation into the mix (free from my typical unhinged ranting!).

None of the playwrights I asked knew which plays the others were choosing, so I'm pleasantly surprised by the diverse array of different work that was recommended—which should suggest to you the breadth and depth of Asian-American theatre if you don't already know.

One person who definitely knows this is Roger Tang, "The Godfather of Asian American Theatre." I'm basically picking up where he left off, as he recently highlighted "31 Asian American Plays in 31 Days" over at the stalwart Asian American Theatre Revue. He covers a lot of ground, past and present, so mad props to him. (Does anyone say "mad props" any more? I can't keep up!)

Most of the plays on the following list have been published. You can buy the books online or at your local theatre bookshop if you have one near you. (Please support these playwrights' work by buying their plays and not stealing some copyright-infringing PDF online. Yes, that is stealing.... This has been a public service announcement.... My name is Prince Gomolvilas, and I approve this message.)

And you are fortunate enough that you live in a time when a few of these plays may be coming to city near you soon (see them live!).

Okay, let's do this....

And the Soul Shall Dance by Wakako Yamauchi

Wakako Yamauchi; photo courtesy of Densho

Velina Hasu Houston, author of Tea, recommends this play. Velina writes: "The potency of the themes of this play—immigration, acculturation or a lack thereof, sociopolitical challenges, and society's (mis)perceptions of Asian Americans—remains strong today, despite the fact that it was written about forty years ago. Wakako Yamauchi unflinchingly and deeply explores the struggle of a young Japanese American girl and her parents to live in a country mired in overt ethnic and economic strife. Her characters are drawn with genuineness and integrity that allow audiences of all backgrounds to understand the dimensions of their labors and achievements in the context of a U.S. culture that never has been and never will be monolithic." Learn more about Wakako Yamauchi here. Check out her play, included in the collection Songs My Mother Taught Me, as well as Velina's work here:

The Birds of Empathy by Clarence Coo

Birds of America, Plate 76, by John James Audubon, photo courtesy of RestoredPrints.com

Jiehae Park, author of Hannah and the Dread Gazebo, recommends this play. Jiehae writes: "Clarence's writing is the living embodiment of 'Still waters run deep.' I've encountered this play in several of its incarnations (from its beginnings, with Clarence at a table alone reading off notecards, to a full, beautifully realized multi-character world of memory and humans and birds). Each time, I'm amazed at the balance of delicacy and deep emotion in the play, which is full of compassion and tiny miracles." Learn more about Clarence Coo here. The Birds of Empathy has not yet been published. In the meantime, check out his Beautiful Providence, as well as Jiehae's work here:

Caught by Christopher Chen

Louis Ozawa Changchien in “Caught,” La MaMa, 2016; photo by Carol Rosegg

David Henry Hwang, author of M. Butterfly, recommends this play. David writes: "Is this a play about Asian Americans, or Chinese nationals? Does it explore censorship in China, or liberal guilt in America? Does it portray political dissidents as courageous victims or shameless self-promoters? Is it really even a play at all, or more of an art installation? The answer in Christopher Chen's endlessly inventive challenge to our expectations is almost always: all of the above. This is a stunning investigation of our truth-challenged times, a show which continually blurs all the lines." Learn more about Christopher Chen here. Check out both playwrights' work here:

Ching Chong Chinaman by Lauren Yee

Dennis Yen, Arthur Keng, Aidan Park, Cindy Im, and Lisa Kang in "Ching Chong Chinaman," Impact Theatre, 2008; photo by Cheshire Isaacs

Jeannie Barroga, author of Banyan, recommends this play. Jeannie writes: "Matching the times' reflection on race over the past ten years, this gut-bust funny play is just refreshing. Blithely mirroring that taboo kitchen table, family-drama syndrome, Lauren's words surprise us with their go-lightly edginess and her identifiably ludicrous cultural traits. She challenges viewers to deny that the portrayals are as universal and iconographic as Miss American pie, consumerism, dismissiveness, filmic breaks-into-dance, and pursuits of status. Mix parody with drama? Can do." Learn more about Lauren Yee here. Check out both playwrights' work here:

Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery by Lloyd Suh

Jeffrey Omura and Jennifer Ikeda in "Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery," NAATCO, 2015

Kimber Lee, author of brownsville song (b-side for tray), recommends this play. Kimber writes: "Ambitious, hilarious, full of rage, barely contained within a stylistically bold structure, Lloyd confronts the systemic racism faced by Asian Americans in a way I've never seen before. With his trademark intelligence and craft, he dismantles the racist imagery of Asians in film and theatre, using laugh-out-loud humor without softening the razor-edge critique of a culture in which Asian Americans are perpetual foreigners. Completely unapologetic, brutally truthful, howlingly funny, and AsAm AF." Learn more about Lloyd Suh here. Charles Francis Chan Jr.’s Exotic Oriental Murder Mystery has not yet been published. In the meantime, check out American Hwangap, as well as Kimber's work here:

Hannah and the Dread Gazebo by Jiehae Park

Jessica Ko, Eunice Hong, Paul Juhn, Amy Kim Waschke, Sean Jones, Cindy Im in "Hannah and the Dread Gazebo," Oregon Shakespeare Festival, 2017; photo by Jenny Graham

Jeanne Sakata, author of Hold These Truths, recommends this play. Jeanne writes: "The mythical beginnings of Korea involving a tiger and a bear, a grandmother who commits suicide by jumping off a roof into the North Korean side of the DMZ, a rock band wannabe, a magical forest with the ghost of Kim Jong-Il, a mysterious stone in a bottle for Hannah, and an emotionally fraught trip 'back home' to Korea for her family. Jiehae Park's play tackles not only the intimate dynamics of a cross-generational immigrant family, but epic international themes as well—about social and national displacement, war, and alienation. A remarkable, whimsical, wholly original play." Learn more about Jiehae Park here.

Check out both playwrights' work here:

Hatefuck by Rehana Lew Mirza

Photo © ryanking999/123RF Stock Photo

Leah Nanako Winkler, author of God Said This, recommends this play. Leah writes: "This is a very exciting new play that simultaneously critiques the representation of Muslim Americans in mainstream media while telling a crazy story about an intense and complex love affair that feels frighteningly universal. Rehana lets us into a severely entertaining sexual affair and serves us with gut punches as soon as we get comfortable. The way she spits truth is incredibly nuanced, and I honestly learned a lot. She's an important voice who makes you laugh, examine, and pay the fuck attention. Learn more about Rehana Lew Mirza here. Hatefuck has not yet been published, but you can heck out Leah's work here:

A Language of Their Own by Chay Yew

"A Language of Their Own," Checkpoint Theatre, 2006

Elizabeth Wong, author Letters to a Student Revolutionary, recommends this play. Elizabeth writes: "I've taught this play in a gender and sexuality theatre class. A relationship play that untangles the mysteries of the fragile yet resilient heart, via a breakup between two men; their heartbreaking vulnerability and the poetry of their healing told with wit and insight. It's an AIDS play about sexuality that opened my eyes to the largess, the breadth, of the human experience, in searching for love and acceptance against the odds. Plus the play's choral structure makes this intimate play highly theatrical." Learn more about Chay Yew here. Check out both playwrights' work here:

Muthaland by Minita Gandhi

Minita Gandhi in "Muthaland"

Nathan Ramos, author of As We Babble On, recommends this play. Nathan writes: "A young boy asks his father how a spider could possibly weave a web between two trees flanking opposite sides of a dusty road. The father responds that the spider doesn’t intend to straddle the road, but simply leaps into the wind, trusting that its delicate footing will once again be found. Minita Gandhi plays this spider with vulnerability, triumph, candor, and aplomb in her one-woman show, Muthaland. Gandhi’s script straddles a multitude of worlds, each time pulling back the curtain to reveal the constructed wizards. Her journey asks questions of entrenched spirituality, the confluence of culture, and the clash of bestowed identity vs. the Frankenstein'd identity that every child of an immigrant faces in today's ever-changing winds of society. Seeing the woven spider silk tapestry that Gandhi’s Muthaland weaves is quite the marvel." Learn more about Minita Gandhi here. Muthaland has not yet been published, but you can check out Minita's voice work on audiobooks here:

Yankee Dawg You Die by Philip Kan Gotanda

Stan Egi and Sab Shimono in "Yankee Dawg You Die," Playwrights Horizons, 1989

Prince Gomolvilas, author of The Brothers Paranormal, recommends this play. Prince writes: "Though it was written more than 25 years ago, this play is remarkably relevant today. Philip treats the hot-button issue of Asian-American representation in the media with equal parts careful analysis and intentional provocation. He expertly grounds his arguments in flesh-and-blood characters—grizzled screen veteran Vincent Chang and wide-eyed up-and-comer Bradley Yamashita—whose big struggles and small triumphs will move you deeply." Learn more about Philip Kan Gotanda here. Check out both playwrights' work here:

Any Play by Christopher Chen

Michael Uy Kelly, Michelle Talgarow, Matthew Lai, and Patricia Austin in "Mutt," Impact Theatre, 2014; photo: Cheshire Isaacs

Philip Kan Gotanda, author of Yankee Dawg You Die, recommends any play Christopher Chen. Philip writes: "If there is one writer who I am very impressed by it's Christopher Chen. I've been following his work for a while now and find it exceedingly smart, brave in a way only other playwrights would get, and dramaturgically ambitious. Yet always writing within himself. (Forgive my sports terminology.) Each work I've seen is different, at times radically so, and, even when he is less than successful, you can see his reach growing, the relentless intellectual and aesthetic curiosity that brought him to that point. Chris is at early to mid-point of what will be a long and impactful career. He is also a very decent human being." Learn more about Christopher Chen here. Check out both playwrights' work here:

Isn't that a fantastic list? Yes? Yes! You're welcome.

Is a 9-Year-Old Filipino Girl the Next Whitney Houtson?!

2017-06-12T21:55:00.028-07:00

Photo from YouTube

___________________________________________________________________________________

When nine-year-old Angelica Hale took to the stage on America's Got Talent last week, I thought she was adorable. But in no way was I prepared for her rendition of the song "Rise Up" by Andra Day. Hale, a Filipino American, said she wanted to be the next Whitney Houston. I have to admit, though it was a cute wish, I dismissed it pretty quickly. I mean, how could she possibly compete on a show that has featured a keyboard-playing chicken?!

But then the little girl, WHO ALMOST DIED OF DOUBLE PNEUMONIA AND A FAILING KIDNEY!, began to sing. I had to choke back a few tears as I watched her crying mother, who gave her own kidney to her daughter so that she could survive, beam proudly from the side of the stage.

Are you ready for this? Watch:

Chinese Construction Workers Get into Bulldozer Fight

2017-06-08T05:30:00.000-07:00

[Photo from YouTube]

Remember the climatic fight scene in Aliens (1986), in which Sigourney Weaver straps herself into an upright, walking forklift to battle the Queen? Well, you don't need to go to the movies for that kind of excitement!

Apparently two rival construction companies got into a scuffle in Hebei, China, so they decided to settle matters the only way they knew how. With an all-out street fight that pit six bulldozers against each other.

You heard that correctly. Freaking SIX! Watch:

WTF?! Wedding Traditions Around the World

2017-06-07T06:00:00.001-07:00

This handy infographic covers some pretty interesting wedding traditions in different countries, including South Korea, India, Denmark, Peru, Sweden, South Africa, Ireland, and Germany.

My favorite is from the Tidong people of Malaysia, where new brides and grooms are forbidden to go to the bathroom for three days! I can't even last three hours.

Take a look:

[Source: Cheapflights.]

What Biggie Smalls Has to Do With "Hamilton," The Musical

2017-06-06T11:54:00.000-07:00

[Daveed Diggs and Lin-Manuel Miranda in "Hamilton"]

The breadth and depth of Howard Ho's obsession with the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Hamilton, is almost frightening. He's seen the show, of course, but he's also listened to the original cast album hundreds (maybe even thousands?) of times.

This is why he's been able to release an entire series of videos that show casual viewers "How Hamilton Works." He's analyzed "My Shot" and "Stay Alive," as well as the chord progressions of specific characters, namely Aaron Burr and Eliza Schuyler Hamilton.

In his latest video, he goes deep into the rabbit hole of "Ten Duel Commandments," citing Biggie Smalls (a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G.) as a point of inspiration.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF HOWARD HO'S VIDEOS (I haven't seen or heard Hamilton), but I greatly admire his knowledge, ability to teach, and crazy level of commitment to a single piece of theater. Watch:

If you don't know Howard Ho, you may remember him from when he played a bunch of iconic hip-hop songs on a keyboard. Almost as amazing as this patriotic chicken.

Taiwanese Magician Will Tsai Does Crazy Trick

2017-06-06T06:00:00.002-07:00

[Photo: NBC]

Shortly after Jogku, the keyboard-playing chicken performed on the season premiere of America's Got Talent, a magician named Will Tsai got on stage. Originally from Taiwan, Tsai and his family immigrated to Canada when he was 15 years old.

In his audition, he performed a trick that he created exclusively for the show. It involves some coins and some cards, and it's CRAZY.

I first suspected that he was using some kind of computer effects to achieve the illusion, but, ultimately, computers couldn't do what he did. I think?

The only explanation: he is a wizard! Watch:

Yup, that's amazing. Almost as amazing as a Taiwanese truck driver trying to unload three tons of bamboo. Almost.

Indonesian Escape Artist Does Stunt That's Freaking Nuts!

2017-06-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

[Photo: NBC]

Demian Aditya is a magician from Indonesia. On the season premiere of America's Got Talent, he performs an absolutely crazy escape act that's thrilling. Yes, folks, even more thrilling than a chicken playing the keyboard. Prepare to be amazed. Watch:

Patriotic Chicken Named Jokgu Plays the Keyboard

2017-06-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Photo: NBC.

I watch the competition TV show, America's Got Talent, regularly, because I'm easily thrilled by people doing cool and/or flat-out crazy things.

But sometimes those people aren't people. Sometimes those people are chickens. And sometimes those chickens are named Jokgu. And sometimes Jokgu plays the keyboard with its beak.

There's a bit of suspense at the beginning of this following clip, because there's some question as to whether or not Jokgu will actually do what it's supposed to do. Watch:

Now that is one chicken who deserves not to be roasted on a solar-cooking device!

Thai Drag Version of Britney Spears' "Toxic" Is Everything You Never Knew You Wanted!

2017-06-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

[Photo from YouTube]

If any video deserves to go viral and break the internet, then it's the following parody of Britney Spears' "Toxic" music video. It's produced by "Trasher," a group of partiers who hold events around Bangkok. According to their Facebook page:

What's we do at Trasher ? We party , We dress up , We dance , We sing , We drink , We get drunk and if we get laid that's a plus ;)

These folks have crafted a Thai drag version of "Toxic" that's meant as a tribute in anticipation of Britney's upcoming Asian tour, and I cannot stop laughing. No. Seriously. I can't believe how awesome this is.

The original music video starts off with Britney in a (too?) sexy flight attendant uniform, and the remake has "Jenny Spears" strutting around in a cramped bus. The video builds from there, piling on one ridiculous sight gag after another, closely spoofing the original with wild abandon.

I'm surprised by how much production value went into this, as well as by Jenny's bold decision to actually sing (atrociously) rather than lip-sync. Everything works in perfect (dis) harmony. Watch:

When is Jenny Spears going to go on an Asian tour?!

Don't Forget! There Are Different Types of Chinese Food!

2017-06-01T06:00:00.001-07:00

With the seemingly unstoppable rise of Panda Express worldwide, it's easy to forget that Chinese food from different regions in China have their own distinct flavors and characteristics. Panda Express, after all, is classified more as "American Chinese cuisine."

The following handy infographic breaks down the different types of Chinese cuisine and what's so unique about them. It includes Szechuan/Sichuan, Cantonese, Hunan, Shanghai, Beijing, Fujian, and Shandong. (And, yes, I had to look up "Shandong" on the internet.)

Take a look:

[Source: Z & Y Restaurant]

EPIC Visa Commercial Features Lonely Thai Woman in Tokyo

2017-05-31T00:29:00.001-07:00

Photo from YouTube

I know that you're all cried out from watching sad Thai commercials about mothers and sad Thai commercials about dogs and sad Thai commercials about everything, so I don't want you to worry about this following video. It's not going to destroy you emotionally.

The credit-card company, Visa, recently released a commercial that's nearly 15-minutes long, and it's already got the world buzzing. It's racked up more than six million views on both Facebook and YouTube so far.

It feels more like a short film, which is good for something of this lentgh—though there are several too-obvious branding efforts scattered throughout the ad. But I suppose they have to make money someplace.

The short movie follows a brokenhearted Thai woman who travels to Tokyo shortly after she loses her job and gets dumped by her boyfriend. It should be a trip of a lifetime, but, for her, it's a melancholy lone journey through the most picturesque, high-definition parts of Japan's capital.

The name of the film—and the recurring hashtag in it—is #TokyoUnexpected. And true to its title, the commercial is full of unexpected pleasures.

No sad tears here. Just a gentle, sometimes funny look at loneliness and the comforts of travel. Watch:

It reminds me just a tiny bit of the fantastic Thai comedy, Hello Stranger, a feature-length movie as hilarious as it is touching. Both films solidify the notion that Thais are obsessed with Japan.

How to Unload Three Tons of Bamboo in Taiwan

2017-05-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

Everything that Bamboo Nation stands for can be summarized by watching the following video. A truck driver in Taiwan needs to unload three tons of bamboo. So he does it the only way he knows how. Watch:

Possessed Maid Caught on Camera [CREEPY OR HOAX?]

2017-05-25T22:00:00.001-07:00

Photo from YouTube

When it comes to quitting a job, some people write a formal resignation letter. Others talk to their boss directly. But the maid in the following video takes it to a whole new level by getting possessed (by a ghost? by a demon? by her own desire to get fired?) in front of her employer’s security cameras.

In the chilling footage taken in Nural Baker’s apartment in Singapore, you can see Baker’s maid in a white dress, her long horror-movie hair damp after coming out of the shower, behaving “like a zombie.”

Nurul decided to check the video footage in the first place after she saw her maid acting strangely one afternoon.

Possession or no possession? That is the question. Watch:

The “ghost” that allegedly took over the woman’s body seems to know exactly where the cameras are, since it performs right in front of them. It also appears to be considerate enough as to keep the maid’s body away from the balcony to prevent her from injuring herself.

In the video, at 0:43, the ghost/maid looks directly at the camera. Nightmarish as this is, it seems odd that the spirit wastes its precious time inside this woman’s body just to look at the camera with that “fire-me-I’m-possessed” look that could become the next trend for Tinder selfies.

Whether you believe the maid was genuinely possessed or not, you’d probably agree with Nurul when she says she considers herself lucky because her mother and children weren’t in the apartment at the time.

Nurul eventually fired her maid. Who would want a Samara-from-The-Ring look-a-like to do laundry and clean sinks? Even if the maid were faking it, it doesn’t exactly scream “mentally sane.”

[Source: Daily Mail.]

Hippos Eat Whole Watermelons, and It's Adorable [VIDEO]

2017-05-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

Photo from YouTube

The following video is unexpectedly funny, but it's also almost unbearably cute. Hippos at a zoo in Japan are tossed whole watermelons directly into their mouths. That is all. But that is everything. Watch:

Filipino Vocal Power! Deedee Magno Hall & Clifton Hall Sing the Crap Out of Everything!

2017-05-23T14:03:00.000-07:00

Married couple/musical theater stars Deedee Magno Hall and Clifton Hall have been on my mind lately—or, actually, in my ear. I recently saw them in the East West Players (EWP) production of the rock musical, Next to Normal, in Los Angeles, and that's what most of this post is about. But first:

Since most of this blog's readership is international, I do want those people who are unfamiliar with Deedee and Clifton to be properly introduced to them—by way of their singing voices.

Here they are, performing "As Long as You're Mine" from Wicked, which they both were cast in, on one of the musical's national tours. Watch:

That vocal power is quintessentially Filipino! (Deedee is Filipino American, and Clifton is Filipino Japanese Caucasian American.)

Okay, so back to Next to Normal.

Can I be honest with you? When I saw Next to Normal at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles a few years ago, I actively disliked it.

The sometimes unpleasant music (doesn't anyone believe in pretty melodies any more?!) and sometimes overwrought story of mental illness within a middle-class American family were elements that I just couldn't get into. I checked out early on.

Theatergoers know that, yes, there's nothing quite like a great play, but, oh my god, there's nothing quite as bad as a bad play.

This was also during a time in America when racial diversity in arts and entertainment was even more of a struggle than it is today. I sat there, watching and thinking, "Ugh! White people and their problems!"

Once again, I have to say loud and clear: I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST WHITE PEOPLE. I know white people, I like white people, I've slept with white people. (Ha ha ha! That joke never gets old.) (According to me.)

But I've been watching white people Go Through Things my entire life—on screen, on stage, everywhere I turn. And, yes, some of their problems are universal. And, yes, I have laughed with them, cried with them, empathized with them deeply.

But, you know, once in a while, I want to be represented on stage and screen too. Role models are vital in a person of color's personal development, NO MATTER WHAT AGE YOU ARE. It's the difference between empowerment and isolation.

If we lived in a post-racial society, then I wouldn't care so much. But that is not this country yet. I didn't make race a thing in America. You made race a thing in America. (And by "you," I mean the people who overtly or subtly discriminate on the basis of race or perpetuate racial stereotypes.)

It's the 2000s, and even well-intentioned strangers make "jokes" TO MY FACE about if I do martial arts (no) or I look like Jackie Chan (I don't) or I remind them of William Hung, communicated by them chanting, "she bangs, she bangs," when I appear before them (fuck you).

Yes, I know that white people get made fun of and get bullied to. And I know that their problems are real problems. You know how I know this? Because 99% of American movies, TV shows, and plays show me this, show me about the struggle of white people.

I get it. I really do. I know a lot about white people. When I was kid, when it came to entertainment, I had no other option than to learn about white culture.

I'm older now, and I don't want to stop learning.

But I also want to learn about other things too, other people too. I want to learn about me. I want to learn about my family. I want to learn about black people, Latino people, Native American people, etc. Why? Because these people are the people who populate MOST OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.

I don't know how the hell I got on this tangent.

This post is actually about how I LOVED Next to Normal at East West Players. An Asian-American cast takes over the story, and I suddenly care in a way that I didn't before.

You know why? Because depression and mental illness is not really talked about in the Asian-American community, even though it's much more prevalent than we think. Also, it's been reported that Asian Americans are three times less likely to seek out mental-health services than their Caucasian counterparts.

Also, this time around, I LOVED the music. While the first few songs are admittedly difficult to get into, sweet melodies do kick in, and I found myself humming some of those tunes during intermission and after the show.

And, as I mention in the title of this post, Deedee Magno Hall and Clifton Hall sing the crap out of everything! Their voices are powerful, persuasive, and capture the raw emotion of people dealing with lives that are spinning out of control.

Here's an interview with Deedee and Clifton about working on Next to Normal. Watch:

I also have to give a big shout-out to Scott Takeda, who's perfectly cast as a romantic high school kid, who's got tons of charm to spare. I worked with Scott on my production of Mysterious Skin at EWP many years ago, and it's great to see him on that stage again.

Here's an interview with Scott. Watch:

[Next to Normal is running until June 11, 2017, in Los Angeles.]

Solar Chicken Is Hot in Thailand [SUN-ROASTED!]

2017-05-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Photo from YouTube

While most of humanity struggles to make a campfire, Sila Sutharat cooks chicken using the power of the sun!

Sila is a street-food vendor in the Phetchaburi province of Thailand. Twenty years ago, he saw the reflection of the sun hitting a bus and, in a brilliant demonstration of amateur engineering skills, he set up the most environmentally friendly kitchen we’ve ever seen.

It sounds logical now that he's done it. After all, isn’t the ultimate source of heat, well, THE SUN?!

Sila, who dons a welding mask attached to a helmet while he's working, makes use of a movable array of mirrors to re-direct the sun's heat onto roasting chickens. This mirror wall is composed of more than 1,000 mirrors, and can cook the chicken in just 12 minutes.

This is similar to the way kids play with magnifying glasses to burn things. But instead of the childish game of setting ants on fire, this genius chef is cooking chicken and pork!

In a video interview (below), Sila absentmindedly spins the chicken on a set of homemade rotating grills, as he laughs at the camera. He reminisces about how the townsfolk doubted he could cook meat this way. Boy, did he prove them wrong!

The reliable Thai weather helps too, of course, and it’s a good thing since this roadside solar chicken restaurant has no Plan B.

Watch:

Check out other solar restaurants and bakeries from around the world.

[Source: Sunday Times.]

Sea Lion GRABS Girl, PULLS Her Into Water

2017-05-22T21:59:00.000-07:00

Photo from YouTube

NOTE TO SELF: Sea lions are wild animals! And they are called LIONS!

They may look cute and be playful. But in a split second they can yank at your clothing and drag your ass into the cold waters beneath Steveston Fisherman's Wharf in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

I know all this because of the following video. Watch:

Let's give a standing ovation to the older Asian dude who jumped in immediately and saved the day.

Apparently, the girl was not injured.

Wait! Before you go hating sea lions, watch them feed and kiss animal trainers! Watch:

Do I Love or Hate This 2nd New Psy Song?! ["NEW FACE"]

2017-05-22T20:01:00.001-07:00

Photo from YouTube

The same day that Koren pop music star, Psy, released the crazy music video for "I Luv It," he also released a music video for the new song, "New Face."

While I couldn't decide upon multiple viewings whether or not I loved or hated "I Luv It," I think "New Face" is easier to get into. But I still don't know if I love it or hate it. All I know is that it's very watchable.

So watch:

And there's something fascinating witnessing a stadium full of people (Koreans?) singing along with Psy to "New Face" live. Watch:

Do I Love or Hate This New Psy Song?! ["I LUV IT"]

2017-05-21T22:07:00.000-07:00

Psy, the "Gangnam Style" viral phenomenon with two billion views and counting, is back with a new Korean pop song and music video. It's colorful, and it has a new crazy dance. I just can't decide if I love it or hate it. Someone in the YouTube comments section says it's catchy after you listen to it 56 times, but I don't want to do it 56 freaking times! Watch, and then love or hate. You decide:

Unusual Graduation Traditions in 12 Countries [INFOGRAPHIC]

2017-05-21T22:00:00.000-07:00

I've been noticing a lot of graduation gifts for sale at my local grocery store, which can only mean it's that time of year in the United States. (Oh, how blissful it is to be free from academia!)

The following handy infographic takes a look at different high school and college graduation traditions in several different countries, including Japan, the Philippines, China, Thailand, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Russia, Germany, and the U.S.

My favorite traditions hail from Argentina and Italy, where grads get things pelted at them, like ketchup or syrup or, according to the infographic, "basically anything that can be thrown at them." Ha ha ha! You gotta love those Argentines and Italians!

But I'm also fond of Norway, where students embark on a month-long adventure of hard partying during their final days in school.

The United States seems pale by comparison, with graduation ceremonies that involve students fiddling with their tassels and throwing their caps in the air. Boooooring!

Take a look:

[Source: Shutterfly.]

Sad Filipino Jollibee Commercials Break the Internet [UPDATED 2025]

2017-05-18T18:07:00.004-07:00

Dear readers, I have a question.

WHY THE HELL AM I CRYING AT JOLLIBEE COMMERCIALS?!

Yes, I have an obsession with sad Thai ads (see: "5 Sad Thai Commercials to Make You Cry Nonstop" and "5 Thai Commercials Starring Dogs: The Funny & The Sad"). And I am prone to having an emotional breakdown just thinking about them.

But, c'mon!, I thought, Jollibee commercials?

Jollibee is a fast-food chain based in the Philippines, but there are franchises in the United States too.

I know this because I live near the Eagle Rock mall (also known as the "Mall of Manila") in Los Angeles, and there's a Jollibee there, right next to Chowking and Seafood City Supermarket. (Now do you understand why it's called the Mall of Manila?!) I occasionally visit the Jollibee for congee, fried tofu, and Thai iced tea with tapioca. (It's gloriously pan-Asian in the States!)

While Jollibee (known for its menu of fried chicken and spaghetti) has tested the waters in "sad-vertising" before, with its touching "Almulal" ("Breakfast") commercial, it wasn't until this year that the company's videos became runaway viral sensations.

A trio of commercials that were released just in time for Valentine's Day were big internet hits, racking up tens of millions of views on Facebook and YouTube and inspiring a slew of sometimes hilarious "reaction videos," which simply show people watching the ads and then crying.

We'll get to those Valentine's Day ads in a bit. But I wanted to kick things off with Jollibee's latest entry. It was released last week, just in time for Mother's Day, and it serves as a perfect companion piece to "5 Emotional Thai Commercials About Mothers."

1. "Parangal" ("Tribute")

In this commercial, a young man gives a graduation speech that doubles as a tribute to his mother. It sounds simple, doesn't it?

Well, it is. But it also packs an emotional wallop that had me doing the ugly-cry.

I rate this four tissues out of four tissues (for wiping away the tears). Watch:

2. "Almulal" ("Breakfast")

Before we move on to the Valentine's Day commercials that started this year off with a bang, let's take a look at the ad that I mentioned earlier.

This commercial came out last year, before Jollibee perfected its winning advertising formula.

It's got all the elements in place, and it's undeniably moving. It just doesn't quite reach the dizzying heights of the others. It's effective though.

I rate this one tissue out of four tissues. Watch:

3. "Vow"

Now we move on to the three commercials that propelled Jollibee into the forefront of viral ad producers.

In "Vow," what we think we get is a very simple (and perhaps even cheesy) love story. But what we actually get is so much more. I don't want to spoil it, so I'll leave it at that.

I rate this three tissues out of four tissues. Watch:

4. "Crush"

This heartwarming commercial tells the really sweet story about a young crush.

I rate this one tissue out of four tissues. Watch:

5. "Date"

We end with the commercial that absolutely DESTROYED me, as well as the rest of the planet. It tells the story of a tight-knit family.

I rate this four tissues out of four tissues. Watch:

Once again, I am wiped out.

If you need a pick-me-up after all that DRAMA, check out other people's reaction videos to these commercials on YouTube. Some of them are hilarious.

Why do I get so much pleasure out of watching other people cry?

Yes, Madam, That's a Live Cockroach in Your Skull

2017-05-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

At one time or another, everyone has had a bad experience waking up—whether it’s because of the flu or a hangover or a regrettable one-night-stand. But a 42-year-old woman named Selvi could definitely win in a competition for waking up in the WORST WAY IMAGINABLE.

Selvi is a domestic worker in Injambakkam, India. She was jolted out of a deep sleep one day because she felt a “burning sensation” in her head and a “crawling sensation” in her nostril.

Already this doesn’t sound good, as few of the better things in life start out with a “burning” or “crawling” type of feeling.

Fast forward to a hospital in Chennai, where a live cockroach was removed from her skull.

Here's how it went down:

The poor woman stated that the creepy crawler must have gotten inside her nose while she was sound asleep. When the roach moved, it gave Selvi that burning sensation, right in her eyes, making it difficult for her to get some shut-eye. After a restless night with the bug near her brain, Selvi’s son-in-law diligently drove her to get some medical attention.

At the first hospital, the staff suspected a mere nose growth and sent her home. (We're not sure you should be sent home for a nose growth. "Nose growth" sounds terrible.)

But then she was off to Stanley Medical College Hospital in Chennai. M.N. Shankar, the head of the Ear, Nose and Throat department, claimed to have never seen such a case in his 30-year career. Well, as they say, there's a first time for everything.

The cockroach was keeping itself rather warm and comfortable, making a fine home in Selvi's skull base, between the eyes. The doctors confirmed that Selvi was lucky that the roach was alive and crawling. Its death would have meant an infection very close to Selvi’s brain, which is never good news.

The extraction lasted 45 minutes, and it was caught on a bone-chilling video. If you have katsaridaphobia (fear of cockroaches), we strongly suggest you not watch it, as you may very well faint and damn this website before you do so. And we don't want to be damned.

The stunned doctors extracted the insect via suction and by using forceps, since it was reluctant to leave. The roach was finally put inside a glass jar, where it could be seen moving its wings and legs rather angrily.

Notice at the 0:05 mark, the doctor seems to catch the cockroach. But then loses hold of it. Even more alarming is the fact that the creature tries to go deeper to get away. Watch if you dare:

If you listen with the audio on, you’ll notice that there is a distinct lack of cursing, screaming, or demands to kill the insect with fire. Presumably, everyone was too horrified to speak.

Cockroaches have bendy flexible bodies and can creep into almost anything via small entrances. They also prefer warm, enclosed spaces, much like we humans usually prefer the beach and sunny days (although probably there is the odd cockroach, like the odd person, that would rather be in cold dry weather).

[Source: Daily Mail.]

Chinese Tourists Super Excited to See Black People

2017-05-17T05:00:00.000-07:00

Photo from YouTube

YouTuber SolineSoKawaii and her boyfriend?/husband?/traveling companion? were on vacation in Malaysia. In the following video, we see lots of Chinese tourists excitedly approaching them for pictures. Mistaken for celebrities? Or: "Wow! Black people!"? Watch:

4 Thai Commercials Starring Dogs: The Funny & The Sad [UPDATED 2025]

2017-05-15T22:20:00.000-07:00

In my posts, "5 Sad Thai Commercials to Make You Cry Nonstop" and "5 Emotional Thai Commercials About Mothers," stories about human relationships are what moved people to (sometimes uncontrollable) tears. For this post, I decided to pivot a bit to focus on dogs, and I also decided to mix it up, emotionally speaking.

A couple of these ads from Thailand are, of course, sad. One of them even has the potential to rip your heart out. But I also sprinkled in a couple that are adorably touching or outright funny.

So, are you ready for an emotional roller coaster ride? Here we go....

1. Kiatnakin Bank

A little bit of Thai is spoken in this first commercial from Kiatnakin Bank and no subtitles are available, but you really don't need them. This very sweet and touching story is about one man's act of kindness towards a dog—and how that kindness is repaid tenfold.

This is feel-good advertising at its best. Watch:

2. Bridgestone (Tires)

This narration- and dialogue-free commercial from Bridgestone, which prides itself on making quality tires, tells the tale of a dog who is betrayed. The dog decides to take extreme measures to cope.

You might see the end coming, but it's funny nonetheless. Watch:

3. Thai Smart Card

This commercial for Thai Smart Card's Smart Purse, an online payment system, starts out in the same vein as the Kiatnakin Bank commercial—with a begging dog. But the man in this ad is not so instantly kind.

This is really cute. Watch:

4. Krungthai Bank

This entire post has been a way to ramp up slowly to this last, epic, six-minute commercial, from yet another bank. It's time to brace yourself to feel EVERY EMOTION EVER CREATED.

There will be weeping, but this ad from Krungthai Bank also manages to be inspiring. Its message is layered in ways I did not expect.

Are you ready? Let's do this! Watch:

Are you completely destroyed? Yes? Sorry! (Not sorry.)

If you need to recover, watch this baby elephant get upset after chasing a dog or this Thai man swim with a bunch of golden retrievers or a never-ending parade of ducks!