angryasianman.com: This feed is not maintained by angryasianman. The official feed (summaries only) is at http://www.angryasianman.com/atom.xmlhttp://www.angryasianman.com/angry.htmltony@ponderer.org (Tony Chang)Fri, 05 Sep 2008 21:00:03 GMTPyRSS2Gen-1.0.0http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rsshttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/lpga-backs-down-on-english-requirement.html<div class="blogPost"> The LPGA Tour appears to have gotten the message. Feeling the pressure from lawmakers, sponsors and community groups since making this ridiculous announcement last month, the LPGA Tour backed off plans <a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/08/lpga-tour-requiring-players-to-learn.html"><b>requiring all players to learn English</b></a>, under threat of suspension: <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/pga/news?slug=ap-lpga-english&amp;prov=ap&amp;type=lgns" target="_blank"><b>LPGA backs down on English requirement</b></a>. <br /><br />The policy planned to suspend players who cannot speak English well enough to be understood at pro-ams, in interviews or in making acceptance speeches at tournaments in the United States. It just so happens that the LPGA has a significant number of golfers from South Korea.<br /><br />LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens said she would have a revised plan by the end of the year that would not include suspensions, although fining non-English speakers remains an option. Here is Bivens' statement rescinding penalties:<blockquote><font size="1"><b>Statement credited to LPGA Commissioner Carolyn F. Bivens regardingvthe LPGA's policy on effective communication in English</b><br /><br />DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., Sept. 5, 2008 -- The LPGA has received valuable feedback from a variety of constituents regarding the recently announced penalties attached to our effective communications policy. We have decided to rescind those penalty provisions.<br /><br />After hearing the concerns, we believe there are other ways to achieve our shared objective of supporting and enhancing the business opportunities for every Tour player. In that spirit, we will continue communicating with our diverse Tour players to develop a better alternative. The LPGA will announce a revised approach, absent playing penalties, by the end of 2008.<br /><br />During that time we will continue to provide support under the three-year-old Kolon-LPGA Cross Cultural Program. This popular program provides all LPGA members with the best cross-cultural training in the form of tutors, translators, Rosetta Stone, the official language-learning system of the LPGA, as well as assistance from LPGA staff and consultants.</font></blockquote>There's been quite a bit of outcry since the policy was announced last month. It has been widely criticized as discriminatory, particularly against Asian players. The Tour originally disclosed the plan two weeks ago during a mandatory meeting at the Safeway Classic in Portland. While LPGA membership includes 121 international players from 26 countries, the only people at this meeting were South Korean golfers. What's up with that? <br /><br />Make no mistake-Koreans are passionate about golf. You bet your ass there was going to be an outcry. And it looks like the LPGA heard it, loud and clear. It now remains to be seen what their ultimate plans for this ill-conceived policy will be. Stay tuned.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/lpga-backs-down-on-english-requirement.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=3918678568875192206" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/lpga-backs-down-on-english-requirement.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/lpga-backs-down-on-english-requirement.htmlFri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/international-secret-agents-concert.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/internationalsecretagents2008_tickets.jpg" width="450" height="630" border="0" vspace="6" /><br />For those of you in Southern California, just wanted to remind you about the big <a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/08/international-secret-agents-concert.html"><b>International Secret Agents</b></a> concert going down this weekend in San Gabriel. Featuring Far East Movement, Wong Fu Productions, Magnetic North, Jennifer Chung, Tatum Jones, Quest Dance Crew, Paul Dateh and more.... it's going to be huge. Sunday, September 7 at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. Go <a href="http://www.wongfuproductions.com/isa" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a> for details. There's also some ticket sales info above. Peace!<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/international-secret-agents-concert.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=7743902670118133759" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/international-secret-agents-concert.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/international-secret-agents-concert.htmlFri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/samurai-girl-premieres-tonight.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/samuraigirl02.jpg" width="450" height="300" border="0" vspace="6" /><br /><a href="http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Specials+Samurai-Girl/page_Detail?lid=home_feat+vids_recent_watch2" target="_blank"><b><i>Samurai Girl</i></b></a>, which we've been anticipating for the better part of a year, finally premieres tonight on ABC Family, and runs through the weekend as a three-night "original event." The network has been hyping the hell out of this thing, with nonstop commercials, a panel at last month's Comic-Con, and all sorts of crazy stuff on the show's <a href="http://abcfamily.go.com/abcfamily/path/section_Specials+Samurai-Girl/page_Detail?lid=home_feat+vids_recent_watch2" target="_blank"><b>website</b></a> ("samurai-ize your desktop"). If the premiere goes well, it's likely that <i>Samurai Girl</i> will be picked up as a full series.<br /><br />Well, I have seen the first two hours of the show... and it's not very good. Okay, everything we've seen and heard about the show so far hasn't been very promising. But I'll admit, I was secretly hoping the show would pull out some pleasant surprises, rather than falling back on the usual stereotypes. That's not happening. <i>Samurai Girl</i> is bad, and then really bad.<br /><br />Based on a series of popular <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&amp;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2Fs%3Furl%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps%26field-keywords%3Dsamurai%2Bgirl%2Bcarrie%2Basai%26x%3D0%26y%3D0&amp;tag=angryasianman-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325" target="_blank"><b>young adult novels</b></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=angryasianman-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, the show stars <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1512166/" target="_blank"><b>Jamie Chung</b></a> as a 19-year-old Japanese girl named Heaven who discovers that the wealthy businessman who adopted her as an infant is really the head of the Yakuza(!) and responsible for murdering her beloved brother. She breaks from her family and begins training to become a <b>samurai</b>, and with the help of a group of new American friends, sets out to take down her father's evil empire.<br /><br />I know I've said this before, but it's worthing asking again: why must every other Asian-related Hollywood project involve secret samurais and ninjas and yakuza clans? Not that there's anything wrong with a good samurai/ninja/yakuza story... but this ain't it.<br /><br />And the ridiculous stereotypes! Where do I begin? The plot opens with Heaven being forced into an arranged marriage with the son of her adopted father's business associate. The guy, of course, is a total douchebag. The occasion, however, is rudely interrupted by a ninja attack, complete with smoke bombs and throwing stars. Don't you hate it when that happens?<br /><br />But when your show is called <i>Samurai Girl</i>, you eventually want to see your hero become said Samurai Girl. So Heaven must learn the secret, ancient ways of the samurai, training under the wise tutelage of her sensei... a white dude. Huh? Oh, I see. Like, um, <i>The Last Samurai</i>.<br /><br />It's worth noting in the book series, this sensei character is actually a Japanese guy, Hiro Uyemoto, described on the <a href="http://www.simonsays.com/extras/flash/samuraigirl/home.htm" target="_blank"><b>book website</b></a> as "Heaven's crush-worthy samurai mentor." I was told by someone who read an early draft of the pilot script that this character was indeed an Asian guy. Looks like that minor detail got changed somewhere along the way... Funny how that happens.<br /><br />Heaven also conveniently picks up some nice white, American friends to round out her crew. Yay! So let's see. Good conveniently Caucasian friends, white samurai sensei... Bad mob boss dad, evil yakuza henchmen, douchebag Japanese fiance left at the altar. Hmmm.<br /><br />Am I missing anyone? Oh yeah, can't forget Heaven's brother Hiko, played by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1555268/" target="_blank"><b>Jack Yang</b></a>, who's probably the most interesting thing about the show. Too bad he gets killed within the first ten minutes of the premiere. There's also good ol' <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0793634/" target="_blank"><b>Sab Shimono</b></a>, who plays Heaven's faithful chauffeur. Very wise, very benevolent. Practically Miyagi-esque.<br /><br />All right. I've said enough. While I'm always excited to see new shows with Asian American actors in starring roles, if it has to look like this, I'll pass. Granted, I only watched the first two hours made available for review. The next four hours could kick some serious ass. But I'm not holding my breath. Hey, <i>Samurai Girl</i> might be your cup of tea. Watch at your own risk, I guess. The show premieres tonight on ABC Family, and continues on Saturday and Sunday night.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/samurai-girl-premieres-tonight.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=2035148165434085407" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/samurai-girl-premieres-tonight.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/samurai-girl-premieres-tonight.htmlFri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-giveaway.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/pingpongplaya_giveaway.jpg" width="450" height="300" border="0" vspace="6" /><br />This is a call out to all you Ping Pong Playas. To celebrate the release of the <a href="http://www.pingpongplaya.com/" target="_blank"><b><i>Ping Pong Playa</i></b></a> in select theaters today, I'm giving away two very special <i>PPP</i> prize packs containing a ping pong paddle and two balls, pictured above. You like that? It can be yours. <br /><br />To enter for your chance to win, just <a href="mailto:angryminsoo@angryasianman.com"><b>email me</b></a> with your name and mailing address, and <b>"PPP GIVEAWAY"</b> clearly written in the subject line, by the end of Thursday, September 11. Entries that do not follow these simple instructions will be thrown out, because entries that do not follow simple instructions are the entries of fools. Duplicate entries will also be thrown out. I'll throw all the entries into a hat and pick two winner. And that'll be that.<br /><br /><i>Ping Pong Playa</i> opens in theaters today in San Francisco, San Jose, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Glendale, Alhambra, Irvine and New York. Here's an article on the movie in the <i>OC Register</i>: <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/articles/asian-american-tsai-2145420-ping-pong" target="_blank"><b>'Ping Pong Playa' hits big screen</b></a>. And the <i>LA Times</i>: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/movies/la-et-performance4-2008sep04,0,2275610.story" target="_blank"><b>The Performance: Jimmy Tsai in 'Ping Pong Playa'</b></a>. And SF Gate: <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/NSSO12KSSM.DTL" target="_blank"><b>'Ping Pong Playa': Jessica Yu's new comedy</b></a>.<br /><br />For those of you in the Bay Area, <i>Hyphen</i> magazine is throwing after party free for anyone with a <i>Ping Pong Playa</i> ticket stub this Saturday at the Straits Cafe in San Francisco: <a href="http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/content/view/106/1/" target="_blank"><b>Hyphen Presents the Official After Party for Ping Pong Playa</b></a>. And finally, check out this funny video of Jimmy Tsai as Chris "C-Dub" Wang, dropping some knowledge about Asian/Asian American cinema: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQNN0DBtMGY" target="_blank"><b>C-dub's favorite Asian/Asian-Am movies</b></a>.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-giveaway.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=6690864522947272857" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-giveaway.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-giveaway.htmlFri, 05 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/racist-mother-goose-and-grimm-cartoon.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/mothergooseandgrimm2008-08-17.jpg" width="450" height="227" border="0" vspace="6" /><br /><a href="http://kimchimamas.typepad.com/kimchi_mamas/2008/08/its-a-new-week.html" target="_blank"><b>Kimchi Mamas</b></a> first blogged about this a couple of weeks ago... What kind of messed up nonsense is this? This <a href="http://www.grimmy.com/images/MGG_Archive/MGG_2008/MGG0817.gif" target="_blank"><b><i>Mother Goose and Grimm</i></b></a> comic strip is a couple of weeks old, but dude, <b>what the hell?</b> Come on! Really? They really had to go there with the idiotic Korean dog-eating joke? And then take it one step fruther with the Kim Jong Il caricature? <br /><br />I'm no fan of Kim Jong Il, and honestly, I welcome any kind of intelligent lampooning of his evil dictator craziness. Because the man is nuts. But this is a one-note jab, a cheap laugh that squarely aims for Kim Jong Il's ethnicity. And then seen by millions of Americans, in newspapers nationwide. <i>That's racist!</i> (Thanks, Toni.)<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/racist-mother-goose-and-grimm-cartoon.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=6873648071218879810" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/racist-mother-goose-and-grimm-cartoon.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/racist-mother-goose-and-grimm-cartoon.htmlThu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/resource-for-autistic-asian-americans.html<div class="blogPost"> Just read this interesting <i>San Jose Mercury News</i> story on the Friends of Children with Special Needs Dream Center, which runs an all-day camp providing a fun, cultural and helpful experience for predominantly autistic kids and their parents of Chinese heritage: <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10186134?nclick_check=1" target="_blank"><b>Autistic Asians get a window of opportunity</b></a>.<br /><br />Based in Fremont, California, the Dream Center is believed to be the nation's only Chinese-centric, autistic-focused center. It doesn't medically treat autism, but offers innovative, holistic programming, from music lessons to weekend family potlucks, and the camp.<br /><br />The Dream Center was founded by a few Chinese families in 1996, in an effort to help fellow Asians who were raised to feel ashamed of disabilities. Since then, the center's membership has soared from ten families to six hundred. <br /><br />The goal is to address and eliminate the lingering stigma of autism among Chinese Americans as well as other ethnic communities, which can definitely be an uphill struggle. To learn more about the Dream Center's work, visit the organization's website <a href="http://www.fcsn1996.org/" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/resource-for-autistic-asian-americans.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=566053372376844804" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/resource-for-autistic-asian-americans.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/resource-for-autistic-asian-americans.htmlThu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/satire-behind-korean-parents.html<div class="blogPost"> A lot of folks were a bit confounded by Randy Newman's <a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/07/randy-newmans-korean-parents.html"><b>"Korean Parents"</b></a> song that hit the news a fews back. I'll admit, I was kind of scratching my head too. Thankfully, Jeff Chang has a very astute and insightful analysis of the song and its context, as well as some of Newman's other often controversial, satirical work, over at Slate: <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2198938/" target="_blank"><b>Korean Parents for Sale</b></a>. It's a good piece, so check it out.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/satire-behind-korean-parents.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=3240418986255530208" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/satire-behind-korean-parents.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/satire-behind-korean-parents.htmlThu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/yellowface-puppet-on-youtube.html<div class="blogPost"> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESP3oDbzqOI&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESP3oDbzqOI&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />What the hell is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESP3oDbzqOI" target="_blank"><b>this</b></a>?<br /><br />Seriously, what is this? This video, and more like it, can be found on this <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/farnsworthandthefox" target="_blank"><b>YouTube channel</b></a> which is apparently part of CBS's Mobile programming. And there are twelve more videos in this idiotic "Farnfucious" series. I know it's just a puppet, but damn. <br /><br />I cannot believe someone would deem this appropriate material to post as part of a major broadcast network's online content. I actually originally found them on CBS' main <a href="http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=CBS&amp;search_query=farnfucious&amp;search=Search&amp;session=6kihEdRTnDE6KVkKshcuTGIZKJl4UjEJtVM5g1m-aWLJceEnhbPBrwht6t0SVveUZIRFbUavd5dK83oHsPzba6SvJpq-fP1s352rqRvBQXHQIWC4ZNoWrRYBFo0r9k2D2HX6_sTw_u9i--XIo7mzP4ufHsRtce3425ChVEPtCYZfYUnPLALVbIafRDP64fccnZrlqBTsNH8_0D8pHKCNIjWrwJg6sCWCMDp93yJhShBFP_b2MctcVIoD9jlrkG8jxgDEw0LkWv2kyNx3HQ1IduCnbXQCSJNt0nPZ-5tJDOM=" target="_blank"><b>YouTube channel</b></a>, but they were taken down pretty quickly. <br /><br />Does it still count as yellowface when you dress up a white puppet character like an old Asian man? That's got to be a first. It's ridiculous. Once again, someone thinks racial caricatures mocking Asians are funny. <i>That's racist!</i> (Thanks, Andrew.)<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/yellowface-puppet-on-youtube.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=5637855549256439588" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/yellowface-puppet-on-youtube.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/yellowface-puppet-on-youtube.htmlThu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/bay-area-asian-storeownersrestaurants.html<div class="blogPost"> Last week, a Chinese restaurant in El Cerrito, California became the latest target in a rash of takeover robberies in the East Bay: <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/28/BA4Q12J8V9.DTL" target="_blank"><b>Robbers hold up El Cerrito restaurant</b></a>. <br /><br />Two men, one armed with a gun and the other wearing a mask, stormed the Yuet Foo Seafood Restaurant and robbed customers and employees. There have recently been similar restaurant robberies in Oakland and other cities, including Castro Valley, Hayward and Daly City, although it's unclear whether this latest one is linked.<br /><br />Meanwhile, on the other side of the Bay, in San Francisco's Glen Park neighborhood, armed robbers beat and stabbed the owner of a corner grocery store, then kidnapped another employee (who was later released): <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/31/BABQ12LQC9.DTL" target="_blank"><b>Grocer beaten, robbed in Glen Park</b></a>. <br /><br />Paul Park, who owns Buddies Market, was getting ready to go home around 11:00pm when he was confronted by three or four suspects who reportedly broke in through the rear door. He was bound, gagged, and suffered multiple stab wounds, but managed to find help at the restaurant across the street.<br /><br />Over the weekend, Park was reportedly in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital. Anyone with additional information about the crime is asked to call the SFPD robbery unit at 415-553-1201.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/bay-area-asian-storeownersrestaurants.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=2006180521456137598" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/bay-area-asian-storeownersrestaurants.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/bay-area-asian-storeownersrestaurants.htmlThu, 04 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/sheena-on-americas-next-top-model-cycle.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/antm_sheena01.jpg" width="450" height="300" border="0" vspace="6" /><br />The 11th season of <i>America's Next Top Model</i> premieres tonight on the CW. While there are very few redeeming qualities about this program, I mention it here because one of this season's contestants is Asian American (we seem to get one every three seasons or so). <br /><br />According to the <i>Top Model</i> website, <a href="http://www.cwtv.com/shows/americas-next-top-model11/cast/sheena" target="_blank"><b>Sheena</b></a>, 21, is a "Hostess/Go-Go Dancer" from Honolulu, Hawaii currently residing in Harlem, New York. Here's her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2w5kJUk4s4E&amp;feature=user" target="_blank"><b>model interview</b></a>, where she reveals a little bit about her personality, her attitude, and where's she coming from. <br /><br />I got a bit of an early look at the season premiere, and was actually kind of impressed with Sheena. Granted, an <i>America's Next Top Model</i> contestant doesn't have to do much to impress me. Just don't act like a fool. And I actually only watched half the episode-I couldn't make it through the entire way. This show is downright painful to watch. Tyra Banks is out of her mind.<br /><br />But from what little I saw of Sheena, she came off as a girl with some big-time sass and confidence in herself... something previous Asian American contestants of this show have seriously lacked. Must I remind you of <a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2006/03/gina-on-americas-next-top-model-cycle.html"><b>Gina</b></a>, the identity crisis train wreck from Cycle 6? Seriously embarrassing. <br /><br />Sheena. Girl. I don't ask for much. Please, just don't make a fool of yourself. That said, I will not be tuning in. Good luck.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/sheena-on-americas-next-top-model-cycle.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=3357248213224552772" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/sheena-on-americas-next-top-model-cycle.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/sheena-on-americas-next-top-model-cycle.htmlWed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/danny-lee-becomes-youngest-us-amateur.html<div class="blogPost"> Last week in North Carolina, 18-year-old golfer Danny Lee of New Zealand became the youngest U.S. Amateur Champion ever, supplanting Tiger Woods and beating Drew Kittleson in style 5 and 4: <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igxLS4VKUjwYp1wKP03-rP0SO19AD92OTBR80" target="_blank"><b>Lee supplants Tiger as youngest US Amateur champ</b></a>. <br /><br />At 18 years and month, Lee is six months and 29 days younger than Woods was when he wont the first of his three Amateurs in 1994. That's one for the record books. The kid's got a bright future ahead of him. I imagine it's only a matter of time before we see him matched up against Woods himself. <br /><br />When a USGA official told Lee that he's likely going to be paired with Woods for the first two rounds at next year's U.S. Open, he replied, laughing, "Wow. I'm going to beat him." Don't get too cocky, kid. More here: <a href="http://www.usamateur.org/news/sun_lee_final.html" target="_blank"><b>Lee's Feat Uncanny</b></a>.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/danny-lee-becomes-youngest-us-amateur.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=5235730268350992944" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/danny-lee-becomes-youngest-us-amateur.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/danny-lee-becomes-youngest-us-amateur.htmlWed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/pic-shows-in-los-angeles-this-weekend.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/pic_faisdodo.jpg" width="450" height="300" border="0" vspace="6" /><br />My man Steve from the New York-based swingin' hip hop jazz band <a href="http://www.picscape.com/elnovahustle/" target="_blank"><b>P.I.C.</b></a> informs me that they'll be in Los Angeles this weekend for two rare West Coast shows. See them live with labelmates The Jack Lords at Fais Do-do in L.A. and the 17th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture in San Pedro:<blockquote><font size="1"><b>P.I.C w/ The Jack Lords</b><br /><b>Live at Fais Do-do</b><br />Saturday 09.06.08<br />5257 West Adams Blvd.<br />Los Angeles, CA 90013<br />With The Jack Lords<br />Doors open 8:00pm<br />$8 door<br />http://www.faisdodo.com/<br /><br /><b>P.I.C w/ The Jack Lords</b><br /><b>Live at FPAC 08 – The 17th Annual Festival of Philippine Arts & Culture</b><br />Sunday 09.07.08<br />Show starts approx. 3:00pm<br />Pt. Fermin Park<br />San Pedro, CA<br />http://www.filamarts.org/fpac08/home.htm</font></blockquote>I have yet to see these cats perform live, but I do enjoy their album <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&amp;location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FEl-Nova-Hustle-P-I-C%2Fdp%2FB000VWC7OE%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dmusic%26qid%3D1220454132%26sr%3D8-3&amp;tag=angryasianman-20&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325" target="_blank"><b><i>El Nova Hustle</i></b></a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=angryasianman-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> quite a bit. Should be a really fun show. To learn more about P.I.C., and to hear some sample tracks, visit the website <a href="http://www.picscape.com/elnovahustle/" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/pic-shows-in-los-angeles-this-weekend.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=8569563552061239713" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/pic-shows-in-los-angeles-this-weekend.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/pic-shows-in-los-angeles-this-weekend.htmlWed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/help-for-rape-victim-and-her-family.html<div class="blogPost"> Earlier this year, on April 24, an 18-year-old high school student in Tampa, Florida was brutally beaten and raped while returning books to a public library. The attack left her blinded, brain-damaged, and unable to talk, swallow or walk: <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article694309.ece" target="_blank"><b>'My soul is broken,' mother of beaten teen says</b></a>. More here: <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/article695383.ece" target="_blank"><b>Prayers abound for Hillsborough rape victim and family</b></a>.<br /><br />The girl was weeks away from graduation and had a full scholarship to the University of Florida. Instead of enjoying this time with her friends, she spent six weeks in the neuro-intensive care unit at Tampa General Hospital. She had suffered strokes from being strangled and her skull had been crushed.<br /><br />Authorities say she was attacked by Kendrick Morris, a 16-year-old charged as an adult in connection with two rapes-the one at the library and another of a 61-year-old woman at a day care near his home in June 2007. He remains in jail without bail on nine felony charges.<br /><br />Today, the girl's family is nearly bankrupt. They used up all of their insurance and had to apply for Medicaid. They were notified recently that Medicaid would no longer pay for her care at the rehab center because she is not making sufficient progress: <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article741401.ece" target="_blank"><b>Squeals of joy rise, tears of sorrow fall when friends visit rape victim</b></a>.<br /><br />If you're interested in helping the family out, an account has been set up for the family at SunTrust Bank. To contribute, go to any SunTrust Bank and ask that a deposit be made to the Bloomingdale Library Rape Assault Victim Fund.<br /><br />Some concerned citizens have also organized an event to help the family out: <a href="http://www.fashionforcompassion.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank"><b>Fashion For Compassion</b></a>, a fashion show fundraiser on behalf of the Bloomingdale Library Victim. Saturday, September 27 at the Tampa Convention Center. There will be entertainment, food, fashion, etc. It's a good cause, so if you're in the area, mark your calendars and check it out. All proceeds will go towards the victim's fund. For more information, go <a href="http://www.fashionforcompassion.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/help-for-rape-victim-and-her-family.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=2966559668103949843" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/help-for-rape-victim-and-her-family.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/help-for-rape-victim-and-her-family.htmlWed, 03 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-in-theaters-this-friday.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/pingpongplaya08.jpg" width="450" height="300" border="0" vspace="6" /><br />All right, moviegoing friends. <a href="http://www.pingpongplaya.com/" target="_blank"><b><i>Ping Pong Playa</i></b></a> opens in theaters this Friday, September 5, in San Francisco, San Jose, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Glendale, Alhambra, Irvine and New York, then on September 12 in Seattle and Houston. <br /><br />Starring Jimmy Tsai (who also co-wrote the script), Roger Fan, Smith Cho, Jim Lau and Elizabeth Sung, the movie is a fun, crowd-pleasing indie sports comedy that seves up some solid laughs and good times. It deserves to be seen by any people as possible. And hey, it's fun for the whole family.<br /><br />Chris "C-Dub" Wang is a trash-talkin' Chinese American wannabe-hustler suburban slacker who never quite lived up to his dreams of NBA stardom. Much to his reluctance, however, he finds his true gift as a ping-pong player and coach, leading an odd squad of students to a local championship.<br /><br />Interestingly, the movie marks the unlikely narrative feature directorial debut of Academy Award-winning director Jessica Yu, who has made a name for herself with several critically acclaimed, artfully crafted documentaries. Quite the opposite of <i>Ping Pong Playa</i>, which won't be winning any Oscars, but she definitely makes it work.<br /><br />Here's the list of theaters where <i>Ping Pong Playa</i> will be screening this weekend. Check your local theater listings for showtimes and tickets:<br /><br /><b>NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)</b><br /><br />REGAL E-WALK (TIMES SQUARE)<br />247 W. 42ND STREET (AT 8TH AVENUE)<br />NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM<br />http://www.fandango.com/10036_movietheatershowtimes?date=9/5/2008<br /><br />AMC LOEWS VILLAGE 7<br />66 THIRD AVENUE (AT 11TH STREET)<br />NEW YORK, NY 10003<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM<br />http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?wssac=58&tid;=AABQF&wssaffid;=11480_LoewsTheatresWebsite<br /><br /><b>LOS ANGELES</b><br /><br /><b>ALHAMBRA/PASADENA/SAN GABRIEL VALLEY</b><br />EDWARDS ATLANTIC PALACE 10<br />700 MAIN STREET<br />ATLANTIC AT MAIN STREET<br />ALHAMBRA, CA 91801<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM<br /><a href="http://www.fandango.com/edwardsatlanticpalace10_aaedc/theaterpage?date=9/5/2008" target="_blank">http://www.fandango.com/edwardsatlanticpalace10_aaedc/theaterpage?date=9/5/2008</a><br /><br /><b>GLENDALE</b><br />MANN GLENDALE EXCHANGE 10<br />128 MARYLAND AVENUE<br />GLENDALE, CA 91205<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON MOVIEFONE.COM<br /><a href="http://www.moviefone.com/theater/mann-glendale-exchange-10/391/showtimes" target="_blank">http://www.moviefone.com/theater/mann-glendale-exchange-10/391/showtimes</a><br /><br /><b>HOLLYWOOD</b><br />MANN CHINESE 6 THEATERS<br />HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND<br />6801 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.<br />LOS ANGELES, CA 90028<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON MOVIETICKETS.COM<br /><a href="http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=806" target="_blank">http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=806</a><br /><br /><b>IRVINE</b><br />EDWARDS UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER 6<br />4245 CAMPUS DRIVE<br />IRVINE, CA 92612<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT FANDANGO.COM<br /><a href="http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?tid=AABHI" target="_blank">http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?tid=AABHI</a><br /><br /><b>SAN FRANCISCO</b><br />AMC LOEWS METREON 16<br />101 4TH STREET AT MISSION<br />SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94013<br />BUY ADVANCE TCKETS AT FANDANGO.COM<br /><a href="http://www.fandango.com/amcloewsmetreon16withimax_aanem/theaterpage" target="_blank">http://www.fandango.com/amcloewsmetreon16withimax_aanem/theaterpage</a><br /><br /><b>BERKELEY</b><br />LANDMARK SHATTUCK CINEMAS<br />2230 SHATTUCK AVENUE<br />BERKELEY, CA 94704<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT LANDMARKTHEATRES.COM<br /><a href="https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Landmark.aspx?TheatreID=200" target="_blank">https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Landmark.aspx?TheatreID=200</a><br /><br /><b>SAN JOSE</b><br />CAMERA 12 DOWNTOWN<br />201 SOUTH SECOND STREET<br />SAN JOSE, CA 95113<br />BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT CAMERACINEMAS.COM<br /><a href="http://www.cameracinemas.com/cgi-bin/movies.cgi?cmd=np&amp;f=c12" target="_blank">http://www.cameracinemas.com/cgi-bin/movies.cgi?cmd=np&f;=c12</a><br /><br />Like most independent Asian American cinema, <i>Ping Pong Playa</i> does not have the kind of marketing budget to compete against big studio fare, and will have to rely quite a bit on grassroots marketing and word-of-mouth. Thus, I'm telling you. Check it out. And bring your friends, family and neighbors for a fun time at the movies. For more information, visit the <i>Ping Pong Playa</i> website <a href="http://www.pingpongplaya.com/" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>. And watch the trailer <a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809931522/video" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-in-theaters-this-friday.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=1061484295005692220" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-in-theaters-this-friday.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/ping-pong-playa-in-theaters-this-friday.htmlTue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/profile-on-fanny-paks-cara-horibe.html<div class="blogPost"> Since I started writing (obsessively, I know) about <i>America's Best Dance Crew</i>, this season, there's been one individual who folks have been consistently inquiring about. Fanny Pak's <a href="http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1589545&amp;pid=3027547" target="_BLANK"><b>Cara Horibe</b></a>. What ethnicity is she? Where's she from? Does she have a boyfriend/girlfriend. Seriously. Like I know.<br /><br />Originally from Hawaii, 24-year-old Horibe is Japanese, Korean and Portuguese. She moved to Los Angeles in October 2006 to pursue dance as a career, but quickly found out that it wasn't an easy road to take. She apparently almost came to the point of giving up on dance and taking on a new career in cutting hair.<br /><br />Luckily, her big break came when she hooked up with friends to form Fanny Pak and try out for <i>Dance Crew</i>. How do I know all this? I read all about her here: <a href="http://www.midweek.com/content/story/theweekend_coverstory/cara_horibe/" target="_blank"><b>Dancing Queen</b></a>. Everything you want to know about Cara Horibe. Now stop asking me.<br /><br />According to the article, while waiting for the final casting of <i>America's Best Dance Crew</i>, she was hired to play a "funky cheerleader" in Disney's <i>High School Musical 3</i>. So I guess you might be seeing her on the big screen sometime soon. Or you can catch her in person with Fanny Pak on the <a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/08/americas-best-dance-crew-live.html"><b><i>Dance Crew</i> Live</b></a> tour.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/profile-on-fanny-paks-cara-horibe.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=3985990848106960632" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/profile-on-fanny-paks-cara-horibe.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/profile-on-fanny-paks-cara-horibe.htmlTue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/watch-online-village-called-versailles.html<div class="blogPost"> I recently heard about <a href="http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2008/08/a_village_calle.html" target="_blank"><b><i>A Village Called Versailles</i></b></a>, S. Leo Chiang's documentary-in-progress about the inspiring rebuilding of the Vietnamese American community in post-Katrina New Orleans East. PBS' <i>Frontline/WORLD</i> has posted a 15-minute online version of the film <a href="http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/rough/2008/08/a_village_calle.html" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>. Check it out.<br /><br />As you probably know, last week marked the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. There has been quite a bit of attention and scrutiny on the devastating effects of the storm on the Gulf Coast region, and the slow rebuilding process that has taken place over the years, but very little of it is ever focused on the 40,000 Vietnamese Americans in the area that were also affected by the storm. <br /><br />A section of eastern New Orleans called "Versailles" is actually home to the most dense ethnically Vietnamese population outside of Vietnam. Like the rest of the city, Versailles was devastated in the fall of 2005 by Hurricane Katrina and the floods that followed. Many Vietnamese Americans in New Orleans East were evacuated and dispersed. <br /><br />However, just six weeks after the storm, the Versailles Vietnamese returned to begin rebuilding and quickly became a thriving community. Ironically, it was the flood and its aftermath that catalyzed the transformation of Versailles from an isolated ethnic refugee community into an integral part of New Orleans. What they've accomplished is truly inspiring.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/watch-online-village-called-versailles.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=8072883847039038037" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/watch-online-village-called-versailles.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/watch-online-village-called-versailles.htmlTue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/colbert-report-asian-guy-with-obama.html<div class="blogPost"> <embed flashvars="videoId=180123" src="http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/video_player/view/default/swf.jhtml" quality="high" bgcolor="#cccccc" width="332" height="316" name="comedy_central_player" align="middle" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="external" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br /><br />Check out this great clip of Konrad Ng, Barack Obama's brother-in-law, getting some attention on <i>The Colbert Report</i>. Colbert's stark analysis of Obama's moment at the DNC was foiled:<blockquote><font size="1">"They got a young guy, and an old guy. They got an white guy and a black guy. What's the matter-couldn't find an Asian guy? [Camera shot of Konrad.] Noooo! Asian guy. Gotta get one of those."</font></blockquote>That's right, Stephen. No good presidential campaign is complete without an Asian guy up on the stage. Meet Konrad Ng. (Yes, Konrad has seen this, and says he "had a good chuckle.")<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/colbert-report-asian-guy-with-obama.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=8197126219520969755" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/colbert-report-asian-guy-with-obama.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/colbert-report-asian-guy-with-obama.htmlMon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/its-gonna-happen-pacquiao-vs-de-la-hoya.html<div class="blogPost"> Last week, it was announced that boxer Manny Pacquiao, pride of the Philippines, will face off against Oscar De La Hoya at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6, for what will undoubtedly be the biggest fight of 2008: <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=3558298" target="_blank"><b>Pacquiao to move up two weight classes to fight De La Hoya</b></a>. <br /><br />The two have agreed to fight at 147 pounds. At a listed 5-10 1/2, De La Hoya, who has never fought at a weight lighter than 130, is 4 inches taller than Pacquiao, who is listed at 5-6 1/2 and started his career in the Philippines at a reported 107 pounds. Whatever happens, both stand to make a lot of money.<br /><br />This is going to be huge. According to Pacquiao promoter Top Rank, within minutes of the official announcement, telephone lines at its Las Vegas office were flooded with ticket requests, even though tickets have not yet been priced and aren't available. Expect the streets of Manila to come to a standstill on the eve of December 6.<br /><br />Hell, I don't even follow boxing, but this gets me very excited. I might actually order up the match on pay-per-vew, just to see what the hype is all about.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/its-gonna-happen-pacquiao-vs-de-la-hoya.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=4950567307031174879" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/its-gonna-happen-pacquiao-vs-de-la-hoya.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/its-gonna-happen-pacquiao-vs-de-la-hoya.htmlMon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/matcha-tea-spice-september-4.html<div class="blogPost"> <img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/angry/matcha2008_09.jpg" width="450" height="100" border="0" vspace="6" /><br />Bay Area friends, once again, it's time for <a href="http://www.asianart.org/matcha08september.htm" target="_blank"><b>MATCHA</b></a>, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco's monthly art/music mixer series. This month's edition, <b>Tea & Spice</b>, will be all about getting your tea on. Sample and sip teas from all over the world, or check out the museum's exhibit, <a href="http://www.asianart.org/courtarts.htm" target="_blank"><b>Power and Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty</b></a>, before it closes next month. Here are some details:<blockquote><font size="1"><b>MATCHA: Tea & Spice</b><br />Thursday, Sept 4, 5:00-9:00 pm<br />Asian Art Museum <br />ONLY $5<br /><br />Still dusty from its annual trek to Burning Man, <a href="http://www.tealchemy.org/" target="_blank">Tealchemy's</a> Tea Temple will be erected inside the Asian Art Museum for MATCHA. Everyone can sip earthy tea inside this mammoth atmospheric, communal space, which celebrates the centuries-old nomadic trade and travel of the Silk Routes. Elsewhere in the museum, taste teas from India, Persia, and Tibet (courtesy <a href="http://www.samovartea.com/" target="_blank">Samovar</a>) or those along China's Tea and Horse Roads (courtesy <a href="http://www.teance.com/" target="_blank">Teance</a>).<br /><br />Discover how these different blends are brewed and grind your own spicy chai (Indian tea), mortar and pestle style. Learn about tea and its cultural influences, see art of the spice routes on a guided tour, and view <a href="http://www.asianart.org/courtarts.htm" target="_blank">Power & Glory: Court Arts of China's Ming Dynasty</a> before it closes (Sept. 21).<br /><br />MATCHA is the perfect way to get your monthly arts and culture fix. Watch performances, stroll the galleries, create art, mingle over cocktails, enjoy music, and more. <a href="http://www.asianart.org/matcha.htm" target="_blank">Check out the season schedule</a>.</font></blockquote>Should be another cool evening. Make plans to head on over to the Asian Art Museum this Thursday, bring a few friends, and mingle over cocktails (or a hot cup of tea). For more information on MATCHA, go <a href="http://www.asianart.org/matcha08september.htm" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a>.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/matcha-tea-spice-september-4.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=8916632649178979157" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/matcha-tea-spice-september-4.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/matcha-tea-spice-september-4.htmlMon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMThttp://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/letters-to-lpga.html<div class="blogPost"> This is the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association's <a href="http://www.napaba.org/napaba/showpage.asp?code=PR-LPGA0808" target="_blank"><b>statement</b></a> on the LPGA's idiotic English-only rule, which requires all of its member golfers to learn and speak English, or else face suspension, beginning in 2009:<blockquote><font size="1"><b>THE LPGA SHOULD RESCIND ITS ENGLISH LANGUAGE RULE</b><br /><br />Washington, DC - The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), the national association of Asian Pacific American attorneys, judges, law professors and law students, is appalled by the Ladies Professional Golf Association's reported new language policy that would require that players be proficient in English or face suspension. According to press reports, beginning in 2009, the LPGA will suspend the memberships of players who have been on tour for two years if they do not pass oral English examinations.<br /><br />"English proficiency is not necessary for a player to compete and excel in sports, as the recent Olympic Games so wonderfully demonstrated," stated Helen B. Kim, President of NAPABA. Kim further stated, "The LPGA's English language rule goes against the spirit of organized sports, including golf, which allow players and fans to transcend national and language differences by sharing the joys of athleticism and performance."<br /><br />This requirement appears to be aimed at Korean and other Asian golfers who have become extraordinarily successful on the LPGA tour given that the ability to succeed on the golf course does not correlate with proficiency in the English language, as many successful athletes have shown. Nor is English proficiency necessary for players to interact with American sponsors and fans, as the LPGA allegedly claims. Certainly, many factors other than English proficiency make certain athletes more marketable and entertaining than others, and many players with limited or no proficiency in English have succeeded in excelling in the sports world and gaining a worldwide fan and sponsor base, such as Angel Cabrera and Daisuke Matsuzaka.<br /><br />NAPABA is also concerned about the LPGA's lack of protocols for implementing this new language requirement, as reported in Golfweek Magazine. According to that source, LPGA staffers will be authorized to identify players who should be evaluated for English proficiency. This type of broad discretion and lack of standardized procedures may lead to discriminatory targeting of players from certain countries and ethnicities.<br /><br />NAPABA urges the LPGA to follow the examples of every other professional sports organization in the United States, which welcome foreign-born players and which do not have any English proficiency requirements, and immediately rescind this unfair and unsportsmanlike language requirement. NAPABA also urges sponsors of the LPGA tour to withdraw their support until this rule is rescinded.</font></blockquote>Basically, they think it's a bad idea. Similarly, the Korean American Bar Association of Northern California sent a lengthy resonse letter to the Dawn Hudson, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the LPGA, protesting the English-only policy, and signed by the likes of Assemblyman Mike Eng, Assembly Ted Lieu, Yul Kwon, and over 40 concerned Asian American organizaions. Email me if you'd like to see a copy of this letter.<br /> <div class="byline"><font size="1"><a href="http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/letters-to-lpga.html" title="permanent link">angrylink</a> | <a href="http://www.blogger.com/email-post.g?blogID=1714180529890392173&amp;postID=4226979335777745054" alt="email this post" title="email this post"><img src="http://www.angryasianman.com/images/email.gif" border="0" width="14" height="10" vspace="1" /></a> <script src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~s/angryasianman/hMam?i=http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/letters-to-lpga.html" type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"></script> </font></div> </div>http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/09/letters-to-lpga.htmlMon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT