It’s just not a big deal when Asians succeed right?

Kathryn Bigelow won an Oscar last night for Best Director at the 82^nd Academy Awards for The Hurt Locker. She made history by being the first female director to win this award–a major breakthrough of another glass ceiling for women filmmakers, but also for women everywhere.  What’s good for one is good for all.

Although, I personally felt that Avatar should have won for Best Picture simply for its groundbreaking 3-D effects work which will revolutionize filmmaking and change how we experience films in the future, as an equal rights advocate, I was very pleased to see Kathryn won for Best Director and Best Picture for Hurt Locker. Sorry, Avatar and James Cameron, do we really need yet another lame cliché story about a heroic white man coming into an indigenous society to save it from other bad white men intent on destroying it and its way of life?  “Please, Mr. Strong White Man, save us!  We indigenous schmucks don’t know what to do without you.  Lead us!”  As if. J  Seriously, Hollywood, aren’t Pocahontas, Dances With Wolves, The Last Samurai and innumerous previous films of this ilk falsely glorifying the white male enough?  Apparently, not.

But what struck me most as an Asian advocate, though, was all the media hoopla surrounding how historic it would be if Kathryn won.  For months that was the refrain.  There were tons of press coverage pre- and post-awards ceremony about the immense significance of this.  Hm, strange. There were no similar hype and media coverage angle regarding the even more significant glass ceiling and glass wall broken down by an Asian, Ang Lee, when he won the same Oscar for Best Director back in 2006 for Brokeback Mountain. (A watershed moment for gay cinema, also.)  He was the one who broke down the Oscar’s racial barrier for this category.  Prior to that, since the first Oscar was first given out in 1929, the Best Director winners were all white men.  A tremendous and historic accomplishment!  Ang Lee was the trailblazing “Barak Obama” of Hollywood and the media failed to chime in on that significance.  *Sigh.*  How surprising, another great Asian achievement invisible in Western media and society.

Dead whale gets royal send-off

Vietnamese fishermen gave a royal send-off - Photo by AP

Interesting bit on a whale of a send off. If you think about it, are other cultures any different? From pet cemeteries to to taxidermy on dear old Santa’s Little Helper, we all have customs that would make others take a second look.

From the Associated Press:

HANOI, Vietnam—Thousands of Vietnamese fishermen are giving a royal send-off to a 15-ton dead whale, gathering at a southern Vietnamese village to pay homage at a funeral for the creature they call “Your Excellency.”

Nearly 10,000 people have converged in Bac Lieu province to bid farewell to the 52 foot (16-meter) whale since he was dragged ashore Monday, said coast guard official Do Tien Ha.

They burned incense in his honor and planned to build a temple at the site of his burial, which was scheduled for Tuesday. Nearly 3,000 people will attend the whale’s last rites, to be held at the mouth of the Cai Cung River.

In Vietnam’s fishing culture, whales are considered sacred. They are referred to by the title “ngai,” the same honorific used for kings, emperors and other esteemed leaders.

“Whenever whales arrive, dead or alive, local fishermen believe they bring luck and safety,” Ha said by phone from Bac Lieu.

The dead whale was spotted 26 miles (42 kilometers) off the coast Sunday, and several dozen fishermen on 10 boats spent a day hauling it ashore, he said.

Kahn!!!!

No, not Captain Kirk’s nemesis…

His Name Is Khan (And It’s One You Might Know)

My Name is Kahn

“Shah Rukh Khan is arguably the biggest movie star in the world. So why is it that many Americans haven’t heard his name? Because until now, he’s been most famous for Bollywood extravaganzas. But his latest film, My Name Is Khan, is a different sort of story — a drama about a Muslim man with Asperger’s trying to right a wrong in the wake of Sept. 11.”

Urban gardening grandma helps stave off crime

Here is a nice story link about a Hmong grandma who wanted to turn a run down lot into a urban garden which resulted in pushing away crime. That should teach you to never mess with a grandma! Kidding aside I’m a proponent of turning blighted areas into useful spaces.

Gardening Grandma

Being mindful to always try to get permission first and that it is only temporary, until the land owners decide otherwise, check out guerrilla gardening it works great in any metropolis. Guerrilla Gardening

Valentine – Kina Grannis (Official Music Video)

Kina started playing shows at the age of 4 in front of her stuffed animals. Now she plays in front of people. In 2007, Kina joined YouTube, made a music video and entered herself into a contest. A few months later, her video for “Message From Your Heart” aired during the Superbowl and its 97 million viewers (or 194 million eyeballs, depending on how you’re keeping track) and she walked away with a record deal. Since then, Kina has regularly posted her songs on YouTube, amassing many millions of views, and toured throughout North America. Her songs have been heard on television shows such as ABC’s General Hospital and MTV’s College Life. Kina will independently release her debut full-length album, Stairwells, in 2010.

Great Artist with a lovely voice.  Please show your support and buy her album now.

Download “Valentine” for free:
http://www.kinagrannis.com

Feed the Hunger Foundation

Assemblymember Juan Arambula is inviting the community for a informational session on a California Micro-credit Program
Offered by the
FEED THE HUNGER FOUNDATION

Friday, February 5, 2010, 10 a.m. – 12 noon
Assembly Room, Street Floor
Hugh Burns State Building
2550 Mariposa Mall (between O and P Streets) Fresno, CA 93721
10 hour-metered parking available on P and Mariposa in front of Public Library

This program is for you! You may qualify for a micro-loan!
If you own a small business in the food industry and you are helping to ensure access to local, healthy and organic food in low-income communities and neighborhoods, and/or you are an entrepreneur in any of these sectors:

Soil Replenishment Independent Trucker
Composting Grocery Store
Organic Fertilizer Lunch Wagons
Small Agricultural Farmer Food Preparation
Urban Farmer Restaurant
Canning Caterer

We want to learn what your needs are as a new entrepreneur or if you are an existing small business owner. We can also provide information to connect you with State procurement and contracting procedures. Come and tell us your needs.



RSVP to:

Beth Rosales at bethrosales1@gmail.com or call 510-846-2775, or

Debbie Tom at 559 445-5532

Sacramento City Council deems ‘Little Saigon’

After a unanimous vote by the Sacramento City Council, a stretch of Stockton blvd has been designated at Little Saigon. It seems that about 70% of the businesses there are owned by Vietnamese, it should give a boost to the area as merchants and residents can now have a common identity that is recognized.

Next week on Tuesday, Feb., 9th, the county is set for approving an additional section, bringing the stretch to about 2 miles. Signage are expected to go up next month when locals raise the funds.

Read more and some video at kcra

Jesse Barrera “Stay With Me”

Valentine’s Day is comin’ up and wanted to show you an awesome song by Jesse Barrera.

Cheers!! <3

Lyrics:
Post Chorus -
Can you stay, stay, stay with me

Verse 1 -
I think everybody knows
When they’ve got something right
I think everybody feels it
When they don’t even try

Pre-Chorus -
But I got lucky enough to find you
And so much of me to give

Chorus -
I cant ever find
The words to say
You changed my life
In ways that I cant explain
How lost I was
Don’t need no one
But you

Post Chorus -
Can you stay, stay, stay with me

Verse 2 -
I think that everybody hurts
A little bit everyday
I think that everybody needs somebody
To never ever turn away

Pre-Chorus -
But I got lucky enough to find you
And so much of me to give

Chorus -
I cant ever find
The words to say
You changed my life
In ways that I cant explain
How lost I was
Don’t need no one
But you

Post Chorus -
Can you stay, stay, stay with me

Bridge -
And it’s you
I never thought we’d
Find each other
You
Can you stay with me
I see life and love in technicolor
Never want to find another

Chorus -
I cant ever find
The words to say
You changed my life
In ways that I cant explain
How lost I was
Don’t need no one
But you

Post Chorus -
Can you stay, stay, stay with me

Elementz Workshop Update

Showing you our Central Valley Elementz 1st Workshop Highlights. Good job you guys!

Japanese Glee Promo

Guess we aren’t the only people who likes Glee. Awesome song “Don’t Stop Believing”. This just puts a smile to my face. =)