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February 24, 2006

[FEB. 27-MARCH 5]

This week’s events in SF, Berkeley, Oakland and Toronto!!

Monday, Feb. 27 – SF

Talk Story: An American Family is an installation by Flo Oy Wong, which runs through April 19 at the Chinese Historical Society of America, explores life in Oakland Chinatown. (Tues-Friday 12-5pm, weekends 12-4pm, 965 Clay St., S.F. 415.391.1188. www.chsa.org. $1-3, free for members and tots).

Wednesday, March 1 – Oakland
The Great OACC Cook-off is a fundraiser for the only pan-Asian cultural center in the East Bay. Help celebrate this center’s 10-year anniversary, and sample dishes made by local chefs, politicos and more. (6pm, 388 Ninth St. Suite 290, Oakland. 510.637.0455. www.oacc.cc. $50).

Thursday, March 2 – SF

Scrabbel performs at the 12 Galaxies tonight, with Last of the Blacksmiths and The Waxfire. (9pm, 2526 Mission St., S.F. 415.970.9777. www.scrabbel.org. $8).

Friday, March 3 – Berkeley

Flip Tha Script: a night of Pinoy hip-hop and rock, with live performances by Kiwi of Native Guns, Golda Supanova, Feenix Solite and DJ Phatrick. (9pm. La Pena Cultural Center. 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. 510.849.2568 ext. 11. www.lapena.org. $8-10).

Saturday, March 4 – SF
Readings by Marianne R. Villanueva and surprise guest R. Zamora Linmark, both who have been featured in Hyphen. Hear them read from their latest books: Mayor of the Roses and Primetime Apparitions, respectively. (2-4pm. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Education Resource Room. 701 Mission St., S.F. 415.978.2787. www.ybca.org).

Saturday, March 4 – Toronto
mango tribe.gif
Browngirlworld 5: Pan-Asian Women Celebrate International Women’s Day through spoken world, dance and music, presented by Toronto Women’s Bookstore and Brownstargirl Productions. Featuring pan-Asian women’s spoken word collective, Mango Tribe and Toronto’s all-women Taiko drumming group, Raging Asian Women. (7:30pm, Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Dr, Toronto. $8-20).

email events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Visit www.manja.org for up-to-date API arts events and news in the SF/Bay Area.

Posted by momo at 9:07 PM | Comments (2)

[FEB. 27-MARCH 5]

This week’s events in SF, Berkeley, Oakland and Toronto!!

Thursday, March 2 – SF

Scrabbel performs at the 12 Galaxies tonight, with Last of the Blacksmiths and The Waxfire. (9pm, 2526 Mission St., S.F. 415.970.9777. www.scrabbel.org. $8).

email events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Visit www.manja.org for up-to-date API arts events and news in the SF/Bay Area.

Posted by momo at 9:07 PM | Comments (2)

[FEB. 27-MARCH 5]

This week�s events in SF, Berkeley, Oakland and Toronto!!

Monday, Feb. 27 � SF

Talk Story: An American Family is an installation by Flo Oy Wong, which runs through April 19 at the Chinese Historical Society of America, explores life in Oakland Chinatown. (Tues-Friday 12-5pm, weekends 12-4pm, 965 Clay St., S.F. 415.391.1188. www.chsa.org. $1-3, free for members and tots).

Wednesday, March 1 � Oakland
The Great OACC Cook-off is a fundraiser for the only pan-Asian cultural center in the East Bay. Help celebrate this center�s 10-year anniversary, and sample dishes made by local chefs, politicos and more. (6pm, 388 Ninth St. Suite 290, Oakland. 510.637.0455. www.oacc.cc. $50).

Thursday, March 2 � SF

Scrabbel performs at the 12 Galaxies tonight, with Last of the Blacksmiths and The Waxfire. (9pm, 2526 Mission St., S.F. 415.970.9777. www.scrabbel.org. $8).

Friday, March 3 � Berkeley

Flip Tha Script: a night of Pinoy hip-hop and rock, with live performances by Kiwi of Native Guns, Golda Supanova, Feenix Solite and DJ Phatrick. (9pm. La Pena Cultural Center. 3105 Shattuck Ave., Berkeley. 510.849.2568 ext. 11. www.lapena.org. $8-10).

Saturday, March 4 � SF
Readings by Marianne R. Villanueva and surprise guest R. Zamora Linmark, both who have been featured in Hyphen. Hear them read from their latest books: Mayor of the Roses and Primetime Apparitions, respectively. (2-4pm. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Education Resource Room. 701 Mission St., S.F. 415.978.2787. www.ybca.org).

Saturday, March 4 � Toronto
mango tribe.gif
Browngirlworld 5: Pan-Asian Women Celebrate International Women�s Day through spoken world, dance and music, presented by Toronto Women�s Bookstore and Brownstargirl Productions. Featuring pan-Asian women�s spoken word collective, Mango Tribe and Toronto�s all-women Taiko drumming group, Raging Asian Women. (7:30pm, Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Dr, Toronto. $8-20).

email events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Visit www.manja.org for up-to-date API arts events and news in the SF/Bay Area.

Posted by momo at 9:07 PM | Comments (2)

Urgent Bone Marrow Drive for Filipina American Filmmaker

If you are Asian American and not yet registered in the national registry, there are a series of drives being held to help save the life of Filipina American filmmaker Christine Pechera.

Christine's family has struggled a lot, with three of her four siblings battling cancer. Acording to her website: "Three days before New Years Day, Christine found out that her cancer was back. And this time, neither chemotherapy nor a stem cell transplant was going to work. Christine needed a bone marrow transplant, and to do that, she needed a matching donor."

Here are some upcoming drives:

Feb. 28 (Tuesday)
Asian American Donor Program Drive for Christine - Hosted by Samahang Pilipino. Sacramento State, First Floor, Student Union. Contact: Asia 800-593-6667

Mar. 2 (Thursday)
9 am to 3 pm
Red Cross Blood and Bone Marrow Drive - 350 S. Grand Avenue, ETC Room (enter from water court level), Los Angeles, 90071 On-site contact: Frances Miyamoto 213-553-1293 (office), 310-386-9247 (cell)

Mar. 4 (Saturday)
11 am to 4 pm
Goldilocks Bone Marrow Drive, West Covina - 2429 S. Azusa Avenue (at Amar) West Covina, CA 91792

Feb. 11, 18, 25 & March 4
Goldilocks Adopts Christine - Goldilocks Bakeshope and Fooshop has teamed up with A3M to adopt Christine's cause! The next four Saturdays, February 11, 18, 25 and March 4, Goldilocks will be hosting rotating Bone Marrow Drives at each of their Southern California locations. Please tell all you family and friends and sign up on the registry! The first drive will be at the Cerritos store on February 11. Check back on this website for upcoming drives at Goldilocks! www.goldilocks-usa.com

Mar. 17 (Friday)
8 am to 1 pm
Red Cross Blood and Bone Marrow Drive - Los Angeles, Disneyland Hotel, Marina Ballroom Foyer. On-site contact: Frances Miyamoto 213-553-1293 (office), 310-386-9247 (cell)

Posted by neela at 2:41 PM | Comments (0)

Urgent Bone Marrow Drive for Filipina American Filmmaker

If you are Asian American and not yet registered in the national registry, there are a series of drives being held to help save the life of Filipina American filmmaker Christine Pechera.

Here are some upcoming drives:

Feb. 28 (Tuesday)
Asian American Donor Program Drive for Christine - Hosted by Samahang Pilipino. Sacramento State, First Floor, Student Union. Contact: Asia 800-593-6667

Mar. 4 (Saturday)
11 am to 4 pm
Goldilocks Bone Marrow Drive, West Covina - 2429 S. Azusa Avenue (at Amar) West Covina, CA 91792

Posted by neela at 2:41 PM | Comments (0)

Urgent Bone Marrow Drive for Filipina American Filmmaker

If you are Asian American and not yet registered in the national registry, there are a series of drives being held to help save the life of Filipina American filmmaker Christine Pechera.

Here are some upcoming drives:

Feb. 28 (Tuesday)
Asian American Donor Program Drive for Christine - Hosted by Samahang Pilipino. Sacramento State, First Floor, Student Union. Contact: Asia 800-593-6667

Mar. 4 (Saturday)
11 am to 4 pm
Goldilocks Bone Marrow Drive, West Covina - 2429 S. Azusa Avenue (at Amar) West Covina, CA 91792

Posted by neela at 2:41 PM | Comments (0)

Lodi Informer Unmasked

The Lodi Terror trial is just starting to get underway. The FBI mole has finally been unmasked and is talking to the press.

Naseem Khan is a Pakistani immigrant who had been living in the United States since 1990. The LA Times article reports how he initially began this work "because of his love for the United States" -- but then started making up to $250,000. The article also reported how at least four Muslim immigrants in Southern California reported being approached by the FBI to do similar work. If these are the only four who came forward after refusing, imagine how many others are walking around with wires taped to their backs?

Along with the NSA wiretapping scandal, situations like Lodi, where the FBI are sending spies into the community to stir up trouble, seem to me to be the really scary fallout of 9.11. This community report-back from Lodi talks about FBI officers lurking in tinted window SUVs wearing afro wigs. Sometimes I can't believe this is the state of our nation. Relating to Asian American history, I was wondering if the Japanese American community faced this kind of problem with community informants during WWII?

Posted by neela at 2:19 PM | Comments (1)

Lodi Informer Unmasked

The Lodi Terror trial is just starting to get underway. The FBI mole has finally been unmasked and is talking to the press.

Posted by neela at 2:19 PM | Comments (1)

Lodi Informer Unmasked

The Lodi Terror trial is just starting to get underway. The FBI mole has finally been unmasked and is talking to the press.

Posted by neela at 2:19 PM | Comments (1)

S.F. Japantown For Sale

Most of the buildings that make up San Francisco's Japantown Center are being sold, raising concerns that it will be turned into a lifeless strip mall or condo complex.

A petition is circulating calling for a halt to the sale by Kinetsu Enterprises of America, and the concerns could be real. The popular Japantown Bowl bowling alley, also owned by Kinetsu, was sold a few years ago and turned into a condo complex despite huge community opposition.

The nearby AMC Kabuki movie theater is also being sold by its owner, raising questions for the annual S.F. International Asian American Film Festival, which is based at the Kabuki.

Japantown remains a cultural icon and economic center, but the Japanese American community that once thrived in the neighborhood disappeared during World War II when its residents were sent to internment camps.

If you've been to Japantown lately, I hate to say it, but the buildings are a little dated and, as someone said in the Chronicle story, maybe a new owner would come in and make things better.

Japantown owner Kinetsu Enterprises has said it will look for a buyer that will keep the community in mind. Hopefully, it won't roll a gutter ball like it did when it sold Japantown Bowl.

Posted by harry at 9:44 AM | Comments (2)

S.F. Japantown For Sale

Most of the buildings that make up San Francisco's Japantown Center are being sold, raising concerns that it will be turned into a lifeless strip mall or condo complex.

The nearby AMC Kabuki movie theater is also being sold by its owner, raising questions for the annual S.F. International Asian American Film Festival, which is based at the Kabuki.

If you've been to Japantown lately, I hate to say it, but the buildings are a little dated and, as someone said in the Chronicle story, maybe a new owner would come in and make things better.

Japantown owner Kinetsu Enterprises has said it will look for a buyer that will keep the community in mind. Hopefully, it won't roll a gutter ball like it did when it sold Japantown Bowl.

Posted by harry at 9:44 AM | Comments (2)

S.F. Japantown For Sale

Most of the buildings that make up San Francisco's Japantown Center are being sold, raising concerns that it will be turned into a lifeless strip mall or condo complex.

The nearby AMC Kabuki movie theater is also being sold by its owner, raising questions for the annual S.F. International Asian American Film Festival, which is based at the Kabuki.

If you've been to Japantown lately, I hate to say it, but the buildings are a little dated and, as someone said in the Chronicle story, maybe a new owner would come in and make things better.

Japantown owner Kinetsu Enterprises has said it will look for a buyer that will keep the community in mind. Hopefully, it won't roll a gutter ball like it did when it sold Japantown Bowl.

Posted by harry at 9:44 AM | Comments (2)

February 23, 2006

Eye Candy

the achievers.jpg

So film festival season is here again -- and Hyphen is definitely in the mix.

As Momo mentioned here earlier, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival returns for its 24th year in just a few weeks: opening night gala is March 16th.

Hyphen's a sponsor again this year, so look for our logo all over! (We do. And when we spot one we elbow each other and giggle. Nerdy but true.)

We're also co-presenting one of the screenings: The Achievers, by Abraham Lim. A world premiere, no less! No one's even allowed to do a full review on it yet because they're keeping the film under wraps until its official release later this year. But you can go see it at the SFIAAFF before the rest of the world does. After all, the promo image for this movie is a fortune cookie that says Eat Me. (Oh, how much more loaded a message that is now, than when Alice first read it.) Got to find out what happens.

And -- newsflash -- this year Hyphen is also going to be one of the Festival's official Bloggers. Up in a few days, and throughout the festival, we'll have a special blog page dedicated to reviews, buzz, musings and hopefully dirt about the SFIAAFF: www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archives/sfiaaff/.

So we'll see you there, and you can dish with us here. Happy movie-going to you.

Posted by erin at 4:24 PM | Comments (2)

Eye Candy

the achievers.jpg

So film festival season is here again -- and Hyphen is definitely in the mix.

As Momo mentioned here earlier, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival returns for its 24th year in just a few weeks: opening night gala is March 16th.

Hyphen's a sponsor again this year, so look for our logo all over! (We do. And when we spot one we elbow each other and giggle. Nerdy but true.)

So we'll see you there, and you can dish with us here. Happy movie-going to you.

Posted by erin at 4:24 PM | Comments (2)

Eye Candy

the achievers.jpg

So film festival season is here again -- and Hyphen is definitely in the mix.

As Momo mentioned here earlier, the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival returns for its 24th year in just a few weeks: opening night gala is March 16th.

Hyphen's a sponsor again this year, so look for our logo all over! (We do. And when we spot one we elbow each other and giggle. Nerdy but true.)

So we'll see you there, and you can dish with us here. Happy movie-going to you.

Posted by erin at 4:24 PM | Comments (2)

February 21, 2006

Hyphen Live on the Radio

Hey New York, Hyphen will be on the radio today from 7 to 9 pm. We'll be on the Asia Pacific Forum, a progressive Asian American radio show which is broadcast on WBAI 99.5 FM, a Pacifica station. Guests on the show include our Todd Inoue, music writer and editor extraordinaire; Kai Ma, the reporter who wrote about (and experienced first hand) Korean booking clubs in our most recent issue; Lisa Katayama, who wrote about transgender issue and immigration in our Body Issue (after that we prompty snagged her as an editor), and a few other Hyphen folks. Maybe me. Maybe erin, our publisher. (We're going to flip a coin for it). The show will be hosted by Ursula Liang, who contributes to both Asia Pacific Forum and to Hyphen, where she's our sports editor.

Posted by Melissa at 11:24 AM | Comments (1)

Hyphen Live on the Radio

Posted by Melissa at 11:24 AM | Comments (1)

Hyphen Live on the Radio

Posted by Melissa at 11:24 AM | Comments (1)

February 19, 2006

[FEB. 20-26]

This week's events: SF, Philly and NYC...!

Monday, Feb. 20 – Philly, PA
Generasian Next Theater Workshop for teens presented by Asian Arts Initiative; classes taught by veteran performance artist Gary San Angel. (Meets Mondays, 4-7pm Feb. 20-May 20, 2006. 1315 Cherry St., 2nd Fl., Philadelphia, PA. 215.557.0445. www.asianartsinitiative.org. Sliding scale-$150).

Tuesday, Feb. 21 – SF, CA
Poetry as Opera, a reading by Genny Lim, accompanied by composter Hong Wong. (6:30pm, Koret Auditorium, lower level, San Francisco Public Library. 100 Larkin St., S.F. www.kearnystreet.org. FREE).

Wednesday, Feb. 22 – SF, CA
Indie Asian Band Showcase features All Ages, 8Past, Jumping Jacks and Sky and Telescope. (7:30pm, Slim’s at 333 11th St., S.F. 415.255.0333. $8).

Thursday, Feb. 23 – NYC
Enjoy an Evening of Asian American Poetry with Meena Alexander, Marilyn Chin, Luis Francia, Eric Gamalinda, Kimiko Hahn, Vijay Seshadri, Barbara Tran and Shanxing Wang; opening remarks by Arthur Sze. Dedicated to the memory of Chris Iijima. (7:30pm, Asian American Writers’ Workshop, 65 West 11th St., 5th Fl., Wollman Hall, NYC. 212.229.5488. www.aaww.org. $7-10).

Thursday, Feb. 23 – SF, CA
Commotion: Join Kearny Street Workshop and local artists for KSW’s art expo and cd release, “7 Years of APAture." Musical performances by Goh Nakamura, Ee, Golda Supernova, DJ VNA and SambAsia. (6:30pm, SPACE180, 180 Capp St., 3rd Fl., S.F. www.kearnystreet.org. FREE).

Babae, an organization for the rights and welfare of Filipino women, celebrates its one-year anniversary! (10pm-2am, Il Pirata Bar, 2007 16th St., S.F. 21+. www.babaesf.org. $5-10).

Saturday Feb. 25 – SF, CA
Kaisahan: an evening of resistance, culture and international solidarity, presented by BAYAN-USA, Locus Arts and VietUnity. February marks the anniversary of the Philippine-American War more than 100 years ago and increased US military training. Evening includes documentary film "People's Verdict: 2005 International Solidarity Mission for Human Rights in the Philippines” and performances by Power Struggle, Echoes of Bullets, League of Filipino Students SFSU and BABAE. (8pm, SPACE180, 180 Capp St. 3rd Fl., S.F. www.bayanusa.org,, www.locusarts.org. $5-10).

Sunday Feb. 26 - SF, CA
Day of Remembrance 2006: Carrying the Light for Justice commemorates the 25th anniversary of the redress hearings. Join MC Jeff Adachi, guest speakers Sen. Daniel Inouye and D. Satsuki Ina, films and performances. (2pm, AMC Kabuki 8 Theatres, 1881 Post St., S.F. 415.921.5007. www.dayofremembrance.org. $15-20).

email community events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Visit www.manja.org for up-to-date API arts events and news in the Bay Area!!!

Posted by momo at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)

[FEB. 20-26]

This week's events: SF, Philly and NYC...!

Wednesday, Feb. 22 – SF, CA
Indie Asian Band Showcase features All Ages, 8Past, Jumping Jacks and Sky and Telescope. (7:30pm, Slim’s at 333 11th St., S.F. 415.255.0333. $8).

Babae, an organization for the rights and welfare of Filipino women, celebrates its one-year anniversary! (10pm-2am, Il Pirata Bar, 2007 16th St., S.F. 21+. www.babaesf.org. $5-10).

email community events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Visit www.manja.org for up-to-date API arts events and news in the Bay Area!!!

Posted by momo at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)

[FEB. 20-26]

This week's events: SF, Philly and NYC...!

Monday, Feb. 20 � Philly, PA
Generasian Next Theater Workshop for teens presented by Asian Arts Initiative; classes taught by veteran performance artist Gary San Angel. (Meets Mondays, 4-7pm Feb. 20-May 20, 2006. 1315 Cherry St., 2nd Fl., Philadelphia, PA. 215.557.0445. www.asianartsinitiative.org. Sliding scale-$150).

Tuesday, Feb. 21 � SF, CA
Poetry as Opera, a reading by Genny Lim, accompanied by composter Hong Wong. (6:30pm, Koret Auditorium, lower level, San Francisco Public Library. 100 Larkin St., S.F. www.kearnystreet.org. FREE).

Wednesday, Feb. 22 � SF, CA
Indie Asian Band Showcase features All Ages, 8Past, Jumping Jacks and Sky and Telescope. (7:30pm, Slim�s at 333 11th St., S.F. 415.255.0333. $8).

Thursday, Feb. 23 � NYC
Enjoy an Evening of Asian American Poetry with Meena Alexander, Marilyn Chin, Luis Francia, Eric Gamalinda, Kimiko Hahn, Vijay Seshadri, Barbara Tran and Shanxing Wang; opening remarks by Arthur Sze. Dedicated to the memory of Chris Iijima. (7:30pm, Asian American Writers� Workshop, 65 West 11th St., 5th Fl., Wollman Hall, NYC. 212.229.5488. www.aaww.org. $7-10).

Thursday, Feb. 23 � SF, CA
Commotion: Join Kearny Street Workshop and local artists for KSW�s art expo and cd release, �7 Years of APAture." Musical performances by Goh Nakamura, Ee, Golda Supernova, DJ VNA and SambAsia. (6:30pm, SPACE180, 180 Capp St., 3rd Fl., S.F. www.kearnystreet.org. FREE).

Babae, an organization for the rights and welfare of Filipino women, celebrates its one-year anniversary! (10pm-2am, Il Pirata Bar, 2007 16th St., S.F. 21+. www.babaesf.org. $5-10).

Saturday Feb. 25 � SF, CA
Kaisahan: an evening of resistance, culture and international solidarity, presented by BAYAN-USA, Locus Arts and VietUnity. February marks the anniversary of the Philippine-American War more than 100 years ago and increased US military training. Evening includes documentary film "People's Verdict: 2005 International Solidarity Mission for Human Rights in the Philippines� and performances by Power Struggle, Echoes of Bullets, League of Filipino Students SFSU and BABAE. (8pm, SPACE180, 180 Capp St. 3rd Fl., S.F. www.bayanusa.org,, www.locusarts.org. $5-10).

email community events to: momo@hyphenmagazine.com.

Visit www.manja.org for up-to-date API arts events and news in the Bay Area!!!

Posted by momo at 3:45 PM | Comments (0)

February 17, 2006

Olympics Day 8: Help Find Toby Dawson's Parents!

With all the fizzled hype surrounding moguls skier and NFL-wannabe Jeremy Bloom, one story that slipped under the radar is Toby Dawson, the bronze medal winner in the Olympics freestyle moguls. Dawson was the only American skier to win a medal in the moguls event.

Toby Dawson is also a South Korean orphan who was adopted at age 3 by a couple from Vail, Colorado (his adopted mother Deborah was in the stands frenetically waving a banner and cheering). According to the LA Times, there are conflicting stories on how he became an orphan (one story says he was left on the street, another outside a police station).

Dawson hopes to use the publicity from the Olympics to aid his search for his birth parents, which shouldn't be hard since South Korean newspapers have glommed onto him. NBCOlympics.com has posted pictures from his early childhood, and several people have already stepped forward claiming to be his birth parents.

This blog post was written by Amy Lam, a Hyphen contributing designer.

Posted by Melissa at 1:18 PM | Comments (1)

Olympics Day 8: Help Find Toby Dawson's Parents!

This blog post was written by Amy Lam, a Hyphen contributing designer.

Posted by Melissa at 1:18 PM | Comments (1)

Olympics Day 8: Help Find Toby Dawson's Parents!

This blog post was written by Amy Lam, a Hyphen contributing designer.

Posted by Melissa at 1:18 PM | Comments (1)

Hines Ward & the Multiracial Dream

The Seattle Times ran this story on Hines Ward, the Super Bowl MVP: Biracial Super Bowl hero is big hit in South Korea. Hines is half Korean, half black—his mother is Korean and his father was a black GI. This isn't the first story on this subject. I wonder if it's blown up by the media, or if they really are as crazy for him over there as they say. The story addresses the contempt in Korean society for mixed race people. But times are changing. People seem to be more open, letting go of old prejudices.

Sometimes though, it seems that people enthusiastically embrace all things multiracial and multicultural just as a way to show how modern and with it they are.

Like in the case of Miss Georgia. If you are like me, and don’t follow beauty pageants, you might have missed the fact that Miss Georgia is hapa. See this story: The Biracial Belle.

The gist of the story is, "Hey, look how great Georgia is! Not like long time ago when everyone was segregated. Now we are a diverse place. Yeah, us! Don’t think we’re backwards cause we’re in the South. Did we mention that segregation stuff was a long time ago?” This builds to a crescendo that ends like so:

People can change. Regions can change. Nations can change. Pageants can certainly change. And Georgia can win.

(Miss Georgia didn’t win, in case you were wondering. The new Miss America is Miss Oklahoma)

For more on this topic, check out this story, Multi-racial Dream, by Claire Light, a Hyphen founder and a former editor for us. Claire refutes the points made in a article called “What Are The Strengths of Interracial Families,” which has a wow-isn’t-it-so-great tone smiliar to the Miss Georgia website. The story presents interracial families as perfect, super-families.

Claire sarcastically writes:

See, this is why I’m glad to be biracial. All of you monoracials out there are just people, but me? I’m a magic pill on legs. Doesn’t matter if I never lift a finger in my life, even to pick my nose. Like Haile Selassie or Frodo Baggins, I was born to a higher purpose: to end the racial problem by erasing it.

She also addresses the fallacy of the wonders of color-blind societies (or raceless ones, for that matter), and why positive stereotypes of Asian Americans are not OK. It’s a good, interesting read.

Posted by Melissa at 11:10 AM | Comments (7)

Hines Ward & the Multiracial Dream

Sometimes though, it seems that people enthusiastically embrace all things multiracial and multicultural just as a way to show how modern and with it they are.

Like in the case of Miss Georgia. If you are like me, and don’t follow beauty pageants, you might have missed the fact that Miss Georgia is hapa. See this story: The Biracial Belle.

People can change. Regions can change. Nations can change. Pageants can certainly change. And Georgia can win.

(Miss Georgia didn’t win, in case you were wondering. The new Miss America is Miss Oklahoma)

Claire sarcastically writes:

See, this is why I’m glad to be biracial. All of you monoracials out there are just people, but me? I’m a magic pill on legs. Doesn’t matter if I never lift a finger in my life, even to pick my nose. Like Haile Selassie or Frodo Baggins, I was born to a higher purpose: to end the racial problem by erasing it.

Posted by Melissa at 11:10 AM | Comments (7)

Hines Ward & the Multiracial Dream

The Seattle Times ran this story on Hines Ward, the Super Bowl MVP: Biracial Super Bowl hero is big hit in South Korea. Hines is half Korean, half black�his mother is Korean and his father was a black GI. This isn't the first story on this subject. I wonder if it's blown up by the media, or if they really are as crazy for him over there as they say. The story addresses the contempt in Korean society for mixed race people. But times are changing. People seem to be more open, letting go of old prejudices.

Sometimes though, it seems that people enthusiastically embrace all things multiracial and multicultural just as a way to show how modern and with it they are.

Like in the case of Miss Georgia. If you are like me, and don�t follow beauty pageants, you might have missed the fact that Miss Georgia is hapa. See this story: The Biracial Belle.

The gist of the story is, "Hey, look how great Georgia is! Not like long time ago when everyone was segregated. Now we are a diverse place. Yeah, us! Don�t think we�re backwards cause we�re in the South. Did we mention that segregation stuff was a long time ago?� This builds to a crescendo that ends like so:

People can change. Regions can change. Nations can change. Pageants can certainly change. And Georgia can win.

(Miss Georgia didn�t win, in case you were wondering. The new Miss America is Miss Oklahoma)

For more on this topic, check out this story, Multi-racial Dream, by Claire Light, a Hyphen founder and a former editor for us. Claire refutes the points made in a article called �What Are The Strengths of Interracial Families,� which has a wow-isn�t-it-so-great tone smiliar to the Miss Georgia website. The story presents interracial families as perfect, super-families.

Claire sarcastically writes:

See, this is why I�m glad to be biracial. All of you monoracials out there are just people, but me? I�m a magic pill on legs. Doesn�t matter if I never lift a finger in my life, even to pick my nose. Like Haile Selassie or Frodo Baggins, I was born to a higher purpose: to end the racial problem by erasing it.

She also addresses the fallacy of the wonders of color-blind societies (or raceless ones, for that matter), and why positive stereotypes of Asian Americans are not OK. It�s a good, interesting read.

Posted by Melissa at 11:10 AM | Comments (7)

February 16, 2006

Party With Us

Get a sneak peek of this year's San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival (SFIAAFF) and pick up the much-coveted festival guidebook (I'm a geek, okay? I've already got mine marked up). Hyphen's an official media sponsor, so you'll likely bump into one or two or three or four (okay, I'll stop) of us tonight and throughout the screenings.

A whopping 126 feature-length and short films will be shown March 16-26. Opening night features Eric Byler's Americanese and the festival closes with Ham Tran's Journey from the Fall. Slotted in between are plenty of exciting films and programs.

This year's spotlight honor is on the very handsome James Shigeta. I've only seen him in the Flower Drum Song, which I watched in my Asian Am film/video class a decade ago. Anyone seen his other films? (Tamlyn Tomita also deserves some sort of prize; she's in four of the films this year).

Not be missed (in my humble opinion) is the "Is Charlie Chan Dead? Asian American Men On Screen" panel, which includes a screening of The Slanted Screen, dir. Jeff Adachi (yes, as in SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi! Who knew?).

A film I'm most excited to see is Punching at the Sun, dir. Tanuj Chopra, about a NYC South Asian teen's experiences after 9/11.

There's a lot more that I've marked on my calendar already. Which ones pique your interest? How many are you planning on seeing this year? (Who are the true film fest nerds out there?)!

9:00 pm to midnight
111 Minna Gallery
$5 / free for Asian American Media members / 21+
www.111minnagallery.com

www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org

Posted by momo at 10:08 AM | Comments (6)

Party With Us

A film I'm most excited to see is Punching at the Sun, dir. Tanuj Chopra, about a NYC South Asian teen's experiences after 9/11.

There's a lot more that I've marked on my calendar already. Which ones pique your interest? How many are you planning on seeing this year? (Who are the true film fest nerds out there?)!

9:00 pm to midnight
111 Minna Gallery
$5 / free for Asian American Media members / 21+
www.111minnagallery.com

www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org

Posted by momo at 10:08 AM | Comments (6)

Party With Us

A film I'm most excited to see is Punching at the Sun, dir. Tanuj Chopra, about a NYC South Asian teen's experiences after 9/11.

There's a lot more that I've marked on my calendar already. Which ones pique your interest? How many are you planning on seeing this year? (Who are the true film fest nerds out there?)!

9:00 pm to midnight
111 Minna Gallery
$5 / free for Asian American Media members / 21+
www.111minnagallery.com

www.asianamericanfilmfestival.org

Posted by momo at 10:08 AM | Comments (6)

February 15, 2006

Acting, Writing Classes Offered

Many of the posts on this blog rant and rave about how Hollywood disses Asian Americans. East West Players and the Asian American Theater Company are offering three programs that probably offer the best long-term solution: getting more Asian Americans involved.

For all you aspiring actors, screenwriters and playwrights:

The East West Players is participating in the ABC and The Walt Disney Studios Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program. Here's more info from an e-mail I received:

Artists selected for the Scholarship Grant Program will receive a grant of $20,000. Organizations that submit a winning recipient will receive a $10,000 winning grant to expand or enhance a creative arts program. Selected participants will be paired with a mentor for 10 months. The program concludes with a series of workshops in Los Angeles at ABC Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios.

ABC and The Walt Disney Studios will award the scholarships/grants through the participating organizations only. NO SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM APPLICANTS DIRECTLY.

This program is an especially great opportunity for any filmmaker wanting to make a video, write a screenplay, or write a TV script. To receive an application for this program, please e-mail East West Players Literary Manager Jeff Liu at jliu@eastwestplayers.org. Read the application carefully, and send in all the required elements by February 24, 2006.

The Asian American Theater Company is offering and eight-week acting studio from March 7 through April 27 and an eight-week writing studio from March 4 through April 8.

Posted by harry at 1:19 PM | Comments (2)

Acting, Writing Classes Offered

For all you aspiring actors, screenwriters and playwrights:

The East West Players is participating in the ABC and The Walt Disney Studios Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program. Here's more info from an e-mail I received:

Artists selected for the Scholarship Grant Program will receive a grant of $20,000. Organizations that submit a winning recipient will receive a $10,000 winning grant to expand or enhance a creative arts program. Selected participants will be paired with a mentor for 10 months. The program concludes with a series of workshops in Los Angeles at ABC Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios.

ABC and The Walt Disney Studios will award the scholarships/grants through the participating organizations only. NO SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM APPLICANTS DIRECTLY.

This program is an especially great opportunity for any filmmaker wanting to make a video, write a screenplay, or write a TV script. To receive an application for this program, please e-mail East West Players Literary Manager Jeff Liu at jliu@eastwestplayers.org. Read the application carefully, and send in all the required elements by February 24, 2006.

The Asian American Theater Company is offering and eight-week acting studio from March 7 through April 27 and an eight-week writing studio from March 4 through April 8.

Posted by harry at 1:19 PM | Comments (2)

Acting, Writing Classes Offered

For all you aspiring actors, screenwriters and playwrights:

The East West Players is participating in the ABC and The Walt Disney Studios Talent Development Scholarship Grant Program. Here's more info from an e-mail I received:

Artists selected for the Scholarship Grant Program will receive a grant of $20,000. Organizations that submit a winning recipient will receive a $10,000 winning grant to expand or enhance a creative arts program. Selected participants will be paired with a mentor for 10 months. The program concludes with a series of workshops in Los Angeles at ABC Entertainment and The Walt Disney Studios.

ABC and The Walt Disney Studios will award the scholarships/grants through the participating organizations only. NO SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FROM APPLICANTS DIRECTLY.

This program is an especially great opportunity for any filmmaker wanting to make a video, write a screenplay, or write a TV script. To receive an application for this program, please e-mail East West Players Literary Manager Jeff Liu at jliu@eastwestplayers.org. Read the application carefully, and send in all the required elements by February 24, 2006.

The Asian American Theater Company is offering and