Should an industry whose sales and marketing strategies feed guns to the black market be liable for shooting deaths?
If your answer is yes (and mine is), then YOUR government is not representing you. That's right, our "representatives" just passed a bill Friday to relieve gun manufacturers of liability in shooting death lawsuits. Yes, it's a response to recent legal victories, especially one that extracted $5 mill each from a number of gun manufacturers when it was found that none of them could trace the gun that killed the victim.
Wanna sound off, even if you know it'll be in vain? Let Dubya know what you think before he signs the bill into law.
And if you want to do something positive for a shooting victim, think about making a donation to Kevin Jung's family. Jung, a Korean American immigration lawyer who is himself an immigrant, is recovering slowly at a nursing home in the Seattle area after being shot last November, allegedly by an opposing lawyer. He was and is his wife and two sons' only means of support.
Posted by claire at 4:29 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Should an industry whose sales and marketing strategies feed guns to the black market be liable for shooting deaths?
If your answer is yes (and mine is), then YOUR government is not representing you. That's right, our "representatives" just passed a bill Friday to relieve gun manufacturers of liability in shooting death lawsuits. Yes, it's a response to recent legal victories, especially one that extracted $5 mill each from a number of gun manufacturers when it was found that none of them could trace the gun that killed the victim.
Wanna sound off, even if you know it'll be in vain? Let Dubya know what you think before he signs the bill into law.
And if you want to do something positive for a shooting victim, think about making a donation to Kevin Jung's family. Jung, a Korean American immigration lawyer who is himself an immigrant, is recovering slowly at a nursing home in the Seattle area after being shot last November, allegedly by an opposing lawyer. He was and is his wife and two sons' only means of support.
Posted by claire at 4:29 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Should an industry whose sales and marketing strategies feed guns to the black market be liable for shooting deaths?
If your answer is yes (and mine is), then YOUR government is not representing you. That's right, our "representatives" just passed a bill Friday to relieve gun manufacturers of liability in shooting death lawsuits. Yes, it's a response to recent legal victories, especially one that extracted $5 mill each from a number of gun manufacturers when it was found that none of them could trace the gun that killed the victim.
Wanna sound off, even if you know it'll be in vain? Let Dubya know what you think before he signs the bill into law.
And if you want to do something positive for a shooting victim, think about making a donation to Kevin Jung's family. Jung, a Korean American immigration lawyer who is himself an immigrant, is recovering slowly at a nursing home in the Seattle area after being shot last November, allegedly by an opposing lawyer. He was and is his wife and two sons' only means of support.
Posted by claire at 4:29 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
We all love stats, don't we? I love stats so much, that I made sure we did a sex survey for Issue 7 of Hyphen (out in a month! Keep your eyes peeled!) just so I could mess with stats. Sex Stats!
Until then, though, have a look at these Asian American community stats, extracted from the annual community survey, and prettily diagrammed.
Posted by claire at 12:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
We all love stats, don't we? I love stats so much, that I made sure we did a sex survey for Issue 7 of Hyphen (out in a month! Keep your eyes peeled!) just so I could mess with stats. Sex Stats!
Until then, though, have a look at these Asian American community stats, extracted from the annual community survey, and prettily diagrammed.
Posted by claire at 12:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
We all love stats, don't we? I love stats so much, that I made sure we did a sex survey for Issue 7 of Hyphen (out in a month! Keep your eyes peeled!) just so I could mess with stats. Sex Stats!
Until then, though, have a look at these Asian American community stats, extracted from the annual community survey, and prettily diagrammed.
Posted by claire at 12:35 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Check out Rasika Mathur Thursday night on the new MTV, Nick Cannon, comedy show Wild 'N Out. From what I hear, the show is a more hip hop version of something like Whose Line Is It Anyway, which sounds fresh. It is awesome to see South Asian sisters being represented by the likes of a loud, in-your-face comedian like Rasika, who I saw back in 2002 at this amazing South Asian arts festival in LA called Artwallah. Speaking of representations of South Asian women, this site had me laughing and identifying. While we are on the topic of strong South Asian women, I picked up the latest Stuff Magazine in the airport the other day because it was featuring the women of the latest Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn vehicle The Wedding Crashers. I am interested in going to see this movie because the duo supposedly crash an Indian wedding in the movie. And sure enough, there was a South Asian women, Naureen Zaim in there posing in her skivvies. Anyway, reading her brief bio I found at that she is a semi-professional boxer who has a 6-0 record with two knock outs. Now that's badass.
Posted by neela at 3:19 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Check out Rasika Mathur Thursday night on the new MTV, Nick Cannon, comedy show Wild 'N Out. From what I hear, the show is a more hip hop version of something like Whose Line Is It Anyway, which sounds fresh. It is awesome to see South Asian sisters being represented by the likes of a loud, in-your-face comedian like Rasika, who I saw back in 2002 at this amazing South Asian arts festival in LA called Artwallah. Speaking of representations of South Asian women, this site had me laughing and identifying. While we are on the topic of strong South Asian women, I picked up the latest Stuff Magazine in the airport the other day because it was featuring the women of the latest Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn vehicle The Wedding Crashers. I am interested in going to see this movie because the duo supposedly crash an Indian wedding in the movie. And sure enough, there was a South Asian women, Naureen Zaim in there posing in her skivvies. Anyway, reading her brief bio I found at that she is a semi-professional boxer who has a 6-0 record with two knock outs. Now that's badass.
Posted by neela at 3:19 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Check out Rasika Mathur Thursday night on the new MTV, Nick Cannon, comedy show Wild 'N Out. From what I hear, the show is a more hip hop version of something like Whose Line Is It Anyway, which sounds fresh. It is awesome to see South Asian sisters being represented by the likes of a loud, in-your-face comedian like Rasika, who I saw back in 2002 at this amazing South Asian arts festival in LA called Artwallah. Speaking of representations of South Asian women, this site had me laughing and identifying. While we are on the topic of strong South Asian women, I picked up the latest Stuff Magazine in the airport the other day because it was featuring the women of the latest Owen Wilson/Vince Vaughn vehicle The Wedding Crashers. I am interested in going to see this movie because the duo supposedly crash an Indian wedding in the movie. And sure enough, there was a South Asian women, Naureen Zaim in there posing in her skivvies. Anyway, reading her brief bio I found at that she is a semi-professional boxer who has a 6-0 record with two knock outs. Now that's badass.
Posted by neela at 3:19 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Now that Harry Potter #6 is out, I'm reminded of the ongoing controvery over Harry Potter's love interest, Cho Chang. I haven't read any of the books, so I'm wondering what those of you who have think about it.
Some people think it's a good thing to have an Asian featured so prominently in the story. Others think she's just another stereotype and point out that her name doesn't make a lot of sense. Apparently she is supposed to be Chinese. So why a Korean surname for her first name?
People have also been complaining about Katie Leung, the unknown Scottish actress who is playing Cho in the movie version. I'm not sure what the complaint is actually -- she hasn't done anything yet. Some people think she's not attractive enough for the part and are hating on her online. (Of course there are plenty of fan sites too.) Here's a story about it that ran a few months back. I can't believe people in the story below (I would link to it, but you have to register. Blah) questioned whether or not she could speak English. Um hello, she attends a prestigious prep school. What do you think?
*********************************
Cyber-spite over Harry's girl
By Annabel Crabb
April 24, 2005
The Sun-Herald
Harry Potter's choice of girlfriend has set off a global internet backlash with ugly racial overtones.
Katie Leung, a 17-year-old Scottish girl of Chinese descent, was recently announced by Warner Brothers as their successful applicant for the role of Cho Chang in the forthcoming film Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.
Cho Chang, a sorceress, delivers Harry Potter's first screen kiss in the film, the fourth in the hugely successful series. But the unknown actress is now the target of an internet hate campaign.
Hate Katie Leung sites have been established by jealous Potter fans, while chat sites last week ran hot with criticism of her looks and Asiatic background.
"Katie is a beast. She looks like a monster, not the love interest of my Daniel Radcliffe!" said a correspondent on the Asian American Film chat site.
Elsewhere, correspondents asked whether Katie could speak English.
Warner Brothers will not allow interviews or photographs with their new star while the film is in production.
Teenage actor Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, was more enthusiastic about his new screen paramour, describing her as "very pretty and cool".
Katie's father Peter, a food wholesaler based in Lanarkshire, said he was proud of his daughter but frightened at the savagery of the response.
"I can't make any sense of it, although I know how popular Harry Potter is," he told the Daily Star newspaper.
"No one knows her, has seen her or heard her speak, yet there all these things on the internet. Unfortunately she has seen them, too. She reads them all and it is a great pressure on her."
Posted by Melissa at 2:26 PM | Comments (103) | TrackBack
Now that Harry Potter #6 is out, I'm reminded of the ongoing controvery over Harry Potter's love interest, Cho Chang. I haven't read any of the books, so I'm wondering what those of you who have think about it.
Some people think it's a good thing to have an Asian featured so prominently in the story. Others think she's just another stereotype and point out that her name doesn't make a lot of sense. Apparently she is supposed to be Chinese. So why a Korean surname for her first name?
People have also been complaining about Katie Leung, the unknown Scottish actress who is playing Cho in the movie version. I'm not sure what the complaint is actually -- she hasn't done anything yet. Some people think she's not attractive enough for the part and are hating on her online. (Of course there are plenty of fan sites too.) Here's a story about it that ran a few months back. I can't believe people in the story below (I would link to it, but you have to register. Blah) questioned whether or not she could speak English. Um hello, she attends a prestigious prep school. What do you think?
*********************************
Cyber-spite over Harry's girl
By Annabel Crabb
April 24, 2005
The Sun-Herald
Harry Potter's choice of girlfriend has set off a global internet backlash with ugly racial overtones.
Katie Leung, a 17-year-old Scottish girl of Chinese descent, was recently announced by Warner Brothers as their successful applicant for the role of Cho Chang in the forthcoming film Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.
Cho Chang, a sorceress, delivers Harry Potter's first screen kiss in the film, the fourth in the hugely successful series. But the unknown actress is now the target of an internet hate campaign.
Hate Katie Leung sites have been established by jealous Potter fans, while chat sites last week ran hot with criticism of her looks and Asiatic background.
"Katie is a beast. She looks like a monster, not the love interest of my Daniel Radcliffe!" said a correspondent on the Asian American Film chat site.
Elsewhere, correspondents asked whether Katie could speak English.
Warner Brothers will not allow interviews or photographs with their new star while the film is in production.
Teenage actor Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, was more enthusiastic about his new screen paramour, describing her as "very pretty and cool".
Katie's father Peter, a food wholesaler based in Lanarkshire, said he was proud of his daughter but frightened at the savagery of the response.
"I can't make any sense of it, although I know how popular Harry Potter is," he told the Daily Star newspaper.
"No one knows her, has seen her or heard her speak, yet there all these things on the internet. Unfortunately she has seen them, too. She reads them all and it is a great pressure on her."
Posted by Melissa at 2:26 PM | Comments (103) | TrackBack
Now that Harry Potter #6 is out, I'm reminded of the ongoing controvery over Harry Potter's love interest, Cho Chang. I haven't read any of the books, so I'm wondering what those of you who have think about it.
Some people think it's a good thing to have an Asian featured so prominently in the story. Others think she's just another stereotype and point out that her name doesn't make a lot of sense. Apparently she is supposed to be Chinese. So why a Korean surname for her first name?
People have also been complaining about Katie Leung, the unknown Scottish actress who is playing Cho in the movie version. I'm not sure what the complaint is actually -- she hasn't done anything yet. Some people think she's not attractive enough for the part and are hating on her online. (Of course there are plenty of fan sites too.) Here's a story about it that ran a few months back. I can't believe people in the story below (I would link to it, but you have to register. Blah) questioned whether or not she could speak English. Um hello, she attends a prestigious prep school. What do you think?
*********************************
Cyber-spite over Harry's girl
By Annabel Crabb
April 24, 2005
The Sun-Herald
Harry Potter's choice of girlfriend has set off a global internet backlash with ugly racial overtones.
Katie Leung, a 17-year-old Scottish girl of Chinese descent, was recently announced by Warner Brothers as their successful applicant for the role of Cho Chang in the forthcoming film Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire.
Cho Chang, a sorceress, delivers Harry Potter's first screen kiss in the film, the fourth in the hugely successful series. But the unknown actress is now the target of an internet hate campaign.
Hate Katie Leung sites have been established by jealous Potter fans, while chat sites last week ran hot with criticism of her looks and Asiatic background.
"Katie is a beast. She looks like a monster, not the love interest of my Daniel Radcliffe!" said a correspondent on the Asian American Film chat site.
Elsewhere, correspondents asked whether Katie could speak English.
Warner Brothers will not allow interviews or photographs with their new star while the film is in production.
Teenage actor Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, was more enthusiastic about his new screen paramour, describing her as "very pretty and cool".
Katie's father Peter, a food wholesaler based in Lanarkshire, said he was proud of his daughter but frightened at the savagery of the response.
"I can't make any sense of it, although I know how popular Harry Potter is," he told the Daily Star newspaper.
"No one knows her, has seen her or heard her speak, yet there all these things on the internet. Unfortunately she has seen them, too. She reads them all and it is a great pressure on her."
Posted by Melissa at 2:26 PM | Comments (103) | TrackBack
Check this: a former assistant beauty editor at Ladies Home Journal was fired for blogging!
Nadine Haobsh lost two jobs -the LHJ and an offer from Seventeen Magazine --because her blogging was considered "unprofessional."
I know this isn't "Asian American" per se, but it's rather chilling to us bloggers --and who isn't a blogger these days? (Note: if you knock the last three letters off her name she could sound Chinese. Be on the lookout for other references that make this blog entry uniquely Asian American!)
If you check her blog, the shocking thing is that it's totally innocuous. Celebrity gossip, going to Sephora, "pink is the new black." Most of the entries are amusing little snippets of life as a beauty editor --the conundrum of having to use new beauty products when you like your old ones, the way women turn into snarling scrooges at a $1 beauty sale.
Karl Rove exposing state secrets this is not. Nor is it Filipino veterans demanding benefits, or DJs making racist statements over the airwaves. Pretty mild stuff, from what i could see (with my uncorrected Asian American eyes).
But it got her fired, just the same. She writes:
To all you would-be bloggers out there: even if you truly are "just being funny" or "don't really mean it", think before you write. And definitely don't write about your industry: things will absolutely be taken out of context or interpreted incorrectly, and that's just not fun for anybody.
How sad is that? I realize that Ladies Home Journal is not exactly cutting edge, but Seventeen magazine ought to be able to recognize that 1) Blogs are here to stay, 2) They're a natural forum for their target audience, and 3)It's just beauty tips! Learn to laugh at yourself, people!
So as I, an Asian American professional, was swimming today, I wondered to myself, 'is this more of the polarization of American social and political thought?' Is this just another symptom of the increasingly bifurcated society -those who welcome blogs as the irreverent sources of commentary, analysis and sometimes news, and those who fear it? Those who believe authority and the status quo should be challenged, and those who say questions are akin to treason (but not leaking secrets, no, not that). Those who are technologically literate, and those who aren't?
I don't know. But it definitely makes me think thrice about poking fun at my workplace (which is faaabulous! and full of only industrious, earnest, agreeable people! Which has kindly welcomed me, an Asian, into their otherwise lily-white fold!) which ultimately stifles the creativity and flow of ideas that help make blogs the unique outlet that they are.
Read an interview with Hao(bsh) here.
Posted by jennifer at 12:43 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Check this: a former assistant beauty editor at Ladies Home Journal was fired for blogging!
Nadine Haobsh lost two jobs -the LHJ and an offer from Seventeen Magazine --because her blogging was considered "unprofessional."
I know this isn't "Asian American" per se, but it's rather chilling to us bloggers --and who isn't a blogger these days? (Note: if you knock the last three letters off her name she could sound Chinese. Be on the lookout for other references that make this blog entry uniquely Asian American!)
If you check her blog, the shocking thing is that it's totally innocuous. Celebrity gossip, going to Sephora, "pink is the new black." Most of the entries are amusing little snippets of life as a beauty editor --the conundrum of having to use new beauty products when you like your old ones, the way women turn into snarling scrooges at a $1 beauty sale.
Karl Rove exposing state secrets this is not. Nor is it Filipino veterans demanding benefits, or DJs making racist statements over the airwaves. Pretty mild stuff, from what i could see (with my uncorrected Asian American eyes).
But it got her fired, just the same. She writes:
To all you would-be bloggers out there: even if you truly are "just being funny" or "don't really mean it", think before you write. And definitely don't write about your industry: things will absolutely be taken out of context or interpreted incorrectly, and that's just not fun for anybody.
How sad is that? I realize that Ladies Home Journal is not exactly cutting edge, but Seventeen magazine ought to be able to recognize that 1) Blogs are here to stay, 2) They're a natural forum for their target audience, and 3)It's just beauty tips! Learn to laugh at yourself, people!
So as I, an Asian American professional, was swimming today, I wondered to myself, 'is this more of the polarization of American social and political thought?' Is this just another symptom of the increasingly bifurcated society -those who welcome blogs as the irreverent sources of commentary, analysis and sometimes news, and those who fear it? Those who believe authority and the status quo should be challenged, and those who say questions are akin to treason (but not leaking secrets, no, not that). Those who are technologically literate, and those who aren't?
I don't know. But it definitely makes me think thrice about poking fun at my workplace (which is faaabulous! and full of only industrious, earnest, agreeable people! Which has kindly welcomed me, an Asian, into their otherwise lily-white fold!) which ultimately stifles the creativity and flow of ideas that help make blogs the unique outlet that they are.
Read an interview with Hao(bsh) here.
Posted by jennifer at 12:43 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Check this: a former assistant beauty editor at Ladies Home Journal was fired for blogging!
Nadine Haobsh lost two jobs -the LHJ and an offer from Seventeen Magazine --because her blogging was considered "unprofessional."
I know this isn't "Asian American" per se, but it's rather chilling to us bloggers --and who isn't a blogger these days? (Note: if you knock the last three letters off her name she could sound Chinese. Be on the lookout for other references that make this blog entry uniquely Asian American!)
If you check her blog, the shocking thing is that it's totally innocuous. Celebrity gossip, going to Sephora, "pink is the new black." Most of the entries are amusing little snippets of life as a beauty editor --the conundrum of having to use new beauty products when you like your old ones, the way women turn into snarling scrooges at a $1 beauty sale.
Karl Rove exposing state secrets this is not. Nor is it Filipino veterans demanding benefits, or DJs making racist statements over the airwaves. Pretty mild stuff, from what i could see (with my uncorrected Asian American eyes).
But it got her fired, just the same. She writes:
To all you would-be bloggers out there: even if you truly are "just being funny" or "don't really mean it", think before you write. And definitely don't write about your industry: things will absolutely be taken out of context or interpreted incorrectly, and that's just not fun for anybody.
How sad is that? I realize that Ladies Home Journal is not exactly cutting edge, but Seventeen magazine ought to be able to recognize that 1) Blogs are here to stay, 2) They're a natural forum for their target audience, and 3)It's just beauty tips! Learn to laugh at yourself, people!
So as I, an Asian American professional, was swimming today, I wondered to myself, 'is this more of the polarization of American social and political thought?' Is this just another symptom of the increasingly bifurcated society -those who welcome blogs as the irreverent sources of commentary, analysis and sometimes news, and those who fear it? Those who believe authority and the status quo should be challenged, and those who say questions are akin to treason (but not leaking secrets, no, not that). Those who are technologically literate, and those who aren't?
I don't know. But it definitely makes me think thrice about poking fun at my workplace (which is faaabulous! and full of only industrious, earnest, agreeable people! Which has kindly welcomed me, an Asian, into their otherwise lily-white fold!) which ultimately stifles the creativity and flow of ideas that help make blogs the unique outlet that they are.
Read an interview with Hao(bsh) here.
Posted by jennifer at 12:43 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Kayo Hatta, who directed Picture Bride, drowned to death last week in an apparent accident at a friend's pool.
Picture Bride told the story of Japanese picture brides and Hawaiian sugar cane plantation workers in the early 1900s. It won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Film at teh 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Hatta was 47. Her latest movie, "Fishbowl," was set to air on PBS.
Posted by harry at 12:11 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Kayo Hatta, who directed Picture Bride, drowned to death last week in an apparent accident at a friend's pool.
Picture Bride told the story of Japanese picture brides and Hawaiian sugar cane plantation workers in the early 1900s. It won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Film at teh 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Hatta was 47. Her latest movie, "Fishbowl," was set to air on PBS.
Posted by harry at 12:11 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Kayo Hatta, who directed Picture Bride, drowned to death last week in an apparent accident at a friend's pool.
Picture Bride told the story of Japanese picture brides and Hawaiian sugar cane plantation workers in the early 1900s. It won the Audience Award for Best Dramatic Film at teh 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Hatta was 47. Her latest movie, "Fishbowl," was set to air on PBS.
Posted by harry at 12:11 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
In case you were wondering, the Real ID Act of 2005 (mentioned in an earlier post on this blog) passed in May. This might become another leading edge in the new war of Centralization vs. States' Rights, one with real potential, unlike the medical marijuana fight, or abortion.
The Real ID Act attempts to stop terrorists from acquiring legitimate IDs by requiring more strict control of the issuance of driver licenses. In essence, this Act is turning state driver licenses into National Identity cards, in the process turning state DMV employees into the arbiters of legitimate residency: a judgment call they are not trained to make. In addition, the new IDs are required to be imprinted with new technology that makes the bearers easier to identify and track, but also makes their information easier to steal.
Governor Richardson of New Mexico, along with other Democratic governors, has begun a grumbling over the state law infringement -- not to mention the expense -- imposed by the new requirements for drivers licenses and other state-issued IDs. Richardson points out that New Mexican roads have become safer since undocumented workers began receiving licenses. And complying with the new regulations will cost each state an estimated $100 mill. Since the federal government has allotted little funding to fulfill the provisions of the Real ID Act, guess who's going to be paying for the privilege of being fucked with?
I wonder if gubernatorial rebellion will amount to more than grumbling. What would happen if states simply sat down and refused to budge without federal money?
Posted by claire at 11:23 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
In case you were wondering, the Real ID Act of 2005 (mentioned in an earlier post on this blog) passed in May. This might become another leading edge in the new war of Centralization vs. States' Rights, one with real potential, unlike the medical marijuana fight, or abortion.
The Real ID Act attempts to stop terrorists from acquiring legitimate IDs by requiring more strict control of the issuance of driver licenses. In essence, this Act is turning state driver licenses into National Identity cards, in the process turning state DMV employees into the arbiters of legitimate residency: a judgment call they are not trained to make. In addition, the new IDs are required to be imprinted with new technology that makes the bearers easier to identify and track, but also makes their information easier to steal.
Governor Richardson of New Mexico, along with other Democratic governors, has begun a grumbling over the state law infringement -- not to mention the expense -- imposed by the new requirements for drivers licenses and other state-issued IDs. Richardson points out that New Mexican roads have become safer since undocumented workers began receiving licenses. And complying with the new regulations will cost each state an estimated $100 mill. Since the federal government has allotted little funding to fulfill the provisions of the Real ID Act, guess who's going to be paying for the privilege of being fucked with?
I wonder if gubernatorial rebellion will amount to more than grumbling. What would happen if states simply sat down and refused to budge without federal money?
Posted by claire at 11:23 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
In case you were wondering, the Real ID Act of 2005 (mentioned in an earlier post on this blog) passed in May. This might become another leading edge in the new war of Centralization vs. States' Rights, one with real potential, unlike the medical marijuana fight, or abortion.
The Real ID Act attempts to stop terrorists from acquiring legitimate IDs by requiring more strict control of the issuance of driver licenses. In essence, this Act is turning state driver licenses into National Identity cards, in the process turning state DMV employees into the arbiters of legitimate residency: a judgment call they are not trained to make. In addition, the new IDs are required to be imprinted with new technology that makes the bearers easier to identify and track, but also makes their information easier to steal.
Governor Richardson of New Mexico, along with other Democratic governors, has begun a grumbling over the state law infringement -- not to mention the expense -- imposed by the new requirements for drivers licenses and other state-issued IDs. Richardson points out that New Mexican roads have become safer since undocumented workers began receiving licenses. And complying with the new regulations will cost each state an estimated $100 mill. Since the federal government has allotted little funding to fulfill the provisions of the Real ID Act, guess who's going to be paying for the privilege of being fucked with?
I wonder if gubernatorial rebellion will amount to more than grumbling. What would happen if states simply sat down and refused to budge without federal money?
Posted by claire at 11:23 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
It was bound to happen. Thought y'all might enjoy this.
It's from this site, created, presumably, to promote the book "Karate the Japanese Way", which title in itself begs the question. Hmmm ... self aware Asiaphilia smacks of the "asshole argument". You know the asshold argument: "Well, I'm an asshole, but at least I know I'm an asshole ..."
Posted by claire at 2:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It was bound to happen. Thought y'all might enjoy this.
It's from this site, created, presumably, to promote the book "Karate the Japanese Way", which title in itself begs the question. Hmmm ... self aware Asiaphilia smacks of the "asshole argument". You know the asshold argument: "Well, I'm an asshole, but at least I know I'm an asshole ..."
Posted by claire at 2:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
It was bound to happen. Thought y'all might enjoy this.
It's from this site, created, presumably, to promote the book "Karate the Japanese Way", which title in itself begs the question. Hmmm ... self aware Asiaphilia smacks of the "asshole argument". You know the asshold argument: "Well, I'm an asshole, but at least I know I'm an asshole ..."
Posted by claire at 2:19 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Can't say I'm too surprise with Bush's pick for Supreme Court. Thoughts on nominee John Roberts here at Poplicks.
I meant to post this when I read it last week. Or maybe it was the week before. It's a story in the SF Chron about Asian American comedians. Besides Margaret. Kims of Comedy.
And, I am a million times more interested in golf now that Michelle Wie, all 15 years of her, is in the game. That is to say, I didn't care one bit before, and now I will actually read a golf story in the sports section, but admittedly, only if it's about her. I mean, how can you not root for her? I was thinking, she's probably doing wonders for the sport. Then I came across this story in the NY Times: A Teenage Golfer May Also Be a Marketer's Dream. Here's a more lengthy story that ran on CBS back in August. We would love to interview her. Somehow I think she's probably too busy for that.
Posted by Melissa at 9:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Can't say I'm too surprise with Bush's pick for Supreme Court. Thoughts on nominee John Roberts here at Poplicks.
I meant to post this when I read it last week. Or maybe it was the week before. It's a story in the SF Chron about Asian American comedians. Besides Margaret. Kims of Comedy.
And, I am a million times more interested in golf now that Michelle Wie, all 15 years of her, is in the game. That is to say, I didn't care one bit before, and now I will actually read a golf story in the sports section, but admittedly, only if it's about her. I mean, how can you not root for her? I was thinking, she's probably doing wonders for the sport. Then I came across this story in the NY Times: A Teenage Golfer May Also Be a Marketer's Dream. Here's a more lengthy story that ran on CBS back in August. We would love to interview her. Somehow I think she's probably too busy for that.
Posted by Melissa at 9:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Can't say I'm too surprise with Bush's pick for Supreme Court. Thoughts on nominee John Roberts here at Poplicks.
I meant to post this when I read it last week. Or maybe it was the week before. It's a story in the SF Chron about Asian American comedians. Besides Margaret. Kims of Comedy.
And, I am a million times more interested in golf now that Michelle Wie, all 15 years of her, is in the game. That is to say, I didn't care one bit before, and now I will actually read a golf story in the sports section, but admittedly, only if it's about her. I mean, how can you not root for her? I was thinking, she's probably doing wonders for the sport. Then I came across this story in the NY Times: A Teenage Golfer May Also Be a Marketer's Dream. Here's a more lengthy story that ran on CBS back in August. We would love to interview her. Somehow I think she's probably too busy for that.
Posted by Melissa at 9:40 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Phil Ting is being sworn in today as San Francisco's Assessor/Recorder, becoming the only Asian American to hold citywide office.
Ting was appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom last week to fill a job vacated by Mabel Teng, who resigned amid a scandal over political patronage at the department.
Ting is a UC Berkeley and Harvard grad (full disclosure, my wife went to Harvard with him and is friends with him; we went to his wedding), was executive director of the Asian Law Caucus.
Posted by harry at 9:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Phil Ting is being sworn in today as San Francisco's Assessor/Recorder, becoming the only Asian American to hold citywide office.
Ting was appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom last week to fill a job vacated by Mabel Teng, who resigned amid a scandal over political patronage at the department.
Ting is a UC Berkeley and Harvard grad (full disclosure, my wife went to Harvard with him and is friends with him; we went to his wedding), was executive director of the Asian Law Caucus.
Posted by harry at 9:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Phil Ting is being sworn in today as San Francisco's Assessor/Recorder, becoming the only Asian American to hold citywide office.
Ting was appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom last week to fill a job vacated by Mabel Teng, who resigned amid a scandal over political patronage at the department.
Ting is a UC Berkeley and Harvard grad (full disclosure, my wife went to Harvard with him and is friends with him; we went to his wedding), was executive director of the Asian Law Caucus.
Posted by harry at 9:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Intrepid Foundation has set up a fund benefitting children in Southeast Asian in the name of Mike Matsushita, an American who was confirmed as among the dead from the London terrorist bombings.
Posted by harry at 2:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Intrepid Foundation has set up a fund benefitting children in Southeast Asian in the name of Mike Matsushita, an American who was confirmed as among the dead from the London terrorist bombings.
Posted by harry at 2:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
The Intrepid Foundation has set up a fund benefitting children in Southeast Asian in the name of Mike Matsushita, an American who was confirmed as among the dead from the London terrorist bombings.
Posted by harry at 2:58 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Bai Ling talks about her career and her Playboy spread in today's San Francisco Chronicle.
Unlike China, in America she can get naked all she wants and have all the one-night stands she wants.
I like this quote:
"A one-night stand and a lifetime commitment are the same," Ling said. "Because you don't have the control of the destiny of how long a relationship can be, you don't even know how long your life is going to be. So whoever makes you feel this love and this romance, you're lucky, no matter how long --
24 hours, a month, a year, a lifetime. I think there's a lot of beauty in different men; you cannot see just one man, one soul mate. So it's hard to choose. ... Ultimately, there is one. But it's not time for me yet.
When you're in the entertainment business, it's hard to have a serious relationship. Sometimes, when I'm tired and lonely, tough questions come to me, and you feel like you really want someone to hold you. And it's something I really want to have. You need another half to make a whole. But life's fantastic right now. I have freedom. So, before I get married, I should enjoy it!"
I'm sure she's a talented actress and a nice person, but some of the roles she's taken and the persona has really perpetuates many of the "dragon lady exotic Asian female" steroetypes.
I just saw her on the HBO show Entourage playing a kung fu expert who hops in bed (on the gym mat, actually) with the lead character in the show after 10 minutes.
I'm not saying Asian women can't play roles like this, but there's an imbalance with more "normal" roles and, of course, Asian American men are nowhere to be found in any role.
Posted by harry at 11:01 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Bai Ling talks about her career and her Playboy spread in today's San Francisco Chronicle.
Unlike China, in America she can get naked all she wants and have all the one-night stands she wants.
I like this quote:
"A one-night stand and a lifetime commitment are the same," Ling said. "Because you don't have the control of the destiny of how long a relationship can be, you don't even know how long your life is going to be. So whoever makes you feel this love and this romance, you're lucky, no matter how long --
24 hours, a month, a year, a lifetime. I think there's a lot of beauty in different men; you cannot see just one man, one soul mate. So it's hard to choose. ... Ultimately, there is one. But it's not time for me yet.
When you're in the entertainment business, it's hard to have a serious relationship. Sometimes, when I'm tired and lonely, tough questions come to me, and you feel like you really want someone to hold you. And it's something I really want to have. You need another half to make a whole. But life's fantastic right now. I have freedom. So, before I get married, I should enjoy it!"
I'm sure she's a talented actress and a nice person, but some of the roles she's taken and the persona has really perpetuates many of the "dragon lady exotic Asian female" steroetypes.
I just saw her on the HBO show Entourage playing a kung fu expert who hops in bed (on the gym mat, actually) with the lead character in the show after 10 minutes.
I'm not saying Asian women can't play roles like this, but there's an imbalance with more "normal" roles and, of course, Asian American men are nowhere to be found in any role.
Posted by harry at 11:01 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Bai Ling talks about her career and her Playboy spread in today's San Francisco Chronicle.
Unlike China, in America she can get naked all she wants and have all the one-night stands she wants.
I like this quote:
"A one-night stand and a lifetime commitment are the same," Ling said. "Because you don't have the control of the destiny of how long a relationship can be, you don't even know how long your life is going to be. So whoever makes you feel this love and this romance, you're lucky, no matter how long --
24 hours, a month, a year, a lifetime. I think there's a lot of beauty in different men; you cannot see just one man, one soul mate. So it's hard to choose. ... Ultimately, there is one. But it's not time for me yet.
When you're in the entertainment business, it's hard to have a serious relationship. Sometimes, when I'm tired and lonely, tough questions come to me, and you feel like you really want someone to hold you. And it's something I really want to have. You need another half to make a whole. But life's fantastic right now. I have freedom. So, before I get married, I should enjoy it!"
I'm sure she's a talented actress and a nice person, but some of the roles she's taken and the persona has really perpetuates many of the "dragon lady exotic Asian female" steroetypes.
I just saw her on the HBO show Entourage playing a kung fu expert who hops in bed (on the gym mat, actually) with the lead character in the show after 10 minutes.
I'm not saying Asian women can't play roles like this, but there's an imbalance with more "normal" roles and, of course, Asian American men are nowhere to be found in any role.
Posted by harry at 11:01 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
And you know, it just wouldn't be a normal day in this world without another radio DJ saying racist shit. JR Gach and Pi (a.k.a. Shawn) on WRCZ 94.5 FM in Albany, NY referred to Asian Americans as "slant-eyed gooks," and characterized blacks as "cotton-pickers" and criminals.
Transcripts and more info here at Asian Media Watch.
Here's some excerpts, transcribed by Asian Media Watch.
June 21, 2005:
JR: Man, I'm telling you [the towing company] was first class. They got here in a hurry they took care of Alicia because she was freaking. She's a single mom. She's got kids waiting for her and all that kind of stuff. So, you know typical black.
June 22, 2005:
Pi: You're gonna wear your Remote shirt?
JR: No.
Pi: No?
JR: Well. Maybe I will.
Pi: [laughter]
JR: Come to think of it I have it over at Bok Choy's cleaning it. I
have it over at Bok Choy's Deluxe Cleaners on Western Avenue. And uh. He says "Man, dat big shirt. Big shirt. I neva seen such big shirt before. Preez shirt. Preez shirt. Big shirt." [imitating Asian accent with Asian music playing in background] And your point is? You slant-eyed little gook. Just clean it.
Pi: "Want some chicken?" [imitating Asian accent]
JR: I don't want you know any chicken. Just clean my shirt. I don't need any commentary. This ain't no NBC color television production.
...
[Takes a caller]
Caller: Cameras protect the white people from the black people because the black people are always robbing the white people.
JR: "Wake up white people. There it is. It's always them coloreds. It's them coloreds. Wake up white people. [Laughter] Don't you know there's some blacks out there saying [imitating a black accent] "Wake up colored people. It's whites thats causing all the trouble. Wake up black people. Wake up colored people." Jesus. Do we get them here or what?
...
JR: So they put up a whole bunch of wireless cameras [in downtown Schenectedy, NY] Like all of a sudden all of the bad guys on the street get the word that the cameras are up [imitating a black accent] "Oh man. We better pack our stuff and go someplace else you now. We better like go uh out you know out to Scodak or something you know what I'm saying man? We don't want to mess with them wireless cameras. You know that's some bad stuff. You know?
Pi: Yeah. They can see us and what not."
JR: Yeah. [imitating a black accent]
Pi: They can see our teeth and eye balls. [imitating a black accent]
JR: Yeah. Exactly. The whites of our eyes. You know. And our toofeses (teeth) too man. [imitating a black accent]
...
[Plays "When the Saints Go Marching In" by Louis Armstrong"]
JR: [imitating Louis Armstrong] "Pick that cotton. [laughter] [sings imitating Louis Armstrong] Nobody knows the trouble I seen. Nobody knows my trials. You know I've been to the mountain top! Summertime and the living is easy. Catfish jumping and the cotton is high. Your daddy's rich and your momma's good looking. So ah hush little baby. Don't you cry."
Pi: Isn't is a coincidence that Michael Jordan is doing commercials for cotton underwear? [laughter] What? Anyone else notice that? JR: Hi. I'm Michael Jordan. I'm wearing cotton underwear. I picked it myself.
Posted by Melissa at 11:45 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
And you know, it just wouldn't be a normal day in this world without another radio DJ saying racist shit. JR Gach and Pi (a.k.a. Shawn) on WRCZ 94.5 FM in Albany, NY referred to Asian Americans as "slant-eyed gooks," and characterized blacks as "cotton-pickers" and criminals.
Transcripts and more info here at Asian Media Watch.
Here's some excerpts, transcribed by Asian Media Watch.
June 21, 2005:
JR: Man, I'm telling you [the towing company] was first class. They got here in a hurry they took care of Alicia because she was freaking. She's a single mom. She's got kids waiting for her and all that kind of stuff. So, you know typical black.
June 22, 2005:
Pi: You're gonna wear your Remote shirt?
JR: No.
Pi: No?
JR: Well. Maybe I will.
Pi: [laughter]
JR: Come to think of it I have it over at Bok Choy's cleaning it. I
have it over at Bok Choy's Deluxe Cleaners on Western Avenue. And uh. He says "Man, dat big shirt. Big shirt. I neva seen such big shirt before. Preez shirt. Preez shirt. Big shirt." [imitating Asian accent with Asian music playing in background] And your point is? You slant-eyed little gook. Just clean it.
Pi: "Want some chicken?" [imitating Asian accent]
JR: I don't want you know any chicken. Just clean my shirt. I don't need any commentary. This ain't no NBC color television production.
...
[Takes a caller]
Caller: Cameras protect the white people from the black people because the black people are always robbing the white people.
JR: "Wake up white people. There it is. It's always them coloreds. It's them coloreds. Wake up white people. [Laughter] Don't you know there's some blacks out there saying [imitating a black accent] "Wake up colored people. It's whites thats causing all the trouble. Wake up black people. Wake up colored people." Jesus. Do we get them here or what?
...
JR: So they put up a whole bunch of wireless cameras [in downtown Schenectedy, NY] Like all of a sudden all of the bad guys on the street get the word that the cameras are up [imitating a black accent] "Oh man. We better pack our stuff and go someplace else you now. We better like go uh out you know out to Scodak or something you know what I'm saying man? We don't want to mess with them wireless cameras. You know that's some bad stuff. You know?
Pi: Yeah. They can see us and what not."
JR: Yeah. [imitating a black accent]
Pi: They can see our teeth and eye balls. [imitating a black accent]
JR: Yeah. Exactly. The whites of our eyes. You know. And our toofeses (teeth) too man. [imitating a black accent]
...
[Plays "When the Saints Go Marching In" by Louis Armstrong"]
JR: [imitating Louis Armstrong] "Pick that cotton. [laughter] [sings imitating Louis Armstrong] Nobody knows the trouble I seen. Nobody knows my trials. You know I've been to the mountain top! Summertime and the living is easy. Catfish jumping and the cotton is high. Your daddy's rich and your momma's good looking. So ah hush little baby. Don't you cry."
Pi: Isn't is a coincidence that Michael Jordan is doing commercials for cotton underwear? [laughter] What? Anyone else notice that? JR: Hi. I'm Michael Jordan. I'm wearing cotton underwear. I picked it myself.
Posted by Melissa at 11:45 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
And you know, it just wouldn't be a normal day in this world without another radio DJ saying racist shit. JR Gach and Pi (a.k.a. Shawn) on WRCZ 94.5 FM in Albany, NY referred to Asian Americans as "slant-eyed gooks," and characterized blacks as "cotton-pickers" and criminals.
Transcripts and more info here at Asian Media Watch.
Here's some excerpts, transcribed by Asian Media Watch.
June 21, 2005:
JR: Man, I'm telling you [the towing company] was first class. They got here in a hurry they took care of Alicia because she was freaking. She's a single mom. She's got kids waiting for her and all that kind of stuff. So, you know typical black.
June 22, 2005:
Pi: You're gonna wear your Remote shirt?
JR: No.
Pi: No?
JR: Well. Maybe I will.
Pi: [laughter]
JR: Come to think of it I have it over at Bok Choy's cleaning it. I
have it over at Bok Choy's Deluxe Cleaners on Western Avenue. And uh. He says "Man, dat big shirt. Big shirt. I neva seen such big shirt before. Preez shirt. Preez shirt. Big shirt." [imitating Asian accent with Asian music playing in background] And your point is? You slant-eyed little gook. Just clean it.
Pi: "Want some chicken?" [imitating Asian accent]
JR: I don't want you know any chicken. Just clean my shirt. I don't need any commentary. This ain't no NBC color television production.
...
[Takes a caller]
Caller: Cameras protect the white people from the black people because the black people are always robbing the white people.
JR: "Wake up white people. There it is. It's always them coloreds. It's them coloreds. Wake up white people. [Laughter] Don't you know there's some blacks out there saying [imitating a black accent] "Wake up colored people. It's whites thats causing all the trouble. Wake up black people. Wake up colored people." Jesus. Do we get them here or what?
...
JR: So they put up a whole bunch of wireless cameras [in downtown Schenectedy, NY] Like all of a sudden all of the bad guys on the street get the word that the cameras are up [imitating a black accent] "Oh man. We better pack our stuff and go someplace else you now. We better like go uh out you know out to Scodak or something you know what I'm saying man? We don't want to mess with them wireless cameras. You know that's some bad stuff. You know?
Pi: Yeah. They can see us and what not."
JR: Yeah. [imitating a black accent]
Pi: They can see our teeth and eye balls. [imitating a black accent]
JR: Yeah. Exactly. The whites of our eyes. You know. And our toofeses (teeth) too man. [imitating a black accent]
...
[Plays "When the Saints Go Marching In" by Louis Armstrong"]
JR: [imitating Louis Armstrong] "Pick that cotton. [laughter] [sings imitating Louis Armstrong] Nobody knows the trouble I seen. Nobody knows my trials. You know I've been to the mountain top! Summertime and the living is easy. Catfish jumping and the cotton is high. Your daddy's rich and your momma's good looking. So ah hush little baby. Don't you cry."
Pi: Isn't is a coincidence that Michael Jordan is doing commercials for cotton underwear? [laughter] What? Anyone else notice that? JR: Hi. I'm Michael Jordan. I'm wearing cotton underwear. I picked it myself.
Posted by Melissa at 11:45 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Hello. Very busy. Going out of town for work. But thought I'd leave you with these fine links:
It was only a matter of time before there would be a site like this: Bitter Asian Men Why are they so bitter? Cause white girls AND asian girls won't date them. Probably doesn't help when Jackie Chan says white guys should marry Chinese women in order to spread Chinese culture. Huh? Wow, that is whack.
Bitter Asian Men, I want you to know there are Asian women out there who date Asian men. I don't know what's up with Asian women who won't date Asian men. Hey, it's their loss. More Asian men for me!
Here's a cover story on Tom Shimura (you may know him as rapper Lyrics Born) in the East Bay Express.
And Asian kids, stop emailing Andrew Lam to ask him to help with your homework about his short stories. Lam ruminates on the cultural reasons they're writing in. An excerpt: "I find it curious that many Asian American entrants, even those with a perfect command of English, don't use the first- person narrative. The word "I" doesn't appear on the page, leaving writers to struggle with the awkward "one," even when addressing issues within their own families."
Posted by Melissa at 11:40 AM | Comments (234) | TrackBack
Hello. Very busy. Going out of town for work. But thought I'd leave you with these fine links:
It was only a matter of time before there would be a site like this: Bitter Asian Men Why are they so bitter? Cause white girls AND asian girls won't date them. Probably doesn't help when Jackie Chan says white guys should marry Chinese women in order to spread Chinese culture. Huh? Wow, that is whack.
Bitter Asian Men, I want you to know there are Asian women out there who date Asian men. I don't know what's up with Asian women who won't date Asian men. Hey, it's their loss. More Asian men for me!
Here's a cover story on Tom Shimura (you may know him as rapper Lyrics Born) in the East Bay Express.
And Asian kids, stop emailing Andrew Lam to ask him to help with your homework about his short stories. Lam ruminates on the cultural reasons they're writing in. An excerpt: "I find it curious that many Asian American entrants, even those with a perfect command of English, don't use the first- person narrative. The word "I" doesn't appear on the page, leaving writers to struggle with the awkward "one," even when addressing issues within their own families."
Posted by Melissa at 11:40 AM | Comments (234) | TrackBack
Hello. Very busy. Going out of town for work. But thought I'd leave you with these fine links:
It was only a matter of time before there would be a site like this: Bitter Asian Men Why are they so bitter? Cause white girls AND asian girls won't date them. Probably doesn't help when Jackie Chan says white guys should marry Chinese women in order to spread Chinese culture. Huh? Wow, that is whack.
Bitter Asian Men, I want you to know there are Asian women out there who date Asian men. I don't know what's up with Asian women who won't date Asian men. Hey, it's their loss. More Asian men for me!
Here's a cover story on Tom Shimura (you may know him as rapper Lyrics Born) in the East Bay Express.
And Asian kids, stop emailing Andrew Lam to ask him to help with your homework about his short stories. Lam ruminates on the cultural reasons they're writing in. An excerpt: "I find it curious that many Asian American entrants, even those with a perfect command of English, don't use the first- person narrative. The word "I" doesn't appear on the page, leaving writers to struggle with the awkward "one," even when addressing issues within their own families."
Posted by Melissa at 11:40 AM | Comments (227) | TrackBack
A former Bronx, N.Y., resident who left the country after 9/11 may be among the casualties of the London terrorist bombings.
Mike Matsushita, left the United States for either Australia, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, or Vietnam, according to the New York Daily News. In any event, he had moved to London recently and either moved to the United States as a kid from Vietnam or was born in the Bronx, depending on which story you believe.
Our thoughts are with Matsushita's family and the rest of the victims' families of this horrific event.
Posted by harry at 10:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
A former Bronx, N.Y., resident who left the country after 9/11 may be among the casualties of the London terrorist bombings.
Mike Matsushita, left the United States for either Australia, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, or Vietnam, according to the New York Daily News. In any event, he had moved to London recently and either moved to the United States as a kid from Vietnam or was born in the Bronx, depending on which story you believe.
Our thoughts are with Matsushita's family and the rest of the victims' families of this horrific event.
Posted by harry at 10:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
A former Bronx, N.Y., resident who left the country after 9/11 may be among the casualties of the London terrorist bombings.
Mike Matsushita, left the United States for either Australia, according to the Sydney Morning Herald, or Vietnam, according to the New York Daily News. In any event, he had moved to London recently and either moved to the United States as a kid from Vietnam or was born in the Bronx, depending on which story you believe.
Our thoughts are with Matsushita's family and the rest of the victims' families of this horrific event.
Posted by harry at 10:18 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
On the fourth of July I sat on my cousin's deck, getting a slow sunburn and eating cold potluck. So far, so American. I also fell into a brief, if inevitable, discussion on the State of the Nation with a couple of friends, one of whom, apparently, had let her affinity group disperse. The inevitable upshot of the discussion was that we all believed that the hundreds of thousands of people who marched against the war in 2003, and the millions who disapproved of it, would rise up in support of some positive action ... but that no one had yet to propose a truly effective action.
Some rumblings from that conversation and from a recent article in the San Francisco Bay Guardian, have turned my attention towards a new initiative, currently limited to San Francisco, but with the potential to become a nationwide effort.
College not Combat is a new proposition currently collecting signatures in San Francisco for the November ballot. The proposition is a "declaration of policy", a resolution only, and thus sounds toothless. But its declaration of opposition to military recruiters using public schools, colleges and university facilities to recruit soldiers strikes at the current war's weakest link: its increasingly poor recruitment to its much-touted all-volunteer military.
At base, the proposition strikes out against the Solomon Amendments and passages in the No Child Left Behind Act, pulling federal funding from schools, colleges and universities who do not permit military recruiters onto their campuses. The proposition recognizes the inherent conflict between military recruitment practices discriminating against gays and lesbians, and the non-discriminatory policies of our educational institutions. And the proposition also takes the military to task for not honoring its contracts with soldiers ordered back to service after the end of their terms through "stop loss" orders.
This initiative contains within it the map for a new point of attack for a demoralized and dispersed anti-war movement. It's smart on more than one level. By focusing on hobbling the military rather than trying to get the goverment to agree with antiwar sentiment, activists could force the goverment into a no-win situation: either let the numbers fall below optimum (with the added bonus of canceling other potential military actions in the Mid-East), or move toward a draft (the prelude to a near-certain Democratic presidency, if not congress.) This effort would also place the locus of protest and actions on high school and especially college campuses, thereby mobilizing the most energetic and activism-susceptible segment of the population: students.
Looking into the future: if this effort succeeds, where could the military realistically go to up its numbers? Well, according to the Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star, 28,000 foreign nationals already serve in the US military, looking for a quicker way to American citizenship. Is this the immigration of the future, where we see the middle class of Asian tiger economies no longer brain-draining, but staying at home and waiting for the jobs to be exported to them ... while the working class poor enter the US free and clear, and missing limbs?
Posted by claire at 12:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
On the fourth of July I sat on my cousin's deck, getting a slow sunburn and eating cold potluck. So far, so American. I also fell into a brief, if inevitable, discussion on the State of the Nation with a couple of friends, one of whom, apparently, had let her affinity group disperse. The inevitable upshot of the discussion was that we all believed that the hundreds of thousands of people who marched against the war in 2003, and the millions who disapproved of it, would rise up in support of some positive action ... but that no one had yet to propose a truly effective action.
Some rumblings from that conversation and from a recent article in the San Francisco Bay Guardian, have turned my attention towards a new initiative, currently limited to San Francisco, but with the potential to become a nationwide effort.
College not Combat is a new proposition currently collecting signatures in San Francisco for the November ballot. The proposition is a "declaration of policy", a resolution only, and thus sounds toothless. But its declaration of opposition to military recruiters using public schools, colleges and university facilities to recruit soldiers strikes at the current war's weakest link: its increasingly poor recruitment to its much-touted all-volunteer military.
At base, the proposition strikes out against the Solomon Amendments and passages in the No Child Left Behind Act, pulling federal funding from schools, colleges and universities who do not permit military recruiters onto their campuses. The proposition recognizes the inherent conflict between military recruitment practices discriminating against gays and lesbians, and the non-discriminatory policies of our educational institutions. And the proposition also takes the military to task for not honoring its contracts with soldiers ordered back to service after the end of their terms through "stop loss" orders.
This initiative contains within it the map for a new point of attack for a demoralized and dispersed anti-war movement. It's smart on more than one level. By focusing on hobbling the military rather than trying to get the goverment to agree with antiwar sentiment, activists could force the goverment into a no-win situation: either let the numbers fall below optimum (with the added bonus of canceling other potential military actions in the Mid-East), or move toward a draft (the prelude to a near-certain Democratic presidency, if not congress.) This effort would also place the locus of protest and actions on high school and especially college campuses, thereby mobilizing the most energetic and activism-susceptible segment of the population: students.
Looking into the future: if this effort succeeds, where could the military realistically go to up its numbers? Well, according to the Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star, 28,000 foreign nationals already serve in the US military, looking for a quicker way to American citizenship. Is this the immigration of the future, where we see the middle class of Asian tiger economies no longer brain-draining, but staying at home and waiting for the jobs to be exported to them ... while the working class poor enter the US free and clear, and missing limbs?
Posted by claire at 12:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
On the fourth of July I sat on my cousin's deck, getting a slow sunburn and eating cold potluck. So far, so American. I also fell into a brief, if inevitable, discussion on the State of the Nation with a couple of friends, one of whom, apparently, had let her affinity group disperse. The inevitable upshot of the discussion was that we all believed that the hundreds of thousands of people who marched against the war in 2003, and the millions who disapproved of it, would rise up in support of some positive action ... but that no one had yet to propose a truly effective action.
Some rumblings from that conversation and from a recent article in the San Francisco Bay Guardian, have turned my attention towards a new initiative, currently limited to San Francisco, but with the potential to become a nationwide effort.
College not Combat is a new proposition currently collecting signatures in San Francisco for the November ballot. The proposition is a "declaration of policy", a resolution only, and thus sounds toothless. But its declaration of opposition to military recruiters using public schools, colleges and university facilities to recruit soldiers strikes at the current war's weakest link: its increasingly poor recruitment to its much-touted all-volunteer military.
At base, the proposition strikes out against the Solomon Amendments and passages in the No Child Left Behind Act, pulling federal funding from schools, colleges and universities who do not permit military recruiters onto their campuses. The proposition recognizes the inherent conflict between military recruitment practices discriminating against gays and lesbians, and the non-discriminatory policies of our educational institutions. And the proposition also takes the military to task for not honoring its contracts with soldiers ordered back to service after the end of their terms through "stop loss" orders.
This initiative contains within it the map for a new point of attack for a demoralized and dispersed anti-war movement. It's smart on more than one level. By focusing on hobbling the military rather than trying to get the goverment to agree with antiwar sentiment, activists could force the goverment into a no-win situation: either let the numbers fall below optimum (with the added bonus of canceling other potential military actions in the Mid-East), or move toward a draft (the prelude to a near-certain Democratic presidency, if not congress.) This effort would also place the locus of protest and actions on high school and especially college campuses, thereby mobilizing the most energetic and activism-susceptible segment of the population: students.
Looking into the future: if this effort succeeds, where could the military realistically go to up its numbers? Well, according to the Fredricksburg Free Lance-Star, 28,000 foreign nationals already serve in the US military, looking for a quicker way to American citizenship. Is this the immigration of the future, where we see the middle class of Asian tiger economies no longer brain-draining, but staying at home and waiting for the jobs to be exported to them ... while the working class poor enter the US free and clear, and missing limbs?
Posted by claire at 12:16 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Admit it. You watch it. It's everywhere, and it's taken over America.
Reality TV. It's okay, I watch it too. Even "SuperNanny" on the really slow nights. And I couldn't turn off the marathon of "Gastineau Girls." Like most viewers, probably, I enjoy feeling superior to the rest of America when I watch, even as I feel guilty and sort of disgusted with myself afterwards.
There are a few exceptions. "30 Days," the new show from Morgan Spurlock of "Supersize Me" fame, is getting great reviews. (Participants spend 30 days living in someone else's shoes.)
"Crime and Punishment" was more like a documentary that shed light on the day-to-day workings of the criminal justice system.
But apparently reality TV can get a little too real. ABC's attempt to examine racial and class prejudice, called "Welcome to the Neighborhood" has been preemptorily cancelled before it even hit the airwaves, amid protests of racism, housing violations, and a complex morass of ethnic representational politics.
Read the AP article about it.
Here's the gist: Texas homeowners in an upper-class, white suburban neighborhood get to choose their newest neighbor. Like other reality shows, this one has a family voted off every week, with the last remaining family winning the house.
But the families are "controversial:" a Latino family, a gay male couple with a African American kid, an Asian family, a family where the mom's a stripper, etc.
"The idea is to see preconceptions, even prejudices, break down as the white homeowners get to know the competitors as people instead of stereotypes," wrote AP reporter David Bauder.
But the whites hated it, saying it made them look judgemental (basically it exposed their racism --apparently, they made all sorts of comments, even with the cameras rolling). The gays hated it, and the National Fair Housing Alliance hated it.
The outcry shows just how sensitive everyone is to how minorities are represented, and will no doubt discourage the networks from attempting anything like it in the future.
People took issue with the idea of picking one's neighbors, and with a bunch of white people judging people of color, and with the general humiliation that befalls people when they go on a reality show being concentrated on the people of color/people of lower income.
So true, all of these arguments. I'm glad the protest is being made. But it's also so interesting to me that when a reality show finally attempts to address the big elephant under the rug in this country, it doesn't even make it to broadcast.
It's no secret in America that there remains a huge racial and class divide in this country, and the income gap between richer and poorer has never been more evident. But the drug that is television has mostly just dangled money and/or fame as the ultimate salve to its contestants (and viewers). No one talks about the latent racism in those white suburban neighborhoods, or even the prejudices of well off white liberals. Or that if you're a person of color on TV, you're supposed to not draw attention to that fact. (It's considered in poor taste --look at what people said about Chris Rock when he continually pointed out his blackness when hosting the Oscars.) Every once in a while you can say you're proud of your heritage, that's about it.
Of course, this just makes me want to watch this show all the more. It is imperative for reality shows of this ilk to have a happy ending. She loves her face lift, her newly renovated home, his children are better behaved, he met the love of his life and offered a promise ring, yadi yadi.
But what if the white homeowners are still bigots at the end of the 8 weeks? What if it's simply given them the ability to say, "Oh, one of my good friends is a black gay man!" What if all the white people move away and housing prices fall? What if people start burning crosses on lawns?
While fatally flawed, the show was a rare attempt to address these larger societal issues on a personal level. It may have started a national dialogue about how segregated housing both reflects and perpetuates the ethnic and class divides in this country.
Too bad it got canned before the conversation even got started.
Posted by jennifer at 11:05 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Admit it. You watch it. It's everywhere, and it's taken over America.
Reality TV. It's okay, I watch it too. Even "SuperNanny" on the really slow nights. And I couldn't turn off the marathon of "Gastineau Girls." Like most viewers, probably, I enjoy feeling superior to the rest of America when I watch, even as I feel guilty and sort of disgusted with myself afterwards.
There are a few exceptions. "30 Days," the new show from Morgan Spurlock of "Supersize Me" fame, is getting great reviews. (Participants spend 30 days living in someone else's shoes.)
"Crime and Punishment" was more like a documentary that shed light on the day-to-day workings of the criminal justice system.
But apparently reality TV can get a little too real. ABC's attempt to examine racial and class prejudice, called "Welcome to the Neighborhood" has been preemptorily cancelled before it even hit the airwaves, amid protests of racism, housing violations, and a complex morass of ethnic representational politics.
Read the AP article about it.
Here's the gist: Texas homeowners in an upper-class, white suburban neighborhood get to choose their newest neighbor. Like other reality shows, this one has a family voted off every week, with the last remaining family winning the house.
But the families are "controversial:" a Latino family, a gay male couple with a African American kid, an Asian family, a family where the mom's a stripper, etc.
"The idea is to see preconceptions, even prejudices, break down as the white homeowners get to know the competitors as people instead of stereotypes," wrote AP reporter David Bauder.
But the whites hated it, saying it made them look judgemental (basically it exposed their racism --apparently, they made all sorts of comments, even with the cameras rolling). The gays hated it, and the National Fair Housing Alliance hated it.
The outcry shows just how sensitive everyone is to how minorities are represented, and will no doubt discourage the networks from attempting anything like it in the future.
People took issue with the idea of picking one's neighbors, and with a bunch of white people judging people of color, and with the general humiliation that befalls people when they go on a reality show being concentrated on the people of color/people of lower income.
So true, all of these arguments. I'm glad the protest is being made. But it's also so interesting to me that when a reality show finally attempts to address the big elephant under the rug in this country, it doesn't even make it to broadcast.
It's no secret in America that there remains a huge racial and class divide in this country, and the income gap between richer and poorer has never been more evident. But the drug that is television has mostly just dangled money and/or fame as the ultimate salve to its contestants (and viewers). No one talks about the latent racism in those white suburban neighborhoods, or even the prejudices of well off white liberals. Or that if you're a person of color on TV, you're supposed to not draw attention to that fact. (It's considered in poor taste --look at what people said about Chris Rock when he continually pointed out his blackness when hosting the Oscars.) Every once in a while you can say you're proud of your heritage, that's about it.
Of course, this just makes me want to watch this show all the more. It is imperative for reality shows of this ilk to have a happy ending. She loves her face lift, her newly renovated home, his children are better behaved, he met the love of his life and offered a promise ring, yadi yadi.
But what if the white homeowners are still bigots at the end of the 8 weeks? What if it's simply given them the ability to say, "Oh, one of my good friends is a black gay man!" What if all the white people move away and housing prices fall? What if people start burning crosses on lawns?
While fatally flawed, the show was a rare attempt to address these larger societal issues on a personal level. It may have started a national dialogue about how segregated housing both reflects and perpetuates the ethnic and class divides in this country.
Too bad it got canned before the conversation even got started.
Posted by jennifer at 11:05 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Admit it. You watch it. It's everywhere, and it's taken over America.
Reality TV. It's okay, I watch it too. Even "SuperNanny" on the really slow nights. And I couldn't turn off the marathon of "Gastineau Girls." Like most viewers, probably, I enjoy feeling superior to the rest of America when I watch, even as I feel guilty and sort of disgusted with myself afterwards.
There are a few exceptions. "30 Days," the new show from Morgan Spurlock of "Supersize Me" fame, is getting great reviews. (Participants spend 30 days living in someone else's shoes.)
"Crime and Punishment" was more like a documentary that shed light on the day-to-day workings of the criminal justice system.
But apparently reality TV can get a little too real. ABC's attempt to examine racial and class prejudice, called "Welcome to the Neighborhood" has been preemptorily cancelled before it even hit the airwaves, amid protests of racism, housing violations, and a complex morass of ethnic representational politics.
Read the AP article about it.
Here's the gist: Texas homeowners in an upper-class, white suburban neighborhood get to choose their newest neighbor. Like other reality shows, this one has a family voted off every week, with the last remaining family winning the house.
But the families are "controversial:" a Latino family, a gay male couple with a African American kid, an Asian family, a family where the mom's a stripper, etc.
"The idea is to see preconceptions, even prejudices, break down as the white homeowners get to know the competitors as people instead of stereotypes," wrote AP reporter David Bauder.
But the whites hated it, saying it made them look judgemental (basically it exposed their racism --apparently, they made all sorts of comments, even with the cameras rolling). The gays hated it, and the National Fair Housing Alliance hated it.
The outcry shows just how sensitive everyone is to how minorities are represented, and will no doubt discourage the networks from attempting anything like it in the future.
People took issue with the idea of picking one's neighbors, and with a bunch of white people judging people of color, and with the general humiliation that befalls people when they go on a reality show being concentrated on the people of color/people of lower income.
So true, all of these arguments. I'm glad the protest is being made. But it's also so interesting to me that when a reality show finally attempts to address the big elephant under the rug in this country, it doesn't even make it to broadcast.
It's no secret in America that there remains a huge racial and class divide in this country, and the income gap between richer and poorer has never been more evident. But the drug that is television has mostly just dangled money and/or fame as the ultimate salve to its contestants (and viewers). No one talks about the latent racism in those white suburban neighborhoods, or even the prejudices of well off white liberals. Or that if you're a person of color on TV, you're supposed to not draw attention to that fact. (It's considered in poor taste --look at what people said about Chris Rock when he continually pointed out his blackness when hosting the Oscars.) Every once in a while you can say you're proud of your heritage, that's about it.
Of course, this just makes me want to watch this show all the more. It is imperative for reality shows of this ilk to have a happy ending. She loves her face lift, her newly renovated home, his children are better behaved, he met the love of his life and offered a promise ring, yadi yadi.
But what if the white homeowners are still bigots at the end of the 8 weeks? What if it's simply given them the ability to say, "Oh, one of my good friends is a black gay man!" What if all the white people move away and housing prices fall? What if people start burning crosses on lawns?
While fatally flawed, the show was a rare attempt to address these larger societal issues on a personal level. It may have started a national dialogue about how segregated housing both reflects and perpetuates the ethnic and class divides in this country.
Too bad it got canned before the conversation even got started.
Posted by jennifer at 11:05 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Rick Delgado, who was fired from New York's Hot 97 radio station earlier this year for his role in broadcasting the offensive Tsunami song, has been hired by Clear Channel Entertainment to head up KYLD-FM (Wild 94.9).
Can you believe it? File this one under WTF?!?! They fired the Doghouse and found this piece of crap to replace it? Don't they know there are a ton of Asians in the Bay Area, who found Rick Delgado's song to be racist and plain insensitive to the pain and suffering of thousands of people in Southeast Asia? I guess they just don't care. Or they're banking on the fact that Asians in the Bay Area don't care. So, please don't let them be right.
Now, I come from the 'hood and do admit I've listened to 94.9 in the past, but will have to spread the word to all my peeps .. take 94.9 off your dial!
Complete story from the San Jose Mercury News here:
Station hires twice-fired producer of offensive parody
Posted by my at 10:40 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
Rick Delgado, who was fired from New York's Hot 97 radio station earlier this year for his role in broadcasting the offensive Tsunami song, has been hired by Clear Channel Entertainment to head up KYLD-FM (Wild 94.9).
Can you believe it? File this one under WTF?!?! They fired the Doghouse and found this piece of crap to replace it? Don't they know there are a ton of Asians in the Bay Area, who found Rick Delgado's song to be racist and plain insensitive to the pain and suffering of thousands of people in Southeast Asia? I guess they just don't care. Or they're banking on the fact that Asians in the Bay Area don't care. So, please don't let them be right.
Now, I come from the 'hood and do admit I've listened to 94.9 in the past, but will have to spread the word to all my peeps .. take 94.9 off your dial!
Complete story from the San Jose Mercury News here:
Station hires twice-fired producer of offensive parody
Posted by my at 10:40 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
Rick Delgado, who was fired from New York's Hot 97 radio station earlier this year for his role in broadcasting the offensive Tsunami song, has been hired by Clear Channel Entertainment to head up KYLD-FM (Wild 94.9).
Can you believe it? File this one under WTF?!?! They fired the Doghouse and found this piece of crap to replace it? Don't they know there are a ton of Asians in the Bay Area, who found Rick Delgado's song to be racist and plain insensitive to the pain and suffering of thousands of people in Southeast Asia? I guess they just don't care. Or they're banking on the fact that Asians in the Bay Area don't care. So, please don't let them be right.
Now, I come from the 'hood and do admit I've listened to 94.9 in the past, but will have to spread the word to all my peeps .. take 94.9 off your dial!
Complete story from the San Jose Mercury News here:
Station hires twice-fired producer of offensive parody
Posted by my at 10:40 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
I've been following this case about NY Times reporter Judith Miller and Time reporter Matthew Cooper. Miller was jailed yesterday for refusing to name a confidential source for a story. Cooper avoided jail time by agreeing to testify, saying that his source had talked to him and Oked it. In the same case, Time Inc the corporation was also held in contempt and agreed to turn over Cooper's notes. (Lesson here: never talk to a Time reporter.)
I always follow news about news. Being in the biz, I'm inherently interested in this kind of thing. I don't know if the general public finds this as interesting as I do. Probably not. But I think it should. I often encounter people who are grossly uninformed about what it is that journalists do, and the unwritten code of ethics we follow. People have asked me if I would pay to interview them or if they could review a story before it went to print. In both cases, the answer is never. It seems so obviously wrong to me for either to happen. Sometimes I'm offended by such requests. Is that what you think of us? That we would pay you for a story? How am I supposed to get the truth if the motivation to talk to me is cash?
Now, granted, people probably hear all the time about other folks selling their stories. (Newsflash: journalists do not buy stories. The entertainment industry does.) And granted, people have other motivations to talk to reporters, and sometimes it's for personal gain.
And yeah, it's not like every reporter follows the same guidelines and that some don't do unethical things (hello Jason Blair). It's not like they hand you a book when you graduate from journalism school that lists the do's and don't. It's not that black and white. Ethics never are. Hell, you don't even have to go to J school to be a journalist. This is not a profession like medicine or law, though some people like to think of it that way.
But I'd like to think the general public understands that the point of reporting is to seek the truth. And that while it is impossible for reporters and editors to be completely unbiased and impartial, that we strive for fairness. And in striving for fairness and the truth, we follow certain notions of what is ethical.
And I think it's unethical to reveal a confidential source. I suppose the judge in this case, Thomas Hogan, has a valid point too, which is that journalists are not above the law and have no greater rights than anyone else when called upon to testify in court. But if journalists start doing that, how can people trust reporters anymore if they become conduits to the government to gather information?
I don't like using confidential sources -- it's always better to use a name -- but sometimes you have to, because the source is a whistleblower, or maybe because making the peron's name public would endanger them. I've promised gang members, immigrants and other people that I would never reveal their names.
I think if I were in Judith Miller's shoes, I would do the same thing and refuse to testify, even if it meant a stint in jail. And even if it meant, as is possible in this case, that revealing sources would prove that the Bush Administration had leaked information to get back at a former U.S. Ambassador who had publically criticized it days before. Either way you look at it the government is trying to use the press (government leaks info to press, government tries to compell press to to talk and get info). Not an easy situation. Judith Miller's taking a stand. We should all be grateful.
Posted by Melissa at 2:02 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
I've been following this case about NY Times reporter Judith Miller and Time reporter Matthew Cooper. Miller was jailed yesterday for refusing to name a confidential source for a story. Cooper avoided jail time by agreeing to testify, saying that his source had talked to him and Oked it. In the same case, Time Inc the corporation was also held in contempt and agreed to turn over Cooper's notes. (Lesson here: never talk to a Time reporter.)
I always follow news about news. Being in the biz, I'm inherently interested in this kind of thing. I don't know if the general public finds this as interesting as I do. Probably not. But I think it should. I often encounter people who are grossly uninformed about what it is that journalists do, and the unwritten code of ethics we follow. People have asked me if I would pay to interview them or if they could review a story before it went to print. In both cases, the answer is never. It seems so obviously wrong to me for either to happen. Sometimes I'm offended by such requests. Is that what you think of us? That we would pay you for a story? How am I supposed to get the truth if the motivation to talk to me is cash?
Now, granted, people probably hear all the time about other folks selling their stories. (Newsflash: journalists do not buy stories. The entertainment industry does.) And granted, people have other motivations to talk to reporters, and sometimes it's for personal gain.
And yeah, it's not like every reporter follows the same guidelines and that some don't do unethical things (hello Jason Blair). It's not like they hand you a book when you graduate from journalism school that lists the do's and don't. It's not that black and white. Ethics never are. Hell, you don't even have to go to J school to be a journalist. This is not a profession like medicine or law, though some people like to think of it that way.
But I'd like to think the general public understands that the point of reporting is to seek the truth. And that while it is impossible for reporters and editors to be completely unbiased and impartial, that we strive for fairness. And in striving for fairness and the truth, we follow certain notions of what is ethical.
And I think it's unethical to reveal a confidential source. I suppose the judge in this case, Thomas Hogan, has a valid point too, which is that journalists are not above the law and have no greater rights than anyone else when called upon to testify in court. But if journalists start doing that, how can people trust reporters anymore if they become conduits to the government to gather information?
I don't like using confidential sources -- it's always better to use a name -- but sometimes you have to, because the source is a whistleblower, or maybe because making the peron's name public would endanger them. I've promised gang members, immigrants and other people that I would never reveal their names.
I think if I were in Judith Miller's shoes, I would do the same thing and refuse to testify, even if it meant a stint in jail. And even if it meant, as is possible in this case, that revealing sources would prove that the Bush Administration had leaked information to get back at a former U.S. Ambassador who had publically criticized it days before. Either way you look at it the government is trying to use the press (government leaks info to press, government tries to compell press to to talk and get info). Not an easy situation. Judith Miller's taking a stand. We should all be grateful.
Posted by Melissa at 2:02 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
I've been following this case about NY Times reporter Judith Miller and Time reporter Matthew Cooper. Miller was jailed yesterday for refusing to name a confidential source for a story. Cooper avoided jail time by agreeing to testify, saying that his source had talked to him and Oked it. In the same case, Time Inc the corporation was also held in contempt and agreed to turn over Cooper's notes. (Lesson here: never talk to a Time reporter.)
I always follow news about news. Being in the biz, I'm inherently interested in this kind of thing. I don't know if the general public finds this as interesting as I do. Probably not. But I think it should. I often encounter people who are grossly uninformed about what it is that journalists do, and the unwritten code of ethics we follow. People have asked me if I would pay to interview them or if they could review a story before it went to print. In both cases, the answer is never. It seems so obviously wrong to me for either to happen. Sometimes I'm offended by such requests. Is that what you think of us? That we would pay you for a story? How am I supposed to get the truth if the motivation to talk to me is cash?
Now, granted, people probably hear all the time about other folks selling their stories. (Newsflash: journalists do not buy stories. The entertainment industry does.) And granted, people have other motivations to talk to reporters, and sometimes it's for personal gain.
And yeah, it's not like every reporter follows the same guidelines and that some don't do unethical things (hello Jason Blair). It's not like they hand you a book when you graduate from journalism school that lists the do's and don't. It's not that black and white. Ethics never are. Hell, you don't even have to go to J school to be a journalist. This is not a profession like medicine or law, though some people like to think of it that way.
But I'd like to think the general public understands that the point of reporting is to seek the truth. And that while it is impossible for reporters and editors to be completely unbiased and impartial, that we strive for fairness. And in striving for fairness and the truth, we follow certain notions of what is ethical.
And I think it's unethical to reveal a confidential source. I suppose the judge in this case, Thomas Hogan, has a valid point too, which is that journalists are not above the law and have no greater rights than anyone else when called upon to testify in court. But if journalists start doing that, how can people trust reporters anymore if they become conduits to the government to gather information?
I don't like using confidential sources -- it's always better to use a name -- but sometimes you have to, because the source is a whistleblower, or maybe because making the peron's name public would endanger them. I've promised gang members, immigrants and other people that I would never reveal their names.
I think if I were in Judith Miller's shoes, I would do the same thing and refuse to testify, even if it meant a stint in jail. And even if it meant, as is possible in this case, that revealing sources would prove that the Bush Administration had leaked information to get back at a former U.S. Ambassador who had publically criticized it days before. Either way you look at it the government is trying to use the press (government leaks info to press, government tries to compell press to to talk and get info). Not an easy situation. Judith Miller's taking a stand. We should all be grateful.
Posted by Melissa at 2:02 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Eww. When I said to my fellow Hyphenators that we needed more interesting, morally ambiguous, Asian Americans to write about, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. On the other hand. She does make good copy.
I'm talking, of course, about Jessica Cutler, the "refreshingly", frankly shallow senatorial intern who was fired last year for blogging her sexual exploits on the Hill as "The Washingtonienne". Yes, she looks like a poor man's Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yes, she's hapa -- Korean and whatever white "Cutler" implies.
She's back in the news, her fifteen minutes apparently revivified by the financial needs of the publishing industry, which a year ago gave her a six figure advance for--get this--a novel. If you ever needed evidence that the novel as art form is melting into the standards-free morass of unrepentantly fact-unobstructed autobiography, then all you need to read is the surprisingly titled The Washingtonienne.
Am I titillated? Si. Am I disgusted? Dui le. Will I read the book? Nyet, but only because there aren't enough hours in the lifetime to waste on such trash. She will last another fifteen minutes, tops. Then she will disppear into New York City (the rock she has now crawled under) never to be heard from again. Why did I blog about her? Because, for a change, the disgusting, titillating ho wasting column inches that should go to human interest stories on the real cost of war in Iraq--er sumpin'--is hapa. More power to us, I guess.
Posted by claire at 12:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Eww. When I said to my fellow Hyphenators that we needed more interesting, morally ambiguous, Asian Americans to write about, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. On the other hand. She does make good copy.
I'm talking, of course, about Jessica Cutler, the "refreshingly", frankly shallow senatorial intern who was fired last year for blogging her sexual exploits on the Hill as "The Washingtonienne". Yes, she looks like a poor man's Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yes, she's hapa -- Korean and whatever white "Cutler" implies.
She's back in the news, her fifteen minutes apparently revivified by the financial needs of the publishing industry, which a year ago gave her a six figure advance for--get this--a novel. If you ever needed evidence that the novel as art form is melting into the standards-free morass of unrepentantly fact-unobstructed autobiography, then all you need to read is the surprisingly titled The Washingtonienne.
Am I titillated? Si. Am I disgusted? Dui le. Will I read the book? Nyet, but only because there aren't enough hours in the lifetime to waste on such trash. She will last another fifteen minutes, tops. Then she will disppear into New York City (the rock she has now crawled under) never to be heard from again. Why did I blog about her? Because, for a change, the disgusting, titillating ho wasting column inches that should go to human interest stories on the real cost of war in Iraq--er sumpin'--is hapa. More power to us, I guess.
Posted by claire at 12:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Eww. When I said to my fellow Hyphenators that we needed more interesting, morally ambiguous, Asian Americans to write about, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind. On the other hand. She does make good copy.
I'm talking, of course, about Jessica Cutler, the "refreshingly", frankly shallow senatorial intern who was fired last year for blogging her sexual exploits on the Hill as "The Washingtonienne". Yes, she looks like a poor man's Catherine Zeta-Jones. Yes, she's hapa -- Korean and whatever white "Cutler" implies.
She's back in the news, her fifteen minutes apparently revivified by the financial needs of the publishing industry, which a year ago gave her a six figure advance for--get this--a novel. If you ever needed evidence that the novel as art form is melting into the standards-free morass of unrepentantly fact-unobstructed autobiography, then all you need to read is the surprisingly titled The Washingtonienne.
Am I titillated? Si. Am I disgusted? Dui le. Will I read the book? Nyet, but only because there aren't enough hours in the lifetime to waste on such trash. She will last another fifteen minutes, tops. Then she will disppear into New York City (the rock she has now crawled under) never to be heard from again. Why did I blog about her? Because, for a change, the disgusting, titillating ho wasting column inches that should go to human interest stories on the real cost of war in Iraq--er sumpin'--is hapa. More power to us, I guess.
Posted by claire at 12:43 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
So, I know you probably read this blog for the Asian American-ness of it. Hyphen is an Asian American magazine after all and maybe you want to know what the latest news is in Asian America, or get into a debate over race, or just see what the Hyphen staff is up to.
Perhaps you want to find out what happened to Michael Lohman, that Princeton grad student who was caught pouring his semen and urine into the drinks of Asian American women. And also secretly cutting their hair and saving it for masturbation. (Read the original blog posting here.)
Well, he entered a pretrial intervention program, avoiding jail time. WTF? That's all he gets for sexual offenses against women?
Maybe you're interested in new news, like the case of
Manlin Chee, a high-profile attorney who is now in jail for immigration fraud, but interestingly, was not investigated by the FBI until she very publicly denounced the PATRIOT ACT and the war.
Maybe you want to find out about stuff to do, like this free workshop for youth ages 13 to 19 at the Asian American Writers Workshop in July.
Maybe you want to know when you'll get your next issue of Hyphen. (September. We are very busy editing, copy editing, selling ads, taking photographs and starting on layouts right now.)
But you know, it's not like every day I wake up and have an Asian American day, or think about Asian American-ness. Of course the way I was brought up, the cultural heritage I grew up with, the color of my skin, my gender -- all that stuff -- affects who I am, how I am perceived, how I think, etc etc. But sometimes, I'm just a person with a problem, not an Asian American person with a problem. And today, all I really want to talk about is the fact that there are ants partying in my bathroom. OK, they're not having a party yet. It's not like there's food in my bathroom. But they're out there scouting.
I came home yesterday from a meeting (a Hyphen meeting) and saw one. Oh, such a bad sign. Where there is one, there will be many. They are coming in through a crack in the wall by the bathtub. Now, I live on the second floor, so they really had to work it to get up here. And it's not like I keep food in the bathroom, so I don't know why they're even bothering. I've got to stop them before they advance all over my apartment.
Come to think of it, I often see a lot of ants on the sidewalk outside my house. I don't mind them being outside. But if they're in my house, they've got to go, even the ones outside. I am declaring war. Anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to avoid nasty chemicals if possible. Though I'm not going to complain if my landlord brings in the exterminator.
Posted by Melissa at 11:27 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
So, I know you probably read this blog for the Asian American-ness of it. Hyphen is an Asian American magazine after all and maybe you want to know what the latest news is in Asian America, or get into a debate over race, or just see what the Hyphen staff is up to.
Perhaps you want to find out what happened to Michael Lohman, that Princeton grad student who was caught pouring his semen and urine into the drinks of Asian American women. And also secretly cutting their hair and saving it for masturbation. (Read the original blog posting here.)
Well, he entered a pretrial intervention program, avoiding jail time. WTF? That's all he gets for sexual offenses against women?
Maybe you're interested in new news, like the case of
Manlin Chee, a high-profile attorney who is now in jail for immigration fraud, but interestingly, was not investigated by the FBI until she very publicly denounced the PATRIOT ACT and the war.
Maybe you want to find out about stuff to do, like this free workshop for youth ages 13 to 19 at the Asian American Writers Workshop in July.
Maybe you want to know when you'll get your next issue of Hyphen. (September. We are very busy editing, copy editing, selling ads, taking photographs and starting on layouts right now.)
But you know, it's not like every day I wake up and have an Asian American day, or think about Asian American-ness. Of course the way I was brought up, the cultural heritage I grew up with, the color of my skin, my gender -- all that stuff -- affects who I am, how I am perceived, how I think, etc etc. But sometimes, I'm just a person with a problem, not an Asian American person with a problem. And today, all I really want to talk about is the fact that there are ants partying in my bathroom. OK, they're not having a party yet. It's not like there's food in my bathroom. But they're out there scouting.
I came home yesterday from a meeting (a Hyphen meeting) and saw one. Oh, such a bad sign. Where there is one, there will be many. They are coming in through a crack in the wall by the bathtub. Now, I live on the second floor, so they really had to work it to get up here. And it's not like I keep food in the bathroom, so I don't know why they're even bothering. I've got to stop them before they advance all over my apartment.
Come to think of it, I often see a lot of ants on the sidewalk outside my house. I don't mind them being outside. But if they're in my house, they've got to go, even the ones outside. I am declaring war. Anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to avoid nasty chemicals if possible. Though I'm not going to complain if my landlord brings in the exterminator.
Posted by Melissa at 11:27 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
So, I know you probably read this blog for the Asian American-ness of it. Hyphen is an Asian American magazine after all and maybe you want to know what the latest news is in Asian America, or get into a debate over race, or just see what the Hyphen staff is up to.
Perhaps you want to find out what happened to Michael Lohman, that Princeton grad student who was caught pouring his semen and urine into the drinks of Asian American women. And also secretly cutting their hair and saving it for masturbation. (Read the original blog posting here.)
Well, he entered a pretrial intervention program, avoiding jail time. WTF? That's all he gets for sexual offenses against women?
Maybe you're interested in new news, like the case of
Manlin Chee, a high-profile attorney who is now in jail for immigration fraud, but interestingly, was not investigated by the FBI until she very publicly denounced the PATRIOT ACT and the war.
Maybe you want to find out about stuff to do, like this free workshop for youth ages 13 to 19 at the Asian American Writers Workshop in July.
Maybe you want to know when you'll get your next issue of Hyphen. (September. We are very busy editing, copy editing, selling ads, taking photographs and starting on layouts right now.)
But you know, it's not like every day I wake up and have an Asian American day, or think about Asian American-ness. Of course the way I was brought up, the cultural heritage I grew up with, the color of my skin, my gender -- all that stuff -- affects who I am, how I am perceived, how I think, etc etc. But sometimes, I'm just a person with a problem, not an Asian American person with a problem. And today, all I really want to talk about is the fact that there are ants partying in my bathroom. OK, they're not having a party yet. It's not like there's food in my bathroom. But they're out there scouting.
I came home yesterday from a meeting (a Hyphen meeting) and saw one. Oh, such a bad sign. Where there is one, there will be many. They are coming in through a crack in the wall by the bathtub. Now, I live on the second floor, so they really had to work it to get up here. And it's not like I keep food in the bathroom, so I don't know why they're even bothering. I've got to stop them before they advance all over my apartment.
Come to think of it, I often see a lot of ants on the sidewalk outside my house. I don't mind them being outside. But if they're in my house, they've got to go, even the ones outside. I am declaring war. Anyone have any suggestions? I'd like to avoid nasty chemicals if possible. Though I'm not going to complain if my landlord brings in the exterminator.
Posted by Melissa at 11:27 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
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