http://gawker.com/assets/images/gawker/2008/10/Picture_754.jpg

Thanks! Gawker.com!

Now we know (like we didn't before...) that SARAH PALIN is a fuckin' stupid person and should not be running for VICE PRESIDENT of one of the biggest, most powerfulerest (how Sarah would say it) in the WERLD!

Asian parents would not have approved having a daughter like her... (most Asian parents, I mean)

HE DID call us GOOK. just fyi !!!

Irwin A. Tang's book "Gook: John McCain’s Racism and Why It Matters" attempts to connect the dots between McCain’s racist language, his policy stands, his monetary and political support for U.S. hate groups, and his apparent love of starting and maintaining American wars.

(Unrelated to the book, but related to the subject matter, Vu-Bang Nguyen is hosting a "McCain Hates Gooks Campaign Launch Party" on Friday, October 17, from 9 p.m. at Ez5 Bar on 684 Commercial Street in San Francisco. Event listing here.)

Tang believes that war and race overlap in the racial slur “gook ” that has roots in various U.S. wars dating back to the conquests of the Philippines and Haiti. The racial slur broke through to the mainstream American vocabulary during the Vietnam War, with that war’s famous motto, “The only good gook is a dead gook.”

In addition to McCain’s warmongering, a central focus of the book is John McCain’s endorsement of racist policies and white supremacists.

“John McCain has given so much money to the white supremacist Richard Quinn, that it’s questionable whether Quinn’s hate group journal, the Southern Partisan, could be published without McCain’s support.”

Tang’s book examines McCain’s decade-long relationship with Richard Quinn, who runs a headquarters for white supremacists, “neo-Confederates,” and anti-gay efforts. Quinn has served as a spokesperson, campaign organizer, and consultant for John McCain. Quinn’s white supremacy headquarters has served as a major campaign headquarters and even rally site for McCain from 1999 to 2008. A McCain rally was held there this year.

Tang questions why McCain endorsed and raised large sums of money for hate group lecturer George Wallace, Jr. “There were hundreds of thousands of Republican candidates that John McCain could have endorsed in 2006,” says Tang. “McCain chose to go from city to city making speeches for a man who had just given the keynote speech for the largest hate group conference in the nation.”

“Nobody accidentally uses the racial slur ‘gook’ for 27 years,” says Tang, “And there is a long list of equally disturbing acts and speeches delineated in the book.” McCain, for instance, courted and sought the support of anti-Islamic extremists such as John Hagee and Rod Parsley (whom McCain calls his “spiritual guides”) and continues to send his chief henchman, Sen. Joe Lieberman, to speak to the extremist anti-Muslim, anti-Jewish, anti-Catholic organization Christians United for Israel.

Organizations such as those run by Hagee and Parsley encourage holy war against Muslims in order to bring about “destiny” and the end-times, namely the Armageddon. They believe that God sent Hitler to execute the Holocaust, call the Catholic Church “the Great Whore,” believe Hurricane Katrina was a punishment for New Orleans’ sins, and that war with Muslims the reason for the creation of America.

Tang goes into detail about McCain’s sending his own money to the terrorist contra guerilla group in Nicaragua. He violated the Neutrality Act by personally financing the murdering, raping band of castrating and mutilating terrorists. McCain even visited the contras where they organized their terrorist attacks, even as five Central. American nations had already signed a peace plan. So fervent was McCain in his support of the terrorists that he physically attacked a Nicaraguan government official, as witnessed by Republican Sen. Thad Cochran, who says that a McCain presidency sends “chills” down his spine.

McCain also supported American aid to an armed coalition that included the Khmer Rouge, who brought to Cambodia, one of the worst genocides in history.

John McCain promised to start wars in North Korea, Iraq, and Libya if he were elected president. “Where would we be if McCain had become president in 2000?” asks Tang. “Fighting wars in at least five nations – North Korea, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan, and most likely Iran.” Yes, ink in Iran on the list of nations to start wars with. McCain has laughingly sung about bombing people in Iran and spoken casually about killing people in Iran with cigarette addiction. In a speech to religious extremists (at the CUFI convention), he seemed to add Syria, Russia, and other nations to the list of rogue states needing invasion.

For 110 years, the racial slur “gook” has encompassed war and racism. In his new book, Irwin Tang asks if that bloody symbiosis is embodied in John McCain.

Irwin Tang is the author/co-author of five books, including the history, Asian Texans, and the true story When Invisible Children Sing. Tang is best known for a public tangle over race with Shaquille O’Neal. Gook is available at www.irwinbooks.com and Ingram and Baker & Taylor book distributors; ISBN 0967943343. For a free book, please email irwinbooks@gmail.com. For interviews, please email the.it.works.publishing@gmail.com.

AMAZING TRUTH OF QUEEN RAQUELA!!

The Amazing Truth About Queen Raquela, directed by Olaf de Fleur Johannesson, is an 85 minute drama which chronicles the story of a naive but street smart Filipina transsexual prostitute named Raquela who decides to travel in order to find her prince charming. Like many Transsexuals (often known as "Ladyboys") in the Philippines, Raquela dreams of marrying a heterosexual man from the West. She spends much of her time on the internet looking for men who can come and rescue her. They promise to come, but time after time Raquela gets stood up at the airport. Her life changes when, by luck, she lands a job as a webcam host on a transsexual porn site. The owner of the website, Michael, a "Ladyboy specialist" who runs his business from New York, promises to help Raquela. Through the internet, Raquela makes many interesting friends. Among them is Valery, the only "out of the closet" transsexual in Iceland, who is looking for someone like herself. Through her friends in the internet world, Raquela eventually gets the opportunity to travel far away on her quest to find the straight man of her dreams.

Released in the US on September 26th.

It won Best Feature at the 2008 Berlin Film Festival !!

For more information and schedule http://www.queenraquela.com/

REVIEW TO COME TOMORROW (and it is a positive one!!)

WHAT IS WHITE PRIVILEGE?!!

This is Your Nation on White Privilege

Sep 13, 2008

By Tim Wise

Tim Wise's ZSpace Page / ZSpace
http://www.timwise.org

For those who still can't grasp the concept of white privilege, or who are
constantly looking for some easy-to-understand examples of it, perhaps this
list will help.

White privilege is when you can get pregnant at seventeen like Bristol Palin
and everyone is quick to insist that your life and that of your family is a
personal matter, and that no one has a right to judge you or your parents,
because "every family has challenges," even as black and Latino families
with similar "challenges" are regularly typified as irresponsible,
pathological and arbiters of social decay.

White privilege is when you can call yourself a "fuckin' redneck," like
Bristol Palin's boyfriend does, and talk about how if anyone messes with
you, you'll "kick their fuckin' ass," and talk about how you like to "shoot
shit" for fun, and still be viewed as a responsible, all-American boy (and a
great son-in-law to be) rather than a thug.

White privilege is when you can attend four different colleges in six years
like Sarah Palin did (one of which you basically failed out of, then
returned to after making up some coursework at a community college), and no
one questions your intelligence or commitment to achievement, whereas a
person of color who did this would be viewed as unfit for college, and
probably someone who only got in in the first place because of affirmative
action.

White privilege is when you can claim that being mayor of a town smaller
than most medium-sized colleges, and then Governor of a state with about the
same number of people as the lower fifth of the island of Manhattan , makes
you ready to potentially be president, and people don't all piss on
themselves with laughter, while being a black U.S. Senator, two-term state
Senator, and constitutional law scholar, means you're "untested."

White privilege is being able to say that you support the words "under God"
in the pledge of allegiance because "if it was good enough for the founding
fathers, it's good enough for me," and not be immediately disqualified from
holding office--since, after all, the pledge was written in the late 1800s
and the "under God" part wasn't added until the 1950s--while believing that
reading accused criminals and terrorists their rights (because, ya know, the
Constitution, which you used to teach at a prestigious law school requires
it), is a dangerous and silly idea only supported by mushy liberals.

White privilege is being able to be a gun enthusiast and not make people
immediately scared of you. White privilege is being able to have a husband
who was a member of an extremist political party that wants your state to
secede from the Union, and whose motto was " Alaska first," and no one
questions your patriotism or that of your family, while if you're black and
your spouse merely fails to come to a 9/11 memorial so she can be home with
her kids on the first day of school, people immediately think she's being
disrespectful.

White privilege is being able to make fun of community organizers and the
work they do--like, among other things, fight for the right of women to
vote, or for civil rights, or the 8-hour workday, or an end to child
labor--and people think you're being pithy and tough, but if you merely
question the experience of a small town mayor and 18-month governor with no
foreign policy expertise beyond a class she took in college--you're somehow
being mean, or even sexist.

White privilege is being able to convince white women who don't even agree
with you on any substantive issue to vote for you and your running mate
anyway, because all of a sudden your presence on the ticket has inspired
confidence in these same white women, and made them give your party a
"second look."

White privilege is being a ble to fire people who didn't support your
political campaigns and not be accused of abusing your power or being a
typical politician who engages in favoritism, while being black and merely
knowing some folks from the old-line political machines in Chicago means you
must be corrupt.

White privilege is being able to attend churches over the years whose
pastors say that people who voted for John Kerry or merely criticize George
W. Bush are going to hell, and that the U.S. is an explicitly Christian
nation and the job of Christians is to bring Christian theological
principles into government, and who bring in speakers who say the conflict
in the Middle East is God's punishment on Jews for rejecting Jesus, and
everyone can still think you're just a good church-going Christian, but if
you're black and friends with a black pastor who has noted (as have Colin
Powell and the U.S. Department of Defense) that terrorist attacks are often
th e result of U.S. foreign policy and who talks about the history of racism
and its effect on black people, you're an extremist who probably hates
America .

White privilege is not knowing what the Bush Doctrine is when asked by a
reporter, and then people get angry at the reporter for asking you such a
"trick question," while being black and merely refusing to give one-word
answers to the queries of Bill O'Reilly means you're dodging the question,
or trying to seem overly intellectual and nuanced.

White privilege is being able to claim your experience as a POW has anything
at all to do with your fitness for president, while being black and
experiencing racism is, as Sarah Palin has referred to it a "light" burden.

And finally, white privilege is the only thing that could possibly allow
someone to become president when he has voted with George W. Bush 90 percent
of the time, even as unemployment is skyrocketing, people are losing their
homes, inflation is rising, and the U.S. is increasingly isolated from world
opinion, just because white voters aren't sure about that whole "change"
thing. Ya know, it's just too vague and ill-defined, unlike, say, four more
years of the same, which is very concrete and certain.

White privilege is, in short, the problem.

Tim Wise is the author of White Like Me (Soft Skull, 2005, revised 2008),
and of Speaking Treason Fluently, publishing this month, also by Soft Skull.
For review copies or interview requests, please reply to
mailto:publicity@softskull.com

EDUCATION does not mean anything when it comes to presidential campaign!

From our good friend Risa (filmmaker!)...

Let's look at the educational background of your two options:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899 - bottom of his class

& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

Now, which team are you going to "hire" ?

video of the day!

GET UP... DONT GET STUPID.

US Senator DIANNE FEINSTEIN tells insecure conservative-right-wing married couples to shut the fuck up, but in an articulate way.

For those crazy right wings here is a reminder of OTHER priorities that people care about (more):

1. Economy
2. Travel Safety
3. Education
4. Universal healthcare

Anyways, here are Ms. Feinstein's fine words-----

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday, September 12, 2008
http://feinstein.senate.gov/


Statement of Senator Dianne Feinstein

“Proposition 8 would eliminate the right of same-sex couples to marry in California. I oppose it as a matter of equality and fairness.

The right to marry is fundamental. It provides social stability, economic equality, and the ability to make decisions for a spouse in a time of crisis.

If Proposition 8 were to pass, not only would it eliminate the right to marry for gay and lesbian couples, but it would also create a complicated legal quagmire for those who have exercised this right under the California Constitution, as adjudicated by the Supreme Court of the State.

The views of Californians on this issue have changed over time, and as a State, I believe we should uphold the ability of our friends, neighbors, and co-workers who are gay and lesbian to enter into the contract of marriage.


I urge Californians to oppose Proposition 8.”


-Senator Diane Feinstein

Sarah Palin on ABC News with Charles Gibson

POLITICS 101.

PIVOT: (verb) to change the subject when you have

no idea what the fuck the interviewer is asking.

CASE STUDY #1.

Charles Gibson (aka CHARLIE to Sarah Palin) asks Governor Palin: "What is your foreign diplomacy experience like." Sarah Mooseburger Barbie Palin answers. "I was the Chair of Alaskan Energy blah blah blah." Did Sarah answer the question...? Hellz to the NO!

Mooseburger Barbie's answers were similar to this:

My brother asks me "Why do you think you should run for Governor of California?"

I answer: "Oh, I was the Editor in Chief of my High School newspaper (RAMAPGE), and uh... i was on Student Government).

SHE IS ONE SHYTY MESS!

AMERICA WAKE UP!

meanwhile... let's have a laugh, because Sarah Palin can see Russia from her house!

(Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live!)

MUSIC in DA MOrnIn'!

FAREAST MOVEMENT

FAREAST MOVEMENT

LOW RIDIN' LIVE!

Cable's top 50... including ASIAN AMERICANS!

CABLE 360 recently put out (not like PUT OUT), but published a list of top 50 (and second batch) of 50 top CABLE NETWORK TV power players... and we managed to take a look at the list, and found that there were lots of Asian American brothas and sistahs on the list!

Hopefully, they are the representin' us too on the small screen!

And they are (partial list)....see below!

xoxo,
SAA




2. Andrea Wong, President & CEO, Lifetime Networks

Now in her second year atop Lifetime, Wong continues the transformation of the programmer. Under her leadership, Army Wives has become the most successful series in Lifetime Television’s 24-year history, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter was Lifetime’s most-watched original movie in 13 years and Lifetime Movie Network posted nine straight months of prime and total day growth. Lifetime’s W18-49 total day ratings have risen 20% since Wong arrived, the network reports. Wong has also revamped myLifetime.com and launched the Lifetime-Glam online network. She made headlines earlier this year when she forged a deal with The Weinstein Company to bring Project Runway to Lifetime, which should attract a whole new demo to the network.

3. Albert Cheng, EVP, Digital Media, Disney-ABC Television Group
Cheng oversees digital media efforts including online, VOD and mobile strategies/initiatives for Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney/Jetix and SOAPnet as well as the ABC Television Network, and is involved in all digital media-related deals for those networks. He and his digital media team are helping to create new trends in the way people watch content by making shows available on iTunes, streaming full episodes online and launching fast-foward-disabled VOD. This technological leadership extends throughout the Walt Disney Co. and beyond, to the company’s cable affiliates and the rest of the TV industry. This past spring Cheng spoke at NAMIC So. Cal.’s West Coast Creative Summit.

4. Dinni Jain, President & COO, Insight Communications
How do you get to be No. 4 on our list? If you’re Dinni Jain you reinvent your company by implementing what CEO Michael Willner calls "radical changes." As COO of a company that lost 11,000 customers in 2003, Jain adopted strategies from Jim Collins’ book Good to Great. Instead of holding regional managers accountable for the final score, aka cash flow, Jain broke out elements of cash flow success. It was these metrics and others that he pushed. And managers became hands-on: Jain and his senior staff listen in on customer calls regularly. The results of the transformation are impressive. Insight posted record growth across the board in ’07 and was named our MSO of the Year.

5. Henry Ahn EVP, TV Networks Distribution, NBC Universal
Henry Ahn is more than a triple threat. Besides being one of cable’s most engaging people, he’s also one of its brightest minds. Ahn’s passion and people skills alone earn him a spot on our list, but add in his job — he’s instrumental in national sales and distribution of NBCU’s 15 cable properties and the Beijing Olympics — and you see why he’s in our top five. In addition to all this and his board position at Cable Positive, Ahn’s one of cable’s great road warriors. There are few cable events that Henry does not attend, and they’re not nearly as fun and interesting unless he does.

13. Mike Hayashi EVP, Advanced Engineering, Time Warner Cable
One of the creative engineering forces behind Time Warner Cable’s technological advances, including converting set-top boxes to digital, HD, DVRs and VOD, Hayashi has also managed the selection and negotiated the purchase of more than 1.75 million digital set-tops yearly. He has transformed Time Warner Cable’s advanced services suite to include more than 4 million installed digital units across the company’s footprint. A sought-after speaker, Mike also chairs CableLabs’ OpenCable Certification Committee.

Lisa Chang, EVP, Human Resources, The Weather Channel

In the last five years, Chang has surfaced as one of the industry’s leaders in pay equity best practices. As a result, Weather has been identified as a top company in pay equity in the WICT PAR results several years running. Chang now is catalyzing change in other companies in the cable sector. She is actively involved in Leadership & Education for Asian Pacifics and the National Association for Asian American Professionals, and contributes her time to mentoring and speaking engagements to support young minority professionals. In the cable sphere, she sits on the national boards of directors for both WICT and CTHRA.

Lisa Choi Owens, SVP, Online Distribution & Partnerships, Scripps Networks
A new kid on the Scripps digital team, Owens is already developing a reputation as a heavy hitter. She successfully finalized partnerships with AOL, YouTube and Adobe Media Player for Scripps. She also leads the team developing a strategic framework to extend the company’s growth in non-linear platforms. On top of all that, Owens manages major policies, operating procedures and financial goals. In her spare time (how does she find it?), she is heavily involved with WICT and NAMIC.

Jennifer Chun, SVP, Business and Legal Affairs, Fox Cable Networks
Talk about well-rounded. Economic trends, politics and even popular culture factor into Chun’s astute leadership of the business and legal team that supports the affiliate sales and marketing department for FCN’s 10 national and 16 regional sports nets. This year her visionary approach helped shape the playbook that sealed the multifaceted deal with Comcast for The Big Ten Network, a deal that includes television, broadband and VOD carriage. Chun also advises on other strategic corporate transactions for FCN sister companies.

Susan Jin Davis, VP, Corporate Development, Comcast Corp.
A leader in Comcast’s diversity initiatives, Jin Davis serves as the liaison between the MSO and national Asian and Asian-American organizations. She also oversees government and regulatory affairs related to voice and online issues for Comcast, and provides counsel to the company’s online and voice services senior management.

Mark Kang, VP, Affiliate Relations, The Sportsman Channel
Before joining The Sportsman Channel, Mark Kang wasn’t what you would call an avid sportsman. Kang’s habitat is Manhattan, which wasn’t even a hotbed of hunting and fishing in 1626, when the Manhattoe Indians sold it for $24. Still Kang’s hard-driving spirit and cable tutelage under Bob Rose were enough to convince TSC to let Mark create a New York office. It’s been a good move. A slew of carriage agreements have followed, due to TSC’s slate and Kang’s relationship building. Kang seems ubiquitous on the cable circuit, touting TSC at NAMIC, Cable Positive, the Cable Hall of Fame and a slew of regional events.

PING PONG PLAYA!

I know there is a big ass hurricanne in TEXAS that is ripping through... We hope everyone in HOUSTON is doing a-okay. We <3>

From the Playas... of PING PONG PLAYA

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped spread the word and came out to see the film last week! We are still playing in theaters now and we also open in Seattle and Houston!

Don't forget to share your pictures with us and leave a message on the wall where you saw the film to WIN an autographed poster or a PPP ping pong paddle/balls set.

Keep spreading the word so we can show Hollywood that audiences DO want see films like PPP and Asian American faces onscreen ARE marketable!

---------------------SCREENINGS-------------------

Opened in theaters: SEPTEMBER 5th & still playing!
Where: NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES and
BAY AREA
-----------------------------------
NEW YORK CITY
AMC Village 7, New York, NY
Regal E Walk (42nd street) , New York, NY

LOS ANGELES
Chinese Theater, Hollywood, CA
Glendale Exchange, Glendale, CA
Alhambra Palace, Alhambra, CA

IRVINE
University Town Center, Irvine, CA
***Formerly at the West Park theaters***

BAY AREA
Metreon AMC, San Francisco, CA
Shattuck Landmark, Berkeley, CA
Camera 12, San Jose, CA


and then...

Opens in theaters: SEPTEMBER 12
Where: SEATTLE and HOUSTON
------------------------------
SEATTLE
Lincoln Square, Bellevue, WA
Meridian Regal, Seattle, WA
Alderwood AMC, Lynwood, WA

HOUSTON
Marq E Houston, TX
First Colony, Houston, TX


****** WANT FREE PING PONG PLAYA STUFF?******

e-mail us your photo at the movie theater, watching PING PONG PLAYA to...

speak.asianamericans@gmail.com

open letter to President Bush

Dear President George W. Bush-

Where is Osama Bin Laden?


Seven years later, what have you done to try to capture him...?

and why are we in Iraq?

-SAA

NOT ALL ASIANS ARE ALIKE! - LA TIMES

FROM LOS ANGELES TIMES, OPINION PIECE (9/9/08)

No, they DON'T all look alike.

If you're one of those minorities whose ancestors hailed from the eastern hemisphere, figuring out what box to check in the "race/ethnicity" section of any form is a stressful experience requiring a quick soul-searching session. Now, though, the University of California hopes to ease that existential burden for UC applicants, raising the number of Asian/Pacific Islander categories from eight to 23. From

The Daily Californian

:

...the University of California will increase threefold the number of subgroups under the Asian and Pacific Islander categories on its admission application, officials announced Friday. [...]
Asian American categories will include Chinese, Taiwanese, Asian Indian, Japanese, Pakistani, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, Hmong, Thai, Cambodian, Laotian, Bangladeshi, Indonesian, Sri Lankan, Malaysian and “other Asian.”

The Pacific Islander category, previously under one heading, will now include Native Hawaiian, Guamanian/Chamorro, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian and “other Pacific Islander.”

And no, this is not about being PC. Or at least, not just about that. In between the Asian supernerd stereotype and the fact that Asians now outnumber whites across the UC system, many Asian minorities fall through the cracks.

It's kind of the reverse of the way whites assimilated: Asians are now being officially subcategorized in finer detail, while whites have blended from very distinctive communities — German, Italian, Polish and others — into this monochromatic mash. Part of that has to do with intermarriage: Many people know where their parents and grandparents came from, it's just that none of them came from the same place. That's generally still not the case for Asian Americans.

Not that this ethnic differentiation is a new phenomenon. Go to any number of California colleges and you'll see the unsanctioned version: Pakistani students sit at one club table and the Pilipino students man their own. (Some Korean-Christian groups, however, do have a tendency to proselytize to unsuspecting freshmen.) Self-contained social networks spring out of those isolated groups, and it's debatable whether that's a good thing -- even if the alternative is the monstrously huge Asian American Association.

Oddly enough, Asian Americans aren't the only ones experiencing diversity/fragmentation issues. A recent Pew poll found that 37% of African Americans surveyed no longer saw blacks as a unified race. The question is, how exactly would they break blacks down by ethnicity? Is it region, or dialect, or country of origin?

Mooseburger Barbie

Sarah Palin- Republican's Vice Presidential Candidate

tells Community Organizers to SUCK IT.

And the legit journalists are not having any of that!

Here is a clip from CBS Coverage. recently uploaded.

ASIAN WEEK is having a FRIENDLY DISCUSSION.

now DISCUSS

la music en la manana!

Carmensita- featuring Natalie Portman.

The video pays a great homeage to the 50s, 60s Bollywood films, and also, this video is a hot mess....!

Dumb Ass of the Day

Add this racist to your facebook now, and then...

EDUCATE him: http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=Adam+LaDuca&init=q

Student GOP leader resigns over Obama remark
By MICHAEL RUBINKAM – 2 hours ago

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) — The leader of a statewide group of college Republicans has been forced to resign after posting racially insensitive comments about Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on the Internet.

Adam LaDuca, 21, the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Federation of College Republicans, wrote on his Facebook page in late July that Obama has "a pair of lips so large he could float half of Cuba to the shores of Miami (and probably would.)"

LaDuca, who previously had called Martin Luther King Jr. a "pariah" and a "fraud," also wrote: "And man, if sayin' someone has large lips is a racial slur, then we're ALL in trouble."
The College Republicans asked LaDuca to resign after his remarks were publicized by the Pennsylvania Progressive, a blog written by a Democratic committeeman from Berks County. The group announced LaDuca's resignation on its Web site Friday.

"The comments were completely uncalled for and very offensive," said Anthony Pugliese, 22, a senior at West Chester University and chairman of the College Republicans, an umbrella group with more than 50 chapters statewide. "The P-A College Republicans do not accept or tolerate racism in any way."

LaDuca said Monday that he regrets posting the comments and understands how they can be construed as racist. "In hindsight, when you read it a second time, it's like, 'oops,'" he said. "It was just a dumb move on my part to make a statement like that public."
He said he is not a racist and that he admires prominent blacks such as economist and author Thomas Sowell and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. He compared the comment about Obama to jokes about Republican presidential nominee John McCain's thinning hair or President Bush's large ears.

LaDuca is a senior at Kutztown University. Two years ago, Kutztown's College Republicans chapter was heavily criticized for holding a "bake sale" to protest affirmative action in which whites were charged more for cookies than blacks. LaDuca, then the group's spokesman, made a public apology on the group's behalf.

Jesus may make Asian youth sad :(

Here is a Debbie Downer report: Participating In Religion May Make Adolescents From Certain Races More Depressed

Here is a quick summary of the report: "Previous research has shown that teens who are active in religious services are depressed less often because it provides these adolescents with social support and a sense of belonging.

But new research has found that this does not hold true for all adolescents, particularly for minorities and some females. The study found that white and African-American adolescents generally had fewer symptoms of depressive at high levels of religious participation. But for some Latino and Asian-American adolescents, attending church more often was actually affecting their mood in a negative way.

Asian-American adolescents who reported high levels of participation in their church had the highest number of depressive symptoms among teens of their race."

This come as NO SURPRISE for me. In college, I explored my religious beliefs, and attended a cult-like Korean/Korean American Church called ********. I have nothing against churches, or any other religious institutions. Whatever works for people! Well, this particular church scared da-Jesus out of me. No pun intended.

This is what went down at ********- People sang along to the words that appeared on a GIANORMOUS projection screen, everyweekend. This would go on for HOURS. People took turns singing the chorus. It was like Moulin Rouge, minus Nicole Kidman and the glitter. I decided that I wanted to have a more personal relationship with Jesus and did not need all the high-tech karaoking service every Sunday. However, this was not quite okay with my fellow church-goers. One by one, each would call me every weekend, inviting me back to the service. They would stop me in the middle of the road, while I was walking to class. They got a hold of my cell phone and dorm room phone numbers and 'outreached to me' every single day. This continued for about 8 weeks, until one day, I got really angry and I told them that they better stop before I call the campus po pos.

And then I got to know more of these Jesus-lovin college students.... one even tried to snuggle with me one night. And it was a boy.

It's okay, I love boys and girls. However, he preached that homosexuality is a sin, and then tried to put his hands on my juicy Asian boy bootie.

Anyways, the moral of the story- SOME, and not all, Asian church goers are scary. They are the untapped conservative pool that the RNC has yet to discover. However, slowly... the Republicans are outreaching to these Jesus lovers, but they are giving them the wrong message.

Again, I digress.

I am happy to have found my spirituality...Hopefully the Asian American youth mentioned in the report will break free from the religious institution and discover their own spirituality.

Xoxo,
SAA

MORNING VIDEO!

John McCain can SUCK IT.

BARACK OBAMA at the RNC

xoxo,

SAA

DECISION 2008- PRO FPAC or PRO PINOYFEST

PINOYLIFE.COM just made my nose bleed from laughing so hard...

Check out DECISION 2008 ! 17th FPAC or First Annual PINOYFEST.

I was talking to my papi chulo about these two festivals, and he suggested that a little friendly competition helps to improve the quality of both festivals. However, not when the organizers (PINOYFEST to be specific) are kinda assholey for having their festival at the SAME DATE AND TIME as the 17th FPAC.

My excellente espanol would say: "NO ES FRIO" which means "NOT COOL."

ok. like what Pinoylife.com says...

SEE YOU AT FPAC this weekend! Street parking is available. Pets available

"YEAH! HOMIE!"

Dear Friends,

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - SEPTEMBER 5 AND SEPTEMBER 12 FOR THE OPENING OF THE FILM PING PONG PLAYA!

PING PONG PLAYA OPENS TODAY!!!

The new comedy from Oscar winner Jessica Yu - PING PONG PLAYA opens September 5th in SAN FRANCISCO, SAN JOSE, BERKELEY, LOS ANGELES, GLENDALE, ALHAMBRA, IRVINE and NEW YORK.

On September 12, the film opens in SEATTLE and HOUSTON! Please spread the word and send email blasts!

It's an exciting time--but here's where we need you. We'll let the movie speak for itself (if the reactions of people who have seen the movie is any indication, we firmly believe you won't be disappointed), but we need your help to spread the word about the release of the movie.

Independent movies don't have the marketing budget to compete against the mammoth studio movies, but what we do have is intense, strong word-of-mouth (just check out any of a number of our reviews--from outlets large and small, from critics, bloggers, and chat room posters alike).

We are encouraging groups of people to buy out blocks of seats on our first opening weekend in each of these cities. Bring your friends, your family and your neighbors. The film is for all ages.

In San Francisco - on Saturday, September 6 - we have some groups of people buying out seats and in Los Angeles there will be groups coming to the Mann Chinese 6 and Alhambra.

We could use more people buying out seats on all of the other cities and every theater. Our website:www.pingpongplaya.com

And if you know of any friends w/ websites or blogs that want to support the film by putting up our banner ads, please download here:

www.pingpongplaya.com/PPP_FlashUnits.zip

Please help us continue to spread the word and come check out the movie opening weekend (Sept 5--LA/SF/NY; Sept 12--Seattle/Houston).

HERE ARE THE LIST OF THEATERS - PLEASE CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR TIMES AND TO BUY TICKETS. SOME THEATERS WILL OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR GROUP SALES - PLEASE CHECK WITH THEM.


SEPTEMBER 5, 2008

NEW YORK (MANHATTAN)

REGAL E-WALK (TIMES SQUARE)
247 W. 42ND STREET (AT 8TH AVENUE)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10036
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/10036_movietheatershowtimes?date=9/5/2008

AMC LOEWS VILLAGE 7
66 THIRD AVENUE (AT 11TH STREET)
NEW YORK, NY 10003
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?wssac=58&tid=AABQF&wssaffid=11480_LoewsTheatresWebsite


LOS ANGELES

ALHAMBRA/PASADENA/SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
EDWARDS ATLANTIC PALACE 10
700 MAIN STREET
ATLANTIC AT MAIN STREET
ALHAMBRA, CA 91801
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/edwardsatlanticpalace10_aaedc/theaterpage?date=9/5/2008

GLENDALE
MANN GLENDALE EXCHANGE 10
128 MARYLAND AVENUE
GLENDALE, CA 91205
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON MOVIEFONE.COM
http://www.moviefone.com/theater/mann-glendale-exchange-10/391/showtimes

HOLLYWOOD
MANN CHINESE 6 THEATERS
HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND
6801 HOLLYWOOD BLVD.
LOS ANGELES, CA 90028
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS ON MOVIETICKETS.COM
http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=806

IRVINE
EDWARDS UNIVERSITY TOWN CENTER 6
4245 CAMPUS DRIVE
IRVINE, CA 92612
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/TheaterPage.aspx?tid=AABHI

SAN FRANCISCO
AMC LOEWS METREON 16
101 4TH STREET AT MISSION
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94013
BUY ADVANCE TCKETS AT FANDANGO.COM
http://www.fandango.com/amcloewsmetreon16withimax_aanem/theaterpage

BERKELEY
LANDMARK SHATTUCK CINEMAS
2230 SHATTUCK AVENUE
BERKELEY, CA 94704
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT LANDMARKTHEATRES.COM
https://tickets.landmarktheatres.com/Landmark.aspx?TheatreID=200

SAN JOSE
CAMERA 12 DOWNTOWN
201 SOUTH SECOND STREET
SAN JOSE, CA 95113
BUY ADVANCE TICKETS AT CAMERACINEMAS.COM
http://www.cameracinemas.com/cgi-bin/movies.cgi?cmd=np&f=c12

Please check the www.pingpongplaya.com website often for updates. There are already two parties taking place with the opening of the film.

Friday, September 5 - Los Angeles with Climax Global - check our website for more details and address - meet the director and stars of PING PONG PLAYA
Bring y our ticket stub!

Saturday, September 6 - San Francisco - Hyphen Magazine and Center for Asian American Media are creating an evening party for all ticket stub holders. Details coming.

Again, make sure you check the wesbsite for current info and breaking news!

Please spread the word and let's sell out the weekend!

xoxo,

SAA

WTF is Asian America. Today.com?!

Why do people make UNEDUCATED opinions?

http://asianamerica.today.com/2008/09/03/asian-american-film-ping-pong-playa/

DUDE: watch the film before you open your mouth ! I think Jessica Yu got an Oscars, an Emmy... and dude, you got...?

It's no a coincidence that LA TIMES, NEW YORK TIMES gave PING PONG PLAYA awesome reviews!

Asian American. Today.com can go suck it.

xoxo,

SAA

FORBIDDEN KINGDOM DVD comes out 9/9/08!!

Dear gurls and bois:

Forbidden Kingdom DVD finally comes out next Tuesday (9/9/08)!!

I had the special opportunity to check out an advance copy of Forbidden Kingdom DVD... and I have to say... Get it next Tuesday!

Yes, originally, I was a bit creeped out by the fact that it was written by a Caucasian man who knows martial arts... however, writer John Fusco really did a terrific job blending the old eastern folklores with the western fascination of martial arts.

Let's be real here. Even though the lead Caucasian actor from Will & Grace is super annoying and miscasted, we have to bypass that- FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is JET LI and JACKIE CHAN's first collaboration, and that is pretty darn entertaining.

che che check it out here at FORBIDDEN KINGDOM !

xoxo,

SAA

ps: My favorite featurette is CHINAWOOD. Did you know China built a whole set for studios to film there?! It's like Universal Studio's backlot, but in China...

The special features include:

• Audio commentary with director Rob Minkoff and writer John Fusco

• “The Kung Fu Dream Team” featurette

• “Dangerous Beauty” featurette

• “Discovering China” featurette

• “Filming in Chinawood” featurette

• “Monkey King and The Eight Immortals” featurette

• Blooper reel

• Deleted scenes with audio commentary by Rob Minkoff and John Fusco

ABOUT: FORBIDDEN KINGDOM (DVD)

In modern-day Boston, Jason (Michael Angarano, TV’s “Will & Grace”), a teenage Kung Fu movie enthusiast, purchases a bootleg DVD from his favorite shopkeeper, Old Hop. When a local bully forces Jason to help rob Old Hop, Jason escapes with an old golden staff that magically transports him to ancient China. He is soon rescued from the forces of the Jade Warlord by Lu Yan (Chan), a raggedy wanderer whose wine-guzzling ways conceal his Kung Fu mastery. Yan, along with the Silent Monk (Li), reveals that Jason is the fabled Seeker who must return the staff to the Monkey King (also played by Li), in order to stop the warlord from carrying out his evil plans. Yan and the Silent Monk join forces to teach Jason the ways of the Kung Fu warrior so he can save their world and return to his own.

SUNDANCE is now accepting your films!

You may think your little short is a crapper, others may think it is a gem!

The 25th Sundance Film Festival will be held January 15-25, 2009 with screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance, Utah.

Deadlines to submit U.S. and International films for the 2009 Sundance Film Festival are:

August 18, 2008 - EARLY SUBMISSION DEADLINE (ALL FILMS)
September 5, 2008 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, SHORT FILMS
September 8, 2008 – OFFICIAL DEADLINE, FEATURE FILMS

The application can be completed directly online at the official Sundance Institute website at www.sundance.org/submissions.

Call our sister Irene Cho (Sundance Institute, Manager, Media Relations) for questions!

Phone: (435) 658-3456

NO REGRET opens in LA/NY/OTHERS on July 25th !

Gosh Jolly... long time no chat!

Hope everyone is well.

We are going to start blogging again after a loooong haitus. There is much exciting news in Asian America going on that it has refueled our passion to blog.

We are going to introduce everyone a great gay 'ROMEO and JULIET' film (as coined by my friend over at CollegeMovieReview.com.)

NO REGRET is a breakthrough Korea film directed by an openly gay filmmaker, starring two Korean heartthrobs.

Set in mondern Korean (unlike the cult-favorite KING AND THE CLOWN), NO REGRET follows a in-closet businessman who falls his employee-call-boy-then unemployeed-lover-cab-driver. However, there is a tiny problem- The businessman is engaged to a lady.

With the recent California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, NO REGRET definitely reminds us of how far the gay community has come, and how far we still have to go. Furthermore, the idea and image of homosexuality continues to be a taboo in the Asian and Asian American community. The dramatic Korean soap-opera like NO REGRET is a close depiction of men on the down-low living in suburbia and living double lives in order to assimilate and imitate the mainstream image of masculinity.

NO REGRET also made its mark in Korean independent cinema’s box office, with crossover audience

Check out the trailer here:

“No Regret” to Open in U.S. Theatres July 25

Breakout Gay Korean Film will Debut in Select U.S. Theaters This Summer

LOS ANGELES – June 16, 2008 – Regent Releasing is pleased to announce the U.S. theatrical debut of “No Regret,” an award-winning romantic drama focusing on class conflict and contemporary gay life in Korea. “No Regret” was recently acquired by here! Films, Regent Releasing’s sister company, and will premiere in Los Angeles and New York on July 25th, with other select cities to follow.

“No Regret”, the first true gay film from Korea, centers on Sumin (Lee Young-Hoon), a poor 18 year-old orphan who seeks his fortune in the bright lights of Seoul. After losing a series of jobs, he is forced to work as a prostitute in a gay karaoke bar. A wealthy and powerful industrialist, Jaemin, (Lee Han) falls passionately in love with the boy and seduces him. Their relationship soon begins to interfere with Jaemin’s pending nuptials and his promotion to a high-profile job at his father’s company. Vengeful after becoming ignored, Sumin sets off on a destructive course of action that brings the film to a powerful and emotional moment of truth. “No Regret” is as uplifting and bittersweet as it is compelling and surprising.

Director Leesong Hee-il has received critical acclaim for his shorts (“Sugar Hill,” “Good Romance”) as well as omnibus work (“Camellia Project - Three Queer Stories at Bogil Island”). His screen achievements have set the bar for gay Korean filmmakers and his devotion to creating true-to-life gay characters has made him a favorite at film festivals from Vancouver to Berlin. “No Regret” has been well received at prominent festivals in the U.S., such as Frameline Film Festival in San Francisco, Outfest in Los Angeles, the Seattle International Film Festival and the Palm Springs International Film Festival. Leesong Hee-il has received numerous awards including “Best Independent Director of the Year,” Director’s Cut Awards Korea and the “Best Film Award,” Ansan International Next Film Festival.

For more information, please visit www.noregret-themovie.com.

“No Regret” RT is 114 min, color, 35mm aspect ratio 1.85, Dolby Digital, 5.1 surround, in Korean with English subtitles, MPAA rating pending evaluation.

Harold and Kumar at SXSW!

Colma the Musical opens in NYC!!!

COLMA THE MUSICAL!: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=48541081

SPREAD THE WORD - COLMA: THE MUSICAL
opens this weekend in New York - exclusively at the QUAD.
Bring everyone out to this fun and crazy film.

RUN DON'T WALK!!!!


"3 Stars"
Jack Mathews, NY Daily News

“Irresistible!
From the opening tune you know it's going to be fun…and it is.”
-G. Allen Johnson, San Francisco Chroniclecol

COLMA: THE MUSICAL

A film by RICHARD WONG
Written by H.P. MENDOZA

IN THEATRES JULY 6th
EXCLUSIVE NY ENGAGEMENT at THE QUAD

34 West 13th Street

COLMA: THE MUSICAL takes the music of H.P. Mendoza and weaves it into a fresh personal look into the ups and downs of early adulthood.

Best pals Rodel, Billy, and Maribel find themselves in a state of limbo; fresh out of high school, they are just beginning to explore a new world of part-time mall jobs and crashing college parties. As newfound revelations and romances challenge their relationships with one another and their parents, the trio must assess what to hold onto, and how to best follow their dreams.

COLMA: THE MUSICAL has been awarded the Special Jury Prize
at the San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and has been winning the hearts of everyone who has seen it!

For more information about the film, please log on to: http://www.colmafilm.com

For showtimes and tickets, please call 777-FILM #636
Or log on to: http://www.movietickets.com/house_detail.asp?house_id=216

COLMA: THE MUSICAL opens in Los Angeles this August.
-A ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS Presentation -

EVE and the FIRE HORSE screening!

Golden Horse Productions invites you and your guests
to a special screening of


EVE AND THE FIRE HORSE

A film by Julia Kwan

Starring Vivan Wu


Monday – July 9th, 2007

Film begins at 7:30 pm

Followed by Q&A with filmmaker Julia Kwan


Fine Arts Theatre

8556 Wilshire Blvd.

Beverly Hills, CA 90211


$2.00 Validated Theatre Parking in lower garage level at:

8484 Wilshire Blvd (Flynt Communications building)

The black tower at the South-East corner of La Cienega and Wilshire.

Bring parking stub to the Fine Arts Theatre concession



RSVP IS A MUST TO:

(213) 624-7827 ext. 2

Jack Song
Please leave your name, let us know how many guests you are bringing, and please note your affiliation. Please RSVP early, as seats are limited. Early arrival is suggested to guarantee seating.

SYNOPSIS

Eve & the Fire Horse

A Film by Julia Kwan

Eve, a precocious nine year-old with an overactive imagination, was born in the Year of the Fire Horse, notorious among Chinese families for producing the most troublesome children. Dinners around Eve's family table are a raucous affair, where old world propriety and new world audacity mix in even measure. But as summer approaches, it seems like Eve's carefree childhood days are behind her.

When her mother chops down their apple tree — a superstitious omen — bad luck worms its way into their family in unexpected, tragic ways. Forced to grow up too fast, Eve learns to take pleasure in life's small gifts — like a goldfish she believes to be the reincarnated spirit of her beloved grandmother.

Meanwhile, Eve's older sister Karena is going through changes of her own, exploring a newfound fascination with Christianity. Soon, crucifixes pop up next to the Buddha in the family's house, and Eve must contend with a Sunday school class where her wild imagination is distinctly out of place.

Caught between her sister's quest for premature sainthood and her own sense of right and wrong, Eve faces the challenges of childhood with fanciful humor and wide-eyed wonder. Along the way, she proves that sometimes the most troublesome children are the ones that touch our hearts most deeply

A lyrical, lighthearted look at a young girl's spiritual experience, EVE & THE FIRE HORSE takes you on a wondrous yet deeply felt journey, where family life is strange, childhood lonely and religion perplexing.

EVE & THE FIRE HORSE is the first feature film from director Julia Kwan and features international film star Vivian Wu, Chan Chit Man Lester, Ping Sung Wong, Hollie Lo and introducing Phoebe Jojo Kut as "Eve." The film was also written by Julia Kwan and produced by Shan Tam, Erik Paulsson and Yves J. Ma.



CHECK OUT THE GREAT REVIEWS !

ROGER EBERT

"LUMINOUS! Intelligent, delicate and touching. One of the most beloved films at Sundance this year . . . "

VARIETY

"EXCEPTIONAL! A slice of delicately captured childhood."

CBC

"Absolutely enthralling! An inspired generational document"

THE GLOBE AND MAIL

"Touching, funny and thoroughly enchanting! One of the most enchanting and memorable films made in this country."

CINEMATICAL

"A delightfully imaginative tale! Eve and the Firehorse is everything good filmmaking ought to be - rich, inventive storytelling, just the right touches of humor and levity, and heart-rending acting."

SAN FRANCISCO WEEKLY

"A rare gem!"

SEATTLE TIMES
"The details of the girls' world are wonderfully captured; this film is a poignant charmer."

COLMA THE MUSICAL opens in SF 6.22!

COLMA THE MUSICAL
OPENS THIS WEEKEND 6.22!

at Embarcadero 1 Center!

BOBBY LEE is KICKIN' iT OLD SCHOOL

JOURNEY FROM THE FALL tops the charts!!!!

Dear Friends,

Help keep the momentum going - tell everyone you know to see JOURNEY FROM THE FALL!

Buy your tickets early.

For press - if you can run another story in your outlets this week, that would be great. We will open Dallas and Houston this Friday - March 30!

Let's keep pushing! This is very important!

-SPEAK ASIAN AMERICANS


UPDATE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE!

ImaginAsian Pictures’ JOURNEY FROM THE FALL tops the charts!

#1 per-screen average in the country at $21,861 per screen



NEW YORK, March 26, 2007- ImaginAsian Pictures’ first theatrical release, JOURNEY FROM THE FALL made a spectacular bow in the opening weekend of its rolling theatrical release, earning the highest per-screen average of any film, specialty or mainstream, in the country with $21,861 per screen. Playing in four theaters, the film grossed $87,442 for the weekend.


"This is a defining moment for Asian American cinema and is a testament to the talent, determination and vision of the filmmakers and producers involved. All those who champion independent productions should draw inspiration from this!" said Michael Hong, CEO of ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc.

Currently playing sold-out screenings in New York City, Westminster, and San Jose, and expanding nationwide beginning March 30, 2007, Journey from the Fall is directed by Ham Tran and is inspired by the true stories of Vietnamese refugees who fled their land after the fall of Saigon, and the struggles of those who stayed behind and suffered the brutalities of the re-education camps. The critically acclaimed film was an official selection of both the Sundance and the Pusan Film Festivals, and has won more than 10 awards at 20 festivals around the world.

The film stars Kieu Chinh, Long Nguyen, Diem Lien, Nguyen Thai Nguyen, and Jayvee Mai The Hiep.

Journey from the Fall (www.JourneyFromTheFall.com) is an ImaginAsian Pictures release, a division of ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc.

About ImaginAsian Pictures
ImaginAsian Pictures (www.iapictures.tv ) is ImaginAsian Entertainment’s feature film distribution division dedicated to cutting-edge and critically acclaimed Asian films. It aims to establish a slate of diverse releases, bringing the best of Asian cinema to American screens.

About ImaginAsian Entertainment
ImaginAsian Entertainment, Inc. (www.iaei.tv) is a multimedia company that promotes Asian Pacific American culture to mainstream America. Headquartered in New York City, ImaginAsian Entertainment uses a fully integrated marketing strategy through multiple platforms: ImaginAsian TV (America’s First 24/7 Asian American Network), The ImaginAsian Theater (New York’s Premier Asian American Theater), ImaginAsian Pictures (distribution of cutting-edge and critically acclaimed Asian films), ImaginAsian Home Entertainment (video/DVD unit dedicated to quality Asian home entertainment), ImaginAsian Radio (the sound of Asian America), and iaLink (ImaginAsian’s community-based e-zine).

###

JOURNEY FROM THE FALL opens TODAY!

Please support director HAM TRAN's superb feature film debut: JOURNEY FROM THE FALL, opening TODAY!

JOURNEY FROM THE FALL, an official 2006 Sundance Film Festival selection, is an award-winning film that finally reveals the untold story of what happened to millions of Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon.

Determined not to let one of the most pivotal events in modern history be forgotten, director Ham Tran has crafted a searing epic that traces the route of the boat people, from Vietnam to America, and the fate of those left behind.

Starring Kieu Chinh and Long Nguyen, and winner of 12 international film awards, including the official selection of the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, JOURNEY FROM THE FALL has been hailed by critics as "striking in its timeliness, unforgettable in its impact."

Check out LA TIMES rave on JOURNEY FROM THE FALL!

Finally, a film about our community, made from our perspective...

For more info, please see: www.journeyfromthefall.com.


***Exclusively at the Regal Garden Grove Stadium 16, 9741 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, (800) 326-3284; and the Edwards Westminster 10, 6721 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, (800) 326-3264, #172.***

Harvest Moon Festival 2006

Date: Sunday, October 1, 2006
Time: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Location: Arcadia County Park in Arcadia
405 S. Santa Anita Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006-3509

The Harvest Moon Festival is a day for the entire family to enjoy!
FREE Activities & entertainment for kids
Asian cuisine & food sampling
Contest and prize giveaway – VOLVO S40 CAR GIVEAWAY
American Idol JASMINE TRIAS and top notch Asian musical & cultural performers

Park at Santa Anita Race Track and take the free shuttle bus service to Arcadia County Park.

From the 210 Freeway, exit Baldwin Avenue, Huntington Drive or Santa Anita Avenue heading South and follow the signs to parking at Santa Anita Racetrack.
　
To access a printable map of bus routes available in the City of Arcadia, please click here.
Can’t view the link? Please click here to download Adobe Reader to read the map.


For more information, contact: Joyce Shimazu at (310)442-2353 or email jshimazu@la18.tv
　
Special Performances by
　

American Idol's JASMINE TRIAS !!!!

FAR*EAST MOVEMENT, featured in the summer movie hit The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift

JET LI'S FEARLESS OPENS at #2!!

JET LI AND RONNY YU TEAM UP TO BRING "JET LI'S FEARLESS" - HIS FINAL MARTIAL ARTS FILM OPENING HUGE NATIONWIDE!

#2 at the BOXOFFICE !!

Yes, it's Jet Li's final martial arts film and this time he goes out with a bang. Amazing fight scenes, great acting and a compelling story based on the life of of Wushu martial arts founder HUO YUANJIA makes JET LI's FEARLESS one of his best films. Fans of Jet and of Wushu will not be disappointed. This is a must see for all fans and friends.

Big props to Rogue Pictures for bringing this to the US. And some of you have seen it on the bootleg dvd from Chinatown - but trust that seeing this on the big screen will make this brilliant film come to life.

JET LI'S FEARLESS delivers on all counts with action, heart and Asian pride! Don't miss it. Opening in over 1800 screens across the land - you can be sure to catch it and it's rated PG 13 - so you can bring your neighbors, too. We love Jet Li!

Also did you know that director RONNY YU was originally attached to direct SNAKES ON A PLANE? Lucky for him, it did not pan out.

~from APA FirstWeekend

APA FIRST Weekend ... SPECIAL BULLETIN!

SPECIAL BULLETIN! DON'T MISS THIS WEEKEND!

AWARD WINNING "THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS"
FROM PHILIPPINE DIRECTOR AUREAUS SOLITO
MAKES ITS US PREMIERE IN NEW YORK AT CINEMA VILLAGE
AMAZING FILM IS THE OFFICIAL ENTRY FROM THE PHILIPPINES TO THE ACADEMY AWARDS
FOR BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

This amazing little film from the Philippines has warmed the hearts of
audiences and judges at every festival it has played and has walked away with
numerous awards.

THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS from director AUREAUS SOLITO will make its
US theatrical premiere this weekend in NEW YORK at the CINEMA VILLAGE.

The film and director embody the new asthetic for Philippine cinema
encompassing great performances with great stories about real people. Moving away from normally cliched melodrama, THE BLOSSOMING OF MAXIMO OLIVEROS tells the story of gay12 year old Maximo who lives with his father and two brothers in one of Manila's slums and falls in love with a local handsome policeman. Who will
young Maximo choose - love or his family? The film is tender and handles the
subject of pre-teen gay identity brilliantly without making it an issue. If
anything, the film is truly about family.

Big congratulations to filmmaker Solito for making a very moving and honest
film. And props to Unico Pictures and Unitel Films for distributing the film.
Check out Rotten Tomatoes - it's at 100%

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/pagdadalaga_ni_maximo_oliveros/

OPENING -
SEPTEMBER 22
NEW YORK - CINEMA VILLAGE
22 East 12 th Street
New York, New York 10003


SEPTEMBER 29 -
LOS ANGELES
REGENT SHOWCASE
LABREA just south of MELROSE
Los Angeles, CA

JET LI'S FEARLESS OPENS NATIONWIDE TODAY!!! 9/22!!

JET LI'S POETIC TRIBUTE TO THE ART OF WUSHU, or also known as MARTIAL ARTS.

EXCLUSIVE- FROM SPEAKAsianAmericans!

EXCLUSIVE from MELVIN MARTINEZ of SpeakAsianAmericans.blogpost.com !!! Pictures above: Tim (who worked with Jet Li on CRADLE 2 the Grave) and Tony (catch him in JET LI'S FEARLESS) demonstrates how a sword fight scene is done.

The Slanted Screen Premiere!

THE SLANTED SCREEN

a Los Angeles Premiere!

WHEN: Thursday, October 5, 2006
7:30pm Premiere of The Slanted Screen
8:45 pm Networking Panel: “Influencing the Image-Makers”


WHERE: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Samuel Goldwyn Theater, 8949 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211

RSVP by September 30th to speak.pr@gmail.com

ABOUT:
Directed by political-entertainment crossover JEFF ADACHI, the elected Public Defender of San Francisco County, THE SLANTED SCREEN (www.slantedscreen.com) pokes fun at Hollywood’s one-dimensional portrayal of Asian men by focusing on Asian American men in film and television. THE SLANTED SCREEN features in-depth interviews with actors such as Will Yun Lee, Dustin Nguyen, Jason Scott Lee, Bobby Lee, and Mako, who has made over 90 feature films and appeared in over 100 television programs over his 40 year career, and many others.

Immediately following the screening, a panel discussion entitled “Influencing the Image-Makers,” entertainment industry executives will discuss strategies to increase diversity in film and television. The panel members will be asked to respond to specific questions and share their ideas on how to increase and improve diversity within the industry.

The program will also include a special tribute to Mako, who passed away last July. EVENT SPONSORS: This event is sponsored by the following organizations:
Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Casting Society of America Center for Asian American Media Coalition of Asian-Pacifics in Entertainment Directors Guild of America Producers Guild of America Screen Actors Guild Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation West Asian American Writers Committee Writers Guild of America

PARKING
Free parking is available at 8920 or 9025 Wilshire Blvd.
Dress: Business or cocktail attire

APIA Voters... the new political sleepin' giant.

Asian voters' dormant power

Language, cultures hinder political clout

By Patricia Jiayi Ho Staff Writer
Pasadena Star-News

A UCLA report released Thursday describes Asian Americans as the new "sleeping giant" in California politics, pointing to the ethnic group's increased population and citizenship rate in the past five years.

However, when compared with white and African-American populations, Asian Americans are still less likely to register to vote, the study said.

"We've gone through that first hurdle - getting a sizeable population that is eligible to vote," said Paul Ong, who compiled the data and is a professor with UCLA's School of Public Affairs. "The real challenge is now translating that number into registered voters who go and vote."

Asian Americans made up 12 percent of the state's eligible voters in 2005, up from 10 percent in 2000, the study found.

That represents an increase from 2 million to 2.5 million Asian Americans who are both citizens and 18 years old or older, according to the report, which looked at data from U.S. Census Bureau counts and the recently released 2005 American Community Survey.

Despite the increases, Asian Americans do not have the political clout their numbers would suggest. Only 52 percent of Asians who are eligible to vote have done so, compared with 71 percent of whites, 64percent of blacks, and 54percent of Latinos.

Part of the barrier to engaging Asian Americans in politics is language, said Sharon Owyang, executive director of the Center for Asian American United For Self Empowerment in Pasadena.

"We have a multitude of languages under the `Asian American' rubric," she said.

Besides Chinese and its assorted dialects, there are Southeast Asian languages such as Thai, Lao, Khmer and Vietnamese that present communication challenges.

Another reason for low voter-registration rates may be cultural. Recent immigrants may be more accustomed to an autocratic tradition than a democratic one, said former Monterey Park Mayor Lily Lee Chen.

In Asian countries, "politics was something far away from the real people," Chen said. "The basic idea of serving the people, providing services, representing the voice of the people is different. When you are a ruler, you are powerful, you can do harm."

Chinese Americans - the largest Asian subgroup in the San Gabriel Valley - have not had the kinds of galvanizing political battles that other ethnic groups have experienced, Chen noted.

Assemblywoman Judy Chu, D-Monterey Park, said the report makes clear that there need to be more services targeted to Asian Americans and elected officials who will represent the needs of the community.

"It's an opportunity to make sure that Asian Americans can increase in influence and in clout," Chu said.

Martin Truitt, a Pasadena political consultant, said one reason Asian Americans may find it harder to form coalitions to exert political influence is the communities are not homogenous.

"There's just such a disparity," Truitt said. "Fifth-generation Japanese and new immigrants from Mainland China - Where's the commonality?"

Asian Americans also practice different religions, have been in the country for varying periods of time, and may remember animosity toward their former neighbors, he said.

"Over time, you may see an Asian coalition \ cultural differences fall away," Truitt said. "But in California the immigration rate is so high, that the dream is deferred."

The report also found that of the general Asian-American population, the proportion that are citizen adults increased from 67 percent to 71 percent from 2000 to 2005.

The growth in the potential Asian American electorate continues a pattern that began in the 1990s. In 1990, of all the adult citizens in the state, Asian American's comprised about

6 percent. If trends continue, that figure will increase to 14 percent by 2010, the report stated.

patricia.ho@sgvn.com
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