Monday, May 05, 2008

Challenging karma...

I know! I've been posting like crazy over these past few days-- even I'm impressed at how good I've been!

Unfortunately, things haven't been all right in the world and I just wanted to take some time to discuss the plight facing those in Burma and Tibet/India now....

A tropical cyclone ravaged Burma this past weekend and the death toll is near 10,000 now. The government is being very slow in accepting foreign aid, in this time of crisis, and things still have not changed in the country. We've forgotten so easily about the challenges the Buddhist monks faced just a few months ago (and probably continue to face as I type), and now Burma faces another catastrophe. Let's hope that the government will open its mind and allow the rest of the world to help its people...

A bigger piece of news seems to be the Olympics and by now, China's atrocious human rights record should be pretty obvious for all to see.

As Tibetans bravely protested for their independence, the Chinese government cracked down and reacted violently to their demonstrations, blaming the Dalai Lama and his so-called "Dalai clique" for the destruction.

I saw a comic a while ago that shows how China got its symbol for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

This seems pretty accurate:


Sunday, May 04, 2008

Nickelodeon's "Doug" Theme Song!!

Now that I've learned to upload videos to this blog, I'm going insane with this!

Here's a look at what I'll be dressed as for Halloween! =D

Movies!

Apologies for the usual lack of actually keeping up with posting things on this blog. I've become SUPER-lazy recently, after finally announcing what I'm doing the next 2 years (i.e. BUSINESS SCHOOL!).

In line with the past few lazy weeks of my life, I've decided to provide some commentary on Hollywood movies of the past few months.

First up, one of my new FAVORITE movies, Forgetting Sarah Marshall:

I saw this movie a few weekends ago and LOVED IT!

It's a flick about an average-ish guy who gets dumped by his super-hot movie star girlfriend for some douchebag British rockstar and needs to get over it.

From the makers of "Knocked Up", "Superbad" and "The 40-Year Old Virgin", this movie was friggin HILARIOUS-- and it didn't become a cheesey romantic comedy.

All the characters were pretty well-rounded (with each having their own strengths/flaws) and the leading ladies (i.e. Mila Kunis and Kristen Bell) are scorchin HOTT!

Incidentally, I was also sobbing through the first half of the film.

OK, I keed! =D

Next up: Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.


By now, everyone should know that I'm all for the empowerment of Asian Americans, and the "Harold & Kumar" movies surely do that in their own comic way.

FINALLY, there are popular films with Asian American men as the lead characters and there's a good play on cultural stereotypes.

If you go see it, I'd recommend that you have a few drinks in you-- since it gets pretty ridiculous.

And last (and most certainly least) is a film that I haven't seen, but wish to comment on anyway (to everyone who says that I "have no right to judge" until I have actually seen the movie, I say "shut yo mouth!")-- 21.


A movie (based on the best-selling book "Bringing Down the House") about MIT students who essentially beat the game of Blackjack, I was surprised that the Asian Americans (who were basically the heart of the real-life group and a HUGE proportion of MIT) were relegated to only peripheral supporting roles in this film.

As I haven't seen this movie, I can't recommend whether or not people should check it out-- but I do have to give a thumbs down to the movie producers who decided not to take the effort to look for a good Asian American lead, or have a representative cast.

And another thumbs down to Jeff Ma, the real-life brain behind the whole plot of the book/movie, for not standing up for his community (despite his new claims that he had "little control" over the movie's casting). =P

http://www-tech.mit.edu/V128/N15/21casting.html

Friday, May 02, 2008

GREAT youtube video

The All American Rejects' "My Paper Heart" with Pon and Zi comics to help illustrate the song! =D