Can You Find 7 Differences Between These Two Pictures?

Above: US poster Below: UK poster

Promo posters for Couples Retreat. People got pissed. Universal issued an apology and promised not to use that set of promo material. I'm not even sure what else I need to say about this.

Except maybe they should make a giant 20 foot banner of Ken Jeong playing the therapist for the Asia circuits?

American Man Seeks Chinese Woman

Not too surprised to see this ad this week. Crap like this show up all the damn time. This one is tame in comparison. Just search "Asian dolls" and you'll see. (Like I did when I was looking for an Asian doll for my daughter's birthday.

I was a bit disappointed to find the above add in the Northwest Asian Weekly. Not to dig at NWAW, because I love their paper. Just you know...vexed that they allow this ad to run. I seem to remember seeing similar personals in their classifies before, but this time it really ticked me off. Maybe I'm just having a bad day.

Come people, chime in. Leave a comment for me. What should I do? Call this fine specimen of American pride and give him a piece of my mind? Write NWAW and remind them this guy is preying on our community? What about free speech? This ad is not illegal. Is it so different than looking for a multilingual nanny?

Talk to me friends. I'm not sure what action to take.

Does Work Place Suicide Warrant Investigation?

Last November, an University of Washington custodian committed suicide by setting himself on fire amist the heavily traveled Red Square on campus. In Soo Chun was a 61 yr old Korean American citizen. Co-workers speculates hostile work environment as the cause of Chun's distress.

Several students risked their lives to intervene Chun. One stood in the puddle of gasoline, unsuccesfully trying to take the matches from him, then more students rush to beat the flames out. In Soo Chun had no immediate family. Students held a small memorial for Chun last week in the Red Square a year after his death.

Let me say up front that I don't know the situation beyond the few local articles. UW official cited no clear need for further inquiries. There was not , nor will be, any formal investigation of the suicide. Here is what's bothering me. UW press release said they offered him counseling through the university employee program, Carelink, which he declined. I went thought their website, and I have a feeling that services were only offered in English. Chun spoke English, but not having services in his first language is a factor to consider. I'm just guessing here.

I also have to ask, if the man had surviving family would UW be able to get by without an investigation? I mean....people, a man doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire during the middle of the day at his former work place. People tried to stop him. He made eye contact with more than one student before lighting the match. This isn't enough cause for some kind of investigation? I don't know the proper procudure to these things. Shouldn't it be required?

Usually I'm very proud of how UW supports and stands by their staff and students. However, I feel like in this case, they are taking advantage of a man with little connection and no one left to fight for his rights.

Amelia, Hazel, and Katherine.

Hazel Ying Lee

I had the chance to see Amelia this week. Let me just say that any screen presentation of an admired and sensationalized pioneering women aviator, such as Amelia Earhart, is tricky business. You can’t please everyone. I personally loved it. I’ll watch it again. I do wish there was more about the intricacy of a pilot’s life and less on the painful romance with Richard Gere. Their kisses were as awkward as Luke and Leia’s smooches. But those strained moments may have been director Mira Nair’s way to communicate Earhart’s reluctance toward marriage.

I was expecting, or at least faithfully hoping, to see POCs in the movie. None. Maybe I missed it, but didn’t see one yellow or brown face in the movie. I knew they would not splurge for a supporting character of color. I would have settled for a background pilot.

I wanted to bring up some early Chinese American aviation accomplishments during Earhart’s era. My knowledge is limited to Chinese American contributions:

Anna Low: In 1918, became the first Chinese American women aviator.

Hazel Ying Lee: The first Chinese American women in Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP.)

Katherine Cheung: First Chinese American women licensed pilot in 1931. One of the original member of Ninety-Nines. You know the women pilot organization Earhart served as the first president. There's a short video of Katherine's granddaughter talking about her inspirations.

Leah Hing: Joined the Civil Air Patrol during WWII.

Wong Tsu: The Boeing Company’s first engineer in 1916.

Thanks for opening the sky. Hats (or headsets) off to you!

Funky Shiitake Mushrooms

My good friend over at Big Trendy posted about the Funky Shiitake Mushrooms.

I have to admit, I felt a little weird loving these guys. Stereotypical Asian nerd kids. Do we really need to dig deeper into our dreaded Long Duk Dong grave? But damn it, I don't care. They won freakin' robotics contests! They built their own remote controlled hybrid airships.

I have to remind myself that these five are not the lone AA outcast in a midwestern school, who bond together and fend off teasing from the white kids. Hailing from Mission San Jose High School in Fremont California, the school population is 75% AA.

FSM, you are officially rock stars to me. Come on over to dinner. I just shopped Costco today. Plenty of food for you over here. Love to have you five nerd out and play video games here.

Louisianna Justice of Peace Refuse to Marry Interacial Couple

Keith Bardwell denied marriage license to an interracial couple.

"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."

If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

Bardwell said he is not a racist. Keith, I'd like to invite you over for dinner at my house. Hang out with my hapa kids. We can read Goodnight Moon and sip hot chocolate by the fireplace. Let's chat. I know you mean well, but other people's family planning is not your decision. It's 2009. Two thousand freaking nine, people! We're suppose to have robot butlers and eye-tronic chips by now. Not wasting our time shutting down interracial relationships.

He may be racist, but I gotta say the man is consistent.

If I take a vacation . . .

This could be ME!

There are many reasons I want to visit the Bay Area. Golden Gate Bridge, Chinatown, Alkatraz, the Camera Obscura and Holographic Gallery, Angel Island. But the truth is, I'm most excited about taking a Zeppelin ride offered by Airship Ventures. I can even be an airship pilot for a day! Only $2950!