Schema | June 2008 Archives : more than ethnic

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Ona | Puzzle Greeting Cards

Looking to make your next party invitation extra memorable? These unique greeting cards by ONA might be the perfect fit.

To create the invitations, simply write your your invite on the puzzle board, deconstruct the pieces, and put all the pieces into the envelope! That way, your guests will have to piece the puzzle together before they can read your message!

Ona is a design company out of Lithuania, created by Vaida and Kristen. They state on their website that they like fusing the traditions of their country with innovations of modern living. They create interior design products, art, jewelry and accessories and cards. An added bonus? All their products are eco-friendly!

Check out buy the Your! Puzzle greeting card/invitation HERE, and check out the rest of the Ona products HERE.

Posted by Michelle D. | June 30, 2008 | Comments (0)

Tags: Design

Obama '08 Boxer-Briefs | Andrew Christian

Not sure if these are the kind of briefs the Barack Obama campaigners were hoping for their star candidate...but at least you're assured that he'll support you, if you support him *wink*.

Underwear designer Andrew Christian has introduced the OBAMA '08 BOXER-BRIEFS, with a promise to donate $1 from each $29 sale to the Democratic senator's campaign. Hey, if you wear them then you can say that you're hanging out with Barack Obama -- hee.

The Obama skivvies are Christian's only campaign-related underwear, but if Hillary Clinton gets the vice presidency, he said he'll add a Hillary bra or camisole to his collection.

And yes, Christian sent a package of complimentary Obama boxer-briefs to Obama's people. Maybe it'll become his lucky underwear...

More: via New York Daily News and Shine from Yahoo | Andrew Christian (AC) official site | Buy AC Obama '08 Boxer Brief in Royal Blue or Navy Blue

Posted by Tamiko | June 27, 2008 | Comments (0)

Tags: Fashion

Sungha Jung | The Fingerstylin' prodigy

You're kidding me? That incredible sound is coming from one kids manipulations of an instrument?

The young (really young!) SUNGHA JUNG has people "wow-ing" at their monitors at what he can do with a guitar at the tender age of eleven. Born and raised and still living in South Korea, this prodigy started playing less than three years ago after watching his dad play guitar for years before that. Now, whenever Sungha isn't in class, he's either practicing with his custom-made guitar (to fit his small body) and posting his covers on youtube, or appearing on talent shows like Korea's Star King

Don't confuse this kid with legends like Jimi Hendrix or Led Zeppelin, Sungha is purely a fingerstylist. And, fittingly, his lifelong dream is to become a professional acoustic fingerstyle guitarist. From the looks of it, that dream isn't too far off.

More: MySpace | Guitar Flame Part I and Part II | listen and watch Sungha in action under the cut

Posted by Matthew Tsang | June 25, 2008 | Comments (5)

Tags: Music

June 12 | Loving Day | loving inter-ethnic relationships

(A bit delayed, but, hey, better late than never and all that. It's worth it. Trust.)

This past June 12, 2008, marked the anniversary of LOVING V. VIRGINIA, the landmark 1967 U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld the right for men and women of different ethnicities (re: "races") to marry.

In the SF Gate's Asian Pop section, Jeff Yang (of the defunct A Magazine -- remember that?) explores further the issue of interracial relationships, with an emphasis on the Asian American experience. Further along, he introduces Ken Tanabe, himself a hapa (Japanese/Belgian), who's been working for the past 4 years to build a campaign to estalish June 12 as LOVING DAY to remember the landmark case that essentially allowed his existence in the U.S. Loving Day's mission is to fight prejudice through education and to build a sense of community among people who engage in meaningful interracial and intercultural relationships. Aww...

Loving Day events were celebrated across the U.S., and Tanabe even created a free celebration kit (downloadable as a .pdf file). "Things are getting better for interracial couples and multiracial individuals," says Tanabe. "However, social acceptance might not matter that much to you if your best friend or your mother is threatening to cut you out of their lives. We hear a lot of those stories: Racism against couples often occurs behind closed doors. The Loving Day Project is about counteracting the prejudice you might not immediately see."

Posted by Tamiko | June 24, 2008 | Comments (0)

Tags: Culture

Fresh Face | Meiko

This week's Fresh Face is indie folk songstress MEIKO. Born and raised in Roberta, Georgia, Meiko currently lives in Los Angeles. The 1/4 Japanese singer/songwriter released her self-released her debut album, Meiko, in September 2007, which was the No. 1 iTunes folk album for over a month. And her singles, "Reasons Why I Love You" and "Hawaii" have been featured in episodes of Grey's Anatomy.

Meiko's sound is simple, acoustic folk. Her raspy, romantic vocals are often accompanied by only piano or acoustic guitar. Those that are fans of Feist, Priscilla Ahn, and Regina Spektor are sure to love Meiko's raw, meaningful lyrics and soft sound.

Currently on tour across the States, Meiko is one of indie folks newest but brightest stars.

Listen to Meiko (under the cut)!

Posted by Michelle D. | June 22, 2008 | Comments (3)

Tags: Music

sex and the tee shirt | look away...look away...

Sex and food are commonly paired together in pop culture (re: Tampopo; whipped cream; aphrodiastics like oysters and chocolate; flavoured condoms, etc). Both The Fruit Hunters by Adam Leith Gollner and Sex and Bacon: Why I Love Things That Are Very, Very Bad for Me by Sarah Katherine Lewis investigate the relationships between sex and food.

You'll learn tidbits that include how in medieval times a woman would peel an apple, stick it in her armpit to infuse it with her odour and then present it to her lover (gee, now that's love!); or how mangoes are used to demonstrate a technique for fellatio in the Kama Sutra (er, but they are round); or how to "cook people into bed" as a seduction technique. And did you know the Germans have invented a dildo made from gummy bear material that scientists caution can cause a yeast infection due to its high sugar content? Ouch.

And, of course, sex and fashion is a given...so why not sex and the tee shirt? The basic tee can be sexy...and it can also be controversial, especially with a design that shocks one with the "look away...yet can't" impulse.

Rumplo, the online tee shirt community that shares designs from global artists, has a fair share of sex and the tee shirt designs that beg to be noticed. Why not try the one that says: "Bukkake Ruined My Carpet" -- for the truely brave (P.S. if you don't know what "bukkake" is, please google it yourself...and P.P.S: Congratulations, you're not a pervert!)? Or the one with a nipple being tweaked -- for the equally brave? So find the perv in you, express it, and wear a sex-y tee with aplomb...just not in front of your parents.

More: (source) Baby, let's make fruit salad: Whether used as an aphrodisiac, sex toy or simply a means of procuring the act itself, food is, for many, a major turn-on by Siri Agrell @ Globe & Mail | Rumplo post in Schema Archives | See some Sex and the Tee designs under the cut

Posted by Tamiko | June 18, 2008 | Comments (0)

Tags: Fashion, Sexology

Diversity in Entertainment: Why is TV so white? | EW

EW's got this article entitled: "Diversity in Entertainment: Why is TV so White?"...it has its moments, from WTF?, *shake fist*, *roll eyes*, to "Really?". Enjoy some of the article's snippets here, then go to the link to read it all.

"Cleveland Brown -- a cartoon voiced by a white guy -- is the only minority character to anchor a new series in 2008-09. What gives? As the broadcast networks prepare a predominantly white fall schedule, we examine where all the color has gone. Granted, his Family Guy spin-off, The Cleveland Show, didn't even make it onto the fall schedule (it's slated for midseason)...."
"Grey's Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes sees progress in her diverse cast and those of other established hits — namely Lost and Heroes [and Ugly Betty]. But she still cites room for improvement: ''Do I want to see any more shows where someone has a sassy black friend? No, because I'm nobody's sassy black friend. I just want to see shows in which people get to be people and that look like the world we live in. The world is changing, and television will have to follow.'' True enough: It feels downright regressive to have to point out that minorities can be stars too, at a time when Will Smith continues to dominate box offices, Oprah is the most powerful woman on television, and Barack Obama is running for the ultimate leading role (you know, of the free world)."

Posted by Tamiko | June 17, 2008 | Comments (1)

Tags: Commentary, Culture, TV

Hello Kitty Fountain | Tom Sachs | New York City

hellokitty%20foutain.jpg For real? In the swanky New York City neighborhood of Park Avenue, you will find a 21-foot Hello Kitty statue, two 10-foot tall bronze fountains -- one of Hello Kitty and the other of Miffy, and more -- all designed by renegade artist Tom Sachs.

Tom Sachs is probably smirking right now, he's not one to be shy about provocation. Like the time he substituted Hello Kitty for the baby Jesus in a 1994 Barneys Christmas window. The bronze fountains are featured at the Lever House's public ground-floor exterior space at Gordon Bunshaft's Modernist Park Avenue tower. Tom Sachs' works, including Hello Kitty and friends, was unveiled in May 2008 and will remain in New York until September 6, when it will move to Paris and open there in October.

Sachs describes Hello Kitty as a "pure merchandising icon" with "an almost Buddhist sense of nothingness." With water spilling from their eyes, the fountain figures are weeping into pools of their own tears.

"She's a pure merchandising icon," explains Tom Sachs. "Hello Kitty is universal. The purity makes her a great vehicle for understanding the truth in our lives. They'll be up all summer so the children of New York City can enjoy the fountain [where water pours from kitty's eyes!]." He continues to say Hello Kitty has "an almost Buddhist sense of nothingness."

Please.

More: via New York Times | via Kitty Hell | via Fashion Week Daily | Tom Sachs interview @ Wallpaper | More pics of Hello Kitty and Miffy fountains under the cut (via Sperone Westwater)

Posted by Tamiko | June 16, 2008 | Comments (1)

Tags: Art, Design, Funnybone

Fresh Face | Priscilla Ahn

priscilla%20ahn.jpg For those craving cool and gentle acoustic folk, PRISCILLA AHN will no doubt fit the bill. The 24-year-old Pennsylvania native, who now resides in Los Angeles, is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who has just released her first, full-length studio album, A Good Day, on Blue Note Records.

For those that enjoy the acoustic subtleties of Amos Lee, Meiko and Rachel Yamagata, Priscilla Ahn's songs are uplifting and magical. Two of her songs have been featured on episodes of Grey's Anatomy, and she has appeared on both Last Call with Carson Daly and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Priscilla Ahn is currently on tour in the States to promote her new album, but until you get a chance to catch her live, take a listen to some of her songs (under the cut)!

Posted by Michelle D. | June 14, 2008 | Comments (1)

Tags: Music

Sammy Lin | the Michelangelo of baristas | coffee art de jour

mocha1_468x671%205%20copy.jpg Wouldn't it be nice to have a leisurely morning cappuccino, one where barista-slash-artist Sammy Lin has created a little picture on your foam? If only you had the luxury of not having to rush around in the morning trying to get to work, dammit! Okay, you could still enjoy Sammy Lin's coffee art...on the weekend if you're in NYC (or vicariously through photos of amazing creations).

Sammy Lin is an artistic barista in New York, who serves about 700 lattes, espressos and cappuccino's a day (!) at Bottega Del Vino on East 59th Street. These aren't ordinary drinks, oh no -- the former music teacher from China will design artwork on your coffee foam such as a snowman, a blooming flower, an intricate leaf, a sleeping cat, or a mischevious monkey. He's even designed a smiling Mona Lisa on a canvas of coffee foam -- now that's ambitious. It wouldn't be wrong to call him the Michelangelo of baristas!

But it's too pretty to drink...which means you'll have to visit Sammy yet again for another masterpiece atop your latte foam. And...you think Sammy drinks his own wares? Nah, he's got to have steady hands -- he's probably more of a herbal tea guy.

(PS: Thanks, Franco!)

More: via Vancouver Coffee -- pic of Sammy and the process) | pics of Sammy's coffee art from Daily Mail UK | Bottego del Vino

Posted by Tamiko | June 13, 2008 | Comments (1)

Tags: Art, Food

Ma'amSir | Philippine National Day 2008 | Toronto | June 12, 2008

Philippine National Day (PND) aka "Philippines Independence Day" is essentially the July 4th of the Philippines. This year marks the 110th year of independence from hundreds of years of Spanish colonial rule. But that didn't actually mean sovereignty, as Spain handed the Philippines over to the "global protector of democracy" (that was facetious). What does a heritage of constant struggle with colonial rule mean to one of Canada's largest Asian Canadian populations? It means they take independence very seriously.

Perhaps WE need to step up and define what June 12 means to our generation. The following event is a great start: (from Kapisanan Philippine Centre)

In the spirit of PND, Melissa Clemente Designs and Passion (formerly Saigon Sister) present Ma'amSir, an inspired showcase of Filipino Canadian talent. Featuring a photography installation in the upstairs gallery, paint, illustration and mixed media and craft exhibition in the lounge and patio. Includes:

MSTQ, Audrey Lopez, Michael Palma, Eric Tigley, Melissa Clemente Designs, It's your life, Kapisanan Philippine Center, Carlos Bulosan Theatre, The Pinoy Poetics, The Pinoygraphers, Eric Quebrall, DJ R-vin, Jeff Garcia, Ilona Fiddy, Minerva Records, Jen Maramba, Kevin Marzo, Jen Tigley AND MANY MORE ...

THURSDAY JUNE 12TH 2008
PASSION | 774 YONGE STREET - TORONTO
$5 @ the door | reduced guest list available
Exhibition opens at 7pm | Performances @ 8pm
Special Passion Tapas Menu Available

Media and Press RSVP contact | melissaclementedesigns@gmail.com
Artist inquiries and reduced guest list contact | originalfiddy@gmail.com

MORE: Kapisanan Philippine Centre | Passion Restaurant is happy to support the Filipino Artist community during PND 2008 | Philippine History on Wikipedia

Posted by Alden | June 12, 2008 | Comments (3)

Tags: Events, Toronto

Kaba Modern @ Dream Studio | May 31 | Vancouver

5-6-7-8-pa-pa-pa-da-da-pa....

The cues you need to countdown to a dance sequence. It could be heard through the main dance room of Dream Dance Studio in Vancouver. A quick peek into the practice session on this past May 31st would have revealed not only a group of local tweens and teens dancing to moves from the latest music videos...but also the likes of the dance dynamos from KABA MODERN. You know, from that show America's Best Dance Crew. Oh yeah, there it is.

As part of their City of Angels Hip Hop Workshops, Dream Dance Studio brought some of the members of Kaba Modern (Tony Tran, Cindy Minowa, Yuki Tag, and Jia Huang). Schema caught Cindy teaching energetic choreography to the boys and girls whose palpable excitement clearly showed through their own performnce as well as on their own faces. So much so, they picked up the choreography in a snap (seemingly to us, who are less agile and less coordinated...please).

The next set featured a lesson from Kaba member Tony Tran -- his approachment was opposite if not complimentary to Cindy's more face-forward style. Tony shuffled to the front of the studio like a zen hip hop monk, and preceded to break down intricate isolations and step work for the kids to follow. Angled, precise, controlled, and deliberate as each of his movements were...it reminded one of origami -- how each fold in the paper eventually leads to a seamless finished product. Daaaamn if we hadn't seen it with our own eyes!

Along for the ride were two other guests from California: choreography Jeff Viray and singer-dancer Melissa Reyes, who (duh, shoulda known!) was featured on The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll -- she's uber sweet, and absolutely gorgeous, of course.

More: photos of the day by Schema's own Leah Yin-Sokol under the cut

Posted by Tamiko | June 10, 2008 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dance

Penis Massage Pants | No Hands Required

The Wenzhou Wonderful Massage Equipment Co., Ltd., has designed a product that might very well be every man's (and teenage boy's) dream: penis massage pants. Now, not only can you sip a cold beer and play your favorite video game while pleasuring yourself, but you can masturbate 24/7.

The pants are designed to look like a pair of snug-fitting jean shorts with a remote control attached. According to the website, the pants are "high-performance battery charged," have automatic temperature control thanks to infrared heaters, and features a variety of settings.

The only seemingly obvious flaw in Wengzhou Wonderful Massage Equipment Co., Ltd,'s Penis Massage Pants is the minimum order of 500. Yep, you have to order 500 pairs at a time. But that might not be such a bad thing, because if they actually work, they're probably only one-time use only!

Posted by Michelle D. | June 8, 2008 | Comments (1)

Tags: Fashion, Funnybone, Sexology

Vancouver Singapore Film Night | 7 June 2008

Can't wait for the next big international film festival to get your fix of Asian cinema? Indulge your inner traveller with the first-ever Vancouver Singapore Film Night.

Toronto Singapore Film Festival is pleased to partner with Asia Pacific Bizlinks Inc. to bring the festival to Vancouver! Vancouver Singapore Film Night (VSFN) showcases a movie marathon featuring made-in-Singapore films with genres ranging from action, comedy and horror, to drama, politics and romance. Tickets include two feature films ("Just Follow Law" (2006) directed by Jack Neo; "Singapore Dreaming" (2006) directed by Yen Yen Woo and Colin Goh) and three shorts ("Cafe" directed by Kelvin Sng; "G23" directed by Anthony Chen; "Blood Ties" directed by Yuwei Chai), on top of a buffet reception featuring Singaporean cuisine. (from www.tsff.org)

Vancouver Singapore Film Night
Saturday June 7, 2008 | 4:30 P.M. to 10:30 P.M.
James Cowan Theatre, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
6450 Deer Lake Avenue, Burnaby
Tix: $25 (2 Features, 3 Short Films + Singaporean Buffet)

A complete synopsis of the films can be found at www.tsff.org

More: Facebook Group | Official Website | Toronto Singapore Film Festival 2008 Coverage on Movie Moxie

Posted by Alden | June 6, 2008 | Comments (1)

Tags: Events, Film

Fresh Face | Baby Cham

baby%20cham.jpg Longing for the blazin' sun and the feeing of smooth white sand between your toes? Crank the heat up this summer with BABY CHAM (aka Damian Beckett), a reggae, dancehall artist straight from Kingston, Jamaica.

Currently signed to Atlantic Records, Baby Cham is best known for his 2006 single "Ghetto Story," featuring Alicia Keyes. The song features the usual soulful vocals of Ms. Keyes as Baby Cham throws down on a rags-to-riches story. His no-holds-back lyrics on growing up in poverty, violence and crime proved to be so powerful that the song was banned on Jamaican airwaves.

Baby Cham has two albums to his name: 2004's Wow... The Story and 2006's Ghetto Story, with singles on both that have reached charts in the U.S., U.K., and Australia. Having collaborated with such artists as T-Pain, Mims, Foxy Brown and Canada's own Jully Black, it ain't going to be long before Baby Cham himself blows up all over these airwaves.

Take a listen to the incendiary sounds of Baby Cham (under the cut)!

Posted by Michelle D. | June 6, 2008 | Comments (0)

Tags: Music

Nike + Human Race | 31 August 2008

Yeah, yeah, you're already a part of the human race. But if you're a runner, why not step it up a notch by participating in the Nike+Human Race....er, race. On 31 August 2008, NIKE + HUMAN RACE, the world's largest one-day running event will take place across the globe. The race will see up to 1 million runners compete in a 10K race in 25 cities around the world.
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Vancouver is the only Canadian city on the Nike+Human Race roster of global cities that includes Austin, Bogota, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Chicago, Istanbul, Lima, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, New York City, Paris, Quito, Rome, Sao Paolo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Taipei, Tokyo, and Warsaw.

How do they keep count of all the runners? Runners are to use the Nike+ iPod or Nike SportBand (hello, product placement!) to track kilometres during the race, then download results on the Nike+ Human Race site to have the results officially counted.

Registration begins from June 2nd on the Nike+Human Race website, with a portion of the registration fee (in Vancouver) going to a charity of your choice between the World Wildlife Foundation, Livestrong (The Lance Armstrong Foundation), and the United Nations Refugee Agency.

Posted by Tamiko | June 5, 2008 | Comments (2)

Tags: Sports

gPod | hits the spot

There's jPod, and now there's gPod...and Apple's not too happy about it, not one bit. Why? Because the gPod is -- wait for it -- a vibrator (referred to as an "iVibrator"!). The name itself is tongue-in-cheek: a triple pun on iPod, G-spot, and the Japanese word for masturbation, jii.

The gPod, which retails for $243 (but only in Japan right now) has 3 independent motors designed to respond to any audio input, such as music from an iPod or a human voice on a cellphone. The inventor, Ichiro Kameda, says the gPod is perfect for long-distance relationships...Kameda suggests hooking the gPod to your cellphone to speak to your honey in New York while you're in Tokyo.

Oh yeah, and Kameda also states the gPod is universal too -- even women who have disabilities that prevent them from manipulating a regular vibrator can use the gPod. Um, how generous...

PS: Wait til you read the English translation of the gPod website from the Japanese...it can make anyone's day. Enjoy! (Go here and then click on the "english" tab at the top right).

More: via Wired | gPod Musical Vibrator is the Newest in Japanese Joysticks by Steve Levenstein @ Inventor Spot | Japanese Launch gPod 'iVibrator' for Women HERE | Apple Not Happy With Japanese Sex-Aid gPod @ Gizmodo

Posted by Tamiko | June 3, 2008 | Comments (0)

Tags: Design, Funnybone, Sexology

Hit Me with Your Best Shot: A Guide To Karaoke Domination | Raina Lee

Update: Whether you're in a boxed room, or under the kitschy lights of a dark stage managed by mama-san, karaoke is king. You can pronounce it "care-ee-oh-key" if you want; you can try to be a Japanophile and say it all, "kah-la-oh-keh" --...just get over your stage fright, fill up with liquid courage, and belt out tunes even if you're tone deaf. Karaoke will still love you in the end.

And so, karaoke gets its own book...the how-tos and the know-hows of karaoke beginners and veterans in the fabulous Raina Lee's HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT: A GUIDE TO KARAOKE DOMINATION. You'll find pointers about conquering stage fright, picking songs that match your vocals, and moves that enhance your performance from mic twirling to kicks. And you know those times you're egged on to sing at karaoke and you can't think of a good song? There're lists of the best songs for all occasions.

More: (UPDATE) Hit Me With Your Best Shot BLOG | Raina Lee's 1-Up Zine | Buy (pre-order) Hit Me With Your Best Shot @ Chapters/Indigo Canada | Raina & Hit Me With Your Best Shot MySpace | Buy Hit Me With Your Best Shot @ Amazon | Hit Me With Your Best Shot @ Good Reads | Buy pre-order) in British pounds @ Langdon and Tesco | Hit Me With Your Best Shot @ Raincoast Books | Urban Outfitters | Buy @ Magic Pony, Toronto | Review @ 7Bamboo | Info about the author (Raina), the illustrator (Michael Perry), and the photographer (Sean Marc Lee) under the cut

Posted by Tamiko | June 1, 2008 | Comments (2)

Tags: Commentary, Culture, Design, Funnybone, Literature, Media

This page contains all entries posted to Schema Magazine's Blog, "Daily Dose" in June 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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