November 2008 Archives
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American Boy Parody | Your First Asian Boy | Traphik
Making the rounds of Youtube is Traphik's (aka. Thai American Tommy Delaghetto) parody of Estelle & Kanye's American Boy called YOUR FIRST ASIAN BOY.
Granted, it's catchy and cute....and if you can laugh at the lyrics rather than rant and wince at some of the bad rhymes and even more eye-rolling Asian stereotypes...well, then you'll be listening for some gems such as "she love my Thais but NOT what she drinkin'" and "cuz wed make some pretty baaabiees" and how about "She said can we go get some pho now; I said get some what? Oh wow; Actually it's pronounced pha; oh well can we go get some, fa-sho?"
But confidence on any boy, let alone an Asian boy, deserves a hand-fanning-against-the-neck gesture: "Ahem, let me introduce myself cuz I know that you ain't used to an Asian dude stepping to you like me. But hey give it a chance I just might be just the refreshin' squeeze of lemon ya need in ya life when it gets depressin'".
Amen.
More: Traphik MySpace | Your First Asian Boy or watch under the cut | Your First Asian Boy Remix or listen under the cut | Thanks Kev!
Posted by Tamiko | November 25, 2008 | Comments (1)Tags:
100th Anniversary of Japanese migration to Brazil | Nikkei film: Gaijin - Ama Me Como Sou | Vancouver
2008 marks the 100th Anniversary of Japanese migration to Brazil. Throughout the year, there have celebrations all around the world marking the centennial of Japanese emigration to Brazil, the unique relationship Brazil and Japan and possibly the most ethnic cool cultural hybrids in the 21st Century.
This weekend, UBC hosts two screenings of Japanese Brazilian filmmaker Tizuka Yamasaki's GAIJIN - AMA ME COMO SOU (Gaijin - Love Me as I Am; 2005) BONUS: The main character is played by Tamlyn Tomita (Karate Kid II; Joy Luck Club):
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Frederic Wood Theatre, UBC (6354 Crescent Road)
7:00 PM Film Screening
RSVP: gaijin.eventbrite.com
MORE: Gaijin - Ama Me Como Sou Official Site | Tons of links in google about the 100th Anniversary of Japanese migration to Brazil | Watch visual trailer of Gaijin - Ama Me Como Sou
Posted by Alden | November 23, 2008
| Comments (1)
Li Jianye | Pyramid Lunch Box
In a world full of super-sized meals and extra value combos, Li Jianye's Pyramid Lunch Box brings discipline back into your eating habits.
The Chinese designer's cheeky lunch container is based on the food pyramid, categorizing your lunch according to food groups for a healthier lifestyle and balanced diet. Each section of the pyramid is labeled, "meat," "fruit and vegetables," and "bread, rice and pasta."
If you still need more incentive to adopt the pyramid lunch box, the partitions are especially useful for not letting your sauces run together!
More: Yanko Design | Killahbeez.com | LABEXP | Design Zen
Posted by Michelle D. | November 21, 2008
| Comments (0)
Tags: Design
reading is sexy! | CanLit News, Events & Awards
'Twould be literar-ally impossible to stay abreast of every (tawdry) little book launch, (sexy) lit event and (salacious) award that hath been tossed hither and thither like so many items of clothing before a torrid act of abandon this fall. Fear not, and don't get your knickers in a twist. Schema stays on top of the CanLit scene for you. And we know you like to ... read.
Now that we have your attention, do read on for recent and upcoming CanLit highlights:
Events!
- 4 Queer Poets: a Book Launch + Celebration Featuring the launch of Tinderbox Lawn by Carol Guess with Betsy Warland, Christine Leclerc and Jen Currin at Rhizome Cafe. November 20 | Vancouver
- Oy Vey! Jewish Book Festival November 22 - 27 | Vancouver
- STRONG WORDS: A Celebration of Aboriginal Poets and Poetry Speakers, Poets, Panels, Spoken Word, Food, Poetry Contests
November 22 | Vancouver
MORE please: Awards & News under the cut | 4 Queer Poets Event on Facebook | Jewish Book Festival Events | STRONG WORDS | The Aboriginal Media Lab | grunt gallery | Joseph Boyden | Man Asian Literary Prize Announcement | Mariko Tamaki | Jillian Tamaki | Lawrence Hill | Quillblog on Louis Riel: revolutionary, Métis hero ... poet? | Blogging the Black Pioneers of British Columbia
Posted by nikki reimer | November 19, 2008 | Comments (0)Tags: Events, Literature
will.i.am hearts Obama through music | hope + vote = change
Wait. Did that actually happen? Where were you when Barack Obama was declared the next President of the United States? There's them history right there. It's been awhile, yes, but we at Schema needed to let this sink in. What can we say but WOW.
Everything's been said about the next President Elect (January 20, 2009 inauguration), so let's review a bit of inspirational campaigning, shall we? Through music, musician will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas began a campaign to support Barack Obama, as well as to get people to come out and vote for hope and change.
A series of 3 music videos have been made that chronicle this path: "YES WE CAN" from January 2008, which contained lyrics that are composed from excerpts from Obama's speech in the presidential primary election (watch); "WE ARE THE ONES" features Obama's catchphrase "We are the ones we've been waiting for" and the chant "O-BA-MA" (watch); and finally after the 2008 presidential election, will.i.am released "IT'S A NEW DAY" which reflects upon the aftermath of electing a person-of-colour as President of the United States (watch).
The videos all feature appearances by celebrities, so you can play guess who? Catch a glimpse of Scarlett Johansson, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kelly Hu, Nicole Scherzinger, Nick Cannon, Common, Jessica Alba, Ryan Phillippe, Kerry Washington, John Leguizamo, Regina King, Tyrese Gibson, Macy Gray, Black Eyed Peas' Taboo and Fergie, and more.
Oh yeah, you might need some tissues as well. Those damn tears may flow...
More: will.i.am DipDive site | Watch all videos under the cut OR click on links above
Posted by Tamiko | November 17, 2008
| Comments (0)
Tags: Current Events, Music, People
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival | Photo Gallery
If you can't be in Toronto to take part in the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival -- one of the most established Asian Film Festivals in Canada -- you can live vicariously through the daily photo gallery on their website.
This year's festival has seen packed houses at all of the screenings and industry workshops. And as you'll see in the great images by Canadian filmmaker, Joyce Wong, there are more parties here than any one person could possibly attend. In fact, the media accreditation package came with seven parties and three VIP receptions for four days, plus the unofficial hotel parties! And yes, there's tons of great feature and short film.
See the film festival schedule here: torontoreelasian.bside.com/2008/schedule.
Check out Reel Asian's Web Galleries: Day One | Day Two
Schema's coverage of Reel Asian also begins with 21 pics from the opening night party. See them here: www.schemamag.ca/toronto_reelasian2008/2008/11/toronto-reel-asian-international-film-festival-opening-night-gala-party.html
Posted by Alden | November 14, 2008
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Kiai! Do you wanna be a samurai? | Tsuguri - Samurai Exercises
TSURUGI -- Samurai Exercises claims to be a "new and unique type of exercise that has its origin and base from the stunts and action scenes of sword fighting in Samurai movies, which in the movie industry, are called the tate." Through these mock Samurai sword-fighting exercises, you'll benefit from meditating and learning the manners of Samurai; gain confidence; gain skills in reacting to sudden movements; increase concentration; and improve your posture.
Be forewarned: Tsurugi is not a martial arts, and as the creators state: "There is no sparing, or fighting involved. We do not teach how to defeat opponents. Nor do we teach how to hurt others...."
But for US$14.99 per downloaded lesson, Tsuguri "teaches how to act the fighting scenes. Our goal is to combine martial arts together with how dance lessons are done so that it becomes more enjoying and easier to understand for people in any age and gender. This way, enable the Japanese Samurai spirit, the feeling of respecting others from deep down the heart to revive into the modern Japanese society, and spread further throughout the world." Hee.
More: Tsurugi official website | View a Tsurugi Samurai Exercise HERE or watch it under the cut.
Posted by Tamiko | November 12, 2008
| Comments (1)
Tags: Sports
Grace Park joins The Border | CBC
Grace Park joins the cast of The Border in this Monday's episode of CBC's hit prime-time "procedural" (that's TV talk for "police procedural.")
Our very own Ivy So sits down with the Vancouver-based actor and asked her about the upcoming role and kicking ass on set!
Watch the interview on YouTube or below the jump.
If you missed Monday's episode, you can watch it online at cbc.ca/theborder/watch.html
More: The Border airs on CBC, Mondays at 9:00 PM. | Watch the preview on The Border's Official Website | Saying Grace on 24 Hours Vancouver (by Graeme McRanor)
Posted by Alden | November 9, 2008
| Comments (1)
Ping Pong Playa screens at VAFF | Sat. November 8 | 9:30 PM
Review by Jordana Mah
Filmmaker Jessica Yu is more well known for her heavy documentaries about tortured artists (In the Realms of the Unreal) than for comedic flair. Yet, as the expression goes, don't judge a book by its cover. In Ping Pong Playa, Yu brings to life the tale of Christopher Wang, a.k.a "C-Dub", a slacker/wannabe-gangsta with failed dreams of basketball stardom and an "Angry Asian Man" complex. Having lost his job hawking cell phones at the mall, C-Dub is roped into coaching at his family's ping pong school after his mother and ping pong champion older brother are laid up with broken wrists after a car accident. Familial obligation quickly turns into defending family honour at a local ping pong competition, when a Caucasian rival seeks to steal the school's students.
Read the full review at schemamag.ca/vaff2008/
The Vancouver Asian Film Festival will be screening Ping Pong Playa on Saturday November 8 at 9:30pm at the Tinseltown (88 W Pender, Vancouver, BC).
Posted by Alden | November 8, 2008 | Comments (0)
The W | Hong Kong
When Hiltons and Hyatts just aren't enough, there are boutique hotels for travelers with a discerning taste for luxury. The world's first boutique "chain," the W, has opened its newest hotel in none other than Hong Kong.
The W Hong Kong is situated in West Kowloon, the hub of the city's busy financial district. Decorated in the W's signature "New York" style along with a painted butterfly motif, the rooms reflect a luxurious cosmopolitan taste, mixing contemporary art (think a fiberglass seal holding up a grand piano) with high-end designer furniture. The interiors, of course, juxtapose the gritty freight and cargo ships sitting in the commercial waterfront just outside the front doors of the hotel.
The design of the rooms was shared by Australian interior designer Nicholas Graham and Japanese designer Yasumichi Morita, and each designer was assigned specific floors, making each of the 393 rooms unique. The only catch is that an average night's stay at the W Hong Kong rings in somewhere in the ballpark of $400, so save up those dimes and nickles and you too could be livin' it up in Hong Kong "W" style.
More: W Hotels | Cool Hunter | H-K Hotels | Luxuo
Posted by Michelle D. | November 10, 2008
| Comments (2)
Tags: Design
Vancouver Asian Film Festival Society (VAFF) | 2008
In providing independent North American Asian filmmakers to showcase their work to both Asian and non-Asian audiences, the Vancouver Asian Film Festival Society (VAFF) represents the often ignored North American Asians caught between two cultures by providing a cultural bridge between the Asian and non-Asian communities as well as the Asian communities themselves.
VAFF is having its 12th annual showcase of independent Asian films produced in North America with four days of features, shorts, documentaries, guest panelists and parties from Thursday November 6th to Sunday November 9th.
Contributed by Allan Cho, Schema Blogger
+ Follow SCHEMA's COVERAGE OF VAFF 2008 at schemamag.ca/vaff2008.
Posted by Tamiko | November 6, 2008 | Comments (0)Tags: Film
1st Brazilian Film Festival | Vancouver
October 22-26, 2008 | Vancity Theatre
This year Vancouver hosted its first-ever Brazilian Film Festival. This event drew some much needed attention to the amazing cinema currently emerging from Brazil.
Featuring animation, documentary and drama, the festival brought Brazilian cinema and culture to the forefront at a moment when Vancouver's Brazilian community is becoming larger, more visible and increasingly valued for its cultural contributions.
More: Official website Brazilian Film Festival website
Posted by gloria | November 3, 2008 | Comments (0)
Harajuku Lovers Fragrances | Love, Angel, Baby, Music and G
Love + Angel + Music + Baby -- otherwise known as Gwen Stefani's brand L.A.M.B -- are now available as stylish fragrances that look like plastic kokeshi dolls. The faux Japanese Harajuku Girls (and their L.A.M.B incarnation as Harajuku Lovers) who embody Love, Angel, Music, Baby are immortalized as dolls atop the bottles in the collection of 5 fragrances (including "G" for Gwen).
The five scents were blended by noted perfumers are available for $49.00 Cdn (30ml) at Shoppers Drug Mart, with a mini fragrance set that features all the scents for $62.00. Also available at Sephora in both 30ml and 10ml.
* Love: a sensous floral blend of bergamot, pink pomelo, peach, bamboo leaf, watery peony, Egyptian jasmine, vanilla orchid, musk, rose
* (Lil') Angel: a fruity floral of raspberry, cranberry, blackberry, pineapple, candied violet, pear blossom, sugared rose, lollypop accord, hinoki wood, crystal amber.
* Music: a delicate, sparkling floral blend of pear, clementine, sweetpea, jasmine sambac, honeysuckle, sleek woods, vanilla, skin musk.
* Baby: a fresh, clean and soft powder musk of white rose, bergamot, freesia, orange flower, tiare flower, jasmine petals, white musk, soft woods, violet, vanilla.
* G: a tropical scent of fresh coconut, crisp mandarin, apple skin, jasmine sambac, freesia, magnolia, cotton woods, coconut cream, white sandalwood.
More: Harajuku Lovers Fragrance official website | Harajuku Lovers Fragrance Commercial HERE or watch under the cut | Buy at Sephora | via Fragrance Fanatic | Shoppers Drug Mart smells a win with Stefani @ Financial Post | For a FREE SAMPLE, go to Harajuku Lovers Fragrance official website, and scroll down until you see a little green guy (looks like half of a sphere). If you live in Canada, in the box asking you for "city" write down city, province, and country; then click on the US state closet to where you live.
Posted by Tamiko | November 13, 2008 | Comments (0)Tags: Fashion
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reading is sexy! | CanLit News, Events & Awards
will.i.am hearts Obama through music | hope + vote = change
Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival | Photo Gallery
Harajuku Lovers Fragrances | Love, Angel, Baby, Music and G
Kiai! Do you wanna be a samurai? | Tsuguri - Samurai Exercises
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