Schema | January 2009 Archives : more than ethnic

January 2009 Archives

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2009 | Pictures of the Lunar New Year | Year of the Ox

Being one of the most celebrated days in the world, Lunar New Year was celebrated in almost every major city with bright colours, plenty of noise, and all sorts of festivities.

(Right) London's wet weather didn't deter crowds from filling the radiantly decorated streets of London's Chinatown (source: news.bbc.co.uk).

In New York:

... a pan-Asian Lunar New Year Celebration at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden on Sunday. The garden has put together a program that includes performances by DVL Dance Vietnam, a New York-based troupe specializing in traditional Vietnamese dance; Qi Shu Fang Peking Opera, a martial-arts, acrobatics and dance company (Source: New York Times)

Get a more global sense of how the world is bringing in the Year of the Ox through some great images and video after the jump.

Posted by Alden | January 26, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags: Current Events

First Lady of Fashion | Michelle Obama | January '09

Obamanauguralmania's (go ahead, say it out loud 12 times fast, we dare you) in full swing all over the blogosphere -- even across the "traditional media" -- and who are we to not join the party?

The breathless prose astounds, and most of it has little-to-nothing to do with politics: Who's starting the betting pool for the post-inaugural baby? Have you seen Sasha and Malia's most adorable inaugural moments? What about the Obama Booty Bump at Ball? In an amazing-even-for-him cringer, wizened centenarian broadcaster Larry King deems black to be "in," allegedly following his son's wish to be black. (Could a lesbian prez be next?) And let's not forget the oh-so-critical question of the First Puppy...

But let's focus on the most pressing issue of all, shall we? Is Michelle Obama the most amazingly stylish First Lady the Free World has every laid eyes on, or what? Fashionistas, lay down thy scepters and weep. Seriously. Check out Huffington Posts's helpful Inauguration Outfit Slideshow of Her Gorgeousness and just try to argue.

Granted, not everyone loved her fashion choices -- though this blogger thought the lemongrass Isabel Toledo gown with the olive gloves and green Jimmy Choos were to die for -- and some bloggers have taken umbrage with the endless comparisons to Jackie O., complaining that the focus on the First Lady's appearance over her brain is sexist and throwback, for example. But Lady Michelle is the epitome of a modern North American woman. She's tough and vulnerable, smart and independent, a devoted mother, equal partner to her husband. Oh yeah, and she's beautiful, fashion-savvy, and fierce. Deal with it.

More: Designer Isabel Toledo | All things Obama: Advice from Bush twins to Obama girls on growing up in the White House (video after the jump) | More Obama slideshows on Huffington Post | HuffPost's President Obama News Page | Yes You Can! Make your own Obamicon poster, that is | Keep up with Her Loveliness on Michelle Obama Watch | First Daughters Lookalike dolls are in "bad taste"

Posted by nikki reimer | January 26, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags: Barack Obama, Current Events, Fashion, People

Hiroaki Umeda | PuSh Festival | Vancouver | January 22-24

Get ready for something that's gender-bending, startling, and original -- it's called The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, happening this month in Vancouver. The 20-day festival showcases local, national, and international theatre, dance, and music acts that simultaneously engage audiences and promote cultural exchange and development.

"While Going to a Condition" and "Accumulated Layout" are exciting shows lined-up for this week. They'll be performed by one of Japan's most exciting artists, Hiroaki Umeda, a choreographer, dancer, sound, image, and lighting designer who will use hip hop and butoh movements to interpret a crescendo of pulsating sound and light in order to create a futuristic, fiercely poetic landscape on stage.

Judith Mackrell from The Guardian (United Kingdom) sums him up: "Visual, art, dance, mime--the definitions are redundant in Umeda's brave new world."

January 22-24 | 8pm | Scotiabank Dance Centre

More: PuSh Festival | Hiroaki Umeda's official website | Mackrell's Umeda review on guardian.co.uk | Youtube preview of "While Going to a Condition" and "Accumulated Layout" | (photo credit) PuSh Festival Hiroaki Umeda page

Posted by valerie.chin | January 20, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags: Dance, Events, Vancouver

The Ice-Cream Capital of the World | Tocumba, Mexico

Michoacan's.jpg Wouldn't it be awesome to live in a world where you could eat delicious ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner without anybody judging you?

Well, that place doesn't exist, but your best bet to achieving this pipe dream would be to move to a little town in Mexico called Tocumbo, where 90% of the families are part of the ice cream business.

Dubbed the "Ice-cream capital of the world" by one shop, Tocumbo is the home of the Michoacan ice cream brand, which is known for its distinct frothy texture and unique flavours, including tequila, corn, sweet cheese curd, cantaloupe, or avocado.

The small town of 1,500 people is putting itself on the map as many shops from Guatemala city to Portland, Oregon have started selling the Michoacan brand.

"It has become an international phenomenon," says German Espinoza, the town administrator.

And best of all, for all those who have yet to salivate at the mouth, the ingredients are all completely fresh!

"This is the original stuff here," says Barragan, a manager of two Michoacan shops. "We're showing the world what good ice cream is."

More: (source) USA Today Posted by Matthew Tsang | January 16, 2009 | Comments (1)

Tags: Food

Flame-Broiled in Controversy | Whopper Virgins

Burger King has recently been the centre of some controversial ad campaigns. There was the Whopper Freakout, the Whopper Sacrifice, their Flame cologne, and the Whopper Virgins taste test ad (read more about them, under the cut).

The Whopper Virgins ad featured a film crew that traveled all over the world to remote areas where they filmed people who had never tried a burger before to do a burger taste test. The Whopper was up against the Big Mac, and in the video, these "Whopper Virgins" -- dressed in traditional clothing -- chose the Whopper over the Big Mac. The ad had some people up in arms over its cultural insensitivity and exploitation of people foreign to the burger.

The ad is delivered in a light-hearted manner, with the "Whopper Virgins" enjoying hamburgers in "funny hats" and holding hamburgers in odd ways, but does it cross the line? Especially when millions are spent on an advertising campaign to travel to areas where many people cannot even afford to feed themselves or their families?

But hey, there's no such thing as bad publicity, right? That may be, but such a large organization should be more responsible in its advertising efforts.

More: Whopper Virgins taste test ad | Watch Transylvania Farmers version of Whopper Virgins ad @ YouTube | Watch Thai villagers version of Whopper Virgins ad @ YouTube | 'Whopper Virgins' ads: just bad taste? @ UK Guardian | Burger King's "Whopper Virgins" Advertisement Ignites Controversy @ Huffington Post

Posted by Michelle K. | January 29, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags: Culture, Food

Spidey and Obama tag-team against evil | Obama featured in Amazing Spider-man | January '09

Hopes are high for President-Elect, Barack Obama. After campaigning on a platform of change, Obama has got everyone on board with his agenda, including superheroes!

In the upcoming issue of Amazing Spider-man there will be a bonus story entitled "Spidey meets the President!" where Obama and our friendly neighborhood Spiderman team up to foil an evil plot to replace the real President with a fake. Not to give away the full storyline, but it involves long-time Spiderman villain, The Vulture, and a mean game of basketball -- holy hijinks!

Check out the story -- with Obama on the cover no less -- on comic store shelves January 14.

More: (photo) Washington Post | National Post | (source) Marvel News

Posted by Jordana Mah | January 13, 2009 | Comments (1)

Tags: Barack Obama, Comic Books

The Ultimate Collage Film | 5000 Seconds: Our World

5000 Seconds.jpg Be apart of movie-making history. 5000 SECONDS is a groundbreaking new approach to film that lets you be the star. The feature film, created by an online community, is much like that of YouTube. Applicants can submit videos, photos, and music to be cut and stitched together to form a film that is exactly 1 hour, 23 minutes, and 20 seconds long.

The film aims to tell a powerful and poignant story about the times we currently live in, what defines our world and our lives, and how we change, inspire, and move one another. 5000 Seconds is about community involvement and the collective human experience.

Following film festival guidelines, joining the 5000 Seconds community or submitting a video, music entry, or two photos costs $10 USD. However, this will automatically credit you as a co-producer or the film, allow you to vote on key production and editing issues, and you get a copy of the final film. Additionally, if your submission is used in the film, you will be paid.

Emmy-winning Hollywood editor, Erik C. Anderson, has already signed on to do the film's editing, and the soundtrack already includes Paul Shaffer and Marcy Playground. So get out there with your camera, and show the world your life.

More: 5000 Seconds Official Site | Interview on Global TV | Student Operated Press

Posted by Michelle D. | January 28, 2009 | Comments (1)

Tags: Film

Chinese Bollywood? | Chandni Chowk To China | Film

The complexion of Bollywood's beloved beauty Deepika Padukone has
been lightened by 3 shades to suit her "Chinese look" in the Bollywood-Hong Kong film Chandni
Chowk To China. Deepika has a dusky skin
tone, but in Chandni Chowk To China, she plays two different roles - one with a
"Chinese look" and the other with an "Indian look". Too read what these "looks" mean according to the film producers, click here.

Set to be released on January 16, Chandni Chowk Goes to China is led by venerable Bollywood director Nikhil Advani, Bollywood megastar Akshay Kumar and starlett Deepika Padukone in the lead roles; supported by Hong Kong veteran Gordon Liu.

Could this be the next Crouching Tiger, Sleeping Dragon? Or Kung Pow! Enter the Fist? Searching for kungfu masters in order to avenge the good guys might sound like something out of
a 70's Shaw Bros production, but the meshing of Sino-Indian culture is definitely a first.

Not only is it one of the first Bollywood films to be co-produced and promoted with a major American studio -- Warner Bros -- Chandni Chowk Goes to China is also the first Indian film to have been shot in China in collaboration with Chinese martial arts choreographers.

More: Chandni Chowk Goes to China official site | Gordon Liu Goes to Bollywood! @ Twitch Film | Bollywood Goes Chopsocky @ Angry Asian Man | Chandni Chowk To China Review by Joginder Tuteja @ Bollywood Hungama | Akshay runs from 'Chandni Chowk to China', strictly for a cause @ Chandni Chowk to China.net | Deepika Padukone painted three shades lighter for Chinese look @ Sify

Posted by Allan C. | January 19, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags: Culture, Film

Who hearts urban dance? | January 11 | Calgary

Were you under the ~~mistaken~~ impression that Calgary, Alberta, population 1.4 million, ain't nothin' mo' than a lil' ol' cowboy hick town?

Think again my friend.

Local groups Wilson Dance Projects, I Heart Urban Dance, and Hip Hop & Funkstyles Club present I HEART URBAN DANCE, a popping, locking & hip hop dance workshop guaranteed to bring back the funk for the urban cowboys n' cowgirls. Featuring hip hop impresarios Suga Pop (Electric Boogaloos) and Princess Leah Poppinz (2Marvelous, MTL).

Should be a great opportunity to learn from some amazing dancers, and perfect timing to shed some of that...um...holiday poundage.

Saturday January 11, 2009 | 3:00pm - 9:00pm
Aux Gym | University of Calgary

To register, visit: wilsondanceprojects.com, or dangerkat.com.

More: (source) I Heart Urban Dance | Wilson Dance Projects | House of Dangerkat | More on Suga Pop and Princess Leah Poppinz after the jump

Posted by nikki reimer | January 7, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags:

Why We Travel| Slideshow | The New York Times

Take a look at The New York Times slideshow titled Why We Travel (here), and pause to reflect why you ~~want~~ need to travel.

The slideshow introduces everyday people speaking about why travel nourishes them, along with a photo of their destination, and you'll get that travel itch soon enough. Whether it be London, Havana, Lahore, Tokyo, Denver, Seattle, Hong Kong, Laos, Dusseldorf; whether you're a student, a father, a businessman, a Tibetan Buddhist monk, a teacher, an economics professor, a waitress, a rancher....travel is universal.

The title Why We Travel calls to mind Jennifer Cox's memoir Around the World in 80 Dates (yes, a fluffy title, but infinitely much better than the title suggests). Cox has charming insights about traveling, such as: "The experience of being in New York is like stroking a man-eating tiger: as much as it scares the bejesus out of you, for those moments it allows you to touch it, you know you are blessed and immortal." Amen.

Perhaps, Jozsef Reketye, 50, an insurance company employee from Budapest, says it all: "I enjoy traveling because I want to get to know people in other countries, to know about their lives. I think it's important nowadays for promoting peace. If people traveled more and met one another, maybe they would understand each other better."

Now, go book that flight.

More: Why We Travel slideshow @ New York Times | Around the World in 80 Dates by Jennifer Cox | (photo) VISITING THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA, MAY 3, 2008 Anne Engedal, 20, a student from Silkeborg, Denmark, leaps into the air as her friends snap her photo @ New York Times

Posted by Tamiko | January 8, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags: Travel

Project Aiko | Femme bot or companion?

The holidays can make many of us feel lonely. In order to get through it, we all employ a variety of strategies, be it chumming around with other single friends, drowning ourselves in brandy and eggnog, or flying off to warmer climes and away from Christmas carols.

Some people though, take bigger action and inventor Le Trung is one of them. The Ontario inventor who lives with his parents, has poured all his savings and the recent years of his life creating Aiko, a female robotic companion.

Aiko, which literally translates to "love child" in Japanese, is an oddly realisitic looking robot designed to serve the elderly and help them with tasks such as reading and eating assistance, and can even remind them to wear a sweater when it's cold outside.

Although Trung admits that Aiko could potentially be redesigned for more "stimulating" activities, he insists his intentions are strictly benign, but some find his invention more disturbing than helpful. Is this the beginning of a future filled with friendly robot companions, or the heralding of an age where robots replace human affections? Too bad Aiko doesn't have a function to tell the future!

More : Project Aiko | (source) AsiaOne Digital | (source) Globe and Mail | See Aiko in action under the cut | Can a human love a robot? Can a robot love a human? Mechanical Love a documentary film by Phie Ambo

Posted by Jordana Mah | January 5, 2009 | Comments (1)

Tags:

Kogi BBQ | Korean short-rib tacos outta a truck | L.A.

Okay, Japadog is still one of the best on-the-go food ideas ever. But getting a tad jealous of L.A. because its privy to Kogi BBQ -- Korean BBQ fusion outta a taco-truck.

Kogi BBQ fuses Korean BBQ with delectable bits such as tacos and burritos, so expect Korean shortrib, bbq chicken, tofu or spicy pork tacos; Korean short-rib sliders; kimchi fried rice cake with egg-shiso; and vegan sesame tacos with Asian pear and pomegranate (past special).

The head chef is Roy Choi, a Culinary Institute of America grad, who's cooked at Le Bernardin NYC, in Iron Chef Michiba's kitchen, at the Beverly Hilton.

"We're Korean, but we're American and we grew up in LA. It's not a stigma food, it's a representation of who we are," explained Choi. "Everything you get in that taco is what we live in LA. It's the 720 bus on Wilshire, it's the 3rd street Juanita's Tacos, the Korean supermarket and all those things that we live everyday in one bite. That was our goal. To take everything about LA and put it into one bite. ... It's Mexican, it's Korean, it's organic, it's California, it's farmer's market, it's drunk people after midnight."

Check out the Kogi Twitter feed to find out their schedule and locations.

The Kogi BBQ founders, Mark Manguera and Caroline Shin-Manguera, are pure genius! Erm, come to Vancouver...please?!

Posted by Tamiko | January 12, 2009 | Comments (1)

Tags: Food

Azar Nafisi | VIWF Speakers Series | Vancouver | January 14

We get it. The Vancouver International Writers Festival came and went in a blink of an eye! It lasted only 6 days in October and now you're waiting again for another year to pass before you can mingle-it-up with fellow fans and writers, right? Well stop waiting and pull out your planners because the festival is chugging along into January with a diverse speakers series that surely won't disappoint.

Special guest will be bestselling Iranian author Azar Nafisi. She will be speaking about her most recent novel, Things I Have Been Silent About, a personal memoir that reflects on her family's experiences through many periods of change in Iran up until the Islamic Revolution of 1978-79. (Note: Nafisi's most recent book has been available since 30 December 2008.)

I started making a list in my diary entitled "Things I Have Been Silent About." Under it I wrote: "Falling in Love in Tehran. Going to Parties in Tehran. Watching the Marx Brothers in Tehran. Reading Lolita in Tehran." I wrote about repressive laws and executions, about public and political abominations. Eventually I drifted into writing about private betrayals, implicating myself and those close to me in ways I had never imagined.

From Things I Have Been Silent About

Saturday, 17 January 2008 | 7:30 pm
Capilano Performing Arts Theatre
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver
Free

Posted by valerie.chin | January 9, 2009 | Comments (0)

Tags: Literature, Vancouver

This page contains all entries posted to Schema Magazine's Blog, "Daily Dose" in January 2009. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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