Schema Magazine

Valentine's Day around the World: a Post-mortem

Photo: The Huffington Post

I meant to write about Valentine's Day on the day, but I was busy being serenaded by an Adonis who put Taylor Lautner's abs to shame (and was actually legal for me to date). I certainly did not wake up from a chocolate-induced coma, alone, with a bottle of Jack half-empty by the sink, where I had used it to brush my teeth...a few times. I did not stalk men on facebook and begin poke wars to assuage my fears of impending spinsterhood. And I did not mistake the local barista's 'have a good day' for flirtation. I'm better than that. Valentine's Day does not make me bitter.

With healthy scientific curiosity, I did, however, google "Valentine's Day around the world" and I found a few interesting factoids on how different peeps in different places pay homage to that naked little angel child, or the dead Saint, or each other, or whatever...

Photo: The Huffington Post

Kind of like McDonald's burgers, every country has put a different spin on the merchandise. Some like it cheesier, some, allegedly the Austrians, are business-like. Lolling at this description on a site called Around the World, evidently a reliable source of knowledge: Austria has some rather obscure courtship customs that may or may not be associated with Saint Valentine's Day. Nonetheless, it is customary for a young man to present his beloved with a bunch of flowers on February 14.

They really like to mix it up in Vienna, eh? ICH VANDST FLAUVERS FOR VALENSTEIN'S DAY. Either their 'obscure customs' are just too close to the straight and narrow to be worthy of research, or they are not for polite company.

I jest, Austria.

Japan, Taiwan and Korea have even come up with extra Valentine's Days on different dates with a variety of customs and gifts to go with. Hand-made chocolate, a marshmallow inspired holiday, and girls-giving-only-day are some. In Hong Kong three couples win a wife-carrying race:

Photo: The Huffington Post

In all seriousness, do check out The Huffington Post, for some awesome pictures of goings-on around the world on the 14th of Feb. I love the kissing fish in Beijing, especially because it just looks like a fish is kissing its reflection. (Is that species-ist? That they all look the same to me?) Being in love with yourself never works, fish, I've tried it. One of you inevitably has a wandering eye, or thinks the other you is fat...

Most of the pictures on The Huffington Post are from the Middle East, some in countries where Valentine's Day has been considered a Western holiday that runs counter to Islamic tradition. Counter to a lot of people's presuppositions, it's being celebrated with gusto (kinda)! (GO MULTINATIONAL CORPORATE TAKEOVER! Way to accidentally promote diversity)

I know for sure that in India some right-wing religious fundamentalists have often gotten uppity about Valentine's Day being a Western holiday and symbol of frivolous, decadent western ways, and done the only right thing...attacked gift stores like Archies! Hey guys, when it comes down to it, the holiday was originally in honour of that saint-dude (or a bunch who go by the same name), and second: way to kill the fun!

Yeah, much of the hype benefits consumption and commercialism and yadda yadda, and perhaps a dash of decadence (through no fault of the church)...and I am the first to say Valentine's Day as we know it now is cheesy...but gosh darn! give the masses their freedom to spend money on other people's Hallmark poetry!

Be brave and face Year of the Tiger head on | Happy Lunar New Year 2010

By Alden E. Habacon

Each year we point out that Lunar New Year, despite it being popularly known as Chinese New Year, is in fact celebrated by Vietnamese and Korean communities—as Solnal, the Korean New Year, and Tet, the Vietnamese New Year.

In our Lunar New Year post for 2009, we brought together a collection of celebrations from around the world. While in 2007, we explained what the different Chinese food symbolized.

According to Dr. Maoshing Ni, he forecasts big changes ahead. He further explains that, "In Chinese astrology the tiger is one of the most dynamic and powerful signs. Its nature is unpredictable, courageous, and explosive."

Right from the start, the Year of the Tiger hasn't disappointed. This Lunar New Year came at the same time as the 2010 Winter Games and Valentine's Day. Both characterized by unpredictability (also known as surprises), courage and at times explosiveness. Perhaps befitting the controversy that my post about the opening ceremonies created (on Georgia Straight).

If you're looking for what to expect this year, what you'll find are vague descriptions generally tied to the character of those born in the Year of the Tiger (my year, actually). There's far more detail in how the cosmos influences your character if you're a Tiger, or if you're having a child this year (also me, actually).

Perhaps one of the most overlooked points of Lunar New Year is an annual a self-reflection on you, your strengths and weaknesses, and your propensities.

Check out this great description of the sign of the Tiger, from www.usbridalguide.com:

The Tiger is said to be lucky vivid, lively and engaging. Another attribute of the Tiger is his incredible bravery, evidenced in his willingness to engage in battle or his undying courage.

Or you can look at the characteristics of the year as a point of inspiration.

Considering what Tigers are known for, make this the year of courage. Not just confidence, but bravery to stand out, rock the boat and walk straight into a bit of controversy. If you so happen to be a Tiger, you have no excuses—this is your year!

Posted by Alden | February 14, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian

"My Name is Khan, and I'm not a Terrorist"

By Gayatri Bajpai

I have to hand it to Bollywood: an Indian Muslim with Asperger's Syndrome making his way across America to speak to President Obama is pretty original as far as plots go...even if the lead is a bit of a Forrest Gump rip-off. Lovable social ineptitude? Check. An unlikely romance with a beautiful woman despite said social ineptitude? Check. A cross-country trek that reeks of Gump running from coast to coast? Check!

But ultimately, the film deserves kudos for venturing into controversial territory (albeit with a pretty fantastical twist).

My Name is Khan is a movie entirely about a Muslim living in post-9/11 America, unlike a lot of mainstream films where one section is dedicated to the 'ethnic' character's point of view and the filmmaker pats himself on the back for including a smidgeon of diversity. And that's supposed to be something.

Khan is a symbol of sidelined people everywhere because of his "condition." Genius move on the part of the filmmakers. He's not just the quintessential outsider in America, but Asperger's makes him feel pretty foreign to "normal" society everywhere.

On a frivolous note, I am totally excited about seeing Shah Rukh and Kajol on the big screen together again. They're director Karan Johar's favorite co-star couple and Kajol looks like she hasn't aged a day since Kuchh Kuchh Hota Hai!

Bollywood royalty is taking on rather unconventional roles these days. Shah Rukh Khan, one of the triad of ruling Khans (besides Aamir and Salman) of yore, plays the protagonist. In a fear-ridden post-9/11 US of A, airport security detains Khan and afterwards he decides to trek all the way to Washington and have a heart-to-heart with Pres Obama. He's promised the love of his life, a single Hindu mother.

Is it necessary for such a prominent post-9/11 Bollywood movie to be so fantastically fanciful, so extravagant and romantic? I suppose so, since it's Bollywood, after all, not art cinema. And Karan Johar, the director, is well-known for his penchant for the melodramatic. I have a feeling that the first half will be all song and dance, the second half sweat and tears.

But KJ is nothing if not reliable. We see his movies for the glitz, star power, and larger-than-life drama. Let's just hope this one manages to capture some of the substance that goes with a very real, very meaty topic like post-9/11 discrimination.

The movie released on February 12 in Canada. Right on time to compete with Valentine's Day, which, I have read, is not only soppy, but a wee bit racist and homophobic. Sigh...it will probably still do better...

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | February 15, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Film, India, International, South Asian

Vancouver Winter Games | Whitest Opening Ceremonies ever?

By Alden E. Habacon

Overall, I thought the opening ceremonies was pretty impressive visually.

But I've got say, other than our beloved Governor General Michaëlle Jean, the incredible display of aboriginal culture, a lightning-quick shot of Patrick Chan, a few Asian-looking dancers, the performance of Measha Brueggergosman and Portuguese-Canadian Nelly Furtado, and a black mountie ... this was by far the whitest-looking opening ceremonies.

It wasn't really noticeable because of the visual effects and possibly all the international athletes. But then the Olympic flag came out, carried by an all-white cast of Canadian heroes.

Don't get me wrong, I love all of them.

The picture of a white Canada was reiterated with the unveiling of the final torch bearers. Seeing Rick Hansen was really powerful. I'm a HUGE Wayne Gretzky fan (having lived in Edmonton during their Stanley Cup domination), but as Jian Ghomeshi tweeted: "Love Anne, Bobby et al...but maybe bit of an oversight to have not one Canadian of colour carrying flag?" Oversight? To say the least.

Does it matter?

Absolutely, especially as Vancouver won their bid on the argument that Vancouver is the most diverse place on earth, with the highest rate of mixed-race marriage in N. America, a city that is considered by many (including myself) as part of Asia (forget that "gateway to Asia" analogy, that's so ten years ago). The ceremony was hardly representative of Canada's (and especially Vancouver's) multicultural diversity.

Listen, if you're going to reflect Canada's diversity, you can't go full out on aboriginal representation and then FAIL to represent the visible diversity of the local population. Vancouver is a city where "visible minority" and "ethnic minority" don't mean anything anymore, because of the sheer size of the Chinese and South Asian populations.

Oh, I can hear the producers now ... "But where would we find ...?" Oh no, you don't. There's at least one South Asian RCMP officer. There's gold-winning Olympic hockey player Jarome Iginla! Yes, half is better than none. In this case, token would have been better (than none).

The point is, if you were watching the opening ceremonies on television, you wouldn't even know that it took place in the most Asian city in N. America. Have any of the producers been to a high school in Vancouver?

Posted by Alden | February 12, 2010 | Comments (1)

Tags: Commentary, Sports

JayKin aka The Kid: Vancouver's Nicest Underground Rapper

By Linda Chan, cross-post from Justalilhype!

When I was first introduced to Vancouver's Underground hip-hop scene in high school, I thought it was a joke. But as it turns out we have a legit scene happening here with many talented, but underrated artists. Like JayKin, who was recently featured in Justalilhype!'s justListen portion. Jaykin, or perhaps better known as The Kid was born and raised in Vancouver, but has been living in Japan. During his time there he produced and recorded his 2009 album On the Humble. The music video for his single, Nippon, was also shot in Japan.

The video is set in Japan, but about life in Vancouver. The first time I watched the video, I actually thought it was in Vancouver. The bridge being the Granville Bridge, and the train-track shot being the skytrain. However, Jaykin, in the Justalilhype interview, says how the only thing not Japanese in the video is himself. Like Jaykin states, "from Vancity to Tokyo!"

Currently, Jaykin is working on his next album, Kinfolk, due to come out sometime in 2010, and Sneakers and Video Games, a video game-sneaker compilation. In the compilation, he will be rapping (potentially about sneakers) over top of video games. Think Mario Brothers meets rap.

Jaykin is definitely someone to watch. I would love to see Vancouver's hip-hop scene gain recognition. The hip-hop in Vancouver definitely has a strong, distinct sound, particularly with the beats that our artists create. With the creativity of his work, Jaykin could very well be the break-out artist that takes Vancouver's hip-hop scene to the next level. Others to watch for include Fatt Matt and Lenny Diko.

Posted by Linda Chan | February 23, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Music

Stories of Japanese Internment: Ohanashi: The Story of Our Elders

By Linda Chan

Come check out of the difficult, but exciting life stories of Japanese Canadian elders on Saturday, February 13th, 2010. The public screening of the ten-part series, Ohanashi: The Story of Our Elders, starts with the life stories of Kazue Oye and Alfie Kamitakahara. The short films are directed by Susanne Tabata and produced and presented by the Japanese Canadian National Museum.

Kazue Oye's story starts with her growing up between Japan and Canada. She attended school in Steveson until grade 8. She then went to Japan to get a higher education. Kazue Oye eventually came back to Canada to start her family. She became widowed, and had to work in the self-supporting community of Christina Lake during World War II. Alfie Kamitakahara grew up in Steveson. He was interned in Slocan. After, his internment he moved to Alberta to work on a farm before starting an insurance agency.

The series reveals the troubling experiences of Japanese Canadians in the face of discrimination and exclusion around the period of World War II. The series also displays the work Japanese men and women did to overcome the racial obstacles they faced, for a better life.

Both Kazue Oye and Alfie Kamitakahara will be in attendence. The screenings will be followed by a discussion of Japanese Canadian issues, particularly regarding internment. The discussion will be lead by Leslie Komoro, a third-generation Canadian, who is active in the Japanese Canadian community.

When: Saturday February 13th, 2010
Time: 2PM
Admission by Donation
Where: National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre
6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby, BC

View Larger Map

Posted by Linda Chan | February 12, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Community, event, Japan

Vancouver Winter Games | Showcase of Aboriginal Peoples was Groundbreaking

By Alden E. Habacon

By far the most impressive thing at the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games was the welcome by the Four Host First Nations of the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, which grew to be hundreds of aboriginal dancers. Perhaps overlooked, but considering the history of disrespect endured by the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada, this was ground-breaking. Not just for the Olympics, but for television all around the world. I have to admit though, the drumming part of the performance was a bit ... Disney-like, but still, the imagery of the HUGE drum, and the totems was really moving. I hope that this embeds aboriginal culture and ideas deep into the Canadian imagination.

Posted by Alden | February 12, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Aboriginal, Current Events, Sports, TV

What Comic Book Heroes and Immigrants Have in Common: Author talks about The Amazing Absorbing Boy

By Gayatri Bajpai

Fiction, especially of the comic book sort, is like catnip for children. So many unsheared neurons a-firing with creative stimulation! You can put that candy away and let the babysitter go. Nothing compares to the delight of losing one's childish self in the rich fantasies of stories, let alone picture-stories! Rabindranath Maharaj's essay A World of Marvel, about the graphic inspiration for his book The Amazing Absorbing Boy, is sure to take you back to those days when your imagination ran wild with every new story. Here is an excerpt from A World of Marvel, originally published on the Globe and Mail:

I must have seemed bored with the pair's talk of renovations, because the neighbour pointed to the single interior door on our left and said there were some "nice story books" inside. When I entered the room, I saw a woman sitting on a bed. She was nursing a baby. This was the first time I had seen the mother and her child, and I hesitated by the doorway. "Below the bed," the neighbour shouted, and the woman spread her legs. In this awkward position, I knelt and pulled out a huge cardboard box. My embarrassment melted as I glimpsed the double row of comic books inside. I dragged the box to the corner of the room, close to a table with three sturdy legs and a fourth that seemed to be a broom handle.

My excitement grew as I rifled through the contents.

Maharaj's book, however, is about a Trinidadian teenager who immigrates to Canada following the death of his mother. The influence of graphic novels in The Amazing Absorbing Boy is not just warm and fuzzy, as is clear in these excerpts taken from Andrea Baillie's article on The Canadian Press.

"The comic book character is always an outsider, somebody who is trying to fit in, whether it's mutants or X-Men or whatnot," Maharaj, 54, said in a recent interview.

...

"The main character, Samuel, said ... he felt comfortable (in Union Station) but it reminded him of one of these 'Star Wars' bars where there were aliens with three eyes sitting right next to people with snouts, and so on, without noticing the difference.

...

"Union Station, it's almost a kind of magical place to him, because there are so many different people there, not seeming to notice the differences. He, of course, notices the differences because that's part of his function, part of what he wants to do is to understand Canada. ... He needs to make sense of this place."

Read the rest of the article Rabindranath Maharaj explores immigrant experience in 'Amazing Absorbing Boy' to find out more. You can get the novel for a mere 30 bucks!

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | February 15, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Books, Comic Books

Cure To Weeknight Blues | HappySlip...and Bubble Wrap

By Claudia Ho

Today my friend was feeling rather glum and I tried to cheer them up but no matter what I said, I could not lift their spirits -- they just felt blue. What was I to do?

It just so happened that I was watching videos on Youtube the previous night (such are my sedentary tendencies on weeknights) and came across a hugely popular "Vlogger" who goes by the pseudonym, HappySlip. And let me tell you, after watching her PAC MAN! video, it's pretty clear why she gets over one million viewers on almost all of her videos. She is freaking hilarious.

For three years, Christine Gambito (aka HappySlip) has been making Youtube videos with the goal to make people laugh and spread some happy around. Her trademarks are her sarcasm, her realistic impersonations of a filipino mom (hers, to be exact) and her amazing ability to contort her beautiful face into hyperbolic expressions (see top right photo above for an example).

Other things I love about this girl are:

• She's smart, confident and isn't afraid to be a clown (and most of the time she is).
• She's got balls.
• She doesn't hide her ethnic roots, she embraces it and pokes fun of her Filipino family members too...of course, in the most tasteful and respectful way.

So after exhausting all happiness-inducing methods, I finally prescribed HappySlip to my friend and I am pleased to report that the result was a rather happy one.

See her "Slip into Bubble Wrap!" video below:

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 11, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Funny

Sigur Rós Believes in Vancouver 2010

By Jocelyn Gan

Since the countdown for the 2010 Winter Olympics began about a year ago, CTV has been releasing many commercials that promote the Winter Games on CTV - notably their "Do You Believe?" commercials. I'll admit, they are a bit corny. And the influx of these commercials can be annoying, to say the least. But the other day, just as I was about to change the channel because "another one of those" Olympic commercials came one, I instantly recognized the music being used in it. Hello Sigur Rós!

From Iceland, Sigur Rós has been releasing albums since 1994. Their music can be best described in a few phrases: heart-pounding, emotionally moving, beyond epic, yet completely minimalist at times. This band knows how to move people through the art of music.

To whoever came up with the brilliant idea to use a Sigur Rós song in the CTV Olympic commercial, props to you! You are officially the coolest person employed by CTV. To hear the full song in its glory, check it out here!

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | February 10, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Music

Eye of the Tiger...Rawr

By Angela Jung

Happiest Lunar New Year! It's the Year of the Tiger, are you feeling wild?

In the spirit of this holiday, Michelle Phan of YouTube has made a make-up tutorial on how to achieve tiger eyes.

Watching her make-up videos are my guiltiest pleasure. It's unlikely that I will be sporting tiger eyes anytime soon, even for the sake of Lunar New Year's.

But for all the Michelle Phan fans out there, this one is for you! And for those of you who are not familiar with her, I'm sure you will understand why she's such a YouTube sensation.

To watch more of her videos, visit her YouTube channel.

Posted by Angela Jung | February 10, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Makeup Tips

Review | The Blue Dragon (Le Dragon Bleu)

By Angela Jung and Jocelyn Gan

In case you haven't heard, Robert Lepage is in town, and we at Schema are very excited. We've already posted two articles telling you about the new play The Blue Dragon/Le Dragon bleu a few days ago and last month too. And after finally seeing the play, now playing at SFU Woodward's Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, we have concluded that this is a must-see event.

Robert Lepage, playwright, director, dancer, and creative visionary, proved once again why he is one of Canada's greatest theatre minds. For an entire 80-minute performance (sans intermission), three actors controlled and compelled the entire audience and it was an amazing sight to see.

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Jocelyn Gan | February 7, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Culture, Events, Theatre

The Great Debate: Does Rice Really Make You Fat?

By Linda, originally posted on Orientelle

Growing up in an Asian household, I used to hate rice, because I was forced to eat it everyday. Now with more mature taste buds, I'm not so sure if I could live without it! Think about all the delicious cuisines that have rice - Sushi, Burritos, and Fried Rice. Rice is also a life saver. It can help simple dishes satiate your hunger for hours longer. You can even have it by itself with some oil and salt or soy sauce. However, with all the "Atkins-no-carb diets" and the health conscious people out there, rice becomes a rather controversial food item.

Which brings us to the question at hand, Does rice make you fat? Does it lack nutrition? Guest Blogger Sam Li from Orientelle explains how rice is in fact very nutritious, and can actually help you lose weight.

Rice is actually considered one of the most important foods in the whole world. It provides over half the daily caloric intake of over half the planet's population. If it feeds so many people, it can't possibly be a bad thing right?

There are a plethora of studies that have observed the health benefits of ingesting whole grains on a regular basis. Brown rice is an excellent source of dietary fibre, in which one cup provides 14% of the daily value. Results of these studies demonstrated that consuming brown rice protects against a variety of health issues:

Reduction of high cholesterol

Prevention of visceral obesity (the "apple shape" body)

Protection against type 2 diabetes, as fibre keeps blood sugar levels at low

Protection against colon cancer, as fibre fights cancer calling chemicals

Promotes normal bowel movements

Effective against constipation

Furthermore, there are also "female-specific" benefits that us ladies could reap:

Weight loss - A massive study conducted at Harvard Med followed and observed, over a 12-year period, 74 000 females between the ages of 38-63. Their data suggested that weight was directly associated with the consumption of refined grains, such as white rice. Moreover, the women who had brown rice in their diets were not only slimmer, but were 49% less likely to gain weight.

Breast cancer - A major finding from the UK Women's Cohort Study observing 35 972 pre-menopausal women demonstrated that those who ingested fibre (>30g/day) were significantly protected against breast cancer.

Thus, rice is NOT bad for you. And brown rice, with all of its full of fibre healthy goodness, is even better. However, white rice is not the culprit of problems either. What seems like a paradox is the fact that Thailand, Vietnam and China are the largest exports of rice in the world... and Asian cooking has a tendency to make white rice an essential part of every meal. So, what accounts for such a healthy Asian population? The answer is simply the high consumption of leafy green vegetables to make up for the lost source of dietary fibre, which may solve the weight gain and digestion issue. However, to have all health benefits, whole grains should be added to the diet.

For all the vegetarians out there, trying to fulfil their protein needs, beans and brown rice together add complete proteins to your diet.

To check out the original post click here.

Posted by Linda Chan | February 13, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Food

Chinese Girl Gets Surgery To Look Like Jessica Alba

By Claudia, Originally published in Disgrasian

Someone's taking the Doppleganger idea to the extreme...

Pre-surgery picture of Xiaoping whose boyfriend told her to wear a blonde wig at all times..to look like Jessica Alba.

I apologize ahead of time for my censored profanity, but what the eff. I've been conversing with the Disgrasian girls about this story where a girl in China is getting plastic surgery to look more like Jessica Alba, to get her ex-boyfriend back. Now, most of us have had our share of heartache and we all have different ways of coping with the pain. In my opinion, the best way to remedy a broken heart is (re)learning how to love yourself without the necessity to receive validation from another.

Unfortunately, in the case of 21-year old Xiaoping, it's more than just her heart that's getting ripped to shreds. Can you imagine getting surgery to change your face for the sake of love?

Says, the young Xiaoping,

"(I am) a psychologically weak person. I want to do something to challenge myself and build a strong personality through it" (From Guyism).

There are far too many things wrong with her statement but the most distressing thing about it is that there are surgeons in China who are offering to do the surgery for her for free. FOR FREE! Oh dear.

Diana from Disgrasian has come up with a list of 10 Reasons Not To Get Plastic Surgery To Look Like Jessica Alba (And One Reason To Do It) and (in addition to being hilariously sarcastic) there are some useful tips to girls who would do anything for love.

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 9, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Disgrasian

Students Teaching Diversity Through Sound and Movement

By Linda Chan

Through the expression of sound and movement, thirteen young dancers from A.R. MacNeill Secondary and Hugh Boyd Secondary in collaboration with Tetsu Taiko Drummers will be united on the Mainstage of the O-zone on Tuesday, February 16th for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Dancing and drumming have influences from Western Africa, India, China, Japan, Brazil, and North America and reflected in this "global fusion" is a proud display of diversity in the students themselves. From traditional Chinese dance and Bollywood-style pieces to street styles such as krumping and B-boying, these young people are bringing culture to the forefront and yes, it is indeed ethnic cool.

Kim Meredith, the co-ordinator for the Global Fusion Drum and Dance group, says,

"The concept of the main piece is immigration and diversity as it depicts arrival, connection to a new land, growth, and celebrating community togetherness...It has become a unique symbiotic relationship where the drummers drum to support the dancers and the dancers dance to support the drummers."

Global Fusion have performed together at various events including school showcases, African relief fundraisers, and peace festivals in Richmond, Coquitlam, Surrey, Vancouver, but their biggest break yet will be performing at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics!

Show your support for this amazing group and come check them out!

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, February 16th, 2010

Time: 5:30PM

Location: Mainstage of the O-Zone (Minoru Park, Richmond)

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Linda Chan | February 8, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Community, Culture, Dance, Diversity, event, Fusion, International

Saving Earth, One Milk Bag At A Time

By Christina Jung, Originally Found on Disgrasian

Lately, we've been worrying about our environment, in hopes to save the polar bears and trees so that our future generations can enjoy them as well. I admit, it can be hard at times to think about our environment, especially when we're too busy consuming and not thinking about the waste we create.

Well, worry no more! It turns out that some places in Canada sell milk in bags instead of cartons. To take it up a notch, in order to reduce solid waste, companies have been creating more and more eco-paks and biodegradable containers.

What? Milk in bags? How can you drink from that? Don't worry, we got that covered as well. Found by Jen, one of the Disgrasian girls, is a video that provides us with some helpful tips on how to safely drink your milk-in-a-bag. Check out the original post.

Posted by Christina J. | February 9, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Canadiana, Culture, Environment, Food

"Asian Eyes" on Maybelline's MNY Club

By Claudia Ho, Originally found on angryasianman

A girl put up a video on youtube to show just how ignorant, stupid and offensive Maybelline was with the categorization of "Asian Eyes" in their Maybelline New York (MNY) Club. I think the girl may have been a little too forgiving though because there really is no question about it, they were being idiotically racist. After a bit of an uproar, however, Maybelline has since 3:16PM yesterday, made the appropriate corrections. Good thing their moronic slip-up was caught on youtube, otherwise Maybelline would have gotten away scott-free!

"Do you have 'Asian' eyes? I do not know a lot about makeup, but it's plain to see that this "Eye Shape" customization option -- namely, the shape simply described as "Asian" -- on Maybelline's MNY magazine/newsletter is extremely problematic. That's racist!

Rasilla has made this handy video explaining the situation. Someone clearly did not think this through when they designed this damn thing..." -- Phil Yu, angryasianman.com

Thanks again, Phil, for the find!

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 5, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags:

Robert Lepage: The Blue Dragon / Le Dragon bleu | Cultural Olympiad

By Angela Jung

It isn't everyday that a Canadian theatre icon, Robert Lepage, visits Vancouver. His The Blue Dragon/Le Dragon bleu is a theatrical creation involving Chinese calligraphy, lighting, sound and video effects, subtitles, dance, mythology, often eye-tricking staging, quick changes, a trick ending, and no intermission.

This play marks the return of that play's central figure (played by Robert Lepage) an artist who resurfaces in Shanghai 20 years later. Set in the effervescent paradox that is modern China, his encounters with a former art school classmate and a young Chinese artist open unexpected doors and bring about fundamental changes for each of them. From Vancouver2010

Check out this short clip of The Blue Dragon:

Just in case you didn't understand a word of this video, there are performances in both English and French.

And did I mention that this play is being held at the new Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre at SFU Woodward's development in downtown Vancouver? The seats still have tags on them!

You can purchase tickets on Vancouver2010.

Be sure to check out the other amazing Cultural Olympiad events happening throughout the Lower Mainland! Some events are ticketed, but many are free, too! Find out more information on their official Vancouver2010 website.

Posted by Angela Jung | February 4, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Culture, Event, Theatre

TONIGHT: An Evening With Gary Fong & Friends

By Schema Mag Crew

If you don't have anything to do tonight, come out! And if you already have plans, who cares, break 'em! TONIGHT, join Gary Fong and Friends for an evening at the Vogue Theatre Vancouver. Honestly, is there a better way to start the weekend than attending a "Fong"-filled night of comedic education?!

The answer is HECK NO.

The show will include music, video premiers, skits, motivational speaking, and of course, Gary...oh, and his side-kick, Ethel Hammersmith-Goldstein who will be accompanying Gary throughout the night's festivities.

Also speaking will be Earl Donalaine, host of the hard-hitting FACT-based show "Love it or Leave it."

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 5, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Comedy, Event

If Only... | The New Member of Wonder Girls

By Claudia Ho

Announced a couple weeks ago was the sad news of Sunmi's departure from Wonder Girls, the K-pop girl group that has been making headway across North America. There's not much time for mourning though because JYP Entertainment (K-pop record label) has already chosen a replacement. 17-year-old Hye Rim aka Lim, who was born in Hong Kong and is fluent in four languages (Korean, English, Cantonese and Mandarin) will be taking Sunmi's place.

Too bad, because after seeing this video, I think THIS KID would have been much better suited for the job.

What cruel parents. Seriously.

But I guess, despite how fruity he looks doing it, the kid really does know how to dance. So who cares, right?!

"Nobody" can shake it like you, boy! So shake it! Shake that thang!

Original post by Christina Jung can be found here.

News link of Sunmi's departure:

MTV Asia - Sumi Leaving Wonder Girls

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 3, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Funny

Virtual "Jam Session 2.0"

By Claudia Ho

Found this video last week and it absolutely blew my mind. Check out below.

Two weeks ago, 8 people with 5 different instruments originating from 4 different continents, speaking 3 different languages were connected over the world wide web for a jam session, sharing with the world a brief 5 minutes and 58 seconds of collaborative musical wonder. The goal was to create a message of peace and since the video's debut on January 20, 2010, "Jam Session 2.0" has made its message clear by grabbing the attention of NBC, CNN, Fox, Gizmodo, Vimeo and Daily Motion to name a few.

"So the original idea and the reason why we called the video "Jam session 2.0" was actually an allusion to Web 2.0 and how the world is becoming more inter-connected. I mean with digital technology the world is definitely becoming a smaller place." -- Brian Lee, Co-director and co-producer of "Jam Session 2.0"
See a clip of the interview here.

Truly, the world has become a much smaller place thanks to the internet and it is absolutely amazing to see when distances and differences are minimized in the name of peace, love and music...if even for a few minutes.

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 4, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Ethnic Cool, Music

K-Pop's Wonder Girls | Nobody Rainstone Remix in English

By Christina Jung

I'm a huge fan of K-Pop songs and groups, so any appearances from a K-Pop group on prime-time American television, in my book, deserves some recognition.

Since their debut in 2007, K-Pop's Wonder Girls have scored three consecutive #1 hit singles and received Korea's Song of the Year, Best Music Video, Best Female Group and Artist of the Year Award.

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Christina J. | February 2, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Korea, Music

Gabe Bondoc in Vancouver | Last Chance Tickets!!!

By Claudia

It was sold out before, but this is your LAST CHANCE. Second show tickets to see youtube sensation Gabe Bondoc in UBC in Vancouver will be sold tomorrow! Read on for the details.

When I found out Gabe Bondoc is coming to little ol' Vancouver on March 6th to perform at UBC's Norm Theatre I was ecstatic, no, elated, no, I was STOKED. I was introduced to Gabe four years ago through the wonderful world of youtube and fell in love with his voice, his chill vibe and his awesome talent. And for those of you who have never heard of Gabe Bondoc, it's time to get acquainted.

Gabe is a down-to-earth regular guy who first started out posting videos of himself playing guitar and singing songs he composed (and does some nice covers too) on youtube. Check out his cover of Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" below.

Ok, "I'm Yours" is a really cute song to begin with, but you have to admit that this Gabe guy is talented. I'm just sorry that I didn't know about his performance earlier, or I may have beaten the hundreds of people who wiped out the box office in three hours. I'm shaking my fist to all of you right now. Grr...

Then again, thanks to all of the fans in Vancouver, he'll be performing TWICE now and tomorrow will you be your LAST CHANCE to get tickets to the second show.

You want details? You got 'em!

Date: Thursday, February 18
Time: 7-8pm
Location: Honey Dessert House, 3618 Kingsway in Vancouver

Teaser photo from CAAM Website

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 17, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Events, Music

Operation Stock | Canada Welcomes Orphans from Haiti

By Christina Jung

Eleven days after the horrible earthquake of January 12th, 2010 in Haiti, Air Canada Airbus A330 landed in Port-au Prince to give the most unimaginable gift to 24 children. Just several days after the earthquake, Gillies Rivard met with the Prime Minister of Haiti with a list of 154 children. Since then, Canadians have been scouting around the orphanages of Port au Prince to locate the children. With a group of 52 children arriving in Ottawa, Canada is expecting to bring back another 57.

With a volunteer medical team and a handful of generous Air Canada customer service agents on board, Air Canada brought home the third group of Haitian orphans to some very anxious parents.

Posted by Christina J. | February 1, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Canadiana, Community, International

Asian Childhoods Deprived of XOXO's?

By Angela Jung

I grew up in the age of Full House, where Danny Tanner would tell his daughters that he loves them everyday and Uncles Jessie and Joey would be equally affectionate. But the perfect house of the Tanners contrasts starkly to my own household.

My parents have never hugged me or told me that they love me and I am used to it, so it's quite normal for me. In fact, I would likely find it bizarre if my parents started to adopt the ways of Full House. For this reason, I feel compelled to share with you some perspectives on one of the often-discussed dynamics of traditional Asian relationships.

EastWestMagazine.com featured an article entitled, "Show Me the Love", which explores how love is expressed in interracial families and how collaborating Asian with non-Asian traditions of showing love can sometimes be a challenge.

In Asian cultures, the role of the relationship, the duties and expectations of being a mother, father, etc., are given priority and expressions of love are secondary, according to Stanley Sue, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the University of California. "Americans define love in more erotic and romantic terms. Asians are more likely to see love as companionship and practical matters." From EastWestMagazine.com

I appreciated how the article stated that Asian parents may not outwardly display affection, but will instead show their love in other ways. However, I feel that the overall conclusion, after analyzing four mixed-race relationships, did not recognize the different expressions that are equivocal to showing love overtly.

For the most part, the stories that were profiled described how the children of Asian parents are now married and with families of their own, and in those relationships they state that, "We say 'I love you' a lot around this house" and "...they make a point of saying "I love you" every day." This reinforces the fact that words of affirmation are the ultimate display of love. So where does this place the other displays of love?

I think that it's important to step away from the stereotypes that Asian parents aren't affectionate. Instead, recognize that there are many ways to show love.

Asian childhoods aren't deprived of XOXO's, they're just given in other ways: delicious home-cooked meals, rides from destination A to B, tuition and tutoring fees paid, unconditional care, and I'm sure there are many more to add to the list!

Don't forget to give your parents some XOXO's, too!

Posted by Angela Jung | February 3, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Asian

1.2 "But Where Are You Really From" Call For Submissions!!

By Schema Mag Crew

Several months ago, we asked you guys to send us in your stories about who you are, what your beliefs are and above all, what funny feelings arise when asked the question, "Where are you from?" The point was to get to the heart of how and why it's so difficult for ethnically and culturally diverse 1.5- and 2nd-Gens to answer a seemingly simply inquiry without feeling even just a tad of frustration, hesitation or resentment.

The fact is, most people aren't satisfied with just, "I'm from Canada" or "I'm from the U.S." They want to know, where you're really from.

We didn't really know what kind of response we would get, but our initial six features seem to have resonated with many of you and we are thrilled.

So you know what? We would love to hear your but-where-are-you-really-from story too! There are no prerequisites to sharing your story and no necessity for a grandiose tale. We are all cultural navigators and we experience diversity everyday, naturally and unconsciously. So don't be afraid, all we ask is for you to be open and honest.

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Claudia Ho | February 4, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Culture, Diversity, Identity

Darfur Film Premieres February 4

By Gayatri Bajpai

Every once in a while I see a movie that leaves me changed. I watched a film organized by STAND UBC that was exactly to that effect. The Devil Came on Horseback was about the crisis in Darfur, Sudan and aside from getting me a bit emotional, it was eye-opening. The UBC chapter of STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur), is now presenting a new film, Darfur, by director Uwe Boll on the 4th of February at Silvercity Metropolis (Burnaby). A few years down the line, it will be interesting to see the conflict from a different perspective. There will also be a discussion panel and a screening of the movie at UBC's theatre, the Norm, around the third week of March. Stay posted!

More about the campaign, the cause, and the movie from STAND UBC:

Join STAND Canada in launching the Stand For The Dead campaign with the tour of the new film DARFUR, starring Billy Zane, Edward Furlong and Kristanna Loken.The Stand For The Dead campaign engages and inspires Canadians to stand for the life of one Darfuri victim of genocide. Students across Canada will have the opportunity to purchase and proudly wear T-shirts with a Darfuri victim's name across their chest.

In partnership with Cineplex, DARFUR will be screening in Vancouver on February 4th in SilverCity Metropolis (Burnaby)

Each screening will begin at 7pm, and will be followed by a Q&A session with Stand leaders and a special guest.
Tickets are $10 each, and can be purchased at: http://standcanada.org/darfurfilm/ or at the theatre on the night of the show.

You can watch the trailer at STAND Canada's website as well as read more about the efforts of STAND at campuses across the country and the film tour.

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | February 1, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Activism, Film, International, Politics, Race

Marathonologue at Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad

By Gayatri Bajpai

Photo: Kenneth Newby and Aleksandra Dulic

Vancouver is a-buzz with talk of the Olympics and while workers parade around town in their fashionable olympic-apparel (donning sponsor logos, of course) and people become distracted by the city's aesthetic enhancements, the essence of sport is pushed far into the background.

On the other hand, I find it refreshing that Aleksandra Dulic and Kenneth Newby have brought back what many of us have forgotten while engulfed by Olympic Fever. I think Dulic and Newby have truly captured something important—the spirit and mindscape of the sportsperson—in their mixed-media production, Marathonologue.

Get your tickets to Marathonologue, a show that celebrates the athlete in action—in this case the Japanese marathon winner of the 2000 Olympics, who is said to have taken killer hornet extract before she raced.

The preview captures the beauty of movement. It makes me want to get up and run (or at least find me some killer hornet extraction—"I'll have what she's having!"), and that means it's scarily good art. Bagpipes and the animated silhouette of a running woman must be alchemy for transforming New Year's Resolution slackers into willing athletes.

CONTINUE READING »

Posted by Gayatri Bajpai | February 6, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Art, Events, Fusion, Japan, Media, Music

Priscilla Ahn in HD | iamkoream

By Joy Inae Kim

You may have heard her youthfully wispy voice in Disturbia or Bride Wars or Grey's Anatomy or even more recently in My Sister's Keeper. I don't know about you but her song "Dream" just melts my heart every time I hear it and it brings me back to childhood fantasies. Needless to say, this Korean-American singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist from Pennsylvania is catching attention from the East and the West alike. Don't believe me? Type her name into Korean search engine Naver or Google

For all you fans, here is a special clip from iamkoream featuring a song that is not in her album A Good Day, "Living in a Tree."

Priscilla Ahn - Living In A Tree from The Mighty Fifty on Vimeo

You can Demand that Priscilla Ahn comes to your city through Eventful. The more votes she gets from your city the more effort they will put into bringing her out. Give it a try!

Posted by Joy | February 24, 2010 | Comments (0)

Tags: Music, People to Watch

This page contains all entries posted to Schema Magazine's Blog, "Daily Dose" in February 2010. They are listed from oldest to newest.

January 2010 is the previous archive. | March 2010 is the next archive.

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