June 30, 2004
Life
Chinatown, not just for the Chinese!
According to today's Vancouver Courier, The organizers of this year's Chinatown Arts and Cultural Festival in Vancouver are making an effort to add some ethnic diversity to the celebrations. In addition to the traditional Chinese performances, there will be traditional Indian, First Nation, and Japanese performances as well. Hey, more ethnic more better, I always say. But I do have to ask, why those three ethnic groups specifically? My Chinatown history is spotty. Do these four groups all share roots and stories in the Chinatown neighbourhood? What about the Italians? Didn't they use to kick it in Chinatown back in the day? Or am I getting confused with NYC again?
Chinatown invites world [Canada.com, thanks Keiichi Morisato]
June 24, 2004
Life
Some Live Music Recommendations...
Boon of Schema Mag writes in:
"Local live hip hop ensemble, The Front, winner of CiTR's Shindig - Battle of the Bands, will be putting a on FREE show this THURSDAY, JUNE 24 at Richards on Richards (w/ new wave rockers, Elizabeth and atmospheric pop/rock quintet, Welkin). Doors at 9m (the Front perfoms at 11pm sharp).
And, dont sleep this SATURDAY, JUNE 26, cuz local broken beat / nu-jazz act, Sekoya(pictured right), are on stage in Gastown as this years Jazz Fest kicks off. Sekoya will be on a 2:30pm at the Maple Tree Square stage at Water and Carral. Look for a performance review and pics right after.
Sekoya
Jazz Fest (look under 'Free Shows,' then 'Gastown Jazz')
I've been able to see the Herbaliser for Gastown Jazz in 2002, and the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra last year at David Lam park right on the seawall. Props to the Jazz Fest for bringing continuously dope acts to perform for free in wicked locations."
Life
Art of Diversity
Ayden Gallery is putting on a show today called "Terra Firma: The Art of Diversity Group Exhibition". And no, I have no idea what that would mean either, which is why I'll probably go.
Ayden Gallery
International Village (Tinseltown)
88 West Pender Street, 2nd Floor
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
[Update: Umm... so I went to the show... it's not about Cultural Diversity like I though... just diversity of art mediums... oh man... I've been spending too much time with the magazine...]
June 22, 2004
Life
Indian Spiderman
Marvel comics is adepting its most famous super hero underdog, Spiderman, into an Indian version. Instead of Peter Parker, we will have Pavitr Prabhakar. Instead of webswinging from the high rises of NYC, we'll have Pavitr jumping from rickshaw to rickshaw, and swinging from Temples. Great idea, I like the promise of it... but this preview, which I hope to dear god is just a very very very beta prototype of a hybrid spidy costume with sarong is just terrible. As Dave Chappelle's Rick James would say, "I wish I had more hands so I can give [it] four thumbs down!" "The milk's gone bad!"
Please put some good artists and good writers on this. Don't let this be a gimmicky, schmucky mess.
Spiderman to wear a dhoti now [NewIndPress.com]
June 18, 2004
Life
Bento Moblog
Forget about blogs, moblog is the wave of the future. Moblogs are blogs based on cell phone cameras photos, and can be updated directly from your cell phone. While many moblogs have taken a decidedly idiotic or T&A direction... Mizuko Ito makes an awesome moblog of the bento boxes she makes for her kids every morning. What a kick ass mom, eh? Great cook, AND a super geek! Lovely!
June 16, 2004
Life
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra
Hey peoples, tonight at the Commodore Ballroom, Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra is making their first performance in North America in a LOOOOOONG time...
Don't miss out on your chance to catch this legendary ska band.
Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra [Commodore Ballroom]
Life
Funky sodas from around the world
Kumquat flavored tangy sodas from Italy, a tarragon flavored soda found in Cafe Kashkar in Brighton Beach, Lucozade from Britain, and carbonated fermented milk beverages from Japan.
My favorite peeps from No Reservations magazine hits us right with their promo mini-issue, available in the streets of NYC, and now online.
Don't miss the page on Burrata either... oh man... someone buy my a ticket to Italy please. I promise to drone on and on about it after I come back.
June 14, 2004
Life
Interview with Mohja, a Muslim Sexpert
Nerve.com interviews Mohja Kahf, a sex columnist for the progressive Islamic website Muslim Wakeup. Instead of the standard cold and clinical, or quirky "ha ha let's laugh off our discomfort" treatments to sex, her column, Sex & the Umma, explores modern sexual issues confronting young muslims with short fiction. Which is perhaps even harder to write off for the conservatively minded, because I think their impact can much stronger.
Read the Interview:
Ask Mohja: A Muslim sexpert on why covering up is sexy [Nerve.com]
Read her stories:
Sex & the Umma [Muslim Wakeup]
Life
I love Margaret Cho
Yes, and you do, too. We all love Margaret Cho. Catch the premier of her new documentary this Saturday on the Sundance Channel. What? You don't have it? Get supportive of good independant films already! What? You don't have cable/satelite? Argh... So how exactly do you plan to turn yourself into a mindless drone? We'll see who get's the last laugh when I am going chuckle-chuckle-chuckle along with Margaret on Saturday.
Margaret Cho's Revolution [Sundance Channel]
June 13, 2004
Life
Boon Reviews Zero7
Our music boy Boon Kondo goes and reviews Zero7. Hey, how comes he gets to go out to play and I get to have LCD burn in on my retina?
June 10, 2004
Life
Get your Indian music on
Anurag Jain, a blogger and chemical engineer in Bangalore, archives a comprehensive list of obscure and big name indian music acts, everything from fusion, to pop, to my favorite from the list... Moshka - the only Indian band featured on an Iron Maiden tribute album. Oh no my friends... take heed... heavy metal will never die!
June 08, 2004
Life
We are living in the toilet dark ages
Wall street Journal reports today on the $5,000 Neorest toilet, something that is apparently quite common place already in Japan. This toilet uses a cyclone flush "engine" that flushes withouth needing a tank (no waiting time, and conserves water), will wash, dry and message your ass fer ya, AND get this ladies, will drop and raise the toilet seats FOR YOU. No longer will there be any need to train the ape like men in your house. (though I have yet to read any reports on the toilet providing men with a laser guidance system...)
But before I start sounding like a damn brochure... seriously, when we stop and think about our um.. lack of washing after our... business... its pretty damn gross ain't it? Do YOU think just wiping with a little piece of paper is a good idea? We must seem such babarians to them Japanese folk...
A $5,000, high-tech toilet [CNN.com]
A new addition on my birthday wishlist
Neorest 600 [TOTO]
Life
YIN Magazine - New mag targeted at young Asian women
Yin magazine launches this month.
According to their press release: "YIN is for the young, intelligent Asian woman with a strong sense of personal style. "
The first issue covers topics like:
- Who was the most well dressed Ninja in anime?
- Astroboy designer Hiroaki Ohya takes on the fashion world.
- Top ten favorite airport goodbye scenes in movie history.
Hot dog! Call me a sassy 16year old asian girl, cause I'd want to read all of that too!
Life
Boon reviews Thievery Corporation (w/Roots) at Plaza of Nations
Schema Mag's very own Boon Kondo (umm... that name is too cool to be real... but it totally is, he assures me), visits the Thievery Corporation show on May 28th, and homeboy is pissed off... read more
Continue reading "Boon reviews Thievery Corporation (w/Roots) at Plaza of Nations"
June 03, 2004
Life
Derek Kirk Interview
For those of you not in the know... or just not geeky enough to spend your Saturday nights at home reading online comics... Derek Kirk has very much been the man on the online comic scene for the past year or two. His comics go from subtle and insightful, to down right gross and silly. Oh, I am not gonna sing him any more praise, damn boy's got enough already...
Interview with Derek Kirk [Comicon Pulse]
Some select Derek Kirk comics:
The Shaft
Same Difference
Oliver Pick
Derek Kirk Website
June 01, 2004
Apparently, according to this mock training video for the new movie Dodgeball...