Bet365 ad

/facepalm

How can the Asian gambling addict resist a Asian guy, with a fake accent, floating head and floating hands tell them they can bet on 36 markets! WOW!

Bet In-Play NOW!

Nose for a nose, ear for an ear

A Pakistani court has ordered the noses and ears of two men cut off after they did the same thing to a young woman whose family spurned one of the men's marriage proposal, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

The anti-terrorism court in the eastern city of Lahore said it was applying Islamic law by ordering the punishment.

Lahore prosecutor Chaudhry Ali Ahmed said one of the accused, Sher Mohammad, was a cousin of the 19-year-old woman and wanted to marry her. Her parents refused his proposal.

Sher Mohammad and a friend, Amanat Mohammad, were accused of kidnapping the woman and cutting off her ears and nose in late September in the Raiwind area of Lahore.

The court on Monday also sentenced each man to 50 years in prison and told them to pay fines and compensation to the woman amounting to several thousand dollars, the prosecutor said.

Pakistan's legal system has Islamic elements that sometimes lead to orders for harsh punishments, but the sentences are often overturned and rarely carried out. Serious crimes are often referred to anti-terrorism courts in Pakistan because they move faster.

Violence against women, especially attacks by spurned lovers, also occurs frequently in this impoverished South Asian nation.

The men have seven days to appeal the ruling, Ahmed said.

Wow! Is marrying cousins allowed? What is the custom?
The parents were correct in refusing to let their daughter marry a cousin right?

This is the right punishment!

Roses That Turn Into Panties!

Source: Japanorama

A bouquet of roses is one of the more romantic gifts
a guy can give his gal. These particular ones especially - though it takes some careful thought beforehand since what appear to be beautiful rose blooms are actually... bloomers.

If you think your beloved one has a good sense of humor and your relationship
has reached a certain level of comfort and familiarity, then go for it. Each lacy faux rose costs just 294 yen
each (about $4) and a bouquet of a dozen will keep her captivatingly clothed for almost half a month.

The perky panties are packaged in the form of a classic long-stemmed rose, detailed with small green leaves around the "flower". The panties themselves are of the "one size fits all" variety, they come individually wrapped in cute flowery cellophane and a small card is included.

Choose from red, pink, yellow, white, aqua, blue, violet and black.

Wow! I'm not sure I can ever look at a bouquet of roses again.

Japan.....

Two Chinese wives spot common husband on social networking site

The TV Series: Two Wives

Source: RIA Novosti

A Chinese man has been arrested on charges of bigamy after his two wives discovered each other on a national social networking site, China Daily said on Wednesday.

The Mexican national of a Chinese origin, identified as Chang, was arrested last week after one of the wives added her husband's "buddies," including the other spouse, to her contact list on Kaixin001, a Chinese version of Facebook. The two women soon became friends.

The bigamy was exposed when they exchanged wedding photos, featuring the same groom.

It turned out that Chang married to a woman from the eastern province of Zhejiang, in 2005. Later, while doing business in Mexico, he met a woman from Beijing, and also married her when he learned she was pregnant.

He managed to keep the secret by telling the wives he was doing business abroad and could not return home frequently. Upon his arrival to China, he usually split his time between the two homes in Zhejiang and Beijing.

The first woman sued her husband, and he was detained while secretly visiting his parents.

Sounds like a stressful situation for the guy. I thought guys worked abroad to GET AWAY from their wives and fool around.

Reminds me of the classic comedy "Diary of a Big Man"

Top 10 Reasons to Learn Cantonese

Source: Due-East

A friend of mine just sent me a link to a New York Times article about how Cantonese is slowly dying out in New York’s Chinatown. I couldn’t help but get a little sad reading it. Sure, it’s a ridiculously difficult language to learn (which is why it should be spelled Can’t-onese), but it’s also an amazingly interesting language brimming with character. So, here I make my case for why people should try to learn it in addition to Mandarin. Here you are: My top 10 reasons to learn Cantonese!

Reason 1: The Wow Factor – As I said above, Cantonese is ridiculously difficult. Nobody seems to agree on exactly how many tones it has. Some people say 7. Some say 9. And some say over 11, referencing so-called silent tones. Sorry, but if it’s silent, it’s not a tone. But the insistence on the existence of these so-called silent tones only ups the ‘cool factor’ of Cantonese. If you can master it, you’re pretty much an unstoppable language learning force. Native speakers will lavish you with praise, giving your self-esteem a temporary boost (at least until you say something wrong and get made fun of. See reason number 8). And also, I’ll be really jealous of you.

....more

Cantonese is a very cool language. I like it much better than Mandarin. It's clear and easy to understand, even if it sounds a little hard. Mandarin sounds very lazy, lots of words slurred together.

I was totally convinced that Mandarin sucks when I heard Mandarin speakers try to speak English. It's awful. Sure we all know the Cantonese accent for English sounds pretty funny.. but at least it's understandable. I was on China Airlines and the way they spoke English on there with their slurred words and their purposely high-pitched voices.. I might as well have been listening to Mandarin. Didn't understand a word! What if there was a important announcement like... the plane is falling? It was very frustrating.

So yeah. learn Cantonese. Don't let it die!

Skateboarding monk shocks China

Source: Ananova

Photographs of a monk skateboarding inside a historic temple have caused controversy in China.

They were taken by a visitor to the Emei Mountain Temple, in Sichuan province, and posted on the internet, reports Huaxi Metropolis News.

The monastery stands near the top of Mount Emei - the highest of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains of China and the site of the country's first ever Buddhist temple.

Internet users were taken aback by the photographs and posted comments criticising the monk for adopting a "modern fad".

"Monks should seek quietness and riding a skateboard is such a contradictory thing to Buddhist life," said one.

However, a spokesman for the temple said that the outside world did not understand the life of a contemporary monk.

"People get their impressions from TV or movies, where monks are praying all day long, without any motivation or desire," he said.

"But these days monks also enjoy sports like badminton, table tennis and skateboarding in the spare time, as well as praying.

"They even use the internet and mobile phones to promote Buddhism. This is not contradictory to Buddhism but actually is part of the Buddhist spirit."

I'm sick of all these righteous people. It's almost 2010 people. The skateboard is NOT modern fad! It's a 1980s toy.. do people still use skateboards? I haven't seen one in ages.

Also monks have always used technology. I'm sure when the abacus was invented monks were using them. Were people in the streets complaining that monks needed to count on their fingers and seek quietness?

Here in Calgary, I've seen monks at the University. They are invited as guest speakers or they themselves take religious studies and learn about other religions.

I know of temples that have computers there and have their own websites. The notion that monasteries need to be quite and back in the 1800s is false. They are very innovative while still valuing their teachings. Modernizing religion is a good thing, it could bring more people to it in an age where athiestism seems to be the norm.

Asian Ripoff LXXIX - Japanese Christmas

It's Christmas!

Tradition in the Philippines

I know that Christmas is a BIG DEAL in the Philippines.
In fact I think most of my Filipino friends are back home right now!

The Revenge of Facebook

Ah facebook!

Strict Asian parents? You don't say! :)

China's Army

Youtube Link

I'm not sure PINK is a good camouflage colour in the battlefield!

Japanese Spending Money In Korea

Good value for the yen being used in Korea. Plus Korean stuff seems to be trendier these days from clothing, to music to entertainment and tv series. There tv stars are probably more popular in Japan now than Japanese stars. (Even though Korean soaps suck!)

Should giant Pandas Be Protected?

Source: ChinaSMACK

Giant Pandas have been unlucky this year. First an earthquake destroyed their safest home and now there is a British person who shows up and spills salt on the pandas’ wound. This British person’s name is Chris Packham, a presenter for the BBC. He claims that humans should not spend vast amounts of money to protect Giant Pandas, but rather let it naturally die off.

Packham’s reasoning is: Giant Pandas are not strong enough, unable to independently survive, and using the millions of British pounds used to protect Giant Pandas on other areas might yield better results. Packham is the host for the BBC channel two’s special program “Springwatch”. He believes that the method of first raising in captivity and then releasing into nature is pointless, because nature does not have enough habitat to maintain the Giant Panda’s survival.

He says: “‘Here is a species that, of its own accord, has gone down an evolutionary cul-de-sac. It’s not a strong species. Unfortunately, it’s big and cute and a symbol of the World Wide Fund for Nature and we pour millions of pounds into panda conservation. I reckon we should pull the plug. Let them go, with a degree of dignity.”

Sounds like an awful conclusion. Scientist try their best to save all sorts of animals from fish in the sea to birds in the sky. How can nature not have enough habitat for giant pandas when there room for bigger animals like elephants!

I am amazed how small a baby panda is. How can a BIG panda have such little babies! Look at horses for example, baby horses are huge!

Ichiro ejected for the first time ever

Source: MLB

What? Did umpires in the majors finally learn how to say "Fuck You" in Japanese?



Looked like a strike, hit the catcher's target and he framed it perfectly. I'm surprised Ichiro reacted this way with all of his experience. I'm sure there have been balls called strikes worse than this.

You're not allowed to argue calls and strikes and drawing a line embarasses the umpire. He knows better after playing for nearly 20 years.

Think the pressure is getting to him that he's in a tight race for the batting title and that he plays for a shit team.

Night Racing! Singapore GP

I watched the Singapore GP this morning. What a beautiful sight to see F1 racing at night! It looked like a grueling course that was long and with alot of turns. The drivers looked exhausted by the end.

Trailer: 十月圍城 Bodyguards and Assassins

I'm really really looking forward to this movie that comes out in Asia just before Christmas. It features an all-star cast and a good storyline.

The HUGE Baby Nighty Cap

A Chinese student is selling her own hand in marriage for £15,000 in a bid to save the life of a classmate.

A Frenchman was arrested for drunk driving after taking his car to a police station to distribute Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlets there

An Indonesian woman has given birth to an 8.7-kilogramme (19.2-pound) baby boy, the heaviest newborn ever recorded in the country, a doctor said Wednesday.



Doctors in China have discovered a six-inch knife blade that was left in a woman's bottom for four months.

A father in eastern India gave away his teenage daughter to a fellow gambler after he lost a card game, with police launching a hunt to retrieve the girl.

Sony Ping Pong Mandarin Commerical

HAHAHA that's pretty funny.

For those who can speak Mandarin. That's pretty bad right?

Mandarin's such a tonal language there's no way these guys can pronounce it properly on such short notice. Especially Manning who's from the south. I hear LeBron is learning Mandarin. Perhaps they should have gotten him!

Red Sox Rookie Hazing 2009

Source: Sox and Dawgs

Your name is Junichi Tazawa. All your life in Japan you've dreamed of being a professional ball player and then the ultimate dream of playing in the Major Leagues.

And then...



Ah rookies...

It’s that time of the year when MLB rookies across the league are getting the old hazing treatment. And with the Boston Red Sox embarking on their final road trip of the season, it was their rookies turn to play dress up.

107-year-old Malaysian woman seeks 23rd hubby

Source: Yahoo!

A 107-year-old Malaysian woman says she is ready to marry for the 23rd time because she fears her current drug addict husband might leave her for a younger woman, a report said Monday.

Wook Kundor made headlines four years ago when she married Muhammad Noor Che Musa, a man 70 years her junior in northern Terengganu state, with pictures of the couple's wedding splashed across regional newspapers.

But Wook is now looking for new love as she fears that Muhammad, 37, who is undergoing voluntary drug rehabilitation treatment in the capital Kuala Lumpur, will leave her once the programme ends, she told the Star newspaper.

"Lately, there is this kind of insecurity in me," the paper quoted her as saying, showing a photograph of the smiling, wrinkled-faced centenarian wearing a Muslim headscarf.

"I realise that I am an aged woman. I don't have the body nor am I a young woman who can attract anyone."

"My intention to remarry is to fill my forlornness and nothing more than that," she said, adding that she felt lonely without her husband by her side to celebrate the coming Muslim festival of Eid al-Fitr next week.

Wook said she planned to visit Muhammad on the second day of Eid if her neighbours were willing to drive her to the capital.

Muhammad, who was a lodger in Wook's house, had previously said it was "God's will" that the couple fell in love.

It was such a shocker to hear about their marriage years ago. Does she feel insecure to not have a husband or something? Gotta face reality that not alot of people will marry a 107 years old lady unless they're around the same age

A Chinese 'Hero' for NBC's Hit Drama

Source: CriEnglish

Producers of "Heroes" are considering casting a Chinese actor to help expand its Chinese influence, Chinese media reported.

Producers of the popular American TV series "Heroes" are considering casting a Chinese actor to help expand the drama's growing Chinese influence, Chinese media reported on Wednesday.


Hong Kong-based actor Daniel Wu
The U.S. National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is seeking an English-speaking Chinese actor for the drama's planned sixth season, Yangtse Evening Post cited unnamed sources close to NBC.

Season 4, the latest completed season, will premiere on American small screens next week on September 21.

NBC is currently approaching Hong Kong-based stars Daniel Wu, Allen Ting and Stephen Fung for the role, according to the report. Daniel Wu and Stephen Fung share an American upbringing.

"Heroes", a science fiction drama revolving around a group of people with extraordinary abilities, debuted on NBC in 2006 with Japanese-American actor Masi Oka as one of its leads. Oka's presence has helped "Heroes" attract many Asian fans, particularly Japanese, according to Yangtse Evening Post.

Must be nice to be able to script for a 6th season even before showing 4th season!
As I've mentioned before, Daniel Wu is the worst Chinese actor ever. He's static and not understandable in either language. I would stop watching if he was cast. Allen Ting and Stephen Fung are ok but pretty obscure.

I think NBC need to expand more and research all the young actors in Chinese cinema, not those are have American roots.. This would be my list.

1. Lee Hom Wang

2. Nicholas Tse

These two guys know English for sure.
My other choices for favourite young male actors are..

3. Shawn Yue
4. Jay Chou
5. Cheng Chen

I'm not sure how good their English is but they got 2 years!

Imagine

Imagine ...

You're at a club when you spot a cute single girl across the dance floor. You get your groove on, and spit a little game to see if she's down.

To your delight, she is!

She murmurs in your ear, "my car's in the parking lot - why don't we head out there, and .. " deliberately trailing off the end of her sentence. With your curiosity (and everything else) aroused, you follow her to the parking lot, get in the car, only to see ...




My personal reaction at seeing all this Hello Kitty shit in one place?

Your mileage, of course, may vary

(via Hello Kitty Hell)

How to make wontons

I despair - not for myself - but for the future of civilization.

Asian Ripoff LXXVIII - A National Acrobat

An unusual Japanese bar band wearing some seriously dope wide neckties covers Black Sabbath's 1973 classic "A National Acrobat".

Wonder Girls Getting Disrespected in America?

Source: ALLKPOP

Photos of the Wonder Girls signing autographs for a fan in America have recently made their way into Korean cyberspace, making Korean Wonderfuls very angry.

The photos which were uploaded on the 18th of last month (August), were taken after the Wonder Girls had a fan signing event after performing in the Jonas Brothers concert. The photos made Korean Wonderfuls really angry which showed Sohee and Yubin, reaching over the table to sign on a worn sneaker of a fan who had placed it on the table. They felt that this was a mark of disrespect to the Wonder Girls.

Fans chided this particular American fan saying that even though the Wonder Girls weren't that famous yet in America, they shouldn't be subjected to this sort of humilation. Another felt that the Wonder Girls shouldn't have signed for this fan in this manner in the first place. Many fans felt really sorry for the Wonder Girls and sincerely hope that the Wonder Girls will soon gain a foothold in America with their songs.

This is a cultural difference that's tough to understand. I know that in Asia, shoes and underwear are considered extremely dirty. But the Wonder Girls are in America now. Korean fans seriously need to suck it up and not get so angry over small things like this. Signing shoes, shirts, and even body parts are what Americans do. If you're famous here in America and someone wants your signature on a shirt, why of course, you give it to them. Stop turning such stupid little acts into big ones.

For those who don't know, shoes are a big deal here in America. People will spend an entire month's wage on shoes and for children. It's a sign of status, so having someone famous sign your shoe is HUGE.

I recalled Cristiano Ronaldo was in Toronto in August and he signed a girl's belly button. I'm not sure she has showered yet.

Under The Knife in China

Want to see an extremely superficial place where billion of people compete with each other in looks? Welcome to China.

That Wang Lei guy is still bad looking even with the surgery.

That Fan Wenting girl? Her face isn't the problem, look at that hair, yikes!

So if you're at work and there's a fat ugly chick in a cubicle near you that pisses you off (there's always one) just realize that if you were in China, she wouldn't be there.

Snap the ball. Take a hit. Keep moving. Keep smiling.

Source: CBC

Bryan Chiu's career as a professional football centre in Montreal has followed the same, distinct pattern: Snap the ball. Take a hit. Keep moving. Keep smiling.

For 35 to 40 left-handed snaps a game. Sixteen to 18 regular-season games a year. Thirteen years. More than 8,000 chances. Few screw-ups.

Now 35, Chiu is at once one of the funniest men in the Canadian Football League (he once told a reporter quarterback Anthony Calvillo was far more familiar with his butt than his wife is), and also one of its most thoughtful.

He has lived a life that has closely resembled how he makes a living with the Alouettes.

"My dad was murdered, actually, when I was two," says Chiu, deep into a long phone interview after a practice in Montreal.

"He was murdered in Vancouver … and [my mom] was left as a 24-year-old widow with two young kids and no job, couldn't speak English, didn't have a driver's licence, didn't have a car, no life insurance from my dad, so she was in debt."

But Teresa Chiu provided for the family, made ends meet, pushed Bryan and his sister through school, "fed us, put clothes on our back."

And she instilled an overriding philosophy that has stayed with her son since then.

"She was my role model. She was the one person who always told me no matter what it is, keep a smile on your face because life is too short not to be happy and not to love what you do."

Snap the ball. Take a hit. Keep moving. Keep smiling.

Whenever I watch Les Alouettes, my mom always sees CHIU on the back of his jersey and says "Hey, a CHIU playing football!".

I really enjoyed reading this article about how a person has overcome adversity to be the best at his profession.

Really good words to live by. Snap the ball. Take a hit. Keep moving. Keep smiling.

AZN Pride

"Whaaat? Being AZN is tight!"

Save The Noodles!

Source: San Mateo County Times

An effort is under way to preserve a traditional Asian approach to preparing certain noodles that currently goes against state health codes.

State Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco, plans to craft legislation to protect a long-standing method involving the production of fresh rice noodles that stores the food at room temperature for up to eight hours before being served.

State regulations, however, require such food to be refrigerated or kept at or above 140 degrees at all times to prevent harmful bacteria from growing and sickening restaurant patrons.

But that requirement "destroys the characteristic of this particular rice noodle," Yee said during a news conference Friday at the Koi Palace restaurant. The evidence shows that "this product has been produced, sold and eaten for thousands of years, and we have never had a problem with this particular food at all."

The existing codes "can be unnecessarily broad" and culturally insensitive, he added. "Both history and independent tests demonstrate that these noodles are safe, and our laws should allow for their production."

I'm all for saving noodles that are tasty and healthy but laws are laws. Instead of claiming racism and using terms like "culturally insensitive" just provide the government with proof that these noodles are safe and actually taste better under these conditions. There are plenty of exceptions and other foods that are left out for hours. The government can't think of all scenarios so just present factual evidence and they'll turn around.

The state senator's right in that millions of people eat them that way without any problems. He's also a jackass for resorting to the cultural insensitivity card, since it's basically used as a trump card to end all further rational discussion.

They didn't make this law to specifically be racist so give the rhetoric a rest. It's really tacky.

China is (still) missing the point

Beijing will be sending what they have described as "harmony makers" to the Uighur city of Urumqi to "soothe tensions" following a fresh round of rioting caused by rumors of "syringe stabbings". Doubtlessly, the city's Uighurs were just dying to have a word with government agents telling them to stay calm. This whole "rioting" thing was just a misunderstanding that distracts from the glory of Han rule and the impending dissolution of archaic and decadent Uighur cultural habits, you see.

The big question (still) left unexamined by Beijing: whether the state sponsored migration of millions of Han Chinese to traditionally non-Chinese areas, like Xinjiang and Tibet may have something to do with the surliness of the natives towards the central government.

Super Mario says...

Make your own Mario message!

Japanese women into cosplay?

Via Sankaku Complex (I know, I know ...) comes news that 30% of women in Japan have either tried cosplay, or are interested in trying it. The article goes onto break down the numbers even further, by saying 17.5% listed "anime and manga" as their primary interest, followed by 14.7% listing kigurumi as their primary interest, and finally, "maid and waitress" and military uniforms rounding it out (entire article here).

Since I regard cosplay with a special form of horror reserved for normal people, I'd be interested in hearing from the fans on this one, especially women. What's the allure? Anyone?

"Then they said, 'Oink, oink, Hitler' ... "

Wait ... what the fuck? Is he auditioning for Disgrasian or something?


BONUS FOOTAGE:

A challenger appears!

Who was that masked man?

Apparently, Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash thought the Chinese are so unable to distinguish white people from one another, that he could conceal his identity from the locals on a Beijing municipal basketball court with nothing more than messed up looking aviator goggles and a bandanna.

Nope. That trick doesn't work. Quoth Nash:

"I had on a Chinese opera bandana and I had on some protective goggles," Nash told the AFP, laughing.

"As soon as I walked on they recognized me. It didn't really work."

Who could guess that it would hard to remain incognito when you're the two time NBA MVP in a country with a half billion professional basketball fans?

Recycled Glass

Against my better judgment, I occasionally see what's cooking over at Sankaku Complex (I just read it for the articles - I swear). Lo and behold, I found something for fans of healthy lungs and fenestraphiles alike. Did I mention this isn't even vaguely safe for work? I should probably mention that.

Anyways, unless I'm missing some greater meaning or linguistic/visual pun that only makes sense in Japanese, sometimes tits on glass aren't a metaphor for life - they're about people fapping like caged monkeys to tits against glass. I'm glad the geniuses at SC were able to help me grasp this very important lesson.

China crushes Tomato Garden

The Chinese government officially buried the most infamous (and some would say, successful) software piracy scheme in history when four of people behind the distribution of pirated Microsoft operating systems were jailed and fined for their part in distributing the infamous "Tomato Garden" versions of Windows XP distributed from the tomatolei.com website.

Tomato Garden versions of Windows are like regular Windows with all copy protections bypassed, but were also ineligible for software and security updates distributed by Microsoft, and as anyone who works in internet security is only too aware of, Tomato Garden XP is responsible for millions upon countless millions of rampant unchecked security threats thanks to the complete and utter lack of software updates available to fix Microsoft security vulnerabilities exploited by malware programmers.

So why was Tomato Garden so popular when Microsoft sold legal copies of Windows XP at an extremely competitive price in China? I'll leave it to a cynic, or Chinese software consumer, to answer this one.

Arm Wrestling challenge!

Wow a whole family. The girl can now beat up all the guys who hit on her! :)

Summer Bitch Festival

Source: English Funny

How does this leak out? How do you not know?

Lotte is a sponsor! Lotte is a huge food company, they can't be happy.

I know the English in Korea isn't 100% perfect, but how the hell can they mess up this badly?

Tiger Tamed!

Tiger had never lost when having a share of the 54-hole lead in the Major. It had to happen one day, but when?

It finally happened, and the man is Yong Eun Yang of South Korea. And he won by 3 shots!

He became the first Asian-born player to win a men’s major golf championship.

To think that not only would Tiger lose with a two-shot lead, but lose to the guy playing head-to-head in his group is pretty remarkable. Tiger usually demolishes his playing partner in final rounds.

I believe the thing that got Yang over the top was no fear. Alot of players would be timid and scared of Tiger and the big galleries. After Yang's chip-in Eagle on 14, I wonder how he would play with the lead. Would he play safe, be nervous, be scared.

Not at all. his approaches on 16 and 18 were aimed right at the flag going for birdie. Not playing safe to the middle of the green and playing for par. His only hiccup was the 3-putt on 17 when he showed signs of nerves. BUt Tiger couldn't take advantage.


Youtube Link


Youtube Link

NBC Store - Conan O'Brien

Conan checks out the corner store...And makes a new friend!



LOL!

It's a fork not a FUCK!

I hope he becomes a recurring character on the show! Sort of like Rupert Jee on Letterman.

Can You Pass The Smile Test?

She has a nice smile :)

THE BIG Lingerie Store

Here are some videos of a 1400 square feet Lingerie Store in Singapore

Mood Simulator


Guys Are Allowed in Here!


The Right Bra



Couples fitting room! Men can see women try on stuff for them? Are you thinking what I'm thinking? :) Just don't make any weird noises :)

How bout not being so sensitive!

Source: StarTribune

I'm not important enough to warrant a beer summit. But I did get a bottle of water out of the deal.

Last week, as the rest of the country tried to forget the unpleasant confrontation between Harvard Prof. Henry Louis Gates and Cambridge police officer James Crowley, I had my own Gates-Crowley moment.

I went to Fridley to interview the president of a large manufacturing company. I arrived a few minutes before noon and told the receptionist at the front desk I was looking for the president's executive assistant.

"Oh. Are you delivering food?" she asked.

Oh, no, she didn't!

It wasn't the first time I was mistaken for a Chinese food delivery guy. In college, I had arrived at my girlfriend's dorm with dinner and the front desk dude assumed just that. I was embarrassed, to be sure, but let it go. That's the burden of being a Chinese-American with a penchant for baseball caps, jeans and takeout food.

Yet the receptionist's inquiry stunned me. I was wearing a dress shirt, black slacks and black dress shoes. True, I was sporting a backpack and sunglasses, but how many food delivery guys whip out kung pao chicken from a Gap bag?

After realizing her error, the receptionist offered a rather clumsy explanation. "I only asked because [the executive assistant] always orders food," she said.

Nice try, lady. Someone's not getting a Christmas card this year.

Maybe I'm being too harsh. At least she didn't speak extra slowly and offer a tip.

As I drove back to the office, chugging the bottle of water the company had given me, I chuckled to myself. I wasn't too upset. The receptionist seemed way more embarrassed than I was.

But then I told the story to friends and colleagues. I expected them to laugh and sympathize. Instead they offered several explanations, everything except what seemed obvious to me.

Yeah it's only obvious to you cause you're damn sensitive.

And why were you embarassed? You got something against delivery workers that you feel EMBARASSED to be called one? Many people start out working in Chinese restaurants. Entire families are supported by one delivery guy job. You should be ashamed.

Last I checked secretaries are quite busy and they're not going to notice everything. Let's say her boss ordered Chinese food, so she's just asking if this is food. If the delivery guy walked in and she mistakened him for the journalist, do you think he would be as upset as you?

Secretaries deal with hundreds of people a day plus a bazillion phone lines. So she thought you were someone you're not.. boohoo. She apologized for it. If it were me, I would have just ignored it, but instead you made a person feel bad for a mistake, hope you're proud of yourself.

This whining is newsworthy? Some newspaper editor accepted this? This isn't journalism. This is something a little blog like mine would write about!

Not everything is racist you know.

Dallas Police Look to Hire More Asian Officers

Source: NBC Dallas

Dallas Police recruiters want to hire more Asian officers as the city's Asian population grows.

Police say it’s important for the Asian community to be well represented in the department.

“Seeing and encountering an Asian officer that can speak their language, understand their culture, can help rebuild the trusting relationship,” said 6-year Dallas Police veteran Dac Nguyen.

Nguyen moved to Dallas from Vietnam 17 years ago. He said people in his home country have an inherent distrust of law enforcement that often persists even after moving to the United States.

“Culturally, law enforcement has been viewed and seen as corrupted, abusive and incompetent in the eyes of the Vietnamese community,” he said.

So getting officers that look like the corrupt officers in the old Vietnam will help right?

Korean business leaders said they would also like to see more Asian officers on the Dallas Police force.

“Bi-lingual is the key,” said Mike Lee, the president of the Greater Dallas Korean American Chamber of Commerce.

“If an officer can speak Korean he will get more information from Korean victims and witnesses," Lee said. "The goal is to build trust between community and law enforcement.”

Again wrong.

This main problem with the small Asian communities in North American is that everyone knows everyone and everyone talks. The gossip is usually pretty embarrassing.

So let's say for example I was raped or beaten. The last thing I would want is a Asian police officer coming to the house. If feel a white officer would better protect my identity and write a proper report. An Asian officer would most likely:

A) know me
B) know the guy who beat me
C) know my parents

He would be biased which may or may not help the case.
Also he would tell someone.. "hey did you know Tracy's bf, beats her! What a shame."

So honestly if there were alot of Asian cops around my neighbourhood, I wouldn't report shit.

The language argument is a load of bull to me. It's the job of Asians to speak English, not officers to speak Vietnamese or anything else.

Crazy Japanese Minivan Designs

Source: World Famous Design Junkies

A tribute to the little vans and trucks most commonly found in Japan. Suited to their small, tight streets and spaces, these automobiles have a rich history and continue on in service today.

WOW! That looks pretty cool! Not sure I'd ride in such a car cause it does look a bit silly. But one has to admire Japanese creativity.

So tiny. But there's enough room in the back for a little romp :)




See all the pictures HERE.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Sets Guinness Record

Source: Anime News Network

Konami Digital Entertainment has announced on Friday that Guinness World Records has recognized Yu-Gi-Oh! as the best-selling trading card game to date with over 22,587,728,173 cards sold as of April 2009. The game entered the record books on July 7. The official announcement was made at the 7th annual Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game World Championship in Tokyo. Kazuki Takahashi drew the original manga from 1996 to 2004, and the card game first shipped in 1999 and eventually spread to over 45 countries. Konami had applied for the record back in 2006, when "only" 15.8 billion cards had been sold.

That's alot of cards. I have some old ones lying around I think. From when I bought them for my niece. I wonder if they're worth anything :)

Jackie Chan fighting... computer viruses?

Youtube Link

If only that really worked!

Choco party? Good! Good!

In Japan, advertisers simply cut to the chase. I don't particularly like chocolate, but I think they've managed to sell me on this one.

Love is a battlefield

Source: Ananova

The couple, from Nanjing, are fascinated by anything to do with the military, reports Wuzhou Daily.

"We love war movies especially," said husband Wang Mian, adding that the couple also enjoyed war games.

"War is for peace, and war is for our home, our parents, wife and kids," he added.

The couple persuaded their wedding organisers to wear military uniforms and to take pictures of them in battlefield poses.

First, a gun-wielding Wang was photographed rescuing bride, Tian Houyu, from a shoot-out. Then they were pictured kissing while surrounded by soldiers performing a gunfire salute.

Tian added: "I love my husband. He's my lifelong war pal and companion. If anyone dares to invade our home, we'll fight together to the last moment."

That's very creative! And alot of hard work! It's better than a stupid 2km long train!

It's still too much work for me :)

Asian Ripoff LXXVII - Pretty Woman

Artist: Kaela Kimura
TV Series: Attention Please
Actress: Ueto Aya

Pretty cool sped up version of Pretty Woman. In the video you get to see all of Japan Airlines hostess uniforms over the years!


Youtube Link


Youtube Link

Yes if you're flying soon.. Please Enjoy The Fright :D

Chinese bride trains eye on wedding dress record

Source: Reuters

A Chinese bride is hoping to enter the record books after getting married in a wedding dress with a train more than 2 km (1.2 miles) long trailing behind her.

It took guests more than three hours to roll out the gown, complete with 9,999 silk red roses attached to it, in the northeastern province of Jilin, state news agency Xinhua said.

"Both the length of the dress and the number silk roses pinned on the wedding dress can make history," the report quoted groom Zhao Peng as saying.

Zhao, who has applied to Guinness World Records, said he was inspired after seeing a story on the previous record holder in Romania, where the dress measured just over 1.5 km.

"I do not want a cliche wedding parade or banquet," he said.

Bride Lin Rong "laughed and cried at the romantic gesture," Xinhua said.

The dress cost around 40,000 yuan ($5,856), which prompted initial opposition to the plan from his family.

"It is a waste of money in my opinion," said Zhao's mother. "Though I understand that he wants to show his love on the big day."

Cripes! Isn't planning a wedding stressful enough without having to deal with a 2km train! I know you want your wedding to be special but this is beyond stooopidity.

I want the simpliest of weddings with little stress as possible. I don't need a perfect day, I'd rather have a perfect wedding night (wink wink)

DNA tests for Chinese children

There's good and bad in this. This would put alot of pressure on kids at a young age to be either sporty, musical,or a brain. That's what China needs, more 8 year old gymnasts in the Olympics :)

On the good side it does give parents an idea of where their kid's strength is. Not everyone can be a doctor right? So force feeding a kid biology when a simple frog disection sends them off barfing in the bathroom is not a good idea. Something alot of Chinese-Canadian parents could learn.

"I am proud to be a brick in the statistics building of the PRC"

Source: Foreign Policy

As part of the myriad activities planned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China on Oct. 1, the normally staid National Bureau of Statistics is letting its hair down a bit.
The NBS has launched a call for submissions of writings celebrating the PRC’s big birthday as part of campaign called “Statistical Feelings: Together We Go – Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the Founding of New China.” The campaign is intended to boost the patriotic feelings and confidence of statisticians in their work.

One essay, submitted by an employee of the NBS industrial division, is titled “I Am Proud to Be a Brick in the Statistics Building of the PRC,” and reads like a prose poem, each paragraph leading with the title’s refrain.

A poem, “Love the Homeland, Love Statistics,” includes the following stanza:

Life
Some mock me for doing statistics
Some loathe me and statistics
Some don’t understand what statistics are
Why is it that statistics
Put a calm smile on my face?
Because of statistics
I can solve the deepest mysteries
Because of statistics
I will not be lonely again, playing in the data
Because of statistics
I can rearrange the stars in the skies above
Because of statistics
My life is different, more meaningful
I love my life, my statistics

That's pretty messed up. People can make a poem about pretty much every eh? Even statisticians need love right? They are very proud to be just part of the whole Chinese system!

Samples! It's all free!

Holy crap she talks fast! Their website is FR3B.
Looking at the website it seems to be some kind of points system or membership fee to get the good stuff. Looks interesting, I'd like to get pick a few free items, like makeup!

N. Korean leader reportedly pardons U.S. journalists

Source: CNN

North Korean President Kim Jong Il has pardoned and ordered the release of two U.S. journalists, state-run news agency KCNA said Wednesday.

The announcement came after former U.S. President Bill Clinton met with top North Korean officials in Pyongyang to appeal for the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who had been arrested while reporting from the border between North Korea and China.

"Clinton expressed words of sincere apology to Kim Jong Il for the hostile acts committed by the two American journalists against the DPRK after illegally intruding into it," the news agency reported. "Clinton courteously conveyed to Kim Jong Il an earnest request of the U.S. government to leniently pardon them and send them back home from a humanitarian point of view.

.....more

What a strange place North Korea is. There is absolutely no laws there at all. Looking at this from a neutral point of view, the two journalists are either guilty or not guilty right? How is it that they can be guilty and sentenced to 12 years in prison one minute and then because Bubba pays them a visit, they are now free! And that's all it took? Bill Clinton flys into the country, takes a few pictures and North Korea lets them go? I thought it would be much more difficult?

Two journalists = 1 photo-op :)


So strange. If I went and did something crazy, I'm not sure my Prime Minister could get me pardoned even though I live in his riding and I am his friend *wink wink wink*

As happy as I am that the journalists are free, this is not good precedence. Now North Korea can do anything they want (like arrest people) and the US will have make a deal each time!

So happens now? Does the US play nice to get a couple of journalists out and then go back to being tough? We'll see.

----

All the jokes are coming out now, like:

When Bill Clinton wants to bring home two women at the same time, not even North Korea can stop him! :D

Iraqi female wrestlers

Every Olympic cycle you hear "Why is this athlete allowed to compete if they finish so far back dead last" or "Why go if you can't win a medal, it's pointless".

So here is a story well in advance. If you ever see an Iraqi female wrestler in the Summer Olympics of 2012, 2016 or later, even if she finishes dead last, you will understand this wonderful achievement and the barriers she had to breakdown to get there.

Japan Back Then, Japan Now

@IainDelaney sent me this.



Where did it all go wrong?

Hong Kong: Ani-Com and Games

Source: Calgary Herald

Young fans of anime and comics pose in their costumes during the Ani-Com and Games Hong Kong (ACGHK) fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on July 31, 2009. Cosplay, which combines costume and roleplay based on characterisations in Japanese manga, graphic novels and video games, is popular among youngsters in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.

Once a year Hong Kong kids get together to go crazy on the latest in the world of comics and plastic figurines at the Ani-Com & Games Hong Kong. The kids with fertile imaginations let them run riot in the (mostly Japanese-inspired) world of super heroes and cartoon characters, whether that be in 'graphic novels' or computer games, or both. Looks like any other anime convention. I need to get my ass to Calgary's Otafest one of these years. I went like 10 years ago and am still a little scarred.

Becoming China’s First NFL Kicker

Source: China Sports Review

“Steve” Yue Wang’s eyes light up when you talk football. He doesn’t have any favorite players or memorable moments, either from watching or playing. He can’t rattle off any statistics. He’s never really played the game. These are all things the average American has done if they’re into football.

But Wang isn’t American. He just knows he enjoys football.

“I know the game of soccer, but it isn’t worth it anymore,” says Wang. “I am tired of playing [soccer]. Football is so new, and it is just different.”

Wang, a senior at Cumberland University in Nashville, Tenn., has played soccer all his life. Soccer is what Wang has to do. He’s on a soccer scholarship, which has opened the doors for an education that includes double majoring in both business management and marketing. He holds a 3.7 overall GPA. He plays jazz and blues music in his free time. He picked the English name “Steve” because he says Ray Vaughn sounds like Yue Wang (pronounced like ‘u-way wang’), and he always enjoyed Stevie Ray Vaughn’s music.

But this is a story about what Wang wants to do: Become the first professional Chinese kicker in the National Football League. And to understand what Wang wants to do, it is essential to understand where he comes from and how he’s gotten to this point.

.....more

Longshot at best. There are many good kickers in the NFL and many more coming up in the college ranks. The job of a kicker in the NFL is already one of the most stressful out there. Sure they don't get hit or anything but alot of the time, an entire game could come down to the last FG. Now add to that pressure, the hopes of an entire nation! That's just too much.