Friday, July 3, 2009

Quintessence #2

  1. American tennis thrives at Wimbledon - On the July 4 weekend, the Stars and Stripes can really stick it to the Brits in their own backyard. Venus and Serena Williams will square off in the ladies' championship match on Saturday, while Andy Roddick will play in the mens' final on Sunday after trouncing Britain's favorite son Andy Murray. The grass at SW16 will also showcased the depth of U.S. tennis, with American duos featuring in both doubles' championship matches (the Williams in the ladies' draw, twin brothers Mike and Bob Bryan on the mens'). The future looks bright too: three Americans were in the final eight of the boys' singles draw, including Jordan Cox, who will play for the boys' championship on Saturday. The resurgence should appease critics who think American success in tennis is on the decline.
  2. Free music at Amazon! Go buy your version of The Star-Spangled Banner! Go ahead, browse through hundreds of choices. Props to Kronos Quartet for twittering about it; they've created a version of the national anthem inspired by Jimi Hendrix's cover.
  3. Taste of Springfield - So far I've had the jambalaya from Augie's, the horseshoe from Catie Girls', the schnitzel from the German Club (outside ToS, but good nonetheless), baklava from Holy Land and shrimp and rice from the Plaza. Where has this Springfield food been all of my life? You can't help but give props to the organizers and the event; restaurants get some great visibility and attract new customers while visitors enjoy some tasty dishes at discounted prices. I didn't see a ToS plate that cost more than $5 . I easily counted three more places to try tomorrow, fireworks be damned!
  4. Springfield Farmers' Market - I ride a bike. I rarely visit the grocery store. So when I get the chance to buy fresh, delicious produce near my workplace, I leap at (or pedal to) the opportunity. My weekly goal is to try a fruit or vegetable I've never prepared and/or tasted; two weeks ago it was kale, last week it was rainbow chord. Oh, the savory mysteries of the farmers market.
  5. The rights and liberties afforded to citizens in the United States of America - Because things could be worse.

Monday, June 29, 2009

Quintessence #1

Welcome to the first of Quintessence, a new series of posts where I espouse about 5 things that I have discovered today (and preferably like) using a maximum of 5 sentences.
  1. People who run across the country: Katie Visco, 23, is an Illinois girl who is running from Boston, Massachusetts to San Diego, California. Boston to San Diego! She just finished a visit home and is now moving through Indiana. Her journey will help promote and raise funds for Girls on the Run. Follow Katie's journey.
  2. People who bike across the country: As I rode on my bike home from work, I noticed a young man and woman with matching Giant bikes and biking uniforms strolling around the church on the corner of Edwards and Walnut. Curious, I pedaled over to them and asked them if they knew of any bike trails in Springfield. Turns out they weren't from Illinois at all! They're from a group called Bike and Build, which is devoted to constructing new, affordable housing while cycling across the U.S. You can also meet George and Marisa, the two kind souls I biked into, who are going from Providence, Rhode Island, to my old stomping grounds, San Francisco, California.
  3. This article on how you're not a print journalist unless life's kicking your ass.
  4. The appropriately titled "Warm" by Owen Jay, a deep house DJ from the Mediterranean island of Malta. I imagine I could produce this sort of subtle, easy-on-the-ears music if I were from a Mediterranean island. I discovered this track while listening to Deeper Shades of House podcast #299 by Los Angeles-based DJ Lars Behrenroft. "Peepshow" and its layered melodies also provide a good listen.
  5. These ridiculously sick mixtapes, I mean, business cards.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Journalistic Movies

I watched Gran Torino Saturday night and I was surprised at its intentionally and unintentionally comedic qualities. Clint Eastwood's character is a Korean War veteran and recent widow who must confront the growing Hmong population in his own neighborhood. I told someone shortly after that it was an interesting mix of "whimsical and violent."

Recommended...and it might have been highly recommended save for some "forced" efforts from Eastwood and cast. Sometimes, Eastwood fits the tough guy role, but sometimes it seems like he's forcing his spew of racial epitaphs. Because the film used a lot of non-professional actors, the film comes off as natural but unpolished. Torino does redeem itself by balancing out whimsical, lighthearted moments with action and suspense.

Even though Eastwood hurls constant demeaning insults, viewers should avoid pigeonholing the story as racist. A viewer could make the valid argument that in the film, Asian American men are emasculated; Asian American scholar Helen Zia once said that Asian American entertainment roles are limited to geeks, gooks, gangstas and geishas, all of which are in the film. But I feel that comprehensively deconstructing the story would prove mostly fruitless. The film touches upon race relations and fluctuating demographics, but I feel that the story would have been similar had Eastwood been confronted with a Latino or African American family. The story's writers are from Minnesota, so it makes sense that they focused on the state's growing Hmong population and resulting racial tensions. But the film really seems more like a power struggle between Eastwood and "minority" neighbors, not necessarily Asian Americans.


While watching the previews, I couldn't help but notice that films are focusing on journalists as lead characters. The Soloist describes the true story of Los Angeles Times reporter Steve Lopez and his relationship with classical musician Nathaniel Ayers. State of Play is based off the BBC drama series and centers on journalists investigating a scandal-laden politician.

Add those to movie playing right now.
Frost/Nixon dramatizes the heavyweight encounter between David Frost and President Richard Nixon. In Marley & Me, John Grogan pens humorous and sentimental columns on his rambunctious mutt Marley.

Why the boon in journalist-movies?

One reason is that viewers easily relate to onscreen journalists because viewers can join these journalists on their discoveries to uncover truth. The viewers are learning at the same time as their journalistic counterparts. The viewers immerse themselves in the journalists' stories.

Another reason is that a journalist as a lead character can lend credibility to the film. All of the aforementioned films except for State of Play are based on true stories. But that does not mean that any of these films portray "pure" truth.

I find it interesting that before the Illinois House voted on Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment, a couple of legislators explained that they had seen Frost/Nixon and cited it as a warning against corrupt politicians.

Of course, the film is a dramatization, as one of the original researchers for David Frost (and a consultant for the film) notes.

But legislators cited the film because it was based on true events.

Films that dramatize journalism nonetheless contain legitimacy. Journalism lends that credibility.

Finally, journalist movies are feel-good movies. Journalists are portrayed as tireless, persistent do-gooders whose sole fault is their stubbornness. Note how with these journalistic movies, the journalists are always the "good" guys? Not a single bad apple among them.

Which is how journalists are in reality, too.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

In light of my blabberiness...

I just read my last post from 9/30. What garbage. Half of it doesn't make sense. Blabber blabber blabber.

If I'm going to be considered a serious journalist, I need to write serious, journalistic type stuff. Seriously.

As such, I aspire to write a one-page wire service article about myself and the day's occurrences. It will force me to write serious stuff. Seriously.

And it'll also get me acquainted to this AP Stylebook thingamajigger.

I would include today's KL Daily post. But it's personal. Maybe you'll get tomorrow's edition.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Random thoughts

It's been 50 days since I've posted here, and that's a travesty. A lot has happened since then, including my move to Springfield, starting college again, getting used to random weather, visiting Toby and An on their trip out here to Chicago, meeting with my PAR mates, and the like.

So in no particular order, here are some thoughts:
1) One of my freelance editors got laid off earlier today due to tightened budgets at the publication. This is a devastating blow to me. "Editor" gave me my first legitimate chance to get my name into Bay Area print while I was in college and after I graduated. If he did not provide that outlet, I'm not sure where I would be right now. Would I have worked at KQED? Would I be at UIS now? There are some people who make an indelible mark on a life, and "editor" made such a mark on mine. I wish him nothing but the best.

The situation also illustrates the grim reality for journalism: the market sucks. Our business was already on the decline with the technology gap, and now it's really taking body blows from all this financial chaos. I'm glad I'm still in school!

2) The Daily Show just aint what it used to be. Don't get me wrong, Jon Stewart 1) has impeccable delivery and 2) provides extremely astute interviews with guests. But his one-sided pandering on the show has worn on me. The Daily Show used to be an escape, a chance to laugh at mainstream news coverage and the happenings around the world. But now, it's just endless bashing on McCain and Bush. Don't get me wrong, bashing on politicians can be funny. With Stewart and gang, the schtick is getting old. Before, they recognized they were a comedy group acting as a news show. Now, they're acting more like Olbermann's Countdown, with comedy. For me, it's not quite as funny.

The Colbert Report, on the other hand, has found that balance between humor and preaching. Colbert, in his bombastic conservative caricature, has thoroughly and brilliantly satirized the right-winged media pundit. He's not directly bashing Republicans; he's insinuating their flaws by exaggerating his own delivery and appearance. Colbert's smooth and suave compared to Stewart's newfound brusqueness. With the way the shows are set up, you think it'd be the opposite.

3) Burn After Reading was...not exactly a great movie but an insightful one. I found myself writing a 500-word treatise on it afterwards, connecting characters and their personalities to my own life. The main theme resonated with me: people are impulsive, selfish, and don't really know what they're doing with their lives. It's a harrowing take on life, but the way the Coen brothers present it, it's darkly humorous, absurdist. The presentation might make the movie more frightening, because we acknowlege that we are impulsive and selfish...and willingly, laughingly accept it. In No Country for Old Men, the Coen brothers present us with a person so demonic, so sinister, that no one can hope to relate to him. In Burn, we relate to every character, be it the womanizing Clooney or the looks-obsessed McDormad or the smiling idiot Pitt.

4) I'm getting turntables! My friend Ian has been kind enough to seek out a pair for me and is in the process of shipping them out. I will resume my career as DJ extraordinare...right after I start practicing.

I do need
1) Needles
2) Mixer
3) Receiver
4) Speakers
5) Vinyl
6) Serato (possibly)

But the tanks are on their way...I just need to get the ammunition.

5) I am realllly looking forward to the Chicago trip. I've contacted some members of the Asian American Journalist Association, of which I am now a proud, dues-paying member, and I am lookin forward to meeting with some people there. I am also looking forward to doing some crate digging....and perhaps some club-hopping?

6)
Johan Vermeulen - "Third of Five" (Dyami)
What a lush track. You can chill to this on the beach, you can throw this down in a club. I just love the warm synths.

Deadmau5 and Kaskade - "I Remember" (mau5trap)
Epic and bordering on commercial...but I listen to it. And enjoy it. Great peaktime stuff. Both of them are touring right now. Ian said the mau5 played everything, from Kaskade to Audion. Eh?

Inkfish and David West - "Hello Piano" (Mistakes Music)
Uplifting cut of house music, with an addictive piano loop and some accentuating strings. Perhaps a bit over the top...the Sebastian Leger remix is good for peaktime, but the piano sample is used only on the breakdown, then disappears. I like the rearrangment of beats...then strings...then piano.

Devilfish and Roel Salemink - "Manalive" (Bush)
The original is a good old techno mix, but Jon Rundell provides almost a dub with a staggering breakdown in the middle. Perfect for raising your hands.

Bassnectar - "Art of Revolution"
Man, I listened to this thick dubstep track on their Myspace...and can't wait for the track's imminent release. They're in Chicago on Thursday! Maybe I'll go check them out...

Brightblack Morning Light - "Hologram Buffalo"
Kinda bluesy, kinda loungy, a little psychadelic... this is one of those songs I could imagine in my head as I'm walking back home from a long night out. I seem to like a lot of those types of songs.

I do need to check out the new Fujiya & Miyagi CD. Must...temper...expectations.

That is all.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Here we go...

I'm a little tired, a little buzzed off adrenaline. The day of the triathlon is here.
Save for a short half-hour ride on my bike, I've done very little the past few days in hopes of resting my body. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me in the ass.

The wetsuit I bought from some Orinda-based college student cost $60. I bought it from him on Friday after he decided to drop by Buffalo Exchange, saving Sofie and me a drive. The bike I inherited from my uncle on Wednesday...I've pumped the tires, but my adjustments to the brakes have proven mostly inadequate. Basically, whenever I squeeze on them, the actual pads just kind of stick to the wheel. Not good.
My basic goal is to ride without braking. Yeah, smart I know. I'm hoping I can find somebody to bail me out.

I hear Sofie getting ready in the background, and the immediacy of the moment kind of hits. A lot of things could go wrong. I could drown. I could fall off the bike and cause a pile-up crash. But I have to shut that all out. Michael Phelps! Think Michael Phelps. (400m in 3:43? C'mon...)

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Hoo boy

Triathlon training, 4 days to go.
I've been swimming with some consistency.
I swam 600m in the warm pool over at Hearst Gym a few days ago. Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. I think I can swim the distance, I know I can bike and run the distances. It's just a matter of putting it all together.

I feel like the swim will still cause me the most troubles. 600-700m in cold water with tides.

Doing a triathlon is kind of rough on the wallet. $95 for registration, $60 for running shoes, goggles, swimcap. And I still need,

-A bike
-A helmet
-A wetsuit
-A watch

Almost as much as tuition for grad school...

I spent the weekend with Dan and his SDSU buddy Steve over in LA. We went to the Kollaboration acoustic show on Saturday and the ProjektNewSpeak sketch comedy show on Sunday. Both were great and provided reminders of the importance of Asian American participation in the arts. As the Kollaboration motto goes, "Empowerment through Entertainment." I look at Dan and sometimes feel like I'm not involved enough with the Asian American community, so seeing Dan so energetic and invested provides an impetus. He derives great enjoyment out of it because he has this group of people to share his passion.

Top ten moments from the weekend:
1) ProjektNewSpeak: Creative, fun-filled, would do it again in a heartbeat.
2) Kollaboration Acoustic 2: Displayed a tremendous amount of variety and talent throughout the show.
3) Meeting Karin Anna Cheung: She showed up at both events, and I finally worked up the courage to talk to her, praising her for her involvement with Project Michelle. Not that she needs the praise.
4) Participating with Project Michelle: Four cotton swabs might help save a life? Count me in.
5) Pink's: I had some sort of ridiculous Poli-Burrito Dog- 2 polish dogs wrapped in a flour tortilla, stuffed with bacon, chili, onions, and cheese. One of the great greasy late night joints I've experienced. Dan, Steve, and I waited for an hour in line, the group wrapped around the place. I can see why. Did I mention I had fries with that?
6) Free Ugly Dolls! Advertising director for ProjektNewSpeak and good friend of Dan, Gina Lee was kind enough to pass me along a gift bag. One for my sis, one for Sofie, one for Dan...and all the rest for me!
7) Catch up with the family: Dim Sum, all four aunts on my mother's side, a little relaxation time with the folks...not a bad way to start off the weekend.

The Iron Giant just finished. What a great movie.