February 2nd 2005: Issue 26 What a week its been! By now you must have heard about the ruckass surrounding Hot 97's infamous Tsunami Song. I've been compiling a page of links, media, and press about the incident here. Also this week, don't forget to take advantage of both Tax Free Week thru Sunday and Restaurant week thru Friday, which is also in support of New York's Olympic Bid. Or reminisce on your childhood and enter a spelling bee. Big news in the Asian media world. With the onset of new intiatives like MTV World targeting the Chinese, Korean and Indian American communities and launching of companies like Imaginasian, the interest in Asian targeted (or based) media is growing exponentially. Recently, cable giant Comcast bought International Channel Networks (ICN), which it will eventually convert to an all-Asian network. I-Channel currently produces shows targeted towards Asians like Jeff Yangs Stir TV (now renewed for its 2nd season) and more recently EGG WestCoast, a video magazine program exploring the Korean American experience, targeted toward the 16 to 35 year-olds trying to strike a balance between the demands of their Korean heritage and of fitting into American society. Back in the motherland, it seems the conflict with North Korea is a bit too touchy for even the game industry. South Korea's Media Rating Board has rejected approval of Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2, which features commando missions into a conflict-wracked North Korea. Someone else should take care of looking out for other stuff that should be banned: Making Out in Korean: From Everyday Conversation to the Language of Love--A Guide to Korean as it's really spoken!. My favorite quote in the book: "Ssekki, jal isseonnya?". -ubn

GALLERY OPENING Archivist Of The “Yellow Peril” - Gallery Exhibition Opening NYU A/P/A Studies Thursday, February 3rd, 6:00 - 8:00pm A/P/A Studies Gallery 269 Mercer Street Suite 609 New York City www.apa.nyu.edu The Yoshio Kishi/Irene Sun Collection is a collection of rare artifacts that serves as the anchor to the A/P/A Studies Institute's Research Archives. Archivist of the “Yellow Peril” provides a glimpse into this collection - an extensive compilation of over 8,000 artifacts including photographs, films, cartoons, pulpmagazines, advertisements, sheet music, books, journals, and other memorabilia that relate to persons of Asian or Pacific Islander ancestry. Curated by historian, cultural activist, and A/P/A Studies Founding Director John Kuo Wei Tchen, this exhibit includes rare anti-Asian “Yellow Peril” documents and pieces made by New York Asian American activists in the 1960s. The Kishi/Sun Collection - built by Mr. Kishi, an award-winning Nisei film editor from New York City who has been collecting Asian/Pacific American materials for the past 40 years - is currently being purchased by A/P/A Studies and will serve as the foundation for the development of a premiere East Coast research archives that documents the wide-ranging, unknown and complex stories of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the Americas and beyond. Free and open to the public. Valid picture ID required to enter NYU buildings.

RECEPTION Establishing A Successful Niche Market Online Asian Women in Business Thursday, February 3rd, 6:00 - 9:00pm ChinaSprout 110 West 32nd Street, 6th Fl between 6th and 7th Avenue New York City AWIB Member: FREE, Non-Member: $30 www.awib.org Mark your calendars for a Lunar New Year reception and shopping spree as Asian Women In Business highlights ChinaSprout.com. An online retail store, ChinaSprout creatively weaves Chinese cultural elements into everything from chic clothes, accessories and jewelry to striking home furnishings. Xiaoning Wang, President, ChinaSprout, will give an exclusive peek inside her new showroom, and discuss how she capitalized on her awareness of Chinese culture to establish the thriving business she has today. Celebrate ChinaSprout' s recent expansion, as well as get a greater understanding of the Lunar New Year as Xiaoning explains the meaning behind its traditions. On top of that, walk away with a special 15% discount, available that night only when you shop at the showroom, and 10% off orders placed on ChinaSprout.com from February 3rd to February 9th, the Lunar New Year. Guests at the event will also have the chance to win a $100 gift certificate. Wine and traditional Chinese appetizers will be served. Space is limited, so reserve a spot early to guarantee admission.

FASHION SHOWCASE Burn it Up: Breakout Asian American Designers in Fashion The Asia Society Friday, February 4th, 6:00pm Asia Society and Museum 725 Park Avenue New York City http://www.asiasociety.org/pressroom/rel-burnitup.html Asia Society celebrates fashion week and showcases New York’s hottest Asian American designers in Burn It Up: Breakout Asian American Designers in Fashion. Christina Ha of Full Frontal Fashion will emcee the evening which consists of live performances, behind-the-scenes interviews, a fashion show, and installations of photography, video and performance art. Participating designers include: Maki Doherty-Ryoke for Susan Cianciolo Studio; Chrishabana, one of GenArt’s Fresh Faces of Fashion last season for accessories; Eugenia Kim, well known accessory, hat and shoes designer; Siri Kuptamethee of Indigo People; Mary Ping, this season’s Ecco Domani Foundation Winner; Tammy Tiranasar and Jean Yu. “ Burn It Up is a unique opportunity to see not only the amazing clothes and accessories that these designers are known for but also to get a glimpse of what inspires them as artists and what it takes to be a designer in the big city,” says Nancy Bulalacao, Asian American Programs Officer at Asia Society . “The event is planned to bring together artists from different communities and backgrounds and give them a forum unlike any other where they can not only showcase their work but share and engage in an exchange with other designers and artists.”

OPEN HOUSE Nodutdol for Korean Community Development Open House with Korean ritual Gosa and presentations Nodutdol for Korean Community Development Friday, February 4th, 6:30pm Nodutdol for Korean Community Development Office 53-22 Roosevelt Ave 2nd Floor Woodside, NY www.nodutdol.org | 718) 335-0419 This Friday, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development opens its new community center to the public, with Gosa (a traditional Korean ritual to bless the new space and welcome a new beginning), presentations and a reception. Founded in 1999 to promote the self-determination and unification of the Korean people through community development and grassroots organizing, Nodutdol has been active in community health, education and solidarity work in NYC. Nodutdol’s work includes health fairs, an after school youth program, the charter school project Stepping Stone, and classes in Korean and English language. Moreover, Nodutdol is engaged in solidarity work on issues ranging from immigration and health to U.S.foreign policy. Nodutdol is opening its new center at an auspicious time: 2005 marks the 5th anniversary of the historic June 15th joint summit between south and north Korea, a turning point in the 50-year long longing of Koreans for unification of their peninsula. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the liberation and division of the country, and the 25th anniversary of the Kwang-ju uprising - where 3,000 civilians lost their lives opposing the military dictatorship in south Korea. Nodutdol is taking this opportunity to renew its commitment to struggle and social justice and invites community members and press, friends, families, and peace and justice organizations to share common dreams, visions and future plans as well as good food and dialogue. This event is presented by Nodutdol for Korean Community Development. Nodutdol seeks to bridge the divisions of war, nation, gender, class, language, and generation by creating a broader definition of what it means to be Korean in the U.S. Nodutdol wants to create a Korean American community based on a common vision of democracy, social and economic justice, and self-determination.

EXHIBITION Asian & Masculine: A Body of Work Now thru February 11th Monday - Friday, 10:00am - 5:00pm, Saturday/Sunday 11:00am - 5:00pm The National Arts Club 15 Gramercy Park South New York City www.nationalartsclub.org Asian & Masculine: A Body of Work: A photographic exploration of under-represented Asian Male Beauty--Having spent five years of my life living in and traveling extensively through Asia, I have always been struck by the under-representation of Asian masculinity, particularly in Western culture, save for a few clumsy cliches. Further, in a sea of media imagery, the few spare islands of representation of the Asian male are, I find, unsexualized. The businessman, the effete, the martial artist, all wearing the proverbial fig leaf, or more specifically, devoid of a sexuality, not merely hidden but absent altogether. In Asian & Masculine, I set out to explore another side of Asian men seldom portrayed. One goal is to open some eyes to better appreciate and recognize Asian male beauty, wiping out typical stereotypes. This project features an eclectic mix of "everyday" models from various Asian backgrounds and different walks of life. 22 men from ages 19-42 representing 11 countries are featured. The collection of work is a gift to all - male, female, Asian, non-Asian, straight, gay - to highlight new figurations of both the universality and the individuality of Masculine Beauty.—Troy Phillips

CELEBRATION Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) Celebrations in Flushing 2005: The Year of the Rooster Saturday, February 5th - Sunday February 13th Manhattan and Flushing More Information The Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year celebrations in Flushing start Saturday, February 12. Don't miss Flushing's 10th annual Lunar New Year Parade, which will begin and end with fireworks. Flushing, Queens, is home to one of the largest Chinese and East Asian populations in New York City, rivaling Manhattan's Chinatown. Also celebrating and joining the parade are other East Asian groups in Queens, particularly the Korean community. See also other events earlier in January and February. There are also similar celebrations in Manhattan. Listings courtesy of About.com. For full information on all events go to http://gonyc.about.com/cs/holidays/a/chinesenewyear.htm Manhattan Events Lunar New Year Flower Market - Saturday, February 5th, and Sunday, February 6th In Chinese communities around the world, going to the flower market to purchase these holiday flowers is a popular way of welcoming in the Lunar New Year. Join hundreds of families as they prepare for the Year of the Rooster with this annual tradition one week before February 9th — the first day of Chinese New Year. Chinatown Lunar New Year Firecracker Ceremonies - Wednesday, February 9th The firecracker detonation, with expected attendance by local politicians and community leaders, is intended to ward off evil spirits. Massive stages will feature all-day cultural performances by traditional and contemporary Asian-American singers and dancers. Plus, a dozen lion, dragon and unicorn dance troupes will march through Chinatown’s main streets. 6th Annual Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade & Festival - Sunday, February 13th The spectacle features elaborate floats, marching bands, lion and dragon dances galore, Asian musicians, magicians, acrobats and procession by local organizations. Over 5,000 people are expected to march in the parade, which will start at Mott Street and promenade through practically every street in of Chinatown, finally dispersing at Worth Street. Flushing Events Saturday, February 5th Lunar New Year of the Rooster Festival at Flushing Library: Families, all ages will enjoy pan-Asian crafts, music, dances in colorful costumes, and more, throughout the library. Saturday, February 12th Lunar New Year Parade This is the highlight of the New Year celebrations in Flushing. Look for the dragon dance, steel drummers, and fireworks. Flushing Town Hall Lunar New Year Festival Chinese Food and Folk Performances at Flushing Mall The Chinese performers in the parade end the procession with a celebration at the Flushing Mall, where VIPs will give speeches and parade goers can check out the fab food court and the clothing and toy stores. Korean Lunar New Year Celebration at Flushing High School The Korean contingent of the parade will end the procession with a celebration at Flushing High School, where there will be Korean food booths, games, and singing and other talent competitions.

SYMPOSIUM Reshaping Democracy: Power and Participation of Immigrant-Based Communities of Color The Asian Pacific American Law Students' Association (APALSA), South Asian Law Students' Association (SALSA), and Latino/a Law Students' Association (LaLSA) at New York University School of Law Monday, February 7, 2005 NYU Vanderbilt Hall, Greenberg Lounge 40 Washington Square West New York City RSVP: tricia@nyu.edu | Info: carlinyuen@nyu.edu In the aftermath of the 2000 and 2004 elections, it is crucial to evaluate the role that immigrant-based communities play in our nation's political discourse. A body of scholarship on race and the law of the political process has emerged over the last decade, but there is a need to expand the focus beyond the Black/White paradigm. Rapidly changing demographics in many states signal that immigrant-based communities will play an increasing role in the political arena. As such, politicians can no longer afford to address the concerns of our communities in a marginal manner; however, there has been only a scattered effort to engage them to date. Our symposium will aim to build a space for discussion of the distinct concerns of distinct communities on the one hand, and building alliances across ethnic and geographic lines on the other. We will begin the day with a sociolegal discussion of the history of exclusion of minorities from the political process, inviting experts to comment on the adequacy of the Voting Rights Act and recent Supreme Court decisions for remedying historical deficiencies. Participants will then break out into four participatory workshops that examine contemporary barriers to meaningful participation and propose viable solutions through partnerships between legal academia, public representatives, and community activists. The symposium will then come back together for a second panel on elections 2000, 2004, and a vision for moving forward, which will prioritize challenges illuminated by the past two elections and deliberate on broader strategies for sustaining the voices of immigrant-based communities. In addition to the panels and workshops, we will be hosting an Organization Tabling and Networking event to introduce students of color to prominent civil and immigrant rights organizations offering legal internship opportunities.

COMEDY A List Comedy Friday February, 11th, 7:00pm Stand Up NY 236 West 78th Street New York City http://www.alistcomedy.com/NewYear.html A List Comedy showcases Asian American Comics all over the world. They gather together at Stand Up NY for one main purpose. To make you laugh. With everyday topics such as work (or lack of), relationships, family, fighting stereotypes, and all the little things we experience as Asian Americans, you just can't help but relate to each and every one of these comedians. With a perfect mix of jest and jokes, the A List will make you feel right at home.

BOOK RELEASE Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation by Hip-Hop Journalist Jeff Chang Asian American Writers' Workshop Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Wednesday, February 16th, 7:00 pm Asian American Writers' Workshop 16 West 32nd Street, Suite 10A New York City $5 suggested donation www.cantstopwontstop.com RSVP at 212) 494 - 0061 or desk@aaww.org Forged in the fires of the Bronx and Kingston, Jamaica, hip-hop became the Esperanto of youth rebellion and a generation-defining movement. In a post-civil rights era defined by deindustrialization and globalization, hip-hop crystallized a multiracial, polycultural generation's worldview, and transformed American politics and culture. But that epic story has never been told like this. From the gangs of the late 60s to the icons of the new millennium, from the Ghetto Brothers and Universal Zulu Nation organizations to the hip-hop activists, Can't Stop Won't Stop presents the hip-hop generation in all its grime and glory with breadth, wit, and style. Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, graffiti writers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip-hop's forebears, founders, and mavericks, including DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Chuck D, and Ice Cube, Can't Stop Won't Stop chronicles the events, the ideas, the music, and the art that marked the hip-hop generation's rise from the ashes of the 60s into the new millennium. Here is a powerful cultural and social history of the end of the American century, and a provocative look into the new world that the hip-hop generation created. Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation By Jeff Chang Followed by Panel Discussion with moderator: Joseph Patel, MTV News Panelists: Jeff Chang, Author Can't Stop Won't Stop Jin Tha MC, World Famous Battle Rhymer Serena Kim, Features Editor, Vibe Magazine Janet Tzou, Publisher, Mouther.com Introduction by DJ Kool Herc

JOB OPPORTUNITY Manager, Chairman's/ President's Circle and FOAA Asia Society www.asiasociety.org Responsible for planning, managing and coordinating of all phases of the Society's patron membership groups - Chairman's Circle, President's Circle and >Friends of Asian Arts. Identifies new members, cultivates existing members, oversees implementation of membership benefits and designs annual program of events. Master's degree and 4-5 years fundraising experience preferred with emphasis on cultivation and identification of major donors and working with volunteer committees. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with Raiser's Edge or other fundraising database programs. Supervisory experience preferred.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY Help Needed to Eliminate Anti_Asian Voting Barriers Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) February 2nd, 9th, 14th, 15th, 22nd, 23rd, 28th and March 2nd, 6:00 - 9:00pm AALDEF Office 99 Hudson Street 12th floor between Franklin and Worth Street New York City www.aaldef.org | votingrights@aaldef.org On Election Day, November 2nd, hundreds of Asian Americans reported voting problems to AALDEF’s poll monitors and election observers. AALDEF aims to remedy the problems so that they will not happen again and advocate for changes in local rules and state laws to make voting easer. AALDEF needs help to follow up with voters who encountered problems. We are calling all the voters who had reported problems to AALDEF on Election Day to: (1) get more details; (2) inquire about any developments (like notice from the Board of Elections that their ballots were not counted or that they were not registered); and (3) determine whether the voter would be willing to speak publicly about the incident. Afterwards, we need a detailed summary of each voter’s response. The calls will be made from AALDEF on the following volunteer nights. The office will be open from 6:00 to 9:00 PM.