You know it was only a matter of time. And luckily, this video is done very well. And how do we judge that? Because this shit is true — and because it’s true, it’s funny. And a little sad. But you know…laugh to keep from cryin’ and all that jazz!
Real talk. Cheers to you, Cindy Fang of Grumpy Panda!
Now someone should step up and do a “Shit White Guys Say…to Asian Guys”. Or “Shit Asian Girls Say…to Asian Guys”. Even more real talk!
I’m not a big fan of Abercrombie (its clothes OR its racist T-shirts and discriminatory practices towards employees of color), but what I AM a fan of is shirtless men. And since it’s been a long ass week and we could all use a little reward for our eyeballs, I’m reposting some pics from the shirtless army that accompanied the opening of the A&F flagship store in Singapore today. Aaa-oo-gahh!
photo by Desmond Lim
My only gripe is: just five of the 40 models were local! Could use more Singaporean. And less open-toed sandals.
Whoops! Abercrotch.
photo by Desmond Lim
Double whoops.
photo by Desmond Lim
Check out more photos of manly chesticles here.
Thanks Char Char!
What do you get when you marry gentrification with self-absorbed “creative types” and a splash of exotification?
CHUMBO! NYC’s latest “cool” neighborhood (sorry Bushwick)! Known among the common folk as uh, Chinatown or East Chinatown — new settlers (read: high-rent, non-Asian, yipsters) have taken it upon themselves to unofficially re-name their new “hood” by combining Chinatown & Dumbo to reflect it’s um, edginess. Synergy!
A recent Wall Street Journal article called “Cool Arrives in a Slice of Chinatown” gives an earnest nod to the up-and-coming CHUMBO!, saying: “Upscale restaurants such as Fat Radish and Pulqueria and nightclubs such as the soon-to-open Le Baron have popped up as the Lower East Side nightlife district spills into Chinatown, bringing with them fashionistas, expensive cocktails and new high-rise apartments” (Curbed gives a more critical angle here).
The WSJ also profiles several of the newer residents, who naturally come off like pretentious douchebags. Billy Rennekamp, a 25-year-old artist who decided to move to Bayard Street (arrrrghh!! nooo!) from Berlin, says “[Chinatown] is the last cool neighborhood on the island (Gaakk!)….the most attractive place for an artist today”. (BLARG!) “It’s a typical setting for avant-garde activity.” FFFFFUUUUU!
Yes, I can just imagine Billy being totally avant-garde by shoving his Canon EOS IDs Mark III into the face of some old Pau Pau struggling across Bayard with her sacks of groceries. White people love doing that shit. Cutting-edge cultural exposé, dude!
Uh, your avant-ness is blocking traffic, Billy.
So who loses in all of this giddy trendiness? Low-income, longtime Asian residents of course, who due to limited English, mobility, poverty, and a host of other reasons, are severely restricted in their choice of places to live. The most obvious, and thus saddest, quote from the article is from Yan Chen, “a 19-year-old resident concerned about being able to live in the neighborhood and with people she grew up with: “Chinatown is important for Chinese people“.
What can be done to protect the ethnic integrity of a neighborhood, and thus the people whose cultural and economic well-being are dependent upon it? Community-based advocacy groups CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities and the Urban Justice Center released a report yesterday that: ...offers up an alternative vision for rezoning Chinatown and calls for the creation of a Special Zoning District around the area. “Reimaging Rezoning” is based on extensive community research…The report highlights the need for protections for residents and businesses and details how rezoning the area can curb harassment and gentrification. Read “Reimaging Rezoning: A Chinatown for Residents is a Chinatown for All” here.
via Curbed and Wall Street Journal
Thanks Char Char! Keep an eye out and a bottle of hot fish sauce for Billy!
Clothing giant Forever 21, owned by the Chang family (who BTW are devout Christians…check the John 3:16 printed on the bottom of each bag), is no stranger to controversy. They’ve been boycotted by factory workers for poor working conditions and back payroll, featured in the sweatshop documentary Made in L.A., and even sued by Gwen Stefani for ripping off her Harajuku Lovers designs (O, the irony!).
More recently, they’ve been called out for selling apparel that is sexist or plays on racial stereotypes and motifs, such as “Navajo” panties and bags (following suit with Urban Outfitters). Apparently, Forever has no intention of curbing this sort of merch, as Fashionista‘s Dhani Mau spotted Native American girl and “Oriental Girl” necklaces just this week. One woman has started a petition to remove the necklace — which is for serious called “Oriental Girl”– here).
images via Fashionista
A quick browse of the Forever 21 site turns up other similarly questionable items:
This makes me sad. Aside from the obvious reasons, Forever is like, one out of three places I ever shop. Get your shit together Forever, so I can buy my cheap poly-blend threads guilt-free!
Thanks Char Char!
…Like a BAOOUUWS!
Ling Valentine is a Chinese British immigrant whose star has fast risen to become the UK Queen of car leasing — selling over £1m worth of cars every month through her site LINGsCARS.com (which is likely to give you a seizure).
On her Twitter, she describes herself as: “Boss of LINGsCARS.com – Female Chinese immigrant in UK. I speak Chinglish, have a Chemistry degree and a Masters in Environmental stuff. I’m real, reply & bite.”
She advertises her biz by parking a Chinese Nuclear Missile Truck and a London double decker bus along the A-1 Highway, which has apparently been a very successful marketing strategy.
In 2007, Ling appeared on the show Dragons’ Den (the US counterpart is Shark Tank) to pitch her business to a bunch of loaded tycoons. One investor actually offered her £25,000 for a 20% share of the company…and she shot him down!
Not only did Ling reject the offer whilst wearing green raver pants, she threw in: “Well, Chinese eat dragons for breakfast…Thank you for your money. I refuse it.” BOOM!! PWNED! Ling Valentine is my hero.
Today’s Friday Fuckery is brought to you by the decision of these two to take the first step in the magical journey towards divorce: actress Brenda Song (Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and the role of psycho Asian tramp in The Social Network) and Trace Cyrus (brother of Miley, “musician”, high school dropout, and exemplar of poor decision-making).
Again, there is just no excuse for that breastplate. Maybe if you're an extra in a "Dances With Wolves" remake. Still, though.
Seriously.
That is all.
At first I thought this video clip on “Oriental demons” was about Michelle Malkin, but it turns out these god-fearin folks are talking about none other than those much-beloved Pokémons!
Y’know, sometimes I too have been accused of turning into an “Oriental demon” after a few shots of whateversinfrontofme, and am also easily led into fighting random street animals. I hope the Club36 Watchmen don’t come after my candy ass! Blame it on the Goose, blame it on Henny!
p.s. – WHERE do you get 100 ravens?
thanks Loubs!
photo: Robert Sutton/AP
Judge Blackburn
photo: Campus Progress
photo by Jamie R. Liu/DCist
Chipotle, the national burrito chain seen across the street from every frickin’ college campus, is expanding its model into Southeast Asian food. Its new venture (with the first location in DC) is called ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen. And like its father company, ShopHouse will feature quick, viewable, assembly-line preparation.
Jamie R. Liu/DCist
From a DCist review:
Diners can choose between two entree styles: bowls ($6.59-7.50) and banh mi ($6.14-7.05). The protein selections include grilled chicken satay, pork and chicken meatballs, grilled steak or organic tofu. For those who select bowls, this is nestled atop your choice of jasmine rice, brown rice or rice noodles. This is then accompanied by a vegetable, sauce, garnish and topping. The banh mi in its baguette is topped with green papaya slaw, mint and crushed peanuts. You can then drink up on BeerLao, Singha, Chang, and Dogfish Head 60 Minute or the usual selection of granola-y ginger ales, iced tea or young coconut water.
Jamie R. Liu/DCist
Looks like another establishment is trying to hop on the banh mi bandwagon ($7 bucks?! Seriously? Even the banh mi at Michael Bao Huynh’s fancy-schmanse NY-based Baoguette are $5 to $8).
And maybe I’m being a total snob, but I never got into Chipotle and its cafeteria-like, causal-cum-healthy dining approach. I know it uses “naturally-raised meats” and shit, but I’d rather just go to a local taco truck or family Mexican joint (or shit, even Taco Bell if my system demands fast food). Likewise, I think I’d rather support a better, cheaper (and Asian-owned) Viet deli or restaurant than a company that reminds me of Subway.
Its gonna be hard as hell to write a review of a book like this without spoilers. So let me just say this book has gently nestled its way into my Murakami top 3, just under Wind Up Bird Chronicles and barely inching above Norwegian Wood. This means a lot cause I'm a fanatic over his ish and spend way too much money on multiple copies of his books... If you're a veteran Murakami reader, you'll love how long this book is. More time before the Murakami-withdrawal hits. You'll also like hearing from a female protagonist for the first time. If this is your first Murakami book, I'd read one of his books with less magical realism first, After Dark or Kafka on the Shore then move up to 1Q84 about 3-4 books later. Also, you might wanna buy the digital version (although the US hardcopy is a sight to behold) cause this book be phat!
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