Don’t Get Clawed: Tiger interactions with other zodiac animals
February 26, 2010
Julie D. Soo in interview with I-ching Master Y.C. Sun
The order of the animal zodiac is based on the order of the finishers of a race Buddha called: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig
The Tiger can work successfully and communicate well to achieve happiness and harmony in love and business with: Horse, Dog, and Pig.
The Monkey and Tiger are rivals, with the Monkey constantly running into conflict with the Tiger. Mature Monkeys should watch for bad health. Younger Monkeys will make changes in all aspects. Wear a necklace with a figure of a horse, dog, or pig to smooth the transition of rapid change.
The Tiger competes with other Tigers on all fronts with animosity and a mountain cannot accommodate more than one Tiger. Tigers should watch for poor health and avoid confrontation. Wear a necklace with a figure of a horse, dog, or pig to divert the ill attention of the Golden Tiger.
The Rat and Tiger have a moderate relationship, providing the Rat an opportunity to make changes, travel, and work hard to better its career and status.
The Ox and Tiger clash even though the Ox will try new things to accommodate the Tiger, leaving the Ox to resort to secondary plans. It is a romantic year for Ox people.
The Tiger provides the Rabbit with a romantic year but strong competition disturbs chances of lasting new romantic pursuits.
The Tiger disturbs the Dragon’s focus on making changes, travel, and study with worries about an elder’s health issue.
Though Snake and Tiger often spar with sharp tongue and competition, Snake’s wisdom and charm wins over the Tiger.
The Goat enjoys romance and happiness with the Tiger but takes care of a health issue.
The Rooster should overcome an obstacle with the Tiger but achieving its goal will require spending money.
Fiery Tiger Year: Learn to Chill Out
February 26, 2010
Julie D. Soo in interview with I-ching Master Y.C. Sun
The Year of the Tiger will be tumultuous as the Metal Tiger or Golden Tiger brings volatility and disagreement. Economic recovery for the United States will continue to be slow and worries about deflation are likely to turn to inflation.
The Tiger is the third of twelve Chinese animal zodiac signs. Tiger people are thought to be fiery and bold, good for people of action. However, fiery Tigers can also be tempestuous and quick to anger, defeating any kind of cordial relations.
The past year more mellow with the earth element for the Earth Ox or Brown Ox Year brought trust and kindness to promote conflict resolution, will turn as the metal element for the Metal Tiger or Golden Tiger (4708 on the Chinese lunar calendar) begins on February 4 to a year of disagreement and hostility says Bay Area I-ching Master Y.C. Sun. Geomancers like to look at sixty-year cycles because the five elements — metal, wood, water, fire, and earth — and 12-animal zodiac generally bring circumstances full circle.
Sun predicts a year of growing global disagreement and hostility in keeping with the last Metal Tiger Year. In 1950, the United States suffered under the strains of the Korean War, the Cold War, the nuclear arms race, and McCarthyism. Read more
Chinese American Heroine: Anna Sui
February 12, 2010
Fashion Designer
Name in English: Anna Sui
Name in Chinese: 肖志美 [蕭志美]
Name in Pinyin: Xiāo Zhìměi
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1964
Birth Place: Dearborn, Michigan
Current location: New York City
Profession (s): Fashion Designer
Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design, Parsons School of Design, The New School, 1975
Awards: 2009, OCA Pioneer Award, Organization of Chinese Americans; 2009, Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award, Council of Fashion Designers of America; 2008, Bravo A-List Fashion Award, Bravo; 1992, Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent, Council of Fashion Designers of America; Top 5 Fashion Icons of the Decade, Time Magazine
Contribution (s): Anna Sui is from the first generation of Chinese Americans who have achieved international fame as fashion designers. She is best known for creatively “borrowing” fashion ideas from different genres of design, and pairing them in ways that are fresh and sophisticated.
Sui was born in Dearborn, Michigan, the heartland of American industry in the 20th Century, the daughter of two French-educated Chinese immigrants. Sui’s grandfather was a Chinese diplomat, and she recalls that both she and her parents grew up with a strong exposure to Western culture and influences. Because of this diverse cultural background, she thinks of herself as a “global citizen”.
Sui’s passion for clothing and design began as a child, designing outfits for her dolls, and collecting pages of fashion magazines that served as inspiration. Sui kept these early inspirations with her throughout her career, compiling what she referred to as her “Genius Files”, a collection of all her inspirations from childhood to today.
Sui’s career began to take shape during her studies at Parsons School of Design. Teaming up with fashion photographer, Steven Meisel, Sui worked as a stylist for various editorials and fashion spreads.
In 1980, Sui’s designs received their first notable recognition. Upon seeing some of Sui’s original pieces at a trade show in New York City, Macy’s placed an order, and featured one of her designs in an ad in the New York Times. Throughout the 1980’s, despite the growing popularity of her work, Sui continued to run her business out of her apartment.
In 1991, Sui premiered her first runway show, which the New York Times raved was a “pastiche of hip and haute styles.”
Chinese heritage has certainly influenced Sui’s designs, but is in no way her primary source of inspiration. In the book China Chic: East Meets West, Valerie Steele and John S. Major wrote, “Anna Sui takes a playful approach to her Chinese heritage, mixing ethnic and historical references with gay abandon.” Sui recalls being inspired by her Chinese aunt’s beautiful qipaos, and later designed several “Chinese-style dresses”, combining the glamour of traditional qipaos, with the edgier “grunge” fashion of the 1990s. Her first runway show in 1991 was so popular that three of the top supermodels of the time, Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, and Christy Turlington, modeled for free in exchange for the Sui designed clothes. Sui opened her first boutique in Manhattan in 1992. Throughout the rest of the decade Sui expanded her repertoire to include fragrance, footwear, cosmetics, and accessory lines.
Sui has also used her designs skills to benefit charitable causes such as the Mumbai based organization, Citizens for Justice and Peace, and the Stop Global Warming organization. Sui put her designs up for auction on eBay to show support for the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008. She has also leant her design skills to create and sell reusable, water bottles to help Elle magazine raise funds and awareness to prevent global warming.
Sui’s designs are currently featured in over 300 sales outlets in 30 countries, steadily increasing in international popularity because she has such a strong Hollywood following. Film stars such as Christina Ricci, Cher, Drew Barrymore, and Patricia Arquette are notably big fans of her work.
External Links: http://www.filly.ca/taste_and_style/fashion_report/designer_profiles/Anna-Sui.asp
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/designerdirectory/ANNASUI/seasons/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/fashion/12runway.html?_r=1
http://www.channelapa.com/2008/09/designer-anna-sui-at-fashion-week.html
http://sex.ncu.edu.tw/members/ho/study/2006spring_oraltraining/st2006s_annasui.htm
Chinese American Hero: Vivienne Tam
February 11, 2010
Fashion Designer, Business Executive
Name in English: Vivienne Tam
Name in Chinese: 譚燕玉
Name in Pinyin: Tán Yànyù
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1957
Birth Place: Guangzhou, China
Current location: NYC
Philanthropy: Yes
Profession (s): Fashion Designer, Business Executive
Education: Higher Diploma in Design, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 1978
Awards: 2007, University Fellowship, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 1997, Outstanding Alumni Award, Hong Kong Polytechnic University; 1995, 50 Most Beautiful People, People Weekly
Contribution (s): Vivienne Tam’s designs are known for combining Eastern and Western styles with traditional and modern fashion elements. Born in Guangzhou, Tam and her family fled the mainland after the 1949 Communist revolution, and moved to Hong Kong when she was 3-years-old. Growing up in the unique atmosphere of the then British colony of Hong Kong with its combination of Chinese and Western influences is said to have inspired Tam’s East-meets-West fashion sense. However, it was the more prosaic inspiration of watching her parents stitch and repair clothing as a child that first awakened her interest in fashion. After attending college to study fashion design in Hong Kong, Tam moved to New York. In 1983, Tam created her own company called East Wind Code Ltd to produce her designs.
Throughout the 1990s, Tam designed popular and provocative collections, often featuring religious symbols and Asian art. In 1995, Tam’s designs sparked controversy, with her “Mao” collection. The designs depicted the former Chinese Communist Party leader in unusual and humorous ways, such as with his hair in pigtails or with a bee on his nose. While alienating and offending her Chinese customers, Tam made waves in the US, as Americans lauded the provocative collection. In 1997, her “Buddha” collection excited similar interest and controversy. Such was the popularity and influence of her fashion designs though that several items from those collections are now featured in the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In 1998, Tam designed a collection inspired by Chinese cosmology, “five elements of the universe.” Her 2001 collection, Year of the Dragon, featured images of dragons, in homage to her Asian heritage and inspirations.
In 2009, Tam introduced a new chic netbook she designed for the computer company, Hewlett Packard. The computer was featured as part of her Spring 2010 collection. The “digital clutch” is inspired by the traditional Chinese love story, “Butterfly Lovers.”
Vivienne Tam has made a special effort to press for the inclusion of Asians as runway models in displaying her collections; an important effort in an industry that is almost completely dominated by white models.
Tam’s fans notably include such Hollywood celebrities such as Madonna, Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn, and Britney Spears.
Philanthropy: Vivienne Tam has devoted her time and design talent to several charitable causes. In order to benefit the CFDA (Council for Fashion Designers of America) Foundation Initiative, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, Tam designed a charm to be sold on the home shopping network, QVC. She also participated in a fundraiser called “Style and Sound” to benefit the same cause.
Tam has also demonstrated her commitment to social justice. In December 2009, one of her boutiques held an event where shoppers could purchase clothes with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Facing History for Ourselves. This organization’s mission is to promote racial tolerance and to combat racism and prejudice. Tam also donated her designs for a fashion auction to benefit families affected by the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001
Publications/Patents: 2000, China Chic, HarperCollins Publishers
External Links:
http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/viviennetam.html
http://www.answers.com/topic/vivienne-tam
http://www.fashionencyclopedia.com/Sp-To/Tam-Vivienne.html
http://www.polyu.edu.hk/cpa/polyu/hotnews/details_e.php?news_id=1353
Chinese American Hero: Alexander Wang
February 10, 2010
Fashion Designer
Name in English: Alexander Wang
Gender: Male
Birth Year: 1984
Birth Place: San Francisco, California
Current location: New York City, New York
Philanthropy: Yes
Profession (s): Fashion Designer
Education: Parsons School of Design (now named Parsons The New School For Design) no degree
Awards: 2009, Swiss Textiles Award; 2009, Swarovski Women’s Wear Designer of the Year, CFDA; 2008, CFDA Fashion Fund Award, CFDA/Voguemagazine
Contribution (s): Alexander Wang had barely reached adulthood when he became one of fashion’s most celebrated designers. Wang’s designs are known for being cutting edge while still being practical and wearable. As Wang says in his biography on his company website, “Anyone can get dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their off days, that are the most intriguing.”
Wang grew up in San Francisco where his parents owned a packaging company. His interest in making clothes began as an early adolescent and Wang began designing and sewing in his early teens, when his mom gave him a sewing machine.
Wang moved to New York City at age 18 to attend Parsons Design School, whose alumni have included such fashion design icons as Anna Sui and Donna Karan. Within his first two years in school, Wang managed to land prestigious internships at Marc Jacobs, Derek Lam, and Teen Vogue. By the time he was a sophomore in 2005, Wang was already in the process of designing his first collection. Wang left school shortly afterwards to pursue a business in designs. In 2007, he launched his first complete collection of women’s wear, which sold internationally to over 200 boutiques and retail stores. In 2008, Wang introduced his first full collection of accessories. Working alongside his mother, sister-in-law, and brother, Wang’s family business has quickly grown into a $25 million dollar franchise.
Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception he has received, Wang has noted that finding success at his young age comes with certain drawbacks. “There are pros and cons to starting so young.” “There are stereotypes, but the greatest satisfaction has been proving them wrong.” Despite doubts about his young age, Wang proved himself to the entire fashion world when he beat out hundreds of other designers, many much older and more established in fashion, to claim the winner’s $200,000 prize in the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.
His clothing is currently very popular among Hollywood’s noted style icons, including Rachel Bilson, Mischa Barton, Lindsay Lohan, and Ashlee Simpson.
Philanthropy: Wang has used his fame to address social issues, such as AIDS and disease prevention. In conjunction with Planned Parenthood, Wang is designing fashionable condoms in an effort to encourage their usage. All proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood.
External Links: http://www.alexanderwang.com/
http://ontheinside.info/author/alexander-wang/
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/fashion/10WANG.html?_r=2&8dpc
Chinese American Heroine: Vera Wang
February 9, 2010
International Fashion Designer
Name in English: Vera Wang
Name in Chinese: 王薇薇
Name in Pinyin: Wáng Wēiwei
Gender: Female
Birth Year: 1949
Birth Place: New York City
Current location: New York City
Philanthropy: Yes
Chinese Americans in Fashion
February 8, 2010
By Grace Fardella
This is Week 39 of AsianWeek’s salute to Chinese American heroes, in strategic partnership with Chinese American Heroes, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the contributions of Chinese Americans to America and the world.
In this week’s series, we are celebrating Chinese Americans in fashion. In the past few decades, Chinese Americans have gained a strong foothold in this Caucasian dominated profession. They range from designers with outstanding work and longevity such as Anna Sui, to cutting edge young designers like Alexander Wang, who collectively dominate many of the pages of fashion magazines today.
Chinese Americans have had an important impact in fashion, bringing Chinese culture and imagery to the masses while also contributing to philanthropic causes. Through the fashions produced by these Chinese American designers, people around the world can be seen wearing clothing that proudly merges traditional Chinese styles and images with modern clothing sensibilities.
We begin this week with one of the first well-known Chinese American designers, Anna Sui. Sui is a fashion designer and author who received international recognition and acclaim for her designs. A staple of the fashion world since the 1980s her designs are featured in over 300 sales outlets in 30 countries.
Next is internationally renowned wedding dress designer, Vera Wang. Best known for her stunning and sophisticated bridal gowns, Wang has been designing dresses and working in fashion since the 1970s. She currently has several fashion lines that appeal to a wide variety of clientele and her designs are often fawned over by celebrities in real life as well as in television and movies.
We will also explore the achievements of fashion designer, Vivienne Tam. Tam is a Chinese-born fashion designer whose designs often include elements from traditional Chinese imagery and culture. Tam has also displayed her business talents by creating her own successful design company, East Wind Code, Ltd.
Also featured is Alexander Wang, one very talented future hero in fashion. At the tender age of 25, Wang has impressed the whole fashion world with his daring designs. In his few short years in fashion, he has already won numerous prestigious fashion awards and his label is now prominently featured in most high-end department stores. He is also the favorite of young Hollywood fashion icons such as Lindsay Lohan and Rachel Bilson.
The innovation and creativity of these fashion designers should put to rest the old and tired stereotype that Asians, including Chinese Americans, can’t compete on an equal basis with anyone in the world. The fact that so many Chinese American women are making a major impact in this field is a special point of pride.
For information about Chinese American heroes, please visit the Chinese American Heroes website at www.chineseamericanheroes.org.
Chinese American Hero: Frank Wu
December 28, 2009
This is Week 38 of AsianWeek’s salute to Chinese American heroes, in strategic partnership with Chinese American Heroes, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the contributions of Chinese Americans to America and the world.
This week we are honoring and recognizing Mr. Frank Wu, Esq., who was just appointed by the Board of Directors of the University of California, Hastings College of Law, as their Chancellor and Dean. Frank Wu is a very special person who is taking over a college that has produced many of the most prestigious lawyers, judges, and politicians in the country. Not only has he been practicing law for many years but has also consistently reached for loftier goals by being an author, law professor, and dean before this latest achievement.
As an attorney with a heart, he has served the indigent and handicapped, defended civil rights and affirmative action, and eschewed the pursuit of a much more lucrative private practice in favor of the legal teaching profession. In 1982, he first became a politically active teenager in the “Justice for Vincent Chin” movement after a Chinese American man was murdered in Detroit by unemployed white autoworkers, a crime that galvanized Asian Americans across the entire country. In 1995, he became the first Asian American professor of law to teach at historically African American Howard University Law School in Washington DC. In 2003 he wrote the epic, “Yellow: Race in American Beyond Black and White,” which expanded American race issues beyond the tradition of only speaking about race relations between whites and African Americans in America. The next year he became the dean of Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan, a position he held until 2008.
In the Bay Area, we are very lucky to have Frank Wu with us and look forward to his future accomplishments now that he is the Chancellor and Dean at UC Hastings Law School.
Read more a Frank Wu at the Chinese American Heroes website below.
For information about Chinese American heroes, please visit the Chinese American Heroes website at www.chineseamericanheroes.org.
New People Complements the Holidays with Fun Japanese Pop Inspired Gift Ideas
December 17, 2009
NEW PEOPLE, a dynamic entertainment destination bringing the latest examples of Japanese popular culture to North American shores, offers shoppers something unique with an inspired collection of products and accessories for home, office and wardrobe that are available now from the new web store at www.NewPeopleStore.com.
A variety of fun and inventive pop culture-inspired products from Japan are featured - just in time for the holidays - on the web site and also inside NEW PEOPLE The Store, a retail space located on the mezzanine level of the 20,000 square foot entertainment complex in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Japantown at 1746 Post Street.
These items are ideal gifts from friends, loved ones, as well as the boss and professional colleagues — and available exclusively in the U.S. via NEW PEOPLE.
For your Girlfriend
Graphic Design Headphones by ZUMREED · $59.95
These smart, slim and stylish headphones will keep you on the beat with large-aperture 40mm drivers designed with neodymium magnet systems for super high quality sound and emblazoned with stylish, colorful graphics.
For your Boyfriend
VINYL KILLER Mini Clubman Model Portable Turntable by RAZYWORKS · $139.95
No one will ever be without the right sounds with a stylish portable record player modeled after the Mini Clubman. Forget about traditional bulky turntables. This is the smallest self-running record player in the world! Instead of spinning a record, the MINI CLUBMAN coasts over the surface of the vinyl, gliding the needle over and into the grooves, playing music from its own built-in speaker. Made in Japan and licensed globally by BMW AG from Germany. 33RPM only. Available in Laser Blue, Dark Silver, Pepper White, and Chili Red.
For your Husband
Boxed Set of Neckties by GIRAFFE · $149.00
GIRAFFE, a specialized brand led by creative director, Masamichi Toyama, is one of the hottest fashion labels in Tokyo. GIRAFFE neckties are categorized into four different stages based on one’s body temperature and feeling so one can select ties based on how they feel that day. Ties are available in several colors and varieties and designed for men or women.
For your Grandpa
Fitted Baseball Caps by ZILLON · $44.95
New from famed French designer David Guarino’s brand - ZILLON - are these colorful baseball caps that blend traditional with the modern by using stylish Japanese kimono patterns.
For your Grandma
TAKEO Paper Products & DRESSCO Notebooks and Envelopes
Notebook, Large - $20.95
Notebook, Small - $19.95
Envelopes, Long - $7.95
Envelopes, Petite - $6.95
Since its founding nearly 100 years ago, TAKEO has manufactured some of the highest quality paper products in the world. DRESSCO similarly manufactures high quality notebooks with unique cover designs that provide an attractive complement to whatever the writer chooses to upon its pages. Items available in several colors - gold, green, brown, fuchsia, celadon, mint and light blue.
For your Wife
Jewelry & Accessories by Q-POT
Burger Ring · $240.00
Q-POT is a jewelry brand led by designer Tadaaki Wakamatsu and these accessories are a sensation among young girls in Japan today. Modeled after sweet confections and other delicious foods, Q-POT offers a new array of fun and witty jewelry that look good enough to eat!
For your Boss
Graf Zeppelin Metal Model by AEROBASE · $124.95
This photo-etched stainless steel metal model kit is a highly detailed replica of the famed Graf Zeppelin. No need to solder and easy to assemble. Includes cast metal parts and a base for the completed airship.
For your Kids
Duller Colored Pencils by IDEA INTERNATIONAL · $54.95
Set of 36 colors
For the budding or established artist is an immaculately-presented set of 36 colored pencils from IDEA INTERNATIONAL’s newest stationery imprint, Duller.
NEW PEOPLE offers the latest films, art, fashion and retail brands from Japan and is the creative vision of the J-Pop Center Project and VIZ Pictures, a distributor and producer of Japanese live action film. Located at 1746 Post Street, the 20,000 square foot structure features a striking 3-floor transparent glass façade that frames a fun and exotic new environment to engage the imagination into the 21st Century. A dedicated web site is also now available at: www.NewPeopleWorld.com
Chinese American Heroes Honors Chinese American Food
December 16, 2009
This is Week 37 of AsianWeek’s salute to Chinese American heroes, in strategic partnership with Chinese American Heroes, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the contributions of Chinese Americans to America and the world.
With the holidays around the corner, we are also taking a bit of a holiday. This week we are going to talk about a most delicious subject.
Well, when a non-Asian person thinks about things Chinese, what is likely their first thought?
Hm . . . I know. It’s Chinese food.
So this week, we are recognizing Chinese food, from mu goo gai pan, to Peking duck. While most Americans recognize shopping mall food staples from Panda Express, founded by our Chinese American Hero, Andrew Cherng, and are familiar with Chinese cooking from fellow hero, Martin Yan on PBS, a lot of local Chinese carryouts we eat in America are really evolutionary dishes. You won’t find a lot of “Chinese American food” served in China. Early Chinese chefs in the US had to improvise as some key ingredients weren’t available in America. After all, a sailing ship could take months getting from China to America and no bok choy in existence could possibly last that long. What you ended up with were odds and ends, “chop suey” in other words. Chinese cooks would put whatever was available into a cooking pot with soy sauce added.
Today’s sophisticated non-Chinese do not order chop suey anymore, even if they can find one of the few places in America that still serves it. They have even leapfrogged “mu goo gai pan,” and are now ordering special dishes previously only ordered by people in China. At this special time of year and to honor those Americans that make it part of their own festive season, especially Jewish Americans, this week we are saluting that unique fusion of cultures known as Chinese American food.
CAH honors Chinese American food on Christmas Day. Please see our article at www.chineseamericanheroes.org/why/history.asp?hid=240000025
For information about Chinese American heroes, please visit the Chinese American Heroes website at www.chineseamericanheroes.org.
Golden State Warriors Partner With San Francisco Hep B Free
December 14, 2009
Celebrate Asian Heritage with the Golden State Warriors as they take on Yi Jianlian and the New Jersey Nets on Friday January 22, 2010. A portion of each ticket purchase will be donated to San Francisco Hep B Free – a citywide effort to screen and vaccinate all Asian and Pacific Islanders for hepatitis B.
Asian themed cultural performances will take place prior to the game and during half time. Cultural exhibits will also be on display in the arena. Attendees who purchase the special Asian Heritage Night tickets will receive a free commemorative Asian Heritage Night T-shirt.
For the first time ever, the Warriors are hosting a design contest for the back of the event’s t-shirt. Designs will be accepted through December 29, 2009, with the winner being announced during the week of January 4. Submissions can be sent to specialevents@gs-warriors.com. For rules and further information visit:
http://www.nba.com/warriors/tickets/asian_heritage_tshirt_contest.html
“I’m excited to have the Warriors on board in our fight against Hep B and encourage the entire community to come to the game!” said Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco).
Hepatitis B causes up to 80 percent of all liver cancers, and disproportionately affects 1 in 10 Asian and Pacific Islanders. A safe and effective vaccine prevents infection and liver cancer caused by hepatitis B. The most important step towards eliminating hepatitis B disease is by being tested for infection in your doctor’s office.
“We look forward to Asian Heritage Night at Oracle Arena and the excitement that is generated by this terrific event on an annual basis,” said Warriors President Robert Rowell. “We’ve been fortunate to host similar events the previous four years and each one has been a resounding success from an entertainment standpoint. The unparalleled excitement of Warriors Basketball is unique and a great way to spend time together with family, friends and associates in a fun atmosphere. We’re thrilled that Asian Heritage Night has become a tradition and part of that electricity at Oracle Arena.”
Community supporters for the event include Asian Americans for Community Outreach, Asian American Literary Review, Asian American Donor Program, Asian American Theater Company, Asian Firefighters Association, Asian Law Caucus, Asian Liver Center at Stanford, Asian and Pacific Islander Wellness Center, Asian Peace Officers Association, AsianWeek Foundation, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, California Dragon Boat Association, Cathay Post #384 Chinese American Veterans, Chinese Real Estate Association of America, Center for Lao Studies, Dream League, Filipina Women’s Network, Filipino American Arts Exposition, Hyphen Magazine, Indonesian Professionals Association, Laotian American National Alliance, Kearny Street Workshop, Nakayoshi Young Professionals, National Association of Asian American Professionals, Organization of Chinese Americans- San Francisco, San Francisco Asian Professionals Meet Up Group, Wells Fargo Asian Connection, Young Filipino Professionals Association, and viveSF.com.
To Purchase tickets to the game visit:
https://www.gs-warriors.com/forms/secure/fct_asianamerican10.html
Groups of 15+ can contact Troy Corti for additional savings and Scoreboard Recognition at 510-986-5408 or tacorti@gs-warriors.com
Chinese American Heroes: Jonathan Lau & Jonathan Lin
December 8, 2009
This is Week 36 of AsianWeek’s salute to Chinese American heroes, in strategic partnership with Chinese American Heroes, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to documenting the contributions of Chinese Americans to America and the world.
This week we are honoring an all American organization, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Founded in 1910, over 4 million young Americans have belonged to the BSA which is dedicated to developing citizenship, ethical and moral standards, life skills, and leadership in young men 10-18 years of age. All BSA youth can achieve the high status of Eagle Scout after completing rigorous requirements which include earning 21 merit badges. About 5% of all Boy Scouts over the years have earned the position of Eagle Scout.
Today, with changing values and modern distractions like video games, only about 1% of Boy Scouts have had the diligence and dedicated strength to earn Eagle Scout status. The Eagle Scout is honored and recognized nationwide as a badge of honor, and we are proud to tell you about two young Chinese American men who earned that status very early in the Boy Scout careers when they were just 15 years of age. It isn’t unusual to find that success in scouting leads to success in life. Our current US Secretary of Commerce, former Governor of Washington State, and Chinese American Hero, Gary Locke, was also an Eagle Scout.
The names of these outstanding young men are Jonathan Lau and Jonathan Lin and they are both from the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, CA.)
Jonathan Lau
Jonathan Lau is now a senior at Alameda High School in California. He pinned on his Eagle Scout badge when he was just a sophomore. Jonathan joined the Boy Scouts in 2002 and after 5 dedicated years of hard work, earned his Eagle Scout status. To get to the coveted rank, a young man must progress through the ranks of Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life Scout before reaching the pinnacle as an Eagle Scout. During his path to the top, Jonathan earned 27 merit badges and also held the leadership positions of Senior Patrol Leader, Den Chief, and Member of the Order of the Arrow. He was also very active in several summer camps including Marin Sierra, Winton, and Chiwanakee.
His Eagle community service project was to landscape and clean-up an unsightly location at Bay Farm Elementary School which took 266 hours of diligent effort.
Jonathan also spent one summer in China to sharpen his table tennis skills and came home to take a championship match at Stanford University. He is now President of the Table Tennis Club at his high school providing leadership to his classmates and sharing ping pong skills with his school mates.
Jonathan plans to study engineering after high school.
Jonathan Lin
Jonathan Lin, 15, is also now a senior at Alameda High School and was also a sophomore when he earned his Eagle Scout award in November 2007.
Lin’s community service project was to clear the wildlife habitat meadow at Bay Farm Elementary School’s Butterfly Garden and plant wildflower seeds native to California. Racing against time, Lin was able to successfully complete his project before the winter rains in November 2006, with the help of his scouts, parents, family members, friends, and Jon Ishibashi’s electric tools. After the weeds were successfully hacked away, they placed pieces of cardboard over the entire area, and they began to lay down both the soil and the seeds.
Lin expressed thanks to Bay Farm School and Marla Lee, the PTA Outdoor Learning Center chair, for providing him the opportunity, their time, supplies, and much-needed support. Lin hopes that the newly cultivated flower garden beautifies the school and delights the students.
Though Lin is usually found doing homework or staying up until midnight studying, camping with the Boy Scouts has allowed him to interact with nature. Whether snorkeling in a kelp forest or cycling next to bison, Lin says he has really learned to treasure the forests and the fresh air outdoors.
Lin has participated in scouting for nine years. Starting as a Cub Scout in Pack 1076, he has remained with Troop 3 for five years.
Jonathan Lin also plans to study engineering in college.
Chinese American Heroes is extremely proud of both these young men, who earned their Eagle Scout status with extraordinary dedication at a very young age. They are both outstanding young men and we look forward to following their careers and fully expect both to be fully fledged Chinese American Heroes in the future.
For information about Chinese American heroes, please visit the Chinese American Heroes website atwww.chineseamericanheroes.org.
