3rd Annual Giving For All Seasons Fundraising Gala

For those of you in the L.A. area, here's a fundraiser event:

Join the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) in celebrating its 3rd Annual Giving For All Seasons Fundraising Gala on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at the Grammy Museum Terrace in LA Live. The event is about promoting philanthropy and civic engagement in the diverse community throughout Los Angeles County.

For more information, visit APCF.org or call (213)624-6400 ext. 4.

Cantonese Boy

Thanks to Tony C. from SFPD for this one.

The Western Will to Dominate

I was watching a movie called Blindsight. It's a documentary about how a group of mountain climbers from the West help a group of blind Tibetan kids reach the summit of a mountain just near Mount Everest. Blind people are considered cursed in Tibetan culture. Tibetans feel that the blind are paying for sins from a previous life.

BTW, one of my pet peeves are people who don't do their homework and talk out of their assholes (i.e. free Tibet supporter). This short clip from Penn and Teller will give you a brief overview of how Tibetan culture was even more fucked up prior to Chinese rule.



Anyway back to the documentary: there was a line in the movie that stood out. About halfway into the expedition, the crew is having a debate about whether or not to go forward and guide these kids all the way to the top. The head of the school for these blind kids is very protective and says that if they don't reach the top, it's OK.

One of the mountain climbers responds (and keep in mind, I'm paraphrasing here), "This is the difference between Westerners and Easterners. Westerners always want to be on top. The sherpas never reached the top of Everest, nor did they have a desire to reach the top, until Westerners came."

I hate to say this, but there's a lot of truth to this observation. When Westerners compete or battle, they strive for utter and total dominance. It's a very short term way of thinking, but they look to completely decimate their enemy, obstacle or opponent. Westerners want to come out on top, and that means their enemies have to lose and lose big.

Asians tend to strategize in terms of: how can I win this battle or complete this task with the right game plan and minimal risk? Westerners value all-out effort. Easterners value maximal efficiency, minimal effort.

There are major exceptions. The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, was a megalomaniac of phenomenal proportions. You don't get to the top and unify China without totally annihilating your enemies. You might be familiar with some of his work: the Great Wall of China and the Terra Cotta Warriors.

Genghis Khan was another exception. He always offered a choice to his enemies: complete surrender or complete destruction. If you didn't surrender, then the Mongols would not only kill everyone, but they would salt the earth to point that nothing lived in the area for generations.

Bruce Lee was an ultra-perfectionist who was ultra-competitive. He had to be the absolute best at everything he competed in. Bruce and actor Van Williams often arm wrestled on the set of "The Green Hornet," but because he had longer levers (arms), Van always won. This infuriated Bruce at length, so much to the point that Bruce took up all forms of grip training to beat Van as well increase his punching power.

But for the most part, Asians do not seek total victory, control or hegemony. If they did, then the Chinese would have colonized the rest of Asia and America back in 1421 AD.

I think there is something to be valued in the Western mindset to be the best, although I can do without the condescension, racism and imperialism. After all, how can you know your full potential and contribute if you don't test your upper limits from time to time? You have to aim high and take risks if you want to get ahead.

Napoleon once referred to China as a sleeping giant. I have a feeling China is awake now but still groggy: China Tools Up for Asian Space Race

Kia Soul Rock!

Kia's were never so cool as in this video. I have to tell you though, from my experience Kia's are real easy to slim jim.

The Indian Nipple Song

Thanks to Nskripchun for this one.

Mike Kim on the Daily Show

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Mike Kim
thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Jason Jones in Iran

Here's a fascinating interview with Mike Kim on his involvement in getting North Koreans defectors out of the country. Very relevant stuff given the current situation in Korea with the North's missile launches.

Jon Gosselin on Match.com

Looks like Jon's gained a few pounds. Must be happy weight.