Monty Oum's Haloid

Monty Oum's Dead Fantasy I & II

Monty Oum's Road 2

You had to bring his car in to this, didn't you, Aspen? Dude, that's like talking about his mama, you just don't do it!

Chocolate - One of My Fav Fight Scenes

I love muay thai. Deadly and elegant, beginning training's pretty much all drills and endurance. The advanced stuff is some of what's in this clip:

Aragami - Future Challenger Scene

One of my favorite scenes from a great movie called 'Aragami', Angry God. Imagine meeting a god who lives only for the fight and dreams of one day being able to dream in the eternal sleep.

So he searches for the one challenger that can give him that. The mantle is then passed on to the one who defeats him. Great sword fight scenes and humor infused in to different scenes, especially the one below. What the challenger doesn't know, bullets can't hurt a god.

Beau Sia - Love

Jimmy Thong Tran - Mediocre Penis

Beau Sia - Asian Invasion

Yellow Rage - Bacdafucup Asiaphile

Obama vs. McCain -- Face Off!

Not what you think!O

Skim - "Your Eyes"

I know I'm going a bit nuts with all these videos but these are so good! Skim, her words are always so influential and inspirational. Those two words are so cliche now but she makes them new.

When you can speak from a place of purity without fear, then you have courage I am trying to build up to. I don't have heroes, I have people I look up to. And she is one of those people.

Eliot Chang - "Harlem"

Hahaha, I used to live in Harlem! Only two people visited me, my friend K who's trained in Shorinji Kempo since he was 4 and M, who is an ex-gangmember!

Skim - Kollaboration 2005

Got her album, 'For Every Tear'

Steve Byrne - You Will Never Forget Tonight

'Hip Hop' by Beau Sia (Def Poetry)

Steve Byrne's Impression of Bruce Lee -- Hilarious!

Asian America, Where Have You Gone? by Alvin Lau

Russell Peters - The Whole World is Mixing

Race Relations - Things are changing

Growing up I always had the typical asshole talking shit and making noises he thinks constitutes a foreign language. Too bad none of them asked me if that meant anything. I would have probably answered something in the realm of, 'Yeah, you just said your family rents you out.' Well, depending on how big the guy is.

In truth, I compromise a lot. My friend calls me 'Switzerland' because I always try to see all sides and try to understand where someone's coming from. I have strong opinions that change given strong evidence. But I also don't get in to unnecessary fights. My godbrother is infamous for laying the beat down for even a wrong look but that's not my style. I walk away.

But a situation arose not too long ago that got me thinking how things have changed. Slowly over the years, but they still have changed. When I was growing up, if I walked past a group of African Americans or Hispanics or Latinos I was sure to get harassed. I would cross the street or if I couldn't, I would walk very quickly. I wasn't going to fight a group of guys. But the other day, I passed by a group of young Hispanic men. And they were all drinking bubble tea. They passed me without any unfriendliness and just continued chatting gentlemanly to each other.

Looking back on that situation it kind of blows my mind a little. My neighborhood has gradually become a huge mix of people. There are still rifts and incidences, but things are way better than they were growing up.

Russell Peters did a great joke about us all blending together. I'll try to put that up if I can find it again.

Driving

I'm usually one who tries to confront my fears. It may take awhile, but I get to it. One big problem I have is driving.

You know that bad stereotype about Asian drivers, or Asian female drivers? I am the stereotype. And not by choice! I have a fear of driving. In the back of my head I'm doing the physics formula of momentum. Mass times velocity, at the speed I'm going at, no matter how slow, oh my god! What if I hit a pedestrian!

In NYC people are crazy. If a car is driving at an ungodly speed down a narrow street, but still a good distance away, and despite the 'Don't Walk' sign, we will still try to make it to the other curb. The taxis are even more insane. Oh, c'mon, they gave me a license! No surprise the taxis can get one easy.

I get scared of changing lanes, I am too careful, I go too slow, too fast, my knuckles turn white gripping the steering wheel. My first time out in a car was with a crazy family member. I was at a good cruising speed and all of a sudden he screamed, 'BRAKE!!' What. The. Hell. The second time out, a truck tried to run me off the road. Why? Because he was a d*ck who wanted to mess with the car with the large bumper sticker that read, 'Student Driver'.

They should have bumper stickers that say, 'Student Driver. Don't F*ck with me, I'm armed!'

Printed Circuit Board (PCB)

Not a new idea, PCBs came out a long time ago. Epson printed one out on an inkjet in 2004, and in November of 1999 Randice-Lisa "Randi" Altschul was issued a series of patents for the world's first disposable cell phone.

How about making your own?



If you had the time and money that is.

Goat Spiders - BioSteel

Research on new technology is a favorite hobby of mine. I'm talking with a venture capitalist now and I thought I'd put up info on some new tech that I find fascinating.



Biosteel

Why Japanese Research Isn't Exposed to the West

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070927006077&newsLang=en

I think my old university made an effort. All papers were done in English and they submitted regularly to American conferences like IEEE.

I even did a paper for an IEEE conference.

	[T] Pupil Location Using a Binary Pattern Search, Region Filtering and Shape Matching.[2003 IEEE International Symposium on Intelligent Signal Processing and Communication Systems (ISPACS 2003),(2003),862-865] Chen-Yung Hsu, Koji Kotani, Tadahiro Ohmi

Working in Japan - Japanese view of foreign scientists

Found this article online:

http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Flats/7513/gaisci/chap4.html

My experience was a little different. I was an American Fulbright Scholar to Japan and placed at Tohoku University.

I had a little misunderstanding with my first lab, which was in MEMS. Tohoku U.'s in the countryside and surprisingly, never heard of Fulbright so they didn't understand that a Fulbrighter is a representative of the US and is in a foreign country not only to conduct research, but to also learn as much about the culture as possible.

The first lab believed heavily that an engineer has no need for culture, yet I got in trouble every time I misunderstood the culture. I was born and raised in the US and I went to American schools. But to the professor and secretary, because I have an Asian face I was automatically expected to know Japanese cultural rules.

I found another lab, the Ohmi Solid State Electronics Lab, also known as NICHe and went to work there. There was definitely some racism, especially coming from this Chinese guy named Pan, as well as a few of the Japanese. One Japanese guy remarked to one of the only other female members in the lab about me, 'She's from America, but she's just a Chinese.'

One moment stuck out in my mind. When Dr. Ohmi, (who is a very kind man), wanted to take a group picture with the foreigner engineers -- and it did not include me. Dr. Ohmi accepted me in to his lab, allowed me to continue my research on salary, basically, did me big favors. It's hard to get in to a prestigious lab even as a Japanese person, you have to be extraordinary.

What was staring me in the face was, I wasn't seen as an American. Not by other Americans and not by Asians.

It brought back a lot of childhood memories of being left out. In many ways I have been able to blend in to Japanese society because of my looks and my personality, a good mix of New York and East Asian upbringing. But I will always consider myself American, even if no one else does.

Another interesting situation happened when I was working at TransCosmos in Shibuya. My biggest disadvantage was that I didn't speak fluent Japanese. I could pass, but that usually doesn't cut it. My engineering lab's main language was English. All reports and papers had to be in English. But I got hired by TransCosmos. This was another case of me getting in through the 'back door'. Being a Fulbrighter, I had a lot of connections. A sempai, (a nice Japanese professor who was a Fulbrighter to America back in the day when Fulbright first started), knew another man who knew the president of TransCosmos.

As a result, I got a job and lucky enough, I got a Japanese boss, Richard, who grew up in the West. The interview was a really funny situation also. I brought in my resume and Richard and another co-worker were talking to me. The co-worker never looked at my resume and Richard knew about my school and my scholarship and really wanted me onboard. When I told them I would like to work in design the co-worker said, 'I'm sorry, but you must have an engineering degree.'

Richard pointed at my resume. 'She does. It's on her resume right here. Mechanical engineering.'

The co-worker was floored. A series of events happened after I got accepted and I also got in to Columbia University. In Japan, creds are everything and the co-worker had nothing to say after that. Richard ended up putting project after project on me. I was a bit stressed, I'll tell you that. I asked him one day how come he's not asking the other engineers to take on these projects.

'They're all yes-men. You take initiative.' Richard responded. Or did he say, 'you've got the balls to do it.'?

I have to admit, I will debate with Richard even while everyone just nods their head if I think there's a better way to do something or something needs to be examined more thoroughly. I don't do it rudely, we have a good rapport.

I still look back at my experiences in Japan as fond memories. There were some shaky times, but all in all I always go back to visit my old lab. I had lunch with my former professor and stayed with my former landlady in Tokyo. I met some great people there and they far outshined the unsavory elements I met along the way.

John Oliver on Bush's Legacy

His last line ...

Larry Wilmore, so many levels to his humor!

Rising by Yoshida Brothers

Thanks, Jun!

Cho the Plumber for Obama

Barack's Wright Response

Acting in Video Games

Article from Backstage.com

Spotlight on Video Games
And Then They Thought About Game
Voiceover and motion capture provide job opportunities for actors and fertile ground for their imaginations.
October 16, 2008
By Sarah Kuhn
Josh Keaton has always been a gamer. In his youth, he whiled away the hours on Atari and Nintendo, enthralled by interactive stories spun in pixels. There was one element, however, that always broke the spell.

"It stuck out to me when I was younger how bad a lot of the voice acting was in video games," he says with a chuckle. "They were just getting into technologies that would allow them to even have real voices. Before, it was all text-based. It was almost like the beginning of film, where everybody was just figuring out what to do."

Since then, of course, technology has advanced far beyond the back-and-forth paddle-swinging of Pong. Today's games are elaborate cinematic opuses, and they require talented actors to bring them to life. Keaton, who has voiced characters in such popular games as Metal Gear Solid 3, Spider-Man, and God of War II, is one of those actors. "Games have a story, and people want to see it acted out," he says. "They want to basically play a movie."

And though breaking in isn't necessarily easier than it is in other mediums, casting director and voice director Kris Zimmerman Salter says there's plenty of room for fresh talent: "I'm always looking for a new crop of actors, and I think most of the casting directors are as well. If it's the same 50 people in every U.S video game, that's going to get boring to the player. I like to have the challenge of finding new people."

Not Just Another Pretty Face
The acting work in video games falls into two basic categories: voiceover and motion capture. Typically, different actors do the voiceover and motion-capture work for a character, though in select cases an actor might be called upon to do both.

In voiceover, says Zimmerman Salter, there are a couple of elements: "You have the scenes that are the cinematics. They tell the story of the characters, and then the player goes into game play and then they're trying to make their way through the maze or beat the opponent. The style of acting in the cinematics is, of course, more dramatic. It involves more interaction with the characters, whereas the game play is a lot of call-outs, death noises, screaming."

In casting the actors who will populate a game's world, Zimmerman Salter looks for a few key qualities. "You have dozens, sometimes 60 or 80, characters in a game, so there's a versatility issue: I need someone who can cover multiple roles for me," she says. "When it comes to games like SOCOM, which is a Navy SEALs-based game, I need people who can sustain a certain level of energy for a four-hour period of time. And I prefer someone who's a strong actor rather than just a voice."

That last element is particularly important, so top-notch acting skills are as crucial as voiceover training. Keaton, an experienced voice actor who has worked extensively in commercials and animation, says his approach to creating a game character is no different from that for any other role. "I always try to make sure I can get the entire script, or at least as much of it as possible" before recording, he says. "When you have that information, you just go through and make your choices and be as specific as possible."

For instance, when Keaton voiced the character of Ryu in Ninja Gaiden II, he looked to the films of Akira Kurosawa for inspiration. "He didn't speak much," Keaton says of the character. "I'm a huge Kurosawa fan, and it's not so much about how much you say; it's about making meaning of the small amount of words you do say. They're chosen very carefully."

Your acting skills will also come in handy when you're auditioning for a role originated by another actor. As some games are based on movies or TV shows, you may be called upon to match someone else's voice. In these cases, casting directors aren't looking for a straight-up mimic, says Zimmerman Salter: "Yes, Scooby-Doo has to sound like Scooby-Doo. But if it's only a voice and not the heart and soul of the character, there's a disconnect that is subtle, but it can be heard. So not only does the actor need to be able to sound like that character; they need to be able to live that character."

Adds Keaton, who has several of these types of roles on his résumé, "You never want to go through and make it sound, pitch for pitch, exactly like the person. You want to get the timbre of their voice and their vocal quality and then do the performance yourself." Another challenge of video game work has to do with the solitude of recording. Whereas animated shows will sometimes schedule their casts to record together, video game voiceovers are usually done all by your lonesome. "As long as you make your choices and have what the other actor would be doing in your head, it's not too bad," says Keaton.

Moving Experience
While Keaton and others are using their voices to bring the game industry's most popular personas to life, actors like Joseph Gatt are doing it in a completely different way. Gatt is a seasoned motion-capture actor who has worked on such titles as God of War II, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, and 24: The Game. Initially it was his varied background that made him suitable for motion-capture gigs, he says — he's an actor with training in athletics, martial arts, and the military — but he learned the process of motion capture on the job. "You can explain and explain the technical process, but it's the same as doing anything: You kind of learn through doing," he says. "And generally, there are other actors around who've done it before, and they can give you clues and tips. If you're a reasonably intelligent person, you'll pick it up quickly."

When performing motion capture, the actor dons a wetsuitlike garment covered in sensors that resemble pingpong balls. Cameras placed around the room use those sensors to read the movements of the actor, which are then translated into the animation of the game.

Like Keaton, Gatt says his approach to a game character is very similar to the way he crafts roles in other mediums, but with a few marked differences. "You don't have much in the way of sets or props," he says. "You're using an awful lot of imagination. There's hardly anything there for you to actually physically grab hold of. On the other hand, that kind of thing can actually aid you, because you don't have anything really restricting you in your movements."

Additionally, sequences in which the actors need to connect with one another — close-combat fight scenes, for instance — must be shot in a unique way. "We do all the same movements," Gatt explains, "but we do them about 4 or 5 feet apart from each other. We're doing the full fight, but we leave a gap between ourselves. That way, the computer can pick up everything that's going on, with nothing getting in the way of all the sensors. Then in post, it's very easy for them to just move the two characters together."

Casting director Brigitte Burdine, who has also directed and produced video games, says athletic ability and movement training are good things for aspiring motion-capture performers to have, but in the end a lot depends on the specifics of the role. "I have a physical description of the character, and we try to come as close to that as possible — height, weight, stature," she says. "And then of course the actor needs to be able to move like the character would. So for instance, if we were doing the SOCOM game for Sony, it's helpful if those actors have some military experience or firearm experience, that kind of thing."

Like Zimmerman Salter, Burdine is eager to discover new talent. In addition to sending her casting calls to agents, she tries to make them available via resources such as Actors Access. "I'm very actor-friendly, so I want to try to give people a chance at it," she says. Burdine also believes that video game characters require talented actors: "Movements have to be motivated, and in order for movement to be motivated, you have to have an actor or it just doesn't work. It doesn't look correct; it doesn't translate."

In that vein, no matter what type of game work you're auditioning for, Keaton recommends that you prepare as you would for any other acting job. "Play some of the really popular games," he suggests. "There are companies like GameFly where you can set up an account and rent the games, or you can just go to Blockbuster. Just try them out so you can see the format. If you're going to be auditioning for Gossip Girl, obviously you're going to turn in a much different read than if you're reading for CSI; the pacing and the structure of the shows are much different. So if you're going to be going in and reading for a Lord of the Rings-type game, your approach is going to be much different than if you're reading for a first-person shooter. It's just like on-camera: You've got to research the craft."

Write to the author at sarahkuhn@backstage.com.

Save A Life - Register to Donate Bone Marrow

This was on Angry Asian Man. The young woman's name is Michelle. I asked myself, if there's a chance to save a life, would you take it?

So I ordered the home test kit and I'll register. In all honesty, if the situation was reversed, and some stranger had a chance to save me, I hope he or she steps up. They would be my hero.

http://projectmichelle.com/

Smoke On the Water ... Japanese style!

Studio Rehearsal Places in NYC

For those looking for a room to hold a class, rehearse with a friend, or play music in, Backstage ran a great article by Adam R. Perlman. Here it is reprinted for your info:

Most things don't look like they do in the movies. Case in point: auditioning for a Broadway show. There's no big, empty theatre waiting for you to stride on stage and fill the house with your megawatt performance. Real estate is too rare — and too expensive — for such purposes. Odds are that if you're going to secure your big break, it's going to happen in a decidedly smaller space. Enter the rehearsal room. Whether used for rehearsals, auditions, classes, readings, or even performances, this is where most working performers spend their waking hours. This being New York, there are many options from which to choose. Some relate to the basics: Do you need a piano? A ballet barre? Sprung floors? Others relate to creature comforts: Do you want a sitting room? Wireless Internet? Access to a fridge? And, of course, size and price might be important too. Our tour of Manhattan studio spaces is organized by the three guiding principles of real estate: location, location, location.

Doing It Downtown

Below 14th Street there usually aren't huge studio complexes. However, one exception is 440 Studios (www.440studios.com), which is at 440 Lafayette St., just south of Astor Place. Owned by Off-Broadway's Playwrights Horizons, it's currently in the midst of a renovation, which is expected to be completed this December. A prior expansion enlarged 440 to eight studios; that number will soon be increased to 14 — not counting its two performance venues. Located directly across the street from the Public Theater (425 Lafayette St.), 440, despite occupying prime real estate, manages to maintain affordable prices. The high ceilings are a nice touch too. St. Marks Place is just around the corner, so on a break you can get Chipotle, Pinkberry, or nipple piercing.

Dick Shea Studios (www.justsalsa.com/newyork/dance/school/dickshea), with locations at 69 West 14th St. and 104 West 14th St., has three large studios combined, all at super-affordable prices. All are set up for dancing but not singing, and none currently have a piano. Dick Shea also lacks its own website, so you've got to do some of the legwork in investigating. The great deal and location make it worthwhile, though. Call (212) 229-1631 for more information.

The Epiphany Theater Company (www.epiphanytheater.org/newyork) at 154 Christopher St. has two rental-ready studios and is typical of the downtown offerings. There's not much noise from neighbors outside the studio, but if someone's rehearsing next to you, you're going to hear it. The venue is also not the most accessible, housed deep in the West Village in a massive building known as the Archive. It is, however, a very affordable space with a comfortable waiting area. And if you need space but you're dirt broke, they're even open to barter — your personal services to the company can earn you temporary real estate.
Not far away is the Brecht Forum (www.brechtforum.org) at 451 West St. This unique space is as far west as you can be and not get wet — West Street is essentially a euphemism for the West Side Highway. And despite the name, this is neither a theatre company nor a typical rehearsal space. But Brecht Forum's large central room — malleable, despite artful obstructions — is a great place for readings and site-specific performances, not to mention rentals for large-cast events.

Choosing Chelsea

Chelsea may not be as mass-transit accessible as Midtown, but you do save a few minutes by avoiding the tourist stampede.

Chelsea Studios at TheatreWorks USA (www.theatreworksusa.org/chelsea.cfm) at 151 West 26th St. is definitely the area's largest studio, renting 20 spaces, including four offices for meetings or for coordinating auditions or rehearsals in another space. Rates for short-term usage aren't a bargain, but there are price breaks for nonprofits and long-term rentals. The expense can also be offset by the spacious rooms, free WiFi, and the comfortable lounge. The Blue Dog Café at 101 West 25th St. is a great spot to grab a sandwich and coffee on the way.

Collaborative Arts Project 21 — known as CAP 21 (www.cap21.org) and located at 18 West 18th St., offers 10 studios with a full array of sizes and configurations. You don't need to be affiliated with the training program at CAP 21 to rent, but it does engage the spaces during the week, so studios are only available weekdays after 6:30 p.m. or on weekends. Be advised that there are columns obstructing the view in several of the larger rooms. Then again, if you're working toward a performance in a venue that's similarly column-heavy, this might be a blessing.

The Atlantic Acting School (www.atlanticactingschool.org), affiliated with Off-Broadway's Atlantic Theatre Company, is found at 76 Ninth Ave., between West 15th and 16th streets, and rents out its space when not in use by the school or the company. Its eight studios are something of an open secret in the industry: The environment is clean, comfortable, and usually quiet. Rooms are spacious, and rates are heavily discounted for nonprofits and Atlantic alumni. The Chelsea Market, a culinary experience for every palate, is right across the street at 75 Ninth Ave.

The Mass of Midtown

There are certain advantages to rehearsing at the epicenter of the world's media capital. For one, transportation is convenient for those coming from outside Manhattan. You're also likely to run into people you know (which can also be a disadvantage, depending on whom you know).

Midtown boasts a number of mega-studios: large venues with 10 or more rehearsal rooms and an array of amenities. The largest of them is Ripley-Grier Studios (www.ripleygrier.com), which actually operates three locations — two in Midtown and a third on West 72nd Street. The studios at 520 Eighth Ave., in Midtown between West 36th and 37th streets, are considered its flagship. In the decade since it opened, it has expanded to three floors, encompassing more than two-dozen rooms, and it even sports a very reasonably priced café, Butch's Oasis, named for co-owner Butch Grier. As might be expected with all those studios, sound can be a problem. If you're working on a quiet play, it's not unheard of to be drowned out by singing and dancing next door. Still, such extras as free WiFi are much appreciated, and the rental rates are competitive. Ripley-Grier's second Midtown spot, at 939 Eighth Ave., between West 55th and 56th streets, has just five studios, some idiosyncratically shaped. There's no café, but Bagel Stix (891 Eighth Ave. at West 53rd Street) is a good option.

The same bagel spot is also good if you're visiting Shetler Studios (www.shetlerstudios.com), which also has rehearsal spaces at 939 Eighth Ave., as well as around the corner at 244 West 54th St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Many of Shetler's 20 studios are best suited to accommodating extremes in numbers — it's a great space for either small music rehearsals or large-cast events. Shetler also offers a 40- and a 60-seat theatre, plus an annex space that seats 75, all of which work well for readings or performances. It's not the cheapest space in the city, but it won't break the bank and has to rank among the leaders in aesthetic appeal.

Pearl Studios (www.pearlstudiosnyc.com), located at 500 Eighth Ave., between West 35th and 36th streets, is another mega-studio that offers some bang for your buck. There's nothing too fancy here, but there's a nice array of prices and sizes — and two of the 13 rooms have piano carpets, catering to music rehearsals. Free WiFi, too, is a nice perk. The location is just a couple of blocks from Penn Station, meaning transportation, fast food, and Starbucks are everywhere.

Champions Studios (www.championsstudios.moonfruit.com) at 257 West 39th St. may well be the value king among the mega-studios. It doesn't offer much in the way of décor or amenities, but boy the price is right. It should also be noted that while there are plenty of spaces that work well for straight plays, Champions is primarily known as a dance studio, and a variety of instructors offer lessons there. Champions also offers open dance classes four days a week, in case you've been meaning to brush up your bhangra.

Many studios are located in the same buildings. For example, not only are Shetler and Ripley-Grier in the same building at 939 Eighth Ave., but Shetler is in the same building as Nola Studios over on West 54th Street. Nola caters primarily to song and dance, with five large studios geared toward dance and four toward vocal rehearsals. Nola lacks a website, however, so to check out the goods you'll have to drop by. Or you can call it directly at (212) 582-1417. A meat-markety Gold's Gym is in the same building if you want to rev up before or cool down after.

Ripley-Grier shares 520 Eighth Ave. with a complex run by the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York. A.R.T./New York's Spaces at 520 (www.offbroadwayonline.com/page.php?key=spaces520) offers four spaces to rent, all funky-cool and very affordable. The large Bruce Mitchell Room is a gem and a wonderful spot for readings or performances. The catch — though it's not much of one — is that only nonprofit groups can book space here. Using space for auditions is also prohibited. It should be noted, too, that of the numerous performing arts organizations that maintain offices in the complex, some have private rehearsal studios that they may rent out when they're not in use.

The Producers Club (www.producersclubtheaters.com), further north and west at 358 West 44th St., is an oddity in that it has more theatres (four) than studios (two) to rent. The studios themselves are also on the odd side, with dungeonlike décor and some interesting extras. For example, one of them has a grid. You're not likely to perform there, but if you need a place to rehearse a lighting-intensive piece of experimental theatre, this might be it. The theatres, meanwhile, range from the tiny Sonnet thrust to the 99-seat Grand proscenium; all may be rented for readings, events, or multiple-performance runs. There's also a lounge, complete with a fully stocked bar, that may be engaged for cabaret performances or receptions.

In addition to producing shows on and off Broadway, Manhattan Theatre Club (www.mtc-nyc.org/studio_rental.asp) at 311 West 43rd St. is also in the space game. Called the Creative Center at MTC, its complex includes four large rehearsal rooms, all of which can be rented when MTC productions aren't rehearsing in them. Prices are appropriate for the size, and the high ceilings and relative quiet are nice perks.

There's a similar deal over at Theatre Row (www.theatrerow.org/studios.htm) at 410 West 42nd St., where its six theatres are augmented by six studios. Luxury isn't the thing here. There are no top-shelf amenities, and as the studios are located on the lower levels, they have a decidedly basement feel. Still, rates are decent and the location, which is across the street from the venerable Ollie's Sichuan Restaurant at 411 West 42nd St., is surprisingly quiet. Adjacent to Theatre Row is the Theatre Row Diner, 424 West 42nd St.

Using the Upper West Side

In the land of Zabar's there aren't many theatres — but there are some rehearsal spaces for those Upper West Siders who don't like to venture far from home.

With 10 studios, the largest group of rehearsal spaces is called Steps on Broadway (www.stepsnyc.com) but is known in the biz as Steps. Located at 2121 Broadway, between West 74th and 75th streets, this dance studio puts the kibosh on competition by prohibiting rentals for classes. It also tries to control foot traffic by charging a premium for auditions. But for dance or large-cast play rehearsals, it's hard to beat the combination of reasonable prices and spacious, well-kept facilities. Note, however, that Steps' studios don't feature pianos. The Steps Studio Theater (available Saturday and Sunday nights) is also a remarkable bargain, whether for rehearsal or nonprofit performances.

And while Ripley-Grier's location in this part of town, at 131 West 72nd St., isn't as large or luxurious as its downtown digs, it still sports nine studios, a pair of waiting rooms, and free WiFi.

For those with an appreciation of architecture — and padding in the budget — there's Riverside Church (www.theriversidechurchny.org/about/?rentals), 490 Riverside Dr. at West 120th Street. Up in Morningside Heights, the gorgeous, sprawling site has a host of spaces suitable for events and even a theatre that's configurable for up to 250 seats. Conventional rehearsal spaces don't exist, however, and there are no rooms with ballet barres, mirrors, or pianos. But the church does have a number of vaultlike rooms that are often available.

Additional Resources

The following theatre companies rent out rehearsal space, which usually consists of a theatre and a rehearsal room, when not in use:

Peoples Improv Theater
154 W. 29th St., 2nd fl.
(212) 563-7488
www.thepit-nyc.com

WorkShop Theater Company
312 W. 36th St.
(212) 695-4173
www.workshoptheater.org

The Space
300 W. 43rd St.
(212) 594-0140
www.thespacenyc.net

Urban Stages
259 W. 30th St.
(212) 421-1380
www.urbanstages.org

Where Eagles Dare
347 W. 36th St.
(646) 207-2926
www.johncpresents.com/WED/copy/theatre.htm

Haha ... well, I am an engineer :)

Your results:
You are Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic)

Kaylee Frye (Ship Mechanic) 85% Dr. Simon Tam (Ship Medic) 85% Malcolm Reynolds (Captain) 75% Inara Serra (Companion) 65% River (Stowaway) 65% Zoe Washburne (Second-in-command) 60% Jayne Cobb (Mercenary) 55% Derrial Book (Shepherd) 55% Wash (Ship Pilot) 50% Alliance 30% A Reaver (Cannibal) 20%

You are good at fixing things. You are usually cheerful. You appreciate being treated with delicacy and specialness.

Click here to take the Serenity Personality Quiz

Daily Show Olympics Update

Okay, this show has great humor and the underlying messages are very cunning.




"America has evolved ..." I love the expressions on Jon Stewart's face!

Racism is still rampant and this show just proves that point.

TV/Film - getting started in NY By Mark Dundas Wood

Another Backstage.com article. Their coding isn't great so this article could disappear. I'm reposting it here.

Stage actors go to New York; film and TV actors head to California. That's the sort of truism few people bother to question. But these days, things could be shifting. With state and city tax incentives in place for production companies that shoot in New York and a mayor and governor who strongly support the film and TV industry, more New York actors may soon make on-camera work their primary focus.

Christine Toy Johnson has reaped the benefits of this new climate. A longtime New York actor who pursues both stage and screen work, she recently appeared in the first episode of ABC's Ugly Betty to be filmed in New York after two seasons in California. "I'm thrilled that they're here," she says. "The cast and crew really had a great energy, and I had a ball working on it."

Among the series now shooting in New York are Gossip Girl, Lipstick Jungle, Damages, and the yet-to-debut Fringe and Life on Mars. They join such stalwarts as Rescue Me and the three Law & Order programs, which have provided speaking roles for thousands of local actors over the years. Meanwhile, features like Sex and the City and the recently wrapped I Hate Valentine's Day and Brooklyn's Finest continue to stoke cinema's ongoing love affair with New York.

So how does a newcomer to the city get a piece of all this action? Some feel that the first orders of business are to find an agent and become a member of the film and TV actors' unions. But James Calleri, a New York casting director currently working on Lipstick Jungle, dismisses that theory. Representation and union membership mean little to him when he's filling roles. "A lot of people get really focused on getting an agent," he says, "but I think that if you can start developing relationships with casting directors who are doing stuff, that's a really good way to go about working."

Easier said than done, right? "It's hard," Calleri concedes. "I think you have to try to reach out as best you can. Either getting auditions with them, mailing, taking a workshop or a class with one that's teaching somewhere, offering to be a reader — I think those are all really great ways of developing relationships with them."
Michael De Nola, a former jazz musician who has pursued an acting career in New York for the past five years, tracks down film and TV work without an agent. "I'm interested in things I can control," he says. "I can control how much time I spend as an artist working on the art, the craft. I can control how much money I want to spend on doing something like Actors Access or on One on One or any other kind of showcase." Actors Access (www.actorsaccess.com) is a casting website, and One on One Productions (www.oneononenyc.com) offers classes and networking events for actors. But, he adds, "I cannot control whether an agent is going to be interested in me or not."

Selective Service

Mailing headshots and résumés is one of the more traditional ways to connect with casting directors and agents. It also may be one of the least effective, especially if done haphazardly. "It's a crapshoot," says Calleri. "There's so much stuff that comes in." But doing your homework and then tailoring your submissions to the specific needs of projects can be significantly more productive. "I don't know how they do it," Calleri says of actors, "but they do find out what we're doing. And I don't know how they get a copy of the breakdowns, but they do. And more power to them."

Teddy Alvaro, an actor who worked with a manager during his stint as a child performer but is currently unrepresented, suggests that Henderson's Mailing Labels (www.hendersonenterprises.com) and similar products can be a "fantastic" way of reaching agents and casting directors — if they're used judiciously. "If it's just a cookie-cutter letter or résumé," he says, "it doesn't excite someone that much."

Alvaro suggests preparing no more than 10 submission packages per day and personalizing each one. "Tell them why you want to work with them," he advises. "And keep tabs on who you've written to. If you know they're a great commercial agent and you just did an Internet commercial, tell them about it."

Spinning the Web

One thing you should not include in a submission to a casting director, Calleri says, is an unsolicited demo reel. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't start assembling one or that you shouldn't post it in cyberspace where interested parties can watch it. Johnson, for instance, has posted clips of her various film and TV roles at www.christinetoyjohnson.com.

"My husband built it, and it's very comprehensive," she says. "And it has come in handy in a lot of ways. One, if someone is looking for someone like me, they can find me through various links. Two, there are some video clips that I have on there and MP3s of my singing. So sometimes, if you can't get to an audition immediately, you can point someone to your website and have them look at a sample of your work."

New York-born actor Lionel Pina currently has a MySpace page as well as his own page on BackStage.com. "I've received a good amount of hits — inquiries and audition invitations — from it. I didn't think it would pay off so well, but it really has."

What about paying to take a workshop, class, or seminar with a working casting director? Although some in the industry — including actors and casting directors — caution against it, most actors Back Stage spoke with for this article recommend it. De Nola says he booked jobs on two Law & Order series after attending sessions at the Actors Connection (www.actorsconnection.com) conducted by casting associates.

"You can get real feedback and see yourself on camera and meet casting directors," notes Johnson, who endorses taking classes with CDs alongside other classes in which you'll feel freer to make mistakes (as the instructor is not also a potential future employer). "You can't expect somebody to hire you directly from those kinds of things," she contends. "I think it's better to go in with an expectation of learning."

Peer Advice

Even after you've done the requisite mailings, posted your clips online, and introduced yourself to casting directors, you still may not find yourself getting calls to audition. So what further steps can you take to stay productive and stave off the unemployment blues? The actors Back Stage consulted offered these tips:

Keep busy. Don't just sit waiting for the phone to ring. Find a teacher or school and keep working on your acting skills. Do background work on a studio feature to get a glimpse of experienced film actors plying their trade. "You get to see firsthand how a film or television show is made," says Pina, "and how unexciting it is." Alvaro notes that his girlfriend, who is also an actor, makes it a point to take at least one step every day to move her career forward: "That could be mailing a label, reading a play, getting a headshot. But it could also be doing something as simple as going to a museum and looking at art pieces to see if anything stirs you…. Being an actor is experiential."

Get seen. Alvaro and his college actor friends formed their own theatre group to stay sharp and put themselves in front of audiences. They've staged four full-length showcases in the past two years. "It's fantastic to be able to come in every day," he says, "and work on some difficult part that people might not think I'm ready to play — really work on it and really tackle it." Maybe an agent or casting director will show up at your showcase and be enthralled by your performance. When an executive producer from One Life to Live saw Johnson in a live performance early in her career, it led to a two-year stint on the soap opera.

In addition to getting you seen, appearing in student films or low-budget independents can help you gain on-camera experience as well as provide clips for your reel. And if you're not yet a union actor, you can accept choice roles that union members are not allowed to take. Besides, you never know where that student director will be five years from now.

Be sociable. Having a circle of mutually supportive friends is a must in a harried place like New York. The more networking you do with peers, the more chances you'll have to hear about job opportunities. An early and extremely big break for Pina came when he ran into an actor friend who told him about a new film he thought Pina should audition for. Pina did so and landed the part: the pizza boy who brings food to Al Pacino's bank hostages in a memorable scene in Dog Day Afternoon. That performance opened many doors for him in ensuing years.

Adjust your mindset. Sometimes the mailings, website postings, and all the rest can seem like unpleasant chores. Alvaro suggests you think of them instead as "chances" — chances to act, chances to make a connection. "If you go to one of those agent nights, you know what? That's a chance to act that night," he says. "That's an audition experience."

Welcome to NY by Halley Bondy

This article from Backstage.com covers some good stuff, especially on healthcare. I've reposted some of the info here:

Transportation

Subways and buses may be crowded, unpleasant, and unpredictable, but they're quite often the best way to get around New York, and your MetroCard will become your constant companion. Subway and bus rides cost $2 each way. Put $7 or more on your MetroCard and you receive a 15 percent bonus; for example, a $20 purchase gives you $23 on your card. The cost of a 30-day unlimited-ride card was recently increased to $81 from $76, and by the time you read this it may have gone up again. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority doesn't cut many breaks, but you can get the best bang for your buck by assessing your lifestyle and the length of your stay in the city.

You can buy MetroCards only in the subway or at participating bodegas, delis, and newsstands — not on buses. Single rides can be purchased on buses using coins only. Most riders learn that lesson the hard way, but by having an unlimited-ride MetroCard with you at all times, you can save yourself a lot of hassle, if not much money.

If you're out late and feel like taking a taxi, be sure to hail a yellow cab. They're metered and the fare is regulated by the city (fares can be found at www.nyc.gov/taxi). However, yellow cabs are often unavailable, especially in the outer boroughs, in which case it's best to carry the number of a reputable car service. Hailing an unlicensed "gypsy" cab could get you home, but you're risking high prices and unmonitored practice

Cable, Internet, and Phone

When it comes to cable television, high-speed Internet access, and landline phone service, your options are limited to giant multinational corporations. But they all offer cheaper, bundled options that put all three services on one bill. The basic rates do not include premium cable channels such as HBO and Showtime.

Cablevision serves Long Island, Brooklyn, and the Bronx. Its latest bundled service, called Optimum Triple Play, includes high-speed Internet, digital cable, and phone service; each costs $29.95 a month for one year when you order all three. If you haven't memorized the catchy commercial jingle already, the number is (877) 393-4448. Time Warner Cable serves Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, and western Brooklyn. Its bundle costs $100-$120 a month (with a three-year agreement) and varies by area. For Manhattan call (212) 358-0900; for Brooklyn and Queens call (718) 358-0900; for Staten Island call (718) 816-8686. RCN is the slightly cheaper option for Manhattan and several neighborhoods in Queens. Its bundle costs $90 a month; call (800) 746-4726.

Health Care

Before you purchase health insurance, first visit the New York State Insurance Department website at www.ins.state.ny.us/ihmoindx.htm, where you can compare rates among all the HMOs serving New York, such as Aetna, Oxford, and Cigna. The city government website (www.nyc.gov) also has information about free clinics around the city.

But you don't have to navigate the confusing options and paperwork alone. The Actors Fund, a service organization for entertainment industry professionals, offers counseling and seminars on acquiring health care. It also provides free health clinics and various social services. Contact the New York branch at (800) 221-7303 or go to www.actorsfund.org.

Fractured Atlas, a nonprofit service and advocacy organization for artists, also offers assistance in acquiring health care; call (212) 277-8020 or go to www.fracturedatlas.org. There is also the Freelancers Union (www.freelancersunion.org). Actors' Equity Association (www.actorsequity.org), the Screen Actors Guild (www.sag.org), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (www.aftra.com) offer health insurance plans for working members.

Power

Con Edison is the sole electricity provider in New York City and the gas provider for Manhattan, the Bronx, and parts of Queens. Just prior to moving in, you should make an appointment with Con Ed and open an online or pay-by-mail account, or else suffer without utilities until your schedule aligns with theirs. Though the company isn't afraid to shut off your lights if you haven't paid your bill, you can call to get a payment extension. Call (800) 752-6633 or go to www.coned.com to set up an appointment or check rates. National Grid (formerly KeySpan) is the gas provider in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island; call (800) 539-7726 or www2.nationalgridus.com.

Noise Control

New York may be the city that never sleeps, but you will need to. Unfortunately, the noise levels around town aren't always conducive to heavenly slumbers. Some apartments sit above 24-hour businesses, others have neon lights outside their windows, while others just have annoying neighbors. There are, however, small preventative measures you can take: earplugs, white-noise machines (such as the Sound Soother), eye masks (available at Bed Bath & Beyond), or, in the summer, a loud fan. But the best way to control your noise level is to be very discriminate when choosing an apartment. It's best to get one in a building with thick walls or on the upper floors of a tall building.

Pest Control

One of the dirtiest not-so-secrets of New York is its pest problem. Even the cleanest, richest inhabitants of the city are vulnerable to infestation, and everyone has witnessed the rats on the subway tracks. The same old enemies — cockroaches, mice, and rats — don't seem to budge, while a bedbug problem has grown in the past few years. Your landlord is legally obligated to keep your apartment vermin-free, so if you suspect an infestation — if you wake up with bug bites, for instance — don't wait to inform your superintendent. If your building does not provide extermination services within 30 days, you are within your rights to take legal action.

It is highly recommended that you leave dangerous pesticides to a professional exterminator. Not only are the sprays hazardous to your health, but they can be ineffectual if used improperly. In the meantime, take preventative measures: Don't leave dirty dishes in the sink, and wipe the counters and sweep the floor routinely. (Pests aren't likely to stick around if you don't feed them.) To avoid bedbugs, vacuum regularly, avoid clutter, wash your clothes frequently, and wrap your mattress in plastic.

Cheap Tickets

Enough with the drudgery; it's time to play, and what better way than to go to the theatre? With Broadway ticket prices rocketing above $350 at times, however, the Great White Way can seem out of reach. No matter. There are ways to get discounted Broadway tickets and plenty of theatre beyond Broadway besides.

Websites offering deep Broadway and other entertainment discounts include Play-by-Play (www.play-by-play.com), Audience Extras (www. audienceextras.com), and the Theatre Development Fund (www.tdf.org). Each requires a membership and/or yearly subscription fee, but members of Audience Extras, for instance, can purchase tickets for as little as a $3.50 service charge. TDF, a nonprofit organization, has certain requirements for membership, including full-time student status, full-time teacher status, or status as a performing arts professional; see the website for a full list.

If you're an employee of a company in the New York City area, check with your human resources department to see if you have access to Plum Benefits (www.plumbenefits.com), a service that provides discounted tickets to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, sporting events, family events, and attractions.

TDF also runs the TKTS discount booths in Times Square, at South Street Seaport, and in downtown Brooklyn, where you can purchase Broadway and Off-Broadway tickets for up to 50 percent off. The Times Square booth sells matinee tickets from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. It sells evening tickets Mon.-Sat., 3-8 p.m. The South Street Seaport booth is open 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Mon.-Sat., but closes at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The Brooklyn booth, located in 1 MetroTech Center at the corner of Jay Street and Myrtle Street Promenade, is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and also sells tickets to Brooklyn performing arts events.

Taking advantage of TKTS, however, can swallow much of the day. The lines back up for up to three hours, and the tickets are sold only for performances on the day of purchase (except at the South Street Seaport and Brooklyn booths, where you can buy matinee tickets for the next day's performances should they be available). If you arrive at the Times Square booth closer to curtain time, particularly for evening shows during the week (say between 6 and 7:45 p.m. before an 8 p.m. show), the lines can be quite short. But after buying your ticket, be prepared for a brisk sprint to the theatre.

Off-Broadway is cheaper than Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway is cheaper than both, with prices from $10 to $20. The New York International Fringe Festival, which features more than 200 Off-Off-Broadway shows, runs Aug. 8-24 this year and offers tickets for $15 each. NYTheatre.com is a great resource for all New York City theatre, with a focus on the cheaper independent scene. And remember, if you have a valid student I.D., be sure to bring it anytime you purchase tickets anywhere, as many shows offer student discounts.

Daniel Henney is Agent Zero in New Wolverine Film

Daniel Henney, an American expatriate actor in South Korea, has joined the cast of X-Men Origins: Wolverine as David North, aka Agent Zero.

North is part of the clandestine Team X, which was formed by the CIA. Team X consists of three field agents: Logan (Wolverine), North (Agent Zero) and Victor Creed (Sabretooth). According to Variety, Agent Zero is an expert tracker with lethal marksman skills.


I just saw him in 'My Father' and I thought he gave a good performance, especially after he found out his father is a murderer. 'I don't go to church, and I don't believe in God ... but I prayed that my blood was his!'

Damn, that can be a good monologue. But truth be told, even though the father gave a good performance, I just couldn't feel sorry for him because of what he did. He murdered two people. And the DNA results came back false. And yes, this is based on a true story. But I'm not in that situation so I'm not going to judge.

We follow our hearts and a part of our hearts will always yearn for parents and loved ones.

How NOT To Learn English

Zhang [Zhiyi] says that one of her methods of learning the English language was listening to Eminem, which apparently led to some embarrassing situations. She said "I don't always know what he is talking about, so I write down the lyrics and repeat them. Later, I understood how rude they were.


from Gaijinsmash.net:

One day out of the blue, Small Wonder turns to me and the Australian guy and asks "What does '7th Heaven' mean?"

...A cheesy show on the WB that has somehow eluded the cancellation hook?

All jokes aside, we tried to explain that it meant something really good, like how eating a slice of New York cheesecake might put you in 7th Heaven or something. Small Wonder asks us if its a common phrase. We tell her no, we don't really use it that often.

"Oh," she says, "so I guess I can't really use "take her to 7th heaven with your new monster tool!" in any English conversations, can I?"

...For the love of God, PLEASE stop trying to pick up colloquial English from spam email titles. No good can ever come from this.

If You're Going to be a Tourist in NYC

Great site:

http://www.coedmagazine.com/Daily/11831

Here's an excerpt:

General Guidelines and Must-Know Lingo: These are some guidelines, terms and phrases you should know before arriving.

* If you don’t know where to go, ask directions. We will happily help you. But only ask once. If you forget, you’re on your own.
* Keep your wallet in your front pocket, and don’t walk around with your money out.
* PAY ATTENTION to everything you’re doing. We have to, and so do you.
* The City: Manhattan (as opposed to the other four boroughs of New York City)
* Uptown: North, Upper East Side, Upper West Side and Harlem.
* Downtown: South; also refers to anywhere south of 14th street, most often used when referencing the Lower East Side, SoHo (south of Houston), NoHo (north of houston) and the Village.
* Houston: Pronounced “house-ton,” not like the city in Texas.
* The Train: the subway
* F**king move!: “Excuse me, please get out of my way quickly.”
* Let me get: “May I have…” Used when ordering anything. Not considered rude.

The Dark Knight - Joker Interrogation Spoof

I loved this!

Things I Learned in Japan / Blasting Away Stereotypes

I'm going to be doing a webcomic, (hopefully soon) that will touch on a lot of the experiences I had in Japan. My college years were one of those hard / needed experiences that left me burnt out for a long time. I went to Cooper Union. For those that don't know, it specializes in Art, Architecture and the mother of hard, engineering. It's a full scholarship school but in exchange, they kind of take your soul. But I took it back.

It wasn't just hard classes, it was things at home going wrong, realizing as I look back now that the wolf pack mentality my godbro talked about existed strongly in my family. I was always a lone wolf. I didn't fit in anywhere, especially in my family. But my family needed an omega and they couldn't stand that I refused to be. But people who get bullied often go in to the submissive omega role to avoid pain. My godbro always talked about pain as a very effective tool. All that's another story.

But I got out because that was my goal, and as far away as possible. I got accepted in to the JET program and then the Fulbright scholarship -- and there was no way I was turning down a Fulbright scholarship! So I did it. I was going on an all expense paid trip to Japan.

I didn't get to pick my town but I made it to Tokyo a little later. I ended up in Sendai first 'cause the scholarship said so. A major city but still in the boonies. Now with the background finished, I'm just going to go over some quick things that I learned in Japan and how these stereotypes seriously needed to be shattered.

A) America is filled with many different people. Yes. You are American? You don't look American. (I get this even in New York, which I'll never understand. Japan has ignorance as an excuse, Sendai city was pretty much mono-ethnic, but NYC of all places is not).

Japan: America has white, black and nikkeijin (American born Japanese)

Me: You just said America's pretty much a melting pot yet you don't think other Asians are born and raised there?
Japan: ummm..... (thinks about this)

B) Suburbia

Me: I live in Queens.
Japan: That is in New York?
Me: yeah, by subway about an hour to downtown Manhattan.
Japan: Oh, so you live in the countryside
Me: Um, noooo ... see, there are many parts of New York. To us, countryside means corn stalks and fields and farms. Queens is one of the 5 boroughs that make up New York City. We also have Upstate New York and Long Island. Upstate has some country (but I've never seen it, can't stand people staring at me cause they've never seen an Asian) and Long Island's like suburbia where there are private houses and lawns and ...
Japan: Oh! countryside
Me: .....

C) America is largely viewed as mainly white. After I dyed my hair red. I was going for auburn but it turned a cool copper color. I started getting passed as mixed.

Japan: How come your eyes are brown?
Me: I'm Chinese.
Japan: But you are American.
Me: Ye-es ...
Japan: Shouldn't you have blue eyes?
Me: Oh, you see, all Americans are born white but we decide to change around our teenage years. I decided to be a mixed breed of Asian and Caucasian. (As Steve Byrne says, 'Cauc-asian')
Japan: Oh! (nods head in understanding)
Me: I was joking.
Japan: (pause) Really?!

D) America has no racism

Japan: You have so many different people, why do you say there is racism.
Me: Because we have so many different people, cultures, upbringing, there is a lot of conflict. People judge harshly on something as trivial as the color of someone's skin and then everything else is subject to it.
Japan: But why?
Me: Asians have very similar cultures but this half of the world still can't get along. America has all these people from all over, there's bound to be misunderstanding and miscommunication.

Racism in Japan and America. I tried to become an actress in Japan because I pass as Japanese and I didn't want to play a prostitute or something stereotypical, (which is pretty much what Asians are relegated to in American cinema). I figured, I look like everyone else, why not? But then I was deemed 'not white enough' to be American. Being Chinese and proud of it didn't help either. Still lots of Japanese who really hate other Asians.

Japan: Everyone has an equal chance in America. How come you don't go to Hollywood?
Me: Cause they really don't like Asians there.
Japan: Really?
Me: Take a look at our movies. How many Asians are in American cinema?
Japan: Jackie Chan
Me: Made it first in Asia
Japan: Jet Li
Me: Made it first in Asia. Now what do they play?
Japan: uh...
Me: the kung fu master or the yellow peril enemy
Japan: I never thought about that
Me: And everything that's exported, African Americans are all gangsters, Asian men are the ones they fight in wars and Asian women are the ones they hump and everywhere it's violent, that's not America. Those are just stereotypes. That doesn't represent all of America.

Good thing things are changing. Slowly. RAAAAIIIN! woohoo! He did well in Speed Racer, I thought.

E) Woa! Look at them titties!

Okay, this was one of the things that I loved about Japan. In China, Taiwan, maybe even Korea, I'd be a big fat cow. I grew up around a lot of racism and I was made to feel very unpretty. Not just by people outside my race but by the guys within my race. But I grew a pair (I'm not talking just bravery here), must be the milk but I developed early.

And Japan likes jelly (as Beyonce would say) on women. I got a lot of attention. For the first time I felt what it was like to be desirable and it was very flattering. When I came back stateside, it's because of Lucy Liu, Kelly Hu and Michelle Yeoh, and, well, things were changing. But those years in Japan helped a lot. I got a lot more confident and I began to become more comfortable in my own skin.

It really hit home after someone emailed me about my resume. I had dropped it off at this company and the guy that was looking at it happened to have come from my college (small world!). He said that everyone was talking about me, the 'bijin' (beautiful woman) that stopped in. He wasn't there at the time so he asked if I wanted to meet up.

But it is upsetting when a country becomes more obsessed with breasts and thighs than Kentucky Fried Chicken. Okay, an 11 year old with boobs that's paraded out there? They say, don't judge a culture, but a kid is just a kid!

F) Your name isn't American. You must not be native.

Me: So what's an American name?
Japan: Mary
Me: European
Japan: Um, Jane.
Me: European again.
Japan: Um .. Nina!
Me: Russian.
Japan: Oh.
Me: There is really no such thing as a pure American name. Americans come from all over the world. European names are accepted. Why not Asian? I'd love to see a non Asian dude called Fei Hung, that would just be cool! Can you imagine that? You're named after the great Wong Fei Hung? That's right! My parents loved him! Incredible historical figure.

Asian guy: My name's Samuel L. Jackson Lee.
World: Woa!
Asian guy: That's right. Hand me my sword, it's the one that says, 'badass motherfucker' on it.

G) To a lot of Americans, all Asians look alike.

Japan: What?! But we're all different. That's ridiculous!
Other Japan: Well, all white people look alike to me.
Japan: That's true! hahahaha!

H) I speak better English than the French guy.

Japan: But he's white. You're Chinese, how come your English is better?
Me: He's French and I was born and raised in America. And despite being a product of the New York City public school system, I ended up getting a great education.
Japan: (long pause) But he's white! You're not.
Me:

I) He's a dick ... but he's sooo cute -- um, no he's not (I was debating about titling this one, 'Looks Are Everything' or 'If you can't get laid anywhere else ...')

Japan: Check out my boyfriend! (Shows a cellphone pic) Isn't he so good looking?
Me (and my friend from Sydney): .... (no comment)
Japan: His eyes are green! (phone rings. A very angry and rude guy at the other end. Hangs up.) That was my boyfriend.
Friend from Sydney: And you let him talk that way to you?
Japan: But he has blond hair and green eyes!
Me: So that excuses him from being an asshole?
Japan: But he has blond hair and green eyes!
Friend from Sydney: Honey, he's fucking butt ugly and a jerk. Back at home, he would be drop kicked and labeled as a warning for other women.

J) I Teach You English, You Love Me Long Time (Jerks that come to Japan just to lay anybody)

Foreigner guy: Hi! (talks very slow because he's either full of himself or thinks all girls he hits on are retards). My. Name. Is. John. How. Are. You?
Me (playing along with a fake accent): Oh! I am fine. And you?
Foreigner guy: I'm great! Your English is really good. Did you study in the states?
Me: Oh, little bit.
Foreigner guy: We should have a language exchange (hint hint wink wink). I know a place that's open all night.
Me (back to my New York flair): No thanks asshole. I don't like little dicks.

To be continued ...

Ninja Assassin

Cause it's got RAIN in it -- and looking badass!

http://www.cinematical.com/2008/06/02/new-info-on-wachowskis-ninja-assassins/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186367/

Right Brain / Left Brain

I'm ... unusual

what's really weird? I feel pain and I can read in my night time dreams. I have some control over my dreams and as for my waking ones, from the paths I choose in life, I'm definitely unconventional.

I try so hard to order my life yet my life is largely dependent on chaos. Will wonders never cease.

I took these tests on whether I am right or left brain dominant. Here are my results:

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (48%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (46%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?
personality tests by similarminds.com

Brain Lateralization Test Results

Right Brain (48.4%) The right hemisphere is the visual, figurative, artistic, and intuitive side of the brain. Left Brain (51.6%) The left hemisphere is the logical, articulate, assertive, and practical side of the brain

Are You Right or Left Brained?(word pair test)
personality tests by similarminds.com

Get A Receipt / Record

A friend came to me today to ask about a transaction she made at the Citibank ATM. She made a cash deposit at the local branch's ATM. Everything looked good so she exited the ATM without getting a record.

Today she got a notice telling her she's been fined for insufficient funds.

I told her to call the number on the letter (not our local branch cause the people there are very unprofessional). Luckily, they were able to see that she did deposit the money and they did have the record of the amount and time. As a result, her account was credited and the penalty was canceled.

One definite note I gave her was to get the name of the customer service rep she spoke to as well as the time she called and any important notes down on paper.

In the US there is a lot of fraud as well as businesses who do not take responsibility for their errors. As a result. ALWAYS GET A RECEIPT / RECORD.

I had a problem with my HSBC credit card. I tried to refill my MetroCard via the machine and even though it showed that my card was filled it could not be used. The machine wouldn't give me a receipt either. HSBC was kind enough to credit my account.

Except they didn't. They charged my credit card for the amount I was disputing. So now I was double penalized. It took 3 phone calls to sort it out but I got the name of everyone I spoke to and I was ready to present my case every time. The customer reps are busy, I know, but that also means they only take a cursory look at your record and don't know everything that went on.

Getting the name is also valuable because if you get a customer service rep who isn't very 'nice' you can fight back with how well you know the situation so that person has no way of ripping you off.

I believe I mentioned this is a previous entry. Keep track of what you use your credit card for. And with everything, whether it's ordering online or buying something at the post office, if it's something big, get a record or receipt of it. It will help you alot in the future when things go awry.

Hip Hop & Me

Asian Hip Hop Summit

http://www.asiaticempire.org/

For those in to the Hip Hop scene, this looks hot.

And as promised in my last blog, this is the movie I'll be in:

The Children of Hip Hop

http://www.thechildrenofhiphopmovie.com/

I have a small part in the film. I got the part after the 3rd callback and I'm psyched! My first film. It's indie and ultra low budget but I met the cast, director and producers and this film has a lot of heart. I could tell by the passion from the reading and the way people spoke about this film. I'm hoping to see more positive elements but the film does have a lot of real grit. For native New Yorkers there are parts that will hit home.

We just had our first rehearsal reading last Saturday and I'll be called in on Thursday or Sunday for another rehearsal. Shooting of my scene will be next month.

I'll post more updates as we go along.

Hope everyone will watch and enjoy!

Here Are More Sexy Asian Men

Asian women get a lot of love but what about the overlooked sexy Asian man?

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2008/07/meet_emporio_armani_underwears_1.html

Takeshi Kaneshiro will be the new, um, face, for Armani underwear ads. I will always remember him as the cute, shy boy with dark rimmed glasses. I saw him not too long ago in Warlords and in addition to looks, he's sporting those damn fine acting chops.

For those who don't know what this sexy man looks like:





http://asiandramaddict.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/takeshi.jpg

In some old but good news, Rain:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1186367/

in Ninja Assassin or ... Ninja Scroll? And he's starring in it! Woohoo! I just love it when us Asian are showing our sexy asses all over the media spectrum -- in a good way!

And yes, this is him in all his hotness:




And just a final mention cause I just saw Seducing Mr. Perfect




http://www.asianbite.com/AsianAmericanImages/Daniel-Henney-9.jpg

and yes, there are girls (and some guys) out there going, Chen, where have you been?

I've been buried in books and every now and then I peek up when a studly walks by. C'mon! nantech can only hold my attention for so long until guys this fine walk by.

And yes, there are many many more but before I get addicted to Google images looking this up, I need to get through another robotics book.

Oh, yeah, and rehearsals for an upcoming movie I'll be in started. Will post in the next blog

Enjoy, y'all!

Living in New York Series

Stores and Places of Interest

Drugstores

New York drugstores carrying everything from snacks to that much needed aspirin after 5 hours of cramming.

Here are the two largest chains:

Walgreens

http://www.walgreens.com/

Duane Reade

http://www.duanereade.com/

Rite Aid

http://www.riteaid.com/

There are other smaller drugstores as well. These two have weekly sales so pick up the circular on sundays and see what you need.

Target and K-mart are also large stores that are like a clothing, grocery (minus the fresh veggies and fruits), toy, stationary, electronics, etc. store all in one.

http://www.target.com/

http://www.kmart.com/

For all these sites you can look up the nearest store under 'locations'. You can just type in your address or pop in the zip code. And you can use google maps (mentioned earlier) to get directions. :)


United States Postal Service

http://www.usps.com

Locations are all over New York. Read up on mailing packages, forms, and other services provided by your local post office (minus the attitude, but actually, some post offices are quite civil, just not my local branch).


Banks

The largest banks are:

Chase

Citibank

HSBC

Bank of America

Capital One

And a plethora of Chinese and other Asian banks especially in Elmhurst, Flushing and Chinatown. A few Chinese banks include:

Asia Bank

Chinatrust bank

HSBC

Amerasia

and many others.

To get tho their websites just pop in the name to search.

Personally, I bank with Citibank because of convenience. They even have offices in Tokyo and I can access them through Japan's post office atm machines. Otherwise, my local branch has way too much attitude for me to bank.

As for service, I've received the best from HSBC and Amerasia. Amerasia is very stable but only has a few branches whereas HSBC can compete with the Western banks in terms of branch locations.

I personally don't like the service at Capitol One. Waiting over an hour to receive help from a customer service rep is just unacceptable.

When I visited Chase, they just tried to push too many things on me I didn't need such as loans which would just put me in debt.

The people at these banks are essentially sales people and will try to push you in to services you don't need or want. Learn to say 'no' or 'I'll think about it' and avoid 'limited time deals'. That's just a catch phrase to push you in to something.

Credit Cards

Always good to get a credit card. If you lose it, call up the company as soon as you know and cancel it. Some have good fraud protection. Credit cards can be used almost anywhere in NYC. Just remember to carry a piece of ID.

But the big thing about credit cards that people don't do: READ THE FINE PRINT

Sure, the person pressuring you to sign up for that Bank of America card was just so friendly and you got a free mug to go with it but what they neglect to tell you is the 29% late fee. Yes, it is in the fine print.

Here are the biggest:

American Express

Mastercard

Visa

Discover

Usually, the Discover card is the easiest to get, but it's not accepted everywhere. Check to see if there are any student specials.

My favorite card is the American Express Clear card. No fees of any kind and the rewards are clear. I call it the no bs card :)

All banks carry Visa or Mastercard, however, I have heard some pretty bad things about Capitol One and Bank of America, not to mention Citibank concerning fees as well as really bad customer service.

If you do a search on and 'complaints' you can usually see the experiences other people have had.

The best cards to get have no annual fees or fees of any kind. If this is your first card, you may have to settle for a student card from a bank.

Some words of advice:

Always pay off what you owe. Letting the money pile up will hurt you later on.

Don't use the credit card for needless things, especially if you are living on a budget.

Keep track of what is on the bill. If there are any charges you didn't make, call the company right away and dispute it. All cards can be checked online so you can see what's going on.

Don't pay late. If you can't pay off a bill all at once pay a little at a time every week or every two weeks online. This also gets you in the habit of checking your transactions and keeping track of how much you spend every week :)

Some of this advice may sound self explanatory but you'd be surprised how many people think of credit cards as 'cash for free'.

Supermarkets / Grocery stores

Whole Foods is the big one in Manhattan. In my neighborhood I've seen Food Bazaar and Ctown. Check out your neighborhood. Also, every week they have sales so check them out.

Computers and Electronics

Ahhh, I will go into a whole section on this at another time. I never pay full price for electronics unless I am in a hurry. The big stores:

Best Buy

Circuit City

CompuUSA

Radio Shack

J&R

and there are others that are slipping my mind. As usual, you can check out where the nearest stores are through their websites' 'location' link.

Personally, I buy all my computer and electronics needs online.

http://www.buy.com

http://www.staples.com

http://www.officedepot.com

These sites also have office supplies. Officemax is another but I get the best deals from those sites above.

I will have another article on discount sites where you can save a bundle and I do a lot of research on products and where I can get them the cheapest. I'm not a electronics nut but I look carefully in to everything I buy from headphones to digital cameras.

I'll probably think of more stuff later. Until then, enjoy your stay in NY!

Living in New York Series

Finding An Apartment

Get to know the areas of NYC:

http://www.cityguideny.com/viewpage.cfm?colid=4362

This is just Manhattan. Areas of Queens include Flushing, Astoria, Elmhurst, Sunnyside, Woodside, and many others. I don't know much about Brooklyn though.

As for places for rent, check out this page for some more advice:

http://www.yourtype.com/survive/apartment_hunting.htm

And check out / join school mailing lists. Columbia, CUNYs, NYU, etc.

Here are a few:

Columbia Chinese Students and Scholars:

http://www.cucssa.org/pub/modules/newbb/viewforum.php?forum=3

Columbia University Taiwanese Students Association

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ColumbiaTSA/

NYU Taiwanese Student Associations

http://nyutsa.com/wordpress/?page_id=6

CUNY Apartments (only for CUNY students though)

http://www.campusrent.com/The_City_University_of_New_York_Apartments.cfm

Also the magazines 'Village Voice' and 'Loot' which are free. You can pick them up at places like Barnes & Nobles.

Craigslist is also a place:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/

There are many other sites as well. As always, be careful!

Good luck and happy hunting!

Living in New York Series

Short Term Stays

Okay, you've made it to New York and you're really anxious about finding a place to stay - long term. But where do you live while you are looking?

Here are a few places:

Hostels

http://www.hostels.com/en/us.ny.ny.html

http://gonyc.about.com/od/hostels/New_York_Hostels.htm

http://www.ny.com/hotels/budget.html

For those who have never heard of hostels, they are usually dormitory like places students and backpackers stay. Pretty cheap but in some places, be careful with your stuff. My friend had a pair of smelly tennis shoes stolen. He still doesn't know why.

YMCA

http://www.ymca.net/about_the_ymca/rooms_for_travelers.html

Book early as the NYC ones fill up fast!

Also, check out the Chinese and Taiwanese mailing lists I'm posting in the next section

Living in New York Series

When to Search for An Apartment, What to Look For and Look Out For, and Some Advice About Living in the City

Okay, you've come to New York, and if you've read my previous entry, you know how to make use of the subway system.

The best time to look for an apartment is generally right before summer (around May) and at the end of summer (August / September).

At the beginning of summer school is out and people are looking to sublet their places. During summer is also a good time to look for temporary stays.

At the end of summer / beginning of Fall that is when school starts and a lot of apartments are open for renting for short and long term.

In truth, New York is a very lively city and there are always apartments for rent. Cost and location are definitely key considerations, however.

Things to Be Careful Of

Get a receipt if you are putting down a deposit or paying the first month's rent or for anything you are giving money for. There are shady people who will take your money and then deny you the apartment. If you have a receipt it is proof that you paid money and it is usable in court.

If you have your own room make sure it has a lock on it. Your valuables are just that -- valuable. I had a friend whose landlady wouldn't allow rooms to be locked. That posed a major problem as the other roommate was, well, evil. What if her passport was taken? Or money? Would the landlady take responsible? In her case, no, so my friend had to move out.

Key. You should receive a key so you can freely enter and leave the apartment. Not receiving a key is unreasonable. Do you have to wait for the landlord/lady to be home to open the door for you? Worse, if the person is unreasonable, he or she can lock you out and you can't get to your belongings.

Internet. If a place doesn't provide internet then you can afford it. If you are only living here one year all the internet companies have major deals and split among roommates makes the cost very cheap.

I know everyone loves free internet but the person whose name is on the bill is the one responsible. And yes, America monitors where we surf. It's one thing to surf naughty sites, but most people don't want to be responsible if their tenants are visiting unseemly sites. To spell it out for you -- fear of terrorism. So if a landlord / lady does not include internet, don't push it. They have their reasons and they don't want to embarrass anyone by talking about it.


Advice:

Location. Check out the area always. I see a lot of people on mailing lists and who have answered ads I've posted who say they want to rent a room or an apartment without even seeing the apartment.

The key phrase here is 'Look Before You Leap'

Check out the area first and foremost. Is it convenient? Will you do cooking? Are there supermarkets nearby? Restaurants? Drugstores? How are the prices? You can afford the rent but can you afford to live there?

Check out the roommates. I've heard lots of horror stories about roommates. Meet the roommates, see if you like them. If they are never there that may also be a good thing :)
The worst thing about spending all that money and energy into moving into an apartment is when you have to move out a month later because of a bad roommate (it has happened!)

Commute / travel. How long is it? Cheaper apartments are in Brooklyn and Queens. That being said, can you handle the one hour or more commute? Is it far from the train station or bus stop? A ten or 15 minute walk isn't too bad. Those ten minutes can actually put you in a better neighborhood. Don't forget, unsavory types can be around or live in stations. You may have lucked out and have only a 2 minute walk but how safe is the area?

Just remember, New York is generally safe, but it is still the big city. Even the richest and safest neighborhoods have crime.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Keep track of where your valuables are.

Don't listen to music while you are walking. You need to hear what's going on around you.

I'll probably post more advice when I think of it or to answer questions. Stay safe and have a great time here!