Forbes Magazine has released its "30 under 30" for 2011.
Distruptors and Innovators in the field of Energy include Danielle Fong, Zizhou Zhou, Eden Full, Javier Fernandez-Han son of Peter Han, the president of NGO, Inventors without Borders, Inc., and Alexis Ringwald. Congratulations!
January 17, 2012
by Suzanne Joe Kai
1998 isn't really that long ago, but for the Internet, it feels more like a century.
Back then, when a 14 year old kid created AsianConnections.com, an online magazine in search of his Asian American identity, we jumped on board. As mainstream journalists from TV, radio and print, we had been fretting for the zillionth time about the poor and stereotypical coverage of Asian Americans in the media, any American media. (A problem, by the way, that persists even today.)
Scouting for stories, we rejoiced in the fact that Jerry Yang had co-founded Yahoo!, then the biggest star in the constellation of online ventures.
Today, it was announced that Jerry Yang has left Yahoo! What a ride that was for Jerry. Born on February 6, 1966, Jerry Yang has a lifetime ahead of him and we wish him well and hope he continues to innovate.
Digging into our archives here is a commentary by contributing writer Tom Chin, and a photo of Jerry and his Yahoo! co-founder David Filo. We will go back into our archives again and also post Jerry's exclusive interview with AsianConnections.com.
By the way, in honor of the upcoming Year of the Dragon, there is a new beginning - the site is soon to finish a brand new back end system. There will be a lot more images and videos. Our site used to be hosted on the servers of movie review site RottenTomatoes.com thanks to its founders, while I helped the start-up as one of their first national...
A new super PAC is demanding an apology from GOP Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra for the broadcast of his controversial ad in Michigan on Super Bowl Sunday depicting negative stereotypes of Asian Americans. The ad shows an Asian female speaking in broken English, cycling through what appears to be rice paddies, "Your economy get very weak. Ours get very good."
Actress Lisa Chan apologized for her involvement. The recent UCLA graduate wrote on her Facebook page,"I am deeply sorry for any pain that the character I portrayed brought to my communities."
“In an age where virtually all Americans have moved forward on race relations, it seems Congressman Hoekstra has taken a giant step back. We are here to say we are not going to put up with it. We are here to tell him we are outraged and demand an official apology," said Jesse Tangkhpanya, the national political director for the American Values super PAC.
In addition to the Super Bowl ad which was aired in Michigan, the GOP Senate hopeful posted a website accusing GOP rival candidate Senator Debbie Stabenow, (D-MIch.) of supporting deficit spending. The Hoekstra campaign website www.DebbieSpenditnow.com showed the Superbowl ad, with Chinese characters, paper lanterns and dragons.
Amidst the firestorm from members of the AAPI community and mounting pressure from both Republicans and Democrats, the ad has been taken down. It is off Hoekstra's Facebook page, YouTube channel, and the website now reverts to Hoekstra's Senate...
Tennis pro Michael Chang knows the glare of the spotlight of being one of the world's greatest tennis athletes, and an Asian American. He was only fifteen years old when he turned pro.
He spoke with ESPN's Kenton Wong about the added pressures he experienced when he began his pro career in 1988. He also disclosed to Wong that he spoke with Jeremy Lin before Lin's rookie season with the Golden State Warriors, pre-Linsanity.
Click here for the full story by ESPN's Kenton Wong.
Related:
In 1987, Michael Chang was the youngest player to win a main draw match at the U.S. Open and the youngest to reach a Tour semifinal. Becoming the youngest French Open / Grand Slam Champion ever in 1989, he then became the youngest to rank in the Top 5. Chang ended an American drought at the French Open, when he became the first American male to win the tournament since 1955. In 1991 he reached the quarterfinals or better in 13 tournaments. On the court, Michael's real strength is his return game. Chang was considered one of the fastest players on the circuit, possessing an all-court game.
February 22, 2013
Happy Birthday James Hong!
Our favorite actor James Hong celebrated his birthday February 22!
All of us at AsianConnections.com wish you a very Happy Birthday!
Here are our favorite interviews we have done with Mr. Hong over the years.
Click on the blue headline title to the full story.
Part 1 of 3: AsianConnections' interview with James Hong:
On APAs in Hollywood - Urges Cooperation and Support of organizations like CAPEUSA.org.
Part 2 of 3: AsianConnections' interview with James Hong:
James Hong shares his famous lines from his role as Mr. Ping in Kung Fu Panda
Part 3 of 3: AsianConnections' interview with James Hong and daughter April Hong:
James Hong sighting! Mr. Hong attended a CAPE event with Film Independent in Los Angeles February 1, 2012. I had a chance to visit with him and personally wish him Happy Birthday, in advance of his real birthday today!
He was born February 22, 1929 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He studied civil engineering at the University of Southern California. As a road engineer for Los Angeles County for 7-1/2 years, he would act during his vacations and sick days, eventually quitting to go full time as an actor.
Mr. Hong has played in more than 500 television and film roles, including his award-winning role as "Mr. Ping" in Kung Fu Panda, and Kung Fu Panda 2.
- Suzanne Joe Kai, Publisher/Editor AsianConnections.com