Tag Archives: Asia

Youngest Golfer, 14 years old, at the Masters

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Guan Tianlang, 14, is set to become the youngest player ever to play at the Masters — he tees off today at 12:24 pm Georgia time. He’s from Guangzhou, China (represent!). Actually, he’s paired with Matteo Manassero, the former “youngest golfer at the Masters” when he was 16 years old in 2010.

Here’s his latest tweet with one of the first female members of the Augusta National Golf Club, Condoleezza Rice. This kid’s still in 8th grade. Man. This story begs the question: What were YOU doing when you were 14 years old?

132b22fd 447b 4e0e 866d 7528687a8954 500x802 Youngest Golfer, 14 years old, at the Masters

Anton Kusters: Photographing the Yakuza

Anton (Hasselt, BE) is a photographer and fond of long term projects. At least, he thinks he is. His very first project: a look inside a Japanese Yakuza crime family changed his life. Or maybe it did not change it. Or maybe a just little. Or maybe a lot. In his talk he will focus on hanging in there, common sense, publishing independently, press attention, feeling lucky, and working hard. It will be About finding out what’s important. And being scared. And growing up. And making a few images along the way. Oh, and about serendipity. You know, those little moments when you suddenly realize that things are falling into place. In fact he will talk about a lot of things and show us some remarkable pictures as well.

Miss Philippines beatboxes

Earlier this month, Miss China was crowned Miss World 2012. But check out Miss Philippines’ beat-boxing talent. She even includes Usher’s “Yeah” and Cali Swag’s “Teach Me How to Dougie.” Another reason why they’re the “cool” Asians.

In other personal news, I’m finally putting a little weight on the ankle again. Total time on crutches so far: 8 weeks.

Asia News (January Edition)

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I haven’t written up a post about Asia in a while, so here’s a mishmash of stuff. Nothing photography-related here.

  1. Peking University – 79
  2. Tsinghua University – 70
  3. Zhejiang University – 66
  4. Fudan University – 46
  5. Renmin University of China – 30
  6. Shanghai Jiaotong University – 25
  7. Sun Yat-sen University – 22
  8. Nanjing University – 20
  9. South China University of Technology – 18
  10. Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Wuhan University – 17 (tie)

High five to Christiana for this gem:

City!N launches in China

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City!N (read CityIN), is a new China-based social networking site that launched earlier this month.

An article at VentureBeat explains why it’s a bit different from Facebook.

Users create profiles where they explain their interests such as favorite movies, cars, or celebrities. They rate items and then the site recommends other people in the same local areas who have similar interests.

Currently, the site is only in Chinese, but they plan to expand to English language support at some point in the future.

College Grads in Beijing to Leave Campus Earlier

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College grads in Beijing to leave campus earlier (March 9, 2008, Xinhua)
College graduates in Beijing will leave campus roughly a month earlier than the usual time this summer due to the Olympics which is scheduled to start on August 8 in the city. Beijing municipal education authorities required all colleges located in Beijing to have their graduates leave campus at least one month earlier than they are usually asked to do. Therefore, career service offices in local colleges sped up their paces in job counseling for would-be graduates. The majority of graduating students might find jobs before the end of April. Also reported in the Guardian.

Alfred Peet, 1920-2007

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Peet’s Coffee founder Alfred Peet died earlier this week (Wednesday) in Oregon.

When Alfred Peet opened his shop in Berkeley in April, 1966 he started a coffee revolution. Nobody had ever seen top-quality coffee like this roasted in this unique style in America. The corner of Walnut and Vine quickly became a gathering place for UC Berkeley grads, undergrads, and faculty as well as local intellectuals, radicals, writers, musicians, artisans and any number of the colorful people who still make up Berkeley today.

All my friends know that Peet’s is what I go for. (Check out the “About” section in the footer below!) Maybe that’s why I can’t sleep at night after coming back from Asia.  Not only do my taste buds love their coffee, but because I love the bay area so much, I really dig local companies and products (like my Timbuk2 bags and Scharffen Berger Chocolate, which has since been bought out by Hershey’s).

Recently, Jaime has introduced me to another exclusively San Francisco coffee company called Martha & Bros. I’m just waiting for them to open more locations closer to my neighborhood.

Thank you for your work, Mr. Peet. Coffee, dark chocolate, and something to carry them in. That’s all I need for life.

Ambush From Ten Sides

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This must be the 2nd or 3rd time renting House of Flying Daggers and I finally got to watch it. The first time I rented it, the disc kept skipping. I still think it’s funny how the English and Chinese (Ambush From Ten Sides) titles have nothing to do with each other in these types of movies. And why didn’t someone tell me it was a cheesy love story? Well, who wouldn’t fall for an Asian Orlando Bloom?

thumb m39 Ambush From Ten Sides Ambush From Ten Sides

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I also started reading Memoirs of a Geisha. I remember when OJ was reading it way back when it was published. I was supposed to borrow it from her but the book never made it’s way back to SF. I’m excited about the movie, but why do they have Chinese actors playing Japanese roles? Couldn’t they find someone from one of those Karate Kid movies? Don’t get me wrong, I like Zhang Ziyi, but come on. I guess it’s kinda like Catherine Zeta-Jones playing an American. They just look like they fit the part.

AZN tv, advertising, and links

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I actually forgot to add this earlier this week. I’d like to thank all those who personally responded to my post on teaching. I appreciate all the things that different people have share with me about what they’ve learned. It truly means a lot.

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Make your own clothing line. I wouldn’t know what to put. What would yours say?

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I was watching the TV guide channel, when I saw that they were showing the Academy-award nominated documentary on Vincent Chin. I flipped to the channel and found out that it was the AZN Television Channel. For those who can’t tell by the name, it’s a cable television channel for Asian America. I didn’t know they had such a channel. I’m so behind on TV these days.

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Check out an iPod nano Promotion on a Tokyo Subway. Ingenious advertising.

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Search to see if you have any unclaimed property in California. Thanks to the local news broadcast for the link.

Elmo Impersonator Accused of Harassment

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Elmo Impersonator Accused of Harassment

A man dressed as the character was one of three impersonators arrested last week for allegedly harassing tourists for tips after posing for photos on Hollywood Boulevard.

That actually happened to me and my friend earlier this year. There was major traffic on Hollywood Blvd. Jerry was driving, so Helen, who’s from NY, and I jumped out of the car, camera in hand, and walked over to the Kodak Theater. We took a snapped a couple pictures near the building and when we saw Jerry pull over, we headed back towards the car. As we were about to jump in, we saw Elmo walking our way. He was dressed in the most ghetto Elmo outfit I had seen. Wait, that was the first and only Elmo costume I’d ever seen, but it was really ghetto. He basically had an Elmo head with a red turtleneck, red sweats, and a black plastic belt.

Before I knew it, he was giving my friend a side hug. I had my other friend’s camera in my hand so being instinctively Asian, I took a picture. All this happened in a matter of seconds, since the car was momentarily stopped in traffic just so that we can get back in. Once I took the picture, we quickly said thanks, and opened the door to get into the car, but he had his palm out asking for a donation. I told him I didn’t have anything and he said, “C’mon, that’s how we make a living, you know.” I looked at his outstretched hand and glanced at his other hand, which held a wad of cash. Oops, I hadn’t even thought about having to donate for taking a picture. He just crept up on my friend and I snapped away. I just apologized and told him all I had was my chapstick and my cell phone, which was true. I hopped in the car and we drove off. Too weird.