Tag Archives: internet

Internet vs. Books

David Brooks, my favorite NY Times columnist, hits it again in his latest: The Medium is the MediumI strongly suggest reading this piece.  In this column, he talks about how the internet is good for disseminating information and keeping you informed, while books are a superior vehicle for developing an individual mind, much because of the fact that the internet shuns hierarchy, while books force a reader to defer to the wisdom of an author.

The Internet helps you become well informed — knowledgeable about current events, the latest controversies and important trends. The Internet also helps you become hip — to learn about what’s going on, as Epstein writes, “in those lively waters outside the boring mainstream.”

Posted in Asian American, Education, Knowledge, media | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Singing by oneself

I saw the video above on AAM.  It’s a video of Sam Tsui, who is Yale student, and who made a Michael Jackson medley with his friend Kurt Schneider (the guy on the left doing the beat box thing).    It’s Sam Tsui times six, with Kurt doing the beats.  The first time I heard someone sing by himself on separate tracks was when Bobby McFerrin recorded Don’t Worry, Be Happy.  Sam and Kurt’s piece is pretty cool though because of the visuals.  How do they make a video like that?

Also check out their rendition of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing:

Posted in Asian American, media | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Google to Make Operating System

Let the fight begin.  If I were Microsoft, I’d be shaking in my boots.  True, others have gone against Windows before.  But this is Google, a company with cash, outreach, brand recognition, smarts, and the desire to take over the world.

Update: New article out today.  I also agree with the NY Times editorial.

I do like the idea of keeping stuff on a computer rather than everything over the web.  I almost never use Google Docs.  Hopefully there will be a compromise.

Posted in media, Uncategorized | Tagged | Leave a comment

Teaching, Learning, Promoting through the Internet

I use the web every day, but I’m only beginning to learn how powerful it can be. See the video above, where Jane Lui plays a solid original tune. Pretty hard jazz chords, no? Well, you can learn to play Jane’s original tune–from Jane herself. See below:

If you liked Marie Digby’s song in my Marie Digby post, you can also learn to play it from the songwriter herself (at 1:50):

Posted in media | Tagged , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

PostSecret for Asian Americans

shush_by_mztrippie

(pic from here)

Caught news of a new site called PostMimi at Slant Eye for the Round Eye. It’s a PostSecret-style blog, where the author Karen encourages Asian Americans to e-mail or mail their secrets to her.

I like the idea.  But many Asian Americans already routinely post their secrets under anonymous handles on sites like the 44s and 8 Asians.  I remember admin-ing the 44s and meeting some guy who admitted that he had been convicted of attempted rape, and that he didn’t care or have remorse.  It was baffling (and sickening).  So I wonder whether anyone will actually post anything original.

Posted in media | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Bicoastal Bitchin Podcast

bicoastal_bitchin
Check out the latest bigWOWO podcast where we interview the three bloggers from Bicoastalbitchin.com: Aznheartthrob, C-Bruhs, and Sherdizzle (Love their onscreen names!).  The podcast is 14.5 megabytes and runs for around 31 minutes.  You can download it here, or you can listen to it here:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Posted in Activism, Podcasts | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Bicoastal Bitchin'

I blog and say what I have to say about Asian American culture; however, I post on a whole bunch of other stuff as well, including politics, literature, and other stuff.  There are just too many interesting stories out there. 

Anyway, it makes me happy when I find other Asian American blogs and bloggers that also heavily emphasize the Asian American part of the web conversation.  My most recent discovery, thanks to Minority Militant and Larry, is Bicoastal Bitchin’.  This stuff is FUNNY.  There are three bloggers who post on a whole bunch of various stuff, including comics, the remnants of colonialism, and…ding ding…IR!  It’s definitely a new take on things.  I like the fact that they’re snarky and sometimes crude, and I really like the fact that they also organize events.  Community, as I’ve said many times, is in.

Posted in Activism | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Connections and helpful activities through the web

Chen Xiao

Chen Xiao

CNN had this inspiring story off its front page.

Chen Xiao, living in Beijing, had a terrible 2008.  So she put her life online, asking strangers to hire her for $3 an hour.  She does little tasks around Beijing, meeting people and sharing in their experiences.  She’s found that she’s making a good living and meeting lots of interesting people.

What she stumbled upon was not only a new life but a new way to make a living. She charges about $3 an hour, and she’s been asked to do almost everything from delivering pet food to caring for stray cats to taking a hot lunch to a homeless man.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 7 Comments

The RiceDaddies Empowerment in Diversity Challenge

Rice Daddies Challenge

Rice Daddies Challenge

SoulSnax from Rice Daddies sent me this awesome activist initiative that the Rice Daddies have been working on: the RiceDaddies Empowerment in Diversity challenge.  They raise money for educational purposes in order to teach our kids culture and leadership and to instill our kids with self-love.  I think they’re the only Asian American internet site which has such an initiative.  From their site:

With that in mind, The RiceDaddies Empowerment in Diversity Challenge aims to mitigate the marginalizing effects of diversity-negligent pop culture and media by funding innovative educational programs that do the following:

  • Promote positive images of ourselves for our children
Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment