So I happened to check my blog stats and see that I've been getting more hits lately but I don't really know why. I haven't been posting more and have actually been rarely writing.
Then I see that the Wikipedia post on The Aristocats features my blog post on it, seen here. Wow, how did that happen? And people have made some negative comments on the post like racism will go away if people just don't talk about the fact that racism happened.
Yeah, that's the issue.
Not this, where a few high schools have Orientals as the name of the school. With Chang the dragon as the mascot. And "Asian" font on their website.
Yeah, we need to stop bringing these things up. Bc then they'll just go away.
Like this woman Deborah Peagler who has been wrongfully imprisoned.
Like the fact that white girls who are kidnapped are put on the national news but black children are not. They're still missing, America.
If keeping silent and just wanting peace would make everything ok, I would duct tape my mouth. But that's not really how it works is it?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Music, High School, Poverty, and the Recession
This story made me tear up, and I often don't personally feel so touched by the need to have music programs in high schools. Watch the accompanying video, too.
I just want to send her money for college but that's not really the issue or the answer.
I just want to send her money for college but that's not really the issue or the answer.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Ok, I have a bigger kitchen than these places
I've heard of small NY studios and apartments but these are small! And now they're "reasonably" priced at $250K - for 200 sq ft! Ack.
And some have what looks like $500 or $750 HOA fees. omg. Ack.
Somehow their sinks are smaller than mine and my kitchen looks like a chef's dream compared to these; one, the microwave is above a shelf above the fridge. How do you use it?? And people buy these?? Ack.
Ok, I thought about it, and I don't think I want to move to NY.
And some have what looks like $500 or $750 HOA fees. omg. Ack.
Somehow their sinks are smaller than mine and my kitchen looks like a chef's dream compared to these; one, the microwave is above a shelf above the fridge. How do you use it?? And people buy these?? Ack.
Ok, I thought about it, and I don't think I want to move to NY.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Hollister
I saw these teens last week wearing clothes with the word Hollister on the front. I was confused - is the city Hollister now that popular?
Then I discovered this brand after reading this article and then this one.
Interesting especially the existence of entire brands based on what ppl think Californians wear. Not the newest idea, it just surprises me everytime.
Then I discovered this brand after reading this article and then this one.
Interesting especially the existence of entire brands based on what ppl think Californians wear. Not the newest idea, it just surprises me everytime.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Africa, Business Destination
I liked this article on Africa, part of Time magazine's article "10 Things Changing the World Right Now."
From the article, by Alex Perry (emphasis mine):
Up to a point. In Africa's case, the perception has long been that where you are renders all but irrelevant what you do. Africa is hopeless, a place of war and famine seemingly populated almost entirely by tyrants and children with flies in their eyes. According to this view, if Africa generates any kind of growth, it is in suffering — and in the overseas aid sent to address that, now a $40-billion-a-year industry. Naturally, with a new appeal every year and a new disaster every other, some people have begun to wonder if all that money is doing any good. They argue that aid creates dependence, fuels corruption, undermines democracy and stifles development. They have written books with titles like The Trouble with Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn't Working (by an ex-spokesman for the World Bank in Africa) and Dead Aid (by a Zambia-born former Goldman Sachs investment banker).
And that debate is important, no doubt. But it is drowning out a more significant development. Ecobank's success is not an isolated blip, and aid is no longer Africa's main source of foreign income. Africa is becoming a business destination.
In an article for the online journal allAfrica in February, Oxford University economist Paul Collier and Witney Schneidman, who advised President Obama on Africa during his campaign, noted that Africa now offers the world's highest rate of return on investment. "Africa, usually the poorest performing region in the world economy, is now likely to be among the best-performing," they wrote. "Moreover, the region has been largely immune from the current banking crisis...The continent's financial institutions did not venture into derivatives or sub-prime mortgages.
Perhaps the most compelling evidence that Africa is now a business destination is China's new love for it. While the old superpowers still agonize over Africa's poverty, the new one is captivated by its riches. Trade between Africa and China has grown an average of 30% in the past decade, topping $106 billion last year. Chinese engineers are at work across the continent, mining copper in Zambia and cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and tapping oil in Angola. Nor is this merely exploitative. China bought its access by agreeing to create a new infrastructure for Africa, building roads, railways, hospitals and schools across the continent. The current crisis is not expected to affect China's march in Africa: on the contrary, with the West's plans in Africa on hold at best, Beijing views it as an opportunity to extend China's lead. "We will continue to have a vigorous aid program here, and Chinese companies will continue to invest as much as possible," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in South Africa in January. "It is a win-win solution." Dambisa Moyo, who wrote Dead Aid, says those who need convincing about Africa should ask themselves if they are convinced about China, "because if you back China, you're backing Africa." Ecobank CEO Ekpe says part of the explanation for China's zeal for Africa is a new way of looking at Africans. "[The Chinese] are not setting out to do good," he says. "They are setting out to do business. It's actually much less demeaning."
And that gets to what, for Africans, is the emotional heart of the matter — and why joining the business world means so much. Though it rarely occurs to Westerners who've been instructed that Africa needs their help, charity is humiliating. Not emergency charity, of course: when disaster strikes, emergency aid is always welcome, whether in New Orleans or Papua New Guinea. But long-term charity, living life as a beggar, is degrading. Andrew Rugasira, 40, runs Good African Coffee, a Ugandan company he set up in 2004 to supply British supermarkets under the motto "Trade, not aid." He is emblematic of a new generation of African antiaid, antistate entrepreneurs. For Rugasira, aid not only "undermines the creativity to lift yourself out of poverty" but also "undermines the integrity and dignity of the people. It says, These are people who cannot figure out how to develop." Aid even manages to silence those it is meant to help. "African governments become accountable to Western donors," says Rugasira, "and Africa finds itself represented not by Africans but by Bono and Bob Geldof."
From the article, by Alex Perry (emphasis mine):
Up to a point. In Africa's case, the perception has long been that where you are renders all but irrelevant what you do. Africa is hopeless, a place of war and famine seemingly populated almost entirely by tyrants and children with flies in their eyes. According to this view, if Africa generates any kind of growth, it is in suffering — and in the overseas aid sent to address that, now a $40-billion-a-year industry. Naturally, with a new appeal every year and a new disaster every other, some people have begun to wonder if all that money is doing any good. They argue that aid creates dependence, fuels corruption, undermines democracy and stifles development. They have written books with titles like The Trouble with Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn't Working (by an ex-spokesman for the World Bank in Africa) and Dead Aid (by a Zambia-born former Goldman Sachs investment banker).
And that debate is important, no doubt. But it is drowning out a more significant development. Ecobank's success is not an isolated blip, and aid is no longer Africa's main source of foreign income. Africa is becoming a business destination.
In an article for the online journal allAfrica in February, Oxford University economist Paul Collier and Witney Schneidman, who advised President Obama on Africa during his campaign, noted that Africa now offers the world's highest rate of return on investment. "Africa, usually the poorest performing region in the world economy, is now likely to be among the best-performing," they wrote. "Moreover, the region has been largely immune from the current banking crisis...The continent's financial institutions did not venture into derivatives or sub-prime mortgages.
Perhaps the most compelling evidence that Africa is now a business destination is China's new love for it. While the old superpowers still agonize over Africa's poverty, the new one is captivated by its riches. Trade between Africa and China has grown an average of 30% in the past decade, topping $106 billion last year. Chinese engineers are at work across the continent, mining copper in Zambia and cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and tapping oil in Angola. Nor is this merely exploitative. China bought its access by agreeing to create a new infrastructure for Africa, building roads, railways, hospitals and schools across the continent. The current crisis is not expected to affect China's march in Africa: on the contrary, with the West's plans in Africa on hold at best, Beijing views it as an opportunity to extend China's lead. "We will continue to have a vigorous aid program here, and Chinese companies will continue to invest as much as possible," Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in South Africa in January. "It is a win-win solution." Dambisa Moyo, who wrote Dead Aid, says those who need convincing about Africa should ask themselves if they are convinced about China, "because if you back China, you're backing Africa." Ecobank CEO Ekpe says part of the explanation for China's zeal for Africa is a new way of looking at Africans. "[The Chinese] are not setting out to do good," he says. "They are setting out to do business. It's actually much less demeaning."
And that gets to what, for Africans, is the emotional heart of the matter — and why joining the business world means so much. Though it rarely occurs to Westerners who've been instructed that Africa needs their help, charity is humiliating. Not emergency charity, of course: when disaster strikes, emergency aid is always welcome, whether in New Orleans or Papua New Guinea. But long-term charity, living life as a beggar, is degrading. Andrew Rugasira, 40, runs Good African Coffee, a Ugandan company he set up in 2004 to supply British supermarkets under the motto "Trade, not aid." He is emblematic of a new generation of African antiaid, antistate entrepreneurs. For Rugasira, aid not only "undermines the creativity to lift yourself out of poverty" but also "undermines the integrity and dignity of the people. It says, These are people who cannot figure out how to develop." Aid even manages to silence those it is meant to help. "African governments become accountable to Western donors," says Rugasira, "and Africa finds itself represented not by Africans but by Bono and Bob Geldof."
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Target has different prices
I discovered this weekend that different Target stores have different prices. The Target in San Leandro has cheaper prices than the Target in Walnut Creek. I was surprised. Should ppl pay more because it's in a nicer Target? I guess it's a good thing that it's not the reverse - which often happens in grocery stores. Grocery stores in the 'hood are more expensive which rips people off who can't travel easily to buy from other options.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Random thoughts
When did it become ok to bring dogs everywhere? When exactly did we cross that line - early 2000's? I was at an outdoor mall and saw a couple holding back a huge dog who was barking because a smaller dog had just danced across his path. I was now cautious to walk down the middle of the dog corridor to go from Macy's to my car. So I ask, when did it become normal behavior to bring pets to the mall? I'm ok time traveling back to when dogs stayed home.
When, o when, is the The Wire coming back? It's not? Oh, Orangecat sad.
If you're in the Bay this Saturday and want to come to a cool fundraiser to beat childhood cancer, come to Bay Street in Emeryville and watch tons of ppl get their heads shaved in commemoration of kids who have to go bald because of cancer treatment. Buy some Teacake cupcakes, hot duds from H&M, and donate a few dollars. We can make a difference.
When, o when, is the The Wire coming back? It's not? Oh, Orangecat sad.
If you're in the Bay this Saturday and want to come to a cool fundraiser to beat childhood cancer, come to Bay Street in Emeryville and watch tons of ppl get their heads shaved in commemoration of kids who have to go bald because of cancer treatment. Buy some Teacake cupcakes, hot duds from H&M, and donate a few dollars. We can make a difference.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Rihanna and Chris Brown
The whole thing is just really sad. I really liked Chris Brown but I can't look at him the same way.
I'm all for hearing what happened but it looks strongly like he abused and possibly threatened her. :(
I'm neutral about Kanye West but I like that he seems to be one of the few celebrities calling Chris Brown out that you can never touch a woman. Article from EOnline:
But Rihanna's former tour mate, Kanye West, has a very different response to the situation.
"She has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time and, in that sense, I feel like that's my baby sis and I would do any and everything to help her in any situation," the "Stronger" wordsmith told E! News' Ryan Seacrest this morning. "I don't want to speak more into the specifics with that situation, but all I'll say is it's just so devastating.
"I feel like, just as a person, I don’t care how famous she is or even if she just worked at McDonald's, that should never happen. It should never come to that place."
Go Kanye. Boo Chris Brown. Speak out Rihanna.
I'm all for hearing what happened but it looks strongly like he abused and possibly threatened her. :(
I'm neutral about Kanye West but I like that he seems to be one of the few celebrities calling Chris Brown out that you can never touch a woman. Article from EOnline:
But Rihanna's former tour mate, Kanye West, has a very different response to the situation.
"She has the potential to be the greatest artist of all time and, in that sense, I feel like that's my baby sis and I would do any and everything to help her in any situation," the "Stronger" wordsmith told E! News' Ryan Seacrest this morning. "I don't want to speak more into the specifics with that situation, but all I'll say is it's just so devastating.
"I feel like, just as a person, I don’t care how famous she is or even if she just worked at McDonald's, that should never happen. It should never come to that place."
Go Kanye. Boo Chris Brown. Speak out Rihanna.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Riots in Oakland
I have heard said that Oakland has never had race riots, which is amazing considering the diversity of the city. I wouldn't call last night's events "race riots" yet but it feels like they're getting there.
I left work at 8pm last night and the security guard asked if I was taking BART. I said no, and she said good, because people that were protesting at Fruitvale have moved to 12th St City Center to protest. Hmm, I thought, did they walk from Fruitvale? I left my office at 22nd and Broadway, and didn't see any big commotion on the street. Walking the block to my parking garage, everything seemed fine on a foggy January evening. I had no idea cars were being torched and police had riot gear on only ten blocks west. It was not a protest anymore.
I'm glad I took the freeway home. Sometimes I drive straight down to Broadway and turn left onto 11th which merges onto 14th Avenue or International Avenue. I don't know what would happened if I had driven straight into the anger last night.
I understand the anger and the outrage. But local businesses and minority store owners in downtown Oakland had windows smashed and cars burned. One protestor replied to a black small business owner's frustration with her braid store's broken windows by saying "At least she only lost her business, and not her life." I can't believe that person said that. And in this economy, do you really want to go around bringing down more businesses and creating more unemployment especially for your brothers and sister of color? Are you that casual about what having a job means and the need for income? Do you want this store owner to pay with her life, as she holds her daughter, because a BART police officer at 2am on New Year's Eve accidentally killed a handcuffed man on his stomach? I'm not glossing over it - I think a criminal investigation needs to happen, as it is - but what price do you want? How many pounds of Oakland flesh do you want for justice?
And how the FUCK does a police officer seem to accidentally reach for his taser and end up shooting and killing the person?!? First of all, he's on his stomach and handcuffed. Ok, you still think he's a threat and you feel like taser is needed. The threat is not so imminent that you need to grab the quickest thing and use it. It appears clear on the cell phone videos by BART passengers that the officers seem surprised by the gun going off and look at each other, like "uhh.. what just happened?" Could you make the taser not in a freaking shape of a gun?! That seems to be a good idea, to start with.
I'm touched by the victim's family asking for peace in this, even if they're suing. I think you have to sue, to bring attention to the misuse of police weapons.
And to top this stressful week off also, on top of the electricity being out for my top floor for two nights, I came home late last night to see Mitch outside on the top deck of my unit, meowing. WTF?! I ran up and brought him in but couldn't find Nora. I started freaking out. Maintenance guys had let my cats out accidentally I realized. I could not find Nora on the deck, in the backyard, anywhere. I didn't know how long the had been locked out (though I realized later it was about four hours). I started walking up and down the street with a flashlight and mousies but I felt like it was hopeless. I prayed desperately, and God was gracious. I went up to the deck one more time and swung my flashlight to the house next door and saw Nora sitting, scared, on their back steps. I threw her a mousie in an attempt to keep her there and ran around, trespassed frantically into their backyard, and thank God Nora was still sitting on the top of the stairs, looking trapped. I picked her up and started crying. So stressful but really, thank you God that I found her in an hour. Otherwise it would be have been a long couple of days putting posters up and going to the SCPA.
Tired.
I left work at 8pm last night and the security guard asked if I was taking BART. I said no, and she said good, because people that were protesting at Fruitvale have moved to 12th St City Center to protest. Hmm, I thought, did they walk from Fruitvale? I left my office at 22nd and Broadway, and didn't see any big commotion on the street. Walking the block to my parking garage, everything seemed fine on a foggy January evening. I had no idea cars were being torched and police had riot gear on only ten blocks west. It was not a protest anymore.
I'm glad I took the freeway home. Sometimes I drive straight down to Broadway and turn left onto 11th which merges onto 14th Avenue or International Avenue. I don't know what would happened if I had driven straight into the anger last night.
I understand the anger and the outrage. But local businesses and minority store owners in downtown Oakland had windows smashed and cars burned. One protestor replied to a black small business owner's frustration with her braid store's broken windows by saying "At least she only lost her business, and not her life." I can't believe that person said that. And in this economy, do you really want to go around bringing down more businesses and creating more unemployment especially for your brothers and sister of color? Are you that casual about what having a job means and the need for income? Do you want this store owner to pay with her life, as she holds her daughter, because a BART police officer at 2am on New Year's Eve accidentally killed a handcuffed man on his stomach? I'm not glossing over it - I think a criminal investigation needs to happen, as it is - but what price do you want? How many pounds of Oakland flesh do you want for justice?
And how the FUCK does a police officer seem to accidentally reach for his taser and end up shooting and killing the person?!? First of all, he's on his stomach and handcuffed. Ok, you still think he's a threat and you feel like taser is needed. The threat is not so imminent that you need to grab the quickest thing and use it. It appears clear on the cell phone videos by BART passengers that the officers seem surprised by the gun going off and look at each other, like "uhh.. what just happened?" Could you make the taser not in a freaking shape of a gun?! That seems to be a good idea, to start with.
I'm touched by the victim's family asking for peace in this, even if they're suing. I think you have to sue, to bring attention to the misuse of police weapons.
And to top this stressful week off also, on top of the electricity being out for my top floor for two nights, I came home late last night to see Mitch outside on the top deck of my unit, meowing. WTF?! I ran up and brought him in but couldn't find Nora. I started freaking out. Maintenance guys had let my cats out accidentally I realized. I could not find Nora on the deck, in the backyard, anywhere. I didn't know how long the had been locked out (though I realized later it was about four hours). I started walking up and down the street with a flashlight and mousies but I felt like it was hopeless. I prayed desperately, and God was gracious. I went up to the deck one more time and swung my flashlight to the house next door and saw Nora sitting, scared, on their back steps. I threw her a mousie in an attempt to keep her there and ran around, trespassed frantically into their backyard, and thank God Nora was still sitting on the top of the stairs, looking trapped. I picked her up and started crying. So stressful but really, thank you God that I found her in an hour. Otherwise it would be have been a long couple of days putting posters up and going to the SCPA.
Tired.
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