why 'asian' mothers are superior

 mom and i when i was 2 years old

I love this essay on Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior. It's been talked about on a regular basis among my friends, cousins, and family...but it's nice to hear it expressed in an article. Amy Chua talks about a way of life in raising children from immigrant families, the harsh contrast to the free flowing western way of raising children. It's a very interesting article, and hits close to home. I myself am a child of an "Chinese" mom. My mother has followed this list to the tee. No sleepovers, no playdates, no boyfriends. She has drilled/spanked/taught me to speak/maintain the Vietnamese language/culture, among other things, explaining only that I will understand when I'm older. I am forever thankful for that. 

Amy Chua is a professor at Yale Law School and author of "Day of Empire" and "World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability." This essay is excerpted from "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" by Amy Chua.

 

mom and i was i was 5 years old
"Western parents are concerned about their children's psyches. [Asian] parents aren't. They assume strength, not fragility, and as a result they behave very differently."

mom and i when i was 25 years old...both wearing custom designed ao dai

blue moon

I have some parties I may attend this New Year's Eve, but none have me as excited as watching an amazing blue moon as well!!!

A blue moon is basically a second full moon. We had a full moon on Dec 6th, and the next one will be on Dec 31, 2009. It only comes once in about 19 years, it's a rare occasion...hence the term "once in a blue moon". I will try my best to find a nice spot for this viewing. So if you are in Europe or Asia, I'm very jealous, but I hope to be able to get a viewing in the US as well!

On that note, I can't help but think of my favorite beer, which is the first thing that came to my mind. ^_^

Be A Loved One's Biggest Fan, Best Critic

"Your job is to be her biggest fan and her greatest critic for the purpose of her spiritual development."

"Your job is to be his biggest fan and his greatest critic for the purpose of his spiritual development."

- Michael Bernard Beckwith performing a marriage ceremony

CNN

mother nature

There are some of the best images of the floods in the southeast part of America, mostly Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama. I have friends in Atlanta, and I hope that none of this affects them. The images are insane, and they tell you much more than just the depth of the water, they tell stories. Flooding in the Southeast


There is also a dust storm in Australia right now. I also have friends that live there, and again, I hope they are safe. Dust storm in Australia

steve mcCurry

Everyone knows this image. It's the infamous Afghan Girl, photographed by Steve McCurry. I stumbled onto his blog, but am much more impressed with his website images. The blog, however, does contain the stories as he is experiencing them, and they are fantastic. Although he has been all over the world 100 times over, he never ceases to see the life and beauty in each country and its people. His portraits are magnificent, and he is one of my favorite National Geographic photographers. My favorites are the Getting There and Faith galleries.

His recent trip to India to photograph the Ganesh Chaturthi festival looks amazing, but at a costly price. Since the people do not favor photography during the festival, they dunked his head underwater along with his camera and equipment. His assistant had the same fate. Such a shame to look all those images, but a few did survive. These are a few I was able to find on the net, but there are too many great ones to choose from. I may have to pick up his Portraits book for my library collection.

Mobile Blogger

I was browsing through Blogger today, and found out that Blogger Mobile is now available. This means you can post anywhere from your phone! When you send texts to BLOGGR (256447) or photos to go@blogger.com from your mobile device they're automatically posted to your new blog.

How does Mobile Blogger work?

Here are the directions to SMS blog for the lazy ones that don't want to go to the site:

• First send an SMS with the word 'REGISTER' to BLOGGR (256447).
• We'll reply with the address of your new mobile blog, plus a claim code.
• Post to your new mobile blog, or use the claim code to link your phone to a different blog.
• To opt out of receiving SMS messages to your phone, text STOP to BLOGGR (256447)
• To get help from your mobile device, text HELP to BLOGGR (256447)
• Sending text messages to BLOGGR (256447) is currently available for US phone numbers only.

Robert Galvez

Our lovely friend works on the set of 24, and she was chosen as the new name that will be used for one of the incoming characters. They do this quite often with their favorite crew members apparently, so it's kind of cool to have your name honored as one of the characters!

We have been waiting for the character to appear a few weeks now, but the character name finally made its debut tonight.

Warning: there are spoilers of the episode so advance with caution.

GALVEZ!!!

Country or Parents

This article tore at my heart. A girl was born in Japan from Filipino parents that immigrated illegally in the early 90s. Now, at 13 years of age, her parents are being deported back to the Philippines, and she has to make the decision on whether to stay in Japan, her birthplace, or go with her parents. She chose to stay in Japan, and leave her parents.

I don't know what I would have done in if I was in that situation. Like her, I was also born in the United States from immigrant parents. Although they came legally, the approaching anniversary of the the fall of Saigon on April 30th, coupled with this article, kind of made me wonder if the circumstances were different, where I would be today...

Schoolgirl told to choose: Country or Parents

Asian American Names

Apparently, Asian American names are toooooo hard to pronounce. WOW, I guess Li, and Le, and Chang are just too complicated for the American tongue...or at least the Texas tongue.
Representative Betty Brown of good ole' Texas is calling on Chinese Asians to adopted names that are "easier for Americans to deal with."

Rep Betty Brown makes statement on Asian names
and her defense...
Voters simplifying their names not racially motivated

omg, woman.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Thank god Brett Ratner is not directing this film.
I'll be at the midnight showing of this film. ^_^
Watch the trailer here. X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine

Liev Schreiber as Victor Creed / Sabretooth

UP

UP is the new Pixar film and I know I'm going to LOVE this movie for two reasons: the old man reminds me of my dad so much, and it involves traveling around the world!!!

A 78 year old man embarks on a world adventure as a promise to his dead wife. He fills his house with balloons to fly around the world, and accidentally takes the awesome clueless boyscout with him.

It looks absolutely amazing, and I'm so excited to see it!
Here is the trailer!! Pixar's UP

Candyman v. Jack Bauer

Tony Todd, known for his role as the Candyman, is now on 24 as General Benjamin Juma. Here is the breakdown if the two were to go head to head...

Candyman v. Jack Bauer

and since we are on the topic of 24 bad guys, we might as well add the 24 bad girls.

24 Femme Fatales

DNA Unit

I am currently a law clerk for the District Attorney's office (DNA Unit). Interesting article on the showdown over who controls the OC DNA Lab.
Showdown Over DNA Lab Reflects National Debate

Culture Shock and Wiggle Room

I like this article. I usually hear it from avid travelers and it always makes me smile when I hear other people compare and realize that we are not necessarily the most civilized people in this world. "One third of the world use forks and knives, one third of the world use chopsticks like me, and one third of the world use their fingers. We are all civilized the same." Rick Steves on Culture Shock

Linda Hirshman, Homeward Bound

I just read this article in my Family Law Supplement.

“Choice feminism” claims that staying home with the kids is just one more feminist option. Funny that most men rarely make the same “choice.” Exactly what kind of choice is that?

It's very interesting because she talks down on women that have expensive degrees and are extremely well educated...who have given it all up to have children and care for them.

It really stirred me because I vastly agree with the women that actually did it and admire them...especially since I plan on being one myself. Don't get my wrong. I'm all for being the power couple, but when I start having kids, and my husband is able to care for the family financially, I WANT to put my career aside, and focus on my family. Who is to say that I'm loosing out when I can see my kids grow and travel with them around the world while another woman is slaving away in a corporate office trying to meet the next deposition deadline? Maybe, just maybe, I might be happier.

The women that she interviews are all highly educated, and now are basically moms that educate their children very well, so in my mind, I don't understand how this is bad for the female gender. How is that degenerate for the female race, when she could be raising the next woman president? She puts them down, and says that they are destroying what feminism has accomplished in the work force, and that these women are rapidly becoming "untouchables."

I LOVE this quote that an Ivy Leager mom and wife wrote: "he's the CEO and I'm the CFO. He sees to it that the money rolls in and I decide how to spend it." That's my motto. =)

Linda Hirshman, Homeward Bound

Running for Office: It's Like A Flamewar with a Forum Troll, but with an Eventual Winner

Sean Travis is running for State Representative in Kansas.
This is one of his campaigns.
I thought it was pretty funny.

China Bans Dog Meat From Olympic Menu

China is banning dog meat from menus for the Olympics as a sign of respect for other cultures.

I like this quote: "Authorities have also told people to queue up politely, to smile and not to spit on the streets." ... Cause you know, we're savages.

Panasonic FS3

My new toy is this cute little green thing.
Full metal body with Leica lens.
Small and thin, it's perfect for my random shooting sessions.

Some pics under the Candlelight feature.

Team Angelina

Vanity Fair wrote a great article about Angelina Jolie called Woman In Full.
I like this article because it sheds an intriguing light on the family ... and shows us how small the world really is nowadays....

Obama on the Nile

Obama on the Nile
Interesting article about Obama's Muslim family tree heritage and how it's affecting the American outlook abroad.