This Is Who We Are

We are the short smart-talking kids of the future
We are the laundry and grocery shop owners
of mom and pop shops
trying to do more than just make ends meet.
We are the ones who excel in school
trying to prove to our parents that we are more than just the ordinary
or rather the average
We are the sons and daughters of immigrants
Immigrants who were railroad workers and lived on Angel Island
to make sure their families could get a free pass to America.

We are quiet, reserved, and submissive
as the stereotypes state us as so.
We are the yellow-skin people you love to hate
because you have to work with us
whether it’s in the bank getting money or getting some food at a restaurant.
We are hard working
yet do we ever get over that glass ceiling?
Statistics show that we’re at the top of our classes
Yet at high-paying companies we’re always a step behind a top tier position.

We are the ones you make fun of on the bus
because we are different and we do not look like you.
We are the ones who have strict parents
Parents who do not understand the “American” life
so instead they instill traditions on us
to keep with us forever and pass it on to our kids.
We are the daughters of parents who idolize and worship their first sons.
The ones who always try hard to impress their parents
only to receive a pat on the back.

Out of all the stereotypes that we are made of
This is what we also are.

We are the ones who will stand up and speak out
No longer will we be quiet and submissive
and let you control our lives because we have worked too hard
to let it all go to waste.
And no we are not the famous athletes or actors
unless in kung-fu movies
We are your next-door neighbor
or the co-worker you say hi to every morning
or the classmate you make fun of or cheat off of on tests and exams
or the passenger on the bus that you can’t stand the look at
or the little girl you want to jump because she has Jordans and an iPod.
To you we all look the same.

This is who and what we are
and we do not care what you think of us
We still strive to do better and prove to the world
that we are here to stay
and that we will one day reach the top.

New Trend: Line Cutting

Every year new trends seem to appear everywhere that most of the time I can't even keep up with all the different up-to-date styles and attitudes.  Recently, I discovered a new trend called line cutting. Though line cutting often happens during long lines for theme park rides, I am referring to line cutting at restaurants and coffee shops.  Those who cut others in line sometimes do it unconsciously while at other times just want to get ahead of you.  I'll give you two scenarios where this happened to me last week.  

Scenario #1

While at Starbucks, I waited in line with my son, while he sat in his tricycle.   I bent down to give my son a kiss.  When I stood back up, I see this lady go right in front of me.  

Me: "Excuse me, I was in line".  

Now, I had a pretty mean looking face and for those of you who know me well, that's very hard for me to make.

Lady #1: "Sorry, I didn't know you were in line".  

Did she not see me because I was bending down?  A friend of mine told me that I needed to grow taller so that people could see me.  Though I am only 5'1, I doubt she cut in front of me because of my height.

Scenario #2

At Subways, for the second time during the week, again someone cut in front of me. I waited for the server to finish making the sandwich for the person in front of me.  The person in front of me was an elderly Asian man.  When the server finished making the sandwich, a lady standing behind me told her what she wanted.  

Me: Excuse me, I have not ordered yet.

Lady #2: Oh, sorry I thought you were with him (referring to the Asian man in front of me).

Me: No, I am not.

Just because the man in front of me is Asian and I'm Asian does not mean we are together.  

I hope this new trend does not last, but fades away.  So far, I have not ran into line cutting lately, but I am always on the lookout for it to happen on my next visits to buy food or drinks.

Charlie Brown x Coca-Cola

Apparently this commercial first appeared during the Super Bowl XLII. I saw this in the movie theaters and thought Coca-Cola made a very creative, unique, and enjoyable commercial. This commercial features Stewie, Underdog, and Charlie Brown.

Music Feature: Realistic Orchestra

Realistic Orchestra is a 16-piece band, with 13-15 horns and a rhythm section.  Also, the band has added DJ Aspect McCarthy and Dublin on vocals with upright and electric bass players. The band often performs on Tuesday nights, with doors opening at 9:30pm, at Bruno's in the Mission District of San Francisco.  For more information on Realistic Orchestra and other bands associated with them, please go to Jazz's Mafia's website.

I had an opportunity of assisting on a live recording Realistic Orchestra at a club/venue, because I used to work with them.  When all the tracks were recorded, I mixed and edited the session. Although I am still finding time to work on this project, here's a preview of what's to come. Please listen and enjoy!

Two Encounters!

That's right, this time I'm writing about two encounters that happened this week.

Encounter #1

While I went to purchase some children's clothing for Isaiah, the lady at the register took a look at my t-shirt:

Lady at Register: Are those the names of your kids?

Me: Uh.....no.

Lady at Register: Oh, I'm sorry.  The weather must be getting to me.

Then she told her co-worker to look at my t-shirt and told her that she thought the names were my children's names.  Keep in mind that both of these women were also staring at my chest.

Encounter #2 

While pushing my son on a saucer swing, two girls on the other swing started giggling.  I overhead one of the girls (Girl #1) tell her friend (Girl #2) that Isaiah is my son.  Her friend didn't believe her, so that girl told her to ask me.

Girl #2: Is that your son?

Me: Yeah.

Girl #1: He's very quiet.

Me: Yeah, he's only 4 years old.

Girl #2: How old were you when you had him?

Me: That's really none of your business.

Girl #2 looked shocked as hell when I said that.  I'm thinking well she asked and that's what she gets.  Both girls seem to be around the age of 10 - 13.  Kids these days....

Stinson Beach

Last weekend, my family and I went to Stinson Beach for a day of fun out in the sun.  We drove through windy curves and turns, moving with the mountains, while my brother tried to teach my mother how to drive this course.  Though I find it weird for a son to teach his mother how to drive, when she's been driving for more years than he has, still they went at it. Through all the twists and turns, we finally reached our destination of Stinson Beach, which is up north from San Francisco.  

When we finally got onto the beach, we went to the shore to the water. Isaiah, my son, saw my brother kick the water, so he started copying him. After that, Isaiah pretty much went crazy with kicking the water.  He kicked the water at everyone and got us all wet.  Then, he ran from the water and fell on his butt. Yes, his shorts and underwear got all wet and dirty.  Take a look.

The other half of his leg is in the water.

After a day of playing in the water and the sand at the beach, I can say that it was fun and relaxing.  I even saw a naked little boy running around.  Here's a look at the beach.

AES 2008!

This year for AES 2008, at San Francisco Moscone Center, Digidesign has announced some new products, which includes:

• Pro Tools 8
• Toolkits
• 003 Rack+ Factory

Pro Tools 8 — the most advanced audio creation and production software, featuring a gorgeous new interface; dozens of new plug-ins; five new virtual instruments; exciting new scoring, MIDI, editing, and mixing capabilities; deeper controller integration; improved ease of installation and use; and enhanced performance.

Toolkits include Music Production Toolkit 2, Complete Production Toolkit and DV Toolkit 2. For more information, please go here.

With the 003 Rack+ Factory you can record an entire band or ensemble in your home/project studio, garage, or even live! Digidesign® 003® Rack+ Factory is ideal for musicians, recording engineers, and producers looking for a professional Pro Tools® music recording and production solution that’s more affordable and portable. With eight premium mic preamps and a wide variety of I/O to connect your instruments and other gear, 003 Rack+ Factory provides the power and capacity to record from multiple mic sources — all at once.

I assisted at the Digidesign VIP Party, before the AES exhibits started, by passing out exclusive Pro Tools 8 t-shirts. Of course, all the VIPs and guests wanted a shirt. Some people were digging through their pockets, pulling out their phones and wallets, just to find a small blue ticket in exchange for a Pro Tools 8 t-shirt. The VIP party featured new products from Digidesign, M-Audio, and Sibelius. Besides the t-shirts being the main attraction, the vintage gear showing the history of Pro Tools was another eyesight of awe. While working, I was able to snap some photos of the of the VIP party, check it out:

The badge for the VIP party.

The exclusive Pro Tools 8 t-shirt that I was passing out.

Pro Tools Time Machine, the vintage gear.

On October 4th, the 2nd day of AES, my bro and I went to the exhibits to check out new audio products and software. The booth that had the most audience, of course, was Digidesign as they did a demo of Pro Tools 8. Here are some photos of the Digidesign booth: