VOL 33 NO 5 | JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

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VOL 33 NO 5

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Life’s a game

‘Bachelor’ couple headed for altar

Leap of faith turns comic strip into successful gaming company

Photo by Sue Misao/NWAW

“Working with Robert Khoo is almost entirely painless.” — Mike ‘Tycho’ Holkins

Robert Khoo, president of Penny Arcade, shares an office with Yoshi, a character from Mario Brothers.

By Sue Misao Northwest Asian Weekly When he was 23, Robert Khoo took a giant leap of faith. A University of Washington Foster School of Business graduate on a career track, he quit his

THOSE SEAHAWKS! Photos of players and fans » P. 11

consultancy job to work for free for two guys from Spokane who drew an obscure comic strip called Penny Arcade, which they’d been posting on the Internet since 1998. The comic, by Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, depicted the musings of their video game-playing alter egos, Gabe and Tycho.

Khoo was a fan.

In 2002, when a client of Khoo’s wanted to partner with game media, he contacted Krahulik and Holkins.

The partnership idea fizzled, but three months later, Khoo called them again. He had a new idea.

“I wanted to make a big move,” Khoo said. “I loved games and wanted to be in the industry.” By then, Penny Arcade had accumulated about one million readers worldwide, but with little financial reward.

“These two guys didn’t know business, or what they had,” Khoo said.

What they had, Khoo thought, was the power of a brand. And what Khoo had was a way to monetize it.

He wrote a business plan that included a strategy for advertising, merchandising, and licensing.

“I said, ‘You can have this, and I would love to be the guy that executes it. I will quit my job and work free for two months, then you can fire me.’”

Eleven years later, he is the president of Penny Arcade, which expanded its content

She threw her hat in the ring, got picked, and fell in love. ‘The Bachelor’ star Sean Lowe chose Seattle’s Catherine Guidici, and now they’re getting married. Here, Catherine’s mom, Cynthia MejiaGiudici, beams with pride at the happy couple.

Read all about it in the Publisher’s Blog, page 13.

{see KHOO cont’d on page 15}

Post Office reveals new Year of the Horse stamp

Vera Ing leaves lasting legacy “For many of us, Vera was like a mother…she had a great heart and always saw kindness in people. Our community lost a great friend and a beautiful person.”

— Jerry Lee, Mulvanny/ G2

By Sue Misao Northwest Asian Weekly

The U.S. Post Office on Jan. 15 issued the “Celebrating Lunar New Year: Year of the Horse” Forever stamp. It is available in sheets of 12 stamps.

“The start of the Lunar New Year is the biggest holiday of the year for much of the world’s population,” said U.S. Postal Service San Francisco District Manager David Stowe, in dedicating the stamp at the Chinese Culture Center in the Hilton Hotel.

Although a horse appears in the upper left hand corner of the stamp image, the Postal Service chose to tell “a more enriching story” by including essential elements in celebrating New Year, such as the drum in this case. 

Vera Ing

Long time community activist Vera Faye Ing died on Jan. 18, 2014. She was 73.

Vera was born in Seattle on Sept. 28, 1940, to D. Kan Chan and Ho Tim Chan. She spent her first years living in Chinatown, where her parents owned Don Ting Restaurant. She graduated from Garfield High School in 1958, and received a B.A. in urban planning from the University of Washington in 1973.

In 1960, Vera married Joey Ing, an architect. They had three children, JaDeane, Joel, and Jeffrey. She is also survived by her four grandchildren.

Vera worked for the Seattle Housing Authority in the mid-1970s. Later, she was a legislative assistant to Seattle City Councilman Tim Hill, and then worked for the Department of Social and Health Services. She was an urban planner with Ing & Associates, where she developed 10-year master plans for both Everett

and South Seattle community colleges, as well as plans for an expanded International District. As a member of Washington state trade missions, she traveled with Gov. Gary Locke to China, with Secretary of State Ralph Munro to Taiwan, and with Washington state representative Velma Veloria to the Philippines. From 1999 to 2007, she served as the commissioner of the Washington State Liquor Control Board.

“Vera was always so caring and supportive of others, from working on community causes like the Kin On Nursing Home to helping political candidates,” said U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke. “She was always hosting fundraisers at her house because she wanted candidates she supported to learn the issues of the Asian American community and not to take our community for granted.

“Ver loved bringing people together at her beautiful home to have a good time,” Ambassador Locke added, “especially during Seafair to watch the Blue Angels fly over or to watch the hydroplane races.”

Vera was involved in ensuring the International District would maintain its historic identity, while expanding its reach to new groups, including South and Southeast Asians.

“Vera was very supportive of the International District, and I enjoyed working with her all these years,” said Tomio Moriguchi, CEO of Uwajimaya.

“She has a wonderful family. She had a vision for the International District. I wish we had more people with {see ING cont’d on page 15}

The Inside Story SPORTS The Layup Drill » P. 10

■

COMMUNITY UW student teaches in North Korea » P. 12

LUNAR NEW YEAR So much to do! » P. 14

BOOK REPORT The Art of Being a Novelist » P. 14

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asianweekly northwest

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS The 2014 Miss Chinese International Pageant will be held in Hong Kong on Jan. 26.

Sixteen delegates from around the world will compete for the crown, including Seattle’s Tiffany Du, who won the title of “Miss Chinese Seattle Second Princess” in last year’s 2013 2013 Miss Chinese Seattle Scholarship for Women Pageant Second Princess Tiffany Du (also known as the Miss Chinese is a contestant in the 2014 Miss Chinese International Seattle Pageant), hosted annually Pageant in Hong Kong.

by The Greater Seattle Chinese Chamber of Commerce. 

of recommendations for increasing the minimum wage within Seattle.

Five of the committee members are of Asian descent: Primela Jayapal, co-chair of We Belong Together; Bruce Harrell, city council member; Kshama Sawant, city council member; Eric Liu, founder of Citizen University; and Pam Banks, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle.

The Advisory Committee will submit its recommendations by May 2014 to Murray, who will then transmit a formal proposal for City Council review and action by the end of July. 

Michael Woo hands the reigns of Got Green over to Jill Mangaliman.

Mayor’s advisory committee to address income inequality

Marilyn Levine, Central Washington University’s provost and vice president for Academic and Student Life, speaks with a group of Korean students in her office.

Pramila Jayapal

Bruce Harrell

Kshama Sawant

Calling it a “disparity strikes at the very core of who we are as a democratic society,” Mayor Ed Murray last Eric Liu Pam Banks month committed to addressing Seattle’s growing income divide.

Leaders in business and labor, members of the City Council, and other community stakeholders will serve on his ‘Income Inequality Advisory Committee,’ a workgroup charged with delivering an actionable set

Jill Mangaliman named Got Green executive director

CWU hosts Korean students

Photo by Rich Villacres / CWU

Du contestant for Miss Chinese International

Photo courtesy of Got Green

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Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., recently welcomed a group of 14 students from South Korea as part of a new program with Chung-Ang University in Seoul. The students spend the first year of college in their home country and then finish the last three years in the United States.

“The Korean students help diversify our campus,” said Mike Launius, assistant vice president for International Studies and Programs. “It’s a real advantage for students in Ellensburg to study alongside people from all over the world. That’s who they’ll be working with and competing with [after college].”

International students pay full out-of-state tuition of about $19,400 per year. 

Got Green has announced that Jill Mangaliman will be its new executive director. Former executive director Michael Woo will remain as the organization continues to lead efforts to see Seattle’s Local Hire Ordinance through implementation.

Got Green is a grassroots group in the Seattle area led by young adults and people of color that promotes an equitable, green economy as the best way to fight poverty and global warming at the same time. Mangaliman’s relationship with Got Green started in 2009 as a member of the organization’s early weatherization training programs. 

Wong is new president of SMA The Seattle Management Association (SMA) has named Sandra Wong as its new president. Wong has been with the City of Seattle for 33 years, and currently works as an employment manager. She also served as the American Society’s Training and Development’s Puget Sound Chapter Employee Learning Sandra Wong Week director for the past term.

SMA, a non-profit professional association with over 250 members, is a vehicle for networking and sharing information and ideas important to the role of public sector manager. It provides professional development resources, trainings, and events that address the growing complexity of City management. 

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

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■ COMMUNITY NEWS

SDOT: Parking rates in the ID seem good enough for now

A year has passed since the parking rates in the Chinatown-International District were lowered, after negative feedback from local businesses in response to a raise in rates in 2011. After the rate reduction, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) had promised to revisit the issue in six months and determine the effect of the lowered rates on local restaurants and other businesses.

According to Don Blakeney of the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA), SDOT resurveyed the neighborhood in 2013, and determined there was no current need to alter the rates any further.

“Although the City has not completed a comprehensive follow-up study yet, anecdotal information that they had collected shows that last year’s changing rates has been a great help to retain the customers that drive to ChinatownInternational District.” said Blakeney.

In 2011, the SDOT formed the Parking Sounding Board, which holds meetings and discussions with private parking operators, members of community councils, and neighborhood chamber groups. The City is working with CIDBIA to update the community parking plan in 2014.

The rates have affected different businesses in the International District in

Photo by Sue Misao/NWAW

By Marino Saito Northwest Asian Weekly

There are no current plans by the City to make any new adjustments to the parking rates in the International District.

different ways.

“Luckily, my business was not affected by parking rates when they were raised [in 2011],” said Wendy Lu, owner of the Green Village restaurant in Chinatown.

“But in general, most restaurants located in Chinatown-International District had a decrease in customers because of the high parking rates at that time.”

The differences in parking rates between outer areas and inner areas in Chinatown-

International District have been considered by some to be unfair. “The parking rates should be the same and equal in all areas of Chinatown-International District, so that this district will grow a lot and become a more prosperous area,” said Lu. “Not only my business, others need to be happy at the same time, by getting more customers, to be a successful community.”

Blakeney said it’s important to listen to local businesses and residents. “Parking

is personal, and people care about it more than a lot of other city issues,” he said.

“Engaging communities early on and finding common objectives that meet the City’s sustainability goals goes a long way towards positive outcomes. Vibrant neighborhoods with successful businesses are also key to urban sustainability — this is why the City has the community at the table as we begin to update the community parking plan in 2014.”

In the outer area of the CID, on-street paid parking hours moved back from 8 p.m. to 6 p.m., and rates were lowered to $2/hour. In the inner retail core area, rates from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. went from $2.50/ hour to $1.50/hour, and daytime rates stayed at $2.50/hour from 8 a.m to 5 p.m.

Construction in the International District also presents an ongoing problem. “Access is a primary concern for the district,” said Blakeney. “The incoming construction to Downtown Seattle will rival lower Manhattan or any North American cities that have hosted the Olympics. This will have an effect on parking, transit, access to businesses, you name it. We have to be at the table with the City preparing for this high level of investment, so that we don’t lose out in the process of progress.”

Blakeney added.

The upcoming Lunar New Year celebrations could present problems {see PARKING cont’d on page 16}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

■ world news

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Japan’s last WWII straggler dies at 91

By Elaine Kurtenbach Associated Press TOKYO (AP) – Hiroo Onoda, the last Japanese imperial soldier to emerge from hiding in a jungle in the Philippines and surrender, 29 years after the end of World War II, has died.

He was 91.

Onoda died Jan. 16 at a Tokyo Hiroo Onoda hospital after a brief stay there. Chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga expressed his condolences, praising Onoda for his strong will to live and indomitable spirit.

“After World War II, Mr. Onoda lived in the jungle for many years and when he returned to Japan, I felt that finally, the war was finished. That’s how I felt,” Suga said.

Onoda was an intelligence officer who came out of hiding, erect but emaciated, in fatigues patched many times over, on Lubang Island in the Philippines in March 1974, on his 52nd birthday. He surrendered only when his

former commander flew there to reverse his 1945 orders to stay behind and spy on American troops.

Onoda and another World War II holdout, Sgt. Shoichi Yokoi, who emerged from the jungle in 1972, received massive heroes’ welcomes upon returning home.

Before and during the war, Japanese were taught absolute loyalty to the nation and the emperor. Soldiers in the Imperial Army observed a code that said death was preferable to surrender.

Onoda refused to give up, despite at least four searches during which family members appealed to him over loudspeakers and flights dropped leaflets urging him to surrender.

In his formal surrender to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Onoda wore his 30-year-old imperial army uniform, cap, and sword, all still in good condition.

After the initial sensation of his return home wore off, Onoda bought a ranch in Brazil. He later was head of a children’s nature school in northern Japan.

“I don’t consider those 30 years a waste of time,” Onoda said in a 1995 interview with The Associated Press.

“Without that experience, I wouldn’t have my life today.”

Still, he showed a great zeal for making up for years lost.

“I do everything twice as fast, so I can make up for the 30 years,” Onoda said. “I wish someone could eat and sleep for me, so I can work 24 hours a day.”

The son of a teacher, Onoda worked for a Japanese trading firm in Shanghai after finishing high school in 1939. Three years later, he was drafted and trained at a military academy.

In December 1944, he was sent to Lubang, about 150 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of Manila. Most other Japanese soldiers surrendered when U.S. troops landed on Lubang in February 1945, though hundreds remained missing for years after the war.

As he struggled to feed himself, Onoda’s mission became one of survival. He stole rice and bananas from local people down the hill, and shot their cows to make dried beef, triggering occasional skirmishes.

The turning point came on Feb. 20, 1974, when he met {see ONODA cont’d on page 19}

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JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR THU 1/23 WHAT: Seattle Dept. of Neighborhoods workshop on applying for grant applications for its Small and Simple Projects Fund WHERE: Rainier Community Center, 4600 38th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 6-8 p.m.

INFO: 206-733-9916 or NMFund@seattle.gov WHAT: Learn about health insurance in Mandarin via Google Hangout WHERE: On the Internet, www.whitehouse. gov/aapi WHEN: 12-1 p.m.

WHAT: “2014 Economic Outlook for Asia” WHERE: 1201 3rd Ave. 20th Floor, Seattle WHEN: 6:30-8 p.m.

INFO: meetup.com/AsiaBusinessForum

SAT 1/25 WHAT: 11th Lunar New Year celebration WHERE: Westminster Chapel, 13646 N.E. 24th St., Bellevue WHEN: 3–8:30 p.m.

COST: $8–$10 (under 4 free) INFO: website: www.westminster.org, LNY@ westminster.org, 425-747-1461 WHAT: Patrick Ness reads from his book “The Crane Wife” WHERE: University Bookstore, Seattle WHEN: 6 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: 206-545-4359 WHAT: Hirabayashi Place groundbreaking & lunch reception WHERE: 424 S. Main St., Seattle WHEN: 11 a.m. ceremony, 1 p.m. lunch INFO: 206-624-1802 ext. 10 WHAT: Enroll in health insurance WHERE: Asian Counseling & Referral Service, 3639 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, S., Seattle WHEN: 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

INFO: 206-695-7506, www.kingcounty.gov/ coverage

SUN 1/26 WHAT: Celebration with the Apple Blossom Concert WHERE: Snoqualmie Casino, I-90 East to Exit 27, I-90 West Exit 31, Snoqualmie WHEN: 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

TICKETS: www.snocasino.com

SUN 1/26 THRU FRI 2/7 WHAT: 2014 Chinese New Year Celebration WHERE: Snoqualmie Casino, I-90 East to Exit 27, I-90 West Exit 31, Snoqualmie DRAWING PIZES: February 6 & 7 PRIZES: $70,000 in cash, 1 of 2 Ford Mustangs, and a Grand Prize trip for two to Hong Kong, China INFO: snocasino.com

TUE 1/28 WHAT: Reading by author Ruth Ozeki from her book “A Tale for the Time Being” WHERE: University Bookstore, 4326 University Way N.E., Seattle WHEN: 7 p.m.

COST: Free INFO: 206-634-3400 WHAT: Chinese New Year celebration with lion dances, tai chi demonstrations, fan dancing and food, hosted by Center for Healthy Living WHERE: 4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Suite 1,

Lynnwood WHEN: 10:30 a.m.

COST: $3 INFO: 425-290-1268

THU 1/30 WHAT: Meet Phil Yu, the founder of the blog Angry Asian Man WHERE: Ethnic Cultural Theatre, 3940 Brooklyn Ave. N.E., Seattle WHEN: 6:30 p.m.

INFO: angryasianman.com

FRI 1/31 WHAT: Chinese New Year Celebration with David Leong (NW Kung Fu) with dinner, performance, art, and demonstrations WHERE: The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle

WHEN: 6 p.m.

COST: $20 INFO: 206-838-4333 WHAT: Traditional Dragon Dance WHERE: Snoqualmie Casino, I-90 East to Exit 27, I-90 West Exit 31, Snoqualmie WHEN: 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.

INFO: www.snocasino.com

SAT 2/1 WHAT: NWAW & SCP presents ChinatownInternational District Lunar New Year Celebration, “Children’s Parade Contest” WHERE: 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: 1:15-2:30 p.m.

APPLICATION: online at www.nwasianweekly.com INFO: rsvp@nwasianweekly. com, 206-223-5559

WHAT: Celebrates Lunar New Year WHERE: Seattle Art Museum, 1400 E. Prospect St., Seattle WHEN: 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

INFO: seattleartmuseum.org

SUN 2/2 WHAT: Hawaiian music

by Nil Hila Boys with the Honeyville Rascals WHERE: ROCKiT Community Arts office (in the Garden House), 2336 15th Ave. S., Seattle WHEN: All-you-can-eat brunch at noon, music at 1 p.m.

COST: $6–$8 (kids eat free) INFO: 206-323-7733 WHAT: 2014 Spring Festival Gala of Chinese Radio Seattle WHERE: Meydenbauer

Theater, 11100 N.E. 6th St., Bellevue WHEN: 2 p.m.

COST: $15-$50 INFO: chineseradioseattle. com, 206-619-8698

WED 2/4 WHAT: Got Green’s “Passing the Torch” open house WHERE: 3518 S. Edmunds, Seattle WHEN: 4–7 p.m.

THU 2/6 WHAT: Lunar New Year Banquet WHERE: Asian Resource Center, 1025 S. King St., Seattle WHEN: 5-9 p.m.

INFO: 206-579-5233, newyearbanquet@ seattlechinesechamber.org

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ arts & entertainment

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

7

Vikesh Kapoor’s folk music is ‘dealing with the now’

By Vivian Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly For folk singer and songwriter Vikesh Kapoor, he is a musician first and a social observer second.

A first-generation Indian American, Kapoor draws on observations and reactions to the world around him for inspiration. Born and raised in rural Pennsylvania, his first taste of the larger world came when he took a masonry apprenticeship in college.

“It wasn’t as romantic as it sounds,” said Kapoor. “But it took me out of a world that I was used to. And once I got out of my hometown bubble, I was never the same.”

Kapoor’s apprenticeship led him to seek more eye-opening opportunities, such as doing volunteer work in the Delta region.

As he helped others in low-income areas and observed their struggles, Kapoor’s idea of the American Dream was challenged.

“Watching anyone come from tough circumstances and trying to make it is inspirational,” said Kapoor. “But you also see these people struggling to make something happen for themselves. And sometimes, for reasons out of their control, their efforts result in a dead end, despite all their hard work and sacrifice.”

It’s this train of thought that would influence the primary theme in Kapoor’s music. During this time, he performed at social activist Howard Zinn’s memorial

Vikesh Kapoor

service. Inspired by Zinn’s crusade against class and race injustice, in addition to his own reflections of the fractured American Dream, Kapoor moved to Portland, Ore., and spent the next two years working on his concept album.

Questioning the American Dream Kapoor’s full-length debut record “The Ballad of Willy Robbins” explores the issues of disillusionment, despair, and romanticism of the American Dream.

Based loosely on a news article that details

the struggles of a working-class man, the album’s title character, Willy Robbins, refers to a person who feels a sense of disappointment with the direction or state of their life — a sentiment that Kapoor, too, sometimes identifies with.

“He’s definitely me,” acknowledged Kapoor about his titular character.

“But [Willy Robbins] can also be anyone in everyday life. Often, I see myself frustrated about change, whether it is personal or political. So my songs were born out of my reaction to these events.

Willy Robbins isn’t a mask for me to bear my confessions, but aspects of what [the average person] goes through that I also feel in my life.”

In the news article, the working class man falls in a scaffolding accident, leaving him unable to work and struggling to make ends meet.

Between his soulful sounds, political lyrics, and the old time images that his melodies evoke, parallels are often drawn between Kapoor’s music to that of legendary political folk singers, such as Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan. Though flattered, Kapoor is quick to dismiss the comparisons.

“It’s a function of giving listeners an idea of what to expect from my music,” said Kapoor. “In reality, I’m not even close. I’m still finding my voice, and it’s only my first album.”

One comparison one cannot help but

draw, however, is the theme of apathy found in Kapoor’s music. Apathy is often associated with his millennial generation and, despite his political sound being compared to older times and people, Kapoor maintains that he writes to a modern time period.

“I’m not trying to do a throwback or a museum piece when it comes to folk music,” said Kapoor. “So apathy was definitely intentional on this record. I wanted to write contemporary songs — protest songs that criticize and deal with the now.”

On being an artist Although Kapoor’s parents are happy and supportive of his music career, he admits there are difficult moments given the values of his parents’ generation, which prizes more practical, stable jobs.

“After all their sacrifices, I understand why immigrant parents might be cautious about the type of careers their children choose,” acknowledged Kapoor. “And in my experience, it’s hard to break away from those pressures.”

For Kapoor, it came down to pursuing something that satisfied him, even if it meant taking a risk. But he noted that the pressure to succeed does not go away, and that it actually heightens, as Kapoor needs to prove himself while pursuing a career {see KAPOOR cont’d on page 17}

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■ community news

Hundreds celebrate the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. The Mt. Zion Baptist Church was nearly overflowing Friday, Jan. 17, when hundreds gathered for the 40th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Celebration, presented by Seattle Community Colleges.

Celebrants included school children, a contingency from the Seattle Police Department, Mayor Ed Murray, council members, and other dignitaries.

The annual event celebrates the life and work of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who was assassinated in 1968.

Broadcast journalist Tonya Mosley was the master of ceremonies for the event.

Mosley produced “Black in Seattle,” a four-part series that recently aired on KUOW. The series explores the challenges faced by black residents as they live and work in this predominantly white city.

The keynote speaker for the event was Michele Norris, host and special correspondent for National Public Radio.

Norris leads The Race Card Project, an initiative to “foster a wider conversation about race in America.” She created “The Race Card” — a postcard on which people write six words that express their thoughts about race and ethnicity.

The celebration began with students from Seattle’s community colleges reading from the thousands of Race Cards people

Photos by Sue Misao/NWAW

By Sue Misao Northwest Asian Weekly

Students from Seattle’s John Stanford International School filled a section of the balcony at Mt. Zion Baptist Church for Friday’s celebration of Martin Luther King Jr.

The Greater Works Chorale perform “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” during the MLK celebration.

have sent in. Several members of the audience also stood up to read their own “Race Cards,” including City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, who said, “Fear is the fuel of racism.”

Alan Sugiyama, director of the Executive Development Institute, said he modified his six words slightly because he was in a church. “Quiet Asians, Pacific Islanders, ‘H’ no!”

Joining Mosley and Norris on stage were Seattle Community Colleges Chancellor

King Jr. to Seattle to speak about civil rights. It was King’s only visit to Seattle.

Toward the end of Friday’s ceremony, Rev. McKinney led the audience and choir in singing “We Shall Overcome.”

The celebration was one of many events honoring Martin Luther King Jr., including Monday’s march from Garfield High School to Westlake Center. 

Jill Wakefield and board members Albert Shen, Carmen Gayton, Courtney Gregoire, and board member emeritus Tom Mallone, as well as Mt. Zion’s pastor Rev. Aaron Williams and Pastor Emeritus Rev. Samuel B. McKinney, who led the church from 1958 to 1998.

Interspersed with speakers were lively musical offerings from DaNell Daymon and the Greater Works Chorale.

In 1961, Rev. McKinney invited his old Morehouse College friend Martin Luther

Sue Misao can be reached at editor@ nwasianweekly.com.

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■ sports

The Layup Drill Welcome 2014

Kei Nishikori

Doug Baldwin

Jeremy Lin

Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly

at this event are usually slotted to make the Olympic team.

However, due to a rule allowing the U.S. Figure Skating committee the opportunity to make its decision based on results over the past year, the results of the National Championship meant nothing.

This is heartbreaking for Nagasu, who made the team in 2010 at the age of 16 and then placed 4th overall in the Vancouver Games. She will not get another shot this year.

Why have competitions if you are not going to base the outcome on who wins?

The rule of awarding an Olympic spot based on overall results over the year seems to be used to ensure that the U.S. team gets who it wants and who it can market to advertisers. If this is the case, why not just handpick skaters without competition? We feel bad for Nagasu and hope that she will be back in 2018.

amateur athletes compete for their country and their flag is a symbol of this. We’ve all seen the pictures at the awards

Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. In this offering, we take a look at the antics of Dennis Rodman, the incredible story of a local gymnast, and getting ready for the Winter Olympics.

Baldwin helps Hawks to Super Bowl

The Seattle Seahawks are going to the Super Bowl! It was a nail-biter that had many Seattle fans screaming at the top of their lungs throughout the game. In the end, the good guys (aka Seattle Seahawks) prevailed over their hated rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, to earn the right to play the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. Former Stanford Cardinal Doug Baldwin led the receivers with six catches for 106 yards. He had an important 51-yard reception that sparked the team when it was trailing in the game.

Baldwin, who is half Filipino, also ran back kickoffs — including a 69-yard return, which set up a score for the Seahawks. Despite the doubt by many scouts that he could make it as a professional football player, Baldwin has made a nice career for himself and uses that doubt as fuel for his play. Good luck to Baldwin and the rest of the team.

They play the Denver Broncos Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., which is the site of Super Bowl 48.

Go Hawks!

Celski returns to Olympics

Congratulations go out to short track speed skater J.R. Celski, who will be back at the Winter Olympics next month in Sochi, Russia. Celski put aside the painful memories of the last Olympic trials, when he put a gash in his own leg from his skate causing a significant injury that almost cost him an appearance in the 2010 Winter Olympics. Despite the horrific injury in 2010, Celski still won two Bronze medals in Vancouver. The 23-year-old, originally from Federal Way, Wash., won the 1,000-meter short track speed skating at this year’s Olympic trials this past month. He’ll look to improve on this in Sochi. In total, Celski will compete in three individual events, the 500, 1,000 and 1,500 meter races.

Nagasu makes top three, but will not get Olympics nod

Mirai Nagasu was left off the U.S. Olympics team for women’s figure skating when it was decided by the U.S. Figure Skating committee that two-time U.S. women’s champ Ashley Wagner will take Nagasu’s anticipated spot for the Sochi Olympics. Wagner had fallen twice during her routine at the U.S. National Championships. The top three

Athletes from India banned from carrying flag at Olympics

In an embarrassing turn of events, athletes from India will not compete under their own flag at the Sochi Games in February. Due to accusations of corruption by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the IOC has been frozen since December 2012. Thus, Indian athletes will march in at the Opening Ceremony with a generic Olympic flag and not their nation’s flag.

The IOC will classify them as independents.

One of the unique things about the Olympics is that

{see SPORTS cont’d on page 18}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ pictorial

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

11

’Hawks are in!

V

ictory is sweet for the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the San Francisco 49ers 23-17 in Sunday’s conference championship game at CenturyLink Field. It was a nailbiter, with the ’Hawks down 17-13 at the start of the fourth quarter, but several big plays put them over the top. Fans came from near and far in their blue and green colors and did their part for the team, performing as the “12th Man.” Seahawks will face the Denver Broncos in Superbowl XLVIII on Feb. 2 at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey.

Players raise the banner of victory after the game.

Seahawks owner Paul Allen raises the cup as the fans cheer.

Golden Tate caught four passes for 31 yards.

A couple of happy ‘hawks

Basking in the confetti

Hungry fans at Uwajimaya

Marshawn Lynch rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown.

From left: Ryan Letson, Hilarie Letson, Reeves Parish, and Maura Little celebrate at Ho Ho Seafood Restaurant.

Boris Gaviria and Terra Holcomb of Kirkland show off their colors in front of Hop Sing Tong private club.

Team photos courtesy of Seattle Seahawks, others by George Liu/NWAW

Boom!

asianweekly northwest

12

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

■ community news

Photo by Imana Gunawan

Photo courtesy of Will Scott

Wireless living: Limited Internet access in North Korea affects country’s development

Will Scott, doctoral candidate at the University of Washington, is back in Seattle and sits at the UW Communications Building. He spent last fall teaching computer science to undergraduates in North Korea.

Scott teaches computer science to undergraduates in Pyongyang University of Science and Technology in North Korea — one of the few places in the world with restricted Internet access.

By Imana Gunawan Northwest Asian Weekly

In 2012, the World Policy Journal rated the DPRK as the most isolated country in the world. The publication used the percentage of individuals connected to the Internet as one of the factors in determining whether a country is isolated.

At PUST, Scott taught operating systems to the computer science junior class and databases to the seniors. Because his studies focus on networking and operating systems, Scott was interested in understanding more about the usage of technological advances in North Korea.

The country does not provide the Internet to most of its population, but rather, they

While most of the developed world enjoys Internet access as a basic human right, North Koreans live with their web access heavily regulated and monitored.

This is just one of the experiences that Will Scott, a doctoral candidate in computer science at the University of Washington, had during his time in North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Last fall, Scott taught computer science to undergraduates at Pyongyang University

of Science and Technology (PUST). After he returned to Seattle on Jan. 2, he did a Reddit “Ask Me Anything” post, which garnered around 500 responses and nearly 9,000 upvotes — a system of post approval used by Reddit users.

Scott explained that his motivation to travel to the DPRK came from both academic and cultural curiosity about a place he didn’t know much about.

“I felt like I wasn’t getting an accurate perception from the media,” he said. “In terms of being a computer scientist, it’s one of the places that has a totally separate element of the Internet.”

have an Intranet called “Kwangmyong” — an open service available only to North Koreans. Internet access is typically only available to higher-level individuals, such as university professors, graduate students, diplomats, or other government officials.

Even for those who can access the Internet, their activities are still regulated and monitored, according to Brigit Stadler, a UW graduate student who studies tourism and colonialism in North Korea. She said that currently, the network {see SCOTT cont’d on page 19}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

13

OPINION

■ EDITORIAL

How about those Seahawks? A win for the team is a win for the city, not only for the fans’ personal pride and joy, but also in revenue for local businesses, especially in downtown. Good.

Seattle also will benefit from a friendly wager between the mayors of Seattle and San Francisco, because Mayor Lee now owes Mayor Murray assistance in raising $10,000 for a local food bank or meal program. He also has to make a donation of Mitchell’s ice cream and Poco Dolce chocolates to a Seattle food bank. Good.

The 49ers’ loss also means American Legion Cathay Post #186 is now obligated, through another friendly bet, to fly the Seahawks flag in San Francisco’s Chinatown during the week before the Super Bowl.

Very good. Imagine how humiliating it would have been to have to fly the 49ers flag in Hing Hay Park for a week — it is unthinkable.

The International District experiences both a bust and boom in business during Seahawks home games, with CenturyLink Field in its back yard. Several Chinatown restaurants have partnered with the stadium’s Community Concessions to offer their special recipes for popular Asian foods for sale at various food booths. That is good (and delicious). But on game day, the streets of Chinatown are practically deserted, and businesses seem empty, though every parking spot is taken. After a big win, however, there is an uptick in business for local restaurants. There are fireworks.

Seattle is celebrating. People are happy and hungry. This is good. We are thankful for what the team does for the neighborhood we share, but they could do more by promoting ID businesses, selling more local food at the games, host a Seahawk party in Chinatown!

Super Bowl is Feb. 2. Can the Seahawks beat Peyton Manning? We hope so! 

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

A dream wedding for Catherine Giudici You’re invited to “watch”!

How would you like to announce your wedding on television for free, and even get a sponsor to pay for a lavish wedding?

ABC’s “The Bachelor” star Sean Lowe and Seattleite Catherine Giudici did just that on Sunday, Jan. 19.

Their wedding will be held on Jan. 26 at the Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore in Santa Barbara, facing the Pacific Ocean.

ABC is paying for the whole wedding, including the engagement and wedding rings, designer dresses for the bride and 12 bridesmaids, and a reception for hundreds of guests. It will be a family reunion for the couple’s families. Giudici’s father Carey will attend the wedding to escort his daughter down the aisle. Giudici’s parents are divorced.

Of course, you are all invited to see the whole wedding on TV at 8 p.m.

The couple has visited Giudici’s family in Seattle. Their engagement party was held last October, at Ballard’s Annex Oyster Restaurant.

Lowe and Giudici have been living in Dallas, apart from one another. A businessman from Texas, Lowe has told the media that he is committed to remaining a virgin until the wedding. The couple has not decided where they will settle after they wed.

The dress

ABC even found Giudici a fashion designer — one most prominently known for bridal wear — to design a wedding gown she likes. Based in Los Angeles, designer Monique Lhuillier is half Filipino, like Giudici.

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

Congratulations, Seahawks!

From your Chinatown neighbors

After a long afternoon of cheering, these Seahawk fans found sustenance at the Honey Court Seafood Restaurant in the International District.

Have a story idea that you think would fit perfectly in Northwest Asian Weekly? We want to know about it.

Send it to us at newstips@nwasianweekly.com.

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Catherine Giudici and Sean Lowe

ABC also provides a wedding planner to make all the arrangements and print all the wedding invitations.

In exchange for paying all the expenses of the wedding, ABC keeps a tight ship on the event for exclusive coverage of the twohour Sunday show. The Giudici family is not allowed to talk to the media.

How it began

In Sept. 2013, at the urging of her friends, graphic designer Catherine Giudici threw her hat in The Bachelor contest as a way of experiencing new adventures. She never thought she would be chosen and never dreamed that she would be falling in love.

But she did.

The rest is history. 

Want to get the inside scoop on the latest happenings of Seattle’s Asian American community? Follow Publisher Assunta Ng’s blog at nwasianweekly.com under the Opinion section.

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asianweekly northwest

14

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

■ profile

Crisis and Calm: Ruth Ozeki and the Art of Being a Novelist

By Signe Predmore Northwest Asian Weekly It wasn’t until disaster struck that Japanese American author Ruth Ozeki’s latest, critically acclaimed novel, “A Tale for the Time Being,” truly came to life. She had struggled with an earlier version of the story since 2006, eventually completing what she thought was the final version in 2011.

“It just wasn’t a very good book, but at least I finished it. I was ready to send it in,” Ozeki said.

Then the Tohoku earthquake hit Japan, followed by the tsunami and nuclear meltdown at Fukushima. Ozeki had lived in Japan as a young woman and has family and friends there. She was glued to the television set.

“At some point, over the next few months, it really began to hit home that the book I had written was no longer relevant — that it was not only irrelevant, but it was inappropriate,” said Ozeki. “I had written a pre-earthquake, pre-tsunami, pre-Fukushima book, and now we were living in a post-earthquake, posttsunami, post-Fukushima world.”

Compelled to respond to unfolding events, she scrapped half of the already-written

Ruth Ozeki

novel and went back to the drawing board.

One of the changes she made was the addition of a character named Ruth, a Japanese American author who lives on an island in British Columbia, just as Ozeki

does. She identifies the character as herself.

“I just gave up and put myself in it,” she said, while also cautioning that the story is fictional.

In the novel, Ruth finds some refuse

■ community news

washed ashore on the western Canadian coast, after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. A plastic bag contains the diary of 16-year-old Nao, a Tokyo resident. Ruth, suffering from writer’s block, slowly works her way through the diary, discovering that Nao has a suicide wish, but first she intends to write a biography of her 104-year-old Buddhist great-grandmother. As the story progresses, Ruth’s and Nao’s fates become more deeply intertwined. “A Tale for the Time Being” was a finalist for the 2013 Man Booker Prize.

In contrast to the threefold Japanese disaster, there was also a more peaceful influence on the novel — Zen Buddhism, specifically, 13th century Zen master Dogen Zenji’s work. Ozeki became ordained as a Zen priest in 2010, and was involved in philosophical study of Zenji’s writings on time and temporality, while her novel was in process. The phrase “time being” is a direct translation of a concept he discusses.

Her dedication to her religious practice has grown over the years. She made the decision to become ordained, in part, out of the desire to serve as an ambassador for Zen {see OZEKI cont’d on page 19}

■ world news

There are plenty of Lunar Kenneth Bae appeals to U.S. for New Year celebrations N. Korea release

By Marino Saito Northwest Asian Weekly

Lunar New Year is known as the most important celebration in the Chinese calendar — a time for families to get together. It’s like Christmas Day for Americans. The Lunar New Year starts on Jan. 31 this year. A lot of events will be held around the Seattle and will go from this weekend through the beginning of next month.

On Saturday, Jan. 25, one Lunar New Year celebration event that more than 1,800 people attended last year will be held in Westminster Church in Bellevue. There will be live entertainment, games, crafts, art exhibits, food, traditional music, and dance.

It starts at 3 p.m. and lasts until 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and children, and children under 4 are free. See more details at http:// www.westminster.org/connect/internationals/lny/.

On the same day, another event called Lunar New Year Banquet & Silent Auction will be hosted by the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) at the O’Asian restaurant in downtown Seattle.

There will be a silent auction with items from the Seattle Symphony and Teatro Zinzanni, a one-of-akind photo of rock legend Eddie Vedder, and much more. Cakes and pastries will be auctioned off in the annual Dessert Dash. Advanced tickets are $35 for AAJA members, $40 for non-members, $20 for students, and $12.50 for children. Parking is free in the garage, located under the Bank of America building at Fifth and Columbia. (O’Asian is located in the same building). More details are available at ht t p://w w w.aajaseat tle.org /lu nar-new-yearbanquet-silent-auction-to-be-at-oasian-on-jan-25/ Even if you cannot join the celebration this Saturday, you can still join other events. Next Friday,

Jan. 31, the Chinese New Year celebration and lion dance will be held for the first time at Lake City Community Center at 7 p.m. The event is free to all.

In addition, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, the Woodinville Tasting Room of Otis Kenyon will celebrate Lunar New Year with a wine tasting. There will be authentic decorations, Lunar New Year treats, and Walla Walla wines. This event runs from noon to 6 p.m. on both days.

The Chinatown-International District welcomes everyone to the 2014 Lunar New Year celebration, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Feb. 1 at Hing Hay Park and surrounding streets in the neighborhood. This is the biggest celebration event around in the area, and about 8,000 people are expected to attend. Attendees can enjoy face painting, balloons, calligraphy drawing, origami, temporary tattoos, games, and more. There is nonstop entertainment throughout the day, including lion and dragon dances, Taiko drumming, martial arts, and the annual Children’s Parade Contest presented by Northwest Asian Weekly. Kids can show off their best cultural outfit on stage (parents are welcome to accompany their children). There will be prizes for winners.

Restaurants across Chinatown will be offering many tasty foods from China, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and beyond. Bring the family and enjoy!

Another weekend event will be held on Feb. 8 and Feb. 9 at Bellevue Square in Center Court. The celebration will feature numerous traditional and contemporary cultural demonstrations, including martial arts, music, dance, and visual arts. The festival is open to all ages. More details are available at http://bellevuecollection.com/lunarnewyear/index. php?p=11. 

PYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) – An American missionary who has been jailed in North Korea for more than a year appeared before reporters Monday and appealed to the U.S. government to do its best to secure his release.

The missionary, Kenneth Bae, made the comments at what he called a press conference held at his own request. He was under guard during the appearance. It is not unusual for prisoners in North Korea to say after their release that they spoke in similar situations under duress.

Wearing a gray cap and inmate’s uniform with the number 103 on his chest, Bae spoke in Korean during the brief appearance, which was attended by The Associated Press and a few other foreign media in Pyongyang.

“I believe that my problem can be solved by close cooperation and agreement between the American government and the government of this country,” he said.

Bae, the longest-serving American detainee in North Korea in recent years, expressed hope that the U.S. government will do its best to secure his release. He said he has not been treated badly in confinement.

Kenneth Bae

A sticking point with Bae might be that the U.S. government has said he is not guilty of any crimes. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said last month that Bae is being held without reason, which Pyongyang denies. Bae on Monday made an apology and said he had committed antigovernment acts. He said recent comments in the media from the U.S. side — likely alluding to Biden’s remarks — have made his situation more complicated.

Bae was arrested in November {see BAE cont’d on page 17}

32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

{KHOO cont’d from page 1} into games, books, podcasts, merchandise, and three very large annual gaming conventions.

“If he hadn’t come by around the time that he did,” said Holkins, “I would be fixing computers at Best Buy.” “There would be no company,” Krahulik added. “We would just be two guys making comics in our spare time.

He figured out a way to make money off of our comic strips and turn what was a hobby into a real business.”

The comic, which has been occasionally controversial and not really funny to anyone who isn’t a gamer, still runs three times a week.

“I consider it to be a political cartoon for the game industry,” said Khoo, “really ‘inside baseball.’ Most stuff goes over people’s heads.” As Krahulik and Holkins grow older, he said, the cartoon has evolved. “As fathers approaching 40, you definitely see comics about parenthood sprinkled about.”

The Penny Arcade podcast, called DLC (Downloadable Content), is “a fly-on-the-wall experience with Mike and Jerry when they write the comic,” said Khoo, who insists “they are absolutely not aware of the camera.”

The crew also produces a reality TV show about themselves, with 100,000 weekly viewers when it’s in season. “We lead very interesting lives,” Khoo stated.

Now 34, Khoo was born in Portland, Ore. He is half Chinese and half Japanese. His father was born in Malaysia and his mother was born in Tokyo. His parents met when his father went to medical school in Japan. The two were married in Tokyo, and then immigrated, first to Canada, then Portland, where Robert and his three siblings were born. Although his particular mix of ethnicity is rare (other than his siblings, he’s never met another Chinese/Japanese person), he said he doesn’t think about it much and identifies as simply “American.”

“We’re all of course shaped by our experiences,” he {ING cont’d from page 1} that type of vision.”

“Vera served on the nonprofit InterIm board for many years and was president of the board for 10 years,” said community activist Bob Santos. “During her tenure, InterIm worked with Asian activists to start the International Community Health Clinic, wrote the charter for the Seattle Chinatown-International District Preservation and Development Authority, built the Danny Woo Community Garden, and built and renovated many buildings in the International District neighborhood to house low-income seniors.

“She was a fierce but compassionate woman warrior,” added.

Vera’s commitment to community touched and influenced many people, and she was particularly interested in helping the younger generation to be more involved, whether it was acting as a mentor, getting involved with their causes, or introducing them to others.

Vera was a past president of the North Se-

Lake View Cemetery Seattle’s Pioneer Cemetery Est. 1872

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

said, “but the vast majority of my positive and negative experiences have been because I’m Asian, rather than Chinese/Japanese.”

Khoo lives in downtown Seattle and doesn’t mind the 20-minute commute to Redmond, where Penny Arcade recently relocated after six years near Northgate and four years in Fremont. His office is filled with toys, games, and colorful stuffed characters. One wall has three prominent digital clock timers counting down the hours and minutes to the three gaming conventions the company hosts annually.

Beyond the large, open lobby is a large, open ping pong room. Everything revolves around gaming.

“Our target demographic is the 24-to-35-year-old person that plays games, whether it’s video or tabletop,” he said.

“They play and identify gaming with who they are. It’s a lifestyle.”

The big show

The biggest thing they do is PAX – Penny Arcade Expo – which hosts a massive expo hall, game tournaments, panels, sessions, parties, music, and more. “It’s been called a Woodstock for games,” Khoo said. “It’s really a celebration of the culture more than anything else.”

The first PAX was held at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue in 2004. “Me and another guy did the planning,” said Khoo. “It was a three-person show.”

The expo drew a crowd of 3,500. Now called PAX Prime, the show brings 75,000 to 90,000 gamers each year to the Seattle Convention Center. “We stopped counting after 60,000.”

In 2010, they added PAX East in Boston, and last year, they introduced PAX Aus in Melbourne.

“We have room for one more,” said Khoo. “I can’t tell you where.”

The secretiveness is likely fallout from the intense popularity of the shows. Last year, tickets for the four-day convention sold out in less than six hours.

attle Community College Foundation Board, past president of the Mt. Baker Neighborhood Community Club, past president of the Seattle International District Rotary Club, past president of InterIm, vice president of Wing Luke Museum, and chair of the Bumbershoot Advisory Committee. She also served on the University of Washington’s Women’s Center Advisory Committee, Seattle Center Advisory Commission, Women Plus Business Advisory Committee, and Asian Americans for Political Action Committee.

Vera was also a staunch supporter of the arts. She owned an art gallery in Pioneer Square in the early 1970s, hosted and emceed the American/China exhibit at the World’s Fair in Spokane, coordinated the first Asian American art exhibit at the Wing Luke Museum, was a member of the Goodwill Games art festival committee, and established the Prima Vera Arts Center for the Performing Arts — home to the Pork-Filled Players and Repertory Actors Theatre.

“We have more demand than supply,” said Khoo. Tickets are in the $75 range for a four-day badge. “Clearly, we could double our prices. We’ll never do that,” he said. “We could decrease demand by making the show worse.” Also unacceptable. The only other option, he said, would be to increase supply, which they did last year by adding Monday to the weekend show.

PAX Prime is a citywide ordeal, involving multiple venues. Despite being in Penny Arcade’s own back yard, it’s the most difficult one to produce, Khoo said, because the City of Seattle is not very cooperative. “It’s harder to plan here than it is across the planet,” he said, referring to the Melbourne show. Khoo finds the lack of city support frustrating. “Seattle acts as if it’s not happening.”

With 75 percent of attendees coming from outside Seattle, Khoo estimates the show brings $50 to $75 million into the local economy. The low ticket prices entice gamers to travel to Seattle, stay in hotels, and eat in restaurants.

Legacy

In 2003, Penny Arcade began an online charity called Child’s Play. “It gets the gaming community to focus its efforts to do something good,” Khoo said.

The first year, they raised $210 in donations. Last year, they raised $7.6 million. Child’s Play sends toys and games to children in 100 hospitals around the world. Khoo thinks it’s the best thing they do. “This will be our legacy,” he said, “the one thing we’re most proud of.”

Profitable from the very start, Penny Arcade is not overly huge. Currently, the company employs about 17 people locally, and another 25 in other parts of the world. “My goal is to keep it small,” said Khoo.

Apparently, it’s also to have fun. “We come into work loving our jobs,” Khoo said.  Sue Misao can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly. com.

Among Vera’s many honors and awards are the University of Washington’s Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) - Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2011, Asian/ Pacific Islander Community Foundation: Kip Tokuda Leadership Award in 2011, Northwest Asian Weekly: Top Contributor to the Asian Community Award in 2010, InterIm Pioneer Award in 2004, the North Seattle Community College’s first Distinguished Alumna of the Year Award in 2002, and many others.

“Vera had incredible energy and drive and was so much fun!” said Mona Locke, wife of U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke.

“She will always be remembered for her work on preserving and documenting the Asian American and especially the Chinese American experience in the Seattle area. She was a leader and role model to us all.”

Vera was also a columnist for five years in the 1990s with Seattle’s Northwest Asian Weekly and Chinatown News in Vancouver, B.C. In 2010, she published her autobiogra-

phy, “Dim Sum: The Seattle ABC (American Born Chinese) Dream.”

A viewing is scheduled for 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 30, at Blaine Memorial Church, located at 3001 24th Ave. S., Seattle (on Beacon Hill, a few blocks west of the Mt. Baker light rail station). The family will hold a private burial on Friday.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the North Seattle Community College gym on Saturday, Feb. 1, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The address is 9600 College Way North, Seattle.

“Anyone who knows Vera and Joey realize there are few others who are as dynamic and supportive as they have been over the past few decades,” said her family. “They have opened up their home for hundreds of community and political events. They have supported every cause imaginable with special emphasis on those serving communities of color.”  Sue Misao can be reached at editor@ nwasianweekly.com

Washington State Chinese Language and Talent Competition School Year 2014

SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014

Chief Sealth International High School, 2600 S.W. Thistle Street, Seattle Registration deadline is March 4, 2014 Register at www.culturalexploration.org Registration fee is $5 per item For any questions, please email ce2014competition@culturalexploration.org

An Independent, NonProfit Association

Featuring

Traditional SidebySide Monument Properties

206-322-1582

1554 15th Ave East (North Capitol Hill)

Purpose • To acknowledge and reward student and teacher achievements • To help inspire further interests in the teaching and learning of Chinese language and culture • To provide a positive venue for students with diverse background to come together to share knowledge and learning experiences Competition Categories Group Poetry Recitation, Individual Poetry Recitation, Public Speaking,

Story Telling, Talent Show, Chinese Singing, Drawing, Chinese Chess, China Knowledge Bowl Age Divisions Lower Elementary (Grades K-2); Upper Elementary (Grades 3-5); Middle School (Grades 6-8); High School (Grades 9-12) Awards All contestants will receive a gift for their participation in the competition. Awards and

15

scholarships (cash prize of $50 for individuals and $100 for team competitions) will be given to the top three performers in each category, division, and class. The awards ceremony will be held on the same day as the competition, beginning at 2:00 p.m. in the Chief Sealth International High School’s auditorium.

Contact Information For further information or questions regarding the competition, please

e-mail ce2014competition@ culturalexploration.org Organizers • Cultural Exploration of Greater China Foundation (CE) • Confucius Institute of the State of Washington (CIWA) • Chinese Language Teachers Association Washington State (CLTAWA) • Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction World Languages Program (OSPI-WL)

asianweekly northwest

16

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

{PARKING cont’d from page 4} beyond parking. According to SDOT, up to two lanes on the northbound I-5 Collector-Distributor will be closed from 9 a.m. on Jan. 31 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 3, while crews replace expansion joints on the freeway. The northbound I-5 on-ramp from S. Dearborn Street will be closed as well. The James Street and Madison Street exits from the collector-distributor will remain open. In addition, SDOT will close lanes on northbound or southbound I-5 in downtown Seattle for nine weekends between January and spring 2014. Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead or take public transit.  Marino Saito can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

JANUARY 25 – JANUARY 31, 2014

17

For the week of January 25–January 31, 2014

By Sun Lee Chang

Rat — Don’t jump to conclusions based on a mere coincidence. Your suspicions may turn out to be completely unfounded.

Dragon — Good style can be had at any price. Just pay attention to the fit and quality of the material, no matter what the brand name is.

Monkey — Are you rethinking what you had once assumed would work for you? It is better to change gears now, rather than continuing on with a faulty plan.

Ox — Keeping on task could pose a challenge this week. Do what you can to hold distractions to a minimum.

Snake — There are times when you want to stand out, but this is probably a day where you would do well to fly under the radar.

Rooster — A recent experience has reminded you of the levels you had once reached. It’s not too late to go there again.

Tiger — Conflicts at work can be a tricky area to navigate. Turn on the charm to smooth over any rough patches that arise.

Horse — You are not afraid to push the envelope every once in a while. In fact, you enjoy jumping over boundaries that hold others in.

Dog — Though you can’t turn back time, you have the option of doing things differently the next time you are in a similar situation.

Rabbit — If you are trying to keep something secret, then avoid leaving clues around. One careless move and all could be revealed.

Goat — Being close to the action will allow you to know what is happening firsthand. However, it could also expose you to more than you want to see.

Pig — You exude a positive energy that people want to be close to. This will be very helpful as you bring others on board to a cause near and dear to you.

What’s your animal sign?

Rat 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 Ox 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 Tiger 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 Rabbit 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 Dragon 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 Snake 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 Horse 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 Rooster 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005 Dog 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006 Pig 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

{BAE cont’d from page 14} 2012 while leading a tour group. He was accused of crimes against the state before being sentenced to 15 years of hard labor. He was moved to a hospital last summer in poor health.

His appearance came weeks after North Korea freed an elderly American veteran of the Korean War, who had been held for weeks for alleged crimes during the 1950-53 war.

State media said 85-year-old Merrill Newman was released because he apologized for his wrongdoing and that authorities also considered his age and medical condition. Newman said after his release that a videotaped confession was given involuntarily and under duress,

{KAPOOR cont’d from page 7} that is not viewed as practical.

He continued, “Art does not seem practical to many. It may even seem frivolous, but art can actually do much good for society.”

Next on the horizon: Seattle and beyond With his album out, Kapoor has an entire U.S. tour ahead of him that will take him to both sides of the country.

One of his upcoming stops will be in Seattle for the first annual Winter Fireside Party, a benefit music event for the multicultural arts nonprofit Northwest Folklife.

The benefit, which will take place at The

although he was generally treated well.

North Korea has detained at least seven Americans since 2009. They were eventually deported or released without serving out their terms, some after prominent Americans, such as former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, traveled to Pyongyang.

A senior U.S. envoy had planned to visit North Korea in late August to discuss Bae’s release, but Pyongyang withdrew its invitation at the last minute, accusing the United States of hostility. Analysts said North Korea was apparently trying to gain leverage in a long-running international standoff over its nuclear weapons program.

“We shouldn’t take Kenneth Bae’s comments merely as his own,” said Kim Jin Moo, a North Korea expert at the staterun Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in

Vera Project on Jan. 25, will be an all-day and evening event, featuring string bands, indie-roots, and blues and gospel music in a cozy and intimate setting.

Kapoor will perform an acoustic set at 4:30 p.m. With 2014 underway, Kapoor is eager to get back out on the road, as well as connect with new listeners.

“There are still so many people who

Seoul. “The reason why North Korea had Kenneth Bae make this statement … is that they want Washington to reach out to them.”

“Bae’s comments are an appeal to Washington to actively persuade Pyongyang to release him,” Kim said.

Other foreign analysts say North Korea wants better ties with Seoul and Washington as a way to win foreign aid and investment to boost its struggling economy.

Earlier this month, Bae’s detention was in the news after former basketball star Dennis Rodman traveled to Pyongyang with other retired NBA players for an exhibition game marking the birthday of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In an interview with CNN while in Pyongyang, Rodman made comments implying Bae was at fault.

Rodman, who has been criticized for not

using his ties with Kim to help secure Bae’s freedom, later apologized.

Bae was born in South Korea and immigrated to the United States in 1985 with his parents and sister. He was allowed to call home on Dec. 29 because of the holidays, according to his sister, Terri Chung. That was the first time his three children from an earlier marriage had spoken to him, she said.

He has two children in Arizona and another in Hawaii, ages 17, 22, and 23, Chung said.

Before his arrest, Bae lived in China for seven years with his wife and stepdaughter.

He ran a tour business and led 18 trips to North Korea, Chung said. 

haven’t heard this album and don’t know who I am,” he said. “I want to meet them, and have them connect with this album in their own way.

“My music follows a story, but I hope it still speaks to things people feel in their own lives, too.” 

to the Winter Fireside Party benefit, visit nwfolklife.org or folklifefiresidefundraiser. brownpapertickets.com.

For more information or to buy tickets

Associated Press writer Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report.

To learn more about Vikesh Kapoor and his music, visit vikeshkapoor.com.

Vivian Nguyen can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

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{SPORTS cont’d from page 10} ceremony where an athlete looks with glassy eyes filling with tears as their flag is raised.

For athletes of India, it must be disconcerting knowing that a generic flag will be drawn up if they make it to the podium.

Local gymnast scores big with only one hand

At 4’11”, 17-year-old Amelia “Millie” Andrilenas is not the tallest competitor on her team, but she stands out. Andrilenas was adopted from China when she was only 16 months old. She has a congenital malformation of her left hand, leaving her without an operable left hand. Despite her hand, she took up gymnastics at an early age. She is now Juanita High School’s best gymnast. Andrilenas is the top scorer on a 27-gymnast team. Last year, she made the state meet in floor and vault.

In addition to gymnastics, she plays soccer for Juanita. She also excels in the classroom and is in advanced placement classes and hopes for a career in occupational therapy.

Japan’s top tennis star one of “30 under 30”

Kei Nishikori has been picked by Forbes as one of “30 under 30” athletes for 2014. Nishikori, 24, earns $9 million in endorsements alone. Despite not having won a Grand Slam title, his earnings suggest that he is a popular figure and top draw in Japan.

2013 was a good year for Nishikori, as he has

steadily climbed the rankings. He currently sits at No. 19. Be on the lookout for Nishikori at this month’s Australian Open.

Pacquiao in tax trouble in U.S. and Philippines

Despite being an icon in the Philippines and a popular figure in the United States, Manny Pacquiao is in trouble with both countries for unpaid taxes. Pacquiao only fought once in 2013 and got back on the winning track after defeating Brandon Rios in Macau, China. We reported that he owed money to the Philippines for unpaid taxes.

We now hear that he owes the IRS $18 million dollars for taxes he did not pay on income earned over the course of time for fights in the United States. Perhaps there’s a reason why Pacquiao fought outside of the United States this time around. The heavy tax burden on his fight purses is real. Thus, fighting in places like Macau, where taxes are none or next to none, is advantageous.

There’s no word on whether Pacquiao will need to pay the money back or who is to blame for not paying taxes. With so many people in Pacquiao’s entourage, why isn’t there an accountant on his staff?

Former Seattle Supersonics Vince Baker, Kenny Anderson (he played a year with the team), and former Rainier Beach High School star Doug Christie joined Rodman on the trip. And one could only ask why.

The trip was highlighted by a verbal tirade against a CNN interviewer in which he denounced Kenneth Bae, an American missionary imprisoned by the country. Bae, a former resident of Lynnwood, Wash., was convicted by North Korea for allegedly trying to overthrow the government.

Rodman eventually apologized for his visit and some of his comments about Bae, which he blamed on his drinking. One can only shake one’s head at Rodman and what he does. It’s also surprising how much access he is allowed in North Korea. Latest news reports have him announcing that he will soon be entering alcohol rehab.

Jeremy Lin signs with Adidas

Despite a minor injury this year, our favorite Asian American NBA star has had a solid season with the Houston Rockets.

Lin’s notoriety and solid play earned him a new shoe contract with Adidas. Lin left his

old sponsor, Nike, for its biggest competitor.

Signing Lin is a big deal for the China sports market, as Adidas is seeking to take market share away from Nike. Nike has a 12.1 percent market share, while Adidas has an 11.2 percent market share, according to a recent business article. In addition to securing Lin as an Adidas endorser, the company is seeking to target women in the country, an untapped demographic. A spokesperson for Adidas stated, “There’s no Lululemon in China.”

Lin announced signing with the footwear brand via his Facebook page. There’s no word on if Lin will have his own signature shoe or whether he will star in commercials or make appearances for the company. It’s a “shoe-in” that Lin will be a major spokesperson for the sponsor. I am surprised that Nike let Lin go after all of the euphoria of “Linsanity” in New York. But since Lin left the Big Apple for Houston, Nike has done little to elevate the status of the Taiwanese American guard.  Jason Cruz can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

N. Korea, Dennis Rodman: BFFs?

Dennis Rodman is in the news again.

And you know this means trouble.

Rodman, in his fourth trip to North Korea, brought former NBA basketball players as a means of “basketball diplomacy” to North Korea for an exhibition game.

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32 YEARS YOUR VOICE

{SCOTT cont’d from page 12} still allows foreigners or tourists to check e-mails. The government also provides wi-fi, so foreigners can use their cell phones and social media, such as Instagram.

“But then of course, if people are sending e-mails home, it would still be monitored,” Stadler said.

The country is currently experiencing technological advancement bit-by-bit, according to Clark Sorensen, UW associate professor of international studies and chair of the Korea Program at the Jackson School of International Studies.

With private institutions like the PUST, which receives contributions from countries like China and the United States, the higher-education students have been exposed to education beyond the DPRK party doctrines that typically dominate the primary and secondary education.

Yet, these kinds of education are still only available to more privileged members of the population.

Despite some breathing room in Internet access, they are still limited and thus provide challenges for Scott, who needs power and Internet access to teach computer science. For example, Scott said most students don’t have their own laptops or access to the Internet. He can’t just {OZEKI cont’d from page 14} in the West.

“So much of what I do in my writing is to sort of function as a bridge between cultures, and I felt that I could serve in that way for Zen practice as well,” she said.

Ozeki draws parallels between writing and Zen meditation as contemplative practices.

“My meditation has really helped me with the writing in more ways than I can even express,” she said. “Certainly things like focus, concentration, the ability to sit still, the ability to sink deep into a fictional world, and to see life as stories — all of these are part of what meditation enables you to do. It teaches you patience and faith, and those are two things one needs as a writer.”

One place she found the calm necessary to make headway with “Time Being” was Hedgebrook, the women writers’ retreat on Whidbey Island. Ozeki was invited to a residency there in 2009. “I pretty much had decided I was no longer capable of writing novels and I should

tell the students to “Google it” because Google restricts some of its enterprise services in countries like North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, and Syria.

“A lot of computer science education really breaks down without access to the Internet,” Scott wrote in his Reddit AMA. “A lot of the debugging process and figuring things out and being self-sufficient boils down to Googling and finding stuff online. It made a lot of the assignments ending up feeling like I was spelling everything out and still having to answer a bunch of questions.”

Though Scott enjoyed interacting with the students, he said staying in Pyongyang for much longer would be challenging with restricted access to Internet, especially for research purposes. Even offline research resources may be limited.

These limitations, as well as other educational methods, do take some toll on the country’s educational development, according to Sorensen. For example, students ended up not studying as many technical subjects like math and science because the students spent more time studying party doctrines and the lives of their leaders.

Even though North Korea and South Korea have a similar amount of compulsory school years (10 for North

probably just give up,” she said. After three weeks in one of the rural Hedgebrook cottages, away from Internet connection, she had changed her mind. She was able to focus and her writing started to flow again. “I don’t think I would have finished this book had I not spent some time at Hedgebrook,” she said.

Ozeki has written two previous novels, “My Year of Meats” (1998) and “All Over Creation “(2003). Both are tightly woven, plot-driven stories with Japanese American protagonists, and are centered around food-industry issues — meat production and genetically modified crops, respectively.

Each of Ozeki’s three novels has a Japanese American female protagonist. By playing with these semi-autobiographical characters, she found her voice as an author.

“I had this idea of what an American novel should be, and it was not something that I felt I could write,” she said.

Ozeki has found that people from many backgrounds relate to her books. “In the New World, most of us, those of us who are not

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Korea, 12 for South Korea), Sorensen said that North Korean refugees with high school-level education who go to South Korea may not be able to compete academically with South Korean students.

Sorensen added that the increase in more technical education may also be because the country wants to grow technological advancements. Currently, the DPRK’s centrally planned economy prevents the country from further developing. “It’s very difficult for them to get out of it because they won’t admit that they have structural problems,” he said. “They think, ‘Oh, there’s a technical fix. If only we had the right technology, we could fix it.’”

Based on his experience, Scott said that the average DPRK populations primarily use computers in industrial or enterprise work, as opposed to personal, but he is also seeing more mobile device users.

“Part of this computer science program, I think, was the government’s attempt to understand that technology more. ... You see that in a lot of the developing world,” Scott said. “But until you go there, you don’t really realize what that looks like.”  Imana Gunawan can nwasianweekly.com.

First Nations, we are all mixed-race. We are all immigrants. We’ve all gotten here in a myriad of different ways. In a sense, I think the story of a mixed-race protagonist is the story of all of us.”

In 2015, Ozeki will begin teaching at the English department at Smith College, where she herself studied as an undergraduate. But while she looks forward to working with young writers, she is cautious about her own expertise.

“You do learn a lot every time you write a book, and the danger is that you think that you know something as a result,” she said. “It seems to me that the real trick is to learn what you can, and then forget about it. Don’t go into the next book thinking that you know anything, because that generally is a mistake.”  Ruth Ozeki will read from A Tale for the Time Being on Jan. 28 at the University Book Store, and on Jan. 29 at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park.

Signe Predmore can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

be

reached

at

info@

{ONODA cont’d from page 5} a young globe-trotter, Norio Suzuki, who ventured to Lubang in pursuit of Onoda.

Suzuki quietly pitched camp in lonely jungle clearings and waited. “Oi,” Onoda eventually called out, and eventually began speaking with him.

Suzuki returned to Japan and contacted the government, which located Onoda’s superior – Maj. Yoshimi Taniguchi – and flew him to Lubang to deliver his surrender order in person.  Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.

Northwest Asian Weekly / Seattle Chinese Post presents

Chinatown-International District Lunar New Year Celebration Children’s Parade Contest | Saturday, February 1, 2014

Children’s Parade Competition Schedule: • 1:30 PM — Parade Begins • 1:50 PM — Finals competition (5 contestants) • 2:15 PM — Parade winners announced!!!

• Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (1:50 PM).

• Finalists will be lined up in numerical order.

• All contestants will receive a fortune cookie and a stuffed Panda.

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Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in or sign-up on the day of the contest (Saturday, February 1) before 1:15 PM at the registration table. Registration table will be located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave S. • Contestants are chosen on a first come first serve basis.

• Contestants must sign-in at the registration table 15 minutes prior to parade.

Please submit completed application through one of the following methods:

Rules/Guidelines: • Children ages 12 and under can participate in the contest • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the Parade • Children will be given a contestant number for order of Parade lineup • Children attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration

Phone: ________________________________________________________

Judging: • All contestants will be judged by the provided judging criteria.

• Prizes will be awarded to First ($100), Second ($50), and Third ($25) Place Winners, plus many other prizes.

• All decisions made by competition judges are final.

Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Children’s Parade Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104

Name: ________________________________________________________

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Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations.

Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.

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