VOL 35 NO 12 | MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 35 NO 12

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

FREE

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Michelle

Educators and activists lobby for ethnic studies

Kwan

By Donna Bryson Associated Press

The Olympian sits down with NWAW in an exclusive interview to discuss just exactly why she’s in Seattle.

see KWAN on 15

see STUDIES on 16

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

or expressed support for Hillary, like elected officials. We also have celebrities, stars like Demi Lovato, Katy Perry, John Legend, who travel and speak on behalf of the campaign and Hillary.

I’m more behind the scenes, but I think we’re all kind of doing multiple jobs — all hands on deck — so I go wherever I’m needed.

DENVER (AP) — When a Colorado teacher got her English language students talking and writing about the police shooting of a black teen in Ferguson, Mo., she was able to draw parallels to events close to home. Cara Luchies, who works in a high school that is 50 percent [Latino], used an archive on the region’s Latino history for information on two young Mexican Americans who were killed by law enforcement in Longmont in 1980.

Luchies is among educators and activists across the country who say they are working to ensure young Americans of any background learn through ethnic studies about the hard work of nation-building. The push has at times met opposition.

Lawmakers in Arizona passed a 2010 ban on ethnic studies that forced a Tucson school board to shutter a Mexican American program. In Texas, a push for a statewide Mexican American studies high school elective faltered in the face of concern that it might introduce leftist politics into classrooms.

But in Colorado, a government

WANT TO BE HAPPY? Then practice, practice, practice! Like any other skill, being happy can be cultivated.

Publisher Assunta Ng discusses this in her blog. » see 10

NOT A WHITE MALE COMEDIAN Canadian comic Ed Hill to record first comedy album in Seattle. Talks about what inspires him.

Michelle Kwan at Northwest Asian Weekly’s office on Thursday, March 10

By Stacy Nguyen Northwest Asian Weekly She is a two-time Olympic medalist, five-time world champion, and nine-time U.S. champion — and last Thursday, March 10, Michelle Kwan sat down in the Northwest Asian Weekly office for an exclusive interview to discuss her role within the Hillary Clinton campaign, her past travels as a

U.S. envoy, her family, and whether fans will be able to see her on “Dancing with the Stars” any time soon.

ON HER NON-SKATING ROLES: MK: I’m the surrogate outreach coordinator on the campaign (a full-time, permanent staff position).

[Surrogates are] individuals that have endorsed

Political newcomer Dan Shih’s passion for public service rooted in family and culture

By James Tabafunda Northwest Asian Weekly

» see 7

WAs This Ang Lee-Approved?

Long-awaited “Crouching Tiger” sequel welcomes new faces and ... new ideas.

Photo provided by Dan Shih

» see 9

COMMUNITY » 2–3 CALENDAR » 6 LAYUP DRILL » 8 EDITORIAL » 11 ASTROLOGY » 13 Dan Shih (right), his husband, Ted MacGovern, and their daughters (from left) Valerie, Cassandra, and Madeline

■

Dan Shih advocates for justice; he works on such issues as patent infringement, class actions, and contract and warranty disputes.

But now, the Seattle attorney is taking a leave of absence from Susman Godfrey to battle five other opponents – at this time – for a seat in the Washington state House of Representatives.

Shih, 44, is only three months into his Democratic campaign for Position 1 in the 43rd District – including downtown Seattle, Capitol Hill, Madison Park, the University District, and Ravenna.

Democratic state Rep. Brady Walkinshaw of Seattle, who last occupied the seat, announced he was going to run for U.S. Congress, 7th Congressional see SHIH on 15

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

asianweekly northwest

2

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

■ names in the news First steps in normalizing relations with Cuba

Jennilyn DeJesus

Photo from U.S.-Japan Council

Japanese American leaders visit Tokyo and Kobe

The 2016 Japanese American Leadership Delegation. Front, from left: Darren Nakata, Monte Del Mar (Noda) Mesa, Kiyo Matsumoto, Tasha Yorozu, Eric Nakajima, Stan Masamitsu. Back, from left: Mark Yokoyama, Bruce Harrell, Eric Hiraga, Bruce Hollywood.

Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell, and Darren T. Nakata, an attorney from Portland, Oregon, joined eight other Japanese American leaders from March 5 to 12 in a visit to Japan.

The Japanese American Leadership Delegation (JALD) program, in its 16th year, is an opportunity for Japanese American leaders from across the U.S. to engage with Japanese leaders in the business, government, academic, nonprofit and cultural sectors, and to strengthen U.S.–Japan relations.

Taylor Hoang

Washington.

At age 28, she opened Pho Cyclo Café, which she has grown to five successful locations and established Lavender Jade Catering.

Hoang will formally receive the Faces of Diversity Award at a gala dinner in Washington, D.C., in April. 

Michelle Kwan fundraises for Hillary Clinton in Seattle

Miguel Fraga (fourth from left) with community members at Nagomi Tea House

Cuban Embassy First Secretary Miguel Fraga spent five days in Seattle in March; one of his stops was a reception at the Nagomi Tea House, sponsored by the Seattle/Cuba Friendship Committee and the U.S. Women and Cuba Collaboration.

Fraga’s message to the people of Seattle: Cuba is eager for a win-win relationship with the U.S. 

Taylor Hoang wins national Faces of Diversity Award The Washington Restaurant Association (WRA) announced that one of its members, Taylor Hoang, has won the 2015 National Restaurant Association Education Foundation’s Faces of Diversity Award.

The award honors diverse members of the industry who have achieved success and who embody the American Dream.

Hoang started a mortgage brokerage firm specializing in securing loans for minorities while attending University of

Photo from Mimi Gan

Doug Baldwin

Doug Baldwin now has a new title: engaged. The Seattle Seahawks wide receiver proposed to his longtime girlfriend on March 3, and it didn’t come without its buildup.

In the three days leading up to the big ask, Baldwin tweeted “Matthew 3:16,” hinting of what was to come.

Then after the proposal, Baldwin tweeted, “Matthew 3:16 March 3, 2016.

A new beginning anointed by Jesus.”

The lady, Jennilyn DeJesus, said yes. She comes from a Black, Chinese, and Filipino family. 

The delegates participated in a panel discussion in Kobe, sponsored by the Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the U.S.–Japan Council (USJC). Then in Tokyo, the delegation met with the prime minister, foreign minister and top business executives. 

Photo by John Liu/NWAW

Doug Baldwin engaged

From left: Martha Choe, Virginia Anderson, Michelle Kwan, Mimi Gan, and Everett Billingslea

Retired figure skater Michelle Kwan was on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton in Seattle. On March 10, she attended fundraisers for the Democratic candidate.

One was hosted by Mimi Gan and Everett Billingslea in their Seattle home, alongside former governor and U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke, Virginia Anderson, and Martha Choe. The event was attended by more than 60 guests and raised more than $40,000.

Since her 2006 retirement, the two-time Olympic medalist has served as a public diplomacy ambassador, hired by then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and continuing on in the Obama administration working with Clinton. 

Tasty Vietnamese Fusion Cuisine, Pho, and Burgers!

MeeKong Bar celebrated its grand opening March 14.

We like to thank our guests and dignitaries for being there, and their flowers to make our dining room festive. We appreciate the presence of Alex Welles, representing King County Council member Jeanne Kohl-Welles, and Toshiko Grace Hasegawa, representing Sen. Bob Hasegawa.

Open daily: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Happy Hour: 3–6 p.m.

Mee Kong Bar 2525 4th Ave Seattle, WA 98121 206-257-1030 @meekongbar

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

■ community NEWS

USCIS website, e-verify now optimized for mobile devices United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has a series of enhancements to make its website and online products easier to use on mobile devices.

Uscis.gov and the Spanish site uscis.gov/es is easier to read and use because the content is now responsive (automatically adjusts to fit the screen of a smartphone, tablet, laptop or desktop computer).

The agency’s move to mobileresponsive design includes the E-Verify program, as well as USCIS’ new digital assistant Emma.

“As technology progresses, digital platforms can no longer take a one-size-fits-all approach,” said USCIS Director León Rodríguez. “We listened to our customers. Significant numbers access our site and services through mobile devices. These changes will make a big difference in improving their online experience.”

About 30 percent of visitors to the English site and more than 50 percent visiting the Spanish site now use a mobile device.

Among the improvements: • Menu options collapse for easier viewing on smaller screens or browsers.

• Users will find it easier to access SAVE CaseCheck from mobile devices to check whether immigration status queries submitted by benefit-granting agencies are complete.

• Enhancements to E-Verify make logging in and viewing cases more efficient.

Many of these ideas came

from customer submissions through the E-Verify Listens website. These include case creation screens that now replicate the order of fields on Form I-9.

These improvements are part of a step toward a fully electronic immigration system.  For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit uscis.gov or follow on Twitter (@uscis) and YouTube (/uscis).

3

Seattle Young Lions seek new members Seattle Young Lions are seeking new members. Children (ages 3 and up) and adults are encouraged to join this nonprofit organization.

Membership is free. Additionally, Seattle Young Lions does not charge fees for performances, but does accept donations.

This team is an expansion club.

The original Young Lions Club began in New York City in 1973.  For more information or to join, e-mail SeattleYoungLions@gmail. com.

Seattle Public Library partners with organizations to provide free resources The Seattle Public Library has established a partnership with the Seattle Municipal Court Resource Center to better connect people in need to Library resources.

The Court Resource Center is available to anyone in the community. It is primarily used by people in the Seattle Community

Court program who have committed low-level offenses. The library staffs a resource station at the Court Resource Center from 10 a.m. – noon on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and also offers monthly Central Library tours to introduce clients to resources within the building.

The Library has also developed several community partnerships that provide patrons access to important resources and services at library locations, including: • •

Free tax preparation services Veteran services help

• • • •

Drop-in help Spanish language tenants’ rights clinics Employment assistance including job search and resume help.

Microsoft Office Specialist certification exams, normally priced at $125, are

offered for free in partnership with Washington State Libraries.  For more information, call the Seattle Public Library at 206386-4636.

asianweekly northwest

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MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

■ world news

Court rules Philippine Senator Grace Poe can run for president

By Jim Gomez Associated Press MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippine Supreme Court ruled March 8 that Sen. Grace Poe is eligible to run for president in the May 9 elections, overturning an elections commission decision to disqualify her and removing a long-hanging legal question over a tightly fought race to lead the Southeast Asian nation.

The justices voted 9–6 in favor of Poe’s petitions against the Commission on Elections’ decision last December to disqualify her on the grounds that she was not a natural-

born citizen and did not have the 10 years of Philippine residency required of presidential candidates, Supreme Court spokesman Theodore Te said.

Elections Chairman Andres Bautista said his commission respects the ruling and will assess whether to appeal.

“This victory isn’t only mine,” a triumphant Poe told hundreds of people who joined an International Women’s Day rally by a left-wing group in a downtown Manila square.

“This is most of all a victory for the oppressed, a victory for those who are burdened by this system and a victory for women.”

Asked by The Associated Press how she felt, Poe replied, “Relieved, but this is only the start, we need to do a lot of things. There is now a big opening for us to start our work.”

The decision provided a major boost to the campaign of Poe, who is already leading in popularity polls, and removes a cloud of uncertainty over what has been shaping as a closely contested four-way race to succeed President Benigno Aquino III, whose six-year term ends June 30.

“She will now be the candidate to beat,” political analyst Ramon Casiple see POE on 12

Sen. Grace Poe

Fake story reflects Japan protests alleged rape real divide between case by US sailor on Okinawa rural, urban Chinese

By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press

By Didi Tang Associated Press BEIJING (AP) — A woman from a big Chinese city visits her boyfriend’s rural hometown and is so appalled by the squalor she sees that she dumps him.

The story was fake, but it swept through Chinese media because it highlighted a deep societal gap that the ruling Communist Party has vowed to close.

Rural Chinese not only make less than city-dwellers but also receive significantly fewer social welfare benefits, worsening a divide that was brought into focus by the fictional breakup, initially posted online as a real-life account.

The Chinese leadership, currently presiding over the country’s largely ceremonial legislature through March 16, has pledged to introduce policies to bring prosperity to the countryside. In a key policy address over the weekend, Premier Li Keqiang pledged to improve countryside infrastructure and access in rural areas to social benefits.

“The core of our job is to bring a society of common prosperity,” said Zhu Liangyu, a delegate to the National People’s Congress from Beijing, “and we can only accomplish the task when the rural peasants are economically prospering.”

Urban dwellers have only recently begun to outnumber rural ones in China, becoming more than half of the population in 2011. But the split between them has been entrenched by the decades-long practice of differentiating them and their rights based on residence registration.

The Herculean task of addressing that split was highlighted by

the uproar nationwide over the breakup story, which emerged earlier this year.

“The fake love dispute and the ensuing heated discussions are only symptoms of a torn-up society,” observed Tang Yinghong, a psychologist and a popular national columnist.

The female protagonist was from Shanghai, which represents “metropolitan China” and is comparable to any city in a developed country. Her lover hailed from a poor village in the hinterland province of Jiangxi, which could “be worse than Third World countries,” Tang said. They matched two popular stereotypes — the sheltered, well-heeled “peacock” girl of the city, and the self-made “phoenix” man from the hinterland who makes good in the big city.

“The two Chinas have vastly different lifestyles, cultures and ideological thoughts, and the split between the two has reached an astonishing level,” Tang said.

The story as posted on a Web forum was from the point of view of the woman, explaining why she immediately fled from her boyfriend’s hometown and from the relationship. Accompanying it was a dimly lit photo of a squalid dinner table with dubiouslooking dishes.

The story hit the screens of millions of smartphones across China during the weeklong Chinese New Year holiday. Hardly anyone bothered to check its authenticity, but much of the country jumped to vent their thoughts. Prominent columnists opined, and even the cardinal party-run newspaper see RURAL on 13

TOKYO (AP) — An American sailor’s arrest in an alleged rape on Okinawa was “extremely regrettable,” Japan’s top government spokesman said March 14 about a case that renewed ill feelings on the southern island that sees the U.S. military presence there as a heavy and unfair burden.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government protested to Washington hours after the arrest on March 13 and demanded it tighten discipline among U.S. personnel and take steps to prevent similar problems.

Okinawa police arrested Justin Castellanos, 24, a U.S. Navy seaman at Camp Schwab on March 13.

Police say he is suspected of sexually assaulting a Japanese tourist in her 40s as she slept at her hotel earlier that morning. Castellanos has not been formally charged.

Phone calls to U.S. Navy’s public affairs office in Japan were not answered.

Kyodo News agency said the woman was sleeping in the hallway, and the sailor allegedly dragged her into his room and raped her.

Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga told reporters that the case is “a serious crime and blatant violation to women’s human rights.” He also said since the woman was a tourist, the alleged attack could scare off visitors to Okinawa, where tourism is a key part of the economy.

About half of the 50,000 American troops in Japan are based in Okinawa, and its residents complain about noise and crime from the bases. Sex crimes are particularly sensitive issue on the island.

A 1995 rape of a schoolgirl by three U.S. servicemen sparked an outcry, eventually leading to an agreement to relocate the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to a less crowded part of the island, though the plan has stalled since because many residents want it entirely moved outside Okinawa. 

India to launch heat wave programs in vulnerable cities

By Katy Daigle Associated Press NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian officials are launching a program to protect people from extreme heat in two high-risk regions, after a devastating heat wave killed at least 2,500 people across the country last year.

Already, India experiences severe heat waves almost every year. With climate change bringing higher temperatures, the country and its 1.25 billion people are bracing for even more challenging summers that will dry up forests, destroy crops, wipe out farm animals and kill hundreds if not thousands of people if they are not prepared.

“India is getting hotter, and it is killing people,” said Anjali Jaiswal, India director for the New Yorkbased Natural Resources Defense Council, which is helping local leaders and officials adopt the program.

It will be launched this week in Bhubaneshwar and three other cities in the eastern state of Orissa, as well as in the western temple town of Nagpur and four nearby cities where temperatures last year hit a sweltering 117 Fahrenheit, the NDRC said March 9.

It was rolled out in Ahmadabad in 2013, three years after some 1,200 people died from heatrelated causes in the western city. Last year, after introducing seven-day weather forecasts, extra water supplies and cool-air shelters, only 20 people died in the city from the heat.

But altogether, the cities involved cover only about 11 million people — not even 1 percent of the country’s population.

“If you want to save lives you have to be prepared,” Jaiswal said, calling on other Indian cities and regions to also adopt heat wave plans. “When it comes to protecting communities and people, it takes leadership.”

The cities involved in the program will now spend months preparing for summer by educating children about heat risk, stocking hospitals with ice packs and extra water, and training medical workers to identify heat stress, dehydration, and heat stroke.

Many of those killed across the country last year, including more than 1,700 in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, were day laborers, construction see HEAT WAVE on 13

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ world NEWS

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

5

Human Go champion scores 1st win over machine after 3 losses

By Lee Jin-man and Youkyung Lee Associated Press

Photo by zizou man

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A champion Go player scored his first win over a Go-playing computer program on March 13 after losing three straight times in the ancient Chinese board game, saying he finally found weaknesses in the software.

Lee Sedol’s victory over AlphaGo is a reminder that Google’s Go-playing program has room for improvement despite winning the first three matches in the best-of-five series and the $1 million prize, which will be donated to charity.

The program — the first computer sys-

tem to defeat a top Go player — was developed by Google DeepMind two years ago.

“This one win is so valuable, and I will not trade this for anything in the world,” Lee, one of the best Go players in the world, said with a smile Lee Sedol after entering the post-match news conference at a Seoul hotel to applause from journalists.

Lee had said earlier in the series, which began the week prior, that he was unable to beat AlphaGo because he could not find any weaknesses in the software’s strategy.

But after the March 13 match, the

33-year-old South Korean Go grandmaster, who has won 18 international championships, said he found two weaknesses in the artificial intelligence program.

Lee said that when he made an unexpected move, AlphaGo responded with a move as if the program had a bug, indicating that the machine lacked the ability to deal with surprises.

AlphaGo also had more difficulty when it played with a black stone, according to Lee. In Go, two players take turns see LEE on 12

■ national NEWS

Many experts skeptical Trump’s trade threats will work

By Paul Wiseman Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has promised to shred America’s trade deals and impose fines on imports from Mexico and China. He’s gone so far as to swear off Oreos to protest Nabisco’s transfer of cookie production from Chicago to Mexico.

By attacking trade agreements, the Republican presidential front-runner is channeling the belief, common among many of this year’s angry voters, that foreign competition is robbing American jobs and shrinking wages.

“We’re being killed on trade — absolutely destroyed,” Trump said.

His assault on trade deals — which in some ways echoes arguments of Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders — seems to be winning politics. But Trump’s analysis of how trade hurts American workers is flawed, and as president, he would struggle to deliver on his promises.

The United States does have an unbalanced trade relationship with other nations. Last year, it imported $2.76 trillion in goods and services and exported just $2.22 trillion. That $540 billion gap — the trade deficit — was the seventh-biggest on record. Not since 1975 has the United States run a trade surplus.

A trade deficit slows economic growth and can cost jobs. Last year, the U.S. trade gap shrank growth by 0.6 percentage point to a modest 2.4 percent.

Trump, author of the 1987 best-seller “The Art of the Deal,” argues that American negotiators are snookered by smarter dealmakers in China, Mexico, and Japan who manage to penetrate the U.S. market without granting equal access to their own. He and his team, which he has said would include corporate takeover artist Carl Icahn, could easily do better, he says.

An assessment of his trade case:

LITTLE EFFECT ON JOBS

featuring coverage on our

FASHION SHOW CHILDREN’S PARADE AND COSTUME CONTEST & MORE!

Many economists call Trump’s arguments off-base.

Trade deals usually have little overall effect on jobs — posi- Donald Trump tive or negative — partly because the American economy is already open to foreign competition. Bigger forces such as huge wage gaps between the United States and developing countries, and automation that lets companies replace workers, play a much larger role in job losses.

“We’re running large trade deficits, and those do cost us jobs,” said C. Fred Bergsten, director emeritus of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. “Almost none of that can be traced to trade agreements, bad, good or otherwise. Trade agreements always have a small net effect on jobs.”

Economists at the Peterson Institute think the Trans–Pacific Partnership, a pending deal involving the United States and 11 Pacific Rim countries, would barely affect American employment. Jobs created by greater access to Asia–Pacific markets would likely be offset by jobs lost.

Just behind inept negotiators on Trump’s list of those responsible for America’s trade problems are businesses that move operations abroad to capitalize on cheaper labor.

Trump pledged to give up Oreos after Nabisco’s parent, Mondelez International, said it would replace nine production lines in Chicago with four in Mexico.

He also said he would demand that United Technologies reverse a decision to move two Indiana plants to Mexico, eliminating 2,100 jobs. If it refused, he said he would impose a tax on anything the company built in Mexico see TRUMP on 11

Now on YouTube bit.do/NWAW

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT

Proposals will be received for E00415E16, Work Order Mechanical/Electrical Engineering Services for Wastewater Treatment Division; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on March 25, 2016. Late proposals will not be accepted.

Work order based mechanical/ electrical engineering services for analysis, and engineering design related to treatment plants, wastewater conveyance, and CSO storage and treatment facilities and equipment.

Estimated Total Price: The County may award up to two (2) contracts with a maximum price

of $750,000 each. Each contract will have an initial period of performance of one (1) year.

The County reserves the right to amend the contract duration in one (1) year increments up to a maximum of three (3) years, if funds remain.

There is a 5% minimum requirement for King County Certified Small Contractors and Suppliers (SCS) on this contract.

Questions: Ruth Williamson, 206-263-9333, ruth. williamson@kingcounty.gov Complete Request for Proposal documents, including all project details are available on our web page at: https:// procurement.kingcounty.gov/ procurement_ovr/default.aspx

asianweekly northwest

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MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

■ COMMUNITY calendar

APRIL

MARCH

17

Community meeting: On naming of International Children’s Park after Donnie Chin

(also held on 3/20)

Awareness Enabled Life Positioning Workshop

Bush Hotel Community Hall, 409 Maynard Ave. S., Ste. P6 6:30–8 p.m.

18

Vietnamese Friendship Association 2016 Benefit Dinner Saint Demetrios Hall, Seattle 6 p.m.

Kristina.ong@vfaseattle.org

19

Nalanda West, 3902 Woodland Park Ave. N., Seattle 3/19 at 9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.

3/20 at 2–5 p.m. nalandawest.org/events/ awareness-enabled-life

“Virtuosity of the Soloist in Performance,” featuring Wu Han, Benjamin Beilman, Kristin Lee, Sean Lee, Richard O’Neill, and Nicholas Canellakis

24

Class: Planting Windswept/Cascading Bonsais

26

University of Washington, Bothell Campus 8:15 a.m.–3 p.m. apiasf.org/JumpStart

Jazz Alley, Seattle 6:30–9:30 p.m. $15/adults, $10/students & seniors 206-441-9729, jazzalley.com

Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma 10 a.m. $10 asiapacificculturalcenter.org/ teaexperience

The Wing Luke Museum, Seattle wingluke.org

Navruz 2016: Central Asian Spring Festival North Seattle College 4:45–8 p.m. $25/adult, $15/student, $5/5+ years, free/kids under 5 seattle-tashkent.org/

Asia Pacific Cultural Center Presents Taste of Asia, cooking lesson: Hawaii

Author Bharti Kirchner discusses her new novel “Goddess of Fire”

“Imprint: Identity Through Art” exhibition

The Westin Seattle 5 p.m $200 206-623-5124, ext. 106, wingluke.org/2016auction

Japanese literature public reading, “People Sitting in Darkness”

Asia Pacific Cultural Center Presents Tea Experience: Hawaii

8th Annual Tomodachi Luncheon Fundraising Event

“Identity Through Art,” the Wing’s 2016 Dinner and Auction

(through 4/3)

University of Washington, Penthouse Theatre, Seattle Fri–Sat, 7:30 p.m., Sun, 2 p.m. $8–$10 206-543-4880, drama. uw.edu/performances

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(last day)

25

APIA Scholarship Fund Jump Start College Tour

1

Seattle University, Campion Ballroom 12–1:30 p.m. $150/person, $300/couple tomodachirsvp@jcccw.org, 206-568-7114, jcccw.org/ tomodachi-luncheon-2016

Meany Hall, UW of Seattle Campus 7:30 p.m. $40–$45 206-543-4880, uwworldseries.org

Oriental Garden Center, 30650 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way 10 a.m. $75 253-839-1639, orientalgardencenter.net

28

12th Annual Seattle– Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist, live auditions

Central Library, Level 1, Microsoft Auditorium, Seattle 7–8:30 p.m.

206-386-4636

31

Webinar: Develop your English for a career in government 12–1 p.m. ehlsprogram.org

Chinatown/ID Public safety community meeting, Donnie Chin update Nagomi Teahouse 519 6th Ave S #200, Seattle 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma 12 p.m. $25 asiapacificculturalcenter.org/ tasteofasia

11

(last day)

Ai Weiwei’s “Fault Line” exhibition

San Juan Islands Museum of Art, 540 Spring St., Friday Harbor sjima.org/exhibitions/aiweiwei

2016 Kin On Spring Benefit Dinner

Joyale Seafood Restaurant, Pacific Rim Center, Seattle 4:30–9 p.m. $16 206-556-2272, kristintan@ kinon.org

View the solution on page 15

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John Liu

rebecca@nwasianweekly.com

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kelly@nwasianweekly.com

Publisher assunta@nwasianweekly.com Associate Publisher john@nwasianweekly.com Editor editor@nwasianweekly.com

Han Bui

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john@nwasianweekly.com

Layout Editor/Webmaster han@nwasianweekly.com

The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.”

The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article.

Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission.

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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

7

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

■ arts & entertainment

King ED — OF THE —

HILL Canadian comic ready to record 1st Album in Seattle

Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly “I’m not a white male comedian.”

Ed Hill knows himself. Hill, a Taiwanese Canadian, travels all over the world making people laugh. The CanAsian is embarking on a new venture as he simultaneously plans on recording his second comedy album later this month at the Columbia Center Theater in Seattle.

“My presence is a little bit unique in some ways,” said Hill of the practice of standing on a stage and telling jokes to strangers.

The forthcoming comedy album, “Weirdo Whisperer,” is titled after his knack for making people feel comfortable enough to tell him the oddest things about themselves. His jokes focus on his observations of interactions in his daily life, his family, and on himself. “What I really want to do is introspection,” explained Hill. “I like to figure out who I am.”

In his comedy, he talks about his father a lot, as he describes his father as a big influencer. “I am moving into a place [in my life] where I am turning into him.”

Hill had always tried to avoid becoming his father when he was growing up, but has come to the realization that “I am who my father is.”

Notably, Hill’s father has never come to a show.

“Why do I need to be there?” Hill said jokingly, imitating his father’s voice. However, he notes that his family has largely been supportive of his comedy career.

This includes Hill’s wife, who is his biggest critic, as she is usually the first person to hear his new material.

Whenever he thinks something is funny, he runs it by his wife before anyone else.

Hill describes himself as not the type of writer that sits down and writes jokes out on paper. “I belong to the school where we write all the time,” said Hill. “I have a concept and tie that with what that has to do with me.

That’s where the jokes come from.”

After taking a comedy class in graduate school at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, B.C., Hill discovered that he enjoyed the craft. He began doing open mic nights — see HILL on 16

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asianweekly northwest

8

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

■ SPORTS

By Jason Cruz Northwest Asian Weekly Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. In this month’s edition we take a look at a snowboarding Phenom, a new Mariner, the Sounders lose a key player and Yao Ming moves closer to Hall of Fame.

Kim continues to soar in women’s snowboarding

Obafemi Martins Yao Ming Dae-ho Lee

CHLOE KIM

THE LAYUP DRILL (our zippy monthly sports column)

Snowboarder, Mariner, Sounder ... and Yao!

Korean American Chloe Kim is having another great winter as she has racked up some impressive victories in snowboarding competitions this season.

At just 15 years old, Kim won Gold in the “super pipe” event at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado this past February. Her win made it back to back years of taking first place at this event.

She also earned two Gold medals in two events at the 2016 Winter Youth Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. The wins made her the first American woman to win a gold medal in snowboarding. Although the season is not over, she won the 2016 Burton US Open Halfpipe.

Kim’s achievements have earned her a sponsorship from Target, the secondlargest discount retailer in the United States next to Walmart. At just 5-foot-2 and 115 pounds Kim can perform multiple twists and turns in mid-air down a ski slope or within a “half-pipe” – a semi-enclosed structure made on the ski slopes with steep embankments used for see LAYUP on 14

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ at the movies

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

9

“Sword of Destiny” A

shrunken

version of the

original

class i c

By Eric Card Northwest Asian Weekly

After more than a decade, the fantastical world of “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” makes its belated return in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny.”

This sequel, released Feb. 26, is directed by Yuen Wo Ping, a legendary Chinese martial arts choreographer in the film industry, who also worked as the choreographer in the first film.

Despite his background

and involvement in the first “Crouching Tiger,” he still had some big shoes and expectations to fill. Ang Lee’s 2000 film won four Academy Awards, including best foreign language film and best cinematography (it was also nominated for best director and best picture).

This sequel picks up 18 years after the end of the last film, when Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh), the only returning character from the original film, comes out of solitude to pay respects to the governor in Peking. After an attempted theft of the Green Destiny sword, which belonged to her deceased lover and well-known warrior, Li Mu Bai, she becomes the protector

of the sword from warlord Hades Dai (Jason Scott Lee).

Rounding out the cast is Donnie Yen (“Ip Man”) as Silent Wolf, Harry Shum Jr. (“Glee”) as young thief Wie Fang, and newcomer Natasha Liu Bordizzo as Snow Vase. All of these characters are connected, in one way or another, with each other through the past, and they ultimately help each other in defeating Hades Dai and protecting the sword from falling into the wrong hands.

This film, from the get-go, lacks the authenticity of the original film. The first thing that viewers will notice is that this is an English-language film, and — while also dubbed in Mandarin

This film, from the get-go, lacks the authenticity of the original film. and Cantonese — is clearly a movie aimed at a Western audience.

While some of the scenery is certainly beautiful, the location looks and feels different from the first film. That’s because a large portion of “Sword of Destiny” was filmed in New Zealand, while most of the first film was filmed in China. And the sequel also suffers from its reliance on CGI effects,

both for transitional scenic shots and action fight sequences, possibly due to smaller budget issues.

An interesting aspect of the cast is that it is largely made up of Pan-Asians, comprising Australians, Costa Ricans, Chinese Americans, Hawaiian Chinese, among others. see MOVIE on 13

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asianweekly northwest

10

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG

OPINION Th

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th

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g w v ie

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hope

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l ro om

in LO ak CATION. T ing time out to x or a

Duplicate Joy processes

r ei n vi g

Anticipate joy

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my treadmill.

That’s nothing major — a simple routine. Psychologists have found that our brain needs small rewards from time to time to feel refreshed.

Giving yourself small rewards frequently will help you to achieve long-term goals. Those small incentives can re-program your brain from being mostly grouchy to being mostly content.

r e la

should I take during the event? What dress should I wear for the occasion?

All these happy thoughts have energized me since the day I received the invitation.

You can turn many occasions into delightful experiences, and afterward, valuable memories.

It may sound strange, but I had a revelation when I was in Hawaii last week — it was about how to practice experiencing happiness.

“Sure, Assunta,” you say. “You are in Hawaii. That’s why you have time to ponder about happiness!

Seriously, we can acquire happiness and satisfaction in our own simple ways. Gurus and authors have depicted their approaches in aptly titled books, such as “The Happiness Project,” “The Happiness Advantage,” and “The Happiness Code.”

For me, it’s merely about the happiness practice.

Every few years, I write about happiness, as readers have told me it is an important topic. They’ve given me a wide range of feedback.

I used to scream every time I prepared for a trip because it was stressful — the amount of work before and after my vacation has been grueling. Exhausted and cranky, I typically lost my desire to vacation before it began.

Hawaii this time, however, was different. It wasn’t just being in the Aloha state that made me feel relaxed and blissful.

Actually, I was in a pleasant mood days before I even reached the island. My shoulders were light, my head was clear, and my feet were already dancing. Was it because my workload was easier before the trip?

Nope. I did three times more work, compared to previous trips. Instead of moaning and groaning, I smiled through it all.

How?

Enthusiasm in life

Vivian Lee

This week, I created my joyful experience by looking forward to a particular dinner. My friend Vivian Lee, a pioneer in nursing and the healthcare field, will be honored by the Washington State Nurses Association at Salty’s on Alki Beach.

Booker T. Washington said, “If you want to lift yourself up, you lift someone else up.” I’m using the occasion to create a fabulous experience for myself!

How can I make it a spectacular day for Vivian? Shall I bring her flowers? What gifts should I bring? How should I design a congratulations card? What words should I write on the card? What photos

W

Vivian is a beautiful person. Her volunteer work has opened endless possibilities for youth and other people through the University of Washington Multicultural Alumni Partnership.

But the one quality of Vivian’s that has that impressed me the most is her enthusiasm in life. Her contagious

e.

I discovered that the anticipation of joy melted my worries away — I was looking forward to my trip. I wasn’t concerned about catching up on work. The blue ocean and green palms in Hawaii preoccupied my thoughts.

The imagery served as a powerful motivator for my productivity. No matter how busy I was, I never felt overwhelmed.

It is important for our physical and mental health to have things to look forward to, not just for every month, but for every week and ideally every day. Even looking forward to something small can revive your spirit.

At the end of some days, my treat is to watch a pre-taped television program as I walk on

ou

By Assunta Ng Northwest Asian Weekly

m

How to achieve more happiness through practice

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A FOUR-LETTER WORD

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enthusiasm is the reason she can rally other people to get things done. Vivian’s zest for life is remarkable—making every

or

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opportunity a fun experience for herself and her friends. see BLOG on 12

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

11

OPINION

■ editorial

We support Cornell students in their demand for Asian American studies major This week, students are banding together, calling themselves Asian Pacific Americans for Action (APAA) at Cornell University, and demanding that Asian American Studies, Latino/a Studies, and American Indian studies are offered as majors by the end of 2016. The campaign, thus far, involves a student assembly meeting scheduled March 10, a petition of support, and a letter to the Cornell administration.

We commend these efforts! In light of recent events concerning stereotypical characterizations of Asian Americans in mainstream culture (such as during the Oscars telecast), it’s encouraging to see young Asian Americans advocate for themselves in this way.

In their letter (bit.ly/1RAAetQ), APAA states that while interest in Asian American studies has grown, Cornell’s Asian American Studies Program is understaffed and under-researched, relative to other Cornell programs.

According to the letter, “A lack in the breadth of courses TRUMP from 5 and exported to the United States.

Trump also said he would tax auto imports from Mexico to stop U.S. automakers from moving production there.

EASIER SAID THAN DONE Levying those tariffs would probably require congressional approval. It would violate commitments the United States made when it joined the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994, and the tariffs would trigger retaliation from Mexico.

No problem, Trump says.

He’d rip up NAFTA. He could exit the agreement provided he gave Mexico and Canada six months’ notice. Experts differ on whether Congress would have to authorize this.

Regardless, leaving NAFTA would cause chaos for businesses that have arranged their operations around its rules.

Trump has threatened to hit Chinese imports with a 45 percent tariff. But in Thursday’s Republican debate, he suggested that the tax might be negotiable.

“The 45 percent is a threat if they don’t behave, if they don’t follow the rules and regulations so that we can have it equal on both sides, we will tax you,” he said on stage.

If Trump replaced the low tariffs provided

by NAFTA and World Trade Organization rules with punitive tariffs on Mexican and Chinese goods, he probably would ignite a trade war that would raise prices for Americans and cause diplomatic havoc.

Economists recall that the 1930 SmootHawley legislation, which raised tariffs on imports, inflamed trade tensions and worsened the Great Depression.

Many analysts say Trump’s approach to China is misguided, too.

He has charged Beijing with undervaluing China’s currency, the yuan, to give its companies a price advantage in foreign markets.

The charge is obsolete. The yuan probably was undervalued three years ago, but it’s climbed since then.

Now, economists say, the yuan actually has gone too high, partly because it’s linked to a rising U.S. dollar. Left alone now, China’s currency probably would plummet.

So Beijing is buying yuan to prop it up.

“Does that sound like a country trying to undervalue their currency?” says Seattle trade lawyer Bill Perry.

available due to insufficient resources greatly reduces the program’s ability to attract and retain students. … In the upcoming 2016 - 2017 academic year, a record low of only 3 courses will be taught in the fall semester by only 2 faculty members already burdened by other responsibilities.”

According to its website, more than 39 percent of Cornell undergrad students are foreign nationals, Latino Americans, American Indians, Black Americans, Asian Americans, or identified themselves in more than one racial/ethnic group. According to the APAA letter, almost 25 percent of Cornell is Asian or Asian American.

This petition is not without its detractors.

In the Cornell Review, a publication that admits to aligning with “conservative or libertarian principles,” Casey Breznick, a regular contributor, wrote, “If Cornell were to create an Asian-American Studies major, it would be almost irresponsible: allowing parents/students to pay $60,000+ a year to take classes in, basically, what it means

“

What we have got to do is tell corporate America that they cannot continue to shut down. We’ve lost 60,000 factories since 2001. They’re going to start … if I’m president, invest in this country — not in China, not in Mexico.”

— Bernie Sanders

Whatever the merits of Trump’s arguments on trade, they have found an audience. More than half of Democratic and Republicans voters in last week’s Michigan primary (won

by Trump and Sanders) told pollsters they felt trade kills jobs.

Most economists generally promote the benefits of open trade. When foreigners can offer their goods and services, American consumers enjoy more items at better prices, and the competition makes U.S. companies more efficient.

Economists acknowledge that trade creates

to be Asian-American. The curriculum can be learned by befriending an Asian-American.”

Breznick adds insult to injury by going on to say, “In fact, if students do want to learn about the Asian world, they can already major in or take classes in the highly successful China and Asia-Pacific Studies department at Cornell.”

Breznick’s opinion piece actually perfectly highlights exactly why well-funded Asian American studies programs are important to have at colleges. These classes not only explore the diverse and extensive histories of Asian diaspora — they also teach students obvious stuff, like how Asians and Asian Americans are not actually culturally identical. They probably also teach students that you can’t really learn hundreds of years of complex histories from many different ethnic groups by being friends with an Asian American.

Sign the petition and help the APAA out! 

losers, too. But many who lose jobs can find work in other industries or move where companies are hiring.

Sanders has also blamed “disastrous” trade agreements with Mexico and China for costing the United States “millions of jobs.”

Unlike Trump, Sanders has not pledged to undo or remake those agreements. Instead, Sanders has said he opposes the Obama administration’s Trans-Pacific Partnership, a pending trade deal involving the United States and 11 other nations that’s awaiting congressional approval.

“What we have got to do is tell corporate America that they cannot continue to shut down,” Sanders said in a debate last week in Flint, Michigan. “We’ve lost 60,000 factories since 2001. They’re going to start … if I’m president, invest in this country — not in China, not in Mexico.”

LINGERING LOW PAY A January report on the impact of Chinese imports, from David Autor of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Gordon Hanson of the University of

California, San Diego, and David Dorn of the University of Zurich, casts some doubt on conventional assumptions. It found that pay remains low and unemployment high for at least a decade in communities where businesses are most exposed to Chinese competition. Workers there bounce among jobs and suffer a drop in lifetime pay.

Rather than pick fights with trading partners, as Trump would, analysts favor retraining workers who lose jobs to foreign competition or giving them financial assistance to move where companies are hiring.

“The politicians have just not done a good enough job in creating the support to help workers make the transition,” says Joshua Meltzer, a senior fellow at Brookings Institution.

The political system’s lethargy gave Trump an opportunity.

“Why is Trump winning?” Perry asks.

“He’s energized a part of the lower middle class. The political system has taken them for granted. They feel threatened. And when they feel threatened, they look for a savior.” 

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asianweekly northwest

12

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

POE from 4 said, adding that people who were concerned that she may be taken out of the race because of her legal troubles now have a clear choice.

Pulse Asia, an independent polling body, placed Poe in the lead with the support of 26 percent of the respondents in a survey conducted last month of 1,800 people nationwide, followed by Vice President Jejomar Binay, who got 25 percent. Former Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, whose candidacy has been endorsed by Aquino, and tough-talking Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of southern Davao city each got 21 percent.

The survey had a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

Poe had a wider lead in a Pulse Asia poll in January.

BLOG from 10 Although Vivian has been honored many times, especially in the last few years, she gets fired up every time she receives recognition.

Enthusiasm is far more impactful than optimism and positive thinking. Vivian’s enthusiasm is the driving force that moves obstacles away and brings people together constructively for good causes. Her enthusiasm is what I like to emulate — she enjoys everything she does and makes a difference in the world.

When I told her that she’s going to live until 100, rather than responding with, “I don’t know,” or, “No way,” she said, “I shall strive for that.” That’s her attitude.

It’s okay to adjust your goals “If I get this raise/job/promotion/boyfriend, I’ll be happy,” folks say. Or they say, “If I do this, I should get this.”

That type of mentality is silly. Your happiness shouldn’t depend on outcomes. You set yourself up for disappointment.

What counts is doing your best — never, never give up.

Changing goals is acceptable. There are things you can take the whole lifetime to achieve. Don’t get mad at yourself or others. It serves no purpose at all. I must have modified my goals a million times in my personal journey. At one point, I wanted the Asian Weekly to grow to 24 pages.

Of course, my goal wasn’t even close. It’s been at 16 pages for years. I don’t consider this a failure. What I now try to accomplish is to work hard on the quality of content, rather than quantity.

I swore to myself I’d visit the Berlin Wall in 1989, after witnessing its fall on television. Guess when I finally landed in Berlin? Eleven years later.

In retrospect, it was better timing to meet Germans from

Although a political neophyte, the 47-year-old Poe carries a popular family name and has a heart-rending life story in a country where many are swayed more by personalities than policy positions.

The U.S.-educated Poe, a former preschool teacher, is the adopted daughter of one of the Philippines’ most famous movie couples. Her late father, Fernando Poe Jr., was a movie action star who mostly played roles as a defender of the poor in a country where about a fourth of the more than 100 million Filipinos wallow in poverty.

But the Commission on Elections disqualified Poe from running in December, ruling that she was not a naturalborn Filipino as required by the constitution because she was abandoned as a baby by her unknown parents at a Roman Catholic church.

Poe, who renounced her Philippine citizenship for about five years to live with her own family in America, also lacked the required 10-year Philippine residency ahead of the May 9 vote, the commission said. That prompted Poe to bring her case to the Supreme Court.

Appearing often in campaign sorties in a white shirt and blue denim pants that many people identify with her father, Poe has run on the same pro-poor platform that her father carried, pledging that under her presidency, “nobody will be left behind.”

Aquino’s successor will need to grapple with poverty, corruption, and Marxist and Muslim insurgencies — persistent problems facing a country that three decades ago toppled the dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos through a “people power” revolt. 

both East and West and talk to them about their reunification experiences the all sides having the benefit of hindsight.

Besides, we weren’t financially ready to travel extensively in 1990.

Since then, I have traveled to Europe eight times. But our trip to Berlin was one of the highlights of my life.

get stuck on a word? Chase! Just because he hasn’t chased anybody for decades, doesn’t mean he should not start now!

In fact, it may be fun for him to embark on new horizons by dating women. It’s a meaningful way to overcome loneliness and be on the road to happiness, if he is able to find companionship.

A person who refuses to take risks cannot achieve new beginnings.

“Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for,” said author Joseph Addison.

Relationships matter My 82-year-old friend has been feeling lonely, especially at night, ever since his wife of 40-plus years passed away a few years ago.

“So you and your wife talked a lot?” I asked.

“No, we didn’t talk much [while she was alive],” he replied. In fact, some days, they hardly talked, he admitted.

She had been sick for a while so they couldn’t do much together. But since she died, he has been miserable. My sympathies.

My family and I visited his house a few months ago. And I found the answer. The 6,500-sq-ft house is exactly the same as it was when his wife was alive. The reason he isn’t able to move on or move forward is because nothing has been changed since he became a widower.

“Have you been seeing other people?” I asked.

“My friends have introduced me to many [women],” he said. “I am surprised at the number of single women available at my age. None worked.”

Why? He fears some of the women are only interested in his money. One woman he desired wanted him to “chase” her to show his interest. “I haven’t chased anybody for 50 years,” he said.

There’s nothing wrong with chasing women. It shouldn’t require any coaching. A phone call or e-mail to invite someone to a movie, dinner, or coffee is all it takes. Why

Believe in hope Someone once said a person can live without water and air for a period of time. But without hope, he will die instantly.

Optimism has us believe that everything will turn out just fine. Many times, it doesn’t turn out fine. Without knowing it, we mold ourselves with self-deception.

Hope is the triumph of the human soul after suffering setbacks and tragedies.

Notice the condition we are in when we feel hopelessness.

The narrow and negative perspectives you hold will lock your body and mind with misconceptions and distortions.

When we are hopeful, we feel alive (even when we are crying). We open ourselves up and look at things with unlimited and multi-dimensional possibilities. Psychologists said, “Hope can be learned.”

We have to remind ourselves to be hopeful every day. Do you have other tips to achieve more happiness? Please add them to your own list or share them with me.  Assunta Ng can be reached at info@nwasianweekly. com.

LEE from 5 putting black or white stones on a 19-by-19-line grid, with a goal of putting more territory under one’s control. A player with a black stone plays first and a white-stone player gets extra points to compensate.

Lee played with a white stone on March 13. For the final match of the series on March 15, Lee has offered to play with a black stone, saying it would make a victory more meaningful.

South Korean commentators could not hide their excitement three hours into the March 13 match, when it became clear that Lee would finally notch a win. AlphaGo narrowed the gap with Lee, but could not overtake him, resigning nearly five hours into the game.

Go fans whose pride had been crushed by Lee’s earlier defeats cheered the result. Prior to the series, Go fans, many of them in Asia, believed that the game would prove too complex for the machine to master.

Because there are near-infinite board positions in Go and top players rely heavily on intuition, the popular Asian board game has remained the holy grail for the artificial intelligence community for about two decades, after chess was conquered by computers. 

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34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

■ astrology

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

13

Predictions and advice for the week of March 19-25

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — If you are talking, then you are probably not listening. Make the effort to really take in what is being conveyed to you before you respond.

Dragon — You have put two and two together to figure out what is going on. Use the information that you have gained to your advantage soon.

Monkey — An item that is no longer of use to you could be just what someone else is looking for and vice versa. A trade might suit both your purposes.

Ox — Although it is much easier said than done, sometimes you have to stop yourself from going back and tinkering with what is already finished business.

Snake — Before you discard the old, it is probably in your interest to confirm that the new actually functions as you think it should.

Rooster — A different way of doing things could take some time to learn and adjust to. You might stumble at the beginning before you really get the hang of things.

Tiger — It is not always appropriate to express every opinion. You must decide whether doing so does more harm than good.

Horse — Whether you tread cautiously or dive in head first, do yourself a favor by getting a sense of what you are getting into beforehand.

Dog — Despite the number of people who have expressed their reservations about your choice, the results will ultimately speak for themselves.

Rabbit — Attractive packaging could be hiding something. Avoid being swayed by what you see on the outside.

Goat — The unknown could be a little bit intimidating, but the promise of something new is far better than staying with what definitely doesn’t work.

Pig — An old friend makes a reappearance in your life. Much to your surprise, it could spur some unexpected feelings.

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, 2014 Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 Monkey 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 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.

MOVIE from 9 The diversity of the actors is certainly a good thing and makes for a great looking cast, but in the end, all of these aspects take away from the aura and lore of ancient China.

There are certainly some upsides. The fight scenes are crisp and intense. However, they largely lack the poetic, gravity-defying fighting style employed in “Crouching Tiger.” Whenever fight sequences are utilized, they feel a bit forced and serve more like an homage to the original rather than an integral part of the film series.

The brightest aspect of this sequel is Yeoh in her role reprisal, as she doesn’t RURAL from 4 People’s Daily and official Xinhua News Agency chimed in.

Some observers bemoaned the woman’s lack of etiquette, while others argued that rural realities would be a shock to any city woman.

Many real-life testimonials of such relationships soon followed, with some rural men wondering aloud whether they should even try for city women — a touchy subject in a country where men outnumber women because of the traditional preference for male children, especially in rural areas.

Relationship gurus snatched the chance to sell their theories on what makes a good match, while state media called for more tolerance and respect.

“The fates of the protagonists are the foam created by the currents of our times,” the People’s Daily wrote. “The media should not feast on their pains but reflect on

seem to have lost a step, both in her acting and fighting skills. More than anyone, she is able to show much without saying anything. The ambience of her character changes very little, from the first film to this one, even though she is speaking an entirely different language.

This film also benefits from having a lighter tone than its predecessor. Perhaps because “Sword of Destiny” doesn’t have Oscar ambitions, it allowed itself to take liberties through some over-the-top action scenes, some of which worked, some that didn’t.

Regardless, most everything can be taken at face value. Many of the characters, even stoic warriors, were able to show off

their comedic chops, both in action and interaction with others.

In the end, “Sword of Destiny” ultimately feels like a shrunken version of the original.

The budget feels and appears noticeably smaller, the fight sequences shorter, the emotional depth shallower, and, due to several elements, the authenticity falls shorter.

The arrival of “Sword of Destiny” also seems like it came too late. With the onslaught and popularity of wuxia films — concerning adventures of Chinese martial artists in ancient China — with Western audiences in the early 2000s with the likes of “Crouching Tiger,” “Hero,” and “House of Flying Daggers,” the genre has since

lost some steam in the West, creating yet another obstacle for this film.

Fair or not, this film would have been received differently if it were its own movie, with its own story, characters, and history.

But unfortunately, it’s tied to the original — literally in its title. “Sword of Destiny” is merely a shell of the movie it tries to pay tribute to. 

deeper issues reflected by the foam.”

Public discussions were so vehement that some Chinese journalists sought to find the protagonists and raised red flags when they could not. Eventually, China’s online regulators stepped in, investigated and declared the story was fabricated and the photo pirated. Authorities did not reveal who was the creator.

Wu Qiang, a political scientist at Tsinghua University, said the furor over the break-up has showed the failure of Beijing to deliver the benefits of the past three decades of industrialization to ordinary people, especially those in China’s vast countryside.

“A single photo of a rural dinner table has condensed so many social meanings of our time,” Wu wrote. “What kind of social relationships and social realities have made everyone uncomfortable? Is it the widening gap between the cities and the countryside?

Is it the class discrimination against the rural

man? Or is it simply the differences in living habits between the rural and the cities?”

Wu argued that China’s rural-urban differences must be addressed. “Only when everyone has equal rights can we make up the feudal gap between the cities and the countryside,” he said.

In 2014, the average yearly income for a Shanghai resident was 47,710 yuan ($7,300), more than four times the 10,117 yuan ($1,547) a year for an average rural resident in the province of Jiangxi, though costs of living are significantly higher in cities.

Zheng Fengtian, a professor of agriculture and rural development at Beijingbased Renmin University, said the income disparity is not as alarming as inequality in social benefits.

For decades, China’s national policies have favored city residents, who are granted better social benefits, such as health, education, employment and pensions, while rural

dwellers are left with reduced benefits on the grounds that they have access to land.

Nearly 55 percent of China’s 1.37 billion people live in cities, and Beijing has shifted its focus from urbanization to rebuilding the countryside, where national policies are aimed at extending more benefits to rural residents, Zheng said.

Plans in the annual work report Premier Li presented to the National People’s Congress include building 200,000 kilometers (124,000 miles) of new roads in rural areas, upgrading power grids and improving drinking water safety. The report also aims to promote farming and to increase investment in rural areas.

“The dual system has been around for decades, and changes will take a long time,” Zheng said. “The key is to narrow the gaps between the cities and countryside. Now we are building the villages, where residents there can one day enjoy the same benefits as everyone else.” 

HEAT WAVE from 4 workers and farmers so poor they could not take a day off despite the heat.

Cities also plan to offer extra water supplies, cool-air shelters and afternoon breaks for workers.

The Indian Meteorological Department has revamped the way it forecasts temperatures and how it reports those forecasts to the country, to help officials plan for extreme events.

India’s heat wave risk is exacerbated by its dwindling water resources, with increasingly erratic monsoon rains unable to deliver enough water to replenish heavily tapped rivers and plummeting groundwater reserves.

Experts have warned that by 2030, India will face an extreme water crisis. By that time, they say, the country

“

“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny” is available for streaming on Netflix.

Eric Card can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

The monsoon was low last year, so we are worried about water availability when the temperatures start to rise.”

— Anjali Jaiswal

will have only half the water supply necessary for agriculture, industry, and people’s needs.

“The monsoon was low last year, so we are worried about water availability when the temperatures start to rise,” Jaiswal said. 

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Korean baseball team that won gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China.

Lee, appropriately nicknamed, “Big Boy” is 6-foot-4-inches and weighs in at nearly 300 pounds (287 pounds to be exact). According to reports he’s lost a considerable amount of weight to prepare for his shot with the Mariners.

Lee’s father passed away when he was a toddler and his mother was not there for him as a youth so he was raised by his grandmother.

However, his grandmother passed away when he was a teenager so he was forced to fend for himself.

Despite a harsh childhood, Lee has turned into a successful baseball player. Hopefully, he can provide some much-needed hitting for the Mariners this season.

Sounders lose key player to Chinese Team The Seattle Sounders began its

Major League Soccer season this month in hopes of its elusive quest to win a title. With one of its most dedicated fan bases in the MLS, the team is set to make another run. However, it will have to do it without forward Obafemi Martins. The 31-year-old Nigerianborn soccer player was signed by the Shanghai Greenland Shenhua (known as “The Blue Devils”) of the Chinese Super League.

The league in China made some noise recently. It paid the Sounders $2 million as the “transfer fee” to obtain the contract rights to Martins.

Martins came to the Sounders in March 2013 as it paid $4 million to buyout his contract from a soccer club in Spain. After a successful season with the club, he signed a three-year deal which doubled his salary. He was one of three MLS MVP finalists in 2014. Martins was named the MVP of the team the past two seasons. He scored

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Yao a finalist for Hall of Fame Former Houston Rockets center Yao Ming was one of the 10 finalists to be considered for the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame. The announcement was made this past February during NBA All-Star Weekend. The announcement will take place in April with inductions at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts occurring in September.

The 7-foot-6 Yao was the first player from China to play in the NBA. In his career he averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds. Yao was an 8-time All-Star and named to the All-NBA Team 5 times.

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He’s also the spokesperson for a campaign to end the consumption of sharks. Although shark fin soup has been considered a delicacy in China, Yao is calling for a halt to it citing the decreasing population of sharks.  Jason Cruz can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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(Previously, Kwan was a public diplomacy envoy, a non-salaried position. She was named to the role in 2006 by former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Her role continued into Barack Obama’s administration, under Clinton’s state department. ) MK: My first trip, as an envoy, was to China, and it was a very eye-opening experience. A lot of people have misconceptions of Americans and so essentially, by going to different countries, you realize it really helps bring different countries close together. … That’s what the ECA — the Educational and Cultural Affairs bureau — does a wonderful job of, to bring countries closer together, as well as people. …

ON MISCONCEPTIONS: MK: I traveled [all over] to [places like] Argentina, Russia, Singapore — all with misconceptions [of Americans]. They say, ”Oh, you’re from Los Angeles. Is everyone like Kim Kardashian or like Britney Spears? Do you run into them?” …

At the time, it was ‘06. There wasn’t a lot of Twitter and Instagram, but they read [gossip] or they watched reality TV shows. …

[That’s why] these [cultural] exchanges are mutually beneficial.

We also sponsor groups and individuals to come to the United States for some length of time.

ON BEING RECOGNIZED: MK: Some [people] were more aware of what I used to do. Like in Russia, skating is very popular. In Argentina, there are not a lot of ice rinks. (She laughs.) And I think that that’s why using sports is a good way to start a dialogue. It’s the way I used, to break the ice. … It’s a good way to connect to young people.

ON HER FAMILY: MK: In my whole 20-year skating career, I think [my dad] might have done one interview.

He’s so very, very behind-theSHIH from 1 District last December. Walkinshaw has not officially endorsed any candidate for the open seat.

“He suggested that I consider running,” Shih said. “I, at first, did not think much of the idea, but I did some exploring, both personally as well as talking with other community leaders, other elected leaders to get a sense of things.”

“If you’d ask me a decade ago or more about running for office, it would have not been on my radar at all partly because I’m a minority. We don’t have that many role models,” he said. “Not only am I Chinese American and first-generation American, I’m also gay.”

Shih and his husband, Ted, are raising three children: Madeline, 8, and twins Valerie and Cassandra, both 5.

Shih said his family usually garner positive responses when out in public together. “We have been stunned when people [come up to us to] say, ‘You have a beautiful family.’ ” Seeing who actually achieves public office, you don’t really see much opportunity Shih says. “I think that’s changed in our district at least, and I think seeing role models does a lot. Despite being in a minority, my viewpoint has changed

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

scenes, really helpful. …

I remember a hard time, a difficult time when I was competing, when I was 17. … My dad would tell me to sometimes take a moment to appreciate all that you’ve accomplished. But it was more than just skating. It was more a view of life. [He was telling me to] really take the time to really appreciate your family and your fans cheering you on.

ON HOW HER SIBLINGS HAVE KEPT HER HUMBLE: MK: I have two older siblings.

So if, at any moment, I was getting a big head, they would definitely smack some sense into me.

(Kwan’s sister, Karen, was also an elite figure skater, now a choreographer. Kwan’s brother, Ron, works for a pharmaceutical company.)

MK: At the Olympic games, my brother — the week before I left for Japan — he went to the ice skating rink, and he wasn’t even watching me skate. He was just walking around the rink.

But when I made it onto the “Simpsons,” he was like, “Wow, you’ve really made it!”

The Olympics, [he was like, whatever]. But the Simpsons!

(Kwan voiced a character in the episode, “Homer and Ned’s Hail Mary Pass,” in 2005.)

ON HER PARENTS RETIRING: MK: They will never retire! My dad still gets up at 6 o’clock in the morning, maybe earlier. We had a family-run business that used to be a Chinese restaurant. … (Now, the Kwans own two ice rinks in California.) It used to be that [my dad] woke up in the morning to drive us to the ice rink.

15

up and [seeing] 15,000 people. …

For 14 years, I would perform at the KeyArena. Seattle was a big market for us. ...

The last time I skated was a few months ago. I went from skating four times a day to once every four months. The body doesn’t like it as much as it used to. (She laughs.)

Michelle Kwan with Clinton communications professional Stephanie Formas and Drew, who is a fellow for Hillary For America, outside the Northwest Asian Weekly office

Recitals were like, bleghh. And so when it came to when I’d be of age, they were like, “We don’t have the genes. You’re not going to play any instruments!” I was always the active one — the little monkey.

(Kwan was born in 1980, the lunar year of the monkey.)

My parents just encouraged us to get involved in sports and extracurricular activities because, bottom line, [my dad was like,] “I can’t afford three kids in college!”

ON HOW SHE STARTED: MK: A lot of people don’t know — I started skating because my parents wanted us to do a good extracurricular activity. Because I’m the baby, my sister and my brother tried piano, flute, and violin. They were not very good. (She laughs.)

ON HER HUSBAND AND HAVING CHILDREN: MK: No kids yet. Did my mom ask you [to ask me] this? (She laughs.) …

I want kids. We’re never in the same city. That is the challenge these days.

(Kwan is married to Clay Pell, a lawyer and military officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. Pell unsuccessfully ran for Rhode Island governor in 2014.)

MK: [My husband] was an exchange student in China. He was there in high school and then he went back for law school. He

over time.” In late January, he decided to announce his candidacy.

Shih is running because he wants to help pass Democratic and progressive legislation to improve people’s lives and stop those who would turn back the clock, according to his website.

The most important issues to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, according to Shih, are not that different from those in other communities; they include the proper funding of the public-school system. “I went to a public school. It is critical to me,” he said.

Other issues important to him include affordable housing, public transportation, and immigrant/ refugee issues.

Shih’s parents emigrated to the U.S. in 1969. His father David Shih is from Shanghai, China, and his mother Eva Shih is from Tainan, Taiwan. He said, “They emigrated here with very little.

Their focus was to find security.”

“They’ve always been supportive of my public service work.

They see it as the realization of the American Dream.”

Born in Seattle, Dan Shih later moved with his family to Mercer Island and attended elementary school there before attend-

ing Lakeside School. (He is now a board member of the Lakeside School Alumni board.)

He said, “I was very fortunate to go to Princeton University where I earned a computer science degree [in 1994]. I started off as a mechanical engineer, an aerospace engineer then switched over to computer science at some point.”

The summa cum laude graduate went on to earn his master’s degree in economics from Stanford University in 1995. He then worked in business strategy and consulting.

In 2006, Shih earned his law degree from Stanford.

Community service has become an important part of his life. He serves on various boards, including the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington. “I serve on the legal committee, which advises on the impact litigation that they bring for civil rights and civil liberties. I also serve on the finance committee and the executive committee.”

Dealing with human trafficking and sexual assault as a member of API Chaya’s board, he said, “It is about protecting the vulnerable who are being oppressed or who are the victims of violence. That one’s been very important to me.

It’s kept me grounded in the Asian

learned Chinese in law school [at Georgetown University]. His Mandarin is quite good. (Pell also speaks Spanish and Arabic.)

ON SATURDAY SCHOOL: MK: I had no time to [go to Saturday language school] actually.

That’s probably another reason why I don’t speak Mandarin, otherwise, I would have loved to. I heard it was hard though. My cousins did it, and they would always say, “School again?” But now, they’re very appreciative [that they attended Saturday school]. (Kwan speaks Cantonese, but cannot write Chinese.)

ON SKATING AND SEATTLE: MK: I do [miss skating]. The world championships are actually coming up, and they’re in the United States. I’m so out of touch, but we’re just so busy on the campaign trail. It does bring back memories, being here in Seattle. … The last time I was here, I was performing. It does bring back very fond memories, of being on the ice at the KeyArena, looking

ON WHETHER SHE’LL BE ON “DANCING WITH THE STARS”: MK: I was in school [at the University of Denver] and [“Dancing with the Stars”] offered to fly me in and out, from Colorado to Los Angeles [for taping], but [at that time,] it just didn’t make any sense because I had pushed back my education for so long, so many years. And then after I graduated, I ended going to grad school [at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University] and so that was even farther. I was in Boston, so the commute would have been impossible.

[As for whether I’ll do the show now,] I don’t know. It’s so hard. It’s hard to know where I’ll be next year.

ON WHY SHE’S #WITHHER: MK: The person I’m voting for, the person that I am glad to be on the campaign with is Hillary, because of her experiences, as Secretary of State, as a senator, as first lady. …

She has more experience than any other candidate, understanding both domestic and foreign policy.

We want somebody who can hit the ground running on day one, and to me, that’s her. The policies she has put forward are very progressive, very forward-thinking.  Washington state’s Democratic Party caucus is on March 26 at 10 a.m. For more information or to find your caucus location, visit wa-democrats.org.

For more information about the Hillary Clinton campaign, visit hillaryclinton.com/WA. Stacy Nguyen can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

KWAN from 1

Photo by Stacy Nguyen/NWAW

34 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Dan Shih speaks to reporter James Tabafunda at Northwest Asian Weekly’s office on Thursday, March 10.

Pacific Islander communities and actually, has broadened my perspective beyond just the Chinese American community because we serve so many marginalized communities there.”

Public service is a really amazing thing Shih says. “As you do more of it and as you do well in things, I think you get more opportunities to do so. So, it’s a natural path.”

That path comes to a critical point when voters of the 43rd District cast their ballots.

“I have the breadth of experience our district needs,” he said.  For more information about Dan Shih, visit www.danshih.com.

James Tabafunda can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

asianweekly northwest

16

MARCH 19 – MARCH 25, 2016

STUDIES from 1 class that by state law must cover “the history and culture of minorities, including but not limited to the American Indians, the Hispanic[/Latino] Americans and the African[/Black] Americans” has been a graduation requirement for a decade.

A measure before the state legislature would strengthen that law.

The proposal would create an ethnically diverse commission to help school districts develop the kind of curricula for which teachers like Luchies have been searching.

“We want to move that law forward,” said state Rep. Joseph Salazar, a Democrat who introduced the proposal this session.

Last month, the House education committee referred the proposal to appropriations.

Salazar doesn’t expect much opposition to the proposal he made in response to constituent concern that implementation of the law on ethnic studies has been weak.

“I hope we don’t start hearing the language that we heard in Arizona,” Salazar, who is [Latino], said in an interview.

John Kavanagh, an Arizona state senator, said in a recent interview that students should learn about the ethnic groups that are part of America, but in general history courses, not in stand-alone classes that “tend inevitably to become highly politicized.”

Ethnic studies “doesn’t bring people together, the Republican said. “It rips us apart.”

Proponents, however, argue ethnic studies helps students.

Stanford University researchers looked at an ethnic studies HILL from 7 telling jokes on stage at comedy clubs for free. His comedy career grew and he now has agents who help him book shows at clubs and college campuses.

The 31-year-old is a full-time mental health therapist. Yet, he spends most of his weekends on the road. He estimates that he spends three out of four weekends a month traveling for his comedy shows, mainly in the United States. “There’s been many nights of sleeping in cars,” Hill said.

While Hill’s therapist career involves serious issues, he does not mingle his comedy career with his work during the

pilot started in 2012 in San Francisco, where ninth-graders were offered classes that included projects focusing on their communities, families, and selves. In a report released in January, the researchers concluded such classes helped increase grades and attendance among struggling students.

In 2014, the San Francisco school board voted to offer the program at high schools.

Even when the call is for broad ethnic studies programs, plans often allow schools to focus on material deemed most relevant to their populations. The Los Angeles school board voted in 2014 to make ethnic studies a graduation requirement.

Elsewhere in California, the Oakland board is among several to direct high schools to offer ethnic studies courses.

In 2013, Oregon state legislators passed a law calling on their department of education to ensure “a balanced presentation of the relevant contributions to society by men and women of African-Americans [sic], Hispanic [sic], Native American [sic], Asian-American [sic] and other racial groups. … ” Curtis Acosta, who helped develop the Tucson Mexican American studies program targeted by lawmakers in Arizona, has left the classroom and started a consulting business. Since 2013, he has traveled to states, including California, Oregon, Texas, and Washington, to help districts design ethnic studies courses and coach teachers on how to tackle tough subjects.

“The conversations about us as people, about inequality and injustice and creativity and humanity?” Acosta said. “I don’t find those difficult. …”

In Colorado, Luchies has led such conversations in her classroom.

week. “I make a clear distinction,” said Hill. At this point, he does not foresee leaving one career for the other as he is content with the dual roles.

Hill is recording his first album in Seattle.

“I picked Seattle because when I first started comedy, I really wanted to go on the road and test my material out, and it was the first city that really welcomed me,” Hill said. “They’ve (Seattleites) embraced me, [even though I’m] an outsider.”

Last year was a good year for Hill, as he made his television debut. Hill made his first appearance on the cable and satellite television network AXS TV’s

“Gotham Comedy Live,” performing his standup routine. Locally, last fall, Hill was on an episode of “Up Late Northwest” on KING 5 (the show is similar to the old “Almost Live!” which appeared on the same channel).  For more information on Ed Hill, follow him on Twitter at @kingedhill or visit kingedhill.com. The Columbia City Theater is located at 4916 Rainier Avenue South. For more information on the show, visit columbiacitytheater. com.

Jason Cruz can be reached at info@ nwasianweekly.com.

In 2014, a former colleague introduced Luchies to a trove of 1,600 items — recorded interviews, family photos, written histories, and newspaper accounts. The archive was compiled by the Boulder County Latino History Project, which held a workshop for teachers during the summer of 2014 — the same period that 18-year-old Michael Brown was killed by a white police officer in Ferguson.

Luchies learned about the legacy of the 1980 Colorado deaths: an organization founded by [Latino] leaders that successfully pushed for the establishment of a Longmont police affirmative action program. When Luchies returned to Skyline High School in the fall, she asked her students to consider what had happened in their city and write about ways they could help a community like Ferguson heal.

“Kids succeed and do better in school when they actually can read and talk about people who look like them,” Luchies said.

Deisy de Luna Cervantes, who was 11 when her mother brought her to the United States from Mexico on a tourist visa, helped record interviews for the Boulder history project. Now 21 and studying to become an accountant, de Luna Cervantes was inspired by the stories of immigrants who came to the United States generations ago.

Her work increased her self-awareness, de Luna Cervantes said.

“I am Mexican. I can consider myself Hispanic. But I can also be American,” she said. 

Solution