AsianConnections has followed Jet Li's spectacular international film career for many years including his big break in American movies with Lethal Weapon 3. It's tough news for Jet Li fans, but he's taking his last bow in martial arts films with FEARLESS. Hear the decision from Jet himself, as he talks with Jim Ferguson about his final martial arts film. Ronnie Yu, the director FEARLESS shares his thoughts about the making of the film.
AsianConnections has followed Jet Li's spectacular international film career for many years including his big break in American movies with Lethal Weapon 3. It's tough news for Jet Li fans, but he's taking his last bow in martial arts films with FEARLESS. Hear the decision from Jet himself, as he talks with Jim Ferguson about his final martial arts film. Ronnie Yu, the director FEARLESS shares his thoughts about the making of the film.
Click here for video interview with Jet Li
Jet Speaks Out
AAJA mourns the passing of William Woo, the first Asian American editor of a major metropolitan newspaper in the US. He was also one of the first Asian Americans to head an editorial page.
This article was posted on the AAJA.org website on April 12, 2006
The Asian American Journalists Association mourns the loss of William Woo, 69, who died Wednesday.
He was the first Asian American to be named editor of a major metropolitan newspaper in the United States, said AAJA national president Esther Wu, columnist/reporter for The Dallas Morning News.
In 1986, he was named editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a Pulitzer family owned-and-operated newspaper that was founded in 1903 by Joseph Pulitzer.
Bill was the first non-Pulitzer to take the reins as editor. He was a true wordsmith who cared more about good journalism than the business of journalism. He inspired many to enter this profession -- including me, Wu said.
Woo worked at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for 34 years beginning in 1962, rising from reporter to foreign correspondent, Washington columnist, editorial writer, editorial page editor, and serving as the newspapers editor for his last decade there.
He was one of the first Asian Americans to head an editorial page. AAJA vice president of print Jeanne Mariani-Belding had the opportunity to work closely with him while she was at the San Jose Mercury News and later as a Knight Fellow.
Words cannot describe this loss. Bill has been a mentor, an inspiration and above all,...
Michael C. Lin to Assume Executive Director Position at OCA
OCA is pleased to announce that Dr. Michael C. Lin will become OCA Executive Director effective December 1, 2006.
Lin has been an OCA member for over 25 years and is retiring after 30 years at the National Institutes of Health where his last position was as a Program Director responsible for nurturing and funding cutting edge research in the cardiovascular field. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of Montgomery College in Maryland, and has served as the Chair of the Maryland Governors Commission on Asian Pacific Americans Affairs (1998-2002).
Lin was also OCA National President from 1995 to 1998, where during his tenure OCA spearheaded a national voter registration campaign, co-sponsored by 18 other prominent national Asian Pacific American organizations. Under his leadership, OCA also convened the historic Asian Pacific American Leadership Summits, attended by the top community leaders and major civic organizations across the nation, to address issues confronting the Asian American community. He expanded OCAs education initiatives, including the highly popular internship program which provides opportunities for college students to work in the Congress, various federal agencies, non-profit organizations and at the OCA National Headquarters.
OCA is truly fortunate to have Michael accept the position of OCA Executive Director, said OCA National President Ginny Gong. His long history with OCA, at both the...
Korean Workers Project announces overtime and record-keeping settlements for deli-grocery worker and retail store worker.
Flushing, NYThe Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) and YKASECEmpowering the Korean American Community, today announced the terms of two significant settlements on behalf of Mr. Park, a deli-grocery store worker, and Mr. Lim, a retail store worker. In both cases, the Korean Workers Project secured satisfactory back wage settlements that additionally require the employers to maintain proper records of their employees hours and wages.
According to a survey AALDEF conducted with low-wage Korean immigrant workers in the New York metro area, approximately three out of four Korean immigrant workers do not receive legally-mandated overtime pay if they are entitled to it.
("Forgotten Workers," April 2006, AALDEF: www.aaldef.org/docs/KWP_2006WorkerSurvey_analysis.pdf.)
We are glad both businesses decided to take the high road by paying these workers their rightful overtime pay. In addition, the settlement enables the Korean Workers Project to work with the businesses to ensure that the businesses keep proper records, pay all wages properly, and do their part to raise workplace standards City-wide. said AALDEF Staff Attorney Steven Choi. Choi represented both Korean immigrant workers in their back wage claims for unpaid overtime and spread-of-hours wages.
Mr. Park, an immigrant from Korea and a resident of Queens, worked the 7 a.m. 7 p.m....
CHINA DOLLS by Michelle Yu and Blossom Kan, is a new novel about three Asian-American women balancing life, love and one another in New York City.
Michelle Yu and Blossom Kan's novel CHINA DOLLS is a sexy and sassy twist on what it means to be multicultural in the U.S. It explores life at the intersection of two worlds - one of Asian grandmothers and red envelopes, and another of tackling career and personal challenges in a big city.
Based on the personal experiences of Michelle and Blossom, CHINA DOLLS (St. Martins Press/Pub Date: February 8, 2007) introduces the characters of M.J., a tomboyish sportswriter struggling to fit into her familys traditional Chinese culture and the predominantly Caucasian male world of sports; Alex, a confident no-nonsense attorney fighting the submissive Asian woman stereotype and the fear of taking risks after a heartbreaking romance; and Lin, the risk-taking investment banker trying not to relive her mother's mistakes that is until she falls for the office playboy.
While the characters of M.J., Alex, and Lin wont ever forget their Asian roots, they also dont hide behind them as an excuse for their failures. If anything, they draw strength from their heritage while at the same time, embracing their American identity. Unlike other Asian novels, CHINA DOLLS embraces the fusion of these two cultures a phenomenon that more often than not reflects the experiences of young Asians in America today.
MICHELLE YU is an on air sports reporter for NY1...