The title is kind of eerily true.

Merry Independence Day.

This is about as patriotic as I was feeling today.

P.S. On a funnier note

-MAD

If experiences have shown me anything, they have shown me that everything that I have ever learned about life, I have already learned through Saved by the Bell.  From seeing what abusing caffeine pills can do, finding out about the importance of ethnic identity formation through learning AC Slater’s real last name, to knowing not to trust Johnny Dakota.  The situation in the Gulf of Mexico at the moment is no exception.

Maybe if big oil actually did presentations with Zack Morris in the room, things might have been so much more different.

-Ninoy Brown

Robert Rodriguez filmed a Mexploitation flick that takes place in Arizona over a year ago.  Surprisingly, Fox backed him on the project.  Fast forward to today, and the situation in AZ is more heated than ever.

Interesting how planned projects with one intent ends up resonating on multiple levels due to timing.

You may have seen it on Grindhouse, but more was added specifically calling out Arizona.

More on Aint It Cool

-Ninoy Brown

Damn the internet works fast…

Credit goes to LyleStyles.

-Ninoy Brown

I had always hoped for the day when I would hear about an asian male bringin’ the yellow/brown funk back into the main stream. There is word floating around the innanets that there is going to be a noir remake of the legendary “Enter the Dragon” appropriately entitled ”Awaken the Dragon”, starring a young Korean pop star simply named Rain (Ya we serious, he only got one name). 

Given that I believe it is the nature of Hollywood to give asian roles to anglo actors, which I often site as the reason for the heinousness of the movie (i.e. Dragon Ball, The Last Air Bender etc.), this may be our next shot at bringing the asian male back into the limelight. I know what you’re thinking, “another kung-fu stereo type?” Me keepin’ it hunnet with you fams, I’d rather be stereotyped as being able to push your wig back over being able to help you with your math homework. Think baby steps first and we gon’ make it top that hill! 

P.S. A little something to keep you occupied until asian males do get some ‘getback’. 

If I Ruled the World 09 - Nas

-MAD Himself

Tuesday was emotional.  But as the message given by Michael’s family, it is a moment to celebrate his life.  Thus, I reflect back on the first Pilipino Cultural Night with which I was (lightweight) involved: UCSD Kaibigang Pilipino’s 2004: Story.  At UCSD, we called our PCN’s PCC (Pilipino Cultural Celebration), a decision which could be the topic of a lengthy thesis.

In 2004, the most memorable moment for me and for many was particular rendition of the tinikling that used MJ’s emotionally charged “They Dont Care About Us” and flipped the folk dance to look like this:

The dance came during a part of the script where a character attended a political rally.

Peace, Michael.

Respect to Dianne Que for writing, Jaymar Cabebe and Francis Lansing for directing, and Daniel Reyes, Ian Almazan, and the rest of the folks for the choreography.

*Sidenote: Interesting how this was the song that MJ was performing in the video of his leaked dress rehearsal clip for his final tour.

-Ninoy Brown

There is not a single Filipino I know not anticipating tonight’s oddly labeled “East meets West” fight when Pacman meets Manchester’s Ricky Hatton.  The energy in Vegas will be wild with the “loud Filipinos” and the soccer chanting English.  Today is Pacquiao’s day.

While eyes will all be on the Pacman, I wanted to pay special attention to another brother, Nonito Donaire.

Born in Bohol, raised in partly in Pacman’s hometown of General Santos and then in the East Bay city of San Leandro, the Filipino Flash has been making a name for himself within the boxing world.  He’s currently the number 1 ranked flyweight boxer, and he’s still improving.  There’s a lot of talent within this kid, being swift and powerful.

A smart and well-balanced fighter, he pulled off Ring Magazine’s 2007 knockout of the year with a 5th round knockout against the shit-talking Vic Darchinyan.  Most recently there was the domination over Raul Martinez when they faced off in Araneta Coliseum. Though, it was a questionable stoppage, Martinez didn’t even look like he wanted to fight Donaire.

Donaire is one to continue watching, as plans are set for him to move up in weight because of nobody else is left for him at flyweight.

Because I’m aware of the gender bias that exists in fight coverage, folks should also keep an eye out for another Bay Area local: Ana “The Hurricane” Julaton.

-Ninoy Brown

Mistah F.A.B. - Hit Me On Twitter

@MistahFAB dropped a gem earlier with his homage to the micro-blogging beast, Twitter.

There’s a lot of hate against this online community, and I won’t argue.  It’s another way for some folks to continue with their Xanga-like egocentric online ways.  But, it’s also an interesting social experiment that allows one to build upon their online network.  Businesses have come up on it, and it also demystifies the notion of celebrity.  Reading conversations between Jay Electronica and Diddy leaves one to realize connections that exist among artists, and it also leaves one wondering about the potentials of collaborations… Day 26 feat. Wale, Jay Electronica, & Janelle Monae?

Anyways, props to Fabby Davis on getting #3 most RTs (sorry for those who aren’t in the know).  Now follow me.

-Ninoy Brown

According to Jay Perez, semiotics would place Terry Hogan in a higher position in the knowledge scale than Vincent Edward Jackson. The logic: even if Bo knows, Hogan still knows best.

The childhood memories of professional wrestling and the “real American hero” as a blond (albeit balding) white male in yellow spandex resonated with me much as it did with Jay as he read from his work in progress, “The Passion of El Hulk Hogancito”, on Sunday. But more than Hogan, it was Ultimate Warrior who left a larger imprint on my childhood. Fans nostalgic of the days when the Warrior would nonsensically rant, would best to do themselves the favor of not watching The Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior, unless one wants to feel the same feeling felt when it was realized that Santa was only used as a moral compass for children.

Professional wrestling, the hyper-masculine soap opera, that socialized many of us about ethnicity through stereotypes: Junkyard Dog, Jimmy Superfly Snuka, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, Iron Sheik, etc. It was all that one needed as a kid who never questioned his or her invincibility to land safely when jumping off the counter onto a makeshift ring consisting of couch cushions and pillows on the living room floor. The Warrior (which the arch-conservative has now legally changed his name) is not exempt from WWF’s othering of others, as his persona was an appropriation of an ethnically ambiguous savage. But this is what was normalized in our youth, singing Hogan’s theme and associating whiteness with being Real American.

With the thoughts of wrestling’s perepetuation of white supremacy that Jay’s reading had left me, in addition to the strong documentation of his mother’s experience of racism in Chicago (the underlying story told), I suddenly felt the presence of a 4.3 seismic movements. The spirit of John Tenta made its presence felt in the Bay this morning.

What was the symbolism behind the tectonic plate shift? It must mean that Earthquake is asking for a rematch with El Hulk Hogancito from Summer Slam 1990. Or it means that John Tenta has acknowledged his defeat and is asking for you to listen and experience Jay’s storytelling. There are two more dates and word has it Typhoon Tugboat will be in attendance just as he was expected to be at Hulk’s side during Summer Slam.

Cop your tickets for either April 4 or 5.

-Ninoy Brown

Because this is too good for Twitter*

click picture for the trailer

Finally, after hearing stories about controversy regarding the making of one my favorite childhood books, the trailer has finally been released for the film adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are.

Director Spike Jonze wanted to make sure that the film was made true to the story originally written by Maurice Sendak.  Just like many movies, it fell prey to film studio politics.  Jonze’s project was said to be too dark, but then again, Sendak’s book was also said to have been too dark for children as well.  I remember being a snot-nosed kid getting shook reading about Max’s journey with the wild things.

For those who were not able to experience the same joy many of us received from this book as a youth, read the book, or better yet, there’s always YouTube.

*Actually, I digress.  This statement would then minimize some important things I twittered about but didn’t get around to create a full post, such as signing this petition to terminate the Visiting Forces Agreement in the Philippines.

-Ninoy Brown