The Hyphenator!

ACLU of Arkansas sues over adoption restrictions

"More than a dozen families filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a new Arkansas law banning unmarried couples living together from becoming foster or adoptive parents.

"The Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit on behalf of the families in Pulaski County Circuit Court seeking to overturn Act 1, which was approved by voters in last month's general election."

Ministry paves way to allow dual citizenship

"In reporting its 2009 plans to President Lee Myung-bak yesterday, the ministry said it wants to allow dual citizenship for foreign-born ethnic Koreans or Koreans who were adopted by foreign families at a young age."

However ...

"Male applicants would need to complete the two-year mandatory military service that is required of all Korean men."

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi ...

"Berlusconi faces race row as he calls America's first black president 'suntanned'"

"Italian leader: Obama 'handsome and even tanned'"

I hope the Spanish team gets their asses kicked at the Olympics ...

"Spain basketball team pictured in controversial pose"

Way to show your true colors on the international scene, boys.

And whoever approved this pose and photo oughta be bitch slapped.


Updated 8/13/08:

More on the Spanish team's photo ...

"Spanish player defends controversial photo"

Point guard Jose Manuel Calderon said the team was responding to a request from the photographer.

"We felt it was something appropriate, and that it would be interpreted as an affectionate gesture," Calderon, who plays for NBA's Toronto Raptors, wrote on his ElMundo.es blog."

"The Spanish women's basketball team also posed for photo doing the same thing, and four members of Argentina's women's Olympic football team were shown making similar faces in a photograph published last week."

You can see the photo of the women's team here (and check out the black player in the center, smiling as big as the rest of them).

The basketball federation had just signed a four-year contract extension with Chinese clothing brand Li Ning shortly after arriving in the Chinese capital for the games.

"We have great respect for the far East and its people, some of my best friends in Toronto are originally Chinese, including one of our sponsors, the brand Li Ning," Calderon wrote. "Whoever wants to interpret it differently is completely confusing it."

Frank Zhang, Li Ning's director of government and public affairs, played down the incident.

"We don't think this is an insulting gesture to the Chinese," Zhang said. "In fact, the gesture shows that the Spanish team is so humorous, relaxing and cute. They sat around a dragon pattern, which we think showed respect to the Chinese.

Cute?! No. Ignorant, insensitive, and racist? Yes.

I'm glad to see the AP covering this story, and my local TV station mentioned this photo in its late-night broadcast last night. But nothing will probably happen as a result. You can bet that if the team had made some racist comment about African-American players or other black athletes, we'd be hearing more. Instead, we hear how "cute" and "humorous" the team is. The ones who are confused are these ignorant, clueless assholes.

And what is up with Zhang's comments? Guess the company would rather be insulted than lose a lucrative contract. Oh, that's right, it doesn't think the gesture was offensive.

Do the Chinese not find this as offensive as Asian Americans? Probably not since they didn't grow up in white communities with other kids taunting and teasing them with that gesture.

"Hate-inspired vandalism inspires healing ceremony"

"The graffiti includes profanity, swastikas, KKK, and a derogatory term for east Asians."

See the vandalized sculpture here

And another lovely article ...

"Some white supremacists believe election of Obama would set off backlash they long for"

SF Gate columnist Jeff Yang on Barack Obama ...

"Asian Pop: Could Obama be the first Asian American president?"



Also seen on today's SF Gate home page ...

"Cooking in Common: Chilling out with noodles"

"Naengmyun is a popular Korean summer dish and one of the many cold noodle dishes favored in East Asia at this time of year. But it doesn't take a trip to the Far East to get a taste of them. Many Asian restaurants in the Bay Area offer cold noodle dishes, most of which can also be made at home.

Naengmyun literally means cold noodles in Korean. It's generally served in either of two versions - one, immersed in a cold beef broth (mool naengmyun); the other, mixed with a spicy-sweet red chile sauce (bibim naengmyun)."


Mul naengmyun from my home district of Mapo-gu in Seoul.

"Former Jayhawks members reunite for album"

Their first record in more than 10 years is slated for a September release!

I wanna hear samples NOW!

Yay! My 2008 AP Stylebook has arrived!

Now, I know you are all envious of my new spiral-bound style guide, but you can get one of your very own at apstylebook.com.

An interesting change in the 2008 version:

"Orient, Oriental Do not use when referring to East Asian nations at their peoples. Asian is the acceptable term for an inhabitant of those regions."

The 2007 entry just stated that Orient and Oriental should be capitalized when referring to the Far East nations of Asia and nearby islands, and that Asian was the preferred term for an inhabitant of these regions.

And, of course, the AP still gives the example of "Oriental rug" as standard usage of the term.

Or is it?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061902920.html

Unfortunately, most people won't realize this article has numerous errors until they get to the end.

My favorite error is "No longer can we say that the editor's penis mightier than the sword."

I also noted the following Google ad appearing at the top of the page:

Need a Copy Editor?
For College Papers & Work Documents Contact Us Today for An Estimate!
www.PageByPageProofreading.com

Sigh.

I went to the Web site and found this copy:

"We can provide you with a brand new resume, a paper or document that is mistake free and flows perfectly, a polished novel that is sure to get the attention of publishing houses, perfect presentations that will wow your peers, and much, much more. Here at Page by Page Proofreading, if it can be written, it can be proofread."

Proofreading? I think copy editing is needed.

I first read about this family the other day on StarTribune.com and, as always when reading about this kind of news stories, was saddened to learn about what happened to this family.

Today, there's more information available -- and a family photo.

"Autopsy reports indicate Iowa City family members were beaten to death"

The Chicago Tribune has more information about the father: "Dad apologized before killings"

I find myself even more horrified.

Don't get me wrong -- I thought it was tragic when I I first learned about what happened, and my heart goes out to all their families and friends. But at the same time, I can't help but think about these children's birth families, who probably placed their child for adoption so he or she would have a better life.

Will these families one day search for their children and discover the horrible way in which they died from the hands of their adoptive father? And blame themselves because of their decision?

"The New York Philharmonic's unprecedented concert could herald warmer ties between North Korea and the West. After three encores, some musicians left the stage in tears as the audience waved fondly."

"Musical Diplomacy, and Tears, in NKorea"

An article from the Seattle Times Web site but looks like it's from the Chicago Tribune ...

"Adoptees find last chance on ranch"

No one appears to keep data on adoption disruption. While a statistically rare occurrence among the approximately 20,000 foreign-born children adopted by Americans each year, such relinquishment is happening with increasing frequency, experts said.

One Ohio adoption agency reports receiving up to five calls a day from parents about disruptions, up from one or two a month a few years ago.

"No one knew the magnitude of the problem," said Sterkel, 60. "The horror stories just keep on coming." While dissolutions of domestic adoptions are not unheard of, it is among the international population where experts are seeing a most troubling spike.

Why is this happening?

Moreover, many parents were unprepared for the challenges, either because they were so eager to be Mom and Dad or because agencies glossed over their charges' complex medical histories — or omitted them.

While some people may have undertaken parenthood with unrealistic expectations, more typically they are deeply committed but ill-equipped to cope with profoundly damaged children. Either due to fetal alcohol syndrome, mental illness, attachment disorders — or a combination of all three — the youngsters can't function in a family, though they show no outward signs of disability.

Exactly.

"Separated-at-birth twins get married"

"LONDON (AFP) - Twins who were separated at birth and adopted by different sets of parents later married each other without realising they were brother and sister, a peer has told the House of Lords."

Updated 1/15/08:

"Separated twins marry, forced to break up in UK"

So I ended up watching David Letterman last night. I'm not sure why, as I never watch the late shows, except for maybe the "Daily Show."

Anyway, one of Letterman's guests was, I believe, a producer of the show. She talked about how she started as a receptionist for the show's writers way back when and met her husband while working there.

I was playing on my laptop at the time, but started paying attention when she mentioned her husband and that they have a baby girl.

Dave showed a picture of her dressed in a little Santa hat and outfit. I think the audience was a bit shocked and suprised. Why? Because the baby looked very Asian. You see, I heard the woman (who is white) mention her husband's name (his last name is Kim), so I was expecting to see a half-Korean baby. Guess the audience didn't. There wasn't your typical reaction to cute baby photos -- not much oohing and aahing (BTW, the baby was adorable!).

So thought I'd come up with my own Top 10 list ...

Top 10 thoughts running through the minds of David Letterman's audience last night:

10. Aah, Asian babies are so cute.


9. Wait, that baby's Asian!


8. I'm confused.


7. Where's the cute white baby?


6. Isn't the mother white? She doesn't look Asian.


5. Was she adopted?


4. She must be adopted.


3. Huh?


2. Wait, is that Angelina?

and the No. 1 thought ...


1. How did that average white woman end up having such an adorable-looking Asian baby?!

"Nanking" is a new documentary that tells the story of the rape of Nanking by Japanese soldiers in the early days of World War II.

Check out the film's Web site.

Having read Iris Chang's The Rape of Nanking and John Rabe's memoir, The Good Man of Nanking, I want to know when the film is going to be in a theater near me? When? When?!

Updated 1/4/08:

I forgot I had read this article on China marking the 70th anniversary of the fall of Nanking to the Japanese on December 13, 1937, and the rape of Nanking.

"China remembers Nanjing"

Updated 1/10/08:

I've found out that "Nanking" will be showing at the Lumiere Theatre (1572 California Street at Polk) for one week only, starting Friday, January 11.

Also, I recently discovered this documentary based on Iris Chang's point of view: "Iris Chang: The Rape of Nanking"

The co-directors Anne Pick and Bill Spahic "obtained the support and exclusive co-operation of Iris's parents, Ying-Ying and Shau-Jin Chang," according to the film's Web site.

I'm glad to see that this documentary focuses on Chang's experiences in researching and writing about the rape of Nanking.

The Web site also states that the documentary's broadcast premiere was on History Television, which I believe is a Canadian network, in December. The documentary is being shown in other cities in Canada, but I'm trying to find out if it will be shown in the U.S., if not on television then perhaps it will be shown at a SF film festival.

Updated 1/11/08:

Here's the SF Gate review of "Nanking": "Review: Nanking survivors' stories of atrocities lend power to film"