Saturday, July 1 -- [YesAsia.com's Associate of the Month] What a day the Lord has made; let us rejoice, and be glad in it.
Can you believe it? the AAAF Homepage received YesAsia.com's Associate of the Month for July! It's nice to know tht people still support this site (and it's sponsors by visiting and shopping them) despite my waning involvement. I thank you, each and everyone, for your continued support and prayers!
Saturday, March 18 -- [Taiwan chooses its future] CNN Reports the Election Results.
Chen Shui-Bian is Victorious in
TAIWAN's 2nd Democratic Presidential Elections!!!
For the first time since 1945, a political group other than the
oppressive and corrupt Kuomintang (KMT), the world's most affluent and wealthy political
party, is in power in Taiwan. On Saturday, March 18, the Taiwanese people vehemently went
to the polls (over 86% of those eligible to vote) and chose A-Bian as their new president,
much to the dismay of China who tried unsuccessfully to influence the elections.
A-Bian claimed 41% of the votes, while popular independent candidate James Soong received just 36%. Lien Chan, who was supposed to succeed Lee Teng-Hui, the president over the last twelve years, was slapped with only 23% of the votes.
The AAAF Homepage obviously endorses Chen Shui-Bian, and now that he is Taiwan's new president, we can all expect a Taiwan government that truly represents the will of the Taiwanese people. China's claims on Taiwan are now but a thing of the past because the KMT, whom China was really focusing on, is now powerless.
Go, Go, Go A-Bian!
Tuesday, September 21 -- [Taiwan Earthquake] Taiwan's worst quake of the century hits.
This is a copy of a letter I sent out
to as many people I could think of following the news of Taiwan's most devastating
earthquake since 1935.
PLEASE PRAY FOR TAIWAN
Friends,
Never before have I sent an e-mail to so many people, but never before have I been so
closely affected by a tragedy as Tuesday morning's devestating earthquake in Taiwan. The
current death toll is believed to be in the 400s, and feared to be much more. Thousands
are injured, and the threat of tsunamis and more aftershocks loom ahead.
Perhaps the most daunting feeling is not knowing how our loved ones are. The phone lines are flooded; the news reports are not specific enough. As night overcomes us here, the day increasingly reveals the destruction and despair throughout the hardest hit areas of Taiwan. What agony this waiting brings?!
But let us not bear too great a burden. "Cast all your anxiety on the Lord, for the Lord cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7) As we go through our approaching day and coming week, let us think of our families, our friends, our loved ones, our people. Let us pray for Taiwan, and let us pray for each other in this trying and taxing time. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you." (John 14:27).
"goan un-tian peng-an ke-thi choe-choe ho
lin."
(I Peter 1:2b)
~-*-~
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe
also in me. In my Father's house there are
many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a
place for you? And if
I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that
where I am, there
you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." ... Jesus said,
"I am the way, and
the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14 : 1-4, 6
~-*-~
We know that all things work together for good for those who love
God, who are called according to his
purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of
his Son,
in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he
predestined he also called;
and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8 : 28-30
~-*-~
There, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the
work of the Lord, because you know
that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15 : 58
~-*-~
Monday, June 7 -- [HasbroCollectors sells 442nd ONLINE!!!] GREAT NEWS!!! Have you had any trouble finding the GI Joe 442nd Regimental Combat Team in the stores? Well, that's because it's become a collector's item, and EVERYBODY wants one! This is, of course, good news for AAAF's and Asian American awareness overall --- but it's also bad news for anybody who wants to get one at retail price (SRP). Well, now you can purchase the GI Joe Anniversary Edition World War II 442nd Nisei soldier ON LINE!!! Just log onto the Hasbro Collector's site, or call them at 1-800-456-1348. Tell 'em you heard it from the AAAF Homepage. 8-)
Monday, April 5 -- [Futurama
a Big Hit!] Lauren Tom, one of the stars of The Joy Luck Club and currently the
voice of Minh and Kahn Jr. Souphanousinphone, the Laotion neighbors of Hank Hill in King
of the Hill, debuted last night on Matt Groening's Futurama! She voiced the part of Amy Wang, or
Wong.
A funny part occured when Leela, the cycloptic alien, asked her if she was "one of
the rich Wong's of Mars." To which Amy (Lauren) replied: ""Look. We're not
as rich as everybody says."
Leela: "Uh huh. What sorority do you belong to?"
Amy: "Kappa Kappa Wong"
Monday, April 5 -- [Jackie
Chan, back again?] The
Raving Toy Maniac reports Jackie Chan fans may finally get an action figure of their
favorite action hero! With the long-delayed Chan figure from Palisades apparently lost in
the netherworld of toys, fans of the comical martial artist thought they'd never see Chan
as a poseable plastic wonder. Well, Hong Kong's Dragon Models has come to the rescue, and
what a rescue it is!
Dragon Models' Bryan Lo graciously allowed RTM to show you these images of their
upcoming 12" action figure of Jackie Chan planned for later this year. We had a few
pictures of the figure in our 1999 Toy Fair coverage, but we knew you'd all appreciate a
closer look at what is sure to be the ultimate Jackie Chan figure!
Monday, April 5 -- [Four
brand new characters in Quake II: Upgrade 1.5] The Raving Toy Maniac
reports four brand new characters in the Quake II: Upgrade 1.5 series from Resaurus. They
will include Marine Viper - a solid African-American fighting machine; Female Marine Lotus
- a seductive, Asian warrior (ed. note. obviously whoever
wrote this has NOT read my expose' on Asian Women stereotypes!!!); an
imposing Tank Commander; and an even creepier Iron Maiden. All four figures feature
"upgraded" heads, accessories and paint schemes.
Viper will come with an all-new machine gun and Lotus will feature the "most
requested weapon" - the deadly
rail gun. Both will include a grappling hook with real rope. The Tan Commander features a
newly sculpted
head and shoulder-mounted weapon. Iron Maiden comes with a real chain, all new hoses and a
rotting flesh
paint scheme. The accessory creatures were also upgraded with new paint schemes on the
Parasite, Strogg
Technician and the fearsome Barracuda Tiger Shark.
Not content with just upgrading the figures themselves, ReSaurus has also enhanced the
packaging as well.
Monday, April 5 -- [Fox Season
Finale Stars Sulu Actor] Star Trek's George Takei will guest star on the season finale
of The
Simpsons when the family travels to Tokyo. The Simpsons, The Family Guy, and The X-Files
will all end their current seasons on May 16th, so that Fox can air the film Independence
Day on the following Sunday evening.
Monday, March 29-- [1998 BALLY TOTAL FINESS WORLD AEROBICS] This is perhaps the lamest news item I have ever posted. I saw on ESPN tonight the 1998 BALLY TOTAL FINESS WORLD AEROBICS Championships, and a Japanese woman won first place! I believe her name was Iriku Ito, but I could be mistaken. I wish I could tell you more, but alas, I'm just being rather lame today. 8-(
Sunday, February 28-- [Taiwan's pain remembered 52 years later] On Feb. 28, Taiwan Peace Day will be celebrated in various communities around the world. Although this day fosters unity and understanding among all people, it commemorates a somber day in 1947 on the small island nation of Formosa, now called Taiwan.The beating of a poor elderly woman selling contraband cigarettes led to large-scale public protests against repressive and corrupt Chinese Nationalist rule, veritably supported by the Allied Powers and the United States. After 10 days of "minor" killings and superficial "cooperation" by the government, reinforcement troops were sent from China by Chiang Kai-Shek, which led to the holocaust of Taiwan, a.k.a. 2-28 incident, and 40 years of martial law.
Read more about the 228 inncident at: The Feb. 28 Holocaust; Terror in Taiwan; & Taiwan, Ilha Formosa
to the Taiwanese American Students Club at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for inviting my father to speak on Saturday, February 27, 1999.
Thursday, February 25-- [New Bruce Lee figure HOT in Japan] The Slayer gave me the heads up on this one. Medicom is releasing a 12" Bruce Lee action figure in Japan, with limited availability here in the States. The Slayer reports: "He's dressed in his traditional black kung fu garb with a tank top underneath his top. He comes with three pairs of hands(Fist, Open hand, and grip hand). He also has two sets of weapons..a staff and nunchakus." THANKS Slayer!!!
Though not really "action" figures per se, and not even all that great looking, the following are offered through Diamond Comics. Just click on the image to see more information.
Also, check out RTM's ToyFair '99 Dragon-Models Page for some previews of the new Jackie Chan figure!
Tuesday, January 12-- [Dodgers sign Taiwanese teen outfielder!] Chin-Feng Chen joined the Los Angeles Dodgers' winter workouts Monday after a long, tiring trip, and got his first swings with a wooden bat. It is only Chen's third visit to the United States. He played for Taiwan in the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in 1990 and played on a team that came to Los Angeles and toured Dodger Stadium last year. He is Taiwan's second player to play professional baseball in the United States. Chen reportedly signed a seven-year, $600,000 contract. In 1975, Taiwan's Tan Hsin-min played briefly in San Francisco's farm system.
