NASA Researchers & Tuskegee Airmen Honor Black History Month

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

A full-scale Mars Curiosity rover model that was featured in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade is one of the highlights of a Black History Month celebration, called "Red Tails to Red Planet," at NASA Langley Research Center's official visitors' facility, the Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC).

Visitors can learn more about Mars and NASA Langley's role in the recent Mars Science Laboratory mission and celebrate past contributions of aerospace pioneers at the VASC on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On hand at the event will be NASA researchers and members of the Tidewater Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen who will share more about the many achievements of the "Red Tails" during World War II.


The Mars Science Laboratory mission that landed the rover on the "Red Planet" last August comes to life with a number of hands-on exhibits and activities. Participants can drive a Mars rover including one that is made from Robotix, a modular, motorized robot construction system. The challenges of landing on Mars will be explored using a Mars lander egg drop contest, "Drag Race to Mars" activities and a virtual landing experience by way of the "Mars Rover Landing" Xbox 360 video game developed by NASA.

Schedule:

11 a.m. - Dr. D's Funky Physics show
12 p.m. - Dr. D's Funky Physics show
1 p.m. - Original members of the Tuskegee Airmen will share their personal stories and
original Tuskegee Airman Ezra Hill will sign copies of his book, "The Red Tail Angels: A Story of the Tuskegee Airmen."
2 p.m. - Dr. D's Funky Physics show

Visitors can learn more about the challenging living conditions on Mars, which can get as cold as -200 degrees Fahrenheit, as they build a Mars habitat. In addition, the super-cold of outer space will be revealed in the hands-on demonstration, "Space Freeze." A solar system twister game will show what the inner planets have in common and participants can become rocket scientists when they build balloon rockets to send to Mars.

Visitors can also discover more about Orion, NASA's next human spacecraft that will go to the Moon, Mars or even an asteroid. A full-scale test version of NASA's Orion spacecraft is now on permanent display at the Virginia Air & Space Center and offers a glimpse of NASA's next step in human space exploration.

If Earth-bound thrill rides are more their speed, guests can participate in Dr. D's Funky Physics show, inspired by the twists and turns of roller coasters.

Students from Hampton University will also be on-hand during the four-hour event with displays and artifacts touching on the historically black college's role in the fields of science, technology and history.

For more information about NASA's Langley Research Center, visit - www.nasa.gov/langley

To learn more about the Virginia Air & Space Center, visit - www.vasc.org

Year of the Snake Asian Lunar New Year Stamps at US Post Office

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

The U.S. Postal Service released its 2013 Lunar New Year stamp, featuring firecrackers, paper-cut designs and Chinese calligraphy, to help customers usher in the Year of the Snake.

The Lunar New Year is celebrated primarily by people of Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tibetan and Mongolian heritage in many parts of the world. In the United States, as elsewhere, the occasion is marked with parades, parties and other special events. This year, Lunar New Year is Sunday, Feb. 10 and the Postal Service issued the limited edition stamp in plenty of time for customers to mail new year's greetings.

"We are proud to celebrate this special time with our friends in the Asian community," said Nagisa Manabe, chief marketing and sales officer. "With this year's limited edition stamp, we're providing our customers the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of these stamps and use them in their new year's greetings to friends and family."

The Postal Service introduced the Celebrating Lunar New Year series in 2008. This is the sixth stamp in that series, which will continue through 2019 with the Years of the Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar. Illustrator Kam Mak, an artist who was born in Hong Kong, grew up New York City's Chinatown and now lives in Brooklyn, has designed each stamp in the series and will continue through the remaining six in the 12-year series.

This year's stamp features one of the primary ways the Lunar New Year holiday is celebrated. For the Year of the Snake, which begins on Feb. 10, the illustration depicts firecrackers commonly used to greet the new year with a bang. Firecrackers are used to scare off evil spirits and welcome a time of renewed hope for the future. Monetary gifts are given to children and others. Lucky foods are eaten — kumquats, for example — and festive lanterns, colored red for luck, are common Lunar New Year decorations.

The current series builds upon the Postal Service's original Lunar New Year stamp series, which was issued from 1992 through 2003. Two elements from the first series are revived in the current stamps: the intricate paper-cut design and calligraphy motifs.

View the Lunar New Year Forever stamps on Facebook - www.facebook.com/USPSStamps

Celebrate Chinese Year of Snake with Las Vegas Festivities

This February, Las Vegas resorts will prepare for the Chinese New Year, celebrating Asian culture with showcases of decor, traditional Chinese cuisine and activities to commemorate The Year of the Snake.

  • The Conservatory and Botanical Gardens at Bellagio features a prosperous money tree with oversized gold coins hanging from branches. Live music performances will take place on a Chinese junk boat from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. daily through March 3.
  • The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casino and The Palazzo Las Vegas will host a unique Year of the Snake display Jan. 14 – Feb. 25. Taking center stage will be a 98-foot long animated blue snake and a giant 38-foot cherry tree.
  • Chinese New Year in the Desert will host a series of Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean cultural celebrations Feb. 8 – 10 throughout the Fremont Street Experience (FSE), a five-block entertainment complex located in historic downtown Las Vegas, which features Viva Vision.
  • Traditional dragon and lion dances will kick-off festivities and welcome The Year of the Snake at The Venetian and The Palazzo on Feb. 9 at 3:30 p.m. A dance troop from Cirque du Soleil's show Ka will parade through MGM Grand on Sunday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. Firecrackers will light the way as the dragon and lion dance starts on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. at Wynn Las Vegas. The Bellagio hosts its lion and dragon dance at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 12. At Gold Coast Hotel and Casino the Lohan School of Shaolin will dance through the casino at 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Feb. 13
  • Relaxation can be found at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas with three exclusive spa treatments available from Jan 23 to Feb. 28. The world's first Nobu Hotel, Nobu Caesars Palace opens just in time for Chinese New Year celebrations with reservations starting Feb. 4.

A number of restaurants will prepare specialty menus and dishes for the holiday celebration including Monte Carlo's Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar, Fleur by Hubert Keller at Mandalay Bay, Rice & Company at Luxor Hotel and Casino, China Poblano by Jose Andres at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, at Beijing Noodle No. 9 at Caesars Palace, MOzen Bistro at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas, Ping Pong Pang and Noodle Exchange at Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, and many more.

ABOUT THE LVCVA
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) is charged with marketing Southern Nevada as a tourism and convention destination worldwide, and also with operating the Las Vegas Convention Center and Cashman Center. With 151,000 hotel rooms in Las Vegas alone and 10.6 million square feet of meeting and exhibit space citywide, the LVCVA's mission centers on attracting ever increasing numbers of leisure and business visitors to the area.

To learn more, visit www.lasvegas.com

President Obama's 2nd Inauguration an Opportunity for Native Causes

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Following President Obama's second inauguration this week, the Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA) extends its warmest congratulations to the president and urges him to continue his administration's policy of government-to-government consultation on issues which may impact tribal sovereignty. During President Obama's first term, great advances were made on native issues and on behalf of all Native Americans.

"Throughout his first four years in office, President Obama has affirmed tribes' undisputed rights of self-governance and self-determination," said Barry Brandon, Executive Director of NAFSA. "President Obama has been a true champion for Indian country and NAFSA looks forward to a continued alliance with the president as he serves out his second term."

During his second inaugural address, President Obama stated, "Together, we resolved that a great nation must care for the vulnerable, and protect its people from life's worst hazards and misfortune. Through it all, we have never relinquished our skepticism of central authority, nor have we succumbed to the fiction that all society's ills can be cured through government alone."

President Obama's first term in office saw extraordinary advancement of Native Americans' key concerns as well as historic investments in Indian country. Among his many accomplishments on behalf of native populations is the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which included more than $3 billion in direct funding for Indian Country, spurring job creation in tribal communities and assisting the renovation of schools on reservations.

In partnership with tribal nations, NAFSA urges President Obama to continue making critical investments to health and education services, generating jobs, and strengthening tribal economies. Working with tribal leaders, NAFSA will closely monitor President Obama's work on native issues and will contribute to the public dialogue as necessary and appropriate.

About NAFSA
The Native American Financial Services Association (NAFSA) formed in 2012 to advocate for Native American sovereign rights and enable tribes to offer responsible online lending products. Through the protection of consumer rights and sovereign immunity, NAFSA provides vital services to tribally operated lenders serving the under-banked with better short term financial services, furthering economic development opportunities in Indian Country.

Learn more - http://www.mynafsa.org

The Korea Society Upcoming Events 2013

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Here is a highlight of a few upcoming events happening at The Korea Society in 2013.

The Korea Society Upcoming Events 2013

Join The Korea Society by becoming a member and enjoy discounts, special invitations to events and more. To learn more visit http://www.koreasociety.org

Stone Soup and Other Stories from Asian Tradition DVD

Friday, January 11, 2013

Just in time to celebrate Chinese New Year and learn about some of Asian culture’s best loved tales, Scholastic Storybook Treasures releases STONE SOUP...AND OTHER STORIES FROM THE ASIAN TRADITION DVD. Highlighted by author/illustrator Jon J. Muth’s award-winning take on “Stone Soup”, the new DVD also features three other classic tales, as well as a Read-Along function which highlights the words as they are spoken, allowing young viewers to follow along with the narrators.

“Stone Soup” is a classic folktale about the strength people possess when they work together. The three other stories on the DVD include

  • The Five Chinese Brothers
  • Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China
  • Stonecutter

These colorfully animated adaptations of classic stories feature celebrity narration by B.D. Wong (Law and Order: SVU).

The DVD also includes a behind-the-scenes interview with Jon J. Muth, the award-winning author/illustrator of “Stone Soup”, “The Three Questions” and other popular stories for kids. Muth also illustrated cards for Magic: The Gathering.

Format: DVD/Single
Run time: Approx. 43 mins. + extras
Price: $14.95srp
Street Date: January 29

UK Petition for British Chinese & East Asians in More TV, Film, Theater & Radio

I saw a post about this UK Petition for More British Chinese & East Asians to be seen in the media. I think it's a great idea in need of support.

The first recorded Chinese in the UK, Shen Fu Tsong, was a celebrated guest at the court of James II in 1685. The British Chinese/East Asian (BC/EA) community grew during the 20th century & at 1.6% is now the UK's 3rd largest minority.

Art is a mirror to life & everyone needs cultural affirmation. British Chinese/East Asian people are not reflected adequately in mainstream TV, film, theatre or radio, so remain "culturally invisible". This impacts negatively on the British public, who end up with stereotyped misunderstandings of this particular cultural group, eg. always speak with foreign accents or are illegal immigrants selling dodgy dvd's!

British Chinese/East Asian children & young people top every academic poll due to the importance of education in Confucian culture. However, they need positive BC/EA role models to value both sides of their cultural heritage, so they can better assimilate into British culture. Without BC/EA role models, they can sometimes feel culturally isolated, confused and undervalued. What a waste of human potential!

In the age of Obama, it's time for the UK to accelerate it's professed commitment to internationalism and diversity. It's time for positive change.

Learn more about the Petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petition/38249.html

Asian Man & African Black Woman Traditional Chinese Wedding Ceremony

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

I saw this video in one of the many Asian and black Facebook groups and wanted to share. It show a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony between an Chinese Man and a African Black Woman. It's nice to see.



Wonder if there's a video showing a Korean Man and a Black Women traditional wedding ceremony. I'll have to check. Anyway, enjoy

 
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