VOL 38 NO 8 | FEBRUARY 16 - FEBRUARY 22, 2019

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid Permit No. 746 Seattle, WA

VOL 38 NO 8 FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

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37 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Record snowfall beautiful, but disruptive

A very snowy new year!

Snow pig photo by Claudine Toh

Seattle’s metro area has already been hit by three snowstorms in February, making it the snowiest month in Seattle in more than 50 years. The snowiest month on record was January 1950 when the region received 57.2 inches.

Photos by George Liu/NWAW

At Rotary lunch, AG Ferguson defends Washingtonians Washington State Attorney General (AG) Bob Ferguson is a snake. He was born in Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Feb. 7, Ferguson defied ancient customs of staying home on this day. Instead, he attended the Seattle-International District Rotary Club (SIRC)’s luncheon meeting at Ocean Star Restaurant in Chinatown-International District. His goal is to speak to Rotaries in “all corners of the state” and to hear from Washingtonians. The SIRC visit was his 143rd.

With his sleeves rolled up and boy-next-door giddiness, Ferguson noted the presence of former Washington State University and NBA basketball player

Photo by Becky Chan/NWAW

By Becky Chan NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Bob Ferguson at the Seattle-International District Rotary Club on Feb. 7

James Donaldson, a new SIRC member. As a young boy, Ferguson played basketball, watched

the Sonics, and attended former Sonics player and coach Lenny Wilkens’ basketball camp. One

of his prized possessions is a Player-of-the-Day plaque that he received at the camp when he was a 7th grader. He hopes for an autograph from Wilkens, via a message to Donaldson.

Ferguson compared his office to the Rotaries, “We both provide service to the community.”

His office renders legal advice to state agencies and also to protect Washingtonians. With 13 offices around Washington, the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is the state’s largest law firm, employing over a thousand people, with many choosing to serve the community rather than work elsewhere for more pay.

Could Ferguson have made more money somewhere else?

Perhaps as a professional chess player? Ferguson is an internationally rated chess master. After

INSIDE

THE LAYUP DRILL Beating cancer and clearing the way to win more Olympic medals.

»7

SCI-FI BLOCKBUSTER Why moviegoers are flocking to see this Chinese movie.

»9

see FERGUSON on 15

Wuhan honors a native son A new international academic exchange center in Wuhan will honor the late chancellor of the University of California (UC) at Berkeley. It will teach ChangLin Tien’s values of community service.

Wuhan native Dr. Chang-Lin Tien led UC Berkeley from 1990 to 1997, and earned many honors. The campus named a library for him after his four decades teaching there.

But Huangpi, Wuhan’s ChangLin Tien Center is not only the first time a local Chinese government is honoring one of the most famous Chinese American scientists and a national champion of

■

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Professor C.C. Tien writes a proverb taught to him by his mother, “If you don’t get the position, you still have your degree.” It means, “go for it!”

affirmative action, it is intended to extoll the family values that gave rise to Tien’s success in the

United States and thus serve as a site where young Chinese can be transformed.

“What we are doing,” said brother C.C. Tien, of Seattle, “is also creating a museum to display the Tien family history and teachings.” C.C. Tien is the surviving elder brother of the chancellor, who died in 2002 from brain cancer.

Before he died, Chang-Lin achieved the distinction of being the first Asian American to lead a top tier research university.

And if not for the outright racism and bigotry of the time, he would have been the first Asian American to serve in a cabinet position.

“They want to honor our family teachings. They want people to understand the origins and values of a family that could give rise to an immigrant like my brother,” said Tien. “My brother believed see TIEN on 15

PUBLISHER’S BLOG A snowy Lunar New Year and the impact on Seattle’s Chinatown.

» 10

COMMUNITY NEWS » 2–3

CALENDAR OF EVENTS »6

EDITORIAL Is Blackface ever ok?

» 11

412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 • f. 206.223.0626 • info@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

northwest

2

37 YEARS

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS

Photo from Rey Pascua

Nguyen announces candidacy for Seattle City Council

Community advocates with Speaker of the House Frank Chopp after the public hearing on the Filipino American History Month on Feb. 6.

From left: Allan Acosta, Nora Burnes, Rey Pascua, Dori Baker, Frank Chopp, Lorena Silva, Tom Silva, Geoff Baker, and Pio DeCano.

Ami Nguyen

Ami Nguyen announced on Feb. 12 that she is running for the Seattle City Council in District 3.

Nguyen, a King County public defender and former tenants’ rights lawyer, said she will bring a strong and nuanced approach to policy change in Seattle, focusing on municipal justice reform, homelessness prevention, and childcare access.

“My experience as a renter and tenants’ rights attorney has given me the insight to develop policies that empowers renters so that the system is no longer a tool only for the rich,” said Nguyen.

Nguyen attended Stanford University and UCLA School of Law. ■

Pascua, president of the Filipino American Community in Yakima Valley. “We have been here for 432 years.”

Historians have concluded that Oct. 18, 1587 was the earliest documented proof of Filipino presence in the continental United States, explained Pascua. October was selected as Filipino American History Month in honor of this documentation. ■

Indian ambassador dinner reception

A proposed bill would establish October as Filipino American History Month in the state of Washington.

House Bill 1783 is co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 12 representatives, including Reps. Mia Gregerson, Cindy Ryu, Vandana Slatter, Monica Jurado Stonier, and Sharon Tomiko Santos.

“We have a rich history in the United States,” said Rey

Photo from Debadutta Dash

Legislature considers Filipino American History Month proposal Dash with Indian Ambassador & Consul General of India (SFO)

A dinner reception to welcome Harsh Vardhan Shringla, the new Indian Ambassador, took place on Feb. 7 at Shringla’s residence in Washington, D.C.

Shringla assumed charge as Ambassador to the United States on Jan. 9.

One-hundred-and-fifty people attended the reception, including Debadutta Dash, co-chair of the Washington State and India Trade Relation Action Committee (WASITRAC).

WASITRAC is a Seattle-based nonprofit advocacy group promoting bilateral trade relations between India and Washington state.

In the course of a diplomatic career spanning 35 years, Shringla has held a variety of positions in New Delhi and abroad. He is married and has one son. ■

Wing Luke Lunar New Year celebration

Photo from Wing Luke Museum

asianweekly

Community members, leaders, and lion dancers, pose for a photo outside the Museum.

The Wing Luke Museum held its annual Lunar New Year Celebration & Fair on Feb. 2.

The festivities kicked off with the always popular lion dance. Attendees were then invited to take a passport journey through the museum, create crafts with local artists, and learn about the Asian zodiac with a stuffed animal petting zoo. ■

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ COMMUNITY NEWS

3

By Nina Huang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

By Staff NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

Chinese American Di Zhang, 29, is one of the very few Asian American male librarians in the country. And he works at Seattle Central Library (SPL). Part of his job is teaching a class to help people differentiate fake news from real news.

During his undergraduate studies at the University of Washington (UW), he was interested in architecture at first, but eventually found a love for philosophy.

He didn’t want to be in academia and enjoyed the part-time library work, and decided to explore that route.

Zhang has been working at SPL since 2008. He started as a student assistant and moved his way up to Adult Services Librarian, which is his title today.

Along the way, he also received a Master of Library and Information Science from the UW. It hadn’t been a smooth path leading up to his current posi-

Photo by Susie Butler, Seattle/Wikimedia Commons

Ohashi wows crowd at UW meet

Photo provided by Di Zhang

Librarian a pro at spotting fake news and informing the public

Katelyn Ohashi

Di Zhang

tion. Zhang failed his initial qualifying interview to become a librarian.

“I was underprepared and mentally didn’t see myself in the same league as the librarians I was working with yet. That set me back and I really had to work on owning the role,” he admit-

ted.

After better preparing for the interviews, Zhang was able to pass several months later.

According to the 2016 Census Bureau reports, approximately 18 percent of librarians in the United States were male. Only 5 percent of total librarians were

Asian, compared to 6 percent Black and 85 percent white.

Zhang said he is a natural introvert — he despises public speaking and being in front of the camera.

“I’ve always tried to make it

SEATTLE — Katelyn Ohashi returned on Feb. 10 to her home state for a gymnastics meet at the University of Washington, where she performed the routine that earned her a perfect 10 at the Collegiate Challenge last month.

In early January, a video surfaced of the UCLA senior gymnast scoring

see ZHANG on 14

see OHASHI on 11

DUE TO SNOW, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO MARCH 2!

NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY & NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY FOUNDATION PRESENTS 10TH ANNUAL

win $$$ in the year of the pig

no age limit!

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2019 MAKE A PIG MASK — Size (an adult or child can wear it) — It can cover the entire face — Be creative with all types of colorful materials — It can show happy, sad, or funny emotions — Must be displayed or worn by a model at the contest PRIZES First ($300), Second ($200), Third ($100) + prizes for honorable mentions

Please submit completed application through one of the following methods: Mail: Northwest Asian Weekly Lunar New Year Costume Contest 412 Maynard Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98104 ________________________________________________________

School Name: ___________________________________________Age: ________ Profession: ________________________________________________________ Phone:

__________________________________________________________

E-mail:

___________________________________________________________

I am entering contest for:

 Pig Mask

 Costume

 Both Contests

Please send your photo of entry by February 1, 2019 to rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.

Contestants must adhere to all rules and regulations. Contest officials will remove any contestant failing to cooperate with officials or failing to comply with the rules and regulations. If you have any questions, please contact Northwest Asian Weekly at 206.223.5559 or via email at rsvp@nwasianweekly.com.

FOR MORE INFO, GO TO CIDBIA.ORG, NWASIANWEEKLY.COM/EVENTS

Registration/Sign-Up: • You may pre-register for the contest by filling out this application and sending it in or sign-up on the day of the contest (Saturday, March 2) beginning at

SPONSORS

Name:

Costume Parade Schedule: • 11 AM — Registration • 12:30 PM — Line up • 1 PM — Parade begins • 1:30 PM — Parade winners announced • Start from Northwest Asian Weekly’s front door, march to main stage • Contestants must be present at the announcement of finalists (1:30 PM).

• Finalists will be lined up in numerical order.

• The first 20 registered will get a gift.

Make a Pig Mask or be a part of the Costume Contest or enter both contests!

LUNAR NEW YEAR COSTUME CONTEST — Contestants’ attire should be culturally relevant to the Lunar New Year Celebration PRIZES First ($100), Second ($75), Third ($50)

11 a.m. at the registration table. Registration table will be located in front of Seattle Chinese Post/Northwest Asian Weekly – 412 Maynard Ave S. • Contestants must sign-in at the registration table 30 minutes prior to parade.

Rules/Guidelines: • You are welcome to participate in both contests: pig mask and costume contest. The costume contest will begin first, followed by the pig mask contest.

• Adults & children are welcome to participate • Parents are welcome to accompany their children during the Parade • All contestants will be given a contestant number for order of Parade lineup • Contestants must be present to win

community SPONSORs JIM DOANE

asianweekly northwest

4

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

37 YEARS

■ NATIONAL NEWS

‘Flower Drum Song’ author C.Y. Lee dead at 102 NEW YORK (AP) — C.Y. Lee, whose novel “The Flower Drum Song’’ became a best seller and the basis for a popular stage musical and Oscar-nominated film despite mixed critical reactions and concerns about stereotypes, has died at age 102.

Lee’s son, Jay Lee, told The Associated Press that his father died on Nov. 8 in Los Angeles. The family decided at the time not to make his death public.

became a popular read. The New York Times’ Idwal Jones praised Lee’s “objective eye,’’ but also faulted the book for its absence of “deeper notes’’ and its affinity for “slang and sex’’ and “popular taste.’’ (The author would later acknowledge he wanted to reach a large audience).

Lee’s debut novel attracted the attention of screenwriter Joseph

“Lee’s debut novel attracted the attention of screenwriter Joseph Fields and composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Their musical adaptation, originally directed by Gene Kelly, ran on Broadway from 1958-60 and was revived in 2002, with a book by “M. Butterfly’’ playwright David Henry Hwang.”

“The Flower Drum Song,’’ a story of generational conflict set

in San Francisco’s Chinatown, came out in 1957, and quickly

see LEE on 13

First edition of “Flower Drum Song”

Man arrested on suspicion of impersonating LAPD officer

By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — A man who authorities say was recorded antagonizing demonstrators during a Black Lives Matter protest

in January has been arrested on suspicion of impersonating a police officer.

Daniel Sohn, 36, was arrested on Feb. 8 by Los Angeles County Sheriff ’s deputies after they

noticed that he was wearing a shirt with the Los Angeles Police Department logo and recognized him as the man in the video, authorities said in a press release.

The video posted on social

More immigrants sue US over end to protected status

By Amy Taxin ASSOCIATED PRESS Immigrants from Nepal and Honduras have filed a lawsuit alleging the Trump administration unfairly ended a program that lets them live and work in the United States.

The lawsuit filed on Feb. 10 in federal court in San Francisco alleges that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s decision to end so-called temporary protected status for the countries was motivated by racism.

The suit — which was filed on behalf of six immigrants and two of their American-born children — also alleges that the department changed how it evaluated conditions in these countries when determining whether immigrants could return there.

“We bring evidence the

Trump administration has repeatedly denigrated nonwhite non-European immigrants and reviewed TPS designations with a goal of removing such non-white non-European immigrants from the United States,’’ said Minju Cho, a staff attorney at Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Los Angeles.

The group is one of several representing the immigrant plaintiffs, who live California, Minnesota, Maryland, Virginia, and Connecticut.

A message seeking comment was left for the Department of Homeland Security.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of court filings challenging the Trump administration’s decision to end the program for a cluster of countries whose citizens have lived and worked legally in the United States

for years.

Last year, a federal judge in San Francisco temporarily blocked the U.S. government from halting the program for immigrants from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan. The suit filed by citizens of those countries, much like this one, cited Trump’s vulgar language during a meeting last year to describe African countries.

The U.S. government grants temporary protected status, also known as TPS, to citizens of countries ravaged by natural disasters or war so they can stay and work legally in the United States until the situation improves back home.

The status is short-term but renewable and some immigrants have lived in the country for decades, raising American-born children, see LAWSUIT on 12

media last month shows an Asian man who appears to be wearing the same shirt and chanting “white power” to people. The group was protesting the fatal shooting in October of an unarmed black man

SEEKING:

by an LAPD officer inside a gym.

Sheriff ’s Deputy Joana Warren said Sohn told the deputies he regularly poses as an officer to see POLICE on 11

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ WORLD NEWS

5

Thai princess’ political bid sunk by her brother, the king

By Grant Peck ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK (AP) — Thailand’s chaotic politics took two astonishing turns when the sister of the king made a historic bid to become prime minister, only to have him shut down her effort as “inappropriate’’ because it violated tradition and the constitution, which keep the monarchy from getting involved in politics.

The royal order from King Maha Vajiralongkorn was read on national television on Feb. 8, effectively scuttling the move by his older sister, Princess Ubolratana Mahidol, to become a candidate

for the prime minister’s office after parliamentary elections scheduled for March 24.

It was the latest event to roil Thailand, which has been buffeted by coups, political comebacks and street violence for more than a decade.

Ubolratana’s registration as a candidate was a stunning move, not only because it would have broken a taboo on a senior royal running for public office, but also because it would have allied her with the Thai Raksa Chart Party, considered by many royalists to be unsympathetic to the monarchy.

It is one of several parties linked to the political machine of former

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a telecommunications billionaire who roared to power in 2001 with populist policies that made him practically unbeatable. The army eventually ousted him from the prime minister’s office in a 2006 coup.

The turnaround in Ubolratana’s fortunes was also seen as startling because the siblings are thought to be close and it was considered unthinkable that Ubolratana would make her move without her brother’s permission. What actually had happened behind the scenes is unlikely to become public, because the Thai royal family’s private affairs are almost never

Princess Ubolratana Mahido

leaked.

Vajiralongkorn tried to soften the blow by acknowledging that his 67-year-old sister has already

relinquished her formal royal titles, and he praised her for conducting charity work and otherwise earning the love of her family and the Thai people.

But his order stressed that Thailand’s constitution insists that the king and those around him stay above politics, and the principles of democratic government also put politics off-limits.

“Even though she relinquished her title according to royal laws ... she still retains her status and position as a member of the Chakri dynasty,’’ the king’s order said.

“Bringing high-ranking royal see ROYAL on 13

Third of Himalayan glaciers can no longer be saved: study

By Binaj Gurubacharya ASSOCIATED PRESS KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — One-third of Himalayan glaciers will melt by the end of the century due to climate change, threatening water sources for 1.9 billion people, even if current efforts to reduce climate change succeed, an assessment warns.

If global efforts to curb climate change fail, the impact could be far worse: a loss of two-thirds of

the region’s glaciers by 2100, said the Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment released on Feb. 4 by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development.

“Global warming is on track to transform the frigid, glacier-covered mountain peaks of the Hindu Kush Himalayas cutting across eight countries to bare rocks in a little less than a century,’’ said Philippus Wester of the center, who led the report.

The five-year study looked at

“All the countries affected need to prioritize tackling this upcoming problem before it reaches crisis proportions.”

— Saleemul Huq, director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development

the effects of climate change on a region that cuts across Asia through Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The area, which includes the world’s tallest

mountain peaks, has glaciers that feed into river systems including the Indus, Ganges, Yangtze, Irrawaddy and Mekong.

The assessment said that the impact of the melting could range

from flooding from the increased runoff to increased air pollution from black carbon and dust deposited on the glaciers.

Saleemul Huq, director of the International Center for Climate Change and Development, an environmental research center in Dhaka, described the findings of the report as “very alarming,’’ especially for downstream nations such as Bangladesh. see GLACIERS on 15

KING COUNTY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ADVERTISEMENT Proposals will be received for E00586E19, Work Order Transit Passenger Facility Planning and Conceptual Design; by the King County Procurement and Payables Section, 3rd Floor, 401 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, until 12:00 PM on February 26, 2019.

Total Estimated Price: $1,000,000 (each) King County intends to award two contracts from this RFP. This contract is funded by the Federal Transit Administration. There is a 15% minimum requirement for Washington State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises Certified Federal Small Business Enterprise (SBE) firms on this contract.

King County, in accordance with the provisions of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000d to 2000d4) and the Regulations, hereby notifies all Proposers that it will affirmatively ensure that any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full and fair opportunity to submit proposals in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

All solicitation documents are published at: https://procurement.kingcounty.gov/procurement_ovr/login. aspx?ReturnUrl=%2fprocurement_ovr%2fdefault.aspx

asianweekly northwest

6

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

37 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR FEB 14 ELLA MAI Showbox SoDo, 1700 1st Ave. S., Seattle 9 p.m.-12 a.m.

Tickets at goo.gl/vhn5vz

17

THRU

“140 LBS. — HOW BEAUTY KILLED MY MOTHER” BY SUSAN LIEU Theatre Off Jackson, 409 7th Ave. S., Seattle 7:30 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Tickets at https:// theatreoffjackson.org/ event/4778/140-lbs

17 CSA UW LUNAR NEW YEAR GALA Kane Hall 1410 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, Washington 98105 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM TAP-SEA: TAPPY HOUR Starbucks Reserve SODO 2401 Utah Ave S, Seattle, WA 98134-1421, United States 6 PM – 9 PM THE FRIENDS OF ASIAN ART ASSOCIATION PRESENTS THE CHINESE LANGUAGE DA VINCI CODE Greenlake Public Library, 7364 E. Green Lake Dr. N., Seattle 2-4 p.m. $10-$15 friendsofasianart.org

ANNUAL DAY OF REMEMBRANCE TAIKO FUNDRAISER 2019 Seattle University, Pigott Auditorium, 901 12th Ave., Seattle 1-4 p.m. $10-$20 brownpapertickets.com/ event/3905798

21 CELEBRATE 2019 YEAR OF THE BOAR China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5:30 p.m. $65 seattlechinesechamber.org

21-24 SEATTLE ASIAN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL Broadway Performance Hall and Northwest Film Forum For time, info, and tickets, go to seattleaaff.org

23 21ST ANNUAL ASIA PACIFIC NEW YEAR Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

“FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN,” FILM SCREENING Nisei Veterans Hall, 1212 South King St., Seattle 2 p.m. sktaiko1@mac.com, 206-919-1465

MAR THRU

14-17

2

IRENE KUBOTA’S “MY CORNER OF THE WORLD” ARTIST RECEPTION Bryan Ohno Gallery, Seattle 6-8p.m.

2 NWAW & SCP PRESENTS 10TH ANNUAL LUNAR NEW YEAR COSTUME CONTEST Two contests to enter: Pig Mask and Costume Contest Northwest Asian Weekly office, 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 11 a.m.

Contests for everyone.

No age limit.

Register online: nwasianweekly.com/events 206-223-5559 CIDBIA LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AND FOOD WALK Seattle’s Chinatown/ International District 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Free admission LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION Bellevue Square 11 a.m.-6 p.m. bellevuecollection.com/ lunarnewyear

EMERALD CITY COMIC CON 2019 Emerald City Comic Con, 800 Convention Place, Seattle emeraldcitycomiccon.com 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

16

THRU

FREE CLASS TO HELP PREPARE FOR THE U.S. CITIZENSHIP TEST Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave. Level 4, Seattle 2-4 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays 10:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. on Saturdays spl.org

THRU

TIMELESS TAIWAN: TRAIN TO FORMOSA Husky Union Building, 4001 E. Stevens Way N.E., Seattle 3-8 p.m.

19-20 SAKURA-CON 2019 Washington State Convention Center, Seattle $70–$80 sakuracon.org

20 JCCCW’S TOMODACHI GALA Hyatt Regency Lake Washington, Renton 5 p.m. info8sea2fuk@yahoo.com

24

ZEN CLASS MEDITATION & BUDDHISM Buddha Jewel Monastery, 17418 8th Ave. N.E., Shoreline Fridays, 7-9 p.m.

Free guided meditation buddhajewel.org 206-721-9921

APRIL

MY HERO ACADEMIA PHOTOSHOOT Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle 1-3 p.m.

Do you have a calendar event you’d like posted?

19 MIRAI - SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS Uptown Cinemas, 511 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle 11 a.m.-1 p.m. siff.net

Please email han@ nwasianweekly.com

View the solution on page 14

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The only weekly English-language newspaper serving Washington’s Asian community. The NW Asian Weekly has one simple goal: “To empower the Asian community.”

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ SPORTS

7

n TH E LAYU P DR ILL : a sp or ts co lum

A cancer fighter, a skating star, and a new tennis queen

ADRIAN

By Jason Cruz NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Welcome to another edition of The Layup Drill. It’s been a big month for sports and we take a look at two local sports stars,and a dominant personality in tennis.

Adrian remains upbeat after cancer diagnosis Bremerton, Wash. native and

Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. After going to see his doctor because something “didn’t seem quite right,” he was referred to specialists who diagnosed him with having cancer. The 30-year-old stated that doctors had caught the cancer early and he started treatment immediately. In late January, Adrian told his fans via social media that he had surgery to remove lymph nodes.

Adrian won a gold medal as

LIU

part of the 4x100 meter freestyle team that set a world record at the 2008 Olympic games in Beijing.

He returned to the 2012 London Olympics to win two more: gold and a silver. In his return to the Olympics in Rio in 2016, Adrian added more medals: two gold and two bronze.

Despite the health setback, Adrian remains positive about his prognosis and hopes to return for a fourth Olympics in Tokyo.

We wish him the best in his recovery.

OSAKA Alysa Liu is the newest, young figure skating star At just 13 years old, Alysa Liu became the youngest skater in history to win the U.S. senior ladies’ title. Liu’s performance, which sealed the championship, included two triple axles. The Richmond, Calif. native is one of just three other Americans to perform the jump which requires the skater to gain enough speed to plant their skate on the ice, jump

and perform three rotations in the air while landing. Her winning routine included eight triple jumps and was the most demanding technical skate of the night.

Liu is being revered as the most promising U.S. skater since Michelle Kwan when she finished second at the 1994 Senior Ladies’ Championships.

Liu is oldest child of Arthur Liu, who immigrated to the United States from China. He is raising see LAYUP DRILL on 12

Access YOUR Opportunity!

The Port of Seattle is committed to expanding opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses. Learn more about upcoming events and register to receive information about opportunities in construction, consulting, and goods and services.

LEARN MORE www.portseattle.org/smallbiz

asianweekly northwest

8

37 YEARS

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ AT THE MOVIES

‘Kingdom’ brings the horror of zombies to ancient Korea

By Trevor Hsia NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY Of the many horror series that feature zombies as a theme, most of them share many of the same features and settings, but the South Korean Netflix original “Kingdom” sets itself apart from the standard formula. Taking place in a notable historical period of ancient Korea, as civil unrest and a zombie outbreak threaten to collapse civilization, the nation’s Crown Prince attempts to thwart the political scheming of the Queen’s family while learning just what it means to become a leader. A well-written adventure with impressive visuals, Kingdom is a mustwatch for anyone who enjoyed works such as “Game of Thrones,” “The Walking Dead,” and “Train to Busan.”

“Kingdom” is a fantasy horror thriller set in Korea during the Joseon period (1392– 1897), during a time of political upheaval, widespread famine, and destabilizing class inequality. The Queen’s family, the Haewon Cho Clan, is engaged in a steady takeover of the government, while they bleed the common people dry for their own power and influence. The Emperor has fallen ill and his own son, the Crown Prince Lee Chang, is forbidden from seeing him. Accused of treason, the Prince seeks out the last known physician to treat the Emperor so he can learn the truth behind his father’s condition and depose the Haewon Cho Clan, whose continued machinations for power threaten to drown Korea in an undead plague.

“Kingdom” is based off of the webcomic The Kingdom of the Gods, written by Kim Eun-hee, who also wrote the screenplay for “Kingdom” itself. They have written other popular series like the award-winning TV drama “Signal.” The director is Kim Seonghun, who directed the award-winning survival drama, “The Tunnel.” Together with Netflix, they created a six-episode, approximately six-hour long epic that distinguishes itself from other shows in the genre through a variety of ways and leaves a lasting impression.

While most TV shows and movies concerned with the zombie apocalypse are set in the modern day, there are a few that distinguish themselves by having it take place in the past or future, and “Kingdom” is one such series. The only guns to be seen here are the rare muskets in use by the army, and even swords are relatively few in number.

Spears, bows, and makeshift weapons are the order of the era, which leads to fight scenes that are much more visceral and intense than other works. It makes for an exciting visual treat, and a welcome departure from the clichés of similar series.

The show also has a very strong theme underlying character developments and motivations of the main cast, in particular that of the Crown Prince. Prince Lee Chang begins as rather aloof with no small amount of self-interest, but as we come to learn about the inequality between the nobles and peasantry, the famine, and the corruption of the government, the Prince grows as a person.

Everyone has the choice to make between putting themselves and their own survival first, or helping others and working together.

Both the virtues and flaws of human nature are explored throughout the season, making the entirety of it an emotionally-charged journey from start to finish.

Overall, I was very impressed with “Kingdom.” It hooked me in and would not let me go until I had finished the season. Even now, the memory of it has me clamoring for Season Two, which is already confirmed and slated to begin production. The aesthetics and visuals were enough to rival big budget box office hits, which only added to the realism and immersion. The pacing see KINGDOM on 11

Image from Netflix

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO IMPROVE THE RULES THAT STRUCTURE KING COUNTY GOVERNMENT! “How can we better serve our growing population?”

“I have an idea to improve law “How can we enforcement encourage affordable housing “How do we make oversight.” it easier to development?” run for office?

KING COUNTY’S CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION NEEDS YOUR HELP! The Charter Review Commission would like your input so that King County can better serve its rapidly growing population. Right now, the Commission is reviewing the County Charter in order to recommend changes to the King County Council.

Please join us at one of the meetings listed below to help us look at potential changes to the way our local government is structured.

Please join us!

Magnuson Park Fall City

Federal Way

Tuesday, February 19

Wednesday, February 20

Tuesday, February 26

The Officers Club 6310 NE 74th St Seattle, WA 98115

Chief Kanim Middle School 32627 SE Redmond-Fall City Rd Fall City, WA 98024

Federal Way Community Center 876 S 333rd St Federal Way, WA 98003

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7:00 to 9:00 pm

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Unable to attend?

If you cannot attend the meeting in person, please consider sharing your ideas by emailing CharterReview@kingcounty.gov. For more information, please visit kingcounty.gov/charter.

Please email CharterReview@kingcounty.gov or call 206-477-1000 (TTY/TDD: 206-477-1024) if you need interpretive services or have any questions.

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ AT THE MOVIES

9

‘The Wandering Earth’ dominates China’s New Year box office

By John Liu NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

 

More than $50 million was riding on China’s first major scifi movie, “The Wandering Earth,” but investors can breathe a sigh of relief as the movie made all the money back in just two days.

“The Wandering Earth” ended up breaking the record for the highest daily gross and opening week for a local title, and it is on pace to beat more movie records.

“The Wandering Earth,” which has English subtitles, is based on a story by Cixin Liu, the author best known for “The Three-Body Problem,” and the first Asian to win the Hugo Award for best science fiction/fantasy novel in 2015. I have not read the books before seeing the movie, but was intrigued by its premise. Life on Earth is predicted to cease in 300 years due to the sun’s degeneration. As a result, nations put aside their differences to form the UEG — United Earth Government. Their solution is to create a space station to navigate

“If you can accept the crazy space expedition premise like I did, then you will find this movie quite enjoyable.”

space and to implement rocket thrusters on Earth and propel it to another star system. Since Earth is no longer orbiting the sun, monstrous waves and extreme weather destroy everything above ground. The remaining survivors live in underground cities. While Earth is passing Jupiter, it gets caught in Jupiter’s gravitational pull and soon the fate of humanity lies in the hands of our heroes.

Wu Jing, who starred in mega China blockbuster “Wolf Warrior 2,” contributed financially to make this movie possible and plays Liu Peiqiang, an astronaut aboard the space station tasked with working with the super computer, MOSS. While on Earth’s surface, we follow Peiqiang’s son, Liu Qi (Qu Chuxiao), adopted sister Han Duoduo (Zhao Jinmai), grandpa Han Zi’ang (Ng Man-tat), and a

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group of elite soldiers to save the planet. Both stories intertwine with each other through family issues and the end-of-the-world action sequences.

If you can accept the crazy space expedition premise like I did, then you will find this movie quite enjoyable. Throughout the movie, MOSS is constantly narrating what is going on, and it’s a little too much at times.

The cinematography is gorgeous, and I’m envious of everyone who got to see this in IMAX 3D. I wish more time was spent on the dialogue as it’s non-stop action, but maybe some of it was lost in subtitle translation. There was one cheesy call back to Lunar New Year, but probably required to for a movie coming out during this golden movie period in China.

The movie definitely reminds see EARTH on 11

asianweekly northwest

10

37 YEARS

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

Photo by George Liu/NWAW

A surprisingly snowy start to the Year of the Pig

HING HAY PARK, COVERED IN SNOW

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY The Year of the Pig is supposed to bring us wealth and prosperity. Instead, Seattle gets snow— treacheous storms one after another —putting all Lunar New Year celebrations in limbo. Wait, it is said that a pig year should shower us with optimism and energy. That energy has surely been misdirected to a dirty mess in the city after the snow.

When I watched the snow pouring like thunderous rain on Feb. 11, I didn’t know what to make of it. I stepped back a little, trying to put everything in perspective.

What people don’t know is that the pig has a mischievous trait. It may be fat and slow, it also likes to play. Long ago, I remember what my friend, who raised pigs, said — that no one can get a pig to do something.

“What do you do if you want the pig to act the way you want?” I asked.

Presently, this snow has hurt quite a bit, not only in the Asian community, but much of the Northwest.

On Feb. 9, Chinatown was like a freezing ghost town. Several businesses, including Uwajimaya and restaurants in the International District (ID), were closed. In the past, the first Lunar New Year weekend is presumably one of the busiest in the ID. Over 10,000 people come from all over the state, and visit our community to see the Lunar New Year festival, packing our grocery stores and restaurants with fam-

“You have to bribe the pig,” she said.

“Really, the pig is that smart?” I responded.

Don’t underestimate the pig year.

It can be as unpredictable as next week’s stock market. That snow was just a little fun the pig wants to have. Is that it? The best is yet to come? Who knows! Some folks said, snow is a good sign — meaning water, translated into Asian cultures — meaning wealth. I didn’t know Asian cultures have a philosophical way of looking at things.

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2019!

This month, we join King County’s vibrant Chinese community in celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year with festivals in honor of the Year of the Pig.

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It is also an opportunity to celebrate 37 years of community contributions by the staff and volunteers of the Northwest Asian Weekly. We also commend the staff of its sister publication, the Seattle Chinese Post, the oldest Chinese-language newspaper in the Pacific Northwest, which has been in operation since 1982 providing critical news and information to its readers.

ily and friends. Bakeries and barbecue outlets sell out their goods faster than any other time of the year. Children put on their beautiful Asian costumes. Lion and dragon dancers perform with loud gongs and drums, firecrackers are lit to chase away evil spirits, and you can hear them from blocks away.

Many ID restaurateurs were counting on the New Year weekend, and the days leading up to or following the New Year. However,

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asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ EDITORIAL

11

Yes, Blackface is offensive

By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

I was dismayed by the fact that I was asked to write this editorial.

To me, it seems so clear.

My boss asked, “Some Asian immigrants don’t get why Blackface by non-Blacks are offensive.

Can you explain?”

Growing up in Asia, I recall seeing only a handful of Black people. In general, the exposure to Blacks in Asia in extremely limited. On one hand, I can understand the ignorance from that standpoint.

On the other, I am appalled by the findings of a Pew study released on Feb. 11 that revealed that about one-third of Americans believe wearing Blackface for Halloween is “always” or “some-

“Blackface to Black people is in this realm of making a caricature out of an entire race.

Blackface is a leftover from a time when Black men had to literally answer to being called ‘boy’ and could be hung for daring to show less than proper humility when subjected to such demeaning acts.”

— Russell Edwards

times” acceptable.

“Blackface to Black people is in this realm of making a caricature out of an entire race,” my friend Russell Edwards, who is Black, explained. “Blackface is a leftover from a time when Black men had to literally answer to being called ‘boy’ and could be hung for daring to show less than proper humility when subjected to such demeaning acts.”

A common statement in defense of Blackface is that it is all in good fun, a joke, harmless, or not done

with the intent to bother anyone.

But just because you’re not offended doesn’t mean that it’s not insensitive or hurtful to someone else.

In many ways, your intent is irrelevant.

When someone says, ‘I didn’t mean it that way,’ the real question should not be, ‘Did I mean it?’ but, ‘Am I causing harm?’

Looney Tunes’ “Tokio Jokio” from the World War II era is probably one of the most racist cartoons of all time — portraying the Japanese as incompetent buffoons

with giant teeth.

Mickey Rooney’s buck-toothed, taped-eyes portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany’s… classic yellowface. How is Blackface any more acceptable?

Edwards said, “I look to the swastika as a classic example of something that has multiple meanings, but has been corrupted by a particularly sinister chapter of human history. No Buddhist would intentionally visit her Jewish friend wearing that symbol.”

The legacy of white people

KINGDOM from 8

EARTH from 8

OHASHI on from 3

kept me on the edge of my seat during scenes where the main cast fought for their lives against the unending hordes of the infected, while at the same time giving me plenty of breaks where the action slowed and I could take some time to process what just happened.

“Kingdom” never made me feel burnt out or bored, which was quite a feat for an entire season that I watched in one sitting. It felt like one long movie at times, and I cannot help but compare it to “Game of Thrones” in terms of visual quality, presentation, and appeal. Political intrigue on top of an undead outbreak? That’s exactly the kind of multilayered story that draws me in and keeps me thinking long after the credits have rolled and the TV turned off.

If you have watched and enjoyed “Game of Thrones,” “The Walking Dead,” or another South Korean zombie film “Train to Busan,” then I wholeheartedly recommend “Kingdom.” It is a show unlike most in the category, yet still appeals to anyone who enjoys the genre. The entire first season is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. ■

me of other Hollywood space and disaster blockbusters, such as “The Day After Tomorrow,” “2012,” “Interstellar, Gravity,” and “Space Odyssey 2001.” I wish this movie took some time to explore complex moral dilemmas like determining who would attempt a suicide mission between two people with something to die for, but the movie clearly indicated it was not going in that direction, which makes each decision very clear-cut for our heroes. Sometimes movies with too much complexity do not do well at the box office, so better to play it safe. There are a lot of action cliches, and the movie was shoehorning emotional deaths. However, even I caught some space dust in my eye near the end of the movie.

Seattle was fortunate to have two theaters showing “The Wandering Earth” last weekend, and each showtime was practically sold out.

You can still catch “The Wandering Earth” this week at AMC Pacific Place or Regal Meridian, and I recommend that you do! ■

a perfect 10 in the floor exercise at a meet for the Bruins. The video was seen all over social media and has been viewed more than 113 million times.

Ohashi dazzled the crowd at Alaska Airlines Arena on Feb. 10, including friends and family. And she once again, scored a perfect 10.

Ohashi is from Newcastle, Wash. and began training at a young age.

When she began showing promise as a gymnast, she moved with her mother to Kansas City, Missouri and then to Plano, Texas to train. She was an elite gymnast training with the U.S. national team and on the road to be a gymnastics star and an Olympics darling. But

Trevor Hsia can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

get respect. Investigators were seeking additional witnesses who may have been told by Sohn that he was an officer, Warren said.

Sohn was released on $2,500 bail.

As the video circulated online, the LAPD quickly said he was not a member of its force and that the shirt he was wearing was not official attire.

“The apparel worn by the individual, specifically the T-shirt with LAPD insignia, is not department issued and is accessible to the public,” the department said. “We will be working with our Entertainment Trademark Unit to ensure violations of our trademark on apparel are addressed.” ■

Follow us on social media! /nwasianweekly

a fractured back and two torn shoulders held her back. She was ridiculed for her body-type and even admitted to being “happy to be injured.” At one point she wanted to quit gymnastics altogether.

As a result, she decided to compete in college rather than continue training on an elite level. The move meant that it was unlikely she’d make it to the Olympics or be the big star at major international competitions.

Despite the setback, Ohashi has found happiness in returning to being free as a gymnast. Her fame might gain her a spot on ABC’s show Dancing with the Stars. She is also a writer and has penned poems which she has shared during her recent television appearances. ■

Have a story idea that you think would fit perfectly in Northwest Asian Weekly?

We want to know about it. Send it to us at info@nwasianweekly.com.

John can be reached at john@nwasianweekly.com.

POLICE from 4

darkening their faces grew out of the Civil War and Reconstruction era, and was featured most famously in the 1915 silent film, “The Birth of a Nation,” to portray Black people as moral degenerates who threatened white culture.

How can we move on from racism as a society if people are still blackening their faces or mocking a whole group?

“The portrayal of fellow humans as somehow less than human has led to some of the greatest atrocities,” said Edwards.

Think of the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans in the United States during World War II, and Muslim travel bans.

Blackface is simply a painful reminder of crimes against our fellow humans. ■

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asianweekly northwest

12

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

BLOG from 10 this year’s weather was weird. A week before Lunar New Year, we had good warm weather. Then, it changed Washington state into another Alaska overnight. The cold spell, on Lunar New Year’s Eve, extended for more than a week. Thank God, the City of Seattle has been doing a good job to clear the streets of the ID and downtown.

Many organizations, which set their events on Feb. 9., had to reschedule to a later date.

First, Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Association decided on Feb.5 to postpone its Lunar New Year festival to March 2. Asia Pacific Cultural Center announced a change to its event to have it on Feb. 23, a day before the storm hit on Feb. 9.

Bellevue Square was the last one to announce its decision on the morning of Feb. 9, to postpone its Lunar New Year event until March 2.

As I walked around the ID on Feb. 11, quite a few restaurants weren’t open, and many had cut back their dinner hours. Rain or shine, some organizers could not change their events’ date, despite the uncooperative weather, like the Seattle Hop Sing Tong’s

Lunar New Year banquet. Only 200 people showed up, and several tables were empty.

The schedule was set in advance, so its national officials could attend the different chapters’ banquets. Besides, other Chinatown organizations coordinated their New Year banquet dates, so they don’t clash with one another. If one changes its date, it would ruin the whole community’s celebration schedule.

Snow impact Some meteorologists said that the recent snowstorms were the worst in the past 40 or 70 years in our area. Small business owners, including restaurateurs, might moan and groan about how much their business had suffered in the last 10 days. But restaurateurs were not the only ones.

The community can play a vital role in helping ID businesses and Asian restaurants in other parts of town. If you didn’t get to celebrate the Lunar New Year with your family and friends because of the snow, this weekend and the next and the next, would be great to invite them to come to the ID and support the businesses. I cancelled a family dinner on Feb. 9, and would do one when the weather

LAYUP DRILL from 7

in 2022.

Liu and her four siblings — a 9-year-old younger sister and 8-year-old triplets— with his partner. Liu and her sisters were born with the help of a surrogate mother.

Liu attended Chinese school for three years before her father switched her to Oakland School for the Arts which has a figure skating emphasis. But due to travel for competitions, Liu switched to being home schooled at her father’s law office.

Since winning the ladies’ figure skating title, the outgoing Liu has been a media darling. One might expect her to be vying for a spot to compete at the Beijing games

Naomi Osaka flexes dominance in winning Australian Open

LAWSUIT from 4

States stay in the country and obtain work permits, the suit said.

One of them is the 9-year-old daughter of Honduran citizen Donaldo Posadas Caceres, who came to the United States shortly before the hurricane in 1998. After Honduras was designated for the program, he obtained the status, and now works as a bridge painter and owns his home in Baltimore.

He said he doesn’t want his children to return to a country they don’t know and where life is so dangerous. His elder daughter, he said, is in college studying to be a lawyer while the 9-year-old has plans of her own.

“She has the dreams of a child: she wants to be president,’’ he told reporters in Spanish during a telephone conference. “And I want to be here in the United States to support them, and see their achievements.’’ ■

buying homes and building careers.

Critics have said the program was meant to be temporary and shouldn’t be extended for so long.

The Trump administration announced last year that the program would be ending for Honduras and Nepal. Honduras was designated for the program after a devastating 1998 hurricane and about 86,000 immigrants from the country have the status, according to the lawsuit.

About 15,000 immigrants from Nepal — which was designated following an earthquake in 2015— are covered, the suit said.

Together, these immigrants have more than 50,000 American children who would be affected by an end to the program, which lets those who are already in the United

Coming off of a U.S. Open victory last September, Japan’s Naomi Osaka is asserting herself as a force in women’s tennis.

She won the Australian Open over Petra Kvitova and with the win propelled her to the number 1 women’s tennis player in the world. She becomes the first Asian to become number 1.

The 21-year-old said that the Grand Slam victory, her second straight, “felt really

37 YEARS

gets better. Lunar New Year celebration doesn’t end until the middle of March. You still have time for a wonderful festive meal.

The snow had also impacted us. We are one of the organizers for ID Lunar New Year festival, the costume/mask contest on Feb. 9.

I’m glad the event was postponed, rather than to have the contestants standing in the cold.

Also, snow would have destroyed most of the costumes since most are made of thin material.

The Seattle Chinese Post, Northwest Asian Weekly’s sister paper, was in jeopardy to be published on time, since more than half of the staff couldn’t make it in to work. Some staff members’ power went out in their homes. The day before, the print shop for Seattle Chinese Post also had power problems. It gave me anxiety all night, thinking about what could possibly go wrong on press day. Quickly, I rolled to the side, and soothed myself to sleep.

I have written articles, urging readers not to worry about the unknown. Why am I doing it to myself, I wondered. The fact is, it’s always easier to give advice than to take my own.

So, I put a few drops of essential oils that help with relaxation on my pillow. Then, I took some slow deep breaths, counting one

special.” She uses a booming serve and aggressive play to overtake her opponents.

She proved to be dominant during her tournament down under.

Osaka’s mother is Japanese and her father is from Haiti. Yet her tan complexion was not depicted in a recent advertisement

by Japanese food brand Nissin. The company released an anime-style ad which depicted the brown-skinned Osaka as a whitewashed tennis player. The company apologized for the inaccurate depiction after many complained.

“I don’t think they did it on purpose to be ‘whitewashing’ or anything,” said Osaka in response to the controversy. However,

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an op-ed in the Washington Post disagreed with the player as old stereotypes that infer a light-skinned character is better-received than a darker skinned one.

The good news is that advertisers and marketers will need to get used to Osaka.

If that means that Japanese advertisers will need to amend the complexion of ads, so be it.

Osaka is at the top of the women’s tennis world. And it doesn’t look like she’s even at the peak of her career. ■ Jason can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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to five for each breath before I exhaled. Within minutes, I fell asleep. If I don’t have the energy of a dragon and horse the next day, I wouldn’t have the spirit of these two animals to face my challenges. I slept for seven hours, and felt ready to tackle the world when I woke up. Things change dramatically every day.

Never think about your problems once you are in bed.

As of press time, all of our staff members showed up, except for one. Life always has a mysterious way of working things out.

For those who suffered from the loss of business during the first Lunar New Year weekend, don’t look at them as losses. I did spend time relaxing at home, and counting my blessings over the week. Be prepared for surprises in the Year of the Pig. Never take good times for granted. And never take for granted those who have supported you through thick and thin.

The pig year is still young. Look for the good, satisfaction, and fun even if you are in troubled waters. The pig year can be a rewarding year, you will soon discover. ■

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YOUR VOICE

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

■ ASTROLOGY

13

Predictions and advice for the week of February 16–February 22, 2019

By Sun Lee Chang Rat — Does it feel like you are swimming upstream?

As the week progresses, the flow should go more in your favor.

Dragon — With an abundant number of choices before you, it can be difficult to choose just one. Pick with your heart.

Monkey — Although you normally prefer the comforts of home, a change of scenery for a short time might actually be quite refreshing.

Ox — If you aren’t being heard, it may be time to turn up the volume. Show those around you that you mean business.

Snake — When family or friends are concerned, mixing money matters could get a bit murky. Proceed with caution if it is unavoidable.

Tiger — Your sense of adventure beckons you, but don’t abandon good sense or caution in the process of pursuing your quest.

Horse — Listen to all the instructions before you jump in. Doing so beforehand could prevent you from missing a crucial detail.

Rooster — Following your passion shouldn’t come at the expense of all else. It would be prudent to have a backup plan just in case things don’t work out the way you planned.

Rabbit — A lot of information is getting thrown at you, but soon you should be able to sift through to find what is important.

Goat — A tempting offer is worth considering, but be skeptical if it sounds too good to be true. There could be a catch that is not immediately clear.

Dog — Even though you often put the needs of others ahead of your own, you should take care to make yourself a priority.

Pig — Don’t underestimate the power of humor in a tense situation. It can help to alleviate some of the strain so that progress can be made.

WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL SIGN? RAT 1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008 OX 1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009 TIGER 1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010 RABBIT 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011 DRAGON 1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012 SNAKE 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013 HORSE 1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014 GOAT 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015 MONKEY 1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016 ROOSTER 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017 DOG 1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018 PIG 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

*The year ends on the first new moon of the following year. For those born in January and February, please take care when determining your sign.

ROYAL from 5 family members to be involved in the political system, in any way, is an act that is against the ancient royal protocol and national custom and culture, and is seen as a highly inappropriate act,’’ the statement added.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the preferred candidate of the military, is considered to be indelibly loyal to the monarchy. He led the 2014 military coup that ousted Thailand’s last elected government, which had been backed by Thaksin.

Prayuth had been considered the front-runner for the March election because changes in the constitution and election rules implemented by his government make it difficult for political parties without military backing to capture the prime minister’s post.

Thailand also has a draconian lese majeste law which punishes defamation of the immediate royal family with up to 15 years in prison. While it does not technically apply to Ubolratana, who lost her highest royal titles when she married an American more than four decades ago, its scope has been widened in recent years to almost anything that sullies the royal institution, making criticism of the princess highly problematical.

Before the king’s statement, Ubolratana had issued a statement on Instagram saying she has “no special privileges above the Thai people under the constitution.’’

“This act of mine, I have done out of sincerity and intention to sacrifice in this request to lead the country to

prosperity,’’ she said.

Parliament has had members who were distant relatives of the monarch.

Ubolratana falls into a gray area, since she is commonly called a princess and treated as such, despite losing the royal designations after her marriage.

Hours after she was registered as a candidate, a political party supporting Prayuth filed an objection with the Election Commission, arguing that the action broke rules banning the use of the royal institution as part of a political campaign.

Several other complaints followed, mostly from conservative royalists, exposing a possible vulnerability in her plans.

Ubolratana is the first-born of four children of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit, with the current king the second-born.

She was virtually disowned by her father in 1972 when she married American Peter Jensen, who was a fellow student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They settled in the United States where they had three children. They later divorced and she moved back permanently to Thailand in 2001.

Since then she has thrown herself into charity work, especially her “To Be No. 1’’ foundation to fight youth drug abuse. She also frequently promotes Thai tourism and movies at international forums. In general, like most of the royal family, she publicly kept herself aloof from Thailand’s recent political turmoil.

For most of Bhumibol’s reign from 1946 to his death in 2016, the revered

and humble monarch was a stabilizing force in Thai politics. But the election of Thaksin in 2001 was transformative for Thailand.

His populist policies delivered unmatchable electoral majorities, but he was resented by the traditional ruling class, including royalists and the military.

Violent street protests and two military coups have marked the years since. Thaksin went in exile in 2008 to avoid serving jail time on a corruption conviction he insists was politically motivated.

His well-funded political machine returned his allies to power twice, and his maneuvering was seen as the key element in arranging for Ubolratana’s selection by a Thaksin-affiliated party.

Most political observers agree that Thaksin aggressively pursued good relations with the current king and friendship with the princess herself.

These links were formed as royalists and others loyal to Bhumibol accused Thaksin of showing disrespect for the throne, and even of harboring secret republican tendencies.

When Vajiralongkorn ascended to the throne, conventional wisdom saw him as tightening his grip on power by allying himself closely with the military.

The surprise move by his sister into politics — assumed to be with the king’s approval — raised questions about whether the long-lasting partnership of the palace with the army is in jeopardy. ■

LEE from 5 Fields and composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Their musical adaptation, originally directed by Gene Kelly, ran on Broadway from 195860 and was revived in 2002, with a book by “M. Butterfly’’ playwright David Henry Hwang. A 1961 film version, among the first major Hollywood productions to feature an Asian cast, received five Academy Award nominations despite being called by The New Yorker an “elaborate fraud’’ and a showcase for crude stereotypes.

Lee has since been praised as among the first Asian novelists to break through commercially in the U.S. and Hwang is among those who thought the book underrated. “Flower Drum Song’’ was out of print at the time Hwang worked on the Broadway revival and he had to track it down from a Seattle book seller.

“I thought, ‘Oh, it’s such a shame this author and this book have been lost, particularly the bittersweet tone of the novel,’’’ Hwang told the AP in 2001.

“C.Y.’s book is complicated in terms of texture about what it means to be an American — the things you gain and the things you lose — but it ultimately affirms the value of this social experience.’’

A native of China who emigrated to the U.S. during World War II, Chin Yang Lee wrote several other novels, including “China Saga’’ and “Gate of Rage,’’ based on pro-democracy protests in 1989 centered on Tiananmen Square.

He spent more than a year writing “Flower Drum Song,’’ and at the time was renting a small apartment above a Filipino nightclub in San Francisco. He was employed at the time by a Chinese-language newspaper, for which he wrote stories for elderly readers. For his novel, he drew upon his observations about the difference between older immigrants and their more assimilated children.

“In Chinatown, I knew everything that was going on,’’ he told the AP in 2002. “Out of that I created characters, using everybody including my own family and my friends, plus a lot of invention from the air.’’

Lee struggled to find a publisher. After more than a dozen rejections, he was warned by his agent that he might have to “think of another profession.’’

“But then the novel landed at the sick bed of an 80-year-old gentleman, who was a reader for a highbrow publishing house (Farrar, Straus),’’ Lee told the AP. “He was quite ill, but he read it. He didn’t have the energy to write a two- or three-page critique. He wrote only two words — ‘Read this’ — and died.

“Without those two words, the novel would have never been published.’’ ■

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ZHANG on from 3 a point to get out of my comfort zone and to work on my weaknesses. Being a librarian has given me so many opportunities to do this and it has made me a stronger person,” he said.

Informing the public As a librarian, one of Zhang’s main missions is to help educate and inform the public, to help them evaluate information so that it’s accurate and relevant for their needs.

When fake news became a buzzword after the 2016 election, Zhang said that the library saw an uptick of people coming in to inquire and fact check.

There was an opportunity to create a class around spotting fake news. Zhang was a temp in his current department at the time. It was a project that his manager assigned him to create a curriculum to address the need — hence the birth of the fake news survival guide class.

Teaching the class is only a small part of his day job as a librarian. Zhang also manages the reference and physical collection for the business and health and medicine topics, which is his subject area. He also answers patrons’ questions in-person and online.

The class launched in April 2017 and are held once or twice a quarter, up to eight times a year at the Seattle Central Library location.

The free, first come, first served class-

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es are held in the Central Library’s large computer lab that seats 25.

Zhang said that he has adapted the class for an iPad version, as well as a presentation for different community groups. He’s also presented at library and journalism conferences.

One of the first groups that he met with was an executive peer group, a group of company executives that meets monthly.

The executives were specifically interested in how they can protect themselves from online slander or negative press.

Zhang worked with Andra Addison, SPL’s communications director, to provide them with tips to put out fires and distinguish their reality from fake news.

A small part of Zhang’s curriculum also addresses net neutrality.

Zhang constantly hones his curriculum based on audience feedback and interests. This gives him an opportunity to do more research and learn more as well.

For example, Zhang added how to do a reverse image search to his course due to multiple requests.

“I want to make sure they’re getting the information that they need. It’s a topic that’s so large, so I want to make it relevant to what they came for,” he said.

thing to confirm,” he said.

While the most commonly shared top fake news stories are political and partisan in nature, Zhang makes it clear that the class is non-partisan and aimed at better navigating information.

Zhang advises people to read beyond the headline — studies have found that 60 percent of links get shared on social media without even being read.

“People are sharing based on emotion or agreeing with the headline instead of consuming the information critically, so I always say, take a step back, take time to evaluate what you’re sharing before you share,” he said.

After that, people should check the news source, author, and support to make sure it doesn’t raise any red flags.

In his class, they go over red flags and other things to look for, as well as completing exercises to go over the skills.

Zhang also advises people to look up fake news sites on the internet archives instead of going directly to the URL. This avoids adding a click and financially supporting those websites through ad revenue.

Tips and tricks to spotting fake news

“If I’m going to turn anywhere first, I’ll turn to my local news,” he said.

Zhang is a big supporter of outlets like The Seattle Times because they’re the ones connected to and accountable to the community.

In addition, if a publication has won a

“You want to check multiple publications, basically find support from more than one source. I always talk about finding multiple sources that say the same

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Pulitzer Prize, to Zhang, it’s more reliable.

He also visits realclearpolitics.com for balanced political news — the site contains a human-curated list of articles that is updated twice daily.

“At the heart of it, I love helping people. Connecting them to the piece of information that’ll make a difference to them or applying for a job, teaching them a skill to evaluate information, getting them reliable health information, or helping them navigate information systems to get their needs met,” he said. ■ For more information, visit spl.org.

Nina can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

SOLUTION from SUDOKU on page 6.

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FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

TIEN from 1 in building community above all else.” He added, “He believed everyone should have a fair chance.”

By the time California banned affirmative action in 1996, ChangLin had already launched a partnership between Berkeley and California K–12 public schools to improve the performance of marginalized students. The program later became a model for a nationwide program.

“Chancellor Tien taught us we have to stand up for ourselves,” said Connie So, an expert in the Chinese diaspora who teaches at the University of Washington.

At a graduate student of color conference at UC Berkeley where So was one of the hosts, the chancellor told a story of his early student days at Princeton. A professor repeatedly heckled him by asking, “Chinaman Tien, can you get me some water?”

Chang-Lin at first acquiesced.

“He said he did it because he thought it would be impolite to refuse,” said So. “He did not realize it was racist. Then a classmate explained that he was targeted and no one else was ever referred to that way. So Chancellor Tien was upset once he realized that. So the next time the professor called on his, he said, ‘I am not a China-

GLACIERS from 5 “All the countries affected need to prioritize tackling this upcoming problem before it reaches crisis proportions,’’ he said in an email. Huq was one of the study’s external reviewers.

The study said that even if the most ambitious Paris climate accord goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of the century were met,

Photo by Becky Chan/NWAW

FERGUSON from 1 Ferguson graduated from high school, he contemplated a career as a professional chess player. To his parents’ dismay, he skipped college and played chess in Europe full-time. After a year, he decided to forego chess because it is a “solitary endeavor.” Ferguson appreciates the beauty of chess, but “it doesn’t make the world a better place.” He wanted a broader impact on people’s lives. He went to the University of Washington, then New York University Law School and worked in a federal public defender’s office in Brooklyn.

In his element as a lawyer and a politician, as in chess, Ferguson watches for blunders and anticipates his next move. He was the first AG to sue President Trump on the infamous travel ban. It’s one of the 33 lawsuits Ferguson brought against the Trump administration.

Seventeen decisions were in the state’s favor, with 8 or 9 affirmed, the rest could be appealed.

Ferguson said the lawsuits brought by the states, regardless of party line, is a form of check-and-balance. He cited that even conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer applauded the democratic AGs for stepping in, filling the gap prompted by the

asianweekly northwest

YOUR VOICE

AG Ferguson with some of the SIRC members

dysfunctional Congress. He said AGs ensure laws are followed; they are not solution oriented.

Ferguson deflected rumors of him running for governor in 2020. He will seek a third term as AG should Gov. Jay Inslee run for re-election. For someone who doesn’t like to make decisions until he has to, Ferguson will need to decide at the end of this year. He said his appeal to the Asian community “in any job” he holds is “ensuring everyone’s civil rights are protected, focusing on all communities in the state in a way that we haven’t in the past.”

In 2015, Ferguson created a

man,’ and he asked the professor why he never asked anyone else to get water. The professor apologized to him in front of the class.”

Chang-Lin completed a second master’s degree and a PhD at Princeton in two years, and at 22 years of age became the youngest ever assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at UC Berkeley. During his term as chancellor, President Clinton was on the verge of appointing him Secretary of Energy. But Tien was abandoned because of his ethnicity, say scholars of Asian American history.

The district government in Huangpi, Wuhan, will begin construction in March or April on the multi-million dollar Chang-Lin Tien Center. The center will fill a plot of land nearly the size of two football fields, according to a memorandum of understanding drafted in consultation with Tien.

The memorandum, dated Nov. 28, 2018, states that C.C. Tien was led by a delegation to view the site and finalize details, such as a timeline to demolish and remove existing buildings. The demolition is set to be completed within two months, and construction is projected to be completed in approximately a half year, according the document, which was authorized by the Huangpi District Committee.

Originally, district officials ap-

more than a third of the region’s glaciers will be lost. If the global rise in temperature were 2 C (3.6 F), two-thirds of Himalayan glaciers will melt, it said.

The 2015 Paris Agreement was a landmark moment in international diplomacy, bringing together governments with vastly different views to tackle global warming. It set a headline target of keeping average global temperatures from rising by more than 2 C, or 1.5 C if possible.

civil rights unit in his office and named it after Wing Luke, “believed to be the first person of color to be an attorney,” in the AGO. Luke was Assistant AG in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Prior to the formation of the Wing Luke Civil Rights Unit, Ferguson said, no one in the AG’s office handled affirmative civil rights work. Complaints were referred elsewhere. He said the unit has grown and would become a division. He was preparing to announce the news to his team that afternoon. A division becomes permanent which no AG, likely someone who didn’t share Ferguson’s view, can dismantle.

Fittingly, the SIRC was a pioneer in civil rights as one of the first Rotaries in the nation to admit women. According to club history, SIRC filed a lawsuit in the Federal District Court of Seattle “seeking an injunction against Rotary International from expelling the club” for admitting women. The club admitted 15.

Ferguson spoke at length about the case on behalf of youths involved with the Development, Relief, Education Alien Minors (DREAM) Act. The Act granted undocumented minors, the socalled Dreamers, conditional residency with eventual permanent status if qualifications are met. The subsequent Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) provided temporary relief for these Dreamers, 18,000 in Washington, and 800,000 nationwide. President Donald Trump removed the protection 15 months ago, leading to possible deportation to countries the Dreamers don’t know.

Ferguson joined other AGs challenging Trump’s decision, which led to an injunction, halting any action.

Ferguson explained that the Dreamers’ fundamental rights of due process is deeply American, although the issue of immigration is controversial.

The architect’s design for the Chang-Lin Tien Center for International Academic Exchange

parently conceived of the center as a way to attract tourism. They contacted Tien three years ago and proposed building it in the Tien family’s ancestral home, in the center of the city.

But Tien disagreed.

“It would have displaced too many people,” he said.

Instead, he opened discussions with them about finding a new site, and he used his prestige, which the officials wanted, to transform the idea of the center into a place where the history and values of the Tien family would be on display. For instance, Tien

According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, emissions of the most abundant greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, would need to be reduced to a level the planet can absorb — known as net zero — by 2050 to keep global warming at 1.5 C as envisaged in the agreement.

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development said the study included work by more than 350 researchers and

assigned his relatives still living in Wuhan the task of tracking down the family’s history of service to the state, which included an ancestor that served as a highranking scholar official in the Qing Dynasty. Grave rubbings unearthed in their quest could be displayed in the museum.

His idea is to show that success involves serving others.

“My brother believed in service to the community above all else, but these were values that were passed down to us,” he said.

Among the exhibits will be his father’s gown that he wore as a

policy experts from 22 countries.

It said it had 210 authors and 125 external reviewers.

The Kathmandu-based center said it receives donations from regional countries, non-regional countries such as Australia, Austria, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and other international programs such as USAID. ■

15

“The Dreamers had to come out of the shadows first.” They were encouraged to share information that were promised not to be used against them. Ferguson said, “The federal government made no assurances that the information will not be used to deport them” after Trump’s decision. “A deal is a deal,” Ferguson added.

So far, the lower courts agreed with the AGs. No federal decision will be made this year, and the Dreamers are safe for now.

It is well known the AG has a deep disagreement with Trump.

Ferguson is most concerned about the increased rhetoric on the press, the judiciary.

“These institutions are stronger than any one individual,” Ferguson said. He worries about the long-term damage done in the way Trump communicates.

To continue his defense of Washingtonians, Ferguson is plotting his next move. Whether his visits to all the Rotaries in the state is to raise his political capital or not, it is a win-win situation.

According to the Chinese zodiac, the snake is determined to accomplish goals, and the snake doesn’t like to lose. Ferguson agreed. ■ Becky can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

government official during the Republican Period (ROC). Such an artifact, Tien believes, will suggest to young people that the previous government of China also made contributions to the livelihood of the Chinese people, offering a more balanced view of China’s 20th century turmoil.

C.C. Tien arrived in the United States in 1954, the first of the family to venture away from Taiwan, where they had escaped after the fall of the Republic of China to the Communists.

Working long hours and alone in New York City, he continuously sent money home and two years later, his brother, Chang-Lin Tien, came to America. Tien continued working, first designing bridges and later at Boeing as an aeronautical engineer, as his brother began a stellar academic career that included advocacy for affirmative action and the creation of a program to help disadvantaged high school students that spread nationwide.

For the older brother, the establishment of the center is also a symbolic return of his family to their birthplace, a place he has in some sense been trying to return to his entire life. ■ Mahlon can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.

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16

FEBRUARY 16 – FEBRUARY 22, 2019

37 YEARS