VOL 38 NO 41 | OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019 by Northwest Asian Weekly

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

VOL 38 NO 41 OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

I-1000 rally at China Harbor restaurant on Sept. 26.

A rally in support of an affirmative action bill descended into a melee as audience members hurled shouts and a man claiming to be owed $750,000 by the campaign berated former Gov. Gary Locke. “Our test scores are higher than yours!” yelled one Chinese woman from the middle of the auditorium. At one point, as Locke was being confronted about the alleged debt, organizers apparently turned off the microphone that was provided to participants.

AARP’s Jim Ko on life and aging By Ruth Bayang NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY

He retired from corporate life in 2015. But Jim Ko isn’t slowing down. Ko is the AARP Washington State president. In the volunteer role, Ko directs the organization’s activities on behalf of nearly 940,000 Washington state members. “I’d like to help people as they get older to have a much higher quality of life,” Ko said in a recent interview with the Northwest Asian Weekly. Born in Taiwan, Ko moved to the United States with his parents when he was 8 years old. He spoke fondly of his few months in this country. “Our port of entry was Seattle because we had friends and family on Mercer Island,” Ko recalled. “My first impression was how see KO on 4

Photo provided by AARP Washington State

Opposition to affirmative action bill erupts into fracas at rally

FREE 37 YEARS YOUR VOICE

Jim at “AARP Block Party” at the Bite of Seattle (July 19-21, 2019)

Keiro’s potential deal with Transforming Age questioned

see I-1000 on 11

By COLLIN BINKLEY

By Mahlon Meyer NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY As concern over a possible deal between Keiro and Transforming Age roils the Japanese American community, a family member of a resident in Nikkei Manor has filed a complaint with the Attorney General about mismanagement. Terry Yoshikawa, whose 97-yearold mother lives in Nikkei Manor, sent a complaint to the Attorney General questioning management practices at Keiro. He is concerned

Photo by John Liu

Federal judge upholds affirmative action at Harvard

THIS HEALTH ISSUE SPONSORED BY

see KEIRO on 12

Two bodies recovered, presumed to be Nguyen and Le BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge cleared Harvard University on Oct. 1 of discriminating against Asian American applicants in a ruling that was seen as a major victory for supporters of affirmative action in college admissions across the U.S.

■

see HARVARD on 5

James Le and Vanna Nguyen

The Mercer Island Police Marine Patrol found and recovered two bodies from Lake Washington on Sept. 30. Both bodies were recovered from 110 feet of water, approximately one mile from the Mercer Island shore, in the 7800 block area of West Mercer Way. These bodies are presumed to be the missing boaters—James Le and Vanna Nguyen—from Sept. 2. There were no obvious signs of foul play.

Nguyen and Le have been missing since Labor Day, when neighbors called police to complain about loud music coming from a boat offshore in the 7700 block of West Mercer Way. Officers found the boat—a red, 20-foot ski-type boat that was still playing loud music. Police also found cell phones and IDs belonging to Nguyen and Le, but they were nowhere to be found. 

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

asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

37 YEARS

■ NAMES IN THE NEWS Renton Multicultural Festival

the road to self-empowerment and self-sufficiency.” 

Photo by John Liu

Photo from WSBA

Seattle welcomes Norman Mineta

Rajeev Majumdar gets sworn-in as Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) president by Washington Supreme Court Justice Steven Gonzàlez during the WSBA Board of Governors meeting on Sept. 26. Zambuko Marimba Ensemble plays African Marimba Music at the festival

The fourth annual Renton Multicultural Festival was held on Sept. 13 and 14. The event had a full lineup of entertainment, including music and dance performances, booths, and arts and crafts. There was also a variety of international foods to taste from. The festival is presented by the City of Renton in partnership with the Renton Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force and several local community groups and organizations. 

Rajeev Majumdar is the first state bar president of South Asian descent

Rajeev Majumdar has been sworn in as president of the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA). Washington Supreme Court Justice Steven González administered the oath of office at a ceremony in Seattle on Sept. 26. Majumdar will be the first state bar president of South Asian descent in the United States. He serves as the prosecuting attorney for the City of Blaine, and as the special prosecuting attorney for the City of Bellingham’s Mental Health Diversion Court. He also maintains a private

practice with the Law Offices of Roger Ellingson, P.S., in Blaine, where he has worked since 2008. In 2015, Majumdar received the WSBA Local Hero Award for his work with indigent populations. He graduated cum laude from Seattle University School of Law, where he was an editor of the law review. Majumdar’s term as president runs through September 2020. 

Judy Yu to be honored at DLEC’s 2019 annual dinner

Denise Louie Education Center (DLEC) will honor community advocate Judy Yu with the Dream Award during its annual dinner celebration on Oct. 12. The Dream Award was established to recognize the outstanding work of individuals Judy Yu and organizations whose strong commitment to children has resulted in increased access to early education and stability for children and families. DLEC dinner and auction keynote speaker Mona Lee Locke said, “Thanks to community members like Judy Yu, local families are able to leave DLEC’s program on

The University of Washington will host a special screening with Norman Mineta, featuring the recently released documentary, “Norman Mineta and His Legacy: An American Story.” Mineta is the former U.S. Secretary of Commerce and former U.S. Secretary of Transportation. There will be a discussion with him and the co-producers of the documentary, which details Mineta’s upbringing and his family’s removal to a World War II mass-incarceration camp. As a congressman, he was instrumental in achieving Japanese Americans redress through the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. Admission is free and open to the public. 

Abejuela becomes Virginia’s first Asian American female judge

On Sept. 27, Maha-Rebekah Abejuela, a former prosecutor, became the first Asian American woman to be a judge in Virginia. The daughter of Filipino immigrants. Abejuela was motivated to pursue this career path after watching juvenile court judges at work up close. Maha-Rebekah Abejuela Abejuela has worked for the Legal Services of Northern Virginia and the Potomac Legal Aid Society, focusing on foreclosures and domestic violence-related family law cases. She graduated from Villanova’s law school and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. 

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Sankai Juku MEGURI: Teeming Sea, Tranquil Land Directed, Choreographed and Designed by Ushio Amagatsu

OCTOBER 17–19

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YOUR VOICE

OCTOBER 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; OCTOBER 11, 2019

asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

37 YEARS

■ WORLD NEWS

Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong to run for office By EILEEN NG ASSOCIATED PRESS HONG KONG (AP) — Prominent Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong announced on Sept. 28 plans to contest local elections and warned that any attempt to disqualify him will only spur more support for monthslong pro-democracy protests. Wong, 22, said that he will run in district council elections in November and that the vote is crucial to send a message to Beijing that the people are more determined than ever to win the

Joshua Wong

battle for more rights. “Five years ago, we claimed that we will be back and now we are back with even stronger determination,’’ he told a news

KO from 1 beautiful it was. I still remember vividly the great, crisp apples and I’m in my mid 60s now.” Though he first landed in western Washington, Ko spent most of his life on the East Coast. His father was offered a job as a college professor in New York. As a student, Ko shared that he was not the stereotypical Asian. “I’m terrible at math,” Ko said, laughing. “And I wasn’t that smart academically.” Instead, Ko said he has always been an avid sports person. “I was the first Asian varsity football player in Pennsylvania,” revealed Ko. That was during the time his father got a job in the Keystone state and he attended high school in Pittsburgh. “During the away games, we would travel to these working class towns and people there had never seen an Asian before, much less an Asian football player,” Ko said. Back then, Ko said you played both defense and offense. He was a linebacker and lineman. “I wasn’t the best player,” he said. “Second string.” Ko eventually attended Cornell University, where he earned his bachelor’s degree. He went to work for BristolMyers Squibb, a company that paid for his master’s degree from Columbia University. He also worked for a company now known as Kraft Foods, and Campbell Soup. He traveled extensively for 30 years, working in the international arena for these corporations. “In most of the jobs I had, I was in a leadership role,” Ko said. “I was not an engineer, a scientist, or in research and development. I was a general manager since I was very young… an ethnic minority leading mostly white people organizations — that was a challenge which I found really exhilarating.” Then in 2011, Ko made his way back to Seattle when “Starbucks made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.” He moved his family here, including his elderly and then-widowed father. His health was declining and Ko’s frequent travel made it difficult to care for him. So in 2015, Ko decided to retire and become a full-time caregiver to his father. “He was 95 years old and I spent the last year of his life with him,” Ko recalled. It was during that time that Ko said he

conference. “The battle ahead is the battle for our home and our homeland.’’ Wong, who has been arrested and jailed repeatedly, said he is aware that he could be disqualified. Members of the Demosisto party that he cofounded in 2016 have in the past been disqualified from serving and running for office because they advocated self-determination He said the political censorship by Beijing showed an erosion of Hong Kong’s autonomy under the “one country, two systems’’ framework when the former

began to see “all these things that really startled me. It’s pretty tough to be a senior citizen in this country. In Asia, older family members are taken care of by the younger generation, unlike the U.S. where old people are left to fend for themselves.” He witnessed instances of seniors experiencing isolation and loneliness, and needing help to move around or feed themselves. Ko noticed that many of the healthcare workers are from overseas “because most American young people don’t want to work in this field.” And now, with punitive immigration laws preventing foreigners from coming to the United States, Ko fears there will not be enough caregivers to go around in the future, hurting seniors. Soon after, Ko met some people in AARP and he started volunteering himself. “Someday, I’ll be [elderly] and I certainly don’t want to go through some of the hassles they go through.” By volunteering, Ko said, “Indirectly, I’m helping myself in the future.” One of Ko’s first tasks as an AARP volunteer was to engage the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. “AARP has a million members,” Ko said. “But as far as AAPIs, that number is fairly limited.” Ko built on groundwork AARP had already established, such as networking with Kin On, CISC, and Keiro. He continued to build relationships within the community, joining organizations such as Chinese American Citizens Alliance. When asked about activism, Ko said, “A lot of AAPIs don’t like to get in front of people and lead a movement or drive an initiative to change things.” He stressed, “It’s important to get out there and make sure your voice is heard.” One of the biggest wins for AARP in 2019 was passing a long-term care measure in the Washington state legislature that will help people pay for a variety of services, including in-home care aides, adult family homes, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, and others. The benefit can also be used to pay for medical equipment like emergency alert devices, and services including but not limited to home modification, transportation, or meal preparation. “The Long-Term Care Trust Act will create a public long-term care program, providing Washingtonians with flexible

British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1996. “If they disqualify me, it will just generate more and more momentum ... they will pay the price,’’ he said. Wong is out on bail after he was rearrested with several other people in August and charged with organizing an illegal rally. It didn’t stop him from going to the U.S., Germany and Taiwan to drum up support for the current protest movement, which started in June over an extradition bill but has since snowballed into an anti-China campaign. The now-

and meaningful benefits, ensuring families can choose the care setting and services that best meet their loved one’s needs,” said Ko. Based on a payroll premium of just over one half of 1 percent (.58%), vested and eligible workers would receive a lifetime benefit of $36,500, indexed to inflation. The payroll premium will be collected starting in 2022 and the trust will pay benefits starting in 2025. Ko said he’s also proud of the work AARP did to help pass legislation to protect seniors from fraud in the case of data breaches. Ko

shelved bill, which would have sent some criminal suspects for trial in mainland China, is seen as a jarring example of China’s intrusion into the city’s autonomy. Wong’s activities have made him a target of the Chinese government, which has used him to accuse foreign powers of colluding with anti-China separatists to foment unrest. Wong accused the government of trying to frame prominent activists such as himself as a warning to other protesters but said it would fail because the current movement has no centralized figureheads. 

and AARP are now turning their attention to capping the cost of prescription drugs and Ko said, AAPIs can help. “There are a lot of middle aged AAPIs in the Seattle area who are affluent with good positions in the workforce.” Ko said it’s time to get involved. “We could really use your support,” calling AAPIs a “big, impactful community.  Ruth can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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YOUR VOICE HARVARD from 1 In a closely watched lawsuit that had raised fears about the future of affirmative action, a group called Students for Fair Admissions accused the Ivy League college of deliberately— and illegally—holding down the number of Asian Americans accepted in order to preserve a certain racial balance on campus. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs, however, ruled that Harvard’s admissions process is “not perfect” but passes constitutional muster. She said there is “no evidence of any racial animus whatsoever” and no evidence that any admission decision was “negatively affected by Asian American identity.” “Race conscious admissions will always penalize to some extent the groups that are not being advantaged by the process,” Burroughs wrote, “but this is justified by the compelling interest in diversity and all the benefits that flow from a diverse college population.” Her ruling, which came after a three-week trial a year ago, brings temporary relief to other universities that consider race as a way to ensure campus diversity. But it also sets the stage for a prolonged battle that some experts predict will go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. Harvard President Lawrence S. Bacow welcomed the ruling, saying that the consideration of race and many other factors “helps us achieve our goal of creating a diverse student body that enriches the education of every student.” “Today we reaffirm the importance of diversity— and everything it represents to the world,” he said. Students for Fair Admissions said it will appeal. “Students for Fair Admissions is disappointed that the court has upheld Harvard’s discriminatory admissions policies,” Edward Blum, the group’s president, said in a statement. “We believe that the documents, emails, data analysis and depositions SFFA presented at trial compellingly revealed Harvard’s systematic discrimination against Asian American applicants.” The American Council on Education, which represents dozens of college and university presidents, said the decision is gratifying. “We applaud this ruling and are confident that the nation’s courts, including its highest court, will continue to uphold the vital principle that colleges and universities that choose to do so can consider race as one factor in reviewing applicants to achieve the goal of a talented, diverse incoming class,” Ted Mitchell, the group’s president, said in a statement. In the case at Harvard, the plaintiffs argued that Asian Americans were held to a higher standard in admissions, amounting to an “Asian penalty,” while the school gave preference to Black and Hispanic students with poorer grades. A 2013 internal report at Harvard found that if the school weighed applicants on academics alone, 43 percent of the admitted class would be Asian American, while in reality it was 19 percent. Harvard said the report was only meant to be “exploratory” and was based on incomplete data. Much of the lawsuit centered on a subjective “personal rating” that Harvard assigns to applicants. The suit argued that Asian Americans consistently receive lower personal ratings because of racial bias, leading many to be rejected. The plaintiffs built their case around a statistical analysis of six years of Harvard admissions data. It found that Asian Americans had the lowest personal ratings and the lowest admission rates, while Black and Hispanic students fared far better in both areas. Harvard countered with its own analysis finding no evidence of bias. During the trial, the dean of admissions offered possible reasons to explain the low personal rating for Asian Americans, saying they may come with weaker letters of recommendation. The judge sided with Harvard on every count of wrongdoing alleged in the lawsuit. She said differences

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019 in personal ratings are “relatively minor” and can be explained by a variety of factors. She said Harvard proved that its use of race is limited and that abandoning it would lead to a sharp decline in diversity. But she also said the admissions process could be improved by providing “implicit bias” training to admissions officers and by maintaining clear guidelines on the use of race. Like many elite colleges, Harvard acknowledges it considers race in admissions as a way to boost diversity but says it is only one of many factors in deciding which applicants to admit. Some states ban consideration of race in admissions. The Supreme Court last examined affirmative action in 2016 and upheld the practice at the University of Texas. That decision was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has since retired. The two justices appointed by President Donald Trump, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, are generally

more conservative than Kennedy but do not have extensive records on affirmative action. The trial offered a rare glimpse into Harvard’s secretive admissions process, including the ways it favors wealth and privilege. In a series of emails released in the case, Harvard officials openly discussed the fundraising prospects of applicants. Harvard has called Students for Fair Admission a political group with no real interest in helping Asian Americans. Instead, its critics say, the organization’s real goal is to end affirmative action altogether. Blum is a legal strategist who has orchestrated lawsuits to ban it at other colleges. The group says it has more than 20,000 members, including one Asian American who was unfairly rejected in 2014, but none have come forward publicly. During the trial, no students testified that they faced discrimination by Harvard. The organization’s leaders also

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include Abigail Fisher, who sued the University of Texas in the case that went to the Supreme Court in 2016. Fisher said she was rejected because she is white. In a 4-3 decision, the court upheld the school’s use of race. Supreme Court decisions have allowed colleges to consider race as long as it is “narrowly tailored” to promote diversity and is just one factor among many. Racial quotas have been ruled unconstitutional. The Trump administration has fought affirmative action at several schools. In August 2018, the Justice Department issued a statement siding with Students for Fair Admissions, accusing Harvard of “outright racial balancing.” It is also investigating the use of race at Yale. Students for Fair Admissions has also sued the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, over alleged discrimination against Asian American applicants. That suit, also filed in 2014, is still on-going. 

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asianweekly northwest

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

37 YEARS

■ COMMUNITY CALENDAR OCT 4-13

MAPLE FESTIVAL Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., Seattle 10 a.m.-5 p.m. seattlejapanesegarden.org

4 2019 SCIDPDA ANNUAL FUNDRAISER Pacific Tower, 1200 12th Ave. S., Seattle 5:30-8:30 p.m. tickettailor.com ENGLISH LUNCHEON WITH YAHONG SUSAN YI, “HOW TO VALUE A BUSINESS” China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Register at https://conta.cc/2lpAetP

5 ACRS BENEFIT GALA Hyatt Regency Bellevue, 900 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue 5-9:30 p.m. acrs.ejoinme.org

7 SEATTLE CHINESE WOMEN’S CLUB’S WINE GLASS MARKERS WORKSHOP Issaquah Library, 10 W Sunset Way, Issaquah 2-4 p.m. Class fee: $10 lilysbellevue@gmail.com seattlechinesewomensclub.com

REP. PRAMILA JAYAPAL ON HER WORK IN CONGRESS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITY, FIGHT FOR EQUALITY, AND HOLD THE PRESIDENT ACCOUNTABLE Vashon High School Theater, 9600 SW 204th St., Vashon Islands 6:30-8 p.m.

9 7TH ANNUAL ASIAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER CANDIDATE FORUM C-ID Community Center, Seattle 4:30-7:30 p.m. AREN’T ASIANS ALL ALIKE The Collective Seattle, 400 Dexter Ave. N., Seattle 6:30-8:30 p.m.

12 CONNECTING WITH COMMUNITY InterIm Community Development Association, 310 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle 5-8 p.m. DENISE LOUIE EDUCATION CENTER’S 41ST ANNIVERSARY Sodo Park 5:30 p.m. deniselouie.org

14 AEGIS HEIRLOOM SESSION Aegis Gardens of Newcastle 10 a.m.-3 p.m. alicia.campolito@aegisliving.com

15 CID PUBLIC SAFETY FORUM MEETING Bush Hotel Conference Room 3-4 p.m.

17 DISTRICT 2 - CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES FORUM Chinatown Community Center, 719 8th Ave. S., Seattle 6-8 p.m. brenna.clausen@seattle.gov 206-233-0042

17-19 SAKAI JUKU UW, Meany Center for the Performing Arts meanycenter.org 206-543-4880

19 FILIPINO YOUTH ACTIVITIES DRILL TEAM 60TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER China Harbor Restaurant, 2040 Westlake Ave. N., Seattle 5:30-11 p.m.

20 SWEET TOOTH POP-UP Fremont Sunday Market, 3401 Evanston Ave. N., Seattle 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

26 HELPING LINK’S ANNUAL GALA CELEBRATION Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th St., Mercer Island 6-8:30 p.m. $100 helpinglinkannualgala. brownpapertickets.com

TEA CEREMONY Seattle Japanese Garden, 1075 Lake Washington Blvd. E., Seattle 1-4 p.m. seattlejapanesegarden.org INCLUSION FUSION 2019 BY EDI Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue 5-9 p.m. ediorg.ejoinme.org

NOV 2

GLITTER GALA & FASHION SHOW Bell Harbor International Conference Center, 2211 Alaskan Way, Pier 66, Seattle 6 p.m. seattlegoodwill.org/glittergala

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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.” The Editorial Board reserves the right to reject any advertisement, letter or article. Subscriptions cost $40 for 52 weeks of the NW Asian Weekly and $30 for 52 weeks of the Seattle Chinese Post. The NW Asian Weekly owns the copyright for all its content. All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reprinted without permission. 412 Maynard Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98104 • t. 206.223.5559 editor@nwasianweekly.com • ads@nwasianweekly.com • www.nwasianweekly.com

YOUR VOICE

■ HEALTH

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

asianweekly northwest

Washingtonians need relief from Rx greed By AARP State President Jim Ko For decades, Big Pharma has raised drug prices with impunity. Here in Washington state, the average annual cost of brand name prescription drug treatment increased 58 percent between 2012 and 2017, while the annual income for Washingtonians increased only 9.9 percent. Prescription drugs don’t work if patients can’t afford them. That’s why the Senate needs to pass the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act. It’s time. We thank Sen. Maria Cantwell for her support of this bipartisan bill in the Senate Finance Committee. We urge Sen. Patty Murray to join her in backing it when the Senate reconvenes, and to support allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. For too long, drug companies have been price gouging seniors and hard working Americans. Consider insulin, which people with diabetes rely on. Its price nearly tripled from 2002 to 2013. But it isn’t a breakthrough drug: insulin was invented nearly a century ago, yet modern formulations remain under patent, thanks to drug makers manipulating the system. Some patients trek to Canada, while others risk their lives by rationing or skipping doses. Even those of us who don’t need insulin or other prescription drugs are affected by skyrocketing drug prices. We pay not only at the pharmacy counter, but through higher insurance premiums, and through the higher taxes we need to pay to fund programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Older Americans are hit especially hard. Medicare Part D enrollees take an average of 4-5 prescriptions per month, and their average annual income is around $26,000. One in three Americans has not taken the medication as prescribed because of the cost. The root cause of the problem is clear: the high prices of prescription drugs set by pharmaceutical companies when they first come on the market, which then increases faster than inflation year after year. In March, AARP launched a nationwide campaign called “Stop Rx Greed” to rein in drug prices for all Washingtonians and all Americans. The bill under consideration in the Senate would cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors and crack down on drug makers whose price hikes outpace inflation. The nation clearly needs this reform: the average drug price increase in the first six months of 2019 was 10.5 percent — five times the rate of inflation. Washington residents, like all Americans, already pay among the highest drug prices in the world. Meanwhile, Big Pharma is fighting for the status quo and blocking needed improvements to the system that could bring relief to seniors, families, and small businesses. Drug giants Merck, Amgen, and Eli Lilly actually sued the Trump administration so they could keep the

list prices of their drugs secret from the public. The industry is spending record sums to hire Washington, D.C. lobbyists, and they are running ads claiming that more affordable drugs will actually harm consumers. But the tide is turning. The National Academy for State Health Policy reports that, so far this year, 29 states have passed 47 new laws aimed at lowering prices for prescription medications. Ultimately, drug costs are a national issue, so federal action is equally essential. In D.C., there is rare bipartisan see RX GREED on 14

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OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

37 YEARS

LILLY FOR BETTER At Lilly, we are constantly evolving the way we discover, develop and manufacture medicines to bring new treatments to the people who need them even faster – and expand access to these medicines for even more people around the world. lilly.com 2019 CA Approved for External Use PRINTED IN USA ©2019, Eli Lilly and Company. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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YOUR VOICE

■ HEALTH

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Is the fountain of youth attainable? By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY “I don’t mind getting old...I just don’t like to look at myself in the mirror,” said Judge Judy, host of the most popular daytime television show, in a New York Times Magazine story recently. The judge is 76 years old. I am not a fan of old age. But I have accepted it gracefully whenever I see myself in the mirror. Aging saps my energy and the ability to multitask. It also hands me with weak, flabby muscles. There’s a chance of getting sick even if I am careful, and definitely so when I am being reckless in my diet and behavior. Aging causes all kinds of unexpected aches, illnesses, and memory loss. Fortunately, much of my physical pain can be relieved with frequent exercise and sometimes pain-relief cream. It’s not that I don’t notice the wrinkles on my face. Believe me, I do. They are “attacking” my complexion. And yes, I do mind those brown spots. But I perceive wrinkles as my life experiences, triumph over hard-fought battles, joy over pain, and love over loss and sadness. A glance at myself in the mirror reflects a colorful and exhilarating journey with little regrets. “Good job,” I would nod and say, whenever I look in the mirror.

Positive attitude and emotions

The DNA factor

Studies have found that genetics determine your longevity to some extent. If your parents and grandparents lived way beyond 80 and 90 years old, chances are you might, too. What if your family tree consists of members who usually die young? Will you die young, too? Environmental factors can beat biological odds. Some scientists have

discovered that if we abuse our bodies and brain, the good cells will be damaged. The reverse can also be true. If we build up ourselves mentally and physically, weak cells can be transformed into strong ones. That’s why you don’t have to worry about inheriting Alzheimer’s if your parents are suffering from it. Folks with parents who lived short lives may live much longer with the help of modern medicine, a healthy lifestyle, and access to valuable information for longevity.

Positive attitude and emotions can increase longevity. Age is not relevant. It’s your attitude that counts, one says. Being young at heart can change how you look. I once met a 92-year-old woman. “What’s your secret?” I asked. “I love life,” she replied. I noticed that she laughed a lot when talking to people. Her sense of humor was contagious. She lives life to the fullest, and doesn’t fret over small stuff. Get rid of negative people around you, and those who drain you. Do what you have to do to create positive emotions for yourself every day. In a blog published earlier this year, I wrote about “What makes you happy?” You can find countless ideas to achieve happiness. Smile even if you don’t feel like it. It will change your life. Try to notice the small positive things around you, and acknowledge them. Don’t be stingy with praise. It doesn’t cost you anything to praise someone. Yet, it can bring joy and means the world to others. When I can scatter joy to someone, I not only make others happy, I make myself happy. see ANTI-AGING on 13

UW | SEATTLE

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OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

37 YEARS

■ PUBLISHER’S BLOG East meets West: Anti-aging foods Anti-aging foods are inexpensive, easy to find

By Assunta Ng NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY What is cool about being bicultural? I have the best of both Chinese and Western worlds, especially healthy foods. However, the difference between the East and West in achieving health is distinct. The West focuses on scientific evidence and research. But the Chinese culture believes in what your ancestors have passed on from generation to generation. My late grandmother, mom, and in-laws believed in eating foods for rejuvenation, not just for days, but the whole life. They eat to preserve energy and vitality, and less for external appearance. Their influence has affected my choices and habits of eating. Western science has inspired my daily food intake to make me feel good physically and mentally, and also gives me strength.

Ling zhi mushrooms grow on timber wood

The first thing I take every day on an empty stomach in the morning is what Chinese people call “the legendary magic mushroom,” ling zhi. Mushrooms are an antioxidant, but

you have to cook them well before eating. Ling zhi’s origin is linked to a tale of immortality and longevity in China. On Chinese websites, ling zhi is said to increase immunity. No, it hasn’t been proven with scientific experiments. But naturopaths trained in America have prescribed ling zhi. In the past, ling zhi were found in the wild in rare places in China’s mountains. So they were expensive. Most Chinese people would boil them into soup. Now, they come in pill form. You can buy them in Chinatown herb stores. Prices are much more reasonable, and they are not hard to grow anymore. People are smart to incorporate agricultural knowledge and germinate them everywhere. The brand I bought from Hsu’s Ginseng, of Wisconsin, remakes its import of ling zhi from Japan, before it sells them in pills. Many Asians drink ginseng tea. For me, I prefer ling zhi, which revitalizes the body like ginseng. Exactly what those Chinese herbs can do, none of my elderly could explain their functions to me satisfactorily. “It’s good for you, just eat it,” my late mother usually replied whenever I probed. That’s what grandmother said to her and she would tell me what she learned from her mother. You have to be patient with Chinese medicine. After taking ling zhi for more than a year, I have discovered that my hay fever has improved. My allergy used to last for six months. Now, it has shortened to three months. My family also recommended goji berries, but I have not been eating it as often as I like. For instance, when I travel, I would skip the berries. You can boil them in soup or just eat them as snacks.

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youthful skin, always keep yourself hydrated. Your body will be tense frequently if your body is dehydrated. Water lubricates our skin and flushes out waste. It also nourishes your brain and body. Far better than a diet Coke, water has zero calories. If you are a young parent, train your kids to drink water. They will have fewer health issues as they grow up.

The Japanese diet

Japan has a world record of longevity. They have the oldest men and women in the world, living to their 90s and 100s. Japanese seniors’ diet is simple — veggies, seaweed, and fish. The Japanese diet is low in cholesterol and has no harmful fats. Fish is a rich source of protein and omega see BLOG on 15

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

YOUR VOICE

Photo by Mahlon Meyer

I-1000 from 1 The rally started with Locke, King County Councilmember Larry Gossett, and Chair of the University of Washington (UW) Computer Science and Engineering school Ed Lazowska taking to the stage at China Harbor restaurant on Sept. 26 to defend Initiative 1000 (I-1000), which comes up for a statewide vote on Nov. 5. The statewide vote is known as referendum 88 (R-88). I-1000 allows public schools and government offices to consider ethnicity as one of the factors in deciding admissions and awarding contracts to otherwise qualified applicants. It replaced an earlier bill, Initiative 200, passed in 1998 that banned any preferential treatment of marginalized groups in public institutions. But frustration and bitterness punctuated the rally, despite meticulous preparations, including a full course Chinese banquet, an interpreter, and an orchestrated question-and-answer session. With colored Chinese lanterns festooning the chandeliers overhead, and as the audience feasted on barbecue pork, steamed fish, glutinous vegetables, and other delicacies, the three speakers shared their reasons why Washingtonians should support the bill. Locke said the initiative was mainly designed to ensure that the government was fair in considering minority and female-owned business contracts. He also said that the initiative would not substantially change the way the UW chooses students. He was followed by Gossett, who extolled the progress made by the Former Gov. Gary Locke defended UW in admitting minority students I-1000 over the past 50 years, spurred on by a sit-in demonstration he led that culminated in the founding of the University of Washington Black Student Union (UW BSU) in 1968 and the creation of ethnic studies and other programs. Lazowska echoed Locke’s remarks that the bill would not substantially change the number of Asian American students admitted. However, as Gossett spoke, the talking in the room rose to a hubbub. And half a dozen times, he had to ask the audience to quiet down. “We need people to listen up. Can people please be quiet? This is very, very important,” he said. The constant babble of Chinese voices and the clash of dishware rose like a mumble, constantly drowning King County Councilmember out his gravelly voice. Larry Gossett, while Finally, when questions were praising the UW for its diversity, had to opened up, a mustachioed thickset ask the crowd to man took to the microphone to listen more quietly a half a dozen times complain that his company had not been paid for the work it had done in getting the signatures necessary to pass I-1000 in the first place. “I voted for you,” he said, pointing his finger at Locke.

The man, who gave his name as Brent Johnson, said that the group of which Locke was co-chair owed his company $750,000 for organizing the petitioning in support of I-1000. Locke responded, “The contract should be honored” and said that he was an “honorary co-chair who simply endorsed it” and “was not involved in the day-to-day efforts.” “A contract is a contract,” added Locke. But Johnson continued to hurl invective. “You want to talk about support for minorities, our whole group of signature gatherers were minorities,” he said, visibly shaking with anger. After a few minutes, the microphone went dead. “Turn on the microphone!” went up cries from the audience. A companion of Johnson walked back to his table, giving the finger to the speakers. Meanwhile, at the front of the banquet room, another Chinese woman was asking, “Why should race and nationality even be considered?” “Why should national origin and ethnicity be considered?” returned Locke. “Because we know the history of the U.S. is one of discrimination.” He cited slavery, the Chinese Exclusion Act, the internment of Japanese Americans in concentration camps, and the recent move “to kick all Muslims out” after 9-11. “America is not perfect and I am proud to be an American,” he said, to clapping from some of the front tables. In some ways, the atmosphere in the banquet hall seemed reflective of the fractured dialogue about race in the country. Opponents say I-1000 will create hidden racial quotas and discriminate against qualified students who deserve to be considered according to an objective system based only on test scores. They say it specifically targets Asian Americans who, in some cases, already face higher bars and arbitrary standards for admissions, while fomenting ethnic tensions generally. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that students from marginalized groups, as a result of centuries of institutionalized oppression that constitute the very fabric of our society, should be given greater exposure and encouragement to educational opportunities. Moreover, they question the very notion of a meritocracy based on “objective” standards. I-1000 was originally passed by Democrats in the legislature on party lines on April 28. However, as of a July 23 deadline, a group including many recent Chinese immigrants (called “Let People Vote”) had gathered enough signatures to force a statewide referendum on it. The opposing group believes that colleges should stop giving preferential admissions to legacy students and children of big donors while they create standards that are either higher or obscure for Asian Americans. They object to the UW judging a student, in part, based on “cultural awareness.” Such a standard has no way of being objectively measured, said Yvonne Kinoshita Ward, campaign chair of “Vote No on Referendum 88” campaign. The campaign is a continuation of “Let People Vote,” she said in a phone interview. Ward is a trial lawyer who served as a Locke appointee

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to the Washington Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs from 2000-2006. The Commission elected her chair in 2004. “How do you educate someone in cultural awareness?” she asked. The UW office of admissions, however, states that objective data is still the most important determinant for students. “While we look at many factors in reviewing applications for admission, academic preparation and performance are still primary,” it says on its website. Nevertheless, some scholars that study race and ethnicity, Asian American History, and labor issues contend that the very notion of achieving a meritocracy based on “objective” data is impossible given the catastrophic differences between social groups. “Opponents of affirmative action, in my view, attempt to cast their hope for meritocracy and color blindness as if they’ll be able to reach both by prohibiting affirmative action and any talk of race. That’s wishful thinking at its worst,” said Moon-Ho Jung, a professor in the History Department at the UW. “Because race shouldn’t matter, they want to jump to the conclusion that race doesn’t matter. Who in America today would say that race doesn’t matter? Until everyone has indisputably equal access to educational opportunities, not to mention other factors, is there any way to measure college applications ‘objectively’?” Jung said. At the banquet, frustrations and confusions over such broader issues seemed to spill over into the banquet room. In the back of the banquet hall, in an alcove, the Chinese woman that had yelled about test scores was approached by a Black man apparently in his 30s. “Hey, I’m Black and you’re Chinese. Why do you oppose this?” he said. She said a few words then handed him a flier. After a few moments, he left in apparent frustration. What exacerbated tensions further was that within the community of first-generation Chinese immigrants, the two camps are starkly drawn. Opponents of the bill say that I-1000 creates an “unelected group” of government officials with the right to determine policy on university admissions. The bill enjoins the governor to form a commission that “is responsible for planning, directing, monitoring, and enforcing each state agency’s compliance with this act.” “One day they can decide one way, another day another,” said the woman, Mei Li, who is 40 and originally from Beijing. A leader of the movement to rescind I-1000 saw the banquet as revealing political maneuvering and lack of integrity. “Obviously free food attracts people,” said Kan Qiu, a leader of “Let People Vote,” in an email. “I heard $35 per person, we should find out who is paying for all the ‘free’ food. They should pay their workers. Shame shame.” At the end of the banquet, two Chinese men, opponents of I-1000, stood at the top of the staircase leading to the exit handing out fliers.  Mahlon can be reached at editor@nwasianweekly.com.

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KEIRO from 1 over impending changes and frustrated with what he says is a lack of transparency on the part of the Keiro board. Uncertainty over the future of Nikkei Manor has spurred him to question the fate of the now vacant Keiro nursing home and its land, which is valued at $12.7 million by King County. Yoshikawa also questioned the alleged $750,000 in taxes that Keiro had to pay on the sale of the Washington Medical Clinic, a deal that he says “never should have happened.” “I asked Brandon why he wasn’t able to structure it so it remained part of Keiro, and he said, ‘We didn’t have time,’” said Yoshikawa. Brandon Nelson is the Senior Director of Strategic Operations at Keiro, according to his LinkedIn profile. But the major sticking point in community concern about the land is whether or not its sale will be used to help bolster Nikkei Manor, said Yoshikawa, who has received no formal response from the Attorney General as of press time. Accompanied by Colin Fukano, whose 101-year-old mother lives at Nikkei Manor, Yoshikawa asked Nelson about the future of the building and land as the Sept. 19 Nikkei Manor Family Forum was ending. “‘We’re giving it to Transforming Age,’” he said Nelson replied. Questions seeking to confirm each of these points were put to the current Keiro board and CEO Bridgette Takeuchi. “At this time, Keiro is not providing any comment. We will be sure to let you know when we have any news to share publicly,” said Takeuchi in an email. Other community members worry that if Transforming Age were to take over the operation or ownership of Nikkei Manor in some way, the unique culture would change. “I’m worried about a mainstream company coming in and taking over,” said Gordon Shoji, whose father lived at Keiro for over a decade. “My father was a Kendo man,” he said, referring to

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

the traditional Japanese art of wielding bamboo swords. “After he had a heart attack and stroke, he couldn’t do Kendo and he wanted to die. But at Keiro, they had Japanese and Asian culture and food, and it kept him alive.” “I’m not sure a mainstream retirement home would be the same,” he said. He cited Keiro’s long history of community volunteers providing an additional layer of cultural programming and identity. Shoji had the same concerns about the current residents of Nikkei Manor. And like other members of the community, he had been counting on Keiro and Nikkei Manor as an option for his own retirement.

Economies of scale

Yoshikawa and others want to know the justification for pursuing any deal. “The main question we want to know is, if Keiro was unable to run Nikkei Manor successfully, why does it think Transforming Age would be able to do it better?” he said. Keiro has declined to publicly comment on the issue. Still, in the notes to a Nikkei Manor Family Forum on Sept. 19, obtained by the Northwest Asian Weekly, Keiro said it was negotiating with Transforming Age to take over management of Nikkei Manor, at which time it would pay an unspecified “management fee.” It said such a deal might be reached by the end of September. In the industry of eldercare, a main justification that has sometimes been given for selling or, in some manner, affiliating with a larger entity with multiple facilities has been economy of scale. This means that firms merge or combine to create a larger firm, which, in theory, creates increased production and efficiency, which in turn decreases the average cost per unit, or service provided. But one major academic study, “The Economies of Scale for Nursing Home Care,” that appeared in the journal of Medical Care Research in March 2004, showed that economy of scale does not apply to assisted living communities.

“This makes sense because custodial (personal) care is a non-skilled service or care, like helping to bathe, dress, or eat, and the delivery of these services focus on medical workers over technology,” said Jerome A. Dugan, a professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington (UW), in an email. “That is to say, there is not strong evidence that the cost of residents receiving care will fall if the number of residents receiving personal care increases. So even a firm like Nikkei Manor, despite the fact they are private pay, would have difficulty cutting costs or expanding their operations to generate economies of scale,” added Dugan.

Keiro in Southern California

For many members of the Japanese American community here, the fate of the Japanese American nursing home in Southern California, Keiro (Los Angeles) has loomed like a warning. The first sale was stopped by then-Attorney General Kamala Harris, according to Traci Toshiyuki Imamura, a former board member of Koreisha, which oversees Keiro. Critics of the second sale say they wished that Harris, who was running for the U.S. Senate at the time, would have stopped the second sale as well since it was mired in contentious legal issues. Keiro (L.A.) was sold off in 2016 to a for-profit company, Pacifica Companies, LLC, for $41 million. But ongoing protests, legal action, and a state committee still overshadow the transaction. According to Imamura, the status of over $82 million in assets is still being questioned. Moreover, as in the Seattle area, many Japanese Americans were counting on an Asianfocused retirement community. “Many people in our community were counting on a culturally appropriate community,” said Dick Obayashi, who grew up in Seattle but is active in the Japanese American community in Southern California and has been a donor to Keiro (L.A.).

37 YEARS “It was not just people like me, who are not millionaires but all the new Japanese immigrants — the Shin Isseis — who have been holding lots of protests and marches,” he said. He was referring to the Japanese Americans who had immigrated to the area after World War II. Protests and a recent lawsuit have also encompassed the handling of funds donated to Keiro (L.A.) by community members over the years, including houses, cars, and volunteer hours. According to Inamura, after Pacifica took over, the quality of care changed. “On day one after the sale, when all the employees at the facility became employees of the new operator, all of those employees lost their seniority and they all became employees as if they had been there for only one year,” she said. “They had the same salary, but benefits were drastically reduced, and a lot of the old time employees started leaving right away,” she added. Echoing this observation, another academic study seems to be suggestive that larger nursing home chains deliver lower quality of care nationwide. In this case, a 2011 study tracked the largest for-profit nursing home chains and those owned by private equity companies. The study found that “the 10 largest firms reported lower registered nurses and total nursing staff hours than government facilities,” said Professor Dugan. “The 10 largest firms also reported 36 percent higher deficiencies (violations of regulations) and 41 percent higher serious deficiencies than government facilities,” he said. “This study speaks directly to concerns about possible differences in the quality of care delivered in nursing homes that are members of a large network,” he added.

The future of Nikkei Manor

In the minutes leading up to the Sept. 19 forum, Keiro said that closing Nikkei Manor was also a possibility. It was not clear if this could be part of a larger deal with Transforming Age. On one hand, the minutes noted that “nearly all discussion [with Transforming Age] has been about Nikkei Manor.” But they also noted a “plan B” in which Nikkei Manor would close. In a conversation witnessed by another regular visitor to Keiro, Jim Trieste, Yoshikawa said that Nikkei Manor Administrator Lisa Waisath told him that more than half a dozen rooms were being left vacant at Nikkei Manor because of the possibility that the assisted living community might be closing and would only have 60 days to move out residents. According to Yoshikawa’s first complaint to the Attorney General, Nikkei Manor, according to tax records for 2017, is fully capable of functioning on its own. “Nikkei Manor is profitable as a separate business, contrary to what Keiro Northwest states. They have very competent on-duty operations staff, but questionable management, e.g. there are 191 people on the waiting list and seven or eight empty rooms. The balance sheet reflects $1.5 million in receivables, $11 million in publicly traded securities, $4 million in endowment funds,” the letter states. The only filings publicly available are for the year 2017. Keiro has said it publishes its tax returns in October, so 2018 is not yet available. The current Keiro board has repeatedly stressed the importance of keeping negotiations secret for risk of derailing them.  Mahlon can be reached at editor@nwsianweekly.com.

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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 2000d-4) 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 Contact: Alice Phoenix, alice.phoenix@ kingcounty.gov, 206-263-9311

YOUR VOICE

■ ASTROLOGY

OCTOBER 5 – OCTOBER 11, 2019

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Predictions and advice for the week of October 5–11, 2019 By Sun Lee Chang Rat — A question asked won’t necessarily be answered right away. It may take some time for the truth to be revealed.

Dragon — If the instructions are vague, you have room to play around with both the process and the end product.

Monkey — Once your point has been made, avoid overexplaining yourself. It could be perceived as a lack of confidence on your part.

Ox — Plan for success, not failure. While it could take a while to prove yourself, you will eventually earn respect.

Snake — Despite your inclination to run the entire show, you will need to approach your current project as a collaborative effort.

Rooster — It might be helpful to think a couple of steps ahead on an important assignment.

Tiger — Don’t let your request fall to the bottom of the pile. Some well placed reminders should keep your concerns at the forefront.

Horse — While you can’t really go back, you can decide how you want to move forward. Choose to do better this time around.

Dog — As the current phase comes to a close, much awaits you in the exciting new one that is opening up.

Rabbit — Even if you accept a portion, it does not obligate you to take the rest. Keep only what works for you.

Goat — You have already come so far. Gather your strength for the final push. The finish line is within your reach.

Pig — Dissatisfied with the options presented to you? The more desirable selections are likely those that you create for yourself.

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.

ANTI-AGING from 9

Your cell phone

Attention, cell phone lovers. Endless use of cell phones can produce double or even triple chins, in addition to causing bad eyesight and posture. In bus stops, restaurants, and many public places, more people are looking at their phone than not. It’s hard to resist. Now that I have shared that with you, pay attention to how you use the phone. Raise it to at least neck level. Resist using it when you don’t really need to. Take in your surroundings more frequently and move your body.

Bad posture

Most people are unaware that as we age, we tend to lean forward. I was one of them until my employee reminded me, “You slouch!” How we stand and walk affects not just our image, but our whole body. We tend to walk without noticing how we stand, balance our footsteps, and the amount of pressure we put on the ground. A fitness expert evaluated my steps. He found that I put too much pressure on some points of my foot, thus creating pain. Imagine those who are overweight and those who wear high heels often, how much damage we put on our body! Remember to stand up tall and raise your head high when your moving.

Stress is the enemy of aging

As I age, I learn that it is not necessary to win all the time. You win some, and lose some. Someone once said, “Life is unfair, but it’s still good.” Sometimes, you won’t find out who the real winner is until decades later. In everything you do, take a long perspective, rather than being upset about the immediate loss and consequence. When traveling with friends, I found that some friends want to maximize their trip from dawn to dusk, and

schedule as much sightseeing as possible. Other friends want to take it slow, and enjoy the time to digest what we learn and see. I agree with the latter. It’s the quality of what we see, not quantity. Can it be fun if we are rushing all the time, and to the point we feel stressed and exhaust ourselves? Do we need to overwork day after day and week after week? Or do we give ourselves a break every now and then? Stress kills cells fast. It shrinks the brain. For those who have panic attacks often, your body is signaling you to slow down and get help. Creating opportunities and sanctuaries to rejuvenate our body and our soul is vital to our well-being.

Blood pressure

will, for the purpose of adding more steps. If I can fetch something myself and not ask someone else to do it for me, I will. Just find little excuses to move around from your desk, couch. or bed. You will see the difference after a few months.

Unnecessary facial expressions

Lots of people emphasize their words by frowning. This creates wrinkles on your forehead, nose, and around your eyes. You can make your point by raising your voice or using hand gestures and turning your head. Ask your friend to take your photo when you frown. Then, you will be more aware of your facial expressions.

Health guru Dr. Oz once asked his television viewers, “What makes you age fast?“ I was surprised when he told the audience that it’s not being overweight, having a bad heart, having a diabetic disease, chronic pain, or even having weak muscles. “It’s your blood pressure,” he said. Have you noticed that whenever you visit the doctor, the first thing a nurse does is to check your blood pressure. When I had my cataract surgery done, the nurse also took my blood pressure first. When I complained that I might have an ear infection, the nurse measured my blood pressure. Before, I thought that heart attacks or strokes were the only ways high blood pressure kills. How does it age a person? There is a new study, which connects high blood pressure with dementia and Alzheimer’s. If your systolic (upper number) blood pressure is over 160, it is a dangerous sign. Check with your doctor.

Drinking and smoking

Change your habits through exercise

Train your brain

How do you maintain a normal blood pressure? Some say, you can take medicine. You can. I was once diagnosed with high blood pressure due to stress and unhealthy eating and lifestyle. Of course, my family doctor prescribed me those tiny white pills to control my blood pressure. I didn’t want to rely on pills all my life. So I changed my lifestyle, decreased my consumption of carbohydrates, and began to exercise regularly even though my weight was not an issue. It worked after six months. What I discovered is, if health is your priority every day, your health will improve over a period of time. But if you tend to be impulsive and live without discipline, your health will suffer quickly. Health is the best weapon to fight aging. Move, shake, jump, dance, and kick during the day. Develop your own form of exercise and relaxation including yoga, meditation, and singing. That’s how I refresh my body every day. If I can walk and not take the bus, I will. If I can climb the stairs instead of using the elevator, I do. If I can park my car a little farther, I

Decrease your consumption of alcohol. Quit smoking, including vaping. Those are horrible aging agents. Smoking doubles the rate of dementia. Recent news stories have alerted us to how a short time of vaping can damage not only the lungs, but even cause death among young people. Alcohol destroys brain cells. If you want to quit but can’t, get help. It’s never too late.

Wise words

My 97-year-old friend said, “Take care of little health problems right away, even if it doesn’t sound like much at the beginning.” Small things can turn into a major crisis. Have a purpose every day, not just a week. Have a daily schedule or to-do list. Don’t isolate yourself, take care of the boredom problem and you won’t feel lonely. Reading a book engages your brain. Following the news and current affairs and thinking from both sides of an issue will sharpen your brain. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright is 82. Yet, she never stops being curious and having fun. She looks for fun things to do all the time. In an interview with AARP, she said, “I’m more interested in [people’s] ideas than their age.” It’s stimulating and rewarding to work with different kinds of people, including young and old. Let them take charge, and support them. Seeing how leadership flourishes is satisfying and empowering. Life begins at 30, 50, 70, and even 80. It‘s what you want from life, what you make of it. With determination, you can move forward the age factor.  For related article, see East meets West: Anti-aging foods on pg. 10. Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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RX GREED from 7 agreement that something must be done. President Trump addressed the issue in his State of the Union, saying, “It is unacceptable that Americans pay vastly more than people in other countries for the exact same drugs, often made in the exact same place. This is wrong, unfair, and together we can stop it.” Washington’s congressional delegation is in the position to lead on this issue and make a difference

37 YEARS

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YOUR VOICE BLOG from 10 3 fats. It‘s healthy for your brain. Seaweeds are a great source of iron, iodine, and vitamins K and B. I enjoy eating seaweed and fish two to three times a week, especially when it is fresh.

Garlic, green onion, and ginger

Both the East and West have suggested that garlic not only enhances flavors in cooking, they are antioxidants. Garlic, ginger, and green onions are key ingredients in Chinese cooking. I stir-fry, pan-fry, bake, stew, steam, and boil my food with those three ingredients. To increase my garlic consumption, I use garlic powder on practically everything I cook. Don’t buy garlic salt, though. Over consumption of salt can be harmful to your heart, and can cause hypertension. A few slices of ginger in your cooking helps to cleanse your body and enhance energy. Green onion serves a similar purpose to garlic and ginger. Together, they create wonders in taste and aroma.

Tea

I prefer tea to coffee. I used to drink Chinese and English black tea. Black tea stains my teeth, warned my dentist. A few years ago, I restarted my habit of drinking Taiwanese Mountain tea, oolong. You can buy them in Asian grocery stores. My relatives in Taiwan introduced me to Taiwanese tea decades ago. They would give them to my late mother whenever they visited Hong Kong. My mom, bless her heart, would save them for me whenever I visited her. Now that my mom is gone, I yearn for the fine tea, and remembered my mom’s love for me. Tea contains flavonoids, an ingredient for longevity.

Great fats

My mother would often shun fats, not knowing our brain

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actually needs good cholesterol to maintain cognitive functions. American nutritionists and doctors have urged us to eat healthy fats every day. Just consuming fish often is not sufficient. So I put two drops of extra virgin olive oil on my breakfast egg, as well as my banana for snack. My other source of fat is avocado, twice a week. Even though each is about 300 calories, its benefits outweigh the harm.

Blueberries

Many longevity studies have highly recommended blueberries. Washington state and Maine are two states famous for the fruit except Maine’s berries are grown wild everywhere, so you don’t have to buy them. A serving of about 30 blueberries will fight aging. Unfortunately, I am not fond of blueberries. So I take two highly-concentrated blueberry pills a day.

Walnuts

Walnuts with prawns are a popular Chinese dish. But if you are serious about the health benefits of walnuts, don’t just eat them when you dine in Chinese restaurants. Eat them raw. Several studies have found that walnuts are better than other kinds of nuts, such as pecans, almonds, and cashews. With walnuts, you won’t have to worry about constipation. Every morning, I mix 10 to 12 walnuts with oatmeal and flaxseed powder in my cereal. Learn to love walnut’s natural flavor. It will do your body good. One doctor suggested soaking walnuts in water before eating them. I gave up on the idea after a while, as I have found little difference in taste, function, or texture.

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Eat more fruits and vegetables

In general, fruits such as apples, grapes, oranges, papayas, bananas, and watermelons are great for your body as they provide lots of vitamin C and fiber. I eat vegetables more than meat. They are easy to digest and many are antioxidants. I wouldn’t suggest cutting out meat completely. Meat can provide lots of protein and vitamins. My weekly choice of veggies include bok choy, broccoli, kale, watercress, sweet potatoes, purple yams, and pumpkins. They keep me healthy and energize my mind and body. There are many kinds of anti-aging foods, such as honey, lemon, red wine, turmeric, bone broth, and juice mixed with celery, applies, carrots, a piece of ginger, and cucumber— I can go on and on. To maximize the effects, you cannot just eat them once in a while, you have to integrate these edibles in your normal life. If not daily, you should at least eat them a few times during the week. Healthy eating inspires you to form healthy habits. You might not want to eat them for longevity, but if these foods make you feel good and healthy, it’s worth a try.  Assunta can be reached at assunta@nwasianweekly.com.

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