A List

I'm a list maker, and today, you're in the mix.
Here's my list for you of AA related news and East West happenings.

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In Politics: Sikhs Seethe Over a Snub by Clintons

Our hearts go out to the people of Bangladesh where the cyclone death toll continues to rise:http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21862417/
Kudos to Verizon, who has delivered a sizable amount of grant money to AA community organizations.

JazzWeek Radio Charts, which monitor the most-played records in America, contain a history-making first for Filipinos. Vocalist Charmaine Clamor is ranked in the Top-5 on two charts simultaneously. Listen to the NPR interview.

Sexiest Men

OK, I feel I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the annual drool fest that is People's Sexiest Man Alive issue. Sure, it certainly isn't painful for me to peruse the list, but this isn't all fun and games people! There actually is a story here. :-)

And no, it isn't that Matt Damon took the top honor although I am a big fan and quite pleased with the choice. (Go Bourne!)
The story here is that AA men are once again helping to prove Asian sexiness.
Will Yun Lee from the new NBC show "Bionic Woman" makes the cut. And check out People's 100 Sexy Men in 1 Minute video to see if you can spot some other community folk.
Plus, there is a homage to Masi Oka's geek sex appeal.

But, if you need more substance, well then check out Salon's take on the annual list. They've got "26 more men that, sure, are easy on the eyes, but who also unleash complicated emotions in us that we just have never been able to articulate. Until now."
Actor Tony Leung makes this intriguing list that pairs looks with smarts, talent, ambition, and do-gooders.

Who are our picks for the perfect mix? There are so many, but here's ten of the moment...in no particular order.

1. Will Yun Lee (we agree)
2. Kunal Nayyar
3. Kal Penn
4. Sendhil Ramamurthy
5. John Abraham
6. Daniel Dae Kim
7. Justin Lin
8. John Cho
9. Alec Mapa
10. Sunkrish Bala

One Minute Movies

It's film festival season, and we've seen many great AA film festivals from coast to coast the past few months. In fact, The Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival is going on right now until Sunday in New York. And while these festivals do a wonderful job of highlighting pan-Asian American arts, it was only a matter of time before a new approach popped onto the scene.

PassionForCinema is currently in its call for entries stage for PFCOne, an online film festival of one minute movies scheduled to take place from December 1st to December 5, 2007. The site caters to South Asians and PFCOne winners will get to intern with some Bollywood experts. From the folks at PFC:

The whole purpose is to encourage the film maker in each one of you. You can use your cell/mobile phone, your digital camera, your camcorder, rent a movie camera, a video camera… anything that can capture a motion picture to shoot a one minute film that is based on an original story…

The deadline is fast approaching. It's November 15th. So get going. I think we might make an EW film and mix it up a bit...I'm charging up my cell phone now!
Have a great weekend and Happy Diwali.

It's Here!

The new issue of East West arrived in our offices today, always a fun moment. Our overly critical eyes are actually quite pleased with the result, and I hope you'll feel the same.

In conjunction with the issue, which features Carrie Ann Inaba from "Dancing With the Stars" on the cover, we'll be putting up a behind-the-scenes video of the cover shoot on the site on Friday. Tomorrow is also the Indian festival of Diwali. It will be a big day to say the least so come back!

For now, enjoy Thursday and check out "Ugly Betty" tonight. It's the big wedding episode featuring guest star Vera Wang, who plays herself, and Alec Mapa in his recurring role as Suzuki St. Pierre...Oh yeah, and Posh Spice will be there too.

We Rock

When a reader has good things to say, it is a great day. And, we are lucky enough to get emails and calls on a regular basis that uplift and motivate even when we're under stressful deadlines.
But today, after I took some personal time from Friday to Sunday to walk the 60 mile, Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day, such notes of thanks and praise meant SO much more.

I am honestly still a little cranky from the trek, and I needed a good boost of motivation to get going today on upcoming East West projects. Thankfully, you delivered. I thought I would share with you two of the notes that landed in my email today, and quite simply made my day.

Joil in California summed it up concisely. She wrote, "East West ROCKS!"

Thank you. I humbly agree, we do rock. :-)

A reader and now contributor, since she wrote the upcoming issue's reader column My East West, Kamala, also from California, said, "I absolutely admire your publication and feel as if it was made for me because I can really identify with it, much more so than other publications. It's more 'real' in my opinion and has such great substance."

Thanks readers!
I hope you enjoy the new issue just as much as the previous ones. It hits newsstands next week. Check out the issue preview.