Welcome

We just witnessed the nation's first trial for the hotly debated issue of same-sex marriage that has torn California in two, as it comes to the forefront as the result of the passing of Proposition 8 back in November 2008. The narrow passage of Prop 8 (by only a 4.5%margin) amends the constitution to say that only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California. This ballot was a direct response to the California Supreme Court's ruling in May 2008: "In re Marriage Cases" giving gays and lesbians

China, the host of the 29th Olympiad, is opening up to the world like never before. Although its history of communism and human rights violations are viewed as archaic, it also does not erase their uncivilized and unyielding style of strict governing. Nevertheless, most of the world has been anxious to see how China can compete, not only by watching their athletes in competition, but observing how they present themselves and react to the most prestigious international sporting stage that is the Olympics.

Not only is this a sporting event, this is also viewed as an international political and cultural uprising of the sleeping giant. This event was years in the making. China has built stadiums, buildings and villages, outspending past Olympics many times over. The opening ceremony alone cost ten times that of the one in Athens in 2004.

The Backstory

It seems like every couple of weeks, a new chapter is added to the saga of the rookie San Francisco Supervisor Ed Jew. He had only been elected in November of 2006; and as soon as May 2007 his office was raided by the F.B.I. in a sting operation having taken $40,000 (now the amount has risen to an alleged $84,000) to relieve permit issues from several Asian businesses. His place of residence quickly came into focus as his neighbors claimed he never lived in the empty house in the district he represents. A month later, the district attorney filed perjury charges because he falsely claimed to live in district 4 in the Sunset, while living in a house owned by him and his wife in Burlingame. The law says you need to live in that district. In mid-September, federal charges were brought on for the extortion of the money in question. The same day, Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco suspended him.

K.C. Ho has two facets to his style of painting. He examines the world figuratively using simplified human poses while injecting color, attitude and strength. He also displays settings of abstract color using tonal movements and contrasting hues. Together he presents his work for the first time – online painterly scenes of soft stellar moods, quiet emphatic vignettes, and poignant color studies, mostly through artful acrylics on paper and canvas.

In his figurative works which are moody and gestural, the soft brush strokes combined with hard edges are seen as atmospheric statements of a time and place. There are no lines in reality, but soft blurred visions of corners, light, shadows, faces, silhouettes and curvatures.

When you hear the term Asian "Fusion" food, the connotation of fusion is usually chi-chi or trendy and probably on the higher priced end of the spectrum. Especially Asian style, and in this case "Thai-Fusion," I was apprehensive wondering how Thai cuisine could be streamlined into mainstream eclecticism of oriental foods. I was expecting dishes like pad Thai spaghetti and meatballs, or mango pesto pizza which may sound tasty to you but I beg to differ. My experience was nothing like I had imagined.

Keeping with well-known Thai staples and traditional flavors, Citrus & Spice dazzles with great dishes with just enough of a twist to keep it fresh, yet keeps the core spices of representational Thai cuisine true to its heritage.

Cultural and ethnic boundaries in this country continue to evolve and mesh together as we learn to live and love. The face of the future could be ambiguous, looking androgynous and equivocating the racial labels of black and white....and Asian. Sometimes being half Asian could get lost in the mix, but the beauty of the blend will never go unnoticed. The world is starting to accept multiracials like never before.

Tiger Woods is inching closer to Jack's record in the majors, and now his ethnicity is seldom mentioned compared to the early days when his race was front page news. While the media tend to report him as African-American, we in the Asian community will point out that he is Asian because of his mother's Thai heritage. There are many actors that look more Asian than Caucasian at first glance including Russell Wong best known for his role in "The Joy Luck Club." It helps to punctuate the Asian-ness with a Chinese surname. Others, on the other hand, may need a double take to realize their multiracial origins. Dean Cain is half Japanese. Keanu Reeves is half Hawaiian-Chinese. Rob Schneider is half Filipino. And wrestler turned action hero Duane "The Rock" Johnson is half Samoan.

California is the quintessential Mecca for thriving Gay-Asian culture.

San Francisco and Los Angeles are both known for concentrated Gay-Asian populations and nightlife. While some clubs, bars and discos have been known to become Gay-Asian for one night a week or month, these two cities have provided a steady string of "rice" bars that have formed a popular history throughout the years. (Okay, while the term "rice" though perhaps politically incorrect and akin to "queer" in acceptance and usage, I personally prefer "Gay-Asian.")

Gay-Asian bars and clubs in both Los Angeles and San Francisco drum up pretty much the