Here's an interesting article I read in the LA Times:

Why do Asian students generally get higher marks than Latinos?
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-lincoln16-2008jul16,0,3712530.story
In summary, the article examines the students of Lincoln High School who come from various parts of Boyle Heights, El Sereno and Chinatown.  Both the neighborhood and student body are about 15% Asian. And yet Asians make up 50% of students taking Advanced Placement classes. Lincoln Heights is mostly a working-class Mexican American area, but many are ethnic Chinese who fled Vietnam. 

The difference isn't in class economics, 84% of the Asian and Latino families in the neighborhoods around Lincoln High have median annual household incomes below $50,000.  The difference is most Asian families value and stress the importance of education while more Mexicans value and stress getting paid work sooner than later. 

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I know the situation.  College was expected in my family.  I wasn't a straight A student, but I would've gotten worse if I didn't work it.  Then again, my district was tougher.  In the end, I earned a respectable academic performance.

This is why I believe whenever a school, political candidate, or the government insists on pouring more money into schools to theoretically make students better, that theory is a bunch of crock.  It's mainly the student's responsibility to value their own education, study harder, and get good grades.  The parents are also to blame for not regulating.  Hard study ethic is all that's needed.  Sure, better teachers help but they can only do so much.  Buying new textbooks or shiny computers or paying teachers higher salaries is not going to make students smarter.

All those other supposedly "dumber" minorities need to quit whining and get over their cultural laziness and study.  Once they do that, they too, can break through the invisible racial barrier and do the impossible like Carlos Garcia, the Mexican president of Lincoln High's Asian club, did.


Carlos Garcia, second from right, is the ethnically confused President of Lincoln High's supposedly Asian club.

Mandarin seems like the Chinese language to learn in America.  Even among some of my Cantonese speaking friends or relatives, when they want their baby to learn Chinese, Mandarin is their choice.  China is the future, people say.  I used to expect most US chinatown communities to primarily be Cantonese speakers but seems like either Taiwanese people or Mainlanders are flourishing in this environment as well. 

Growing up in America, my primary language is and remains English.  Both my parents speak Cantonese but were too lazy to teach beyond their firstborn.  They taught me a few basic words here and there but that's it.  As a kid, I was forced into attended a weekend Mandarin Chinese school for a little bit but I didn't learn or retain much from there.  I just remember an unfinished workbook and goofing off.  Besides, an extra day of school?  My American sensibility was too spoiled for that.  Do I regret it?  I do wish I picked up more from it and it would be great if I became semi-fluent.  But I don't regret enjoying my childhood either.  I'd rather watch cartoons or play Computer/Nintendo games all day. 

From high school to college, I was also forced into studying a second language.  I studied French cause a second language was mandatory and I wanted to learn something different from my bros (who chose Spanish and Latin).  I think I've forgotten most of it, there's too many conjugations involved. 

After college, I wanted to learn some Asian languages for fun.  When it comes to languages, there are three that interest me: Cantonese, Mandarin, and Japanese.

Cantonese because that's where much my culture and heritage lies.
Mandarin because it's popular and the Chinese standard.
Japanese because it's products and culture are so influential. 

The furthest I've ever gotten is by listening to the the first level of Cantonese, Mandarin, and Japanese from Pimsleur.  Basic stuff, but it helped me understand much more than I used to.  Even knowing a few more words and phrases makes me feel better.

I often watch many movies in these three languages as well.  Movies haven't really helped me learn languages very well.  The only things I learned from watching Cantonese movies are words like "POK GAI!!!" or "SIK SEAHHH!!!".  In terms of learning resources, Cantonese seems the scarcest.  Japanese and especially Mandarin are more plentiful.  Unfortunately for me, Cantonese is the language I want to learn most.  I'd feel guilty if I was better versed in the other two languages.  I'm not very good at learning languages anyhow, my memory isn't the sharpest.  The Cantonese tones are the toughest.  The only way I could ever learn is through repetition, continual and consistent listening and speaking.  And without the time, discipline, or even resources to learn I don't know if I'll ever pick it up...  At least I'm pretty good at English.

Speaking of Cantonese vs. Mandarin, here's a trailer of a great movie series with a related North vs. South premise.  From studio Cathay:
The Greatest Civil War on Earth
Video: http://www.cathay.com.sg/classics/civilwar.wmv


I really love Leung Sing Bo's comic tones and mannerisms.  I agree with the idea that comedy is funnier in Cantonese than Mandarin.  The "sequels" The Greatest Wedding on Earth and The Greatest Love Affair on Earth feature the same cast and premise but are unrelated.  I've still been waiting a long time for Panorama to release Greatest Love Affair on DVD.  The first two were quite enjoyable.  Who knows if its release will ever happen.  Who the purchases and watches these types of movies other than hardcore movie fans or really old people?  What an unfortunate trend.

Before I talk about the Sichuan Earthquake, here's a random drawing of a cute nerdy girl.

Gross, yet appealing.  Other students throw stuff at her yet she still has an awkward smile on her face.  What a poor girl.  It reminds me of the character Ichigo during her flashback in the movie Kamizake Girls.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcmo7_xQZ0Q Maybe in the future, she will have the guts to go gangsta, completely snap, or go on to live a horribly awkward comedic life.  Shame on those other students... and myself for drawing it apparently.

On the Sichuan Earthquake, here's some video I found on Youtube to get a sense of what a 7.8 quake is like:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBoCik8RKpc

I thought it was hilarious when the student said to his other male roommate "WO AI NI!!!!"  But all joking aside, videos like these don't evoke much sympathy but show how crazy it is, lasting minutes.  Having grown up in Los Angeles, an earthquake hotspot, I've felt a few.  They still seem like a rarity actually.  Haven't experienced too many.  The most memorable ones happened when I was a kid.  I don't even know if it was the Northridge one.  LA is said to be due for a "Big One" in the next few decades.  Can't say that I feel ready.

Worser reports and images have appeared on the news of the more serious death and destruction. 

You can view more of these here:
http://news.163.com/special/00012700/fotodiz.html
http://media.theaustralian.com.au/multimedia/2008/05/13-quake/index.html

So, what else to say other than "what a terrible thing."  What else to do but pray, give aid, or do nothing.  I prayed.  I'll confess, I don't love giving out money, but since I'm suggesting it, it would be hypocritical if I didn't myself.  I gave, and if you're looking to too, here's some places you can go to donate:
http://www.salvation.org.hk/english/index.htm


This place also: http://www.wvasiapacific.org/
and here too: http://www.redcross.org.hk

When it comes to drawing people of different ages, there's several things you can do to indicate age.  Mostly basic things like: proportion, costume, attitude.  When I drew this, I didn't really study real models or anything, (which I should've but am too lazy) I just drew on what I generally knew. 

Babies and children look more the way they do with a big forehead and their eyes, nose, mouth proportionally lower on their face.  Their head to body ratio favors a big head and small body.  Babies are fat and their leg an arm curves are often drawn like this (   ) curve against curve.  They wear diapers or other cute suits that only a mother would forcefully impose. 

Growing to children, the proportions grow.  The head to body ratio starts to balance itself out.  Here I drew a boy and a girl at odds with one another.  To them, inter gender relationships are still yucky.  This pairing also suggests some mischievousness on the boy's part.  Girls also reach puberty faster than boys so at a certain age, they're taller, beefier than boy peers. 

Continuing on to teens, the same proportional trend occurs, ironically the head gets smaller and the body gets bigger but they don't become dumber.  Here, I drew this young man in a letterman's jacket, something only a high schooler would wear.  His hair's all messy.  And the girl's carrying some textbooks.  I don't know if real kids would do this but he's being very gentlemanly towards the girl, holding open an imaginary door or whatever.  Maybe in the 1950's teens may have had such manners.  These days, maybe he's trying to rack up score points.  Who knows?

Adults, I placed in a large age range 21-64 but the ones I drew are probably like in their early 40's or something.  Their bodies get proportionally longer and beefier.  Bodies are made up of these (   l curves against straight lines.  Maybe it's a married couple with kids.  The guy's wearing those trendy nerd glasses and some dorky nautica coat.  And has his "aren't I mr. artsy suave?" (or so he thinks) goatee.  The lady has her hair long and strong like she stepped out of an overpriced salon or used overrated pantene pro V.   Got more bling, the phat purse, a "I'm past 25 but I'm still sexy" (or so she thinks) cleavage dress.

Senior citizens just degrade into decrepitude.   They get too fat or too skinny, wrinkles, age spots all over, hunching, sagging, drooling, limping, shaking,  wearing old mothball sweaters,  and those big visor things.  I had to show them arm in arm together otherwise it'd be too cruel.  They've lived a long life; hope it was worth it.  What's left to do but go to the park and become tai chi masters?

When I look at the world of cartooning, success, and mascot popularity, several characters come to mind:  Mickey Mouse, Snoopy, Doraemon, Hello Kitty, Winnie the Pooh, Totoro, Bugs Bunny, Mcdull, etc...  These are characters that have all become icons and merchandising cash cows.  These are the type of creations which I can only dream of making. 

So let us briefly examine probably the world's most popular if not recognizable cartoon character: Mickey Mouse. 

Though I'm not quite obsessed about it as other fans I've seen, I generally love Disney stuff and I think they made wonderful work, especially during Walt's days.  Today Disney Animation's under pretty good hands with John Lasseter in charge.  You can pretty much find all Mickey's history on Wikipedia, his theatrical shorts delighted audiences because they were entertaining and well made.  Steamboat Willie's innovative use of sound caused a sensation.  Though personally, I'm more of a Donald Duck fan, Mickey's shorts were great, and they continued to entertain for a long time.  Mickey's circular design is said to be part of the success of his appeal.  Among the basic shapes of a square, triangle, and circle, soft organic circular shapes are said to be the most appealing or attractive to mind's eye.  Doraemon also relies on this simple circular design. 



Legendary Disney animator Fred Moore, one of the "Nine Old Men" under Walt's era basically describes Mickey as young, clean, humble, fun loving, bashful, polite, and clever.  And having traits of Fred Astaire (most famous for dancing), Charlie Chaplin (most famous for comedy), and Douglas Fairbanks (most famous for swashbuckling heroism).  He's a lovable character, one both boys and girls could enjoy watching or be comfortable wearing on their pajamas.  One wonders if Mickey were introduced today, would he survive the same type of popularity as he does today even with the same exposure?  They don't make cartoon characters like they used to.  Perhaps Mickey is a relic of his time. 

It's easy to feel that the spirit of Mickey died and became a bland corporate icon after Walt's own death.   A pale cliched imitation of his own character.  During Walt's era, you can feel the honesty, the sincerity, the classiness of the Mouse's cartoons.  Today, most this kind of entertainment has fallen into the trap of trying too hard to entertain rather than staying true to character.  I won't say Mickey can't ever be done right again, but these days, it's a lot more difficult and unlikely.   I sure couldn't do it.  But what's great or horrible, depending on your viewpoint is that Mickey's iconic image has endured despite his seemingly soulessness portrayals.  Much like Hello Kitty, nobody cares about who he is it's about what he is, a commercialized brand name pop logo to plaster onto equally bland manufactured merchandise to increase it's sellability...  At least the guy's still capable of making big bucks!  In the end however, he'll always be the rightful icon for representing Walt Disney.  And for that, Mickey, I salute you.  That's Disney Magic.