The Holy Grail: The Hidden Trevor Noah Promos

For those of you who know me personally, you probably already know that I have been fangirling immensely over Trevor Noah taking over the Daily Show for months. Months.

So naturally, when I found out about the unlisted YouTube promos sprinkled throughout Google's search results, I began my quest to unearth them. This post will serve as my running list of those I have already found.

"Is Trevor Noah Gay?"
"Trevor Noah's True Feelings About Crocs"
"Trevor Noah's Stunning Girlfriend"
"Trevor Noah's Star Sign"
"Trevor Noah, Illuminati Hopeful"

Geeky Girl Now Writes Reviews!

I've decided that in my spare time, I am going to dedicate some of my blogging efforts to writing book reviews of works by up an coming authors, especially those who have gone the route of self-publishing or going traditional through a small publisher. As someone who has done some of the hoop-jumping that comes with trying to find readers and reviewers, I figure - why not be whatever help I can to people in the same boat?

So, in the meantime, if you'd like a review of your work that will be online, quotable, shareable - all of that good stuff - just send me an email at conlu.authormail@gmail.com with "Review Request" as the subject line and provide me with the following information:

TITLE:
AUTHOR:
GENRE:
BRIEF SUMMARY: 
WHERE TO PURCHASE: (alternatively, I can also review anything sent directly as a PDF or DOC attachment, but if you'd like a purchase link embedded in the review, please provide it)
**also attach or provide the image URL of any cover art if you'd like

Some notes:

I have a full time day job, so I won't be writing new reviews daily. I'd like to give each work that I read ample time and consideration so I can appreciate it and write the best review possible.

Also, please note that works that are emailed to me directly as attachments or are available as free downloads (I have a Kindle) are going to be given priority. I am more than happy to invest time into reading new work, but alas, I don't have unlimited funds to purchase all of the books I review.

That being said, I'm excited to start reading! Let's get this started!

Write Up Your Alley: Writing Workshop, Lesson 1

Lesson 1: Introduction

"Write Up Your Alley" is adapted from a set of handouts used in my writing workshops geared mostly towards young and beginning writers. It is an 8-week, 8-lesson series, but since it is all now posted on this blog, you can follow at whatever pace you feel comfortable. Remember, it's still recommended to take some time between lessons to write and practice before starting a new lesson.

With all that being said, let's start off with a writing prompt to warm you up. Take a few minutes and write as little or as much as you would like to adequately address it:

A major storm has passed through a small town. Write a paragraph describing the damage.

Invisible Disabilities/Disorders, and How You Can Help

Long story short, a friend of a friend started a new challenge online to raise awareness about Invisible Disabilities and Disorders, succinctly described as:

"...disabilities that are not immediately apparent ...[and] can hinder a person's efforts to go to school, work, socialize, and more."

 Invisible Disabilities and Disorders range from mental health issues such as depression and anxiety, to nervous system and autoimmune disorders such as Epilepsy and Lupus. They are health issues that may not be physically obvious but affect a person's quality of life just the same; they lead some to stare, puzzled, and say "But you look fine!" or, "Just get over it!". With the research and resources that we have now, however, we've learned that it's not as simple as just wanting to be better.

The premise of the Invisible Disability/Disorder Challenge is simple: make a donation to an organization geared towards treating and supporting individuals with an invisible disease or disorder, and/or make a video of yourself singing or playing a song. Challenge others to do the same. 

Knowing that the idea of Invisible Disabilities/Disorders is somewhat new for a lot of the public, I've compiled a small list of suggestions that you're free to use or point people to in your own videos! (*Note that these are U.S. based organizations).

Invisible Disabilities Association - http://invisibledisabilities.org/

 

Mental Health

Alzheimer's Association - http://www.alz.org/
Anxiety Disorders Foundation - http://www.anxietydisordersfoundation.org/
Autism Speaks - http://www.autismspeaks.org/
Autism Spectrum Disorder Foundation - http://www.myasdf.org/site/
California Maternal Mental Health Collaborative - http://www.camaternalmentalhealth.org/
Family Support Foundation for Mental Illness - http://fsfmi.org/
National Alliance on Mental Health - http://www.nami.org/
National Coalition for Maternal Mental Health - http://www.mmhcoalition.com/
National Eating Disorders Association - http://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/
Postpartum Progress Inc. - http://postpartumprogress.org/
PTSD Foundation of America - http://ptsdusa.org/
Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America - http://www.sardaa.org/

 

Nervous System and Autoimmune

Epilepsy Foundation of America - http://www.epilepsy.com/
Guillain-Barre Syndrome/CIDP Foundation - http://www.gbs-cidp.org/
Lupus Foundation of America - http://www.lupus.org/
National Multiple Sclerosis Society - http://www.nationalmssociety.org/

 

Chronic Pain

National Fibromyalgia Association - http://www.fmaware.org/

If you have suggestions for additions to the list, shoot me a comment!

I don't think the challenge has official hashtags yet, so for now, I suggest #IDChallenge and #InvisibleNoMore. Have fun, everyone!

Count Us In: Why Asian Americans need to care about Ferguson too

"Officer Go Fuck Yourself" , aptly named for brandishing a weapon at an unarmed journalist and refusing to give his name.

 Throughout the dialogue about the events in Ferguson as of late, the focus is of course on those most directly affected - at present, the Black community in Ferguson is bearing the brunt of the extreme, militarized brutality of law enforcement. Much of the focus in the discourse that ensues is on the Black community and on the Hispanic community when it comes to those affected by police brutality. One such example is a statement made by Rosa Clemente in her account of her experience in Ferguson alongside Talib Kweli and others, posted on August 20th.

"... I looked into this white bald headed man, and I saw his eyes, I feared the moment that so many young Black and Latino, Latina men and women face, potential death..."

At first, my gut reaction as an Asian American is to take offense. Why do you leave us out? I wonder. I've known and heard of so many who have suffered brutality at the hands of police, who have experienced extreme prejudice and institutionalized racism. My gut reaction is to grouse, to be angered at the idea of being looked at as the "model minority" yet again. No wonder the Asian American voice is quiet when it comes to Ferguson. We've been left out again.

And then I realize - we can't think this way. We can't allow these lines of division to be drawn between us. There is no one to fault - many Asian Americans become complacent with the model minority myth because in many cases, our fellow non-Caucasians don't feel solidarity with us. They don't know that behind the myths and the stereotypes, Asian American urban youth suffer from issues of poverty, of lack of adequate education, of poor college retention. Asian Americans, too, face police brutality and should - must care about what's happening in Ferguson.

In 2006, four Asian Americans - Karen Chen, Quan Manh Thin, Tat M. Yuen, and Howard Ng - were pepper-sprayed at close range by a police officer while they stood outside of the Super 88 Market. Karen Chen, hardly five feet tall, was tackled to the ground. Tat Yuen was knocked unconscious. All were charged and convicted with either disorderly conduct or resisting arrest.

In 2007, 18-year-old Marlo Custodio was pulled out of his car and slammed into the hood by a police officer while simply sitting and eating while the car was parked. He called his mother for aid, and the police roughed her up as well.

In 2011, the Rapada family was disproportionately brutalized after police officers - a 'fireworks abatement team' dressed in battle dress uniform - drove over an unignited prohibited firework that the family had procured for the Fourth of July. The encounter resulted in the following chaos:

"A crowd teeming with people was nearby, which included Wendell Rapada. He was walking towards his home just a short distance from the scene. The officers accosted him and proceeded to choke him. Wendell was unarmed and turning blue. Ephraim Rapada witnessed what was happening, asking the officers why they were harming Wendell. The officers viciously turned on the elder Rapada. His daughter Crystal, who had been in the house, came out. Seeing what was happening to her father, she was frantic and tried to get between her father and the officer. She was taken to the ground, held down by an officer's foot on her neck. Ervin Rapada witnesses the scene and pleads for the officers to stop. He is attacked by 3 officers, one of whom tazed him 4 times. Crystal Rapada is frantic, calling out for her father who is injured. She is mocked by the officers on the way to the hospital..."

In January of this year, an 84-year-old Chinese man in New York City named Kang Wong was beaten for jaywalking, because, with limited English skills, he could not understand what officers were asking of him.

Kang Wong, 84, of New York. (Photo Credit: G.N. Miller / NY Post)

These are just a few cases, a small sample of instances in which Asian Americans have felt the force of police brutality, of wanton violence and assertion of dominance over minorities - and these are but a few of the reasons why the Asian American community, too, must not stand silent.

"Minorities" are only a minorities when they are segregated from one another - the solidarity of minorities into a majority is dangerous to those who assert their dominance in the form of brutality and institutionalized racism. For those who actively seek to benefit from the perception of White Americans as the majority, it is helpful to say, "Black and Hispanic America, Asian Americans are not you," and "Asian America, you are not them."

Solidarity of "minorities" is threatening. Recognition of our common victimization and oppression is a step towards empowerment - towards no longer being victims.

Why Drought-Shaming the Ice Bucket Challenge is Over-Dramatic

Actors Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston getting iced, (care of Tumblr user LoptrLaufey)

First of all, for those unfamiliar with the Ice Bucket Challenge, this is a viral campaign created by the ALS Association. ALS, which stands for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease also referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease in which a person gradually loses the ability to use and control their muscle movements - it can start with the limbs, but later progress to the loss of ability to eat and speak independently because of loss of tone in the pharyngeal or facial muscles.  The Ice Bucket Challenge poses the individual with a choice: dump a bucket of ice water on your head (often within 24 hours) or donate to the cause of striking out ALS. Then you nominate 3 others to do the same.

In nursing school, I spent a day with a home health nurse, during which we spent almost the entire day visiting veterans - mostly from Vietnam - suffering from ALS, and having seen the disease progression for myself, I immediately felt a sense of happiness at the presence of such awareness of the disease. A couple of years ago, during my first semester in nursing school, hardly anyone even knew about it, and now there was an entire viral campaign to raise money for it.

And then, I started seeing all of the complaints on social media. This doesn't really help, some say, but money has been raised, over $15 million at that. Others, particularly in California, bring up the fact that we are in a drought, and it is a waste of water. Inspired by a satirical article by the Daily Currant - please pay attention to the word satirical - which said that Ice Bucket Challenge participants were being fined for participating, many people have posted on social media about how shameful and irresponsible it is to waste so much water during a drought - and while, yes, we are in a drought that needs to be taken seriously, and yes, we do need to make conservation efforts, the shaming of people doing something fun and interesting for a good cause needs to stop.

As far as water usage, let's talk about the average shower. The average shower, lasting about 15 minutes (though let's be honest - many of us take longer) uses 2 to 4 gallons per minute in a water-saving shower, or 7-10 gallons per minute in the conventional shower. The average toilet flush for a conventional toilet uses about 5 to 7 gallons of water, and up to 3.5 gallons of water with a water-saving toilet.

Now, I won't pretend to know a good estimate of how much water is used in the Ice Bucket Challenge, but I feel like saying 5 to 7 gallons is a reasonable if not generous number - and participants only dump water on themselves once. Think about that for a second.

Yes, we need to take the drought seriously - but if you are going to drought-shame anyone, focus your energies on businesses and energy industries that are responsible for the bulk of water-waste. Or, if you're upset about the amount of water used for one person taking the Ice Bucket Challenge, then take your ire out on every person who flushed the toilet one extra time to get rid of skidmarks, or stayed in the shower and extra minute or two to contemplate the meaning of life. Because literally, those actions use the same amount if not more water. Happy drought-shaming.

NBTD: Contacts in Kim Kardashian: Hollywood

So, for my first post in my NBTD (Nothing Better to Do) tag, I'm going to compile a list of contacts in the Kim Kardashian: Hollywood app. A little background on why this is useful in the app: for some of the contacts you make in various locations, you have the option of guessing their name after they introduce themselves by their occupation. If you guess correctly, you are rewarded. So, since I'm sick today and have decided to waste a little time talking about a game I started playing over the weekend, here's a list to help you out! Hopefully it's the same in everyone's game!

This list will be updated regularly!

1.       Abigail Johnson – Model

2.       Abigail White – Fashion Stylist

3.       Adam Clark – Caterer

4.       Adam Lewis – Make-up Artist

5.       Adam Reynolds – Geoscientist

6.       Addison Rogers – Make-up Artist

7.       Aiden Graham – Fashion Stylist

8.       Alex Mason – Teacher

9.       Alexander Scott – Dietitian

10.   Alexandra Peterson – Real Estate Agent

11.   Alexis Graham – Pop Star

12.   Anthony Rogers – Model

13.   Brayden Thomson – Record Producer

14.   Brian Anderson – wealthy American industrialist

15.   Brooke Russell – Optometrist

16.   Camila Jones – Fast Food Restaurant Manager

17.   Camila Perry – Pop Star

18.   Caroline Conway – Model

19.   Charles Walker – Fashion Photographer

20.   Christian Griffiths – Starving Artist

21.   Cletus O’Connor – Actor

22.   Daniel Morris – Pop Star

23.   Daryl Hunt – Model

24.   David Robertson – Dietitian

25.   Diego Clark – Pathologist

26.   Dirk Diamonds -Model

27.   Emma Harris – Venture Capitalist

28.   Eric Scott – Promoter

29.   Ethan Moore – CEO

30.   Eva Stewart – Celebrity

31.   Evan Campbell – Fashion Photographer

32.   Evelyn Watson – Make-up Artist

33.   Gabriel Cook – Celebrity

34.   Hailey Stevens – Director

35.   Hunter O’Sullivan – Playwright

36.   Isaiah Cook – Pop Star

37.   Isaiah Gray – Make-up Artist

38.   Isaiah Howard – Acupuncturist

39.   Isaiah Reed – Car Salesperson

40.   Jack Jackson – Producer

41.   Jaden Cook – Promoter

42.   Jason Wood – Flight Attendant

43.   Jeremiah Peterson -  Audiologist

44.   Jill Yanomicz – Model

45.   John Stewart – Video Game Executive

46.   Joseph Green – Royalty

47.   Kaitlyn Fraser – Fashion Photographer

48.   Kaitlyn Robertson – Record Producer

49.   Kayla Parker – Social Worker

50.   Khloe Mitchell – Celebrity

51.   Kristoff King – Teacher

52.   Levi Foster – Actor

53.   Lillian Wright – Promoter

54.   Lily Russell – Fashion Stylist

55.   Logan Shaw – Politician

56.   Lucy Watson – Animal Trainer

57.   Madison Stevens – Make-up Artist

58.   Mason Harris – Starving Artist

59.   Mason Powell – Wealthy Socialite

60.   Matthew Green – Set Designer

61.   Matthew Walsh – Pop Star

62.   Max Clark – Fashion Designer

63.   Max Cooper – Graphic Designer

64.   Max Robinson – Engineer

65.   Maya Shaw – Chiropractor

66.   Mia Kennedy – Dental Assistant

67.   Mia Wood – Celebrity

68.   Midori Cooper – Bouncer

69.   Mitchell Murphy – Writer

70.   Morgan Walker – Make-up Artist

71.   Natalia Shaw – Media Mogul

72.   Nicholas Bell – Fashion Stylist

73.   Nicholas Butler – Flight Attendant

74.   Olivia Harris – Professional Extra

75.   Owen King – Director

76.   Payton Gray – Fashion Stylist

77.   Rachel Powell – Pop Star

78.   Samantha O’Connor – Forester

79.   Samantha Price – Model

80.   Sebastian Watson – Fashion Photographer

81.   Sophia Davis – Celebrity

82.   Sophie Hughes – Producer

83.   Stella Kennedy – Celebrity

84.   Sydney Gray - Actor

85.   Trinity James – Politician

86.   Trinity Smith – Make-up Artist

87.   Tristan Collins – Oil Tycoon

88.   Tristan Wilson – Car Salesperson

89.   Xavier Reynolds – Celebrity Psychologist