Attending the MTV Chi advisory/planning meeting yesterday was one heckuva inspiring, fun, amusing, and overall wonderful experience!

MTV Chi, along with MTV Desi and MTV K are new Asian American music television channels that MTV is launching for young Chinese Americans, South Asian Americans, and Korean Americans respectively. This is a HUGE step because, although Asian American programming has been attempted, it's never quite been done before in this sort of way. Through these channels, Asian Americans will actually be able to watch people on TV they can racially and culturally relate to, listen to music from both up-and-coming Asian American artists, those from the motherland and non-Asian American artists they like, and hear the voices and stories of others who are like them. MTV Desi will be the prototype - the first to go on air officially JULY 12th on DirectTV - check it out!

During our meeting there was mad, crazy brainstorming! MTV Chi's still very much in the works but definitely on the way. Rapper Jin ( first known for his flow on BET's Freestyle Fridays and now with Ruff Ryders) was there to add ideas to the discussion. He's fuh-reakin' hilarious!

Me and Jin chillin in front of 1515

Each day at work, I'm discovering new career opportunities that I never knew existed. To think, before all of this I was lost - freakin' out as most are familiar with me doing. Yeah, so it happens that I'm working for The Man, but I'm enjoying it, learning, and thinking...perhaps I can do this.

What do you want to see on a music television channel for Chinese Americans? I'm suppose to seek out potential VJ's and those who want to share their stories. If you're not Chinese American, that's cool too...all opinions welcome.

had a wonderful time in spanish harlem today. jtang introduced me and han to coconut flavored ice - probably the best stuff one can enjoy in a dixie cup!

i also saw crash. apologies to all i was suppose to see it with. i'll make it up to you somehow. perhaps we can call each other racial slurs, get angry, and then sad to re-create the movie.

anyway, though i liked the film, it was emotionally draining. i'm tired. the three of us left the theater speechless and dazed (?). it's definitely one of those movies that takes time to swallow afterwards - maybe because it's somewhat true. go see it - all who can.

i don't understand.  almost every new yorker and jersey person i've talked to hates pigeons.

sure, they're everywhere, take up space and frequenly crap - but they're not that bad.  i think they're interesting to watch - especially when they fly into subways.  heck, i was even crapped on by a pigeon a few weeks ago (with jack and paulpark as witnesses), and i still don't mind 'em.  where's the love people?

this is all too amazing.  walking and then finally realizing after all this time. while transferring to the F. just like aways. alone.

after hesistating, avoiding, denying, disbelieving, and not knowing that it's true.

i've fallen in love...

overshadowed

and i know this for sure this time.  because i feel different and i just can't seem to explain why. 
or maybe, it's really just the obsene amounts of caffeine that secures the sheer enjoyment of being

here with new york.

You Belong in New York City You're an energetic, ambitious woman. And only NYC is fast enough for you. Maybe you'll set yourself up with a killer career Or simply take in all the city has to offer. What City Do You Belong in? Take This Quiz

what?...what does this mean???

Escuchela.. la ciudad respirando

The new moon rode high in the crown of the metropolis
Shinin, like who on top of this?
People was hustlin, arguin and bustlin
Gangstaz of Gotham hardcore hustlin
I'm wrestlin with words and ideas
My ears is picky, seekin what will transmit
the scribes can apply to transcript, yo
This ain't no time where the usual is suitable
Tonight alive, let's describe the inscrutable
The indisputable, we New York the narcotic
Strength in metal and fiber optics
where mercenaries is paid to trade hot stock tips
for profits, thirsty criminals take pockets
Hard knuckles on the second hands of workin class watches
Skyscrapers is collosus, the cost of living
is preposterous, stay alive, you play or die, no options
No Batman and Robin, can't tell between
the cops and the robbers, they both partners, they all heartless
With no conscience, back streets stay darkened
Where unbeliever hearts stay hardened
My eagle talons STAY sharpened, like city lights stay throbbin
You either make a way or stay sobbin, the Shiny Apple
is bruised but sweet and if you choose to eat
You could lose your teeth, many crews retreat
Nightly news repeat, who got shot down and locked down
Spotlight to savages, NASDAQ averages
My narrative, rose to explain this existance
Amidst the harbor lights which remain in the distance

So much on my mind that it can't recline
Blastin holes in the night til she bled sunshine
Breathe in, inhale vapors from bright stars that shine
Breathe out, weed smoke retrace the skyline
Heard the bass ride out like an ancient mating call
I can't take it y'all, I can feel the city breathin
Chest heavin, against the flesh of the evening
Sigh before we die like the last train leaving

despite it's people, taxis, energy, and life, new york is a lonely place. 

it's so easy to lose yourself here.

i've found a little bit of chicago and a little bit of san francisco in new york. two cities that i absolutely love in a city that i _______. places in gramercy remind me of lincoln park and walking around south street seaport at night makes me miss the charms of fisherman's wharf. so, i guess i'm curious to discover what other parts of me i'll find here next...

on another random note, through conversations i've had with both yin and jon, i've come to realize this: despite it's crowded streets, taxis, sounds, sights, tastes, nightlife/daylife, lifestyle - new york is a lonely place. i can't put my finger on it as to why, but this city seems to hold a lot of emptiness that probably can't be filled.

many, many hours in a small, poorly ventilated room with a love seat, a few chairs, coffee table, cabinet, 6 computer monitors, 2 tv monitors, and lots of video equipment.

camera, sound, and system set up

my work station
 

finally, focus groups for this week are over!  lately, we've been trying to gain some responses on our redesigned MTV.com website prototype.  seemed like the whole process when pretty smoothly - and was very interesting too.  if all goes well, hopefully a new website will be launched shortly.

on another note - good times in the city!  i've found myself by astor place and union square for the past 3 nights...

d-d-daria and i at ben & jerry's. it was good, but no chinese ice cream factory.

looks like jack said something that pissed daria off

yin and i rockin' the subway

jumped on shuttle to 6 train after work today to catch museum mile festival with singaporeans, UCN and yiwen.  it was crazy hot and there were crazy people everywhere.  we witnessed infamous harlem street artist James De La Vega chalk up a drawing.  i've heard about him before, but didn't realize that it was him till he quickly did his thang and ran off.

too many thoughts

there were even more monkeys in this UES store front window. i found it really cute and entertaining.

we ended up not visiting many museums - only cooper hewitt design museum to check out text tiles.  yiwen left us and UCN and i went down to union square to meet up with another singaporean, JS, and my cousin.  we spent the rest of the night in JS's 8, inc. architecture firm office chatting it up.  good times.  morgan and UCN are still set on singing open mic at a lounge/bar.  

blurry view from JS's desk
that is all for today. i am tired. i should be sleeping. and i don't understand why i just wrote this. good night!

it's been a lovely, lonely, and wonderfully rainy night in gotham.

with nothing to do at my apartment - i dragged my tired body to visit daria at her noho starbucks. i read. and i spent half my time there watching this guy fall asleep at his table, wake up momentarily to take sips of his coffee, and then fall asleep again. i believe he was there for over an hour, frequently getting refills during the times he was awake.

during my stay here in new york, i've had a lot of time to spend by myself. even though i'm constantly surrounded by people in this crowded city, being alone is something i've come to appriciate - even more than i used to. you're not a loser if you like going to places by yourself, eating by yourself, exploring and experiencing by yourself.

*edit* "it's been a while since i've felt this alive." it may seem like i'm falling in love with this city, but very much of my heart still belongs to chicago/home.

anyone interested in checking this out with me?
 The AAfilmlab Film Shootout is a national competition where teams will have 72 hours to write, edit, shoot, and produce a 6 minute short film. The AAFilmlab is a collaborative of New York based Asian American filmmakers who meet weekly to hone their craft and to share resources.