Double zero. What the heck is it? Well, I didn’t know about it until I became part of the elite club in my early 30s. Double zero has nothing to do with an IQ, a prescription, a drink, the mile high club, or the grade of your eye. My friend, double zero is a size of clothing, which means I’m smaller than a zero.
Blog: Lee a heartbeat away from mayor
For years, Bellevue City Councilmember Conrad Lee wanted to be the mayor of Bellevue. Well, believe and your dream will come true. Last Sunday, his head was held higher than usual. Lee was voted 7–0 as deputy mayor at the last Bellevue City Council meeting in January.
Blog: 0.5 Asians out of 9 on Seattle’s city council
The other day, I had lunch in the ID with a couple of political gurus. “We have only 0.5 Asians on the Seattle City Council,” complained one of them.
She was referring to Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell, who is half Japanese and half African American. This can also be applied to the Black community — now there are only 0.5 Blacks on the council (Seattle City Councilmember Richard McIver retired last December).
Blog: 2010 rising stars
Seattle School Board member Betty Patu may be the only newly elected Asian American in the Greater Seattle area. But the opportunity for Asian Americans to rise in the political scene may be promising this year. Although Wilson Chin has lost his seat to Patu, don’t rule him out yet. Chin still has a great future in politics and is making a difference.
Dec. 29: Beth Takekawa appointed to Washington State Arts Commission
Beth Takekawa was appointed as a commissioner for the Washington State Arts Commission. Commissioners guide the direction, set policies, and advise the governor and legislators of the state of the arts in Washington state.
Dec. 28: Julie Pham awarded benefit to EDI
Julie Pham was selected as the recipient of the 2010 National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) Seattle Leadership Award Benefit to the Executive Development Institute (EDI). Pham is the managing editor of Northwest Vietnamese News (Nguoi Viet Tay Bac), a Seattle-based, Vietnamese-language newspaper.
November: See Kai Run customers donate nearly 2,500 pairs of shoes
In November 2009, See Kai Run, manufacturer of the first shoe for new walkers, donated nearly 2,500 pairs of shoes to Soles4Souls. See Kai Run is a family-owned business located near Seattle.
Dec. 31: Jason Watabe, Brenda Courtade receive realtor awards
Nine people in real estate received special awards from the Seattle King County Realtors for distinctive achievements during 2009. Jason Watabe and Brenda Courtade, both members of the Asian Real Estate Association, were selected as Realtor of the Year and Realtor for Cultural Awareness, respectively.
Asian American banks set to rebound from financial crisis?
Asian Americans started Washington state’s first bank in the 1960s. There are currently close to 10 Asian banks including local, national, and international offices. The Black community still does not have its own bank, and the Latino community founded its Plaza Bank in 2006.
Skateboard kid becomes a techie, helps design trucks
The Lakota Middle School student, of Filipino and Nigerian ancestry, has been skateboarding for eight years. As he became more skilled, he noticed that most skateboards don’t offer the proper resistance in performing intense feats that he and his friends are capable of.