What's The T?

What's The T? Poster

I was invited to cover the Asians on Film Festival and screen  "What's The T?" I've been wanting to see this documentary for a while now because a friend of mine was in it, and she happens to be a very sexy "Pinay."

The film stars five trans-women who reveal to us a little bit about their lives. They give us a comedic and emotional ride as we discover just what the "T" is.

Directo Cecilio Asuncion, talks about why he wanted to do a film that documented the lives of transgender women:

I really wanted to do a film that was inspirational and also aspirational because I wanted the audience to go and see it and aspire to be the best you that you can be. 

I wanted to go and do a really positive spin on the transgender stories that are out there by not presenting transgender women as women of victims of circumstance but as survivors and fighters.

Posing with Vi

One of the five women profiled, Vi  Le talks about the film:

It's just little glimpse of what a transgender's life is, normal girls -- just human nature and doing just what we do everyday, simple living. It gives a different perspective to our community, a positive light against the negative stigma that we are associated with.

Vi, Cecilio & Nya

My friend, Nya Ampon talking about what she hopes the Filipino community will take away after watching the film:

Hopefully a little more understanding. I hope that they'll see that there are more serious things that go on in a transgender's life. We're not just all comedians that make people laugh, although we like to make people laugh, but there's something deeper too.

What really made this film outstanding are the different characters that are featured. Rakash who is studying to become a Registered Nurse made me laugh to tears. The sexy "Pinay," Nya who works at Asia SF, the only place in the U.S that employs only trans women, Cassandra the beautiful buxom blonde and Mia a SF city youth council member.

I also got a special treat to talk with the editor of the film, Israel Luna who wrote and directed the film I loved, "Ticked Off Trannies With Knives" (A little gore and violence never hurt anyone). He talks about his next film venture "Kicking Zombie Ass For Jesus" which I can't wait to see.

I was lucky enough to spend more time with Cecilio and the cast after the interviews. We ventured out into the night and took Los Angeles by storm. I felt like I've known these people my whole life. I have truly made some great friends and I admire them for their courage and strength.

Fun Times 

"What's the T?" will certainly entertain you and surely inspire you. So tell me What's your T!?

For me the "T" is that we are all  woven from the same fabric of life and we have the choice to alter it to become who we are meant to be.

Hitting A Wall, The PayWall

Newsies by Disney

I like getting my news for free, who doesn't?

But I believe in a pay-site future for journalism to survive, and here are a few reasons why.

Social media sites have dominated our lives, free online news has sprouted up everywhere and we've all become spoiled with the unending flow of information. With the demand for online news stronger than ever, it's apparent we've hit a wall -- the pay-wall. So access to well researched and reported news should come at a cost.

My initial thought was to be against a pay-site future in journalism but after reading an excerpt from Chris Anderson's book Free. I believe that the marketing strategies of Jell-O and Gillette at the time show a excellent example how you can create demand for something if you give something else away for free. Get the consumers to depend on to it, want it, crave it and then let them have it -- for a price.

Jell-O had become a fixture in the American kitchen and a household name. Thus was born the most powerful marketing tool of the twentieth century: giving away one thing to create demand for another.  

That's how we've been getting our news since the creation of the web -- we've been getting it free all this time and now we can't live without it.

We have been given the free Jell-O recipe books, the free Gillette  razors when we opened up a bank account, and we've been given free news since the introduction of online media. Now we want it, we need it, we crave it and soon enough we will have to pay for it.

Here is an example the future is now:

According to the LA Observed, The Sacramento Bee has now put a paywall.

By the way, about a fifth of the nation's newspapers have some sort of paywall, double the number from a year ago.

Another reason why a pay-site future in journalism is happening, because it's been a part of our history. Remember the time when kids would be on a New York city street yelling "Extra extra read all about it!" You had to pay for that newspaper if you wanted to read about what was on the front page. It would be what we consider trending news in this digital age.

Sure journalism has evolved since the news boy era and the tactics on getting you to pay for news are ever changing. You can always find free news elsewhere bypassing paywall sites and visiting ones offering opinionated and aggregated news. But it's just not fair, journalism is a craft, it's hard work and I don't want to give it away for free.

Consider yourselves lucky to have been around during the free news era but news junkies beware - pull out your credit cards as we are entering into a new dimension.

Alesia Thomas Found Dead In Patrol Car After Arrest

Alesia Thomas 

Resisting arrest could get you killed in this town.

Alesia Thomas was found dead in the backseat of a patrol car after officers arrested her for child endangerment.

Thomas's two children were abandoned at a South East Police station, the 3-year-old and 12-year-old lead officers to their residence in the 9000 block of South Broadway. Officers confronted Alesia Thomas and after interviewing her decided to arrest her.

Alesia began resisting arrest which prompted the officers to perform a leg sweep to gain control of her, two other officers also handcuffed her hands behind her back. Thomas still resisted and struggled with officers requiring them to request more assistance.

 An in-car-video has been reviewed and has raised questions of the misconduct of the officers.

LAPD Police Chief Carlie Beck:

I take all in-custody death investigations very seriously and directed that the officers involved be removed from field duties until further detailks are known, including what part intoxicants and physical cinditions contributed. I'm cionfident we will get to tyhe truth, no mattter where that leads us.

This story comes out a month later after a sleuth of police brutality cases have come out involving the LAPD.

Facebook Comment Pix Via iPhone

 

Jupey Krusho, Oboro Charms, Lil Rae Cakes, The Many Arms Of Misha At SUPER*MARKET 2.0

Super*Market presented by Bubble Punch is a fun little event where designers feature their cutesy, creative, and colorful products.

This event featured Jupey Krusho, an eccentric LA designer whose talent involves the creation of original characters such as Memo Me the charming cub and Yum Yum Chocobuns the hungry chocolate boy.

His characters can be found in comic books, stationary sets, greeting cards, on apparel, stickers, plush toys and many more.

Jupey Krusho talks about what events like Super Market are doing for  his business:

Events like Super Market are a great way to showcase new goods, meet new store owners, learn from other artist and meet fans. Living in a digital age it's refreshing to get some face-to-face action. 

Here is what I picked up, with a few items thrown in from Jupey Krusho:

Jupey Krusho

I also checked out other featured designers and to see what I could get my hands on.

Here's what I found:

Oboro Charms 

Oboro Charms  is an adorable and sweet product line. Their items will surley cute-ify your day. Pink glitter star earrings and a kawaii penguin necklace, super kawaii, that's super cute in Japanese.

The Many Arms Of Misha

I also met a woman named Misha who happens to be a tattoo artist, she had these amazing arts pieces and cute skull rings. I grabbed a black acrylic skull ring.

The treat of the day was indulging in candy coated cake balls from Lil Rae Cakes. Jenny Rae of Lil Rae Cakes makes the most delicious candy coated cake balls you will ever taste. 'OMG, there are so effin' good', is what you'll say when you eat 'em.

Lil Rae Cakes 

Don't worry if you missed this event, Bubble Punch will definitely have a few more this year.

Super*Market was held at Meltdown Comics in Los Angeles, check it out!

Meltdown Comics

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Public Awareness Video For Mandatory Condom Use In Adult Films

This November the city of Los Angeles will be able to vote on mandatory condom use in adult films.

Adult film performers are already required to get mandatory tests before they film, so having mandatory condom use on set shouldn't be in the hands of the people, should it? Unless you want to be a condom inspector on a adult film production, this new law might just have a new job.

Now that the ordinance for this condom rule has made it onto the ballot, the city of LA has issued a report outlining recommendations for the enforcement.

Diane Duke, Executive Director of the Free Speech Coalition(FSC), on a  KPCC interview says:

This is gonna be impossible to enforce. This law was unfortunately passed to try to save the city 4.4 million dollars by having it on a special ballot, it's a bad way to make law and it's a bad idea. 

I contacted Eva Bitar, an analyst for the City Administrative Officer of Los Angeles, who told me that a CAO working group put together the report and the ordinance has made the November ballot. Bitar said there is no new information at this time and would send an e-mail should there be updates.

An adult film actress visit a doctor at a clinic in California(AFP)

I also talked with an adult film actress, who asked to remain anonymous:

I get tested regularly and the results get posted so everyone can see them. You must stay clean, if you are having unprotected sex outside of work it can be detrimental to your career.

With any "job" you do there are always going to be risks, contracting a disease is the risk in the porn industry, condom use is necessary but it shouldn't be decided by people who are not in this industry. 

Adult film productions must comply with the ordinance only when shooting on-site films in the city of Los Angeles. This ordinance however will not affect city taxpayers because it has been privately funded. This just proves that if you have the money you can get anything you want on the ballot, this is democracy right?

UPDATE: Syphilis scare prompts call to halt US porn shoots.

Abstinence anyone?

Noted MMA Fighter Jason "Mayhem" Miller Elicits Support Following Nude Arrest

Jason "Mayhem" Miller, a former MMA fighter, was arrested  on Monday in Orange County at a Mission Viejo church for suspicion of burglary. Miller is known for his flashy entrances and fighting style and also hosted a reality show called Bully Beatdown. Employees of the Mission Hills Church called police to report they had been vandalized. When officers arrived on the scene they discovered Miller naked. TMZ broke the story about the arrest and obtained his mugshot from authorities.

As officers escorted him into the patrol car, Miller turned to the church employees and said:

Sorry if I scared you and I promise I'll be back and clean everything up.

He was taken into custody and released the following day after posting bail.

Since news came out about his arrest, "Mayhem" has received a huge amount of support from fans, friends and fellow fighters.

All I can hope is that my friend @mayhemmiller is ok. I just want him safe & healthy. He's got a great heart & a kind soul.
— Ryan Loco (@RyanLoco) August 13, 2012

Joe Duarte a fighter at Strikeforce, a U.S.-based MMA and Kickboxing organization, sent this message to me on facebook:

He's a good guy, most people don't understand the pressure most athletes are put under. They expect so much from us and when we have a bad day we get slammed by the media. No matter what happens someone somewhere is going to talk smack about us. Jason is pretty 'out there' but that is why people love him.

I called Mission Hills Church and talked to lead pastor Brian Anderson. Pastor Brian was delighted to talk with me about what happened and voiced his support for Jason.

I don't want money from him or anything. I care about the guy's life. Life is more important than a thousand dollars worth of vandalism.

Nobody was threatened, the damage was minor and I bet this guy might be in a position where he could use some grace and I'd like the opportunity to give it to him and that's why I'm in the process of dropping the charges. 

Pastor Brian initially pressed charges against Miller but is consulting with the OC DA's office at this time to see what they recommend he do on the matter.

Jason Miller has lived up to his fighting name, causing just enough mayhem to get some attention.