Chen Guang Cheng, Criminal

http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/04/world/asia/china-activist-us/index.html?hpt=hp_t1

The whole situation has been a disaster.  China's sovereignty has been grossly violated by the USG who continue to act as the worlds supreme arbiter of justice under the laughable guise of "human rights".  The correct action would have been to simply ignore Chen's pleas and let China deal with him internally.  But oh no, big bad Hilary Clinton and her gang just HAD to intervene and rescue the guy.  The Chinese state did the requisite whining of displeasure, but in the end bowed down to the demands of the USG.

If China really wants to compete with the US in the global political environment, it has to learn when to say NO.  Otherwise, it'll be non-stop kowtowing until who knows when.  Talk about losing face.

Asians and Appreciation of Nature

Larry Auster is hosting an interesting debate on Asian assimilation on his blog.  One of the issues that has come up is the lack of appreciation that Asians have for nature.  I think this is a valid point that is certainly backed up by my personal experience.  There are certain majestically wonderful natural spots such as the Tiger Leaping Gorge that are popular with white travelers but don't have nearly the same kind of appeal with Oriental tourists.  Asians tend to travel to natural wonders in large groups by bus and avoid any strenuous activities.  Once safely at the destination, they will take pictures to prove that they have "been there" and then they will leave to go do things that they are far more interested in, namely shopping.  Asians love shopping.

These stereotypes apply more to middle to upper class Asians from Asia who live in big cities more than anything else, but I have found that Asian-Americans have acquired some of the same tendencies as well.  Rather than hike or bike to the top of a mountain, they will drive to the top, take pictures, and drive down.  Boring!  Go to cities, stop by the natural places, shop, shop, shop.  The Japanese are an exception in that there are some who assume the western mindset and travel to enjoy nature.

I am not sure if this is some big genetic difference between whites and Asians in this respect or this is simply a result of cultural expectations.  It is certainly not as a big of a deal as some of the commentators on VFR think it is.  To me, it's just a curious difference that might deserve some further research on.

Personally, I am a huge nature fan (I almost have to be since the industry I work in is centered around it), but I'm probably an exception.

Women in Military

Get raped.   And raped some more.    It doesn't even matter if you're attending one of three prestigious military academies, where supposedly the cadets (minus athletes) have high IQ and strong character, you'll be under consistent threat of sexual assault.

Remind me again why we have women in the military?  What good does this do for anyone?  Is America's military "stronger" because it includes women?  Is there any evidence for this?

Dell

What does Dell even do now?  Their supply chain competitive advantage no longer exists in any significant capacity and their hardware offerings have either been boring or a complete failure, especially in the mobile arena where growth has been most prominent.  The margins in desktops and laptops are now dismally low and prices will continue to fall.   I'm not sure their attempt to move into the services arena by acquiring companies has done them much good.  Their stock price has gone nowhere and I can't see it going anywhere in the near future.

Dell is one of the largest employers in the Austin area and everyone knows someone who works at Dell, has worked at Dell, or is Michael Dell.  Some have quite a lot of money because they joined the company when it was in its infancy.

But what the hell do Dell employees do?  I know a lot of them and as far as I can tell none of them actually create much value at all.  Everyone works in "customer service", "marketing", and "communications" and as far as I can tell Dell stinks in all these areas.  When they invited me to see what they actually did at work, I was flabbergasted because they did...nothing!.  Besides, their offices are so damn drab.  And for some reason, if anyone needs a job, and that anyone knows someone who has a modicum of decision making power, then that anyone is HIRED.  I have seen this many times and it confuses me because from my point of view it amounts to crony make work, which can't be good for the shareholders.  There aren't many engineers creating value at Dell.

Dell can't create value or transfer it effectively.  Is it time to short?

Girls on HBO

You can watch it here.  Thanks to Tyler Cowen over at Marginal Revolution for the tip.

I found the show bizarre yet insightful.  *Spoiler Alert*  The most disgusting part was the weird doggy style between Hannah and carpenter dude.

Here are of couple of assorted thoughts on the first episode.

1. SWPL comes into mind immediately when watching this show.  Pursuing your passion, smart water, English major, Manhattan, writing a book, traveling to Europe, unpaid internships, acting, play writing, Apple products, etc, etc, etc!  And everyone on the show is white, so far, at least.  HBO did a fantastic job with The Wire which was about black people, can they do the same with a series about white people?  
2. Marnie, the hot chick, doesn't like her boyfriend because "he's too nice".  The boyfriend is really nice.  Has Apatow been reading Heartiste?  
3. The backdrop to the doggy style sex scene was a classic.  I think it accurately portrayed the hipster/SWPL lifestyle.  The vintage bike was especially neat.  
4. The girls all hate each other.  This was actually a surprisingly accurate description of the nature of female "friendship".  Pretending to be nice to each other on the surface yet gossiping and hating furiously in private.  

Overall, I think the show did a fine job in terms of social criticism--though criticism may not be the best term to describe it.  It might be something more like "exploring the issues" and refraining from judgement.  But what market does this show appeal to? You have to have some understanding or connection to SWPL culture otherwise the show makes no sense.  And will SWPLs be offended by the show?  

Talking about black people

John Derbyshire did it honestly and everyone hates him.  Here is my analysis of the talk.  1 through 7 just sets it up so I'll ignore these points and focus on the latter few which are far more "inflammatory".

(10) Thus, while always attentive to the particular qualities of individuals, on the many occasions where you have nothing to guide you but knowledge of those mean differences, use statistical common sense.

(10a) Avoid concentrations of blacks not all known to you personally.  [Self-righteous correct thinking people both left and right give me this advice all the time.  I ignore it and purposely seek out concentrations of blacks in order to experience the vibrancy of black culture.  Because I have actually engaged real-life ghetto blacks, I understand that they display both pathological and vibrant patterns of behavior.  But it really isn't that dangerous to go into places that are heavily black as most black men just want to fuck with each other and don't really care about you.  The women could care less.]

(10b) Stay out of heavily black neighborhoods.  [see above!]

(10c) If planning a trip to a beach or amusement park at some date, find out whether it is likely to be swamped with blacks on that date (neglect of that one got me the closest I have ever gotten to death by gunshot).

(10d) Do not attend events likely to draw a lot of blacks.  [See video, though I really think that it would quite an awesome experience to observe the anti-social behavior of blacks in such situations.  I mean, when else would you get to participate in a chaotic environment with black ghetto folk throwing one dollar bills from the second floor?  Attending events that draw lots of black people will give you REAL STREET CRED and you can always tell your stories of the experience to impress women.]

(10e) If you are at some public event at which the number of blacks suddenly swells, leave as quickly as possible.  [I would stay just to laugh at the stupidity of black people]

(10f) Do not settle in a district or municipality run by black politicians.  [I agree.  Sometimes black politicians can't read and write.  I am planning on leaving America anyways, since it is run by a "black" politician named Barack Obama.]  

(10g) Before voting for a black politician, scrutinize his/her character much more carefully than you would a white.  [I hate democracy so this is pointless advice]

(10h) Do not act the Good Samaritan to blacks in apparent distress, e.g., on the highway.  [This I don't really get.  He links one isolated incident.  In any case, I would never help people in apparent distress be they black, white, or green.  I play the part of innocent bystander.  

(10i) If accosted by a strange black in the street, smile and say something polite but keep moving.  [OK, what does this have to do with race.  If accosted by strange people, I would just keep moving, regardless of race...]

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^^^^^Sorry, I am a Chinaman.  I don't believe in intellectual property.^^^^^^^

(13) In that pool of forty million, there are nonetheless many intelligent and well-socialized blacks. (I’ll use IWSB as an ad hoc abbreviation.) You should consciously seek opportunities to make friends with IWSBs. In addition to the ordinary pleasures of friendship, you will gain an amulet against potentially career-destroying accusations of prejudice.

(14) Be aware, however, that there is an issue of supply and demand here. Demand comes from organizations and businesses keen to display racial propriety by employing IWSBs, especially in positions at the interface with the general public—corporate sales reps, TV news presenters, press officers for government agencies, etc.—with corresponding depletion in less visible positions. There is also strong private demand from middle- and upper-class whites for personal bonds with IWSBs, for reasons given in the previous paragraph and also (next paragraph) as status markers.

(15) Unfortunately the demand is greater than the supply, so IWSBs are something of a luxury good, like antique furniture or corporate jets: boasted of by upper-class whites and wealthy organizations, coveted by the less prosperous. To be an IWSB in present-day US society is a height of felicity rarely before attained by any group of human beings in history. Try to curb your envy: it will be taken as prejudice (see paragraph 13).

[This part is fucking hilarious as it is obviously a twist on SWPL.  It is quite clear to me that these statements were made in jest.  But I think 99% of people actually take the advice seriously.  Chuck Rudd certainly thinks Derbyshire is being serious, which is weird, as he is usually quite perceptive.]

CONCLUSION:  I think this is good advice in general about how to be racist against black people.  But the real purpose of this advice is not "safety", rather, it is protecting people from the shocking horrors of reality.  Not taking this advice would be the equivalent of involuntarily taking the red pill and that may be the greater consequence.  Not following the advice might put one in a position where one might become a RACIST, which is the worse thing in the world.  Getting punched by a black ghetto thug is not so bad when compared to becoming a RACIST.  So Derbyshire's advice actually PREVENTS RACISM and allows liberals/conservatives/people with correct thinking to continue being non-racist.  

Oikos University and Loser Shooter

First it was SHC at VT, now it's another yet to identified AM (more specifically, Korean) shooting up colleges.

There must be some strange Korean gene that causes this kind of tragic behavior.

According to multiple news sources, the shooter was a large 40 year old former nursing student.   I had never heard of Oikos University before until today and was intrigued because it was a Christian school that offered a program in...Oriental Medicine.  I had to know more!  The wikipedia page was disappointingly sparse, so I had to go elsewhere.   Huffington Post has the details on "Oikos University".    In short, Oikos was founded by Korean Church People (KCP) around 10 years ago,and it is a Christian fundamentalist Korean-American school.  I didn't even know these kinds of schools existed until today.  I'm thinking it is like a Bob Jones U for Koreans, but with a eastern orientation, white Christians think Oriental Medicine is THE DEVIL. It is definitely not a school where successful Korean people go (they go to school further north, at Berkeley), but most likely a place where Korean failures and losers congregate.  Unfortunately, there are some people who live in bubbles where all Asian-Americans are doing well, but please be remember that there are dumb Asians too who do stupid things.

So our shooter was most likely a loser.  40 years old is old for a college student.  Males studying nursing are very uncommon.  These two things, plus the bogus status of the University, makes me very sure that our shooter was a loser.  Someone who did not fit into society and acted out in rage.  It's a tragedy.

No word yet on the religious background of our shooter, but recall that SHC was also raised in a Christian environment.  Is there something toxic about Korean Christianity?

My experience with suspicious black male wearing hoodie

I was at the public library in a fairly well-off part of town one rainy summer afternoon doing some writing on my computer when I noticed a tall black male with wearing jeans, a hoodie, and dark sunglasses wandering conspicuously around the library.  He would peruse aimlessly through the stacks and it seemed to me that he wasn't really looking for a book.  He then sat down at a computer where instead of logging in he just clicked around the screen for a few minutes.  His choice of garb was not fitting to the weather either, way too hot for a hoodie and why would you ever wear sunglasses indoors on a rainy day?   It struck me as odd, and given the fact that he was a HOODIED BLACK MALE, I racially profiled him and concluded that he might be snooping around waiting for an opportunity to steal a laptop or something sinister like that.  Just kidding, well, not really.

I left the library and called 911 to report him a suspicious person, then hopped in my car, and watched the police arrive from my car.  They strode into the library and a few minutes later the guy came trudging out by himself looking disgruntled.

I always wondered what had happened inside library while I was observing from my car.  I don't think it would have been appropriate police action to confront him as he was not doing anything illegal per say.  My guess is that the police walked in casually pretending it was all routine at which point the guy got scared and walked out.

I think I might have stopped crime.  I do fantasize about a scenario where I leave my laptop as bait, hide, and then violently assault the guy when he tries to steal it.  It never happened though.

Why I Oppose Asian-American Basketball Leagues

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/7640755/jeremy-lin-emergence-inspires-passion-hoop-dreams-boston-hurricanes

Read the article over at ESPN.  Greater attention has been given to these leagues ever since the emergence of Jeremy Lin.  I've known plenty of people who play in these leagues but have never participated in one.  They even have a national championship every year.

The leagues usually have rules that require players to be at least a certain percentage Asian or have a certain number of Asians on their team.  There are usually more than a few mudbloods playing.  If I were to form a league I would ask for pure blooded Asians only since I am a Slytherin and really like the idea of pure blood.

Do black people play in all-black basketball leagues?  Of course they do, it happens all the time in the ghetto, except I've never seen them explicitly advertise as blacks only.  That would be like the Vulcan Society!  White people would probably not want to play anyways since they are afraid of being shot by a ghetto violent black person.

Do white people play in all-white basketball leagues?  Well, they tried/are trying to form one, but of course it's all very controversial because of the issue of racism.  History tells us that it was very mean of white people to do such things like place signs on pools reading "whites only".  That's called discrimination and it is bad.  Glory road fixed this injustice and black people took over basketball.

The moral of the story is that white people should never be allowed to make things "whites only" because the last time they did it, it hurt minorities feelings and violated the principles of social justice.  The NAACP was furious that white people would even try to form their own exclusive basketball league, but why aren't they similarly upset at the numerous Asian leagues that operate in the US?  I can only speculate.

"Asians Only"=Great Story.  "Blacks Only"=OK.  "Whites Only"=RACISM!!!!!!!!!!!

Social justice indeed.

I find the whole notion of Asian basketball leagues rather silly.  My suspicion is that Asians play in these leagues because they would rather avoid competing with blacks and whites.  I feel some Asians are scared of playing blacks and are more comfortable playing against less-aggressive Asians.  After all, who knows if the black person will go Ron Artest  Metta World Peace on you?

The level of competition is markedly lower in Asian basketball leagues because the players are shorter and less athletic.  Asian-American basketball leagues are actually harmful to the development of talent.  To become a better player, one needs to play against superior competition, and Asian-American basketball leagues do not fit the bill.  Asians need to play against blacks (and whites) instead of insulating themselves like this.

Black People Can't Do Math and Half Sigma's Alma Mater

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/26/education/black-at-stuyvesant-high-one-girls-experience.html?pagewanted=all

Too many Asians and not enough NAMs.  I imagine it would be quite intimidating to attend a school like Stuyvesant--with all the crazy competitive Asians such as myself.  If I attended Stuyvesant I would have been "average".

Some parts of this article are hilarious.

Her mother, Annmarie Miller, a nursing assistant at a hospital in the Bronx, recalled a cousin’s reaction when she mentioned Rudi’s pick: “You have to be Chinese or Indian to get in there.” A co-worker, also black, “said the exam is built to exclude blacks because it’s heavy on math, and black people can’t do math,” Mrs. Miller said.

That's a rather defeatist attitude to take and it concerns me that there are blacks who assume such a position.  Did adults tell Jeremy Lin that the NBA is built to exclude Asians because it is heavy on athleticism, and Asians aren't athletic?  Well, it is true that blacks as a group suck hard at math compared to Asians but it's probably going too far to say that black people can't do math period.  That's like saying black people can't possibly maintain an advanced society...because for that, you need math.

More on Jeremy Lin

On Quickness. Another issue that pundits not deeply involved in sports have missed.  Jeremy Lin is quick, he has a nice ability to change directions, and an excellent first step.  However, quickness on the offensive end has to be distinguished from quickness on the defensive end, while Lin possess a formidable amount of the former he struggles with the latter.  Think about in terms of the differences in physical characteristics between wide receivers and cornerbacks.  There are no white cornerbacks in the NFL but plenty of successful white receivers.  Is there bias and stereotyping playing a part?  Perhaps, but I think it's mostly a result of human biodiversity, blacks dominate the right end of this particular athletic domain.  

But this does not preclude the possibility of Jeremy Lin or non-blacks becoming solid defenders in the NBA.  Defense in basketball is not so dependent on defensive quickness as it is on other factors such as anticipation, tenacity, and learning how to play good team defense so there is much room for improvement.  

On Asian-American Christianity: An overlooked aspect of the Jeremy Lin story is its connection with the burgeoning phenomenon of Asian-American Christians.  Their presence is extremely visible on elite college campuses such as Harvard.  At some universities I am inclined to conclude that more than 30% of Asian students are active participants in the Church.  In fact, as many academics and students have noted, some formerly non-ethnic Christian organizations on campuses have of late been co-opted by Asians leading to some rather confused white Christians who arrive at their first meeting probably expecting a majority white group but instead finding themselves discussing the merits and demerits of the various outlets for bubble milk tea.  Some of the white Christians inevitably adjust to the Asian atmosphere and convince themselves that "Christians are Christians" and that race doesn't matter while others will leave for whiter pastures all while contradictions rage in their minds.  (This Christian organization is not for me.  I do not like the vibe.  It doesn't have anything to do with race, I swear!  I mean, that's what's really driving me away from this group, but that would make me a racist, which is the worst thing in the world.  I better ask God for advice.  >_<)  

Asian-American Christianity, while largely conservative in theology, is worlds apart from white evangelical Christianity.  The difference can be seen in the conversation comparing Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow.  Asian-American Christianity is, for the most part, apolitical, with no obstinate stances on controversial issues such as gay marriage and abortion.   

What can I say about Asian-American Christianity?  While I used to harbor a great deal of animosity towards Asian "believers" (Bigwowo has a neat post that concisely summarizes my former feelings), I have since come to a more mature understanding and acceptance of religion.   

Consider this paradox.  Religion is universally false, but it is a universal truth that religion is necessary in human society.  That's what I've come to understand over the years and why I think it is unnecessary to lambaste believers Hitchens-style.  Another revelation I've had comes from reading Moldbug and forming a broader definition of what exactly constitutes religion.  The Atheism vs. Theism debate turns out to be rather limited in scope when taking on a broader definition of religion, which of course, includes the very popular but ill-conceived and irrational notions of equality and democracy.  

So Jeremy Lin is a Christian.  Good for him.  He takes his faith seriously and I respect that.  

A Chink in the Armor.  The hypersensitivity of the Asian community and of the bosses at ESPN is in my opinion, regrettable.  I'm compelled to believe that it was all a big misunderstanding and not intentional, and even if it was intentional, there was no really no need to go bat-shit insane over the whole deal.  Can not adults act in a civil manner when dealing with issues of race?  Must every slight related to race be accompanied by shrieks and wails?  The best way to deal with the situation is to assume a position of neutrality, point out the offensive message and explain it, then move on.  

On Reality.  Jeremy Lin's story is so inspirational as a human story because there are many of us out there who believe ourselves in the same situation, we could be great if only the stars aligned for us, if only we were given that opportunity.  But the sinking truth is that most of us are ordinary. While aspirations and dreams are a distinguishing and unique spiritual component of the human psyche, the majority of us have to deal with everyday reality.  We may not turn out to be great or famous, but I think what most of us can aspire to be are simply productive members of society, something that the black community has curiously neglected in favor of pursuits of glory.  

On Nationality and Ethnicity.  Is Jeremy Lin Taiwanese?  Chinese?  American? Asian?  A combination of both?  Every publication has its own definition of what exactly he is.  Different terms are employed on a consistent basis.   Is he going to join the "Chinese-Taipei" NT or will he opt for the glory of China?  Both "countries" have offered him a spot on their team, though technically one cannot be both a citizen of the People's Republic of China and the US, but I'm sure they will find a way to work around that if it comes to it.  Taiwan does not field a competitive basketball team while China does, so playing for Taiwan really doesn't do much, and Lin is not so good as to elevate that team to higher levels.  Playing for China would cause international political chaos and redefine the boundaries between ethnicity and nationality.  Questions would be raised about Asian-American loyalty to America, among other things.  Will tribalism reign or is American truly a melting pot/salad bowl?  It would allow Lin to play on a even larger stage, but would it be something that he really wants?  In all honesty, Jeremy Lin's Chinese is marginal at best.  In a interview done a while back, a Chinese reporter questions Lin in Chinese and receives a response in English, an unfortunate reality that confronts many Asian-Americans.  But if Chris Kaman can play for Germany, what the hell do I know?  

My bet is that Lin will elect to play for neither of the two "China's".  Playing for China is a huge political and publicity risk while playing for Taiwan yields little in the way of benefits.  Lin will be proud of being an American, above all things and realize that his dream was only made possible by the land of opportunity that is America.  Perhaps in 4 years he'll be good enough to make the American team.   

Why Jeremy Lin Matters to Me (and his left hand issue)

I previously covered Jeremy Lin and discussed his intelligence before he was popular.  I knew who he was.  But now that almost every person in the states and perhaps the world knows his name, it's probably time to write another piece on him.

I haven't had the time to write in a while since I've been buried in work and then the whole Linsanity thing came to light and I couldn't help but to spend the majority of my free and not-so-free time reading every article and listening to every game on the radio.  I was captivated.  Why?  Because I can relate, and not to sound pompous, but I can probably relate more than 99.9999% of his followers.

I am also a fairly tall Taiwanese/Chinese American brought up in the Church (though not a currently practicing Christian).  I was also brought up in the game of basketball and competed at a high level both in the states and back in Asia.  My father took a keen interest in my basketball education when I was younger and coached me until he was no longer able to teach me, at which point I was handed off to a series of private coaches (one a former NBA player).  I didn't take my team to win the championship, but I have a respectable number of awards sitting around the house and box scores that my family would save.  I know what it feels like to score thirty points in a game.  I know what it feels like to be the best player on the court.   To be honest, I haven't touched a basketball in quite a while now, preferring to pursue another more solitary sport, partly because of many of the tough issues (to be discussed) that would make basketball such an emotional sport for me to be involved in.  Short story, I was pretty good, but mentally, I wasn't tough enough.  So this piece will be part memory and part analysis, most of it scrambled, but my intent is to draw on my personal experiences in order to highlight some of the critical issues that many of the other commentators may have overlooked.

The odds are stacked high against any Asian-American who wishes to play competitive basketball at the high school level and beyond.  Player development starts at between the ages of 8 and 10, before that, kids playing basketball aren't really playing basketball.  I recommend that kids start their athletic careers with soccer, which will help develop the requisite speed that transitions well to the game of basketball.  The majority of kids start their development in recreational leagues with teams usually coached by fanatical sports dads.  At some point AAU teams will be configured from those that managed to be the stand out players on their recreational teams.  The same thing happens with soccer and club teams.   I was blessed to be part of both of these selections though eventually I had to choose one over the other.

What matters most to standing out in basketball (and soccer) at this level are speed and quickness.  The skill sets that all kids possess are rudimentary at best and what allows a kid to get to the bucket better than other kids and steal the ball from the other kids is speed and quickness.  There is a nuanced difference between speed and quickness (and even different modes of quickness) that probably evades most casual sports fans, but I will elaborate on this later.   So those who prosper are fast.  Or in basketball, unnaturally tall for their age, though this often can be a detriment to player development if their future physical characteristics do not match the skill sets they are taught.  For example, many of the front court players from my younger days who I thought were going to be good since they were so tall (to me at least) when I played with them turned out to be nothing in high school because they never grew tall enough.  At 6-2 with no speed, limited athleticism, and a post skill set, it's pretty damn hard to be good.  Morale of the story, don't lock your kid into a position from an early age since you don't know what their height ceiling will be.  To be on the safe side, teach them a guard skill set.

Asian-Americans and conspicuously absent from the development scene I just described for more than just one reason.  One of the biggest things keeping Asian-Americans off the court is that parents are simply directing their children to more classically Asian activities and sports such as tennis, swimming, violin, etc, etc.  And if parents do allow their young child to play basketball, few are willing to invest the resources in them for them to excel.  100$ per hour professional violin teacher?  Yes!  100$ per hour professional basketball coach?  Not so much.

That's one side of the equation.  Another is simply the physics of human biodiversity.  At young ages, Asians are less developed physically than whites and much less developed than blacks.  There are exceptions to the rule as always, but it does not detract from the case.  When talents are being filtered into their respective paths at this age, many Asian-Americans simply will not make the cut because they lag physically at that point in time and their parents will direct them to perhaps more "suitable" activities.  This is simply the white/black basketball development case that Steve Sailer is fond of referring to, but to an even greater extreme.  And at a young age, physical abilities reign above skill.  So whatever paltry number of Asians participate in traditionally non-Asian sports, a comparatively few of them will be "noticed" enough to be selected to play on more competitive teams and beyond.  Most will be the physical exceptions.

Just a note, this article covers only the male aspects of sport, no one really cares about women playing sports unless it is for a gold medal.   Sorry to be politically incorrect, but I have to say it.

The barriers to Asian-American advancement in basketball are high even before secondary school begins.  But what about the ever looming question of discrimination against Asians on the court?  Does it exist?  Yes it does, and I know.  The security at MSG wouldn't let Jeremy in--they thought he was a trainer.  On an AAU circuit, someone told him that there wasn't any volleyball tonight.

These stories about Jeremy have affected me deeply, to the point where my thoughts are racing around like NASCAR cars on a track.  A few weeks ago before the whole Linsanity thing took off I was chatting with a good friend of mine about basketball who suddenly asked me a rhetorical question, "would anyone ever pick you first in a pick-up game"?  I laughed at told him that it was unlikely here in the states.  "This is what is wrong with the world," he said.  But in a game of rec ball, the heuristics of racism are abused to an almost comical extent.  The short pudgy black guy shooting the ball with two hands is almost always picked first.

In my first year of middle school basketball, I had to play on the "B" team.  Why?  I was better than the point guard on the "A" team, I played AAU ball, but I wasn't black or even white.  I am fairly certain my coaches in this part of the country had never before seen an Asian basketball player and this factored into their roster calculus. Let him play on the "B" team.  I scored and scored and eventually the PG on the "A" team failed a bunch of classes and up I went.  Kind of like Jeremy Lin and the D-League, but not really :).  I did exceptionally well there and proved my coaches wrong.  And plus, they never had to worry about my um, academic eligibility.  But with Jeremy Lin becoming a star in his own right, that's not going to happen anymore to any other Asian kids in the future who might face the situation I was in.  Coaches are no longer going to be so quick as to make judgement calls based on race.  They are going to think twice, once about their own player, and then once about Jeremy Lin.

In high school, I trained with one of my coaches at a gym located in a predominantly black part of town.  He was black, everyone else in the gym was black, and I was Asian.  I would often play pick-up with some of the other kids before training began and of course, I would be picked last, of course, what was I even doing in this place?  We would play, and then I would earn their respect with my play, and all would be good.  It's tough to even get respected in even such a small insignificant game because some of black kids wouldn't even pass it to me.  Every time I had the ball I had to make the most of it because the next time down some black kid would decide he thought he was Kobe Bryant and that was going to be that.


I remember a few years ago, I was playing a game (s) of pick-up ball, picked last of course, when I was being guarded by some black nerd who obviously had no experience playing much basketball.  I abused him repeatedly and finally the guy who picked him first on the opposing team ran over in frustration to defend me, to no avail.  We played eight games in a row on that court and only left because we were tired.  We never lost.  At the end, the guy who picked me last just kept giving me the ball, shaking his head, and laughing with a big grin on his face.  If he only knew.

When I was younger I always attended basketball camps during the summer where my favorite competitions were the 1v1 and 3v3 tournaments, because I wasn't very good at the shooting ones.  I won a few of the 1v1 tournaments in a camp full of three hundred kids or so but nothing compared to winning the 3v3 tournament with a very diverse team composed of myself, a random white guy, and this tall lanky black guy with glasses whose name I can't remember but whose face is etched into my memory.  I'll always remember that tournament because I was puking all over the floor from an pop-ice overdose at lunch before the tournament began.  I kept scoring and the black guy (who was tall and fast but wasn't very good at scoring) loved every moment of it.  The smile on his face after we were handed the trophy during the awards ceremony, I'll never forget.  Of course, next year at track, he did beat me by 4 seconds in the 200m dash, but that's another story for a different day.

I played basketball at schools in Asia for a few years of secondary school where almost everyone was Asian and I didn't have to face the doubt from coaches and peers.  I was good and people knew it.  But the Asian game is much less physical than the American game.  It was the only place that I could get ten rebounds in a game.

I accomplished some in high school, but academics and other obligations eventually led to me entirely losing focus on basketball the last year.  I just didn't care anymore.  Good enough to make all-conference the last two years to not playing at all the next.  I had to get into Columbia.  But that's neither here nor there.

I was fortunate enough to have a chance to play basketball competitively and I'll never forget the memories.  Especially the one when I was going up against a team with a  projected first round pick in the NBA draft and embarrassing him.  OK, so he did block my shot, like 4 times, but he does the same thing to pros now, so what the heck, right?

I never once played against another Asian in an American basketball game (non-rec).  Never.  There was one school in the area that fielded a roster that I've always thought reeked of racism and favoritism.  The school in question was only 18% black yet the entire basketball squad coaches included were always all black.

So what are my thoughts on Jeremy Lin's game?  Where does he need to improve?  Let's talk about the left hand issue, which you might be surprised to discover that is not so much of a hand issue but a leg issue.

Basketball fans have all pointed out that Lin strongly favors his right hand and is weak going left.  This is a partially correct analysis.  Yes he has used his left hand to score a few times but it is clear that he lets his preference for his right override a read of the defense which leads to forcing rather than letting the game come to him.  Even on successful plays where he employs his right hand you can see where a left handed finish might be preferable.  Watch him reverse on the left side of the rim and you will see what I mean.  Driving right on the baseline, the most efficient driving plays would be to finish left off the right foot and shielding the defender or reversing the same way.  Watch him drive on Steve Blake in the Lakers game.  He makes the driving layup but it is an awkward one.  Watch him drive on Matt Barnes in the closing seconds of the game.  He makes a reverse right hand layup which looks pretty, but a left would have been a better, quicker, attack.

But I wouldn't say that Jeremy doesn't know how to use his left hand, but rather, he doesn't know how to use his RIGHT LEG.  This is something that casual basketball fans and those who don't have a background in the game will miss.  Employing the left hand effectively requires careful coordination between the right leg and the left hand.  If you are right handed you typically jump off your  left leg and vice-versa for a southpaw.  But jumping off your left and shooting left or right/right doesn't produce the best balance (though Nash, Bryant, and a few others have managed to master it) or create the most efficiency.  So if you are right handed and want to improve your left you have to coordinate that with the right leg which is usually not as strong.  This is what I think is what is making Jeremy hesitant to finish left and why is always forcing the issue towards his right hand.  He is not as explosive off the right leg as he is with the left leg so he forces finishes to his right hand in order to take advantage of the dominant jumping leg.  You can see he doesn't get the same kind of explosive lift when he goes to his right leg/left hand and instead is limited to a scoop lay-up type finish.

Improving on the left hand/right leg issues would help his game immensely.  It's a difficult process (and I managed to become ambidextrous much too late but I did it, taking almost a year of gym time) but it can be done.  90% of right handed people can't make a left handed layup (reverse for southpaw).  For you non-basketball players out there, go try it.  Not as easy as you think.   Then there is the 5% who can do it but never actually use it (most HS players).  Then there is the 1%, where Jeremy is, who can use it, but only if they have to.  The elite level of ambidexterity comes when a player chooses which hand he wants to use according to the basketball situation rather than letting his hand dictate the situation.  This final level allows a player to take and make shots at angles that might not otherwise be conducive to shot making and make more efficient plays (it takes longer to get to your dominant hand when you go to it even when there is a better angle with your off hand).  Watch Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant play to see great examples of this.  These two have even managed to do the super difficult, same leg/same hand finishes.

In any case, this is not a big issue at all.  There are lots of players who aren't at the elite level of ambidexterity, even some who play even more skewed (i.e Chris Bosh), and still thrive in the NBA.  But it is something that can be worked on.

And then there are the turnovers.  Too many.

But he assists, scores a lot, and makes a game winning shot.  I'll stop complaining and just soak it in.

All negatives aside, this is the greatest story that I've ever come across in my lifetime, because it resonates with me personally, and because it has altered the way our society views a people like me, Asian-American males.  No longer are we going to be put down as quiet, subservient, but smart folk.  Jeremy has shown Asian-American men that we can become leaders, athletes, perhaps in an instant, even in the face of tremendous odds.  No longer will coaches overlook Asians on the court or on the field because of their race.  No longer will otherwise well-meaning people pick the Asian last (if the Asian in question is 5-5 and clearly sucks, then it's OK, but that's not the point) because he is Asian.  People will look at us differently than they have before.  Our sociological role has undergone a titanic shift.  Yesterday, I went to a track workout and a guy I didn't know looked at me once and said, "Oh, Jeremy Lin".  I just smiled and ran harder than I ever have this year.

Dreams and aspirations are an integral part of the human spirit.  They keep us going.  We all have them and most of us will have to settle for reality somewhere along the way.  I don't think Jeremy Lin will necessarily usher in a next generation of Asian-American guards to the NBA.  In fact, most of us and our children are probably still better off pursuing productive careers as doctors, engineers, businessmen.  But it is the notion of possibility that captivates our hearts and inspires, no matter what position we occupy in this world, be it working on the factory line at Foxconn or selling insurance,  and that is ultimately what matters.  Lin is a symbol of possibility.

Public Housing for SWPLs in Austin

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/first-low-income-housing-project-in-decades-planned-2142265.html

An Austin nonprofit plans to build the first downtown development in decades to house low-income residents, a population often priced out of apartment and condo towers downtown.

Foundation Communities is proposing a $15 million, four-story project called Capitol Terrace at 11th and Trinity streets that will include 135 efficiency apartments. The units will be rented for $400 to $650 a month, utilities included, to single adults who earn less than $27,000 — roughly half of Austin's median income .

"There are a lot of folks who work downtown, at hotels and restaurants or even the Capitol, that make less than $13 an hour and would like the option of living close by and not needing a car," said Walter Moreau , executive director of Foundation Communities.

The nonprofit has in the past two decades built or renovated 13 Austin properties into low-rent apartments for low-income families and single adults.

Ten of the Capitol Terrace apartments will be reserved for musicians and artists, Moreau said. About two dozen will be set aside for people with especially low incomes who have been receiving housing and social service help from groups like Caritas of Austin and Austin Resource Center for the Homeless , the city's shelter.

Classic.  Austin is full of bright-eyed young white people scraping a living working in the service industry serving other white people at places like Whole Foods.  Many of them aspire to be writers, artists, and musicians.  And of course, the "art" that they produce will be consumed by other white people.  I've met more than a few young men who have moved to Austin without a job and with only their dreams and paltry savings to carry them.  Is Austin the new California?  The white economy is a strange thing indeed.

Walter Moreau is a racist pig.  In victim studies courses I learned about the concept of "coded language" which can be applied to the comment about "folks who work downtown, at hotels and restaurants, or even the Capitol".  I'm pretty sure he is talking about the white people who work at these places and not the Mexican maids and black janitors especially with the Capitol being involved.  Young white idealist politician wannabes, no doubt.

Efforts to place affordable housing in expensive white areas have usually failed in other cities because white liberals will not tolerate the myriad of social problems associated with a large concentration of poor people, especially poor NAMs next to them.  I think this project might actually succeed since it looks like the developers are looking for a majority SWPL demographic with token problem minorities included just to stave off negative publicity.  Other white people would be cool with this.

White people get laid off, Indian people play cricket

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeoBWzIRuic&feature=player_embedded#!

Hat tip to Half Sigma.

Small sample size, but it is fascinating to note that all of those interviewed are what I would consider significantly below average in terms of appearance.  Where are the attractive people who were laid off?

Not that cricket is bad or anything...(say the politically correct whites)

Free Stuff

The economy is weird.  Regular people with money pay 120$ for a pair of athletic shoes and 30$ for a shirt.  The cost of materials and manufacturing is around 1/12-1/15 of the final retail amount.  Now that I am an insider, I still shake my head sometimes at people who are willing to pay such exorbitant amounts for athletic goods.  Though my conscience tells me that they are being ripped off, my job is dependent on the fact that people with high discretionary income (and some without) are willing to spend that money.

I don't pay for a lot of things.  I get tons of stuff for free--and if I want to buy something I can always get it for cheap.  Companies love it when you test out their stuff so you can tell regular people how great it is.

Even though I don't make a whole lot of money, the free stuff sure helps since it would be stuff I would spend my money on anyways if I had a different job.  Let's just say it adds up to 2k a year worth of stuff.