While the writers' strike goes into its second month, reality television is taking over even more of prime-time real estate, giving people of color a chance to finally be seen on the little screen — warts and all.

courtesy of www.newamericamedia.org

By ANDREW LAM
New America Media

William Hung, that toothy and hapless but chronically sincere student from UC Berkeley, found unexpected fame on 'American Idol." Having sung 'She Bangs" out of tune in front of cringing and giggling judges who unanimously gave him thumbs down, Hung nevertheless carved out a niche for himself.

By NAOKO AOKI

Kyodo News

NANJING, China — A memorial hall commemorating victims of the 1937 massacre committed by Japanese troops in the former Chinese capital Nanjing reopened Dec. 13, the 70th anniversary of the attack at the start of the Japanese occupation of the city.

The impact of 14 million Asian Pacific Americans on the upcoming 2008 presidential election is one of many topics examined in the 13th edition of the "National Asian Pacific American Political Almanac," which was released on Dec. 5.

The 254-page almanac also documents the continuously growing numbers of APA elected and major appointed officials, including a listing of more than 2,000 APA elected and major appointed officials at the federal, state and local levels for 37 different states, as well as the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam and the Mariana Islands.

BRUSSELS (Kyodo) — The European Parliament on Dec. 13 approved by a majority a draft resolution urging Japan to formally apologize to women forced to work as sex slaves by the Japanese military in Asia before and during World War II, following similar motions adopted earlier this year in the Untied States, the Netherlands and Canada.

Nichi Bei Times Report

After months of renovation, the former Miyako Hotel was reborn in November as a renewed urban oasis in San Francisco's Japantown, renamed the Hotel Kabuki.

The more I look at 2006, the more I realize that the Center for Asian American Media was right and it was indeed the "year of the Asian man." Yul Kwon won the racially-themed season of "Survivor" and put his celebrity to great use, tabloid-y accounts of C-Net commentator James Kim's heroics gave America a fully formed image of an Asian man, the hugely successful "Letters from Iwo Jima" contained the best portrayals of Asian men we've seen in the mainstream media, like ever, and Lt. Ehren Watada broke numerous stereotypes by becoming a major figure in the Peace Movement.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but 2007 was not a new contender for "year of the Asian man." Not by a long shot...

By AKIKO MINAGA
Nichi Bei Times Contributor

A world that has traditionally lacked people of color, ballet is slowly changing its face. Located in one of the most diverse cities in the Bay Area, the Oakland Ballet is becoming a part of that change.

SAN DIEGO, California (Kyodo) — Infielder Tadahito Iguchi has agreed to terms with the San Diego Padres on a one-year contract, the club announced Dec. 18.

Iguchi, a free agent from the Philadelphia Phillies who played in 135 games between the Chicago White Sox and Phillies in 2007, said he hopes to take advantage of his agility on the basepaths to create scoring opportunities.