Being a child of immigrants is pretty darn hard. Your parents may have gotten you across the border, but now it’s your turn to put in that elbow grease and finish off the American Dream thing they started. In this video, Salutationsandgoodvibrations and, I will explore some of the challenges first-generation kids will have to face as they try to find the American identity for themselves and their family.
We will also talk about some of the biases in the news when it comes to reporting crimes, the chaos of having a multicultural family, and cultural appropriation with the Asian community. I’ll tell you what, trying to find your identity as your growing up between two different cultures isn’t gonna be an easy one. But I think we owe it to our parents to give it the ol’ immigrant try, eh.
If you have a story about being a child of immigrants or some kinda wonky cultural appropriation story, share with us down below…..and if you like it (sigh, I hate saying this) like, subscribe, comment, the whole jazz. . .please.
spoNx and I are BACK!!! It’s just us this time as some of the other guys take a little break. In this video…well, we’re kind of all over the place. We start with recapping the last time we met up (GameStop, MEME’in our dreams into reality) and then debate why manga/anime seems to be getting more popular in the West. If you’re expecting to learn something, you’re in the wrong place since we kinda just skim the topics. Of course, we talk about some of the hottest anime that I’m currently watching since I forgot to tell spoNx which animes to watch beforehand. Then, we end the video on our favorite fast food places and why Arb’s has the best marketing.
So, I hope you enjoy two guys just taking the piss out of everything and have a few laughs with us. If you wanna tell us what animes you’re watching, comment down below. Also!!! I reference a few content creators, and down below will be a list of those I mentioned . . . in case you want to know more.
Timestamps
00:00 – Talking About GME, AMC, And Stonks!
12:04 – Live-Action Remakes
15:27 – DC Animated Movies (New 52) VS Anime Movies/Manga VS Comics
23:22 – Superhero TV Shows on Amazon, Disney+, and HBO Max
28:13 – Shingeki no Kyojin (Attack on Titan), Studio MAPPA Controversy, Western Twitter
36:31 – Jujutsu Kaisen IS LIT!!! Crunchyroll Awards
39:17 – Sony Buys Crunchyroll And Funimation . . . And More Keyboard Warriors Drama
48:55 – Best Fast Food And Why Arby’s Marketing Is Amazing
58:05 – My Simpleton Problem And Saying Goodbye
In this clip, I talk about how it was hard for me to open up in college due to my high school education insecurities. It was no secret that being a child of Asian immigrants, we don’t value arts and literature as highly as “practical” subjects. *cough* math, science, doctor *cough*
Growing up, I never read for fun. I only read when school forced me to write a paper. I only read what I needed to read that I couldn’t get off SparkNotes and the early days of Wikipedia. So, entering college, I did not have a deep connection with the arts and literature. This wasn’t much of a problem during my GE-fraternity-rave-party days. But when I declared Creative Writing as a major at San Francisco State University, I was at a huge disadvantage. Thus, making me very insecure with my opinions in my classes. I was not as well read as some of my writing peers.
Of course, being the immature person I was, I took this very personally and lashed out in my workshops and literary discourse. Instead of putting myself out there and trying to participate, I instead choose to try and play a stereotype, what those “hipster” kids in my classes probably thought of me. Yes, I know, I was stupid. But hey, we are always learning and growing, right?
Well, anyway, I hope you enjoy this clip about my painful journey into the arts. If you are also felt like college was intimidating let me know down below…or if you also wanna share your love for Seann William Scott or country music line dancing or WHATEVER!!!
*This video is a clip from #SAP EP09 “Going All The Way” by Charles Bukowski poem discussion with Cpt Ahab & Salutationsandgoodvibrations. So the audio is still distorted and Cpt Ahab picture was replaced. And yes, I know the thumbnail isn’t grammatically correct.
*This video is a clip from #SAP EP09 “Going All The Way” by Charles Bukowski poem discussion with Cpt Ahab & Salutationsandgoodvibrations. So the audio is still distorted and Cpt Ahab picture was replaced. And yes, I know the thumbnail isn’t grammatically correct.
It’s no secret that getting older sucks. Having already survived a year or two as thirty-year-olds, we all know that the memes of random aches and pains are true. However, one of the things about growing up is that we have come to learn that the things we learned while growing up turned out to be not true…Whew, that’s a mouth full. What I meant was: as we got older, we realized some of the things we learned turned out to be lies.
In this video, Salutationsandgoodvibrations, Brooke, Juju, and I discuss some of the things we had to unlearn as we got older. Of course, all of this sounds pretty gloomy. But don’t worry, our (or mainly mine) cautionary tales are wrapped in a blanket of warm laughter. Cuz, you know, the 30s are supposed to be the best years of your life…or so they say.
So let’s have some fun and complain, like the old souls we are. For there is no better time than now to channel our inner “ I am too old for this shit” Roger Murtaugh (from the Lethal Weapon movies) and poke fun at our decaying bodies.
ALSO!!!! I have corrected some of the information I said in the video. On the screen will be some CORRECTIONS THAT I HAVE MADE.
If you’ve ever laughed at a Life Alert meme but then felt like it hit too close to home, then feel free to share your story below.
Timestamps
00:00 – Cold Open
00:34 – Introductions To Everyone
01:43 – Ted Cruz Memes And The Movie Titanic
06:00 – When We Realized We Aren’t Young Anymore (MILF AV)
16:45 – High School Friends, And Xanga, And MySpace
28:00 – Being Immature In High School
30:24 – Don’t Creep On Girls On The DanceFloor and Going To A Gay Club
35:02 – Disadvantageous Expectations For Our 30s (And D!cK Pic Rant)
46:10 – Blame It On Society, Sexuality, And The Gay Agenda
51:28 – Is Technology Catching Up To Hate In America Or Is This A New Movement?
55:15 – American Dream? Model Minority? Us vs Them? Unlearning Racist History
1:13:21 – Oh Visalia, We Talk Smack But We Still Love The Central Valley
1:21:12 – Thai Music Looks Like A Slowmotion Lightshow
1:25:19 – Dating In Your 30s And Kids (Recommended Tinder/Bumble Settings)
1:37:04 – Juju Love Story, Blackout Wednesdays In Visalia, And Hangovers In Your 30s
1:44:46 – Closing Remarks And Saying Goodbye
In this clip, I’m talking about how I eventually decided on choosing Creative Writing as my major at San Francisco State University. Being a first-generation Asian American in your family to go to a four-year university and deciding to become a writer is not something any immigrant parents want to hear. But to be fair, I took three and a half years to pick a major after realizing that you can’t major in Partying with a minor in Beer Pong. So there was no chance in hell I was gonna be a doctor. . .or lawyer. . .or whatever stereotypical model minority career my parents wanted.
Imagine escaping Laos and Thailand during the Vietnam War just to see their firstborn pick a prospering career as a writer. But I guess at this point; I’m more of an entertainer…or clown…whichever.
Salutationsandgoodvibrations and I also talk about some of the challenges we had growing up in Visalia. And believe me, there were many. In my case, it was how I viewed education, arts, and literature. I didn’t read too much in my own free time since my parents put more of an emphasis on subjects that would traditionally generate more money.
My parents weren’t the only ones who thought the arts were unnecessary in the Asian college plan. The friends I grew up with also weren’t too keen on the idea of being books smarts. Instead, we goons focused more on street smarts, believing that arts and education weren’t meant for kids from the block. Luckily, we grew out of this hoodrat mentality as we grew older.
Lots of stuff to unpack here. You’ll hear about how we found our passions and the obstacles we jumped **cough** getting out of Visalia right after high school **cough** to pursue our dreams. Don’t worry; these painful anecdotes of self-discovery aren’t too cringy if you sprinkle some dark humor on the trauma.
If you want to share your story about being Asian, or Asian American, or just as someone who felt they let their parents down, feel free to comment below. Let’s share and wallow because misery loves company.
*This video is a clip from #SAP EP09 “Going All The Way” by Charles Bukowski poem discussion with Cpt Ahab & Salutationsandgoodvibrations. So the audio is still distorted and Cpt Ahab picture was replaced. And yes, I know the thumbnail isn’t grammatically correct.
The lads from EVT give some advice on finding your tribe. I know it’s hard picking your friends or the right rave family to open your heart to; trust me, I know. It took me a while to feel like I was good enough to be loved and to love. I’m not an expert at making friends, which is why Harman, Devin, Kevin, and Michael are here to help me try and explain how to? Iono, I’m weird, and feelings are hard. DON’T LOOK AT ME. I’M A MONSTER.
If you would like to share your story about how you found your tribe, let us know in the comment section below.
ALSO!!!! The posting date of this clip is Feb 17th, 2021. It’s also the date for two members of the EVTs birthdays: Kevin and Harpreet!!! So happy bday and I wish the best to your health and happiness.
Welcome back. I’m back home in Los Angeles, where I finally have time to put some finishing touches on a video to upload. In this episode, my friends Salutationsandgoodvibrations and Cpt Ahab are with me to talk about the poem “Going All The Way” by Charles Bukowski.
What does it mean to “go all the way”? How do you define success? Why do people be fronting on these social media sites and dating apps? These are the questions we will be discussing in this video. I don’t know if you will find a clear answer during your time with us, but I’m sure you’ll have a few good laughs.
Alongside these philosophical questions of pursuing your passions, I will also be discussing how I decided to major in Creative Writing at San Francisco State University. As well as briefly discussing how growing up in Visalia influenced my views on art and literature, how I disappointed my Asian parents about my career choice, and about how much I love Seann William Scott. Yes, the Stifmeister.
I apologize in advance if this video sounds like a conversation between a bunch of bored college kids. Well, I mean, what else are we gonna do during quarantine. Also, the audio’s pitch is a little high, and Ahab’s picture is covered by your friendly neighborhood Asian: me. This was intentional. So, yeah. Sorry about that, too.
But I hope you guys do enjoy the video. Feel free to comment below if you have something to say about the poem written by this German-American poet or if you just wanna share how you view success.
“Going All The Way” by Charles Bukowski
If you’re going to try, go all the way.
Otherwise, don’t even start.
If you’re going to try, go all the way.
This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe even your mind.
It could mean not eating for three or four days.
It could mean freezing on a park bench.
It could mean jail.
It could mean derision, mockery, isolation.
Isolation is the gift.
All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it.
And, you’ll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds.
And it will be better than anything else you can imagine.
If you’re going to try, go all the way.
There is no other feeling like that.
You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire.
DO IT. DO IT. DO IT. All the way
You will ride life straight to perfect laughter. It’s the only good fight there is.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:29 – Cpt Ahab Starts Us Off By Reading The Bukowski Quote
01:18 – What Does “Going All The Way Means”?
05:00 – Pursuing Your Dreams And The Value Of An Creative Writing Degree
10:10 – You Have To Put In The Work To Get What You Want In Life
17:30 – Attempt Different Things To Define Your Own Version Of Success
20:57 – Disappointing My Asian Parents By Picking An English Major In College
28:38 – Growing Up In Visalia And How We Handled Education
36:25 – How Visalias’ Environment And Immigrant Cultural Influenced My View On Art
40:00 – Me Feeling Insecure About My Lack of Literature Knowledge At SFSU
41:27 – Me Telling My Playwriting Class My Favorite Actor Is Seann William Scott
46:47 – The Authetisicty Of Your Opinions VS What Everyone Else Thought Was Cool
50:18 – What Is Even Real On Social Media And Dating Apps? Just Be Yourself
57:53 – Line Dancing At The Saddle Rack and Saying Goodbye To Cpt Ahab
Emilio, Justice, Rocky, and I discuss the recent Reddit vs. Wall Street Stock Market War. WE ARE NOT A FINANCIAL ADVISING CHANNEL NOR EXPERTS. We are just a couple of average Joes trying to make sense of all this craziness and having a conversation about the stuff that happened. So please, take what we say with a grain of salt. But the two things that I did learn was that if we all work together, we can cyber bull those a-holes who are screwing us and meme our dreams into reality.
Honestly, no matter where you stand on this GME thing, I’m glad it happened because now people my age, from different social and ethnic classes, who never thought about their financial future, are now getting into investing. Growing up poor and lacking the knowledge about the market, I know I didn’t even give it a second thought besides a 401k or IRA.
Though there are still many things to learn, this baby step is in the right direction. The Internet (YouTube, Reddit, Discord, and Blogs) are great places to learn and dip your toes if you are intimidated by all the information or seeing a financial advisor. If you can afford it and don’t want to deal with it, get a FA. Heck, I’m still learning, but now I know I’m not alone.
PS, I want to apologize if the video seemed a little rushed….because it was. I had to leave town for some business and did not have time to edit properly. Nor write a good/witty description. There’s also more to this video that I had to cut out. When I return, I’ll add the rest of the video and add timestamps.
With a bunch of free time on my hands, I decided to go back and clip some of my older videos. This here video is from EP03 with Kevin, Andrew, and Chris, where we are talking about growing up in Visalia. In this clip, we talk about some cringy things we did in high school and talked about what it was like to play on a losing football team. It’s ok to laugh at us; I know I would.
If you have any stories about high school and football growing pains, feel free to write them down below.
Man, I miss anime conventions. But, you know, 2020 was the year of everything getting canceled. In this special clip, Emilio, Garret, and I are just talking about anime cons. We quickly touch on Fanime, Crunchyroll Expo, and Anime Los Angeles. You will get a chance to hear about some of the cool things we have experienced, the weird, and our past/future cosplay ideas. This video isn’t a full episode, but it’s still a great chuckle.
Usually, I would release a whole hour+ episode before I clip the video, but (not going to lie) we kind of went off the rails and just spitball hella subjects. So it didn’t make sense trying to make a coherent episode out of our ADHD conversation. Don’t worry; I’m still going to create long-form content that many won’t watch in the future. I guess this is a good chance for you to see how much of a weeb I am…especially when I get on a rant about after con dances, the H-tai room at Fanime, and other weird stuff I said. So please, enjoy.
If you also miss anime conventions or have any cosplay ideas, please let me know in the comments below. Bye-bye.
PS, I made a mistake. Not all Anime Cons have free games. You can either borrow a system or play the free games there, but some machines you will have to pay to play (like DDR).
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – Fanime, The Anime Viewing Rooms, And The 18+ H-Night
04:00 – Anime Los Angeles And The After-Con “Rave”
#SorryAsianParents 
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