Claudine Ko

Dirty Hands

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 04:16:00 +0000

Ten years ago, I was working as an editorial assistant at a magazine in New York City. One day, my phone rang and it was a guy saying I had a delivery waiting for me at the messenger service. This was unusual, as I was still so low on the rung that nobody ever sent me anything. So I walked down the hall and just as I approached their counter, I saw this Asian guy with spiky, bleached-blonde hair in a worn Mickey Mouse ringer-tee, cut-off pants with a chain wallet and a pair of gnarly black Converses. I knew he couldn't be standing there for anybody else in that office except me. So when he asked me if I was who I was and told me, "I'm Dave, Eric from Giant Robot sent me," I knew it would still be awhile before I'd receive my first official messenger-service package. Dave and I were natural friends. It was summer and we hung out all night getting mosquito bites in Central Park, blabbing about Van Gogh, Dawson's Creek and The Outsiders. At the time, I was in my pre-Lost In Translation "every girl goes through a photography phase" phase and was always taking pictures of my best friends. We only knew each other for a few hours at this point, but this one here is the first photo I ever shot of Dave, somewhere near a diner on the Upper East Side.

Harry Kim started filming the Dirty Hands: The Art and Life of David Choe documentary a couple years after we met, and has created a cinematic collage of the crazy situations that Dave's gotten himself into since then -- from his first art exhibition at the Double Rainbow on Melrose, to dinosaur hunting in the Congo and selling out a $2.5 million gallery show in London a few months ago. As genius of a raconteur as he is, a lot of Dave's stories are hard to believe (i.e. jungle pygmies), but when you see them actualized on screen in this movie, it makes them that much more awesome. The movie is still at the L.A. Film Fest, but will soon go to Munich. If you can't catch either, definitely check out the trailer or Harry's short Whales and Orgies.

Here we are at the premiere over the weekend, all grown up: from right, Eric, Dave, me, and artist James Jean, whom I just met and does that line of Prada bags.

Bicycle Film Fest 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:25:00 +0000

The BFF starts tonight in NYC. Seems like they've added a bunch of cities this year, plus tomorrow is their first annual Bicycle Beauty Pageant, which will run during the street party, 1-7 pm on 2nd street and 2nd Ave.

Cornholio aka the Almighty Bungholio

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:01:00 +0000

Last year, when I was in a more scientific state of mind, I blogged about fighting global warming and the importance of being an earnest biker. These days -- months upon months really, I've been smeared by a sh#t-storm of work, and haven't had the time to contemplate, much less post coherent sentences about what's currently at stake in the world. But speaking of inclement weather, how about these gaddam rising food prices, and what United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon describes as the impending "widespread hunger, malnutrition and social unrest on an unprecedented scale"?

I am fully aware that my grasp of global economic/socio-political affairs is weak at best, but hasn't the scientific community already firmly established that corn-based ethanol is quite frankly, BS? (Apparently in early studies, somebody did the math wrong, and the correct numbers say that corn ethanol not only fails to produce less carbon emissions than regular old fuel, but actually doubles it over the course of 30 years. And on top of that, the giant amounts of corn we're now producing (by government mandate) offsets land for other foodstuffs, like soy, resulting in the jacked up prices, the catastrophic success suggested by Mr. Moon, and clearing of the Amazon rainforest as well.

Anyway, the whole changing legislation stuff is also a bit over my head, so I'll leave that to those who do have their act together. For me, it all goes back to riding our bikes. It's fun. It's spring. And maybe cook yourself a nice dinner tonight with fare purchased from your local farmer's market. Or walk somewhere, like the library. Simple stuff.

You can view more info graphics here at the BBC. The NY Times recently did a big series on rising food costs as well. And if you're really motivated, check out David Tilman's research on cellulosic ethanol and prairie grass.

4:20

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:21:00 +0000

It's 4:20 on 4/20.

So Yong Kim

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:09:00 +0000

I also like this woman. We met a couple months ago for an interview that just came out in Paper Mag's "Beautiful People" issue. At the time, So was working 14-15 hour days, editing a rough cut of her latest feature, and still managed to take the time to talk. I was asking her about her instinct for benevolence, and she explained her capacity to give as possibly more a function of Asian mother-inspired efficiency. We're talking about a person who produced a feature film over the course of two years for 40 or 50 grand. In Iceland. All-inclusive. On some level, she should really be running for office:

"Maybe (it was) the way my grandma raised us. She just knew how to stretch a bowl of rice to feed, like, 20 people. Also, my mother was very, very frugal when we were growing up. And in art school, you learn how to make things out of nothing. I went to the post office; they have those overnight packages. If you flip it inside out, it’s made out of this special material, it’s half cloth. I collected those for six months so I could use it for the performance piece I was doing because I didn’t have money to buy fabric. It made perfect sense to me: it’s free, our tax money pays for that stuff. There are ways to stretch things if you have little."

If you're interested, I also profiled Riley Keough, aka Elvis' granddaughter, and Julia Rothman, a cool girl who designs patterns in Brooklyn, in the same issue.

Thao Nguyen

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:39:00 +0000

I like this girl. And not just because she's Asian. She has a band called Thao with the Get Down Stay Down, which she's on tour with currently.

Click here so you can listen to her meanderings and music (sorta like a morph of Blonde Redhead/Cat Power on uppers with Jolie Holland/Belly/Tanya Donnelly undertones. Sorry, my days as a short-form music-album reviewer are long gone, thankfully).

I also appreciated the time-lapsed ice cream-cone melt.

Murakami in Brooklyn

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:24:00 +0000

The first thing you see when you enter the Murakami exhibit, which opens today at the Brooklyn Museum, are these. Please reflect. More later.

Surfer Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:44:00 +0000

The best time to visit the North Shore is probably starting about now through April, after the Triple Crown crowds have vacated, the swell's holding and the weather is fine. Of course, I couldn't say this for sure, because I've never been to Hawaii in the spring. But I did go at the end of '07 for about a month to profile a couple of my favorite surfer girls, Kassia Meador and Jen Smith. The story is now out in the April/May '08 issue of Bust Magazine.This photo, taken by photographer Jacqueline Di Milia, is from an early version of the layout. The final spread they ended up using is cool, too, but there was something about this as the opening image that really did it for me.

What I do know for sure: the best poke (poke-ee, a Hawaiian dish of raw fish marinated in sesame oil, scallions, peppers, onions, sea salt, etc) can be found at the Kahuku Superette, along Kamehameha Hwy, past Turtle Bay if you're heading east. They have several different types, including ahi and octopus, and are laid out in stainless steel trays in the back. After a surf, order samples of them all with a couple sides of hot rice, chow down on the outdoor deck of your friends' waterfront digs, and life will be the most awesome.

Brand new

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:39:00 +0000

Adrian Tomine's first official personal Web site, live. Finally.

In other non-Tomine-related news -- well, actually, no, that's it for now.

More Tomine in the Times

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:03:00 +0000

For a story on Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. How appropriate.

One Cold Hand?

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:07:00 +0000

Lobster claws are the best kind of gloves for winter biking. They hold your fingers together in pairs to retain more warmth, rather than sequestering them alone, and in the perfect position to wrap around your handlebars and brake levers. This is a photo of the left hand of my most recent pair. The right hand is gone. (Moment of silence.) If only I lived in Pittsburgh, where Jen Gooch runs One Cold Hand?, a Web site where found gloves are pictured and categorized by fabric (chenille, fleece, leather, etc), hand (left, right), and neighborhood found. I was there this weekend where I hung out with Gooch and got to partake in the goodwill.This project should be a part of every cold-weather community.

Jen says the site "creates a method for dealing with the conundrum of finding these lost articles. Do you leave it and hope the owner comes back to find it? Do you pick it up? Throw it away? With onecoldhand.com, the abandoned object now becomes a symbol of benevolence and hope."

Speaking of, I lost that lobster claw glove in Jamaica Plain, Boston one night last winter, in the vicinity of El Oriental de Cuba (corner of Paul Gore St. and Centre Street). Please email me if you may possibly be a vehicle of benevolence and hope.

Adrian Tomine in your Sunday paper

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 16:25:00 +0000

This morning, the New York Times Magazine ran a feature story on morality and its biological basis, "The Moral Instinct." It is a somewhat intimidatingly lengthy piece for the brain to process, especially this early on a Sunday. And that's why there is no shame in just looking at the pictures.

Muji NYC grand opening

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:42:00 +0000

If you've ever had the luxury of shopping at Muji, you'll understand why there was a huge line out the door for its downtown Manhattan grand opening earlier today. Basic, cleanly-designed, eco-friendly products, from stationery, kitchenware and containers to socks, pillows and luggage. I walked over at about 3 pm and came upon a space just like all the ones I've been to in London. The line was also gone by then. Inside, the flow was good -- an organized, streamlined, and pleasing atmosphere filled with things you think you need to make your life just as organized, streamlined and pleasing. But when it comes right down to it, the key to that kind of lifestyle is to just stop buying things. At least that was my rationale when I left empty-handed (after putting back the blank, pocket-sized $2 notepad, of which I must have dozens just like it at home, stacked in the darkness of various "organizing" boxes.) I know, I'm becoming such a consumer's killjoy.

Of course, if you own nothing and really do need stuff, I would highly recommend their roller suitcases, stripey-socks, utilitarian handbags, and photo frames.

And the bed frames, duvet covers, umbrellas, mechanical pencils, shirts, pillows...

Free Tattoos...

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 14:21:00 +0000

...after you fork out the eight bucks for the new November/December 07 issue of the Believer Magazine, of course. Artists like Marcel Dzama, Steve Powers and Ai Weiwei contribute to the selection. Inside, there's a pretty great feature by Leanne Shapton, who looks at other artists' takes on the loves in their lives. My favorite: a series of scribbled notes by the wife of Keith Arnatt. She passed away in 1996, and afterwards, he photographed 18 of the scrawls she'd left for him over the years. A highlight: "YOU BASTARD! YOU ATE THE LAST OF MY CRACKERS." Reminds me of "This is Just to Say," a poem I love, by William Carlos Williams.

Anyway, if you look carefully at the cover, there's a self-portrait tattoo of the artist Ai Weiwei. Underneath the flap, a swarm of flies are heading straight for his beard. And if you are interested, I interviewed him on page 72.

Morimoto and Me

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:12:00 +0000

"Whiskey, eh?"
"Suntory," I said, nodding.
"Yamazaki," he responded, correctly noting the distillery of the 12-year-old single malt I'd been nursing.

And that is how my conversation with Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto began the other night when we shared a table at the Japanese Culinary Forum reception (ironically held at the French Culinary Institute). Indeed, David Bouley and Yoshiki Tsuji, who are planning to open a Japanese restaurant downtown, were mingling in the crowd, as were a fleet of extraordinary Kyoto- and Tokyo-based chefs who'd flown in for the event. Morimoto told me a lot of things that evening, most of which he insisted I wasn't allowed to repeat after finding out I'm a journalist. However, I will share his opinion on serving overfished species at his restaurants. "I'm a chef, not a politician, and my number one priority is feeding my guests." Basically, barring legislative mandates, he's not gonna be removing Chilean Sea Bass from his menus anytime soon. I'm a bit torn on his environmental laissez-faire -- because that is some amazing sea bass. I was, however, very impressed by his stubby fingers and large head.

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 22:03:00 +0000

Finally saw Ang Lee's latest, Lust, Caution, last night in NYC, so you can add me to the list now. But I hear the NC-17 flick starring Tony Leung and new girl Tang Wei is opening in So Cal on October 12, playing at the South Coast Village theater in OC. My feeling these days is the less you know about a movie, the better off you are when you go see it. So I won't comment except that 1) you should go see it and 2), maybe, if you go with someone you're hot for, go to SCV, where they are now featuring "new high-hack love seats."

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:03:00 +0000

As of today, 6,666 people have checked out my blog profile. Who are you 6,666? What do you do? Where do you live, and most importantly, what do you eat?

Last night, I ate at Mozza Pizzeria for my sister's birthday dinner. I was particularly enamored by the fat on my prosciutto, the burrata (of course), the fennel sausage/onion pizza, and Keanu Reeves, who was sitting out in the main dining room with his friends. We sat in the special private room where they store all the quartino wine. At the back end of the cozy space, there's a spiral staircase, which we found out leads to Mario Batali's second-floor apartment. His place isn't finished yet, but at some point in life, it would be interesting to climb up those stairs and have a meal in Mario's private kitchen. Then again, does a guy who runs two restaurants underneath his bedroom (not to mention a bunch in New York) even need a kitchen for his house?

Suggested menu: caprese salad, grilled octopus, parma di prosciutto, gnocci, Pork loin (with the thick rind of fat), olive oil and passion fruit gelato. And several quartinos of wine.

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 16:22:00 +0000

I woke up this morning to a low, rumbling noise. It's funny when you're in the suburbs, how everything else out there doesn't quite connect. I eventually waddled down the stairs and made myself a bowl of oatmeal which I ate in the backyard, looking out over the grey-enshrouded Pacific Ocean. That's when I realized what I'd been hearing all morning was a thunderstorm, hitting right over the water and moving northeast. So I hopped on my bike, rode out to the hills and waited to catch this. It just started raining over my house.

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 06:43:00 +0000

Isn't it interesting that of the two theaters in the whole entire country that are playing 12:08 East of Bucharest right now, one of them is right here in OC? Not to imply that this infusion of culture is surprising for a place that's become the muse for some of the most idiot reality television productions ever. I have to watch another film playing at the same theater for a freelance piece, but I'm thinking I'll sneak into the 4 pm screening afterwards. In any case, all those who are in the neighborhood should check it out. One of the greatest movies I've seen this year.

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 02:24:00 +0000

So an anonymous GR reader has solved the crazy furry-green-thing mystery, which I wrote about months ago. They are Cladophora aegagropila! You can also call them Japanese moss balls (as they are considered a national treasure in Japan) or Russian Moosballen, like the Germans do. Aqualand explains all. Scroll down to the science experiment in which they dismember a bunch of the Cladophora to see if they'd regenerate, kinda like Gremlins. Afterwards, check out the rest of their site, it's pretty rad. And then maybe purchase some Axolotls:

But watch out, they're "frequent biters of tank mates."

On second thought, just get some bunnies.
As Aqualand says, "Everybody loves bunnies."

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 17:59:00 +0000

I saw this album for the first time at the Newport Beach Public Library yesterday:

The cover art is drawn by Audrey Chihiro Kawasaki, whose work I've admired for awhile now and actually mentioned in a story I wrote last year. Her girls are so luxuriously innocent yet pornographic. Sometimes they drool. Seeing as how all her prints are sold out, you can just buy this CD and frame it. How's the music you wonder? Beside the point. Sorry, Alice.

Here are some more prints:

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 05:19:00 +0000

I read in the L.A. Times today that the Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence are funding various Chinese schools "to lure students into learning languages deemed critical to national security and the economy." Which is sort of suspicious sounding, yet sort of reassuring?

The real question is whether or not the programs will get their funding renewed next year now that China's got such a bad rep. As my friend Hamilton recently soliloquized, "The Chinese can violate human rights, but when you start fucking with American pets, your shit is going to go down. Chinese coal workers? Big deal, they die. You fuck with little Daisy over there, and Kofi Annan is coming to your house."

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:39:00 +0000

At this point, isn't it more than just a little humiliating to be carrying one of these around?

Or is it something of a badge of honor, like wearing a t-shirt from that L.A. Coliseum New Order/Depeche Mode concert back in the late 80s after making it through the giant stadium-wide food fight? No, no. The food fight was much cooler.

And so is this:

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 15:30:00 +0000

Isn't it strange how some scientists devote all this energy to researching stuff like whether or not chimpanzees are capable of spite or altruism?

And to prove what -- that humans are the only ones that can manage these, er, sophisticated emotions? If I were a chimp caged in a lab with a collapsing table full of food strategically positioned so I couldn't reach it, the only thing I would be emoting is how screwed I was. Maybe that's the point afterall, to provide evidence on how singularly cruel and f'd up humans can be.

Or maybe it's that I'm too human.

Other cruel things on my mind as of late: switching lanes on the 405; full-time freelance writing; low-tide in Newport Beach; and the folding of my old haunt. Elaborations to come, or as we would write on magazine proofs at Jane, TK.

(The 405 in the early '70s, near Costa Mesa looking towards Irvine, aka how I wish it always flowed.)

But it can't all be bad: there's always Mozza, my new favorite L.A. restaurant. I highly recommend the bolognese, the gnocci, the grilled octopus, and every one of the cheeses. All spiteless creatures invited.

noreply@blogger.com (Claudine Ko) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 06:34:00 +0000

These photos kill me.

They're from Edward Burtynsky's manufacturing section in his photo series on China, of which he writes: "It is here that 90 per cent of your Christmas decorations are made, 29 per cent of color television sets, 75 per cent of the world’s toys, 70 per cent of all cigarette lighters and probably every T-shirt in your closet."

This morning, the woman who lives downstairs with my landlord came knocking on my door to inquire about a strange noise she'd heard coming from my apartment. After explaining that the landlord is out of town traveling in China, she figured she should check on us and make sure everything was okay. I wasn't quite sure what she was getting at, so I asked her what the noise sounded like. She thought about it for a moment and then to her best ability, recreated the dizzy roar of the vacuum cleaner, which my roomate had been using. Now, there's just something about seeing a middle-aged woman impersonate a Hoover at 10 a.m. that makes you not want to get into it when the next thing that comes out of her mouth is, "I don't understand why anyone would want to go to China where they put poison in their pet food."

Not to excuse the poor monitoring in Chinese factories and the reckless endangerment of human and pet life as of late, but I do worry that it's not just bat-shit crazy people who think this way.