I don't know whether to be honored or insulted; that's my build to a T..

I'll go with #1 for now. :D

Yeah, really great ad. I just love a giant billboard in the middle of New York that propagates stereotpyes of Asian men as sexless, effeminate wimps. They could have chosen any model for that billoboard: a black guy, a white guy, a Hispanic guy. But no, they chose an Asian man as their visual punchline. Apparently, this stereotype of Asian men is so embedded in the belief systems of people that even Andrea, who is half-Chinese herself, calls it "the best ad".

I wonder: do people take the time to think and reflect anymore?

"As I read more and more of Andrea's comments, she seems to be a very shallow, ignorant, and despicable person." - Wing

"Apparently, this stereotype of Asian men is so embedded in the belief systems of people that even Andrea, who is half-Chinese herself, calls it "the best ad[.]" - Wing

"You can observe a lot just by watching." - Yogi Berra. But I've watched (well, read truthfully) enough! This comment is not so much an apology (i.e., a formal justification), as it is an exclamation. And in the words of SFC Hulka of the Big Toe from the movie 'Stripes', "Lighten Up, Frances!"

Wing, has the phrase "tongue and cheek" ever been used near, around, or by you...? Or (more likely) were your nerve endings and/or neurons (especially the ones that register and acknowledge satire and occasionally humor) removed surgically as a child?

While I have never met her (or Joshua), I have formed the opinion through viewing and reading Andrea's photoblog that she (or they) is (or are) very far from shallow, ignorant, or despicable people. In fact, I'm confident that we (the viewers and readers of her blog and its associated comments) are decidedly more improved in our overall thinking by the existence of Andrea's blog on the Internet. Personally, it directs me to view common and typically-discarded images from a different light and perspective.

Whether the viewer or reader chooses to agree or not with the photo and attached comments is (for the most part) immaterial. Motivating the same people to re-evaluate their established position on the same, though, IS (indeed) material. And this comes from a person who is (most likely) on the opposite end of the political spectrum from Andrea (and Joshua). I respect greatly, though, their words (and actions) for these reflect their readily apparent principles. "Say what you mean, and mean what you say..." And the fact that comments contrary to the posted photo or other comments are permitted to remain speaks volumes with respect to principles...

"This new learning amazes me... Explain again how sheep's bladders may be employed to prevent earthquakes." - King Arthur from 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. Perhaps, Wing, you could benefit from this new learning...

MrDarcy, your "wit" is not impressive. I know it's important to you that people think you are intelligent, but can you please not use so many words to make a simple point? You're wasting energy.

Wing, anyone who lives in any human society is shallow. If it bothers you so much, live a life of solitude.

Andrea, you are amazing, but the life you lead is a poor reflection of your spiritual capacity.

I doubt anyone OTHER than Andrea would have bothered to snap that pic, upload it, and wryly have it at the top of her homepage for a few days. I doubt she's Crunch's tool, but since she is a WOMAN, she may lack the proper points of perspective Asian males so bitterly have to experience every passing day. Asian females are usually protected from the emasculative effect of American culture, to a degree.. And while I would like to slap the guy who put the Japanese nerd in Sixteen Candles and then brought him back for Revenge of the Nerds, I try to tend to focus on the positive. Yes, Hollywood still won't let Jet Li kiss anyone non-Asian, Jackie Chan is still a slapstick figure, and every one of Russell Wong's TV series gets cancelled within four weeks, but Sulu became a Captain, the internment of Japanese Americans was offically recognized, and Ultraman is still an Asian guy (he became caucasian only in an animated series which thankfully no one remembers.)

I have half-Asian nephews and nieces, and I am still holding out with hope for them that they'll never have to face what a mid-sixties generation of Asians and Pacific Islanders had to face.

MrDarcy, ya'll got too mucha 'dat book l'arnin. Ya could have just said, "Don't have a bovis." Then 'whatever' could have gotten 20 seconds of his life back. :)

Oh and one more thing.. Houston and Bleecker skirts the Chinatown area and there are a few Asian businesses around that corner as well.. maybe they were just trying to get some locals?