Macho like Helie Lee

Helie Lee is back, and she makes a pretty cute guy. Four years ago at a book fair I attended, Helie announced she planned to live as a man for 6 months and write a book about her experiences. I guffawed this idea since the author is not only petite and feminine, but pretty. Helie then proceeded to go M.I.A. for a few years with the only mention of her online being her books from the past decade, Still Life with Rice and In the Absence of the Sun (which left me completely riveted). Now she's back with a movie documentary called Macho Like Me about her half-year as a man. Ajumma stands corrected because if the pictures don't lie, Helie actually made a convincing guy. I'm most interested to hear her perspective on how she was treated as an Asian male by the public.

Macho Like Me will play at the 26th Annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival in April-May and at the San Diego Asian Film Festival in October.

Terry Crews has p-p-p-p-p-power

Damn, if I come back as a man, I hope I look like Terry Crews. With the brains of Barack Obama. And the money and philanthropic mind of Warren Buffet. And a hot girlfriend like Michael Buble's.

Clones Vol. 17: Justin Bieber and Ryan Sheckler

Justin Bieber's image consultant must have sat down with the 16 year-old Canadian singer and said, "Just imagine if Ryan Sheckler could sing and dance." That's who I see whenever the tween singer dances across my TV screen. Justin's sound, however, is reminiscent of Franki Lymon and Chris Brown, and that gives me the chills. I'd hate to see Bieber turn into a womanizer like Lymon, or a face-biter like Chris Brown.

Some ways to tell the two lads apart is that Ryan Sheckler is a 21 year-old American known for his large diamond-encrusted Red Bull jewelry, is usually found on a skateboard, and is often nursing a broken bone while surrounded by tan models. He also has "SHECKLER" tattooed prominantly across his back, so you can't lose with that one.

If you are unfamiliar with Justin Bieber or Ryan Sheckler, I salute you. You've managed to live under a pop-culture rock for the past year, and you're most likely better for it.

* Freaking amazing children's book *

Why We Don't Eat Animals is a beautifully illustrated, frank look at why people choose not consume animals. With lovely simplicity it documents for children how animals were meant to live, and how factory farm practices turn quality of life on its head. It's so simple and honest that I cried as I read it while standing in a bookstore.

Of all people, parents should educate themselves most on the state of the environment, political policies and the quality of life of creatures in this world. I encourage you to check out this amazing book the next time you're at your local bookseller.

"Man About Town" brings the hoity-toity

Man About Town magazine, with its artsy fashion photos, comes out twice a year. One would assume then Man About Town has a kick-ass website to engage readers in the meantime. Nothing could be further from the truth. But that doesn't stop me from periodically checking in to see who is on the forthcoming issue. Man About Town's summer 2010 cover features actor Aaron Johnson, who has nice bedroom eyes and Teddy Boy hair. Past cover boys include James Franco and Ryan Phillipe. Speaking of Ryan, he appears shirtless on the May 2010 cover of Men's Health. Technically he has a shirt, but it's on his head rather than his chest. Almost as awesome as Ryan's photo are the hilarious comments about it by readers at Dlisted.

Say it with soju!

Throwing Korean food into the pop culture mix, artist Caroline Hung has designed these creative pins. I like her naengmyun (noodles) and soju (rice wine) best. Mmmm!

Meeting your Japanese in-laws

Josh Blue talks about meeting his Japanese wife's family.

"Chloe" starring Julianne Moore

Intrigued by the movie Chloe, but too lazy to drag yourself to the theater? Me too. Thank goodness for The Movie Spoiler.

Nathan Fletcher for Analog Clothing

Nathan in a spread promoting his short film Lavese Las Manos

With a cherry on top

Target sells 15 glittery cupcake stickers for $1.00. Find them in the scrapbooking aisle. The brand maker, Sticko, also sells other ridiculously fantastic stickers like Japanese food and ice cream cakes.

Converse to prom: Are you trying too hard?

Converse gussied up their shoes and created a prom collection. This begs the question where it's cool to wear Cons to prom, or just plain lame. I feel shiny Converse on a guy in a hot suit is fine, but sequined basketball shoes on a girl in a pretty dress is dorky. Just buy the strappy shoes already! It's only one night! I scare myself how I get more conservative as I age.

Peter Sarsgaard & Alex Skarsgard are not brothers

Red alert! It turns out actors Peter Sarsgaard and Alex Skarsgard are not brothers, despite their surnames sharing a few letters. Well damn! I've been assuming they were related for the past year. Peter Sarsgaard (above) is an American character-actor who played a devious Southern lawyer opposite Kate Hudson in The Skeleton Key (2005). He recently starred as Carey Mulligan's charming, but shady British lover in An Education (2009).

Alex "No Relation to Peter" Skarsgard is a Swedish actor who is currently on the vampire cable show True Blood. I'm glad that's all cleared up.

Top 3 myths about "500 Days of Summer"

1. It's not a real depiction of downtown L.A.
2. No people of color are featured in the movie
3. Summer's a bitch (a beeyotch maybe, but that has different connotations)

Sam Worthington in a dress

Is Australian actor Sam Worthington is hot, or not? There's something teensy-tiny that seems off about him that I cannot put my finger on. Movie fans on IMDb boards agree. Someone started a post called, "What is it about Sam Worthington that is so annoying?" I generally enjoyed Clash of the Titans, this weekend, though it was two hours of seeing Sam Worthington in a little green dress. Ralph Fiennes, as Hades, steals the show.

J.Crew model has two left legs

Flip to page 87 of J.Crew's April catalog and you'll see how someone Photoshopped two of the same leg onto a model. Ajumma guesses the editors thought this would better highlight the model's pumps, but forgot to blend the model's ankle and calf in the photo.

L.A. teacher Jamie Escalante remembered

Jaime Escalante, the reknowned math teacher at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, passed away this week from cancer. Those beyond East L.A. came to know Escalante and his students through the 1988 film Stand and Deliver. Starring Edward James Olmos as Escalante, Stand and Deliver depicted how Escalante turned students, often overlooked by society, towards math and calculus. Under Escalante's tutoring, these students "ate, slept, and lived mathematics" year-round. Many went on to defy people's expectations by passing Advanced Placement exams. Read more about Escalante's legacy here.