Pioneers in Journalism Peter Bhatia, Connie Chung, Ken Kashiwahara, Dith Pran and Helen Thomas honored by Asian American Journalists Association in New York.

Some of the best-known Asian American journalists were among those at The Waldorf-Astoria in New York last night to celebrate as the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) officially launched its $2 million endowment campaign, with more than $581,699.55 in charter gifts.

Proceeds from the gala event and additional live pledges are expected to generate an additional $50,000 for the endowment.

"We are thrilled to see this kind of enthusiasm from media companies, corporations and individuals," said AAJA national president Mae Cheng, who is also assistant city editor at Newsday. "It demonstrates the wide community support for diversity in the news media. We are also pleased to have some of the most esteemed members of our industry join us at this event."

AAJA presented five veteran journalists with "Pioneers in Journalism" awards at the event:

*Peter Bhatia, executive editor of The Oregonian, the country's highest-ranking newspaper editor of Asian American ethnicity and past president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors;
*Connie Chung (unable to attend), three-time Emmy Award winning broadcaster who was only the second woman, after Barbara Walters, to co-anchor an evening news program;

Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog- postcard of the Patagonian Glaciers

This is one of my favorite shots. We generally think of South America as very warm, but in fact, the southern area is very close to the Antarctic continent. Icebergs can frequently be observed in the area and there many glaciers can be seen. This photo shows glacial feeds flowing into a lake in southern Chile. The conditions were exceptionally clear, allowing good definition of the mountain and glacier features.

Bolivia

Click here for AsianConnections' exclusive interview with Leroy while in training at Star City, Russia.

Information on the crew's activities aboard ISS, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

U.S. Astronaut Leroy Chiao's blog and all NASA updates at AsianConnections.com are monitored by AC Editor Lia Chang

Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog- postcard of Malaysia

This is the town of Lutong (left) and the Baram river on the border of Malaysia (below the river) and Brunei. The mud from the Batam flows into the ocean and acts as a dye, revealing the currents and flow patterns. Note how the mud diffuses gradually on the left side, but that there is a well-defined boundary on the right side.

Click here for AsianConnections' exclusive interview with Leroy while in training at Star City, Russia.

Information on the crew's activities aboard ISS, future launch dates, as well as Station sighting opportunities from anywhere on the Earth, is available on the Internet at:
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/

U.S. Astronaut Leroy Chiao's blog and all NASA updates at AsianConnections.com are monitored by AC Editor Lia Chang

Astronaut Leroy Chiao's Space Blog

Hi Lia,

Wow, great!! Congratulations on the play, that is so cool!

A few days after arriving on the International Space Station, I decided to have some Chinese food. I had spent the last two months in Russia without Asian food. And, after 2-1/2 days in the Soyuz, eating cold, canned rations and a week of adjusting to life on the station and kicking the last crew out the door, I finally had time to prepare a proper meal. This is sweet and sour pork, over pre-cooked rice. On the ground it would have tased pretty mediocre. But, I had gotten to the point where food with any Asian hint to it at all tastes great!

Leroy

Excerpts of NASA'S Report about the International Space Station
Date: Fri, 10 Dec 2004 16:13:11 -0600
Report #66
4 p.m. CST, Friday, Dec. 10, 2004