Alright, read carefully. This IS a big deal. Like, seriously. whoa.
ONCE A DECADE, the government does a census of the country. That’s once a decade that the government counts how many people are living in the United States, and what the population is comprised of. That’s not very often huh?
Please, please…take the time (just a few minutes) to fill out your census form, or help your family do it, and send it back. Tell your parents to look out for it in the mail, and FILL IT OUT when it arrives. I’ve hounded my mom and dad already.
<phils rant begin>
Also, I don’t usually like getting specific about race, but this is especially important for Asian Americans (or other minorities). I think it’s safe to say that in the past few years AAs have rose significantly in eyes of the community and the country. But the last count that the US has of how many AAs there are in America is from 10 YEARS AGO! Think how much has changed in 10 yrs. There was no Youtube, no facebook, no ABDC, no Justin Lin, no WONG FU PRODUCTIONS! In the past 10 yrs, AAs have definitely risen in prominence, which is obvious to most of us, but not to the politicians in Washington DC. With this census, we can show the country that we are definitely here, we have a voice, and we should not be overlooked. When the numbers get back to DC, let’s make sure that it’s an ACCURATE representation of who’s really out there, because the numbers affect government spending, the entertainment industry, global business…EVERYTHING! Please, tell your family, your friends to tell their families, how important it is. No matter if you’re Asian or not, you need to be counted!
</phils rant end>
Thanks for reading that, and hopefully all the capital letters made you feel as urgent as I did. We even made a little cameo in this PSA that Arrowana Films made to promote filing out the census forms. check it out, it’s even more intense than my rant. haha
CENSUS 2010. It’s actually important.
May 10, 2010 at 1:48 pm
man that census made me soo mad!
apparently anyone spanish isn’t a race,
but it is going to take a huge amount of time to compile all that data (statistic point of view),
even though the last one isn’t even finished….
March 21, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Who is Justin Lin?
March 23, 2010 at 10:03 am
Movie/TV director. (FAST & FURIOUS 3,4,5…ANNAPOLIS…BETTER LUCK TOMORROW…NBC’s “Community”)
March 20, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Thanks for the reminder!
I don’t think I got one yet though…
March 20, 2010 at 5:25 am
I think it’s great that the Census is really being advertised in such effective ways!
My boss is actually making me (and my co-workers) find 30 HOUSEHOLDS to fill out the application. (And, like you mentioned, specifically the Asian community.) I think the video and your post inspired me to find 30 households
. THANKS, PHIL! 
March 19, 2010 at 10:14 am
I actually filled mine out a few days ago and sent it in. The funny aspect of this, however, from a Statistician point of view is that the results of this will not be out until the next Census, and maybe even past that. Oh yes, the 2000 Census actually hasn’t been completed as of yet because of the mountains of data collected. It is physically impossible to count all that data that one Census actually tends to overlap another. The computers are fast, don’t get me wrong, but the data is immense. The pieces of data presented now and again that are claimed to be from the “2000 Census” are actually snippets of information that has been processed. But not the entire thing.
So check back in about eleven to twelve years to find the data collected from the 2010 Census. But please, don’t forget to fill it out. It is important… at least for the next generation a couple of years from now.
March 19, 2010 at 8:04 am
That was awesome. It felt like a real movie. But I’m definitely going to take the census this year. It’s the first time I’m able to do it myself. But awesome video guys. I’ll show it to my friends and family so they are informed. You guys should try to get this aired some where.
March 18, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I had dinner with Anson and he told me about the video, I had to go home and watch it. Cracked me up. Phil & Wes reminded me of their scene in The Empty Suitcase project. Great promotion for the Census and way to get people involved. oohhh wonggfuuu
March 18, 2010 at 6:31 pm
i like how the census form turns into dollar bill at the end. simple, but impactful.
March 18, 2010 at 6:16 pm
Phil, you’re awesome for taking the time to emphasize how important the census is. I’d like to add that not only is it important with representation in policy making and whatnot, but it’s also EXTREMELY important in the allocation of government funds that benefits the people in things like welfare, and public education. It also determines the amount of taxes citizens will be paying. So…yeah…
I already filled out our household’s for my mom. It literally takes only a couple of minutes.
I really want to sign up to be a census taker/worker, but you have to be at least 18 and have a reliable mode of transportation. I have neither… Well, I have a bike, but I think they’d rather their census takers not be all sweaty and stuff. I’m perfect for the job too! Completely fluent in two languages! Gah!
March 18, 2010 at 6:03 pm
OMG. I fu** really want to answer those forms now, even I’m living in Brazil. Damn it. AHHHH =)
March 18, 2010 at 5:11 pm
And if you already filled out your census form – join the campaign to make sure others do the same: http://www.apiavote.org/ycap/how
March 18, 2010 at 5:07 pm
what do you do if your grandmother thought it was junk mail and threw it away?
March 18, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Who was person 1? And what did you fill out for the relations part? lol
March 18, 2010 at 2:24 pm
YES! i’ve told my mom to fill it out too! and it’s important if you live in a mostly asian community too, bc most asian families tend to not fill it out. then the govt allocates less money to your community bc they think less ppl live there. or something like that yeaa.. fill out the census!
March 18, 2010 at 1:18 pm
heehee~ just filled it out! will mail it tomallow~
March 18, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Already did it… and sent it in. Kinda weird questions though about race and ethnicity in there
March 18, 2010 at 12:47 pm
the only bad thing about the census is some of the questions they ask, n the way it is stated…which could cause some problems in some families…
March 18, 2010 at 11:38 am
but they also do annual ones in each state o.o cuz i remeber filling out one last year
March 18, 2010 at 11:37 am
lols of course everyone has to do it its required by law -.- i mailed mine back yesterday
March 18, 2010 at 11:29 am
thanks for doing your part in spreading awareness about national issues that affect your countrymen. it’s not often that young people care enough to do something. i’m glad to say that there is a movement among the youth in my country as well to let our generation know about the importance of things like voting in general and local elections, giving a damn about the annual budget and making our voice heard.
good job, wong fu!
March 18, 2010 at 11:01 am
Uhmmm…I live in America and I didn’t get the census form…then again I don’t think Costa Rica is actually doing it this year. The again if you were only referring to the USA census then you should have said so…since, you know, America is a continent and not just a country
March 18, 2010 at 10:53 am
Wow, that was intense..
March 18, 2010 at 10:51 am
I was looking forward to doing it, but I haven’t gotten anything on it! D: I’m finally old enough to fill out the census myself!
March 18, 2010 at 10:50 am
I did mine once I recieved it in the mail! Already sent it in too!
March 18, 2010 at 10:44 am
It’s really cool that you guys made a video about the Census. I work at the local Census office (LCO) here in Hawaii and we’re starting to get a lot of calls about people that want to get their forms. Just gotta be patient. For every person counted in the Census you get your state $1200 per year per the decennial period…which equals $12000 over the 10 year period that EACH person can get their state. The numbers also help your state get seats in Congress and electoral votes. And all the information is kept sealed from law enforcement and tax agencies for 72 years so it’s all confidential. Whether you’re a legal citizen or an illegal alien it doesn’t matter, just get counted!
March 18, 2010 at 10:36 am
What I don’t get is why they would spend extra money on a Census when most of the important information is within your taxes.
Sure there are dollar questions that target if tax monies that should be allocated to the demo~graphical aspects. But that can be extrapolated from our taxes-this is just a head count.
I’m more concerned about those not included in the Census…yeah them illegals the the minus factors, but don’t get me wrong I feel for them but when I went thru the process and only get screwed because of what the downside of these illegals contribute like higher hospital costs, police, increase in taxation to gov the illegals, etc….I just get annoyed
March 18, 2010 at 10:23 am
zzzZzz i guess i’ll do it since you told me to zzZZzZzzzzz..
March 18, 2010 at 10:22 am
**AAs have risen. not rose.
;] heehee.
and yea, my university emailed me one and i definitely filled it out.
March 18, 2010 at 10:20 am
Filled it out as SOON as I received it & sent it. Whoo!
Nice entry. 2 eprops. :p
March 18, 2010 at 3:40 am
Wow! I’ll do it!!