New Music: "Tony & Maggie" by lagrima

Debut single from DJ Phatrick's new soul/blues side project



Hell yes. This is so hot. DJ Phatrick turned me on to his new soul/blues side project lagrima. They just released their debut single "Tony & Maggie," featuring vocals by DC singer Amber Mimz and Oakland MC Do D.A.T. The title, of course, refers to Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung, the immortal stars of Wong Kar-wai's In The Mood For Love, one of my favorite movies ever.

The accompanying video, cut with scenes from the movie, is visual hotness:

Anybody want to buy Bruce Lee's Game of Death jumpsuit?

Iconic movie memorabilia goes on the auction block



Bruce Lee's most famous movie outfit is arguably almost no outfit at all -- I'm thinking shirtless and sweaty, with three bloody scratches across the abdomen, in the finale of Enter the Dragon. But perhaps his second most famous outfit is the yellow jumpsuit worn in Game of Death. And now it can be yours for a pretty price.

Got $40,000? Buy Bruce Lee's Shrunken Yellow Jump Suit

The real thing, that is. The iconic yellow jumpsuit, one of two Lee wore in his final film Game of Death -- with matching nunchucks -- is up for auction along with other Bruce memorabilia in Hong Kong this week.

It's got a broken zipper and some shrinkage -- it's over forty years old, after all -- but the yellow one-piece, designed by Lee himself, is expected to fetch somewhere around $32,000 to $39,000.

Sriracha has a message for its neighbors in Irwindale

"NO TEAR GAS MADE HERE"



So the Sriracha factory has been shut down. Last week, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered the Huy Fong Foods plant in Irwindale, where they manufacture and bottle that magical spicy goodness, to cease operations in response to odor complaints from nearby residents. Time to start your Sriracha stockpile.

So how is Huy Fong CEO David Tran handling the shutdown? By being his usual badass self. After all, he is the maker of the awesomest sauce in the land. Take note of the green "NO TEAR GAS MADE HERE" banner they've defiantly posted outside the factory, sending a message to their Irwindale neighbors.

Queens nurse killed in commuter train wreck

Four dead and over 60 injured in Metro-North train derailment

By now, you've heard about the Metro-North Railroad commuter train that derailed Sunday morning in Bronx. The Hudson line train went off the tracks while rounding a bend just north of the Spuyten Duyvil station, killing four people and injuring more than 60 others, 11 critically.

Three of the four dead were thrown from the train after the windows blew out. The victims were identified as James Lovell, 58 years old, of Cold Spring, N.Y.; Donna F. Smith, 54, of Newburgh, N.Y.; James Ferrari, 59, of Montrose, N.Y.; and Kisook Ahn, 35, of Queens.

Ahn was a registered nurse who was returning from a 12.5-hour night shift at Sunshine Children's Home and Rehab Center in Ossining, where she had worked since 2010: Kisook Ahn, Killed in Metro-North Derailment, Nursed Severely Sick Children

I Think I Am In Friend-Love With You by Yumi Sakugawa

"I have confession to make. I think am in friend-love with you."



I became a fan of illustrator/comic book artist Yumi Sakugawa last year when she dropped this awesome comic, "Claudia Kishi: My Asian-American Female Role Model of the '90s," an epic tribute to her favorite fashionable character from The Babysitters Club. So I'm excited to check out her first published book I Think I Am In Friend-Love With You, based on the web comic of the same name, which hits bookstores this week.

Here's an excerpt:

Teacher accused of abusing autistic boy flees to Hong Kong

Police say 25-year-old Yee Tak Sharon Kui had sex with her teenage student

Damn, what is wrong with people? In Maryland, an educator has fled the country after being accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy with autism.

Teacher accused of abusing autistic child flees to Hong Kong, Montgomery police say

Police were investigating allegations that 25-year-old educational assistant Yee Tak Sharon Kui sexually abused one of her students, described as an autistic high functioning 15-year-old, at the Frost School, a private special education school that serves children with behavioral disabilities, autism and other special needs.

Kui is accused of sending salacious text messages and visiting the boy at his home twice -- on Sunday mornings, while his parents were at church -- to have sex with him.

When his parents and the school caught on, they alerted the authorities, which sent Kui packing. According to police, it looks like she flew out of New York to China.

First Look at Cole Horibe as Bruce Lee in Kung Fu

David Henry Hwang blends dance, martial arts, Chinese opera and drama to tell the story of Bruce Lee.



Very nice. The Signature Theatre has unveiled some new promo images for the world premiere of David Henry Hwang's Kung Fu. Featuring Cole Horibe as Bruce Lee, the play blends dance, Chinese opera, martial arts and drama to tell the story of an international icon, from troubled Hong Kong youth to martial arts legend.

Kung Fu also features Emmanuel Brown, Clifton Duncan, Bradley Fong, Francis Jue, Peter Kim, Ari Loeb, Reed Luplau, Kristen Faith Oei and Christopher Vo. It runs February 4 through March 16, 2014 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City. Tickets are on sale now.

Here are some more shots of Cole Horibe as Bruce Lee:

Exclusive Clip: Power tool persuasion in Beyond Outrage

The legendary Takeshi Kitano returns in the second chapter of his epic crime saga



Anybody up for a good old fashioned Japanese gangster flick? Then get the hell out of here. Beyond Outrage is anything but old fashioned. In the follow-up to 2010's Outrage, the legendary Takeshi Kitano directs and stars in the violent second chapter of his epic crime saga. But wait, am I remembering wrong -- didn't his character die at the end of the first movie? True to form, "Beat Takeshi is a bad muthaf**ka.

In Beyond Outrage, a manipulative police crackdown on organized crime ignites a tricky power struggle involving the two biggest yakuza families, the Sanno and Hanabishi clans. Former family boss Otomo, rumored dead and newly released from prison, wants to retire from a life of crime, but finds himself drawn back in as the Sanno and Hanabishi clans teeter on the brink of an all-out war.

Even truer to form, if it's a Takeshi Kitano gangster flick, you know it's going to be waaaaay violent, and Beyond Outrage delivers. Here's an exclusive clip with the stone-faced Takeshi wielding a power tool:

Sari Time! Aziz Ansari's Saris make the perfect holiday gift

Aziz endorses his new stylish new product



Comedian/Emmy-eligible actor Aziz Ansari recently appeared on Conan to endorse an exciting new clothing line: Aziz Ansari's Saris. Give your traditional Indian wear that extra flair -- Aziz's face! Sure, there are plenty of other celebrity-endorsed saris on the market, but not one of those celebrities have the word "sari" in their name. Don't mess with the fake stuff. This is the real deal:

AAPIs join national solidarity fast for immigration reform

Three core fasters break their fast on Day 22 of "Fast for Families"



This week, hundreds of Asian American and Pacific Islanders across the country are participating in "Fast for Families" to illustrate the united support of AAPI communities for a humane and inclusive immigration process, and to compel Congress to act on comprehensive immigration reform: 500+ AAPIs Join "Fast for Families"

The 24-hour fast is a show of solidarity for individual advocates who have fasted much longer for immigration reform. Three core "Fast for Families" fasters -- National Korean American Service and Education Consortium (NAKASEC) Executive Director Dae Joong Yoon; Eliseo Medina of the Service Employees International Union and DREAMer and Mi Familia Vota's Cristian Avila - abstained from all food since November 12.

This morning in Washington DC -- Day 22 -- they broke their fast, passing it on to new fasters. That's DJ Yoon in the photo above, breaking his fast in a ceremony with bread given by Father Jacek Ozechowski.

Meanwhile, At least 180 advocates from 33 AAPI groups have committed to take part in 24-hour solidarity fasts over the next two weeks, including several of our friends at Advancing Justice-LA:

Harvard students arrested for assault on police officers

Asians behaving badly... double Harvard student edition!



In two separate incidents over the last six weeks, two Harvard University undergraduates -- both Asian American students -- were arrested and charged with assault and battery on a Harvard University Police Department officers, among other charges.

Two Harvard Students Arrested, Charged with Assault and Battery on a HUPD Officer in Unrelated Incidents.

Last month, Benjamin Y. Zhou was arrest and charged with assault and battery on an officer, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest. On October 26, freshman Jack Z. Li was arrested on charges of assault and battery on an officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Zhou's arrest apparently got set off when police responded to a noise complaint:

Angry Gift Guide: Short Round Mini Bust

A tribute to Indiana Jones' greatest sidekick.



Know anyone who really really likes Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?

Came across this super-weird Indiana Jones Short Round Mini Bust for sale, and thought it would make an excellent gift for the Jonathan Ke Quan fan in your life. I mean, come on, who wouldn't want one of these sitting on their mantel? Call it a tribute to one of the bravest little Asian sidekicks ever.

This exclusive Short Round collectible stands 6-inches tall and is a limited edition of only 350 pieces. You can order it for a whoppin' $54.99 from Entertainment Earth. Now if someone would make a cool statue of favorite Jonathan Ke Quan role -- Data from The Goonies.

Reverse racism exists. All you need is a time machine.

Comedian Aamer Rahman drops some knowledge on what people refer to in whispers as "reverse racism."



Have you ever called someone out on their racism? Have you ever been accused of "reverse racism"? Comedian Aamer Rahman has. He has apparently been criticized for his jokes making fun of white people. "White people this. White people that. What if I did something like that, huh?" That's not cool. Aren't your jokes a kind of [spoken in a whisper] reverse racism? Aamer has your answer, and it's both brilliant and hilarious:

Dancers must dance! Even after wisdom tooth surgery.

All Chessa wants to do is go to ballet class.



I've been seeing this posted on social media over the past week, and finally clicked on it... Wow. Meet Chessa. She just got her wisdom teeth pulled. And man, she is wacked out awesomesauce on that anesthesia.

Well, because good friends don't let moments like this go undocumented, someone pulled out a camera and got it all on tape. Chessa, by the way, is a dancer. She wants to go to ballet class. Now. And as you can see, she's still got the moves -- even while sky high on those sweet, sweet dental drugs:

Man badly beaten after a night of karaoke with friends

The family of Andrew Oh is asking for the public's help

Some disturbing news out of the San Diego area, where a young man was left beaten with a brain injury after a night of karaoke with friends: Qualcomm employee left beaten after night of karaoke with friends.

24-year-old Andrew Oh was out last weekend celebrating his roommate's birthday at the Chorus Karaoke Bar in Kearny Mesa. At some point in the evening, he stepped outside the bar, and was later found unconscious and badly beaten in the parking lot. And that's pretty much all the information that seems to be available.

What the hell happened to Andrew? There apparently isn't any surveillance video from the evening, and police don't have much to go on. While he remains in critical condition with head trauma, his family is asking for the public's help to find out what happened to him:

Read These Blogs

24 Experiences You Only Have At Asian Supermarkets: Pungent smells, giant bags of rice, and the amazing junk food aisle. This Buzzfeed list is pretty spot-on.

November Cover Story: An Adoptee Meets His Birth Family And Gets the Surprise of His Life: This past spring, L.A.-based rapper and Korean American adoptee Dan Matthews began searching for his birth parents. What he found would change his life. An album and web series, both to be released next February, document the dramatic story about loss and discovery, identity and family.

The Uninspired Orientalism of Katy Perry: On that "giant puddle of 'East Asian-inspired' half-digested vomit," aka Katy Perry's American Music Awards performance, and why this Orientalist crap keeps popping up.

Is the Western Publishing Industry Institutionally Racist?: The publishing industry is dominated by white, middle-class editors. Does this lack of diversity affect an already subjective process?

The AIDS Granny In Exile: In the '90s, a gynecologist named Gao Yaojie exposed the horrifying cause of an AIDS epidemic in rural China -- and the ensuing cover-up -- and became an enemy of the state. Now 85, she lives in New York without her family, without her friends, and without regrets.



Deportation Nation: Yes, Obama Can Pull the Brakes: Under the Obama administration, immigration prosecution and deportations have been at an all-time high -- something that Ju Hong wanted to talk about during the president's speech on immigration last week.

Bakery family hailed by Obama enjoys sweet success: The Ly family, who were given a shoutout in Obama's immigration speech last week, owns the Sugar Bowl, a bakery company in Hayward.

Rainbow Loom Leads to Entrepreneurial Gold for Many: Michigan-based mechanical engineer Cheong-Choon Ng was inspired to make the Rainbow Loom by his daughters, who loved to make friendship bracelets. He's sold 3 million of these rubber band bracelet kits in 3 years.

Can a tech startup change the way people think about medical marijuana?: California businessman and tech startup veteran Seibo Shen says he has invented a new way of consuming marijuana that could change people's attitudes and habits when it comes to weed.

Meet Patrick Soon-Shiong, The LA Billionaire Reinventing Your Health Care: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong has spent a decade imagining -- and is now rapidly assembling -- "a pathway to fight cancer to a standstill" and "make it a survivable feature of the human condition."



60 Iconic Women Who Prove Style Peaked In The '60s: "Can we please bring back minidresses, cat eyeliner, and big hair?! These looks are on. point." Some good Asian representation in this hot list of ladies from the most stylin' decade ever, including Tura Satana, Connie Chan, Saira Banu, Frances Nguyen, and Nancy Kwan.

How Not to Greet a Random Asian Person: A very handy infographic.

The Misunderstood History of the Wacky Japanese Game Show: Zany contests have fallen out of style -- even as the Western image of "crazy" Japanese TV seems to be ramping back up.

Dan the Automator Makes "Doing Whatever He Wants" Sound Good: Dan Nakamura, aka Dan the Automator, is an all-purpose musician who started making unorthodox hip-hop and sci-fi rap masterpieces alongside orchestras.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. 10-year-old boy killed in Miami nail salon robbery

2. Watch Kristina Wong in the most awesome TV interview ever

3. This law firm specializes in personal injury... and really racist commercials.

4. Katy Perry gets her geisha on at the American Music Awards

5. Time to start your Sriracha stockpile

6. Hear the one about the naked racist hotel guest who was caught masturbating with a fire extinguisher hose up his ass?

7. 72-year-old man shoved onto subway tracks in Harlem

8. President Obama delivers remarks on immigration reform in San Francisco's Chinatown

9. Music Video: Tokyo loneliness in Spazzkid's "40 Winks"

10. Casting Call: MYX TV's I'm Asian American and...

Happy Thanksgiving. Stay thankful. And Stay Angry.

Jeremy Lin is out for two weeks with a knee injury

Rockets guard sidelined with grade-1 sprain and constusion in his right knee



Awww nooo. Jeremy Lin is out with an injury just the latest player on the Rockets roster to go down in a health-plagued season for the team: Lin knee sprain latest in season-long run of injuries to Rockets backcourt

Jeremy will sit out at least two weeks with a grade-1 sprain and contusion in his right knee, which he sustained when he collided with forward Paul Millsap in the first quarter of Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Hawks. His knee will be re-evaluated in two weeks to see if he can return to action. Fingers crossed.

Jeremy, who has played in 98 consecutive games -- the longest active streak on the team -- has had an excellent start of the season for Houston, averaging 15.3 points and 4.5 assists in 16 games this season. I think most observers would agree he was really finding his groove, so this is an unfortunate setback.

Wishing Jeremy a speedy recovery!

More here: Rockets’ Jeremy Lin (knee sprain) out at least two weeks.

Angry Reader of the Week: Eliza Noh

All right, check it out! You know what time it is. It's time to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Eliza Noh.

Hey, kids! Aren't the Japanese totally weird and wacky?

I liked it better when it was called Double Dare.



I suppose it was only a matter of time before Disney did a take on the Japanese game show.

Disney XD's Japanizi: Going, Going, Gong! is an adaptation of the ABC reality show I Survived A Japanese Game Show, which was mostly built on the premise that Japanese people/television/culture are sooooo weird! And wacky! So now they've got the kids' version, complete with craaazy costumes, messy challenges, ninjas(?!) and a barking Japanese host. So wacky!

Here's a promo for the show, which gives you the general idea:

Call for Submissions: 3rd Annual Project Catalyst

Project showcase seeks narrative feature films and original television pilots

Attention, filmmakers! Visual Communications, the nation's premier Asian Pacific American media arts organization, is now accepting submissions for the 3rd Annual Project Catalyst, to be held at the Directors Guild of America, May 3-4, during the 2014 Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

Project Catalyst provides a unique opportunity for media creatives of Asian descent to showcase their project to studios, networks, financiers, producers, production companies, agents and managers. They are currently seeking submissions for narrative feature films and original television pilot projects.

Up to ten narrative creatives will be chosen for Project Catalyst. In addition to participating in the panels, a pitch session with the jury and one-on-one industry meetings, selectees will have the opportunity to meet with industry participants from the new media and interactive world looking for distinct and new voices.

The early submission deadline is December 20 (submit early and take advantage of the discounted entry fee). For further information and detailed submission guidelines, go to the LAAPFF website.

Time to start your Sriracha stockpile

Judge rules hot sauce must stop production. Sriracha-pocalypse now.


Noooooo! Hot sauce fans, the unthinkable has happened. A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has ordered the Sriracha plant in Irwindale, California to shut down in response to odor complaints from nearby residents: Sriracha plant must cease operations that cause odors, judge rules

Last month, the city of Irwindale filed a lawsuit against Huy Fong Foods, the sorcerers behind the popular spicy red elixir, after nearby residents complained of burning eyes, irritated throats, headaches and other ailments caused by the odor emanating from the Sriracha production facilities. The request for a temporary restraining order was denied, allowing the factory to grind the chilis needed for next year's sauce supply.

But on Tuesday, Judge Robert H. O'Brien ruled in favor of the city and ordered Huy Fong to cease all operations that could be causing odors, calling the smell "extremely annoying, irritating and offensive to the senses warranting consideration as a public nuisance."

Call for Session Proposals: Boston Korean Adoptees Anniversary Conference

Save the Date: August 14-17, 2014 #BKA14



This call out is waaaay last minute, but I'm catching up on old emails and want to make sure the right folks get the chance to take part in this... Boston Korean Adoptees, Inc. (BKA) is hosting an international conference for Korean adoptees in Boston, August 14-17, in celebration of BKA's 10th anniversary.

They're currently looking for artists, poets, scholars and others to submit workshops, panels and presentation proposals for the conference. But the deadline is this Sunday, December 1, so you'll have to hustle a little.

Here's some more information on what they're looking for: