Your Halloween Costumes, Part One

Our annual gallery of reader-submitted Halloween costumes


Happy Halloween, everybody. I hope your festivities are fun and safe. Once again, I put out the call for folks to send in photos of their costumes, and you didn't let me down. Here's a starter gallery of the submissions I've received thus far. I know there are a lot more awesome costumes out there, so keep them coming! Email your photos to angryasianman@angryasianman.com. I'll add the best ones to the gallery.

Above, we have John and his friends rocking their handmade 8-bit Mario, Luigi and Mystery Box costumes. Here are some more photos from first wave:

Angry Reader of the Week: Emily Wu Truong

"We can't enjoy the highs without the lows, right?"



Hey, everybody! Happy Halloween. Put the candy aside for a second, because 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 Emily Wu Truong.

Man and Dog as Groot and Rocket Raccoon

From the guy who brought you "Asian Jon Snow"



I've received some incredible submissions for the annual Halloween costume roundup. Keep 'em coming! I just wanted to highlight this awesome submission from a reader named Robert -- you might remember from last year as "Asian Jon Snow" -- who takes Halloween pretty darn seriously. Here he is as Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy, plus his trusty dog Dubu as the one and only Rocket Raccoon. Freaking awesome.

More photos:

Atlanta restaurant employee fired for using racial slur

Hostess at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q was overheard chanting "ching chong" before seating Asian American diners.


Would you care for some racial slurs with your meal? In Atlanta, a hostess at a popular barbecue restaurant has been fired for singing "ching chong ching chong" just before seating a group of Asian American diners.

Atlanta's Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q Fires Employee for Using Racial Slurs

During a recent visit to Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, one of the most popular restaurants in Atlanta, writer Steph Cha says she overheard the hostess walking behind her table while chanting "ching chong ching chong" with a sing-song voice, in the manner that one might chant "ding dong dong dong." Cha took to Yelp to air her complaint about the incident.

Angry Asian America Ep. 10: "Disney Announces 1st Pacific Islander Princess?!"

With co-host Jenny Yang and special guests Naomi Ko and Anna Akana



Hey, internet video watchers. We are still doing this YouTube thing. Here's the latest episode of Angry Asian America, our talk show on ISAtv. In episode ten, co-host Jenny Yang and I are joined by special guests Naomi Ko and Anna Akana. Special guest appearance by my facial hair. We talk about San Francisco's worst tour guide, Marvel's new spider-hero and Disney's upcoming Polynesian princess.

Things also get waaaaaay awkward near the end. Check it out:

Fund This: 'Spa Night' - A Korean American Film about coming out

A closeted teenager follows his desires and finds more than he bargains for at the Korean spa.



Here's a cool feature film project that's asking for some crowdfunding support... Writer/director Andrew Ahn's Spa Night is a indie coming-of-age drama about a closeted Korean American teenager who follows his desires and finds more than he bargains for at the Korean spa. The film's Kickstarter campaign is winding down and they're making a final push for help from the community to make it happen.

Here's a video of Andrew explaining a little background on the film:

Show off your cool Halloween costume photos!

Send in your photos to be included in our annual costume gallery.



So... what costume will you be rocking this Halloween? In what has become something of a tradition, over the last few years I've been putting the call out to you, the good readers of this blog, to submit photos of your totally awesome, non-asshole, culturally-appropriate Halloween costumes. It's always a big hit, so we're doing it again. Email your photos to angryasianman@angryasianman.com and we'll put up a gallery of the best ones.

For example, in the photo above, under all that cardboard, we have young man named Ronin kicking some serious Halloween butt with his sweet Constructicon costume, which won the top prize in his first grade costume contest. Awww yeah. More than meets the eye. Here are a few more costumes to get us started...

Man found guilty in shooting deaths of two USC students

This week in Los Angeles, a man was convicted of first-degree murder in the 2012 shooting deaths of two Chinese graduate students during a robbery near the University of Southern California.

Man Convicted in Shooting Deaths of 2 USC Students

22-year-old Javier Bolden was found guilty in the April 2012 shooting of Ming Qu and Ying Wu, engineering students from China, who were "ambushed" and killed while sitting in a parked car near campus.

Bolden was charged with two counts of murder and special circumstance allegations of multiple murders and murder during the commission of a robbery in the deaths. An accomplice, Bryan Barnes, pleaded guilty in February to first-degree murder charges, and was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

During the six-day trial, some of the most damning evidence was recorded phone conversation between Bolden and Barnes, who discussed the time they "ran up on them little Asian people."

18th Annual Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival

November 6-16 in Toronto and Richmond Hill



Torontooooooo! Toronto. Let's go to the movies. The 18th annual edition of the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival runs November 6-16 in Toronto and Richmond Hill. Make some plans, film fans.

The festival kicks off Thursday, November 6 with the Opening Night Gala presentation of Fruit Chan's The Midnight After, and continues with a diverse lineup of 44 films from ten regions including Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan, Canada and the United States.

Here's the festival trailer:

Yes! You can make music out of sushi, plants and McNuggets.

Spazzkid uses the Makey Makey to play "Lovers" on some really random objects.



Whoa. Did you know that you can make music out of sushi? Out of houseplants? Out of cats? Out of a plastic ass? Check out this dope video of our friend Mark Redito, aka Spazzkid, using a device called the Makey Makey to create a rendition of his track "Lovers" from some really random objects:

Grandfather accused of abuse in Seattle murder-suicide

11-year-old victim blogged about alleged abuse just hours before fatal shooting.



This is a horrifying story out of Seattle... In Ranier Beach, a 78-year-old man accused of sexual abuse fatally shot his adult daughter and 11-year-old granddaughter before turning the gun on himself.

Child's blog details abuse from suspected shooter in 'horrific' murder-suicide

39-year-old Christine Dela Isla and her daughter Anahlia Cowherd were shot and killed by Honorario Yango in their home Monday night after he was confronted about allegedly sexually abusing the 11-year-old girl. His 10-year-old grandson managed to run out of the house and call 911.

Anahlia had apparently been reaching out for help and complaining about her grandfather's abuse on her blog for some time. Her final entry was posted just hours before her death.

Separated @ Birth: A True Love Story of Twin Sisters Reunited

New book tells the amazing story of "Twinsters" Anaïs Bordier and Samantha Futerman



Imagine one day opening Facebook and reading a message from a stranger that says, "I think we might be twins... don't freak out..." This is the amazing true story of Anaïs Bordier and Samantha Futerman, identical twin sisters who were born in South Korea, separated at birth, raised on different continents, but re-connected and reunited twenty-five years later through the power of the internet.

It's an incredible, heartfelt story we've been following her for a while, and now the "Twinsters" are telling their tale in a new book, Separated @ Birth: A True Love Story of Twin Sisters Reunited.

Samantha and Anaïs were back on ABC's Good Morning America on Thursday to talk about the new book and their amazing international separated-at-birth story. Check it out:

'Marco Polo' is the Original White-Guy-in-The-Orient Adventure

Netflix's upcoming original series features lots of swords and gongs and sexy Asians on silk sheets.



Netflix's latest venture into original programming is Marco Polo, an epic, big-budget sex-and-violence adventure series based on the exploits of the famed explorer, who traveled down the Silk Road from Italy to China in the 13th century. Uh oh. It's the original white-guy-in-Asia adventure. The first trailer for the series has dropped, and it is indeed an eye-rolling affair:

Is Your Halloween Costume Racist?

A handy flowchart. Though honestly, if you have to ask if it's racist, it probably is.



This graphic is a couple of years old, but it's making the rounds again, and with Halloween upon us again, it's worth revisiting... Are you deciding on a costume to wear for Halloween? Putting the final touches on your spooky ensemble? But wait, maybe you're wondering if your costume is racist. This handy flowchart from College Humor will tell you what's up: Is Your Halloween Costume Racist?

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Sponsored Post by Cathy Phan



October is Breast Cancer Prevention Month and, at the HOPE Clinic in Houston, this month is especially meaningful, because our recent $1.5 million grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) allows us to provide cancer screenings and preventative care to thousands of low-income and medically underserved individuals in the Greater Houston area.

15th San Diego Asian Film Festival

Presented by Pacific Arts Movement, November 6-15



San Diego film fans, this one's for you. Make some plans. Our good friends at Pacific Arts Movement present the 15th San Diego Asian Film Festival, November 6-15. They're getting everybody together for ten days of 140 films from 21 different countries. From big international features to independent Asian American debuts, as well as the world premiere of the hot ABC sitcom Fresh Off the Boat, they've got a little bit something for everyone.

If you've never been to the San Diego Asian Film Festival, I can attest that they know how to throw one heck of a party. The festivities kick off with the Opening Night screening of the Martin Scorsese-produced crime drama Revenge of the Green Dragons on Thursday, November 6 at the Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15.

Here's this year's SDAFF trailer:

Far East Movement returns to their roots with 'K-Town Riot' EP

Globetrotting electro-rap group's new mini-album is dedicated to their Koreatown community.



It's been a minute, but Far East Movement is back. The Los Angeles electro-rap group has dropped its latest record K-Town Riot EP. And it kicks some ass. Definitely a harder sound than they're typically known for. Kev Nish, Prohgress, J-Splif and DJ Virman have dedicated this six-track mini-album to the city and community that made them who they are. According to FM, "We're proud to see how the community has grown and inspires us to grow as artists and people."

New York Times video series highlights funny artists of color

'Off-Color' features Hari Kondabolu, Kristina Wong, Issa Rae and Lalo Alcaraz.



The New York Times has launched a really cool four-part video series called Off-Color which highlights artists of color who use humor to make smart social statements about the sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious ways that race plays out in America today. The series features Hari Kondabolu, Kristina Wong, Issa Rae and Lalo Alcaraz. (I had the honor of being interviewed for Kristina's video.)

Check them out:

10th Annual Asian American Women in Leadership Conference

Presented by ASPIRE, November 1 at Simmons College



ASPIRE (Asian Sisters Participating in Reaching Excellence) is holding its 10th annual Asian American Women in Leadership Conference on November 1 in Boston. This year's theme is "Making It Count," a reflection on the ability to create change in workplace, school, and community. This year's keynote speaker will be Kelly Zen Yie-Tsai, who will be delivering her speech in spoken word form. Here's more information:

This is not a good way to respond to a negative Yelp review.

Bac Nguyen, owner of Ninja City Kitchen and Bar, tracked down and sent threatening messages to a customer.



Asians behaving badly... awful restaurant owner edition! From time to time, whether it's fair or not, even the best restaurants get hit with negative Yelp reviews. As a restaurant owner, what you probably shouldn't do is track down the reviewer, insult him and his friends, and threaten him with violence. But that's exactly what one Cleveland restaurateur did, and now he's being slammed with calls to boycott his restaurant.

Restaurant Owner Hunts Down Negative Yelp Reviewer

Last month in Cleveland, Ruchu Tan and a group of friends went out to dinner at Ninja City Kitchen and Bar, an Asian-fusion eatery located in University Circle. His meal was less than satisfactory, which he expressed in a critical one-star review posted to Yelp. All right then. But this did not sit well with owner Bac Nguyen.

Nguyen, who apparently did not know Tan, tracked him down on Facebook and sent him a multitude of intimidating messages, including threats of violence, personal attacks, allegations of promiscuity, and racist and sexist slurs against his friends and girlfriend. Tan posted the exchange:

Are you Asian American? Drink alcohol? Science needs you.

UCLA Addictions Lab seeks Asian American participants for a research study on alcohol use.


Remember that alcohol research study I posted a few months back? They were looking for Asians Americans who drink alcohol to participate in a study -- all in the name of scientific research! I'm told it was a big hit and they got a huge response. So good for you, Asians, for getting your alcohol on. Oh, they're recruiting again.

The Addictions Research Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at UCLA is looking for Asian Americans who drink alcohol to take part in a study investigating a medication for alcohol use. You'll be compensated up to $446 for your participation, which will involve, among other things, providing a DNA sample, completing questionnaires... and consumption of alcohol. Sort of.

Read on for details:

Read These Blogs

SF tour guide: Racist rant was 'satirical comedic portion': The San Francisco tour guide behind the racist tour bus rant that got caught on video now claims that her off-color tirade was "a joke that went terribly wrong."

Dialogue, Identity and 'How Do You Pronounce That?' "My name is not a stumbling block, but an opportunity for dialogue and a chance to affirm my identity. It is a small but vital step as I continue to grapple with the question of what it means to be a South Asian American today."

Rinku Sen and Jeff Chang Discuss His Latest, 'Who We Be': Jeff Chang's Who We Be: The Colorization of America is a history of racialized culture clashes of the last 50 years. Jeff sits down with Colorlines' Rinku Sen to talk about the book, why he's obsessed with culture, and how he writes.

"It Wasn't Written for Me": A Conversation About Asian Americans and the Media: Writers Sarah Jeong and Nicole Callahan share an e-mail conversation on the challenges of writing about Asian Americans.

Mark Zuckerberg: the Next Great Chinese Rapper? : "Mark Zuckerberg's ability to communicate with a foreign people in their own language should not be seen as a remarkable feat deserving of praise, but should instead become as a basic expectation for American citizens in order to build the strongest possible American future: that all Americans should strive for the aptitude and the openness to engage other nations on their own terms, the way that other nations have so unquestioningly and for so many years engaged America on her terms."



For a Nisei sisterhood, it's yesterday once more: In 1949, seven young Japanese American girls found refuge from exclusion and racism, forming a social club called the Atomettes. 65 years later, they're still friends.

This backcountry cook you've never heard of is a legend at Yosemite National Park: When Yenyen Chan took a job as a park ranger at Yosemite, she knew little about the park's immigrant past. So, she went digging and learned about the critical role Chinese workers played in shaping the national park.

Japanese-Americans recall baseball glory during internment camp years: The Nisei Baseball Research Project, which uses baseball to help bring awareness and educate the public about the Japanese American internment camps, recently commemorated a 70-year-old baseball series they played during one of the saddest chapters of America's history.

Le Minh Thai, Vietnam war photographer, dies in US: Le Minh Thai, a photojournalist who covered the Vietnam War for The Associated Press and Time Life, died on October 10. He was 93.



Before We Embrace Gwen Stefani's Comeback, She Owes Us An Apology: Gwen Stefani's making a comeback, but some of us haven't forgotten how she paraded racist stereotypes for her first solo album.

The Bamboo Ceiling in the Tech Sector Is a Story About Race: Recent reports indicate a lack of racial and gender diversity at major tech companies, rekindling a discussion about the 'bamboo ceiling.'

A Domestic Violence Lawyer With a Big Idea: Meet Tia Katrina Taruc Canlas, a novice domestic violence lawyer with a plan: to bring civil suits against domestic abusers, not just criminal ones.

Get-out-the-vote, LA style: Phone bank operators work in 17 Asian languages: A look into Asian Americans Advancing Justice's phone banking campaign, made possibly by volunteers who speak at least one of the myriad languages spoken in Los Angeles.



24 Hours With A Comic Con Character: Dressing up in crazy costumes, traveling the world, posing for photos -- and getting paid to do it. Welcome to the life of a professional cosplay character, what 31-year-old Linda Le, popularly known as "Vampy," does for a living.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON Trailer Investigation - Who's THAT Girl? Sharp-eyed fans caught a glimpse of Korean actress Kim Soo-hyun in the new trailer for Avengers: Age of Ultron. Who is she playing?

Two Teenage Girls Have Invented the Most Powerful Video Game of the Year: 17-year-old Sophie Houser and 16-year-old Andy Gonzales created a video game called Tampon Run, in which a character throws tampons at people... but also teaches girls to be comfortable with their bodies.

Hope and Connection in Unexpected Places: Michael Cho Talks 'Shoplifter': Michael Cho's first graphic novel Shoplifter explores consumer culture, isolated life in the big city, and young adult growing pains.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. The Most Racist Tour Guide in San Francisco

2. Jeremy Lin goes undercover as Adidas store employee

3. City sells woman's condo over $94.85 overdue tax bill

4. Scarlett Johansson offered lead in 'Ghost in the Shell'

5. Missing: Microsoft employee Krishna Venkatesh

6. Giveaway: Jeff Chang's 'Who We Be: The Colorization of America'

7. Angry Reader of the Week: Jeff Chang

8. SAG-AFTRA leader Sumi Haru dies at 75

9. Ferguson, Asian America, & Performative Solidarity: Showing Up, Staying Shown

10. 10th Anniversary Screening of 'Saving Face'

Shout out to the Asian Students Alliance at University of Pittsburgh. Stay Angry.

10th Anniversary Screening of 'Saving Face'

With cast/crew in attendance, November 12 at the Tateuchi Democracy Forum



Los Angeles film fans, mark your calendars. I'm super excited about this. I am please to partner with Visual Communications and the Japanese American National Museum to present a very special 10th anniversary screening of the 2004 romantic comedy/drama Saving Face, starring Michelle Krusiec, Lynn Chen and Joan Chen. If you've never seen it before, or want to revisit this charming little gem with fellow fans and members of the cast and crew, come on out. It's happening Wednesday, November 12 at JANM.

Here are some more details about the screening:

The Nurse Who Beat Ebola

Nina Pham officially declared virus-free, gets a hug from President Obama



Nina Pham is going to be okay. Two weeks after she tested positive for Ebola, the Dallas nurse was declared virus-free and discharged from the Maryland hospital were she had been receiving care for the past week.

Nina Pham, Nurse Infected With Ebola, Is Now Virus-Free

26-year-old Pham, the first person known to contract Ebola within the United States, was infected while caring for patient Thomas Eric Duncan, who later died of the virus at Pham's hospital, Texas Health Presbyterian.

The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, where Pham was placed in a special isolation care ward for infectious disease cases, announced Friday that she no longer tested positive for Ebola and was being discharged from the hospital with a clean bill of health.

Angry Reader of the Week: Jeff Chang

"I just want to leave the world a little freer and more beautiful than it was when I got here."



Hello, my friends. 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 Jeff Chang, author of Who We Be: The Colorization of America.

Ferguson, Asian America, & Performative Solidarity: Showing Up, Staying Shown

By PaKou Her. Cross-posted from 18 Million Rising



Just over a week ago, I slid into my car and drove away from #FergusonOctober. Buckled in and gearing up for the 4-hour drive back to Kansas City, all I wanted to do was sing. I sing a lot -- the most when I'm alone -- and singing is often an escape route for my silenced stories and tucked-away emotions.

With my heart full of all I had seen and heard during #FergusonOctober, I immediately called upon the musical companion I most wanted with me on the westward journey home: Richie Havens. Havens' deep, raspy baritone tumbled through the speakers and bounced off the windows like a monarch desperately beating its wings against a wide open world it can see but cannot touch.

JACCC presents the First-Ever All-You-Can-Eat CrabFest

Saturday, October 25 at Nishi Hongwanji LA in Little Tokyo



Los Angeles, get hungry, because it is time to get your crab on. The Japanese American Cultural and Community Center, in collaboration with Starry Kitchen, Angel City Brewery and Sun Noodles, invites you to help them eat 2000 pounds worth of snow crabs legs (Singaporean Chili Crab style!) at their first ever all-you-can-eat CrabFest. Whaaaaaat. It's happening this Saturday, October 25 at Nishi Hongwanji LA.

Here are some more details about the evening:

Happy Diwali from President Obama

"...remember, even in the midst of darkness, that light will ultimately prevail."



Today, President Obama wished a Happy Diwali to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and all those who celebrate the festival of lights here and across the world. Here's his video message:

The Most Racist Tour Guide in San Francisco

Disgruntled guide tells tourists "F*ck Chinatown" on her apparent last day on the job.



Got this video passed along to me and... wow. Just.. wow.

Here's one seriously disgruntled San Francisco tour guide losing her shit and going off on a nasty, racist rant about everything she hates about Chinatown. She apparently decided to commemorate her last day on the job by going for a ride, cracking open a beer, getting on the mic and letting everyone know how she felt.

The video, shot by a German tourist on one of those double decker bus things, features the unidentified tour guide going off on a F-bomb-laden litany of her least favorite things about Chinatown. "Fuck your horse tail. Fuck your ginseng. Fuck your little hair salons where nobody in there knows how to fucking speak English. Fuck this bullshit. Fuck your Chinatown gates..." and so on, and so forth.

Jeremy Lin goes undercover as Adidas store employee

Taipei customers can't believe it's Jeremy under that righteous wig.



We all know that Jeremy Lin is a bit of a prankster. From dunking on his mom to pretending to be a wax statue, your favorite Asian American point guard has demonstrated a certain gleeful knack for getting his prank on with fans and family members alike. And it's always fun to see him poking fun at his own celebrity status.

In his latest video, Jeremy pulls some prank shenanigans in Taiwan, sporting a righteous wig and posing as an employee at a Taipei Adidas store (he is a spokesman, after all). Watch as he interacts with several unsuspecting customers who appear to have no idea that a NBA star is trying to sell them athletic wear.

It's all in Mandarin, but if you click on the closed captioning button (CC) you'll get the English subtitles:

Missing: Microsoft employee Krishna Venkatesh

Last seen October 15 in Seattle; car found at Deception Pass



In Seattle, authorities are asking for the public's help in searching for a 27-year-old Microsoft employee, missing since last week, whose car was found abandoned at a state park 80 miles north of Seattle.

Search under way for missing Microsoft program manager

Krishna Venkatesh, a program manager, was last seen at the Microsoft campus in Redmond last Wednesday, October 15. According to the Seattle Police Department, he is believed to have driven to Deception Pass, where his car was found at the south bridge parking lot on Monday afternoon.

Microsoft sent someone to Venkatesh's residence on Friday after he didn't show up to work for two days. His friends, who filed a missing persons report on Monday, say the circumstances around his disappearance are "uncharacteristic."

2K14 SEOULSONIC at CMJ Music Marathon

Featuring From The Airport, Rock N Roll Radio, Glen Check and Love X Stereo, October 22-24



Anyone in New York wanna hear some supergood Korean music? SEOULSONIC is coming your way with a series of exclusive music showcases featuring some of favorite bands. Straight outta South Korea, you can see From The Airport, Rock N Roll Radio and Glen Check on Wednesday, October 22 and Love X Stereo on Friday, October 24 as part of the 2014 CMJ Music Marathon.

Here's a little sampler of selected Seoulsonic sounds:

Giveaway: Jeff Chang's 'Who We Be: The Colorization of America'

From the award-winning author of 'Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation'



If there's one book you pick up this week, it has to be Who We Be: The Colorization of America by scholar/author Jeff Chang, now available on shelves from St. Martin's Press. The book, a follow-up to his award-winning classic Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation, examines the seismic racial and cultural transformation of the United States over the last fifty years.

"How do Americans see race now? ...After eras framed by words like 'multicultural' and 'post-racial,' do we see each other any more clearly?" Who We Be covers a lot of ground, offering a wide-ranging history of racialized culture debates and movements over the last half-century. The book is thoughtful, provocative and even playful, remixing comic strips, contemporary art and other media to paint a unique, timely portrait of today's America. Considering everything that's going down in our communities right now, as we speak, Who We Be is required reading.

On top of all that, it's just a cool-looking book. I anticipate that Who We Be will end up assigned on the syllabus of a lot of cultural studies courses. But instead of trading it back to the campus bookstore (what a racket!) at the end of the semester, you'll end up keeping it for your collection. It's that kind of book.

Anybody want to read it? I'm giving away a couple of copies of Jeff Chang's Who We Be to some lucky readers. Scroll down to the bottom for details. First, here's some more official information on the book:

City sells woman's condo over $94.85 overdue tax bill

Xiu Liu was never informed of the outstanding balance due to a clerical error.



What kind of bureaucratic nonsense is this? In Georgia, a woman is facing eviction after her home was foreclosed on and sold at auction -- unbeknownst to her -- all because of an unpaid tax bill of $94.85.

Woman's condo sold over $95 overdue tax bill

Last week in Norcross, Xiu Liu received a notice informing her that her condo, where she lives with her 4-year-old daughter, had been sold at auction and she would need to move out of the property by November 25. This was news to Ms. Liu, who paid for the two-bedroom condo with cash in 2011.

According to city and county records, Liu has paid taxes on the property every year except the year she moved in. So what gives? Turns out, letters about the outstanding balance never reached her because of clerical errors -- and incomplete address. So how was she supposed to pay the 95 bucks if the bill never got to her?

2014 Boston Asian American Film Festival

Presented by the Asian American Resource Workshop, October 23-26



Boston film fans, this one's for you. The 2014 Boston Asian American Film Festival, presented by the Asian American Resource Workshop, is happening this week, October 23-26, at Emerson College's Paramount Center and other venues around the city. The BAAFF empowers Asian Americans through film by showcasing Asian American experiences and serves as a resource for filmmakers and the Greater Boston Community.

BAAFF opens this Thursday, October 23 with Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo's gritty crime drama Revenge of the Green Dragons, kicking off a stacked lineup of 26 films. Here are some other festival highlights:

Scarlett Johansson offered lead in 'Ghost in the Shell'

Anime classic's Japanese cyborg super-cop gets the Hollywood whitewash.



It appears that this live-action remake of Ghost in the Shell keeps chugging along, with none other than Scarlett Johansson now reportedly first in line to star as cyborg cop Major Motoko Kusanagi.

Scarlett Johansson Offered Ghost in the Shell!

It was previously reported that Margot Robbie was in talks to star in DreamWorks' adaptation of the manga/anime classic, but she's now apparently out of the running. According to Deadline, the role has been offered to Scarlett Johansson, who was last seen killing a lot of Asian dudes -- with her mind! -- in Lucy.

SAG-AFTRA leader Sumi Haru dies at 75

Former Screen Actors Guild president fought for better roles for Asian Americans.



Some sad news out of Hollywood... Sumi Sevilla Haru, longtime leader of the Screen Actors Guild who paved the way for Asian Americans actors to get better TV and film roles, died last week in Los Angeles. She was 75.

Sumi Sevilla Haru, Former Interim Screen Actors Guild President, Dead at 75

Haru served as the interim Screen Actors Guild president in 1995, and was the first and only woman of color to hold the position. She joined SAG in 1968 and AFTRA in 1972 and served as a national board member for both organizations, often working to address the lack of opportunities and roles for Asians Americans.

In her own acting career, she refused to audition for stereotypical roles, like the maid or the dragon lady, and spoke out against the discrimination Asian actors and the racist practice of yellowface in Hollywood.

Read These Blogs

#FergusonOctober: Communities of Color for Justice Together: 18 Million Rising, in collaboration with Presente.org, recently launched a digital collection of stories about the struggle for justice in Ferguson. Tell them why Ferguson and cross-racial solidarity matters to you.

Dispatch from Ferguson: Convenience Store Owners Talk Race: Deepa Iyer traveled to Ferguson to join a group of South Asians, Muslims, and Asian Americans for the National Weekend of Resistance. There and in St. Louis, she spoke to a few convenience store owners to talk about race.

The Racial Justice Movement Needs a Model Minority Mutiny: "It is time for Asian Americans to unleash model minority mutiny, link arms with the struggle for black liberation, and together, finally turn the world right side up." Soya Jung says it's time to kill the programming.

How both Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart got it really wrong on Asian Americans: Reappropriate's Jenn Fang on how both Bill O'Reilly and Jon Stewart got it wrong when they had a debate about white privilege.

How a SWAT Team Upended My Baby's Life - and Got Away with It: When a Georgia SWAT team threw a flash bang grenade into a child's crib during a drug raid gone wrong, Alecia Phonesavanh's two-year-old son was seriously injured, but her nightmare didn't end there.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. Meet Marvel Comics' new Asian American Spider-Superhero

2. Because we needed an "Ultra Rich Asian Girls" reality show

3. Yet another 'SNL' sketch about Asians... with no actual Asians

4. First known U.S. Ebola patient identified as Dallas nurse

5. 12-year-old chess master wins world title

6. Hari Kondabolu's Great Redskins Compromise

7. Suspects arrested in beating and robbery of elderly couple

8. Travis Ishikawa's home run sends Giants to the World Series

9. Watch Roy Choi's 'Street Food' online now

10. Dr. Vivek Murthy is the Surgeon General we need right now

Stay Angry, folks. Have a great weekend. Go Giants.

Family Reunion: A Storytelling Show

Presented by Disoriented Comedy, Thursday, October 23 at Echoes Under Sunset



Good people of Los Angeles, grab some friends and make some plans to be part of the third edition of Disoriented Comedy's Family Reunion, a monthly storytelling show co-presented by Angry Asian Man, Tuesday Night Project, Kaya Press and Mishthi Music. No notes. Everyday folks. Talkin' story.

This month's lineup includes Keiko Agena, Dante Basco, Lana McKissack, Rhianne Paz, Teresa T. Lee, Tess Paras, Scott Okamoto and Erik Patterson. The theme of October's show is "NO REGRETS" (stories of faith, risk and courage). It's happening Thursday, October 23 at Echoes Under Sunset.

Here are some more details about the evening:

Adam WarRock's 24 Hour Rap-A-Thon, October 18

Proceeds will benefit RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.



Heads up. Our friend Eugene Ahn, who makes nerdy hip hop as Adam WarRock, will be doing a 24-Hour Rap-A-Thon this Saturday, October 18 to benefit RAINN.org, which fights sexual violence and assault. For one straight day, he'll be writing, recording and posting as many songs as he can -- all for a good cause.

Last time Adam WarRock did this, he made 16 songs in 24 hours. With the help of people's generous pledges and donations, he raised enough money to replace some stolen equipment and donated the rest to charity.

The last fundraiser was so successful, he's doing it again. This time, Adam WarRock is going to be raising money directly for RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence charity. You can support him by pledging a per-song or lump sum donation to the Rap-A-Thon.

Eugene explains how it works:

Angry Reader of the Week: Cayden Mak

"I'm a giant overeducated dork with a philosophy degree, so I'm really here to understand the world, and deeply."


Not Cayden's cat. His neighbor's cat.
What's up, everybody? Once again, 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 Cayden Mak.

Travis Ishikawa's home run sends Giants to the World Series

Bottom-of-the-9th blast gives San Francisco a 6-3 win over St. Louis in the NLCS



First things first: I am a lifelong San Francisco Giants fan. So excuse me if this is a little gushy.

The Giants are going to the World Series, thanks to a massive, already-legendary bottom-of-the-9th walk-off home run by Travis Ishikawa last night, giving San Francisco a 6-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. The Giants win the pennant! The Giants win the pennant!

Kawakami: Put Travis Ishikawa among San Francisco Giants' legendary heroes

Instant hero. Pretty awesome for a guy who, earlier this season, was considering quitting the game.

Ishikawa, 31, started his career with Giants back in 2002, was released, bounced around, started this season with the Pirates, got sent to the minors, but eventually made his way back on to San Francisco's roster. The journeyman first baseman found himself playing left field in the postseason, providing the Giants with some key at-bats and defensive plays. And then, tonight, that homer.

That blessed homer:

Music Video: "Monsters Calling Home" by Run River North

If the band had an anthem, this would be it.



Here's the brand new music video for Run River North's "Monsters Calling Home." If the band had an anthem, this would probably be it. In fact, this is the song they performed the first time I ever heard them -- back in 2011 at Kollaboration, when they were calling themselves "Monsters Calling Home" -- and they instantly became my new favorite band. Great performance. Great song.

Check it out:

Hari Kondabolu's Great Redskins Compromise

"The Redskins' tradition is only 81 years old. That's like one grandparent. One racist grandparent."



As a general rule, whenever Hari Kondabolu turns to the camera and says, "Hello, I'm comedian Hari Kondabolu..." you should definitely sit up and listen, because he's about to drop some knowledge. In this awesome Upworthy video, Hari discusses the unfortunate name of the Washington Football Team, and offers his solution for a compromise. Literal red skin. Take a look:

Dr. Vivek Murthy is the Surgeon General we need right now

Sign the petition to tell the Senate to stand up to the NRA and confirm Dr. Murthy.



As you might recall, President Obama nominated Dr. Vivek Murthy, a highly qualified and experienced medical professional, to the post of U.S. Surgeon General nearly a year ago. While his credentials make him a no-brainer for the job, Dr. Murthy's confirmation have been stalled by the usual partisan politics.

A Surgeon General nominee 'tied up in politics'

Dr. Murthy, a guy who probably knows many more things about health and medicine and stuff than you, has some thoughts about gun violence in this country: it is bad, and it is indeed a health care issue. This opinion put him in the sights (no pun intended) of Republicans and the NRA, who decided to block his nomination.

So now, in the midst of some serious public anxiety over the Ebola virus, America finds itself without a Surgeon General, whose job is to effectively and authoritatively communicate what the public needs to know in situations like this. Raise your hand if you would appreciate the leadership of someone like Dr. Murthy right now.

This online petition implores the Senate to stand up to the NRA and confirm Dr. Murthy as surgeon general now. As I write this, the petition has more than 70,000 signatures.