5.30.2014

Toddler severely injured by grenade during police raid

19-month-old Bounkham Phonesavanh was sleeping when police tossed a "flash bang" into his crib



This is a horrifying story out of Georgia, where a toddler is in a medically-induced coma after being severely burned by a police "flash bang" grenade that was thrown in his crib during a late night drug raid.

Baby in Coma After Police 'Grenade' Dropped in Crib During Drug Raid

19-month-old Bounkham Phonesavanh and his family were sleeping at their relatives' house, visiting from Wisconsin, when a police team burst into the home early Wednesday morning. They were acting on an informant's tip that he had purchased methamphetamine at the house earlier in the day.

An officer tossed a flash bang -- used as a distraction device -- that landed in the child's playpen and detonated in his face. Bounkham, or "BouBou," suffered massive burns on his face and chest.

Authorities did not make any arrests, nor did they find anything at the house during the raid.

Angry Reader of the Week: Jen Kwok



Hey there. Please gather 'round, because it's time again 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 Jen Kwok.

Veterans Affairs secretary Eric Shinseki resigns amid scandal

Apologizes for agency's "systemic, totally unacceptable lack of integrity."



Amid mounting criticism and calls for his ousting, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki has resigned, apologizing to veterans and lawmakers for the agency's mismanagement of the nation's veterans hospitals.

Shinseki resigns amid VA scandal over veterans' health care

Calls for Shinseki's resignation had intensified in the wake of an independent review by the inspector general outlining widespread misconduct by VA officials throughout the medical system. With rapidly dwindling support from across the political spectrum, including the White House, Shinseki's resignation seemed inevitable.

In a speech Friday morning to a veterans group, Shinseki apologized and accepted responsibility for his agency's "systemic, totally unacceptable lack of integrity." He then met with President Obama, who said he accepted the retired Army general's resignation "with regret."

Scripps National Spelling Bee declares two champions

The competition ran out of words. Because Sriram and Ansun spelled them all.



We have a winner! Two winners, actually. Congratulations to Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe, co-champions of the 2014 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Both young men were declared winners after -- no joke -- the competition officially ran out of words. That's right. Sriram and Ansun spelled all the words.

How do you spell T-I-E? National Spelling Bee has two winners

The annual spelling showdown ended in a rare tie -- the first in more than 50 years -- after the two finalists correctly spelled and exhausted all the words on competition's list. The spelling bee rules dictate that once three contestants are left, the pronouncer begins using a championship (read: crazy difficult) list of 25 words. If those words run out before a winner emerges, a tie is declared.

The Great Hot Sauce War is Over

Irwindale votes to drop lawsuit and public nuisance declaration against Sriracha makers



The spicy fight between the city of Irwindale and the makers of Sriracha appears to have come to a cool conclusion this week, as the city council voted to drop its public nuisance declaration against Huy Fong Foods.

Sriracha war cools: Irwindale says factory no longer a nuisance

On Wednesday, the city council unanimously voted to dismiss its lawsuit and public nuisance declaration against the popular hot sauce maker, effectively ending the spicy dispute, which had fans worrying over a possible Sriracha shortage and out-of-state suitors lining up to woo Huy Fong to more spice-friendly locales.

5.29.2014

Final season of 'Our America with Lisa Ling' premieres tonight

Airs Thursdays at 10/9c on Oprah Winfrey Network



Make plans to tune in or set your DVRs.... the final season of Our America with Lisa Ling premieres to tonight. It has been consistently one of the most informative, powerful and often infuriating documentary shows on television, as Lisa leads us through some of those fascinating corners and communities of our nation.

In this video, Lisa shares her thoughts and feelings on approaching the end of the series that bares her heart and soul, along with a preview of some of the stories from the upcoming season:

Fund This: Bad Rap

Indie documentary explores the stories and struggles of Asian American rappers



Wait... there are Asian American rappers? YES. And somebody is making a documentary about them. Bad Rap is an independent feature documentary about the obstacles and successes of Asian American rappers, their history, and four friends coming up in the game.

Directed and produced by Salima Koroma, the film follows a few emcees you might have heard of: Dumbfoundead, Awkwafina, Rekstizzy and Lyricks, and includes interviews with several accomplished Asian American rap artists. The project is currently in the throes of a crowdfunding campaign to finish the feature.

Here's the trailer:

An action figure for the ultimate Jeremy Lin fan

New images of Enterbay's 1/6-scale Jeremy Lin Real Masterpiece NBA figure



This is either really cool or really kind of frightening... Hong Kong-based Enterbay, which makes premium-quality, super-detailed, lifelike action figures -- including some really awesome Bruce Lee figures -- has unveiled a forthcoming Jeremy Lin figure as part of its Real Masterpiece 1/6-scale NBA collection.

The Jeremy Lin figure is expected to come with a magnetic basketball, a cloth outfit, alternate hands, alternate heads and more. I'm guessing it'll set you back around $300. Not sure when it'll be available -- Enterbay hasn't even listed the figure on its official site yet -- but a few retailers are already taking pre-orders.

This figure has been rumored for a while, but images only recently hit the internet. Check it out:

Man arrested for scamming librarians with counterfeit cash

Daniel Shi, not quite a criminal mastermind.



Asians behaving badly... counterfeit cash edition! You can call it a case of librarian justice. In Marin County, California, a man suspected of trying to scam librarians with counterfeit bills was arrested last week.

Intelligence-sharing by Marin librarians leads to counterfeiting arrest in Fairfax

26-year-old Daniel Han Shi was charged with counts of burglary, forgery and counterfeiting after allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at the Fairfax Library. His bonehead little scam involved asking librarians around the county to break a twenty into smaller bills for the copy machine.

It didn't take too long for folks to catch wind of his scheme. Not only was Daniel a crappy counterfeiter, by the time he got around to the Fairfax branch, librarians around the county had gotten the heads up via email to watch out for this guy and his fake cash scam.

5.28.2014

See Mindy Kaling's hilarious Harvard commencement speech

"Most of you will go on to the noblest pursuits, like helping a cable company acquire a telecom company."



On Wednesday at Harvard Law School's commencement ceremony, graduates were given an inspirational address from one of our nation's top legal minds: Mindy Kaling. Okay, so not quite a lawyer. She doesn't even play one on television! But Kaling, writer/producer/star of The Mindy Project, took to the podium anyway. While she was short on wise words ("Celebrities give too much advice...") she made it up with humor and charm.

Mindy Kaling Plugs AMC Antiheroes, Candy Crush and Her Book in Hilarious Harvard Law Speech

As she started her address, Kaling was faced with the disappointing truth she would not be receiving an honorary legal degree ("So apparently, there's a little miscommunication...") but she powered through. Her remarks included shout outs to everyone from Harvard Law alumni Barack Obama and Elle Woods to her own Indian immigrants parents and fellow speaker -- and fellow Desi -- U.S. attorney Preet Bharara.

Check out the video (her speech begins at the three-minute mark):

The Best of Jeremy Lin

Highlights from J-Lin's second season with the Houston Rockets



As the NBA season winds down, it's a good time to look back, crunch the numbers and see how our favorite player did... Rockets.com has posted a short year-in-review video revisiting Jeremy Lin's best moments from the 2013-14 season, along with a summary of his game play and an assessment of his next steps.

Watch the video, which does not appear to be embeddable, here. As for J-Lin's best moments, it's a toss-up between the night he dropped a season high 34 points and 11 assists, against the Philadelphia 76ers in November, and Jeremy's first career triple-double, against the Cleveland Cavaliers in February.

18 Mighty Mountain Warriors presents Bruce Lee: The Musical!

A stop-motion action figure extravaganza based on every Bruce Lee movie



Bruce fans might get a kick out of this. The funny folks behind 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors present their latest silly stop-motion video... Bruce Lee: The Musical! Not to be confused with the recent off-broadway joint by David Henry Hwang. (Though I highly doubt anyone is going to be confused.) A Bruce-tastic animated action figure extravaganza based on every Bruce Lee movie. Wait, what? Watch:

American Girl discontinuing its only Asian American doll

Popular doll brand retires two historical characters of color



The wildly popular American Girl doll brand has announced that it is discontinuing several of its historical characters, prompting swift backlash about the line's lack of racially diverse dolls. The discontinued dolls include Cécile, an African American doll, and Ivy, the line's only Asian American character.

American Girl Discontinues Two Dolls of Color

Ivy and Cécile are two of only four American Girl dolls of color, from amongst the line's eleven "historical character" dolls. Ivy was originally introduced as a sidekick to Julie, a blond-haired doll from the 1970s. Yes, an Asian sidekick, but as many fans have pointed out, it was better than Asian nobody. Now, it's Asian nobody.

5.27.2014

Could you be the match that saves Baylor's life?

7-year-old multiracial leukemia patient needs a bone marrow match



Passing along this news of a kid that could use your help... Two years ago, 7-year-old Baylor battled leukemia and beat it. Unfortunately, his family recently found out that he relapsed, and he needs your help.

Baylor is undergoing treatment but will need bone marrow transplant to survive. Since he is multiracial -- Asian and Caucasian -- his marrow match will likely come from a donor who is also multiracial.

There are bone marrow donor registration drives happening this week in the Bay Area -- it only takes ten minutes! Refer to the flyer above. You can also request a home kit, which is crazy easy to do.

Could you be the donor who saves Baylor's life? Even if you're not his match, you could be the lifeline someone else needs. For further updates, visit the A Match for Bay Facebook page. For more information about registering to be a marrow donor, visit the website of the Asian American Donor Program.

Man missing after jumping in river to save nephew

21-year-old Tou Hu Vang was swept away by rough currents in the St. Croix River



In Minnesota, rescue teams are searching for a missing man who was swept away on Sunday evening when he jumped into the fast-moving St. Croix River to save his 11-year-old nephew. Fortunately, the boy was saved by good samaritan who also jumped in the water, but his uncle did not resurface.

Search for man missing in St. Croix resumes Tuesday

Calvin Vang was fishing at a scenic boat landing near Taylors Falls when he tripped on a rock and fell into the raging water. His uncle, 21-year-old Tou Hu Vang, jumped in the water in an attempt to rescue him, but was swept away by the rough current. Another man, described in news reports as a "good samaritan," leapt into the river and was able to pull Calvin to safety:

5.26.2014

East West Players presents 'Beijing Spring'

A musical commemorating the events of the Tiananmen Square Uprising



East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre company, presents Beijing Spring, a musical commemorating the events of the Tiananmen Square Uprising 25 years ago. Running now through June 15, you can catch a performance at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center of the Arts in Los Angeles. Here's more info:

Tabasco maker introduces its own Sriracha

Latest imitator getting in on the hot sauce hustle



We all know that there is one true Sriracha. Huy Fong Foods has had a lock on the game for years, making that legit spicy, sweet goodness we know and love. That hasn't stopped imitators from trying to get in on the hot sauce hustle. Trader Joe's introduced its own version last year, to mixed reviews. Now the company behind the ubiquitous Tabasco brand has unveiled its own take on Sriracha Thai chili sauce.

Tabasco Company Introduces Its Own Sriracha

The Louisiana-based McIlhenny Co., makers of Tabasco sauce, recently introduced its own version of Sriracha last week, quietly making 15-ounce bottles of TABASCO® Premium Sriracha Sauce available for sale from the company's official online store. The sauce is described as "a masterful blend of spicy, sweet and savory flavors, that is authentic to South East Asian cuisine."

Trying to make sense of the Isla Vista killings

Here's all I can come up with, for now: fuck this guy.



By now, you've heard about Elliot Rodger, the man who killed six people and wounded thirteen others in a deadly shooting rampage near UC Santa Barbara on Friday night. Hours before the killing began, the 22-year-old Santa Barbara City College student posted a YouTube video in which he expressed rage over his perceived rejection by women and vowed to exact "retribution."

Video Rant, Then Deadly Rampage in California Town

Rodger also outlined his intentions to kill as many people as possible in a rambling, hateful 140-page manifesto, with graphic, detailed descriptions of how he would "punish" his enemies, starting with his two Asian roommates to the members of Alpha Phi, which he called "the hottest sorority of UCSB."

5.25.2014

Read These Blogs



The Most Powerful #YesAllWomen Tweets: The suspect in Friday's killings in Santa Barbara wrote a manifesto promising revenge on all the women who had rejected him. But Twitter users responded with their own thoughts on and experiences of misogyny, centered around the hashtag #YesAllWomen.

Elliot Rodger's manifesto shows self-hate fueled anti-Asian violence that kicked off Isla Vista rampage: Emil Guillermo pokes at the disturbing race dimension in the killer's misogyny-fueled "manifesto."

Adam Carolla, Has-Been Comedian, Says Asians (And "Chicks") Aren't Funny: If anyone out there gives a crap about Adam Corolla's opinion, he claims, among other things, that Asians and women aren't funny.

I jumped into the trashiness of reality TV to raise the profile of Asian Americans: Performance artist Kristina Wong braved the reality TV circuit in a hilarious segment on Asian American identity so that she could draw attention to real issues that Asian Americans face.

Ah, Commencement. Caps, Gowns And Mispronounced Names: For college grads all over the country, receiving their diploma can feel a lot like one of those trips to Starbucks where customers' names get mangled.

5.23.2014

NYC: Disoriented Comedy, June 7

Use the promo code STAYANGRYNYC to get discount tickets



New York City! If you're looking for some laughs, we've got you covered. Disoriented Comedy, the first ever (mostly) all female all Asian American standup comedy show, is coming to get you! In a good way. They've got a funny-ass lineup that includes Aparna Nancherla, Atsuko Okatsuka, Jen Kwok, D'Lo, Jenny Yang, Subhah Agarwa and Jes Tom. Two shows going down Saturday, June 7 at the Dixon Place Theater.

Here are some more details about the shows:

Angry Reader of the Week: Steve Byrne



Awwwww yeah. People, it is time, once again, 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 comedian Steve Byrne, whose new hour special Champion is now streaming on Netflix. Season three of his show Sullivan & Son -- the other Asian American sitcom -- premieres Tuesday, June 24 at 10/9c on TBS.

Steven Yeun to star in 'Aquariums of Pyongyang'

Based on the memoir by North Korean concentration camp survivor Kang Chol-Hwan



When he's not kicking post-apocalyptic zombie ass and romancing the farm girl on The Walking Dead, he's making moves on the big screen. Steven Yeun is set to executive produce and star in the adaptation of Kang Chol-Hwan's autobiographical book The Aquariums of Pyongyang.

'Walking Dead' Star Adapting 'Aquariums of Pyongyang'

Produced by Radar Pictures, and based on Kang's 2005 memoir The Aquariums of Pyongyang: Ten Years in the North Korean Gulag, the film will tell the true story of one survivor's harrowing escape from a brutal North Korean concentration camp. Steven is attached to star as Kang Chol-Hwan.

Get paid to hang out and hug and play with pandas

Now hiring Panda Nannies. Your dream job awaits.



Looking for a career change? Or are you a new graduate wondering what the heck what's next? I have the job for you. Pack your bags. The China Giant Panda Protection and Research Center in Ya'an, China is now recruiting caretakers. Your job duties will include hanging out and hugging and cuddling with pandas.

The World's Best Job Is Hiring: Panda Nanny

PANDAS, PEOPLE. Find your calling as a panda nanny. According to organizers, as a caretaker, you'll be tasked with "spending 365 days with the pandas and sharing in their joys and sorrows." Basically, you'll get paid to play with cute animals and be their best friend. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

Maybe you'll get to push a panda down a slide:

Group of robbers targeting Asian victims in Queens

One of the suspects was caught on video



Asians, watch your back... In New York City, police are asking for the public's help finding a group of robbers responsible for a recent series of attacks targeting Asian people. Two to four suspects may be responsible for at least five violent street robberies in South Richmond Hill, Queens. All of the victims have been Asian.

Gang of robbers targeting Asians in Queens: NYPD

In all of the incidents, the suspects targeted Asian victims, primarily in the area of Liberty Avenue and 125th and 126th streets in Queens. The group approaches an unsuspecting target, assaults the victim, takes items -- including credit cards and cash -- and runs away.

The group has been linked to at least five robberies:

5.22.2014

DC: Disoriented Comedy, June 6

Use the special code STAYANGRYDC to get discount tickets



Washington DC! Are you ready for some laughs? Disoriented Comedy, the first ever (mostly) all female, all Asian American standup comedy show is making a stop in your town, with a lineup featuring Aparna Nancherla, D'Lo, Elahe Izadi, Jenny Yang and Regie Cabico. It's happening Friday, June 6 in the Burke Theater at the U.S. Navy Memorial. Here are some more details about the show:

Your "Fiji Islander" party is an insult to actual Fijians

Students protest fraternity's racist theme party at UC Irvine



What is it about frat parties that make college students lose all good sense in their skulls? All right. Go have your party. But did you have to make it a racist theme party? A "Fiji Islander Party," apparently. This community BuzzFeed post describes this recent shit that went down, courtesy of Phi Gamma Delta at UC Irvine:

Phi Gamma Delta @ UC Irvine Hosts Racist Party

"Phi Gamma Delta's official nickname is FIJI. Apparently, this nickname should take precedence over FIJI THE PEOPLE. FIJI THE ETHNICITY. FIJI THE CULTURE."

So this classy gathering happened, and attendees came to party dressed in "Islander" garb -- grass skirts, leis, and, um, general nakedness. Or somebody's lazy approximation of Fiji or whatever the f*ck who cares -- it's an excuse to wear costuuuuuumes! Stereotypes and cultural appropriation, all in the name of getting "shipfaced."

Here's part of a statement from UC Irvine's Asian Pacific Student Association, condemning Phi Gamma Delta's "Fiji Islander Party":

Missing college student found safe and reunited with family

University of Illinois student went missing at O'Hare International Airport



Good news, but what happened to you, dude? Hye Min Choi, the University of Illinois student who went missing after checking in at the airport last Saturday, has been found safe and reunited with his family.

Missing University of Illinois student Hye Min Choi found, reunited with family

Choi, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, checked his luggage at O'Hare International Airport on Saturday afternoon, but never boarded his United Airlines flight to Greensboro, North Carolina, and didn't re-book another flight.

Chicago police issued a statement earlier in the week asking for the public's help in locating Choi, but now it looks like he's okay, and reportedly in good condition. No further details were released, but it looks like he might not have wanted to go home because of school-related problems:

Sung Kang stars in the new cop show 'Gang Related'

Crime drama airs Thursday nights on Fox



It's no secret that Sung Kang is one of the coolest dudes working in Hollywood. So fans will be pleased to hear that you'll be able to see him on a weekly basis, starting tonight, on the new Fox cop show Gang Related.

Set in Los Angeles, the gritty action drama follows an elite police task force engaged in the city's war between law enforcement and organized crime. Created and written by Chris Morgan, the show also stars Ramon Rodriguez, RZA, Cliff Curtis, Inbar Lavi, Terry O'Quinn and Shantel VanSanten.

Sung (sporting a haircut since we last saw him as Han in Fast & Furious) plays Tae Kim, a badass officer in the LAPD gang squad. No word if we'll be seeing him do any fancy driving on the show. But that would be awesome

Here's a trailer for the show:

Robots! Heroes! Asians! Watch the trailer for 'Big Hero 6'

Boy builds a robot superhero in the teaser for Disney's first Marvel animated feature



Robots! Superheroes! Asians! Asians? Disney just dropped the first teaser trailer for its latest Marvel movie adaptation, and it's not quite what you might have expected... but it does look kind of fun.

First Teaser for Marvel and Disney's 'Big Hero 6': Meet Their 'Huggable' Robot

Big Hero 6, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team, is the first animated Marvel feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios. Set in a fictional future metropolis called San Fransokyo, it follows a young robotics prodigy named Hiro Hamada who uncovers a criminal plot and must build a team of superheroes to save his city.

In the teaser, we see Hiro putting the finishing touches -- mighty mechanized armor! -- on his robot companion Baymax... who turns out to be a big softie. Literally. Take a look:

Brooks Brothers is selling a pair of chopsticks for $245

That's $122.50 per stick.



File under big, crap-tastic ways to waste your money... Someone sent this my way and I initially laughed it off. But after I clicked the link, it kept coming up in my Facebook feed, and it started bugging the hell out of me.

Are you looking to throw away a chunk of cash? Short of setting it on fire? Then you should be aware that Brooks Brothers is currently selling a set of fancy-ass chopsticks for $245. Two hundred and forty-five dollars! And that's down from the original price of $350. For two chopsticks -- that's $122.50 per stick.

Designed to grace the homes of connoisseurs, collectors and dumbasses, these chopsticks are 9½" long and accented with Brooks Brothers' Golden Fleece® logo for an elegant finishing touch. For those who want to eat their noodles like an asshole. You can also get a matching chopstick holder for $105.

As far as I can tell, the chopsticks don't possess any magical properties. Good readers, as someone who cares about you, if I find out that you bought a pair of $245 chopsticks, I will slap you upside the head on principle.

Arsonist caught on video setting car on fire in driveway

Fire is the latest in a string of attacks targeting San Jose household



Who set this family's car on fire? This week in San Jose, a home security camera caught vandals lighting a family's car on fire. The arson is apparently only the latest incident in a string of attacks on this household.

Arsonist caught on camera setting car on fire

Early Tuesday morning, video surveillance captured two suspects pouring a flammable liquid on a car hood and lighting a fire that destroyed two automobiles, a 2008 Acura MDX and a 2013 Honda Civic, in the driveway of a home in East San Jose. Homeowner Vince Tran was able to put out the fire with a garden hose before it spread. Thankfully, nobody was hurt.

Here's the surveillance footage:

5.21.2014

The 2014 AAWW Publishing Conference

Sunday, June 8 at the Asian American Writers' Workshop


Hey writers! Are you trying to get your work published? Want to get your manuscript in front of the right people? Where the heck do you even begin? The Asian American Writers' Workshop invites you to The 2014 AAWW Publishing Conference. You'll hear trade secrets from agents, editors and publishers, as well as writers who have landed book deals. It's happening Sunday afternoon, June 8 in Brooklyn.

Here are some more details about the conference:

Steven Ho stabs Conan with a samurai sword

It gets messy.



Hollywood stuntman Steven Ho, whose appearances on Conan are always a blast, was back on the show last night for another round of hilarious, senseless violence. And this time, things got bloody.

Conan Takes A Samurai Sword To The Gut

Over the years, Steven has inflicted all kinds of asskicking on host Conan O'Brien -- punches, groin kicks, head butts, swords, two-by-fours, and more -- for entertainment's sake. For his most recent stunt, Steven stabs Conan in the stomach with a samurai sword. With Conan attached to a "blood" tube, it gets... messy.

Take a look:

11-year-old Lucy Li qualifies for U.S. Women's Open

Sixth grader golfer is the youngest player ever to qualify



Whoa. Meet Lucy Li. This week, the 11-year-old golfer from Redwood Shores, California made history by becoming the youngest player ever to qualify for the U.S. Women's Open. Eleven!

Lucy Li, 11, qualifies for U.S. Open

Eleven years old, and freaking awesome. Li, a sixth grader who began playing at the age of seven, qualified for 2014 U.S. Women's Open on Monday, shooting rounds of 74 and 68 on the par-72 Old Course at Half Moon Bay, and beating second-place qualifier Kathleen Scavo by seven strokes.

The record for youngest was previously held by Lexi Thompson, who qualified for the U.S. Women's Open -- at 12 years, 4 months, 18 days old -- in 2007. Li doesn't turn 12 until October 1.

Despite her age (and size) Lucy has apparently been making a habit of breaking records:

Awesome Asian Bad Guys Opening Titles

Animated sequence pays homes to action/comedy webseries heroes' greatest cinematic moments



Awesome Asian Bad Guys, coming soon from National Film Society, is an action/comedy webseries about two down-and-out filmmakers who must recruit an unlikely team of heroes -- a motley crew that includes Al Leong, Yuji Okumoto, Tamlyn Tomita, George Cheung and Randall Park -- to take down a ruthless crime lord.

Want to see something Awesome? If you went to the film festival screenings of Awesome Asian Bad Guys in San Francisco, Chicago or Los Angeles this spring, you were treated to a supercool 30-second animated opening title sequence, created by the talented Michael Velasquez, depicting some of our heroes' greatest cinematic moments. Can you recognize them? Check it out:

Sorry. That was a hoax. Gap did not promise to compensate the families of workers killed in a factory fire.

18MR's prank site GapDoesMore.com raises questions about conditions for garment workers in Bangladesh



Yesterday, the website GapDoesMore.com -- launched shortly after Gap Inc.'s annual shareholder meeting -- announced that the mega clothing chain was finally going to compensate the families of seven workers killed last year in a fire at Aswad Composite Mills, a Gap supplier in Bangladesh. According to the press release, Gap Inc. would sign the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety.

What great news! The only thing is... GapDoesMore.com has nothing to do with Gap Inc. The website was an epic prank orchestrated by 18 Million Rising in an effort to pressure the clothier to ensure the safety and fair treatment of its workers. In reality, Gap Inc. has not taken responsibility or made any such promises.

Gap Gets Hoaxed With Fake Website Seeking Compensation And Better Working Conditions

Ingenious. The Yes Men would be proud. However, Gap did not take kindly to the fake news that it would be acting responsibly. It took the company less than three hours to get wind of the site and issue a statement decrying the "fraudulent" information on GapDoesMore.com. Gap has since managed to get the website (and its accompanying Twitter account @gapdoesmore) suspended.

Why all the hoaxing and shaming? 18MR explains:

5.19.2014

Jubilee Project Conference 2014: Live for Something Greater

Saturday, June 21 at UCLA Grand Ballroom



Are you a dreamer? Our friends at the Jubilee Project are hosting their very first Jubilee Project Conference designed to inspire and empower young people to use their talents for positive change. They've invited a great slate of speakers to help start a conversation on what really matters when pursuing your dreams. It's happening Saturday, June 21 at UCLA. Here's a video with more information about the gathering:

Missing: Hye Min Choi, last seen at O'Hare International Airport

University of Illinois student checked in for his flight but never boarded

In Chicago, police are asking for the public's help locating a University of Illinois student who went missing after checking luggage at O'Hare International Airport.

U of I student missing after checking in at O'Hare

19-year-old Hye Min Choi, also known as Joseph Choi, checked his luggage on Saturday afternoon for a United Airlines flight to North Carolina, but has not been seen or heard from since 4:49pm that day. According to Chicago Police, he did not board his flight, and did not re-book another flight.

His luggage arrived in Greensboro, North Carolina, where his mother picked it up.

Choi, a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, is described as 5-feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 100 lbs., and has brown eyes and black hair. He has a scar on his right eyelid.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Area North Special Victim's Unit at (312) 744-8200.

More here: U of I student missing after checking in for O'Hare flight

Surveillance video shows cop hitting handcuffed woman

"You're not a f*cking American! I'll put you in a UPS box and send you back to wherever the f*ck you came from!"



Damn. Recently released surveillance video footage, recorded during the raid of a Chicago massage parlor last year, shows a police officer slapping a handcuffed woman in the head, while another officer threatens to hit her with a Taser "10 fucking times." The footage is now at the center of a federal lawsuit.

Lawyer: Video caught cop beating handcuffed woman

The footage shows a shrieking Jianqing Klyzek, manager of Copper Tan and Spa, pushed face down, dragged onto the floor, handcuffed, and struck in the head by an officer, identified as Frank Messina. Another officer, Gerald DiPasquale, is heard screaming racially-charged at her: "You're not a fucking American! I'll put you in a UPS box and send you back to wherever the fuck you came from!"

Here's part of the footage:

Musician and educator George Yoshida dies at 92

Incarcerated at Poston during World War II, he played saxophone in an internment camp jazz band



Sad news out of the Bay Area, where musician, educator and writer George Yoshida, best known for his passion for jazz and its unique connection with Japanese American history, died last week. He was 92.

Berkeley teacher-musician George Yoshida dies at 92

Born in Seattle and raised in Los Angeles, Yoshida and his family were interned at Poston War Relocation Center in Arizona, along with thousands of other Japanese Americans during World War II. Permitted to take only one suitcase, he packed his with records from his treasured jazz collection.

'When I Walk' premieres on PBS on June 23

Jason DaSilva's award-winning documentary kicks off the 27th season of 'POV'



Mark your calendars. PBS' award-winning documentary series POV kicks off its 27th season on Monday, June 23 with the national broadcast premiere of Jason DaSilva's powerful personal documentary When I Walk.

In When I Walk, up-and-coming 25-year-old filmmaker Jason DaSilva discovers he has multiple sclerosis. To cope, he decides to use the art of filmmaking to look at his new reality. The film is a candid and brave chronicle of one young man's struggle to adapt to the harsh realities of M.S. while holding on to his personal and creative life. The result is a life-affirming documentary filled with unexpected moments of joy and humor.

If you missed this incredible film during its festival run or limited theatrical screenings, here's your chance to catch it from the convenience of your couch, on public television. I can't recommend it enough.

Watch the trailer for When I Walk:

'Private Danny Chen Way' dedicated in Chinatown

Hundreds gather for unveiling of Manhattan street re-named in memory of local soldier



On Saturday in New York City, hundreds gathered in Chinatown to honor the memory of Pvt. Danny Chen. On Elizabeth Street, between Canal Street and Bayard Street, city officials unveiled "Private Danny Chen Way," a tribute to the local soldier who fell prey to the military's dark culture of bullying and hazing.

Street In Chinatown Renamed In Memory Of Private Danny Chen

Pvt. Danny Chen, who grew up in Chinatown, was found dead in October 2011 after enduring intolerable racial hazing and harassment from fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan. His death resulted in eight U.S. Army soldiers charged with various crimes, and highlighted the problem of hazing and discrimination in the military.

The city council approved the street re-naming last December. On Saturday's unveiling, Chen's mother was joined by family, friends and community members who vowed continue to remember the story of Danny Chen.

The Eagles have signed a kicker nicknamed "Murderleg"

Vanderbilt kicker Carey Spear joins Philadelphia as an undrafted free agent rookie



Philadelphia, get ready for Murderleg. Last week, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Carey Spear, a badass kicker from Vanderbilt University, as an undrafted free agent rookie. And seriously, his nickname is "Murderleg."

Philadelphia Eagles Sign Undrafted Kicker Nicknamed 'Murderleg'

Nicknames are earned. So how does one get called "Murderleg"? By possessing one of the strongest legs in college football. A three-time captain, Spear set a school single-season record as a senior with 99 points while connecting on 15 of his 19 field goal attempts. In his past two seasons, he went 4-for-5 from 50 yards or more.

At 5-foot-10, 194 pounds, Spear is also known for delivering bone-rattling hits on kick returners. Just watch...

British Columbia apologizes for historical anti-Chinese laws

Premier Christy Clark issues formal apology for racist and discriminatory past policies



News from the north! B.C. says sorry. Last week, the Chinese community in British Columbia received a formal apology from the provincial government for racist past policies that targeted immigrants and residents.

Chinese community gets apology from B.C. for historical wrongs

On Thursday, British Columbia's premier Christy Clark issued the apology, aiming to make amends for more than a hundred historical laws, regulations and policies that discriminated against people of Chinese descent since the 1870s, such as denying immigrants the right to vote and charging them a head tax to immigrate.

There was no individual compensation offered as part of the apology, but it was announced that the government would put $1 million into a legacy fund that would be used to fund educational initiatives.

Here is the full text of the motion:

5.18.2014

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You'll Be Seeing More Asian-Americans On Network TV This Fall: With at least five shows starring Asian Americans being picked up by major networks, the media landscape is changing.

The Revolution Will Be Televised: "But given that some 40% of the rising tide of Millennials in the U.S. is African American, Hispanic, Asian American or some combination therein, it's not a luxury for showbiz to figure out how to reach this 'new mainstream' -- it's a necessity." Tao Jones' Jeff Yang on ABC's new lineups, media representation for people of color, and marketing.

David Henry Hwang: racial casting has evolved - and so have my opinions: Acclaimed playwright David Henry Hwang explains why favoring white actors on stage is a bad business model – and publicly admits a secret about the Miss Saigon yellowface controversy for the first time.

5.16.2014

Fund This: 'Good Luck Soup Interactive'

A participatory documentary on the post-internment story of Japanese Americans & Japanese Canadians



Good Luck Soup is a transmedia storytelling project documenting and sharing stories about the lives of Japanese Americans and Japanese Canadians after they left internment camps at the end of World War II.

The project, from filmmaker Matthew Hashiguchi, involves a feature-length documentary, but also includes a web-based, interactive component to complement, reinforce, and encourage participation in the larger effort to preserve this history through social media, participatory storytelling and community events.

Filming for the documentary is complete, but they're currently raising funds for the development of the Good Luck Soup Interactive film/website. Here's a video with some more information about the project:

Angry Reader of the Week: Jenn Fang

Hello, again. It is my pleasure to introduce you to 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 Jenn Fang.

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