This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. Somebody got yelled at for this 'Fresh Off The Boat' tweet
Show's official Twitter account posts offensive promotional image.

2. Yale student dies in apparent suicide
20-year-old sophomore Luchang Wang was found dead in California.

3. Man killed while trying to protect mother from armed robber
Community rallies to help the family of 33-year-old Da Cong Wu

4. Chloe Kim is the X Games' youngest gold medalist ever
14-year-old snowboarder beats seven-time gold medalist Kelly Clark.

5. Who wants to see a white guy as the King of Siam?
Dallas Summer Musicals' 'The King and I' casts white actor in the role of King Mongkut.

6. Anti-Islam bus ads are being awesomely defaced by Ms. Marvel
Marvel Comics' Kamala Khan battles bad guys and bus banner bigotry in San Francisco

7. This family's homemade music video about healthy eating is the lovably dorkiest thing ever
"I LIKE GREEN SHAKES AND I CANNOT LIE."

8. Sound and Fury Podcast Episode 18: Randall Park
Hello, podcast listeners! We are back with another edition of the Sound and Fury podcast.

9. Let's celebrate Fred Korematsu Day with a Google Doodle
Sign 18 Million Rising's petition asking Google to honor a civil rights hero.

10. U.S. Army deletes "chinks" tweet
Can we please retire this expression?

Stay Angry, my friends.

Hey, Los Angeles! Let's watch 'Fresh Off The Boat' together!

Wednesday, February 4 at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy



If you're in Los Angeles, you're invited to join Visual Communications, Angry Asian Man, the Japanese American National Museum, and Dis/orient/ed Comedy for a live watch party for the broadcast premiere of ABC's new Asian American family sitcom Fresh Off The Boat. Because this is kind of a big deal, excitement is high, and it's more fun to watch together.

We'll watch the two-episode premiere live at 8:30pm and 9:30pm, along with a community discussion afterwards. Jenny Yang and I will lead a conversation with discussants Jen Wang, Oliver Wang, Milton Liu -- and you! It's happening Wednesday, February 4 at the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy (across from the Japanese American National Museum) in Little Tokyo.

Here are some more details:

Short film series "New Romantics" explores modern love

Watch the first monthly episode 'Here,' directed by An Rong Xu



Our friend, filmmaker and photographer An Rong Xu, is launching a new project called "New Romantics," a year-long film series in which he directs twelve shorts -- one per month -- exploring modern day love. He just released the first episode in the series, Here, starring Nicole Tung with music by Big Phony.

Check it out:

Angry Reader of the Week: Ellen Wu

"I scour the ends of the continent (and beyond) for archival traces to tell the untold stories of Asian/Pacific America."



Hey, everybody. It's time. 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 Ellen Wu.

U.S. Army deletes "chinks" tweet

Can we please retire this expression?



Folks, I've said this before, but can we please retire the phrase "chink in the armor"? I know this is a legit, centuries-old expression, meaning "a vulnerable area," but its usage today just does not look or sound right and makes for awkward moments, regardless of intent. Our latest offender: the United States Army.

Army expresses surprise about racism allegations over deleted tweet

On Thursday afternoon, the Army's official Twitter account posted a tweet referring "chinks" in the armor of its special ops capabilities. The tweet, which prompted several accusations of racism, has since been deleted.

New York City: 'Fresh Off The Boat' Live Community Viewing Party

Wednesday, February 4 at The Circle NYC



As you probably know, the groundbreaking ABC sitcom Fresh Off The Boat hits airwaves next week. Based on the bestselling memoir by Eddie Huang, the show stars the first Asian American family on the network television in over two decades. If you're in New York, you're invited to a special community viewing party.

Because this kind of a big deal. Watch the live two-episode premiere, along with a talkback with series star Hudson Yang and proud dad Jeff Yang, and special guests Erin Quill, Grek Pak, Richard Lui and more. It's happening Wednesday, February 4, starting at 8:00pm at The Circle NYC.

Here are some more details about the event:

Somebody got yelled at for this 'Fresh Off The Boat' tweet

Show's official Twitter account posts offensive promotional image.



Who the hell thought this was a good idea? On Thursday, the official Twitter account for the new ABC sitcom Fresh Off The Boat posted a crappy promotional image depicting various people of the world... and their hats. It immediately drew the ire of the internet -- including angry words from Eddie Huang, whose memoir is the inspiration for the comedy, and Jeff Yang, whose son Hudson plays Eddie on the show.

Sound and Fury Podcast Episode 18: Randall Park

Hello, podcast listeners! We are back with another edition of the Sound and Fury podcast, in which I sit down with cool people and have an angry chat. Episode 18 features actor Randall Park, our good friend who you may recognize from a bunch of movie and TV projects over the years, including Veep, Supah Ninjas and The Interview. Next, he stars in the new sitcom Fresh Off The Boat, which premieres February 4 on ABC.

Thank you to all the regular listeners who have downloaded and subscribed to the podcast thus far. I love making this show, and I'm just happy that people are enjoying them. To catch up on previous episodes, check out the archive. To stay up-to-date with future episodes as soon as they drop, be sure to subscribe. You can also find Sound and Fury on services like iTunes and Stitcher, where you can rate and review the show.

All right! So here's my conversation with Randall Park:

Yale student dies in apparent suicide

20-year-old sophomore Luchang Wang was found dead in California.



At Yale University, community members are mourning a student who died in an apparent suicide. After an extensive campus-wide search, 20-year-old Luchang Wang is presumed to have died Tuesday in California.

After frantic search, community mourns Luchang Wang '17

Friends, classmates and family became concerned for Wang, a sophomore mathematics major, after she posted a "troubling Facebook message," prompting a search of various locations across the New Haven campus. They soon discovered that she had booked a flight to San Francisco.

Later that day, Yale College Dean Jonathan Holloway informed students that the California Highway Patrol had been in communication with Yale Police, and Wang was presumed to have died in an "apparent suicide."

AAPI Affordable Care Act Enrollment Week of Action

Get covered through the Health Insurance Marketplace.



This week, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and U.S. Department of Health and Human Service launched the second Asian American and Pacific Islander Affordable Care Act Enrollment Week of Action, which aims to encourage AAPI individuals who have not enrolled for health insurance to learn more, get engaged and enroll in health coverage by February 15.

Throughout the week, Action for Health partners are holding enrollment events for AAPI families to learn about the Affordable Care Act and receive free, in-person assistance to enroll in health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace. This includes a Twitterstorm this Thursday, on National Youth Enrollment Day of Action, with special guest George Takei.

Kearny Street Workshop presents Celebrate Your Body 2015

A body-positive fashion show and expo. Saturday, January 31 at SOMArts Cultural Center.



If you're in the Bay Area, Kearny Street Workshop invites you to its second Celebrate Your Body, a showcase of fashion and music as well as a multicultural street fair that celebrates the diverse beauty of all body types. The event will honor Lynn Chen and Lisa Lee of Thick Dumpling Skin and Project Runway finalist Kini Zamora. It's happening Saturday, January 31 at SOMArts Cultural Center.

Here's a promo video for the event:

Let's celebrate Fred Korematsu Day with a Google Doodle

Sign 18 Million Rising's petition asking Google to honor a civil rights hero.

Fred Korematsu Day honors the life and legacy of Japanese American civil rights hero Fred Korematsu, who, at 23-years-old, stood up against racism and discrimination and refused to be injustly incarcerated by the United States government during World War II. It's the first day in U.S. history named after an Asian American.

This Friday, January 30, people across the country will honoring Fred Korematsu on the fifth annual Korematsu Day. Hopefully, there will be schoolkids getting classroom lessons about Mr. Korematsu and the importance of preserving civil liberties. But wouldn't be great if more people knew about his story?

That's where Google might be able to help. Our friends at 18 Million Rising are leading the charge to request that Google dedicate Friday's "Doodle" to Fred Korematsu:

This family's homemade music video about healthy eating is the lovably dorkiest thing ever

"I LIKE GREEN SHAKES AND I CANNOT LIE."



All right, this is both lovably awesome and pretty much the dorkiest thing I've ever seen.

Meet the Ha family. You could say they are passionate about plant-based diets. So passionate, in fact that Benjamin, Nina, Ashley and Benjamin Jr. -- aka Flexitarian MD, Superha, and The Little Ha Dogs -- put together a super-silly and informative homemade music video parody about healthy eating, to the tune of "Anaconda" and "Baby Got Back." It takes a very special kind of dedication to vegetables to pull this off.

Take a look:

Man killed while trying to protect mother from armed robber

Community rallies to help the family of 33-year-old Da Cong Wu



Some tragic news out of San Francisco, where a community is mourning a family man who was killed while trying to protect his mother from an armed robber. Police are asking for the public's help finding the killer.

Robber Kills San Francisco Man Trying To Protect His Mother

33-year-old Da Cong Wu, a husband and father of two, was visiting a friend in San Francisco's Visitacion Valley neighborhood last Tuesday when a robber "stuck a gun in his mother's face." He hurried his mother into his car and tried to drive away, but the robber fired into the car and shot him seven times.

He was declared dead at the scene.

Documentary 'To Be Takei' available for digital download

Angry Asian Man readers get a special discount off the deluxe digital edition.



The feature documentary To Be Takei is a fun and insightful look at the life and career of celebrated actor, activist and internet personality George Takei. Or, as I like to call him, Uncle George.

If you missed To Be Takei in theaters or have not yet seen it on DVD, it's now available as a direct digital download. Want a discount on the download? I've got you covered. Scroll down for a promo code.

The film, directed by Jennifer M. Kroot, chronicles Takei's seven-decade journey from a World War II internment camp, to the helm of the starship Enterprise, to the daily news feeds of five million Facebook fans. Join George and his husband Brad on this star's playful and profound trek for life, liberty, and love.

Here's the trailer:

Anti-Islam bus ads are being awesomely defaced by Ms. Marvel

Marvel Comics' Kamala Khan battles bad guys and bus banner bigotry in San Francisco



Oh hell yes. This is awesome. In San Francisco, someone has been defacing a series of Islamophobic bus banner ads with images of Marvel Comics' teenage Muslim superhero Ms. Marvel.

Racist, Anti-Islamic San Francisco Bus Ads Have Been Awesomely Defaced With Kamala Khan

The "advertisements," paid for by an organization called the American Freedom Defense Initiative, have been plastered on the sides of several Muni buses with slogans likening Muslims to the Nazis.

Enter some badass, artistically-inclined citizens who took it upon themselves to modify these ridiculous ads with a call to stop the hate, starring superpowered Pakistani American comic book hero Kamala Khan, who battles bad guys (and now, bus banner bigotry) as Ms. Marvel.

Who wants to see a white guy as the King of Siam?

Dallas Summer Musicals' 'The King and I' casts white actor in the role of King Mongkut.



[UPDATE: Dallas Summer Musicals has responded to the casting outcry. See below.]

Yet another theater production is accused of rocking the yellowface. Dallas Summer Musicals' upcoming production of The King and I is drawing criticism for casting a Caucasian actor in the role of King Mongkut.

Dallas Summer Musicals' THE KING AND I Casting Causes Controversy

Rodgers and Hammerstein's popular musical tells the story of Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher who is hired as a live-in governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. Despite their many differences, Anna and the King eventually grow to understand and respect one another.

In case you were wondering, the king of Siam was not a white guy.

Chloe Kim is the X Games' youngest gold medalist ever

14-year-old snowboarder beats seven-time gold medalist Kelly Clark.



Dude. DUDE. In case you didn't know, Chloe Kim is the future. Over the weekend in Aspen, the 14-year-old snowboarding phenom made history by becoming the youngest gold medalist ever at the Winter X Games.

Chloe Kim wins Winter X Games halfpipe at age 14

Chloe won the gold in the women's snowboard superpipe on Saturday night, scoring 92 points in her third and final run and pushing seven-time Winter X Games gold medalist Kelly Clark -- arguably the greatest women's snowboarder of all time -- to silver. Two-time Olympic medalist Torah Bright was third.

Consider that Chloe, who won silver in the event last year, was born in 2000 and wasn't old enough to compete last year in the Sochi Olympics. Everybody, get ready. This kid is just getting started.

Here's video of Chloe's gold medal-winning run:

Read These Blogs

How to eat pork, drink booze and be a 'good' Muslim: My pals Taz Ahmed and Zahra Noorbakhsh recently launched a fun, informative and timely podcast entitled "Good Muslim/Bad Muslim."

* * *
Is "Fresh off the Boat" a network sitcom or the rawest, realest TV show about Asian Americans ever? Yes: From Eddie Huang's conflicted feelings about the show, journalists asking about authenticity and chopsticks, and nervously excited Asian Americans, Jeff Yang writes about all the buzz leading up to the series premiere of Fresh Off the Boat.

* * *
The State of the Union and the Invisibility of Pacific Islanders: A new demographic report released by EPIC (Empowering Pacific Islander Communities) and Asian Americans Advancing Justice, highlights the need to disaggregate data on Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders from the broader "AAPI" umbrella.

* * *
Sikh Captain America: The Man Behind the Shield: In 2013, cartoonist Vishavjit Singh put on a Captain America costume for the first time and walked the streets of New York City. The short documentary Red, White, and Beard is about the man behind Sikh Captain America.

* * *
Kindred: Jenna Ushkowitz and Sam Futerman recently launched a blog in support of their non-profit organization Kindred, which provides support and services for adoptees and their families.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. Sorry, that Maroon 5 music video is fake.
Turns out, the band did not crash anybody's wedding. Those weren't even real weddings.

2. Tech entrepreneur Minh Nguyen charged with murder
Plaxo co-founder allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife's husband in domestic dispute

3. Watch some clips and get ready for 'Fresh Off The Boat'
Asian American family comedy premieres February 10 on ABC.

4. Comedian Alingon Mitra performs on 'Conan'
"People say figure skating is the gayest sport but I think it's football."

5. Maybe Bobby Jindal shouldn't do State of the Union commentary
"Your welcome."

6. Woman arrested for vandalizing Buddhist temple
Trang Thu Pham was caught on camera throwing bottles at Buddha statues.

7. Truck crash scatters ramen packages all over highway
Let us remember this day as the Tragic North Carolina Ramen Spill of 2015.

8. Superfan's selfie video captures crazy joy of Seahawks' win
Watch Norbert Caoili's reaction to Seattle's dramatic come-from-behind championship victory.

9. May this video inspire you to fight for someone's honor
The climactic hand drum scene from 'The Karate Kid Part II'... on a ten-hour loop.

10. Angry Reader of the Week: Scott Kurashige
"Model minority ideology will keep biting us in the ass until we demolish it for good."

Stay Angry, my friends.

Angry Reader of the Week: Scott Kurashige

"Model minority ideology will keep biting us in the ass until we demolish it for good."


Greetings! Once again, it's time for everyone 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 Scott Kurashige.

'Sisterhood of Night' is a modern take on the Salem witch trials

Freestyle Releasing has picked up distribution rights to Caeryn Waechter's mystery thriller.



Some interesting movie news... Freestyle Releasing has picked up distribution rights for the mystery thriller The Sisterhood of Night, directed by Caryn Waechter and written by Marilyn Fu, and described as a modern take on the Salem witch trials centered on a group of teenage girls in a small New York town.

Kal Penn Thriller 'The Sisterhood of Night' Picked Up By Freestyle (Exclusive)

In the film, adapted from a short story by Steven Millhauser, a quiet suburban town becomes the backdrop for a modern-day Salem witch trial when a teenage girl says she's the victim of a secret network called The Sisterhood of Night. The cast includes Kal Penn, Georgie Henley, Laura Fraser and Kara Hayward.

Fund This: Starry Kitchen needs your help!

"#SaveOurBalls ..and our Restaurant!"



If you're in Los Angeles, and you've had the pleasure of sampling the food by our friends at Starry Kitchen, you know that it's damn good. The restaurant, which first started as a totally illegal bootleg pop-up inside a North Hollywood apartment, went legit a couple of years ago, and after cookin' up lots of balls -- their famous crispy tofu balls -- they're taking things to the next level. And they're turning to Kickstarter for help.

Watch this silly and entertaining video for more information:

'Gifted Student' by Adam WarRock

Adam WarRock makes indie hip hop about pop culture, and his latest album kicks ass.



Our friend Eugene Ahn, who makes kickass, super-fun geeky hip hop as emcee Adam WarRock, just dropped a new album. The eight-track EP Gifted Student, produced by Mikal kHill with guest vocals by kHill, Sulfur and Mega Ran, is some seriously good shit -- some of the best rapping he's ever done.

And come on, you can't beat that vintage album cover photo, courtesy of Eugene's mom.

Take a listen:

Doug Jung co-writing 'Star Trek 3' with Simon Pegg

I'm just hoping Sulu gets more screen time this time around.



Some more interesting news on Star Trek 3... The next installment of the hit sci-fi movie series has a pair of screenwriters. Doug Jung is co-writing the script with Simon Pegg. (I know, most outlets have been reporting this co-write relationship the other way around, but you know how we do.)

Simon Pegg Co-Writing 'Star Trek 3' With Doug Jung

Simon Pegg, who plays Scotty in the revamped Star Trek franchise, will pull double duty as screenwriter along with Doug Jung, whose previous credits include Cinemax's Banshee, HBO's Big Love and creator/executive producer of the TNT cop drama Dark Blue. He made his feature screenwriting debut on 2003's Confidence.

Celebrate AAPI Filmmakers at Sundance & Slamdance

Asian Pacific Filmmakers Reception, Sunday January 25 in Park City



If you are one of the bundled up cinephiles making the snowy trek to Park City, Utah for the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, you might be interested to know that there is some serious AAPI representation in the programming this year, at both Sundance and the rival upstart festival Slamdance.

Whether you're a filmmaker or film supporter, come help celebrate at the 11th Annual Asian Pacific Filmmakers Reception, happening Sunday, January 25 at Club 301 - The Funn Networks Space in Park City.

Here are some more details about the reception:

Apply to TACL's 2015 Political Internship Program

Eight-week summer program in Washington DC for Taiwanese American student leaders.



Calling all Taiwanese American young leaders! Taiwanese American Citizens League invites you to apply for its 2015 Political Internship Program in Washington DC. Since 1992, the eight-week summer program has placed college students in the offices of elected officials to give them a hands-on experience in the political process. In addition, interns advocate for issues that impact the Taiwanese American and AAPI communities.

Here are some more details:

'In Tokens & Charms' by Prateek Kuhad

Debut full-length studio album from Indian singer/songwriter.



I recently got turned on to the music of Delhi-based multi-lingual indie singer/songwriter Prateek Kuhad, who makes wonderfully warm and soulful folksy pop rock. He just released his debut full-length studio album In Tokens & Charms, and it's pretty darn marvelous. The ten-track album is a thoughtful, inviting conversation about youth, love and liberation. You're gonna love it.

Here's a preview of the whole album:

Nearly $1 million in pot seized in South Carolina traffic stop

Ken Choi Huang and Hue Chung Khee were busted with 167.9 pounds of high-grade marijuana.



Asians behaving badly... million-dollar marijuana bust edition! Last week in South Carolina, two men from Colorado were busted with nearly $1 million worth of weed during a traffic stop.

Ken Choi Huang and Hue Chung Khee were traveling on I-85 in a van when they were pulled over by a sheriff's deputy in Gaffney, purportedly because the vehicle was failing to stay in its own lane.

The deputy reportedly detected the smell of marijuana, and upon searching the van, found boxes and garbage bags full of packages of high-grade marijuana -- 167.9 pounds worth more than $900,000.

Sikh Captain America kicks ass in 'Red, White, and Beard'

Fun short documentary follows the adventures of cartoonist Vishavjit Singh.



Beware, evildoers! A star-spangled superhero walks the streets of New York City, wielding a shield of truth and justice. I'm talking cartoonist Vishavjit Singh, also known by his heroic alter ego Sikh Captain America.

He's the subject of a great new short documentary Red, White, and Beard, which follows Vishavjit and captures people's reactions as he roams around the city dressed as the classic American icon, turban and all.

Watch it here:

Watch some clips and get ready for 'Fresh Off The Boat'

Asian American family comedy premieres February 10 on ABC.



Getting excited about the upcoming premiere of ABC's Fresh Off The Boat? The hype is growing. You may have heard about that awkward/awesome show panel last week at the Television Critics Association's press tour. You'll probably be seeing more uncomfortable conversations like that in the coming weeks. Good.

The new TV comedy, based on the memoir of the same name by chef/food personality Eddie Huang, stars Randall Park, Constance Wu, Hudson Yang, Forrest Wheeler and Ian Chen, as a Taiwanese American family who move from Washington DC to mostly-white suburban Orlando in pursuit of the American dream.

I've seen the first three episodes of Fresh Off The Boat, and I love it. There's never been anything else like it on TV. I can't wait for you everyone else to see it and join in on the conversation. Also, it's just a lot of fun.

Anyway, here are a handful of show clips plucked from YouTube and social media:

Maybe Bobby Jindal shouldn't do State of the Union commentary

"Your welcome."



Before President Obama took the podium to deliver his State of the Union address, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal hopped on Twitter to publicly denounce and dismiss Obama's speech, offering his version of a summary that absolutely nobody asked for. He even smugly signed it off with "Your welcome."

Um, you mean "you're." Classic.

Truck crash scatters ramen packages all over highway

Let us remember this day as the Tragic North Carolina Ramen Spill of 2015.



Tragedy strikes the roadways of North Carolina! On Wednesday, a tractor-trailer hauling a load of ramen noodles crashed on the southbound I-95 near Rocky Mount when the driver fell asleep behind the wheel.

Ramen noodle truck crash blocks I-95

Thankfully, nobody was hurt. But the truck's trailer ran off the road and hit a bridge support, splitting wide open and scattering thousands of packages of ramen -- various flavors of Maruchan -- all along the highway.

Here are some photos of the devastation:

'Fresh Off The Boat' Screening Party in Washington DC

Presented by DC APA Film & BUL, Tuesday, February 10



For folks in Washington DC who are looking forward to the upcoming premiere of the ABC sitcom Fresh Off The Boat, save the date for a screening party hosted by DC Asian Pacific American Film at DC's first and only Korean-style pojangmacha, BUL. After the viewing, special guests Janelle Wong (UMD), Christian Oh (DC APA Film), and Kat Chow (NPR) will provide insight and comments and lead an engaging audience discussion.

It's happening Wednesday, February 10. Here are some more details:

2015 Youth Leadership Summit, March 26-28

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC invites students to a three-day leadership program in Washington DC.


Hey, students! Asian Americans Advancing Justice AAJC's Youth Leadership Summit is a three-day leadership development program for college students. The summit provides a unique opportunity for young advocates from across the country to come to Washington DC to network and learn together.

Through interactive workshops and hands-on activities, summit participants will build advocate skills and gain knowledge on policies and civil rights issues affecting AAPI communities. This year's summit will be held March 26-28, with advocate trainings and leadership development workshops focused on racial equity.

Here's some more information about the Youth Leadership Summit:

Red Baraat's 'Gaadi of Truth' is one hell of a jam.

Hear the new record from the Brooklyn-based brass-and-beats band.



Awwwwww yeah. I am seriously digging Gaadi of Truth, the brand-new album that just dropped from Brooklyn-based brass-and-beats band Red Baraat. It is one hell of a jam. With founder and bandleader Sunny Jain rocking the dhol, the new record expands the band's multicultural Bhangra boogie down sound into new directions, with electronic, hip hop and other influences.

Listen to a preview of the album:

13-year-old entrepreneur builds Braille printer with Legos

Shubham Banerjee started a company to develop a low-cost machine to print Braille materials for the blind.



In Silicon Valley, it's never too early to become an entrepreneur. Just ask 13-year-old Shubham Banerjee.

The California eighth-grader has launched a company to develop low-cost machines to print Braille, the tactile writing system for the visually impaired. Tech giant Intel Corp. recently invested in his startup, Braigo Labs.

Shubham built a Braille printer with a Lego robotics kit as a school science fair project last year after he asked his parents a simple question: How do blind people read? "Google it," they told him.

Shubham then did some online research and was shocked to learn that Braille printers, also called embossers, cost at least $2,000 -- too expensive for most blind readers, especially in developing countries.

Read more: Santa Clara teen builds Braille printer with Legos, starts company

Fund This: Super Sikh

Meet turbaned comic book hero Secret Agent Deep Singh.



This is a cool project that could use your support... Super Sikh, by Eileen Alden, Supreet Singh Manchanda and illustrator Amit Tayal, is a kids comic book that follows the adventures of a modern hero in a turban, Secret Agent Deep Singh. In these times, when Sikhs are too often misunderstood, the creators thought it was about time young comic book readers got to see a Sikh superhero. Thus, Super Sikh!

This video's got all the information:

Comedian Alingon Mitra performs on 'Conan'

"People say figure skating is the gayest sport but I think it's football."



Last Comic Standing alum Aligon Mitra was a guest on Conan Monday night with a funny short set joking about, among other things, the Pope, "gay" sports and so-called "first world problems." He says he doesn't know why people complain about first world problems; after all, that's where he lives.

Check it out:

May this video inspire you to fight for someone's honor

The climactic hand drum scene from 'The Karate Kid Part II'... on a ten-hour loop.



The other night, The Karate Kid Part II is on TV again, so of course I'm watching. I've seen like it 800 times. (Longtime readers know I'm a little obsessed with this movie.) But after all these viewings, I still don't quite understand the secret to Miyagi family karate. I've asked the drum, but I haven't unlocked its secret.

I say all this as a dumb prelude to sharing this super-weird video I stumbled across last night. It's a ten-hour-long video created from the climactic hand drum scene from The Karate Kid Part II. That's right. Sato, Yukie and Miyagi rattling those little hand drums on near-endless loop. Well, why not? There's room on the internet for many things.

It's kind of mesmerizing. Play it, watch it, and unlock the secrets of the drum:

Kathy Pham is on Michelle Obama's guest list

Pham, a member of U.S. Digital Service, will be seated in the First Lady's box at the State of the Union.



President Obama will deliver his 2015 State of the Union address tonight at 9:00pm ET. If you're planning on tuning in, keen-eyed viewers might catch a glimpse of Kathy Pham, a computer scientist with a passion for public service, among the guests seated in the First Lady's box during the address.

The 22 guests seated in the box with Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden and Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett include students, educators, health care officials and recipients, government officials, and a wounded veteran who fought in Afghanistan. The invitees represent some of the key themes of the President's speech.

Ms. Pham is a member of U.S. Digital Service, where she's working to improve health IT for more Americans, expand veterans' access to benefits, and transform how government provides services to families in need.

Yumi Sakugawa & MariNaomi Book Signing and Sketches

Saturday, January 24 at Kinokuniya in Little Tokyo



If you're in Los Angeles, indie cartoonists MariNaomi and Yumi Sakugawa invite you to a book signing this weekend for their newest comic books, Dragons Breath and Other Stories and Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One With the Universe. It's happening this Saturday, January 24 at Kinokuniya Bookstore in Little Tokyo.

Here are some more details:

Call for Proposals: 2015 CAAM Documentary Fund

Production or post-production funding available for documentaries intended for public television broadcast.



Hey you, documentary filmmakers. The Center for Asian American Media is putting call out for independent producers who are interested in producing documentaries for public television broadcast. With the support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, CAAM is accepting applications for the 2015 Documentary Fund.

The CAAM Documentary Fund provides awards that typically range between $15,000 and $50,000. Documentaries are eligible for production or post-production funding and must be intended for public television broadcast. The application deadline is February 16.

Music Video: "Oh Father" by Kina Grannis

Latest single from indie singer/songwriter's sophomore album 'Elements'



One of my favorite musicians, indie singer/songwriter Kina Grannis, just released her the music video for her latest single "Oh Father," one of the standout tracks from her sophomore album Elements. The video is a gorgeous, theatrical piece complete with choreography to match the song's dark and dreamy mood.

Check it out:

Tech entrepreneur Minh Nguyen charged with murder

Plaxo co-founder allegedly shot and killed his ex-wife's husband in domestic dispute



Last week in Virginia, the co-founder of the contact management and social networking startup Plaxo was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his ex-wife's new husband.

Plaxo Co-Founder Minh Nguyen Charged With Murder

38-year-old Minh Nguyen, who co-founded Plaxo with Sean Parker, was arrested Thursday night after he allegedly broke into his ex-wife's home in Ashburn Village and shot and killed Corey Mattison.

According to the Loudon County Sheriff's Office, two children were home at the time, and Nguyen's ex-wife and another child returned home during the shooting, but no one else was injured.

Superfan's selfie video captures crazy joy of Seahawks' win

Watch Norbert Caoili's reaction to Seattle's dramatic come-from-behind championship victory.



If you were watching Sunday's dramatic NFC Championship game, you witnessed the Seattle Seahawks' dramatic, come-from-behind overtime win over the Green Bay Packers. It was a crazy, emotional game, and one Seahawks fan caught all the drama on video. Not the drama on the field -- the drama on his face.

Seattle superfan Norbert Caoili kept a camera rolling on his blue-and-green painted face the entire time to capture his reactions to the game's dramatic turns. There's no way he could have known how it would all unfold in the last minute, but his ecstatic response is something any faithful sports fan can understand.

Just watch:

Sorry, that Maroon 5 music video is fake.

Turns out, the band did not crash anybody's wedding. Those weren't even real weddings.



A few folks have been sending me this latest music video by Maroon 5, in which the band claims to spend a Saturday in Los Angeles crashing multiple wedding receptions and surprising newlyweds with an impromptu performance. One of the couples is an Asian American bride and groom. It's cute. It's also all lies.

Maroon 5's Smarmy Wedding-Crashing Video Was Totally Staged

Apologies to all who really enjoyed the OMG-there-are-rock-stars-at-my-wedding spirit of it all, but the whole thing was apparently staged. The deception started to unravel when folks began recognizing a handful of people in the video as actors (including a former America's Next Top Model contestant) and perhaps not totally random, regular ol' wedding revelers caught in a candid moment.

In the case of the Asian American wedding, the actors who were cast as "parents of the Asian bride" -- real-life couple Stephen and Barbara Woo -- let the cat out of the bag on their Facebook page, confirming that everything was indeed staged (and no doubt, bursting a few bubbles).

Woman arrested for vandalizing Buddhist temple

Trang Thu Pham was caught on camera throwing bottles at Buddha statues.



Caught! Asians behaving badly update. In Southern California, the woman who was caught on surveillance video after repeatedly throwing glass bottles at statues outside a Buddhist temple has been arrested.

Woman Arrested for Allegedly Vandalizing Buddhist Temple in Santa Ana

45-year-old Trang Thu Pham was caught on camera chucking bottles at Buddha statues outside the Hoc Tich Buddhist Temple in Santa Ana. There were at least eight incidents between December 16 and January 6. She was finally caught after someone spotted her, recognized her from news reports and called the cops.

Pham told detectives she didn't have any problems with the Buddhist religion -- she apparently had some sort of personal issue with someone associated with the temple.

Donate to Billy's Medical Fund

Billy, diagnosed with a rare kidney disorder, is asking for donations to support his family.



Spreading the word about a guy who could use your support... Billy was recently diagnosed with FSGS, a rare kidney disorder that has led to stage five kidney disease and end stage renal failure. This means that unless he receives a kidney from a matching donor in the next eight months, his body will shut down. They're looking for possible kidney donors, but Billy is actually asking for donations to support his family.

I don't know him -- this info passed along to me from a reader -- but Billy sounds like the kind of guy who has sacrificed a lot for his family and his community. His friends have set up a Gofundme acount to help him and his family during this time of need. Here's some more information about his situation:

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ABC's 'Fresh off the Boat' panel gets rather awkward: Folks who attended the TCA's Fresh Off The Boat panel last week witnessed a couple of awkward and uncomfortable exchanges -- including one rather ignorant question about chopsticks. But perhaps these are the awkward and uncomfortable conversations that need to happen around this show.

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Network TV Ate My Life: Eddie Huang on Watching His Memoir Become a Sitcom: Eddie Huang speaks frankly about the production of Fresh Off the Boat, his discomfort in seeing the interpretation of his life for a sitcom, and what it ultimately meant for him to get an Asian American family on television.

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'Fresh Off the Boat' stars and producers on race, conflict and specific yet universal comedy: While Fresh Off the Boat may be a comedy, not everything was hunky-dory behind the scenes.

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'Fresh Off the Boat' Producers: "We Tackle the Word 'Chink' in the Pilot": The pilot episode of Fresh Off the Boat tackles that racist slur many Asian Americans have encountered at least once.

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'Fresh Off The Boat' Repackages The Asian-American Story For TV: "It takes a lot of chutzpah to launch a network comedy with a pilot addressing the word 'chink,' yet it works because it's the safest bet the studio could have made."