Canadian sitcom producer apologizes for offensive tweets

"In my hasty attempt to be funny I carelessly hurt many in the Asian community."

The cast of Spun Out
The latest in Twitter racism, coming out of Canada... In Toronto, a television producer has apologized for a series of racially insensitive tweets directed at fellow Chinese travelers during a recent flight.

Spun Out producer's tweets anger Asian community

Brent Piaskoski, executive producer of the Canadian sitcom Spun Out was traveling over the weekend when he became increasingly irritated by fellow plane passengers -- particularly those annoying Asian ones who were talking too loudly, lining up aggressively and eating too vigorously for his liking.

So, of course, he took to Twitter to express his frustrations. The July 12 tweets have since been deleted, but the Toronto Star reproduced some of Piakoski's best gems:

12th Annual Plate by Plate Tasting Benefit

Presented by Project by Project LA, Saturday, August 2 at the Petersen Automotive Museum



L.A. foodies, mark your calendars -- it's back. Project by Project LA presents Plate by Plate, its 12th annual food and wine festival and fundraiser happening Saturday, August 2 at the Petersen Automotive Museum.

Every year, Project by Project selects a non-profit partner based on a theme or issue that addresses current needs in the Asian American community. This year, Project by Project LA is partnering up with Pacific Asian Counseling Services, whose mission is to help children and families through counseling and caring.

Here are some more details:

Couple arrested for having sex on roof of Chipotle

Michael Suh and Nicole Germack were caught toasting their tortillas on top of the neighborhood burrito joint



Asians behaving badly... restaurant rooftop sex edition! This one comes out of Delaware, where a couple was arrested for a having sex on the roof of a Chipotle restaurant. I mean, really, the headline says it all:

Couple Caught Having Sex on Chipotle Roof: Police

Things got just a little too spicy for 38-year-old Michael Suh and 27-year-old Nicole Germack, who were spotted from street engaging in sexual intercourse on the front of the roof of the fast food chain location.

'Promise EP' by Spazzkid

New four-track EP from Los Angeles-based electronic producer



Mark Redito is a Los Angeles-based electronic producer and songwriter who makes music under the moniker Spazzkid. I was a big fan of his debut album Desire, and gobbled up all of his subsequent releases and remixes. His recently released EP Promise is a nice little four-track synth-heavy slice of cool, described as Mark's attempt to explore more "uptempo, dancefloor-ready arrangements structured into pop songs."

Preview the album below:

Real-life yellowface! Now playing in Seattle.

"It's a fun show. I personally have never heard any complaints."



Take a good, long look at the photo. Does any of that feel right to you?

The Bagley Wright Theatre in Seattle is currently staging Gilbert & Sullivan's "classic" comic opera The Mikado, which has historically required actors to perform roles in yellowface, and a bunch of shitty made up stereotypes for comic effect. This version is no different, with all forty Japanese characters played by white actors.

The year is 2014, my friends.

Osama's Ghost on Streets of America

By Vishavjit Singh. Cross-posted from Sikhtoons.



The article below was rejected by a diverse array of news outlets. One explained "there is not enough of a new story here." A film-maker acquaintance shared similar struggle pitching an idea along the theme of this article sometime ago. Potential funders responded with "Racism against Sikhs and the use of the 'O' word is so cliched and overdone." Apparently we Sikhs need to find ourselves being targeted in innovative ways for being news worthy! So here is the same old news for you. If it moves you, share it, comment on it, share your experience, make it your news.

Osama Bin Laden has been dead for over 3 years.

But his ghost lives on and quite responsive to news events of jihadi flavor.

As our new streams fill with the advance and images of ISIS in Iraq, the ingrained countenance of the Saudi who personified hate at its worst in his living days finds outlets in the most unlikely of places.

Disney announces voice cast and characters for 'Big Hero 6'

Disney's first animated Marvel adaptation includes Ryan Potter and Jamie Chung



Disney has officially announced the full voice cast for its upcoming animated adventure feature Big Hero 6, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team. The cast includes Ryan Potter as Hiro Hamada, Scott Adsit as Baymax, TJ Miller as Fred, Jamie Chung as Go Go Tomago and Damon Wayans Jr as Wasabi, among others.

Disney Announces the Voice Cast for Big Hero 6

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 assemble a team of superheroes to save his city. The movie marks the first animated Marvel feature adaptation from Walt Disney Animation Studios. A super-fun teaser trailer dropped a couple of months back.

Here's a preview of some of the characters from Big Hero 6:

Hey, Jeremy. Need a place to stay in LA? Try Craigslist.

"Room available (Asian American NBA point guard preferred)"



Now that Jeremy Lin is packing his bags and headed for Los Angeles, he's going to need a place to hang his hat. While I'm sure he'll have plenty of choices among the swanky downtown lofts, if he's interested in saving a few bucks, and is feelin' something a little more humble and homelike, there's an offer on the table...

Room available (Asian American NBA point guard preferred)

Here's one Chinese American mom -- a former schoolteacher and "a HUGE Lakers fan" -- who is offering up a room in her house to Jeremy Lin, free of charge. This Craigslist posting, directed specifically to Jeremy, describes an awesome room in a house located in Redondo Beach, with all the comforts and conveniences that an Asian American NBA player might just be looking for. But you'll have to do your own laundry.

Here's the listing:

Beware the "Chinamen" learning "how to do computers"

Fox News' Bob Beckel uses racial slur, says the Chinese are the greatest threat to national security



Why would I expect anything but the worst from Fox News? Last week, host Bob Beckel used the slur "Chinamen" -- yes, people, it's a slur -- during a broadcast, in the middle of a xenophobic rant about China.

Bob Beckel Uses Racial Slur On Live Television

On Thursday, during Fox News' The Five, Beckel called China "the single biggest threat to the national security of the United States," launching into a tirade about the imminent threat Chinese hackers. You know. Those hordes of sneaky "chinamen" who come over here and learn "how to do computers" for evil purposes.

Beckel was discussing a New York Times article that said Chinese hackers broke into the computer networks of a U.S. government agency that houses the personal information of all federal employees.

Here's video of Beckel's rant:

Read These Blogs

Jeremy Lin, via Instagram: "Thank you to Houston fans, media, Rockets staff, coaches and teammates for the last 2 years! Sad it never went, or ended, the way I had envisioned it to, but God always has a perfect plan and I'll forever cherish that chapter of my life. Im SO blessed to join the Lakers and cant wait to get started!!! #purpleandgold #calikid"

Asian Americans Celebrate Jeremy Lin's Trade to the L.A. Lakers: Jeff Yang on Jeremy's escape from the Houston Rockets, and why, as an Asian American fan, there's a lot to love about this move.

Jeremy Lin Helps Usher Lakers into Life of More Modest NBA Reality: On why Los Angeles' acquisition of Jeremy Lin makes good business sense, meshing well with the Lakers' massive global brand.

Why I don't hyphenate Chinese American: "Language matters. Words are expressions of power and identity. And even something as trivial as punctuation can say a lot about what it means to become American."

Serve the People at the Bottom: Yuri Kochiyama: Yuri's indefatigable effort to build solidarity among all activists and oppressed people is what many will likely see as the hallmark of her legacy.



For Asian-American Men, A New Definition of Sexy: Our friend Kristina Wong recently gave a commencement address at UCLA's Asian Pacific Islander graduation, where she issued a challenge to Asian-American men: "Are you going to be the new face of sexy?"

You May Not Know About The First Chinese Americans, But You Should: From immigration to exclusion to success, here are some important early Chinese American figures and events you should know about.

O.C. now has third-largest Asian American population in nation - Los Angeles Times: Over the course of a decade, the number of Asian Americans living in Orange County increased 41%, changing the face of cities from Anaheim to Irvine.

How Pacific Islander Students Are Slipping Through the Cracks: A May report released by the ACT found that less than one in five Pacific Islanders who took the ACT met the scoring benchmarks. Another report from a different nonprofit finds that only 18 percent of PI adults have a bachelor's degree. Why and how are PI students slipping through the cracks?

Asian-American Leadership Programs Tackle The 'Bamboo Ceiling': Asian Americans face a so-called "bamboo ceiling" when it comes to career leadership positions in the workplace. Leadership programs are attempting to tackle the lack of Asian Americans in leadership roles.



Will Your Film Get Into the San Diego Asian Film Festival? (FLOWCHART): With their submission deadline for the San Diego Asian Film Festival just around the corner, our friends at Pacific Arts Movement put together his handy (and hilarious) flow chart. If you've ever been involved in Asian American film festival programming, you'll get a kick out of this.

Why Is American Girl Rebranding Their Historical Line Without An Asian Doll? American Girl recently announced that it would discontinue four "friend" dolls in their line of historical dolls and story books, including Chinese American Ivy Ling, the only Asian doll. Is American Girl telling girls that Asian Americans don't matter?

If the Padres want a better ball club, Kim Ng should be their next GM: If Kim Ng is the next general manager of the San Diego Padres, she will be the team's first general manager, and, as this Yahoo sports article suggests, the team might actually improve.

'Jeopardy!' champ Arthur Chu tells us how to beat the SATs: A few years before he became infamous for his winning-streak on Jeopardy!, Arthur Chu was an SAT-prep instructor. He gives students tips for their exam.

Hari Kondabolu and Alex Edelman in Conversation: Comedians Hari Kondabolu and Alex Edelman have a long conversation about their craft for The Believer.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. Research Study seeks Asian Americans who drink alcohol

2. Students to face homicide charges in frat hazing death

3. Sorry we ignored you while you almost died in that DEA cell

4. Couple arrested for keeping autistic son in cage

5. 'Sullivan and Son': The Other Asian American TV Family

6. [UPDATED] Jeremy Lin traded to the Lakers

7. Announcer calls Asian pitchers "Oriental." Two nights in a row.

8. 76-year-old grocer dies in DC store robbery

9. Get ready for 'Harold & Kumar: The Animated Series'

10. Angry Reader of the Week: Atsuko Okatsuka

Stay Angry, my friends.

Bay Area middle school to be renamed for Fred Korematsu

School board unanimously votes to rename Portola Middle School for Japanese American civil rights hero



Some cool news out of the Bay Area... Middle school students in El Cerrito, California will soon be attending Fred T. Korematsu Middle School, renamed in honor of the late civil rights leader who hailed from the area and was arrested for his refusal to cooperate with the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

El Cerrito middle school name change approved

This week, the West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education voted unanimously to rename Portola Middle School after the civil rights icon. A committee recommended the name change earlier this month after listening to testimony at four community meetings and two school board meetings.

Angry Reader of the Week: Atsuko Okatsuka

"I make films, do stand up comedy, performance art and tutor rich White kids."



What's up, folks? Please open your hearts and gather 'round to meet the latest 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 Atsuko Okatsuka.

Get ready for 'Harold & Kumar: The Animated Series'

John Cho and Kal Penn reunite for "wildly inappropriate" first table read



It's on, my friends. The Harold and Kumar animated series is on. We've known that an animated series based on comedy trilogy was in the works, with John Cho and Kal Penn returning to provide the voices for the titular stoner duo. This week, the cast reportedly reunited for the show's first table read.

The gathering included Cho, Penn and several returning cast members, including Dave Kumrholtz, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Paula Garces, and producer/creators Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg. They tweeted photos from the table read, which was described as "insane, surreal and hilarious." Also: "wildly inappropriate."

I would expect nothing less from an animated Harold and Kumar.

[UPDATED] Jeremy Lin traded to the Lakers

Los Angeles acquires Lin and a first-round draft pick from the Rockets



UPDATE: The rumors are true. Jeremy Lin will be headed for Los Angeles. The Houston Rockets have traded your favorite Asian American point guard to the Lakers. LA, get ready.

Lakers acquire Jeremy Lin from Houston, still pursuing Carmelo Anthony

According to a source familiar with the deal, the Lakers have acquired Jeremy, along with the Rockets' first-round draft pick next year. The Rockets will get cash and rights to an undisclosed overseas player.

More here: Lakers trade for Jeremy Lin

Announcer calls Asian pitchers "Oriental." Two nights in a row.

Hawk Harrelson didn't get the memo. Or perhaps threw it in the trash.



Hawk Harrelson is on a roll. Oh, what has he done now? This week, the longtime announcer for the Chicago White Sox used the term "Oriental" to describe an Asian pitcher on two occasions, two nights in a row. Classy.

White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson continues to stereotype Asian pitchers

During the broadcast of Wednesday night's game against Boston, Harrelson referred to Red Sox pitcher Junichi Tazawa as "oriental." On Thursday night, he did it again. I guess Hawk didn't get the memo, or perhaps just crumpled it up and threw it in the trash can. Many, many decades ago.

You can hear the remark in this clip from Wednesday's game, in which Harrelson first says "Asian" then quickly says "Oriental," as if he's correcting himself. You're going the wrong way, sir:

76ers and Rockets agree to potential Jeremy Lin trade deal

But it all depends on where LeBron James is going



Rumor has it, Jeremy Lin is going to the 76ers. At least, there is reportedly a deal in place that could send your favorite Asian American point guard to Philadelphia. But it all depends on some big moves by some big names.

Source: Sixers and Rockets Agree In Principle To Jeremy Lin Deal

According to Liberty Ballers, the Rockets have agreed on a deal that will send Jeremy Lin and at least one first-round draft pick to the 76ers, in exchange for taking on Lin's $14.89 million salary and $8.37 million cap hit.

But first, we need to know what LeBron is going to do.

76-year-old grocer dies in DC store robbery

Two armed suspects wanted for homicide and armed robbery, caught on surveillance video



Learned of some tragic news out of Washington DC... Police are asking for the public's help finding two armed men who are responsible for the death of a 76-year-old grocer during a store robbery last week.

Man dies after DC store robbery, beating

James Oh died Tuesday after suffering severe head trauma during the July 4 robbery, when one of the suspects used a gun to hit Oh on his head. Surveillance video shows the two men entering the store, forcing their way behind the counter, taking money from the register and assaulting Oh and his wife.

Here's the footage from the robbery:

Fund This: 'Nailedit: Vietnamese & the Nail Industry'

A documentary film about the origins and impact of Vietnamese in the 8.7 billion dollar nail industry



Here's an interesting documentary film project that could be worthy of your crowdfunded support... NailedIt: Vietnamese & The Nail Industry is an exploration Vietnamese American culture and history, specifically looking at the impact of the Vietnamese nail salon industry -- a uniquely American story.

In 1975, a chance encounter between 20 Vietnamese refugee women and actress Tippi Hedren triggered the onset of the ubiquitous Vietnamese nail shop. Whaaaat? This documentary tells the story of incredible growth and impact a small community of people have on today's 8 billion dollar nail trade.

Watch this video with filmmaker Adele Pham for more information about the project:

Sorry we ignored you while you almost died in that DEA cell

Justice Department report says several employees saw or heard Daniel Chong during his ordeal



Remember that guy who was locked up and abandoned in a Drug Enforcement Administration holding cell for five days? According to a Department of Justice investigation, several DEA employees saw or heard Daniel Chong in his cell, but did nothing because they assumed someone else was responsible for him.

Four DEA Agents Saw Or Heard Daniel Chong, Student Abandoned For Days In Cell

Chong, then 23, was taken into custody during a DEA raid in April 2012, placed in a cell, then promptly forgotten. He was handcuffed behind his back, locked up for five days without food or water (or access to a toilet), and later found delirious, dehydrated and suicidal. He was never charged with a crime.

Chong later won $4.1 million in a legal claim against DEA. The report from the Department of Justice, released this week, says that four employees encountered Chong -- probably in various stages of desperation and shitting himself -- and basically said, "not my problem."