Angry Asian Man

6.10.2010

chinese farmer defends his turf with homemade rockets

This is pretty badass. In China, a farmer threatened with eviction has resorted to using improvised rockets to defend his right to land ownership. They're trying to kick him out to make way for commercial buildings, but the guy is going to keep them out by any means necessary: Farmer defends his turf.

Since February, Yang Youde, a 56-year-old farmer living on the outskirts of Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province, has foiled two attempts to flatten his hut by using homemade "rocket-like weapons."

future funk on america's got talent

Oh man. How cute is Future Funk? This dance duo -- 9-year-old Bailey Munoz aka "Bailrok" and 5-year-old Miles Brown aka "Baby Boogaloo" -- completely floored the judges and brought the house down with their audition for America's Got Talent last week. I don't know how far these kids can make it, but they just brought a huge smile to my face.

6.09.2010

mark your calendars: kollaboration new york 5

Heads up, New York. Mark your calendars for Kollaboration, the Asian American talent show movement that is taking over the nation. Kollaboration New York 5 is happening Saturday, June 26 at the Highline Ballroom. This year's lineup boasts some of the best Asian American performers the city has to offer:

help taz get to netroots nation

My friend (and former Angry Reader of the Week) Tanzila "Taz" Ahmed is trying to get to the annual Netroots Nation convention on a scholarship. Will you help her get there? It's easy. She just needs your vote to take advantage of this awesome opportunity. But what is Netroots Nation? Read on:

Whoa. Check out the trippy new music video for "Freak You Out" by Blip Blip Beep, from their forthcoming album Like Track Stars, due out June 29. The video is very... uh, leggy. Take a look for yourself:

why are there suddenly so many indians on tv?

My friend Nina Shen Rastogi has a piece in Slate examining the curious, sudden rise of Indians on television. Like many of us Asian-spotters, it began for her as a simple running tally, giving way to a full-on "trend" of South Asian faces on the tube: Beyond Apu.

So really, why are there suddenly so many Indians on television? There are various theories, and they're all pretty valid. Here's a good one I never considered before, but completely makes sense:

"Lightning bolt! Lightning bolt!" This clip, of some hardcore LARPers defeating, um, an ogre or something, is one of my favorite viral vids of all time. Pre-dating YouTube, it has brought a smile to my face for years. Re-enjoy it:

nikki haley, the next governor of south carolina?

Yesterday in South Carolina's primary election, Indian American state representative Nikki Haley maintained her lead over her Republican rivals to be the next governor of South Carolina, earning 49 percent of the vote: South Carolina Candidate Challenges Status Quo.

Haley will face off with the second-place finisher, U.S. Rep. Gresham Barrett, in a run-off on June 22. And if she wins the general election in November, she would be the first woman and first racial minority elected governor of South Carolina:

Check out "Up in the Air," the new single from Dumbfoundead. It's off of his forthcoming album, which was supposed to drop this week, but he couldn't get together in time. So he's releasing this track as a sneak peek. He explains:

kamala harris wins democratic primary for california attorney general

Results of one of the major primary races I've been following... In California, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris won the Democratic primary for state attorney general: Steve Cooley, Kamala Harris win in attorney general race.

Harris defeated a crowded field of candidates, and will now face Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley in the general election in November to replace Democrat Jerry Brown, who is running for governor.

portable parking spot

As any driver in any city knows, parking sucks. Everybody hates looking for a parking spot. But here's one way to beat the system. I don't know what city this is, but this resourceful woman has found a way to grab a parking spot every time: Portable Parking Spot.

the hollywood reporter's digital power 50

The Hollywood Reporter has released its third annual Digital Power issue, highlighting fifty noteworthy men and women whose accomplishments who are making a difference in the digital content world: Introducing the Digital Power 50 for 2010.

opening in theaters: blades of blood

Check it out, film fans. The South Korean swordsman movie Blades of Blood is opening in select U.S. theaters in a handful of cities this Friday, June 11 from CJ Entertainment. Here's the movie's synopsis:

eri yoshida recognized by the baseball hall of fame

18-year-old Eri Yoshida, who made her professional debut last weekend with the Chico Outlaws, will be getting some love from the Baseball Hall of Fame: Yoshida's jersey, bat to get Hall display.

The new TV series Pretty Little Liars, based on the bestselling teen novel series, premieres tonight on ABC Family. The show follows the lives of four girls who were all in the same clique until their queen bee, Alison, mysteriously disappeared. Kind of sounds like Desperate Housewives for the Gossip Girl set.

job opportunity: program specialist, white house initiative on asian americans and pacific islanders

This cool job opportunity was passed along to me, so I am sharing it with you. The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is looking for a Program Specialist. Here's some more information:

'The Daily Show' investigates Chinese language programs

Aasif Mandvi interviews Jay Chen about the brainwashing conspiracy in Hacienda Heights.

Not too long ago, I wrote about the controversy over a China-funded language program for students in Hacienda Heights, California. Basically, critics are concerned that the language/culture curriculum could somehow be used to brainwash our precious American children.

Could this all be a nefarious scheme to indoctrinate young American minds with the ways of communism and general evil-ness? The Daily Show recently sent correspondent Aasif Mandvi to investigate, in this awesome segment:

u.s. immigrant stories

Immigrant Stories is a recently launched project "documenting the stories that make the United States great and unique." You are welcome and encouraged to submit your stories, videos, poetry, art, photos, etc., sharing how you, your parents or your ancestors immigrated to the U.S.

For more information on how to take part, go to the website here and the Facebook group here. Also read this piece in the Washington Post by Smith College student Ilana Alazzeh, who started the Immigrant Stories project: United States of immigrants.

ford fiesta movement: the traffic gods by patricio ginelsa

My man Patricio Ginelsa, who has to be one of the hardest working filmmakers I know, made a short film, The Traffic Gods, for the Ford Fiesta Movement Challenge. Starring Fran, Vanae and the city of San Francisco. Take a look:

asian americans in new jersey live better

According to a new report, Asian Americans living in New Jersey live better than any other ethnic group in any other state, based on overall health, education and income: Looking to Live Better? Move to New Jersey New Jersey? New Jersey?! Seriously.

The rankings are part of an American Human Development Index designed to measure the disparities between different racial and ethnic groups across states, factoring life expectancy at birth, educational degree attainment among adults 25-years or older, school enrollment for people at least three years old and median annual gross personal earnings.

This is the Japanese World Cup soccer team. A certainly lady I know insisted that I post this photo. Mumbling something about "hot," "Asian men," and "suits." Well here it is. Happy? Here's the big version. You're welcome.

new york's attorney general investigating racial profiling at apple stores

Remember those allegations of racial profiling of Chinese customers trying to buy iPads at the Soho Apple store? New York's attorney general is taking those complaints seriously and investigating the claims: Apple's Fear of Asian Customers Is Being Officially Investigated.

Complaints alleged that Apple mistreated customers of Asian descent, questioning their English skills, demanding to see their passports and denying them from buying iPads. Apple is apparently worried about people smuggling unauthorized iPads into China:

9500 liberty opens this friday in the bay area

For all my friends in the Bay Area, don't miss the theatrical premiere of Eric Byler and Annabel Park's 9500 Liberty, a documentary on how Prince William County, Virginia became ground zero in America's explosive battle over immigration policy. Here's the synopsis:

brian ching and the really mean soccer fans

Aw man, that's not cool. In soccer, Houston Dynamo striker Brian Ching was cut from the U.S. World Cup team when it came time to name the final 23-man roster. That's got to be disappointing. But here's the part that's uncool... and cruel: Painfully true chants get to Brian Ching.

As the Dynamo visited the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday night, the home fans made sure Ching was aware of his disappointment over all of this by chanting "U.S. reject" and other insults at him throughout the game.

Who will be The Next Food Network Star. I do not know, but I'm hoping Doreen Fang has a shot. She is one of the finalists vying for the chance to host their own show on the Food Network. I didn't catch it, but the new season premiered yesterday. Check out Doreen's blog here: Dining with Doreen.

Lucy H. Koh confirmed to federal judgeship

Koh is the first Asian American judge on the Bay Area federal bench.

Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Lucy Koh was confirmed Monday to a federal judgeship in San Jose, making her the first Asian American to ever gain a spot on the Bay Area federal bench.

Santa Clara County judge becomes first Asian-American federal judge in Bay Area history.

Koh will fill the seat of veteran San Jose U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte, who has taken semi-retired status. In addition to giving northern California its first Asian federal judge, Koh also becomes the only current Korean American federal judge in the nation and just the second in history.

Another video on the oil spill Gulf Coast and its devastating effect on the livelihood of local fishermen. For instance, these Cambodian American shrimpers who have taken jobs as part of the cleanup fleet -- most with little or no experience working with oil. Take a look:

porn actor murder suspect dies after jumping off cliff

A crazy end to a crazy story... The search for Stephen Hill, a porn actor accused of killing fellow porn actor Herbert Wong -- with a samurai sword -- ended when the suspect jumped off a cliff and died, following a standoff with police: Porn actor jumps off cliff after samurai sword murder.

The time has arrived to watch episode five of the comedy webseries Ktown Cowboys. Directed by Daniel DPD Park and written by Danny Cho, it tells the story of one guy's epic crash-course introduction to Los Angeles' Koreatown over the course of one fateful evening. Here's part five:

keeping the pressure on the philadelphia school district

Check out Helen Gym's latest blog post for Young Philly Politics, with the latest updates about what's going on at South Philadelphia High School: South Philly High six months later: What still needs work.

The School District of Philadelphia has recently made a heavy media push, trying to remake its image and bury past woes under the rug. The District insists that the December 3 attacks are ancient history, and it's time to move on. And they're using statistics:

Finally! Check out the fresh, newly launched official music video for "Like a G6" by electro hip hop party boys Far East Movement. If the point of the video is to make you want to party along with them, I think they've done their job. Take a look:

"Stromuhr." That's the word 14-year-old Anamika Veeramani, of North Royalton, Ohio, spelled correctly Friday to win the Scripps National Spelling Bee: Spelling bee winner part of Indian-American streak. Oh? Didn't you know? Indian Americans kick spelling bee ass. A lot:

the man's guide to love: tim, 30

"Always act like you know what you're doing." Some more advice from The Man's Guide to Love, courtesy of Tim Chiou. He may not always know what he's doing, but baby, you'll never know!

designer tobias wong dead at 35

Designer and artist Tobias Wong, whose outrageous work was often described as both provocative and playful, was found dead last weekend in his Manhattan apartment. The office of the chief medical examiner in Manhattan ruled the death a suicide. He was 35: Tobias Wong, Witty Designer and Conceptual Artist, Dies at 35.

Washington D.C.! Kollaboration is coming, and they want your talent -- singers, dancers, martial artists, jugglers, whatever. Got a talent to share with the world? Have you got what it takes? They're holding auditions this weekend, June 12-13. Here are some more details:

staged reading: 100 days by weiko lin

If you're in Chicago, check out this staged reading of my man Weiko Lin's new play 100 Day, presented by the Silk Road Theatre Project. The play was inspired by death of Weiko's own mother -- but it's a comedy. It's happening this Saturday, June 12 at The Historic Chicago Temple Building. Here's some more info:

Any K-pop fans in the house? Anybody want to see Wonder Girls? This month, Live Nation presents the Wonder Girls World Tour -- nine confirmed cities, now through June 13. With special guest 2PM!

If you're in Los Angeles, Wonder Girls will be performing live this Friday, June 11 at the House of Blues. Tickets are on sale now at Live Nation. But check it, I'm giving away a pair of tickets to the L.A. show, courtesy of The Blended Group. Read on and tweet on for your chance to win:

janm presents conversations/loving prize presentation with kip fulbeck and maya soetoro-ng

If you're in the Los Angeles area, I wanted to make sure you knew about this event happening next weekend at the Japanese American National Museum. Dr. Maya Soetoro-Ng -- President Barack Obama's sister -- and artist/professor/writer/hapa activist Kip Fulbeck will be having a conversation about what it means to be multiracial in America. Check the details:

I've been sampling some tracks from Sunny Jain's new project, Taboo, which will be released on June 10 from the Brooklyn Jazz Underground Records label (and currently available as a full digital download). It's a cool, poetic mix of South Asian-influenced jazz rhythms and instrumentals, with a political kick. Here's Sunny's description:

Hey, San Francisco! Giant Robot will be hosting a reception and book signing this week with graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang, celebrating the release of his latest book Prime Baby. It's happening Thursday, June 10 at GRSF. Here's some more info:

On Saturday afternoon, I was shaken by news -- initially, an outpouring of grief on Facebook and Twitter -- of the shocking, untimely death of activist and educator John Delloro, reportedly of a heart attack. John was a greatly loved and respected leader in the community:

In case you haven't heard, funny man Aziz Ansari is hosting the MTV Movie Awards, which airs tonight. What, you don't know Aziz? Hands down, the funniest guy on television. Here's a TIME piece recounting five of his funniest moments: 5 Laughs From Aziz Ansari. And for a good time, you have to watch Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening. Damn funny.

6.05.2010

this week's angriest posts

Not really the angriest, just the most viewed.

"too yellow" for a passport

a lesson in english swear words

kenny tarr loves lady gaga and hates uppity asian men

porn actor killed in sword attack

the littlest protestor

is the world ready for a non-white spider-man

crazy hot jaydiohead video featuring b-girl honji

ben kingsley strikes back

the stupidest state in america

date an indian!

In the middle of putting this post together, I received word that educator, activist and community leader John Delloro has died. Not a lot of details yet, but there is a candlelight vigil scheduled tonight at UCLA.

6.04.2010

see you at tuesday night cafe

This week, I had the pleasure of being the designated "Guest Blogger" at Tuesday Night Cafe, a multi-disciplinary performance space for the API and local Los Angeles arts community, happening every first and third Tuesday in Little Tokyo, spring through fall.

I don't actually understand what "guest blogger" really means, or what my duties were for the evening. But I saw and experienced some very cool, genuine artists doing their thing. So I'm sharing about it. Here are some photos:

Next week in Los Angeles' Koreatown, our friends at KoreAm are hosting a free screening of two hilarious films, Daniel DPD Park and Danny Cho's Ktown Cowboys and Brent Anbe's Ajumma! Are You Krazy? It's happening Tuesday, June 8 at the newly opened CGV Theaters. Here's some more information:

Check out episode one The Man From North Korea, a new web series written by Anson Ho and directed by Evan Jackson Leong of Arowana Films. It tells the story about a North Korean refugee who comes to Los Angeles:

east coast casinos target asian americans

Here's another Associated Press story on the casino industry's efforts to target Asian Americans, luring them away from Atlantic City to casinos in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. They know Asian gamblers are big money, and they want a piece of that pie: East Coast casinos target Asian-American market.

Did you catch Olivia Munn on The Daily Show last night? G4's Attack of the Show co-host made her debut as Senior Asian Correspondent, reporting on the plight of Vietnamese fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico -- much to the dismay of fellow Daily Show correspondents Samantha Bee, Jason Jones, Wyatt Cenac, and of course, Aasif Mandvi.

"we've got a raghead in washington, we don't need a raghead in the statehouse"

Oh, wait. Is South Carolina already out of the running for Bill Maher's Stupidest State in America? Becuase Jake Knotts is trying to make a case for his state, home of shamed Governor Mark Sanford and Congressman Joe "You Lie!" Wilson. But Knotts wants it bad.

This week, the Republican State Senator appeared on an online political chat show and referred to Indian American GOP gubernatorial candidate Nikki Haley, as well as President Barack Obama, as a "raghead": 'Raghead' slur is new ugly twist in S.C. race. It's getting dirty:

Greetings! Time to meet another 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 film producer Mynette Louie.

date an indian!

I've read this over a couple of times now, just to make sure, and I've determined that this Huffington Post piece is not satire. This woman is completely serious: How to Date an Indian (Advice for the Non-Indian).

Congratulations, Indians. You are officially desirable.

Seven easy steps to stepping up "your game" with Indians, in which an entire population is ridiculously reduced to Bollywood, bhangra, food and language.

My Desi friends, you can blame Andrea Miller if you start encountering a flurry of cheesy pickup lines involving Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Indian cuisine.

crazy hot jaydiohead video featuring b-girl honji

Perhaps you've heard of Jaydiohead, a mashup project by Max Tannone mixing Jay-Z and Radiohead. I've been listening to the original album and The Encore for the better part of a year, but I just saw this video, and it's crazy hot:

china knows about red dawn, and they're not happy

I was wondering how long it would take before someone in China got wind of the Red Dawn remake. Well, they're aware of it, and people ain't happy, thanks to a couple of editorials in one of the leading Chinese state-run newspapers: "Red Dawn" remake irks Beijing. Well, what did you think was going to happen?

cinemamore: aaiff speed dating fundraiser

Our friends at the Asian American International Film Festival are throwing a little fundraiser mixing film, fun and some romance: CinemAmore, the AAIFF Speed Dating Fundraiser. Mix it up and meet some fellow film lovers, all for a good cause. It's happening June 14 & 15 at Forbidden City in New York. Here are some more details:

Finally got around to picking up To Kill a Tiger: A Memoir of Korea by Jid Lee, published earlier this year from Overlook Press. It's been sitting on my shelf for months, and I've just started it, but I think I'm getting into something really good. Here's the synopsis:

Jeff Yan's latest "Asian Pop" column for SF Gate is all about Daniel Dae Kim, who's riding high off a solid six-year run on Lost, one of the greatest TV shows ever, and entering into his new job on the remake of Hawaii Five-0. Best of all, the guy gets to stick around Hawaii: The book of Daniel. Lucky bastard.

Ohio, this one's for you. Specifically, Asian American youth. Asian American Community Services invites you to the GenerAsian NeXt 2010 Youth Leadership Conference, a statewide event to raise awareness for violence prevention among Asian youth. It's happening Saturday, August 7 in the New Ohio Union at The Ohio State University. Here are some details:

Take a look at this sneak peek from the upcoming feature film High School Sucks - The Musical, directed by Pedro D. Flores and starring Tim Chantarangsu (aka Timothy DeLaGhetto), Eric Ochoa, Tina Echeverria. This is the big intro number, which should give you an idea of the vibe it's going for:

porn actor killed sword attack

Porn actor Steve Driver kills fellow porn actor Tom Dong. With a samurai sword. I swear, I'm not making this up. Crazy story out of Southern California: Man killed in machete attack at porn facility is identified.

Last in night in Van Nuys, a disgruntled porn actor went on a violent rampage using "a samurai-style sword," killing one and wounding two at the offices of Ultima DVD Inc.: Porn actor goes on rampage at video production office, police say; 1 dead, 2 wounded.

I'm really really really looking forward to Kero One's upcoming album, Kinetic World, due out this month. I was a huge fan of his last record Early Believers, and based on what I've heard so far, this one promises more hot, fresh goodness.

I've never been a big fan of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher (can't stand him, actually), but the show has been running a particularly inspired bit called the Stupidest State in America.

It is, as the title indicates, a tournament-style showdown to determine which state is indeed the stupidest in the United States. The competition has been whittled down to the final four:

I don't know whose kid this is, or where exactly this photo was taken (Arizona?), but it's awesome. This young revolutionary appears to be participating in some kind protest against SB 1070. I love it.

ken watanabe directing movie on world war II's 442nd?

Japanese actor Ken Watanabe, who you'd know from movies like Batman Begins, Letters From Iwo Jima and the upcoming Inception, apparently wants to step into directing. And rumor has it, he might be making a film about World War II's famed 442nd unit of Japanese American soldiers.

is the world ready for a non-white spider-man?

You might have heard that Sony Pictures is revamping the Spider-Man movie franchise. Considering how awful that third movie was, they might as well. Scrap the whole thing and start over. But who will play the new, improved webslinger? Is it possible... we could have a black Peter Parker?

The indie comedy White on Rice, directed by David Boyle and starring Hiroshi Watanabe and Lynn Chen, is now available for viewing on Pay Per View and Video on Demand. Missed it in theaters? Haven't picked up the DVD? You can now have White on Rice beamed straight to your TV. Some details:

Some new music to check out... Jay Legaspi recently released his first full length album Picture Perfect. I've heard a couple of songs, including the title track, and I'm digging it. Here's some more information about the album, in Jay's own words:

This is serious geek territory, and I like it. I recently heard from Viet, who saw Marvel Comics' recent celebration of APA Heritage Month and was inspired to make a custom Amadeus Cho action figure from Heroic Age: Prince of Power. One of a kind! See how he did it here.

kw lee center for leadership: 5th annual dinner & silent auction

K.W. Lee is a true pioneer, and considered the godfather of Asian American journalism. At age 82, his illustrious career as a writer and civil rights activist has profoundly shaped the consciousness of the Korean American community. Founded in 2003, the KW Lee Center for Leadership in Los Angeles is a nonprofit organization dedicated to continuing his passionate legacy.

This Friday, you are invited to the Center's 5th Annual Dinner & Silent Auction, as they celebrate community leaders and raise funds for future programs. It's happening June 4 at the Oxford Palace Hotel. Here are some more details:

Check out this cool, quick teaser trailer for Saigon Electric, the latest project from Stephane Gauger, award-winning director of Owl and the Sparrow. The feature just started shooting last week, but they've already edited together this nice-looking rough-cut teaser:

japanese rocker kid in shell commercial

An amusing commercial for Shell, featuring a rockin' out kid named Riku, and uncoolest parents in Japan. I haven't actually seen this one airing on television, but I guess that's why YouTube is awesome.

it all goes to the butler

Saw this story on the front page of Yahoo!, about a wealthy Manhattan woman who bequeathed her entire estate to her butler, Indra Tamang, after 36 years of loyal service: Loyalty takes butler from poor Nepal village to NY. Not bad for a guy whose humble beginnings trace back to a Nepalese farming village:

a lesson in english swear words

I laughed my ass off watching this entire thing. At first I thought it was a joke, but this dude is straight up serious. Basically, it's an instructional video for Korean speakers, teaching English swear words. It's freaking hilarious -- and you don't have to understand Korean to find this funny. (Thanks, Kevin.)

everybody wants to be arizona

Come on, America. According to a new survey, more American voters want an immigration law in their own state that's similar the controversial one adopted by Arizona, requiring law enforcement officials to ask someone's legal status if there is "reasonable suspicion" to believe the person is in the country illegally: Poll: More Americans want an Ariz.-style immigration law in their states.

first thursdays: are you one in ten?

Bay Area! If you're in the South Bay, check out this event happening on Thursday evening, presented by South Bay First Thursdays, a monthly dinner series for people in the non-profit, for-profit, and government sectors interested in AAPI community issues and service opportunities.

This month's event, "Asian American Health Issues: Are you One in Ten?" will focus on diabetes and hepatitis B within the AAPI community. The key statistic: 1 in 10 Asian Americans have diabetes, and 1 in 10 Asian Americans have hepatitis B. The event will stress education and prevention. Some details:

gallants trailer

Check out this awesome trailer for the Hong Kong martial arts film Gallants, which appears to be a super-homage to the classic kung fu flicks of yesteryear. And dude, did I just see Jin in that trailer?

After reading this kickass review, I can't wait to see this movie. It just looks like a lot of fun. If you're in New York, you'll be able catch Gallants later this month at the New York Asian Film Festival.

the chinese are coming to california, courtesy of amway

The Chinese invasion is coming! But we're not talking about the Red Dawn remake. Direct sales company Amway is sending 13,000 of its top Chinese sellers to spend a week in the United States as a reward: Amway is sending 13,000 of its top Chinese sellers to Southern California.

Amway has a worldwide sales for of 3 million people in 80 countries -- and China is its biggest market, with 200,000 "independent business owners" selling its products door to door and recruiting other salespeople. It seems they've been doing quite well:

I recently heard from Tze Chun -- not to be confused with her brother, filmmaker Tze Chun (okay, it's a bit confusing) -- whose Brooklyn-based dance company has been creating and performing original works in New York City for the past four years.

They're currently planning their first international, and are raising funds to fly seven company members to perform shows and festivals in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Guangdong this July. To do this, they've got launched a Kickstarter page. Here are some details about the tour:

Got a big kick out of this first edition of ACK! Comics, by Monsoon Studios, in which "two dudes from the Mahabharata end up in Jersey." Here's the concept:

job opportunity: museum curator, smithsonian center for folklife and cultural heritage

Take a look at this cool job announcement that passed along to me, for Museum Curator in the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., responsible for conceiving and implementing folklife programs in Asian American and/or Asian culture. Some details:

Almost forgot to mention last week that episode four of the comedy webseries Ktown Cowboys is up and running. Directed by Daniel DPD Park and written by Danny Cho, it tells the story of one guy's epic crash-course introduction to Los Angeles' Koreatown over the course of one fateful evening. Here's part four:

The Los Angeles Times ran a Memorial Day story the other day on Maj. Kurt Chew-Een Lee, a Chinese American infantry platoon leader who fought with the U.S. Marines in the Korean War: A tale of Korean War heroism.

His bravery at the battle of the Chosin Reservoir -- a Chinese American offider battling Chinese army troops who had surround the American forces -- is part of Marine Corps lore:

Oh, America. You make me laugh. Mr. Li recently applied for a passport, only to receive word that his submitted photo was unacceptable. The stated reason: "too yellow." Believe it or not, that's the letter he received from the National Passport Center, above. Yo, what if that's just his skin color? It's yellow!

qing hong wu's long journey to citizenship

Remember Qing Hong Wu? He's the Chinese immigrant who got into trouble with the law as a teen, but managed to turn his life around, building a promising career and family. It was a story of redemption... until immigration authorities threatened to take it all away when he was jailed for mandatory deportation to China, based on his convictions as a minor.

Thankfully, through strong support from the community, including a letter of appeal from the judge who originally sentenced him, he was eventually pardoned New York Gov. David A. Paterson. And last week, Wu was sworn in as a citizen of the United States of America: After Governor's Pardon, an Immigrant Is Sworn in as a Citizen.

6.10.2010

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