three arrested in murder of 85-year-old woman

Some horrific news out of east St. Louis, where three people have been arrested in connection with the murder of an 85-year-old grandmother whose remains were found in trunk of a burning car: Three charged with murder of 85-year-old Belleville woman.

Yoko Cullen was reported missing after she was carjacked from the parking lot of a bingo hall last Wednesday. Daquan Barnes, 18, Latosha Cunningham, 38, and Demarcus Barnes, 27, are charged with first degree murder:

new album: suitcase of stones by emi meyer

All right! Suitcase of Stones, the latest English language album from singer/songwriter Emi Meyer is now out and ready to be enjoyed by the world. I'm listening to the new album as I write this, and it's a pretty enchanting little slice of jazz-inspired pop. For a little taste, here's the gorgeous music video for one of the songs, "Master Piece":

who invented bubble tea?

Anywhere that Asians gather, you will find bubble tea. From Flushing to San Gabriel, Asians must have it! But in all those times you sucked on a tapioca ball through a giant straw, did you ever consider where it came from? CNN apparently has the answer: Is this the inventor of bubble tea?

According to this article, the popular drink originates from the Chun Shui Tang tea house in Taichun, Taiwan, and a woman named Lin Hsiu Hui is generally accepted as the innovator behind the popular drink. Legend has it, Ms. Lin poured her tapioca dessert into her iced tea during a meeting in 1988.

target commercial: trail mix

Is it me, or is Target on a roll? At least, when it comes to putting Asian American actors in their advertising... A nice hike takes a turn for the worse, in yet another great television ad featuring some Asian faces, front and center: Trail Mix. Take a look:

justice department admits mistakes during japanese american internment cases

Nearly 70 years after the Supreme Court upheld the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, the U.S. Department of Justice has finally admitted it made mistakes and acted dishonorably in defending the convictions of Gordon Hirabayashi and Fred Korematsu: Top Supreme Court lawyer says WWII-era predecessor hid key information on Japanese internment.

The "confession of error," posted by acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal on the Justice Department's website last week, is the first such admission of wrongdoing since the 1940s, when the Supreme Court ruled against Korematsu and Hirabayashi, who challenged the incarceration and related curfew orders that compromised the civil rights of Japanese Americans.

In his statement, Katyal cites evidence that the Solicitor General at the time, Charles Fahy, suppressed evidence in the Korematsu and Hirabayashi cases that clearly stated the minimal threat posed to the nation by Japanese Americans:

osmosis, may 28

If you're in Southern California, Akufuncture invites you to Osmosis, a benefit concert they've put together featuring up and coming Asian American talent like Kevin Lien, Dawen, After School Special, Andrew Fung, David Fung and Vincent Bantasan. It's happening Saturday, May 28 at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra. Here's a fun promo video for the show:

portland trail blazers part ways with gm rich cho

The Portland Trail Blazers abruptly announced today that they have dismissed General Manger Rich Cho: Rich Cho out as Blazers' GM.

When Cho was hired by the team last July, he became the first Asian American general manager in NBA history. After less than a year on the job, this is pretty damn disappointing. Here's the Trail Blazers' announcement:

three shorts from harry shum jr. and wong fu productions

As promised, here is Wong Fu Productions' highly-anticipated collaboration with Harry Shum Jr. -- not just one, but three short vignettes starring the dancing Asian dude from Glee. And at under three minutes each, we actually get to see him do more and say more than in any given episode of Glee. No joke. Fun stuff. Here they are:

tyler clementi's roommate pleads not guilty

Another update on the Tyler Clementi suicide case... Today, Dharun Ravi entered a not guilty plea to charges that he streamed the footage of his roommate engaging in a physical relationship with another man in their dorm room last September: Roommate of Rutgers student who committed suicide pleads not guilty.

The video was allegedly accessed from another room and advertised for viewing on Twitter. Clementi later killed himself by jumping from the George Washington Bridge. Ravi now faces fifteen charges of hate crimes and evidence tampering:

2011 asian american and pacific islander summit, may 24-25

This is short notice, but if you're in Washington D.C., I wanted to make sure you know about the 2011 Asian American and Pacific Islander Summit happening tomorrow, hosted by the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and House Democratic Leadership.

Connect with a national network of community leaders, gain insight into pressing policy issues, and work directly with Congressional leadership to address the needs and concers of the APIA community. It's happening May 24-25 at the U.S. Capitol visitor Center. Here are some more details:

it's okay to be takei!

Last week, the Tennessee State Senate approved S.B. 49, better known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill, which prohibits teachers from discussing homosexuality in classrooms. Not even a mention. Which is friggin' ridiculous. But it's cool, because actor/activist George Takei has a plan, and it rhymes. Don't say gay -- say Takei! George explains:

another awful trailer for the chin chens

Remember that awful teaser trailer for the Asian American-themed sitcom The Chin Chens that got posted a few months back? After all the negative hype, the trailer was eventually yanked from YouTube. But if you want to subject yourself to some more Chin Chens, a helpful reader brings this extended demo trailer to my attention. I didn't think it could get any worse... but just take a listen to that theme song:

u.s. navy sailor pleads guilty to espionage charges

Asians behaving badly... selling military secrets edition! Last week in Virginia, a Navy intelligence specialist pleaded guilty to four counts of attempted espionage and seven counts of mishandling classified information: Sailor pleads guilty to espionage charges in Norfolk.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Bryan Minkyu Martin, a low-level Navy clerk who was arrested last December, admitted that he smuggled classified documents out of Fort Bragg and sold them for $11,500 to a man he believed was a Chinese intelligence officer. Turns out, the Chinese dude was actually an FBI undercover agent:

this week's angriest posts

Not really the angriest, just the most viewed.

• abc's what "would you do?" takes on tiger mom


• 2 broke girls on cbs fall lineup


• weird-ass craigslist posting, part 278: cha ching


• angry reader of the week: kai ma


• victor kim and yuri tag in mcdonald's commercial


• thank you, neo: keanu passes on akira


• the crap science of satoshi kanzawa


• harry shum jr. x wong fu shorts teaser trailer


• music video: "I got my" by magnetic north & taiyo na feat. jin


• video: clara c covers "skinny love"

Looks like we're all still here. Have a great weekend.

asian pacific american visionaries conference, may 26

If you're in New York, Verizon Wireless invites you to Asian Pacific American Visionaries: Innovate. Inspire. Rule., a conference in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. The event will feature an eclectic gropu of Asian American visionaries in the various fields of business, fashion/arts, sports, and entertainment. It's happening Thursday, May 26 at The Grand Ballroom at Webster Hall. Here are some more details:

san jose repertory theatre presents love in american times, may 12 - june 5

If you're in the Bay Area, here's some theater to check out... The San Jose Repertory Theatre presents the world premiere of Love in American Times, a romantic comedy by acclaimed playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, directed by Rick Lombardo and starring Linda Park (Hoshi Sato from Star Trek: Enterprise!)

Love in American Times is currently running through June 5 at the San Jose Repertory Theatre as part of its 30th anniversary season. Here are some more details about the show:

video: "silent" by paperdoll

One of my favorite bands, PaperDoll, just released their latest single "Silent." To mark the occasion, they made this little video as a tribute to all of their friends and supporters. If you've seen the band live in the past year, you're likely in the video. Take a look:

fund this: matt shepard is a friend of mine

Here's another interesting film project I've meaning write about, currently in the works: Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine, a feature-length documentary directed by Michele Josue. The film tells the story of slain Wyoming teen Matthew Shepard, who was kidnapped and killed in 1998 because he was gay. Michele was Matthew's friend. Here she is in a video explaining the project:

angry reader of the week: kai ma

All right, friends. 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 the Hong Kong-bound Kai Ma.

students call for satoshi kanazawa's dismissal

This week, in the fallout from controversy over the crazy racist and sexist -- aka "crap science" -- writings of evolutionary psychologist Satoshi Kanazawa, the University of London Union Senate voted unanimously in favor of calling a campaign for his dismissal from the London School of Economics: Students Push to Get Satoshi Kanazawa Fired in London.

holy crap photo of the day: suicidal bride

This photo is all kinds of holy crap. In Changchun, China, a bride-to-be was so distraught that her fiance called off the wedding, she attempted to throw herself from an 80-foot widow ledge. Fortunately, a concerned worker was there to catch her and hold her until other came to her aid. A dramatic set of photos: Jilted bride in China jumps out window.

"the failure to allow professor liu an up-or-down vote is appalling"

Still pretty angry about the filibuster of Professor Goodwin Liu's nomination to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Senate Republicans, who once upon a time argued that it was unconstitutional for senators to deprive a judicial nominee of an up-or-down vote, did just that on Thursday: Shame on GOP senators who blocked Goodwin Liu

Here's an excerpt from the press release issued by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Asian American Justice Center expressing outrage over the Senate's failure to pass a vote on Professor Liu's nomination:

video: one shot by freddie wong (feat. eliza dushku)

I've been greatly enjoying the humorous, ultra-violent and action-packed videos of Freddie Wong, a resourceful and extremely popular filmmaker who consistently produces highly entertaining shorts on YouTube. For his latest videos, he's been recruiting some star power... like One Shot featuring none other than Eliza Dushku. Take a look:

editorial assistant internship for korean beacon

The good folks over at Korean American lifestyle website Korean Beacon are looking for some qualified editorial interns for the summer. This summer, they plan to expand Korean Beacon with a brand new website, new content and an expanded team of contributors. Here are some more details about the internship:

go sharks! go setoguchi!

Sending good thoughts and props to Sharks forward Devin Setoguchi, who is holding it down for San Jose in the playoffs. Here's a San Francisco Chronicle article from last week, where he talks a bit about being Japanese Canadian -- and one of only a handful of players of Asian heritage in the NHL: Sharks' Devin Setoguchi set stage for playoff success.

iris chang: the woman who could not forget

In 2004, writer Iris Chang, revered author of the international best-seller The Rape of Nanking, took her own life at the age of 36, sending a shockwave through the literary world and calling attention to the too-often ignored but important need to address mental health issues in the Asian American community.

Iris Chang's mother, Ying-Ying Chang, has just published a new memoir, The Woman Who Could Not Forget: Iris Chang Before and Beyond the Rape of Nanking, on the life and work -- and tragic death -- of her daughter, largely as a way to let go: Iris Chang's mother's new memoir honors renowned author of 'The Rape of Nanking.'

nancy kwan celebrates fifty years in show business

Here's a nice Los Angeles Times article on pioneering actress Nancy Kwan, who starred in such iconic films as The World of Suzie Wong and Flower Drum Song. I don't care much for Suzie Wong's Chinese hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold storyline, but I can acknowledge what a breakthrough role it was for Hollywood at the time: Classic Hollywood: Nancy Kwan opened doors for Asian actors.

Nancy Kwan, who is celebrating fifty years in show business (and still looks fabulous), will be honored this weekend by the Chinese American Museum with a screening of The World of Suzie Wong and To Whom It May Concern: Ka Shen's Journey, and a dinner banquet. It's happening Sunday, May 22 at the AMC 14 Theater in Monterey Park. Here are some more details:

marvels and monsters: unmasking asian images in u.s. comics, 1942-1986

Jeff Yang's latest "Asian Pop" column for SF Gate is all about comic books! Specifically, science fiction author William F. Wu's massive comic book collection, spanning the period from 1942 to 1986, which has the distinction of being the largest gathering of Asian images in American comics in existence. And most of those images are pretty awful, from the Lotus Blossom to the Yellow Peril: The league of extraordinary stereotypes.

New York University's Fales Library and the Asian/Pacific/American Institute recently asked Jeff to curate the inaugural exhibition of Wu's unique collection, themed around a set of eight Asian archetypes. It sounds awesome. Jeff will be doing a one-on-one talk with William F. Wu at the Opening Reception of the exhibit next week, May 26. Here are some more details:

Happy Birthday, Yuri Kochiyama

Happy birthday to Yuri Kochiyama. To celebrate the legendary Japanese American activist's life, work and struggle, here's an amazing reduction print/portrait by artist Alec Icky Dunn, available from Justseeds.

And since we're celebrating, listen to the song "Yuri Kochiyama" by Blue Scholars, off their upcoming album Cinemetropolis. I've had it on repeat all day. "When I grow up I wanna be just like Yuri Kochiyama." Seriously.

senate republicans block nomination of goodwin liu

This is disappointing and frustrating as hell. Senate Republicans have blocked a vote on the nomination of UC Berkeley law professor Goodwin Liu to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, making him the first judicial nominee appointed by President Obama to be successfully filibustered.

Dammit. A filibuster! Not even the chance for an up-or-down vote. Funny how Senate Republicans are suddenly cool with filibusters. Hypocrisy. With its 52-to-43 vote, the Senate fell eight votes short of the 60 needed to end debate on Liu's nomination: Senate Republicans block appeals court nomination of Goodwin Liu.

cal for background extras: millions web series

If you're in the Toronto area, the web series Millions is looking for people to play background extras for their first episode shooting this weekend, on Sunday, May 22 and Monday, May 23. If you've got the time, and want to help out this indie production, read on for details on how you can get involved:

apala d.c. workers' rights hearing: honoring asian pacific american workers

This weekend in Washington D.C., the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance invites you to the Asian Pacific American Workers' Rights Hearing featuring local worker testimonials on the right to organize, wage theft, immigrant worker exploitation and civil rights. The hearing will provide a local perspective of personal courage and strategies in the fight for worker solidarity and economic justice. It's happening Saturday, May 21. Here are some more details:

2011 a&pi hiv/aids awareness day psa

Did you know? May 19 is the 7th annual National Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. To commemorate the occasion, and to raise awareness about sexual health in A&PI communities, the Banyan Tree Project recently released a new public service announcement particularly aimed toward young A&PI women, aged 18-34, in an attempt to curb the alarming rise in new HIV and STD infections happening in this demographic. Take a look:

capac statement on hepatitis b action plan

Last week, U.S. Rep. Judy Chu, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucusm issued the following statement on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' action plan to prevent and treat viral hepatitis, an epidemic affecting 3.5 to 5.3 million Americans -- especially the Asian American and Pacific Islander community:

video: clara c covers "skinny love"

Another good one from Clara C, whose music always gets my attention... You know I'm a huge fan of this young lady. This video is her cover of Bon Iver's "Skinny Love." To be honest, I'd never heard this song before, but Clara's rendition is quite lovely. Take a look:

2 broke girls on cbs fall lineup

So it's that time of year when the television networks unveil and preview the new shows that have made it on to their fall schedules. As always, I'm on the lookout for what shows have cast Asian American actors...

There are a few new faces on the tube this fall, in addition to returning shows, and I'll try to highlight them between now and their premieres, but for now I draw your attention to one show in particular: the CBS sitcom 2 Broke Girls, from executive producers Whitney Cummings and Michael Patrick King.

music video: "I got my" by magnetic north & taiyo na feat. jin

With appearances by just about anybody and everybody they could get in front of a camera.


Epic. That's really the only way to describe this. You must watch the music video for "I Got My" by Magnetic North and Taiyo Na featuring Jin, with appearances by just about anybody and everybody they could get in front of a camera -- entertainers, activists, teachers, students, actors, designers, dancers, writers, poets, bloggers, community organizers. It's pretty damn awesome. Check it out:

call your senators to support goodwin liu

Last week, the Senate voted 56-42 in favor of confirming Judge Edward M. Chen to serve as a federal district court judge for the Northern District of California. Now it's time Goodwin Liu's turn. Word on the street is, the vote to confirm judicial nominee Professor Liu to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will occur very soon.

Let's make this happen! It's time for action. You can support Professor Liu's confirmation by calling your home state Senators at 202-224-3121 and asking for their support of Professor Liu's nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. To call your Senators, follow these steps:

east west players presents krunk fu battle battle, may 12 - june 26

Oh, it is on. East West Players, the nation's premier Asian American theatre, presents the world premiere hip hop musical Krunk Fu Battle Battle, with book by Qui Nguyen, lyrics by Beau Sia, vocal music by Marc Macalintal, dance music provided by Rynan Paguio of JabbaWockeeZ and Jason Tyler Chong.

The show runs May 12 through June 26 at the David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo. Previews started last week. Here's a video promo:

two killed in san francisco birthday party shooting

Over the weekend in the San Francisco, two men were killed during a fight that broke out at a birthday party in the city's Bernal Heights neighborhood: Arrest in Bernal Heights birthday brawl shootings

24-year-old Keo Sobrera is suspected of fatally shooting 21-year-old Pacific "Jerry" Som. Police are still searching for another assailant responsible for killing 26-year-old Rathanak Chea. Their deaths were apparently result of a physical brawl that turned into a shootout:

video: kollaboration acoustic 5 promo

This was released last week, but it's certainly not too late to share... Check out this great promo video for the upcoming edition of Kollaboration Acoustic, showcasing some of the best emerging musical talents from the API community. It features all of the talent show's competitors getting together to perform a fun cover of Yael Naim's "New Soul":

nominate someone for the 2011 presidential citizens medal

Once again, President Obama is calling on the public to nominate candidates for the Citizens Medal, the nation's second highest civilian award. For over 40 years, the Presidential Citizens Medal has recognized "citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens."

Do you know someone like this? The 2011 Citizens Medal will recognize outstanding Americans who have performed exemplary deeds of service outside of their regular jobs, including individuals:

new music: this man... this emcee! by adam warrock

Hey, nerds! Got some new tunes for you. My man Eugene Ahn, aka Adam WarRock, the internet's foremost comic book rapper, just dropped the six-track EP This Man... This Emcee!. It features fresh rhymes and all the geeky comic book-themed hip hop you can seal in a mylar bag. The lead single is titled "Marvel vs. DC" -- that should tell you something. Preview it below:

thank you, neo: keanu passes on akira

I've been so busy, I didn't get a chance to post about the news that none other than Keanu Reeves had been offered starring role in the upcoming live-action Hollywood remake of Akira. That's okay, because thankfully, I now get to report that Keanu has passed on part: Keanu Reeves Passes on 'Akira' And Other Updates.

harry shum jr. x wong fu shorts teaser trailer

Because you can't enough of the Shum... Check out the teaser trailer for Harry Shum Jr.'s upcoming collaboration with none other than Wong Fu Productions and producers George Wang and Don Le -- a series of three different shorts. Other than that, not a whole lot of details, but the teaser promises something quirky. Take a look:

the crap science of satoshi kanzawa

I've actually been aware of alleged "evolutionary psychologist" Satoshi Kanazawa's views for some time, but I've been reluctant to post anything because what the f@#k. Why give this dumbass any more attention for his crazy bullshit? But all hell has bust loose over his post for Psychology Today, "A Look at the Hard Truths About Human Nature": Satoshi Kanazawa Causes Firestorm After Claiming Black Women Are Less Attractive.

So I guess I can no longer ignore this fool-ass scientist. In his article, Kanazawa argues that black women are empirically less physically attractive than other women. In the immediate backlash, the post was yanked from the blog, but the article had already gotten out there. An excerpt:

academy of television arts and sciences: asian pacific americans on tv: then & now, may 17

Apologies -- this is super-short notice, but if you're in the Los Angeles area, I just wanted to spread the word about a cool panel discussion happening Tuesday night, May 17 at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Conference Center in North Hollywood.

The Diversity Committee of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences presents Asian Pacific Americans in TV: Then & Now, an interactive panel featuring prominent television industry and community experts discussing the state of television diversity. I'll be serving as moderator. Details on the giant flyer above.

victor kim and yuri tag in mcdonald's commercial

Caught this TV commercial for McDonald's Frozen Strawberry Lemonade, featuring Victor Kim of Quest Crew and Yuri Tag of Kaba Modern showing off a few moves. I guess Victor is the lemonade and Yuri is the strawberry? A frosty good combination. Check it out:

job opening: executive director, asian/pacific islander domestic violence resource project

The Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project is a nonprofit organization that works to prevent domestic violence in the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. They are currently looking for an Executive Director. Here's some more information:

catch the premiere of bpm: beats per mnet

If your cable provider carries Mnet, check out the premiere of BPM: Beats Per Mnet, a new daily series highlighting what's going on in Asian pop culture. Produced in Los Angeles, the show is hosted by buddy Paul Kim, aka PK -- standup comedian and founder of Kollaboration -- and actress/model Yvonne Lu. Here's a description of the show:

k.j. choi wins the players championship

You know this is big news when my pops is making a point to tell me about it... Over the weekend in Florida, pro golfer K.J Choi won The Players Championship, the biggest event on the PGA Tour. He finished strong to beat out David Toms in a sudden-death playoff at the infamous 17th hole: Choi outlasts Toms in a Players playoff

vote for paul dateh in youtube's on the rise contest

All right, people. I'm calling on you for help. Our friend Paul Dateh is currently in the running for YouTube's monthly On The Rise contest, which highlights up-and-coming video talent and helps their channels get a subscriber boost. The winner gets featured on the YouTube homepage for a day. Who is Paul Dateh? Check out his music video for "Good Life" with Ken Belcher:

abc's what would you do? takes on tiger mom

Oh, come on. Will this damn Tiger Mother thing every go away? Apparently not any time soon. You know a stereotype has hit the big time when that ridiculous ABC hidden camera segment What Would You Do? serves up a tasteless little stunt exploiting the hell out of it. Yup: 'Tiger Mom' Attacks Kid for A-Minus: Would You Get Involved? Take a look:

weird-ass craigslist posting, part 278: cha ching

Recently spotted this on Boston's Craigslist... One user apparently has some issues against a Chinatown apartment unit. Though it's pretty apparent this person's issues extend far beyond Chinatown. The post was flagged for removal, but I was actually able grab it before it got taken down. Enjoy:

this week's angriest posts

Not really the angriest, just the most viewed.

• how many cops, mace and batons does it take to arrest a 60-year-old chinese man making music in the park?


• what the hell did I just watch? a really weird campaign add for dan adler


• the article everyone is talking about today


• google chrome commercial: "dear sophie"


• boycott disney's aladdin, the worst terrorist of all


• happy mother's day from ken jeong


• asian male among bodies found in long island


• molly wei gets a plea deal in tyler clementi suicide case


• angry reader of the week: alex chan


• 82-year-old woman murdered in home robbery

It's been crazy, y'all. Have a good weekend.

domestic dispute leads to double murder and suicide at san jose state university

Crazy news out of the Bay Area about a double murder and suicide at San Jose State University, where a 54-year-old man killed his wife and her friend, and then himself, as a result of a domestic dispute: SJSU shooting: 3 who died ID'd as student, 25; her husband, 54; another student, 26.

The killer, Napoleon Lavarias Caliguiran, shot himself after fatally shooting his wife, SJSU student Marcory Tarlit Caliguiran, and her classmate Thomas Kyle Williams, as the two sat in a car at a school parking garage. Caliguiran was found gravely wounded from a self-inflicted gunshot, a short distance away. He died at the hospital.

16-year-old develops treatment for cystic fibrosis

I don't what you were doing at age 16. I was getting my driver's license, trying to get girls' attention, and generally being a useless dork. I can tell you that I was not developing treatments for genetic disorders. Leave that to guys like Marshall Zhang: Teen Discovers Promising Cystic Fibrosis Treatment.

Marshall Zhang, a 16-year-old from the Toronto area, used a supercomputer system to find a new drug combination that shows potential in treating the genetic disorder cystic fibrosis -- work that won him first place in the 2011 Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge:

my ninja! summer 2011 video look book

I'm digging this dope video from our friends at My Ninja!: Summer 2011 Video Look Book, a 1990s dance tribute featuring the fly moves of Jenny Kita and paying homage to Rosie Perez and Do the Right Thing. Check it out:

angry reader of the week: alex chan

Hello, internet friends. It's that time 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 Alex Chan, who is still holding it down on Xanga. (Remember Xanga?)

Who are you?
Hello! My name is Alex Chan. I wouldn't be surprised if some of you reading this have the same name too (don't worry, we're pretty amazing). Some people may recognize me more by my Xanga username, Roadlesstaken.

music video: "need you near (the happy nunchucks song)" by em.king

Our friend Emily C. Chang passes along this crazy-ass music video she created with her producing partner Ray Archie for the song "Need You Near (The Happy Nunchucks Song), " which appears on the indie film Colin Hearts Kay. Hot stuff, with some great production values (not to mention that Emily looks crazy good). See her dance with cartoons and tear the heads off teddy bears: