5.29.2014

An action figure for the ultimate Jeremy Lin fan

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



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

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

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

Man arrested for scamming librarians with counterfeit cash

Daniel Shi, not quite a criminal mastermind.



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

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

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

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

5.28.2014

See Mindy Kaling's hilarious Harvard commencement speech

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



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

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

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

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

The Best of Jeremy Lin

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



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

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

18 Mighty Mountain Warriors presents Bruce Lee: The Musical!

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



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

American Girl discontinuing its only Asian American doll

Popular doll brand retires two historical characters of color



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

American Girl Discontinues Two Dolls of Color

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

5.27.2014

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

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



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

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

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

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

Man missing after jumping in river to save nephew

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



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

Search for man missing in St. Croix resumes Tuesday

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

5.26.2014

East West Players presents 'Beijing Spring'

A musical commemorating the events of the Tiananmen Square Uprising



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

Tabasco maker introduces its own Sriracha

Latest imitator getting in on the hot sauce hustle



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

Tabasco Company Introduces Its Own Sriracha

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

Trying to make sense of the Isla Vista killings

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



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

Video Rant, Then Deadly Rampage in California Town

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

5.25.2014

Read These Blogs



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

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

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

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

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

5.23.2014

NYC: Disoriented Comedy, June 7

Use the promo code STAYANGRYNYC to get discount tickets



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

Here are some more details about the shows:

Angry Reader of the Week: Steve Byrne



Awwwww yeah. People, it is time, once again, to meet the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is comedian Steve Byrne, whose new hour special Champion is now streaming on Netflix. Season three of his show Sullivan & Son -- the other Asian American sitcom -- premieres Tuesday, June 24 at 10/9c on TBS.

Steven Yeun to star in 'Aquariums of Pyongyang'

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



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

'Walking Dead' Star Adapting 'Aquariums of Pyongyang'

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

Get paid to hang out and hug and play with pandas

Now hiring Panda Nannies. Your dream job awaits.



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

The World's Best Job Is Hiring: Panda Nanny

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

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

Group of robbers targeting Asian victims in Queens

One of the suspects was caught on video



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

Gang of robbers targeting Asians in Queens: NYPD

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

The group has been linked to at least five robberies:

5.22.2014

DC: Disoriented Comedy, June 6

Use the special code STAYANGRYDC to get discount tickets



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

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

Students protest fraternity's racist theme party at UC Irvine



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

Phi Gamma Delta @ UC Irvine Hosts Racist Party

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

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

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

Missing college student found safe and reunited with family

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



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

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

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

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

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

Crime drama airs Thursday nights on Fox



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

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

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

Here's a trailer for the show:

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

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



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

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

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

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

Brooks Brothers is selling a pair of chopsticks for $245

That's $122.50 per stick.



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

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

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

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

Arsonist caught on video setting car on fire in driveway

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



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

Arsonist caught on camera setting car on fire

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

Here's the surveillance footage:

5.21.2014

The 2014 AAWW Publishing Conference

Sunday, June 8 at the Asian American Writers' Workshop


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

Here are some more details about the conference:

Steven Ho stabs Conan with a samurai sword

It gets messy.



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

Conan Takes A Samurai Sword To The Gut

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

Take a look:

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

Sixth grader golfer is the youngest player ever to qualify



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

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

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

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

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

Awesome Asian Bad Guys Opening Titles

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



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

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

Why all the hoaxing and shaming? 18MR explains:

5.19.2014

Jubilee Project Conference 2014: Live for Something Greater

Saturday, June 21 at UCLA Grand Ballroom



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Surveillance video shows cop hitting handcuffed woman

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



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

Lawyer: Video caught cop beating handcuffed woman

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

Here's part of the footage:

Musician and educator George Yoshida dies at 92

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



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

Berkeley teacher-musician George Yoshida dies at 92

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

'When I Walk' premieres on PBS on June 23

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



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

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

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

Watch the trailer for When I Walk:

'Private Danny Chen Way' dedicated in Chinatown

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



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

Street In Chinatown Renamed In Memory Of Private Danny Chen

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

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

The Eagles have signed a kicker nicknamed "Murderleg"

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



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

Philadelphia Eagles Sign Undrafted Kicker Nicknamed 'Murderleg'

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

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

British Columbia apologizes for historical anti-Chinese laws

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



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

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

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

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

Here is the full text of the motion:

5.18.2014

Read These Blogs



Author Behind ABC's Asian American Sitcom "Fresh Off The Boat" Will Not Apologize For Its Title: Fresh Off the Boat is coming to ABC. Some people find the show's title offensive, but chef/personality Eddie Huang, who wrote the memoir on which the sitcom is based, is crusading to reclaim the term.

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

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

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

5.16.2014

Fund This: 'Good Luck Soup Interactive'

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



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

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

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

Angry Reader of the Week: Jenn Fang

Hello, again. It is my pleasure to introduce you to the Angry Reader of the Week, spotlighting you, the very special readers of this website. Over the years, I've been able to connect with a lot of cool folks, and this is a way of showing some appreciation and attention to the people who help make this blog what it is. This week's Angry Reader is Jenn Fang.

'Nabuma Rubberband' by Little Dragon

Brand new album from Swedish electronic pop band



I am officially obsessed with Nabuma Rubberband, the brand new album from Swedish electronic pop band Little Dragon, fronted by vocalist Yukimi Nagano. Between the moody dance beats and downtempo slow jams, their fourth LP has got this slinky R&B vibe that's got me feeling extra cool this week. And how great is that album cover?

Here's the music video for the first single "Klapp Klapp":

Woman charged with hate crime in Walmart crowbar attack

4-year-old girl and her father were targeted because they are Asian



What the hell? This week in San Jose, a woman was arrested and faces hate crime charges after assaulting a 4-year-old girl and her father with a tire iron at a Walmart. Authorities say the attack was racially-motivated, and the victims were targeted because they are of Asian descent.

San Jose: Woman in Wal-Mart child attack targeted Asians, prosecutors say

20-year-old Maria Garate, who is described as a transient, faces one charge each of attempted murder and one count of assault with a deadly weapon -- both with hate crime enhancements -- after attacking a young Asian girl and her father while they were shopping at a Walmart store in East San Jose on Tuesday.

Garate reportedly approached the girl and hit over the head, then hit her father when he got in the way. According to prosecutors, the attack was "premeditated, willful and deliberate" and the victims were indeed targeted because they're Asian:

5.15.2014

Giant Robot presents House of Daydreamers

Featuring the work of Yoskay Yamamoto, May 17 - June 4 at GR2



This is for all you art enthusiasts in Los Angeles... Giant Robot invites you to its latest art show, House of Dreamers, a solo exhibition featuring the whimsical, enchanting works of Yoskay Yamamoto. It runs May 17 through June 4 at Giant Robot 2, kicked off with an opening reception this Saturday.

Here are some more details about the exhibition:

Watch Jane Lui's ultra-cool cover of Pharrell's "Happy"

A lovely homemade mashup with Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"



If you are officially tired of hearing Pharrell Williams' "Happy" for the thousandth time, I submit this ultra-cool, homemade cover/mashup of the smash hit pop tune with Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, " crafted and performed by the one and only Jane Lui. It's really freaking awesome:

Suspect arrested in fatal beating of 68-year-old man

The family of Wen Hui Ruan want his murder treated as a hate crime



In New York City, an update on this awful case... Police have arrested and charged a suspect in the brutal beating death of a 68-year-old man in Manhattan's East Village on Friday night. According to investigators, the vicious sidewalk attack might have been an attempted robbery.

Arrest Made in Fatal Beating of 68-Year-Old

20-year-old Jamie Pugh was taken into custody and charged with murder, robbery and assault for the fatal attack on Wen Hui Ruan. Surveillance video of the incident shows Pugh approaching Ruan, yelling at him, and throwing him against a wall. He then punched and kicked Ruan in the head before walking away.

Mr. Ruan, a retired garment worker who lived around the corner from the attack, suffered a fractured skull and face after Pugh stomped on him at least three times. He died from his injuries the next day.

Police detectives took Pugh in custody based on a tip that he was in the neighborhood:

5.14.2014

Who says there are no AAPI civil rights heroes?

16-part video series profiles AAPI civil rights icons for Heritage Month



Some history for your Heritage Month... In celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus is releasing a 16-part series of short videos profiling AAPI civil rights heroes, from Wong Kim Ark to Larry Itliong to Japanese American internment dissenters.

Here are the videos they've released so far:

ABC picks up 'Selfie' with John Cho

Half-hour, single-camera comedy is modern-day re-imagining of 'My Fair Lady'



Fans of John Cho will be happy to hear that he'll back on the tube soon in yet another show next season... This fall, you'll see the Harold & Kumar and Star Trek actor starring opposite Doctor Who's Karen Gillam in the comedy series Selfie, picked up for ABC's 2014-15 primetime schedule.

The half-hour, single-camera comedy, from Suburgatory creator Emily Kapnek, is a modern-day re-imagining of My Fair Lady, with Cho as the Henry Higgins character. He plays Henry, a self-assured marketing expert who decides to "re-market" his coworker Eliza Dooley, a social media star with a bad reputation.

Here's the trailer:

What language does your state speak?

Most Commonly Spoken Languages Other Than English or Spanish



I've been seeing shared around on social media, and I thought it was pretty interesting... Do you know what is the most commonly spoken language in the United States, other than English? Yes, it's overwhelmingly Spanish. But what is the most commonly spoken language other than English and Spanish?

Behold, a Slate map of the United States depicting the Most Commonly Spoken Language Other than English or Spanish, broken down by state, created with data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The geography of some of the languages represented might surprise you.

It's important to highlight this note from Slate:

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