Senate confirms Vivek Murthy as Surgeon General

Dr. Murthy is the first-ever U.S. Surgeon General of Indian descent



Finally, we have a surgeon general. On Monday, the Senate voted to confirm Dr. Vivek Murthy as the new Surgeon General of the United States -- more than a year after President Obama nominated him to the post.

The U.S. Has A Surgeon General, For The First Time In 17 Months

The job has been open for a while. Dr. Murthy was nominated back in November 2013, but his confirmation was stalled by partisan opposition, fueled by the gun lobby, particularly over his views criticizing gun violence. But with Congress now in a lame-duck session, Dr. Murthy's confirmation finally got the support it needed from more Democrats, with Monday's vote tally coming in at 51-43.

At 37 years old, Dr. Murthy is the youngest-ever surgeon general in the United States. He is also the first Indian American to serve as America's top doctor.

Asian Americans in New York: Film & Literature

A Summer Seminar for K-12 Educators, July 5-17

Hey, teachers! What are you doing this summer? Here's an awesome opportunity. The Asian American Studies at Hunter College, CUNY invites K-12 school teachers to apply for "Asian Americans in New York: Film & Literature," a two-week interdisciplinary summer seminar with a twenty-first century perspective on Asian American cultural production and communities in New York City. It's happening July 5-17, 2015.

Co-directed by Jennifer Hayashida and Chi-hui Yang, the program is hoping to draw a diverse group of educators from around the country, particularly from states with emerging Asian American populations, who are seeking more tools and resources to teach Asian American culture and politics.

Here are some more details about the seminar:

The Year in Music, According to Pop Danthology 2014

66 of the year's biggest songs mashed up into one convenient jam.



It's baaaaaaack! Vancouver-based DJ/alchemist Daniel Kim has unleashed his latest year-end music video mashup megamix, and it's pretty spectacular. Approximately 180 hours in the making, it's a crazy epic celebration of the year in pop music, comprised of no less than 66 cuts from 2014's biggest hits. There were a lot of crappy songs on the radio this year, but when you grind 'em up and rub 'em together like this, it's actually quite bearable.

Behold, Pop Danthology 2014:

Bringing the Model Minority Mutiny Home

By Scot Nakagawa. Cross-posted from Race Files.



This fall, in the wake of the shooting death of Michael Brown, and in the face of the mounting Black body count at the hands of law enforcement, ChangeLab put out a call for a Model Minority Mutiny. We called on Asian Americans to stand up against the model minority myth as an act of self-liberation from a humiliating, trivializing, and dehumanizing stereotype that has, for too long, been used as a justification for labeling Black communities as “problem” minorities, and excluding and criminalizing Black people.

Many Asian Americans were already part of the mobilization. Many more are answering the call.

Angry Gift Guide: 'A Picture of You' Limited Edition DVD

"A serious movie about life that gets sideswiped in the supermarket parking lot by a funny movie about death."



Here's a cool gift idea for the indie film lover in your life...

Writer/director JP Chan's award-winning feature film debut A Picture of You, starring Jo Mei, Andrew Pang and Jodi Long, is described as "a serious movie about life that gets sideswiped in the supermarket parking lot by a funny movie about death." The movie is now available on DVD exclusively from Amazon.

Estranged siblings Jen and Kyle travel from New York City to rural Pennsylvania to pack up the home of their recently deceased mother. While there, they inadvertently make a shocking discovery that turns their world upside-down. It's a story about family, loss, secrets, letting go, and starting anew. I'm a big fan of this film.

Here's the trailer again:

Margaret Cho to co-host new late night talk show

TLC's 'All About Sex' is all about sex.



Comedian Margaret Cho is getting a late-night talk show! And it's all about sex. That's what it's called.

Margaret Cho to Co-Host TLC Latenight Talkshow 'All About Sex'

According to Variety, Cho will co-host TLC's All About Sex, a weekly late-night panel-style talk show focusing on "all aspects of sex in American culture." She'll be joined by co-hosts comedian Heather McDonald, actress Marissa Jaret Winokur and sex/relationship counselor Tiffanie Davis Henry.

Awkward Moments Only Asians Understand

"No, where are you REALLY from?"



From part of the team that brought you If Asians Said The Stuff White People Say... Here's another BuzzFeed video featuring Eugene Lee Yang dropping some more funny truth about everyday microaggressions. My fellow Asians, you will probably relate to some or all of these Awkward Moments Only Asians Understand.

Check it out:

Senate to vote on Vivek Murthy for Surgeon General

Call to urge your senators today to confirm Dr. Murthy



Senate Democrats are using their lame-duck majority in a last-ditch attempt to finally push through President Obama's pick for the next surgeon general. Over the weekend, the Senate voted 52-40 to bring the nomination of Dr. Vivek Murthy to a formal confirmation vote on Monday at 5:30pm before they adjourn for the holidays.

US Senate to vote for Vivek Murthy as surgeon general before Democrats cede control

President Obama nominated Dr. Murthy, a highly qualified and experienced medical professional, to the post of U.S. Surgeon General over a year ago. While his credentials make him a no-brainer for the job, Dr. Murthy's confirmation has been stalled by the usual partisan politics -- particularly over his stance on gun violence.

Dr. Murthy will have no chance of getting a vote once Republicans take control of the Senate in January. So it's now or never -- time is running out. Here's how you can take action right now: call your senators.

Read These Blogs

Damn, This Afghan Guy Looks Like Bruce Lee: Meet 20-year-old Abbas Alizada, a native of Kabul, who has gained a following for his uncanny resemblance to Bruce Lee. And seriously, the guy looks like Bruce reborn.

* * *
"What's up with the rag head?": When I starred in a Facebook ad: When Vishavjit Singh starred in a Facebook ad, one angry commenter said he'd rather cut his own wrists than see his face. Singh responds.

* * *
Mark Wahlberg doesn't deserve pardon: Jeff Yang on why Mark Wahlberg does not deserve a pardon for his past hate crimes, particularly in light of the national conversation on police killings of unarmed black men -- men who will never have the chance to "make good" like Wahlberg.

* * *
8 Things Mark Wahlberg Can Do To Atone for His Crimes: Okay, let' assume, for sake of argument, that Mark Wahlberg has changed in the past 25 years. If that' true, what could he do to earn our trust, blessing, and goodwill? Here's solid a list of suggestions from 18 Million Rising.

* * *
What Does Model Minority Mutiny Demand?: "Just as Black Lives Matter is a call to center all Black lives, Model Minority Mutiny is a call not only to those of us with class, skin-color, or gender privilege to examine our complicity in the system. It is an opening to acknowledge the marginalization of those Asian Americans who are most vulnerable to state violence..."

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.




1. Facebook features Sikh man in video, racists can't handle it

2. This Harvard Business School professor was overcharged $4 for Chinese takeout. Now he's going to make them paaaaaay!

3. This Harvard Business School professor messed with the wrong restaurant. The internet does not approve.

4. Jeremy Lin wears "I Can't Breathe" shirt

5. 12-year-old boy takes his own life after being bullied

6. 'Fresh Off The Boat' to premiere February 10 on ABC

7. The Huangs are suing the employer that sent them to Qatar

8. Angry Reader of the Week: Jean Ho

9. The 'Ktown Cowboys' are back! Watch the new teaser trailer.

10. Meet Mark Wahlberg's hate crime victim, 26 years later

Stay Angry, my friends.

Meet Mark Wahlberg's hate crime victim, 26 years later

Hoa Trinh says he forgives Mark Wahlberg for the 1988 assault.



Many folks have expressed outrage and plentiful "oh hell nos" over Mark Wahlberg's attempts to officially erase the hate crimes of his youth, including that one time he was arrested and convicted of viciously beating two Asian men while calling them racial slurs. The actor/producer recently applied to the Massachusetts Board of Pardons to have the 1988 assault conviction removed from his record.

EXCLUSIVE: Wahlberg gets his pardon from the only person who matters - the VICTIM: Man he beat and racially abused says he forgives star and reveals he had no idea who his attacker was until now

Twenty-six years later, one of the men Wahlberg assaulted says he forgives Wahlberg for the attack, and supports his efforts to get a pardon. He also says he had no idea that his assailant had grown up to become a world-famous movie star. (I'm guessing he is also unaware of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch.)

Angry Reader of the Week: Jean Ho

"Good eyebrows get you a lot more social capital than you'd think."



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

New 'Fresh Off The Boat' Key Art evokes "American Gothic"

New comedy premieres February 4 on ABC



Few works of art evoke "Americana" quite like American Gothic. So it seems fitting and funny that the first major key art for Fresh Off The Boat is an Asian American spin on Grant Wood's classic, oft-parodied painting.

'Fresh Off the Boat' Channels 'American Gothic' in Key Art (Exclusive)

The upcoming ABC comedy, starring Randall Park, Constance Wu and Hudson Yang, is the first Asian American family sitcom on network television in twenty years. Set in the 1990s, and based on the memoir by Eddie Huang, it's a nostalgic look back at one Taiwanese American family's unique pursuit of their own American dream.

Here's the full poster:

'Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings' Screening & Discussion

Jake Shimabukuro in attendance! Sunday, December 21 at the Japanese American National Museum



For those of you in Los Angeles, don't miss evening of ukulele awesomeness.

The Japanese American National Museum, First Pond Entertainment, Visual Communications and Angry Asian Man present a special screening of Jake Shimabukuro: Life on Four Strings, Tad Nakamura's award-winning documentary on international ukulele sensation Jake Shimabukuro. The screening will be followed by a discussion and a special holiday performance by Jake himself!

It's happening Sunday, December 21 at the Japanese American National Museum. Here are some more details:

This Harvard Business School professor messed with the wrong restaurant. The internet does not approve.

Ben Edelman apologizes. Also, this apparently isn't the first time he's pulled this shit.



On Tuesday, Boston.com published a ridiculous exchange of emails instigated by Harvard Business School professor Ben Edelman, in which he took a local Chinese restaurant to task because of an apparent overcharge of $4 for a recent takeout order. Each email seems to turn up the asshole factor, piling on the legalese and general jerkosity. The internet reacted, and did not approve. It really did not approve.

On Wednesday, Professor Edelman posted an apology on his website:

The 'Ktown Cowboys' are back! Watch the new teaser trailer.

Feature film set for release in 2015



The Ktown Cowboys are back! The folks behind the wildly popular comedy webseries have been hard at work on a feature film, set again in the unique subculture of Los Angeles' Koreatown.

Directed by Daniel "DPD" Park and written by Danny Cho and Brian Chung, the bromantic comedy centers on a group of "ball-busting, hard-partying friends who are all struggling with their evolution into adulthood in their own unique but interconnected ways." They just dropped the first teaser trailer for the film.

Check it out:

'Fresh Off The Boat' to premiere February 10 on ABC

Preview episodes to air on Wednesday, February 4 before its official Tuesday time slot.



For those who have been eagerly anticipating the premiere of Fresh Off The Boat, we now have an air date! ABC will officially premiere the new comedy series on Tuesday, February 10 at 8:00pm, but you'll get a double-dose preview on Wednesday, February 4 at 8:30 and 9:31pm. Mark your calendars.

ABC Slots 'Fresh Off the Boat' for Tuesdays After Wednesday Previews

Fresh Off The Boat, inspired by chef/provocateur Eddie Huang's bestselling memoir of the same name, will get previewed twice during ABC's Wednesday night comedy block on Wednesday, February 4, before and after Modern Family. It will then premiere in its official time slot on Tuesday, February 10 at 8:00pm.

What's up with the double Fresh preview night?

Jeremy Lin wears "I Can't Breathe" shirt

Joins teammates in gesture of protest against police brutality.



The Los Angeles Lakers have joined the growing number of athletes protesting the deaths of unarmed black people at the hands of law enforcement. Nearly all the players on the team, including Jeremy Lin, wore black shirts with the phrase "I Can't Breathe" -- referring to Eric Garner's dying words at the hands of the NYPD -- during warmups before Tuesday night's game against the Sacramento Kings.

Nearly all Lakers wear 'I Can't Breathe' shirts for warmups vs. Kings

With all but one Laker rocking the shirt, it marks the most complete protest by any one team thus far. Ball Don't Lie's Eric Freeman also notes that Jeremy is the first player who is not black to wear the shirt -- a powerful statement and a significant gesture of support of the movement as "a broader human issue."

Props, Jeremy.

This Harvard Business School professor was overcharged $4 for Chinese takeout. Now he's going to make them paaaaaay!

Ben Edelman ordered from an outdated online menu. Now he wants justice.



You've got to be kidding me. A Harvard Business School professor, presumably with nothing better to do, recently got into a ridiculous email exchange with a local family-run restaurant over a $53.35 order of Chinese takeout. His issue? He had apparently been overcharged four bucks. Oh helll no! Fight the power, bro.

Harvard Business School Professor Goes to War Over $4 Worth of Chinese Food

Ben Edelman, an associate professor who teaches bizness n' shit at Harvard Business School, was appalled that he had been charged an extra dollar for each of the dishes he ordered last week from Sichuan Garden's Woburn location. (He had apparently ordered from an outdated online menu.) So he emailed the restaurant for clarification, setting off a chain of increasingly patronizing legalese messages.

Boston.com posted the trail of emails between Professor Edelman and Ran Duan, who manages The Baldwin Bar located inside Sichuan Garden. Behold, as Mr. Edelman demands to be refunded triple damages for the egregious overcharge against him. That's twelve whole bucks, baby.

The Huangs are suing the employer that sent them to Qatar

Lawsuit accuses engineering firm of negligence, wrongful termination and infliction of emotional distress.



Grace and Matt Huang, the American couple that was wrongly accused and imprisoned in Qatar for the death of their daughter, were finally freed and returned home to California last week. This week, they filed a lawsuit against the engineering firm that sent them overseas, alleging that the company failed to provide security or cultural training to help them survive in a country where mixed-race families are not accepted.

Couple jailed in Qatar after adopted daughter's death sue employer

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accuses engineering firm MWH Global of negligence, wrongful termination and infliction of emotional distress. The Huangs say they unknowingly arrived in a country where adoption is prohibited and East Asians are regarded as one of the lowest "racial classes of individual." When their legal troubles arose, the Huangs say the company abandoned them and forced Matt to quit his job.

Holiday Giving: Donate to the Museum of Chinese in America

Telling the untold stories in the making of America.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Help tell the untold stories in the making of America. Donate to the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA), which is committed to reclaiming, preserving and presenting the history of Chinese people in the United States. Your generous gift will go towards the Museum's current institutional expansion, which will create greater opportunities for MOCA to offer increased programming, to serve a broader audience, and to develop as the national Chinese American museum.

Here are some of the Museum's highlight's from the past year:

C.S. Lee joins season two of 'True Detective'

'Dexter' star will recur in HBO's hit crime drama as a "smooth and polished" politician.



Some interesting TV casting news... Actor C.S. Lee, who you know and love as forensics investigator Vince Masuka from Dexter, has joined the cast of True Detective as a "smooth and polished" politician.

'True Detective' Enlists 'Dexter' Alum for Season 2 (Exclusive)

Lee will have a recurring role on the second season of HBO's hit crime drama anthology series, which centers on three police officers and a career criminal investigating murder and conspiracy. The starring cast includes Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn, Rachel McAdams, Taylor Kitsch and Kelly Reilly.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lee will play Richard Geldof, a state attorney general with grand political ambitions. He is described as "well-spoken and intelligent, with an unmoored moral compass."

Facebook features Sikh man in video, racists can't handle it

Commenters call Vishavjit Singh "raghead," "terrorist" and "ISIS," among other hateful remarks.



Cartoonist Vishavjit Singh, known to many as his superhero alter ego Sikh Captain America, was recently featured in a video ad for Facebook Tips, which you may have seen popping up on your timeline. It's just a 28-second video of Vishavjit talking about how "likes" can help shape the content on your news feed.

No big deal, right? But Facebook users, you never let me down. Many seem predictably fixated on Vishavjit's turban and beard, offering comments calling him "terrorist," "raghead," "ISIS," and other hatefully ignorant references.

12-year-old boy takes his own life after being bullied

Friends say Ronin Shimizu was a target of bullying for being a cheerleader.

Some terribly tragic news out of California... In Folsom, family and community members are mourning the death of a 12-year-old boy who took his own life last week because of ongoing bullying and harassment.

Friends, family say Folsom boy was bullied

Seventh grader Ronin Shimizu was found dead in his home Wednesday after he took his own life. According to his parents and friends, he was bullied for years throughout elementary and middle school. The bullying got so bad, he was taken out of school last year and had to be home-schooled.

Friends say Ronin was a target of bullying for being a cheerleader, but his parents say he was bullied for "just being Ronin," by "individuals that could not understand or accept his uniqueness."

Here's the full statement released by Ronin's family:

Read These Blogs

Eric Garner Case Resonates Among Asian Americans: After a Staten Island grand jury decided to not indict police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the choke-hold death of Eric Garner, Asian American activists and academics have been issuing calls for shows of solidarity for the family and community of Garner, as well as imploring Asian America to better understand the connections it has with other communities of color.

Ferguson Solidarity Protests: "No Justice No Peace" at Malls and Subways" Activist and writer Deepa Iyer writes about the nationwide solidarity protests in the aftermath of the grand jury's decision not to indict Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.

Meet the woman spearheading the federal probe of Ferguson: Trailblazing attorney Vanita Gupta is set to play a major role in how the Justice Department proceeds in its ongoing federal investigation into the events surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri last August.

How to Raise Racist Kids: Here's a quick, two-step method for raising racist kids. Step One: Don't talk about race. Don't point out skin color. Be "color blind." Step Two: Actually, that's it. There is no Step Two.

There Are Racists on My Facebook: Got racist people in your Facebook feed? Here's a newly launched Tumblr site born out of recent social media frustrations. Surely, you can relate.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed.



1. This chef doesn't want Asians to eat his food. He doesn't even want Asians to eat near him.

2. Mark Wahlberg wants you to officially forget his hate crime

3. The Terminator is back... and he is Asian.

4. This is not Steve Aoki. Everybody just thinks he is.

5. Hmong man assaulted in hunting dispute

6. Matt and Grace Huang are finally free to leave Qatar

7. Rest in Peace, Chol Soo Lee

8. Three men caught on camera beating homeless man to death

9. Donate to Grace Lee Boggs' hospice care

10. Remaining episodes 'Selfie' available on Hulu

Stay Angry, my friends.

Family Reunion: A Storytelling Show

Presented by Disoriented Comedy, Thursday, December 18 at Echoes Under Sunset



Los Angeles! It's time to get your people together for another Family Reunion! Disoriented Comedy presents the latest edition of its monthly storytelling show, co-presented by Angry Asian Man, Tuesday Night Project, Mishthi Music and KAYA Press. No notes. Everyday folks. Talkin' story. It's so much fun.

This month's theme is "Nothing is real," and features storytellers Michelle Woo, Vicky Luu, Ken Lin, Atsuko Okatsuka, Eunice Park, Kimrie Davis, Frank Estrada and Tara Ramanthan. And I'll be serving as the evening's host. It's happening Thursday, December 18 at Echoes Under Sunset.

Here are some more details about the show:

Angry Reader of the Week: Thomas Reyes

"Life is hard, laughing about it helps. Also, donuts. Donuts help a lot."



Hey, folks! It is time, once again, to gather 'round 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 Thomas Reyes.

Mark Wahlberg wants you to officially forget his hate crime

Marky Mark has applied to have his 1988 assault conviction removed from his record.



Here's a fun fact about mega movie star Mark Wahlberg: he was once arrested and convicted for beating the shit out of an Asian man, while calling him racial slurs, in a vicious attack that left the victim blind in one eye. Now, the actor/producer is requesting to have the assault conviction officially removed from his record.

Mark Wahlberg applies to have 1988 assault erased

Back in 1988, long before he was an Oscar-nominated actor, or battling Transformers, or even the rapper known as Marky Mark (YouTube it, kids), Wahlberg was a 16-year-old asshole who tried to steal two cases of beer from a Vietnamese American man, Thanh Lam, outside a convenience store in Dorchester. Wahlberg called Lam racial slurs and hit him over the head with a 5-foot wooden stick, knocking him unconscious.

Later than night, Wahlberg approached another Asian man on the street, Hoa Trinh, and punched him in the eye. He called him, among other things, "gook" and "slant eye." Trinh lost sight in his right eye.

Holiday Giving: Donate to The Sikh Coalition

For a nation where Sikhs can freely and fearlessly practice their faith.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Did you know that the majority of Sikh children in America, who wear a turban as part of their faith, experience higher-than-average rates of bullying? According to a recent report from the Sikh Coalition, two-thirds of Sikh children in four cities said that they are bullied in school. But we have the tools to help end school bullying.

The Dynasty Project Holiday Party & Gift Drive

Tuesday, December 9 at The Old Bowery Station



If you're in New York, The Dynasty Project invites you to get into the spirit of the season, and enjoy drinks, snacks and games at their Holiday Party & Gift Drive. The Dynasty Project creates and supports innovative programs that enrich local APIA communities through athletics and the pursuit of athletic endeavors.

They'll be collecting sports-related gifts such as basketballs, footballs, t-shirts, shorts, and various sports training equipment, to be given to at-risk youth in Chinatown and the Lower East Side. Proceeds from the party will go toward funding the Dat Winning Fellowship and other programs.

It's happening Tuesday, December 9 at The Old Bowery Station. Here are some more details:

SAALT disappointed by grand jury decision in Eric Garner case: Urges revised Department of Justice profiling policy

"We can, and must, do better for our communities, and as a nation."

South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is disappointed by yesterday's grand jury decision to not issue an indictment in the wake of police brutality and the use of disproportionate force against Eric Garner in New York City. We stand in solidarity with Eric Garner's family and allies who have highlighted the repeated lack of recourse for police violence and brutality.

SAALT also applauds Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement of a Department of Justice (DOJ) civil rights investigation into Eric Garner's death, and hope this will allow for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this tragic incident. We also continue to call upon the Department of Justice to revise its Guidance on racial and religious profiling to protect all of our communities.

Advancing Justice - LA Condemns Grand Jury's Failure to Bring Charges Against Daniel Pantaleo in the Death of Eric Garner

"We cannot breathe" until there is justice..."

Yesterday, a Staten Island grand jury failed to indict New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold killing of Eric Garner, an unarmed African American man. Despite the finding by the city's medical examiner that Mr. Garner's death was a homicide resulting from the illegal chokehold maneuver, the grand jury chose not to indict Officer Pantaleo. This injustice comes just one week after a Ferguson, Missouri grand jury's failure to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of unarmed 18-year old African American teenager Michael Brown.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA) issues the following statement:

The Terminator is back... and he is Asian.

Lee Byung-hun stars as the sci-fi action franchise's latest cyborg villain.



"Come with me if you want to live!" Terminator: Genisys is the latest attempt to revive the blockbuster sci-fi action movie franchise. The freshly released trailer re-casts and brings back the series' familiar characters, but also adds a yet another new tangle to the doomsday narrative's twisted timeline.

Yes, Arnold is back. But now he's older, greying and one of the good guys. The big bad Terminator this time around? Korean superstar Lee Byung-Hun (last seen in RED 2 and G.I. Joe: Retaliation) as the all-new lean mean liquid metal killing machine. Whaaaaaaat. Take a look:

Holiday Giving: Donate to the Center for Asian American Media

Support CAAM and be a champion for Asian American stories.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Want to be a champion for Asian American stories? Support the Center for Asian American Media, whose mission is to bring Asian American stories and experiences to light through the power of media. Your gift will support CAAM's work to inform, educate, inspire and represent diverse media voices through public media.

But don't take my word for it. Here are my pals Steven and Patrick of National Film Society:

Rest in Peace, Chol Soo Lee

Korean American immigrant's struggle for justice sparked an early pan-Asian American movement.



Passing along some sad news... Chol Soo Lee, who became the center of an early pan-Asian American justice movement when he was wrongfully convicted of murder, passed away on Tuesday. He was 62.

Chol Soo Lee, Who Sparked Early Pan-Asian American Movement, Dies at 62

Lee, a Korean American immigrant, was tried and convicted for the 1973 killing of Yip Yee Tak, a San Francisco Chinatown gang leader, and sentenced to life in prison. Then in 1977, while incarcerated, he was sentenced to death for the fatal self-defense stabbing of another inmate during a prison yard altercation.

Chol Soo Lee, who maintained his innocence, attracted the attention of Korean American journalist K.W. Lee, a reporter for the Sacramento Union. Lee eventually wrote over a hundred investigative articles about Chol Soo Lee's plight, uncovering further detail about the case and calling the verdict into question.

Home for the HOLLA'DAYS LA, December 19

Featuring Magnetic North & Taiyo Na, DAN aka DAN, The Blazing Rays of the Sun and More



Hey, Southern California! I want to see you at the Los Angeles edition of Home for the Holla'Days, a holiday benefit show featuring Magnetic North & Taiyo Na, with Vudoo Soul, DAN aka DAN with CREWLOVE, The Blazing Rays of the Sun, Ruth + the Library. All proceeds will go towards 27 Million, a nonprofit organization that networks and resources grassroots organizations fighting human trafficking.

It's happening Friday, December 19 at Art Share-LA. Here are some more details about the show:

Remaining episodes 'Selfie' available on Hulu

View the unaired episodes of ABC's cancelled romantic comedy starring John Cho and Karen Gillan



If you were bummed about ABC's premature cancellation of Selfie after just seven episodes -- whether you're a fan or simply never got around to watching it -- you'll be happy to know that the remaining six unaired episodes of the show, starring John Cho and Karen Gillan, will be available for streaming on Hulu.

While the seventh episode of Selfie was the last to hit airwaves on November 11, the romantic comedy's remaining six episodes will be released once a week on Hulu, Hulu Plus and ABC.com through the end of the year. Episode 8 was released last week, while episode 9 is currently available exclusively to Hulu Plus subscribers. You can catch up on the last couple of episodes here.

Holiday Giving: Donate to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

A national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Considering making a donation to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a New York-based national organization which is celebrating forty years of important civil rights work for the Asian American community through litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing.

Here's AALDEF's 40th anniversary slideshow video:

Three men caught on camera beating homeless man to death

Surveillance camera footage shows suspects fatally assaulting 67-year-old Tai Lam.



In San Francisco, police are asking for the public's help in identifying and finding the three men who may have been responsible for the fatal assault on a 67-year-old homeless man last month in the Financial District.

SFPD: Video shows 'cowards' who beat sleeping homeless man to death

Three suspects were caught on surveillance video attacking Tai Lam, who was sleeping on the street the night of November 23. The footage shows three men brutally assaulting him twice between 11:00pm and midnight while he was laying in his sleeping bag on the ground. The attack appears to be unprovoked.

The San Francisco Police Department has released some of the surveillance footage:

Hey writers! Apply to the Dat Winning Fellowship.

Seeking aspiring Asian American writers with an interest in sports journalism.



Are you an Asian American writer who is passionate about sports? Dat Winning, an online sports blog written from an Asian American perspective, is looking for writers to apply for the Dat Winning Fellowship, a space for emerging Asian American writers to "cut their teeth" in the field of sports journalism. You'll receive guidance, workshops and editorial feedback from a team of established Asian American professionals in the field.

Here are some more details about the fellowship:

Goh Nakamura sings you 'Songs to Make Out To'

Singer/songwriter's new cover album is like "the musical equivalent of a warm hug."



If you're looking for some new-old music to make out to, look no further singer/songwriter Goh Nakamura's latest release Songs to Make Out To, a really cool collection of covers. It's Goh's unique take on songs like "This Will Be Our Year," "Wonderwall," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and one of my favorites, "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure. Goh likens the 10-track album to "the musical equivalent of a warm hug." As I listen to it while looking out the window on this rare rainy California day, it's pretty damn perfect.

Here's Goh's take on "How Deep Is Your Love":

Matt and Grace Huang are finally free to leave Qatar

Travel ban lifted on American couple acquitted in daughter's death



Matt and Grace Huang, the American couple accused and convicted by the government of Qatar of starving their 8-year-old daughter, will be allowed to leave the country after an appeal judge dismissed their conviction.

Matthew and Grace Huang, U.S. Couple Held in Qatar, Can Leave: Diplomat

The couple was held at the airport and unable to leave the country even after the judge dismissed the conviction on Sunday. But according to a statement from the State Department, the travel ban has been lifted as of Wednesday and the Huangs will finally be free to return home to the United States.

Dana Shell Smith, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, confirmed the Huangs were free to leave:

Angry Gift Guide: Bruce Lee Limited Edition Core Symbol Journal

"Using no way as way. Having no limitation as limitation."



A gift idea for the ultimate Bruce Lee fan in your life...

The Bruce Lee Limited Edition Core Symbol Journal is a large format hardcover ruled notebook from Moleskine featuring custom packaging and a debossed "Core Symbol" on the front cover. Printed inside is the quote that surrounds Bruce Lee's Core Symbol: "Using no way as way. Having no limitation as limitation."

This is not Steve Aoki. Everybody just thinks he is.

What happens when an Asian dude with long hair and a beard walks around a music festival.



What happens when an Asian dude rocking some long hair, a beard and sunglasses walks around a music festival? He gets mistaken for Steve Aoki. A lot.

Jarrad Seng is a photographer who works in the music industry. He is Asian and rocks long hair, and thus has been mistaken for popular electronic musician Steve Aoki on a regular basis for the past five years. On the street, at festivals, in bars, etc. So he affixed a beard to his face and brought a camera along to see what happened while he walked around the Australian music festival Stereosonic, where Aoki was headlining.

This funny video chronicles one man's three-hour walk ... as fake Steve Aoki:

Support APA Filmmakers! Donate to Visual Communications.

All end-of-the-year donations will be matched dollar for dollar.



Hey, folks. If you're interested in donating some holiday cash to a worthy cause, how about supporting an organization that is trying to help up-and-coming Asian Pacific American filmmakers tell their stories?

Donate to Visual Communications.

Founded in 1970, Visual Communications is the first nonprofit organization in the nation dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of the Asian Pacific American peoples, communities and heritage through the media arts. Its mission continues today through a variety programs for APA mediamakers, including screenings, media education, the Armed With a Camera Fellowship and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

For more information, check out this fundraising video:

This chef doesn't want Asians to eat his food. He doesn't even want Asians to eat near him.

Lawsuit alleges Cesar Ramirez referred to Asians as "shit people," purposely served them inferior cuts of meat.



In New York, a lawsuit filed against an acclaimed Brooklyn chef alleges that he regularly discriminated against Asian customers, referring to them as "shit people," and purposely served them the inferior cuts of meat.

Chef at ritzy restaurant served the worst meat Asians: suit

César Ramirez of Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, a purportedly classy three-Michelin-star rated restaurant, is accused of openly prohibiting Asian customers from being placed too close to him at his section at the fusion French-Asian eatery, routinely referring to them as "shit people." He also dictated that Asians were to be served lesser scraps of meat, while preferred diners were given choice chunks.

According to a lawsuit filed by some of his former sous chefs and servers, Ramirez was blatant about his biases, and went out of his way to discriminate against Asian diners. I think calling anyone "shit people" makes it pretty clear how you feel about them.

Angry Gift Guide: 'Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe' by Yumi Sakugawa

Your hand-drawn path to inner peace, from the author of 'I Think I Am in Friend-Love With You.'



A gift idea for anyone seeking a little more one-ness in their lives...

Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe, the latest collection of comics from Yumi Sakugawa, is your hand-drawn path to inner peace. Read this book and set yourself free on a "visual journey of self-discovery" from the author of I Think I Am in Friend-Love With You.

Donate to Grace Lee Boggs' hospice care

Legendary Detroit activist, now 99 years old, needs your help.



As you may be aware, activist/philosopher/author Grace Lee Boggs, now 99 years old, is in ailing health and in hospice care at her home in Detroit. With over 75 years of work in the labor, civil rights and Black Power movements, she has lived an extraordinary life of love, struggle and revolution. In September, she released a statement recorded at her bedside, acknowledging the end of her journey.

However, it should be no surprise that Grace Lee Boggs is a fighter. Over the last month she has apparently become stronger, and it seems will be with us for much longer. But she will still require 24-hour care.

Friends of Grace are now asking for your support as she makes her final transition. Grace, who has been living on a fixed income and has always put the needs of others before her own, does not have the resources needed for her care. So her friends are making a public appeal for assistance in raising these funds:

Hmong man assaulted in hunting dispute

Family and community members demand justice for the attack on 64-year-old Sao Lue Vang



Last month in Wisconsin, a Hmong hunter was severely injured after he accidentally wandered on to private land and was assaulted by the son of the property owner. The victim's family and members of the Hmong American community are demanding answers for the vicious attack on 64-year-old Sao Lue Vang.

Family speaks out about Hmong hunter assault

Vang was hunting with friends on public land in Pepin County. At some point, Vang separated from the group and was approached by another hunter, 43-year-old Kevin Elberg, who started harassing, yelling, and accusing him of being on his property. Vang apologized, but the confrontation escalated.

When Vang tried to walk away, Elberg allegedly assaulted him from behind, knocking him to the ground, and kicking and hitting him in the stomach and body. Vang suffered lacerations to his liver and injuries to his hand.

Here's more information on what happened: