freerunning footage fuels "dewmocracy" controversy

Scandal! In the world of free running, where friend betrays friend!
Earlier this year, a guy named Steven Wong won Mountain Dew's "Dewmocracy" video contest. Unfortunately, his entry allegedly used someone else's parkour footage without permission... and that guy is now mad: Man Calls on Pepsi to "Dew" the Right Thing.

postsecret: half asian

A bunch of folks alerted me to this Father's Day edition of Post Secret, where this odd one popped up. It apparently came via email with the note, "I'm only attracted to half Asians." I don't even know how to approach unpacking this one.

overheard in new york: "he loves koreans"

Recently posted on Overheard in New York, a blog that documents the weird, funny and/or stupid things people overhear in New York... this one involves an old man hitting on two Asian girls:

legaci and the age of the youtube musician

Bieber, I cannot escape you... but this is a good one. The New York Times has a good story on Filipino American R&B group Legaci, who have recently been propelled into the spotlight as backup vocalist for pop heartthrob Justin Bieber: Unexpected Harmony.

Legaci is Dominic Manuel, Chris Abad, Micah Tolentino and Delfin Lazaro... who just might be "the most visible yet invisible pop figures in the world." And, like a lot of Asian American musicians, they largely owe their success to a little thing thing called YouTube:

jaccc presents ultra gabba gabba!, june 25

Hey Los Angeles, here's a fun event for the whole family... This Friday, June 25, the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center presents a free outdoor screening -- a double feature! They'll be showing two episodes of the original Ultraman and two episodes of Yo Gabba Gabba. It's going to be fun! Here's some more information:

kollaboration new york this saturday, june 26

Just wanted to throw out another plug for Kollaboration New York 5. The world-famous Asian American talent show returns to NYC this Saturday, June 26 at Highline Ballroom. Check out this cool promo video featuring a bunch of this year's performers... and sparklers:

advancing justice conference, june 23-25

The Advancing Justice Conference is a national civil rights and social justice conference that aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to address a broad range of issues facing the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. It's a happening June 23-25 in Washington DC. Here's a preview with highlights from last year's conference:

customs and departures: an evening with thai-american writers

This week at the University of Southern California, an unprecedented literary event: Customs and Departures: An Evening with Thai-American Writers, the first gathering of several of the nation's most notable Thai-American writers. The event will feature readings from their work, followed by a Q & A and a Thai food reception. Read on for details:

national apia historic preservation forum

Got word of an interesting conference happening this week, June 24-26, in San Francisco's historic Japantown: the first-ever National APIA Historic Preservation Forum, a gathering of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders concerned about preserving their historical community resources. Here's some more information:

go!ohana, june 24

Bay Area friends, here's something to do for your Thursday night... You are invited to join RAMA for its monthly APA music and art show GO!OHANA, featuring Chin-Chin, JVoqalz, Infinity Funk Project and special guest Alice Tong. It's this Thursday, June 24 at the La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley. Here are some more details:

one-man show chink monkey premiering in san francisco

I recently heard from Steven Low, whose one-person show, Chink Monkey, is premiering Saturday, June 26 at the Phoenix Theater in San Francisco. Six years in the making, the show is described as "a highly provocative exploration of Asian American interracial romance and Asian American masculinity." Here are some more details:

t.h.i.n.k. (topple hunger in north korea) conference

This week, the Korean American Coalition invites you to participate in the THINK (Topple Hunger in North Korea) Conference, a national gathering dedicated to engage, educate and create awareness about the geopolitical and humanitarian crisis in North Korea. It's happening June 25-26 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles. Here's are some details:

a father's day message from va secretary shinseki

Here's A Father's Day Message from Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there -- especially my appa, who's the greatest. Thanks for everything, pops.

valerie soe interviews eric byler and annabel park

Valerie Soe recently posted a great interview on her blog with Eric Byler and Annabel Park, the directors of the documentary 9500 Liberty: De Paisano A Paisano: An Interview with 9500 Liberty's Eric Byler and Annabel Park.

The post contains key excerpts from her chat, as well as full audio of the almost-hour-long conversation. For more information about 9500 Liberty, including upcoming screenings, check out the website here.

this week's angriest post

Not really the angriest, just the most viewed.

• stephen colbert takes issue with rain (again)


• korean condom sales jump after world cup win


• jackie chan hates karate kids


• guy proposes to girl at improv class


• the power of a white guy in a tie


• the japanese robert pattinson... in 1860


• whitewashed toys: the last airbender movie action figures


• disgrasian goes to the movies: the karate kid remake


• the ultimate world cup underdogs: north korea


• meg whitman pushes asian people

Still mad about that ridiculous goal call during the USA/Slovenia match.

aaron takahashi's biggest fans, part 2

A little while back, I wrote about actor Aaron Takahashi and the awesome encounter with his biggest fans. It was a great story where Aaron made some cool kids really happy. Well, that story has a follow-up involving the same kids and an awesome t-shirt. Read all about it here: A Brush with Hollywood - Take 2. Now where do I get one of those t-shirts too?

financial troubles led to family murder-suicide

Some tragic news out of Anaheim, California, where authorities are investigating a couple's murder-suicide and the critical wounding of their 3-year-old son: Money troubles possible motive in family shooting.

fail: the lone north korean in illawarra

As seen on FAIL Blog... This special World Cup feature in the Illawa Mercury, showcasing the diversity of the Australian region, has one peculiar photo representing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. You're telling me the Kim Jong Il puppet from Team America: World Police is the only photo of a North Korean person you could find? Anywhere? FAIL. (Thanks, Kevin.)

aaww presents come together: arts in the asian american movement

Short notice, but this event happening tomorrow afternoon a the Asian American Writers' Workshop sounds really cool: Come Together: Arts in the Asian American Movement. The event will feature a reading from author Karen Tei Yamashita and a panel with artist/activists Corky Lee, Tomie Arai and Jack Tchen. Here are the details:

asians! dancing! in justin bieber's "somebody to love" music video

While I purposely try to avoid anything related to Justin Bieber (who?), the kid keeps finding ways to claw back into my consciousness. Case in point, his latest music video...