james kyson lee invites you to national aapi week of service

James Kyson Lee of Heroes invites you to celebrate APA Heritage Month by participating in the National AAPI Week of Service, May 24-31. Watch the video, search through the map at AAPI Momentum, and view the calendar of events for service opportunities happening across the nation.

more on afterquake

Jeff Yang's latest "Asian Pop" column takes a look at Afterquake, a music collaboration by electronica artist Dave Liang (Shanghai Restoration Project) and folk musician Abigial Washburn created to fund continuing efforts victims of the Sichuan earthquake: The Sichuan Restoration Project.

Afterquake was also recently profiled in the New York Times Music Popcast: Weekly Popcast: Green Day, Afterquake and More. Kind of funny hearing about this record alongside the likes of Green Day and Mars Volta, but it's cool to hear them talk about the ideas and sounds that went into the project.

If you haven't heard it yet, the seven song EP is a really interesting, haunting work. Learn more (and hear samples) here. It's available at the usual spots like Amazon and iTunes. And remember, proceeds from the project go to Sichuan Quake Relief.

ex-boyfriend charged in nypd criminalist murder

Heard news about this gruesome murder in New York... Last week in Queens, prosecutors announced that 23-year-old Gary McGurk has been charged in the stabbing death of ex-girlfriend Michelle Lee, a forensic investigator for the New York Police Department: Man Is Indicted in Slaying.

McGurk, a student at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, faces one count of second-degree murder, three count of tampering with physical evidence and two counts of weapons possession. He faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted. The guy sounds like a sicko.

According to police, Lee was found with a knife in her throat in her apartment in Sunnyside by her roommate on April 27. Prosecutors said she had been tied to a bed, beaten in the head, bound with a cell phone charger cord, seared on the chest with a steam iron, and stabbed repeatedly.

McGurk allegedly used his "forensic expertise" to try covering his tracks by making Lee's death look like a kinky sex crime: CSI RUSE IN NYPD GAL'S SLAY SCENE. More here: I choked her during sex, Gary McGurk, suspect in NYPD criminalist Michelle Lee's murder, told cops.

30 under 30: aaron yoo

Aaron Yoo
Age: 30
Actor

Why he's influential: Because he's bringing a "regular Asian guy" sensibility to Hollywood. In a few short years on the scene, actor Aaron Yoo has built a solid resume of roles, quickly achieving "hey, it's that guy!" status on a number of high-profile, largely youth-oriented Hollywood studio and indie projects.

While he started out with a handful of TV credits, movie audiences first got a glimpse of Aaron as the jokey best friend to Shia LaBeouf in the 2007 hit Disturbia. I swear, the Monday after the movie opened, this blog got a considerable spike of web traffic from people searching for "Aaron Yoo Disturbia." He definitely left an impression.

Since then, you've seen him popping up in independent fare like Rocket Science and The Wackness, but also adding a little color to the whitewashed 21, playing bandmate to Michael Cera in Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist and getting killed by Jason in Friday the 13th. Hopefully, this doesn't mean he's building a career on wisecracking buddy/best friend roles.

If you ask me, I think Aaron's most interesting performance thus far has been as Japanese American ace pitcher Lyle Nomura in Desmond Nakano's historical internment drama American Pastime, where he shows off his chops as a leading man while telling a moving slice of Asian American history.

But Aaron's just getting started. Named one of Entertainment Weekly's "Hardest Working Actors" last fall, you'll next see him in the indie flick The Good Guy, the action flick Gamer, and, believe it or not, as father to Lindsay Lohan's fake baby in Labor Pains. He's bringing a normal, everyday Asian face to Hollywood in a normal, everyday way.

See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.

former south korean president commits suicide

Some crazy news that has rocked South Korea this weekend... Former President Roh Moo-hyun is dead from an apparent suicide. He was 62: Former SKorean leader leaps to death over scandal.

Roh, who was embroiled in allegations that he had accepted $6 million in bribes from a businessman during his time in office, hurled himself off a 100-foot high cliff early Saturday while hiking near his retirement hom. He died from severe head trauma.

In recent weeks, several of his aides and relatives had been arrested or questioned on charges of taking bribes. Late last month, Roh himself was questioned by state prosecutors, but denied most of the bribery allegations against him.

In a suicide note found on his computer, he wrote that life had become unbearable and "too many people are suffering because of me." More here: South Korean Ex-President Kills Himself.

This is just the latest a series of high-profile suicide deaths in South Korea, as well as a number of reported Korean American suicide/murders here in the United States, raising questions about the the highly volatile issue of shame and judgment in the culture.

Rather than a sensationalist attitude towards such tragedies, I hope that the death of a former president might promote a much-needed dialogue about mental health, shame and suicide within Korean society, the Korean American community and beyond.

"commUNITY" photography exhibition in lafayette, in

This is for you, Midwest. Specifically, Indiana. commUNITY is an Asian American photo exhibition that documents the realities and experiences of Asian Americans who live, work, and go to school in Lafayette, Indiana. In celebration of APA Heritage Month, the exhibition will be displayed May 22 June 20 at the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.

The exhibition features the photographs and statements of 30 anonymous volunteers whose age ranges from 18 years old to 61 years old. The participants responded to three deceivingly simple yet complex questions addressing issues relevant to Asian American identity: What do you think when someone asks you where you are from? What does Asian American mean to you? Is there anything about being Asian American that annoys you?

"commUNITY" investigates the notion of cultural and geographic communities and explores individual identity by deconstructing social, racial, and cultural constructs. For more information, visit the museum's website here, and the photographer's website here. And watch the video preview above.

margaret cho in drop dead diva

I've been following Margaret Cho on Twitter. This article is a couple of weeks old, but it's news about what the Korean American comedienne has been working on lately, a new series for Lifetime called Drop Dead Diva: Margaret Cho geared up for 'Dead'.

The show is about "a brilliant plus-size attorney who finds her body inhabited by the soul of a shallow wannabe model." Margaret plays neither the model nor the attorney -- she's got the sidekick role, Terri. I can guarantee you right now that this is not my kind of show. But you do it, Margaret.

She's also got an album, Guitarded, scheduled to come out next year, which promises a collection of super dirty, super silly and super funny Flight of the Conchords-esque songs -- with Cho flava, of course.

aaldef presents the asian american vote 2008

Over the next few months, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is giving special presentations of survey findings from AALDEF's national multilingual exit poll conducted during the 2008 Presidential Elections -- the largest nonpartisan survey of its kind, conducted in twelve Asian languages and English across 39 cities in 11 states. Some details:

Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
presents

The Asian American Vote 2008

During the 2008 Presidential Elections, 16,665 Asian American voters were surveyed as part of AALDEF's national multilingual exit poll. The exit poll was the largest nonpartisan survey of its kind in the nation and was conducted in twelve Asian languages and English across 39 cities in 11 states.

At these special presentations across the country, comparative information will be given about the Asian American vote in the Presidential and Congressional elections, concerns about key issues, first-time voters, and profiles of the Asian American vote by ethnicity, party enrollment, nativity, age, and English proficiency. For more information or to attend any of these presentations, contact jyang@aaldef.org or call 800.966.5946, www.aaldef.org.

May 21 – The New York Asian American Vote
12 Noon
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
666 Fifth Avenue at 53rd St.
New York, NY

May 22 – The New Jersey Asian American Vote
11:30 AM
Korean American Voters' Council
144 Main Street, Suite 201
Hackensack, NJ

June 8 – The Massachusetts Asian American Vote
12:30 PM at Bingham McCutchen
One Federal Street
Boston, MA

5:30 PM at ONE Lowell
9 Central Street, Suite 203
Lowell, MA

June 11 – The Maryland Asian American Vote
6:30 PM
Montgomery County Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, MD

June 12 – The Asian American Vote (multistate)
2:00 PM
121 Cannon House Office Building
Capitol Hill
Washington, DC

June 17 and 18 – The Virginia Asian American Vote
June 17at 6:30 PM (location to be confirmed)
Richmond, VA

June 18 at 11:30 AM Aladdin Bookstore & Café
4305 Markham Street, 2nd floor
Annandale, VA

August 8 - The Chinese American Vote
Time TBA
OCA National Convention
The Westin St. Francis Hotel
San Francisco, CA

Unfortunately, I'm a little late in posting this, so if you didn't already know about it, you probably missed this week's presentations. (Sorry.) But there will obviously be other opportunities. For more information, look somewhere on the AALDEF website.

30 under 30: jin

Jin
Age: 26
Musician

Why he's influential: Because he put a face on Asian American hip hop. Since jumping on the scene in 2001, rapper/songwriter/actor Jin Au-yeung, or just Jin, has been making moves as a pioneer for Asian American emcees in hip hop -- first as a freestyle battler, then as the first Asian American solo rapper to be signed to a major record label, then making music on his terms.

His Freestyle Friday run on BET's 106 & Park is now downright legendary. Proving himself a skilled battle rapper, he took down the competition week after week -- on a nationally televised stage, no less. After winning seven weeks straight, Jin was inducted into the show's Hall of Fame. Long before YouTube, I must have watched the video of his seventh win at least fifty times.

Since then, Jin has sort of been held up and touted -- whether he liked it or not -- as Asian American hip hop's "chosen one," first going down the traditional record label route by signing with Ruff Ryders, and then breaking off and forging his own path and releasing music as an indie artist.

Personally, I think Jin has always been most interesting when he's taken a stand, whether it's biting back at New York's Hot 97 for the infamous "Tsunami Song" parody, or firing words at Rosie O'Donnell for her "ching chong" moment, or rocking the vote as an early supporter of Barack Obama for President.

These days, Jin is splitting time between the U.S. and Hong Kong, having carved out a bi-lingual career that pushes hip hop's transnational boundaries. And he's just making good music, in any language. No doubt, there are plenty of other talented Asian American emcees out there, but no one has really taken on the culture quite like Jin.

See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.

new photos from the last airbender

They've done it now. After all the controversy over casting the big-screen live-action Hollywood adaption of Nickelodeon's popular animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender -- before shooting had even started -- the first two production photos have emerged... and as expected, it looks pretty ridiculous.

That's a very Caucasian Noah Ringer as the hero Aang. There's also a photo of Dev Patel as the villinous Prince Zuko. I'm sure these are just the first of many such photos that will emerge before the movie is finally released in 2010. If you thought fans were mad before, this will no doubt throw more gas on the flames.

ken burns' manzanar: "never again"

I just watched Manzanar: "Never Again," a mini-documentary by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns. It's one of five short films produced by WETA and Florentine Films as part of The Untold Stories Project, designed to bring to light stories from the national parks focusing on the role of African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans in the creation and protection of individual parks.

"Never Again" looks at the interconnected stories of Japanese American internment during World War II, Sue Kunitomi Embrey's efforts to commemorate Manzanar internment camp, and the ongoing work of Manzanar National Historic Site to educate visitors about civil rights. At the heart of the of the film is the site's annual pilgrimage and the words of Sue Embrey, who speaks movingly about protecting all citizens' rights, especially in times of national crisis.

I visited the Manzanar historic site for the first time last month, during the 40th pilgrimage. It was a powerful, moving experience. Standing there in the windy, dusty desert, it made the history of the internment that much more real to me. I shook my fist at the U.S. government. Anyway, watch the documentary here. And learn more about it at the Manzanar Committee Blog.

the goonies reunion

Last month, Empire magazine re-assembled the cast and crew of the 1985 movie classic The Goonies, including Josh Brolin, Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, producer Steven Spielberg, director Richard Donner... and Jonathan Ke Quan, who will forever hold a place in our hearts as gadget guy Data: Video Exclusive: Goonies Reunion.

It's kind of funny to see what Jonathan Ke Quan (also Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom) looks like after all these years. These days, he's mostly working behind the camera. Here's an interesting piece taking a look at what the Goonies cast has been up to since starring in the greatest movie ever: "The Goonies" Cast: Then & Now.

So, with all these fine folks together in one room, any chance of solid news about that Goonies sequel that's been rumored for years? As much as Corey Feldman could really use the work, it doesn't look like it's going to happen. But as we all know, Goonies never say die: The Goonies Talk Sequel.

congressman mike honda apologizes for bad "irish" joke

Uh oh. Congressman Mike Honda, in making a pseudo-endorsement for Boston mayoral candidate Sam Yoon, apparently offended some folks with an Irish joke. Last week at the annual dinner of the Asian American Action Fund in Washington DC, Rep. Honda said Yoon was ready to be mayor, declaring, "Boston has been waiting for a long time, because the Irish have had it": Irish eyes frown at lawmaker's quip.

The article doesn't really indicate who was offended by the joke, if anyone. But Honda apologized this week for his "insensitive remark." In a written statement, he explained, "In the spirit of supporting efforts to help elect Asian American and Pacific Islander candidates to office, I made an attempt at being humorous that unfortunately came out as a statement that was offensive. I did not mean to offend anyone or any community, and I deeply regret my comment."

It's true. It's not a very good joke. I barely even understand it. But it's good to see a man like Mike Honda take full responsibility and apologize for it immediately, however mild or minor it might have been. If only other foot-in-mouth figures -- politicians, celebrities or otherwise -- would act in the same manner...

alec baldwin vs. the philippines

How does it feel to have an entire nation mad at you? Looks like Alec Baldwin's too-little, too-late apology for his "Filipino mail-order bride" joke on The Late Show last week didn't do much to quell the anger of Filipino officials. They've made it pretty damn clear that all is not forgiven.

The actor has reportedly been blacklisted by the country's Bureau of Immmigration from entering the Philippines: Immigration bans Alec Baldwin from entering RP.

I don't know if Alec had plans on going to the Philippines any time soon (Sen. Ramon Revilla's threats to give him an asskicking might be a bit of a deterrent) but he's been officially deemed an "undesirable alien" and is forbidden from entering the country. Moral of the story: don't mess with the Philippines.

in theaters this week

Opening in theaters this week... Terminator Salvation, the latest installment in the blockbuster sci-fi action franchise. The movie holds the confusing distinction of simultaneously being both a prequel and a sequel, set 34 years after the events of the first movie, but, chronologically, 11 years before Kyle Reese volunteers to be sent back in time. (If this makes no sense, that's okay.)

Moon Bloodgood, who is both beautiful and has an awesome name, is in the movie's cast as Blair Williams, a badass pilot for the human resistance against the machines. If you didn't know about Moon before this movie, you will soon. She's blowing up! Prepare to see her everywhere very soon, starting with Terminator... and this month's cover of Maxim.


In limited release, but going wide next week, The Brothers Bloom, a clever con man tale from Rian Johnson, director of Brick. I saw it a while back and enjoyed it immensely. Rinko Kikuchi, who plays a wordless, Harpo Marx-like explosives expert named Bang Bang. Unfortunately, she doesn't have a whole lot more to say here than her role in Babel, but she's so charming and funny, it's totally forgivable.


Now playing at the Film Forum in New York City, Anders Ostergaard's Burma VJ. In September 2007, when peaceful Buddhist monks led a massive uprising against Burma's military regime, foreign TV crews were banned from entering the country. This documentary tells the story through footage smuggled out by video journalists during the protest.


And finally, opening at the Quad Cinema in New York, Ghosts of the Heartland, a retro-styled indie drama about a Chinese American reporter who returns to his small hometown during the McCarthy era and runs into some red scare peril. Don't know much about this movie, but the premise is pretty intriguing. The film's cast includes Phil Moon, Rachel Lu, Marcus Ho, Rosanne Ma, James Saito and Tsen Lee. Here's a not-so-good review in the New York Times: Bigotry and Xenophobia in 1950s America.

eric yang, geography champ

You thought we were only about the spelling bees? Nope. We run geography bees too. Yesterday in Washington, 13-year-old Eric Yang of Colony, Texas beat out nine other kids in the finals to win the National Geographic Bee: Q: Which state has best geography whiz? A: Texas.

Question: Timis County shares its name with a tributary of the Danube and is located in the western part of which European country? Do you know the answer? Eric did. It's Romania. His opponent, 14-year-old Arjun Kandaswamy of Beaverton, Oregon, incorrectly answered "Hungary." And that's how you win it!

Eric walked away with the top prize of a $25,000 college scholarship. Runner-up Arjun took home a $15,000. My favorite quote from this story actually comes from Arjun, who says he wants to break the stereotype that "geography nerds" only "study all day" -- a common misperception about geography nerds, for sure. You show them, Arjun.

30 under 30: mai t. dang

Mai T. Dang
Age: 25
Community Organizer, Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation

Why she's influential: Because she's holding it down on the ground as a community organizer. Today's entry is written by Christina Wadhwani, friend and colleague to Mai T. Dang, an organizer for the Vietnamese American community in New Orleans, and soon-to-be graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Urban Planning and Design:

A woman warrior, fearless feminist, amazing community leader, and avid sponge ready to soak up what her surrounding environment has to offer only to squeeze back to the world her uncensored intellect, Mai has been a globe trotter and making ripples wherever her toes touch. She graduated from the George Washington University in 2006, and the day after graduation, moved to New Orleans East, the "backyard" of touristy New Orleans to aid Vietnamese and Vietnamese American Katrina victims.

A community organizer for the Mary Queen of Viet Nam Community Development Corporation (MQVN CDC), Mai organized the community and local neighborhood groups to close a neighborhood landfill which was toxic to the community. Securing relationships with key political figures, city council representatives, district members, and congressional members/staff, Mai helped put the Vietnamese community in New Orleans East on the map.

Her successful track record of community organizing also includes working with the city to rezone the Vietnamese Community on New Orleans' map, forcing the city to invest in the low income, marginalized communities of color in New Orleans East, bridging the racial gaps between different communities of color, and sustaining dialogue with key political figures to ensure that Vietnamese Americans have a voice at the planning, strategizing, rebuilding, redevelopment, and implementing table.

She is a friend, a mentor, an inspiration, a motivator, a roommate, a woman warrior, an Asian sister, a Vietnamese daughter, an adopted granddaughter, the balance between theory and practice, the mold between action and implementation, and the bridge between academia and grassroots. At 25, Mai T. Dang is a fireball under 30.

(Contributed by Christina Wadhwani)

See the rest of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30 here.

danny cho tells new jokes... live!

Comedian Danny Cho is taping a comedy show, and he wants you to be there. If you're in Southern California, come on out to the Colony Theatre in Burbank next Friday, May 29 to see Danny do his thing, along with some special guests. A night of jokes! Laughs! Fun! Advance tickets are 15 bucks, or you can buy a ticket with Danny's DVD for 20 bucks. For more info, go here: A Show in Burbank?! WTF!

support for sam yoon from boston and beyond

The saga of Boston city councilor Sam Yoon's run for mayor continues... In the city of Boston, where Mayor Thomas M. Menino dominates the political establishment, Yoon remains a relatively low-profile figure, unknown to 38 percent of residents, according to a recent Globe poll.

However, Yoon, Boston's first Asian American city councilor, has been working hard to cultivate support outside of Boston, traveling around the country to meet Asian American political activists, who have enthusiastically embraced his campaign with support and campaign donations: Yoon looks beyond Boston to enlist backers.

You can't blame them. Yoon is a promising voice leading the way among a new generation of Asian Americans getting involved in politics, at all levels of government. The trick now, is to translate that to Boston, and get the same kind of support from local donors to keep his campaign competitive.

fraternity members charged in hazing incident

Some bad news out of buffalo... Six Asian American college students -- members of Lambda Phi Epsilon -- were charged with assault after allegedly taking part in a hazing ritual: Six remain free on bail in fraternity hazing.

Kong M. Siu, 21, of Bayside; Ronald Lin, 21, of Brooklyn; Qiyvan Zhang, 22, of Groton; Brian B. Shim, 22, of Syosett; Andrew Lui, 21, of Brooklyn; and Ho Lee, 22, of Woodbury have all been charged with felony second-degree assault and misdemeanor hazing.

They are accused of paddling three victims and forcing them to drink alcohol until they lost consciousness. The victims were found unconscious in a locked bedroom, hospitalized for two days and treated for "dehydration, alcohol poisoning, blood in urine and severe pain, swelling and severe bruising to buttocks."

All six defendants have been suspended from class until thecase is resolved. Five of the defendants are from the University at Buffalo. The sixth, Shim, is a junior in D'Youville's nursing program.

I've written about hazing incidents among Asian American fraternities before. Again, I have to ask, what compels young Asian American college students to join an organization that would require you to endure such dangerous and/or humiliating rituals? What price must one pay just to "belong"?