epic proportions donating sales to japan disaster relief

Check it. This is from our friend Jerry Ma, one of the editor/artists behind Secret Identities... From March 21 to April 3, he's donating all proceeds from sales at his t-shirt site Epic Proportions to Red Cross Japan Relief. Jerry has some good friends in Japan, so he's making it personal.

He's got a bunch of great new designs, so this is your chance to pick up a cool shirt while making sure your money goes to people in need. Looking good and supporting disaster relief! Go to the Epic Proportions website here to peruse the sweet selection of shirts.

research survey on acculturation and intergenerational conflict among taiwanese americans

I recently heard from Wan-Chen Weng, a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Columbia University. He's doing a research study on acculturation, intergenerational family conflict and psychological distress among Taiwanese Americans/Taiwanese Immigrants, and is looking for subjects to take an online survey. Here's a little more information:

charity single: "the moon represents my heart" by cynthia lin

Singer/songwriter Cynthia Lin recently released "The Moon Represents My Heart," a charity single to support disaster relief in Japan. All proceeds after digital distribution fees will go to the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund, which dedicates 100% of donations exclusively to Japan. Here's a video with Cynthia performing the song:

support the confirmation of judge edward chen

Last week, Judge Edward M. Chen's nomination to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California was once again recommended for a federal judgeship by the Senate Judiciary Committee. Judge Chen's supporters are putting the call out for your help in getting the confirmation vote.

You can support Judge Chen's nomination by calling the Senate Leadership and your home state Senators at 202-224-3121 and asking them to support an up-or-down vote for Judge Chen before the full Senate. Here's some more information on who to call and how to do it:

Live-Action 'Akira' Adaptation: Starring White People!

So we've know that there's been a live-action adaptation of the manga/anime classic Akira in the works for a while now -- literally for years.

In the last year, the project has seen some major developments, with the Hughes Brothers attached to direct and an allegedly epic screenplay by Harry Potter scribe Steve Kloves. There was a moment late last year when Zac Efron was rumored to be attached to the project, but that thankfully didn't pan out.

The studio has its eye on possible stars for the movie... and surprise, surprise, the actors are are all white. According to Deadline.com the script has been a sent to s short list of actors that includes Robert Pattinson, Andrew Garfield, James MacAvoy, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Fassbender, Chris Pine, Justin Timberlake and Joaquin Phoenix:

"My Definite Chief Aim": Bruce Lee's Letter to Himself

He forgot to include "be one of the baddest dudes ever to walk the earth."


Behold, Bruce Lee's ten-year plan. This is a hand-written note written by Bruce Lee proclaiming to the world -- and mainly, to himself -- his goals for the next decade. It's definitely one of those "set your mind to it" kind of things, and if there's anyone who had the will to make it happen, it was Bruce Lee:

the tiring plight of the casino bus driver

With the horrific bus crash that recently killed fourteen people on Interstate 95 in New York, and another crash shortly after that killed at least two on the New Jersey Turnpike, the casino tour bus industry, which shuttles gamblers from cities to remote casinos, has recent found itself under quite a bit of scrutiny.

Here's a particularly depressing New York Times article focusing on the exhausting plight of casino bus drivers, who often work long hours with very little pay -- and regularly on little or no sleep: Driving Buses to Casinos, With Long Hours and Little Rest.

listening/launch party for scott tang's a portrait of the artist as a young insomniac, march 25

If you're hanging around Southern California this Friday, then you're invited to Listening and Launch Party for singer/songwriter Scott Tang's long-awaited new album A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Insomniac. The evening will include will be food, art, videos, vintage clothing and, of course, music. It's happening March 25 at Gallery Nucleus in Alhambra. Here are some more details:

t-shirt love: pray for japan by impress ink

A number of great t-shirt designs have emerged in response to the earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan. Here's one I particularly like, Pray for Japan by Impress Ink. 50% of the proceeds -- $7.50 of every single shirt -- will be directly donated to disaster relief efforts. Purchase your shirt at the Impress Ink website here.

job announcement: director of apia affairs, univ. of florida

The University of Florida is searching for a Director of APIA Affairs, who will also serve as Assistant Director of Multicultural and Diversity Affairs in the Division of Student Affairs, and will be responsible for the support of the Asian Pacific Islander American community through programming, education, alumni networks, mentoring and leadership development. Here are some details about the job:

video: "before tomorrow" (tribute to victims of the 2011 japan earthquake) by gowe

Seattle-based emcee Gowe just dropped a new track, "Before Tomorrow," dedicated to victims of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan. It's a simple video, set against images from the disaster with powerful, direct lyrics and a haunting hook. Take a listen:

brooklyn police officer pushed to his death

Some terrible recent news about the death of a police officer in New York... Veteran cop Alain Schaberger was killer earlier this month after falling to his death during a scuffle in what started as a domestic dispute call: Officers, Fiancee Of Slain Brooklyn Officer Mourn Loss.

George Villanueva is accused of pushing Officer Schaberger over a railing after police responded to the scene of a domestic dispute. The officer fell nine feet to the basement before landing on his head and breaking his neck.

all eyes still on jeremy lin

Here's a good ESPN article on Jeremy's incredible roller-coaster journey -- "the NBA's Cinderella story of the offseason" -- from the Harvard Crimson to the Golden State Warriors. It's safe to say that he's received more media attention than your average NBA rookie: Jeremy Lin: NBA's Cinderella story.

video: asians in library rap by afterschoolspecial

Better late than never, I guess... Our friends in afterschoolspecial have put together a funny video response to our favorite little hater of Asians in the library. Making some noise in the stacks, DanakaDan breaks it down to tell you how much he (and his aunts and uncles and brothers and cousins) love libraries and phones. Take a look:

sign an e-card to celebrate the one-year anniversary of health care reform

The Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum and their Health Through Action partners are celebrating the one-year anniversary of health care reform by delivering birthday cards to Members of Congress and they need your help.

You can sign a health care reform birthday card that will be delivered to Members of Congress on March 23, 2011 -- which marks one-year since the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted. Here's some more information:

cape japan relief fundraiser, march 23

Friends, if you're in the Los Angeles area, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment (CAPE) is throwing a Japan Relief Fundraiser this week, sponsored by Verizon. Celebrity hosts include George Takei, Kelly Hu, Harry Shum Jr., Tia Carrere, James Kyson Lee, Amy Hill, Leonardo Nam, Wilson Cruz and more. It's happening Wednesday, March 23 at The Factory in West Hollywood. Here are some more details:

no more "ching chong ling long ting tong": alexandra wallace drops out of ucla

Well, it's official. Alexandra Wallace, creator of the infamous "Asians in the Library" video, is withdrawing from UCLA, despite the university's decision not to discipline her. Basically, she's been driven out by the vicious fallout from her diatribe: Alexandra Wallace apologizes, announces she will no longer attend UCLA.

In a statement to The Daily Bruin, Alexandra apologized and said that she had chosen to stop attending classes at UCLA because of "the harassment of my family, the publishing of my personal information, death threats and being ostracized from an entire community." Here's the statement:

this week's angriest posts

Not really the angriest, just the most viewed.

• alexandra's anti-asian video about "manners"


• "ching chong ling long ting tong" means I love you


• hey you f@#king facebook idiots, the japanese tsunami is not payback for pearl harbor


• "asians in the library of the world: a persona poem in the voice of alexandra wallace" by beau sia


• "at times like this, we are all japanese"


• annie le murder suspect pleads guilty


• win a copy of the people I've slept with on dvd


• fourteen dead in casino bus crash


• the smart way to give to disaster relief


• asian villain swap: red dawn remake changes villains from china to north korea

I'm kicking it at KASCON today.

water works: fundraiser for the devastation in japan

Check this. If you're in Los Angeles, our friends at Giant Robot present Water Works, a fundraiser exhibition for the devastation in Japan, running March 19 - April 13 at GR2. They've partnered with a truckload of great artists for a unique water bottle sale, with proceeds going to UNICEF. Read on for more details:

angry reader of the week: rohan grover

Welcome to another edition of 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 Rohan Grover, student at the University of Pennsylvania.

Who are you?
Rohan Grover.

What are you?
I'm an Indian American student-activist.