ambassador nominee withdraws after racy emails surface

Oh, scandal. This week, President Obama's choice to be ambassador to Iraq withdrew from consideration for the post after a series of emails came to light detailing an improper relationship with a journalist during a previous tour in Baghdad: Obama pick for Iraq ambassador withdraws after racy emails.

Brett McGurk and Wall Street Journal reporter Gina Chon -- who are now married -- reportedly carried on an extramarital affair while both were in Baghdad in 2008. The proof: some pretty racy emails that got leaked and hit the web last week. Chon has since resigned from the Wall Street Journal:

what I'm listening to: yuna

Okay, I'm a little late coming to this party, but I'm seriously digging the music of Yuna. Hailing from Malaysia, she's a singer-singwriter who's been turning heads and making waves with her warm vocals and acoustic alternative pop sound. Here's the official music video for her single "Live Your Life":

paul hein needs a bone marrow donor

Got word passed along to me about a kid in need... Noah Hein was adopted from Vietnam in 2000 when he was four months old. In February 2008, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, but was able to beat cancer through chemotherapy treatments.

Unfortunately, in April of this year, Noah learned his leukemia had returned. His best chance for survival would be for him to receive a bone marrow transplant from someone of Vietnamese or Asian descent. Here are some more details from Noah's family:

jeremy lin in "1 is 2 many" psa

Today, the White House launched a new public service announcement for the Vice President's 1 is 2 Many campaign, which addresses dating violence. The PSA, which targets young men, features professional athletes -- including Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks -- and other male role models with the message that dating violence is unacceptable. Take a look:

is ann curry getting dumped from the today show?

Noooooooo! Rumor has it, only a year after officially becoming co-host on NBC's Today show, Ann Curry is getting pushed out of the job: NBC Prepares to Replace Ann Curry on 'Today.'

The juggernaut morning show institution has been slipping in the ratings over the last year, recently falling from the number one spot back in the spring, for the first time since 1995.

Some network folks blame the show's ratings woes on Curry's co-hosting style, and are apparently conspiring to remove her from the show in time for NBC's coverage of the Summer Olympics:

disturbing bus bullying video goes viral

Sorry, I am not a particularly violent person, and I don't condone violence against anybody -- especially children. But honestly, after watching this video, I really wanted to smack the s#*t out of some kids.

In this ten-minute video, shot on a school bus in Greece, New York, a group of hateful middle school kids gang up on an elderly bus monitor, Karen Klein, and verbally abuse her, calling her the most hateful, vile things. This is bullying. It's disturbing as hell and will shake your faith in human decency.

You've been warned:

one of the guys who killed vincent chin is "hanging in there"

With this week marking the 30th anniversary of Vincent Chin's murder, I've been reading a lot of poignant commemorations and commentaries revisiting the case.

On Saturday, I'll be moderating a nationwide town hall on hate crimes and bullying, via Google Hangout, presented by Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.

Chin's killers, Ronald Ebens and Michael Nitz, were infamously sentenced to probation, a fine, and no jail time for beating Vincent to death with a baseball bat. Have you ever wondered what happened to them?

Ronald Ebens, now 72, says he's "hanging in there": 30 years later, Vincent Chin's family awaits justice in fatal beating.

refugee nation at los angeles theatre center through june 24

Los Angeles! Sorry for not posting this sooner. But if you get the chance...

Refugee Nation has come home just for you. Through this weekend at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, catch performances by creators Leilani Chan and Ova Saopeng, who traveled across the country collecting oral histories from Laotian refugees and their descendants. This run is a co-production of TeAda Productions and the Latino Theater Company. Here's more info:

are you ready for be the change 2012?

Be the Change is an annual national day of service coordinated by South Asiasn Americans Leading Together (SAALT), held on campuses and in cities across the country. This year, Be the Change is happening on Saturday, October 6.

The event is an opportunity for South Asian community members, advocates and allies to build community through service, develop leadership skills, and engage in social change.

In 2011, over 2,500 people volunteered at over 130 service sites in 80 cities and campuses across the country. Want to get involved with Be the Change 2012? Here are some more details:

far east movement drops dirty bass on aol music sessions

I love that dirty bass. To celebrate the release of their latest album, Far East Movement recently dropped by AOL Music's Sessions studio to perform a high-energy, kickass set, featuring tracks from Dirty Bass and Free Wired, as well as a tribute to the Beastie Boys. Here's the whole damn thing, including an interview. Enjoy:

bicyclist charged with manslaughter in pedestrian's death

Remember that accident in San Francisco, where a speeding cyclist plowed through a crowded crosswalk and fatally struck a 71-year-old pedestrian in the Castro?

It took nearly three months, but authorities have determined that the guy on the bike was grossly negligent in the death of Sutchi Hui.

Last week, 36-year-old Chris Bucchere was charged with felony vehicular manslaughter. Today in court, he pled not guilty: Bicyclist who ran down man, 71, pleads not guilty.

kevjumba vs. harry shum jr. pole dancing. greatness.

KevJumba. Harry Shum Jr. Pole dancing. The Jumba-Laya vs. The Dirty Harry. People, let me share one of the greatest videos in the history of the internet.

In the latest episode of YOMYOMF's KevJumba Takes All, in which the YouTube sensation challenges celebrities to a variety of duels and displays of skill, he faces of against Glee star Harry Shum Jr. in a pole dance off. Hilarity.

Hell yes. Get those dollars bills out:

Sound and Fury Podcast Episode 4: Jen Wang

What's up, angry listeners! Huge thank you to everyone who's downloaded episodes 001, 002 and 003 of Sound and Fury: The Angry Asian Podcast. This has been a really rewarding new project thus far, and I've receiving lots of great feedback. Be sure to subscribe if you haven't already.

We're still figuring out a good schedule and workflow for producing new episodes, but it's coming together all right. I'm super proud to present this episode, which features a great conversation with one of my good friends and fellow bloggers, who I've wanted as a guest since when the podcast was just an idea.

So check it out. Here's my conversation with Jen Wang of Disgrasian...

this is how mcdonald's sells bubble tea in germany

Lots of folks have gotten in touch, up in arms about this weird-ass German McDonald's commercial for bubble tea. Yes, Germany's McDonald's McCafe locations now have boba on the menu. What better way to advertise this than with a strange Asian caricature? See for yourself:

the problem with the rise of asian americans

The other day, I woke up to find a deluge of emails regarding a new report by the Pew Research Center, which described the "Rise of Asian Americans," with all sorts of proclamations about education, income, intermarriage, "tiger" parenting and other key findings.

Shortly after the release of the report, which was widely covered by mainstream news outlets, several Asian American advocacy groups expressed concern that the study, while helpful as a "conversation starter," had some serious problems: Advocacy groups concerned about new Asian American study.

Frankly, I think the damn thing is an oversimplification of the Asian American community, and runs the risk of perpetuating monolithic stereotypes of Asian Americans as high-achieving, wealthy, educated and extremely well-adjusted in these United States. We know that's definitely not the case.

dis/orient/ed comedy, july 14

If you're in Southern California, mark your calendars for some comedy. Dis/orient/ed Comedy is a showcase of funny and powerful Asian American female comedians, created by Yola Lu, Atsuko Okatsuka, and Jenny Yang.

The tour kicks off on Saturday, July 14. with a one-night show at the historic David Henry Hwang Theater in Los Angeles. Featured comedians include Yola Lu, Atsuko Okatsuka, and Jenny Yang, with Aiko Tanaka, Paulene Yasuda, Kyle Mizono, Cathy Tanaka, Monrok, Aparna Nancherla, Helen Hong and more.

Want discount tickets? (Yes, you do.) Use the discount code STAYANGRY by June 25 for $10 off. A portion of the show's proceeds will benefit the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative. Here are some more details:

research survey on social experiences of asian american women

I recently heard from Pauline Chan, a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology at Boston College. For her dissertation, she's looking at the social experiences of Asian American women in different contexts, and is look for folks to participate in an online research survey. Here are some more details:

the making of color theory by kero one

San Francisco-based emcee/producer Kero One has released a brief behind-the-scenes look at the making of his upcoming new album Color Theory, due out next month. This definitely gets me excited to hear what he's got cooking. (Yo, how come nobody told me Jane Lui had a collab on this album?) Take a look:

missing san diego college student located

Hiu-Ting Jessica Lo, the San Diego college student who was reported missing last week, has been reportedly located: Police: Missing Local College Graduate Located.

Lo, who recently graduated from Mesa College, was supposed to board a flight to Hong Kong on Wednesday morning, but she never checked in.

Authorities haven't released further information about her whereabouts, but according to Missing Persons Unit detectives, she's been and located and her parents have been notified:

creepy cool short film: mission chinese

Yikes. Check out this creepy and weird short film, Mission Chinese, featuring some intense stares, body parts, and lots of blood. Written and directed by Cole Schreiber and David Parker, and starring Ivan Shaw and Ron Yuan, it's about a Chinese restaurant cook who... well, I'm actually not entirely sure what happens. But it's definitely different: