Memorial service held for fallen LAPD officer

Thousands gather to mourn department veteran Nicholas Lee



In Los Angeles, thousands gathered at a memorial service to mourn and pay their last respects to a decorated veteran LAPD officer who was killed in the line duty in a traffic accident last week.

Fallen LAPD Officer Nicholas Lee remembered

40-year-old Nicholas Lee, a 16-year department veteran, was killed after his patrol car collided with a commercial dump truck at an intersection in Beverly Hills. It hasn't been determined what caused the crash, but officials are looking at whether the truck had mechanical problems.

Lee, a husband and father of two, is remembered as respected officer and a devoted family man.

The Strange Reign of Arthur Chu comes to end. Respect.

Thug. Villain. Smartass. Champion. Hero.



Gotta give some props to Jeopardy! champ Arthur Chu. On Wednesday night, the so-called "villain" of the perennial game show made his exit, ending a controversial, much-publicized 11-game winning streak. When all was said and done, Arthur walked away from the podium with nearly $300,000.

'Jeopardy!' champ Arthur Chu bows out

It was a glorious run, perhaps mostly notably marked by Arthur's aggressive, unorthodox playing strategy, which drew the ire of the quiz show's traditionalists and general everyday haters. The best part? Arthur never took shit from anybody, hopping on Twitter to strike back at critics with his trademark wit and DGAF attitude.

We loved it. During a good part of his badass run, my comedian pal Jenny Yang and I virtually gathered Arthur's devotees ("The Chu Crew") for live-tweet sessions of each game using the hashtag #ChuOnThis. Yeah, we're a bunch of nerds, and we had a blast. Thank you, Arthur, for dropping knowledge and good times.

And yes, Arthur will be back for Jeopardy's Tournament of Champions. The Chu Crew will be ready.

Mets coach apologizes for using racial slur

Pitching coach Dan Warthen called interpreter a 'chinaman'



This comes from Stu Woo, sports reporter for the Wall Street Journal, who shares about a recent encounter with the derogatory term "chinaman" uttered in an unlikely place -- the New York Mets locker room.

In the Mets Locker Room, an Old Slur Resurfaces

Woo was in the locker room talking to Jeff Cutler, the 30-year old Japanese American who serves as the interpreter for Japanese-born pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, when they were approached Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen:

Giant Robot: 20 Years Art X Mags Exhibition

March 15 - April 2 at GR2



Damn, it really has been twenty years. Giant Robot began in 1994 as a zine which soon became a full-fledged magazine. GR shuttered print publication a couple of years ago, but it still exists as a website, retailer and art gallery. Over the last two decades, the brand has become a beacon for Asian pop culture and beyond.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Giant Robot presents 20 Years Art X Mags Exhibition, running March 15 to April 2 at GR2 in Los Angeles. And if you're in the Bay Area mark your calendars for the SuperAwesome: Art and Giant Robot exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California, April 19 to July 27.

Here are some more details:

Frat brothers caught breaking into SeaWorld after hours

Spring breakers scaled a wall, stole ice cream and tried to find animals to take photos with



Asians behaving badly... frat bros break into SeaWorld edition! No, seriously. This week in San Antonio, a group of spring breakin' college fraternity brothers were arrested for trespassing into SeaWorld after hours in a possible attempt to take photos with the animals. That's right. Animal selfies.

Spring Break-in: college students caught overnight at SeaWorld

According to police, 23-year-old Duc Thien Nguyen and Huy Quan Mai, apparently students at the University of Houston, were part of a group that scaled the walls SeaWorld San Antonio, broke into a storage area to eat ice cream, and unsuccessfully tried to find animals to take photos with. Three other students got away.

Hudson Yang to star as Eddie Huang in 'Far East Orlando'

ABC comedy pilot based on the memoir 'Fresh Off The Boat'



Holy cow. It's official. Fresh Off The Boat -- now known as Far East Orlando -- has found its kid Eddie Huang... and he happens to be one of our peoples. 10-year-old Hudson Yang, son of Wall Street Journal columnist (and close friend to this blog) Jeff Yang, has been cast in the lead role of the ABC comedy pilot.

Far East Orlando, written and produced by Nahnatchka Khan and based on Eddie Huang's memoir Fresh Off The Boat, follows an Asian American family that moves from multi-ethnic Washington DC to an all-white suburb in Orlando, and the culture shock that ensues. Hudson will play young Eddie, circa 1994.

A network TV show about an Asian American family? So hell yeah, we've been following casting news pretty closely. We learned last month that Randall Park and Constance Wu had been cast as Eddie and his parents, while a casting call was circulated far and wide to find the right boys to play Eddie and his brothers.

From the official release:

Dawen's West Coast Tour

One of our favorite musicians returns stateside to open for Canadan artist Wanting



Our old friend Dawen, one of the smoothest singers I know, has been holding it down in Taiwan and is pretty much on his way to becoming a full-fledged pop star. No joke, he's making music videos in the rain and performing on TV and playing to screaming fans in arenas and stuff. Our boy Dawen!

But before we completely lose him to the pop stratosphere, he's returning to the United States this month for a four-city West Coast Tour, opening for Canadian artist Wanting. The tour kicks off next week at the House of Blues in Los Angeles:

Hari Kondabolu's 'Waiting For 2042'

Officially boasting the greatest album cover ever



YESSSSSS. One of my favorite comedians Hari Kondabolu has released his debut comedy album Waiting for 2042, out now from Kill Rock Stars. Officially boasting the greatest album cover art ever, the title refers to the year 2042, when the U.S. Census Bureau projects that white people will become the minority in this country.

I've been a fan of his comedy for a while, and this Hari doing what he does best, dropping comedy truth bombs about race, politics and pop culture -- you know, all the stuff I love. Here's a preview of a couple of his bits. You can also get a good sense of his set from the tracklist:

Do not watch this music video: "Get In My Car." I can't even.

The latest pop music train wreck from the makers of "Chinese Food" and "Friday"



Hey, can someone put me in a music video? Because really, it seems like anyone can be the star of their own music video... for the right price. The latest pop star wannabe to fall prey to producer Patrice Wilson -- the mastermind behind Rebecca Black's "Friday" and that godawful "Chinese food" song -- is 10-year-old Grace Liu, who just dropped the internet's newest audio visual train wreck, "Get In My Car."

Do not watch this:

Goonies Data Retro Action Figure

Just like the classic Kenner action figures of yesteryear



Nice. Here's another one for your action figure collection. I'm really digging this super cool "ReAction figure" of Data from The Goonies by Funko and Super7. Data, of course, is the loveably brave, haphazardly tech-savvy treasure-hunting hero played Jonathan Ke Quan in the 1985 adventure movie classic.

The 3 3/4-inch figure features five points of articulation and includes a "Pinchers of Peril" chattering teeth accessory. It's not the most detailed Data figure out there -- that would probably be the 7-inch figure from Mezco -- but I love the retro modeling and packaging, like the classic Kenner figures of yesteryear.

Cecilia Chung named 'Woman of the Year' by California Assembly

Assemblyman Phil Ting honors transgender health advocate and civil rights leader



Congratulations to transgender health advocate and civil rights leader Cecilia Chung, who was one of three transgender women recognized by the California state Assembly this week as part of the Legislature's "Woman of the Year" celebration, honoring their important work towards breaking down barriers and fighting for equality.

Transgender activists named 'Woman of the Year'

During the annual Woman of the Year celebration, a woman from each Assembly District is honored in the State Capitol. On Monday, Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) honored Chung, who was introduced on the Assembly Floor and received a resolution recognizing her achievements.

Chung is currently a senior advisor for the Transgender Law Center, a health commissioner at the San Francisco Department of Public Health and a member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS. She also plays a leadership role in international organizations, including the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) and the Sero Project. Her notable "firsts" include:

L.A. Heat: Taste Changing Condiments

March 13 - July 12 at the Chinese American Museum


Hot sauce lovers! If you're in Southern California, you are invited to check out L.A. Heat: Taste-Changing Condiments, a new art exhibition inspired by two of America's leading hot sauce brands, Huy Fong Sriracha and Tapatio. It runs March 13 - July 12 at the Chinese American Museum in downtown Los Angeles.

Do you like it spicy? The exhibition is the brainchild of CAM Interim Executive Director and Curator Steven Y. Wong, who challenged local artists to create works with the hot sauce products in mind. The result is a collection of thirty imaginative pieces in a variety of mediums.

The exhibition kicks off this Thursday with an opening reception. Here are some details:

Job: Marketing & Outreach Director, Pacific Arts Movement

San Diego nonprofit media arts organization seeks awesome individual with marketing skillz

Looking for a cool marketing job? The good people over at Pacific Arts Movement, a nonprofit media arts organization based in San Diego, are seeking a creative, outgoing, and highly motivated Marketing & Outreach Director to advance the organization to the next level.

Got what it takes to help Pacific Arts Movement bring Pan Asian media arts to the people? They're doing some pretty awesome work. This is a full-time position that requires a great attitude, marketing acumen, fierce work ethic, and flexible work schedule including some weekends and evenings.

Here are some of the Marketing & Outreach Director's responsibilities:

Watch Kawehi's kickass cover of "Heart-Shaped Box"

Epic cool one-woman cover turns Nirvana track on its head



Kawehi, where have you been all my music-loving life? Several folks have passed along this mind-blowing cover of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" by singer/songwriter Kawehi. It was apparently created out of an evening of messing around with loop tests and multiple glasses of wine... but then the internet got a hold of it and boom. A legion of new fans -- myself included. Just watch and enjoy:

Horror movie script based on mysterious death of Elisa Lam

21-year-old Canadian tourist's body was found in the rooftop water tank of the Cecil Hotel



Haven't had a chance to post something about this, but I am way weirded out by this movie news... Sony Pictures is making a horror film based on the mysterious death of Canadian tourist Elisa Lam, whose body was found inside a rooftop water tank in downtown Los Angeles.

Mysterious death of Elisa Lam inspires Sony Pictures film project

Lam, 21, was missing for several weeks before her body was discovered on the roof of the Cecil Hotel. Her death was ruled an accidental drowning, but hotel elevator surveillance video that showed Lam acting oddly -- plus the hotel's infamous past -- fueled wild internet conspiracy theories about how she died.

The Bringing, a horror script written by Brandon and Philip Murphy, is inspired by the strange circumstances behind Lam's death, and the grisly, sordid history of the Cecil Hotel:

How to Stage Your Show Without Being Super Racist

Some "friendly unsolicited pointers" for the Lantern Theater Company's production of 'Julius Caesar'



In Philadelphia, the Lantern Theater Company is currently wrapping up the run of its annual Shakespearean offering, The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. This time, they've put a twist on the great tragedy by changing up the Roman Republic and setting the play in medieval Japan. That's great, except there isn't a whole lot in this production that's legitimately Japanese -- most notably, a glaring lack of Japanese actors.

Japanese Actor Makoto Hirano Calls Lantern Theater's Julius Caesar Racist

Dance theater artist (and actual Japanese person) Makoto Hirano saw the play, and it did not sit well with him. So he drafted a letter to the Lantern Theater Company outlining some "friendly unsolicited pointers" on How to Stage Your Show Without Being Super Racist. PROTIP: "DON'T say you were inspired by feudal Japan and then not cast any Japanese actors." Seems like that should have been a big one.

Here's Hirano's full letter, hand-delivered to the Lantern staff last week:

Hate, Fear and Lies: How Anti-Affirmative Action Haters Are Shoveling Bullsh*t about SCA5

Guest Post by OiYan Poon


Photo: AALDEF

For the last few weeks 80-20 and other conservative organizations have spread lies, fears, and hate about what California Senate Constitutional Amendment 5 (SCA 5) is. Their mobilization against SCA 5 is showing that Asian Americans can successfully fight for their interests. But in the process, they're pushing misconceptions that poison this important policy debate over affirmative action, racial equity and justice in public higher education.

There are two key ways the anti-affirmative action haters are shoveling a lot of bullsh*t about SCA 5. First, they claim SCA 5 is "anti-Asian." Second, they hold an assumption that tests and grades are race neutral, reliable, and the only valid considerations in selective admissions practices. In the meantime while they're too busy in a fear mongering campaign, they're missing a great opportunity to really fight to expand college opportunity for all of the highly qualified students in the state.

Read These Blogs

I, Too, Am Harvard: Kimiko Matsuda-Lawrence, started the "I, too, am Harvard" project to stand up, speak out, and highlight the unheard voices and experiences of black students at Harvard College.

Affirmative action at California colleges: A debate based on fear: "Is the debate on affirmative action versus race-blind policies mainly about principle, or mostly about preserving narrow group interests? We are beginning to find out in California." An important op-ed by Karthick Ramakrishnan on the debate over affirmative action.

Top 5 anti-Affirmative Action Myths About SCA5 | #NoLiesNoHate: Jenn Fang attempts to set the record straight, tackling some of the myths and facts swirling around the discourse about SCA5.

Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto: What do we really know? "This is not an attempt to prove or disprove who invented a cryptocurrency. Dorian Nakamoto may very well be the creator of Bitcoin. I'm only interested in showing whether or not the Newsweek article answered the question it asked on its cover." Jay Caspian Kang on the logical failings on the "outing" of Satoshi Nakamoto.

This Week's Angriest Posts

Not necessarily the angriest, just the most viewed



1. Sears employee fired for racist remark

2. Just another "Asian Guy" getting coffee

3. Robert Lopez is the first Filipino American to win an Oscar

4. Would you eat from a truck called "Cockasian"?

5. Seniors thwart robbery with a cane to the crotch

6. Fund This: Wong Fu Productions' First Feature

7. Maj. Kurt Chew-Een Lee, First Asian American U.S. Marine Officer, dies at 88

8. Stephen Chow's 'Journey to the West' in theaters March 7

9. Angry Reader of the Week: Tony Tonnu

10. An adoptee reunites with his birth family in 'aka DAN'

Hey, San Francisco. I'll see you next week at CAAMFest.

Angry Reader of the Week: Tony Tonnu

Photo: Mark Su

Hey everybody. You know what's up. It is time to meet 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 Tony Tonnu.