Mark Wahlberg wants you to officially forget his hate crime

Marky Mark has applied to have his 1988 assault conviction removed from his record.



Here's a fun fact about mega movie star Mark Wahlberg: he was once arrested and convicted for beating the shit out of an Asian man, while calling him racial slurs, in a vicious attack that left the victim blind in one eye. Now, the actor/producer is requesting to have the assault conviction officially removed from his record.

Mark Wahlberg applies to have 1988 assault erased

Back in 1988, long before he was an Oscar-nominated actor, or battling Transformers, or even the rapper known as Marky Mark (YouTube it, kids), Wahlberg was a 16-year-old asshole who tried to steal two cases of beer from a Vietnamese American man, Thanh Lam, outside a convenience store in Dorchester. Wahlberg called Lam racial slurs and hit him over the head with a 5-foot wooden stick, knocking him unconscious.

Later than night, Wahlberg approached another Asian man on the street, Hoa Trinh, and punched him in the eye. He called him, among other things, "gook" and "slant eye." Trinh lost sight in his right eye.

Holiday Giving: Donate to The Sikh Coalition

For a nation where Sikhs can freely and fearlessly practice their faith.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Did you know that the majority of Sikh children in America, who wear a turban as part of their faith, experience higher-than-average rates of bullying? According to a recent report from the Sikh Coalition, two-thirds of Sikh children in four cities said that they are bullied in school. But we have the tools to help end school bullying.

The Dynasty Project Holiday Party & Gift Drive

Tuesday, December 9 at The Old Bowery Station



If you're in New York, The Dynasty Project invites you to get into the spirit of the season, and enjoy drinks, snacks and games at their Holiday Party & Gift Drive. The Dynasty Project creates and supports innovative programs that enrich local APIA communities through athletics and the pursuit of athletic endeavors.

They'll be collecting sports-related gifts such as basketballs, footballs, t-shirts, shorts, and various sports training equipment, to be given to at-risk youth in Chinatown and the Lower East Side. Proceeds from the party will go toward funding the Dat Winning Fellowship and other programs.

It's happening Tuesday, December 9 at The Old Bowery Station. Here are some more details:

SAALT disappointed by grand jury decision in Eric Garner case: Urges revised Department of Justice profiling policy

"We can, and must, do better for our communities, and as a nation."

South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is disappointed by yesterday's grand jury decision to not issue an indictment in the wake of police brutality and the use of disproportionate force against Eric Garner in New York City. We stand in solidarity with Eric Garner's family and allies who have highlighted the repeated lack of recourse for police violence and brutality.

SAALT also applauds Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement of a Department of Justice (DOJ) civil rights investigation into Eric Garner's death, and hope this will allow for a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this tragic incident. We also continue to call upon the Department of Justice to revise its Guidance on racial and religious profiling to protect all of our communities.

Advancing Justice - LA Condemns Grand Jury's Failure to Bring Charges Against Daniel Pantaleo in the Death of Eric Garner

"We cannot breathe" until there is justice..."

Yesterday, a Staten Island grand jury failed to indict New York City police officer Daniel Pantaleo in the chokehold killing of Eric Garner, an unarmed African American man. Despite the finding by the city's medical examiner that Mr. Garner's death was a homicide resulting from the illegal chokehold maneuver, the grand jury chose not to indict Officer Pantaleo. This injustice comes just one week after a Ferguson, Missouri grand jury's failure to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the killing of unarmed 18-year old African American teenager Michael Brown.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles (Advancing Justice - LA) issues the following statement:

The Terminator is back... and he is Asian.

Lee Byung-hun stars as the sci-fi action franchise's latest cyborg villain.



"Come with me if you want to live!" Terminator: Genisys is the latest attempt to revive the blockbuster sci-fi action movie franchise. The freshly released trailer re-casts and brings back the series' familiar characters, but also adds a yet another new tangle to the doomsday narrative's twisted timeline.

Yes, Arnold is back. But now he's older, greying and one of the good guys. The big bad Terminator this time around? Korean superstar Lee Byung-Hun (last seen in RED 2 and G.I. Joe: Retaliation) as the all-new lean mean liquid metal killing machine. Whaaaaaaat. Take a look:

Holiday Giving: Donate to the Center for Asian American Media

Support CAAM and be a champion for Asian American stories.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Want to be a champion for Asian American stories? Support the Center for Asian American Media, whose mission is to bring Asian American stories and experiences to light through the power of media. Your gift will support CAAM's work to inform, educate, inspire and represent diverse media voices through public media.

But don't take my word for it. Here are my pals Steven and Patrick of National Film Society:

Rest in Peace, Chol Soo Lee

Korean American immigrant's struggle for justice sparked an early pan-Asian American movement.



Passing along some sad news... Chol Soo Lee, who became the center of an early pan-Asian American justice movement when he was wrongfully convicted of murder, passed away on Tuesday. He was 62.

Chol Soo Lee, Who Sparked Early Pan-Asian American Movement, Dies at 62

Lee, a Korean American immigrant, was tried and convicted for the 1973 killing of Yip Yee Tak, a San Francisco Chinatown gang leader, and sentenced to life in prison. Then in 1977, while incarcerated, he was sentenced to death for the fatal self-defense stabbing of another inmate during a prison yard altercation.

Chol Soo Lee, who maintained his innocence, attracted the attention of Korean American journalist K.W. Lee, a reporter for the Sacramento Union. Lee eventually wrote over a hundred investigative articles about Chol Soo Lee's plight, uncovering further detail about the case and calling the verdict into question.

Home for the HOLLA'DAYS LA, December 19

Featuring Magnetic North & Taiyo Na, DAN aka DAN, The Blazing Rays of the Sun and More



Hey, Southern California! I want to see you at the Los Angeles edition of Home for the Holla'Days, a holiday benefit show featuring Magnetic North & Taiyo Na, with Vudoo Soul, DAN aka DAN with CREWLOVE, The Blazing Rays of the Sun, Ruth + the Library. All proceeds will go towards 27 Million, a nonprofit organization that networks and resources grassroots organizations fighting human trafficking.

It's happening Friday, December 19 at Art Share-LA. Here are some more details about the show:

Remaining episodes 'Selfie' available on Hulu

View the unaired episodes of ABC's cancelled romantic comedy starring John Cho and Karen Gillan



If you were bummed about ABC's premature cancellation of Selfie after just seven episodes -- whether you're a fan or simply never got around to watching it -- you'll be happy to know that the remaining six unaired episodes of the show, starring John Cho and Karen Gillan, will be available for streaming on Hulu.

While the seventh episode of Selfie was the last to hit airwaves on November 11, the romantic comedy's remaining six episodes will be released once a week on Hulu, Hulu Plus and ABC.com through the end of the year. Episode 8 was released last week, while episode 9 is currently available exclusively to Hulu Plus subscribers. You can catch up on the last couple of episodes here.

Holiday Giving: Donate to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund

A national organization that protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans.



Looking for a worthy cause to donate some holiday cash? Throughout the month of December, I'll try to spotlight projects, causes and organizations that could use support through your generous giving.

Considering making a donation to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF), a New York-based national organization which is celebrating forty years of important civil rights work for the Asian American community through litigation, advocacy, education, and organizing.

Here's AALDEF's 40th anniversary slideshow video:

Three men caught on camera beating homeless man to death

Surveillance camera footage shows suspects fatally assaulting 67-year-old Tai Lam.



In San Francisco, police are asking for the public's help in identifying and finding the three men who may have been responsible for the fatal assault on a 67-year-old homeless man last month in the Financial District.

SFPD: Video shows 'cowards' who beat sleeping homeless man to death

Three suspects were caught on surveillance video attacking Tai Lam, who was sleeping on the street the night of November 23. The footage shows three men brutally assaulting him twice between 11:00pm and midnight while he was laying in his sleeping bag on the ground. The attack appears to be unprovoked.

The San Francisco Police Department has released some of the surveillance footage:

Hey writers! Apply to the Dat Winning Fellowship.

Seeking aspiring Asian American writers with an interest in sports journalism.



Are you an Asian American writer who is passionate about sports? Dat Winning, an online sports blog written from an Asian American perspective, is looking for writers to apply for the Dat Winning Fellowship, a space for emerging Asian American writers to "cut their teeth" in the field of sports journalism. You'll receive guidance, workshops and editorial feedback from a team of established Asian American professionals in the field.

Here are some more details about the fellowship:

Goh Nakamura sings you 'Songs to Make Out To'

Singer/songwriter's new cover album is like "the musical equivalent of a warm hug."



If you're looking for some new-old music to make out to, look no further singer/songwriter Goh Nakamura's latest release Songs to Make Out To, a really cool collection of covers. It's Goh's unique take on songs like "This Will Be Our Year," "Wonderwall," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and one of my favorites, "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure. Goh likens the 10-track album to "the musical equivalent of a warm hug." As I listen to it while looking out the window on this rare rainy California day, it's pretty damn perfect.

Here's Goh's take on "How Deep Is Your Love":

Matt and Grace Huang are finally free to leave Qatar

Travel ban lifted on American couple acquitted in daughter's death



Matt and Grace Huang, the American couple accused and convicted by the government of Qatar of starving their 8-year-old daughter, will be allowed to leave the country after an appeal judge dismissed their conviction.

Matthew and Grace Huang, U.S. Couple Held in Qatar, Can Leave: Diplomat

The couple was held at the airport and unable to leave the country even after the judge dismissed the conviction on Sunday. But according to a statement from the State Department, the travel ban has been lifted as of Wednesday and the Huangs will finally be free to return home to the United States.

Dana Shell Smith, U.S. Ambassador to Qatar, confirmed the Huangs were free to leave:

Angry Gift Guide: Bruce Lee Limited Edition Core Symbol Journal

"Using no way as way. Having no limitation as limitation."



A gift idea for the ultimate Bruce Lee fan in your life...

The Bruce Lee Limited Edition Core Symbol Journal is a large format hardcover ruled notebook from Moleskine featuring custom packaging and a debossed "Core Symbol" on the front cover. Printed inside is the quote that surrounds Bruce Lee's Core Symbol: "Using no way as way. Having no limitation as limitation."

This is not Steve Aoki. Everybody just thinks he is.

What happens when an Asian dude with long hair and a beard walks around a music festival.



What happens when an Asian dude rocking some long hair, a beard and sunglasses walks around a music festival? He gets mistaken for Steve Aoki. A lot.

Jarrad Seng is a photographer who works in the music industry. He is Asian and rocks long hair, and thus has been mistaken for popular electronic musician Steve Aoki on a regular basis for the past five years. On the street, at festivals, in bars, etc. So he affixed a beard to his face and brought a camera along to see what happened while he walked around the Australian music festival Stereosonic, where Aoki was headlining.

This funny video chronicles one man's three-hour walk ... as fake Steve Aoki:

Support APA Filmmakers! Donate to Visual Communications.

All end-of-the-year donations will be matched dollar for dollar.



Hey, folks. If you're interested in donating some holiday cash to a worthy cause, how about supporting an organization that is trying to help up-and-coming Asian Pacific American filmmakers tell their stories?

Donate to Visual Communications.

Founded in 1970, Visual Communications is the first nonprofit organization in the nation dedicated to the honest and accurate portrayals of the Asian Pacific American peoples, communities and heritage through the media arts. Its mission continues today through a variety programs for APA mediamakers, including screenings, media education, the Armed With a Camera Fellowship and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival.

For more information, check out this fundraising video:

This chef doesn't want Asians to eat his food. He doesn't even want Asians to eat near him.

Lawsuit alleges Cesar Ramirez referred to Asians as "shit people," purposely served them inferior cuts of meat.



In New York, a lawsuit filed against an acclaimed Brooklyn chef alleges that he regularly discriminated against Asian customers, referring to them as "shit people," and purposely served them the inferior cuts of meat.

Chef at ritzy restaurant served the worst meat Asians: suit

César Ramirez of Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, a purportedly classy three-Michelin-star rated restaurant, is accused of openly prohibiting Asian customers from being placed too close to him at his section at the fusion French-Asian eatery, routinely referring to them as "shit people." He also dictated that Asians were to be served lesser scraps of meat, while preferred diners were given choice chunks.

According to a lawsuit filed by some of his former sous chefs and servers, Ramirez was blatant about his biases, and went out of his way to discriminate against Asian diners. I think calling anyone "shit people" makes it pretty clear how you feel about them.

Angry Gift Guide: 'Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe' by Yumi Sakugawa

Your hand-drawn path to inner peace, from the author of 'I Think I Am in Friend-Love With You.'



A gift idea for anyone seeking a little more one-ness in their lives...

Your Illustrated Guide to Becoming One with the Universe, the latest collection of comics from Yumi Sakugawa, is your hand-drawn path to inner peace. Read this book and set yourself free on a "visual journey of self-discovery" from the author of I Think I Am in Friend-Love With You.