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2326

General Discussion / Too bad she lost her head, Asian girl seemed like a nice gal too

« on: February 27, 2023, 12:05:33 AM »

Head of Paris Fashion Week model found in soup pot
Two members of Abby Choi's ex-husband's family were charged with murder on Sunday following an apparent dispute over finances


Police in Hong Kong filed murder charges against the former father-in-law and brother-in-law of a model and influencer whose body parts were found in a refrigerator and a skull believed to be hers in a pot at a rural house.

Authorities also arrested Abby Choi's ex-husband on Saturday and charged him with murder on Sunday night, Superintendent Alan Chung said.

He will appear in court Monday alongside three family members: Choi’s former father-in-law and his eldest son were charged with murder, while her former mother-in-law faces a count of perverting the course of justice, police said in a statement. The names of those accused have not been released.

Choi, 28, had financial disputes involving tens of millions of Hong Kong dollars with her ex-husband and his family, Chung said earlier, adding that “some people” were unhappy with how Choi handled her financial assets.

Choi was a model and influencer who shared her glamorous life of photo shoots and fashion shows with more than 100,000 followers on Instagram. Dressed in a tulle floor-length gown, she had just attended a Dior show at Paris Fashion Week.

Her last post was a week ago, featuring a photoshoot she had done with L’Officiel Monaco, a fashion publication.

Choi had been missing several days when police discovered her dismembered body and documents on Friday. The remains were stored in a refrigerator in the home in the village of Tai Po, a suburban part of Hong Kong closer to the border with mainland China.

At Sunday's news briefing, Chung said a young woman's skull believed to be Choi's was found in one of the cooking pots authorities seized, along with human ribs, hair, and tissue. Forensic pathologists found a small number of human bones in a second pot, he added.

“There's a hole on the right side rear on the skull, so the pathologist believes that that should be the fatal attack on the victim,” he said.

Chung said Choi was believed to have been attacked in a car and was unconscious when she arrived at the house. Police were still trying to find out the exact time of death and locate her hands and torso.

2327

Debate Central / Discrimination?

« on: February 27, 2023, 12:00:20 AM »

'Most hated': White student sues historically Black college for $2 million over racial discrimination
Law school's dean allegedly claimed White students couldn't face discrimination

A White student at Howard University’s law school is suing the institution for racial discrimination, alleging the school created a "hostile education environment."

Michael Newman, the plaintiff, attended Howard University School of Law starting in the fall semester of 2020 and remained there for just two years until he was expelled in September 2022. He is seeking $2 million in monetary damages for "pain, suffering, emotional anguish and damage to his reputation."

Frank Tramble, vice president and chief communications officer for Howard University, said that while he could not comment "substantively" due to pending litigation, the university "is prepared to vigorously defend itself in this lawsuit as the claims provide a one-sided and self-serving narrative of the events leading to the end of the student’s enrollment at the university."

Newman suffered "depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts" as a result of "public ostracism, vilification and humiliation," the lawsuit claims. At one point, Global Head of Diversity Recruiting Reggie McGahee allegedly told Newman that he had become the most hated student McGahee had seen during his tenure at the university, according to the suit.

When Newman raised concerns over his treatment to school administrators, the law school’s dean allegedly denied that Caucasian students at Howard Law, and Newman in particular, faced racial discrimination to any degree.

Following discussions of Newman’s purported racial insensitivity, students learned of a tweet from Newman’s private Twitter account that included a picture of a slave baring his badly scarred back with the caption: "But we don’t know what he did before the picture was taken," according to the lawsuit.

Newman claimed the tweet was mocking commentators who "attempt to explain away videos of police brutality by claiming the victim must have committed wrongdoing before the video started." He alleged that students responded with references to his race, gender, sexual preference, age and personal appearance.

The trouble started when the university shifted to remote learning at the start of the pandemic, meaning students communicated through purely online forums and through GroupMe chats, Newman claimed in court papers.

2328

General Discussion / It's actually a pho place, I thought they were talking about a Korean BBQ place

« on: February 26, 2023, 11:50:48 PM »

Shocking, 'impossible' gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures

The key to Vietnamese restaurant Pho 87’s signature soup — 16 to 20 hours of simmering on the stove — proved catastrophic this month. When owner Tre Dinh opened his gas bill for January, it was more than $8,000.

In December the Chinatown restaurant’s gas bill was roughly $800 for November usage, according to Dinh. The bill he received in January leapt to around $2,000, but even knowing another price increase was coming didn’t prepare the restaurant owner for the bill he received in February. He’s one of countless restaurateurs who received a sky-high January gas bill, credited largely to the wholesale cost of natural gas hitting record highs.

The ripple effect is being felt through the homes and businesses of Southern California Gas Co.'s 21.8 million customers, with Pacific Gas & Electric also estimating high gas bills for Central and Northern California this winter. Businesses that require gas cooking methods — such as tabletop Korean barbecues, wok stations, and gas-powered stoves and ovens — are now costing restaurateurs thousands of dollars more than their typical expenses, causing some owners to consider closing temporarily or raising prices to offset the charges. Adding to existing concerns over inflation, supply-chain difficulties and labor costs, some feel helpless.

2329

General Discussion / Almost $900k/month, not bad for a one man show

« on: February 24, 2023, 11:42:54 PM »

A Chinese businessman has been earning about $885,000 a month by filming himself running and jumping in high heels, then sharing the videos on social media. Wu Nan, 41, manufactures his own brand of high heels and models in them.

2330

General Discussion / Bet lots of folks wish they are this 8 y.o. Asian girl so they can keep

« on: February 24, 2023, 11:38:50 PM »

..the wealth    :

An 8-year-old girl meant to inherit a $61 million diamond business in India has renounced her fortune to become a nun

An 8-year-old diamond heiress in India gave up her fortune this week to become a nun under the Jain faith.

Devanshi Sanghvi stood to inherit Sanghvi and Sons, her family's jewelry business in the city of Surat, until she officially renounced worldly comforts and took her new role under her religious order on Wednesday, Agence France-Presse first reported.

Her family business is worth around $61 million, according to ICRA, a credit agency in India.

2331

General Discussion / Well today is National Tartar Sauce Day so I stopped by the Village

« on: February 24, 2023, 11:04:16 PM »

...Pub to grab some fish and chips  :

2332

General Discussion / Yep, I still mask up so I appreciate these guys for delivering my mask brand

« on: February 24, 2023, 09:32:58 AM »

 :

2333

General Discussion / When we were poor in Richmond, CA, we ate pigeons so this job would've been OK

« on: February 24, 2023, 09:20:30 AM »

..as it could've killed two ***birds*** with one stone... :

2334

General Discussion / Hope ignorant Hmong folks that said why are Hmong helping Blacks during the BLM

« on: February 24, 2023, 08:53:32 AM »

...movement when Blacks have never helped them can learn from their ignorance  :

Hmong elders lead campaign for answers in St. Paul police killing of Yia Xiong
“We’re in a part of history where Hmong folks are realizing that these systems aren’t made for us, and they’re frustrated and they’re angry,” says a Justice For Yia Xiong supporter.


When Snowdon Herr heard earlier this month that St. Paul police had fatally shot Yia Xiong, he searched for an answer to the one question on his mind: “Was the killing justified, or not?”

One detail stood out to Herr—Xiong was 65 years old. Herr, 59, said he feared Xiong’s age made him vulnerable, a concern that has been echoed by other Hmong elders after the February 11 police killing.

Herr founded the Justice for Yia Xiong campaign, an effort that has been primarily led by Hmong elders—new voices speaking up about an issue that has occasionally touched Minnesota’s Hmong community throughout the years. Herr said anxious and fearful Hmong elders have approached him with questions about the shooting. Many have also shown up to protest, making and holding up signs, chanting, and passing out fliers.

“They came to this country because they were lucky enough to escape the bullets of the communist regime,” Herr said of elders who fled Laos and Southeast Asia after the Vietnam War. “Why do they end up in this country and they end up killed by a bullet too? That is not right.”


Longtime activists against police use-of-force say they’ve advocated for Hmong families in the past, but that Xiong’s killing appears to be shifting how the Hmong community responds to police violence. Black activists have shown up to support Xiong’s family, and Herr said he’s learned lessons from the Black Lives Matter movement that he’ll apply to Justice for Yia Xiong.

I hope that the Hmong community will really embrace the fact that these police need to be held accountable and recognize that this is impacting the Hmong community as well.

MONIQUE CULLARS-DOTY, CO-FOUNDER OF BLACK LIVES MATTER MINNESOTA
“I hope that the Hmong community will really embrace the fact that these police need to be held accountable and recognize that this is impacting the Hmong community as well,” said Monique Cullars-Doty, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Minnesota. “If we all don’t stand up, nothing is going to change.”

Justice for Yia Xiong activists are seeking accountability, police reform, and changes to police policies about how to handle similar calls, Herr said.

“As a concerned citizen and a community leader in the Hmong community, I believe that I must start something,” said Herr. “Anything that has to be changed must come inside me, so that’s how it started.”

As Herr dug deeper to answer his initial question, he struggled to understand how Xiong’s death could be justified. The case remains under investigation, and prosecutors have not decided whether the officers’ actions were legally justified, or whether they should face criminal charges.

Herr said he applied for a permit to protest in St. Paul, wrote “No English Don’t Shoot!” on his first protest sign ever, and showed up at St. Paul police headquarters on February 17 to protest Xiong’s shooting. He was the first activist to arrive that day, but others soon joined him as the campaign grew.

Hmong community mobilizes amidst tragedy
The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the shooting, which is common in such circumstances, and shared its account of the incident in a February 15 news release.

According to the bureau: St. Paul police responded to the Winslow Commons Apartments, where Xiong lived, on reports of a man threatening residents with a knife around 5 p.m. on February 11. Officers are shown on police body camera footage asking Xiong to drop a knife as he attempts to enter his apartment.

Xiong entered his apartment, prompting officers to kick the door to prevent it from shutting. The officers also ordered him to come out and backed away from the door. Xiong stepped out into the hallway with a knife in his hand, and officer Noushue Cha deployed his taser while officer Abdirahman Dahir fired his police rifle at Xiong, the bureau said.

Both officers are on administrative leave.

A bureau spokesperson told Sahan Journal that it aims to complete an investigation in 60 days. The bureau will then present its findings to the Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether the officers’ actions were legally justified.

Herr said body camera footage of the incident released by St. Paul police on February 17 showed a different story. Herr said if the officers were afraid of Xiong, they should have used a taser and handcuffs on him instead of deadly force.

“If Yia Xiong violated any law, he can be punished according to the law,” he said. “Yia Xiong, in particular, did not have to be killed without a reasonable, alternative way to handle this case.”

Yia Xiong’s sister, Yang Mee Lee, holds a sign on Sunday, February 19, 2023, that reads, “Justice for Hmong.” Protestors demonstrated outside the St. Paul police’s Western District office. Credit: Cameron PajYeeb Yang | Justice for Yia Xiong
Videos from officers Cha and Dahir’s body cameras show them running into a building as people plead, “Hurry!” and direct them to Xiong’s location.

The officers yell, “Drop the knife! Stop walking!” and, “Get your hands out of your pockets!”

Xiong walks towards his apartment without following police orders. He sifts through his keys and unlocks the door.


“Drop the knife!” one officer yells. “On the ground now! Don’t let him in.”

Xiong enters the apartment and shuts the door behind him. The officers appear to open the door, and Xiong exits his apartment with a knife, prompting the officers to back up and fire their weapons. Five gunshots are heard.

Xiong’s family members have spoken to other news outlets and said he did not speak English and was hard of hearing. They also said he lost his hearing while fighting in the United States’ “Secret War” in Laos during the Vietnam War. Xiong’s family could not be reached for comment.

According to Justice for Yia Xiong, Xiong’s family is demanding the firing, arrest, and prosecution of Dahir and Cha.

Xiong’s family is also demanding that all other officers involved be held accountable, that an independent investigation be carried out, and that State Attorney General Keith Ellison lead the prosecution of officers Dahir and Cha. They also want the public release of all police body camera footage from the incident, police dispatch transcripts, and the names of all officers at the scene.

Long-time activists express solidarity
Michelle Gross, president of the Twin-Cities-based group Communities United Against Police Brutality, has been working with Hmong families impacted by police violence for years. For three years, she worked on a case against the Minneapolis police officers who fatally shot 19-year-old Fong Lee in 2006. She’s now working with Xiong’s family.

“What happened to this man is utterly unconscionable,” Gross said. “How can you go in somebody’s house, follow them in, speak to them in a language they don’t speak, they can’t hear you—and you blow him away?”

Want more? Get news and stories that illuminate the lives and experiences of Minnesota’s immigrants and communities of color.

Gross said members of Xiong’s family have joined her advocacy organization’s weekly calls to better understand what kinds of demands they could make.

After Minneapolis police murdered George Floyd in 2020, Communities United Against Police Brutality and a coalition of other organizations compiled a list of ways to end police violence. Gross said she’s given that document to Xiong’s family as suggestions for demands, but she said it’s important to give the family space to decide their own agenda.

“It seems like every community that is new to this work, they don’t necessarily know what the possibilities are. So what I try to do is explain some of the work we’ve done before,” Gross said. “At the same time, I’m going to step back and be quiet.”

Gross said Xiong’s family has expressed to her and other advocates that they want more time to think about potential demands.

Cullars-Doty, the co-founder of Black Lives Matter in Minnesota and a member of Gross’s organization, said the activist community has done its best to uplift the names of Hmong victims of police violence, such as Fong Lee, who was fatally shot by Minneapolis police in 2006. Activists created banners with the names of police violence victims and hung them from freeway overpasses between St. Paul and Minneapolis, including one honoring Lee.

Cullars-Doty, whose nephew Marcus Golden was killed by St. Paul police in 2015, said they had trouble connecting with Lee’s mother for years. Then she showed up to a rally at the state Capitol in 2020 protesting the killing of George Floyd. Lee’s mother expressed her solidarity with protesters through a Hmong interpreter, and a video of her speech went viral in the Hmong community, Cullars-Doty said.

Cameron Pajyeeb Yang, 27, works in communications for the Justice For Yia Xiong Campaign, and has previously advocated for people killed by police.

“We’re in a part of history where Hmong folks are realizing that these systems aren’t made for us, and they’re frustrated and they’re angry…They’ve seen this happen so many times,” Yang said. “But they don’t have the tools to help transform, and voice our concerns, about the systems and institutions that exist.”

In addition to Xiong and Lee, other Hmong community members who have been killed by Minnesota police in the last few decades include: Ki Yang, who was killed by St. Paul police in 2002; Chue Xiong, who was killed by St. Paul police in 2012; Yee Vang, who was killed by St. Paul police in 2014; Phu Mee Lee who was killed by St. Paul police in 2017; and Chiasher Vue, who was killed by Minneapolis police in 2019.

A shift in thinking
Toshira Garraway Allen is the founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, an activist group that provides financial and emotional support for families grieving a loved one killed by police. Garraway Allen said she’s been working with Xiong’s wife, children, and niece and also helped organize a memorial for Xiong on February 19.

Garraway Allen said she’s learned over the years that the Hmong community has previously grieved police violence quietly, often avoiding conflict with authorities.

“We all want peace, but if there’s going to be any confusion or any argument, they’d rather just lay their loved ones to rest. That’s why there’s been this quietness,” Garraway Allen said. “But this time, they got to see with their own eyes what a lot of African Americans have been saying the whole time. Sadly and unfortunately, they’re getting a small part of our everyday reality.”

The body camera footage of Xiong’s death has challenged that attitude, Garraway Allen added.

When Hmong lives or any other lives have been stolen, it’s been the family’s word against the law enforcement’s word. Now, when people are able to see an injustice happen—just like George Floyd—right in front of their eyes, that gives a different outrage.

TOSHIRA GARRAWAY ALLEN, FOUNDER OF FAMILIES SUPPORTING FAMILIES AGAINST POLICE VIOLENCE
“When Hmong lives or any other lives have been stolen, it’s been the family’s word against the law enforcement’s word,” she said. “Now, when people are able to see an injustice happen—just like George Floyd—right in front of their eyes, that gives a different outrage.”

Gross added that she has observed a generational split in how people in different communities respond to police violence. But she’s noticed that elders in the Hmong community have especially stepped up recently.

“It’s maybe a mix of his age, as well as the fact that he was a war hero, the fact that older people can see that this could, in fact, happen to them,” Gross said. “But I also think it’s just a sign of the times. People are more accepting of the fact that there are some serious issues with policing.”

Herr confirmed that there appears to be a shift in thinking in the Hmong community. Herr said he’s finding a balance between what he’s learning from local Black Lives Matter activists and what members of Justice for Yia Xiong want to prioritize.

“We are taught to be polite, and to be diplomatic in many ways,” Herr said. “But just because we’re nice, doesn’t mean you should take advantage of us. And just because you have a gun, that doesn’t mean you can kill us.”

2335

General Discussion / Others asked me how I get through airport TSA security checkpoint with a knife

« on: February 23, 2023, 11:22:28 PM »

...all these years flying regularly so I tell them, it's not an issue because my knife's blade is under 2 inches long.. :

2336

General Discussion / "No cut" for me at times because I want to customize my own cuts

« on: February 23, 2023, 11:13:36 PM »

2337

General Discussion / Green or White, I've learned to like it as I get older cause it's still bitter

« on: February 23, 2023, 11:08:40 PM »

...and good  :

2338

General Discussion / Not sure if they really care about animal welfare or not but it was on sale

« on: February 23, 2023, 10:59:57 PM »

...so I bought some:

2339

General Discussion / Yep, time to renew rescue skills again

« on: February 23, 2023, 10:55:27 PM »

 :

2340

General Discussion / These ribeye steaks at the Asian stores look pretty sad IMO

« on: February 23, 2023, 10:44:38 PM »

Looks old and almost no marbling... ..It's a hard pass for me!