Hieu was one of the world’s most prolific and hunted criminals from 2007 to 2013, when he operated a massive international identity theft scheme from his home in Vietnam. His method was to steal personally identifiable information (names, Social Security numbers, bank account data) and sell it to become rich. 100,000 USD a month rich; 900 x the average Vietnamese monthly salary at the time. Hieu was pursued relentlessly by the Secret Service, until his eventual capture in Guam in 2013. After years in prison, he was granted early release, returning him to his family in Saigon. In that time he transformed, in spirit and ethics, which led to his current role with the Vietnamese government capturing criminals just like his former self. This is his story, and his incredible redemptive arc.
Common sense is not so common. Yejin Choi, professor and computer science researcher, thinks we need to take AI way more seriously for this very reason. Even for the most advanced AI systems, common sense remains difficult to program. Stupid AI isn’t funny, it’s dangerous, and Choi’s years exploring the ethics behind machine learning is distilled into her TED talk. We got to speak to her hours after she delivered it, and explained to us why anything that is learning from the internet is unavoidably going to have racist, sexist and ableist tendencies that we have to actively correct for. Most importantly: we need regulation. Choi believes in fostering a diverse community of thinkers, including philosophers and psychologists, working collectively to bridge AI's gaps of understanding to include ethics, racial equity, and common sense.
Asian artists have achieved great success in Hollywood, in recent years, but getting that seat at the table has not been easy. Asian stars of the past like Anna May Wong, Sessue Hayakawa, and Miyoshi Umeki paved the way through challenging paths. Their journeys are a tale of resilience, adversity, and strength on the quest for authentic representation.Wong, Hayakawa, and Umeki dealt with constant typecasting into stereotypical roles, despite their undeniable star talent. Their experiences underscore the serious challenges faced by Asian women and men in breaking free from stereotypes. Beyond limited film choices, these stereotypes also meant financial hardships. Anna May Wong received unequal pay in 'Daughter of The Dragon’ in comparison to her white costar, even though she had a larger role. Even Miyoshi Umeki, who won a 1958 Oscar for 'Sayonara,' was confined to submissive Asian female roles, showcasing the challenging choices confronting minority actors. Hayakawa faced major criticism from the Japanese-American communities for perpetuating harmful racial stereotypes as an Asian man in Hollywood.While recent progress in Asian representation deserves celebration, lingering challenges persist. The industry must learn from the struggles of these trailblazers to ensure meaningful representation and break free from the historical erasure of Asians in Hollywood. The legacies of Wong, Hayakawa, and Umeki continue to shape the narrative for future generations of Asian artists.
Is the world’s biggest climate summit actually just a trojan horse for fossil fuel companies to make more money? And does COP28 actually change anything? The COP President, selected through the regional group members of the host region, is Sultan al-Jaber, the CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company. Meanwhile, $700M has been committed to the loss and damage fund in the first day of the conference. Equally important, this is the one stage where activists, Indigenous delegations and the media come face to face in one room with world leaders. This video is produced and hosted by Sophia Li and edited by Seung Won Baik. With additional archival from UN Climate Change, Sky.com, The Intercept, KCCU, The New York Times, The Guardian, FRANCE 24 English, Bloomberg.com, Daily Sabah, Visual Capitalist, Statista, NPR, Simpleflying, Climate Change News, BBC, Earth.org, Oxfam, Instagram: climatereality.indsa, Instagram: reearthinitiative
Just because you rap doesn’t mean you can battle rap! Dumb has been doing this for a minute. That’s part of the reason he’s so respected in most Asian creative communities. Korean-Argentinian-American rapper Dumbfoundead is a multi-talented artist, rapper, and comedian. He stepped onto the scene as a teen, spitting rhymes in the world of battle rap. Being one of the few Asian guys in the game, it was where he found his voice and learned to be unapologetically Asian. Battle rap can serve as an intimate battleground for exploring the complexities of identity. Dumbfoundead's experiences as an artist and storyteller, particularly as a battle rapper, have served as a vehicle for exploring the Asian American experience, both for him and his audience. While Dumbfoundead's lyrical legacy lives on as a prominent figure in the battle rap scene, he continues to grow as an artist and discover new forms of authentic self-expression.
The first Korean Show on Broadway, ‘KPOP’, reminds us that joy is a universal experience. ‘KPOP’ follows the journey of 2 music groups striving to become K-pop idols and debut in New York City. This show unites the audience in a shared celebration of music and storytelling. It is a story made to be enjoyed by everyone because embracing the beats of K-pop doesn't require you to know Korean. ‘KPOP’ unexpectedly closed its curtains after a short, two-week run. Its abrupt end echoes the fate of many BIPOC shows on Broadway that have ended too soon. This opens up a larger discussion about the unfair standards imposed on BIPOC representation. Asian stories deserve to be told, and ‘KPOP’ serves as a reminder of the beauty of representation on the grand stage.