Alex Honnold Free Solo of Taipei 101

Posted on March 4, 2026 by John

[Editor’s note – I missed this post from John until recently. A little dated but still interesting!]

You might have seen, read or heard of Alex Honnold free solo of Taipei 101. Taipei 101 is one of the tallest buildings in the world, based of course in Taipei, Taiwan. It only took Alex 1 hour, 31 minutes to free-solo the 1,667-foot skyscraper! Netflix streamed the whole event live.

Alex Honnold free solo of Taipei 101
I didn’t watch the event live since I was busy that weekend, but immediately saw on social media once Alex climbed to the top of 101. I caught most of the event later in the evening. If you have a Netflix subscription, you can watch the whole event here: Skyscraper Live

 

As a Taiwanese American, I have visited friends and relatives in Taiwan since the Taipei 101 opened in December 2004. It takes about 37 seconds on a super fast elevator to go from the 5th floor to the observation deck on the 89th floor. As the name suggests, the building has 101 floors and has become an icon for the city of Taipei and the country of Taiwan with its unique bamboo inspired architecture.

I was already aware of Alex. The documentary Free Solo catapulted Alex to general public fame, as it documented Alex’s free solo of  climbing the 3,000-foot El Capitan at Yosemite without any gear.

Alex is an extremely physically fit and experienced climber with nerves of steel. Prior to the climb, he had commented that climbing Taipei 101 was not technically challenged, but physically challenging. After watching the event after he completed the climb, I agree. I think climbing El Capitan was more technically difficult. During the event, Netflix did have these pre-recorded video vignette where Alex went into more details regarding the physical challenges that were different from climbing a skyscraper rather than a mountain.

Congratulations to Alex on accomplishing a life long goal! Taipei 101, amazingly enough, allowed Alex to climb the building. The payoff was fantastic in regards to the free publicity for Taipei 101 as well as Taiwan. I can’t even imagine what the global reaction would have been if Alex had fallen and died. I had read that the live stream had a 10 second delay just in case.

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Oldest Asian American film included into the National Film Registry

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Jeff

Poster for "The Oath of the Sword," the oldest Asian American filmThe Oath of the Sword,  the oldest Asian American film, has been included into the US National Film Registry. Produced in 1914, it is the story of a Japanese couple separated when the man goes to study at UC Berkeley. Studying at UC Berkeley?  Definitely very Asian American!

The film was considered lost when it was rediscovered by Northeastern Professor Denise Khor. Notably, UC Berkeley serves as a location in the movie. It doesn’t seem to be available on streaming anywhere, but National Film Registry has the film.

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Alysa Liu’s Gold and other Asian American Winter Olympics News

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Jeff

We have news of Alysa Liu and other notable Asian American Winter Olympics athletes. Milano Cortina witnessed an interesting mix of triumph, disappointment, and controversy for Asian American competitors. Some of that news extends far beyond athletics.

In the highly unlikely case that you missed it, Alysa Liu won gold in figure skating. This caps an interesting career where she retired at the young age of 16 and then unretired to become a world and Olympic champion. Watching her performance, I am amazed when she does that trick of bending her leg back and holding on to her skate behind her head.  Amazing flexibility! My back hurts just thinking about that.

Chloe Kim took silver in her half pipe event, giving up her crown to South Korean Choi Gaon.  It’s really amazing that she got a silver at all considering her injuries. Number Two Son said that she thought that Chloe Kim should have won, but I didn’t see the finals and can’t give an opinion. The ice skating team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates took silver in Ice Dancing. Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron from France finished ahead of them, generating debate over the questionable scoring in the finals from the French judge. Chock and Bates do not plan to appeal.

Eileen Gu, skiing for China, won a gold and two silvers in freestyle skiing. As a result, she became the most decorated woman in that sport.  She also became a villain  to some since she competes for China. As this BBC articles notes, some people in American media are asking why she doesn’t speak out on Chinese human rights abuses. Gu is often compared unfavorably to Alysa Liu. Liu’s father Arthur, an activist during the Tiananmen Square protests, fled after China crushed the protests. Chinese intelligence later spied on Alysa and her family in the United States.

Alysa Liu’s treatment is Chinese media is similar according to the BBC. Any praise of Alysa Liu in Chinese social media is usually followed by comments saying that her family are traitors.

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USPS Stamp Honoring Bruce Lee Stamp Released

Posted on February 20, 2026 by John

USPS stamp honoring Bruce Lee showing him doing a flying kick

This past Wednesday, February 18th, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced the release of a stamp honoring Bruce Lee:

“Lee was born in San Francisco in 1940 and raised in Hong Kong, where he began appearing in movies. His first lead role was at age 10.

When Lee returned to the United States as a young man, he encountered a film industry that had no place for Asian leading men. However, he would go on to captivate film audiences and inspire a generation of young fans to explore action movies, mixed martial arts and Asian culture.

“The Big Boss,” “Fist of Fury,” “The Way of the Dragon” and his masterpiece, “Enter the Dragon,” showcased incredible martial arts choreography, and in contrast to common stereotypes at the time, presented Asian men as strong, intelligent, charismatic and heroic.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp using a portrait by Kam Mak depicting Lee’s iconic flying kick.

The Forever stamp will be available in sheets of 20 at Post Offices and at usps.com.”

Although there have been many notable Asian Americans since Bruce Lee’s passing, Lee is still probably one of the most famous, if not THE most famous Asian American in popular culture.

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How K-Pop is changing Korean and English

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Jeff

Huntr/X singersEven while many people were upset about Bad Bunny’s Superbowl performance in Spanish, songs with Korean words have been topping American music charts.  Moreover, American families have been singing along with these songs in movie theatres.  In that context, I found this video on how K-Pop is changing both Korean and English particularly fascinating.

Linguist Erica Brozovsky covers the history of the interaction of Korean and English.  K-Pop evolved in part from the clubs in South Korean that were set up to entertain US Servicemen stationed there. Those clubs influenced musical taste. Korean songs started incorporating English into their lyrics. Now, songs in English are starting to incorporate Korean into their lyrics (think Golden or APT).

I have given a quick summary of the video here. I recommend seeing the whole video for other interesting topics, such as Korean language influence on English.

 

 

 

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New York Times Cooking: The Dying Art of Serving Dim Sum | On the Job

Posted on February 17, 2026 by John

Recently, the New York Times did a nice video story on ‘The Dying Art of Serving Dim Sum,’ following Pik Chan and Cheong Yin Ho at Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood:

“Pik Chan and Cheong Yin Ho have worked together for nearly two decades. They weave through packed dining rooms, pushing heavy, metal trolleys laden with stacks of bamboo steamers. Amid the roar of the lunch rush, they communicate without speaking — a glance or a quick hand gesture for chicken feet, beef balls, cheung fun, bean curd rolls — always understanding each other perfectly.

Pik and Yin start each shift the same way: Sharing a home-cooked meal, side-by-side. “It’s rare to meet someone you can work with for 16 years,” Pik said.”

Dying Art of Serving Dim Sum - Dim Sum cart servers are pictured

I’ve noticed that dim sum places more and more are moving away from the dim sum carts to ordering from a menu – which I hate! I hate to wait as well as I hate that I can’t see what I am ordering right in front of me.

But after watching this video, I can understand why. It takes a lot of effort to keep those dim sum carts hot and also remember what dishes you have and managing the inventory of food you have. The dim sum pushers have to SELL the inventory, and pushing around a hot cart can be dangerous.

The video is also a heartwarming story of a long friendship developed between two colleagues who have become like sisters. You can also read more here.

If I’m ever in Brooklyn, I will definitely have to check out Golden Palace to enjoy the dying art of serving dim sum before it fades away.

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Forgotten Flowers: A Stanford Project on Asian American Flower Growers

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Jeff

Sign for Asian American Flower Growers organization called the Bay Area Chrysanthemum Growers Association Cooperative

People associate the Bay Area with technology and Silicon Valley. Asian Americans in the region are often thought of as engineers and software writers. But in the last century, agriculture was a major industry and employer of Asian Americans. A Stanford University project called Forgotten Flowers is uncovering the history of Asian American Flower Growers in the San Francisco Bay Area.

I grew up in the Bay Area, and some of my Asian American classmates’ families were in the flower business. Asian Americans farmers for a time could not legally own land. In that era, leasing a small farm and growing flowers was a way to make a living. University Archaeologist Laura Jones says that there is substantial literature about the history of Bay Area orchards but little about flowers. Forgotten Flowers aims to create an exhibit that allows users to explore a map of historical flower farm data, accompanied by family interviews.

This is very timely. My current ethnoburb in the Santa Clara Valley paved over former agricultural lands. When I first moved in during the 1990’s, I could choose between two long standing flower shops in the neighborhood. Chinese Americans ran one, and  Japanese Americans ran the other. The Bay Area Chrysanthemum Growers Association Cooperative (sign above) had a warehouse and meeting space within walking distance. A few years ago, both flower shops closed. The Chrysanthemum Co-op building is now for lease, and the co-op has moved out to be closer to operating farms. I am happy that the project will preserve a unique piece of Asian American history.

Forgotten Flowers is part of Stanford’s Community Engagement Impact Projects.

 

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Apple’s 2026 Chinese New Year Short: Glad I Met You

Posted on February 9, 2026 by Jeff

Every year, Apple releases a  Chinese New Year short film that is shot on their latest iPhone, and every year I look forward to the story that is created. This short for 2026 is called Glad I Met You. Apple’s description of the Chinese New Year Short:

A girl, a talking dog, and a meticulously thought out scheme make up this heartwarming tale about finding family. Apple joins forces with director Bai Xue for an imaginative blend of cinematography and stop-motion to usher in Chinese New Year.

The stop-motion segments surprised me. Amazing what you can do with an iPhone!

As usual, a “making of” video has been released (you can see it below). Also, while this was shot on an iPhone, additional hardware and software were used and it was professionally edited.

Here are all of the previous Chinese New Year Shorts that we have talked about. Happy Lunar New Year!

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Asian Americans in the 2026 Winter Olympics

Posted on February 6, 2026 by Jeff

Excited to see Asian Americans in the 2026 Winter Olympics? There are definitely some interesting stories regarding Asian Americans in Milano Cortina. Netflix has produced this documentary series Glitter & Gold (trailer above) that includes one Asian American competitor, Madison Chock, and her ice dancing partner and husband Evan Bates. Chloe Kim will be back, but hasn’t been able to practice for a while because of a shoulder injury. Alysa Liu has come out of retirement to compete again.

Northwest Asian Weekly has compiled a lists of Asian Americans to watch who are competing for Team USA. In addition to the people I mentioned, they highlight figure skaters Emily Chan and Spencer Akira Howe and speed skater Andy Heo. Goldsea points out some other notable Asian Americans, like paralympic athlete Jen Lee, who competes in sled hockey. Another list from Northwest Asian Weekly contains Asian Americans who are competing for other countries, notably Eileen Gu.

The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics takes place between February 6 and February 22. A schedule is here. The Paralympic Winter Games take place between March 6 and March 15th.

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Ruth Asawa Documentary released by New York MOMA

Posted on February 3, 2026 by Jeff

Books on Ruth AsawaThe New York City Museum of Modern art (MOMA) put together this fantastic Ruth Asawa documentary.  Despite reading about her, going to an exhibit on her work, and writing about her, this documentary taught me something new about her.

I really liked how it talked to her children and got their perspectives on her and her work. It was great to hear her in her own voice. What’s even more special is how she sets an example not just about art, but how to live a life.

The MOMA exhibit on Ruth Asawa ends on February 7, so if you are in the New York area and have not seen, I encourage you to see it while you can. Otherwise, your next chance will be in Bilbao Spain in March.

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Golden State Warriors 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration Night

Posted on January 29, 2026 by John

Golden State Warriors 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration NightGolden State Warriors’ 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration night came early this year on  Tuesday, January 20th, although the 2026 Lunar New Year isn’t until Tuesday, February 17th. I guess within a month is still okay! The last time I had attended this annual Warriors celebration night was back in 2024.

It’s great that the Golden State Warriors and other NBA teams have such theme nights. San Francisco is 37% Asian and the San Francisco Bay Area overall is approximately 27% Asian American. The Warriors get local Asian organizations to perform in front of their audience.

The Lunar New Year celebration first started with a pre-game performance at 6:30 PM (the game started at 7:00 PM) with a terrific performance by Huaxing SF:

My photographer and I, as well as others, were truly impressed. We thought afterwards this performance was the best of the evening. It’s unfortunate that many attendees had not yet arrived yet to see the performance.

Right before the singing of the national anthems and introduction of the teams, Executive Director of Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Linyi Nikki Yu, was the honorary Bell Ringer for the evening.

Before the start of the game, I believe it was Huaxing SF that did the pre-game performance that sang both the Canadian and the U.S. national anthem. The Warriors were playing the Toronto Raptors.

Continue reading →

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The Rise of Houston’s Asian American Population

Posted on January 26, 2026 by Jeff

houston downtownWe have talked about Asian ethnoburbs in states of California, Hawaii, and even in Georgia, but we have not detailed any in Texas. A study from Rice University’s Kinder Institute details the rise of Houston’s Asian American Population. Houston is the most diverse big city in the United States, with two other Texas cities in the top 3, according to WalletHub.

Indians Americans make up the largest Asian ethnic group in the area. Vietnamese Americans are second. Houston has a Chinatown, a little Saigon, and even a Mahatma Gandhi District. Despite that, in many heavily Asian areas, there isn’t a majority of any particular Asian ethic group. One Asian American city in the Houston area, Sugarland, rates as the third best city in the US to live in, according to Liveability. Overall, Asian Americans make up 9% of the Houston region.

My summary only scratches the surface of the report. Check it out.

(photo credit: David Daniel Turner licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license)

 

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