Author Archives: John

About John

I'm a Taiwanese-American and was born & raised in Western Massachusetts, went to college in upstate New York, worked in Connecticut, went to grad school in North Carolina and then moved out to the Bay Area in 1999 and have been living here ever since - love the weather and almost everything about the area (except the high cost of housing...)

CAAMFest 2026 Film Review: The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook

Overview of The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook I’ve known professor and filmmaker Valerie Soe ever since she started producing her documentary film, Love Boat: Taiwan, where I eventually became a minor producer, interview subject, and archival footage provider. So … Continue reading

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CAAMFest 2026 Film Review: Breaking the Code (some spoilers)

While looking through the CAAMFest 2026 online guide, the documentary Breaking the Code, caught my eye. After seeing the film, I regret not being able to see the film in-person, especially since the subject of the film, Kanwal Rekhi and … Continue reading

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CAAMFest 2026 Film Review: Forge

I was not able to view Forge in person at its CAAMFest 2026 screening, but so I watched the screener provided to me. I found the plot intriguing, plus Kelly Marie Tran stars in this independent film: “Siblings Raymond and … Continue reading

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CAAMFest 2026: Opening Night featuring ‘The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas’ & Gala

One of my favorite events in the San Francisco Bay Area since moving here in 1999 is attending CAAMFest. CAAM stands for the Center for Asian American Media. CAAMFest 2026 celebrated its 44th year as the nation’s leading showcase for … Continue reading

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Taiwan Documentary ‘Invisible Nation’ Airing in May AND Streaming NOW on PBS

I’ve been a big fan of the documentary Invisible Nation ever since I first saw the film back in October 2023 at the Mill Valley Film Festival. I have even become friends with the director/producer Vanessa Hope.  I am excited now … Continue reading

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Asian American Commercial Watch: Farmers Insurance ‘Fountainhead’

I saw this Farmers Insurance commercial following college basketball during March Madness: “Cutting corners can leave you drowning in regret. If it’s important, it’s not worth compromising. That’s why with Farmers® you can get quality and savings.” It highlights an … Continue reading

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8Asians at Alysa Liu Celebration Rally in Oakland

The Oakland and the Bay Area has been celebrating Alysa Liu and her Olympic Gold. I’m based in the San Francisco Bay Area, so I was fortunate enough to attend the Alysa Liu pre-Celebration Rally press conference and Alysa Liu Celebration … Continue reading

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Asian American Commercial Watch: Allstate Check First Blue Man

 I really love this Allstate commercial called Allstate Check First Blue Man! At first I thought the Asian American fan body painted in blue might be a Duke Blue Devil fan (I got my MBA from Duke). It turns … Continue reading

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Alex Honnold Free Solo of Taipei 101

[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 … Continue reading

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USPS Stamp Honoring Bruce Lee Stamp Released

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 … Continue reading

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

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 … Continue reading

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Golden State Warriors 2026 Lunar New Year Celebration Night

Golden 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 … Continue reading

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