Posts From Essays ☕
Essays and opinionated writing on a variety of topics.
Music Processing in the Brain
Neuroscience can teach us a lot about how AI models could be taught to understand music.
Visceral Reactions to Music
Daniel J. Levitin's writing on music, flow states, and the brain helps explain why I feel so strongly about certain music.
So You Want to Teach in China…
Teaching in China is an exciting prospect that brings many challenges and opportunities.
Language Learning and Linguistics
I explore the difference between learning a language and learning about a language.
A Short Reflection on Friendship
Good friends are fun to be around—but they also tell it like it is.
The Future of Work
Humans as workers may become obsolete in my lifetime. What will that look like? How will humanity cope?
Plain-Text Accounting Web App
I decided to try my hand at writing a personal finance app. This app uses plain-text accounting, meaning all your data lives in boring old `.txt` files.
A Weekend at Treefort
Food trucks, live music—and waiting in line at Costco—I chronicle several firsts for my wife and kid as they adjust to life in Boise.
What Happens During Chinese New Year?
What do you know about Chinese New Year? I introduce the holiday as I’ve experienced it over the years.
My Coffee Expenditures: An Express(o) Analysis
I do a little budget analysis of my coffee habit.
Using Data Analysis to Power the Car-Buying Process
I share what I learned about buying a car and how it helped reduce my stress during the process.
Overcoming Culture Shock: What Research (and Experience) Suggests
What does research say about overcoming culture shock? I combine key findings with personal stories from living in China to share practical ways to adjust.
Why I Like Guo Ding’s Song “The Fog Space”
There is a big difference between healing and moving on, and this song illustrates it well.
PACT: A Catchy Alternative to SMART Goals
I nerd out on goal-setting frameworks. PACT is a little-known one I found in one corner of the internet.
The Math Behind Depth of Field
I describe the math behind depth of field and visualize it to better understand how it works.
Notes on Loneliness and Social Media
When I returned from China to find work in the US, I didn’t expect to feel so lonely in my hometown. I reflect on how social media can sometimes make it worse and suggest what might actually help.
“I Need a Coffee:” A Tiny Coffee Tour of Japan
While we were in Japan, my dad and I drank a whole lot of coffee. I share which places we liked and which we didn’t.
To Japan and Back Again: How the Trip Went
My third trip to Japan was a success, but not without its hiccups. Here’s what I learned from the experience.
My Japan Itinerary
I share my ten-day summer Japan itinerary, covering Kyoto and Tokyo with a day trip to Nara.
The Bhagavad Gita on Relationships
The Bhagavad Gita is a hugely important work in Hinduism. In this article, I look to what it can teach me about my family relationships.
A Reflection on Family Relationships
As my son begins his second year of life, I consider some important issues surrounding my young family.
Two Passing Ships on the Sea: A Graduation Reflection
My 12th-grade students graduated a few days ago. I reflect on my own experience moving abroad in 2017 and on the challenges and opportunities they will also face.
Five Artists That Influenced My Childhood
I share the five artists that had a huge influence on my childhood.
How a Black Eye Changed How I Hear Music
One punk rock show taught me how to value connection over perfection.
Teleology in the Baghavad Gita vs. Aristotle
I look at human purpose between Hinduism and Aristotelian virtue ethics.
Initial Thoughts on the Baghavad Gita
My initial thoughts and questions on the translator’s introduction.
Book Review of Being Good by Simon Blackburn
I review a book which I purchased to evaluate as a resource for my students.
Brodsky’s Reading List for an Intelligent Conversation
I’m considering joining my father in reading Joseph Brodsky’s list of 83 classic works. Will it make me smarter or better at conversation? We’ll see.
I’d Love to Learn How to Draw
I’d do it for creative expression, personal betterment, and family bonding.
Reflections on Change, Virtue, and Parenthood
I reflect on how fatherhood, philosophy, and good friends helped me grow in 2024.
From Newborn to “Gooh” in Twelve Weeks
I share my son’s progress in his first twelve weeks of life.
My Apartment Cleaning Soundtrack
You can learn a lot from a song, even when you’re cleaning your apartment.
Thinking About Moving to Seattle
In preparation for moving back to the US next year, I need to get my budget in order.
A Bellybutton
In my son’s third week of life, he now has a regular-looking bellybutton.
Two Weeks As Dad: Hands and Cloth Diapers
My son found out he has hands. He still hasn’t figured out how to use them. My hands are hurting from washing cloth diapers.
My First Week of Fatherhood
I did my best to prepare for fatherhood, but some things still caught me off guard.
Early Summer in a Northeastern Chinese City
A slice of life in a “small town” in Northeast China.