Blog

120: On Resilience: Institutions of Libraries and Companies

Nov 1, 2024 · 3 min read

Another antiquated set of notes (likey 2021) dug out to refine and complete, finished on 21 Oct, in the skies above Karamy, on the way to Hamburg from China It started by stumbling across two rather separate wikipedia articles, while thinking about inspiration, and muses (and musaea, a post for another time). Both sparked an observation on the topic of Resilience - from an entity standpoint. The Two Libraries of Antiquity… Libraries have been the primary institutions of knowledge management institutions in antiquity.

119: Travel 1: Experience of COVID Quarantine in China

May 1, 2024 · 3 min read

Another ancient draft post dug up. Time to recall and dig up the memories…. Thoughts and Preamble Some thoughts i had before going in: Solitary Quarantines are a strange thing. It made me wonder - for people of my generation these days, how those conditioned to hyperstimulation would be able to handle it. Also considered that solitary confinement would seem far more punishing on the human psyche than at any point prior in history.

118: Politics 3: Politics, People and Power

May 1, 2024 · 5 min read

On a flight back from the US to Singapore, dug out an old draft to see if it can be finished It would appear its time for the annual post on Politics. Not terribly irrelevant, givent that Singapore will likely have an election this year too. As a recap, my last two posts in this series explored: The spectrum of effectiveness, which ranges from benevolent dictatorships to unfeterred democracy. An additional observation about people: those dispositioned to balance/intuition (aka Jedi) versus those who believe in absolutism (aka the sith) These were perhaps a broader on the high level reflections of the systems we see in the world, and the types of people who vote.

117: Meta: On Posts, Notetaking and Obsidian

May 1, 2024 · 2 min read

Currently in a hotel Lounge in LA, during a 3 day US trip for my Cousin’s wedding Moving to Obsidian After a scare (of dynalist logging me out randomly, and me being terrified of losing alllll my notes from many years). I’ve decided to move off Dynalist and move onto Obisidian (which, coincidentally, are made by the same developers) Some immediate features I’ve noted: All around, more powerful, and feature rich…I’ve barely scratched the surface treating it primarily as a note taking app

116: Artifical Intelligence 2: AI Assistants, and Cleaning up the Blog

May 1, 2024 · 2 min read

My posts over the last year and a half are riddled with mistakes. It was a way to ensure productivity, especially at a time when I was less patient, and just more occupied with my heaspace on other things. I prioritised putting something out, or at least capturing the gist of the idea over correctness. Perfectionism is the enemy afterall. That said, looking at my first few posts in 2022 compared to the posts these days…I can’t help but feel a bit disatisfied with the frequency and egregiousness of some of the errors.

115: Cheat Sheet: Buddhism

Mar 9, 2024 · 2 min read

I finished the book Old Path White Clouds. Can’t say I’ve been reading too much these days, but it was leant by someone else, and I had intended to return it. He is someone kind in his demeanour to faces old and new. A silent gravitas in patience and experience. Non judgemental. Not really a close contact, nor an acquaintance. A figure assoicated with fishing. There isn’t too much to this post, other than it being a cheat sheet for future reference.

114: Economics 9: On the Productivity Paradox and Illusion

Dec 26, 2023 · 4 min read

This has been a post long stuck in “draft” form, given is complexity and breadth. Due to both mulling over a very abstract topic, and procrastination. I am a little more compelled to put it into writing today, as I wait, subjected to a 4 hour flight delay in a Lombok Airport (lovely beaches; learnt surfing). What better way to spend it then thinking about Economic Producitvity. It is a complex topic, with its uses and critiques.

113: Career 6 - Some reflections on my career so far in 2023

Dec 26, 2023 · 2 min read

Based on my mindset in 2023, I note down some quick reflections and reviews on what I’ve reflected on a slightly less than straightforward career so far. A useful exercise to maintain perspective, especially given i) my high tendency for emotionally investing in work; and ii) consistent lack of clear targets and structure since the beginning of my career. Conditions to thrive: Domain or thematic interest oustanding leaders Great team Hard work is fine, as long as its Good, honest Success and achievement Reflections on what I like to do - what makes me tick: Strategy big picture stuff Running organised, meetings and hitting meeting outcomes Being trusted, the closed door 1-1 meetings.

112: Career 5 - Career Principles after 5 years

Dec 26, 2023 · 3 min read

Docmenting down some core thoughts I’ve had in mind, based on my 6 year working experience so far. I could describe it as something slightly unconventional - most notably by taking early risks and still somehow throwing myself into places out of my comfort zone. Some core lessons learned so far - while I still consider myself at a relatievly “early” stage of my career. 1. Entities can ofer a Spectrum of opportunities and trade offs Working in small companies affords high responsibility and little structure; possibly accelerated in pathway, but at the same time, brutally uncertain.

111: Career 4 - On Identity

Dec 26, 2023 · 3 min read

Indeed, one target in 2023 was to deeply review my personal relationship with my career. Well its the end of 2023 now, and I wouldnt say things are necessary peachy or rosy. The path is still gray: a rollercoaster of opportunity, failures, wishes, effort, lack of outcomes, tangibility, intangibility. And with this it makes it harder to swallow, when one feels to connected to the outcomes and success at work. Even more so - when many of these are not within one’s control.