sustainable systems & storytelling
My first experience with affirmative action was as a naive 18-year-old first stepping foot into my college dorm building. After a lifetime of high marks in school, scoring in the top percentile on standardized tests, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work, the university had offered me a scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, $5,274 per... Continue Reading →
A year ago, I saw the video Kenosha protests footage but I didn't form an opinion. I have watched the entire Kyle Rittenhouse trial, and I'm appalled at the media's mischaracterization of events. Much to my surprise, each of the prosecution's witnesses has corroborated the self-defense argument, including the media's "lone survivor," Gaige Grosskreutz. The... Continue Reading →
Ten years ago, I was a doe-eyed recent college graduate with a minimum wage job, a second part-time job, an arguably worthless degree, and negative net worth. Today, my net worth is over four times my average annual salary across those 10 years, I am comfortably living within my means, and my largest budget category... Continue Reading →
The other day, I excitedly sent my boyfriend to my favorite bookstore to pick up some early Christmas gifts. I haven't been in years, so I was looking forward to pictures and a rundown of all things books. Upon entering the store, a green-haired employee gave my boyfriend a dirty look. Two twenty-something men behind... Continue Reading →
The other day, my boyfriend showed me the below tweet, which he stumbled upon on the interwebs. It immediately creeped me out, and I can't stop thinking about it. When we first started dating, my boyfriend talked extensively about the Simulation Theory, which hypothesizes that reality is merely an ultra-high-tech computer simulation in which we... Continue Reading →
When I first met my partner, he was very much involved in a local group that taught civics to kids and adults, helped members of the community register to vote, and campaigned for group members running for local government positions. Our acquaintances--everyday people--have gone on to become a state senator, a state representative, and a... Continue Reading →
It's 2059, And The Rich Kids are Still Winning, a short story in which award-winning science fiction author Ted Chiang introduces us to the Gene Equity Project, a program that provides genetic enhancement of intelligence for people of color. Despite an IQ around 130, low-income recipients of the cognitive-enhancement protocol fared no better than their... Continue Reading →
Earlier this week, I met with my financial advisor to file my taxes for 2020. As is the case every year, he looked over my numbers and stated, "You're well on your way to early retirement!" It sure doesn't feel that way. On track by changing metrics I currently have around 2.5x my annual income... Continue Reading →
Every evening, when I go for a walk, I pass by at least two Tesla vehicles, and a third if a particular someone is attending tennis lessons. When I'm not paying close enough attention, I'll be caught off guard by a flash of light. The car has taken a photo of me for walking just... Continue Reading →
I recently read an interesting article that proposed a simple thought experiment. It poses, "How much money would you have to be paid, right here and now, to retire today and never receive another dollar of income (from any source) for the rest of your life? The catch this time is that whoever among the... Continue Reading →
My boyfriend drives an older car with a 2008 Ron Paul presidential campaign bumper sticker and, over the last few months, someone has been repeatably peeling away the edges of the sticker and keying his car, especially around the sticker. The bumper sticker was meant to convey a message of peace and hope 13 years... Continue Reading →
What will the world look like when human-like AI begin to live, work, and love alongside mankind? And how will society respond to the future as it unfolds before them? Kotov Syndrome, Tim Baughman Jr.'s debut novel and the first book in the Azaes Realm series, delves into that very question. Set in the near-future,... Continue Reading →
I just discovered that a book I purchased through Kickstarter in 2013 for $40 is now selling for $980 (+2,450%), whereas two years ago it was going for $320 (+800%). I bought it because I fell in love with the artist's work in 2008 and, as a broke college student, couldn't afford the actual prints.... Continue Reading →
If you knew the date of your death, how would you live your life? Chloe Benjamin's novel, The Immortalists, begins in New York City's Lower East Side in 1969, where rumors have spread that a traveling psychic has arrived and claims to be able to tell anyone the exact day they will die. The Gold... Continue Reading →
Our lives are filled to the brim with small stories, but we often fail to recognize the meaning and value that lies just below the surface. In his book, Storyworthy: Engage, Teach, Persuade, and Change Your Life through the Power of Storytelling, Matthew Dicks--an author, award-winning storyteller, elementary school teacher, and speaking coach--trains the reader... Continue Reading →
existential ergonomics 
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