Deniz

I wanted to see how Deniz was doing, the way Facebook quickly allows that. Type in a name, *poof*. But instead, Facebook showed “Remembering Deniz Üzüm”. It was early in the office and the message was abrupt, the way you remove bandage from a wound. Messages of love and goodbye on his profile were over […]

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The edge of the forest

Biologists name it the edge effect; the place where two or more environments meet. Where forest and meadow crossover — where desert and rainforest turn into savanna — where rivers become reeds. These are the areas teeming with life and biodiversity. And this edge effect is found everywhere, where hip-hop and classical music mix, where […]

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Going back to your childhood is part of growing up

My dad always had these vinyl records and I never understood why. CD’s were long out and in comparison vinyl records are big and every four songs you have to turn them around. The sound quality isn’t that good either; they’re riddled with cracking noises. Also, I didn’t like his music, because what was popular […]

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Days that have everything

Maybe in a normal marketing career you’d want a high office you’d never have to leave because you’d have specialists all around you. You use consumer research or trend reports, and once a year go on a *consumer safari*. From your high office you never have to talk to *real people* (whatever that means). But […]

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The painting and the frame

Wherever you are in the world and whatever you want to do, you’re only a search entry away from learning how to do it. Write a novel? Here in five steps. Start a social media campaign? Forbes explains. Make a professional photo? Download an app. And all the apps and advice you’ll find on the […]

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The Solar System and footprints on the moon

The Forbidden City shows its size when looked upon from the hill Jingshan. Several large squares, many temples, and nearly ten thousand rooms, all neatly decorated. It’s the sheer size — built and maintained for hundreds of years — that makes travel bloggers searching for words to describe this complex. There’s a tiny well too, […]

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30

30 years today. And I always thought life would be downhill after reaching an age like 27. Now I know many things just gets less bad. The opinion from myself, the opinions from others, the fear of missing out, feelings of guilt or shame. There are so many details that don’t make a difference, yet […]

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Judo versus karate

Vegans have grown a bad reputation because (or so the stereotype goes) they’d call out anyone eating meat — citing that meat is bad for animal welfare or climate reasons. They’re right, of course, but nobody wants to hear it. Yet like-minded businesses have sought to sell soy burgers or start ecological supermarkets, to take […]

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Decline is inevitable, but misery isn’t

This morning I read Arthur C. Brooks’ article “Your Professional Decline Is Coming (Much) Sooner Than You Think” on The Atlantic. It’s packed with way more than you’d expect from a long article, and since I wish to absorb it all, I’ll leave a summary below here. — Memories of accomplishments don’t bring nearly as […]

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Recycling is a massive red herring

Philip Morris launched Mission Winnow for a smoke free world, even though it’s nothing but a sloppy website with pointless terms like ‘passion’ and ‘innovation’. The Dutch Royal Airlines is going to make (a tiny bit) of kerosine from bio waste. Starbucks will ban straws (even though had already promised us a recycled cup for […]

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