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Someone from the future would love to be here

Someone from the future would love to be here

This morning in Historic Shanghai’s WeChat group I saw a photo from 1995 with People’s Square and the Shanghai Museum being constructed. When I see those photos I feel sad I wasn’t in Shanghai back then, thinking it would have been amazing (yet now impossible) to walk through those alleys now-gone, to talk to people […]
October 11, 2019
The edge of the forest

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 […]
October 7, 2019
Going back to your childhood is part of growing up

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 […]
September 14, 2019
Days that have everything

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 […]
September 13, 2019
The painting and the frame

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 […]
September 1, 2019
The Solar System and footprints on the moon

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, […]
August 31, 2019
30

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 […]
July 15, 2019
Judo versus karate

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 […]
July 1, 2019
Decline is inevitable, but misery isn’t

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 […]
June 22, 2019
Recycling is a massive red herring

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 […]
June 19, 2019