no chain, no gain

(Original title: Gamification, the power of chains and combos) Chains and combos are strings of actions or events that flow sm

SS01: Defining ‘Education’

The meaning of schools and education has changed over time. We tend to think of education in a limited sense- go to an academi

“hello! Just wanted to tell you that I love your blog! I love its ingenuity, creativity, eloquence, and maturity! Singap

NS memoirs

(originally wrote this for Fever Avenue) This one is for the boys. I’ve had some pretty unique opportunities in my life to e

Things To Do [2012]

This is it. No more hiding, no more cowering in fear. This is the post- or the series of posts, the system and the philosophy

creative struggles

2024: I don’t want to write a substack that has dozens and dozens of posts primarily about my creative struggle. That’s li

Gamifying Education + Can We Make People Care?

Games People Play It’s interesting to listen to what people talk about: girls talking about fashion, boys talking about

The Path Of A Double Pendulum

Look at that. Isn’t that beautiful? Doesn’t it look chaotic, and yet strangely elegant? This is the path of a doub

7sins: Envy

(image courtesy of blackeri) What is lust? Lust is fundamentally about conquest. Nobody lusts after what they already have.

BMT Recourse

There was an interesting thing that happened when I was supposed to go for BMT recourse. I didn’t have all the items I n

“Losers have goals, winners have systems”, by Scott Adams

“The other day I put on my workout clothes and drove to the gym. But when I arrived I didn’t feel like working out

william gibson nyt profile

2012 jan 13 by Pagan Kennedy On one of his trips to New York, William Gibson stopped before an antiques shop that would end up

xav on me being kind in conflict

“It’s fun to be wrong, especially if the person taking you down does so professionally on a nice practice mat, ins

The Death And Life Of Great American Cities, by Jane Jacobs

I borrowed this one from a friend who’s interested in architecture. I didn’t completely appreciate it as I was fli

The Black Swan, by Nassim Taleb

This is one of those life-changers. It doesn’t work as a casual read, because it’s most likely going to challenge

Didn’t make it to leadership school? Build your own!

I had a class reunion the other day and I got to talk to one of my classmates who completed his national service as a commissi

2012 review – it’ll never be perfect so just do it

I didn’t want to do anything for new year’s. I didn’t want to spend money unnecessarily, because lately I

How to live, and other final 2011 thoughts

I didn’t want to do anything for new year’s. I didn’t want to spend money unnecessarily, because lately I

2012

I didn’t want to do anything for new year’s. I didn’t want to spend money unnecessarily, because lately I