Elizabeth Tai

Blog: https://elizabethtai.com/
Profile: https://elizabethtai.com/author/firediarist/
Homepage: http://firediarist.wordpress.com

Weekend Tales #8: My favourite things of 2024

I was wondering who in the world would be interested in my favourite things. But then I realised that one of them could actually save your life, so here am I sharing it. Siti the kitty She’s a little bite-y, but we have this little ritual where, each time she sees me, she’ll let out…
My experience ‘going paid’ on Subastack in 2024

Last year, I activated the option for readers to pay me on a lark, and was surprised by what happened despite my very low expectations.
Weekend Tales #7: Year ends and bodice rippers in the desert

Reflecting on 2024 while watching trashy TV. Also, links to articles I’ve written and have read.
I love Malaysia. I also resent it.

It’s complicated. A bittersweet letter to Malaysia on Malaysia Day. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
5 more reads from Asia

The results of my painstaking digging of the interwebs for your reading pleasure.
Malaysians stunned by Kuala Lumpur sinkhole

Like many Malaysians, my eyes are glued to news a sinkhole that swallowed a woman in the middle of the capital. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
That time when I lived in a haunted house

It’s Hungry Ghost month so what better time to talk about the haunted house I lived in? 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
The circle of competence and our information diet

When it comes to information consumption, am I focusing on a subject that will help me improve my life or make it worse?
What’s happening in Britain?

Documenting my efforts to find a more nuanced point of view about the British riots. Consuming news has become so hard, honestly.
Auditing my social media use and information consumption

When you get such extreme mental fatigue from social media and you just want to check out and sleep all day – you know you’ve got a problem.
The reason why you’re so tired at work: Context switching

Cal Newport says that knowledge workers end up mentally exhausted because of the constant context switching at work, but how do we actually fix this?
Weekend Tales #6: The Paris Olympics fried my brain

A South-East Asian reaction to the social media hullabaloo around the Last Supper, Christians, Republicans, Democrats, Dionysus, blah blah. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
Learning Chinese vocabulary as a headless chicken

How to learn new words when you work a full-time job, have 1001 interests, write a newsletter, two blogs and be a well-managed human being. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
I once tolerated Kuala Lumpur. Now, I love it

Growing up, I saw little beauty in Kuala Lumpur. It was a city I tolerated, not loved. But, over the years, KL has blossomed into something special. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
A secret Pentagon campaign to spread vaccine disinformation has come to light

No, really, this is not some conspiracy theory Youtuber reporting this. Reuters broke the story. Here’s how the world is reacting to the news.
The cold war in Chinese fandom spaces

The “China bad” narrative is infecting even “fluffy” Chinese online fandom spaces, forcing fans to take sides in the US-China cold war. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
The tricky art of learning Chinese characters

I thought learning how to read Chinese was impossible for me. Turns out I needed to use the right techniques. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
So I’m learning Mandarin

Introducing a new newsletter section where I will share how I’m trying to improve my Mandarin as a “heritage” speaker.
Weekend Tales #5 My ambition is to have an unextraordinary life

No fancy corporate titles, giant mansions or flashy paychecks for me. 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.
3 Body Problem is a bit of a problem

The Netflix drama’s depiction of China is, well, problematic. Or is it? Chinese viewers weigh in. (If you’ve not watched the drama, please note that this issue is slightly spoilery.) 📧 Subscribe to read the post. Subscription is free.