Category: Essays
Long-form articles about subjects such as personal finance, the Indieweb, technology and writing.
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La Cocina’s Spandian touch
La Cocina is the place to be to enjoy good Spanish food with a view a sunset panoramic view of Subang Jaya. I meet owner and head chef Jeganathan Letchumanan and his wife, Zarmila Muniandy, to learn about how their restaurant came to be, and the yummy food one can enjoy at their scenic restaurant.
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The cognitive debt of using AI to write essays
The way you use AI to write essays could change your brain. Simply put: It could make you more stupid.
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Pushback against digital gardens?
The pushback I received made me think about a way to re-clarify my message about digital gardens. The last thing I want people to think is that one is better than the other. I rather communicate the freedom digital gardening has given me, and how I’ve written so much more since taking this approach to…
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Digital gardens vs blogging: What’s the difference?
Digital gardens are a different way to present yourself on the Internet. Blogging is often see as a way to “brand yourself”. Digital gardens are less interested in marketing a personality but in sharing knowledge.
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How I use social media, and why Mastodon is still No.1 for me
There’s something inherently combative about Western social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The people there often seem mean-spirited, and the overall experience feels hostile. Chinese social media can be better due to stricter moderation policies, but you have to choose the right platform to dwell in.
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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.
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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?
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Is the Internet really broken?
My thoughts about The Verge’s article, The people who ruined the Internet and Danny Sullivan’s response, and the conversation swirling around SEO and the suckiness of the Internet.
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Taming my information consumption
Is it futile to tame the deluge of information? Well, I’m trying anyway by simplifying, streamlining and yes, deleting stuff.
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It’s probably impossible to be neutral about China
I’m often obsessed about random topics, but none of my pet topics would paint me in a bad light like my current interest in the US-China tensions. It’s pretty disturbing to realise that I will be automatically disliked because I hold a different view of China.
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Being Chinese in an anti-China world
I speak and think in English. But I’m genetically Chinese and that is problematic in an anti-China Western world. 📧 To read, subscribe to the blog.
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Why I Left Apple’s Ecosystem
I acknowledge that Apple products are sleeker, high in quality and they “just work”. But I still left the Apple Ecosystem anyway and have absolutely no regrets.
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How I am blogging the IndieWeb way
Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, Medium, Substack … if you’re building your content home on any of these, it’s time to wake up to the cold hard reality that they could all disappear on you one day. As a writer, embracing Indieweb principles could save your life’s work from disappearing along with these platforms. Here’s how I…
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WordPress.com releases paid newsletter features
Watch out Substack, here comes Wordpress! Automattic has now enabled WP.com blogs to share paid or gated content. Should I mirror my Substack to my wp.com website?
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Why I’m illustrating my stories without AI Art
My discomfort with tools such as Midjourney is a big reason, but I find it far more enjoyable to use human-generated art. 📧 To read, subscribe to the blog.
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Author’s notes: Patchwork Dad
Why this is probably the only poem I’ll ever write. 📧 To read, subscribe to the blog.
Elizabeth Tai 