NOT NORMAL

A random collection of back-of-the-envelope calculations, short stories, half-baked theories, bad poems, and more.
Many of these relate to the idea of normalcy, what it entails, and what it does not.
We are fortunate to live in a time where right and wrong, traditions, and norms are being renegotiated.
Yet, only through exploring what is normal can we experience the depths of the clash.

Mar 18, 20222 min read

Households and Entrepreneurs

Mar 16, 20221 min read

On Pretending to Be Smart

Mar 6, 20223 min read

Empathy for the Ukrainians Not Whataboutism

Mar 2, 20228 min read

A Life: On Sight, Empathy, and Rainbows

Feb 27, 20223 min read

A Ten-year Overnight Tragedy

My thoughts go to the people of Ukraine. May our leaders feel this tragedy and prevent the suffering of the many over the profits of the few

Feb 24, 20224 min read

On Updating My Values: A Blasphemous, Offensive, and Endless Torture

I'm a recovering Christian. This form of blasphemy is a way of regrounding myself. It's offensive and sacrilegious. Read at your own peril.

Feb 22, 20223 min read

Positive: A Story of Disruption

Feb 16, 20224 min read

Some Pride Some Prejudice

Feb 14, 20222 min read

The Longest Six Months

This pandemic sometimes feels eternal. But, sometimes, it feels just like a very long six months. An eventful set of months.

Feb 4, 20222 min read

Europe the Martian Continent

Feb 3, 20222 min read

The Hotstove Effect in the COVID Forest

Jan 24, 20224 min read

On the Flawed/Functional Pursuit of Exceptionalism

Jan 22, 20222 min read

A Very Costa Rican Privilege

Jan 16, 20223 min read

What if the Universe's Laws Changed With Time? Ask a Social Scientist

Physical laws are stable since the Big Bang. Social laws change often. The discrepancy is crazy to me and the reason why I've stayed in mgmt

Jan 13, 20221 min read

Bringing A Bit of Joy to My Image of God

Jan 10, 20222 min read

Jose ("ho-SE") the 4th most common name. Yet, hard to pronounce

My name is Jose; as a name it is ubiquitous. Yet, for some, it is hard to pronounce. This hurts communication and so I tend to joke about it

Dec 21, 20211 min read

Feminism is for everybody. It's all about love yet not all have the will to change

Dec 19, 20212 min read

Ahistoric: Events outside of our written record, but not less relevant

History is written by the victors. Events experienced but not recorded become absent from history. Here I discuss this deep historic bias.

Dec 10, 20213 min read

Google as a Pay per View Service

We pay to watch Netflix. Advertisers pay to let us use Google's products. What if we outbid them and pay for Google ourselves?

Dec 9, 20212 min read

Useful Things are not Always Important

One should do important work but what if it is not useful? Here I discuss a simple 2x2 that helps me navigate life.

Nov 25, 20211 min read

On Little Fish, Rigged Games, Universe Expansion, and Darkness

Nov 14, 20212 min read

Time Equals Money Explains Why Bezos Is The Richest Person Alive

We tend to see time equals money as an individual-level call for efficiency. But when applied to organizations, it explains much more.

Nov 13, 20213 min read

Whim Delivery: A Thriving Industry Along the Great Resignation

Lately a new niche developed. We can get things delivered in 15 minutes of less. But is that progress prosperous?

Nov 11, 20211 min read

On Breadwinning, Caregiving, and Purpose

Homebuilding is nominally composed of two activities: Caregiving, and Breadwinning. But are both just as important?