The “hikikomori” problem explained — There is absolutely nothing that made me feel like I was going crazy than staying at home all day, not going outside, watching TV or playing video games, and not socializing or talking to any friends. I’m glad to have left my childhood home and now be in a continual…

It’s a roller coaster, not a linear path — I’ve been playing chess a lot lately. It’s what I do in my free time where I put no pressure on myself. Sometimes, I go on streaks where I win right or nine consecutive games. But sometimes, I’m actually getting worse. I’m not winning and make mistakes I wouldn’t have…

The show allows viewers to picture more minorities in positions of power and influence — I’m a pretty anti-identity politics person politically because I favor a multiracial coalition that tries to make the world a more equal place and fights for the working class of all races, but I know the current age we dwell, particularly on the left, does not agree with my brand…

It was the first time I really had to rely on them in that capacity or expect anything from them — I really hate to put this label on friends, but I have a few friends who cancel on plans frequently. They’re really late to things when they do come. You can’t really saddle them with anything that requires logistic or operational savvy. When you do make plans with them, you…

There was no better way to kick off a lifetime together — My now wife (feels strange to say that) and I spent the past 22 months and all of our savings on our wedding ceremony and initiation of our marriage. While I am personally against huge ceremonies like this and am a very utility-minded person in terms of what to spend…

I haven’t really had any existential concerns of “am I sure I’m making the right decision?” — At my bachelor party, I had a great time, but I did have a nagging feeling throughout. I brought a very eclectic group of guys of different ages, backgrounds, and races that I’ve grown close to at various stages of life. This included some of my best friends in high…

And hypercompetitiveness among Asians — Warning: spoilers for BEEF On one Friday night, I finished Netflix’s BEEF and its entire first season between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. I just couldn’t stop watching it not only because it was incredibly funny, but because I resonated with the themes and subplots as a first-generation Asian-American as…

But it was the norm rather than the exception of late 18th-century mental health care — In the Queen Charlotte version of Bridgerton, King George III suffers a debilitating mental illness and goes to desperate lengths to treat it, especially in a time period when people didn’t know what mental illness was. The doctor who secretly treats King George in the cellar of the palace resorts…

In the gig economy world, it’s every man for themselves. — Today, DoorDash galit me when I went to go pick up food for two customers at Chipotle. First, DoorDash told me to go to Chipotle which was 3 miles away. I was confused, because I was right next to another Chipotle. But when I put the address into my navigation…