James Hsu

Another month…another update in the bag. I took this photo while jogging out in Seattle on a clear weekday evening. I spent a week there for a recent work trip and did my part to take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL weather. It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest, but it has been absolute pure perfection in the summer. Definitely the best time of the year to visit.

I also spent some time up in Vancouver, Canada, to catch up with family. I love the city of Vancouver a lot, but it is definitely hard to imagine moving back here. I consider Beijing to be my real home now.

Pretty crazy to think that we are halfway through 2018. Well on our way to 2019, actually. I hope everyone out there is doing well. 2018 has definitely been one of the most stressful and anxiety-filled years of my adult life. Those of you who know me well will know what I am talking about. If you don’t…well, feel free to reach out and I can explain 🙂

When things get stressful, two things really help me calm down:

1. Putting things into perspective. Chances are, events that come up are NOT life-or-death. Talking to friends, writing things down, and reflecting on good things that have transpired — all of these things help. As introverted as I am, sharing appropriately does get me through the tough times. No man or woman is an island.

2. Commit to regular exercise. Find time to do those brief sets of pushups or crunches. Go for a walk or run. Do the plank for a few minutes. I have committed to exercising three times a week, for at least an hour each session. As the infamous Jocko Willink says, “discipline is freedom.” And as Phil Knight says, “just do it.”

Let’s get to the links!

Read

Depression is Like Anything Else — Neal Brennan Mic’d Up. Neal Brennan is one of my favorite comedians. Here, he speaks openly of his battles with depression and the creative process. [Maekan]

Letter from Shenzhen. A nice ode to tech in China, and how it has evolved greatly from that of tech in the U.S. [Logic]

The Changing Sound of Male Rage in Rock Music. Nothing has been the same since Chester and Linkin Park stepped through the doors. [The Atlantic]

What if Star Wars never happened? Total historical revisionist fantasy, but a fun read. [Polygon]

Don’t Feed the Trolls, and Other Hideous Lies. A great examination of trolling on the Internet, by one of my favorite writers. [The Verge]

Ten Years Later, “The Dark Knight” and Its Vision of Guilt Still Resonate. I must have watched TDK at least four or five times during its theatrical run. Good to read all the retrospective pieces coming out of the woodwork to celebrate its tenth anniversary this month. [The Village Voice]

Inside Waymo’s Secret World for Training Self-Driving Cars. One of the better pieces on self-driving cars that I’ve found. [The Atlantic]

Why Incompetent People Don’t Know They’re Incompetent. Title says it all. [Psychology Today]

The Difference Between Being Broke and Being Poor. Extremely powerful stuff. [Longreads]

Watch

Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke. Hands down the best Carpool Karaoke episode yet. Watch McCartney work his magic in epic fashion. A touching tribute to James Corden, no less.

Yappie. A yappie is a young Asian professional…and this latest production from Wong Fu is worth a few chuckles if you fit the bill.

What I’m reading on my Kindle

MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom by Tony Robbins. Surprisingly solid, and some good takeaways that I’ll definitely apply to my own financial planning.

See you next time!

Peace,

James