Almost two months ago, I wrote in Mementos of my high school girlfriend how I wasn’t sure I wanted to review the mementos. Maybe memories I treasured would turn out ordinary happenings of any young man in his late teens. I haven’t read my letters to her, but I read hers to me and was pleased to find something I’d forgotten — how close we were. More than close. Uninhibited.[…] Keep reading →

While not my usual topic, I’ve been thinking about movie endings I’ve loved. I don’t mean plot twists, necessarily, but what we see as the movie goes to credits. Last moments are hard to remember sometimes. Beginnings are easier. The Death Star didn’t explode as closing moment, nor did “Say hello to my little friend” or “Forget it, Jake. It’s Chinatown” appear as the credits did. Some, like Planet of[…] Keep reading →

Those familiar with Strunk and White will recognize this post’s title. If you don’t know Elements of Style, I’m not going to explain it, but I recommend it. I started compiling phrases with needless words. I’m sharing it here. I hope to make it longer. Worst case scenario: Just “worst case.” “Scenario” is just a big word that adds no meaning. Draw a line in the sand: Just “draw a[…] Keep reading →

20 years ago tomorrow, we filed the first patent for the technology that eventually became the basis for my first venture, Submedia. Entrepreneurship gave me an escape from the path academia laid out for me that I loved at first but no longer wanted. Working on an invention, a business plan, and so on reinvigorated me. I didn’t know it would help lead to my latest book, Initiative, hence “Over[…] Keep reading →

Genevieve Kim invited me to participate in her Eye See You project, a global project to photograph 1,000 strangers as a practice of seeing and being seen, in collaboration with The Assemblage NoMad (where we met), Ubuntu Market, Melissa Galeria, Invisible Technologies, BURNT, The Munchies Table and photographers around the world. Self-taught in photography, Genevieve has had her work appear in the NY Times, AdWeek, MOZAIC, Business Insider, UN Habitats[…] Keep reading →

Sharp-eyed readers of my blog and social media will have noticed the new portraits I’ve switched to. Also my portrait in my new book Initiative. A friend introduced me to Azael Montejo Jr — aka Ozzie — founder and CEO of New York Body Fitness. Mostly we spoke about our lives and passions. At one point, he started describing a vision he saw from how I spoke about my work.[…] Keep reading →

Not like I’ve kept track of music videos and it’s not my usual topic, but I wrote my favorite four a while ago and here they are. Chemical Brothers Star Guitar Fatboy Slim Weapon of Choice Wax Southern California Kanye West Power Actually, a friend showed me an unedited version of the Kanye West song, maybe a director’s cut. I couldn’t find that version online, so I’m using this version[…] Keep reading →