Our family went out to dinner on Sunday night. The phở and bún bò Huế weren’t too good. Nevertheless, we paid $140 (including tips). Everytime we went out to eat, we paid over $100. They add up.

I need to stop myself from taking the kids out to eat. I don’t even enjoy eating out anymore. It is just convenience to do so. It has become such a bad habit. I console myself that I am still working; therefore, I can still enjoy myself. Just eating out alone is one of the obstacles that tie me to a job. I would like to have less financial burden.

My wife will be out in Paris for a week starting tomorrow. I will challenge myself to not eating out anymore. We’ll just make something at home.

Dear Đạo,

Thank you for expressing your frustrations. I appreciate your honest criticism of my parenting approach. As a father, I know my children’s strengths and weaknesses; therefore, I treat each of you differently. No matter how many times I explained to you the difference between struggling and being irresponsible. Let me clear them up for the last time.

Your brother is struggling in school. His teachers raised concerns. Your mother and I could see that too; therefore, we are helping him to catch up. We asked him to help him, especially with Spanish, but every time you did, you sounded as if you were being forced to do it. I had to stop you because you weren’t being helpful. I had to take him to the library for someone else your age to help him. He’s struggling, but he is willing to get help and I can see that he has made tremendous improvements, especially in reading.

You are not struggling. You did well on your tests. Even if you didn’t, you had another chance to retake. What you aren’t doing are your projects and assignments. You received low grades not because you were struggling, you just were doing your work. Even though your mother and I constantly reminded you to do your assignments, you still let them slip by. I constantly offered to help, but you always said you already took care of your work. Then the progress reports showed missing assignments.

Since seventh grade, you have not shown that you can hold up your responsibilities as a student. Again, not because you are struggling. If I am wrong, however, please let me know. I will get you all the help you need just like your brothers.

I apologize for overlooking your 3D arts. I fall short on your creative outlet. I didn’t brush it off intentionally. I hope you will continue to do only what you enjoy. As you can see, I make mistakes too. I am not perfect. In fact, I am far from being a good father based on your assessment.

When I was a kid, my father was never around. When I became a father, my goal was to be around you for as much as I could. I worried too much and it clearly backfired. I cared about your well-being. I cared about your grades. I cared about your path in life, especially if you chose the wrong one. Whether you turn out good or bad, it will not impact me, but it will impact you.

After 15 years, I have said enough. If I continue to say what I need to say in 30 more years, it wouldn’t help if you don’t want to listen. From our conversation last night, I realized that I haven’t been helpful in reminding you to keep up your grades, to cut down your digital usage, and to be a role model for your younger brothers. No more bans for flunking school. No more restrictions for spending time on your digital devices. No more requests for helping out with your siblings.

If you need me, of course, I am always here for you.

Love,
Dad

My wife picked up this gem at the exit door of Great Wall Supermarket. It’s a tiny little book filled with words of wisdom. I keep it beside my bed so I can read a few lines each morning. I could quote the entire book, but here are a few samples I highlighted:

“Hatred never ceases by hatred, but by love.”

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.”

“Life is an illusion, a dream, a bubble, a shadow. Nothing is permanent. Nothing is worthy of anger. Nothing is worthy of dispute. Nothing.”

“Find your faults, feel deep regret, and correct your mistakes, reform sincerely, practice kindness, concentrate the mind, sever selfishness, awaken.”

“Lovingkindness is giving others happiness. Compassion is removing others’ bitterness. Joy is freeing others from suffering.”

“When things are going well, be mindful of adversity. When prosperous, be mindful of poverty. When loved, be mindful of thoughtfulness. When respected, be mindful of humility.”

Professor Jeffrey C. Isaac has a few words for the uncommitted voters:

Biden has been bad for Palestinians and all who care about their plight.

But Trump would be much worse, and emphatically so.

How can this be a good consequence for those who have been “Uncommitted?”

Further, Kamala Harris is not Joe Biden. It is perfectly understandable that most “Uncommitted” voters would be deeply disappointed by Harris’s refusal to do more to emphasize differences with Biden. It is equally understandable that they would be outraged that the Harris-controlled DNC would not even reserve time to a single Palestinian-American this past July. This was wrong and stupid, and Harris deserves to pay a political price. But if Trump wins, the biggest price on this score will be paid by Palestinians and their Arab-American relatives and allies.

He concludes:

Casting a vote for Harris-Walz might feel bad. But the election of Donald Trump as president would be bad. Very, very bad.

And it would be a pretty good thing if everyone who cares about justice, human rights, and simple human decency did what they could to prevent that from happening. And there is only one way to do this: by voting for the Harris-Walz ticket.

A letter from more than 80 American Nobel Prize winners:

At no time in our nation’s history has there been a greater need for our leaders to appreciate the value of science in formulating public policy.

The enormous increases in living standards and life expectancies over the past two centuries are largely the result of advances in science and technology. Kamala Harris recognizes this and understands that maintaining America’s leadership in these fields requires budgetary support from the federal government, independent universities, and international collaboration. Harris also recognizes the key role that immigrants have always played in the advancement of science.

Should Donald Trump win the presidential election, he would undermine future US leadership on these and other fronts, as well as jeopardize any advancements in our standards of living, slow the progress of science and technology, and impede our responses to climate change.

This is the most consequential presidential election in a long time, perhaps ever, for the future of science and the United States. We, the undersigned, strongly support Harris.

Read the letter in PDF format

I drink mostly for social and to enhance my appetite. I didn’t pay much attention to the liquors until recently. So far, these are my favorite bottles:

1. Hakushu 12 (single malt whiskey)
2. Yamazaki 12 (single malt whiskey)
3. Aberfeldy 21 (single malt whiskey)
4. Cordon Bleu (cognac)
5. Midleton Very Rare 2023 (single malt whiskey)
6. Hibiki Master Select (blended whiskey)
7. Macallan Rare Cask 2021
8. Dewart’s 18 (blended whiskey)
9. Lagavulin 16 (single malt whiskey)
10. Hibiki Harmony (blended whiskey)

TVGN is doing great. It is rising to $3. CNSP is doing really bad. I bought it at $0.27 a share now it is down to $0.13. I think we’re going to lose it all. Lesson learned.

I am still keeping an eye on RIVN. It is still around $10. The company is not doing too well. It has product issues as well employee safety issues. Oh well.

Have a great weekend, traders and investors.

I worked from home today; therefore, I picked up Xuân and Vương from school to go to the skatepark. Đạo tagged along as well. We skated for about 15 minutes before Vương slipped, fell, and busted his chin on the concrete inside the bowl at Wakefield. I took him to the ER to get stitched up.

Xuân busted his chin twice before. The second time was also at the skatepark and I took him to the same ER. Xuân gained back his confidence and went back to the skatepark a couple of days later. He had not thought much about it. He continued to soar.

I am not sure if Vương will do the same or he would just quit after this incident. I won’t hold it against him. Accidents happen, especially at the skatepark. I had my share of accidents. I twisted my knee one time and hit my head on the ground another. Even though I had my helmet on, I blacked out for a few seconds.

Vương’s accident gave me a pause. The skatepark could be a dangerous place even just a minor mistake. Then again if I wanted to prevent accidents, I would never skate, ski, or snowboard. Life is short and a bit of risk is good.

I talked to my kids’ piano teacher about skiing. He would love to give it a try, but he was afraid of breaking his hands, which are his livelihood. A nail technician told me the same concern. If she were to break her hands, she wouldn’t be able to do her work. It could be true for me as well. I wouldn’t be able to design if my hands weren’t working. Fortunately, I didn’t think about it that way when I picked up any of these sports. I am glad that I didn’t factor accidents into the sports. For me, the reward outweighs the risk.

Getting stitched up sucks, but I hope Vương won’t give up. Life will be full of challenges and he will have to weather through them. This was one of the challenges he faced. Stay strong, my son.

I can’t wait for the election to be over. Politics has become so damn polarizing that I haven’t talked to anyone about it. I haven’t discussed politics with my friends. I haven’t discussed politics with my family members. Anyone tried to bring up the topic, I shut it down.

I haven’t posted anything related to politics on any social media network. The only place I am comfortable talking about politics is on this blog. This is truly my personal space where I can write whatever I want, including my view on politics. I only have one vote and I cannot control the outcome of the result. Nevertheless, I still want to speak my mind.

I voted early and my wife did too. I didn’t even ask my wife who she voted for. I even refrained from discussing politics with her. She made her own choice. Her vote, her rights. She gets to make her decision.

In this election, women rights are on the line. They should be able to make the decision on their own, particularly on their own body and their own health. The choice between Harris and Trump on this issue is clear. Harris fights for women rights. Trump fights for his own power.

After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Democrats had won any election with abortion on the ballot. I am optimistic that Harris will win this election because women will vote for their rights. We’ll see.

Rally is a small digital product studio in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its website is just beautiful from colors to typography to transitions. (I should start looking for cool website designs again).