Blog
Longer form articles on software engineering, distributed systems, and technology. Also available as an RSS feed.
2025
- Fixing Content Coins Aug 3, 2025
Why content coins are broken and how we might build better systems for content speculation
Blockchain - The Crown and the Commons Jul 16, 2025
Exploring a recurring historical pattern where rulers align with the masses to bypass intermediary power structures, from Caesar to modern democracies.
Politics History - ok fine, SF wins May 21, 2025
After five years defending NYC in the city wars, I'm finally admitting defeat and moving back to San Francisco as the tech scene has evolved.
- Sunny's NYC Guide Feb 3, 2025
My personal recommendations for things to do in New York City, including theater shows, museums, restaurants, activities, and hidden gems.
2020
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Exploring Open Law as an emerging fourth narrative for crypto, where legal contracts become smart contracts and law becomes software.
Blockchain Governance DAOs -
Exploring Web3 as a distinct narrative in the crypto space, focusing on technological decentralization and its role in the broader blockchain ecosystem.
Blockchain Web3 -
Exploring the crypto idea maze by analyzing Sound Money and Open Finance narratives, with thoughts on why fiat-native DeFi focused on openness and transparency is the path forward.
Blockchain - Hamilton 2.0 Jun 1, 2020
Thoughts on why Hamilton was the perfect choice for a musical protagonist and speculation about which historical figure deserves the next Lin Manuel Miranda treatment.
History Literary - Monetizing Smart Contracts with GasToken Apr 7, 2020
A devious method for Ethereum smart contract developers to monetize their contracts using GasToken creation and trading.
Blockchain -
Ethereum Classic is losing the blockchain war by playing catch-up instead of innovating - to win the technology phase of this multi-year conflict, ETC needs its own technological vision rather than just copying Ethereum.
Blockchain - War on Different Scales Apr 3, 2020
Wars on different timescales are won by different factors - economics (2 years), technology (20 years), or ideology (200 years) - revealing why fascism was never truly defeated and why the US-China conflict's outcome depends on which timescale we compete on.
History Politics - Esmeralda of the Wolves Mar 20, 2020
An observation about a potential connection between characters in Pulp Fiction through the Spanish word for wolf, "Lobo", found in deleted scenes.
Literary - Generalized Slashing — Slash People, Not Coins Mar 19, 2020
A dark humor thought experiment about taking blockchain slashing mechanisms to their extreme logical conclusion, featuring hypothetical physical consequences.
Blockchain -
Why I'm No Longer a Libertarian Mar 14, 2020My intellectual journey away from libertarianism, inspired by Devon Zuegel's post, examining why my political philosophy has evolved.
Politics - The 17th Amendment killed Federalism Mar 12, 2020
The 17th Amendment's shift to direct election of Senators removed state governments' representation in Congress, eliminating a crucial check on federal power expansion - sometimes increasing democracy can actually decrease decentralization.
History - DAOifying Uniswap Automated Market Maker Pools Feb 13, 2020
A proposal to enhance Uniswap by turning liquidity pools into DAOs with governance control over curve parameters and enabling competition between pools.
Blockchain
2019
- Switzerland Decal Lectures Nov 21, 2019
Video recordings from my UC Berkeley student-taught course on Switzerland, covering the country's history, politics, and culture - taught in Fall 2017 after I had already dropped out but still honored my teaching commitment.
History -
Gasdrop Nov 19, 2019A proposal for rewarding Ethereum developers based on gas usage rather than Ether deposits, addressing flaws in Edgeware's contract signaling mechanism.
Blockchain - Fixing the Lockdrop Nov 8, 2019
An analysis of the Edgeware lockdrop mechanism's flaws and a proposal for improvements, leading to the creation of the Straightedge fork.
Blockchain - Legacy and American Universities Mar 29, 2019
Comparing American and European university admissions systems in light of college admissions scandals, examining legacy preferences and meritocracy.
Politics -
An exploration of how cryptocurrencies derive value from memes and cultural narratives rather than technology, using Litecoin as a prime example.
Blockchain -
Reflections on technological stagnation inspired by Marvel's flying helicarriers, examining why we haven't achieved the future we imagined.
Technology Politics - Back to Android Jan 28, 2019
My experience switching from Android to iPhone and why I ultimately returned to Android after just a week and a half due to iOS limitations.
Technology - Florida Mule Jan 20, 2019
My personal twist on the Moscow Mule cocktail recipe, substituting oranges for limes and adding cinnamon, creating what I call the Florida Mule.
Recipes
2018
- Cosmos SDK Tutorial — Nameshake Oct 24, 2018
A tutorial for building blockchain applications with Cosmos SDK, creating a nameservice where buyers must pay more than the previous owner paid.
Blockchain - Introducing the Anti-Atom Apr 1, 2018
An April Fools' post introducing Anti-Atoms as Cosmos' April Fools prank, drawing parallels between antimatter physics and blockchain technology.
Blockchain Cosmos - Blockchain Protocol Governance Resources Jan 13, 2018
A curated reading list for the Conspiratus podcast on blockchain protocol governance, featuring resources from experts like Vlad Zamfir and Vitalik Buterin.
Blockchain Politics
2017
- Sunny’s Blockchain for Beginners FAQ Dec 21, 2017
A beginner-friendly FAQ answering common questions about blockchain and cryptocurrency, with curated resources for further learning.
Blockchain - Unpopular Ideas about Blockchains Nov 26, 2017
A compilation of contrarian and unpopular ideas about blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies, inspired by Julia Galef's series.
Blockchain - Thoughts on Iota Oct 9, 2017
A critical analysis of IOTA's Tangle technology and its challenges, originally posted as Reddit comments in r/ethereum and r/iota.
Blockchain - Thoughts on Tezos Jul 11, 2017
An analysis of the Tezos blockchain project, co-written with Nate Rush, examining its unique features and potential challenges.
Blockchain - Understanding Ether vs Gas Jun 17, 2017
An explanation of the distinction between Ether and Gas in Ethereum, clarifying their relationship as currency versus commodity.
Blockchain - Flooded Seeds in the Arctic Jun 1, 2017
Commentary on the irony of the Arctic Global Seed Vault flooding due to climate change despite being designed to survive global disasters.
Environment -
Innovation through Economic States of Exception May 6, 2017An exploration of how economic crises and states of exception can drive innovation, starting with Peter Thiel's pessimistic view of America's trajectory.
Technology Politics History - Creating Financial Systems Feb 27, 2017
Reflections from the IC3 Winter Conference on how Hamilton's quote about financial systems inspires continued work in cryptocurrency despite challenges.
Blockchain - Educational YouTube Channels Feb 26, 2017
A curated list of educational YouTube channels organized by topic, featuring content on science, geopolitics, philosophy, and more.
Education -
Go West, Young Man Feb 18, 2017Reflections on why I moved across the country to California for college, exploring the romanticization of westward migration and the American Dream.
Berkeley -
An analysis of Polanyi's argument that abandoning the Gold Standard led to economic nationalism and the rise of centrally planned economies in the 20th century.
Economics History - Streaming Box Remotes Jan 22, 2017
Examining how major streaming device remotes share remarkably similar designs with directional pads and select buttons, while Apple's innovative Siri remote touchscreen earned just 1.5 stars - showing that breaking established conventions doesn't always mean better.
Technology Design
2016
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Exploring how Switzerland forged a cohesive national identity across four languages through ethno-symbolic nation-building and federalism, while Belgium's linguistic divisions between French and Flemish speakers continue to threaten its unity.
History Politics - Free Society Dec 11, 2016
My vision for a free society based on equality of opportunity, individual merit, and limited government protecting rights without overreach.
Politics - Repeal the Electoral College Nov 18, 2016
An argument for abolishing the Electoral College, asserting that democracy should represent people not states, written after the 2016 election.
Politics - Election Day Nov 14, 2016
A firsthand account from a poll observer about the unusual demographics of voters during the 2016 election, noting a surge in working-class participation.
Politics -
An academic analysis challenging the traditional "nation-in-arms" narrative of French Revolutionary Wars, examining the role of military tactics versus soldier morale.
History - The Dark Knight’s Joker Nov 3, 2016
Analyzing how The Dark Knight's Joker became cinema's perfect villain through brilliant writing that made him Batman's ideological opposite and Heath Ledger's legendary performance that brought the chaotic character to life.
Literary -
An examination of how British colonialism and exceptionalism influenced social reforms in 19th century Britain, including poverty reduction and women's suffrage.
History - Batman Begins: The Definitive Origin Story Oct 4, 2016
An analysis of why Batman Begins stands out as the definitive superhero origin story, focusing on character transformation over action spectacle.
Literary - Insomnia — A Nolan Film? Sep 20, 2016
An analysis of why Insomnia feels different from Christopher Nolan's other films, lacking his signature plot twists and moral ambiguity.
Literary - The Commission on Presidential Debates Sep 18, 2016
A private organization wielding immense control over political discourse by arbitrarily deciding which candidates get debate exposure threatens democracy - no candidate on the ballot in all 50 states should be denied a podium.
Politics -
Seven Feelings Sep 17, 2016A poetic reflection on seven universal human experiences, from the adrenaline of the unexpected to the pride of lasting contribution.
- Defining the Nation-State Sep 15, 2016
An exploration of the concepts of "nation" and "state" and how their alignment creates nation-states, examining historical examples and modern confederations.
History Politics -
The Following Film Style Sep 6, 2016How Christopher Nolan's $6000 debut film "The Following" used handheld 16mm footage and natural lighting to create a neo-noir aesthetic that enhanced the protagonist's psychological journey through innovative low-budget filmmaking.
Literary - Why I Study the Social Sciences? Aug 7, 2016
A concise explanation of my interdisciplinary approach - philosophy shows how people ought to act, economics predicts how they will act, history reveals how they actually acted, and psychology explains why reality diverges from theory.
History Politics Economics - Why Third Parties Matter Aug 1, 2016
Third party votes aren't wasted - they're messages that can inspire local movements, shift political discourse, and potentially replace dying major parties, just as Republicans replaced the Whigs in the 1850s.
Politics - Illumio Intern Experience Jul 27, 2016
A blog post co-written with Vedant Saran about our internship experience at cybersecurity startup Illumio, originally published on the company blog.
Technology Startups - CEGA Trace Research Project Reflection Jun 19, 2016
A reflection on leading the CEGA Trace project at BIDS, which aimed to track research influence on public policy through web scraping and data analysis.
Technology Data-Science - Eagle Scout Court of Honor Speech May 21, 2016
My speech reflecting on ten years of Scouting experiences, from learning outdoor skills to leadership lessons and lifelong friendships.
- Littlefinger’s Sabotage Feb 16, 2016
An analysis of how Littlefinger sabotaged not just the Starks but also Tywin Lannister's master plan in Game of Thrones.
Literary -
5 Things to Think About when Choosing a College Feb 1, 2016A look the most important factors to consider when selecting a college, including program rigor, location, diversity, cost, and prestige.
2015
- Government and Innovation Dec 10, 2015
An examination of government's crucial role in spurring innovation through providing motivation, capital, and protection to the private sector.
Politics Technology - Bringing Two-Way Streets to Berkeley Southside Nov 30, 2015
An analysis of the proposal to convert Bancroft, Durant, and Dana Streets in Berkeley to two-way traffic, examining safety benefits and economic impacts.
Berkeley - Animal Farm Responses Oct 28, 2015
A collection of short reflections written while reading George Orwell's Animal Farm, examining themes of power, knowledge, propaganda, and political systems.
Literary Politics History - Icarus Oct 15, 2015
The story of how my drone literally flew too close to the sun and crashed on a UC Berkeley dorm balcony, living up to its mythological namesake.
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How We Hacked TechCrunch Disrupt Oct 6, 2015The story of how we used creative guerrilla marketing tactics to stand out among 500 startups at TechCrunch Disrupt.
Startups -
A Group Story Sep 16, 2015A whimsical collaborative story written during an EE16A discussion, featuring animal transformations and unexpected friendships.
- The Rhetoric Behind the Silent Car Sep 10, 2015
Analyzing Elon Musk's masterful rhetorical strategies in defending Tesla through appeals to logic, credibility, and emotion while combating misconceptions about electric vehicles' environmental impact, safety, and business model.
- A Modern Winter’s Tale Sep 9, 2015
A humorous modern slang translation of lines 1-64 from Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale Act IV Scene IV.
Literary - Why I Am Not a Christian by Bertrand Russell Aug 30, 2015
Reflecting on Bertrand Russell's systematic refutation of common "proofs" for God's existence and his critique of Christianity, though I disagree with his attacks on Jesus Christ whom I consider one of history's greatest humans.
Religion - From Sea to Shining Sea: The Birth of Union Pacific Aug 17, 2015
The story of Union Pacific Railroad's founding and completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, examining the corruption and determination behind this engineering feat.
History - Virgil: The Epic Poet Aug 17, 2015
Exploring how Virgil's masterworks - the Eclogues, Georgics, and Aeneid - were shaped by his rural upbringing, Roman pride during the Pax Romana, and reverent rivalry with Homer, making him history's greatest Roman poet.
Literary History -
Alice in Wonderland Political Allusions Aug 9, 2015An analysis of the political allusions in Lewis Carroll's Alice stories, including references to corrupted court systems and the Wars of the Roses.
Literary History - “Conspiracy” Movie Aug 9, 2015
A critical analysis of the 2001 HBO film "Conspiracy" about the Wannsee Conference, exploring how Nazi officials were portrayed as educated and cultured rather than monsters.
Literary History - Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Aug 9, 2015
A review of Douglas Adams' hilarious science fiction trilogy, comparing its nonsense humor to Alice in Wonderland and exploring the meaning of 42.
Literary - Night by Eli Wiesel Aug 9, 2015
A reflection on Eli Wiesel's Night, exploring the theme of loss - of family, faith, and humanity - during the Holocaust.
History Literary - Slavery in United States Aug 9, 2015
Modern slavery and human trafficking persist within US borders today, making it a top destination for this horrific trade - a reality that might finally spur powerful governments to act internationally against this atrocity.
Politics - What are we responsible for? Aug 9, 2015
Following Ayn Rand's Objectivism, humans have only one true responsibility - to keep ourselves content - and every seemingly altruistic action ultimately stems from this fundamental drive for self-satisfaction.
Philosophy - What makes us human? Aug 7, 2015
What separates humans from 7.7 million other species isn't our opposable thumbs or intelligence - it's our hardwired desire to communicate, share knowledge across generations, and leave a lasting legacy through language, art, and writing.
Philosophy - Forgotten May 1, 2015
A short film I helped create with friends for submission to the NJ High School film festival.
- Gaddafi’s Libya as an Empire Apr 16, 2015
An analysis of Muammar Gaddafi's rule in Libya, examining his rise to power, early achievements, and the eventual fall of his regime during the Arab Spring.
History
2014
- An Exposition on Robotics Competitions Jun 4, 2014
A comprehensive comparison of major robotics competitions including RoboCup Jr., FIRST, ZeroRobotics, and VEX, analyzing their focus on mechanical, electrical, and programming aspects.
Technology Education
2013
- iOS 7 is good, but still not better than Android Aug 15, 2013
A comparison of iOS 7 and Android, arguing that despite major improvements, iOS still lags behind Android in features like widgets and customization.
Technology - Lessons From a Guy in a Hot Tub Jul 18, 2013
An unexpected life lesson from a stranger at the FBLA National Leadership Conference about being open to learning from unexpected encounters.
- Welcome! Jun 30, 2013
An introductory post welcoming readers to the blog, where I'll share thoughts, ideas, and opinions on various topics.