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chatpastel: looking back at 2025.
a reflection on chatpastel’s first year. thirty-four published pieces, slow growth, missed moments, recalibration, and the systems being built to support sustainable, long-term work.
7 days ago4 min read
the quiet problem with algorithm-driven pop.
algorithm-driven pop often feels emotionally hollow, optimized for visibility rather than depth. this piece reflects on why warmth, restraint, and quiet intention now feel radical, and how Olivia Dean’s 'Man I Need' stands slightly out of alignment with the systems shaping modern music.
Jan 33 min read
what chinese brands reveal about modern consumption.
most people do not trust china as a global power, yet many still rely on chinese brands in their everyday lives. this piece explores how habit, repetition, and familiarity allow global consumption to continue without belief, trust, or moral resolution.
Dec 28, 20254 min read
finding my place in judaism.
for most of my life, i carried my jewish identity quietly. it was something i knew was there, even when i did not know what to do with it. in recent years, i have learned that identity does not need permission to exist, even when the world makes it complicated to claim.
Dec 21, 20255 min read
on entering the world of Pandora.
a reflective piece on entering the world of pandora, perspective, and immersion, and why avatar: frontiers of pandora took time to feel right.
Dec 16, 20257 min read
when a grade becomes a national flashpoint: what the OU controversy actually shows.
a detailed examination of the OU grade controversy and the broader conflict it exposed about academic standards, student rights, and ideological pressure. this piece traces what happened, how the narrative took shape, and why the fallout reveals deeper structural tensions on american campuses.
Dec 9, 20259 min read
Trade Anything Day is coming, and GameStop is already seeing the fallout.
'Trade Anything Day' is still weeks away, but the problems have already started. GameStop’s latest promotion shows how quickly a simple idea can turn risky once the public gets involved, and how the fallout always lands on employees first.
Nov 19, 20253 min read
yes, i’m changing: on outgrowing your old life before your new one arrives.
change often begins long before anyone else notices it. this piece explores what it feels like to outgrow your old self and step into the person you’re becoming.
Nov 15, 20254 min read
job hunting feels like a second job.
job hunting can start to feel endless, like effort without meaning. a reflection on modern hiring, automation, and the quiet exhaustion of waiting for something real to happen.
Nov 10, 20253 min read
living with autism: my routines, challenges, and small comforts.
autism doesn’t always look the way people expect. for me, it shows up in routines, challenges, and small comforts that keep life steady. over time, I’ve learned how masking, sensitivity, and self-acceptance shape my everyday life and how being on the spectrum has become part of who I am.
Nov 7, 20259 min read
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