Changelog v2025.4
New umbrella releases
2025-04-19SwiftTitleCase: A Swift package that tries its best to transform strings to AP style title case. See announcement.
New nodes
2025-04-24Mango Linked for linked posts.2025-04-24Mango Shorts for short posts.
New blog posts
2025-04-27Hiking Maui’s Hidden Bamboo Forest2025-04-244242025-04-17On What Drives Me2025-04-15Message to Steve
New linked posts
2025-04-26∞ Our Souls Need Proof of Work2025-04-25∞ Netflix Introduces Dialogue-Only Subtitles2025-04-22∞ Google Fi Wireless Turns 102025-04-18∞ How Asian Groceries Are Reshaping America2025-04-17∞ SF Zoo’s Panda Plan Is on Track — but Tariff May Raise the Price
New short posts
2025-04-24my-bank2025-04-23electric-kettle-and-rice-cooker2025-04-06the-raining-season-is-over
Hiking Maui’s Hidden Bamboo Forest
Summary
We accidentally discovered this hidden hike in 2015 while we were heading back from Hana. We stopped at a random spot to take some pictures. On the opposite side of the road, we noticed some hikers just emerging from what seemed like nowhere:
Intrigued, we investigated and discovered a narrow trail winding into the bamboo forest. Unfortunately, it was already late that day after our trip to Hana, so we didn't venture very far.
When we returned in 2017, we made sure to explore this trail again. It turned out to be the best hike we experienced in Maui. Fast forward to a few weeks ago when we brought our 6yo on the Road to Hana, we simply had to stop there. The experience was even more magical with the swollen river after the recent rainfall.
Photos
Photos from Hiking Maui’s Hidden Bamboo Forest
Numbers
Time: 2025-04-19, 2.8 hours.
Distance: 1.9 km (1.2 miles).
Route
See this Google Map for more details
∞ Our Souls Need Proof of Work
Julie Zhuo:
It took me far too long to spot the pattern: nothing I ever attained satisfied the fundamental wanting; ergo there is no thing that ever would.
But I noticed something else: there was long-term satisfaction to be found in my journey. It wasn’t in the attaining but in the becoming.
...
What if, instead of easy comfort, we wanted for challenges that transform us into better version of ourselves?
It's the challenges, struggles, failures, your hard work, and the social interactions that make your life joyful and tasteful.
∞ Netflix Introduces Dialogue-Only Subtitles
Fifty percent of Americans say they watch content with subtitles most of the time. It’s a habit we see reflected on Netflix too—nearly half of all viewing hours on Netflix in the US happen with subtitles or captions on, so we’re making the experience even better for members.
Just in time for all the twists, inner monologues, and intense eye contact in the final season of YOU — we’re introducing a new option: original language subtitles that show only the spoken dialogue.
I grew up watching TV with dialogue-only subtitles. Glad to see this is trending in America too, and better support from Netflix.
424
Today, April 24, is Global Close Your Rings Day. I did a morning run, then went to the Palo Alto Apple Store to collect this shiny pin:
My rings were all closed later today.
A few years ago, I had a long streak of closing my rings. Then I was on an international flight and lost my streak. Even since, I haven't been able to care closing my rings. But today, 424, feels special enough to start a new streak.
Exactly one year ago, some people decided my team was replaceable and laid us off. Even though I was able to find a job quickly, I don't think I healed that quick. A year and a job later, am I fine now? Maybe my rings in the following months can tell.
My bank: You just got paid! $5,000.00 is now in your account.
Me: No. That was just me transferring my own $5,000.00 from another bank to you.
My pet peeve: Airbnb houses not providing an electric kettle or a rice cooker. So I always leave a private note to the host.
∞ Google Fi Wireless Turns 10
Improvements to connectivity, coverage and more, especially on iOS
... we’re broadening access to this feature with data-only eSIMs, which means you can quickly and easily connect newer, eSIM-compatible devices like Android tablets and iPads with data on the go, without needing a physical SIM card.
... making international 5G available on iPhone in addition to Android phones.
Sweet deals! Their Unlimited Plus plan is now Unlimited Premium, upgrading high-speed data from 50GB to 100GB.
Now, I just need to wait for the Apple Watch support, if it is ever coming.
P.S. You can use my referral code X7N6XX to get $60 off your bills (I will get $60 too).
New Open Source Package: SwiftTitleCase
I just released a new open source package, SwiftTitleCase. This package contains a Swift function that tries its best to transform strings to AP style title case.
Example usage:
import SwiftTitleCase
let titleCased = "mango baby is a product under mango umbrella".titleCase()
print(titleCased) // Mango Baby Is a Product Under Mango Umbrella
Why SwiftTitleCase?
Mango Umbrella has an in-house client app managing its content. I needed a convenience button that automatically transforms my blog post's titles to AP style title case. So I wrote a basic function just doing that.
Why "tries its best"?
Currently the implementation only handles the basic rules. It doesn't attempt to identify parts of speech contextually. For example, if "up" is used as an adverb rather than a preposition, this package would still lowercase it (unless it's the first or last word). Contributions welcome!
∞ How Asian Groceries Are Reshaping America
Priya Krishna writes,
Last year, Americans bought half a billion packets of Shin Ramyun, the spicy, beefy Korean instant noodle.
Half a billion packets in a year? W.A.T.