About 20 years ago, I helped create a video entitled Vietnam Today for the In FOCUS: Vietnam project funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. It was part of a series designed to serve as a pre-departure orientation tool for students who participated in the Hobart and William Smith … Continue reading Vietnam Today (Video)
Commentary
Of China, the USA, and Tariffs
Here's a short and sweet take on the tariff situation between these two superpowers by Paul Renaud, a "trusted independent adviser to CxOs and boards in Canada, the UK, and the US. (Source: LinkedIn.) I especially like the graphic that puts things in perspective. I've been hammering away at the blind spot of US nationalism, … Continue reading Of China, the USA, and Tariffs
The Land of a Thousand Handshakes
Yes, this image was AI-generated. 😀 I created this story about my friend Chuck Searcy but did not write it. I asked my digital friend ChatGPT to "write a short story about Chuck Searcy using the style of David Sedaris." I then copied and pasted it into Grammarly's free AI detector. The result? 12% of … Continue reading The Land of a Thousand Handshakes
Revisited: “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”
https://markashwill.com/2023/04/07/do-not-regret-growing-older-it-is-a-privilege-denied-to-many/ This remains my most popular post since I launched this blog in 2009. When I last searched for "do not regret growing older" in Google, there were 68.1 million results. There were 27.1 million results for "It is a privilege denied to many." In both cases, my original post was the first result. It's … Continue reading Revisited: “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”
The Future Belongs to Those Who Welcome Talent
This is a guest post by Rakhmad Sobirov, a Canada-based attorney and LinkedIn connection. The answer to his rhetorical question is a resounding YES. This is one of the many prices the US will pay for implementing the Project 2025 playbook. Peace, MAA Life offers strange ironies. Rakhmad was interrogated by Officer Ahmad. 🤣 Here's … Continue reading The Future Belongs to Those Who Welcome Talent
Integrity
This is a guest post by Johanna Santana, a LinkedIn contact. Reprinted with her permission. She's referring to integrity without compromise, not selective integrity. I've used this unattributed saying a lot in the context of business: Success without integrity is failure. Peace, MAA What does it really mean to lead with integrity, even when it’s … Continue reading Integrity
Capstone Rising!
This AI-generated image was created for the song. This is a song I created about Capstone Education, of which I'm managing director and co-founder, using AI-generated text and music based on my input. Follow this link or click on the image to listen. The lyrics are below. Turn it up, be inspired, and enjoy! Peace, … Continue reading Capstone Rising!
‘Sweeping’ university reforms planned as Vietnam plays ‘catch up’
This article by Helen Packer in which I was quoted appeared in Times Higher Education (London) on 15 March 2025. (Note: THE doesn't have a paywall, but you must create an account to get three free articles a month.) New education plan aims to create four city hubs and expand enrolment as youth population swells … Continue reading ‘Sweeping’ university reforms planned as Vietnam plays ‘catch up’
What Does Vietnam’s Future Look Like?
This is an AI-generated image of Vietnam's future. It looks more like the present sans the cars and other vehicles. Below is a recent "conversation" with ChatGPT about Vietnam's future. It touches on all the key points. I asked it to say more about environmental pollution. Peace, MAA ChatGPT said: Vietnam’s future looks promising, but … Continue reading What Does Vietnam’s Future Look Like?
If You Were Evil and Wanted to Destroy America, How Would You Do It?
Speaking of "super dark," this Halloween-esque image is AI-generated. All he needs is a black MAGA hat a la President Musk. This is a question I asked ChatGPT. I was "inspired" by a related Instagram video. Here's its initial response: ChatGPT: That’s a pretty wild question! But if you're asking from a strategic, analytical perspective—like … Continue reading If You Were Evil and Wanted to Destroy America, How Would You Do It?
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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