It's been just over two years of owning the Apple Vision Pro. After spending three months in Tokyo and one month in Manila with it as a digital nomad, I have a much better sense of how AVP fits into my life. Here are my thoughts:

• The "Lie Flat" Device — Back in 2011, Steve Jobs argued that the PC is a "lean forward" device — meant for sitting at a desk, looking at a monitor, and actively working. In contrast, he pitched iPad 1.0 as a "lean back" device, primarily for consumption.¹ If we stick to that analogy, AVP is a "lie flat" device. I've spent hours lying in bed and on the couch watching movies on a theater-sized screen floating above me, and I've grown quite fond of casually browsing Reddit and AirPlaying my iPhone while binging TV shows.
  • …Except when sick — When I'm dealing with congestion or a headache, the very last thing I want to do is strap a giant headset to my face.
• Amazing in small spaces — AVP's ability to dial up immersion makes small hotel rooms and economy seats feel like wide-open spaces. There were so many times I took off the headset and thought, "Whoa, I forgot I was in this tiny room."
  • Gray area for airlines — Airlines are cracking down on power banks due to fire risks, and AVP's external battery now sits in an awkward gray area. To a flight attendant, it can look suspiciously like a power bank. To a techie, it's the device's primary power source — no different conceptually from a laptop's internal battery. In practice, whether I get to use it mid-flight comes down to who's working the cabin that day.
• The New Dual Knit Strap — A big improvement in comfort over the original Solo Knit and Dual Loop straps.
• Typing Still Sucks — Unless I have a Bluetooth keyboard connected (which I never do), I've given up on any meaningful typing. Passwords and quick searches only. Hopefully Apple adds something like Apple TV's Remote Keyboard feature.²
  • My Workaround: Hyperduck — Instead of pecking at the virtual keyboard, I use Hyperduck to send links to my Mac, where I can actually be productive.
• Multitasking is Not Great — Native Vision apps are intentionally designed with big buttons and extra padding to improve Gaze & Pinch accuracy. The downside: apps take up a lot of visual space, and having multiple windows side-by-side means turning my head way more than I'd like. I've settled on Mac Virtual Display or a max of two windows at a time. Hopefully Apple adds something like macOS' Mission Control down the road.³
• Mac Virtual Display: Ultrawide on Demand — Here's what I've realized working remotely: I don't like wearing AVP for an entire workday — but that's okay, because about 85% of my work is fine on my 16" MacBook Pro screen. The remaining 15% — when I need serious screen real estate for designs, documentation, VS Code, Terminal, Claude, and Chrome all at once — Mac Virtual Display absolutely shines.
  • Can't stream DRM'd content via Mac Virtual Display — Due to DRM and HDCP standards, streaming video to your Mac while using Mac Virtual Display results in a blacked-out screen. Frustrating, because I love having a shitty horror movie running in the background while I work.
• No True iPhone Mirroring — AirPlaying the iPhone screen to AVP is possible, but true iPhone Mirroring — with actual control of the phone, like on macOS — isn't. This feels like an obvious feature Apple will add eventually.
• AirPlay, iPhone Mirroring, or Mac Virtual Display — I hate having to pick just one. Ideally I'd mirror both my Mac and iPhone to AVP simultaneously and stay fully immersed. But because all three share the same underlying wireless pipeline, only one can stream at a time. (And I refuse to pay $300 for the Developer Strap to work around it.)
• Official YouTube App — HUGE. Once they add downloadable videos for YouTube Premium subscribers, AVP becomes the ultimate travel entertainment device.
• NBA Courtside POV — GAME-CHANGER. My Lakers were the first team to broadcast games as immersive video, and it's unlike anything else. Courtside seats for a regular-season Lakers game start around $2,500 — I'd argue that watching just two marquee games in immersive video alone justifies the cost of AVP.
• Spatial Photos & Videos — This one hits different. Before my dog passed away, I managed to capture a handful of spatial videos. Now, whenever I feel like my memories of him are starting to fade, I rewatch those videos and I'm instantly transported back to that exact moment. Nothing else does that. Nothing.

When I originally bought my AVP, a big part of my Boy Math⁴ was a 50/50 split between work and entertainment. Even with the much-improved Dual Knit strap, the weight still makes wearing it for an entire workday uncomfortable. My usage has settled at about 10% work — and honestly, I'm cool with that, for now.

I can get by without an external monitor for my MacBook Pro…but I still prefer one. I can get by without my iPad Pro streaming background video while I work…but I still prefer having it. My plan now is to hold onto my LG Ultrafine 5K and iPad Pro as long as possible, and bet that Apple Vision Pro 2 or 3 gets more comfortable by the time I'm ready to retire them.

As for the remaining 90%? As a bachelor with plenty of uninterrupted downtime, I fucking love my Apple Vision Pro. When I need an evening to rest and recharge, nothing beats lying flat in bed, fully immersed in an IMAX movie floating above me.

Two years in, Apple Vision Pro still feels like a device that's figuring itself out — and honestly, so am I. The hardware will get lighter. The software will get smarter. Features I've been waiting for (iPhone Mirroring, downloadable YouTube, better multitasking) feel less like wishful thinking and more like inevitabilities.

Check back with me in another year or two.

Last April, I was standing in this very park thinking to myself, ”The digital nomad thing would be pretty cool…I wonder if I could actually pull it off.”

This photo is me at the end of March — almost exactly a year later — as my digital nomad chapter officially comes to a close.

In the past year, I’ve spent time in Tokyo across six months: April, November, December, January, February, and March. I got to experience autumn foliage, snowfall, and #sakura cherry blossoms — all in one trip! I reconnected with old friends who were randomly in town. I made a few meaningful connections. I had fun crossing off a bunch of small things at the bottom of my list. I discovered what things back home are things I’ve taken for granted and what things I can live without.

And of course, I got to spend some quality time in Manila, which gave me a glimpse into what retirement life might look like.

Now that I’m back home and reflecting, I can’t help but appreciate how many things had to fall into place for this to happen:

• my work situation
• my financial situation
• my (lack of) relationship situation
• my 19-year-old Acura’s stubborn refusal to die — and spare me from car payments
• my ass (literally) recovering from rectal surgery
• my parents’ health

Had any one of those factors been different, this chapter would have never been written.

Will I ever have this opportunity again, especially with all the shit that’s happening in the world today?

I have no idea. But if I never do, at least I can look back at all my photos and no longer wonder.

Because I did it.

AJ, you're in the Marvel Cinematic Universe now too!?!

Hey ChatGPT, based on the history of other countries that were taken over by a dictatorship, what are the red flags that I should watch out for that should signal me that it is time to flee the United States? (I am Filipino-American born here in the U.S.)

1. Erosion of Democratic Norms and Institutions

• Packing courts with loyalists or discrediting the judiciary.
• Undermining checks and balances — executive branch assuming more powers unilaterally.
• Refusing to accept election results or claiming fraud without evidence.

Historical Examples:

• Germany (1930s) – Hitler rose through elections but then used the Reichstag Fire to justify the Enabling Act, which gave him dictatorial powers. He dissolved democratic institutions while maintaining a façade of legality.

• Hungary (2010s–present) – Viktor Orbán's Fidesz party systematically rewrote the constitution, captured courts, and gerrymandered elections to consolidate power while keeping democratic branding.

• Turkey (2016–present) – After a failed coup, Erdoğan used emergency powers to purge civil servants, jail judges, and restructure government institutions to centralize authority under the presidency.

2. Demonization of Minorities and Dissenters

• Targeting racial, ethnic, LGBTQ+, immigrant, or religious minorities through laws or rhetoric.
• Encouraging violence or hatred against specific groups.
• Labeling critics as “enemies of the people,” “traitors,” or part of a conspiracy.

Historical Examples:

• Nazi Germany – Jews were scapegoated for Germany’s economic and political problems. The Nuremberg Laws institutionalized anti-Semitism and laid the foundation for genocide.

• Rwanda (1994) – Hutu extremists dehumanized the Tutsi minority through radio broadcasts and propaganda, calling them “cockroaches,” paving the way for a genocide.

• Myanmar (2017–present) – The Rohingya Muslim minority was labeled illegal immigrants and terrorists by both military and government, resulting in mass killings and displacement.

• U.S. (post-9/11 & beyond) – Muslim, Arab, and Sikh communities were surveilled, detained, or harassed. While not a dictatorship, this shows how fear can be used to justify eroding civil liberties.

3. Control or Manipulation of the Media

• Discrediting independent journalism as “fake news.”
• Centralizing media ownership or coercing it through threats, lawsuits, or laws.
• Cutting access to public information or internet services.

Historical Examples:

• Russia (2000s–present) – Putin gradually brought independent TV and newspapers under state control. Investigative journalists like Anna Politkovskaya were murdered; dissenting media are now labeled "foreign agents."

• Philippines (1972–1986) – Marcos declared Martial Law and shut down all independent media, including ABS-CBN, using state-controlled media to spread propaganda.

• China (1949–present) – The Communist Party maintains strict control over media, censors the internet, and punishes unauthorized journalism or social media posts critical of the regime.

4. Use of the Military or Paramilitary Forces Against Civilians

• Military presence in civilian matters or crackdowns on protests.
• Encouraging vigilante groups or militias to enforce order.
• Declaring states of emergency repeatedly.

Historical Examples:

• Chile (1973–1990) – After a U.S.-backed coup, Augusto Pinochet used the military to suppress dissent, torture political opponents, and enforce curfews under a police state.

• Iran (2022–present) – The regime has used the Revolutionary Guard and Basij paramilitary to crack down violently on women-led protests against mandatory hijab laws.

• United States (2020) – While not a dictatorship, the deployment of unmarked federal agents in Portland and military rhetoric during protests raised red flags for civil liberties advocates.

5. Suppression of Civil Liberties

• Restricting the right to protest or assemble.
• Criminalizing dissent, criticism, or opposition through vague “security” laws.
• Policing thought, language, or personal expression.

Historical Examples:

• East Germany (1949–1990) – The Stasi secret police monitored millions of citizens, encouraging neighbors to spy on each other. Travel and expression were heavily restricted.

• Thailand (2014–present) – After a military coup, civil liberties were suspended. Criticism of the monarchy is criminalized under strict lèse majesté laws.

• Egypt (post-2013) – After the ousting of Morsi, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi banned protests, jailed thousands of political dissidents, and restricted speech under anti-terror laws.

6. Legal or Extra-legal Persecution of Political Opponents

• Arrests, harassment, or assassination of journalists, lawyers, or opposition figures.
• Use of courts to ban parties or candidates.

Historical Examples:

• Russia (2000s–present) – Opposition leaders like Boris Nemtsov were murdered; others like Alexei Navalny were imprisoned, poisoned, or barred from running for office.

• Zimbabwe (1980s–2000s) – Robert Mugabe’s regime used police and courts to intimidate and arrest opposition party members, and used election violence to stay in power.

• Turkey (post-2016) – Thousands of academics, teachers, judges, and opposition politicians were jailed or fired under accusations of supporting terrorism or the coup.

7. Normalization of Corruption and Impunity

• High-level corruption without consequences.
• Leaders claiming they alone can "fix" the country while enriching themselves or allies.

Historical Examples:

• Philippines (Marcos Era) – The Marcos family amassed billions in stolen wealth while basic services collapsed. Crony capitalism flourished under Martial Law.

• Mexico (PRI rule, 1929–2000) – One-party rule enabled deep systemic corruption; elections were often rigged, and dissent bought off or crushed.

• Brazil (20th century, various military juntas) – The military government enriched elites and corporations while using repression to control the public.

8. Undermining or Cancelling Future Elections

• Delaying elections under dubious pretexts (e.g., "security" or "fraud").
• Changing rules to eliminate term limits or disqualify opponents.
• Claiming power must be “protected” from “subversive” elements.

Historical Examples:

• Venezuela (1999–present) – Chávez and then Maduro used courts and electoral councils to change rules, disqualify opposition candidates, delay elections, and hold sham votes.

• Nazi Germany (1933–1934) – Hitler used emergency powers to eliminate elections, outlaw opposition parties, and become Führer after Hindenburg’s death.

• Uganda (1986–present) – Yoweri Museveni changed the constitution multiple times to remove term limits and age caps, using security forces to suppress opposition.

When to Seriously Consider Leaving

It’s time to consider fleeing when:

• Civil rights are disappearing and opposition figures are jailed or disappearing.
• You or your community are being targeted by laws, violence, or rhetoric — especially if scapegoating intensifies.
• International watchdogs (like Freedom House or Amnesty International) start sounding serious alarms and foreign embassies issue alerts.
• You are no longer able to speak, work, move, or travel freely without fear.
• You notice borders tightening — it becomes harder to emigrate or to send money or documents abroad.

Additional Resources:

Books:

• "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder
• "How Democracies Die" by Levitsky & Ziblatt

Trackers to watch:

• Freedom House: freedomhouse.org
• Democracy Index by The Economist
• Reporters Without Borders (for press freedom)

If you're concerned about these developments, it's not paranoid — it’s prudent. Many people who have fled authoritarian regimes wish they'd acted sooner. Just having a contingency plan, passport, and an international support network is wise.

I take all information — especially in this political climate — with a grain of salt. So when people are hyping up or advocating against something like keto, the only thing you can do is try it for yourself and see what works for you.

With keto, not only did I lose 58 lbs, but I reversed my fatty liver and lowered my triglycerides from 169 to 69.

Sorry Jillian, I trust my blood test results — keto works.