Howdy amigo,
Coming to you live from Austin, Texas.
Here’s your weekly dose of Arman’s Antics — five things I’ve been exploring or pondering that will spark a thought, laugh, cry (or a nasty combination of the three).
Let’s give it up for the 16 new subscribers receiving this for the first time (973 total). I don’t know why you’ve come. But I’m glad you’re here.
Essay I wrote this week
Everyone wishes they could go back in time and talk some sense into their younger self.
I found the next best thing (with a twist):
Book I read again
Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon.
This is the second book in his creative manifesto.
I’ve already internalized these ideas so deeply that I forgot I stole them from him.
This one is for artists who would like to get their art in front of more people without turning into human spam.
Here’s the description:
A book for people who hate the very idea of self-promotion. Why generosity trumps genius. It’s about getting findable, about using the network instead of wasting time “networking.” It’s not self-promotion, it’s self-discovery―let others into your process, then let them steal from you.
Productivity drink I’m sipping on as I write these words
I’m addicted to caffeine.
I used to guzzle energy drinks like it was my job. But thanks to my personal health advisor (my wife), I’ve stopped this poisonous habit.
Bean water is great and all but I wanted to find an alternative because variety is the spice of life, right?
Then I stumbled upon Neutonic.
It’s got plenty of health-buzzword-ingredients that she approves of: rhodiola rosea, L-theanine, and most importantly 120 mg of caffeine.
My favorite flavor is orange sunrise.
Caveat emptor.
Seek opposing opinions
Easier said than done.
I like to consider myself an open minded individual but so does everyone.
The true sign of an open mind is your willingness to not only hear out opposing opinions but to actively seek them out.
I accidentally did this after listening to a podcast with five guys bashing one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors — Neil Postman’s Amusing ourselves to death.
I quickly realized they were not fans as they took turns swinging spiked bats at his ideas like a piñata. But I resisted the urge to take my ears elsewhere.
They made (a few) good points that I hadn’t considered.
But this also got my mind racing with counterpoints. Which makes me want to write an essay defending his ideas.
So now I want to understand opposing ideas better than my own so I can tear them down limb by limb.
Here’s the episode for anyone curious: The Partially Examined Life - Ep. 268: Neil Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death”.
Random thought
Absurd observation: we drive to the gym to walk on a treadmill.
That’s it for the 104th edition of Arman’s Antics.
I hope nobody reads this, but if you do, please keep it to yourself.
And now back to your regularly scheduled nonstop scrolling.
Cheers,
Arman
"Absurd observation: we drive to the gym to walk on a treadmill." I hope you have all these random thoughts in one place. I'd love to see a full list of these in one place. If you found the right illustrator they could make a great little book.
I come to these posts just for the absurd observations. Love it!