Howdy amigo,
Coming to you live from Austin, Texas.
Here’s your weekly dose of Arman’s Antics — five things I’ve been chewing on that will make you think, laugh, cry (or a nasty combination of the three).
Let’s give it up for the 12 new subscribers receiving this for the first time (976 total). I don’t know why you’ve come. But I’m glad you’re here.
Essay I wrote this week
Every once in a while I become minorly obsessed with someone’s ideas. Could be a comedian, athlete, writer, ancient philosopher or whoever.
But for a select few, I become majorly obsessed. And once I get them in my crosshairs, I gleefully slide down the rabbit hole.
makes that cut:Trilogy I finished reading for the 3rd time
Keep Going by…you guessed it,
.I may be beating a dead horse here, but I feel a duty to share my influences.
As a refresher, his first two books aim to help put your creative training wheels on and then how to share your work without turning into human spam.
This one helps you stay the creative course through thick and thin.
Here’s the description:
The creative life is not a linear journey to a finish line, it’s a loop—so find a daily routine, because today is the only day that matters. Disconnect from the world to connect with yourself—sometimes you just have to switch into airplane mode. Keep Going celebrates getting outdoors and taking a walk (as director Ingmar Bergman told his daughter, ”The demons hate fresh air”). Pay attention, and especially pay attention to what you pay attention to. Worry less about getting things done, and more about the worth of what you’re doing. Instead of focusing on making your mark, work to leave things better than you found them.
Documentary I enjoyed
I watched this Oasis doc in preparation for their concert in Dublin next year (that I may never financially recover from).
They are the perfect example of how to properly steal like an artist. Noel openly admits how much style and sound they stole from The Beatles, Sex Pistols, and The Smiths.
Here’s the story of their first (and probably best) album Definitely Maybe:
Strolling around cemeteries
What’s the weirdest thing you do?
Here’s mine: strolling around cemeteries.
I have a weird fascination with death. Most prefer to ignore it, but it’s one of three certainties along with taxes and teenage acne.
I feel a bit naughty each time because I’m not there to visit a specific grave. But that eerie feeling of being surrounded by the dead is irresistible.
And it’s a nice reminder that the thing you’re all stressed about? Doesn’t matter.
I also play a little game to see if I can find anyone who reached triple digits.
Random thought
Me when people tell me I need to consume the news to be an “informed” citizen:
That’s it for the 105th edition of Arman’s Antics.
I hope no one reads this, but if you do, please keep it to yourself.
And now back to your regularly scheduled nonstop scrolling.
Cheers,
Arman
If you read the same book 3 times does that make it a trilogy?
I too like strolling around cemeteries