Arman's Antics (#093)

Latest from the curious contrarian

Hola partner,

Coming to you live from Houston, Texas.

Here’s your weekly dose of Arman’s Antics — five things I’ve been exploring or pondering that will give you a good think, laugh, cry (or a nasty combination of the three).

Let’s give a golf clap to the 43 new subscribers receiving this for the first time (847 total). I don’t know why you’ve come. But I’m glad you’re here.

It would really make my day if no one reads this, but if you do, please keep it to yourself.

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Essay I wrote this week

We don’t get to choose our obsessions. Our obsessions choose us.

There’s thousands of cool obsessions out there. And of course I got stuck with one of the lamest — checking my wife and I’s personal finances hourly.

But that did lead to a rather interesting (some would say sickening) psychological experiment that you gotta try:

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Book I’m unable to put down

The Big Short by Michael Lewis.

I’ve got a new rule for books. If one gets recommended to me more than once, I buy it. No questions asked.

That’s what happened with this gem and the only thing I’m mad about is that it didn’t come on my radar sooner.

I’m not quite sure what category it falls into. Perhaps narrative nonfiction?

Who cares.

All I know is that if you’ve ever wondered why the finanical world came to its knees in ‘07, you’re in for a wild ride.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a few chapters left.

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New show I binged

The Bear Season 3.

I set an alert on my phone for the day this released. And I finished the entire season in a few days.

It did not disappoint.

I have no idea if this is what it’s actually like to work in a restaurant. But if it is, then I have so much respect for the people responsible for my restaurant experience.

Here’s the trailer:

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Jealousy

Who are you jealous of?

The hot shot entrepreneur who just raised millions of dollars?

The superstar athlete who has the body of a Greek god?

The influencer who has millions of followers hanging on their every word?

All of the above?

That was me until I heard this line from comedian Jimmy Carr — you’re only jealous of what they’ve got. Not how they got it.

Oof.

That hit me on a cellular level.

It’s so easy to get all googly eyed when we see others achieving massive success. But it’s even easier to forget what it took to get there.

And we pay zero attention to the countless others who shed the same blood, sweat, and tears as our idols but didn’t get the same dose of luck.

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Random thought

The biggest room in my apartment is the room for improvement.

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That’s it for the 93rd edition of Arman’s Antics.

I would’ve written less if I had more time.

Now back to your regularly scheduled nonstop scrolling.

Cheers,

Arman

PS - Happy birthday mom! I know you’re reading this. You’ve been my biggest supporter since day one. I appreciate and love you more than you know. I’ll call ya later today :)