11 Things You Missed On The Internet | 1.5.24

Deliver the worst news the quickest.

Author

Brandon Wenerd
January 05, 2024

One of my favorite podcasts is "The Art Of Manliness." It’s a treasure trove of insightful advice and thought-provoking topics, all aimed at helping listeners become their best selves. It’s almost like the podcast equivalent of wandering into a cozy bookstore on a rainy day, buying a cup of coffee, and losing yourself for hours over books on topics that pique your fascination.

Each episode brings a new guest to the table, from authors and scholars to other accomplished experts. The show covers a true grab bag of topics: fitness techniques that would make our Neaderthal ancestors proud, time management, decluttering, and pondering the heroic virtues of hobbits in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord Of The Rings. You get the gist.

The show's host, Brett McCay, is a writer and entrepreneur I deeply respect. A pioneer from the early days of the blog-era Internet, his site, The Art Of Manliness, launched around 2008 or so – just about a year before we started BroBible. I don’t exactly remember how I stumbled upon it, but it quickly became a mainstay in my Google Reader, back when Google Reader was the best way to browse the websites you liked to read.

At the time, the site's content really cut through the man-o-sphere noise with its actually useful posts. It continues to do so.

It’s pretty obvious that Brett emphasizes thoughtful utility as an ethos to his content. Gems like “The Mechanics Of The Man Hug” and “7 Basic Knots Every Man Should Know” stood out. This kind of Internet writing was a breath of fresh air in a digital landscape cluttered with clichéd Maxim-esque takes on dating (…of which our younger selves here at BroBible are definitely guilty of… cringe!) and eye-rolling listicles about comic book movies. The Art Of Manliness was a goldmine of practical wisdom in an ocean of fluff.

It’s truly commendable how the site has endured and evolved over the years. Thanks to Brett’s vision and hard work, it has matured into a unique multi-channel property. It’s so very cool to see as our generation gets older.

A recent The Art Of Manliness episode featured master carpenter Mark Ellison, author of Building: A Carpenter’s Notes on Life & the Art of Good Work, who specializes in complex home renovations for New York City's elite. A couple years ago, Ellison was the subject of a fascinating New Yorker profile about his work. His clientele is reminiscent of "Wolf Of Wall Street" characters – wealthy, demanding, and often impatient.

I highly recommend giving this episode a listen. It’s like a crash course in project management 101. Anyone who has ever had to juggle a lot of hats in a job can relate.

Ellison's down-to-earth approach to the craft of carpentry is a departure from the typical 'hustle culture' rhetoric. He offers a pragmatic viewpoint that feels increasingly rare in the online world: You can fully invest in a business endeavor without letting it consume your entire life. He explains how it’s perfectly acceptable to view a skill you love and excel in as a means to an end, rather than the sole defining aspect of your existence.

Photo by Devin Berko on Unsplash

I really like Ellison’s framework of thinking about work. It feels healthy, like something more of us need to hear. With the new year upon us, I wanted to share some wisdom that stood out to me from the conversation in today’s newsletter. Big yet attainable goals are the only goals that really count.

The Role of Talent vs. Practice and Interest:

  • Quote: "Talent is one of the most useless concepts... talent doesn’t matter at all without practice and development and regular daily practice."

  • Actionable Insight: Focus less on innate talent and more on cultivating skills through regular practice and nurturing a genuine interest in what you do. This approach is far more valuable in achieving mastery and success.

Dealing with Challenges and Setbacks:

  • Quote: "The worst news you have to deliver the quickest... One of the things that’s hard to learn is the worst news you have to deliver the quickest."

  • Actionable Insight: In any profession or life situation, promptly and honestly addressing the worst situations is crucial. It's better to confront problems head-on than to avoid or delay them, as transparency and prompt action can often mitigate further complications.

Understanding the Ephemeral Nature of Work and Detachment:

  • Quote: "Most of what you build will be destroyed in 10 years... but if they wanna tear it out in 10 years, well they bought it. God bless them."

  • Actionable Insight: Recognize that much of what we create, whether in work or life, isn’t going to last forever. Learning to detach oneself from the fate of one’s work and understanding that change is an inevitable part of life can help maintain motivation and focus on the quality of the work itself, rather than its longevity.

Have a great weekend. Make it count.

LSU Football Player Tells Former Defensive Coordinator To Kick Rocks After Whole Staff Gets Fired

I love the old saying “Don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.” That applies pretty well here. Harold Perkins Jr. is one of the best and most freakish linebackers in the country and was severely misused during the fall by LSU. Based on his response to the coaching shake up in Baton Rouge, he’s not exactly shedding any tears for a certain staffers’ untimely depature.

Real-Life Crocodile Dundee Survives Attack From Crocodile That Leapt Into His Boat With Jaws Wide Open

I can’t imagine the sheer panic and terror that would jolt through your veins if a crocodile leaps into your boat.

Ranking The Top 10 Supporting Character Performances In ‘Oppenheimer’

I’m showing my age here, but how cool is it that Josh Hartnett is back? I respect that he dipped out of Hollywood after a solid run of hits in the late ‘90s and early ‘aughts at a young age, then selectively returned to the big screen a two decades later without being all in our faces about it. Pretty good playbook to the fame game.

13-Year-Old Becomes First Person To Beat ‘Tetris’ On NES More Than 30 Years After Its Release

I didn’t know it was possible to “beat” Tetris, I thought it just kept going faster and faster until you inevitably lost. Or your system crashed. Turns out there’s a true Kill Screen that gets triggered at Level 157. I’m not sure I’ve ever made it past level 15 or so.

Surfers Swarmed To Nor-Cal’s Mavericks For One Of The Biggest Swells In Years, And Some Got Swallowed By Monster Waves

I can watch these videos all day. I’m just endlessly in awe and hypnotized by them. These guys have some serious cajones and skills. The video where Will Skudin wipes out when a monstrous rip curl comes barrelling down on him made me gasp.

Shopping for cannabis products has come a long way over the years. Shopping for THC gummies feels like going to a fancy electronics store. That’s because with new advances comes new, sophisticated ways to enjoy it. Delta-9, a compound found, is the hot trend in the market that delivers a unique experience for those in need of R&R.

Reviews Suggest S4 Of ‘True Detective’ Is Easily The Best Since The Iconic First Season

Has a TV show ever lost its fastball as much as True Detective did after its first season? Season One with Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle and Woody Harrelson as Martin Hart was one of the most suspenseful, iconic seasons of premium television ever made. Then it fell off a cliff.

Now it has a new showrunner at the helm and Jodie Foster in the lead role, who "gives a performance so steely she could cut armor,” according to Inverse. I hope they’re right.

Katt Williams Slams Joe Rogan And His Podcast ‘Joe Got Six Comedians On That Ain’t Ever Been Funny’

Comedian Katt Williams spared no one while appearing on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast.

‘Lost’ Asteroid Could Hit Earth With Devastating Force In 2024 (But Probably Won’t)

A lost asteroid sounds like a friend who always says they’re going to visit but never does. But if they did, you’d be in for a…. astronomically good time.

Ba dum tssssss.

The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl Hot Tub Is Now Up For Auction On eBay

It goes to a good cause. The top bid, as of this newsletter writing, is $1,225.00, though the bidding hasn’t really moved since the day it launched. I bet it goes for $3k. What about you?

Recruit Says He’d Visit UGA ‘Just For Free Chicken’ When Naming Schools That Spent Most On Prospects

I'm with him! I've lost count of the times I've gone to events just for the free grub. Who cares if it's not gourmet? It’s something to plan or change up your day around. A free meal's a free meal, and when you're saving cash, that's all that matters. It’s a smart move, not just a full stomach. We've all been there, right?"

New music Friday music

Complete nonsense made by a DALL-E about this newsletter.

A couple weeks ago I said I was going to start dropping some new music picks on Friday. Then it was the holidays and, frankly, I got busy hooting and hollering with my family and fiancée, celebrating our engagement. Sorry about that, I hope you understand.

Anyway, I was thinking: I’d rather just make a playlist on Spotify that I’m constantly updating. Introducing the 11 Things You Missed On The Internet Playlist. Expect a mix of old and new. My tastes are all over the place, but expect a lot of stuff that’s vibe-y, jazzy, funky, eclectic. It includes Charley Crockket’s new record with Willie Nelson, “That’s What Makes The World Go Around” and a Tom Waits song I forgot how much I love. I’ll throw the occasional crowdpleaser on too every now and then. I listen to a lot of music, so it will be updated pretty regularly.

It’s something you can throw on at an informal cocktail party, while cooking a pot of chili, or just trying to get through whatever you call work.

Thanks for reading. Tell your friends to subscribe if you enjoyed it. See you on Friday. If you have any feedback about the newsletter or just want to get something off your chest, email me at [email protected].

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