» HADOUKEN « my latent introvert is t-h-r-i-v-i-n-g
It's been 18 days since my last newsletter. In that time, I've sat on numerous occasions with the intention of hammering out a couple hundred words on some esoteric topic that's managed to reach "top of mind" status in my discombobulated brain. These topics include but are not limited to the purchase order's status as a binding agreement in contract law, why the most impressive and complete medium for artistic expression is the video game and how religion is set to become more relevant than its been in the last 50 years thanks in large part to Gen Z (despite what the media will have you believe about them).
But each time I logged into tinyletter.com, I found myself thinking about the coronavirus and how my thoughts and words on niche topics don't matter at a time like this. Everything suddenly felt so inconsequential. So I digressed into video games (currently Dreams on PS4), chess (playing some of the sharpest tactics since I was in my teens), reading (Isaac Asimov's Foundation is on my nightstand), video chatting (I'm speaking with my parents more than ever), cooking (back in the keeetcheeeen for the first time in over a year) and running with my wife (I'm almost back to where I was at before I had my hip reconstruction in 2017).
Could it be that the coronavirus made me a better person? Are these "digressions" actually a reflection of what I deem to be the most important and prominent things in my life? I'm actually very interested in what you have to say on the matter vis-a-vis your own lives. And seeing how all of us have been turned upside down the last few weeks, I figured now is about the best time to shake things up a bit. That's why I've decided to test how video conferencing can factor into my newsletter. Tomorrow (Thursday), from 6:00 to 7:30 EST, I will host my first ever "Office Hours" on Zoom: one-on-one 10 minute chats about anything and everything anyone of you finds interesting. Informal therapy? Free business consultation? No mercy, no malice fit checks? Gossip? Harassment? Use it for any purpose; the 10 (or so) minutes are yours should you want them. Just show up; you'll be placed in a digital waiting room if there's actually someone ahead of you:
Office Hours
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/854793497
Meeting ID: 854 793 497
In my 10+ years in producing content for strangers (and sometimes, no one) on the Internet, I've consistently failed at one thing: maintaining a community. I say "maintaining" rather than "creating" because I did, at one time, create a community around Carson Street. But that was IRL, not digital, so, you know. If this is successful, maybe it's something that can grow. A Slack workplace, Houseparties, masonic temple gatherings, whatever. If it's not, on to the next one.
And now, some big links for you to help with your social distancing:
If you have an Amazon Prime account, now might be the time you try out Twitch. If you link your accounts, you will receive a free Twitch Prime membership and with that access to some free games for April. Most notably, the greatest dinosaur action-adventure game of all time, Turok.
The world's most prestigious underground creative agency is launching NBA.fm, a simulation of each remaining game on the network's original schedule "as a hyper-realistic audio gameplay broadcast."
Tiger King is the greatest unscripted show of all time, and if you haven't watched it yet, I have no idea what you are waiting for. If we locked Vince McMahon in a room with Andy Cohen and the dude that wrote the Saw movies, the end result wouldn't be as good.
I'm missing my boxing workouts, but I've been able to keep up on shadow boxing techniques through Precision Striking's YouTube channel. Coach Jason Van Veldhuysen is a throwback and breaks down technique in a way that even the most amateur of amateurs can understand.
Last year's Nike Pegasus Turbo 2 is finally being discounted pretty much everywhere. If you're like me -- you need support but also like lightweight runners that allow you to feel the earth -- this is your moment to cop up. If it's sold out at nike.com, just shop on Google.
My employer, Informa Markets, enlisted me to co-host a webinar titled Small Business Survival Guide: How to Navigate Uncharted Waters During COVID-19. We spoke with some industry heavy hitters on a wide variety of topics (from SBA loans to content creation during a crisis). It was well attended and will be the first of a series--be sure to sign up or check back in regularly for the next talk.