#012

Hi Friends!

Welcome and thank you for being one of the first subscribers to my newsletter. Here is another Friday Recs weekly post. A list of all the things I found worthwhile this week. Feel free to forward this along to friends.

It’s the end of the week! Here’s a fun video about an unusual book!

A Series I’m watching

The Blacklist Season 1, Episode 7 (IMDb, Netflix)

I am rewatching one of the most incredible series of all time, The Blacklist! If you don’t know Raymond “Red” Reddington, see that he has been compared to most of your fictional faves. Characters like Niclaus Michaelson, Ghost, and Thomas Shelby. Yet, he is still a better villain in my opinion (A debate for another time, however)

Video I’m enjoying

Comedian Leaves Oxford Union SPEECHLESS

This RAW speech by the host of Triggernometry (the devil is in the details), Konstantin Kisin (@konstantinkisin) is making waves on YouTube with 22,000 views per hour. After watching it myself, I can see why.

What I’m reading

The Art and Business of Online Writing: How to Beat the Game of Capturing and Keeping Attention by Nicolas Cole (@Nicolascole77)

This book has been recommended several times by Ali Abdaal, the man that inspired me to start my YouTube Channel (subscribe by the way) which means it was a no-brainer to get it.
As someone who wants to improve my writing and hopefully someday reach millions with it, I figured I’d get the book. So far, it is written beautifully, and engaging. I will recommend once done.

What I'm listening to

Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Mind

We’ve seen the character Batman take many forms over the years because everyone wants to try their creative vision of the character. But just as much, we’ve seen that many Jokers and Harley Quinns. Now, we have a new one.
We are getting a new podcast series from the same studios that brought us Batman Unburied (really, really recommend). Harley Quinn and The Joker: Sound Mind trailer just dropped and will start airing on January 31st on Spotify. Have a listen. I can’t wait!

Anime I’m watching

Bleach Episode 138 (Zoro, Hulu, Disney+)

I've decided to embark on a journey of self-inflicted pain and torture by rewatching Bleach.

138 episodes deep and counting. Pray for me, friends.

Something I found mesmerising

The Bee Removal Video That Went Viral on TikTok
P.S. If you’ve got trypophobia like yours truly, you might want to steel yourself for this.

Quote I’m thinking about

“How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself and in no instance bypass the discriminations of reason? You have been given the principles that you ought to endorse, and you have endorsed them. What kind of teacher, then, are you still waiting for in order to refer your self-improvement to him? You are no longer a boy but a full-grown man. If you are careless and lazy now and keep putting things off and always deferring the day after which you will attend to yourself, you will not notice that you are making no progress but you will live and die as someone quite ordinary.

From now on, then, resolve to live as a grown-up who is making progress, and make whatever you think best a law that you never set aside. And whenever you encounter anything that is difficult or pleasurable or highly or lowly regarded, remember that the contest is now, you are at the Olympic games, you cannot wait any longer, and that your progress is wrecked or preserved by a single day and a single event. This is how Socrates fulfilled himself by attending to nothing except reason in everything he encountered. And you, although you are not yet Socrates, should live as someone who at least wants to be Socrates.”

– Epictetus. Discourses

Before You Run Off

Here’s a neat pic of me looking smug at the Van Gogh Immersive Museum in Ireland. How much do you think I should sell this fine piece of art for?