AI & Analog #2: Touching Nostalgia
Secret Wars comics, grandma's house, and the smell that timestamps my whole childhood.
There’s a lot of things about the past that we romanticize. We tend to make things look or sound better than they actually were.
The world before the internet was simple. But as a kid who grew up in the country and had dial-up most of his childhood, I wouldn’t say it was better.
My mom used to say, “I could’ve bagged those groceries faster than the lady at the checkout” walking out of Walmart. Walmart said during COVID, "hold my beer.”
It turns out, we actually were better at bagging our own groceries. Having groceries delivered to your home? Better than we could have imagined.
I do miss the importance of the Walmart greeter though. They were like valet to the local lower to middle class country club. Always elderly and always smiling like the old Walmart “Always Low Prices” sticker they would give you.
These are experiences that my children will most likely never have, and I think about it often. It doesn’t make their childhood necessarily better or worse.
The only way we can take them back, is by touching nostalgia.
The Smell of Grandma’s House
I’m a 90s kid so I can’t speak for the 80s. But do you ever walk in a building or open an old box and smell that 90s smell?
It’s like teleporting through your nostrils back to the 90s. Riding around in your father or grandpa’s old truck. Your grandmother’s house when you would go over to visit.
The smell is not a good one, but man does it make you feel good inside. It reminds me of two things; watching football at my grandmother’s house on a Sunday and riding around with my Pa in his old red truck with lap seatbelts.
Every time I catch a whiff of that smell, it stops me in my tracks. It takes me back to the early days of my childhood. The smell is like a bookmark in time that I can timestamp anything before or after it.
My wife often says there’s no way I remember 9/11. I remember 9/11 vividly even though I was in pre-school. Part of me feels like it’s because I can draw the line on that 90s smell and trace memories before or after it.
Secret Wars 1984
This week I received issues #1-12 of Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars in the mail. I won the entire lot on an eBay auction.
To say I’m a Marvel fanatic is an understatement. This comic book series has always been on my list to own because it’s so iconic. For those unaware, Marvel is kicking off this storyline in theaters with Spider-Man Brand New Day in just a few weeks.
Spider-Man Brand New Day, Avengers Doomsday, Avengers Secret Wars, possibly an Avengers Secret Wars Part 2.
How does comic nerd cope with all of this cinema delight? Buy comics!!!
Opening the package, I could smell the nostalgia before I could see it. By the time I had the bubble wrap off, I was back in the 90s. It literally smelled just like my grandmother’s house.
They aren’t in particularly great condition which makes me love them even more. I know that there’s a very high chance that someone discovered these comics at their parents’ house and just moved on from them without a thought.
After I was done thumbing through them for a few minutes, my hands smelled like the 90s. It was truly touching nostalgia.
For those in the sports card collector community reading this, I would encourage you to circle back to some of this IP that you loved as a child.
He-Man, GI Joe, Transformers, TMNT, DC, Marvel, you name it. All of these gems are untapped and overlooked. You can touch the nostalgia for a fraction of card prices today with stories to share.
Maybe it goes up in value. At the very least, it’s on outlet to detach from the pace of today’s hobby and center yourself on something with meaning to your life and childhood that can be shared with others.
How I’m Utilizing AI This Week
This week I started using the Claude Chrome extension on my computer which allows it to click around and view areas that I give it permission to explore and give feedback on.
I put Claude to work on analyzing our AI visibility metrics, keywords, and my YouTube. In 45 minutes of work, Claude created a 7 pages report on what needs to happen or be adjusted based on our metrics and goals.
This was not an exercise that I gave free reign and took everything Claude gave me at face value. It would come back with observations and recommendations; I would give a different angle. Constantly analyzing back and forth.
AI still did 90% of the work. But my intuition and practical experience is the 10% that makes everything connect and come together.
How I Went Analog This Week
We visited the local Rogers, AR farmer’s market. Fresh sourdough bagels, the Asiago was fantastic. Farm fresh tomato, lettuce, and green beans. Local Colombian coffee that may be the best Colombian I’ve ever had.
I finished the 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell in the time that I would have normally been on my phone putting my daughter to sleep.
Grilling out and swimming in the lake with the kids.
I don’t miss my iPhone when I don’t have it. In fact, by the time I put it up, I am ready for a break. It’s like I was yearning for this in my life.
You have to listen to your body and mind. When it’s screaming at you to take a break, it’s time to listen.
Robles Colombian Coffee
I mentioned grabbing a bag of Colombian coffee at the farmer’s market.
Guys, I have to give Robles Colombian Coffee a shoutout. They are local to Northwest Arkansas, and it is so, so good.
I bought their Garnet, a medium roast with notes of chocolate, almond, and caramel. It is dangerously good!!! I’ve said many times in this newsletter that I’m a medium roast, Costa Rican coffee guy.
This truly rivals a lot of the medium roasts I’ve had and just might become a daily staple of mine. You can check them out on Instagram @RoblesColombianCoffee.
I’m grateful for your attention, cheers!
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