The algorithm, the machine
Hi friend,
Happy (belated) New Year! It's my first message of the year. I mistakenly missed all of January. My bad! But here are a few things I thought were worth sharing this week:
I started a Youtube channel this past month (which absorbed most of my attention). I'm not going to link to the channel here, because unless you like practicing guitar over backing tracks, it's not for you. (If you're very curious, you can [stream the tracks on Bandcamp](https://unsungjamtracks.bandcamp.com) without confusing the Youtube algorithm.) But I did write a blog post comparing the Youtube algorithm and Google's SEO machine. [I think they have a lot in common.](https://nathansnelgrove.com/2024/02/comparing-the-youtube-algorithm-and-the-seo-machine) (I also think you need to get lucky if you want to compete in either place.)
January included NAMM, which is like CES for guitarists. [I shared some thoughts](https://nathansnelgrove.com/2024/01/thoughts-on-namm-2024) on the new gear and wrote a whole post [about PRS' new plastic tuners](https://nathansnelgrove.com/2024/01/the-new-prs-wing-tuners). If you don't care about that, but you like good commercials, [this shredfest is the best commercial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cymOD8mT-8U&pp=ygUbamFja3NvbiB2aXJ0dW9zbyBjb21tZXJjaWFs) I've seen for a guitar in a long time. (I have no interest in this guitar, but even I felt a sudden need to get one.)
I shared some of the video games I played in 2023 [with a little commentary](https://nathansnelgrove.com/2024/01/video-games-played-in-2023-with-commentary) earlier in the year. (I was very inspired by [Matt Birchler's post](https://birchtree.me/blog/reviewing-every-new-game-i-played-in-2023/).)
I thought this missive on [how to sleep better](https://us10.forward-to-friend.com/forward/preview?u=44c1a005dc628023e00b0de1d&id=70e15af86b&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email) was hilarious, if only because it validated how wildly different we all are. Do what works for you!
It's Groundhog Day! At least January is over. Austin Kleon is doing a special 29-day ["practice and suck less" challenge](https://austinkleon.com/2021/01/02/30-day-practice-and-suck-less-challenge/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email). Practice something you want to get better at every day for 29 days. (Maybe, as per the above, you'd like to practice sleeping better. That counts!) He even made a poster [you can download](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/6bd1760ht42zgzyf3wkk9/practice-suck-less-29-days.pdf?rlkey=04oonjdeu6a4xkurbc7tg3r2n) and check days off of as you go. (This reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld's ["don't break the chain"](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwitkLe-kY2EAxV8m2oFHVVDCKoQFnoECBgQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fjamesclear.com%2Fstop-procrastinating-seinfeld-strategy&usg=AOvVaw1tkDBEDwmtULlyCHXtLZC-&opi=89978449) strategy.
My wife and I have made 2024 a year where we try and live with more intention in our day-to-day life. We want to take an intentional Sabbath day, a 24-hour period of rest, every week. We want to orient our lives around relaxing that day, so that we can be recharged for the next week. I haven't blogged about this at all (maybe I should), but it turns out it's very countercultural to live that way. The world (and the algorithms, as it turns out), don't want you to live with intentionality. They want you to engage with whatever they throw at you. My challenge for you this week: get off the algorithm wheel, use the search bar, and seek out something new and inspiring that you haven't seen before. (Or better yet, go outside.) You'll develop your own interests that you never knew you had. (The day I "discovered" jazz changed my live.)
As always, thanks for reading, and feel free to reply to this message if you want to continue the conversation.
-
Nathan