Alex Dobrenko
@alexdobrenko
writer comedian just a lil guy head of vibes at Sublime
Alex Dobrenko
botharetrue.substack.com
Often, in our doubt that we have a real story to tell, we hold something back, fearing that we don’t have anything else. And this can be a form of trickery. Surrendering that thing is a leap of faith that forces the story to attention, saying to it, in effect, “You have to do better than that, and now that I’ve denied you your trick, your
... See moreGeorge Saunders • A Swim in a Pond in the Rain: In Which Four Russians Give a Master Class on Writing, Reading, and Life
what’s the most wonder you’ve ever experienced?
Writers have kept notebooks since time immemorial. The auctorial equivalent to the artist’s sketchbook is the “commonplace book,” which can contain everything from newspaper clippings to grocery lists to attempts to capture those inspirational bolts out of the blue.
I’m sure that somewhere out there, there is a writer who is far more disciplined... See more
I’m sure that somewhere out there, there is a writer who is far more disciplined... See more
Cory Doctorow • The Memex Method
New World Same Humans
newworldsamehumans.com
The third thing to keep in mind about AIs is that you are not late.
Kevin Kelly • Artificial Intelligences, So Far
you said this 9 months ago. still true?
The history of physical computers is a list of increasingly capable “bicycles for the mind” as Jobs put it. But my list of 10 conceptual advances above, along with their instrumental realizations (involving physical computers as well as other technologies), is more like a list of “telescopes for the soul.” Ways to peer into the computational heart... See more
Venkatesh Rao • A Camera, Not an Engine
What the LEGO Group nailed in 1974 that brands still get wrong today.
Tucked inside a LEGO box in the ‘70s was this little note to parents.
Instead of pushing the product, LEGO sold imagination. And instead of telling kids what to build, they told parents: just let them create.
Here’s what you can still learn from this today:
1. They knew their audience.
LEGO wasn’t selling to kids - they were selling to parents. And they spoke directly to them.
2. They created an emotional connection.
They didn’t just talk about the product. And they highlighted three behaviours that really matter to parents... creativity, independence, and play.
3. They kept it simple.
No marketing jargon, no stock photos - just brilliant copywriting and a simple message that resonates.
Nearly 50 years later, and brands are still overcomplicating things. LEGO got it right by keeping it human, emotional, and simple, and it’s why they’re still one of the world’s most loved brands today.
What the LEGO Group nailed in 1974 that brands still get wrong today.
Tucked inside a LEGO box in the ‘70s was this little note to parents.
Instead of pushing the product, LEGO sold imagination. And instead of telling kids what to build, they told parents: just let them create.
Here’s what you can still learn from this today:
1. They knew their audience.
LEGO wasn’t selling to kids - they were selling to parents. And they spoke directly to them.
2. They created an emotional connection.
They didn’t just talk about the product. And they highlighted three behaviours that really matter to parents... creativity, independence, and play.
3. They kept it simple.
No marketing jargon, no stock photos - just brilliant copywriting and a simple message that resonates.
Nearly 50 years later, and brands are still overcomplicating things. LEGO got it right by keeping it human, emotional, and simple, and it’s why they’re still one of the world’s most loved brands today.
For most of my elementary years, I got two dollars a week — one dollar I could spend however I wanted (usually on baseball cards) and one dollar went into “savings.” And all of it was in cash, if not quarters. As I got older, I know my allowance grew, but my primary source of funds at that point was (cheap) babysitting. Allowance was for chores. It... See more