46 Comments

“Snackle Box” taught me that I take myself far too seriously. I couldn’t imagine saying it without turning into a walking stack of greeting cards. I’m going to say it five times fast every morning until I become fun at parties.

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Or, maybe you bring a snackle box to the next party. Everyone will be like, “that snackle box guy rules, and I hear his book cures, well, everything.” I see a busy social calendar in your future with the snackle box.

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Situation Normal brings such strong Lebowski vibes - which is what makes it an absolute pleasure to read - that I think the series formerly known as Big Wednesday really needs a Lebowski title. How about these?

There are Ways

The Whole Brevity Thing (I like this one)

Let's Go Bowling

Strangers in the Alps (if you know, you know)

Alternatively, given the Apocalypse Now references, you could try these:

Unsound Methods (really sad I didn't think of this for my newsletter)

Extreme Prejudice

Or these derivatives:

Situation Abnormal

Extreme Tolerance

Making Some Internet

Penultimately, you could try a new title each week with a movie title/quote related to the themes of the day. Hope this is helpful!

Finally, to prompt #3, the type of patriotic citizen who cares about climate change and animal welfare.

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You're a copywriting machine! What do I owe you?

Also, I can't take credit for animal welfare and climate change, not with the Cobb salad anyway. It comes with a hardboiled egg and bacon. I'm a monster.

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I forgot! You savage.

Just keep up the good work, kind sir!

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Aug 17, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

I'm partial to "Making Some Internet." It makes me giggle.

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author

There might be something to that one. 🤔

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Amran -- you appear to have been locked in rooms brainstorming with bad takeout in your past. It seems the moderator kept saying just go with it, there are no wrong answers :)

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Mark, they don’t lock those doors. It’s a fire hazard.

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Aug 17, 2022·edited Aug 17, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

You appear to be anti-creativity. How else will the next big thing emerge? I am sure to comply with fire code, Amran was given a safe word.

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author

I think we’re all just glad he made it out of that locked room. The people who hold the keys pay well (sometimes), but they can be real bastards.

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Your safe phrase should be "I'm workin for the man"

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Thanks, Mark! This is the nicest thing anyone's said to me in months! :-)

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I will make it a point to be positive going forward. I don't want to get in the way of creativity.

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Aug 17, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

I only read this newsletter because sometimes there's a man... I won't say a hero, 'cause, what's a hero? But sometimes, there's a man. And I'm talkin' about the Dude here. Sometimes, there's a man, well, he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there. And that's the Dude, on Situation Normal.

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author

Nicely done!

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Dox alert! This fellow is my longest running friend of 21 years now. Half our lives! You've got an outstanding reader and Lebowski scholar on your hands.

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I love this! Although I have to admit, for a split second “dox alert” made my heart skip a beat.

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I like the logo style!

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Thank you!

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Well sir, you just never know... but that is so weird with the newspapers! Thanks for the shoutout as well!

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Very weird!

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Sep 20, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

A title for Wednesday might be Paranormal Edition. Or Abnormal Edition. Or Quasi-normal Edition The new graphic are perfect - and totally you. Nice job, Christina - a woman who knows style.

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author

Thanks, I'll pass along your compliments to Christina! I like your suggestions for the Wednesday edition, there's something there. Need to noodle on it a bit.

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Aug 18, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Came here to say a few things:

1. I could never be a Lebowski I am way too high strung for that kind of relaxation in the face of chaos.

2. Snackle Box is a HORRIBLE name and looks like it would make me sick.

3. See comment 1 re: comment 2 : I am too neurotic.

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Damn. You came here talking some smack about the Snackle Box, Becky. So I gotta ask, what should we be calling this incredible vessel of snackage?

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Aug 18, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

It's a good name. It just should not be.

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author

Clearly, this item stirs strong feelings. Tell me more.

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While it is perfectly reasonable to rinse out your tackle box with lake water, I think washing these Snackle Boxes is a challenge. Of course after one use, if you revert to using it for lures or buttons you could end up with edgy scents on your clothes or find out a northern pike is actually attracted to brie.

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Are tackle boxes dishwasher safe? Obviously, I'm not a fisherman.

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Aug 17, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

The Farmer Boys chain does good burgers but also has a great Cobb Salad. The one near me doesn't have a fancy Coke dispenser, just a regular Pepsi machine that sprays the drinks all over your hands when filling the cup.

For the title"

Christina Ricci Edition (or in honor of your wife, just Christina Edition)

Hump Day Edition

Midweek Madness

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author

I've never been to Farmer's Boys. There's one nearby, so I'll have to check it out. Hopefully, their Pepsi dispenser is on point.

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Love the new header image!

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author

thanks!

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The new logo looks great! I love the animation. As for the midweek edition, it’s a check-in with the readers, so how about calling it, “Still Normal?”

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author

Thank you, and good point! It really is a check in with readers. Let me noodle on that.

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Aug 17, 2022·edited Aug 17, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Snackle box is the American version of the bento box. They’re larger because we need everything super-sized, right?

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I Bento and Snackle might be cousins. But do people bring a Bento for a crowd? Then again, you make a good point about American going big or going home. A lot of those Snackle Box videos seem to imply they were for one or two people.

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Yeah...those snackles you shared do not look like something I'd want to share with a crowd. In the Deep South, we take our food (and portion sizes) very seriously.

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I've heard this about the Deep South, and I need to explore that region's cuisine. The closest I've come are visits to Atlanta and New Orleans - both great food cities, but not exactly the Deep South cookin' vibes I need to feel legit.

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Where I live, it's the real deal! Fried chicken, shrimp & grits, cornbread, cathead biscuits, turkey wings, collard greens, fried okra (hell...insert any vegetable because everything is fried down here), ooey gooey cake, pralines, red beans & rice, chicken & waffles, chicken & dumplings. Now I'm starting to sound a bit like Bubba Gump. I could go on and on, but I'm making myself hungry.

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You’re making me hungry too!

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I don’t know if it’s exactly a snackle box, but I always carry a small container with a mix of different nuts and pieces of vegan chocolate. A perfect, healthy snack if you are working or just wanna share it over a conversation with your friends. Sometimes i wonder if i have too many snacks in my bag..

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I don’t know if that’s a snackle box either, but I like your style!

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Aug 17, 2022Liked by Michael Estrin

Coincidence or what? Many years ago from the mid 80s to the mid 90s I used to visit the US every year to meet with IT companies. One was based in Portland, Oregon, and guess where we stayed? That's right Beaverton! And our limo driver's wife had stayed in the UK many years previously in the village I lived in at the time! No catalytic converters in those days.

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That’s something all right. I actually have a family friend who used to live in Beaverton, but as far as I know she never stole any catalytic converters😁

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