Back to Work

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Episode 493: Flimsy, but Useful Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: Rabbit, rabbit!; Dan wants to be sedated; at some point, Merlin had most of the optimism bred out of him; a lot of problems and small beefs get overlooked for survival and sanity reasons right now; Dan shares listener recommendations for movies like the Missions Impossible; time was, you went to the weird video store and just hoped you got the good guy; Dan wants to remind you that he signed a letter of agreement—a CONTRACT; maybe it's time we abandon that increasingly meaningless term, "screen time"; Merlin thinks you can give a baby a name that's funny in only one way, but never in more than one way; every generation demonizes a new technology that they're sure will corrupt the youths; Dan has strong thoughts on the Indiana Jones trilogy (yes, there are exactly three and only three); no one is as persuasive as Sean Connery; Merlin made some movie lists; sometimes you get something that's "mostly for your kid" when it's totally not for your kid; Dan draws inspiration from Roald Dahl's work setup; this is probably a pretty good time to be risk-averse; a reminder that there are still always opportunities to improve how you operate; this leads to an examination of "desire paths" and learning from what your intuition and previous behaviors are trying to tell you; Merlin's Infrastructure Week is extended as he goes ham on speeding up his Mac; and, finally, Merlin discusses a useful Mac utility before putting it on blast.

Links for this episode:

Marvel Classic Sticker Book: Marvel Entertainment: 9781419743436: AmazonSmile: Books
[Podcast] Cheat Sheet: How To Ace Zoom School
With thoughts on "screen time."
Merlin’s Weird Movies for Weirdos
Keep yourself occupied with these weird movies for weirdos. I want so many more movies like these.
TIP: if you see some movies you love here, you can trust my taste. If you don’t, you will probably hate these. They are all weird. All of them.
Some Next-Level Shit
Okay. Your concerns have been heard.
Those ““Weird Movies”” weren't weird enough for you, huh?

Well, buckle up, Buttercup.

This is movie fandom on Difficult Mode.
Jack Kirby - Wikipedia
CleanMyMac X: Make Your Mac As Good As New
The most user-friendly problem fixer for Mac. Delete system junk, unwanted apps and malware, and tune your Mac for maximum speed. For a slow computer, use immediately.
Roald Dahl interview and short film - Pebble Mill at One 1982 - YouTube
Why Everyone Is So Clumsy During Quarantine - The Atlantic
I’m running out of glasses.
EtreCheck
Go64
Quickly scan your disk for applications, see which ones are 32-bit, and find upgrade information with the click of a button.
(309) Wes Anderson's visit to Roald Dahl's Buckinghamshire home - YouTube
Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated (Official Music Video) - YouTube
The Shining (1980) - Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance - IMDb
"…retweets are not endorsements…"
I saw your disclaimer about how retweets are not endorsements, and I appreciate this sage, lawyerly sentiment, but maybe another option is to stop retweeting shit that any garden-variety human who hasn't carefully reviewed your disclaimer will definitely assume is an endorsement.
Merlin has thoughts on recommending media
Ted Lasso on Apple TV+
Desire path - Wikipedia
The path usually represents the shortest or most easily navigated route between an origin and destination. The
Why You Only Need to Test with 5 Users
Elaborate usability tests are a waste of resources. The best results come from testing no more than 5 users and running as many small tests as you can afford.
Apple accidentally approved malware disguised as Flash, new report finds - The Verge

Episode 492: Siracusa Daylight Time Aug 25, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: Merlin has a lot of infrastructure going on; your hosts share strong feelings on time zone discrimination and its attendant big-timing; Dan has more cool videos coming to his channel; some boring nerd talk on voice recording options; Dan needs your suggestions for more movies like the Missions Impossible; in Follow-Up, there's some good news and some bad news related to both COVID and San Francisco; hurricanes are coming!; Merlin figures out why Safari on his Mac got so slow; thoughts on DNS Server choices; Merlin endorses a podcast episode that involves some very Back To Work ideas; everything is copy; and, finally, some concerns about nicknames plus several important questions about the consensuality of Jake Robert's titular snake.

Links for this episode:

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Episode 491: You and Your Hog Aug 18, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: time is hard; X-Men for eight cellos; in follow-up, Dan has some clues for troubleshooting his jumpy screen; it's valuable to understand what problem you didn't solve; then, of course, comes the extended weekly airing of COVID grievances; Merlin needs advice on choosing a Zoom recorder; check out Dan's new thing!; recommendations for Ted Lasso and Ethan Hunt; some lessons to bring home from vacation; plus, some more reckons on life after COVID.

Links for this episode:

How Dan Records Back to Work
How to slit and fold a map for special use (ArmyStudyGuide.com)
Miura fold - Wikipedia
How to Fold a Topographic Map and Other Techniques - ITS Tactical
Home design is adapting to the pandemic, too - Marketplace
COVID-19
Samara Ginsberg on Twitter: "I had A LOT of requests for this one! X-Men: The Animated Series https://t.co/D1W5TAAs0I" / Twitter
Parents are furious that schools can’t reopen - The Washington Post
What we’ve learned about this coronavirus.
The pandemic moves quickly. The scientific consensus changes slowly. Did we waste time waiting for data when we could have adopted low-cost safety measures?Guest: New York Times reporter Apoorva Mandavilli.
Apoorva Mandavilli - The New York Times
Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter for The Times, focusing on science and global health. She is the 2019 winner of the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting.
Amazon.com: Zoom H4n Pro All Black 4-Track Portable Recorder (2020 Model), Stereo Microphones, 2 XLR/ ¼“ Combo Inputs, Guitar Inputs, Battery Powered, Multitrack Recorder for Music, Audio for Video, Podcasting: Musical Instruments
Mic Technique - YouTube
Amazon.com: Zoom F6 Field Recorder/Mixer, Professional Field Recording, Audio for Video, 32-Bit Float Recording, 14 Channel Recorder, 6 XLR Inputs, Timecode, Ambisonics Mode, Battery Powered, iOS Wireless Control: Musical Instruments
Amazon.com: Zoom F8n Multi-Track Field Recorder with Protective Case For F8n Recorders Bundle: Musical Instruments
Ted Lasso on Apple TV+
Rosanne Cash - Seven Year Ache - YouTube
‘A Smoking Gun’: Infectious Coronavirus Retrieved From Hospital Air - The New York Times
Airborne virus plays a significant role in community transmission, many experts believe. A new study fills in the missing piece: Floating virus can infect cells.
Opinion | Yes, the Coronavirus Is in the Air - The New York Times
Transmission through aerosols matters — and probably a lot more than we’ve been able to prove yet.
Viable SARS-CoV-2 aerosols detected in a hospital room with COVID-19 patients
Recently, the WHO said aerosol transmission is confirmed, especially in areas that are not well-ventilated. Previously, the WHO said that airborne transmission is only possible in hospitals via medical procedures that involved the release of aerosols, including nebulization and suctioning.
Spotify – 7. I Don't Care, Fire Me - An Oral History of The Office | Podcast on Spotify
We pull back the curtain in a room that is usually kept from the public: the writers room. The Office writers share their tricks for coming up with ideas, why they pulled in the actors to help, and what they did to help launch an industry-wide battle.
Sturgis Rally 2020: Despite Coronavirus Thousands Converge in South Dakota - The New York Times
“We are allowed to make our own choices,” she said. “If we get it, we chose to be here.”
Zoom H4 Handy Recorder - Wikipedia
Report Shows Record Increase in San Francisco Real Estate Listings as People Continue Moving to More Affordable Cities
With remote work more popular than ever — amid companies like Google and Facebook now saying employees can work from home well into 2021 — people are leaving SF in throngs. A new Zillow report further supports that idea, showing a 96 percent year-over-year increase in local inventory listings.
Nearly 2 times as many San Francisco homes are for sale - Business Insider
San Francisco is just one of the major cities across the country is at the center of a debate around the post-coronavirus future of urban areas.

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Episode 490: Penetration Engineer Aug 11, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: Dan is joining a campaign, and Merlin's eyesight now precludes him from being an AD&D dungeon master; Dan has a concern about his laptop screen and needs your help; then, the boys settle in for a good, old-fashioned recommendations episode; podcasts, pens, video editing apps, a 3D printer, a new SoundSource, hard drives, and even a moisturizing cream for your little patch.

Links for this episode:

AmazonSmile : MUJI Aluminum Body Fountain Pen - Fine Nib - with 2 Refill Ink Cartridge : Office Products
Blank Check with Griffin & David
Not just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail.
RoboCop — Blank Check with Griffin & David — Overcast
AmazonSmile: Tul Retractable Gel Pens 0.5mm Needle Point, Black 4/pk: Office Products
AmazonSmile : PALOMINO BLACKWING 3Pencils SET(Original, 602, Pearl 1each) : Office Products
Monoprice MP Voxel 3D Printer, Fully Enclosed, Easy Wi-Fi, Touchscreen, 8GB On-Board Memory, Polar Cloud Enabled - Monoprice.com
OFFICIAL Wondershare Filmora9 Video Editor (Win & Mac) | Download Filmora9!
Professional video editor | Adobe Premiere Pro
Thingiverse - Digital Designs for Physical Objects
Rogue Amoeba | SoundSource: A Superior Sound Control
Rogue Amoeba | Quality Audio Software for MacOS
Amazon.com: SAMSUNG T7 Touch Portable SSD 2TB - Up to 1050MB/s - USB 3.2 External Solid State Drive, Black (MU-PC2T0K/WW): Computers & Accessories
Amazon.com: WD 2TB My Passport SSD External Portable Drive, USB 3.1, Up to 540 MB/s - WDBKVX0020PSL-WESN: Computers & Accessories
Amazon.com: AnuMed Vitamin D3 Cream with Magnesium 10,000 IU | Healthy Skin Care & Face Cream | Maximum Calcium Absorption | Non-Greasy Moisturizer for Dry Skin - 3 Ounces: Health & Personal Care

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Episode 489: Not a Monkey Man Aug 04, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: the joys of a movie that reveals itself over multiple viewings; good storytelling is difficult but so rewarding; as you know, Bob, a lot of movies have that Walk Hard problem; Merlin has questions about Dan's day-to-day in Travis County; people are cooking the books; why do so many people have the Extremis virus these days?; we could still make a big dent; and, finally, wow, the demands for performance sure can be exhausting.

Links for this episode:

Fair Play Mystery (Concept) - Comic Vine
Edgar Wright - How to Do Visual Comedy - YouTube
Amazon.com: 2 PCS Men Women Safety Face Shields with Protective Clear Film, Reusable plastics Elastic Band and Comfort Sponge. Eye Protection: Home Improvement
Why the Pandemic Is So Bad in America - The Atlantic
(49) AXIOS on HBO: President Trump Exclusive Interview (Full Episode) | HBO - YouTube
Lampshade Hanging - TV Tropes
Chekhov's gun
"If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off."
As You Know, Bob…
You Are Not So Smart #185 - Masks

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Episode 488: Uncle Dad Jul 28, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: Merlin has discovered a unique new voice emerging from the medical and spiritual communities; your hosts interrogate the implications of this new material; Dan and Merlin have media recommendations; as a main topic, your hosts explore the many, intertwined complexities of trying to figure out "the future" right now.

Links for this episode:

Stella Immanuel, Trump’s New COVID-19 Doctor, Believes in Alien DNA, Demon Sperm, and Hydroxychloroquine
Walls Are Back - The Atlantic
Personal space is finally back in style, but re-creating it after two decades of its destruction is hardly a straightforward task.
Parents are furious that schools can’t reopen - The Washington Post
I can’t be the only parent who finds containing my anger about this to be a full-time job on top of the two I’m already performing poorly.
America’s Schools Are a Moral and Medical Catastrophe
Companies are quickly learning lessons about the varied necessities of remote work, from appropriate tools to new styles of management. Fortunes may be won or lost as innovators and upstarts bet on what best suits a homebound workforce.
9 Future of Work Trends Post-COVID-19
As the pandemic resets major work trends, HR leaders need to rethink workforce and employee planning, management, performance and experience strategies.
The future of work after COVID-19 | Deloitte Insights
As they stage the return to work, organizations need to ask themselves critical questions to help them prepare for the perceived and actual ethical impacts of business decisions.
185 - Masks - You Are Not So Smart - Omny.fm
Humans are notoriously bad at assessing their risk. In a pandemic, that’s a problem - SFChronicle.com
Why I Can’t Believe in ‘Spirit Husbands’ and ‘Spirit Wives’ - TGC Africa
Watch the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast reunite for 10th anniversary table read | EW.com
Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Chris Evans, director Edgar Wright, and more got together for the special event.
185 - Masks — You Are Not So Smart — Overcast
Gerald McRaney - Wikipedia
Note: Gerald McRaney is not David McRaney
Kobayashi Maru scenario | Memory Alpha | Fandom
Kobayashi Maru - Wikipedia

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Episode 487: Nostradamus Pants Jul 21, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: There's really only one topic right now, and it's not going away any time soon. Many analogies and historical echoes are explored. The future, if it exists, is going to be very weird.

Links for this episode:

And the Band Played On (film) - Wikipedia
Cooter (30 Rock) - Wikipedia
And the Band Played On streaming: where to watch online?
What teachers really think about school reopening in the fall.
Four teachers on their fears and frustrations heading into the 2020 school year.
There Is No Plan (For You) - In These Times
Unemployment, evictions, business failure, a pandemic and health crises are all here at once. The federal government doesn’t care.
Splitting (psychology) - Wikipedia
MSNBC: Atlanta Mayor: Despite rising cases, Georgia Governor ‘wants to silence me’
Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says that in Atlanta, the city is facing 13% left in ICU capacity, yet Georgia Governor Brian Kemp ‘wants to silence me.’
Adam Alma on Twitter: "@hotdogsladies let me be the nth Floridian to tell you about the wagon wheel closing just last month. Sorry if you mention it later in the show, only 20 mins in https://t.co/3yBdluXoxg" / Twitter
Iconic Wagon Wheel Flea Market closes after five decades in Pinellas Park
Skyfall - Wikiquote
No. You take them, and release them into the trees. Only now, they don't eat coconut anymore. Now they will only eat rat. You have changed their nature.

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Episode 486: The Ballad of Danny Knife Jul 14, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: knife talk and flea market nostalgia; a deep dive on state knife law; knife tips from listeners; Merlin reinstalled Homebrew; comfort viewing amidst these challenging times; also, a healthy fear of Australian spiders.

Links for this episode:

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Episode 485: Travis County, P.I. Jul 07, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: Merlin has flies in his bathroom; Dan's town is really going through some times; there's some COVID talk, duh; Merlin solved a very strange iOS beta bug; main topic involves some thoughts on the Apple betas and the tantalizing future that they imply; Dan has a new keyboard and an accompanying conspiracy theory; leathers men are discussed; and, finally, Merlin needs to use the bathroom—provided the flies will allow it.

Links for this episode:

European Union - Wikipedia
Our Ability to Process Information Is Reaching a Critical Limit
Amazon.com: Logitech MX Keys Advanced Wireless Illuminated Keyboard - Graphite: Computers & Accessories
AmazonSmile: LEATHERMAN, Wingman Multitool with Spring-Action Pliers and Scissors, Built in the USA, Stainless Steel with Nylon Sheath: Sports & Outdoors
LEATHERMAN, FREE P4 Multitool with Magnetic Locking, One Hand Accessible Tools and Premium Nylon Sheath and Pocket Clip, Built in the USA - - AmazonSmile
LEATHERMAN, Squirt PS4 Keychain Multitool with Spring-Action Scissors and Aluminum Handles, Built in the USA, Black - Multitools - Amazon.com
Chicago (typeface) - Wikipedia
Charcoal (typeface) - Wikipedia
System 6 | Apple Wiki | Fandom
System 6 was the name of the operating system of the Apple Macintosh computer, which was introduced in April 1988, prior to the introduction of System 7.

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Episode 484: Default Settings for America Jun 30, 2020

Show notes

DISCUSSED: the things we can and cannot do anything about; the things that can and cannot change; and the wisdom to know all of the differences.

Links for this episode: