Back to Work

Latest Episodes:

Episode 323: A Horse Named Chili May 09, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Lady in a tube.

This week, Dan and Merlin unexpectedly end up doing a pretty deep dive on Amazon voice products and the evolving ecosystem around them. Which is way more interesting than it sounds.

Deep dive.

Links for this episode:

QI - "No Such Thing As A Fish" Podcast
"A weekly podcast in which the QI researchers share their most interesting recent discoveries."
Chumby - Wikipedia
SMALT-The smart home device that elevates your dining experience
Introducing Echo Look - Hands-Free Camera and Style Assistant
Introducing Echo Show - Amazon Official Site
Paul Haddad on Twitter: "Introducing the Amazon Echo Show, for all those people who want a non-portable 7” $230 tablet! https://t.co/8iHwnzuHyb"
Amazon.com: Invoxia Smart Portable Speaker with Amazon Alexa, Grey: Home Audio & Theater
Amazon.com: Invoxia Smart Portable Speaker with Amazon Alexa, Grey: Home Audio & Theater
Triby - Smart Portable Speaker with Alexa Voice Service
Sonos | Wireless Speakers and Home Sound Systems
Amazon.com: Sonos PLAY:1 Compact Wireless Smart Speaker for Streaming Music (Black): Electronics
Amazon.com: Sonos PLAY:3 Mid-Sized Wireless Smart Speaker for Streaming Music (Black): Electronics
Amazon Echo Now Lets You Control Your Sonos Speakers | WIRED
Connected #141: The Espresso Debacle - Relay FM
The band is back together just in time to talk about Federico's new iPhone case, the Echo Show, Phil Schiller's comments on App Store upgrade pricing and more.
Bluetooth Headphones Mega-Review – Marco.org
Merlin loves these: "Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2: $200. Excellent all-around package, with great sound, comfort, and controls at a great price."
Hulu Live TV has the potential for greatness, but it's a tough sell
Watch Live TV Online and Stream On-demand | Hulu
Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #17 — Merlin Mann

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Episode 322: The Passive Voice of Water May 02, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Curiosity before fear.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the experience of Apple stores and repairs, The Handmaid's Tale, Dan's invertebrate-sensing skills, and some follow-up on "look left, go left."

Listener Molly asks about how to become a morning person, and Listener Lance wants help with the anxiety of moving someplace new.

Links for this episode:

Dan's CBD Oil Recommendation

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Episode 321: Need Some Velocity Apr 27, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Velocity!

This week Dan and Merlin talk about lice, Kenny Rogers, strange memory phenomena, an intriguing new oil, and popcorn nugs pricing.

A question from Listener Ben leads to suggestions for finding velocity.

Links for this episode:

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Episode 320: Log Cabin Portal Apr 25, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Triangles Everywhere!

This week, Dan and Merlin shuck and/or jive about stealing, Publix, airlines, driver’s ed, douchebagerié, Twitter bots, and more.

Main topic this week is a question from Listener Brian about project management. Merlin expounds at length at this dark art and what it can teach us about life.

Links for this episode:

Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #16 — Merlin Mann
Facebook Fraud - YouTube
Project management triangle - Wikipedia
The Project Management Triangle (called also Triple Constraint or the Iron Triangle) is a model of the constraints of project management. It is a graphic aid where the three attributes show on the corners of the triangle to show opposition. It is useful to help with intentionally choosing project biases, or analyzing the goals of a project.
Critical path method - Wikipedia
Resource leveling - Wikipedia
In project management, resource leveling is defined by A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) as "A technique in which start and finish dates are adjusted based on resource constraints with the goal of balancing demand for resources with the available supply."[1]
Lectins Could Become the Next Gluten - The Atlantic
Plant proteins called lectins are an emerging source of confusion and fear.
Shirky: Power Laws, Weblogs, and Inequality
Squarespace Help - Accepting Apple Pay
Kitchen work triangle - Wikipedia
Universal design - Wikipedia
Weekends were made for Michelob 1977 TV ad - YouTube
Angela Brett on Twitter: "@hotdogsladies Apparently that's what facebook bots do, so I wouldn't be surprised. https://t.co/mVKgZENwgG"
Archers of Loaf - Wikipedia
Dick on Kipple | 43 Folders
There's the First Law of Kipple... 'Kipple drives out nonkipple.'...Kipple is useless objects, like junk mail or match folders after you use the last match or gum wrappers or yesterday's homeopape. When nobody's around, kipple reproduces itself. For instance, if you to go bed leaving any kipple around your apartment, when you wake up there is twice as much of it. It always gets more and more.No one can win against kipple, except temporarily and maybe in one spot.
Urban Dictionary: kipple
Kipple is a word coined by the remarkable science fiction writer Philip K. Dick. It refers to the sinister type of rubbish which simply builds up without any human intervention. Eventually, one day, the entire world will have moved to a state of kipplization.
Desire path - Wikipedia
A desire path (formally referred to as desire line in transportation planning, also known as a game trail, social trail, herd path, cow path, goat track, pig trail or bootleg trail) can be a path created as a consequence of erosion caused by human or animal foot-fall or traffic. The path usually represents the shortest or most easily navigated route between an origin and destination. Width and erosion severity can be indicators of how much traffic a path receives. Desire paths emerge as shortcuts where constructed ways take a circuitous route, have gaps, or are non-existent.

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Episode 319: Contract with the Universe Apr 11, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Oh my GOD, this is torture.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about—amongst other odds and sods— the Mean FedEx Guy, the weird future of gig economies, and Adventure Time.

Then, there's some handy tips on how to leverage iOS Accessibility settings for a better and more efficient experience on your device.

Listener Michelle writes in to ask about dealing with colleagues who use the hallway as an ad hoc one-on-one meeting. What strategies can we employ to be civil and collegial about careless interruptions without lowering our standards or losing our minds?

Links for this episode:

Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #16 — Merlin Mann
MERLIN MANN (Back to Work, Roderick on the Line, Reconcilable Differences, Do By Friday, You Look Nice Today, et al.) invites you to drop by Two Cats Comics on the evening of Thursday, April 27th to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun.
How to use Theater Mode on the Apple Watch | iMore
Includes a great tip on making a bespoke theater-friendly custom watch face.
Brat Pack (actors) - Wikipedia
Rival buys SF's biggest cab company for chump change - SFGate
For less than a million bucks, CityWide gets Yellow Cab's color scheme, its famous phone number (415) 333-3333, 160 of its cabs and the sublease to Yellow Cab's property.
Adventure Time Pilot - YouTube
Animated short/Transcript | Adventure Time Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
[The episode starts with Pen sleeping under a tree and a meditating Jake floating. Pen wakes up and rushes to Jake.]
U-Haul Lesbian Moment | Do By Friday
Equestria Girls - Helping Twilight Win the Crown [HD] [Bluray] + MP3 - YouTube
Tesla passes General Motors to become the most valuable US automaker
Tesla's market capitalization is now bigger than General Motors', making it the largest U.S. based automaker by that metric.
933 Clipper St - Google Maps
Clipper Street! One of San Francisco's "Magic Streets." It's like a portal.

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Episode 318: Emotional Goggles Apr 05, 2017

Show notes

After some brief shucky-jivey, the boys resign themselves to discussing the big Apple announcement. They ponder why and how the message was delivered in the way it was as well as what it means. Dan has thoughts on modularization and Merlin reveals a new unified field theory.

Then, yay, lots more responses to excellent questions from listeners.

Links for this episode:

Weezer - Paranoid Android - YouTube
Upgrade #135: Trashed The Can - Relay FM
Occam's razor - Wikipedia
Among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected
John Scalzi on Twitter: "Courtesy of @joshtpm, a principle henceforth to be known as "Trump's Razor." https://t.co/YL8xZMJMMt https://t.co/7WwopC4pSe"
The Ennoblement of Water | Do By Friday
This week's challenge: meditate like a venture capitalist.
Amazon.com: Thoughts Without A Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective (9780465050949): Mark Epstein: Books
Insight Meditation Center: Insight Meditation Center
Home | dhammatalks.org
5by5 | Unwound
Robert McKee - Wikipedia
Sleep Hypnosis for Anxiety Reduction & Reversal - YouTube
Roger Miller - You Can't Roller Skate in a Buffalo Herd - YouTube
We Bare Bears TV Review

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Episode 317: Zero Gun Salute Mar 31, 2017

Show notes

After some very important follow-up, and more than a little shucking and jiving, your hosts answer questions from listeners.

This is a good one!

Links for this episode:

Brian Regan - Stand Up Comedy Full HD - Best Comedian Ever - YouTube
Bacon Ray - “Tomfoolery” 7-inch (AAJ Records, 1995)
Source of that song "Sundays in a Row" AND the Back to Work closing theme. Download 'em for free!
Hard Boiled Eggs | Wilcox Farms
Oberto
Amazon.com : Oberto All Natural Original Beef Jerky, 3.25-Ounce Bag (Pack of 4) : Jerky And Dried Meats : Grocery & Gourmet Food
Amazon.com: Epic - Epic Bars Variety Pack, 9 Flavors (9 Pack): Grocery & Gourmet Food
Radiohead - Ceremony (Joy Division cover) - YouTube
Radiohead play The Smiths - YouTube

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Episode 316: Corona MacGuffin Mar 21, 2017

Show notes

This week, Dan and Merlin have one of their beloved "odds and sods" episodes. Something for everyone in this diverse and bewildering episode.

"Same day delivery!"

Links for this episode:

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Episode 315: The Nakamichi Deal Mar 14, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: "Delivery Attempted."

This week, Merlin struggles with his coffee-making options, and Dan recalls his days of fishing lures. USPS deliveries, several TV shows, and Wolverine's disturbing bone claws are also discussed.

Listener Jackson writes in to ask about dealing with failings of self-discipline.

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Episode 314: Which Fellini You Want to Be Mar 07, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: "Remember this film is supposed to be a comedy."

This week: Dan struggles with his progressive lenses, but he really liked the movie, Logan. Merlin's daughter has made four piles, and he finally accepts that he really should be watching more movies for his "work." Then, there's follow-up on that crazy S3 typo and some pretty poor Oscars® OPSEC.

Then we're on to answering listener feedback via two futurist hats and a parenting hat:

Listener Andrew, on self-driving cars and the mainstreaming of ponderous tech punditry.
Listener Jason, on whether a future of voice computing will become a sociopathic blight.
Listener Mark, on where the heck to find reasonable resources on better parenting.

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