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Episode 313: Parents, Old People, and Perverts Feb 28, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: You can't perfect life.

This week opens with the carnage of today's Amazon S3 problems and why so much of the internet seems broken. A brief history of outage monitoring is provided and a praxis for improving the process is proposed.

Dan and Merlin debate what can be learned from how kids and other non-olds use technology "wrong." Should they be learning from us or should we be learning from them?

This leads to some deeper ruminations on how we can choose to get better at doubting our own perceptions and correcting our own weird thinking. The future still isn't here yet—and that's kinda what makes it the future.

After some discussion of mental health and creativity, the show pivots into yet more discussion of emerging technology, and how it consistently scares the crap out of people until…it just doesn't.

Dan and Merlin wrap by answering a listener's question about whether it's better to be good at writing or at speaking.

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.
Ep. 179: The Battle for Tech Supremacy With Ben Thompson by The Bill Simmons Podcast | Free Listening on SoundCloud
Pixies - Wikipedia
4CP
This obscure desire for beauty
Amazon AWS S3 outage is breaking things for a lot of websites and apps | TechCrunch
Politics and the English Language - Wikipedia
George Orwell: Politics and the English Language
'River On Fire' Explores Genius, Madness And The Poetry Of Robert Lowell : NPR
Kay Redfield Jamison's new book describes how Lowell's manic-depressive illness influenced his life and work. "His manias tended to lead him into writing a fresh kind of poetry," she says.
Bipolar And Creativity: A Study Of Poet Robert Lowell — Fresh Air — Overcast
Author Kay Redfield Jamison’s new book describes how Lowell’s manic-depressive illness influenced his life and work. “His manias tended to lead him into writing a fresh kind of poetry,” she says. Lloyd Schwartz reviews a reissue of ‘Chimes At Midnight’ starring Orson Welles, and jazz critic Kevin Whitehead reviews a new album from saxophonist Miguel Zenón.delete
Netflix - instantwatcher - The Eighties / Season 1
The Eighties | Netflix
Pessimists Archive (@PessimistsArc) | Twitter
The Walkman by PessimistsArc | Pessimists Arc | Free Listening on SoundCloud
Travel back to the 80s with us, where the portable cassette player was accused of turning people into “wind-up non-humans,” laws were passed to keep them on the streets, and one New Jersey man risked jail time for his right to walk with headphones.
shopgoodwill.com - Welcome
5by5 | Back to Work #38: Sorry. You Can't Have a Candle.
On improving presentation culture.Dan and Merlin talk about bombing the deck, advancing the slides, and striving to improve the self-perpetuating bad culture of presentations.Slide?!?
Steve Martin's Dirty Trick to Play on a 3-Year Old Kid - YouTube
Origins of "May I mambo dogface on the banana patch?" - Straight Dope Message Board
Urban Dictionary: Mambo dogface to the banana patch?
Amazon S3 Outage 2017: how to watch it online - The Verge
They Might Be Giants "Dr. Worm" - YouTube
Man, It's So Loud In Here-They Might be Giants - YouTube
Another Day of Sun - La La Land (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - YouTube
Waking in the Blue - Poems | Academy of American Poets
Cock of the walk,
I strut in my turtle-necked French sailor’s jersey
before the metal shaving mirrors,
and see the shaky future grow familiar
in the pinched, indigenous faces
of these thoroughbred mental cases,
twice my age and half my weight.

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Episode 312: Snake Eating Its Own Goodwill Feb 21, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: You're living in the future!

This week, Merlin is in a bit of a tizzy as he tries to make coffee, redo his ads, and change his productivity system at the same time. Todoist and the evolving landscape of task apps are discussed. Dan likes Trello and Merlin likes tearing everything down and maybe just starting over.

iPhone call ID and blocking apps get the treatment and Merlin has some recommendations.

Dan has some questions about comics, and the boys reminisce about The Simpsons. As you do.

Things get a little dark as your hosts look at deploying web ad (and tracker) blocking as survival and safety OPSEC.

This leads to the donning of Futurist Hats and some subsequent speculation about the unfathomable things we might expect from our devices in the coming years.

Links for this episode:

How to use trackpad mode on iPhone and iPad | iMore
Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #15 — 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, February 23rd to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun.
Overcast 3: Design walkthrough – Marco.org
Overcast 3.0: iOS 10 Features, UI Changes, Easy Queuing, and an Interview with Marco Arment – MacStories
Cortex #46: External Thinking Tool - Relay FM
Stop robocalls and telemarketers with Nomorobo
Phone Number Search | Truecaller
Find Your Keys, Wallet & Phone with Tile’s Bluetooth Tracker and Save Up to 30%. | Tile

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Episode 311: A Fair Eight Feb 14, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Alice hopes to hear from you.

This week's episode is packed—literally, packed—with useful tips, tricks, and even a crazy challenge.

Psyching yourself into falling asleep, learning how to breathe, using your iPhone's secret trackpad, and a gauntlet thrown (or maybe dropped?) to make yourself do everything with your voice for a day.

Links for this episode:

Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #15 — 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, February 23rd to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun.
Pogue’s Basics: The secret trackpad on the iPhone... - David Pogue
Little by little, the iPhone is revealing its secret ambition to be a laptop.
Mack Weldon | Men's Pima Long Sleeve - 100% Peruvian Pima Cotton
Irwin Tools 233250 Carpenter Pencil Sharpener - - Amazon.com
Eminem - The Real Slim Shady (Uncensored) - YouTube
Three Breathing Exercises and Techniques | Dr. Weil
The 4-7-8 Breath: Health Benefits & Demonstration
2007-01-09 Before the Twitter. Before the... | kung fu grippe
The Pogues - If I Should Fall From Grace With God - YouTube
The Pogues The Sick Bed of Cuchulainn 1985 RTE - YouTube
Nobody Tells Me Nothing - YouTube

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Episode 310: Nominally Mine Feb 07, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: My place is here—I fight with you!

This week, Dan and Merlin cover a meetup announcement, Merlin's Les Mis obsession, Dan's new Hackintosh Method, and the Benjamin Family's slippery bar problem. Merlin advocates for "The Tiny Life Improvement Project." Pens and pencils are recommended, desks are discussed, and LBJ speaks out about his bespoke slack needs.

The boys talk about the FTC's actions over Vizio's super-creepy user tracking, and wonder what questions to ask about the future of privacy on our smart devices.

Things wrap with a quick discussion of culture-specific cargo culting and why we still cut the ends off the roast.

Links for this episode:

Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #15 — Merlin Mann
MERLIN MANN (Back to Work, Roderick on the Line, Reconcilable Differences, You Look Nice Today, et al.) invites you to drop by Two Cats Comics on the evening of Thursday, February 23rd to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun.
Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert - "One Day More"
"Tomorrow we'll discover what our God in Heaven has in store!"
macfixer on Twitter: "@danbenjamin @hotdogsladies In “Didn’t we cover that years ago?” news — there are now Shabbat-friendly LED light bulbs. https://t.co/hp1X4WzH3F"
What Vizio was doing behind the TV screen | Federal Trade Commission
LorAnn Oils
Government Confirms Vizio TVs Spy on You: How to Stop It
"Add it all up and Vizio captured as many as 100 billion data points each day from millions of TVs."
Amazon.com: VIZIO E3D420VX 42 Inch Class Theater 3D LCD HDTV with VIZIO Internet Apps (2011 Model): Electronics
Hackintosh Method
Podcast Method
Bacon Method
Blackwing - Palomino
Amazon.com : Pilot Precise V7 RT Retractable Rolling Ball Pens, Fine Point, Black Ink, 6 Pack : Office Products
Amazon.com : Palomino Blackwing Pencils - 12 Count : Wood Lead Pencils : Office Products
Amazon.com : KUM Long Point Pencil Sharpener with Lead Pointer : German Pencil Sharpener : Office Products
List of Oval Office desks - Wikipedia
Resolute desk - Wikipedia
Walk and talk - Wikipedia
Lyndon Johnson Held Meetings On The Toilet - KnowledgeNuts
Vizio TVs were spying on their owners, the government says - Chicago Tribune
Vizio settles case that said its smart TVs spied on owners - LA Times
Most smart TVs are tracking you — Vizio just got caught - The Verge
Jewish Jokes - GantsehMegillah.com
"I don't know why you do it" says the old woman, "but I never had a pan that was large enough!"
LBJ's Bunghole Needs Room! - YouTube

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Episode 309: Hard Pass Jan 31, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Celebrating your successful failures.

This week, Dan and Merlin kick off with discussion of night bears, the ascendance of Netflix, and some very nice emails from listeners. Merlin also shares an important life hack for Twitter.

Merlin brings in a new thought technology via Jen Kirkman guesting on John Moe's wonderful podcast, The Hilarious World of Depression: learning how to talk back to the voices in your head.

Dan gives some big updates to his (theoretical) project to build a (theoretical) Hackintosh. Huge week.

Finally, Merlin shares a thought on how to potentially find success in your miniature failures. What happens when you decide to keep doing something not because you want to succeed at it…but just because it's a thing that you do?

Links for this episode:

B. F. Skinner - Wikipedia
The Hilarious World of Depression | Podcast | APM Podcasts
A show about clinical depression...with laughs? Well, yeah.
7: Jen Kirkman, Bad Therapy, Good Therapy, and Nuclear Invasion — The Hilarious World of Depression — Overcast
Before she was a successful LA comic with a new Netflix special, Jen Kirkman was a somewhat confused kid growing up in Boston. Hear how she got screwed up by nuclear war anxiety, found her calling in comedy, and ultimately learned to leverage her creativity and imagination to take on depression and anxiety.delete
Morning Pages | Julia Cameron Live
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing,done first thing in the morning. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages–they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are aboutanything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyesonly. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize andsynchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just putthree pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow.
The Good Place - NBC.com
The Good Place: Season 1 - Rotten Tomatoes
Kristen Bell and Ted Danson knock it out of the park with supremely entertaining, charming performances in this absurd, clever and whimsical portrayal of the afterlife.
Drunk John Wayne speaks to young cadets - YouTube
Hear JW say rigoddamndiculous, excrement, and tell people he's not "trying to talk for clapping".
How to make someone unfollow you on Twitter | Gadgette
How to soft block someone on Twitter
LAMBORGHINIS IN MY LAMBORGHINIS ACCOUNT - YouTube
Ty Lambo shares ““Knowledge.””
Hackintosh Method

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Episode 308: When Does the Fork Go on the Sat? Jan 24, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Act like you're somebody that you like.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the evolution of voice recognition and touch interfaces and reminisce on the early days of making the turtle move.

Dan brings in the topic of how fears of both failure and success lead to missed opportunities. Your hosts talk about how to track down the nagging bad feelings about these regrets and troubleshoot what we can learn from them.

Merlin talks about recently returning to “Morning Pages,” what he’s learning from doing it, as well as some tips to help you get started with doing your own daily brain dump.

Links for this episode:

Morning Pages | Julia Cameron Live
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing,
done first thing in the morning. There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages–
they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about
anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes
only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and
synchronize the day at hand. Do not over-think Morning Pages: just put
three pages of anything on the page...and then do three more pages tomorrow.
Joe Smith: How to use a paper towel | TED Talk | TED.com
Learn | Code.org
Netflix - instantwatcher - The Eighties / Season 1
KQED Public Media for Northern CA
doujinshi: here in my... | kung fu grippe
Ty Lambo!
Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy: David D. Burns: 8580001040905: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within, 2nd Edition (9781590302613): Natalie Goldberg: Books
Numberphile - Videos about Numbers and Stuff
Chuck Garabedian on Vimeo
Thinking, Fast and Slow: Daniel Kahneman: 9780374533557: Amazon.com: Books
SWOT analysis - Wikipedia
SWOT analysis (alternatively SWOT matrix) is an acronym for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and is a structured planning method that evaluates those four elements of a project or business venture.
Cost–benefit analysis - Wikipedia
The Elephant 6 Recording Company - Wikipedia
Artisan Coffee | Black Cat Project Espresso™ | Intelligentsia Coffee

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Episode 307: #43 on The Ladder of Kindness Jan 17, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Youth is the aberration.

This week, Dan provides updates on his Hackintosh project, which leads to a discussion of finding reviews and advice with context. The hosts realize, acknowledge, and quickly move past their program’s 6th anniversary, spending more time on that drum sound Merlin makes with his mouth.

Recent email pitches are discussed, and advice is offered on smarter ways to pitch strangers on practically anything.

Merlin responds to a question from a listener about learning to find inspiration in the absence of crisis.

Links for this episode:

Mack Weldon | Men's Merino Long Sleeve - Our Custom Blend: Merino Wool and Natural Tencel
Amazon.com: Yeti Coolers Rambler Colster 12oz and Comes With Limited Edition Can: Amazon Launchpad
YETI | Rambler Colster® Beer Insulator
5by5 | Back to Work #1: Alligator in the Bathroom
The Sweethome
Home | tonymacx86.com
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Wikipedia
Schoolhouse Rock- My Hero, Zero - YouTube
Pogue's Basics: Life: Essential Tips and Shortcuts (That No One Bothers to Tell You) for Simplifying Your Day: David Pogue: 9781250080431: Amazon.com: Books
Betteridge's law of headlines - Wikipedia
Crash and the Boys - Im So Sad, So Very, Very, Sad. - YouTube
Robert Lowell - Wikipedia
Although Lowell's manic depression was often a great burden (for himself and his family), the subject of that mental illness led to some of his most important poetry, particularly as it manifested itself in his book Life Studies.
Connected #125: Tiny Adorable Fort - Relay FM
Reconcilable Differences #43: Pack Mule with a Checkbook - Relay FM
Green Day Basket Case - Pachelbel Canon.wmv - YouTube
5by5 | Back to Work #308: When Does the Fork Go on the Sat?

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Episode 306: Sunday Pant Jan 10, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: Reframing the conversation with yourself.

This week, Merlin talks about his weird mortgage ads and compliments the literally fancy pants he got from the silver underpants people. Suggestions are offered for running a dehumidifier in a “smart home.”

Dan and Merlin have a lot to say about terlets (hey, it’s been a while).

Merlin shares a service for intelligently correlating personal tracking data, a listener has success with some B2W email advice, and another listener asks for tips on doing better self-talk.

Dan shares his cool new project to build a Hackintosh.

Links for this episode:

LETTERHEADY
Exist.io
Track everything in one place. Understand your life.
AmazonSmile: 70-Pint Dehumidifier with Effortless Humidity Control, White: Home & Kitchen
Amazon.com: WeMo Insight Switch Smart Plug, Wi-Fi, Energy Monitoring, Works with Amazon Alexa: Cell Phones & Accessories
Amazon.com: AcuRite 00613 Indoor Humidity Monitor: Home & Kitchen
Encore: Regina Spektor's New Album Reflects On Darker Side Of Life : NPR
And once she said that, some kind of a weight lifted, and I was thinking, yeah, you know, there is this uncertainty, and I can have anxiety about it. Or I could just try and have a lot of fun and laugh and just enjoy the fact that we're just these silly little people that are a little family now, you know?
The Rook Audiobook | Daniel O'Malley | Audible.com
Amazon.com: Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier - Premium Humidifying Unit with Whisper-quiet Operation, Automatic Shut-off, and Night Light Function: Home & Kitchen
Thundarr the Barbarian TV cartoon intro (1980) - YouTube
Moves - Activity Diary for iPhone and Android
Regina Spektor - "Better" [ALTERNATE VERSION] - YouTube
A Prairie Home Companion for January 6, 2017
Cognitive behavioral therapy - Wikipedia
Home | tonymacx86.com
A fast and open replacement for Windows and macOS ? elementary OS
Applehead Chihuahua - Google Search
Regina Spektor: ‘I See My Family … In Everybody’ : NPR — merlinmann on Huffduffer — Overcast

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Episode 305: Quadruple Down Jan 03, 2017

Show notes

TOPIC: This is a feeling I'm feeling.

This week, your hosts look at the announcement of Dish's new Air TV box, along with the rapidly evolving landscape for cord-cutters. Also, fantasies of monk holes are entertained.

The big topic this week is a discussion of a listener's question about the role of positive thinking. [This is a good one.]

Links for this episode:

Dish unveils a 4K Android TV streaming box with Netflix, Sling TV, and local channels - The Verge
5by5 | Back to Work #304: The 2016 Compilation Episode
This is the Best of 2016 Compilation Episode, featuring your favorite moments of the show over the last 12 months. Each clip was suggested and submitted by you, our amazing listeners.Have a great new year!
5by5 | Back to Work #47: Utter Failure & Hotel Steak
TOPIC: Resolving to skip the New Year's resolutions.In the last episode of 2011, Merlin and Dan talk about fresh starts and modest changes rather than rehearsing for sucking. You don't need a calendar to tell you to change. Whether you want to give up nail biting, onanism, or drinking a gallon of vodka a day, you need a plan and a tolerance for failure. Plus, a little care never hurts.How to do it? Keep it small, keep it time-limited, keep it action-oriented.Happy New Year, jackals. We love you.
Fire TV - Amazon Official Site - Streaming Media Player
Amazon.com: elago® R1 Intelli Case [RED]-[HEAVY SHOCK ABSORPTION][MAGNET TECHNOLOGY][LANYARD INCLUDED] for apple TV Remote: Cell Phones & Accessories
Fakespot | Elago R1 Intelli Case Red Heavy Shock Absorption Magnet Technology Lanyard Fake Review Analysis
Joe Rosensteel (@joesteel) | Twitter
VFX artist, and nerd. VFX reel: http://artofjoe.com Personal blog: http://joe-steel.com Podcasts: http://defocused.co http://unhelpful-suggestions.com
Gang Beasts
Double Down | Definition of Double Down by Merriam-Webster
to double the original bid in blackjack in exchange for only one more card
Priest hole - Wikipedia
Alien Next Door: Joey Spiotto: 9781785650260: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: Star Wars The Black Series Rogue One K-2SO: Toys & Games
Amazon.com: LEGO STAR WARS K-2SO 75120: Toys & Games
Dan Benjamin on Instagram: “Got my own K-2SO as a Christmas present. Thanks @haddiebird!”
Amazon.com: House of M (9780785117216): Brian Michael Bendis, Olivier Coipel: Books
Irredeemable Premier Vol. 1: Mark Waid, Peter Krause: 9781608867882: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: House of M (9780785117216): Brian Michael Bendis, Olivier Coipel: Books
House of M (Book, 2006) [WorldCat.org]
Welcome Back to Work Listeners - Fireside
5by5 | Back to Work #3: The Second Arrow
Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin discuss ADD, Buddhism, mindfulness, concentration, and insight.
Expectation on Vimeo

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Episode 304: The 2016 Compilation Episode Dec 31, 2016

Show notes

This is the Best of 2016 Compilation Episode, featuring your favorite moments of the show over the last 12 months. Each clip was suggested and submitted by you, our amazing listeners.

Have a great new year!

Links for this episode:

Jane Krakowski - Wikipedia

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