DISCUSSED : thoughts on hand-washing and habit-building; Dan has a really good scarecrow joke; Merlin still can't figure out how many 12-year-olds Dan owns; Dan has a question about laptops and backpacks; the Tao of Backpacks; how to listen to a podcast; Dan has a question about iPhone cases; what we talk about when we talk about ad blocking; Merlin recommends a TED talk and a podcast about delight; Dan's new Picard podcast is going well; Dan has questions about OmniFocus; finally, Dan has quest...
Feb 04, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merlin is pretty out of it this week, and Dan shares some listener questions. Links for this episode: Reilly's a match for show business / Actor-director here in one-man show - SFGate The Complete Adventure Time Timeline | Channel Frederator - YouTube The Picard Amazon.com: Tul Retractable Gel Pens 0.5mm Needle Point, Black 4/pk: Office Products The Sopranos - Wikipedia Mad Men - Wikipedia The Duffer Brothers - Wikipedia Dust Brothers - Wikipedia LADDA Rechargeable battery - IKEA Download y...
Jan 28, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED : strongly-held podcast preferences; Skype hates you; praise for Rogue Amoeba and Strong Songs ; a small B2W milestone passes; Dan likes 1917 ; what Jack did; praise for Match Game ; a couple app and font reccos; tips for tricking out your Logitech mouse; no, seriously, Skype actively hates you; Merlin nabs an excellent new domain name for the program; Merlin continues his deep dive into LaunchBar; and, finally, some thoughts on burritos and tacos. Links for this episode: “Stairway to ...
Jan 21, 2020•2 hr 33 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: A fun and creepy new face swap app; Twitter is not creating much new happy; this leads to a discussion of generational perceptions about what's acceptable or even desirable (especially with Apple products); praise for the podcast, The Dream ; Merlin gets a new clock; the origin of #MerlinsPoopList ; who pays $168 for a bikini?; Merlin has uvula problems; Dan explores P&S Liquid and an upsetting gurgling noise; and, finally, " Back to the Mac 2020™ " kicks off with a first dive int...
Jan 14, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Merlin needs help in the NOC ; Dan discovers sensitive sauce; there are thresholds; hurting your roller skating muscles; new printer; and, finally, Merlin conducts a long exploration of unnecessary efficiencies, evolved technologies, and the minimum viable productivity system. Links for this episode: Sensitive Marinara Sauce | Rao's Homemade Amazon.com : Rao's Sauce Homemade Marinara Sensitive, 24 oz : Tomato And Marinara Sauces Amazon.com: Lenox Gold Titanium Coated Utility Knife Blad...
Jan 07, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Transcript available on Metacast For this very special end of the century, fin de siècle episode, Dan and Merlin make bespoke personal recommendations for music, podcasts, apps, TV shows, YouTube videos, and gadgets. Links for this episode: Pen Computing Magazine: VisorPhone Handspring (company) - Wikipedia Setapp | The best apps for Mac in one suite The frontier platform that packs 160 Mac apps into just one. A personally curated membership for $9.99/mo. MailMate Fastmail Amazon.com: Tenergy TN438 16 Bay Smart Charger with LCD...
Dec 31, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED : holiday lizard talk; some benefits of using "Environment" and "Journal" calendars; nostalgia for the Palm family of products in general and Graffiti in particular; responses to listener letters about: finding a "hook" for a new habit, physical media follow-up, HomeKit dinguses, Markdown editors, the joys of the TaskPaper lifestyle, advice on recovering from a disruption, and, finally, some thoughts on the unexpected benefits of disruption. Links for this episode: Brumation Dormant Pe...
Dec 24, 2019•1 hr 24 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: Dan presents a curious new bathroom project; some thoughts on OCD, procrastination, and empathy; praise for Fury Road , Inglourious Basterds , and Dunkirk ; Dan has follow-up on his awesome new laptop and the state of Unix shells; Merlin makes the case for occasionally getting unused to things. Links for this episode: I’ll Do The Procrastination Episode Tomorrow The MacBook Adorable — Liss is More Moving to zsh – Scripting OS X Apple replaces bash with zsh as the default shell in macO...
Dec 18, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: Drafts for Mac is out!; check out Damon Lindelof on The Watch ; suggestions for HomeKit power strips; and responses to listener letters on rediscovering the joys of physical media and getting started with addressing chronic pain. Links for this episode: Plex launches a free, ad-supported streaming service in over 200 countries | TechCrunch Drafts | Where Text Starts “Easily one of the best iOS apps I’ve ever used.” – Merlin Mann Damon Lindelof on the World-building of ‘Watchmen’ | The...
Dec 10, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Discussed: the commercials you get in your head listener feedback on music management first results of Merlin's own deep dive on music management alternatives thoughts on the "safety" that ends up making us less safe the perverse magic of "ghoti" thoughts on Dan's cool new laptop getting the shell you want sometimes Daddy needs to go in the closet Links for this episode: The Plain Text Project MusicBrainz Picard JRiver Media Center software Volumio - The Audiophile Music Player foobar2000 MinimS...
Dec 03, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: Merlin has an email confession; Dan steps up with a shoulder; listeners have given your hosts a season of the show; praise for HBO's Watchmen ; a discussion of curating media for kids; Merlin exercises Personal Privilege; everybody is different! ; praise for the new MacBook Pro (and who it may or may not be good for); the beginnings of what could be an extensive series on reclaiming control of your own media; some Plex homework for both listeners and your hosts; a brief rant on the do...
Nov 27, 2019•1 hr 19 min•Transcript available on Metacast updates on travel and packing a new notebook Merlin likes finding a notebook that accommodates both your brain and the shape of your day Merlin's bespoke six-block notebook method Dan struggles mightily with his hotel room a notional badge for gauging lifetime exposure to a ubiquitous TV celebrity some more travel talk, including the promise for a future dedicated episode on travel updates a suggestion for trying iOS Voice Control finally, in some detail, we return to Synology Corner Links for t...
Nov 19, 2019•1 hr 28 min•Transcript available on Metacast Our worst episode ever. Enjoy! Links for this episode: Mark Text CommonMark Spec Venice ‘on its knees’ after second-worst flood ever recorded Sweeping Study Points To Devastating Impact Of Climate Change On Global Health : Goats and Soda : NPR Notational Velocity - Wikipedia Bunch - BrettTerpstra.com nvUltra - Searchable, portable, MultiMarkdown notes Accidental Tech Podcast: 352: No One Else Had Calipers Pi-hole®: A black hole for Internet advertisements – A black hole for Internet advertisemen...
Nov 14, 2019•2 hr 35 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan is getting a Synology, Merlin has been making stuff, plus the return of "Cool Things I Learned This Week." Links for this episode: Keyboards, Computer Keyboards, Wireless Keyboards | Logitech Shortcuts - Drafts User Guide Draft It Merlin's Bluetooth Keyboards - Google Sheets Keyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets - Computer - Docs Editors Help Amazon.com: Seagate IronWolf 4TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 5900 RPM 64MB Cache for RAID Network Attached Storage – Frustrat...
Nov 05, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: coincident birthdays; mathowie's gigantism and very online Ex Machina house; extensive actor and media talk; you probably hadn't heard, but, The Revenant was very difficult to make; Apple TV+ is getting…not great notices; success is a great deodorant, but could iPhone : 2010s Apple :: Windows : 1990s Microsoft ?; hardware follow-up on Merlin's new modem and UPS setup; the value of always showing hustle, and why you should always run out first base; Dan's in a jam-up with his internet ...
Oct 29, 2019•1 hr 17 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Dan and Merlin dive into the benefits (and fun) of a NAS project. Also, Merlin goes off about the horror show of letting old people determine the future. Also, also, hey, kung fu movies! Links for this episode: Kids these days: Why the youth of today seem lacking | Science Advances Merlin Mann on Twitter: ""I don't need my Dad to understand why I think 'Future is Good.'" —Andy Greenwald https://t.co/WatUkVcQCl" / Twitter "I don't need my Dad to under...
Oct 22, 2019•1 hr 21 min•Transcript available on Metacast It's Infrastructure Week! Dan and Merlin start with California's power crisis and end up pivoting to phones, cable TV, and, of course, Apple. What happens when a resource we think of as a solved part of our infrastructure suddenly isn't so solved? And, what would Apple look like if it treated all of its services as seriously as it once treated the Mac? Also: lizard updates, but please don't Google "hornworms." Links for this episode: Episode 925: A Mob Boss, A Garbage Boat and Why We Recycle : P...
Oct 17, 2019•1 hr 18 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Dan and Merlin talk about living in a world of hardware choices. How do you decide which device is best suited to a given task? Which ones do you find yourself preferring to use because they're friction-free—or just fun ? And, in what ways do our previous behaviors, habits, and expectations end up unconsciously coloring our future decisions? Links for this episode: Spotify rolls out Siri support and new Apple TV app - The Verge SmartSockets® Table Top Surge Protector with USB | Surge ...
Oct 08, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Dan and Merlin talk about Apple's OS rollouts, changes in Apple retail, and week two with the new Apple Watch. Links for this episode: Release dates for iOS 13, iPadOS 13, macOS Catalina, watchOS 6, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, and more | Macworld Broken iCloud reminders are the latest reason to delay your iOS 13 upgrade - The Verge This App May Be the Culprit Causing Your Apple Watch's Battery to Drain Bunch - BrettTerpstra.com Apple confirms iOS 13 Reminders will be fixed with macO...
Oct 01, 2019•1 hr 16 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, Dan and Merlin focus on the new Apple Watch. Links for this episode: New iPhone set up: Transfer data directly to a new iPhone wirelessly, or using a cable Siri on Apple Watch: The ultimate guide | iMore What is a Moonphase? | Complete Guide to Moon Phases on Watches Missing Meridian watch face - Apple Community Brought to you by: Squarespace (Start your free trial site today, at Squarespace.com and when you sign up make sure to use the offer code ITSYOURSHOW to get 10% off your first...
Sep 24, 2019•2 hr 35 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: Merlin has a cool new voice from talking to friends late last night; Dan has an automotive collision anecdote, while Merlin has thoughts on how preparation fails us in extreme moments; in follow-up, Listener Steve has terrific advice on dealing with bad hotel room technology; your hosts love insider information from pilots and other category pros; Dan ordered a watch, and Merlin is apparently not actually wrecking a plane; the guys respond to listener letters about ages of people in m...
Sep 19, 2019•1 hr 20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan and Merlin discuss the upcoming big Apple event and why this one's potentially interesting. Also, dog anecdotes. Links for this episode: AVIATOR VISUAL EFFECTS - BEHIND THE SCENES The Dark Crystal - Wikipedia The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - Wikipedia Upgrade #261: The 2019 iPhone Event Draft - Relay FM Supported devices - Computer - YouTube TV Help Watch YouTube TV on your TV - YouTube TV Help Samoyed Dog Breed Information Brought to you by: Grammarly (Go to Grammarly.com/backtowork to...
Sep 10, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast hurricanes! hyperactivity exposing kids to the canonical films that weird, affected Hollywood accent a name for that time comparison phenomenon making your voice interactions more fun catching up on the Platinum Age of TV dealing with device charging at scale Links for this episode: Saffir–Simpson scale - Wikipedia HURRICANE DORIAN Mike's Weather Page... powered by Sparks Energy! Hurricane Neddy - Wikipedia Hurricane Neddy | Simpsons Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia The Aviator (2004 film) - ...
Sep 03, 2019•2 hr 44 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lots of talk about the changing media landscape, plus some odds and sods. Links for this episode: Jia Tolentino on what happens when life is an endless performance — The Ezra Klein Show — Overcast Disney World: Celebrating Utopia — Nice Try! — Overcast Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando: Richard E. Foglesong: 9780300098280: Amazon.com: Books Amazon.com: Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion (9780525510543): Jia Tolentino: Books Amazon.com: Logitech Rugged Protection Combo K...
Aug 27, 2019•2 hr 39 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: finding an actor's age and height; time analogies; Merlin needs help naming two critical phenomena; Dan is dissatisfied with how cars look; could Wolverine get a Caillou tattoo, and would it grow back, hmmmm?; Merlin is getting into plants (no, not sexually ); the return of that time when Danny held the license plate; and finally, Merlin has a long stemwinder on an admittedly amorphous topic: the unimpeachable benefits of undoing most of the buttons we've clicked. Links for this episo...
Aug 20, 2019•2 hr 31 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: Merlin has a little visitor today. Dan has some thoughts on conference scheduling. This leads to a broader discussion of the sensitivities we may or may not have to other peoples' limitations and constraints. It's nice to meet people. For some reason, religion, churches, and clergy are discussed. " This is what Peter did say! " Finally, the guys answer a listener question about working from home. Merlin poses a challenge. Links for this episode: Disney’s Surprise Star Wars Stumble Ham...
Aug 13, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Dan and Merlin explore the complexities of personal style. Not personal style as in fashion, but as in preferences, identity, and modes of interaction. How do we let others know how we are ? How do we derive a sense of what works best for us, and why is it such a shameful struggle to effectively communicate that to others? What do AirPods, Snapchat, and Bloomberg Terminals potentially have in common? And, would it be cool if I just listen to this podcast instead of talking about my blouse and th...
Aug 06, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: the admirable candor of B.B. King; the simple joys of the Ordinary Night; movies that are or are not dated and how that affects your enjoyment; how sci-fi seemed to mostly miss the internet; our embarrassment of media options; tech in media and what it means for plot stuff; technology adoption curves are definitely speeding up; doing everything you can not to use your phone as a phone; more generational stuff; how time and context changes our perception; should they take all the smoki...
Jul 30, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Transcript available on Metacast DISCUSSED: kindness; eyeglasses, at length—including eyeglasses indignities, discounts, and injuries; a renewed surfeit of dingalings, fake friends, and a dumb podcast hit piece; and, finally, your hosts respond to a listener question on getting stressed about personal quantization. Links for this episode: How to Convince Someone When Facts Fail - Scientific American Amazon.com: Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm Closed Dynamic Headphones Bundle with Blucoil 6-FT Headphone Extension Cable (3.5mm) a...
Jul 23, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Show notes are short this week because Merlin had to go buy contrast paints for his figs. Main topic is speculating about speculation . Links for this episode: Steve Troughton-Smith on Twitter: "Wow. For a single coat, Contrast looks amazing. Maybe the hype is real? Of course, I understand it’s a very situational paint, but for organics and cloth this could be perfect… https://t.co/10RBmU49mC" The TRUTH behind GW Contrast Paints - YouTube Citadel Contrast Paints: Resisting the Hype? - ...
Jul 16, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
