Episode description

TOPIC: Isolation and Identity

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about civility, identity, Florida, and how you can't unsee Idiocracy.

Links for this episode:

• The Living Wiccan, Curse Removal & Reversal
  
• Why Songs Get Stuck in Your Head - Elizabeth Hellmuth Margulis - The Atlantic
  
• What Are You Doing Right Now? - Merlin Mann
  "Is this really what you want to be doing right now?"
• "Right Now, What Are You Doing?" | 43 Folders
  
• 5by5 | Amplified #86: Nobody's Getting My Panties
  This week, Merlin Mann sits in to chat with Jim about the Nest acquisition, the problem with Google's opaque creepiness, Jim's upcoming trip to NAMM, plus some special interactive tips from Jim on working the pentatonic blues solo.Homework: Practice on GnR's "Knocking on Heaven's Door."Special guest Merlin Mann.
• Idiocracy (2006)
  The Future Is A No Brainer
• Idiocracy (Release) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  In The New York Times, Dan Mitchell argued that Fox might be shying away from the cautionary tale about low-intelligence dysgenics, because the company did not want to offend either its viewers or potential advertisers portrayed negatively in the film noting that in the film, Starbucks delivers handjobs, and the motto of Carl's Jr. has degenerated from "Don't Bother Me. I'm Eating." to "F*ck You! I'm Eating!"
• "Deceptive Practice" (2012)
  With wit and charm -- and lots of rare footage -- legendary illusionist Ricky Jay reveals his influences and offers insight into a secretive world.
• "Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants" (1996)
  
• "Penn and Teller at Caesar's Palace" - YouTube
  Penn and Teller demonstrate the seven basic principles of magic.
• Stanford prison experiment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Erikson's stages of psychosocial development - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, as articulated by Erik Erikson, explain eight stages through which a healthily developing human should pass from infancy to late adulthood. In each stage, the person confronts, and hopefully masters, new challenges. Each stage builds upon the successful completion of earlier stages. The challenges of stages not successfully completed may be expected to reappear as problems in the future.
• College Level Examination Program - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  The College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is a group of standardized tests that assess college-level knowledge in several subject areas that are administered at more than 1,700 colleges and universities across the United States created by the College Board.[1] There are 2,900 colleges which grant CLEP credit.[2] Each institution awards credit to students who meet the college's minimum qualifying score for that exam, which is typically 50, but it does vary by school and exam.[3] The tests are useful for students who have obtained knowledge outside the classroom, such as through independent study, job experience, or cultural interaction.[4] CLEP also offers students (including international and homeschool students) the opportunity to demonstrate their proficiency in subject areas and bypass undergraduate coursework.
• Blackfish (2013)
  Never capture what you can't control.
• Stories We Tell (2012)
  A film that excavates layers of myth and memory to find the elusive truth at the core of a family of storytellers
• The Crash Reel (2013)
  The mind has mountains
• Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations: Clay Shirky: 9780143114949: Amazon.com: Books
  
• Accessibility | SFMTA
  San Francisco Muni’s accessible services and features.
• Ep. 01: "Keep Moving and Get Out of the Way" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann
  Punctuality, Freud, reasons, John’s brutal introversion, R.E.M.’s sense of humours, listening with toolboxes, the explicit honesty of volcano science, and ultimately rethinking humanity’s Latifahesque, fleece-and-beards struggle with the two a priori laws.
• Keep Moving and Get Out of the Way on Vimeo
  It's really very simple: * if you're in the way, keep moving * if you stop moving, get out of the way. This is Ape Law, and we must teach it to our young.
• THE Lance Arthur (thelancearthur) on Twitter
  
• Elfers, Florida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  (n.b.: since Merlin's teen years, the median age has plummeted to a youthful _45_)
• The Criterion Collection - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  The Criterion Collection (or simply Criterion) is a video-distribution company that sells "important classic and contemporary films" to film aficionados. The Criterion series is noted for helping to standardize the letterbox format for widescreen films, bonus features, and special editions for home video.
• Months After 'Blackfish' Release, Controversy Over SeaWorld Grows : NPR
  Last month, SeaWorld finally responded. The park published an "open letter" in several newspapers that didn't mention Blackfish but defended its record of caring for killer whales. And this week, the company released an interim financial report, saying it had record attendance in the fourth quarter and that it expects to report its highest-ever annual revenue in March.
• Temple Grandin by Errol Morris (part 1 of 3) - YouTube
  This documentary about Temple Grandin was filmed by Errol Morris. It aired in his First Person series on Bravo US and Channel Four UK in 2000.
• Temple Grandin (2010) (TV)
  Autism gave her a vision. She gave it a voice.
• Bob's Burgers Exclusive Clip: Tina Admires Jimmy Jr.'s Magic Touch - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com
  

This week's episode of Back to Work is kindly sponsored by:

• FreshBooks (They're giving away birthday cakes! Tell 'em you heard about it on "Back to Work")
• New Relic (Use code "BACKTOWORK" to get your extended 30 day trial)
• Shutterstock (25% off everything with discount code "BACKTOWORK114")