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This week, Dan and Merlin talk about lots of recent experiences with the weird and often-frustrating world of streaming TV. What a mess. There's also some discussion of sauna suits, The Eagles, Mummers, and Dan's victorious t-shirt. Also, Dan needs your help with solving a terrible problem with one of Cash's iPad games. Links for this episode:Welcome | Movies AnywhereEagles fan gets a tattoo of the Philly Special - NFL.comHulu Says Super Bowl Live-Streaming Outage Was Caused by Program-Extension Glitch – VarietyAn unknown number of Hulu’s live TV subscribers missed the final minutes of Super Bowl LII — just before the last-ditch effort by the New England Patriots to tie up the game failed — and the company on Monday blamed the outage on an error in its system for extending live programming past its scheduled stop time. Philly SpecialJustWatch - Streaming Search Engine for movies and tv showsForecast: A must-have tool for Mac podcasters - Six ColorsRyan HamrickJASON KELCE FULL UNEDITED SPEECH - PHILADELPHIA

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the Eagles' big win, what constitutes a catch, Dan's cool new shirt, Merlin's surprisingly positive interactions with Kabletown, the seeming magic of Movies Anywhere, some recent TV recommendations, and a great listener tip for using Nuzzel. Your hosts also respond to Listener Daniel's question about new job responsibilities making him feel like an impostor. Links for this episode:Netflix - instantwatcher - The Ultimate Guide for StreamingExplore | Movies AnywhereAmazon.com: ARRIS SURFboard SB6183 16x4 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem - Retail Packaging - White: Computers & AccessoriesSuper Bowl Celebrations, Han Solo Trailer Reaction, and the Surprise Cloverfield Movie (Ep. 224) — The Watch — OvercastThe Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald celebrate their beloved Eagles’ win in the Super Bowl (0:54), dissect the movie trailers that debuted during the big game (17:00), and discuss the hits and misses behind the surprise release of ‘The Cloverfield Paradox’ (29:06).save in ov

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about crazy kids' homework, Dan's exciting nerd field trips in the Bay Area, the magic of PIXAR, a handy Netflix companion site, and using Siri on Apple TV. Things get a little heated during a discussion about all the weirdly fawning coverage of HomePod—and whether or when Apple's new speaker dingus might find a place in your hosts' lives. Recommendations include a podcast with Hawkeye Pierce, an excellent boiled eggs recipe, and some cool TED-Ed videos. Your hosts respond to listener feedback about bitter Nintendo cartridges and field an interesting question about creating consumer-friendly tech support. Links for this episode:List of Movies and TV Shows on Netflix | FlixableAre you wondering what's new – or what's best – on Netflix? Flixable is a Netflix search engine that offers a complete, searchable and browsable list of all the movies and TV shows that are currently streaming on Netflix in the U.S. Alan Alda Wants Us To Have Better Conversations — Hidden Brain — Overcas

This week, Dan and Merlin talk a lot about writing and respond to feedback from listeners. Links for this episode:Bacon MethodHow long to grill a steak on a charcoal grill - The rule of threes - Grilling24x7Grilling24x7Rule of three - WikipediaHome – Nintendo Labo Official Site – Trailer, product informationFlu may be spread just by breathing, new study saysBrought to you by: ButcherBox (For FREE bacon and $20 off your first box go to Butcherbox.com/backtowork and enter BACKTOWORK). 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 purchase).

This week, Dan has some weather, Cash makes a battery, homework can be a silly drag, management is about scalability and quantification, how to figure out how much you have to do, 80s movies can be problematic, ultracrepidarianism, making fish wanna get nasty, and you gotta give people ONE suggestion. Great listener feedback on the evolution of pro kitchens, real-life risk aversion, and a terrific use of Echo's drop-in functionality. Also, the possibilities and shortcomings of Machine Learning are discussed. Links for this episode:SF Sketchfest 2018: Roderick on the LineTuesday January 16, 2018 8:00pm - 9:30pm Gateway Theatre 215 Jackson Street San Francisco, CA 94111 Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #20 — Merlin MannMERLIN 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, January 18th to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun. “The Labour of Two Days, Is

This week, your hosts cover some odds and sods, share some recommendations, design some fantasy podcast apps, and introduce an exciting new feature involving the Internet Science Site. They also respond to a listener's thorny question about dealing with negative chatter in the workplace. Links for this episode:Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #20 — Merlin MannMERLIN 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, January 18th to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun. Home - My PodLink to your audio and web links and play them through your Amazon Echo. Yerkes–Dodson law - WikipediaResearch has found that different tasks require different levels of arousal for optimal performance. For example, difficult or intellectually demanding tasks may require a lower level of arousal (to facilitate concentration), whereas tasks demanding stamina or persistence may be pe

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about why they're trending, an exciting update on the Mr. Robot ATV bug, the frustrating opacity of using Apple's stuff, Dan's love for Nintendo Switch, nostalgia for NASA, Merlin's love for the Amazon Spot, the problem of fish food and regret, updates on your hosts' sleep technologies, possible solutions for killing spam on iPhone, and some more thoughts on dealing with Netflix's filtering, ratings, and…jeez kinda just everything about their dingaling interface. Links for this episode:Introducing Echo Spot - Amazon Official Site - Stylish, compact Echo with a screenHow to Disable Alexa's Drop-In FeatureWhat other home “kits” can I assemble? - organization | Ask MetaFilterThe Worst Part of Working Remotely Is Trying to Read MindsMy heart races as that familiar bubble pops up on my screen. My supervisor is typing for what seems like forever. In reality, it’s only a few seconds, but that’s still enough time for me to fall into a full-on worry spiral: Did I make a mistake? Is

The boys wrap up a big year—a huge year—with an unintentionally thematic episode about feelings, expectations, nostalgia, and the black boxes of life, technological and otherwise. Links for this episode:gyrosco.pePatriot (TV Series 2015– ) - IMDbFortitude (TV series) - WikipediaWhich Came First, the Chicken or the Egg? (Part One) - The New York TimesGyroscope V1.10 – GyroscopeiPad Pro — What’s a computer — Apple - YouTubeApple Is Ready to Ditch the Mac | John C. Dvorak | PCMag.comDaring Fireball: Pressing the Side Button to Confirm Payments on iPhone XReconcilable Differences #29: Six Fax Machines - Relay FMTo wit: Merlin can't contain his fascination and admiration with how John's rationality and long view of history has colored and redirected his own conceptions about what the future holds.How does John evaluate and interpolate new technology? How should inchoate cultural vectors inform our thinking? Why do some kinds of change take such improbably more time than others? And how much do we really want to le

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about keyboard preferences (and their noises), Merlin catching Dan's weird "Mr. Robot" bug on Apple TV, feedback about "inside jokes," exclusion as a weapon, more good Robert Wright interviews, a deepish dive on Netflix personalization techniques (alongside some speculation on how well it's working), platforms and technologies as lobster traps, the problem with cartoons about screaming, how much kids love YouTube, the challenge of partnering with podcast middlepersons, a new Netflix show Dan likes, possibilities for new Marvel properties, and listener feedback on the potential benefits of using work tools you don't prefer. Links for this episode:Merlin Mann on Twitter: "Umm. @danbenjamin? Yeah. https://t.co/65GTE5UfpP"#102 — Is Buddhism True? — Waking Up with Sam Harris — OvercastA Conversation with Robert Wright Episode 171: Buddhism vs. Evolution with Guest Robert Wright (Part One) — The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast — OvercastHow does Netflix personalis

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about (partial) resolution to Dan's Apple TV bug, some venting about delivery problems, general complaining about customer service, a good TV podcast episode, a very good Buddhism podcast episode, some excellent Buddhism talk, listener follow-up on Dan's strange video mail package, shakeups and wild innovation in the TV bidness, that creepy/mean Netflix tweet, and a listener's question about whether the tech requirements at a promising new job should be a deal-breaker. Links for this episode:Chapo Trap House | Free Listening on SoundCloudWhat Buddhism got right about the human brain — The Ezra Klein Show — OvercastWhy Buddhism is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment: Robert Wright: 9781439195451: Amazon.com: BooksThe Best TV of 2017 With Sam Esmail (Ep. 210) — The Watch — OvercastThe Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald are joined for their annual best TV of 2017 discussion with ‘Mr. Robot’ creator Sam Esmail. They cover what they are looking from t

This week, Dan and Merlin discuss theories on Dan's Mr. Robot/Apple TV bug, living in an opinion bubble, an update on flu shot efficacy, Dan's recent insane mail delivery, speculation on how giant ad buys work, consternation about memory-holed media. Your hosts respond to a listener's question about the difficulty of choosing a career path that wasn't what you'd expected. Merlin also explains his shaving strategy. Links for this episode:Bizarre bug in Apple TV 4k - can’t access specific programme | MacRumors ForumsVincent Racaniello on Twitter: "On recent B2W discussion of flu vax @hotdogsladies @danbenjamin there are 3 viruses in the vaccine, even if one is mismatched with circulati… https://t.co/Z5rVkBEqOW"On recent B2W discussion of flu vax @hotdogsladies @danbenjamin there are 3 viruses in the vaccine, even if one is mismatched with circulating strains, vax will still prevent severe disease/death, and others will still provide protection! List of Mr. Robot episodes - WikipediaSocial media bubb

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about…so many things. Merlin had a lot of coffee. Big topics include: Flickr nostalgia (and smart photo backup tips) Dan's crazy Apple TV bug A terrific podcast episode about Buddhism and the human mind A tough listener question about gracefully leaving a job Links for this episode:What Buddhism got right about the human brain — The Ezra Klein Show — OvercastI’m interested in mindfulness, and so have read a lot of books on the subject. This isn’t like those. It’s a not a how-to guide, or an argument for meditation’s health benefits. It’s a deep dive into theories of the mind, informed both by Wright’s scientific background and his study and practice of Buddhism. It’s about how our minds evolved to keep us alive, not to keep us happy or satisfied — and what can be done about it. What Buddhism got right about the human brain‘Flu-pocalypse’ Predicted Due To Ineffective Flu Shots, Doctors Say « CBS PhillyWhy do you need to get a flu shot every year? - Melvin Sanicas - YouTubeFl

This week, your hosts discuss: holiday disruptions, life patterns, the joys of regularity, discovering unnecessary existential vulnerabilities, scheduling as a video game, getting your head around sous vide cooking, modern kids' arithmetic, CBD dosage stuff, using the Sway app, meditation for improving attention management, dealing with the character who speaks your internal voice, some hot tips on starting meditation, a historical video series Merlin's family likes, a quest for a typeface, nostalgia for teeny tiny fonts, a listener question about how to end a conference call, a recommendation for Netflix's The Punisher, and some angry attempts to conceal ma' secret formular. Links for this episode:SwayPAUSERadiohead – Man of War (Piano Cover) - YouTubeRadiohead – Paranoid Android (Piano Cover) - YouTube5by5 | Back to Work #331: Hidden in WigsHow does Amtrak deal with time changes? - One Mile at a TimeFood Safety Talk 79: You’re Into Botulism Country (with Merlin Mann) — Food Safety TalkMerlin Mann joins Don

TOPIC: Integrity and Fear. This week your hosts discuss: sandwiches, solar power, some recent movies and what makes them memorable (or not), the glory of Edgar Wright, fun movie commentaries, Dan's rowing machine, big changes for Chairman Bendis, a cool free font from IBM, awesome creativity from a listener, some thoughts on apps for meditation and relaxation (and the important distinction between those things), the downside of Competitive Mindfulness and similar, some excellent feedback on last week's episode, the fear of integrity loss, Dan's trip to NYC, follow-up on resetting an iPhone, and the fine art of computer troubleshooting. Links for this episode:Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #19 — Merlin MannMERLIN 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, November 16th to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun. Plica Plica Semi-Acapella Back To Work Th

TOPIC: Trials, Trophies, and Trying Harder. This week, the boys arrive from either the past or future to talk about Dan's spoon problem, the refuse racket, the slog of incremental improvement, the perils of black and white thinking, folding paper seven times, and Dan’s mad cart-riding skills. This leads to this week’s main topic: an epic exploration of success and failure. No spoilers, but this is a good one. Links for this episode:Aseptic processing - WikipediaMego King Kong Drinking Straw Commercial - YouTubeAmazon.com: Stainless Steel Drink Straws- Set of 4 straws straws + Cleaning Brush - CocoStraw Brand Drinking Straw - FUN! Handy, Elegant, Metal,Washable, SAFE, NON-TOXIC non-plastic or glass - UNbreakable!: Kitchen & DiningThe Backfire Effect – You Are Not So SmartEnvironment & Innovation | Recology San FranciscoRecycling Signs | sfenvironment.org - Our Home. Our City. Our PlanetSan Francisco Recycles | What goes whereAll Products | HorizonUrban Dictionary: horseshoes and handgrenadesBackfire

Dan and Merlin talk about Halloween, the Chromebook, Apple, WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux), and hair removal. Links for this episode:SNL Transcripts: John Goodman: 03/16/96Mark Rober - YouTube - YouTubeGloZell! Hairiest Man in Australia uses Nad's Hair Removal!!! - YouTubeDeath Becomes Her - WikipediaiPad2 Halloween Costume- Gaping hole in torso - YouTubeAmazon.com: Plantronics BackBeat PRO 2 - Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones (Black & Tan): Cell Phones & AccessoriesAmazon.com: JLab Audio Epic2 Bluetooth 4.0 Wireless Sport Earbuds, GUARANTEED fitness, waterproof IPX5 rated, skip-free sound, pristine high-performance 8mm sound drivers, 12hr play time w/ microphone - Black: Home Audio & TheaterSmoky Beef & Poblano Chili Recipe | HelloFreshWindows Subsystem for Linux - WikipediaHome – Google ChromebooksHD & 4K Scream Videos - VideoBlocks: Royalty-Free Scream Stock FootageHD & 4K Clowns Videos - VideoBlocks: Royalty-Free Clowns Stock FootageHD & 4K Emo Videos - VideoBlocks:

TOPIC: Too much ambiguity in time. This week, your hosts discuss hot weather adjustments, Merlin's Skype woes, the state of the union on Skype replacement contenders, ruminations on Mac troubleshooting, the fraught future of retail comic book stores, a side rant on the really dumb economics of the comics industry, hobby shop nostalgia, lobby bell techniques and triangle mounting options, some great tips for pressing things on iOS Safari, the joys of Safari Reader mode, Chrome vs. Safari, changing our browser habits, and Dan's weird screen problem. Then, Merlin just goes freaking OFF on the problems with how we talk about time. Links for this episode:ZencastrVideo Conferencing, Web Conferencing, Webinars, Screen Sharing - ZoomComic Shop Locator| Find Your Nearest Comic Book, Graphic Novel and Pop-Culture Store - There's A Lot to See and Do at Your Local Comic Shop!Two Cats Comic Book Store | Certified new reader friendly!Austin Books & ComicsUngainly X-Mann Meetup #19 — Merlin MannA Nerdy SF Comics

TOPIC: Turns out. This week, the boys talk about audio problems, hot dogs, kegeling, Merlin's next meet-up, Tsum Tsums, comic suggestions, Battle of the Sexes, excellent recent TV series, All the President's Men, the app Pacifica, warming buns, Dan's encounter with Koo Koo Kanga Roo, a dearth of good information about VPNs (yikes!), levels of "Turns Out," a podcast episode about gluten, and hot phones with possibly low batteries. In a very surprising "turns out," Dan has a surprising call that leads to a very interesting experience with a hardware device. Dan really wants macOS on an iPad. Don't at him. There's also some fruitful if fraught discussion about habit-building. Merlin is not a fan of "The Countdown." Dan is attacked by a sky spider and might have to move now. Links for this episode:Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #19 — Merlin MannMERLIN 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

TOPIC: Surface Tension. This week, Dan and Merlin discuss names of cities in Florida, wireless neckbands, elliptical bikes, chore systems (and parental withholding), iOS battery life, canny Mac laptop battery monitoring, how battery cycles work, Todd, and things you already know (unless you don't already know them). Two pretty good YouTube channels are recommended. Your hosts talk about that weird thing where iOS throws up a password pop-up, including some recent bad news on how it might be exploited. Gross. There's also some exciting news about possible Brand Synergies. Things wrap with responding to listener questions about smart home location woes and choosing a VPN. Murrrrrrph! Links for this episode:Wireless neckband allows first voiceless phone call - YouTubeBlack Widow Spider vs. ScorpionBeanMeister22Recommended for you EverythingApplePro - YouTubeWhat we talk about when we talk about talking: The CIA's guide to semanticsPhilips Hue Labs - Multi user geofencingiOS 11 Review! Should You Updat

TOPIC: You're not supposed to pet the car. This week, Dan and Merlin discuss Nest Cam updates, Ring doorbell tracking, Echo family additions, HDMI questions, the fraught landscape of 4K HDR TV stuff, and how shopping makes Merlin feel kind of vulnerable. Two excellent music podcasts are recommended. Dan has a new MacBook Pro and a lot to say about it. Merlin introduces something he calls "Power Puttering." Links for this episode:Amazon.com: Cable Matters Combo, 270 Degree and 90 Degree HDMI Male to Female Adapter: ElectronicsAll-New Fire TV with 4K Ultra HD and Alexa Voice Remote | Streaming Media PlayerDissect – A Serialized Music PodcastDissect - A Serialized Music Podcast — OvercastCole Cuchna is creating Dissect Podcast. | PatreonHit ParadeHit Parade — OvercastCustomize MacBook Pro - AppleLG UltraFine 4K Display - AppleMaking Better Use of the Touch Bar - TidBITSThe Touch Bar’s Future – 512 PixelsLG fixing Wi-Fi interference problems with UltraFine 5K Display, new units will be unaffected | 9to5MacAma