Back To Work

DISCUSSED: Merlin's additions to Bunch have him stepping on his own dingus; maybe it's time to invert the permissive legacy model for who gets access to us (as well as how and when); there's no amount of technology that can make other people be decent; Oh. Hey. Defaults? Be better; also, please quit stealing my focus; Dan is not buying anything new; your hosts talk about the various (often non-obvious) costs of adding, changing, or removing features; maybe building your whole business on Facebook wasn't such a great idea; passing discussion of Bloom County, Muppet dogs, and a Tilikum bottle; the tale of Underscore's unexpected success, and the costs it brought; talk of affordances; and, finally, Just cough up some dough, Mac! Links for this episode:Can U2’s Songs of Innocence Be Removed From Apple Account?ELECTION PROFIT MAKERSStrong Songs is creating podcasts about music | PatreonBlackfish (film) - WikipediaThe Manchurian Candidate (1962 film) - WikipediaOpus the Penguin - WikipediaThe Flop House Animated

DISCUSSED: Merlin has a lot to say about the benefits of making lists; this leads to an old-school stemwinder on "Journal" calendars, functional playlists, shared Notes, the lessons of the cutlery drawer, desire paths, arbitrary grids, "Reference" albums, urban bike hooks, auxiliary paper towel holders, and more; praise for The Boys; the magical combination of Halide and Pixelmator Photo; Dan resurrects a beloved podcast; and, finally, Merlin endorses a really weird British weather report that can help you sleep. Links for this episode:Desire path - WikipediaThe Pot Roast Principle | Psychology Today "I don't know. That's just the way my mom always cooked it. Why don't you ask her?" Star Trek Dr. McCoy Pop Art T-ShirtMy Happy Place - YouTubeVideos I watch pretty often when I need a little pick-me-up. "The Boys" (Prime Video)HalidePixelmator PhotoQUIT! with Dan BenjaminDan's amazing podcast QUIT! has returned! The Secret History: Howard Hughes, Bizarre Billionaire - YouTube5 Hours of The Shipping For

DISCUSSED: hey, it's an advice episode!; San Francisco has a lot of available office space; a musical unguent for your soul; a cool font that makes accessibility pretty; getting in front of your next wave of depression; the Emotional Police are here to cite you for your numerous infractions; and, finally, Merlin highly recommends a recent podcast episode about why we're all so exhausted and what we might want to do about it. Links for this episode:Visualizing the Vacant Office Space in San FranciscoIn other words, there’s roughly 8.7 Salesforce towers, or 516 Salesforce tower floors, worth of empty office space in San Francisco at the moment, which is roughly enough space to accommodate between 67,000 (based on an average, pre-Covid, density) and 91,000 (a la twitter) worker bees. Nick Lowe & The Southsea Alternative Choir - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding - YouTubeDownload the Atkinson Hyperlegible Font | Braille InstituteEverything is Exhausting | To The Best Of Our Kno

DISCUSSED: Sending good vibes to The Dude; Merlin has a couple awesome app recommendations; some Follow-Up on the Apple Event, including what your hosts are ordering and what they're each excited about; which kinds of things your hosts do and do not find useful about the Apple Rumor Industrial Complex; Dan tries on a new iOS camera app; Merlin recommends a clever web cam app; some of our voice friends hear well, others understand well, and some sound good, but none (for now) do it all; finally, Dan finds some productivity insight, courtesy of The Buddha. Links for this episode:An overly complex hack for finding books on cluttered shelves (Interconnected)Memos - Private MemoryBunch - BrettTerpstra.comReincubate Camo - Use your phone as a pro webcam, freeMarriage Logic MapAdittapariyaya Sutta: The Fire SermonJeff Bridges Breaks Down His Most Iconic Characters | GQ - YouTubeJeff Bridges Remains 'Chill' During Troubling Times - YouTubeJeff Bridges, John Goodman And Steve Buscemi Talk ‘The Big Lebowski’

DISCUSSED: Merlin is reporting live from the show floor; Dan is due for a new phone; nostalgia for buying a carton of cigarettes; praise for Netflix's "Challenger" series; Merlin shares some updates on his big resource-leveling project; gotta find those big rocks, amirite; interruptions are the death of the tech person's day; remember, your work is part of your life—not separate from it. Links for this episode:"Challenger: The Final Flight" (Netflix)Apple’s new HomePod mini speaker revealed in leaked images - The VergeNostromo patch | EtsyNASA Armstrong Fact Sheet: Shuttle Carrier Aircraft | NASAF-1 Rocket Engine | National Air and Space MuseumYou Are Allowed 20 Birthday Parties - YouTubeBrought to you by: Linode (Get started on Linode today with a $100 in free credit by visiting linode.com/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).

DISCUSSED: Merlin craves an easy visit with Floyd; Spirit's lawsuit no longer winds on down the road; Question: what obligation does a company have to support their developer tools? And for how long exactly?; when are new film editions not "the good one?"; despite swearing not to do so, a popular service for monetizing indie content is, as they say, put on blast; lot of talk about business things; waiters shouldn't lie to people who used to be waiters; exciting developments in the Drafts ecosystem; and, finally, Merlin unleashes an old school stem-winder on taking a recent stab at resource-leveling—using technology! Links for this episode:Introducing the ThoughtAsylum Suite for Drafts | ThoughtAsylumThoughtAsylum - Tasks & Lists | Drafts Action DirectoryAirtableGuide to kanban view – Airtable - SupportIntroduction to Kanban Guide – What is Kanban? | PlanviewWhat Is Kanban And How Can It Be Used To Increase Productivity? | by Sandeep Kashyap | MediumLed Zeppelin emerges victor in 'Stairway to Hea

DISCUSSED: the boys update one another on some very good media they're enjoying; everybody loves a movie with a big world; Merlin pitches Dan on the improbable magic of Ted Lasso; talk turns to some new features of Apple's recent OS updates; at length, Merlin makes a case for exploring the amazing new functionalities of widgets, complications, and especially the apps of Underscore David Smith; Guardian gets an exciting update and a pro plan; there's some talk of the challenge in finding a VPN that actually does what you think it's doing; it seems like the show is over, but then there's twelve minutes of movie talk with a focus on children and boobs; finally, Merlin kinda busts a gut about trying to run a Mr. Rogers on the kids you care about. Links for this episode:Ep. 397: "Open Ticket" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannThe Problem: John likes to divide his life up into stories. Shortcuts Catalog – Matthew CassinelliRaised by Wolves (American TV series) - WikipediaHBO MaxChris Gethard Loves Kit F

DISCUSSED: Folks, this one is a doozy, and that's all I'm gonna say about that. Links for this episode:Inbox Zero: Merlin Mann's Tips for Managing Your Life Online | GQ“I've come to think of it as more of a philosophy than a methodology,” he says now. “It’s about trying to put a stake in the ground with regard to your attention. It’s a way of saying, ‘Some people are allowed to have some of me, some of the time. Regardless of what the world demands of me, here’s what I’m offering.’” On Chasing the Right "Zero" | kung fu grippeIn my view, the titular ‘zero’ in Inbox Zero is not about the number of email messages that are sitting in your inbox at a given time. And, contrary to popular opinion, it’s absolutely not about spending hours of your precious day trying to achieve that empty inbox at any cost. That’s just monkeyballs. Social rules - Recurse CenterFeigned surprise is when you act surprised when someone doesn’t know something. Responding with surprise in this situation makes people feel bad

DISCUSSED: Merlin is reporting live from the show floor; remember to photograph your kid's room; some bearded dragon updates; some thoughts on pets; Merlin's grandfather was a reluctant dog obsessive; Dan wants to read you a label; Merlin met a fellow cadet; check out Dan's videos; Merlin is loving iOS 14, especially the smarter Siri suggestions; speculation on how machines learn; your hosts still want Macs to be Macs; Big Sur notifications are basically a Bop It; are we getting diminishing returns from theoretical Mac improvements?; Dan has a really good analogy involving wrist watches; there's a reason normal people don't like their apps to change; Merlin puts review requests on blast; an edit button would still be nice; Merlin finds himself with an unusual opportunity to field test some disused home tech; and, finally, it is hoped that Frasier will leave of his own volition. Links for this episode:Cataract surgery - Mayo ClinicDan Benjamin - YouTubeAmazon.com: Craftsman 9-31794 Slotted Phillips Screwdrive

DISCUSSED: California has no shortage of crises; Dan's got a brand new bag; thoughts on exercise as prophylactic medicine; extremely anecdotal data on the rise of fake ratings and reviews on Amazon; the return of "A cool thing I learned this week" brings some very neato apps, tips, and whatnot. Links for this episode:TextSniper is a great Mac utility for converting graphics to text - 9to5MacTextSniper - Capture any text from your Mac's screenLaunchBar Help (Clipboard History)Use Time Machine on your Mac to back up to multiple disks - Apple SupportTime Machine rotates the backup schedule among the disks. For each disk, Time Machine backs up everything that’s changed since the last time that disk was used. If you designated items that shouldn’t be backed up, the list of excluded items applies to all backup disks. Versys VS.1 | Century Martial ArtsKnixx on Twitter: ""My back hurts all the time for no reason." How I sit every day: https://t.co/E8W9PDfYSc" / TwitterHigh-intensity interval

DISCUSSED: Rabbit, rabbit!; Dan wants to be sedated; at some point, Merlin had most of the optimism bred out of him; a lot of problems and small beefs get overlooked for survival and sanity reasons right now; Dan shares listener recommendations for movies like the Missions Impossible; time was, you went to the weird video store and just hoped you got the good guy; Dan wants to remind you that he signed a letter of agreement—a CONTRACT; maybe it's time we abandon that increasingly meaningless term, "screen time"; Merlin thinks you can give a baby a name that's funny in only one way, but never in more than one way; every generation demonizes a new technology that they're sure will corrupt the youths; Dan has strong thoughts on the Indiana Jones trilogy (yes, there are exactly three and only three); no one is as persuasive as Sean Connery; Merlin made some movie lists; sometimes you get something that's "mostly for your kid" when it's totally not for your kid; Dan draws inspiration from Roald Dahl's work setup;

DISCUSSED: Merlin has a lot of infrastructure going on; your hosts share strong feelings on time zone discrimination and its attendant big-timing; Dan has more cool videos coming to his channel; some boring nerd talk on voice recording options; Dan needs your suggestions for more movies like the Missions Impossible; in Follow-Up, there's some good news and some bad news related to both COVID and San Francisco; hurricanes are coming!; Merlin figures out why Safari on his Mac got so slow; thoughts on DNS Server choices; Merlin endorses a podcast episode that involves some very Back To Work ideas; everything is copy; and, finally, some concerns about nicknames plus several important questions about the consensuality of Jake Robert's titular snake. Links for this episode:Dan Benjamin - YouTubeComedian Tig Notaro advice on dealing with crazy neighborsThe standup comedian helps our listener stand down and have some laughs. Nora Ephron in Jacob Bernstein's 'Everything Is Copy': Prophet of Privacy - Th

DISCUSSED: time is hard; X-Men for eight cellos; in follow-up, Dan has some clues for troubleshooting his jumpy screen; it's valuable to understand what problem you didn't solve; then, of course, comes the extended weekly airing of COVID grievances; Merlin needs advice on choosing a Zoom recorder; check out Dan's new thing!; recommendations for Ted Lasso and Ethan Hunt; some lessons to bring home from vacation; plus, some more reckons on life after COVID. Links for this episode:How Dan Records Back to WorkHow to slit and fold a map for special use (ArmyStudyGuide.com)Miura fold - WikipediaHow to Fold a Topographic Map and Other Techniques - ITS TacticalHome design is adapting to the pandemic, too - MarketplaceCOVID-19Samara Ginsberg on Twitter: "I had A LOT of requests for this one! X-Men: The Animated Series https://t.co/D1W5TAAs0I" / TwitterParents are furious that schools can’t reopen - The Washington PostWhat we’ve learned about this coronavirus.The pandemic moves quickly. The scientific consens

DISCUSSED: Dan is joining a campaign, and Merlin's eyesight now precludes him from being an AD&D dungeon master; Dan has a concern about his laptop screen and needs your help; then, the boys settle in for a good, old-fashioned recommendations episode; podcasts, pens, video editing apps, a 3D printer, a new SoundSource, hard drives, and even a moisturizing cream for your little patch. Links for this episode:AmazonSmile : MUJI Aluminum Body Fountain Pen - Fine Nib - with 2 Refill Ink Cartridge : Office ProductsBlank Check with Griffin & DavidNot just another bad movie podcast, Blank Check reviews directors' complete filmographies episode to episode. Specifically, the auteurs whose early successes afforded them the rare ‘blank check’ from Hollywood to produce passion projects. Each new miniseries, hosts Griffin Newman and David Sims delve into the works of film’s most outsized personalities in painstakingly hilarious detail. RoboCop — Blank Check with Griffin & David — OvercastAmazonSmile: Tul Retrac

DISCUSSED: the joys of a movie that reveals itself over multiple viewings; good storytelling is difficult but so rewarding; as you know, Bob, a lot of movies have that Walk Hard problem; Merlin has questions about Dan's day-to-day in Travis County; people are cooking the books; why do so many people have the Extremis virus these days?; we could still make a big dent; and, finally, wow, the demands for performance sure can be exhausting. Links for this episode:Fair Play Mystery (Concept) - Comic VineEdgar Wright - How to Do Visual Comedy - YouTubeAmazon.com: 2 PCS Men Women Safety Face Shields with Protective Clear Film, Reusable plastics Elastic Band and Comfort Sponge. Eye Protection: Home ImprovementWhy the Pandemic Is So Bad in America - The Atlantic(49) AXIOS on HBO: President Trump Exclusive Interview (Full Episode) | HBO - YouTubeLampshade Hanging - TV TropesChekhov's gun"If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go

DISCUSSED: Merlin has discovered a unique new voice emerging from the medical and spiritual communities; your hosts interrogate the implications of this new material; Dan and Merlin have media recommendations; as a main topic, your hosts explore the many, intertwined complexities of trying to figure out "the future" right now. Links for this episode:Stella Immanuel, Trump’s New COVID-19 Doctor, Believes in Alien DNA, Demon Sperm, and HydroxychloroquineWalls Are Back - The AtlanticPersonal space is finally back in style, but re-creating it after two decades of its destruction is hardly a straightforward task. Parents are furious that schools can’t reopen - The Washington PostI can’t be the only parent who finds containing my anger about this to be a full-time job on top of the two I’m already performing poorly. America’s Schools Are a Moral and Medical CatastropheCompanies are quickly learning lessons about the varied necessities of remote work, from appropriate tools to new styles of management. Fortunes may

DISCUSSED: There's really only one topic right now, and it's not going away any time soon. Many analogies and historical echoes are explored. The future, if it exists, is going to be very weird. Links for this episode:And the Band Played On (film) - WikipediaCooter (30 Rock) - WikipediaAnd the Band Played On streaming: where to watch online?What teachers really think about school reopening in the fall.Four teachers on their fears and frustrations heading into the 2020 school year. There Is No Plan (For You) - In These TimesUnemployment, evictions, business failure, a pandemic and health crises are all here at once. The federal government doesn’t care. Splitting (psychology) - WikipediaMSNBC: Atlanta Mayor: Despite rising cases, Georgia Governor ‘wants to silence me’Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms says that in Atlanta, the city is facing 13% left in ICU capacity, yet Georgia Governor Brian Kemp ‘wants to silence me.’ Adam Alma on Twitter: "@hotdogsladies let me be the nth Floridian to tell you about th

DISCUSSED: knife talk and flea market nostalgia; a deep dive on state knife law; knife tips from listeners; Merlin reinstalled Homebrew; comfort viewing amidst these challenging times; also, a healthy fear of Australian spiders. Links for this episode:Flea Market | Drive in Movies| Florida Swap ShopCalifornia’s Knife Laws – What You Need to KnowCalifornia Knife Laws - Rules On Possession And UseCalifornia Knife Laws 2019 - Is It Legal to Carry One? - Riderz LawCrater C33T Knife | LeathermanLEATHERMAN, Skeletool Lightweight Multitool with Combo Knife and Bottle Opener, Stainless Steel - - Amazon.comWagon Wheel Flea MarketVendorsaden films - YouTubeChoir! Epic! Nights with Colin Hay - Men At Work "Overkill" - YouTubeChoir! Choir! Choir! sings Sloan - Coax Me - YouTubeOlive Wagyu in Japan - The rarest Steak in the World - YouTubeThe Law of Hot Places | Do By FridayThis week's challenge: check out some flashlights and knives. Gerber EAB Pocket Knife [22-41830] - Gerber Knives - AmazonSmileSeymour Duncan

DISCUSSED: Merlin has flies in his bathroom; Dan's town is really going through some times; there's some COVID talk, duh; Merlin solved a very strange iOS beta bug; main topic involves some thoughts on the Apple betas and the tantalizing future that they imply; Dan has a new keyboard and an accompanying conspiracy theory; leathers men are discussed; and, finally, Merlin needs to use the bathroom—provided the flies will allow it. Links for this episode:European Union - WikipediaOur Ability to Process Information Is Reaching a Critical LimitAmazon.com: Logitech MX Keys Advanced Wireless Illuminated Keyboard - Graphite: Computers & AccessoriesAmazonSmile: LEATHERMAN, Wingman Multitool with Spring-Action Pliers and Scissors, Built in the USA, Stainless Steel with Nylon Sheath: Sports & OutdoorsLEATHERMAN, FREE P4 Multitool with Magnetic Locking, One Hand Accessible Tools and Premium Nylon Sheath and Pocket Clip, Built in the USA - - AmazonSmileLEATHERMAN, Squirt PS4 Keychain Multitool with Spring-Action S

DISCUSSED: the things we can and cannot do anything about; the things that can and cannot change; and the wisdom to know all of the differences. Links for this episode:Ep. 389: "The New March" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannState Flag - 1845 - Florida Department of StateOn March 3, 1845, Florida became the twenty-seventh state. Citizens of Tallahassee presented incoming Governor William D. Moseley with a flag that flew at his inauguration. However, because of a controversy surrounding its motto, it never became an official state flag. The flag shown here is reconstructed from a written description. Apple introduces macOS Big Sur with a beautiful new design - AppleEuropean Union - Wikipedia"Fawlty Towers" The Germans (TV Episode 1975) - IMDbBrought to you by: Backblaze(Get a 15-day free trial at Backblaze.com/backtowork).