Back To Work

DISCUSSED: Dan and Merlin take a first look at Apple's recently-announced iOS and iPadOS updates. Links for this episode:iPad Keyboards - ApplePaul Verhoeven - WikipediaSecure, Fast & Private Web Browser with Adblocker | Brave BrowserAmazonSmile : Arlo Pro 3 – Wire-Free Security 2 Camera System | 2K with HDR, Indoor/Outdoor, Color Night Vision, Spotlight, 160° View, 2-Way Audio, Siren | Works with Alexa | (VMS4240P) : Camera & PhotoWWDC 2020 Special Event Keynote — Apple - YouTubeBrought to you by: Zendesk (Get your free 6 months today by visiting Zendesk.com/backtowork). Feals (Become a member today by going to Feals.com/backtowork and you'll get 50% off your first order with free shipping).

DISCUSSED: Merlin is nauseated, and Dan has advice on what you definitely should or should not buy at a gas station; Merlin says he'll be brief, but, as usual, it turns into a real stem-winder as…; Merlin addresses the complexity of treating mental illness in a way that doesn't upend your body and life; Dan needs some TV show recommendations, but has very strong feelings about talking animals; Merlin wonders aloud if he's ever met @Darth; case close. Links for this episode:5by5 | Back to Work #3: The Second ArrowMerlin Mann and Dan Benjamin discuss ADD, Buddhism, mindfulness, concentration, and insight. darth™ (@darth) / TwitterDSM-5 Criteria for ADHD – ADD Resource CenterADHD DSM-5® Criteria | Diagnostic Criteria for ADHDDepression and anxiety spike among black Americans after George Floyd's death - The Washington PostBrought to you by: Zendesk (Get your free 6 months today by visiting Zendesk.com/backtowork).

DISCUSSED: Dan and Merlin talk about hot dogs. Links for this episode:Uncured Beef Frankfurters (Natural Casing) | Boar's HeadProducts - Hot Dogs - ApplegatePRODUCTS « KahnsDonate - Howard Brown Health"Howard Brown was established on the premise that healthcare in the LGBTQ community should be a readily accessible right, not a luxury – that those who lack the privilege of adequate health coverage or access to competent medical providers should be able to find care in a confidential and supportive environment." Does Bond’s product placement go too far? - BBC CultureMaria Bamford’s One-Hour Homemade Christmas Special! on VimeoVINTAGE 1967 ARMOUR HOT DOGS COMMERCIAL - KIDS MARCHING & SINGING - YouTubeTo Differentiate: High Ceilings and Low Floors |PredictIt: Search ResultsBrought to you by: Feals (Become a member today by going to Feals.com/backtowork and you'll get 50% off your first order with free shipping). Memberful (Memberful is the easiest way to sell memberships to your audience, used by th

DISCUSSED: not everything can be everything; pain accumulates; getting weepy about a cool teacher; expanding on our new thought technology for reframing negative thoughts and feelings; abstracting that new thought technology to tons of different endeavors; why won't they just let me win this video game?; the scissors and Scotch Tape are wherever you left them; the joys of ritual and control; the importance of infrastructure; break the big thing into a bunch of little things; Merlin performs a brief recitation of Back to Work's Greatest Hits; please cut up my food for me please; theme dining nights rule; praise for Daniel Kahneman; it used to be so confusing when TV shows had inside film and outside film. Links for this episode:5by5 | Back to Work #479: Use or AvoidDan Columbos Merlin with a question about napping, which leads to some surprising insights on our feelings about success and failure. Thinking, Fast and Slow - WikipediaFawlty Towers - Wikipedia"Fair is…"Penny Arcade - News - Dear DiarySo

DISCUSSED: Skype struggles; nobody likes parsnips; Dan remotely teaches Merlin to cut his own hair; Dan introduces a new game show, and Merlin is dealing with poop; life is not currently optimized for multiple-event days; Merlin challenges you to remember when exactly eight minutes has gone by; why we'll eventually each discover what the hell happened on our personal Galápagos; the exhaustion of Zoom calls; an omnibus recommendation related to movies; finally, Dan Columbos Merlin with a question about napping, which leads to some surprising insights on our feelings about success and failure. Links for this episode:30 Singular Films to Watch in Quarantine - The AtlanticThese films, each unforgettable in its own way, are essential viewing. Mad Max: Fury Road with Emily Yoshida — Blank Check with Griffin & David — OvercastRoboCop — Blank Check with Griffin & David — OvercastThe Book of Henry — Blank Check with Griffin & David — OvercastBlank Check with Griffin & David is creating Podcasts | Patre

DISCUSSED: discussion of The Freshman and thoughts on what makes a movie "hold up"; has anyone ever craved a three-star movie?; what Merlin really wants is a smart friend; Dan is enjoying On Becoming a God in Central Florida; the difficulty of making weird good; I didn't buy it a beer; your mask is not a case for your beard; Dan has follow-up on bikes; Merlin has follow-up on companies and WFH help; thoughts on what we know and don't know about the difficulties of ““reopening””; the benefits and challenges of being a chain-worrying project manager; praise for the Austin Grackles. Links for this episode:The Freshman (1990) - IMDbBruno Kirby - Biography - IMDbCarmine Said One Boy - YouTubeFreeway movie review & film summary (1997) | Roger Ebert"Occasionally an unsuspecting innocent will stumble into a movie like this and send me an anguished postcard, asking how I could possibly give a favorable review to such trash. My stock response is Ebert's Law, which reads: A movie is not about what it is about. It is

DISCUSSED: Here we are in Spain; a lot went on behind the scenes of The Wizard of Oz; also Modern Problems existed; further discussion of 80s movies; they used to make more movies; B-MO gets a show?; secrets of the child whisper network; Saturday morning memories; C19 is making a lot of holes and gaps in kids' lives; what even is the deal with colleges?; wisdom from the great Kevin Kelly; it's one thing to know something, but it's another thing to know something; and, finally, beginning to explore how best to level resources and expectations as many of us work from home. Links for this episode:Merlin's Twitter poll from Monday"Poll: as your company prepped for people to WfH, how much interaction did you have to address your specific challenges, get extra resources, and set individual expectations?" National Remote Work SurveyThe Technium: 68 Bits of Unsolicited AdviceIt’s my birthday. I’m 68. I feel like pulling up a rocking chair and dispensing advice to the young ‘uns. Here are 68 pithy bits of unsol

DISCUSSED: Dan has concerns!; every road has many parts, but you seriously need to show your humanity; stop signs are really just velocipede serving suggestions; not all wood floats; too soon; an ambitious crossover is proposed; Cormac McCarthy rules; Phillip W. Battery sure has a lot going on for a busy and attentive new dad; as a main topic, your hosts bounce off a terrific recent episode of Merlin's beloved You're Wrong About; hey, what B2W-ish lessons can be drawn from the response to the Y2K "bug"?; ultimately, it is just so hard to solve one problem without potentially creating five other problems; memories of New Year's Eve, 1999; for once, Dan wasn't concerned at all; more praise for YWA, and a humble apology to Sarah; hey, listen, don't be ashamed to find delight; praise for Slugline 2; a recommendation for a James Franco movie. Links for this episode:You're Wrong AboutWith Michael Hobbes & Sarah Marshall The Y2K Bug — You're Wrong About — OvercastYou're Wrong About is creating a podca

DISCUSSED: Merlin is having a strange day, and Dan notices everything; please remember that fear and stress and anxiety are pretty terrible motivators; praise for On Becoming a God in Central Florida and 1Password; security theater vs. security reality; Dan's new mouse is as quiet as a…what's the word?; Brushing with Hardest Available Toothbrush Considered Harmful; Dan is gently exposing his son to one of the great films. So what?; a couple great pieces on making actual good passwords; recommendations for a Sondheim special and a terrific YouTube guy; extensive advice and suggestions for a listener moving to a Mac; learning almost anything is a lot like learning The Metric System; and, finally, praise for the great Peter N. Lewis. Links for this episode:Multiple Level Thinking | Levels Of Thought In PokerEp. 378: "Lion, Tiger, Horse, Monkey" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannThe Problem: John has rarely driven a car hard and hung it up wet. Ep. 379: "Garbage Island" - Roderick on the Lin

DISCUSSED: our perception of value is definitely personal and maybe even a little generational; sometimes, the only thing you can afford is the best; a listener question about where your hosts are with comics; further praise for TaskPaper; updates on macOS text editing; Merlin capitulates to Catalina; Dan answers a listener question about coping with chronic back pain; learning how to stop rehearsing frailty by embracing the wonders of momentum. Links for this episode:CBR and CBZ Files (What They Are and How to Open One)nvALT - BrettTerpstra.comSublime Text - A sophisticated text editor for code, markup and proseBare Bones Software | BBEdit 13TaskPaper – Plain text to-do lists for Macalefore/edge: Edge - a text editorRowing Machine - Model D with PM5 | Concept2Amazon.com: Clever Coffee Dripper Barista's Choice - Bonus 100 Filters Included (18 oz Large, Clear): Kitchen & DiningThe Incomparable | Kids Have Bad Taste (Episode 104)Brought to you by: Feals (Become a member today by going to Feals.com/bac

DISCUSSED: Dan loves it when things just work and so does Merlin; Dan is composting, and Merlin is down to clown; ¡repita después de mi!; massive real-time follow-up; playing with iBeacons; excellent follow-up and notes from listeners; many reccomendations; memories of Grad Night; this is a very silly one. Links for this episode:The Weirdly Enduring Appeal of Weird Al Yankovic - The New York TimesEstimote – experts in location and proximity solutionsWe are experts in location and proximity solutions folivora.ai - Great Tools for your Mac!BetterTouchTool is a great, feature packed app that allows you to customize various input devices on your Mac. Netflix - "Unorthodox"PicPedant (@PicPedant) / TwitterCelery Man - YouTubeAmazon.com: Celery Man: Alexa SkillsBar None // ShaunInman.comMac Power Users #528: The Merlin Awakens - Relay FMMPU Hall of Famer Merlin Mann returns to discuss using plain text, home automation, the Apple TV and more. Automators #39: Automating iBeacons - Relay FMIn this episode, Da

TW: very brief mention of suicide around minute 24. DISCUSSED: a classic three-act episode! Expertise is difficult to explain—let alone to teach; the Sunday Scaries are real; it's an interesting (and surprising) time for people with anxiety and depression; let's keep trying to give each other a break; some follow-up on Descript and the One-Drawer Project; You Look Nice Today is back; finally, Dan has some tips on surviving working from home. Links for this episode:Coronavirus Is Making a Lot of People Anxious and Depressed. But Some Sufferers Actually Feel Better Now.Lucy Dacus - "Addictions" (Official Music Video) - YouTubeReconcilable Differences #127: Advice Nurse - Relay FMIn a main topic, your hosts try to share some ideas on sustainably working remotely from home. History and experience can be pretty good teachers, but working yourself to a damaged nub is a terrible game for the young and should be considered harmful. You Look Nice TodayCalifornia KingCalifornia King Episode 1: What is HØL?Ou

In this very intimate episode, Dan and Merlin share some ideas for positive yet do-able projects to improve your life and world in these dumb, scary times. Also, covered in this episode: recommendations for Max Richter's Sleep and an insane new podcast production app called "Descript". Links for this episode:Sleep (album) - WikipediaMax Richter: Sleep Album Review | PitchforkThe audacious composer Max Richter has created an eight-hour piece meant to serve as a sleep aid. But it is more than that. For these 31 uninterrupted pieces, Richter accepts the extraordinary challenge of not only aiding sleep but also translating the act into art. If you listen while you’re awake, many of these pieces conjure dreamy states, where ideas seem fluid and flexible and the world around you seems somehow softer. Max Richter SLEEPThe glacially-paced movements slide in and out of focus throughout the concert inviting the audience to experience what Richter essentially considers a protest against our relentlessly ‘switched on’ l

Difficult times and the Venn overlap between anxiety and OCD. Hang in there, everybody. Links for this episode:Epistemic Trespassing | Mind | Oxford AcademicEpistemic trespassers are thinkers who have competence or expertise to make good judgments in one field, but move to another field where they lack competence—and pass judgment nevertheless. We should doubt that trespassers are reliable judges in fields where they are outsiders. On "epistemic trespassing"In which Merlin has learned a useful new concept! Found My Place - BlogFound My Place is a creative musical project by me, Merlin Mann. It is generously sponsored by Squarespace, in conjunction with their kind support of the Back to Work podcast I do with my pal Dan Benjamin. I hope you enjoy it, and many thanks to Squarespace for making this possible. Attractive nuisance doctrine - WikipediaIt states that a landowner may be held liable for injuries to children trespassing on the land if the injury is caused by an object on the land that is likel

DISCUSSED: “CATS — Now and Forever!”; BokBok.wtf; on civic responsibility; Dan browses worms, and Merlin finds him a spider; Dan wants some keyboard advice, and Merlin just needs a ride; some thoughts on engaging versus escaping right now; praise for Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo; suggestions for leveraging the wonder of libraries today; Dan is working on a big Minecraft project, also some listener letters. Links for this episode:Bok Bok — Merlin Mann (BokBok.wtf)'How come Merlin says “Bok Bok” on Back to Work?' Amazon's Supply Chain Is Breaking and Small Businesses Are Screwed - VICELive Insects & Feeders | Josh's FrogsEpisode #302 – CATS The Flop HouseSilent Mechanical Keyboard - Razer BlackWidow Litesilent Kanopy - Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top DocumentariesLibby, by OverDrive - an app for library ebooks and audiobooks15 Things You Didn't Know You Could Get From the Library | My Money | US News11 Things You Can Borrow From Libraries Besides Books | Mental Floss200 Things You

DISCUSSED: heck, yeah, there's a lot of uncertainty; the woeful knock-on effects of COVID-19, from SxSW to presidential handshaking; Dan graciously accepts Merlin's apology; it's so important that you not touch the fish's face; Dan's Podcast Method is back, baby; you can tell an ecosystem is healthy when the advice about it diversifies; Dan explains the Kelvin Timeline and why he hates it; a Celebration of Bones emerges; Merlin is intrigued by Otter and a little unsure about Jumbo; Dan wants you to know it's still him; breaking handshake news; the boys get a nice letter from a listener; Merlin kinda busts a gut about where his head was at when Back to Work launched; audio is afoot; recommended starter episodes are offered; and, finally, praise for Lost and Japanese Queer Eye. Links for this episode:Otter Voice Meeting Notes - Otter.aiJumbo: Take back control of your data and privacyAt Jumbo, we believe that your data belongs to you. That’s why our app empowers you to take control of your privacy and security,

DISCUSSED: Merlin's uvula thing is back; some handy one-liner suggestions; the boys are loving uBar, and this leads to a dive on how they use the macOS Dock; praise for Witch; Ultraman is back, baby!; 500,000° is very, very hot; some nebulous, initial thoughts about a bracing call to focus on doing the work (and not how it looks to others when you're doing the work); a listener letter on alternatives for music hosting and streaming in the Apple ecosystem; wow, hard drives sure got super-cheap, huh?; nostalgia for those awesome old Jasmine BacPac hard drives; and, finally, a listener needs your help finding good episodes about surviving and thriving while working in a corporate environment. Links for this episode:Drafts | Where Text StartsTypora — a markdown editor, markdown reader.Marvel reveals cover and story details for ULTRAMANuBar - The Dock replacement for the MacThe Dock replacement for the Mac. Boost your productivity with the most advanced and versatile app and window manager for the Mac. Merlin Mann

DISCUSSED: Skype steals focus, and Merlin ate your poem; music is pretty great; some odds and sods and recommendations; everyone should have a bell; learning to trust your system (and yourself); listener mailbag; Dan loves his new backpack; more on bulwarks against madness. Links for this episode:Carole King 1971 - YouTubeUSBPre 2 Troubleshooting Steps - Sound DevicesHow to turn your Mac startup chime back onSay It, Don't Spray it: Specific Tasks for Specific Outcomes - YouTubeBBC Four - In Concert, Carole KingThe Midnight Special (TV series) - WikipediaRick Wakeman - Wikipedia"Don't Mine At Night" - A Minecraft Parody of Katy Perry's Last Friday Night (Music Video) - YouTubeRick Wakeman The Myths and Legends of King Arthur / Knights of the Round Table Vinyl Album Side 1 - YouTubeAppleInsider PodcastHow novelty and comedy songs topped the charts before memes.Daypack - Ballistic Nylon - DSPTCHWhere's the One? on SpotifyAmazon.com | Side by Side Travel Tech Bag Organizer - Cables &

DISCUSSED: Merlin isn't quite awake yet and has some audio struggles in the midst of a new project; Dan is bringing back The Podcast Method; committing something to media can still be very special; podcasts are cool, and you should make one; praise for Temple Grandin, a Jason Snell video, and a big upgrade over the stock Home app for iOS; solid syncing has raised a lot of boats; updates on the iOS text editor landscape; and, finally, thoughts on the future of sustainable iOS app development. Links for this episode:Podcast MethodAudient iD4 Merlin's guitar interface. The world needs all kinds of minds | Temple Grandin - YouTubeAutism activist Temple Grandin talks about how her mind works -- sharing her ability to "think in pictures," which helps her solve problems that neurotypical brains might miss. She makes the case that the world needs people on the autism spectrum: visual thinkers, pattern thinkers, verbal thinkers, and all kinds of smart geeky kids. RØDE Microphones - PodMicVideo: Editing Podcasts with F

DISCUSSED: new muting!; infrastructure is hard; on dogs; Dan gets a podcast recommendation from his fish guy; who we're 'shipping on Star Trek; a free musical performance for a beloved sponsor; some good TED talks; do we like ligatures in monospace fonts?; Dan is getting restarted with OmniFocus, and Merlin has many, many thoughts and suggestions; finally, your hosts conclude by communicating The Pig Joke. Classic. Links for this episode:Joe Smith: How to use a paper towel | TED TalkMouseless on Setapp | Unleash your keyboard’s superpowerAmazon.com: Pro Co Sound CDPB Panic Button Microphone Routing Box: Musical InstrumentsAllows entertainers to switch the mic signal path from front-of-house to backstage or an alternate location. The A/B switch allows the unit to be used as a muting switch. Built-in status indicator light. AC power supply is included. Pretty Lady Mouth | Do By FridayThis week's challenge: do more with Drafts. Fall of Civilizations PodcastLBJ and the Great Society — OvercastThe Top 15 Star Tre