Back To Work

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 questions about Los Angeles and, then, repeatedly ruins Merlin's very good endings. Links for this episode:Ligatures in programming fonts | Butterick’s Practical TypographyTim Harford — Cautionary TalesCautionary Tales — OvercastA powerful way to unleash your natural creativity | Tim Harford - YouTubeThe Show of Delights - This American LifeIn these dark, combative times, we attempt the most radical counterprogramming we could imagine: a show made up entirely of stories about delight. Amazon.com: Pro Co Sound CDSS Short Stop

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 - SFGateThe Complete Adventure Time Timeline | Channel Frederator - YouTubeThe PicardAmazon.com: Tul Retractable Gel Pens 0.5mm Needle Point, Black 4/pk: Office ProductsThe Sopranos - WikipediaMad Men - WikipediaThe Duffer Brothers - WikipediaDust Brothers - WikipediaLADDA Rechargeable battery - IKEADownload your data - Google Account HelpCharge Apple Watchjohn on Twitter: "hbd to this man https://t.co/xajeX4NoZD" / TwitterI Remember You | Adventure Time Season 4 DVD | Cartoon Network - YouTubeAdventure Time | Simon and Marcy's Origins Story | Cartoon Network - YouTubeAdventure Time | Simon & Marcy | Cartoon Network - YouTubeBrought to you by: Molekule (For $75 off your first order, visit Molekule.com and enter BACKTOWORK at checkout).

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 Heaven” by Led Zeppelin — Strong Songs — Overcast“Tiny Dancer” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” by Elton John — Strong Songs — Overcast“Satisfied” from Hamilton — Strong Songs — OvercastThe Talk Show: ‘SPORT MODE’, WITH SPECIAL GUEST MERLIN MANNSpecial guest Merlin Mann returns to the show. Topics include the renewal of U.S. law enforcement officials’ disingenuous campaign against iPhone encryption, the Houston Astros cheating scandal, how that cheating scandal relates to the Trump impeachment saga, and Catalyst and the art

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 into the magic of Obdev's LaunchBar. Links for this episode:Digital Calendar Alarm Day Clock - with 8" Large Screen Display, am pm, 5 Alarm, for Extra Large Impaired Vision People, The Aged Seniors, The Dementia, for Desk, Wall Mounted, WhiteLaunchBar 6Instant SendAmazon.com: JALLHypercritical: Front and CenterHypercritical: Front and CenterDOUBLICAT | Face swap in GIFsHour of CodeSmartphones: 72% of people will use only mobile for internet by 2025S2 E4: Take With Caution — The Dream — OvercastS1 E1: Wanna Swim in Cash?

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 HomemadeAmazon.com : Rao's Sauce Homemade Marinara Sensitive, 24 oz : Tomato And Marinara SaucesAmazon.com: Lenox Gold Titanium Coated Utility Knife Blades - 10 Pack - Last 3X Longer Than Standard Blades: Home ImprovementBrought 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 purchase). Native (For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant.com and use promo code BACKTOWORK during checkout).

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: VisorPhoneHandspring (company) - WikipediaSetapp | The best apps for Mac in one suiteThe frontier platform that packs 160 Mac apps into just one. A personally curated membership for $9.99/mo. MailMateFastmailAmazon.com: Tenergy TN438 16 Bay Smart Charger with LCD and Built-in IC Protection, AA/AAA NiMH/NiCd Rechargeable Batteries Charger with AC Wall Adapter and Car Adapter: Home Audio & TheaterText CaseInteract Scratchpad for Mac | Agile TortoiseZotero | Your personal research assistantJellyfish - Joining a Fan Club - YouTubeDan Reeder - Clean Elvis - YouTubeCHARMPIT - Bridges Go Burn (Official Music Video) - YouTubePete Holmes & Friends: "Ex-Men"Amazon.com: Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu Ray Player with 4K HDR and Dolby Vision + 6FT HDMI Cable - (UBP-X700): Electronics40.

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 Period in ReptilesAmazon.com : Feeding Tongs 15" 2 Pcs Super Thick Stainless Steel Forceps Curved and Straight Snakes, Reptile, Lizards, Gecko, Spider Long Tweezer : Pet SuppliesAmazon.com : Josh's Frogs Hornworms Habitat Cup (25 Count Cup) : Pet Suppliesbearded dragon cat friends - Google SearchPalm VII - WikipediaGraffiti (Palm OS) - WikipediaDoonesbury comic strip on Newton - CHM RevolutionAmazon.com : Palm V Hand held PDA : Handhelds And Pda Gps Peripherals : ElectronicsRevisiting the Palm Pilot's uncann

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 TomorrowThe MacBook Adorable — Liss is MoreMoving to zsh – Scripting OS XApple replaces bash with zsh as the default shell in macOS Catalina - The VergeAmazon.com: Samson Q2U USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone Recording and Podcasting Pack (Includes Mic Clip, Desktop Stand, Windscreen and Cables): Musical InstrumentsCausalityCompartmentalization (psychology) - WikipediaCompartmentalization is a subconscious psychological defense mechanism used to avoid cognitive dissonance, or the mental discomfort and anxiety caused by a person's having conflicting values, cognitions, emotions, beliefs, etc. within themselves. Brought to you by: Squarespace (Start your free t

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 | TechCrunchDrafts | 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 Watch — The Watch — OvercastAmazon.com: VOCOlinc Smart Power Strip Multi Outlet, Surge Protector, Energy Monitoring, USB Fast Charging (QC3.0), Timers, Works with HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant, No Hub Required, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, PM2: Home ImprovementAmazon.com: Smart Power Strip WiFi Power Bar 5ft  Extension Cord Compatible with Alexa,Google Home and IFTTT, TECKIN Surge Protector with 4 USB Charging Ports and Smart AC Plugs for Multi Outlets: ElectronicsAmazon.com: Wemo Bridge - Works with Apple HomeKitCDs and vinyl are

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 ProjectMusicBrainz PicardJRiver Media Center softwareVolumio - The Audiophile Music Playerfoobar2000MinimServerDLNAWhat is the difference between DLNA and UPNP? - Super UserAudio Station | Synology Inc.La La Land: Galileo’s Warning — Cautionary Tales — OvercastTim Harford — PodcastsThe Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety: Alan W. Watts: 8601300190136: Amazon.com: BooksGhoti - Wikipedia“Paranoid Android” by Radiohead — Strong Songs — OvercastTurbo Boost Switcher for OS X – rugarciap.comBrought to you by: Bombas (Save 20% on your first purchase when you shop at Bombas.com/backtowork). eero (For free overnigh

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 downsides and limitations of renting other people's music; Merlin is birthday-gifted with Planty II plus some awesome @pants materials. Links for this episode:Amazon.com: Inteset 4-in-1 Universal Backlit IR Learning Remote for use with Apple TV, Xbox One, Roku, Media Center/Kodi, Nvidia Shield, most Streamers and other A/V Devices: Electronicsgoogle sheets - how do I find the values that are in one column but not in the other - Stack OverflowISNA Amazon.com: Seagate Expansion Desktop 8TB External Hard Drive HDD – USB 3.0 f

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 this episode:STANDARD ISSUE NOTEBOOK No.12 | GREEN – DesignWorks InkSTANDARD ISSUE NOTEBOOK NO.3 | GREEN – DesignWorks InkHaving a bad day? Dave Eggers can help. — The Ezra Klein Show — OvercastTweet on iOS Voice ControlUse Voice Control on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple SupportHow to use Voice Controls on iPhone and iPad | iMoreThe Trick That Lets You Set Your Hotel Thermostat to Any Temp You WantAmazon.com: WD 8TB Elements Desktop Hard Drive - USB 3.0 - WDBWLG0080HBK-NESN: Computers & AccessoriesSeaga

Our worst episode ever. Enjoy! Links for this episode:Mark TextCommonMark SpecVenice ‘on its knees’ after second-worst flood ever recordedSweeping Study Points To Devastating Impact Of Climate Change On Global Health : Goats and Soda : NPRNotational Velocity - WikipediaBunch - BrettTerpstra.comnvUltra - Searchable, portable, MultiMarkdown notesAccidental Tech Podcast: 352: No One Else Had CalipersPi-hole®: A black hole for Internet advertisements – A black hole for Internet advertisementsTitleCase - Text Conversion SolutionsDrafts | Where Text StartsTableFlip - Simple Table Editor for MacBrought to you by: RingCentral (Sign up today and get instant access to RingCentral’s award-winning powerful phone system with phone, fax, video conferencing and more. Take advantage of a special holiday bundle offer; don’t pay a single penny until 2020 by visiting RingCentral.com/backtowork). eero (For free overnight shipping to the US or Canada, visit eero.com and at checkout select overnight shipping then enter BACKTOWORK

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 | LogitechShortcuts - Drafts User GuideDraft ItMerlin's Bluetooth Keyboards - Google SheetsKeyboard shortcuts for Google Sheets - Computer - Docs Editors HelpAmazon.com: Seagate IronWolf 4TB NAS Internal Hard Drive HDD – 3.5 Inch SATA 6Gb/s 5900 RPM 64MB Cache for RAID Network Attached Storage – Frustration Free Packaging (ST4000VN008): Computers & AccessoriesTaskPaper – Plain text to-do lists for MacShortcuts Archive - MacStoriesiOS and iPadOS 13: The MacStories Review - MacStories - Part 17Rana Foroohar joins Slate Money to discuss political ads on social media, the NCAA, and the California wildfires.Matthew Cassinelli (@mattcassinelli) / TwitterBrought to you by: RingCentral (Sign up today and get instant access to RingCentral’s award-winning powerful phone system with phone, fax, video conferencing and more. Take a

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 provider over a seemingly unnecessary piece of harware; further hardware follow-up from Merlin on spreading his wings with his Synology; Dan has a new keyboard he loves; praise for several Logitech products; and, finally, why Merlin just can't quit his MX Master Mouse. Links for this episode:Locke (film) - WikipediaThe Drop (film) - WikipediaAmazon.com: Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth Keyboard – Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Android, iPad, iPhone, Apple TV Compatible – with FLOW Cross-Computer Control and Easy-Switch up

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 AdvancesMerlin 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 understand why I think 'Future is Good.'" —Andy Greenwald Amazon.com: Synology 6 Bay NAS DiskStation - DS1618+ (Diskless): Computers & AccessoriesAmazon.com: ARRIS SURFboard (16x4) DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem, approved for Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity & more (SB6183 Black): Computers & AccessoriesAmazon.com: ARRIS SURFboard Docsis 3.1 Gigabit Speed Cable Modem, Approved for Cox, Spectrum and Xfinity, (SB8200 Frustration Free): Computers & AccessoriesBreaking Down the Season Premiere of ‘Watchmen’ | The Watch — The Watch

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 : Planet Money : NPREpisode 926: So, Should We Recycle? : Planet Money : NPREpisode 926: So, Should We Recycle? : Transcript"China was not very careful about what got into their ocean for a long period of time. And if some of the plastic piles were just too corrupted, they could do whatever they wanted with it." Brian EdwardsTiekert on Twitter: "Hello everyone who's mystified by all the blackout posts coming from California's #Powerpocalypse , here's an explainer thread:" / TwitterTwitter - Band

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 VergeSmartSockets® Table Top Surge Protector with USB | Surge Protector & Power Strips | Smartsockets® - Kensington | KensingtonTHE CHURCH | The Blurred Crusade | Live Concert 1982 - YouTubeThe Church - Almost With You (Video) - YouTubeKLOE4 Outlet eu - Koogeek.comAmazon.com: VOCOlinc Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip Multi Outlet, Surge Protector, USB Charging, Timers, Works with HomeKit, Alexa and Google Assistant, No Hub Required, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, PM2E: ElectronicsAmazon.com : Wyze Cam Pan 1080p Pan/Tilt/Zoom Wi-Fi Indoor Smart Home Camera with Night Vision, 2-Way Audio, Person Detectio

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 | MacworldBroken iCloud reminders are the latest reason to delay your iOS 13 upgrade - The VergeThis App May Be the Culprit Causing Your Apple Watch's Battery to DrainBunch - BrettTerpstra.comApple confirms iOS 13 Reminders will be fixed with macOS Catalina rolloutBrought 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 purchase). Bombas (Save 20% on your first purchase when you shop at Bombas.com/backtowork).

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 cableSiri on Apple Watch: The ultimate guide | iMoreWhat is a Moonphase? | Complete Guide to Moon Phases on WatchesMissing Meridian watch face - Apple CommunityBrought 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 purchase). Native (For 20% off your first purchase, visit nativedeodorant.com and use promo code BACKTOWORK during checkout).