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Reconcilable Differences

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Mar 31, 2023 • 1h 28min

205: A Cumulative Warmth

Subtitle: A Brimley VibeJohn has discovered a community of people who seem to kind of know what they're doing is weird, and Merlin repeats an anecdote about when he almost lost his mind from washing dishes with the absolutely incorrect soap. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with Merlin teaching John a thing people used to say in Florida. Then, John ends up repeatedly having to say a phrase that doesn't really seem like the kind of thing that John ever says. Old concert t-shirts are researched and considered. This somehow leads to a discussion of where things go that then transitions nicely into a new installment of the fan-favorite "Secret Weird Things People Do." Things conclude with a pop quiz and another plea to stop putting things on the stairs. (Recorded on Tuesday, March 21, 2023) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Meniscus Van Halen 1980 Invasion t-shirt Van Halen in concert - June 12, 1981, Oakland Coliseum Stadium Roderick on the Line #493: Part of an Amp The Simpsons - messy kitchen gag Meet the Secret Society of People Who Piss in the Sink
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Mar 17, 2023 • 1h 28min

204: The Dump Valve​​

How memory breaks. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Burrow: Discover the new Outdoor Collection. Get 10% off your first order. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with Merlin's noisy electronic livestock and a frustrating health update from John. Whose family now hates him. In Follow-Up, Mr. Siracusa provides his son with a correction on The Novocaine Story, which leads to a digression into how John's dad writes text messages........ This ends up providing a great segue into the main topic: how memory breaks, and how we try to address it. Because, as you quickly realize, many memories involve other people who have—well—different memories. But, also, why did I go to the garage, because I'm pretty sure I went there for a reason. For this month's members-only bonus show, your hosts talk about artsy-fartsy video games like Life is Strange and What Remains of Edith Finch You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and, yes, support our program. (Recorded on Monday, March 6, 2023) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Heavyweight #16: RobThe podcast episode about the misremembered broken arm. The Foot Fist Way The Doorway Effect Memory biases Araby, by James Joyce (PDF)It's barely SIX pages long. Read it! Paul's Case (short story) Forgetfulness, a poem by Billy Collins Billy Collins reads his poem, Forgetfulness John’s “Great Games” list The Secret World of Arrietty Red Flag Perfume by Chanel - SNL - YouTube Compulsion: Cologne - SNL - YouTube
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Mar 3, 2023 • 1h 13min

203: The Javicoli House

Subtitle: “You Haven’t Earned a BM”Unsurprisingly and delightfully, there is a lot of really good Follow-Up on John's recent medical adventure. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with Merlin auditioning a new on-air style, and John coughing in a way that portends imminent health developments. Listener-experts chime in on all manner of issues. Also John reveals his test results, and Merlin feels like a hungry man. Things seem to be wrapping with an update on John's Unexpected Side Effect, but then they end up talking about food and medicine for, like, twenty more minutes. (Recorded on Tuesday, February 21, 2023) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. ATP #523: I Can't Give Him the Carrot Fast Enough"Pre-show: ✅ ATP hat-trick achieved ☹️" Why Smells and Memories Are So Strongly Linked in Our Brains The Curious Cases of Rutherford & Fry: The Mind Numbing Medicine ATP Eats: Frozen Dinners Hand-in-ice-water memory experiment (PDF) Alpine Pastry Shoppe Emilio's Pizza Branchinelli's Pizza Libbyland Dinners
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Feb 18, 2023 • 1h 51min

202: Running Clear

John shares details of a recent medical adventure, including an unexpectedly positive side effect. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Follow-up brings updates on skiing metaphors and ideas for tricking your brain into drawing a little better. For this month's members-only bonus show, your hosts talk about The Last of Us in its incarnations as both a prestige TV show and a video game series. You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and, yes, support our program. (Recorded on Tuesday, February 7, 2023) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. The Gluck Method My Year of Rest and Relaxation “I’m the best there is at what I do but what I do best isn’t very nice.” Magnesium citrate The Last of US Part 1 for PS5 (disc) The Last of US Part 1 for PS5 (digital) Merlin talks about episode 4 of The Last of US on The Cast of Us podcast John talks about The Last of Us (PS3) on The Incomparable John talks about The Last of US Part II on The Incomparable John’s “Great Games” list
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Feb 3, 2023 • 1h 50min

201: Look Behind the Potato

John has questions about Merlin's fraught history with drawing. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Burrow: Get 10% off your first Burrow order. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with a consideration of John's theoretical funeral. Merlin can't understand why John won't adopt him. In Follow-Up, your hosts briefly consider their recent bicentennial and agree that words about parts or multiples of a thing are way too confusing. What's it take to get good at a thing you care about, and what motivates us to stick with it? Things end up touching on grit-adjacent stuff like consistency and tenacity. But, whether or not one is gifted, it does seem like we naturally tend to pursue things we like doing. Which just as naturally can make it difficult to stick with the things that don't come so easily. Gotta really pile up that paper. Comparisons between the habits of making music and writing are made, and differences are easily reconciled regarding the genius work of Jonathan Coulton. John thinks Merlin missed the focal plane on a photo he used to think was pretty good. Merlin recalls a movie poster whose Renaissance-era optical trick first made him wish he could draw better. (Recorded Tuesday, January 24, 2023) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. “I Was a Starter Wife” - Inside America's Messiest Divorce John's Destiny character drawing, by EmilyMeganX Some of John's childhood artwork Spud Webb Merlin's video game tweet The Chapman Stick Jazz Guitarist Stanley Jordan Shows “Touch” Technique John’s original “Hypercritical” article Lessons on How to Draw by Hokusai Jonathan Coulton’s song, Shop Vac CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, Original Stephen Spielberg Movie Poster – Original Vintage Movie Posters
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Jan 20, 2023 • 2h 27min

200: The Genius Who Keeps Retiring

What's a thing you had as a kid that you kind of wish your kids could've had? This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with Merlin pressing John for some candid advice on a new affectation he's been considering. John is certain that using a Dremel is not actually part of Merlin's job, but Merlin's not so sure. Photos of Mr. Miyazaki are reviewed. In Follow-Up, John has some toe updates. Mere moments after swearing he's not going to make noises and recoil, Merlin makes several noises and recoils. Next up, John's favorite band announces a new project to release a bunch of cover versions of songs from their back catalog. This leads to a surprisingly wide-ranging discussion of a music industry that continues to evolve quickly and which now seems to necessitate an entirely new kind of creativity. This week's member episode is already one of Merlin's favorites, so it's being included here so everybody can check it out. Is it ahistorical to wish your progeny had gotten to see an epic baseball lineup? What exactly might happen if you tried to recreate your own free-range childhood? Did having less information lead to a deeper understanding of context and the parameters of the world? And, which kinds of community and scarcity feel elusive or even just irreproducible today? If you'd enjoy hearing more from John and Merlin, we hope you'll consider becoming a supporter of the program. And, hey. Thanks for sticking around through 200 of these things. (Recorded on Tuesday, January 10, 2023) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Miyazaki documentary trailer: The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness Does Miyazaki drink his coffee from a Totoro mug? You’re goddamn right he does. Upcoming U2 album will feature 40 new versions of old U2 songs John Denver Country Boy - BBC Documentary (2013) Listen to Your Heart - original, by Roxette Listen To Your Heart (Edmee's Unplugged Version) - YouTube Listen To Your Heart (Edmee's Unplugged Version) - song.link Born Fighters (1979) - Documentary about Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds & Rockpile 1984 Mongoose Californian (black) 1984 Mongoose Californian (blue) 1984 Mongoose Californian (red) Merlin's Wisdom Project"It's only advice for you because it had to be advice for me." Hayao Miyazaki, creativity, and selfishness"THE CREATIVE PROCESS IN 43 HAYAO MIYAZAKI SCREENGRABS" 1975 Cincinnati Reds Roster | Baseball Almanac14 Pete Rose Morgellons - WikipediaMorgellons is not well understood, but the general medical consensus is that it is a form of delusional parasitosis, on the psychiatric spectrum. Moops | WikiSein | Fandom 'Born Fighters' 1979 Documentary Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds & Rockpile - YouTubeThis Granada TV documentary follows the recording process, circa 1978-1979, of Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds FlyLady.net: Your personal online coach to help you gain control of your house and home Purple Puddles | FlyLady.net Playlist: "It Means That I Love You" - An Evening with Rockpile - YouTube Spotify – Slate's Hit Parade: Angry Young Men Edition Three punk sophisticates helped invent New Wave.How three British post-punkers named Joe, Graham, and Elvis helped “write the book” on New Wave. Nick Lowe - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding (Live on 89.3 The Current) - YouTube Brinsley Schwarz - (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding - YouTube Cheap Trick: Steve Albini Sessions 1997 - YouTube
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Jan 6, 2023 • 1h 43min

199: Reverse Gift of the Magi

It's time for Holiday Results, which somehow includes strong opinions on labeling leftovers, preparing strawberries, and sweating "le mot juste." Also, ponies are considered. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free. Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Burrow: Get 10% off your first order. Links and Show Notes: Merlin is pretty proud of his dinner, but John has questions about the dressing situation. Merlin may not understand how skiing works. In Follow-Up, John shares more voices from the past, and your hosts confront an escalating international rift about the existence of a facial expression. Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Max Kreienbaum on "frown" Canecittadino on "frown" Jonny Eklund on "frown" Imre on "frown" Mark Steadman on "frown" Cai on "frown" Florence Pugh being vaguely frown-y The Wonder Frontline: The Merchants of Cool John's birthday carrot cake recipe, from Ina Garten Laurie Anderson - "Language is a Virus" (1982) - YouTube Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) - Reference View - IMDbA documentary on how Los Angeles has been used and depicted in the movies. Meditations On Moloch | Slate Star CodexLike all good mystical experiences, it happened in Vegas. Chloë Grace Moretz Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED - YouTube ‎John Siracusa’s films • LetterboxdJohn has watched 204 films rated ★★½ .
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Dec 23, 2022 • 1h 29min

198: Baby Alive

John's family archive project produces some remarkable voices from the past. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with a consideration of mouth noises and beloved bits. This leads to a look at entertainment that functions as comfort food. Wanna know what you're playing for? Lot of great listener Follow-Up this week, including more on British facial expressions, hassles for the proper Lex, and some prior art around "sharrow." The main topic relates to John's family archive project producing some remarkable voices from the past. For this month's members-only bonus show, the topic is Andor. You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and, yes, support our program. (Recorded on Tuesday, December 13, 2022) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Vincent Schiavelli - IMDb What is a STROAD? - YouTube Strong Towns - YouTubeVideos on the topics of StrongTowns.org, mostly about the financial viability of cities, and insolvent cities of America and Canada. Moist and Worried - Corner of the Sky #25 - The IncomparableMerlin talks about "Free to Be…You and Me." 'Highlights: what we may call today “gender equity,” non-musical, Cincinnati, proto-Terry Crews, my cool baby, sharing media across generations, a (not so) surprising amount of Hamilton talk, the kids are alright, columnists.' William Katt - "Corner of the Sky" (from "Pippin") - YouTube
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Dec 9, 2022 • 1h 34min

197: My Waking-Hour Pie

Merlin shares a new insight about the pre-flight, but, as usual John disagrees. Then, there's some discussion of playlists and that time John got Merlin into Chvrches. There appears to be some continental disagreement about a ubiquitous facial expression, and John directs Merlin on some more of the things he supposedly pronounces weirdly. Your hosts might could want to explore the things it took them too long to realize, and Merlin graciously reads John one of his dreams. Follow-Up turns to the continuing mishegas over on The Bird Site. Yikes. And this was even before they added the bedrooms and gave a copy of the keys to a right-wing nutty bar. Woof. Eventually, this leads to a slight turn into how different people are exploring Mastodon. Do you treat it strictly as a Twitter replacement, or is it maybe a fresh opportunity to learn how a social media site wants to be used? Merlin misses a lot about LiveJournal, and John is just happy to be someplace that isn't owned and controlled by The Birthday Boy. John's goodnatured insistence that Merlin's household acquire a dog is starting to have an impact, and John leads us on a close exegesis of an unpersuasive Billy Joel photo. Finally, talk turns to Christopher Nolan in general and the movie Tenet in particular. How can you know when you're not supposed to understand what's happening in a film? Also, can an SUV really go that fast in reverse, or is that just because it's driving on the backwards side of the time partition? Who knows. Also, good robots are considered, and Merlin extolls the virtues of the Mr. Noodle family. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Burrow: Get $75 off your Burrow purchase—plus, fast & free shipping. Links and Show Notes: Merlin shares a new insight about the pre-flight, but, as usual John disagrees. Then, there's some discussion of playlists and that time John got Merlin into Chvrches. There appears to be some continental disagreement about a ubiquitous facial expression, and John directs Merlin on some more of the things he supposedly pronounces weirdly. Your hosts might could want to explore the things it took them too long to realize, and Merlin graciously reads John one of his dreams. Follow-Up turns to the continuing mishegas over on The Bird Site. Yikes. And this was even before they added the bedrooms and gave a copy of the keys to a right-wing nutty bar. Woof. Eventually, this leads to a slight turn into how different people are exploring Mastodon. Do you treat it strictly as a Twitter replacement, or is it maybe a fresh opportunity to learn how a social media site wants to be used? Merlin misses a lot about LiveJournal, and John is just happy to be someplace that isn't owned and controlled by The Birthday Boy. John's goodnatured insistence that Merlin's household acquire a dog is starting to have an impact, and John leads us on a close exegesis of an unpersuasive Billy Joel photo. Finally, talk turns to Christopher Nolan in general and the movie Tenet in particular. How can you know when you're not supposed to understand what's happening in a film? Also, can an SUV really go that fast in reverse, or is that just because it's driving on the backwards side of the time partition? Who knows. Also, good robots are considered, and Merlin extolls the virtues of the Mr. Noodle family. Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. Dril speaks on Musk and Twitter - The Washington PostThe ‘patron saint of the internet’ tells The Post he’ll never pay for verification but will learn to code if Musk offers him a job The Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Man guitar pedal CHVRCHES - Screen Violence Don't chase your dreams! Humans are persistence predators… Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy I Will Follow Movetodon.org - A tool for porting your follow list from Twitter to Mastodon Fedifinder - Another tool for porting your follow list from Twitter to Mastodon Hotline LiveJournal Maillard reaction 🦆 TARS NaN Cat #1 NaN Cat #2 Mastodon's Eternal September begins K-2SO Rogue One teaser - "I rebel." Primer Primer diagrams Spotify – Pretty Maids"These are runs of two or more consecutive album tracks that rule. If you play the first song, you must play the others. I do not, as @darth says, make the rules." Random impressions - YouTube Spotify – Pretty Maids"These are runs of two or more consecutive album tracks that rule. If you play the first song, you must play the others. I do not, as @darth says, make the rules." "Mary, Mary, quite contrary" by Mother Goose"…And pretty maids all in a row."
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Nov 25, 2022 • 1h 40min

196: Less Talk, More Squawk

Upon Merlin's request, John generously provides a tour of his app, SwitchGlass. This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by: Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase. Links and Show Notes: Things kick off with a quick look at the recent TicketMaster dustup. Merlin shares what a "news peg" is, and John has simple ideas for avoiding unnecessary logjams on the web. We learn what itch John was scratching and how SwitchGlass differs from various other rows of icons on your Mac. In the members-only bonus show, the guys talk about, you know. Twitter. You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and, yes, support our program. (Recorded on Tuesday, November 15, 2022) Credits Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano Music: Merlin Mann The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode. SwitchGlass Front and Center Angry Taylor Swift fans rail about Ticketmaster glitches - The Washington Post Bruce Springsteen fans face $5,000 tickets — and a ‘crisis of faith’ - The Washington Post Gamergate - Wikipedia giverelay.com - RelayFM new annual membership plans are 20% off until December 17, 2022

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