Back to Work

DISCUSSED: Merlin runs into some problems reporting live from the show floor; is social media making us as happy as we'd like to think?; thoughts on pro wrestlers and the films of John Carpenter; finding the triggers for action that you didn't know you needed; recommendations for videos and Firefox extensions; why we use the web browsers that we use; your hosts dive into their favorite announcements coming out of WWDC; how exactly do you decide where something should go?; Dan reveals he has become the third kind of calendar person; exploring the ineffable (but indisputably real) value of finding technologies and experiences that you actually enjoy; and, finally, Merlin shares a novel misunderstanding with a voice dingus. Links for this episode:Fakespot Fake Amazon Reviews and eBay Sellers (Firefox extension)Protect yourself from bad sellers and fake reviews on Amazon and more ReviewMeta.com Review Helper (Firefox extension)ReviewMeta analyzes millions of reviews and helps you decide which to trust Mental health days: Learning from Naomi Osaka - The Washington PostWhy There are Now So Many Shortages (It's Not COVID) - YouTubeRandy Savage - WikipediaDownload Firefox Browser — Fast, Private & Free — from MozillaFakespot | Analyze and identify fake reviews and counterfeitsmacOS 12 Monterey upgrades Continuity with Universal Control | TechCrunchJazz in the Background | Spotify PlaylistWords That Mean Nothing - In These TimesOur political discourse is dominated by issues that don’t exist Cancel Culture — You're Wrong About — OvercastHow China Broke the World's Recycling - YouTubeHow Universal Control on macOS Monterey works - The VergeIt’s simpler — and cleverer — than I expected The Chemical Brothers - Let Forever Be (Official Music Video) - YouTubeLucas With the Lid Off on VimeoWhy Planes Don't Fly Faster - YouTubeVideoWriter - WikipediaOriginal Talking Moose - YouTube

DISCUSSED: Part one of a deep dive into calendars. Links for this episode:206 - Narcissism — You Are Not So Smart — OvercastDark triad - WikipediaIn psychology, the dark triad comprises the personality traits of narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Increase Apple TV screen contrast - Apple SupportIn Settings on Apple TV, go to Accessibility > Increase Contrast > Focus Style, then choose High Contrast. Kaleidoscope (software) - WikipediaLarry Miller (comedian) - WikipediaI Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson - WikipediaATP 432: I Shouldn't Need to Wiggle — Accidental Tech PodcastChris Voss FBI hostage negotiator on being assertiveI disable bombs for a living. But I hate confronting people. Never Split The Difference | Chris Voss | TEDxUniversityofNevada - YouTubeThe art of misdirection | Apollo Robbins - YouTubeHailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner's shoulder while they remain clueless. selective attention test - YouTube463. How to Get Anyone to Do Anything — Freakonomics Radio — OvercastThe Lick - YouTubeAdam Neely - YouTube

DISCUSSED: Merlin is full of beans this week. Links for this episode:Adam Neely - YouTubeOnce More, With FeelingThread BenefitsHomeKit over Thread | evehome.comBacon Ray - "Sundays in a Row" (1995)Wrong Tools Cost Lives — Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford — OvercastSublime Text 4 - News - Sublime HQMr Show - Thrilling Miracles! - YouTube(see if you can spot a young Judd Apatow in the audience) Company Broadway revival starring Raul Esparza Great Performances 2006 - YouTubePBS Great Performances, Stephen Sondheim's Company-Not Getting Married Today - YouTubeRaul Esparza - Being Alive - YouTube

DISCUSSED: A classic, old-school “Odds ’n Sods” episode that includes: Apple’s audio upgrade announcement; AirTags and the promising future of UWB; lots of thoughts on anxiety; caffeine weaners; tongue-rolling; and a salt and pepper of media recently enjoyed (and now recommended). Links for this episode:PSA: AirTag can be used as an NFC tag for Shortcuts automation - 9to5Macts1/BLEUnlock: Lock/unlock your Mac with your iPhone, Apple Watch, or any other Bluetooth LE devicesAmazonSmile : Tieman's Fusion Coffee, Low Acid Dark Roast, Ground, 10 ounce bag (pack of 6) : Grocery & Gourmet FoodHow Well Can You Hear Audio Quality? : The Record : NPRUnwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind - Kindle edition by Brewer, Judson. Health, Fitness & Dieting Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.Belkin Secure Holder with Key Ring for AirTag – Black - Appletroglodyte modeThe Computer-free Automation of a Jukebox (Electromechanics) - YouTubeQuentin Tarantino and the Poetry Between the Lines - YouTubeSpotify: Weezer - "Pinkerton"Apple Music: Weezer - "Pinkerton"[Sleep Anxiety audio Merlin likes]Do you inherit the ability to roll your tongue? - BBC FutureIt’s long been thought that the ability to roll your tongue is a clear-cut case of genetics. BBC Future finds it’s not that simple.

DISCUSSED: Merlin has been cracking nuts, and Dan is enjoying a beverage; in Follow-Up, Dan has made great progress with his new voice assistant; Merlin has thoughts on choosing a dingus ecosystem that’s right for you; words mean things, and often you want the right “procedure word”; Merlin has some good Back to Work-adjacent media recommendations; do we really want to rebuild The Embarcadero Freeway? Really?; and, Dan has some new scholarship on the films of Stanley Kubrick. Links for this episode:Opinion | That Anxiety You’re Feeling? It’s a Habit You Can Unlearn. - The New York TimesEfficiency is the EnemyUnwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind - Kindle edition by Brewer, Judson. Health, Fitness & Dieting Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.Watch YouTube TV on your Google Nest Display - Google Nest HelpProcedure word - Wikipedia(7) Collative Learning - YouTubeEmbarcadero Freeway | CNUOld San Francisco: A Look At Before And After The Embarcadero Free Came Down | by UpOut SF | MediumAn ode to the Embarcadero Freeway, the blight by the bayAmazon.com: Celery Man: Alexa Skills

DISCUSSED: Dan is actively gaslighting Merlin, and this can be proven; please stop stealing focus; praise for Ferris Bueller in general and the knees of Sloane Peterson in particular; passing thoughts on fear, procrastination, impostor syndrome, and solving the right problem; Merlin is delighted to discover a much-improved Little Snitch; Dan has thoughts on his Ford’s weird button; in gadget updates, Dan has found some useful headphones and has thoughts on trying to use his new Google dingus; finally, just in general, try to keep your hands away from the dragon’s mouth. Links for this episode:Little SnitchAs soon as you’re connected to the Internet, applications can potentially send whatever they want to wherever they want. Most often they do this to your benefit. But sometimes, like in case of tracking software, trojans or other malware, they don’t. How to overcome impostor syndrome.How to overcome impostor syndrome. Why You Should Talk to Yourself in the Third PersonEvidence suggests that there are real benefits of talking to yourself in the third person—in your head, not out loud. Does Distanced Self-Talk Facilitate Emotion Regulation Across a Range of Emotionally Intense Experiences? - Ariana Orvell, Brian D. Vickers, Brittany Drake, Philippe Verduyn, Ozlem Ayduk, Jason Moser, John Jonides, Ethan Kross, 2021Research indicates that a subtle shift in language—silently referring to oneself using one’s own name and non–first-person-singular pronouns (i.e., distanced self-talk)—promotes emotion regulation. Amazon.com: AFTERSHOKZ Air Open Ear Wireless Bone Conduction Headphones, Slate Grey, AS650SGFront Door Camera Package - Google StoreTwitterrific: Twitter Your WayAir – AfterShokz<p>Wireless Industry Leading Noise Canceling Overhead Headphones</p> | WH-1000XM4/B | Sony USVincent Adultman | BoJack Horseman Wiki | FandomHis right hand is a broom and his left hand is a mannequin hand.

Merlin has a whole new setup, and Dan has a whole new TV. Links for this episode:My Secret Sauce of BloggingThis is where I give away all of my blogging secrets. I’ve decided to divest myself of any advantages Macdrifter has built over the past 12 years. The Technium: 99 Additional Bits of Unsolicited AdviceI have another birthday, and another bunch of unsolicited advice.  How to overcome impostor syndrome.I’m Great at My Job. So Why Do I Feel Like a Fraud? How to overcome impostor syndrome. Why You Should Talk to Yourself in the Third PersonDoes Distanced Self-Talk Facilitate Emotion Regulation Across a Range of Emotionally Intense Experiences? - Ariana Orvell, Brian D. Vickers, Brittany Drake, Philippe Verduyn, Ozlem Ayduk, Jason Moser, John Jonides, Ethan Kross, 2021Research indicates that a subtle shift in language—silently referring to oneself using one’s own name and non–first-person-singular pronouns (i.e., distanced self-talk)—promotes emotion regulation. The Bureau (TV series) - WikipediaAmazon.com: SAMSUNG 55-inch Class Q80A Series – QLED 4K UHD Smart TV with Alexa Built-in (QN55Q80AAFXZA, 2021 Model): ElectronicsAmazon.com: Jay Strongwater Kong Pave Gorilla Figurine: Home & KitchenEasy macOS Loads By Way of Homebrew Bundle — Liss is MoreAmazon.com: RECUR Large Albino Gorilla Toys King Kong White Realistic Hand Painted Walking Gorilla Ape Wild Animal Figurine Model – Replica Gorilla Godzilla vs Kong 2021 Figure Gift for Collectors Boys Kids 3+: Toys & GamesReconcilable Differences #147: Pan-Pan! - Relay FMAs something like a main topic, Merlin offers a sheepish series of recent anecdotes regarding technology and hasty decision-making. He seems not to remember this being his idea (he did that), which he is surprisingly not all that sheepish about. But, let's be honest. Technology can be terrible and very confusing.

DISCUSSED: Merlin is reporting live from the show floor; sleep is complicated; food is complicated, too; Dan tries to build muscles the right way; he also has strong feelings about TV shopping; Merlin just wants someone to tell him which is The Good One. Links for this episode:Feeling Blah During the Pandemic? It's Called Languishing - The New York TimesThe neglected middle child of mental health can dull your motivation and focus — and it may be the dominant emotion of 2021. The Importance of Routines, Even Interrupted by a Pandemic - The New York TimesBy setting routines for myself, I was able to shield myself from chaos. Then the pandemic happened. I set out to get them back on track. Reviews and Ratings - RTINGS.comHDMI 2.1: What you need to know - CNET::: LG | webOS TV Developer :: Discover webOS TVAndroid TVLG Smart TV w/ webOS: A World of Content | LG USALG CX 65 inch Class 4K Smart OLED TV w/ AI ThinQ® (64.5'' Diag) (OLED65CXPUA) | LG USAMerlin's beloved fancy TV. LG CX OLED Review (OLED48CXPUB, OLED55CXPUA, OLED65CXPUA, OLED77CXPUA) - RTINGS.comTV Tools - RTINGS.comTake things into your own hands. Use our tools and find the best TV for your needs TV Size to Distance Calculator and Science - RTINGS.comUse our size to distance calculator to see which size TV you should get based on how far away you'll be sitting from the screen. Reconcilable Differences #150: The Stands - Relay FM"Next, the focus turns to TV stands. While pretty much all of them are incompatible with John's house, this generates a careful visual interrogation of the bizarre manner in which Sony thinks your home works." [Siracusa, picking nits at his best]

DISCUSSED: some important movie follow-up; films (and other media) can be a powerful way to talk about things we aren't supposed to be talking about; Merlin has some links to help think about what comes next as we get back to ““normal""; plus, follow-up on Dan's Kindle journey, including some really useful tips. Links for this episode:Pinboard: Merlin's Covid BookmarksWelcome to Kindle UnlimitedDan's Godzilla MoviesSome Kung Fu Movies for DanThe Celluloid Closet (1995) - Reference View - IMDbA documentary surveying the various Hollywood screen depictions of homosexuals and the attitudes behind them throughout the history of North American film. Dirty Ho (1979) - The Prince's Bodyguard - YouTubeDirty Ho (1979) - Wine Tasting - YouTubeDirty Ho (1979) - Final Fight - YouTube

DISCUSSED: fake southern accents lead to some movie talk; Merlin apologizes; Dan does not want to spend a night in The Box; please utilize the restroom that conforms to the color of your gender; a guardsman pitches Merlin's wife; Merlin goes off on a surprisingly long tangent on kung fu movies--especially the work of The Great Gordon Liu; Dan needs a syllabus to get Cash even more into Godzilla movies; there are some words on DC movies; your hosts begin a dive into the Kindle ecosystem that turns into a dive into ""The Kindle Ecosystem""; Friend-of-the-Show, Moisés, provides some beneficial real-time follow-up regarding the king of monsters; Merlin needs some movie backstory but also wants wants to make it extremely clear that he is very attracted to an English actress. Links for this episode:Standard Ebooks: Free and liberated ebooks, carefully produced for the true book lover."Free and liberated ebooks, carefully produced for the true book lover." (The awesome website Merlin couldn't remember) We Have All Hit a Wall - The New York TimesThe 36th Chamber of Shaolin - WikipediaGordon Liu - WikipediaDirty Ho (1979) - The Prince's Bodyguard - YouTubeDirty Ho (1979) - Wine Tasting - YouTubeAmazon.com: Kindle Paperwhite – Now Waterproof with 2x the Storage – Ad-SupportedEx-Men: Gambit - YouTubeShin Godzilla - WikipediaThe Libby App by OverDrive: Free ebooks & audiobooks from the librarycalibre - E-book managementFree eBooks | Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg is a library of over 60,000 free eBooks Welcome to Open Library | Open LibraryAmazon.com: Kindle Unlimited: Kindle StoreLetterboxd: "Some Kung Fu Movies for Dan"Merlin does some quick curation. Mr Show - Senator Tankerbell (season 1) - YouTubeTerrigen Mist | Marvel Database | FandomTerrigen Mist is a mutagenic, or mutation-causing, substance arising as a vapor from the Terrigen Crystals, which are able to alter Inhuman biology. Rogue (Anna Marie) (Earth-616) | Marvel Database | FandomRogue was not able to control her absorption power at first Rebecca Hall - IMDb