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DISCUSSED: Dan and Merlin get hungry, but they've had it with all the bread; the trough food is so costly; no one is sweating Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Marvel-ish movies are discussed, including the new one with Lady Sansa; Merlin is very concerned about aphasias; Dan introduces us to Forbidden Snacks and endorses his new shoe appliance; shoe appliances are then discussed; Dan hasn't had to use his sword…yet; people sure love them some pencils; there was some weather, so the seder got all fakakte; the finer points of Judaism and sundry Hebraica are clarified; Dan got scrolls-on-tape from a sympathetic cantor; Buster Scruggs is recommended; the boys receive a quick surprise visit from the great Tom Waits; and, finally, your hosts talk about a terrific YouTube video about what we can all learn from our worst trainwrecks. Links for this episode:Adam Neely - "My Worst Trainwreck" - YouTube"Train wrecks happen on the bandstand. This is the story of a particularly nasty one at a wedding where we totally butcher a perfectly decent Elton John ballad." Adam Neely - YouTubeForbidden SnacksAmazon.com: Set of 2 Metal Shoe Horns, 7.5" Long - Top Quality: ShoesAgainst the Rules with Michael Lewis — OvercastAphasia - WikipediaAmazon.com: Incredible Hulk: Planet Hulk (9780785120124): Greg Pak, Carlo Pagulayan, Aaron Lopresti, Juan Santacruz, Gary Frank, Takeshi Miyazawa: BooksThe 12 Marvel movies you need to see to make the most of ‘Avengers: Endgame’ next week – BGRHome | Peanut Chews | Celebrating 100 Years | Join the PartyDestroying angel (Bible) - Wikipedia"Planet Hulk" - NetflixShabbat elevator - WikipediaActivities prohibited on Shabbat - WikipediaTango till they're sore -- Tom Waits - YouTubeFiasco! - This American LifeStories of when things go wrong. Really wrong. When you leave the normal realm of human error, fumble, mishap, and mistake and enter the territory of really huge breakdowns. Fiascos. Things go so awry that normal social order collapses. This week's show is a philosophical inquiry in the nature of fiascos — perhaps the first ever. 5by5 | Back to Work #3: The Second ArrowBrought to you by: Hullo Pillow (Visit hullopillow.com/backtowork to learn more). Luna Display (Get 10% discount on Luna Display by going to www.lunadisplay.com and enter the promo code BACKTOWORK at checkout)

DISCUSSED: Dan has just started a new pen; there's some pen, pencil, and eraser talk; Dan has an important anecdote about utilizing eraser-based people skills; Dan's iMac is working fine, but he's concerned about the poofs coming out of the balloon blower; Dan saw Venom and has some thoughts; Merlin commends a comic and a podcast and an app launcher; the evolution of computer interaction has rewired our brains; why do they have to make the print so small?; Merlin has songs in his head; and, finally, Merlin apologizes to Nick Fury. Links for this episode:My Worst Trainwreck - YouTubeAdam Neely - YouTubeFun Fact, a podcast by Arik Devens and Allen PikeArik Devens and Allen Pike serve up fun facts, including the practical, historical, technical, and trivial. New episode every other Friday. Fun Fact — OvercastTwo people talk about topics they find interesting. LaunchBar 6Start with a single keyboard shortcut to access and control every aspect of your digital life. Kneaded eraser - WikipediaPrismacolor MAGIC RUB Art Eraser, Vinyl, Dozen | OfficeSupply.comPentel Clic Eraser Pencil-Style Grip Eraser, Black | OfficeSupply.comMedium Kneaded Rubber | Winsor & NewtonA medium size ‘plastic’ or ‘putty’ rubber which may be moulded to a fine point for minute erasures. Useful for picking out highlights and erasing pencil, chalk or charcoal without smearing. Amazon.com : Pilot Precise V7 RT Retractable Rolling Ball Pens, Fine Point, Black Ink, 6 Pack : GatewayAmazon.com: Sakura 44162 8-Piece Identi-Pen Permanent Marker Set, Assorted Colors: GatewayAmazon.com : Staedtler Mars 780 Technical Mechanical Pencil, 2mm. 780BK : Steatdler Mechanical Pencil : GatewayApple Mac Upgrades - RAM, SSD Flash, External Drives and MoreAmazon.com: Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender: The Complete Collection Volume 1 (8601418338321): Rick Remender, Leonardo Manco, Jerome Opena, Rafael Albuquerque, Esad Ribic, Billy Tan, Mark Brooks, Robbi Rodriguez: GatewayAmazon.com: Uncanny X-Force, Vol. 1: The Apocalypse Solution (9780785148555): Rick Remender, Jerome Opena, Leonardo Manco: BooksBrian Regan-You Too and Stuff - YouTubeCHVRCHES - The Mother We Share - YouTubeNick Fury: Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on."Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on." —Nick Fury (2012) WTOG 44 Tampa - Commercials from 1986 - YouTubeMaido — Kinokuniya USABrought 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). Luna Display (Get 10% discount on Luna Display by going to www.lunadisplay.com and enter the promo code BACKTOWORK at checkout) Mack Weldon (For 20% off your first order, visit mackweldon.com and enter promo code BACKTOWORK at checkout. Mack Weldon, it's better than whatever you're wearing right now).

DISCUSSED: What we talk about when we talk about optimism; the power of "Act as Though"; on edibles; a YouTube recommendation, then more YouTube recommendations; how even do we tell YouTube what we never want to see again? HOW?!; the difficulty of sensible algorithms; the fascinating concept of "pareidolia"; Professor Shoelaces's extensive metatags; your hosts answer a listener's question about when to go physical versus when to go digital. Links for this episode:Chris Nagele on Twitter: "In other words, I'm trying to treat my computer more like a sewing machine or table saw. Something to do a job when I need it, and to walk away from it when I don't."In other words, I'm trying to treat my computer more like a sewing machine or table saw. Something to do a job when I need it, and to walk away from it when I don't. Stopping the Noise in Your Head : the New Way to Overcome Anxiety and Worry: Dr. Reid Wilson PhD: 9780757319068: Amazon.com: BooksForgery Experts Explain 5 Ways To Spot A Fake | WIRED - YouTubeMovie Accent Expert Breaks Down 31 Actors Playing Real People | WIRED - YouTubeExploring the World of E-Ink - YouTubeRipple Training - YouTubeLarry Jordan - YouTubeRemain Seated Please - The Hoot and Chief Story (Epcot Horizons) - YouTubeExploring the World of E-Ink - YouTubeMovie Accent Expert Breaks Down 31 Actors Playing Real People | WIRED - YouTubeAglet - WikipediaIan's Shoelace Site – IntroductionProfessorShoelace - YouTubeBack to Work Listener Survey 2019Pacific Rim (2013) - Quotes - IMDbToday, we are canceling the apocalypse! Nick Fury: Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.Nick Fury: "Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on." Brought 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). Luna Display (Get 10% discount on Luna Display by going to www.lunadisplay.com and enter the promo code BACKTOWORK at checkout) Mack Weldon (For 20% off your first order, visit mackweldon.com and enter promo code BACKTOWORK at checkout. Mack Weldon, it's better than whatever you're wearing right now).

DISCUSSED: Merlin is back on his old cans; Dan is pivoting to video; Cash stepped in paint, and kids are terrible storytellers; a book recommendation; a case for the Oxford comma, please and thank you; Dan starts asking for help with his new iMac; gross nickel–and-diming by Apple; praise for Southwest Airlines; Dan (finally) gets to finish asking for help with his new iMac; a cool new open source Mac video app; the Mac laptop keyboard problems ain't going away; Dan really likes Final Cut; Merlin fights with UPS, both on principle and as a game; Merlin thinks Dan's egg cooker rules. Links for this episode:Rogue Amoeba | Get Audio Hijack 3Brian Regan- You Too! - YouTube"Best Buy Rewards Card"- Pacific Rim Animatic - YouTubeDreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style: Benjamin Dreyer: 9780812995701: Amazon.com: GatewayFresh Air for Feb. 5, 2019: Random House Copy Chief Benjamin Dreyer : NPRMenu for Ted's Farm Barbecue & Coffee Austn, TX MenuOxford commas, Nelson Mandela, and Stephen King | Sentence firstIINA - The modern media player for macOSAmazon.com: Dash Rapid Egg Cooker: 6 Egg Capacity Electric Egg Cooker for Hard Boiled Eggs, Poached Eggs, Scrambled Eggs, or Omelets with Auto Shut Off Feature - Black: Electric Egg Cookers: GatewayDave Itzkoff on Twitter: "“Walter, I’m sure there’s a reason you brought your dirty undies.” “That’s right, Dude. The weight. The ringer can’t look empty.”… https://t.co/edrOW3ELK5"Brought to you by: Grammarly (Go to Grammarly.com/backtowork to get 20% off your Grammarly premium account today). Luna Display (Get 10% discount on Luna Display by going to www.lunadisplay.com and enter the promo code BACKTOWORK at checkout) Digital Ocean (Discover why developers love DigitalOcean and get started with a free $100 credit at do.co/backtowork).

DISCUSSED: allergy attack!; big anniversary today; elegy for Two Cats Comics; some D&D talk; Dan got a sword!; yet more D&D talk; key commands for line-moving; Dan got his YouTube URL back; a Theranos book recommendation; Dan almost got cast in a TV show; some observations and reckons about Apple's big Services event. Links for this episode:Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup: John Carreyrou: 9781524731656: Amazon.com: BooksAmazon.com: Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm Closed Dynamic Headphones Bundle with Blucoil Audio 6-Ft Extension Cable and Stick-On Under Desk Dual Headphone Stand Mount: Home Audio & TheaterTexas Renaissance Festival – Tickets and InformationPlayer's Handbook (Dungeons & Dragons): Wizards RPG Team: 8601421717694: Amazon.com: GatewayAmazon.com: Frienda Zinc Alloy Metal Polyhedral 7-Die Dice Set for Dungeons and Dragons RPG Dice Gaming D&D Math Teaching, d20, d12, 2 Pieces d10 (00-90 and 0-9), d8, d6 and d4 (Black and Red): Toys & GamesThe Satanic Panic — You're Wrong About... — OvercastMerlin Mann on Twitter: "“I would marry my firstborn daughter to a juggalo before I let her date a juggler.” —Justin McElroy"Lawrence M. Schoen - Wikipedia"Schoen founded the Klingon Language Institute…" KeyBindings - BrettTerpstra.comDan Benjamin - YouTubeApple Arcade - AppleApple Card - AppleBrought to you by: Molekule (For $75 off your first order, visit Molekule.com and enter BACKTOWORK at checkout). Grammarly (Go to Grammarly.com/backtowork to get 20% off your Grammarly premium account today). Hullo Pillow (Visit hullopillow.com/backtowork to learn more).

DISCUSSED: Top o' the Morling!; praise for the home release of Spider-Verse; Dan and Merlin offer some more TV recommendations; Merlin endorses an excellent "turns out" podcast; a deep dive on slow-rise squishes and related stress toys; Merlin wears his childhood privilege on his sleeve. Finally, the guys answer an excellent listener question about the complex work of maintaining a household with someone you love. Links for this episode:Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #25 — Merlin MannMERLIN MANN (Back to Work, Roderick on the Line, Reconcilable Differences, Do By Friday, You Look Nice Today, et al.) invites you to drop by Two Cats Comics on the evening of Thursday, March 21st to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun. You're Wrong About... — OvercastReturning to misremembered history PEN15 - WikipediaLove Death + Robots Trailer: David Fincher Presents Animated Anthology | IndieWireStranger Danger — You're Wrong About... — OvercastAmazon.com: TrimakeShop Jumbo Cute Cartoon Dinosaur T-Rex Kawaii Cream Scented Squishies Very Slow Rising Kids Toys Doll Gift Fun Collection Stress Relief Toy Hop Props, Decorative Props Large: GatewayAmazon.com: AIKEMI Easter 6.5'' Slow Rising Squishies Slice Jumbo Soft Rainbow Sheep Cream Scented Squeeze Hand Wrist Gifts (Sheep): Toys & GamesPomodoro Technique - WikipediaReconcilable Differences #98: You’re Killing Your Father - Relay FMJohn has a mental model about how the TV remotes flow, but no one seems very interested. Unsurprisingly, this leads to the airing of household grievances.Can't we just always have the flaps face the same way? Shouldn't we just stack the forks here in the forks area? Why is Daisy leaving caltrops in the hallway? Does a child's backpack really need to extend seventeen feet? Can we please just leave some space that accommodates the snack bags? Do we really need all this toothpaste? Question from Listener SophieBrought 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). Grammarly (Go to Grammarly.com/backtowork to get 20% off your Grammarly premium account today).

DISCUSSED: Merlin is trying some new things and probably needs to adjust his DIP switches; audio equipment is discussed; remembering Hal Blaine; German words; fish dropsy; dining at Alamo Draft House; kids and crafts; follow-up on Power Puttering; recommending a Siracusa anecdote; recommending a philosophy podcast; recommending several cool products; some strong (if muddled) thoughts on the Michael Jackson documentary. Links for this episode:Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #25 — Merlin MannMERLIN MANN (Back to Work, Roderick on the Line, Reconcilable Differences, Do By Friday, You Look Nice Today, et al.) invites you to drop by Two Cats Comics on the evening of Thursday, March 21st to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun. Hal Blaine - WikipediaHal Blaine (born Harold Simon Belsky Philosophize This! – A free podcast dedicated to sharing the ideas that shaped our world!Philosophize This! — OvercastEpisode #121 … Michel Foucault pt. 1 — Philosophize This! — OvercastReconcilable Differences #99: Coconut Scenario - Relay FMMerlin needs to be rebooted, and John shares a harrowing ordeal involving Apple IDs. Reconcilable Differences 99: Coconut Scenario — Reconcilable Differences — OvercastSiracusa's Apple ID ordeal begins after 1:14:09 Arrow | Desktop Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface | Universal AudioAmazon.com: Universal Audio Arrow Portable Studio Recorder, Gray: Musical InstrumentsAmazon.com: WHOOSH! Award-Winning Screen Cleaner – Safe for All Screens – Smartphones, iPads, Eyeglasses, Kindle, LED, LCD & TVs – Includes 3.4 Oz Bottle + 1 Premium Antimicrobial Microfiber Cloth: ElectronicsAmazon.com: Zeiss Lens Care Pack - 2 - 8 Ounce Bottles of Lens Cleaner, 2 Microfiber Cleaning Cloths: Health & Personal CareAmazon.com: TechMatte MagGrip Universal Air Vent Magnetic Mount Car Phone Holder with Powerful Magnetic Grip Technology (1 Pack) - Black: Cell Phones & AccessoriesAddalock - (1 Piece ) Portable Door Lock, Travel Lock, AirBNB Lock, School Lockdown Lock - Door Levers - Amazon.comSlate’s Culture Gabfest on Michael Jackson abuse documentary Leaving Neverland.This week, Steve, Dana, and Julia discuss Leaving Neverland, a new documentary from HBO that centers on Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege that they were sexually abused by Michael Jackson beginning when they were 7 and 10 years old, respectively. Michael Jackson, the Leaving Neverland documentary, and the limits of cancel culture.Nor would that be going far enough. Merlin Mann - "Go Through Hell"Merlin's pop song based on The Waste Land and Dan. The Ronettes - Be My Baby (Audio) - YouTubeBrought 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). LinkedIn (Post a job today at LinkedIn.com/BACKTOWORK and get fifty dollars off your first job post).

DISCUSSED: Merlin is living the Domino lifestyle; R.I.P. Two Cats Comics; praise for iA Writer; Merlin needs help with his sudden Gmail spam; a meditation on comics as some awesome fun and an ugly damned business; nostalgia for hobby shops and Expedition to the Barrier Peaks; and finally Merlin reintroduces the concept of "Power Puttering." Links for this episode:Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #25 — Merlin MannFriend, it’s time for this epic arc to come to its conclusion. After five years, twenty-five meet-ups, and countless new friends made and awesome comics recommended, this will be our last Ungainly X-Mann Meetup with our dear friends at Two Cats Comics Three-Twenty West Portal Avenue. My all-time favorite comic shop will be closing for good on March 26th. Amazon.com: AIKEMI Easter Cute Pig Squishy Slow Rising Soft Scented Animal Long Eyelashes Stress Relief Baby Toys Gifts: Toys & GamesiA Writer: The Focused Writing App for Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone and iPadEp. 326: "The Cat and the Kettle" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannThe Problem: John could funny crash. 5by5 | Back to Work #344: The Microwave MomentDude smokes the world's hottest pepper(Carolina Reaper) : HadToHurtBrave man vapes a Carolina Reaper, the world's hottest pepper - YouTubeDomino (comics) - WikipediaIn addition to her exceptional marksmanship and hand-to-hand skills, Domino possesses mutant probability-altering powers, similar to those of the mutant Longshot. Domino (Neena Thurman) | Characters | MarvelGiven good luck thanks to her powers, Neena Thurman has served as both a dangerous mercenary and a tough and resilient hero. Domino | Comics | Marvel.comDomino’s “good luck” powers activate, she escapes and takes up the life of a mercenary and eventually becomes a super hero as a mainstay member of X-Force. "One Last Time" - Hamilton At The White House #ObamaLegacy - YouTubeExpedition to the Barrier Peaks - WikipediaExpedition to the Barrier Peaks is a 1980 adventure module for the Dungeons Reconcilable Differences #97: Invisible Work - Relay FMThis week's sprawling main topic is "Emotional Labor." Why is it that women usually get saddled with being the Office Mom (as well as the "House Mom"), and why the heck doesn't Ralphie's dad help Randy put on his snowsuit? Who ends up ordering the birthday cake as well as justifying the ways of boss to employee? Further, how do we account for the tonnage of invisible work that, by custom more than policy, some people end up having to both identify and do? Amazon.com : Kershaw Clash Black Serrated Pocket Knife (1605CKTST) 3.1" Stainless Steel Blade with Black-Oxide Coating; Glass-Filled Nylon Handle with SpeedSafe Open, Locking Liner and Reversible Pocketclip; 4.3oz : Hunting Knives : Sports & OutdoorsBrought to you by: eero (For free overnight shipping to the US or Canada, visit eero.com and at checkout select overnight shipping then enter BACKTOWORK to make it free). Care/of (For 50% off your first month of personalized Care/of vitamins, visit TakeCareOf.com and enter promo code BACKTOWORK50).

DISCUSSED: Dan has an awesome new video; Spider-Verse is out!; Merlin's dorky Segway is discussed; app recommendations for a clean new Gmail and an even-smarter Dark Sky; Dan spills the beans on his new sound bar setup; TV selection and purchase is a known thistle; idiot trolls hassle poor Carol Danvers; Dan has an important new egg technology; and, finally, the boys fret about Apple's new 2FA requirements a little. Links for this episode:This Is Fireside - YouTubeDark SkyHyperlocal weather forecasting. What Is HDMI ARC?HDMI :: Manufacturer :: HDMI 1.4 :: Audio Return ChannelAmazon.com: All-new Sonos Beam – Compact Smart TV Soundbar with Amazon Alexa voice control built-in. Wireless home theater and streaming music in any room. (Black): GatewayReviews and Ratings - RTINGS.comLG E7 OLED Review (OLED55E7P, OLED65E7P) - RTINGS.comSorry, trolls: Rotten Tomatoes will no longer let users review a movie before its release Yubico | YubiKey Strong Two Factor Authentication for Business and Individual Use.Apple being sued because two-factor authentication on an iPhone or Mac takes too much timeThe curse of the Twitter reply guyOn Twitter, a place where a lot of bad things happen, there's a mostly harmless but decidedly annoying phenomenon. A lot of people, mostly women, have noticed that one or two men always, no matter what, reply to their tweets. Dash Rapid Egg Cooker: 6 Egg Capacity Electric Egg Cooker for Hard Boiled Eggs, Poached Eggs, Scrambled Eggs, or Omelets with Auto Shut Off Feature - BlackBrought to you by: FreshBooks (To claim your month long unrestricted free trial, go to FreshBooks.com/backtowork and enter BACK TO WORK in the “How Did You Hear About Us?” section). Keeps (Stop worrying about hair loss for good! To receive your first month of treatment for free, go to keeps.com/backtowork).

Mostly one big topic: screen time. Links for this episode:How to Fix “Cellular Update Failed” on iPhone with iOS 12.1.2 SMS, LTE, Cellular Data Issues16 Surprisingly Funny Palindromes | Grammarly BlogPessimists Archive PodcastMoral panic - WikipediaAmazon.com: Super Stretchy Banana Assorted and Bouncy Ball Bundle by JA-RU | Stretches Long & Shrink Slow. Smells Good 3340 (Banana): GatewayLeviton 67W82 20 Amp, 277/480 Volt- 3PY, Flush Mounting Locking Receptacle, Industrial Grade, Grounding, Wetguard with Cover, Yellow - Electrical Outlet Covers - Amazon.comFrinkiac - S09E18 - WHAT IS YOUR FASCINATION WITH MY FORBIDDEN CLOSET OF MYSTERY?Brought to you by: Grammarly (For 20% off a Grammarly premium account, go to Grammarly.com/backtowork). eero (Get $100 off the ‘eero base unit and 2 beacons package,’ and 1 year of eero Plus, visit eero.com/backtowork and at checkout enter the code BACKTOWORK).