Back to Work

TOPIC: Obsessions, Compulsions, Obsessions, and Compulsions. Also, Obsessions—and Compulsions. This week, Dan and Merlin lick the doorknob five times, tap their heads with their shoes, and ponder the problem of obsessions and compulsions. Links for this episode:Staying on Top of Calendar Events — Jamie PhelpsMorning Glory | You Look Nice TodayStaying on Top of Calendar Events — Jamie PhelpsSafe (1995)Five Somewhat Novel Compulsions I had at one time or another | 5ives5by5 | Back to Work #29: I Download FLACHow To Start a Meditation PracticeThe Aviator ending scene , the way of the future. - YouTubeCognitive behavioral therapy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe Aviator ending scene , the way of the future. - YouTubeIn Which We Sleepwalk At Our Convenience - Home - This RecordingEdge of Sanity | This American LifeHistory of Cognitive-Behavioral TherapyCognitive behavioral therapy - MayoClinic.comBest "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder" Titles[SPONSOR] Ting - Mobile That Makes SenseTrepanning - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAmazon.com: Naked (9780316777735): David Sedaris: BooksAttractive nuisance doctrine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaHearts of SpaceWinston Churchill and Manic Depression: A fatal curse or the root of his genius?Ice Station Zebra (1968)Amazon.com: Don't Think Of An Elephant!/ How Democrats And Progressives Can Win: Know Your Values And Frame The Debate: The Essential Guide For Progressives (Paperback + DVD edition) (9781931498821): George Lakoff, Howard Dean, Don Hazen: BooksLatest Anxiety Reliever — Jamie Phelps“Number eighteen in 1988, Charlie Babbitt squeezed and pulled and hurt my neck in 1988.”Positive feedback - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by Ting.

TOPIC: Capture, Contracts, and Mapping the Territory. This week, Dan and Merlin talk about keeping an honest calendar and ensuring you regularly review your "contracts" with yourself. Chock-a-block with practical COM-ponents for making sure your map is up to date with the territory. ¿Spanish question marks? ¡Si! Zibba-zabba! Fax my gal! Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`soold`") Merlin’s Squarespace 6 Blog — Merlin Mann[Screencast] Ep. 03: Blocks Intro — Merlin’s Squarespace 6 Blog — Merlin MannQ: What would you like to see here? — Merlin’s Squarespace 6 Blog — Merlin MannTwitter / hotdogsladies: Offer—mail me a SASE and ...Back to Work Starter Pack — Merlin MannI…uh…have plenty to spare. - mlkshkGarden Gnome | Flickr - Photo Sharing!Rondo Hatton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediakung fu grippe • Hooooly shit. Looks like a few people want them...kung fu grippe • rotl: For serious scholarship only. Two hundred...Timeboxing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAmazon.com: Aveda Self Control Hair Styling Stick, 2.6 oz (75 g): Beauty[SPONSOR] Ting - Mobile That Makes SenseFugue state - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia5by5 | Back to Work #61: I Handed Him My LukeInverted question and exclamation marks - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAmazon.com: Tap Bell -Desk Bell - Nickle Plated, Black base: Sports & OutdoorsBack to GTD: Do a fast "mind-sweep" | 43 FoldersGarden Gnome | Flickr - Photo Sharing!John Roderick: A Night on the Town - a set on FlickrGetting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity: David Allen: 9780142000281: Amazon.com: BooksDay One | A simple JournalApp Store - DSLR Camera Remote Professional Edition[43f] Philip K. Dick: "There's the First Law of Kipple... 'Kipple drives out nonkipple.'"Map–territory relation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ("The map is not the territory")Two Cats Comic Book Store - Two Cats Comic Book StoreJohn Forbes Nash, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaRecipes « World Aeropress ChampionshipThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by Ting and Squarespace. Sign up for Squarespace today to get an extra 10% off any new account with the offer code "soold" (as in, "Merlin looks sooooooo old!"). Watch Merlin's new Squarespace 6 site get built in real time (including screencasts) at http://merlinm.com/s6.

TOPIC: Honesty and Sociopathy Go to Work Merlin and Dan talk about the cultural divide between you and your work. Coping with work is a little like being a sociopath so you better make sure you're taking away the right lessons and being honest about the right things. Anything else is a little dishonest. You don't need to quit your job, but you made want to at least resign your certainty. Nice!™ Links for this episode:"We're officially broken-up for ten minutes" TextExpander snippet5by5 | Systematic #6: Merlin Talks A LotGetting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity: David Allen: 9780142000281: Amazon.com: BooksMerlin Mann - Independent Writer, Speaker, and BroadcasterSquarespace 6 Blog — Merlin MannEp. 01: Quick Intro — Squarespace 6 Blog — Merlin MannEp. 02: Content Collections — Squarespace 6 Blog — Merlin Mann[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`soold`") [SPONSOR] 1Password - Have you ever forgotten a password?[SPONSOR] TextExpander: Mac Typing Shortcut Utility Saves You Time!Super-Fast WordPress Blog Posts via E-Mail with TextExpander 4 « The OverthinkerTextExpander Snippet (using AppleScript) to open the currently visible page in Safari in Chrome — GistTextExpander shell script snippet to set Safari 6 default fonts - Mac OS X HintsThe Safari 6 URL crisis - All thisToward Better Master Passwords | Agile BlogUrban Dictionary: mann's assumptionMe & YouMe & YouR. Lee Ermey - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaVoice procedure - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaProcedure word - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia {"Say Again")"Accept loss forever"5by5 | Back to Work #77: Sadness HarmonicaRetroactive continuity - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaList of retcons - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaWanda Maximoff (Earth-616) - Marvel Comics DatabaseStory of R. Lee Ermey's "Full Metal Jacket" auditionkung fu grippe • Nice!™Anhedonia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by 1Password, Smile Software, and Squarespace. Sign up for Squarespace today to get an extra 10% off any new account with the offer code "soold" (as in, "Merlin looks sooooooo old!"). Watch Merlin's new Squarespace 6 site get built in real time (including screencasts) at http://merlinm.com/s6.

TOPIC: Kicking and Screaming Merlin has been dragged kicking and screaming into at least two things this week. Sometimes, that works out, and sometimes it doesn't. But, how many of those things do we need? How many can you sign up for? How often do you see Beast coming down the hall? There aren't that many things you have to do, but how can you see it coming? Well, you know where your cumin is and you haven't checked your MySpace this week. How's that for complicated? Links for this episode:1Password is Ready for John the Ripper | Agile BlogBlizzard and insecurity questions: My father’s middle name is vR2Ut1VNj | Agile Bloglowe/zxcvbnPassfault Demo: Password Evaluationkung fu grippe • Merry Christmas. My office bathroom is a very...Sublime Text 2 Tips and Tricks (Updated) | Nettuts+Passfault Demo: Password Evaluation5by5 | Build and Analyze #90: This Person Isn't Really Heredan on App.net[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`soold`") [SPONSOR] Back To Work - Igloo Software (giving away a "Giant-Size X-Mann Bundle")Some Sublime Text 2 packages of note - Brett TerpstraSublime Text Packages by the Community – wbondkung fu grippe • "Non-Canonical" (in which two Jean Greys totally make out)kung fu grippe • You happy now, bitch?[SPONSOR] 1Password - Have you ever forgotten a password?Toward Better Master Passwords | Agile Blogtextmate/textmateTextmate: Recent enhancements | 43 Folders (Merlin's first post on TextMate, ca. 2005)Ep. 34: "A Shit Barge Full of Long Pigs" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by 1Password, Igloo Software, and Squarespace.

TOPIC: Adapting to the Danger Room of Life Dan and Merlin talk about how the protagonist of your story handles change in personal and work environments. How do you respond in the face of change you haven't anticipated or isn't conducive to who you want to be? What is the worst that could happen? Who can help you except you? Links for this episode:kung fu grippe • I’m The Old One I love this photo. [via]Merlin’s Awkward Hair Odyssey - a set on Flickrbadtz & me - march '99 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!FL Driver's License; Summer, 1991 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!Manhattan, 1989 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!5by5 | Hypercritical #79: Grandpa Uncle Joe[BUY THIS!] Back to Work 'That's Fine for Merlin' T-Shirtkung fu grippe • Sweet Dreams (I love you, Alex Hardy)Twitter / danbenjamin: In the box http://t.co/NAAGyX9EAvalanche (comics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaCognitive bias - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMeriln Mann - Indie Writer, Speaker, and BroadcasterPro tempore - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`soold`") Amazon.com: Astonishing X-Men Vol. 1: Gifted (9780785115311): Joss Whedon, John Cassaday: BooksGenosha - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaDanger Room - Marvel Universe Wiki: The definitive online source for Marvel super hero bios.Amazon.com: Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting (9780060391683): Robert McKee: BooksMagical thinking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia5by5 | The Comic Shack #7: Snakt!Kobayashi Maru - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia'Rubric' - Part 4 of 'Glassworks' - Philip Glass - YouTubeTony Robbins firewalking injuries: Why doesn’t everyone who walks on hot coals get burned? - Slate MagazineNearly Two Dozen Injured at Tony Robbins Seminar - NYTimes.comCharles Whitman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediakung fu grippe • the-x-gene: X-Men Season One by Dennis Hopeless...kung fu grippe • “I am the walrus?” Part of me thinks it ought to...kung fu grippe • Li’l ByrneList of Sanrio characters (Badtz-Maru)Squarespace 6 Template Tool - Squarespace PluginsSquarespace PluginsPeakRead Me — PeakI'm Waiting for the Man - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAngst - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by Squarespace. Visit Squarespace.com today to get an extra 10% off any new account with the offer code "soold" (as in, "Merlin looks sooooooo old!") And, watch Merlin's new Squarespace site get built in real time at http://merlinm.com. Screencasts of the process coming soon.

TOPIC: Gut Churn, Pointing Arrows, and Recognizing Change This week, Dan and Merlin talk at length about a recent article by Radiolab's Jad Abumrad, called, "The Terrors & Occasional Virtues of Not Knowing What You’re Doing." From the genesis of Radiolab through casting about for what comes next, Jad's article reads like a Greatest Hits of Back to Work. Just terrific. It all comes down to working through the times you don't know what you're doing and making, then accepting that—even once you do know—you still have to push through change and evolution. Working through the fear to make something awesome? Well. That's Fine for Jad Abumrad. Links for this episode:Transom » Jad AbumradBehaves So Strangely - RadiolabPodcasts - RadiolabHome - RadiolabJad Abumrad - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaProtools-Screen-Shot.png 1,677×1,020 pixelsBehaves So Strangely - RadiolabBinary BonsaiMerlin Mann's WishlistOfficial Squarespace 6 Templates and ThemesBack to Work That's Fine for Merlin T-Shirt | 5by5Jad Abumrad (JadAbumrad) on TwitterAmazon.com: Radio: An Illustrated Guide (9780967967103): Jessica Abel, Ira Glass: BooksRetraction | This American LifeIra Glass on Storytelling, part 1 of 4 - YouTubeIra Glass on Working Through the Suck | 43 Folderskung fu grippe • I’m The Old One I love this photo. [via]People - Oliver Sacks - RadiolabRadiolab (Radiolab) on TwitterTransom » Radiolab: An Appreciation by Ira Glass“There are some people who don’t wait.” Robert Krulwich on the future of journalism | Not Exactly Rocket Science | Discover MagazineThe 'Decline Effect' and Scientific Truth - On The Mediakung fu grippe • John Cleese - “A Lecture on Creativity” ...WAR GAMES Gen. Beringer SPARK PLUG - YouTube[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`yourshow`") Rosacea - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAmazon.com: The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life (9780743235266): Twyla Tharp: BooksAmazon.com: Sennheiser HD-280 PRO Headphones: ElectronicsMerlin Mann's WishlistThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by Squarespace. Visit Squarespace.com today to get an extra 10% off any new account with the offer code "yourshow".

TOPIC: Motivation, Hardware Stores, and Fighting the Last War This week, Dan and Merlin talk about motivation—how it changes, how it doesn't, and how it can be fueled by anxiety and cognitive dissonance. There is also discussion of Merlin's pear tart problem, the challenge of the engineering triangle, and, yeah, a new t-shirt That's Fine for Merlin. Links for this episode:Back to Work That's Fine for Merlin T-Shirt | 5by5And now it’s all thisCommuting Takes Its Toll: Scientific Americanfjohnrickert: "@hotdogsladies That doesn't look like you at all! Where are the wrinkles? And the cane?"[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`yourshow`") [SPONSOR] DocuSign (Support 5by5 with a free 30 day trial)5by5 | The Comic Shack #7: Snakt!Letters: Marx-Engels Correspondence 1864kung fu grippe • Ubiquitous Capture I already mostly forgot what...Gastroesophageal reflux disease - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaCognitive dissonance - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaTracy, California - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaFletch (1985)Search results for 'hipster pda' - All thisB1 battle droid - Wookieepedia, the Star Wars Wiki5by5 | Mac Power Users #95: Engineering Workflows with Dr. Drang5by5 | SystematicMy curtain calls - All thisBolt upright - All thiskung fu grippe - "Jeff Goldblum"This week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by Squarespace and Docusign.

TOPICS: Better Meat & Working Backwards This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the many strategic and tactical benefits of reverse-engineering your next project. There is also extensive discussion of choosing, preparing, and cooking meat. It's not food until is sounds like food and it smells like food. Links for this episode:5by5 | The Incomparable #98: Obscure References and Sadness[SPONSOR] TextExpander: Mac Typing Shortcut Utility Saves You Time!TextExpander: bit.ly with authentication - Brett TerpstraTextExpander 4.0 Fill-In Feature on VimeoHow to Tell If That Steak is DoneAmazon.com: Jaccard Supertendermatic 48-Blade Tenderizer: Home & KitchenNetflix's lost year: The inside story of the price-hike train wreck | Internet & Media - CNET NewsThe Finger Test to Check the Doneness of Meat | Simply RecipesAmazon.com: Cooking for Geeks: Real Science, Great Hacks, and Good Food (9780596805883): Jeff Potter: BooksCooking For Engineers - Step by Step Recipes and Food for the Analytically MindedCode Library - Squarespace Code LibraryTwitter / hotdogsladies: @MailChimp @markdicristinaAmazon.com: The Complete Meat Cookbook (9780618135127): Bruce Aidells, Denis Kelly: BooksAmazon.com: Home Comforts: The Art and Science of Keeping House (9780684814650): Cheryl Mendelson, Harry Bates: Books[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`yourshow`") Amazon.com: Marvel Masterworks: The Uncanny X-Men Volume 4 (Marvel Masterworks (Numbered)) (9780785158691): Chris Claremont, John Byrne, George Perez: BooksAmazon.com: Little Owl Lost (9780763650223): Chris Haughton: Bookskung fu grippe - (Phoenix at Comic-Con. Sigh.)Fernet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[Merlin's MailChimp visitor badge]Flat iron steak - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia5by5 | After Dark #193: Grillin' with Marco and DanThe Picture of Dorian Gray - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - Project GutenbergEp. 13: "Then There Was Pump Chili" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannTextExpander Shortcuts (per Back to Work e76) — Gist2011/12 Creative Mornings with Ben Chestnut on VimeoScreencast on TextExpander 3 fill-in snippets (by Merlin)PURE Solutions: Hypoallergenic Hotel Rooms, Purifiers, BeddingGuerras Deli & Meats, San Francisco Deli, Bay Area Deli, Steak, Beef, Pork, Veal, Lamb, Sausages, Poultry, online deli orderingHome :: EmpireStateSouth.comNPR.org » Delicious Turkey Tips From Food ScientistsFarm Egg - "ESS pepperoni, crisp carolina gold rice, corn puree, beech mushrooms, lambs quarter"Interpunct - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaPrime Rib or Standing Rib Roast - Recipe File - Cooking For EngineersThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by two of our favorite friends, Smile and Squarespace. Pick up Smile's TextExpander 4 with awesome new fill-in features. And, visit Squarespace.com today to get an extra 10% off any new account with the offer code "yourshow".

TOPIC: Feeling Stuck in the Middle This week, Dan and Merlin talk about a topic suggested by listener, @toddsandends: what happens when you're stuck enforcing rules you don't agree with? Whether you're a security guard, an RA, a SysAdmin, a character on The Wire, or pretty much anybody else, sometimes there's just stuff you gotta do. Even when you think it's a terrible idea. So, who's allowed to corrupt you, what's it worth, and how long is that going to be okay with you? As ever, work is a lot of work. Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`yourshow`") kung fu grippe - A Sense of Scale I’ve wanted to see what’s...The Wire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediadog diapers - Google SearchX - See How We Are - (Acoustic) - YouTubekung fu grippe - Trinity “C’mon, help ol’ Gil out here!”Brainstorm (1983)Brainstorm Movie Trailer - YouTubeSF bay area all housing classifieds "birds" - craigslistMarsEdit 3 - Desktop blog editing for the Mac.The Wire - "These are for you McNulty" - YouTubeDog Whisperer Cesar Millan | Achieving balance between people and dogsSan Francisco Multimedia Gulch Nostalgia via Yahoo MapsOnline NewsHour: Multimedia Gulch -- July 20, 1999Making sense of Multimedia Gulch - SFGateGil Gunderson - Simpsons WikiLBi - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our good friends at Squarespace. Get an extra 10% off your new account with offer code "yourshow".

TOPIC: How Much Honesty Can We Stand? This week, Dan and Merlin talk about how ridiculously complex "Honesty" can be. Do "Candor," "Transparency," "Frankness," and all those other Capital Letter Nouns mean the same thing? Links for this episode:Things said can't be unsaid - selfesteem cruelty brutalhonesty | Ask MetaFilterThe 'Busy' Trap - NYTimes.com[SPONSOR] Squarespace (10% off with offer code, "`yourshow`") Gellies Local 416 | You Look Nice Today107.7 The Bone / KSAN-FM San Francisco > Homekung fu grippe - Mixed GrillJester - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaI Think You're Fat - EsquireRadical Honesty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaAmazon.com: On Bullshit (0218681122946): Harry G. Frankfurt: BooksPowerMate Support | Griffin TechnologyTed From The Internet: On a recent 5by5 AD, Dan and Merlin were throwing around the idea of a 5by5 Morning Zoo.Great Tools For Your Mac By Andreas Hegenberg » BetterTouchTool, BetterSnapTool & SecondBarTackling keyboard shortcut woes in OS X | MacFixIt - CNET ReviewsHow to use services in Mac OS X | Macworldcough button - WiktionaryTwitter / hotdogsladies: M: Sorry about my office tThe Fantastic Mr. Fox's 'Trademark'John Hummer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaUrban Dictionary: back door bragPolitics and the English Language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaGeorge Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1946Pseudologia fantastica - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaNeighbors | This American Life5by5 | Back to Work #57: Start with Anger, End with a SignPittsburgh in Words - Can You Say ... 'Hero'? by Tom JunodMerlin and Chauncey GardinerThis week's episode of Back to Work is sponsored by our good friends at Squarespace. Get an extra 10% off your new account with offer code "yourshow".