Back to Work

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Back to Work episodes

September 19, 2019Episode 443: Immediate Electric Smugness
DISCUSSED: Merlin has a cool new voice from talking to friends late last night; Dan has an automotive collision anecdote, while Merlin has thoughts on how preparation fails us in extreme moments; in follow-up, Listener Steve has terrific advice on dealing with bad hotel room technology; your hosts love insider information from pilots and other category pros; Dan ordered a watch, and Merlin is apparently not actually wrecking a plane; the guys respond to listener letters about ages of people in movies, Dan's world-destroying Disney fact (that he can't remember), plus a listener's concern about company password hygiene; and finally, Dan has great news about refreshing an iMac, but less great news about household password hygiene.
Links for this episode:
Lizzo: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert - YouTube
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: Electronics
Override Your Hotel Room Thermostat and Set It As Hot or Cold You Like
Rivals of Waterdeep - YouTube
Scooters (and Roller Skates) — Pessimists Archive Podcast — Overcast
As cities freak out over e-scooters today, it’s worth looking back at when these devices were actually new. Why did people love motorized scooters in 1915, what’s different a century later, and what does all of this have to do with roller skates? They’re big questions. And the answers just might lead us to rethink how our cities are designed.
Inteset Universal Remote Control Device Code Lookup
Steve Whittaker (@swhitt) / Twitter
Steve Whittaker on Twitter: "@hotdogsladies Also I always enable VIP mode on my hotel thermostat if it matches this guy: https://t.co/19pNzwgRCx" / Twitter
Hotel remote trick
Cockpit Confidential: Everything You Need to Know About Air Travel: Questions, Answers, and Reflections, Patrick Smith, eBook - Amazon.com
AskThePilot.com » THE ULTIMATE RESOURCE SITE FOR EVERYONE WHO FLIES
Toward better Master Passwords | 1Password
The strength of a password creation system is not how many letters, digits, and symbols you end up with, but how many ways you could get a different result using the same system.
xkcd: Password Strength
129 Cars - This American Life
We spend a month at a Jeep dealership on Long Island as they try to make their monthly sales goal: 129 cars. If they make it, they'll get a huge bonus from the manufacturer, possibly as high as $85,000 — enough to put them in the black for the month. If they don't make it, it'll be the second month in a row. So they pull out all the stops.
Amazon.com: Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 1TB - USB 3.1 External SSD (MU-PA1T0B/AM), Black: Computers & Accessories
(Merlin's hotel room SSD drive. Load it up!)
DIY Bundle 1.0TB OWC 6G SSD and HDD Kit for 21.5" iMac (2012 and later)
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1 hr 20 min
September 10, 2019Episode 442: Dog Eating Chair Digestion
Dan and Merlin discuss the upcoming big Apple event and why this one's potentially interesting. Also, dog anecdotes.
Links for this episode:
AVIATOR VISUAL EFFECTS - BEHIND THE SCENES
The Dark Crystal - Wikipedia
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance - Wikipedia
Upgrade #261: The 2019 iPhone Event Draft - Relay FM
Supported devices - Computer - YouTube TV Help
Watch YouTube TV on your TV - YouTube TV Help
Samoyed Dog Breed Information
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1 hr 13 min
September 03, 2019Episode 441: Boggle, Boggle!
hurricanes!
hyperactivity
exposing kids to the canonical films
that weird, affected Hollywood accent
a name for that time comparison phenomenon
making your voice interactions more fun
catching up on the Platinum Age of TV
dealing with device charging at scale
Links for this episode:
Saffir–Simpson scale - Wikipedia
HURRICANE DORIAN
Mike's Weather Page... powered by Sparks Energy!
Hurricane Neddy - Wikipedia
Hurricane Neddy | Simpsons Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia
The Aviator (2004 film) - Wikipedia
Technique Critique - YouTube
Ben Affleck’s Armageddon commentary resurfaces, along with a few other confessionals - Polygon
Can you bike to the top of GTA 5, with ONLY your voice? - YouTube
Pop overachievers Genesis—including Phil Collins and Peter Gabriel—competed head to head on the charts.
Meet chart overachievers Genesis: ’70s prog rockers turned ’80s pop juggernaut, spinning off multiple careers, countless hits, and thundering drums.
The Invisible Miracle Sledgehammer Edition — Hit Parade | Music History and Music Trivia — Overcast
Ultimate Sticker Collection: Marvel Studios: With more than 1000 stickers: DK: 9781465478863: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: CKCOCO Multi Charger Cable 2Pack 5FT Nylon Braided Universal 4 in 1 Multiple USB Charging Cord Adapter with 8Pin x2/Type-C/Micro USB Port Connectors for Cell Phones Tablets and More (Charging Only): Cell Phones & Accessories
Amazon.com: USB C Charger, Anker 60W PIQ 3.0 & GaN Tech Dual Port Charger, PowerPort Atom III (2 Ports) Travel Charger with a 45W USB C Port, for USB-C Laptops, MacBook, iPad Pro, iPhone, Galaxy, Pixel and More: Cell Phones & Accessories
Amazon.com: Portable Charger Anker PowerCore 20100mAh - Ultra High Capacity Power Bank with 4.8A Output and PowerIQ Technology, External Battery Pack for iPhone, iPad & Samsung Galaxy & More (Black): Gateway
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1 hr 44 min
August 27, 2019Episode 440: It's Never Been About the Suit
Lots of talk about the changing media landscape, plus some odds and sods.
Links for this episode:
Jia Tolentino on what happens when life is an endless performance — The Ezra Klein Show — Overcast
Disney World: Celebrating Utopia — Nice Try! — Overcast
Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando: Richard E. Foglesong: 9780300098280: Amazon.com: Books
Amazon.com: Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion (9780525510543): Jia Tolentino: Books
Amazon.com: Logitech Rugged Protection Combo Keyboard and Folio Case for iPad 9.7 (5th Gen) / (6th Gen) - Bulk Packaging - Navy Blue: Computers & Accessories
Amazon.com: CKCOCO Multi Charger Cable 2Pack 5FT Nylon Braided Universal 4 in 1 Multiple USB Charging Cord Adapter with 8Pin x2/Type-C/Micro USB Port Connectors for Cell Phones Tablets and More (Charging Only): Cell Phones & Accessories
TechPilot Labs - TechPilot Labs
SchoolMDM Mobile Device Management for Schools - TechPilot Labs
The intuitive, cloud-based MDM designed specifically for schools. We bring simplified mobile device management to Apple deployments.
Monster Factory: Fallout 4 — Episode 1 - YouTube
Hyperice | Hypervolt featuring Quiet Glide™ technology
i-Puffy Massage Cushion - Relax The Back
[593] Gallium vs. Titalium - Abus Padlock Meets a Gruesome End - YouTube
Joe Rosensteel on Twitter
Follow Joe!
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1 hr 39 min
August 20, 2019Episode 439: Servant of the Red Badge
DISCUSSED: finding an actor's age and height; time analogies; Merlin needs help naming two critical phenomena; Dan is dissatisfied with how cars look; could Wolverine get a Caillou tattoo, and would it grow back, hmmmm?; Merlin is getting into plants (no, not sexually); the return of that time when Danny held the license plate; and finally, Merlin has a long stemwinder on an admittedly amorphous topic: the unimpeachable benefits of undoing most of the buttons we've clicked.
Links for this episode:
How Old Were the Actors
Tropic Thunder (2008) - IMDb
List of cognitive biases - Wikipedia
Making the Clackity Noise | kung fu grippe
star wars release date to today - Wolfram|Alpha
5by5 | Back to Work #27: Danny, Hold the License Plate
Ep. 348: "The Other Oregon" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann
The Problem: It was mostly pranks.
iOS 12 on iPhone: How Many Daily Notifications? - Ask Dave Taylor
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1 hr 31 min
August 13, 2019Episode 438: The Mashed Potatoes Need You
DISCUSSED: Merlin has a little visitor today. Dan has some thoughts on conference scheduling. This leads to a broader discussion of the sensitivities we may or may not have to other peoples' limitations and constraints. It's nice to meet people.
For some reason, religion, churches, and clergy are discussed. "This is what Peter did say!"
Finally, the guys answer a listener question about working from home. Merlin poses a challenge.
Links for this episode:
Disney’s Surprise Star Wars Stumble Hammers Quarterly Results
Ramadan - Wikipedia
Jon Stewart On Religion - YouTube
John Siracusa on Twitter: "@atpreferences Why does everyone forget the comma?" / Twitter
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1 hr 14 min
August 06, 2019Episode 437: The Credit Section
Dan and Merlin explore the complexities of personal style. Not personal style as in fashion, but as in preferences, identity, and modes of interaction. How do we let others know how we are?
How do we derive a sense of what works best for us, and why is it such a shameful struggle to effectively communicate that to others? What do AirPods, Snapchat, and Bloomberg Terminals potentially have in common?
And, would it be cool if I just listen to this podcast instead of talking about my blouse and the weather?
Links for this episode:
"Nathan for You" Private Investigator/Taxi Company (TV Episode 2013) - IMDb
The Bloomberg terminal: clunky, costly, addictive, ubiquitous | Financial Times
The Egg Is Bigger Than Before: What Is 5-Minute Crafts?
5by5 | Back to Work #435: Scanner of Horizons
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1 hr 6 min
July 30, 2019Episode 436: Better Than a Lipstick
DISCUSSED: the admirable candor of B.B. King; the simple joys of the Ordinary Night; movies that are or are not dated and how that affects your enjoyment; how sci-fi seemed to mostly miss the internet; our embarrassment of media options; tech in media and what it means for plot stuff; technology adoption curves are definitely speeding up; doing everything you can not to use your phone as a phone; more generational stuff; how time and context changes our perception; should they take all the smoking out of movies and tv?; remember: you're not making errors—you're adding information; and, finally, Dan has an exciting announcement and a wet notebook.
Links for this episode:
5by5 | Back to Work #434: Grist for an Unnecessary Mill
H. P. Lovecraft - Wikipedia
H. G. Wells - Wikipedia
"The Office" Chair Model (TV Episode 2008) - IMDb
Chart: The Rising Speed of Technological Adoption
Seeing What’s Next | Asymco
5by5 | Amplified #157: A Three Year Cold
Who Are Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z?
Starman (film) - Wikipedia
Amazon.com: Starman: Karen Allen, Jeff Bridges, Charles Martin Smith, Ted White, Richard Jaeckel, John Carpenter, Larry J. Franco, Columbia Pictures Corporation: Movies & TV
5by5 | Amplified
Amazon.com : Rite in the Rain Weatherproof Top-Spiral Notebook, 3" x 5", Black Cover, Universal Pattern, 3 Pack (No. 735-3) : Gateway
"Detective Jigsaw" -MBMBAM Animatic - YouTube
TOSLINK: That one consumer fiber optic standard - YouTube
Merlin Mann on Twitter: ""Remember, you're not making errors; you're adding information." —Isaac the Gamescape Guy (on figure painting)" / Twitter
The Boys in the Band (1970) - IMDb
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1 hr 11 min
July 23, 2019Episode 435: Scanner of Horizons
DISCUSSED: kindness; eyeglasses, at length—including eyeglasses indignities, discounts, and injuries; a renewed surfeit of dingalings, fake friends, and a dumb podcast hit piece; and, finally, your hosts respond to a listener question on getting stressed about personal quantization.
Links for this episode:
How to Convince Someone When Facts Fail - Scientific American
Amazon.com: Beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 Ohm Closed Dynamic Headphones Bundle with Blucoil 6-FT Headphone Extension Cable (3.5mm) and Headphone Hook: Home Audio & Theater
Amazon.com: AS2M (1053121), Long Point Sharpener, sharpens in 2 steps; 2 spare blades includes. With lead pointers for 2 mm and 3.2 mm. BLUE only: Gateway
Portlandia - The Knot Store - HD - YouTube
"I think we've arrived."
His Dark Materials: Season 1 | San Diego Comic-Con Trailer | HBO - YouTube
Dorkus Malorkus - YouTube
XY problem - Wikipedia
The XY problem is a communication problem encountered in help desk and similar situations in which the real issue, X, of the person asking for help is obscured, because instead of asking directly about issue X, they ask how to solve a secondary issue, Y, which they believe will allow them to resolve issue X.
MBMBaM 188: Holler Smarts — My Brother, My Brother And Me — Overcast
"Have you considered LegalZoom?"
5by5 | Back to Work #433: The Muscle of Worry
Thinking, Fast and Slow - Wikipedia
The central thesis is a dichotomy between two modes of thought: "System 1" is fast, instinctive and emotional
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1 hr 15 min
July 16, 2019Episode 434: Grist for an Unnecessary Mill
Show notes are short this week because Merlin had to go buy contrast paints for his figs.
Main topic is speculating about speculation.
Links for this episode:
Steve Troughton-Smith on Twitter: "Wow. For a single coat, Contrast looks amazing. Maybe the hype is real? Of course, I understand it’s a very situational paint, but for organics and cloth this could be perfect… https://t.co/10RBmU49mC"
The TRUTH behind GW Contrast Paints - YouTube
Citadel Contrast Paints: Resisting the Hype? - YouTube
Warhammer (game) - Wikipedia
Squeezed and pulled and hurt my neck in 1988
The Perils and Rewards of Travel | The Hilarious World of Depression
Macular degeneration - Wikipedia
Yngwie Malmsteen-Arpeggios From Hell - YouTube
Merlin Mann on Twitter: "Weird how the most competent and well-run aspect of United is their website for tracking your lost luggage."
Weird how the most competent and well-run aspect of United is their website for tracking your lost luggage.
Angie Tribeca | TBS.com
MBMBaM: Candlenights 2017 | Maximum Fun
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1 hr 14 min

About Back to Work

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Back to Work is an award winning talk show with Merlin Mann and Dan Benjamin discussing productivity, communication, work, barriers, constraints, tools, and more.