Back to Work

This week, Merlin's got a LOT going on. Full Catastrophe Living!

Discussed: booger colors, some tv and movies, a dream deferred, various X-Persons, loving GoodTask 3, plus Dan and Merlin just cannot remember many, many things.

Next, your hosts dive into their first day with Mojave and reminisce about the days when you could make your Finder look all steampunk. This leads to a deeper dive on what the future of Macs might be and why they feel how they do (hint: they are both kind of old).

They also both want to know what the heck is going on with Chrome, and Dan pitches a movie.

Links for this episode:

• Canvas #70: Task Managers in 2018 - Relay FM
  This week, Fraser and Federico take a look at the "Big Four" task managers on iOS - Things, OmniFocus, Todoist and Apple Reminders - and consider how the iOS ecosystem has changed since the early days.
  

A classic odds-and-sods episode, featuring important discussions about sleep tracking, the Apple Watch, Succession, sound bars, Chris Nolan's Batman, and Nintendo Online.

Links for this episode:

• Amazon.com Help: About AmazonSmile
  
• Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #24 — Merlin Mann
  MERLIN 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, September 27th to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun.
  

Discussed: upcoming Apple announcements; do people with bigger screens use more apps more often?; some follow-up on adaptive testing; and comics for kids.

Your hosts answer a listener question about knowing when it's time to quit something.

Links for this episode:

• Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #24 — Merlin Mann
  MERLIN 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, September 27th to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun.
  

Skype gets way too ambitious; sprinkling sauce on a service; a mandatory social network for doorbells; Dan acquires a new deity; some excellent listener follow-up on Computerized Adaptive Testing; Dan takes his boy to see a bona fide cinema classic; Dan has some great TV recommendations; Merlin reports in from the deep weeds of a fraught smart speaker ecosystem.

Links for this episode:

• The Podcast Digest: TPD 156 - Merlin Mann "An Old Man's Reframe"
  For the 4 year anniversary episode of TPD, it was my pleasure to have been joined by one of my favorite podcasters of all time - Merlin Mann!  I talk with Merlin about his history in podcasting, working with his co-hosts, the difference in his shows and some of his favorite podcasts!  
  

Discussed: homework and testing; wallets and wallet philosophies; things to learn from wallet philosophy; how to fall asleep; watching Star Trek; Dan's new smart speaker; Merlin yells at Alexa several times.

Links for this episode:

• How to Fall Asleep in 120 Seconds – Member Feature Stories – Medium
  
• DonorsChoose.org: Support a classroom. Build a future.
  
• Google’s Mark Risher changes our passwords — Converge with Casey Newton — Overcast
  
• Computerized adaptive testing - Wikipedia
  
• Can a Test Ever Be Fair? How Today's Standardized Tests Get Made. | EdSurge News
  
• Are You Smart But Scoring Low on the SAT/ACT? What To Do
  
• Fall Asleep Fast — In 2 Minutes or Less | Art of Manliness
  
• Combating Fighter Pilot Fatigue | GO FLIGHT MEDICINE
  
• Bison Leather Front-Pocket Wallet / Bison Leather Front-Pocket Wallet -- Orvis
  
• Amazon.com: Taxi Wallet
  
• Colorful Mini Card Book v2 | mochithings
  
• Star Trek: The Next Generation In 40 Hours – Maxistentialism Blog – Medium
  
• Amazon.com: All-new Sonos One - Smart Speaker with Alexa voice control built-In. Compact size with incredible sound for any room. (black): Home Audio & Theater
  

Discussed: courting a vegetarian; The Information Problem; FU on Dan's new slide remote and keyboard; also, belts; travel pre-screening options; a recommended article on hypocognition; Dan saw IT; thoughts on Twiki and Erin Grey; and Dan's recent home problem.

Links for this episode:

• Episode 75: I Set Up a Fake Child – AppStories
  John is joined by Merlin Mann to discuss managing family tech use and the upcoming iOS 12 Screen Time family features.
  

Discussed: tech that's gotten so much more dependable (and, yeah, so much less dependable); Dan needs a new presenter remote; Marvel's First Family (finally) returns; who would win if The Hulk fought The Thing?; Merlin introduces Dan to the Ponyverse; some camp equipment follow-up; and Merlin goes off on the awesomeness of libraries with some hot new service recommendations.

Links for this episode:

• Kanopy - Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top Documentaries
  
• Libby, by OverDrive - an app for library ebooks and audiobooks
  
• Shop | Arcade Belts
  
• Fantastic Four (2018-) #1 - Marvel Comics
  
• Guide – Grey | Arcade Belts
  
• Amazon.com: Jackery Portable Travel Charger Bar 6000mAh Pocket-sized Ultra Compact External Battery Power Bank Fast Charging Speed with Emergency Flashlight for iPhone, Samsung and Others - Orange: Cell Phones & Accessories
  
• Portable Power Supply Solutions – Power Outdoors | Jackery
  
• keep your volkswagen alive - Google Search
  
• Amazon.com : Kensington Wireless Presenter with Red Laser Pointer (K33374USB) : Presentation Remotes : Office Products
  
• Gargac! | Do By Friday
  This week's challenge: be nice to someone.
  

Discussed: Merlin sounds like a saxophone, keyboards are extensively discussed, pros and cons of various MacsBooks Pro, Dan likes using one monitor, pining for best-of-class hardware from Cupertino, Merlin has dorky and boring follow-up, recommending an Apple Watch sleep app and an iOS location tracker, some excellent ice replacements, Dan's favorite bespoke cooler, a disappointing belt, a very good belt, Dan gets a creepy email, Merlin did NOT forget something, Cash gets more cool stuff, and Merlin recommends a Zelda tome.

Links for this episode:

• Gyroscope · The new OS for the human body
  A new operating system for the human body
  

Discussed: current monospaced font preferences, experimenting with text sizing, getting on the sucker list, old McDonalds had some styrofoam, new tech that would kill old stories, kids bewilderment with old tech, the bonkersness of Face/Off, wonderful listener gifts for Cash, a book about anxiety Merlin likes.

Dan and Merlin also answer listener questions about mise en place and doubting one's future after college.

Links for this episode:

• The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety: Alan W. Watts: 8601300190136: Amazon.com: Books
  
• Mise en place - Wikipedia
  Mise en place: setting the stage for thought and action
  

Merlin really likes the ones where Dan prepares.

Discussed: four-twenty in The Mile High state, some tv and movie recommendations, the creativity that comes from constraints, The Information Problem, plus thanks for some lovely gifts to Cash from listeners.

Most of the episode focuses on a provocative new article about whether podcast hosting should be "free."

Merlin nerds out on iOS Trackpad mode, and Dan drops a Science Corner about heat versus temperature. Also: Star Trek.

Links for this episode:

• Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #23 — Merlin Mann
  MERLIN 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, July 26th to hang out, talk about comics, and just say, “Hi.” It's free and it's fun.