TOPIC: Is Tim firing us?

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the challenge of dealing with email that's only kind of from a real person. There's some follow-up on Apple and wishing they'd just give us a "Get out of here!"

Merlin recommends some podcasts and a terrific new clipboard manager from Tapbots.

Dan talks about why he finally gave in and treated his eyes to a bigger phone. Just don't get him started on progressive lenses.

Links for this episode:

• Pastebot
  
• The Hilarious World of Depression | Podcast | APM Podcasts
  
• Bad Medicine, Part 1: The Story of 98.6 - Freakonomics Freakonomics
  
• Maladroite Cheval. on Vimeo
  
• Chang and Eng Bunker - Wikipedia
  
• Apple’s Tim Cook assures employees that it is committed to the Mac and that ‘great desktops’ are coming | TechCrunch
  
• Seinfeld Scripts - The Pilot (1)
  GEORGE: How could you be a doctor and not say "get outta here"? It should be part of the training at medical school: "Cancer? Get outta here!" "Go home! What are you crazy? It's a little test. It's nothing. You're a real nut. You know that?" (Jerry gives him half of his sandwich to hopefully shut him up) I told you that God would never let me be successful. I never should've written that pilot. Now the show will be a big hit, we'll make millions of dollars, and I'll be dead. Dead Jerry. Because of this. (showing his lip)
  

This week, the boys talk about slicing sand, unboxing videos, Overwatch, and some recommended TV viewing. Odds and sods, as you say.

Main topic is follow-up re: listener feedback on recent Apple conversations.

Links for this episode:

• Hour of Code | Disney Partners
  
• LOVE BOAT INSANITY
  
• Satisfying Sand Videos (@icutsand) • Instagram photos and videos
  
• Amazon.com: moon sand: Toys & Games
  
• Overwatch
  
• An oral history of 'Get a Mac,' Part 1 | Campaign US
  
• An oral history of 'Get a Mac,' Part 2 | Campaign US
  
• Mac Power Users #355: The iPad as a Mac Replacement - Relay FM
  David gave up his laptop and went iPad only for several months and now shares both the joy and the agony.
  

TOPIC: Vaio Life!

This week, Dan and Merlin respond to listener feedback and talk about the tightrope walk of caffeine consumption.

Merlin suggests a new AudioDharma talk, which leads to a discussion of whether you have to be an X to learn about Y. Spoiler Alert: you don't.

Dan updates us on his son's hot new gaming PC, and your hosts can't stop themselves from ruminating (again, again) on why Apple's hardware choices feel be so frustrating…and disappointing.

Links for this episode:

• Anxiety Worry and Fear — Audio Dharma — Overcast
  (New talk)
  

TOPIC: Kipple and Boomboxes

This week Dan and Merlin start by talking about purging junk and answering listener feedback about kids and phones and teachers dealing with email.

Main topic this week is whither Apple? Based on how the company is evolving, who do we think their future products will be for?

Links for this episode:

• Plex Gets Its Own Kodi Add-On, Plex Media Player Now Available to Everyone
  
• Meth Lab Full of Memories | Do By Friday
  This week's challenge: throw something away.
  

TOPIC: Your "backstage" vs. their "onstage"

This week, Merlin shares some useful thoughts (via Patrick Rothfuss) on being careful about how we compare ourselves to others.

The hosts also share some terrific listener suggestions for fantasy books for kids.

Also, Dan has strong feelings about poultry.

Links for this episode:

• Diffen - Compare Anything. Diffen. Discern. Decide.
  
• Diffen:About - Difference and Comparison | Diffen
  Diffen lets you compare anything.

What is the difference between DVD+R and DVD-R? What is the difference between a pub and a bar? An alligator and a crocodile? What is the difference between 401(k) and IRA? Treasuries and bonds? AMD Turion and Athlon processors? How is a Pentium Core 2 Duo different from Pentium Dual Core? How does the work environment at IBM compare with working at Microsoft? How does living in Seattle compare with living in Amsterdam? What is the difference between a Plasma TV and an LCD TV? Cal Tech and UCLA? Yankees and the Red Sox?

You can find or write all these comparisons on Diffen.

This week, Dan and Merlin do another of their beloved Odds 'n Sods episodes, with tons of great recommendations for movies, TV, apps, services, and nighttime medical appliances.

Links for this episode:

• Word to Markdown Converter
  
• The Gyroscope App · your health tracking dashboard
  
• Snapseed - Wikipedia
  
• plantar fasciitis sleeping - Google Search
  
• Junecloud
  
• A Wrinkle in Time - Wikipedia
  
• Satanists & Pedophiles Run The World - David Icke - YouTube
  
• Morgellons actually Explained!! - YouTube
  Explaining chemtrail? What are morgellons?Who made them and Why? What are they made from? Where did they come from? What is the purpose for their purpose? What will it really mean for us?
  

This week, Dan and Merlin are a little out of sorts, so, after some chat and followup, they talk about some of the things that make them happy. Plus, awesome Mac key commands.

Links for this episode:

• GitHub - Obbut/iCloud-Control: User-controlled selective sync for iCloud Drive
  
• The Talk Show: Ep. 172, With Special Guest Merlin Mann
  Merlin Mann returns to the show to discuss the election, by which we mostly talk around the election. I hope we never do another show again with such heavy hearts, but whatever you think about this election, I think you’ll like this show.
  

TOPIC: Leaving Dropbox Vegas

Merlin survives a sleepover, and Dan has a concern about Dropbox.

Links for this episode:

• Microsoft OneDrive
  
• iCloud - iCloud Drive - Apple
  
• Google Drive - Cloud Storage & File Backup for Photos, Docs & More
  
• SpiderOak
  
• Secure File Sharing, Storage, and Collaboration | Box
  
• Syncthing
  
• Insync is Google Drive sync & backup with multiple account support
  
• ChronoSync Overview | Econ Technologies Software
  
• Phone Number Search | Truecaller
  
• Westworld: Season 1 (Selections from the HBO® Series) - EP by Ramin Djawadi on Apple Music
  
• HBO Releases Westworld Soundtrack of Old-Timey Rock Covers | Film | News | Hot Press
  
• Golem - Wikipedia
  
• Ravenclaw | Harry Potter Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
  
• The Hogwarts Sorting Quiz (Pottermore Version) | Playbuzz
  
• MacBook Pro - Apple
  
• SRD:Golem - D&D Wiki
  
• Benjamin Button Reviews The New MacBook Pro (Pinboard Blog)
  
• Netflix - Steve Jobs: The Lost Interview
  
• Do By Friday
  A weekly challenge show hosted by Merlin Mann, Alex Cox, and Max Temkin.
  

Links for this episode:

• Jamie Buck on Twitter: "@hotdogsladies Thanks for the white gaffers tape shout out. A cool surprise on my drive to work."
  
• John Wayne Drunk Speech.wmv - YouTube
  
• Monty Hall problem - Wikipedia
  
• Birthday problem - Wikipedia
  
• Wonder (Palacio novel) - Wikipedia
  
• Wonder: R. J. Palacio: 9780375869020: Amazon.com: Books
  
• Reconcilable Differences #37: A Useless Angle for Swordfighting - Relay FM
  
• Runa | Guayusa
  
• Flammable vs. Inflammable: What's the difference? | Merriam-Webster
  Both words mean the same thing, but one of them is bound to confuse most people.
  

TOPIC: How to pester people responsibly.

Links for this episode:

• Strange Animals (@Strange_Animals) | Twitter
  
• TaskPaper – Plain text to-do lists for Mac
  
• 3M Lithographers Tape 616 Ruby Red: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
  
• 5by5 | Back to Work #293: The Frame for Our Relationship
  
• TaskPaper – Plain text to-do lists for Mac
  
• Universal Security Instruments | Home
  
• Zojirushi
  
• Amazon.com: Zojirushi NS-ZCC18 10-Cup Neuro Fuzzy Rice Cooker, 1.8-Liters, Premium White: Kitchen & Dining
  
• Amazon.com : Mahatma Long Grain Jasmine Rice, 32 oz : Jasmine Rice Produce : Grocery & Gourmet Food
  
• Olly Moss on Twitter: "Announcing 7 new officially licensed Harry Potter art prints, produced in collaboration with @Pottermore. Link: https://t.co/jU85tYnUet https://t.co/yMNcoN5Kht"
  
• Home / OLLY MOSS SHOP
  
• Harry Potter Print Set / OLLY MOSS SHOP
  
• Acceptance and commitment therapy - Wikipedia
  
• Wrap A Hot Towel Around Your Head - YouTube
  
• Robot & Frank (2012) - IMDb
  
• Mars Sazerac | Bob's Burgers Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia
  
• Connie Sellecca. Nothing wrong that, huh | The Nap quotes
  Connie Sellecca. Nothing wrong that, huh?