Back to Work

In the most average episode ever, Merlin and Dan talk physical and digital work environments so you can get going in the right direction and don't have to spend all day on it.

And, when do you know you don't want 10 times more of something and what do you do about it? There's no guarantee of security, even if you show up sober, so start acting like an entrepreneur and choose what you want 10 times more of.

Links for this episode:

• An Unfortunate Little Man - Merlin Mann
  
• Slideshow 2.0 - Blog - The Official Squarespace Blog
  
• Top 10 Programming Fonts
  
• Solarized - Ethan Schoonover
  
• deplorableword/textmate-solarized - GitHub
  
• filmgirl/TextMate-Themes - GitHub
  
• Appearance Manager - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Byword • A Simple Text Editor for Mac
  
• octothorpe - Wiktionary
  
• Calepin
  
• Merlin’s Calepin Thingee
  
• Pelican — Pelican v2 documentation
  
• Pygments — Python syntax highlighter
  
• Santa's Village artifacts | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
  
• Slideshow 2.0 - Blog - The Official Squarespace Blog
  
• kung fu grippe • An Unfortunate Little Man For today’s Back to...
  
• kung fu grippe
  
• Awkward Stock Photos
  
• Hibari: A Mac Twitter client with keyword filtering, muting, inline saved search results, inline conversations, tweet lookup, and more
  
• CD-i - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• VIDEO: Mitchell & Webb - "A New Führer"
  
• The Front Line
  
• kung fu grippe • “Yet, here we are.” Same way, if you’re caught...
  
• Rabbit #2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
  
• [SPONSOR] Squarespace.com - 15% off 6 months with code `bulkbag`
  
• Five terrible fake “Morning Zoo” teams | 5ives
  
• Life Without Gluten: Perspectives | KQED Public Media for Northern CA
  
• Sci-Fi Hi-Fi - "How to form a stampede of engineers at Tumblr HQ."
  
• The compleat Menlo/Vera Sans comparison - All this
  
• Amazon.com: The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety (Vintage) (9780307741202): Alan W. Watts: Books
  
• M+ OUTLINE FONTS | DESIGN
  
• Scared Shitless | 43 Folders
  
• violasong | Hibari design philosophy
  

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TOPIC: The Hidden Cost is the True Cost

Merlin is back from MacWorldPipeiWorld to talk with Dan about the True Cost of iceberg lettuce, an anchor tenant, 20 minutes of your time, and how much of your life you're going to eat sand.

You don't have a TARDIS to make it back to pick up your kid or make it to Built to Spill so walk the coastline.

Links for this episode:

• Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis: Natalie Portman from Comedy Deathray, Between Two Ferns, Natalie Portman, Zach Galifianakis, Scott Aukerman, and BJPorter
  
• Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis: Conan O'Brien & Andy Richter from Between Two Ferns, Andy Richter, Conan O'Brien, Zach Galifianakis, Comedy Deathray, Scott Aukerman, and BJPorter
  
• Mandy Patinkin - IMDb
  
• Alien Nation (1988) - IMDb
  
• Merlin Mann - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• snopes.com: Handyman's Invoice
  
• 5by5 | After Dark #75: Pamphlet
  
• Michael Wolfe's answer to Engineering Management: Why are software development task estimations regularly off by a factor of 2-3? - Quora
  
• That design is money! A better ATM experience from Wells Fargo
  
• How Long Is the Coast of Britain? Statistical Self-Similarity and Fractional Dimension - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Fractal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

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TOPIC: Slipping on Dates, Sliding on Days

Merlin and Dan talk about managing projects, scheduling calls, and being home when you scheduled a party. It SEEMS SO SIMPLE but then Jeannie has to go to Guam and slipping is your SOP.

The way out of this quagmire is to admit you can't get out of it. You can't change a culture of slipping with a poster or a fairy princess. You have to fix the slides if you want to fix the slips.

Links for this episode:

• Google Web Fonts
  
• Agile Online Store
  

Sponsored by 1Password and Squarespace.

TOPIC: What to do if you fear a layoff.

Merlin and Dan talk about rumors of layoffs—when the fear gets you, and you start filing in the narrative with a panther, even if you're developing the best-of-breed cereal portal or have been in the newspaper's Accounts Payable department for 20 years.

What do you do at the fork in the road? Do you interview with The Bobs? Do you just grow up and ask what the hell's happening? Do you try to pray away the hurricane?

Or, do you just get tragically okay with being 10 times more terrified for 10 more years?

Yes: there are lessons from The Wire.

Links for this episode:

• Amazon.com: The DV Rebel's Guide: An All-Digital Approach to Making Killer Action Movies on the Cheap (9780321413642): Stu Maschwitz: Books
  
• Stu Maschwitz - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Prolost - Blog
  
• Noble savage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• The Wire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• The Industry Standard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• The Big Lebowski (1998) - IMDb
  
• 5by5 | 5by5 at the Movies #1: Goodfellas
  
• Rodgers Forge Snow Journal: Curbside Lawn Chairs and Parking Wars - Towson, MD Patch
  
• Gorf - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• ArcadeCab- MAME cabinet plans and related information
  
• 5by5 | Back to Work #49: The Field of Completion
  
• 5by5 | Back to Work #1: Alligator in the Bathroom
  
• cn_image.size.s-guantanamo-bay.jpg (630×427)
  
• "If anyone wants me, I’ll be in my autographed Batgirl photo with the Big Lebowski reference. "
  
• Chasing Wildebeests - Scruffy - Scruffy | Thinking
  
• Office Space (1999) - IMDb
  
• Amazon.com: Marpac SleepMate 980A Electro-Mechanical Sound Conditioner: Health & Personal Care
  
• Colors of noise - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• X-Men Vol 1 110 - Marvel Comics Database
  

Sponsored by Smile and Squarespace.

John Gruber joins Merlin to talk about blog engines, Lego, bias, credibility, the project triangle, and (duh) Star Wars. 

Links for this episode:

• Project triangle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Star Wars Vintage KENNER Commercial - Death Star - YouTube
  
• The Phantom Edit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Edit » Fanedit.org – Home of the fanedits
  
• star wars despecialized - Google Search
  
• Behind the Scenes of Harmy's Star Wars "Despecialized Edition" - Screened
  
• 5by5 | The Talk Show #57: The Banana Window
  
• 5by5 | The Talk Show #71: Hashcow
  
• Legacy Tobacco Documents Library: About the Collections
  
• re: agreements between Stallone and Asso... (hlm56b00)
  
• Amazon.com: Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy (9780439882828): Matthew Reinhart: Books
  
• Amazon.com: Don't Think of an Elephant!: Know Your Values and Frame the Debate--The Essential Guide for Progressives (9781931498715): George Lakoff, Howard Dean, Don Hazen: Books
  
• Eco - "Writings: IBM vs. Mac"
  
• 43f Podcast: John Gruber & Merlin Mann's Blogging Panel at SxSW | 43 Folders
  
• kung fu grippe • Star Wars Pop-Up Book Per Back to Work #49. ...
  
• Bullshit – Marco.org
  

Sponsored by Harvest and Rackspace.

TOPIC: How habits get made. 

Dan and Merlin are back for 2012 to discuss how habits are like little hairs or inertia or homeostasis or something. How we build habits, how they get built for us, and what we can learn about habits from making our daily coffee.

Links for this episode:

• Shutting Down My Porno Site | Pat Dryburgh
  
• Amazon.com: Thinking, Fast and Slow (9780374275631): Daniel Kahneman: Books
  
• Availability heuristic
  
• Turn your key, sir!
  
• Photic sneeze reflex
  
• kung fu grippe • annicka: zombiesenelghetto: Black Flag,...
  
• Homeostasis
  
• Amazon.com: Cuisinart DCC-1200 Brew Central 12-Cup Programmable Coffeemaker, Black/Brushed Metal: Kitchen & Dining
  
• Food drives: Charities need your money, not your random old food. - Slate Magazine
  
• Better
  
• Amazon.com: Sakura IDenti-Pen Permanent Dual-Point Pen, Black: Arts, Crafts & Sewing
  
• Amazon.com: uni-ball Gel RT Micro Point Retractable Pens, 12 Blue Ink Pens(69035): Office Products
  
• Amazon.com: uni-ball Deluxe Fine Point Roller Ball Pens, 12 Black Ink Pens (60052): Office Products
  
• JetPens.com - Japanese Pens and Stationery
  
• Thinking, Fast and Slow - FT.com
  
• This explains so much. | MetaFilter
  
• The Forehead Ticket Trick | 43 Folders
  
• Useful Landmines - 43FoldersWiki
  
• Daniel Kahneman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• [SPONSOR] Squarespace.com (use code `bigweek` for 30% off 3 months)
  
• Between the Lines - Features - Los Angeles magazine
  
• Antonio Gramsci - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Category:Cognitive biases - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Golden Gate Bridge: Construction Information
  
• Big Miracle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

Sponsored by Squarespace and Sponsor 5by5.

TOPIC: Resolving to skip the New Year's resolutions.

In the last episode of 2011, Merlin and Dan talk about fresh starts and modest changes rather than rehearsing for sucking. You don't need a calendar to tell you to change. Whether you want to give up nail biting, onanism, or drinking a gallon of vodka a day, you need a plan and a tolerance for failure. Plus, a little care never hurts.

How to do it? Keep it small, keep it time-limited, keep it action-oriented.

Happy New Year, jackals. We love you.

Links for this episode:

• Neven Mrgan's tumbl - "Focused dabbling"
  
• 5by5 | The Talk Show #72: H.R. Fluffypuff
  
• Looking back at our fresh starts & modest changes | 43 Folders
  
• Fight with knives
  
• kung fu grippe - Blue-Sky Solutioneering
  
• Five cues that Robert Plant is ready to have sexual intercourse with you « 5ives
  
• Twitter - "GoDaddy's the insane roommate…"
  
• Ep. 14: "Big City Apology" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann
  
• Saturday Night Live: "Kings of Catchphrase Comedy Tour Vol. 2"
  
• Fresh Start: The Email DMZ | 43 Folders
  
• kung fu grippe • Fresh Start: The Email DMZ | 43 Folders Per B2W...
  
• iTunes - TV Shows - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Remastered Edition
  
• livin' the dream · A Step-by-Step Guide to Transfer Domains Out Of GoDaddy
  
• Amazon.com: Horton Hears A Who! (9780394800783): Dr. Seuss: Books
  
• Extensible Provisioning Protocol - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Sodastream | Turn Water Into Fresh Sparkling Water And Soda
  
• Water intoxication - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Onan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

Sponsored by Squarespace and Sponsor 5by5.

Topic: The Meta-Distractions of "Minimalism"

This week, Merlin and Dan get all "Zen" about bias and minimalism. Your background won't get any blacker, so stop burning cycles arguing on the internet or worrying about what other people think or how minimal you are. It's not about the bird skeletons, lion skins or barefoot girls. Unless that's what works. Just make sure it really works. 

Links for this episode:

• kung fu grippe • Meet Thorstenson Finlandson
  
• [SPONSOR] Squarespace (30% off 3 months with code `fineformerlin`)
  
• [SPONSOR] 1Password (40% off everything for B2W listeners)
  
• The Hudsucker Proxy - "Thorstenson Finlandson"
  
• Fresh Starts & Modest Changes | 43 Folders
  
• kung fu grippe • 43 Simple Ways To Simplify Your Life
  
• Larry Wall [Wikipedia]
  
• Marked: MultiMarkdown preview, everywhere
  
• Ray Bradbury's Desk - mlkshk
  
• A man, a ball, a hoop, a bench (and an alleged thread)… TELLER! - Las Vegas Weekly
  
• Amazon.com: Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings (9780804831864): Paul Reps, Nyogen Senzaki: Books
  
• Amazon.com: Shoes Outside the Door: Desire, Devotion, and Excess at San Francisco Zen Center (9781582432540): Michael Downing: Books
  
• kung fu grippe • when love breaks down
  
• kung fu grippe • Non-Canonical So.
  
• Twitter / @TJLuoma: After 14 years of putting ...
  
• Paris Review - The Art of Fiction No. 21, Ernest Hemingway
  
• VIDEO - môr mnml - Merlin's Minimalist Workspace
  
• VIDEO - Penn & Teller's Bullet Catch Illusion (amazing!)
  
• kung fu grippe - Intro to Rockpile
  
• MacBreak: Minimize distractions on your Mac | 43 Folders
  
• MacGuffin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• M-O
  
• F.lux: software to make your life better
  
• Amazon.com: Histoire De Babar Le Petit Elephant (9782010025198): Jean de Brunhoff, Jean Brunhoff: Books
  
• kung fu grippe - "Please Read"
  
• Dem Bones - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Satori - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Music Jokes, U2
  
• Is it safe to use baby powder on my baby? | BabyCenter
  
• The View from Nowhere: Questions and Answers » Pressthink
  
• Twitter: "Turns Out…"
  
• Zazen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• 5by5 | The Talk Show #71: Hashcow
  
• On The Verge, Episode 002: John Gruber | The Verge
  
• Official Gmail Blog: 2 hidden ways to get more from your Gmail address
  
• Duran Duran - Planet Earth - YouTube
  
• IMG: "Some Hot Chick Typing in Her Underwear"
  
• Amazon.com: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (9781590308493): Shunryu Suzuki, David Chadwick: Books
  
• IMG: kung fu grippe • Minimally Zen
  
• VIDEO: Delta Rhythm Boys - "Dem Bones"
  
• kung fu grippe • ‘sda’ TextExpander saves you countless...
  

Sponsored by 1Password, Squarespace, and Stitcher.

Topic: The Narcissism of Small Differences

This week, Merlin has a quiz for Dan to determine whether Ben Franklin, "The Immigrant Song," or Quantum Mechanics has the most cultural impact--as well as his teasing out Dan's go-to for uninstalling Android apps.

Paying attention to the same degree you care goes nicely with keeping a sense of humor. Especially about those small differences regarding couch cushions, pink spaceships, and Sgt. Pepper's.

The answers are Moby Dick, Julian calendars, ZoSo, chigger bites, and--yes--The Greater Nerd Theory.

Links for this episode:

• Benjamin Franklin's daily schedule | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
  
• Twitter / @joelhousman: @hotdogsladies @danbenjami ...
  
• Niels Bohr - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• 5by5 | The Talk Show #70: Pre-Lit
  
• 5by5 | Back to Work #39: A Source of Rice with Velocity
  
• Merlin's Essay: Better
  
• Narcissism of small differences - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• ZoSo - Google Search
  
• kung fu grippe • Easily, the best edition of this very important...
  
• Amazon.com: How the West Was Won: Led Zeppelin: Music
  
• Larry Wall Quotes
  
• McSweeney’s Internet Tendency: List: E-mail Addresses It Would Be Really Annoying to Give Out Over the Phone.
  
• My Faith in Nerds: Stronger Than Any Gelatinous Cube | 43 Folders
  
• Elvis Presley - "Too Much" [worst. guitar solo. ever.]
  
• Led Zeppelin - "Heartbreaker" (live) [Slamming version; asinine guitar solo]
  
• [SPONSOR] Smile Software (20% off with code `lastchance`)
  
• [SPONSOR] Squarespace (30% off 3 months with code `fineformerlin`)
  
• All My Love (song) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  

Sponsored by Sponsor 5by5, Smile, and Squarespace.

Topic: Moving from dumb nouns to awesome verbs.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the problem with Capital Letter Nouns; how real and specific verbs will always trounce Excellence, Effectiveness, and Mission Statements--even in the Best-of-Breed Pursuance of Five-Nines Quality Across The Enterprise.

They also look at transitive and intransitive flavors of "feasance," finding your keyboard's Excellence Key, opting-in for The Johnson Treatment, lancing that actionable boil, and (as ever) shooting the obvious fish in the obvious barrel.

Links for this episode:

• Merlin Loves 1Password on Vimeo
  
• 5by5 Illustrated
  
• [SPONSOR] Squarespace (offer code: `fineformerlin`)
  
• [SPONSOR] 1Password (40% off everything for B2W listeners)
  
• Capgras delusion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Six Sigma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Urban Dictionary: johnson rod
  
• Antiques, Collectibles, Shows, Clothing, Food, By the Bay, Alameda Point Antiques Faire and Michaans Auctions
  
• Capital Letter Nouns v. lower-case verbs | 43 Folders
  
• Mission statement - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Agile software development - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• MarsEdit 3 - Desktop blog editing for the Mac.
  
• malfeasance legal definition of malfeasance. malfeasance synonyms by the Free Online Law Dictionary.
  
• App Store - Squarespace for iOS
  
• Texas Instruments TI-99/4A - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Amazon.com: The Uncanny X-Men: An Origin Story (9781423142997): Rich Thomas, Storybook Art Group: Books
  
• Amazon.com: Uncanny X-Men Omnibus (v. 1) (9780785121015): Chris Claremont, Len Wein, Dave Cockrum, John Byrne: Books
  
• 5by5 | The Conversation #27: Missionless Statements
  
• IMAGE: Merlin's Giant X-Men Omnibus
  
• Amazon.com: Extreme Programming Pocket Guide (9780596004859): chromatic: Books
  
• IMAGE: Merlin's New Frames
  
• Frakintosh - "Hi."
  
• 5by5 | Back to Work #2: Picture of a Boat
  
• Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (TV special) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (TV special) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Welcome to BrettTerpstra.com, home of Brett Terpstra and his nerdery
  
• For your enjoyment and potentially limited usefulness - Blog -
  
• 5by5 Illustrated
  
• kung fu grippe • “Remember…” Dan has confirmed that this handsome...
  

Sponsored by 1Password, Sponsor 5by5, and Squarespace.