Shows
Back to WorkEpisode 560: The Cat of AmontilladoWrapping up the year with thoughts on unearned Covid optimism, defining "normal," Roomba training, Microsoft Visual Studio, plus a new (and decidedly more positive) reframing for New Year's resolutions.
Links for this episode:@thesunnypodcast | LinktreeThe Always Sunny Podcast on Apple PodcastsThe Gang Goes Jihad — The Always Sunny Podcast — OvercastThis Is How Michael Caine Speaks - The Trip - BBC Two - YouTubeSteve Coogan & Rob Brydon in The Trip - James Bond & Liam Neeson - YouTubeThe Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Heal...
2021-12-281h 33Back to WorkEpisode 558: PseudismMerlin's Best of 2021™ kicks off with the return of "Cool Things I Learned This Week."
Links for this episode:The Talk Show #331 – “John Was the Problem,” with Merlin MannMerlin Mann returns to the show to discuss two brief topics (with a few asides): my dream of opening a steakhouse, and Peter Jackson’s Beatles documentary Get Back.
Overcast - ‘John Was the Problem’, With Merlin Mann — The Talk Show With John Gruber — OvercastWatch The Beatles: Get Back | Disney+ttscoff/KeyBindings: DefaultKeybindings.dict for Mac OS XFive-Minute Coronavirus Stress Resets - Th...
2021-12-151h 31Back to WorkEpisode 497: HBO Plus 98 XP for the EnterpriseDISCUSSED: the boys update one another on some very good media they're enjoying; everybody loves a movie with a big world; Merlin pitches Dan on the improbable magic of Ted Lasso; talk turns to some new features of Apple's recent OS updates; at length, Merlin makes a case for exploring the amazing new functionalities of widgets, complications, and especially the apps of Underscore David Smith; Guardian gets an exciting update and a pro plan; there's some talk of the challenge in finding a VPN that actually does what you think it's doing; it seems like the show is over...
2020-09-291h 22Back to WorkEpisode 480: A Gracious DyadDISCUSSED: not everything can be everything; pain accumulates; getting weepy about a cool teacher; expanding on our new thought technology for reframing negative thoughts and feelings; abstracting that new thought technology to tons of different endeavors; why won't they just let me win this video game?; the scissors and Scotch Tape are wherever you left them; the joys of ritual and control; the importance of infrastructure; break the big thing into a bunch of little things; Merlin performs a brief recitation of Back to Work's Greatest Hits; please cut up my food for me please; theme dining nights rule...
2020-06-021h 10Back to WorkEpisode 468: Cancellation ChristmasDISCUSSED: heck, yeah, there's a lot of uncertainty; the woeful knock-on effects of COVID-19, from SxSW to presidential handshaking; Dan graciously accepts Merlin's apology; it's so important that you not touch the fish's face; Dan's Podcast Method is back, baby; you can tell an ecosystem is healthy when the advice about it diversifies; Dan explains the Kelvin Timeline and why he hates it; a Celebration of Bones emerges; Merlin is intrigued by Otter and a little unsure about Jumbo; Dan wants you to know it's still him; breaking handshake news; the boys get a nice letter from a listener...
2020-03-091h 11Back to WorkEpisode 436: Better Than a LipstickDISCUSSED: 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; an...
2019-07-301h 10Back to WorkEpisode 425: Off the CushionDISCUSSED: Dan explains what the photos he sends mean; Merlin encourages Dan to air a beef, and Dan kindly assents; Oh, boy, Windows! My old nemesis…Windows!; the Mac's interoperability glory days were amazing; it really sucks to watch a computer start up and start up and start up; ports confuse Merlin, who is now officially an old; Dan and Merlin talk about a few things they enjoyed watching on YouTube; Merlin has a recommendation for downloading internet videos (purely for educational reasons); Merlin also recommends a really good podcast episode about "data-driven parenting"; then, Merlin kinda pops off a...
2019-05-071h 30Back to WorkEpisode 424: A Roach Riding a RatDISCUSSED: the restorative tonic of a good night's sleep; a return to sleep as video game; it's okay to tweet your hosts about hoagies and Publix; concerns about butt cancer; Dan recommends a Netflix series; Merlin endorses Overcast clips; the difficulty of balancing user requests with reality; Merlin commends the deliberate simplicity of his daughter's spork; Merlin recommends a podcast; and, finally, your hosts respond to a listener's email about the therapeutic benefits of "controlling a small area."
Links for this episode:Clip sharing with Overcast – Marco.orgWith today’s 2019.4 update, you can now...
2019-04-301h 13Back to WorkEpisode 395: My Sleeves are DynamicDiscussed: the tyranny of earliness, the benefits of timeliness, an interesting horology episode about Apple Watch, more watch talk, a blog recommendation, a quick look at Merlin's new FitBit, an update on home WiFi options, Merlin raps a little, Dan gets wired for Ethernet, what we'd like so see in an updated Mac Mini, some listener followup on Bear export and (deliberately) slow interfaces, considering oneself touch-ed, skeuomorphic sounds, and various Florida wildlife encounters.
Links for this episode:Fitbit Charge 3 | Advanced Health and Fitness TrackerMichael Tsai - Blog - Why Matthew Green Is...
2018-10-091h 07Back to WorkEpisode 385: A Picture of a ClownDiscussed: 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: BooksMise en place - WikipediaMise...
2018-07-311h 17Back to WorkEpisode 380: Chung Chung MachineFollow-up on the Benjamin family phone plan, what it's like to use a phone that's not a phone anymore, excitement for Siri Shortcuts, an AR measurement app recommendation, Dan's new TV recommendations, some travel headphone recommendations, massive disruption in the fizzy water space, some pseudo-insider-ish follow-up on Siri, plus Dan's adventure back into the world of Android and how it went.
Links for this episode:troglodyte modeMeasureKit - AR ruler app for iOS 11Whatever you want to measure, we have a tool for that
WWDC 2018 - Videos - Apple Developer...
2018-06-121h 32Back to WorkEpisode 378: A Hong Kong Phooey SituationDiscussed this week: media dustups, the deleterious career effects of social media, a week or so of Instagram, love of dogs, a podcast appearance, two great services for spotting fake Amazon reviews, some Netflix recommendations, Inspector Gadget, remastering Star Trek, kids and black & white movies, serious mail, inventing The Sabbath, and some freestyle advice.
Links for this episode:@hotdogsladies/Political Twitter on TwitterFree Agents #48: Lousy With the Stink of Freedom, with Merlin Mann - Relay FMPodcaster Merlin Mann joins us to discuss his long journey as an independent worker, during which...
2018-05-291h 10Back to WorkEpisode 339: True Love WeighsTOPIC: Don't provoke Dan.
This week, Dan and Merlin (once again) complain about what works and what just kiiiinda works with smart devices. Who's winning the voice control game, and who's struggling to play catchup? Ecosystems!
Next up, the boys talk about some surprisingly handy and useful cases for that befuddling Apple TV remote. Also, Dan needs your help to back up Cash's Windows box. Merlin has an important request, too.
Also provided are scientific updates on how much a scale weighs.
Finally, Merlin offers a whole goddamned book's worth of...
2017-08-291h 26Back to WorkEpisode 307: #43 on The Ladder of KindnessTOPIC: Youth is the aberration.
This week, Dan provides updates on his Hackintosh project, which leads to a discussion of finding reviews and advice with context. The hosts realize, acknowledge, and quickly move past their program’s 6th anniversary, spending more time on that drum sound Merlin makes with his mouth.
Recent email pitches are discussed, and advice is offered on smarter ways to pitch strangers on practically anything.
Merlin responds to a question from a listener about learning to find inspiration in the absence of crisis.
Links for this ep...
2017-01-181h 38Back to WorkEpisode 305: Quadruple DownTOPIC: This is a feeling I'm feeling.
This week, your hosts look at the announcement of Dish's new Air TV box, along with the rapidly evolving landscape for cord-cutters. Also, fantasies of monk holes are entertained.
The big topic this week is a discussion of a listener's question about the role of positive thinking. [This is a good one.]
Links for this episode:Dish unveils a 4K Android TV streaming box with Netflix, Sling TV, and local channels - The Verge5by5 | Back to Work #304: The 2016 Compilation EpisodeThis...
2017-01-031h 29Back to WorkEpisode 284: Wake Up, Van HœtThis week, Dan and Merlin open with an unintentionally deep dive on how Merlin has been tricking out his house with home automation stuff.
The main topic this week returns to the theme of updates; in this case, how ubiquitous devices have changed pretty much everything.
Links for this episode:Weiner (2016) - IMDb5by5 | Back to Work #280: The Big Filter5by5 | Back to Work #281: The Mayor of Chocolate Sundaes5by5 | Back to Work #283: Cognition to CompletionEverything From This 1991 Radio Shack Ad You Can Now Do With Your Phone
2016-08-091h 38Back to WorkEpisode 260: Stuck in Green ForeverTOPIC: Grab Bag.
This week, Dan and Merlin cover the waterfront. This wide-ranging episode covers lots of listener feedback, corrections of egregious errors, D&D alignment, the danger of guessing why people are how they are, some fun Tumblr recommendations, considering the yak-shaving ordeal of time-shifting broadcast TV, plus further discussion of last week's topic re: kids and computer access.
Links for this episode:Ed Brubaker - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia“Did You Lose the Keys Here?” “No, But the Light Is Much Better Here” | Quote InvestigatorHDHomeRun CONNECT - US - Watch...
2016-02-232h 01Back to WorkEpisode 254: Fixed Points in TimeTOPIC: Budgeting the Primary Secondary Project
This week, Dan and Merlin do a deep dive on a very old and very thorny topic: managing time.
Thing is: this is not about bookkeeping—it's about accounting. Being honest, humble, and diligent in mindfully applying your time and seeing how it went.
(This is a good one.)
Links for this episode:Fixed point in time - Tardis - WikiaFixed points in time were moments in the space-time continuum at which events were set in stone and could never, ever be...
2016-01-121h 13Back to WorkEpisode 244: You Have to Be a StagTOPIC: You are who you choose to be.
This week Dan and Merlin talk about making buying decisions, dealing with unsolicited email, preventing stupid from sticking to you, and finding systems that may or may not work.
Links for this episode:Travel Basket Key Tray and Wallet Valet by Red Oxx MfgIt's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff: Peter Walsh: 9780743292658: Amazon.com: BooksBEST Haka EVER on HD - All Blacks Haka - Rugby World Cup Final 2011 Vs. France - YouTube...
2015-10-281h 55Back to WorkEpisode 234: Two Inches Behind the BoardTOPIC: Compensatory muscles
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about how much emotions can become like physical injuries—and what happens when we try to overcompensate for either.
Links for this episode:5by5 | The Ihnatko Almanac #152: Project RunwayAndy is joined by Merlin Mann to discuss Project Runway.
nevver: Peanuts | kung fu grippeadam baldwin - Google Searchvincent d'onofrio - Google Searchwilford brimley age in 1984 - Wolfram|AlphaFeeling Good: The New Mood Therapy: David D. Burns: 0071001008999: Amazon.com: BooksFeeling Good | The website of David D...
2015-08-191h 41Back to WorkEpisode 226: Only Child*TOPIC: Hitting and sharing and dietetic lunch.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about having and not having siblings (and what it may or may not actually mean) as well as addressing some of the rapid changes coming to the business of podcasting.
Links for this episode:Reconcilable Differences #3: Helena Sell - Relay FMThis week, John and Merlin finally set themselves to the task of beginning to argue about their differences.After a look at their feelings about reviews (and review culture), John takes Merlin to task for his stance on the 1999...
2015-06-231h 25Back to WorkEpisode 221: Minimally Viable InterruptionTOPIC: Time, Stones, and Giving Yourself a Break
Just…give yourself permission to not feel like a dick today. Especially if you think you don't deserve it.
Links for this episode:Dogs CAN see in colour: Scientists dispel the myth that canines can only see in black and white | Daily Mail OnlineThe Dalrymple ReportMac Power Users #257: Workflows with Merlin Mann: Episode VI - Relay FMColor Therapy: An Anti-Stress Coloring Book: Cindy Wilde, Laura-Kate Chapman, Richard Merritt: 9780762458806: Amazon.com: BooksBalance (Angie's Extreme Stress Menders Volume 1): Angie Grace: 6063887956581: Am...
2015-05-191h 38Back to WorkEpisode 218: The Tigers in Your KitchenTOPIC: Fear, Anxiety, and Existential Whack-A-Mole
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about Color Guard, the science of binge watching, and the uncertain future of podcasts.
But, mainly, they talk a lot about fear and anxiety. Deep dive here. How are fear and anxiety different? What's a habitual thought feel like? And, what are some little ways to start gently climbing out?
Links for this episode:TeeVee | Daredevil Rewind: Episodes 4-6 (Episode 64)In this episode we crest violent bloodshed and flow with universe building. Characters are further fleshed out as the...
2015-04-281h 35Back to WorkEpisode 217: The Worst Most Advanced TeenagerTOPIC: Take it personal and make it personal.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about culture, solipsism, hiring, and needle-moving things.
Links for this episode:Ungainly X-Mann Meetup #8 — Merlin MannSteve Albini: State of the Music Industry 2015 - yewknee? A Few Good Men Introduction - YouTubeJohn Gholson on Twitter: "Recolored KILLING JOKE looks like a totally different book. http://t.co/wcKz73nhHH"#19 Underdog — Reply All — Gimlet Media5by5 | Hypercritical #12: Nothing Is So PerfectJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin turn a critical eye towards last week's episode on cri...
2015-04-221h 59Back to WorkEpisode 216: Safety SwordTOPIC: Kremlinology and Verbing
This week, Dan and Merlin follow-up on Dan's neighbor and The Trailer Incident. They also undertake a rather circuitous exploration of how little we understand about how stuff gets made. This leads to a semi-useful discussion of how the verbs we verb do and don't constitute the nouns we noun—and when we realize that.
Links for this episode:5by5 | 5by5 at the Movies #3: The Big Lebowski - "A Life of Achievement"Dan Benjamin and Merlin Mann talk about The Big Lebowski, which is just, like, their opinion, man.
5by...
2015-04-151h 11Back to WorkEpisode 215: Legacy CatTOPIC: With great power comes…uh, uh, what-have-you.
This week, Dan and Merlin cover a lot of ground. What makes a great comics movie. What movies to show (and not show) your kids. The majesty of The Big Lebowski. And, what exactly Dan should do about a construction trailer and a crawfish-pinching doctor.
Links for this episode:5by5 | Getting There #33: Merlin Mann Shows Us His PanaceaIn which we talk with the brilliantly undefinable—yet always gracious—special guest: Merlin Mann. Best known as a cornerstone of the classic indie band Bacon Ray, he’s a...
2015-04-071h 40Back to WorkEpisode 206: Talking to SantaTOPIC: Work as Practice
This week Dan and Merlin chew on some of the numerous eternal imponderables of creative work—with a special focus on "work as practice."
Links for this episode:Cotton Bureau – #SUPERTRAIN by Roderick on the LinePack a small bag with the very first official Roderick on the Line shirt.
5by5 | Back to Work #31: You Can Polish AC/DC All Day Long5by5 | Back to Work #205: Obsolete, circa 19935by5 | After Dark #503: After Back to Work 205Ep. 25: "Supertrain" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin MannThe W...
2015-01-281h 18
Real Talk w/ Day & NikkiDo You Feel Lucky Punk?The 5by5's Pride48 Real Talk episode tonight: Halloween weather, Election Talk, More on Movember, Illegal activities that used to be legal and Luck. If you want to donate or join team 5by5 click the link http://moteam.co/the-5by5ers
2014-11-071h 00Back to WorkEpisode 193: Disappointment Delivery MechanismTOPIC: You Are That Little Dot.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about notifications, beeps, bloops, flashes, and all the stuff we have zero control over. There's about a million ways people can contact us and just as many ways we can unintentionally disappoint every one of them.
There's sanity in realizing which stuff you actually control, which stuff you have to let go, and how many of the expectations in-between can be reasonably managed.
Links for this episode:Email Drafts the Hard Way"I learned a hard lesson early in...
2014-10-281h 35Back to WorkEpisode 191: Heisenberg Uncertainty DogTOPIC: People, amirite?
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about neighbors, dogs, Macs, MLB.tv, and
flavors of reinforcement.
Links for this episode:Support Dan Benjamin creating Podcasts and videosShowbot5by5 | Back to Work #190: C-3PO's BeardWatch Live Streaming Major League Baseball Games Online with MLB.TV | MLB.com: SubscriptionsLOT of asterisks there.
Neighbors | This American Life"Stories of people trying to love their neighbors...and failing."
Sponsored by Squarespace (use code ITSYOURSHOW for a free trial and 10% off and don't forget to check out...
2014-10-141h 27
The Big Web ShowEpisode 119: You're Touching My ScreenJeffrey Zeldman returns with the Big Web Show back on 5by5. For his first interview, he talks with Dan Benjamin about the evolution and changing importance of the web, 90's slang, and more.
Sponsored by MailChimp (visit mailchimp.com/5by5 and send 12,000 emails per month to 2,000 subscribers, forever).
2014-09-051h 19Back to WorkEpisode 184: Days of Bathrooms PastTOPIC: Is there anything else you want to tell me?
This week, Dan and Merlin discuss what bathrooms can teach us about learning, expertise, and empathy.
Links for this episode:Rules of the Road - San Francisco Bicycle CoalitionThe SF Bicycle Coalition is proud to be the leading resource for street safety in San Francisco. Every year, we reach tens of thousands of people with the Bicycle Rules of the Road. Here are the 10 bike laws you need to know to pedal safely and legally:
5by5 | 5by5 Specials #29: Four Places at Once
2014-08-261h 28Back to WorkEpisode 180: Deus Ex Machina for Your GutTOPIC: Stupid can't stick to me.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about the distinction between being against something vs. not having an opinion about it vs. just choosing not to let the world stick to you.
Links for this episode:Marked 2 - Smarter tools for smarter writersMarked is a previewer for Markdown files. Use it with your favorite text editor and it updates every time you save. With robust features for previewing, reviewing and exporting beautiful documents, you can work in plain text while reveling in rich formatting.
Presentations — MacSparkyMo...
2014-07-221h 10Back to WorkEpisode 178: Fake Laminated Bull PoopTOPIC: Yes. Yes.
This week, Dan and Merlin follow-up on their recent 5by5 at the Movies episode about Glengarry Glen Ross, talking more about sales culture, media consumption, how our personal data gets used to close us, and why Dan admires Ricky Roma.
Or, Tony Roma, as you call him.
Links for this episode:5by5 | 5by5 at the Movies #3: A Slight Burglary: Glengarry Glen RossMerlin Mann and Dan Benjamin talk about Glengarry Glen Ross.
A Slight Burglary: Glengarry Glen Ross on HuffdufferSee You at the Top: Zig Ziglar: 9789971643096...
2014-07-081h 19Back to WorkEpisode 177: Motivation Has Pit StainsTOPIC: Motivation
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about their upcoming 5by5 at the Movies episode on Glengarry Glen Ross, which segues naturally into a discussion of the many aspects of motivation.
Carrots, sticks, bonuses, fear, status, and just growing up all shape our understanding of why we (and, yeah, others) do what we do.
What happens when our motivation starts better accounting for how other people are motivated?
Get them to sign on the line which is dotted.
Links for this episode:A B2W HeroesCon Greeting...
2014-07-011h 20Back to WorkEpisode 175: Andy is the Stuff of NightmaresTOPIC: "Creativity" where you din't expect it.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about PIXAR, creativity, and FoldingText before finally succumbing to the treachery of Skype.
Links for this episode:FoldingText — Plain text productivity for Mac usersFor Mac users who love plain text. FoldingText is the markdown text editor with productivity features. Unlike other editors, FoldingText does outlining, todo lists, and more.
5by5 | The Incomparable #197: Fail FastWe love Pixar, and we're a bunch of creative professional types. So as you can imagine, we devoured "Creativity Inc.", by Pixar president Ed Ca...
2014-06-1150 minBack to WorkEpisode 171: Put a Sweatshirt In My WalletTOPIC: It's like wallets and backpacks.
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about H.R. Giger, Dan's latest Android experiment, more on app privacy, and why we need both wallets, backpacks, and suitcases. You know. Analogies.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Build a Website — Squarespace[SPONSOR] Online Eyeglasses & Sunglasses - $95 Rx Glasses | Warby Parker5by5 | The Incomparable #194: A Real Imaginary FriendGrab your black cat and portable radio, climb on your mom's broomstick, and join us for a discussion of Hayao Miyazaki's classic animated film "Kiki's Delivery Service." This film features a...
2014-05-131h 17Back to WorkEpisode 164: Back in the Medieval VillageTOPIC: Curiosity & Creativity
This week, Dan and Merlin talk more about expertise and how it relates to the ineffable qualities of curiosity and creativity. Can curiosity be inspired or taught? Or, is it just something you either have or don't? How do we buck the implicit authority to explore the vast universe of "unnecessary things?"
Links for this episode:21 Compelling Reasons Why Florida Should Be Kicked Out Of The United States | Thought CatalogLet me just start this by saying that I was born in Florida, lived there for a while, and have...
2014-03-251h 38Back to WorkEpisode 152: Tiny Hands, Large DesiresTOPIC: Consistency, Change, and Counting-Down
This week, Dan and Merlin return to the evergreen topic of new year's resolutions. Remember: in the main, you are what you've already done a lot.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] SquarespaceSquarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website.
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5by5 | Back to Work #47: Utter Failure & Hotel SteakTOPIC: 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...
2013-12-311h 15Back to WorkEpisode 147: Five-Dollar MurrayTOPIC: Perfectionism and Procrastination
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about why the classic meanings of perfectionism mostly miss the mark; it's less about being scared to finish and more about being terrified to start.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] PDFpenPro: Mac PDF Editor - Create PDF Forms, PDF Table of ContentsEverything PDFpen can do and more! Make interactive forms, build tables of contents, and convert Web pages to PDFs when you go PDFpenPro. New in version 6: Microsoft® Word export!
[SPONSOR] Stock Photos, Royalty-Free Images and Vectors - ShutterstockOver 30 million s...
2013-11-261h 20Back to WorkEpisode 144: Habituate a GoatTOPIC: Perception and Perspective.
In their second ever live, face-to-face episode, Dan and Merlin talk about goats, noise gate, and taking a step back for a better view of where you are.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Designer Frames & Online Eyeglasses - $95 Rx Glasses | Warby Parker[SPONSOR] Build a Website — Squarespace[SPONSOR] OmniFocus - The Omni Group5by5 | Bionic #66: Crossover EventThis week – with Matt on a secret Vlcnr mission – Myke is joined by Merlin Mann. They discuss the fact that Matt is probably on witness protection, the movies of Edg...
2013-11-061h 19Back to WorkEpisode 141: Counterclockwise. Like a Gentleman.TOPIC: Learning the Wheres and Whens of Productivity
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about learning from how you work to improve your basic productivity infrastructure, with specific attention to using Perspectives in OmniFocus.
Whether it's consolidating shopping lists, eliminating task rot, or leveraging geolocation, there are innumerable tricks for lightly tweaking a system in powerful, non-fiddly ways.
Also: learn Dan's Unified Field Theory of Grocery Shopping.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Stock Photos, Royalty-Free Images and Vectors - Shutterstock[SPONSOR] Web Hosting Services, Reseller Hosting, VPS Hosting, and...
2013-10-151h 13Back to WorkEpisode 140: Silicon CircusTOPIC: Special Guest, Matt Alexander
This week, Merlin is joined by Bionic co-host, Matt Alexander. They discuss ““technology ecosystems,”” life as a self-described trans-atlantic, tech scenes that thrive and don't, dating someone from Florida (and her Mum), and getting back into Marvel comics.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Build a Website — SquarespaceSquarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website.
[SPONSOR] MailRoute: Email Protection - Spam and Virus Filtering ServicesMailRoute is a secure, hosted email filtering service that you can have up and running in minutes. There's no hardwar...
2013-10-081h 24Back to WorkEpisode 138: Mindfulness...Whether I Want It or NotTOPIC: Informal Background Self-Quantization
This week Dan & Merlin discuss the merits of self-quantization. Which is fancy way of saying, "Merlin got a new Fitbit."
Why is anecdotal self-reporting a sucker's bet? What are the benefits of making your life a little video game? And, why is Merlin's scale accessing APIs via the internet?
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] HostGatorHostGator is a leading provider of web hosting, reseller hosting, vps hosting, and dedicated servers. Over 8,000,000 websites trust HostGator for their web hosting needs.
[SPONSOR] BusyCalBusyCal is an award winning...
2013-09-241h 30Back to WorkEpisode 136: Scared of Your Own LifeTOPIC: Fear of Your Own TODO List
This week, Dan and Merlin cover a topic suggested by listener, @jeff_nordstedt: not wanting to look at your todo list.
From capture to completion, there are a million ways to fall off the path. The boys take a deep dive on what those ways might be as well as how to get yourself straightened out and, as you say, back to work.
Honestly. It's why people hate TODO lists. Well. That and the odor.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] SquarespaceSquarespace...
2013-09-1158 min
5by5 SpecialsEpisode 22: Vis-à-vis Nokia (Critical Path #95)A special episode in three parts: 1) Too many variables: The mechanics of the Microsoft Nokia deal 2) Climbing Everest without oxygen: The implications for Microsoft and 3) Post-abyss: The implications for Nokia.
Links for this episode:Does the phone market forgive failure? | asymcoUnforgiven, Continued | asymcoThe Innovator’s Curse | asymcoWho’s buying whom? | asymco5by5 | The Critical Path #93: The Innovator's Curse5by5 | The Critical Path #94: The Limits of Executive PowerAnother Nokia Explanation; The Same Tragic Conclusion | stratechery by Ben Thompson5by5 | High Density #3: Staying hungry with Ben Thompson
2013-09-061h 24Back to WorkEpisode 135: There's No "I" in SuccessTOPIC: Joss Whedon GTD; Meeting Redux
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about getting specific with your productivity and why every meeting needs an agenda.
Now, take a drink.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] SquarespaceSquarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website.
[SPONSOR] ShutterstockRoyalty-Free Subscription Stock Photography & Vector Art
[SPONSOR] PDFpen by SmileMac PDF Editor - Edit, Sign, and Correct PDFs - PDFpen is a powerful Mac PDF editor
Ungainly X-Mann Meetup! — Merlin MannA Nerdy SF Co...
2013-09-031h 205by5 SpecialsEpisode 21: Comic Con 2013Jason Snell joins Moisés to discuss the chaos of San Diego Comic Con, new Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi, ChromeCast viability, and nerd culture in constant evolution.
Links for this episode:5by5 | The Incomparable #152: The Comic-Con EpisodeJason Snell (jsnell) on TwitterArticles by Jason Snell | MacworldThe Incomparable - An award-winning geeky podcast about sci-fi and related books, comics, movies, and TV.5by5 | The IncomparableAge of Ultron - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaEdgar Wright confirms we'll meet Hank Pym in Ant-ManWho won Comic-Con, Superman/Batman o...
2013-08-131h 18Back to WorkEpisode 131: The Peacock Dance of MenTOPIC: Power, Yelling, and Airport Kung Fu
This week, Dan and Merlin continue their discussion of power and how it does or doesn't work.
Do real leaders actually talk like the douchebags, serial entrepreneurs, and screamy travelers struggling to imitate them? Not really. That's one way you can tell they're leaders.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Stock Photos, Royalty-Free Images and Vectors - Shutterstock[SPONSOR] Build a Website — SquarespacePint Of Code — Back to BelgiumSquarespace for Restaurants — The Official Squarespace BlogIntroducing Donations, Service Products, and Form/Produc...
2013-08-071h 27Back to WorkEpisode 129: Putting Your Meat by the PoolTOPIC: Lists
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about 3½ kinds of lists that can change your game.
Merlin knows a lot about Productivity.
Links for this episode:Interstate (typeface) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaInterstate is a digital typeface designed by Tobias Frere-Jones in the period 1993–1999, and licensed by Font Bureau. The typeface is closely related to the FHWA Series fonts, a signage alphabet drawn for the United States Federal Highway Administration in 1949.
Brother's Little Helper/Quotes - Simpsons Wiki'Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! You can't just go ““OFF”” Focusyn!'
S...
2013-07-231h 32Back to WorkEpisode 122: The Crowbar of LoyaltyTOPIC: Loyalty, Altruism, Reality Check, or Extortion?
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about what we talk about when we talk about "loyalty."
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] ShutterstockStock Photos | Shutterstock: Royalty-Free Subscription Stock Photography & Vector Art - Search and select from millions of high resolution royalty free images, stock photos, vector art, and stock photography.
[SPONSOR] Less MeetingLess Meeting helps you improve meeting planning, running meetings, and meeting follow-up. Less Meeting improves your ability to plan a meeting with meeting agenda templates and it helps you improve meeting minutes...
2013-06-041h 46Back to WorkEpisode 119: Big Bag of Pandora's PotatoesTOPIC: Macintosh Nostalgia and Utter Apple ID Madness.
This week, after an entirely appropriate amount of very important follow-up, Dan and Merlin talk about Susan Kare's original Mac icons, why they're not going to be appearing on John Siracusa's t-shirt, plus the litany of completely monkeyballs problems that now has Merlin ready to literally shoot his Apple ID in the back of the head, mob-style.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] Squarespace.comBuild a Website - Squarespace - Squarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website. Pages, galleries, blogs...
2013-05-141h 28Back to WorkEpisode 118: One-Step Corn KernelerTOPIC: Toward an (Admittedly Dubious) Unified Field Theory of Creativity
This week, Dan and Merlin consider a framework for understanding the basic modes and focal lengths involved in producing creative work.
Why and how do we get so hung up and frustrated about getting good at what we do? Why's it so hard to take an abstract idea for making something great, then end up feeling pathologically stymied when we struggle to actually make it?
The boys return to the classic topic of expertise, especially the frustrating ironies that separate the pro from...
2013-05-071h 355by5 SpecialsEpisode 16: Dan Benjamin on Michael Wolf's NextMarketDan Benjamin is interviewed by Michael Wolf for the NextMarket Podcast. They talk about a the state of the podcast market, 5by5's early days, how Dan manages being so involved with all aspects of 5by5, how he determines what type of role he should take as podcast host for each show, and we wrap up by Dan sharing some insights into the advertising and monetization of podcasts.
https://soundcloud.com/nextmarket/5by5s-dan-benjamin-on-being
Links for this episode:Dan Benjamin on Michael Wolf's NextMarketA PodumentaryMichael Wolf talks to Adam...
2013-04-1149 minBack to WorkEpisode 108: What Can I Spray?TOPIC: Shaving a Yak
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about The Hierarchy of Fiddling. When does self-improvement silently shade into navel-gazing, and how do we realize that it's happening?
Some fixes mean applying a fast change that produces outsized results (a true "life hack"). But, most of our more circuitous excursions into the world of ““productivity”” lead straight into a recursive black hole of lost time, sheer frustration, and soul-sucking existential onanism (let's call that one a "life whack").
Learn how to live with your dirty debit card, just satisfice with your dish-was...
2013-02-261h 28Back to WorkEpisode 106: Enough Candy to Last ForeverTOPIC: Duplicates, duplicates, duplicates.
This week, Dan and Merlin conclude their discussion of media management by focusing on dealing with duplicates. Just so many duplicates.
Music, Photos, Contacts, and Finder files. It's all thorny business, but a canny combination of backup, cool apps, and paranoid discretion can make your digital life more manageable and fun.
Also, some handy tips on sharing files, hosting media, and finding a digital home for your comic collection.
Links for this episode:[SPONSOR] SquarespaceSnapseed for iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPod touch (3...
2013-02-121h 36Back to WorkEpisode 101: Sprinting Straight Into a WallTOPIC: Those New Years When We're Not Actually Resolved.
This week, Merlin and Dan step back from resolutions and shooting yourself in the face with a wrist rocket to talk about what you're actually trying to change.
You're failing and feeling bad and eating a whole bag of cookies because you're resolving to be someone you're not (yet). What are you really trying to address? Are you being honest with yourself? Where do you actually start?
Find the real reasons, build a real infrastructure, and build yourself a real habit.
Links...
2013-01-081h 29Back to WorkEpisode 100: Go Ahead, Caller.TOPIC: Yes. The caller is there.
This week, in celebration of their hundredth episode, Dan and Merlin do the first call-in episode of Back to Work.
A bevy of the beloved jackals and nerds ask questions about GTD, creative autonomy, sleep and energy, interpersonal work communications, moving up at work, self-publishing, finding your rabbi, Marines, X-Men, and more.
Links for this episode:Amazon.com: Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity (9780142000281): David Allen: BooksAstonishing X-Men By Joss Whedon & John Cassaday Ultimate Collection - Book 1: Joss Whedon, John Cassaday: 9780785161943...
2013-01-031h 29
HypercriticalEpisode 100: 100: MetacriticalJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin end the Hypercritical podcast with a discussion of the show itself, followed by a final Q&A where Dan asks the questions and John attempts to provide sensible answers. Many thanks to all the listeners and the folks in the 5by5 chat room. The journey was the reward.
Links for this episode:"I modded my GameCube pad into a Wii Classic Controller", by gummowned - RedditAddress Resolution Protocol - WikipediaBasic guide to mod a GameCube controller with a Wii Classic Controller PCB - GummoHypercritcal...
2012-12-281h 41Back to WorkEpisode 98: Bagged and BoardedTOPIC: Working Getting Things Done to stay current, complete, and creative.
This week, Dan and Merlin continue their discussion of David Allen's Getting Things Done system.
Learning how to leverage GTD's modality to firewall time for guilt-free creative work.
Links for this episode:5by5 | Back to Work #95: She's Five for a Living5by5 | Back to Work #96: Compensatory Muscles5by5 | Back to Work #97: Pope of the OfficeDavid Allen, Getting Things Done® and GTD®About GTD | David Allen, Getting Things Done® and GTD®Getting Things Done - Wikipedia, the...
2012-12-181h 36HypercriticalEpisode 95: 95: Black FridayJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin discuss the upcoming end of this show, more on Intel vs. ARM, Apple's CPU/GPU needs, and the newly revealed internals of the Wii U console and GamePad.
Links for this episode:Advanced Vector Extensions - Wikipedia5by5 Specials #10: State of the Union for 2012Intel to fab ARM chips for Apple? It’s possible… - Ars TechnicaIntel's Tick Tock strategy (image)Silicon - WikipediaSilicone - WikipediaIntel set to expand its Hillsboro research fab, D1X - OregonLive.comHaswell’s GPU prowes...
2012-11-231h 485by5 SpecialsEpisode 11: State of the Union for 2012Dan Benjamin delivers the 5by5 State of the Union Address for 5by5. New beginnings and the end of an era.
Links for this episode:5by5 | Broadcasts5by5 | Build and Analyze5by5 | HypercriticalBuild and Analyze ending December 17 – Marco.orgTranscript of The 5by5 State of the Union Address for 2012The Crossover
2012-11-1807 minBack to WorkEpisode 93: 67 Points of ArticulationTOPIC: Florida, Education, and Peaking
This week, Dan and Merlin continue their purging personal odyssey through the state of Florida. Isolation, education, and a parting admonition not to throw your cap in the air.
Also, for the comic nerds, Merlin recommends checking out the exciting new stuff happening with "Marvel NOW!"
Links for this episode:Superheroes Stock Photos, Superheroes Stock Photography, Superheroes Stock Images : Shutterstock.comkung fu grippe • I ? My Freezer Door I’m a lucky little man.kung fu grippe • In Which We Literally Marvel This is part...S...
2012-11-131h 36HypercriticalEpisode 90: 90: Salad DaysJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin ponder the upcoming Apple event, assess picayune physical details of the iPhone 5 and iPod touch, compare the newly announced pricing for the Microsoft Surface to its possible competitors, and discuss John's approach to getting value from Twitter.
Links for this episode:Pentagon Paradox: The Development of the F-18 Hornet, by James P. StevensonHypercritical #73: 22 DegreesDaniel Siders on sending a POST for each follower in TentOctober 23 Apple event confirmed: “We’ve got a little more to show you” - Ars TechnicaMcDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle - Wikipe...
2012-10-192h 02Back to WorkEpisode 89: Burlap Sack Full of OrangesTOPIC: Programming Your Kid's Danger Room.
This week, Dan and Merlin discuss the parenthood racket: the advice and expectations, the doubt and the fear, the assessment, the concentric circles, the snow cones.
Parenting means programming a Danger Room that teaches you and the kid to handle the hovering, the hitting, the losing, and the play structure.
Links for this episode:Shmuel - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaThe name is Bond. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!At the playground (ya know?)Hippie | Flickr - Photo Sharing!The Author at Work...
2012-10-161h 31HypercriticalEpisode 89: 89: Lazy SundayJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin relax on a Sunday afternoon and chat about Apple's taste for brute force solutions, the foibles of decentralized systems like Tent and email, and The Magazine, Marco Arment's new Newsstand publication.
Links for this episode:The MagazineThe Magazine - ForewordAppnetizens Analytics: Posts Per Hour History - appnetizens.comGoogle Realtime Search Goes Offline - Time.comThe Secret of Google's Book Scanning Machine Revealed - NPR.orgThe FeatureThe BriefThe Brief Explained - Marco.orgMarco's tweet about his "...
2012-10-141h 36HypercriticalEpisode 87: 87: Smarter and HarderJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin follow up on Apple's slippery little devices and Apple's mapping woes, then discuss the new iPod touch and iPod nano. John's hypothetical Ferrari is briefly mentioned.
Links for this episode:iPod touch - Apple.comiPod nano - Apple.comA letter from Tim Cook on Maps - Apple.comLightning connector, disassembled - iFixit.comiPhone 5 Teardown, connector portion - iFixit.comAcer AZ3731-UR21P, with PS/2 ports - Amazon.comClose-up picture of those Acer PS/2 portsiPhone 5 wall charger vs...
2012-09-281h 30HypercriticalEpisode 81: 81: Channels of ControlJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin discuss the latest round of Twitter API changes that further marginalize third-party "traditional" Twitter client applications, with the inevitable follow up about App.Net, the nascent Twitter-like service that takes money directly from its users, rather than selling access to its users to advertisers.
Links for this episode:Changes coming in Version 1.1 of the Twitter API - dev.twitter.comDisplay Guidelines - dev.twitter.comDelivering a consistent Twitter experience - dev.twitter.comTwitter hands down new, strict rules for third-party developers - MacworldThe...
2012-08-172h 03Back to WorkEpisode 79: Mayor Pro Tem of HobovilleTOPIC: 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...
2012-08-061h 24Back to WorkEpisode 77: Sadness HarmonicaTOPIC: 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...
2012-07-231h 25HypercriticalEpisode 77: 77: Nucleation SiteJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin talk more about a potential smaller iPad, OUYA's challenges, what makes a successful Kickstarter project, how the Penny Arcade Kickstarter could have been more attractive to funders, and finally, the strange case of App.net.
Links for this episode:Overcompensating for the Length - 2000 NickelsPenny Arcade KickstarterOUYA: A New Kind of Video Game Console by OUYA - KickstarterApp.netHBO GO Android appGreat apps for your new Nexus 7 - TechHiveOUYA CEO: We're Confident We Will Deliver - MashableOnly 25...
2012-07-201h 46Back to WorkEpisode 74: Cheap Liberal Arts RelativismTOPIC: 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 encyclopedia...
2012-07-021h 24HypercriticalEpisode 74: 74: Everybody Wants to Rule the WorldJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin discuss alternate motivations for the Microsoft Surface, Google's new Nexus 7 tablet, the history and value of reparability in computer hardware, and the possibility of electronics that "age well." Also, there's a robot that feels no shame.
Links for this episode:Designed Deterioration - Khoi Vinh (2007))Built to Not Last - Khoi Vinh (2012)The New MacBook Pro: Unfixable, Unhackable, Untenable - Wired.comFollow Up to “Built to Not Last” - Khoi Vinh (2012)Nexus 7 - The new Android tablet from GoogleReplicant - WikipediaNexus One - Wi...
2012-06-291h 59Back to WorkEpisode 73: Permission to UnclenchTOPIC: Aspects of Letting Go
This week, Dan and Merlin talk about two very different viewports into doing what you want to do and being who you want to be.
There's the non-fiddly value you earn from getting junk out of your head and into a place you trust (in this instance, OmniFocus location-based contexts).
Then, there's the "what the cuss?" situation faced by listener, "Evan," who's struggling with a work conundrum that's hard on the office freezer and his feelings.
How do you move toward doing the right thing in...
2012-06-261h 40HypercriticalEpisode 70: 70: Deja VuJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin discuss more optimistic prospects for a new Mac Pro, the latest round of iPhone 5 hardware rumors, and the intriguing possibilities for WWDC implied by the large number of sessions on the schedule that are labelled "To Be Announced."
Links for this episode:MagSafe Mini (iPhone 5) - The Verge ForumsBlack and white next-gen metal iPhone backs, mini-dock, taller screen, moved earphone jack present - 9to5MacNow I’m very confident there will be another Mac Pro – Marco.orgF*ck Everything, We're Doing Five Blades - The Onio...
2012-06-011h 39Back to WorkEpisode 68: The Black Queen is Killing MeTOPIC: Incentive, Inspiration, and Motivation
This week, Dan and Merlin are inspired to talk about the incentive and the motivation to make something.
Inspiration is marketed as something you're missing, but it has a short expiration date, and if you're more scared than uninspired then it doesn't matter how many pieces of candy you're offered. And what do you do if selling bottled water cozies affects your intrinsic motivation to make them?
Well. It's complicated. As usual.
Links for this episode:Replication studies: Bad copy : Nature News & CommentThe...
2012-05-211h 14The Big Web ShowEpisode 70: Dan BenjaminJeffrey Zeldman speaks with Dan Benjamin about his career and life journey leading up to the creation of 5by5.
Links for this episode:Cork'dPlaygrounderDan's first broadcasting rig [photo]Dan's BioDan Benjamin on 5by5
2012-05-1845 minHypercriticalEpisode 64: 64: You Will Die Instantly!John Siracusa and Dan Benjamin revisit software updates (paid or otherwise), then discuss various screen size possibilities for the next iPhone, the historical and ongoing dilution of the concept of a "gamer" (and Apple's role in that phenomenon), and the extremely unlikely possibility of any sort partnership between Valve and Apple.
Links for this episode:Apple Cinema Display ADC - Technical SpecificationsApple Cinema Display ADC (22-Inch) picture and specs - EveryMac.comThe 4-inch iPhone - The Russians Used a Pencil4-inch iPhone mockup - 9to5MacHow Apple Could Make...
2012-04-201h 40Back to WorkEpisode 63: Bold with the ScissorsTOPIC: Agency, Independence, and Outing Your Makebelieve "Partners."
Dan and Merlin return to the topic of agency.
Who's allowed to speak and act on your behalf? And, what happens when you discover people who've unilaterally decided by fiat to speak and act on your behalf?
Well. If your work (and your business) matters to you, you tell them to knock it off.
How to reclaim your own stuff, set your own terms, and fire all the non-silent non-partners of the lucrative Free Compliment Industry.
Links for this episode:...
2012-04-161h 20HypercriticalEpisode 63: 63: Talking to the BearJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin talk more about paid upgrades in the Mac App Store, how Apple is reshaping the software market (intentionally or otherwise), Readability's role as a middleman as compared to another prominent middleman, the App Store, and finally, the Flashback malware scourge and what it says about Apple's preparedness.
Links for this episode:Performance Driving School - Overview - BMW North AmericaStrategy Letter V - Joel on SoftwareJava for OS X Lion 2012-003 - AppleApple updates Java for a third time, this time with Flashback malware removal...
2012-04-131h 45HypercriticalEpisode 61: 61: I Ran Out of Bombs Long AgoJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin discuss the display of large images on iOS devices, Apple's latest web standards proposal and "rogue" implementation in WebKit, RIM's new enterprise-centric strategy, and the popular new iOS game, Draw Something. Plus, a Very Special epilogue all about Marco Arment's dream car, the F10 BMW M5.
Links for this episode:Safari Web Content Guide: Creating Compatible Web ContentApple aluminum remote disassembled - Mani RazaghiHypercritical #48: Blue OceanWarning - The Next Sound You Hear Will Not Be Your Engine - NYTimes.comThe image-set() function (for...
2012-03-301h 47HypercriticalEpisode 58: 58: No More Numbers For You / The Four TunersJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin do some brief follow up on file systems, then dive into this week's Apple press event: the new Apple TV, the new iPad, specs vs. product names vs. Apple PR vs. sanity, and how we all still miss Steve Jobs. Plus, John reviews his new TiVo Premiere Elite and, of all things, his new smoke detector.
Links for this episode:Time Slider - Automating ZFS Snapshots in Solaris 11I Can't Believe This is Butter! A tour of btrfs: Avi Miller - YouTubeHammer file system - DragonFly BSD...
2012-03-091h 48
The Cocktail Napkin62: Austin BoundIt's Open Topic week yet again. Jeremy lays out his plan for possible self-destruction in Austin, TX.
Links for this episode:SXSW Schedule | sxsw.com
Thecocktailnapkin on Justin.tv
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012) - IMDb
Watch Tom Goes To The Mayor Episodes and Clips for Free from Adult Swim
Watch Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Episodes and Clips for Free from Adult Swim
Tim & Eric Message Boards • Index page
Search videos for "cocktailinspirations" on Vimeo
cocktailinspirations - Yo...
2012-03-0812 minThe Cocktail Napkin VideosThe Cocktail Napkin 62: Austin Bound - VideoIt's Open Topic week yet again. Jeremy lays out his plan for possible self-destruction in Austin, TX.
Links for this episode:SXSW Schedule | sxsw.com
Thecocktailnapkin on Justin.tv
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie (2012) - IMDb
Watch Tom Goes To The Mayor Episodes and Clips for Free from Adult Swim
Watch Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Episodes and Clips for Free from Adult Swim
Tim & Eric Message Boards • Index page
Search videos for "cocktailinspirations" on Vimeo
cocktailinspirations - Yo...
2012-03-0812 minBack to WorkEpisode 54: Freemium MasonMerlin and Dan talk about returning to paleo, the nature of wieners and discouragement, crown vic habits and anxiety addiction.
You won't beat it without a cocktail of grit and care with just the right amount of sacrifice.
Links for this episode:BRYCE DOT VCHot dog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia5by5 | 5by5 Specials #4: KindacriticalStudio Neat — WelcomeMy Family’s Experiment in Extreme Schooling - NYTimes.comWhat if the Secret to Success Is Failure? - NYTimes.comBear CSS - Helping you build a solid styl...
2012-02-161h 35HypercriticalEpisode 54: 54: Public Service AnnouncementThere's no Hypercritical this week, so we put together something special for you instead.
Links for this episode:Kindacritical, a special episode with Dan Benjamin, Merlin Mann, and Marco ArmentSponsored by Sponsor 5by5.
2012-02-1101 min5by5 SpecialsEpisode 5: KindacriticalDan Benjamin is joined by Merlin Mann and Marco Arment for a very special show. In this Hypercritical-like episode, the trio discuss a wide-range of topics, from Google to Apple to software development, and the relationship between consumers and the companies that serve them. And sodastreams.
Links for this episode:Amazon.com: Sodastream Fountain Jet Soda Maker Starter Kit: Kitchen & DiningPastebot 2012-02-10 13.03.15 PM.jpgAmazon.com: iPad at Work (9781118100561): David Sparks, Merlin Mann: Books5by5 | Back to Work5by5 | Build and AnalyzeFastMail - reliable email hosting services (IMAP...
2012-02-111h 59HypercriticalEpisode 51: 51: Unjustified ConfidenceJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin briefly recap the iPhone ringer/silent switch controversy, then discuss the new iBooks Author application, Apple's ebook ambitions and prospects, and the role of technology in education.
Links for this episode:The Difference between the United Kingdom, Great Britain and England Explained - YouTubeAmazon Kindle supported file formats - WikipediaEPUB - WikipediaOn the Behavior of the iPhone Mute Switch - Daring FireballDaring Fireball: On the Behavior of the iPhone Mute Switch – Andy IhnatkoDesigning “Mute” – Marco.orgMute Means Mute - hivelogi...
2012-01-201h 22Back to WorkEpisode 50: The Pork Soup ParadoxTOPIC: 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 wi...
2012-01-181h 24Back to WorkEpisode 49: The Field of CompletionJohn 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 encyclopediaStar Wars Vintage KENNER Commercial - Death Star - YouTubeThe Phantom Edit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaStar Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Edit » Fanedit.org – Home of the faneditsstar wars despecialized - Google SearchBehind the Scenes of Harmy's Star Wars "Despecialized Edition" - Screened5by5 | The Talk Show #57: The Banana Window5by5 | The Talk Show #71: Hashcow
2012-01-101h 41HypercriticalEpisode 48: 48: Blue OceanJohn Siracusa and Dan Benjamin briefly indulge in more grammar questions, then revisit the consequences of HyperCard's demise, why we're all still talking about the Kindle Fire, using music and movies to split humanity into two groups, the pros and cons of different working environments, and finally, a brief history of Nintendo and a not-so-brief consideration of why they should or should not continue to make their own hardware.
Links for this episode:Nintendo pioneer Shigeru Miyamoto says he'll retire from current position - The VergeNintendo posts first half loss in earnings report, slashes...
2011-12-302h 03Back to WorkEpisode 45: Finagling the Tree BagTopic: 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...
2011-12-141h 09The Cocktail Napkin51: The Nerd Looks Back at 50Jeremy and his wife Robin look back at the last 50 episodes and discuss where the show has been and where it may go in 2012.
Links for this episode:Robin Fuksa (rabbittini) on Twitter
Become a Friend of the Cocktail Napkin!
Sponsorship slots are available for 2012
Old German Pistol » The Cocktail Napkin Archives
Cardioversary » The Cocktail Napkin Archives
Monkey Butt » The Cocktail Napkin Archives
VGA2USB | Frame grabbers | Products | Epiphan Systems
Cooks.com - Recipe - Oreo Balls
5by5 | The Coc...
2011-12-0833 minThe Cocktail Napkin VideosThe Cocktail Napkin 51: The Nerd Looks Back at 50 - VideoJeremy and his wife Robin look back at the last 50 episodes and discuss where the show has been and where it may go in 2012.
Links for this episode:Robin Fuksa (rabbittini) on Twitter
Become a Friend of the Cocktail Napkin!
Sponsorship slots are available for 2012
Old German Pistol » The Cocktail Napkin Archives
Cardioversary » The Cocktail Napkin Archives
Monkey Butt » The Cocktail Napkin Archives
VGA2USB | Frame grabbers | Products | Epiphan Systems
Cooks.com - Recipe - Oreo Balls
5by5 | The Coc...
2011-12-0833 minBack to WorkEpisode 44: Circuitous Bridge of My Own DesignTopic: 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 Vimeo5by5 Illustrated...
2011-12-071h 13Back to WorkEpisode 35: Why My Pants Were On FireHow to handle job interviews.
Merlin and Dan can't solve the problem of interviews being dumb, but Merlin will tell you what is wrong with you, how long you'll have to wait for your resume to get you a job, how Larry Wall interviews for a Perl job, and whether or not the answer is always Yes, like they were just telling Stephen (yes, Hawking).
Links for this episode:Seduction community - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaMerlin's Talk: "With All Due Respect to the Seduction Community"Larry Wall - Wikipedia, the free...
2011-09-271h 34Back to WorkEpisode 26: Spaghetti Guy Hits Close to HomeThis week Wutang Dan and The MZA bring the ruckus to finding a job, selling your Mustang, and putting your house on the market: remember that you can't negotiate with reality, Merlin can't do anything to make you love him, enthusiasm is irreplaceable, and you've got to find your position of strength. Protect ya neck!
Links for this episode:A Sandwich, A Wallet, and Elizabeth Taylor's Cousin | 43 FoldersFlow: Task Management and Online Collaboration for TeamsWufoo: Online Form Builder - Create Web Forms & SurveysBuild a Website - Create a Blog...
2011-07-301h 33Back to WorkEpisode 24: The Daddy for your DestinyDan's in a closet, but Merlin has a lot of FU from the last show: good jobs don't get posted on Craigslist and while you may not know what's gonna happen next, you're not just gonna install Xcode and retire on your angry bird so either do your research, get mercantile and take the leap of faith or you'll be polishing your golden handcuffs.
Links for this episode:MacSparky - Blog - JugglingSatisficing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaPrinciple of good enough - Wikipedia, the free encyclopediaRational ignorance - Wikipedia, the...
2011-07-131h 32
The Mixdown1: 5by5 Behind the ScenesIn this inaugural episode, Dan Benjamin and Anthony Stauffer talk about the gear and setups they used to build their home studios which they use for broadcasting, screencasting, and video production, with a focus on Dan's a/v setup for producing 5by5's shows.
And also ... introducing the "Nausea Cam."
Links for this episode:Panasonic HDC-SD60 Hi-Def Camcorder
Panasonic HDC-SD60 First Impressions Camcorder Review
Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro HDMI Capture Card
Mackie Onyx 1620i FireWire Recording Mixer
Logic Express Recording Software
Skype Audio...
2010-07-1659 minThe Mixdown VideosThe Mixdown 1: 5by5 Behind the Scenes - VideoIn this inaugural episode, Dan Benjamin and Anthony Stauffer talk about the gear and setups they used to build their home studios which they use for broadcasting, screencasting, and video production, with a focus on Dan's a/v setup for producing 5by5's shows.
And also ... introducing the "Nausea Cam."
Links for this episode:Panasonic HDC-SD60 Hi-Def Camcorder
Panasonic HDC-SD60 First Impressions Camcorder Review
Blackmagic Design Intensity Pro HDMI Capture Card
Mackie Onyx 1620i FireWire Recording Mixer
Logic Express Recording Software
Skype Audio...
2010-07-1659 min