John Siracusa and Merlin Mann try to figure out exactly how they got this way.

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Latest Episodes

#169: Open Up the Frog

November 13th, 2021 · 92 minutes

Following an accidental pre-show, John bans clapping, and Merlin announces he doesn't want to run a store.

In an epic mini-topic, John addresses how he deals with safely getting rid of old media. The answers will not surprise you.

Next, Merlin has questions about lawn signs. Frank Chu is remembered.

The main topic is Lifestreams. What…

#168: The Robes of Science

October 29th, 2021 · 99 minutes

Your hosts did their first pre-flight, and it went pretty well.

Next up, in direct contravention to the dictates governing the uneasy peace with ATP, there is some computer talk. Specifically, Merlin wants to know if John really didn't do any research, and John wants to hear Merlin's reactions to A…

#167: A Close Italian Reading

October 15th, 2021 · 101 minutes

John will not relay messages from Merlin to John's wife, and Merlin feels like he's finally getting over whatever passes for summer. Marco hates it when his phone hits his junk, and both of your hosts consider how an eagle, a monkey, and a bucket of water can do heroic work together. Also, Merlin can't remember several things, but he claims to hav…

#166: Our Monster

September 30th, 2021 · 75 minutes

Follow-up brings a couple corrections and a quick dive into the technology that was going to change how cities are designed. John thinks it's a miracle that the New York subway was ever built, and Merlin thinks a lot of politics is mostly about telling people they were right.

As a main topic, John encourages Merlin to share some happy memories …

#165: In the Drift

September 17th, 2021 · 94 minutes

John wonders about up-talk greetings, and Merlin confesses to some recent situational imbibing.

Follow-up addresses the "Too-Rye-Ay" question, the enumeration of pasta shapes, and how many kinds of beetles there actually are. Tangents include celebrity biographies, Adam and the Ants video casting, Alta Vista search operators, and the actresses …

#164: Casual Injustices

September 3rd, 2021 · 98 minutes

There's follow-up on Merlin's Vacation Results, and your hosts wonder which Doctor they'd each be. The big topic of college continues with thoughts on the thistle of standardized testing.

#163: Big Flyers

August 20th, 2021 · 143 minutes

Merlin shares his Vacation Results.

#162: A Pile of Bed

August 7th, 2021 · 98 minutes

Remembering various animal actors, enumerating genres that need a name, considering the philosophies behind "bag in a bag," and contrasting college with the ordinary crucibles of post-adolescent life.

#161: ASCII Salad Bar

July 24th, 2021 · 111 minutes

Exploring Italian food, celebrating markup languages, and (finally) beginning to tackle the topic of college.

(Recorded on Tuesday, July 13, 2021)

#160: The Spouse Trap

July 10th, 2021 · 106 minutes

Merlin just woke up, John is full of beans, and things get a little silly.

Meet Lidlicker.