#101: Duke of Bits

April 3rd, 2019 · 109 minutes

This week kicks off with a critique of the GUI for Skype. What’s Merlin’s problem with Swing anyway? John introduces the “MPU” then mostly agrees to drive.

John interrogates Merlin about a recent and notorious technical problem with one of his other programs. There is talk of check lists plus more fretfulness about the topic that cannot be disc…

#100: Tungsten

March 21st, 2019 · 108 minutes

This week, Merlin feels a little thin, and John still has to re-position his windows. Every time.

John has follow-up on peanut butter and a theory about the balls in Merlin's brain. In further follow-up, John has achieved success in his ticking-clock Destiny project, but it doesn't mean quite as much as his achievement in _Super Monkey Bal…

#99: Coconut Scenario

March 7th, 2019 · 99 minutes

Merlin thinks John is late, and John thinks Merlin needs to check his NTP server. Merlin's family is watching The Office, and this leads to a discussion of sitcom conceits. John assigned some secondary homework this week, so the trailer for Yesterday is considered. Merlin realizes he shouldn't look at links, and John almost admits to liking a …

#98: You’re Killing Your Father

February 21st, 2019 · 95 minutes

This week kicks off with some weather talk but quickly pivots to the frustrating world of presentations and bad presentation culture. Why does this have to take over the whole screen, and why is that control thingee covering a bunch of the slide? Also, who just joined the call?

In a mini-topic, Merlin risks John's wrath by asking a technical qu…

#97: Invisible Work

February 7th, 2019 · 96 minutes

This week kicks off with John reminding Merlin he needs to study up to make better jokes. Merlin thinks John just needs to buy a better long sword at the pop-up.

Things move quickly into a mini-topic on the Black Mirror episode, "Bandersnatch." Does this unusual experiment potentially represent a new way of telling stories, and can we expect …

#96: Mr. Scrapie

January 23rd, 2019 · 96 minutes

This week kicks off with a warning. Merlin has had some small reboots, and John learned about a new brain disease. John confronts Merlin on his disloyalty, and this leads to John interrogating Merlin's newfound fondness for NBA basketball. Yes: sports are discussed.

Then things turn to some follow-up on Merlin's recent office cleanup, and John …

#95: Shadow Childhood

January 10th, 2019 · 88 minutes

This week, John is just back from his holiday trip, and Merlin thinks he's a titan. Merlin's daughter wants to be a monk, and the art of AD&D is discussed. John has more questions about Merlin's Britishisms. We are introduced to "Hello, Richard" and the flats of San Francisco are re-litigated. The taxonomy of the Google doc is also re-litigated.…

#94: Hiding the Machete

December 26th, 2018 · 108 minutes

Things kick off with some discussion of the recent Do By Friday Holiday Party, then John takes the axe to Merlin's latest experiment with the show doc.

In follow-up, John catches us up on how his jammed thumb is mending, and your hosts talk about TV fixes and calibration. John reminds Merlin what they've already talked about. The list of Big …

#93: Forty Gronks

December 13th, 2018 · 108 minutes

This week kicks off with a dive into the sad world of middle-aged injuries and afflictions. John missed a step, and Merlin experiences a grave sweatpant malfunction. Does it always take this long to heal, and why do people keep putting things in other people’s areas?

John interrogates Merlin about his heartbeat, and Merlin reveals he’s conducti…

#92: Zoom in on the Fish Head

November 29th, 2018 · 96 minutes

This week’s wraparound episode kicks off with coverage of Merlin's new overalls and baby-bottle-nipple hat. John has some thoughts on this new sartorial turn, and Merlin has questions about John's sleep. Merlin gets an alarming message.

Merlin expresses gratitude for John's introduction to a new band, and this leads to a discussion of how you…