John's account's still locked, Merlin knows just enough to be angry, and Casey has opinions about which way his snacks should face.

Links and Show Notes:

John's account's still locked, Merlin knows just enough to be angry, and Casey has opinions about which way his snacks should face.

(Recorded on Tuesday, September 29, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Track Bouncer: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

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Find the “Crossover” feed and look for the episode with the title “Wartime Camarero.”

Camarero, the thoroughbred racehorse - Wikipedia

Off Menu (Podcast)

FB24976658: My Apple Account is locked every day

TN3150: Getting ready for dataless files

Doritos - Wikipedia

Subtitle: Jim can only talk in saxophone.

John has Follow-Up on what he was mad about last time.

Links and Show Notes:

John has Follow-Up on what he was mad about last time.

In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss Merlin's recently empty nest.

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(Recorded on Tuesday, September 15, 2026)

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John eventually tells us what it is he's so mad about.

Links and Show Notes:

John eventually tells us what it is he's so mad about.

(Recorded on Tuesday, September 1, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

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Give to St. Jude!

John’s Mastodon thread about his Apple ID problem

“That’s where I’m a Viking!’

“Synecdoche” pronunciation video - YouTube

Sent to us by Kieran Healy

John’s pronunciation guy: Julien Miquel

“Sfogliatella”

“Samhain”

“Siobhan”

Subtitle: Loneliness is where John is a Viking.

What is the role of loneliness on "Survivor?"

Links and Show Notes:

Things kick off unexpectedly. For Merlin, anyway. Honestly, that's what had happened.

And, then, an old friend from the before times has a Thing It Took Him Too Long to Realize. It involves music and butts. And, while your hosts can recall that the listener's wife was way more famous, they can neither remember her name nor pronounce his.

For a main topic, John and Merlin consider the role of loneliness on Survivor. Every dingaling has a plan until they get punched in the face. So, what do we think about all that isolation, privation, paranoia, and self-doubt? Even setting aside the sunburns and the Fijian food, this is not an environment in which Merlin would thrive.

In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss self-quantization. What are we measuring, and what is that helping us manage?

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(Recorded on Tuesday, August 18, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Key Master: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

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ATP #703: Part of a Healthy Breakfast

The ATP episode where John tried to explain Docker (starting at 1:51:26).

A timestamp link to John's Docker explanation in ATP #703

The Survivor 50 cast - People.com

Carrot in a Box - YouTube

Carrot in a Box: Rematch - YouTube

Liz is emotional about Applebee's on Survivor season 46, episode 10

The cast of Veep talks about their final season - YouTube

Subtitle: This ain’t no Gendry boat.

For people who don't personally enjoy being on a boat, John and Merlin sure talk a lot about boats.

Links and Show Notes:

For people who don't personally enjoy being on a boat, John and Merlin sure talk a lot about boats.

(Recorded on Tuesday, August 4, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Timbre Concern Troll: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

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Secret Weird Things People Do: Baseball Announcer Edition

Awful Announcing’s video clip of Ben McDonald’s soap confession

Thufir Hawat and his eyebrows

Kelsey Pfendler - Wikipedia

Kelsey Pfendler’s Instagram account: @yourowkelsey

An example video from Kelsey Pfendler’s Instagram account

Kelsey Pfendler’s website

About Kelsey Pfendler’s boat

First American Woman Rows Solo From California to Hawaii - The New York Times

Outside’s article about Kelsey Pfendler

Good Morning America’s segment about Kelsey Pfendler - YouTube

Women & the Wind (2025)

Reconcilable Differences #249: Tally Ho

The Reconcilable Differences episode where we talk about the “Rebuilding Tally Ho” YouTube series.

"You ever been in a boat before?" Ser Davos asks young Gendry.

Subtitle: One time, Merlin helped Joe Walsh fix his internet.

John wants to talk about a phenomenon he's observed.

Links and Show Notes:

John wants to talk about a phenomenon he's observed.

In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss Star City (Apple TV, 2025).

You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and help support our program.

(Recorded on Tuesday, July 21, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Senior Valve & Reed Analyst: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.

Technology Connections on ceiling fans - YouTube

Lionel Messi bathing Lamine Yamal

…who he would later lose to in the World Cup final.

Jamie Zawinski - Wikipedia

An example of The JWZ Phenomenon

Star City - Wikipedia

John conducts some non-elective plumbing, and your hosts check in on the World Cup.

Links and Show Notes:

John conducts some non-elective plumbing, and your hosts check in on the World Cup.

(Recorded on Thursday, July 9, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Brass Tackler: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

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TBros: Trethewey Brothers plumbing in Massachusetts

Mexico vs. England World Cup 2026 highlights - YouTube

Mexico vs. England sets new record for most-watched soccer game in U.S. history

Mexico vs. England World Cup 2026 match information

Subtitle: Merlin doesn't want anyone policing his corn.

Merlin wants to talk about computers a little, and John has questions about why you'd throw away a toilet roll that still has some slices on it. Then, your hosts discuss an upcoming movie remake that seems kind of difficult to understand.

Links and Show Notes:

Merlin wants to talk about computers a little, and John has questions about why you'd throw away a toilet roll that still has some slices on it. Then, your hosts discuss an upcoming movie remake that seems kind of difficult to understand.

In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts share updates on one of their oldest topics: where they currently stand with sports and sports culture.

You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and help support our program.

(Recorded on Tuesday, June 23, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Embouchure Director: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.

Designed in California: An Apple history podcast - Kickstarter

Upgrade #624: The Memory Guys

Toilet paper: 4 up, 2 across - Amazon.com

Toilet paper: 30 rolls - Costco

Magic (1978) Trailer - YouTube

Sam Raimi To Helm ‘Magic’ For Lionsgate - Deadline.com

A modern adaptation of the William Goldman original that starred Anthony Hopkins.

Sam Raimi - Letterboxd

Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Labyrinth 2, directed by Robert Eggers? - Letterboxd

The men’s runner-up trophy “tray” at Wimbledon

Jimmy Connors 1991 US Open run - YouTube

FoxTrax (NHL glowing puck) - Wikipedia

FoxTrak example - YouTube

The terrible Gorton’s Fisherman New York Islanders logo (1995/96-1996/97)

The current New York Islanders logo

New York Islanders logo history(?)

The New Yorker’s “View of the World from 9th Avenue” cover - Wikipedia

Subtitle: Siracusa remembers he was upset that his head was bleeding.

Merlin's fans are spinning, and John has thoughts on a novel new Secret Weird Things People Do.

Links and Show Notes:

Merlin's fans are spinning, and John has thoughts on a novel new Secret Weird Things People Do.

(Recorded on Tuesday, June 9, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Woodwinds Wrangler: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

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John’s apps

Hyperspace, SwitchGlass, and Front and Center.

Jason Santa Maria’s website

Jason Santa Maria’s website in 2005

How Bryce Harper uses toothpaste

Can You Pet the Dog? - Wikipedia

Can You Pet the Dog on Bluesky

IEEE 754 - Wikipedia

How Integers and Floats Work

A Wizard Zine, by Julia Evans

An example of a “Natural Playground”

Merlin has a smell update, and John mourns the end of Destiny 2.

This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:

• Vitally: Your Copilot for AI-Powered Customer Success. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting.

Links and Show Notes:

Merlin has a smell update and then claims that he and John will not be discussing a dog-involved shooting.

Next, John mourns the end of Destiny 2, a game he has been playing for over a decade. So dawn goes down to day…

In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss season 50 of Survivor.

You can sign up today to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and help support our program.

(Recorded on Tuesday, May 26, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Conch Announcer: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.

The Guardian blames the dog

“Dog shoots woman with shotgun at Nebraska convenience store”

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King

James Joyce - Wikipedia

Stephen Colbert Takes The Colbert Questionert (Extended Version) - YouTube

The End of Destiny 2

“Every end is a new beginning”

Penny Arcade’s farewell to Destiny

Lorne Michaels - Wikipedia

Simmotion

Survivor - CBS.com

Survivor 50: In the Hands of the Fans - Fandom.com

Coldplay: Yellow - YouTube

Fair-Play Whodunnit - tvtropes.org

Parvati Shallow

Subtitle: Don't bug the widow.

This time around, it's homework, Merlin-style.

Links and Show Notes:

This time around, it's homework, Merlin-style.

(Recorded on Tuesday, May 12, 2026)

Credits

• Audio Editor/Tarantella Identifier: Jim Metzendorf
  
• Admin Assistance: Kerry Provenzano
  
• Music: Merlin Mann
• The Suits: Stephen Hackett, Myke Hurley

Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.

The Pasta Song

Merlin's toot showing a video of his pasta timer.

Tarantella - Wikipedia

Tarantella in The Godfather Part II - YouTube

@chrisgardner's question about aluminum foil - Mastodon

The Great Aluminum Foil Debate: Shiny Side Up or Down? - America's Test Kitchen

The Reason Aluminum Foil Has a Shiny and a Dull Side - Reader's Digest