
        <h4>Subtitle: John's systems are a problem.</h4><p>On holes, art, and the nature of friendship.</p>
 <h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <p>On holes, art, and the nature of friendship.</p>

<p>(<em>Recorded on Tuesday, February 3, 2026</em>)</p>

<hr>

<h5>Credits</h5>

<ul>
<li><strong>Beloved Audio Editor</strong>: <a href="https://www.threads.net/@jmetzendorf">Jim Metzendorf</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Admin Assistance</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-provenzano-b1605085/">Kerry Provenzano</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Music</strong>: <a href="https://mastodon.social/@hotdogsladies">Merlin Mann</a></li>
<li><strong>The Suits</strong>: <a href="https://eworld.social/@ismh86">Stephen Hackett</a>, <a href="http://threads.net/imyke">Myke Hurley</a></li>
</ul>
 <h5><a href='https://relay.fm/rd/join'>Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Short_Graybles" target="_blank">Five Short Graybles - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://namingschemes.com/Main_Page" target="_blank">Naming Schemes</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.fergusonhome.com/product/summary/1184554" target="_blank">Elkay Dayton 25" Drop In Single Basin Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://s3.img-b.com/image/private/t_base,c_pad,f_auto,dpr_2,w_570,h_570/product/elkay/elkay-d125224-115168.jpg" target="_blank">An image of a sink with 4 holes on the rim and one drain hole</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://hachyderm.io/@quiddle/116076144622700639" target="_blank">Thaddeus Quintin’s sink hole advice</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://thegalley.com/models/tap/isd-1/" target="_blank">Todd’s soap dispenser</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joris-Karl_Huysmans" target="_blank">Joris-Karl Huysmans - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRr5iVjMfqs" target="_blank">Colin from This Does Not Compute converts his Maclock into a working Mac</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/4336553523/corgi-261-aston-martin-db5-model-car-007" target="_blank">Corgi 261 Aston Martin DB5 model car</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pm19250ihO8" target="_blank">Maize. You call it corn.</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlNAYCcxgUw" target="_blank">Wednesday is Prince spaghetti day</a></h5>
      

On holes, art, and the nature of friendship.

281: I’m the Hero


        <p>John explores how to repurpose an extra hole.</p>
 <h4>This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:</h4> <ul>
<li><a href="https://surfshark.com/diffs">Surfshark</a>: Use this link or use code DIFFS at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!</li>
</ul>
<h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <p>Merlin comes clean about his slashed-sevens resolution, and John explains the sweatshirts of his storied attic.</p>

<p>For a main topic, John explores how to repurpose an extra hole.</p>

<p>In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss the Australian Open&#39;s <em>1 Point Slam</em>.</p>

<p>You can <a href="https://www.relay.fm/rd/join">sign up today</a> to hear all the member episodes, get more bonus stuff, and help support our program.</p>

<p>(<em>Recorded on Tuesday, February 3, 2026</em>)</p>

<hr>

<h5>Credits</h5>

<ul>
<li><strong>Audio Editor/First Chair Saxophonist</strong>: <a href="https://www.threads.net/@jmetzendorf">Jim Metzendorf</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Admin Assistance</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-provenzano-b1605085/">Kerry Provenzano</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Music</strong>: <a href="https://mastodon.social/@hotdogsladies">Merlin Mann</a></li>
<li><strong>The Suits</strong>: <a href="https://eworld.social/@ismh86">Stephen Hackett</a>, <a href="http://threads.net/imyke">Myke Hurley</a></li>
</ul>
 <h5><a href='https://relay.fm/rd/join'>Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://w1mx.mit.edu/flea-at-mit/" target="_blank">Swapfest: The Flea at MIT</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2822" target="_blank">RFC 2822 - Internet Message Format</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc1178" target="_blank">RFC 1178 - Choosing a Name for Your Computer</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://cloudscaling.com/blog/cloud-computing/the-history-of-pets-vs-cattle/" target="_blank">Pets vs. Cattle</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41rp-9vi5Zo" target="_blank">Stress-Shift: stress, accent, and rhythm explained - Dr. Geoff Lindsey on YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://openclaw.ai/" target="_blank">OpenClaw (née MoltBot, née ClawdBot)</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://dev.to/sivarampg/from-clawdbot-to-moltbot-how-a-cd-crypto-scammers-and-10-seconds-of-chaos-took-down-the-4eck" target="_blank">From Clawdbot to Moltbot: How a C&D, Crypto Scammers, and 10 Seconds of Chaos Took Down the Internet's Hottest AI Project</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capocollo" target="_blank">Capocollo - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prosciutto" target="_blank">Prosciutto - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/DANCO-Economy-Kitchen-Side-Spray-with-Guide-in-Black-10345/204622658" target="_blank">An example of a "Kitchen Side Spray"</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-Market-Single-Handle-Pull-Down-Sprayer-Kitchen-Faucet-in-Stainless-Steel-HD67551-0308D2/323776470" target="_blank">An example of a kitchen faucet with an integrated spray</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ra_9zU-mnl8" target="_blank">Gridfinity - Zack Freedman on YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofI2OCq_QqA" target="_blank">Gridfinity 2.0 - Zack Freedman on YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Lascelles" target="_blank">Sir Alan Frederick "Tommy" Lascelles - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://ausopen.com/one-point-slam" target="_blank">Australian Open 1 Point Slam</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galliano_(liqueur)" target="_blank">Galliano - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_OA" target="_blank">The OA - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maddux_(statistic)" target="_blank">Maddux (baseball statistic) - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs9DBC_6u6k" target="_blank">Australian Open 1 Point Slam highlights (20 minutes) - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMXHEl8uGq0" target="_blank">Australian Open 1 Point Slam highlights (5 minutes) - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AstroTurf" target="_blank">AstroTurf - Wikipedia</a></h5>
      

John explores how to repurpose an extra hole.

280: How Dangerous I Can Be


        <h4>Subtitle: Temperature is the enemy of glass.</h4><p>John tells Merlin how to do a fraud with his eyeglasses, and Merlin tells John about his air fryer.</p>

<p>Then they talk about a new thing they&#39;ve both independently started using a lot.</p>
 <h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <p>John tells Merlin how to do a fraud with his eyeglasses, and Merlin tells John about his air fryer.</p>

<p>Then they talk about a new thing they&#39;ve both independently started using a lot.</p>

<hr>

<h2>Credits</h2>

<ul>
<li><strong>Audio Editor</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/jmetzendorf">Jim Metzendorf</a></li>
<li><strong>Admin Assistance</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/KerryProvenzano">Kerry Provenzano</a></li>
<li><strong>Music</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hotdogsladies/">Merlin Mann</a></li>
<li><strong>The Suits</strong>: <a href="https://twitter.com/ismh">Stephen Hackett</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/imyke">Myke Hurley</a></li>
</ul>
 <h5><a href='https://relay.fm/rd/join'>Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evUWersr7pc" target="_blank">SNL: Taco Town - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FDJMC9Q" target="_blank">Merlin’s air fryer</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://amzn.to/4quBYgx" target="_blank">John’s air fryer</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://simonwillison.net/2026/Jan/12/claude-cowork/" target="_blank">First impressions of Claude Cowork - Simon Willison</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://lucumr.pocoo.org/2025/12/17/what-is-plan-mode/" target="_blank">What Actually Is Claude Code’s Plan Mode? - Armin Ronacher</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://thegroundtruth.substack.com/p/my-claude-code-workflow-and-personal-tips" target="_blank">My Claude Code Workflow And Personal Tips - Zhu Liang</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://panic.com/statusboard" target="_blank">Status Board, by Panic</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.folklore.org/Calculator_Construction_Set.html" target="_blank">Calculator Construction Set - Folklore.org</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://omg.lol" target="_blank">OMG.lol</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.dicebreaker.com/topics/memes/interview/pondering-my-orb-meme-interview" target="_blank">Pondering an orb…</a></h5>
      

John tells Merlin how to do a fraud with his eyeglasses, and Merlin tells John about his air fryer.

Then they talk about a new thing they've both independently started using a lot.

279: I Promised Myself I Wasn't Going to Be Excited


        <h4>Subtitle: “I am the oven now.”</h4><p>Merlin shares his Large Appliance Results.</p>

<p>(Recorded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026)</p>
 <h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <h5>Credits</h5>

<ul>
<li><strong>Audio Editor</strong>: <a href="https://www.threads.net/@jmetzendorf">Jim Metzendorf</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Admin Assistance</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-provenzano-b1605085/">Kerry Provenzano</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Music</strong>: <a href="https://mastodon.social/@hotdogsladies">Merlin Mann</a></li>
<li><strong>The Suits</strong>: <a href="https://eworld.social/@ismh86">Stephen Hackett</a>, <a href="http://threads.net/imyke">Myke Hurley</a></li>
</ul>
 <h5><a href='https://relay.fm/rd/join'>Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysKhbaLyIFw" target="_blank">Get a Job - The Silhouettes (1957)</a></h5><p>Dip dip dip dip dip dip dip…</p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh13Xd2loto" target="_blank">“…and that’s my trick.”</a></h5><p>Clemenza teaches Michael how to make sauce in The Godfather. </p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VQAe9_LmyA" target="_blank">10 Apple TV Tips from Stephen Robles - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_telephone" target="_blank">Princess telephone - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimline_telephone" target="_blank">Trimline telephone - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNlc44nA8Ms" target="_blank">Five products so over-engineered, they're actually kinda worse, by Zack Freedman - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weeG9yOp3i4" target="_blank">Zack Freedman’s 3D Filament Tier List - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.crowdsupply.com/architeuthis-flux/jumperless-v5" target="_blank">Jumperless V5</a></h5><p>The next generation jumperless breadboard.</p>
 <h5><a href="https://typo.social/@colinmford/115843487686708201" target="_blank">Colin M. Ford's screenshot of the “Writing Direction” menu items’ icons in iPadOS</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.jwz.org/blog/2026/01/car-brain/" target="_blank">“The Staten Island of San Francisco” - jwz.org</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bov900" target="_blank">Merlin’s big toaster oven: the Breville BOV900BSSUSC</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bov650" target="_blank">John’s favorite toaster over: the Breville BOV650XL</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.breville.com/en-us/product/bov450" target="_blank">The smallest Breville toaster over: the BOV450XL</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Xennials/comments/1mjma2l/lawn_darts_one_of_my_earliest_memories_is_nearly/" target="_blank">Lawn Darts from the 1980s - Reddit</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerobie" target="_blank">Aerobie - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raclette" target="_blank">Raclette - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/sJcH4KVRmjs" target="_blank">Raclette grill mistakenly placed in the wrong orientation</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://oldtrapper.com/" target="_blank">Old Trapper beef jerky</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://letterboxd.com/film/fight-club/" target="_blank">Fight Club (1999)</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://despair.com/collections/demotivators" target="_blank">Demotivators from despair.com</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://despair.com/collections/demotivators/products/meetings" target="_blank">Meetings: None of us is as dumb as all of us</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwRrpCWTiOY" target="_blank">Merlin Mann: Who moved my brain? - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://midnight-commander.org/" target="_blank">Midnight Commander</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://tautulli.com/" target="_blank">Tautulli for Plex</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lights_(2023_TV_series)#Series_1_(2023)" target="_blank">Blu Lights (2023) season 1 - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.relay.fm/downstream/107" target="_blank">Downstream #107: A Thanksgiving Visit from Alan Sepinwall</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wire" target="_blank">The Wire - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicola_Coughlan" target="_blank">Nicola Coughlan - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ICE2PVGgLg" target="_blank">Nicola Coughlan on The Graham Norton Show - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Dormer" target="_blank">Richard Dormer - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://trakt.tv/users/merlinmann/lists/the-troubles-northern-ireland?sort=released,desc" target="_blank">Merlin’s Trakt.tv list: The Troubles & Northern Ireland</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si%C3%A2n_Brooke" target="_blank">Siân Brooke - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Tomlinson" target="_blank">Taylor Tomlinson - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelsey_Cook" target="_blank">Kelsey Cook - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DF8mcmRBblA" target="_blank">The Troubles, by U2 - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/24/magazine/watching-tv-makes-you-smarter.html" target="_blank">Watching TV Makes You Smarter - The New York Times</a></h5><p>&quot;The total number of active threads equals the multiple plots of &quot;Hill Street,&quot; but here each thread is more substantial. The show doesn&#39;t offer a clear distinction between dominant and minor plots; each story line carries its weight in the mix.&quot;</p>
 <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7" target="_blank">7 - Wikipedia</a></h5><p>Most people in Continental Europe, Indonesia, and some in Britain, Ireland, Israel, Canada, and Latin America, write 7 with a line through the middle (7), sometimes with the top line crooked</p>
 <h5><a href="https://support.spotify.com/us/article/local-files/" target="_blank">Local files - Spotify</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.paperage.com/2023news/09-20-2023georgia-pacific-closing-foley-mill.html" target="_blank">Georgia-Pacific to Close Its Foley Cellulose Facility in Perry, Florida</a></h5><p>The paper mill that Uncle Bill mentioned.</p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WDW8XKEGgU" target="_blank">NEVER Touch "The Cornballer" - Arrested Development - YouTube</a></h5><p>&quot;Hot! Hot! Hot!&quot;</p>

      

Merlin shares his Large Appliance Results.

(Recorded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026)

278: You’re a Dingleberry


        <p>John&#39;s new art piece leads to a discussion of accuracy and build quality in toys for grown men and sometimes children.</p>
 <h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <p>John&#39;s new art piece leads to a discussion of accuracy and build quality in toys for grown men and sometimes children.</p>

<hr>

<h5>Credits</h5>

<ul>
<li><strong>Audio Editor</strong>: <a href="https://www.threads.net/@jmetzendorf">Jim Metzendorf</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Admin Assistance</strong>: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerry-provenzano-b1605085/">Kerry Provenzano</a><br></li>
<li><strong>Music</strong>: <a href="https://mastodon.social/@hotdogsladies">Merlin Mann</a></li>
<li><strong>The Suits</strong>: <a href="https://eworld.social/@ismh86">Stephen Hackett</a>, <a href="http://threads.net/imyke">Myke Hurley</a></li>
</ul>
 <h5><a href='https://relay.fm/rd/join'>Get an ad-free version of the show, plus a monthly extended episode.</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://mastodon.social/@hotdogsladies/115748338067053466" target="_blank">Merlin's toot: "I may have figured out why my phone keeps dimming."</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.aliexpress.us/w/wholesale-Maclock.html?osf=direct&spm=a2g0n.home.header.0" target="_blank">Maclock on Ali Express</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hatsune-Miku-action-figure-model-anime-FIGMA-removable-joint-statue-14cm-gift/12019368045" target="_blank">Hatsune Miku figurine at Walmart</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://essential-japan.com/news/taito-reveals-best-look-yet-at-upcoming-amp-frieren-figure/" target="_blank">Frieren figurine</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/ghibli/comments/mowwmr/just_finished_building_and_painting_the_bandai/" target="_blank">Hand-painted model kit of Nausicaä riding Kai - Reddit</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://essential-japan.com/news/stunning-new-figure-of-stellar-blades-eve-revealed-by-flare/" target="_blank">Stellar Blade’s Eve figurine</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://calicocritters.com/" target="_blank">Calico Critters</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/friends" target="_blank">LEGO Friends</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/themes/creator-3-in-1" target="_blank">LEGO Creator 3in1</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Duplo" target="_blank">LEGO Duplo</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Quatro" target="_blank">LEGO Quatro</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4EFkspO5p4" target="_blank">Four-Byte Burger recreation story - YouTube</a></h5><p>Four-Byte Burger pixel art, by Jack Haegar (1985) re-digitized by Stuart Brown,</p>
 <h5><a href="http://xboxahoy.com/images/four-byte-burger.png" target="_blank">Four-Byte Burger recreation (PNG)</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheltenham_(typeface)" target="_blank">Cheltenham (typeface) - Wikipedia</a></h5><p>In 2003, The New York Times introduced a more unified Cheltenham typographic palette for its headline use in the print edition.</p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UpxoCpdpeo" target="_blank">Elmo's World: Jackets (DVD Rip) - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://corgimodelclubusa.com/products/261-james-bonds-aston-martin-d-b-6?srsltid=AfmBOoqFHdTubE1kEfE9kIoIvvS5cKMh7TKvJEannvEzFOSAMqY_eMXD" target="_blank">James Bond's Aston Martin D.B.5 (261) – Corgi Model Club USA</a></h5>
      

John's new art piece leads to a discussion of accuracy and build quality in toys for grown men and sometimes children.

277: A Comma for Christmas

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

Reconcilable Differences

Details

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