
        <h4>Subtitle: If you want to get into the puffy village, you have to have a child with you.</h4><p>What we talk about when we talk about bagging your own groceries.</p>
 <h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <p>Things kick off with some vintage and international Follow-Up on video extras. Your hosts also consider why you might not actually want to deliberately remove all the Fluoride from your family&#39;s drinking water.</p>

<p>John admits he was once residentially saddled with persistently discolored drinking water.</p>

<p>As a main topic, your hosts consider whether bagging your own groceries might not be the most durable analogy for how we navigate the present—let alone what we anticipate some eldritch, notional future. Expertise is agreed to be complicated.</p>

<p>In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss why someone might choose to delete their &quot;second brain.&quot; Should you consider throwing out everything you ever wrote down and just start over? Especially given that it can be difficult to meter the usefulness of a given 55-gallon contractor bag?</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>(<em>Recorded on Tuesday, March 31, 2026</em>)</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://www.youtube.com/watch?v=712AlPYYDNE" target="_blank">SNL UK opening monologue - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Lowe" target="_blank">Nick Lowe - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0m0IUJ93N8" target="_blank">'Born Fighters' 1979 Documentary Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds & Rockpile - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kkLuSlOE3U" target="_blank">Voice of Harold, from Dead Letter Office, by R.E.M. - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://mastodon.au/@atcdev/116308812766533546" target="_blank">Mike Martin‘s post about behind-the-scenes documentaries in Australia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://mastodon.social/@Jessbowers/116312465524090790" target="_blank">Jess Bowers’s post about EPKs (electronic press kits)</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfkCyGOjX2U" target="_blank">Chad Hughes Interviews Todd Osgood from Project Farm - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.bu.edu/housing/residence/west-campus-traditional-residences/" target="_blank">West Campus at Boston University</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.toolclip.com/index.php/ski-lift-ticket-wickets" target="_blank">Ski lift ticket holder (“wicket”)</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/jamesahk.bsky.social/post/3ltxcpoxxzk26" target="_blank">The Bluesky post by James in MN that gives the example of bagging groceries</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.andersonadvocates.com/accused/father-john-d-mott/" target="_blank">John D. Mott: Accused of Sexual Misconduct</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://stpatricksmithtown.org/" target="_blank">St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, in Smithtown, NY</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlWVcKcqC3U" target="_blank">The Testament of Ann Lee - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://medium.com/westenberg/i-deleted-my-second-brain-b7a65bce3717" target="_blank">I Deleted My Second Brain, by Joan Westenberg</a></h5><p>Why I Erased 10,000 Notes, 7 Years of Ideas, and Every Thought I Tried to Save</p>
 <h5><a href="https://readwise.io/reader/shared/01kn5b16qbbbgmy24ac9efyv4q" target="_blank">Merlin’s garbage-free Readwise link for the “I deleted my second brain” post</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://stevenberlinjohnson.com/tool-for-thought-b12c170fcc24" target="_blank">Tool For Thought, by Steven Johnson</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://helpx.adobe.com/coldfusion/developing-applications/developing-cfml-applications/designing-and-optimizing-a-coldfusion-application/elements-of-a-coldfusion-application.html" target="_blank">Elements of a ColdFusion application</a></h5>
      

What we talk about when we talk about bagging your own groceries.

284: Burger Boy


        <h4>Subtitle: I never say it's for kids.</h4><p>Merlin has a question about a YouTube channel, and John has some notes on R.E.M. and their songs&#39; lyrics.</p>
 <h4>This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:</h4> <ul>
<li><a href="https://vitally.io/diffs">Vitally</a>: Your Copilot for AI-Powered Customer Success. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. </li>
</ul>
<h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <p>Merlin has a question about a YouTube channel, and John has some notes on R.E.M. and their songs&#39; lyrics.</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://archive.org/details/omnibusidea0000yell" target="_blank">Victor Fell Yellin</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS219uod4y0" target="_blank">Behind the Scenes: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - YouTube</a></h5><p>Merlin’s first Serious Feather video</p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@PracticalEngineeringChannel" target="_blank">Practical Engineering - YouTube</a></h5><p>Grady Hillhouse&#39;s YouTube channel.</p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQo7Tg5pm4I" target="_blank">Behind the Scenes: True Grit - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://tv.apple.com/us/show/mr-scorsese/umc.cmc.4a06j5lm5pxny9nx505zo5g0y" target="_blank">Mr. Scorsese - Apple TV</a></h5><p>The life and work of Martin Scorsese.</p>
 <h5><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/hotdogsladies.bsky.social/post/3mgedjt63zs2u" target="_blank">Merlin's Bluesky post containing questionable R.E.M. lyrics</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:cayr3rg377qvqnq6d36mwwoo/post/3mgcd7vwwuc2m" target="_blank">Merlin's Bluesky post showing a 1984 R.E.M. magazine page</a></h5><p>The magazine page includes the lyrics to So. Central Rain (I&#39;m Sorry).</p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.theincomparable.com/ump/48/" target="_blank">Unjustly Maligned #48: Early R.E.M.</a></h5><p>Marlin talks about early R.E.M. with Antony Johnston.</p>
 <h5><a href="https://bootiemashup.com/" target="_blank">Best of Bootie Mash-Ups</a></h5><p>More free mash-ups than you can shake a stick at.</p>
 <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snd8klIZjAE" target="_blank">How R.E.M. Became The Preeminent College Rock Band (And Then Graduated) - YouTube</a></h5><p>Trash Theory&#39;s video about R.E.M.</p>

      

Merlin has a question about a YouTube channel, and John has some notes on R.E.M. and their songs' lyrics.

283: Famous in My Head


        <h4>Subtitle: Why are you in the bathroom with our food?</h4><p>Merlin&#39;s Garbage Apparatus.</p>
 <h4>This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:</h4> <ul>
<li><a href="https://vitally.io/diffs">Vitally</a>: Your Copilot for AI-Powered Customer Success. Get a free pair of AirPods Pro when you book a qualified meeting. </li>
</ul>
<h4>Links and Show Notes:</h4> <p>Merlin has some Follow-Up on words, and John updates us on dishwashers.</p>

<p>This week&#39;s main topic is Merlin&#39;s Garbage Apparatus.</p>

<p>In this month’s member bonus segment, your hosts discuss the first season of HBO&#39;s <em>A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms</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>(<em>Recorded on Tuesday, March 3, 2026</em>)</em></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://www.comedy.co.uk/tv/qi/episodes/15/7/" target="_blank">QI: Series O, Episode 7 - Opposites</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backronym" target="_blank">Backronym - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retronym" target="_blank">Retronym - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aptronym" target="_blank">Aptronym - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.whirlpool.com/blog/kitchen/what-is-a-dishwasher-air-gap.html" target="_blank">Dishwasher Air Gap</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gSAUAdW420M" target="_blank">Garbage Apparatus, v1 - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/hotdogsladies.bsky.social/post/3merotf3bnk25" target="_blank">Merlin’s garbage backboard system</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myO8fxhDRW0" target="_blank">Stuff Made Here: Moving hoop won't let you miss (2020) - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHWXZyfhQas" target="_blank">Stuff Made Here:  I made a ball seeking hoop (2022) - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7Hyc3MRKno" target="_blank">Smarter Every Day 208: Laminar Flow - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IasJz6KNd6U" target="_blank">Nate From the Internet: short laminar flow demo - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Uv7rx9VA1A" target="_blank">Epcot: Jumping Water Fountains at Imagination Pavilion - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsPT94wpYqg" target="_blank">Jumping Water Fountains of Imagination at EPCOT in 4K - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3maTQFMv20I" target="_blank">Kids playing with the jumping water fountains at EPCOT - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://weloveattractions.com/the-man-who-made-water-fly-the-inspiring-history-of-epcots-leapfrog-fountains/" target="_blank">The Man Who Made Water Fly: The Inspiring History of Epcot’s Leapfrog Fountains (Article)</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqVZmL_qS_A" target="_blank">The Man Who Made Water Fly: The Inspiring History of Epcot’s Leapfrog Fountains (Video)</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Line,_Saudi_Arabia" target="_blank">The Line: Saudi Arabia - Wikipedia</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l01hTdB5PK4" target="_blank">A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms Bloopers - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://feeds.megaphone.fm/WMHY9427820236" target="_blank">A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms official podcast</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLn6yDpEottdi2O4BDLn-X3rd6sW4jnjLU" target="_blank">ALT SHIFT X - A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms (Dunk & Egg) - YouTube</a></h5> <h5><a href="https://dogsitterdetective.com/" target="_blank">The Dog Sitter Detective series, by Antony Johnston</a></h5>
      

Merlin's Garbage Apparatus.

282: Sadness Accrues


        <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

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

Reconcilable Differences

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