199: Reverse Gift of the Magi

01/06/23 • 102 min

It's time for Holiday Results, which somehow includes strong opinions on labeling leftovers, preparing strawberries, and sweating "le mot juste." Also, ponies are considered.

This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:

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Links and Show Notes:

Merlin is pretty proud of his dinner, but John has questions about the dressing situation. Merlin may not understand how skiing works.

In Follow-Up, John shares more voices from the past, and your hosts confront an escalating international rift about the existence of a facial expression.

Credits

Audio Editor: 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. Max Kreienbaum on "frown" Canecittadino on "frown" Jonny Eklund on "frown" Imre on "frown" Mark Steadman on "frown" Cai on "frown" Florence Pugh being vaguely frown-y The Wonder Frontline: The Merchants of Cool John's birthday carrot cake recipe, from Ina Garten Laurie Anderson - "Language is a Virus" (1982) - YouTube Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003) - Reference View - IMDb

A documentary on how Los Angeles has been used and depicted in the movies.

Meditations On Moloch | Slate Star Codex

Like all good mystical experiences, it happened in Vegas.

Chloë Grace Moretz Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED - YouTube ‎John Siracusa’s films • Letterboxd

John has watched 204 films rated ★★1⁄2 .

It's time for Holiday Results, which somehow includes strong opinions on labeling leftovers, preparing strawberries, and sweating "le mot juste." Also, ponies are considered.

This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:

Zocdoc: Find the right doctor, right now with Zocdoc. Sign up for free.
Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
Burrow: Get 10% off your first order.

Links and Show Notes:

Merlin is pretty proud of his dinner, but John has questions about the dressing situation. Merlin may not understand how skiing works.

In Follow-Up, John shares more voices from the past, and your hosts confront an escalating international rift about the existence of a facial expression.

Credits

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

A documentary on how Los Angeles has been used and depicted in the movies.

Meditations On Moloch | Slate Star Codex

Like all good mystical experiences, it happened in Vegas.

Chloë Grace Moretz Answers the Web's Most Searched Questions | WIRED - YouTube ‎John Siracusa’s films • Letterboxd

John has watched 204 films rated ★★1⁄2 .

Previous Episode

198: Baby Alive

John's family archive project produces some remarkable voices from the past.

This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Links and Show Notes:

Things kick off with a consideration of mouth noises and beloved bits. This leads to a look at entertainment that functions as comfort food. Wanna know what you're playing for?

Lot of great listener Follow-Up this week, including more on British facial expressions, hassles for the proper Lex, and some prior art around "sharrow."

The main topic relates to John's family archive project producing some remarkable voices from the past.

For this month's members-only bonus show, the topic is Andor.

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

(Recorded on Tuesday, December 13, 2022)

Credits

Audio Editor: 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. Vincent Schiavelli - IMDb What is a STROAD? - YouTube Strong Towns - YouTube

Videos on the topics of StrongTowns.org, mostly about the financial viability of cities, and insolvent cities of America and Canada.

Moist and Worried - Corner of the Sky #25 - The Incomparable

Merlin talks about "Free to Be...You and Me."

'Highlights: what we may call today “gender equity,” non-musical, Cincinnati, proto-Terry Crews, my cool baby, sharing media across generations, a (not so) surprising amount of Hamilton talk, the kids are alright, columnists.'

William Katt - "Corner of the Sky" (from "Pippin") - YouTube

Next Episode

200: The Genius Who Keeps Retiring

What's a thing you had as a kid that you kind of wish your kids could've had?

This episode of Reconcilable Differences is sponsored by:

Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code DIFFS at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

Links and Show Notes:

Things kick off with Merlin pressing John for some candid advice on a new affectation he's been considering. John is certain that using a Dremel is not actually part of Merlin's job, but Merlin's not so sure. Photos of Mr. Miyazaki are reviewed.

In Follow-Up, John has some toe updates. Mere moments after swearing he's not going to make noises and recoil, Merlin makes several noises and recoils.

Next up, John's favorite band announces a new project to release a bunch of cover versions of songs from their back catalog. This leads to a surprisingly wide-ranging discussion of a music industry that continues to evolve quickly and which now seems to necessitate an entirely new kind of creativity.

This week's member episode is already one of Merlin's favorites, so it's being included here so everybody can check it out.

Is it ahistorical to wish your progeny had gotten to see an epic baseball lineup? What exactly might happen if you tried to recreate your own free-range childhood? Did having less information lead to a deeper understanding of context and the parameters of the world? And, which kinds of community and scarcity feel elusive or even just irreproducible today?

If you'd enjoy hearing more from John and Merlin, we hope you'll consider becoming a supporter of the program.

And, hey. Thanks for sticking around through 200 of these things.

(Recorded on Tuesday, January 10, 2023)

Credits