Merlin Mann's Best of 2014

TOPIC: When You Love a Voice.

This week, Dan and Merlin talk about podcasts they're loving right now. And, yeah, Merlin rants a little about overthinking and fetishizing podcast production.

Links for this episode:

• 5by5 | Hypercritical #93: A Magic Elf in My Computer
  John Siracusa and Dan Benjamin talk more about Forstall's departure from Apple, Surface storage, and Fusion Drive, then discuss US voting technology, Google voice search, and how Apple's design problems are more than skin deep.
• One Man's Epic Quest To Sanitize Your Filthy, Germ-Riddled Coffee Cup Lid | Fast Company | Business + Innovation
  For the past seven years, Levey has been working to invent a hygienically sealed takeout coffee cup lid that he calls Clean Coffee. In essence, it is a standard plastic takeout lid with an adhesive seal covering the drinking hole and part of the rim, which can be peeled off like a sticker once the user is ready to drink from it. "This is the simplest way to accomplish that objective," Levey says of his patented prototype’s design, for which he's currently working to secure a manufacturer.
• You Made It Weird #237: Patton Oswalt « Nerdist
  
• Slate’s Culture Gabfest on British TV import Black Mirror, cultural obsession, and the decline of TV comedy
  This week on the Slate Culture Gabfest, the critics talk about British television import Black Mirror, newly available on Netflix. The show’s dystopian vision of our tech-saturated present (and possible future) is darkly thrilling. But does it quite live up to the hype that has preceded it from across the Atlantic? Next, a double whammy of Willa Paskin. Slate’s television critic joins the gabfest to talk about her analysis of cultural obsession and the way we talk about things we love today. Finally, television comedy is in sad decline. Why don’t we watch comedy any more, and can the genre be rescued?
• Episode #133 – Bullet to the Head The Flop House
  
• Jeff Altman | The Carson Podcast
  The hilarious Jeff Altman talks to Mark performing his Johnny Carson impression at the Comedy Store in front of Johnny, his Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson appearances, becoming friends with legendary drummer Buddy Rich, his numerous Letterman appearances, and the NBC cult classic Pink Lady and Jeff.
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) - IMDb
  
• Image Comics | Releases | Bitch Planet #1
  
• BOOM! Studios - Come Innovate With Us. - BOOM! Studios |
  
• Lumberjanes Digital Comics - Comics by comiXology
  Jo, April, Mal, Molly and Ripley are five best pals determined to have an awesome summer together...and they're not gonna let any insane quest or an array of supernatural critters get in their way! Not only is it the second title launching in our new BOOM! Box imprint but LUMBERJANES is one of those punk rock, love-everything-about-it stories that appeals to fans of basically all excellent things.
• 99% Invisible | A Tiny Radio Show About Design with Roman Mars
  
• Ep. 125: "All the Great Shows!" - Roderick on the Line - Merlin Mann
  **The Problem**: John wasn’t _actually_ a big fan.
• A Christmas Story - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• Video: Johnny Carson: King of Late Night | Watch American Masters Online | PBS Video
  
• Johnny Carson's last TV appearance - YouTube
  
• Ex-Men: Wolverine - YouTube
  
• Search Result: Robert Plant
  
• 5by5 | Hypercritical #42: The Wrong Guy
  John Siracusa and Dan Benjamin discuss Walter Isaacson's authorized biography of Steve Jobs. Topics include Isaacson's failings as an author and biographer, the technical cluelessness on display in the book, and Steve Jobs, Enemy of Progress.
• At-will employment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  At-will employment is a term used in U.S. labor law for contractual relationships in which an employee can be dismissed by an employer for any reason (that is, without having to establish "just cause" for termination), and without warning.
• Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in Manhattan, New York City on March 25, 1911 was the deadliest industrial disaster in the history of the city, and one of the deadliest in U.S. history. The fire caused the deaths of 146 garment workers – 123 women and 23 men [1] – who died from the fire, smoke inhalation, or falling or jumping to their deaths.
• Triangle Fire . American Experience . WGBH | PBS
  It was the deadliest workplace accident in New York City’s history. A dropped match on the 8th floor of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory sparked a fire that killed over a hundred innocent people trapped inside. The private industry of the American factory would never be the same.
• Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014)
  
• Organizational Dynamics: Retiring in Place by Dr. Lynn Friedman, psychologist in Washington DC
  He is, as they say, "retired in place." No one counts on him, ever. Unless of course, you count not counting on him as a form of counting on him.
• Dudes!! Tomorrow’s the day!! Bitch Planet #1 is... | Bitch Planet
  Dudes!! Tomorrow’s the day!!
• Spider-Man & The X-Men #1 - Comics by comiXology
  Meet the Jean Grey Academy's new guidance counselor: Spider-Man! What's a non-mutant doing at a school for mutants? What secret suspicion has fueled the formation of his special student class? And because you demanded it! Sauron and Stegron the Dinosaur Man! The villain team 65 million years in the making! You didn't demand it? Well somebody did.
• 5by5 Showbot
  
• 43f Podcast: John Gruber & Merlin Mann's Blogging Panel at SxSW | 43 Folders
  
• Ex-Men: Gambit - YouTube
  
• 5by5 | Podcast Method
  Dan Benjamin answers your questions about podcasting and recording, audio and video equipment, software, mic technique, pre- and post-production, workflows, and more.
• Overcast
  A powerful yet simple iPhone podcast player.
• 5by5 | The Incomparable #173: Santa-Based Christmas
  'Tis the season for holiday music! Unfortunately, while we unabashedly love the holidays, only some holiday music strikes our fancy. Join us as we talk about what makes a good holiday song and then stick around (if you dare) as we complain about some of the worst the season has to offer. Happy holidays, folks! Special guests David J. Loehr, Erika Ensign, Lisa Schmeiser, Monty Ashley, Philip Michaels, and Steve Lutz.
• Inquisitive #11: Merlin As A Service - Relay FM
  
• The Dick Cavett Show - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
  
• BONANZA! #4: Roving Reporter - Relay FM
  
• 5by5 Showbot
  

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