This week kicks off with some complaining about Google’s UI cruft. Also, why are school websites so bad? Technology old and new is discussed. John just wants to upload a photo, and Merlin learns a lot about targeted individuals. John is skeptical about whether this is really a thing, but Merlin is pretty sure it is.

John thinks Merlin missed an opportunity to be a guru, and Merlin has thoughts on how not to be that particular guy. In further discussion of crappy business software and practices, your hosts reminisce about Gantt charts and other bad ideas. Managers just want to know what people are doing, and sometimes that takes a surprising amount of effort. Merlin thinks hammers and nails are a problem for everybody, so…where are we with that?

John and Merlin argue about the Google doc for a pretty long time.

In further important metatalk, past and future homework is reviewed. Merlin has beef with Slate.

In follow-up, John is brought up to speed on the situation with homework at aftercare. Merlin endorses Succession for John, but not without (yes, more) complaining. What is the DEAL with HBO’s video quality and excruciating banding and artifacts? John notices these things too and thinks compression is an issue. Too many channels in the band! John just wants correct 24 frames-per-second.

John endorses Castle Rock, and Merlin has an app for John to track his TV watching. In the interest of consistency, the episode ends with yet more complaining.

(Recorded on Tuesday, September 11, 2018.)