This week, Dan and Merlin talk about crazy kids' homework, Dan's exciting nerd field trips in the Bay Area, the magic of PIXAR, a handy Netflix companion site, and using Siri on Apple TV.

Things get a little heated during a discussion about all the weirdly fawning coverage of HomePod—and whether or when Apple's new speaker dingus might find a place in your hosts' lives.

Recommendations include a podcast with Hawkeye Pierce, an excellent boiled eggs recipe, and some cool TED-Ed videos.

Your hosts respond to listener feedback about bitter Nintendo cartridges and field an interesting question about creating consumer-friendly tech support.

Links for this episode:

• List of Movies and TV Shows on Netflix | Flixable
  Are you wondering what's new – or what's best – on Netflix? Flixable is a Netflix search engine that offers a complete, searchable and browsable list of all the movies and TV shows that are currently streaming on Netflix in the U.S.
  
• Alan Alda Wants Us To Have Better Conversations — Hidden Brain — Overcast
  We’ve all experienced miscommunications. Their consequences can range from hilarious… to disastrous. The actor Alan Alda — yes, THAT Alan Alda — wants to help us avoid them.
  
• Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs - Nom Nom Paleo®
  Here’s how to make perfectly-cooked hard-boiled eggs that are never overcooked (I hate the gray-green sulfur ring around overdone yolks) and are easily peeled:
  
• TED-Ed - YouTube
  
• Pixar's RenderMan | Renderman Home
  
• The Food Lab: How to Make Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs | Serious Eats
  
• Yes, Nintendo Switch cartridges taste terrible - The Verge
  
• Amazon.com : Onyx Professional Stop The Bite Nail Biting & Thumb Sucking Deterrent Nail Polish 2 Pack 0.5oz : Beauty
  
• Amazon.com : Probelle Anti-Bite, Stop Nail Biting and Thumb Sucking, Clear, .5 Fluid Ounces : Beauty
  
• HomePod - Apple
  

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