Clockwise – Episode 649: "All Vocation, No Avocation"

Date: March 25, 2026
Hosts: Dan Moren & Mikah Sargent
Guests: Guy English & Glenn Fleishman

Overview

On this episode of Clockwise, Dan, Mikah, Guy, and Glenn dive into four rapid-fire tech topics, reflecting on the joys of purely personal tech projects, the evolution and possible future of macOS, the realities of home networking setups, and how real-time information sharing—especially on Reddit—is filling knowledge gaps left by official sources. The episode balances lighthearted banter with deep insights into how tech shapes their personal and professional lives.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Tech Projects Just for Yourself

[01:20–06:59]

• Guy English:

  • Has been “noodling around with the language that I made for myself and doing hypercode y kind of stuff” – a hobby project sparked by a desire to learn more about Swift and software development in general.
  • Quote: "It's totally useless, but it consumes my creative side of my software stuff right now." (02:47)

• Mikah Sargent:

  • Recently tackled the challenge of replacing an old car head unit for wireless CarPlay. Enjoys projects balancing both software (flashing firmware) and hardware (soldering).
  • "Anytime I get to do both sort of like software stuff but also physical stuff like soldering and whatnot is a good time for me." (03:21)

• Glenn Fleishman:

  • Struggles to find “pure” hobbies; many turn into business ventures. Shared the story of ISBN.nu, a 27-year-old site originally built for book price comparison, recently revitalized with help from Claude AI—for fun, not profit.
  • "I'm all vocation, no avocation...but with Claude I was able to understand my code better, fix things and the site now works better than it ever did, which is very rewarding." (04:05–5:03)

• Dan Moren:

  • Used AI (Claude) to write a Python script that remapped the inputs from a USB buzzer mimicking a Jeopardy!-style button—a bespoke, super-niche tool made possible by recent advances in AI, which allowed him to package it as a simple Mac app.
  • Quote: "Within the course of about an hour...it helped me write a Python script...then package it up into a Mac app...this is bananas." (05:23)

2. 25 Years of macOS: Where Are We & Where Are We Going?

[06:59–14:36]
Prompt by Guy English

• Micah Sargent:

  • Hopes macOS won’t change too much, cherishes the underlying consistency.
  • Metaphor: "It's almost like you have...a cousin who started dying their hair a different color. And underneath, you know that they're still the person that you know." (07:55)

• Glenn Fleishman:

  • Sees macOS at a kind of apex of functionality; wants it to become more “invisible” and tailored—automating repetitive tasks without annoying interruptions (e.g., avoiding a “Mac OS Edition” Clippy).
  • "I just want it to disappear more. I want it to be a thing that I don't have to think about." (08:30)

• Dan Moren:

  • Wants even deeper automation, reliability, and fit and finish.
  • "You can introduce all the splashy features you want, but if they don't work reliably, I'm never going to use them." (11:51)

• Guy English:

  • Predicts OS "bones" will remain but better support for mixed media documents (OpenDoc ideas) with AI helping automate more seamless workflows.
  • "We will still have the bones. Good solid bones, like we said all the way back to 85..." (14:19)

3. Home Networking Setups: Evolution, Hurdles, and Choices

[15:45–21:21]

• Glenn Fleishman:

  • Admits his Wi-Fi isn't as good as his published expertise would suggest, due to old house obstacles (described as a "Faraday cage"). Uses a blend of PowerLine networking, range extenders, and cheap routers; attempted DIY Ethernet install but hit physical barriers.
  • “Someone built it like a Faraday cage for some reason. So parts of the house won't receive signals unless you do weird things.” (16:26)

• Dan Moren:

  • Formerly used an Eero mesh but switched back to a single high-quality router (UniFi Dream Router) connecting to Ethernet switches. House is small enough that mesh isn’t necessary. Values simplicity and reliability.
  • “Most of all, I don't have to think about it.” (18:12)

• Guy English:

  • Recently moved, setup is still basic with one router. Faces challenges integrating a noisy Synology NAS and new smart lights that won’t connect—plans to consult Glenn.
  • Quote: "There's a whole bunch of stuff that I would like to do right now. It's very basic and kind of annoying..." (18:18)

• Mikah Sargent:

  • Uses an Eero mesh system (main router plus beacon for the detached garage), but feels limited control compared to "pro" setups. Needs mesh because of old-house construction.
  • Analogy: "It's almost like the difference between iMovie and Final Cut Pro is the EERO to literally any other brand comparison." (19:22)

4. Real-Time Knowledge Gaps: Reddit and the Loss of Twitter’s Utility

[21:22–28:29]
Prompt by Glenn Fleishman

• Glenn Fleishman:

  • Recalls using unofficial sources (including Reddit) to check TSA wait times when official trackers were down, and notes how real-time crowd-sourced data helps when institutions fail or disengage.

• Dan Moren:

  • Increasingly turns to Reddit for “distilled nerdery,” especially with specialized subreddits, after Twitter lost its utility for real-time local information.
  • “Reddit has a passionate group of people...the people there know everything about that topic.” (23:34)

• Guy English:

  • Tries to be Zen about situations like airport lines, and admits he can’t “wrap my head around Reddit.” Misses Twitter’s immediacy for local info; Mastodon doesn’t fill the same niche for him.

• Mikah Sargent:

  • Shares his Reddit aversion but admits its value, especially when it’s the only source. Relieved to find he’s not alone in his hesitance to use Reddit.
  • “I've always felt that way, but I was afraid to say it...” (25:58)

• Glenn Recap:

  • Laments decline of hyper-local real-time info as Twitter’s role faded, and highlights value of evolving vernacular sources when official ones aren’t enough.

Notable Quotes

• Guy English:
  • "You need to be able to trust the software that you use. Point Finale. That's basically the promise of the operating system, right?" (12:45)
• Micah Sargent:
  • "Pineapple is mine. It's trying to eat me as much as I'm trying to eat it and I have to respect it." (28:44, Bonus topic)
• Dan Moren:
  • "If something's not reliable, you can't count on it. And if you can't count on it, you're not going to use it." (11:57)

Bonus Topic: Favorite Fruit

[28:29–End]

• Guy: Saxuma/clementine/mandarin ("Are those all the same thing?")
• Micah: Pineapple ("It's trying to eat me as much as I'm trying to eat it.")
• Glenn: Sumo orange ("the king...of all citrus fruits.")
• Dan: Bananas, with honorary mentions for oranges and pineapple.

Timestamps Summary

| Segment/Topic | Timestamps | |-------------------------------------------------|--------------------| | Purely Personal Tech Projects | 01:20–06:59 | | macOS: Past, Present, and 25 Years Ahead | 06:59–14:36 | | Home Networking Setups | 15:45–21:21 | | Real-Time Knowledge: Reddit, Social Sources | 21:22–28:29 | | Bonus Topic: Favorite Fruit | 28:29–End |

Tone

• Friendly, witty, and slightly self-deprecating.
• The discussion is thoughtful but breezy, never too technical for casual listeners, with the hosts and guests comfortable poking fun at themselves and tech culture.
• Camaraderie and mutual respect among participants is evident.

For Listeners

Want to know how seasoned tech writers and developers think about personal tinkering, macOS’s trajectory, smart home networking, and digital knowledge-gathering as Twitter fades? This episode is packed with practical insights, gentle debates, and that classic Clockwise efficiency—four big topics, just 30 minutes—perfect for catching up on the state of personal tech in 2026.