If I Adjust for Europe

Merlin Mann (0:08)

Hey, everybody, you're back with Reconcilable Differences. I'm Merlin Mann, I'm here with my friend, John Siracusa. How's it going, John?

John Siracusa (0:14)

I'm a little bit angry.

Merlin Mann (0:16)

Okay. Well, you know, should we temper that by talking about a good cause that people could help out with?

John Siracusa (0:20)

I mean, I'm also angry about childhood cancer.

Merlin Mann (0:22)

Do you have a secret?

John Siracusa (0:25)

Yeah, it's not a secret.

Merlin Mann (0:27)

No, it's not. It's not. Actually, your feelings about the American health care system, I feel pretty strongly are going to come up in the next couple of minutes. But the point of the segment is, hey, everybody, it is now as we record this September 1st Rabbit Rabbit. And that means it is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, which is something that the good folks at the St. Jude place do.

What's the name of the place, John?

John Siracusa (0:52)

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, I believe.

Merlin Mann (0:55)

It's a hospital for research.

John Siracusa (0:58)

For children, if they don't make the children do the research.

Merlin Mann (1:01)

No, it's where they play with their toys. You're not going to believe this. This is the eighth year that Relay, that's the podcast, if that still exists, I think the podcast network that we're on. The eighth year now that Relay and the community people who record and enjoy Relay shows have worked together through that month of September to support St. Jude for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. And we'd love to get your help with that if we can. And so one way we can support that is by going to stjude.org, St. Jude, stjude.org/relay.

I haven't clicked on that yet. Does the URL work?

John Siracusa (1:40)

Why don't you spell out the org? People don't know org. It's weird to people. People know .com is the only thing they know.

Merlin Mann (1:45)

Okay. Pop quiz, hotshot.

Tell me which, of the major or what do you call them, TLDs, the suffixes, are there ones that you pronounce, ones that you don't, and how has that changed over time? Like edu. I think for a while people kept trying to make- People said edu?

John Siracusa (2:05)

Edu Brute?

Merlin Mann (2:07)

Did you encounter that? I encounter people who were trying to make edu.

John Siracusa (2:09)

I mean, there are certain ones that I naturally pronounce, but for specifically when you're trying to send someone to URL to give money, I always err on the side of spelling out the letters. S-T-J-U-D-E dot O-R-G slash R-E-L-A-Y. The slash is a forward slash.

Merlin Mann (2:24)

Okay. And I just want to say, you're welcome for me alerting you to the idea that you can almost sing a little song to anything you have to spell, and it instantly makes it more memorable. You do have to compose a mini song in your head and figure out. But I think one of the saddest things about us not having ads so much anymore is I don't get to say the name of the offer code.

I think people enjoyed that. So they call it Easter egg. I have a-

John Siracusa (2:52)

Stay on target here.

Merlin Mann (2:53)

I will. I will. I have a channel in one of my co-ex lineups right now that has discovered all the movies and TV shows other hosts have recommended to me, and it just plays those now. But the point is, this is serious business. These folks do really good work. I'm going to read some stuff here. It says that before St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Now today, thanks in part to Better Therapies, there will be a comma there, St. Jude has helped to develop, should be no comma there.

Today, thanks in part to Better Therapies, St. Jude has helped to develop more than 80 percent of US childhood cancer.

John Siracusa (3:31)

No, you're just confused yourself. Maybe the commas were right.

Merlin Mann (3:33)

Today, thanks in part to Better Therapies, no comma, St. Jude has helped to develop more than 80

John Siracusa (3:40)

No, Better Therapies, that St. Jude has helped to develop. Does that help you there?

Merlin Mann (3:44)

There's no that.

John Siracusa (3:44)

Thanks to the therapies that St. Jude has helped to develop.

Merlin Mann (3:47)

Show me the that title.

John Siracusa (3:49)

But you can leave it out. I'm just trying to clarify for you.

Merlin Mann (3:52)

I just want the take home message, as I say at the New York Times, the take away, and there are seven or five or sometimes four, is that more than 80 percent of US childhood cancer patients survive. John, you ever seen these advertisements on TV, these commercials with the little kids in it? You ever seen the one with Dixie, little girl Dixie?