Judge John Hodgman Pain and Suffer Ring
Apr 1, 2026
A sibling rivalry over relentless phone alarms vs. handwritten to-do lists. A family law practice’s work dynamics and how personal systems collide with professional meetings. A 107-page babysitter manual and labeled sentimental alerts get examined. The courtroom unpacks compromises and whether habits should bend for workplace harmony.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Alarms as an Active To-Do System
- David uses phone alarms as a personal task-management system rather than conventional reminders or calendars.
- He relies on audible, repeating alarms to force immediate action and avoid passive, easily-ignored notifications.
Forty Five Alarms Stored Like Sticky Notes
- David keeps many dormant alarms (about 45) as an ad hoc to-do list and resurrects them when needed.
- He admits some alarms date back eight years and are kept for sentimental or practical reuse.
Prefer Reminders For Passive Tasks
- Use built-in reminders or calendar entries instead of aggressive alarms for non-urgent items.
- Reminders are less intrusive because they pop passively at reasonable times instead of forcing an immediate audible interruption.
