This week, John and Merlin kick things off with a discussion of the non-English languages kids get exposed to and how *Mandarin* maybe isn't the new *French*.

The main topic focuses on _cars and driving_. First, there's the automobiles that their families did or didn't drive and why. Then, John educates Merlin on the evolution of consumer car design over the past 30 years.

This leads to more personal thoughts on their early days of driving, including the madness of *Driver's Ed* and the indignities of failed road tests.

Following some excellent driving hacks and Best Practices, things conclude with a sad litany of dumb auto accidents.