Rocket Science

So, for some reason my iPhone 3G stopped automatically syncing when plugged in to iTunes. To get a sync to occur, I had to select the Sync button. How did that happen?

And why can’t I just select the checkbox “”automatically sync when iphone is connected”?

Source: Brandon/iTunes

Why can't I check this???

Hrm, apparently Apple has a separate setting that enables this checkbox, which then must be enabled to setup automatic syncing. Say what?!?!?!

Source: Brandon/iTunes

Why???

Well, now I can check the checkbox…

Source: Brandon/iTunes

Uh, ok. Why was that difficult?

(I had to read a support thread to figure this out.)

There’s a new Ticket to Ride expansion coming out, Europa 1912.

Damn you Marion for leading me to this!

Now I just need to find someone here to play TTR with…

As part of our SpokenMedia project, I’ve been looking at quite a bit of online lecture video.

I need to make a request.

Please, please stop putting 5 second or longer bumpers at the start of online videos.

Really, 5 seconds is way too long to make me wait for a video. I’m ok with you putting some branding information at the start of the video, but anything beyond 2 seconds is just dead time. I am going to stop paying attention to your brand in that time period. You’ve gone from making me aware of your brand to ignoring it.

(The same can be said of the 20-30 second commercials at the start of a Hulu video. Really, I tune out completely. You’re not doing anyone any favors.)

The Greeting

I’ve been a professional member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) since 1995. Recently I got an email update from the management division that opens up with…

Dear Colleagues,

As summer comes to a close and the Labor Day holiday behind us, the start of fall and football beckons us. I hope that each of you took time during the summer months to rest and recharge those batteries as we head into the start of a new academic year. It amazes me each year how quickly summer comes and goes.

Source: Withheld

and continues a bit further with…

launching the Global Engineering Management Conference is the greatest initiative the Management Division has taken on in the past decade.

Source: Withheld

Can any of you recognize the disconnect there? Read more…

As the summer comes to a close, here an update to my 2009 movie picks.

1. Star Trek (see my first report)
2. Up (see my first report)
3. 9: I think this is the first full length animated feature that rivals Pixar’s demonstrated ability to tell a story. 9 is a post-apocalyptic story about soul, friends and doing the right thing. Great story, great animation. (It’s executive produced by Tim Burton, though his Nightmare Before Christmas and Coraline never really struck a chord with me.)
4. Public Enemies: (see my first report)
5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: (see my first report).
6. District 9: Well this movie is definitely gross, and a bit disturbing. I’m not sure about this one long term either. I’d definitely watch the top five movies over and over again. This one…maybe?
7. Inglorius Basterds: I’m still not quite sure what to make of this movie. It has one or two extremely violent scenes, but on the whole is much less gorey than Kill Bill.

Read more…