Category Archives: Blurbs

Syncing content to the iPod Touch

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In which we consider our data-syncing options.

Once upon a time, an iPod could be used as an external USB hard drive; all you had to do was tick a check box in iTunes and from then on you could plug your trusty iPod into any computer and use it as a thumb drive. Great for hauling files and applications around in your pocket.

Now the iPod’s file system type has changed so the iPod no longer mounts as a disk drive. The pod itself has gone from being primarily an MP3 player to being a full-fledged PDA: we find that now that disk drive utility is truly needed, it’s gone.

Enter a host of syncing applications and solutions. The pod itself has great built-in Mail, Calendar, and Contacts applications, but they won’t natively sync to web-based content. There’s no built-in file utility, either, so you can’t put your Office documents on it. You can sync some functions through iTunes to local installations of Outlook, but who uses a single installation of Outlook any more?

The problem on the table is this: how do I sync my content to my iPod Touch?

Let me count the ways:

1. I can’t. I use the Google application (essentially just a bunch of shortcuts to mobile Google content on the web) to view web-based documents, contacts, and calendar items.

This solution is clean, but it sucks for two reasons: you can’t view your Calendar if you’re not at a hotspot, and you don’t get to utilize the iPod Touch’s built-in applications, which are adorably cute.

2. I sync my iPod to iTunes, iTunes to Outlook, and Outlook to Gmail using Plaxo.

Gack. This is the mess I’ll probably settle on, because I already use iTunes and I already have a Plaxo account, but can you say clusterfuck? Any chain with that many links in it is bound to fail miserably at some point.

3. Use Apple’s MobileMe.

MobileMe is a service that allows you to keep your files on a web server, and then access them from any web-connected browser and your iThing.

It has a cute little web interface where you can upload files and images, music and movies. It has a cute little iPod app that lets you view that same content – cached, even, so you can view previously-viewed content – offline. It opens Office docs, PDFs, and other file types. It syncs your Contacts and even your email (although why you’d want that, I have no idea

…aaaaaaand it costs $99 a year. For very little storage space. And it doesn’t do anything that Google and Plaxo don’t do for free.

What I really want is some genius to write a Google sync application that allows two-way synching between my iPod Touch apps and my remote Google services. (I suppose I’d want the same thing for Plaxo, AOL, Yahoo!, etc if I were nicer, but I’m not. I use Gmail.) You can sync (one-way only) your Google calendar through iTunes, but what good is a one-way calendar sync?

Argh. It’s so hard to be in love with a product that won’t do what you need. Except that it’s THE CUTEST DEVICE EVER IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD OMGWTFBBQ!!!1!

I have ordered the cutest frames ever!

Blurbs

In which I didn’t get dilated, but I did get lectured.

For breakfast I had two soft-boiled eggs and toast with tea. I was going to bathe after, but it was too late by then so I ran upstairs and got dressed. I grabbed my Christmas cards and my knitting, clicked to my dog, and ran out the door with Bindu on my heels.

…aaaaand I left my bento box on the counter. Damn.

I drove my brother’s pickup downtown, and got rockstar parking right in front of the building. I went in, signed the forms I’d already submitted electronically, and paid for my exam in advance.

Then I was called into the back, where I put my chin on tissue paper and pressed my forehead against the bar at about five different machines. Then I was seated in The Chair. The doctor’s assistant came in and asked me a bunch of questions focusing closely on the floaters – I assured her I hadn’t torn a retina and that it was all cool. The doctor came in and blinded me with a light brighter than the sun for awhile, and said things like, “Nice.” and “Good blood vessels!” Then he said, “How long have you had that–” and I interrupted, “It’s a mole. I’ve had it forever.” I need to get the thing removed because it always gets the optometrists excited, like I’ve got eyelash cancer or something. It’s a mole. On my lower eyelid. Do we have to discuss it? It’s gross enough as it is!

Then they walked my light-blind ass down the hall and pointed at a counter; I took my contacts out. The assistant put me on yet another machine (aaaaand I’m still not color blind, k thx bai). Back in the examination room, the doctor looked at my eyes yet again. Then he located my new prescription (“1, or 2? D, or E?”), and afterward I followed the assistant to yet another machine for topography.

My new contacts will be in by the end of the week and they’ll cost $75 each. (I’ll probably wear them for 5 or 6 years before replacing them again, so it’s a screaming deal really.) And when I get them, I will be able to see things! From a distance! On purpose! How hard will THAT rock?!

They didn’t threaten me with dilation, and I didn’t ask for it. Considering how long the good doctor stared at the back of my eyeballs with a laser, I think I’m okay for at least another year.

When the assistant asked me if I wanted new glasses I said yes, so she handed me a paper with the total damage for the gas permeable contact lenses (plus superfun $90 fitting fee) and led me to a room full of frames. She pointed at a few sections and said they were women’s frames, said she’d send someone to me, and flapped off in her nurse’s scrub top.

I started checking out frames. They’re all square these days, and smaller than I ever thought I could wear. The ones I chose are almost exactly what I’d envisioned this morning when I was thinking about frames – they’re basically tortoiseshell, because brown is my favorite color, but they’ve got bright teal too so they’re fun. Here’s the link. They’re “fairly inexpensive,” per the optician. I did not choose either of the $300 frames that I’d thought were cute.

There was another pair of black frames that I might go back for; there’s no reason not to have more than one pair of glasses, and SINCE I STILL DON’T NEED BIFOCALS they can pull the lenses right off the shelf and cut them to fit any frames I want pretty much on the spot.

So, yeah: I might end up with more than one pair of glasses, depending on how much I like these when I get them in a day or two.

The optician who fitted me congratulated me on my first pair of new glasses in twenty years, and then gave me a rather deeply paternal lecture listing the negative long-term effects of improper tear absorption caused by contacts. Okay, okay, okay, lecture noted: no more wearing contacts for more than 12 hours. I promise.

He then turned himself into my personal ‘if the world ends’ go-to guy, because he revealed he’d been collecting antiquated optical equipment and was hand-making glasses in his free time. I’ve always been concerned about the end of the world for one reason and one reason alone: what if the world ends and then I break my only glasses? Well, now I know: I could go find this guy, and he could make me new ones in his garage. Even without power. He assures me that he can do the math.

What a relief! Seriously. What good is someone who consumes resources but can’t even stand watch? I’ve always worried about this vision thing, in terms of its impact on my personal survival of the next dinosaur-killer.

Holiday Season! and Knitting!

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In which it’s like I’m turning over a new leaf or something, what with all the being organized and shit.

This is how on top of the holiday game I am:

I had my Christmas letter written yesterday, when it was still November! I have created a Christmas card list! I have purchased over half of the gifts I need! Tomorrow, since I have the day off, I’ll probably dig the box of santas out of the attic and help G’ma decorate the house.

Superfreaky, yo. I’m all in the Xmas spirit, bitches.

In other news, last night I got my knit on while watching Doctor Who1 and eating insanity bread2 on Teh BF’s couch. Using some of the yarn she gave me, I started this hat for him. Yay!

—
1 We’ve watched all of seasons 1, 2, and 4 of the new Doctor Who, and have only two episodes left of season 3 and then we have NO. WHO. LEFT.
We’ve also watched all of the Torchwood episodes, so we’re kinda freaking the fuck out because what delicious Brit sci-fi will we watch next?
2 Insanity bread is an invention of Teh BF’s involving frying slices of French bread in olive oil and butter, rubbing them with raw garlic, and topping them with brie and sliced tomato and avocado. It’s hella good and it looks like this.

Food Hobby

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In which I update you on how ineffably fun lunch can be if you have a bentō box to put it in!

One morning last week I was in the kitchen packing my lunch and my brother walked in. He watched me in silence for a moment, and then intoned, “Food hobby.”

Bento #7 - close

And that’s exactly what it is: a food hobby! It’s somehow much more fun to pack a lunch in a bentō box. I can look at pictures of bentōs on the Internet all day long. I can surf for bentō boxes for hours. I have collected a list of Japanese recipe URLs as long as your arm. I’ve been making friends on Flickr with other bentō makers. Bentō is the crack rock of luncheon!

Here are my bentōs and bentō accessories thus far.

Um, I may have ordered a second bentō box from eBay last week. In yellow!

How You Found This Site

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In which we check our logs! Whee!

The most popular search string bringing new visitors to goblinbox is my little pony porn. STILL.

If you don’t believe me, check it out for yourself.

Since I think the server’s built-in stats program is boring, I have just installed Mint. I’m so excited!

In other news, some dear soul just submitted this to my employer’s classifieds board:

FromIP: 68.81.22.199
Title: will do your house chores naked
Price: 10
Area: 08234
Email:mat32usa@yahoo.com contact me via yahoo messanger mat32usa only FEMALE please will do it all naked afterwards will make you soo happy that you will call me again and again.

Such an enterprising young man! He’s certainly figured out what women want, that’s for sure. And if he can clean properly, he’s a deal at only $10.

Words (and technical acronyms!) I've looked up in the past week.

Blurbs, Vocab, Work,

In which I share what I’ve used Google’s define1 function in the past seven days to better understand.

  • lemniscate
  • antipathy
  • sidereal
  • basque
  • DS3
  • SSP

I often look up words I’m familiar with just to make sure I really do know what they mean. Because sometimes? It turns out that I actually don’t.

Well, that’s not exactly true; I have extremely subtle inference skills, yo, and can grok most unfamiliar words easily by context. (I read at a high school level in grade school, and had a post-collegiate reading level in junior high, you dig). But sometimes it turns out that I don’t entirely know a word’s full meaning or etymology, and like anyone can always benefit from deeper research. Continue reading Words (and technical acronyms!) I've looked up in the past week. →

Election Day and Bento

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In which my lunch was cuter than your lunch!

My bento box arrived yesterday. This morning I packed a lunch in it. (I didn’t feel creative enough to make a patriotic election day theme, but this person did.)

I truly adore my cute little bentō box. It’s tiny but it holds more food than you’d think. (Maybe the Tardis is part bentō!) If it’s not packed with solid dairy fat, it holds around 600 calories… which shall prove to be much better for me than, say, a 1200 calorie plate of Mexican food from across the street.

In other news, there is no poll voting in Walla Walla county. This means that I have failed to vote because I didn’t mail my ballot. I figured I could go vote in person today, but there’s nowhere to do so. (Apparently only two counties in the entire state of Washington still have poll voting, and I’m not in either of them.) I didn’t know any of this in advance because this is my first election day living in this state; I just learned about the no-live-voting thing before lunch when I was looking online for a nearby voting location.

I also don’t really care. I know that not caring about democracy is bad and wrong, and that every vote counts and that my participation is necessary, but I find politics to be a game I’m not interested in. Talking heads bug me. Political analysts make me tired; they’re all just a bunch of debate team freaks growing their egos talking on the telly. I do not believe a single thing that any politician says because due to the very nature of the system they cannot keep their word even when they want to. I happen to believe that the office of president cannot be held by a moral person; and that even if a moral person were to gain the office s/he’d have to do immoral things in order to get anything done. Like tic-tac-toe, it’s a game that simply cannot be won. Not that winning is the goal of all human endeavors, of course not, but compromises that allow evil or that fail to accomplish anything whatsoever? Pshaw. I’m not interested in it.

[No, it doesn’t escape me that I would likely be a lot more interested if I lived under a more unpleasant type of regime, which admission in and of itself is an argument in favor of the efficacy of the very democracy (or whatever it is that we have here – constitutional republic?) that I enjoy the freedom to ignore: I’m not a total idiot. I just don’t care for politics. Or beef tripe. Or country & western. Or raisins.]

Suffice it to say that if I had managed to vote today, I’d’ve voted Obama. Because what the hell, I’d much rather spend money on welfare than war.

Update: (I just wrote this in comments over at Brad’s and decided to re-post it here.) I can’t believe we’re all so pleased with ourselves for electing a black man in this year of 2008. You know, there are countries all over the world that have had blacks and even women at the helm! Imagine THAT! *rolleyes*

I am bummed with Torchwood.

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In which there’s MORE about a TV show. Kill me now.

Teh BF and I watched the last two episodes of season two of Torchwood last night. They killed off two of the characters. WAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!

In other news, Happy Halloween! I’ll be playing with most of the Coyote Kings (and a sub drummer) at Woody’s in Dayton tonight which means hard alcohol, a cover of In A Gadda Davida, and drunken rednecks in costume screaming, “DON’T YOU KNOW ANY COUNTRY ROCK?!?” I won’t be home until two or three in the morning, but I’ll probably get a hundred bucks for it.

I am obsessed with Torchwood.

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In which I go on and on and on about a fucking TV show. Srsly. Me, the girl who loathes television. Don’t even read this.

I have a BF who has satellite and an HD television and we could spend all kinds of time just watching what’s on, but we don’t. We watch DVDs of Torchwood.

Torchwood, if you’re not familiar with it, is a BBC show. It’s a spinoff from the Doctor Who universe, with several characters appearing in both series. It was created by the new Doctor Who’s producer, Russell T. Davies. The show was developed almost entirely as a vehicle for John Barrowman (who first appeared as Captain Jack Harkness opposite the ninth Doctor). Harkness is the first acknowledged non-het character in the Who universe, and he makes up for it by basically shagging everything he sees, be it girl, boy, or alien.

I love Torchwood because it’s total entertainment crack.

It’s British, which means accents (which means that any and all utterances sound more profound than they truly are). It’s sci-fi, so not only do we get to examine deep themes but we don’t notice we’re doing it since there are monsters and aliens and gadgets and wonderfully cheesy special effects. (This is actually why I love sci-fi: I think it’s the bestest context for playing around with existential questions.) And, best of all, it’s got more snogging and shagging than any other sci-fi series I’ve ever seen… and I’ve watched a million hours of sci-fi so I know what I’m on about.

For instance, in last night’s episode (season 2, episode 11) Gwen rushes back to The Hub to speak with Jack about a case. She bursts into his office, only to find him half-dressed and snogging a similarly unclothed Ianto. She backs away, stammering, but they pull themselves together and rush out after her.

Jack: Gwen! There’s always room for one more! We could have used you an hour ago for naked hide-and-seek.
Ianto: He cheats. He always cheats.

Ianto is my favorite character and gets all the best snarky asides.

The good news is that Torchwood didn’t get axed after its second season, and will be returning for a partial third. The bad news is that after we watch episodes 12 and 13 tonight, we’ll have only the special left until the third season is aired NEXT SPRING! OMGWTFBBQ!!!1!! What am I supposed to DO with myself until then?!?

The name ‘Torchwood’ is an anagram of ‘Doctor Who.’ (The name was used on the dailies and rushes when the ninth Doctor’s show was in pre-production so people wouldn’t know what they were and leak clips to the public. Davies later wrote the name into the Who series in preparation for the spinoff.) I love Torchwood and will probably begin the series again at the beginning and watch the whole thing again twice before Spring!

Apparently, the folks at CERN are also huge Torchwood fans.

Change

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In which there’s just a little blurb.

I changed my site’s theme.

Doubtless you’d already noticed that, though. You’re a smart lot, you readers of the ‘box. I lurve you, each and every one!

Two minutes until cocktail hour!