There are a number of times when I’m asked how to do something in whatever application or operating system, and I simply have no idea. However, almost every application or operating system follows a certain type of logic or layout, so it is usually just a matter of figuring out what they want to do, and then checking the logical places where the application or operating system developers would have put that option. When all else fails, that’s when we resort to Google (and become as Jared calls it “an ‘HGI’: a Human Google Interface”).  

So, I had a laugh when I noticed that Jared had tagged me in this image so I would see it:

Thanks dude. That was awesome.

Update (2009-08-24): Should’ve known this was an XKCD comic, but I didn’t read my list of comics this morning, and I didn’t notice this until now. I *thought* the font looked familiar.  

This recently came to mind while I was attempting to download an iPhone game entitled “Spider: The Secret of Bryce Manor“, which weighed in at 56MB (I have yet to play it, but we’ll see if I like it or not, and if it was worth the $2.99):

Why am I not allowed to download this game directly to the iPhone via the app store application due to it’s large size, yet I can tether my iPhone to my Macbook, download the game via iTunes, and then sync the iPhone to have the game installed…?

Seems to be an unnecessary inconvenience to me. I’m using my data plan either way, so why not just make it easier?

A while ago I signed up for Twitter, yet at the time I didn’t think much of it. I used Facebook a lot, and updated my status there, and didn’t see the need in updating yet another service with what I’m doing at that very moment. Even a month and a half ago I thought about putting a Twitter feed on my site and got it up and running, yet took it down within hours as I yet again didn’t see the allure.

Well, that’s changed, and funny enough, it was all due to the blackout in Toronto last night.

Seems that EVERYONE who was affected, and even some who weren’t, were updating their Twitter statuses, replying to others’ statuses, and the like. A whole community of Twits, and while I was one of them, I wasn’t an active one.

I am now.

I even have the Twitteriffic app for my iPhone, so no matter where I am, I will be able to update my little space on the ‘net with what I’m up to at that very moment. How neat/lame is that?  

Feel free to add me, or send me your Twitter details.

http://twitter.com/Dysantic

So, I needed to get the MAC address for my manager’s laptop to grant it access to our wireless network in the office, and didn’t quite know how to do that in Vista. At the time, I didn’t know that Vista actually did still have a (limited) command line interface like in XP, so I *could* have run “ipconfig”, but I digress.

Anyway, without knowing the above, I Googled how to determine the MAC address for a PC unfortunately running Vista. The specific command to display all the MAC addresses for the network interfaces in Vista, and apparently in Windows in general, made me chuckle:

Oh how very amusing.  

In this day and age, when someone goes on vacation, especially if that individual is in a demanding position at work, very rarely is it ACTUALLY a vacation. With so many ways to connect with someone, be it cell phone or email, if there is a really pressing need, anyone “out of the office” can be contacted. As a vacation is an important escape from the pressures of every day life, and a rare one at that, the possibility of such an intrusion into their vacation can weigh heavily on that person’s mind. During those times, it is important to make clear that you will be completely unavailable should shit hit the fan, and if necessary, ensure that your vacation destination is out in the middle of no where… preferably a place that has yet to embrace the technology that we are so used to, that we take for granted, and in some cases, see as a curse.

The CEO of the company that Molly works for has an awesome “out of the office” reply that not only got the point across, but made me laugh as well:

WAY OUT OF OFFICE ALERT (till Dec 2nd)

No, seriously.  I mean “in a place that doesn’t have wireless” out of office.

“Oops, I dropped my Blackberry in the ocean” out of office.

“Sand in my toes, better drink that before it gets warm, ok, I guess I’ll go swimming again, can you pass me another because I seriously can’t get out of this chair” kind of out of office.

“sooooo, not checking message unless it is hidden at the bottom of a rum punch, gotta put more sunscreen on or I am going to fry” out of office.

I think you get the picture.

Physically back on the 2nd, mentally back sometime later that week.  Will return emails when the saltwater dries out of my keyboard.

If things are falling apart or you need to track someone down (or else you really need to say what an awesome job we are doing), call **removed**.

Some snobby bastards may find something like the above unprofessional, but I think it’s an indication of the laid-back attitude that a lot of CEOs (the good ones anyway) have these days, including the CEO of the company I work for. It is important to remember that a CEO is a human being just like the rest of us, and usually has more on his or her plate than those who are working at the same company.

As such, if they need to get the hell out of dodge for a bit, it’s in everyone’s best interest, and also the company’s best interest, that they be given the time they need to relax and clear their minds. They’re not gods… they just get the final say on how much booze is going to be at company party.