Self-CC Oct 23, 2008
I don't understand why people CC themselves when they send email.  Pretty much every email system since the creation of the universe has automatically saved all sent messages by default.  Maybe it's to see if the message was actually sent.  Again, if it's sent, it'll show up in the sent messages folder.  (And if there's an error in transit, you won't find out about it until the recipient's email server spits back an error message, which will happen independently of you receiving your CC.)  Maybe it's to see how the email looks for the person reading it.  Again, the sent message resides in the sent messages folder, exactly as it will look for the recipient.  Please, someone explain to me the practice of the self-CC. #technology
Human skull request Aug 26, 2008
Here's an email I got last week: 
From:  Mark
To:  Everyone
Subject:  Skull

Does anyone have a human skull I can borrow?  (an extra one, preferably not in use)

I would like to scan it in with our new 3D scanner.
It's almost as good as the fecal contamination incident. #technology
Die already, fax machine (1) Aug 7, 2008
The cell phone that currently resides in my pocket can send and receive email and access the internet, essentially giving me the entire world's collective information and knowledge.  YET, we still use fax machines.  I only use one around once a month, but each time it's like a lesson in the history of technology.  "So I have to print out this piece of paper?  Then I have to put it in this machine?  Then I have to dial a phone number?"  Sooooo much of what I work on is already digital (i.e. not on paper) that it's a huge disruption to have to print something out and fax it.  Why don't people just use email?  It's trivially easy to use a scanner (if you absolutely need to use paper) and email a PDF.  Why won't fax machines just die already? #technology
Totally Looks Like Jul 25, 2008
Best new website of the week:  Totally Looks Like, where people upload pictures of famous people or things that totally look like someone or something else.  There's the infamous Wilford Brimley and the lookalike cat, but other notables include John Kerry / Herman Munster, Bill Gates / Janet Reno, Pope Benedict / Darth Sidious, and Ron Paul / Magneto.  Ok, heck, they're all good.  Just look at all of them. #technology
Engineers and drawings Jul 10, 2008
One of the funnier things about working with all engineers is the drawings.  Of everything.  Instead of just explaining the work being done on his house, my co-worker used his marker board to draw a picture of it, likely to scale, complete with slope markings (since it was 2D) and before/after comparisons. #technology
Wikipedia in Google Maps Jun 6, 2008
There's a cool feature in Google Maps that's probably been around for a while but I haven't noticed it:  Wikipedia links.  On the map itself, near the buttons for switching between map and satellite views is a button that says "More..."  One of the options is Wikipedia, which shows links to Wikipedia articles that have something to do with the map being viewed.  In most areas, it's just information on cities and towns.  But in more zoomed-in areas, there's information about historical events and unusual facts.  Very cool. #technology
Forgot my watch (4) May 12, 2008
I'm a geek.  I wear a watch religiously.  I've been known to throw my watch-wearing in people's faces with such witticisms as, "If you really wanted to know the time, you'd get your own damn watch, jerk."  Wearing a watch is probably my longest-running habit, starting when I was about 10.  I wear my watch every day.  In school, at work, to church, on weekends, on vacation, in a tent in the middle of the woods.  Second to breathing, watch-wearing is the most regular thing I do. 

Today, I forgot to put my watch on. 

This is troubling for a number of reasons.  For one, it's a habit.  I've been wearing a watch every day for about 15 years.  Like every friggin day.  Everywhere.  All the time.  Since I'm not a morning person, I robotically follow a very simple yet reliable system in the morning:  Shower, dress, put things in pockets and put watch on, drink warm liquid, go to work.  I don't deviate much from that pattern.  Somehow I managed to put the things in my pockets without putting my watch on.  It's like I got dressed in the shower. 

Second, it's Monday, which inevitably means some stupid meeting will appear out of nowhere and ruin my lunch break, which it did.  And of course it's Monday, so I forgot to bring my lunch, which means I had to go out and get my lunch, which means I had to keep checking my watch to make sure I got back in time, which means I was reminded again and again of the fact that I forgot to wear my watch. 

Third, this is my last week at work before going on vacation.  So of course I need to check my watch to see what day it is.  And of course I can't remember even though I just checked 3 minutes ago. 

The funny thing is that I'm at a computer all day, so I can easily check the time and date there.  There's a clock on my desk phone.  There's a clock on another part of my desk.  There's a clock in my car.  And of course I carry a cell phone.  There's really no shortage of timekeeping devices, yet I still feel like a chicken without a head.  What a ridiculous situation my habits (and breaking them) have gotten me into. #technology
Ignore your phone Mar 31, 2008
I have a huge amount of respect for a person who can ignore a phone call.  Whether it's at work while we're having a conversation, at home during dinner, or just driving in the car, a person who ignores a call shows that they think the actual is more important than the potential.  Sure, there are times when "you really need to take this call", but that's why God created voicemail.  Haven't we as a civilization reached the point where people follow the three basic rules of phone usage: 
  1. If it's important, leave a message.
  2. If it's really important, call back in 10 minutes.
  3. If it's really, really important, stop calling.  You've obviously overestimated your importance.
#technology
Online newspaper comments Mar 31, 2008
A few online versions of popular newspapers allow users to comment on individual articles.  It's a way to engage the reader and make people feel like their voice is heard.  But in reality, it's a way for average Joe to leave unintelligent, unthoughtful, usually racist comments.  It's a good idea in theory, and I don't know a better way to do it.  But for whatever reason, it seems like the caliber of comments on these websites is a bit sub-par. #technology
Mass text messages Mar 24, 2008
A great way to get people to ignore you and form a growing dislike for everything you do is to send mass text messages, especially during major holidays.  I got a mass text message this weekend wishing me a Happy Easter.  That's nice.  Or, rather, it would have been nice if the sender had spent even a fraction of a second thinking about who the message was being sent to and why the message was being sent in the first place.  But, more likely than not, the sender has a "send crap to these people" mailing list in their phone so they can send unthoughtful, meaningless messages to as many people as possible, giving the impression they truly care about each and every recipient. 

To be fair, I've received a few good mass text messages, including an engagement announcement and a few other things.  But that's the exception, not the rule. 

I guess what annoys me most about this practice is that it didn't even exist a few years ago.  Before text messaging, it's not like people sent emails or made phone calls about this type of thing.  But like any new technology, as soon as it got in the hands of the common man, its usefulness dropped off exponentially.  Remember when email was useful?  When you could send a message to a friend and have a legitimate conversation, unhindered by forwards and spam and advertisements?  Like email, text messaging is starting to become less and less useful. #technology