Monthly Archive for February, 2008

If your iPhone is just showing a blank white box in its Camera Roll when you take a photo, here’s how you fix the problem.

1. Find this file on your computer and delete it:
f1b43d3b3ecf259a3626c13a8b0cebd8ba513117.mdbackup. Just do a search for it. It should be at the following:

Mac
Users/[username]/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/[gibberish]

PC
C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\[gibberish]

2. Plug in your iPhone and Restore it from iTunes.

After the process is complete, your iPhone should take and save photos normally again. Kudos to jkeegan for figuring this out and posting it in Apple’s support forums.

I started watching anime series a few months ago. I’ve watched some on and off in the past but never an entire series, except for Golden Boy which only has six episodes. Not sure why I decided to start again but I chose only those that were well drawn and ranked high on ratings lists. My opinions and ratings of the shows in the order I watched them:

Golden Boy
About a perverted guy (okay a regular guy) who has a different job every episode, meets chicks and gets horny. That’s basically it, but it’s hella funny. (4/5)

Naruto
This show about child ninjas is super popular so I started watching it, but it’s stupid. It’s clearly for little kids, like 7-year-olds. I watched about four episodes and couldn’t take any more. (2/5)

Fullmetal Alchemist
Set in a world where people use alchemy, especially the military, these two kids tried to bring their dead mother back to life and failed. The story goes on from there. Very interesting, and I liked it until I watched the awful movie. (4/5)

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya
This eccentric high school girl, who doesn’t know she has a special power, starts a club for finding mysteries or something. I guess this show is cute, and it kept me interested enough to watch through all 14 episodes, but afterwards it felt like a waste of time. (3/5)

Neon Genesis Evangelion
Even though it went from a giant robot flick to total abstract psycho weirdness, the characters, backstories, psychology, politics and everything make this a compelling series. And it’s the best anime series I’ve watched so far. I’m glad they’re remaking it into movies right now. (5/5)

Cowboy Bebop
It’s about bounty hunters and has spaceships so I should like it, but I’ve watched two episodes so far and I’m bored. Is there gonna be a plot later on? This anime’s supposed to be a classic but it has the most uninteresting chase and fight scenes, and no story so far. (2/5) (3/5) [Update.]

On my to watch list: Great Teach Onizuka, Ghost in the Shell.

Cartoonist Hugh MacLeod / gapingvoid.com has some tips on how to be creative. Looks like they’re for people working in or aspiring to work in creative industries. Here are a few I like:

1. Ignore everybody.
4. If your biz plan depends on you suddenly being “discovered” by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.
7. Keep your day job.
11. Don’t try to stand out from the crowd; avoid crowds altogether.
16. The world is changing.
18. Avoid the Watercooler Gang.
34. Beware of turning hobbies into jobs.
36. Start blogging.

He goes on to explain each of the 36 points in depth. I haven’t read through them yet but you can go ahead.