US GDP analyzed. Good reference.

Link. “2011, nominal G.D.P. was $15,094 billion. Of this, purchases of goods accounted for $4,259 billion, or 28 percent. Of the goods, about half were durable ($2,186 billion) and half nondurable ($2,073 billion). Consumption of services accounted for $9,812 billion of G.D.P. or almost two-thirds. Production of structures added $1,022 billion or 7 percent.”

Spanning Sync for Google/Apple sync dies.

Link. Sync is hell. “10.7.4. That release included a bug that prevented iCal from properly syncing with Sync Services, and therefore with Sync Services clients like Spanning Sync, BusySync, Blackberry Sync, and many others. We’ve been in touch with Apple, and it doesn’t appear they intend to fix the bug.

Instead, they’ve suggested we move to the more modern CalendarStore and Address Book frameworks. But this would require a major rewrite, which, given the dwindling need for a third-party solution to sync Apple and Google calendars and contacts, isn’t economically feasible for us.”

Unlocking a completed-contract AT&T iPhone – what happens if you replace the glass?

Link. “I met with two Apple Genius Bar staffers today, and neither knew the answer. This is what they do know:
 
1. Only ATT&T does US post-contract carrier unlock. Verizon/Sprint can’t/don’t. So nice advantage AT&T.
2. If you buy an unlocked phoned it will show as unlocked in Apple’s database and if you have it serviced it will be replaced with an unlocked phone. However, if you have a post-contract phone unlocked they don’t THINK Apple updates the database used to check replacement status.
3. If you are post-2 years with AT&T, but haven’t switched to a new phone/contract (so old contract is current) there is an option. What happens is that in this situation you do the glass repair / refurb switch, then put your SIM into your phone and AT&T changes the IMEI associated with your current (completed) contract. Then you go through the unlock process with AT&T.
 
They’ve never come across my situation. My guess is that there’s no way to do it at this time.”

The Alaskan highway: permafrost and history

Link. 1940s help wanted ad: “Temperatures will range from 90 degrees above zero to 70 degrees below zero … Men will have to fight swamps, rivers, ice and cold. Mosquitoes, flies and gnats will not only be annoying but will cause bodily harm.”

The climate change permafrost problem is interesting but manageable. Love the history part of this article.

Voter ID: The Poll tax lives.

Link. Funny to hear Tea Partiers complaining about the moral decline of America.

Great quote: “Pennsylvania House Majority Leader — a Republican — said of his legislature’s law: “Voter ID, which is gonna allow Governor Romney to win the state of Pennsylvania, done.”