I enjoy the Gmail ads as they are often helpful and unobtrusive. They are usually right on target too. For example, in a return message to Bret I wrote the following:"Did you use Windows Movie Maker to compress 'your dog going postal' for Internet email? I cannot remember if I had you download the encoder ... or Movie Maker. You will find the latter on your hard drive already. You can choose output and probably even burn to a CD after splicing 'em together."
The ads to the right were a pretty good match for our discussion. I'm often interested enough in the bots' suggestions to research the links provided. They're especially good at recommending commercial links but I've seen accurate, current-event links to newspapers. I've seen occasional 'public-service' type links as well.
Yesterday, however, I couldn't quite figure out why Gmail assumed I needed the specific links in this section. I had written to my boss about printing up a course outline in advance. Here's our exchange:
"I'm really impressed by your forward planning!! Do you need the outline signed before August 28? let me know so I can take it in - I'm not going to the campus regularly otherwise."
"No, no. Please don't go in. I would not be photocopying it until I get back. It's just things, such as signing this, are better done at leisure ... than waiting until the very last minute."
Oh, and just so you'll know, the email subject line read:
CRN 67046 Outline (2 months early)