Fixed That

These days, doorbells communicate with computers.  Room thermostats connect to smartphones.  An automobile might pair with your smartphone, communicate with a satellite, or connect to any number of other small electronic devices.

This can become overwhelming in a hurry.

While visiting me, my brother-in-law, Terry, mentioned he was having trouble getting an iPod to play in his truck.  “I did everything I was supposed to connect, but I can’t get it to play.”

I asked: “Your truck allows you to select sources, right?”

“Yes.  I did all that.  It won’t play.”

“Huh.  Kinda weird.  Let’s go out to the truck right now and see if we can figure it out.”

Terry and I stomped out to his truck.  Once we climbed inside the truck, he started the engine and allowed the instrument panel to wake up.  The iPod was plugged into a USB port in the cubby between the front seats.  I picked up the device and flicked at the screen a couple times.  Everything seemed normal.

I glanced at the touch screen on his dash and saw the iPod featured there.  “Let’s try this,” I said.  I reached out and poked the PLAY/PAUSE button on the screen.

Music from the iPod throbbed throughout the cab.

“Fixed that,” I said.

— Mitchell Hegman