occasionaluser's dashboard

I had the same problem with an iPod touch, 2nd generation, firmware 3.1.2.
I'm assuming this problem is limited to Windows computers.
It appears to be related with the time zone not matching between the ipod and Windows. That confuses iTunes, which messes up the time for the iPod.

First, set it on the disconnected iPod:
select the menus:
Settings->General->Date&Time->Then set the "Time Zone" as well as "Date&Time".

Then, on your windows PC, with iTunes turned off, set the time region.
On a windows XP PC, double click the clock in the bottom right corner,
Then select "Time zone" tab and set it correctly. This will mess up the time & date on your PC so be sure to correct them.

Finally, connect the iPod to the computer and start iTunes. In the first instant of a sync, notice the clock in your iPod changes.

This appears to have solved the problem, though I'm not sure who/what messed up with my regional settings on the PC and set it to international.