2010-06-21
My favorite Android apps
Current mood: Geeky
I have an HTC Hero from Sprint which is currently running Android 2.1. It really is a great phone.
I am making this list for posterity sake... and in case I decide to wipe my phone or someday upgrade (the EVO looks pretty sweet, doesn't it?)
Abduction!
This game looks simple at first, but it's enjoyable (and a great way to distract children in a pinch). Use the accelerometer to help bounce cows and other farmyard animals to freedom from UFO's.
Bible (YouVersion)
Has NIV for free, but it's web based. I only have this because CadreBible doesn't have the NIV (yet...)
CadreBible
Has a host of free and paid bibles, commentaries, references, etc. I especially like being able to switch from a verse in an english translation straight to that verse in another translation or language (greek, hebrew, latin, etc). It also includes some nice study guides to help you get started.
demoPlayer (RockPlayer beta)
Plays most any video format you would want on the Hero. Currently the beta is free.
Dice Bag
For RPG enthusiasts, if you forget your die-20 at home, no worries!
Dropbox
Free (up to 2GB) file depository that lives in the cloud, sync files between your home PC, work, and now your Android phone, too!
ES File Explorer
E-Strong's file explorer. It lets you explore the file system on your phone. Self-explanatory.
Evernote
Free universal note-taking that backs up to the cloud and syncs between your phone and PC, too.
gStrings
An anachronistic tuner for guitars and other instruments. AWESOME!
KeePassDroid
A secure database for remembering your passwords. It just works.
Google Listen
I know, it's a stock app, but I use this literally every day on my walk to and from work to listen to podcasts. And it sync's with Google Reader, too!
Ringdroid
You have an audio file. You want a ringtone (or a notification sound). Also does cropping.
Robo Defense
The free version is a pretty fun strategy game, or pay for additional maps, difficulty levels and tools. This is the only app I have paid for.
Shazam
I use this for those times when I hear an awesome song on the radio and simply need to know who and what it is.
Google Shopper
&
ShopSavvy
Comparison shopping by scanning bar codes. 'Nuff said.
The Weather Channel
I use this every morning to determine the weather is appropriate for walking to work, or requires some alternative method to transportation.
twicca
At the moment, my favorite twitter client. Does everything it needs to do, and it's free.
Wifi Analyzer
Helps to find wireless access points on the road, and at home to plot which channel has the least interference in my condo building.
xda
Gives me mobile access to the xda-developers.com forums, for all my Android news and hacking updates ;)
I am making this list for posterity sake... and in case I decide to wipe my phone or someday upgrade (the EVO looks pretty sweet, doesn't it?)
Abduction!
This game looks simple at first, but it's enjoyable (and a great way to distract children in a pinch). Use the accelerometer to help bounce cows and other farmyard animals to freedom from UFO's.
Bible (YouVersion)
Has NIV for free, but it's web based. I only have this because CadreBible doesn't have the NIV (yet...)
CadreBible
Has a host of free and paid bibles, commentaries, references, etc. I especially like being able to switch from a verse in an english translation straight to that verse in another translation or language (greek, hebrew, latin, etc). It also includes some nice study guides to help you get started.
demoPlayer (RockPlayer beta)
Plays most any video format you would want on the Hero. Currently the beta is free.
Dice Bag
For RPG enthusiasts, if you forget your die-20 at home, no worries!
Dropbox
Free (up to 2GB) file depository that lives in the cloud, sync files between your home PC, work, and now your Android phone, too!
ES File Explorer
E-Strong's file explorer. It lets you explore the file system on your phone. Self-explanatory.
Evernote
Free universal note-taking that backs up to the cloud and syncs between your phone and PC, too.
gStrings
An anachronistic tuner for guitars and other instruments. AWESOME!
KeePassDroid
A secure database for remembering your passwords. It just works.
Google Listen
I know, it's a stock app, but I use this literally every day on my walk to and from work to listen to podcasts. And it sync's with Google Reader, too!
Ringdroid
You have an audio file. You want a ringtone (or a notification sound). Also does cropping.
Robo Defense
The free version is a pretty fun strategy game, or pay for additional maps, difficulty levels and tools. This is the only app I have paid for.
Shazam
I use this for those times when I hear an awesome song on the radio and simply need to know who and what it is.
Google Shopper
&
ShopSavvy
Comparison shopping by scanning bar codes. 'Nuff said.
The Weather Channel
I use this every morning to determine the weather is appropriate for walking to work, or requires some alternative method to transportation.
twicca
At the moment, my favorite twitter client. Does everything it needs to do, and it's free.
Wifi Analyzer
Helps to find wireless access points on the road, and at home to plot which channel has the least interference in my condo building.
xda
Gives me mobile access to the xda-developers.com forums, for all my Android news and hacking updates ;)
2010-05-13
missing motives
Current mood: Poetic
Currently listening to: ha, ha.
i've been writing poetry
since nineteen ninety seven
and i keep asking myself why
i'm still not in the Motif.
since nineteen ninety seven
and i keep asking myself why
i'm still not in the Motif.
2010-02-19
Sarah is born!
Current mood: Celebratory
Sarah was born at 7:02am on February 19th, 2010.
She was 7lbs, 13oz and measured 20in long at the time of birth.
Both mom and baby are doing well!
She was 7lbs, 13oz and measured 20in long at the time of birth.
Both mom and baby are doing well!
2010-02-10
the two questions everyone has been asking me
Current mood: Excited
No baby yet, and all is well.
2010-02-08
(recursive) a senryu
Current mood: Poetic
punctuate me please
piece my fragment phrases add
meaning to my words
piece my fragment phrases add
meaning to my words
2010-01-28
Magic Words
Current mood: Poetic
Please,
Open your heart to me,
Let me see who you really are.
Let me hold the you that
No one else sees inside
Your secret Zen garden;
That part of you makes me real.
Please,
Open your mouth and speak,
Tell me who you want to be.
Say the things you want to say
But couldn't because I was in the way.
Let out your gale force wind,
And blow me away with meaning.
Please,
Open your eyes and see
I am standing right here with you,
And I don't want to leave,
I need you to want me, too.
Open your ears and feel me say,
I love you.
Open your heart to me,
Let me see who you really are.
Let me hold the you that
No one else sees inside
Your secret Zen garden;
That part of you makes me real.
Please,
Open your mouth and speak,
Tell me who you want to be.
Say the things you want to say
But couldn't because I was in the way.
Let out your gale force wind,
And blow me away with meaning.
Please,
Open your eyes and see
I am standing right here with you,
And I don't want to leave,
I need you to want me, too.
Open your ears and feel me say,
I love you.
2009-12-09
(the meaning of life)
Current mood: Poetic
What is the sum of life, but a memory?
A life to live, yes, and driven by a purpose.
But purpose may also be a memory,
Often motivated by the fickle heart,
Led hither and yon by the waning moon.
Where then, does one gain direction?
Is it fate, or perhaps providence?
Perhaps, but only arguably so;
I say it is vanity, simple vanity
That inflates in our memory
The image we greedily hold
Of what we were, are, and will become.
What depth has wisdom, beyond one experience?
As a tower that crumbles in decay
Under the pressure of weather and time,
No principle stands to the basilisk's gaze
Of the self-made agnostic cynic.
So we each build our soul a castle,
And choose to set a picture window
Framing the fairest of aspects to spy.
Within our high parapet we feel wise.
What is opinion but an expression
of the vanity of subjective self?
In folly we decide what is right
By our own observance and subjective thought,
In folly we decide what is not,
By exclusion of that which is distasteful.
There is no intellect in clever admission
Nor wisdom by prejudicial omission;
We worship that which appears beautiful
And in vanity assume it reflects our face,
And in vanity disdain all others
Whose beauty we do not comprehend.
Who has freedom yet refuses to choose?
The devote zealot is vanity,
The agnostic cynic is vanity,
The free unfettered mind is vanity,
A rational opposition to insanity is vanity,
All logical conclusion is vanity,
All theological posture is vanity,
All unitarian thought is vanity,
All righteousness is vanity,
All piety is vanity,
Science is vanity,
Eternity is vanity,
Choice is vanity,
Freedom is vanity,
All that is of man is but vanity,
Life is vanity.
A life to live, yes, and driven by a purpose.
But purpose may also be a memory,
Often motivated by the fickle heart,
Led hither and yon by the waning moon.
Where then, does one gain direction?
Is it fate, or perhaps providence?
Perhaps, but only arguably so;
I say it is vanity, simple vanity
That inflates in our memory
The image we greedily hold
Of what we were, are, and will become.
What depth has wisdom, beyond one experience?
As a tower that crumbles in decay
Under the pressure of weather and time,
No principle stands to the basilisk's gaze
Of the self-made agnostic cynic.
So we each build our soul a castle,
And choose to set a picture window
Framing the fairest of aspects to spy.
Within our high parapet we feel wise.
What is opinion but an expression
of the vanity of subjective self?
In folly we decide what is right
By our own observance and subjective thought,
In folly we decide what is not,
By exclusion of that which is distasteful.
There is no intellect in clever admission
Nor wisdom by prejudicial omission;
We worship that which appears beautiful
And in vanity assume it reflects our face,
And in vanity disdain all others
Whose beauty we do not comprehend.
Who has freedom yet refuses to choose?
The devote zealot is vanity,
The agnostic cynic is vanity,
The free unfettered mind is vanity,
A rational opposition to insanity is vanity,
All logical conclusion is vanity,
All theological posture is vanity,
All unitarian thought is vanity,
All righteousness is vanity,
All piety is vanity,
Science is vanity,
Eternity is vanity,
Choice is vanity,
Freedom is vanity,
All that is of man is but vanity,
Life is vanity.
2009-10-27
A matrix-like theme for Pidgin using GTK+ / GTK 2.0
Current mood: Geeky
My GTK 2.0 theme for Pidgin is still under review on freshmeat, so I have posted it here for downloading as well.
Windows zip: GTK2-TheMatrix.zip
gzip tarball: GTK2-TheMatrix.tar.gz
Unzip the contents into a new "TheMatrix" subfolder in your GTK themes path. On windows, this is C:\Program Files\Common Files\GTK\2.0\share\themes\
Next, if you are using the stock GTK+ that is included with the Pidgin installer, you will need to run the GTK themes selector. In the Windows Start menu: Start > All Programs > GTK+ > Theme Selector. Then select "TheMatrix" under either the current user or globally. (If you chose globally, make sure to also select it or '[always follow global settings]' under current user.)
If you are currently running Pidgin, close and reopen the application to apply the new theme.
In Pidgin go to the main menu Tools > Preferences, and the "Conversations" tab, make sure that under Font "Use font from theme" is checked.
Also, under Tools > Plugins you may want to at least initially disable the "Conversation Colors" and "Pidgin GTK+ Theme Control" plugins, as these can override the GTK settings for font, color and other settings for specific text elements within Pidgin.
If you are willing to play around with the plugins you can add some nice affects that go above and beyond the stock GTK skin, for example in the "Conversation Colors" plugin I set the "Sent Messages" text color to a slightly darker shade of green, such as #009600, so that in your convo log you can easily see a contrast between your sent and received messages.
I also highly recommend that in the "Conversation Colors" plugin you check the options "Ignore incoming format", "Apply in IMs", and "Apply in Chats" to taste, or you will be at the mercy of your friend's color settings in their IM client (hot pink text or font size 20, anyone?). If you don't want to override any of the GTK colors you can leave the "customize" options unchecked.
Windows zip: GTK2-TheMatrix.zip
gzip tarball: GTK2-TheMatrix.tar.gz
Unzip the contents into a new "TheMatrix" subfolder in your GTK themes path. On windows, this is C:\Program Files\Common Files\GTK\2.0\share\themes\
Next, if you are using the stock GTK+ that is included with the Pidgin installer, you will need to run the GTK themes selector. In the Windows Start menu: Start > All Programs > GTK+ > Theme Selector. Then select "TheMatrix" under either the current user or globally. (If you chose globally, make sure to also select it or '[always follow global settings]' under current user.)
If you are currently running Pidgin, close and reopen the application to apply the new theme.
In Pidgin go to the main menu Tools > Preferences, and the "Conversations" tab, make sure that under Font "Use font from theme" is checked.
Also, under Tools > Plugins you may want to at least initially disable the "Conversation Colors" and "Pidgin GTK+ Theme Control" plugins, as these can override the GTK settings for font, color and other settings for specific text elements within Pidgin.
If you are willing to play around with the plugins you can add some nice affects that go above and beyond the stock GTK skin, for example in the "Conversation Colors" plugin I set the "Sent Messages" text color to a slightly darker shade of green, such as #009600, so that in your convo log you can easily see a contrast between your sent and received messages.
I also highly recommend that in the "Conversation Colors" plugin you check the options "Ignore incoming format", "Apply in IMs", and "Apply in Chats" to taste, or you will be at the mercy of your friend's color settings in their IM client (hot pink text or font size 20, anyone?). If you don't want to override any of the GTK colors you can leave the "customize" options unchecked.
2009-10-20
(day dreamer)
Current mood: Poetic
I knew that things might
change someday, but never thought
it would end this way.
2009-09-30
Worst movies I hate to love
Current mood: (none)
There are certain inside jokes that are simply inexplicable unless you were there to share the moment. There are moments of shared pain that draw friends closer together. And some movies aren't meant to be loved, but you love them anyway. Stop judging me! *grin*
The Transporter
This movie got terrible reviews, but Jason Statham's propensity for granite-faced action stunts was cast perfectly into this sometimes wacky, occasionally sexy thriller.
Zoolander
Pop-culture references, high-fashion spoofs and bulimia jokes: Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson make this movie plain dumb stupid, and somehow a lot of fun.
The Replacements
Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman star in this yarn about a football team that is forced to recruit misfits to finish out the season in the NFL. The acting is atrocious, which somehow redeems this hilarious farce.
The Core
Aaron Eckhart is lame, Hillary Swank makes you want to gag, but for some reason you keep watching this trainwreck of a sci-fi thriller through each of the improbable, ridiculous and sometimes hilarious plot twists.
Stealth
Josh Lucas acting is subpar, Jessica Biel is useless and stereotypical eye-candy, but Jamie Foxx and a laughable plot add just enough (unintentional) humor to keep you hemming and hawing 'til the end of this awful excuse for a film.
Anaconda
Jenifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. This movie was painful! and you loved every minute of it.
Hobgoblins
An instant do-it-yourself-MST3K, thanks to this trashy horror B-classic.
Manos: The Hands of Fate
Beware, the dullness of this movie may be toxic if you dare to skip the MST3K rendition for the original. To call it a cult classic is an insult to cult classics. It truly doesn't get much worse than this.
The Transporter
This movie got terrible reviews, but Jason Statham's propensity for granite-faced action stunts was cast perfectly into this sometimes wacky, occasionally sexy thriller.
Zoolander
Pop-culture references, high-fashion spoofs and bulimia jokes: Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson make this movie plain dumb stupid, and somehow a lot of fun.
The Replacements
Keanu Reeves and Gene Hackman star in this yarn about a football team that is forced to recruit misfits to finish out the season in the NFL. The acting is atrocious, which somehow redeems this hilarious farce.
The Core
Aaron Eckhart is lame, Hillary Swank makes you want to gag, but for some reason you keep watching this trainwreck of a sci-fi thriller through each of the improbable, ridiculous and sometimes hilarious plot twists.
Stealth
Josh Lucas acting is subpar, Jessica Biel is useless and stereotypical eye-candy, but Jamie Foxx and a laughable plot add just enough (unintentional) humor to keep you hemming and hawing 'til the end of this awful excuse for a film.
Anaconda
Jenifer Lopez and Owen Wilson. This movie was painful! and you loved every minute of it.
Hobgoblins
An instant do-it-yourself-MST3K, thanks to this trashy horror B-classic.
Manos: The Hands of Fate
Beware, the dullness of this movie may be toxic if you dare to skip the MST3K rendition for the original. To call it a cult classic is an insult to cult classics. It truly doesn't get much worse than this.
