I just rooted a generic 7" Android tablet to run Android Market. Go, me. Tablet + keyboard case < $100. Not bad. :-)

Etsy, here I come

My order of silver-plated copper wire came in on Saturday, just after I used up the last of my previous supply making these:

Numbers on the Flyers roster tonight: 8, 28, 48, 68. But no 88.

Dear jogging jaywalker: If you keep blowing through red lights while cars are coming, you'll be the fittest person in the Emergency Room.

Jewelry polishing cloths, where have you been all my life? WOW do they make the metal shine, with next to no effort.

'Splain This To Me

I just got home from spending the day at the Art Museum with JFM, JR, and Betty (hereafter "Mrs. B."); we went to see the exhibit about Rembrandt and the Faces of Jesus.

The exhibit extends through several rooms in the museum. There are guards in the doorways between one room and the next. Most of the rooms had doorways at "12"00" and "6:00", allowing a person to go in and then view the images by either walking clockwise or counterclockwise around the room. In most cases, I was able to tell which was the logical "first" image to view in the room, because of numbers posted under the image that corresponded to the audio tour.

Then I got to the last room of the exhibit. My three friends had completed viewing everything, but I take my time absorbing detail so I was trailing well behind the rest of our group. I walked through the doorway into the last room, and found myself in a dilemma, as I wasn't actually sure which image to visit next -- the one on my left or the one on my right. So I turned and asked the guard which which picture I should walk to upon entering the room.

"Did you come in here from the Gift Shop?" (Which was located after the exhibit's exit.) "You know there's no re-entry into the exhibit once you leave..."

"No. I came in from that room." (Pointing at the room.) I wanted to know which was the first image to visit in this room."

"You know you're not allowed to re-enter the exhibit once you leave..."

"I *didn't* leave. I just got to this room. I wanted to know what order I should view the images in."

"Where did you come in from? The Gift Shop?"

"NO. I came in from THAT room," (pointing), "through THIS doorway," (pointing), "and now I'm in THIS room." (pointing). "I want to know if I should start viewing the pictures by going to THAT picture first" (pointing) "or THAT picture" (pointing).

"You can't come back in here after you exit."

"I DIDN'T exit. I came from THAT room."

By this time, JFM had come back to see where in tarnation I was, overheard the conversation, and said, "Start with that one over there."

Now why couldn't the guard do that? As far as I could tell, he was a native speaker of English. (Unless he has zero native languages to boast of, and after that conversation, I could very well believe it.)

And this guy has a full time job, but I have to work three different part-time jobs because I haven't been able to find full-time work. What's wrong with THIS picture?

My foray into Android

Well, I did it. I saw an EXTREMELY inexpensive Android tablet on sale at my favorite electronic store online, and I couldn't resist ordering it. You know you're in good shape when the tablet, the keyboard case, and the shipping total up to less than $100.

The only drawback is that the device is very generic and, even though it has a near-current version of Android (2.2), its half-baked version of the Android Market is less than ideal, and its native email and browser leave a lot to be desired.

So I am researching what I need to do to root the tablet. Slatedroid.com has got some methods to root the tablet and get it a more standard selection of Android apps, including the all-important App Market, plus better volume and faster performance. All for under $100. Then I'll be a well-pleased geek. :-)

Woo hoo, Fly-Boys! The Flyers start the preseason with a 4-0 win! I know, it's preseason. But a win and a shutout are always good things.

"Whisker Wars" is a reality show about beard competitions; the contestants look like ZZ Top. Is there NOTHING that's not Reality TV fodder?

The only negative to weekend starts to Flyers training camp is the place is a MOB SCENE. But I know it helps fans who are busy Mon thru Fri.

Taking part in the three-person team that's dismantling a funnel cake. Yum!

I'm really liking this baby goalie Houser! Flyers hang on to win 3-2!

Caps take advantage of one too many scrambles in front of our net. 3-2 Flyers.

It wouldn't be a Flyers home game without Dancing Shawny! Oh, and we resume play to a NICE stop by Houser!

Caps take advantage of one too many scrambles in front of our net. 3-2 Flyers.

DOOP! Hyka gives Flyers a 3-1 lead and another round of fisticuffs ensues. Our Hostetter vs. Their 71 who also got 2 for crosschecking.

Both teams change goalies with about 9.5 mins left in the second period.

Bout #2: Their Edmonsen vs. our Mathers. Edge: Mathers. During the ensuing break, Ian Laperriere was on Arenavison and got a Standing O.

We liked that DOOP so much, we scored again (Kessel) followed by a fight (Stevenson vs Elnyiuk). I'd score the bout as a draw.

DOOP DOOP DOOP! Brown from the Flyers fans on a shot attempt, connects on the retry and scores. Assist: Kessel.

Fans are now being directed to the upper level, as the lower bowl of the WFC is full.

Fans are starting to fill in the

PK looks excellent. Especially the 17 seconds when we were down 5 on 3. :facepalm: Not even preseason yet and the refs are calling everything.

Dang. The puck went off the post, off our goalie's back, and trickled in. Incidentally, WOW our goalie has a tiny blocker.

Flyers starters: 75 Phillips, 38 Lauridsen, 78 Kessel, 36 Rinaldo, 51 Ranford, 10 Schenn. Moment of silence for Yaroslavl & McCrimmon. Lauren Hart sings the anthem.

The Wells Fargo Center is offering free wifi again, as they did during last year's quotes. The lower bowl is at least half full, not bad for 4:45 on a workday. Surely some fans will arrive late.

Brad Phillips wl start in go for the rookie Flyers. Our other goalie is Michael Houser.

Orange and black faux dreadlock hats. Hmmm. I wonder if those fans handmade them or if they are an item available for sale?

Flyers rookie game: listen at Philadelphiaflyers.com . I am SOOOOOOO ready for this offseason to be O-V-E-R! Bring on the hockey!

Orange and black faux dreadlock hats. I wonder if those two fans made them, or if they're a new item for sale.

Pray for peace. Work for justice.

In Remembrance

We remember all the victims of September 11, 2001, both the ones who lost their lives and those who, though they did not die, suffered internally or externally as a result of that day.



CLICK HERE for my post, written on the fifth anniversary, of my experiences of that day. It's long.

RIP Brad McCrimmon and KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl

Dreadful news has come out of Russia today. The plane carrying the KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl has crashed, and aside from two survivors, one player and one crew member, everyone else on the plane is confirmed dead. That includes the team's coach, popular former Flyer Brad McCrimmon, part of the best defense pairing ever to don Orange and Black, and several other former NHL players.

Besides the pang of grief at McCrimmon's untimely passing -- he was only 53 -- I was also specifically saddened to see that one of the funniest people on my Twitter feed, player Pavol Demitra, was listed among the victims. RIP, sir, I always got a snicker from your tweets.

It's just a crying shame, no matter if you are an avid hockey fan or never heard of the sport. Of course, every accident with casualties is tragic, but in this case, there are additional layers of grief besides the losses to families and friends in ten countries. The victims were also a significant part of a larger community, all of which is reeling at their loss. Pro hockey in general, not to mention the Kontinental Hockey League, and every league for which these people played and worked in their histories, is hurting right now. And as a human being, as well as a hockey fan, I hurt along with them.

Thoughts and prayers to all the bereaved, be they families, friends, or fans. RIP to the many people who've left us far too soon.

Our Flyers tickets arrived today. The Winter Classic game is -NOT- part of the season ticket package. I'm not amused.

Best quote I've seen in a while: "We must save the Earth! It's our only source of chocolate!" :-)