Snibbles

Widget Locker

2010-12-04T18:19:03Z

One of the small things I find annoying about Android OS is the short time-to-sleep for the lock screen. ]]>

I have "Owner contact info" on that screen, should my Droid ever go walkabout, but anyone trying to read that info will have to read Very Quickly.

A web search indicates that, while many people would like to extend the sleep time for the lock screen, it doesn't seem to be possible (at this time). But I found a workaround.

Widget Locker sits in front of the Lock Screen, with its own "desktop" screen, a few "standard" widgets (e.g. volume control, backlight control), the notification bar, and any additional widgets you want to add (that fit). It's very configurable, and one of the configuration options is time-to-sleep.

So now, to see my current battery status (or the weather forecast), I light up the screen and take my time. If I want to do more, I unlock the device. If not, I press the sleep button and put it away.

Rain-X 2-in-1 "Weatherbeater" Cleaner

2010-10-30T03:26:36Z

I tried this on our car's windows and it Really Works. I'm impressed. Rain-X® Weatherbeater Glass Cleaner and Rain Repellent improves wet weather driving visibility and is easy to use! The Glass Cleaner applies water beading technology to enhance your driving visibility.

Just spray on and wipe away - no buffing required
Cleans automotive glass streak-free
Repels rain by causing water to bead up and roll away
Helps prevent and remove sleet, snow, ice, bugs, and road spray from sticking to glass

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Ginger Spread

2010-04-12T04:36:31Z

We picked up a jar of ginger spread at the store the other day. It's excellent, with just the perfect balance of ginger and sugar (and nothing else). Available online if you can't find it in your stores.

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Lint Catcher Balls

2010-04-11T21:41:19Z

Do you have cats or dogs? "Lint spiders" on your clothes? Lint Catcher balls remove fuzz and hair in the wash cycle. They really work.

Add one, several or many Lint Catcher balls to any laundry load. As Lint Catcher balls bounce around, fuzz and pet hair snags on the polyester microfiber tips. Clumps of fuzz and hair attach to the balls (and other clumps) instead of sticking to clothes. Fuzz clumps can easily be removed and thrown away. By trapping fur, Lint Catcher Balls may help prevent clogged washer drains too.

Sold in sets of 12. Balls are 1 3/8" diameter each. Price per dozen can range from $6 to $22 online and shipping costs vary, so shop around.

Click image for a larger view.]]>

Light-weight Folding Recliner

2010-04-11T04:33:17Z

We bought a new chair today, a Faulkner "Zero gravity" recliner. Padded fabric is attached to the frame with mini bungies for a comfy feel.]]>

Features:

Adjustable/removable headrest
Ergonomic contoured back
Easy to fold, easy to store
Light-weight steel-tube construction
Smooth reclining mechanism
Standard or XL sizes
Indoor or outdoor user

All-in-1 Calc

2010-01-11T02:28:06Z

The calculator that ships with Android OS is simple. It doesn't even have a % key (something I always look for). I "upgraded" to All-in-1 Calc.]]>

Powerful and easy to use scientific/programmer's calculator. Nice UI with large buttons, haptic feedback and digit grouping. All the usual scientific functions plus unit & currency converters, constants and hex/dec/bin/oct functions.

There's a "lite" version in which only the first set of buttons work, but all buttons are viewable so you know what you're missing (nice marketing trick there!) I upgraded to "Pro" (paid) within 2 minutes of downloading "Lite".

Puzzle Blox

2010-01-01T02:50:47Z

Another application that takes full advantage of my Android device's features. I especially like the haptic feedback when the blocks shift and land. There are real "blox" in there! Puzzle Blox takes the traditional match 3 game style to the next level. Inspired by classics like Tetris, Bubble Breaker and Bejeweled but with a different twist. Literally! Solve 100 levels in 3 different game modes by just tapping, twisting and rotating your phone.

Available in Android Market or see the website with screenshots and video. (Watch the video!).

Reviews at Android Tapp and Android Guys. There's also a fan page on Facebook.

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Tricorder

2010-01-01T02:39:46Z

I really love the Android apps that take advantage of Android device features. Tricorder uses the phone's sensors to detect gravity/angle, sounds, GPS position, and more. A geek toy for the trekkies -- turn your Android device into a working tricorder! Display the local grav and magnetic fields, geo information, and radio signals from your phone's real sensors. Solar data panel displays real sunspot info.

I particularly like the ACO mode: acoustic analysis; waveform, frequency and sound level analysis of the ambient sound.

Available in Android Market. Or see the Project page at code.google.com.

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Adium: Now with Twitter

2009-12-19T21:43:18Z

I use a Mac and Adium is my IM application of choice. Now Adium 1.4 (currently in Beta) offers Twitter support. It's excellent!]]> I get my Twitter feed in a convenient window, using the same app I keep running for Google Talk, AIM, and Y! IM. I can reply to, favorite, or jump to, any tweet from the Adium screen.

The message entry area counts down the characters from 140. If I go over, the area turns red, but does not force me to stop typing! That latter means I can finish the thought, then go back and edit to size.

A handy marker line appears in the scroll bar when new tweets come in, so I don't lose my position in the stream.

Options include how often to check my feed, whether to include the people I follow in my Contacts list, and whether and when to update my "global status" (the status message used for all IM clients.)

If you use a Mac and you use Twitter, try Adium 1.4.

Chimes Ginger Chews

2009-12-14T04:07:24Z

I found a bag of Chimes Orange Ginger Chews at the grocery store checkout stand today. I decided to try them. Yum!]]> Made with stone-ground ginger, real orange juice and orange flavor. They snap!

Also available in original, peppermint, peanut butter (I am not making this up) and mango. Available at retailers nationwide and online.

Chimes gives your mouth that shooting musical experience.

Crushed Tomatoes

2009-11-11T04:28:58Z

Looking for a tasty, easy tomato sauce? Try S&W Crushed Italian Recipe tomatoes with Oregano & Basil in Rich Puree. ]]>

This is a recent addition to our pantry. We're happy to have found it.

We've been using it in soup, as a quick sauce for rigatoni, and most recently for stuffed red bell peppers. It's versatile, has the right consistency straight from the can, and has a great flavor. (We've always thought plain tomato sauce "needed something" but were never sure what.)

Silent in the Grave

2009-11-01T21:25:28Z

I recently finished reading Silent in the Grave, the first novel by Deanna Raybourn featuring Lady Julia Grey and Nicholas Brisbane. How could I pass up a book that begins with these words:]]>

To say that I met Nicholas Brisbane over my husband’s dead body is not entirely accurate. Edward, it should be noted, was still twitching upon the floor.
I stared at him, not quite taking in the fact that he had just collapsed at my feet. He lay, curled like a question mark, his evening suit ink-black against the white marble of the floor. He was writhing, his fingers knotted.
I leaned as close to him as my corset would permit.
"Edward, we have guests. Do get up. If this is some sort of silly prank--"
"He is not jesting, my lady. He is convulsing."

The book has people I want to know better, a fast-moving plot that kept me guessing along with Lady Julia, plenty of mystery and intrigue... and a Tower raven. The Eleventh Chapter was a special treat. :-)

There are currently three books in the series. I look forward to reading the next installment.

Still Life

2009-11-01T21:20:40Z

Still Life, by Louise Penny, is an award-winning first novel featuring Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. There are currently 5 books in the series.]]> Who would kill a harmless old woman whom everyone liked? It must have been a tragic hunting accident. But as Inspector Gamache investigates, we learn that not all is gentle in the small village of Three Pines.

This is a captivating mystery set in a pleasant rural village south of Montréal. The people are well-drawn and I liked most of them (with the exception of a few whom no one else much likes either.)

I especially liked the setting. While I'm reasonably familiar with mid-21st century New York City and Regency England, I haven't spent much time in Québec (either in- or outside of fiction) and the new locale was interesting and different. I look forward to getting to know Inspector Gamache better.

Ghirardelli Vanilla Dream

2009-10-27T03:03:35Z

Some white chocolate is just sweet nothing. That's what a lot of people think when they hear "white chocolate". It's not chocolate, they say. It's just cocoa butter and sugar. But...]]>

Some is actually quite yummy, smooth and sweet and satiny. Ghirardelli Sublime White Vanilla Dream is such a bar. It has a rich taste with more than a hint of vanilla. It's cream colored, not pure white, sprinkled with specks of vanilla bean.

I found mine at Target. Also available online.

Klean Kanteen Wide

2009-10-27T01:38:58Z

I like iced coffee in the morning. I make up my own mix at home (coffee concentrate, half&half, Sweet 'n Low), then carry that to work. I've started using a 12-oz Kleen Kanteen widemouth bottle.]]> The Kleen Kanteen is made from BPA-free, 18/8, food-grade stainless steel. The extra-wide mouth is large enough to drop in a couple of ice cubes, ensuring that my "coffee mix" is well chilled. The threaded cap feels secure and solid. I'm not worried that my bottle will leak. The all-stainless-steel construction is easy to keep clean.

Kleen Kanteen Wide is available in five sizes ranging from 12 to 64 ounces. I got the 12-oz size.