Sussex Sharks

So, today I finally had the courage of my convictions and bought a season ticket to see all one-day home games for Sussex Sharks. That means I can see all Twenty20 matches and all CB40 matches played at Hove, Arundel or Horsham. You beauty.

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

Fun with Samsung Galaxy Tab

So I installed Titanium Backup on my Tab. Apparently it's called Tibu or TiBu for short. I went into my Apps Drawer afterwards and noted that the stock apps were now displaying in Cyrillic - which was a pain.

I googled this to see if it was a common issue, but answer came there none. So, I went with the tried and tested method - I switched it off and switched it back on. This is also known as recycling. It sounds really basic, I know, and I was one of those who used to disparage the "so-called Helpdesk" for going through their script - Have you tried switching it off and on again? But I now realise that processes can be abended (abnormally ended or broken) or go missing, if systems aren't recycled every once in a while.

So I switched it back on and hotfooted it to my Apps Drawer, and guess what? My stock apps were in English. QED.

TTFN.

Why is Easter?

"Easter is all about chocolate" - my five-year old daughter.

She was looking at a booklet entitled Easter Feast, and pointed out that there was no chocolate included in the feast.

"but Daddy, Easter is all about chocolate" she said.
"Not, quite, Bella", I replied.

Funny girl.

Samsung Tab - Restored

Beautiful. 90% perspiration, 10% inspiration. The answers are all on the internet. I managed to find the info I needed and restored my phone. There is one niggle, and that is that Kies won't update my phone - but I can address that later.
My faith in technology, and perseverance, is restored. Hurrah!

Galaxy Tab - Borked II

So, another evening spent hunched over a laptop, frantically searching the web for any kind of clue...

I was thinking I might install another ROM, but realised that still wouldn't solve the GAPPS issue. So I have been mostly focused on getting a non-Market APK installer on to my laptop. Isn't that crazy? A day or two ago, if you'd asked me to describe what an APK installer does, I'd look at you blankly. But now I know the basics and that's just not enough.

I have, this morning, discovered a tutorial on the PDA Developers' website describing how to load up GAPPS through ADB (the Android Developer's Bridge, I think), which I am going to investigate further at lunchtime. I expect it will involve a number of downloads from dodgy sites, so will be blocked by our work firewall. So I'll be forced to leave it. But it will be on my mind all day...

Samsung Tab - Borked

Unfortunately, over the weekend, I decided to walk before I could run. I installed the Gingerbread (Android 2.3) keyboard, and enjoyed it so much I decided to upgrade my O/S to Gingerbread.
Some of you may be aware that Gingerbread is not officially available for the Gtab at the moment, so it is quite tricky and there are a number of steps involved in getting everything running correctly. Unfortunately, I didn't follow those steps involved (at least, not all of them), and so my Gtab is now running at below full capacity.

Basically I have managed to remove the Google APKs which make the device so handy...

I have lost the Android Marketplace app, and I can't sync my contacts or email with Google either. Also, those lovely bought apps (Pocket Informant, Taskos, Poweramp, etc.) are all unreachable.

I have spent a lot of time trying to right this, but with no success so far. Keep on keepin' on.

Girls in Shade

At Tilgate Park, Sunday

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

The Alternative Vote System

If this is the best the No2AV campaign can come up with:

http://playpolitical.typepad.com/all_sorts/2011/04/rik-mayall-stars-as-alan-bstard-in-first-no2av-referendum-broadcast-.html

Then I think it'll be a 'yes' from me.

The most persuasive argument I've heard so far is that fringe parties will accumulate votes. But I have yet to see figures showing an actual incident where that would have occurred under AV. If someone can show me such figures, I'll reconsider.
My view is that the more we can express a view at the polls, the better.
If there are marginal seats under AV, it'll make the politicians work harder with the public. I know they work hard any way, but they'll have to play up their accountability to the electorate.

TTFN.

Conversation with a Four-year Old

Me: Is it bedtime yet?
4-yr Old: No. Why, don't you have your watch on?
Me: No, I don't.
4-yr Old: Then go and look at your watch. That's what I would do.

Lent 2011

This year I've given up booze. Surprisingly. And, so far, it's gone okay. Better than January, any way. My last drink was on March 9th, two and a half weeks ago. I've still got 19 days to go until April 15th, the end of Lent, but I reckon I'll make it.
It's surprising how tired I get in the evenings without a drink. Most nights I'm ready to hit the hay by 21:30, and then I'm awake by 06:00, raring to go. If I went back to my old ways, I would miss the mornings and how good I feel.
I also think I've lost weight, although I wouldn't expect to have done so, the amount of crap I've eaten. I think I've been stockpiling the calories because I know I'm not going to get them via wine. Oh well.
TTFN.

India Triumphant

Pleased to see India beat Australia in the ICC World Cup. Pleased that we won't be facing them in the final...
I took a vicarious pleasure in flitting between Cricinfo (or www.espncricinfo.com, as it is now) and the Guardian OBO and watching the score rattle up and the RRR tumble. Of course, we'll never beat Sri Lanka, but a boy can dream...

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

Samsung Galaxy Tab IV

Well, a tricky couple of days with the Tab. The system was slow and I thought I'd discovered what 'bricking' a phone was like. But I managed to trace the problem to the SD card - I hope I can reformat it, because I don't want to waste sixteen pounds on a new one! Also, it means I can't load the Tab up with all the music and movies I want to load... But a friend at work has an SD card reader, so I'm hoping to use that and reformat the card so it is usable again. Will let you know.
TTFN.

Samsung Galaxy Tab III

Couldn't play media today. Had to reset the device. Not to worry. More people at work noticing and coming for a gender. Which is quite pleasing
TTFN.

Lent - a time of restraint

So, I've agreed with TW that she will give up chocolate for Lent, and I will give up wine. Lent starts today, since I got drunk last night. On a school night. Silly boy.
We'll see how that goes..
TTFN.

Samsung Galaxy Tab II

Wow, found out today that I can answer calls directly from the headphones Samsung supplied with the GT. Just by pressing the button on the wire. Means I don't have to fish 'The Beast' out of my pocket and press buttons. Trialled it at work, very impressed.

Small things for small minds. I still don't know the full functionality of the buttons on the headphones.

TTFN.

Samsung Galaxy Tab

First paid-for app downloaded? Pocket Informant of course!

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

Off to Ireland...

Strange to be heading off to Heathrow instead of heading home to Worthing...

- Posted using BlogPress on the move.

Wolverine 5.1

This is a bit of an obscure topic for a post, but I thought I'd mention this before launching into an even weirder fetish of mine.

 

So, to set the scene, Marvel, one of the biggest (if not the biggest) comic producer in the world, has been banging on about relaunching several of their titles, including Wolverine and Iron Man.  Iron Man is up to issue #500, and the relaunch will be numbered #500.1 - which is nice.

 

Wolverine, on the other hand, has reached issue #5, and the relaunch is numbered #5.1.

 

A question that springs to mind immediately is - why would you need a relaunch, after five issues?  But, it's a relaunch, it's a special issue, it's going to be good, right?

 

Erm.

 

Maybe the writers and illustrators missed the point?  This is supposed to be an issue to draw people in.  This is supposed to 'sell' Wolverine to the general masses, the people who've never bothered with the big fella before.  So, let's look at the story, then; it's a surprise birthday for Wolverine, but it turns out to be a real surprise because he doesn't know today is his birthday.  So he doesn't show.  Cue a lot of small-talk from a lot of superheroes - Luke Cage, The Thing, Deadpool, the list goes on.

 

One possible seed is the appearance of The Hand, but I've just collected all of Shadowland, I've had enough of The Hand.  In my view, there was nothing gripping about this issue.

 

Maybe the artwork was exemplary?  Maybe the issue was a visual delight?  Here are two examples of the art work in this pisspoor (in my opinion) publication:

 

 

So, the artwork not impressive either.  Oh well.  That's a shame.  I've got Wolverine (Road to Hell) Prelude, #1 - #5, and #5.1.  I was thinking I could bag 'em up and sell 'em off as one interesting lot.  So, thanks for nothing, Marvel.

 

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

Swimming

Ah, Sunday brings the weekly trip to the swimming pool in Worthing, the Aquarena.

Today was one of the better sessions; the youngest kept the general populace entertained by throwing herself with gusto into the pool at any and every opportunity.
Lulu went down the big slide, with me. It was the first time for both of us! Amy was trying to persuade me to take Hattie down, but I refused - she's too young.
And this afternoon has brought some entertaining Six Nations rugby, as I expected. Ireland vs. France was always going to be good. Let's see how it ends...

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site

Girls in a Shower Cap

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Old before their time...

Posted via email from Rob Thorley's Posterous Site