Ed's Mobile Blog

Mophie Juice Pack plus for the iPhone 4s

2011-12-30T18:46:00.001-08:00

This is a review of the Mophie juice pack plus for the iPhone 4S. The juice back plus includes a 2000 mA rechargeable battery inside the case. Like the juice pack for the old 3GS it is a two-piece hard case that slides over the housing of the iPhone. The exterior finish of the case includes a sort of soft touch plastic finish that is less slippery then the old 3GS case. In addition the iPhone 4S case feel substantially more solid than the older model. It's still is no match for the durability of an OtterBox, but it is more likely to protect your machine than the old style Juice Pack would. Like the previous model it relies on a mini USB cable for charging. There is a switch on the side to turn the battery on and off and a tester switch on the bottom that activates a row of LEDs to show the relative charge level. My initial impression is quite favorable so far. The fit and finish appear excellent and the cutouts on the case back for the camera seem to align quite well. The case should prove quite useful in those situations where a lot of power is going to be needed. Like the older model it does add considerable bulk to the iPhone. I consider that an acceptable trade-off for the utility that this case provides.

Working my way up the best seller's list

2011-12-06T17:23:00.001-08:00

My first royalty check. A whopping $10.57. Got to start somewhere I suppose. I think I'll have it framed :)

The book, (ahem...shameless plug) is called Marking Time, A Guide to Russian Watch Collecting. Available from Amazon.com for the kindle.

See

Well, so much for that

2011-12-05T16:23:00.001-08:00

My iPhone 4s will be arriving in a few days. The Vivid worked beautifully for two days and then began randomly resetting itself. I poked around some droid forums and this is apparently a known issue. No good. I'll miss the big screen and the LTE connection but if it doesn't work reliably, none of it matters.

HTC Vivid! My first Droid phone

2011-12-03T16:00:00.001-08:00

Just switched from an iPhone 3gs to the Vivid. This thing is very impressive. There is a learning curve but it isn't terribly hard. I've only had it for a few hours and I've already figured out how to blog with it.

First off, the screen is amazing. My middle aged eyes really appreciate the size. It is a lot larger than the iPhone screen. Then there is LTE. Wow! The Vivid is roughly 3 to 5 times faster online than my 3gs. My son has a 4s and it beats that too. AT&T just turned on LTE here in NYC and it really works quickly.

I was pleased to see that Otterbox has a Defender case for the Vivid. Like its iPhone counterpart, it really provides superior protection to the phone.

The droid app store has a large variety of applications to choose from. Most of my old iPhone favorites are all there.

To sum up, I am very impressed with this smartphone so far. Looks like a lot of useful fun to be had.

Nutshell iPhone/Otterbox case review

2011-10-28T11:28:00.001-07:00

If you are like me, you want expensive stuff to really last. For my iPhone, that meant getting an Otterbox Defender. I always get a slightly nervous feeling when I see someone handling an iPhone without a case. It really doesn't take much of a mistake to destroy one. If you aren't familiar with Otterbox by the way, their cases are about the toughest thing going. Well worth a look.

The Otterbox Defender is a great case. You iPhone will survive a lot of situations that would demolish it otherwise. It does have one serious problem though. The included belt clip is junk. There is just no other way to say it. It is a hard plastic clip contraption that holds your phone by friction more than anything else. If you rely on the stock belt clip, your phone will fall out sooner or later. (The Defender will save it from damage mind you but but not from loss if you don't notice that it's gone) That's where Nutshell comes in. You know those thick leather holsters the police carry their guns in, think of that, but for a phone. Nutshell uses strong, high quality, leather and a very rigid reinforced steel belt clip. The interior of the case is felt lined and the Velcro tab secures the top quite effectively. Additionally, the interior side of the case is extra stiffened so that if your iPhone is inserted screen side in, there is almost no way to break your screen.

The example you see above has been worn daily for two years. It's picked up a few scuffs here and there but is otherwise functioning perfectly. In addition to snugly holding an iPhone/Otterbox combo, this case also works perfectly with the Mophie Juice Pack Air, at least on my 3GS.

The total price for this sort of protection will run you about $100. That sounds expensive to be sure but it really beats the expense and hassle of replacing a destroyed iPhone by a wide margin when you think about it. After two years of daily use in all sorts of conditions (NYC Subway every day, cycling all over the place, numerous vacations, and lots of roughhouse play with my kids) my iPhone doesn't have a scratch. That's the best recommendation I can make.

Nice day for a ride

2011-10-22T15:02:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth and I had a wonderful day in the park. The weather was perfect and we took our bicycles for a nice long ride. She asked me if she could try riding my three speed folding bike. I thought about that for a bit and figured, hey, let's try lowering the seat and see if she could do it. It worked out perfectly. In fact she liked riding a three speed so much that she asked me if she could have it. I figured, you know, I've got my big Worksman cruiser now so I don't really ride the little folder too much...why not.

Elizabeth is very excited about her new bike. Unlike her little kids bike, this one has handbrakes and three speeds. It's a real road bike and she's coming to realize that she can go much faster on this that she could on her old bike.

I'm very happy that she likes to go bicycling. So many kids nowadays just sit around all day doing nothing. It's nice to see her get out and about getting some exercise and enjoying a nice day in the park.

It ain't looking good...

2011-10-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

When the history of our time is written twenty or so years from now, I believe that it will be recorded as a depression, not merely a recession with a weak recovery. My reasoning for this relates to one of the harshest aspects of the Great Depression of the thirties. Back then, the amount of money in circulation plummetted to such a great degree that prices had to collapse in response. A loaf of bread and a quart of milk could be had for fifteen cents, at the worst of those times. What struck me today about this sort of deflation is why its opposite, rapidly rising prices-inflation, is not occurring. The major world powers, not just the U.S. mind you, have been rapidly increasing the world's money supply through a variety of financial "bail-out" methods. It should follow then that a large increase in the money supply should cause high or hyper inflation. And yet, it isn't happening. Yes prices have risen a bit here and there, perhaps 5% or so. That doesn't make any sense to me unless something else is operating to drive prices down. And this is why I'm thinking Depression. It seems likely to me that the reason that a huge increase in the money supply hasn't triggered run-away inflation is that it is being balanced by a large increase in deflationary pressure at the same time. The two forces are largely operating in a state of equilibrium. This is not a recipe for long term recovery, much less stability. We can't keep injecting money into the economy forever.

To pull out of this, we need to do something that quickly re-establishes confidence in the economy as a whole. I would suggest two simultaneous approaches.

First of all, instead of berating businesses, work with them. Pull the leadership of the Fortune 500 into a closed door meeting and pointedly tell them that you want them to hire 5 million people. Then throw it back to them by asking what they want from the government to make that happen. Some might want tax abatements, others exemption from regulation, others trade protection, whatever. Make the deal and make it happen and hold them to the hiring goal.

Secondly, stop the bleeding. Create a new system to address the consequences of layoffs. Empower the Department of Labor in the following fashion. Any employer contemplating an economic based layoff (disciplinary layoffs are, obviously, something entirely different) should have to confidentially inform the Department before any action is taken. Upon receipt of this notice, the Labor Department would have the power to pay the employer the value of the would-be laid off employees unemployment benefits. In return, the employer would only be able to reduce the employment hours of the affected workers to the break-even point. The layoff thus does not happen. To be sure, the employee is adversely effected. But these employees will still remain employees who have to get out of bed in the morning, put gas in their cars or get on the subway. They will not have to tell their families that they are unemployed. They will not have to tell a prospective new employer that they became unemployed. And, the cost to the treasury should be the same as it would have been had traditional unemployment benefits been paid out.

This isn't a perfect proposal. There is potential for abuses by many different parties. That being said, abuses can be prevented and dealt with by appropriate enforcement mechanisms. I increasingly believe that unless we change course economically though, our future is very bleak indeed.

The iPhone 4S

2011-10-05T06:21:00.001-07:00

I have been reading the reviews of the iPhone 4s. So far the overall opinion seems to be that the device is a disappointment. I have to admit that I agree with this assessment. With the exception of the new camera the 4 S does not seem to offer anything new. Even the new voice input system is largely available through Dragon. I am actually dictating these comments into my original iPhone 3 GS. This system, while not perfect, does work reasonably well. The question thus becomes, is the $199 price tag of the new iPhone 4 S, worth it for a camera upgrade. Bear in mind that you will have to pay $100 for a new apple care plan and $30 for a new activation fee along with the cost of a new case should you be upgrading from an iPhone three model. With tax the bill could easily come to nearly $400. That may seem reasonable to some people but frankly I think that's very expensive for what you are getting. Accordingly I think I will pass.

Just watched the iPhone 4s intro

2011-10-04T12:30:00.001-07:00

Honestly underwhelmed. It is an iPhone 4 with a better camera and some sort of voice input system for twice the 4's price. I'm thinking pass on this one.

Our new ride

2011-09-24T06:13:00.001-07:00

So far, so good :)

Our last day with the old Dodge Caravan...Sniff...

2011-09-21T08:27:00.001-07:00

I know it seems weird to be sad to see my old van go the way of the trade-in but I'm really going to miss it. We bought Violet (why my daughter chose this name, I don't know) new back in 2002. In the nine years we had this van, it was a truly faithful servant. We went everywhere in Violet. It wasn't until the summer of 2011 that mechanical problems appeared. We made a few attempts to put things right but it soon became apparent that the job was not going to be worth the effort. So, off to the car dealer for a new Jeep Patriot.

I'm going to miss Violet. Her passing marks the end of a phase in my life where a minivan full of kids was normal. Saying goodbye to this van also meant admitting to myself that I'm not a young dad anymore. Yet another little part of getting older, I guess.

My daughter, in particular, was sad to see the van go. We bought Violet when she was three weeks old. This was the only car my daughter ever really knew and saying goodbye was a weepy experience for her. I don't blame her a bit. We had a lot of good times with this van.

So, Violet, I hope you find a nice second home for yourself. We have enjoyed the ride :)

Uzi Ballistic Long Term

2011-09-14T20:19:00.001-07:00

The Uzi Ballistic has been my designated beater for about two years now. I have really made no effort to baby this watch. It's been dropped, banged around, immersed and generally worn with complete disregard for niceties very regularly. Except for a small scuff on one of the lugs, it looks very good and runs perfectly. I recently learned from one of my readers that the Ballistic has a ten year lithium ion battery in it. Given how tough it seems to be, that bodes well for the next eight or so years.

Sung to the tune of America the beautiful

2011-08-18T13:14:00.000-07:00

Don't know why but I just remembered this. From the Gridiron Club back in the eighties.

Oh beautiful for Subaru
for Datsun now Nissan
for Mitsubishi, Izuzu
shipped here on all Nippon

for Honda trucks and ATVs
and Colts made overseas
a quota for Toyota from
our friends the Japanese

Oh beautiful for VHS
and Sony's VCR
for Fuji and Minolta and
Nikon and Vivitar

American Express will pay
for every Bonsai tree
and Yamaha and Konica
from sea to shining sea

America, America,
God shed his grace on these
Thy tiny cars and sushi bars
And all things Japanese

Getting the Worksman into the shape I want it :)

2011-07-31T14:55:00.001-07:00

I've been having a blast riding around Queens on the Worksman. I removed the fenders since I don't plan to ride in the rain. Cuts the weight down a bit too. I replaced the handlebar stem with a longer one. Now I ride sitting more upright. Very comfortable and the position gives a great view of the road.

I rode down into Ozone Park to check out the Worksman factory (big, creepy looking old factory. Think Hogwarts but for bicycles) I rode Myrtle avenue into Brooklyn, circled through Rego Park, Glendale, Forest Hills, Richmond Hill and back to Kew Gardens. Great fun and good exercise too.

Riding a bike through a big city is an amazing experience. You get to see all the details that you otherwise miss in cars and trains. I've lived in Queens NY pretty much all of my life (I'm 46 btw) and I'm still discovering all sorts of stuff I never saw before on these bike rides. I can't wait to head out again.

Worksman M2600

2011-07-15T20:40:00.001-07:00

I got a new ride! Well, new to me at least. The bike you see above is a Worksman "Urban Assault" model. Substantially the same model is sold today as the M2600. My brother, Dave, generously gifted this one to me. I've been cruising around Queens and Forest Park for the last few days now and having lots of fun doing it. I have a little folding bike that works well enough but its tiny wheels really aren't suited to going anywhere beyond a mile or two and then at low speed. The Worksman has no such limitations.

A little about Worksman. They are currently one of the last bicycle manufacturers located in the US. The company was founded by Morris Worksman in 1896. Unlike many of their peers, they chose to remain in the States. Their products include both bicycles and tricycles which are known for their very strong build. It is common to hear stories of Worksman bikes being used in commercial settings and on factory shop floors for decades at a time. Their whole operation is right here in Queens, NY, not far from where I live. In fact, my brother actually bought this bike at the factory. He talked with the head of the place, Wayne Sosin, and met the folks who built his ride. Pretty cool I think.

The M2600 is no lightweight as bicycles go. I weighed the bike and it came in at 48 lbs. Not staggeringly heavy but hardly svelte either. The frame uses a reinforcement system of raised flanges at the pipe ends (I believe it is called a lugged frame). The frame itself has two upper bars for increased strength and rigidity. The wheels are especially wide for a bicycle and the spokes are also thicker than normal. This particular model uses a three speed gear set. Seven speed and single speed models are also available. The bike also employs full fenders to protect both rider and bike from rain and debris.

When I first got the bike from my brother, I wasn't sure what to expect. Compared to my little folder, the Worksman was a monster. Worse still, the first time I rode it, I didn't realize that the tires were badly under inflated. The bike rolled like a lead bar. After quickly realizing my error, inflating the tires properly, cleaning the bike up and properly oiling the chain with new chain lube, things were very different. The three speed is geared on the low side which makes climbing hills relatively easy. It find no problem to maintain a pretty good clip in second and third gears. This bike uses an old fashioned coaster brake in the rear, the kind you have to reverse the pedals to engage. It works very well but it took a little practice for me to get used to it. Up front, it has a hand operated drum brake. It is engaged like a conventional caliper brake with a handle bar mounted lever but it has no caliper. The brake is built into the front hub. Again, unusual, but it does work nicely.

Now that I have this bike running the way I like, I am very pleased. It is still big and heavy but it feels as solid as a rock. The ride is very smooth and comfortable thanks to those wide wheels and a generously sized seat. Additionally, despite it's weight, the Worksman is surprisingly nimble through the turns and hills of Forest Park where I do most of my riding. It's no racing bike by any stretch but it holds it's own very nicely. I kind of think of this bike as the two wheeled equivalent of a P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft (yes, I'm a history buff too). Big and heavy and yet a very acceptable performer. I feel pretty confident that it will provide me with years of good service.

Testing Bloggerplus for the iPad

2011-06-30T19:35:00.001-07:00

Finally found what looks like a pretty good blogger app for the iPad. One of the iPad's few limitations is that it's browser cannot correctly display the dashboard controls on a blogger site. From a practical standpoint, you can't post to your blogger site from the iPad. Enter Bloggerplus. For $1.99, it promises to do what the browser can't do.

The first limitation I've encountered is that it cannot edit old blog posts that you did with the blogger dashboard. You apparently can edit posts the you made with Bloggerplus though. It's a start.

The app will apparently work with photos, links, YouTube videos, and Facebook. I haven't tried all of it's features yet, but so far, so good.

A new verb!

2011-06-07T04:39:00.000-07:00

To Weiner (verb): to destroy one's own reputation through a sex scandal without actually succeeding in having sex.

Ex. "He had a shot at becoming mayor but he weinered. "

Aligata Messenger Bag

2011-05-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Many years ago I had a leather briefcase that I bought from the old Conran's Habitat on Astor Place in NYC. It was made of a thick harness leather, very much like the leather on the Aligata iPad case in the review below. That bag lasted me about 20 years. All I could remember about it was that it was made in Poland, the same country where Aligata's iPad cases are made. On a whim, I decided to contact Tom Skalczyński, the owner of Aligata and ask him if he was aware of any sellers of the bag I was looking for. It seemed ridiculous to think that he would be able to help but I figured, why not try. Well, sometimes you've really just got to ask a question if you want a good answer. This was one of those times.

Not only did Tom know of the kind of bag I wanted, he was in the process of finishing a series of prototypes of it. He offered to sell me one of these and I readily agreed.

The bag arrived in a very light tan finish, almost exactly like the original bag I had 20 years earlier. I treated it with oil to waterproof it and darken the leather a bit. The results are just perfect to my eye. The Aligata Messenger Bag is a flap-over design with two zippered internal pockets. The interior is one large storage area that will handle quite a bit of cargo. The bag ships with a removable shoulder strap and includes a lockable catch located under the flap-over. There is a key fob on the inside of the bag as well. The handle is a sturdy piece of reinforced leather that is heavilly stitched to the top of the bag.

I'm reasonably sure that this briefcase will last me for many years to come. Everything about it says quality and durability. In a world where disposable junk is the rule, Aligata's workmanship is a welcome exception.

The Aligata iPad case review

2011-03-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

First off, yes I finally succumbed and bought an iPad. At $349 for a factory refurbished model directly from the Apple Store, I couldn't resist. It is the iPad 1, not the latest model, but it works beautifully. Very impressive little computer.

This, of course, led to the "What case should I get?" question. After shopping around and seeing a remarkable array of different cases, I stumbled on to Aligata.com. Their cases are a tad more expensive than the run of the mill stuff out there at $79.90 but I had a coupon that cut that down a bit. Still, that's a lot less than Vaja & Piel Frama charge for a good leather case. As for the quality of the Aligata case itself, it is marvelous. If you have ever owned or handled a Hartmann bag, that is the kind of leather quality this case has. As the images above hopefully show, this is a very thick and strong saddle leather that should age nicely as time passes. It also completely covers the iPad and the corners are reassuringly strong looking. I am far less worried about damage to my new machine now that it is in this case. (As a personal bonus to me, it is a dead ringer to the portfolio that I used back in my college days, minus the coffee cup stains at least so far. Brings back some very nice memories). Aligata includes a sort of rubber/silicone wafer with their case. Its purpose is to provide some grip to keep the iPad from slipping out of the case. It seems to work well. If, like me, you plan to keep your iPad for a long time and want it well protected, treat yourself to an Aligata case.

Aligata cases are made in Poland and are available in several colors. Definately worth a look. Available from Aligata.com

ps-Aligata's customer service seems to be very good. After I placed my order, I received several e-mails advising me about the status of the order and the shipping date. Rare and appreciated.

Another year in the books...

2010-12-23T11:44:00.000-08:00

And I'm really hoping for a better 2011. Don't get me wrong, life has been treating me pretty well. Health is fine, family is good, still gainfully employed. In that respect, I have much to be thankful for and I am thankful.

I would really appreciate it though if the atmosphere of uncertainty would lift already. There is just too much fear and doubt going around for anyone, myself included, to really feel good. That is what I'd like to see improve.

Sent from my iPhone

Why do website registration systems suck so much

2010-12-17T09:48:00.001-08:00

Ever notice what a pain it is to register on a website. Enter your name, username, password, age and some barely readable code. Invariably, at least half the time the registration bombs out for some not readily apparent reason. I particularly despise sites that won't let me pick my own password, instead insisting on some other or longer choice. I try to pick passwords I can remember. If I can't remember how to log in, the site becomes useless. Is it just me or does this whole system really stink?

Sent from my iPhone

The Fed is crazy. And so is Sears.

2010-12-14T07:04:00.000-08:00

I'm finding it hard to believe that the government is really trying to get people to spend more with these efforts to bail out the banks. The premise goes like this, the Federal Reserve buys its own debt back from banks. Banks thus have money to lend. People borrow money, spend it and stimulate the economy. Here's the problem, the low rates that banks enjoy are not being passed on to consumers in a meaningful way. Case in point, credit cards. I just paid off a Sears card whose rate had been raised to 25.4%. And that's apparently not all that unusual these days. Who the hell is going to use credit at rates like that. This card is being locked away in my home safe from now on. Is the Federal Reserve really stupid enough to believe that people will willing take on debt at such usurious interest rates. Nuts!

And Sears, by the way, you have lost me as a customer. I will take my business to Home Depot or PC Richard or Walmart from now on. Screwing your customers is no way to do business.

Aigo N2615 iPhone Battery Case Review

2010-08-21T16:23:00.000-07:00

The Aigo N2615 is a case/battery combo along the lines of the Mophie Juice Pack Air. The Aigo does have some significant differences though. First off, the case is quite large. As big as the Mophie is, the Aigo is fully a third thicker. Additionally, the Aigo, unlike the Mophie, has a rubber/silicon wrap built into the the case. The result is a thick, solid feeling and easily grip-able battery case for the iPhone 3g/3gs. The other significant feature about this case is the power it contains. With its 1500mAH battery, the iPhone's run time is more than doubled, perhaps even tripled. If you travel often and are not able to plug in when needed, this capability could be of significant use. The case has some other features of note. It uses a mini-usb cable, not a micro one like the Mophie. The mini usb feels much more robust to me incidentally. Additionally, the case uses one piece construction, essentially a silicon case with a rigid battery built into the back. The back of the case is smooth, hard plastic btw. The edge of the case around the screen is raised by about 1mm. It isn't much but it does prevent the screen from resting on a flat surface when placed screen side down. Lastly, the case comes with a sort of prop rod for watching videos that is attached by suction. I haven't used this so I cannot comment as to how it works yet.

To use the case, charge it via the mini usb port and slide the switch to on as needed. The charging system seems to work like the Mophie. When charging, both case and phone charge at once. Pushing the battery logo/switch on the back causes a blue LED to flash around the switch showing the charge level.

All in all, the Aigo seems to be pretty well thought out. The mute control is a bit tricky to reach but the other controls are accessible through button extensions built into the rubber of the case. You don't need to fiddle with it to change the volume or power it on. The controls work properly. I haven't noticed much of a difference in speaker volume or call quality. If it decreases my signal strength btw, I haven't noticed it either.

I recommend this case if run time is a problem for you. It is pretty bulky for casual use but, especially if you are on the road a lot, it could be a terrific thing to have.

Otter box Defender follow up review

2010-08-06T10:36:00.000-07:00

I got this case for my iPhone 3G a year and a half ago and I am continuing to use it with my 3GS today.

Put simply, if you want terrific protection for your iPhone, you want the Defender. I have dropped my phone on to a concrete surface from about five feet with no damage to either case or phone. I am reasonably certain that my phone would not have survived that fall otherwise.

The Defender does add considerable bulk to the sveldt iPhone. It still fits into my pants pocket though so it doesn't bother me much. The case is not water proof but the ports are protected by silicon flaps that should keep rain out at least.

If you really want your iPhone to last (and in this crappy economy, who wants to spend $ replacing a broken phone if you don't have too) or you have small children who like to play with your iPhone from time to time, you want this case. Nuff said.

Mophie Juice Pack Air follow up review

2010-08-05T17:59:00.000-07:00

I've been using the Juice Pack since February 2010. It has not been my exclusive case during this time. I alternate between it an the Otter Box Defender. Still, I have put in enough time with the Mophie to draw some conclusions.

First off, I haven't experienced one of the more common complaints that I hear about the Juice Pack-signal degradation. I NYC, where I use the case most, I have not observed any change in signal strength with the Juice Pack on. For the record, this has been my observation with both the old and new Apple signal meter display.

I have also not picked up any scratches on my iPhone's back from the Mophie either. I could see how this could happen though. I you were to put the Juice Pack on while there was some sand or grit on either the phone or the case, a scratch would be easy to get. Wipe off the phone and case before putting them together and all should be well I think.

The exterior of the Juice Pack , at least the black one, is slippery. This issue bothered me enough that I bought some egrips to make the case more secure in hand. This has made a big difference in preventing drops in my opinion.

As for battery life, the Mophie has been performing flawlessly for me. It does roughly double my run time. Much appreciated indeed.

I was very concerned about the sturdiness of the Mophie. The top part, in particular, seems flimsy to me. Still, the case and phone did survive a fall from about 4 feet to a carpeted surface a few weeks back. I was genuinely afraid that my iPhone was a goner but there was no damage to either the case or the phone. Mind you, the Mophie is nowhere nearly as tough as an Otter Box but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be in this category either.

I can understand why some folks are reporting issues with the cable connector breaking. You do have to be careful when plugging the Mophie in. The area around the connector really could stand a redesign in my opinion. It is pretty tight right now and too much pressure at the wrong angle would probably break the cable connector.

In summary, the Juice Pack Air is a good compromise between size and power. It does make the phone somewhat thicker but the increased battery life is worth it in my opinion.

Fix everything

2010-07-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

I read a post in the blog Car Lust a few months back about a guy with an old Mercury that needed work. Ordinarily, he would have just replaced the car given it's age. But with the economy on the rocks, he decided to bite the bullet and fix the old car.

I'm sitting in the waiting room of my car shop now having just made the same decision. My 2002 Caravan isn't worth much these days. We were seriously considering replacing it later this year or next year. But, you know, it still runs very well and it didn't need too much in the way of work to make it right. So, I wound up saying the same thing to my mechanic that the guy in Car Lust said-fix everything. I'm not denying that I made this decision because I still don't feel too good about the economy. It's not the first such decision I've had to make in the last few years. I think it's the right move though.

Mophie Juice Pack Air-Egrips combo

2010-02-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

I recently started using the Mophie Juice Pack Air case for my iPhone. This is a combination case and extra battery that effectively doubles the run time of the iPhone. It is a good solution for those of us who regularly run out of power on the road. Egrips makes a number of different styles of grip but I chose the universal fit model since the Juice Pack changes the dimensions of the iPhone a bit.

Some folks have reported that the Mophie can reduce the strength of the signal recieved by the iPhone. I haven't experienced that issue thankfully. My one complaint with the Juice Pack though is that it is very slippery. My solution is to put Egrips on the outside of the case. Egrips are rubber grips that you peel and apply. The result is a much less slippery feel to the Mophie Juice Pack. I feel far less likely to drop the iPhone/Juice Pack combo now. Recommended.

Mobile Legal Research

2010-01-27T06:35:00.001-08:00

I have been using smartphones for the better part of five years now. Throughout this period, I have attempted to conduct mobile legal research on these devices with varying degrees of success. Apple's iPhone, however, has now made it possible for me to utilize a variety of different legal research resources with enough in the way of effectiveness to be worth while. It is possible that some of what I have written below will also apply to other mobile platforms like Palm's WebOS or Google's Android devices. I do not have much personal experience with those platforms though and for that reason I am limiting my discussion here to Apple's iPhone.

For most folks who have used the iPhone, the standout feature of the device is its web browser. While many smartphones have had the ability to browse the web, the Apple Safari browser on the iPhone is in it's own league in many respects. As a law librarian, it didn't take me long to realize the potential of this device for mobile legal research. While my results have been mixed to date, I do believe that the iPhone can fulfill the role of an "in a pinch" method of getting useful research done in a hurry.

First off, there are two ways to get to the law on the iPhone, the browser and the dedicated apps from the iPhone store. As the apps are more limited in scope than what the browser can accomplish, I'll start with them.

Lexis-The Lexis app is free at Apple's iTunes store. It's function is currently quite limited however. As of now, this app can pull cases and Shepardize them. That's really about it. Given the wealth of information available at Lexis.com, this is a bit of a disappointment. Note, while the app is free, you do need a password to access the service.

Blacks Law Dictionary-Available in full text at the app store. This could be a potentially useful app but at $49, I'd just assume pass on it. Most iPhone apps are little more than a dollar or two and fifty dollars for this app seems a bit steep to me. I have read that it is a pretty well done edition of the dictionary and I suppose that if you really need it available everywhere the price would make sense. For $49 though, I'd buy a copy of the print edition for my home and let that be that.

Drug laws-Clearly tailored to providing some level of warning to potential drug users, the Drug Laws app has the criminal drug statutes from all states along with the sentences that each offnese carries. Available for $.99

Law Stack-A popular free app that includes The US Constitution, the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, Federal Rules of Evidence and Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. The app can also conect to a vendor run database that contains additional sources of law.

Legal News Reader-A legal news app that gathers articles of interest to the legal community from a variety of news sites. $.99

Fastcase-This company is a sort of budget competitor to Lexis and Westlaw that has proved very popular with small law offices. The included content is pretty light on secondary source material (treatises and the like) but its case law, statutes and administrative code coverage is quite good.

It should be noted that there are over one hundred thousand apps for the iPhone. I obviously did not go through them all to find the best legal apps. If I've missed a favorite, I apologize in advance.

Legal resources available through the browser.

Lexis-The mobile Safari browser is good enough to access Lexis.com. Login is pretty much what you would expect on the desktop. The screen is obviously a bit small for extended use but if one resizes the screen by pinching, it is usable for quick document retrievals. I find that emailing the material to myself from the lexis "Email a document" feature to be the best way to get what I find off the iPhone and over to where I need it to go. Unlike the Lexis app, there is no limit to what can be done via this method.

Westlaw-Thompson West has a dedicated mobile site for smartphone browsers that works pretty well on the iPhone. It is not the full Westlaw site but it does contain a number of popular databases. As a mobile site, it responds very quickly when accessed. Like Lexis, a password is needed for use.

The whole industry of mobile communication has undergone a revolution over the past decade or so. It is thus not surprising that legal research is now becoming a part of that process. I believe that the applications and websites that I have discussed above represent the leading edge of a wave of similar developments. From my standpoint, the ability to tend to the needs of the lawyers who I support from almost anywhere has been a great convenience to me. Time that I would have otherwise spend on my home PC or in the office can now be devoted to friends and family without worrying that I'll miss something important. That piece of mind alone is valuable.

Otter Box Defender for Iphone

2009-12-04T11:01:00.000-08:00

This case is, without a doubt, the most rugged I have seen for the Iphone. It is not waterproof but, aside from that, there isn't much it can't take. My Iphone fell into the street a few weeks back. Thanks to this case, no damage at all. Even the case was unharmed. The Otterbox consists of a hard plastic exoskeleton (that includes a built-in transparent screen protector) and a soft rubber cover that goes over the hard case part. Ports and switches are covered by rubber tabs that force fit into slots. If you are worried about your Iphone getting damaged, this is your case.

The one disappointment with the Defender is the belt clip. The case ships with a hard plastic belt clip that holds the phone/case combo on your belt. It is not very secure in my opinion. My solution was a leather Nutshell case that is specifically marketed for Iphone users of the Otterbox. This carrying case solution has been my choice for a few months now. It isn't cheap but it really works very well.

Beyza Iphone Case Review

2009-08-05T09:41:00.001-07:00

Well, it took some doing but I finally found a nice case for my Iphone that looks good, protects the screen and is easy to carry. The Beyza case you see pictured above is made in Turkey and was purchased directly from their website . (As an aside, their shipping is unbelievable. I ordered this case on a Monday. UPS said I would get it by Friday. It arrived on Wednesday, 2 days early and in time for me to take on vacation. Good stuff!)

On to the case itself. This model uses a flap-over design to protect the Iphone's screen when not in use. The flap is held in place by a pair of magnets that seem reasonably strong. The inside of the flap includes a card pocket for business cards and the like. If you don't want the screen of your Iphone covered for some reason, the flap can be removed easily. It is held on to the back of the case by a pair of snap fittings. The Iphone is secured in the case by a leather strap that snaps to the back of the case. There are cut-outs in the leather to allow easy access to the phone controls with the exception of the home screen button. That one (at the bottom of the screen) is covered with leather but has a small pad behind it to allow for easy use of the control.

Like any leather case, the Beyza adds to the thickness of the Iphone a bit. I personally think that's an acceptable trade-off given the likelihood that sooner or later the phone is going to get knocked or dropped. Additionally, the leather makes the somewhat slippery Iphone a lot easier to grip thus reducing the possibility of dropping it in the first place.

As for carrying the phone/case, this model comes with a belt clip that secures to a metal stud. When connected to the clip, the phone feels pretty secure on my belt. Incidentally, the stud need not be screwed on to the back of the case if you don't plan to use the belt clip. Beyza includes a tool to attach and remove the stud as well as a second screw should it be needed. My only suggrestion to Beyza would be to include a second belt clip with the case. In my experience with both Vaja and Piel Frama cases (which use a similar design) these clips usually need replacing within 6-8 months of regular use.

If you are familiar with the leather quality of Vaja and Piel Frama then you will not be disappointed with the Beyza. Both the build quality and the leather appear first rate. I opted for the Vintage Brown model but there are a number of other color/finish choices. At $59 + $10/shipping, this case is a good deal in my opinion and looks like it should last quite well. Beyza warrants its cases for 1 year which certainly doesn't hurt to know.

Incipio Gel Shell Case

2009-07-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

If you are one of the many folks who are looking for a nice case for your Iphone, I recommend the Incipio Gel Shell. This model is a two piece case consisting of a silicon gel case (that ships in both white and black) and a hard sort of exoskeleton that snaps over the gel case. The result is both very attractive and quite protective. Doesn't add much bulk either. The silicon could be a bit tackier to the touch for my taste (easier to grip that way) but it suffices as is quite nicely. I particularly appreciate the fact that the gel case covers the edges of the screen a centimeter or so from the top and bottom of the face. That hides those bubbles that always seem to appear in most screen protectors.

I'm very impressed...

2009-07-16T13:47:00.000-07:00

It's not hard to understand all the hype over Apple's Iphone for me now. This phone is really a small handheld Macintosh computer. There really isn't much it can't do as computing goes. Definitely recommended.

iPhone!

2009-07-11T19:50:00.000-07:00

This is the coolest thing since sliced bread!

Well, I'm back to uing my old Treo again...

2009-07-10T17:01:00.000-07:00

Its still pretty flakey but the music at least plays reliably. The search continues. Ah well...

Well, so much for that...

2009-07-10T08:44:00.000-07:00

The 5800 is on its way back to Nokia. The updated ROM apparently corrupted the music player software. While I'm still in the return period, I'm bailing out. Shame too. Nokia has some terrific designs but their quality control just isn't there in my opinion. Back to the old clunker for the time being.

Just updated the firmware on the 5800.

2009-07-08T17:59:00.000-07:00

Very easy to do. Phone seems snappier with the new ROM. I have also discovered some of the themes that are available. It is possible to change the appearance of the interface quite dramatically.

Just tried the radio out on the 5800.

2009-07-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

Nothing super fancy but it does work quite well. The digital station scan picked up the local FM stations quickly and the reception was good. Useful.

Another Nokia 5800 update

2009-07-03T16:04:00.001-07:00

Youtube videos work really well over a wifi connection in the Nokia browser. I haven't figured out how to watch hulu on it yet though.

I also tried out the gps for the first time today. It took about 30 seconds to find the satellite but it did work. Pretty impressive for a phone at this price.

Some folks have speculated that the 5800 is an iphone killer/competitor. I wouldn't go that far but at half the iphone's price (unlocked with no contract) it is a very good deal.

I should also mention another thing I appreciate about the 5800. The call quality is excellent. It sounds much more clear than any of my Treos ever did.

More on the 5800-pictured in a Nokia 5800 case

2009-07-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

I can play Doom on this phone. Good stuff.

With that thought in mind, there does seem to be a fair amount of third party software available for s60 ver. 5. I don't think I will miss Windows Mobile all that much.

Incidentally, the case seen above is a Nokia branded model for this phone. Oddly, the NYC Nokia store didn't have it but RCS on Madison did. The case generally fits well except that the flap does not lie flat when closed by the velcro. The leather is quite soft however and I expect that it will eventually flatten out.

This case has the advantage of protecting the 5800's touch screen, a concern of mine. When used, the flap can be folded over the back to get it out of the way. The one issue I have with this case is the lack of a belt clip. There is a cut-out to allow both the stock lanyard and a beefier model included with the case to be used though. That being said, the 5800 is so slim and light that, even in the case, it is still pocketable. I'm pretty happy with this combo overall.

The Nokia 5800

2009-06-30T08:18:00.001-07:00

So far, I'm very impressed. The full size on screen keyboard is very Apple-like and the wifi is working beautifully. Additionally, it works with my T-Mobile pre-paid sim card giving me a terrific little smartphone for $100/yr (the 1000 minutes that T-Mobile gives you for that price don't expire for a year. That's actually enough for me).

The phone itself ran me $219 on Dell.com after a $50 rebate. That struck me as a good deal for a new, contract-free unlocked smartphone.

The screen on the 5800 deserves special praise. It is very bright and clear and it's resolution is excellent.

Dell's online store is terrific

2009-06-29T20:58:00.000-07:00

If you are in the market for tech, head over to Dell. In addition to their own stuff, they also sell other brands. Their online chat system, in particular, impressed me. The rep knew what he was doing and actually expedited the processing of my order (a new Nokia) and got it too me quicker.

UPDATE!! I will never buy another Nokia phone again!

2009-06-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

The rant you see below is still valid for that awful n80. However, after I calmed down a bit I realized that I still needed a new phone as my beloved Treo 750 was dying. I decided to give Nokia one more chance. I wound up with a new 5800 and this one is a winner. The wifi seems perfect (I am posting this fron the phone) and I really like the onscreen keyboard and music player. This looks very promising indeed.

I recently acquired a Nokia N80 smartphone. On paper it appeared to be an impressive phone. Music player, 3.2mp camera, wifi Internet access, it really seemed perfect.

Well, I just got my refund for it. Let me put this clearly, Nokia’s wifi sucks! If you plan to use a Nokia phone for free Internet access at parks and libraries, forget it. Nokia N and E series phones, including unfortunately my N80, are all plagued to varying degrees by a bug in the wifi software that produces an error called “no gateway” when trying to connect to a wifi hotspot. What makes it so irritating is that the problem is apparently completely random in how it manifests itself. The phone would effortlessly connect with some hotspots and would stubbornly refuse all efforts with others. It was easily the worst wifi device I ever encountered. Nokia, for reasons they alone know, has done nothing about this flaw despite having known about it for years now.

If you are thinking of buying a Nokia phone, do yourself a favor and first Google your phone’s model (N95, E71, etc) and the phrase “no gateway”. If you see results, be very very careful or you will wind up making an expensive mistake. Consider yourself warned.

File this one under random thoughts...

2009-06-20T20:03:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching one of those pseudo documentaries about UFOs. You know the kind, filled with all sorts of serious sounding interviews with pilots and military types who swear that we are being visited by alien spaceships. Invariably, there is never any hard proof to back any of it up and the show ends on a mysterious note that suggests that the viewers should decide what to believe on their own. It occurred to me afterward, why do we care if we are being visited. Why don't we do the visiting.

Now anyone who knows a thing about our current space flight technology is already aware that we do not have a way to send a manned mission to another planet as of yet, much less to another star. The fact is, we really don't have more than the most crude of ways to send anything to another star. That being said though, the most crude of ways would be good enough for what I have in mind. So far, we have sent four unmanned space probes outside of our solar system. The Pioneer 10 and 11 probes and the Voyager 1 and 2 probes are on their way to somewhere else. (Yes, technically they are still sort of in our solar system but they have passed Pluto and they will keep on going). I don't know where somewhere else is and I am pretty sure that it will take millions of years to get there but, if you take the long view, they will eventually get somewhere. Now suppose we take this concept and update it a bit.

We now know of the existence of many extra-solar planets, worlds that orbit stars other than our own. How about building a series of simple, very tough probes and target those worlds. Sure, it will take millions of years for those probes to reach their destination. But, in a universe that is 15 or so billion years old, a few million years is not that long if you look at the big picture. Unlike the earlier Voyager and Pioneer probes, these little space ships would be calculated to actually arrive at alien worlds. I would assume that if we do the launch and guidance math right, some of them really would get there.

Think about it, if there is intelligent life on one of those planets (admittedly a very small possibility) we would be answering for them the very question that our UFO shows are asking, to wit-Are we alone? If we really want to take the long view, a very long view, we could equip these probes with encapsulated containers of the chemical building blocks of life. I know that it sounds fanciful but such a space ship could, possibly, introduce life to a lifeless world.

When you think about it, this idea is one of the few I have encountered that really allows for the possibility of mankind leaving some lasting mark on the universe at large. Money wise, the space probes I am envisioning would be little more than well aimed inert containers. As such, the price really shouldn't be astronomical, relatively speaking. I think it is worth considering.

Trope Lesson 1

2009-03-28T17:35:00.000-07:00

The video of the lesson refers to the two attached pages. Trope marks appear above and below certain letters in the blessing. They are described in the "Names of Accents" attachment. Sorry about the crummy image quality. I'm still working on getting a decent phone video.

The view from the 7 train

2009-03-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

The site of the former Shea Stadium

Citi Field (aka Bailout Park or TARP Stadium)

This used to be my chair

2009-01-21T20:51:00.001-08:00

Not anymore. Sniff...

Treadmill is working well

2008-12-22T21:05:00.001-08:00

I can now do three miles at a time at a speed of 3.5 mph. Burns a lot
more calories than the bike according to the onboard computer. I'm not
quite completely recovered yet but I'm getting there.

Next step

2008-11-28T13:26:00.001-08:00

I'm finally feeling well enough to start using this. Progress :)

A grey day

2008-11-17T14:19:00.001-08:00

Took my daughter to see Madagascar 2 yesterday. Boy did it look grim
out. Good flic though.

Its a jungle out there

2008-11-14T13:48:00.001-08:00

Looked at this plant and thought of Monk. Don't know why. One of my favorite shows though :)

Life goes on

2008-11-05T09:30:00.001-08:00

I have a feeling a lot of reporters are going to be laid off now that
the election is finally over.

Foliage is coming in nicely.

2008-11-02T13:29:00.001-08:00

We are having a chilly fall this year for a change. I'm thinking of
getting one of those chimenias to warm up the backyard a bit. Be nice
to sit outside on the weekends with a fire.

Sigh

2008-10-30T17:12:00.001-07:00

Today on the subway I was sitting on a train surrounded by people with
iphones. I felt like PC guy from the Mac commercials.

Doubts

2008-10-28T07:04:00.001-07:00

I'm having trouble getting past Obama's association with radicals. Those odd friendships of his raise questions about the man's ethics. William Ayers, Mr. Obama's friend from the old Weather Underground, tried to murder hundreds of people. That is not a matter of opinion nor is it subject to debate. He did what he did. Mr. Ayers is also completely unrepentant about his actions. If anything, he seems to feel that he should have tried to kill more people. Similarly, Mr. Obama spent 20 years listening to Jeremiah Wright's rantings about race, bigotry and anti-Semitism. Until it became a public issue in his campaign, Barack Obama apparently had no problem with this. I cannot accept Mr. Obama's willingness to associate with men like Ayers and Wright. This is not the behavior of a well meaning moderate. No truely moderate person would tolerate radicals such as these. That Mr. Obama was so willing to do so casts serious doubt on his character.

If no one ever reads this, that's fine. I just needed to say it out loud, so to speak.

The Chrysler Building

2008-10-27T11:08:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe that the car company it was named for is just about
done. Sad times.

arrgh!

2008-10-27T08:59:00.001-07:00

will this ever end

Nice place to have coffee

2008-10-24T14:13:00.001-07:00

The Stacks

2008-10-23T10:19:00.001-07:00

Fooling around with the settings on my camera phone. Just noticed it
can do sepia tone.

Grand Central

2008-10-16T20:52:00.001-07:00

One of the real wonders of NYC

Still spinning away

2008-10-15T20:15:00.001-07:00

To the tune of about 15 miles a day. I do about 40-50 situps a day too
lately. It's working, that's for sure. I'm about 27 lbs lighter these
days and much stronger too. I should have done this years ago. Better
late than never I suppose.

Wonder when they'll change the sign

2008-10-15T16:51:00.001-07:00

Wonderful times we live in :(

A decorated Succah :)

2008-10-12T16:19:00.001-07:00

test post

2008-10-08T12:02:00.001-07:00

Trying a new way to post a pic.

It's hard to be a Mets fan. Again.

2008-09-29T07:52:00.000-07:00

In what must certainly be a major league record, the Mets succeeded in losing their last game of the season, their last chance to make the post season and the last game to be played before their stadium is demolished. In one afternoon. The game, the season and the stadium. Only the Mets could pull that off.

2008-09-27T08:51:00.001-07:00

Taking my daughter to the dentist today. 4 fillings to be done. Ugh :(

At the UN Iran protest

2008-09-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

A few thousand people turned out to protest against the president of Iran's appearance at the UN. Iran, as is pretty well known now, is working to develop nuclear weapons and has repeatedly threatened Israel.

The remains of Hurricane Hanna arrive in NYC

2008-09-06T13:33:00.001-07:00

Lots of wind and rain but not so bad.

It's working :)

2008-09-06T08:51:00.001-07:00

Started out at 212 lbs. Now down to 188 after 3 months. I do 40 situps every morning, a minimum of 15 miles on the bike and no snacking. I highly recommend a recumbent exercise bike for anyone looking to get into shape. Mine is an inexpensive model from Lifegear. The beauty of this design is that you sit in a reclining seat while pedaling. Put it in front of your TV and ride through your favorite shows. You'll be amazed at how far you go without getting bored. If you have a smartphone or pda, surfing the web while riding is fun too. I am actually writing this on my Treo in the middle of a ten mile run.

The Lifegear bike I am using is affordable and very quiet. I believe that it uses magnets near the wheel to create resistance so there is no rubbing noise like other bikes. The bike also has a digital display that records distance traveled, calories burned, speed and elapsed time. Good stuff.

Storm coming

2008-08-15T17:34:00.001-07:00

The sky opened up in a huge thunderstorm moments after I took this shot.

Very tired

2008-08-07T20:34:00.001-07:00

I suppose I should be happy that my firm is busy given how crappy the
economy is. The downside of course is that I'm running around like a
nut putting out fires. What are you going do...

This diet/working out stuff works

2008-08-06T21:21:00.000-07:00

Been at it for almost 2 months now. 10 miles a day on the exercise
bike and no more snacking. I've gone from 212lbs to 192. Feel a lot
better to.

Great game today

2008-07-27T16:14:00.001-07:00

Elizabeth enjoying her cotton candy.

Mets beat the Cards 9-1. Santana pitched a complete game and the bats
were alive. Probably my last game in the Shea Picnic Area. Wright's homer landed about 4 feet in front of us :)

Test post

2008-07-23T18:37:00.001-07:00

I've never tried sending a picture through a wifi connection.

Dropped my cell phone plan

2008-07-23T18:02:00.001-07:00

In another concession to this crappy economy, I dunped my $65/month
cellphone plan and switched my phone to a pre-paid plan via T-Mobile.
Now, for $100, I get 1000 minutes that don't expire for a year. Should
save at least $500/yr considering how little I use the thing.

2008-07-12T11:34:00.001-07:00

Off to Shea! The last season for the old place is almost half over now. Mets are on a seven game winning streak. Good stuff

The perfect activiity for lean times

2008-07-10T20:08:00.001-07:00

Is to get lean myself. I've decided to get back in shape. Diet &
exercise are the order of the day. I've been at it for a month now and
I've dropped twelve pounds already. I have an exercise bike parked in
front of my TV and I've been using it nightly. I'm down to 193lbs and
plan to get to 185. Here's hoping.

Yup. That's a rabbit.

2008-07-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

Name's Dusty as in dust bunny. She is my wife's class rabbit. Dusty will be spending the summer with us before returning to work at the school in the fall.

This is starting to bite deep.

2008-07-05T08:02:00.001-07:00

Just shelled out $4.39/gallon. Between that and at least $125/week on groceries, it's getting hard to get through a weekend on less than $200. For the life of me, I feel like I'm buying a new TV every 2 weeks. Just getting the basics never seemed this expensive. Anyone who says inflation is low is living in a fantasy. Prices are rising alarmingly.

My wife and I make what most folks would consider a pretty good living. Even so, This economy of ours is worrying me now. No, I'm not in danger of losing my home or job (God willing) but I am starting to look at some of the things in my life and ask what can I live without. Cable TV, Internet access, cellphones, vacations-that's all on the table now. Not the best set of choices to be faced with but, of course, it could be much worse. I have a bad feeling it will be too.

Somebody is lazy today :)

2008-06-29T08:00:00.001-07:00

Seussical-as performed by my kids' school

2008-06-05T15:14:00.000-07:00

Jordan as Jojo and Elizabeth as Monica Maks (a hoo). Good stuff.
--
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Israel Day Parade

2008-06-01T18:32:00.000-07:00

Pretty good turnout from the look of it.
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60 games to go

2008-05-27T16:05:00.000-07:00

Before Shea is history and Citi Field opens. Hope the win tonight :)
--
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Be it ever so humble :)

2008-05-25T16:37:00.000-07:00

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Memorial day 08 bbq :)

2008-05-25T15:42:00.000-07:00

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Dog day morning

2008-05-24T05:55:00.000-07:00

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Looks delicious

2008-05-17T15:58:00.000-07:00

Geese parked outside of the harbor club
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The view from the Glen Island Harbor Club

2008-05-17T15:57:00.000-07:00

Attending a wedding here. Pretty place. There is an old cannon on one of
the islands in the harbor. Located in Westchester County in the town of
New Rochelle. Bring Money :)
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Capital Grille

2008-05-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

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Lilacs

2008-05-03T10:22:00.000-07:00

Are looking quite good this year
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Just watched Schoolhouse Rock with my kids

2008-05-03T05:28:00.001-07:00

That may be the best thing to come out of the seventies. Amazing how
fresh it still is. The part about our national debt, in particular, is
still right on even after 30 years.
--
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More garden blogging

2008-04-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

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Everything is worth a sniff

2008-04-27T10:32:00.000-07:00

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Gratuitous wrist shot.

2008-04-27T10:17:00.000-07:00

Steinhart Militare. Really a pretty good watch.

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Buddy

2008-04-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

Is liking the warmer weather too
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10 years

2008-04-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

That's how long we've lived in the old place. It really is an old place
too. Built in 1915. Still going strong though :)
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Garden is looking good

2008-04-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Although I am not happy with the prices these days at the nursery.
Easily a 40% price jump :(
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Jord

2008-04-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

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Nothing like a 15-1 win to cap off the weekend :)

Let the games begin

2008-04-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

First game of little league
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Nice thing to see in front of my house

2008-04-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

It seems some nut threw a firebomb off the roof of a building across the
street. No word yet on injuries. Terrific
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Ahhh...bbq season begins

2008-03-23T15:04:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm............:)
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