Steve's blog

Ready for school!

2012-01-26T06:53:00.001-04:00

It's sports day at school

2012-01-21T08:20:00.001-04:00

Liam tries on a toy for size

2011-12-28T16:56:00.001-04:00

The Birthday Boy

2011-12-26T18:34:00.001-04:00

Liam's birthday

2011-12-20T18:57:00.001-04:00

New to this glasses thing

2011-12-09T09:42:00.001-04:00

At play

2011-11-27T04:10:00.001-04:00

Liam closes the deal

2011-11-25T08:25:00.001-04:00

Liam's first day at pre-school in uniform

2011-11-22T10:50:00.001-04:00

Liam and Koala take a breather

2011-11-21T12:26:00.001-04:00

Sunset smile

2011-11-18T20:52:00.001-04:00

First driving lesson (feet must be able to reach the pedals )

2011-11-14T07:04:00.001-04:00

2011-11-12T22:03:00.001-04:00

liam and his grandad

2011-10-18T07:06:00.001-03:00

Liam issues a stern warning to the garden ornaments

2011-10-13T09:18:00.001-03:00

liam & the helichopter

2011-10-10T08:56:00.001-03:00

liam enjoys the train ride

liam thinks about 'curry night'

2011-10-05T06:42:00.001-03:00

exploring Biddulph Grange Gardens

2011-10-01T04:16:00.001-03:00

relaxing

2011-09-24T13:08:00.001-03:00

boy and his dog, part IV

2011-09-11T21:21:00.001-03:00

Liam sports new headwear; Puppy looks on

2011-09-06T21:19:00.001-03:00

The Thoughtful Bobcat Driver

2011-09-05T08:23:00.001-03:00

Why they looking at me like that???

2011-08-28T20:33:00.001-03:00

Morning romp

2011-08-26T16:27:00.001-03:00

Enabling hibernation in Windows 7

2011-08-22T16:35:00.001-03:00

I love hibernating. Conjuring up images of bears, caves and snow, it just makes the experience of turning on your PC or laptop, well, instant.

But I couldn't work out why I couldn't set it up on a particular PC. I tired enabling the related setting in the BIOS. No luck. But then I stumbled on this article, and all was well. Seems there's an obscure setting inside Windows Power Settings called Hybrid Sleep. turn if off and you can hibernate to your hearts delight!

Dominica: where customer service comes first

2011-08-22T10:20:00.000-03:00

Today, I needed some pain killers. For a change I tried a chemist I don't usually frequent because it has all the air of a Soviet-era supermarket - long rows of half-empty shelves of pretty much the same thing. But strangely enough, it does specialise in cooking oil - massive quantities of it - and standing fans. Let's call it The Old (Bonnie Prince) Charlie Pharmacy.

As usual, there seems to be more assistants than customers. One comes up to me, and I begin to say that I'm looking for pain-killers, only to realise I'm right next to a shelf of them. A long row, with 4 shelves, all edged with 3 brands of paracetamol. "I'm actually looking for Aspirin," I say, and she directs me over to where prescriptions are fulfilled. The desk however is empty.

"Hello?" I ask, and shortly a woman comes out. "I'd like some Aspirin", I say, and she asks what strength? What do you have? Well what do you want, she replies? Hmm, how about 200mg?

"81ms" she says. I am taken aback. "That's rather a strange quantity". "Low dosage" she explains.

"How do you usually take it" she then asked. My mind spins - 'Standing up'? 'With a glass of water'? I decide to come at it from a different angle: "I have a stinking headache and just want some pain-killers. Can I buy $5 worth of your Aspirin?" She disappears for a couple of minutes.

And then, it was like a light going on in a kitchen at night - three woman suddenly appear from nowhere to deal with the order. Labels are printed and the order is placed on a shelf by the original woman, then another woman picks up the order from the shelf and processes the payment. I pay, and get my order.

But as I walk out, slightly dazed, I realise the bag I was given contains something other than my prized painkillers. A roll-on. I spin around and show the woman, fearing I've got someone else's prescription. She smiles and shows me that in addition to the roll-on, there is indeed a packet of 81ms Aspirin. "The roll-on's for you. A token," she says. A wave of relief washes over me.

And the roll-on? Blushing Pink scented. I had to laugh.

A boy and his dog, part 3

2011-08-21T20:32:00.001-03:00

Hiking the Freshwater lake

2011-08-13T22:09:00.001-03:00

2011-08-06T21:56:00.001-03:00

"The future's so bright..."

2011-08-02T21:02:00.001-03:00

2011-07-26T20:39:00.001-03:00

the new bike...

2011-07-21T07:52:00.001-03:00

http://m.lifehacker.com/5822167/how-do-i-make-the-most-of-google%2B

2011-07-18T22:42:00.001-03:00

making most of Google+

having more fun in the river

2011-07-17T19:43:00.001-03:00

And rain stopped play

2011-07-06T15:57:00.000-03:00

I gave a lift today to two Indian tourists, here for the historic test cricket match at Windsor Park Stadium. We talked of course about the weather. I cast my experienced eye at the sky and said that they should be OK for the rest of the day. Soon after dropping them off the heavens opened.

more of Liam's art

2011-06-21T20:49:00.002-03:00

"The artist seems to be shifting styles to a more minimalist view of the world. Previous work has been bursting with youthful joy-filled angst, but this latest work is possibly his most thought-provoking yet, hinting at a progression to his work that this critic can't wait to see!"

Watching the zipline

2011-06-21T16:17:00.001-03:00

in the river

2011-06-19T19:49:00.001-03:00

cool new look

2011-06-17T20:32:00.001-03:00

a boy & his dog,part 1

2011-06-14T19:17:00.001-03:00

2011-06-11T22:03:00.001-03:00

Liam 'doing' the national trail

2011-06-08T12:20:00.002-03:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.7

"Bye-bye bamboo!"

2011-05-31T16:21:00.002-03:00

On the National Trail...

Gooooooaaaaal!

2011-05-31T10:16:00.001-03:00

watching for whales

2011-05-22T19:35:00.001-03:00

whale watching

Liam's art attempt

2011-05-07T20:56:00.002-03:00

Done using the Kids Doodle Android app.

Liam, aged 2 years & 4 months

2011-05-03T12:03:00.002-03:00

foraging

2011-05-01T14:44:00.001-03:00

Touch-screen technology a boon for 2 years olds

2011-04-27T16:33:00.000-03:00

A recent survey has shown that touch-screen smartphone use among the 2-3 year old age group has surged.

bay front fire

2011-04-27T12:38:00.001-03:00

thoughtful

2011-04-23T15:40:00.001-03:00

Young Island, SVG

2011-04-08T11:03:00.001-03:00

action man

2011-04-03T19:41:00.001-03:00

2011-03-29T07:06:00.001-03:00

At Scott's Head

2011-03-21T10:21:00.001-03:00

Don't touch the poop!

2011-03-16T10:11:00.000-03:00

2011-03-15T20:10:00.001-03:00

Flashback: Liam, age 4 months

2011-03-10T13:05:00.000-04:00

Time for flashbacks already? No, I just found a series of photos from April 2009 that go well together in a little video.

Leaving Carnival

2011-03-09T13:43:00.000-04:00

Sharing, kind of

2011-02-22T21:26:00.001-04:00

2011-02-19T19:04:00.002-04:00

Easy rider

Self-portrait

2011-02-17T15:50:00.001-04:00

A-Z via wuble-woo

2011-02-14T10:33:00.000-04:00

Liam successfully negotiated a full run through the alphabet yesterday. His W ('wubble-woo') was particularly endearing. Video soon!

choo-choo!

2011-02-09T21:22:00.001-04:00

focused

2011-02-09T18:13:00.001-04:00

watering

2011-02-09T08:02:00.001-04:00

caught in the act

2011-02-06T21:46:00.001-04:00

Chinese Stores in Dominica

2011-02-02T12:30:00.002-04:00

Here's a Google Map I did recently of Chinese businesses in Roseau.

http://goo.gl/maps/WLQB

2011-02-02T07:49:00.001-04:00

Chasing waves

2011-01-31T14:13:00.001-04:00

water

2011-01-31T07:08:00.001-04:00

Sand!

2011-01-30T19:13:00.001-04:00

Untitled

2011-01-30T09:09:00.001-04:00

Just another rainy day in Dominica

2011-01-19T12:06:00.000-04:00

Here's this morning's Doppler image. Note the clear Caribbean skies. And the mass of rain just over Dominica. And that's what helps set us apart!

Liam spots another 'noconut

2011-01-13T18:51:00.001-04:00

More hiding

2011-01-08T09:06:00.001-04:00

Download now or watch on posterous

2010-12-27_14-55-47_697.mp4 (12646 KB)

Sunset

2011-01-07T17:23:00.001-04:00

Untitled

2011-01-07T15:49:00.001-04:00

2011-01-04T15:24:00.001-04:00

Liam gets hosed down

2011-01-03T11:20:00.002-04:00

A video from last summer.

Birthday boy

2010-12-26T19:03:00.001-04:00

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Presents to the left of him, presents to the right of him...

2010-12-25T14:50:00.001-04:00

Liam's head is spinning on Christmas morning .

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

evening walk

2010-12-20T17:41:00.002-04:00

in hiding

2010-12-18T14:10:00.001-04:00

New video of Liam

2010-12-18T09:44:00.002-04:00

In which Liam enthusiastically explores Segment 3 of Dominica's new Waitukubuli National Trail.

Waiting for the party to begin

2010-12-06T11:48:00.003-04:00

Waterlogged

2010-12-01T15:37:00.002-04:00

Gardens

2010-11-25T07:51:00.002-04:00

Cricket in The Gardens

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

Liam and the stones

2010-11-15T11:46:00.002-04:00

Or see http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0Whe2LjM_AAQMpnFSyGo3Q?feat=directlink

Sent from a Motorola phone

2010-11-15T09:51:00.001-04:00

Having fixed the derailment, Liam is well chuffed with himself

2010-11-07T11:05:00.001-04:00

Hello Android, goodbye Blackberry!

2010-11-05T17:57:00.003-03:00

Like leaving Facebook, many say that ditching one's BB is unthinkable, undo-able. At least changing phones isn't a Hotel California-type experience.

My move wasn't done consciously - I was interested in several BB models, but having been offered a deal on a Motorola Milestone (Android), and liking the reviews, I made the move. And I'm glad I did. While it's not the latest of it's kind (the Droid 2, and Android 2.2, have been out a while) it's a brilliant phone, for many reasons.

The Motorola Milestone runs the Linux-based Android operating system.

Pros
As you'd expect from a system owned by Google, it's tightly integrated with all Google products. (Hint: clear up your Google Contacts before using your phone for the first time!). Gmail and Google Calendar, obviously, but also Picasa photo albums, Google Maps, GTalk, YouTube, etc.

It also has it's Apps Market - around 70,000 applications to enhance your phone. And this is one of the exciting things about the phone, thousands for free apps. I was never enamoured of the Blackberry AppsWorlds. What's more, I can write my own now!

I love the 'massive' screen - at 3.7 inches and 854x480 pixel resolution, using the phone is a real pleasure.

While I do like having a slide-out keyboard, I've no complaints about the on-screen keyboard and rarely use the physical keyboard.

This is the first phone I've had with wi-fi, and combining this with apps that can tell when you're close and connect to a preferred wi-fi spot is a awesome ability. Not unique to the Android for sure, but powerful all the same.

Cons
I was surprised by a battery life considerably less than my old Blackberry. On the other hand, this is less a phone and more of a micro-netbook. So you could look at is as 2 days battery life for a netbook is pretty good. This is for sure the first phone that I would use to replace the laptop on non-business trips!

The 2.1 version of Android has a few issues with it's camera - a long delay between pressing the shutter and actually taking the photo is annoying, as is a 7-pixel wide streak down the edge of landscape photos. Otherwise, the camera (and camcorder) is fine, and the Vignette App (see later) is wonderful.

Tips
A good document for new users is PC World's Android guide. A simple overview article has a link to a value-for-money (US$12.00) 'Power Guide'.

There are several good apps listings/review sites; I'd recommend http://www.appbrain.com (why use it? http://lifehacker.com/5686385/why-you-should-use-appbrain-to-install-and-manage-your-android-apps).

Must-have (and free) apps

There really is 'an app for that', from eye-candy to utilities that leverage the power of the phone. And so many are free. While the official App Market won't let you buy paid apps in all countries,some apps let you buy their app via PayPal outside of the AppMarket.

Above: my alternate home screen with apps 'LauncherPro', old-fashioned digital clock, and custom wallpaper.

Recommended Apps:

LauncherPro - home screen replacement
Barcode scanner - great for traditional line barcodes but also awesome for the newer QR Codes
Astro file manager
Lookout - anti-virus, find-lost-phone app
Vignette - great photo effects app. Free version's only limitation is images are saved at a low-resolution.

Vignette app photo

And one must-have paid app: Tasker
While there's often an application especially for system tasks, you can end up with a dozen apps to tweak your system. Tasker is a easy-to-use scripting app. that will replace many task-focused apps. For example I use Tasker to turn the ringer down between 7pm and 7am, or to mute the ringer when I flip the phone face down.

The Motorola Milestone is available from Digicel.

Cultural group

2010-11-04T07:54:00.003-03:00

At the Cultural Gala

2010-11-04T07:54:00.001-03:00

Liam cleans up after Hurricane Tomas

2010-11-01T12:16:00.000-03:00

Liam on Creole in the Park

2010-10-29T08:59:00.004-03:00

Liam says there wasn't enough mud.

Liam in his new outfit

2010-10-28T20:22:00.002-03:00

Liam with his Granddad

2010-10-18T20:51:00.002-03:00

Liam 'in' the pool

2010-10-18T20:24:00.001-03:00

Rudyard Lake

2010-10-15T22:56:00.000-03:00