Peppermint has always followed the lightweight and light on resources approach. In that spirit There are several window managers that are just as light weight (if not lighter than) LXDE. Over the next few weeks I will be walking you through how to set these up to look just like the default Peppermint with as little added overhead as possible. This first how to might just be my favorite…Fluxbox!
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A week or so ago I posted up the apps I use on a regular basis on my phone. I decided not to include apps specifically for rooted users so that is what you will see here.
If you don’t know what “root” means in regards to an android phone then you should do some googling before reading this. I’m also not going to suggest you root your phone if it isn’t already, it will void your warranty, can jeopardize your service if you get carried away with data usage, and plan and simple isn’t for everyone. I personally can’t imagine using my phone without it rooted but not everyone feels that way.
I have been using an android phone for over a year now (my first smart phone too), and have installed, and uninstalled, quite a few apps. Here is a list of apps I am using currently. These are only apps that don’t require root access, I will be writing a similar post for those apps later.
After the break are most of the apps I have installed, all of which are free (except one).
“What are those?” or “How do you like them?” is usually the beginning of a conversation every time I wear my new shoes out in public. Months ago I saw a pair of Vibram Five Fingers for the first time and I couldn’t wrap my head around what was so special about them or why anyone would want to wear them.
For those of you that still don’t know what I am talking about here is a picture of what I am talking about.
A few weeks ago I saw them again for the first time in a while and had a bit different perspective on them. I started reading about what made them different and why they were supposed to be better for your body and way of walking and running. I think part of what intrigued me was how the most “state-of-the-art” foot wear could be little more than a glorified slipper with toe pockets. The more I learned the more I liked them, my wife on the other hand couldn’t get past the appearance no matter how comfortable or good for you them may be. We were able to settle on I could get a pair (and even wear them in public with her) if I agreed to retire my Crocs (another item of footwear she doesn’t really care for).
I have now had my toe shoes just over a week and just about every time I wear them I have someone approach me with one of the questions from earlier. I get a grin out of it each time and chat for a minute with these inquiring souls. I finally was able to get out today for the first time to really go for a run in them. There is a period of adjusting that I will have to get used to (much like any new shoe breaking in). My calves will be getting a work out too since the lack of padding under your feet forces you to run on the balls of your feet more, which in the long run is better for your stride and posture…but it is weird.
I have been very fortunate over the years in that I have had more opportunities than most to travel abroad. Over the course of my trips I have learned that keeping a travel journal is a great way to look back later and relive the experience, remembering details you would otherwise have long since forgotten. When I was younger I hated this idea, mainly because I didn’t like writing; however, the older I get the more I enjoy things like this.
For those of you who don’t know my wife and I just got married a bit over a week ago and left the day after the wedding for a week long honeymoon to Belize. We picked this location over others because it offered thing we both liked, great weather, beautiful beaches, and more adventure than most couples look for on a honeymoon. The fact that they speak English and that US currency was a huge perk too! In the chaos of pulling off a wedding the day before leaving the county for a week I completely forgot to pack a journal so what you will be reading below was scribbled on the back of flight confirmations with a pen my wife happened to have in her purse. Enough with the intro though, here are the details of our adventure in Belize.
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I’ve been riding a motorcycle on the street for a few years now and have been told time and time again I should try a trackday. I was never opposed to a trackday but I time and money never really lined up for me. Finally this past weekend I was able to make it out to Grattan Raceway for the Team Chicago school day.
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Yesterday on Twitter a question was presented that really makes you stop and think.
If life gave u a reset button and your got to keep your knowledge & experience, would u dare press it?
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The motorcycle group I am a part of held their first official Halloween party over the weekend, called Tisberween. For those of you who don’t know Toledo SportBike Riders (TSBR) is referred to as “tisber” on occasion, hence the name of the event. In the past there has been an unofficial party hosted by one of the groups members but this was the first official group sponsored one so there was a lot of focus on making it great.
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I have had a magnetic tank bag sitting on a shelf for the last year since the bike I moved up to has a plastic tank cover which doesn’t play well (at all really) with the magnets used to secure it. I had hoped to come up with a reasonable solution that neither involved replacing the tank bag or strapping it to the bike. Last night while chatting at bike night a light bulb went off and I knew I had an idea that would work. It just happened to be in time for a 300 mile weekend trip I’ll be leaving for tomorrow.
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The group of guys that I ride with locally have been going to IMS (Indianapolis Motor Speedway) for the Moto GP race every year since it started in 2008. Every year I wanted to go and every year I had a conflict or lacked the time/funds to go…until this past weekend. One of the guys had to back out last minute because of work and I was able to grab his ticket and tag along for the first time.
Long story short it was AWESOME, I’ll be going again in the future, and I want to do a track day more now than ever before!
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