iPhone App Review – Cut The Rope

For iPhone or iPod Touch

A cute little slice-it style puzzle game where the objective is to get the candy into your new baby pet monster’s mouth while collecting stars along the way for extra points.

 

Simple instructions: "food goes here"

 

The demo I downloaded came with 18 levels that grew progressively more challenging with interactive in-world objects (with instructions) such as bubbles, automatic ropes and air cushions, to name a few, to help manipulate the candy where it ought to go.

 

Don't let the spider steal your candy

 
It’s fun, colourful, and challenging (at least it was starting to be before the demo ran out). They’ve put some extra thought into it, and done away with the countdown clock where instead they replaced it with imminent danger (i.e. spider reaching the candy).
This however is definitely not an app where one would use while driving as some slices require two  hands, or one hand and 2 fingers, but whose going to hold the phone while this happens?

I certainly considered purchasing this app, but without knowing how many levels there are is holding me back. But hey, it’s only 99cents so why not?

 

iPhone App Review – TimmyMe

For iPhone or iPod Touch

I found this one in the top 25 free apps today on 10.10.10, and decided to give it a whirl. It’s a small Tim Hortons app that, using GPS that shows all the nearest Tim Hortons to your current or searched address. Now, I thought I knew where all of them in my area were, but was I surprised to learn about another three.

 

On boot of the app, it searches for the 10 closest Tim Hortons

 

It’s straight forward and easy to use. One could even use it while driving, but I wouldn’t recommend such things. I suppose I could rate all my apps ease of use if I can use it without being distracted while driving (I won’t this time). It’s even got a built in notepad to take the order of your coworkers or friends before you go on a Timmy run.

 

All the Tim Hortons off Bronson Avenue

 

 

Built in notepad to take orders before going for a Timmy run

 

Two features I was hoping it would have before I even downloaded it and found it had neither are:
1. A built in menu (for when taking the order in the notepad or would like to experiment with new items but don’t want to stand around in the store holding up the line)
2. Operating hours
3. (I just thought of it now) Upcoming contests.
It’s got a comment/suggestion link to drop them ideas or bug info, which is where I submitted these ideas.

In short, I like the current layout very much. I found everything, including the load time of the map very quick and responsive. If you’re a Tim Hortons fan, get it. It’ll help a lot if you’re out of your own neighbourhood and don’t know where the nearest Tim Hortons is. At a price tag of free, it can’t be beat.

 

Technology Is So Disappointing At Times

Here I am, nearly a month after returning from my trip to try yet again after again to document my 15,700+ km journey and the dang thing fails to save my progress. I put in nearly 4 hours of typing on a 3.5″ screen display because I had drained it to about 30% of power remaining. I went back to continue my story and 90% of it is not there.

The same thing happened when I just got back from my trip. I felt guilty for not writing from Kendall, FL so I amassed all my memories and just wrote. Saved. All gone when I went back to add/finalize.

Here is the concatinated version of where I went after Kendall:
Key West – Mile 0 and the southern most point in the USA.

Miami – Where I found and got the urge to parasail.

Cape Canaveral – Kenney Space Center, where I had the best time at Red Lobster, and revisited all the sites I last went to nearly 12 years ago.

Daytona – Parasailed at 2000 feet! Had the best Sushi at Edamame Japanese Restaurent.

Savanah, GA – went on a “scary” ghost walk of the towns historical sites. I was thouroghly disapointed. Although my car broke down just 15 minutes after leaving the city on a stretch of highway affectionatly named Aligator Ally in the dead of night. Car was right as rain less than 24 hours later.

Next memorable stop was Washington, DC – explored the monuments and heard the history of them too.

Home after that.

I’m sorry once again for this bastardized version of events but the frustration of pouring all of ones mememories, thoughts, and feeling into something and then thrown into oblivion is extremely self-defeating.

I’ve uploaded some of my photos of my trip to my NART2010 FlickR photo stream.

 

June 16 – Tampa, FL to Kendall, FL

Following the morning to my Busch Garden adventures, I thought long and hard about my planned route for the next few days, or even week. From the 16th, I had two weeks to complete my trip. Would I have enough time for all that I wanted to do? Looking at the forecast for the upcoming week; rain, rain, rain…you get the idea. I couldn’t take the chance that on my way back, that hopefully it would be raining in Tampa when visiting Busch Gardens the second time. I decided to take advantage of the free ticket right away.

After showering, washing some clothes and having a breakfast buffet I hit up the park again. This time I was there at open to ensure another good preferred (or ViP) parking spot. Apparently they’ve been doing this parking business for a while. Changing the 5 to a 6 on my pass was a breeze, but the color changed too, so I couldn’t use it. Hey, just trying to save some money here 😛

Yesterday was a day for rides, today would be a day for photos. I took some extra rides to see other animals close up. Saw and pet giraffes, saw rhino, hippo, huge alligators, elephant (in their sorry for an excuse of an enclosure), other tropical birds, meerkats, vultures, lions, hyenas, impalas, zebras, other deer/cow like creatures.

I didn’t stay until close because I wanted to make my way as close as I could to Key West. Also, I wanted to fit other attractions in. On my way down I had to cross the everglades. The weather wasn’t on my side, very very heavy rain. So heavy my wipers could not keep up, and lots of lightning. So I drove right through the everglades missing the tour opportunity completely. It wasn’t my first time through the ever glades, I went years ago with my father. We even have pictures.
Perhaps I miscalculated my ETA to Key West, I certainly could not make it all the way there. I found a service area along the way off the (toll) highway. There sure were a lot of toll booths along the way down, and back up. But, I see where all the money goes. The roads are smooth, the beautification along the highway is something I haven’t seen even in the biggest of cities in the USA. I probably dropped $10-$20 in toll money throughout my journey.

This was a short trip again, just drove 304.9 miles.

 

June 15 – Ocala, FL to Tampa, FL

Wow! What a day! I can’t wait to tell you about it. I spent all day, through sunshine and rain at Busch Gardens.

I drove about an hour from Ocala to Tampa Bay and thus arrived at about 11am. They had three options for parking and I considered all three.

The first option was valet parking. I drive up to the lot, some stranger gets into my car and parks it some place. Upside is that I don’t have to walk far to get to my car. Downside is some stranger has full access to all my things, and I can’t get to my car as easily as I’d like (food, water, change of clothes, gear).
Second was regular parking. Upside, its the cheapest option. Downside is to get to the lot I’d have to wait for a trolly to come pick me and 50 other people up, and then same drill to go back to my car. Convenient for those who pack light and don’t need to go back and forth to their vehicles for whatever. Do you see where I’m going with this?
Option three was jusssst right. It had a combination of both. It was called VIP parking. One pays a little extra to have access to the closer lot where its just a minute or two walk from the gate, full access to my own car, whereas no one else does, and …yeah. Just what I needed.

After I got my ticket, I was given, as a bonus, an extra ticket to use in the next 6 days. ‘Cool’ I thought. ‘I’ll check out Busch Gardens again in a week on my way out of Florida. I grabbed a map and went on my first ride.

I don’t even remember what it was called, but it had two versions. The tiger, and the lion version. I think they mirrored one another. I went on the lion to start. I couldn’t remember much except that it was pretty much an all wooden ride. I was holding on tight, not because the ride was thrilling, but because I thought the roller coaster was going to fall apart any second. Something made me think the thing was over 100 years old!

After I git off, it was time to try the other version. I ran down, swung around and…was denied access. It had started to rain. Apparently the park has the rule that if storm clouds are within 5 miles, all rides are off until the storm has passed. So I waited, and waited, and w..I got tired of waiting. I didn’t think it was a total loss because I had the second free ticket. Some of you may be wondering why I didn’t go get my money back. Well, they have a rule for that too. No refunds.

I sat around for a while, and considered leaving if the weather wouldn’t improve in the next hour, but I overheard the other park attendants say that the rides are closed, but the other attractions are still open. ‘Other attractions’, I thought? Splendid! I went back to my car to grab my camera gear.

Grabbing a map on the way in this time, my first destination was the chimp/gorilla exhibit. I felt so sorry for the animals, plucked out of their natural habitat or born into these “reserves”. They did however mention over the course of the exhibits, as well as the tiger magician in Las Vegas that had it not been for their reservations then the existing population in and out of captivity would be greatly smaller than it already is. So, be that as it may, it’s still a sad existence.

After the ape section I followed the roadway which led me to otters, hundred year old tortoises, flamingos and other birds, amphibians and reptiles. I got some nice macro shots. Nearby was a train station where the train took you all along the outer rim of the park (rather than walking). I hopped aboard and reached the other side, where Shiekra was located. By that point the weather got better and rides opened up. I couldn’t, scratch that, I wouldn’t being my camera gear to the rides so I shot some more photos of animals along the way to the car. By that point I had been drenched in my own juices, it was so hot. Having your whole closet with you (exaggeration) has its advantages. I dried off with a towel, and changed into some dry clothes and left my gear behind to do some rides.

The mirror of the Tiger ride was the first I tackled. Eventually I went on every (worthwhile) ride. My sister and folks insisted I give Shiekra a try. The roller coaster gets to a point up high where it dangles you over a sheer drop, then..drops you. It was an ok ride I thought. I much preferred the ride in the Egyptian part of the theme park.

I put a pause on the rides for a bit while I had some late lunch out of my car, and replenish my fluids. As I walked back through the park, I stopped by the wallaby (sp?) and kangaroo enclosure. I got to pet these timid creatures and left for Shiekra once more. I ended up going on that ride 7 times before the park shut down. I developed a method to add some extra excitement to my drop. The seats consist of an overhead bar that comes down and incrementally locks in place the closer you bring it to your chest. But just in case the locking mechanism fails, it has a seat belt style lock that fastens to your seat. Admittedly, the first time I tried the ride I pulled that bar as close to my chest as I could. Eventually I ended up with sitting in their “larger person” seat, with the first increment locked and seat belt in place. It was very loose, but still completely safe as to fall out, I’d have to have shoulders narrow enough to fit through the hole where my head goes through. The effect? Once at the very top, after teetering over the edge, the plummet felt like I was actually free falling. A controlled free fall, if you will. My butt lifted right out the seat. For maximum effect, I let go, and stuck my hands out as if falling. Wicked wicked ride!
Seven wicked rides. Kept going until they kicked me and everyone else out of the park.

I didn’t go very far (10-15 minute drive). I drove to the Flying J truck stop off Hwy 404 and crashed in the car.

After having such an eventful day, I had no troubles crashing.

Total driving for that day,
Ocala, FL to Tampa, FL: 106.8 m

 

June 14 – New Orleans, LA to Ocala, FL

Once I left NOLA I received word from my father that he is in Florida, actually on his way out. We planned this day in such a way so that we can meet up. Although, it was mainly dependent on where his company tells him to go.

So this day was spent mostly driving. I tried to do as much as I could to meet up with my Father.

We met in Ocala, FL (just north of Tampa), had dinner, and crashed.

I know, not a very exciting post…but it was all miles. I had breakfast, and ate again around 10pm when we met.

Total: just over 600 miles.

 

June 13 – Terrell, TX to New Orleans, LA (NOLA)

There’s nothing more frustrating than writing up a post and having it gone. Just gone. I had it happen to me weeks ago in Calgary. Apparently my Blackberry thinks ‘Calgary’ is misspelled and wants to correct it to ‘Cavalry’.

Upwards and Eduards.

I woke up in Terrell, went for breakfast at the Waffle House just next door. They have a really inexpensive menu. You can get a very nice breakfast for under $8. The looks I got when I added milk to my grits. Priceless.

When I got to Louisianna, I noticed the police presence concentrated on a single part of the state during my drive to NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana). That concentrated spot was…me. I had 5 police vehicles tail me, and most likely run my plates over a 2 hour period. That’s more than in any other state, or province. I suppose following the speed limit is considered extremely suspicious behavior in Louisiana. Such an act surly warrants the highway patroll to follow you for 10-20 minutes at a time, but vehicles passing both the cruisers and trucks of the law and myself isn’t anything to bat an eyelash at. Yes, that’s right, while I was going the limit and the cruiser following behind, cars were passing us.
Oh Lordy (I wrote that one in just for you Emily).

New Orleans…something special, but I think I missed the dazzle. They really have the French architecture down. The buildings and roadways and smell brought me back a ways. Don’t get me wrong, I *loved* visiting France, and I would return in a heartbeat. NOLA, not so much, at least not that part. I walked down Bourbon Street and didn’t quite “get it”. Besides the restaurants and bars, tourist shops and strip clubs littered the 8×12 blocks. It reminded me of China Town San Francisco. I couldn’t turn my head without seeing topless this, nekkid booty that. I suppose that’s what the hype is about. I stopped by the open bars and listened to the music. There were some nice bands. Sadly as I wasn’t there from open, and I bounced from bar to bar, I never got any names.

Afterwards I headed to the restaurant the hotel clerk had recommended, called “Coop’s Place”. It had a bar like atmosphere with tables everywhere. It was packed. When I entered, there was a table with five seats. The waiter was just cleaning the table and said to grab any spot. Another couple had arrived and we all sat down at the same table, soon there after a second couple arrived and was told they could either join our table or wait 45 minutes for a free table. They made the excellent choice of joining us. It was a real pleasure conversing with both couple. They had worldly travel stories to share and further insight as to why I was singled out by the local police (lol).

I ordered a mix platter of Cajun foods. Spicy (just the way I like it) assortment of meats and greens. I was aiming for more of a seafood platter, but I suppose I’ll ask for clarification next time. All in all, it was very tasty.

When I finished I headed back to my hotel. I walked. I walked every which way in New Orleans. There was no parking at the hotel, so I left the car at a parking garage. Parking seems to be a premium in these parts. Tiny streets in the French Quarter. I suppose my previous statement of it being a let down can be just narrowed to this area. Driving along the highways doesn’t give me an accurate feel of what the city as a whole is like. I…don’t remember where I was going with this paragraph. So I’ll end it right here.

Terrell, TX to NOLA: 480 m.

 

June 12 – Memphis TX to Terrell, TX

I took some time out of my busy driving schedule to take up my fathers suggestion to find some theme parks around Texas. It just so happened that one was on my way: Six Flags Over Texas in Arlington.

I went on every single worthwhile ride they had. My favourite one was The Titan. This ride had a lot of Gs. I think we were doing 4. I tried hard to fight the pull in either direction it was swaying me. Unfortunately I believe I was trying too hard as I nearly passed out when my body contorted and squished how I had not intended it to. How do I know? I started seeing stars while light faded from my vision. It was terrifyingly terrific! I wish I could have gone again, but the ride had a 1.5 hour wait time! No other ride I tried after this. Although, another that I went on multiple times was one similar, rather exactly, like the one in Las Vegas. The one in Las Vegas was 120 ft or so, and this was 320 ft. But this started from the ground, and the other did not.

I wrapped things up at the park around 9pm (it closed at 10pm) as I was hungry or sick (I couldn’t be sure).

Grabbing a hotel coupon book that I had picked up at the Texas Welcome Center from the passenger side I flipped to the Dallas section to find a cheap place to stay the night. I’ll be sure to write a tutorial on how I arrive each time at my decision in a posting when I get home. Suffice it to say, it takes a phone with an internet connection and patience. I picked out Motel 6 in Terrell, TX and drove on out.

It was harder to spot than I had anticipated it was quite a small building and hidden among the dozen or so other hotels around. None the less, I found it and got the room.

That day I hadn’t driven all that much, only 322.3 m, because of my stop in Arlington for Six Flags. Well worth the pit stop.

 

June 11 – Grand Canyon National Park to Memphis, TX

**Update** – I totally forgot to write about my Grand Canyon experience gah! This is what happens when I don’t write until days later.

I woke up at 6am local time. Not because I set my alarm, but because I just couldn’t sleep any longer. I peeked over my left shoulder and saw the light of the sun glowing through the clouds. I had a decision to make. Either go back to sweet sweet sleep, or catch the canyon at sun rise. I made my choice and stand by it.

The unforgettable views will stay with me for a long time, like Banff will.

I checked the map before getting out of the car. I saw a place where I could drive to that was much closer to the canyon without having to walk long. I put on long sweats over my shorts and grabbed a jacket. The temperature outside read 58 F on the instrument panel of my car.

Without forgetting my camera I headed to where most of the people were gathered. All the photographers had tripods and huge lenses. I was proud to free hand my photos. That place was getting too crowded so I went exploring for a spot that wasn’t hindering my view with people, fences, rails, trees, buildings and signs.

To the left of a building (built right on the edge) there were some rocks out lining the asphalt path. I looked down and it seemed safe enough to walk down. Beyond that was just the cliff down, but first some boulders and dirt.
I carefully made my way down, as I had nothing to grab on to once I arrived to the edge. I got some good panorama shots without any of the aformentioned obstacles.

While I was shooting, I saw an even better spot. I walked carefully along the edge of the sloped cliff side, grabbing onto roots as I made I way by. There was a fence in the way near to the edge of the canyon side, but closer to the land of the canyon there was a gap. I made my way aound and found just the right spot. New sets of photos taken from a rock that was firmly in place. I got right up to the edge. No, I wasn’t afraid, I got some practice in Las Vegas.

**End update; conveniently I forgot something that happened at the very beginning of the day, so the rest of the blogging can continue.

Not much to this day. Twas just a driving day. Arizona and New Mexico have a speed limit of 75 mph. Terrific for passing through these gorgeous states.

They both had an amazingly blue sky, with white fluffy clouds. Sounds cutsie, doesn’t it? Well it was a pleasant drive of 754.2 miles.

Once I got to Texas however, I saw lots of people pulled over. Apparently there is a really strong police presence there. There were six cars and trucks pulled over in the few hours drive I had since I entered the state.

I slept in the car once more however I did not sleep very well. I started to get tired so I whipped out an emergency can of energy drink. All while driving through the towns leading up to Memphis, TX all lots and gas stations had signs stating no over night parking. Towards the end of Memphis I found a Love’s gas station and truck stop. Now, I was not not able to sleep because of the energy drink, but because loud trains passed by just across the street tooting their horns (horns? whistles? What are they called?).

I’ll be sure to spice this post up with pictures once I arrive home.

 

June 10 – Leaving Las Vegas

Like I said (or will say, because I haven’t published my Las Vegas adventures yet), I almost didn’t want to leave, but I did so that I could make it here, to Florida. The blog says June 10, but it’s the 15th as I’m writing this.

So, I left Las Vegas to see Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. After checking out of my hotel, and doing a few last things, I eventually managed to leave at 1pm.

My late departure would bring me a pinch of fortune later in the day.

The drive up to the Hoover Dam and beyond was pretty cool. I enjoyed shooting all the way to Texas. I honestly expected desert, sand. But I got green shrubs and trees, flat top mountains, dips and hills and such.

Staring down into the dam wasn’t all that scary, not after what I did that day and the night before. I don’t even know why I’m stretching this damn dam business out. I suppose I feel a little guilty for not writing in so long.

On ward!

The speed limit in Arizona is the highest I’ve found so far in the states. A cool 75mph, that’s approximately 120 km/hr. Not too shabby.

Because I left so late in the afternoon, I ended up at the Grand Canyon national park entrance at sun down. I only wanted to stay for a few hours and shoot a few pictures and video of the canyon. The park entrance was $25 for a week. I didn’t want to stay a week.
“Hi, excuse me”, I asked the girl at the gates, “Is there any way I can get a discount if I only want to stay for a couple of hours? I just came from Vegas and I’m going to Dallas, TX next. I just want to shoot a few pictures and go”.
“Just a few hours? But there’s so much to see”, she exclaimed. I gave my best puppy face. “Alright, tell you what, this one’s on me”, she said. “Really?! Thank you SO much!”. With that, she gave me a Grand Canyon news paper and map.

I drove ahead and parked in the first lot. Lots of cars. I thought the canyon was near the parking lot so I got out my cam and map and started walking. I asked a man walking back to the lot how far it is, as I glanced to see where the sun was. He said about 3/4 mile, and the sun was almost set. It had gone below the tree line. So what did I do? I got the best bang for my buck – I slept in the car!

The only lights in the lot were from cars leaving. No buildings, lamp posts or garden lights. It was so dark I could see the stars through my tinted windows. Pitch black. I bundled up for the night and went to sleep.